Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1890-02-14

1 observes, 1--WE are standing on tn
5 threshold Of n new era" 1t is no
= merely that commercial life i
, awakened rs il never was before, oI
that the sciences have made adj
vances never dreamed OF in tn,
past, but likewise religious thought
is developing in direction which
many are not aware Of. The rigid
theology and sharp sectarian con
: troversies Of fifty years ago have
little interest for the people nova
days. The masses are beginning Ia
! perceive the blindness Of their re-
ligious teachers and are thinking for
themselves.
A remarkable example of this
is shown in the rapid sale OF
Mrs. Deland's religious work,
"John Wand, preacher" 1t is
scarcely twenty months since it
first issued from the press, yet the
numerous editions IL has passed
through since then, and the many
thousands that have been bought
and read attest the deep interest
which this book has awakened. In
fact, ii might very appropriately
be called the "Uncle Toms Cabin"
OF religious slavery, showing most
forcibly the hideOusness OF sectarian
theology and the longing of honest
souls TO know the truth. John Ward,
the hero Of the story, is n blue Presby-
terrain OF the most rigid school; his
wife Helen is woman Of liberal
sentiments and warm sympathies;
and a controversy soon arises be-
tween them concerning eternal
Z punishment. At last matters come
to head over the death Of Tom
Davis, poor drunkard, whom the
predictions Of future punishment
could not keep sober during life.
This man, after n heavy bout Of
drinking, persisted in an attempt to
save child from death by fire.
John, the preacher, confessed that
Tom hsd ''died like brave man.,
hut he could not hold out any
gieam OF hope 10 the distracted |
widow concerning Toms eternal
welfare. Helen, on the other hand, !
blowing away the cloud OF absurii- I
ties and contradictions that make up /
the Calvinistic creed, was able TO 1
offer better consolation to the dis
consulate widow. "lirs. Davis. >,
Helen said at last, 'I'm SC sorry.n
1t was n simple thing 70 say, but
1t caught the poor woman's
ear. 1t was SO different from
anything that she had vet
heard. The neighb0rs had sighed.
and groaned, and told her it was
awful hard' on her and piiied
Tom for bis terrible death; and then
Mr.. Dean had come, with fearful
talk Of justice and Of hell. When
Mrs. Davis heard Helen's wopis. a
big tear rolled down her cheek and
with quivering lips she said, "Thank
you, ma'am." Then she made a
pretenSe OF turning toward the one
small window to obtain more light,
and continued her work. When
she spoke again, her voice
was steadier, as she said: ''Elder
Dean, flows | oughtn't to be sorry.
de says | ought to be resigned 10 }
iod's justice. He says good folks
ought 10 be glad when sinners 20 TO
he bad place, even il they are their
He Flows 1 oughtn,t 10 Z
'e sorry no how.''
81 am sure you have n right to be 2
orry that Tom is dead,'' said :
Helen, ''but / do not believe :
hat Tom is in any place now ]:
nat need make you sorry. l 81
10 not believe what Elder Dean a
aid abOut--helI.. ;
Mrs. Davis looked at her, a faint 7
urprise dawning in her tired ewes c.
ND shook her head. ooh, Pm not ="
aging God isn't right. I'm not o
aging Tom amt in the bad place. L
or that it amt justice. [ want to be y
Christian woman; Tom wasn't L
Christian, l know; still, he was as NJ
cod as any one could be when he D'
asn't full Of drink /; he was good I'm n
Is nesart, Tom was. Pm only say 81
u" meanwhile knotting her N
emulous hands together sI1m "a
My saying that can't love God no CT
ore, Him having all the power; and "a
len lcok at Tom, and me-. Helen "a
led to speak, but Mrs Davis would M
1t listen. "NO,, she cried. eyer Sc
e preachers wife, but / must saw an
lie never give Tom a chance ma
I how am | going to love him stf
Nv? TOm''-she pointed n shat 20
& nnger at the coffin in the next !
as you might saw ma
inkin. His father died In ar,
unken fit, and his mother gave II Al
her baby with her milk. Then ~
hat sch0olin' did he get9 None OF
all except his mother lickin, his
IN Toms often told ne that He ais
dn't learned no trade neither scr
i rafted with men as bad rs him c'li
II any wonder he wasn't goOds,, wo
Il know all that Helen bevan Or
say gently; but Mrs. Davis could abb
check the torrent Of her despair 10
! grief. Jul
He didn't have no chance. an, pea
didn't ask to be born either. God str'
him here, and look at the way ilbl
had to live; LOOK at this HOUSE.. by
the floor, how the water nuns the
sn into that corner; it is all sag aDc
and leanin'-the whole THING hea
rotten. Look at that one IittIe hea
ldow up against the wall. no. a bro
OF sunshine ever struck il, And Int
e is where we have had to live and
OF us, now that the baby is come tim
ldren was the only thing We tion
e rich IN; but We hadn't food sid
ugh to put In their mouths. or Gus
emit clothes TO cover them. Look -ce
be people around us here-livin, anc
this row Of tenement houses dria
g, swearing, drinking. What plai
nee had Tom? So | can't love SER
/, missus, can't love Him-Him an
had all the power and vet let bell
rs soul go down to hell; for Tom CALI
dn't help ii and him Twin, so- ven
MT denying religion, nor any He
= like that, only l can't love hab
}, so there is no use of talking, 1 bull
I love Himi'' II CT
lie turned away and moved to- no,
1 the stove. Helen followed s.to
and put her arms across the thin ~. .tl
shoulders, her eyes full of tears. si'y
sh the widows were hard and q, y y
ht. ehul
N, Mrs. Davis" Helen cried. Gain
curse you could not lovo a in n
who would never give Tom a dria
zee, and then punish him: OF LAM,
Sc you could not love Him. tI,,s {
Tom Is not punished by being mar,
" "ei'' inueen, indeed he is bgic