Salt Lake evening Democrat. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1885-1887, 1886-11-15
JAMES b. STODDARDS LECTURE.
The Young .OgdenIte Makes IA Big
Tilt by His Arrangement OF
MormOnIsm-JOttI

MormOnIsm-JOttI
On Saturday evening, as the Demo-
Graf has repeatedly announced, James
b. Stoddard, an offspring OF Mormonism,
but not an outgrowth Of it-except that
it be in the sense that he has "outgrown"
the system-delivered his lecture in
Corey's Hall, on Fourth street, before an
appreciative audience OF ladies and gem
tlemen. The occasion OF his speaking
was taking up the gantlet thrown to the
feet of all civilized mankind by the dec
laration of the First Presidency of the
Church of Jesus Christ OF Latter-day
Saints at the General Conference in
Coalville in October last, when those
ecclesiastical authorities shot off the fol-
lowing boomerang: "The wicked and
absurd construction OF the Edmunds law
and its improper and unprecedented adj
ministration, prompted by malice, in
spired by Satan, are intended to crush
out system OF religion which cannot be
overcome by truth, reason and the agen-
cies of enlightened humanity" To these
the young but eloquent speaker proposed
to apply the tests Of history, principle
and logic.
The speaker called the audience to order
at a quarter to 8, and commenced with
an arraignment of the Mormon system.
He had taken the floor for fifteen min
utes, while the Mormon Church had had
forty years only. He rebutted the as
sumptions OF the Mormon preachers that
they are inspired by heaven, and other
wise refuted the heinous and malicious
representations made by the church or
gans. 1t is a ll-established fact that
one-half of the original Mormons have
apostatized, although "their faith is
firmly fixed" 1t was his own father
who taught him that Mormonism was
the most outrageous fraud ever known.
His mother had taught him, before she
died, that polygamy was crime and
adjured him not to fill that law.
Refuting the charge OF his being
traitor, the speaker eXcoriated
the vile aspersions OF the Mormon
press. He had heard his father tell of q
man being taken out in the dead OF night
in Iron county, tied and dragged to the
very opening OF the grave that was yawn-
ing for him, opened by the priesthood.
Mr.. Stoddard then read most scathing
Indictment, "Mr Mormonism, " the points
of which were listened to with wrapt
attention. They cover all the various
and too vicious practices OF the rulers OF
the Mormon Church. At the close OF the
indictment against the question, "Guilty
or not guilty." was answered from the
congregation by voice speaking
Guilty" Mr.. Stoddard also read from
Orson Pratt's discourses on Govern
ment," from which the reasonable ma
ture OF the Mormon hierarchy appears il
its hideous nakedness. Brother
Game is an elder" and he was
called by "new revelation" The
"Voice OF God" also came in for 8
good dosing and dousing, as did the no
bility and aristocracy of the new liking.
DOM" From legislative enactments Of
old days in Utah the speaker showed the
huge land, water and timber steals per
petrated in this Territory through the
connivance of the ignorant and conspir
ing members of the Church. A strong
point was made as to the keeping of g
record of marriages, which is required by
the very Church ordinances, while John
Taylor denied knowledge OF such in
court, which constitutes him periurer
The unsheathed bowie knife OF Brigham
Young was also unearthed from the dark
depths OF the CORY past.
This system OF religion has got to 90
[Clamorous applause.l No more blood
atonement or incendiarism. The speake
"put it down" fine and close to thu
Church papers, showing where and why
"the agencies Of enlightened humanity
must prevail. That means the Unior
will prevail. He also introduced evi
dence that perjury is practiced by the
Mormons as a religious duty now, as il
was in the good old days of Navoo. His
experience in polygamy had been {
whole string OF "pearls thrown
before the swine" The eloquen
speakers clnching argument was that thu
Mormon people are admonished not t,
listen to arguments from the other side
They (the Mormon7) "have got corne
on marriage" Mr.. Stoddard read thu
salient parts of the Celestial Marriage
revelation, interspersing the quotation
with pungent comments on the "princi
pies that are fixed" 1t is impossible t.
give more, at this time, but suffice it t,
state that Mr.. Stoddard fairly parayzec
his audience with startling evidences anC
events OF a most dumbfounding charac
ter, thrilling the audience, which hat
been highly entertained and heartily
chorused his declaration that "this vilt
despotism must 60"
OGDEN, Utah, Nov. IA, 1886.