Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1899-04-14
MORE ABOUT "Isi,AEL."

objection 20 the claim that the "Mor-
mons" are the modern Israei' IL now
changed 10 new ground. II IL TO the
nature Of the government which the
'Mormons' established" by this Il IL
Intended TO convey the idea that the
"Mormonr" are the creators OF g3v-
eminent different from that adopted by
other citizens OF this country: ana that
Of course Ia FOR outside effect.
We have called attention TO the fact
that Mormon settlements have at.
ways been founded In accordance with
American institutions. The "Mormons''
have always regarded the Constitution
as n dlvinciy inspired document. and
their children have been taught that
one Of their sacred duties Is to defend
It. when necessary. Everyone aoauaint-
ed with "Mormonlsm" knows this In
true.
But u N charged that II II tho Church
government that Is objectionable: that
the priests are kings" Tho implied
argument In this Il. that "a church II
not at liberty under the American iiag
to regulate Its own ecclesiastical affairs
Were this to be admitted. every church
In the Union would be affected. The
ccciefinatlcai government Of the Ro-
man church IL different from the civil
government Of tho United states. So
"a that OF tho Episcopal church. Of the
Methodiatn. and OF the Mosaic Hyna-
goRucs. Are they all 10 be denounced
Ms traitors. because In ecclesiastical
matters they are governed by principles
differing from those adopted M basis
Of American civil government n no.
there can be no more religious liberty In
this country.
Tho statement that the Mormon"
Church government IN similar TO that
OF ancient Iarnei does not helm
the cause of Its aaaaliant.
Tho fact Il that the principles that OBJ
,ained during the Mosaic diupenaatlon
were In many essentials adopted by the
founders Of this Republic. and as "a con-
sequence religious liberty was estab-
lished here at tlmc when all the world
was more or less IN thrald,m.
In the old world Christian" ministers
~ tho gospel were supported By taxes
Imposed by the State; In ancient Israel
there were no saiaried preachers. and
tho Temple scrvl-e was not supported
by state taxes but by tlthcn. There was
no royal tax whatever for the support
u religion. but all religious Institutions
were supported by voluntary contrlbu.
tlons.
In the "ChrlHtlnn" Protestant world
the states controlled the deliberations
" synoda ana councils. In ancient Is
raei the state could Issue no ecclcslastl-
cal enactment. There II no trace OF any
ecclesiastical statute passed by any
king Of Israel. The klngahlp itself was
foreign TO Mosaic Institutions
In the christian" world the state
nominated prclaten and through these
the inferior church officials; In ancient
Israel ecclculastleal officers were entire
~ independent Of the state.
iiy the Mosaic law al Jewish citizens
were rcllgiously equal. The state dld
not like modern "ChriHtinn" states. ox-
ait one sect above another. Pharisecs
and sadducecs could meet at the great
festivals on an equal footing.
Finally. there was no compulsion In
the ancient Israel to serve Ood. except
that which sprung from devotion TO the
Almighty. There was no legal process
by which divine service could be- con.
Quoted. so much for ancient Israel.
The fathers Of this country aid not
adopt the principles OF the "Chrlstlan"
world In these matters, but those OF an
client Israel. and ~ consequence per-
feet religious liberty was made the rule.
The churches were empowered To man.
age their own affairs Tho "Mormons"
need not be aaham Of maintaining the
principles which are so prominent not
only In the government Of the ancient
covenant people. but also In the Con.
stitutlon OF the United states.