Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1903-07-25


the state department the object Of the
church is described as ..the nromulea-
ton of the gospel of Jesus Christ and
the uniting of all mankind into one
common brotherhood of Iova and
peace" The communication asserts that
to accomplish this object missionaries
are sent to all the nations of the earth,
both civilized and unciyilized ",Their
duty is to teach all men to love their
creator with all their heart, love their
neighbors as themselves. TO carefully
obey the laws of health. to practice
virtue. to honor and sustain the laws
of the land. and, in short. TO live in
complete harmony, with nature and at
peace with all men," Diplomatic and
consular officers in the last few wears
nave reported the conduct of Mormon
MISSIONARIES TO be beyond reproach,
and the governor of French colonies in
the South Pacific made no secret of his
belief that their influence had de-
yeloped a higher moral standing of the
natives.
| The European authorities have shown
emphatically that they do not want
Mormon missionaries to preach to their
people. Denmark, which promptly ex-
pels these missionaries once they come
under the notice Of her police, has ex-
planned to the United States that even
II polygamy is on longer practsed in
Utah. it does not follow that it is no
longer a constituent part of the Nor
mon creed, in which case the Danish
government must be considered justi-
fled in using the means at it's disposal
to combat the dissemination of the doc
trine: that it must be presumed that
the tenets of Mormonism are of such a
nature that it's missionaries VIII con-
tinue to entice immigration in a manner
| injurious to the Danish state, and that
the Punishment to those who preach
them is in accord with previous prac-
tice.
Though the Danish government was
oIlclally advised that 'polygamy is
now no longer announced as the chief
| tenet of Mormonism, and the church
has the same religious rights as are
enjoyed by other religious bodies in this
country" it replied that doubt still ex-
listed on this point and it refused to
modify its attitude. Switzerland and
Austria have applied repressive meas
ures to MOrmonism, and even Turkey
objected to the PRONUNCIATION Of it's doc
trine
Mormon Missionaries deny the charge
that they seek to induce emigration to
Utah. but this is one of the important
reasons. aside from the suspicion that
the practice of polygamy continues,
which is responsible for their Danish
ment by European states The class
OF people among whom they secure
most of their converts is that which
belongs to the soil. In farming COM
munities. especially their seed, it has
been noticed. bursts into growth more
fiourishing than in towns and cities.
Their proselytes are usually law-abid-
ing, though ignorant people, whom the
governments desire to retain. In order
10 quiet the apprehension of European
governments respecting emigratio the
European representatives of the church
several years ago prepared a statment
in which they asserted that they had
not been advised or instructed 'by the
president of our church or any one else.
to teach or encourage the practice of
plural marriage or polygamy, nor TO
teach nor to encourage the emigration
from Denmark or any other country to
the United States, neither have we adj
vised or instructed those who labor
with US. or under our direction to teach
or encourage polygamy or emigration
out. on the contrary, we are instructed
ana DO instruct those we labor with noj
to teach polygamy or emigration"
Looking over the lines of the state
department the other day some curious
Iacts We're found which throw light
upon the procedure of Mormon mis-
slonaries abroad before polygamy was
of1lclaily abandoned. They preache.
their creed in all lands, even erdeav-
orlng to induce emigration from India
10 Utah. The United States appealed
TO the British government to forbic
such emigration but all the London au-
thorities would do was to give public
notice of the illegal character of Nor
mon marriages according to the laws
OF the United States. In Switzerland
Mormon missionaries were particulars
active. The director of police. who
made an investigation, reported tina
polygamy was the foundation of their
uoctrlhe IN Europe as well as America
The Mormon agents." he declared
| iooh uuoFt all lOF recruiting women II
our country. The last report of the
town council states that they auules>
themselves in preference to poor fam
lilies that have many daughters. and
that they choose especially weak
minded girls
The Star, journal established to
propagate Mormon doctrines, appealed
especially to women I'VE do not con-
slider the woman as slave" it
stated on one occasion, but as a help
mate, and we know that in eternity no
man may appear before God without
a wife and no woman without a hus-
band" The information that reached
Europe in those days concerning the
fate of emigrants to Utah was quite
contradictory. A consul at Salt Lake
reported:
The Mormon missionaries take year.
ly to this place about 200 persons, who,
enjoying an honorable and honest ease
in Switzerland, are obliged to undergo
here all the torture of poverty, after
the Mormons have shorn them to the
hide, leaving them nothing but their
eyes to weep 1 had to occupy myself
with several cases. the recital of which
| would sniff tho heart IF tiuar hut