The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1870-01-05
The Mormon Greed.

Here is the Mormon creed, at least as
nearly as 1 could get at it. 1t is strange
compound of evangeliciam, and rationalism,
and ritualism, and Romanism, and free ma
sonry. l asked a man-inteligent for a
Mormon, and one who evidently knew what
he was. talking about-"What would you
answer one who might come to you, saying;
What must l do to be saved?" His reply
was after this fashion: First of all, he would
tell such an one that faith must be exercised
toward Christ. Christ has come into the
world and made an atOnement, and we must
believe in Him; there is no salvation without
that. But then this atonement has to do
only with original san, and faith in Christ
has no other efficacy than to bring the soul
into such contact with that atonemeAt as
that the stains of its original guilt may be
washed out. Christ and faith in Him are
only concerned about original sin. This
side of that, except so far as baptism may
aid you, you must work out your own saliva
ton; this side of that you are to be justified
by your works. And here, in this insistence
on the atonement and faith, appears the only
evangelical element l could discover in this
strange conglomerate; while in the declara-
ton that-Original sin aside-we are to be
justified solely by our works, is disclosed
the rationalistic element.
Next this Mormon would tell one inquir-
ing his way toward salvation,-"You must
be baptized for the remission of sins" The
sins here meant suppose to be those COM
mitted up to the time of baptism. This
baptism must be by immersion, and is in the
fullest sense efficient and necessary to saliva
ton. Baptism is not symbol, it is an en-
ergy. No devoutest sacramentarian could
exceed Mormon in his Astounding faith in
baptism as saving rite. And here energies
the ritualistic element in this creed.
The next thing this Mormon would tell
his inquirer he must do, is, submit to con-
frmation at the hands of those empowered
The empowered are the dignitaries of the
Mormon church, and the result of confrma-
ton is the actual reception of the Holy
Ghost by those confirmed. The effect of
this laying on of hands in this church of the
Latter Day Saints is everywhere as remark
able and valuable as the laying on of hands
by the apostles in the early church. Indeed,
Brigham is at least equal, if not quite supe-
rior to Paul, in all directions. Here again
we find ritualistic element
The next thing this Mormon would con,
slider compulsory on this man with his face
turned toward salvation, is life according
to the doctrines of the Latter Day Saints.
A prominent feature of such life is abso-
lutte submission to the church authorities.
No one can conceive who has not himself
breathed the pestilent atmosphere of Salt
Lake City, how every remotest fibre of Nor
mon life is penetrated, and restrained, and
enclosed, by this dogma of an abject sub,
mission. Here appears the pOpish element
in this creed. And yet the narrowest Ro-
manism is widest liberty, compared with the
broadcast Mormonism. I do not think the
world has scarcely seen tyranny so tyran-
meal as this, which defes the religion of the
Bible and the government of the United
States in Utah to-day. Of course another
feature of this life, according to the doctrine
of the church, is that man marry largely,
and increase and multiply. Though it be
true that Mormon would acknowledge that
the husband of but one wife might be saved,
yet polygamy is the path to honor here, and
to better glory in the other world. And
still another feature of this life, according
to the doctrines Of the church, is that man
be regular in tithe-paying. Every Mormon
must contribute one.tenth of his years in.
come to the support of the church, This
Brigham himself receives and does as he
pleases with, and accounts to no one for
What business has an inspired prophet with
accounts? To whom can he be held respon-
sible3