Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1898-03-19
Excluded FROM SCHOOL HOUSES.

The News" liz in recent of n letter
from Elders +. r. Hayes and w. H.
Petty. dated Florence station, Nc
Cracker county, Kentucky. in which
is enclosed n newspaper clipping of an
Official communication addressed 10 the
school trustees OF the county by j. w.
Hughes. superintendent of common
schools for McCracken county, In which
the trustees are instructed not to per-
nit Mormon Elders to hold meetings in
school houses. 1t was published in the
Paducah News, and the first part of
the Illumination IL here reproduced:
AS there are quite number of Nor
mon Elders in our county at present
who are trying to proselyte and con-
vert people to the faith OF Joe Smith
! deem 1t my duty to notify you and
ask your cooperation in preventing
them from preaching in our public
school houses, as they usually secure
them from the trustees to hold their
services in. Much discussion has
come up in some OF our districts over
their preaching already.
Il desire to call your attention to
sec No. ., Com. School Law. which
says that no 'Sectarian. infidel or i'm
moral doctrine shall be taught In our
school houses
Il am of the opinion that Mormon
ism can well be classed under two of
these heads Sec. rs places the charge
OF the school building. during vaca-
.ioh' III the hands OF the. chairman.
and he Is Table for any damage oc-
curing on account of neglect /
have incurred some little enmity on
account OF my action in this matter
but | don't care. as / believe that nv
stand Will be endorsed by all law-abld-
ing citizens.
IAN persons that censure me for try
ing to prohibit the teaching in our
school houses religion which our
government. liberal as 1t is in re-
ligious freedom, has to restrict. are
welcome to do so. as know that thew
are weak-minded persons. who will sec
me FOLLY OF their ways, and when
tneir Mormonistic frenzy has SUBJ
sided they will become reconciled
Some few intelligent people are pro
Tossing to believe in this doctrine"
The document goes on to attribute
corrupt motives to those who receive
the Elders, and speaks slurrlnrlv of
the latter. 1t then proceeds with
criticism on the prediction of the
Prophet Joseph Smith foretelling the
war of the rebellion, in which an at
tempt, remarkable for its feebleness
Is made to discredit that revelation
ana concludes with a general denunci-
alton OF Mormonism as a religion that
should be kept out of our school
houses"
laken as whole Mr.. Hurhes's
communication is remarkable docu-
ment. 1t purports to come from
public officer and to be addressed IN
MS subordinates for the purpose of in
s'ruc.ihg them In their duties as pre-
scribed by law; but 1t is in reality n
diatribe assailing u religion. and as
an Official paper is entirely out of or
der and makes Its author appear in n
ridiculous light.
hut IL its purpose was to urevert tho
people from turning out to hear the
missionaries, 1t is producing nm effect
eNaet'Y opposite that for which 1t was
designed. for Elders Hayes and Petty
say:
we have been laboring in the county
since January first, and are meetins,
win grand success. converting many
ana making hosts OF friends. The action
pl the county school superintendent
mas caused great stir among the
people, and while the school houses are
closed against u.s. the people have
opened their houses and we are holdino
FAMILY meetings. The prospects for a
greater work I'm the future look favor
able.
We are enjoying good health and the
spirit of our labors."