--- title: Improvement Era description: Monthly periodical of the Mormon church, 1897 onward. This library holds the issues of November 1897 to December 1930. authors: - Bennion, Arthur L. collections: - periodicals tags: - magazine - improvement-era periodical: Improvement Era volume: 18 number: 1 published: 1914-11 publisher: Young Men’s Mutual Improvement Associations publisher_place: Salt Lake City language: en type: magazine reference: 'Bennion, Arthur L., "Government Investigation of the “Mormon” Question", *Improvement Era* 18, no. 1 (November 1914): 56–62.' source: url: https://archive.org/details/improvementera1801unse transcription: Transcribed from the Internet Archive scan of each issue (the item for each issue is named in the issue's own source); unnumbered advertising leaves are omitted, printed page numbers are kept as page markers. identifier: improvementera1801unse start_page: 56 end_page: 62 rights: status: public-domain basis: US publication 1930 or earlier (published 1914-11) source: https://archive.org/details/improvementera1801unse publication_year: 1914 note: The Internet Archive item metadata carries a blanket "© Copyright by Intellectual Reserve, Inc." notice. The library owner judged it inapplicable because this issue was published in 1914, before 1931; a scan-level notice does not restore copyright. --- # Government Investigation of the “Mormon” Question ; Government Investigation of the "Mormon" Question A Summary Statement of the Investigation Made by the British Government of the "Mormon" Question in England by elder arthur l. beeley, in a pamphlet published by the "millennial star" Rarely a day passes but the keen observer can find in the columns of sensational periodicals such captions as "Beware: of the 'Mormons,' " "Capturing Soul-brides for Utah," "Elders of 'Mormon' Church Entice Girls to Utah," "Sleek-haired Devils in Sheep's Clothing," "Local Girl Kidnapped by 'Mormon.' " etc., and under such headings an array of villifying accusations which make themselves obnoxious to thinking people. The "Mormon" elder, according to "yellow journalism," is a villain of the deepest dye he is a white-slave trafficker, and is charged with resorting ; to the basest practices to induce people to espouse his creed in fact, he is charged with almost every crime on the calendar. And, strange to say, these charges are made by and at the instigation of Christian ministers, so-called. man in the street, "If these charges are all But, says the false,men would not dare to make them!" And further, "If they are not true, why doesn't the 'Mormon' Church as an institution prosecute the offenders?" That is exactly the point Are these accusations true, or : are they false? Who shall say? "Let an impartial tribunal judge," says one. Very good "But," says another, "whose is ! the prerogative to undertake such a task?" According to Professor Anson, in his book, The Law and Custom of the Constitution, "The Home Secretary is responsible for peace and good order throughout the land by (a) exercising a control over the elements of possible disorder, and (b) by supervising the police forces of counties and towns." Therefore, since it is the duty of the Home Secretary, let us leave the matter entirely in his hands and await the outcome. Further, we will guarantee to the opposition that the defendants will remain absolutely mute during the whole trial, so as to eb'minate the possibility of influencing the judge in favor of the "Mormons." Further, we will concede to the affirmative the privilege of summoning to their aid all the forensic genius in the House of Commons, and grant GOVERNMENT INVESTIGATION 57 them the privilege of presenting their brief in whatsoever manner they choose. The following are excerpts from "Parliamentary Debates (Official Report)," published by the English Government: On the 29th July, 1910: "Mr. Petro asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether his attention has been called to the expulsion of 'Mormon' 'apostles' from Berlin on Friday last, and their departure for Rotterdam, and to the presence of members of that body at Hungerford, Berkshire, and whether he will take steps to prevent meetings being held to spread their views in this country, during the Recess? "Mr. Churchill: I have seen a statement in the press about the expulsion of the 'Mormons' from Berlin, but I have no official knowledge of the matter, and I have no information as to the presence of members of that body at Hungerford. I have no power to prevent the holding of such meetings as long as they are held in conformity with the law." On the 18th November, 1910: "Mr. Fitzroy asked the right hon. Gentleman whether he is aware of the propaganda which is being carried on all over the country by the 'Mormons' with a view to inducing women and young girls from English villages to go out to America to join their community, and whether he has taken or is taking any steps to prevent English women and girls from being subjected to these inducements to join a community which acts contrary to the laws of both England