Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1905-12-07
Very truly yours,
REV. LEVI WILD.

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Very truly yours,
REV. LEVI WILD.
A PROTEST FROM THE woMAN's HOME
MISSIONARY UNION OF VERMONT.
The erection Of the monument to Joseph
Smith in the town of Sharon Is an offence
TO the thoughtful people OF Vermont for
several reasons. Probably the least inn
portant Of these is the fact that it is
public memorial TO an unworthy man.
Impartial bioeraphers of Joseph Smith
show US little OF nothing to admire and
much 10 deplore and condemn. A slight
acquaintance with his life teaches as that
he does not belong TO the class Of men
who deserve the testimony Of a costly and
imposing monument. That such a monu-
ment should be erected in his honor and
10 his memory is an offence 10 our moral
sense. We demand rather that the noble
and useful who have made some worthy
contributions to the welfare and happi-
ness Of humanity should be thus honored.
But We protest against this movement
s0iu because OF its underlying signih-
"a ee. We judge that the leaders OF the
MOrmul church are not seeking so much
TO honor their founder as TO dignity the
institution which his name represents.
The monument is erected to the system,
not to the man who founded IL. Its covert,
but no less real, design is TO dignity the
principles OF that religious system whose
history forms one OF the saddest chapters
in the story of our nation. Il is, II we
mistake not. in exact conformity with the
working plan OF the hierarchy, By which
they seek to extend their influence and
purchase the coed viii Of the nation.
We do not for a moment suppose that
they hope TO induce many NermCnters TO
embrace their faith The work Of prose-
f.F aF~ (.
and persistentlg, no doubt In Vermont
as elsewhere, wherever opportunity could
be found and 10 will be pushed with no
diminution Of zeal in the future IL will
certainly afford them vastly improved
standing ground for carrying on their
missionary work in our state. But the
moral influence upon our people as regards
their opinion and attitude toward the
Mormon church rs the end that is chiefly
sought They are coming into close con-
tact with our citizens. Their representa-
tive, by his unassuming and gentlemanly
bearing, wins the favor Of people at our
state capital. BY bis purchase OF the
largest and most costly monument ever
sent from the Barre granite works be
gains the good will OF one Of the largest
business concerns in the state. BY his
employment on a liberal pay roll Of many
OF the laborers Of Royalton aud vicinity
he wins the encOniumE Of local journal
lists, who see material prosperity accrue
10 the town Of Royalton in various ways
from this enterprise.
SO We are getting into touch with Nor
monism and we discern in Il nothing
monstrous TO be avoided as we would shun
the plague We conclude that on the
whole il has been grossly misrepresented
and Is not really as bad as il has been
painted. But in this as In other things
there are some who do not 20 with the
thoughtless throng. There are some who
look beneath the fair exterior and see only
uncleanDess within. To these, few though
they be, this imposing monument marks
the grave 81 the virtue OF women and the
sanctity OF monogamy. IL is the abomina-
ton Of desolation standing where It ought
not on the soil OF our free and enlightened
state. II is an insult TO the womanhood
OF Vermont, OF our country, and OF the |
world
Would to God that no one OF our citizens |
could have been tempted for any financial |
to give deed and title to the /
Mormon church Of that unfortunate parcel 1
OF ground which itnessed the birth Of /
the prophet OF the Latter Day Saints. /
Would to God that the owners Of those /
granite hills which furnish enduring /
monuments for so many noble and sacred /
purposes had absolutely refused to
desecrate the strength OF the hills by /
allowing a flake Of il to go to perpetuate
the infamy OF the system which holds 4
plural marriage as the distinguishing
tenet OF its faith.
Why must Vermont thus do despite the
foundation principle OF its true and sacred
home lie +? We lift our earnest protest
in the name of that which we hold most
dear; and we call upon our people who
have not looked closely at this matter, to
study the history ana the present animus
OF the Mormon church ana see II We can
thus afford TO lend Der our appreciation
and good will.
Bodily pain loses its terror II you've
bottle OF DIR. Thomas Electric Oil in the
house. Instant relief In cases OF burns,
cuts, sprains, accidents OF any sort.