St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1909-09-08
Mormon FOrgetfulneSS.

1t is surprisingly strange how soon I'M
portant events are forgotten. Some tree
lance writer at 1Oc per inch fakes story
about a Joseph Smith Mormon monu-
ment to be dedicated in Sharon, VT, and
a great and eloquent Grafton by Senator
Reed Smoot and that Vermont state
officials have been invited to attend,
etc., etc.
Then Immediately the state papers be-
gin to comment-iuss and scold and Jeer,
gathering up their immaculate skirts in
holy horror.
Indeed intelligent newspapers read a
lecture against Mormonism and go on
record as actually warning the governor
against taking part in these terrible
blood curdling proceedings. When Pres
to! our bran new Montpelier morning
contemporary pricks this newspaper
soapy bubble by going right straight to
Governor Prouty with its burden OF
chagrin and sorrow, and the Governor
reports First have heard about it."
Shortsightedness indeed
Brethren of the press, don't you remem-
Der that on the very date of Smiths
death 600 years afterwards) Dec. 30
1905, less than four years ago, splendid
polished shaft of Barre granite, fifty feet
high was dedicated to Smith and Nor
monism on a bleak hill in Sharon, 312
miles from South Royalton? Have you
already forgotten that parlor car
load OF manifold husbands came on from
Salt Lake, and on the date last above
mentioned dedicated the monument, and
a nearby cottage, and crowned this par
ticular Mr.. Smiths historically immortal
brow with an historically fragrant
wreath, woven by few thousands of
his descendants, and the proceedings
were Reed Smootless, too.
Is memory so treacherous that the
press OF Vermont have forgotten that
of the 500 natives who gathered to wit
ness Smiths TRANSPORTATION on Sharon
Knoll, shivering without, and packing
away sandwiches and hot coffee within,
that not single governor or ex-govern'
or or other functionary appeared?
How could it be so soon forgotten
that this monument had to be olsen
barked a couple of miles up stream, a
Royalton for lack of space at neare
South Royalton?
To forget that all these notable event
happened less than four years ago, am
cost rising of sos 900, and to live ther
all over again. with so much adliterar
is cruelty to animals and clear impos
ton on long suffering public.
1t may be well to'add that If the edit
ors of Vermont could forget all thes
history making trinkets they ought no
to forget the opening sentences OF tn
dedicatory prayer viz:
"Our Father who art in Heaven
hallowed be Thy most holy name. W
Thy servants and hand maidens, repr
senting the church of Jesus Christ
Latter-day.Saints, have gathered her
TO dedicate this monument to II
memory of Thy servant Joseph Smitl
the great prophet and seer of II
nineteenth century, who was born int
the world near this spot on the Odd da
December 18O5-one hundred years ag
1t was from him that we received Il
everlasting Gospel, revealed to him
the Eternal Father through Jesus Chri
the Son."
Cut this out and paste it on the fro
margin of your pastepot and torev
restrain yourselves from rededlcatl
this beautiful granite shaft, and ire
inviting Governor Prouty to lend otfic
dignity. Perhaps it is pardonable, tn
in the strenuous three years and sew
months, of steering the ship of state, a
attempting to run affairs generally.
press of Vermont should forget all tn
things.
But to have let pass out of mind
memory the betting and immortal
torial words of Col. Greene in his M
senger of that period, is simply inexcu
BILE and objectionable.
"The sober truth is that no amount
pomp and pretense, lavish expenditure
money, or solemn mummery OF cant, v
ever make the Mormon Church anythi
more than it really is--a whited ser
chre full OF dead mems bones.
strange part is. that a fraud so ira
parent, fraud perpetrated in the VI
face and eyes of generation still to so
extent surviving, a fraud SO open a
notorious-should eyer have the aud
ity to masquerade before intelligent p
pie as an inspired revelation Of God,
sacred religion The pity of it is Il
any person honestly seeking the cure
his soul should be deceived by it. II
monument at Sharon to mark the br
place OF the original Joseph Smith "