The Dispatch. [volume] (Provo City, Utah) 1891-1895, 1891-04-11
CHURCH AND STATE.

About the same time last Sunday
while conference was being held in
Salt Lake city, the city of Denver,
Colorado, was having it's political and
moral character reviewed by able
ministers of the gospel, residents of
that place.
Strange to relate, coincidence of
marvellous interest to America and
Americans is noticeable in the fact that
the subject of church and state was
treated Of in both places at about the
same time.
Of course, adherents for and against
the doctrine have for hundreds of
years expressed their views in the
pulpit and press. on the battle field
and by the fire side, yet the subject is
not nearly exhausted and its defend
ers and defamers number millions.
The Mormon people of Utah have
been and are still accused of having
unity of church and state, which the
Mormons themselves, through their
chief oracles declare the charge to be
false and incompatible, not only with
the principles of their religion, but with
human freedom.
Apostle MOSES THATCHER, speaking
on this subject, Sunday last, stated:
When in the fourth century Constan-
tine attempted by imperial decree to
mite church and state by making the
Christian religion the state religion,
the evil effects of the unauthorized
alliance commenced at once to appear
and finally eliminated in the bloody
inquisition in which, it is said, 60,00O,-
Coz of people fell victims to religious
persecution.
In the history of this govern
-ment God mt, check TO that nm
aaIioly alliance and reaffirmed the divine
words of Christ: Render unto Caesar
the things which be Cesar's, and unto
God the things which be God's.'"
There can be no mistake as to the
position of APOSTLE THATCHER on
this important question. 1t is an act
ual denial of the charge of church and
and state unity, either in theory or
practice among the Mormon people.
1t is more than that. 1t denounces
such union and pronounces it an
"unholy alliance" +" because of its mur-
derous fruits in past ages.
Let us now turn to Denver and listen
TO eloquent sermons simultaneously
given by the learned Christian minis
ters Of that place on April 6, 1891. At
Christ's NJ. Z. Church DEAN PECK
said: II am asked to preach to you
on municipal-reform, which means, L
suppose, new deal in the city govern
ment.
Think of it? The Christians of
Denver ask their minister to preach
municipal sermon which is no other,
in that place, than political discourse.
Were this done in Utah, even dogs
would foam at the mouth. Continu-
ing, the REV DEAN said, in speaking
on the subject of voting: I'VE must
60 as unit"
As a until" Heavenly powers,
such peridy! Such traitorous remarks
these would be in Utah.
Further on he says: "God asked US
to be loyal to Him, and perform our
duties as citizens; let us see that the
ballot is cast right next Tuesday"
Very good advice, and if the citizens
in all places in America would follow
that instruction, as to voting right, it
wouldn't be long before we'd have
political millennium.
REV. J. L. BRANDT, of the Highland
Christian church, preached on poll
tics and religion" The preacher said:
Some people have an impression that |
the pulpit should not meddle with pol
itics. Itwas not the opinion of many
looI people, but is almost the univer-
sal opinion Of political heelers and |
strikers. Man should measure his po-
litlcal duties by his religious con-
science.
At The Presbyterian church the REV.
DIR RANKINs preached most elo-
quent sermon. and after depicting the
horrible condition of Denver, politi-
caliy and morally, he said, among !
many other plain remarks, 1t is suici-
dal to talk of the church having moth
ing TO do with politics if they mean
That the influence of the church is not |
TO be concentrated on them when they |
include such measure as the triumph |
OF rum. Next Tuesday" said the
is election day, let us so to
the polls and worship God"
twill be seen from the above re-
marks, delivered the same day by
of various denominations
that the Mormon apostle is the farthr>t
au from cohtenancing the Union ui
church and state, while the Denver