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LATTER DAY SAINTS 



\\ 



Southern Star 



VOLUME TWO 



i 



900,, 



PUBLISHED BY 

The Southern States Mission, 

CHATTANOOGA, TENN. 



L S3</ I / ■/,.</ 



HARVARD COLLEGE LIBRARY 
JUL 1 1914 

CHARLES ELLIOTT PERKINS 
MEMORIAL COLLECTION 



INDEX 



TO 



VOLUME TWO 



OF 



THE SOUTHEEN STAR. 



INTEODUCTOEY. 



It hath pleased the Lord to bless us to the end that we might publish another volume of our Southern 
"Twinkler," and with heartfelt praise, thanksgiving and gladness to Him whom all blessings flow, we herewith 
present the same to our many patrons and the world. In our defense of the Gospel we have endeavored to be 
valiant, yielding no quarter to the enemy, and making no compromise with sin ; in our explanation of the plan 
of redemption, and elucidation of the Holy Scriptures, we have striven to be plain and simple. 

Trusting that our efforts have not been in vain, but that some poor wandering soul, who was straying from 
the narrow path, may have been led by the light of this little Star to forsake the erring way and cleave to the 
Truth, and hoping in Christ for the redemption and salvation of the sons of men, and the final and complete 
overthrow of wickedness, we submit our work to the public at large. 

Chattanooga, Tenn., Dec. 1, 1900. BEN. E. RICH. 



Pages. 

An Active Youngster 32 

Abstracts From Correspondence 43, 

53„ 64, 72, 79, 109, 126, 134, 
14§, lb7, 165, 173, 189, 197, 
205, 224, 231, 247, 264, 291, 
307, 320, 339, 379. 

Appalling Brutality 45 

Administering to those Afflicted with 

Contagious Diseases 76 

Articles of Condolence 131 

Albemarle Mobbing 134 

After the Mormons 135 

Anderson, Elder Lewis R 137 

Advertised 150 

An Incident Before the Civil War 150 

A Word in Defense 158 

A True American 184 

Appreciate Thoughtfulness 191 

An Editor's Mistake 192 

A Non-Mormon on Mormonism 206 

Are They Lamanites? 206 

About People 216 

As It Was in the Days of Noah 218 

Accept Your Lot 221 

An Appeal to Virginians 223 

Announcement 224 

A Good Name 231 

A Flower Emblem 247 

A New Ten Commandments 250 

An Old Boer Bible 267 

Address by President John Taylor. ..271 

Ant Engineers 272 

A Joyful Time 291 

A Testimony 193 

A Minister's Defense 294 

A Bright Soldier 309 

America 323, 335 

An Interesting Letter 336, 355, 359 

A Word to the Boys 340 

A Hypocrite 343 

A Brave Little Eight- Year-Old 357 

A Minister's Harangue 353 

Are Mormons Popular? 36C 

Are Mormons Popular 366 

A Joyous Gathering 384 

Baptists Disagree 19 

Blessings Follow Obedience 133 

Bible and Science 133 

"Biggest Show 'Cept One" 153 

Bad Spelling a Disease 17H 

Be Not Discouraged 177 

Branch Conference, S. C 286 

"By Their Fruits Ye Shall Know 

Them" 342 

Bronson, Elder H. D., Death ~*..367, 391 



Pages. 

Clergyman on the Mormons, A 2 

Conferences — 

1. North Alabama 8 

2. North Kentucky 15 

3. Ohio 15 

4. East Kentucky 24 

5. Middle Tennessee 29 

6. Chattanooga 31 

7. Georgia 93 

8. Conference Presidents 105 

9. Florida Ill 

10. South Carolina Ill 

12. North Carolina 205 

13. South Alabama 277 

Catholic Doctrine 13 

Coming Conferences 53 

Christ and the Earth, An Allegory. .. 147 

Church and State, A Parable 149 

Creed Revision 174 

Churches Worse Than Saloons 206 

Character of Brigham Young 221 

Cause and Effect 227 

Concerning Mormonism 259 

China's Population 269 

Church, The 281 

Christian Methods 325 

Clippings From Washington 349 

Certificate of Character 371 

Consolation for a Bereaved Mother. ..375 

Church and State 387 

Cows Wearing Glasses 400 

Cuts — 

Kimball. Elder Elias S 41 

Smith, Patriarch Hyrum 49 

Cartoon 87 

Stewart, Elder Alva T 120 

Peck, Elder Bryan W 120 

Anderson, Elder Lewis R 137 

Hyldahl. Elder Christo 217 

Sears, Elder John S 337 

Frankland, Elder* J. D 338 

Paxton. Elder Robt. A 392 

Elton, Elder David H 419 

Rich, President Ben. E 423 



Dark Ages, The — 
5, 11, 23, 26, 34, 42, 62, 66, 75, 95, 103, 
107, 117, 125, 131, 138, 151, 
154, 162, 170, 178. 

Discourses By — 

Apostle Heber J. Grant 14 

Apostle Anthon H. Lund 22, 298 

Apostle Matthias F. Cowley... 30, 319 

Apostle Francis M. Lyman 46, 207 

President Geo. Q. Cannon 54, 190 

Elder Ben. L. Rich 227, 237, 318 

Apostle Geo. Teasdale. 255 

Apostle Brigham Young 263 



Pages. 

Apostle A. O. Woodruff 326 

President Joseph F. Smith 334 

Elder Charles W. Penrose ... 341, 350, 
358. 

President Lorenzo Snow 382 

Deaths — 

16, 24, 48, 63, 74, 112, 120, 128, 135, 
lo2, 160, 172, 184, 192, 200, 
208, 224, 231, 248, 256, 264, 
280, 288, 302, 320, 325, 336, 
355, 366, 376, 382, 392, 397, 
411, 419. 

Dream Came True, The 32 

Decline of Churches 189 

Don't Be in a Hurry to Get Into 

Print 304 

Does a College Education Help or 

Hinder? 344 

Doing One's Best 371 

Editorial Thoughts — 

A Backwoods Editor 12 

Afraid of Women 36 

Authority 44 

A Contrast 60 

Administering Ordinances 60 

A Heedless Generation 172 

"A Stranger and Ye Took Me In". .180 

Arguments of Bigots Answered 244 

Attention, Subscribers 308 

Afflictions 332 

A Testimony of the Truth 332 

A Shining Light 423 

By Grace Are Ye Saved 4 

Baptism for the Dead 28 

Bigotry in Jacksonville 124 

Be Punctual 204 

Brigham Young's Birthday 212 

Balloting for Bishops 212 

Brigham Young Academy 253 

Born of Water 365 

"Be Not Dismayed" 404 

Christmas Times 28 

Cuttle Fish Hypocrisy 188 

Cowardly Mobocrats, Attacked By.. 228 

Decline of the Tribune 108 

Distressing Flood in Texas 333 

Davis, Elder Wm. T 357 

"Doing Good" 380 

Elders and Emigrants 92 

Enlightenment 372 

Editorial Thought 397, 405 

Evils of Idleness 389 

Fifty Years Ago 156 

Fruits of Righteousness 204 

Fight for the Good 317 

Faith 340 

Freedom and Education 373 



II 



INDEX TO VOLUME TWO OF THE SOUTHERN STAR. 



Tuges. 

Growth of Sunday School 20 

How Ministers Are Called 36 

Have Eyes But See Not 196 

Honorably Released 220 

"His Enemy Came and Sowed 

Tares" 260 

Honor the Pioneers 268 

"High Church" 333 

"It Is Written" 1<2 

Invincible Determination 300 

Is This Christianity? 308 

Immortality 348 

Jensen, N. L. S. C... 253 

Jacques, John, Demise of *£l 

Loyal to the Flag 180 

Learn Wisdom in Thy Youth 213 

"Love One Another" 412 

Modern Pharisees 36 

Missionary Labors 68 

Maycock, Geo. E 84 

Mormons and Mormonism 92 

Martyrdom vs. Suicide 132 

Make Others Happy 156 

Modern Methods 236 

Methodism in Salt Lake City 316 

New Books 420 

Oppressive and Unjust Treatment.. 292 

Oak Hill Branch 324 

Ownsby, Jonathan 3^ 

President Lorenzo Snow 236 

Persecuted Disciples 252 

President Lorenzo Snow Improving.,253 

Pioneer Day 284 

President B. Y. College 285 

Perilous Times • • • '292 

Richards, Franklin D., Death Of . . 20 

Right Will Yet Be Might 124 

Religious Services for Schools 180 

Religious Liberty 1?6 

Scared of the Light 12 

Scriptural Preaching 188 

Something for Nothing 276 

Some Men Are Not Men 284 

Stranger Than Fiction 300 

The Real Hero ^52 

Too Many Preachers 100 

The Attributes of God 116 

The Salary of the Pastor 116 

The Wolf Among Lambs 140 

The Corn or the Cob— Which? 140 

The Sabbath Day 148 

Three Score and Ten 156 

The Scofield Disaster 189 

The Elders Defended 221 

Then and Now 228 

The Birth of American Liberty 252 

The Prophet's Death 253 

Trials of Life 284 

The Spiritual Life 324 

Tempting the Lord 333 

Two Sides to the Matter 340 

To Whom It May Concern 364 

The Resurrection 388 

The Kingdom 396 

The Wheels of Time 413 

What Is Meant? 13 

What Is Their Motive? 52 

Which Were the More Corrupt?... 76 

Words of Condolence 188 

Will Float the Flag 212 

What Were His Resources? 220 

Without Money and Without Price..236 

Wealth 276 

What Is Heathenism? 292 

Who Would Receive Him? 308 

Williams, Elder Jos. A 324 

Whatever Is— Is Best 340 

Waiting, Watching, Working 420 

Zion Is Growing 164 

Edison's Religion 31 

Education and Morals 133 

Expedition to South America 176 

Elijah's Baptism 181 

End of the Wicked 407 

Fanaticism and Criminality 1 

Farewell Address to Parting Elders. . 45 

Franklin's Maxims 72, 192, 198 

Faith and Prayer to Accompany Fast- 
ing 159 

From Country to City 168 

Flowery Sermons 232 

Funeral of Miss Richardson 232 

Facts About China 291 

Forced to Leave a Christian Burg. . ..310 

Fair-Minded Report, A 317 

Found Wanting 320 

Frankland, J. D., Death of 338, 351 

For Good or Evil 371 



Pages. 
For the Religious .376 



Gospel Letter, A 127 

Gleanings — 

136, 146, 158, 163, 171, 178, 189, 214, 
224, 229, 238, 247, 254, 269, 
283, 286, 312, 319, 343, 344, 
352, 368, 371, 387, 392, 400, 
408, 410. 
Gift of Prophecy— Its Fulfillment. . .168 
Girl With a Face Like Her Mother's. .173 

God's Infinite Love 230 

God's Greatest Gift. .241, 253, 258, 266, 
274, 283, 290, 301, 306, 314. 

Girls Compared 242 

Gethsemane : 279 

General Lee's Punctuality 310 

History of the Southern States Mis- 
sion — 
1, 9, 17, 25. 33, 41, 53, 63, 65, 73, 86, 
89, l6l, 109, 116, 121, 129, 
138, 145, 153, 161, 169, 185, 
201, 213, 217, 225, 240, 248, 
249, 257, 272, 273, 286, 289, 
303, 305, 317, 327, 331, 343, 
347, 360, 367, 374, 381, 392, 
400, 402, 413, 422. 

Habit 10, 15 

History of the Tobacco Plant 35 

Heading Off Gossip 41 

How to Study Mormonism 43 

How One Folk Talked 101 

Happiness and Pleasure 159 

He Lives Long Who Lives Well 192 

How Toil Conquered Pride 247 

He Won the Case 250 

History Repeated 277 

Herald and Presbyter 388 

His Fire Was a Converter 354 

Honor God's Priesthood 407 

In the Mission 8 

It Is Forty-Six 80 

In Maiden Meditation 109 

Infant Baptism in Russia 184 

In Memory of the Soldier Dead 215 

Justice, Where Art Thou? 181 

Kindness of Two Great Men, The 119 

Keep Still 246 

King Humbert, Who Pardoned His 

Foes 328 

Lord's Supper, The 3 

Little Civilities 27 

Little Slips in English 36 

Lives of the Presidents and Apostles; 
With Cuts — 
President Joseph Smith, Jr. .48, 58, 61 

President Brigham Young 81 

President John Taylor 96 

President WUford Woodruff. .112, 122 

President Lorenzo Snow 193, 200 

President Geo. Q. Cannon 209, 216 

President Joseph F. Smith... 233, 239 

Apostle Orson Pratt 297 

Apostle David W. Patten 321 

President Heber C. Kimball 329 

President Geo. A. Smith 345 

Apostle Willard Richards 353 

Apostle Erastus Snow 361 

Apostle Parley P. Pratt 369 

Apostle Franklin D. Richards 377 

Apostle C. C. Rich*. 385 

♦Apostle Orson Hyde 393 

♦Apostle Ezra Taft Benson 401 

Apostle Brigham Young, Jr 409 

Apostle Francis M. Lyman 417 

Apostle John Henry Smith 421 

Leo Appoints His Successor 68 

Letters of Love 165 

Longevity in Mental Workers 179 

Language 218 

Largest American Flag 205 

Lund, Anthon H 288 

Letter of Condolence, A 338 

Letter From an Elder 374 

Mormon Roberts 5 

Mixed Marriages 45 



♦Without Cut 



Money for Foreign Missions 57 

Menace to Liberty 74 

"Mormons and Mormonism" 

94, 102, 110, 118 

Married 96 

Mormonism, All Embracing 122 

Miracles the Fruits of Evil as Well as 

Righteousness 155 

Men of Genius 168 

Mohammedans Looking for Christ's 

Coming 185 

More Honors for Utah 197 

Mr. Ellis' Reply 206 

Motion and Color 215 

Methodist Reforms 227 

Mormon Pluck 229 

Miss Knight at Home 247 

Morality and Religion 256 

Mormon Murdered in Cold Blood. . . .354 
Magnificent Revenge 403 

New Creed of Universalists 13 

New Philippines, The..... 147 

Not Ashamed of the Gospel 157 

Not Husbands Enough 262 

Nebuchadnezzar's Dream. .270, 279, 287 

New Books and Tracts 331 

Notification 424 



Original Manuscript 7 

Oub Conference Presidents; With 
Cuts — 

John Petersen 9 

Geo. E. Maycock 25 

Heber S. Olsen 33 

Sylvester Low 42 

John M. Haws 57 

David H. Elton 65, 419 

L. N. Terry 73 

J. N. Miller 121 

W. H. Boyle 137 

Geo. W. Skidmore 145 

W. W. MacKay 153 

G. M. Porter 161 

E. L. Pomeroy 169 

A. C. Strong 201 

Don C. Benson 225 

W. O. Phelps 249 

L. M. Nebeker 273 

Herbert Z. Lund 289 

J. G. Bolton 305 

C. R. Humpherys 365 

J. S. Worsley 379 

R. L. Houtz 381 

Geo. A. Adams 391 

John Reeve 397 

F. H. Critchfield 403 

John H. Bankhead 403 

Obsequies of President F. D. Richards. 37 

Order 166 

Oratory 171 

Obedience 182 

On the Balmy Peninsula 199 

Oldest Coin on Earth 199 

Observations in Utah • 231 

Oratorical Contest 245 

Obedience 251 

Poetry — 

The Thanksgiving Chorus 1 

She Rests in Sleep 3 

Solitude 7 

Impatience 17 

Battle Song 17 

The Christian's Prayer 20 

The Christian's Spirit 25 

The Better Time 27 

Humanity 33 

From the Heart 41 

My Heritage 42 

The Hero's Reward 57 

Resolve 65 

I Will Be Worthy of It 73 

The Fruits of Good and Evil 85 

Lines on the Second Coming of 

Christ 89 

A Fond Good-Bye 102 

Exhortation 112 

Her Hero 121 

Make Your Mark 129 

God's Love 133 

As I Am Dying 143 

Life's Voyage 145 

Knowledge and Wisdom 146 

The Pathway of Independence 153 

The Saint's Invocation 161 

Courage 168 

Error, Truth, Scripture 169 

Milestones to Success 177 



INDEX TO VOLUME TWO OF THE SOUTHERN STAR. 



Pages. 

Press On .185 

Missionary Hymn 201 

Truth Shall Triumph 217 

Sorrow's Lesson 221 

Hope, Faith, Love, Three Lessons.. 225 

How Does It Seem to You? 231 

The Missionary's Message 231 

Women and War 241 

Life 243 

The Crisis 249 

Truth 257 

Onward Ever 289 

Do What You Feel You Should... 302 

God's Choicest Gift 303 

Lines 305 

Dark Clouds 313 

Friendship, Love and Truth 313 

Brief Authority 327 

The Wish and the Effort 333 

Contentment 335 

Sand 337 

If We Only Knew 340 

To Mary 347 

To Make Men Free 363 

Some Verses ...366 

Non-Fit .372 

Whilst There's Life, There's Work 

To Do 376 

Easy to Criticise 380 

Easy Enough to be Pleasant 388 

Love's Song 391 

To Robert Paxton 392 

In Honor Bound 397 

Opoprtunity 397 

Life's Completeness 404 

The Beauties of Nature 410 

Fret Not Thyself 412 

Power of Example 23 

Present Crisis, The 21 23 

Parson's Definition of a Wife 53 

Polygamy and Unlawful Cohabitation. 64 

Pre-Existence 90 

Pathway to Perfection 129 

President Fairchild's Testimony 133 

Pure Religion 135 

Press Notes 136 

Protection Demanded 141 

Prophecy Fulfilled 142 

Proiane Swearing 144 

Power of Example 147 

Public Officers Not Friends to Mor- 
mons 152 

President Snow's Birthday 157 

Pathway of Life 163 

Progressive Age, A 167 

President Diaz Favorable 181 

Prayer for the Dead 191 

Prophecy That Failed 198 

Personality of God 199 

Popular Misquotations 267 

Promises That Sometimes Fail 278 

Parallel Events 310 

•Trove All Things" 315 

Parable of the Sower, The*. 331 



Pages. 
Paxton, Elder Robt. A., Death of.313, 328 

Quantity or Quality 221 

Releases and Appointments — 
8, 16, 24, 32, 40. 53, 64, 72, 85, 91, 104, 
112, 120, 126, 143, 152, 160, 
163, 168, 178, 191, 200, 208, 
215, 224, 231, 240, 248, 264, 
268, 280, 283, 291, 302, 312, 
320, 328, 332, 343, 349, 367, 
374, 383, 408. 

Remarkable Drinks 23 

Reasonable Supposition 41 

Rabbi Weiss on Mormonism 67 

Ring Pharaoh Gave Joseph 133 

Richest Church in the World 135 

Resigned About His Sheep 138 

Relationship of the Body and the Spir- 
it of Man 202 

Read and Ponder 208 

Rigdon, John W., In Salt Lake 213 

Reminiscences 256 

Ruskin's First Lesson 315 

Rich Without Money 355 

Religion 390 

Road to Success, The 403 

Rules for the Sunday School 415 

Small Praise 23 

Some Awful Deaths 27 

Signs Following Believers 29 

Search the Scriptures 103 

Spiritual Fear, A 123 

Science a Growing Inheritance 155 

Southern States Mission 173 

Sowing Seeds 203 

Services at the Salt Lake Tabernacle..219 

Summer Excursion 22S 

Smoking Glass 247 

Something About Prophets 261 

Spurgeon's Parable 264 

Secret Societies 280 

Sensible Advice 319 

Strange Reptiles 336 

Sears. Elder John S 337 

She Deserved Them 338 

Sowing and Reaping 339 

Southern Boxers 375 

Silent Prayer 375 

Success 395 

Saints of the Sunny South 414 

The Benedict 6 

Tantalizing Talmage 29 

To Extirpate the Elders 34 

The Brougher Episode 69, 77, 86 

True Wife, A 93 

True Education 127 

Thy Will Be Done 166 

Testimony, A 172 

Too Much Intellect 175 



races. 

Thirteen Months in a Year .182 

Times Had Changed 182 

"Th* TudiTroent of God" 183 

T i;r,.i> 186 

True Independence* 192 

Table Etiquette . 199 

The Three and Four Plan 214 

The Cynic 216 

The Morning 218 

The Elders Defended 221 

Thanks God for His Cigar 223 

Thomas B. Reed On Life 226 

The Problem Solved 239 

The Origin mid Destiny of Woman. .246 

The Influence of a Mother 248 

"The Very Place*' 265 

The Mormon God 293 

The Great Army of Silver Greys 303 

The Love of Excellence 309 

Tlie Lord Will Protect His Servants..333 

Testimony of Joseph Smith, A 368 

Tho Mission of Christ 386 

Tho Narrow Way 398 

The Eternal Remedies 400 

The Mysterious . . . 405 

The Blessings of God 411 

Unbelief — Miracles 6 

Unbelief iu the Promises of the Lord.,174 

Utah Wins 212 

Unit**! t Sates Census Estimate 242 

Unveiling of Pioneer Monument 285 

Utah Boys at West Point 294 

Vain Seeking, A 2 

Very Sharp , 41 

Women of Calvary ♦ 80 

Willing Servant, A 139 

What a Drudge Became 165 

What Shall the Harvest Be? 175 

Without Excuse 179 

Words of Wisdom . . , 179 

"AAV II Take the Ancients by the 

Hand" 183 

Wisdom 197, 203 

J} hy Americans Win 200 

Whims of Noted Authors 214 

What God Requires 243 

Why Is It? 250 

What Has Become of Hell? 262 

Why So Manv Fail 269 

When Shall These 'filings Be? 275 

Without Shuffling or Evasion 323 

Woodruff Monument Dedicated 407 

Word of Wisdom, The 411 

°Ye Shall Knmv Them by Their 

Fruits'" 160 

Youth Homage to the Aged 259 

"Ye Shall Know the Truth" 408 




■BUT THOUGH WE' OB AN ANGlL FROM fiEAV£N,PR£AOl ANY 
PTMEB GOSPEL UNTO YOU TttAN THAT WHICH WE 

HAVE P REACHED UMTQ YQU.lfcT HIM BE ACCURSED' ^V*^^ 

mtJuk ~™ — == 




Vol. 2. 



Chattanooga, Test*., Saturday, December 2, 1899. 



No. 1. 



THE THANKSGIVING CHORUS. 



By Clara B rough ton Conant. 

A chorus of praise from a nation! 

Could our Father but hear It today— 
Xo heart that refused its oblation, 

Too ungrateful to sing or to pray! 
Like a wind that sweeps over the ocean, 

While the sunlight Is smiling above, 
Would be the grand pulse of emotion 

Uniting all souls in his love! 

Oh, think how his mercies are thronging 

Around us and crowning our days; 
Cold hearts that can cherish no longing 

To join in the service of praise! 
My country! Think how he watched o'er us 

When many predicted our fall. 
And Join every voice In the chorus 

That ascends to the Father of all! 

* 

Dear souls, we have watched for the morn- 
ing. 

In the mission that blossomed so fair. 
Who feared lest that beautiful dawning 

Should be veiled In the mists of despair: 
Who with faith and love's sweet self-denial 

Soon found that the Helper was near; 
Praise him, we are safe through the trial, 

And unite for another brave year! 

Oh. enter his courts with thanksgiving, 

An eager and jubilant throng; 
Would all were athlrst for the living 

Of the life that itself Is a song! 
Athlrst for the heavenly fountains. 

Flowing bright In Emmanuel's ways; 
Then from seashore and valley and moun- 
tains 

Would rise the glad chorus of praise. 



History of the Southern States Mission. 

(Continued from page 401.) 
The year 1893 came with chilly blasts 
and weeping heavens. The adversary was 
very alert and caused the brethren much 
trouble. Mobs were organized and the 
cloven foot was very much in evidence. 
South Carolina was much disturbed over 
the actions of a Mr. Gore, an apostate, 
who emigrated to Utah in 1892 and soon 
returned dissatisfied. 

Jan. 22 Elders Dorrity and Patrick 
were holding a meeting at Pineway. S. 
C. Gore, with 100 followers, was in at- 
tendance, and after Brother Dorrity had 
concluded his remarks he was approached 
by Gore, who called him an untruthful 
person and accused him of not being hon- 
est. Elder Dorrity, with much complais- 
ance, told Mr. Gore that it was unwise 
to talk as he was, and that such words 
seldom came from the lips of gentlemen. 



Mr. Gore's father then struck Elder Dor- 
rity with his fist, but did not injure 
him. Friends intervened and prevented 
any further trouble. 

Pike county produces the usual mob. 
who sent a bundle of hickory switches 
to Elders May and Haycock. The people 
also held a pyblic meeting denouncing 
the "Mormons." 

In Orangeburg, S. C, some mobbers 
lived. Elders W. H. Allen and J. T. 
Tanner went into the town to preach. A 
house was promised to them, but was 
finally refused at the needed time. They 
went about distributing tracts and had 
nearly finished their task when a mob as- 
sailed them, casting stones and pieces of 
ice at them. Further than a broken hat 
no damage was done. 

Elder J. W. Sykes was traveling alone. 
He went to the small railroad town of 
White Plains, where he held a meeting. 
A large crowd turned out to meet him and 
paid devoted attention to him. At the 
close of the meeting he had an experience 
that many of us pass through — no one to 
invite us home. 

Waiting until the crowd had dispersed, 
he went in search of entertainment. He 
had proceeded but a short distance when 
he was accosted by a young man riding 
a horse, who inquired Brother Sykes* 
business. Learning his trouble, he kindly 
offered to take him home. The invitation 
was graciously accepted. They went 
down the road a short distance, when the 
young man. pointing to a house, said: 
"You go up to the house and I'll be 
up directlv, when I put my horse up." 
Brother Sykes went to the house and 
learned that a family of negroes lived 
there. Seeing the cruel joke, he returned 
to the road. Continuing down the road, 
he soon met two other men. who also in- 
quired Elder Sykes' business. When in- 
formed, they offered their hospitality to 
him, which he eagerlv accepted. The 
trio started through the woods, suppos- 
edly going to the homes of these two men. 
After walking some distance in th** woods 
they feigned to be lost and asked Brother 
Sykes to pray. He then began to per- 
ceive their motives and refused, saying 
he thought he would return to the road. 
Suiting the word to the action, he turned 
and was about to he seized, when he com- 
menced running. Being fleet he soon ran 
away from his captors, when they began 
shouting at him, and also shooting at 



him. Other men then appeared upon the 
scene, but he outran them all and made 
his way back to the church, where he 
remained all night. 

The Elders in the Middle Tennessee 
Conference were having splendid suc- 
cess. They were traveling in the dis- 
tricts where President Woodruff had 
traveled before the war. 

During the six months ending Feb. 28 
the Elders had performed 124 baptisms, 
blessed sixty-three children, disfellow- 
shipped seven and located a number of 
Saints who had been lost track of. 

(To be continued.) 



FANATICISM AND CRIMINALITY. 



American Journal of Sociology. 

The result of an analysis of a series 
of legal actions involving persecution of 
crime supposedly committed under the 
spell of fanatical religious beliefs serve 
to illustrate this point. Thus the Con- 
vulsionists, a sect existing in. Paris about 
1700, were wont to crucify members of 
their order, in emulation of the crucifixion 
of Jesus, in the belief that the souls of the 
surviving members would be saved by the 
sacrifice of their fellows. In 1817 the 
"Paeschelians," an Austrian sect, mur- 
dered a man, his wife and their daughter, 
under the delusion that the trio, who 
refused to go with the fanatics, were 
possessed of the devil. On the following 
day they crucified one of their own num- 
ber, a girl of 18 years, who had suffered 
herself for the death, in imitation of the 
death of Jesus, in order to save the souls 
of her fellow-believers. In 1823 the lead- 
er of the Pietistic circle in Switzerland, 
after having dispatched her sister, who 
gave her life as a means of saving the 
souls of her relatives, was crucified by 
her followers at her own command, in 
order that she might die, rise again after 
three days, and restore to life the sister 
whom she had slain. In 1865 two moth- 
ers, adherents of the "Holy Men," slew 
their sick children, believing them to be 
victims of demoniacal possession. In 
1875 a Hungarian miller, belonging to 
the "Nazarenes," killed his son as an 
offering for his own sins, after the fash- 



-L 



THE SOUTHERN STAB. 



iou of Abraham. In 1870, in Irkutsch, 
Russia, ope of the "Schismatics" con- 
vinced himself by prayer and tasting and 
much Scripture reading that to save hjs 
soul he, mrat , be crucified. Accordingly 
he attempted self -crucifixion, and succeed- 
ed so far as the circumstances of the case 
would permit. In 1830, in the govern- 
ment of. Perm, Russia, a peasant killed 
his child as an offering for sin, and buried 
the body in an ant hill. Likewise, in 
the government of Vladimir, another peas- 
ant killed both his children in due Abra- 
ham form, and while the babies bled under 
the father's knife, the devout mother cele- 
brated the service by reading aloud select- 
ed portions of the twenty-second chapter 
of Genesis. In 1854, in the government 
of Tamboff, Russia, a peasant, convinced 
that to sate his soul a man must have 
a sin to repent of, killed a neighbor with 
an axe in order to satisfy this highly im- 
perative condition. 

It is part of the creed of the "Wander- 
ers," a Russian sect, that Antichrist rules 
in high places there and that, accordingly, 
good men must have naught to do with 
governmental affairs of any sort. In con- 
formity with this belief, a man murdered, 
in various ingenious ways, twenty-five 
men, women and children, including his 
own wife and babies, in order to free 
them from the danger of losing their souls 
by suffering the contaminating contact of 
the government census taker. This oc- 
curred in 1897. The "Deniers," another 
quite interesting Russian sect, believe that 
evil taints all earthly good, and that the 
only escape is death. In 1865 sixty of 
these men, strong in the faith, after hav- 
ing murdered their wives and children, 
permitted themselves to be put to death, 
one by one, by their leader. The "Scourg- 
ers," who also form a widespread and in- 
fluential sect in Russia, in obedience to 
the behests of their "saviors," are in the 
habit of indulging in human sacrifices, 
cannibalistic feasts, erotic dances, and 
other lewd procedures, as an extremely ef- 
ficacious method of keeping the hand of 
evil from off their immortal souls. So 
the "Muckers," of Koenigsberg and the 
celebrants of the black mass in Paris 
afford further examples of the use of a 
ritual of erotism, coupled with a prac- 
tice of the most abandoned and obscene 
behavior, to promote the eternal welfare 
of the soul." 

With such evidence as this, how can 
i>eople say, who profess to know Jesus 
Christ, that the satisfaction manifested 
by the conscience is a sure guide, and if 
a "good conscience," or contentment of 
mind is enjoyed by professors of religion 
rhev will be saved, regardless of their be- 
lief? Can anvone deny that the people 
aforementioned were not sincere and had 
a satisfied conscience to bear th*>m out in 
their dreadful religious rites?— Ed. 

The Worst Ever. 

Bursting Bill— Is he lazvV Why. hon- 
estlv. if dat feller wuz *oin' ter commit 
murder, he'd do it in New York state, 
so's he could sit down when he died. — 
Kansas City Independent. 

He Served His Time. 

Louisville Po*t. 

Kind Old Lady— Poor man ! Yon look 
as if you had seen better days. 

Mr. Willie Deadtired — I have, madam. 
Once I dwelt in granite halls. 

Kind Old Lady— And why the loss of 
such a home? 

Mr. Willie Deadtired— My term ex- 
pired. 

One who has a mind to think will soon 
have a thinking mind. 



A Clergyman on the "Mormons." 

According to the Hartford, t^onn., Post 
of Monday, Oct. 9, Rev. Joseph Waite de- 
livered .a discourse at Unity Churcli on 
the previous Sunday, on his observations 
among the •'Mormons." The paper gives 
this summary of his remarks : 

."Mr. Waite admitted that he entered 
the state of Utah with a prejudice against 
the Mormon sect. But the highly culti- 
vated and irrigated fields, the broad streets 
and avenues and magnificent buildings 
which burst into view as the train rolled 
into Salt Lake City after a tedious ride 
across the arid plains, dissipated the idea 
that a people who are looked upon "as 
poly gam ists must of necessity live in a 
squalid condition. But the thrifty con- 
dition of their homes and places of busi- 
ness was 'an eye opener' and prompted 
investigation in every direction, and the 
statistics of the Mormon settlement as 
compiled by the federal authorities, they 
being non-Mormon ists, were searched for 
information as to their social relations 
and public conduct. It was learned that 
in the jails and reformatories the percent- 
age or Mormons imprisoned was so small 
that they may be said to be a non-criminal 
people. 

"There has been year after year when 
there was not a representative of the 
sect imprisond in the jail of Salt Lake 
City. Of the thirty-five gambling houses 
of the city not a person connected with 
them was a Mormon. Of the houses of ill 
fame of the city not a Mormon woman 
was an inmate. There are no drunkards 
or illegitimate children among them. A 
further study of their history and cus- 
toms showed that the Book of the Mor- 
mons on which their religious and social 
customs are founded never did nor does 
it now, advocate polygamy. * * * but 
the men who have taken a plurality of 
wives, who have borne them children, de- 
clare that they will never abandon those 
women and their offspring. 

"Mr. Waite said that the Mormon. 
Church was growing at a rate that out- 
strips any other sect in the country, but 
polygamy is not encouraged. The Mor- 
mons have suffered much in the way of 
persecution at the hands of non-Mormons, 
but like the Jews of old, when driven 
from their possessions they began the 
struggle for a living in a new country and 
have always succeeded, and their growth 
and prosperity at present indicate that 
their many virtues appeal to many pure- 
minded people who adopt their creed." 
The Post adds : 

"The lecture abounded with facts and 
figures relating to those people, which 
were a revelation to the hearers, and 
they left the church with a different opin^ 
ion of the 'Mormons' than when they en- 
tered it. It is hoped the lecture will be 
repeated." 

It is so unusual to hear anything favor- 
able of the Latter Day Saints from reli- 
gious teachers, that the foregoing is quite 
refreshing. In the main it is correct. J>ut 
still there are some inaccuracies as may 
be expected from one not perfectly fa- 
miliar with the doctrines and claims of 
our people. 



A Vain Seeking. 



Scrlbner's Magazine. 

The recent announcements by several 
men of science that they believe that they 
have sure proofs of the immortality of the 
soul may not be so important as they 
seem to the gentlemen who make them, 
but at least they are interesting. The 
proofs that are relied upon are chiefly 



communications received through medi- 
ums, which are said to be so remarkable 
in the knowledge which they imply, that 
those who receive them are driven to con- 
clude that they come from the spirits of 
persons who lately lived on earth. To 
the average observer spiritualism seems 
a labyrinth of frauds and mysteries, some 
deep, some shallow, wherein those who 
wander grope from delusion to delusion, 
and arrive nowhere. The cry is not so 
much that all spiritualism is false, as 
that whether* false or not, it is all unprofit- 
able. Tnat f is the usual attitude the in- 
telligent public has toward it, and it is 
based on observation which is wide if not 
profound, tor though we hear of rep- 
utations damaged and lives apparently 
misdirected as a result of spiritualistic 
experiments, we rarely hear of persons 
whom spiritualism has helped. The quest 
seems trivial and disconcerting; not use- 
ful. 

Few of us think that spiritualism will 
ever prove the immortality of the soul 
to the satisfaction of the scientific mind. 
Still, when Prof. Hyslop, of Columbia 
University, declares that that very thing 
is about to be done, we are quite ready 
to give him our attention. We have 
heard before of Mrs. Piper, the Cambridge 
medium, who has been for ten or twelve 
years in the charge of the Psychical Re- 
search Society. We know that nhe in 
looked upon as a remarkable medium, and 
that the closest watching for years paat 
has failed to detect her in deceit. It is 
through her Prof. Hyslop says that the 
proofs which he finds satisfactory have 
come. They have come, then, by a no- 
table and reputable route, and they are 
endorsed by an observer whose endorse- 
ment is probably as good as can be given, 
for Prof. Hyslop is not only a man of 
high character but of a ripe experience in 
matters of this sort. Psychology is his 
specialty. He knows the tricks of com- 
mercial spiritualism, and has often detect- 
ed and exposed them. It is human to 
err, and it is entirely possible that his cer- 
tainties may turn vague on exposure, and 
that his conclusions will not stand; but 
certainly his proofs deserve and will re- 
ceive respectful inspection. 

But, of course, the question is not 
whether or not we are going to believe 
the soul immortal, but merely whether 
we shall consider these newly advertised 
proofs of it are worth anything. Most 
of us instinctively believe in a future life 
it is, and will go on believing in it how- 
ever new proofs may triumph or fail. 
We think there must be a future life. It 
is not improbable. What is grossly im- 
probable is that there is none. The won- 
der is not that there should seem to be 
feeble glimmerings of intercourse between 
us who are still here and those who have 
gone before. The wonder is that it has 
proved to be so extraordinarily difficult 
to' speak across a grave. Prof. Hyslop 
has probability overwhelmingly with him 
in his general contention. If we are not 
agitated by his promises and impatient to 
read his disclosures, it is because proofs 
of the sort he deals with have heretofore 
been inconclusive and disappointing. For 
some reason the life of earth seems to 
have been isolated. We scarcely even 
dream of what life may have preceded it, 
and though we do dream much about the 
life that is to follow, we gather surpris- 
ingly little information about it. 



Coffee has its name from Caffa, the 
Arabian port whence it was first brought 
to Europe. 

Beauty in a woman is like the flowers 
in spring; out virtue is like the stars of 
heaven. 



THE SOUTHERN STAB. 



THE LORD'S SUPPER. 

Editorial Thoughts, Juvenile Instructor. 

The question has been asked, "What 
shall be done with the broken bread that 
remains untouched after the sacrament 
of the Lord's supper has been adminis- 
tered V 

We reply, in the first place, the officiat- 
ing Elders or Priests should endeavor not 
to break much more bread than is need- 
ed; in other words, they should adapt the 
amount broken to the number present to 
whom it is to be administered. If any 
remains over it should be returned to the 
care of the brother who provides the 
bread for the ordinance, and he should be 
admonished to see that it is not used for 
improper purposes; for instance, we do 
not think it should be fed to the fowl or 
swine, or carelessly thrown away in the 
street, or back yard, or elsewhere. 

We learn from the writings of the early 
Christian fathers that it was the custom 
in the ancient Church in the days of the 
Apostles and their immediate successors, 
for the Deacons, after the sacrament 
meeting was closed, to carry the bread to 
the homes of those Saints who from sick- 
ness or other justifiable causes were pre-' 
vented from being present at the assem- 
bly of the Saints. Those thus kindly re- 
membered partook of the bread with 
gladness. We have known this to bo 
done in these days, and believe such ac- 
tion, whether by the Deacons or others, 
to be justifiable and praiseworthy, but 
in the organized wards of the Church, it 
should be done with the knowledge and 
consent of the Bishop. The Lord has 
not commanded that the emblems of His 
infinite sacrifice should only be partaken 
of at a public meeting or on a certain 
day. We make this observation as we 
have heard of brethren claiming that the 
sacrament could only be properly admin- 
istered on the Sabbath. Neither the rev- 
elations of the Lord nor the practice of 
the Saints justifies such a conclusion. We 
have had the pleasure of partaking of 
this ordinance in the house of the Lord 
on other days than Sunday when the pro- 
ceeding was sanctioned by the presence 
and participation of all the general au- 
thorities of the Church, and was under 
the immediate direction of our Prophet, 
seer and revelator, God's earthly mouth- 
piece, both him who now lives and those 
who have gone before. 

It has also been asked, "Is it right and 
proper to use at the ward sacrament 
meeting in the afternoon or evening the 
bread that remains over from the admin- 
istration of the ordinance in the morning 
at the Sunday School?" No, we consider 
such an act improper. The breaking of 
the bread is a part of the ordinance 
which should always be performed in the 
meeting, and at the time that it is par- 
taken of. To. do this at any other time 
lessens the solemnity of the rite and robs 
it of much of its symbolism. 

We partake of the sacrament, for one 
mont important reason, that we may al- 
ways remember that sacred body, that 
was offered up for our salvation, by 
which the ransom was paid and we were 
brought into communion with the Father, 
and made heirs of salvation and joint 
heirs with Him who made the sacrifice. 
To rob the ordinance of any of its signifi- 
cance by omitting any of its parts is not 
pleasing to the Lord, for to do so obvi- 
ously weakens the intent for which it 
was established as an ordinance of the 
everlasting Gospel. So effectually and 
permanently does the Lord wish to im- 
press the remembrance of that great sac- 



rifice at Calvary on our memories that 
He permits us all to partake of the em- 
blems — the bread and wine. As an ob- 
ject lesson it would not be as effective 
if the President of the meeting alone par- 
took, or, indeed, if it were extended to 
the Priesthood only. But so that we may 
all remember Him, all who are members 
of the Church are permitted to partake, 
as are also the unbaptteed children who 
have not reached the years of full ac- 
countability. 

We remember once visiting a branch in 
England where the strange practice pre- 
vailed of breaking the bread some time 
before the meeting opened. After being 
broken it was put away on plates in the 
desk on the top of which it was after- 
wards blessed. This custom affected us 
quite painfully, as we felt "that it was an 
unwarranted departure from the custom 
of the Savior and the prevailing practice 
of the Church, a departure from which 
no advantage could in any way be gained. 
It was. on the other hand, not only un- 
desirable in Itself, but was a dangerous 
example which might lead to other unau- 
thorized changes in other ordinances; for 
we realized that by practices such as this 
the ancient Church gradually departed 
from the true order of God, and estab- 
lished the errors and mummeries that 
destroy the efficacy In modern Christian 
sectaries not only of the sacrament, but 
of other ordinances of vital importance 
to all who are seeking salvation. Where 
the Lord has condescended to give us a 
form of words or a manner of procedure 
in the performance of any ordinance in 
His Church, we should esteem it a pleas- 
ure and a duty to observe strictly what 
the Lord has revealed and neither add 
to nor diminish from. His expressed 
wishes and commands. Where no exact 
formula is given of Him we are safest 
in following the usual practice of the 
Saints, sanctioned by the presence or 
teachings of "those who hold the keys." 
Then for the rest, let the Holy Spirit 
guide us as to the details and the exact 
language to be used. If we are living 
our religion as faithfully as we should be, 
there is little fear of our going far astray 
while we thus officiate as His servants. 



SHE RESTS IN SLEEP. 

\ Lines on the death of Sister Ethel Lowry 
Reld, by Sister Rhoda Watson Smith, 
Mantl, Utah.) 

Dear Father, Mother, do not weep, 

Tho' your dear child was from you torn, 
And In the silent grave will sleep 
. Until the Resurrection morn. 

God lent to you that gentle flower, 
That for a time so fair did bloom, 

But In an unexpected hour 
You had to bear her to the tomb. 

'Twas but the clay you carried there, 
Dear Ethel you again will meet. 

Me thinks I see her form so fair 
Waiting her loved ones all to greet. 

To that bright world, where pain and care, 
Parting and sorrow will be o'er. 

They'll gladly bid you welcome there. 
She, and her brother, gone before. 

Ah! ves, and here's her baby, too, 
Think you he's left without her care? 

No! No! She'll ever watchful be 
That he with you might join her there. 

So Brother, Sister, cease to grieve. 
It pained you with your child to part, 

Our Father will that pain relieve; 
And He will help you bear the smart. 

Oh! but a tear brings such relief 
When hearts are filled to overflow, 

It will assuage the keenest grief 
When to His will we're called to bow. • 

Then drop a tear, and gently weep 
For that Ipv'd form that's ^neath the sod, 

She is not aead. she rests In sleep, 
Her spirit hath return'd to God. 



A LITERARY CURIOSITY. 



(Each line of the following poem, as it 
appeared in the St. Louis Republic, is said 
to be a quotation from some one of the 
standard authors of England and America, 
and is the result of laborious search among 
the voluminous writings of thirty-eight lead- 
ing poets of the past and present. The num- 
ber of each line refers to its author below): 

lFfe. w 

1— Why all this toll for triumphs of an 

hour? 
2— Life's a short summer, a man, a flower; 

3— By turns we catch the vital breath and 

die— 
4— The cradle and the* tomb, alas, so nigh. 

6— To be is better far than not to be, 
6— Though all man's life may seem a trag- 
edy; 

7 -But light cares speak when mighty griefs 

are dumb, 
8— The bottom is but shallow whence they 

come. 

9— Your fate is but the common fate of all; 
10— Umnlngled joys, here, to no man befall. 

11— Nature to each allots his proper sphere, 
12— Fortune makes folly her peculiar care; 

13— Custom does not often reason overrule, 
14— And throw a cruel sunshine On a fool; 

15— Live well, how long or short permit, to 
heaven, ' r 

16— They who forgive most shall be most for- 
given. 

17— Sin may be clasped so close we cannot 

see Its face— 
18— Vile intercourse where virtue has not 

place. 

39— Then keep each passion down, however 

dear, 
20— Thou Pendulum betwixt a smile and 

tear; 

21— Her sensual sneers, let faithless pleasure 
lay, 

22— With craft and skill to ruin and betray; 

23— Soar not too high to fall, but stoop to 

rise, 
24— We masters grow of all we must despise. 

26— Oh, then, renounce that impious self- 
esteem; 
26— Riches have wings and grandeur is a ' 
dream. 

27— Think not ambition wise because 'tis 

brave, 
28— The paths of glory lead but to the grave. 

29— What is ambition!— 'tis a glorious cheat, 
3G— Only destructive to the brave and great. 

31— What's all the gaudy glitters of a crown? 
32— The way of bliss lies not on beds of. 
down. 

33— How long we live not years, but actions 

tell; 
S4— That men live twice who live the first 

life well. 

36— Make, then, while yet ye may, your God 
ycur friend, 

36— Whom Christians worship, yet not com- 
prehend. 

i 

37— The trust that's given guard; and to 



yourself be just; 
38— For liye we how we can, yet die we 
must. 

1, Young; 2, Dr. Johnson; 3, Pope; 4, 
Prior; 6, Sewell; 6, Spencer; 7, Daniel; 8, 
Sir Walter Raleigh; 9. Longfellow; 19, "South- 
well; 11, Congrove: 12. Churchill; 13. Roch- 
ester; 14, Armstrong; 16, Milton; 16, Bailey; 
17, Trench; 18, Somerville; 19, Thompson; 20, 
Bryant; 21, Smolllet; 22, Crabbe; 23, Mas- 
singer; 24. Cowley; 26, Beattie: 26, Cowper: 
27, Sir Walter Davenport; 28, Gray; 29, Wil- 
lis; 30, Addison; 31, Dry den; 32, Francis 
Quarles; 33. Watklns; 34, Herrick; 36, Ma- 
son; 36, Hill; 37, Dana; 38, Shakesp eare. 

Once I was pure as the snow, but I fell— 
Fell like a snowflake, from heaven to hell- 
Fell, to be trampled as filth In the street- 
Fell, to be scoffed at, spit on, and beat; 
Praying, cursing, wishing to die, 
Selling my soul to whoever would buy, 
Dealing in shame for a morsel of bread. 
Hating the living, and fearing the dead. 

—Selected. 



ttflto SOtJtfHBttK B1AU. 




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of JttM Cbrlat tf Utter Day talite, 

C.ittaaaef-. Ton. 



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Saturday, Lecembeb 2, 1899. 



ARTICLES OF FAITH 

OP THB CHURCH OP JESUS CHRIST OP 
LATTER-DAY SAINTS. 

I. Wi Uli«T» Id Uod It* Eternal Father, and in Eii 3a* 
Jwm tfriit, *od io the Holjr QhoiL 

1, We b*N**« that mto wiJl be pamahc-d Tar their aw* 
■Ih, end nol for A dim 1 * lraoigr«nLnir> 

J Wa b*]i*T« tint, thr^vch lb* itorwniM.1 ar Or rut, all 
mabktad «iy It uiii tj obedience 1* the Tiwa ihd ordi. 
tucri cf Us* Goipel 

4. Wt belief* I tat (h* flru principle* atid ardlMncn of 
|k« (tap*) *r»: TfnL, faith fa til* Lord Jatug^hriiL; wcaod. 
Repentance; third, BcpUtlP bf immerilan ff>r the nmiMioa 
«f flat ; (on rib, U/lof «o of Hmda for the Gift of lb* Holy 



W* 1*11*** that * Wan rna»t U catlad of 0bd t hf 

, jAeayanil " 

Id aiiUnmty. lo [ 



" propbocT, and hj the tijfiti( 00 of benda,™ he tfca** i|i4itt 
~ ' 3 pr#*<& lb* gMp«] and idminuter in tilt &rd(. 



a*ao** thereof. 

4. w* b*H*n it tatume orca dilation that eaialed U 
lb* primiiW* ehnreh— oamelr. ApotUet, Prophet*. Ptaiort, 
Teacher*, Ee*nt*li*ls, ate, 

.f, W* b*]i«r* Id. theflft of fonpiei, prophecy t r*T*J*boB, 
tliloci, hoiHnf, FateryretaUoa, of toafuaa, etc. 

5. Vp'* brtlipjf * lb* Blhla h> be [he word of God 4 at fir u It 
l< translated correctly ; »* etw b*UeT* til* Book of Marnwa 
to b* tbf varti of CiwL 

t. W* b*IJer B all tbil Ood fate »THl«d, ell that H» Jo** 
now NT**L,*od *■ b*Ute* that hi* will jot NMi ntBDjr gr**i 
and Important rbiop fieri lining to Ehe Kiofdoni of Gvi, 

10* W* e*li*T* IB the litattl gathering of linaJ cod In the 
r*«li>riUoi3 of the Tea Tribe*: that Zian will h* l)0J]t dpoa 
toll f tb* Am*rWnj eontioent ; tint Cbrfu *il| r*if n p«rBoa- 
■ tSy apon the earth, ind that the earth, will be renewed audi 

Jen of worth 3 pi n( Almlfh[y Ood 
Off o* r cooecletic^^ arid! allow aj] 



recti f* iu paridliLical (lory, 
U, We claim the prjvlle. 



rabip hnw, where,, or whel 



*c?or4Iaf to ih* dktatee 

toeb the fame pr(Tj)tfe, l*t tb*03 wo 

U. We belWve le bdBf •ebj*ei to kloat, prw*ld**t*. reltrt, 
sad eMdttratte ; la ebtyfag, hoeoring ud tettaiDieg the law. 

Iff. •We kelleve la beta hoo**t, tree, caette, b e e eeelte t , 
tirteoet. ead ia delag foedio all ate; iodetd, wt atty **y 
tikat welollev tke adaoalttoa of Paul, -W* baUete all talaaa, 
tve kept all tkiaaa, 1 * we bate tadorod away tklap, aad keie 
tobeableteeaeeraallthiaffa. UtbaniaaBjrtalagTirtaeaa, 
gt*>r/ t etofjpa4iejaoftor praitewettitj, we teak after tfaate 



And he gave some, Apostles; and some, 
Prophets; and some, evangelists; and 
some, pastors and teachers; for the per- 
fecting of the Saints, for the work of 
the ministry, for the edifying of the body 
Christ; till we all come in the unity of 
the faith and the knowledge of the Son of 
God, unto a perfect man, unto the meas- 
ure of the stature of the fulness of 
Christ; that we henceforth be no more 
children, tossed to and fro, and carried 
about with every wind of doctrine, by 
the sleight of men, and cunning crafti- 
ness, whereby they lie in wait to de- 
ceive. (Eph. 4.) 

There is no place in the Bible where 
it says these important officers were to 
be done away — they were to remain in 
the Church until we all come in the 
unity of the faith. Are we all in the 
unity of the faith? Are they in the 
Church? 



OUR 9BCOND VOLUME. 



In our second volume it will be our 
most earnest endeavor to fulfill the heart- 
felt wishes of all and supply some food 
for reflection that will be for the future 
good of our readers. Our acquaintance 
through the Star has been pleasant; if 
we have your confidence and friendship 
it wiil be our pleasure to retain them, 
and do such things as will strengthen 
those ties. When we were J'oung we re- 
ceived many impressions, good and evil, 
many of which were learned through 
things we read. We have possibly read 
of the bold highwayman, the bloodthirsty 
Indian, or perchance the noble patriot, 
the hero and other worthies. AH such 
created impressions, either good or evil. 
Our intention is to produce only those 
articles that will impress readers to be 
good, virtuous, honest and holy, to strike 
out for whatever is right and manly; to 
make principle and not popularity, one 
milestone in your career, in short, to do 
good. To make it available we have 
placed the subscription price at $1 for 
this volume. 



BY QRACE ARE YE SAVED. 

Modern Christianity has been for ages 
relying upon the grace of God for salva- 
tion, and have entirely neglected the 
weightier matters, thinking that by a 
simple belief in the Nazarine Jesus, who 
dwelt in Judea 1900 years ago, their sal- 
vation is secured. In consequence of this, 
many Priests waft into the arms of 
Jesus, men accused and guilty of the 
most wicked crimes. Murderers from 
the scaffold are swung by the neck into 
the arms of Abraham — saved in the King- 
dom of God (?). Criminals of all de- 
scriptions are made secure by acknowl- 
edging a simple belief in Jesus, and by 
mourning at a penitent form, and exhib- 
iting a worldly sorrow. 

Such preposterous innovations coming 
from the «lark age, are from beneath, not 
from God. Of course the devil can quote 
Scripture, as we find by reading the 
temptations of Christ. The servants of 
the devil can also place a wrong construc- 
tion on the word of God, as they do in 
these latter days, and you often hear 
great sermons preached from the follow- 
ing text: "By grace are ye saved through 
faith; and that not of yourselves; it is a 
gift of God." (Eph. 2-8.) Also, "God so 
loved the world that He gave His only 
begotten Son, that whosoever believeth 
in Him should not perish, but have ever- 
lasting life." (John 3-16.) 

The above, of course, deals directly on 
the grace of God, who is indeed gracious 
to His children, in Sending His Son, as 
that is really the foundation of the 
Christian religion. Therefore, God's 
grace and charity are at the foundation 
of our faith. We cannot be saved with- 
out grace, we cannot be saved without 
faith, and we cannot be saved without 
works. 

To illustrate, if a farmer owned 100 
acres of good land, which God had 
blessed with His sun, and with His rain, 
in fact, He might be very gracious to that 
land: as to its environments, it might be 
capable of producing abundantly. But 
if the farmer is devoid of* faith, and 
works, he will never expect anything but 
a harvest of thorns, briars, and noxious 



weeds. "If he sows the wind he reaps 
the whirlwind," and therefore the intelli- 
gent farmer will apply God's gracious 
sun and rain to the best advantage; hav- 
ing a belief and faith, which is a per- 
fect assurance that what he sows he will 
reap, and he applies this faith by planting 
corn, and tilling it, and otherwise work- 
ing it> until it matures and is ready for 
the harvest. Thus we see grace, faith, 
and works and a grand result. 

Any one of these gifts would be an en- 
tire failure without the other, and the 
belief in the Lord Jesus Christ alone is 
not adequate to salvation. James says, 
in his second chapter, that "faith without 
works is flead" and that "the devils be- 
lieve and tremble." So we should be 
careful how far we allow ourselves to 
rely upon the grace of God. His Gospel 
ship is freighted and sailing toward the 
Millennium. Its officers, Apostles, Proph- 
ets, Seventies, and Elders, have control, 
under the great Captain, Jesus, and the 
life buoy 8 of grace, are being distributed 
in all the world; but the poor sinner who 
is floating on the sea of life would rather 
drown than apply the effort and faith 
necessary to grasp that God's life buoy, 
and be saved, and will rather float to 
his doom, while the ship takes two of a 
family and one of a city, who are of the 
seed of Israel, and carries them safe to 
Zion, where they learn more of the ways 
of their great Captain, and go on to per- 
fection. 

Would that all could fully appreciate 
the grace of God so as to love Him and 
keep His commandments, which is 
equivalent to doing good works, and 
obeying His laws. Then we can come to 
perfection; as He desires us to be per- 
fect. Let us follow the admonition of 
John when he speaks of the Saints and 
says, "hereby we do know that we do 
know Him, if we keep His command- 
ments. He that saith, I know Him, and 
keepeth not His commandments, is a liar 
and the truth is not in him." (John 2-3.) 
"But if we walk in the light as He is in 
the light, we have fellowship one with 
another and the blood of Jesus Christ 
His Son cleanseth us from all sin." (I 
John 1). "Then are we in very deed the 
sons of God, and it doth not yet appear 
that we shall be; but we know that, when 
He shall appear, we shall be like Him; 
for we shall see Him as He is. And 
every man that hath this hope purifieth 
himself, even as He is pure. 

The whole teachings of the Gospel of 
Jesus induces faith and works, and a 
heartfelt gratitude to God, for the gra- 
cious gift of His Son; with the bounte- 
ous plan of redemption to the whole hu- 
man family, who will be saved in the 
due time of the Lord by His grace, and 
their faith and works. 

May the time speedily come when 
modern Christians will learn to obey 
God, and keep His commandments, and 
not depend wholly upon His grace. 



Thanksgiving each year brings many 
happy reunions around the family board. 
The hearts of the fathers are turned to 
their children, and the hearts of their 
children to their fathers. Family ties 
are strengthened and love for each other 
increased. It is a rekindiing of the fire 
of love and reliance in God, without 
which nations perish. Long live Thanks- 
giving day. 



Brethren— We hope you did not miss 
the turkey. 



Never be persuaded contrary to your 
better judgment. 



THE SOUTHERN STAB. 



The observance of a National Thanks- 
giving day once a year is a beautiful cus- 
tom. None should nor none will be more 
truly thankful to our Creator than the 
Saints of God. True Saints are thankful 
for the goodness of our Father in heaven 
every day in the week. 



When a man desires to sleep, he de- 
sires to hear no noise; so when a man 
doth desire to sleep in sin, he desires not 
to hear the voice' of grace disturbing 
him; and the devil, like a diligent cham- 
berlain, draweth the curtains of dark- 
ness and security about him. 



Be always at liberty to do good; never 
make business an excuse to decline the 
office of humanity. 



"Mormon" Roberts. 

Editorial, New York World, Nov. 26, 1899. 

On what ground is Roberts to be ex- 
cluded from the House of Representa- 
tives of the United States"? Has he not 
"attained to the age of twenty-five 
years?" Has he not "been seven years a 
citizen of the United States? Is he not 
an inhabitant of that State from which 
he was chosen? Was he not legally 
chosen in a legally conducted election? 

The answers to all these questions as 
to the constitutional requirements must 
be in the affirmative. Then the proposal 
to refuse him his seat is a proposal to 
defy the Constitution of the United 
"States, to refuse their political rights to 
the people of Utah. 

This is a serious matter. No matter 
how worthy the people who advocate 
such a proposal, no matter how irre- 
proachable their moral character, the 
nature of this proposal is not changed. 
It is, looked at in its most favorable 
light, a proposal to do evil that good 
may come; and the evil is a violation not 
only of the fundamental law ordained 
by the people of the United States, but 
also a violation of the fundamental prin- 
ciple upon which our liberties rest— the 
principle of representative government. 

For such an assault there could be no 
justification. 



THE DARK AGES. 



BY ELDER A. ARROWSMITH. 

Those who enjoy the light of the ever- 
lasting Gospel of Jesus Christ, as re- 
stored through the instrumentality of the 
Prophet Joseph Smith, can appreciate 
the difference between that light and the 
gross darkness into which modern 
Christendom has sunk. But for the bene- 
fit of those of our Elders who are not 
acquainted with the history of the events 
which transpired during the period of the 
great Apostaey, 1 will relate a few items, 
which will at least be of interest to the 
Latter-day Saint. 

The Prophet Daniel, in his last chap- 
ter, eleventh verse, says, "that from the 
time that the daily sacrifice shall be 
taken away, and the abomination that 
maketh desolate set up, there shall be a 
thousand two hundred and ninety days 
(1,290)." There are two events of impor- 
tance herein mentioned, a time when the 
daily sacrifice is taken away, and a time 
when an abomination shall be established. 
And there is a period of time called 1,290 
days between these events. 

Many comments have been made on 
these figures, but the Bible establishes 
beyond peradventure, that a day in 



Israel was reckoned a year of 360 days. 
The instance of David serving his Uncle 
Laban seven years for Rachel, he was 
deceived, and was requested to fulfill 
her week also, which meant that he had 
to serve another seven years. See Gen. 
29, 18-20-27; Num. 14-34, also Eze, 4-6. 
uur Savior's expression to the Phari- 
sees in Luke 13-32, speaking of Herod, 
said, "Go ye, and tell that fox, behold, I 
cast out devils, and I do cures today and 
tomorrow, and the third day I shall be 
perfected. Nevertheless I must walk 
today, and tomorrow, and the day follow- 
ing." Christ was not talking of a day 
of twenty-four hours, but He undoubtedly 
was speaking of His three years' minis- 
try, referring to the day as a year, and 
implying that Herod had no power to kill 
Him, until His mission of three years 
was accomplished. 

There is much testimony that the Is- 
raelitish mode of reckoning was different 
than ours, and that at least in these in- 
stances a day was as a year, also that 
the Hellenic year was used of 360 days, 
or a month of thirty days. The Bible 
being translated from the Greek, it is 
only reasonable to suppose that the Hel- 
lenic reckoning would prevail. 

My object in making this fcroof is to 
show that Daniel refers to a period of 
1,290 years, which should transpire be- 
fore the abomination, or Dark Age, 
should commence. 

I contend that the daily sacrifice was 
taken away by Antiochus Epiphanes, the 
King of Syria, when he overran Judea 
and offered a pig on the temple altar, 
thus defiling the holy of holies, and the 
oblation ceased for three years and a 
half, as recorded in Daniel 8-11. Jose- 
ph us speaks of this occurrence in the 
days of the Maccabees. 

The next time the daily sacrifice was 
taken away occurred at the crucifixion, 
as that sacrifice has surely never been 
honored by the Almighty since that time. 
As Christ fulfilled the intent of that sac- 
rifice, and it was of no more efficacy. 

I will now introduce the taking away 
of the daily sacrifice when the ten tribes 
of Israel were taken captive, 720 years 
B. C. They were brought into subjec- 
tion to an idolatrous King, and driven 
into the northern countries, away from 
their sacred temple, and the daily sacri- 
fice certainly ceased with them, so far 
as our knowledge goes. Thus we find a 
record of the daily sacrifice being taken 
away three distinct times. 

To show how beautifully the Latter- 
day Saint can establish the foundation 
of his faith, we will reason upon the lat- 
ter period. Shalmaneser, the King of 
Assyria, took the ten tribes captive (or 
the daily sacrifice away) 720 years B. C. 
Now let us add the 1,290 years to the 
abomination, and we reach the period of 
570 years after Christ. The duration of 
this universal apostaey was to be 1,260 
years; as I will prove from the word of 
God. Add 570 years to 1,260 years, and 
what is the result? The great year of 
jubilee, and liberation from the thraldom 
of Satan, when the Gospel was restored 
to the earth, in its pristine beauty, and 
God's Church was duly established 
through the instrumentality of the Proph- 
et Joseph Smith, 1830. What a remark- 
able result. 

The worldly commentators have placed 
various interpretations upon the word of 
God, to their condemnation, but these 
figures stand as a testimony before the 
world. This, taken in connection with 
Daniel's second chapter, also his seventh, 
makes strong evidence to support a lit- 
eral fulfillment of these events. 



Daniel also speaks of a succession of 
empires, and man-made kingdoms, which 
should be- overthrown and broken in 
pieces. He also sees through the vista 
of time when the God of Heaven should 
establish a kingdom, which should never 
be destroyed, nor given to another peo- 
ple, but should standi forever. The Baby- 
lonian, Medio Persian, Macedonian and 
Roman empires, with a power which 
should devour and break in pieces, speak 
great words against the Most High, wear 
out the Saints, change times and laws, 
and otherwise despoil the Church of God, 
fulfill this prophecy. A great beast was 
to arise, who should receive power from 
the dragon, or Satan, which should drive 
the Church and Priesthood of God into 
the wilderness, where she should be pro- 
tected for 1,260 years, or a time, times, 
and the dividing of time, see Rev. 12, 1 
to 6, 13th, 4 to 8, and much evidence is 
adduced to substantiate the fact that 
this abomination which maketh desolate, 
or universal apostasy, should be in ex- 
istence for 1,260 years, and the whole 
earth be under the power of the beast, 
dragon, or Lucifer. And that the Church 
of Christ, with the Priesthood of the Al- 
mighty, should be taken from the earth 
for a period of 1.260 years. 

The question might be asked, How do 
you arrive at the time, times, and the 
dividing of time, being a period of 1,260 
years? 

I will explain as briefly as possible, 
that Nebuchadnezzar, for his haughty 
vanity, was driven out to live as the 
beast, until "seven times" had passed 
over him. Or, in other words, he lost 
his identity, and eat grass with the 
beasts for seven years. 

This would appear as if time was a 
year. And if a time was a year, why 
not times, which is the plural, mean 
two years, and the dividing of time a 
half a year. Now, at the 360 day year, 
it figures exactly 1,260 days, or the same 
period spoken of more clearly in John's 
apocalpse seen on Patmos, referred to 
in Rev. 12th and 13th chapters, where 
he speaks of it as forty-two months and 
1,260 days. This data appears synony- 
mous. And the day being as a year, we 
have the remarkable period of 1,260 
years, when this earth would be turned 
over to a reign of terror, bloodshed and 
abominable desolation. The history of 
the Dark Ages will verify the fulfillment 
of this prophecy. 

This is a lengthy subject, and I have 
been thus verbose, that I might more 
clearly account for the 1,290 years be- 
tween the time of the sacrifice taken by 
Shalmaneser 720 years before Christ, 
and the fulfillment of the time 570 years 
after Christ, when commenced the great 
Dark Age of universal apostasy. Bridg- 
ing over that period of darkness 1,260 
years, to the restoration in this the nine- 
teenth century, when angels have again 
visited the earth, and the kingdom spok- 
en of by Daniel established in the year 
1830. 

The world might scoff and deride such 
egotism (?) presented by that despised 
and hated sect, called Mormons, but such 
derision is no argument. 

lue above is an introduction to a se- 
ries of articles, to be published weekly, 
and I will try to take the subject up by 
the century, in order that it may be easy 
for the Elders to refer to. I will en- 
deavor to show the most salient points 
in the great apostasy, commencing at the 
first century. 

(To be continued.) 



THE SOUTHERN STAB. 



I 



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gijy ?h *jfc W, <gtf <^ .Q1S *WB ^JSL yg.<SC V 

UNBELIEF-MIRACLES 

Western Standard, Nov. 1, 1856. 






The unbelief of the present generation 
regarding the power and attributes whirh 
were formerly ascribed to the Lord, is 
extraordinary. They have an idea that 
He has ceased to give Himself the 
slightest concern about anything that 
pertains to earth or its inhabitants. True, 
they believe, or at least so express them- 
selves sometimes, that He exercises a 
supervision over the affairs of men, and 
that He is the controlling power; but 
this is merely the effect of education, and 
not the result of personal experience. 
They see so little of what they imagine 
to be His management and interposition, 
that they have concluded the jurisdiction 
He exercises is of a general and not of a 
local nature. If plague, famine, earth- 
quakes, or sickness and distress, there- 
fore, should come in their midst, instead 
of acknowledging the hand of the Lord 
in them, or thinking that He can possibly 
have anything to do with the matter, 
they seek to account for their presence 
on purely natural principles. Hence, 
when pestilence enters a city there is no 
appeal made to the people to humble 
themselves under the chastening hand of 
the Lord; but they are exalted, in the 
strongest language, to attend to the san- 
itary regulations, and, if they attend 
strictly to them, it is all that is required. 
They act as though they believe that God 
had not power to operate, or that if He 
has the power, He will have to operate 
in an unaccountable and supernatural 
manner; therefore, everything that can 
be accounted for on natural principles 
must, of necessity, be independent of any 
agency on His part. These are the com- 
monly received opinions of the day, and 
we see men everywhere acting upon 
them; yet nothing can be more absurd 
than such a belief. God always acts in 
accordance with well-defined and under- 
stood laws, and does not violate the laws 
of nature in the least in performing all 
His wonderful works. Because men, not 
comprehending how such works are per- 
formed, term them miraculous, it does 
not necessarily follow that there is a sus- 
pension of the laws of naure in such 
cases; neither does it follow, because men 
can partially comprehend a law according 
to which certain results are produced, 
that God has nothing to do with it. Every- 
thing that the Lord Himself performs, or 
which He commands His servants to per- 
form, is plain and simple, and easily un- 
derstood by Him — it js no miracle to 
Him, because He comprehends the law 
by the observance of which such things 
are produced. Mankind term such works 
miracles and supernatural, because they 
have not progressed sufficiently to under- 
stand how they can be done, without the 
suspension of the laws of nature. Did 
they fully understand all the laws of na- 
ture, however, they would then perceive 
that in the performance of these "mira- 
cles" no law of nature is in the least vio- 
lated; but rather that they are produced 
by the superior knowledge of these laws 
which the person has who works them 
or the Being who permits them to be 
worked. 

In nothing is the scepticism of the pres- 
ent age more visibly apparent, than in 
their treatment of the words of Jesus 
Christ and His Apostles, in regard to the 
practice of the ordinance of laying on 
hands and anointing with oil for the re- 
covery of the sick. They have made 



such advances, as they think, in the art 
of medicine, that if a person should dis- 
trust their modes of healing, or express 
doubts about the ability of the medical 
practitioners of the present day, and have 
any desire to cling to the old mode re> 
vealed by Jesus and practiced so suc- 
cessfully by His disciples, he is thought 
to be a fanatic and a fool — too supersti- 
tious to keep pace with the discoveries of 
tl*e age. Yet Jesus has plainly said, and 
the experience of His disciples, and their 
records contained in the Bible, substan- 
tiate the truth of His saying — that those 
who believed on Him and kept His com- 
mandments, should have this power. 
James, one of the Apostles of the Lord, 
in writing to the Church, counsels them 
if there should oe any sick among them, 
to send for the Elders of the Church, and 
they would pray over them, anointing 
them with oil in the name of the Lord, 
and He promises them that the prayer 
of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord 
shall raise them up. The individuals 
who, in the most of instances, cry the 
loudest "folly, fanaticism and supersti- 
tion'* when they hear about the Latter- 
day Saints practicing this mode in the 
treatment of the sick, are those who 
boast the most of their belief in the 
Scriptures; and still they imagine them- 
selves to be consistent. Jesus says this 
gift of healing shall be possesed by the 
believer. They say it shall not. James 
says, if any are sick, let them send for 
the Elders of the Church. They say, if 
any are sick, let them send for the phy- 
sician. He says, the anointing of the 
sick with oil in the name of the Lord, 
with the prayer of faith, shall save tne 
sick. They say, such a thing would be 
a miracle, and miracles have ceased; 
therefore, if the sick wish to be healed, 
instead of anointing them with the oil let 
them be dosed with medicine prescribed 
by physicians. This latter mode would 
be natural in their opinion, and the plan 
recommended by James supernatural. 
Because they cannot understand the prin- 
ciple by which the sick can be healed in 
luis manner, they jump at the conclusion 
that a law of nature is suspended, and 
what they are pleased to term— a mira- 
cle, performed. The Latter-day Saints, 
on the contrary, believe it to be as much 
or more in consonance with the laws of 
nature to heal the sick by this treatment 
— because recommended by the God of 
nature, the Being who gave nature her 
laws— than by any other, and, therefore, 
are so indifferent in regard to the opin- 
ions of the world on the subject, that 
they practice it. As they progress in 
faith and knowledge, their comprehen- 
sion will be so expanded that they will 
understand the principle upon which 
such things are done, and they will then 
cease to appear supernatural or miracu- 
lous. 

Because the Latter-day Saints maintain 
that this gift, in conjunction with the 
other gifts which Jesus promised, is in 
the Church, and always will be enjoyed 
whenever God has a Church upon the 
earth, number tauntingly say. if you 
will give us an exhibition of this power 
—if you will work a miracle for us, we 
will believe your doctrines; for then we 
will have indubitable evidence that you 
are sent of God. And these poor crea- 
tures profess, too, to be believers in the 



Bible. They are so sceptical about the 
truth of the words of the Lord Jesus, 
whom they profess to adore and worship 
as their God, that they wish those who 
contend for the truth and infallibility of 
His words, to work a miracle to convince 
them that He did not deceive when He 
said, "These signs shall follow them that 
believe !" But, even if, what they term, 
a miracle should be performed— if they 
were to behold such an exhibition of 
power, ,would they be warranted in re- 
ceiving the performer as a servant of 
God? If supreme power, and supreme 
power alone, could violate or transgress 
a law of nature, and it required such a 
transgression to constitute a miracle, 
then a manifestation of that kind might 
be reliable. But who can say that in the 
exercise of any of the gifts which Jesus 
promised to those who believed on Him 
and kept His commandments, a law of 
nature is transgressed or suspended? 
Shall we say because we cannot compre- 
hend it, that, therefore, an eternal law 
is violated? As well might the savage, 
not understanding the philosophy of pa- 
per talking — of thoughts being communi- 
cated by letter to those at a distance, as- 
sert that a law of nature is violated in 
that operation, because it does not come 
within the grasp of his limited compre- 
hension; or the man who hears, for the 
first time, that messages can be sent 
hundreds of miles with the speed of 
thought, pronounce it impossible unless 
a law of nature be suspended. Mankind 
should not, because a man performs 
something which, to them, may appear 
strange and unaacountable, imagine that 
he has the power to violate a law of na- 
ture, and that they may therefore receive 
him as a servant of God; for if they do, 
they will be liable to be deceived. 

we are convinced that these manifes- 
tations, which are known as miracles, 
would be very commonly witnessed on 
the earth, if mankind would but live 
aright. When they are not enjoyed, the 
fault is in man, as the Lord is as willing 
and can as easily bestow them as hun- 
dreds of other blessings and gifts which 
He does bestow, which are not esteemed 
as miraculous on account of their being 
so generally enjoyed. 



The Benedict 

Shakespeare loved and wedded a farm- 
er's daughter. 

Humboldt married a poor girl because 
he loved her. Of course, they are happy. 

Byron married Miss Maybank to get 
money to pay his debts. It turned out a 
bad shift. 

Robert Burns married a farm girl, with 
whom he fell in love when they worked 
together in the plowfield. 

Peter the Great, of Russia, married a 
peasant girl. She made an excellent wife 
and a sagacious empress. 

Queen Victoria and Prince Albert were 
cousins, and about the only examples in 
the long life of English monarchs where- 
in sincere affection existed. 

Edward Lytton Bulwer, the English 
statesman and novelist, married a girl 
much his inferior in position and got a 
shrew for a wife. Of course, he was un- 
happy. 

Washington married a woman with two 
children. It was enough to say that she 
was worthy of him, and they lived as 
married folks should— in perfect har- 



Mulatto is a Spanish word derived 
from mulus, a mule, and signifying a per- 
son of nrh.^d ancestry. 



THE) SOUTHBBN STAB. 



THE ORIGINAL MANUSCRIPT. 

luiprovewcut Era. 

Much has been said at different times 
as to the whereabouts of the original 
manuscript of the Book of Mormon, but 
very little of a definite character has 
been said respecting this topic. Quite 
recently an article on this subject was 
reprinted in the St. Louis Republic, from 
a Richmond, Missouri, correspondent, 
and copied by the Troy, X. Y., Press and 
reproduced from the latter paper by the 
l>eseret News of September 27th. with 
appropriate comment. That the readers 
of the Era may more clearly see the 
puerile, but malicious character of this 
article, which is a fair sample of many 
others published in the press of the coun- 
try, on this subject, it is here repro- 
duced: 

'•The original manuscript of Joseph 
Smith's 'Book of Mormon,' the Bible of 
the 'Mormon* Church, is kept in a bank 
vault in this town. The Elders of the 
*Mormon* Church, in Utah, made differ- 
ent attempts, in past years, to get pos- 
session of it, but failed. Once they 
offered $100,000 in cash for the old and 
yellow manuscript, but its keeper, David 
Whitmer, one of the founders of the 
Church, refused the offer because he be- 
lieved the Utah branch of the Church 
wished to get hold of the manuscript to 
insert into it, by forgery, a clause that 
would authorize and sanction the prac- 
tice of polygamy. Last week two repre- 
sentatives- of the 'Mormon* Church, of 
Utah, were heje making another attempt 
to buy the manuscript. This original 
manuscript, written at the dictation of 
Joseph Smith, is now in the possession of 
Oeorge W. Schweich, of this town, a re- 
tired merchant, the grandson of David 
Whitmer, who was one of the three wit- 
nesses to the writing of the manuscript. 
The manuscript of the 'Book of Mor- 
mon* contains 600 large sheets of linen 
paper, the size of foolscap, written close- 
ly on both sides. The paper is yellow 
with age, and the ink is faded to brown. 
The pages are bound together with 
strings of yarn. The manuscript con- 
tains 350,000 words. It was written in 
1829." 

The fact of the matter is that the 
original manuscript of the Book of Mor- 
mon never was "kept in a bank vault" 
in the town of Richmond nor in that or 
any other town in Missouri. Neither has 
the original manuscript ever been in the 
possession of David Whitmer nor that of 
any of his kindred. Neither has the 
"Mormon" Church in Utah, through any 
of its Elders or otherwise, attempted at 
any time to get possession of the original 
manuscript of the Book of Mormon, 
"and failed." The Church in Utah has 
not at any time, through its Elders or 
otherwise, offered $100,000 nor any other 
sum of money for the original manu- 
script, nor for the "old and yellow" copy 
of it which was left by Oliver Cowdery, 
at his death at Richmond, Missouri, 
March 3d, 1850. in the possession of Da- 
vid Whitmer. which copy is said to be 
now "in a bank vault" in Richmond, 
Missouri. The story about David Whit- 
mer refusing "the offer" of $100,000 for 
his copy of the manuscript, "because .he 
believed the Utah branch of the Church 
wished to get hold of the manuscript to 
insert into it. by forgery, a clause that 
would authorize and sanction the prac- 
tice of polygamy," is ridiculous twaddle. 
The fact, however, that such a story is 
told, and published in some of the lead- 
ing newspapers of the country, would 



make it appear that there are people 
L.ind enough to give credence to it. 

First, let it be said that David Whit 
nier's "belief," if he ever entertained 
such a belief, together with the whole 
story, is without the least shadow of 
truth. How could it be possible for 
such a thing as forgery to be perpetrat- 
ed? Up to the date of the alleged offer 
hundreds of thousands of copies of the 
Book of Mormon had been published 
and scattered broadcast over the world, 
and, besides, translated into more than 
a dozen foreign languages. Therefore, 
even if David Whitmer or the agents of 
the "Mormon Church of Utah" might de- 
sire to alter the manuscript, how could 
they hope to call in and change the tens 
of thousands of the printed book? Com- 
ment is unnecessary. A grain of com- 
mon sense will show how imbecile the 
thought. 

The statement that "last week two 
representatives of the 'Mormon* Church, 
of Utah, were here making another at- 
tempt to buy the manuscript," is a false- 
hood of the same class. However, 
there may have been occasionally an 
Elder of the Church, not posted on this 
subject, who, for some purpose known 
to himself, might have tried to ascertain 
the value in which this manuscript is 
held by its possessors. But no man, 
l-ider or Apostle, is, or ever has been, 
authorized by the Church of Jesus Christ 
of Latter-day Saints to offer any sum 
of money for the manuscript now in the 
possession of the heirs of David Whit- 
mer. In September, 1878, in company 
with Apostle Orson Pratt, the writer 
visited David Whitmer, at Richmond, 
Ray county, Missouri. In the presence 
of David C. Whitmer, the son of Jacob, 
Philander Page, David J. Whitmer, son 
of David Whitmer, George Schweich, 
Col. James W. Black, J. R. B. Van 
Cleave and some others. Father David 
Whitmer was asked if the three wit- 
nesses signed their own names to the 
testimony to the Book of Mormon? 
Father Whitmer unhesitatingly replied 
with emphasis: 

"Yes, we each signed his own name.** 

"Then," *»aid the questioner, "how is 
it that the names of all the witnesses are 
found here (in D. W.'s manuscript), 
written in the same handwriting?*' 

This question seemed to startle Father 
Whitmer, and, after examining the sig- 
natures, he replied: 

"Oliver must have copied them." 

"Then, where are the original docu- 
ments?" was asked. 
• He replied, "I don't know.*' 

Knowing as we did with what sacred- 
ness this manuscript was regarded by 
Father Whitmer, both Elder Pratt and 
the writer sounded him to see if he 
could be induced to part with it, and we 
found him determined to retain it. We 
were not authorized to offer any money 
for the manuscript, neither did we make 
any offer of money or other considera- 
tion for it. But notwithstanding this 
fact, it was soon rumored about and 
published abroad that we had offered 
large sums of money for it. 

In July, 1884, the writer received the 
following inquiries, by letter, from L. J. 
Traughbar, Jr., of Mandeville, Carrol 
county, Missouri: 

"Did Mr. Pratt and you offer David 
Whitmer $10,000 for the manuscript f 
the Book of Mormon? Did you offer 
him $100,000? Did you make him any 
definite offer for them?" 

To each question there can be but one 
reply. No, not these amounts and not 
one dollar! 

Now let us see what became of the 



original manuscript of the Book of 
Mormon. The following is copied from 
the history of the Prophet Joseph Smith 
by his mother (pp. 142 and 143): 

"Soon after this Joseph secured the 
copyright; and before he returned to 
Pennsylvania, where he had left his 
wife, he received a commandment which 
was in substauce as follows: 

"First, that Oliver Cowdery should 
transcribe the whole manuscript. Sec- 
ond, that he should take but one copy 
at a time to the office, so that if one copy 
should get destroyed, there would still 
be a copy remaining. Third, that in go- 
ing to and from the office he should al- 
ways have a .guard attend him, for the 
purpose of protecting the manuscript. 
Fourth, that a guard should be kept 
constantly on the watch, both night and 
day, about the house to protect the man- 
uscript from malicious persons, who 
would infest the house for the purpose 
of destroying the manuscript. All these 
things were strictly attended to, as the 
Lord commanded Joseph. After giving 
these instructions, Joseph returned to 
Pennsylvania." 

This is sufficient to show that the orig- 
inal manuscript was copied by Oliver 
Cowdery. 

The following letter may be interest- 
ing here: 

"Further facts in relation to the man- 
uscript of the Book of Mormon. I saw 
the Prophet Joseph Smith, Jr., hide up 
the above manuscript unto the Lord in 
the southeast corner of the Nauvoo 
House, Illinois. I stood within eight or 
ten feet of him, heard and saw what he 
said and did, on that important occasion, 
which I freely testify to all the world. 

"(Signed) Frederick Kesler, Sr., 
"Bishop of the Sixteenth Ward, 
"Salt Lake City, Utah. 

"October 12th. 1878." 

From the history of Joseph Smith, 
Millennial Star, Vol. 18, page 693. (See 
also Times and Seasons, Vol. 2, page 
570), we copy: Conference met in the 
grove. The Presidency being absent 
laying the corner stone of the Nauvoo 
house, the meeting was called to order 
by President B. Young." This is under 
date of October 2d. 1841. 

Many years ago the writer copied the 
following statement from the early rec- 
ords of the Church, which were kept 
by his private secretary under the im- 
mediate direction and supervision of the 
Prophet Joseph Smith himself: 

"The corner stone of the Nauvoo 
nouse was laid by President Joseph 
Smith on the 2d day of October, 1841. 
and the following articles were deposited 
therein by the President, to* wit: 

"A Book of Mormon: a revelation 
given January 19th, 1841; the Times and 
Seasons, containing the charter of the 
Nauvoo house; Journal of Heber C. 
Kimball: the memorial of Lyman Wight 
to the United States Senate: a Book of 
Doctrine and Covenants, first edition; 
No. 35 of the Times and Seasons; the 
original manuscript of the Book of 
Mormon: the Persecutions of the Church 
in the State of Missouri, published in 
the Times and Seasons: the Holy Bible. 
Silver coins as follows: one half-dollar, 
one quarter-dollar, two dimes, two half- 
dimes, and one copper coin." 

Thus we see that the original manu- 
script of the Book of Mormon, which 
had up to this time remained in the pos- 
session of Joseph himself, w r as on Octo- 
ber. 2d. 1841, by his own hand, depos- 
ited in the southeast corner of the Nau- 
voo house, with other things, and that 
it never was at any time in the posses* 



THE SOUTHERN STAB. 



REPORT OF MISSION CONFERENCES FOR WEEK ENDING NOV. 11, 1899. 



PRESIDENT 



ChHsto Hyldahl ... 
Joseph V l*tiJlex- ■ 

B.F, Frico 

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Ciwjp A, l>ay 

O. D. Flak* 

I\ A, Broadbent... 
J. LewU llobson ... 

.1. H. WilMfl 

L A. Tborlev __„„, 
.1. W. Funk,.: 



confirm at 



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Virginia *...„.„ 

Kentucky 

Ea#t TemieatHte... 

Georgia 

Norm Alabama., 

Florida.. 

Mid. Tennessee ■■ 
North i Carolina. H 
Sot i Mi Carolina- 
Mital^ppi H . lUn , 
Kast Kentucky.. 

Louisiana 

South Alabama .. 
North Kentucky 
Ohio... ..... 



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sion of David Whitmer. The copy tak- 
en was used for printing by E. B. 
Grandin, of Palmyra, New York, Oli- 
ver Cowdery read the proofs, and when 
the book was printed retained possession 
of the copy, which, at his death, in 
Richmond, fell in the hands of David 
Whitmer. These are the facts. And, 
in further proof, the writer avers that 
he is now in possession of a portion of 
the original manuscript, and "The Me- 
morial of Lyman Wight to the United 
States Senate," which were taken from 
the Nauvoo house about the year 1884, 
by L. C. Bidamon, when he removed 
that portion of the house which con- 
tained the records.— Joseph F. Smith. 



North Alabama Conference. 

The Elders of the North Alabama Con- 
ference, about forty in number, met in 
Tuscaloosa, Alabama's "City of Oaks," 
on Jhe 10th and 20th insts., and held 
their annual conference. There was 
some opposition, yet a most excellent 
time was enjoyed. 

A few days previous to the appointed 
time President Thomas II. Humphreys 
entered Tuscaloosa and made arrange- 
ments with the hotels to entertain the 
Elders and Saints; also secured the use 
of the opera house in which to hold ser- 
vices. 

Some difficulty was experienced in ad- 
vertising the public meetings through 
the columns of the local papers, because 
of existing prejudice. As the next best, 
some dodgers were issued and posted in 
conspicuous places, besides being left 
at every home in the city. 

In the absence of real provocation to 
make trouble for the Elders, and thus 
destroy the good effects of the confer- 
ence, some citizen (?), probably the 
Mayor, had President Humphrey arrest- 
ed, under the charge of "defacing public 
property" by attaching dodgers to trees 
with carpet tacks, inserted to a depth of 
an eighth of an inch, all this notwith- 
standing the fact that the trees in ques- 
tion were already victims of the jack- 
knife, nails and tacks by the hundreds; 
yet when a despised "Mormon" used the 
same privileges granted the public he 
must be arrested. This contemptible act 
did not meet the approval of broader- 
minded citizens and the charge was with- 
drawn. 

The weather during the conference was 
perfect, to the enjoyment of Elders and 
Saints. Saturday night all the Elders 
arrived and the usual rejoicing and 



hanshakings characteristic on such an 
occasion were indulged in. 

President Ben E. Rich arrived early 
Sunday morning, and at 10 o'clock all 
assembled at the opera house. The audi- 
ence was rather small, due no doubt to 
a misunderstanding in the minds of 
many as to the time of meeting. 

After devotional exercises President 
Humphreys made a short address of 
welcome and introduced Elder G. M. 
Matthews as the first speaker. Elder 
Matthews spoke pointedly upon church 
organization. President Rich followed 
and spoke very forcibly upon the rights 
guaranteed by the Constitution, making 
reference to an article which appeared 
in the Tuscaloosa Times, written by the 
Mayor, villifying the "Mormon" Elders. 

At the afternoon meeting President 
Rich spoke in his usual forcible and 
pleasing manner upon the doctrines and 
beliefs of the Latter-day Saints, and 
again in the evening on "Principles Con- 
sidered Peculiar to Mormonism." Upon 
both occasions, especially the latter, 
large and appreciative congregations as- 
sembled. Most of the best citizens of 
Tuscaloosa assembled. The services cre- 
ated a good effect and aroused much in- 
terest. A pleasing feature of the after- 
noon services was a quartet rendered by 
Elders Perkins, Fisher, Thorn and Mad- 
sen. 

Council meetings were held Sunday 
afternoon and Monday morning, at which 
many valuable instructions were given. 

On Tuesday the Elders left for their 

various fields amid "good byes," with 

strong determinations to elevate the 

standard of North Alabama Conference. 

C. R. HUMPHREYS, 

Clerk -Conference. 



COURAGE. 



How strange till* conflict of our dally life, 
This human life, with all Its loves and 

pains: 
With all Its heavy losses and Its gains, 
With all its joys, and all its grief and 

strife. 

A nation struggles thro' mistake and sin. 
Brave lives are lost and fiercer grows the 

fight. 
Thro' dark, sad years men grope toward the 

light. 
And thro' the clouds they see the dawn 

begin. 

Rise up, my soul, to fight thine own good 

part. 
For everywhere Is victory born of pain: 
Rise o'er the ashes of thy passions slain. 
Be strong to bear and to endure, O heart! 
— C. E. Bancroft. 



The path of duty in this world is the 
road to salvation in the next.— Jewish 
Sage. , 

Want of care does us more damage 
than want of knowledge. 



■ 
I 

_3 



tow* 



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m\ Peach 8t., Danville 

Hopkl navilJe „,.„ 

K nox v i He ... ... ., ,» w . 

August*..,., ...... ,♦„.. , 

Jacinto,. ,.„.„,., , 

Lulu.... . .«.. 

N aali vil La , „„ „ 

Golrtshoru ». , 

Society HUL„ 1M h.«. ~ 

Bay St. Louis „ ...*.,,.. 

Buck Creek 

Sureveport. „.,....„,..... , 

Camden ........... 

Bagdad, Shelby CO.*... ., 

r.Ti U. 7th St., Cincinnati, 



Tennessee 

Virginia 

Kentucky 

Tennessee 

Georgia 

HiAHisaippi 

Florida 

Tennessee 

N. Carolina 

ri, Carolina 

Mississippi 

Kentucky 

Louisiana 

Alabama 

Kentucky 

Ohio 



IN THE MISSION. 



Elders and Saints will be pleased to 
learn that Elder C. W. Burnham, of 
Virginia Conference, is improving, after 
a long illness. 



The Elders laboring in Petersburg and 
Richmond, Va., have so far been unable 
to get permission to sell books. People 
of these cities generally treat them with 
courtesy. 



The Mayor of Tuscaloosa, Ala., evi- 
dently believes in the Bible, when it is 
closed, and the Constitution of these 
United States only when in accordance 
with his (?) ideas. He thinks "Mormon- 
ism" ought not to be tolerated. 



Elder Ben L. Rich ha% received and 
accepted an invitation to deliver an ad- 
dress before an Agnostic society in Cin- 
cinnati—subject. "Divine Authenticity 
of the Bible and Book of Mormon." The 
lecture will be delivered some time in 
January. 



Bishop Derby Johnson, Jr., of Colouia 
Diaz, Mexico, is a Bishop after our own 
heart. About every so often we get a 
letter from him reading about like this: 

"How is Elder getting along? Does 

he need anything? Brother is one 

of 'my boys,* and I want to know how 
he is prospering. Kindly let me hear 
from you." 

Brethren, put a ring around this and 
send to your Bishop. 



Not long since two Elders laboring in 
Georgia were arrested for not having 
paid their poll tax. The laws of Geor- 
gia exempt ministers from this tax, but 
the court held "these Mormons are not 
ministers," and imposed a fine. The 
Elders could not show a diploma from 
a "preacher factory," and being called 
to preach in the old-fashioned way did 
not count. 

St. Peter, the illiterate fisherman, to 
whom was given the keys of the King- 
dom, would have had a hard time before 
such a judge. Unquestionably he would 
have met the same fate as these humble 
men of God. 

Releases and Appointments. 



Releases. 

A. C. Candland. Georgia. 
J. Hunter, South Carolina. 
Joseph Later, Kentucky. 

Appointments. 
David Halls and Peter A. 
Middle Tennessee. 



Brown 



Little things console us because little 
things afflict us. 




•BUT THOUGH W£ OR AH ANGEL FftOW HEAVtN,pfiEACH AhTf 
OTMEB GOSPEL UNTO YOU THAN THAT WMICH WE 

HAVE PREACHED UNTO YOU.LfcT HIM ftE ACCURSED '&* /^F^ 



\^(^yT 



Vol. 2. 



Chattanooga, Tknn., Saturday, December 9, 1899. 



No. 2. 



SOLITUDE. 



Ella Wheeler Wilcox. 
Laugh, and the world laughs with you; 

Weep, and you weep alone, 
For the sad old earth must borrow Its 
mirth, 

But has trouble enough of Its own. 
Sing, and the hills will answer; 

SigTi, It Is lost on the air, 
The echoes bound to a joyful sound, 

But shrink from voicing care. 

