Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1904-07-30
NO GOOD IN ISLANDER.

The Intermountain Catholic of July
80 contains some vigorous editorials,
and one especially on the recent at
tack upon the padres in the Philippines
made by Chaplain John Axton at the
Phillips Congregational church on
sunday evening. The Catholic replied
in detail week ago to a number Of his
assertions, braided him as a repeater OF
scandal and salacious stories that OF ne
oesslty were but hearsay on his part
and in a scholarly but keen and slash
ing STYLE disposed OF his terrible tales
and held him up TO shame ana derision'
on Tuesday last the ogden STANDARD
attempted TO come to the rescue anu
I'm an Apologize manner, tried to pun
the Chaplain out Of the hole and remove
some OF the odium that his ill-advised
gossip had invoked. And now the CATH
Ollie disposes OF the Standard defence
and leaves not scrap OF It standihB'
The proyocation for strong language
was great and the resentment felt -
manifest In the sharp strokes or the
Catholic editors pen, but 1t Is all Kept
within the bounds OF courtesy ana
leaves nothing to complain Of
Az to the truth or error Of the chap
lain's allegations we have nothing 10
offer. because we do not know anything
about the matter. And the weakness
of his position lies in the evident fact
that he speaks from hearsay If not
conjecture. Such subjects are not ell
flying, TO say the least. TO accuse re-
laious ministers Of gross and common
immortality is a serious charge ,espeelal-
" when 1t reflects upon the church OF
which they are accredited representa-
tives. No good is effected by the repe-
tltlon Of such salacious stories ana we
know how false many Of them are that
come from sectarian pulpits about tne
"Mormons," so have serious doup's
when they are aimed against the cam
olics
The question is. what Is the purpose
Of relating such tales in religious meet
ines? suppose they are true Is any
body edited by them? DO they pro-
mote morality? DO they refute error
or exalt truth? And II they are false
what Of him who loves or makes lie
II a Catholic father, a Protestant priest
mr. mormon" Elder does something
evil Is that evidence that either form
Of faith IL responsible for III Is II not
fact that all the churches processing
10 be Christian teach moral conduct
md praise purity of characters Does
the Catholic church hold that immorah-
~ is proper? Does It not denounce II
as sin? Then II padres in the Philip
pines commit the wrongs charged
against them, do they not violate their
VOWS and the rules Of their Church as
well MS the laws OF God and man. ana
is it fair or decent TO throw the plane
upon their creed or their clothY
The Latter-day Saints have had TINS
kind Of argument CD to meet from the
beginning. In opposition to the preach
ing OF the latter-day Gospel the cries
have been raised Of "old Joe SMITH
acknowledgment" "Impostorl' "lgnor-
anus" "Miracle-monger!" "Latter-day
devllsl" "woman-s tealers!" "Beasts' y
&C., &c. Stories have been published
about them that rival the Maria
Monk" and Converted Priest ro-
mances with which we have been iamil-
lar from childhood and the utter false
hood OF the terrible tales about the
"Mormons has swept into the same
class. the Catholic fiction which
has caused riot and bloodshed against
the Paplsts in both hemispheres.
There may be some padres among the
FiIiplnos as bad as the portraits painted
by Chaplain Axiom; but II there are
and the charges have not been estab-
lshed--their conduct proves nothing
but that some men are vile. And we
need not travel 30 far ~ those Islands
in search OF immortality among preach
era OF different denominations. To
picture such dongs before a religious
assembly, only panders to depravcd
taste. II does not make clear a single
saving truth, aid the cause Of religion
or morality, or win a soul TO faith, re-
pentance or purity Of llfe
Proclaim the gospel OF redemption
warn the wicked to turn from ovil shed
forth light, dispense the darkness and
point to God as the gyer Of all good
and preaching from any source may
impart some benefit. But vllincation
and the open exposure OF real or doubt
ful RIGHTEOUSNESS accomplish nothing
towards the elevation Of man or the
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