1900-04-15-New York Sun-Domestics and Mormonism

Domestics and Mormonism

New York Sun, 15 April 1900, p. 5, c. 5

Mormon Elders Making Converts in the Kitchen.

Evidence That Many Domestics From Protestant Europe Have Become Proselytes—Scarcity of Servants Attributed to This Cause—Skill of the Missionaries.

For the past three years the large cities of the East Coast have been the scene of the labor of 1 Mormon elders who have sought converts to Mormonism in kitchens and at basement entrances. Great numbers of pamphlets have been distributed by these elders among the women who are in- cluded in the army of domestic help. A careful investigation has been made among the agencies, and particularly among those which act for women that come to this country from Protestant Europe. The result seems clearly to establish the fact long known to many housekeepers, that many Swedish, Norwegian, Danish, German and English women have deserted housework and gone to Utah. The exact number of pros- elytes cannot be given, of course but those who have been in a position to study the matter, de- clare that a very large proportion of the unmarried Protestant female domestic servants have been converted to Mormonism and taken out West.

Recently such an exodus of this kind occurred in Chicago that the newspapers of that city de- clared that there was a famine of house servants and no relief could be obtained. Various rea- sons were assigned and some of them were plaus- ible enough, but what is believed to be the rea1 one was not mentioned. The elders of the Mor- mon Church might have explained the matter for scores of young women went out to Utah from Chicago at one time. The conversion of these servants has gone on quietly and been managed with skill. In fact, no Generals of modern times have carried on campaigns in the field with greater ability, tact and energy than have these elders who have gathered their recruits from the kitchens of the land, and left the country with them se- cretly and silently.

Occasionally a mistress has come upon a pam- phlet relating to religious matters, generally printed on poor paper, in poor type and rarely clean or attractive, in make-up. The majority of these pamphlets have had such titles as "A Friendly Discussion upon Religious Subjects," the seeming harmlessness of which has not tempted investigation sometimes tracts entitled "A Voice of Warning and Instruction to all People," has been seen in the hands of servants, but beyond an occasional discovery of this kind, people gen- erally have been in utter ignorance of the work being done in the cities among servant girls by agents of the Mormon Church. One observing woman who successively hired three Swedes, and recievd from all the same explanation, that they were about to be married, was amazed to notice that the same man proved to be the ad- mirer of two of her cooks. This fact dawned upon her when he was seen in conversation with the third servant. He passed as a brother to the third, but succeeded in inducing her to give up her place. Unsuspicious, and concerned more for the comfort of her family than the welfare of the help she engaged, she did not investigate the reasons given her for their leaving, nor did she seek to dissuade a girl from marrying if this rea- son was made the pretext for departure.

One clever woman who happened to be in the basement of her house alone one afternoon an- swered a summons to the street door and there saw a young man whose appearance was that of a countryman, and whose manner showed a re- straint born of inexperience in his business. The woman's kitchen apron led him to conclude that he was talking with the cook, and he whisperingly asked her if she would read a little book he would lend her, and let him come and talk with her about it sometime. Then before waiting for her reply, he said:

"I wonder if you are a Catholic?"

Being reassured on that point he smiled con- fidently, and with a show of renewed interest said that he would lend her another little book, which she would call good, and he hoped she would read both. Thereupon he handed to her a volume of 200 pages, pocket size, and bound in vivid red cloth. It looked harmless enough, as did the begrimed pamphlet he also gave her. The man eagerly inquired when he might call, and was told to come back one week later. He did so, and was met before reaching the basement bell by a member of the household who warned him to leave and return no more. Even after an ex- amination of the book, which proved to be one on the faith and doctrine f the Church of the Latter Day Saints, she did not realize that her caller was a Mormon elder, nor did she suspect that one of his denomination might have con- verted her last cook, who was a young and strong woman not long from Sweden.

