Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1902-08-23
PECULIAR RELIGION.

According 10 a local item In tn
Cleveland Plain Dealer of recent date
most curious religious services wer,
held the other day by the followers o.
the Christian and Missionary Alliance
Physical endurance, no less than mis-
sionary ZEAL was shown on the occa.
sion. Blows were struck hard word,
were used, but the financial interests
were nevertheless looked after.
II seems that one OF the evangelist.
| had a grievance, and stationed himself
at the door of the meeting house
where he distributed tracts and by 9TH
er means tried to lead the faithful
astray. The secretary of the alliance
and few Of his friends finally decided
to rid the premises of his presence.
Then the narrative proceeds
You red headed scalawag, shouted
the infuriated Nye, as he pointed AZ the
secretary with an angry digit. Glory
to God he said In the next breath as
with strenuous twist and turn ne un-
dertook to make II as uncomfortable
as possible 10 eject him. Evangelist
Nye was finally eylcted, but not before
he had placed upon sundry portions
Of the anatomy OF his assailants various
bruises and contusions to serve as re.
mlnders of an extremely strenuous
Sunday afternoon Secretary Hutchin-
son himself boasted q badly lacerated
pair Of shins caused by kicks received
as he held Mr.. Nye from the rear"
The most astounding thing perhaps.
Is, that after this encounter the wor-
Slippers were in a frame OF mind TO
raise $4,000 for the conversion of pa.
gans, The story goes on;
Great enthusiasm was shown during
this unique service. At Intervals while
the reading Of the offerings was going
on the choir would burst into song
of rejoicing When an especially large
sum was announced there would be q
chorus of amens' and 'hallelujahs'
from various parts of the tabernacle.
4 pledge for 81 600 was the largest one
made. Two for 81 800 We're announced,
one Of them being from the combined
efforts of the Akron contingent. No
names were announced with the gifts,
which ranged from 80 cents to $1,000.
There were many Sl0O gifts and a
pledge for 1885 was popular, 81 for each
day in the year, Seven hundred dol
lars was the largest individual gift,
those higher being from organizations
or societies."
People are wondering at the decline
Of religious interests among the masses
Of the people, but there IL little cause
for wonder when such symptoms OF
heathenlsm appear In the midst OF APP
parent enthusiasm for the propaga.
ton Of the faith. We look back upon
the time, when christians" assembled
in general councils. carried weapons
and had murder In their hearts. and
were restrained only by the interior.
ence of the soldiers Of a pagan emper-
or, and we call that a dark age" and
find It but natural that all kinds OF
error should become prevalent then
We hear about the bitter encounters OF
rival sects In Palestine, In the very
sanctuaries, and do not wonder at the
scorn with which their chants and
prayers are regarded by the Mo.
hammedan population. Shall we
then wonder II religion, in our
own day and country loses it,
hold on the masses, when the scenes
Of the dark ages and dark countries
are reproduced?
True religion does not consist essen.
TALLY in singing, prayer and collecting
money for pagan missions. Theoreti-
cally, religion consists In knowledge OF
the Eternal Father and practically
II Is the imitation Of God, as revealed
through His Son That kind Of relig-
ion will never fall into disrepute. IL
will be admired. even among scoffers
and infides though its exponents may
be hated and prosecuted, and even
slain.