Arizona citizen., 1877-03-17
Narrowing.

>cINiCc ID AIlLOna ana NoW MeXlcC ! by weekly reference thereto in its col
 umns, and the frequent publication of
 valuable information especially con
 cerning our Territory. Its editor i>
 the Rev. Dr. Sheldon Jackson, whose
 visit to Tucson, last spring, will be | pleasantly rocollected by our readers
 He organized the Presbyterian church
 at Tucson, of which the Rev. J. E. An.
 derson is now pastor.
 But while we like Dr. Jackson and
 his paper and thank the two for their voluntary services, and sincerely hope
 that our Territory shall continue to be
 m object of their kindly interest, We
 wish the Doctor would be little less
 indi>criminate in his reference 10 us ! For instance, Arizona was the subject ! for special consideration and prayer ai the monthly prayer concert for March, among the churches. h holding IL up for prayerful consideration, the Presbyterian says:
 If there is any section of our land where tbe religious condition Is such aS to drive Gods people to the throne of grace in earnest, importqnaIe plead ing and arouse the slumberiug energies of the Christian Church 10 energetic and prompt action, this Is that section AmId It's people are those who bow down 10 idols of wood and stone-thOse who are pure sun-wOrshipcrs, with all iJs mystic rltes-lhOsc who offer sacri- fees 10 many gods of their own crea- Ition-thOse who are followers of the cruel rites of a baptized heathenlsm- believers in the man of sin" In this section during the past year one man was shot and another burned for whiichcrail-lwo were crucified to death, and scores of others sacrificed their lives in the vain attempt to eX- pIate their sins by the sufierings oi the body, and all this in a section ol Christian land.
 Dr. Sheldon has been through thls Territory and ought to know better than 10 throw out such insinuations as the above without making them prop erly local in their application. He knew what part of Arizona he referred to ID his remarks, but there are q good many people who are not blessed with
 sc much light ard who will think Ihe Doctor had some reference to Tue son. For the enlightenment of such we will say Gin confidence, and with deep modification that Prescott is the locality referred 10 alone in the Doe tors remarks. We regret that the eX- posture has been made. but now tha, il is made, we have right 10 demand that it be locally confined and not be spread on the Territory promiscuously. The wood and stone idOl-worShipers; :; the pure sun-worshipers, with all their mystic rites; the followers ot the cruel rites of 8 baptized hea'henism; each and all have their rendezvous in ] Prescott. And when the Doctor tells lo of one man shot and another burned ! for witchcrdft; two cruciiied to death (hcad downwards,l and scores of others havIDg sacrificed their lives in the vain atcmp; 10 expiate their sins by the suferings of the body, during the past year, (in Prescoit) he must have purpnsely toned the picture down; he hasn't told the half of it. It's simply awful. We have known this terrible state of facts for years, but for the love we bear our common country and our Territory we have maintained silence while our hearts bled. They have a hIgh mountain, called San Francisco mountain, and they go On top of that and offer up human sacrifices. And there Is frequently a strong smell ot birthstone in their town. And they. even make vows of atonement not t0| change their underclothing for ten years. And when some of them were. down here 10 the Legislature they. built a large fire, one night, in the. open air, and offered up burnt sacri- fee and danced in a circle. Pray for them? Why, dear brethren and sisters, you will never find another lay out upon which you can so unreseryedly turn yourselves loose in prayer. Bless. you for your courage in lackling the. matter. Pray on. The night is far spent, the day is al hand.