Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1900-02-08
UNION TO SUPPRESS EVIL.
To the Editor

1u INC IfiiAAls
The story now running in your Sat
urday edition--"rhe Crucihxlon OF
Philip Strong and It's companion
story SIN His Steps, by the same
author can scarcely be read By saint or
sinner without arousing Interest In ap-
piled Christianity.
Fireside discussion OF the theme IN
relation to conditions In our city de-
yeloped various theories and opinions
upon the following query;
why is II that In a city like this,
with one half the people ardent adj
herers OF one Church and at least an
additional one-fifth members or sup
porters OF other churches-the Christ
principle being Of all alike the dominant
principle-no union Of forces Is effected
for suppressing the grosser evils that
not only those churches. but the gem
eral public decry and condemn
II would be interesting TO see the
matter discussed by those best ac-
quainted In the premises.
The question propounded in the fore
going letter Is pertinent to conditions
In this city. While We do not admit
that the evils referred to therein are
OF such magnitude as some people
would have the world believe. or that
they are great in comparison with those
prevailing In most OF the cities OF this
country we regard them as Of sufficient
proportions to cause serious inquiry as
TO the reason why they are permitted to
prevail.
There have been influences at work
for their suppression for many years
Other influences, however have coun-
teracted the efforts In that direction,
and have raised obstacles which were
not easy TO remove. The execution OF
laws and ordinances in the interest OF
morality and temperance, has always
been hindered by certain elements In
The community, and even the courts in
past times lent their aid against the
measures that were adopted to stamp
out social evils.
But the question as 20 the union Of
the religious institutions in the city and
the State. for the purpose mentioned,
receives Its answer In the attitude OF
the various sects, toward the Church
which Is stated to have for its adher-
ents half the population. The history
OF Utah demonstrates the fact that
those religious bodies have combined
10 attack the so-called Mormon
Church. and used such influences as
they possessed against It. Their pur-
pose, as exhibited in their actions, has
been all along to cripple and If possible
destroy II from the earth. SO the likeli-
hood OF a union between them and II
appears 10 be one OF the Temotest OF
possibilities.
Another thing 10 be considered Is,
that the only real unity Of effort ex-
hlbited By those different sects has
been In the direction here indicated, II
has not been exercised against the evils
which our correspondent thinks ought
TO be suppressed. 1t has been worked
up and formulated for the purpose OF
crushing out something that the
dominant Church once Incorporated
In its system Of faith and practice.
They have had neither sight nor smell
for the "grosser evils" which are des-
cried In theory by all churches and
reformatory societies. They passed
them by, not to say as necessary
evils" perhaps. but as something to be
ignored II not silently tolerated.
This antagonism which has been fos-
tered among those sectaries against the
Church that has the strongest following
in this State, has been Of the bitterest
character. 1t has been INDUCED in TO the
extent OF monstrous exaggerations OF
fact, and Of resort 10 the grossest
kind OF fiction. It's purpose has been
to arouse the animosities Of the public
throughout the country against the
Church through the efforts Of which In
this once desert region, II was made
possible for those enemies to come here
at all. The unity proposed. therefore,
between those sectarian institutions
and the Church which they desire to
destroy, does not appear at present very
likely to be achieved.
Practical Christianity, as applied to
the grosser evils OF modern society. will
no doubt be discussed in many circles
in consequence OF the publication Of
the stories referred to by our cores
pendent, Good will grow out OF such
expressions Of opinion as win natural
ly be evoked thereby. what Jesus
would DO under circumstances that now
exist cannot be determined by the
opinions OF people who debate the Ques-
ton. We have but little on record as
20 that which he actually did and said
when He walked upon the soil OF Pal
estlne. The times, the country, the con-
ditons here are an different from those
OF His day and that land.
The doctrines lie taught and the
spirit He manifested may be guides to
us. It Is true, They Should be, 1t
would not do, perhaps for Us to apply
the language lie used against the hypo-
critics, the humbugs. and religious
frauds who posed as the popular
preachers and teachers OF religion The
Pharlsees Of the nineteenth century are
no less worthy OF His denunclation than
those Of the first.
II He were here now, He would have