The Washington herald., 1911-03-14

Pastors of the Presbyterian
churches of Washington presented
to President Taft yesterday after
noon a protest against the accept
ance of a silver service by the State
of Utah for the L. S. S. Utah.
CALL 1T A MENACE.
Presbyterian ministers who met in the
New York Avenue Church yesterday
morning claim that the Mormon Church
since it's conception by Brigham Young
has been a menace to the community
principally owing to the immortality Of
its religion as applied to polygamy. They
declare it would be a blot upon the
records and traditions of the United
States government if the church were
to be officially recognized.
The protest in the form of a reso-
luton, was introduced by Rev. DR.. Wal
lace Radcliffe. pastor of the New York
Avenue Presbyterian Church. 1t fol-
lows:
The Presbyterian Church of Washing
ton, D. c.. protests against the proposed
acceptance by the United States govern
ment Of a silver service for the United
States battle ship Utah bearing as its
conspicuous ornaments the representa-
tions Of the Mormon Temple and the
head of Brigham Young:
1T is a recognition by the government
Of a distinct church organization and
thereby an offense to the other churches
OF the Commonwealth of Utah and an
affront to the traditions and principles
of the nation, which insists upon the
absolute separation of church and State.
It is an unmerited honor to an institution
which has been for years a source of dis
traction and danger to our social and
national life, and to-day an active and
impending peril
1T is an offense to the moral sense OF
our people which views with alarm the
increasing political power of an institu-
ton which in its attack upon the purity
and integrity of the home and its per-
sistent and defiant evasion of the COM
mon law is a continuous threat against
the peace and the very life of the ma
ton
VIII Urge n Fight.
PRESBYTERIAN ministers stated last
night that the matter would be fought
to a finish. and that if it were in the
power of the church or any other fol-
lowers of the religion of Christ, to
have the gift refused by the govern
ment the silver service would be re-
turned to the Mormon Church as not
acceptable.
Rev. Joseph Kelly. pastor Of the
Fourth Presbyterian Church, last night
stated that as the Mormon Church had
been fought in the pulpit as well as in
the affairs of the nation, owing to the
fact that it is unnatural. and a distinct
menace to the purity of the home, the
matter, in his opinion, will not stop with
a mere protest, but will be carried on un-
til the government will either be forced
to recognize Mormonism as a power for |
good, or refuse the gift.
The silver set is handsome and expen- |
sive, and contains upon every piece an |
engraving of the head of Brigham Young. |
and also a representation of the Mormon |
Temple, in Salt Lake City. 1t was pro- !
posed as a gift in recognition of the nam |
ing of the Utah after the State in which |
the Mormin Church has its seat and is |
thought to be taken by the Mormons, as !
not only an honor to the State, but to |
their church. inasmuch as the Mormons |
are the ruling power in the politics of |
Utah.
When the question arose as to whether |
the gift would be acceptable If the ref |
erence to the Mormons should be eradi-
lated, none of the clergy would comment.
DR.. Radcliffe, while he would not make
L statement of the action to be taken,
laid the matter would be fought vigor-
'usIy, as an acceptance would be an
Iffront to the Christian Church at large