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Show UTTIM L. 0. S. TO BEJMSWERED Commercial Club Prepares Statement for Christian Conference. Ministers Join in Refutation Refuta-tion of Falsehoods of English Writer. Jn answer to certain articles appearing in English and American newspapers, cunta.uiiig false reports concerning conditions con-ditions among the members of the Latter-day Saints' church in Utah, the board of governors of the Salt Lake Commercial club has prepared a statement state-ment which is concurred in by the following fol-lowing leading citizens of tlio state and by ol fleers of the Rotary club: Chief Justice ot the Supreme Court E. E. Corf-man, Corf-man, and Justices J. E. Frick. A. J. Weber and S. Ft. Thurrrtan; John C. Cutler, Cut-ler, first governor of LTlah: W. S. McCornick, Mc-Cornick, president McCornick & Co. Bankers: W. W. Armstrong, Utah food administrator; James E. Collins, president presi-dent Rotary club: Lewis H. Harding, socretary Kotary club. A statement has also been issued by ' t.-.e ministers of a number of the evangelical evan-gelical churches of the city. These statements state-ments will be presented to the International Interna-tional Conference of Christian churches at Pittsburg. -November 12, by Apostle James E. Talmage, representing the church, and Wesley E. King, a non-member non-member of the church, representing the business interests of the city. Texts of Statements. Texts of the statements follow : "A statement of refutation issued by the board of governors of the Commercial club of Salt Lake City: "The attention of the Salt Iake Commercial Com-mercial club has been called to the appearance ap-pearance in newspapers in the United Slates of a syndicate article bearing the date line of London. England, in some instances as 'October 19," from the pen of one purporting to be George Selden, writer of the English metropolis, which is vicious, inconsistent and maliciously false in its accusations against the Mormon church. - "This article, sent broadcast throughout the United States, contains quotations credited to one Winifred Graham, to whom the article refers as a novelist, some of which are as follow: V 'What is Mormonism doing in England? En-gland? It works secretly as in America and snaps its fingers at law in both countries. coun-tries. This Vry minute the church elders eld-ers have twelve hundred girls ready for shipment to Utah.' ' 'The Mormon church pays the fares and offers excellent wages, but once it gets women over it uses them as it pleases. The war gave the Mormon elders ! their greatest opportunity for proselyting. Jn the absence of the men folk and because be-cause of the deaths of thousands o'f soldiers sol-diers the women of the poorer classes fell easy victims. Secret meetings were held in homes that attracted the neighborhood without at trading suspicion.' " "Every girl is baptized. They then become silent about polygamy, buc they become either polygamous wives or slaves of the Mormon church. Occasionally we hear of girls who are slaving on Moron farms.' Reports Declared False. "The Commercial club of Salt Lake City. Utah, through its duly constituted board of governors hereby desires that it be known that It has taken cognizance of and .end these statemenis. which It brands as being vicious in intent and so obviously obvious-ly inconsistent as to be their own refutation, refuta-tion, and they are scandalous, pernicious and false. "The Commercial club, in line with Us act ivi lies from the time of Its organization. organiza-tion. Is critically persistent and thorough in its survey of conditions relating to the interests of our commonwealth and is fully qualified by its knowledge of facts to thus brand these sensational stories as unmitigated falsehoods. "The church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Latter-day Saints, commonly called tire 'Mormon church, is working in liarmony with other" Institutions in Utah, ecclesiastical and civic, for the maintenance of the highest attainable standard of morality, and has made an enviable record in this accomplishment, accom-plishment, as also in patriotic and devotea service to the country's needs. Political Control Denied. "Thus Commercial club disavows and . condemns with disapprobation equal! y strong the circulated falsehoods of "Mormon' "Mor-mon' interference in state or national politics. The fellow citizens who are not of their 'faith, and this club, unhesitatingly unhesitat-ingly affirm that the stories alleging 'Mormon' control of political parties In th!a state or elsewhere are but myths And fables, without even the merit of apparent consistency to excuse their periodical peri-odical retelling. "Commercial club: Lester D. Freed, president; H. X. Byrne. H. M. Chamber-Iain. Chamber-Iain. Joseph Decker. Lester D. Freed, Ft. CJ. Gemmell, C. B. Hawley. J. C. Howard. S. K. Inch. James Ineebretsen. D. Carlos Kimball. A. N. McKay. C. W. NTbley, V. C. Schramm. M. H. Sow.es. Char.es Tyng, board of governors." The letter of the ministers of Salt ...-.ko churches is as follows: "To the Commercial Club of Salt Lake City. Utah. "Gentlemen: "Our attention having V?cn called to certain statements now being widely circulated cir-culated through American newspapers as i coming from Winnlfred Graham, an En- glish novelist, charging that the commonly common-ly called Mormon church is still practicing practic-ing polygamy and is bringing hundreds of young women and cirls into the state of Utah either lo become polygamous wives or to be consigned to white slavery tr to industrial slavery on farm? said to be j owned by the Mormon church, we. the undersigned ministers having churches In Salt Lake City, have this to say: I aLsenoods JJenicd. "That, having been pa-Mrs here for j earn, and being fully conversant with j o'attlng condition?, hereby state that. hlle the Mormon church is strongly it i missionary church and engaged In prose-lytlpm prose-lytlpm among Christians In Europe, the United State and other countries, yt t simple honesty romppln us to give denial to such published statements aj v. e are 1 convin-ed arc untrue. "Polygamy i.j under (he han of the law In I'tah. and we believe that institution is dying here. "Ah to the statement that the Mormon hurch is bringing oung women und girls Into Utah with the deliberate Intent In-tent to put thMn Into polygamy r Into white or Induct rial slavery, we believe this charge to be without foundation. "The evangelical churches of Utah are strongly opposed as ever to polygamy, but are convinced that It In here a parsing pars-ing practlc. 'Signed) "Thf lU-v. Peter A. Slmpkln, Phillips Congregational church; the Rev, .1. Sherman Wallace. Imnunuel Baptist i church; the Rev. 'hesler A. Snyder, Central Cen-tral t'hrlstlan church; in fie v. James IT. ; N U'llliams, V lrt MlhodNt l,pUc,pal church; the Rev. Wllllnm W. Fleetwood, st. Mark's Episcopal cathedral; the Rev. Georye K. D:t vis, First Presbyterian L church." |
