Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1902-10-11
.By ORDER OF THE PROPHET

Nv Many OF our readers are familiar with
" 10 the name Of Rev Alfred II, Henry, who
moo for some time occupied one OF the pull
4 - pits in Salt Lake CITY. He removed to
shTO Butte Montana. He endeavored while
.g g here TO create some interest by deliver
SN ing lectures against "MormOnism'
I,q = based upon reported theories as 10
T. Mormon beliefs and isolated and par
.tlp tlal extracts from old discourses, but
SV ignoring the books that are accepted
~ written standards OF the Mormon
Church. He received an occasional no
F9 w tice from this paper, but he did not sue
- coed In setting either the Mormon" or
i1 anti. Mormon" world on fire.
|Tls The gentleman has recently published
slli romance entitled by order Of the
IsH Prophet" volume Of 400 pages with
.iM some illustrations and announced as,
ms 'Trrue to history. founded upon actual
|d Il com incident forceful in the telling and
y aSstl strong in the depletion of character,
= ilr-- and a worthy contribution to the litera-
|JT ture of the making OF the west" The
.7N author states that this book Is not an
lM attack upon Mormonsm," and he claims
~, that he has taken for his sources of In
iX,ull formation u number Of works published
st;port during the ifties."
~ ana We have taken the trouble to read the
III III book so that we might form a fair opin-
1t,lcay ion Of Its literary merits and also Of the
s.1s}ITie purpose or purposes of the writer. The
kSl'sts4c latter appear TO be two-fold. First, to
4 4nere make some money, a not uncommon
1utH af oil nd
|sgNshe ond under a gulse of fairness to paint
S2fttDv' 'Mormonism Is repellant colors and
Iat3iI,ret especially TO give black eye TO Nor
!irem mon polygamy, In view Of the oessa-
|1Isichu' tions for many years Of Mormon" plu-
kJV' raj marriage, there does not seem to be
|vH - cry good reason why so much pains
|5tJ cru vas taken to place before the public a
|Nj8Nev distorted picture Of imaginary events,
II III MOI 10 arouse prejudice against an obso-
E.ii she, 'ete practice, particularly as the writer
81, "A an 1isclaims making any attack upon
-sfH fMormonlsm"
|hi3,hn The book is interesting and on the
VI scoui whole well written The descriptive
ID lreso natter. though not always true to the
/ Hppors ocalties and scenes represented Is at !.
~ Sof ractlve and hot highly exaggerated,
Y; dcide ina the plot. which is not very deep is
III Yther Kept In view until the close. and
NN G. hus the work forms novel
Xci3 sn,s above the average. The char
Al a The icters are well drawn and each
eati preserves its Identity throughout. al.
kff Nurl lhough the principal male person des4
kf n,"s ,flDed as Elder Brand at the be-
Arii ginning, is 80 different a being from
the he Mr.. Brand at the close that Il ia
III moi ,iiiiicut to believe him to be the same
N& BIZ Individual Notwithstanding the infer
Hmeri nee that "Mormonism'' worked upon
Iverrv aim the repulslye changes depicted in
i.iwithfiis character.
i1oca The author has evidently read ex.
b !s..,s, tracts from the works 10 which he re.
4 gooc iers. and allowed his Imagination and
aaske ttories told him while in Utah by anti.
3prosyMormons' and apostates fun play to
Jheiptorl nm soo,as a,a ,no,a.r.. -, an
rrn,ut mis- story. His pictures OF social
3sren,tfe among the "Mormons' in the early
4 som,eays Of Utah We're evidently drawn
deal 1om those sources. In many respects
s9ou...fney are gross exaggeratons in others
n 4 douFiey utterly iaii 10 portray realities,
XII tracshd the purpose is clear throughout 10
mi trac asst dark shade over and render re-
d 81 ssns...tusive. scenes that were In reality
Heightened by numerous acts Of deyo-
u norton inspired by faith and inspiration
m'nrsaat were divine.
" 10 = The story starts with the conversion
n over a young lady Of refinement in Eng
y the End, by Mormon Elder TO whom
sm., le becomes personally attached and
I. hea, no afterwards marries her Beneath
N an re interest and belief aroused IN her
uonseart by the influence OF the Elder
Y ana Fay be discerned by the critical mind
zIreacber than religious conviction a,
4 sis his teachings. The element of doubt
81 tS'ops out all through her experience
III I'D to one familiar with the working.
IN Z "Mormonism," It is evident that N,
~ rakroine never obtained that testimony
Ri In. the truth which is an essential Tea.
NJ Arm re Of real conversion to its tenels
pres I'd spirit
iThe language put into the mouth Of
cider Brand" is not that of Nor
.f on" missionary, and the writer IA,
cetailed himself Of seotarian express
p't insi,n,ons common to Methodist and other
w y0ut'nOrteff, Dlt never useu Dy INT
rnd eachers among the L.i.er-day Saints
Oh Oh " is equally unfamiliar with scenes
". rira a occurrences among the Mormon
snd migrants In crossing the gfea
~ oiins. His pictures are not those o.
R al travelling life in those early days
~ TIT are made up OF tales that hav'
chaI;en told and books that have been
x,ansitten. just to make out an attractive
sry
trhe strained attempts TO describ
-hgham Young as licenious anC
q, J1cming tyrant without respect to th'
Tea hits OF husbands and wives, OF per.
Aal property or OF human feeling
not only gross caricatures
front UNANIMOUSLY unjust to great leade'
maxi pioneer, whose monument stands
the
GERS