Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1900-03-15
RELIGIOUS LAwLEssNEss.

Readers Of the Deseret News VIII
probably remember the announcement,
some months ago, Of a scheme TO con-
vert the "Mormons' Of Utah 10 ortho-
dox "Chrlstlanlty" by means OF mis-
sIonary corps to travel through the set
Elements In sheep wagons, attended by
singers and organs The plan does not
seem to have materiallzed, and there Is
no evidence Of what has become OF the
money subscribed by plous people in
the East In support Of this project. 1t
win also be remembered that sollclta-
lions for funds to carry out this enter
prise were accompanied by requests
not TO make the matter known to the
"Mormons," The work was to be done
ION the sly"
We are reminded of that PROSECUTING
dodge and the secrecy with which II
was to be enshrouded, by new move
ment on the part Of the organization
which Is engaged In the latest anti
Mormon" crusade, and that goes by
the name Of the League For Social
Service" II Is now sending out circu-
lars, addressed to persons supposed 10
be willing 70 aid In securing an amend
ment to the Constitution Of the United
states, making polygamy a crime
against the national government The
circulars are signed Josiah Strong,
who usually has the title Of Rev. Dr.
as a prefix to his name. They contain
a request 10 send to the League, as
soon as possible" a statement Of how
many "franSed speeches In aid OF the
movement can be distributed by the
person or society thus addressed, when
they will be furnished free OF charge
This refers TO the slanderous speech
made by Charles b. Lands Of Indiana,
In the House Of Representatives Janu-
airy gath, 1900, which was commented
upon at the time In this paper. The
letters signed by the Rev. DR.. contain
the following naive admission and
caution.
I'VE are happy to state that arrange
ments have been made by which we
can send you. In tranked envelopes. as
many copies as you can use. AS you
will get the benefit OF the frank, you
will be subjected 10 no expense or
trouble whatever. except that of adj
dressing and mailing the envelopes.
while the law allows us Go commu-
nlcate by letter the above fact In regard
10 these franked speeches, It forblds
anyone TO announce II In print Per-
init us therefore to caution you touch
ing that natter
II this Is not in spirit violation Of
the franking privilege extended 10
members Of Congress. we are unable
to call 1t by any other name, This at
tempt at secrecy exposes the nature of
the whole dlsreputable business. Here
is wholesale use Of the frank OF
member Of Congress by religious So
ciety. endorsed by a leading light in
the so-called christian" world, con-
trary 10 the intent Of the law which
bestows il solely upon national leglsla-
tors and certain government officials.
and good people all over the country
are invited and persuaded by the pious
president OF that society TO engage in
the unlawful scheme.
Anything to down the Mormons'
seems to be the motto Of most Of the
religious ministers and societies in
Christendon. The speech which is
thus being circulated throughout the
United States contains number OF
direct and atroclous falsehoods Some
Of them are personal libels, The gen.
tlemen who are falsely accused, we
suppose, have no redress against c.
b. lands for his attacks upon them,
while addressing the House OF Repre-
sentatiyes In the capacity Of a mem
Der. But we are Of the opinion that
this protection does not reach so far
as TO cover Rev. Or. Josiah Strong or
the society Of which he is the president,
Whether the individuals against
whom false witness Is borne by these
religious people. care 10 prosecute
suit for libel or not, We do not know.
The Church OF Jesus Christ OF Latter
day Saints Is so accustomed to being
misrepresented and abused, that It Is
not likely to avail Itself Of legal means
TO repel the ISLANDERS contained in the
pamphlet circulated by the League for
Social Service although probably
strong case might be made In this In
stance.
One OF the personal libels which this
society Is publishing through the land.
Is the alleged plural marriage Of a
young lady at Gunnlson with one OF
the Twelve Apostles We DO not men,
ton names, although they are paraded
In print by these religious scandal
mongers, because the story Is utterly
false and without any foundation In