Anoiher hoiisekrei ir r di envered In the mall mallIMIX mallh h IMIX it a circular ci riiihii r ndvWtifc ilu iitg the reader tn Ii send to tu n nlerlaln ittirOil lerlaln It address aff reit for bonks ii e ik tracts t till PeTitions uprnionsand PeTitionsit and it iii a utik > kiiif I tu he reader In Ii get the I hue hiKik of Mormon Mormonwhich tinnmouii i which coiilil uihI Ni ii had fnr a nominal sum a itt mi n1 n1dress altfrise dress irltPii llmnllng Ihe circular to Ii her aervnnt aervnntshe eervitittit she it nntlceil thai ihr taller recngnlred IliP ihi mbjecl mbjecland tuuhcctitiil and basi hutsully > put iflt It not Into tnt the lire but Into lit the lliemul theiiui mul iiui Inn to SiiKsp Stihethiienti < iienlly this same woman found foundniiither fuitluilliinituiiil niiither printed ilocuinenl In her kitchen riving rivinga hvltit hvltitit a tflimlntr irfi ut lOg ile cripiioti rb till ii nt the Salt t I oh ike e Temple Templenrd Icniplii nrd ii F Salt tI t Ijike t il I t lly It A tHiF Mmr Illnslrallon lii it 1 rn tijut of the thetemple thentirh temple niliiiiPl ntirh HIP circular circulart t onnllpssriimplninls itiiuule have bite lieen nmdeby nuuudo by house housepipers uouuce uouuce1 pipers of 1 llie iii pretend Il their kitchens lit fill fillLiners ftI Liners I tr nnd endlf s Imve lun been the di tliteuuiolnns tliteuuiolnnsii usMons usMonsus us ii how IwM to I get rid of them without loMnc their theirMVMiits lbieiFeru MVMiits eru ii i I And tiut when tt lien notes i tee hive hii ti been compared comparedh ttuiupn reut reuttu h > i i i nftlii r II bus been fiunrl h uuid Ihnt niflliy fer fertiinls cerI tiinls I lull is tunic left ihdr t fit I r places nn preleisthat liFtlIX S I lint were wereMI Item Itemcli MI irUIil lrlt lii as m I bear the e stamp of n F lint untniiniinness untniiniinnesseived iututrtillufutlnese iututrtillufutlneseuiuiil mllif illness uiuiil iliuit here f Iuirmioed eived wages did nut avail availThe availlii lii kueli thiilt thiilttt The tt pmlilen1 pr IiIeii rf f dnippstlp help lii p difllfuH ul I ifimul I enougli enougliIII eflOthgt eflOthgtlit III the paM t nl lull the verv rich lias tin liecome liecomednibly beconuel dnibly l ihuty in c since i Ui this new iii iv factor has flu Isen hic ui Introduced IntroducediH hit ritul iictit iictithuh iH ii riinst the inlliieiire of the prenchliii prenchliiinf nf If ue Ildi s and ihelr bright pictures of an In Inileieinlcni hituttetiibent ileieinlcni home fir their miiverts In the Went Wenttvhee eel eeltu tvhee tu Iii cnml gI ch honeil fi farmers 1mm r are ii Ff ilerlnreit ifrlit mit In ii h hIilliur he hefuit Iilliur fnr wives it it income tO CiiliC tn ipin nnlldntavails nnlldntavailsI uiiitliiuuir ttitll ttitllI I heiipiiinipriim h t li u uuuer ui iuiiitug < iiie servants ert au lii IH t perbaps perlitt ue enlest enlestwnn ciutcstcliii wnn nvcr IPF in Ihe ifi Morni n faith hut nil grades gradeshave gnitifeqrp1ruseiiiuuiitric have repre rp1ruseiiiuuiitric > entiiivrs among the enliven And AndIn AuntIii In justice ii t the tfu priiMlytirers It may be wild thnt thntI thuuithey I hey try IT to I eonvrrl nld iii and vmine uillii nlike althoiigli althoiiglithey ithiliouightI they I iii iloiiniem iiii tlt Ciii niireireniherHlian ilrii i IiCti I huitti theyounif thu titlng and ii nil to toMIIIIP toS MIIIIP S Itile exlent hfl 100 I the I iii middle tuul tile nged logo ti I ii ti to > the Went WentA VecLV A V liulthub allhlid iii Mranl PFt it lit to ti a family fotliil In New York YorkwarniMl onk onkit warniMl it hitch hr mistress that huh she would lose two ot other uIIir her help and it iii told her thnt they thin were coins guin AWAT AWATtn lilt CT CTli tn gel married Helm