The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1898-04-29

Governor Wells yesterday received
the following letter from the heads OF
the Mormon church. stating the atti-
tude of that organization with refer
ence to enIistments:
"Office of the First Presidency of the
Church OF Jesus Christ of Latter-d day
Saints.
salt Lake City, Utah. April %, 1898.
Hon. Heber NJ. Wells, Governor OF the
State of Utah:
Dear Governor-We have read with
much interest your proclamation to the
people of our state, in which you call,
in response to the proclamation of the
president of the United States, for the
enlistment OF 500 men TO furnish Utah S
quota of the 125,006 volunteers called
for by the president to serve in the
army of the United States for two
years.
1.-THE people whom we represent are
lovers Of peace, and would do anything
in their power. consistent with honor
and the patriotic duty which every citi-
zen owes to his country, to avert war
and its dreadful train of consequences.
Because of this feeling we have been
led to admire the course which has been
taken by President Mckinley through
out this Spanish imbroglio. and we have
hoped that his efforts TO preserve peace
between the two countries would result
in success.
But war has been declared, and we
have it to meet. Our citizens are called
upon to enlist, and Utah is asked to
furnish cavalry and batteries of artil-
lery approXimating 800 men.
we trust that the citizens of Utah
who are Latter-day Saints will be
found ready to respond with alacrity to
this call which is made upon our state
There was a time in the past when We
were called upon, as a religious organ
iZation, to make a far greater sacrifice
than this, under circumstances that
were exceedingly painful. Then there
was no hesitation, but upwards of one
third of the men of suitable age formed
a battalion Of 500 left the camp and
volunteered to take part in the Next
can war. In like manne1sth here should
be no hesitation now; and Ste sincerely
trust that your recruiting officers viii
find. our co-religionists as ready now
to enlist and march to the defense of
their country as their fathers were in
the days to which we refer.
Trusting that you will be eminently
successful in raising Utah's proper
quota of volunteers, and praying that
the Almighty will protect our nation in
the hour of trial and assist US in our
battles for humanity and right, we
remain very respectfully,
"WILFORD WOODRUFF,
GEORGE Q. CANNON,
JOSEPH F. SMITH,
First Presidency of the Church of Je-
sus Christ of Latter-day Saints"
FROM DIR. ILIFF.
From Rev. T. c. Tiff, superintendent
Of missions of the Methodist church,
the following letter was received:
Salt Lake City, April &c, 1898
Hon. Heber NJ. Wells:
My Dear GOVERNOR have earnestly
desired peace with honor from the be-
ginning. Now that war has been de-
clared and has actually begun, every
true patriot should be willing to offer,
property, kindred and life in his coun-
try's defense. BY the provisions of your
call for volunteers l am too old and
my only son too young to enlist. How
ever, my general health is perfect and
my age only 5115 years today, and 1
feel able and, l believe, willing TO do
any service my country demands.
beg to assure you that my daily prayer
shall be that the god of battles viii
give victory to our holy cause, and that
rsy words shall nave no uncertain mean
ing in urging the braYe men of Utah
of all creeds and nationalities who are
Of proper age and vigOr to enlist under
the stars and stripes. If there is any
thing more that can do at home or at
the front command me day or night.
(Signed) 'Obediently yours,
THOMAS CORWIN ILIFF,
"Past Chaplain-in-Chief Grand Army
of the Republic"