Mormon Invasion of England
MORMONISM has lost none of its old-time spirit of active propaganda. While sparing of statistics, and without publishing its plans to the world, it has been carrying on a most active evangelization in various parts of the world. Its activity in England during the last few months has been of a character to arouse serious concern on the part of many. Over eleven hundred Mormon officials are operating in Great Britain, and they distributed last year five and one-half million tracts, and held nearly fifteen thousand meetings. February 10 there was held in London a conference on the subject by the “Preventive and Rescue Committee of the National Union of Women Workers,” to consider the best ways and methods of meeting this active propaganda. The Guardian (London), says of this Mormon propaganda:— That there are over eleven hundred Mormon officials in Great Britain, that last year they distributed more than five and one-half million tracts, and held nearly fifteen thousand meetings, are facts not to be gainsaid, since they are taken from the official report of the Mormon “mission” in this country. It is not to be supposed that all this activity goes for nothing. It is bound to achieve a certain success, and it is significant that the propaganda is mainly devoted to the enticement of young women of the less educated and reflective classes. It has always been suspected that “plural marriage” has not been abandoned by the Latter-day Saints, despite the assurances that were necessary before Utah could be admitted as a State of the Union; and we are now assured that, however carefully it may be concealed, it remains the central doctrine of Mormonism. In Prussia and Austria, Mormon missionaries are liable to expulsion, and no very advanced morality is necessary to suggest that this is the best course. No country can be expected to allow in its midst a propaganda opposed to the most elementary principles of right and wrong.