and the United States? "Mr. Churchill: Inquiry has from time to time been made into allegations which have reached the Home Office, but no ground for action has been found. I am informed that polygamy is now forbidden by the rules of the 'Mormon' Church as well as by the law of the United States." On the 6th March, 1911: "Mr. Arnold Ward asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether the attention of the Government has been called to the growing activity in this country of 'Mormon' missionaries from the United States; whether he has any official information showing that young English girls are being induced to emigrate to Utah, and if so, whether the Government propose to take any steps to safeguard English homes from this danger? "Mr. Churchill: My attention has been called to the matter, and I am making inquiries. I have at present no official information showing that young girls are being induced to emigrate to Utah. "Mr. Cathcart Wason: May I ask the right hon. Gentleman whether he has any information that polygamy is still practiced in Utah, and whether there is any objection to the girls going there? "Mr. Arnold Ward: May I ask the right hon. Gentleman whether he had official information that the United States Senate has reported that the leaders of the 'Mormon' church have practiced and encouraged polygamy? "Mr. Churchill: T am aware that the matter is causing a great deal of concern in certain quarters in this country. T am treating it in a serious spirit, and looking into it very thoroughly." : 58 IMPROVEMENT ERA Later in the same day "Mr. Harmood-Banner asked the Home Secretary if his attention has been called to the activepropaganda of 'Mormon' principles at present prosecuted in Liverpool and district, and whether in view of the character of the fundamental principles, His Majesty's Government will employ means to abate the nuisance? "Mr. Churchill: I am making inquiry into this matter." On the 19th April, 1911: "Mr. Houston asked the Home Secretary whether he has any officialinformation showing that the German government has expelled 'Mormon' missionaries from any portion of German territory, and whether he is prepared to introduce legislation to expel and exclude 'Mormon' missionaries from this country? "Mr. Churchill: I have no official information on the point, but inquiries are being made through the Foreign Office. I am unable at present to make any statement as regards the second part of the question. "Mr. Houston: Is the right hon. Gentleman not aware that it is public that the German government did, six years ago, knowledge peremptorily expel 'Mormon' missionaries from Germany on the grounds of their faith being against the interests of public morality: and is he aware that as late as last year, the twelve apostles of 'Mormonism' who went to Germany for purposes of propaganda were peremptorily expelled? (Note. — It is a matter of fact that the Twelve Apostles of "Mormonism" have never, at any time, been in Germany, simultaneously.) "Mr. Churchill: I have not yet made the inquiries which are necessary. I do not think there is any difference of opinion between us as to the character of this propaganda." On the 20th April, 1911: "Captain Faber asked the Home Secretary whether his attention has been called to the 'Mormon' campaign, whether 'Mormon' missionaries are making house to house calls in Chesterfield, and offering money bribes to girls to emigrate, and whether he contemplates any action against the 'Mormons'? "Mr. Churchill: I am informed that tracts have been distributed at houses in Chesterfield by 'Mormons', but that no instance is known to the police of the offer of money bribes to emigrate. As I have already stated, the whole question is receiving consideration, and if the hon. and gallant Member has any definite information, I shall be glad if he will communicate it to me. "Captain Faber: Is it not possible to include 'Mormons' in the Aliens Act? "Mr. Churchill: That is a very difficult question, and if the hon. and gallant Gentleman will look into the matter he will realize that it is not so simple as it seems at first sight. "Captain Faber: Is it not the fact that no law can touch them unless they really practice polygamy in this country? "Mr. Churchill: There is very wide toleration of opinion in this GOVERNMENT INVESTIGATION 59 country, and it is only when those opinions merge into action contrary to the law that the law can step in. , "Mr. Houston: Has the right hon. Gentleman received any information from the Foreign Office with regard to the expulsion of 'Mormons' from Germany? "Mr. Churchill: They can do a great many things by police action in Germany which we cannot do in this country, and to do which I do not propose to ask the House to give me powers." On the 25th April, 1911: "Mr. Houston asked the Home Secretary whether he has yet received any information from His Majesty's Ambassador at Berlin as to the expulsion of 'Mormon' missionaries from Germany, and if not, whether he can state when he expects to receive information? "Mr. Churchill: No