Rejoice, and men will seek you; 

Grieve, and they turn and go. 
They want full measure of all your pleas- 
ure, 

But they do not need your woe. 
Be glad, and your friends are many; 

Be sad, and you lose them all,— 
There are none to decline your nectar'd 
wine. 

But alone you must drink life's gall. 

Feast, and your halls are crowded; 

Fast, and the world goes by. 
Succeed and give, and it helps you live, 

But no man can help you ale. 
There is room In the nails of pleasure 

For a large and lordly train, 
But one by one we must all file on 

Through the narrow aisles of pain. 



Look before you ere you leap, 

For as you sow, you're like to reap. 

—Butler. 

"fis better to be lowly born 
And range with humble livers in content, 
Than to be perk'ed up in a glistening grief, 
And wear a golden sorrow. 

—Shakespeare. 

OUR CONFERENCE PRESIDENTS. 



We are pleased to announce the ap 
pointment of Elder John Peterson as 
president of the East Tennessee Confer- 
ence, successor to F. B. Hammond, Jr., 
released to return home. Thirty-five 
years ago Elder Peterson was born at 
Saxtrop, Sweden. Soon after this time 
his parents decided to locate in more con- 
genial climes, and with a fond farewell 
they left the mother country for America, 
arriving safely in the fall of I860. They 
located at Huntsville, then moved to Og- 
den, where Brother Peterson acquired his 
education by attending the public schools. 
Each of the children were required to as- 
sist in the support of each other, and 
consequently they had but little time to 
attend school. At the age of 16 he left 
home, hoping to better his circumstances. 
He followed railroading, ranching, min- 
ing, etc. While visiting friends in Moab. 
Grand county, a sudden desire to keep 
the commandments of God came upon 
him, and he accordingly took unto him- 



self a wife that he might begin with the 
first. Three of heaven's jewels adorn his 
home as a result of this union, who will 
feel proud to welcome a faithful father 
home. He arrived in Chattanooga in 
March, 1898, and was assigned to the 
East Tennessee Conference, where he has 
labored very efficiently in every branch 
of missionary work, and is well qualified 
for the position he has been called to. 




ELDER JOHN PETERSON, 
President East Tennessee Conference. 



We feel that East Tennessee will not be 
behind in any respect to other confer- 
ences, for cur confidence in Brother Pe- 
terson assures us differently. 



History of the Southern States Mission. 

March— 

This being the month set for the spring 
emigration of Saints, most of the Elders 
were busy helping someone off. 

The company consisted of seventy 
souls, including eleven Elders, who were 
returning home, under the direction of 
George A. Smith. 

Eight Elders arrived during the month 
and were assigned to the various states 
of the Mission. 

Several of the Elders had school 



houses closed against them, and one 
case of mobbing, but no serious results. 

During the month 1,500 tracts were 
distributed in Charleston, S. C, by El- 
ders Dorrity and Tanner. They could 
get no house in which to hold services 
and resorted to the street, but with little 
success. Several baptisms were reported. 

April— 

A number of releases and appoint- 
ments were made during the month. 

Twenty-one baptisms, and good health 
among the Elders. 

In Nicholas county, Va., Elders 
Krogue and Cranney were forced to 
leave that part of the state, where they 
were laboring, for more congenial climes. 

Elders Harris and Seegmiller had a 
similar experience in South Alabama. 

On April 21 a mob who had been 
hounding Elders Taylor and Carter 
called at the home of Brother James 
Watts, where they forced an entrance 
and searched the house, also all sheds, 
barns, etc., to try to find the Elders. 
Fortunately the Elders had left a few 
hours before and were out of harm's 
way. 

May- 
Reports from the various Conferences 
were full of good news and encourage- 
ment. All Elders reported well. 

A little more animosity than usual 
was manifested in some of the Confer- 
ences, and in some instances mobs were 
organized. 

Forty baptisms were reported during 
the month. 

About forty souls, including several 
Elders, went west. 

Elders Rushton and Gardner, in Smith 
county, Tenn., were abused and mobbed. 

Elders May and Haycock met the 
usual Mississippi mob in Marion county. 
This was all that happened to them, 
just the meeting. 

Elders Miles and Schwanaveldt were 
ment in Clarenden county, S. C, by nine 
men, who forbade them preaching in the 
school house, then in the county, and 
finally in the state. At the request of 
the nine the Elders produced their li- 
cense to preach, and much to the amuse- 
ment of the onlookers, for not one of the 
nine could read. Such men generally 
make mobs. 

Fifteen Elders arrived and received 
their appointments. 



10 



THE SOUTHERN STAR. 



HABIT. 

BY PHILIP S. MAYCOCK. 

Electricity is a force which, when prop- 
erly controlled, is capable of producing 
the highest kind of benefit to mankind. 
With this power at command of mau, 
space counts for little — one can talk 
to his friend who is miles distant. By it 
the machinery of the factory is kept in 
motion, and the machinery of life is 
stilled. 

But when not under control, electricity 

{>roduces widespread destruction; it 
eaves ruin in its path. 

As to its nature, we cannot compare 
habit to electricity; but as to the kind of 
effect it produces, we can so compare it. 
For if we make habit our friend we may 
rise by its aid from the lowly earth to 
the vaulted skies of character; we can 
possess that true worth which "lies in be- 
ing, not seeming; in doing each day that 
goes by some little good, not in dreaming 
of great things to do by and by;" or as 
our foe, habit will bind us hand and foot; 
it becomes a cruel despot whose abject 
slaves we are. 

Npw, we want to learn something about 
the nature of this being; how to act so 
as to make him our friend; how to fight 
him successfully if, unfortunately, he has 
become our foe. 

It has been fitly said that the little child 
lying in the cradle is a bundle of possi- 
bilities. Embodied in that little lump 
of flesh are the germs that may yet de- 
velop into a Newton. Whether 
this result shall follow or not de- 
pends largely on the direction in 
which these possibilities shall develop — 
on the habits that are formed. In 
childhood "the season, the soil, the seed 
and the implements are all in our hands/' 
and we may choose what we will plant. 
But, having once chosen and planted the 
seed, we can neither change nor escape 
the harvest. The possibilities of the child 
develop until they become habits in the 
adult, who is aptly called a mere walking 
bundle of habits. 

The child's organism, nature, "make- 
up" — call it what you will— is such that 
every act or state of the mind leaves an 
enduring effect. The organism tends to 
form itself in accordance with the mode 
in which it is constantly exercised. Power 
and tendency are the results of all acts; 
that is, there is more likelihood of again 
doing an act once done and there is 
greater ease in doing it. 

To get an understanding of the nature 
of habit let me perform a little experi- 
ment— (paper-folding.) 

In the broader meaning of the term 
habit, we may say that the paper has 
been habituated to fold in a particular 
way. Other similar instances are at 
hand. A coat after having been worn for 
a time clings to the body better than when 
it was new. There has been a change in 
the tissue of the coat, and this change is 
a habit. The wooden frame of the violin 
has the function, I believe, of intensify- 
ing; by the vibrations of the wood parti- 
cles, the sound made by the strings of 
the violin. It is a well-known fact the 
sounds of the violin improve in quality 
in the hands of a master. And a violin 
that has been long used by a master com- 
mands a fabulous price. The explana- 
tion of the improvement in quality of 
sound is that the particles of wood have, 
in the hands of a master, been habituated 
to respond in a certain way so as to 
produce harmony. It is said that the 
laws of nature are nothing but the un- 
changeable habits which the various sects 
of matter follow in their action and re- 
action on one another. For example, the 
fact that a body once set in motion would 
continue forever, did not some external 
force prevent, is simply an unchangeable 
habit of all matter. 

But let ns speak of habit in things 
with life. There seem to be two kinds 
of habit, called active and passive. By 
Rosenkranz, active habit is said to be 
the preparing of the mind for action 
upon the outer world, while passive 



habit is the preparing of the mind to 
be acted upon by outer agencies; that 
is, active habit* is the steeling of the 
internal for acflon upon the external: 
and passive habit is the steeling of the in- 
ternal against the influences of the ex- 
ternal. As an illustration of passive 
habit, we may refer to the boy begin- 
ning to smoke; the body objects, but the 
boy continues the practice and m conse- 
quence, the body adapts itself to the con- 
dition; it grows to the way in which 
it is treated. Persons who have been 
confined many years to dungeons, ask 
to be readmitted to prison, after hav- 
ing been set free. An instance of this 
kind occurred here in our city. One pris- 
oner who had been kept at the city jail 
for a number of years, could not be 
driven away; he had to be allowed to 
pass the remainder of his days there. 
The man who lives in the city and often 
hears the piteous complaint of the street 
beggar gets into the habit of hearing un- 
affected such tales; he steels himself 
against them; they do not affect him as 
they affect the man from the country, 
who is immediately melted to tears, and 
likely gives his all, in a financial sense, 
to the beggar. The boy who is con- 
tinually scolded soon becomes indifferent 
to the scolding. As illustrations of active 
habit there may be named the habit of 
walking. The child had to give attention 
to each separate movement, and then 
poorly succeeded, but the adult walks 
with his attention centered on a subject 
far removed from the problem of how to 
walk. The various single acts in walk- 
ing have become so closely connected 
that, if one be presented, the others fol- 
low without the intervention of either 
will or consciousness. 

On one occasion, in telling a 
story you had heard you exagger- 
ated somewhat. It was not so easy to ex- 
aggerate then, but when you told a sec- 
ond story, you found it much easier to ex- 
aggerate, and each successive time less ef- 
fort was required to bring about the ex- 
aggeration, till now it is almost impossi- 
ble for you to tell a story without exag- 
gerating; you have formed the habit. 
When you began to study, you found it 
difficult to attend for a great length of 
time; now, as a result of habit, you can 
attend for hours. 

Ifrom these illustrations we can draw 
the definition that habit is a fixed dis- 
position to act or to be acted upon (either 
physically or mentally), and an ease in 
acting or being acted upon— this condition 
being the result of numerous repetitions 
of similar actions. 

Let us now refer to the conditions of 
the forma tion ; and of the strength of hab- 
it. The conditions are similar in the two 
cases, for what tends to form a habit 
will increase the strength of one already 
formed. 

The first condition is, the amount of 
attention given at the outset, at the be- 

E'nning of the formation of the habit, 
aunch yourselves out with as strong a 
beginning as possible. Let all circum- 
stances favor the action which you de- 
sire to turn over to habit. 

The second condition is, frequently re- 
peating the habit tends to fix it. Repe- 
tition is the great means of forming a 
habit. 

The third condition is, we must not only 
repeat, but repeat uniformly. Continuity 
is necessary. Never suffer an exception 
to occur till the habit is firmly rooted *n 
vour life. Each exception is like the 
letting fall of a ball of string which one. 
is carefully winding up; the single slip 
undoes more than a great many turns 
will wind again. If you are forming the 
habit of arising early in the morning, and 
fail on one morning to get up somewhat 
near the time set, you will find it very 
hard to rise the next morning at the ap- 
pointed time. The effect of the lack of 
continuity is shown on such occasions as 
holidays in school. The student does not 
study during the holiday, and as a re- 
sult he finds it difficult to begin to study 
again when school commences. 

The same conditions are required for 



the breaking up of an old habit that are 
required for the forming of a new one. 
And this brings us to the question of 
how to break off old habits, or the ques- 
tion of "tapering off." On this matter 
there is a wide difference of opinion. Dr. 
Sulzheim says: "All changes which nature 
produces are successive, and we ought to 
Imitate her proceedings. It is the same 
in dietetic rules, and in every manner of 
feeling and thinking. Drunkards cannot 
leave off their bad habits suddenly, with- 
out injuring their health. Those who are 
near starving from inanition will perish 
if too much nourishment be given; and 
too much light dazzles those who have 
long lived in darkness. The bad effects 
of great and sudden changes- of tempera- 
ture on such bodies as glass, plants, ani- 
mals and man are generally known. 
Great and sudden changes of political, 
moral and religious opinions are not 
borne with indifference." 

However, the best authorities agree 
that an abrupt breaking off of the old 
habit and an abrupt acquisition of the 
new is the best method to follow. Dr. 
James says: "In the main, experts agree 
that abrupt acquisition of the new habit 
is the best way, if there be a real possi- 
bility of carrying it out. We must be 
careful not to give the will so stiff a task 
as to insure its defeat at the very outset; 
but, provided one can stand it, a sharp 
period of suffering and then a free time 
is the best thing to aim at, whether in 
giving up a habit like that of opium, or 
)n simply changing one's hours of rising 
or of work. It is surprising how soon a 
desire will die if it be never fed. One 
must first learn to walk firmly on the 
straight and narrow path, looking neither 
to the right nor to the left, before one Can 
begin to make one's self over again (that 
is, break off old habits). He who every 
day makes a fresh resolve is like one 
who, arriving at the edge of a ditch he is 
to leap, forever stops and returns for a 
fresh run." 

Then let us remember that habits are 
formed by attentive practice, and are fop- 

?;otten by disuse. A child can be made to 
orm a habit by giving it the opportunity 
to practice it specially and by removing 
opportunities for action colliding with it. 
Heighten the pleasure in the action by 
the union of pleasant impressions with 
the deed, and, on the other hand, make 
the conflicting habits unpleasant by unit- 
ing pain with them. In other words, 
make it easy and pleasurable for the 
child to tell the truth, and hard and un- 
pleasant for him to tell a lie, if yon 
want to form the habit of truthfulness 
in him. And only when he speaks the 
truth as a habit is he safe. It has been 
said that he is not honest in the strictest 
sense of the word who must still be on 
his guard that he may not cheat his fel- 
lowmen or covet their goods; but he only 
is honest indeed with whom honesty has 
become a favorite habit, which rules his 
inmost sensibilities and aspirations, so 
that no power from without can turn him 
away from it. 

************ 

Habit is a cable. We weave a thread 
for it each day, and it becomes so strong 
that we cannot break it. If not resisted, 
habit soon becomes necessity. It is dur- 
ing the period of childhood and youth 
that we weave this habit. This the 
young should clearly understand: "Ah 
the twig is bent the tree is inclined." 
Wool once dyed never regains its prim- 
itive whiteness. 

If the young appreciated the fact that 
childhood and youth is the season fur 
the formation of habits, and that the 
effect of an evil habit never can be whol- 
ly eradicated, there would be fewer ex- 
cuses for youthful follies. The hack- - 
neyed cry that the boy must sow his 
wild oats would be considered almost 
blasphemy. No one is ever safe from 
evil, if he has ever practiced evil. A 
bad habit broken off, may be left in 
disuse for years, yet in an unguarded 
moment it may assert itself. Too many 
reformed drundards, when worry and 
misfortune overtakes them return to 



THE SOUTHERN STAR. 



11 



their old love. Just as a sprained anklo 
or dislocated arm is to a greater or less 
degree, in danger of being sprained or 
dislocated again when favorable circum- 
stances offer themselves; so the one, 
who once practiced stealing or lying is 
likely again to do the same thing if the 
circumstances be favorable. 

The flirt before marriage is likely to 
be the flirt after marriage. Therefore 
be not blinded by the statement that 
it matters not what habits the youth or 
the maiden forms, so long as they break 
them of when they become men or 
women. The evil effect of these habits 
is likely to flow on through indefinite 
ages, acting as a damning blot against 
them in the great day of judgment. 

When formed in early life, habits 
are more easily formed and are much 
more permanent. The traces of what is 
early learned are never lost. In later 
years the organism has become more 
rigid, the sense of doubt and the an- 
ticipation of difficulties have become 
stronger, and, what is more important, 
the whole force of habits which have 
been allowed to form themselves during 
youth have to be encountered. For these 
reasons it is harder to form a habit in 
later years. Dr. James says: "Already, 
at the age of 25, you see the profession- 
al mannerism settling on the young com- 
mercial traveler, on the young doctor, 
on the young counsellor-at-law. You see 
the little lines of cleavage running 
through the character, the tricks of 
thought, the prejudices, the 'ways of 
the shop, 1 in a word, from which the 
man can by and by no more escape than 
his coat sleeve can suddenly fall into a 
new set of folds. On the whole it is best 
he should not escape. It is well for the 
world that in most of us by the age of 
30, the character is set like plaster, and 
will never soften again. If the period 
between 20 and 30 is the critical one in 
the formation of intellectual and profes- 
sional habits, the period below 20 is 
more important still for the fixing of per- 
sonal habits, properly so-called, such as 
pronunciation, gesture, motion, and ad- 
dress. Hardly ever is a language learned 
after 20, spoken without a foreign ac- 
cent. Hardly ever can a youth trans- 
ferred to the society of his betters un- 
learn the nasality and other vices of 
speech, bred in him in his growing years. 
Hardly ever indeed, no matter how much 
money there be in his pocket, can he 
ever learn to dress like a gentleman 
born. The merchants offer their wares 
to him as eagerly as to the veriest swell, 
but he simply cannot buy the right 
things. An invisible law as strong as 
gravitation, keeps him within his orbit 
arrayed this year as he was last, and 
how his better-bred acquaintances con- 
trive to get the things they wear will 
be .for him a mystery till his dying day. 
The great thing then in all education is 
to make our habits our ally instead of 
our enemy. 

For this we must make habitual 
as early as possible as many 
useful actions as we can, and guard 
against growing into ways that will be 
disadvantageous to us. as we should 
guard against the plague. The more of 
the details of our daily life we can hand 
over to the custody of habit, the more 
our higher powers will be set free for 
their own proper work." 

Further, since habits are so easily 
formed in childhood, single actions have an 
importance far beyond' what at first seems 
aue .to them. The tendency to repetition 
is so strong in the young that a lie told 
in jest, a little carelessness in dress or 
wastefulness in food may lead to habits 
of untruthfulness, carelessness or prodi- 
gality. On this point Dr. James fitly re- 
marks: "The hell to be endured hereafter, 
of which theology tells, is no worse than 
{he hell we make for ourselves in this 
world by habitually fashioning our char- 
acters in the wrong way. Could the 
young but realize how soon they will be- 
come mere walking bundles of habits, they 
would give more heed to their conduct. 



We are spinning our own fates — good or 
evil — and never to be undone. Kvery 
smallest stroke of virtue or of vice leaves 
its never so little scar. The drunken 
Rip Van Winkle in Jefferson's play ex- 
cuses himself for every fresh dereliction 
by saying: 'I won't count this time.' 
Well, he may not count it, and a kind 
heaven may not count it, but it is being 
counted none the less. Down among his 
nerve cells and fibres the molecules are 
counting it, registering and storing it up 
to be used against him when the next 
temptation comes. Nothing we ever do is 
in strict scientific literalness wiped out. 
Of course this has its good side. As we 
become permanent drunkards by so many 
separate drunks, so we may become saints 
in the moral and authorities and experts 
in the practical and scientific spheres by 
so many separate acts and hours of 
work." 

(To be continued.) 



THE DARK AGES. 



BY ELDER A. ARROWSMITH. 

(Continued from Page 6.) 

The First Century. 

To fully understand the nature of my 
former article, and that we might more 
fully comprehend the situation, in the 
gradual decline of primitive Christianity, 
it will be necessary to point out from the 
first century the many innovations thai 
crept in even from its inception, when 
Rome was at her zenith, and governed 
by the Caesars. 

The prevailing religions were Pagan, 
under the name of Bpicurians, Acadeni-' 
ics, Platonics, Eclectics and Gnostics. 
There was a philosophy taught in the 
schools of Alexandria, the New Platonic, 
which taught men to lead very devout 
and austere lives; but the Pagans gen- 
erally were very corrupt, worshipping 
gods who would pander to their passion- 
ate licentiousness, such as Jupiter, an 
adulterer; Mars, a murderer; Mercury, a 
thief; Bacchus, a drunkard; Venus, a 
strumpet, and thus they paid homage at 
the shrine of gods whom they thought 
would grant the desires of their wicked 
hearts. Costly altars were erected, and 
these gods were worshipped with great 
splendor. The 17th chapter of Acts de- 
scribes this multiplicity of gods, where in 
Athens the superscription read to the 
unknown god, and. Paul on Mars' Hill de- 
scribed so beautifully the God of Israel, 
but their hearts were corrupt, and not 
susceptible to truth, and they followed 
after vain philosophies. 

How gullable the people were, to be 
sure, but still religious liberty was guar- 
anteed to the fullest extent by this great 
empire of Rome, and it is estimated that 
they had over 30,000 gods, whom they 
worshipped with ceremonies of lust, 
drunkenness and bloodshed, unfit to be 
described. , 

Judaism with its Pharisees, Saddusees, 
and the austere Essenee marked the near- 
est form of true worship, and outside of 
the Essenee, they also had become very 
corrupt. 

Thus it is easy to see that the world 
in its corruption was hardly in a condi- 
tion to accept and understand the pure 
teachings of Jesus. However, He came, 
and His followers were from among the 
Essenees, who had all things in common, 
and were doing the best they could to 
please God. Christianity grew and spread 
over the then civilized world, especially 
amongst the Gentiles, until even the cor- 
rupt Tiberius wished to Deify Christ and 
place Him amongst the many gods of 
Rome. This shows the success that Chris- 
tianity met soon after the crucifixion. 

It is true the Jews, with headquarters 
at Judea (which was a province of Rome 



under a procurator), were very bitter in 
their hatred of the Christians, and in 
every way sought to stamp them out, but 
were curtailed in their vindictive malice 
to a great degree by the religious liberty 
granted by Rome. 

However they slew many and drove 
them from city to city, and but few 
Christians were found in Judea when 
Vespasion and Titus invaded the country. 
But under Paul's administration they 
multiplied in Corinth, Ephesus, Alexan- 
dria and other places, and a strong 
branch of the Church was established in 
Rome. 

The first great persecution which came 
from the great empire was instigated by 
the tyrant Nero, who was the sixth Cae- 
sar. This reprobate was guilty of every 
known crime. He murdered his mother, 
sister and brother, and kicked his wife, 
Poppaea, to death, and to gratify his 
poetic (?) fancy, wishing to witness a 
great conflagration, he had the* city of 
Rome burnt. The populace naturally 
was much incensed at this, and disclaimed 
against this depraved villain, who, to 
appease their wrath, blamed the ineen- 
diary act on the innocent Christians. 

They were hunted by the Roman sol- 
diery and tortured in every conceivable 
manner, being tied to pillars, covered 
with combustible material and ignited to 
give light to 'the gardens of this monster.., 
Covered with the skins of wild animals, 
they were torn to pieces by dogs, fed to 
lions, and otherwise put to death, their 
slaughter being made the occasion of 
much mirth and festivity. ' 

The amphitheaters were crowded to 
their full capacity, and the appetites of 
the populace fully glutted by blood, and 
atonement for the destruction of their 
city, compensated by the blood of the in-, 
nocent, which cries for justice, "How 
long, O Lord, holy and true, dost Thou 
not judge and avenge our blood on 'them 
that dwell on the earth? And* white robes 
were given unto every one of them; and 
it was said unto them that they should 
rest for a little season, until their fellow 
servants also and their brethren that 
should be killed as they were, should be 
fulfilled." (See Rev, vi.:10.) Men, 
women and children, without discrimina- 
tion, were murdered in this bitter perse- 
cution. Paul was beheaded and Peter 
crucified and many noble martyrs were 
sacrificed between the years 00 and 70 
A. D. From this time on until the fourth 
century Christianity was exceedingly un- 
popular. 

Under Vespasion and Titus, the Chris- 
tians had comparative peace, as at this 
time occurred the great siege of Jerusa- 
lem, at which over 1,000,000 lives were 
lost, and several hundred thousand taken 
captive, the Jews in this, partly aton- 
ing for the many afflictions placed upon 
their Lord, whom they rejected. 

In this siege they actually ate their 
children, fulfilling the prophecies of 
Moses in Deut. 28:57. • Josephus, who 
was a general in this war, records a 
woman of Galilee of good birth named 
Mary, who was brought to such a 
strait and degree of famine that rath- 
er than have her child sold into slavery, 
she slew it, and partly ate it, when the 
remains were discovered by the zealots 
who were hunting for food. Dean Mill- 
man beautifully describes the incident, 
as it was related by the zealots to the 
High Priest. These are his words: 

"'Most welcome, warriors!' and she led 
us in and bade us sit like dear and hon- 
ored guests, while she made ready. Some 



(See paare 16.) 



12 



THE SOUTHERN STAB. 




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Address Box 103. 



Saturday, December 9, 1899. 



ARTICLES OF FAITH 

•F TUB CHURCH OP JESUS CHRIST OP 
LATTER-DAY SAINTS. 

1, We biLSev* in God th* Ft frail FatW h and Ed &■• &>s 
Jhui L'hrirt, tnd Ed tli* Hal* Olwvk 

I, W« believe that a sii wifci be pUDlihetJ for their awn 
aiai, ao) not for Adero'i tranarreaijoo. 

5, Wt VlJBTfl that, through the atonement of Chrilt, *H 
naakjed say It uvfra, bj otwlienc* to the Jiwi ind o-rrfir 
DIDHI of tka Gcipel. 

4. We belie* a that th* ftflt principle! and wSimnrci of 
the Gofpc? ore : Fir»t. FaltJa in the LnrJ J tin* Ctlfitt ; M>coml > 
fiepentann ; third,, Riptlifn l>v itnmercion fn-r the rermiMon 
of llm; fourth. Laving on ol HaMi far th» I'SifL nf the Holy 
OhMl, 

S» Wo hoH«T* that 1 mas mutt bo called of God, by 
" praphecr, and by the lay I hf, On of bimJi * hj thoee wbo are 
• !■ aotbontj, to praach th* impel and s4oiinijter is the anii- 
neare* Thereof, 

6. W« believe Id Lhrujue orfpmtHtiaQ tJial eiirfed in 



the prJmklre church— na tp*J j , Arcades, 1'rophett. fiiun, 
Teacher*, frenfilfeU, etc, 

-T. W* bal ia »f O I a tie (i ft of tonente, prop h*cj, «* s titiM, 



eltiOBl, heaiia|v In terp*et*rJon of ranjuei, etc 

#. We behave the Libia to b* the won) af God, •• far it [I 
ll t re nil a led correct); \. WO alio bedi«Te Lhe Book of Mormon 
to t* the word of Om, 

V. We believe all that God hu revealed, mil that He doe* 
pot reive a I, and v« believe tb*t He will jet retell sunjr neat 
fend important ihirip perTiininn la the Kincdbm of Qod. 

Id, W* believe \n ta* literal <ath.au ng of I«rieL and lathe 
restoration of the Ten Trlbea; thit Zion wij) be built upon 
thia (th* American) oonUneol ; the,* ClifiM WiH relfcn pereoQ- 
■II; apon. the earth, end that the earth will be rearwed and 
recelrti it* p*f*diiiirtJ #forj- 

II. We claim the privilege of TDrihFpltij AlrnlehCj Uodi 
according lt> th* dkLalM of our cnneciencB^ and allnw ill 
hd the «*be prj rUe|a, la l them won hi p ho v. where* or whet 

3. W* ballere is Mag subject to klip, praafdentarulafo, 
sod ■•JriatmU* ; in obeying, boooring tad sustaining th* law. 

IS. * Wo bolioTo in being honest, trao, chute, boooeoIooi» 

rlrtwma. sod io doing goodto sll Stos; Indeed, w* naj aay 

that wafoUow tbo adnoaltioa of PaaL • W* believe all thing*, 
_ . M y ,, ^^ 

ivirtaao*, 



„• all thing*," wa have aadarog swny things, and bop* 

|» bo able to endure all thing*. If tber* is anything t' " 

tstoly, or ofgaod roport or praisowortbj, wo sank aft 



A BACKWO 



^F 



EDITOR. 



There is a man living down in Alabama 
who edits a paper called the Tuscaloosa 
Times. His efforts would be more ap- 
preciated if he would direct his energies 
in a channel calculated to do good, rather 
than attempt a discussion and chastise- 
ment of a people of whom, from his arti- 
cle, he is very ignorant. In one of these 
betraying articles of Oct. 15 he says: 
"There is something gruesome about the 
fact that emissaries from that hot-bed of 
vice are permitted to invade the sacred 
precincts of our homes in Tuscaloosa. 
If there is no legal protection against 
such intrusion, must one take the law 
in his own hands or be a law unto One's 
self?" 

This article briefly indicates the char- 
acter of this man. If you were to ask 
him he would no doubt say that he was 
an American and believed in sustaining 



the laws of the land. Yet he would pre- 
sume to suggest that one should make a 
law to one's self to drive men away and 
restrict them in their religious worship. 
Nov. 21 he wrote about a conference 
held by the Latter Day Saints, 
and among other things, slurringly re- 
marks about the coats worn by some of 
the Elders, which, he says, bore evidence 
of having done considerable service. We 
believe it is everywhere written, and upon 
the lips of every school child, and under- 
stood by every one who is rightly entitled 
to live in this progressive age, that it is 
the ugliest kind of ignorance and corrupt 
manners to speak of others' clothes in a 
disrespectful way. It is quite comfort- 
ing to know that God judges by the heart 
and not by the tile, the set of the cravat 
or the broadcloth suit. It might be profit- 
able and comforting to many if Mr. 
Jameson would invest a quarter for a 
work on etiquette for his mother's sake, 
if it be that he is not too depraved and 
vicious to learn a few items on decency 
and manners. He then comments upon 
the manner, as he says, in which Presi- 
dent Rich tried to arouse the sympathy 
of the people. President Rich need only 
tell the truth to cause any man with 
even a spark of patriotism in him to feel 
that the "Mormons" when they were 
driven from Missouri and Illinois; when 
they had their houses burned ; their wom- 
en and daughters butchered and ravished 
by men, who, as Mr. Jameson, made laws 
unto themselves, were not treated like 
Americans should be. The power to 
make laws that regulate affairs between 
states and citizens of different states lies 
with the Congress of the United States, 
so he need have no fear that an organ- 
ization numbering about 350,000 scat- 
tered throughout the whole world, will 
"undermine and overthrow the laws." 
True, he may be somewhat annoyed, for 
we are here and cannot deny it, to fight 
all manner of wickedness, and possibly 
he feels insecure under thos.e conditions 
and would like to make a law to drive 
these men away lest he be overtaken in 
sin. 

"We would feel that our education had 
been woefully neglected if we were not 
informed upon the practice of the 'Mor- 
mons.' " This is what we think. What 
would he have you believe the "practice 
of the 'Mormons' " was? He speaks of 
it as a hot-bed of vice and tries to create 
the general impression that "Mormon- 
ism" implies all manner of vileness, chief 
of which is the unrestricted honor of the 
fair sex, and we will take his word that 
he believes as he says ; he knows his own 
self best. 

There is one part, however, that don't 
come with very good grace from him, af- 
ter having advised making laws or taking 
them into their own hands. He says 
that the "Mormons" have a right to wor- 
ship God according to the dictates of 
their own conscience. Yes, they should 
have, and we thank God that all people 
aren't as Mr. Jameson or we would have 
to think and do as they thought and did 
or else be burned at the stake or some 
other hideous torture inflicted. Con- 
tinuing, he says: "We are strenu- 
ously opposed to anything that 
is not lawful." I suppose he folded 
his hands and rolled his eyes toward 
heaven while he thought of this, and for- 
got what he had written in the early part 
of the article. 

"These Mormons confine their opera- 
tions to the rural districts." We are 
quite surprised, yet not so much when 
we consider the source. We thought 
Tuscaloosa to be one of the busiest little 
cities of the south, and thoroughly up 



to date, and anything but a backwoods 
city. Surely this cannot be applied to 
all the citizens. It must be that as he 
makes laws unto himself (the editor, I 
mean), he must have made one which 
placed him as the criterion, and being 
such a rank backwoodsman he thought 
everybody else as verdant as himself. 

"In this enlightened day and genera- 
tion the people have learned to rely on 
reason to shape their destinies." 

Poor Brother Jameson. If this be 
true, and you say it is, maybe in your 
future destiny you can, shaped by your 
reason, get some Lazarus to come and 
place a drop of cool water upon your 
parching tongue. Surely you do not deny 
miracles. If you do you must acknowl- 
edge God's goodness, for this is the nine- 
teenth century, nearly the twentieth, and 
you are living, and, remember your own 
words, this is an enlightened age. 

He concludes with quite a plea for the 
respect of society and the sacred rela- 
tions existing between man and wife. 
Mr. Jameson, do not forget that once you 
had a race of people down here, who were 
very black; who had no bones in their 
nose; little if any hair; feet that were 
not arched as the white man's, and not 
any were red-headed. Now how came 
this change in their appearance? Re- 
member your plea, Mr. Jameson, and 
look in your own door yard all over the 
country where you live and see if some 
people don't live in glass houses. 

People who believe in the transmigra- 
tion of the soul should try to get the 
editor of the Times and place him on ex- 
hibition as a living testimony that the 
spirit of Annanias had again come to 
earth. 

While traveling through the south 
some of our Elders are frequently asked 
if it is true that a man must have four 
or five wives before he can join the 
church. Only last week we received a 
letter from a school teacher in Florida, 
asking if we couldn't furnish him with 
two or three wives and no one be the 
wiser. They also ask if Utah is any 
place around Salt Lake City, what ocean 
they had to cross to come to America; 
if it took them long to learn the lan- 
guage; if Salt Lake was not near Jeru- 
salem, etc. * After wondering how people 
could be so ignorant, we are now quite 
satisfied that Mr. Jameson once taught 
school, and this is what he taught, for 
he says he is educated concerning "Mor- 
mon-ism," and he evidences the veracity 
of that remark from the way in which 
he writes. 

Being generous and broad-minded in 
our religious views, we still believe there 
will be some place in the various degrees 
oC glory in God's Kingdom where the 
editor's soul may find a resting place, if 
it can be found. But should he be con- 
signed to the other apartments for a 
season they would have to get a good 
many souls like him if Alabama has 
them and put them all in a mustard seed 
and consign the seed to hell to be able to 
damn them. A soul no larger than he 
has could walk forever in the shadow of 
a two-foot gravestone. Just such 
shrunken, warped and narrow bigots as 
this put Jesus Christ to death. 



SCARED OF THE LIGHT. 



A dispatch to the Courier-Journal from 
London, Ky., of Dec. 2, '99. comments, 
upon a conference soon to be held in that 
city by the Latter Day Saints. It says 
they will not be very kindly received nor 
cared for after arriving, for the only 



THE SOUTHERN 8TAR. 



IS 



place where they can get a place to stay 
is at the Riley Hotel. About a month 
ago the same sect went into Goldsboro, 
N. C, for the same purpose and had a 
very similar experience. The manager of 
the hall they had hired said he would 
have to break his contract because of 
public opinion created by ministers. 

In Louisiana a similar case occurred. 
And yet we are accused of being afraid 
of the tight, and fear the investigation 
of the wise. Whenever we go to these 
cities we are always met with opposition 
created by men who say they are minis- 
ters who warn the people, as they say, 
and tell them to have nothing to do with 
us, If "Mormonism" is such a hideous 
monster, why do they not invite their 
flock to go and hear them? If they do 
become polluted all they will have to do, 
you say, is confess that Jesus is the 
Christ and they will be saved. That used 
to be the devil's plan to force people. 

How can you preach that God has no 
passions? Unless you was blind to truth 
you would know He was long suffering 
and loved His children or else how would 
you have escaped this long the damna- 
tion of hell, if such be the home of the 
ungodly and sinners and liars. 



WHAT IS MEANT 

The following question and answer is 
clipped from a religious paper published 
at Chicago, Dec. 2, 1899: 

"To whom or to what did Jesus refer 
when he said, "Thou art Peter; and upon 
this rock I will build my church," etc., 
as recorded in Matt. 16:17-18? Did 
Jesus mean that Peter was the rock? 

"There is not, so far as we can see, 
any sound reason whatever for supposing 
that the reference was to Peter; on the 
contrary, all the evidence tends to show 
that he, Peter, could not have been the 
'rock/ but that Jesus Himself was to 
be the foundation stone upon which the 
eternal, immovable church was to be 
builded. 'Whom say ye that I am?' 
asked He, and the response came, 'Thou 
art the Christ, the Son of the Living 
God.' Then follow the words from 
which the quotation is taken. It would 
seem impossible that the unstable Peter 
could have been meant. In the para- 
graph following, we find our Lord re- 
proving Peter, declaring him to be an 
offense or stumbling block. All too soon 
we see him denying, with profane lips, 
all connection with the Master, and al- 
though he afterward became a mighty 
force in turning the hearts of the people 
to a positive faith in Jesus, it does not 
alter our conviction that the 'rock' spok- 
en of was and is Jesus Ourist, 'the chief 
corner stone.' " 

The answer to this inquiry is in part 
right, inasmuch that it speaks of Peter 
not being the rock upon which the 
Church of Christ was to be built. But 
the question is, does it also apply to 
Jesus, or did He mean something else 
when He blessed Peter and bestowed 
some remarkable gifts upon him? 

Note the expression "For flesh and 
blood hath not revealed it unto thee, 
but my .Father which is in heaven. 

And I say unto thee, that thou art Pe- 
ter, and upon this rock I will build My 
Church; and the gates of hell shall not 
prevail against it." 

In the first place He tells Peter that 
flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto 
thee * * * and upon this rock I will 
build My Church, He continues. 

Time it is that Christ is the chief cor- 
ner stone, whom the builders rejected, 
but was it this that He was referring 



to when he said, upon the rock will I 
build My Church? Is it not very rea- 
sonable to believe He was referring to 
the power that had given Peter the 
testimony that it was Jesus to whom He 
was speaking, and that upon the rock of 
revelation He would establish His 
Church? 

In the eighth chapter of Amos and 
eleventh verse it is recorded that there 
would be a famine for the word of God. 
The same author, in chapter three and 
seventh verse, tells us that the Lord will 
do nothing, but He revealeth His secret 
unto His servants, the prophets. At this 
particular time of speaking, when Christ 
was addressing Peter, the saving dis- 
pensation of Jesus Christ was to be ush- 
ered in, and as Christ did only those 
things which He seen the Father do, 
then it must have been upon that infor- 
mation the Father revealed to Him that 
He built His Church; or upon revela- 
tion. And if no information could be 
had concerning the Father or His work 
(none of His secrets), isn't it quite plain 
that we cannot do the work of the Lord 
without His instructions? Yes, I know 
we have the word, but the letter killeth 
and the spirit giveth life, and for each 
succeeding circumstance that transpires 
we must be enlightened so that we will 
know His will. 

When the Lord wanted a temple built 
all that had previously been given to 
Noah as to how to build the ark would 
not do. He must again speak. The in- 
structions to Joshua, how to capture 
Jericho would never have caused the 
walls at Jerusalem to fall. But each 
successive event needs the word of God 
to make it successful. At no time in 
the history of God's work were the peo- 
ple deprived of revelation, and are we 
not of as much importance as any peo- 
ple that ever lived upon the earth? 



Charity never faileth; but whether 
there be prophesies, they shall fail; 
whether there be tongues, they shall 
cease; whether there be knowledge, it 
shall vanish away. 

For we know in part and we prophesy 
in part. 

But when that which is perfect, then 
that which is in part shall be done away. 
(I Cor. 13:8-10.) 

Has perfection come? Until that time 
we are to know in part, prophesy in part, 
see through a glass darkly, but when 
that which is perfect is come then (and 
not till then) we are to see face to face. 
Are these gifts in the Church? If not, 
what will you do with this Scripture? 

And no man taketh this honor unto 
himself, but he that was called of God, 
as was Aaron. (Heb 5-4.) 

Aaron was called by revelation through 
a prophet of God. How was your 
preacher called? Does the Bible tell us 
preachers are to be called any other way? 
Does your minister through worldly 
learning take this honor unto himself? 
When you are asking yourselves which 
is the way to be saved, think over this 
Scripture and find its parallel among the 
many plans offered to save mankind on 
the earth in this age. 



Old subscribers should renew their 
subscription at once if they intend tak- 
ing this volume of The Star, as we wish 
to revise our mailing list at once. 



Orders are coming in very lively for 
the first bound volume of The Star. 



Catholic Doctrine. 

"It is the general teaching of Catholic 
theology," says a Catholic priest in Don- 
oh lie's Magazine, "that among the 
scenes and places of man's future habi- 
tation will be this planet, not as we have 
it now, with its winters and summers, 
with its biting winds and enervating at- 
mosphere, but as it will be after the 
great day of judgment, when, according 
to the clear teaching of Holy Scripture, 
the world is to be deluged by fire, and 
in the purifying elements of fire the 
world is to be renewed and regenerated. 
The world will then be transformed into 
a scene of changeless and surpassing 
loveliness, a fit dwelling place for glori- 
fied man." 



The New Creed of the Universaiists. 

The " Winchester Platform" of 1803, 
which Universaiists have commonly ac- 
cepted as their standard, embraced these 
three propositions: 

Art. I. We believe that the Holy 
Scriptures of the Old and New Testa- 
ments contain a revelation of the char- 
acter of God, and of the duty, interest 
and final destination of mankind. 

Art. II. We believe that there is one 
God, whose nature is Love, revealed in 
one Lord Jesus Christ, by one Holy 
Spirit of Grace, who will finally restore 
the whole family of mankind to holiness 
and happiness. 

Art. III. We believe that holiness and 
true happiness are inseparably connected, 
and that believers ought to be careful to 
maintain order and practice good works; 
for these things are good and profitable 
unto men. 

The Universaiists have now adopted a 
new creed. The committee on revision 
has made reports to successive general 
conventions f*r years. At last the con- 
vention which met at Boston last month 
adopted the following as its declaration 
of faith: 

The universal fatherhood of God. 

The spiritual authority and leadership 
of His Son Jesus Christ. 

The trustworthiness of the Bible as 
containing a revelation from God. 

A certainty of retribution for sin. 

The final harmony of all souls with 
God. 

A One Ian Duel. 

Collier's Weekly. 

One of the stories that the late James 
Payn, the novelist, liked most to tell 
was about what he called an American 
duel, wherein two duelists, with one sec- 
ond, met within doors and drew lots to 
decide which should shoot himself. A 
was the unlucky man, and without a 
word he retired into the next apartment 
to carry out the purpose of self-destruc- 
tion. B and the second, both very much 
moved by the tragedy of the situation, 
remained in listening attitudes. At last 
the pistol was heard. They shuddered 
with emotion and remorse, when sud- 
denly in rushed the supposed dead man, 
triumphantly exclaiming: "Missed, by 
heaven !" 



Mrs. Tounghusband — Do you notice 
any difference in the milk, dear? 

Mr. Younghusband — I should say so; 
this is a much better quality than we 
have been getting lately. % 

Mrs. Younghusband — Indeed it is. I 
got it of a new man, who said he would 
guarantee it to be perfectly pure, so I 
bought enough to last a couple of weeks. 
— Chicago News. 



14 



THEJSOUTHERN STAR. 



EFFECTS PRODUCED BY LIVES OF GREAT CHARACTERS. 



Blessings of God Secured by Obedience— When the Lord Gives Commands He 
Opens the Way for the Obedient to Fulfill Them. 



[ABDRBSS DBL1VEBBD BY ELDBR HXBKB J 

I rejoice exceedingly at again having 
the opportunity of meeting with the Lat- 
ter-day Saints in General Conference. I 
have listened with a great deal of pleas- 
ure to the remarks that have been made 
by the brethren who have spoken, and 1 
earnestly desire that the time which I oc- 
cupy may be for our mutual benefit, to 
strengthen us in the faith of the Gospel, 
and to inspire us with a determination 
to press forward in the discharge of the 
many duties and responsibilities resting 
upon us as members of the Church. We 
all, no doubt, look around in life and 
from our observation of men, or from our 
reading of the lives of those who have 
died, form our ideals, and we try to live 
and to be like those whom we admire. 
There is no character with which I have 
been familiar through my reading that has 
inspired me more than has Nephi of old. 
1 can never read the life of that man 
without being inspired with a desire to be 
faithful, diligent and true to the Lord, 
that 1 may be abundantly blessed of the 
Lord, as was Nephi. If we all could be 
inspired with a determiniation to live as 
this man lived, there is no question in my 
mind but we would grow and increase in 
the Spirit of God, and in power and abili- 
ty to do the will of our Heavenly Father 
on the earth. Alma says that the Lord 
granteth unto men according to their 
desires, whether they be for life or death, 
for joy or remorse of conscience. As Lat- 
ter-day Saints, let us have a desire to 
live lives of usefulness, and to be instru- 
ments in the hands of God of accomplish- 
ing much good. • 

1 have read and spoken time and time 
again from the section of the Book of 
Doctrine aud Covenants from which 
Brother Woodruff read this morning. I 
have felt a desire in my heart to be anx- 
iously engaged in a good cause, and to 
bring to pass much righteousness of my 
own free will. I have endeavored to im- 
press this also upon the minds of those 
with whom I have been laboring since 
being called to minister among the peo- 
ple. I desire to read a few words more 
from this same section. After telling us 
to be anxiously engaged in a good cause, 
and not to wait to be commanded in all 
things, the Lord says: 

"Who am I that made man, saith the 
Lord, that will hold him guiltless that 
obeys not my commandments? 

"Who am 1, saith the Lord, that have 
promised and have not fulfilled V 

"J command and a man obeys not, I 
revoke and they receive not the blessing. 

"Then they say in their hearts, this is 
not the work of the Lord, for His prom- 
ises are not fulfilled. But wo unto such, 
for their reward lurketh beneath, and not 
from above." 

I know scores of Latter-day Saints who 
have been commanded of the Lord time 
and time again, but have failed to receive 
the blessings promised through the ful- 
fillments of the commandments of God, 
because they have obeyed not. Yet they 
have accused the Lord of failing 
to fulfill his promises made to those who 
obey His commandments. I have ever 
known that those who pay not their tith- 
ing are the ones that criticise the expen- 
diture of the tithing. Those who are ap- 
proached for donations for laudable pur- 
poses, sometimes under the direction of 
the Presidency of the Church, and 
who refuse to contribute, are the 
ones that criticise the Presidency 
of the Church and the Apostles 
for calling upon them for means. 



GRANT AT SALT LAKB CITY, OCT. 6, 1899.] 

But I find that the men who obey are 
those who testify that the promises of 
God are fulfilled. Therefore, it behooves 
each and every one of us to be true and 
energetic. 

I desire to read a few words from the 
writings of the Prophet Nephi. After 
hearing the testimony of his father, and 
after they had gone into the wilderness 
Nephi says: 

"16. And it came to pass that I, Nephi, 
being exceedingly young, nevertheless be- 
ing large in stature, and also having great 
desires to know of the mysteries of God, 
wherefore I did cry unto the Lord; and 
behold he did visit me, and did soften my 
heart that I did believe all the words 
which had been spoken by my father, 
wherefore I did not rebel against him 
unto my brothers. 

"17. And I spake unto Sam, making 
known unto him the things which the 
Lord had manifested unto me by his 
Holy Spirit. And it came to pass that 
he believed in my words. 

"18. But behold Laman and Lemuel 
would not hearken unto my words; and 
being grieved because of the harshness 
of their hearts, I cried unto the Lord for 
them. 

"19. And it came to pass that the Lord 
spake unto me saying, blessed art thou, 
Nephi, because of thy faith, for thou 
hast sought me diligently, with lowliness 
of heart. 

"20. And inasmuch as ye shall keep 
my commandments — " 

This is the point that I desire to im- 
press upon your minds. 

"And inasmuch as ye shall keep my 
commandments, ye shall prosper, and 
shall be led to a land of promise; yea, 
even a land which I have prepared fo- 
you: yea, a land which is choice abovt* 
all other lands." 

1 say to the Latter-day Saints that this 
last statement is one of the testimonies 
of the truthfulness of this record, because 
this is the land choice above all other 
lands, and God has blessed the people upon 
this land. He has fulfilled the words 
recorded in this book time and time 
again, that those who should come up to 
fight against the people of this land 
should not prosper. After Nephi had been 
thus abundantly blessed of the Lord, 
when he returned to his father, who hacl 
received a commandment from the Lord 
that his sons should go back to Jerusa- 
lem for the brass plates, Laman and 
Lemuel were murmuring against this 
commandment. But these are the words 
of Nephi: 

"And it came to pass that I, Nephi, 
said unto my father, 1 will go and do the 
things which the Lord has commanded, 
for I know that the Lord giveth no com- 
mandments unto the children of men, 
save He shall prepare a way for them 
that they may accomplish the things 
which he commandeth them. 

"And it came to pass that when my 
father had heard these words he was 
exceedingly glad, for he knew that I 
had been blessed of the Lord." 

We will all be blessed of the Lord if 
we have the same spirit and realize that 
no obstacles are insurmountable when 
God commands and we obey. I heard 
Brother Lyman once remark in a meet- 
ing of the Quorum of the Apostles, that 
he knew of no man who had ever been 
blessed by one of the Quorum of the 
Apostles or by the Presidency of the 
Church and had been sent out to fulfill 
a mission that had failed to do so. 
There might be those whose hearts they 
did not touch, but there were those 
whose hearts could be reached. There 
never was a member of the Quorum of 
the Apostles sent upon a mission, but 
what sooner or later fulfilled that mis- 



sion. This is a testimony of the state- 
ment of Nephi: "For 1 know that the 
Lord giveth no commandment unto the 
children of men, save He shall prepare 
a way for them that they may accom- 
plish the thing which He commandeth 
them." Let us realize this and that the 
keeping of the commandments of God 
will bring to us the light and inspiration 
of His Spirit. Then the desire of our 
hearts will be to know the mind and 
will of the Lord, and we will pray for 
strength and ability to carry it our, 
thereby following in the footsteps of our 
Lord and Master Jesus Christ After 
the sons of Lehi had gone up to try and 
get the plates and were driven back, 
and Nephi's brethren desired to return 
to their father, Nephi said unto them. : . 

"That as the Lord liveth, and as we 
live,, we will not go down unto our 
father in the wilderness, until we have, 
accomplish the things which the Lord 
hath commanded us. 

"Wherefore let us be faithful in keep- 
ing the commandments of the Lord." 

Here is the key: Nephi knew how to 
be successful. Let us therefore be faith- 
ful in keeping the commandments of the 
Lord. 

'"Therefore let us go down to the land 
of our fther's inheritance, for behold, 
he left gold and silver and all manner 
of riches. And all this he hath done be- 
cause of the commandments of the 
Lord." 

After they had been driven the second 
time and Laban had stolen their gold and 
silver that they had offered him for the 
plates, Laman and Lemuel murmured 
again, and said that Laban could com- 
mand his fifty and would slay them. 
And Nephi replied: 

"Let us go up again unto Jerusalem, 
and let us be faithful in keeping the 
commandments of the Lord; for behold 
he is mightier than all the earth, then 
why not mightier than Laban and his 
fifty, vea, or even than his tens of thous- 
ands." 

This is the kind of faith to have. Let 
us be faithful in keeping the command- 
ments of God and then we know that 
we can win the battle, though we may 
be opposed by a man with his tens of 
thousands. The final result was that 
Nephi got the plates. We find recorded 
here also that Nephi was commanded 
of the Lord to build a vessel. His breth- 
ren laughed at him when they saw he 
was sorrowful because they refused to 
help him to build the vessel. Nephi said 
to them: 

"Behold, my soul is rent with anguish 
because of you, and my heart is pained; 
for I fear lest ye shall be cast off for- 
ever. Behold, I am full of the Spirit of 
God, insomuch that my frame has no 
strength." 

Nephi continues: 

"And now it came to pass that when I 
had spoken these words, they were angry 
with rae and were desirous to throw me 
into the depths of the sea; and as they 
came forth to lay their hands upon me, 
I spake unto them, saying: In the name 
of the Almighty God, I command you 
that ye. touch me not, for I am filled 
with the power of God even unto the 
consuming of my flesh; and whoso shall 
lay their hands upon me. shall wither 
even as a dried reed: and he shall be -is 
naught before the power of God, for God 
shall smite him. 

"And it came to pass that I, Nephi, 
said unto them, that they should mur- 
mur no more against their father; neith- 
er should they withhold their labor from 
me, for God had commanded me that I 
should build a ship." 

On another occasion when Nephi was 
in affliction, having been bound by his 
brethren on the ship, and they unbound 
him because they were afraid of the 
storm. Nephi said: 

"Wherefore they came unto me, and 
loosed the bands which were upon my* 
wrists and behold they had swollen 
exceedingly; and also mine ankles were 
much swollen, and great was the sore- 
ness thereof. 

"Nevertheless I did look unto my God, 



THE SOUTHERN STAR. 



15 



and I did praise Him all the day long; 
and I did not murmur against the Lord, 
because of mine afflictions." 

We find here a man of faith; a man 
who submits to affliction without mur- 
muring. In all his history we find that he 
followed the commandments of the 
Lord. The Lord said to him in the bo- 
ginning that if he followed His com- 
mandments he should be prospered in the 
land, and he was prospered. 1 wish to 
bear my testimony to the Latter-day 
Saints that all of us who will obey the 
commandments of God will be prospered 
iu the land. Sacrifice doth bring forth 
the blessings of heaven. I bear my testi- 
mony to the truth of what Brother 
Lund has said today, that if the people 
will pay their tithes and offerings, they 
will not only be blessed in their ma- 
terial affairs, but they will be abun- 
antly blessed with increased outpouring 
of the Spirit of the Lord. We find re- 
corded in section 130 of the book of 
Doctrine and Covenants, the following: 

"There is a law. irrevocably decreed 
in heaven before the foundation of this 
world, upon which all blessings are pre- 
dicated: 



Spirit of God, be honest in keeping the 
commandments of God. If you desire 
prosperity, and at the same time the tes- 
timony or the Gospel, pay all your ob- 
ligations to God and you shall have it. 
If you are not honest with God. you 
may prosper and you may be blessed: with 
the things of this world, but they will 
crowd out from your he^rt the spirit of 
the Gospel; you will become covetous 
of your own means and loose the in- 
spiration of Almighty God. The Savior 
told us that if we gained the whole 
world and lost our own souls, it would 
profit us nothing. We have started out 
for life eternal, the greatest of all the 
gifts of God to man, and keeping the 
commandments of God will bring it to 
us. May God bless you. Amen. 



"21. And when we obtain any bless- 
ing from God, it is by obedience to that 
law upon which it is predicated. 

I bear witness to you, as an Apostle 
of the Lord Jesus Christ, that material 
and spiritual prosperity is predicated up- 
on the fulfillment of the duties and re- 
sponsibilities that rest upon us as Lat- 
ter-day Saints. I have rejoiced exceed- 
ingly that the debts which the people 
owe to the Lord in tithing have been 
forgiven by the Prophet of God. But I 
want to say to those who are able to pav 
those debts, it will be a great deal better 
for them if they will do so, notwith- 
standing they have been forgiven. If 
the Lord will help me, I propose to pay 
every debt that I owe in the world. 1 
propose with the help of the Lord to be 
true, to my fellowmen in fulfilling every 
obligation that I have entered into with 
them. But above all and beyond all, I 
propose to fulfill my obligation, to the 
best of my ability, to God my Heavenly 
Father. I have been ridiculed in the 
public prints because I said that a man's 
duty was to pay his debts to the Lord 
if he did not pay his debts to his fel- 
lowman. I repeat that. God my Heav- 
enly Father has blessed me with a 
knowledge of the Gospel. I do know 
that God lives; I do know that Jesus is 
the Christ; I do know that Joseph Smith 
was a prophet of God; I do know that 
Lorenzo Snow is a Prophet of God; I 
know that God loves me: that he blesses 
me; that I am one of His children; that 
I am under obligations to Him; and 
that all I have on earth, all that I will 
ever receive here or hereafter, I 
am indebted to Him for it. Therefore. 
I say, shall I not fulfill the duties and 
obligations that I owe to my Creator 
and loving Parent before I fulfill ray ob- 
ligations to my fellowman. Has any 
man ever loaned me money because he 
loved me? No; he has loaned it to me 
because he wanted his interest. With 
the help of the Lord I propose to keep 
the commandments of the Lord, and then 
I do know that I shall be able to pay all 
that I owe because I know that God 
blesses those who keep His com- 
mandments. I know that I never 
made a sacrifice of a financial 
nature in my life, to help the advance- 
ment of God's work, without being 
abundantly rewarded therefor. Not 
only materially, but I grew in the knowl- 
edge of the Gospel and in the Spirit of 
(*od. which is worth more than all tho 
wealth and honors of men. I desire 
never to allow my heart to wither up. 
so to speak, but rather to have it srow 
and expand. I desire to seek first the 
kingdom of God. I do know and bear 
witness to you that if I do it all other 
things for my ^ood will be added unco 
me. And what I bear witness to per- 
tninj to myself. T bear witness to for all 
the Latter-day Saints. If you desire the 



North Kentucky Conference. 

The Elders of the North Kentucky 
Conference arrived in Louisville Friday, 
November 24th, and registered at the 
Victoria Hotel, where they were treated 
royally. The evening was devoted to 
spiritual exercises, and addresses were 
made by Elders Thorley, Terry, Turman, 
Peterson, Brain, Thatcher and Clegg. 

Saturday morning President Rich and 
Elder Arrowsmith, our late president, ar- 
rived from Chattanooga ; a meeting was 
held and a lecture on the "Restoration 
of the Gospel" given by Elder Arrow- 
smith, by request of the Elders. After 
having a photo of the conference taken 
the Elders again retired to the hotel par- 
lor and held council meeting. After 
prayer and singing President Thorley 
made a few remarks. President Ben. E 
Rich then questioned the Elders in turn 
as to their health, feelings, circumstances 
and their general condition. Elder Ar- 
rowsmith in a brief address exhorted the 
messengers of God to press forward in 
the cause of truth. Upon invitation from 
President Rich, two of our local Saints, 
Brothers Cannon and Ritchie, of Jeffer- 
son, made a few remarks, bearing a faith- 
ful testimony to the divinity of Joseph's 
mission. Elders Hibbert and Peterson, 
of the Southern Indiana Conference, re- 
sponded tf the invitation to address the 
Elders. 

President Rich impressed upon the 
minds of the Elders the necessity of be- 
ing energetic, true and devoted in their 
labors as ambassadors of the Kingdom of 
God; brought up many business points, 
and urged the Elders to labor with unity 
and love. 

A general meeting, to which the public 
were invited, convened in the Odd Fel- 
lows' Hall at 10 o'clodk Sunday morning, 
the 26th. President L. A. Thorley pro- 
sided. Singing, "Oh, My Father." 
Prayer by L. M. Terry. Singing, "Fare- 
well All Earthly Honors." 

President Ben. E. Rich made a few 
remarks relative to the object of our 
mission and the barbarous treatment ten- 
dered us by mobs of professed Christians. 
President Thorley introduced in turn 
Elders D. C. Benson, Brigham Clegg, J. 
R. Turman and George L. Freestone, who 
bore their testimony to the truthfulness 
of the Gospel, and discussed briefly mis- 
cellaneous doctrines as taught by our 
blessed Redeemer. President Rich made 
a few closing remarks. After singing and 
prayer the meeting was aajurned until 
2:30 p. m. 

The afternoon meeting convened at the 
appointed hour, and Elder James Mc- 
Arthur bore a faithful testimony, after 
which Elder Albert Arrowsmith spoke 
on the gathering of Israel and miscella- 
neous principles of the Gospel as taught 
by the Latter Day Saints, pointing out 
some of the fallacies of modern Chris- 
tianity. 

The night meeting convened at 7:30 



o'clock. Elder L. M. Terry made a few 
remarks upon Revelation in a very inter- 
esting manner. 

President Ben. E. Rich in a pleasant 
manner introduced his subject and took 
his text from GaL i. :8, showing the ne- 
cessity of present revelation. Said the 
sin of every generation was a belief in 
dead prophets, and a rejection of the liv- 
ing oracles. Proved that the Church of 
Christ should have the same officers. in it 
today as was placed there by. the Master 
1900 years ago. Said a man must be 
properly called of God as was Aaron to 
preach the Gospel, and that signs, would 
follow the believer. Compared the civili- 
zation of the "Mormons" with that of 
professed Christians who revile -us, burn 
our churches and brutally mob Elders. 
Brought up polygamy as it exists in 
Utah, and as misunderstood by the world. 
In closing he made an appeal for peace 
and brotherly love. President Thorley 
thanked the people for their presence and 
hospitality. 

A good congregation was present dur- 
ing the meetings, many of our friends 
and Saints from other places attending. 
A spirit of brotherly love and union was 
felt, and no one who has not had the 
like experience can realize the sorrow at 
parting and joy of meeting, understood 
so well by Saints, Elders and friends. 

President Thorley was released to re- 
turn home and Elder L. N. Terry ap- 
pointed his successor. The Elders were 
given companions and went to their va- 
rious fields of labor feeling refreshed by 
the spiritual feast that they had attend- 
ed and feeling more determined to work 
ezalously in the Lord's vineyard. 

President Terry chose as his counsel- 
lors Elders J. R. Turman and Brigham 
Clegg. And the headquarters in the fu- 
ture will be Bagdad, Shelby county. 

President Rich complimented the El- 
ders on their appearance and general 
neatness. We have a good president and 
a bright, energetic lot of Elders. It is 
our aim and desire to see that the North 
Kentucky is behind none of her sister 
conferences. 

President L. A. Thorley and Elder 
George L. Freestone were honorably re- 
leased and go home early in December. 
Brigham Clegg, 
Cler k of Conference. 

Ohio Conference. 

The Elders of hte Ohio Conference on 
Nov. 28 and 29 held one of the most suc- 
cessful conferences ever held, either in 
the history of the Ohio Conference or of 
the Southern States Mission. Two weeks 
before the appointed time, Elders Ben. 
E. Rich and L. M. Nebeker entered the 
city of Columbus to make preparations 
for the coming event. 

A true American spirit prevailed in 
this city; all but a few treated the El- 
ders with due respect; the papers report- 
ed them fairly ; officers and citizens alike 
showed every courtesy. The chief of po- 
lice when requested to interfere and stop 
our conference by some ladies belonging 
to a society, who has members that judge 
a matter before hearing the condemned 
speak, were informed that they were in 
America. 

Tuesday, the 28th, was spent in Priest- 
hood meeting. 

Wednesday morning, according to ap- 
pointment, all met in the I. O. O. F. Hall 
at 10 o'clock. After singing, prayer and 
singing again, President Ben. E. Rich 
addressed the congregation briefly, out- 
lining "Mormonism." 

Elder R. L. Shepherd quoted exten- 
sively to show how every new truth has 
its drawbacks. Elder L. M. Nebeker dis- 



16 



THE SOUTHERN STAR. 



REPORT OF MISSION CONFERENCES FOR WEEK ENDING NOV. 18, 1899. 



CbrlaioHyldahL - 

Joaeph F. Pulley... ..„..„„. 

B. F. Price 

JobD Peterson. «.-.;..,. 

W. D.Renrher 

T. H. Huropherya 

C. 0. Parker-,. .......,.....►„„. 

J, Urbaa Allred ...... 

Lewis 1 wen se u „. .. 

Geo, A. Day........... ....;,.<.... 

O, I>, Flake- 

D. A.Brondbent„,. M .-,-»p..<-* 

J. Lewii Hobson .. 

J,H. WULLa 

L< M. Terry „ „^„.... 

J. W. Funk...... 



CONFBRKNLK 



Chattanooga 

Virginia 

Kentucky ......... 

E. Tennessee 

Georgia*. 

H. Alabama.. 

Florida........ . 

Mid, Tenn ...... 

K. t'arolioft 

8 Carolina... .... 

M Ian teal ppi 

E. Kentucky. ..... 

Louisiana..... 

9. A lab* m *. ........ 

Jf. Kentucky 

Ohio.......... 



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.latunto .....,.„,....,.. 

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Kentucky. 

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cussed the contention of sects and de- 
plored the fact ; for half an hour he spoke 
very interestingly. The meeting then 
adjourned till 2 :30. 

After the usual preliminaries Preei 
dent J. W. Funk arose to speak. His 
calm eloquence so enthralled his auditors 
that a death-like silence prevailed, and 
occasionally a burst of applause indicated 
the rapture of the audience ; thus he spoke 
and thus the audience were swayed for 
some time. 

Elder Maycock followed, speaking on 
the Spaulding story and Book of Mor- 
mon, showing there was no resemblance. 
Also the frailty of the argument used by 
some who would make these books the 
same. He also compared the work of 
Joseph Smith with that of the founders 
of other religious societies; after which 
the meeting adjourned till 7:30 p. m. 

At the appointed hour the house was 
filled. Elder Ben. L. Rich was the first 
speaker, who in eloquent terms showed 
"Mormonism" to be a progressive form 
of religion. He was followed by Presi- 
dent Ben. E. Rich, who spoke for about 
an hour to a very appreciative audience, 
who were entertained by his pleasing and 
apt illustrations. 

When the meeting was adjourned 
many men swarmed around the Elders 
and were loud in their praise of the doc- 
trine taught by the Elders. Among the 
crowd were three men who had attended 
all three services. They approached Pres- 
ident Rich and said: "We are heathens; 
they call us heathens because we are ag- 
nostics, and because we cannot believe 
in the kind of a God they worship. To 
night, Mr. Rich, after attending these 
services we come nearer believing in God 
than we ever did in our lives. You teach 
a reasonable doctrine." 

Many such expressions were heard. As 
formerly mentioned, this was one of the 
most successful conferences held this 
year. Owing to the release of Elder 
Funk, George E. Maycock was unani- 
mously sustained as president of the Ohio 
Conference. He chose L. M. Nebeker and 
H. Z. Lund as his counsellors. 



DEATHS. 

Stephen Perry departed this life Nov 
12, 1899, at the home of Wm. Perry, near 
Northcut's Cove, Tenn. He was 8<> years 
and two months old and had been a 
member of the Church since Nov. 19, 
1896. His house was always open to the 
weary traveller. He was a kind and in 
dulgent father, a loving husband and a 
very desirable neighbor. He lived and 
died a faithful Latter-day Saint. May 
he rest in peace until the trumpet of God 
shall sound, then may he come forth to 
share the glories of the resurrection pre- 
pared for the just. 



THE DARK AGES. 



(From page 11.) 



among us wondered, and. some spake 
jeeringly, thanking the lady, that she 
had thus with provident care, reserved 
the choicest banquet for the scarcest 
days. But even as she busily ministered, 
quick, sudden sobs of laughter broke 
from her. At length the vessel's covering 
she raised up, and there it lay! Ben Ca- 
tha paused, and the High Priest ex- 
claimed: 'What lay, thou*rt sick and 
pale!' " 

"By earth and heaven, the remnant of 
a child! a human child! What, start? so 
started we. Whereat she shrieked aloud 
and clapped her hands. 

"Oh dainty and fastidious appetites! 
The mother feasts upon her babe, and 
strangers loathe the repast. And then, 
'My beautiful child, the treasure of my 
womb; my bosom's joy.' And then in 
her cool madness did she spurn us out of 
doors. Oh, still. Oh, still, I hear her, 
and I shall hear her till my day of 
death."' 

Thus the prophecies of Moses and 
Jesus were verily fulfilled, and Jerusa- 
lem was destroyed and torn up until ev- 
ery vestige of its glory had vanished; 
and not one stone was left upon another 
to tell of the glory of Herod's temple. 

Vespasion employed the captive Jews 
in the construction of the great Ampi- 
theater in Rome, whose vast ruins stand 
today. A circus which would accom- 
modate 80,000 people, where gladiatorial 
exhibitions were given before a blood- 
thirsty populace. The Jews have re- 
mained in a scattered condition ever 
since, and been the hiss and by-word of 
every nation. 

The lull in the Christian persecution 
was broken by the edicts of the Emperor 
Domitian, who was extremely bitter in 
his hatred of the Christians. He was 
jealous of Christ, whom he looked upon 
as a rival to his throne; and in conse- 
seendants of David, vowing their exter- 
mination. 

It was this Emperor, who, tradition 
records, had the beloved John placed in 
boiling oil, and not being able to take 
his life, had him banished to the coal 
mines of Patmos, a lonely isle in the 
Aegean sea; where the Savior appeared 
to him, with angels, who opened the win- 
dows of heaven to his view, and he saw 
the beautiful gates, and the golden 
streets, which must have been a source 
of great joy in his loneliness. These 
beautiful visions are recorded in his book 
of Revelations. 

John was the last of the Apostles, 
and appeared to vanish from earthly 



view in the latter part of this the first 
century at Ephesus; where Timothy was 
Bishop. Timothy had been tied to the 
tail of a horse, and dragged to death; 
and all the Apostles had been ignomin- 
iously slain. At this time the laity was 
becoming weak in the faith, and apos- 
tates becoming quite numerous. 

The Gnostics were making great 
headway, especially under the unrepent- 
ant Simon Magus, did this sect thrive, 
after his denunciation by Peter (when 
asking for the gift of the Holy Ghost, 
and desiring to pay for it), Peter said, 
"Thy money perish with thee, for I per- 
ceive that thou art in the gall of bitter- 
ness, and in the bond of iniquity." (Acts 
8.) This man Simon the sorcerer, could 
bewitch people, and had a certain power 
that he got from the evil one, so that in 
the eyes of the people he worked won- 
ders and miracles, and had a great fol- 
lowing. He had been highly learned in 
the dark mysteries of Egypt, and like 
Jannes and Jambres of old, who withstood 
Moses and Aaron, by their enchant- 
ments, so Simon in like manner operat- 
ed under the power of the evil one, and 
could almost deceive the elect by his 
imitations of the powers of the priest- 
hood. He came to his end in a startling 
manner. Being under the impression 
that he could ascend at. will to heaven, 
he appointed a time and jumped from a 
high building, expecting to go upward, 
but descended, and was dashed to 
pieces. That is about the way the devil 
invariably deserts his subjects. 

Jewish doctors also corrupted the 
weak Christians in the provinces of 
Rome, by preaching the law of Moses; 
against the teachings of Christ, which 
doctrines were principally refuted by 
Paul in his epistle to the Romans. The 
first chapter gives a glariug description 
of the corruptible condition of mankind 
at this period. 

The living oracles had departed, and 
the Saints were becoming weak, and 
many were departing from the faith as 
taught by the Apostles, falling into 
darkness, and grovelling in the mire of 
rank paganism. 

(To be continued.) 



Releases and Appointments. 

Released to return home: 

Geo. L. Freestone, L. A. Thorley, R. 
A. Robinson, Taylor Nelson, W. B. Hall. 
P. A. Rogers, B. Brough, G. M. Mat- 
thews, J. U. Rencher. Lewis Swensen. 
L. Bringhurst, D. C. Urie, L. D. Dibble, 
J. E. Everton. M. A. Stewart, C. H. 
Wentz, F. B. Hammond, Jr. 



Good nature and good sense must ever join, 
To err Is human, to forgive divine. 

—Pope. 





■BUT THOUGH WE 02 AN ANGEL FROM HEAVEN, PREACH ANY 
OTNEG GOSPEL UNTO YOU TflAN THAT WMlCH WE 

HAVE FfiEAtHfcD UNTO YOU, LET MIM BE ACCURSED *&i./ve&tf 



^ftjE j* 



«i" 



Vol. 2. 



Chattanooga, Tbnn., Saturday, Deoembbr 16, 1899. 



No. .8 



IMPATIENCE. 



By Ella Wheeler Wilcox. 
How can I wait until yon come to me? 
The once fleet mornings linger by the 
way; 
Their sunny smiles touched with malicious 
glee 
At my unrest, they seem to pause and 

play 
Like truant children, while I sigh and say, 
How can I wait? 

How can 1 wait? Of old, the rapid hours 

Hefused to pause or loiter with me long; 

But now they idly fill their hands with 

flowers, 

And make no haste, but slowly stroll 

among 
The summer blooms, not heeding my one 
song. 

How can I wait? 

How can I wait? The n ignis alone are kind; 

They reach forth to a future day, and 

bring 

Sweet dreams of you to people all my mind ; 

And time speeds by on light and airy 

wing. 
I feast upon your face, I no more sing, 
How can I wait? 

How can I wait? The morning breaks the 
spell 
A pitying night has flung upon my soul. 
You are not near me, and I know full well 
My heart has need of patience and con- 
trol; 
Before we meet, hours, days, and weeks 
must roll. 

How can I wait? 

How can I wait? Oh, Love, how can I wait 
Until the sunshine of your eyes shall 
shine 
Upon my world that seems so desolate? 
until your hand-clasp warms my blood 

like wine; 
Until you come again, oh, Love of mine, 
How can I wait? 



A Battle Song. 
Edwin Arnold. 
We are they who will not falter— 

Many swords or few- 
Till we make this earth the altar 

Of a worship new: 
We are those who will not take 

From prelate, priest or code, 
A nearer law than brotherhood— 

A higher law than good. 

We are those whose unpaid legions, 
In free ranks arrayed, 

Massacred in many regions, 
Never once were stayed; 

We are those whose torn battalions, 
Trained to bleed, not fly, 

Make our agonies a triumph- 
Conquer, while we die. 

Therefore down to Armageddon, 

Brothers bold and strong, 
Cheer the glorious way we tread on, 

With a soldier's song! 
Let the armies of the old flags 

March in silent dread. 
Death and life are one to us, 

Who fight for quick and dead. 



ELDER GEO. A. LYIAN. 

The subject of this sketch, Geo. A. 
Lyman, arrived in the. missionary fieM 
just three years ago. He labored for 
five months as a canvassing Elder and 
was then appointed general superinten- 
dent of Sunday Schools of the East Ken- 
tucky conference. Later he was chos- 
en to act as counselor to President Elias 
S. Woodruff and acted in the same ca- 
pacity to President John Woodmansee. 




Nov. 10, 1898, at the release of Pres- 
ident Woodmansee, Brother Lyman suc- 
ceeded to the presidency of the East 
Kentucky conference, which position he 
filled with signal credit. In Jan. 1809, 
he was called to the office at Chattanoo- 
ga to act as counselor to President Ben 
E. Rich, of the Southern States Mission. 
Since that time he has traveled in nearly 
every state comprised in the Southern 
States Mission, visiting among the El- 
ders and Saints, instructing them in their 
duties. Brother Lyman is a very able 



counselor and did much good wherever he 
went. As previously stated he has spent, 
three years as a missionary and goes 
home Dec. 15, 1899, conscious of having 
done his duty, and with the assurance 
that God will bless him. His services 
were much appreciated in the office and 
we reluctantly bid him farewell. Wf 
present his picture this week because, he 
is the oldest Elder in the mission, not 
in age, but in the time spent in the work. 

History of tho Southern States Mission. 

(Continued from Page 9.) 

In the latter part of May a serious 
mobbing occurred at Greasy Cove, St. 
Clair county, Alabama. May 21 Elders 
M. W. Miller and B. F. Le Baron were 
requested by Mr. Pink Battles, the post- 
master of the above named place, to 
hold a meeting. They gladly consented 
and were entertained by Mr. Battles. 

Early next morning news reached the 
Elders of an approaching mob. Mr. 
Battles also learning of the intended raid, 
summoned five neighbors, who were 
friendly disposed toward the Elders. At. 
about 6 a.m. both parties appeared, the 
five friends a little in advance of the 
mob. The law-breakers demanded the 
Elders, as they wanted to kill them. 
When informed by Mr. Battles that 
these gentlemen were his guests and he 
would defend them, the mob knew with 
whom they were dealing and said then 
if they were only allowed to whip the 
brethren they would be satisfied. This 
overture was indignantly refused, and 
finally they allowed the oppressed to de- 
part, on the conditions that they leave 
the country. 

The mob disbanded very much dissat- 
isfied with what they had accomplished, 
and dispersed swearing vengeance. This 
was by no means the end of this trouble. 
On the 27th Elders Beecher and Brinker- 
hoff, who had not heard of the mobbing, 
wandered into this neighborhood and 
spent the night there, and continued 
their journey next morning. All dav 
they were followed by an armed mob, 
who were determined that they should 
not be molested in their demonial inten- 
tions; at noon thirty of the number, tired 
of the chase and returned. This was 
about one-half of the mob. The other 
half continued the pursuit and overtook 



18 



THE SOUTHERN STAR. 



the Elders just at dark. Then they 
could not agree as to what disposition to 
make of the Elders. Many would kill 
them, others thought whipping severe 
enough, while others still were in favor 
of letting them depart, providing that 
they (the Elders) would apply the lash 
to those who had befriended them. This 
insult was indignantly resented, so they 
decided to give Elder Beecher thirty 
lashes and Elder Brinkerhoff twenty. 
Guards stood on both sides of them with 
rifles leveled at the Elders' heads, while 
two of the brutes wielded the hickory. 
In the mob were James Gillan, Eli Gil- 
Ian, Edward Gillan, John Smith, Robert 
Bryant, James Walker and Bud Jackson, 
who were ministers of the Gospel; at 
least they were preaching and were the 
recognized pastors of some of the 
churches. 
June— 

The cloven foot is again in evidence 
this month. Elders Sessions and Smith 
went to a school house to hold meeting. 
From appearances they thought they 
would "get in a box" if they held ser- 
vices, as a coffin with an explanatory 
sign tacked on it was left on the door- 
step. They held no meeting. 

Elders Jones and Phelps had some very 
• unpleasant experience in Pearl River 
county, Mississippi. If people let them 
preach in their house or entertained 
them, someone would apply the torch and 
burn them out, consequently they had to 
depart for other fields. At Poplarville^ 
the county seat, they were compelled to 
fiee under cover of darkness to avoid be- 
ing harshly treated. 
July— 

Elders Garter, Done and Allen were 
stopping near Knott's mill, Orangeburg 
county, South Carolina. At 6 p.m. the 
14th inst. two men approached the house 
and inquired if they had any cattle to 
sell. Receiving a negative reply, they 
departed, returning in a few minutes 
with twenty others. They said they had 
a warrant for the arrest of the Elders, 
and when asked for thtir authority they 
presented some formidable-looking revol- 
vers and said, "This is our authority." 
Elder Allen had left the house to see a 
friend, and by this act escaped the un- 
pleasant flagellation to which Brothers 
Done and Garter were subjected. 

At 8 a.m. the two were taken into cus- 
tody and were marched all day through 
dense swamps and undergrowths. All 
this time friends were following, hoping 
to be of some service in time of need. 
The mob had halted for a short rest, but 
now resumed the journey at 3:30 a.m. 
the morning following the capture. They 
continued the journey until about two 
and a half miles from Swancy. The 
leader, a minister, Abney by name, called 
a halt and ordered that the men should 
be searched. Everything they had was 
confiscated, excepting their Bible. Their 
licenses, cards and all other books were 
destroyed, and their money (50 cents) 
was confiscated. Among their posses- 
sions was a bottle of Rubifoam. The 
minister mounted a log and said the bot- 
tle contained holy oil, and asked if any- 
one wished to be annointed. As no one 
replied he threw the bottle against a 
tree and broke it. 

The Elders were then compelled to lie 
across a log while a stalwart brute struck 
them twenty-one lashes each with a 
heavy tug. They were then put aboard 
the train, closely guarded by one of the 
mob, and taken to Columbia. At this 
place they were to be arrested, but when 
they arrived they told the guard that 



they would have him arrested. He then 
seen his predicament and begged for 
mercy. He was allowed to go by those 
whom he had persecuted. The mob 
hunted night and day for Elder Allen, 
but were unable to find him. 

The ministers were very active in op- 
posing the Elders at this time, and en- 
listed the newspapers to help them. One 
of these sheets published in Virginia pub- 
lished the opinions of some of the men. 
What seemed to hurt, they said, was the 
fact that the Mormons were allowed to 
proselyte among the Methodists and Bap- 
tists, and were successful in their work. 
John Page, of Beaver Dam, Va„ who 
led a mob that drove the Elders from 
the county in which he lived about a year 
before this time, said: "To lose my life 
getting rid of the Mormons would give 
me as much pleasure as to die fighting 
for my country; in fact, I prefer the 
former." 

(To be continued.) 



The Death Sentence. 

There is kept in a small chapel at Ca- 
serta, a village twenty miles north of 
Naples, a thin brass tablet upon which 
is engraven, in Hebrew characters, the 
purported death sentence pronounced by 
Pontius Pilate upon Jesus of Nazereth. 

This plate was found in the year 1280 
among a quantity of records of the King- 
dom of Naples in the city of Aguilla. A 
number of other documents were found, 
whose genuineness were never doubted. 
They referred to official transactions in 
the Roman provinces about the same 
time as the crucifixion of the Savior. The 
inscription upon the plate is as follows: 
"Sentence pronounced by Pontius Pi- 
late, intendant of the province of Lower 
Galilee, that Jesus of Nazareth shall 
suffer death by the cross on the 25th day 
of the month of March, in the seven- 
teenth year of the reign of the Emperor 
Tiberius, during the pontificate of Annas 
and Caiaphas, in the holy city of Jeru- 
salem. 

"Pontius Pilate, intendant of the prov- 
ince of Lower Galilee, sitting in judg- 
ment as president in the seat of the 
praetor, condemns Jesus of Nazareth to 
die on a cross between two robbers, be- 
cause of the numerous and conclusive 
testimony of the people as follows: 
"1. Jesus is a disturber of the peace. 
"2. Jesus has taught the people sedi- 
tion. 
M 8. Jesus is an enemy of the laws. 
"4. Jesus calls Himself the Son of God. 
"5. Jesus calls Himself the King of 
Israel. 

"6. Jesus disturbed the worship of the 
temple by leading a mob of people with 
palms in their hands. 

"Quirilius Cornelius, first of the cen- 
turions, is ordered to take the body of 
Jesus to the place of execution and pro- 
vide the cross. All people are forbidden 
to appear or prevent the execution." 

Then follow the names of the judges 
and the names of the witnesses to the 
various charges in the indictment. The 
engraving is well done, and most of the 
characters are still clear enough to be 
traced.* Any traveler who visits the vil- 
lage of Caserta can see this extraordi- 
nary relic by paying a small fee to the 
priests. 



Life is made up, not of great sacri- 
fices or duties, but of little things, in 
smiles and kindness and small obliga- 
tions, given habitually, are what preserve 
the heart and secure comfort. 



HABIT 

BY PHILIP S. MAYCOCK. 
(Continued from page 10.) 
Another thing we must remember. The 
child and even man easily adopts the 
manners of those with whom he fre- 
quently associates, particularly when he 
honors and loves them; and what was 
formerly a strange example confronting 
him gradually and imperceptibly becomes 
his own thought and actions. At first 
we may be shocked by a wicked act, but 
if the act be repeated we gradually as- 
similate ourselves to it. "Vice is a mon- 
ster of so frightful mien that to be hated 
needs but to be seen; but seen to oft, 
familiar with his face, first pity, then 
endure, then embrace." How careful we 
should be of the surroundings we make, 
the companions we choose, me books we 
read. 

There is another aspect of habit to 
which I wish to refer. Extreme habitua- 
tion is fraught with danger. It may di- 
minish the many-sidedness of our inter- 
ests, or even make the new incomprehen- 
sible or intolerable to us. Habit may 
keep us in a rut. We may form the habit 
of being interested in only one line of 
work — the mathematician cares for noth- 
ing but mathematics, the stock-raiser 
cares only for matters concerned with 
his calling. Instead of forming the habit 
of attending in any particular direction, 
form the habit of giving attention general- 
ly. Form the habit of raying debts you 
owe, not only to a class of your acquaint- 
ances, but to all. Instead of forming the 
habit of being neat and orderly in com- 
pany only, form the habit of being neat 
and orderly in all conditions. No matter 
how good the habit may be, if it be nar- 
row instead of general in its nature, it 
tends toward slavery. We must not be 
bound by habit. We must form the 
habit of rebelling, if necessary* against a 
habit, the habit of being able to break a 
habit, the habit of freedom. It is because 
habit in the narrow sense tends to keep 
us in a rut. and thus prevent progress, 
that Rosseau said : "The only habit which 
a child should be allowed to form is the 
habit of doinsr nothing in particular. 

In politics, habit is a conservative; in 
religion, he clings to the beliefs of the 
oast; in education, the old methods are 
his and the old masters are his ideals. 
He allows the radical to look up to the 
rising star; he himself remains faithful to 
the sun which has set. In fashion he 
clings to the modes and styles of his an- 
cestors. In short, habit defends des- 
potism, and asserts the supremacy of hu- 
man laws, adheres to the old creed, and 
supports ecclesiastical authority, pays 
resnect to titles and preserves forms. 
"Reformers do not always understand that 
it takes years to unroot an established 
custom and originate a new one. Only 
gradually is the change made. A strug- 
gle goes on between the resisting force 
of ancient custom and the contagious 
sympathy of new modes of feeling and 
thought. "Reformers are generally too 
hasty, and because they cannot in a short 
time* effect a change in the habit of a na- 
tion, they become disheartened pessimists. 
No revolution in public opinion is the 
work of one person or one day. The Re- 
formation would hav*» occurred had there 
been no Luther or Zwingle. Their indi- 
viduality, their personal energy and zeal, 
hastened, perhaps, by a vear or two the 
event. But had the public mind not been 
already ripe for their revolt, the fate of 
the reformers would k«<ve been death. 
Woe to the revolutionist who is not him- 
self a creature of the revolution. If he 
come before the sp'rit of the time is ready 
for him he is lost, for it requires what no 
one individual can supnly. a long and 
powerful counter svmpathy in a nation to 
untwine the ties of custom which bind a 
npople to the established and the old. 
When an atctinpt was made to establish 
the United Order among the Latter Dav 
Saints, the people were not prepared for 
such a system and a failure was the con- 
sequence. 
Ijet us now refer to a few pedagogical 



THEJ30UTHERN STAR. 



19 



mpyimH that are of great value to us. 
On this point Dr. James is so rich I shall 
quote him at length: Seize the very 
first possible opportunity to act on every 
resolution you make, <Jn every emotional 
prompting you may experience in the di- 
rection of habits you aspire to gain. No 
matter now full a reservoir of maxims 
one may possess, and no matter how 
good one's sentiments may be, if one 
have not taken advantage of every con- 
crete opportunity to act, one's character 
may remain entirely unaffected for the 
better. With mere good intentions, hell 
is proverbially paved. A character is 
a completely fashioned will, and a will is 
an aggregate of tendencies to act in a 
firm and prompt and definite way upon 
all the principal emergencies of life. A 
tendency to act only becomes effectively 
ingrained in us in proportion to the unin- 
terrupted frequency with which the ac- 
tions actually occur. Every time a re- 
solve or fine glow of feeling evaporates 
without bearing practical fruit is worse 
than a chance lost; it works so as posi- 
tively to hinder future resolutions and 
emotions from being carried out into acts. 
We must expect nothing from cautions 
and precepts beyond the point at which 

eractice has changed them into firm 
abits. Training converts precept, exam- 
ple, and impulse into habit. There is no 
test of virtue except its exhibition in ac- 
tion. A right feeling should have its 
issue in a corresponding action. Th*. 
oftener we speak of right, as a matter 
of mere sentiment, the wider becomes the 

Sp between the feeling and the act. 
lere is no education to moralty apart 
from the practice of morality. 

There is no more contemptible type 
of human character than that of the 
nerveless sentimentalist, who spends all 
his life in a weltering sea of sensibility 
and emotion, but who never does a man- 
ly concrete deed. The weeping of a Rus- 
sian lady over the fictitious personages 
in the play, while her coachman is freez- 
ing to death on his coach outside is 
the sort of thing that everywhere hap- 
pens on a less glaring scale. One be- 
comes habitually filled with emotions 
which habitually pass without prompting 
to any deed, and so the sentimental con- 
dition is kept up. The remedy would be 
never to have an emotion at a concert 
(or theater) without expressing it af- 
terward in some active way — doing the 
least thing in the world, speaking gen- 
erally to one's aunt or giving up one's 
seat in the horse car, if nothing more 
heroic offers, but let it not fail to take 
place. Keep the faculty of effort alive 
in you by a little gratuitous exercise 
every day; that is, be systematically as- 
cetic or heroic in little unnecessary 
points; do every day something for no 
other reason than that you would rath 
er not do it, so that when the hour of 
dire need draws nigh it may find you 
nerved and trained to stand the test. 
Asceticism of this sort is like the in- 
surance which a man pays on his house 
and goods. The tax does him no good 
at the time, and possibly may* never 
bring him a return. But if the fire does 
come, his having paid it will be his sal- 
vation from ruin. So with the man who 
has daily applied himself to habits of 
concentrated attention and self-denial in 
unnecessary things. He will stand like 
a tower when everything rocks around 
him, and when his softer fellow mortals 
are winnowed like chaff in the blast. 

Let us remember that since habit 
is the master of one's later years, 
we should in youth endeavor to 
form good habits; that although' inher- 
ited tendency counts for much— for has 
not some one said that the child is the 
fruit of all the past and the seed of all 
the future — still habit counts for more 
in forming character; that although one 
original nature may be strong, habit may 
become a second nature— nay, as the 
Duke of Wellington said, it may be- 
come ten times nature, "for use can al- 
most change the stamp of nature;" and, 
remembering these truths, let ' us not 
ascribe te natural endowments the 



achievement that is the effect of long 
and persistent attention; but let us go 
forth as apostles of patient and persis- 
tent work, climbing each day higher and 
higher up Sinai's slope, not satisfied 'till 
we shall have reached the summit. 

The heights by great men reached and kept 
Were not attained by sudden nignt, 

But they, while their companions Biept, 
Were tolling upward In the night. 

There is no one who has not grown up 
under a load of beliefs — beliefs which he 
owes to the accidents of country or 
family, to the books he has read, to the 
society he has frequented, in general to 
t^e circumstances which have concurred 
in the formation of his intellectual and 
moral habits. These beliefs may be true 
or false; or what is more probable, they 
may be a medley of truths and errors. 
It is, however, under their influence thai 
he studies, and through them, as through 
a prism, that he views and judges the ob- 
jects of knowledge. Everything, there- 
fore, is seen by him in false colors or in 
distorted relations. And that is why, in 
the search for truth, renunciation of 
prejudices is required, a prejudice being 
an opinion formed without a previous ex- 
amination of its grounds. Christ says 
that unless we become as little children, 
we cannot enter the kingdom of heaven; 
unless we cast off the prejudices of the 
man, and become as children, docile and 
unperverted, we need never hope to at- 
tain progress in truth. Man is by na- 
ture, says Aristotle, a social animal, and 
there is a tendency in each of us to as- 
similate in opinions and habits of thought, 
to those with whom we live and act. As 
men are prone to imitate others, they nat- 
urally regard as important or insignifi- 
cant, as honorable or disgraceful, as true 
or false, as good or bad, what those 
around them consider in the same light. 
They love and hate what they see others 
love or hate. Our faith is likely to be 
faith in somebody else's faith. Almost 
every opinion we have but by au- 
thority; we believe, judge, act, live and 
die on trust, as common custom teaches 
us. We are too weak to choose and de- 
cide for ourselves. An ounce of custom 
outweighs a ton of reason. But the wise 
do not act thus. They, as Paul says, 
prove all things and hold fast to that 
which is good. But since prejudice makes 
men slaves, disqualifies them for the pur- 
suit of truth, we must break off the habit 
of prejudice. We must learn to judge of 
opinions by things, and not judge of things 
by opinions. Let us free ourselves from 
our opinions, but in asserting our liberty 
let us not act the part of revolted slaves 
and run into license. Let us doubt, but 
remember that doubt is a means, not an 
end. We begin with doubt in order that 
we may not end in doubt We doubt once 
in order that we can believe always. We 
surrender opinion that we may obtain 
knowledge. We must not be infi- 
dels in truth. Our doubt must not 
be the doubt of passion, of fancy, 
or of darkness; but must be the 
doubt of prudence, of wisdom, the doubt 
that is born of light, and produces lipht in 
its turn. Belief without question is the 
work of a feeble mind ; but unlimited skep- 
ticism, of a feebler one; and we are likely 
foolishly to ascribe vigor of intellect to 
•one who doubts everything. Among the 
habits that induce us to adhere to skep- 
ticism or error, there is none more dan- 
gerous than sloth. The greater part of 
mankind are inclined to spare themselves 
the trouble of a long or laborious inquiry, 
or they fancy that a superficial examina- 
tion is enough, and the slightest agree- 
ment between a few objects in a few 
points they at once assume as showing 
the agreement of the whole throughout. 
The discovery of truth can be made only 
by the labor of attention. The attention 
is a natural prayer by which we obtain 
the enlightenment of reason. 

Pride is a powerful impediment to pro- 
gress, in knowledge. Under the influence 
of this passion men seek honor, not truth. 
They do not cultivate what is most val- 



uable in reality, but what is meat valu- 
able in mere opinion. They disdain per- 
haps what can be easily accomplished 
and apply themselves to the obscure and 
recondite. 

Self-love is an enemy to progress in , 
truth. It has led men to close 
their eyes against the most evi- 
dent truths which were not in 
harmony with their adopted opinions. 
What a man wishes to be true that he 
prefers believing. If the human mind 
has once taken a liking to any doctrine 
it draws everything else into harmony 
with that doctrine and to its support; 
and although there may be found a more 
powerful array of contradictory evidence 
or instances, these the mind does not 
notice, or else condemns and rejects. 

Baptists Disagree. 

Chattanooga Times. 

The Baptist church of Texas is badly 
split as a result of the factional differ- 
ences which resulted in a large number 
of delegates being refused seats in the 
convention. The faction which was exclud- 
ed is known as the church party. Its lead- 
ers were today in earnest but quiet con- 
sultation. The situation was considered 
from all standpoints and a vigorously ag- 
gressive campaign determined upon. An 
address to the Baptists of Texas is to be 
promulgated within the next three days. 
The instrument is now being prepared. 

