The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-06-13


knowledge that polygamy and other doc
trines of that creed are still practiced. A
large portion of his address was devoted to
exposing the methods of the followers of
that church. who according to DR.. Wish
ard regard almost any means as justifable
that are devoted to the extension of the
faith"
For sixty years" said DIR. wishard, "the
christian people of this country have
laughed at the absurdities of Mormonism.
For forty years ii was regarded as a harm
less craze that must die of its own inherent
folly, and to-day We are asked by ministers
ana Idymen VINO ought to know something
of the system If the end has not come. Some
of our Christian editors have assumed it
unworthy of attention and have insisted
that, as the icebergs of the north are car
red down into the tropics and destroyed so
will this frigid ecclesiasticism perish in the
ton.
Quite the contrary is true, and the sooner
wake up to the advancing power of Nor
monism and the purposes of its propagan-
dism the better for the Nation.
THE system is adroity adapted to the
natural man. 1t offers him promotion, pow
er, exaltation self-indulgence and divinity
at last. The high distinction of being a
god is to be reached through the practice
of polygamy, which means the unrestrained
indulgence of the baser passions. Elder b.
II. Roberts, leading mind of the Mormon
Church, says in his recent book, which has
been Endorsed by the church, and is there
lore scripture. Instead of the God-giVen
power of pro-creating, being one of the chief
things thatis to pass away it is one of the
chief things of mans exaltation and glory
In the great eternity, which like an endless
that law, in connection with the observance
or all the other laws of the gospel (Mormon
gospel, of course), man will yet attain unto
the power of the God-head
Inc Mormon Church is idolatrous. Brig
nam Young taught his people as Scripture
that Adam is our father and our God and
the only God with whom we have to do
These facts indicate to you how thoroughly
the system is adapted to the animalism and
n al h,,xr,
hgion of lust and abominaton
The church surpasses in it's compactness
man any organization that history records
MILFORD Woodruff is the head of the church.
he is called the prophet, seer and restorer
ana claims dlrect communication with God.
THE subordinate doctrines Of the church
hang upon the main doctrine, that Adam is
God; that there are many gods, and that
polygamy is necessary in order that we may
have gods. They teach that sin is a neces-
sity Adam fell, but his fall became a mat
ter of necessity after the woman trans
crossed. They teach that Christ was the
natural son of Adam and Mary; also that
ne he was a polygamist, married to Mary and
TO the cross They teach that His Vcarious
death saves from original sin.
The aim of this ecclesiastical power is to
convert the people to this faith, or at least
enough of them to establish the political
lule and authority which they claim to have
governments and peoples in the key to the
ology, the standard of the Mormon Church.
Pratt does not hesitate to say that the
Church mas the right and authority to make
kings, presidents, and, in short, to con-
troll governments. All the governments of
| the world are to be subjugated to this &C.
clesiasticism in Utah. Judge King our
representative in Congress, left his seat to
aid the propaganda in the city Of Brook
| lyn. There are two methods by which this
| is to be done-by ecclesiastical and political
manipulation. In Utah the doctrines which
nave outlined are taught without disguise,
| openly. Children are trained to them in
the family, in the Sabbath school and in
cred that there IS power in education and
| the press they are industriously using both
Of these potent agencies. In many public
| hours are given during the week to the
instruction of children in Mormonsm.
the me Mem MODE n Of procedure is changed when
! been but is to be subjugated to this power.
large force of missionaries is sent out
| trance into Christian communities. They
| present their articles of faith, which, thus
| Interpreted; sound very much like Christian
articles. They artfully conceal the true
| inwardness of their system. They syste-
matically deny the existence of polygamy in
| Utah. They deny that the church controls
| the politics of Utah and secures the cleo
| ton of such officers are acceptable to the
head of the. church. They come without
the means of paying their expenses. They
| arouse sympathy by appealing to the charity
of benevolent PEOPLE who do not understand
| their methods. By one artifice or another
| they enlist the attention and secure the con-
| hdence of the unwary and enveigle them
| into the organizations. They claim that with
| these methods their 1 200 missionaries have
gained 10000 converts outside of Utah dur
ing the past year
THE political methods of the church are
equally Jesuitical. Any man proposing to
| be candidate for Office must first get per-
| mission from the men at the head of the
| Mormon Church Think of it, Americans,
| free citizens A church in America under
| the stars and stripes, stepping in between
1 any man, even the poorest citizen, and his
| liberty to accept the call of the people to
patriotic public service!'
| The doctor explained that the church ex-
| ercised this authority to perpetuate its doc
trines secretly practiced in violation of the
| United States laws against polygamy
| This tyranny of the church," said he was
| aimed especially at a leading member who
| stood for loyalty to the Constitution and to
| American ideas. The church can to-day
| elect any officer in the State and every man
| who is in sympathy with the Mormon idea
| of the right of the church to control the
| State.
Dr. Wishard said that in undertaking to
| answer the question: How shall we meet
| these claims to UNIVERSAL authority and do
minon?" the Presbyterian Church had un-
dertaken to do the right thing in the right
way. I'VE have gone among them said
he, with the Bible and the schoolhouse
/ We do not expurgate the Bible as they do.
| We live the gospel we preach We have
| only the kindest feeling for them and the
| Christian purpose of persuading them to ac-
| cept the whole truth it is in Christ"