Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1909-09-09

At SnArOns NeruCuts MS oAtAPA@NSt -
which Reed Smoot will make the address,
Is not contradicted by the officials men,
toned. although the story has been pub
liz for almost q week. II 1t Is true, and
the Vermont officials are 50 little lacking
in seIf-respect as to acknowledge this
event by their presence, it will give the
critics Of New England another chance to
ridicule the degeneracy Of the twentieth
century Yankee. AS far as Sharon is
concerned, IL it wishes to build q monu-
ment to Joseph Smith it has a right to do
so. Local pride works in curious ways,
and q great clown, criminal or charlatan
occasionally puts q place on the map
which would otherwise be unknown,
which publicity is appreciated. There is
no accounting for taste.
seThe present generation knows little
of Joe Smith, or what he did. All they
know about Mormonism is that 1t has
grown rich in material possessions in
Utah, and its adjoining states. and that
Mark Hanna. to serve his political ends,
made a deal with the Mormon church
which enables it to do practically what
II pleases, evon to violate the law, to
bring to this country immigrant girls
for special purposes, although the Nor
mon church has sacredly promised to
abolish polygamy."
/ Then follows q description of the evil
career Of Joseph Smith, ending with the
/ following reflections:
silt must be a queer sort OF people up
/ in sharon, Vermont, who will allow the
/ Mormon church to erect q monument to
bully, liDertine and BLACKBOARD, but that
I is their business, and nobody has right
to complain, but official recognition by
state officials is q horse OF another color,
which, il given, will constitute scandal
10 New England"
Softly, softly Sir Traveller Wait a
Bit before you hold Vermont and her gov
ernor up to scorn, and shame New Eng
land with a scandal You say that the
report that the governor of Vermont is to
honor the memory OF Joseph Smith by
attending the dedication of a monument
at his birthplace in Sharon has not been
coutradicted. Perhaps 1t HASN'T been, but
the Journal takes this occasion to deny
it, unequivocally and emphatically, by
the authority OF Hon. George II. Prouty,
governor Of Vermont.
In the first place the monument erected
at the birthplace of Joseph Smith was
built and dedicated in 1905, and Junius
F. Wells, the Mormon caretaker and rep
resentstive there declares that he knows
nothing of the erection or dedication OF
any more monuments. In the second
place, no invitation has been extended
to the governor OF Vermont to attend any
= Mormon exercises at Sharon or elsew here.
10 the third place, IL such an invitation
should be extended to him he would not
accept, as he would consider it improper
to do so. So far as Governor Prouty il
. concerned this story is absolutely without
: foundation. The Traveller, burdeneo
J with anxiety over the danger that
| threatened the good name OF New Eng.
J land, might have had its fears allayed BY
, applying to Governor Prouty, as the
] Journal did. tor the facts, which hS
gave frankly and cheerfully.
3 How easy it is to conjure up fright
Z ful bogey-man and then fall upon him in
E righteous Indignation and demolish him
The story is tissue OF inaccuracies, ths
e only foundation being that possibly Unit
ed States Senator Reed Smoot, of Utah
on q journey through this part OF tn,
Z country, may stop long enough to visit
the Smith monument At Sharon. Their
e il to De no dedication, for there is not b
: ing new to dedicate. The good name o.
8 New England is safe from Mormon
e assault, and Vermont will not furnish al
o additional occasion ''to ridicule the de
$ generacy Of the twentieth century
I Yankee"
e The unfortunate feature OF yarns Of thi
4 kind is that the vast majority of peopli
I who read them do not see any contradic
( ton, and often believe them to tbeii
e dying dsy. 1t is unfair to Vermont ans
n to Der governor to print unverihed re
e ports Of this nature. The officials Of
state are not supposed to spend thei
!, time contradicting rumors. The obligs
i ton is upon the newspaper who print
, an article to ascertain its truth befor'
! he gives II currency.
, Will the Traveller kindly take motto
q that its "press announcementn Is denied
e prom the Sc. A1bans Messenger)
q Now the Messenger holds as lightly q
anyone else familiar with the fraud tn
:. absurd pretensions OF Mormonism to b
: revealed" religion, but il cannot ex
actly understand why the presence OF an,
q public Official at any at and proper puhli
u ceremonial carried on by devout and sin
y cere men and women that do not believ
O ii is q fraud, should merit "the dis
y approval and condemnation of the peopl
of Vermont II would like to have tb
Q reasons for this some Nv hat startling warn
e ing explained in detail. The matter md,
2 not be, it probably isn't, OF very mucl
consequences, IN Auu OF llselI, out there l
! principle behind it that covers a fell
: far wider than any popular doubt an,
Il distrust Of the Mormon church alone.
(From the Bennington BannerJ
This row over the dedication OF tn
Mormon monument at Sharon is hardl
y justified by the facts in the case. Josep
>, Smith and Brigham Young are dead an
:, the Mormon religion is fast going tn
way OF numerous other so-caIled Re
= ligions that have outlived their useful
: ness Why not all join in and get up
: nice monument to dying Mormonism
:, Its votaries don't knew it, but it is dea
I; for all practical purposes. We are wiIIin
= to help celebrate its going to the bon
= yard.
y tFrom the Burlington Newsl
The tempest in the teapot will abate
AZ now. 1t seems that there is to he n
= Mormon celebration at the Joseph smit
q memorial at Sharon, with GRAFTON h
3e SenatOr Em0of HE Ewo.tr.--.. r, -