MORMOMS IN ENGLAND.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXIX, Issue 87, 1 June 1911, Page 5

MORMOMS IN ENGLAND.

AGITATION FOE EXPULSION

■y_ . . London, April 21. -i no agitation against the. Mormon missionaries in tin's country is assn ;m'i!g wide dimensions. Big public meetings arc to ho held, the Home Ohico is making investigations, and the churches are demanding vigorous •action. The - atoms Secretary has called for reports from tin chief constables or the principal towns of Great Britain, in which Mormon churches have boon established, and is also socking information from the diplomatic representatives of this country abroad as to the objects of tho Mormon missionaries, especially on the Continent. Mr Churchill has been questioned in the House, and lie says that no instance in known to the police of the offer of money bribes to emigrate. Captain Labor asked whether it would not lie passible to include those Mormons in the Aliens Act, so that the.” could be brought under tho law. “It is a very difficult question,” said Mr Churchill, “and J am sure if tho lion, gentleman looks well into it he will see that the matter is not at. all as simple as it appeal’s at first sight.”

“Is .it not a fact,” demanded Captain Faber, “that no law can touch Mormons unless they, rcallv practise povlgamy in this country?” “There is a very wide toleration of all opinions in this country,” was the answer, “and it is only when these opinions emerge into actions contrary to law that the law can ho set in motion.” The bishops and leaders of the Nonconformist churches are emphatic in their condemnation of the Mormon missions in Britain. Dr Kno;:, tho Bishop of Manchester, considers tho Mormon teaching a danger to England, both on religious grounds and on moral grounds. “For over seventy years,” said Elder Young, a nephew of Brigham Young, “the Church of Christ, of Latter Day Saints has been labouring in England. The allegation that our agents induce young- girls to go out to Utah for improper purposes is absolutely without foundation. These people who say that we call at houses and endeavour to induce servant girls to quit their" employment and go put to Utah sneak what they must know to l>a untrue. We call round at houses to distribute tracts concerning our articles of faith and explaining our views, and, of course, tiio door is usually opened by a servant. We ask, however, to sen the master or mistress of the. house, with whom we endeavour to get into communication. Sometimes wo arc asked to call again, which of course wo arc only too glad to do. It is ridiculous to say that wo pleaded with girls to leave their homos and go to Utah. Our purpose, on tho other hand, is to get. them to remain in this country to constitute churches, and thus spread our principles throughout tho land.” Mr Roosevelt, cx-Prcsident of the fitted States, describes in a letter to “Collier’s Weekly” how an investigation was conducted while he was President, and his experience is not unfavourable to the Mormons.