It was determined to distribute this ad- 
dress among every congregation of Bap- 
tists in Texas and then at the expiration 
of two months energetic action is to be 
taken. 

Into the Courts. 

The first move of importance will be a 
resort to the courts of law. 

The board of directors appointed today 
by the general convention are to be sued 
to obtain control of the Baptist general 
convention, all of the educational insti- 
tutions of the Baptist denomination in 
Texas, the possession and control of mis- 
sion funds, and, in fact, for all the ma- 
chinery of the Baptist church in the state. 
This will be the most extensive religious 
lawsuit ever instituted in the United 
States. 

It was also given out that the proceed- 
ings of the general convention, just ad- 
journed, will be reported to the various 
churches by the church policy party and 
denounced as illegal and of no force ; that 
the amendments to the constitution are 
not binding and a recommendation that 
a general convention be held under the 
auspices of the church party leaders. The 
result will be that the fight will be car- 
ried into every church in the state, some 
2,500 in number. 



"Some people," said the man with the 
large Adam's apple, "seem just naturally 
to have the hardest kind of luck. Here's 
an account of a man who put out his eye 
with his own umbrella." 

"Say," observed the man with the cellu- 
loid dickey, "that's so. Now there's my 
friend Quackenboss. He put his false 
teeth in his coat-tail pocket, forgot they 
were there, sat down on them and bit 
himself so severely that he died in three 
days from hydrophobia. Now — " 

But the man with the large Adam's 
apple was gone.— New York Press. 



In Belgium at 6 o'clock, evening, you 
hear from every cottage the voices of 
father, mother and children and servants 
saying their prayers, and it is much the 
same at noon. 



Many a good man has strayed into the 
crooked path by following the direction of 
a corkscrew- 



20 



THE SOUTHERN STAB. 




Piblltbww Wttkly by Satttwri Statst Minolta, Ckirtk 

tf Jam Christ tf Utttr Day falita,: 

Ckattaiatfa, Tail. 



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Tbr.a Months .25 
Slngla Capias, 5 Casts. 



Subscribers removing from one place to another, 
and desiring papers changed, should always give 
former as well as present address, by postal card or 
letter. 



Entered at the Pott Office at Chattanooga^ ft**., at 
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Correspondence from all parts of the missionary 
field is solicited. Give name and address, or articles 
will be rejected. Write on one side of paper only 
when sent for publication. We reserve the right to 
either eliminate or reject any communication sent in. 
Address Box 103. 



Saturday, December 16, 1899. 



ARTICLES OF FAITH 

OP THE CHURCH OP JESUS CHRIST OP 
LATTER-DAY SAINTS. 

1. WsbtliOT la tied tbe ■tarsal rstb»r, sad ia Bis 0t» 
Jeans Cartel, sad Is the B0I7 Ghost 

ft, We believe that snea will be peaiehed for their ova 
ejus, and net far Adam's traaaaeerioa. 

$. We believe that, three A the ateaeaMat of Christ, all 
\ bj obedience to the hiws aad ordi- 



maces of the GospeL 

a. We believe that the first principle* and ordinances of 
Che Gospel are : Flint, Faith ia the Lord Jems Christ; second, 
ftepnotaace; third, Baptism by immersion for the remission 
of sins; fourth, Lnjing 00 of Bands for the Gift of the Holy 
Qaoik 

ft, W« belters thit i mm mutt U call*} of Cmq4, bj 
" pniphwrj, s&d bf Ih-i lsvib£ dd &f bin Ji* 1 ' by thaw "bo ir* 
k in man (j* to prtscb tb* fflipel md sdaunnur (a the o-rdi- 
hAHiCH thereof, 

I. We beHeie 1b lhtr«>cpc CHrpnLiAiioo Iftet *ii*t*d in 
the pnmrbT* church— mm* If. ApotUee, Prophet*, putors, 
TMnW*. EnSBftlJftt, ste, 

T H W» l*k*v* In the pfl of Lancoei, prapherj, retell Us*, 
tUtoR*. he* hog, islirpratltloa of (Onjpiw, *t£ 

8. Wi babeTt the Bi^t* to N lb* ««nl of <3»J. si Tit u It 
1 1 (rehlfitetf corfrctlj; W* sjw b*ii«r« lie Sock pf Mcrmoi* 
to tn Lb* wiird ot Cjm. 

fl. Wt btJitT* ill thtt God b« msist, ill Lhit Be done 
dot re*e*], nqd w* believe ta*t He rill f *E m*n\ mitiT (real 
tml imports n't 4 hi dei pcTfuninj lo the KinfdoTn of liad. 
tO. Wt belitr* liD {■« Mt*i-tJ tjs Lh*rin£ « Zcrael sad ia Lbe 



rftonlioD Of Xhr Ten Tribe*: that Ziua »ilj be bujll I 
tan flhe AQirJanp BOMinrnt r l\.*t <"hrtit will relin per»a- 
etly upon lbe <nth, ind that the rartfa «UI b* rrQtwtxS snd 
luuw¥e m pundiiisceJ (tor*. 

tl. Wi ckiro ibo pmrtW* of worth* pi Elf, Aloaisrhty God 
•oonrdint to lbs dklstei or Oar coeecien^, aad allow ill 
men the net prLrjieff, 1st Hum worship hoe. where, or what 

li We believe in being subject to kino, presidents, mien, 
nnd augistrates ; ta obeying, honoring and sustaining the lav. 

18. ' We believe in being honest, tree, chaste, benevolent, 
virtuous, and in doing goodto all mea; indeed, we ntny say 
thnt we follow the adnsonition of Paul, - We believe all things, 
e?e nope all things,'' we burn endured ntany things, nnd nope 
-» be able to endure all things. If there is anything rirtnews. 



Elders desiring clergy permits will 
please make application through their 
respective presidents. 



The Universalist church reports 1,003 
parishes and 47,471 families, an increase 
of about 1,200 families over last year. 



Write your name in kindness, love and 
mercy, on the hearts of those you come 
in contact with, and you will never be 
forgotten. 



We will be greatly obliged if, when El- 
ders are renewing their subscriptions, 
they will also give their home address 
where the paper is to be sent. 



There are now over 250,000 words in 

the English language acknowledged by 

the best authorities, or about 70,000 

more than in the German, French, Span- 

<*nd Italian combined. 



FRANKUN D. RICHARDS DEAD. 

Many a home will be thrown into deep 
mourning to learn of the death ot Apos- 
tle Franklin i>. Richards, president ot 
the Quorum of Twelve Apostles and His- 
torian of the Church of Jesus Christ of 
Latter JJay Saints. 

Jle was summoned to the Master at 
four minutes after twelve o'clock a. m. 
JJec. a, 1&W. 

The end was very unexpected, and 
while he was known to be ill, yet his re- 
covery was always expected. 

lie was surrounded by his immediate 
family when the sad hour came. 

President Franklin D. rvichards, of the 
Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, was the 
son of Phineaa and Wealthy Kichards. 
He was born at Richmond, Mass., on 
April 2, 1821. 

In 183U he was converted to the Gos- 
ple and was baptized by his father, who 
had previously identified himself with the 
Church. Two years later Brother Rich- 
ards bade his New England home fare- 
well and moved to Far West, Mo. In 
183U he was ordained a Seventy and sent 
to Western Indiana on a mission and 
made a reputation as a public speaker. 

From Far West Apostle Richards 
moved to JSauvoo, dwelling t there until 
184t>, witnessing the laying of 'the corner- 
stone of the Nauvoo Temple in 1841. 

In 1846 Brother Richards was again 
sent on a mission, this time to Europe. 
On his arrival in Liverpool, England, he 
was appointed to preside over the Church 
in Scotland. In October of 1848 he land- 
ed in Salt Lake City in charge of a large 
company of Saints who had come with 
him from England. In 1849 he was or- 
dained an apostle and went on a second 
mission to England. After two years he 
returned to Utah and was elected a mem- 
ber of the Territorial legislative assembly. 

In 1853 he took part in the ceremonies 
of laying the corner-stone of the Salt 
Lake Temple. Later he again performed 
a mission in Europe, returning to Utah 
finally in 1868. He held the office of 
probate judge in Weber county from 18(J9 
to 1883. When Lorenzo Snow was chos- 
en President of the Church in 1888, Apos- 
tle Richards became President of the 
Quorum of Twelve Apostles. 

The labors of President Richards have 
been in many lands, and his name is fa- 
miliar to Saints throughout the world. 
He was also associated with the history 
of Utah; not only from being a pioneer 
in its establishment, but as a compiler 
and preserver of historical data, both 
civil and ecclesiastical. He was church 
historian and recorder, and the president 
of the State Historical Society. 



GROWTH OF THE SUNDAY SCHOOL. 

The first Sunday School of the Latter 
Day Saints organized west of the Rocky 
Mountains was on Dec. 10, 1849, with 
twenty-six members. At this time the' 
great Salt Lake valley was sparsely set- 
tled and the facilities for this work were 
very few. 

In the midst of the adverse circum- 
stances then surrounding the Saints 
Richard Ballantye saw the need of some 
institution where the young could be 
taught the Gospel, and accordingly set 
about preparing a suitable place. He 
owned a lot on the northeast corner of 
First West and Third South streets, Salt 
Lake City, and upon this he erected an 
adobe building eighteen by twenty feet, 
outside measurements, for Sunday School 
purposes, besides a smaller room used by 



the family as a living room. The roof 
was of dirt; the benches were made of 
slabs extending the width of the room. 

This briefly announces the beginning of 
this marvelous work, which now extends 
to all parts of the world. The statistical 
report for 1898 is as follows: 

In 1898 there were forty Stakes of 
Zion, containing 639 Sunday Schools, 
11,384 officers and teachers and 93,388 
pupils. Total, 104,772. Besides these 
there were sixteen missions that reported 
378 Sunday Schools, 1,933 officers and 
teachers and 9,998 pupils. Total, 11,931. 
The grand total was 116,703 officers, 
teachers and pupils. 

Thus we see how this work has grown. 

It is exceedingly gratifying to see the 
interest that is taken by the whole people 
in this grand cause. Everybody recog- 
nizes the value of the Sunday School, or 
at least they should do so, for but few 
homes are bereft of those God-given 
jewels of heaven, children, and we are 
now taught that to neglect them means 
their sins will be upon our heads. 

We know that as the twig is bent the 
tree is inclined, and in the period of 
childhood the good or evil impressions 
are made that will some day assert them- 
selves either for good or evil. We can- 
not be too Jealously engaged in this work, 
for it is but a pace from boyhood to man- 
hood, and if it be true that the boy is the 
father of the man, it is easy to be seen 
that the safety of our homes, our state 
and our nation depends on the manner in 
which our youth is - educated. If we 
would have them honorable and God- 
fearing they must be taught concerning 
honor and God. 

We often meet people who say: "It is 
nowhere taught in the Bible that we are 
to have Sunday Schools." There are 
many things omitted or not taught in the 
Bible that are absolutely and indispen- 
sably necessary for the perfecting of the 
Saints. Paul says we should have helps 
and governments to assist in this work 
of perfecting ourselves, and if nothing 
that defileth can enter into the heavenly 
Jerusalem is it not imperative that we 
cannot begin too early in life to learn 
lessons that will in after life assist us 
in coping with that vile monster, sin. 
'*Why don't you quit smoking?" we 
might ask these same people. "Why," 
they would invariably answer, "we 
learned to smoke when we were young 
and can't quit now." Then why not 
teach the young good things, and this is 
the purpose of the Sunday School, that 
tue habit of doing good will remain with 
them when they get old. 



The Christian's Prayer. 

J. J. Fix. 

Jesus, my light, my life, my all, 
Most humbly at Thy feet I fall; 
And cast on Thee In earnest prayer, 
My doubts, my fears, my every care. 

Lead me In paths of truth and right; 
Shield mo, and keep me by Thy might: 
"Purge me. with hyssop," make me clean. 
And with Thy saints may I be seen. 

Help me to love, to do, to serve, 
Ana from my duty never swerve, 
Until at last within the veil, 
My bark no longer fears the gale. 

And thus, a vessel made of clay, 
May I lead others In the way; 
Ana when my armor is laid down. 
Receive from Thee a starry crown. 
Chambersville, Va. 



The Baker's Premises. 

"What would be the technical term for 
the premises of this baker?" 
"Dough-main. I guess.' 



THE SOUTHERN STAB. 



81 



THE PRESENT CRISIS. 

BY KLDEK DAVID H. ELTON. 
Written forThe Southern Star. 

We need scarcely observe, that, from 
the hrst y the righteous among men have 
been objects or the combined assaults 
of the wicked and ungodly. From the 
days of "righteous Abel," unto the pres- 
ent time, tnose who have been upnold- 
ers of xruth and advocates of punty, 
have had to stem the torrent of vile 
abuse, herce persecutions, and perilous 
heresies. Affliction seems to be the por- 
tion of the righteous, as it was that of 
our glorious head— the Lord Jesus— "a 
man of sorrows, and acquainted with 
grief." 

On the one hand, it has been the en- 
deavor of the true followers of CJhnst 
to vindicate God's honor, and arrest the 
workings of wickedness; on the other it 
has been the effort of the. evil one and 
his seed, to sweep from the earth these 
defenders of Truth. There is a neces- 
sary repugnance between truth and er- 
ror; between evil and good. The two 
cannot be amalgamated; they will not 
coalesce. KvU, wheresoever it exists, 
will always league against good; so that 
the wicked among men whose "deeds 
are evil," are sure to join hands in a des- 
perate companionship to overthrow right- 
eousness. Those "fallen angels," cast 
from the courts on high for their re- 
belliousness, have carried on nothing but 
battle with God; and we need not, under 
the present dispensation, look for a dis- 
continuance of the assaults of the ene- 
my. 

As Latter Day Saints, we are passing 
through a very trying crisis, being per- 
secuted and opposed in many places by 
brute force and mob violence. It is quite 
natural for us to rejoice when all is 
peace and happiness, our pathway unob- 
structed, our meetings undisturbed. The 
miracle is to "rejoice in tribulation," 
and this miracle is continually wrought 
as the faithful saint presses on through 
this "vale of tears." None of us can be 
the people of God and be immune from 
the odium of the world; the better we 
are, the more we will be hated. "The 
ripest fruit is most pecked by the birds." 
We will be slandered; we will be cal- 
umniated; just in proportion to our zeal 
and feality to God, we will be evilly 
spoken of. 

There is, of necessity, a cause for every 
effect. Let us then straightway pro- 
ceed to investigate the subject and find 
out some of the causes, productive of 
the effects, manifest in the recent as- 
saults of mob violence inflicted upon our 
brethren. Hence the question, Why 
are we persecuted? arises before us. and 
as we advance in our elucidation of this 
subject, we trust it may prove a faith- 
strengthener to us of the household, and 
a gentle warning to those engaged in our 
opposition and persecution. 

First, it is clear to the candid minds 
of all who have given Mormonism a fair 
investigation, that the very ones who 
ought to be our kindest friends, are our 
most bitter enemies, and they care not 
what means they use, whether foul or 
fair in their opposition against us. To 
reason from the negative side of the 
question, in regard to the subject under 
discussion, viz: Why are we persecuted? 
Let me ask: Is it because we are ag- 
nostic in our tendencies or infidelic in 
our views, that a war is made upon 
us by the pulpit and the press? Is it be- 
cause we are opposed to God and His 
Christ? Is it because we are guilty of 
sacrilege or desecration? Is it because 
we are hypocritical, deceitful, or trait- 
orous in our dealings? To these inter- 
rogations there is but one answer and 
from the lips and hearts of the earnest 
and sincere among men, the answer 
comes in thunder tones: No! Look where 

fou will. Go where you may, among the 
jatter Day Saints, and you will find that 
they are truly Christian in their en- 
deavors to do good; God-fearing in their 
worship and work; and hold with sacred 
regard and holy zeal whatever belongs 
to the gospel of Jesus Christ. It fe for 
these causes that they are subjected to 



the assaults of the prejudiced, the lash 
01 the bigot, ana the violence or moo*.* 

Keugious rancor is in the van of perse- 
cution .against tne saints of uoa today, 
stirred up oy uiose rnariaaic prelates, 
wno unuei- me uubguise ox sancuty ana 
tne cloak ot usurpeu authority, place oag- 
gers in tne nanus of ruthless bonds wan 
wilicil to ply upon the innocent and un- 
uuending. xn lormer days this religious 
rancor couid be seen unsheathing the 
sword and lighting the pile around tn* 
inartyrs of j.ruth. jLoday when human 
society is at a high point ox knowledge 
ana refinement, we naturally look ior a 
suppression ot these barbaric means in 
opposition to religious oitterences; espec- 
ially when religion* toleration is being 
advocated far ana wide. .But alas! in 
tins we are disappointed! Keligious big- 
ots today, blinded by tradition and error, 
whose consciences seared with the hot 
iron of prejudice are using much the same 
weapons against the work of God, as 
their loreiathexs did in days of old. lav- 
age violence is the engine employed to 
crush what tne world erroneously calls 
ALormomsm, and that too in a land of 
boasted liberty ana equal rights 1 -but 
neither the might of armies, the scheming 
of politicians, nor tne tirades of relig- 
ious scandal-mongers avails anything 
against the work of God. 

1 do not deem it wisdom to present a 
lengthy discussion of any one topic at the 
present time. There are some thoughts, 
nowever, that are connected with the 
subject— the present crisis— that are 
deeply rooted in my mind, which I de- 
sire to present. 

The trite saying: "History repeats it- 
self," was never more apparent tnan dur- 
ing this present crisis, i refer to sacred 
or Biblical history. And it is my desire 
to have the reader accompany me, while 
we scan the pages of Holy Writ, in 
search of our proofs, that the history 
of the present is but analogous with the 
history of the past. .Remembering the 
words of Washington Irving, "Argument 
is never so well understood by us sel- 
fish mortals as when it comes home to 
ourselves," let us therefore view the la- 
bors of Christ and His apostles, relative 
to the ground upon which they stood in 
support of the message they bore, and 
the treatment they received, together 
with the servants of God today, and see 
the remarkable similarity existing be- 
tween the two. 

Upon one occasion, amid the cavil of 
the Jews, our Lord uttered the follow- 
ing injunction, "Search the scriptures: 
for in them ye think ye have eternal 
life; and they are they which testify of 
me," John <b:39. Now let us keep in 
mind this fact, that when the Master 
gave vent to this expression there was 
not one word of the New Testament 
written; so it was to the Old Testament 
—the "Law and the Prophets," that He 
directed their attention, at the same time 
telling them that those very books they 
claimed to believe in, and esteemed so 
highly, bore testimony of Him. Thus we 
see He cited them to their own records, 
which they held as holy and divine for 
proofs of His divinity. Again He says, 
in the same chapter, "Do not think that 
I will accuse you to the Father; there is 
one that accuseth you, even Moses, iu 
whom ye trust. For had ye believed 
Moses, ye would have believed me; for 
he wrote of me. But if ye believe not 
his writings, how shall ye believe my 
words?" (verses 45-47). Here again, we 
see the Savior declaring unto them the 
words of Moses, giving them to under- 
stand that, if they would only implicitly 
believe the writings they already pos- 
sessed, as a consequence they would also 
believe in Him. 

Furthermore, we find the Lamb of God 
going into the synagogues of the Jews; 
taking up the records found thereiu, 
preaching the word of God unto them, 
showing them light upon the scriptures, 
discoursing as * r one having authority; 
and that too from the very books they 
claimed to be divine. How was He re- 
ceived for so doing? Was He not sub- 
jected to scoffs and jeers? Was He not 
buffeted, spit upon, mocked and reviled? 



Y.es! and finally when the birth of salva- 
tion was complete,* wnen He nad nnisned 
tne woi-jt allotted nun to periorni in tne 
pian ox reueuipuou, He was taken by 
wicitea, cruei nanus, nailed, w tne cross 
ot ualvary on Uoigotna s dreary neignu*, 
aua mere, suspended between \ tne 
aeavens and the eartn, He died tor 
tne sins ot tne world. He was led out of 
tne cii tne "scape goat" tor the whole 
human race, for upon this spotless Lamb 
of ixod, iuu oi mercy, equity, truth and 
grace, was laid "the iniquity of us ail. ' 
What nad He done to bring upon Him 
the scons of the multitude, the scorn of 
tne Pharisee, ana the voilence ot the 
rabble'/ He had taught them words of 
life and truth, from their own books, 
found in their places oi worship, ana 
read by their Rabbis ana High jfriests, 
and for so doing it brought Him grief 
and sorrow, and ultimately cost Him 
His life. 

To continue our search, we will next 
see why it was that the Apostles were 
persecuted and afflicted. When that stal- 
wart giant for truth— Peter— stood up 
before the multitude on that memorable 
Pentecost, as recorded in the second 
chapter of "Acts of the Apostles," we 
find him proving the divinity of Christ's 
mission from the "Law and the Proph- 
ets," quoting as authority there, the 
writings of such inspired men as David 
and Joel, prophets of the Old Testament. 
What was the result? What happened 
to Peter for so doing? He quoted from 
the very books his accusers claimed to 
believe in, and following in the steps of 
the Good Shepherd, he was beaten, ini 
prisoned, and put to death. 

How was it with Brother John, the be- 
loved apostle of our Lord? Did he not 
reason from the scriptures, and say, "Let 
that therefore abide in you, which ye 
have heard form the beginning T' John 
2:24. Yes! and he too, suffered pain, 
sorrow, affliction in various forms, and 
banishment! 

Let us now take a view of the apos- 
tle Paul's experiences in this line, and 
see if this great apostle to the Gentiles 
fared any better than his fellow-labor- 
ers—Peter and John! When we firi»t 
meet with the apostle Paul an Holy Writ, 
or as he was then called, "Saul of Tar- 
sus," we find his hands stained with in- 
nocent blood, for when the prophet Step- 
hen was stoned to death Saul "consent- 
ing unto his death," stood by and took 
charge of the clothes of those who com- 
mitted this dastardly deed. In his blind 
zeal, he persecuted the saints of God inro 
strange cities; compelling many to blas- 
pheme, and raising his voice against 
others who were put to death. When he 
was engaged in this ungodly warfare 
against the followers of Christ, while he 
went about denying the mission of Je- 
sus, and His resurrection from the dead, 
he was with the world, "hale fellow well 
met," for we have no account of him suf- 
fering, whatever, during this time. But 
oh! now changed is the scene, how re- 
versed is the programme, when, after 
that eventful day's journey from Jeru- 
salem to Damascus, he begins to preach 
the truth as it is in Christ Jesus! For- 
mer friends become his bitterest ene- 
mies; where he was once received with 
smiles, he is now beaten with, stripes* 
where he was once welcomed with open 
arms, he is now cast out and beaten 
with rods; instead of the hearty hand- 
shake to cheer him on. and "hale fellow 
well met" to greet his ears, ft is now 
the contemptible frown to bid him de- 
part, and "What will this babbler say?** 
wherever he goes. And why? you ask. 
Go with him for a few moments and 
understand the "whys and wherefores" 
as he himself bears testimony of them. 
(To be continued.) 

New York Press. 

Why does a man's hair fall out before 
his whiskers? 

Because it is at least twenty years 
older. 

Little Eli— How tall is I, ma? 
Mother— About four feet. 
Little Bli— Yo* feet, or r 



22 



THE SOUTHERN STAB. 



BENEFIT OF HAVING THE LIVING ORACLES. 



The Way to the Tree of Life— The Oral and the Written Word of God— Fulfillment 
of Ancient and Modern Revelation— I he Law of Tithing. 

[DSL1VJCBBD BY KLOBB A NTH ON H. LUNU, OCT. tf, 18W.] 

cept, however, But the book itself proved 
10 u* uiat it is genuine, it* own propn- 
ecies, iuiniied since it was written, prove 
to us unu it is a uoo* containing tne 
N>oiu 01 Uou. LiootL ui uauiei s piopu- 
ecy. in wnat a nutsnell is the history 
01 ine luture portray eu tnere'/ We couiu 
not any better aescrioe it today, alter we 
nave xoiiowed nistory down ior more 
tnan.two tnousand years. Oaniei's proph- 
ecies are like nistory written before- 
naud, snowing tnat tney were inspired, 
me words oi jesus nave been iuiniled 
since they were written and given to 
tne world. In Mattnew we have a clear 
propnecy concerning the Temple and tne 
Kjiiy ot Jerusalem. How deeply 1 reir 
impressed when 1 sat on Mount Olivet 
anu looked down upon the Temple 
ground. 1 thougnt of tne prediction tnat 
aot one stone ot that building should be 
lett upon anotner. This was uttered 
wnen Jerusalem was nourishing. It 
seemed an impossibility that such a 
propnecy could be fulfilled, but withiu 
iorty years it came to pass. The Tem- 
ple, built of large masses of rock, wus 
entirely destroyed, the stones carried 
away and the Temple ground plowed, so 
as to obliterate any trace of the Tem- 
ple. It was considered policy by a Ko- 
uian emperor to do this, but it was the 
fulfillment of a prophecy of Jesus. We 
look upon the Bible as containing the 
word of God written to those ot old, 
but much of it in a general way ap- 
plies to us. 

We also believe the Book of Mormon 
to contain the word of God. We look 
at its contents and we find that it con- 
tains internal evidences of its truth, that 
it sets forth, which also show that it 
is a divinely inspired book. Take the 10th 
chapter of second Nephi, and you will find 
that in that book, which was published 
to the world some months before the 
Church of Jesus Christ was organized, 
prophecies concerning our time. It al- 
ludes to this land; it designates it as 
the land of Zion and tells how the Geo- 
tiles shall come and enjoy liberty here; 
that there shall be no king here, and that 
those who fight against Zion shall not 
succeed. The prediction that there shall 
be no kings upon the land has been ful- 
filled even in our day. When 1 read of 
Dom Pedro of Brazil, having been de- 
throned, and the report went forth 
that being so popular he might again take 
the reigns of government over that state. 
1 said that I did not believe that he would 
do so. I believed that the words uttered by 
Nephi, six hundred years before Christ, 
would be fulfilled, and that the time was 
hastening when there should not be any 
kings upon this land. When Louis Na- 

Soleon tried to establish an empire in 
(exico he miserably failed, and the man 
who tried to become king there lost his 
life. 



I hope I shall be able to make myself 
heard oy this vast congregation. 1 was 
very much interested in tne remarks of 
our brethren this forenoon, and the sub- 
jects tney touched upon are of great val- 
ue and importance to us as a peopic. 
When Brotner Cowley spoke ne allud- 
ed to the blessings we have received in 
naving the living word of liod in our 
midst and the Prophet of God to lead us. 
it made me tninit do we ready appre- 
ciate tnia great blessing of Having in- 
spired men in our midst to lead usr JJo 
we give heed to their counsel and advice': 
The brethren have dwelt upon the im- 
portance of paying heed unto the l^ord s 
command menu to His people. When hie 
commands, lie desires His children to 
obey. Obedience to the father's will is 
a principle that we must all learn. He 
has not left us in the dark in regard to 
wnat He wants us to do. 1 believe the 
latter .Day saints have more faith and 
a stronger testimony than any other peo- 
ple. Tney received this strong testimony 
when the hands of the servants of God 
were laid upon their heads. They re- 
ceived the Holy Ghost, which leads into 
all truth and makes known the Father's 
will. So that, while we have inspired 
men in our midst to give us the word of 
the Lord, we are not dependent upon 
that alone. The Lord has given unto 
us His Holy Spirit to witness unto our 
spirits whether that which is given us is 
right or not The Latter Day Saints 
wno perform their duty are not in the 
dark in regard to the counsel which they 
receive. When it comes from the ser- 
vants of God unto them the Holy Spir- 
it gives them a testimony that it is true. 

Lehi of old had a beautiful dream. Ho 
saw the world spread before him. He 
stood by a tree — the tree of life— enjoyed 
its precious fruit and saw how multi- 
tudes were hurrying to get to that tree. 
He saw that there was a mist came 
down that obscured the tree of life from 
the view of the multitude. They wanted 
to reach it, but this darkness or mist 
prevented them from seeing it The 
Lord, however, had provided means 
whereby they could reach it There was 
a path leading to the tree and at the 
side of it a rod of iron. By taking hold 
of this and following it, although they 
were not able to see the tree, out be- 
lieving what had been told them, that 
this rod led to the tree of life, many 
found it. But many would not take 
hold of the iron rod, and they went 
astray and did not reach the tree with 
its precious fruit. Lehi saw also how 
that the greater number were walking 
on the other side of a river, which di- 
vided them from the tree of life. They 
went to a spacious building. He saw 
his own children, Lamanxand Lemuel, 
and he feared for them when he saw 
that they did not come where he wax. 
His wife and his other children shared 
with him the blessing of partaking of the 
fruit of the tree of life. This iron rod, 
it was explained, is the word of God. 
By taking hold of that we need not go 
astray. Although we may have to look 
forward with the eve of faith, holding to 
the iron rod we will be just as safe as 
if there were no mist. 

We are blessed, brethren and sisters, 
in having the word of God in our midst; 
not only the written ' word, but also the 
living word of God. We are thankful 
that we have so much of the written 
word of God in our midst. While we do 
not look upon the Bible as many Protes- 
tants do, still we have just as great rev- 
erence for it as they have. We nave just 
as great a testimony, and greater, that 
it contains the word of God. We revere 
its contents, and we are trying to carry 
them out in our lives. We have tes- 
timony of the truth of the Bible from 



But I specially want to draw your at- 
tention to the allusion to this being a 
land of Zion. It here gives us an in- 
timation of the gathering; that people 
should come from other nations, gather 
to this land, establish a Zion and that 
the Lord should protect them so that 
the enemies of Zion should not have pow- 
er over her. This was years before em- 
igration to this country took place, but 
the prophecy has been fulfilled. We look 
upon this as the land of Zion, and the 
principle of gathering, though a unique 
one, has been one that has pervaded the 
teachings and belief of the Latter Day 
Saints from the beginning. Even before 
the Elders in their missionary labors 
have said anything about a Zion, tho 
spirit of God has witnessed to the spir- 
its of those who have received the Gos- 
pel that there would be a gathering, but 
that God would have a people of His 
own and that they would be gathered to 
other sources, which thr tt orV 1 do not ac- one place. From the very beginning of 



tne urospei being sent to Kingiaiid wt? 
nave eviueuce to piove Uii*. x intve seen 
ui uiy auuiiuibUauons now quiciuy two 
spun nas taiteu posbeasiou ox uie oaiuu. 
^iia wane we du not urge gauiering to- 
uaj, xeeang xnat ine worn wm o*» 
auengineneu by most ot tne Saints re- 
maining in tne brancnes ior a time and 
neipmg tne naders carry tne warning 
message oi tne ttospel, yet tne principle 
ox gatnering is just as true today as ever 
ft nas oeen. We feel, however, that it is 
oetier ior those wno receive tne ixospel 
abroad to become well grounded in uie 
raitn oetore tney make tne sacrince ot 
leaving tneir homes and tiieir relatives, 
and wnen they are well grounded in the 
taith and nave nelped to ouiid up tne 
cnurch wnere they have received the 
viospei, we want them to gather with 
us and to make a part of the great united 
Church of God. 

We have also the Book of Doctrine 
and Covenants, which contains numerous 
prophecies that have already been iui- 
niled. Take the 46th Section and that 
alludes to the gathering. The first year 
after the Churcn was organized this rev- 
elation was given and it plainly tells us 
that the people should gather from all 
the nation* to this land, and that no 
weapon formed against Zion should pros- 
per. Take the 4tfth Section, and what 
a plain prophecy it contains! So early 
in our nistory we are told that Jacob 
should flourish on the mountains— allud- 
ing to the people coming to the moun- 
tains and becoming a strong people here, 
as the Prophet Joseph prophesied twelve 
years after the organization of the 
Church. 

These books we look upon as contain- 
ing the word of God to us. But further, 
we believe that God has living witnesses 
upon the earth; that He has a mouth- 
piece upon the earth to give forth His 
words. Joseph Smith was a Prophet of 
God. His teachings prove that what he 
taught was divinely inspired. Some or 
his prophesies have been fulfilled, and 
others remain to be fulfilled. His pre- 
dictions have not been guesswork. In 
1882 he looked down and saw the fate 
of the nation. Earlier than that he told 
us the fate of the Church. Now it is 
reasonable to suppose that if the Lord 
raised up a Prophet, that Prophet would 
say something m regard to these two 
important things— the nation and the 
Church, and he did. He told how the 
Church would be persecuted and driven, 
and that even the blood of some should 
be spilt and should cry unto Heaven 
against those who had shed it He 
prophesied that the Church should go to 
the Rocky Mountains, and he was so 
much impressed with the spirit of this 
that he appointed a committee to go and 
search for a place to locate the Saints. 
He did not live to see this accomplished, 
but we have seen this prophecy fulfilled. 
In regard to the nation he plainly fore- 
told where the Rebellion should begin 
and what its results should be. Every one 
can see plainly that part of that revela- 
tion has been fulfilled, and the other part 
remains to be fulfilled. Take the suc- 
cessors of the Prophet Joseph, and they 
have been inspired of the Lord to give 
His word unto the people, and we have 
known that it lias been the word of 
the Lord. 

Today, brethren and sisters, the word 
of the Lord to us through His Prophet 
is that we should remember the law of 
tithing. It has been preached to you in 
many of your Stakes, and I am very 
happy to see the response that you have 
made to the call of the servants of the 
Lord. I hope that this will not be a 
temporary effect, but that you will all 
see and appreciate the importance of 
continually obeying the word of th<» 
Lord. Today we are walking in faith: 
that mist which Nephi saw lies around 
us, but we are shown the iron rod. Let 
us not let go of it and think that we can 
follow in another direction and that w«> 
will get through any way. If you and 
I shall obtain the privilege of eating of 
that precious fruit of the tree of life, 
we must hold to the iron rod. When tho 
servants of God give us His word, let 
us clin/ f"> it: lei us obey His will, and 



THE 80UTHERN STAB. 



28 



we will have no cause for regrets. In 
the book of Doctrine and Covenants we 
are taught that no religion has salvation 
in it that does not ask for sacrifice. It 
should not be a great sacrifice to us to 
pay our tithing. Great blessings have 
been promised those who will obey thin 
law. The experience of the Saints has 
been that the Lord has fnlfiled His 

fromise in this regard. Before I close 
wish to say to all: if you want your 
faith strengthened, if you want your 
testimony made clearer, pay your tith- 
ing and the Lord through His spirit will 
witness His approbation of your work. 
God bless you all. Amen. 



Small Praise. 

A young man who had disappointed 
his grandfather by displaying no fond- 
ness for New England farm life made 
his way through college, and the law 
school, and in time became a judge. His 
grandfather watched his progress with a 
sort of unwilling pride, but never by word 
or look gave young John the least en- 
couragement or praise. When the ap- 
pointment to the judge's bench at last 
came, the grandson took heart and asked 
for the old man's congratulations. 
"Aren't you glad for me, grandfather?" 
he asked, almost wistfully, glancing at 
the stubborn old face beside him. "Well, 
yes, I am glad for ye, John," admitted 
the octogenarian in a grudging tone. "I 
am glad for ye, but I don't want you 
should feel set up and imagine you 
amount to any great shakes jest on ac- 
count of being made jedge. I want you 
should always recall when anything like 
this comes to ye that there's plenty of 
folks that when they're in need of a 
stopper and haven't got a cork, they'll 
make shift with a corncob! You jest 
bear that in mind." 



Remarkable Drinks. 

Of the many extraordinary drinks reg- 
ularly consumed, the blood of live horses 
may perhaps be considered the most so. 
Marco Polo and Oarpini were the first 
to tell the world of the Tartar practice 
of opening the veins in horses' necks, 
taking a drink, and closing the wound 
again. As far as can be seen, this has 
been the practice from time immemorial. 
There is a wine habitually consumed in 
China which is made from the flesh of 
lambs reduced to paste with milk, or 
bruised into pulp with rice, and then fer- 
mented. The Laplanders drink a great 
deal of smoked snow-water, and one of 
the national drinks of the Tonqutnese is 
arrack flavored with chicken's blood. The 
list would scarcely be complete without 
mention of absinthe, which may be called 
the national spirituous drink of France. 
It is a horrible compound of alcohol, 
anise, coriander, fennel, wormwood, in- 
digo and sulphate of copper. It is 
strong, nasty and a moral and physical 
poison.— New York Home Journal. 



Power of Example. 

Like alone acts upon like. Therefore 
do not amend by reasoning, but by ex- 
ample. Approach feeling by feeling; do 
not hope to excite love except by love. 
Be what you wish others to become. Liet 
yourself, and not your words, preach.— 
Henri Frederic Amiel. 



"Now, George, to what class of birds 
does the eagle belong?* 

"Birds of prey." 

"And the turkey, where does he be- 
long?' 

"On the table."-Life. 



THE DARK AGES. 

BY ELDER A. ABBOWSMITH. 

(Continued from page 16.) 

The Second Century witnessed much 
martyrdom among the Christians, and 
Pliny's letter, which is still extant, 
speaks eulogistically of their faith, im- 
plying that they were honest, good, sim- 
ple and God-fearing people. Pliny's tes- 
timony was invaluable, as he was a Pa- 
gan, and the governor of Bithynia, under 
Trajan, the Emperor of Rome, and his 
letter was instrumental in checking the 
persecution which was raging (as the va- 
rious edicts issued under Domitian were 
enforced by the Pagan officials). But 
the Christians were forbidden, under the 
penalty of deatl*, to make proselytes. 

Many translations of the New Testa- 
ment were circulated during this cen- 
tury, and Christianity grew in spite of 
the Pagan opposition. 

The Christians were accused of all 
manner of enormities. If an earthquake 
occurred, drought, sickness or pestilence, 
they were blamed for * it; also it was 
generally understood that they ate human 
flesh. Such wicked accusations, how- 
ever, were fabrications, without founda- 
tion in fact. They gradually were be- 
coming defiled with too close acquaint- 
ance with the Pagans, whose enticing 
and seductive worship drew many fol- 
lowers. An instance in this century. 
One Ammonius Saccus, who had been 
highly educated in the schools of Alex- 
andria, of Christian parentage, favored 
the monastic life, and the ascetic mode 
of living in celibacy and maceration. 

The following doctrine was generally 
taught and accepted by a majority of 
Christians, in accord with this man's 
teaching: 

"The soul of the wise man ought to be 
removed to the greatest possible distance 
from the contagious influence of the body; 
and as the depressing weight of the body, 
the force of its appetites, and its connec- 
tions with a corrupt world, are in direct 
opposition to this sacred obligation. 
Therefore all sensual pleasures are to be 
carefully avoided; the body is to be sup- 
ported, or rather extenuated, by a slen- 
der diet; solitude is to be sought, as the 
true mansion of virtue, and contempla- 
tion to be employed as the means of 
raising the soul as far as possible to a 
sublime freedom from all corporeal ties, 
and to a noble elevation above all ter- 
restrial things. 

The person who lives in this manner 
shall enjoy, even in a present state, a 
certain degree of communion with the 
Deity; and when the corporeal mass is 
dissolved, shall immediately ascend to 
the sublime regions of felicity and per- 
fection, without passing through the 
state of trial that awaits the generality 
of mankind." 

Such doctrines were widely dissem- 
inated in this the second century, and 
caused an intermingling of Paganism 
and Christianity. 

The Bmperor Marcus Aurelius was ex- 
ceptionally bitter in his persecution of 
the Christians, many being put to death 
at his instigation. 

The principal martyrs were Simeon, 
Ignatius, Polycarp and Justin Martyr, 
all Bishops and prominent church offi- 
cials. 

Perhaps it would not be out of place 
to relate the martyrdom of Polycarp, 
who was a prominent Bishop, and who 
had a personal acquaintance with St 
John, as it shows the fortitude and cour- 
age the primitive Saints were in posses- 



sion of, many of whom gloried in the 
cross of Christ, and almost invariably 
met their death bravely. 

Polycarp requested that he be not se- 
cured to the pile, whereon he was to be 
burned, and said, "Let me be thus, for 
he that giveth me strength to bear the 
fire will also give me power, without 
being secured by you with these spikes, 
to remain unmoved on the pile." They 
therefore, did not nail him, and he 
prayed, saying: Father of Thy 

well beloved Son Jesus Christ, 
through whom we have received 
the knowledge of Thee. The God of 
angels and power of all creation, and of 
all the family of the righteous, that liv- 
eth before Thee. I bless Thee, that 
Tbou hast thought me worthy of the 
present day and hour, to have a share 
in the number of martyrs, and in the cup 
of Christ, unto the resurrection of eter- 
nal life, both of soul and body, in the in- 
corruptible felicity of the Holy Ghost, 
among whom may I be received in Thy 
sight this day, as a rich and acceptable 
sacrifice, as Thou, the Faithful and 
True God, hast prepared, hast revealed, 
and fulfilled. Wherefore on this account, 
and for all things, I praise Thee, and 
glorify Thee, through the Sternal High 
Priest Jesus Christ, the' well Beloved 
Son; through whom be glory to Thee, 
with Him, in the Holy Ghost, both now 
and forever, amen." 

After Polycarp uttered the above 
prayer, the executioners ignited the pile, 
and Polycarp died rejoicing. 

Ignatius was torn by wild beasts, and 
expired rejoicing. 

Many scholarly philosophers and writ- 
ers lived in this century, among whom 
we might mention Justin Martyr, Ter- 
tulian, the disciple of Montanus, Iren- 
aeus, Saccus and Origen, whose writings 
are still extant, and which furnished 
much food for thought during the Dark 
Ages, as they were recognized authori- 
ties on theology, although undoubtedly 
impregnated with Paganism. 

The condition of the Christians in this 
century was becoming deplorable; they 
were mostly poor, and had been hunted 
from pillar to post, and were almost 
worn out, as the Prophet had predicted 
they would be. The Platonists and 
Gnostics had mixed with them, and the 
outcome was retirement to monasteries 
and nunneries; and the celebacy of 
Priests, monks and nuns. The mixture 
was a combination of the Persian, Egyp- 
tian Magian system, intermingled with 
a smattering of the doctrines of Christ. 
This conglomeration denounced marriage 
as a doctrine of the devil, and It was 
thus declared by their corrupted priest- 
hood, and it was discouraged in all those 
who sought a spiritual life. See I Tim. 
4-8. 

The true Christian was terribly perse- 
cuted, which is the lot of all those who 
follow their persecuted Master, "as all 
who live Godly in Christ Jesus shall suf- 
fer persecution." And these poor Chris 
tians, as a sect, were everywhere evily 
spoken against, and they took joyfully 
the spoiling of their goods, went hungry 
and thirsty, and were considered the off- 
scourings of all things; yet they were 
happy in the hope of the recompense 
promised to the faithful, by their great 
file leader, and Captain of their salva- 
tion, Jesus Christ. 

Many of them sought refuge in the 
catacombs of Rome, the remains of 
which are seen today. These under- 
ground passageways afforded retirement 
from the wicked world, and the Christian 



24 



THE 80UTHERN STAR. 



REPORT OF MISSION CONFERENCES FOR WEEK ENDING NOV. 25. 1899. 


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Joseph F. Pulley,,. ... 

1. F. Price ..„ 


Virvifiia, 

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E. Tennessee 

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Florida. 


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C. G. Parker 


N. Alabama, 

Florida, 

Mid.Tenn- 

N. Carolina 

6 Carolina, „ 

Hildas! ppl » 

E. Kentucky 

Lvnii>Jaiii ...... .. 


J. Urban Alired 

Lewia Sweu-feu *.* 


Nashville ............ 

GoMfrboro,. 

Society Hill ,„..... 

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Huck Creek »«« 

shreveport ...„..„,„„„.„ 

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Tenneaaee. 
N. Carolina, 


Sylvester Low, J r ♦.«....„.♦.. 
O. D. Flake- • 


8, Carolina, 
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Kentucky. 
Loolalana. 


D. A. Broad bent .♦... 


J. H WJllta , 


S, Alabama** , 

N. Kentucky 

Ohio,™,.. 


Alabama 


L. M. Terry -.« 


Bagdad, Shelby Co ..„.,.« 


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J. W. Fuafc 


713 W. Sth St.. CEnclunatl.. 


Ohio. 









were comparatively safe in these 900 
miles of passage ways, beneath that great 
metropolis Rome; where they worshiped 
ttwir Lord with true and humble devo- 
tion; their simplicity and purity preserv- 
ing them in the faith. They made brick, 
which they exchanged at the entrance 
of these catacombs for bread and the 
common necessaries of life. Remains of 
these Christians, their simple ways and 
mode of life can be found to this day. 

Those of them who dared the sunlight 
of heaven were exposed to much danger 
and hatred, and in their simple worship 
were compelled to seek the groves and 
plantations that bordered the Tiber, seek- 
ing the most secluded spots along that 
river, which was polluted with the blood 
of martyrs. Many times they were 
caught in their devotions, and foully 
butchered in cold blood by the Roman 
soldiery, no mercy being extended them, 
and the heavens being as brass to their 
petitions. 

At this period the devil, with all his 
Imps of darkness, must have grinned and 
gloated over the apparant discomfiture of 
the Saints, who were surely being pre- 
vailed against, and were driven from 
the earth, seeking refuge in the subter- 
ranean passages before mentioned. How 
puffed up he must have felt to think that 
his Satanic arrogance had in such a 
short period of time perverted and al- 
most obliterated the perfect system, 
which was introduced by his superior, 
Jesus, the Nasarine, whose Gospel 
taught love, joy, peace, long suffering, 
gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, 
temperance; and all good works, which 
were exemplified in His life. But the 
Prince of Darkness prevailed, and many 
preferred darkness, rather than light; 
and God gave them up, to follow their 
own wicked inclinations. And the great 
Arch fiend, Lucifer, led them at his will, 
into all manner of enormities and sins, 
so that it was hard to find virtue, chas- 
tity and truth upon the face of the earth. 

As Paul says, he, the Devil, had surely 
become the God of this world, and blind- 
ed the minds of all who believed not the 
Gospel of Jesus; consequently the works 
of the flesh were manifest, which were 
"Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, la- 
sdviousnees, idolatry, witchcraft, hatred 
variance, emulations, wrath, strife, sedi- 
tions, heresies, envyings, murders, 
drunkenness, revellings, and such like." 
Gal. 5-19. 

Every jot and tittle of the word of 
God had to be fulfilled, and the great 
Apostasy had to come, and Satan was 
but serving the purposes of God and ful- 
filling the prophesies of His servants, 
by his deplorable actions in this century; 
and the Christians who preserved their 
integrity died rejoicing in the hope which 



passes all human understanding, know- 
ing that their reward was sure and eter- 
nal in its nature. And they could say 
with Paul, who was beheaded for the 
Gospel's sake, and said in his letter to 
Timothy that he had fought a good 
fight, had finished his course, and had 
kept the faith. Henceforth there was 
laid up for him a crown of righteousness 
which the Lord, the righteous judge, had 
prepared for all those who loved His 
appearing. The Saints died with a 
glorious consciousness of these facts, and 
death was but a relief from the many 
pangs which tribulations of earth 
brought, consequently many of them 
courted death, and wished to suffer like 
their beloved Master, who was ignomin- 
iously crucified. 

(To be continued.) 



East Kentucky Conferenct. 

To The Editor: 

According to appointment the Elders 
of the East Kentucky conference met at 
London, Ky., Dec. 1, and 2. 

The religious campaign of last fall 
caused such a bitter hatred against the 
Latter Day Saints that it was impossi- 
ble to get any public building, in which 
to hold services, so we did second best 
by preparing a large room in the Riley 
house. 

By Thursday night all of the Elders 
and a few Saints had gathered to receive 
spiritual food. 

No one but an Elder can even imagine 
the extreme pleasure there is in a gath- 
ering of this kind. 

The conference began at 10 o'clock 
Friday morning by singing "How Swift 
the Months Have Passed Away;" prayer 
was offered by Elder MacKay. After 
singing President D. A. Broadbent com- 
pared the difficulties confronting the ser- 
vants of God in both ancient and mod- 
ern times. "Opposition," said the speak- 
er, "is necessary. If we had no oppo- 
nents we would become stagnant and 
would retrograde." 

President George A. Lyman was 
nleased to meet with the Elders of East 
Kentucky again. He spoke of the deplor- 
able condition of the world who have not 
the knowledge of the Gospel and the tes- 
timony of Jesus. 

Afternoon Session. 

After the retrular preliminaries the. 
testimony meeting continued until every 
Elder had borne his testimony. It was 
a feast for the Elders and Saints assem- 
bled. 

President Broadbent encouraged the 
Elders to be energetic in their labor*. Ho 
warned them not to tear any one*s belief 
down: rather show the Gospel truths to 
the people: build them a Gospel mansion 
then invite them to dwell in the luxury 
of truth. 

Elder Davis spoke f«r n few moments, 
after which Prisldent Rich puo^osrized the 
pernio of the south very hiffhlv. 

The business of the conference was 



then transacted after which the meeting 
adjourned until Saturday morning. 
Saturday Morning Session. 

The meeting began by singing "Yes My 
Native Land I Love Thee;" prayer was 
offered by Elder Wright; singing "Ye 
Who Are Called to Labor." 

President Broadbent thanked the El- 
ders for the support tendered him during 
his labors as president of the conference. 
He taught the Elders to be humble and 
obedient; to seek for the spirit of God, 
and overcome the evils of this world, 
then success will crown your every effort. 

President Rich asked for the faith and 
prayers of those assembled that a spir- 
itual feast might be. had. 

We have been sent out to preach the 
Gospel, therefore use every honorable 
means to get this message before them. 

Many of our opposers know we hav* 
the truth and they cannot gainsay the 
doctrine, therefore they resort to foul 
means to get rid of us. 

The sin of this and other generations 
is a belief in dead prophets and a re- 
jection of the living Oracles. The theme 
of Lucifer is to stir, up hatred against 
the living servants of God and a rever- 
ence for the dead ones. The dead can 
do nothing for our salvation, the devil 
knows it, and he further knows that the 
living oracles have power through the 
authority they have, to save if the people 
will only give heed to their words. 

He explained the difference between 
the plan of Lucifer and Christ in the 
beginning; why the devil was rejected 
and Christ accepted. Satan was cast 
out of heaven for opposing the truth and 
he still continues to war against the 
work of God. 

Be willing to take the persecution 
heaped upon you. If you die here all 
will be well with you. 

President Lyman bore testimony to the 
words of President Rich. 

Elder Davis made a few remarks af- 
ter which the Elders were assigned to 
their fields of labor and with a hearty 
hand -shake they left feeling that they 
had been abundantly paid and spiritual* 
ly fed for gathering together. 

W. T. DAVIS, 
Clerk of Conference. 



DEATHS. 

Sister Pauline Thomas, of Bay St. 
Louis, Miss., departed this life Dec. 5. 
1899. Sister Thomas was a Lamanite 
and lived and died a faithful Latter Day 
Saint. She was bantized Sept. 19, 1807. 
by Elder Geo. R. Coombs. 

Releases and Appointments. 

Released to return home: 

Fred Brown, A. Bunker, S. E. Win- 
ward. Ivan Woodward. A. L. Thorn, J. 
W. Punk. M. P. Brown. E. Nelson, T. 
Wight. Geo. A. Day. Geo. A. Lyman, 
Goo. W. Lee, W. J. Fife. 

Transfers : 

E. E. Morgan from Georgia to North 
Carolina. 

Be wise with Speed; 
A fool at forty is a fool Indeed. 

—Young. 




■BUT THOUGH W£,OB AN ANGEL FROM HEAVlN.PftlACH ANY 
PTHEB GOSPEL UNTO YOU ThAN THAT WHICH W£ 

HAVE REACHED UNTO YOU, LET HIM BE ACCUSED. 1 Sfl./^tf* 
■ = ^ = 




Vol. 2. 



Chattanooga, Tenn., Saturday, December 23, 1899. 



No. 4. 



THE CHRISTMAS SPIRIT. 

When the world seemed young and the 

wonder of life swung strong In the 

hearts of man. 
When the simpler faith and the sturdier 

hope welled up where the red blood 

ran, 
When the back-log glowed on the open 

hearth and love in the open heart, 
In the good old days when the wencles fair 

for the Christmas woods would start, 
By the mazer-bowl of the vassals stout to 

the twenty-hooped pot of kings. 
All the world was given not over to greed 

and the passion for trifling things. 

It was boar-head, mistletoe, holly and ale. 

and songs, though the notes were 

gruff; 
*Twas a flagon of mead and a joint from 

the spit, a toast, though the board 

was rough: 
It was "Stand all, now, and a life to the 

King!— A health to the lads afar!— 
And a toast to Her, with your hand on vour 

heart!— The last, to the Eastern 

Star!" 
So the great hall rang with their carol and 

hymn, the dawn In the East grew 

Rold; 
Then vassal and monarch humbled their 

hearts and kneeled to their Christ 

of old. 

But the dusk has crept through the aging 

years, and the heart of the world has 

changed, 
It Is good-by now to Romance as It was 

farewell to the Life estranged: 
In the rush for gold, in the battle for bread, 

'tis Chivalry trampled out, 
Where we hive in houses that darken sad 

streets, and swarm In the citled rout; 
And heavy of heart we stop for a day, we 

pause at the Christmas chimes; 
Where our ashen faces and sorrowing eyes 

still glow for the good old times. 

No matter how mad is the struggle and fev- 
ered the marts of the new-born age, 

Ah, the loom shall stop and the anvil be 
still and the cities forget their rage! 

Though we feed not now on the husk of the 
past, we have, O my soul, man's hope 

That the darkest years have their end and 
each cloud God hangs at the last 
shall ope: 

So a wraith, this day. of that old Romance, 
a ghost of that earlier Peace 

Through the years still whisner that Ha- 
tred and War and Strife In the end 
shall cease! 

—Arthur J. Stringer. 



OUR CONFERENCE PRESIDENTS. 

The subject of this sketch, Geo. E. 
May cock, appeared in this Sphere of no- 
tion about twenty-three years ago. His 
parents were sturdy and God-fearing: 
they cheerfully endured the hardships in- 
cident to "crossing the plains" in the 
hand cart brigade, that they might asso- 
ciate with the Saints of God in Zion. 

Eld. Maycock attended the public schools 



until 1892, at which time he entered the 
Latter Day Saints College, attending that 
institution of learning one and one half 
years. 

From the time of discontinuance un- 
til 1896, he followed various occupations. 
At this time he received notice that his 
services were wanted in the missionary 
field, to which place he departed March 
21, 1896. He was assigned to Texas, 
where he labored until Jan. 9, 1897. From 
Texas he was transferred to Mississippi 
where he labored in the various branches 
of missionary work, being associated as 
counsellor to Frank T. Pojneroy, also T. 
R. Condie. 

In September he was released to re- 




JtSLDER GEO. E. MAYCOCK, 

President Ohio Conference. 

turn to Zion, arriving there the latter 
part of that month, immediately entering 
school where he attended during the win- 
ter. 

In September, 1899, he was again sum- 
moned into the missionary field, where he 
arrived October 16, 1899. 

Elder Maycock was ciiosen to fill the 
editorial chair of the Star. Nov. 29th, he 
was appointed president of the Ohio con- 
ference, but will continue his labors on 
this paper until some time after the turn 
of the year, when he will take personal 
charge of the work in Ohio. 



History of the Southern States Mission. 

August 1893. 

Seldom, since the mission opened, has 
i his month passed with as little trouble. 
The treatment of the Elders was in 
general good. 

In Durham, N. C, two Elders were 
forced to flee to another city for protect- 
ion. 

Elders Doxey and Ence had a very dis- 
agreeable time in the city of Pass Christ- 
ian, Miss. The mayor of the city consent- 
ed to their using the city hall for ser- 
vices. The town council thought differ- 
ently and met and protested against "Mor- 
mons" using the hall. They were noti- 
fied to leave the city, and when informed 
by a friend, that the "white caps" were 
organized, they left, going into the coun- 
try, where very similar treatment was 
accorded them. 

The semi-annual report for the half 
year ending August 31, 1893, was as fol- 
lows: 

Number of traveling Elders, 123. 
Number of branches organized, 4. 
Number of baptisms, 224. 
Number of children blessed, 79. 
Number of emigrants, 50. 
All Elders reported well. 

September. 

President J. Golden Kimball com- 
menced a tour of the conferences. 

The price of all tracts and cards pub- 
lished at Chattanooga was reduced. 

The Elders laboring in Charleston, W. 
Va., also Richmond, Va., report much 
kinder treatment and consideration in 
these cities than is generally received in 
ninny similar nlaces. 

Near Dundee in South Alabama, a 
number of ruffians surrounded a house 
where several of the Elders were being 
entertained and fired a number of vol- 
leys from shotguns, pistols and rifles, in- 
to the house. No one was injured. Elders 
Mai ben and Beecher were similarly fired 
upon by "bushwhackers" but escaped un- 
hurt. 

December. 

Elders E. A. Griffin and Geo. M. Smith, 
laboring in Concord, Cabarrao County, 
N. C, were staying with a young man 
who was very friendly. About 9 o'clock a 
mob of twenty-five men came and or- 
dered the Elders to leave the town at 
once. After some controversy on the sub- 
ject, the Elders were allowed the priv- 



THE SOUTHERN STAR. 



ilege of remaining at the hotel until tht 
next day. 

The young man was told, if he allowed 
the Elders to remain at his home he 
would be discharged from the factory 
where he was working, and turned out of 
the house he was renting. 

A school house near Pocatalego, Kana- 
wha County, W. Va., was burned because 
"Mormons" had used it. 



Magnolia, Tenn. 
Editor Southern Star. 

If you will give me space in your pa- 
per for a few lines I desire to say a few 
words in regard to what I have learned 
about the "Mormons" and their doctrine. 

It was in the month of December, 
1886, when two Mormon Elders called 
at our house to inform us that they 
would preach at the school house the 
following Sunday. I went to hear them, 
and to my surprise I heard the Gospel 
of Christ taught for the first time in my 
life. It cut me to the heart like a two- 
edged sword. I was determined to fol- 
low the teachings of the Scriptures and 
investigate their doctrines. I soon be- 
came a member of the Church of Jesus 
Christ of Latter-day Saints, and I am 
thankful to my Father in heaven that T 
have been permitted to live and partake 
of the Gospel of my blessed Savior. I 
have a testimony for myself, that the 
Gospel which is taught by the Latter-day 
Saints is the same as taught by the Sa- 
vior and His Apostles, and that Joseph 
Smith was a true Prophet of God, and 
if we will live up to and obey the teach- 
ings of that Gospel it will lead us into 
the Kingdom of God, while those who 
do not obey will come under condemna- 
tion. I now pray that the blessings of 
God may forever rest down upon the 
Church, from the greatest unto the least 
and last ordained. 

I remain your sister in the Gospel, 

Mrs. Louisa F. B^echum. 



I have often been asked why it was 
that I "joined the Mormons?" 

My answer to such inquiries was that 
I learned from the Elders the truths as 
they really were in the Bible; that their 
teachings harmonized in every respect 
with that divine Book, and that the 
Faith that comes by hearing would be 
planted in every soul if they would obey 
the Gospel as they taught it. 

I noticed how these Elders endured the 
persecution heaped upon them, and how 
that they had charity to all mankind. I 
also learned that "the world" loves its 
own and if you was separated from the 
world you would be persecuted. This 
was their lot and all who were even 
friendly disposed had a measure of the 
wrath of the unjust poured upon them. 
From reading the Bible I knew this was 
the unfortunate position of the early 
Christians and that all who lived Godly 
in Christ Jesus should suffer persecution. 

No other people that I had ever known 
were so maligned and abused, and, by in- 
vestigation I learned the reason. I seen 
how other denominations were loved by 
the world and tolerated and were allowed 
all the privileges of American citizens, 
and this particular church was denied 
them all. Then my investigations showed 
to me the reason, and by further investi- 
gation, I was convinced that the Elders 
were preaching the restored Gospel of 
Jesus Christ. 

With every respect, Your brother. 

Trenton, Fla. J. R. SMITH. 



THE DARK AGES. 

BY ELDER A. ARROWSM1TH. 
(Continued from page 24.) 

THE THIRD CENTURY— The Chris- 
tians continued after the pollutions of 
the Pagans, and the dazzling worship of 
the latter was gradually weaning the 
Christian from his lowly, modest wor- 
ship, and they were fast amalgamating 
and becoming one, and it was getting 
hard to tell the Christian from the Pa- 
gan in their devotions and religious rites. 

The fearful persecutions under the Em- 
peror Decius Trajau caused almost an 
extermination of the true Christian. • 

He ordered all who would not worship 
and pay respecet to the Pagan Gods to 
be put to death by torture, without ex- 
ception. Those who escaped death had 
to apostatize and offer incense to idols 
(and that was worse than death to the 
true Christian), or seek refuge from un- 
der the dominion of the tyrant. Many 
apostatized and complied with his wicked 
demands, as they were driven to desper- 
ate straits. 

The Bishops in many places assumed 
a princely authority, with splendid en- 
signs of temporal majesty. They had 
thrones surrounded with ministers, and 
they stood exalted above their equals, 
disdaining their disciples. 

What a contrast to the meek and hum- 
ble Nazarene, who walked, with no place 
to lay His head, throughout Judea; and 
whom they pretended to follow. He 
washed His disciples* feet, and adminis- 
tered unto them as a servant; while their 
sumptuous apparel dazzled the eyes and 
minds of the multitude, into an ignorant 
veneration for their arrogated authority. 

The Bishop of Carthage, Cyprian, was 
a great character during the early part 
of this century; he favored celibacy, and 
the monastic life, and introduced the 
mode of baptism, so much in vogue, and 
practiced by modern Christians, viz., 
sprinkling; also infant baptism. 

Exorcists were employed at this time 
to cast out evil spirits, preparatory to 
baptism, and after the ordinance was 
performed the victim to this supersti- 
tious rite returned home, adorned with 
crowns and arrayed in white garments, 
in token of victory and purity. 

It was at this time that the first ac- 
count of pouring, in place of immersion, 
occurred. An important heretic named 
Novation, realizing that salvation was 
vested in Christianity, also that he 
would be brought to judgment for his 
many misdeeds, desired his sins remitted 
by baptism. The death bed repentant 
sinner was unable to comply with this 
ordinance by being immersed (as other 
converts of Christianity were initiated 
into the door of the church, through bap- 
tism by immersion), therefore a special 
encyclical was issued by the Bishop to 
meet his case, and water was poured 
upon him in bed. Thus a dangerous in- 
novation was introduced, which became 
almost general in the thirteenth century 
(that is, sprinkling the rule, and immer- 
sion the exception). 

The introduction of baptizing infants 
appeared at this time, as it was not 
known, or thought of, before Irenaeus. 
the Bishop of Lyons (a prominent lead- 
er in the church), and don't appear to 
have been practiced until the indorsing 
by Cyprian and his councils, in the early 
part of this the third century, when it 
was required that children at eight days 
old be baptized; taken, apparently, from 
the ancient custom of Israel in their 
rites on circumcision. 

Israel were strict observers of that 



law given through Abraham; which law, 
with all the laws of Moses, were done 
away in Christ; as the pure Gospel laws 
superseded the carnal laws. So did the 
rites of baptism for the remission of sin 
supersede the sacrifice 01 blood as a sin 
offering. And as a child is pure and 
blameless before God, it consequently is 
not a fit subject for baptism, "for of such 
is the kingdom of heaven." The Bible 
fails to record one instance of a child be- 
ing baptized. Therefore this innovation 
as introduced so boldly in this century, 
marked a terrible step in the downfall 
of pure Christianity. 

Mosheim declares that in this century 
nunneries and monasteries grew, where 
men and women tried to live lives of 
chastity and virtue; many practicing 
great austerity and devoutness; while 
others of the clergy got so fanatical on 
this mode of living that they actually 
tried to live lives of purity and preserve 
their chastity by sleeping with nuns, who 
had made the same vows of celibacy as 
themselves; which brought much cor- 
ruptness in the church. 

These several innovations came from 
Paganism, as the temples of Diana will 
show; these temples abounded with ves- 
tal virgins; who were nothing more nor 
less than the Pagan nun; many of whom 
prostituted their bodies for money, and 
thus enriched their temples and cities, 
where the Pagan God of lust was wor- 
shipped, under the names of Venus and 
Diana. Many of these temples support- 
ed hundreds of prostitutes, who degraded 
mankind to the level of beasts, who at 
this time took delight in bestiality. 

Eternal life did not abide within the 
church, as they had departed from the 
Faith, as taught by the great Captain 
Jesus (who said it was life eternal to 
know the true and living God). There- 
fore many ideas and grave contentions 
arose as to the nature of the Godhead. 
Many Bishops discussed and offered pre- 
posterous arguments in favor of the old 
Platonic theory, with its Pleroma and 
Aeons, Demiurge and Logos; realizing 
the good and evil in all things (as any 
man with a conscience does to this day). 
This theory recognized evil in all matter, 
as everything material is carnal, and it 
led some to lives of wickedness, men 
who ignored the body, as it was not con- 
sidered subject to the soul, or spirit, and 
not to be resurrected. It was this re- 
ligion that reconciled good and evil, mak- 
ing both acts of grace before God, al- 
lowing a man to commit crimes too hor- 
rible to mention, as a means of debasing 
the body, and purifying the soul; also 
alowing a man to macerate the body by 
fasts, and thus purify himself, by strict 
austerity, that closer communion could 
be had with spiritual influences. 

The extremes were used in their relig- 
ious rites, one class worshipped in gor- 
geous temples, displaying great magnifi- 
cence, and splendor, the ceremonies ac- 
companied by priestly munificence, robes, 
incense, miters and crosiers. While the 
other extreme took their departure into 
the wilderness, away from the haunts of 
men, where they lived on- herbs, in pov- 
erty and solitude, contemplating the 
grandeur of spiritual existence in celi- 
bacy and single blessedness. 

This system was called Gnosticism, 
and its inroads in Christianity can be 
seen to this day. The gorgeous displays 
of modern Christendom, with its priest- 
ly robes and splendor, incense, elevated 
host, martyr worship, relic worship, 
image worship, and other superstitious 
rites, speaks glaringly of ancient Pagan- 
ism; its face is prominent in all the 



THE SOUTHERN STAR. 



27 



grand steeples erected to the Apostles, 
St. Paul and St. Peter, etc. 

And in the practices of the many who 
will whip and macerate the body, that 
they may get absolution from sin today, 
also in the actions of the Fakir in the 
far east, who will stoically sit and stand 
in unnatural positions for years, and sac- 
rifice their lives to their God, Jugger- 
naut, to get eternal bliss. These actions 
today are but a dulpicate of what oc- 
curred in the third century. The Devil 
ever did lead men devoid of the Spirit 
of God into all kinds of enormities. 

Pardon the digression, but I wished 
to explain the nature of those who affili- 
ated with and corrupted the primitive 
church, and introduced a being, whom 
they thought had all the perfections and 
attributes of a God, but who was with- 
out "body, pans and passions," an en- 
tirely different being than the God of 
Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, who was 
after the form of man, "as man was 
made in His image." 

The discussions carried on by the great 
philosophers of this century, Sabellius, 
Arius and Athanasius, terminated in the 
adoption of the Athanasius creed, which 
is accepted authority on the nature of the 
Godhead in Christendom today; as He is 
considered as an aerial, mystical being, 
whose center is everywhere and circum- 
ference nowhere; so large that He fills 
the universe, and so small that He can 
dwell in man's heart; who sits upon a 
throne that is topless, and is described as 
a tyrant, who can derive pleasure in 
thrusting nine-tenths of the human fam- 
ily into a hell, without a bottom, where 
these children of this tyrannical God 
ever burn and never consume. 

This is the kind of being that came 
from these contentions at this period of 
time; and that has been so universally 
worshipped from that time on to the 
present; and it is this being, that has 
never given any light, inspiration, or 
revelation to the multitudes who have 
worshipped Him. Not having a body, 
parts or passions, the human family 
have been worshipping a nonentity, the 
result has been they have never heard 
from Him, and the heavens have been as 
brass to the many petitions offered. No 
wonder that infidels can defy and mock 
such a God, who can neither love nor 
hate them, not having any passions. 

The God of the Bible made man in 
His image, and He had a body of parts, 
that could walk, and converse with man, 
with every sense that man possesses, and 
our Elder Brother Jesus Christ was de- 
scribed as being the express image and 
brightness of God's (His Father's) glory. 
At least, this was the kind of God that 
Israel worshipped. 

But during the Dark Ages Paganism 
introduced into Christianity the Gnostic 
theory, which was mystical in the ex- 
treme, and incomprehensible to the finite 
nature. 

In the next century the great council 
of Nice met, and fully decided on the na- 
ture of their God; wliich is the Athana- 
sius creed. 

The pure Gospel of Jesus, as taught 
by Him in Galilee, had become unpop- 
ular and that meek and lowly spirit was 
no longer manifest, but a gorgeous and 
an attractive ceremony was adopted, un- 
der the name of Christianity, which had 
barely a form of Godliness, and entirely 
devoid of that power and inspiration 
which comes from God, and which was 
so much manifest in the days of the 
Apostles. 

The mystery of iniquity wliich had 
commenced in Paul's day was fully de- 



veloping into that man of sin, represent- 
ed as "the Son of perdition," which 
should oppose, and exalt himself above 
all that is called God, or that is wor- 
shipped; so that He as God sitteth in 
the temple of God, showing Himself 
that He is God." (II Thess. 2.) 
(To be continued.) 



Some Awful Deaths. 

What is the most awful shape in which 
death may come to mortal man? Not 
by fire, nor by water, nor by gunshot. 
TTiese are mere pleasures to some of the 
deaths by which you may die. 

The most agonizing of all is caused by 
an insect half the size of a pea— a small 
black spider. It lives in Peru and South 
Australia, but a few specimens have 
reached Europe and America in ship 
loads of timber. Not long ago a dock 
laborer was unlucky enough to come 
upon one in the Victoria docks while un- 
loading a bark. The tiny death dealer 
dropped upon the back of his hand and 
dug its fangs into his flesh.- The bite 
itself was nothing, but as soon as the 
poison began to work the man fainted 
with pain. Soon afterward he came to 
and lived three days before the end came. 

This spider's venom scorches up the 
blood vessels and spreads through all 
the tissues, causing the most fearful 
agony a human being can have to bear. 
The worst of it is that the victim lives 
at least two days, enduring unthinkable 
anguish the whole time. This spider is 
luckily not common. It is known as the 
"speeky," and when a man who knows 
what the bite means is bitten he gener- 
ally blows out his brains. 

Another fearful death is caused by eat- 
ing a grain called "bhat." This some- 
times gets mixed with rice, which ii re- 
sembles. The plant grows in the east, 
and a few grains of it will drive one into 
a state of mania. The victim becomes 
drowsy at first and afterward hilarious, 
then he goes stark, staring mad and 
tears himself literally to pieces with his 
fingers, biting mouthfuls out of his limbs 
It is bad enough to see such a case, but 
as for experiencing it — 

The grain is only found in remote parts 
of the east, but both white men and na- 
tives are killed by it occasionally in the 
east, for the plant grows in with the rice 
crops and can scarcely be told apart, but 
that the dried grain is of a reddish color. 

Of course falling into a vat of boiling 
metal, as unfortunate workmen some- 
times do, sounds bad enough, but it is 
mercifully quick. There is a South 
American vine called the "knotter,'' 
which is far worse. It twines around 
any living thing that comes within 
reach, twisting its long tentacles about 
a man as a devilfish might. These ten- 
tacles sear and burn into the flesh lik«? 
white hot wires, and the victim is 
dragged into the heart of the foliage and 
his juices slowly drained, as a spider 
sucks the blood of a fly. 

All say that the pain is worse than they 
could have believed it possible for a 
man to feel. The "knotter" is well 
known to scientists, and is, in fact, a 
sort of huge flytrap plant. Those who 
have strong instincts of cruelty, coupled 
with curiosity, sometimes force a dog 
into the grip of the "knotter" to watch 
the effects, which are too horrible to de- 
scribe in detail. 

Again, there is nothing very much 
worse than hydrophobia, when genuine. 
The patient often lives for days in the 
acute stage and in his last hours is sim- 



ply tied up in knots and bent backward 
and forward like a bow. It is a very 
rare disease with human beings, for 
most people bitten by rabid dogs, a small 
number at most, escape it. In extreme 
cases the patient actually snarls and 
bays like any hound, and, next to expe- 
riencing it, the worst thing is to watch 
a case. It is as distressing a spectacle 
as any man could witness. 

There is a snake called the "lancer," 
which lives in South America, and is 
very ready with its fangs. It is a small, 
brown, insignificant beast, but its bite 
induces a sort of imaginary swelling all 
over the victim's body. He feels as if 
every inch of him were being strained to 
breaking point, and the agony which re- 
sults is too awful for words. Generally, 
however, the excess of pain drives the 
bitten man mad before very long, and in 
four hours he dies— a senseless imbecile. 



Little Civilities. 

If, as the old saying has it, civility 
costs nothing, it certainly gains much, 
both in the way of liking and of kind- 
ness; therefore it seems a great pity that 
so many people dispense with it in small 
matters of daily life. There are no 
doubt very few people who are actually 
and actively rude and uncivil, but there 
are, on the other hand, many who are, 
if we may use the term, passively impo- 
lite. They do not— that is, commit a 
downright rudeness, but they omit a vast 
number of little civilities. 

If it is manners that "niaketh man," 
it is most certainly woman who both 
makes and mars men's manners, for 
there is no man, however rough and un- 
couth in manner, who is not influenced 
and to some degree softened by contact 
with a courteous and gracious-mannered 
woman.— Detroit Free Press. 



THE BETTER TIMES. 



Could young days last for all our time, 

And change and chance be clever, 
Could what we have keep pure and prime, 

Nor fade our fortunes ever; 
Could joys that once like summer smiled 

Still every burden lighten, 
And lovely scenes, that once beguiled, 

Along our way yet brighten; 
Could budding hopes in oeauty bloom, 

Ere comes the time of dotage, 
Could every stalk, with tassled plume, 

But have an ample fruitage; 
Could all the seasons bring us good 

And only good be given. 
It well might then be understood, 

That here on earth is Heaven. 

But this we know can never be, 

The fact needs only stating, 
For even blinded eyes can see 

The need we have of waiting; 
The happy birds in early spring. 

ttn^fc from the south come dying, 
But sin.m .i^nin are on the wing, 

Am] summer time is dying: 
A Ihtli' ivhlK with softened skies, 

Thr esuth ^rows warm and mellow, 
Ami then flu' beauty fades and dies 

An <I tlowers; and fields are yellow; 
A lii iic whi in and we are blessed, 

And every joy has greeting. 
But soon, with grief and care oppressed, 

We find that all is fleeting. 

And so the seasons onward run. 

And here is much of sorrow. 
Our hopes must wait "the world to come," 

And blossom there tomorrow; 
Tomorrow, that glad day and wide 

With bliss and blessing crowded, 
And peace and joy on every side, 

Shall never be be-clouded; 
There all our hopes, on lofty wing, 

Shall rise from death's dark portal, 
Exulting with delight to sing 

The glorious song Immortal; 
No blighting frosts shall chill that day, 

Nor climes nor changes sever, 
The friends that there, enrapt, shall stay, 

Forever and forever. 
— V. M. Simons in Springfield (Mass.) Re- 
publican. 

He who InuKhs at crooked men should 
walk very straight. 



THEJ30UTHERN ^STAB. 




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Address Box 103. 



Saturday, December 23, 1899. 



ARTICLES OF FAITH 

OP THE CHURCH OP JESUS CHRIST OP 
LATTER-DAY SAINTS. 

I. We believe In GrttteftereaJ Path**, and ia Bis 8*» 
Jena Christ, and in the Holy Ghost. 

S. We believe that men will be peaiehed for their ova 
sine, and not for Adam'i tranwression. 

$. We believe that, throogn the atoneoMot of Christ, ell 
ind swy be eavee, bj obedieoeo to the lav* and ordi- 
• of the Gospel. 

_. We believe that the Brst principles and ordinances of 
Che Gospel are : First. Faith in the Lord Josns Christ ; second, 
Repeotanoo; third, Baptism by immersion for the remission 
et sins 1 fourth. Laying on of Bands for the Gift of the Holy 
Ohrwt 

i. W* bshfl** tint I ism Beet le a!W of fled, fcr 
" prapjiacj , ind bj tbfl liykn^ an of htud*," hf that* who ins 
la iDifaoritj, to prfiicb tb« fat pel tad idnuoliter is th# ardi» 
ntowt Thereof. 

0. Wb believa la thrum* orginiutfan Lhtl * lifted in 
ths primitive charei— ninttf, Apastloi, Prophet*, patten, 
T*icbef», kvingrli*U t etc. 

T. We teHo** 1 o tji« gi ft of t&ngu*i, prophrc J„ rendition, 
¥i»k>ni 1 he«lini,, ian*rprp[ib&n of Utapm, clc, 

«. W« twin** the BiM« tft t* the word of flod, *■ f« ss It 
U trsniJitcd correct I y ; we kIki habere the Book of Mormon 
to b« the nut d of Oo4. 

1. Wa belJBTa ill (.bit GoJ hoi M-telled, all that IT« docs 
■ot TAtfltl, and w* belie?* thit II* will *rt r*<«s.l msny nesj 
Sndl important thinn pertaining to the Kingdom or (iod. 

10. Wo btltate Tit the !Jt«nrfJthrHng of hrtal tod in the 
restoration of the Tan Tnhei; that Zi-so wiU be h^jlt tipoo 
thii (th* Amcfklti ( Continent ; I hat Chriet will rei^a p*mn- 
ally upon the earth r bd4 thai tha earth wilt bo renewed snd 
receive iti puraditteral glory. 

II, We claim th* privilege et verahlptaf AToiif htv <?«! 
i.r>:uidJDf to lfce dictate* of our conscience* and tllow ill 
men the saw* jttiviltfejvt tfc*m sronhiji Low* whore, or »h« 
they may. 

U. We believe in being subject to kings, presidents, nitre, 

' Irate* ; in obeying, honoring and sustaining th* law. 

1 believ* in being honest, trne, chaste, bmevolent. 



d magistrates; in obeying, honoring a 
11 W* belier f - *-'-- 

loins cocmTl . . , 

a of Paul, * 



IS. we believ* in being honest, trne, chest*, benevolent, 
virtuous, end in doing good to all ata ; indeed, we may say 
that we follow the admoniUoo of Paul, "We b*li*v* all things, 



"The cruelty of savages is not equal 
to the cruelty of Saints who think it 
their duty to torment their fellow-creat- 
ures." — James Freeman Clarke. 



"When coercion is introduced into any 
sacred work, at that moment it loses its 
sacredness and is no longer the work of 
God." — James Freeman Clarke. 



The Salt Lake Tribune says: 
"Ben Rich tells the people in Tennes- 
see that he stumped the state of Utah 
against Roberts. Perhaps that will give 
the people of Tennessee a new idea oil 
how, possibly, Roberts was elected." 

That's very pretty, but during the 
campaign Ben Rich was talking about 
Roberts was defeated and Hon. C. E. 
Allen elected. Now will the Salt Lake 
Tribune please go off and hangs itself? 



CHRISTMAS TIMES. 

Once more we approach the day that 
brings both happiness and commisera- 
tion. Happy indeed will be the proud 
grandparents who will welcome the two 
or three generations 'round their hearth 
to spend this day merry making. And 
happier yet will be the scene where those 
ruddy faces, curly heads and beaming 
countenances will surround the board 
that for a year has been spared the spe- 
cial duty of bearing such a burden of 
good things. The happiest and most de- 
lightful scene of all is where the. tots 
meet and dance in childish glee around 
the gay and brilliant Christmas tree, 
where grandpa and grandma delight in 
telling how they spent Christmas when 
they wetre children. Everyone is en- 
thused with the spirit of conviviality. 

Yonder we notice one vacant chair in 
this pleased assembly. Who is absent/ 
Where is the absent one? What will 
his surroundings be? are all questions 
this one sad place seems to ask, on this 
day above all others. 
They will meet, but they will miss him, 
There w T ill be no vacant chair. 

Many are the causes for this vacant 
chair. One only we wish to mention — 
"The Soldier of the Cross, who, during 
this season of festivity, as at all other 
times, continues with unyielding effort 
to bring "Peace on earth, good will to 
men." 

Never was pie, nor. cake, nor pudding 
made as sweet as the manna that God 
provides, and we ask will all these deli- 
cacies exceed in sweetness the morsel of 
corn bread and bit of bacon that many 
an humble Elder who has left father, 
mother, wife, yes, all, for to engage In 
the Master's cause, will of necessity eat 
this day with thankfulness. The light 
of the Spirit of God that the followers 
of the Lamb constantly have will far 
outshine the most dazzling features of 
any Christmas feast The consciousness 
of duty performed is a balm that only 
"those who are called to labor" can en- 
joy fully. Were those at home half so 
happy it would indeed be a merry Christ- 
mas. 

The God of us all is preparing a feast, 
and those who are now deprived of this 
pleasant association will be present. No 
vacant chairs will be seen there, and 
what a blissful reunion where an hun- 
dred fold will be given to all who have 
labored, and here they will feast with 
Christ the Lord. 

Our prayers go out to our King, our 
Deliverere, our All, that a "Daddy 
Brown.' an "Aunt Jane," a Marley 
or a "Myriel" will visit every home, be 
it ever so humble, and there leave some 
tiny token to make all happy. 

To the Elders of the Mission who have 
so faithfully and honorably done their 
duty during the past year, we, from the 
bottom of our hearts, wish you a merry 
Christmas, and pray God that your pleas- 
ure may be unbounded. 



BAPTISM FOR THE DEAD. 



The following is copied from a relig- 
ious paper: 

Please explain I. Cor. xv.:29. 

What we see in that verse is this: The 
wages of sin is death. Man, being a sin- 
ner, Is doomed to death. Christ took our 
sins and died for us. When we believe 
on Him, we show our faith in His death, 



burial, and resurrection by baptism. We 
are "baptized into His death," "buried 
with Him by baptism into death." (Rom. 
vi.:3-4.) We are to reckon ourselves, "to 
be dead indeed unto sin." Our hope is 
in Christ and His resurrection. 80 they 
are baptized unto this death in the hope 
of the resurrection in Christ. 

The verse here referred to is as fol- 
lows: "l^lse what shall they do which 
are baptized for the dead if the dead rise 
not at all? Why are they then baptized 
for the dead?" 

We are not greatly surprised at this 
explanation of the scripture, when those 
who try to explain it have a form of god- 
liness, but deny the power thereof; but 
from people who claim Jesus as their 
Savior, their pattern and friend, we are 
disappointed. 

No man can understand the things of 
God unless they have the Spirit of God. 
(1. Cor. ii. :11 and 14.) Then if we would 
know concerning this why not take the 
testimony of those holy men who spake 
as they were moved upon by the Holy 
Ghost? 

We will notice for a few moments the 
explanation given above. The thought 
there conveyed is, that, man being 
doomed to death by reason of sin, is bap- 
tized to show his faith in the death, 
burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ. 
"So they are baptized unto this death in 
the hope of the resurrection of Christ." 
Now, is it not a fact that we are baptized 
for a remission of sins and that the old 
man of sin is not resurrected? If he 
were, would the baptism be effectual? 
Would we be cfean and have a new 
heart and a new spirit? This verse asks 
what shall they do which are baptized for 
the dead, if the dead rise not at all? 
Why are they then baptized for the 
dead? 

Here it gives us to understand that the 
object for which they were baptized was 
to rise, else the baptism would be of no 
effect. 

Baptism is necessary as suggested here 
to show our faith in the ordinance aud 
to put on Christ. For as many of you 
as have been baptized into Christ have 
put on Christ, says Paul. 

Dare we gainsay the words of Christ 
and say a man can enter into Heaven 
without being born again? We answer 
an emphatic No! One other quotation 
should suffice on this (I. Peter iii.:21), 
the like figure where unto even baptism 
doth also now save us. , 

Now, if no man can enter into Heaven 
without being born again and baptism 
was the ordinance instituted by Jesus 
Christ for us to follow, to enter therein, 
what will become of the millions who 
have never been baptized? 

Oh, you will say you are trying to 
make us think that a person living can 
be baptized for one who is dead, and 
that it will be effective, and you are 
right. God is not the hideous nothing 
that many say He is, but is long-suffer- 
ing, not willing that any should perish, 
but that ALL should come to repentance. 
If only the sons of perdition, or the sin 
against the Holy Ghost will keep us out 
of the kingdom of God (and all sin will 
be forgiven save the sinning against the 
Holy Ghost, and sin is what separates 
us from God.) 

Then if this is the only thing that will 
keep us out and we cannot enter unless 
we are born of the. water and the Spirit, 
how are the millions who never heard 



THE SOUTHERN STAR. 



29 



Christ's name going to enter? We an- 
swer that this passage referred to ex- 
plains this. 

I know many will raise their hands in 
holy horror at such a thought, but if they 
will but think of God's love we think they 
can see that He will provide some way. 
We suppose that many people were right- 
eously indignant when they were taught 
that Christ was going to do a vicarious 
work whereby all could be saved and 
could have their sins taken away, even 
those who were dead. 

According to Peter (I. Peter iii.:18 and 
iv.:G), Christ went and preached to the 
disobedient spirits that "they might be 
judged according to men in the flesh, but 
live according to God in the Spirit." And 
there they will have the chance to either 
accept or reject the Gospel. For every 
man must hear the Gospel. The world 
knows nothing of this glorious principle 
and when they read "why are ye bap- 
tized for the dead, if the dead rise not 
at all?" they can give no reasonable ex- 
planation. Why? Because they try to 
make some big mystery out of the Gos- 
pel. Not believing that God can reveal 
His will to man in these days. All these 
beautiful principles that were in the 
primitive Church are hfet to them, and 
they try to appease their spiritual appe- 
tites by reading of the sumptuous Gospel 
banquet that the Saints once enjoyed. 

God is no respector of persons we are 
told, and He was so merciful that His 
only begotten Son went and preached to 
the spirits of the same people to whom 
the prophet Noah preached the Gospel 
for 120 years. The "Thief on the cross" 
was also there no doubt and listened to 
and had a chance to embrace the Gos- 
pel. O! if so-called Christianity would 
only be reasonable. 



Tantalizing Talmage. 

On the Sunday previous to the meeting 
of Congress, a number of sermons and 
speeches were delivered in the churches 
at Washington, D. C, among which was 
a discourse by Rev. DeWitt Talmage, 
which elicited some pungent comments 
from Congressman Bailey. These were 
published in part, being sent in regular 
press dispatches to the papers of the 
country. The Washington Times, how- 
ever, gave them in full, with some com- 
ments. The article is worthy of repro- 
duction, and we therefore here append it 
in full, as it appeared in the Times of 
Dec. 9th. 

It has often been remarked, by ob- 
servers of human affairs, that one thing 
usually leads to another, and this truth 
has received a fresh illustration within 
the last few days. In view of the recent 
agitation over the Roberts case, the ever- 
ready and always remarkable Dr. Tal- 
mage saw fit to preach a sermon on the 
subject; this sermon inspired sundry re- 
flections in the mind of a gentleman who 
read it and analyzed it by the ordinary 
processes of logic; and these reflections 
are embodied in a letter to a local news- 
paper, over the signature of G. M. Bailey. 
Mr. Bailey reasons, by a series of steps 
which are as obvious as the multiplica- 
tion table, that, supposing Dr. Talmage's 
position to be sound, that reverend gen- 
tleman is confounded with a most dis- 
tressing problem. He says: 

"1. Polygamy is an abhorrent thing, 
and Roberts should be hung. 

"2. Dr. Talmage's sermon published 
last Monday was the most eloquent ar- 



raignment of polygamy the country has 
ever seen. 

"3. Dr. Talmage has charmed the peo- 
ple in years gone by with the thought 
that the good will meet their loved ones 
on the other shore. 

"4. Hence in the next world, the elect 
will know the bliss of family reunions. 

*'5. This is a blessed thought for the 
pure in heart who travel through this 
vale of tears. 

"6. If this is true, the programme on 
earth is necessarily different from that 
in heaven. 

"7. Roberts is said to have three 
wives, two too many for earth, at one 
time. 

**8. Dr. Talmage will cross the divide 
having lived in consecutive manner with 
four earthly wives. 

"9. This is lawful, and it is civilization 
on earth. 

"10. But there must be reunions in 
heaven. 

"11. Dr. Talmage may have the same 
trouble in the next world that Roberts 
has in this." 

What the next step in this chain of 
deduction may be it is a little difficult 
to say. If Dr. Talmage can be brought 
to reflect seriously on the question pre- 
sented for his solution, it may give him 
a broader human sympathy with Mr. 
Roberts, or it may drive him insane. 
There seems to be nothing that he can 
do in the matter, from a practical point 
of view. He cannot unmarry himself, 
nor can he refuse support to earthly 
wives who are dead. It is barely possi- 
ble that he may admit having made a 
slight mistake in his calculations, but 
that, in the light of his past career, is a 
little more unlikely than the other two 
things. 

If there is one subject on which Dr. 
Talmage has always been especially 
fluent, even more so than on his travels 
in the Holy Land, it is the conditions 
which will obtain in heaven. He could 
not have known more about it if he had 
been a special correspondent of a yellow 
journal, commissioned to write a "feat- 
ure story" about the New Jerusalem. 
He has described the climate, typogra- 
phy, politics, social customs, language, 
amusements and architecture of heaven 
so exhaustively that one could almost 
find one's way about in the light from 
his minute descriptions. He has de- 
scribed the way in which the city is laid 
out, how the Saints are given homes ac- 
cording to their occupations — some in 
Apostle Square, some in Missionary 
street, some in Martyr's Row; and how 
the heavenly musicians, sitting at long 
and well-laden tables, pause now and 
then in their feasting to wipe their 
mouths and give a melodious blast on a 
sublimated harp, to express their utter 
content and joy. This may seem irrev- 
erent to the devout reader, but it is 
what Dr. Talmage says. He has appar- 
ently pictured heaven as a glorified real- 
ization of the kind of city in which he 
would like to live on earth, with the peo- 
ple sorted out according to their different 
degrees of piety, and all the gilding real 
gold, and good things to eat scattered 
about promiscuously. 

It seems a little strange that in all this 
information there is no description of 
Dr. Talmage's own home, where he will 
sit, surrounded by those who have shared 
his lot on earth, and present exactly the 
same tableau now presented by Mr. Rob- 
erts. Following out this argument to its 
conclusion, we find that other inhabitants 
of the heavenely city will be found sign- 
ing bulky petitions to have Dr. Talmage 



consigned to outer darkness. And that 
would be sad, but interesting.— Deseret 
News. 

Middle lennessee Conference. 

The Middle Tennessee Conference met 
Dec. 9 and 10 at Nashville. There wad 
present irom the omce president x>en Hi. 
iiich, his wife, L. K. Anderson and J. 
W. Carruth. 

Saturday was spent in priesthood 
meeting, where every Elder had the priv- 
ilege oi expressing nimseir. ±ne inspiring 
expressions were much enjoyed by those 
assembled during the three meetings held. 

Sunday the 10th, Presidents Rich and 
Allred and Elders Stewart, Forsyth, 
tfudge and Parkinson addressed those as- 
sembled at the morning service. 

At the afternoon session President L. 
R. Anderson and Elder J. W. Carruth ad- 
dressed the assembly. They invited all 
to investigate thoroughly the doctrine 
taught by the Latter Day Saints as it 
was a very important message. 

President Ben E. Rich discussed brief- 
ly the personality of God. He showed 
what manner of being the God of Abra- 
ham, Isaac and Jacob was, in contradic- 
tion to the mystified nothingness of the 
something which many people now teach 
to be God. 

Evening Sesnion. 

President Ben E. Rich was the speak- 
er. His text being Gal. 1 :8. In a plain, 
simple, yet forcible manner, he demon- 
strated how very different was the Gos- 
pel taught by those commissioned by 
Christ, when He (Christ) labored in the 
ministry, and what men now preach and 
label Gospel. Also the fallacy of the doc- 
trine of "One big Heaven" and "One big 
Hell," quoting freely from the Bible lo 
substantiate what he had said. 

Monday the Elders met and were as- 
signed to various fields of labor. With a 
hearty handshake and a "God bless you," 
the Elders left the city two by two, de- 
termined to do all in their power for the 
advancement of truth. 

OSBORNE RIOHENS. 
Clerk of Conference. 



Signs Following the Believers. 

To the Southern Star. 

Being a constant reader of the Star 
and much strengthened and much com- 
forted by the testimonies there recorded, 
I thought I should be happy, if allowed 
space, to bear my testimony. 

I am thoroughly impressed with the 
divinity of the Gospel as taught by the 
Latter-day Saints, and find it to agree in 
every respecet with the teachings of the 
Apostles of old. 

