Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1903-07-15
ny WAY OF EXPLANATION.

The Deseret News, in an editorial on
May Il. reviewed briefly contributions
to the Arena on the subject OF Nor
monlsm." Some statements In the artl-
Gle signed John T, Bridwell were
strongly criticized as gross dupliclty
The chief fault found was with alleged
quotations from Farley Z. Praits
Voice Of Warning, In which words were
lnterjected that do not appear in that
work and some remarks Of the author
were quoted so as to appear as II pre-
tended to be copied from the writings
Of Boudinot Reference to the book
shows that the words INTERCEPTED do not
appear upon It's pages, and that the
words put IN quotation marks In Mr..
Brldwelrs article are not so found In
the Voice OF Waning, but are given
there as the words Of It's author. The
intent Of Mr. Bridwelrs attack being TO
make out case Of falsiication against
Elder Pratt we pointed out the gross
duplicity" Of the attempt and put the
blame whore It appeared to belong
We are now in receipt Of temper
ate explanatory letter from Mr. Rrid-
Well IN which he asserts that he took
his quotations from "Josephte edit
tion OF the Voice Of Warning He
states that after his manuscript was
sent TO the Arena, his attention was
called TO the fact that the 'Josephite
edition" was different In these respects
from the editions published by this
church, and that these agree with the
originals when quotations are made.
We cheerfuliy give place TO his explain
alton and think Il ought to be made also
In the Arena. where the charges against
Mr. Pratt Were drst published
The "Reorganized' people had no
right TO change the language OF the
Voice OF Warning, nor TO publish the
book at all We think the heirs Of
Farley ?. Pratt would have good case
against those who are guilty Of the
piracy, II they chose TO press It. BUT
we are glad to have so excellent work
as the Voice OF Warning circulated, no
matter by whom, so long as 1t is not
mutilated or changed or subjected TO
Interpolation.
In commenting on Mr. Pratt's re-
marks concerning tradition among
the Stockbridge tribe Of Indians about
Sacred book hid in the
earth by their forefathers, Mr..
Bridwell cannot forbear lndulging
In that jeerlng sarcasm which runs
through his article In the Arena. He
suggests that in Mr.. Pratt's account
inspiration is wider Of the mark
than careful scholarship and downright
honesty would have BEEN In simply
stating that there was tradition con.
corning a sacred book" among the In
dams Mr., Pratt did not lay any claim
20 inspiration or careful scholar
ship Neither did he state that he
obtained his information about the In
dlRn tradition from Boudinot The
sheer In Mr. Bridwel's communication
about Farley p. Pratt's 'call" and in
spiratlon' therefore, does not count.
Neither do his insulting remarks in
the Arena about the failure of the
Prophet Joseph Smith and his success
sors, TO 'reprove" Farley p. Pratt or
make any correction of his "duplicity."
They were totally undeserved, even by
his own showing and It requires no
special inspiration" to Indicate that
they 'calr for an apology through
the same magazine IN which the I'M
truthful and sneering accusations were
made. As he affects TO stand so strong
ly for the duty IN others OF correcting
alleged errors, he can do no less than
practise what he breaches, in reference
TO his own,
The gentleman seems to think that
as he drew his Tight on Mormonism"
from the 'ofiicial organ OF the son Of
the Prophet" he w.s drinking the
waters Of The everlasting Gospel as re-
stored by Joseph smith," In this he
has been very grieyously mistaken. and
has Jumped at a conclusion not war
ranted by his premises BY careful
scholarship he might have learned
that sons Of Prophets do not always
follow In the footsteps OF their fathers;
and "downi eht honesty" would require
Investigation into the "Morinonismr
promulgated by It's founder and held
sacred by the Church he established
which has never been disorganized. hu.
has remained since 1880 until this day.
without break or q hiatus
Enough, however in this strain,
We think an inquirer into any system.
OF principle, or fact Is ap, to be biased
ny the condition Of mind in which he
proceeds. And when he starts out with
a disposition to make light Of his work.
and 10 view II in a contemptuous and
iibing manner II Is likely to be colored
b. the hue he thus imparts to II. Nor
monism" IL too serious a matter to be-
approached in any such way with ex-
pectation Of fair results II is rather to
be examined in the spirit advised by
Mormon in these words:
And when We shall receive these
things. / would exhort YOU that ye
would ask God. the Eternal Father, in
the name Of Christ. II these things
are not true: and II We shall ask
with a sincere heart. with real intent.
having faith IN Christ He win manifest
the truth Of # unto you, by the power