The Canton advocate. [volume] (Canton, D.T. [S.D.]) 1877-1897, 1880-09-02
TALMAGE ON MORMONISM.


lie Deprecates Its STEADY Growth and
PrOselytism, and Regrets the East.
ern Press is SO Derelfet on the Sub
ject-- Ills Future Plans.
| Salt Lake Tribune.
Noneed of description in his case
he is too we'll known. His litho-
graphic prints are most excellent, and
those who have failed seeing them have
probably seen him portrayed in Puck
as a saltarian or prize-fghter Known
as a sensational preacher, hhas re-
ceived many a knock, and kiiews very
well how to take the roughs of life as
well as the pleasantries. He has ma
ture which always makes him on good
terms with himself, and is most pro-
nounced optimist. His religion is sun
shine, he said in his lecture, Wednesday
evening, and certain it is that for all he
has Il warm fraternal grasp and kind
word. In truth he does not ap-
pear to be such man as the papers
generally make him out to be, such a
one as prompted the remark Of a
friend who, upon hearing that a, in
teryiew had been had, queried: "Did
you ask him whether he was going to
run circus OF a church next year,!
"Mr Talmagc," questioned the re-
porter, after both had been seated in
the Walker House parlors, "you have
doubtless given some thought to this
question af Mormonism. and what do
you think of it?"
S'Oh, well, was the half laughing and
half serious reply 'I take it there
can be but one opinion of it among the
Christian ministers, that is is an abom-
nation"
"Had you any idea that the church
was as strong as you find it?"
Among eastern people there has
been an idea that with the death of
Brigham Young it would go to pieces" ;"
'"What is your opinion now"
'sThat the question can only be solved
with guns. There can be no doubt but
the downfall of Mormonism will not
come until the national legislature pass
es the laws and then executes them.
The church has become too powerful
and is too well organized to fall
to pieces now. And [ understand
it is steadily growing and placing its
proselytes in surrounding states and
territories"
'Do you think that the ministers and
christian papers of the east have been
derelicti in the matter Of stirring Nor
manism up?"
Possibly, and think probably.
While here I have been questioning
many people and finding out all can
Of the affair, and having been collecting
Norman literature, etc.
"For use when you return east?"
GAS to that | cannot say-possibly
So"
"You had good houses at Denver?"
Excellent. I was there three days
and preached on Sunday, and enjoyed
the visit very much. met many New
York friends who showed me every at
tention to make my visit pleasant"
81 see by the dispatches that you
were around through the dens of that
placer"
ooh, that is a mistake he answered,
laughing. "you know how newspapers
exaggerate some things. I was in just
four places-the Windsor Hotel, the
Opera House, the bank and the
church."
did you go to Leadville!'
"Yes.'
"And what do you think of the
place? %
II think Leadville has been maGgned
and traduced. All the gambling and
wickedness are right on the street. but
Inever addressed more intellectual
audience than atsLeadville, and it can't
be beaten. Leadville has more tele-
phones than any other city of its size in
America. To be sure there is a great
deal of wickedness there, but it is open
and plain You can look through
many gambling places from the. street
and see the. men playing. And yet
every Sunday the churches are crowded.
They are small, of course, but then they
are always jammed, am told, and that
is good sign, you know"
Certainly, certainly" assented the
reporter, who upon recovering himself
asked if Mr. Talmage expected to stay
long at San Francisco.
About two weeks. During that time
I may go up to Portland, but / think
not. / may stop at Virginia City com
ing back Itdepends on my time. I
must be at New York on September
l."
elbow is the Tabernacle; out of
debit"
"No, but we see our way clear, and
will have no trouble over that matter" /"
"Yours is an Independent Church, is
! it not"
"No, it is Presbyterian" he answered,
evidently mistaking the question, "but
we have people of all denominations y
"But are you connected with the
Presbytery?"
ooh, yes. You know we had some
trouble, but I beat them, and they
treated me so nicely that can't com
plain"
"How are politics
''Not enllyened up yet. It's too
warm. But in New York Garfield g
nomination gives great satisfaction,
while Hancock has cemented the Tam
manyites and Tildehites. /"
"You will stop here returningy'
"No, I shall go right through to the
east"
Mr. Talmage is accompanied ty his
wife, a most estimable woman.