Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1900-01-23
ANTI."MoRMoN" ARMY,

The following press dispatch has been
received, dated Cleveland, Ohio. Janu-
airy 20th:
THE Utah Gospel mission has been
Incorporated for the purpose Of fighting
M0imonism all over the country by
Rev. Dr. George II. McGrew Allen X.
Ford. Captain Thomas Wilson, w. NJ.
Rayne. Rev Dr. H. Monett, Rev. j. y.
Williamson, John Ralph owens, Rev.
John ID. Nutting and Rev. Or. Charles
r. Thwng
"Rev. Mr. Nuttlng Is In New York
interesting gentlemen OF that city In
the project. Anti-MormOn literature
VIII be circulated In abundance and the
plan Is TO send out 1900 missionaries 10
counterfeit the efforts Of Mormon mis-
sionaries who have become numerous
and very active"
There is nothing new In this lnforma-
ton. ]. d. Nutting, who was once a
preacher In this city has been en-
deayorlng nearly ever since he left here
to obtain notoriety because Of his al
legged understanding OF "Mormonlsm."
His deficiency In that particular has
been made very clear In letters which
he wrote to the Deseret News and
which were replied to at the time The
anli-"Mormon" literature which is to
be circulated In abundance. Is a mass
OF misrepresentation In the form OF
small pamphlets which have been
scattered through the country during
the progress OF the new crusade.
Why this movement. started by the
person We have named. should be
called "The Utah Gospel Mission" does
not distinctly appear, seeing that its
purpose Is to fight "Mormonlsm' "all
over the country" Il is not a Utah
corporation that is engaged in the
work, nor is Utah the place for It's pro-
jecied operations. The title Is as mis-
leading as the literature which is in
tended 10 be circulated
1t Is barely possible that money
enough can be raised TO send out two
thousand antl-"Mormon' missionaries
10 meet the Elders who are travelling
without purse or scrip TO preach the
Gospel among the nations. The equip
ment, salaries and travelling expenses
OF the army Of the Ants viii cost
considerable sum, and II they are kept
In the field, Il VIII eat into the treas
ury OF the organization ravenously and
enormously We are inclined to the
opinion that the number OF the hired
soldiers viii fall very short OF two
thousand,
II Is on just such movements as this
that "Mormonlsm" thrives and -four
ashes. Public interest Is thereby
aroused, and the attention OF many peo-
pie who would not otherwise be at
tracted IL directed towards the prlnc-
pies which our Elders 30 forth TO
promulgate. Indifference is the great
foe to the spread Of religious truth We
have no reason to fear agitation. Free
discussion is always helpful TO our
cause.
The assertions made by the profess
sional opponents OF Mormonism" are
usually so extreme and grotesque, that
they have contrary effect upon
thoughtful minds 10 that which they
are intended TO produce All that Is
necessary when they are presented Is
an opportunity to refute them, and they
fall TO The ground poweress for evil.
They may at first deceive the multi
tude. but when investigation follows
they utterly defeat their own object
There has never been published a
truthful presentation OF Mormon doc
trlne by It's bitter religious assallants.
II is just The same with the numerous
sermons that have been preached for the
pretended purpose OF telling the public
what "Mormonism" is The success
which attends such efforts can be- but
temporary. The truth viii eventually
come uppermost. The agitation Of the
subject opens the way for the Elders TO
present the truth, and those who love It
WIN soon perceive It's llght aud beauty
in contrast with the darkness and
malice that attend rs poryerslon,
We say to the good people Of the East
as well as 10 the maligpats Of the
"Mormons,' send out your missionaries,
By an means, whether TO Utah or to
other paris OF the globe and give our
Elders a chance 20 meet what the 9TH
crs are sent 10 disseminate with the
Bible IN their hands and the testimony
Of the Gospel In thelr hearts even II
unlearned and inexperienced they win
prove more than match Tor their foes,
and az any rate the principles Of the
system nicknamed "Mormonlsm" will
receive greater attention and wider
publication. resulting in their triumph
throughout the world.