The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1906-05-28
TOO MANY CREEDS
AND CHURCHES
William II. King DiscOursed on
Christianity at Tabernacle
Sunday.
DEFINED RELIGION
AND CHRISTIANITY
DenOunces Wholesale Criticism
and breaches the Gospel of
AbOunding Love.

services at the Tabernacle sunday Inc
congregation was not large one, but tho
ecclesiast and jurist seemed TO impress
his auditors very much with his eloauence
and rounded periods.
Religion Defined.
Mr.. King opened with the statement.
ma convontIo6alltY I'm the world. Too
much Journalism in social intercourse IN
private relations, and IT is likewise I'M,
parted into religious ceremonies ana III
religious forms OF worship, Coo is the
spirit, we arc told. and we should woT
ship In spirit md In truth KeTsi1n 1nITencs 20
IN life. II is greater than wealth, great
er thnn Kingdoms and possessions IL mas
como TO sanctfy human conduct TO give
IL purpose and poisc, and TO indicate un-
orTingly and Enthusiastically that We arc
the children OF an immortal lather, plhCeu
IN order that wo might by self aonegatloh,
by honest and earnest effort, by purity
OF lifo and probity OF conduct periectu uP,ip our
human natures and develop the SouliKo
and latent powers that are within us
What Is Christianityp
Elder King believed that a great many
who Waited them had misconceptlon OF
their religion He had noticed recently
in a publication that Somo or tho mission
aries OF tho church were eNculpated from
teaohins. iof the reason. alleged, that
MormonIsm was not within the category
OF tho Christian faith. What Is Chris
tinnity?" asked the speaker. There may
be people processing TO be Christians that
are devoid OF the spirit OF Christianity,
and there may be people who 90 not pro-
iess tho name or Christ that In their hVes
may be Living up TO some OF the precepts
of God. Christianity In all that IL Inn
plies Will certainly comprehend ~lthln IL
the people known as Latter-day SAINTS
Tho Mormon people believe IN ChTistlan-
ity, hope for the triumph Of Christianity,
labor for the domination OF the Christian
faith and for the accomplishment OF tho
great ends which Christ had In view
They not only profess TO be CHRISTIANS,
but they want TO be Christians in all that
that term implies. They not only desire
TO be Christians themselves, but they de-
land and cline. and to that end and FOR
that purpose they are sending 10 the Isles
OF the and tho continents OF the earth
men and boys to lift up their voices in
the advocacy OF those principles which
they say are comprehended in the Chris
tlan faith. The Mormon people look upon
the principles OF Christ the great pan
acea for the hypocrisy that Is In the
world
Spencer Called to Account.
Referring to the works OF the eminent
philosophers OF the world, Elder King
eaid that "the philosophers OF this world
do not open the book of life; they do not
explain the mysteries OF life; they do not
provide an ethical and moral code TO
guide our footsteps in the labyrinths In
this mortal coll. Herbert Spencer gives
us nothing TO explain the purposes OF life.
II does not answer the call OF the
and 1t is only when We turn to the teach
ing OF Jesus Christ, OF the splendid and
divine PHILOSOPHERS that come from him.
that we can learn something, little
though II may be by reason OF our nnite
minds, OF the magnitude OF life and the
great and supreme labors which are de-
Bredlaugh's famous declaration that we
do not need any legends OF the past. "Mr.
Bradlaugh forgot" Elder King sold, "the
words OF greater philosopher and scho-
lastic than him. When religion asserts
itself II throws man upon his knees In
admiration OF God
Ministers Preach to Empty Benches
Journalism and conventionallties.
continued the speaker is a. driving men
the churches deserted and the ministers
preaching to empty benches. There Is
lack OF earnestness and OF tho spirit of
tho genuine Christian faith in the hearts
of the multitudes who claim to be Chris
tlans. Christian ceremonials and obli
Communities the Christian faith has
failed to take hold of the hearts of the
people.
Soc God Through Nature Only.
Men only see God through nature
through trees and grass: they cannot feel
the whisperlngs OF His spirit. they can
not comprehend the majesty OF His pow
er and person unless exhibited and man
1fested through the stars and through
the creations which behold with our
eyes. That is not religion. 1t Is a higher
form OF idolntry
Too Many Churches.
There too many churches and too
many creeds and too few deeds and too
little OF that sincere. earnest conviction
that is a portion of the testimony that
comes from the Inspiration OF Almighty
God Men arc drifting They do not
have confirmed views upon great ques-
do not SEQ the great harbor TO which |
they may go safely and they do not sec
the, great star that shines ceaselessly
during the darkness OF the storm TO guide |
humanity into Gods presence and Into |
the felicity which comes from immortal
dty. We want today moro of Gods power
spiritual insight and development There |
is too much Of the egotist and too much |
self, too much devotion to ones inter-
ests. too much devotion oftlmes TO ones |
own country.
Is It TreasonP
THAT may be esteemed by some as
rather treasonable remark and yet, my
friends 1 believe that there can be too |
much OF devotion-a blind, self idola-
trous devotion-to the cause OF a mans
own country. Men should be devoted OF
course. to their country, devoted to the
flag that floats over them and synbolizes
all that their country stands for But
yet when men do wrong and comnuni-
ties do wrong and nations depart from
the standard OF high moral problty and
rectitude, when they work oppression and
TO uphold the hands OF those of his coun-
try that may seek TO accomplish those
nefarious purposes. 1t would be absurd
to uphold the Car or the plutocrncy
who are attempting to prevent the prog,
ress OF civilization and proeperlfy
throughout that benighted country"
Denounces Wholesale Criticism.
Mormonism. the speaker claimed stood
for unselfshness and a hearty and corr
dial religion with all humanity! for moro
faith, moro deeds and fewer creeds, more
love. more kindness, more spiritual de-
vcloprnent and self-culture
governments" he declared, cor attackine
faiths provoking controversies We
arc here for peace He could not un-
derstand why such faith could be mig
understood. II have no word OF criticism
OF the ministry in the Christian churches
Great and good men are spending their
lvcs-many of them with inadequate SAL
aries-in the teaching OF Christ as they