The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1897-09-16
rHy,RSDAY. September Is, 1897.
WHAT 1oDo WITH MORMON MISSIONARIES

MAT TO DO WITH MORMON MISSIONARIES
As q rule Mormon missionaries have
not found very warm welcome among
N. Indeed, in some places the people
have told them in tones that brooked NJ
to move on" There ar
row several Of these fellows in the State
quietly and assidiously preaching theil
eaith and seeking to make converts. The,
labor chiefly among the ignorant ant
have most success, it is said, among
women. However that may be, it is Ger
tain that they are not doing any goot
here. and that the State would be bet
Der off to be rid OF them. How can i
BE accomplished?
Our neighbor, the Christian Sun, or
gan sf the Christian church OF Noru
Carolina and Virginia, discusses thei
presence in the State. and says:
"A good and faithful brother in
one of our churches writes US that
-ene of our deacons is boarding and
sheitering the Mormon preachers,
and allowing them to preach in his
house after the churches and school
house trustees have refused to to
open their doors to Them He says
further that the better element of
the community are anxious to rid
themselves of these fellows who new
er fail to SOW the seed of discord
wherever. they go and are thus har-
bored. Our Sunday school and
church work. he says, are both be-
ing injured by them
I'VE very much regret to learn
Of such thing as this in connection
with any church, and especially so
when it is one of our own churches.
We scarcely know whether most to
censure or to pity the erring deacon
OF whom the brother writes. If his
actions are result OF simple
thoughtlessness, then he is to be
eensured; for through such thought
lessness he not only encourag es these
evil teachers, but at the same time
brings reprOach upon himself and his
church. IL he is ignorant of the real
character Of these fellows who deal
out their poison in sugar-coated dos
es, then he is to be pitied; for in the
dark, man may accept a doctrine
which he would scorn were his igno-
rance less dense.
Whatever may have been the mo-
hye bcOmpting this poor deluded dea-
con, We sympathize with him, and
trust that his eyes may soon be OBJ
ened and that he may, in so far as
he il able, repair the injury that he
has done himself, his family, and his
church.
The Southern Presbyterian has eyi
IDENTIFY been appealed to by it's subscrib
ers to Know how to treat Mormon mis-
sionaries, which says:
'"The Normons have a right to
travel in this part Of the country if
they wish, and even to talk to in
dividuals about their religion. They
should not be harshly treated or per-
secuted. The best way to check their
errors is to let them alone, attend
none OF their meetings, keep out of
their reach all who can be Influenced
py moral suasion; and ministers
might do well to set forth the dif-
ferences between them and the
Christian Church universal so as to
prevent the ignorant from being en-
trapped by their plausible speeches.
But 'whitecapping,' burning build
Sngs, beating men and threatening
women are relics Of barbarous age
OF persecution which can only react
IN harm to those who use such
means. The wrath of man worketh
not the righteousness of Cod"
The Charlotte Observer, quoting the
Presbyterian's editorial, adds:
We have never been able to I'M
derstand why the Mormons have not
the same legal right to come into this
part Of the country and propagate
their doctrines, if they can, that the
Gentlles have to go into Utah and
spread the doctrine of their Church.
or that Professionals and Catholics
have to 90 into China and India and
combat Confucianism and Buddhism
with the religion of Christ; but for
saying as much, about a year ago. we
were threatened with heresy trial
Mormonlsm is not palatable, but in
dealing with it we are not acquitted
OF the duty Of being logical and con-
sistent, and to beat the Mormons and
burn down their meeting houses.
while they are within the rights Civ
en- them by the law, is no way to
deal with the question"