Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1897-09-10

10 the MelnOulNt conference NhlNh
opened in this city yesterday, was pre-
scented the report Of Bishop r. c. lllf.
The document deals with the history
and progress of the Methodist church
in Utah. and contains considerable his
toricpl data relating to this subject
The first building occupied by 1t In
Utah. is thus referred to;
"Faust's hall an unfinished hay
loft over livery stabie, on second
South street. was rented May TO- 1870.
for one year at $780,
1t may be that this hall had at one
time been used for storing hay. but 1t
was FOR many years regarded as re-
spectacle hall. well suited for pub
lie gatherings. and for time prior to
1870. was occupied as a Federal court
room. The original quarters of the
Methodist church in this city, ms In
dicated by the rent paid for them
were much more respectable than
any ordinary hay loft" This much
is said for the sake Of historical
accuracy
The report speaks Of the rapid
growth OF the intermountaln region,
aud says that among the agencies that
have contributed TO 1t have been the
'benedlction of the Almighty and
the american spirit" 1t then pro-
ceeds:
Il regret the necessity that compels
any modification Of this general state
ment concerning the true American
spirit and idea, | am aware that even
n brief and guarded review OF some OF
Utahs history by whomsoever writ
ten, will probably provoke discussion
IL not dissent. / hope that those who
differ with me may he influenced by
that feeling of charity which ! pray
may head me to speak CONSIDERABLY
of a people among whom | have lived
and labored for quarter of cen-
fury, but whose faith / cannot accept
as Christian and whose former spirit
in some respects, / must crisclZe as
un-American However, keeping in
mind. and bearing willing testimony
that there are individuals, and many
OF them. In the Mormon Church whose
daily lives and deeds are az upright
and commendable as those Of any
church
You cannot speak of Utah without
speaking of the Mormons You cannot
speak OF Methodism in Utah without
speaking of Mormonism in Utah.
These thoughts are as inseparable as
the mountains from the valleys
around us. The Mormons reached
Great Salt Lake valley, July "a, lSi1.
This was before the Argonauts round
ed Cape Horn or crossed the plains to
California in search of gold. Their
first camp was on the very ground
occupied by the First Methodist Epis-
copal church in Salt Lake city. 1t
was fitting that the nftieth anniNer-
sary OF their arrival in Utah should
be appropriately and enthusiastically
observed by all classes of people at
the great Jubilee held in Salt Lake
City, July 20-2i, 1897.
Why did the Mormons leave Illinois
and the East, and endure the hard
ships and dangers Of the long journey
over barren plains and traCkless noun
tains? y volume could hc written In
answering that question. A brief SEN
tenCe must suffice. They did 1t Tor
their religion, or for the privilege OF
practlcing their religion. For b. 1t rc-
membcred Mormonlsm is a religion or
takes the place OF onc-howeNer woe
fully unreasonable, un-Scrlptural and
unspiritual 1t may he,
The report further ON expresses the
farewell sentiments Of It's author in
quitting his field Of labor ard assigns
reasons for his resignation It thus
appears that he leaves his work In
Utah with the foregoing opinions re-
spectlng the Mormon people, He says
their former shirt" was un-Amcri-
can, but as this expression has refer
ence to old political conditions that
disappeared some years age, we viii
notice it no further.
But when he speaks of the faith OF
the Latter-day Saints aa something
that takes the place on religion.
and Of its being "woefully unreason-
able, un-scripural and un-spir!tual."
we deem IT proper TO hestow passing
notice upon his remarks. II Or. hin
has not Investigated the religion of the
people among whom he has labored 80
long, he has no right to characterize 1t
in the terms hc has employed. If he
has investigated IT. ana by that term
we imply comparison with the Chris
tlan scriptures, he must know that
Mormonism, In its theology, practical
and abstract doctrines and philosophy,
and church discipline and organization,
is so perfect counterpart OF the sys-
tenn taught IN the Bible that he can
not point out wherein the two differ.
He cannot accept as Christian" the
AallAi VI VIC AAhAAfA -iNAA s0AAAiAFs NAL
can he show that they teach anything
that Christ did not or that lie taught
anything that they do not? Can he
point out a religious community In the
world who show the practical and ac-
tual fruits of living, sentIent Christi
anity more perfectly than do the peo-
pie whom he thus excludes from the
Christian fold2 These heterogeneous
must be, by him and all the world, an
swered in the negative.
The News" has none but kindly
wishes for DR., Inns welfare, wherever
his lot may be cast; and while we
think some things in his report would
better have remained unsnld, II he can
afford TO make the record OF them, We
can afford to permit that record To be
preserved
RAILROAD WRECKS.