Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1902-11-17
AN ANTI. "MoRMoN" SOCIETY.

Among the many endeavors on the
part of sectarian preachers to oppose
tile Latter-day Saints, an organization
! hns been effected by the ministers OF
the so-called "Chrlstian Church at
Omaha, Nebraska. There were 81 per-
sons present when the report Of a
committee was read and adopted FOR
( the organization Of the combine. They
4 were preachers OF the society usually
known as "Campbellites" or "Dlsci-
pIes." II was decided that the name
of this organization shall be the ma
tional Anti-Mormon Missionary AS
ISOLATION Of the Churches Of Christ
The purpose OF the society IL, or
course disclosed In its title, but II IL
further explained to be "the distritu-
ton of literature by lectures and tracts,
By discussion, and by the work OF itln-
Grant and other missionaries, wherever
the Mormon delusion has obtained
foothold." Officers were chosen TO
serve for one year, and II was decided
that THE membership of this associa-
ton shall consist Of all personss inter
!. ested in the overthrow of Mormonism.
7 and contributing to its general or other
: funds"
The speakers at this gathering SEEM
G cd to have come to the conclusion that
the old style Of fighting 'Mormonism'
would not answer the purpose at the
present time. One OF them remarked,
: IT takes little experience TO be sure
: to meet these men We used to think
that all that was necessary to meet
Mormonism was to cry Old Joe
!, Smith, 'Mormonism, He stole
4, Sheep or something Of that kind, and
2 we met defeat nearly every time "A
4 man who meets a Latter-day Saint
4 meets man who Is prepared for bust
= ress.' Another preacher said, 1T takes
4 . thorough understanding of Mormon
: ism to meet II successfully AS evi-
Il icnce Of the Thorough understanding
e II 'Mormonism' possessed by these
n ministers. the following statement
y ,nade at the meeting win be conclusive;
4 IN the past few years they have
a made phenomenal growth There are
~ now about 100000 members In the
~ United States, which means 100000 peo-
pie who put Joseph Smith and his reye-
X lations between them and Christ; 30O,-
- 900 people who are slaves to the claims
% Of 'Mormonism. whose religious free
9 dom has been taken away from them
70 by the teachings OF the Mormon
hu hierarchy.
m ''rhey have taken more people from
:. our ranks than all other religious peo-
- pie, No one can preach faith repent
:; nnce and baptism better than they. The
~ Methodists and Presbyterians with
~ their Holy Spirit are not within a
u thousand miles of them. They are at
~ home anywhere. There Is no more
e Christianity in Mormonism than there
RI Is In Mohammedanism."
a. We do not look for any great
III trouble to arise from the organiza-
NO ton thus effected, but expect. on the
: contrary, that II will aid to some
I extent In the spread of Mormon prin-
s,clples wherever the anti-"Mormon" So
no clety extends. Such statements as
'hthose put forth at the meeting referred
"s,ssto have a boomerang effect. When
or Church which Is named after Christ
onand claims TO have been founded by
TChrIst in person: TO receive It's inspra-
neition, doctrine, discipline and authority
Ssefrom Christ: that teaches the COM
4 mandments. the faith. the spirit, and
|a,counsels Of Christ; that sends forth
TO invite all people to come
|znnto Christ. TO learn His ways and be.
Acome one with Him, is denounced as
r'Shgving no more Christianity In IT than
I fhere is In Mohammedanism rational in.
will easily perceive the ut
liter absurdity as well as falsehood of
Esfhe charge and whether they receive
10 'Mormonlsm' or not win repudiate the
siibel and the libelers.
la The usual course OF all sectarian
[eoreachers who make II hobby TO OPP
Prose ''Mormonism," is TO Investigate
yes T. by reading anti-"Mormon" works
Sayhich contain either absolute fiction In
|aregard to the history and doctrine OF
!. The Latter-day Saints. or such dstor-
:. ions aud perversions as really amount
Y 20 the same thing. II they go beyond
tir,hat kind OF research they hunt
2yihrough Mormon" publications for the
SeJurpose Of picking out sentences or
Sarhrases. which they can apply to their
)oDurpose OF placing the whole matter
nh false light They start with the
1 yreconceived notion that "Mormonlsm"
s false and fraud. and they are look
kapg for what flaws they can find to
huupport their position.
ic They do not seek with unbiased mind
1r the discovery of truth, or evidences
"a the system TO be examined dlsclos-
foeg its consistency or divinity, but their
e,irpose is to pick out something to its
Sisfavor and If possible its destruction.
kaiherefore they always blunder in their
kmtempts to expose and refute its al
{Tlged errors. and the result is, that
DDiserable failure that has heretofore
Extended all their efforts.
=, Once in great while. an honest In
Iairer is found among their ranks who
s.ally wants to know what there is In
y, that Is good and beneficial He
e,eets with the promise, In his opening
nforts that II he win inquire OF God
pa faith and ask in the name Of Jesus