Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1901-08-16
SHEEP WAGON pRosELYTERs.

SHEEP. WAGON PRosELYTERS.
Readers Of the Deseret News VIII re"
member that, two or three years ago
mention was made Of a movement IN
the East to lnaugurate proseytins
mission in Utah, with the object OF
converting "Mormons TO the orthodoxy
OF some OF the Christian sects the
plan proposed was to start some sheep
wagons through the State, each con-
tanning an organ, lot Of anti-"Mor-
mon" literature. and q singer ana eN-
hortet specially engaged for this ser
vice. Pecunary aid was asked for,and
efforts were made to collect funds from
the christian" public, TO forward this
work OF mercy TO the benlghted Nor
mons" who were represented as being
utterly without Christian light, without
Bibles and without Sabbath schools.
For many months this agitation was
kept up in different states and doubt"
less considerable money was obtained
from klnd-hearted folks who were un-
der the impression that barbarism pre-
vailed in Utah, that its inhabitants
were 10 be cassed with the Hottentots
and other heathens, and that the
preachers who thus preyed upon the
ignorance OF the donors were blessing
them with an opportunity 10 do good,
by spreading Christianity in this dark
region of the earth. But the sheep
wagons did not materlali2e. The con.
verters did not put in an appearance
A few yirulent anti Mormon" tracts
were circulated, but there were no WIS.,
ible effects from the donations which
were literally advanced.
AT last, however, there IL sign Of
life IN the movement. A solitary sheep
wagon. with literature and exhorters,
has been seen in northern Utah. and no
doubt glowing reports win 10 back TO
the East Of the big work which Is be-
ing done among the denlzens OF the
Rocky Mountains. SO far, however
no great stir has been visible in the
waters OF "Mormonlsm." Everything
seems TO be as placid as though no
wave OF trouble rolled across their
peaceful breast. Our friends In the
North. and possibly in the South, VIII
be visited soon. We hope they Will
treat the travellers with that courtesy
which Is usually extended TO strang-
ers who sojourn amongst US. Let them
pursue their way peacefully and pres
ent their cause without molestation. II
is not necessary. however, TO provide
them with facilities to do dirty work
and to misrepresent our faith, our wor-
ship or our lives and purposes.
We have seen some Of the literature
which they are handing out, and with
out entering into any details at pres
on, IN relation TO II. we will say that
II Is a deliberate attempt to distort the
doctrines OF our Church, the teachings
of its ministers and the spirit of our re-
liglon. CARRIED quotations are made
from the writings Of individuals
which are not among the stand
ards Of "Mormonism" but convey The
personal ideas of the authors The
citations given are, in many instances
but parts OF sentences with the com
ments Of the person who quotes then
interpolated and nterjected, some
times with the evident purpose OF max
ing the reader believe that the word'
are all extracts. The real standard
of the Church are seldom referred t'
in these tracts, and the object Of theil
author is clearly to place the principles
of our faith in false and misleading
light.
The writer of that condemnation
wlthholds his name, but processes u
have resided for six years in salt Lax
city. We do not wonder that III
keeps himself in obscurity and fires hi
darts Of malice and misrepresentation
from behind an impenetrable covert
He is evidently ashamed TO make nm
self known. and does not even adopt
nom de plume. From what he has lie
fall. however, we surmise that he Is
little preacher OF small caliber, VIII
once lived here and failed TO Great
the sensation he desired, or TO attrac
any interest whatever in his presenc
or his preaching, and SO went TO N
East where he has been engaged IN IN
work TO which we have here alluded an
dome better. financially. by anu-'Mor
mon" harangues and the starting OF tn
sheen wagon crusade, than his sal
Lake opportunities provided for hin
His Headquarters have been In Ohi'
and Il would be interesting 10 kno'
how much he hu gathered In for tn
conversion OF Utah, and what proper
ton Of II has been expended in the coll
tary sheep.wagon outfit which ha
made its appearance in the North
We advise our friends who may me'
with this travelling company TO refrai
from entering into controversy vii
the persons who have been hired q
this itinerary. OF course they want
arouse uncommon interest But i
them pursue their path in peace. ear
their wages. gain some real informauo
about our people and our faith and
they are honest at heart they VIII 500
be ashamed Of the pamphlets they al
engaged to circulate and Nih seek 9TH
fields and pastures new.