Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1909-12-25
WHAT is "MoR,IoNIsMq"

SUNDAY. Dec. 26. having been set
apart, this year. as a day upon which
to commemorate the birth of the
Prophet Joseph on Dec. %, 1905. the
"News" takes this opportunity of pre-
senting. on this page, some historical
facts. and reflections. which we hope
will interest all our readers, even those
who may not agree with us, Mormon
ism" is subject that no well-informed
person can afford to ignore.
''Mormonism" CLAIMS to be Gods
plan of salvation.
But salvation refers to human affairs
and conditions in this life on earth. as
we'll as hereafter The key note to the
meaning of the word was given In the
song of the angels at the birth OF our
Savior GLORY to God in. the highest,
and on earth peace. good Will toward
men" The very purpose of salvation is
to bring peace to earth and good Will
toward men," as we'll as "glory to
God"
In the light of this glorious manifes-
long-establshed and accepted systems
of philosophy, OF religion, brought SAL
walton to the world. in the sense that 1t
has established peace among nations
and good will among men?
Neither the Vedlc religion, nor Brah-
minism, nor Buddhism has saved the
millions of India from the curse of
caste, of ignorance. superstition, op-
preston, starvation, and misery. Budd-
ha has been called the light of
ASIA" and there is no doubt that he
taught many exalted truths and lncul-
Gated morality of a high order But
the Hindus. Notwithstanding. are help
lessly divided In classes without social
intercourse with each other. II we may
judge from results, the Hindus are the
victims of one of the most despotic,
cruel, and degrading systems of re-
ligion. Neither their religious teachers
nor their philosophers have brought
them a message of salvation. Human
sacrifices are but of recent date, and
the position of woman has but recently.
DN ioIGlEH OStI III llSQ dDONc
the level of the beasts.
ITO glut the shark and crocodile
A mother brought her infant here;
She saw its tender. playful smile,
She shed not one maternal tear.
She threw II on a watery bier:
With grinding teeth sea-monsters tore
The smiling infant that she bore.
She shrunk not once its cries to hear"
That is a sad. but true picture of the
condition of India before the predomi-
nance of European influence.
Japan is a very interesting country
Shintoism and Buddhism are its prin-
cipal religions. Shlntoism Is nature
worship. 1t has many good and re-
markable features. and numerous
shrlnes have been erected IN honor of
its gods, but until the country was
opened to influences from abroad it re-
manned in ignorance and darkness. al
though the japanese arc a gifted race
There was no salvation in their old
religions,
China has Its Taoism and Confucian-
ism. as well as Buddhism. but we
know that neither has been a power OF
salvation to that nation. Many China
men are both Taoists. Confucians and
Buddhists. but they are no better for
that. Confuclus was a great reformrr
and teacher. His pure life was a stand-
ing protest against the iniquity OF his
time. And he accomplished q great
deal for his people He inculcated rev
erence to parents and elevated the
home, but China was not saved from
falling into a condition Of lethacgy
from which it took the thunder OF
Japanese, European and American cam
non to awaken IT,
Mohammedanism has played its part
In the history of the world.
Utter the song. o my soul, tho flight
and return of Mohammed,
Prophet and priest. who scattered
abroad both OWL and blessing
Huge wasteful empires founded, and
hallowed slow persecution.
soul-witherins. but crushed the BIAS
phcmous rites OF the pagan"
Mohammedanism has performed Il
great mission. and It's missionaries -
day are meeting TO some extent The
spiritual needs of some races. but the
Nohammedan world shows plainly that
1t has not been saved by that religion.
The terrible massacres of professed
Christians in the Balkan. in Armenia.
and elsewhere. show how far fallen
from humanity is the Mohammedan
world
1t Is clear that the non-C Christian
world needs salvation. Can any of the
Christian scots save it2
The Greek Catholic religion has had
Its day and Its test 1t Is the religion