Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1900-12-26
oMoRMoNIsM"Is INTELLIGENCE

The New York Mail and Express
makes a NOTE OF what Is terms the Con
slant ana apparently subterraneous ac-
Hy.tyr Of the "Mormons' and then
continues:
IN Is claimed bY its adharents that
d., recent wears. when many eNahBelcal
denominations have showed but a shghl
fncrcase 10 has been adding 20 nus menu
tsrsbip by leaps and bounds. foI such
"a condition the remedy 10 u obvious
H. ma, io boz sought by those who believe
maj Mormon teachings are uhWhole-
some I'm any constitutional amendment
but in the diffusion OF intelligence
among the primitive populations
whence converts are drawn
There are two egregious mistakes in
this The first is that "Mormonism' Is
engaged in activity which in any sense
NJ me word may be called "subterrane-
ous." and the second that the diffusion
OF intelligence" Is IN any way delri-
mental 10 the spread Of the Gospel On
one occasion our Lord and Savior mar
yeled that His immediate followers,
though so long associated with Him. ala
not know Him. It Is as much OF a mys-
terry that the moulders Of public opin-
ion in this country, though Mormon
ism" has been present here for over
han a century fail to understand even
its FIRST principles.
"Mormonlsm" is in no way sub
terraneous" force. It has been pro-
claimed for these seventy years from
the house tops in every land, broadly
speaking. Like the message Of that an
gel in the Apocalypse, who planted one
foot on the land and one on the sea-
thus cncompassing the earth, and
roared like a lion. the messengers OK
the Gospel. from the Prophet Joseph to
the humblest missionary have uttered
the voice OF warning IN churches ana
meeting houses, public places and the
family circles; they have gone before
the magistrates and the legislatures
and explained the nature Of their mis-
sion: they have endeavored to set forth
their principles through the periodical
press and numerous publications The
sound Of their voice has, indeed, gone
forth TO the uttermost parts OF the
world At times their enemies have en-
deavored TO silence them by mobbings,
by the closing Of public gathering
places 70 them. by various un-American
methods. including Imprisonment and
Killing. but they have overcome all OBJ
stacles and are still faithfully bearing
their testimony to the world In the
open. Whatever may be said Of Nor
monism' by those who DO not under
stand It, It cannot be truthfully
charged that II Is aiming at secrecy.
Its great strength Is 10 that Its fol-
lowers are conscious Of their mission,
and honestly convinced that their own
salvation is conditioned on their faith
funess TO the charge given TO them,
TO let their light shine unto all men.
Equally groundless is the supposition
that Mormoulsm' can be injured by
the spread % intelligence. In every
land under the sun 1t has received adj
herents from among the most intelli-
gent and enlightened classes. Nor
monlsm" teaches that Intelligence is
the glory OF God, and that Ignorance Is
q great obstacle In the way Of eternal
eXaltation The "MOrmons" are en-
deayorinc. themselves. TO diffuse intelli-
gence wherever they go, and their sue
cess is testified 10 iu their schools and
Institutes Of learning az home, in the
achievements OF the youth they send
forth 20 colleges ana universities
abroad. az well as IN the interest taken
by the Saints everywhere IN all that
pertains TO sciences, arts, literature
and the general progress Of mankind.
They look forward 20 a time when the
more general diffusion Of intelligence
IN the world shall prepare II Tor a more
general acceptance Of the Gospel
Through ignorance people are held cap
dives To the chains OF the superstitions
of past ages. with the dawn OF light
these are broken and the freedom OF
soul and conscience IS enjoyed without
which no one can accept and enjoy the
teachings of what the world calls Nor.
mou.sm."
Th.sa facts are well known by all
who are familiar with that religious
system. Bot as its opponents persist
iu their onleay0rs to create the impress.
sion that 60 is % bo classed among the
Shiny monsters that hide as soon as the
sun rises and d.suels the dark shades
OF the night. it seems necessary 10 state
again and again that this is not true.
"Momonism' halls with Joy every for.
ward step taken by the bearers OF light
and knowledge They are It's allies
and its friends They. too are the in,
stuments in the hands Of the Almighty
FOR the bringing about OF the purposes
Tor which Joseph, the Prophet, was
raised mp ia this century-the religious
ana political emancipation Of the race,
which win eliminate Ga the Mllennial
re.gn of the Son OF God
WINTER WEATHER.