The Harrison times. (Harrison, Boone Co., Ark) 1876-1938, 1906-05-12
Religious Federation.
EplroR HARRISON TlMEs.

Dear sir;-Permit me to fepll TO
an article which appeared in our
paper April 2ist. under the eaIhion
"Dowie Dethroned, hv !. II. Der
rieux.
My reply is not primarily as 4 de-
tense for DIR. Dowie, or any o4er
person, but in deiense Of truth AMI
desire to say a word in defense ofre-
ligious liberty,
1t is so much easier to tear deFn
than it is to build up 1t takes a
master mind to accomplish great
work, but most any person can tear
down. 1t is easier to critieise and
find fault, than it is to accomplish, a
great purpose. As a rule, it is the
man who knows least about the per-
son or thing criticised that is go
ready to utter such unbridled denup-
Citations.
As long as Protestant believers are
bound down by human ereeds and
religious dogmas, so utterly at varl
anee with the true teachings OF the
Bible, the followers of DR. Dowie
should not be criticised forpreferrin8
to think for themselves, and they are
entitled to the privilege of worship
ing God according to the dictates OF
their own consciences. To sanction
mob-violence, and advise the hang
ing of Alexander Dowie, without
process of law, is species of relig-
ious intolerance, which is not only
dangerous but destructive to the best
interest and advancement OF society
and a disgrace to civilization.
In speaking of the mobbings that
occurred at Springfield a short time
ago, Governor Folk stated that the
men who resort to mob violence arc
murderers. We believe he is correct,
and we also believe that the man
who sanctions mob violence or the
killing of men without being given a
hearing, are murderers at heart.
In reference to your statements
concerning the Prophet Joseph
Smith, Mr., d., conclude that youi
ideas Of "Mormonism" are as delec-
tive as your statements are untrue
You use the term old bell-wether' in
a way to convey the idea that Joseph
Smith was an old man, whereas he
was only fourteen years old when he
received his first Heavenly Vision
and was only thirty-nine when he
was murdered, He was not killed
at Nauvoo, but at Carthage, where
he had voluntarily given himself ur
to the officers of the law. He was
not killed by honorable citizens, but
by a lawless mob with blackened
faces. Joseph Smith, like the Apostle
Paul, was the subject of numerous
arrests, imprisonments and unre
lenting prosecutions, and although
often tried before magistrates who
were his bitter enemies, he was nev'
er convicted because he never violat.
ed the law. The prosecutions and
the mob-violence which he endured
dated from the time he first pro
claimed or announced a religious doc
trine contrary to the established or
thodox creed. 1t was not because
his teachings were vile, but because
his teachings had tendency to win
the people from priestcrait, that he
was so bitterly prosecuted, and it is
a lamentable fact that the mohs d
rected against him and his followers
/ 10 be followers Of the meek and low,
ly Jesus.
1t is difficult to determine from the
bitterness and hatred manifested II
the remarks of Mr.. d., whether he
counts himself one of the good, hon.
est, conscientious, christian minis
tiers" referred to or not, but it is ser
tainly travesty on common decen-
cy to connect the name Of Deity il
the same sentence with so much Wit
riol as Mr., d. pours forth. Surely
the ministers who have "prayerfuI
ambition to preach, teach and live
Christ" will not claim him as con
vert, while mauifesting such spirit
of mobocracy and anarchy.
Mr. d. has the perfect right to ad
vocate the unscriptural method o
supporting hirelng passionate ii h,
desires, but we ask the same liberty
of following the teachings of The
bible lam glad my home is in Utah
and that can listen to the gospe
without hearing an appeal made fol
money. Where the people follow The
Bible method of contributing to tht
support of the gospel and where con
tributions are used for the relief o
the poor, the buildingof temples anC
meeting houses, for the necessary ex
pense of missionary work, but not tc
be consumed by a hireling, who's,
mission is to 'lleece the flock" ant
in return preach popular doctrine
to tickle the ears of his hearers.
The struggling churches which Mr.
D. refers to, might be able to exist
were it not for the fact that then
contributions are usually devouret
| by an unscriptural policy which vir
tually says, mo preach without
pay"
But however widely may differ
from Mr., y. on those matters, | an
willing to accord to him all the re
ligious liberty demand, and hav'
no desire to enter into a discussion
Of these matters.
In defense of religious liberty. anC
i'm the interest of Truth, | remain