The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1878-12-27
"a PERSONAL GOD IN CONSCIENCE.

LECTURE BY THE REV. JOSEPH COOK, OF BOSTON,
AT ASSOCIATION HALL.
The Rev. Joseph Cook delivered to a large audience
in Association Hall last evening his lecture on "A
Personal God in Conscience" In his prelude he
spoke of the proposition to admit Utah into the
Union State "Place before Mormonsm,"
said he. 'the shield of State rights. and you pro-
vide 1t with defence vulnerable only to the
bayonet. The subject may well be discussed
under the shadow Of the Christmas tree,
for there no leprosy can live nor any defender of
leprosy." The lecturer rapidly outlined the origin
and growth OF Mormonism. "Three four hundred
missionaries advocating it abroad. and during
the past summer 1000 immigrants passed from the
Atlantic coast to the Western Territory where po-
lygamy is allowed. Within the two years just passed
there have been Mormon marriages in Utah
than within the same period at any previous time.
Young Mormon leaders are becoming disguised with
polygamy. 1t takes nothing but the bright light
OF truth to show them the error of their doctrine
We must use educational methods to convince the
Mormon people that they misled by pronigates
1t becomes more evident every day that this country
must stand fall according it educatcs. fails
to educate, the South and West. The Mormon prob
lem must be cured by the keen edge OF the sword or
not sharper in attack Utah will be in the Union
and then God knows whether the fostering ulcer
will not be finally cured by civil war. The Gentes
of Utah have petitioned Congress- and the ladies'
have addressed Mrs Hayes to prevent the admission
of the Territory as State until its peculiar institu
tons are declared illegal God grant that their
prayer be favorably answered. This country liz like
great whale rolling on the surface Of the ocean
nervous shock travels slowly throughout its great
length that it may be dangerously wounded and it's
extremtes transfxed with a deadly weapon before it
becomes conscious of having been touched. Beyond
Mormonism looms the Chinese question. dull, thun-
derous, copper haze. These things. being in the far
West. seem remote from the heart and head OF the
nation; but we may be vitality injured there before
we know of it here in New York, even in Boston,"
The lecturer then. after prayer and the singing of
stanza from my Country, it's Of Thee from
the chair where he had sat to read his prelude and
proceeded to deliver his lecture on the Souls
Laughter at Itself" william Shakespeare" he be-
gan. 'says that when in viciousncss grow
hard the wise gods seal our eyes, make adore
errors, laugh at us, and strut to destruc-
ton. Victor Hugo says that the soul laughs at it.
self. These two men were neither partsans nor
theoogians; but they agree this subject with the
book which you will not allow me TO open on
this platform. 1 propose to show that
Richter, Hugo, Shakespeare, Browning. Euripides
Tennyson Schiller, Byron, agree with inspired
writer's concerning the deepest impressions of con-
science If the physical eye is perfectly adapted to
physical light why is not the moral eye adapted to
the light of the Sun behind the SUM- II my
science degrades me, in my estimation why
perception of my in matters of sound, of my eye
in matters of lightg The lecturer gave long de-
scription Of the mental struggles of Jean Vatican,
depicted by Victor Hugo in lies Miserables." zone
Of the six greatest novels of the century Rchters
Titan said Mr.. Cook "is perhaps. the best Of
these six best novels. His testimony comedies with
Hugo's as to the souls laughter ut ITSELF" Many
quotations from Shakespeare read to show the
terrible power of an evil conscience.