The Bon Homme County independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1904-1913, 1905-04-13

its Missionaries Making an Increased
Effort Throu2 bout Country.


Enort Throu2 hout Country.
notwithstanding the hard blows
aimed mt Mormonism IN the Reed
smoot hearing az Washington. the mil
itant missionary branch OF that church
IL preparing for n vigorous campaign
for recruits, Chicago paper asserts.
In each Of the Western States IL main
taIns headquarters. Orders have
reached here to push the work of pros
elyting rs never before. Last year
more than 5000 missionaries were EN-
ployed In this work. and this year the
total number assigned will not be less
than 1000. Most OF the recruits are
young men. who report 10 elders. men
grown grny In the service OF the
church. These missionaries bring to
the work zeal and enrnestness that
mean many converts In the course OF
the year
At Salt Lake City aud two other
points schools are maintained In which
the work OF personal cvangelization IL
taught. The brightest and best takers
among the younger Mormons arc Sc
lccted for this work. They are special
~ drilled in the tencts III the faith and
are made thoroughly familiar with the
Bible and the application of Its pas
sages TO Mormonism. Before they are
sent forth they receive a thorough test
and examination.
The Middle West Is accounted good
missionary field. Every campaign IL
carefully planned from headquarters.
Men have previously been sent into
various parts OF n State tn spy out
profitable territory. II the invcstiga'
tons disclose Roman Catholic com.
munlty or one peoplcd 10y Europeans
with equally tenacious ideas about re-
iigion, little time Is spent The most
favored sections are those where Nor
weglans. English. Germans. Swedes
and emigrants from Eastern States
predominant. IL was early discovered
that the emigration to those sections
vas largely from that class Of people
which found its means too small In the
older settled sections 10 purchase land
at prevailing priccs-thc homeseckers
with small means. In other words.
When section IN fnvorably reported
upon. missionaries are sent there.
There Is perfect division OF territory.
so that no effort Is wasted. The mis-
alonarics generally travel by twos.
Each Is garbcd In black and carries q
Bible In hand or coat pocket. They go
up TO house. knock, and when they
gain the attention Of the occupants
proceed TO push their work with all OF
the pertinacity OF the veteran book
agent. IL they receive the slightest on.
enlargement they come again aud
sgnin They are under instructions TO
bick out thrifty. prosperous and indus
lrious citizens OF the middle class, and
where possible these receive substan.
lIal inducements TO Join the colonies In
The Northwest.
These missionaries are careful TO
state that Mormonism has cschcwcd
the doctrine OF polygamy. and they not
only do not teach Il. but teach against
It,. The younger Mormons, rs n mat.
ter OF fact. are opposed to polygnmy.
II has long been recognized as an I'M
natural condition I'm n civilized coun-
try. and education Is making IL more
rcpugnant To the younger OF both
sexes. Many OF them refuse 10 COM
tenance II in any way.
The church organIzat ton IL 80 com.
pact that II H. possible for II To- act
quickly. and the mail and telegraph
are freely used 20 transmit edicts.
Within two days after Presidcut Smith
has formulated one. It is In the hands
~ every Mormon church officer within
radius or 100 miles. Discipline IL
vigorously maintained. and disobedl.
cncc has met with such prompt pun.
ishment that It Is rare nowadays.
II is asserted that the Norman
church is growing more rapidly than
any other In tho world. and all credit
Is laid To the thorough organization
for evangclzatlon. Recruits are com.
ing from all parts OF the globe. and the
general policy OF the church To mass
its strength In Utah aud adjoining
States IL still being followed.
Half OF the vote IN Salt Lake City In
cast by Mormons. aud In the remain
der Of the State the church polls so per
cent OF the total. In Idaho nearly a
third OF the voters are Mormons. and
this fact has given the leaders there
immense political power. since by
throwing IL one way or the other po-
lItIcal control Is fixed There II no
fanaticai political feeling among Nor
mons. and they readily obey the order
OF the church. which has many emf
nent politicians on It's official roll.