The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1906-02-20
A DISSFNTER'S VIEW.

The evidence heretofore given by the
courts and more recently before the
leges and elections, by men formerly con-
nected with the Mormon church, in rela-
ton to secret obligations and ceremonies
imposed on the adherents Of the church.
having caused strong prejudice against
them on the part of those in the Nor
mon faith, and by some ncTl-Morlnons, L
deem il due to myself and others to
make a statement of our position.
In the first place the present senatorial
crisis in this state could have been avoid
ed by the leaders OF the dominant church
if they had not been determined TO have
an apostle Of the priesthood represent
them i'm the United States senate. They
were warned by their friends and oppo-
nents Of what the result of this course
and bringing to view. Of the prac-
teal workings of the church or
ganizatiop." They blundered on.
counting the issue and defying
the consequences of their actions. The
result has been witnesses have been sum-
moned to go to WASHINGTON. to give evil
denee much against their inclination,
knowing that if they were true to their
convictions, animosities would be renewed
against them, that now slumbered. IN
der these conditions what should be the
duty Of a citizen of this state when
questioned under oath on the witness
stand? Should he say that he had for
gotten" "he did not know" 81 decline to
answer" Should he shield an organized
rule their adherents, enslaving the minds
OF the young and ignorant in the old
Ishmaelitish spirit of hatred and revenge,
under the sanctity OF secret religious
free government and what he believes to
be the best interests Of society? Under
our body polite ell Municipalities and
creeds are allowed and protected, but
there is one standard that all must con-
form TO. 1.-The public goJd." Our position
is that no society or organization.
whether clothed In the garb of divinity or
otherwise. should be allowed to impose
secret obligations or ceremonies that can
not stand out in the open, and bear an
intelligent investigation We are charged
with attacking the holy ordinances of
religion; we say, what we oppose are
excrescences that do not belong to any
true religion and the system and the
people will be the better when they are
eliminated. 1t has been taught that man
is not always capable of distinguishing
between the right and wrong, without the
priesthood 10 guide him, and that God S
ways are not as mans ways" Our an
swer is that Deity is better represented
in an enlightened humanity than in those
claiming to be his authorized agents. The
divine right of kings to rule has been ig-
nored by the American people, so. should
the divine right of prfesthoOds be frown-
ed down, as both have ever been the foes
to human progress There is not a man
VINO has been prominently connected with
the Mormon organization who is not
aware Of the fact that a great part of the
trouble and opposition that the people
have had to meet IN the past has been
caused by the priesthood meddling with
politics. The spirit of the age IS opposed
tC the forms of democracy being used to
perpetuate theOcratic rule; and every man
In the Mormon church who has ever stood
up for liberal thought and reforms hos
been mathematical as apostate- The rul-
ing priesthood has never recognized an
honest difference; the people who have
come out of other religious denominations
and Joined the Mormon faith, are COM
mended for their wisdom and discretion,
but let them afterwards change their
minds, or those who have grown up in
the system evolve out of their former
belief, they are denounced as Spcstate
vile and wicked The apostates from the
Mormon church are generally men who
have begun TO think for themselves; have
opinions Of their own and the manhood
&c express them. The apostates have
been the heralds of reform and progress
in all ages and were it not fer them the
reople would still live in the belief that
the world was flat
In conclusion let me say that the ma
ioFitv of those who have seeded from
the Mormon church have only kind feel
ings towards their former associates and
the laws of our country and the nro-
GTessive spirit Of the age. and while
forms. ceremonies and the divine rule Of
the priesthood are no LONGER potent fac
tors TO influence their belief and course
IF life. religion of good deeds. that viii
lift humanity to a HIGHER standard Of
thought and action, will have their hearty
support
HENRY w. LAWRENCE.
Salt Lake City. Feb. 10, 1906
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