The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1892-03-26
PRESIDENT ELIOI'S VIEWS.
An Explanation of That Mormon
Speech.
The Harvard Educators Opinion Of Latter.
Day Saints j he Thinks They Will
Make Good Citizens.

"A uiSpdtcu lIOH Sdm DTiOge, MASS, was
published in THE CALL of yesterday.
stating that Harvard and nearly all Cam
bridge were amazed at certain statements
said to have been made by President Eliot
ia Salt Lake a week ago. 1t was reported
that he had compared the Utah saints to
the Pilgrim Fathers in their fidelity to
religious liberty, and had said that there is
Mormon colony among the students at
Harvard.
He is said to have used the following
words in the course of his address:
As came over the plains | thought of
that early journey when the first colonists
marched across them under the guidance of
Christian church. and this reminded me
OF another pilgrimage. though across the
water | refer to the Pilgrim Fathers.
They. too. suffered hardships for prin-
ciple. They, too, were fred with religious
enthusiasm and sought freedom also to
worship God. In planting colony it is the
women who have the harder part. They
died faster than the men in Massachusetts.
The great successful colonies of this
world are founded on religious enthusiasm.
Here you founded colony that you might
worship God according to the dictates of
your conscience. Here in this valley has
risen the question of religious liberty. In
Massachusetts all churches are equal before
the law. There is no reason why this re-
llgious liberty may not be enjoyed in all the
other States and Territories as well as in
Massachusetts.
Let us devote ourselves to this liberty.
civil aad religious. for associations of every
sort and for the individual also. If could
do something to unite the elements in this
Territory and bring them to seek religious
liberty as it is known in other parts of the
Country 1t would be to me great reward"
THE PRESIDENT EXPLAINS.
When President Eliot was interviewed
yesterday regarding the dispatch and the
the account Of his speech was composed of
number OF disconnected sentences, many of
which were entirely erroneous.
Mrs. Eliot and !" continued Harvard's
president, were the guests OF the Mormon
Board Of Education IN Salt Lake City. After
had been about seven hours in the city /
attended meeting in the Temple ana de-
livered an address upon Religious Lib
erty,' before 1000 people.
81 described the religious liberty now
given to all denominations in Massachu-
sets. and said that these religious liberties
should be Just as precious and as much re-
sDected in the other States and Territories
as in Massachusetts,.
THE only comparison / made between
the early Mormons and the Pilgrim Fathers
was In relation TO the dauntless spirit dis
played by the latter in crossing the Atlantic
10 found colony where their religious
ordinances would be unmolested. and the
hardships endured by the MormonS in cross
ing the plains for similar purpose.
1T would be absurd to talk OF religious
liberty in connection with the early settle
ments of the Pilgrim Fathers. because
religious liberty was not permitted, and
neither Qnakers nor Baptists were tolerated
or were allowed to reside in the colony. /
would net hav3 been permitted to exist in
New England in those days, because / am
a Unitarian.
WHY SHOULD IT BE DENIED?
''And l do not see," continued President
Eliot, why religious liberty should be de-
MED to the Mormons. | understand that d OF
one in eleven was poiygamous. and now
they have not only prohibited polygamy,
but have made il a crime. l believe that
the Mormon church was sincere in its
abandonment Of pOlygamy. and that its
members Will make good citizens.
Il contend, therefore, that the Mormons
stand in precisely the same position under
the raw as those who worship according to
any other faith. The only article of their
creed which constituted violation OF the
law was the doctrine of polygamy, and as
they have renounced il they should DE placed
uDon the same footing as the members of
any other denomination.
They were pioneers in the development of
Utah. and started enterprises which East
ern capital has since acquired and devel-
oped. They are sober and industrious. aud
are anxious TO give their children the bene-
fits of higher education"
rs there Mormon colony at Harvard ?"
DIR. Eliot was asked.
There are in the university, the law COL
lege and in preparatO schools. altogether
| 10 Mormon students" was the reply.
They live together, but they are not COLO
niSts In the sense oil propagating Mormon
| doctrines or endeavoTing to secure proselytes.
| They are good students, but do not differ
greatly from other young men in their hab-
| its and customs. The students have no
| religious observaDces ut the university