Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1905-03-14
ANOTHER pistol" STORY.

ANOluEK 'PISIUL SIOk u
The people Of Utah, and some folks
IN the East. are acquainted with the
romance fabricated by Methodist
preacher named Lyford, who for
short time oiliolated at Provo mot In
the asylum however as might DO sup
posed about having to go into the
pulpit with Bible In one hand. or
pocket, and revolver IN the other
for fear OF an attack by the Nor
mons thus conveying the idea that
It was dangerous for n non-"M Mormon
preacher TO ply his trade In Utah, The
story was 80 ridiculous that II was
soon laughed out Of circulation.
Then came DR.. d. j. Mcmillan, n
Presbyterian, with plagiarism OF the
terrible tale placing tho scene Of the
alleged exhibition OF wonderful bray
cry In Sanpete county where at one
time he was located Going to the
Eastern States he repeated the stolen
story, and his remarks being published,
he was confronted with them by peo-
pie In Sanpete. lie tried To turn the
matter off az a Joke and promised to
retract He never performed his pro-
mise, but recaptulated the story, al
though atiidavlts were published from
both Mormon" and GENTLE sources,
proving his absolute falsehood, and
branding him as he deserved He was
even more contemplate than the Meth
odist whose story he stole, but he still
occupies a pulpit and poses as q min
lister OF Christ
Influenced probably by the published
tales of the two preachers named here
m, IT appears that another Methodist
preacher and another Presbyterian pull
plteer thought they would arm them
selves In similar fashion to that OF
their predecessors IN Utah That ac-
counts for the following which appear
ed In the Indianapolis News OF Febru-
airy 3d. In this case the minister who
relates his experience has the grace
TO confess that his fears, wrought up
by what he had heard about the Nor
mons" were groundless ana to eX-
press the shame he felt al resorting
to means OF defense. which were so
totally unnecessary and 80 foreign to
what might be expected Of a Christian
minister:
1T was at Methodist ministers
meeting The chairman had not yet
raped 20 order and n little ordinary
| conversation was going on, Some ono
| remarked upon the Increasing fire.
! queucy OF murder Of murder made easy
by the ubiquitous revolver, that guns
are so cheap that even the children
| IN the klndergartens can save pennies
enough to buy one,
| 81 carried revolver only once IN
| my NE said the Rev, Or NJ b, Hyde,
Of the Fletcher Place church, who care
! fully ubstaincd from the use of the
| slang word gun that was a good
| many years ago, i was then preach
| ing In The town Of Ogden Utah, where
! Momons yet abound one day two
! men, Mormons, camo 10 me from place
fifteen miles or 20 away q Mormon
settlement, aud asked me II | would
come out 70 that settlement and preach
I
| had come To that place from Missouri
to visit a. Mormon sister, had died, and
as the visitor was p Methodist she
had asked for q Methodist funeral
and had received n promise that her
request would be granted
j confess ] didn't like the outlook
Methodist preachers did not stand ir
very good favor with Mormons. and
did not know but this might be 9
scheme to get me into place where
could safely be made away with. / hes.
itatod and told them they might get a
| Presbyterian brother who was In Og
dem that perhaps he might do rs well
ut WAS finally arranged that We
were both 10 go; that | was to conduct
the service and the Presbyterian was {,
| assist me. When we got 10 the place
whore the funeral WAS 10 he held W,
found great throug OF people Nor
mons had gathered frum far and neal
To see and hear the Methodist ana Pres
hyteuan preachers from Ogden for We
We're ms great "a novelty there ae q
Mormon preacher would be In q country
community here. ! nattcr myself thai
| | preached a pretty strong sermon. W.
were both treated with the Creates
consideration and kindness and start
cd home feeling on fairly good terml
with ourselves. I was bothered abOu
one thing, however and reaching bacl
10 my hip pocket drew therofrom a re-
yolver and with humble hesitation
told my Presbyterian brother of tn,
fears that had caused me to make thii
provision,
Then my Presbyterian brother
reaching back under his coattuils ais'
brought ont a revolver ana admitted
that he had brought the weapon no
knowing what might happen.
1--WE were both ashamed That WA
the first and only time In my life tina
] ever carried a revolver
After reading the Methodist preach
er's confession" the thought suggests
itself that, n he was ashamed at hh
groundless fear Of the terrible Nor
mons" how much more should he have