I can truthfully testify that I have 
been raised from a bed of sickness to 
health by the laying on of the hands of 
the Elders, and this to me is one testi- 
mony that Joseph Smith was a Prophet, 
for, as recorded in the doctrine and cov- 
eenants, he told the servants of the 
Lord, who went forth in the name of the 
Lord, that such could be accomplished. 
All or most every denomination that 
I have heard of deney the signs follow- 
ing the believers now as anciently, Jo- 
seph Smith said they should follow the 
believer, and I am a witness that he 
spoke the truth. Therefore, he, in this 
respect, as in many others, told what 
could be accomplished in the name of 
the Lord, and this is evidence to me that 
he must have enejoyed heavenly commu- 
nication. I am thankful that the Elders 
came to our home to bear the glad mes- 
sage of great joy, and although it brings 
persecution upon me for being a Saint, 
vet I can endure it cheerfully, as I 
know that God will bless me if I am 
faithful to the end. 

Sincerely your sister in the cause of 
truth, Carrie McKnight 

Ackerman, Miss. 



30 



THE SOUTHEKN STAB. 



IMPORTANCE OF GENERAL CONFERENCES. 



The Sphere and Regulation of Temporal Affairs — Need For Efficient Elders in 

the Missionary Field. 

[DBL1VBBKD BY ELDIB MATTHIAS F. COWLBY, AT 8 ALT LAKH CITY, OCT. 6, 1899.] 



My brethren and sisters, I am gratified 
for the privilege of being with you at 
this conference, and especially for the op- 
portunity of being instructed by my 
brethren. 1 recognize the fact that I am 
always in need of instruction and admo- 
nition. I believe that this is the case 
with all the Latter-day Saints. That we 
may be fed with the bread of life, par- 
ticularly with that portion of it which is 
adapted to the immediate wants of the 
Saints, is the object of this general con- 
ference. The Church is sixty-nine and a 
half years of age today; and while the 
congregation does not entirely till this 
tabernacle, it is very large compared with 
the membership of the Church on the 6th 
day of April, 1 830. Soon after the or- 
ganization of the Church, we are in- 
formed, by the Doctrine and Covenants, 
conferences were inaugurated and it was 
enjoined by revelation that the various 
branches of the Church should send rep- 
resentative men to the conference, that 
they might, if called upon, represent the 
condition or the work of the Lord in theiv 
respective branches, and also that they 
might partake of the spirit which actu- 
ated the Prophet of the Lord and his as- 
sociates. 

The importance of these conferences 
should be impressed upon the Latter-day 
Saints throughout the Stakes of Zion: 
and I believe that the spirit of them is 
extended to the various nations of the 
earth. I know that when I have been 
abroad preaching the Gospel, and a con- 
ference has occurred during my absence, 
1 have felt the spirit of the occasion. 
Though I have been absent in body, 1 
have Deen present in spirit. I have re- 
joiced in occasions of this character, 
though thousands of miles away from 
them. 

When Brother Rudder Clawson read 
from the scriptures this morning, I was 
reminded of a statement made in the 
Book of Doctrine and Covenants, which 
I will read. It is in Section 59: 

"Behold, blessed, saith the Lord, are 
they who have come up unto this land 
with an eye single to my glory, accord- 
ing to my commandments." 

This was revealed to the Prophet Jo- 
seph at the time the Saints were assem- 
bled in Jackson county, Missouri, that 
land having been designated by the Lord 
as the great central gathering place of 
the Saints of God in this dispensation; 
and the expression in this paragraph: 
"Blessed, saith the Lord, are they that 
have come up unto this land with an eye 
single to my glory," is very indicative. 
The importance of it is demonstrated in 
subsequent history of the efforts of the 
Saints of God to establish Zion in Jack- 
son county; for in the inception of this 
work the Lord communicated to the 
Prophet Joseph Smith all the keys and 
authority and every essential for the com- 
plete establishment and accomplishment 
of the work of God in the last days, and 
this included the principle of union. 
Brother Woodruff has been speaking to 
us this morning relative to the necessity 
of our having material interest in the 
work of God. I believe, indeed, I know, 
that if we confined our worship to the 
mere singing of hymns and the delivering 
of religious sermons, the Saints of God 
would die temporally; and if it were all 
temporal, they would die spiritually. That 
which is esteemed temporal and which is 
deprecated in the estimation of the re-* 
ligions world is sanctioned in the Gospfl 
of Jesus Christ from the fact that all 
things are spiritual with God. We read 
in the revelations of God, to the Prophet 
Joseph, this saying of the Lord: 

"Wherefore, verily I say unto you, that 
all things unto me are spiritual, and not 
at any time have I given unto you a law 
which is temporal." 

In the establishment of this work the 



Lord designed to communicate to the 
Latter-day Saints those principles which 
should control and govern them in all the 
temporal transactions of life. Every 
Latter-day Saint who has the spirit of 
the Gospel can understand the necessity 
of this. 1 maintain that it is an impos- 
sibility for men to be engaged for six 
days in the week in the business transac- 
tions of life and to be controlled by the 
principles which obtain in the world, and 
enjoy the spirit of the Gospel upon tiie 
Sabbath day and to worship Almighty 
God acceptably. The trouble with us is 
to a certain extent, we are Latter-day 
Saints religiously, but Gentiles financial- 
ly. We are not controlled in the busi- 
ness affairs of life by that spirit of the 
Gospel which blesses and sanctifies all 
temporal transactions and makes them 
spiritual in the sight of God. In my 
travels among the people I have felt that 
the Sermon on the Mount, delivered by 
the Messiah, was the choicest sermon 
that ever fell from the lips of any earth- 
ly being. It is found in the 5th, 6th and 
7th chapters of Matthew and also in the 
third book of Nephi. The injunctions 
He there gave are practical, essential, 
and adapted to the wants of the people 
of God, in every dispensation and in ev- 
ery part of the earth. The Lord re- 
vealed to the Prophet Joseph Smith the 
principles upon which the Zion of God 
could ne established and perpetuated. He 
made known unto him that there should 
be a common interest in the things of 
God: that every talent should be blessed 
and sanctified to the establishment of the 
work of God upon the earth; that no 
matter what might be the peculiar gifts 
bestowed upon the individual, they should 
all be used in the accomplishment of the 
purposes of God. As a people we are di- 
versely gifted. 

I remember reading a revelation in this 
Book of Doctrine and Covenants, where- 
in the Lord says that He would not make 
the Prophet Joseph mighty in temporal 
things, because his work was in another 
direction. He was entrusted with the 
keys and the revelations of God, many 
of whjch had been kept hid from the 
foundation of the world, and He laid the 
foundation of this work and gave revela- 
tions which would enable his successors 
and the. people of God for many years to 
build upon it. The Lord revealed to him 
what we call the United Order, by which 
all the time and all the talents of all the 
Saints of God should be employed for 
the general benefit of the cause. I re- 
member reading in this book of a branch 
of the Church that had come up from 
Colesville, in the state of New York, and 
they had made a solemn covenant with 
the Lord that they would consecrate 
their property to His cause, but they 
broke that covenant, and it was a very 
serious sin in the sight of God. Thoy 
had broken a solemn pledge, and they 
were made to realize the fulfillment of 
the saying that God would not be 
mocked, although it may not have been 
so serious and swift a Judgment as that 
pronounced upon Ananias and Sapphira 
m the days of the Apostles. The effort 
was made then to establish the. United 
Order. Jesus sought to establish the 
work of God more fully than the house 
of Judah would accept it. You remember 
that He said to them: 

"Oh, Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that 
killest the prophets, and stonest them 
which are sent unto thee, how often 
would I have gathered thy children to- 
, gether. even as a hen gathereth her 
chickens under her wings, and ye. would 
not. 



house is left unto 



"38. Behold, your 
you desolate. 

"39. For T say unto you, ye shall not 
see me henceforth, till ye shall say. 



blessed is he that cometh in the name of 
the Lord." 

■ The day is coming when they will be 
willing to accept the principle of gather- 
ing which they then rejected. But, as I 
have said, the effort was made to estab- 
lish the principles of the United Order 
subsequent to the ascension of Jesus. 
They, had, it is said, all things in com- 
mon. On one occasion Ananias came to 
the Apostle Peter ostensibly to conse- 
crate all that he had received under the 
blessings of the Almighty. The scrip- 
tures inform us that he and his wife had 
sold a possession and he brought a cer- 
tain part of it and laid it at tne feet of 
*he Apostle Peter, who was the Presiding. 
Apostle of the Church and who had re- 
ceived the keys not only to baptize for 
the remission of sins, to lay on hands 
for the gift of the Holy Ghost and to ad- 
minister the sacrament of the Lord's sup- 
per, but also to administer in those things 
that pertain to the celestial kingdom here 
upon this earth. Now Peter, under the 
influence of the JHoly Ghost, discerned 
that the man was not honest in his of- 
fering, and he said unto him: 

"Ananias, why hath Satan filled thine 
heart to lie to the Holy Ghost, and to 
keep back part of the price of tne land? 

"While it remained, was it not thine 
own? And after it was sold, was it not 
in thine own power? Why hast thou 
conceived this thing in thine heart? Thou 
hast not lied unto men. but unto God. 

"And Ananias,, hearing these words, 
fell down, and gave up the Ghost." 

Shortly afterwards his wife came in, 
and she also lied in relation to this busi- 
ness. These are principles, my brethren 
and sisters, that are attended by the 
power of God, if they are observed. 
But they are attended by the judgments 
of God if they are violated. These prin- 
ciples were carried out in the city of 
Enoch until the city was translated. 
They were carried out for a few genera- 
tions upon this continent by the Ne- 
phites, and the Book of Mormon tells us 
that not one of that generation was lost, 
because they were equal before the Lord 
and labored for the same end. The Lord 
revealed to the Prophet Joseph the same 
principles. The Saints of God failed 1o 
carry them out because of selfishness. 
The Lord revealed that Zion never could 
be redeemed, only by the law of conse- 
cration. Because the people were not 
prepared to receive and obey it, Joseph 
Smith and Oliver Cowdery besought tn«» 
Lord to know what He required at their 
hands as a tithing. As a result of that 
condition, He gave the law of tithing 
wherein is required a tenth of all the in- 
terest of the people annually. The "Lord 
specified what the tithing should be used 
for, and that it should be disbursed un- 
der the direction of the presidency of the 
Church. 

Now, my brethren and sisters, the peo- 
ple who came to Zion without having an 
eye single to the glory of God lost their 
right to an inheritance. When they came 
up with sinister motives, and their heart* 
were not devoted to the work of God, 
they suffered the disapproval of the Al- 
mighty. The same statement will apply 
to us in these valleys of the mountains. 
We have been led here by the inspiration 
of the Almighty. The same inspiration 
has controlled and guided the presidency 
of the Church in locating these Stakes of 
Zion, these cities and towns, throughout 
the length and breadth of this intcr- 
mountain country. 

God has blessed us with abundance. 
The great majority of the Latter-day 
Saints own their own homes. If you 
were to ask them how many of them 
owned their own homes in tneir native 
lands, possibly four-fifths of them would 
say that they did not. If you were, to 
ask them how many of them conducted 
a profitable business of their own before 
they came here, four-fifths would por- 
haps have to give the same answer, xe.t 
in the prosperity that has attended us in 
the establishment of our cities, towns, 
and in the building up of the Stakes of 
Zion in this country, we have not man 1 - 
fested the gratitude to God for His 
choice blessings which we ought to have 



THE SOUTHERN STAR. 



31 



done. We have an abundance of bless- 
ings, especially of a temporal character, 
and we ought to be willing to comply 
with the requirements that are made of 
us, and honestly and completely pay our 
tithing and our offerings. 

I rejoice in this work. I rejoice in bear- 
ing testimony to the truth of the Gospel 
and that we have a Prophet of God 
standing at our head today — President 
L»orenzo Snow — who enjoys the inspira- 
tion of the Holy Spirit and whose coun- 
sel to the Latter-day Saints comes from 
the Lord. May God help us to carry it 
out, and to exemplify in our lives the 
principles which we testify God has re- 
stored to the earth in these last days. I 
wish to urge the Latter-day Saints to 
teach their sons and their daughters the 
principles of the everlasting Gospel. 
There is a great necessity today, in the 
various missions abroad, for efficient men 
to preach the Gospel and to represent the 
people of God. Many of our young men 
that go from our Stakes of Zion to preach 
the Gospel have not studied it. They 
have not taken advantage, of the oppor- 
tunities afforded them in the Mutual Im- 
provement Association, in the Sunday 
school and in other organizations. I am 
sorry to say that some of them have been 
grossly neglected by their parents. I 
have, found Elders who did not believe in 
some of the principles of the Gospel. 
They said they had not been taught to 
them and they had been neglected by 
their parents. They had been ensaged 
in herding sheep and other avocations, 
and had not taken pains to prepare them- 
selves. The result was there was one 
principle of the. Gospel, at least, that they 
did not understand, and consequently 
they did not teach or defend it. To my 
mind this was a very sorrowful condi- 
tion, and it cast reflection upon the par- 
ents and teachers of those Elders. T do 
not suppose that there is a mission upon 
the. earth that would not desire to have 
more Folders than thev now havp. espe- 
cially Elders who are better qualified and 
more thoroughly indoctrinated in the 
principles of the Gospel and more thor- 
oughlv imbued with the inspiration of 
the Holy Ghost before they leave their 
homes and shoulder the responsibility of 
carrying the message of eternal life to 
the nations of the earth. I know this is 
the case in the United States. I have 
recently had the privilege of visiting with 
President Kelch the conferences of the 
Northern States Mission, and I found 
the Elders laboring earnestly to spread 
the Gospel among the people of that re- 
gion. 

Brethren and sisters, let us heed the 
instructions that are given to us at this 
conference, and endeavor to applv them 
to our lives, that we may profit thereby. 
God help us to do so. is my prayer in the 
name of Jesus. Amen. 



Edison's Religion. 

This is what Thomas Edison said in 
reply to a question addressed him by an 
Agnostic: 

"Why, after years of watching the pro- 
cesses of nature, I can no more doubt 
the existence of an Intelligence that is 
running things than I do of the existence 
of myself. Take, for example, the sub- 
stance water that forms the crystal 
known as ice. Now, there are hundreds 
of combinations that form crystals, and 
every one of them save that of ice sinks 
in water. Ice, I say, doesn't. And it is 
rather lucky for us mortals, for if it had 
done so we would all be dead. Why? 
Simply because if ice sank to the bottom 
of rivers, lakes and oceans as fast as it 
froze, those places would be frozen up. 
and there would be no water left. That 
is only one example out of thousands 
that to me prove beyond the possibility 
of a doubt that some vast Intelligence is 
governing this and other planets." 

Kites rise against, not with the . wind 
• • • no man ever worked his passage 
anywhere in a dead calm.— John Neal. 



THE PRESENT CRISIS 



BY ELDER DAVID H. ELTON. 
(Continued From Page 21.) 

You will remember how he was taken 
before Felix and Festus for the Gospel's 
sake. No guilt or crime, in him having 
been found, he next appears before 
King Agrinpa. Just take a retrospective 
view of this poor lone disciple of the 
Master. See him as he stands in the 
presence of the monarch, bound in 
chains, surrounded by the aristocrats and 
nobles of the land, while the Jews, his 
accusers, are there also, to invent cal- 
umy, to pervert the truth, and hiss m 
vile derision. Does he fear the face of 
man? Does his knees shake or heart 
quake for fear? No! but he is bold in 
his defence of the Gospel, fearless in his 
declaration of the truth! He has re- 
ceived his knowledge by revelation; he 
proclaims his testimony with power and 
simplicity ! 

In the course of his vindication, after 
having explained his manner of life from 
his youth, and the power and glory of 
God manifest at his conversion, he goes 
on to say: Aiaving therefore obtained 
help of God, 1 continue unto this day, 
witnessing both to small and great, say- 
ing none other things than those which 
the prophets and Moses did say should 
come." Acts 2(5:22. Now we see from 
his own words, and understand from his 
own lips, why he was persecuted and 
for an account of his sufferings it would 
be well to read the eleventh chapter of 
his second epistle to the Corinthians. One 
might sa^ "It hardly looks reasonable 
that these people who seemed to fairly 
idolize Moses and the prophets should 
persecute and strive to slay those who 
declared unto them 4 None other things 
than those which the prophets and Moses 
did say should come.' " But no matter 
how unreasonable it may appear to the 
finite mind, it is nevertheless true, and 
history, secular and Biblical, deals in 
surprises and paradoxes quite as start- 
ling as this! 

]\ow, in our search, we have found 
that our Lord and the apostles stood up- 
on a scriptural basis, that is, they quoted 
as authority the written word their hear- 
ers were in possession of, and which 
they professed to place implicit confi- 
dence in. We have also discovered that 
for so doing, they were persecuted, put 
to death by the edge of the sword, nailed 
to the cross, and tortured in various 
ways, (and here it would be well to 
state that for the most part they were 
afflicted by professed religionists, who 
went oft to worship, offered long pray- 
ers, and appeared before men with long 
sanctimonious countenances), by those 
who should have been their friends. Hav- 
ing gone thus far, in order to fulfill our 
contract, it now remains for us to turn 
our attention unto the existing condi- 
tions of the present crisis and see if they 
are analogous with those of the past. 

Today, the Elders of Israel go forth 
armed with God's holy word— the Bible, 
preaching the "gospel of the kingdom.'* 
They take up the Book (Holy Bible) the 
people claim to believe in — the book their 
ministers preach from — the book their 
righteous parents admonish them in in- 
fancy and early life to study, and from 
its sacred pages, by the assistance of 
God's holy spirit, they prove the doc- 
trines they promulgate to be devine. As 
a result, they are persecuted and op- 
posed. Some of them have been mobbed, 
whipped, beaten and stoned; some have 
suffered incarceration, while others 
again, like the faithful ones of old, have 
sealed their testimonies with their blood. 

With these truths before us, cannot 
the oft repeated axiom, "History repeats 
itself," be declared with increased em- 
phasis? Have we not before us suf- 
ficient proof upon which we may reg- 
ister a verdict that the events of this 
present crisis are but analogous with 
the scenes of early Christianity? 

Is it not remarkable that the exper- 
iences of these Latter Day Saints should 
so exactly coincide with the trials of the 
saints of God in former ages? Is it not 
remarkable that these "Mormon Elders** 



preach from the rery book which Christ- 
ians kiss and call divine? Is it not a 
remarkable fact, that the persecutions 
heaped upon these "Mormons," comes 
from a professed religious source? "Yes," 
we say, "these are remarkable truths.*' 
They are unimpeachable facts! Paul 
declared that he had taught "none other 
things, than those which the prophets 
and Moses did say should come: we al- 
so declare that we have taught none 
others things than those which the proph- 
ets and Moses, and the apostles and 
Christ did say should come. We say to 
mankind, "If ye believe the Bible, how 
can ye reject our teachings? for we 
bring no new religion to you, conjectured 
in the mind of man; but the 'Old Time 
Religion' revealed from God above of 
which your Bibles return again and again 
in confirmation of its divinity." But still 
the conflict goes on between truth and 
error, between virtue and vice. Need I 
remind you of the fact that "the offence 
of the cross" has not ceased, and cannot 
cease while wickedness is rampant? 
Many sneers and much reviling is the 
common heritage of the faithful in this 
university of experience. 

In conclusion, let me say, we, like the 
prophets of old, standing upon a scriptur- 
al basis, declare to all the world that 
we -do know of the divinity of this work. 
Our testimonies are no less forcible than 
theirs, whose words confirm our teach- 
ings as divine. To those whose hearts 
are not cankered with prejudice, we 
would say. "Treat these things as mat- 
ters worth investigation," and to those 
who will not listen, but who, hoodwinked 
and blinded by tradition and error, fly 
in the face of these incontrovertible 
proofs, and madly rush on to the con- 
summation of devilish plots, we would 
raise a warning voice, and say: "Beware 
ye sons of men who by mob violence, 
and brute force, are engaging your dia- 
bolical schemes to crush the innocent and 
trample the Gospel under your feet! 
Your reward awaits you and justice will 
cl«im hU own. Beware ye professed 
"Truth Reflectors" whose satanic enor- 
mity incites the ignorant to arms against 
th» rich terms! Ye have One who jndcr- 
eth you. even the Lord Jesus, in whom 
ye. trust, but by your actions Him de- 
ny! 

I part from you with the words of 
the poet ringing in my ears: 

"Clod's ways seem dark, but soon or late, 
They touch the shining hills of day; 
The evil cannot brook delay, 

The good can well afford to wait.** 



Chattanooga Conference. 

The Elders of the Chattanooga Con- 
ference arrived in the city of Chatta- 
nooga on the evening of the 15th of 
December — the evening before the ap- 
pointed time of convention. All were 
feeling well— anxious and pleased to see 
each other. They were pleased that God 
had honored them with the privilege of 
being a pruner in this part of His vine- 
yard—and well content and satisfied with 
their lot 

President Rich was not expected from 
Ohio until the morning of the 16th, the 
appointed time of meeting, but since all 
the Elders were present, the Presidency 
of the Conference thought it advisable 
and profitable to hold a meeting of gen- 
eral counsel together. Accordingly at 
3:30 p.m., the 16th inst, they met togeth- 
er for that purpose at the Mission head- 
quarters under the direction of Presi- 
dent Christo Hyldahl. After the devo- 
tional exercises of singing and prayer 
the meeting was turned over into the 
hands of the Elders to advise, counsel, 
or question as they desired. 

They expressed their love and charity 
for the southern people and felt not to 
complain of the occasional ill-treatment 
to which they are subject, because they 
realize that it comes only from the ignor- 
ant, bigoted and credulous classes who, 
by a little excitement, are persuaded to 



32 


THE SOUTHERN STAR. 


REPORT OF MISSION CONFERENCES FOR WEEK ENDING DEC. 2, 1899. 



PRESIDENT 



D. H.filton... 

Joseph F. Pulley,,. 

B.F. Price 

John Petereou ♦ 

W. D. Rench ■•;■.... 
T. H. HumpherjH,. 

C.Q.Parker. 

J. Urban Allied 

J. M. Haws 

Sylvester Low, Jr.... 

O. D. Flake-. 

D. A.Broadb 

J. Lewis Hob&rm .„. 

J. H. Willis „. 

L. M. Terry 

Geo. B. Mayc ■■<■■... 



CCJHFKHRNCR 



Chananooga^ 

Virginia... 

Kentucky ♦♦,»,..♦ 
E. Tennessee.... 

Georsln 

H* Alabama 

Florida..,. 

Mid. Teun. 

N.t'aroLtun. 

B ( jir'iliua t4 ,.... 

Mississippi 

E. Kentucky 

Louisiana, 

S T Alabama,,. .,.. 
If, Kentucky..^. 
Ohio.. .,„ 



:s«: 
II 1» 



tna as 



iM.f, 1... 



lira 

(170 
831 
21 J 
510 
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Chaitaiiooga 

506 Peach St, Danville.. 

Battletown ... 

Knozville 

Augusta. 

Jacinto 

Lulu 

8myrna 

Goldkboro .. 

Sharp... 

Bay St. Louis ~~ 

Buck Creek 

Shreveport 

Tuskegee 

Baardad, 8helbyCo 

713 W. 8th 8t., Cincinnati. 



Tennessee. 

Virginia. 

Kentucky. 

Tennessee. 

Georgia, 

Mississippi. 

Florida. 

Tennessee. 

N. Carolina. 

8. Carolina. 

Mississippi 

Kentucky. 

Louisiana, 

Alabama 

Kentucky. 

Ohio. 



commit any crime that is vicious and 
ignoble. 

The Spirit of God was manifest, the 
meeting one of joy and benefit. 

At 10 o'clock on the morning of the 
17th all met in the Congregational Hall 
at 708 Market street. There were not 
as many people present as would be ex- 
pected in a town of this size, but the 
meeting was a success notwithstanding. 

"Redeemer of Israel" was the open 
ing hymn. The invocation was given by 
Elder Jeddie Stokes, followed by the 
song "O ye mountains high/' 

Elders David H. Elton, Jeddie Stokes 
and George E. Maycoc*. were in turn 
called on to address the people. They 
spoke in brief upon matters pertaining 
to the salvation of man, after which 
President Ben E. Rich spoke at some 
length, dealing upon the great failure of 
so-called Christianity to accomplish a 
unity of the faith. "This deplorable 
division of the Christian world," said he, 
is a sufficient and just excuse for Infi- 
delity, for if Jesus Christ be true, and 
He was and is, then His house would 
continue to be one of peace and unison, 
'for God is not the author of confusion 
but of peace.' " He closed by inviting 
all the ministers to come out to the after- 
noon services and hear of Mormonism 
from a Mormon standpoint. The ser- 
vices closed by the Elders singing "We 
thank Thee, O God, for a Prophet." 

Benediction was offered by Elder Al- 
bert Arrowsmith. 

At 2 p.m. the meeting was resumed. 
Many more citizens were present at this 
assembly than at the forenoon services, 
and among them were not a few of the 
most prominent people of the city. 

"Our God we raise to Thee," was the 
opening hymn. Prayer was offered by 
Elder E. M. Lee. A selected quartette 
from among the Elders then rendered 
most commendably the hymn, "Do what 
is right." 

President L. R. Anderson was the first 
speaker. He dwelt upon the funda- 
mental principles of the Gospel as 
taught by Christ and His disciples, and 
8b owed the beautiful harmony that ex- 
ists between them and the doctrines of 
the Latter-Day Saints. 

He was fonowed by President Ben E. 
Rich. After reading the words of John 
ii, John ix, he began a discussion of the 
principles taught by Jesus. 

He said: "In the age in which we live 
there are multitudes of different faiths, 
all pretending to be the Gospel of Christ, 
and all drawing their doctrines from the 
same record, wherein the Apostle Paul 
declares that there is 'one Lord, one faith 
and one baptism/ and that the curses 
of God are pronounced upon any one, 
even an angel from heaven, who teaches 



any other Gospel or principles than He 
had preached. Christ said in His last 
prayer, 'Neither pray I for these alone, 
but for them also which shajl believe on 
Mo through those words that they all 
may be one; as Thou, Father, are in Me 
and I in Thee, that they also may be one 
in us, that the world may believe that 
Thou hast sent Me.' 

"It should be the duty of every one 
who professes to believe in Christ to as- 
certain what that one faith and that one 
baptism is." 

He referred to many passages of Scrip- 
ture wherein God had placed officers- 
Apostles, prophets, pastors and teachers 
—in His church, for the perfection of 
the Saints, for the work of the ministry 
and for the edifying of the body of 
Christ; that we be not tossed to and fro 
by every wind of doctrine, like a ship 
upon the sea without a rudder. He 
called attention to the first Gospel ser- 
mon preached after Christ's crucifixion; 
showing that faith, repentance, baptism 
and the laying on of hands for the gift 
of the Holy Ghost, were and are still 
the principles of the Gospel of Jesus 
Christ. He related Peters' business to 
Samaria, in substantiation of the declar- 
ation that the Holy Ghost came by the 
laying on of hands. "These," said he, 
"are the doctrines of Christ, and whoso- 
ever transgresseth and abideth not in the 
doctrines of Christ hath not God. It has 
been the sin of every generation to wor- 
ship the dead prophets and kill the liv- 
ing ones. The Devil don't care how 
many dead prophets the children of men 
believe in, because their tongues are si- 
lent, and under this condition he can 
easily blind and mislead the multitude; 
it is his great work to keep the people 
from believing in the living araeles of 
God, and so long as he can do this his 
work is successful." 

He closed his remarks by extending to 
the ministers of the city a cordial invi : 
tation to visit the Mission Home and 
converse freely with the young men of 
the Mormon church who are here en- 
gaged in missionary work. 

He said: "Let us not hate one another, 
but let us reason together; if you have 
a truth that we have not, we will gladly 
accept it, and if we have an error that 
you can point out, we will gladly aban- 
don it and be thankful for your aid in 
showing it to us. Many of our Elders 
have suffered from the hand of violence 
and many times these mobs have been 
headed by those professing to be minis- 
ters of the Gospel; a palm leaf of peace 
looks better than the shotgun in the 
hands of one who claims to be a minis- 
ter of Christ, so come and let us reason 
together." 



He closed his remarks by quoting from 
an old familiar hymn: 
"Freedom and reason make us men; 
Take these away, what are we then? 
Mere animals and just as well 
The beasts may think of heaven and hell." 

The quartette rendered another selec- 
tion, after which President Hyldahl of- 
fered the benediction. 

At the Elders' meeting after the pub- 
lic services the following business was 
transacted: 

President Hyldahl, on account of add- 
ed responsibilities, was honorably re- 
leased from presiding over the Confer- 
ence, and Elder David H. Elton ap- 
pointed and sustained in that position, 
lie postponed the selection of Counsel- 
ors until a later date. Elder Riley Dixon 
was released to return home. The Con- 
ference concluded by some timely and 
beneficial instructions from President 
Rich, after which the Elders were as- 
signed to their various fields of labor. 



Releases and Appointments. 

Honorably released to return home: 

J. H. Naisbett. 

J. Lewis Hobson. 

J. T. Carruth. 

A. Jeffreys. 

R. L. Dixon. 

M. E. Kartchner. 

R. M. Robinson. 

J. R. MorroJl. 
TRANSFERS 

W. T. Davis, East Kentucky to Chat- 
tanooga (office). 

Jeddie Stokes, to office. 



The Dream Came True. 

(See page 137, Vol. 1, Star.) 
We are happy to acknowledge receipt 
of the following: 

Christian Christianson, 
Clara Larson, 
Married, 
Wednesday, December twentieth, eigh- 
teen hundred and ninety-nine, 
At Salt Lake City. 

We w*sh the happy couple felicity and 
bliss. Remember the injunction of the 
fairy: 

"I am bound that you shall promise me 
That you will make your lives agree 
Through time and all eternity." 



An Active Youngster. 

The moment that a young crocodile 
breaks its shell it is to all intents and 
purposes as active as at any time during 
its life. It will make straight for the 
water, even if it be out of sight and a 
good distance off, and it will pursue its 
prey with eagerness and agility during 
the first hour of its free existence. 



"Envy not the oppressor, and choosv. 
none of his ways." — Solomon. 




"BUT ThOUOTI WE OB AN ANGEL FROM HEAVEN b PR£ AC H AHY 
PThEB 605 PEL UNTO YOU THAN THAT WHICH WE 

HAVE PBEACHLO UNTO yQV LET mM &E ACCUR5tD»Sfr. /*?&* 



Vol. 2. 



Chattanooga, Tjcnn., Saturday, Dbobmbbb 80, 1899. 



No. .5 



HUMANITY. 



From all the war-worn world they cry for 
light: 

I hear their voices through the silent night; 

The people, they who suffer, they who bear, 

The weight of the world's labor and its 
care. 

They cry aloud for justice and for peace; 

They beg their portion of the world's in- 
crease. 

They're tired of unremunerative toil; 

Tired of producing for another's spoil; 

Tired of the load of armies and of forts: 

Tired of the kings, the conquerors, the 
courts; 

Tired of the hypocrites who masquerade 

As Christ's disciples, but whose wage is 
paid 

From Mammon's coffers, and who hold their 
place 

With the oppressors of the human race; 

Tired of the husks of creeds and dogmas 
old: 

Tired of the hard, unfeeling rule of gold; 

Tired of the politician and nls lies; 

Tired of the knaves who walk In Virtue's 
guise; 

Tired of the want, the hunger, the distress; 

Tired of the whole world's hate and self- 
ishness: 

Aud yearning In a blind, uncertain way 

For something nobler, for a better day, 

To see n Jnster era come to birth, 

To oee. () Lord, Thy kingdom upon earth. 

My hpnrt goes out to them; my hopes and 
d minis 

Are all for their uplifting, but It seems 

Vfv efforts are so feeble and so few, 

What can I do, O Lord, what can I do? 

The fields are white to harvest; all the 

world 
Is waiting till Thy banner Is unfurled; 
iff ready, at the signal, to march on 
To' the New Times, that now begins to 

dawn: 
T« listening until some voice of power 
Tn clarion accents shall proclaim the hour; 
And at that marie and inspiring call 
Men shall arise and to .a headlong fall 
Shall hurl the outward Old, the reign of 

csste, 
Tbc» evils we Inherit from the past; 
And from the heights of Progress they 

b»ivr» won 
«"»i<»11 hull tbp light of Freedom's rising sun. 
This Is my dream— to make that vision true. 
What can I do, O Lord, what can I do? 
—Exchange. 



OUR CONFERENCE PRESIDENTS. 



Elder Heber S. Olson was born Sept. 
9, 1872, in Fail-view, Utah. His parents 
embraced the Gospel in the old world, 
and true to the spirit of gathering they 
emigrated to Utah in the early sixties, 
settling in Sanpete county. 

His youthful days were spent on a 
farm, and while young many responsi- 
bilities were placed upon him, while his 
father was preaching the gospel of peace 



in a distant land. Until eighteen years 
old his education was very limited, but at 
this period he resolved to go to school. 
In order to carry out this resolution he 
at once set to work, laboring on the 
mountains in the summer. By so doing 
he was able to attend school daring the 
winter months, three years of which he 
attended the Brigham Young Academy. 
At the age of twenty he took charge of 
his father's saw mill, which he success- 
fully managed for several years. In the 
year 1896 he commenced teaching school. 
In November of the same year he was 




ELDER HEBER S. OLSON, 
President of the Virginia Conference. 



elected justice of the peace for Fairview 
precinct, being re-elected in 1898. 

As teacher in school he developed a 
great love for children, and they in turn 
loved him. He laid special stress on the 
moral side of education. 

Early in life he manifested a strong 
religious feeling, and as he grew older 
various ecclesiastical duties were placed 
upon him, all of which were ably dis- 
charged, and reflected credit to his char- 
acter. He was for years a worker in 
the M. I. Association, two years of 



which he was first counsellor. In the 
latter part of March, 1899, a letter from 
"Box B" informed him that his service 
was wanted as a Missionary in the 
Southern states. On the 15th of May 
he left his home, to face a cold world, 
and assist in spreading the true and ever- 
lasting Gospel. On reaching Chattanoo- 
ga he was assigned to labor in the Vir- 
ginia Conference. On the 6th of Novem- 
ber, 1899, at an annual conference held 
in Richmond he was called to succeed 
Joseph F. Pulley as President of said 
Conference. 



History of the Southtrn States Mission. 

(Continued From Page 25.) 

January. 1894 — 

At the opening of this year all Elders 
are well and hard at work. Very little 
opposition is manifested at this time, and 
a spirit of toleration seems to prevail. In 
North • Carolina several of the newspa- 
pers published hateful articles that had 
a tendency to inflame the prejudiced 
minds of some of the people. One paper, 
the Webster Weekly, invited some "Mor- 
mon" to defend his faith, "if he could," 
and stated that he would publish any 
such communication. Elder George A. 
Smith eagerly accepted the invitation 
and wrote an able exegesis of the "Mor- 
mon" doctrine, but the editor refused, 
after reading the article, to publish it, 
saying that he did not intend to advocate 
"Mormonism" through the columns of 
his paper. 

Elder Hyrum Carter, of the South Car- 
olina Conference, was severely burned by 
the application of carbolic acid, wrongly 
applied, by him. 

During this month fifteen Elders ar- 
rived from the west and were appointed 
to labor in the various Conferences of 
the Mission. 

February- 
Elders Nebeker and Jones were forced 
to leave Wilkinson county, Mississippi. 
A mob waited on them, led by John Oobb, 
supervisor, and informed them to that 
effect. 

Feb. 5. 

Elders Berry and Curtis were stopping 
at the home of Brother Sloan in South 
Carolina. Brother Sloan's sons were not 
very friendly disposed toward the Elders 
and determined to "run them off." They 



34 



THE SOUTHERN STAR 



were not living with the father, but at 
Columbia. Mounting their horses they 
rode to the father's house, at which place 
the Elders were stopping, afrmed with 
an ugly looking gun and a blackwhip. 
As they nenred the house the father 
took his saotgun and met the sons at the 
gate. What was said the Elders never 
learned, but the sons left' and the Elders 
were not molested. 

Word was received Jhat Elder Walter 
Barton was very ill at McComb City, 
Miss. George A. Smith Went immedi- 
ately to his ''bedsi.de and did everything 
possible for JiJlder, Barton's comfort and 
convenience/ 

On the 16th he rallied and seemed so 
much improved that Brother Smith re- 
turned to the' office. The apparent im- 
provement was but the beginning of the 
end, for he passed peacefully away on 
the 18th, although everything possible 
had been done for him. 

Elders Phelps, Haycock, Holt, Doxey 
and Lechtenburg were constantly attend- 
ing Brother Barton, and deserve special 
mention for their faithful efforts in be- 
half of their prostrate brother. 

The family of John Cram also deserve 
much praise for their kindness to the El- 
ders during this sad experience, who de- 
prived themselves of every comfort, also 
going to their neighbors' to sleep, that 
the Elders might remain with Elder Bar- 
ton. 

(To be continued.) 



To Extirpate the Eiders. 

The statement in a dispatch from Char- 
leston, S. C, that the state legislature 
has been asked for a law against the 
Saints of South Carolina, is worthy of 
more than a passing note. In the peti- 
tion to the lawmakers, the hands of jeal- 
ous ministers are plainly visible. A law 
is asked for — so says the dispatch — to "ex- 
tirpate the Elders," and unless such an 
act is provided, threats of lynchings are 
made. 

The fact proves conclusively the ab- 
solute truth of the view that it is en- 
mity against the Gospel of Jesus Christ, 
which is the moving force in the latest 
crusade, as it has been before. With 
great tlourish and loud trumpet blasts, 
the instigators of it have proclaimed to 
the country that they were absolutely 
innocent or the abominable charge that 
they were engaged in religious persecu- 
tion. They have maintained that they 
were only fighting "lawlessness." In this 
South Carolina specimen of the crusade, 
the true nature or it is revealed, however. 
It is bigotry. There are no "polygamists," 
and no "polygamy" there except, per- 
haps, outside the Church, and yet the gen- 
tle ministers of Christ are clamoring for 
a law to "extirpate" the Elders. 

How this can be done, remains to be 
seen. If legislatures are as bigoted as 
ministers, a way will be found whereby 
to satisfy the hunger and thirst for per- 
secution that h«8 been kindled in this 
country. And when the Church has been 
"extirpated." the next logical step will 
be to establish some one of the sectarian 
churches: to give it state support, spe- 
cial privileges and rights. With the 
spirit of the constitution thus violated, 
there will be no end to religious trouble. 

Is that what American ministers are 
laboring for? Do they want mediaeval 
Europe revived in this country, with its 
"heresies." and trials, and drivings, burn- 
ings at the stake, and massacres? Where 
is the shore towards which the monster- 
stirred currents are drifting? Are thero 
breakers ahead? And will thpy be seen 
in tiive to bp avoided? It behooves the 
American citizen to keep a good lookout. 
— News. 



Chinese doctors are paid for keeping 
their clients well. When one falls sick 
his payments to the docto/ seasr 



THE DARK AGES. 

BY ELDER A. ARROWSMITH. 
• (Continued from page 27.) 

THE FOURTH CENTURY.— In the 
last century we found the Christians in 
a very bad spiritual condition, and the 
,great opposition they had met by Rome 
had .almost obliterated every vestige of 
goodness from them.* In this century we 
also find the same power exercising tem- 
poral sway over all the known world, 
and impregnating the countries they sub- 
dued with their Paganistic ideas. 

The Emperor Diocletian was a weak 
and ignorant fanatic, who felt incapable 
of conducting his vast empire alone, and 
he selected Herculeus, Constantinus, 
Chlorufi and Galerius as his aids and 
counsellors, and finally divided the em- 
pire among them, which caused jealousy, 
intestine trouble, war and bloodshed.' 

Under the advice of Galerius (who wad 
a worthy son-in-law of the tyrant), Dio- 
cletian caused a terrible persecution to 
rage against the Christians, wherein 
many were put to death; but the worst 
thing that happened was the almost to- 
tal destruction of the Christian records 
and books, which to this time had multi- 
plied greatly, and had been preserved 
with great reverence and devotion by the 
poor deluded fanatics, who posed as 
Christians and claimed to follow the pre- 
cepts therein written, but who had be- 
come so illiterate and worldly that the 
Scriptures were not comprehended in the 
spirit in which they were written, as 
"the things of God are only understood 
by the Spirit of God," and the under- 
standing Spirit of God could scarcely be 
found at this time. 

But the time had come when Chris- 
tianity and Paganism amalgamated and 
united as one. 

Constantinus died in England, and left 
a worthy (?) son to succeed him,. by name 
Constantine, who was a great success as 
a warrior and statesman. Subduing his 
brother Emperors, he united the great 
Roman empire, and was instrumental in 
bringing peace and popularity to the for- 
mer persecuted sect called Christian, by 
adopting their religion. 

It can be said of him, as of Napoleon, 
that "he had a heart of savagery, and a 
head equipped with all the scienee. and 
resources of the most advanced nations, 
at the time of his appearing. He had 
the ambition of Lucifer, the power of 
Belzebub and the wisdom of Satan; his 
rapacity was unappeasable by the spolia- 
tion of a world; his lust of empire sur- 
passed the wildest dreams of a Tamer- 
lane or Alexander." 

Constantine's ambition appeared to as- 
pire to nothing less than ruling civilly 
and ecclesiastically over this vast em- 
pire; and he accomplished all he set his 
heart upon. He ruled over the Bishops 
and their counsels, and made Chris- 
tianity exceedingly popular, by offering 
beautiful gowns and giving money prizes 
to all who would turn Christian and 
adopt his faith* which had been the faith 
of his mother. 

He was a murderer, having choked his 
wife to death while in her bath; being 
unmerciful to all who aspired to his 
throne, he slew his son-in-law. Many 
other malicious, and wicked acts were 
committed by this man, who has been 
honored and worshipped as a Saint these 
many years. He claims to have accept- 
ed Christianity through reading a super- 
scription in the heavens over the sign of 
the cross, upon the eve of going into bat- 
tle, which read, as translated from the 



Latin, "By this conqueror." However, 
he was not duly baptized until just be- 
fore his death, when, desiring immunity 
from his many crimes, he was absolved 
irom sin through immersion, Eusebius, 
Bishop of Nicomedia; Eusebius, as a 
church historian, singularly fails to re- 
cord the vision of Constantine in his ec- 
clesiastical history, but recounts it in the 
life,jbf that man writteri many years after 
the occurrence. He played 'a prominent 
part in moulding the character of Con- 
stantine, and was a remarkable writer 
in this century. 

Mostieim, the reliable historian, speak- 
ing of this period, says: "It is a nota- 
ble fact that in this century the Greeks 
and Romans differed very little in their 
external Appearance from the Christians. 
They had both a most pompous and 
splendid ritual, gorgeous robes, mitres, 
tiaras, wax tapers, croisers, processions, 
lustrations and images. Gold and silver 
vases were to be seen equally in heathen 
temples and Christian churches; and the 
ministers were applauded by the clap- 
ping of hands when delivering their dis- 
courses. 

Athanasius was a renowned character 
at this time, especially in his defence 
against Arms at the counsel of Nice in 
Bithynia, in his great argument on the 
Godhead, which has been so universally 
accepted to this day. His ideas, as cop- 
i)ed from the Church of England prayer 
book, reads as follows— The Creed of St. 
Athanasius: 

Whosoever will be saved; before all 
things it is necessary that he hold the 
Catholic faith. Which faith, except 
every one do keep whole and undefiled; 
without doubt, he shall perish everlast- 
ingly. 

And the Catholic faith is this: That 
we worship ' one God in Trinity, and 
Trinity in unity; neither confounding the 
Persons nor dividing the snbstance. For 
there is one Person of the Father, an- 
other of the Son; and another of the 
Holy Ghost. 

But the Godhead of the Father, of the 
Son, and of the Holy Ghost, is all one; 
the glory eoual. i!he majesty co-eternal. 

Such as the Father is. such is the Son; 
and such is the Holy Ghost. 

The Father uncreate, the Son uncreate: 
and the Holy Ghost uncreate. 

The Father incomprehensible, the Son 
incomprehensible; and the Holy Ghost 
incomprehensible. 

The Father eternal, the Son eternal; 
and the Holy Ghost eternal. 

And yet there are not three eternals; 
but one eternal. 

As also there are not three incompre- 
hensibles. nor three uncreated; but one 
uncreated and one incomprehensible. 

So likewise the Father is Almighty, the 
Son Almighty; and the Holy Ghost Al- 
mighty. 

And yet there are not three Al- 
mighties: but one Almighty. 

So the Father is God, the Son is God; 
and the Holy Ghost is God. 

And yet there are not three Gods; but 
one God. 

So likewise the Father is Lord, the 
Son is Lord; and the Holy Ghost is 
Lord. 

And yet not three Lords; but one Lord, 
and so forth. 

Thus Athanasius, the Bishop, support- 
ed by Constantine, manufactured a God 
without body, rents and passions, which 
has been universally adored these hun- 
dreds of years. His creed was consid- 
ered by all. even Athanasius himself, 
as incomprehensible, and not to be rea- 
soned upott, while others considered it 



THE SOUTHERN STAR. 



'85 



the work of a madman. Yet the enlight- 
ened nineteenth century will accept it 
beyond question, embodying all these 
points. The first article of religion of 
the Church of England, the dominant 
church of that country, reads as follows: 
"There is but one living and true God, 
everlasting, without body, parts, or pas- 
sions; of infinite power, wisdom and 
goodness ; the . Maker and Preserver of 
all things, both visible and invisible, and 
in unity of this Godhead there be three 
Persons, of one substance, power and 
eternity; the Father, the Son, and the 
Holy Ghost/' 

The Roman Catholics quote Him as 
an "incorporeal" being, and the Christian 
world generally carry God in their heart, 
without any general conception of Him 
or His attributes; and don't seem to real- 
ize that the resurrected Savior had a 
body of flesh, bone and sinew, the same 
body eating fish and honey on the banks 
of Gallilee. The same material sub- 
stance ascending to heaven in the sight 
of many of His disciples from Bethany; 
later He was seen by Stephen sitting on 
the right hand of His Father in heaven; 
and from what the angels told His dis- 
ciples, "He will come again in like man- 
ner," and as Paul says, "take vengeance 
on them that know not God, and obey 
not the Gospel of His Son." 

How very material the God of Israel 
did appear, as embodied in the person of 
Jesus Christ. And how very atheistic 
the ideas of the Godhead has become, 
by following the creeds of the uninspired 
men of the Dark Ages, who have been 
worshipping a nonenity for hundreds of 
years. 

At the close of this century the Virgin 
Mary commenced to be idolized, and was 
worshipped as a Saint, and by many 
considered a Goddess; sacrifice being 
made to her with as much pomp as the 
Ephesian idolaters would offer their 
adoration to Diana, their Goddess. 

Diana, as worshipped by the Pagans, 
had been introduced into Ephesus by 
a man who declared that whilst working 
in the field, she, the Goddess, descended 
from her Father, the God Jupiter, and 
desired the world's adoration. This man 
forthwith made out of ebony an idol, in 
the form of a beautiful woman; related 
his story to the Ephesians; and, strange 
to say, he was believed by these credu- 
lous people, who built a beautiful temple 
to Diana, and worshipped her with much 
display. The first and second temples in 
Ephesus were built of wood, and were 
consumed by fire. However, the God- 
dess was rescued from the flames each 
time. The third temple was built of 
stone, massive and beautiful, and was 
one of the seven wonders of the world; 
the pillars surrounding it were each the 
gift of a prince, and for workmanship 
and grandeur it was unexcelled. It took 
two hundred years to build this struc- 
ture; and in Paul's day many gold and 
silversmiths were employed to keep in 
repair the multitude of silver and gold 
statues that surrounded and adorned this 
magnificent building (built to an ebony 
idol). No wonder that Demetrius, the 
silversmith, rebelled at Paul's denuncia- 
tion of this idolatrous people, and cried, 
"Great is Diana of the Ephesians." His 
craft was in danger. 

As I before state, the Christians, in 
their adoration of Mary, were but imi- 
tating the Pagans who worshipped 
Diana, and they were introducing an in- 
novation that was not known in the days 
of Jesus; having degenerated and adopt- 
ed the Pagan customs almost intact, they | 



worshipped with great pomp and show, 
which was extremely fascinating to the 
plebian. Thus the century closed, with 
the Christians in a magnificent condition, 
from a worldly standpoint, as they luH 
become popular and were much sou*:. "» 
after. 

(To be continued.) 

HISTORY OF THE TOBACCO PUNT. 

•There is an herb/' says an old writer, 
"which is sowed apart by itself and is 
called by the inhabitants vppowoc. In 
the West Indies it hath divers names, 
according to the several places and 
countries where it groweth and is used 
The Spanish call it tobacco. The leaves 
thereof being dried and brought to pow- 
der, they used to take the fume of smoke 
thereof by sucking through the pipes, 
made of clay, into the stomachs and 
head. This vppowoc is of so precious es- 
timation among them that they think 
their gods are maryelously delighted 
therewith, wherefore sometimes they 
make hallowed fire and cast some of the 
powder therein for a sacrifice." 

The habit of smoking was first noticed 
by the crew of Columbus in November, 
1492, who thought the Indians were per- 
fuming themselves. The smoke was in- 
haled through the nostrils by means of 
a hollow forked cane about a span long. 
The primitive pipe was like a Y in 
shape: the two forked ends were placed 
in the nostrils and the other end over a 
heap of the smoldering powder, and then 
the smoke was drawn up into the nose. 
This pipe was called "tobago." On his 
homeward voyage Columbus discovered 
an island, Y-shaped like the Indian pipe, 
and he therefore called it by the same 
name— Tobago. From this island the 
herb was called "tobacco." Thus the 
word tobacco is not the name of the 
herb — which was called cohiba, petun 
and yoli in different parts of America— 
but of the first pipe. 

Though well known to Europeans vis- 
iting America, tobacco was not brought 
into Europe until late in the sixteenth 
century. A Spanish doctor, Hernandez, 
is said to have brought the first tobacco 
into Europe. Pean Nicot— who has left 
his name behind in "nicotine"— sent 
some tobacco in 1559 to the grand prieur 
of France. He described it as a herb of 
peculiar pleasant taste, good medicinally 
in fevers and other diseases. It was, in 
fact, as a medicine that tobacco was 
introduced into Europe, and for many 
years it remained in pharmacopeia. For 
a long time the flagrant weed had no 
settled name. It was called by a score 
of different titles, the most common be- 
ing nicotina. Ultimately the world re- 
turned to tobacco, the name .by which 
Hernandez called it on introducing it 
into Europe, and, with trifling varia- 
tions, this is the name by which it is 
universally known. 

Tradition asserts that Sir Walter Ra- 
leigh was the first to smoke tobacco in 
England. This honor is also claimed 
for several other gentlemen, but it is a 
point impossible to be settled. Capts. 
Price and Koet were, however, the first 
to smoke tobacco publicly in London. 
They used "segars," or twisted leaves, 
and many people assembled to see them 
smoke or drink tobacco, as it was called 
at that time. Pipes were not invented 
in those days. At first they were made 
of silver, and the poorer classes, una- 
ble to buy these, used a walnut shell for 
the bowl of the pipe, and , a, straw to 
suck up the smoke. This primitive pipe 
was passed from man to man round the 



table in taverns, where smoking was 
chiefly indulged in. Smoking leaped into 
popular favor, and the habit was prac- 
ticed everywhere,' churches, not "excepted. 

Urban VII L issued a bill :ex<j0mmuni- 
cnting all who used tobacco in churches, 
and Elizabeth thought proper to "fcdd to 
this penalty of excommunication" against 
those who filled their nostrils with snuff 
during divine service, and ordered the 
beadles to confiscate their snuff boxes. 
Later another pope excommunicated all 
who took "snuff or tobacco in St. Pe- 
ter's" at Rome*. Later the American 
puritans followed the example of the 
European Catholics and forbade smok- 
ing in church, as the service was greatly 
disturbed by the clinking of flints and 
steel to light the pipes, and the clouds of 
smoke in church." 

xience a law was made enacting that 
"any person or persons that shall be 
found smoking of tobacco on the Lord's 
day, going to or from the meetings, with- 
'in two miles of the meeting house, shall 
pay 12 pence for every such default." 
Under this law five men were fined "for 
smoking of tobacco at the end of Yar- 
mouth, Mass., meeting house on the 
lord's day." Like everything else, to- 
bacco by its popularity awakened oppo- 
sition. The anti-tobacconists were head- 
ed by James I, who characterized the 
custom as "loathsome to the eye, harm- 
ful to the brain, dangerous to the lungs, 
and in the black fume thereof nearest 
resembling the horrible Stygian smoke 
of the pit that is bottomless.". This 
royal condemnation of smoking called 
forth similar effusions to the' British 
Solomon's "eounterblaste," and for many 
years the tobacconist's — as the smokers, 
not the sellers, of tobacco, were then 
called— came in for severe- 'criticism. 

All classes indulged in tobacco, nor 
were the ladies squeamish in partaking 
of the fragrant weed. In those days 
smoking was a more expensive habit 
than it is today. Tobacco cost 75 cents 
an ounce, equal, according to present 
values, to $4.50. It was sold for its 
weight in silver, and our ancestors were 
accustomed to reserve their heaviest 
shillings for buying tobacco. 

Much as the Englishman likes his 
glass of beer, he prizes his pipe much 
more, and one can easily imagine the 
storm which would arise if the house of 
commons took steps to stop smoking. 
Yet, in KJ21, Sir William Stroud moved 
in the house of commons that he would 
"have tobacco banished wholly out of 
the realm, and not brought in and used 
among us." Sir Guy Palmes said that 
if tobacco be not banished, it will over- 
throw 100,000 men in England, for now 
it was so common he had seen men take 
it at the plow. 

Among the Puritans tobacco was at 
first abhorred, but it gradually gained 
ground. Quakers smoked, and their 
friends were requested "to. partake of 
tobacco privately and in their own 
houses, in order not to encourage smok- 
ing and make the use thereof excessive." 
In the American colonies tobacco took 
the form of coin. For harboring a Qua- 
ker or bringing one from England a fine 
of 5,000 pounds of tobacco was' inflicted. 

A cargo of young women was brought 
from England for wives for the settlers, 
and these were disposed of at 120 pounds 
of tobacco a head. The use of tobacco 
today is universal. The Americans con- 
sume nine pounds a head, while the En- 
glishmen smoke only eighteen pounds a 
head per annum. To the habit of 
smoking is attributed by some the irri- 
table ill-health and nervousness of today. 



ft* 



THE SOUTHEKN BTaJL 




••tilth* WMkly »y Ssittori Stitts HImIob, Clrarta 

tf Jmm Oarltt §f latter Day ftliU,: 

Catttasttft, !•■■■ 



Temt ef Subtirlptioi 
(In MftiM) 



Per yaar . . $1.00 

Sixnootba . .50 

Three aoitbt .25 
Slifle Csplts, 5 Cents. 



■{! 



Subscribers rcmovia* from one place to another, 
and desiring papers changed, should always give 
former as well as present address, by postal card or 
letter. 



iMsrw* at the Pott Office at Chattanooga, tenn., a» 



Correspo ndenc e from all parts of the missionary 
field is solicited. Give name and address, or articles 
will be rejected. Write on one side of paper only 
when sent for publication. W.e reserve the right to 
either eliminate or reject any communication sent in. 
Address Box 103. 



Saturday, Dboembeb 30, 1899. 



ARTICLES OF FAITH 

OP THE CHURCH OP JESUS CHRIST OP 
LATTER-DAY SAINTS. 

1, Wi btlitv* In (Jod th» Et*ra B J fetlmr, tad la Bit Bo* 
Jmui I'nriitt tml in rh« floljr Ghwt- 

i. Wi Ewllc** ihnl men wM b* pa&nhtf for ibiir d«d 
«lai. tad cot for Adara'i tnaigrwioD. 

tV We b*ti«** lint, through the ■ Lone men I af Cbriet. ill 
si id hi ad miy b* ttvid, bj ab*dieu« I* lb* Ian and ardi- 
aancai Sff ia* G&*p*l. 

t W* b+ti*T* tfant the Ant principle i ad oratninr** of 
Cbt (iotpal are: FJr*t, F*itb in Lha Lord Jaiui c'Ariit ; wcand, 
lUpenuat* ; tMn3 + lUp ti«n br iflimertJon far tbu remiAftiod 
of •!□•; foarth, Ldi>Lti«oo of Hi oil fa: tfa.8 Gift of ibe HqIj 
Qho*L 

6 We bilkiTa that a mao so it bo fftUnfl of <M, bj 
" bit^h*ej p nnd bj Uvo I*^de oo of bend^" bj thou *ho im 
la latheriij. to prc&ch Lha fOipel aad id in En Liter la tat ardi- 
nAflcei tbtreof- 

o". We beliB¥* In ihtf Mine ortmiutfrin that txJiUd Id 
Ibe prijnitm church — Dimalji Apwtl*^ Propboli, futon, 
T«Ach«n, £f ■□(ttiiti, etc. 

.?. We tali*** in Lbt fift Of tonpi «i, proph*cj, rerelntion, 
TlfJont, htiilinit InlirpreULiOn of tOneute.«tC 

8 . W« Em1i«t* th* Bi bio to b* lb a *otd of Gad, m far m I % 
*t tronalaUd correctly ; Wq nleo betief* tbe Booh of Bformoa 
to b* th* word of God. 

■. W| IwlEeT* e|l Lbat QaA hu r« veiled, ill [hit Ha So** 
now r«Tei[ b und *• bellnTB that He will T*t rrnfil m*ny (r«Bt 
*nd imr.Hiipiinl thingi pertiln Lng Eo the Klnrdotn ol God. 

lt>. wi belteT* Id the liter*] fttth*riTi$ oi Iindi and la th* • 
Tdtorvtioq of (b» T*a Tribei ; thet Zinn will be balk apom 
Ihrit { Lhe American J eon tlneat ; that Chrlit wi II rr^fO p*rroa- 
allr upon the *tTlh, end tbtt tba earth wUl O* ranewed end 
receifB Ete pe rediiLacal irlnrj. 

II, We elain the privtlen t 
■ceardini to tb* dlelitei or our conecicnce^ and eEloV til 



W# elaicn lha prtvElen of vonMpIng AlmifhtT Ood 
linp; to tb* dlelitei or our cotiecienre\ and eEloV til 
Baa lhatama prL«ilaf*i Eat Lh*tn ■onbipbov, wh*re,oi vbtt 

11 We bellrr* in bting rabjoet to kino, prteidMti. rakrt, 
tad aofittrttaa ; ia oboyiog, hoooriag and aastaioibg Um law. 

11 Wt) b*Jler* in boing bonoot, tra*, cluuta, ben«vol«ot» 
rirtaoas. and in doing goodto all ate ; iodoed, w« may any 
Chat w*?olk>w thaadnonition of Paul, "We boliora til tblnga, 
we hop* all thinga," wa have andnrod many thing*, and hope 
to b* tblo to eodor* all thinga. If there ia anything rirtooao, 
tevnly, or of cpod report or prtiMvortby, w* aook a/tor tboan 



We will appreciate very much, the 
kindness, if Elders recently appointed to 
preside over Conference will forward to 
us . at once their photograph and autobi- 
ography.— Editor. 



Elder Christo Hyidahl, who has had 
charge of the books of the office, and un- 
til recently was President of the Chatta- 
nooga Conference, has been selected as 
counsellor to President Rich, to fill the 
vacancy caused by the release of Presi- 
dent George A. Lyman. President Hyi- 
dahl has been very closely connected 
with the business of the Mission ever 
since he came to Chattanooga, having 
occupied several positions in the office 
and being well acquainted with all the 
affairs of the work in the south. He is 
a safe counselor and the selection was a 
f*ood one. 



MODERN PHARISEES. 

The Christian Observer of December 
20, in an article entitled Judas Iscariot, 
among other things says: 

The Pharisees watched Jesus closely to 
find fault with him. The real character of 
Judas could not have been altogether un- 
known or unsuspected by them; and the 
chief priests "were glad" when he came to 
them. The Pharisees and chief priests 
doubtless thought that they made a good 
point when they whispered that one ol the 
upostles, the treasurer of the band, was a 
rogue. 

Even though this world is "advancing" 
and uecoming "enlightened" all the time, 
and people are becoming generally bet- 
ter; yet this one class (Pharisees and 
chief priests) seem to be just about as 
nasty and low now as in the days of Je- 
sus. At all times we can see men Who 
are said to be good, and who belong to 
the church, sneaking about, trying to find 
some fault in those "high in authority," 
and then when successful enlist the ser- 
vices of all similar people to condemn a 
whole church, because one, or two, or a 
dosen, do things that to them is not ex- 
actly right If hell is a "bottomless nit" 
and it is four billion miles to the first 
turn; twice as far to the next, and ten 
times as far to a resting place; and in 
this resting place are billions and billions 
of filthy snakes to hiss, and "fire and 
brimstone" to burn; such would be indeed 
too good for such curs. 



HOW MINISTERS ARE CALLED. 



The Chicago evangelist, French Earl 
Oliver, while holding a revival in one of 
our western cities said: 

"Preachers want revivals for many dif- 
ferent reasons, One comes to me and says, 
'Brother Oliver, 1 want a revival.' I ask 
him why, and he says, 'Well, speaking con- 
fidentially, Brother Oliver, If I have a re- 
vival it will mean a better attendance at 
my church and my galary will be increased.' 
Another preacher comes and tells me that 
he wants a revival so that he can make 
a blowhard of a report before the confer- 
ence, 'and, Brother Oliver,' he whispers. 'I 
may get a better charge as a result.' * * It 
is remarkable how a preacher can hear the 



voice of God In a call to a charge that 
means $300 or $400 more salary. They hear 
the voice the more clearly as the salary is 



larger. They scent the Lord's beckoning 
hand as a hound scents a fox— when the 
salary's larger. Preachers are afraid to 
preach the gospel on Sunday night because 
they fear that they will lose their crowds." 

If he did not receive "a salary" or re- 
muneration in some way, how long would 
French Earl Oliver preach? We will 
give the class until 2 o'clock next spring 
to answer this question. Mr. Oliver has 
undoubtedly had some experience with 
**modern divines" and their methods of 
being "called" to preach, else he could 
not nave "guessed ' so accurately how 
most preachers get their authority. 



AFRAID OF WOMEN. 



A special correspondent sent a western 
paper the following from Washington: 

"He's not on the floor, Miss." "Why, 
how is that? I saw him in his seat, from 
the gallery, not five minutes ago." The 
speakers were a young woman who had 
sent her card in to a member of the 
House, and the doorkeeper, who took the 
card in and brought it back to her. As 
she turned away with vexation stamped 
on her pretty, if rather too bold face, 
the doorkeeper remarked to a companion: 
"Wonder how long it will be before they 
catch on and stop trying to card mem- 
bers out?" Members are no longer seen 
in the corridors or in restaurants in con- 
versation with young women, as they 
have been at every session for lo, these 
many years; they no longer make eyes 
openly at the pretty girls in the galleries. 
In short, the gayest Lothario of them all 
is now a very monk in his deportment 
towards women in and around the capi- 



tol. The Roberts case is responsible for 
this seeming reformation; the average 
member is afraid of the women who are 
at the capitol daily, looking after the 
work of the Roberts committee, and de- 
termined not to let them catch him in 
any mischief. 



Brigham Roberts bought more toys 
than any other Congressman.— Chatta- 
nooga News. 

Guess the Chattanooga News is about 
right; not because Roberts has more 
children than any other Congressman, 
but because he acknowledges all he does 
have. 



Faith and Works One Thing. 

"Faith" and "works" are not two sep- 
arate things, but two phases or aspects 
of the same thing. Faith is the inner 
spirit that links a soul with Christ, and 
thus secures to the soul power to do for 
God and man. Works are the manifes- 
tations of that linking, evidencing to man 
and to God that the current of power is 
complete. Faith is the fire, works are 
the heat which the fire gives out. Fire 
without heat is dead; it may look as if 
it were warm, but it is only a show, like 
colored tinsel in a summer grate. There 
is such dead fire as this, and such dead 
faith. Let the show not deceive us. 



LITTLE SLIPS IN ENGLISH. 



A teacher In a famous eastern college for 
women has prepared for the benefit of her 
students the following list of "words, 
phrases and expressions to be avoided." Set 
a watch on your lips; and If you are accus- 
tomed to making these "slips," try to sub- 
stitute the correct expression. But don't be 
content with that alone. Learn why the 
preferred expression is correct, and this of 
Itself will so fix It in mind that you will 
soon use It unconsciously: 

"Guess' for "suppose" or "think." 

"Fix" for "arrange" or "prepare." 

"Ride" and "drive" Interchangeably. 

"Real" as an adverb, In expressions such 
as "real" good for "really* 1 good. 

"Some" or "any" in an adverbial sense; 
for example: "I have studied some" for 
somewhat;" "I have not studied any" for 
"at all." 

"Some" ten days for "about" ten days. 

Not "as" I know for "that I know." 

"Try" an experiment for "make" an ex- 
periment. 

Singular subjects with contracted plural 
verb: for example: "She don't skate well" 
for r, she doesn't stake well." 

"Expect" for "suspect." 

"First rate" as an adverb. 

"Right away" for "immediately." 

"Pary" for "person." 

"Promise" for "assure." 

"Posted" for "Informed." 

"Depot" for "station." 

Try "and" for try "to" go. 

Try "and" do for try ' T to" do. 

"Funny" for "odd" or "unusual." 

"Above" for foregoing;" "more than" for 
"beyond." 

Does It look "good" enough for "well" 
enough. 

'Feel "badly" for feel "bad." 

Feel "good" for feel "well." 

"Between" seven for "among" seven. 

Seldom "or" ever for seldom "If" ever or 
"seldom or never." 

Taste and smell "of" when used transi- 
tively. 

More than you think "for" for "more 
than you think." 

"These" kind for "this" kind. 

"Nicely" in response to an inquiry. 

"Healthy" for "wholesome." 

Just "as soon" for just "as lief." 

"Kind of" to indicate a moderate degree. 



Eaay To Please. 

A prominent San Josean reached the 
Third: street depot of the Southern Pacific 
depot In an Inebriated condition, and ask- 
ed for "a first-class ticket, please." 

'Where do you want to go?" said the 
ticket clerk, somewhat pointedly. 

There was a Dause, wnlle the inebriated 
one mugglly reflected, and then he blandly 
and politely asked: 

"What trains have you?"— San Francisco 
Wave. 



THE BOtJTHEBN STAB. 



8? 



OBSEQUIES OF PRESIDENT RICHARDS. 

Funeral Services of President Franklin 0. Richards, in the Tabernacle, Ogden, 
Tuesday, December 12, 1899. 



The obsequies over the mortal remains 
of Franklin D. Richards, President of 
the Twelve Apostles of the Church of 
Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, who 
died on Friday, December 9, 1899, short- 
ly after midnight, were held in the Tab- 
ernacle at Ogden, December 12. At 1 
p.m. the cortege formed at the family 
residence and a long procession of car- 
riages followed the hearse and mourners 
to the Tabernacle, which was appropri- 
ately decorated for the occasion. The 
casket was white, the stand was draped 
in white and white festoons were looped 
from the ceiling. The front of the stand 
was adorned with splendid floral offer- 
ings, intermingled with ferns and palms. 

A full choir was present, and after the 
family were seated the immense build- 
ing was quickly filled to overflowing, 
hundreds being unable to gain admission. 
There were numerous visitors from Salt 
Lake City, special rates for the occasion 
being given by the R. G. W. railway. 
Many prominent ladies and gentlemen 
were among them, including several non- 
" Mormon" friends. A great host crowd- 
ed into the doorways and gathered out- 
side the entrances. The stand was fully 
occupied by members of the Jf riesthood. Of 
the First Presidency of the Church, Presi- 
dent Lorenzo Snow, George Q. Cannon 
and Joseph F. Smith; of the Twelve 
Apostles, Brigham Young, F. M. Lyman, 
John Henry Smith, George Teasdale, 
Heber J. Grant, John W. Taylor, Anthon 
H. Lund, Matthias F. Cowley and Rud- 

5er Clawson; Patriarch of the Church, 
ohn Smith. Of the First Presidency of 
the Seventies, Seymour B. Young, Geo. 
Reynolds, Rulon S. Wells and Joseph W. 
McMurrin; Assistant Church Historians 
John Jaques and Andrew Jenson; Pres- 
idency of the Salt Lake Stake of Zion, 
Angus M. Cannon, Joseph E. Taylor 
and Charles W. Penrose; Church Re- 
porter Arthur Winter, also Le Roi C. 
Snow; a number of local Bishops and 
Elders. From the Historian's office there 
were Bishop O. F. Whitney, Elders A. 
M. Musser, D. F. Collett, Martin Lind- 
say and Mrs. Willard Weihe; many lead- 
ing churchmen and citizens were in the 
congregation. The pall-bearers were 
eight sons of the departed President, 
viz.: C. C. Richards, Ogden; George A. 
Richards. Salt Lake; Albert D. Rich- 
ards, Salt Lake; Myron J. Richards, 
Boxelder county; George F. Richards, 
Tooele county; William P. Richards, 
Kamas, Utah; Ezra Richards, Farming- 
ton, Davis county; Wilford W. Rich- 
ards, Georgetown, Ida. 

Bishop Robert McQuarrie conducted 
the services. 

The choir, with the organ, rendered 
"O, My Father," the solo by Fred Tout. 

Prayer was offered by Apostle F. M. 
Lyman. 

The choir then sang "Nearer, My God, 
to Thee." 

President L. W. Shurllff. 

I am requested by the President to say 
a few words upon this occasion. I will 
assure you, my brethren and sisters, it 
is an occasion when I would be pleased 
if I could give utterance to a few of the 
feelings and thoughts that have passed 
through my mind during the last illness 
of this noble and worthy Apostle. All 
Israel, and the world— those who knew 
him— will miss this great and noble man: 
and especially will we in this county and 
in this Stake of Zion, where we have 
known him so well, and where his fath- 
erly counsel and advice has been heard 
for the last thirty years or more. We 
feel that we have lost one of our choicest 
men, not only in the Church, but also 
in this county as a citizen. It affords 
me great pleasure to meet the Saints 
upon this occasion, but I am so deeply 



impressed that I feel I will not be able 
to occupy any time here today in the 
presence of the dead— this worthy and 
great Apostle, and in the presence of 
these Prophets and Apostles who have 
lived all these years to lead and guide 
Israel. I feel that all I can say is, God 
bless these brothers and sisters, and 
wives and children of this worthy man; 
and may the Spirit of God be upon our 
brethren who are here, that we may be 
instructed and blessed. Amen. 

Bishop Robert M'Quarrie. 

I am requested to say a few words, 
and I am thankful for the privilege, al- 
though I feel that I cannot say much, 
and in justice to the congregation and 
visiting brethren, I should say but very 
little. I scarcely realize what has hap- 
pened. I feel that there is something 
lacking through the departure of this 
great and good man. 1 have been ac- 
quainted with him for thirty years. I 
might say much longer than that, but 
I was intimately acquainted with him 
for that length of time. We lived in the 
same ward, and we have been associated 
together considerably; and the longer 
we became acquainted with each other 
the better we loved each other. His mov- 
ing to Ogden was a blessing to me, and I 
presume to others. He was a man of 
fine example, a very refined man, and 
all his actions full of kindness and love, 
and overflowing with affection for his 
brethren and sisters. I have read a lit- 
tle of his history, but that gives a poor 
idea of what the man really was. I re- 
member when I went on my mission in 
1872. I found people inquiring after him 
in Scotland. One man in particular 
comes to my mind just now. He was 
living in the suburbs of Glasgow. He 
wanted to know if I knew Apostle 
Franklin D. Richards. I told him I did; 
we lived in the same ward together, and 
I ought to be acquainted with him. He 
told me that he got acquainted with him 
i while he was on his first mission to Scot- 
l land, and said he: "Remember me kind- 
ly to Apostle Richards when you go 

home, and tell him that was in- 

| quiring after him." He said he had 
I never been acquainted with a more gen- 
tlemanly man. That is verily true. 
Apostle Franklin D. Richards was a 
gentleman in every sense of the word. 
When I came home I said to Brother 

Richards that had been inquiring 

after him. He replied: "Well, I cannot 
remember him; but there is one thing I 
do remember well, and that is, my heart 
overflowed with love and kindness to 
that people." He remembered that all 
right, but the individual he could not re- 
member. This was the feature of his first 
mission in Great Britain; his heart was 
overflowing with loving kindness. The 
Saints in those early days were but 
young, and they were very tender, and 
he was very tender to them. This rep- 
resents Brother Richards in every par- 
ticular. I never knew a time but he was 
full of kindness. No matter how gloomy 
and downcast I have felt, I always came 
from associating with him pleasant and 
cheerful, buoyed up and strengthened. 
This is as I have found him^ I pray God 
to bless the mourners, who are called 
upon today to part with this great and 
good man. The Lord bless you, every 
one of you, my brethren and sisters, in 
the name of Jesus Christ. Amen. 
[ Elder D. H. Peery. 

I Brethren and sisters, having been 
called upon, I stand before you. This 
is a very trying ordeal for me ; but, thank 
God, I have been considered worthy to 
stand here and say a few words in behalf 
of one of the noblest men I have ever 
known. I have seen Webster, have seen 
Clay, have seen all the Presidents from 



Gen. Willam Harrison down; I have seen 
a vast number of good men, and I have 
seen more good men here than any place 
on earth; but I will say to you, of all 
the men I have ever known I place 
Brother Richards at the top— him and 
Brother Woodruff. They rose above 
money, above speculation. Their whole 
heart and soul was with the Gospel. 
Brother Richards was baptized in 1838. 
He has preached the Gospel of Jesus 
Christ for over sixty years. He has now 
passed through the final ordeal— the only 
road by which you or I can reach the 
eternal kingdom of God. I say above all 
the men I have ever known, save less 
than half a dozen, his heart was near to 
God; and of all the men I have ever 
known he has done more work. Almost 
to the very last he would go back and 
forth daily to Salt Lake City. I warned 
him, and told him it was too much; but 
his heart was with it. As he would go 
down, somebody would advise with him, 
and when he would come back they 
would come to him to ask questions, until 
sometimes he was nearly frozen. Why, 
if he will not get into the celestial king- 
dom, if he will not pass by the angels 
and the Gods, and have eternal glory, I 
do not know who will. This is my opin- 
ion. He chose the "better part," as 
Mary did. When Christ was there, in- 
stead of being out cooking and fussing 
around, Mary wanted to hear hini talk. 
A man that could not say anything in 
behalf of Brother Franklin D. Richards 
has not a tongue, has not a spirit. When 
I went on a mission to Texas in 1875. 
and when I went to Virginia— in fact, 
I never went on a mission without ask- 
ing Brother Richards to bless me, and 
I felt when he was blessing me that it 
came from a man of God, and that it 
would bel verified— and it was. 

I could stand here and talk of Brother 
Richards for hours and hours, with all 
my heart. Now he has passed through 
the final ordeal. We will hear that 
warning voice no more. His eyes are 
closed in death. The bonds that bound 
him to this earth are loosed, and hence- 
forth and forever he will get the reward, 
even the highest that God gives to any 
man, in my opinion. F. D. Richards' 
name is known all over this world. I 
heard his name before I ever joined the 
"Mormon" Church, and I have never 
heard a man speak to his prejudice. Al- 
most every man, you know, gets criti- 
cised, and people are ready to tear him 
to pieces; but Brother Richards chose 
the better part. He was not with poli- 
tics: he was not with speculation, which 
he felt and knew to be the curse of this 
earth— speculation on borrowed capital. 

I pray God that his children may take 
after him; that the blood which ran in 
his veins may be in every one of his chil- 
dren and grandchildren. I say that this 
county is far ahead of what it would 
have been if Franklin .D. Richards had 
never lived here. We have been blessed 
nearly above all the Stakes of Zion, with 
having such a man in our midst. But 
we never showed him any favors, scarce- 
ly. Is it not strange that the hardness 
of man's heart is such that he cannot 
give any praise till the man dies? and 
then the whole world turns out. I have 
lived here for thirty years and more, and 
I never saw such a crowd as this at any 
of our conferences here. I will say that, 
in my opinion, no other man could have 
done it. I believe if these services had 
been held in Salt Lake the Tabernacle 
would have been filled to overflowing. 

God chose him for a great and mighty 
purpose, and his works will go down 
through the ages. His name will go 
higher and higher, higher and higher; 
and his children will be blessed because 
they sprang from such a source. I pray 
God to bless his wives', his children and 
his grandchildren, each and every one 
of them. Where in all Utah will you 
find children that surpass his? If we 
would pick out any to go and defend our 
cause in Washington City, before the su- 
preme court, or before the parliament of 



THE SOUTHEBN STAB. 



England, I say where would we find any 
better? He has left offspring second to 
none. May God bless them, and may 
they grow in peace, knowledge and un- 
derstanding unto the perfect day, is my 
prayer. Amen. 

A quartette composed of Miss Wens- 
guard, Miss Mary Driver, Edwin F. 
Tout and Albert Anderson, accompanied 
on the violin by Moses Chris top her son, 
rendered a selection entitled "The pass- 
ing of the sweetest soul." 

Elder Brlirham Yonnff. 

This is truly a solemn occasion. Usu- 
ally I have felt that it was more than I 
could do to speak on an occasion of this 
kind, but I am thankful for an opportu- 
nity to say a few words today, that my 
voice may be heard in connection with 
my brethren in speaking of him who has 
died. It seemed to me that we needed 
President Franklin D. Richards; that 
he was necessary to the wellbeing of his 
brethren and of the work of Christ; but 
God knows, and we must yield our own 
feelings that His purpose may be ac- 
complished. It reminds me much of the 
funeral of my father; my own feelings 
are something similar. I have known 
President Richards all the days that I 
can remember upon the earth. I have 
known him to be the man whose charac- 
ter has been described this morning by 
his, brethren. He seemed to me to be a 
part and portion of the society that I 
looked upon in connection with my fath- 
er, as of men who could never die; men 
who were sent forth in this dispensation 
to bring the people along, to buoy them 
up, to counsel, to console, to direct, and 
in times of trial and danger to stand firm 
and point the way by which the Latter- 
day Saints were able to escape all the 
snares that were laid for them. I havo 
known President Richards as a good 
man, a great man, a humble man, a 
father, a brother, and a friend. I have 
known him intimately all the years that 
I can remember, and I have never in my 
heart found fault with that man. 

I mourn with his family. I rejoice 
with the people that he has accomplished 
this work; but I mourn his loss. The 
great object of the life that God gave 
him is accomplished. He has won the 
fight, he has gained the race, and he is 
with the brethren that have gone before. 
God bless his family and comfort their 
hearts; for I know that they have great 
reason to be thankful for the leader, the 
husband, the father, the Apostle, whom 
He gave unto them to stand at their 
head in the last dispensation. We have 
reason to rejoice that we have known 
him. I look upon him now as being in 
the presence of my father—with my 
father and my mother, and loved ones. 
He has gone to them, and our feet are 
treading fast in the same direction. Years 
are coming upon us, and the dearest wish 
of my heart is that when I get through 
it can be said of me that I was faithful 
in all my life, as we can all say of Pres- 
ident Franklin D. Richards. He was 
faithful to the end. The crown is his; 
the glory is his. No power can rend it 
from him. He is safe with bis Maker, 
with his Redeemer, and with his friends. 

I had the pleasure of being with him 
on Friday afternoon for several hours. I 
could not reconcile myself to the thought 
of giving him up. I felt like clinging to 
him, praying for him, exercising faith for 
him; still I was willing to bow to the will 
of my Maker. "O, Lord, spare him to the 
Church, •• his brethren, and to his fam- 
ily, " was the prayer in my heart con- 
stantly. I talked with him a great deal 
that afternoon. True, he was helpless. 
His body could not act. In fact, he was 
incapable of moving his head much, if 
any. But the mind was there quite clear, 
and his eyes looked into my eyes with all 
the intelligence that I ever saw in frank- 
lin D. Richards. To answer my ques- 
tions he would press my hand. In speak- 
ing with him I saw that the mind, the 
immortal, the spirit, was as full of light 
and intelligence as ever I saw it in my 
life, and T was thankful for this. He 



knew everything that was going on 
around him, and every word said he 
heard and understood, and I rejoiced 
that he retained his full powers of mind 
to the last. I left him at 5 o'clock on 
Friday afternoon to return to Salt Lake 
City, and he looked at me, and I could 
read in bis eyes, "Oh! how I wish I could 
talk with you, and speak the feelings of 
my heart to you before you go away!" 
When bidding him good-by he pressed 
my hand and clung to it, and he looked 
with his eyes exactly as if he were talk- 
ing. I could see in them that he wanted 
to say something to me in my taking 
leave of him. 

God has taken him to Himself. Wc 
have nothing to regret. We mourn his 
loss; but I do feel thankful that I have 
been associated with this man all the 
days that I have lived upon the earth. 
I feel thankful to God, because I looked 
upon him as I looked upon my father, 
as I looked upon the brethren who have 
been our leaders all these years, so many 
of whom have passed away and gone to 
their rest. Their bodies are resting, but 
I doubt not their spirits are active. 
Franklin D. Richards stands before me 
as a pattern of a Latter-day Saint, and 
a perfect gentleman. Every Latter-day 
Saint who appreciates that title and 
lives up to it is a perfect gentleman or 
a perfect lady. I congratulate the Lat- 
ter-day Saints that they have had his 
association in this state for so many 
years. He has been a blessing to me 
and mine, to this people, and to all with 
whom he associated. I have , traveled 
with him a great deal in this country 
and in Europe. We have been associ- 
ated together in missions in Europe, and 
I found him precisely what you have 
found him, a man of God, with the in- 
terests of the Church of Jesus Christ in 
his heart. Our Father's will it was the 
pleasure of Brother Franklin to do, 
both day and ni^ht. Wherever he was 
he loved his religion, and was in perfect 
harmony, as far as I ever knew, with 
the Spirit of the Lord. 

Brethren and sisters, God help us. God 
bless this family, and bring these sons 
and daughters to the front, where their 
father stood. Emulate his example, live 
as he lived, and win a crown similar to 
his, and what joy there will be when we 
meet him and the others that have gone 
before! This takes away the sting of 
death from me. I mourn the loss of his 
society, but the feeling of death is not 
here. No spirit of death is with me, be- 
cause it is light, it is beautiful, it is glo- 
rious to know that he has won this fight. 
I pray that God will comfort us, that 
He will buoy us up and strengthen us, 
that we may be stronger in carrying out 
our desires to build up Zion ; not weak- 
ened by his loss, but strengthened by 
his example. That God may be merci- 
ful unto us and give us power to fill up 
our creation as he has done, is my hum- 
ble prayer, in the name of Jesus. Amen. 
PreMldent Lorenno Snow. 

Brethren and sisters, I do not intend 
to occupy but a short time, but I wish 
to mingle my voice with those of my 
brethren who have talked here, in ref- 
erence to President Franklin D. Rich- 
ards. Perhaps I was as familiarly ac- 
quainted with him, or more so than any- 
one that has spoken this afternoon; but 
I do not think I ought to take, time to re- 
late the various interesting scenes, pri- 
vate and public, that I have experienced 
with Franklin D. Richards. 

Over fifty years ago he and I were or- 
dained Apostles in the Quorum of the 
Twelve. At that time there were together 
all the Apostles then living, with Pres- 
ident Brigham Young and his two coun- 
selors, Brothers Willard Richards and 
Heber C. Kimball. There were four va- 
cancies to fill. Brother C. C. Rich filled 
one of those vacancies, I filled another, 
Brother Erastus Snow filled the third, 
and Brother Franklin D. Richards filled 
the fourth, and was the youngest Apostle 
then. Every Apostle that was present 
at that time, and President Young and 



his two counselors, have passed away in- 
to the spirit world. Brother Richards 
and myself were the only ones left of 
those Apostles and Presidency. Three 
Apostles, I think, that have been or- 
dained to fill vacancies since then are 
dead also. Brother Richards, whose re- 
mains lie here* in this casket, has outlived 
four Presidents of the Church — President 
Joseph Smith, President Brigham Young, 
President John Taylor and President 
Wilford Woodruff. Therefore, no one 
ought to complain and feel that injustice 
in this respect has been done to Presi- 
dent Richards, since he has outlived these 
Presidents of the Church, and most of 
their counselors, and so many of the 
Apostles. And certainly this longjjeriod 
of his life has been filled with good works 
that he has accomplished. 

All that has been said in reference to 
him by my brethren this afternoon has 
been well said ; and all perhaps that real- 
ly need to be said, anyway, is simply 
this: Did Franklin D. Richards dis- 
charge the obligations that he took upon 
himself before he left the spirit world? 
Has he accomplished this since he came 
into life, according to the best abilities 
that he had, and according to the light of 
the Holy Spirit that was given to him 
from time to time? I doubt not that 
every person who has been at all ac- 
quainted with President Richards can 
say they believe, most perfectly, that 
he has accomplished the tabors for which 
he came into this life. He was intimate- 
ly acquainted for years with President 
Joseph Smith. He has testified of him 
as being a servant of God ; that he knew 
by the manifestations of the Holy Spirit 
that Joseph Smith was a servant of God, 
sent into the world for the salvation of 
the honest heart; that he had a divine 
right to baptize for the remission of sins 
and lay on hands for the reception of 
the Holy Ghost, and that he conferred 
this right upon others. He testified of 
this from the day the knowledge was re- 
vealed to him from the Lord until the 
day that he passed out of life, so far 
as he had physical ability to do so. He 
has accomplished the business for which 
he came into life, and has gone back cov- 
ered with eternal and everlasting glory. 

That which we most snould think of 
is in reference to ourselves. Here is an 
example well worthy of our imitation, 
and we should follow it. All perhaps 
that we need to say to the large family 
of President Richards is, that they have 
a blazing example before them of a good 
man, a noble man, a grand man, and a 
man who has accomplished his salvation, 
exaltation and glory, and for them to fol- 
low in his path. I cannot mourn and say 
that there has been a very great loss 
sustained ; and yet we might say this. I 
am not surprised at the calling away 
of President Richards at this time; but 
had the idea of President Richards pass- 
ing away been presented to me aoout 
the time when he went with us to St. 
George, some five or six months ago, I 
should have been surprised, because in 
looking upon Brother Richards, at that 
time, and for many years before, my 
idea was that he was just as likely to 
live as any member of the Quorum of 
the Apostles, and more so, I might say. 
than one or two whom I might men- 
tion. 

God bless the family of President Rich- 
ards, and may they be inspired to fol- 
low the example of their illustrious hus- 
band and father. May the friends of 
President Richards feel a gratefulness 
and express it in the interest of this fam- 
ily as they may have an opportunity from 
time to time — a gratitude for the bene- 
fits they may have received from their 
intimacy with Brother Richards. God 
bless you, brethren, and sisters. May we 
all be blessed and walk in obedience to 
the principles of light and glory, and 
follow the example of this illustrious 
man. 

Never let it pass from our memory that 
we are in the world for the accomplish- 
ment of certain purposes, having obliga- 
ted ourselves in the other life to carry 
out these purposes; and in doing this we 



THE SOUTHERN STAR. 



39 



have to make sacrifices from time to 
time, because of the ignorance of our 
brethren and sisters, the children of God. 
It is not merely for Latter Day Saints 
that we are expending our time, but it is 
for tens of thousands that are scattered 
among the nations of the earth whom the 
Lord has prepared to receive the prin- 
ciples that we have received. These peo- 
ple who are worrying us, and who would 
like to see us persecuted to that ex- 
tent that we should be driven to live in 
the caves and rocks of the mountains, as 
they were in former days, would be our 
friends today, did they know us as the 
Lord knows us, and as we know our- 
selves. They would have to admit that 
the Latter Day Saints are the best 
friends they ever had, and that we are 
sacrificing daily, as it were, in their in- 
terest, though they do not know it. I ask 
the Lord of Israel to bless the Latter 
Day Saints and that we may be pre- 
pared for the events of the near future, 
with our hearts right before the Lord. 

I want to relate one circumstance, 
however, before I close. I would not tell 
it if it concerned myself alone. In the 
days of the "reformation," when Presi- 
dent Young was aroused to call upon the 
people to repent and reform, he talked 
verv strongly as to what ought to be done 
with some people — that their Priesthood 
ouirht to be taken from them, because of 
their failure to magnify it as they should 
have done. The brethren who lived in 
tho«e days will remember how vieorous- 
Iv he spoke in th ; « direction. Well, it 
touched Brother Franklin's heart, and 
it touched mine also: and we talked the 
matter over to ourselves. We concluded 
we would go to President Toung and of- 
fer him onr Priesthood, if he felt in the 
name of the Lord that we had not mag- 
nified our Priesthood, we would resign it. 
We went to him. saw him alone, and 
told him this. I guess there were tears 
in his eves when he paid. "Brother Lo- 
renzo, Brother Franklin, you have mag- 
nified your Pr'eethood satisfactorily to 
the T*>rd. ^od bless yon." The man 
that lies in that casket did this, and we 
both honestlv felt it. We knew that he 
^•a* a nmn of God. that he lived near to 
Hod. and that he had the word of God. 
God bless yon. Amen. 

President George Q,. Cannon. 

Tf I had mv choice this afternoon. I 
believe T wonld rather sit still and lis- 
ten to the brethren talk than to attempt 
to speak mvself: b"t I- supno*e I should 
feel condemned if I were to let this op- 
portunity pass without saying something 
with the rest of the brethren in relation 
to th»s sad event. 

I havp listened with great interest to. 
all that has been said. I can heartily en- 
dorse everv word. I have entered into the 
feelings of everv speaker, and been much 
interested in all that has been spoken. I 
am sure that it is not necessarv to in- 
dulge in any eulogy, after what has been 
said »n the presence of this congregation, 
all of whom are so well acquainted with 
Brother Franklin D. Richards, have 
known his life, have heard his teachings, 
have witnessed his walk and conversa- 
tion, and have been under his influence 
for so many years. Still it would not be 
nroper and it would not satisfy our feel- 
ings if we d'd not say something con- 
'•ernirig his characteristics, his life and 
labor, and our associations with him. 

I think I onsrht to appreciate Brother 
Franklin D. Richards more than any- 
one el°e. There are manv reasons for 
this. I was his junior in the Ouorum of 
the Twelve Apostles. Some years ago 
T was called noon to stand in the First 
Presidency. This brought me into re- 
lations with the older members of the 
Quorum of the Twelve that were very pe- 
culiar. Now. I cannot recall any inci- 
dent where Brother Franklin ever showed 
any feelings but that of great respect to 
me. I have manv times felt humbled in 
mv feeling bv thp deference that he paid 
'o the office whirh T held. I have *one 
before the Tx>rd in thankfulness, because 
of the kind and brotherlv feeling and 
spirit which Brother Franklin D. Rich- 



ards always manifested towards me. I 
need not mention the other brethren now 
and their conduct, but I can dwell upon 
his, and it has left an impression upon 
me that can never be eradicated. 

I think Brother Franklin D. Rich- 
ards was as meek a man as I ever was 
brought in contact with. He was unas- 
suming, gentle, full of kindness. There 
was one feature in his character that al- 
ways filled me with admiration : I never 
heard Brother Franklin D. Richards in- 
dulge in any criticism of his brethren. I 
never heard him sit down and talk over 
their faults. I think he was very re- 
markable in this respect. All the lead- 
ers of this people are free from that to a 
very great extent: but none surpassed 
Brother Franklin D. Richards. I never 
heard an unkind word from his lips. 
Men's names would come up. their char- 
acters would be reviewed, and, of course, 
criticism would be* indulged in ; but I can- 
not recall an instance where I ever 
heard Brother Franklin D. Richards ut- 
ter an unkind word or express a crit- 
icism unfavorable to anyone. I have no- 
ticed this a great deal in my association 
with him, and I think it was a lovely 
feature in his character. I never saw 
him out of temper, either. In all the 
scenes through which we have passed, I 
do not recall a single instance where 
Brother Franklin D. Richards displayed 
temper or lost control of himself in the 
least degree. He was always even. He 
was so urbane, so mild, so kind, that no 
one could find fault with him. If there 
was any fault in his character, probably 
it arose from this: for sometimes it be- 
comes a fault in a man : but it was a re- 
markable feature in his character. He 
was not naturally an aggressive man. 
though if his priesthood was called into 
question, he could assert himself with 
a great deal of vigor. 

Brethren and sisters, it is not well to 
occupy very much time this afternoon, so 
many have spoken; but I could not help 
thinking while I sat here contemplating 
the scene, of what the Lord has in store 
for men of this character, and what the 
promises of the Lord are to all who will 
be faithful as this, our brother, has been. 
Is there anything that can be thought of 
by the human mind that will not be 
within the reach of this our beloved 
brother who has gone before? The Lord 
tells us concerning the Savior that bv 
Him. and through Him, and of Him the 
worlds were created and the inhabitants 
♦hereof begotten sons and daughters unto 
God. All this .glory is His. And we are 
promised that we shall be heirs of God 
and 1oint heirs with Jesus Christ. Broth- 
er Richards will share in all this. He 
is an heir to all thi« power and authority. 
Jesus tells us that He and the Father are 
one: the Father is in Him and He in the 
Father; and that we should be in Him 
and He in us as He is in the Father — giv- 
ing us an idea of the oneness that He de- 
sires His di«ciples to attain unto, even 
unto the Godhead, being swallowed up in 
the power and authority belonging to 
the Godhead. This onr brother will share 
in all this, as all will who are faithful to 
the truth. We cannot conceive in our 
mortal condition, unless God reveals it 
unto us, the glory that awaits this faith- 
ful servant of God. Yet the revelations 
we have received from the Lord plainlv 
foreshadow the . great glory that is in 
store for those who fight the good fighi 
of faith, who are full of integrity and 
conrasre, and whose knees never tremble 
and. whose hands never shake when it 
comes to the defense of truth and' the 
advocacy of righteousness. Men of that 
kind — and thev are very numerous anions 
us — will receive great reward : and not 
the men alone, but the women too. will 
rpceive great elory at the hands of our 
Father and God. 

