Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 37, Number 29, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 14 April 1905 — MORMONISM IS DEFIANT. [ARTICLE]

MORMONISM IS DEFIANT.

Its Missionaries Making an Increased Effort Throughout Country. Notwithstanding the hard blows aimed at ‘Mormonism in the Reed Smoot hearing at Washington, the militant missionary branch of that church is preparing for a vigorous campaign for recruits, a Chicago paper asserts. In each of the Western States it maintains headquarters. Orders have reached here to push the work of proselyting as never before. Last year, more than 3.000 missionaries were employed in this work, and this year the' total number assigned will not be less than 7,0(K). Mdst of the recruits are young men, who report to elders, men grown gray in tile 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 talkers among the younger Mormons are selected fdi ; thj-s work. They are specially drilled in the tenets of the faith and are made thoroughly familiar with the Bible and the application of its passages to Mormonism. Before they are sent forth they receive a thorough test and examination. The Middle West is accounted a good missionary Held. Every campaign is carefully planned from headquarters. Men have previously been sent into various parts of a State to spy out profitable territory. If the investigations disclose a Roman Catholic community or one peopled by Europeans with equally tenacious ideas about religion, little time is spent. The most favored sections are those where Norwegians. English, Germans, Swedes and emigrants from Eastern States predominate. It 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 missionaries generally travel by twos. Each is garbed in black and carries a Bible in hand or coat pocket. They, go up to a 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 encouragement they come again and again. They are under instructions to pick out thrifty, prosperous and industrious citizens of the middle class, and where possible these receive substantial 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 it. The younger Mormons, as a matter of fact, are opposed to polygamy. It has long been recognized as an unnatural condition in a civilized country, and education is making it more repugnant to the younger of both sexes. Many of them refuse to countenance it in any way. The church organization is so compact that it is possible for it. to act quickly, and the mail and telegraph are freely used to transmit edicts. Within two days after President Smith has formulated one, it is in the hands of every Mormon church officer within a radius of 100 miles. Discipline is rigorously maintained, and disobedience has met with .such prompt punishment that it is rare nowadays. It is asserted that the Morman church is growing more rapidly than any other in the world, and is laid to the thorough organization for evangelization. Recruits are coming 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 east by Mormons, and in the remainder of the State the church polls 80 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 it one way or the other political control is fixed. There is no fanatical political feeling among Mormons, and they readily obey the order of the church, which has many eminent politicians on its official roll.