The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1910-04-08
DOING ABROAD AS AT HOME.

Commenting upon the Roosevelt gal
lery play in Rome, and ccnsuring the
head of the Methodist mission there
"Such modelling of scctarian mis-
sIonaries with the institutions of the
countries to which they are sent is the
cause of great deal of unnecessary
trouble and friction. And il adds,
Missionaries have no business TO as.
people 10 whom they are sent, or to en-
gage in harsh criticism, even if they
fancy themselves so much better -
Which is true enough, but the limta-
tions are TOO narrow. How about "sec-
tarians, missionaries or otherwise,
who meddlc with the institutions of the
country where they may happen to be-
or where their sect has its head
quarters? Isn't that Just as bad as
missionaries TO foreign parts interfer
ing with the institutions of the coun.
tries to which they are sentl Isn't ii
more conspcuously offensive, for in
stance, TO the American people when
the Mormon ecclesiasts do this in this
country?
The great difficulty with the Mormon
leaders has always been that they are
persistently meddling with and op.
posing the institutions of the United
States, and endeavoring to set up
theocratic despotism. The personal rule
OF their leader is claimed 10 be absolute
i'll temporal ms well as spiritual affairs.
This is eXempliticd in the dictum of
the present leader of the Mormon
church, where he openly has said that
the man who acknowledges his right
to lead him spiritually and denies his
right to rule him temporarily, "Iics in
the face of God. - We hold that this
sort of assumption on the part of the
Mormon chiefs. or any other leader of
any sect, is a sure cause of disturbance
and trouble, and is the real cause of all
Of the troubles that the Mormon church
leaders have encountered since the
OF their sect.
Referring also to the point Of mis-
having no business to assume
the leaders of the Mormon church tina
the same thing applies in direct force
and in greater degree to themselves.
They have always claimed su-
over other citizens. They have
always claimed to have a special dis |
from God, setting them above
other people, and giving them n right |
10 take direct charge of all affairs, !
religious and secular. They have claimed |
20 be the select people set apart by |
Sod to do His work in these latter days
preference to all others in the world, |
% be the direct recipients in r special i
iegree of God s favor, and so TO be |
preferred over all others. This is the
lirect claim Of the Mormon leaders. and |
has been from the beginning. Why,
therefore, should not the Mormon mis-.
'lonaries hold themselves superior TO the |
peoples 10 whom they are sent7 Why
should they not claim abroad what their
brethren claim at home2 Such claim
II arrogance is simply carrying out the
enets and teachings of the church
S' ''Pi'''"'' ihdI arrogant
,Iaim OF superiority goes not only to
he people of foreign lands, but TO the
inhabitants of this country who do not
belong to the Mormon church.
The things that are now condemned
n the organ Of the Mormon church. the
iery things which it imputes to the
Aethodlsts. are the absolute framework
and essence of their own propaganda.
low ugly 1T looks, however, to the Nor.
non scribe, when he can find an occa
'lon to attribute TO others the very
qualities, teachings and warp and woof
If Mormonism.