The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1908-09-12
SHORT REPUDIATES
ABUSIVE WORDS
Pastor Denies Reports Quoting
Him as Defaming Utah and
the Mormon People.
SENDS WORD TO HIS WIFE
CINCINNATI NEWSPAPER CON-
FIRMS STATEMENT.


Mrs. Francis B. Short. wife of Rev. F.
church. yesterday received word from her
husband stating that the reports of. his
sermon delivered in Cincinnati on Sept. 6
were erroneous and exaggerated.
Persons in Salt Lake who have heard
Mr.. Short use extreme language in the
pulpit were more ready TO believe he
made the statements attributed to him
than they would have been had the minis
ter mentioned been any other in the city.
The Herald wired its Cincinnati cores
pendent with reference TO the accuracy
of the report sent and this reply was re-
ceived; Reporter who covers sermons
insists il is right
Mr. Short states in his letter that the
report that he compared Salt Lake City
with Sodom and GOmorrah is absolutely
untrue and that he made not a single
mention of members of the Mormon
church which was not cOuched in compli-
mentary rather than in derogatory Ian
guage. He states that he took particu-
lar pains TO refrain from any personal re-
ordinations against any one in Utah.
Mr.. Short forwarded TO his wife copy
of the Cincinnati Commercial-Tribune of
Sept Z. which. he says, gives an accurate
report of his address.
The members of Mr.. Shorts congrega-
ton unite in stating that they are conf
dent their pastor did not make the state
ments attributed TO him in the special dis
patches to Salt Lake papers.
The report of the Cincinnati CONNER
cial-Tribune follows:
Predicting better days for his and all
other Christian churches in Utah. and
declaring his belief of great possibilities
of that commonwealth. the Rev Francis
Burgette Short. D.. of the First sMetho-
dist church of Salt Lake City, Utah, yes
terday morning preached at the Walnut
| Hills NJ f. church a strong sermon on
| the Mormon problem.
''Dr. Short also spoke at the St Paurs
Methodist Episcopal church last night on
/ the same subject.
DIR. Short is in Cincinnati seeking as
sistance for his church in paying off an
| Indebtedness of $4,000. He will remain
/ in this city for several days, after which
he will visit several other cities He does
not expect to return to the west for sew
eral weeks.
"Smoot's Recognition Decried."
In his sermon Dr. Short did not go into
details concerning the Mormon religion.
| but declared that some of the practices
and ceremonies of this sect rival the
heathenism across the seas
DIR Short believes that the mass of
| the Mormon peopie at heart are as mucn
| opposed to polyRamy are those of
other religious beliefs. Particularly is this
true in the cases of the Younger gener-
alton, he said. He declared that il is
only the older members of the church
who uphold poiygamy.
The western pastor severely censured
what he termed the recognition of the
/ Mormon church by the United States SEN
ate when Reed Smoot of Utah was per
mitted to take a seat in that body His
condemnation of this act was very strong.
Conditions Are Deplored."
although Dr. Short severely criticized
and condemned the teachings and prac-
tees of the Mormon religion. he declared
that among the better classes of its MEM
bers no better people are to be found.
He deplored the conditions In his state.
which. he declared permit more than 2o
towns of from 100 20 1000 population. to
be without churches of his denOmina-
ton.
LAS an example of good qualities.
which, he said. are TO be found among
nearly ALI members of the Mormon
church. DR.. Short said:
Even Joseph +. Smith. whom every
body knows has four wives and forty
three children. has been prominent in
liquor fights in Utah and has urged his
people TO do everything in their power
10 help close every saloon in the state.
"Praise for Prominent Mormons."
lin nv work as secretary OF the ex-
ecutive committee of the Anti-Saloon
league | have been associated with as
president of this body the Honorable VIII
liam H. King. Mormon and high mem
Der of the church. and outside of his
religious beliefs. i have never met a bet
ter man.
ITO become familiar with Mormonism
and to appreciate the good qualities or
the members Of the Mormon church. II
IS Necessary TO live among and come in
ddlly conta~t with them
Edwin +. kimball. organist of the Meth
odst church and assistant organist of the
tabernacle. upon hearing of the attacks
on Salt Lake and on the Mormons attrib-
uted to Mr.. Short. at once sent his resig-
nation TO the music committee OF the
Methodist church. Before the letter of
4 resignation had been received by the COM
mittee Mr.. kimball met Il. f. Eberhart,
a member of the music committee. who
urged that ne withhold his resignation I'M
I'll it had been determined whether the
reports of Mr.. Shorts sermon were cor
rect The letter of resignation was there
fore returned TO Mr.. kimbali unopened.