Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1899-05-30
A scANDaLous LETTER.


We are uurpriscdno ind In the Tcrrc
Hautc Trbune.an Indiana paper Of re-.
pectahllity. special salt Lake let
ter containing a resume ~ antiquated
stories about "Mormonlsm" ana the
"Mormonv." which might have obtained
notice and crcdencc a generation aEo,
hut which have no more claim 10 origin
aiity than TO truth The writer signs
himself J.. 81. Rcnndland. lie Il not
known here nor does his name appear
In the Directory. Ito h therefore a
stranger or he has assumed the name
for a purpose.
Tho article II illustrated with three
alleged portraits which are aa poor
specimens of "cuta" aa the letter press
10 Of literature. There 10 an attempt
to adapt the old Rn,i-"Mornon' ro-
manclnE 20 present conditions by the
mention Of some rrccnt happenings. but
the patchwork IL evident and tho whole
effort exhibits ignorance Of Mormon"
history aud disposition TO dintort both
facts and principles.
The writer either determined 10 mis-
represent the people here ne much ma
his limited ability permitted. or has
been the dupe ~ antl."Mormon' de-
cciVera who. doubtless. Will laugh In
their sleeves at his ercduli,y. a few
giarinE uniru,ha We viii iuicny noticei
'Mormons are told by their priests
10 mlareprcaent facts and even 10
awear falsely n necessary Tor the inter-
suin " their church. OF OF any lndlNli'
uai member"
'-The now convert swcarH eternal On.
nifty 10 the United states government
''rhey DO not regard any oath, other
than that administered by their church
authorities a. binding upon the con.
science" They deny the authority u
any church OF state. except their own.
60 administer an oath. This u one u
the cardinal doctrines Of the church.
They know nothing ~ IN. principles uf
republican government. for the priests
teach only loyalty 10 the Mormon the
ocfacy. which II opposed To both ~.
llFlour and political freedom"
go rrfuue 10 vote ~ directed ~ dts.
obedience 10 counsel ana a violation II
the inltintOry oath. A Mormon whc-
Their polyFimiHt lr not, always votes
for 'Ms,a.,,u.' ns against GENTLE,
aud he uses the same prejudice on
Jurisr."
An the foregoing statements are un'
qualified falsehoods. as everybody hor'
who knows anything Of Mormon" doe
irino and discipline II fully aware
There Il no excuse or justification foi
the atroclous cnlumnlca thus published
TO the world. The writer might have
obtained plenty ~ evidence 20 tho vera
opposite ~ what be has given 20 The
Terrc iIaute Tribune. and II should b.
noticed that he does not ofler n Hylla
bic Of proof IN support Of his Vile as
fertions.
Tho new convert TO "Mormonlsm" 4
not required 10 take any oath what
ever, h. simply promises 10 keep IN
commandments Of uod for the future
The "Mormon" church does not den,
the authority of the state 10 administe
an oath. nor does u justify or oxeun
violation " such an oath or affirmation
on the contrary revelations 10 IN
Church command obedience to 9Th
laws of the land" also ~ he or Nh
shall He, he or she shall be delivered n
unto tho law ~ tho land."-(poc. an
Gov. m. ~, 10
We venture 10 say that tho younl
people Of the Church. who have beet
instructed In the Sunday schools, da,
schools and Improvement association
are at least Us wen taught In the prln
olples 81 republican government and q
loyalty thereto, as any OF similar ag
In any part u the Union. Ana the doc
trine Of Individual liberty under con
stltu,lonai law, Is part Of the "Mor
mon" creed, the Constitution Of IN
United states being viewed Us given b
divine Inspiration.
As TO voting, every member Of M
Church IA absolutely free. The electlo
returns show that 'Mormons" vote q
non-"Mormons" Of their respective par
Ties just as freely as for "Mormona
and the rccords OF the courts VIII PROV
that religious prejudice does not are'
the yerdiots OF our jurles.
II Il hardly TO be expected that u
Terre lIaute Tribune will deal fair
with the people who have been tradue'
In It's columns. but II would DO on