New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-05-28
TO COMBAT M0RMON|SM
Women of New York Say Agents
Are Working in Harlem.
SAID TO BE ACTIVE UPSTATE
National Association Urges Plac.
ing of Control of Anti-P
lygamy Laws in Washington.

Believing that "Mormon'sm IS the most
insidious and bancful social evil in this
country today" women arc rislnc up al
over the country in a concerted effort to
wipe out the system \ national assoc.a-
ton has been organized In this city, with
headquarters ~ No 20 Broad street. and
with Miss g. +. Mason. Of tho Castle
School. Tarrvtowu. as president Affiliated
associations have been formed in twenty
other state. uh"r" prominent men and
women are entering the tight
Tho INSTRUMENTATION Council Of
Women FOR Christian and Patriotic Ser
vice. which f. tho official title Of tho anti
Aormons. is not really new society. for
~ was formed ten years ago and took an
active part In tho campaign against Soma
.. tor Smoot in 1910. since then. however.
IFS efforts have been confined 10 lectures
and such personal campaigning rs the
members Themselves felt called upon TO
engage IN. All this is changed now. be-
cauS" few weeks az" a woman rushed
into ~" Office with an imnassioncd account
Of Mormon prosolytins upstate.
She said tina, IN many towns Mormon
agents incorporating under tho name OF
doctrlnee tn the cars 81 young erla Their
method was 10 make tho acquaintance Of
these girls through clubs and social a.so-
Citations. conccaIing often for months tho
facts Of their religious beliefs Then With
friendships made and ~" girls confidence
IN them assured. they would begin 70 "con
vert" them n their belief
They never tried IN convert the older
members ~ the family. she said because Of
their natural prejudice against Mormon,sm
but the girls were inexperienced, credu-
lous and usually quite fascinated nv the
nav and charming young man. The Church
cent out on these errauds only itz most
engaging youths
Agents Active Upstate
In Nowhurg in the second week 81 April.
she said. there We're ton OF these agents
going from house to house questioning the
servants IS TO the number Of young women
In the family The Mormon agents arc
said TO be active In Harlem, too
Stirred bv this recital tho Nov York
women prepared % counter campaign They.
too. will send agents from house 10 house.
warning p"opl" against tho Mormons. or
Latter Day Saints and hoseechinR evcr,.
one 10 read carefully tho literature tho a.
ISOLATION is sending out. \ letter asking for
funds 10 maintain this work has been sent
broadcast to brokers. bankers. merchants.
ministers, philanthropists aud people prom
| iuent or not prOminent-it doesn't matter,
really.
Miss Mason. the president explained 20
the Tribune reporter yesterday that the
| menace 10 the country made II necessary
! for women 10 wage this active warfare
we feel" she said. that the Mormors
arc dominating politics IN some Of the
Western States. and that their power is
steadily growing ~ lato they have been
PROSECUTING In the Eastern States as well
They say that Mormonism does not sane
ton polygamv. hut II does under the name
| Of celestial marriage Now. We ar" not
waglng this fight against any ones re-
ligion, only against the evils Of religion.
The letter which the women arc senuine
| out reads follows:
| The iniquitous efforts ~ the Mormons n
| gain converts and spread polygamv prob
| ably never VIII he brought directly 20 Nor
/ nv their missionaries. But thousands oi
women over the country. chiefly the youns
! and inexperienced arc not 80 fortunate
| Most OF these women arc without ~" or
| pOrtuuttN OF knowing inc inSl1lpNSn|SS 81
| the new religion offered them. some ask
| about pOlygamy-they arc assured II M
| longer exists. They hear no mention Of the
! celestial marriage" they have no means
! of knowing despite Mormon dcnials, that
| polvgamv Is constantly growing
! We are striving 10 combat this growth ~
! what Is undoubtedly a national menace
! Proud OF our country's record 90 neral
| and upright people, We must protect the
| sanctfty OF our homes. the chastity or our
Young women and the good names OF their
| children from those who would destroy
| them.
When the work Of educating people on
| this subject has advanced far enough 70
| warrant II. the women will try to have
federal law passed making polygemy an
onense against the Constitution. They say
! that the anti-polygamy laws in the sepa-
rate states are not enforced
Urge Federal Control
Therefore" they say, the only solution
~ this problem Is 10 take the making and
enforcing OF ant-polygamy laws ont OF the
control Of the individual states and place
such under the control Of the federal gov
crnment To do this will require an amend
nent to the Constitution NJ the United
States. and 10 procure such amendment Il is
necessary for the legislatures Of thirY-tWa