There is everything, therefore, to en- 
courage us to be faithful and to be spot- 
less in onr l'ves. What is the advantage 
of committing sin? It soils our souls, it 
defiles us. it brings «orrow and remorse, 
and gives no real pleasure. Worse than 
this, it brings a forfeiture of the favor 



of God and the promises He makes unto 
us. What a pleasant thought it is to 
think of a man faithful in the midst of 
temptation, a man who walks through 
life undefiled, who maintains his integ- 
rity and keeps all his covenants unto the 
close of his career Will such a man not 
be received into the presence of God and 
the Lamb? Will he not associate with 
the noblest that have ever been born on 
the earth? He certainlv will; and there 
is open before him a career, a never- 
ending career, progressing in light, in 
knowledge, in truth, in power, — in every- 
thing, in fact, that makes our Father and 
God great glorious and adorable. This 
is promised unto us. The Gospel is giv- 
en to us, by which we have the power to 
attain unto all these great blessings. If 
we do not accept of it and use it right- 
eouslv, the sorrow will be ours. 

I feel to pray the Lord for His choice 
blessings to rest upon the family of Pres- 
ident Franklin D. Richards, unon all his 
kindred, and also upon all the Latter 
Day Saints, which I humbly ask in the 
name of the Lord Jesus. Amen. 

Prenldent Joseph F. Smith. 

I had really hoped that the other breth- v 
ren would occupy the time allotted to us 
on this memorable occasion. I feel so in- 
adequate to the task of attempting to 
speak and to express my feeling, that 
it would have been a relief to my mind 
to have been permitted to sit still and 
listen to others. 

To say that the Lord loved President 
F. D. Richards would be only to express 
that which you all know. And it would 
seem unnecessary for me to say that I 
loved him, and that he was beloved by 
all his brethren. I do not know a man 
anywhere who does not love or has not 
loved President Franklin D. Richards. 
I do not see how it would be possible for 
any man who knew him not to love him. 
and not to feel for him the kindliest and 
the deepest respect. He has been a com- 
fort and a strength to me all my life. 
As Brother Brigham Young has said 
here, he has known him all his days ; so 
have I. I do not know one of the Apos 
cles who has been more familiar to my 
mind or with whom I have been better 
acquainted all my life, than Brother 
Richards. There always seemed to be 
something about him that drew me to- 
wards him, and that drew out my af- 
fections for him. I never felt when I 
was in his presence, or, when absent from 
him. that I would receive an"" but true 
brotherly and fatherly consideration from 
him. I had the utmost confidence in him. 
I believed in him, and I believe in him 
still, as a man of God, a man of truth, of 
virtue and of honor before the Lord. To . 
say that he, or that I, or any other man 
had not human weaknesses and imperfec- 
tions, or to say that he or any other man 
was. or is perfect in iudgment. in knowl- 
edge, and in the exercise of wisdom, would 
be to say that which should not perhaps 
be attributed to mortal beings. But I 
know of no man of all my acquaintance 
who so completely won my love and my 
confidence and respect as my brother 
whose remains lie before us here today. I 
always felt when he arose to speak, that 
he would say something sood. and that 
he would not say anvthin* that would 
grieve the Snirit of the Lord or give un- 
necessary offense to anv living being. I 
felt alwavs that he was in perfect accord 
in his spirit with the Spirit of the Proph- 
et Joseph Smith: and I know no man 
who. I believe, was a truer man to the 
Prophet Joseph Smith than was Franklin 
D. Richards. Every fibre of his sou! % 
seemed to be in accord with the divine 
mission of Joseph Smith. I have lis- 
tened to his testimony concerning that 
Prophet of God when it has just simply 
filled my whole being almost beyond my 
nower to contain. I have rejoiced in 
hearing his testimony of the Prophet Jo- 
seph Smith. 

I might mention another trait in his 
character that has seemed to me to shine 
out beyond that of almost any other man 
I ever knew. He exemplified the spirit 
that was expressed by Job, and he has 



40 



THE SOUTHERN STAR. 



REPORT OF MISSION CONFERENCES FOR WEEK ENDING DEC. 9. 1899. 



PVBS1DKNT 



D.H. Elton „ 

HeberS. Olson » 

B. F. Price ,. 

Jobn Peterson M 

W. D. Renoher „ 

T. H. Hamphery8 t 

C. Q. Parker-. m 

J. Urban Allred *. 

J. M. Haws „ 

Sylvester Low, Jr « 

O. D. Flake- „ 

D. A. Broadbent ^ 

J. Lewis Hobson ,. 

J. H. Willis 

L. M.Terry ^ 

Geo. E. Maycock ...* 



CONFSKBKCK 



VliflnUu..*.... 

Konlur ky 

£. Tenuesste.. 
Georgia „ tttttltt 
N> Alabama*^ 

Florida „„„ 

Mid. Tenn.._.. 
N, (arullna,., ., 
S Carolina*.... 

Mississippi 

E. Kentucky... 

Louisiana 

S. Alabama,.,.. 
N> Keatucfcy,.. 
Ohio ,„. 



22 r 
klM 

603 
SQt 
M6 
134' 
1110 

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done it for many, many years, — "Though 
he slay me, yet will I trust in Him." I 
know no man on this earth that has man- 
fested that spirit equal to this man. And 
that example which I have seen in him 
has helped me to be humble, and to yield 
in my spirit at times when perhaps I 
might have been so brittle otherwise, that 
I should have flown to pieces probably. 
The thought of the experience and exam- 
ple of Brother Richards, what he has en- 
dured, how he has bowed to the rod and 
submitted to the will of providence, has 
given me courage, strength and humility, 
and I have been blessed through him. I 
thank God for my associations with 
Brother Franklin D. Richards. With 
such as he I would love* to be associated 
not only through the remaining few days 
I have to live upon this earth, but 
throughout the countless ages of eter- 
nity. You may count me one with him. 
I want to be where he is. I want to be 
associated with him and with men like 
him — men who would die for the truth; 
men who would suffer anything for the 
truth's sake; men whose testimony is 
and has been unwavering and unshaken, 
firm as the rock of ages. No matter what 
circumstances he was called to pass 
through in life, his testimony was just 
the same. As I said before, in the lan- 
guage of Job. they could slay him. yet 
would he put his trust in the Lord. What- 
ever difficulties he had to encounter, he 
was for Zion, for the building up of 
Zion : he was with his brethren, true, 
steadfast and faithful. I could not help 
but notice the remark of one of the breth- 
ren that if such as he are not exalted 
("saved" was the word used, but I will 
use the word "exalted") into the presence 
of Almighty God. to inherit the crown of 
glory in store for the faithful, who then 
on earth will ever gain exaltation? 

We are not here, of course, to speak 
altogether of the dead, and yet it is be- 
cause of the departure of our brother 
that we are gathered together today. Cer- 
tainly this is not the place to speak of 
the weaknesses, imperfections or failings 
of men. I am proud to know and to b*» 
ahle to say that I have not waited till 
this moment, to express my love for that 
man. nor for President Snow, nor fc* 
others of mv brethren ; neither have I 
waited till this moment to sneak nraises 
of tlif»m. While he lived I had pleasure 
in telling him how I loved him; I had 
pleasure in saying how I felt toward him 
a« a man of God. and how I honored 
him in ray heart, and how I would up- 
hold and sustain him in mv faith and 
nravers. I have done it repeatedly while 
be was living. I have said in davs past 
that Brother Franklin D. Richards was 
one of the noblest of Ood's children in 
the range of my knowledge. 

Here are his brethren who have been 
associated with him in the councils of 
the Holy Pr'^thond, who have been 
striving to follow in his footsteps and 
emulate his good example, and who have 
been trying to abide and erdure the tests 
that he has been nut to. I want to say 
it. as my belief, that when a man can 
bring himself to endure the tests that 
that man has been brought under, there 



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will be no chance for him to lose his 
reward, inasmuch as he is faithful to the 
end. I do not know of a man that has 

Eroven this more than Brother Franklin 
K Richards, in days gone by. I can look 
back to the time when I have thought in 
my heart, O God, if I had to pass through 
what he is passing throtgh, I could not 
endure it And I could not have endured 
it then. The Lord was merciful to me. 
and has preserved me until now; and 
now I hope, by the blessing of his ac- 
quaintance and of the example which he 
has set me, no matter what test may be 
given to me in the future, that I may be 
able to endure it as faithfully, submis- 
sively and humbly as he did. If every- 
one of us can do this, all will be well 
with us. 

May the Lord bless his sons and his 
daughters I know some of them, too; 
and I want to say that Brother Frank- 
lin D. Richards has some of the best 
boys that ever lived in this world. I 
would like to say that right here, while 
they are present. I know them to be 
some of the best, purest, brightest and 
most faithful young men that are to be 
found in the ranks of the people of God. 
May they continue in this steadfastness, 
faithfulness and worthiness before God 
and His people, is my humble prayer. I 
believe they will. Some of them are 
young men that have had Jo endure hard- 
ships and trials, and they have come up 
through suffering and disappointments in 
many respects, but they have been faith- 
ful, and are still faithful, and have the 
testimony of the Gospel in their hearts. 
I feel in my heart. to say, God bless every 
son and every daughter of Brother 
Franklin D. Richards. And if any have 
strayed away at all through misunder- 
standing. I trust and believe, and would 
predict if it were necessarv, that the 
spirit and power of God will vet work 
upon them to bring them back to the 
fold and to their father's house. God bless 
the memory of this good man. and all 
his family — his wives, his children, and 
his children's children unto the latest 
generation, with the power and hlessinp* 
and privileges of the Holy Priesthood, 
that there may never come a time when 
President Franklin P. Richards shall not 
have sons to reoresent him in the house 
of God. This is mv prayer, and I ask 
it in the name of Jesus. Amen. 

The choir sang, "Farewell all earthly 
honors." 

Benediction by Elder John Henry 
Smith. 

The congregation remained seated un- 
til the remains and the mourners left the 
Tabernacle. Then a long cortege of car- 
riages followed with many friends on 
foot to the cemetery, where the mortal 
part of the venerated Apostle were de- 
posited in the family grounds. The 
prave was dedicated by Elder Geo. Teas- 
dale of the Apostles and decorated with 
flowers. There the bodv of the faithful 
Fervan*- of the Lord will repose in peace 
until the morning of the resurrection day. 
when those who are in Christ shall rise 
to *reet the millennial dawn, and shine 
in the celestial glory of the Son of Right 
oousness. 



Releases and Appointments. 

Released to Return Home. 

H. O. Hurst. 

J. F. Pulley. 

C. W. Burnam. 

J. S. Anderson. 

THomas Halls. 

F. A. Elmer. 

Appointments. 

North Kentucky—Elders T. E. Olsen, 
John H. Dahle and M. W. Nish. 

Georgia— Lehigh Bondrero, David W. 
Morris and B. F. Stewart. 

Virginia— William Sparks, Jr. 

North Alabama— Frederick Frederick- 
son. 

Kentucky— Isaiah Thompson and L. E. 
Margetts. 

Ohio— Nelson Miller, Ralph Cutler, E. 
J. Hunt and Joseph Sutherland. 



Heading Off Gossip. 

Noel Little — I say, old man, can you 
keep a secret? Well, Smiggins told me 
in confidence that — 

Noah Nuff— Hold on! Can you keep a 
secret ? 

"I? Why, yes; certainly.' 

"Then you'd better do so."— Puck. 



Very Sharp. 

Teacher -\ow, Johnny, if the earth 
were empty on the inside, what could 
we compare it to? 

Johnny— A razor, ma'am. 

Teacher — A razor? 

Johnny — Yes, ma'am; because it would 
be hollow ground.— Brooklyn Life. 



Reasonable Supposition. 

"As 1 understand it," said Cuniso, 
"oleomargarine is made of beef fat." 

"You are undoubtedly right," replied 
Cawker. 

"I should think that the manufacturers 
would make it of goat fat." 

"Why?'' 

"Because the goat is a natural but- 
ter" 

FROM THE HEART. 



Madeline S. Bridges, in Woman's Home 

Companion. 
A tear or two. a prayer or two. 

For the dead that have gone before us; 
Pure thoughts that stray from the world 
away 
To the sweet Heaven bending o'er us. 

Strong hopes that thrill with a noble will, 
For the work that may choose and call 
us; 

Deep soul-content, that but good Is meant, 
In whatever may befall us. 

A song, a smile, and a pulse the while 
That throbs with the Joy of living; 

A kiss or so from dear lips, and lo! 
This Is the heart's thanksgiving. 




"BUT THGUOtt WE, 00 AN AN&tL FSOM ttEAVEN.PRlACH AMY 
OTMEft 60&PLL UNTO YOU THAN THAT WHICH WE 

HAVE PREACHED UNTO YOU, LET Mm bE ACCURS1D »&fr./^<?^ 



X£*(3fcEr 




Vol. 2. 



Chattanooga, Tbnn., SaturdA January 6, 1900. 



No. 6. 



MY HERITAGE. 

By Ella Wheeler Wilcox. 
I unto life so fall of love was sent, 
That all the shadows which fall on the 

way 
Of every human being, could not stay, 
II u£ fled before the light my spirit lent. 

I saw the world through gold and crimson 
dyes: 
Men sighed, and said, "Those rosy hues 

will fade 
As you pass on into the glare and shade!" 
Still beautiful the way seems to mine eyes. 

They said, "You are too Jubilant and glad; 

The world Is full of sorrow and of wrong. 

Full soon your lips shall breathe forth 
sighs— not 8ong! ,f 
The day wears on, and yet I am not sad. 

They said, "You love too largely, and you 
must 
Through wound on wound, grow bitter to 
your kind/' 

More cause for love, and less cause for dis- 
trust. 

They said. "Too free you give your soul's 
rare wine: 
r i;he world will quaff, but it will not re- 
pay." 
Yet into the emptied flagons, day by day, 
True hearts pour back a nectar as divine. 

Thy heritage! Is it not love's estate? 

Look to It, then, and keep its soil well 
tilled. 

I hold that my best wishes are fulfilled 
Because I love so much, and cannot hate. 



History of tbo Southern States Mission. 

(Continued from page 33.) 

February* 1894. 

On the 28th Elders Alder and Nelson 
undertook to canvass Pine Level, Mont- 
gomery county, Ala. They had can- 
vassed a number of families and were 
passing by the postoffice, where a party 
of six or seven men had gathered. One 
of these men ordered the Elders to leave 
the town. Another of the same crowd 
produced a gun and marched the breth- 
ren out, threatening to shoot them if they 
returned, or even if they looked back. 

March. 

This month opened with all the Elders 
well and hard at work. 

A spirit of fairness seems to be grow- 
ing among the people of the south. The 
lives of the Elders are safe now wher- 
ever they labor, and they feel secure 
wherever they are at work. 

April. 

On the 16th of this month Elders Grif- 
fin and Smith, laboring in Caborus coun- 
ty, Virginia, were assailed by a mob, led 
by a justice of the peace. They marched 



the brethren about a mile from where 
they were stopping when the mob called 
to see them and told them to leave the 
county. The Elders left, but went to an- 
other part of the county, where they la- 
bored unmolested. 

Some threats were made in various 
parts of the Mission, but the Elders re- 
mained in their fields and were not 
harmed. 

The following report will give an idea 
of the work being done. It is for the 
four months ending May 1, 1894: 




Miles walked, 42,194. 

Meetings held, 954. 

Families visited, 16,576. 

Baptisms, 71. 

Tracts distributed, 22,329. 

Refused entertainment; 3,211. 

May. 

Elders A. S. Campbell and F. M. % Bel- 
nap, while canvassing Birmingham, Ala., 
approached a man and woman sitting on 
a porch to offer them a tract. Elder 
Campbell was abused and severely 
kicked and ordered off the premises. He 
remonstrated at being treated thus, but 
he received the usual courtesies (?) ex- 



tended to "Mormons" by some fanatics. 

On the 23d these same brethren were 
arrested in the city of Birmingham on 
a charge of vagrancy, sworn to by one 
of the aldermen of the city, McNight 
by name. The Elders were fined $5 
each and were charged $1.25 as costs of 
suit, or $12.50 all told. Not having 
money, they were sent to jail, where 
they had to remain but an hour, as 
Brother C. M. Hauser paid their fines 
and they were liberated. 

After the Elders had been arrested for 
vagrancy, the complainant, learning that 
he could not prosecute the Elders under 
this charge, had the complaint changed, 
charging them with trespass, based on 
a city ordinance prohibiting the circulat- 
ing of circulars, etc., and for this they 
were fined. 

On the 23d President J. Golden Kim- 
ball, accompanied by Elder Elias S. Kim- 
ball, who had been appointed to succeed 
to the Presidency of the Southern States 
Mission by the Church Presidency, ar- 
rived in Chattanooga. President J. 
Golden Kimball had been President for 
three years, during which time many in- 
novations were introduced pertaining to 
proselyting. fc 

Elder J. Golden Kimball filled a great 
and glorious mission, accomplishing much 
in many ways. 

A letter of instructions, dated Chatta- 
nooga, May 25th, 1894, and signed by 
Presidents J. G. and Elias S. Kimball, 
was written and sent out to the Presi- 
dents of Conferences, informing them of 
the change. Also commending the El- 
ders for their faithful work in the past, 
and for their zeal. 

(To be continued.) 



Man must work. That is certain as tbo 
sun. But he may work grudgingly; or 
he may work gratefully; he may work as 
a man or he may work as a machine. He 
canont always choose his work, but he 
can do it in a generous temper, and with 
an up-looking heart. There is no work 
so rude that he may not exalt it; there 
is no work so impassive, that he may 
not breathe a soul into it; there is no 
work so dull that he may not enliven it- 
Henry Giles. 



Truth is obeyed when it is loved. Strict 
obedience to the truth alone enables peo- 
ple to dwell in the presence of the Al- 
mighty. 



42 



THE SOUTHERN STAR. 



OUR CONFERENCE PRESIDENTS. 

Sylvester Low, Jr., was born Dec. 22, 
1862, at Providence, Utah. ' His par- 
ents were Scotch, and embraced the Gos- 
pel in Scotland. 

They emigrated to Utah in 1855. In 
1800 they settled on a farm in Cache 
Valley. 

In 1863 they were among the number 
who were called to colonize the Bear 
Lake Valley, where they remained for 
two years, returning at the end of this 
time to Smithfield, Utah. 

Here, at this place, Brother Low at- 
tended school during the winter, and 
worked on the farm in the summer. In 
1883 Elder Low chose "one of those 
sweet spirits, which grace true woman- 
hood," and from this time dates his suc- 
cess. Elder Low was an interested work- 




SYLVBSTBR LOW, JR. 
President South Carolina Conference. 



er in the M. I. A. association and was 
for three years, president of this or- 
ganization, in the ward in which he re- 
sides. He was also an aid in the Sun- 
day school, and held several positions in 
the ecclesiastical organization of Smith- 
field. 

A call came to him in August 1898, 
requesting him to go on a mission to 
the Southern states, where he arrived 
Oct. 24, 1898. 

He was assigned to the South Caro- 
lina Conference, where he has met with 
the "ups and downs" of missionary life, 
being "rocked" and mobbed, derided and 
hissed. 

Elder Low has been a very faithful 
and energetic laborer in the cause and 
in hi ^ appointment as president of* the 
South Carolina Conference a better se- 
lection could not have been made. 



THE DARK AGES. 

BY ELDER A. ARROWSMITH. 
(Continued from page 35.) 
THE FIFTH CENTURY witnessed 
a continued apostasy from the true or- 
der of the Gospel, as taught by Christ 
and His Apostles in their ministry; and 
many innovations were introduced at this 
period of worldly glory. It appears pos- 
sible for a people to retain considerable 
freedom from sin and impurity, when 
undergoing persecution and opposition. 



But so soon as a people become popular 
and of the world, they become carnal 
minded; verifying the words of Christ, 
(John, 15-19,), "If ye were of the world, 
the world would love his own; but be- 
cause ye are not of the world, but I 
have chosen you out of the world, there- 
fore the world hateth you." The world 
loved its own, and Christianity at this 
time was of the world, popular, necessar- 
ily corrupt, and full of polllutions. 

The Bishops of Rome, Constantinople, 
Alexandria, Antioch, Jerusalem, Car- 
thage and other large cities had their 
followers, who contended for the re- 
spective supremacy of their Bishops, who 
at this time delighted in the homage paid 
them. In the many discussions under 
consideration, appeals would generally be 
made to Rome; thus the Bishop of Rome 
gradually gained the pre-eminence, and 
became the great Patriarch, Pontiff. 
Pope, or Father, of the western part of 
the Empire, while the patriarch of Con- 
stantinople held the power in the. eastern 
part of the Empire, under the name of the 
Greek Church. Thus the factions formed 
in this century largely determined the 
future of the two dominant factions, the 
Greek and Roman Churches'. 

Constantinople became prominent from 
the fact that Constantine had made the 
place his headquarters, and he showered 
special favors on the Bishop of that 
city during his lifetime, which strength- 
ened the eastern church, or faction, as 
the great division and ultimate split did 
not occur until the ninth century, when 
the Greek and Roman Churches excom- 
municated each other. 

So much for the Bishops, who held the 
highest, ecclesiastical positions and who 
governed a clergy that was full of pomp 
and arrogance, revelling in luxury and 
voluptuousness, and as for the monks, 
their licentiousness had become a pro- 
verb; so that corruption in high places 
had a terrible influence in debasing the 
laity, who had become very ignorant and 
illiterate; their religion had become a 
mere superstition, salvation depending on 
the Priest, who had power to absolve 
from sin, through the confessional, this 
being one of the many innovations intro- 
duced in this century. 

Image and relic worship increased as 
the church grew, the Barbarian converts 
readily accepting anything in the shape 
of idolatery, and the Christian worship 
was truly congenial with their tastes. 
Thus this form of godliness spread over 
the whole civilized world; also among 
the tribes of barbarous people inhabiting 
England, Ireland and Scotland; being 
administered to suit the tastes of Sage, 
and Savage, and palatable to all the dis- 
tressed nations, that were pillaged and 
robbed, being forced into the adoption 
of these heresies by the Romans, who 
still controlled the world * 

There were many good and noble spir- 
its, that tabernacled in the flesh even at 
this time; men who lived up to all the 
light and understanding that they were 
able to comprehend. Of such was St. 
Patrick, so-called, a noble man of good 
repute, born in humble circumstances in 
Scotland, taken captive into Ireland, 
where he came in contact with much 
degradation. He finally escaped, and be- 
ing of a religious turn of mind, educated 
himself and entered the Priesthood, un- 
der the Bishop of Rome, who in tho year 
430 gave him a mission to preach to tho 
Barbarians in Ireland. He succeeded 
Palladius, the first missionary, and estab- 
lished a stronghold for Catholicism, that 
has existed ever sinco in Ireland. His 
self-sacrifice is worthy of emulation, and 



it is a pity that he taught such false the- 
ology, but God will reward him, as his 
intentions undoubtedly were good. 

Amid the prevailing corruptions, there 
were many self-sacrificing martyrs, who 
verily believed that they were the true 
Priesthood, in an unbroken chain from 
Peter, and labored assiduously for the 
redemption of the world and to bring the 
world to a knowledge of Jesus Christ, 
and thus far they were successful, but 
the principles of salvation, or the doc- 
trines which Jesus taught, were not 
taught by. them, and were woefully neg- 
lected by the children of men. Converts 
were made by force, and the attractive 
display of splendor, as exhibited in this 
age, was truly a form of godliness. 

A learned man, Vigilantius by name, 
spoke against the many prevailing super- 
stitions, especially image worship, and 
was immediately denounced as a heretic, 
being excommunicated, and so remains 
to this day. 

The richness and magnificence of the 
churches exceeded all bounds, and beau- 
tiful images adorned all the temples of 
theology. The Virgin Mary, holding the 
infant Jesus, being particularly conspic- 
uous. The altars and chests where relics 
were kept were mostly of solid silver, 
which betokened wealth, opulence and 
splendor. 

Confessions, which formerly had been 
made before the congregation, were now 
arranged to be made before the Priest 
appointed for that purpose, and thus an 
order of things was established that we 
find at this day. 

I am reminded of a circumstance that 
came under my observation when a boy 
in England. In the city where I lived 
was a little rubicund Roman Priest, who 
was rather short-sighted. One day in 
visiting his flock he came hurriedly upon 
a half dozen large raw-boned Irishmen, 
who were playing the innocent game of 
hand ball. He said. "John, are you play- 
ing at pitch and toss?" (which meant are 
you gambling). Th reply came very 
meekly from one of these large, humble 
fellows (who could have crushed the life 
out of the little Priest), "No, Father." 
Nevertheless, the Priest ordered these 
half dozen brawny fellows into the house 
and soundly thrashed them with his 
stick, and they took it as meekly as 
lambs, confessing their faults to this lit- 
tle piece of arrogance, and humbly asked 
for forgiveness. I can readily under- 
stand that this state of things came from 
the Dark Ages, as this obsequious sub- 
missiveness is opposed to liberty and 
truth, and consequently is not of God: 
and Mosheim speaks of the same order of 
things existing in the fifth century. 

Undoubtedly those of my readers that 
have followed me thus far have at many 
times in their life come in contact with 
the variety of rites (that I have tried to 
depict briefly) in the varied forms of re- 
ligion now extant upon the earth, and it 
is hardly any wonder that Isaiah in his 
24th chapter, in prophetic vision, saw 
the earth defiled under the inhabitants 
thereof, because they had transgressed 
the laws, changed the ordinances, and 
broken the everlasting covenant; and the 
earth was to be devoured with a curse, 
and in consequence of its many pollu- 
tions, is to be burned with fire, and few 
men are to be left. How thankful we 
should be that before that great day of 
the coming of the Lord He again honors 
the earth with His Priesthood, who are 
warning the nations of the impending 
judgments that will surely be poured out 
upon the wicked. 

(To be continued.) 



THE. SOUTHERN STAR 



43 



HOW TO STUDY " MORMONISM " 

4, I have been making a study of the 
Mormon question;" "Rev. So and So is 
in Utah studying Mormonism on the 
spot." "We have sent a special corre- 
spondent to Salt Lake City to investi- 
gate Mormonism." These are some of 
the statements we find in different news- 
papers published in the east and in the 
south. This would be both interesting 
and encouraging to the "Mormon" peo- 
ple, if the pretended investigations were 
conducted with any degree of fairness, 
and a desire to obtain facts and correct 
information as to the doctrines, spirit 
and intent of the Church of Jesus Christ 
of Latter Day Saints, commonly called 
the "Mormon Church. 

It depends a great deal upon the state 
of mind and the purpose in (he heart 
of an individual who makes a study of 
any religious, social or political ques- 
tion. If he begins with a settled con- 
viction that the system he is about to 
pry into is wrong, and his object is to 
discover, if possible, evidences of its fal- 
sity, he will no doubt find many things 
which will fit into his design and confirm 
him in his original position. Nearly 
everybody who comes to* Utah for the 
nominal purpose of "investigating Mor- 
monism," takes it for granted that the 
whole concern is either a fraud or a de- 
lusion, and he does not look for any- 
thing but what will establish one or the 
other of those propositions. 

In nearly every instance, too, the* pre- 
tended inquirer goes to sources from 
which flow only misrepresentation, abuse, 
burlesque and caricature. These fall in 
with the desire of the querist and he 
adopts them at once. In making out his 
communications to the journal or maga- 
zine which he represents, he sets forth 
these distortions as "Mormonism." If he 
quotes from Mormon literature he does 
not take the trouble to go to the stand- 
ards of faith of the Church, but accepts 
from its enemies garbled quotations from 
works that are not recognized as author- 
itative, or isolated sentences from old 
sermons without giving the explanatory 
context. In relating "Mormon" history, 
he cites anti-Mormon stories as though 
they were authenticated facts, and in de- 
picting "Mormon" society he repeats ab- 
surd and monstrous tales told by repro- 
bates who revel in everything salacious 
and who delight in scandal. 

That is how "Mormonism" is usually 
studied by newspaper representatives and 
clergymen who pay a brief visit to this 
city, and have the sublime egotism to 
assume either that they knew all about 
it before they came, or have imbibed a 
complete understanding of the many 
questions involved in its theology, its re- 
markable organization and the practical 
questions involved in the system, by a 
forty-eight hours* or week's sojourn 
among its most vigorous and subtle op- 
ponents. It is rare indeed that any of 
them go to the fountain head for infor- 
mation. If they do mingle with people 
who can give them light, it is merely 
that they may be able to say that they 
had interviews with prominent Mor- 
mons. 

How often one may read in magazines 
and eastern newspapers about what is 
in the Book of Mormon, and find that 
the alleged quotations are either not in 
the book at all, or so changed as to be 
the opposite of what the book conveys! 
That work is frequently denounced from 
the pulpit as "a religious romance," or 
condemned as a blasphemous and ridic- 
ulous counterfeit of the Bible. Ask th»* 
Rev. preachers if they have ever read 
the book, and when pressed into a corner 
for a direct reply, they have to acknowl- 
edge that they have never seen anything 
but alleged extracts from it. The most 
extravagant and nonsensical notions that 
conld be invented -and called religious 
Opinions, are commonly presented to the 
public as "Mormonism." 



Some of the very worst of the defam- 
ers of the Mormon people and their 
doctrines, are among the ministers of the 
"Christian" denominations. They are de- 
serving of all the denunciations heaped 
upon the Pharisees and scribes and doc- 
tors and lawyers by the Savior of the 
world, when He ministered among men. 
They are engaged in a similar occupation. 
They will be entitled to the same reward. 
Men of their class were the chief cause 
of the persecutions and bloodshed that 
came upon the Latter Day Saints in the 
early days of the Church. They are fol- 
lowing in the same course, but witn 
other weapons, today. They will fill up 
the full measure of the cups of their 
iniquity and then go to their own place. 

We warn our contemporaries at a dis- 
tance, that it is useless to send clerical 
or journalistic representatives to Utah 
to gather up anti-Mormon pabulum to 
dish out to their readers. It is a waste 
of time and money. They, can glean all 
the kind of stuff they want from anti- 
Mormon literature. If they desire Mor- 
mon works, they can get them from Mor- 
mon sources. They can also be visited 
by missionaries who are out among them 
for the purpose of diffusing correct infor- 
mation. 

We notice in the Chattanooga, Teun., 
News, that an invitation was recently 
extended from the President of the 
Southern States Mission to ministers and 
others, to meet with the Elders and learn 
what they have to offer to the public. 
That paper gives a fair report of a con- 
ference held in Chattanooga, and after 
stating what was preached by Elder Ben 
E. Rich, adds the following: 

"He closed his remarks by extending 
to the ministers of the city a cordial in- 
vitation to visit the mission home and 
converse freely with the young men of 
the Mormon Church who are here en- 
gaged in missionary work. 

"He said: 'Let us not hate one an- 
other, but let us reason together; if you 
have a truth that we have not, we will 
gladly accept it, and if we have an er- 
ror that you can point out, we will glad- 
ly abandon it and be thankful for your 
aid in showing it to us. Many of our 
Elders have suffered from the hand of 
violence and many times these mobs 
have been headed by those professing to 
be ministers of the Gospel; a palm leaf 
of peace looks better than the shotgun in 
the hands of one who claims to be a 
minister of Christ, so come and let us 
reason together.' " 

That is the spirit in which all who 
want to know x *Mormonism" as it is, 
should make their investigations. We are 
not ashamed of the Gospel we believe 
nor of any principles of our faith. We 
hold them all as divine. It is our mix 
sion to proclaim them to the world. They 
are not to be hidden in a corner or shut 
up in the closets of our souls, nor are 
they to be expounded by those who take 
pleasure in ridiculing and distorting them. 
Let those who want light refrain from 
plunging into darkness to find it. Let 
all who desire information about Mor- 
monism come or go to its authorized rep- 
resentatives, "Ask and ye shall receive, 
seek and ye shall find."— Deseret News. 

The eloquence of angels never can con- 
vince any person that God lives, and 
makes truth the habitation of His throne, 
independent of that eloquence being 
clothed with the power of the Holy 
Ghost; in the absence of this, it would 
be a combination of useless sounds. 



Chastisements are grievous when they 
are received; but if they are received in 
patience, they will work out salvation 
for those who cheerfully submit to them. 



The people of the United States drink, 
smoke and chew up $2,000,000,000 every 
year, and then curse hard times. "What 
fools we mortals be." 



ABSTRACTS FROM CORRESPONDENCE 

Elders D. Bagley and William T. Gale, 
writing from Clark county, Alabama, 
mention in very comendable terms the 
unity existing among the followers of the 
Lamb. It is strange how the feeling of 
brotherly love is imbibed by all who put 
op Jesus as quickly as they come out of 
the world. The Spirit of God will be- 
stow love, joy, etc., when it is truly re- 
ceived, and those who a few months pre- 
vious were warring and contending now 
submit in humility to everything that is 
honorable and just. 



Elders Wright and Holyoak were met 
the other day down in Alabama by a 
man on a mule, carrying a gun. This 
man as he approached them dismounted, 
levelled his gun at them and demanded 
that they should apologize to his wife 
because they had offered her a tract. He 
became very abusive and threatened to 
"get their hats" if they ever passed by 
his house again, and also told them to 
"git out of this county and stay out." 
After pouring his wrath on the Elders 
he mounted and left them. Poor man, 
we presume he claims to be an American, 
too. 



Elder Madison N. Fisher, of the Mis- 
sissippi Conference, relates an unpleas- 
ant experience wherein he and Elder M. 
E. Gifford were the victims of a coward- 
ly assault. 

These two brethren were laboring in 
Hester, St. James Parish, Louisiana. 
They were returning from holding ser- 
vices, to the house of a friend, when sud- 
denly volley after volley of missiles of 
various kinds were thrown at them. 
Elder Fisher was struck, but Elder Gif- 
ford escaped. The Priests and people, 
generally speaking, treated them very 
cordialy, but, as in all communities, you 
will find some who have no individual 
decency and who never respect the rights 
of others. 



President John Peterson, of the East 
Tennessee Conference, says: The year 
closes with bright prospects for the East 
Tennessee Conference. All the Elders 
are well, and enthused with the spirit of 
their mission. As a rule fair treatment 
has been accorded them. More are ear- 
nestly investigating than ever before, 
and we have every occasion to expect a 
bounteous harvest in the near future. 
Yourself and counselors have the love, 
confidence, faith and prayers of every 
Elder in our Conference, and I voice the 
sentiments of every Eder when I say 
God bess you. 



Elders Charles Gilbert and W. H. 
Lowder, of the Virginia Conference, 
write to us concerning a case of healing. 

They had been laboring in Bath county, 
Virginia, and one night were entertained 
by a gentleman who was afflicted with 
rheumatism. "Next morning," writes 
Brother Lowder, "we taught him some 
of the Ordinances of the Gospel. He sig- 
nified his belief in the power of God and 
requested us to ask the Lord to heal 
him. We did so, and now he can go 
about performing his daily duties as 
ably as he ever did. Before this time he 
had been confined to his bed and was 
unable to move about." 

Brother Lowder also relates another 
instance wherein a little child had been 
injured and by his prayer was healed. 
He concludes with a testimony that the 
blessings of God can be enjoyed now as 
well as in the days of Jesus. 



44 



THE SOUTHERN STAB. 




Palliated Weekly ky Seether* State* ■Ittloi, Cbirtb 

ef Jeeot Christ if Utter Day Salata,; 

C-attaieege, Ttii. 



rPerytar . 
Tern* of Sub.orlptlei :•{ Six ■o*th» 



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Slifle Ceplet, 5 CenU. 



Subscribers removing from one place to another, 
and desiring papers changed, should always give 
former as well as present address, by postal card or 
letter. 

Altered at the Post Office at Chattanooga, Tmn. t at 
tecond dam matter. 



Correspondence from all parts of the missionary 
field is solicited. Give name and address, or articles 
will be rejected. Write on one side of paper only 
when sent for publication. We reserve the right to 
either eliminate or reject any communication sent in. 
Address Box xo? 



Satubday, January 6, 1900. 



ft WllftYH T.DB- * TH»H pngpi tm cbjibu qi uw, oj 

ct, »rn] by tbe Iij-ld^ on of b*tuJ»r by (hue* wh« are 
rftj. to preach (he f&ipe) tnd adminiiter is thotirdi- 
tatrirtf. 



ARTICLES OF FAITH 

OP THE CHURCH OP JESUS CHRIST OP 
LATTER-DAY SAINTS. 

1. We believe in Ori tbe Eternal Fath«r, and IoaU8oe) 
Jeans Chrlet, tod fo the Holy Ghost 

I. We believe th»t aea will be panished for tb«ir ova 
etas, sad set for Adam's transgression. 

I We belter* that, throogh the atonemeot of Christ, •» 
mankind asy St saved, by obedience te the lawa and ordi- 
naneet of the Ooa pel. 

4. We believe that the flrtt principles and ordinances of 
the Oeapel are : Pint, Faith in the Lord Jesns Christ ; second. 
Repentance ; third. Baptism by immersion for the remission 
of sins ; fourth. Laying on of Bands for the Gift of the Holy 
Ghost. 

6, We believe thit a me* PMiet bo "tied. of Oo*l. by 
" p roph*ct T 
in SULhomj 

t. W« b*Vieva Id tb# I* me orjpaiiiHon Lhil exiled to 
the primitive church— namelj. Apo*tJei, Prophets, Putore, 
Tstcben, tiieugeliiti, e*e. 

,T, We believe In lbs gift of lonpjei, prophecy, ravelstlon, 
visions, bealinc, inter prate Lion of tongurS. e(*L 

8. Wi believe the Bible to be the word of God, Be fir u li 
H (tint Lt led torrwtlj ; we also believe the Book of Mormon 
to be the word of Qo6. 

I. We believe all that God ban revealed, til that He foot 
now reeeil, end *e bells ve that 11* wjlj yet tbtm! many greet 
and icaporfsnt tbtap pertaining to the Kington of C*od- 

10, We believe la the llTenrflLbfrimtcf line! end la the 
restoration of the Ten Tribes; that Zion vrill b* built upon 
this (lbs American/ eonlinetit j that Christ will reign panon- 
ally upon the eirth, and that the earth will be renewed and 
receive its pared iiieeal glory. 

U. We claim the privilege of vonhipijif ATmlahty God 
fti:curdifi( to tbe dictate* of cor coni*iso«, and allow ell 
men the lame privilege, lei them wocihip bo w b where, or srhel 

It We believe in being rabjeet te kings, presidents, rulers, 

and magistrates ; in obeying, honoring and sustaining the law. 

If. We believe in being honest, tone, chaste, benevolent. 




We are placed on this earth to prove 
whether we are to go into the celestial 
world, the terrestial or the telestial, or 
to hell. 



Our Missionary Hymn Book will be 
ready for distribution by Jan. 15th. It 
has been specially compiled for the Eld- 
ers and contains all the songs in Can- 
non's Missionary Hymn Book, and many 
new songs. 



The Sanpete Democrat says: 
"The rule heretofore has been that a 
man charged with a crime was innocent 
in the eyes of the law until proven guilty. 
But this law has been changed in rela- 
tion to the Utah troubles. Here every 
man is found guilty unless he can estab- 
lish his innocence." 



AUTHORITY. 

There is an educational maxim that 
the mind will interpret according to its 
experiences. Such being true, we can 
readily see how it is that so many men 
claim authority to preach the Gospel and 
administer in the ordinances thereof, 
when they, in truth, have no more au- 
thority than the Sons of Sceva, who 
thought to do good, by casting out devils; 
but who were assailed because they pre- 
sumed. God at no time spake promis- 
cuously and confusedly to his children, 
but at all times when He has spoken, it 
has been through one recognized source 
—His prophets. 

If we were to select ten different min- 
isters and ask them how they were called 
to preach, we venture that no two in the 
ten would answer the same. 

Many years ago an apostacy took place; 
there was a "famine" for the word of 
God, and no where in the vast land 
could it be found. When God ceased to 
speak— because He had no prophets, they 
had been stoned and killed ant} His au- 
thority upon the earth was destroyed— 
men continued to preach, and "divine for 
money." 

From the time that the "Sorcerers" 
tried to "make money" by the power of 
God we have had many such men too, 
who tried to use the Priesthood for their 
own gain. When "gross darkness" cov- 
ered the people, and these kind of men 
were in their midst, to justify themselves 
in their nefarious work, they must de- 
vise some means of pulling the wool over 
the eyes of the people. We scarce can 
imagine what excuses were given by 
them during this time, but we can im- 
agine that the "reasons" given now, by 
the "hireling clergy"- is a relic of the an- 
cient claims. 

When a man now claims authority 
from a commission given to some spe- 
cial individuals for some special work, 
we readily see the weakness of such thin 
claims. What would we think at this 
present time, if some person were to 
hunt up the commission given to Wash- 
ington, as he sat astride his horse sup- 
erintending the work on his plantation, 
to be commander-in-chief of the Ameri- 
can army and claim the right to that 
position in our army ranks of today? The 
result can perhaps be better surmised 
than written. Yet we have hundreds of 
intelligent men claiming authority from 
such a standpoint. When the Savior 
blessed His apostles and sent them out, 
the particular commission was to them. 
The result of claiming authority from 
this commission, of the Savior, is the 
"man made" systems of today. 

Their experience has been such that 
they have been "educated" to believe 
this and have been for so many genera- 
tions undisturbed in this cherished be- 
lief that it is blasphemy (considered by 
them) for men to claim authority in the 
appointed way of the Lord; and, the 
devil in them, that has so long led them 
to believe that they were "all right" 
when assailed and commanded to "come 
out," jumps upon the power so command- 
ing, and seeks to devour it. It is but 
reasonable to conclude that if even the 
devil would not respect those seven sons 
of Sceva, in their supposed good work, 
the Lord surely will not, and if th<?y 
were not recognized in this one respect 
would they be recognized in any other of 
the ordinances? If one part fails, all 
must be spurious, for not one jot nor 
tittle of the word of the Lord will fall un- 
fulfilled. Now these men claim author- 
ity from this commission. Can they cast 



out devils? Such was promised in the 
same commission. Can they heal the 
sick? This same promise was made. 
Can they perform any of the works that 
are spoken of in this commission? If not, 
why not? Some day, possibly, they will 
find themselves among the number who 
will say to Jesus: "Have we not done 
many mighty works in thy name, etc.," 
and will hear the Savior say, "Depart 
from me ye that work iniquity." 



We have been requescted to announce 
that returning Elders should not call at 
the President's office, Salt Lake City, 
on Saturday afternoons, as at that time 
the banks and railroad offices are closed 
and it is very difficult for them to do 
business, especially to secure clergy 
rates to the respective homes of the re- 
turning Elders. 

Brethren thus reporting are sometimes 
detained in Salt Lake until the follow- 
ing Monday for these reasons. 



Farewell Address to a Departing Elder. 

, ♦ By P. S. M. 
Ever since the birth of time, many a 
hero has gone to his grave unnoticed and 
unsung. His was the hero's heart, his 
the Hero's deeds, yet his heroism was 
known perhaps only to himself and to 
his God; for the world rarely knows the 
whole truth, and not always gives honor 
where honor is due. He indeed is a hero 
who drives the wild beast to its den, 
and rescues from it its human prey. Let 
the world justly praise him. He, too, is 
perhaps a greater hero who, rushing into 
the flaming front of shot and shell, lights 
foremost for his beloved country, and 
falls. God will let none such lose his 
abundant reward. But there are other 
heroes besides these — not indeed as the 
world estimates heroes, but as the Judge 
of all the earth knows them. I mean 
those who in obscurity sacrifice their 
efforts and their lives, perhaps, that 
others may live; who give their entire 
love and energy to the teaching of others 
the way of life, and the training of them 
to walk therein; who help succor those 
under affliction, and' give heart to those 
who despair. I know there js little fas* 
cination in such a heroism; for we like 
not only that we should be heroes, but 
that we should be appreciated by the 
world as such. But when we shall have 
ascended higher into the regions of 
truth and reality, so that, being above 
the mists of fond prejudice and tradition- 
al ideas, we shall see with a clearer view 
and judge with a more even judgment, 
then we shall call him hero who toils 
that others may be raised higher in the 
scale of worth and happiness. Such he- 
roes are they who, in the cause of their 
Master, leave all that they have learned 
to know as dear, and go forth to strive 
for the elevation of others. Thus you 
will go, as others have gone; and as for 
them, so abundantly for you, we hope 
and pray that you will wear the laurel 
w r reath of devoted faithfulness. 

But though we are apt to emphasize 
the hardships of a Missionary's life, yet 
we must not fail to realize that such a 
life exemplifies the true life of man. We 
live, when we live rightly, not for our- 
selves alone, but for others; indeed, he 
who lives for himself has very little to 
live for. Some one has said that to 
know the truth yourself is to live, but 
to help others to know the truth is to 
live doubly. Thus to help others is to, 
feel that there is some reason for your 
being born into the world; that there is 
something more in life than labor lost. 



THE SOUTHERN STAB. 



46 



Then it is that yon thrill with the sen- 
timent that life is joyous and full, and 
•*worth living, after all." 

Indeed, in helping others to know 
truth, you enlarge your own soul to in- 
clude the vast possibilities of life that 
selfish souls never dream of. You your- 
self are developed — developed as God 
would have you — in striving to develop 
others. "Thou that teachest another, 
teachest thou not thyself." 

The Missionary comes to know as 
perhaps few other men that the Savior 
was something more than an ordinary 
sermonizer when He proclaimed the 
great altruistic law that he who loses 
his life for others finds it in reality. 
By the giving of one's life, I do not 
mean necessarily the spilling of the 
heart's blood; I mean rather the giving of 
one's time, one's thought, one's anxiety, 
one's effort, in a word, one's love — "for 
the happiness of love is in action; its test 
is what one is willing to do for others." 
These things constitute our real lives, 
and if they be sacrificed to exalt man- 
kind, then the real life, the divine devel- 
opment is achieved by him who sacri- 
fices. One who thus* gives himself for 
others, and thus in turn gains hi* own 
soul, may not command the applause of 
the world; he may not be a financier to 
control the stock market, nor a states- 
man to direct the great affairs of a na- 
tion; he may not be an authoritative 
scientist, nor one of the literati; but he 
will be more than all these; for however 
obscure his reputation, however humble 
his attainments, he will be one of God's 
noblemen. 

There is another phase of develop- 
ment of the soul, which a Missionary 
pre-eminently gains — I mean the power 
to forgive even enemies, a power which 
grows out of the great love developed 
for every child of God. It is true that 
the abhorrence of sin becomes stronger 
in the Missionary, but the solicitude for 
the sinner becomes stronger also. The 
sin is hated; the sinner is loved. The 
Missionary learns that the noblest ven- 
geance is to forgive. Many a time, be- 
fore going into the world as a representa- 
tive of the Master, on hearing of the ill- 
treatment to which some Elders are 
subject, he burns with indignation, and 
with all the dignity of a youth reared in 
our beloved land of liberty, he declares 
that he will yield his life before he will 
budge from the maintenance of his 
rights. But when once infused with the 
spirit of his calling, he can suffer all 
such indignities with a bearing similar 
to that of our Lord when, on that memo- 
rable occasion, He exclaimed, * 'Forgive 
them, Father, they know not what they 
do." Insults do not try his soul; hurled 
stones call up no desire to retaliate; 
pushes and blows are borne with pa- 
tience; for he who is subject to these 
abuses knows that they are but the op- 
portunities for exercising those attrib- 
utes of soul which, when developed, make 
us perfect, as our Father in heaven is 
perfect. I repeat that he indeed feels in 
all its force the meaning of the words 
that the noblest vengeance is to forgive. 
He will learn to love those for whom he 
toils and suffers; his very toil and suffer- 
ing for them will develop his love for 
them. For love is like faith— without 
works or acts for the object thereof, it 
dies. 

In your work, as in the work of all 
successful Missionaries, there are some 
principles specially to be followed, one 
of the most important of which is to put 
yourself in the places of those whose 
course of life you seek to change. You 



must imagine their mode of thought, 
their traditions and prejudices, and then 
adapt yourself to these conditions. You 
must respect that which they hold sa- 
cred, even though it appear supremely 
ridiculous to you. Be sparing of sar- 
casm; be rich in charity. Try to change 
the ideas and the ideals of men— those 
ends at which they aim — and then you 
can convert them. Do not ruthlessly 
tear down old beliefs, but with sympa- 
thetic effort build for them nobler and 
loftier structures than they already have. 
As we often say in homely phrase, do 
not tear down the dwelling of a man, 
however vile it be, without first building 
a better for him. Work to change men's 
ideals, I repeat, for remember that what 
a man desires and strives for with all 
his heart, that he will be. 

Now, there is a practical suggestion 
'or two that I want to offer. Dark days 
will come in your life, as even now, and 
crises will have to be met. But remem- 
ber that the remedy for all forms of de- 
spondency, or as we call it in colloquial 
phrase, the "blues," is hard work. Work 
at your duties, work at study, and the 
clouds will soon rise. The happy man 
and the man safe from the hurtful influ- 
ence of Satan is the busy man. "God 
calls men when they are busy; Satan 
when they are idle; for idleness is the 
hour of temptation, and an idle person 
is the Devil's tennis-ball, which he tosses 
at pleasure." 

Pray often and devoutly. Prayer, in 
connection with work, will be your source 
of strength. Yes, call on God, and He 
will show you that He is your shield and 
exceeding great reward. Indeed, when 
the sense of responsibility rests on you 
heavily, and the cares of duty disturb 
the heart, then you will find that the 
prayer of a righteous man availeth much. 

Above all, court the companionship of 
the Spirit of God. Keep your thoughts 
pure and your actions righteous, that 
the Spirit of God shall be pleased to 
dwell with you. Submit yourself to its 
dictates. Learn to know its promptings, 
study under its inspiration. Preach un- 
der its influence. Do good as it gives 
you intelligence and strength. 

Do these things, and then your years 
of special service in your Master's cau$e 
will be, in one sense, the happiest of 
your life. To be sure, these years will 
not be happiest in the ordinary mean- 
ing of the word happiness. You will 
miss the comforts and the solace that 
only a home can offer; you will miss the 
fond associations of loving friends; your 
fare will perhaps be scanty, and your 
conveniences few; you will feel keenly, 
if you have never felt before, the di- 
vinity and sweetness in such words as 
home, mother, father, loved ones. But 
still your soul will thrill with joy; you 
will achieve that peace that is above all 
earthly blessings — a sweet and quiet con- 
science; you will gather in such abund- 
ance as you have never known before 
that truest happiness that springs up 
along the pathway of duty in God's 
cause. Yes, you will realize that loved 
ones are far away, but you will also feel 
your God in such blessed nearness as to 
make up for all other losses. 

You will no doubt enjoy many an ex- 
perience that would now seem ludicrous 
to you. You will tramp from door to 
door almost without hope, for apparently 
no one will want to hear you. Your 
heart will get faint, perhaps, when all 
at once, as if arranged by some good 
angel, you will meet at some humble 
door perhaps a poor old widow who will 
be willing to listen to your story. Im- 



mediately she will become the most in- 
teresting person in the world , for you. 
How you will prize that old soul! You 
will be anxious to go again and again 
to her hovel to bring the words of life. 
You will praise her to your companions, 
and feel that she is of greater impor- 
tance than all the rich and great. You 
will then have caught the true spirit, the 
Spirit of God, which rejoices in the sav- 
ing of souls. 

Well, do you duty. Be wise as a ser- 
pent, but without guile. Be faithful in 
whatever you are called to do. Be will- 
ing to do whatever your superior calls 
you to. Then, I promise you, your days 
abroad will be truly happy and your ex- 
perience valuable. And though while 
you are in service, your home, even if 
not forgotten, will not draw your 
thoughts too much away from your du- 
ties, yet when you are given honorable 
leave to go, your home will become the 
most attractive, most sacred and blessed 
spot on earth. 

Tell me, gentle traveler, who through the 

world has gone, 
And seen the sweetest roses blow, 
And brightest gliding rivers flow; 
Of all thine eyes have looked upon 
What Is the fairest land? 

Child, shall I tell where nature has best 

and fairest flowers? 
It is where those we love abide; 
Though small that space, it is more wide 
Than Kingdoms; though a desert bare, 
The river of the gods is there, 
And there are the enchanted bowers. 



Mixed Marriages. 

Archbishop Corrigan has transmitted 
to the clergy of the diocese a decree from 
the Vatican, bearing on the celebration 
of the jubilee of the Holy year. One ef- 
fect of the decree will be to make diffi- 
cult the marriage of a Catholic to a 
Protestant by a priest in 1900. Mixed 
marriages, as they are commonly termed, 
are customarily allowed only by dispensa- 
tion of the bishops, but for the Holy 
year this power is suspended. 

In his circular Archbishop Corrigan 
says that the Pope suspends special fac- 
ulties to ordinaries of dioceses, "so that 
at this season particularly, Rome should 
be the greater fountain of mercy and 
spirtual favors of the Catholics of the. 
entire world." 

This is understood in Catholic circles 
to mean that only by applying direct 
to Rome shall dispensations be granted 
during the year 1900. 



Appalling Brutality. 

Miss Slessor, Scotch missionary, who 
has been 24 years in Africa, has herself 
saved the lives of over fifty twins. 

When twins are born, they are at once 
taken from the mother, and if no one 
intercedes they are -at once taken by 
the feet and head and havg their backs 
broken across a native woman's knee, in 
the same manner as one would break a 
stick. The bodies are then placed in an 
earthenware receptacle and taken to the 
bush, where they are devoured by the 
flies, insects or animals. Sometimes the 
little victims are put into these recep- 
tacles alive and are then eaten alive In 
the same way. 

The mother becomes an outcast. If 
she does not at once take her own life, 
she has to flee to the bush. If she ven- 
tures near the town or village, she must, 
see that she does not remain on the path 
when any other native is coming. Her 
presence, according to their superstition, 
would defile the place for others. She 
must not drink from the same spring, 
must not touch anything even belonging 
to her own relative** — Missionary Review 
of the World. 

The test of real affection is patience. 
Work is a great panacea for a sore 
heart. 



46 



THE SOUTHERN STAR. 



NATURE OF THE LAW OF TITHING. 



Its 



Requirements have been Widely Ignored — Effects of Obedience to It- 
Forgivness Comes Through Repentance— Offerings of the Saints— 
The Obligation of Obedience— That Which is Temporal and Spiritual 
Inseperable— How Eternal Inheritances Are Obtained. 



By ELDER FRANCIS M. LYMAN. 



My brethren and sisters: I pray that 
the Spirit of the Lord may be with us 
this afternoon, as it has been so abund- 
antly with our brethren, and that we 
may have the liberty of that Spirit in 
speaking and in listening, and profit by 
what the Lord may please to give us. 
Time is very precious, and this is a very 
large congregation, and without the help 
of the Lord, it is not possible for an El- 
der to edify this intelligent audience. 

We have been listening to the instruc- 
tion of President Snow and his brethren 
in the various Stakes of Zion, particu- 
larly upon the law of tithing, in such a 
way, possibly, as it has not been brought 
before the people in the past. There is 
a time for all things, and it appears as 
though the time has come when the Lat- 
ter Day Saints should give particular at- 
tention to this important law. The con- 
dition of the people individually, as well 
as the condition of the Church, has made 
it necessary for the Lord to anonunce 
through His servants that we must put 
ourselves right with regard to this prin- 
ciple. Like all other principles of the 
, Gospel, it is vital and very important, 
and it is not alone that the foundations of 
Zion may be laid and the obligations of 
the Church be met, as they needed to be 
met in 1838, when the Lord was 
besought by the Prophet Joseph to know 
how much was necessary of the property 
of the people for a tithing. It is not an 
unusual thing for the Prophet to ap- 
proach the Lord in times of necessity 
and when it appears plain to the mind 
of the Prophet that something needs to 
be done. We could not tell without the 
inspiration of the Lord what resources 
tnere were for the Church to rely upon, 
but how simple and plain it is when the 
Lord announces that if Israel will bring 
in all their tithes and offerings, that 
there may be meat in the storehouse of 
the Lord. He will open the windows of 
Heaven and pour out a blessing that we 
shall hardly be able to contain. The ne- 
cessities of the people today in these val- 
leys, the things that we are suffering, 
the early frosts that have destroyed quite 
a percentage of the crops of the people 
in the higher valleys, the loss in the fruit 
crop, all admonish, us that we need a 
blessing from. the Lord. 

It has been discovered, as the records 
of the Church abundantly show, that 
quite a percentage of the Latter Day 
Saints have entirely ignored this law of 
tithing. Twenty-five per cent, have neg- 
lected it altogether. What right have 
we in the Church if we are not willing 
to obey the laws of the Church? As well 
might we think of being members in good 
standing and fellowship, if we had failed 
to receive baptism of the water and of 
the spirit, or if we refused to gather to- 
gether or to preach the Gospel. Without 
the law of tithing, as we heard from the 
President this morning, these temples 
could not have been built. What has been 
done towards the laying of the founda- 
tions of Zion could not have been ac- 
complished without the revenue law of 
the Church. And it is a most reasonable 
law. I believe that I have discovered, 



as well as my brethren, why the Lord 
has determined that one-tenth of our in- 
terest annually should be required for a 
tithing. 1 understand it to be for the 
reason that that amount is just exactly 
what is necessary to accomplish the pur- 
poses of the Lord. Less than that is in- 
sufficient. Tithing has been Known among 
the people of Israel from the early ages. 
It has been proven not only among the 
people that have occupied this earth, but 
among people who have occupied other 
earths than this. It is a law that has 
been demonstrated in the experience of 
the children of God through all past 
ages, and it is understood that one-tenth 
is just the amount necessary to meet the 
requirements of the Lord. How much 
allowance the Lord has made, in His 
reckoning, for those who, being without 
faith, will be negligent and will not have 
the strength anu power of character to 
endure, I am not able to say. But He has 
no doubt established it as the very 
amount that is absolutely necessary for 
the purposes of the Lord. It is also just 
exactly the amount that is necessary to 
try the souls of the children of men and 
to prove them. Men who can observe 
that law and live it properly will be pre- 
pared to graduate unto a higher plane, 
which they must do before the redemp- 
tion of Zion. Before we enter upon the 
law of consecration, which is the celestial 
law of God in finance, it is necessary that 
we should take the training that we are 
now having under the law of tithing. 

You may be certain, my brethren and 
sisters, that any person who is not able 
to observe this law faithfully and well 
will never, worlds without end, be able 
to observe the law of consecration. The 
law of tithing is a stepping stone, and it 
is a law that will abide forever, because 
a great majority possibly of the children 
of God will not be able to reach the high- 
er law. 

Since President Snow has been talk- 
ing so plainly upon this subject, there 
have been a class of people who have 
undertaken to ,take advantage of his 
promise to the Latter Day Saints in re- 
gard to this law, that if for the future 
they would observe this law faithfully 
the past should be forgiven. There have 
been men guilty of breaches of the law* 
of morality and honesty who have 
claimed that if they now pay their tith- 
ing all their sins will be forgiven them. 
President Snow never announced any 
such doctrine as that. He could not an- 
nounce such a doctrine as that. But the 
Lord is perfectly able to say to us that 
if we will observe this law of finance, 
which we have been under now for over 
sixty years, for the future and keep His 
commandments our past negligence of 
the law of tithing will be forgiven. He 
is competent also to say that if we will 
repent of our sins and serve God with all 
our hearts for the future, our sins will 
be forgiven us; but not otherwise. The 
forgiveness of sins is predicated upon 
faith in God, repentance and reformation 
and baptism. Sins are not forgiven 
through the payment of tithing, nor 
through the partaking of the sacrament, 
nor observing the Word of Wisdom, or I 



prayer. There are blessings attached to 
each of these important requirements of 
the Gospel ; but if a man would have his 
sins forgiven, and be allowed to enter 
into the Church, he must have faith in 
God, and in His Son Jesus Christ and in 
the Holy Ghost, he must repent of all his 
sins, turn unto the Lord with full pur- 
pose of heart and sin no more. Then God 
will forgive him and redeem him from 
his sins; but not by paying tithing. By 
tne payment of tithing the foundations 
of Zion are laid, and up to the present 
time our tithing has been paid to accom- 
plish what we now see done in a tempor- 
al way. The offerings also have been 
generous enough to perform a great work, 
for we have paid offerings as well as 
tithing. We have made offerings of our 
time, in preaching the Gospel to the 
world without purse or scrip. We have 
made offerings for the building of tem- 
ples, for the erection of meeting houses 
and for other public works that have 
been accomplished among the Latter Day 
Saints. By our offerings the poor have 
been reasonably cared for, and if our 
offerings were as generous as they ought 
to be, no poor person among the Latter 
Day Saints would ever have to cry for re- 
lief without receiving it freely. But we 
want our names recorded in the Lamb's 
Book of Life, and it is not done by the ob- 
servance of any one principle alone, but 
to every principle there are special bless- 
ings promised. There are, in the records 
of the Church today, the names of every 
man, woman and child who has given of 
their means for tithing. Those records 
can be scanned and our faith and works 
can be understood by the Presidency of 
the Church. And we ought to be known; 
we want to be known. We want to be 
recognized, not alone as having a name 
among the people, but as being faithful, 
devoted, humble and obedient. 

Obedience is the first law of God. It is 
most important that we should be obe- 
dient to the word and will of the Lord. 
It was that which entitled the Son of 
God to be anointed above His brethren; 
for He was in all things most perfect 
and obedient. He put not forth His own 
will, but He submitted to the will of the 
Father in all things, even to the lay- 
ing down of His life, in order that He 
might be indeed the Son of God, the Sa- 
vior of the world. He has earned that 
important position, and through the shed- 
ding of His blood and His atonement we 
are redeemed. By humility and faith 
and repentance we obtain the forgiveness 
of our sins, and are entitled to have our 
names upon the records of the Church 
as members of the Church. But that 
fact does not demonstrate particularly 
any very important work that we have 
accomplished in sustaining the work of 
the Lord. By it we are entitled to enter 
in, but after we have been recorded mem- 
bers of the Church we must then work 
out our salvation and earn eternal life, 
for it is not obtained without earning it. 
The Lord is not going to give us every- 
thing without our doing something. He 
requires of us a broken heart, a contrite 
spirit, an obedience to the mind and will 
of the Lord. And this is reasonable. 
How generous the Lord is to us when He 
declares through His prophet, "if from 
this time forth you will do my will with 
regard to the law of tithing, the past 
shall be blotted out." It is not only gen- 
erous, but it is reasonable and philoso- 
phical. The object of the Lord is the 
salvation of the people, and if He should 
come out with a revelation today, say- 
ing that the Latter Day Saints must 
square up all their back tithing, do you 



THE SOUTHERN STAR. 



47 



think they could cio it? No. It could 
not be done, any more than a man could 
gather up the sins he has committed and 
blot them out. They are committed, and 
wo cannot change the fact that they are 
committed. We may be forgiven, we 
may be redeemed, they may be finally 
blotted out, if our repentance is genuine 
and we do not return to* our sins again; 
but it is done through the atoning blood 
of the Lord Jesus. No man can for- 
give bis own sins, no man can redeem 
himself from his sins. Neither can any 
man pay his back tithing, if he has been 
a member of this Church forty or fifty 
years and been paying only part of his 
tithing all that time, and possibly paying 
none at all. The Lord would not require 
such a thing, because He knows the Lat- 
ter Day Saints could not do it. Why, it 
is all they can do to pay their tithing to- 
day. Sufficient for the day is the tith- 
ing thereof; sufficient for the day are 
the offerings thereof; sufficient for the 
day are the labors thereof; sufllcient for 
the day is the repentance and reforma- 
tion required of men. They cannot do 
two days in one. Yesterday has gone for- 
ever. We cannot recall It, any more 
than we can bring to us tomorrow; to- 
morrow will always be ahead of us. To- 
day is the day of salvation, and the day 
in which all our labors must be per- 
formed. Therefore we want to remember 
tnat He hath forgiven the past, thank the 
Lord. But do not let you or I regret if 
we have been among that number who 
have paid their tithing reasonably well, 
and feel sorry that we did not keep our 
tithing back so that we could be forgiven. 
For there is an advantage, there is a 
blessing and an enlargement of the soul 
that comes to the man who obeys the 
word and will of the Lord. It is better 
that we have done God's will than that 
we should have need to be forgiven for 
neglecting it. It is better not to have 
been a sinner. It is better that our sins 
should be very light, and not of a serious 
nature than that they should be deadly 
sins. It is better that we should live 
without sin, and be like the Son of God. 
It is not necessary that we should be sin- 
ners. God has designed that we should 
not be sinners, but that we should live 
lives of purity and righteousness and 
walk in obedience to His will, as the Sa- 
vior did. The Lord desires, just as you 
desire, every one of your children to be 
obedient, honest and pure. You do not 
want them defiled and dishonest, in or- 
der that you may forgive them. There- 
fore I say to my brethren and sisters who 
have paid their tithing and have little 
or nothing to be forgiven for in that re- 
spect, thank the Lord, and only wish 
that there was nothing that you had need 
to be forgiven for, and that you had done 
the will of the Lord most perfectly. 

A great many of the Latter Day Saints 
have done very well. Thank the Lord 
for what has been accomplished since 
last May; thank the Lord that the peo- 
ple have listened, and that you have had 
testimonies in your hearts, as well as 
President Snow. You are entitled to 
know for yourselves. Every one of these 
Apostles knows that President Snow's 
testimony is from the Lord, for He has 
told us. We comprehend it most thor- 
oughly; so does every Latter Day Saint 
who has done the will of the Lord. Every 
Latter Day Saint who has now decided 
and determined to do the will of the 
I^ord also knows it. Those who do the 
will of the Lord in the future shall also 
know that God has spoken through Pres- 
ident Snow. It is his particular mission 



and ministry to set right the Latter Day 
Saints in regard to this particular law— 
not to neglect any other and not to say 
that men's sins will be forgiven them if 
they pay their tithing. That is a mis- 
take, and only transgressors have con- 
cluded that Bishops and the authorities 
of the ,Church have no right to handle 
them now for their transgressions, be- 
cause President Snow has said that th? 
past should be forgiven. He has only 
said that the past should be forgiven, so 
far as the payment of tithing was con- 
cerned. Thank the Lord that we may 
be forgiven for that. 

Do you remember when the Salt Lake 
Temple was dedicated in 1893, how 
everybody was allowed to go in there, 
transgressors and all, because their 
names were upon the record and they had 
not been dealt with? The Prophet Wil- 
ford Woodruff announced then that the 
sins of the Latter Day Saints were for- 
given them; but who are Latter Day 
Saints? Who are the men and women 
to whom President Woodruff referred? 
Any man who had not repented? No. 
Any man who had not made satisfac- 
tion? No. He was only announcing that 
the work you and I are engaged in is 
genuine, and that in our repentance and 
reformation there was vitality and vir- 
tue, and that we were forgiven so far as 
we had complied with these laws. He 
never meant that a man who was an 
adulterer, or horse thief, was to be for- 
given because he went into that Temple, 
without having made satisfaction or hav- 
ing repented. President Woodruff could 
not say that; no Prophet could say it. 
The Father could not say it, only upon 
the principles of repentance, reformation 
and righteousness—not a repentance for 
a little season, but to obtain forgiveness 
for our sins we must sin no more. We 
must not turn like the dog to bis vomit 
or the sow to her wallowing in the mire, 
but we must reform and then labor as 
the Lord directs, then He will gladly for 
give us, just as He will now cancel our 
obligations in regard to tithing, if for 
the future we will do the will of the 
Lord. 

Let our names be recorded upon the 
book of the law of the Lord, where they 
can be seen and known, and let the con- 
science of every man, woman and child 
be clear and free. Why, when we look 
over the records now, we find men in 
high positions in the Church who have 
been very careless and censurable in re- 
gard to the law of tithing. No doubt 
may have entered* into the Temples of the 
Lord who have never done a single thing 
to help erect or maintain them. We want 
to repent of these things. We need not 
be afraid in regard to the Church; we 
have no need to be disturbed or worried 
in regard to the obligations of the 
Church. What should disturb us is our 
individual obligations to the Lord and 
to one another. Deal honestly and 
squarely with the Lord, and you will 
very readily be able to deal honestly and 
squarely with your brethren. Let us 
meet our obligations to the Lord, for to 
Him we owe life and everything we pos- 
sess. He has entrusted us with it as stew- 
ards, and we want to make good our 
stewardship. The talents that He has 
entrusted us with lot us turn them over 
and double thorn. Do not bury them, nor 
hide them up, but invest them so that 
they will increase. The Lord requires 
this of us. The man who pays his tith- 
ing by the thousands or by the hundreds 
is not the only one that is acceptable to 
the Lord. The one who pays his fives, 
his tons, or his fifties— the tithing on 



whatever the Lord blesses him with — is 
acceptable to the Lord also. The Lord 
does not expect a man with one talent 
to turn over ten. If he returned two he 
is doing wonderfully well. He does not 
expect a man with two talents to turn 
over ten, but four. He expects men to 
employ their talents and to make good 
use of them. He does not look with fa- 
vor upon a slothful servant, because it 
is wicked to be slothful and idle. We 
want to be industrious and persevering 
and see how much we can do in this life 
with the talents that God has intrusted 
us with; then we will be acceptable to 
Him. The widow's mite, thank the Lord, 
is as large as the millionaire's great 
amount of means that he may turn over; 
for out of her little she gives whatever 
she possesses in order to assist the work 
of the Lord. 

Let the Latter Day Saints remember 
that we have undertaken to strive for 
the celestial kingdom. We desire an in- 
heritance on this earth when it is celes- 
tialized. We expect an inheritance in 
Zion, but in order that we may have this 
inheritance, we are not only required to 
come into the Church by baptism and 
confirmation and to receive our ordi- 
nations and blessings, but we are expect- 
ed to be a prayerful people, a people who 
will observe the Word of Wisdom, who 
will live pure lives and keep the com- 
mandments of the Lord. We are expect- 
ed to bear the burdens and responsibil- 
ities of the kingdom, temporal as well 
as spiritual. We are in a temporal world, 
and this is a church of material things 
*as well as spiritual things. We cannot 
divide the temporal from the spiritual, 
the body from the spirit and stay hero. 
They go unitedly, hand in hand, and will 
do throughout mortality, and then 
throughout all the ages of eternity. Men 
are not perfect without immortality and 
eternal life. They cannot meet the de- 
sign of God without accomplishing what 
the Lord has laid before us. This is 
the Lord's work. It is not the work of 
our brethren who have passed away. 
They have finished their work here. They 
have gone to their reward, having earned 
eternal life. We remain, and we are to 
prove our faithfulness and devotion and 
our endurance in the principles of right- 
eousness. The Lord will sustain us; this 
work will continue; and we will gain in 
strength and numbers all the time. We 
are spreading abroad and becoming more 
numerous in every ward, in every stake, 
and in every nation where we live. The 
Lord is working with us, and is handling 
the nations. He is handling this nation 
and directing it in its operations to ex- 
tend liberty among the people of the 
world. The Gospel will be in the track 
of religious liberty, and will be carried 
to every people. 

I desire to read the 7th verse in the 
85th Section of the Book of Doctrine and 
Covenants. The preceding verses speak 
in relation to the duty of the Lord's 
clerk in Zion. At present the Lord has 
clerks in all the Stakes in Zion and in all 
the Wards in Zion and the history of our 
faith and works is being kept. It is im- 
portant that these records should be kept 
and correctly kept. A singular thing that 
I have noticed hero (perhaps you have 
noticed it as well) is that it is not only 
necessary that our names should bo 
found on record, but it is necessary that 
our fathers' names should also be found 
on record, as well as the names of our 
children. It seems that when the in 
heritanees in Zion are divided out, thoso 
whose names are recorded with tho 
names of their fathers and of their chil- 



48 



THE SOUTHERN STAR 





REPORT OF MISSION 


CONFERENCES FOR WEEK ENDING 


DEC. 16. 1899. 




f R RSI PENT 


CON r IB EN i. a 


•a 

s 

a 


V 

i 

169 
112* 
539 
OS? 


-a 
B 

| 

13* 

219 

10 

15fe 

■m 


« 

1 

46 
21 
106 

416 

iai 

46 
i.l 

412 
69 
21 

S08 

m8 

249 


* "? 

J 

22 
l> 
97 
445 

120 

i:i: 
133 
117 

aw 

SEN 

'.-J 
270 

" M 

79 
S9 


v v 

E = 

"S a .a 

*V L. S- V: 

fi 
&> ftlo 

i?8 s»: 
3»1102 

64 481 
19 466 

liu ■■■■ 
46 4- J 6 

2tfU 

ID 109 
5 372 

T6 "64 
16 187 
64 616 


V 

M 

776 
KM 

oss 

uoh 

4&I 
gTfl 

87 
082 
104 

27 
174 

'"ft* 
124 
229 


■o 

3 

2 
&3 
2ft 
Iff 
45 
W 
■ ■<■> 

4 
81 

6 
11 
16 

a 

26 
25 


& 

|J 

"T 

4 

7 
2 
2 
4 

6 
A 
1 
4 

*2 
1 


5-£ 

Q I 

«£ 

H 

4 

14 
2L 
20 
28 
15 
& 
16 
6 
6 
1 
49 

"T 

B 

a 


1 
c 

i 

4 

AS 
31 
79 
53 
h3 
B0 
YB 

rati 

70 

:'.4 
H 


lA 

"J 

E 

D 

e 

117 
603 
31^ 

4V1 

ti37 

66H 
42* 

29a 

•iiii 
571 
164 

m 
"iid 

391 
2a» 


b 

-i 


H 

= 

Q. 

(f 

1 


TOWN 


STATK 


D, H. Elton ..... 

Heber a. Olaon 

R. F. Price .,....,..„.. 

John Peterson.. . ... . ... 


Chuuaiiooga.,,..* 
Virginia.. .„.„...... 

Keniucky ,♦♦♦.-♦ 

E. Tennessee 

Georgia..... .,.. 


12 
<2 
2Ti 
39 

36 

40 
41 
44 

45 

:jy 
i« 
33 

is 

24 

24 


UtUUlATIPOKH ... 

Boat 3S8, Rlchmomi „ 


Ten ueeaee. 

Virginia, 
Ken Lucky 
Teaneuee 


BatlJetowa. r . .., ,„..«. 

K no x rtllfl ». ...« 

\ugiiita 


W. I>. Kencher 


QtiOTffift. 


T< H> Humpherys^ .„ 

0, U. Parker™.. ..»., . 

J. Urban Alired „. 

J, M. Haws- „., . ..... + ... + . h 


N. Alabama., ,,„„ 

Florida....,, 

Mid. Ten d.™... 
N. Carolina 


Kilft ^ w 


Tenue«e« 


I0>1 
14 -Si 

10* 
962 
473 

•fti 

363 


114 

60 

82 
M 
b94 

"3lii 

6W 

?r? 


7 


2 
1 


Lul u. «. ,-,„ h«m* .... " 

Smyrna -,..^„. ,. .....^ 

f r C 1 1 11 h hi I TO *..*** ...... 


Florida, 
Tennessee* 
N. Carol ina^ 


Bylveatcr Low, -Jr..-..., ...... 

Q. D h Flake., 


3 Carolina . 


3. Carol! nil* 


Buy 8t. Look 


Kentuckvi 


I> A Broadbent 


K. Kentucky, 


Buck Creek ** *.*..,... 




i?ft r e vt'po rt r r+++ .„„ 


Louisiana. 


J. H. Wlllia................... 


S. Alabama 


Tiisktjgte 

Bavilad, label by Co * + . + 


Alabama 


L-M.Terry +++ ., 

u«o. M. Maycock^. 


N. Kentucky.....*. 
Ohio- 


Kenlucav, 






713 W. Sth Si, Cincinnati^ 


Obio, 









dren — three generations — are to be entit- 
led to inheritances in Zion: 

"And it shall come to pass that I f the 
Lord God, will send one mighty and 
strong, holding the sceptre of power in 
his hand, clothed with light for a cov- 
ering, whose month shall utter words, 
eternal words; while his bowels shall be 
a fountain of truth, to set in order the 
house of God, and to arrange by lot the 
inheritances of the Saints, whose names 
are found, and the names of their fath- 
ers, and of their children, enrolled in the 
book of the law of God." 

I have felt it important, not only that 
I should be faithful, but that my chil 
dren should be faithful, and also my pro- 
genitors, as an evidence that there is sta 
bility, virtue and integrity in that lim^ 
of blood; that there is fidelity and faith- 
fulness at least in three generations, who 
shall be found recorded in the book of the 
law of God. I am anxious for my kin- 
dred and my posterity. I am not sat- 
isfied to be alone. I want my family, 
my kindred and my friends with m«»; 
hence I desire to be exemplary and t> 
use my influence with them, that they 
also may have a worthy record, and no?: 
be cast out for apostacy or any other 
reason, bnt that together the three gen- 
erations may be found recorded and be 
entitled to an inheritance in Zion. If. 
however, our names are not found re* 
corded in the book of the law of God. 
we shall not be entitled to an inheritance 
in Zion. We want an inheritance on this 
earth. We want a part of the earth for 
our celestial home and we want to earn 
it. We cannot get it otherwise. As the 
President said today, Zion cannot be re- 
deemed but by purchase. JLet me say 
to you that your redemption and mine 
cometh only by purchase. We must earn 
what we expect to enjoy. We must r> 
deem our part of Zion, and as the whole 
people we must redeem the land of Zio«i. 
We are promised an eternal inheritance 
in the land of Zion, but we cannot get it 
by any one law alone. We cannot get 
it by tithing alone. A man cannot say 
that he has paid his tithing generously 
and freely, and now he has liberty to 
do just as he pleases. He must not only 
keep the law of tithing properly, but he 
must also keep his repentance genuine 
and eternal. His devotion and faithful- 
ness to the Lord in every other respect 
must be maintained in addition to the 
payment of tithing. We have but a lit- 
tle time to live on this earth. Why can 
we not endure just for a few fleeting 
years, that will be less than a day to 
us hereafter? Fifty, seventy, eighty, or 
a hundred years, we will look upon as but 
a span when we shall have entered into 
eternity, the depth and height of which 
cannot be known in mortality. The suf- 



fering and the little difficulties and evil 
which beset us in this life, and which 
try our very souls, will be counted as 
naught hereafter. We will only won- 
der that we were ever shaken or dis- 
turbed at all by the little things that af- 
flicted us. 

Brethren and sisters, you have our tes- 
timony in regard to this principle. We 
know that it is important. It is not a 
new thing that the Lord should be robbed 
in His tithes and His offerings. It is 
not a new thing that the word of the 
Lord should come through a Prophet. 
It came through the Prophet Joseph 
when the law of tithing was revealed. It 
came through him when the law of con- 
secration was revealed and on a hundred 
other occasions. Many revelations the 
Lord gave through him, and they have 
been written. Hundreds of times has 
the word of the Lord been given through 
President Brigham Young, the Prophet 
and lion of the Lord, and through Presi- 
dent John Taylor and through President 
Wilford Woodruff. There is nothing that 
the Lord requires of His people that the 
Prophet of the Lord will hesitate to pre- 
sent when it is necessary. He is the 
chief man upon the towers of Zion to 
warn the people, and when a warning 
conies there is a reason for it; there are 
conditions just confronting us that we 
know not of, and perhaps they are not 
told to us. We cannot tell you what is 
coming just now, but there are important 
conditions just in front of us as the peo- 
ple of God, and it is necessary that the 
Prophet should take the very stand that 
he has in regard to this law, for our safe- 
ty, for the redemption of Zion, for the 
accomplishment of the purposes of God 
in the last days. Thank the Lord that 
we have a prophet; that we can approach 
him and learn what his mind and will is 
and receive it as we have received it in 
all plainness. And when the Lord speaks 
to His servant the Prophet, He speaks 
to all the Prophets. President Snow is 
not alone, but he is surrounded by proph 
ets of the Lord, and they have the very 
same testimony abiding in their souls. 
They know that this is God's work, and 
they have not been mistaken. They have 
been leading the people all the time, and 
the Lord has directed them. He will do 
so to the end. Thank the Lord that we 
have Prophets; thank the Lord that this 
congregation is full of men of prophecy 
and of revelation. And they are in the 
missions abroad, as well as at home. The 
world is enlivened today with men of in- 
spiration from God. They speak revela- 
tion. They give forth the word of the 
Lord, they bear testimony, strong and 
powerful, to the nations of the earth. In 
this way the purposes of God are pro- 
gressing and advancing, and His work 



will be accomplished. No power on earth 
can stay it, for it is God's work. Man has 
not originated it. It is the work of our 
Eternal Father who dwells in the Heav- 
ens. There is power and virtue in it for 
the salvation of men, and it is true and 
vital. 

God bless you, my brethren and sisters. 
Let us be faithful and endure but for a 
little season, and our day of rest and 
peace and welcome into the presence of 
the Father and the Son will be sure. 
Amen. 



DEATHS. 

Sister Cherry Graham departed this 
life Dec. 25, 1809, at the age of 73 years, 
7 months and 20 days. Sister Graham 
was a member of the Red Hill branch 
of the Church of Jesus Christ of Lat- 
ter Day Saints, located in Green county, 
Miss. She joined the church in June of 
1899, being baptized by Elder Benj. 
Ritchie. 



The Covenanters 

An exchange tells a somewhat remark- 
able story about a religious sect called 
Covenanters. This sect, it says, excludes 
from its membership, all lawyers. The 
reason given is that this unfortunate 
class of citizens, before being admitted 
to practice law, are required to take an 
oath to support the. constitution and other 
laws of the country and state. 

The constitution, they hold, is an abom- 
inable instrument, because it contains 
no official recognition of God. The gov- 
ernment they consider objectionable, too, 
because it allows divorces, Sunday mail 
service, and the sale of intoxicants. And 
thus the lawyers are, in their view, par- 
ticularly excluded from the blessings of 
a •'Christian" community. 

We have heard of no other "Covenan- 
ters" than those with whom all reader? 
of Scottish history are familiar, and who 
were the mighty champions of Presby- 
terianism, against popery and prelacy. 
But it is said that these American "Cov- 
enanters" are a branch of the reformed 
Presbyterian body. 

The fact is of interest because Presby- 
terians are now, and have often been, 
busy charging the Latter Day Saints 
with disloyalty to the government. Is 
it true, that from their own body has 
sprung a branch— a division of the 
church, to which those who swear alleg- 
iance to the government are never ad- 
mitted? 

There is a form of hypocrisy that at- 
tacks others to hide its own defects. It 
is often found among religionists and is 
then exceptionally hideous— News, 




"BUT THOUGH WE.OQ AN AN&EL FROM HEAVEN, PREACH ANY 
OTHER GOSPEL UNTO YOU TMAN THAT WHICH WE 

HAVE FEEAChEP UNTQ YOU.LLT KIM BE ACCURSED.'^ /?<?$# 



X^^TAX 



Vol. 2. 



Chattanooga, Tenn., Saturday, January 13, 1900. 



No. 7. 



Sketch of the Life of the Prophet Joseph Smith. 



Joseph Smith, the great Prophet of the 
nineteenth century, and the head under 
God, of the glorious dispensation of the 
Gospel, de-sign a ted as "The Dispensa- 
tion of the Fullness of Times," was born 
in the little town of Sharon, Windsor 
county, Vermont, Dec. 23rd, 1805. Like 
the parentage of the Messiah and the an- 
cient # Prophets, his were poor, in the 



BY APOSTLE M. F. COWLEY. 

and veneration for God, and human lib- 
erty. During his entire career he up- 
held two great truths, which have ever 
since characterized the Latter Day 
Saints. One was that all mankind should 
have the privilege of worshiping Al- 
mighty God according to the dictates of 
their own consciences, "let them worship 
how, where, or what they may;" the 



taught him to be industrious, temperate, 
virtuous, God-fearing and honest in all 
the transactions of life. Those who knew 
him intimately from youth to the time 
of his martyrdom in 1844, testify that 
these noble qualities characterized his 
life without variation from childhood to 
the grave. He had five brothers and 
three sisters, all well disposed, honest, in- 




JOSEPH. 



HYRUM. 



riches of the world, yet rich in the pos- 
session of those noble traits of character 
which go to make men good and great in 
the sight of Him "who judgeth not by 
the seeing of the eye nor the hearing 
of the ear," but knows the heart of all 
His children. Joseph Smith was a de- 
scendant on both sides of the house, of 
the early founders of New England, and 
indeed of the government of the United 
States. 
He imbibed from his progenitors a love 



other was that the constitution of the 
United States was framed by the inspir- 
ation of the Almighty which rested upon 
the patriots who founded our government. 
Throughout life he maintained this doc- 
trine by precept and example, and im- 
pressed his people so strongly with these 
views that they have become the house- 
hold teaching of parents to children in 
all the Stakes of Zion and branches of 
the Church. 
The example of the Prophet's parents 



dustrious, and upright people. When Jo- 
seph was about 10 years of age the fam- 
ily removed to Palmyra, New York, and 
four years later they moved to Manches- 
ter, same county. He was now 14 years 
of age, old enough to think and reason 
for himself. It was a time of religious 
enthusiasm and Joseph became greatly 
interested in matters of religion. He be- 
gan to inquire relative to the salvation of 
his soul. In this condition of mind he 
attended a joint sectarian revival, held 



60 



THE SOUTHERN STAR. 



by Methodists, Baptists, Presbyterians, 
etc. He listened attentively with a 
prayerful heart, the inclination to crit- 
icise being farthest from his thoughts. 
During the proceedings of the revival, 
he became keenly impressed with two 
great facts, one was that while they all 
professed Christ, they entertained con- 
flicting views relative to the doctrines 
which Jesus and His apostles taught as 
being essential to salvation; the other 
important lesson which he learned was 
that the ministers of the denominations 
represented, were jealous and envious of 
each other in relation to the converts 
which came forward and joined the re- 
spective churches represented on that oc- 
casion. He concluded that God was not 
the author of this confusion, and that 
he could come to no certain knowledge of 
the truth from men preaching conflict- 
ing theories, yet each saying of his own 
denomination: "This is the way, follow 
me." Under these circumstances of un- 
certainty Joseph betook himself to a 
careful reading of the Scriptures. His 
heart was prayerful. He was honest to 
God and man. He wanted to know the 
truth. He knew, as all right thinking 
people must know, that all conflicting 
creeds could not be acceptable to God. 
For He is "not the author of confusion*' 
but peace, and perfect order. In his pe- 
rusal of the New Testament he. came to 
the 1st chapter and 5th verse of James, 
which reads as follows: "If any of you 
lack wisdom let him ask of God, that 
giveth to all men liberally and upbraideth 
not, and it shall be given him," etc. 

Joseph was deeply impressed with this 
sacred promise, he knew that he lacked 
wisdom. He could not obtain that wis- 
dom from uninspired men whose theories 
of -God and the plan of salvation were a 
plain contradiction. He must therefore 
remain in darkness or take the advice 
of the Apostle James and ask of God. 
This he determined to do. and the follow- 
ing account of the exercise of his faith, 
is in his own language: 

"It was on the morning of a beautiful, 
clear day, early in the spring of 1820. It 
was the first time in my life that I bad 
made such an attempt, for amidst all 
my anxieties I had never as yet made 
the attempt to pray vocally. After I had 
retired into the place where I had pre- 
viously designed to go, having looked 
around me and finding myself alone, I 
kneeled down, and began to offer up the 
desires of my heart to God. I had scarce- 
ly done so, when immediately, I was 
seized upon by some power which en- 
tirely overcame me, and had such as- 
tonishing influence over me as to bind 
my tongue so that I could not speak. 
Thick darkness gathered around me, and 
it seemed to me for a time as if I were 
doomed to sudden destruction. But ex- 
erting all my powers to call upon God 10 
deliver me out of the power of this ene- 
my which had seized upon me, and at 
the very moment when I was ready to 
sink into despair, and abandon myself 
to destruction, not to an imaginary ruin, 
but to the power of some actual being 
from the unseen world, who had such a 
marvellous power as I had never before 
felt in any being. Just at this moment 
of great alarm, I saw a pillar of light 
exactly over my head, above the bright- 
ness of the sun. which descended grad- 
ually until it fell upon me. It no soon- 
er appeared than I found myself deliv- 
ered from the enemy which held me 
bound. When the light rested upon me, 
I saw two personages, whose brightness 
and glory defy all description, standing 
above me in the air. One of them spake 
unto me, calling me by name, and said, 
(pointing to the other). "This is my be.- 
loved Son, hear him." (Pearl of Great 
Price, pages 59 and 00.) 

As soon as Joseph recovered himself 
he asked the personages which of all the 
denominations was right. The. answer 
was that none of them were right, and 
none of them had been founded by the 
Almighty . He was commanded to join 



none of them. "They teach for doctrine 
the commandments of man, having a 
form of godliness, but they deny the 
power thereof.' This was his first vis- 
ion, and oh, how glorious. After centur- 
ies of spiritual darkness, the heavens are 
again opened, the Father and the Son 
making their appearance and giving com- 
mandments unto man. Soon after this 
glorious vision Joseph related his expe- 
rience to a preacher, when, to his great 
surprise, the professed minister treated 
it with great contempt, and like the Phar- 
isees of old, said it was all of the Devil, 
butt Joseph knew, like Paul, that he had 
seen a vision, and he knew that God 
knew it, and that he must bear witness 
of it to the world. 

From this time on, the youthful Proph- 
et became the subject of bitter persecu- 
tion, yet he wavered not, but faithfully 
testified that he had seen a vision, and 
none could truthfully deny it. God has 
a right to show Himself to whomsoever 
and whenever he pleases. Furthermore 
Jesus Himself taught "And no man 
knoweth who the Son is, but the Father; 
and who the father is but the son, and 
he to whom the son will reveal him." 
Luke x:22. Instead then of such a man- 
ifestation being unreasonable or unscrip- 
tural, it was an actual necessity in the 
establishment of the "Dispensation of 
the Fullness of Times." Joseph kept the 
commandment to join none of the sects. 
He says: "I continued to pursue my 
common avocations in life until the 21st 
of September, 1823, all the time suffering 
severe persecution at the hands of all 
classes of men, both religious and irrelig- 
ious, because I continued to affirm that 
I had seen a vision." (Pearl of Great 
Price, p. 61.) 

Those who should have been his friends 
if they believed him wrong, instead of 
trying in kindness to show him his er- 
ror, ridiculed him, and without reason or 
charity heaped upon him persecution in 
various forms. After retiring to his bed, 
Sept. 21st, 1823, he was calling upon 
God in all humility for forgiveness of all 
his weaknesses and imperfections, when 
suddenly the room was filled with light 
and in the light appeared a most glor- 
ious Heavenly Being. This personage 
said his name was Moroni, and that he 
was sent of God. Tlie messenger pro- 
ceeded to inform the young man that he 
was chosen of God to accomplish a great 
work in the interest of human redempt- 
ion, and that his name should be had 
for good and for evil among all nations. 
This prophecy has been and is being re- 
markably fulfilled wherever the Gospel 
in purity is preached and the name of Jo- 
seph Smith is known among the nations. 
His name is cast out as evil among the 
wicked. Those who "love darkness rath- 
er than light," who deny the Revelations 
of God, while those who are honestly 
seeking for truth and investigate the 
calling of Joseph Smith, are always led 
to hold his name for good, and hand it 
down to posterity as the name of a 
Great Prophet of the Most High. The 
messenger quoted many passages of the 
Bible which he said would be fulfilled in 
this Dispensation. Among them, Joel, 
chap, ii: v. 28-29; Mai. chap. Hi; Acts iii: 
22, 23; Isaiah, chap, ii, and said they 
were about to be fulfilled. He also 
showed him where a book was deposited 
in a hill near by, written upon gold 
plates, and giving an account of the an- 
cient inhabitants of America, their or- 
igin and destiny. The fact that the 
Church of Christ had been established 
among them and that before and after 
Christ many mighty Prophets wrote and 
spoke upon the continent. Indeed the. 
ancients of America were they of whom 
Jesus spake to the Jewish Apostles when 
he said, "other sheep I have which are 
not of this fold; them also I must bring, 
and they shall hear my voice; and there 
shall be one fold and one shepherd." St. 
John x:16. 

