The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1902-02-12
PREACH P0LYGAMY NOW
NEW MORMON CAMPAIGN ~ T'6o-
CRESS IN THE WEST.

The missionary branch of the Nor
mon Church is just now more than usu-
ally active in the States of Nebraska |
Kansas and South Dakota, writes the
Lincoln ,Neb.) correspondent of the
New York Sun. For years 1t has been
sending missionaries abroad and their
work has been successful Larger
numbers of missionaries have now
been put into the field, and the plan
of campaign has been materially
changed.
Most of the missionaries look and
act like farmers sons turned into
preachers without much more prepar-
alton than n thorough knowledge of
the Mormon Bible. The farming com
munities of the three States named
have been selected as the fields of
their operations, and they try to in
ducc people to emigrntc. They are
constantly dilating upon the advan-
tages of Utah and Idaho. whore they
say the agricultural conditions are
vastly superior to those of the drought
stricken region of last year.
Formerly the missionaries were con
tent simply to proselyte for their faith.
Converts We're all they were after.
They generally Travelled in pairs. and
went from house to house. quietly
pushing the work of convincing men
and women that the Lattcr-Day
Church offered simpler and nobler
plan of salvation and belief than the
older denominations.
They We're careful, in order to over
come In part at least the antipathy TO
Mormon, TO insist that the
Church had been recognized and that
polygamy was no longer one of its ear
dinal doctrines. They admitted that
the old leaders had practiced polygamy
and that while they were obeying the
letter of the law in that they lived
with hut one wife they were not shirk-
ing the duty of support to the others
still alive.
In their crusade they were aided by
the general belief that the Church had
submitted TO the inevitable and had
banished polygamy. They held public
meetings also and openly sought for
converts. That they were successful
was proved by the number of congrc-
cations they organized in various parts
of Nebraska. Kansas and Iowa.
The campaign now being prosecuted
Is Il masked one. 1t Is no longer i'll
sisted on that polygamy has been ban
ished from the Church. In covert
way it is stated that they are now
seeking converts to the Church he
cause polygamy is possible in Utah and
Idaho, where the Mormons are the
dominant power in politics.
One of these missionaries Is quoted
ms having said recently in II talk with
prospective converts that the true Nor
mons have never relinQulshed their
polygamous beliefs, and that he eX-
pected to secure many converts he
cause most men are ny instinct poly
gamous. and that In church gov
erned and run as n business organiza-
ton plurality Of wives is not only not
burden. but n distinct help to world
ly prosperity.
These arguments. confined as they
are to the less educated part OF the
population, have been hearing fruit,
and II Is said that the spring viii see
considerable immigration 10 the two
States named.
These missionaries have been quot
ing leaders of the Church as saying
that the law of plural marriage is God
given, and that no Mormon need fear
manmade laws. They are also ac-
cused OF tempting their prospective
converts with picture of Mormon su-
prcmacy in the future by reason of
the fact that plurality OF wives means
larger families, and that as the aver
age non-Mormon family numbers no
more than three children. in time the
whole earth will be filled by the true
believers. They seek to prove that in
ancient days according to both their
Bible and that OF the Christian Church
polygamy was not regarded rs Il sin.
In fact these missionaries are preach,
ing the old gospel according to Joseph
| Smith, but with more cunning and di
| plomacy. Here in the West 1t is rec.
ognized that the Mormon Church holds
| the balance of political power i'm Wyo
ming. Nevada ana Idaho, which means
that its very practical leaders find II
easy to make bargains with the ma
chine politicians, who in turn for votes
grant immunity from arrest and prose
| cution TO those Mormons who discreet
| ly desire to continue their old prac
tlces. Even in the most iiagrant cases
OF violation of the Anti-polygamy law
only nominal fines are assessed. ant
most Of the offenders Immediately re
turn 70 their wives.
The Rev. Mr.. Lillywhitc, who ha!
been In charge Of the Neb-aska propa
ganda says that the Church has now
2000 earnest and active missionarie,
at work in the United States. This in
cludes those who do missionary worl
only, and not those in charge ol
churches. ~
| 1t has been found difficult to secur,
much OF u foothold in the States cas-
| Of tho AIiSsissinni bncluse oF tbn praa :