Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1903-05-16
ENORMOUS" IN IDAHO.

In the Mackay. Idaho, Telegraph Of
recent date we hnd the following ac-
count OF visit to Mormon settle
ment written by a nom Mormon cor
respondent as one OF number Of In
tefestlng Items in q Lost River Let
ter II Is indted in so fair and ap-
lreciatlve a spirit and represents what
may be seen in 80 many Mormon
villages, that we reproduce It In the
Deseret News;
"a very pleasant and agreeable sur
rise greeted your correspondent on
the May day occasion. His absence
from the nelghbOrhood had prevented
lin from receiving due notice OF what
vas going on, and he went to the Nor
mon Westinghouse 10 perform his de-.
cidedly humdrum and prosalc duties
IN the functions Of ditch meeting
instead OF that however he enooun-
tered the hospitable smiles Of welcome
froIn a charming beyy Of ladies, the
eGliyening strains Of music, the merry
shouts and laughter OF scores Of happy
children. and a long table loaded with
gard things TO eat-cakes, pies, Ice
cream galore A long and very enter
tanning program, consisting Of songs,
music, dialogues and Rotations, was
given by the teachers and pupils Of
the Mormon Sunday school, most OF
whom are also pupils Of the district
school taught by Miss Georgia Bascom.
The selections We're beautiful and app
propriate. che children were wen
trained and made perfect In their
ports, and the success OF the whole af-
fair reflects great credit upon the pa
tent tact, skin and industry of Miss
Basoom and the teachers Of the sun
day school. II Is no disparagement 10
others to say that this Sunday school
H. probably, the best In the valley.
The officers are Elder James King,
superintendent c. P Burlington and A.
II. Noble, assistant superintendents
Miss Ruth James, secretary and treas
urer Mrs. King, Mrs James and Mrs
Burlington. teachers. The regular at
tendance is from IS to 10 pupils. In
the way OF giving praise where II IL
Justly deserved this scribe proposes to
here say a good word or two for our
Mormon friends. He Is not a convert
TO their notlons OF theology, He has
doubts in regard 10 the credentials Of
the angel Moronl the revelations OF
Joseph Smith and the legends connect.
ed with the Hill Of CumOrah. He has
read the sacred accounts Of the jour
neyings Of the people Of Jared, the
wars of Shiz and Coriantumr, the de-
lectable mountains OF Ephraim and
the turmolls OF the Nephtes and the
Lamanltes. But--he has also read
Robinson Crusoe" and "Gulivera
Travels All this aside, however,
where we find the best and most pro-
gresslve elements Of our citizenship.
we will give a just need Of praise to
the good work they are doing and not
quarrel with their doctrines; and In
this connection, we viii quote. from
a few words from the best
scrmon--a Mormon sermon--that we
have yet heard on Lost River. RE
prntance means 10 turn away from
your sins. II you have ever stolen
anything, take Il back and steal no
more. II you have wronsed or swim
cled anybody, go and make restitu-
ton. II you owe a debt. go and pay |
Il, Do this first and foremost, and |
then your good works as a Christian
citizen Now, II this Is not the whoh |
OF Christianity, pure and undefled d |
is certainly the first and greatest 0l |
the fruits Of the spirit The Nor
mons here maintain the best attended |
day school the best Church building |
which Is freely given for the use Of
other denominations and show the |
most outward evidences Of sincerity IN |
cong the works Of righteousness. In |
short, IL Diogenes should come here |
With his candle, and search the neigh
oorhood as he did the streets Of Ath-
with the same object IN view
he would not overlook the Mormons.
y he did he would probably be direct
q TO move on and connne his efforts
% some other locality"