The angel Moroni appeared to the 
Prophet Joseph three times, the same 



night, repeating each of his preceding in- 
structions, and adding to them, thus pre- 
paring the mind of the youthful Prophet 
for the great work before him. These vis- 
ions occupied almost the entire night. 
Sept. 22nd, 1823, Joseph visited the hill 
where the plates were deposited, and at 
once recognized the place as the one 
shown hdm in vision the night before. "On 
the west side of this hill, not far from the 
top, under a stone of considerable size, 
lay the plates deposited in a stone box. 
This stone was thick and rounding in the 
middle on the upper side, and thinner to- 
ward the edges, so that the middle part 
of it was visible above the ground, but 
the edge all round was covered with 
earth. Having removed the earth and 
obtained a lever, which I got fixed under 
the edge of the stone, and with a little 
exertion raised it up; I looked in, and 
there indeed, did I behold the plates, the 
Urim and Tnummin, and the breastplate, 
as stated by the messenger. The box in 
which they lay was formed by laying 
stones together in some kind of cement. 
In the bottom of the box were laid two 
stones crossways of the box, and on these 
stones lay the plates and the things with 
them. I made an attempt to take them 
out, but was forbidden by the messenger, 
and was again informed that the time for 
bringing them forth had not yet arrived, 
neither would arrive until four years 
from that time; but he told me that I 
should come to that place precisely in 
one year from that time, and that he 
would there meet with me, and that I 
should continue to do so, until the time 
should come for obtaining the plates." 
(Pearl of Great Price, p 66.) 

The Prophet obeyed this injunction and 
each successive year, Sept. 22nd, met the 
angel Moroni on the sacred spot, and 
received from him many preparatory in- 
structions. The angel had previously told 
him that because of his indigent circum- 
stances he might be tempted to obtain 
the plates for worldly gain. If he enter- 
tained such a thought it was told him 
that he could not have them. They were 
to be published to all the world for th.» 
salvation of the human family and the 
glory of God. In the meantime Joseph 
and family, being poor, he was obliged 
to work with his hands at daily toil for 
a livelihood. He was engaged by a Mr. 
Stoal, of Qhenango county, N. Y., to la- 
bor with other employes to dig a silver 
mine. From this circumstance arose the 
silly story that Joseph was a "money 
digger." During his employment by Mr. 
Stoal, Emma Hale, daughter of Isaac 
Hale, was married to Joseph Smith Jan. 
18, 1827. Sept. 22nd, 1827; he received 
the sacred plates, from which the Book 
of Mormon was translated. The reader 
will find evidence that such a record was 
to come forth by reading the 85th Psalm, 
11 verse; Isa. chap. xxix:9-12; and Eze- 
kiel chap. xxxvii:15-21. No sooner had 
it become known that he had received 
these plates than persecution become 
more intense. Several attempts were 
made to wrest from him the sacred 
plates. 

On the 15th of April, 1829, Olivery 
Cowdery came to Joseph Smith, having 
been lead to him by the spirit of the 
Lord. This was their first meeting. 
April 17, 1829, Joseph Smith commenced 
the translation of the Book of Mormon 
into the English language. Oliver Cow- 
dery acted as scribe. Joseph translated 
by the gift and power of God, using the 
Urim and Thummim, an instrument used 
by ancient seers to translate language* 
The following month, while translating 
the plates, they found mentioned the doc- 
trine of Baptism for the remission of 
sins. They retired to the woods to en- 
quire of the "Lord respecting this subject, 
when a messenger from Heaven appeared 
to them, laid his hands upon them and 
ordained them as follows (May 15. 1829) 
"Upon you, my fellow-servants in the 
name of Messiah I confer the Priesthood 
or Aaron, which holds the keys of the. 
ministering of angels, and the Gospel of 



THE SOUTHERN STAR 



61 



repentance, and baptism by immersion 
for the remission of sins; and this shall 
never be taken again from the earth un- 
til the sons of -Levi do offer again an 
offering unto the Lord in righteousness.'* 
(Pearl of Great Price, p 70.) 

This messenger was John the Baptist, 
the forerunner of the Messiah in ancient 
times. The messenger before his face in 
latter times. Read Malachi iii:l-4. The 
man who held the keys of the Levitical 
Priesthood, the authority to administer 
in the outward ordinances of the Gos- 
pel. He commanded them to baptize each 
other and thus was established in the 
last days, the authority of God upon the 
earth to baptise in water for the remis- 
sion of sins. 

The Prophet Joseph subsequently 
moved to Pennsylvania and continued as 
circumstances would permit, the transla- 
tion of the Book of Mormon, until it was 
completed. The first edition of the Bool* 
of Mormon consisting of 5000 copies, was 
published to the world early in the year 
1830. Since then the Book of Mormon 
has been published in Danish, Italian, 
French, German, Welch, Swedish, Ha- 
waiian and Spanish, and translated into 
other tongues, but not yet published. 
The progress in publishing this sacred 
volume in different tongues points to the 
fulfillment to prophecy that it should be 
read by the people of every nation. Dur- 
ing the translation Joseph was assisted 
by Oliver Cowdery, Martin Harris, Da- 
vid Whitmer, his wife, Emma Smith and 
others. While engaged in the work of 
translation, many important revelations 
were given to the Prophet, and many im- 
portant, yet trying events took place 
which served to test the faith, sincerity, 
devotion, courage and integrity of this 
youthful Prophet of God. All these man- 
ifestations and the great work accom- 
plished up to 1830, took place before he 
was 25 years of age. In the meantime, 
himself and Oliver Cowdery had been 
visited by Peter, James and John and re- 
ceived under their hands the Melchisedec 
Priesthood, which holds the keys to open 
the door of the Gospel to all nations and 
establish in fulness the church and king- 
dom of God upon the earth. Before the 
book was translated, Martin Harris took 
some characters copied from the plates 
to Prof. Anthon, a learned linguist in 
New York . The learned man examined 
the characters and gave a certificate to 
Martin Harris certifying that they were 
correct characters from the Egyptian, 
and that the translation was correct. He 
asked Mr. Harris where Joseph obtained 
the plates. Upon being answered that 
an angel of the Lord had delivered them, 
Prof. Anthon asked for the certificate 
which was handed him by Mr. Harris, 
and by Prof. Anthon torn up in anger, as 
he denounced the ministering of angels 
in this age of the. world. He told Mr. 
Harris to bring him the book and he 
would translate it. He was answered 
that part of the plates were sealed. Upon 
which information, the professor an- 
swered "I cannot read a sealed book."' 
Little did he think that in using these 
words, he was fulfilling the prophecy of 
Isaiah, chap. 29, and thus presenting lo 
the world a testimony of the truth of 
the Book of Mormon. 

From Prof. Anthon Mr. Harris went 
to Dr. Mitchell, who also pronounced the 
characters true and the translation cor- 
rect. While translating they ascertained 
that three especial witnesses were to be 
called by the Lord to witness the plates 
by the gift and power of God. 

Accordingly Oliver Cowdery, David 
Whitmer and Martin Harris were chosen. 
They were shown the plates by the same 
Heavenly messenger, Moroni, and they 
handled them with their hands. Their 
testimony, expressed in most solemn 
terms is published to the world on the 
fly leaf of each edition of the Book of 
Mormon. Notwithstanding these three 
men fell away from the Church through 
-transgression or neglect, they never, un- 
der any circumstance, denied their sol- 



emn testimony of the Divine authenti- 
city of the Book of Mormon. On the con- 
trary, they repeated their testimony time 
and again, and in their dying hours, when 
soon to pass to the great beyond, they 
bore witness that they had seen an angel 
and the plates from which the Book of 
Mormon was translated. In the spring 
of 1882 the writer of this letter, in com- 
pany with President John Morgan, vis- 
ited David Whitmer at his home in Rich- 
mond, Mo., and found him firm and un- 
flinching respecting his published testi- 
mony concerning the Book of Mormon. 
It showed how firmly riveted upon his 
memory and how constant to this testi- 
mony this man was, an interesting inci- 
dent is related by President Ben E. Rich, 
the president of the Southern States Mis- 
sion. Elder Rich mailed his autograph 
album to David Whitner and requested 
him to write therein, without the slight- 
est suggestion as to what he should write. 
To the joyful astonishment of Elder 
Rich, when the album was returned, it 
contained these emphatic words: 

*\%fy testimony in the Book of Mor- 
mon is Truth. David Whitmer." 

His associate witnesses, Oliver Cow- 
dery and Martin Harris were, equally 
constant to their obligation, and bore wit- 
ness to the end of their davs that they 
saw the angel and the plates. "In the 
mouth of two or three witnesses shall 
every word be established." 

On Tuesday, the 6th day of April, 1830, 
the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day 
Saints was organized with six members 
in the house of Peter Whitmer, Sr., Fay- 
ette, -^neca county, N. Y. The six mem- 
bers were Joseph Smith. Oliver Cowdery, 
Hyrum Smith, Peter Whitmer, Jr., Sam- 
uel H. Smith and David Whitmer. No 
church organization could exist under the. 
laws of New York with a less member- 
ship than six. Truly the Church of 
Christ in the last days, compared with 
other organizations, was as Jesus proph- 
esied it should be, like a "grain of mus- 
tard seed," the. smallest of all. and like 
the "stone cut from the mountain with- 
out hand 8," had no human origin, and 
was in no sense the outgrowth of any 
other organization. In this organization 
Joseph Smith was the chosen head, the 
Prophet, Seer and Revelator, and contin- 
ued so when members increased so that 
the presidency and Twelve Apostles could 
be organized as in olden times, and sub- 
sequently Seventies, High Priests, 
Elders, Bishops, Priests, Teachers and 
Deacons, after the ancient pattern. 

The organization of the church brought 
with it more persecution, and as the 
church grew and prospered, Joseph's life 
was many times endangered, until final- 
ly he was called to seal his testimony 
with his blood. Healing of the sick, 
prophecy, speaking in tongues, and all the 
beautiful gifts in the primative church 
attended those who embraced the re- 
stored' Gospel then as they do today, and 
always will, and as in ancient times wer* 
attributed to Beelzebub, the prince of 
Devils. On one occasion, soon after the 
organization of the church, a mob swore 
out a complaint against the Prophet, 
charging him with being a disorderly per- 
son, because he set the country in an 
uproar by preaching the Book of Mor- 
mon, working miracles, etc. The con- 
stable who served the warrant was hon- 
est enough to inform Joseph that the 
mob designed to capture him as the con- 
stable, with the prisoner, passed near 
where the mob was congregated. The 
constable, however, finding the Prophet 
to be an honest upright man, fled with 
him, in his wagon so that the mob failed 
to secure their victim. Joseph underwent 
a trial and was honorably acquitted, the 
evidence showing that he was a peace- 
able, orderly citizen in all respects. 

As it would be impossible, in a brief 
article, to give, in any detail, an account 
of the mobbings. trials and persecutions 
through which this great man of God 
passed, it may be well to here remark 
that no less than 39 times was he brought 



before courts on trumped up charges, 
tried, and each time honorably acquitted. 
The last instance of this kind, the mob 
in attendance made the remark: "If the 
law cannot reach him, powder and lead 
shall." How like the experience of our 
Savior. When Pilate found him innocent, 
the rabble clamored for his blood, cry- 
ing out, "Crucify him, crucify him, and 
let his blood be upon us and our chil- 
dren." How terribly their words have 
fallen upon them, and in like manner the 
men who comprised the mob, and the 
conspirators who brought about the as- 
sasination of the Prophet Joseph Smith 
have come to a miserable end, having 
suffered the wrath of God in the flesh. 

At a conference of the church, Sept. 
1, 2, and 3, 1830, Joseph received two 
revelations, found in Sec. 30 and 31, Doc. 
and Gov. In one of these revelations the 
Lord commanded the Prophet to open the. 
door of the Gospel to the Lamanites or 
American Indians of whom the Book jf 
Mormon is a record of their forefathers. 

The brethren selected to perform thin 
great and important mission were Oliver 
Cowdery, Parley P. Pratt, Peter Whit- 
mer, Jr., and Ziba Peterson. Previous 
to Elder Pratt's conversion to the Gos- 
pel, he was a Campbellite preacher, asso- 
ciated with Sidney Rigdon and others 
who had established a large following tp 
and about Kirtland O. En route to the 
west, where they were destined to de- 
liver the glorious message to the Indians, 
they visited Kirtland, and presented the 
Book of Mormon, and the mission of the 
Prophet Joseph to Sidney Rigdon and his 
associates of the Campbellite profession. 
SidneyRigdon had never seen the Proph- 
et Joseph Smith, and never before heard 
the proclamation of "Mormonism." This 
fact is worthy of note, since the enemies 
of this work have circulated the oft-re- 
peated falsehood that the Book of Mor- 
mon was the combined production of Jo- 
seph Smith and Sidney Rigdon. It is al- 
so an interesting fact that the Prophet 
predicted in the early opening of this 
Dispensation that if the people would 
not receive the Revelations from God 
through hinij that Lucifer would give 
them revelations to their heart's content. 
Strange to say what is now known as 
spiritualism was not known in the United 
States until after the organization of this 
Church, and then it commenced in the 
state of New York. Today the spurious 
Revelations of the adversary are circu- 
lated broadcast through clairvoyants, 
mediums, etc., giving no light, no knowl- 
edge, of the great principles of Eternal 
Life as enunciated by the Lord Jesus 
Christ Well did Isaiah speak of these 
days, saying, "and when they shall say 
unto you, seek unto them that have fa- 
miliar spirits, and unto wizards that peep 
and that mutter. Should not a people 
seek unto their God for the living to 
the dead?" Isa. viii:19. 

In 1831 the Prophet removed to Kirt- 
land, O., which had now become the -head- 
quarters of the Church. On the 6th of 
June, this year, the fourth general con- 
ference of the Church was held in Kirt- 
land. The Saints numbered about 2000 
at this date, and constantly increasing. 
At this conference many Elders were 
called by Revelation to go forth two by 
two, to preach the Gospel and baptize 
as the apostles did in ancient times. They 
were to journey westward, preaching and 
baptizing by the way, and all meet in 
Missouri, where the next conference 
should be held, and where, if they wew 
faithful, the Lord would reveal to tho ' 
Prophet the location of their promised in- 
heritance. 

(To Be Continued.) 



Farewell! a long farewell, to all my great* 

This is the state of man; today he puts 
forth 

The tender leaves of hope; tomorrow blos- 
soms. 

And bears his blushing honors thick upon 
him; v 

The third day comes a frost, a killing frost. 



52 



THEiSOUTHERN STAR 




PiblltM Wttkly by SssUsra States Mlsslss, Cbirot 

§f Jttis Christ tf Utter Day Stilts,: 

CbittiiMfi, Tin. 



Terat ef Sibwlptlen 
(li Mvsitt) 



Peryetr . . $1.00 

Six Mentha . .50 

Three aontbt .25 
Single Ceples, 5 Cents. 



■{i 



Subscribers "rumoring from one place to another, 
and desiring papers changed, should always give 
former as well as present address, by postal card or 
letter. 



Metered at the Pott Office at Chattanooga, Tenn., a$ 



Correspondence from all parts of the missionary 
field is solicited. Give name and address, or articles 
will be rejected. Write on one side of paper only 
when sent for publication. We reserve the right to 
either eliminate or reject any communication sent in. 
Address Box 10? 



Saturday, Januaby 13, 1900. 



ARTICLES OF FAITH 

OP TtfB CHURCH OP JESUS CHRI5T OP 
LATTER-DAY SAINTS. 

1. W*b*H*T*l*OodtUaWnalFath*c,aodlnHii8oo 
Joaa* Cartel, aad ia tha Holy Qhoat. 

S. WoboUor* that am will bo pooiahod for tb*ir ova 
•Jaa, aad aot for Adam> traaan*aaioa. 

$. Wo bollovo that, through tho aton*mont of Cbriat. all 
aaakiad may St Stvws, by obodioaoo to th* laws aad ordi- 
aaaeaaof tao Go*p*L 

i. Wo baUov* that tha fnt.prindpl** and ordinance* of 
(ho Ooipal aro : First, Faith in tha Lord Joraa Cbriat ; Mooad, 
Roaootaaoof third, BapUam by imaianloB for tho romiaaioa 
wTitnai foarth. Laying oa of Hand* for tao Gift of tao Holy 
Obnat 

a, W* bell*'* lhal • did nmf b« till*] of God, bj 
* propltfcj, beiJ fay Lhq lijrinfi on of titod*," by tb«o who tra 
in letharJlgr. tu prttch tb« fpipol and ■daiinitLer lq the ordi* 
anno** t h«*of . 

fl. Wi b*IJ*»* la the i*m« nrfanisiUon that uiitarf in 
th* ptimiti** charch— SJSttlft AjwiUii, Krc^h.ti, ('uian, 
IWbcn, ETinfcliiU. rlt 

7. Wl ball*** In lb* ftft Sfl ton E u«. pivplttj, retention, 
tjtioDi, Lenlln^ lalflrprviiUdn of toagUW, *te* 

ft. Wi b«Jl**t lb* Bibl* Co be the word tf Ond, !■ fir u J| 
h tram tiled «f rtrtt j ; w« *]» bvfiovi Lb* Book of MonBOB 
la b* th* word of God, 

V, W* b*h«v« mil that Qod hu latoilad, til that ff* doa* 
DOV r*V*ftJ. mid *■ belie* a Iblt U* will ■ jrel rawi) miny grail 
and Lmporranl tMagi pertaining tr> tb* Kingdom of God. 

10. W» b*H*.*a in th* liUr*f ttlh*ring of tinal tad 'a th* 
fqiLOTitJoa of I be T»n Tribe*; tall Zidd will bm built upon 
Ihii { th* American > etmlHwnt ; th*t Chml will r*i|Q parwn- 
ally opon th* ffcrlh. and that th* eirth will b* rcnew«d ind 
' ia hi panditiacal f\vty. 

Wi rJaim lb* pririkc* of varfhipipji Almighty G«t 



t*c*k*B hi paradJiiaeal gfrxy. 

11. Wt rJaicn lb* pririkc* i 
iccardirr to th« dktit«i of out CQEHciincc, Had allow ||] 



tutu Ux* u&4 piiriltfo. lit them ■ronhip h«w, wb*i», ox vbai 

UL W* bolloro ia bolagtabjoet to kino, prosidoBta.rutira, 
aad BMtjHratat 5 ia bboyiog, hoaoriaf sad laataiaiag tha law. 

1*. « W* balioro ia baiag hoaoM, Irao, chart*, boaovoloat, 
•irtaoof. aad ia dolas goodto all ass ; iodood, wo may **y 
that walollow tho admonition of Pa*J, "Wi bolioro all tbinf*. 
w* bop* all thiamV* wa bar* *odor«d many thin**, aad bop* 
~» bo abl* to *ndnro all thiof*. If thoro ia aaytaTas virtaooa, 
"•port or praJaoworthy, wo oaak aft** thoa* 



The cause of human liberty is the cause 
of God.— Joseph Smith. 



Teach men correct principles and they 
will govern themselves. 



Applause is the spur of noble minds, 
the end and aim of weak ones.— C. C. 
Colton. 



"Our affections should be placed upon 
God and His work more intensely thAn 
upon our fellow-beings." 



We would respectfully ask all Elders 
laboring in the Southern States Mission 
to keep us informed concerning all par- 
ties, Mormon or non-Mormon, who con- 
template going west, as we can furnish 
tickets as cheaply as can be obtained. 
Notification postal cards can be had on 
application at this office. 



THE REAL, HERO. 

It is gratifying to note the willingness 
with which the servants of the Lord re- 
spond to every call that is made of them. 
It is written in the Scriptures that he 
who is not willing to forsake father, 
mother, wives, children, etc., is not wor- 
thy to be called a disciple of Christ. 

The Master, one time speaking, said 
that the first and great commandment 
was to love the Lord thy God with all 
thy heart, and with all thy soul, and 
with all thy mind, and that the second 
is like unto it, to love thy neighbor. He 
truly is great and noble who seeks the 
good of others. This ia the only motive 
for which the Elders of the Church of 
Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints leave 
their homes. They receive no pay; 
travel about as did our Savior, with no 
place to rest, and receive the scoffs and 
jeers of a giddy world. Only a few days 
ago we received a letter from one of our 
Elders who has been laboring for about 
two years in the missionary field, receiv- 
ing all manner of harsh treatment, and 
in one instance having to flee under cover 
of darkness to escape with his life. He 
writes: "I received notice Dec. 15 that I 
was to be released to return to my loved 
ones. ♦ ♦ ♦ This gives me joy, if I 
can receive from both you and my Con- 
ference President an honorable release, 
and that you can justly say that I have 
done my duty to the best of my ability. 
This notice came sooner than I expected, 
yet I consider it as inspired, for my only 
son, large enough to work, unfortunately 
broke his leg, and consequently the work 
on the farm would have to rest until 
some one could come to take his place. 
Seed time is fast approaching in Arizona, 
and this release, coming now in the 
midst of these troubles, I consider as 
providential. Notwithstanding these cir- 
cumstances, I am anxious to do my whole 
duty in the missionary field. I have en- 
joyed my mission and have great concern 
for the spread of truth. I realize that 
every individual must have the privilege 
of hearing the Gospel, and that every 
knee must bow and every tongue confess 
that Jesus is the Christ. For this reason 
I have worked with all the energy I 
have to preach the Gospel of peace to the 
people, and have tried to do them good 
wherever I could." 

What spirit actuates men of this kind? 
No salary; no friends; no luxuries. On 
the other hand, mockings, ridicule, mob- 
bings, and all manner of persecutions. 

Who in very deed has the love of God 
and their fellow-men in their hearts? 
Those who forsake all for the Gospel's 
sake, and preach without pay, or those 
men who are called to preach for the 
two or three thousand dollars a year 
that is in it, and who seldom if ever con- 
descend to visit a poor person because 
the coin is not forthcoming? 

The real hero is the man who lives for 
others, and when the time shall come 
that hate, envy, prejudice and the dross 
of this world has been removed, the sac- 
rifice made for others by the humble 
"Mormon" Elders will cause thousands, 
yea millions, to rise up and call them 
blessed. What star in the firmament 
could be given greater luster than this? 
They are the pure in heart and they shall 
see God. 



WHAT IS THEIR MOTIVE f 



Repentance is a meritorious condition, 
precedent to forgiveness; but pretense at 
repentance is a sin of hypocrisy which 
puts a darker shadow on the other of- 
fenses. — Deseret News. 



At this office we receive many letters 
from people, asking for aid in various 
ways: for enlightenment on the principles 
of the Gospel, and a "hundred and one" 
other things which trouble the writers. 
Each letter reflects to some degree the 
conception the author has of us as a 
people, and occasionally we receive let- 
ters from persons apparently well in- 
formed, except when it comes to "the 
Mormons," asking us to find a wife for 
them, help a belligerent husband get 
away to a place of safety, or some such 
other glaringly absurd inconsistency. 

No doubt some of these inquirers hope 
by posing as they do to get us to do or 
say something that they can use against 
us and are in the employ of his Satanic 
Majesty, while others, we believe, are 
Sincere, honest inquirers, but have been 
misled by the many falsehoods circulated 
against us almost continually. It must 
pain the evil-minded to learn the truth, 
and find, to their discomfiture, that we 
are not advocating or lending a helping 
hand to anything contrary to right, and 
whenever anyone calls on the Church of 
Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints to as- 
sist in anything that is not virtuous, 
honest and righteous, he takes cold com- 
fort indeed in the answer received. The 
Gospel does not tolerate wickedness of 
any nature, and when the world 
eventually comes to know "Mormonism" 
as it is people will cease to ask its aid 
in nefarious schemes. 

We give below a fair sample of let- 
ters sometimes received and the answer 
thereto, which will give Star readers an 
idea of some of our correspondence. The 
letters are published by way of illustra- 
tion, and with no desire to wound the 
feelings of the party concerned should 
he see his letter in print: 

♦ * * * Dec. 12th, 1899. 

"Mr. Benj. E. Rich, President, the South- 
ern Mormon Mission, Chattanooga, Tenn. 
"After mature deliberation I am seri- 
ously contemplating presenting myself as 
an applicant for admission into your 
faith and religion, and write you for fur- 
ther information on the subject. If nec- 
essary I could make a trip to Chattanoo- 
ga to see you, or, if any of your Elders 
were in * * * * I could arrange a 
meeting with them, at which we could 
talk over a great many things, which, 
by correspondence, is very unsatisfac- 
tory. I would like to know first of all 
what chance I would have for making a 
living in Utah. I am fitted by experi- 
ence and schooling for almost any branch 
of business, and all that I want is an op- 
portunity to make my way in the world. 
I am a stenographer, having my own 
machine, on which this letter is written, 
a bookkeeper, having traveled three 
years for a Cincinnati firm, and have 
had experience in railroad work, as ship- 
ping clerk, and, in' fact, in almost all 
branches of business. As to my ability, 
responsibility, character, reputation, hon- 
esty, etc., I can furnish the best of ref- 
erences, including the heads of all cor- 
porations for which I have worked, in- 
cluding the one with which I am at pres- 
ent identified. I am not an adventurer, 
but, as I said before, have come to this 
conclusion after mature thought, but 
would like to have a further under- 
standing before taking the step. Should 
I finally decide to do so, I can take quite 
a number of reputable young ladies and 
gentlemen with me, especially ladies. 

"As I am not positive as to whether 
or not this letter will reach you, I would 
ask that you address your first reply to 



THE SOUTHERN STAR. 



53 



* * * * , to which I will give you 
immediate reply. 

"Thanking you in advance for a 
prompt response, I am, very truly yours, 



Chattanooga, Tenn., Dec. 24, 1899. 

♦ * * * 

Dear Sir— We beg to acknowledge re- 
ceipt of your letter of the 12th inst., and 
in reply wish to say that we hope we 
are mistaken, but your letter seems a 
little strange to us. The part of your 
letter where you say that should you go 
to Utah that you could take quite a num- 
ber of reputable young ladies and gen- 
tlemen with you, especially ladies, does 
not strike us just right, and we fear that 
you have not the true conception of 
what the world has nicknamed "Mor- 
monism." 

"Mormonism" is the Gospel of Jesus 
Christ in its purity, and is not in any 
sense of the word a system of lust. It re- 
quires those who would enjoy the bless- 
ings promised to be honest, upright and 
virtuous, and we are not seeking for 
converts except from the pure-minded. 
We do not beg people to join our Church 
and let the applicants make the condi- 
tions like the churches of modern Chris- 
tianity. If you embrace the Gospel and 
live up to its requirements we can prom- 
ise that you will be hated, despised and 
persecuted just as were the Former-day 
Saints and just as are the Latter-day 
Saints. "Mormonism" is an individual 
religion, and everyone that embraces it 
must know for themselves whether it is 
true or not. If he pins his faith to some 
one else he will not be able to stand 
the jeers and scoffs of the world, but the 
promise of Christ was "keep my com- 
mandments and ye shall know of the 
doctrine." 

There is absolute freedom in the Church 
of Jesus Christ and there is no compul- 
sion in it whatever, and although we 
look upon our leaders as inspired men, 
which they are, the cry in the world 
about us being a Priest-ridden people is 
as false as the other stories that are told 
of us, and we are not half as much 
Priest-ridden as the members of the so- 
called Christian churches. Every man 
great or small, will stand before the 
judgment bar of God and there be 
judged according to the works done here 
upon the earth. 

Now, as to employment, the Saints 
help each other as much as they can to 
get employment, and believe that the 
best kind of charity is that kind which 
teaches people to be independent and 
work for themselves. They also believe 
in helping others, believing it their duty 
to help all that they can who are in need, 
regardless of political or religious belief. 
Utah is a good state and we believe will 
eventually become one of the greatest 
commonwealths in the Union. Honest, 
upright and capable men are in demand 
there as well as in other places, and we 
think, as you seem to have all these 
qualifications, that there should be no 
reason why you could not make a com- 
fortable living in Utah. The people of 
Utah are wide awake and progressive 
and free to acknowledge worth wher- 
ever they find it. 

I think now that I have answered your 
questions, and I will at any time be glad 
to furnish you with any information in 
my power. I hope that my idea of your 
letter is not correct, and that you are 
honestly seeking for the principles of 
truth. We have Elders laboring in 

♦ * * * and they can be found at 

♦ * * ♦. I will also be in * * * * 



on Saturday next, arriving on the Queen 
and Crescent 7:45 a.m. train, and should 
you desire to talk to me will be happy to 
meet you. 

With best wishes for your welfare, I 
remain yours very truly, 

BEN E. RICH. 



Arthur Candland came to the city yes- 
terday from Mt. Pleasant to undergo an 
operation for ossification of the right 
shoulder joint, the ball and socket seem- 
ing to have grown together, depriving 
Mr. Candland of the use of the arm. A 
very painful operation is necessary. Dr. 
S. H. Pinkerton will have charge of the 
case.— Herald. 

Brother Candland has just returned 
from a mission to the Southern States, 
having labored in the Georgia Confer- 
ence. We earnestly hope that the opera- 
tion may be successful in every respect. 



History of the Southern States Mission. 

(Continued from Page 41.) 

January, 1894. 

On the 4th of this month Elders W. G. 
Patrick, G. L. Braley and Alvin Smith 
were arrested by two constables at the 
home of Brother Sloan in Columbia, S. 
C, on the sworn complaint of a promi- 
nent Methodist, Coughman by name, 
whom the Elders had never seen, on a 
charge of vagrancy. They 1 were taken 
before Justice Taylor, who fined Elders 
Braley and Smith $10 each. Elder Pat- 
rick was released, it being proven that 
he had been in the neighborhood but a 
few days. The Columbia papers took up 
the case and denounced it as an outrage. 
The columns of the papers were opened 
to the Elders, and thus they had an ex- 
cellent opportunity to explain the Gospel. 
During this same month the Texas Con- 
ference as opened. Elders John K. 
Nicholson and Samuel H. Wells arrived 
in Hunt county June 18, where they 
were favorably received. 

July. 

During this month the Elders were ad- 
vised to visit the branches of the church 
to encourage the members. They were 
also to organize Sunday schools and 
branches of the church. Marvelous suc- 
cess accompanied this work, as many of 
the fields had not been visited in a num- 
berof years. Baptisms were numerous, 
and much good in many ways was done. 

August. 

During this month President Elias S. 
Kimball visited some of the Conferences 
in the mission. The first Conference vis- 
ited was the West Virginia, where a 
most enjoyable time was had. From 
here he went to Virginia, holding confer- 
ence in Louisa county. A pleasant spirit 
prevailed throughout this conference, and 
expressions of gratitude were profuse for 
the splendid way in which it was con- 
ducted. North Carolina was the next 
Conference visited, where a similarly 
good time was had. 

Aug. 20. Elders E. A. Griffin, G. M. 
Smith, Thomas Priday, Jr., and W. H. 
Ingham were mobbed near Colfax. At 
about 11 o'clock the mobbers came and 
demanded the Elders. After securing 
them they departed into the woods about 
seven miles, where they gave them the 
choice of leaving the state or being 
whipped. The Elders chose the latter, 
preferring to do their duty and obey 
God rather than man. When they called 
for the first one to take his place, ready 
for the lash, Elder Griffin stepped forth, 
but his courage caused the wretches to 
weaken. After the Elders consented to 
leave the county they were allowed to de- 
part. (To Be Continued.) 



ABSTRACTS FROM CORRESPONDENCE 

We regret that lack of space will pre- 
vent us from printing an article we re- 
ceived from Elder John T. Home. He 
very plainly shows that it is very neces- 
sary that we should have inspired men 
to lead us. That unless ecclesiastical 
leaders enjoy the inspiration of the Holy 
Ghost, their opinions are no better than 
any other equally intelligent men. They 
will deny absolutely the need of revela- 
tion, and* yet Paul says that the natural 
man without the Spirit of God cannot 
understand the things of God, and one 
office of the Spirit was to partake of the 
things of God and reveal them unto us. 
Little need we marvel that people are 
continually "falling in the ditch." 

Sister Martha Crutcher, writing from 
Kentucky, expresses her heartfelt satis- 
faction with the church, ghe states that 
she joined the church about fifteen 
months ago, and since that time has 
been persecuted by heartless people, who 
have heaped all manner of indignities 
upon her. Continuing, she says: "I am 
taught in the Bible that all who live 
godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer perse- 
cution. Also those who endure to the 
end will be saved. I endure cheerfully 
these persecutions and constantly pray 
that I may have strength to endure until 
I shall be called to the Master." 

Sister Leona Pearl Crolley, of Bing- 
ham, South Carolina, expresses her hap- 
piness at being permitted to live when 
the Gospel has been restored. She says 
that even though unjustly persecuted, 
she can endure with faith, hope and char- 
ity, because she knows that the Gospel 
as taught by the Latter-day Saints is 
true, and that if she endures to the end 
she will be saved. 



Coming Conferences. 

Mississippi and Lousiana Conferences 
combined will be held at New Orleans 
Jan. 20^21. 

Georgia Conference, Macon, Ga., Jan. 
27-28. 

South Carolina, Columbia, Feb. 3-4. 

Florida, Jacksonville, Feb. 11-12. 

The conference of Conference Presi- 
dents will be held Feb. 17 and 18, at 
Chattanooga. 

Releases and Appointments. 

Honorably released to return home: 

H. O. Hurst. J. F. Pulley. 

C. W. Burnam. J. S. Anderson. 

Thomas Halls. F. A. Elmer. 

R. Harkness. J. F. Rich. 

J. H. Willis. W. I. Adams. 

J. L. Bergeson. E. E. Morgan. 

P. S. Hunt. N. A. Peterson. 

W. J. Tuddenham O. Richens . 

A Parson's Definition of a Good Wife. 

First, she should be like a snail, and 
always keep within her own house; but 
she should not be like a snail, and carry 
all she has upon her back. Secondly, 
she should be like an echo, to speak when 
she is spoken to; but she should not be 
like an echo, always to have the last 
word. Thirdly, she should be like a town 
clock, always keep time and regularity; 
but she should not be like a town clock, 
to speak so loud that all the town may 
hear her. — Church Gazette. 



For fools are stubborn In their way, 
As coins are hardened by th' allay; 
And obstinacy '8 ne'er so stiff 
As when 'tis in a wrong belief. 

—Butler. 



54 



THE SOUTHERN STAR 



REMARKS BY PRESIDENT GEORGE Q. CANNON. 

The Saints the Saviors of Ben— The Unfaithful is Like Salt That Has Lost Its 
Savor — Redemption of Zion lay be Deferred by Disobedience- 
Prophets and Apostles Like Other Hen— Responsibility of 
Parents— Benign Genius of the Kingdom of God. 

DELIVERED IN SALT LAKE TABERNACLE SUNDAY, OCTOBER 8, 1898. 



I will read a portion of the 84th Sec- 
tion of the Book of Doctrine. and Cov- 
enants: 

"17. Which Priesthood eontinueth in 
the Church of God in all generations, and 
is without beginning of days or end of 
years. 

"18. And the Lord confirmed a Priest- 
hood also upon Aaron and his seed, 
throughout all their generations— which 
Priesthood also eontinueth and abideth 
for ever with the Priesthood, which is 
after the holiest order of God. 

"19. And this greater Priesthood ad- 
mini8tereth the Gospel and holdeth the 
key of the mysteries of the kingdom 
even the key of the knowledge of God; 

"20. Therefore, in the ordinances there- 
of, the power of godliness is not manifest 
unto men in the* flesh; 

"21. And without the ordinances there- 
of, and the authority of the Priesthood, 
the power of godliness is not manifest 
unto men in the flesh; 

"22. For without this no man can see 
the face of God, even the Father, and 
live. 

"23. Now this Moses plainly taught 
to the children of Israel in the wilder- 
ness, and sou ght diligently to sanctify 
his people that they might behold the 
face of God; 

"24. But they hardened their hearts 
and could not endure his presence, there- 
fore the Lord in His wcath (for His au- 
ger was kindled against them) swore 
that they should not enter into His rest 
while in the wilderness, which rest is the 
fullness of His glory. 

"25. Therefore he took Moses out of 
their midst, and the Holy Priesthood 
also; 

"26. And the lesser Priesthood con- 
tinued, which Priesthood holdeth the key 
of the ministering of angels and the pre- 
paratory Gospel; 

"27. Which Gospel. is the Gospel of re- 
pentance and of baptism, and the re- 
mission of sins, and the law of carnal 
commandments, which the Lord in Hid 
wrath caused to continue with the house 
of Aaron among the children of Israel 
until John, whom God raised up, be- 
ing filled with the Holy Ghost from his 
mother's womb; 

"28. For he was baptized while he was 
yet in his childhood, and was ordained 
by the angel of God at the time he was 
eight days old unto this power, to over- 
throw the kingdom of the Jews, and tt 
make straight the way of the Lord before 
the face of His people, to prepare them 
" for the coming of the Lord, in whose 
hand is given all power. 

"29. And again, the ofiices of Elder 
and Bishop are necessary appendages be- 
longing unto the High Priesthood. 

"30. And again, the offices of Teacher 
and Deacon are necessary appendages 
belonging to the lesser Priesthood, which 
Priesthood was confirmed upon Aaron 
and his sons. 

"31. Therefore, as I said concerning 
the sons of Moses — for the sons of Moses; 
and also the sons of Aaron shall offer 
an acceptable offering and sacrifice in 
the house of the Lord, which house shall 
be built unto the Lord in this generation, 
upon the consecrated spot as I have ap- 
pointed; 

"32. And the sons of Moses and of 
Aaron shall be filled with the glory of 
the Lord, upon Mount Zion in the Lord's 
house, whose sons are ye; and also many 
whom I have called and sent forth to 
build up my Church. 

"33. For whoso is faithful unto the 
obtaining these two Priesthoods of which 



I have spoken, and the magnifying their 
calling, are sanctified by the Spirit unto 
the renewing of their bodies; 

"34. They become the sons of Moses 
and of Aaron and the seed of Abraham, 
and the Church and kingdom, and the 
elect of God; 

"35. And also all they who receive this 
Priesthood receiveth me sayeth the Lord; 

"36. For he that receiveth my servants 
receiveth me; 

"37. And he that receiveth me re- 
ceiveth my Father; 

"38. And he that receiveth my Fath- 
er, receiveth my Father's kingdom ; there- 
fore all that my Father hath shall be 
given unto him; 

"39. And this is according to the oath 
and covenant which belongeth to tho 
Priesthood. 

"40. Therefore all those who receive 
the Priesthood, receive this oath and 
covenant of my Father, which he cannot 
break, neither can it be moved; 

"41. But whoso breaketh this coven- 
ant, after he hath received it and alto- 
gether turneth therefrom, shall not have 
forgiveness of sins in this world nor in 
the world to come. 

"42. And all those who come not unto 
this Priesthood which ye have received, 
which I now confirm upon you who are 
present this day, by mine own voice out 
of the Heavens, and even I have given 
the Heavenly hosts and mine angels 
charge concerning you. 

"43. And I now give unto you a com- 
mandment to beware concerning your- 
selves, to give diligent heed to the words 
of eternal life; 

"44. For you shall live by every word 
that proceedeth forth from the mouth of 
God. 

"45. For the word of the Lord is truth, 
and whatsoever is truth is light, ana 
whatsoever is light is Spirit, even the 
Spirit of Jesus Christ." 

In standing up to address you I do 
so relying entirely upon the blessing of 
God, which I hope to obtain by the as- 
sistance of your faith and prayers. To 
my mind, it is one of the most respon- 
sible positions a human being can oc- 
cupy, to address a congregation upon the 
things pertaining to God and eternity. I 
feel the weight of this responsibility, and 
I would not attempt to speak to you, did 
I not know that it is our privilege to 
have the assistance of the Spirit of God. 
During this conference we have heard 
most excellent discourses, accompanied 
by the power of God. The Spirit has 
been abundantly poured out. It seems 
to me that no man or woman could listen 
to the words of the Apostles who have 
spoken without being convinced that God 
was with them. This is my feeling, and 
I can bear testimony to the truth of 
that which has been said. It will 
be a savor of life unto life or of death 
unto death to all those who have lis- 
tened. 

We. are living in a very important time. 
The Lord is evidently working with His 
servants and people. He is manifesting 
His Spirit in a remarkable manner. I 
think it has been felt by every faith- 
ful Latter Day Saint throughout the 
Church. * Not only has it extended 
throughout Zion, but it has been felt 
by the Elders and Saints, so far as we 
have heard, in distant places. In 1850 
the Spirit of God was poured out in 
great power vmon the servants of God 
in Zion. I was on a mission at the time, 
as doubtless were very many Eiders, 
some of whom may be present today; 
and we had the same Spirit where I 
was laboring. The Lord stirred us up in 



the same way that our brethren at home 
were being stirred up. The Spirit of re- 
formation went throughout the entire 
Church. The people were stirred from 
the depth of their hearts by the power 
of God. xne effects of that reformation 
were most excellent A great many 
adopted good resolutions which. I am led 
to believe, they clung to all their lives, 
and are still clinging to them if they are 
alive. They have served God with great- 
er diligence than they ever did before. 
1 do not doubt that will be the effect of 
these meetings. I expect to see a thor- 
ough reformation of the people, and re- 
newed determination to keep the com- 
mandments of God more strictly than 
ever before. 

in connection with this I will read an- 
other portion of the Book of Doctrine 
and Covenants that occurs to my mind 
It is a revelation that was given in 
1834, soon after the occurrences which 
President Snow read about yesterday. 
They took place in Jackson county, No- 
vember, 1833. and this revelation was 
given to the Prophet the succeeding Feb- 
ruary. The Lord says: 

"1. Verily I say unto you, my friends, 
behold I will give unto you a revelation 
and commandment, that you may know 
how to act in the discharge of your du- 
ties concerning the salvation and redemp- 
tion of your brethren, who have been 
scattered on the land of Zion; 

"2. Being driven and smitten by the 
hands of mine enemies, on whom I wi'l 
pour out my wrath without measure in 
mine own time; 

"3. For I have suffered them thus 
far, that they might fill up the meas- 
ure of their iniquities, that their cup 
might be full; 

4! 4. And that those who call them- 
selves after my name might be chas- 
tened for a little season with a sore and 
grievous chastisement, because they did 
not hearken altogether unto the precepts 
and commandments which 1 gave unto 
them." 

This has been dwelt upon with great 
fullness by nearly all the brethren who 
have spoken at this conference. They 
have called attention to the fact that 
the Saints were scourged in those early 
days because of their disobedience. The 
Lords here explains and describes to the 
Church very plainly the reasons why 
they were so grievously and severely 
chastened: 

"And that those who call themselves 
after my name might be chastened for 
a little season with a sore and grievous 
chastisement, because they did not heark- 
en altogether unto the precepts and 
commandments which I gave unto them." 

The Lord continues: 

"5. But verily 1 say unto you, that I 
have decreed a decree which my peo- 
ple shall realize, inasmuch as they heark- 
en from this very hour, unto the coun- 
sel which I, the Lord their God, shall 
give unto them. 

"6. Behold they shall, for I have de- 
creed it, begin to prevail against mine 
enemies from this very hour, 

"7. And by hearkening to observe all 
the words which I, the Lord their God, 
shall speak unto them, they shall never 
cease to prevail until the kingdoms of the 
world are subdued under my feet, and 
the earth is given unto the Saints, to pos- 
sess it for ever and ever. 

"8. But inasmuch as they keep not 
my commandments, and hearken not to 
observe all my words, the kingdoms of 
the world shall prevail against them, 

"9. For they were set to be a light 
unto the world, and to be the saviors 
of men; 

"10. And inasmuch as they are not 
the saviors of men, they are as salt that 
has lost its savor, and is thenceforth 
good for nothing but to be cast out and 
trodden under foot of men." 

There cannot be a doubt in any faith- 
ful man's mind concerning the truth of 
this promise — the promise of victory and 
deliverance on the one hand, the prom- 
ise of punishment, disaster and trouble 
on the othej. The Latter Day Saints 
have in their experience proved fully the 



THE SOUTHERN STAR. 



55 



truth of these words. They have seen 
them fulfilled to the. very letter. When 
they have been faithful in keeping the 
commandments of God they have pros- 
pered and they have had deliverance. 
When they have been unfaithful they 
met with trouble and serious difficulty. 
It is necessary that the wicked should 
have the opportunity to exericise their 
agency in relation to the work of God; 
for they have an agency as well as we. 
It is their privilege to assist in building 
up the work of God, or they can exer- 
cise their agency in fighting the work of 
God. They have the privilege to do every- 
thing in their power to destroy it, and 
they will be permitted to do this until 
the cup of their iniquity is full. The 
Lord deals justly with His children, no 
matter who they are. Not only Lat- 
ter Day Saints, but all mankind are the 
children of our Heavenly Father, and all 
have their agency. When we quote these 
sayings of the Lord concerning this 
work, they are not peculiar to us; the 
promises are not intended for us alone; 
they are intended for all who will believe 
and obey His Gospel. Many people im- 
agine that when we talk about the 
triumph of the Church of God we mean to 
confine that triumph to those who belong 
to our Church. Not so; this is for the 
whole, world. It is for all America, as 
well as for Utah. God has made most 
glorious promises to this nation. Accord- 
ing to the revelations in the Book of 
Mormon concerning our own nation, the 
Lord has destined to make it the head 
of all nations of the earth, to adopt it 
as His nation and as His government 
if the people would receive the Gospel; 
and He would make them the means of 
saving the remnants of His covenant peo- 
ple, and doing other nitehty works. This 
is all foreshadowed in the prophecies con- 
tained in the Book of Mormon. 

Joseph Smith, prompted by this Spirte 
— the man whom God has spoken to: a 
Prophet of God — condescended to proffer 
himself ns a candidate for the Presidency 
of the United States. Many people 
thought this was ambition on his part: 
that he wanted to rule; that he aspired 
to power, and that he would use it for 
the carrying out of his own plans and 
forwarding the interests of his own peo- 
ple. Joseph Smith had no such idea. He 
was promoted, as a Prophet of God and 
as a patriot, to step forward and offer 
himself as a candidnte, that the nation 
might receive the fulfillment of the prom- 
ises which the Lord had made concern- 
ing it. He gave his views on the pow- 
er and policy of the United States; and 
any man who will read those views to- 
day will . see how much salvation there 
is embodied in the principles he set forth. 
A bloody war might have been averted; 
millions of treasure might have been 
saved: thousands upon thousands of lives 
mi&rht also have been saved, if they had 
only received him as a deliverer, God 
having inspired him to take that course. 
In relation to this we have the same feel • 
ings today. Men accuse us of being un- 
patriotic, of not being friendly, and of 
having designs inimical to the peace and 
prosperity of the land. I say to you to- 
day, in the presence of God, that no 
more patriotic people live upon the con- 
tinent of America than the Latter Day 
Saints. We want to see the constitution 
of this country preserved, that every 
man shall enjoy the rights guaranteed 
by that grand instrument of liberty which 
God inspired the framers to make. Bat 
we differ from many people in regard to 
our views concerning the manner in 
which the government should be admin- 
istered. And we think, as free men, de- 
scended from a free ancestry, we have a 
right to differ from them, and to express 
our feelings upon this point with the ut- 
most freedom:, that we are not traitors 
when we do so," but are the friends of the 
government and of the rights of human 
beings in the government. You know, 
my brethren and sisters, that this is 
our attitude on this question. We would 
like to see this government so stable that 
it will never be thrown down. It can 



only be made so by adhering to the 
principles which animated the founders 
of the government, and which thejr hoped 
to perpetuate through the constitution and 
the laws that were , enacted. 

We are told in this revelation that the 
wicked, when the cup of their iniquity 
is full, will receive their judgment. But 
the Latter Day Saints are called up- 
on to obey the commandments of God. 
He has revealed himself with power 
to them. He bears testimony to them all 
the time concerning His great work that 
He is seeking to establish in the earth. 
He wants to make us the saviors of 
men. He calls us the salt of the earth. 
We are the salt of the earth. We are 
not conceited in saying this, because 
the acts of the faithful Latter Day 
Saints are such as to bring salvation to 
those who are connected with them. I 
wish to illustrate this so that you can see 
it for yourselves. Look around you and 
see the men and the women who have 
proved themselves unworthy of the prin- 
ciples of the Gospel, and have departed 
from them. Are they not like salt that 
has lost its savor? We have had hun- 
dreds of them; they have got indiffer- 
ent; they have lost their savor, and are 
good for nothing. The Saints are com- 
pared to salt that has its saving proper- 
ties. Wherever we go we should be sa- 
voirs of men. We should seek for the 
salvation of the human family to the 
fullest extent in our power. ' God has 
called us to this. He has given unto us 
the Holy Priesthood, and He haspled 
with us now for these many years. Think 
of it! this revelation from which I have 
read last was given in 1834, nearly six- 
ty-six years ago. The promise was then 
made unto the Saints that if they would 
keep the commandments of God they 
should prevail from that very hour. Is 
it not true that this would have been 
fulfilled to the very letter if we had 
kept His commandments? But we have 
not done so. We have been a disobedient 
people, notwithstanding all that God has 
done for us. We have not honored His 
laws; and I sometimes think we are like 
our ancestors, the children of Israel (for 
God has said that we are of the seed of 
Abraham) who were led out of Egypt 
by mighty power. The Lord wrought 
wonders in their behalf. He inspired 
Moses to lead the people along so that 
they could see the face of God. that 
they could have the Melchisedek Priest- 
hood continued among them, and be- 
come a nation of kings and priests; but 
they were hard in their hearts and re- 
jected the word of God. The result was 
that for forty years they wandered in 
the wilderness, and all that generation 
were buried in the wilderness, except 
two men. Two men only out of the vast 
host that left Egypt under the leader- 
ship of Moses, ever reached the promised 
land, and they were Caleb and Joshua. 
The Lord had a new generation. The 
fathers had rejected Him, and He took 
the Melchisedek Priesthood from their 
midst, with Moses, and He gave unto 
them the lesser Priesthood, which was 
confirmed upon Aaron and his seed. They 
administered the law of carnal command- 
ments. And this because they did not 
have faith enough to receive all that 
Moses was willing to teach them! 

Shall we be in the same condition? 
Shall we, through hardness of heart and 
disobedience to God and His servants, 
bring upon ourselves the same penalty? 
I do not believe we will. I am sure we 
will not reject the Melchisedek Priest- 
hood, its power and its ordinances. But 
I do fear that we will defer the redemp- 
tion of Zion indefinitely through our un- 
willingness to do the things that God 
requires at our hands. I have not an 
earthly doubt that this revelation given 
in 1834 would have been fulfilled to the 
very letter, had our people obeyed the 
Lord as Hp desired; neither do I be- 
lieve now that the redemption of Zion 
will be long deferred if the people will 
obey the Lord and keep His command- 
ments. But the difficulty is, our hearts 
are hard and almost impenetrable, in 



many instances. Here President Snow 
has been preaching for four months 
now in relation to the payment of tith- 
ing; he has been laboring with all his 
might to the astonishment of all those 
who know his age; and yet he cannot 
rest — he has to here preach it again, be- 
cause he feels that the people need to be 
stirred up. I tell you that all that is 
not for nothing. I tell you that the man 
of God is not aroused and inspired for 
nothing. There is a meaning to it. And 
I feel that great condemnation— such con- 
demnation probably as has never rested 
upon us before, will rest upon this peo- 
ple unless they obey with all their hearts, 
the words of the Lord that He has given 
to us through His servant. 

We need to be born again, and have 
new heart 8 put in us. There is too much 
of the old leaven about us. We are 
not born again as we should be. Do you 
not believe that we ought to be born 
again? Do you not believe that we 
should become new creatures in Christ 
Jesus, under the influence of the Gospel? 
All will say, yes, who understand the 
Gospel. You must be born again. You 
must have new desires, new hearts, so 
to speak, in you. But what do we see? 
We see men following the ways of the 
world just as much as though they made 
no pretensions to being Latter Day 
Saints. Hundreds of people who are 
called Latter Day Saints you could not 
distinguish from the world. They have 
the same desires, the same feelings, the 
same aspirations, the same passions as 
the rest of the world. Is this how God 
wants us to be? No; He wants us to 
have new hearts, new desires. He wants 
us to be a changed people when we em- 
brace His Gospel, and to be animated 
by entirely new motives, and have a 
faith that will lay hold or the promises 
of God. But the trouble is, the Proph- 
ets of God walk around among you. and 
you see them all the time. "Why, I saw 
Lorenzo Snow today, and he is just like 
any other man. I saw Joseph F. Smith, 
and if I had not known, I might have 
taken him for anyone else. I saw some 
of the Apostles, and they are like other 
men." And because they are like other 
men, therefore they must be rejected. 
It is supposed that they have more pow- 
er than others. That is a mistake that 
the world has always made. There was 
Moses, one of the mightiest Prophets 
that ever lived. Did the children of Israel 
see anything particularly mighty in 
Moses? No; he was one of them, and 
they saw nothing exceptional about him. 
Then there was Nephi, another mighty 
Prophet. Brother Grant read to us a 
description of him. Did Neohi's breth- 
ren see anything mighty in him? Why, 
no; there was nothing to distinguish him 
particularly; and yet he was a mighty 
Prophet whom God had raised up. So 
it was with the Son of God Himself, the 
mightiest being that ever trod the earth. 
He descended from the throne of His 
Father and came to earth; but men saw 
nothing in Him different to other men, 
and they crucified Him. Thus it has 
been in every age. There have only been 
a few who have ever discovered the pow- 
er of God as manifested through His 
servants. It is so today. Who recognized 
Joseph Smith as one of the mightiest 
Prophets that ever lived? Why, the 
Saints themselves received with reluct- 
ance the truths he taught, and men slew 
him, and may possibly have thought they 
were doing God's service in doing so. 
So it has been with those who have fol- 
lowed him and have held the keys of au- 
thority. They have passed among their 
fellow men and received but little recog- 
nition. Men could see all their faults 
and failings, and could talk about them 
one to another; but they could not see 
the divinity in them. It is the same 
with the servants of God in our midst 
today. They are but mortal men, and 
we see their weaknesses and their defects 
of character. These become magnified 
in our eyes, and we talk freely about 
them. The result is, we receive their 
words with reluctance; we question the 



56 



THE SOUTHERN STAR. 



REPORT OF MISSION CONFERENCES FOR WEEK ENDING DEC. 23. 1899. 



PREsJDBHT 



D.H. Elton 

HeberS. Olaon 

B. P. Price 

John Peterson 

W. D. Rene her 

T. H. Humpherye 

C. G. Parker. 

J. Urban AlLred... 

J. M. Haws , 

Sylvester Lo w , Jr . . . 
O. D. Flake m 

D. A. Broad i m: it l 
J. Lewis Hobion ... 

W. H. Boyle. 

L.M: Terry 

Geo. E. May cm .-k 



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Louisiana 

S. Alabama...,, 
N, Kentucky... 
Ohio*.... 



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713 W, Btb St., Cincinnati,. 



Temies&ee. 

Virginia, 

Kentucky 

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Georgia, 

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TenncMwe. 

N. Carolina. 

8. Carolina. 

Mississippi 

Kentucky. 

Louisiana. 

Alabama. 

Kentucky. 

Ohio. 



word of God that comes through them, 
and wonder if it is not alloyed with 
something of their own. 

What we all need is faith— faith in 
God, faith to believe that which He tells 
us. Here the brethren have been labor- 
ing for days to tell us what blessings 
will attend obedience to the law of tith- 
ing—how our storehouses will be filled, 
our fields be fertile, etc., in this way 
appealing to our selfishness. We seem 
to be able to reach the people better by 
appealing to their selfish instincts. If 
we can make them believe that they are 
going to get something in return for 
what they do, it seems to be more effect- 
ive than any other way. It is true that 
these blessings will follow; but it shows 
my brethren and sisters, how our hearts 
have to be reached. We do not have 
faith. If we had faith as we should have, 
it would not be necessary to use such 
arguments. We are like the children of 
Israel when they fled out of Egypt. They 
did not have faith. They were enveloped 
in the traditions of their fathers. They 
were an idolatrous people, and had lived* 
among the Egyptians until they had im- 
bibed many of their false notions. It 
took forty years wandering in the wil- 
derness to get rid of the traditions they 
had imbibed, notwithstanding the mighty 
works which God did in their midst. We 
should endeavor to profit by the lessons 
of the past. Let us put away our hard- 
ness of heart. Let us be a distinct peo- 
ple. Let us try to realize that we should 
be born of God, that we should 
have new desires in our hearts; that w«.». 
should put away everything that is of- 
fensive in the sight of God, and en- 
deavor to live in strict conformity to the 
laws and commandments that He has 
given unto us. There is a class of peo- 
ple in our midst that probably will not be 
obedient. We shall have that to con- 
tend with as long as Satan is un- 
bound; for he has power over the hearts 
of the children of men. But we should 
endeavor to lessen his power to the ex- 
tent of our ability. 

In this connection a great deal depends 
upon the parents. My parents were ex- 
ceedingly strict in exacting obedience 
from their children. The lessons I 
learned in my boyhood I have never for- 
gotten. They have been of service to 
me in my labors among the people ami 
with the servants of God. I do not wish 
to say anything of a boastful nature, but 
I never have had the least difficulty thus 
far in my life in obeying the servants of 
God. This habit of obedience was formed 
in me when I was a child, and I have 
thanked God many times that my parents 
were so determined that their children 
should be obedient to them. As a re- 
sult of their training, it has been no 
trouble to me to come or to go, to do 
this or that, at the request of the serv- 
ants of God. Yet those who know me 
regard me, no doubt, as a man who likes 
his own way. That is my nature. It is 
a pleasure to me to have my own way. 
I am positive in my nature. But it has 
also been a pleasure to me to obey the 
servants of God. I say to my folks that 
that is the way we should raise our chil- 



dren. They should be made to do that 
which is required of them. If the Latter 
Day Saints as a people would enforce 
obedience in the home, our children 
would grow up and become men and 
women who would obey God, who would 
listen to His word, and be as strict in 
observing it as they had been to obey 
the word of their parents. But instead of 
that you see the rudeness of some of our 
children. The manner in which, they 
conduct themselves at times is disgrace- 
ful. I feel mortified occasionally at the 
behavior of our children. There will 
be a meeting here tonight of the Sun- 
day school workers, and we shall be un- 
der the necessity of having policemen, if 
we can obtain them, to maintain order 
outside the building and to prevent the 
meeting being disturbed by the boister- 
ous conduct of a class of boys and girls. 
This is one of the things we should at- 
tend to. 

I feel to say that all the evils we suffer 
from are. due to our disobedience and 
hardness of heart. The persecutions that 
we have endured are traceable to this. 
Our future persecutions will be attribut- 
able to the same cause. Therefore how 
necessary it is that we should train our 
children to be obedient to authority. If 
we will do this, it will be an easy thing 
for them to obey when they are men and 
women. A girl thus trained makes a 
good wife. A boy thus trained makes a 
good husband. Send him on a mission, 
and the presiding authority there will 
see the difference between him and the 
one not trained in habits of obedience. 
I have noticed it in my experience in 
the world. We should think of the fu- 
ture of our children. We should not let 
them have their own way in everything. 
They should be taught that it is not 
right, but that they should submit lo 
the judgment of those who are over them. 
And we should submit to the will of our 
Father in Heaven, whatever He requires 
at our hands. If it is to give our tith- 
ing, all richt. If it is to consecrate, all 
right. We should have faith that 
the Lord has power to bless us according 
to our devotion and diligence in keeping 
His commandments. 

I trust that what has been said at 
this conference will not be lost sight of 
and forgotten by us. I want to see Zion 
redeemed. I pray for the redemption of 
Zion. I labor for it. It will be Drought 
about by peaceful methods. Nobody need 
be afraid of the designs of the Latter 
Day Saints. We have no designs, only 
to keep the commandments of God. We 
have no evil designs on anybody. We 
invite everybody to come and partake of 
liberty with us. We will defend men 
of every creed and of every denomina- 
tion in their rights as quickly as we 
will our own people. 

Joseph Smith taught us a lesson before 
he died in this respect, and it should 
never be forgotten. It will never be by 
those familiar with the circumstances. 
He invited men not of us to take part in 
certain things, as an example of what 
would be in days to come. They did 
not belong to our Church; I do not know 



that they belonged to any church. Some 
people have found fault with me be- 
cause on one occasion I made a little 
distinction between the Kingdom of God 
and the Church of God. Now, there is 
a distinction, and Joseph Smith illustra- 
ted it. He showed us that when the 
Lord's kingdom should be established, 
people of every creed and of no creed 
should have perfect liberty and protect- 
ion under it. It will not be for the Lat- 
ter Day Saints alone; it will be for the 
protection of the Church of God and 
every other church. God does not der 
prive men of their agency. He lets them 
worship according to their consciences. If 
they want to be Methodists, or Episco- 
palians, or Catholics, or Agnostics, or 
anything else, all right. They can follow 
Confuscius, or they can believe as the 
Hindoos do, or anything else, so long as 
they do not trespass upon the rights of 
their neighbors. They cannot do that. 
They have no right to force their belief 
on other people, or to war on other peo- 
ple because of their belief. God never 
did that. He will bless everyone of every 
creed who will serve Him to the best of 
his ability, and especially those who seek 
to preserve the rights of their fellow- 
men. For God loves His children, and 
He wants them to have their full agency. 
Of course, if they rebel against Him and 
reject His laws and ordinances, they 
must meet the penalty. As a people, we. 
ought to feel the utmost kindness and 
to grant the utmost liberty to everyone. 
We exhibited that feeling when we first 
came to this valley. In 1849, when the 
emigration came through here to Cali- 
fornia, I will remember how many 
preachers were invited to speak in our 
old Tabernacle on the corner of this 
block, because President Young said h*» 
wanted the people to hear these men and 
their views. For years this was done. 
Prominent ministers were invited to 
speak to us. I remember Methodist Bish- 
ops and others preaching to us in this 
Tabernacle. Why? Because we were 
willing to extend liberty to everybody. 
In return, we ask that they will not tres- 
pass upon us. We think we have a right 
to worship God in our own way, and we 
try to worship Him in that way which 
will be acceptable to Him. 

My brethren and sisters, I ask God 
to bless you — bless you in your families 
and in everything pertaining to you. Let 
us labor continually for the redemption 
of Zion and for the time when the prom- 
ises which God has made to Zion will be 
fulfilled; that we may build the center 
Stake of Zion. and rear the house of the 
Lord there. There are men standing in 
this generation that will see it accom- 
plished; but we do not want it put off to 
the very last. Let us all strive to fit 
and qualify ourselves and our families, 
by obeying the comandments of God to 
the fullest extent, so that we and our 
families may be remembered among those 
who shall be counted worthy to take parr 
in the glorious work of redeeming Zion, 
and enjoying the blessings thereof, which 
I humbly ask in the name of Jesus 
Christ, our Lord. Amen. 







H~nKoffiI 
Clcn OlAl 

THOUCM WE OB AN ANOIL FSfcOM ttlAVIN, PREACH ANY T^===— £ 

ER QOSPEL UNTO YOU THAN THAT WfllCH WE ^ — ~~ 

^AVE FBEAC.HEQ UNTO YOU, LET tllM &E ACCUSED/ frfr ./*?<?& V_ ] ^ =^ =~~* 




Vol. 2. 



Chattanooga, Tbnbl, Saturday, January 20, 1900. 



No. .8 



THE HERO'S BKWAEB. 

By Eliza R. 8now. 
Well may the fire of glory blase 

Upon the warrior's tread. 
And nations twine a wreath of praise 

Around the hero's bead. 
His path Is honor, and his name 
Is written on the spire of fame. 

His deeds are deeds of courage, for 

He treads on gory ground. 
Amid the pride and pomp of war, 

When carnage sweeps around: 
With sword unsheathed he stands before 
The foe, amid the cannon's roar. 

If such, the meed the warrior's gains— 

If such, the palm "he bears— 
If such insignia he obtains— 

If such the crown he wears: 
If laurels thus his head entwine 
And stars of triumph round him shine; 

How noble must be his reward. 
Who, midst the crafts of men, 

Clad in the armor of the Lord, 
Goes forth to battle when 

The angry pow'rs of darkness rage, 

And men and devils warfare wage. 

Who goes tradition's charm to bind, 

That reason may go free— 
And liberate the numan mind 

Prom cleric tyranny— 
To sever superstition's rod. 
And propagate the truth of God. 

Who wars with prejudice, to break 

Asunder error's chain; 
And make the sandy pillars shake 

Where human dogmas reign; 
Who dares to be a man of God 
And bear the spirit's sword abroad. 

Who with his latest dying breath 

Bears witness to the truth— 
Who fearless meets the monster death, 

To gain Immortal youth; 
And enters on a higher sphere, 
Without a shudder or a fear. 

Above all earthly, his shall be 

An everlasting fame; 
The archives of eternity 

Will register his name— 
With gems of endless honor rife, 
His crown will be Eternal Life. 

OUR CONFERENCE PRESIDENTS. 



John M. Haws, President of the North 
Carolina Conference, was born March 
24th, 1847, in Illinois. His father was 
of Kentucky birth and his mother first 
saw the light in North Carolina. His 
father settled in Illinois in 1820, where 
he resided until 1847. In 1846 Haws, 
Sr., joined the Church of Jesus Christ 
of Latter-day Saints and soon afterward 
started for the Rocky Mountains, where 
he arrived in 1849. The family settled 
on the Provo river, and were the victims 
of many Indian depredations and raids. 



Those familiar with the early history 
of the Chuch know the hardships inci- 
dent to that time. Brother Haws un- 
derwent them manfully and returned 
"over the plains" to assist a company of 
Saints. These brief points suggest how 
Brother Haws was "made up." His 
sterling worth, excellent habits and per- 
severing efforts are outcroppings of his 
early life. 

Brother Haws has filled several of- 
fices of public trust with signal credit. 

At present he is engaged in farming on 
a large scale. 




ELDER JOHN M. HAWS. 
President North Carolina Conference. 

Jan. 23, 1899, he arrived at Chatta- 
nooga, where he had come in response to 
a call to fill a mission. He was assigned 
to the North Carolina Conference. 

June 1, 1899, he was appointed coun- 
sellor to President Lewis Swensen, and 
filled this position with honor. Dec. 7, 
1899, when President Swensen was re- 
leased, Elder Haws was called to pre- 
side over the North Carolina Confer- 
ence. With such a man at the head, we 
feel assured that the high standard of 
the North Carolina Conference will be 
maintained. 



■oney for Foreign Missions. 

Churches of this country send abroad 
annually, to support and extend missions, 
about $5,000,000. Churches in Great 
Britain send about $7,000,000, and those 
of the continent of Europe, of Canada 
and Australia, about $3,000,000, or a 
total of $15,000,000 a year to make in- 
roads on heathendom. It is those who 
perform the work, those who manage it 
and those who give this vast sum of 
money who are to hold the conference 
next April. This conference is not only 
to give a survey of the field, and try 
to increase enthusiasm for missions, but 
it is to undertake to find solutions for 
some very important problems. These 
problems are: ((1) How far secular edu- 
cation ought to be done by missionaries 
supported by money of the churches; 
((2) self-support of missions, to the end 
that propagation may go on elsewhere, 
and a particular work be not a never- 
ending drain upon home sources of sup- 
ply; (3) comity in missions. 

The argument is put forth that the mis- 
sion fields, as lately developed, and espe- 
cially as coming forward in new terri- 
torial possessions, are likely to accom- 
plish much for churches at home in the 
battering down of sectarian prejudices. 
Already the comity arrangement devised 
for Puerto Rico has had a good reflex 
influence at home. Churches are looking 
forward to the end of the British-Boer 
war in South Africa, and saying that re- 
ligion on the heels of war in that vast 
continent will make of Africa a second 
Europe and North America. And the 
point of the argument being made now by 
Christian leaders here, is that the great- 
est benefit growing out of the labor of 
changing Africa from a savage to a 
Christian continent will be, not to Afri- 
ca, but to Europe and America, on the 
theory that it is more blessed to give 
than to receive, and the greater benefit 
is generally to the giver. Interest in this 
forthcoming ecumenical conference 
steadily grows. 



There is one virtue, attribute, or prin- 
ciple, which, if cherished and practiced 
by the Saints, would prove salvation 
to thousands upon thousands. I allude 
to charity, or love, from which proceed 
forgiveness, long suffering, kindness, and 
patience.— Brigham Young. 



58 



THE SOUTHERN STAB. 



Sketch of the Life of the Prophet Joseph Smith. 

BY APOSTLE M. F. COWLEY. 



Conforming to Bevelations already giv- 
en, Joseph the Prophet, accompanied by 
several of the brethren, left Kirtland, 
June 19th, 1831, on his first visit to Mis- 
souri. He reached Independence, Mo., 
July 15th, meeting the Elders who had 
preceded him. Soon after Joseph's ar- 
rival at Independence the location of the 
city of Zion was made known to him by 
Revelation. Before his return to Kirt- 
land in August 1831, the foundation of 
the new city of Zion had been laid and 
the sight dedicated for a Temple of the 
Lord, and a mighty stream of emigration 
started to the practically unexplored re- 
gions of the west. 

Soon after his return to Kirtland, tho 
Prophet Joseph and Sidney Bigdon re- 
tired to the quiet town of Hiram, Port- 
age county, O., where they engaged In 
translating the Bible. Besides this im- 
portant labor the Prophet was active in 
the ministry. He attended several con- 
ferences and was busy preaching the 
Gospel in public and in private. Mean- 
time persecution did not abate, but was 
in active operation both in Missouri and 
Ohio. March 25th, 1832, Joseph Smith 
and Sidney Bigdon were taken by a mob 
and treated in a most brutal manner. The 
former was stripped, covered with tar 
and cruelly beaten, and an attempt made 
to force a bottle of aquafortis down his 
throat. Notwithstanding this, the next 
day found the Prophet declaring the Gos- 
pel to a public congregation. Sidney, 
however, was delirious for several days, 
as a result of the violent treatment re- 
ceived at the hands of the mob. 

In April. 1832, Joseph paid a second 
visit to Missouri and was greatiy pained 
to learn of the insults and injuries being 
heaped upon the Saints, as hostilities had 
already begun of such intensity and bit- 
terness, as to soon result in their com- 
plete expulsion from Jackson county. Af 
ter administering words of comfort and 
instructing the Saints, Joseph returned to 
Kirtland in June. 

Nov. 3, 1832, the Prophet's oldest son, 
Joseph, was born. 

Dec. 25th, 1832, Joseph Smith received 
the Revelation on war, pointing out thf 
great rebellion, which occurred twenty- 
eight years later. During the winter of 
1832-3 Joseph, by inspiration organized 
what is known as the school of th«». 
Prophets, in which the Elders of the 
Church are instructed and edified in the 
things of God. 

February 2, 1&33, the Proohet com- 
pleted the translation of the New Testa- 
ment. 

July 23rd. 1833, under commandment 
from the Lord, the Pronhet and his as- 
sociates laid the foundation corner stones 
of a Temple of the Lord, the first in this 
Dispensation. 

March 18, 1833, the presidency of tho 
Church was first organized in this gener- 
ation, consisting of Joseph Smith, pres- 
ident. Sidney Bigdon, first counselor, and 
Frederick G. Williams, second counselor. 

On Feb. 17, 1834, the High Council 
was organized by the Prophet. It con- 
sisted of twelve High Priests, presided 
over by the Presidency of the High 
Priesthood. This High Council or the 
Church is a pattern of all High Coun- 
cils in the Church, one of winch exists 
in every Stake of Zion, presided over by 
the Presidency of the Stake. May 5th. 
1834, Joseph Smith, with 100 men, start- 
ed for Missouri. Their number was in- 
crensed on the way to 205. This body of 
men is known in history as Zion's 
Camp. They were called by revelation. 
The purpose in their mission was to 
carry supplies and comfort to the grief- 
stricken, mob-ridden Saints in Missouri, , 
and if possible influence the Governor to 
restore and protect them in their rights 



Continued from page 5L 

in the enjoyment of their hard-earned 
farms and homes. En route "Zion's 
Camp" encountered many hardships, and 
some of the brethren, like Israel of old. 
murmured against the Prophet of the 
Lord. Joseph reproved them for their 
evil conduct, and prophesied that a 
scourge would come upon the camp. June 
22, 1834, cholera broke out in the camp; 
sixty-eight were attacked, thirteen died. 
This was the word of the Lord through 
Joseph literally fulfilled. Arriving in 
Missouri, they organized a Stake, and re- 
turned to Kirtland July 9th, 1834. 
• In 1835 Joseph, who had a strong de- 
sire for education, established a school 
in Kirtland and engaged Prof. Leixas to 
conduct a class in Greek. Though Jo- 
seph, like the ancient Prophets and 
Apostles, was unlearned when first 
called, at the age of thirty he had ac- 
quired a marked proficiency in language, 
philosophy and statesmanship. This de- 
sire for education and great efforts to 
promote the same have characterized the 
authorities of the Church from that day 
until the present time. 

In 1835 the Prophet, having purchased 
a number of Egyptian mummies, brought 
from the catacombs of Egypt, translated 
from papyrus the Book of Abraham, 
in which the mummies were wrapped. 
This book contains many choice items of 
wisdom and knowledge written by the 
Patriarch Abraham while in Egypt, by 
the spirit of revelation from the Lord. 
On the return of Zion's Camp from Mis- 
souri, the work on the temple, which 
had been retarded, was now prosecuted 
with zeal and vigor until its completion. 
The building was constructed under very 
trying circumstances. Many were in 
poverty. Persecution was in progress. 
The building cost $70,000, and was su- 
pervised by the Prophet Joseph Smith, 
in addition to all his other duties in pub- 
lic and private at home and abroad. It 
was three years in course of construc- 
tion. It was the first temple of the Lord 
built in this dispensation. Since then 
five others more expensive have been 
built by the Latter-day Saints, and oth- 
ers will be erected in these last days to 
the honor and glory of God. 

The temple was dedicated March 27th, 
1830. It was a veritable pentacostal 
feast. Many enjoyed the gifts of the 
Holy Ghost and prophesied of things to 
come. Subsequently the Savior appeared 
to Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery, 
and also Moses, Elijah and other an- 
cient Prophets appeared unto them, as 
recorded in section 110 of the Doctrine 
and Covenants. The Apostles, as of old, 
were endued with power from on high, 
and went forth to the world with re- 
newed strength, declaring the glad tid- 
ings of the restored Gospel. Following 
these remarkable manifestations, a wave 
of financial inflation swept over Kirtland. 
and many of the Saints ran wild in spec- 
ulations. Many of the leaders became 
infatuated with this false spirit, and 
when the panic of 1837 engulfed the na- 
tion disaster came to Kirtland. Mauy 
leading men apostatized ami attributed 
the very evils to the Prophet Joseph 
Smith which he had warned them against 
and sought by every means in his power 
to avoid. 

The Kirtland Safety Society Bank had 
beeu organized by the Prophet Joseph, 
for the benefit of the Saints. This failed 
through the swindling operations of sub- 
ordinate officers, and many of the people 
were financially ruined. Persecution be- 
came violent. Many of the leading men 
apostatized and became bitter enemies 
to the Prophet of the Lord. Jan. 12th, 
1838, Joseph Smith and Sidney Bigdon 
were forced to flee from Kirtland, and 
an armed mob followed them for two 
hundred miles, thirsting for their blood. 



Joseph, with the body of the Ghurch, 
was now established in Missouri, the 
Saints, on account of persecution, migrat- 
ing thither from Ohio. The Saints in 
Missouri now numbered about 12,000 
souls, and having been expelled from 
their homes in Jackson county by furious 
mobs, were now located in Caldwell, 
Davis and Carroll counties, chiefly in 
Caldwell. In the midst of such perilous 
times, and being continually harrassed 
by false brethren, the life of the Prophet 
must have been a trying one. Men only 
of unswerving integrity could stand the 
chastening fire of persecution, and many 
fell by the wayside and joined in the 
cry against the Prophet and the Saints. 
Joseph knew that the Church of which 
he had the honor to be the earthly head 
was the Church of God, that the Lord 
would preserve it to the end. He there- 
fore had no need to pander to the whims 
of men in order to retain their friend- 
ship. This of itself is no small evidence 
that Joseph Smith was called ofGod. Had 
he been palming upon the world a fraud, 
he would have feared the exposure of 
those who became disaffected, and would 
have used politic methods to retain their 
good will for him, rather than apply the 
law of justice and cast them out of the 
Church. The example of Joseph Smith 
in dealing with apostates, no matter how 
high in church authority they stood, has 
been followed by his successors until the 
present, and ever will be, for "God is no 
respector of persons." 

During this time Joseph received im- 
portant revelations on various items; the 
building of a temple at Far West, the 
law of tithing, the mission of the Apos- 
tles abroad, also that America was the 
land where Adam dwelt, and that the 
Garden of Eden was where Jackson 
county, Missouri, now is. July 4th, 1838. 

' the Prophet caused to be laid the foun- 
dation stones of a temple, which, how- 
ever, has never been completed. About 
two days after the national celebration 
at Far West lightning struck the liberty 
pole and shivered it to pieces. This 

• seemed to be a warning that their own 
liberties were about to be stricken down. 
It is said that on the occasion of the 
lightning striking the liberty pole, that 
Joseph prophesied that the day would 
come when the constitution of the United 
States would hang as if by a thread, and 
that the Latter-day Saints would be 
prominent in saving that instrument 
from utter destruction. Persecution 
soon reasserted itself. The Latter-day 
Saints had a right to vote. Twelve of 
them offered to cast their votes at a 
state election in Gallatin, Daviess coun- 
ty, Aug. 0th, 1838. A candidate for the 
legislature, William P. Penistion, made 
an inflaming speech against them and 
raised a tumult, in which several of the 
Latter-day Saints and their opponents 
were wounded. The report of this riot 
was greatly exaggerated and spread 
throughout the state. Mobocracy fol- 
lowed in various places. Oct. 25th, 1838. 
while defending themselves against a 
mob on Crooked river. Apostle David 
W. Patten and two other brethren, Gid- 
eon Carter and Patrick O'Banmon, 
were killed. The power of the Saints, 
even in a small degree, to defend them- 
selves exasperated their enemies, and on 
Oct. 27th Maj.-Gen. Clark issued an or- , 
der to the state militia to proceed with 
all haste against the Mormons and drive 
them from the state or consummate their 
extermination. Oct. 30th the frightful 
massacre of Hauu's Mill occurred. 
About twenty of the Saints, men, women 
and children, were killed and thrown in 
a heap into a well and buried. About 
this time Col. Hinkle betrayed the Proph- 
pt and several of his associates into the 
hands of the enemy by forming a com- 



THE SOUTHEEN STAR 



59 



pact with the latter to give up the arms 
of the Saints without the knowledge or 
consent of Joseph and his brethren. Oct. 
31st Joseph Smith, Sidney Rigdon, Par- 
ley P. Pratt, Lyman Wight, George W. 
Robinson, Hyrum Smith and Amasa M. 
Lyman were taken and treated as pris- 
oners of war. The city was given into 
. the hands of mauraders, who pillaged 
the houses and grossly insulted defense- 
less women and children. Joseph and 
his brethren were courtmartialed to be 
shot, but Gen. Doniphan, of the state 
militia, protested against it as a cold- 
blooded murder. Notwithstanding Gen. 
Clark had told the Saints that they must 
never expect to see their leaders again, 
Joseph prophesied to his associates that 
their lives would be spared and they 
would return to the Saints, which pre- 
diction was literally fulfilled. They were 
paraded through the country with boast- 
ing glee on the part of their captors. On 
one occasion Joseph addressed a crowd 
of spectators, many of whom were melted 
to tears. It became a settled conviction 
with his enemies that if they allowed the 
Prophet to address the public he would 
never fail to make friends and impress 
the honest that he was innocent. So, 
to avoid this impression, the mob, or of- 
ficers, who subsequently had him in cus- 
tody would try to prevent him from 
speaking to the people. Joseph and some 
of the brethren were confined in Liberty 
jail, Clay county, the remainder in Rich- 
mond, Ray county. While in their dun- 
geon cell they were subjected to the 
taunts and insults of guards and officers. 
One night, after bearing all he could 
possibly endure of their filthy conversa- 
tion, he arose in chains, and with a 
• voice of thunder rebuked the guards in 
the name of the Lord. They cowed be- 
fore him and asked his pardon. So 
great was the power of God that they 
wilted before him as a blade of grass be- 
fore a flame of fire. Parley P. Pratt 
thus describes the scene. (The words of 
the Prophet to the guards): "Silence, 
ye fiends of the infernal pit. In the name 
of Jesus Christ I rebuke you, and com- 
mand you to be still; I will not live an- 
other minute and hear such language. 
Cease such talk, or you or I die this In- 
stant!" 

"He ceased to speak. He stood erect 
in terrible majesty. Chained and with- 
out a weapon, calm, unruffled and digni- 
fied as an angel, he looked upon the 
quailing guards, whose weapons were 
lowered or dropped on the ground; whose 
knees smote together, and who, shrink- 
ing into a corner, or crouching at his 
feet, begged his pardon, and remained 
quiet till a change of guards. I have 
seen the ministers of justice, clothed in 
magisterial robes, and criminals ar- 
raigned before them, while life was sus- 
pended on a breath in the courts of En- 
gland; I have witnessed a congress in 
solemn session to give laws to nations; 
I have tried to conceive of kings, of 
royal courts, of thrones and crowns, and 
of emperors assembled to decide the fate 
of kingdoms; but dignity and majesty 
have I seen but once as it stood in 
chains, at midnight in a dungeon in an 
obscure village of Missouri."— Autob. 
P. P. Pratt, p. 229-30. 

The brethren in prison were charged 
with murder, treason, arson and other 
crimes, from all of which they were ac- 
quitted. His enemies considered one evi- 
dence of treason was the belief the 
Prophet and his associates had. in the 
prophecy of Daniel that God in the last 
days would set up His kingdom, which 
should "subdue all others." 

They were tried in the court of Judge 
A. A. King. Gen. Doniphan, the attor- 
ney for Joseph, told him to "offer no de- 
fense, for if a cohort of angels should 
declare your innocence it would be all 
the same. The judge is determined to 
throw you into prison." 

While in prison Joseph received from 
the Lord the glorious revelations and 
instructions found in sections 121, 122 
and 123 of the Doctrine and Covenants. ' 



Monocracy continued. Gov. Boggs is- 
sued his exterminating order, to exter- 
minate the "Mormons" or drive them 
from the state. Joseph cheered the 
Saints from his prison cell. He wrote: 
"Zion shall yet live though she seemeth 
to be dead." While Joseph was in pris- 
on, Brigham Young, President of the 
Twelve, planned and carried into effect 
the gathering of the Saints from Mis- 
souri to Illinois. Himself and brethren 
made a solemn covenant that they would 
never cease their efforts until the Saints 
were gathered from Missouri. They kept 
their pledge. It was a gigantic under- 
taking. Ten thousand Saints, homeless 
and almost penniless, compelled to sign 
away their property at the point of the 
bayonet, to be gathered, organized in 
suitable companies, with proper arrange- 
ments and pioneer to another state, 
where they hoped for better treatment. 
The exodus was carried out. Early in 
1849 found the Saints in Iowa and Illi- 
nois. Thus was another prophetic utter- 
ance finding fulfillment. Joseph Smith 
once said that the Saints would have 
first a county, then a state, and finally 
a nation against them. The literal ful- 
fillment of this prophecy is strikingly ap- 
parent to those who know anything of 
the history of the Church. The Saints 
were driven from Kirtlantl, Ohio, from 
county after county in Missouri, and 
then from the state of Missouri, in 
which Gov. Boggs, the chief executive 
officer, took part, by issuing the infa- 
mous "exterminating order," virtually 
licensing the wholesale pillaging and 
murder of hundreds of innocent men, 
women and children. Later we see the 
United States government sending an 
army against the Saints to crush an im- 
aginary rebellion, and later still, as if 
to emphasize the words of the Prophet, 
we behold the great government under 
which we live confiscate the property of 
the Church and there appears on the 
supreme court calendar "United States 
of America vs. Church of Jesus Christ 
of Latter-day Saints." Surely no proph- 
ecy could more literally come true. Yea 
it has been doubly fulfilled. 

April 22, 1839, Joseph and Hyrum 
Smith joined their families at Quincy, 
111., having escaped imprisonment a 
short time previous. Soon after Com- 
merce, afterwards named by the Prophet 
Nauvoo, was selected as a location for 
the Saints. It was a beautiful site, be- 
ing encircled on three sides by a curve 
of the Mississippi river. The place was 
sickly and many became prostrated with 
fever. It was on this occasion that 
miraculous cases of Healing occurred 
through the administration of th.e Proph- 
et. He went from house to house, com- 
manded the sick to arise and walk, and 
his words were followed by instant heal- 
ing. 

The Twelve had been called on mis- 
sions to Europe, and commanded to take 
their departure from the temple grounds 
in Far West. April 20, 1839, Capt. Bo- 
gart, a leading mobocrat, heard of the 
prophecy and swore that it should never 
be fulfilled. On the day named, how- 
ever, at 1 a.m. the Twelve met at the 
place appointed, held a conference, or- 
dained Wilford Woodruff and George A. 
Smith to the Apostleship, and departed 
on their mission, in fulfillment of the 
word of the Lord through the Prophet 
Joseph Smith. And here let it be said 
that no prediction of the Prophet Joseph 
Smith shall ever fall to the ground un- 
fulfilled. Many converts were made in 
England, and in 1840 the first company 
of Saints from the shores of Europe 
came to Nauvoo. Joseph was diligent in 
helping the Saints to found themselves 
in the new city. Having a little respite 
from persecution, himself and Judge 
Elias Higbee went to Washington and 
laid before the President, Martin Van 
Buren, a detailed statement, with proof, 
of the outrages committed against the 
Saints in Missouri. At first the Presi- 
dent was reverse to hearing them, then 
expressed sympathy, and listened, as 



well as inviting the Prophet to explain 
his views of the Gospel, which he did. 
At a later visit the President showed 
signs of political cowardice, and after 
listening impatiently to - the recital of 
their sufferings, he made the reply: 
•*Y-onr cause is just, but I can. do noth- 
ing for you; and if I take up for you 1 
shall lose the vote of Missouri." 

The Prophet concluded promptly that 
President .Van Buren was "an office- 
seeker, that self-aggrandizement was his 
ruling passion, and that justice and right- 
eousness were no part of his composi- 
tion." 

Joseph remained in the east during the 
winter, making the acquaintance of lead- 
ing political men of the nation. He re- 
cited to several the sufferings of the 
Saints. To his recital John C. Calhoun 
said: "It involves a nice question— the 
question of state's rights; it will not do 
to agitate it." Henry Clay said: "You 
had better go to Oregon." 

Such answers were too inconsistent 
and unreasonable, too cowardly to af- 
ford any hope of redress from the hands 
of the men who made them. The Proph- 
et returned home to Nauvoo March 4, 

1840. During his absence he preached 
the Gospel to large audiences in Wash- 
ington and in Chester county, Pennsyl- 
vania. Nauvoo had been growing under 
the direction of Hyrum Smith, the ever- 
faithful brother to the Prophet. The 
population numbered near three thou- 
sand and contained three ecclesiastical 
wards. The Latter-day Saints again 
asserted their political rights, and with 
this came persecution as bitter as here- 
tofore. Gov. Boggs, of Missouri, de- 
manded of Gov. Cariin, of Illinois, the 
arrest of the Prophet on the grounds of 
his being a fugitive from justice. The 
demand was rejected, but this only ex- 
asperated the Missourians, who subse- 
quently .took an active part in persecut- 
ing the Prophet and his associates. In 
the winter of 1840-41 the Illinois Leg- 
islature granted a very liberal charter 
to the city of Nauvoo. Abraham Lin- 
coln was a member of the Legislature 
which granted it. It included the estab- 
lishment of the Nauvoo Legion, a mili- 
tary body, and the University of Nauvoo. 
Feb. 1, 1841. At the first election it 
went into effect, and shortly thereafter 
Joseph became the lieutenant-general of 
the Nauvoo Legion. On the 6th of April, 

1841, the corner stones of the Nauvoo 
Temple were laid. Joseph called upon 
the Saints in the regions round about to 
gather into Nauvoo and assist in the 
erection of this sacred edifice. The 
Saints responded with great energy to 
this call and flocked into the city from 
all directions. The city of Nauvoo grew 
with almost magic speed. Brigham 
Young and the Twelve, on their return 
from England, greatly aided in its 
growth. The population before the 
Prophet's martyrdom increased to 20,- 
000. In 1842 prosperity abounded in 
Nauvoo. This year the Prophet wrote 
for publication an account of the coming 
forth of this great work. This included 
the Articles of Faith now printed upon 
cards and distributed by the Elders 
umong all nations whither the Gospel is 
being preached. The Church organ was 
edited by the Prophet, and was called 
the Times and Seasons. Through this 
medium he published many glorious 
truths which the Lord had revealed to 
him. Many embraced the Gospel. The 
population increased, and Nauvoo was 
rapidly becoming a city of importance. 
Notwithstanding this wonderful growth, 
and the peace enjoyed, the Spirit of 
Prophecy ever alive in this great 
Prophet gave him premonitions of the 
sore tribulations which were soon to fol- 
low. March 17th, 1842, Joseph organ- 
ized the Relief Society, now so famed 
in the Church as the organization through 
which our devoted mothers administer 
so much comfort and help to the poor,- 
the sick and the needy. At a funeral 



(See Page 61.) 



00 



THEjaOUTHEKN STAR. 




NblltM Weekly by Stttbtn Ststes Mlsslss, Hire. 

tf JtMt Christ tf Utter toy Stilts, 

Ciattssetfs, Ten. 



Ter»» ef SvbMrlptlao 

(!■ Advisee) 



Poryetr . . $1.00 

Sixneotbt . .50 

Three aentfct .25 
Slofle Ctpiet, 5 Cente. 



Subscribers removing from one place to another, 
and desiring papers changed, should always give 
former as well as present address, by postal card or 
letter. 



Metered at the Pod Oflce at Chattanooga, Tom., at 
teeond dam matter. 



Correspondence from all parts of the missionary 
field is solicited. Give name and address, or articles 
will be rejected. Write on one side of paper only 
when sent for publication. We re ser ve the right to 
either eliminate or reject any communication sent in. 
Address Box io» 



Saturday, January 20, 1900. 



ARTICLES OF FAITH 

OP TtfB CHURCH OP JESUS CHRIST OP 
LATTER-DAY SAINTS. 

1. Wobo!lo™io<JoddtoIior*»]ffttlior,oedloHb8o» 
4mm Christ, and is the Holy Oho*. 

1. Wo boUove that omo will bo ponkhod for their mm 
•lot, nod.oot for Adoort tto o og r oo rioo 

t. Wo boltwo test. throS tho *t oo — o t of Ohrfat. »0 
■wikiad Stty st stvti, by obodlooeo to the low* ood ©cdi- 
moom of tbo GoipoL 

4. Wo bellow that tho Irrt prloef plot sod ordiooooM of 
thoGoipalaroiFIiotFfeithiothoI^JoM»Gbrlot; mom*, 
Ropootsaoot third, Boptlrai by iounonioo for tho mniaaioe 
of ■too; foorth, Uyioc on of Bonds for tho Gift of tho Holy 



*, Wf b*lie*« tbM ■■ d» in ait bo cbIJb4 of Ood+ *y 
■ propboev, And by tbo laying oo of a tad*," by tho*o wbo aro 
In authority tq preach ib* r/*p«l *•»<! admLout*r in, th* wdi* 



A. Wo btliiT* la tb*i*m# orfatitition Utoi uitUd Id 
lb* ptimitiT* church— bits*!?, Apottl**, fropheU, pialant 
T«*f tart, K » ■ n grlJ it*, otic. 

■1. Wt belief* Ld Lbe lift ol ton(u<*. pmphfcj, rvraJaUon, 
tU1m*J bulinc, IbtHpnuUpn ef t40(u ■*, *tc 

I. W* baiioro tho JfibU to b« lb* word of God, it for a* It 
«* (rantltUd eortMtty ; in il*o boliov* th* Boot at Harmon 
Ui b* tbo iDid or God. 

fc W« b*}i*r* til thtt God bu «*■• 1*d h ■ It th it H* £6** 
Onw riraal, nod. wt boli* 1 * * that U# will T»t r*T*al maqjr groat 
and in porta QL Thlo|i p+rlaloLng to Eb* fciorJom of God. 

10. Wb btliovo fa 1*4 Ulftrtl gif boring of lirtoJ *D J in tb* 
f**LorttJafi ef lb* Tro Trlboi; Ibit Zion will be built upon 
thi* (too America*} {«'i tinea t , that C«H«t will r*i(0 p*rtOO- 
*]It q pom to* Urtb, and tb*t lb* atria, will bo renewed and 
focal?* ktj paraditlaeal (J017, 

11. Wt claim Iba pntilon of wonhipinjr. Almighty QoA 
ftecordirj| to Ibo d»cUt«« of 00 r CODKEiOCw, And i-lki* all 
m*n lb* Ht> priTj]«g*, let ibem pd n hup bj". w bare, or what 

UL "w'i bolloro io botng oobjoet to kisst, protMoot*. rotor*, 
ssd SMsjotratto ( Io obojiog, hoooriog sad OMtoioJoc tho low. 

