MORMON PROGRESS

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 7867, 1 August 1911, Page 1

MORMON PROGRESS

AMONG THE MAORIS

VIEWS OF A MISSIONARY ON POLYGAMY. SPECIAL TO THE "TIMES.” AUCKLAND, July 31. Tho spread of the Mormon religion ,'imongst tlics Maoris will bo tho subject of a question in Parliament shortly by .Mr O. At. Thomson (Dunedin North), who proposes Unit tho mutter should ho looked into and the advisability of taking the necessary steps to rid tho country of missionaries of tho Mormon faith considered. Interviewed, to-day, a young Mormon missionary. Mr H. H. Crouch, whose homo is in the vicinity of Salt Lake City, said there were now 5000 Maori converts to Mormonism in New Zealand and about loflO while people. Ho could not. understand why the religion was eo much objected to, because since 1800 •polygamy (which seemed to bo tho chief cause of complaint) was abolkshed, and tho penalty for a breach since that time was ex communication. SOME SEARCHING '‘Bnt—or—President Smith?" tho reporter inquired. ‘"Oh, yes. AVo admit the president has got ftvo wives.” said tho missionary, “but ho married all of them before 1890, when tho Church believed that a man might take more than one wife.” “Has Elder Smith disposed of them?” • '.‘No. When the manifesto was issued it was decided by a committee that it would he only right for him to look after his wives as in <ho past. I do not think there is a Mormon living,” said Mr Crouch in conclusion, “who has <xm- ; traded a plural marriage since the manifesto of 1890, and it is an absolute fallacy to say wo entice girls to Salt Lake City. Instead, wo prefer those converted to stay in their own country and so help to propagate our faith.”