The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1870-08-18
DIR. Newman's Great Sermon
in Salt Lake City.
hoes THE BIBLE SANCTION POLYaAMY 2
RELIGIOUS, Moral, Political and Social
Aspects Of the Question.
Plurality of Wives as Practised
by the Prophets.
The Great Polygamic Sinners and
the Roll Of Honor.
SALT LAKE CITY, August 8, 1870.


~ SALT LAKE CITY, August 8, 1870.
The visit OF the Rev. Dr. Newman TO Salt Lake
City has created much excitement here among both
.sanrsr and sinners For several weeks his ar
rival was looked forward to with unusual interest.
Representing, as ne does the moral and religious
sentiments of the nation upon the barbarous insti-
tuition of polygamy his presence here has been i'm
patiently awaited by those who anxious TO hear
him assall the most peculiar and repugnant system
OF the saints. The occasion of his coming here
Is this:-On the Sd Of March last, when the
Cullom bill to abolish polygamy in Utah was
being discussed in Congress, Mr.. Hooper,
the Mormon Delegate, delivered an elaborate
argument in the House OF Representatives against
the legislation which the Cullom bill proposed. BY
far the greater portion Of his speech was devoted to
a defence OF polygamy on Bible grounds. Dr. New
man being chaplain Of the Senate, men high in
authority often asked him, 'Does the Bible sanction
polygamy ~ In view Of the religious character OF
the question: and Of the proposed legislation by Con-
gress concerning afairs in Utah, Dr. Newman deter
mined to answer the question from the pulpit. Ac-
cordingy on Sunday, April "a, he preached sermon
In his church In Washington condemning the system
the authority OF the Scriptures which was pub
lshed In full in the NEW YORK HERALD on the follow
ing morning Elder Orson Pratt, one of the Twelve
Apostles OF the Mormon Church. prepared reply,
which was adopted by the Church in conference,
and printed In the HERALD on the 3oth Of May. Dr.
Newman wrote o rejoinder to Pratts reply, and the
reJoinder appeared in the HERALD the Sd Of July.
Meanwhile the Salt Lake Daily telegraph, CON-
menting on the Doctors sermon, said:-''The SER
mon should have been delivered In the New Taber.
nacle In this city, with 1000 Mormons to listen to
It, and then Elder Pratt or some other prominent
Mormon should have had hearing on the other
side, and the people been allowed to decide"
This, together with the remarks which
followed, being regarded as a challenge
to him to come to Utah and discuss
the question OF polygamy from Scrlptural stand
point, he did not feel at liberty to decline 1t. He
announced his intention Of coming here in August
to preach series Of sermons debate the question
with Brigham Young After his departure from
washington on his journey hther the Deseret Eren-
ting Nescs, which Is the official organ Of the Mormon
Church. In o leading article on the Doctors ap.
preaching VISIT expressed its Ignorance Of any spe.
cinc challenge for discussion, and suggested that
II DR.. Newman should come mere he might have
the use OF the Tabernacle to preach IN If he would
reciprocate the favor by allowing q Mormon
elder to preach from his pulpit In his
metropolitan church in Washington. Two days
thereafter the Salt Lake Herald which arose out of
the ruins Of the Telegraph, undertook to solve the
disputed question Of the challenge by referring to
the article which had been published In the 7ele-
graph. The Herald did not consider 1t an authori-
tatve challenge. 1t would seem that when 1t was
known that DR.. Newman was really coming to as
sail polygamy in its own dominions, the Mormon
leaders, deeming "dscretion the better part OF
valor," concluded to decline the contest. Hence,
his arrival here last Friday, the presiding priest
hood and certain elders and apostles knew nothing
OF any proposed discussion. But many Of the Nor.
mons and all Of the Gentiles took it for granted
that there would be public debate In the 1aberna-
Gle after tie arrival OF Dr. Newman. On the morn
ing after his arrival he wrote Brigham Young note
informing him that he was In Salt Lake City and
prepared to discuss the question. Brigham Young
replied that DR.. Newman, In coming here in answer
to what he had construed to be o challenge from
him. was labOring under Misrepresentation DR..
Newman expressed his surprise at Brigham YOuna's
Interpretation, and went on to show how the article
In question, from which he quoted In his letter.
considered by himself and friends to be author
ized challenge from the Church. This correspond.
ence took place Saturday. When Dr. Newman
found that Brigham Young dlsclaimed the challenge
and declined discussion he accepted invitation to
preach on Sunday afternoon in the hall in which
the Methodists hold their religious services.
After these arrangements were completed on
Saturday afternoon Young invited Newman to
preach on Sunday in the Tabernacle, but Newman,
having made the other engagement to preach on
Sunday afternoon, was compelled to decline the In
vitation. This correspondence was telegraphed in
full ON Sunday to the HERALD. 1t has since been
continued. and other letters containing some spicy
personalities, and which are appended, passed be-
tween the champion Of monogamy and the poly
ganc prophet Meanwhile, however, DR.. Newman
delivered his great discourse against polygamy, in
the Methodist meeting house, stated. The hall
was crowded to its utmost capacity. many people
being unable to find standing room in 1t; and the
audience listened with rapt attention for three hours
and half to his eloquent and able argument.
The reverend gentleman took for his text part Of
the fourth verse of the nineteenth chapter Of the
Gospel according to st. Matthew
Have We not read that He which made them at the
beginning made them male and female.
have, he said threefold object in speaking to
you to-day The first is to do good. Yet my hopes
are not extravaganza, for I remember that St.
Paul. whose intellect was imperial, whose eloquence
matchless after he had delivered his great
mon on Mars Hill, could count only Dionysius
and Damaris and ono or two others as
the fruit Of his sermon In that idola-
trous city. I know too much OF early
education too much OF religious prejudice, to
suppose that the effects Of the former the power
of the latter ARE to be obliterated In day. The
second object Is to announce great gospel truth
in this city, where 1t Is denied argue o question
which, In its essential nature, Is disputed and In
that denial the Holy Bible is claimed as authority.
In other words stand here In the stronghold OF
polygamy. where the great advocates Of polygamy
are where they can have the opportunity to refute
what affirm II they can, and where. on my part,
display what trust is commendable Christian cour-
age In preaching my gospel to those who
do not believe It, The third object is, that
desire to present to the Church and the
nation clear exposition OF the doctrine
OF monogamy, as taught in the Bible, and as
it stands In sublime contradiction to the doctrine of
polygamy, which is In this CITY claimed to be Bible
doctrine. The text contains the truth propose to
advocate, the question design to discuss; and II
for your convenience sum up the question and the