IS. Wo boliovo Io bof *f boooat, troo, ehoito, booovotteC, 
olrtooo*. ood io doiog food to oil bos: indood, w« *oaj *ojr 
Ihot wofollow tho odoMoitioo of P*oJ, - W* boUoVo oU thine*. 
«o bopo oil tbioot, N wo horo todorod many thioso, ood bopo 
•sbooblotooodoroallthiof*. If thoro is ooythlog virtoooo* 
Njely, or oTsood wport or proitoworthy, wo took oftor Ihooo 



The latter part of December the Rev. 
J. Whitcomb Brougher, a prominent 
Baptist minister of this city, delivered 
a sermon on the subject of "Mormon- 
ism and Polygamy," which was simply 
a rehash of moldy falsehoods told by 
others before him. Through the cour- 
tesy of the Chattanooga News, an an- 
swer was published to this unwarranted 
attack, in the columns of that paper. 
In reply to this "open letter" by Pres- 
ident Rich, Mr. Brougher, a week later, 
preached a second sermon, "Is Mor- 
monism Anti-Christian?" which was 
much the same as the first. This second 
onslaught was met by another "open let- 
ter" in the News a few days later, and 
as many of our Elders have asked for 
the papers containing these articles and 
which are not now to be had, we con- 
template publishing in the Star the open 
letters to Dr. Brougher for the benefit 
of our readers, in the near future. 



A CONTRAST. 



We reproduce the following from the 
Ix>ndon Times: 

"The missionaries live in palatial con- 
crete houses with all the luxuries their 
countries can afford and charge us for 
Bibles and prayer books, which we un- 
derstand are sent as free offerings." 

Malieton Tanus further charges mis- 
sionaries with extracting all the money 
from them possible, in return for which 
they receive a Bible, a prayer book or a 
"Pilgrim's Progress." He instances the 
Wesleyan missionaries with collecting 
£27,000 at a single meeting at Tonga, 
adding: 

"The missionaries aroused a great spir- 
it of emulation, telling the natives that 
the largest givers would be the most ac- 
ceptable in the sight of God, thus re- 
versing the spirit of the widow's mite." 

The Samoan chief concludes: 

"These be thy Gods, O, Israel. 

"Signed, Malietoa, 

Faalogoiai, Samoa." 

In another part of this issue of the 
Star we have an article stating the 
amount sent abroad annually to support 
and extend missions. From these two 
reports it seems that modern mission- 
aries are very different from what they 
were in early Christian days. The 
command in Christ's day was to go 
among the people and preach "without 
purse or scrip." "Freely ye have re- 
ceived, freely ye give," was the prevail- 
ing sentiment among Christ's disciples. 
How many of these Christian mission- 
aries would go to heathendom and preach 
if it were not for the money they re- 
ceived? Who is getting the benefit, the 
natives or the missionaries? Is it the 
love of God or the love of money which 
induces these missionaries to go among 
a benighted people, sell them a prayer 
book, or Bible, and take all their money? 
When the Latter-day Saint Elder comes 
in the midst of the people, bearing a 
message of peace and good will, but 
never taking their money, these same 
people, who are supporting men in lux- 
ury and ease, will turn them from their 
door, and refuse them even the necessi- 
ties of life. • 

Here is a contrast between sects; one 
loved and supported in regal splendor, 
the other despised and cast out. One 
loved by the world, the other hated of 
all men. One collecting all the money 
he can, the other giving what he hath. 
Who of these two come more nearly 
filling the Scriptural prophecy, "If ye 
were of the world the world would love 
his own?" The "Mormon" Elder leaves 
home, friends and all for the Gospel. 
He receives no pay, is cast out, but 
happy in the knowledge that he is giv- 
ing freely words of life everlasting. The 
other receives his $135,000 in collec- 
tions, $15,000,000 from friends, and cry- 
ing for more. Where will it end? 



ADMINISTERING ORDINANCES. 



The following editorial from the Ju- 
venile Instructor may be of interest and 
benefit to many of the Elders in the 
missionary field: 

We have been asked, in substance, "If, 
where the Lord has revealed the exact 
words to be used in the performance of 
an ordinance, the Elder or Priest offi- 
ciating departs therefrom, either from 
ignorance, a slip of the tongue, or other 



cause, does not such departure invali- 
date the ordinance?" 

We answer, as a rule, certainly not: 
that is, when the spirit and meaning of 
(he words are not palpably departed from. 
If awkwardness of expression would in- 
validate an ordinance administered by 
a man of God then inextricable confus- 
ion would be wrought in the Church. No 
man's standing would be safe; for possi- 
bly every one of us has received ordi- 
nances — baptisms, confirmations or ordi- 
nations—under the hands of men who 
have not strictly adhered to the given 
form. Or, if no such mistake happened 
in our individual cases, who can say it 
did not previously occur in the confirma- 
tion or ordination of some one or more 
of those who have been mouth over our 
heads? In either case we should not 
receive the blessing or the authority that 
was supposedly conferred upon us. 
Again, how many of our brethren per- 
form ordinances in the Church in lan- 
guages with which they are far from 
thoroughly familiar— Elders who have 
gathered to Zion from continental Eu- 
rope and the islands of the sea, who do 
not understand English; missionaries to 
lands where other tongues are spoken, 
into many of which, indeed, the exact 
formula of these ordinances have never 
been translated. Shall the Elders not 
administer until they are perfect in a 
tongue? Will the Lord ignore their min- 
istrations because they speak in falter- 
ing tones, in ungrammatical phrases or 
in confused rhetoric? It were folly to 
so imagine. It would place in many re- 
gions almost insurmountable barriers to 
the progress of the work of the Lord. 
Our Heavenly Father is aware of our 
insufficiency; that we are finite, that we 
cannot reach everything at once, and ac- 
cepts us as we are when we do our best. 
But this best should be constantly im- 
proving, we should all the time be draw- 
ing nearer to the perfect, making fewer 
mistakes and more completely observing 
the requirements of the Lord. 

None of the foregoing thoughts are in- 
tended to encourage slovenliness in the 
performance of any ordinance. When we 
set out to do a thing we should make 
sure that we do it; and do it as it should 
be done. If it be our intention to or- 
dain a man to an office in the Priesthood, 
let us be sure that we ordain him, and 
always in the name of the Lord Jesus 
Christ. Let that holy and all-saving 
name never be forgotten. It is a far 
more serious matter to omit the name of 
our Savior in the performance of the 
ordinances of His Church, than to in- 
sert sentences that do not appear in the 
form the Lord has given us, or to say, 
as is too often done, "I lay my hands 
upon your head to confirm or ordain 
you," and then only by indirection do it. 

While it should be the aim of the El- 
ders to conform strictly to the revealed 
word in the administration of ordinances, 
they should not permit themselves to 
become too technical, and to look so 
carefully at the word that the spirit is 
lost sight of. 



That a man is willing to die for hfc 
religion is no proof of its being true; 
neither is it proof that a religion is false 
when one of its votaries apostatizes from 
it.— Brigham Young 



THE SOUTHERN STAR. 



61 



LIFE OF THE PROPHET JOSEPH SMITH 



(From Page 59.) 



sermon preached by the Prophet April 
9th, 1842, Joseph foreshadowed his own 
death by saying that he had now no 
promise of life and was subject to death. 
He said the Lord had promised him life 
at different times until certain things 
should be accomplished. "But having 
now done these things, 1 have no longer 
any lease of my life. I am as liable to 
die as other men." In 1842 Joseph ut- 
tered the following remarkable prophecy 
in Montrose, Iowa. He recorded the 
event as follows: 

"I prophesied that the Saints would 
continue to suffer much affliction, and 
would be driven to the Rocky Mountains. 
Many would apostasixe, others would be 
put to death by our persecutors, or lose 
their lives in consequence of exposure 
and disease; and some would live to go 
and assist in making settlements and 
building cities, and see the Saints be- 
come a mighty people in the midst of the 
Rocky Mountains." Every provision of 
this prophecy has been remarkably ful- 
filled. Apostates now began to plot the 
destruction of Joseph's life. John G. 
Bennett, a vile man, possessing ability 
without character, but whose perfidy 
was not detected until he had been 
crowned with **onor among the Saints, 
had rendered valuable service in obtain- 
ing the Nauvoo charter. He was 
elected Mayor of Nauvoo, chosen Chan- 
cellor of the University and major-gen- 
eral of the Legion. He planned to have 
the Prophet killed in a sham battle of 
the Nauvoo Legion, but failed. He ut- 
tered many falsehoods against the Proph- 
et, both to shield his own iniquity and 
encompass the death of the Prophet. 
He wrote a vile book against Joseph 
and the Saints, made up of gross false- 
hoods. This greatly increased the preju- 
dices against the Prophet among the 
thousands who did not wish to investi- 
gate and know the truth. 

Elders were sent out to refute these 
slanders, and accomplished much good 
among the honest in heart. The old Mis- 
souri hatred was still kept burning in 
that state. Some one had attempted, it 
was claimed, to assassinate Gov. Boggs 
in Independence. It was falsely laid to 
the "Mormons." Gov. Boggs demanded 
of the Governor of Illinois the person of 
Joseph Smith on the charge of nis being 
an accessory to the attempted murder 
before the crime. He and O. P. Rock- 
well were arrested Aug. 8th, 1842, but 
discharged after a hearing before the 
municipal court of Nauvoo. Other at- 
tempts were made to arrest him under 
false pretenses. He concluded to go into 
hiding for a short time. While hidden 
he wrote the important letters to the 
Saints on the Redemption of the Dead, 
found in sections 127 and 128 of the 
Doctrine and Covenants. Thomas Ford 
became Governor of Illinois in December, 

1842. Joseph applied to him for a with- 
drawal of the writs issued against him 
by Gov. Carlin. After a judicial inves- 
tigation this was done. In February, 

1843, the population of Nauvoo was 
again augmented by a company of 
Saints from Europe, under the leader- 
ship of Elders P. P. Pratt, Lorenzo 
Snow and Levi Richards. In June, 1843, 
other attempts were made to drag the 
Prophet back to Missouri. Dr. Bennett 
was the chief instigator <|f this scheme. 
Politicians now stirred up strife against 
the Saints, and recommended the repeal 
or restriction of the Nauvoo charter. 
They pretended to be alarmed at the 
increase of Mormon power. Yet, 
strange to say, Mormon power, in poli- 
tics or religion, has never been wielded 
to deprive or restrict any human being 
of their rights in the least degree. Mor- 
mons elected to office were threatened 
with mobocracy when attempting to 
qualify at the county seat, Carthage. 
The anti-Mormon party renewed their 



pledges to fight the Mormons. The mob 
began to burn the homes and property 
of the Saints in outlying districts of 
Nauvoo.* When the Governor was ap- 
pealed to for protection, his answer was 
an indication of his cowardice or his 
sympathy with the mob element. He 
simply told the Saints they must protect 
themselves. During these times of 
trouble Joseph addressed letters to sev- 
eral prominent men in the nation who 
had Presidential aspirations. He pro- 
pounded to them this question: "What 
will be your rule of action relative to us 
as a people, should fortune favor your 
ascension to the chief magistracy?" 

Only two answered, Henry Clay and 
John C. Calhoun, and their answers 
were so non-committal or evasive that 
Joseph considered the writers cowardly 
or lacking in moral force. Soon after, 
strange and startling as it sounded then, 
Joseph Smith announced himself a can- 
didate for the Presidency of the United 
States. He was nominated Jan. 29th. 
1844, and duly sustained at a state con- 
vention on the 17th of the following May. 
Soon after this he published his views 
in plain terms, on the "Powers and Pol- 
icy of the Government of the United 
States." In this document he defined 
his position on the live political ques- 
tions of the day. He favored the aboli- 
tion of slavery, the slave holders to be 
paid for their slaves by the general gov- 
ernment, the money to be raised by re- 
ducing the salary of congressmen and by 
the sale of public lands; the abolition 
of imprisonment for debt and for all 
crimes but murder, work on public en- 
terprises to be the penalty for other 
crimes, and to make the prisons schools 
of learning. The investment of power 
in the President of the United States to 
furnish troops for the suppression of 
mobs. The extension of the United 
States from sea to sea, with the consent 
of the Indians. Many other excellent 
features appeared in his platform. Had 
his proposition on the slave question 
been carried out, it would have saved 
the nation a million lives, preserved oth- 
er thousands from being crippled, and 
protected the Imppy homes of a million 
people from widowhood, and the cries 
of more than a million fatherless chil- 
dren, and saved to the nation many mill- 
ions of treasure and property less valu- 
able than human life. Joseph prophe- 
sied of the war twenty-eight years be- 
fore it came. That it should result in 
the death and misery of many souls. 
That Joseph Smith was a Prophet of 
God is written in letters of blood and by 
the tears of millions who suffered from 
that fratricidal war. The Twelve and 
other leading Elders went to the eastern 
states to promulgate his views. It is 
not probable for a moment that the 
Prophet had any faith in winning the 
Presidential election. Neither had he 
aspirations for the honors of men. Oth- 
er considerations were in view. His peo- 
ple had been traduced and misrepresent- 
ed. His candidacy furnished an oppor- 
tunity to explain his views, to enlighten 
the public mind respecting the Latter- 
day Saints, and to leave on record prop- 
ositions to the nation which if accepted 
would have saved the nation, life and 
treasure. 

He wrote himself: "I feel it to be my 
right and privilege to obtain what influ- 
ence and power I can lawfully in the 
United States for the protection of in- 
jured innocence: and if I lose my life in 
a good cause, I am willing to be sacri- 
ficed on the altar of virtue, righteous- 
ness and truth, in maintaining the laws 
and constitution of the United States, 
if need be for the general good of man- 
kind." — Joseph Smith. 

Joseph, with a little band of pioneers, 
started on an expedition to explore the 
Rock Mountains to find a resting place 
for the Saints, but was turned back. He 
was destined to seal his testimony with 
his blood. On July 12th, 1843, Joseph 
had recorded the revelation on celestial 
marriage found in section 132, Doctrine 



and Covenants. In the spring of 1844 
the situation in Nauvoo became very bit- 
ter. The Laws, Higbees and Fosters 
plotted the overthrow of the Prophet. 
William Law was his counsellor, and 
of course knew of Joseph receiving and 
privately teaching the doctrine of plural 
marriage. He had Joseph arrested on a 
charge of polygamy. The latter was 
discharged. The apostates then started 
a newspaper called \he Expositor, 
through which they circulated the bas- 
est falsehoods imaginable, and thus in- 
flamed still more intensely the public 
mind. The city was shocked at the pub- 
lication. The city council was called 
together. Joseph Smith was the mayor. 
The Expositor was declared a nuisance 
and was utterly destroyed June 11th, 
1844, by order of the mayor. The pro- 
prietors left the city and immediately 
planned the arrest of the Prophet and 
others on a charge of riot. They had 
a hearing and were acquitted. The mob 
was furious and gathered in large num- 
bers around Nauvoo, swearing ven- 
feance on the people and their leaders, 
oseph, as mayor, declared the city un- 
uer martial law, and called out the Le- 
gion to defend it. The Governor, hear- 
ing of this and being weak and vasodi- 
lating, went at the head of the militia 
to Nauvoo, and demanded that the 
Prophet come to Carthage for trial for 
the destruction of the Expositor, and 
that martial law be abolished in. Nauvoo. 
His orders were strictly obeyed. The 
Governor pledged in a most solemn man- 
ner his honor and the faith of the state 
that the prisoners should be defended 
against mob violence and should have a 
fair and impartial trial. This pledge 
was repeated but never kept. Undoubt- 
edly the A'rophet felt that his withdraw- 
al from Nauvoo would be a safeguard 
for the Saints, and he loved them more 
than life itself. He remarked just be- 
fore leaving Nauvoo: "I am going like 
a lamb to the slaughter, but I am calm 
as a summer morning. I have a con- 
science void of offense toward God and 
toward all men. If they take my life I 
shall die an innocent man and my blood 
shall cry from the ground for vengeance, 
and it shall yet be said of me, 'he was 
murdered in cold blood/ " His prophecy 
in every particular has been literally 
fulfilled. The Nauvoo Legion gave up 
their arms by command of Gov. Ford, 
who again promised them protection. 
Joseph Smith, Hyrum Smith, John Tay- 
lor and Williard Richards were confined 
in Carthage jail, and on the fatal 27th 
day of June, 1844, were placed in an 
upper room of that building. About 5 
o clock in the afternoon an armed mob 
of the state militia, assisted by other 
murderous fiends in human shape, in 
all about 200 strong, burst in fury upon 
the jail and murdered in cold blood the 
Prophet and his brother Hyrum. Elder 
Taylor was cruelly wounded with four 
bullets, while Elder Richards escaped 
unharmed. While this inhuman tragedy 
was being enacted Gov. Ford was in 
Nauvoo haranging the peaceful unarmed 
Saints on the enormity of destroying the 
printing press of the Expositor. The 
Governor undoubtedly knew the inten- 
tion of the mob, for he had heard their 
threats that the Prophet should never 
escape alive. A day or two before his 
martyrdom, while being exhibited among 
the militia, as if he were something 
monstrous, the Prophet asked one of the 
officers if he could see anything bad in 
his countenance. The officer answered: 
"No, Gen. Smith, but I cannot see what 
is in your heart." The Prophet prompt- 
ly retorted: "But I can see what is in 
your heart, and if you are suffered to 
shed my blood you will see bloodshed 
prevail in this land to your heart's con- 
tent." Thus was the testament of this 
great and last dispensation sealed by 
the blood of the testator, and is in force 
upon all the world. When we review the 
life of Joseph Smith, we are compelled 
to exclaim: In the hands of God he was 
a mighty man. Next to the Savior, Jo- 



62 



THE SOUTHERN STAB. 



seph Smith was as great a Prophet as 
ever lived. At the age of 15 he saw 
God the Father and our Savior Jesus 
Christ. He beheld them face to face, 
and he heard the voice of each. At the 
age of 18 he saw an an^el of the Lord 
on four different occasions. He saw 
the ancient records of the people of God 
on the western hemisphere. When 22 
years old he had been visited by the 
same angel-Prophet eight different times, 
and on each occasion instructed by him. 
At this age also he received the Golden 
Plates. In bis 24th year he published 
this record to the world, received a vis- 
itation from John the Baptist, and ob- 
tained the Aaronic Priesthood under his 
hands. At the same age Peter, James 
and John came and laid their hands 
upon his head, bestowing the keys of the 
kingdom of God, which they had re- 
ceived from the Savior over 1800 years 
before. He also heard the voice of 
Michael. In his 25th year he organ- 
ized the Church of Jesus Christ of Lat- 
ter-day Saints, and thus laid the foun- 
dation of a work so great that it will 
yet fill the earth. WTien 31 years old 
he had founded and builded a temple to 
the Lord, and in it had seen the Savior, 
Moses, Elias, Elijah and other ancient 
Prophets of the living God. He selected 
the Temple of four Temples of the Lord, 
saw one completed and another well on 
its way before his martyrdom. Before he 
was 35 years of age he had been the 
prime mover in laying the foundation 
and helping to build several important 
towns in the travels of the Saints. At 
37 he organized a militia, was in it as 
lieutenant-general, established a univer- 
sity of learning, set on foot the gather- 
ing of Israel previous to this and before 
his assassination, saw thousands gath- 
ered from various states of the Union, 
Canada and Great Britain. He died a 
martyr at 39, having received in his life 1 
time over one hundred and twenty-five 
revelations from God, which he caused 
to be written, besides the volumes of 
unwritten inspiration which found their 
expression in prophecy, healing the sick, 
casting out devils, interpreting tongues 
and translating the Scriptures of Divine 
Truth. His prophecies are many, both 
written and unwritten. Many have been 
filled, none have failed, and when the 
wheels of time shall bring the remainder 
due. every jot and tittle shall be ful- 
filled, for it was God who spake through 
the Prophet Joseph Smith. He loved 
his God, hi 8 religion, his country, and all 
mankind. For them he lived and suf- 
fered. For them he died, and future 
generations, when the cobwebs of sec- 
tarian ignorance, bigotry and prejudice 
with "the refuse of lies shall have been 
swept away," will do him justice, and 
acknowledge him under God as being a 
statesman, a philosopher, a philanthro- 
pist, a colonizer, an educator, a pioneer, 
and indeed a mighty Prophet of the liv- 
ing God. Well did Josiah Quincy, the 
historian, a non-Mormon, say of the 
Prophet Joseph Smith, whom he visited 
at Nauvoo May 15th, 1844: "It is by 
no means improbable that some future 
text book, for the use of generations yet 
unborn, will contain a question some- 
thing like this: 'What historical Amer- 
ican of the nineteenth century has exert- 
ed the most powerful influence upon the 
destinies of his countrymen?* and it is by 
no means impossible that the answer to 
that interrogatory may be thus written: 
'Joseph Smith, the Mormon Prophet.' " 
—Josiah Quincy's Figures of the Past. 

It is folly in the extreme for persons 
to say that they love God, when they 
do not love their brethren.— Brigham 
Young. 

Small tanks of pure oxygen, to be used for 
resuscitating persons overcome by smoke 
or gas. have been suggested an part of 
the desirable equipment of hook and lad- 
der trucks going to fires. 



Father— History repeats Itself. 
Bon— It don't In our school. They make us 
kids do It-Judge. 



THE DARK AGES. 



BY ELDER A. ARROWSMITH. 
(Continued from page 42:) 

THE SIXTH CENTURY dawned 
upon the world, filled with ecclesiastical 
error; the priesthood that God had used 
in the establishment of His work was 
taken from the earth in this century; 
the year 570 saw the remnant driven off 
the earth; they had been lingering in a 
dying condition hidden in the catacombs 
of Rome for many years. When the 
Pontiff of Rome sat in regal splendor in 
the temple of God, and exalted himself 
above all that is called God, or that is 
worshipped; so that he as God showed 
himself that he was God, it looked as if 
the man of sin was fully manifest in the 
flesh, and that Lucifer governed the chil- 
dren of men; and it was high time for 
the Lord to remove His government, as 
the world did not want it; and the proph- 
ecies of the Ancients needed fulfillment, 
as not one jot nor tittle of God's word 
shall pass unfulfilled, and the Age of 
Darkness had to come, which would ex- 
tend until time, times, and a half of 
time, or 1260 years had passed. 

The system extant in this century was 
but a form of godliness, without the 
power and inspiring influence character- 
istic of the primitive Saints in the days 
of the Apostles; and the world was fol- 
lowing after delusive spirits, adopting er- 
ror on every hand, manufacturing relig- 
ious rites based on the fabrications of a 
corrupt and degentrate priesthood. Dis- 
putes continued as to the supremacy of 
the Bishops of Rome and Constantino- 
ple, and in their various discussions, one, 
~,modius, declared the Bishop of Rome 
a judge in the place of God; which he 
filled as the vicegerent of the Most High. 
And from this has grown a system of 
man worship and reverence for departed 
Saints, that can only be compared to the 
grossest idolatry. 

The Pope of Rome today is looked 
upon as an infallible being, an encycli- 
cal being issued to that effect; and as 
for the worship and reverence he re- 
ceives, one only need look at the Cath- 
olic world today, who bow with awe to 
their honored Pontiff. One of the great- 
est dignitaries in England, a Roman 
Catholic, a royal duke (this is generally 
accepted as true), has spent thousands 
of dollars for the privilege of kissing the 
feet of the present Pope, also that his 
children may be born physically perfect, 
and honored heirs to his dukedom; 
(strange to say, these children are all 
deformed, blind and idiotic.) 

In this century remission of sins could 
be obtained by purchase, and it was but 
necessary to be liberal to the churches 
and monasteries to get the prayers of de- 
parted Saints. Monasteries had grown 
and increased until they overran the 
whole east and west of the empire, and 
the world was full of profligate monks, 
who were too lazy to work. At this 
time men were considered Saints, who 
bore the useless hardships of hunger, 
thirst and inclement seasons, starving 
themselves with the greatest steadfast- 
ness and perseverance, and many ran 
about the country like madmen, in tat- 
tered garments, and sometimes half 
naked; others shut themselves up in a 
narrow space, where they would continue 
motionless, standing for a long time in 
certain postures, with their eyes closed, 
with the enthusiastic expectation of di- 
vine light. All the above was consid- 
ered saintlike and glorious at this time, 
and the more a man departed from the 



dictates of reason and common sense, 
and counterfeited the wild gestures and 
the incoherent conduct of an idiot or lu- 
natic, the more sure was his prospect of 
obtaining an eminent rank among the 
heroes and demi-gods of a corrupt and 
degenerate church. 

Britain, which today is one of the cen- 
ters of civilization, was in a degraded 
and barbaric condition at this time, ex- 
hibiting a very low state of civilization 
prior to its occupancy by the Roman sol- 
dier, and its religion had been a mixture 
of idolaterous rites and superstitions, 
which the Romans cared nothing about, 
and the Britains remained unmolested 
in their worship up to this century. The 
Romans had built up the country, and 
introduced a variety of civilization, mak- 
ing roads, building cities, until the an- 
cient Britain assumed an air of semi- 
civilization. 

In the year 506 Gregory the great, the 
Pontiff of Rome, who was certainly great 
in his sphere, sent Augustine, with forty 
monks, into Britain, where they were 
received with open amis by Ethelbert, 
the king, who favored the new religion, 
and became Christian; in consequence 
the Church became popular and strong in 
England. 

All that Christianity demanded of her 
converts at this time was to refrain from 
paying homage to their statues; and in 
return pay the same honor and esteem 
to the statues of Christ and the Saints; 
which was but a new form of idolatry. 
It was an easy thing for those savages to 
transfer their affection from one idol to 
another, therefore their easy adoption of 
the absurdities introduced by the Priest- 
hood of Rome. 

I would like to digress here, and say 
for the benefit of my readers, who t 
hope are full of charity for their breth- 
ren, the Roman Catholics, that the 
forms, ceremonies, incense, gorgeous 
robes, mitres, wax tapers, processions, 
lustrations, images, and so forth, that 
are seen today, have been handed down 
from Paganism; and we are not fighting 
Catholicism, but error, in every form, 
and it is necessary to know from whence 
these errors came; but we must not think 
that these crosses and images which are 
so revered are worshipped. The devout , 
Catholic but uses these things as sym- 
bols, and there are many noble men and 
women in that great church who would 
sacrifice their all and seek seclusion from 
a sinful world, in the monastery and 
nunnery, devoting money, time and tal- 
ents, fasting and praying for the bene- 
fit of the children of men, firmly believ- 
ing they are serving God in so doing; 
and although we may consider them fa- 
natical and wrong, we must beware, and 
not overlook the fact that they are breth- 
ren, who have a right to worship, who, 
where or what they please. And un- 
doubtedly there have been many thou- 
sands of good, honest, faithful Roman 
Catholics, who have been just as honest 
in their views as was Paul, before his 
conversion: and we must have charity. 
We cannot overlook the fact that the 
condition of the Christian church through 
all the Dark Ages has remained un- 
changed; the rites and ceremonies of the 
sixth century are identical with the 
church today: and it is considered one 
of the strongest arguments put forth by 
that church, that it has passed through 
these many centuries, unchanged, intact, 
with an unbroken succession of Popes 
who claimed authority from Peter (who 
they say was the first Bishop of Rome. 

This article, which is largely drawn 



THE 80UTHERN STAR 



63 



from Mosheim, who is considered the 
most reliable and unbiased historian, 
shows in part how these various innova- 
tions crept into the Christian church, and 
was adopted at an early day, and how 
finally the pure and unadulterated relig- 
ion of Jesus was overthrown entirely by 
the great Beast, which is termed by John 
as the Mother of Harlots, who controlled 
the whole earth; whose inhabitants were 
made to drink of the wrath of her forni- 
cations. 

This digression I think excusable, in 
view of the fact that from this time until 
the sixteenth century, when Luther re- 
belled, we deal entirely with a meager 
history of that great power, the Roman 
Catholic Church. And it is with a de- 
sire to state nothing but incontrovertible 
historical facts that I enter into this 
work; to be charitable and fair, realizing 
that wrong impressions have gone out, 
and erroneous reports circulated about 
all religions; also that many persecutions 
have been neaped upon the Catholics as 
well as Protestants, believing that many 
martyrs have been identified with every 
faith, Jjravely withstanding the rack, the 
fire, and the variety of torments, with a 
fervent and zealous belief that they were 
serving God. Noble men and women, 
armies of martyrs, have had their blood 
shed for their religious convictions; and 
however wrong the cause represented, 
they have been honest and sincere, and 
God will honor them for their integrity, 
as they have manifested to the utmost 
the light and talent they possessed. 

I have lived in Catholic Ireland, in the 
town of Athlone, and became well ac- 
quainted with Catholicism, as it was 
brought to my notice. And after much 
travel and study, I am obliged to con- 
fess that I have never met purer • and 
more virtuous people than the devout 
Catholic from a moral standpoint; their 
honor, reverence and devotion to their 
Priesthood are truly commendable; and 
amid all the ignorance, and gross dark- 
ness and error that till their minds, we 
can find many beautiful traits of char- 
acter; and we are compelled to say with 
Shakespeare, that "There is good in all 
things evil, could men but observingly 
distil it out." In the sixth century lived 
Dionysius Exiguus, who, in the year 530, 
gave us the vulgar era, or helped to 
enange times and laws; our reckoning 
today is based on the knowledge of Dio- 
nysius, who was a renowned and learned 
man. 

The Sacrament was changed by Greg- 
ory the great into a grand ceremony, and 
it was elevated so that the populace 
might gaze upon it with adoration; it 
was also changed in its administration, 
and held in great awe by superstitious 
people, who believed in trans-substantia- 
tion, that the emblems of the body of 
Christ were actually transformed into 
His flesh and blood by the ungodly ritual. 
(To be continued.) 

J. J. Christian, author of "Immersion 
the Act of Christian Baptism," says: 
"Dr. W. D. Powell, of Mexico, recently 
wrote from Athens, Greece, as follows: 
I found that all churches in Greece, 
Presbyterian included, are compelled to 
immerse candidates for baptism, for, as 
one of the professors remarked, the com- 
monest day laborer understands nothing 
else for baptism but immersion. I vis- 
ited the university and saw the magnifi- 
cent library and museum. I asked the 
professor what baptism meant, and he 
said: It has but one meaning, to sub- 
merge, to immerse. Why do you ask?— 
Register-Review, Oct. 8, 1898. 



History of the Southern States Mission. 

(Continued from page 53.) 

Aug. 1, 1894. 

From North Carolina President Kim- 
ball went to South Carolina, where a 
very successful conference was held. Be- 
fore leaving the state he and Elder W. 
G. Patrick visited Gov. Tillman and 
were assured by him that all should en- 
joy their rights as American citizens in 
the state of South Carolina. Wonderful 
development is being made by the Elders 
in following the instructions given by J. 
Golden Kimball just prior to his release 
from the Presidency of the Southern 
States Mission. 

Several of the conferences report sick- 
ness among the Elders. 

September — 

President Kimball left Chattanooga on 
the morning train to attend the Middle 
Tennessee and Kentucky Conferences. 
He was attacked with a very distressing 
ailment, also with the chills and fever, 
and only with much difficulty and exer- 
tion was he enabled to attend the Con- 
ference. The Middle Tennessee Confer- 
ence was held at Spencer, Van Buren 
county, in the Methodist church, which 
was kindly offered by J. R. Baldwin, the 
head Elder of that church in that district. 

A very intelligent congregation, includ- 
ing the President and professors of the 
college located at Spencer, assembled to 
hear "Mormonism" discussed. All were 
deeply impressed with the discourses de- 
livered, and agreed that the "despised 
creed" had been much misrepresented. 

Mrs. Hill, a grand niece of Sidney Rig- 
don, a very intelligent and well informed 
lady, attended the meetings. She was 
very entertaining and kind to the Elders. 
At the conclusion of the conference the 
Elders presented her with a beautifully 
bound copy of the Book of Mormon, 
which she accepted as a "choice gift." 
Elders Heber C. Iverson and W. W. 
Bean were invited to participate in the 
commencement exercises of the college. 
Such hospitality is so seldom manifest 
toward the "Mormon" Elders that this 
particular demonstration is doubly appre- 
ciated. 

The Kentucky conference was held 
Sept. 15 and 16. A splendid conference 
was held and much appreciated both by 
Elders and Saints. 

East Tennessee Conference was held 
Sept. 22d and 23d near Jonesboro. All 
enjoyed themselves very much. An in- 
teresting incident connected with the 
conference was in the act of a lady and 
her son-in-law, who walked twenty 
miles, carrying a 5;year-old child, that 
they might be present at the meeting and 
be baptized. 

The North Alabama Conference was 
not so peaceful as other Conferences at- 
tended thus far. It was apparent that 
some of the people in this locality were 
very bitter, as was later demonstrated 
by their actions. The warehouse in 
which the meetings were to be held was 
burned, and the hatred of the people was 
otherwise manifested before the Elders 
left. Sunday evening a gentleman came 
and informed President Kimball that a 
mob of one hundred men had formed to 
drive the Elders out. He was informed, 
as was the people, that Gov. Jones and 
the district judge had assured President 
Kimball that they would put down mob 
violence and punish the guilty parties. 
Whether or not this quieted the mqb we 
do not know; however, they did not come 
to do any harm. Some sickness is re- 
ported among the Elders. 



October — 

Conference in Mississippi was held at 
China Grove, Pike county. About sev- 
enty-five, including Elders, attended. 
The subject of tithing was explained at 
this conference. 

The South Alabama conference was 
the next to be held. It convened near 
Westville, Holmes county, and was well 
attended. 

About 2 o'clock p.m. on the 21st a 
telegram was received at the office from 
Elder Adelbert Key, stating that Elder 
Hyrum Carter was very ill. President 
Kimball wired to him to take Brother 
Carter to Seneca, S. C, and he would 
meet them there. Pres. Kimball left at 
once for Seneca. Upon arriving there 
he received another telegram to the ef- 
fect that Elder Carter was dying. Broth- 
er Stokes was awaiting the arrival of 
President Kimball. He informed Pres- 
ident Kimball that Elder Carter had 
died at 12:30 a.m. on the 22d. He died 
at Brother Tolits', eight miles south of 
Foreston, at a place called Jordan. Ac- 
cording to Dr. Wilson, who attended 
Brother Carter, death resulted from ma- 
larial chills. Preparations* were made 
and the body removed to Columbia, 
where it was embalmed and placed in a 
casket preparatory to being shipped 
west. President Kimball accompanied 
the body as far as Salt Lake City, 
where J. Golden Kimball took charge 
and accompanied the corpse to Morgan 
City, where it was interred. 

Of Elder Carter it can be truly said 
that he passed from this sphere of ac- 
tion leaving behind him the record of 
a life well spent in the Master's work. 

November — 

This month opens with fine prospects 
for a continuation of conversions and 
baptisms, which have been particularly 
noticeable the. last two months. 

The only evidence of the mob spirit 
since the affair at Colfax, N. C, oc- 
curred in the North Alabama Confer- 
ence. A mob of fifteen men visited El- 
ders Brinkerhoff and Stephen A. Smith 
and warned them to leave the country, 
as they did not want to hear them. The 
mob became so demonstrative that the 
Elders finally left the neighborhood. 

The promise made by President 
Woodruff, at the dedication of the Salt 
Lake Temple, is being realized through- 
out the Mission. Elders are receiving 
but very little persecution. 

The Elders in Kentucky were chal- 
lenged by a Christian preacher to de- 
bate. Elder F. C. Johnson was chosen 
to champion "Mormonism." He did it 
so ably that the preacher, smarting un- 
der the burden of defeat, canvassed the 
surrounding country, preaching wher- 
ever he could against the "Mormons." 
This case vindicates the value of the in- 
structions received, not to debate, be- 
cause no good comes from it. 
(To be Continued.) 

DIED, 

At Bozarth, DeKalb county, Tenn.; 
Jan. 11, 1000, Sister Amanda Kilgrow. 

Deceased was 50 years of age, and had 
been a faithful member of the Church 
of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints 
since 1894. 

She had been a patient sufferer from 
some kind of lung trouble for the past 
year. 

Sister Kilgrow leaves a husband, six 
children and a host of friends to mourn 
her loss, among the latter many "Mor- 
mon" Elders, to whom she has espe- 
cialy endeared herself by her many acts 
of kindness. Elder Emery Berrus, 



64 



THE SOUTHERN STAR. 



REPORT OF MISSION CONFERENCES FOR WEEK ENDING DEC. 30, 1899. 



D, H. Elton „ 

HeberS. Olson 

B. F. Prfue w 

John Peterson, 

W. D. Rencher t ,_. 
T. H. Eumpherya 

C, G. Parltor „,.., 

J.Urban Allred ... 

J, It HftWH., 

Silvester Low, Jr... 

O. D. Flake 

D P A. Broatlbent 

J. Lewia Ifobflon ... 

W. a. Boylei. 

L. M. Terry 

i;ea E. Mayeock „ 



cow m IHCl 



Chattanooga „ 

Virginia-.., 

Kentucky »***. 
E. Tennessee.. 
Georgia .+*♦♦. ..♦♦ 
N. Alabama.... 

Florida 

Mid. Tenu..,..., 
N, Carolina,. , 

& i Carolina 

HlMttalppi ..,.. 
E- Ken tacky.,, 
Louisiana,*..,. 
S, Alabauta.,... 
N.Kentucky.,, 
Ohio 



i 



106 

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381 
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577 
IX! 

W-i 

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196 



(inailanooga .. 

Bo* 388 h Richmond „♦♦♦♦►♦♦» 

Battlt?towu 

Dayton ...„.„..♦♦♦.....«♦ 

A ug u ita» - .♦♦.-, 

Me en phis ».. ........ m 

Lulu +tt , ,. 

Smyrna _..„„ 

Goldahoro..... 

Sharp „ .... ....... 

Bay «t. Loulfl „ ..*„.♦, 

Buck Creek 

Bbrereport .... 

Bridge Greek.. 

Basdad. Shelby Co 

\:i W. 8th Bt„ Cincinnati 



Ten ueauee* 

Virginia. 

Kentucky 

Tennessee; 

Georgia. 

Tennessee 

Florida. 

Tennessee. 

N. Carolina. 

8. Carolina. 

Mississippi 

Kentucky. 

Louisiana. 

Florida. 

Kentucky. 

Ohio, 



ABSTRACTS FROM CORRESPONDENCE 

Sister Martha Crutcher writes to us 
from Kentucky, relating a case of heal- 
ing. Her nephew had for a long time 
been afflicted with what the doctors 
called cancer. For four months they at- 
tended the child, applying every known 
remedy to them for this particular dis- 
ease. At the end of this time they in- 
formed the father of the child that the 
cancer was uncurable. At the earnest 
solicitation of Sister Crutcher, her broth- 
er requested Elders Thurber and Davies 
to annoint the child and pray for his re- 
covery. They did so, and to quote the 
words of Sister Crutcher, "The child is 
entirely well; I saw him Sunday." Ev- 
ery week we have many such letters re- 
lating how the power of God has been 
manifest, and yet people (Christians?) 
say "Signs are done away." 



Elder R. L. Shepherd informs us that, 
as in the days of Jesus the " chief 
Priests" put them out of their syna- 
gogues because they dared to preach the 
pure Gospel of Jesus Christ. He and 
Elder Joseph A. Wright attended church 
at Brookfield, Ohio, and requested the 
gentlemen in charge of the church to 
allow them the privilege to preach in 
their church. The Elders were request- 
ed to step out while the question was 
discussed. They did not get the church 
and were answered in a manner that in- 
dicated the contempt in which these gen- 
tlemen held the Elders. The next day 
Brothers Wright and Shepherd were al- 
lowed the use of the town hall, where 
they held two meetings to very appreci- 
ative audiences. 



Elder O. M. Sanderson, who presided 
in the Middle Tennessee Conference in 
1895 and 189(5, now attending the Brig- 
. ham Young Academy at Provo, Utah, 
writes of his pleasant experience with 
the people while in the missionary field, 
and says: "I often sit in solitary re- 
flection before my fireside and think of 
their goodness, of their kindness and 
charity. Kindly indeed is my esteem for 
them, and I trust that the friendship 
formed will bud, blossom and bear fruit 
through time and eternity. 



RELEASES. 

The following brethren have been hon- 
orably released to return home: 
H. Baird. 
J. T. Heninger. 
J. Farr. 



Do not save the loving speeches 
For your friends 'till they are dead; 

Do not write them on the tombstone 
Speak them rather now, Instead* 



Where He Stands. 

Deseret Evening News. 

from Thatcher, Arizona. It was writ- 

We have received the following letter 
ten to Elder Andrew Kimball by Hon. J. 
F. Wilson, delegate in congress from Ari- 
zona. The views he expresses are those 
of the most prominent men of the coun- 
try. It is unfortunate, of course, that 
they are not in harmony with those of 
the organ of the anti-Mormon crusade in 
this city, but then, even great minds 
sometimes differ on important subjects. 
The people of Arizona will, doubtless, be 
pleased to know where their delegate 
stands on a weighty constitutional ques- 
tion: 

"House of Representatives, 
Washington D. C, Dec. 7th, 1899. 
Rev. Andrew Kimball, Thatcher, Ari- 
zona: 

"My Dear Sir— Yours . of November 
30th, replying to my inquiry of the 26th 
ult. in the Roberts matter, came to hand 
yesterday. 

"In reply I desire to say to you, that 
I had made up my mind to stand by the 
constitutional provision, which I think 
regulates the subject in hand, and, if car- 
ried out would have admitted Mr. Rob- 
erts to the floor as a member. 

"After looking into the matter, I be- 
came thoroughly convinced that if Rob- 
erts was not admitted to be sworn in, 
the constitution would be walked over, 
and a precedent made that would be 
freighted with dangers to such degree 
that we will never be out of its reach. 

"1 did what I could to prevent what 
I deem an outrage upon constitutional 
regulation, that is, to stop; if I could in 
any way, the crusade or the effect of the 
crusade, in preventing Roberts from be- 
ing sworn as a member, but it was of no 
avail. 

"They will not permit him to be sworn 
in, and therefore will not permit the 
sovereign state of Utah to be represent- 
ed upon the floor until they have tried 
the case, so to speak, or at least tried 
the question of fact? involved In the al- 
legations of Tayler of Ohio. 

"My life-long friend, Dinsmore of Ar- 
kansas, and an old member here, took 
my view of it. He advocated it upon 
the floor. Richardson of Tennessee, the 
leader of the democrats in the house, 
made an able defense of the position, but 
it was all like pouring water on a duck's 
back. It was unheeded. Members .on 
our side voted against the swearing of 
Roberts through fear of their constituen- 
cy. Petitions, seven million strong, 
teemed in, and fanaticism has prevailed. 

"I look upon the result with the deep- 
est of solicitude and grave alarm. I 
feel that the rights of the sovereign state 
of Utah have been trampled under foot 
by the flaming, fanatical passion of the 
hour. 

"I say now, as I have said to members 
in as strong language as I could con- 
trol, that before I would surrender my 
own convictions upon the. legal questions 
involved, and as it follows the constitu- 
tion and the law, and to the sovereign 



rights of a state, I would surrender my 
commission, resign my position, and go 
home tomorrow. And this is putting it 
mild when compared to the feelings I 
bear on the subject just passed over. 

"What is to come and be reported as 
a finding of fact by the committee ap- 
pointed for investigation, can hardly be 
foretold, but if the crusade that is now 
on, has anything like the influence, ou 
that proceeding that it has had upon 
the proceedings just passed, it may well 
be imagined. To this, I protest always 
and everywhere. It is all I may be able 
to do, but it shall be done with all the 
earnestness I can command. 

"Wishing for the best, and fearing the 
worst, I am 

Your Obedient Servant, 

J. F. Wn,SON." 



Polygamy and Unlawful Cohabitation. 

The following statements, made by 
President Ix>renzo Snow, we hope, will 
suffice to explain the attitude of the 
Church on the much discussed subject 
of polygamy and unlawful cohabitation: 

"From the reading of the various edi- 
torials and articles of the public press 
it is evident that there is much miscon- 
struction and misunderstanding as to 
the present attitude of the Church re- 
specting the subjects of polygamy and 
that many good and conscientious peo- 
ple have been misled and much adverse 
criticism occasioned thereby. I feel it 
but just to both 'Mormons and non- 
'Mornions' to state that, in accordance 
with the manifesto of the late President 
Wilford Woodruff, dated September 
25th, 1890, which was presented to and 
unanimously accepted by our general 
conference on the 6th of October, 1890, 
the Church has positively abandoned the 
practice of polygamy, or the solemniza- 
tion of plural marriages, in this and 
every other state, and that no member 
or officer thereof has any authority what- 
ever to perform a plural marriage or en- 
ter into such a relation. Nor does the 
Church advise or encourage unlawful 
cohabitation on the part of any of its 
members. If, therefore, any member dis- 
obeys the law, either as to polygamy or 
unlawful cohabitation, he must bear his 
own burden; or in other words, be an- 
swerable to the tribunals of the land 
for his own action pertaining thereto. 

"With a sincere desire that the posi- 
tion of our Church as to polygamy and 
unlawful cohabitation may be better un- 
derstood, and with best wishes for the 
welfare and happiness of all, this state- 
ment is made, and is respectively com- 
mended to the careful consideration of 
the public generally. 

"LORENZO SNOW. 
"President of the Church of Jesus Christ 

of Latter Day Saints. 

"The drying up a single tear has more 
Of honest fame than shedding seas of 
gore." 

— Byron. 




*6UT THOUGH WE.DBANANGtL FttoM HEAVEN, PREACH ANY 
pTHEQ GOSPEL UNTO YOU THAN THAT WHICH WE 

HAVE FBEACHEP UNTO YOU, LtT HIM BE ACCUR5ED *&ff J^CdK 



T^frJWsl 




Vol. 2. 



Chattanooga, Tknn., Saturday, January 27, 1900. 



No. 9. 



RESOLVE. 



Ella Wheeler Wilcox. 
Build oil resolve, and not upon regret, 

The structure of thy future. Do not jfrope 
Among the shadows of old sins, but let 
Thine own soul's light shine on the path 
of hope 
And dissipate the darkness. Waste no tears 
I 'pon the blotted record of the years. 
Hut turn the leaf, and smile, oh, smile, to 

se*» 
The fair white pages that remain for thee. 

Prate not of thy repentance. But believe 
The spark divine dwells in thee; let it 

grow. 
That which the upreaching spirit cun 

achieve 
The grand and all creative forces know: 
They will assist and strengthen as the 

light 
Lifts up the acorn to the oak tree's height. 
Thou hast but to resolve, and lo! God's 

whole 
(Jreat universe shall fortify thy soul. 

OUR CONFERENCE PRESIDENTS. 

The subject of this sketch— Elder Da- 
vid H. Elton— was born ait Worcester, 
England, Jan. 12th, 1877. He is the 
seventh son and tenth child of John and 
Isabella Elton. His father was con- 
verted and baptized by the late Presi- 
dent Wilford Woodruff upon the occa- 
sion of his wonderful mission among, 
and his universal conversion of John 
Benbowand the United Brethren at 
Herefordshire, England, in the year 
1840. 

In May, 1880, the good parent died, 
leaving the mother a widow with twelve 
children. She struggled on, faithful and 
true to the Gospel, amid the adverse 
powers of a scornful, frowning world. 
Her honesty and stability in the van of 
truth won for her the respect and con- 
fidence of all her associates: and often- 
times, when asked why she did not re- 
linquish her faith in what the world er- 
roneously calls "Mormonism," she would 
invariably reply with emphasis and ear- 
nestness: "Do you think I would give 
up the light of the sun for the dwindling 
of the rushlight? or the cream of religion 
for the skim-milk of sectarianism?" The 
spirit of gathering with the Saints had 
long rested upon her, and she was ex- 
ceedingly desirous of joining the body 
of the Church in the vales of the far 
west. Having sent three sons ahead, 
the good mother, with the two youngest 
boys (the junior being the subject of our 
sketch), left Liverpool on the 2d of Au- 
gust, 1890, for Salt Lake City, arriving 



at their destination on the 20th of the 
same month. Here our brother engaged 
his services, first as a cash boy, second 
as a water carrier upon the joint city 
and county building, and lastly as an 
apprentice to learn the trade of stone 
cutting. 

He graduated from the public schools 
of Salt Lake City and attended the High 
School for about six months. This brief 
sojourn in the class room constitutes the 
whole of his scholastic education. 

In December of 181)7 Elder Elton re- 
ceived a call from the Prophet of God 
to perform a mission unto the Lord, and 




ELDER DAVID H. ELTON 
President of the Chattanooga Conference. 



on the 21st of March of the following 
year he reported at Chattanooga for 
duty, was assigned to labor in the 1 Flor- 
ida Conference, where he remained for 
only five months, at the expiration of 
w r hich time he was transferred to North 
Carolina on account . of a severe attack 
of typhoid malaria fever. 

In April, 1899, at the North Carolina 
Conference, Elder Elton was informed 
by President Rich that his services were 
required in the Chattanooga Conference, 
then temporarily organized with Presi- 



dent L. It. Anderson at the head. He 
obeyed and arrived at Chattanooga on 
April 22d. When the Conference was 
duly organized in May, and Elder 
Christo Hyldahl appointed to preside, 
Elder Elton was chosen to act as his 
first counsellor. He held this position 
until Conference convened in Chatta- 
nooga on Dec. Kith and 17th, 1899, when 
President Hyldahl was honorably re- 
leased to engage in other duties, and 
Elder Eiton chosen to succeed him in 
presiding over the Conference. At a 
later date he called to his assistance as 
counsellors Elders Jeddie Stokes and 
It. W. Smith. The appointment of El- 
der Elton as President of the Chatta- 
nooga Conference was in fulfillment of 
a prediction made concerning him before 
he left Salt Lake City, and it will be 
seen from a perusal of the above that 
he has traversed over a large tract of 
territory, and in many states, in order 
that this prediction might come to pass. 

Elder Elton is a ready thinker, apt 
and most interesting in conversation, a 
fluent speaker, and an energetic worker. 
His clear and simple way of explaining 
the Gospel makes him a very successful 
worker. He commands the respect of 
all his acquaintances and the love and 
confidence of his companions — those who 
know him best love him most. 

He has the assurance of the united 
efforts of his co-laborers in this Confer- 
ence, and surrounded as he is with men 
who love and respect him, both as a man 
and also as a faithful servant of God, 
it is expected that the work over which 
he is called to preside will maintain the 
high standing it gained under the man- 
agement of his predecessors. 



History of the Southern States Mission. 

(Continued from page 57.) 

December, 1894— 

This month begins under favorable 
auspices. Generally speaking, the Elders 
are being courteously received. What 
opposition they are encountering is of a 
"wordy" rather than a violent nature. 
A company of Elders arrived on the 9th 
from Utah and Colorado and were as- 
signed to various Conferences in the 
Mission. On the 30th President Elias 
S. Kimball returned from Salt Lake 
with his family and has resumed his 
vigorous efforts in the missionary work. 



66 



THE SOUTHERN STAR. 



Thus closes the year 1894, which will 
hereafter be memorable in missionary 
annals as marking a notable transition 
in public sentiment favorable to the 
Latter-day Saints and principles and 
truths of "Mormonisni." 

January, 1895— 

This month and year opens under very 
favorable conditions. Elders are entire- 
ly free from sickness outside of slight 
colds. Owing to the extremely cold and 
inclement weather. Elders are not able 
to get out among the people to any great 
extent, but they are holding many meet- 
ings. 

Freedom of access is accorded the El- 
ders in many instances whore heretofore 
they were excluded. The city of Nash- 
vilel is now being canvassed by Elders 
H. C. Iverson and O. M. Sanderson, who 
are meeting with gratifying success. 
Pensacola, Fla., Mobile, Ala., Knoxville, 
Tenn., Owensboro and Paducah, Ky., 
are all being successfully worked. 

Commendable zeal and faith has been 
exhibited by the Elders in entering and 
laboring in cities. On the 10th eight 
Elders arrived from the west and were 
assigned to various Conferences in the 
Mission. Jan. 30th another company 
were disposed of in the above mentioned 
way. 

Elder Joseph S. Geddes was appointed 
President of the South Alabama Con- 
ference, to succeed Elder Ridges, lately 
released. 

The Presidency of the Church have 
written the office that they have called 
upon Elder Benjamin W. Scott, now in 
Florida, to surrender his letter of ap- 
pointment, because it is rumored that he 
is preaching Methodism — not "Mormon- 
ism" — in his brother's pulpit. He has 
never reported to the office, though he 
has been in the field since June, 1894. 

February- 
Elder Hugh W. Dougall, who has been 
laboring in West Virginia, was called 
into North Carolina to succeed Elder E. 
A. Griffin as President of that Confer- 
ence. * 

Extremely cold weather has prevailed 
in the south during this winter, yet the 
Elders have not suffered. 

The results following the house to 
house canvass are fruitful. Many com- 
munications are being received from in- 
vestigators soliciting further information 
on the Gospel. 

The annual report of the Sunday 
Schools of the Southern States Mission 
gives a total of 409 officers, teachers and 
pupils. 

The result of the instructions given by 
President Elias S. Kimball during his 
visit among the Conferences, pertaining 
to tithing, is now beginning to bear 
fruit. From all parts of the Mission 
some tithing is being received. 

A mobocratic incident occurred recently 
in North Carolina. Elders Isaiah Cox 
and Charles H. Blake entered Ashboro, 
where they took apartments at one of 
the hotels. About midnight they were 
visited by a mob of fifteen men, who 
escorted them "out of town" and warned 
them never to return. The rain was 
falling in torrents, and no shelter could 
be found by the Elders. As a result of 
this exposure Elder Cox contracted a 
severe cold and has since been unwell. 

Elders Alma Andnis and Thomas 
Cooke, Jr., had a thrilling experience on 
the 17th of this month, while canvassing 
near Clinton, Hickman county, Ky. They 
approached a man named Kendale, who 
invited' them to his home. They had 
conversed but a few minutes when Ken- 
dale began to abuse and slander the 
"Mormon" people in a very profane man- 



ner. The Elders began to explain to 
him the real condition of affairs. With 
an oath he jumped up and secured his 
shotgun, then told the Elders to "git 
out." They obeyed in haste, and as they 
were leaving he warned them that if 
they turned around he would "blow 
their brains out." They were kindly re- 
ceived by a constable, who lived a little 
further down the road, who promised to 
protect them. Nothing more was heard 
of Kendale and the Elders went happily 
on their way. 

On the 27th a company of seventeen 
Elders arrived in Chattanooga from 
Utah. After spending two days in 
Chattanooga they were sent to various 
Conferences of the Mission. 
(To be continued.) 

THE DARK AGES. 



BY ELDER A. ARROWSMITH. 
(Continued from page (53.) 

THE SEVENTH CENTURY brought 
a great and prominent character from the 
abode of spirits; a mighty reformer, 
who had, or appeared to have, a mission 
of blood and extermination; his name was 
Mahomet; he came on his mission the 
beginning of the century in the year 012; 
his youth was spent in peace , and se- 
renity. He operated caravans on the 
deserts of Arabia, in traffic with the 
East Indian market from Bagdad, and 
engaged in peaceful pursuits; but he had 
a mission to fill, and stood at the head 
of an organization now counted by the 
hundreds of millions, and which was 
a scourge to Europe for over six hun- 
dred years, holding in check the growing 
influence of the enormities that were 
practiced in the name of Christianity. 

The fiery genius of Mahomet aroused 
the dormant spirit of the Arab, who was 
a descendant of Ishmael. Many Be- 
douin tribes .were united in defense of 
the new faith. A succession of unpar- 
alleled victories ensued; and within a 
few generations the Mahometans were 
established from Central Asia and the 
frontiers of India, to the shores of the 
Atlantic, in Morocco and Spain. 

Mecca, the beloved city of the follow- 
ers of Mahomet, his birthplace, is visit- 
ed annually by thousands of pilgrims. 
When praying, the worshiper of Allah 
invariably turns his face towards Mecca. 
They are the most devout and religious 
people extant, and their charity and hos- 
pitality is truly commendable. An ac- 
quaintance of mine who labored among 
the Turks and Arabs, as a missionary, 
was almost won over to the Moslem 
faith by seeing such zeal and fervency 
manifest among them; he thought they 
were really a better people than the 
Christians, from a moral and religious 
standpoint. They accept Jesus as a 
Prophet, and have adopted many of 
His beautiful truths; the following in 
the Koran, the Mahometan Bible, is 
attributed to Jesus, and which are silent 
truths. "Never be joyful except when 
you look on your brother in love." "He 
who longs to be rich is like a man 
who drinks sea water: the more he 
drinks the more thirsty he becomes, and 
never leaves off drinking till he per- 
ishes." 

So much for Mahomet, the founder of 
this sect, who personally appears to have 
been a good man, lovable and kind in 
his family, and especially devoted to his 
wife (who was the widow of his master). 
She it was who gave him money and in- 
fluence. His spiritual nature (like Moses 
and other Prophets) appears to have 
been developed in the desert; in seclu- 



sion, away from the haunts of men; and 
he had a high sensitive nature, good 
ability, and has left in the Koran many • 
grand truths. 

Mahometans, Moslems, Mussulmans, 
Sareceus, are the names for the same 
class of people, and the faith of Ma- 
homet is chiefly among the inhabitants 
of Turkey, Arabia and the northern por- 
tion of Africa, bordering on the Medit- 
erranean Sea. Morocco and that por- 
tion of the world in this century was 
thickly populated by a class of people 
called the Moors, a warlike race that 
withstood the chivalry of Europe for 
years. 

In this age of ignorance and barbar- 
ism, when nations were compelled by 
force of arms to adopt Christianity, was 
it not high time for the Almighty to 
send this decimating scourge, as multi- 
tudes of His people, the Jews, were 
compelled by violence and force to ac- 
cept the doctrines taught by Christianity, 
which were naturally obnoxious and re- 
pugnant to them; nevertheless they were 
taken forcibly, and baptized wholly 
against their will; this same method of 
converting was common in Spain and 
Gaul, and appeared quite successful. The 
whole world was in a darkened ignorant 
state, and there seemed to be no exer- 
cise of the individual manhood which 
education brings, but the masses were 
in total subjection to the Priest. 

The monasteries were full of corrup- 
tion and deceit, so says the historian: 
supeririduced by sordid ambition and 
worldly emoluments; and they were 
principally supported by men who "had 
lived reprobate lives before God. Profli- 
gate sinners sought forgiveness of sins, 
by leaving their fortunes and all their 
earthly possessions to the monks, who 
did their praying for them. Thus the 
way was left open for men of vile intent 
to commit all manner of abominations, 
and in the end of their career to get the 
prayers and absolution of an abomina- 
ble priesthood, by paying a stipulated 
fee. Such became the custom in the 
sixth century, and continued to an ajarm- 
ing extent during the crusades. Thus 
the coffers of the church were filled and 
enriched, while the clergy revelled in 
luxury and voluptuousness by their ex- 
tortion and greed. Is there any wonder 
that the Saracen overran Europe, con- 
sidering it part of his mission to exter- 
minate the Christian; believing that if 
he died while engaged in such glori- 
ous (?) work his inheritance and bliss 
was secure in Paradise. This warlike 
and fanatical race were not subdued 
and conquered until the overthrow of 
Granada in the year 1492; and in that 
time (six centuries) millions of lives had 
been lost, sacrificed in a great religious 
war between two powerful factions, 
Christianity and Mahometanism. 

Europe was a veritable military camp 
during this time, and the country was 
filled with religious fanatics of all 
classes, rich and poor, high and low, all 
pretended followers of that meek and 
lowly Man of Nazareth, who said, "Love 
your enemies, bless them that curse you, 
do good to them that hate you, and pray 
for them which despitefully use you, 
and persecute you." These fanatics 
would gird on their swords and murder 
their fellow-men in the name of religion. 
What crimes have not been committed 
in the name of religion? But the gross 
superstitions that beclouded the earth 
during the Dark Ages almost called for 
the vengeance of a just God, that He 
might eradicate and totally exterminate 
the whole human family because they 
had become a vile blot on the earth and 



THE SOUTHERN STAR. 



67 



a stench in His nostrils, and cause 
him to say (as He did before the deluge 
when He destroyed the antideluvians) 
that it repented Him that He had made 
man upon the earth. However, God is 
merciful and full of charity and long 
suffering, and because of tnis magna- 
nimity, often the wrath of men is 
turned to praise. 

How many have passed judgment upon 
Mahomet, and other great men, and how 
ready we poor weak mortals are to ad- 
judicate matters that God alone should 
determine. Our Father, as He sits en- 
throned in the heavens, is in possession 
of the white stone that constitutes Him 
a seer, and dwelling upon a planet of 
purity, like unto a vast Urim, He knows 
all things, even from the beginning, and 
He determined the times before appoint- 
ed, and set the bounds of the habitations 
of the children of men. He knows the 
various qualification of every spirit that 
dwelt with Him; as in its primeval 
state it was subjected to a variety of 
tests, and comes here to be yet further 
tried. 

He saw the noble and the great, as 
they stood and shouted for joy, in the 
contemplation of His glorious designs. 
Jesus, Adam, Enoch, Noah, Abraham, 
Moses and all the Prophets He fore- 
knew, and duly appointed them in their 
times and their seasons, to come on this 
planet, with the fullness of His Priest- 
hood; with authority to administer His 
everlasting Gospel and play their parts 
as described in Holy Writ. 

He also foreknew and duly appointed 
the great reformers, Confucius, Brahma 
and Buddha, to enlighten ' His children 
in the far east; also a Socrates and 
Plato to enlighten the spiritually degen- 
erate Greek; likewise a Mahomet to 
preserve a degree of intelligence and en- 
lightenment during the age of spiritual 
darkness, and that His children might 
have that degree of spiritual light, that 
they alone could comprehend, just as He 
gave the carnal laws to Israel, when 
they were unable to grasp the higher 
laws of the Melchisedek priesthood, as 
given through His servant Moses; He 
sent them the carnal laws, which would 
school them into the acceptance of great- 
er truths in their advancement as pro- 
gressive beings. 

# Thus Pharoah, Nebuchadnezzar, Cy- 
rus, Alexander, Caesar, Tamerlane, Na- 
poleon and other great warriors were 
foreordained to their special missions, 
to play their part in the world's drama. 
All the statesmen and poets were known 
in the spirit world, and their various 
qualifications passed upon, and they come 
here in their times and seasons and reap 
that which they have sown. So our 
future will be largely determined by our 
present acts. 

Thus God has been ever merciful 
throughout all ages; and we can see His 
handicraft exhibited among all His chil- 
dren, be he black, white, yellow or red, 
and the child's life in his primeval walk 
has undoubtedly determined his appoint- 
ment in the flesh; thus we see the great 
variety of spirits. God desires all His 
children to come unto perfection and be 
like Him. 

(To be continued.) 



It is foolish to lay out money in the 
purchase of repentance. 

A life of leisure and a life of laziness 
are two different things. 

Silks and satins, scarlets and velvets, 
put out the kitchen fire. 

If you would know the value of money, 
go and try to borrow some. 



RABBI WEISS ON "MORMONISII." 

Text: Psalm 15:3. 

At the earliest infancy of religion, as 
at the present day, there seems to have 
been a tendency of people to regard 
themselves better than others, when 
they performed an ostentatious function 
of ceremonies, praying louder and more 
than others, putting on a sanctimonious 
appearance, while their modus vivendi 
was not altogether in harmony with 
their functions. This must have been 
the case at the time David lived, for in 
his fifteenth Psalm the question is 
raised : 

"Oh, Lord, who shall tarry in Thy 
tent? Who shall dwell in Thy holy 
hill?" In other words, briefly stated, 
Who shall be considered truly religious? 
That is what it means. Whether it is 
the Lord that answers, or whether the 
questioner puts down the reply himself, 
we cannot state, but sure it is that the 
answer is the quintescence of religion, 
pure and holy, as it says: 

"He that walketh uprightly and work- 
eth righteousness, and speaketh the 
truth in his heart; that hath no slander 
upon his tongue; that doeth his neighbor 
no evil, nor beareth reproach against his 
fellow-man." 

Let us understand here, for once and 
forever, that Bible character is no cri- 
terion to go by. It is nowhere said in 
the Bible that we must copy the life of 
Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, Saul, David 
or Solomon; even Moses and the Proph- 
ets all lived in ages when the require- 
ments of conduct and mode of life were 
different from the requirements of today. 
The life of any Bible character would 
not suit today; but the ordinances, laws 
and precepts laid down for our moral 
guidance are as valid today as they were 
when given. There may be some trivial 
matters that could perhaps stand a little 
amendation, but integrally they are good 
and a safe method to govern by our 
moral virtues. Take our text, that asks, 
who is considered truly religious, and 
the defining answer, could we make an 
improvement on it? Methinks not. Let 
us then see the various denominations, 
all calling themselves Christian, how 
they antagonize and oppose each other. 
Each holding pre-eminence over the 
others, qualifying itself the true relig- 
ion, with the others, if not exactly false, 
yet not altogether as divine and God- 
accepted. Not being a Christian myself, 
I consider them all right and all wrong; 
all right in so far as honesty and ear- 
nestness is concerned. They follow the 
dictates of their conscience, the convic- 
tions of their hearts, and the truth as 
they can see it— as it was educated into 
them. The Catholic is as right as I am; 
the Protestant is as right as the Catho- 
lic; the Episcopalian as the Methodist, 
etc.; but they are all wrong when they 
impugn the motives of others and dero- 
gate the religion of others. Any person 
that carries in his bosom ill-will, that 
harbors in his breast maleficence for his 
fellow-man of another religion, has the 
false religion, which becomes a thousand 
times worse when he maligns and tra- 
duces another religion of which he is 
ignorant. I don't care what religion one 
confesses, it is the true one, as long as 
he walks uprightly and works righteous- 
ness, speaking the truth in his heart, 
slandering nobody, doing his neighbor no 
evil and bearing no reproach against 
him; but he must not speak the truth 
with his mouth while his heart is bent 
in slandering and evil doing and re- 
proaching of others. They may be the 
most nrdent supporters of a church and 



the most devout adherents to a religion, 
they have not the remotest conception of 
truth if they oppose and antagonize an- 
other religion. It is really irreligious, 
and un-American in principle that rec- 
ognizes not the rights of all, in religion 
as in politics. 

That spirit that cried in ages past: 
"Oh, that's nothing, the Jew must be 
burned!" as per Lessing's illustration in 
his Nathan the Wise, is alive yet to a 
certain degree. That spirit that led a 
Bruno, a Huss, a Jerome, a Servetus, 
and many, many other good and noble 
men to the stakes, is still nestled in the 
bosom of some men, if not in quite a 
virulous form, malignant enough to pre- 
pare a very bitter cup for people of other 
religions. 

Again and again we read of some out- 
rages that were perpetrated on some 
Mormon Elders that go about preaching 
and teaching their religion. Why they 
are not as entitled to their mode of 
faith as the other Christian denomina- 
tions I cannot see. In my estimation the 
Mormon religion is not better nor worse 
than the other Christian denominations, 
but I discover a luminous reason that 
pleads their cause when the President of 
their organization, located here, invites 
honest criticism, stating that he is willing 
to correct any errors that may be point- 
ed out to him in his faith and accept any 
truth that may be brought to his convic- 
tion. Now, that is honest and right. But 
it is claimed that Mormons are polyga- 
mous. That I do not know, but I do 
know that it is by law prohibited and 
punished if apprehended. Still, it is 
claimed, they practice it on the sly. Per- 
haps some do, but is it not forbidden not 
to steal, yet hundreds of thieves are 
caught yearly. Will you blame Chris- 
tianity for it because the thieves are 
Christians? It is a crime to murder, yet 
murders are committed. Should Chris- 
tianity be persecuted because the mur- 
derers belong to them? And the same 
reason should stand for Mormonism. If 
some Mormons commit crime will you 
hold all Mormons accountable for it? We 
have no right to treat Mormons worse 
than anybody else, especially when I 
have the reliable fact for my authority 
that in their state, Utah, every religion 
can hold forth with perfect freedom and 
safety. Who is the more magnanimous, 
they or the other Christians? 

There is another class of religious peo- 
ple that are unjustly dealt with. That 
is the Seventh Day Adventists. They 
hold that Saturday is the seventh day 
of the week, the day the Lord hath hal- 
lowed to be the Sabbath, and since there 
is no evidence found in the New Testa- 
ment that this Sabbath was ever re- 
voked, they keep that Sabbath holy. 
They interfere with nobody's religion, 
yet they are arrested and punished. They 
generally work in the field, where their 
noise disturbs nobody and their work 
hurts and harms nobody. Why should 
they be molested? Since we cannot 
make the world think alike, how can we 
expect to bring people to the Christian 
religion that all believe alike in the Sun- 
day Sabbath? And forced religion is no 
religion. If we can bring others to our 
way of believing with argument and per- 
suasion, well and good; if not, harshness 
and ill-treatment is not according to di- 
vine ordinance and human justice. Thus 
we protest against any unjust treatment 
of any persons, and the Mormons and 
the Seventh Day Adventists, who are 
not less Christians than any of the other 
denominations, should be regarded the 



(See pave 72.) 



68 



THE SOUTHERN STAB. 




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Par year . . $1.00 

Six moitha . .50 

Three maotho .25 
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Altered at the Pott Office at Chattanooga, Tom., as 
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Address Box 10? 



Saturday, January 27, 1900. 



ARTICLES OF FAITH 

OP THB CHURCH OP JESUS CHRIST OP 
LATTER-DAY SAINTS. 

1. Wt belface Id CJ<kJ Lbe Eternal Fath.r, and in Bit Sea 
Jnui ChrEit* aqd in lbt flolj Ghwl. 

1. W* bclleri iBit men "ill be pQoiabed for Lbvirowa 
aiaa, aod cottar Adam"a trinurniiDD. 

S. We belies thai, Lbroofh tb* atontnieaLoE' ChriH-, *IJ 
mm kind my bl uvfd, tjjr o^disuce (• ih* 1a in anct crdi- 
cancel of tht. tiotfel. 

i. We believe that lbt Drtt principle! aod ordinance of 
lbt Gd*bel aro : Fint, Faith ia Ilia Lord J inn i Obriit ; i*randt 
RtpeDiut*; bafrd, Baptiim by imacriioii J at ihm r*mi**t&B 
of ■ I M : fop rib, U/iof TO o( liandi la? the Gift qf I ho HaJ/ 
^b«L 

(. Wt belie*! th*t a man BiDfL be ceHsd of God, bj 
" prophMj, and bjr tho Jtjint on &r hartfi/* by tbo+e who ars 
la iDLborily, to preach lb* |»p*l and id minuter ia lbt ordi- 
nance! thereof, 

Br We belike k tbr Mfflf flrfanLialioa thai exttUdJ in 
the pHmiLLyn ftbuni— m ra*J j , AdciLIm, Prupbeti, futon, 
Taaaaan. frf ogtlkt*, etc 

7, W a b*l j b^ e I q the ji f t of tnnjoei. p ro p h try , n t tlitlDfi , 
f tikmt, healing iiittrpfeUUen of toofuti, tit 

a. We believe the Bible to be the word of Ood, ii far u it 
'* triojlelvd csttwMU | we alio betiere lbt fkmk of Uoraoa 
to ht the word of UqA- 

I. We belie** ill tbil Ood bai rw*«al*d n ill Lbt t He awe 
now re* a a I, *nd ire believe that He wUJ vet reveal manv artel 
iitj important thing* peftaining to the Kiafdom of QodL 

10. We believe Iq tee b btrefn th tfi n* nf Israel aad I D tk* 
teitontloo Of the Tea Tribe?.; that Zion Will be built apon 
thJi (the American; continent; that Chritt will reigo penon- 
ally Upon the earth, and thai the earth will be renewed and 
receive iE« piriiiitiatel a^ury 

11. We claim the prmfeue of Wonhiping Almighty God 
according to lbt dfcUlet of oof ronpritrtce, and allow ill 
man the aame privilege Scl tbem worth Ip how, where, or w hat 

it We beliere la being subject to kino, presidents, m Wt, 
and aMejetrates ; la obeying, honoring and taataiaiag the law. 

14X » We believe la being bonett, una, chaste, beoevolent, 
wirtoont, and la doing good to all bms ; indeed, we may tay 
that we follow the admonition of Panl, u We beliere all thing*, 
we hope all things," we have endnrod many thina, and hope 

Sbe able to endore all thinge. If there it anything eirtnooe, 
rely, ar of good report or preieeworthy, we aaak aflar thaaa 
Siaae—JOeEPH SMITH. 



Sympathy soon forgets, but envy has 
a good memory. 



The turn in the lane always comes 
when we least expect it. 



Fame is given to a man that others 
may discover his weakness. 



Nothing extinguishes ambition so per- 
fectly as the absence of obstacles. 



Deseret News. 

"Phillips Congregational Church has 
issued a call to the Rev. B. M. Hogan, 
the present pastor of the Congregational 
Church of Park City. The Park City 
people are very loath to loose him, and 
it is not known whether he will accept 
the call from Phillips. The reverend 
gentleman has been in Park City for 
two years, coming there directly from 
the theological seminary at Chicago." 

Wonder where the Lord comes in. 



MISSIONARY LABORS. 



The Apostle Paul in speaking of the 
ancient servants of God, declared that 
the world was not worthy of them. His 
words are equally applicable to the El- 
ders of Israel in these, latter days. Called 
of God to preach the fulness of the ever- 
lasting Gospel, they go forth to the 
world '*as sheep among wolves," trusting 
in the Lord £or sustenance and protec- 
tion. Private interests and family af- 
fections—the most potent influences that 
sway the world, have no power to hold 
them back when the voice of duty bids 
them depart. Throwing down the ham- 
mer and the axe, the spade, aiid the 
plough, the palette and the pen, after a 
hurried preparation of a few days or 
hours, they bid farewell to their loved 
ones, and start for distant lands. 

Bearing their own expenses, or depend- 
ing on the bounty of hearts the Lord 
may soften, they travel among strangers 
to preach an unwelcome faith. No dif- 
ference to them if they understand not 
the language of the people where they 
labor, the certainty that God has sent 
them supports them in their trials, and 
the Spirit of the Holy One helps them 
to gain the knowledge they lack. They 
visit the poor and the. lonely, comfort the 
broken hearted, and bring liberty to the 
oppressed. 

How different from the hirelings among 
the Christian sects! Salaried and pam- 
pered, they preach for the praise of men, 
bow down to the rich and the proud, and 
tickle the itching ears of a corrupt gen- 
eration with soft and flattering spee6hes. 
The world applauds them, and receives 
their man-made creeds with gladness, 
while the messengers of heaven wander 
in their midst unnoticed or despised, ex- 
cept by a few to whom the truth is 
precious. The world, indeed, is "not 
worthy" of them. 

But is their mission properly appreci- 
ated by the Saints? Do they fully realize 
that those who come, from Zion for their 
benefit, although laboring, perhaps, in 
weakness, bear upon them the holy 
anointing? Do they receive their teach- 
ings with thankfulness? Do they admin- 
ister to them in carnal things, as they 
are administered to in spiritual things? 
These are questions that the Saints will 
do well to think upon. 

There is, however, another view of 
this subject. Although the missionaries 
from Zion are often placed in trying po- 
sitions, yet, after all, in their efforts to 
do good, they are the persons who re- 
ceive the greatest benefit. Opportunities 
are afforded them to improve their minds, 
to obtain a knowledge of the world, of 
manners and customs, of countries, 
kingdoms, languages, laws, and princi- 
ples, such as many of them have never 
had before in their lives. They are 
brought in contact with all kinds of 
people, and may thus obtain a better 
knowledge of human nature, than, per- 
haps, could be gained under any other 
circumstances; above all this, they are 
compelled, if they desire to magnify 
their callings, to draw near unto the 
Lord for continual help and guidance, 
and in the. blessings thus obtained, they 
may gain a clearer comprehension of 
their holy religion, a more lively faith in 
God, and a testimony of the truth, cer- 
tain, immovable, and everlasting. 

And when their mission is fulfilled, if 



accomplished honorably, what joyful 
feelings fill their hearts on their return 
to the Prophets of God and their fami- 
lies and friends in Zion! The conscious- 
ness of having kept themselves pure 
nud undefined in the midst of a wicked 
and adulterous generation, will endow 
them with a holy boldness, and stamp 
them with an evidence of faithfulness, 
which will increase unto them the confi- 
dence and esteem of their leaders. But 
how miserable must be their condition, 
and how sad and desponding their feel- 
ings, if they should go home knowing 
that their garments are spotted, their 
sacred covenant violated, and the glory 
of their Priesthood dimmed and tar- 
nished. Shades of darkness would real 
upon their brow, and the misery of hell 
upon their hearts! 

Elders of Israel! strive to make your 
missions profitable and honorable! Not 
profitable in dollars and cents, but in the 
enduring riches of eternity, in the rich 
'faith. Not honorable in the estimation 
of the wicked, but in having the favor 
of God, the confidence and esteem of 
your leaders, and the blessings of the 
honest in heart. Then your glory shall 
be as an eternal sun, and your light shall 
shine forever and ever. 

Let the Saints in these lands give dili- 
gent heed to the instructions which the 
servants of God have to deliver to them, 
and esteem it as a privilege to be per- 
mitted to assist them in their labors; 
for by so doing they will be walking 
in a safe path, and will be entitled to 
share in the glory of the work that is 
accomplished. And let all the world 
hearken unto the voice of these men of 
God, who are foregoing the joys of 
home and its sweet companionships for 
their enlightenment. Receive them into 
your houses, open your halls and meet- 
ing places, that they may preach unto 
you the words of eternal life, and you 
may learn how to escape the overwhelm- 
ing scourge that is about to come forth 
upon all the earth, and to obtain salva- 
tion in the kingdom of our God. — Mil- 
leuial Star, Vol. 29. 



Leo Appoints His Successor. 

It is asserted that the Pope, after the 
recent ceremony of opening the holy door 
at St. Peter's cathedral, addressed his 
intimate entourage and said: 

"1 thank divine Providence for grant- 
ing me the grace of being able to cele- 
brate this great function, and I wish for 
my successor grandeur and long reign, 
to the greater glory of God. 

"My successor will be young, as com- 
pared with my own age, and will have 
time to see many glories of the papacy 
and the church." 

Later, Leo clearly designated Cardinal 
Cirolemano Maria Gotti, prefect of the 
congregation of indulgences and sacred 
relics, as his successor. Cardinal Gotti, 
the famous Genoese monk, is a man of 
great piety and modesty. Now about 64 
years of age, he always lived the life of 
an ascetic, and despite the dignity of a 
priuce of the church, he always sleeps 
in a cell and on a hard mattress. 



Have patience awhile: slanders are not 
long-lived. Truth is the child of time: 
ere long she shall appear to vindicate 
thee. 

—Kant. 



THE SOUTHERN STAR 



| PRESIDENT RICH REPLIES 

I TO DR. BROUGHER'S TIRADE, f 



The following letter was written by 
President Rich in reply to an unjust at- 
tack on "Mormonism" made by Dr. 
Brougher, of the First Baptist church, 
of this city (Chattanooga): 

Chattanooga, Dec. 25. 
Hev. J. Wblt comb Brougher, Chattanooga, 
Tenn. 

My Dear Sir — Upon my return from 
Chicago Friday evening my attention 
was called to an article in the Chatta- 
nooga News of Dec. 18, 1899, purporting 
to be a partial report of a sermon deliv- 
ered by you, in your church, the First 
Baptist, on the subject of "Mormonism 
and Polygamy." I take it from what 
parties who were present have told me 
that the report is substantially correct. 
I am an Elder in the Church of Jesus 
Christ of Latter-day Saints, in charge 
of the "Mormon" missionary work in the 
south, headquarters in this city and as 
a representative of the people whom you 
have without foundation so unjustly 
charged with being all that is unholy, I 
feel it a duty, so far as possible, in a short 
letter, to disproved your unwarranted 
attack. With a desire to be fair I hope, 
as a matter of justice, that you will 
deign to read and, consider what follows 
as a reply to the very unkind things you 
have said about an honest, God-fearing 
people. There are two sides to every 
question, and the good book, which you 
claim to take for your "rule of faith and 
practice," says he that judgeth a matter 
before he heareth it is not wise. 

It is apparent, from the newspaper re- 
port, that you are either woefully ignor- 
ant of what the world is pleased to 
nick-name Mormonism, or else you are 
filled with prejudice and prompted by 
sinister motives. Certainly no intelli- 
gent, fair-minded person would make the 
statements attributed to you on that 
Sunday evening, in this enlightened age, 
if only a casual investigation, of the sub- 
ject in hand, had been made. We admit 
that, like the Saints 1800 years ago, we 
are everywhere spoken evil against, and 
your sermon has the appearance of be- 
ing conceived in the gall of bitterness, 
and contains all the earmarks of certain 
tracts that have been written and widely 
distributed by our enemies. The News 
stated you handled the subject without 
gloves, and I trust that if occasionally, 
in the course of this letter, I exhibit the 
bare knuckles, you will not be offended. 
I assure you that my only desire in writ- 
ing this is to set you right,* if you are 
after truth, on the question of salvation; 
and to correct the general impression 
"can any good come out of Nazareth" 
created against my people by the many 
falsehoods circulated about them. 

Your first misstatement is that "Mor- 
monism is based on a tissue of lies." Did 
you have the Bible in view when you 
said this, or where did you obtain the in- 
formation? Had you, before delivering 
your sermon, ever conversed with a 
"Mormon?" iHave you ever read any 
of our works, treating on the founding 
and the fundamental pfinciples of the 
religion you are seeking to belittle and 
trample in the mire? You failed to 
quote any authority for this extraordi- 
nary assertion, and surely you would not 
go to the writings of a Methodist minis- 
ter, or the writinps of some enemy of 



Mormonism as authority on our belief. 
If you wished to learn of the Catholic 
faith would it be fair to obtain your in- 
formation from a Presbyterian clergy- 
man? In all fairness should not the rule 
you apply to others apply to us? You 
have simply quoted from our enemies. 
By using that rule of reasoning we can 
even do away with the resurrection of 
the Master, for did not the Roman sol- 
diers say that Christ was not resurrect- 
ed, but that while they slept the friends 
of the Redeemer came and stole the body 
away? Only the friends of Christ said 
He was risen, and you build your faith 
on what our Savior and His friends 
said. In handling this question why did 
you not take the Bible, "the rule of your 
faith and practice," and expose "Mor- 
niohism" principle by principle? Perhaps 
you have profited by the experience of 
others before you and are too wise to 
undertake such a large contract? Our 
faith would be popular today if it had 
only a form of godliness, and we defy 
you or any other man, to prove from the 
Bible, or the great book of reason, that 
"Mormonism is based on a tissue of 
lies." 

You say that Joseph Smith was an idle, 
vicious, disreputable young man, etc. 
Again, we ask from what source did you 
receive your information? Again the an- 
swer comes back, from our enemies. 
Joseph Smith was an honest, sober, in- 
dustrious young man, and we can fur- 
nish just as many reputable witnesses to 
this effect as you can furnish that he was 
the embodiment of all that was bad. 
Why, the enemies of our Savior said He 
was a winebibber, a blasphemer, etc. 
Did that prove Him such? In the case 
of Christ you would answer no, but in 
the case of Joseph Smith we presume 
you would say yes. According to a 
brass tablet, found in the year 1280 
among a quantity of records of the King- 
dom of Naples, in the city of Aguilla, 
Pontius Pilate sentenced Jesus to be 
nailed to the cross for six reasons, as 
follows: 

"1. Jesus is a disturber of the peace. 

"2. Jesus has taught the people sedi- 
tion. 

**3. Jesus is an enemy of the laws. 

"4. Jesus calls Himself the Son of 
God. 

"5. Jesus calls Himself the King of 
Israel. 

"6. Jesus disturbed the worship of the 
temple by leading a mob of people with 
palms in their hands." 

This sounds very much like the usual 
charges made against Joseph Smith and 
the Mormon Elders, at the present time, 
does it not? Joseph Smith sealed his 
testimony with his blood. He was 
dragged before the courts of the land, 
by his enemies, some forty-eight times, 
and the courts always pronounced him 
not guilty. Go to the court records and 
see. His enemies admitted they could 
not reach him through the law, and de- 
clared that powder and ball should. 

Evidently you have heard of the Book 
of Mormon, for you mention it. Get one 
and read it, and then you will be better 
able to tell what the Latter-day Saints 
claim for that sacred book. You claim 
the Book of Mormon found its origin in 
the old Solomon Spaulding MSS. Your 



reference to this long since exploded the- 
ory as accounting for this book gives one 
who is the least bit informed a key to 
the ancientness of the falsehoods from 
which you preached your sermon. After 
you have read the Book of Mormon go 
to Oberlin college, Oberlin, O., and there 
examine the old Spaulding MSS., and 
compare the two; then, if you are wise, 
you will never rehash that old dried up 
argument again. The Book of Mormon 
does not conflict in points of doctrine 
with the Bible, and it gives a history of 
the people who once inhabited this con- 
tinent, accounting for the origin of the 
American Indians. 

You again display your ignorance of 
the subject in hand when you say that we 
place Joseph Smith above Jesus Christ. 
A greater falsehood never was told, but 
we are pleased to inform you that we 
believe Joseph Smith to be a Prophet of 
God, and that he was the instrument in 
the hand of God in restoring again the 
Gospel to earth. Is this a crime? If 
we believed more in Joseph Smith than 
in Jesus, would we not have named the 
church after him, as some of our ene- 
mies have named theirs after their 
founders, instead of calling it the 
Church of Jesus v-fcrist of Latter-day 
Saints? You know on one occasion the 
Saints were asking Paul about the sec- 
ond coming of our Savior, and Paul, in 
second Thes. 2:3-4, said that He (Jesus) 
was not to come until or except there 
should be a falling away first, showing 
that there was to be an apostacy from 
the Gospel. Space will not permit me to 
quote the many other passages in the 
Bible proving that there was to be an 
apostacy, and that in the latter days a 
restoration was to take place, as per 
the dream of Nebuchadnezzar, inter- 
preted by Daniel, and according to Rev- 
elations, 14th chapter, 0th verse, the 
restoration was to be made by an angel. 
Now, if that restoration has not been 
made, it is yet to be made, and believers 
in the Bible at least should be looking 
for that angel which was to fly through 
the midst of heaven. No doubt you be- 
lieve that we are living in the latter 
days, and we ask, is there anything un- 
reasonable, especially if we consider 
Holy Writ, in our claiming that the 
angel seen by John has flown, appeared 
to Joseph Smith, and thus fulfilled the 
prophecy that the Gospel was to be re- 
stored? We can give you an abundance 
of Scripture to prove our point, and if 
you would read our literature you would 
have a much more intelligent conception 
of "Mormonism and Polygamy." To 
truth seekers, those whp are willing to 
lay aside hatred, prejudice, and investi- 
gate, we say we are prepared to give 
reason and Scripture to prove every doc- 
trine we advocate. Robert Ingersol 
says, in his "Best Argument Against 
Christianity," that there is more proof 
for the miracles of Joseph Smith than 
there is for those performed by Christ. 

Another proposition laid down by you 
is "its doctrines are likewise 

Pernicious and Blasphemous." 
Then you quote from the Journal of Dis- 
courses and dilate upon our belief in the 
materiality of God, etc. . We are very 
sorry to know that you deny the exist- 
ence of a God that is to some extent 
comprehensible, and you again make 
yourself ridiculous in the eyes of those 
who know something of both sides of 
the question. You put it down as blas- 
phemy to believe it possible that we, 
the children (remember children) of God, 
can become like unto our Father. Did 
you ever analyze "Our Father which 
art in heaven?" Your "rule of faith and 



70 



THE SOUTHERN STAB. 



practice" says man was created in the 
image of God. It further says that Je- 
sus, our elder brother, was in the image 
of God, so much so that He said "he 
that hath seen me hath seen the Father." 
Why did He say this? Because Jesus 
was in the "express image" of the 
Father, and in seeing one, we would 
virtually see the other. Jesus had flesh 
and bones, a body like ours, and the 
Bible informs us that He ascended into 
heaven after His resurrection, having 
the same body that He had at the time 
of His crucifixion. Jesus was so much 
like other men that He was called the 
carpenter's son, and for daring to say 
He was the Son of God His enemies 
hanged Him on the cross. Now, as 
Jesus was like we are, and is like we are, 
having a body of flesh and bones, and is 
in the express image of the Father, must 
not God have a body of flesh and bones? 
How will you twist the Scripture to make 
Him out otherwise? What do you think 
of Jesus becoming so corrupt as to eat 
flsh after His resurrection? Are you 
prepared to say He did not? Do you 
remember that the angel said (Acts 
1:11), "Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye 
gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, 
which is taken up from you into heaven, 
shall so come in like manner as ye have 
seen Him go into heaven?" Jesus went 
away into heaven with a body of flesh 
and bones. Do you think He will return, 
as promised, with a body of flesh and 
bones, or do you think He will be just a 
shadow? Now, is it blasphemy, accord- 
ing to Scripture, to believe Ged to be a 
tangible being, with body, parts and pas- 
sions? Are we criminals, and to be 
ostracized from society, for believing in 
the Bible? We refer to a living, prac- 
tical belief. In your researches of. the 
Bible perhaps you have relied too much 
on "Commentries" (private interpreta- 
tions of the Scripture), and if you will 
call at our office we will be pleased to 
point out to you many essential truths 
which apparently have escaped your no- 
tice, and which space will not permit 
giving in this short communication. 

You will remember that the "wise 
men" took issue with Jesus, and that He 
chose the illiterate fisherman to be His 
chief Apostle. Is it not possible that the 
"wise men" of today might learn wis- 
dom pertaining to salvation from the 
humble "Mormon" Elder? Pardon the 
digression. I said that you denied 

The Existence of a God, 
and if the' above is not sufficient I will 
now prove it to you. You are in a worse 
condition than the infidel, because the 
infidel says "I don't know," while a defi- 
nition of your God implies a pure and 
simple "nothing," an "immaterial" be- 
ing. You charge us of believing in a ma- 
terial God— "gross materiality" you call 
it, a God with body, parts and passions, 
etc., which from what you have read 
above, you will see we are pleased to 
acknowledge. From your charge we can 
take it in no other way, and arrive at 
no other conclusion than that you be- 
lieve in a God without body, parts and 
passion, and as the definition goes, no- 
where present yet everywhere present, 
etc. The definition of your God 

Reminds Me of a Story. 
At a circus one clown asked a brother 
clown if he had ever seen "nothing." 
The answer was in the negative. Well, 
says the first, I will show it to you; shut 
your eyes. The second shut his eyes 
and the first said: "What do you see?" 
The answer came "nothing." Just as I 
expected," said the first, "you have seen 
it, open your eyes." Now, Brother 
Brougher, shut your eyes and what do 



you see? "Nothing," of course; well, 
that's him. The mysterious Santa Claus 
is "not in it" with such a being. Let me 
ask now seriously, can you conceive of 
anything "immaterial?" Pray how are 
we to know a being without a body, 
parts, or passions? John says it is life 
eternal to know God, but it is a puzzler 
to figure out how we can know a being 
that is everywhere present and yet no- 
where present. Are you not mistaken? 
Of course the things of God are under- 
stood by the Spirit of God, but it surely 
would take a very strong pair of spirit- 
ual spectacles to see a being that is no- 
where present, without parts,' or body 
to see. Perhaps you will turn away 
from this in disgust, and impatiently say 
that I don't understand the beauty of 
your god, but how can I understand the 
beauty if it has none? Can you figure 
anything but zero out of it? Come, be 
honest (if you can't be decent) and for- 
sake your idol. 

There are many passages in the Bible 
to prove that 

God Hai a Body, Parts and Passions, 
flesh and bones, just as have His chil- 
dren. For instance, Adam heard the 
voice of the Lord, Gen. 3:9-10. He must 
have a voice. God talked with Noah, 
Gen. 13-21, and remembered Noah, 8-1. 
So He must have a mouth, tongue and a 
memory. Abraham ate and talked with 
the Lord, Gen. 18. Jacob saw God face 
to face. Moses talked to Him as one 
speaks with a friend, Ex. 33-11. Moses 
saw His back parts, Ex. 23, the heavens 
are the work of Thine hands, Heb. 1:10, 
and John says in Revelation, first chap- 
ter, that God has a head, and that He 
has hair like wool. From these passages 
we learn that God has a face, back parts, 
head, hair, hands, etc., and it ought to be 
conclusive evidence of God being a rea- 
sonable being. Then the Bible is full of 
passages telling us of the love, mercy, 
hatred, etc., of our Father in heaven, 
which are all passions, are they not? We 
have only referred to a few quotations on 
this point, but before closing the subject 
I cannot refrain from quoting Deut. 
4:28, which says "that the time should 
come when the children of Israel should 
so far degrade themselves as to worship 
gods, the work of men's hands, wood 
and stone, which neither see nor hear, 
nor eat nor smell." Can you get any in- 
ference from this Scripture other than 
that God^s possessed of all these facul- 
ties? Are you certain you are not an Is- 
raelite, come to fulfill the above proph- 
ecy? Can you show one passage of 
Scripture to prove that God has neither 
body, parts, nor passions? No, you can- 
not. 

You make the terrible charge that 
We Believe In Many Gods. 
We solemnly plead guilty to believing in 
many Gods. If this is a crime it is time 
for a new translation of the Holy Scrip- 
tures. Does not the good book say "and 
God said, let us make man in our own 
image?" What are you going to do with 
the words "us" and "our" in this Scrip- 
ture? Does this not prove a plurality of 
Gods? Ex. 16-11 says "who is like unto 
Thee, O Lord, among the Gods?" Deut. 
10-17: "Lord your God is God of Gods, 
and Lord of Lords." Paul also refers to 
the King of Kings and the Lord of 
Lords, I Tim. 6-15, also see 2 Chron. 
2-5, Psalms 86-5, Dan. 2-47, Dan. 4-8, 
Dan. 11-36. If you desire any more 
Scripture on this subject we will be 
pleased to give you chapter and verse. 
Notwithstanding, we believe that there 
are many Gods, we worship only one 
God, the Father of Jesus Christ. Our 



enemies do not put it in this light, do 
they? The devil is anxious to have you 
believe a lie and be damned. 

