Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1886-03-29
NATIONAL PROBLEMS.
ARTICLE XIV.
THE MORMON CURsE-H0w NOR
MONIsM Is BRED In THE BONE.
Respons,biiity Of the Government--Ihe
Birth OF Spirit Chiidren-what Is
Being Done by the New West
Education Commission.
BY THE REV. A. Z. wiNsHIP'
late secretary OF the New West Education
Commission,
Copyrighted, 1886. I

How can we Amerlcanize Utah? This
is one Of the leading questions before the
statesmen and philanthropists OF the
land. We are, as nation, responsible
for the present condition Of things In that
strangely cursed territory. Whatever
may be said Of the lack Of character, or
lack OF intellectual balance on the part OF
those who originated this unique com
blnation OF lust, tyranny, superstition
aud faith we cannot deny the fact that
most OF those under forty years OF age
are In the tolls OF that wretchedlsystem
because born In IL, or taken into II by
their parents before they were ten years
Of age.
sat one day with a polygamous wife
of a prominent Mormon, a lady who
would grace any society, while she spoke
with much ardor Of the church
and its distinctive characteristics in
theory and practice. She stopped
suddenly and said; "You are laugh
ing at me-" l emphatically denied IL,
saying hoped was too much Of gentle
man to do IL. She said she did not ques-
ton my courteous intention, but knew by
the half-suppressed smile of incredibly
that not only did not believe what she
said, but did not think she believed 1t.
then said that did not understand how
one so intelligent as herself could accept
such theories of life. ! shall never forget
the look upon her face as she said "But
you must remember, sir, that | was born
here. My mother was u polygamous
wife. | married into polygamy when ]
was but fifteen, and had been married
, six years and had given birth to children
/ before ! ever met any one to say to me
, that what | had been taught from the
, cradle was not true"
, CoRRUPTING FORCES or MoRMoNlsM.
1t is humiliating to think that no civil
, ized nation was ever cursed by vice SO
' prosperous and impregnable, so compact
a and artIul, so seductive and licentious, sc
deceitful and hypocritlcal, so demoraliz
! ing in home and heart az American Nor
+ monsm. America prides herself on being
f the modern "llght Of the world" Sh'
, latters herself that she IS modifying al
= the monarchial governments of earth b,
S the illustrious example of her own sue
l. cess as republic. Sne congratulate
r herself that her missionaries are ciyiliz
ing and enuobling every nation on cart
that inherits the traits of pagan ancestors
d 1t is uncomfortable to place beside TIN
b the fact that American Mormonism Is tn
% most corrupting phase OF soca
% life with which any nation infect
y other nations. The PROSECUTING fore
re sent forth by this organized crime
IF recognized as an abomination in Epglis
y cities, in Germany, Norway, Sweden ali
:, other lands. America owes it to her fai
a. name, to the deceived foreigners who al
~ brought hither, to the nations we ailiit
~ with these falsely styled missionaries,
ne the fathers who gave as an inherltanc
this land by their sacrifices, TO the comm
generations who must solve the prol
oil lens we leave, to rid the land of evel
es vestige of this fanatical, beastly, cru
he system
40 THE PROBLEM STATED.
~ assume that congress, the national e
W ecutive and judicial agencies will do 6
he in their power for the punishment of Il
or criminals. When we have done all tn
ire the most sapgune legalists demand, v
H., shall have remaining the multitude of 81
~ cere, deluded women, aud the great
ies multitude OF children and young Peep
be whose fathers and relatives have be-
a imprisoned for what the almost uniyers
,oo sentiment of the territory believes
'e' be the height of virtue. The quest
me before the people is, how to de
Dtt WIN lutbt MOulth anu NAlLQItlig uuNl Su
at of the men as are sincere, in way
bring them into cordial, loyal relatlo
~ with the government and those idle
ted OF life that are our security and i
red What the public most needs is u clear l
DIN Outstanding of the facts, a keen apprec
- ton of the social and religious attitu
~ OF the people who have pre-empted Ut;
ore a Just estimate OF their antagonism to I
the intelligence, home virtue, and ndivid'
ore freedom which characterize our civili
ton. / have heard seven Mormon S
~ mons in Utah this season, and any one
be them was sufficient in itself, If accept
de- as the character of the system rep
dds scented, to arouse the nation to a sense
~ danger that threatens us in the New We
au' | heard bishop say that while he yielt
to no one in his admiration of the hert
OF Lexington, Concord and Bunker II
he had only supreme contempt for
~, tyrants aud traitors who now admins
the affairs of the government.
We make fatal mistake when we
nc duly emphasize the ignorance of the p
In pie, They are ignorant enough certain
,ost TO attract attention and cause alarm,
are our chief concern is with the quality
Mr.. their intelligence.
The MORMON DOCTRINE OF SPIRIT LIFE
NrGl NfANN-iisJ - NAAN AhChhlAN VI Aulbn u
sars through its power the church
N h liberately and heudshly wrecks
,on. moral aud religious life. OF the peoy
EN- Ia proof OF this strong assertion '
- give one phase OF their belief VIII
,ver makes their lustful polygamic practice
,ors secure. They teach that God is a m
ood that He has numerous wives by VIII
MA He has peopled space with an
iner finite number of spirits that h
has existed cycles OF ages, pI
has tically for all eternity. Tn
his have all knowledge in the ahstr,
bsif but none in the concrete, knowing W
,han might be rather than what is. Ii /,
~ state OF perpetual unrest. They can q
ON. be transformed into human souls with
eternal possibility Of soul, thro
. in birth. Christ was favorite son i,
varv tavorlte wife, but birth into human
moss was the only way he could come into
enjoyment OF the real life These spi
con. are all the sons Of God, but can only +
ears ize snd enjoy their sonship through bi
! nv They are everywhere present They
ar,ff about every one Of us pleading 10
the born. 81 was once spirit pleading
left be born, u heard anelder say at q fune
.,,etr ST our ears were spiritually omen