The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1897-09-15
Those Mormon Elders.

Editors Iutelligencer: What shall we
do with them? TIE question naturally
arises, what right have we to do anything
with them but 10 treat them with respect
so long as they do no interfere with our
rights? Do tue laws Of our country give
to its citizens the right to psrsecute any
person for preaching what he conceives to
be the word of God?\ Ifso. why are there
so many sects existing among us? II we
haYe the right to punish a man because his
faith is not as u faith, why not reduce
the different denominations to one faith
and practice? L.L's be CONSTANT. Let's
cleanse ourselves Of the many evils that
exist among us that are damnable as can
be found on the earth. And even then we
would not be justiiable in furnishing any
man because Of his faith, 80 long as be did
not irjure any one eise. I mean phyBi.
cally or financially. Aud if w are chill
dren of the living God why need We fear
any evils? Can the combined world, with
all ita powers, separate Us from the love Of
our Heavenly father lam persuaded
not. No, sir, I believe it is wrong to per-
secute any man for his faith. Did Christ
so teach his deciples? Ifso, will some one
point 1t 10 me, either by example or pre-
cept? Did he not teach his deciplts to
love even their enemies, and to pray for
those who despitefully used them? Will
We ever Caris.ianize t 10 world by the use
Of carnal weapons? Nay, vorily, but only
by the use Of the sword OF the Spirit, which
is love. can we ever expect 10 take the
world for Christ. Love, which prompts
coed ia winning souls to Christ, WHO said
81 m, fhn nav tha fr,fth urI rho iEo
follow me-" Paul said IF We have not the
Spirit of Christ ye are lone o fhis" Well,
what was the Spirit of Christ? Was it
not love? Yes we see him doing good
tn all men wherever he found opportunity.
He was g man OF great sympathy for the
suffering humanity, consequently he told
his deoiples 'if thine enemy hunger feed
him, and il he thirst give him drink" aud
again lie suid be careful to intertAin stran.
gers, for by so doing some have entertain.
9 snGe 8 unaware.
Now, TO reason tie mater q lite far
ther, I would ask for q consideration of cur
" Missionaries who have gone to what
We believe heatben lands for the purpose
Of preaching to them what we conceive to
be the true word of God Consider how
they have suffered 10 the flash, and how
our symputhiss lave gone put after them
VIGIL WI ioao VI IACkl 1ot0 nuo G4l4lS-
tons. Well, those Mormon Elders are
acting on tho same principle of our own
Missionaries, and shall we treat them with
contempt and feel a clear conscience, while
we Condemn theirs for doing the same to
our NJ ssionarie-? I say, again, let's be
cnnsistant. Let's treg: those fellows Just
SIS We would have our missionaries treated.
So long as they are subject to the lawstf
orr land We should treat them as cit;zsne.
We have the word of God to read, and We
need not be deceived if they preach any
other Gospel than that which we have
heard. We need not believe 1t. It may
be that God has cent them. Who can tell?
Then I say again we had best treat them
as We would have them do into US if we
would feel a clear conscience. Don't you
think so, dear reader? Well, I'll leave the
subject for you to ponder in your mind.
Remember, we shall all have to give an
account for our stew hardship on earth. So
let's be mercifu', that we may obtain
mercy. s. w. s.