Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1903-04-04

presided over by a Swedish brother and
he has been given Dane and Nor
Weglan for counselors. The census of
leOO gives the Swedish population of
Utah as ALSO and that OF the Danish
and Norwegian as 293l2; yet the hon
orahle position of presiding over the
scandinavian mission has been held by
swedish brethren more terms and "A
longer period than by brethren of both
the other natlonalltes together. Swed-
lsh brethren hold positions as
presidents Of stakes and coun-
selors In the stake presi-
dency, members Of High Councils.
Patriarchs, Bishops Presidents of SEW.
enty, ETC. These brethren do not hold
these positions because they are Swedes,
but because they are men Of God No
one should feel that because he belongs
to certain nationality he has a right
to claim an official position IN the
Church We consider the catering Of
politicians to nationalities wrong, and
we do not believe In doing II in Church
matters. Let the man OF merit be plac-
ca IN position Of trust, whatsoever may
be his nationality.
The answers we have received from
the petitioners TO the question; DO
you want separate Swedish meetings
In your localty?' have been with but
few exceptions. 1--WE would rather con
tinue to hold our meetings as we do AT
present; but, II the Swedish Saints In
salt Lake city desire separate meet
ngs, we think they ought to have the
privilege"
In answer to our inquiries about the
conditions in Salt Lake stake In regard
to the slgners and the subject matter
OF the petition, We have received the
following:
Lists have been made out for each
ward IN the stake, and the ward au-
thorities have been asked TO visit the
signers. This has been done The re-
port from the ward which came to hand
hrst stated that there were l6 signers,
or which nine were outsiders. three
withdrew their names and two sad
they signed It for separate Swed sh
meetings. The reports which followed
IRON the other wards are much like
the first, out Of 52t names only 81 were
members Of the Church, and the ma
Jority OF these withdrew their names
from the petition.
swedish Saints in Zion have not been
considered, but that they have been per-
united to suffer spiritual starvation.
rms Is misrepresentation of facts. In
the scandinavian meetings the needs of
the swedish Saints have always been
given as much consideration as those
or Danish or Norwegian origin. and
sometimes more. Swedish speakers,
sWedish singing, etc., have been pro-
Vided for when possible, and especl-
any has this been the case during the
last four or five years. At present
swedish meetings are held In the Four
teenth ward twice every month. and
swedish speakers are generally heard
every sunday in the Assembly hall.
Resides a number Of Swedish home
missionaries, appointed under the ans
pieces Of the stake presidency. are Ia
boring among Swedish Saints. visiting
them IN their homes, holding meetings
IN cottages, or ward houses. az oppor-
tunity is given. 1t Is. then. far from
the truth to say that Swedish Saints
mere are, as the petition SAYS. "Obliped
TO lose the edilication we expected ia re-.
.tlVe az the meetings of the Saints i'm
Zion ;"
In this stake II has been thought
best to hold the scandinavian meetings
whether swedish or Danish Norwegi.
an under the direction OF presidency
III Which the three nationalities have
equal representation. This seems 70
nave been satisfactory, II results are
considered. The meetings are well AT
tended and an excellent spirit prevails.
The social gatherings are agreeable
Unity and harmony are there. as ought
TO be the case in Zion.
Last year over 200 was gathered
among the Scandlnayans in this stake
for the Westinghouse In COPENHAGEN
Tor missionaries and various benevolent
oDJects' without counting contributions
Tor ward and Church purposes That
certainly proves that harmony is the
PreValling Characteristic, for llberality
would not exist without It.
"A great many of the Scandlnavlans
are intermarried, and II would be alb
surd to separate husband and wife In
meetings social gatherings. excursions
and conferences, Still more, the Sean
dinavians do not have many talented
speakers. They can i'll afford to divide
their forces Why should the Swedish
Saints be deprived Of the privilege Of
listening TO q good Danish or Norwepl-
an speaker? and why should Danish
and Norwegian Saints be denied the
benefit OF listening to a good Swedish
speaker? The inconvenience Of the diff
ference In the languages Is smaller
than the inconvenience Of that division
which has been advocated by a few
extremists
In looking over the answers to the
question: How many Of the signers
understand English?" we find that
eighty per cent of them speak and UNI
derstand English. We would recon-
mend these brethren and sisters to at
tend the regular meetings In the wards.
Those who are too aged to learn Eng
llsh. md those who have Just arrived
here and can only speak Swedish or
Danish, are chiefly concerned In the
matt y. for meetings conducted - for
eign languages are for their edliication
ana for that purpose only. Should
those brethren and sisters desire to have