Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1906-04-19
AS TO MORMON VENGEANCE.

We have been favored with a copy Of
the Cambrian of recent date, a monthly
magazine devoted chiefly to the inter-
ests Of the speaking people In
the United States. We have given some
notices Of the magazine before, az II
circuates among a number Of our fell
low citizens whose ancestors hailed
from the Principally. II Is usually
fair In its comments on current topics
and no doubt aims TO be so in the pre-
sent instance when giving it's views on
"a Harmless Oath" This has refer
cnce to what It calls "the Mormon obi.
cation OF vengeance
The Csmbrian wants TO know WAS
II merely ceremonial and a formaltY2'
The reason given for the query is, that
Most OF the Mormons have proved
false to it, for no great slaughter Of
Gentiles az the outcome OF this terrible
obligation has followed" and 1t con-
cudes from this view of the matter
that, 1--WE may classify the Mormon
ance pledges
The Cambrian, like other periodicals
unacquainted with Mormon doc
trnes aud ceremonies, Is entirely mis-
taken concerning this alleged "oath Of
vengeance" For It's benefit we will
repeat the assertion made many times
IN his paper, and affirmed before The
COMMITTEES on privileges and elections,
that there Is no such thing either ir
the endowment ceremonies or in any
other ordinance of the Church, as an
oath OF vengeance against anything or
anybody. Nor is there anything admin
istered that can be properly called an
oath.
We notice that Secretary Carlisle In
his argument against the Church be-
fore the committee, when speaking on
this matter found It necessary, because
of the evidence to which we have allud-
ed, to qualify his words when speaking
OF the oath by adding or covenant"
in every instance He also had to adj
nit that the evidence concerning This
alleged obligation was very conflicting,
and 1t really tapered down TO the testi-
mony that all there is about it is a
prayer for retrlbution for shedding The
blood OF the prophets.
In reply, then, to the question Of the
Cambrian as to whether the oath" Is
merely Ceremonial and n forinality,"
we have to say that it Is neither be-
cause It has no real existence, except IN
the minds Of people who desire 10
make big sensation of an anti
Mormon" character II is true there
has been mo great slaughter OF Cen
tiles by the Mormons' nor is there any
well authenticated case OF personal
vengeance against anybody by the
Mormon Church. one of its most
positive inhibitions IS, Thou shalt not
kill; and he that killeth shall not haze
forgiveness in this world nor in ,he
world TO come"
The most pronounced enemies of the
Latter-day Saints, men who have made
1t the business of their lives to malsn,
msrepresent, libel and abuse the Lead
ers of the Church, and who have *
hausted their vocabulary Of SANDER and
vltuperation IN persistent attacks, have
been allowed to pursue here their evil
course uninterrupted and without retail
iatlon for years No one has attempt
ed to harm them or inflct upon them
the slightest punishment for their evil
words and works
"Mormonism" does not teach or
counteuance human vengeance but
leaves those who fight It, no matter
with what kind Of weapons entirely in
the hands OF Eternal Justice The
Cambrlan would DO well to learn TIE
truth concerning the "Mormons' md
quit adopting the accusations and IN
sinuations of their calumniators.