Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1897-12-28


responsible for his religious belief, or
his lack OF It, and for its character In
regard to truth ard error.
1t follows from this theory that re-
ligious conversion is, or ought to be.
a condition resulting from appeals
made to the reason and intellect. the
Judgment and the conscience; from
argument based upon the Scriptures
and other recognized authorities in re-
iigious matters: and from the solemn
declarations Of living Witnesses why
cannot the various sects of Christen-
dom content themselves with reason.
argument and evidence that
appeal to the Judgment and Intellect,
in their efforts to check the growth and
spread OF Mormonism? why cannot
they take the teachings of that people
and show the fallacy of the same?
Why do they not offer n religion to
the Mormons which bears better fruit
in every day life than does the faith
which that people cherish? why do
professed Christian teachers perpetual
~ resort to the un-Christian means of
SANDER and false witness in dealing
with the Mormons?
These reflections are suggested by n
special dispatch from Boston which APP
peared in the Tribune this morning. as
follows:
Rev. J. A. Hamilton, y. D., editor of
Congre gational Work and secretary of
the Congregational Educational socie
ty, has made n special investigation of
today made report In which he stat
ed that the hope that Statehood In
Utah would result in the essential end
ing OF Mormon domination Is not well
grounded. Apparently the Church has
already come to be the practical ball
ance of power between the two great
parties, and according to its own pleas
ure 1t ordains victory for one and de-
feat for the other. officers, laws, adj
ministration-all seem to be more and
more within It's gift; and while this is
not ostonsibly operating to the formal
re-establlshment of the peculiar insti-
tuition of Mormonism. II Is clearly
operating to foster and promote its
essential spirit.
1.-The church leaders are not slow to
see that the continued establishment
of nom Mormon schools must be pre-
vented and that as far as possible,
every essential condition to life and
prosperity must be withheld from those
already in existence. Every effort has
been put forth to secure the predor!-
nance Of church representation in the
boards of education. SO far as the
state University is concerned, the
movement has been successful TO
effect the same in lesser schools seems
also to be determined. Can 1t be doubted
that the one effective remedy for the
traditional and. deep-seated evils of
Utah is found in the principles repre-
sented in Christian schools?"'
The quotation from Rev. Mr. Hamil-
toms report is a mass of mendacity.
The Mormon Church is not "the ball
ance of power between the two great
PARTIES" 1t does not "ordain victory
for one and defeat for the other"
Officers, laws. administration" are not
within Its gift" and the reference to
the peculiar institution" by which
1t is presumed polygamy Is meant is n
fitting climax TO this series of mis-
statements.
The alleged opposition of the
Church leaders, to the CONTINUED es-
tablishment of non-Mormon schools
is another Misrepresentation. All
schools drawing support from public
funds must, under the law, be non
sectarian. and no Church leader
among the Mormons desires the repeal
of that law.
"The one effective remedy for the
traditional and deep-seated evils of
Utah is found in the principles repre-
scented in the Christian schools"
What are those principles? Are they
truth. love. Justice and charity, or are
they falsehood, Islander, hatred and
false witness? If the christian
schools"-and in this term we include
Christian" theologians and opponents
of religious thought--wouid put in
practice in their treatment of Nor
monism and the Mormons the precepta
of the Savior, the change from some
methods that are fresh in mind would
be so radical as to amount to a revo-
luton. How pleasant such a change
would scent