The Plymouth tribune. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1901-1911, 1905-04-13
MoRMoNIsM is DEFIANT.


lte Missionaries Making an Increased
Effort Throughout Country.
Notwithstanding the hard blows
aimed at Mormonism in the Reed
Smoot hearing at Washington, the mil
liant missionary branch of that church
Is preparing for a vigorous campaign
for recruits, a Chicago paper asserts.
In each of the Western States it main
tains headquarters. Orders have
reached here to push the work of pros
elyting as 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 to elders, men
grown gray in tie service Of the
church. These missionaries bring to
the work zeal and earnestness that
mean many converts in the course Of
the year.
AT Salt Lake City and two other
points schools are maintained in which
the work Of personal evangelization is
taught. The brightest and best takers
lected for this work. They are special
ly drilled in the tenets of 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 thorough test
and examination
The Middle West is accounted a good
missionary field. Every campaign is
carefully planned from headquarters.
Men have previously been sent into
various parts of State to spy out
profitable territory. If the investiga-
tons disclose Roman Catholic COM
munity or one peopled by Europeans
with equally tenacious ideas about re-
ligion, little time is spent. The most
favored sections are those where Nor
wegians, English, Germans, Swedes
and emigrants from Eastern States
predominant. 1t was early discovered
that the emigration to those 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-the homeseekers
with small means, in other words.
When a section is favorably reported
upon, missionaries are sent there
There Is a perfect division of territory,
so that no effort is wasted. The mis-
sionaries generally travel by twos.
Each is CARRIED in black and carries a
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. If they receive the slightest en-
couragement they come again and
again. They are under instructions to
pick out thrifty, prosperous and indus
trious citizens of the middle class, and
where possible these receive substan-
tal inducements to join 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 it, but teach against
1t. The younger Mormons, as a mat
ter of fact, are opposed to polygamy
1t has long been recognized as an I'M
natural condition in civilized coun-
try, and education is aking it more
repugnant to the yoLlger of both
sexes. Many of them refuse to coun-
tenance it in any way.
The church organization is so COM
pact that it is possible for ii TO act
quickly, and the mai and telegraph
are freely used to transmit edicts.
Within two days after President Smith
Of every Mormon church officer within
a radius of 100 miles. Discipline is
vigorously maintained, and disobedi-
ence has met with such prompt pun
ishment that it is rare nowadays.
1t is asserted that the Norman
church is growing more rapidly than
any other in the world, and all credit
is laid to the thorough organization
for evangelization. Recruits are COM
ing from all parts of the globe, and the
general policy of the church to mass
its strength in Utah and adjoining
States is still being followed.
Half Of the vote in Salt Lake City is
cast by Mormons, and in the remain
der Of the State the church polls so per
cent Of the total. In Idaho nearly q
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 no.
litical control is fixed. There is no
fanatical political feeling among Nor
mons, and they readily obey the order
Of the church, which has many emf
nent politicians on its official roll.