The Washington herald., 1913-02-10
truth in PLACE
OF ALL THEOLOGY
Speaker at Secular League
Meeting Says Theological
Hoax Must Be Abandoned.
MORMONISM IS DISCUSSED
Its Church Doctrine Is Superstitious,
Like All the Rest, Says
J. A. MaeKnight.

In an address before the Secular League
at Pythian Temple yesterday afternoon.
! under the title OF "A Theological Hoax
and What Came OF It. ]. A. MacKnlght,
Mormon by birth and a relative of
Brigham Young, set forth Mormonism as
being founded upon an absolute hoax
the alleged revelation to Joseph Smith
and as entirely erroneous in its theo-
logical system. but as having been very
beneficial TO its disciples in It's secular
phases.
Brigham Young was described as a man
OF great practical genius, whose work.
while autocratic, was of great practical
and economic benefit to his followers
Even the alleged Mormon political in
fiuence. which the speaker stated is often
held up in this part of the country as
a great evil and menace. was held to
be much better than it is painted
WELD Power for Decency.
THE Mormons WELD their political
power with good deal of decency. a
good deal of self-respect, and a good
deal OF benefit to the community" de-
clared the speaker. 1T Is somewhat
laughable to hear well-meaning women
talking IN public about the union of
church and state in Utah and urging the
National Executive to use his influence
to check the political schemes of the
Mormons.
People who listen to that kind of twad-
die are simply having sand thrown into
their eyes. so that they may not dis
Germ the real peril, which a different
theocratic element presents to American
institutions.
The MOrmons conduct some schools for
the teaching OF their peculiar religious
doctrines, but they have never made any
attack on the public schools. and are not
in favor OF any changes which would
emasculatc the Constitution OF the Unit
ed States
should Abandon Superstition.
The speaker declared that while the
particular hoax to which ] direct atten-
tion has played its part in the bedevil-
ing of a small fraction OF the American
population. the theological hoax in gen
eral has played a viliainous part in the
deception and debasement Of all man
kind" and he took the position that 1t is
time not only those Of the Mormons but
all theological superstitions should be
abandoned for the truths Of science
The speaker especially condemned the
indOCtrinatlon of the minds Of children
with theological fictions and supersti-
tions.
John Phillips Mcakin who had once
been a Mormon. also defended them as
though also rejecting their theology.
w. II. Coleman held that even on its
secular side, Mormoaism was on a low
plane. and charged that It was a scheme
whereby selfish leaders exploit n lot of
wcll-mcanig people economically.
These remarks brought David r. Rob
'rts Mormon. of Logan. Utah. TO his
feet. who defended his people with refer
Cnce to the criticisms made.
David T-rr'eg arFaivDel MprrnOuiSrn
an example Cf theological superstition,
and held that all who believe in divine
revelation and the miraculous are COM
-nitted to tn" fundamental tenets and or
rurs or NOrmOnism. He Joined Mr. Mac
EniEh. in urging the entire abandon |
ment Of theological superstition for the |
truths OF nature and science
a similar attitude was taken by Or |
J. J. Shirley.
Julian I. Pierce James G. Kent. and |
Mrs. \. G. Boynton also participated in |
the discussion.