Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1895-02-16

Nntl uttu written 10 meet the uctua OF
my mind on that occasion, II could not
have been better written. / was then
studying work called "Cooper's An
alysis Of the Holy Scriptures" lie was
an uubclcyer and was attempting to
show the impossibility Of the Bible being
the Word Of God, because II apparently
contadictcd itself in so many places
with regard TO the personality OF the
Deity The Absufdities Of lmmatcr-
ialism' met every point read II
through with a relish. turned 10 an
other pamphlet and another and still
another cannot describe my feelings
at the time To my intense asionish-
mcnt, when got through and thought /
would retire to rest, ] found Il was
nearly six O'Clock In the morning. /
had been reading the whole night, and
was filed with a spirit that had never
known the like OF before. OF course,
II was a marvel TO me what Il all meant.
! knclt down and thanked God there
and then for hearing aud answering
my prayer; Tor the germ OF lie and
light had entered into my soul accord
ing TO my desires. Aud firmly believe
that unless had earnestly desired the
truth, d would never have so impressed
itself upon me.
You will excuse me speaking about
myself. but ! wanted to Illustrate this
TACT stated by the Apostle, that m any
OF you lack wisdom, let him ask Of God,
who giyeth to all men literally, and up
hraldcth not; and It shall be given him. "
Some people say that revelation from
God Is Incredible, because unnecessary
and unnecessary because the Creator
has endowed as with the light OF reason,
which, u We will listen to It's dictates
aud give heed TO It's instructions, will
form ior as all the religious and moral
obligations that lie will require OF Us.
Now this sounds very nicely. II Is the
creed OF the moral philosopher. Let rs
examine Il Tor minute or two. Man
KIND from time immemonal have I'M
doubtedly received so much instruction,
50 much divine assistance-whether they
acknowledge Il or not that today Il IS
very difficult, II at all possible, TO asccr.
tain what reason unassstcd could ac-
eomplish for the children Of men. There
Is one way we might get an answer to
thslquerVs Soame Jenyns, and that
would be by visiting those portions OF
the earth where revelation has never
penetrated, or. II Il has penetrated,
where Il has been rejected. and man.
KIND have fallen into lower state OF
degradation that they were At the frst. II
We 20 into those parts Of the earth. We
will find those men possessed OF AS
much sagacity and reason as we are in
possession OF, and yet devoid OF light
enough to know how to manufacture
even a nail or Ratchet, let alone TO
iom religion or set OF moral obi.
cations. This would seem to denote
that II men are not possessed OF
sufficient light in themselves to com.
meneo la the most irll.ng matters per.
tanning to civilization. Il would be a6so.
lutely out OF their power to form for
themselves what could be considered a
code OF moral laws. Wherever revela.
ton has not penetrated, so Tar from
hndlng men qualified to frame their
religious obligations Ia such a way as
would be acceptable to tue Almighty.
we ind that, although they are possessed
with original capacities equal with our
own, they have made no advance what
ever in civilization. What satisfactory
reason then can be given why the |
European nations, Tor example, should |
have made such progress In government. |
IN laws, IN manufactures, In education |
In metaphysics, In philosophy, separated |
only by seas and mountains from |
another set OF people who have made |
no advance through all the correspond. |
Ing ages-what true reason, ask, can
we assign why barbarians have made no /
progress, while other men all around |
hem have made so muchf DR.. TAYLOR |
he author OF an essay called THE |
Natural History of Society,"" says that
We have no history OF any race OF
iavages that have ever civilized them.
selves. None have ever been brought
nto civilized condition only by the
assistance and advice Of those already
civilized. On the other hand, he saws.
men have from time to time visited |
ayage races, and although they have
,ept up no constant intercourse with
hem, but have visited them from time
O time, they ilud that the savages con.
niue IN pretty much the same condition |
IS they left them, And what is the
lirect conclusion to be reached In these
ases' IL Is this that these people must
brewer continue m their degradation until
hey are sufficiently enlightened and in.
iruetrd BY Others who possess enlight.
nment.
II this be true, how shall we account
or tue llrst OF the human family becom.
lg civilized Wherever this civilization
AS not penetrated we find men but
tile exalted above the brutes-without
overnment, without laws, without
,gislation. How will we account FOR
he first introduction OF these things
mong the children OF menp II. as many
elleve, the first human pair were but
tile advanced above the brutes, how
I'd civilization commence with them2
10 far as our observation and experience
Ntend, we find civilization impossible
'ithout a communication received from
lose already civilized and enlightened.
u tue case OF our first parents. how
leTelore without revelation could they
yer have advanced even one step TO.
ard civilization In the common
purse OF events we see this brought to
ass by the agency Of civilized men: but
lasmuch as there were none ON the
lrth then, how shall we account Tor the
production In the first instance OF
lose gifts and acquremcntsp We see
lat men are competent to advance In
Hence, In civilization after they have
rst been SET upon the track, and having
the first elements they become
lore or less qualified for the advances
lat we see have been reached But il
demonstrated by history and by obser.
alton that the first foundations thereon