Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1922-09-07
Baptist Minister
Hits at Mormon
Doctrine in Talk

Rev. Oakley r. Miller Of Pittsbure,
Pa, Gives Address on "Ths Truth
About Mermenism," Wednesday
Evening At Green Street Methodist
Church
1.-THE Truth about Mormonism"
was the title Of the address delivered
Wednesday evening by Rev. Oakley
r. Miller. formerly a Mormon priest
and now = Baptist minister, to a
gathering at the Green Street Me-
thodist Episcopal church. Rev. Mr..
Miller was for q number Of years
= member Of the Mormon clergy and
stood high in their councils. and
knows what he speaks.
Rev. Mr.. Miller opened his talk
by saying that his parents and two
sisters were Mormons at this time,
although they do not believe in poly
gamy. He himself had been a be-
lever in the Mormon doctrine. but
finally his belief waned and he be-
came a Baptist minister. For sew
eral years, he held a parish and now
is travelling in connection with the
work of the National Reform Asso-
citation.
The early history Of Mormonism
was then taken up. Mr.. Miller said
that Mormonism originated right in
the New England states as Joseph
Smith was born in New Hampshire.
later moving to New York. While
in New York he attended a revival
meeting Of several different denomi-
nations and although some Of his
people entered the Baptist church he
had a leaning toward the Methodist
church. He went out to pray about
this question and then according to
him, the Lord left off the making Of
the world and brought his son, Jesus
to him. And we are further told
that Jesus said that all of the reli-
gion at that time was wrong, that
the creeds were an abomination.
So in 1880, Mr.. Smith organized the
Mormon church with a membership
Of six. which in 1914 had increased
to about 100000. About that time
they began to migrate westward,
going a short distance and then
stopping, until in many cases they
were invited to move on. While this
was taking place, Smith was killed
by a mob. They finally settled in
what was at that time part of Mexico
but with the purchase Of that terri
tory after the Mexican war they
again became residents Of the Unit
ed States. This territory was named
Utah and the first governor was
Brigham Young. the head of the
Mormon church at that time.
In 1890, after a territorial restric-
| ton had been passed against poly
gamy, the Mormons promised to give
up polygamy II the territory were
made a state and in 1896 this came
about. But, in 1898, Brigham II
Roberts, one of their greatest men
and at that time connected with the
United States Senate. testified thai
he was living in pOlygamy at thai
time and that he would continue tc
/ do SO.
He spoke Of several members of The
| government who are Mormons today
Senator Smoot from Utah, who ha:
/ taken an oath of allegiance to the
| United States and to the flag. had &C
cording to the speaker, taken anothe,
| oath before that, the Mormon oath
which exacts a promise that the person
on the country which caused the dealt
OF the earlier prophets.
| The speaker also said that Mormon
ism was getting a great hold upon The
people Of the United States and Other
! countries. He said that it was con
stantly getting stronger here in New
England and that at this time it is
proposed to build secret temple il
Brooklyn, n. Y, for the benefit of the
/ Mormons Of this part of the country.
He then said that any institution
with one man at its head who claimed
to be the sole mouthpiece of Almighty
God was a menace to the people
Rev. Mr.. Miller then went on to say
that Mormons believe in polygamy
now as they always have, and that ev.
cry man who has headed the church
was or is polygamist. Among other
things he said was that it was be.
lieved by the Mormons that now he
has forsaken their church the only
way he can be saved is to shed his
LIES blood. He read extracts from
some of their books to prove this
saying that he used only the things
they have written or said to prove his
points.
One Of the most distressing parts
OF the whole thing. according to Mr..
Miller, is the fact that the Mormons
themselves are woefully ignorant of
their history. They do not know many
of the most important facts Of their
history. because they would then see
the Mormon church in bad light and
so are not taught them.
The speaker ended his talk by warn
ing the peoplesagainst the Mormon
church. styling IT a menace to the gov
eminent IL Mormonism survived. and
advocating the passage of an amend
ment to the constitution, which
should make polygamy unlawful and
would cut the root of the religion.