Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1905-10-09
SHEEP WAGON MISSION.

The current number Of the Pathfinder,
published IN Washington y. c., has
Paragraph on the sheep.wagon mission
In Utah Here we hear very little
about It. and some citizens win. no
doubt be surprised to learn that there
is such an institution. The work being
done under this plan, says the 0qper
named Is carried on by means Of "gos-
pei wagons These wagons, we are
told, visited 10000 Mormon homes last
year and one wagon covered loo miles.
The Pathfinder adds, that contrary
TO what some had expected the Nor
mons are found generally open.mInded
and eager to listen, In some cases the
Mormons having actively welcomed
the reyivalists, aiding them IN their
meetings, Their idea IN doing this Is to
put to shame those communities in the
east which have assaulted Mormon
missionaries, driven them out, ETC."
We beg our Christian friends to take
notice Of the fact that the Saints have
always treated their fellow-men, with
the utmost consideration, IN the spirit
Of the American principles OF liberty.
The privileges they ask for themselves,
they have always been willing TO ac-
cede to others, Aud they never refuse
80 hear the other side" as long az
its opponents DO not, through abuse or
misconduct, forfeit the right to hear
ing. And this IS not merely matter
OF policy as minated by The Path
| finder. with the Latter-day Saints re-
spect for the liberty OF all men IL re-
llg!ous principle. The Prophet Joseph
| taught lt. Every man." he once said,
has a natural and, IN our country, a
constitutional right TO be a false pro-
phet az we'll as a true prophet And
on another occasion: 81 am bold % de-
clare before heaven that am Just as
ready to die in defending the rights OF
| a Presbyterian a Baptist or good man
ot any other denomination; for tho
same principle which would trample
| upon the rights Of the Latter-day Saints
would trampla upon the rights Of the
Roman Catholics, or OF any other de-
nomination who may be- unpopular and
too weak tc defend themselves This
Is one of the fundamental principles Of
Christianity, but, since the days OF tho
first Apostolic church, It has found
expression nowhere as clearly or rs
emphatcally as among the Latter-day
Saints That is the reason why sheep
wagon missionaries, even II they are
not always what they seem to be, are
treated respectfully and kindly On Nor
mon communities That is the reason
why "Nomous' listen In silence "a
ignorant sidewalk Instructors yilifyine
and abusing their leading men and
rldlculiug their faith ia a manner that
lu any other community would excite
the fury Of mobs.
But the NJ ssionarles IN the sheep
wagons are not satisfied with the kind
liberal. christian attitude OF the Nor.
mons" They would Ike 20 have SOME
persecution" to parade On the reports
circulated I'm the credulous religious
circles OF other states. That would
be worth money to them, In the con.
tributiou box. And So, they invent
cases Of persecution Some time ago o
somewhat active preacher sent COM
plant 10 the Davis County Argus, IN
which he told OF some alleged boyist
pranks he and associates had suffered
from, during their perogruatiors, and
in order to give the alleged annoy.
ancos an air Of persecution Dc added
the falsehood that such acts 1.-THE
pranks Of the boysl are countonlnced
BIZ the citizens n not really porpetrat.
ed hy them The Rev, prevarIcator
knew he was utteriug a haseless uu.
truth when he penned that line, but II
Is the unavoidable fate of the calumnl,
ators OF the people OF Utah, that they
must range themselves on the side Of
those who "love and make a lie" Anl
there let them stand Eternal Justice
win finally Judge between them and tho
objects of their most unjust hatred
J