The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1909-12-30
THEIR BIGoTED INTOLERANCE.

|
lpcrjor guidance, information and knowI'
edge. one may naturally expect to find
| arrogant contempt for men of differ
| ing opinion, and an attitude of gross
intolerance,
"I shall not listen TO your disparage-
ment of my people and my leaders. -
1t is not difficult TO conclude that this
was uttered by faithful and, 1T must
be stated, a rather fanatical member
of the dominant church here. IT oc-
Cured in the nature of an abrupt end.
ing of a semi-argumentativc conver-
sation between two gentlemen who were
practically lifelong friends.
In the course Of the talk which had
occurred between them the subject had
almost unobservcd, even if naturally,
drifted TO the matter of religious be
lief. AS is usual with proponcnt OF
Mormonism, the testimony of the pro-
testant, Just quoted, was strong in be
half of his belief and faith, The other
party to the conversation opposed him.
1t appeared that while the Mormon
stood firm for the integrity OF the
men and the alleged events having
to do with the inception of Mormon
ism, the other expressed n most pro.
found conviction that neither the men
nor the pretended events were
reliable--in fact. that the men.
were frauds and the events flctlonal.
Each presented his reasons in support
of his view, and it was onlv when the
unbeliover had left the believer with
no avenue Of escape in common sense
and reason that the latter abruptly
terminated the conversation in the
language above stated.
The circumstance is illustrative of
an actual condition. We may be per
mitted to picture it in this way: Ac-
cording to MormUn church reports there
are about two thousand missionaries
constantly engaged out in the world in
preaching the divinity of Mormonism
and the divine calling of Joseph, Smith,
its founder. BY these proselyters all
sorts Of miraculous and apparently I'M
possible claims are made in behalf of
the system and the man. No hcsita-
tation is felt or exhibited by them in
declaring that Joseph saw angels, re
ceived the golden plates, had the priest
hood conferred upon him by the shades
of Peter. James and John, and that
he translated the Book Of Mormon from
the golden plates by means of the urim
and thummim This is great deal TO
claim, but they assert the right 30
make these claims and 10 uphold them
as best they can. But when here and
there in Utah one arises 90 dispute
these claims. and TO bring proof TO
his support, as well as to point ont the
gross immoralities of the founders Of
Mormonism under the assumption that
ga stream can rise no higher than It's
source he is Immediately branded a
n prosecuting dctractor Of religion
and an impious slanderer of men.
To some men, the brazen self-assur.
ance of these Mormon missionaries in
attempting TO make them swallow what
they consider 10 be unuttcrabe non
sense is a gross insult to their intel
leetualities. But, according to Inc pro
ponents of Mormonism, they must not
protest against it, nor proceed TO show
its fallacy, lest they be called perse
cutors 1t is regrettabIe, but 1T is a
fact. that the Mormons claim all free |
speech in their own behalf, but will not |
accord it to especially f they
get the worst of the argument.