The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1883-12-06
BEECHER'S VIEWS.


Henry Ward Beecher entertaine
his congregation with an account o
his late tour Of the west and north
west. A considerable portion of th
discourse was devoted to a discus
sion of the Mormon problem, an,
the full text of that part of Mr.
Beecher's sermon will be found il
this edition of THE HERALD. The
distinguished divine has giver
much study 10 the religion of the
Mormons, and to the people them
selves, and has brought his big brain
to bear upon the question of RENE
dies for what he and the Christian
world regard as evils. In this
matter, as with other things,
Mr.. Beecher is brave, independent
and original. He entertains de-
cided opiuions and has the courage
to express them. Offensive as it
may be to the large and apparently
growing class of radicals, Mr..
Beecher's plan is based On common
sense, human nature and true
Christianity. Without saying any
thing of the claims TO divinity of
the Mormon doctrines or practices,
or discussing the religion in any
respect, it may be said that Nor
mons believe in and practice a
religion that is not condemned by
the book upon which Christianity is
founded and built; but that same
Bible teaches that the methods that
some would employ in dealing with
the Mormons are not Christian /;
on the contrary, they are di-
rectly opposed to the doctrines of |
love, of peace, of kindness, of lead
ing instead of driving, of persuasion
and reason rather than coercion and
violence, that were taught by the
Founder of the Christian religion.
1t does not comport with the gospel
of the Savior as interpreted by Him
and his disciples. to recommend the
sword and bayonet in dealing with
a problem like that presented by
the Mormons, and those who would
employ those arbitrators are OUT
side the church line as defined by
Christ. Hence, in this respect, at
least, Beecher is the Christian and
Talmage and his echoes are not.
In the light of reason and common
sense, also, is not Beecher
nearer right than the radicals?
Neither denying nor asserting
the existence of evils among
the Mormons, reason, human
nature and history all teach that If
the practices complained of be evils
they will be easiest, quickest and
most effectively cured through the
peaceful and natural methods sug~
yested by the great Brooklyn divine.
Whatever is wrong in religious or
social sense among the Mormons
will be remedied by education, as
ISOLATION with the world and time.
These are agencies more powerful
md far more thorough and s arching
than legislative enactments Or the
lecrees of rulers in dealing with
religious matters. To verify this
,ne need not go outside of Salt Lake
,ity. This city, in its history of the
past fifteen or eighteen years, proves
now powerful those agencies are.
Will anybody claim that statutes
have been very effectiveas curative
nstrumentalities during the same
period? If they have dole any
hing they have solidifed, cemented
md made stronger the very power
hat they were framed to disrupt
md overthrow. We are not GER
ain that the laws and their
manner of enforcement have not
proven missionary tracts in behalf
# the Mormons; but we are certain
hat the attempted putting into op-
.ration of the wild, inhuman
chemes suggested by the violent
md thoughtless, would have result :
Iirectly opposite to that intended.
The Sword remedy" is simply :
and brutal. 1t is un-
worthy consideration or serious
in all enlightened country.
70 even suggest it, subjects one to
idicule. and stamps him as fool or
nave, or both. America is pro-
however retrogressize and
lie some of its citizens may be. NO
vii Of which the Mormons could