Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1900-07-14
IGNORANCE ON "MoRMoNIsM."

Some time ago Harper's Weekly had
an item stating that "Mormonism' Is
worth knowing more about than most
people know, and that IAN American
church with 100000 members Is worth
some study"
This seems 10 have been too much
for the editor Of the Troy Press, who
replies:
Mormonism' without polygamy II
a tame affair utterly wanting In those
vlrile principles which produce growth
and influence. P0lygamy Is doomed,
and the moment lts knell was sounded
marked the turning point Of Mormon
ism toward decay and death. Millions
u property and the prejudlces OF It's
sincere followers may make It's decline
a lingering one, but rs fate, like the
women It has degraded, is sealed,
A stronger proof Of the pertInence Of
the observation Of Harper's Weekly
could hardly be adduoed. The para
graph quoted, so far as It represents a
popular impression demonstrates the
dense ignorance concerning the Amer
lean Church, commonly called Nor
mon"
Those who instgated the bitter cru
SADIE against the Church In Utah years
ago took It for granted that polygamy
and Mormonlsm" were synonymous
terms, and By their misrepresentation
that idea gained currency II was a
cunning plan. by us adoption public
sympathy was gained FOR a crusade
against a church, under the gulse Of an
attack on an unpopular practice. Al
legged concern for the purity OF morals
was made an excuse for the un-Ameri-
can attack on the American principle Of
religious liberty. Under no other pre-
text could the crusade against the
Church have been carried on. In the
same way, the Catholics were made the
objects Of persecution In this country
some years ago when all kinds Of vile
stories about their alleged secret evil
dolngs were circulated In order to in
flame pupbllc opinion against them.
But the scheme did not work. Those
who fathered II have long ago
found that polygamy and "Mormonism'
are not synonymous terms. They now
see that that the Church is stronger
and more popular. with that practice
abandoned, than ever. They have
found that all their plans have been in
vain. that, In fact. they have aided in
arouslng an interest In the doctrines
OF the Church In circles, where the
Elders but for the agitation, might not
have secured a hearing Joseph's breth-
rem had evil intentions, but an over
ruling Power turned the evil into good.
All this Is well known here. but in
other places, the false impression still
obtains that the end Of polygamy was
the finish Of the Church
Among those who still hold to this
chimera is the editor OF the Troy Press.
He may not know, or he may not care
to reflect, that "Mormonism" existed for
years and grew vigorously before the
revelation on plural marriage was
given Otherwise, he would see the
consistency Of the proposition that the
Church does not depend on that doc
trine for its existence and develop
ment
To his charge that "sensuahty Is the
stronghold Of "MormonIsm," It is suf-
hcient TO say IN refutation that. n he
will scan the columns Of the daily
press, he will find that the "Mormons'
do not figure In the revolving stories
which almost daily are displayed I'M
der some such headlines as these:
Two Women Claim Him" or His
Big Heart Another Woman Said 10
Have Found Place in IT," The heroes
Of the romances indicated by such cap
tions are not, as a rule. members Of
the Church.
But, as already said, there Is dense
Ignorance concerning "Mormonism."
1t would be better. though. II editors
would confess their ignorance upon
that subject. and seek enlightenment,
II called upon TO volunteer an opinion.
That would be no dlshonor. But TO
write in ignorance upon any subject,
and to endeavor TO hide that In words |
and phrases reflects credit on no man,
and least Of all on an editor Of popu-
lar journal.