The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1899-02-20
Wakes Heated Over
MOrmOnisln.
ELDER WHITAKER
Catches a Tartar in the Per-
son Of Thomas Leach.

Elder John NJ Whitaker who is in
charge of the Church>of the Latter Day
Saints, in this part of New England,
spoke at Granite hall yesterday after
noon TO nearly two hundred people.
The speaker is bright young man of
"a or 80 years, and is apparently a
thorough believer in the Mormon doc
trine.
His subject was the Mormon church
and the faith of the people. He was in
/ terrupted by Thomas Leach during the
discourse, who wanted to ask questions
ana argue the points made by the elder.
! but the latter said that he did not wish
to be interrupted until after he had
finished speaking, when he was ready
to show people the truth"
AS soon as Elder Whitaker had
closed the meeting, Thomas Leach went
forward and asked ito know the truth"
and at once took Elder Whitaker to
task for making what Mr. Leach called
statements that were untrue"
Inc two men had a heated argument
over their beliefs, and a large number
OF those present gathered around them
and applauded the points scored by par
Elephants
Mr.. Leach is a man so odd years of
age, and is q firm believer apparent
ly in the Bible teachings, and just at
time when to all appearances the
elder had the best of the controversy
Mr.. Leach pulled from his .overcoat
pocket Well-Worn copy of the Bible,
and said:
What do I think of your belief? 1
will answer you by quoting this passage
from first Timothy, chapter 4. first
verse, Now the spirit speaketh, ex-
pressly, that in the latter times some
shall depart from the faith, giving heed
to seducing spirits and doctrines OF
devils
That's what l think of you and your
belief"
The remarks made by Mr.. Leach We're
evidently too much for the elder as he
moved away in the direction of the
door and the janitor took the platform
and requested all present to leave the
place as the hall would be used very
shortly for a different kind of a meet
ing.
Elder Whitaker told Mr. Leach that
he would be only too willing to debate
with him publicly. Mr.. Leach said
that he was a. poor man and could not
afford to hire a hall.
The elder and Mr.. Leach made an
appointment to meet at Harmony
street at 10 o'clock this morning, and
it is said TO be possible that the two
men will hire a hall and enter into a
debate during the week.
Elder Whitaker strongly upheld
Brigham H. Roberts, the congressman
elect from Utah. He spoke so we'll of
him that several people in the audience
questioned the elders intentions, saying
that it appeared as if the man was
trying to boom him politically and have
the people of the east cease to ask that
Roberts be refused admittance to con-
gress.
During the address the speaker said
that Roberts was nearly a perfect man
and that the hue and cry raised against
him was the cry Of the people of other
faiths who wanted to strike q blow at
the Mormon religion and not at polyg-
amy
He declared that Roberts might be
refused admittance but the day was
coming when all the churches round
about would crumble and fall to pieces
and that the only church left would be
the Mormon church.
Elder Whitaker also said that the
elders We're not in Worcester to convert
the old women or the young girls, that
they had enough of both kinds out in
! Utah.
| The speaker was asked by a Spy
| man after the meeting if his mission
| was in the interest of Roberts, and he
declared that it was not, and that Rob-
| erts was not elected by the Mornons
! but by the democratic party of Utah
and that Roberts political belief was
not his belief, and that he simply stood
up for him because he knew him and
! knew that he would make a bright. in
/ telllgent congressman to represent the
state of Utah.