Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1902-04-09
A PLEA FOR THE MoRMoNs.
Mrs. Minnie Payne Griffin Draws
Comparisons.

Comparisons.
Editor Times Repubican-In the
Local Comment" column of recent
issue of the T.-R. is an article regard
ing the Mormon elders which bears the
marks of being the inspiration of the
moment rather than the result of ex-
perience and research. The Mormon
question is a staple article in news
paper circles: lacking copy, the Nor
mons swing into the procession along
with the tariff muddle, the mulct law
or the suffrage agitation, each one cur
rent coin for the purchase of cheap
notoriety. Newspapers are filled with
articles relating the ill treatment OF
American missionaries in China, and
yet we need not go abroad to witness
persecution and villification of mis-
sionaries. [ can not understand why
the ambassadors of Christ should not
be received with respect, even tho they
be Mormons. The Mormon mission
aries are chosen from every walk of
life. Without previous warning they
are notified by their church to obey
the scriptural injunction, Take up
thy cross and follow Me-" The hus-
bandman leaves his pillow, the mer-
fessional man his labors, the man of
finance his moneyed schemes, to go to
foreign fields or distant states for
period of at least two years. There
is no church missionary funds; the
maintenance of missionaries is sus-
tanned by voluntary contributions and
the aid of home friends; their path
is not the royal road to wealth, nor
yet one of delight and ease. How
many men are there of Gentle de-
nominations who would thus drop the
threads of domestic and business life
to preach the gospel in foreign and
oftime hostile lands without computing
their financial loss as against their
spiritual gain?
The first summer l spent in Utah
for months my son fingered on thai
shadowy line which marks the Great
Beyond. My physicians advised our
going to the mountains. We went to
Kimball's ranch. near Park City, in
early days a wayside inn on the old
overland trail, where Holiday and
Monk once stopped for relays of horses
on their long journey to the coast.
The ranch house was kept by Nor
mon family from whom l received
wealth of sympathy, of tender con-
sideration, which money could lily
requite. "a stranger in a strange
land" everything was done to miti-
gate the pangs of Inconsistencies. to re-
lieve the alarms of respondent mother
hood. One does not easily forget kind
ness bestowed at such time.
For some years lived next door to
an own brother of Brigham Young, Lo-
reno Dow Young, a man advanced in
ye airs. yet still retaining charm OF
mind and manner which drew all peo-
Gle to him. He had the Bible at his
tongues end, with a verse from it's
pages to suit the occasion. A gentle,
old man. whose pass
ing marked the close of generation
which will never come again A man of
large property interests, he died we'll
nigh impoverished. He gave his money.
not for the advancement of his church.
but to the poor the needy. No desery-
ing petitioner ever went empty handed
from his doors. Generosity, the charity
that thinketh no evil, hospitality, SYM
pathy, a community of interest are
leading characteristics of the Mormon
one will deny Who but hard work.
ing, self denying people could trans
form desert into land literally
flowing with milk and honey?' One
has but to contrast the Utah of today
with the arid waste Of fifty years ago to
realize the hardships and privations of
those sturdy pioneers. The great seal
OF the state of Utah is bee hive, the
symbol of the Mormon church. The
chief executive of Utah, now serving
his second term, is of polygamous par
entage, man elected and respected by
Gentle and Mormon. man whose do
nestle and business relations are above
A common error is to assoc
ciate with the word Mormon all that is
uncouth, unrefined and uncultured. On
the contrary, some of the most cult
waited, refined, educated persons | ever
al the head of Utah's most stupendous
and successful financial institutions.
women who are the inspiration of hap
ly, refined homes, and children who are
reared to worthily bear the
mantles of their ancestors. Family
prayer and the table blessing are part
of each days routine. How many
religious Gentle homes hold
dear these time observances? If the
Mormon uses his religion for temporal
benefits he has bond in common with
his Gentle brethren, for no one will
deny that hypocrisy stalks abroad in
every denomination. When the Ed
munds bill became law the United
States government built a beautiful ed
if;ce at Salt Lake City, called the In
dustrial Home. This was intended as
an abiding place for the plural wives
and children who had been separated
from their husbands and fathers. 1t
was never used in that capacity, the
husbands and fathers preferring to full
fill their marital obligations to accept
ing the charity of the United States. II
stood for years unoccupied save by
offices until 1T was sold for
q private sanitarium. If our govern
ment should erect building in every
state for the benefit of wronged women
and illegitimate children how long /
would it remain untananted? Utah is a
small part of this great commonwealth, /
vet let a polygamous relation be dlscov
ared it is heralded in startling headlines
ever this broad land, while the crime of
adultery is so common that 1t ELECTS |
only passing comment. The menace to I
homes is not confined to the |
of the forty-fifth state in
the union. 1t is found in every city or
town in this commonwealth where vir-
tua and Innocence are BETRAYED and |