Omaha daily bee., 1899-11-06
REV. nRopIE TALKS on MoRMoNs.
Two Sermons mt st. Mary's Avenue
CONGREGATIONAL Church.


congregational Church.
Rev. A. M. Brodie OF Manistee, Mich, rec
ognized as one of the most widely educated
ministers in the United States, preached
at st. Mary's Avenue Congregational church,
morning and evening yesterday.
Although the morning service was inter-
esting, it was at night that the larger
crowd was attracted, owing to the impor-
tance of the topic. Rev. Brodie talked on
Mormonism and the unseating of Congress
man Roberts, an issue now prominent all
over the union.
The morning sermon was plain gospel
service. Taking the second verse of the
third chapter of John for his text, Rev.
Brodie talked at length on the meaning of
religion He pointed out the mistakes made
by Nicodemus and set forth that the true
gospel is not set Of fixed doctrines, nor
a formal routine, but the existence of a
broader, more noble and higher life.
Money making, with it's hurry and worry,
is not the only thing in life, for there is
a greater end to attain,' the reverend
speaker said.
Along this line Rev. Brodie talked in a
highly interesting manner. He declared that
man is not a tool placed on earth for
worldly use alone, but a higher being.
When, at the evening service, Rev. Brodie
took up the subject of Mormonism and the
congressman-elec who is said to be living
in polygamy, he prefaced his remarks by
saying that when vile men are elected to
office, sin must prevail. He recited con-
densed history of the Mormon church from
the time of it's foundation UP to the pres
ent date He told about how Joseph Smith
was a bad boy in the east, given to ques-
tonable tricks how he subsequently rose to
fame as leader of the church he founded;
how the new sect branched out and how after
being buffeted from pillar to post because
of unpopularity, grew up in Utah and
founded permanent abiding place and how
converts are made every day.
'"The Mormon church Is the most thor
oughly organized body in the world, I be-
lieye," said the speaker. "The president OF
the church has such complete arrangements
that he can with remarkable rapidity trans
NIT message to all of his followers in all
| parts OF the country by system OF passing
| it from one to another.
"The women of Utah are worse than
slaves, poor deluded creatures. They believe
that they cannot go to heaven unless they
have husband to call them, and so they
toll on and on in their ignorance"
| Getting down into the personal history OF
Congressman Roberts, Rev. Brodie declared
| him to be a lawbreaker He told about his
being sent to prison for polygamy after the
| enactment OF the prohibitory law, and said
his first act after being released was to
marry another wife.
| THE Mormons elected Roberts because
they wanted to make test case" exclaimed
the speaker, that is, they want to force
| the issue and ascertain IL the people of the
United States will permit polygamy."
During his address Rev. Brodie told Of his
travels in Utah and his study of the Nor
mons as they appeared to him. In conclu
sion, he urged the congregation to eacf
write a letter to the Nebraska representa-
tives in congress asking them to use theil
influence to prevent the Mormon member
from being seated. He thought such con
certed action would have effect.
Rev. Brodie will remain in Omaha two OF
three days. He Is the guest of Matthew A
Hall and family, 11S North Thirty -nintl
street. Mr.. Hall and his visitor were school
mates in boyhood and in later years wer
school teachers in adjoining districts il
Canada. Rev. Brodie may. be induced t,
locate in Omaha. He has made many friend
and as a speaker he is pronounced one o
the yery best,