information on the point has yet been received from His Majesty's Ambassador at Berlin, but the matter is being carried forward, and I expect to learn at a very early date the result of the inquiries which are being made. "Mr. Houston: Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that in various parts of the country, notably in the North, the spirit and temper of the people is rapidly rising, and may result in rioting and conflict with the police unless prompt steps are taken? "Mr. Speaker: That does not arise out of a question about 'Mormonism' in Germany." On the 8th May, 1911: "Mr. Houston asked the Home Secretary whether he has yet received any reply from the British Ambassador at Berlin as to the expulsion of 'Mormon' missionaries from Germany; if so, will he state the nature of the reply; if the German Government have to deal with 'Mormon' missionaries in Germany, does he propose to adopt similar measures in Great Britain; or, if not, whether he will introduce legislation prohibiting 'Mormon' propaganda in Great Britain, and the nature of such legislation? "Mr. Churchill: A reply has now been received from the British Ambassador at Berlin to the effect that no special legislative measures for prohibiting or restricting the 'Mormon' propaganda have been adopted in Germany. Steps are taken by the police to expel any foreign members of the sect who may render themselves obnoxious in any way, but, as I have already stated in this House, the police in Germany have a great many powers that are not possessed by the police in this country. I am not yet in a position to state the full result of my inquiries with regard to 'Mormon' propaganda in this country and America, but I have not so far discovered any ground for legislative action in the matter. "Mr. Houston: Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that the hostility to this propaganda is growing rapidly in this country, and that in some instances benches of magistrates are so sympathetic with the rioters that they have dismissed the complaints against them made by the police? "Mr. Churchill: I think anything in the nature of rowdyism and mob action ought to be sternly suppressed by those responsible for the maintenance of the peace." From the above citations it is obvious that the chief indictment asramst the "Mormon" elder in Great Britain is that he : 60 IMPROVEMENT ERA is bribing and secretly inducing English girls and women to emigrate to Utah for immoral purposes. It is interesting to note, however, what the law has to say in this regard, and I therefore refer to The Criminal Law Amendment, Act, 1885 (48 and 49 Vict., chapter 69, Sec. 2), which says: "Any person who procures or attempts to procure any woman or girl to leave her usual place of abode in the United Kingdom (such place not being a brothel), with intent that she may, for the purposes of prostitution, become an inmate of a brothel within or without the Queen's dominions, shall be guilty of a misdemeanor, and being convicted thereof shall be liable at the discretion of the court to be imprisoned for any term not exceeding two years, with or without hard labor." Referring to this identical clause The Criminal Law Amendment Act, 1912 (2 and 3 Geo. 5, chapter 20, Sec. 1), says: "A constable may take into custody without a warrant, any person whom he shall have good cause to suspect of having committed, or of attempting to commit, any offense against section two of the Criminal Law Amendment Act, 1885 (which relates to procuration and attempted procuration)." Is it not reasonable to suppose, therefore, that if there existed an atom of truth in the indictment, that the laws just quoted and others would have been used in the suppression of the "Mormon" propaganda in this country? The fact is, on the other hand, that during the 77 years that the "Mormon" elder has proselyted in the British Isles not a single case has been proved nor has one yet arisen. The fact that no mention of the "Mormon" question has been made in the House of Commons since the 8th of May, 1911, until the present time, proves that Mr. Churchill's statement on that date was accepted as final. But since, on the other hand, his conclusion was preceded by the clause, "I am not yet in a position to state the full result of my inquiries," there still remained the possibility of the appearance of further evidence which might modify this conclusion. With this idea in view the following letter was penned Durham House, 295 Edge Lane, Liverpool, May 14th, 1914. Sir: On the 8th of May, 1911, the Secretary of State for Home Affairs, Mr. Winston Churchill, made the following statement in the House of Commons: "I am not yet in a position to state the full result of my inquiries with regard to 'Mormon' propaganda in this country and America, but I have not so far discovered any ground for legislative action in the matter." I am desirous of ascertaining the conclusions drawn, or the result of the inquiries on the "Mormon" question, spoken of above, and should therefore deem it a favor to receive an official copy of same. In the