Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1906-01-04
TRUTH ABOUT THE "MoRMoNs.'


In these days. when 80 many false
stories are being circulated concerning
the Latter-day Saints, the following es-
innate OF THE Mormon People" by a.
non" Mormon" and non resident OF
Utah has exceptional interest II is
by C. c. Halzel. and appears in the
Chattanooga Times for Dec. H.
The author says he has lived In Utah
for many years and been intima .ely as
ISOLATED with "Mormons," both In busi-
ness and social relations, and for this
reason he feels he has right to be
heard on the question. What he says
OF the "Mormons." even their detrac-
tors know TO be true. II cannot be sue
cessfully contradcted.
Mr.. Halzel first speaks of the hospl-
tally OF the "Mormons," and their
kindness TO strangers, and compares
them In this respect TO the Southerners.
He deplores that. notwithstanding this.
many who have partaken Of their kind
ness have gone abroad and wIfully
lied about the people OF Utah. In 9TH
er words, they have "smitten the hand
that fed them" He then testities 10
their business honesty, as follows.
''In business transactions the Mormon
people are strictly honest. That there
are exceptions 10 the rule cannot be
truthfuly denied. but as people, they
have a far greater percentage OF those
who would scorn to be tricky or irdf-
| ferent In the payment OF debt than
any other body OF people OF the same
number In the world. In thriving and
| growing business towns OF southern
Idaho and Utah. II Gentle merchant
was asked for goods on credit by
Mormon, the only question the mer-
chant viii ask Ia, Is the applicant In good
standing and Will the bishop OF his
ward recommend him? II the answer
Is In the affirmative he is allowed to
buy on credit to almost any amount.
and ! doubt that single exception
could be pointed TO where the merchant
has failed to get his pay. BE It said,
however, to the credit OF the Mormon
people that they do not believe much In
the credit system and are being siren
uously counseled by President Smith
today as by all his predecessors to get
out Of debt and keep out.
II may say here, too. that In former
days OF Utah, when the Mormons had
absolute control Of the territorial and
municipal government In Utah, that the
territory and municipalities were alb
solutely free from debt, for they be-
lieye that what Is good for an individu-
oil or a family Is likewise beneficial for
a city, state or nation; that il, to live
within your means, and whatever
growth Is made Is not on borrowed
money, but Is substantial and not ar
tificial. In this, as IN many other
views. the whole country, and for that
matter the world itself might profit
ably follow the belief and example OF
the Mormon people
The author. further. has good word
TO say for the efforts of the "Mormons'
In behalf OF education. He says:
Internationally speaking, the aims
and ambition. the sentiment and prin-
ciple of this people 10 bequeath 20 pos
terity good education are not excelled
by any people on the face OF the earth
History shows that Joseph Smith. their
prophet aud founder was foremost In
the cause OF education. He established
"A school of learning In the Kirkland
temple. He obtained from the Illinois
legislature, when Abraham Lincoln was
n member, "A charter To establish a
university In the city Of Nauvoo. The
Utah university now considered ore OF
the very best institutions Of learning
west OF the Mississippi river, was
founded by Brigham Young and his
| pioneer colleagues as early. | believe,
as 1880 only three years subsequent to
the event OF that memorable body OF
pioneers into Salt Lake valley. IN adj
dltIon to this they have the Brigham
Young University ut Provo. III. Brig
ham Young college at Logan the l..
ID. $ university IN salt Lake City and
many similar Institutions throughout
| the states occupied by them, MS also
| IN Canada aud Mexico. All these are
Institutions of high order. In their
Church schools they not only teach the
spirit and letter OF theology. but the
secular, Including scientific branches.
are also embodied In the system. If
-Mormons desire TO patronize these
| Church schools through convenience Of
| locality or for reasons of superior In
| structions they may do 50 without be-
| INK required 20 study theology. The
| utmost liberality Is shown i'm this re-
gard The Mormon people are equally
| loyal IN their support OF the public
| school system, and today statistics
| show that Utah is eXcelled only by two
'Nh'l SldNtS NJ ltle l mon IN nsr low
| percentage Of illlteracy, Many young
Mormon men and women have attend
| ed the higher schools ~ learning such
as Harvard, Yale. Cornell. Ann Arbor,
and others and almost without excep.
| ton they have graduated with the high.
est honors, so much SO that the success
OF the Mormon students has become
provefblal with the Instructors of the
great institutions.
Mr. Hazel notices the fondness OF the
Saints for music, their industry, their
benevolence, and then pays compIi-
ment to their moral character in these
words.
AS to matters Of the higher morality. !
which involves sexual purity con. |
slider them as a whole entirely above |
reproach There are exceptions. II is |
true, but any one IN the church that |
Is found guilty OF a lapse OF virtue |
In any form must repent ana make