New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1907-03-24
.MORMONS In CANADA.
Their Gro.cth IN Numbers Causing
Some 4larm.
BY Frank Weigh.

The Mormon is religious colonizer- For the sake
OF his faith, he is ever ready 10 obey the mandate
OF his superiors and move to fresh fields For the
sake OF the power-politica, social religiOus-that
is involved he is an earnest advocate OF policy OF
territorial extension.
Hence it is that the Mormon power has invaded
Western Canada and is already causing some ap-
prehension there. In the newly organized province
OF Alberta, bordering the foothills of the Rocky
Mountains. is the latest stake of Zion There eight
thousand trekkers from Utah farming and
ranching, and incidentally building up a strong
cause of Latter Day Saints in the Dominion.
integral part OF the army az three hundred thou
sand that constitutes the sect the world over.
No less than eighteen hundred Mormon mission
aries are scattered over the globe. zealously propa
eating their faith. without remuneration from the
home centre, II this ruling thought of
panSion that led small company OF eight ten
families TO leave Utah few years ago. under the
guidance OF g. .. Card. who thus became one OF
the pioneers of his people the Western Canadian
plains. and who has had his reward of fame by
having named after him.
They we're a delegation appointed by the salt
Lake hierarchy 10 spy out the land. and their re-
port must have been favorable judged by the emf
grafton that resulted and that is stiH under way
Few miles north Of the international boundary
line Card and his company pre-emptcd government
lands and laid the foundations OF their prairie
homes They were the first agriculturists to settle
In what had uo 10 that time been looked upOE as
exclusively rauching country: in fact It was
maniHcstlv In the interests OF the cattlemen 10
circulate such report. But the Western Nor
mons. who had overcome tho seeming obstacles OF
nature in cuItivating the unpTomisng soil OF Utah
were Just the type Of workers TO solve the problem
IN Alberta, and hundreds Of farmers are there sat
isfactoriy solving it to-day
Thus & happns that where. scarcely more than
a decade ago. there were few signs OF human oc-
cupation outside OF the wandering cowboy and his
rowing herds. now there are a score OF towns and
A..
stock raising region
The Mormon has brought II to pass As an IN
dustrious law-abiding. frugal settler he is a vel
addition to Canada's Western pioneer pOpu-
lation. where the dominant need is men. to cause
the soil 20 bring forth Of its abundance; where.
cording to the Celtic fancy OF Lord Dufterin when
Governor General OF Canada has only "to
tickle the prairie with plough 10 have it laugh
back with harvest
But many thinking Canadians nevertheless,
not certain about tho value OF this human in
flow. judged by their history reIgio-potical
organization In numbers the MormOns stead
lily increasing in Alberta with corresponding in
crease I'm influence and wealth The first town
Raymond. was founded in .e01 In the period since
then several other populated centres have into
existence ardston. Magrath Stirling and Tabor
to each OF which large districts tributary.
Heretofore Lethbridse has been the northern gate
way OF this Canadian Mormonland but the move
ment is spreading nOrthward in the direction of
Calgary. tho town OF High River having recently
been started between Macleod and Calgary.
Further evidence OF Mormon activity in this
Stake of Zion" under the British flag is found in
their recent purchase OF the famous Cochrane
ranch composed of 65OOO Of the choicest land
i'm Southern Alberta for S. acre A large beet
sugar factory is in operation at Raymond. and this
Industry bids fair be an important feature Of
their Industrial life.
Raymond is named after Of Jesse knight |
The latter believes his is to be the instrument
in the hands of Providence. OF gathering together
the long lost Ten Tribes Of Israel. and that they
Will ultimately relssemble at Raymond.
Jesse Knight himself is OF the picturesque |
figures of the great West. Once very poor. now he
is cOrrespOndingy rich, and the requirement OF his
wealth is In itself strange tale Some years ago |
the old Mormon had dream that certain spot |
in the mountains he would find mine of great |
value and that he TO its wealth for the |
good OF mankind. In due time the treasure mine
was located in Canada and in two years thereafter