event that this is not available, could the records contain- r' ••) . . : GOVERNMENT INVESTIGATION 61 ing such facts be viewed by appointment, and could citations be made to some reliable periodical containing the facts in the case? Thanking you in anticipation of this favor, and apologizing for this intrusion upon your valuable time, I am, Sir, Yours sincerely, (Signed) Arthur. L. Beeley. Rt. Hon. Reginald McKenna, K. C., Home Office, Whitehall, London, S. W. The following letter was received in reply Home Office, Whitehall, 22nd May, 1914. Sir: In reply to your letter of the 14th instant, with reference to the 'Mormon' propaganda in this country and in America, I am directed by the Secretary of State to say that no official report has been published, but that the extensive enquiries which were made did not reveal any grounds for legislative action. The Secretary of State regrets that it would be contrary to practice to accede to your request to be allowed to see the official records dealing with this matter. I am, Sir, Your obedient Servant, (Signed) A. J. Eagleston. Arthur L. Beeley, Esq., Durham House, 295 Edge Lane, Liverpool. The only difference between Mr. Churchill's conclusion of May 8th, 1911, and the statement in the letter of May 22nd, 1914, is the inclusion in the latter of the phrase "extensive inquiries." Referring again to the prescribed powers of the Secretary of State, Professor Alpheus Todd in his treatise, Parliamentary Government in England, says: "In addition to his prescribed police powers, large statutory authority has been assigned to the Home Secretary. He has a direct controlling power over the administration of justxe and police in all the municipal boroughs." It is apparent, therefore, that the "extensive enquiries" would be made through the very effective channels' at the disposal of the Home Secretary, viz., the different police forces. Now, it is an absolute fact, and has later become common knowledge, that the various police forces throughout the United Kingdom were instructed to make full inquiries into these allegations and to report their findings to the Home Office. The fact that eight different members of Parliament, each representing different constituencies, brought the matter before the attention of the House of Commons, is further proof that the inquiries would be thorough and universal, i. e., not confined to any one part of the country. 62 IMPROVEMENT ERA The fact that the question was debated eight times within nine months on the floor of the House of Commons is further evidence that the question had become an aggravated one and would be dealt with "very thoroughly," as Mr. Churchill promised. Again, the fact, as stated by Mr. Churchill on the 18th of November, 1911, that the allegations which reached the Home Office were inquired into and no ground for action found, is an additional reason for believing that the inquiries would be thorough-going. In this connection let it be borne in mind that Mr. Churchill, on the 20th April, 1911, stated that "the whole question is receiving consideration," and on the 6th of March, 1911, said: "I am treating it in a serious spirit, and looking into it very thoroughly." Now, then, in the light of these facts, the conclusion drawn by Mr. Churchill in May, 191 l r and the declaration of the Home Secretary, so recent as May. 22nd, 1914, to the effect "that the extensive inquiries which were made did not reveal any grounds for legislative action," prove conclusively that such allegations are untrue. And what is very remarkable is the fact that. Mr. Winston Churchill made this statement and reached this conclusion in spite of himself, for on the 19th of April, 1911, he implied that he himself regarded the "Mormon" propaganda as dangerous. Now, then, since, as Professor Todd further points out, that "he (the Home Secretary) himself is a magistrate, and exercises a power to examine and commit for trial persons charged with offenses against the State," is it not only reasonable to suppose that in the exercise of this power and duty he would have committed for trial and punished most rigorously any and all offenders and further, is not the argument also tenable that ; he undoubtedly would have proposed and introduced "effective legislation?" The judge has rendered his decision, dear reader. The court of last appeal, after "extensive inquiries," has awarded in favor of the silent defendants. The "Mormon" elder is exonerated, and the falsifier, in spite of his prejudice, calumny and invective, has been ignominiously defeated. The question logically raises itself here : What can be said of our accusers who persist in the circulation of these charges, who reject the findings of their own government, and thereby insult it by tacitly implying that the British government is aiding, abetting and conniving at the alleged infamous practices of the "Mormon" Church? Such a man is either an ignoramous or a prevaricator of the first water, and we care not which horn of the dilemma he chooses. LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND