Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1902-05-16
|PIRIT OF THE PRESS
ACTS AND OPINIONS CAT HEREO
FROM CONTEMPORARIES.
THE GROWTH OF MoRmoNlsM.

THE GROWTH OF MoRMoNlsM.
The Rev. John ID. Nutting, secretary
the Utah Gospel Mission, an organize
on formed for the purpose of convert.
z the Mormons to Christianity, con-
ibutes to The Independent aD astonish-
e article concerning the increase of the
after Day Saints, who we supposed
ere steadily growing less under the
peration of the antl-polygamy law, the
bhuence of the new settlers of other
reeds in their neighborhoods and the
forts of the missionaries.
Mr.. Nutting has worked among these
eople six years, visiting them in their
ONES, preaching to them and making
imself familiar with their views and
ondtion. Last year he visited nearly
pc families. Probably no other Gentle
nows as much about them as he and it
bust be assumed that he speaks by
authority concerning them. Moreover
is figures are taken mostly from the
ensus.
He says the system is stronger today
han ever before, both in numbers and
ar more homogeneous and unified than
wenty years ago. The power of the
Paders, he says, is greater, and he found
b his travels in Utah no marks of de-
tension, but everywhere signs of in
reased vigor. Going into statistics, Mr..
Tutting shows that the census of 1870
ave the whole population of Utah as
nf xph al,
he census of 1900 gives Utah popula-
ion of PIG, 740, and of these 100000 are
Iormons. This shows net increase of
10000 Mormons in thirty years. In
800 Mormonism had 144,000 adherents
the United States. In December,
901, there were over 300, 900.
AT this rate, which nearly doubles the
fount every decade, the followers of
Brigham Young will before long be a
majority of the people in half dozen
states besides Utah, where they have
ong been in control. AS we have said,
his is astonishing and it is also disturb
! ng. Astonishing because it is hard to
Zee why Mormonlsm should possess
attractions for any considerable number
|bf people now that poygamy, which was
its cornerstone, has been outlawed, and
disturbing because if half that has been
told of its believers is true their increase
Is anything but helpful to the country.
Their leaders have been very brainy men
bnd they have done wonderful things in
the isolation they have sought in the
wilderness, but the general idea is that
+1,,, d,,n 1oa
ling in most qualities that make good
citizens. Certainly the missionaries that
they have sent to New England to prose-
byte have been anything but attractive
personalities and have been more calcu-
Hated to discredit their creed than to ad-
vance it among intelligent people, and
Those that have gone elsewhere are pre-
|sumaby of the same character.
We have not at hand the statistics, but
we think most of the converts are gath
erred among the lower classes of the old
world, who are captivated by the promise
of material comforts. to which they have
been strangers; and this may suit the
purposes Of the leaders, for Mormonism
is at once an aristocracy and an autoc-
while its masses are ignorant, docile and
accustomed TO let others do the thinking,
planning and ordering while they do the
work and pay the taxes. But whatever
the material of which it is composed the
growth of such an organization is not
one to be thankful for.-Mirror and
Farmer.
1000
RUSSIA IN ASIA AND IN EUROPE.
The car of Russia has let go his hold
on Manchuria, or is about to. He has
obtained what he set out to gain--a
Pacific terminus for the Siberian railway
that is free from ice all the year around
That is all he cares for in that direction
Meantime affairs in southeastern Europe
are attracting attention. Rloting, sedl
ton, cOnspiracies are the order of the
day, while Russia is watching and
waiting. Russian plans in Europe car
never be carried to fufillment till the
Black Sea is unlocked and the Bosporu:
knows only the cars standards as
supreme.
Twice in half a century Russia has
sought to swallow Turkey, but the Porte
has been able to so carefully balance
friends and enemies that, though hated
as the emblem of the plague spot OF
Europe. the star and crescent still
flaunts detiantly.
The Cossack policy seems now to bt
to divide and conquer. Bit by bit sep
arate principalites have been set apar
in the Turks domain. The sultan has
nominal suzerainty, but influences are
perpetually at work to substitute st
Petersburg for Constantinople as thu
seat of real authority.