encouraged by hi the confl conflileiiei ultillii ii ileiiei iuiui of i I lnr old ut I Mtvalit cut iti Ii t the I hue mistress uiuls nec askeil for forjiartlculnrs foriuurttcuihtrs jiartlculnrs and lenrned that Ihn two girls had hadUsii heill Usii l uui converted ii veT fiI by Ii a Mormon and it iii producing producingn rdtuei eg egii n card uurul Un i > servant iitrIit tu I said stl i Ihnt liii I she sb hail lut Ills name nameand nue rue rueii and ii uI adlriss nul tsi Tin name tutu mu was ti its thai I of nil it n elder eldertin literiii tin iii printed pri tu led address nuhif FS was It it Ogileii Itnh t tutu and it rid there therewas tiPFcit was it it n clly l I address unlut Fes4 written In one corner of Ihu Ihucard thtritrif card tin t lit the luielc of the card ner fl ° i the thir thirUsii thtFi Usii artiles i TI hus ot faith ff1 lIt of if th the Mormnns or uT Latter LatterIViv het her herlilt lilt Snlnui As 4 predicted butt girls gave nollce nollceand notlena and a uit iktermlned to test the I lie sincerity I uiiIrt I of Ihelr r con conterslon ci in inI terslon I nliuu their I mistress ru hut Fies ntrered them both a large largeincrefiin hit FgI FgIiliirno increfiin uf wages w ciis to remain In her service They Theywould Fbiey111 would not stay though lh tfuev v did not nt first re refine reftit ¬ fine the tempting tclltliti ilf nlfer Un made ttutuc nor would tt itllh they theylell the theicit lell H here they were gnlni to live NVIther ehthicr would wouldthey wouldI they I lii iiNslmi any It li reiison f nr in leaving leavingThe in ti tug tugt The t lit i to 1 rlasses uf domestic help not affected affectedby by In this ltd iie ll factor In the I hue servant urnti t problem nr nrHie ore oret Hie t ii Irish I Catholics itt fuI ks and Ii tuil the colored siTVaiHi siTVaiHiIn sunlit ii iiitt In nn Instance ym ul henrd nf has n Calhollr bern berninlluemvil beenIn inlluemvil In h even rtn by hi the irlowlng triiitt I uig pmniitm ot an anIndependent a ii iihiiuti Independent home nnd n husband husbandThe fttiebuiiil11w The sermnl converts are gathered together togetheri ii i Is cult aid nt several hendiiiinrlers one of which whichs I s In iriHuinlnt mid here they the remain until a aparty itthin party thin Is maui up nnd they journey WnM At AtIhU Althu IhU thu end irf the line they have An cast time ol olIt ofltV It ltV ejeept ihni thev must mild remain umter the watch watchful tide tideflit ¬ flit care ciur f the bun elders They have no respond respondbillty nrtqxntithIlt billty hIlt 1 beyund placing titutl ului llieniselves under the con control routI ¬ nil I nt lhoxn In I ii authority thu 110Th over them and their theirtnrtiinntn tfuethI tnrtiinntn hI imlu tilitii situation itt Influences I ni fluuirun others to follow followtheir followthud their thud r etnruple et it triple and it nil Mil uI ut the Mormon li iThllflfl Church ChurchWheiher Chltmchilthtelhuir Wheiher the nlhnlic clergy are aware of th thconversions the thetiuutrsliuus conversions lnlng made among servant gills gillsIs Is I not known but It is nn nut likely llmt they here IIATHkiiiutedgpof herekuunfehgnof kiiiutedgpof the success of the elders liler nf if the Mon Morni I ni ut n orgniilntlnn rgn iii 7uttl nil and attribum it ttrh ho tic the dearth nt ntdomestic domestic 1 help liii hi to it the I ii rightful cause Certain CertainIt It I t Is they I iii ti < n no tut concern et ItCCFO lliemslves wllh the sub subJi culltint Ji I nnd tint hate no nnaislrxns regordltif Uielr Uielrown tbtmuitti own charges chargesTliw efunFgesFh Tliw Fh si whose attentions have tieen cnlleil to tolln tu tulii lln lii > nctlviiv of the elders nmong the servant girls girlsmid girl