The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1899-08-18

tWenty-nlnth annual conference OF the
Methodist Episcopal church. DR.. Lift
in his report of the condition of the
mission, lamented the lack of money
for the needs of his church, the moral
condition of the state and the election
of Roberts, but related with joy that
materially the state is advancing. To
her volunteers he gave the praise due
Valor and patriotic effort.
The conference convened yesterday
morning in the First NJ. E. church. a
four days session Will be held during
which much that is of interest to
church people of Utah will be dis
cussed.
Bishop Isaac w. Joyce of Minneapolis
d venerable representative of the
church was present TO open the con-
ference. After a devotional service, led
by the Rev. Alfred II. Henry, pastor
of the First church, the bishop admin
iStered the sacrament of the Lord s
supper to the delegates and visiting
clergy. He was assisted in perform
ing this office by the ReVs. George z.
Jayne, L. 4. Mork, Alfred II. Henry
and ]. D. Gillian, the presiding elders.
Business of a routine character was
then disposed of and DR.. Tiff as sup
erintendent OF the mission reported at
some length on the general work
throughout the state. In concluding his
report he devoted some time to re
view of the ecclesiastical and political
situations in Utah, and especially to
the Roberts case. The congressman
elect was arraigned in most cutting
terms by the churchmap.
DR.. lifts Report
The report covered the work at Co
rhine, Logan, Murray, Ogden 1.-TWO
churches) Salt Lake -four churches),
Waterloo and Vernal. The reports from
all points were encouraging, and the
work of the church extending in all di-
TectionS.
The educational work of the church
in Utah is crippled for lack of funds.
The MethOdists have but eight schools,
compared with forty Presbyterian
schools, and they eXpend $4,000, as COM
pared with $4,000 expended by the
Presbyterians. DR.. Tiff took strong
grounds in his report in favor of a
Methodist institution of higher educa-
ton for Utah.
The work of the Womens Home Mis-
sionary society, the Epworth League
and the missionaries was detailed. on
the questions of the drink habit, Sab
bath dissertation and the social evil, Dr.
Tiff drew a dark picture. He feared
that intemDerance is on the increase
throughout the state. Saloons he finds
in the cities, the mining camps, and
even in the rural districts. AS re-
suit" he says, the young men of Utah
are dissipated, and are fastening to fill
drunkards' graves"
On Sundays, the doctor says, the law
of God is ignored for gain. The resorts
are all wide open, and special induce
mentS are offered to attract crowds.
The officers are hushed to silence and
inactivity by some influence. and the
sin and ruin increase from year to year.
He went on. The picture of the social
evil, as told by those who are in po-
sition TO know, especially in Salt Lake
City, is too appalling to outline before
this audience; indeed, there is enough
published in the daily press to alarm
every father and mother because of
the imminent exposure and danger of
their children. The entire state is con-
taminated and debauched more or less
by these evils. Again l ask, who is re-
sponsible? Is it not high time that
every church and every parent and
every voter looked carefully to indi-
Vidual responsibility and duty?'
Mormonism and Polygamy.
DR.. lifts report closed with an eX-
tended discussion of Mormonism. After
reviewing early conditions in Utah and
the influence eXerted TO eliminate po-
lygamy, the pledges that were made,
the manifestos issued and the amnesties
granted up TO the time Utah came into
the Union. he said that pOlygamy was
then considered TO be dead. But he
continues: In a little while reports
came to US from different parts of the
state that apostles, presidents of stakes.
bishops and counselors We're renewing
their former polygamous relations, and
that some were taking new plural
wives. This condition of affairs became
more open, more fragrant and more I'M
bearable- 1t was not confined to eX-
ceptional cases in isolated localities and
? h IL
City, under the shadow of the temple
some of the most influential leaders set
the example. and throughout the state
and among the leading church officials
this became the rule, rather than the
exception, so that polygamous relations
have been more open and general the
past two years than for the fifteen
years preceding-or since the vigorous
enforcement of the Edmunds anti-po-
lysamy law This. too. with the ap-
proval OF the church, and in defiance
Of the law of the land and the constitu-
ton and law of the state, and in vio-
lation of the solemn pledges Of the lead
ers Of the church.
The Roberts Case.
Following this state of affairs. Brig
ham II. Roberts. d prominent church
man. editor Of the Young Peoples I'm
provement Era: a polysamist living and
NbAiiD4tlAs III llAt iNDuit ana ndDlL as
husband and wife with three women
was selected, nominated and elected
congressman by church authority and
influence From the day of President
WoOdruff's manifesto. eight years. pre-
Vious, till this act of Mr.. Roberts cleo
ton. / was conservative. I took the
position that when the leaders of the
Mormon church said to the country and
to President Harrison. We propose
hereafter to be law-abiding citizens of
the republic, and We desire your for
giveness,' that il was our duty to give
them chance TO fulfill their promises.
Ana for eight years l was unwilling to
cOncede that the play for Utah state
hood was a trick and deception; but
the nomination and election of Mr.
Notwithstanding into account the cir
cumstances and conditions-compelled
that conclusion.
L stand here now to say-measuring
the words-that his election was a de-
1iance thrown into the faces of those
who sought TO 90 the Mormon people
good; an insult TO the president of the
United States. TO the senate and house
of representatives that gave statehood
to Utah. conditioned upon sacred assur-
ances More, it was challenge to the
American people.
The Doctors Tour.
"And to some of us it seemed duty
to accept the challenge and meet the
issue. BY unanimous vote, at a full
meeting of the Ministerial association of
Salt Lake City. Rev. DR.. w. NJ Paden.
Rev DIR G IT Brown and MYSELF