The Evening dispatch. [volume] (Provo, City, Utah) 1891-1895, 1895-05-10
PROVO CITY. MAY 10, lSS
THE APPEARANCE OF EVIL.

The fearful scandal in Salt Lake In
which the pastor of the First hi. E..
church and Mrs. Reilly figure is Of SO
grave a nature and from a source so
high IN social life, that it Is deserving
of more than a mere passing notice or
the notice usual in such cases, and
besides there is lesson in it which
should be driven home with all the
force possible. Both of the parties
claim that the interview was abso-
lutely without guile and per conse-
quence permissible. Let us see: Is
there any possible circumstance which
could Justify Yirtuous woman in
seeking the private room of gentle
man alOne, and in house where there
ara no other inhabitants, when in this
room there is bed and all the neces-
sary adjuncts of gentleman's sleeping
apartment? Does it soften the matter
to recall the fact that the gentleman
in question is a preacher, her pastoI2
Does it rather not add to the indiscre-
tion2 Are the clergy any better NOR
ally, than any other class OF men?
History does not establish the affirma-
tive of the inquiry, but rather the con-
trarY. What possible necessity was
there for the woman in this case see
ing her pastor alone, and away from
the protection Of her own home?
Would it not have occurred to virtG-
GUS wife that in case Of such necessity,
it was right, not only that, but imper-
atiYely demanded that her husband be
with her? What could she possibly
have to say to ner pastor that her hus
band should not hear? Even il this
sense of propriety was not present in
her own mind, how comes it that her
pastor, mature and experienced man
of the world of forty-fve, knowing the
improperly, and the construction put
upon such things by wicked world,
how comes it. if he was pure and vir-
tuous man as be should be. being a
pastor, that he did not have some
third party present, or refuse alto
gether to meet the woman alone?
The replies to these inquiries, if they
were truthful, would establish a care
lessness for appearances, criminal in
and of itself. No mere man, be he
pastor of church within stones |
throw of Heaven itself, would be JUS
titled in sustaining relations so init
mate with any woman not his wife.
Consideration for the good name of |
the weak woman in the case should |
have caused him to bar his door
against any intrusion of the kind. We
are taught by the scriptures which it
was DR.. Mabry's Office to expound, to
''svoid the appearance OF evil" Did
be do this? Did he make the least
effort to protect the innocent ~
from the cruel judgment of
The world, by refusing to see her
alone, or without the presence of her
lusband2 1t will be exceedingly
difficult for DR.. Mabry, or the woman
either, to answer these questions so as
@ satisfy a jealous and suspicious
world.
1t may be said that all this is more {
# our business, but it is. Every good
itizen is interested in elevating the I
noral standards and in preventing,
where possible, their depreciation. Our
hole moral and legal system is based
pom the truth and morals of the
nristian religion and law and good u
lorals demand that in cases OF this
ind the people must interest and be-
III themselves to lessen the number
these dreadful occurrences, else =
le morals of American homes vii! :
'on sink to such level as that decent
)gs will refuse to inhabit them. To o
y that this criminal carelessness, to Y
Vi it by that comparatively lenient
sme, was perpetrated by one call
g himself a minister of Gods holy
lurch and a guide for the morals of
e people, but adds one hundred fold a
the turpitude Of the crime. Doubt ST
SIS Dr., MabrY has often inveighed
ainst the sins of drinking and gam
ing. Without knowing anything
out it We do not doubt that he was
ardent hster Of whisky, but in this :;
ing what drunkard or what gambler d
)uld consent to change places with W
N at the bar of an outraged public Gil
inion2 AS human being, as a citi- on on
D of the state of Utah, and as one We
wing regard for the christian faith. be
bitterly resent the wrong DR.. Mabry oe
s done to all, in this matter. In the VI "
BIT of this and many other similar We
,urreDces We could name, the safest Ge
lie would be to accord no minister
; privilege Of intimate association
Iich is not accorded to ali other men. r.
t them on exactly the same level Ma
n all other men and then exact the o'c
pc obedience to the decorous observ- rec
'es of the commonest rules of simple
priety. Things are surely bad an
wing worse in this respect. a III
lie vigorous effort to correct the pre-
ing laxity of the laws of social in
course, and most of these dreadful
6 would be promptly done away
d.