Salt Lake evening Democrat. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1885-1887, 1885-12-21
MINISTER'S CON THE LIST!"
Rev. McNiece Says He Has Been Sc.
lected as n Northumberland
He Kicketh vigorously.

Rev. r. G.. McNiece addressed large
congregation at the Presbyterian Church
last evening, the subject of his discourse
being "The Present Situation in Utah
and Some of the Duties of the Hour"
The subject, of course, is most interest
ing one, and last evening was made
doubly so by the announcement from the
preachers own lips to an electrified
audience that they chad him on the
list" This was one OF the reasons, Mr.
McNiece stated, why he held forth at
this particular time on such subject as
he had announced. Following are por-
ton of the reverend gentleman's intro
ductory remarks:
'But there is another reason why preach
this particular sermon tonight. It has been
rumored throughout the city that there is
certain black list of names in the possession
of the police authorities, and that on that
black list are the names of two or three min
listers OF this city, my own among others.
l suppose have heard that from some fif-
teen or twenty sources during the last ten
days. Who started that rumor in motion
throughout this city? Certainly, not the
friends of this church. And what was that
rumor set in motion for, and why is it kept
flying throughout the town that my name is
on certain black list? Doubtless for
various reasons and interpret one of the
main causes to be this: 1t is covert
intimidation of the freedom of this pulpit
It says virtually: You, as minister of the
gospel, have been very outspoken in times
past against this system of government
which prevails here; you have written and
spoken against it. Now it is time for you to
be quiet, otherwise the hair that holds sus-
pended this sword of Damocles will be cut
and it will drop upon you! We have got
something hanging over you now! Be quiet;
say nothing more, and we will let you alone!
II was born in free country as a free cit
izen. 1 live under the flag of that country
as loving and dutiful citizen. One of the
things with which my mother endowed me
as part of my birth-right, was free Lips,
and hardly think shall barter away that
sacred right for priests pottage; I have not
the least idea that shall be inundated for
one moment from exercising my God-given
freedom to speak my honest belief, or thatI
shall be intimidated from doing my duty by
all the black lists that can be collected to-
yether by any blaclklegs that the devil may !
appoint. lowing to the distance at which !
the reporter sat from the speaker, the six
words of the last sentence were
heard, and may not be the exact
words used by the reverend gentleman,
'hoqgh SO recorded in the note book.-REp.1
eff there is any district or municipal court
n this town that has any criminal charge
gainst me, let it be brought, and will not
,e so accommodating as the First Presi-
leDcy of the church have been; I will not
'ut the officers of the law to the trouble of
uniting everywhere for me, up in garrets,
own in cellars and through trap doors.
i've the second door east of this church, at
07 p. Second South street, and I can be
ound there almost any day in the week be-
ween the hours of and 80