The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1899-08-22

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disintegrating influences are at worl
among them. and Shese, added TO the re
SUITS already acnieHedf by the tcnurches
| future.
Aposticies from Mormonism were by nj
! means unknown prior to the esta bash-
| ment> OF Christian churches. when life
ana properly were placed in jeopardy
! thereby. But they become increasingly
! numerous as the growing strength OF The
| Gentle clement makes detection comDar-
! atively safe. Many accepting Mormonlsnl
! because they supposed they would ind IN
| ii a restored form of apostolic faith and
! practice. arriving i'll Utah and discover
| ing its true character. have turned from
| ii in bitter disappointment. Some have
/ fallen into total skeDticism; others have
| found a home in evangelical churches,
and yet others have laDsed into indiffer-
| ence.
Statistics recently gathered from all the
! Christian denominations show larger
proportion of converts from the dominant
/ church than the present numerical
strength of the churches would indi-
cate.
Many who have embraced Christianity
I have been compelled. by loss OF employ
ment, social ostracism and business boy
| cOtting. TO migrate from the state. and
thus have been lost to our church st&tls-
| tics.
There are churches whose gains from
Mormonism in past years nave been faf
| greater than their present total numbers.
! They haVe beer 50 depleted by removals
as To appear discouraginglE feeble, WniIe
they have really met with Il 5000 degree
Returns from twenty eight churches of
various denominations show the following
results.
OF their present membership. 17i5 per
cent are from Mormon sources, while dur
ing their history their total gains from
the dominant church and its apostateS
equal 52ja per cent of their present en-
reiIment. On the other hand. the instan-
ces of preverSion TO Mormonism from or
thodoX ranks have been surprisingly few,
being less than half of one per cent OF the
numbers that have come from II 10 US.
This is wonderful fact for II mlghl
nationally have been expected that When
in addition To the ordinary considerations
by which conversions are secured there Is
added the fact that business and probes
Sional success, as well as chances Tor poll
teal preferment are greatly enhanced py
alliance with the dominant church-there
would have been many audluohs 10 II
from other folds.
The inherent weakness Of Mormonism
is still more clearly shown by It's almost
complete failure 10 secure converts from
the ranks Of irrelisious Genrles in Utah
Here at the very center OF ITS power,
where dwell its inspired apostles, ana
its thousands of priests. with Its maShln-
cent temples its attractive music. It's
commanding social and political influence.
Il ought TO have made converts by nun
dreds But the indisputable TACT that
where Mormonism Is best known II mas
the least success is eloquent in condem-
nation of the system
Message to Utah People.
The Christian churches of this nation
have a message TO declare 10 the people
OF Utah II is the same old message of
redeeming love. of the power of Christ to
save from sin. and of the imperative de-
mand of God for holy living that has
been the inspiring motive of the true
church i'll every age. Under the SHADOW
OF a false and misleading system of re-
ligiOn. that seeks to usurp the place OF
there are multltudes VINO are
~fs.Na Of h IA
lens of life and of destiny that can be |
found only in the uncorruNed teaching |
of the great master as revealed in his |
word.
There are souls all about Us struggling |
in the darkness and alienation from God
who knows no more OF the almighty |
father of the universe and mis- love Tor |
errirg men than did the Athenians who |
worshipped an unknown God, and who |
ignorantly believed in many dleties- To |
these Christ's plain message, unobscured
by the vain imaSinings OF men. would |
come as light, clear. pure and penetrating. |
There are mUltitudes who are bowed |
down with trials. and grievous burdens
Of sorrow. loneliness and guilt and VINO |
know not where to turn except to the |
blind leaders of the blind" who lead |
them on in the darkness and TO false
teachers who fill their hearts with de
Usive hopes. We believe in the efficacy |
OF the old gospel. II is the power of |
God unto salvation to every one that be-
Eleventh. The responsibility therefore
people.
Since our last annual meeting events
have occurred which have made use of
the focus of observation and of interest
10 the people of the whole country.
What effect these may have upon evan
selical agencies in the state remains 10
De proven. Whether they shall help or
hinder Christian effort depends largely
Ipon the wisdom which Christian church.
IS shall evince in the present. crisis
he zeal with which the friends of mis-
;ions in Utah shall prosecute the work
hey have undertaken. and the action OF
he United States congress upon the ques-
ion which the late election of a pOlygam-
st to membership in that body thrusts
Ipon it for determination.
Congressman Roberts.
In reference to the election of Mr.. Rob
.rts your committee asks TO adopt the fol-
owing preamble and resolutions:
Whereas. The election of Brigham II.
Roberts Of Utah. an avowed pcIygamist. I.
o the house Of representatives, or the
'ifty-siNth congress, has called the atten-
ion OF the country to the fact that many
Mormon leaders are still living in poly
famous relations. in violation of their
'aths and pledges. and in defiance of pub
ic sentiment and laws OF the country. as
veil as in defiance OF the laws and con-
titution of the state of Utah; and.
Whereas. The teaching and practice of
is demoraliZing to society and
destructive of the fundamental principles
pom which our free institutions and our
.nr!stian civilization rests; and
Whereas, In view of the past history
Yer the practice Of polygamy the house
L Representatives cannot permit the said
Brigham H. Roberts to have voice in
IS councils without in effect sanctioning |
he practice of polygamy; and,
Whereas. The poiygamist element is
till powerful in Utah, making it difficult |
not impossible to eXterminaue pOlygam-
Us cohabitation without the assistance |
{ the national government; {
Therefore. We most respectfully and
lOst earnestly call upon every represent |
alive Of the Fifty-siXth congress to use !
IS utmost endeaVor and 10 exhaust all I
Onorable means to secure the prompt eX- ;
ulsion of the said Brigham H Roberts |
Z Utah from the house Of representa-
ives. in accordance with the provision of | :
he national constitution. article l. section | !
paragraph >, winch reads as follows: (
Each house tof congress) may determine :
be rules Of its proceedings punish its :
lembers for disorderly behavior. and |
'ith the concurrence OF two-thirds cXpel |
member.
We also most earnestly call upon every I
lember OF the senate and house of repre- ! +
entativcs to Use his utmost endeaVor and :
} exhaust all honorable means TO secure
elton by the Fifty-siNth congress. pro- [
OSing an amendment 10 the national con-
tuition and submitting the same 10 the I
.giSlatureS OF the several states defining I
gal marriage TO be monOgamic and | !
taking polygamy and polygamous CO.
under whatsoever suise or pre-
.nse. a crime against the United States
uniSha bic by severe penalties. including
Acknowledgement and disqualification to
Ote. or TO hold any office of honor or =
under the United States or
ny state or territory thereof.
We also call upon the Christian voters
lrouShout the United States 10 aid us
the endeavor TO secure the congression {
action herein prayed for to the end
lat the great wrong and scandal of /