MORMON PROGRESS

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 34, 3 August 1911, Page 7

MORMON PROGRESS

AMONG THE MAORIS. VIEWS OF A MISSIONARY ON POLYGAMY. Auckland, Tuesday. Hie spread of tlie Mormon religion amongst the Maoris will be the subject of a question, in Parliament shortly by Mr. G. M. Thomson (Dunedin North), who proposes that the matter should be looked into and the advisability of taking the necessary step* to rid the country of missionaries of the Mormon faith considered. .Interviewed, yesterday, a young Mormon missionary, Mr. H. H. Crouch, whose home is in the vicinity of Salt Lalte Oity, said there were n6w 5000 Maori converts to Mormonism in New Zealand and about 1000 white people. He ctmld not understand why the religion was so 'much objected to, because since IS9O polygamy (which «>emed to be the chief cause of complaint) was abolished, and the penalty for a breach since that time was excommunication. SOME SEARCHING QUESTIONS. "But—er —President Smith?" the reporter inquired. "Oh, yes. ' We admit the president has cot five wives." said the missionary, "hut he married all of them before 1890, when the Church believed tlwt 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 be: only right for him to look after his wives as in the past." : "I, do not think' there is a Mormon living," said Mr. Crouch in conclusion, "who has contracted a plural marriage since the manifesto of 1890, and it is an absolute fallacy to say we entice girls to Salt fyvke fcy.. Inistead, we prefer those converted to stay in their own country and so help to propagate our faith."