Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1905-01-28
A CATHOLICS TESTIMONY.

In recent issue OF the Cleveland
Plain Dealer there appeared n column
OF comments on 'Mormons and Nor
monism." obtained by that paper from
Rev. w. 8. Kress, who is said to be
'head OF the band OF Catholic diocese
and missionaries" IL appears that the
gentleman has put In some time in
visiting the State Of Idaho particular
ly IN the irrigated valleys OF the Up-
per Snake, Bear and Portneuf rivers"
lie says
Here the Mormon may be seen In
all his glory. Miles upon miles OF
sagebrush wastes have been trans
formed through their patient labor and
the intelligent direction Of the heads
OF tho Mormon Church into Yerltable
gardens OF Eden"
Father Kress thinks that mot sum
Client credit is given the Church OF the
Latter.day Saints for the material
blessings It has brought to its people,
particularly to the poor and even the
destitute. who have been brought into
country where every one can win a
fair competence" He also recognizes
the fact that there are divided inter-
ests among the Mormons as well as
among other people" That the people
OF one mormon" town are sometimes
Interested IN local matters AZ against
those OF come other Mormon town,
and therefore the idea that the "Mor-
mon" Church Is to be charged with the
complete control that some people
imagine II to exercise, is incorrect, lie
further adds:
"a good deal has been said Of late
about tho Mormons debating the poll
files of Idaho As the Mormons are
a decided minority IN the state, I think
we need waste no sympathy on the
oppressed majority"
The gentleman makes some remarks
about the Mormon idea Of Deity,
which, like other nom" Mormon
preachers, he evidently does not fully
understand; and also about progress
sion IN the next world" which he
seems TO think erroneous although
progress IL tho eternal ord Of nature,
Ile touches ON the subject Of baptism
for the dead, aud tho Plain Dealer
says;
us n true that the proxy In a bap-
tlsm for the dead Ia required 10 pay $50
overy time this ceremony Is performed
and that the same amount is required
Cor each 'sealing2 was asked. This
Father Kress would not affirm, admit
ting that he had heard the charge re-
peatedly made, but always by persons
unfriendly 20 the Mormon Church"
We take pleasure IN giving to the
Plain Dealer the information that Meth.
er s25 nor 20 cents, nor any other sum
~ charged by the Mormon church
for the administration of any Of It's
ordinances. either for the living
or for the dead. 40 there Is no
pay for preaching I'm this Church.
40 there is no charge for or
dinance work Tho custom Of re.
qulrins fees Tor boplIsms marriages
burial services for pows and for al
most everything connected with ccre-
monies and services In the various re-
llglous sects IL SO very common that
the preachers and priests, and the pub.
lie generally imagine that It also pro-
walls IN the Mormon Church They
are entirely mistaken In This respect,
as IN many others, "Mormonsm' ar.
fers widely from what Is called ortho.
doxy
Questioned about the prevalence Of
polygamy Ia Idaho, Father Kress stat
ed that he did not learn OF moro than
three or four families living IN ihat
status IN the valleys that be visited.
But he found a number OF persons who
disagreed with him I'm regard To- the
theory that "a Christian family Ia
constituted Of one husband and one
wife" He gave the following opinion
on this matter:
81 think n good deal OF useless fuss
10 being made about the polygamous
relations OF the old Mormous The
young Mormons DO not take TO H. II
Is bound, therefore, TO die a natural
death, ] feel sure that when these
young Mormons learn the art of prog
resslye marriage az practiced IN our
eastern states with the help " d.
voroe courts they win not wish TO
burden themselves with the mainlen-
ance OF their old wives"
The Rev gentleman heard something
during his Visit about Jack .Mormons,"
and obtained an incorrect idea con.
corning that class Of hybrlds He said.
These are the Momons who have
stopped paying tithes In certain To-
callties they outnumber their ortho-
dox brethren" and he goes on to ex-