Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1910-09-29
VICTORY IN NORMAY.

The church OF Jesus Christ Of Latter
day Saints In Norway has been under
Are for some time, from the batteries
Of bigotted clergy, aided by venal
press. Articles appeared In some jour
nails containing the usual allegations
and faisohoods emanating from ant"
"Mormon" sources IN Utah and when
the excitement was worked up 10
sufficient pitch the government was ap-
pealed to for prohibltivo measures
against the Mormon" missionary work.
To the honor OF the Norwegian people
il should be said that the g.tat on
against the church was by no means a.
popular as the clorgymen supposed 1t
would be The Norwegian people In
general may not care particularly for
the doctrines Of the Church; a great
many OF them may bo Indifferent 20 all
religious activity, but they are fair
minded and do not approve OF religious
persecution In any torn. The estaL-
iishcd church has no longer the grip
on the people II once had Tor during
the long struggle Tor constitutional liO-
CITY il was the exception TO find
Lutheran clergyman on the side OF the
people. A liberal clergyman-a SOCIAL
cd "Vonstrepraest"--w,L curiosity ut
time when the country was passing
through the long crisis,
The Flea for iair play for the Nor
mons" found an eloquent and strong
representative in Mr.. BJornson. the son
Of the late author and statesman OF
that name, and many others Toe pio-
test OF Norwegians in salt Lake CITY
against the falsehOods circulated about
them, In the ecclesiastical newspaper
articles also had good effect Tor
among the protesting citizens We're men
and women OF many croeds and condl-
tons Finally, the thorough and indie
pendent investigations made here by
a. Norwegian newspaper correspondent
this summer, failed 10 corroborate The
anti-"Morm0n" umors ana reports 1t
is therefore not surprising 20 learn that
the asiailants OF the church have SUI
tered defeat, as may be seen from
the following communication from
Christiania, to the san Francisco
Chronicle.
''rn agitation Is afoot 10 secure sim.
iliur stringent restrictions against them
as are enforced In Germany Mormon
missionaries are blamed for mater ally
ineicusiug tho emgrat on nom n rVuy.
especially as TAR AS young women are
concerned Nevertheless, the Mormons
nave Just scored "A decisive victory.
The Norwegian department Of Jus
ice has arrived at the decision that
there is no adequate cause To accedo IL.
a demand made by thu church dcpart-
ment To take legal measures to put a
stop TO the Mormon propaganda In Nor
Way The department ot Justice doe.
not consider such step IN harmony
with the spirit OF the age. which is
opposed 10 faVorng one religious com
munlty az the expense OF another.
Inc department further holds that
the charges directed against the Nor
mons are inconclusvc. and ;he reports
Of several police officials do not nt I'm
confirm the allegations of obJoctionahl,
practices
And thus the Church and the cnu.a
N religious liberty have again hoo,
INDICATED after thorough invostiz,-
Ton Tho Norwegian department of
tustice has refused 10 put the mncbip.
ery Of the law in motion against IN.
Church, at the demand Of the coolest.
'.'.' ht'''tIhs hItN TT mas further.
more administered tu that department
retuke, by pointing out that it, demand
Is out Of harmony with the spirit Of tho
age That is equivalent 10 saying that
II is IN harmony with the age of per.
secution Was ever before one govern
ment department so severely rebukrd
by another?
one of the charges ON which tho per
scouting clergymcn rolled Tor success
was that relating 10 emigration. They
know that that is tender subject I'm
the Old countries which are every year
losing much OF their best blood. They
know that to mention emigration IS to
lacerate the feelings Of those whose
solicitude for the army exceeds even
their patriotism But it has been proved
BY actual figures that the Mormon,
emigration from Norway during the
last ten years is but a small drop in
the general current
As for the other charges the depart.
ment Of justice found no ground for ao-
oeptne any Of them. The re-
ports OF several police officials do not