Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1897-11-23
EXPRESSIONS FROM MINISTERS.


Yesterday CMonday) the News" had
an editorial addressed TO the clergy
men of Utah." and dealing with the
writing of letters by them to persons
abroad in which the Mormons were
mlsrepresentcd. The article appears
to have accustomed some comment,
and the Tribune obtained interviews
with number of clergymen upon the
subject While some of the remarks
made by one or two Of the ministers
seem slightly tinged with asperity, the
general tenor of what they all said ls
gratifying. and the News" takes
pleasure in conveying their sentiments
to its readers. The interviews as
they appeared in the Tribune are sub
Joined:
81 think that the editorial is entirely
uncalled for" said Rev. b. +. Clay.
some such letters may have been
written by some of the clergymen of
the city but IL they have been ! never
heard of them. l have written to
church papers in the Fast letters in re-
gard To the Mormon religion and our
status here with regard to MOrmonlsm
but have never written anything but
IA candid statement of the facts in the
case To any paper or any person. More
over. ! would be willing to have amy
of these letters published here, In The
Tribune, the Herald or even the "Des-
eret News" itself.
Said Rev. c. T. Brown: II never he
lieve In saying anythirs about man
behind his back that would not say
to his face | think [ have practised
this in my dealint with people, and
nj
religious belief. i have preached about
the Mormon religion in the East, but
] never have said anything there that
l would not say here as readily. !
think that this is undue stirring up of
strife, and am sorry 1t has come up.
but IL they intend to enter into fight
with us l shall bear my part. have
not attended any OF the meetings OF
the Ministerial association of late,as |
am usually tagged out on Monday
mornings, and am anxious for rest.
but | can say for you that / have
never written such letters as those re-
ferred to- | do not wish to attack the
Mormon Church In any way. If they
wish to begin fight upon us let them
strike the first blow, then we can have
n turn"
My position in regard to this mat
ter is well known" said Rev. A. II.
Henry. 1--WE do not fellowship with
the Mormon preachers because their
beliefs are not our beliefs, and we stlll
consider the Mormons as n field FOR
missionary work But we do not an
tagonize them nor do we wish to. The
Mormon people with whom | have
come in contact are good neiyhbors
and good citizens. ana have never
: known one of them who was immoral
in any degree ! would not say in the
East nor write to others anything in
regard to Mormonlsm which | would
not openly and fearlessly sny here in
Salt Lake"
Rev. n. b. Steelman said that the
editorial did not concern him the least
and he had nothing to say with refer
cnce to II. Il have never written let
tiers OF the character described In the
editorial, and | do not intend to do so:
therefore I do not feel called upon to
make any comment upon IT."
In reference to the remarks Of Rev.
C. r. Brown about entering into a
fight" 1t is proper to say that, in the
very nature of the case, 1t is Impossible
to give the attitude of this paper the
appearance OF being otherwise than
one of defence, and under no circum-
stances would Il strike the first blow
in a contest of the kind he euggests
There is no earthly reason why the last
vestige Of friction between religious
denominations should not disappear
from 6hs State, and there is every req
son why 1t should
The News" recognizes the fact that
under the laws, both OF God and the
commonwealth. representatives of n
religions have equal rights to entertain
and promulgate their views, while q
moral obligation rests upon them al
10 display in their treatment Of eacf
other that kindness, fairness and jus
tice that after all, are vital features ol
the faiths they respectively profess
The News" has long believed that III,
great majority OF the clergymen Of tn,
state We're too fair and honorable I,
engage in the sort Of correspondence,
complained Of, and is pleased at the ad
ditional evidence In support of thl
view which the above interview
afford.