The Ocala evening star., 1905-07-17
TO PUSH MORMON|SN
Orders Sent Through the West
by the Church Authorities.
CONDITIONS AS FOUND
1t Is Growing Faster, Perhaps, Than
Any Other Church, but its Rulers
Are Not Satisfied-Its Perfect
Missionary Organization-Talk of
7olygsmy Tabooed.

Polygsmy TabOoed.
Last year more than 5000 mission
aries Nere employed IN this work.
ana this year the total number as
signed viii not be less than 1000.
Most Of these recruits are young
men, who report to elders, men grown
gray in The service OF the church
These Missionaries bring TO the work
zeal ami eaInestness that mean many
converts IL the course of the year.
The reflection Of the organization OF
the church is illustrated by the meth
cds employed in proselyting
Al salt Lake City and two other
points schools are maintained IN
rhich the work Of personal evangeli-
cation is ;2Ught The brightest and
pe>r takers among the younger Nor
mons are selected for this work. They
are specially drilled in the tenets Of
.hc faith and are made thoroughly
.amiliar with the Bible and the appli-
ca'iOn Of its passage to MOrmOnIsm.
B'iOre they are sent forth they re-
ccive a thorough test and eXamina-
ton.
A campaign is carefully planned
from headquarters. Men have previ-
U2Sly been sent into various parts OF
a state 10 spy out profitable territory.
Al the Investigators disclose a Roman
Catholic community or one peopled
- Europeans with equally tenacious
ideas about religion, little time is
spent.
The most favored sections are those
whore Norwcgians, English, Germans.
STedes and migrants from eastern
states preGominate. II was early dis
covered thai the emigration 70 these
sections was largely from that class
of people which found its means too
small IN the older settled sections to
purchase land at prevailing prices
tlf' homeseekers with small means. In
olEer words.
When q section is favorably report
ea upon. missionaries are sent there.
There is perfect division of terri
tory. so that no effort is wasted The
Missionaries generally travel by tw0s
Each Il garbed in black and carries
a Bible in hand OF coa' pocket. They
20 up TO a house. knock. and rhnn
they gain the attention of the o..u-
pants proceed 10 puSh their " rk
with al Of the pertinaci;y Of the vet
eran book agent If they receive the
slightest Encouragement they come
aga and again.
hey are under instructions To pick
Gu; thrifty. pr0speruu; and industri-
GUs citizens of The middle class. ana
whore possible ;hese receive suhs.an.
tia! inducements ID JON the colonies
in the northwest.
These missionaries are careful to
state that MOrmonism has eschewed
the doctrine of polygamy. and they
not only do not teach il. but teacr,
against ii. The younger Mormons. as
a matter Of fact, are opposed TO polyg-
amy. II has long been recognized as
ali unnatural condition in a civilized
country, and education is making il
more repugnant TO the younger of both
sexes. Many of them refuse 10 counte-
nance il in any way
The church organization is so com
pact that it is possible for it to act
quickly. and the mail and telegraph are
freely used 10 transmit edlcts. Within
two days after President Smith has for
Iaulated one. il IS in the hands of every
Mormon church officer within radius
Il LOCO miles. Discipline i rigoroaSlv
maintained. ana dis obedience has met
with such prompt punishment that il is
rare nowadays.
Ii Il asserted that the Mormon church
Is srowin~ more rapidly than any other
In the world. and all credit is laid to
the thorough organization for evangeli-
zation. .ecruits are coming from all
parts Of tl.e globe, and the general pol
icy OF the church 10 mass its streng-
in Utah and adjoining states IS still be
.Gg followed
Half uf the vote in salt Lake Cirv IS
~ast hy MO-muns. and in the remainder
Il The state the church polls So PEI
cent OF The total In Idaho nearly a
third OF the " rS are MurmOas and
ttis facr has Il. n the leaders there i'm.
n,euse political power. since by throw.
lnE il one way or the other political
control is fixed. There is 10 fana.ica
political feeling amons Normons. and
they readily obey The order OF n,
church. Uh.cn has many eminent poll
ticians on its otficia, roll
The Mormous have unique way o.
suDpraso.Ug Jealous and Quarrellin.
viyrS. When one starts trouble ii n,
household the husband reports the mat
Il, 20 he her. who is The ruler o
the district He calls AT once upon her
informs her that she must be a GOOD
and ohrdient wife. because 10 wowa,
can enter the presence of GOD ~. p
through her husband. This ! one o
No-mOniSm'S strongest teDe-s. l. no
only makes old maids arce in Jrah
bur keeps divorce al a minimum. sine,
women there. as elsewhere. are 1T
strongest believers in the religion.