The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1914-01-16
THE nOM0N CHURCH.
Correspondent Relates an Interesting
Conversation With u Mormon
Elder.
Editor The Herald and News:


tor the purpose of publishing a rathc:
amusing controversy with a represen-
tative 9f the church known as Nor
mons or Latter Day Saints. He, IL
elder or Dral :her, was a lung MAJ.
of genteel manners, courteoues and
polite, Wrapped at door on Monday
afternoon of this week and on be-
ing invited to come in accepted the
invitation and soon began to intro
duce his mission by offering TO sell me
a book.
The book, he said, contained the
elements of doctrine taught by the
founder and ecclesiastical body of
the latter day saints. l refused to
buy the book, stating to him that I
had the substance Of the doctrines of
this church already in an encyclo-
pedia which was authentic and which
was sufficient TO furnish all the infor-
nation needed on the doctrines and
polity Of his church. However, l did
not purchase the book and frankly
told him I would not believe it if
should purchase and read it. This
statement precipitated heated con-
troYersy, which he evidently desired
more than he did the sale Of the book.
got right on the job with him, de-
fensively, not defantly. His first
question was "To what church do you
belong?"
Presbyterian" l answered.
"But you are all wrong" he said
81 represent the only church that can
possibly be right. This is well known
by every one who is well informed
on the history of therace. Cali
churches but yours are entirely
wrong" said.
eyes, and with an air of supreme sat-
isfaetion that one home run had been
made he proceeded to teach the things
that are most assured.y believed by
all intelligent and we'll informed
people, expressing surpTis to find
me so far behind the times that l |
did not know that all other churches
were rapidly disearding their old
system of doctrines and as rapidly
adopting the doctrines Of the Church
OF the Latter day Saints
/ had to confess that that was news to
me, something had never before heard
nor seen in print, Ny ignorance ha9
the effect, at least, Of probing the
deepest eaverns of his sympathy.
BE then asked me where got my au-
thority for preaching the gospel, declar-
ing with the same breath that no man
has any divine authority to preach
the gospel who had net gotten that
authority from the ecclesiastical +
body of the church which he rep
resnted, stating as reason for this
that seven hundred years after the
ascension of Jesus Christ the
gospel was taken away from the
earth and that about the same time
the Holy Ghost left the earth neveri
to return to it again till the end
of the world has come, on till the |
second coming Of the Christ. He
further stated, and little tract that
he left me corroborates the state /
ment-that the gospel that the world /
now has is that which was revealed /
to Joseph Smith, the illustrious
founder or reorganizer Of the apos-
tolic church, therefore, all those VINO t
are now preaching the gospel, other
than those who have been ordained
and authorized under the regime Of
the Church Of the Latter Day
Saints" are doing so without a divine
commission and are blind leaders
of the blind"
Reader, imagine my chagrin
when was Informed by this j
fresh herald of another gospel"
latter day gospel, that the old original
gospel and the Holy Ghost both had !
been removed from our earth more
than a thousand years ago. My COM
fort in the ignorance of these things
is that I am not alone. If the gospel
at any period of the Christian era
has been taken from the earth, or if
the Holy Ghost, whose abiding pre-
sence was one of the cardinal pro-
misses ard blessings promised by our
Saviour to his church-see ST. John
14:16-18-I say if these cardinal
blessings have at any time been taken
from the earth I must confess tnat
his is the first intimation I haze ever
had Of It. So, IF ignorance is bliss il