The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1911-10-20
AN ORGANS Discomfort.

AN ORGANS DISCONTENT.
The bicotrv of the church organ has
impclled it TO enter into an acrlmon'
ious contention over courteous cd
itorial of ours appreciativc of the hfe
and character of the late john Henry
Smith We spoke OF President smith
as we have known him for many years,
aud in way that was kindly. respect
full, and appreciative. And yet the
Dcscrct News is dlscontentcd because,
in our estimate of John Henry Smith,
we placed him above the reactlonary
and bitter clique in control OF the
church. The church organ seems to
think that this is an attack upon the
Presidency Of the church; which 1T was
not 1t was merely statement of fact,
ii embodied what every one knows to
be true. and was stated in no spirit of
disputation, but simply and candidly as
a u,atter of undoubted and timely
truth, of which every one is we'll aware.
No doubt il WAS because the church or
gan knew that what VIC stated was the
truth that it takes pains TO dispute it;
for. that is the way with the church
organ. When any truth that hurts is
stated, il Immediately denies that truth,
and labors TO rcfutc the facts OF the
ease.
The church organ on Wednesday
evening denied that there is Il branch
Of the church which reaches out for a
new departure and for getting into
touch with American life and American
institutions, as distinguished from "thc
rest of the church - which does not SO
desire. il is matter, however, Of
common knowledge that the two
branches of the church rs described,
do. in fact, exist One is inclined TO
admit the truth, 10 cut loose from The
old reaction, the old antagouisms the
old vallainics, and get upon platform
OF common citizenship in accord with
| the spirit Of American institutions. The
other holds fast TO the traditional idea
that the Mormon church has all the
truth that there is, that the Mormon
people are peculiar, n good, and holy
people as Distinguished from the wicked
" outsiders,
The organ insists that there was nc
difference Of opinion as TO the policy
of the church between John Henry
Smith and the other church leaders
that they were all united in their coun
sells. il admits that President Johr
/ Henry Smith was road-minded anC
liberal. but insists that he was not any
more so than President Joseph L
Smith. President Francis NJ. Lyman
and other men in high and respectable
church positions. This. however, as Il
some of the men named, and particu
larly ms 10 Joseph f. Smith, is mani
. fest absurdity; everyone knows tha
what the church organ says on thu
point is untrue. II is, of course, true
that President Joseph +. Smith sclectc'
John Henry Smith for counselor i'll th'
first presidency, and that the selection
was approved by the council of twclv,
and the entire body Of the church
is not true. however, that John llenr,
Smith was so selected because of hi
liberal opinions and his broad minded
ness, but in spite Of these, He WAS Sc
loctcd primarily because he was
Smith. near kin to Presidcu, Smith
+, and it. is the latter S. desire that lh
church shall be governed by Smiths "a
: much as possible. This desire Of hi
is so we'll understood has been so open
I, ly manifested that the reason for Johl
Henry Smith IS selection ns n member o
the first presidency is fully nccountc,
for on the ground of kinship and name
He was not selected on account of hi
opinions, but in spite of them; the cal
Of the blood being the overwhclmin;
, reason for the selection.
r With respect to the organ 5 claim O
= the liberality and broad-mindedues o
President Joseph +. Smith. uotbiu;
more distinotivcly and accurately de
? scriptivc of his hnbitual state of mine
need be quoted than an extract from
his sermon in st. George in Septcmbe
i, 1904, as reported by friendly Mormon
! paper there. where he said;
| The Geutiles arc coming among us I,
buy our homes and land. We should no
c sell to thenn. as they are enemies Of tn
Z Kingdom of God. Said ne hat
, not sought 10 be a vast land owner
l but bnd never sold inch Of ground 4
Q an enemy OF Gods work.
:. The Genties are here expressly stig
G matizcd as ''enemics of the Kingdom
:. of God - without qualification or rcscl