The semi-weekly miner. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1882-1886, 1883-10-24
TIE PLATFORM,
Mr.. Jockeys Lecture on the Nor
mon Situation.

A Clear and Intelligent Presenta
ton of the Subject.
A large, attentive and thoughtful
audience filled the Presbyterian
church last evening to listen to til
lecture delivered by Mr.. Frede1i
Lockley on "The Situauionin Utah.
The lecturer made no pretense to OF
atory. but in well chosen languag
and in a conversational sty.e he re
counted the history of Mormonisn
and step by step traced its progress
up to the present time. TIL
Rev. Mr.. Russell introduce,
the gentleman to the audience
The lecturer began by saying as h
Was somewhat of a novice on tn,
lecture platform he would throw
himself " on the indulgence of BIZ
audience for any crudities that nigh
mar his performance. He opened
his subject 10y describing how the
Saints in Utah hold themselves aloof
from the unconverted human race.
Tueir theology teaches them that the
world is to be again destroyed be-
cause OF the desperate wickedness OF
its inhabitants. To escape this I'M
pending calamity, they have betaken
themselves to the Businesses OF Utah,
and they resent the intrusion of the
Gentle race as confusing to AL
mighty designs. They teach that
the holy priesthood died out when
the Romans destroyed the Holy City,
and its surviving inhabitants were
scattered as a people without an
abiding place. With the overthrow
of the Hebrew altar, all means of in
tercessicn with the throne Of Greece,
we're obliterated, all communication
between the creature and creator was
annulled. For eighteen centuries
man lived without a God and with
out religion; his prayers and praises
were UNDECIDED; his covenants had
no efficacy; his solemn sacraments
were idle mummery. Children were
born into the world without the
sanctity Of the marriage relation,
men died without the redeeruing
grace Of a Savior.
This alienation from God was re-
moved by the choice of Jos. Smith for
a prophet, and the fou dation of the
Latter Day Church. This latter
t~ranscendart event happened in the
house of Peter Whitmer, OF Fayette,
Seneca county, New York, on April
6, 1880. Six persons, the prophet be-
ing one of the number, composed the
new dispensation.
The lecturer cited a number of
instances, of recent oc-
.edrrence, to show the inflammable
state of society in this modern Zion,
and how the feeble attempts to en-
force the law are resisted by that reo- !
pie as fagr;nt usurpation. The anti
law Of Congress has been
n operation over a score of years,
md though numerous attempts have
been made to convict and punish
~oolygamists, but two have been sue
and one OF these ESCAPED pun
shment.
The weak point in this law was
shown to exist in its making the
marriage ceremony the offense, and
lot the subsequent cohabitation.
These celestia! marriages are per-
ormed in the Endowment House,
whose sacred portals have been pro-
sned by no unbelieving footstep.
nd when evidence is sought in a
curt OF law none Of the parties pres
mt can be induced to testify.
The Edmunds law fortifies this
weak point by making plural mar
and cohabitation a continuous
also outlawing those who
re guilty OF the crime, together with
hose devout Saints who avow their
ellef i'll the polygamy revelation as
divine ordinance. But though this
aw has been in operation nearly two
ears no case has been tried under
provisions The lecturer gave sew
raj reasons for this remissness. Chief
mong them is the unwillingness of
he Gentle citizens to stir up any
angerous ferment. That class of
itizens have not settled in Utah for
Missionary purposes, or to force a
igher morality upon perverse secta-
les given up to all manner of I'M
leanness. They take place with the
verage citizen Of this republic
either better nor worse. They delve
" treasure, they follow mercantile
ursuits, they practice law, preach
ne Gospel, and carry on mechanical
,dustries, or honest means of lrv-
,g, and these can best be presented
lille social quiet prevails. Suppose
,me judicial office should conceive
his duty to enforce this law against
olygamiSts-to enter upon a crusade
those obnoxious to the statute.
. gain convictions he would require
use the law 10 it's utmost limit, and .
make the prosecutions effective the
,ost prominent offenders should be
ngled out. Every Latter Day-Saint -,
ould oppose such enterprise. Con- -,
Imacious witnesses must he COM
Tilted for contempt, and [ am not =
Ire, said the lecturer, but it would y.
!, necessary to send John Taylor, the .
cad Of the Utah Church, and some :
his holy apostles to prison for re- ,,
sing to produce, when called upon p.
/, the court, the Endowment House =