The Daily state register. [volume] (Carson City, Nev.) 1870-1872, 1871-11-21
MErHop1sM VS.. MoRMoNIsM.

take all the credit that they are en-
titled by Brigham Young's assertion
that the prosecutions of the Saints
have been brought about by the
Methodist Church. Judge Mexican,
himself a Methodist, accepts the dec
laration as correct in a letter to the
East, and the Zion Herald puts it
down among the choice morsels of
its organization. DR.. Newman com
menced the crusade with a theOloG-
ical discussion in the Tabernacle,
and got disgracefully beaten. Then
am the camp meeting, disturbing
the tranquility of the city for a week
without any visible waste of divine
grace. The powers ofthe air falling
to touch the incorrigible saints in II
weak spot, the vengeance eft the
Eternal was brought down upon
them through the arm of the Judi
ciarv and tie Federal Government.
This has proved more successful,
demonstrating the ofthe Crom-
wellian maxim, "Trust in God"
first. but be sure and keep your
powder dry" Punishment proved
easier than conversion.
The fact is that converting Nor
mons to Methodism is among the
.impossibilities. The larger portion
of the present members of the Nor
mon faith were original Methodists.
They we're converted from that sect.
and although converts sometimes 90
back to their old faith. itisnot often.
Mental and spiritual experiences
carry men and women forward, but
seldom backward. Having once at
tempted to navigate that unfathOm-
able sea of mystery which connects
the present life with the future, spir-
itual instinct. and J norbid longing
for more light" constantly press
the religious inquirer onward, by
progressive steps, from creed to
creed. and ~ect to sect. They can
rot 60 back to the simple faith of
their earlier religious experience.
That which las once leen tasted and
rejected Is forever after repugnant.
Religious life, like everything else
in nature. IS progressive. or 1t Is
nothing. Deeper thought and wider
experience may raise doubts in the
mind, as the storm and sun cover
the horizon Of the ocean with cloHdy
exhalations. And as the sailor seeks
clearer skies by constantly pushing
forward, so the skeptic2l devotee
naturally seeks the solul.ya f his
mental difficulties in that myst,fi.rS
foreground, whose secrets may py~-
sibIy disclose the ever vanishing
Truth.
The Mormon Church may be brok-
en- up, but its congregations will
never become Methodists. They are
far more likely to become Spiritual
lists, although their present creed
would seem toally them closely with
the materialists. The Godhyite
branch appear to have drifted almost
bodily into transcendentalism. As
a sect the Mormons have passed over
q wider religious experience than
the great body of any other denomi-
nation in America. Ignorant and
simple as many of these appear they
are tough and ready di~sputants on
religious matters, and not easily con-
founded. Most Of their old leaders,
from Brigham Young down, were
once Methodist preachers, familiar
with all the influences and special
pleas of that faith. They went over
that ground fortyyears ago. 1t this
late day they are the last of al the
earth to again put On their old cast
off religious garments. A more IN
promising ground for a camp-meet-
I'LL l. r- H. II