girliuiuut mid who hnve hunt Inv tntctlgutteul tlgnteil the mnlter find that thatwhile thaIIt while It tulle Ihelr success Is more marked among cent nervmil centii > mil ii tut gltls limn any dii other class cf working wo women nouuiiil ¬ men they to < not confine ihemsehm to this one oneclass oneThieg class They frequent the hmoll stores when whenyoung whereuuuig young uuuig wiiunn are employaj nnd seek to know knowwomen knotttunlit women who earn them own livings partlnilnrly partlnilnrlylln iarUellInFl iarUellInFltfui lln poorer paid tvnge earners Their imlet per perfclsiency perblsIulu fclsiency blsIulu and unvaryingly lnvarillgh patient altitude v vward to totitrut > ward women an aids to Ii their success and hey theyIuTuoClil heytiroselyllre tiroselyllre cotitlnilously I iiti nihilist 3 Some of the elders eldersImve rlulerichunt Imve hunt had the courage to bund their pnmphlel pnmphlelto to ti women in ih streets carefully selecting the thewomen theIttiitu women Iliev deem deemUnh nonevI Unh vI hi the religious asrects of if this rnntter houw houwkeeCM houcekiher keeCM nre if not concerned they tIle are accustomed accustomedtn tn I hire fntiinllrs nnd 1rnlestnnts Indiscriminately Indiscriminatelynnd anti iln ti not Ujtlier nbout the rellgloiis convictions convictionsif ii if their help Dm Hey are concerned In tb tbcononiitiew the theciiuiimi < ciiuiimi cononiitiew tide of the case If the Mormon elder rlderiire elderarc ire to gel nil iti tIe 1ritestnn servants whew Is Ishe litIfs Ifs he supply tf > come frnm Ktery MrvanLV agency agencyIii Iii New en t ork cite Jersey City liy and the surround mirruundig surroundtrig trig ig towns compaliis of the exndiu of rcrvantA rcrvantAml cervantnniul nniul ml nil are or p I usrkciu erl sn Ui t fill the demand From Irotnill Fromsill ill parts of U to South ooloretl belp if being fn fni sent sentI I i Ibis city Men ieit and women cook fromlhn fromlhnSouth frototheSuuitft South ar engaged Ivfure they Mart North and andwages enlttcge wages fur Imyond the tlgnrnii paid them at hoinn hoinnsri Ibm Ibmarc arc sri Jiromnid Prhlui iil The Hiitply of colored help will willnot sillIluit not lie lii NitlUricnt it Is declared and the demand demandor or F Irlli servants Is no great thai wages bare bareIseu harelcui Iseu giuhig gi ing up iii flcadily fnr two yea years It Is said saidllml eniiltiiitt llml large tmmUrn of young women will iiime iiimefrom uilhiCfrnt from Ireland this summer tn take employment enIoyunentas 11 donestiiH and d iiultlesut > ubtle < i women from other otherntintriiM othiefrettitinl rettitinl ntintriiM will le Induced u como by repmienta repmientallonj reCTecentatltiIl llonj made to iheri by aKencies here IieruThe herelhe The demand fuji hiii ltoiLe e fervnnls Is unltenal unltenalmil unfteralunit mil nil over tCF the country complaints are crcIf heard heardft ft the dearth thnt eilsts The Mormnmelilon Mormnmelilonintu Mtinmnnt elder elderhuitu huitu intu t worked 10 nuccetsfullr thnt It Is ownriail ownriailliey aitiitttiuiiIlucy liey nre to be ti credited with the changed conill conillInns oyuthllions Inns In domestic service and ntt they have worked workedin s in nhrewdlv Ilia their proselyllrlnir wM nri not notmtlreil 1101tiiilll mtlreil until it had made great headway headwayFrom heartututyFriti From Ineland nnny ritli fewer ewCF domestics every everyeason everyiiititsuifl eason and the w wino rk uhe o he Alirnmns In England Knglands Is s smd he ti the cnu tittII tinny Kngllnh converln converlno tO o the Mormon Clinrcl pass Ihrough New tew York Yorkn n Oieir way tun In I tan but It In hecnmlng more moreiirrult choreIulflrtilt iirrult ctery eteF day to hle hI Kn Icgltgh Ilsh strvanu