The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1899-12-18

brotherly love. II has made their
homes, hallowed for the peace, ha--
mony and love dwelling therein. 1t
has made their lives so free from the
social evils that are corroding the foun-
tains Of life. 1t has made their COM
munities prosperous, industrious,
peaceful and united, and noted for their
purity, hospitality and llberality, and
where for years, and until those not
of their faith made them possible, there
were no saloons, no grog-shops, houses
of infamy, poor farms or almshouses
in the Mormon country.
"Mormonism has gathered thousands
from the varied conditions of life and
united them in a common purpose
looking to the elevation and salvation
of mankind. 1t has taught the neces-
sity of purity, virtue, chastity ana
honor and has made their checkered
career one OF great experience and the
| history of the past is painted in living
colors as lessons of endurance, patti
| ence and mercy, in their endeavor to
present peace and liberty to the world.
1t has made the grass to grow, the
| gardens to yield, the orchards to bring
forth where before sterility obliter-
ated such conditions.
"It has taught its adherents the
beauty of peace, likewise an honorable
| defense of their country, as witnessed
by their deeds of valor at Manila in
the late war with Spain. 1t has blessed
the needy, comforted. the afflicted,
| lifted the fallen and seeks to raise
every soul from the condition in which
! it may be found to the exalted position
| of preserver Of equal rights and JUS
| tice for all. Its mission is one of
| peace, of progress, of making for the
fatherhood of God the brotherhood Of
man. 1t selects the good in every hu-
man being and magnfies and seeks to
help overcome the evils"
THE SECOND PART.
Elder Whitaker then took up the Sec
and part of his subject and said
Let it be understood once for all
that Mormonism is opposed, not for,
polygamy, but as charged in anti
| Mormon pamphlets, which declare it
is not for polygamy, but because of
the horrible ideas of God, Christ man,
sin and the anti-Bible doctrine of sal
walton that we oppose Mormonism. No,
the deep prejudice existing will be re-
moved as the truth concerning Nor
"The facts remain, however that
| polygamy never has been the cause Of
any of the troubles of the Mormons.
| From 1880, when the church was or
Eanized. to 1S47, when they were, after
many previous mobbings and driv-
ings. finally driven into the Alkali val
ley of Salt Lake, polygamy was never
raised as cause; nay, 1t was not com
mitted to writing until 1913; never pub
lished to the world until 1852, and was
abandoned in 1890, since which date
not one polygamous marriage has been
performed. Yet not one of their per-
secutions was due to polygamy.
Now underneath the phantom OF
polygamy the real truth is becoming
apparent. 1t is the doctrines Of the
Mormon church that are being at
tackled, and the same spirit that cruel
fled Christ destroyed His apostles and
the early Christians, drove the pilgrim
fathers to this country and burned
the witches of Salem; killed many OF
the leaders of the Mormon church
with Joseph Smith its founder under
God. That same dark specter of per-
secution is now being aroused to rob
the Mormons or religious liberty
"In closing I ask for one thing
namely, that people would not be hasty
in condemning but be reasonable and
listen to the presentation of facts"
In the evening lecture the social and