The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1902-10-12

80; Arkansas. g.. California. L.Eai. Colorado.
l.Is2; Connecticut. ; Florida. .51: Gecrga.
10; Idaho, H.S7-. Illinois, 1873. Indiana. So;
Indian Territory. g; Iowa. Ssl5: Kausas. l.
los. Kentucky. 2is; Maine. ~ Maryland. IS;
Massachusetts. 41: Michigan. l54e: Mime
sofa, "a; Mississippi. lg7: Missouri, 3.lSe:
Montana. II: Nebraska. less; Nevada. SIS:
New Jersey. q; New Mexico. SO. Ned York.
i&; North Carolina. lbs, Ohio. I0.s7s. oregon.
IS; P~ennsylvenia. az. Rhode Isla1d. 80.
South Carolina. 43; South Dakota. Is: Ten
nessee. lss; Texas. 40. Utah. l1s.et: Nir-
ginia. III; Washington. 81: West, N~trginia.
AS: Wisconsin. 81: Wyoming. 1875 There
were no Mormons IN Alaska. Delawlre. the
District Of Columbia. louisiana New
Hampshire. North Dakota. OKLAHOMA Or
Vermont.
That was twelve years ago. It IS n4w safe
TO. assume that the great part Of the In
crease In the number Of MormonS lin this
country. from 1915 in $50 to 34.0O0 In 1900.
has eeen distributed among States that are
not known as Mormon States. The Mormon
states are Utah and Idaho, with uSIno and
1851. respectively. while Arizona. ten years
ago. had $50.
II Is believed now that there are Mormon
communities in every State In the Uhion. II
i known that there are "a large number OF
Mormons in the District OF CoIumbid. where
there we're none In IS1. Maryland which
had seventy five IN 1S0. now prohatly has
Upward Of a thousand. Generally j would
be-Safe 20 multiply the figures OF iS9l In the
uoumOrmon States by three.
EXPOUND THEIR FAITH
ON THE STREETS.
Not content with their hall gatherings.
thelr inpromptu social meetings At mem
bers houses. and daily canvassing. a way
IN which the tract distribution Of Mormon
literature l. carried on. the missinnt ries OF
the Mormon Church have located In New
York, obtained a permit for street speaking
and nightly gather on corners and there ex-
pound their faith and doctrine.
In the dusk OF the evening ;hey1 begin.
standing on the corner In the space hiiotted
To them by the city. They call pedestrians
10 them by song. their voices .ringi out in
the evening air. drowned outside OF a small
circle by the traffic OF the street. tut loud
enough TO reach those who pass cbse BY.
The public. ever curious. stops. pauses and
listens 10 their preaching.
A pale young man. smooth-shaykn and
looking not more than %. stood Thu other
evening IN the midst Of a crowd Cd people
who gathered about him. On the outside OF
the circle stood three elders They lr1sem-
bled much the man who spoke. and passed
remarks that could not help being noticed
by those about them.
Enthusiastic earnest and positive. the
missicnLr- addressed those gathered about
him His voice was filed with emottJn. and
50 dramatic did he become that hS infu-
ence was so great with the susceptible
minds OF the gathering that gradually the
unconcerned person. first family abd then
With vigor. seconded what he proclaimed.
The Mormons are tactfui In selecting their
street workers a young mar IS usually
more Impressive and convincing than one
OF middle age For that reason you find
the youngest Of the member OF the church. |
three and four In a company. working on
the street at night. their young fades ami
their youth and strength pleasing. 4
-. 49, ~ 49, - q. F.LsL ~. /
peannR plausible 10 the easily exciied man
or woman who may stand by.
The orator does not hesitate. He u bold
so bold that you would suspect him Of be-
Ing older than he really is-he Is never at n
for words; he does not becomcl trying.
as most religious street missionaries: he Is
thoroughly schooied In his art. what he
says he has studied 50 carefully thIt every
line and accent carries with II Just the ef-
feet he wishes. Whether Il Is effective and
depends upon the mind q those
he talks 10.
The Mormon missionaries preach kdraIly.
This suits the persons who gatheH about
them. They appeal 10 them for help: they
5c not ask 10 o. permitted 10 draE them
from the gutter. 10 elevate them. but rather
plead that they are in need Of helH them
selves. that the support OF the listeier It IS
their earnest desire TO obtain. and that they
will be Bothered b. his presence.
When they oner prayer Il is a short re-
,ital. and the three or four men whb stand
n the edge OF the circle supply the relief
% the man who speaks when they notice
b becomes a bit tired or that the crowd Is
These men observe the people
sbont: they study them. A movement OF I'M
patience on the part OF a man who has been
istening attentiyely is a signal for ajchange
n orator. and the man who steps fre4h from
he edge Of the group. excited through the
rpeeches Of the men 70 whom he las list
ned. Immediately conquers this RESTLESS
nan and holds his attention with the same
argument. presented from another i0nt OF
He sends that man away thinking. He
,as planted the root OF the religion in his
mind: II he Is a man OF reasoning power
le dwells upon what he has heard. he alb
lorbs every word OF IT,. and slowly. surely, :
men and wcnen are convinced thst what
hese men preach Is true. and so members
Z the church are gained