The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1904-09-25
THESE NORMONS
FIGHT POLYGANY
Church OF Latter-Ddy Saints
at Lamont.
JOSEPH SMITHS FOLLOWERS
Sustain a Mission in Utah irving to
Convert the Adherents of
Brigham Young.

Joseph Smith, OF Palmyra. -. Y. is
generally looked upon as the founder Of
the Mormon movement now on trial be-
fore the country in the attempt to have
Apostle Smoot retain his seat in the
United States Senate and yet-such are
the contradictions of life-not a descend
ant Of this man has any connection
whatever with the Salt Lake organiza-
ton or has ever countenanced pOlygamy.
80 his grandson, who Is now IN this
city. says.
The present Joseph Smith. a son OF the
man who was killed at Nauvoo. has
made It his life's work 70 clear his
fathers reputation from the charge that
ne made revelation the year before his
death in support of polygamy. In fact
these descendants OF Joseph Smith are
today sustaining missionaries IN Salt
Lake City trying to convert Reed
Shoots coreligionists. or the Brigham
Young Mormons, from the error Of their
ways.
Here is an anomaly in ecclesiastical
history which Is explained By Frederick
n. Smith, Of Lamont Iowa, grandson
of Joseph Smith. OF Nauvoo, and a son
OF the prophet. seer. and revelutor OF
This Frederick Smith will on the death
OF his father become its head, since
lineal descent OF this sacred osdce is one
OF the principles Of the church, assum-
ing that the young man upon whom the
mantle falls IS fitted for It. Otherwise
he would not be sustained ~ the con-
ference.
Continuous Revelations.
we don't call ourselves Mormons."
said Mr.. Smith 20 a Times reporter last
night. THAT is a nickname. just as is
Campbellite' for the Disciples Our
real title IS The Reorganized Church Of
Jesus Christ OF Latter-Day Saints and
locally we are known as simply Lat
ter-Day Saints The Salt Lake people
do not object TO the term Mormon. for
you viii see on their printing Office the
advertisement. Mormon publications.
Our headquarters are at Lamont. Iowa
where out Of population of 1sOO we
number 1900 Four Of the five members
Of the school board Of the town belong
10 our church. Our gathering place will
ultimately be at Independence. Mo,
about ten miles from Kansas City,
where we already have about as large a
population as at Lamont
Since you have opposed po5ygamy, in
what respects do you differ from other
Christian bodies?"
Chiefly in our belief that God did not
cease to reveal Himself 10 man with
Johns revelation on the Isle Of Patmos,
but that today. through the proper
channels. He speaks TO His people. The
president Of the church is that chosen
channel. Our ecclesiastical organization
is similar 10 that which the people at
Salt Lake City have made familiar TO
the country by reason Of their more
spectacular methods and the Prominence
which the doctrine of polygamy has at
tached to them.
Fighting Polygamy.
Il don't suppose there is a man in
the United States who has done so much
TO fight the evil Of polygamy as my
father" continued Mr.. Smith He is
stimulated to do this because the Utah
people attribute their first polygamous
revelation to my grandfather. They say
that Joseph Smith published II in 1913,
when the facts are that they never
brought II 70 light until 1852 eight years
after he was killed None of his des-
cendants have had anything 70 do with
the polygamous branch of the church.
although the family Of Hyrum Smith.
Brigham Young and has since been
identified with the Salt Lake movement
But both Joseph and Hyrum Smith are
on record in their official organ as
repudiating the doctrine Of polygamy in
the strongest terms"
Growth of Utah Mormons.
MI Smith is very cautious in charging
the Salt Lake people with sins IN the
absence of explicit proof, but it is plain
ly his impression that the cessation Of
polygamy since the manifesto has not
been any too complete. He also be
heves they were forced to this mani
festo by the rising indignation Of the
American people. In adopting co-opera-
tive and communistic features his own
organization has not gone so far as that
at Salt Lake City, although these are
held desirable when a sufficient standard
Of moral and economic education has
been reached.
The books provide for a system Of
social economy that is unique. IN which
the rich Will be leveIed down. and the
poor lifted UP, and all THROUGH religious
motives Dowie has adopted some Of the
ideas OF the Latter Day Saints. although
he denies this source Of their origin
His idea Of the gathering of the eject
at Zion City Is part OF Joseph Smith s
teachings. and II Is today an ultimate
aim OF the people at Lamont.
The Lamont Following.
For his own organization Mr. Smith
claims a numerical following Of more
than 100000. and says that II is growing
steadily. Brigham Young. who seeded
from them took only 10000 people to
Utah. but his branch has grown much
more rapidly, because of greater natural
increase Of population through poIyg-
amy, and perhaps more vigorous prose
lvting The Brigham Young people have
always been IN control OF Utah. which
has given them a prestige which the
Lamont people have not enjoyed.
Where tho salt Lake people make con
verts in foreign lands they bring them /
to this country at once. while the Latter
Day Saints have established groups in /
cities and towns all over the world. in |
Guiding some in New York and Massa-
chusetts. awaiting "a more Co1ve,icnt
season for the gathering of the Saints |
together IN earthly hatitations. Their /
mission I'm Salt Lake City has been in
operation since 1852. and its converts
make a large branch.
The chief difference between them and
the non-polygamist present-day Nor
mons Of that city. is In the principles