The Nome nugget., 1904-04-23
PRESBYTERIANS VS. HORIZONS.

As an outgrowth of the attempt to expel Reed Shoot, of Utah, from the senate of the United States, number of the religious denominations have gone on record, after the usual manner of religious convOca- tions, in passing resolutions calling for the ''wiping out of Mormonism. If resolu- tions, denunciations and mere noise could accomplish anything, there would not be a vestige of MormOnism left. Considering that the constitution of the United States guarantees religious liberty to all creeds, one would really like to know why the Presbyterians, for instance, should have any more right to "wipe out the Mormons than the Mormons should to turn the tables and make an end of the Plesbyterians It is true that there are doctrines and prac- tices amongst the Mormons which are re
 pugnant to the ma jority of American citi- zens but the same is true of the Presby
 terians, the sect which seems to have been more active in it's denunciatiOns of the MOr- mons. If plural marriages offend one DOT tion of the community, infant damnaton is no more agreeable to another. However, the Presbyterians have modified their doc Urine somewhat so far as the fate of infants is concerned, and in doing so they shaped their religion to popular prejudice. It is pleasant to feel that ones religion may be attuned to ones transgressions
 So far as the MormOns are concerned, when they transgress the laws of the land they should be brought to trial under the civil code, but in the matters of opinion or belief they are free to do as they please. It would be better for all concerned if the jarring sects refrained from ''resoluting" against one another, for by indulging the practice they merely call attention to the flaws that may be found in the various brands of up-to date Christianity And as there is good in all religion, it is unwise to point out the blowholes to the scoffers The clergymen of the Catholic church are usual ly content to refrain from critcising the Protestant sects, even by way of answer to arguments set forth by controversialists learned in theology, but if they were in- clined to find fault with the teachings and practices of others they would condemn the Presbyterians for doing indirectly what the MormOns have been denounced for doing directly. Divorce as recognized by the Presbyterian church is, according to the Catholic notion, the mother of plural mar riages. When it comes to laying out the physical geography and social conditions of the next world the Mormons know quite as much, and on precisely the same authority, as do the Presbyterians or any other creed. If 1t is any pleasure or satisfaction to Presbyterian to believe himself one of the elect, chosen to enjoy celestial bliss here after, where the sweetest music that shall reach his ears will be the groans and cries of less fortunate beings, doomed since the dawn of creation to burn in everlasting tor ments for no fault of their own, no one is going to interfere with his premedtated joy. If he believes that the most pleasing incense to the nostrils of the Almighty is the roasting flesh of sinners, and the great est mercy to be extended to infants still born is to assign them to the "easiest room in hell" all that should be asked is that he refrain from hastening the occasion by practical experiments on earth. If the Mormon believes that he is to possess the land and to revel in innumerable luxuries and material property, he is just as vel come to his belief. He is just as capable of proving the correctness of his prophecy. All that should be asked in his case is that