Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1901-08-19
The MORMONS
AND HOLY GHOST
Presbyterian Preachers and leach
ers Both Today
BIBLE AND CHURCH WORKS
Both are Quoted and EXpatlatcd Upon
= Interesting Lecture ON Scandi-
nayia by Miss Nielsen.

The convention Of teachers Of the
Utah Presbytery was resumed this
morning, ana very interesting session
was held Rev Mr. McClain es-
eayed TO extort the Mormon doctrine
Of the Holy Ghost by reading from
prominent church publications An
other interesting feature Of the session
was an address by Miss Serena Mel
son II being another Of her series Of
lectures on "Wanderings In Europe"
She took W Scandinavia and invested
those counties with the additional
charm Of her vivid descriptions Rev,
Ma Martin conducted an instructive
natural study and then after brief re-
cess, Rev. Mr.. McClain took up his sub
joct
4 do not expect TO so over an the
MormNga have written on the subject
OF the Holy Spirit" he began, and
may not be able to represent them as
they would Ike to be represented. But
] win read what they have TO say and
VIII make no comment Then / win
read the Christian idea Of the Holy
Spirit and let you draw your own con
clugi0na," Mr.. McClain then read
from nnge 4e2 of thu Doctrine and Cow
enants, where the Prophet Joseph
Smith says THE Father has
body OF flesh and bones as
tangible as mans The Son also but
the Holy Ghost has not body Of lgsh
ana bones, but Is a parsonage Of spirit
etc. He then read from Lecture 3, see
ton ?, Of the Doctrine and Covenants,
Whore thn Prophet afllrms that IN
heaven there are two matches govern
iug and controlling powers They are
the Father and the Son. The Father
IL person 81 spirit and the Son as
psMon Of tabernacle Ike a man, while
the Holy Spirit Is as the mind Of God.
II seems from this" said Mr.. Me-
claim, that Mr.. Smith places God
above the Son and both above the Holy
Spirit He then read from page 90 OF
The Key 10 Theology, whore Is sci
forth the nationality Of the doc
triue Of the laying on OF hands as the
means OF imparting the Holy Spirit
The author, Mr., Pratt, likens the
Holy Spirit unto electricity" observed
Mr.. McClaln. land characteri2es 1t as
a fluid"
The work on the Gospel by Eide. b.
ii. Roberts was then taken up and il
was pointed out that the
uuthor referred 10 the Holy
Spirit as 1T" implying, said he,
that the Holy Spirit is an impersonal
being, But, he continued, | think that
DR. Talmage takes advanced ground.
He, to my mind, gives the clearest and
best explanation of any Of the Nor
mon writer's. He does not call the
Holy Spirit a mere thing. force or
essence, but "a being endowed with the
power and authority OF Deity. Now
think we can all subscribe 10 that but
from reading the Mormon" writings
on this subject | have drawn one or
two differences. First, that nowhere do
they (the "Alormons) put the Holy
Spirit on an equality Of power with
the Father nor regard the Spirit as an
object OF worship. | could ouly con-
clude that they regard the Hold Spirit
only as a great parsonage and Indeed
j don't know whether or not they re-
gard Jesus as equal with the Father.
Second, by some of the writer's the
irit Is an influence spoken OF
as It, by others as a person aud Is
spoken of as He. Now | want 10 read
you our own definition and | want
you to see how clear and simple this
Christian doctrine Is"
He then had the teachers repeat In
concert the definition OF the Godhead
according 10 the Presbyterian church.
AT this iuncture Mr.. Peacock. a colpor-
ter missionary asked II It would be
right "a pray TO the Holy Spirit.
Mr.. MoClaln thought II would be
perfectly proper He then had the
teachers read several passages from the
i4th chapter OF 81. John to bring out
the idea that the Holy Spirit is intelll-
gont and acts Independent OF the Fa-
Their or Son and that He is equal with
them In all things.
Mr.. McClain turned To the question Of
imparting the Holy SPIRIT and read the
following Verse from the 18th chapter
Of st. Luke: III you then being evil
know how TO give good gifts unto your
children how much more shall your
heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to
them who ask Him." This Is plain 90
me-" observed Mr.. McClain. that God
makes no condition. find In no place
IN the Bihle>Where the Holy spirit "
under the control OF men. He is not
going here and there because men put
Him there. He Is not controlled 10y
men. but men are controlled by Him.
The reverend gentleman then rad an
excerpt from a tract on the laying on
OF hands" by Dr. Wishard, In whitN
the latter holds that the laying on OF
hands is symbolical, and that 1t was
performed after the people had prayed
and received the Holy Spirit.
~ firmly believe" concluded Mr.. Nc.
CLAIM, that The laying on OF hands IS
not necessary IN this day according Ia
~. teachings OF Chrlst. While we &c.
lleve. as the MormGus' do. that the
Holy Spirit win not swell In a person
who Is unworthy. the good Lord VIII
give II 20 those who ask for IT,.
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