1900-01-27-New York Tribune-Home Life in Utah

New York Tribune, 27 January 1900, p. 7

Home Life in Utah

"A Talk About Utah's Condition and the Remedy.'

Dr. Elliott, Deaconess, was the speaker, and the Loyal Legion Temperance Society met at No. 579 Fifth-Ave.

A parlor meeting, under the direction of the Loyal Legion Temperance Society, was held at Miss Helen Gould's. No. 579 Fifth-ave., yesterday morning. The ample parlors, hall and dining room were filled with a fashionable throng that had gathered to hear Dr. J. S. Elliott, of Moab, Utah, a former deaconess of St. George's Church, in this city, talk on "Home Life in Utah." The birds in the conservatory piped and warbled soft accompaniments as Dr. Elliott related her personal experiences among the Mormons and told of the organizations that she has established among them during the last seven years. Dr. Elliott was emphatic in denouncing the wrongs and evils resulting from polygamous marriages, but always insisted that the Mormon women were not to be considered disreputable. On the contrary, she has found the majority of them earnest and zealous in living up to their highest ideals.

The polygamous wives, she said, are more generally self-supporting than Gentile women. In many instances the additional wives aid in the support of their husbands, instead of being a financial burden to them. Before closing she urged the women by their influence and signatures to forward an agitation for an amendment to the Constitution of United States that would give Congress the power to legislate for the subjection of polygamy within the bounds of the United States.

She referred to a question which she had once asked Bishop Huntington. as to whether the signatures of non-voters were actually of value, and quoted his reply to her that they undoubtedly were of value; that if the women did not oppose polygamy, they could not expect the men to be very active. She closed with an appeal for greater educational and religious advantages for the children of Utah.

A. T. Schroeder, attorney for the objectors to Roberts from Salt Lake City, and who has appeared before the Congress committee in all of its hearings on the Roberts question, was one of the audience.

Among others who were present were Miss Gould, Miss Gould's sister, the Countess de Castellane; Mrs. Rudolph Schirmer, Dr. Josiah Strong, Mrs. Keck., Mrs. Russell Sage, Mrs. Lorillard Spencer and Miss Young.

After Dr. Elliott had finished speaking she held an informal reception, and greeted many old friends and was introduced to many new ones.

Mrs. Keck entertained Dr. Elliott, Mr. Schroeder and a few other friends at luncheon at the Waldorf-Astoria later.