Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1908-12-18
How to Build a Great
And Splendid Municipality
An Address by HON. WILLIAM H. KING, in the Salt
Lake Tabernacle, Sunday December 49, 1908
tRcportcd by i. W. oucrstrom.,

nOr1ir or religious, nave mao LHe an
Y OF religion in theirasolution' Wherever
4 there has been q wrong, an injustice
/ oppression, unjust and unequal distri-
4 button OF wealth. caste and class dis
+, tinctions, in other words Wherever
] there has boon unethical and unrighte-
i Gus conditions, religion has appeared
! to correct them, and has been and Is
| the iconoclaSt to batter down wrong
\ and sin wherever cntrcnchcd. When
! ever any tree reared in the garden or
\ human activity has borne fruit. which
| in any degree poisoned the social, eco
| nomjc, spiritual or political atmosphere
I Of life. true religion has been the ak
| laid at the root OF such tree. to hew
| It down and cast it into the fire. Re-
| ligion is, therefore not pure academic
J question, Il mere catalogue of orthodox
! views, and Il catechism based upon
| religious creed. Everywhere men are
| beginning to reaiiae that dchds, right
| cousness and purity of life lie at the
! basis of human progress, and coDstl-
| tutc the hottest form Of faith. Men
| are beginning to realize that religion
! is revealed not only to save men
| but man." and is as much concerned
| in teaching us how to live and to be-
| come efficient members of society, that
we may discharge all social and govern
mental functions and obligations, as 1t
is in teaching us how to die a condi-
! ity. justice and liberty, and in which
the individual units develop the powers
within. will produce lofty ideals. a
living faith in q Divine Ruler and an
ineXtinguishahle hope in the immor-
tality of life. and the eternal progress
of humanity. Eminent dirines III all
churches are beginning to realize thut
churches and religious organizations
must become factors in the social and
Industrial affairs of the world. They
are beginning to realize that the Geo
nolnc environments OF Il people largely
create and control their activities. anh
their attitude Of mind towards ethical
and religious questions; that higher
ethical and moral standard should bs
developed. to the end that the spiritual
faculties may be aroused and faith IN
God strengthened. Preachers ana
churches are moro and more begin
ming to realize that their service to the
world is measured largely by the aid
which they can give in helping meet the
problems ana difficulties of life, Whetl-
or those problems be economic, indus
trial or Of any other character; and
4 this attitude does not involve any lack
of reverence for the Create or di-
ininish ones concern in the great dues-
ton OF the immortality OF the soul and
of the life beyond the grave. fiut the
feeling is That whatever will inaiS.
man a higher moral being, a stronger
ethical force. a more efficient social
factor, will better equip MIN for what
over Is awaiting him in the mansions
beyond the stars
The transition along the lines indl-
Gated has been Sc marked, that it Is
something Of IL shock when we hear,
as was stated not long ago by an
.ecclcsast Of the Anglican church. that
4'it is a mistake to attempt to turn
CIhrist's Kingdom into one of this world:
that the regnum homins can never be
the clvitas DEL
II seems to me. therefore, that any
faith that draws men together. iin-
proves their physical and industrial
conditions and, by showing their COM
mon origin. teaches that the hurt of one
is the injury OF all. is an element TO
be considered by thinkers and teachers.
and the influence of which should be
invoked by earnest and conscientious
people. I think 1t good religion that
brings the kingdom of God into the
hearts, into the lives and homes of the
people, into cities, states and nations.
1t is n pretty good faith that brings
us to q recognition of the fact that we
are better citizens OF the kingdom Of
God when we are better citizens of the
Kingdoms of men and that we are bet
ter servants of the Infinite. Father.
when VIC are better neighbors and bet
Ter citizens of city, state and nation.
MUNICIPAL GOVERNMENT
PROBLEMS.
Municipal government presents prob
lens which have not yet been solved
by the people of this republic. The
American people in q great crisis rise
to supreme heights and deal with many
great national and moral problems with
high patriotism and With a sublime
faith: but there are many matters OF
a political and governmental character
in which we lack patriotism and moral
purpose. We are transported with
frenzfed enthusiasm when we read OF
our fathers overthroWing secular and
religious tyranny and proclaiming
that all mower springs from the con-
sent of the governed, This pronun-
ciamcnto we feel forevea' establishes
liberty and righteous governments; but
tho truth is bcinE forced upon us that
our system o. municipal government
PRESENTS dangers which are more or
less OF q menace to rcpublicaa institu-
tions. Til" coruptions of inu2icipall-
tics have il, some sections deaJencd the
moral sensihlities Of the people and
uaralyEr1 the arms of patriotism. 1t
is maxim ] think announced bv
Plato that republics live by virtue and