You next prate about "Mormonism" 
being 

"A System of Lust" 

and that "social purity" is almost an un- 
known quantity in Utah, and sing the 
old familiar song about polygamy. Don't 
you think you could do better by looking 
closer to home? If the truth were known 
you would probably find more polygamy 
(on the European plan) than ever was 
known among the Mormons (on the Pa- 
triachial plan). In fact, you say adul- 
tery and fornication are destroying the 
nation. We agree with you that these 
evils exist to an alarming extent, but 
most emphatically deny that there is any 
more cause, at least, to make the Mor- 
mons a special object of purity work 
than there is to purify other communi- 
ties. If Mormonism is indeed a mon- 
ster, as you claim, and if social purity, 
us you assert, is almost unknown among 
us, then what a horrible condition the 
Mormon people must be in. But stay; 
the Master says "By their fruits ye shall 
know them." Mormonism goes into the • 
entire civilized world, and in this age, 
as in the days of Christ, it is the poor, 
and you will claim the ignorant, who 
embrace it. Very well, Mormonism takes 
them to a place where you claim social 
purity is almost unknown; what a hor- 
rible condition these poor ignorant, de- 
luded creatures must be in in a few 
years. 

Now, listen, Brother Brougher, 90 per 
cent, of the Mormon people 

Live In Their Own Homes 

and upon their own farms. Utah stands 
equal to Massachusetts, in education, the 
rate of illiteracy is about 3 per cent.: 
she stands head and shoulders above 90 x 
per cent, of the states in the union, when 
it comes to educational facilities, and 
until the advent of what you call civili- 
zation came to Christianize us poor 
heathens, there were no brothels or sa- 
loons in Utah. And yet, social purity, 
you say, is almost unknown among us. I 
leave the public to judge the tree by its 
fruits, and in passing your wholesale libel 
upon men, women and children, will 
drop you by saying if "from the abund- 
ance of the heart the mouth speaketh." 
To your heart let me say "thou shalt 
not lie," and "thou shalt not bear false 
witness," while to your mouth let me 
prescribe soap and water. I do not care to 
Discuss Polygamy 

with you, because there is a law in Ten- 
nessee against teaching it, and punish- 
ing those who do teach it; we should 
obey the law, and right here let me in- 
form you that the twelfth article of our 
faith reads: "We believe in being sub- 
ject to kings, presidents, rulers and mag- 
istrates, in obeying, honoring and sus- 
taining the law." This part of our re- 
ligion is taught and as carefully kept as 
any other part of our religion. How- 
ever, Roberts will be cast out of the 
House of Representatives, and you min- 
isters who are to receive congratulations 
for accomplishing this mighty victory 
over B. H. Roberts should keep your 
sleeves rolled up until you succeed in 
also banishing the polygamous Bible 
from the national headquarters. The 
Bible teaches polygamy, and, looking 
through your eyeglasses, is therefore an- 
tagonistic to the "purity of the Ameri- 
can home," and a law breaker, in the 
state of Tennessee. I enter this com- 
plaint against the Divine record, and 
will now proceed to convict the prisoner 
at the bar. In accusing the Bible of be- 



THE SOUTHERN STAR. 



71 



ing antagonistic to purity in the Ameri- 
can home, by charging that it teaches 
polygamy, I ask that, in addition to the 
evidence which I shaH produce, all the 
evidence introduced against Roberts be 
accepted and made a part of the case. 
Now, if I can establish that the Bible 
is a teacher of polygamy, I contend I 
have made my case, and ask that the 
law be enforced and the offending parts 
of the Bible cast out. 

Abraham was a polygamist and the 
friend of God. God knew he was a 
polygamist when He made him His 
friend. Jacob had four wives, and their 
polygamous sons, we are informed, are 
to be honored by having their names 
inscribed over the pearly gates of the 
beautiful city. Suppose you were to 
fool Saint Peter and get into heaven, 
how would you feel clasped to the bosom 
of the polygamous Abraham? Do you 
suppose you can sufficiently humble your- 
self to go in at one of those polygamous 
gates and mingle with the polygamous 
sons of Jacob? Moses had more than 
one wife, and yet he was a Prophet of 
God. Just think of a polygamist leading 
the chosen people of the Lord. All the 
Judges of Israel and all her chosen kings 
which were appointed by God, including 
Saul, David and Solomon, were polyga- 
mists, and the descendants of these po- 
lygamists were highly honored of the 
Lord. The Prophet Samuel, and even 
Jesus, our Savior, came through polyga- 
mous lineage. The Bible also says that 
polygamous relations shall exist in the 
last days when men would become deci- 
mated, that their scarcity would cause 
seven women to take hold of one man 
and desire to be called by his name to 
take away their reproach, Isa. 4-1. Are 
we not informed that David did not sin 
except in the case of Uriah, the Hitite? 
Did not the Lord say through Nathan 
the prophet that he, the Lord, had given 
David Saul's wives? If all these parties 
could find favor with God, although they 
were polygamists and God knew it, 
would it be unscriptural to believe that 
polygamists might find favor with our 
Hoavenly Father in these days? The 
Bible does not say that we shall have no 
more than one wife, and can we get any- 
thing else out of these instances than 
that the Bible sanctions polygamy? Of 
course you will say that Paul says a 
Bishop is to be the husband of one wife, 
but we ask does he say a Bishop cannot 
have more than one wife? Now, from 
these passages of Scripture. I ask that 
the prisoner, the Bible, be convicted and 
be punished under the laws of Tennes- 
see. 

We are charged with being 

"Disloyal and Un-American." 

To substantiate this statement would 
you bring forth the record of the famous 
Utah batteries in the Philippines? Or 
would you point to the Mormon battalion 
in the war with Mexico, or to the raising 
of the stars and stripes on Ensign Peak, 
when the Mormon Pioneers entered Salt 
Lake valley? Kindly furnish proof. 
Your rule of faith and practice says "by 
their fruits ye shall know them," and 
we are perfectly willing to be judged by 
that rule, in loyalty as in all other things. 

To create a greater impression upon 
your hearers, I am also informed that 
you said we would be willing to pay the 
railroad fare of any of the fair mothers 
and daughters of this land to Utah, if 
they could but be induced to identify 
themselves with this "monstrous and de- 
stroying system." Did you believe that 
when you said it? We again ask for 



proof. Remember that the burden of 
proof falls on the accuser. This is only 
another of the falsehoods circulated 
about the Latter-day Saints, and you 
cannot point to a single instance. We do 
no coax, or persuade, or inveigle people 
into our church. We lay before them 
the principles of the Gospel, and if they 
want to accept them, all well and good, 
we rejoice over it, but if they do not 
choose to accept it, we do not send them 
to the bottom of a bottomless pit, there 
to fall into a lake of fire and brimstone 
and burn, and sizzle and fry forever and 
forever. Your hell is as big a mon- 
strocity as your god. Incomprehensible, 
unfathomable, beyond the bounds of time 
and space, reason and everything else. 

I must not forget the preface of your 
remarks to the effect that there were 
some things about the "Mormon" church 
that 

Mast be Given Up 
before it could be looked upon as a 
Christian church. What constitutes a 
Christian? Is it not one who lives up to 
the Gospel of Christ? We are very anx- 
ious to be set right; if we are wrong, we 
would like you to take your "rule of 
faith and practice" and point out to us 
wherein we differ with the Bible. I 
have made somewhat of a study of the 
teachings of our Savior, and would be 
pleased to have you answer the following 
questions, keeping in view the injunction 
of Isaiah, "to the law and to the testi- 
mony, and if they speak not according 
to these words it is because there is no 
light in them;" also the word of Paul to 
the Gallatian Saints to the effect "if any 
man preach any other Gospel than that 
which he preached, let him be accursed." 
First, where does the Bible give you au- 
thority to call your church "The First 
Baptist?" In Ephesians 5:23-24 it is re- 
corded as wives take husbands' names, so 
the church takes the Savior's name (Jesus 
Christ); how do you harmonize that pas- 
sage with the name of your church? Can 
you find any other name * given God's 
people than "Saints" of the Most High? 
Who Called Yon to Preach? 

Paul says, Heb. 5:4, "and no man tak- 
eth this honor unto himself but he that 
is called of God as was Aaron." Re- 
member Paul says "no man," and you 
know Aaron was called by revelation 
through a Prophet of God. Were you 
called by a Prophet of God? If you say 
the Bible gives you athority to preach, 
then "any man" can get a Bible and 
thereby have authority to preach, bap- 
tize and minister in the ordinances of 
the Gospel. 

On the same principle, and with as 
much propriety, I could purchase a law 
book and set myself up to be a justice of 
the peace, or Governor of Tennessee. Is 
this not so? "Now therefore ye are no 
more strangers and foreigners, but fel- 
low-citizens with the Saints, and of the 
household of God; and are built upon 
the foundation of the Apostles and 
Prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the 
chief corner-stone in whom all the build- 
ing fitly framed together groweth into 
an holy temple in the Lord." (Bph. 2:18- 
21.) No one will dispute that the foun- 
dation of Apostles and Prophets is rev- 
elation. Christ said to Peter: "Upon 
this rock I will build my church, and the 
gates of hell shall not prevail against 
it." Is your church founded on revela- 
tion—living, modern, and not dead? 
"And He gave some, Apostles; and some, 
Prophets; and some, evangelists; and 
some, pastors and teachers; for the per- 
fecting of the Saints, for the work of 
the ministry, for the edifying of the 
body of Christ: till we all come in the 
unity of the faith, and of the knowledge 



of the Sou of God, etc. (Kph. 4.) Have 
you Prophets and Apostles in your 
church? These officers were to remain in 
the church until "we all" come to a unity 
of the faith. 

Are We to a Unity? 
Surely you and I are not in a unity of 
the faith, and what about the huudreds 
of other denominations claiming to be 
the true followers of Christ? Do we 
need perfecting and edifying? If so, wo 
must need Prophets, and Apostles, and 
all the other officers mentioned by Paul, 
to perfect us, and to keep us from being 
driven and tossed to and fro by every 
wind of doctrine. Can you find any 
Scripture changing this order of things? 
You cannot. 

Do you believe that signs shall follow 
the believers, as recorded in Mark, 10th 
chapter? We have no record of this 
promise to the believers being repealed, 
and Paul says (1 Cor., 13th chapter), 
that spiritual gifts were to remain in the 
church until that which is perfect is 
come. Has perfection come? Peter says 
(Acts 2:38) that baptism is for the re- 
mission of sins. Do you believe it? 

You teach that 

Baptism i» Not E»»entlal 
to salvation, and that it is only an out- 
ward sign of an inward grace. Jesus 
says, Mark 16:16: "He that believeth 
and is baptized shall be saved; but he 
that believeth not (and consequently is 
not baptized) shall be damned." 

Peter commanded the people on the 
day of Pentecost to be baptized. Peter 
was the chief Apostle and had the power 
to bind on earth and it should be. bound 
in heaven. Does this not make baptism 
a command of God? If it is a command 
of God, is it not essential to salvation? 
If this is not essential, why not do away 
with that part of the commission which 
commands His disciples to go and 
preach? Are you sure the teachings of 
your church are in strict accord with the 
Divine record? 

James says, 5:14-15: "Is any sick 
among you, let him call for the Elders 
of the church: and let them pray over 
him, annoint him with oil in the name of 
the Lord; and the prayer of faith shall 
save the sick, and the Lord shall raise 
him up; and if he have committed siu, 
they shall be forgiven him." Do you 
call for the Elders? You took for 

Your Subject Last Niffht 

"If Christ should come to Chattanooga, 
where would He go?" Now, Brother 
Brougher, stand up. If He should come, 
where would He go? He commanded 
that His Gospel should be made free * 
and His ministers should travel without 
purse or scrip. If He were hunting for 
His friends, would He call upon those 
who declare that His promises have fall- 
en to the ground unfulfilled, and that the 
blessings do not follow the believers? 
He has placed Apostles and Prophets in 
the church, with a decree that they 
should remain until we all come to a 
unity of the faith. Would He call those 
His friends who declare "they are no 
longer needed and are not to remain un- 
til we all come to a unity of the faith?" 
He told the generation to whom He came 
(1800 years ago) that their great sin 
consisted in worshiping dead Prophets, 
while they persecuted those who be- 
lieved in living oracles. Would He call 
on those who engage in the same busi- 
ness today? He never resorted to abuse 
for an argument. If He came would He 
love those who do? He was not a char- 
acter assassin. Would He love those 
who are? But stay, we do not know 
where He would go, or who He would 
call upon, because when He was here 



72 


THE SOUTHERN STAR. 




REPORT OF MISSION CONFERENCES FOR WEEK ENDING JAN. 6, 1899. 



FRBS1DHNT 



D.H.Elton 

HeberS. Olson, 

B. F. Price 

John Peter :• 

W. D. Rene her. 

T. H. Humpberys 

C. G. Parker. 

J. Urban A iJrcd 

J. M. Haws 

8yl vaster Low, Jr ,. 
O. D. Flake... 

D. A. Broad bent 

J. Lewis HobsoQ ... 

W. H. Boyle^ 

L.M. Terry 

Geo. E. May cock >,< 



CONFItaKWCS 



thai la not iga ..... 

Virginia. 

Kentucky „.„ ,.. 

£. Tennesaa 

Georgia 

N. Alabama. 

Florida 

Mid. Stout 

N. Carolina 

8 Carolina,,. ,„. 

MiwilFBippi .. 

E. Kentucky..,.., 

I^ouialana 

8. Alabama.^.,.. 
H.Kemucky..,,., 
Ohio....... .. 



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Boat 8BS f Richmond * M 

Battletowti .. M 

Dayton ...♦ ....h.^.^.^ 

Augusta ,.— .♦...*...., 

Memphis «. ...... 

LnJu, « 

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Go Id* bo to.*,* . . « . . .... . ( ... 

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Tenn 

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Kentucky 

Tennessee. 

Georgia. 

Tennessee 

Florida. 

TeuniMsee. 

N. Carolina 

8, Carolina. 

Mississippi 

Kentucky. 

Louisiana. 

Florida. 

Kentucky. 

Ohio. 



before He said: "I came not to call 
the righteous, but sinners, to repent- 
ance," and He might say that His mis- 
sion was not entirely finished, so we 
cannot tell where He would go, and so 
you might see him. 

Now, Brother Brougher, just a word. 
Did you ever listen to an argument 
against "Mormons" from the standpoint 
of Scripture and reason? No, yon never 
have and you never will. Did it ever 
occur to you that it was a most coward- 
ly ambition which induces you to attack 
a party in a place and at a time when 
retaliation would have been anything but 
decent? If so, will you grant us the 
privilege of defending ourselves, from 
the pulpit and before that congregation 
which were so disgraced by your tirade 
on Sunday evening? 

Now, in concluscion, let me say that 
we are not here to stir up strife, but we 
propose to defend ourselves whenever at- 
tacked, so I close, wishing you a merry 
Christmas and a happy New Year. 

BEN E. RICH. 



Releases and Appointments. 

Released. 

J. A. Wright. 
J. H Moss. 

Appointment*. 

John S. Knight and Niels Behrniau, 
Virginia. 

Royal A. Palmer, North Carolina. 

James H. Stocks, Chattanooga. 

John V. Sperry, Florida. 

Nahum B. Porter, East Tennessee. 

David Sudworth, Anthony J. Stod- 
dard and Emily S. Hunsaker, Ohio. 
Transfers 

John S. Sears, East Tennessee to 
Chattanooga (office). 

Ben Hunsaker, South Alabama to 
Ohio. 

J. D. Burnett, Ohio to Chattanooga. 



Franklin's Maxims. 

The rolling stones gather no moss. 

Diligence is the mother of good luck. 

He that goes a-borrowing returns sor- 
rowing. 

Rather go to bed supperless than rise 
in debt. 

Creditors have better memories than 
debtors. 

Sloth, like rust, consumes faster than 
labor wears. 

Extravagance and improvidence end at 
the prison door. 

If you would have your business done, 
go; if not, send. 

What maintains one vice would bring 
up two children. 

Pride is as loud as want and a great 
deal more saucy. 

It is easier to build two chimneys than 
to keep one in fuel. 



RABBI WEISS ON " M0RH0NISM." 



(From paye 67.) 



same. All men must be treated right! 

This is the spirit of true religion. With 
this sentiment imbedded in our hearts, 
we abide in the tabernacle of God — we 
dwell in His holy hill, the lofty eminence 
of true'religion. Walking uprightly is a 
part of religion, yet if we do not we are 
held accountable for our actions by so- 
ciety and law. But speaking truth in 
our heart and having no slander on our 
tongue, doing no evil to our neighbor 
and bearing no reproach against our 
fellow-man, characterizes in us true re- 
ligion. Let me say here that it is not my 
definition, but the spirit of the text, for 
neighbor and fellow-man throughout 
Scripture literature applies to non-Israel- 
ites. Israelites were always called 
brothers, so when that commandment 
that tells us not to l>ear false witness 
against our neighbor, strictly means not 
to speak evil against any man, nor fol- 
low any religion at all, we are neverthe- 
less the creatures of the same God and 
the children "of the same Father. 



A Testimony. 

Sister Augustus May bush, of Staunton, 
Va., asks space, which we gladly grant, 
to express her testimony. 

She attended services conducted by the 
Latter-day Saint Elders and was so im- 
pressed with what they said that she de- 
termined to put into practice some of the 
teachings of these Elders, viz., to ask 
the Lord the proper way to go. She 
humbly prayed to the Lord, and did also, 
the very necessary part of an investi- 
gator, informed her mind of the doc- 
trine. 

She now bears this testimony: "I 
want to bear testimony that the Church 
of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is 
the true Church of Jesus, our Redeemer, 
and that the doctrine as taught by the 
sect called 'Mormon' is in truth the pure 
Gospel of Jesus Christ." 



THE DEAD. 



J. W. Hedgpeth, of Haymer, Autauga 
county, Ala., departed this life Dec. 3d, 
1800, after an illness of one month. He 
was a faithful Latter-day Saint and 
leaves a wife and one son, besides a 
host of friends, to mourn his loss. 

Hyrum Baird. 

Mary A. C. Scoggins, of Swan Sta- 
tion, Moore county, North Carolina, 
passed away Dec. 13th, 1809. She was 
devoted to her religion and lived a faith- 
ful life. 

W. W. Butler. 



ABSTRACTS FROM CORRESPONDENCE 

From Elder Brighara Clegg, laboring 
in Kentucky, we have received an arti- 
cle, in which he compares "Former-day" 
with "Latter-day" religion. He states 
that the manner of "getting religion" 
has so changed that if Christ were now 
to visit one of these modern churches He 
would have difficulty in noting any re- 
semblance between the church He or- 
ganized and the churches of today. Jesus 
ordained Apostles and Seventies, who 
went forth by twos to preach the Gospel. 
No salary was paid to them, they had 
received freely and were in a like man- 
ner to give freely. 

He further comments upon the meth- 
ods of "getting religion," and says: "We 
'get religion' as we learn to shun evil 
and do what is right. We 'get religion' 
as we follow the footsteps of our model 
of perfection — Christ." 



Sister Mary J. Ashcraft, of Altitude, 
Miss., writes to us concerning her con- 
version. She relates that through ear- 
nest prayer information was given to 
her whereby she was enabled to find the 
truth. Before her conversion she was 
an invalid, and had heen such for twenty 
years. Since that time she has been 
healed and is now as strong and robust 
as she ever was in her life. She bears 
witness that the doctrine of Jesus Christ 
cannot be understood by carnal-minded 
persons, and that to enjoy and appre- 
ciate it we must live pure and holy 
lives. Then we will be strong in the 
Lord and able to stand the persecutions 
which are sure to follow the time wor- 
shippers of Jesus Christ. 



James A. Cundiff, of Leesville, Va.. a 
"non-Mormon," writes concerning his 
observations among the Latter-day 
Saints who live in his neighborhood. Not 
long since he was a "Mormon' hater," but 
by their good example he was caused 
to investigate. Says he: "If we would 
ask the Lord, we would not so often err; 
the reason for so much persecution is be- 
cause people are ignorant of the true 
workings of 'Mormonism.' I prayed to 
the Lord concerning these people, and 
while I have not joined them, I learned 
that it was wrong to hate our brethren. 
We should forgive even till seventy 
times seven, and be long suffering to- 
ward all people, and if these 'Mormons' 
should, as they are falsely accused of 
doing, injure us, we should, if we would 
be Christ-like, forgive them and treat 
them with love, for love is of God and 
hatred is from the Devil." 



The fun in hitting an enemy is not 
worth the pain of the blow the enemy 
will give in return. 




"BUT THOUGH WE. OR AN ANGLL F&OM NEAvtN,PlHAtH ANY 
pTMEft GOSPEL UNTO YOU THAN THAT WHICH WE 

HAVE PBEACHED UNTO YOU, LET hlM BE ACCURSED. 'fitf./gptf* 



^^(r^it 




gt - 



Vol. 2. 



Chattanooga, Tknn., Saturday, February 3, 1900. 



No. 10. 



I WILL, BE WORTHY OF IT. 



(By Ella Wheeler Wilcox.) 
I may not reach the heights I seek, 

My untried strength may fail me; 
Or, half-way up » the mountain peak 

Fierce tempests may Assail me. 
But though that place 1 never gain, 
Herein lies comfort for my pain— 
I will be worthy of ft. 

1 may not triumph in success, 

Despite my earnest labor; 
I may 'not grasp results that bless 

The efforts of my neighbor. 
But though my goal I never see 
This thought shall always dwell with me— 
I will be worthy of it. 

The golden glory of Love's light 

May never fall on my way; 
My path may always lead through night, 

Like some deserted by-way. 
But though life's dearest joy T miss 
There lies a nameless strength In this— 
I will be worthy of it. 

OUR CONFERENCE PRESIDENTS. 

President Terry, whose picture adorns 
this week's Star, came from good pio: 
neer stock, his father being one of the 
original 143 who braved the inclem- 
encies and the dreary march of 1,000 
miles beyond the confines of boasted civ- 
ilization, and who landed in Utah the 
24th of July, 1847. 

His father also had the honor to ma- 
nipulate the whip-saw in the construc- 
tion of the first water wheel built in 
Utah. 

President L*. N. Terry, born of such 
sturdy, vigorous stock, could not be 
other than the true man of God he is; 
being willing to do or dare anything for 
the Great Captain Jesus. His parents 
made sacrifices, and endured persecu- 
tions, in the early days of Utah, for the 
Gospel's sake. So the son, in like man- 
ner, is willing to sacrifice and lay all 
upon the altar, for the establishing of 
peace and good will among men; and 
with that in view he has traveled many 
miles, and endured the scoffs and scorn 
of a wicked generation. 

He was born April 18th, 1873, at He- 
bron, Utah, and much of his life has 
been spent in that neighborhood, cattle 
raising on his father's ranch. 

He had a kind mother, and in his 
youth was taught many good moral les- 
sons that established within him the 
principles of virtue and truth. 

His education was had in the • St. 
George Stake Academy, also in the Brig- 



ham Young Academy of Provo, and be- 
ing a very apt scholar he made good ad- 
vancement. His moral standing being ex- 
ceptionally good, he was chosen to fill a 
mission. 

December, 1897, he was duly set apart 
as a missionary to the Southern States: 
labored some sixteen months as a travel- 
ing Elder in the Kentucky Conference. 
Upon the organization of the North 
Kentucky Conference he, with others, 
was chosen to open up that field, and in 
all his duties has ever labored assidu- 
ously in the Lord's vineyard, trying to 
bring some honest soul to a knowledge of 
the Gospel of his Master. • 




ELDER L. N. TERRY, 
President North Kentucky Conference. 



He labored some time as a counsellor 
to President A. Arrowsmith, and when 
Elder Arrowsmith was called to the 
Chattanooga office, Elder Terry con- 
tinued as counsellor to President L. A. 
Thorley, who was released November 
last at conference held in Louisville; 
Elder Terry was duly chosen as his suc- 
cessor, being unanimously sustained by 
all the Elders in the North Kentucky 
Conference, who, let it be knoVn, love 
their President. 

He chose for his counsellors Elders 
Turman and Cleg^r, two intelligent young 
men, and the Conference bids fair to ac- 
complish much good under such able 



management, as everything moves har- 
moniously, and President L. N. Terry 
has the love and esteem of all who know 
him. 

History of tho Southern States Mission. 

(Continued from page 66.) 

It is with profound reverence and sor- 
row that record is here made of the 
death of Elder John Morgan. He may 
justly be termed the father of the South- 
ern States Mission. Through the storms 
and tribulation of twelve years, he 
served the mission with fervent zeal and 
untiring devotion. To his remarkable 
tact, his manly attributes, and his abil- 
ity as a ruler among men, the Southern 
States Mission owes largely the glory 
of its present attainments, and the name 
of Elder John Morgan shall forever 
stand first and foremost upon the pages 
of its roll of honor. The death of this 
worthy servant of God occurred in Au- 
gust last, and a report of the sad event 
should have been engrafted in the record 
for that month. 

The Deseret Evening News has the 
following obituary: 

"It is with feelings of deep sorrow 
that we make the announcement of the 
death of Elder John Morgan, of the pre- 
siding Council of the Seventies. The 
sad news will come with great and sud- 
den force upon the people, for notwith- 
standing the fact that Elder Morgan has 
been seriously ill for about five weeks 
past, his demise was unexpected until a 
very short time before it occurred. He 
was suffering from typhoid malaria, 
which culminated in his death at 5:30 
o'clock yesterday afternoon, Aug. 14th, 
1895, at Preston, Idaho. During his ill- 
ness he received careful nursing and 
medical attention, but the body worn by 
toil and anxiety was overcome by the 
added burden of t»ie disease which as- 
sailed it, and the spirit took its flight 
from mortality. 

"Elder John Morgan was but five days 
over 52 years of age, having been born 
near Greensburg, Decatur county, Indi- 
ana, Aug. 8th, 1842. His parents were 
Garrard Morgan and Eliza Ann Hunt- 
ington Morgan. During the war of the 
rebellion, which broke out when he was 
18 years of age, he joined the Union 
army, and served with honor and distinc- 
tion, participating in several of the most 
important battles. Coming to Utah at 



74 



THE SOUTHERN STAR. 



the close of the war, he soon was en- 
gaged as an instructor in the Univer- 
sity, when that institution was conduct- 
ed in the Council House. Later he es- 
tablished the Morgan Commercial Col- 
lege, on First South street, in the build- 
ing now occupied by the Morgan hotel. 

"On Nov. 26th, 18(57, he became a 
member of the Church of Jesus Christ 
of Latter-day Saints. Some years later 
he responded to a call as a missionary 
to the Southern States, which position 
he filled with ability ana zeal. 

"He was next appointed to the Presi- 
dency of the Southern States Mission, 
and in that capacity his devotion and 
energy in spreading the Gospel mode for 
him a bright and enduring record. On 
the 7th of October, 1884, he was select- 
ed as one of the First Seven Presidents 
of Seventies, in which position he la- 
bored with diligence and faithfulness up 
to the time of his being stricken down. 
He also has held other positions of im- 
portance in the community, having been 
a member of the Utah Legislature and 
Speaker of its House of Representatives. 

"Elder Morgan was a man of strict 
probity and honor. Possessed of keen 
intellectual power and marked personal 
courage, he was an able, fearless ex- 
pounder of Gospel truths; especially 
were these virtues exhibited during his 
long Presidency of the Southern States 
Mission, at a time when in that section 
of country feelings were high against the 
Latter-day Saints. His ministrations 
were attended with power, and to the 
last his energies were earnestly devoted 
to the cause of truth which he had es- 
poused. He has done much traveling 
and preaching among the Saints during 
the closing years of his life. In his 
death a true and good man has been 
called away, and the hearts of all Israel 
will be bowed in sorrow with his family 
at the departure from our midst of a be- 
loved servant of God. 

"At the funeral services, which were 
attended by an immense concourse of 
people, Elders B. H. Roberts, J. G. 
Kimball, C. D. Fjedsted. George God- 
dard, John Henry Smith, Seymour B. 
Young and President George Q. Cannon 
spoke. The remaining six members of 
the Council of Seventies acted as pall- 
bearers." 

John Morgan was a marvelous man in 
many respects. It can be truthfully said 
that he made "footprints in the sands of 
time." Elder J. Golden Kimball, in a 
sermon preached in April, 1899, made 
the following remarks concerning Elder 
Morgan: 

"I picked up a Chattanooga Times one 
morning, and I was very much delighted 
to see in print these words, speaking of 
Elder John Morgan. It said: To shake 
his hand was to be his friend/ I have 
never forgotten it. When you shook 
John Morgan's hand and he looked into 
your face you always knew that you 
were his friend." 

(To be continued.) 



"That youngest boy of yours does not 
seem to be a credit to you," said a white 
employer to Uncle Mose. "No, sah," re- 
plied Uncle Mose — "he is the wustest 
chile I has! He is mighty bad! He's de 
white sheep ob de fam'ly, sah." 



When a man is dismissed from em- 
ployment he always has a good deal to 
say against his employer. A roan, in 
fact, is like a gun— he makes a great 
noise when he is discharged. 



Plow deep while sluggards sleep, and 
you shall have corn to sell and keep. 



A Menace to Liberty. 

Gov. McLaurin, of Mississippi, who is 
about to retire from the executive chair 
of the state, created much surprise on 
Wednesday by including in his closing 
address to the legislature an attack on 
"Mormonism." According to the press 
dispatches he used this language: 

"There is no threatened danger to 
the state more baneful than the lecherous 
teachings of the Mormon Apostles of 
polygamy. It is more dangerous because 
it is taught under the guise of the min- 
istry of the Gospel. The Mormons dis- 
claim the open teachings of polygamy in 
the pulpit, but they teach it in the corner 
and the minister's cloak gives potency 
to their speech." 

It is evident that the gentleman has 
been influenced by the literature that 
has been so extensively circulated by 
an ti- 4 'Mormon" preachers and papers. 
Also that as a candidate for the United 
States senate he is seeking for popular 
favor. The present craze demands of- 
fensive action against a religion, which 
is supposed to be hostile to the American 
home and the marriage system of mod- 
ern Christendom. While that delusion 
lasts there will be violent explosions 
similar to those that startled the Missis- 
sippi legislature on Wednesday, and 
which have disturbed many religious 
congregations during the last few 
months. 

The teachings of the "Mormons are 
the very opposite to lecherous. They en- 
join chastity, temperance, constancy and 
self-restraint. No other Christian de- 
nomination promulgates such rigid rules 
on these virtues as are found in "Mor- 
mon" ethics. 

If the Governor of Mississippi had tak- 
en the precaution to inquire into the 
facts, before placing himself on record 
as to something he does not understand, 
it would have been better for his lasting 
political reputation. "Going off half- 
cocked," to use a common figure, does 
not tend to add to the influence and reli- 
ability of a big political gun. The "Mor- 
mon" missionaries in Mississippi are not 
"Apostles of polygamy." They are not 
sent anywhere to teach it, either pub- 
licly or "in a corner." If any of them 
should attempt to do that it would soon 
be stopped. The Governor has taken for 
granted what some sectarian ministers 
have invented, or repeated, and made 
himself ridiculous in the eyes of well-in- 
formed people. 

There is something far more dangerous 
to the state than the teachings of "Mor- 
mon" doctrine, even if it were anything 
like what Gov. McLaurin imagines it to 
be. The advocacy of a custom which is 
thoroughly unpopular, which could not 
be practiced under the laws of Missis- 
sippi, which is forbidden by the consti- 
tution and statutes of Utah, and which 
is contrary to the authorized discipline 
of Ahe Church that sends its missionaries 
out to preach the Gospel, is not very 
likely to accomplish much, even though 
some unwise persons should attempt to 
introduce it. JBut "the adoption of laws 
to prevent the teachings" of any Church 
or religion under the sun, as recommend- 
ed by the retiring Governor, would be a 
real danger to the state and to the lib- 
erty which the constitution of the United 
States was framed to maintain. 

Are there not light, and truth, and 
eloquence, and power enough in the 
churches and literary and social societies 
in the state of Mississippi to impress its 
Deople and combat errors, if such there 
be, advocated by an unpopular religious 
body? Is "Mormonism" so strong and 
irrefutable that it must be suppressed, 
if at all, by the force of law? Do the 
clergy and the religious press utterly fail 
to meet it by reason and argument? 

"Mormonism" as it is, and as it is 
preached by its authorized ministers, 
contains no menace against the peace, 
dignity or social order of any state in 
the Union. It promotes faith *n God. 
support of the laws and the constitution 



of our country, virtue, honesty, industry 
and peace among men and women, aud 
the recognition of all that is good in ev- 
ery system, civil and religious, that ex- 
ists among mankind. 

It cannot be put down by force. Ef- 
forts in that direction will recoil upon 
those who project them. Let it be re- 
membered that if one form of religion 
can be legislated against, others can be 
treated in the same fashion. Start the 
ball of intolerance rolling, and it will 
strike in places unexpected at the first, 
and will grow in volume and in force un- 
til the liberties for which the fathers of 
our country struggled and bled will be 
swept out of existence. 

There has not been a greater exhibi- 
tion of unwisdom, in response to ignor- 
ant and popular clamor within the cen- 
tury now in its last year, than that prop- 
osition to suppress a religion by force of 
law, and prevent free speech in one of 
the states of the Federal Union. It is 
to be hoped that the legislators of Mis- 
sissippi are possessed of sounder discre- 
tion and better judgment than the gen- 
tleman who, on ceasing to be its execu- 
tive, desires the responsible and honora- 
ble position of United States senator. It 
is also to be desired that before he 
touches on this question again, in any 
place, he will obtain reliable information 
concerning it and as to the real doc- 
trines and principles of the system com- 
monly called "Mormonism." — Ex. 



THE DEAD, 

William Edgar Faglie, the 14-year-old 
son of J. S. Faglie and Mary P. Conn ell 
Faglie, after an illness of about one 
week. He passed away Wednesday, 
Jan. 3d, 1900, at 9 a.m., from the effects 
of spinal meningitis. Our brother was 
a bright boy, and a host of relatives and 
friends mourn his loss. 



Jan. 5th, 1900, at sunset, Sister Eliza- 
beth Catharine Faglie succumbed to 
chronic rheumatism and general debility. 
Deceased was about 70 years of age. She 
had suffered more or less with the af- 
fliction for twelve years. Sister Faglie, 
soon after the civil war, was left a 
widow with eleven children, four of 
whom survive her. She was well known 
and highly respected by the people of 
Jefferson county. She became a member 
of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter- 
day Saints June 7th, 1899, being bap- 
tized by Elder Charles H. White; was a 
member of the Westville branch and 
lived a saintly life, and her loss will be 
keenly felt therefrom, for to know her 
was to love her. The humble Elder al- 
ways found shelter under her roof, and 
many have partaken of her wholesouled 
hospitality. 

The funeral services took place at the 
residence. Edgar, above mentioned, was 
buried in the Bethel churchyard, but all 
that was mortal of faithful Mother Fag- 
lie, at her request, was placed in the 
family grave near the residence. May 
our Master pour out upon the grief- 
stricken family peace and comfort, 
which only the Holy Spirit can give. 
Dear mother has gone to a better world 
—she waits for thee; so order your lives 
that where she is you may go also, when 
your work on earth is completed. 

J. A. Wixom, Florida Conference. 

It is a characteristic of a great man 
that he has time. He is not in a hurry; 
he bosses his work, and does not permit 
it to control him. He always has 
strength in reserve. 

Ask yourselves daily, brethren, if your 
knowledge is bearing the right kind of 
fruit, the fruit of the Spirit of God. 



THE SOUTHERN STAB. 



76 



THE DARK AGES. 

BY ELDER A, ARROWSMITH. 
(Continued from page 67.) 

THE EIGHTH CENTURY. The 

most interesting feature in the opening 
of this century was the great hatred be- 
tween tjie Mahometan and Christian, 
with the bloody wars ensuing, which 
stained all Europe. 

The Caliphs at the head of the Moslem 
faith issued exterminating orders against 
the Christians; while the Pontiff, with 
the same power, pronounced his anath- 
emas, and hurled his soldiery, against the 
Mahometans. These were the conditions 
of affairs temporal; the Saracens over- 
ran Europe, and were in a fair way to 
revolutionize and have dominion in that 
continent, until the battle of Tours (their 
Waterloo), fought in the year 732, which 
stopped their ravages in France. 

Charles Martel, described as a God- 
fearing man (who, like Washington, 
prayed as well as fought), was at the 
head of a body of Franks, who were 
good soldiers, and in a night attack suc- 
cessfully withstood over 300,000 Sara- 
cens, routing them, and forever stopping 
their invasion of the northwest of Eu- 
rope, and inflicting a crushing defeat on 
the Mahometans. 

The Christian church, with its clergy, 
was distinguished by its luxury, gluttony 
and lust at this time; so says our au- 
thority, Mosheim. They studied military 
arts, and engaged a great deal in hunt- 
ing; such bloodthirsty pursuits being 
rather depraved for men who professed 
to follow the meek and lowly Jesus. Nev- 
ertheless these were characteristic feat- 
ures in the priesthood of Rome, which 
was worshiped and even deified by the 
ignorant multitude. As before their sub- 
jection to the civilizing (?) influences of 
Rome, the nations of northern Europe, 
many of them, had been idolatrous 
Druids, under a great chief Druid, to 
whom they bestowed great reverence, 
and even deified as a god; and the vari- 
ous Pagan priests had also been looked 
upon in like manner. Therefore so soon 
as they were converted to Christianity, 
the Pagans simply transferred their af- 
fec ,on; paying equal homage, and treat- 
ing as gods their Christian priests. 

Much wealth flowed into the coffers of 
the church at this time, the people gen- 
erally believing that by being liberal to 
their priests, and donating to the church, 
they could obtain the prayers of de- 
parted saints, and thus avert, or consid- 
erably »-ghten, the penalties inflicted on 
the sinner after death; consequently they 
were extravagant in their gifts, and the 
church treasuries were filled to over- 
flowing, with gold, silver and precious 
stones; being strong in wealth and se- 
cure. Kings and princes even gave land 
grants, cities, provinces and castles, pro- 
vided with soldiery, and the titles were 
turned over to the church, whose pontiff 
sat enthroned above ail that is called 
God, issuing laws to nations, governing 
vast armies, and giving battle when nec- 
essary. It is here we find the source of 
those dreadful tumults and calamities, 
particularly those bloody wars concern- 
ing investitures, and those contentions 
about the regalia that spread desolation 
in Europe in after time. 

Very naturally the Roman pontiff was 
delighted at the homage he received 
from his subjects, and the wealth which 
poured upon him; and he was treated as 
the great Arch-Druid or High Priest 
had been treated by the Pagan nations, 
who looked upon their Arch-Druid with 
veneration. 



To show the great power of the church 
at this period, 1 will 1 refer you to the in- 
stance in this century, of the Pontiff 
Zachary, dethroning Childeric the Third, 
the King of France, and enthroning 
Pepin (a favorite of the Pope). This 
happened in the year 751, and to make 
the act thoroughly binding, Stephen the 

Second, Zachary' s successor, anointed 
and crowned Pepin, with his wife and two 
sons* for the second time. Pepin was not 
ungrateful for this, as in his turn he 
aided the Pontiff Stephen in obtaining the 
title of a prince over a temporal govern- 
ment. 

The great warrior Charlemagne arose 
in this century, who for his glorious (?) 
work in subduing the barbarous nations 
in the north, and compelling them by 
force of arms to become Christians, was 
canonized as a Saint of the Most High, 
and is so held today by the Catholic 
church. He was the son of Pepin before 
mentioned, and exceeded even his father 
in his gifts to the church, while his land 
grants to the pontiff made that person- 
age a veritable monarch in the year 774. 
But with all the support of so great an 
emperor as Charles, the internal strife 
of the different factions in the church 
was terrible, and much blood was shed 
by the wars and dissensions during this 
time. 

Many subjects agitated the minds of 
the people during this period, but one of 
the main causes for the intestine trou- 
bles was the question regarding the effi- 
cacy of images, which were looked upon 
with much reverence and awe by some, 
while others could not see beauty in that 
form of idolatry, aud consequently fac- 
tions arose; some took sides under the 
great iconoclast leader Emperor Leo, and 
other factions followed after the Pontiff 
Gregory, who believed in image wor- 
ship. This trouble commenced in the 
year 730, and was not settled until the 
year 786, when, at a general council 
held at the old council chamber at Nice, 
image worship was fully indorsed, re- 
stored and acknowledged as an essential 
obligation on the laity to believe and 
adhere to. Many excommunications fol- 
lowed these enactments. However, 
Charlemagne and many of the influen- 
tial bishops did not favor image wor- 
ship, and divisions and subdivisions 
crept into the church in consequence. 

During this century the Greeks and 
Romans had various arguments and dis- 
cussions on points of doctrine, which as- 
sisted in widening the breach that di- 
vided them so thoroughly in the next 
century. 

Jesus prayed earnestly to His Father 
for the primitive church, that they might 
be one, and said that except they were 
one, they were not His. Paul taught 
that there was but "one Lord, one 
faith and one baptism." Therefore the 
Church of Christ is an exclusive church, 
and strange as it may seem, all the isms 
presented in the name of religion are an 
abomination unto the Lord, coming from 
the impure source that I have been try- 
ing to depict, not one acknowledged of 
God or following out the teachings of 
His Son. The next century presents 
the first great division, when the Greek 
and Roman churches maliciously excom- 
municated each other, and from this the 
multiplication of sects and parties con- 
tinued. God is not the author of "con- 
fusion," and this jarring discord is cer- 
tainly repugnant to all religious sense, 
and displeasing to Him. 

Many have ascribed the spirit of war 
and bloodshed which has always pre- 
vailed in the name of Christianity, to the 
teachings of Christ; as He said that His 



coming would not bring peace but the 
sword. But I would say that it was not 
He. It was His enemies who drew the 
sword. In every age when the illuminat- 
ing rays of truth have flashed on the 
world, darkness has mustered its 
forces, and tried to obliterate every sem- 
blance of light. Paganism put on its 
armor against the primitive church, and 
destroyed it. Rome arrayed herself 
against the reformation, and there came 
wars, contentions and disunion, that are 
seen to this day. 
'In these last days God has restored 
His Gospel; and in line with their per- 
secuting predecessors, protestantism has 
followed in the footsteps of Roman Pa- 
ganism and Catholicism, and the result 
has been the same; strife and bloodshed; 
but the Gospel of Jesus Christ will even- 
tually put down all wickedness, proscrip- 
tion, misrule, abuse, oppression, ignor- 
ance, darkness and tyranny, and restore 
mankind into paths of righteousness, 
truth, liberty, law and government, in 
which the Lord's will will be done on 
earth, as it is done in heaven. 

It is safe to affirm that this state of 
affairs can only be brought about on the 
principle of righteousness, through obe- 
dience to the laws of the exclusive ever- 
lasting Gospel introduced by the Lord 
Jesus. The decree has gone forth, "Be 
ye perfect, even as your Father which is 
in heaven is perfect;" and we cannot 
hope to attain to this excellence but 
through the name of Jesus Christ, the 
only name given under heaven whereby 
a man can be saved. And as He is the 
way, the truth and the life, and no man 
can get to the Father but by Him, how 
very essential that we, the children of 
God, should comply with His laws. His 
system is exclusive, pure, holy and just; 
but it cannot be found among the mul- 
titudinous jarring sects in Christendom, 
who are full of discord and disunion, 
brought forth through hundreds of years 
of rapine and bloodshed, from the Dark 
Ages, when God's exclusive government 
was not on the earth, but when the sys- 
tems of men were taught and the earth 
was in a defiled condition, and under the 
ecclesiastical power of the pontiffs. 
(To be continued.) 

Between the devil and the deep sea.— 
Scotch Proverb. 

Better be disagreeable in a sort than 
altogether insipid. — Goethe. 

Climbing is performed in the same pos- 
ture as creeping.— Swift. 

Better haud (holden) wi' the hound 
than rin wi' the hare.— Scotch Proverb. 

Ever since Adam's time fools have 
been in the majority. — Casimir Dela- 
vigne. 

Flatterers are the cats that lick before, 
and scratch behind.— German Proverb. 

If one were to think constantly of 
death, the business of life would stand 
still.— Johnson. 

Ignorance is the curse of God; knowl- 
edge, the wing wherewith we fly to 
heaven. — Shakespeare. 

Ever must the sovereign of mankind 
be fitly entitled king, i. e., the man who 
kens and can.— Carlyle. 

Education is the only interest worthy 
the deep, controlling anxiety of the 
thoughtful man.— Wendell Phillips. 

Earth is here (in Australia) so kind, 
just tickle her with a hoe and she laughs 
with a harvest.— iJouglas Jerrold. . 

Education may work wonders as well 
in warping the genius of individuals as 
in seconding it. — A. B. Alcott. 

Clear writers, like clear fountains, do 
not seem so deep as they are; the turbid 
look the most profound.— Landor. 



76 



THE SOUTHERN STAB. 




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Saturday, February 3, 1900. 
ARTICLES OF FAITH 

OP THE CHURCH OP JESUS CHRI5T OP 
LATTER-DAY SAINTS. 

]. Webelieti kn <jn..i the Eternal Father, and la His8ee> 
Jbiui I'hrirt, in ii io ill* Holy Ghost. 

f. We tali*™ ibut urn will be paaished for their own 
iJoi, tnti not lot A-Jtm'i traasgressioB. 

A. w» btlicva thiT. thrench the atonement of Christ, all 
am kind nty bl vavid, by obedience to the laws and ordi- 
etBCM of tie QmcbL 

t. W* Uti**i that I lie first principles and ordinances of 
the Gtnpt] ire : Kint. Faith in the Lord Jesos Ohritt ; teeond, 
Jtepeateraa; third, B4jfjti<m by immersion for the remiieion 
of iLd« : fount. Ujini <?o of Hands for the Gift of the Holy 
Sboit 

ft. We believe that a man most be called of God, by 
»• nMK k~» mr >A fc T the hylnc An of heeds," by thoee who are 
la tinhorn;, to prttth ttif jcip*] and idminitttf In tbeordi* 
nttcft* thereof. 

0. Wt belief Q Id lb* lime orginiiatiuD thtt existed in 
the primitive church— mcielj, ApoitLtt, Prophets, Pastors, 
Tfcichen, Erm a p-. li it*, etc 

.7. We believe Id the gift ol tongue*. prophecy, revelation, 
vUiooa, 1'baIIdc. i Dltrnreletion of tqjijue*, etc 

B, V; t belie* e the Bi hie to be the word of Oed, a* far at It 
*■ Lnftilttod correctly j w» alto believe ihe Boo); of Mormon 
to If* the word cf. (Jod, 

e We helsete ell that Ood hu re veiled, tfl that He Soee 
now ret n I. * nd *e believe f hit He wi 1 1 *et reveil many great 
end important thinp perteibine to lh« KilJjtcffirn if God. 

10. Wt belief « io the liters I flitbe ring at linel and in the 
r«ilur*tJDD of the Tea Tribe*.; [hat l^n will he bailt npon 
thin (it* A entries nl rontiwaiH; that Lhztn will nJgn person- 
elly upon the earth i end ihii the earth will be renewed and 
receive it* p*ridl»i*<*i glory - 

11. We claim the pnnlep of worshiping Almighty God 
atcordiof to Eh* dlctolea of cur eooiwiuice. Bad allow all 
men the ume pmilejp»» lei them wonhip \\ow l where, or what 
they may. 

18. We believe in being subject to kino, president*, ruler*, 
and nwciitratee ; in obeyiog, honoring and tnetaining the law. 

18. We believe in being honest, tree, chaste, benevolent, 
virtuous, and in doing goedio all aen; indeed, we may say 
that we follow the admonition of Paul, • We believe all things, 
we hope all things," we have endured many things, and hop* 

Rbe able to endure all things. If there is anything f irtooee, 
rely, or of good report or praiseworthy, we seek after these 
OflKPH SMITH.. 



WHICH WERE THE MORE COR- 
RUPT? 

Between the years 60 and 70 A. D. 
possibly more Christians wore martyred 
*than during any other decade subsequent 
to that time. It was during this period 
that Nero, the tyrant, held such tyran- 
nical sway in Rome. Crazed with wine, 
ravished with beautiful women, revelling 
in Bacchanalian glee, it was his happi- 
ness to see fair and beautiful women, 
weak children and hoary-headed men 
led into the arena to be devoured by 
wild beasts. He was never so happy as 
when he could secure some Christians, 
soak them in tar and tallow, then fasten 
them to where they could not move, ap- 
ply the torch, and then drive 'neath the 
sickly nicker caused by these burning 
humans and gloat in the supposed vic- 
tory he was achieving over a few weak, 
as he said, fanatics. Why all this 
ghastly bloodshed? Why should Nero 



impose such ignominious, inhuman pun- 
ishment as 'this? It is said that the 
Christians, a mere handful, "worshiped 
-i"..!-ge gods and were trying to over- 
throw the government.'' They were 
watched and bounded everywhere they 
vmit. If they attempted to worship, 
those who were spying would immedi- 
ately inform the officials, and then sud- 
denly a score of Roman soldiers would 
swoop down upon them, and those who 
were not killed were hastened off to 
prison and condemned to die. For what? 
Because they dared serve God, the only 
true and living God, a reasonable God. 
They were enemies to Nero, and there- 
fore all must die. Today we have a 
class of Neros who glory in any seeming 
fatal blow that can be delivered to the 
true Christians of God. the eternal 
Father. Can we say that the nations 
are now in a similar condition to that of 
the people at the time of which we speak? 
To answer this by asking a question we 
would put it thus: Does any Pagan, 
Jew, or the world called Christian, serve 
God? Does not the heathen who wor- 
ships his image come as near serving a 
God as the supposed Christians? From 
inquiry and study we find every class of 
people worshiping some manner of 
God, but far from the true and living 
God, the Father of Jesus Christ. We 
now invite attention to a handful of peo- 
ple opprobriously called "Mormons," who 
worship a God, not the workmanship of 
men's hands, but the true and living 
God. The one with whom Jesus Christ 
is associated. This sect is accused of be- 
ing a menace to the government, and 
how often, yes, how often, they are ac- 
cused of worshiping strange gods and 
plotting against the government. Is there 
any man who will read this article who 
cannot put his finger upon more than 
one who has accused us of perfidy and 
treachery? Is there not a striking par- 
allel running through both these narra- 
tives? 

Multitudinous are the good (?) people 
in this day who prate aud sigh and wise- 
ly speak to each other of the wickedness 
of Nero and those people of that day, and 
say, as did those people, to Christ, "If 
we had been in the days of our fathers 
we would not have been partakers with 
them in the blood of the Prophets," and 
the very uext minute are signing a peti- 
tion, or lending some physical or finan- 
cial aid to exterminate a Christian and 
God-fearing people who have been ma- 
ligned and abused by a class of Neros 
who masquerade in the garb of holy 
ministers. Would they kill them? We 
are shocked to think of such a thing. Yet 
in this day those same pious and self- 
righteous hypocrites have pursued and 
put to death some of the noblest of God's 
workmen, and why? Because their en- 
emies said they were "worshipers of 
strange gods and opposed to the govern- 
ment." This was their excuse; just so 
did Nero justify himself in his wholesale 
slaughter. What excuse have these 
modern "Neros" for xiriving a people 
from Ohio, from Missouri, and from Illi- 
nois? For ravishing their women and 
burning their houses and driving them 
from their homes in the dead of winter? 
Is this Christian? Can we not justly 
conclude that they have, as the early 
persecutors, become so polluted and cor- 
rupt, and have so far departed from 
worshiping the only true and living God 
that they have no moral honor to cur- 
tail them in their vicious assaults? 



sus could not come the second time ex- 
cept there come a falling away first, and 
they knew Christians must be exter- 
minated before the Gospel should be 
again instituted and righteousness even- 
tually prevail on earth. The Latter-day 
Saints have the promise, on the other 
hand, that the God of Heaven has set 
up His Kingdom for the last time, and 
that the Gospel is not to be taken away 
again or given to another people. We 
cannot fail, God is our helper and truth 
will prevail. 



There is one great difference between 
the Former and the Latter-day Saints. 
The primitive Saints were told that Je- 



Administering to Those Afflicted With 
Contagious Disease. 

In these days of the prevalence of con- 
tagious diseases, such as. scarlet fever, 
diphtheria, smallpox, etc., or at least 
widespread rumors of such prevalence, 
a question of much importance arises as 
to the duty of the priesthood in connec- 
tion with the ordinance of administering 
v to the sick. The editor of this journal 
has been asked to state whether the 
Bishop or other Elders in a ward could 
be justified in going to a house where 
there was a case of smallpox for the 
purpose of annointing and laying hands 
upon the afflicted person. 

The question is one which is somewhat 
difficult to answer without danger of be- 
ing misunderstood, for circumstances al- 
ter cases, and a proceeding which might 
be proper in some instances might be 
wholly unwise in others. There are cer- 
tain propositions, however, which will be 
admitted in all cases. One of these is 
that a well and healthy person has as 
much right to be considered in matters 
pertaining to the preservation of his 
health as a sick person has to be consid- 
ered in matters pertaining to the res- 
toration of bis health. To prevent sick- 
ness is no less to be desired than to cure 
sickness. While it is true that those who 
are well do not need a physician, it .is 
also true that no correct sense of duty 
requires a physician or anyone else to 
jeopardize a healthy person in seeking 
to aid a diseased one. That the sick 
may be healed is the proper desire of 
every right-minded person; but that in 
seeking to aid them, others who are not 
sick shall be also brought down in ill- 
ness, is a requirement of neither human- 
ity nor common sense. And this view 
of the case is greatly emphasized when 
a disease so loathsome and so highly con- 
tagious as smallpox is believed to be is 
under consideration; for' then it is not 
only a question of perhaps helping one 
while perhaps harming one — it is a ques- 
tion of desiring to aid one at the serious 
risk and danger of perhaps the whole 
community. , 

Now, no one will feel like saying to a 
Bishop or an Elder that when called upon 
to go and administer to the sick he must 
not do it. He may have abundant faith 
that through his administration the af- 
flicted ones may be healed and he himself 
escape unharmed. Many Elders have 
manifested this faith in instances of the 
most frightful plagues, and the results 
have justified them. But if one have 
such faith as this, having no fear for 
himself, let him at least be warned 
against exposing others to such plagues 
as have been named. He ought to com- 
plain of no proper regulation adopted as 
a precaution for the safety of the neigh- 
bors and the community, submitting if 
need be to the restraint of liberty to 
come and go at will, and manifesting 
thus a consistent interest not alone in 
the sick but in the well also. — Juvenile 
Instructors. 



THE SOUTHEBN STAR 



77 



+4S&4&4 



| PRESIDENT RICH REPLIES TO 

| DR. BROUGHER'S SECOND ATTACK, f 



The following is a copy of an open let- 
ter to Rev. J. Whitcomb Brougher, pas- 
tor First Baptist Church, Chattanooga, 
Tenn., published in the Chattanooga 
News Jan. 5th, 1900. This letter was 
written in reply to a second tirade of 
falsehood and misrepresentation, of the 
regulation pattern, with which our read- 
ers, especially the Elders, are perfectly 
familiar. As the Reverend's discourses 
contained no new stories, as our space 
is limited, and as vituperation does not 
grace the pages especially of a religious 
journal, we refrain from publishing in 
our columns a synopsis of Mr. Brough- 
er*s remarks: 

Chattanooga, Tenn., Jan. 4, 1900. 
Rev. (?) J. Whitcomb Brougher, Chat- 
tanooga, Tenn. 

My Dear Sir — Your second installment 
of abuse, falsehood and misrepresenta- 
tion, called "Is Mormonism Anti-Chris- 
tian," I see, by the News of Jan. 1, was 
duly delivered, as per previous announce- 
ment. As some well-meaning people 
might take your performance in earnest, 
J hope you will take it in good part if 
I make a brief reply before the incident 
is closed. I am glad that this is a coun- 
try of free speech, free thought, and re- 
ligious liberty, even though narrow- 
minded religious bigots cannot compre- 
hend this basic principle of our heaven- 
born government, and sometimes abuse 
it. American history tells us that dur- 
ing the revolutionary days of America's 
struggle for independence the British 
once had Gen. Marion and his little band 
of struggling patriots surrounded; that 
the British, in order to tantalize the 
starving patriots, fired wheat from their 
cannon into the American camp, and as 
I have authentic evidence of having de- 
scended from one of those hungry de- 
fenders of the flag, and also that 1 have 
proof, beyond truthful contradiction, that 
my progenitor was once a member of 
George Washington's body guard, I 
trust you will have no serious objections 
of my calling myself an American by 
birth, and entitled to a small portion of 
the freedom of speech and thought guar- 
anteed to Americans by our constitution. 
Should there be any objections upon the 
possible ground that your progenitors 
possibly have been on the other side of 
that fight, I pray you to let family feuds, 
for this occasion at least, be buried. No 
people on earth love liberty and true 
Americanism more than my people, and 
no people realize, to a greater extent, 
that the favorite weapons brought 
against truth are, generally, ridicule and 
billingsgate; and in a vain attempt to 
successfully answer my former letter, 
you liberally employed this unsavory 
method with the hope of laughing the 
case out of court. We have not been 
accustomed to throwing mud in order to 
bolster up our cause, but in this case, if 
I should stoop to a little ridicule, avoid- 
ing slush, I hope you and the public will 
pardon me. I understand from parties 
who witnessed your performance last 
Sunday night, that the recital of your 
little piece would have dona much credit 
to a Punch and Judy show; but, shorn 
of its stagey effects and set in cold type, 
without even a moving picture accompa- 
niment. I hope that I may be forgiven if 
I do not fully appreciate the force of 



your masterful (t) logic. I have no 
doubt that the thinking people of this 
city can, without any assistance, distin- 
guish between inflated sophistic bombast 
and logic; but a little airing, and brush- 
ing, always takes away the mold, re- 
moves the rubbish and gives things a 
more healthful appearance. Now, as the 
physician said to his patient, "just hold 
still, and I will not insert the knife deep- 
er than is absolutely necessary." 

You claim to be a true representative 
of the meek and lowly Master, who said 
He "came not to call the righteous, but 
sinners to repentance." You are loud 
in condemning "us" as sinners; yet you 
said, in your letter to the News, an- 
nouncing your attack upon me and my 
faith, that you were not here to convert 
the Latter-day Saints— that the work 
was not worth the candle. How very 
Christ-like! What a humble follower of 
the Lamb, and how faithfully you en- 
deavor to follow the example of the Mas- 
ter, who said there was more joy in 
heaven over one sinner who repenteth 
than over ninety and nine that needed 
no repentance; but pardon me — I had 
forgotten that we are now living in mod- 
ern times, and are told by such eminent 
divines as yourself that the Bible does 
not mean what it says. 

In the same letter, mentioned above, 
you also declare you are not here for the 
purpose of proselyting, which means, of 
course, that you do not intend to waste 
your time by calling anyone to repent- 
ance. In view of this, may I ask, is 
your mission here simply to love Jesus 
for $1,800 per year, and not for a bless- 
ed cent less? Great man! Paul told 
Timothy that the time would come when 
they would heap to themselves teachers, 
having itching ears, and I suppose it 
becomes necessary, in order that these 
words might be fulfilled, for some one to 
be engaged in tickling ears, even though 
it becomes rather expensive. Of course 
I understand that the march of progres- 
sion changes things, and perhaps this 
doctrine of Christ, that "the physician is 
not for the whole but for the sick," has 
evolved as completely as the Golden 
Rule, for we now have it, at least to a 
very large extent, "Do others or they 
will do you, and do it first." The theory 
is just tl)e same as it used to be, but it 
is only, as you say, "symbolic or a figure 
of speech," the practical part having 
been done away with — "we have no need 
of thee." 

Through force of habit (we presume), 
in your brief note to the News, you 
again charged us with creeping into 
houses and leading captive silly women, 
laden with sins, etc. Knowing it impos- 
sible to furnish proof, you hide behind 
the miserable subterfuge that you have 
only time to sound the key of warning. 
Our challenge still holds good that you 
cannot point to a single instance. 

You think it a shame and a disgrace 
that Chattanooga is the headquarters for 
our missionary work in the south, and 
no doubt if the solid element of this 
community, as you assert, thought like- 
wise, you would favor and advocate 
burning us at the stake. However, as 
you are a newcomer here, I feel that you 
are excusable, in a measure, for this 
rash and un-American statement. We 
know, as well as you, that, like our Mas- 



ter and the Former Day Saints, we are 
not popular, and we can also take con- 
solation that in' the world's history non- 
conformists to popular Opinion have al- 
ways been placed in the selfsame cate- 
gory. For a good many years, over 
twenty, we have had our headquarters 
here, and it is strange, that before your 
advent, the good people of this city did 
not discover that we were a disgrace 
and a detriment to this city. During 
the time we have been located here we 
have been associated, in a business way, 
with not a few representative men of 
Chattanooga* and believe we enjoy their 
confidence as being honest, paying our 
bills, etc., and have heard no complaints 
of any of them missing their wives or 
daughters, or of any charge being lodged 
against any of our representatives of 
conduct unbecoming true ladies or gen- 
tlemen. Our expenditures in this citj 
amount to something like $25,000 per 
year, and I may be excused for men- 
tioning this item, in that you mentioned 
money on Sunday night in various ways. 
1 wish briefly to explain this, knowing 
full well your ambition to misjudge and 
misrepresent us in this, as in other mat- 
ters. We have laboring in this mission 
about 500 Elders, sometimes more and 
sometimes a little less, and in coming 
here they are called from the plow, the 
smithy, the work-bench, the machine 
shop, the counting room, the mine, and 
the various avocations of life. Some of 
them leave lucrative positions, worth te 
them, in some instances, one or two 
thousand dollars per year, or more, while 
others again are the sons of poor widows 
and men of humble circumstances finan- 
cially, but all willing to battle for the 
Gospel. Now, these men leave their 
homes, all that is dear to a human, and 
come among strangers, unto them, a 
strange land, to preach an unpopular 
doctrine; to be hated and despised, 
sometimes brutally treated, because of 
their convictions, traveling without 
purse or script, and depending upon God 
to raise up friends to give them a place 
to sleep and something to eat. These 
men give their time to the church free 
of charge, and pay their own expenses, 
such as clothing, railroad fare, litera- 
ture, etc., necessary to carry on their 
work. * 

When an Elder arrives in this city he 
is assigned to his field of labor, and re- 
mains in the field usually from two to 
three years; when in the course of his 
labors, it is necessary for him to have 
books, tracts, clothing, and other sup- 
plies, he sends here for us to send him 
these needed articles, while the money 
to pay for the same, if the Elder is una- 
ble to bear the expense himself, is for- 
warded here by relatives and friends, or 
in some cases by brothers and sisters in 
the church at his home. This explains 
how we disposes of money in this city. 

Some of our Elders have been shot to 
death by mobs, some have been cruelly 
beaten, while others have died in the 
harness of natural causes. 

Could you do as these men do for your 
religion ? 

Could you stand to be held up to the de- 
rision of the world, leave a comfortable 
home and work without a salary, de- 
rided by such men as yourself, and your 
mother charged with being worse than 
a harlot; all for the love of the Master's 
cause? 

Some of our Elders now in the field 
were with the rough riders in the late 
war with Spain, others were with the 
Utah batteries in the Philippines, and 
some of them returned home about the 
time the call to arms was sounded, in 



78 



THE SOUTHERN STAR 



just enough time to discard their Prince 
Albert coats and don the uniform of 
Uncle Sam. 

Is this disloyalty? Gould you do as 
much for your religion and your coun- 
try? 

We try to mind our own business, and 
if the good people of this city or any 
other place do not care to come out and 
hear me or any other Mormon Elder 
preach, that is their business. All I ask 
is fair play and nothing more. Giving 
the people an opportunity to hear the 
Gospel is a large part of the mission of 
a servant of God, and when it has been 
preached in all the world for a witness, 
then shall the end come, then will it be 
said, as it was said once before by our 
Master, "how oft would I have gath- 
ered you, but ye would not." 1 remem- 
ber, too, that Jesus said: "Wide is the 
gate and broad is the way that leadeth 
to destruction, and many there be that 
go in thereat; while straight is the gate 
and narrow is the way which leadeth 
into life, and few there be that find it." 

Christ also said that people would kill 
His disciples and think they were doing 
God's service, and that all who would 
follow Him must needs suffer persecu- 
tion. Are you persecuted? Is it right 
to look for the true Church of Christ in 
popularity? When a church becomes 
popular and persecution ceases, one of 
the promises of our Savior ceases to be 
fulfilled, for persecution is one of the 
marks by which we are to know the 
true church, says the Bible. Don't you 
think it is time to begin to look for the 
cause of the trouble? What do you really 
sacrifice for the cause of the Master? 

You misunderstand me when you try 
to make believe that I claim my argu- 
ments are new. They are old, very old, 
and are the same as those used by Paul 
and Peter. I hope you will not misrep- 
resent me on that point again. They 
may not be Christian, in the accepted 
use of the term today, but, according to 
Scripture, they were accepted as Chris- 
tian over 1800 years ago. 

I did not think I hit so hard when I 
asked for a chance to give my side of the 
story before your congregation; I have 
always been taught to hear both sides be- 
fore passing judgment, and perhaps it 
might not be amiss to say here that it is 
somewhat of a custom among my peo- 
ple to loan, as you would put it, preach- 
ers of other denominations their church- 
es, congregations, and a choir to sing 
for them. There would be no objection 
even to the Rev. Dr. Talmage, so loving- 
ly quoted by you, preaching in our great 
Tabernacle at Salt Lake City, if he de- 
sired to do so, and be furnished with a 
congregation numbering thousands and 
a choir of 500 voices to sing for him. I 
thought your superior (?) Christianity 
would make you as fair and generous as 
the despised Mormons, but I see I over- 
estimated you. Our large Tabernacle 
at Salt Lake City seats from ten to 
twelve thousand, our organ is second 
largest in the world, and our choir, as I 
stated above, consists of 500 voices. 

We think our singers are of the best, 
as they were given the second prize at 
the world's fair (the first prize being car- 
ried off by the famous Welsh singers). 
No minister of good character has ever 
been denied a hearing in that building, 
and among the many who have occupied 
our famous pulpit, I mention the follow- 
ing prominent churchmen, representing 
various denominations: 

Bishop Kingsley, of Ohio. 

Rev. A. N. Fisher, of Nevada. 

Dr. Tiffany, of Iowa. 

Dr. Allen, of Wyoming. 



Rev. Hiram McKee, of Missouri. 

Dr. J. H. Vincent, of New York. 

Gen. Booth, of the Salvation Army, 
London. 

Mr. D. L. Moody. 

Dr. Reiner, of New York. 

Perhaps these eminent divines would 
have been refused a hearing had the 
Mormon people been as narrow and con- 
tracted as some of their enemies. 

When you advise your congregation 
not to go to hear us, is it not good proof 
that you are afraid to have your people 
find out the truth about us and learn the 
true nature of our faith? 

As expected, you made no effort to ex- 
pose the principles we teach from reason 
and the Scriptures; you claim it would 
take a lifetime to expose the errors of 
Mormonism. Well, now, Brother, don't 
you think you are a little bit inconsist- 
ent 1 m Did you not speak before you 
thought? Just think what would be ac- 
complished if you could only prove Mor- 
monism to be false. We are informed 
by our enemies, and they preach it to the 
people, that the very existence of our 
government and free institutions is 
threatened by this Mormon octapus, and 
often has it been pointed out, by preach- 
ers and politicians, that we already con- 
trol four or five states, almost a suffi- 
cient number of senators to give us a 
balance of power in the United States 
senate. Then the Rev. T. C. Iliff, and 
other of our enemies, who are proselyt- 
ing in Utah, say if it were not for our 
leaders we would be good people; and 
that it is our priestcraft that makes us 
bad; fully admitting that they think we 
have a soul to save. Don't you think 
you could afford to try and call us to 
repentance? Is it not worth the candle? 
Inasmuch as Dr. Iliff was in this city a 
few months back, lecturing on Mormon- 
ism, soliciting donations, is it not possi- 
ble that some of Chattanooga's good 
people gave of their means to be used 
in converting us "heathens," and no 
doubt we were considered "worth the 
candle?" Would it not be well worth a 
man's life to prove Mormonism false, 
if it would save the nation from going 
to pieces and be the means of saving 
some 300,000 or 400,000 or more souls 
for Jesus? Ministers all over the coun- 
try are crying that thousands are being 
won over to the Mormon faith every 
year, and would it not be worth the can- 
dle to check this mighty stream of hu- 
man souls, which, as you would say, 
"are going to certain destruction?" 

As to Joseph Smith, you rehashed the 
same old stuff, which I have already an- 
swered, but I should have thought you 
would have remembered to tell the peo- 
ple, in your eagerness to be fair, what 
such men as Josiah Quincy, George Ban- 
croft, the historian, and other prominent 
and well known men say. In another 
column we have taken pains to give a 
few sayings in our favor from men of 
undoubted veracity, but as they are not 
dippings from your style of authors per- 
haps they will not suit you. 

However, they will go to show that 
there are two sides to this question, as 
well as every other question. 

On the Book of Mormon you manufac- 
ture another Spaulding story with a hope 
of covering your defeat on this point, 
but we want to say to you here that the 
manuscript in Oberlin college is the very 
manuscript of which it was falsely said 
years ago furnished the inspiration for 
the Book of Mormon, and as President 
Fairchild said in his affidavit and ac- 
count of the manuscript published in the 
New York World, the opponents of Mor- 
monism will have to look elsewhere for 



an explanation of the Book of Mormon. 

You admitted to two of our young men 
who called on you a few days ago, that 
you had never read anything about us, 
except from our enemies. Solomon says 
he that judge th a matter before he hear- 
eth it is not wise. How Solomon-like you 
are. 

You felt very badly because I did not 
break the law, so you could prosecute me 
for teaching polygamy, didn't you? You 
remind me of a booby, who, in playing 
with his big brother, cried out, "Ma, he 
won't let me hit him." Solomon and 
David both sinned, we admit, but you 
took special pains not to tell the audience 
"when" they transgressed. But then 
this was necessary in order to keep your 
"clay brick" logic from going to pieces. 
Does the fact that God has a body, 
parts, and passions, debar Him from be- 
ing an intelligent being, omniprescent, 
etc.? The glory of God is intelligence, 
and He, being a real live God, and not a 
nonenity, would His materiality pro- 
hibit Him from controlling the intelli- 
gences for the just governing of His 
children and the universe? Let us look 
at your sylogism. "A brick is made of 
clay, a man is made of clay, therefore 
a man is a brick." Now let us con- 
struct one from the Bible, taking care to 
have our premises correct. "All sons' 
are in the image of their fathers, Jesus 
was a Son, therefore He was in the 'ex- 
press' image of His Father." Now, 
Brother Brougher, what was the image 
of His Father? Jesus had a body of 
flesh and bones — can you explain or ridi- 
cule it away? If the words "God is a 
spirit" means that He has neither body, 
parts or passions, then are we to dis- 
pense with our body, parts and passions 
in order to worship Him in "spirit" and 
in truth? When you find some quotation 
in the Bible that suits your idea, you 
seem to be willing to take the words lit- 
erally. If the symbolical or figurative 
parts of the Bible are so plain, why is 
there such a wide difference of opinion, 
among the learned even, as to its teach- 
ings? I remember that Peter declared 
that "no prophecy of the Scripture is of 
any private interpretation." I do not 
mention this by way of belittling your 
great knowledge of interpretation and 
for calling me a fool for taking the book 
literally, but speak of it that the public 
might know how ignorant and how very 
little Peter really knew about how to 
read the Bible. 

You say Mark 16:16 is spurious, to jus- 
tify yourself in not believing baptism to 
be essential to salvation, don't . you? 
"Only believe and you shall be saved;" 
you may just as well say to the farmer, 
"only believe in planting and your crop 
will grow." But let us see where your 
declaration "that this part of the Bible 
is. spurious" leads us. There are other 
passages of Scripture which say bap- 
tism is essential to salvation. Are they 
also spurious? John 3-5 reports Jesus 
saying to Nicodemus, "except a man be 
born of water and of the spirit, he can- 
note enter the kingdom of God;" Mat- 
thew says, 3:13-15, that it was necessary 
for our Savior to be baptized in order to 
fulfill all righteousness. Jesus also says, 
Matt. 28, in giving the Apostles their 
commissions to go to teach all nations, 
baptizing them that believe; and Paul 
also enumerates in Heb. 6 that baptism 
is a doctrine of Christ. We are told 
that it was necessary for Paul to be 
baptized, likewise the jailer, the people 
at Ephesus, the people at Samaria, the 
eunuch, and even a man as just as was 
Cornelius could not escape, and accord- 
ing to St. Luke, -"some rejected the coun- 



THE SOUTHERN STAR. 



79 



sel of God against themselves, not being 
baptized." According to the practice 
generally in vogue, is it not about time 
for a revision of the Bible, that the of- 
fending parts may be cast out? Ought 
you not to use your potent influence to 
accomplish this end, as I contended in 
my former letter? You charge me false- 
ly with misquoting Mark 1(J:10, because 
I placed within the quotation an inter- 
polation in brackets, and if this is mis- 
quoting I surely had no intention of do- 
ing so. Any school boy would have 
known that the words in brackets were 
mine. You say the passage does not 
mean what my interpolation indicated, 
but you failed to point out what it did 
mean. Look at it again, even if it is 
spurious and of no consequence. The 
wojrds "belief" and "baptism" are placed 
on even terms by our Savior, and there 
is no other conclusion but that the be- 
liever must be baptized (unless it is one 
of your figures of speech). This being 
true, the unbeliever very naturally 
would not be baptized and be damned, as 
Christ says, in consequence of unbelief 
and non-conformity to this ordinance. 
Really, brother, over whose "shop" 
should the sign "All kinds of turning and 
twisting done here" be placed? I am per- 
fectly willing to leave that to an intelli- 
gent public. You entertained your con- 
gregation last Sunday evening by relat- 
ing to them a pretty fable about a jack- 
ass, who was in the woods braying. It 
was nicely related and caused much 
laughter and mirth; and no one could be- 
come offended by a jackass story; there- 
fore, kindly allow me the same privilege. 
Brother Brougher, as I alse have a 
jackass story. 

"Once upon a time" there was a jack- 
ass who imagined he was 'preaching the 
same Gospel that was taught many hun- 
dreds of years ago; he stood before a 
large, fashionable congregation of peo- 
ple and started to bray. He opened his 
mouth and said: "Oh, money, oh, 
money, thy praises I'll sing; thou art my 
savior, my god and my king; 'tis for thee 
that I preach, 'tis for thee that I pray, 
and make a collection twice each Sab- 
bath day. Money's my creed, and I 
won't pray without it, the heavens are 
closed against those who doubt it. This 
is the essence of popular religion, come 
regular to church and be plucked like a 
pigeon. I'll have carriages, horses, ser- 
vants and nil, I'm not going to foot it 
like Peter and Paul; neither like John, 
feed on locusts and honey, so out with 
your purse and down with your money. 
I gather my knowledge from wisdom's 
great tree, and the whole of my trinity 
is D. D. and C; dimes, dollars and cents 
are all that I crave, from the first step 
on earth to the brink of the grave. In 
the cold earth I may soon be laid low, 
to sleep with, the just, that have gone 
long ago; I shall slumber in peace till the 
great resurrection, and be first on my 
legs to make a collection." Then he 
blessed the contribution boxes and the 
show closed. 

Now, dear brother, don't you think 
that my jackass story equals yours, and 
contains a better moral? I am sure it 
is just as funny; so now we are even, 
on jackass stories, anyhow. 

We see how careful the nations of the 
earth are in throwing their protecting 
arms around the principle of authority; 
how careful they are that all represent- 
atives acknowledged by them are en- 
dowed with proper authority from their 
respective governments. In this nation 
of ours no man has the right to initiate 
a foreigner into the government unless 
he be endowed with authority, beyond 



the question of a doubt; the government 
would undoubtedly punish any man who 
might read of a commission given to 
others, and then take the authority unto 
himself to initiate foreigners into the 
government of the United States. 

We see the same careful protection 
thrown around the principle of authority 
throughout the different states of the 
union; throughout the different counties 
of the state, and throughout all the dif- 
ferent cities of the various counties. All 
will admit that without this strict atton- 
tion to authority, there wduld be no law. 
no order and no protection. Out of all 
known governments the great govern- 
ment of God, according to our opinion, 
is the only one that treats the principle 
of authority in a careless and reckless 
manner. Anciently a prophet of God, 
through the principle of revelation, called 
Aaron to the ministry; at a later period, 
an Apostle of Jesus Christ said that no 
man was to take this honor unto him- 
self save he be called of God, as was 
Aaron. Yet men of our day will read 
where men were commissioned by Jesus 
Christ eighteen hundred years ago, with 
authority to initiate foreigners into the 
great government of God, and by virtue 
of that authority, given to others, they 
take the honor unto themselves; while 
declaring that the great God has sealed 
up the system of revelation; and through 
the heavens, as you say, being as brass 
above our heads, no man can be called, 
as was Aaron. In the face of all this, 
any man purchasing a Bible, which con- 
tains that commission once given to oth- 
ers, imagines he is called of God to 
preach the Gospel, and the result is we 
are living in a babel of confusion; God 
says "He is not the author of confusion." 

Of course I realize these words of mine 
will have no weight upon you, but they 
may be read by some fair-minded, think- 
ing man, who may stop, ponder and in- 
vestigate. 

By inuendo you advocated mob vio- 
lence in your sermon last Sunday night. 
Do you think it was becoming to a man 
who professes to be a representative of 
the meek and lowly One, whose mission 
was peace on earth and good will to 
man? In carefully looking over the his- 
tory of this Mission for a number of 
years back and noting the number of 
mobbings to which our Elders have been 
subjected, and the number is not small, 
we find by careful comparison that 90 
per cent, of the mobbings have been led 
in person or inspired by so-called Chris- 
tian ministers. 

Do you think you were serving God on 
the Sabbath when you so nearly sanc- 
tioned brute force against a people who 
have never harmed you or any of the 
good people of Chattanooga? Do yon 
really believe that such a course will 
make you popular with the liberty-loving 
and law-abiding population of your new 
home? Think over the matter carefully 
and perhaps you will admit you over- 
reached yourself a little. 

You took for your text, "Answer a 
fool according to his folly." In closing 
allow me to respectfully present you 
with the words of our Master, "He who 
calleth his brother a fool is in danger of 
hell fire." Respectfully, 

BEN E. RICH. 



But be ye doers of the word and not 
hearers only, deceiving your own selves. 
For if any be a hearer of the word, and 
not a doer, he is like unto a man behold- 
ing his natural face in a glass: For he 
beholdeth himself and goeth his way, 
and straightway forgetteth what man- 
ner of man he was.— Jas. 1. 



ABSTRACTS FROM CORRESPONDENCE 

A remarkable case of healing is record- 
ed by Elders Charles Pettit and Josiah 
Leavitt, laboring in the North Ken- 
tucky Conference. Through the admin- 
istration of these brethren Sister Jones, 
who was very sick with pneumonia, was 
almost instantly healed, and in two dajfc 
after was able to go about her usual du- 
ties. She had been bedfast for two 
weeks. Thus are the words of James 
verified: "Is any sick among you? let 
him call for the Elders of the church, 
and let them pray over him, annointing 
him with oil in the name of the Lord; 
and the prayer of faith shall save the 
sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; 
and if he have committed sin, they shall 
be forgiven him." 



The following is from a letter written 
by Apostle Heber J. Grant, which will 
be of interest to the Elders. The letter 
is dated at Salt Lake City, Jan. 24th, 
1900: 
"President Ben E. Rich. 

"Dear Brother— -I have just got home 
from St. George and start for Arizona 
this evening. Before going to St. George 
I did not have time to write an answer 
to your kind letter telling me of your 
prayers for mother's hearing to be re- 
stored. I am truly grateful to be able 
to say that her hearing is considerably 
improved. In talking to her last Mon- 
day evening in my usual voice, when ad- 
dressing her, she requested me not to 
halloo so loud. I lowered my voice very 
materially and she still heard me. 

"Some weeks ago I sang the hymn, 
"God moves in a mysterious way," for 
her, and holding my mouth close to her 
ear and singing so loud that the effort 
made my head ache, and then it was 
with difficulty \that I could make her 
hear. Recalling this effort Monday 
morning, I sang the same hymn to her 
in my usual voice while singing, which 
as you know would be louder than ordi- 
nary conversation, and I am thankful to 
tell you that she heard every word dis- 
tinctly. 

"My own impression Sunday two 
weeks ago, while praying for her in the 
Temple, was not that she should have 
her hearing all in a moment, but that 
it should come gradually to her, and I 
feel that this impression was from the 
Lord and that she has already com- 
menced to realize the benefits accruing 
from the prayers of the Saints. 

"My heart is full of thanksgiving and 
gratitude to my many friends for their 
prayers in mother's behalf." 



Brother H. C. Cherry writes from 
Washington, N. C, that the Saints in 
that locality are getting along nicely. 
They have a good Sunday School in op- 
eration. Some persecution is also being 
met with, but that is one of the marks 
of the true Church of Christ. 



Every age regards the dawning of new 
light as the destroying fire of mortality; 
while that very age itself, with heart 
uninjured, finds itself raised one degree 
of light above the preceding.— Jean Paul. 



Education, however indispensable in a 
cultivated age, produces nothing on 'the 
side of genius. Where education ends, 
genius often begins.— Isaac Disraeli. 



Education is the apprenticeship of life. 
— Willmot. 



Pride breakfasted with Plenty, dined 
with Poverty and supped with Infamy. 



80 



THE SOUTHERN STAR. 



REPORT OF MISSION CONFERENCES FOR WEEK ENDING JAN. 13, 1MK). 



PRESIDENT 



D.H. Elton 

HeberS Oloon 

B. F. Price 

John Pi> t- r^ciii. .. .... 

W. D. Bencher 

T. H. Humpherys,. 

C.G.Parker- 

J. Urban Allred Z< 

J. M. Hawi. + 

Sylvester Low, Jr.... 

O. D. Flake ^m 

D. A.Btoadbcnt 

J.N. Miller 

W.H. Boyl«u 

L.M. Terry 

Geo. E. Haycock.... 



CDNKBBKWCE 



Chattanooga .. 
Virginia*,..—*.. 

Kentucky 

E. Tennessee.. 

Georgia- , 

N. Alabama— 

Florida.,. 

Mid. Tenn.,„.. + 

N. Carolina 

9 Carolina,.* „ 

Mississippi 

E. Kentucky... 

Louisiana 

S, Alabama 

N. Kentucky.,, 
Ohio-,., ..... 



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Bagdad, Shelby Co 

713 W. 8th SU Cincinnati 




"Women of Calvary. 11 

There is an order in New York City, 
known as "The Women of Calvary." It 
is of the Church of Rome, but founded 
for absolutely non-sectarian work. It 
ministers to women suffering from incur- 
able cancer, without regard to race, color 
or creed. The members are all widows, 
the founder being Madame Garnier, a 
pious, benevolent and widowed French 
lady. These women are in no sense of 
the word religious, they make no vows, 
wear no uniform and are not cloistered. 
Their lives are led, so far as mingling 
with the world is concerned, just as that 
of any other women of pious inclination 
would be. 

Although no woman except she be a 
widow is eligible to membership in the 
Women of Calvary, its auxiliary, the 
Daughters of the Cross, is recruited from 
the ranks of single women, or widows, 
just as it happens. Both these orders 
are pledged to the service of women who 
are incurable cancer patients. They re- 
ceive no salary or compensation in any 
way. The Women of Calvary dress the 
wounds of the patients, wait upon and 
watch with them. The Daughters of the 
Cross do the housework; everything, 
washing, scrubbing, cooking. But as all 
are serving the same master, there is no 
such a word as servant ever used. 

The house at No. 5 Perry street, New 
York, opened for the reception of pa- 
tients in the early autumn of last year, 
is the only one in the English-speaking 
world, and Mrs. Storrs is the only woman 
of the English-speaking nations who is 
entitled to wear the decoration of the 
Cross of Calvary bestowed upon her as a 
reward of fifteen months* service in the 
sister house in Belgium. It is pitiful to 
be obliged to state that even before the 
doors of the Perry street house were 
opened nearly every bed was spoken for. 
The greatest number of sufferers from 
cancer are poor women, and of these 
women far the larger portion were moth- 
ers. Moved to pity by this condition of 
affairs, Mrs. Storrs served fifteen months 
in the Belgium Calvary, to gain the re- 
quisite knowledge. Then returned to 
America with the fixed purpose of here 
opening a house of refuge for the incura- 
ble cancer patients of her native land. 

Although the first House of Calvary in 
the- English-speaking world is in New 
York TJity, to the state of North Carolina 
belongs the honor of founding the work 
on the western hemisphere; for both Mrs. 
Storrs, the director, and Mrs. S. Gaston 
Bailieff, the vice-president, belong to dis- 
tinguished North Carolina families. 

The House of Cavalry is supported en- 
tirely by voluntary contributions. One 



dollar a month makes the donor a con- 
tributing member. The home is for the 
poor. Those who can afford to pay are 
not received. The New York Calvary is 
the seventh one founded in the world. In 
1842 Madame Garnier, with a few asso- 
ciates, opened the first one in Lyons, 
France, where they dressed the wounds 
and soothed and comforted the few re- 
maining hours of such of their suffering 
sisters as applied for admittance. In 
1866 the second was opened in Brussels. 
In 1874 a Calvary was founded in Paris, 
which was soon followed by one in Saint- 
Estienne; and in 1881 another was suc- 
cessuflly established in Marseailles, and 
in 1892 still another was founded in 
Rouen., France.— Times. 



It is Forty-Six! 

If the Statistical Secretary has made 
no mistake in his figures, and if the fig- 
ures have been correctly reported in the 
Advocate and Danville Methodist, the 
net gain in membership in the whole? 
Virginia Conference for the year ending 
November 15, 1899, is forty-six. In No- 
vember, 1898, we reported a member- 
ship of 88,693. This year we reported a 
membership of 88,739; net gain forty- 
six. In 1898 our net gain was 812. This 
was a sad decline in increase. Now we 
have nearly reached the line dividing 
the increase from the decrease. If this 
downward tendency continues for one 
more year at the ratio of the last two, 
we will report at our next conference a 
decrease. This is our certain fate. This 
small increase, evidencing as it does a 
loss of the soul-saving power on the 
part of the church, must distress every 
lover of our Zion, and gives food for the. 
most painful reflections and raises the 
inquiry, Why? 

In round numbers our people paid out 
during the last conference year $10,000 
for domestic missions and $190,000 for 
the snpoprt of the ministry. We have 
had 227 active itinerant ministers in the 
field. These must have preached on an 
average at least two sermons a week; 
this gives 23,608 sermons besides prayer 
meeting talks, exhortations and revival 
efforts. These sermons were preached by 
men of various degrees of ability, learn- 
ing and adaptability. Many of them are 
decorated with literary and honorary de- 
grees from colleges and universities, 
great and small and medium. We have 
our A.B.'s, A.M's, D.D.'s. Ph.Ds, etc: 
men from Vanderbilt. Princeton. Yale, 
etc. We have imported stock and home 
bloods of finest strain; we have wander- 
ing stars and home luminaries; we have 
evangelists and giraffes. 

We had under our influence and in- 
struction 61,540 Sunday school scholar*. 
To help us to bring these young peoolo 
to Christ and to train them for useful- 
ness and heaven we had in co-operation 
9.573 teachers. The Epworth League re- 
ports 9,674 members; with their devo- 
tional meetings, their aids and charities, 
their literary and social gatherings and 



efforts, all in co-operation with the church 
and ministry. Yet this man of facta, this 
cold-blooded secretary, stands forth and 
reports a net gain of forty-six members 
for twelve months. 

This ague-giving report comes imme- 
diately after the most glowing accounts 
of gracious revivals all over the confer- 
ence. From the Richmond district the 
elder reported: "Revivals in all the 
charges." From West Richmond dis- 
trict, "Spiritual condition excellent, ns 
indicated by extensive revivals." From 
Rappahannock district, "Four hundred 
and fifty professions." From Charlottes- 
ville District, "Considerable revivals." 
From Lynchburg district, "Five or six 
hundred conversions." Petersburg dis- 
trict, "Gracious revivals." Portsmouth 
district, "extensive revivals." Eastern 
Shore district, "Six hundred and twenty- 
five conversions." Nothing as to revivals 
is reported from the Danville, Farmville, 
or Norfolk districts, but I saw during 
the year reports of fine revivals in a 
number of the charges on the Danville 
and Norfolk districts. The same may 
have been true of the Farmville district, 
but nothing to that effect came under 
my notice. What became of these con- 
verts? If even a fair proportion of them 
joined our church — say 75 per cent.— 
then we must account for an extraordi- 
nary and alarming loss of original mem- 
bers. Anyway we are scarcely holding 
our own; did not hold our own in the 
whole church last year— 1898. I greatly 
fear it will be much worse this year. In 
our conference our gains have been re- 
duced from thousands to tens. 

It seems to me that every thoughtful 
and true Christian and informed Meth- 
odist must see that there is something 
wrong somewhere in our church which 
is producing this decline in saving power 
and in numbers; something wrong which 
ought to be removed, which can be re- 
moved, and must be removed, or our days 
as a true, evangelical and soul-saving 
church are numbered. The saddest thing 
to me in all this sad state, of affairs is 
that those who have it in their power to 
remove these malign causes of our sad 
decline seem to be indifferent to them 
or stand in with them. 

To me these causes which have con- 
spired, and still conspire, to bring abour 
our present distressing condition, are 
clearly apparent. They have been long 
operating and growing in power. These 
causes are hell-born, but try to wear the 
livery of heaven. They are entrenched 
as firmly and as cunningly as hell can 
entrench them. We wrestle against prin- 
cipalities, n gainst powers, against the. 
rulers of the darkness of this world, and 
against spiritual wickedness in high 
places. Who will rise up against the 
evil doers? Who shall dislodge the ad- 
versary? It will take a Martin Luther. 
Tt will take years of toil, suffering, the 
bearing of ridicule, contempt, misrepre- 
sentation, and loss of all the things the 
world seeks. The man is not yet In 
sight. May the good Lord raise him 
up!— H. C. Cheatham, in the Richmond 
Christian Advocate. 




"OUT THOUGH YYE,OG AN ANGEL FROM HEAVEN r PRt AC H ANY 
pTNEB GOSPEL UNTO YOU THAN THAT WHICH WE 

HAVE PREACHED UNTO YOU, LET HIM feE ACCUftSIft.^ ./#?&# 



Vol. 2. 



Chattanooga, Tenn., Saturday, February 10, 1900. 



No. 11. 



Sketch of the Life of Prophet Brigham Young. 



BY APOSTLE MATHIAS F. COWLEY. 




President Brigham Young, the suc- 
cessor of Joseph Smith to the Presidency 
and prophetic office in the Church of 



PRESIDENT BRIGHAM YOUNG. 

Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, was 
born June 1, 1801, in Whittingham, 
Windham county, Vermont, Like bis 



predecessor, he was of purely American 
stock, dating back many generations. 
Jftp father, John Young, fought i» th<» 



82 



THE SOUTHERN STAR. 



revolutionary war, and his grandfather 
in the French and Indian war. His 
family relations on both sides were 
among the staun chest supporters of free- 
dom in the American colonies. He was 
the ninth child in a family of five sons 
and six daughters. They were inured 
to hard labor and were strictly moral in 
their habits. He was trained in piety, 
but joined no denomination until the age 
of 21, when he identified himself with 
the Methodist church, to which his par- 
ents were allied. At the age of 16 he 
commenced business for himself. He 
learned the trades of carpenter, joiner, 
painter and glazier, and exhibited traits 
of a practical character which in after 
life were brought into such a broad field 
of activity among the people of God, be- 
ing quickened by the inspiration of the 
Almighty. 

In the meantime bis parents had moved 
to Chenango county, New York. On 
Oct. 8th, 1824, he married Miss Miriam 
Works and located in Cayuga county, 
New" York, where he followed his occu- 
pation of carpenter, painter, joiner and 
glazier. Early in 1829 he removed to 
Mendon, Monroe county, New York, 
where in the spring of 1830 he first saw 
a copy of the Book of Mormon, which 
was brought to that neighborhood by 
Elder Samuel H. Smith, brother of the 
Prophet. The contents of this sacred 
record he carefully read with a prayer- 
ful desire to know the truth. His investi- 
gation resulted in a firm conviction that 
Joseph Smith was a Prophet of the living 
God and the Book of Mormon a Divine 
Record. Although a Methodist of sin- 
cere piety and confronted with frowns 
and opposition, he had the courage of his 
convictions, being baptized and con- 
firmed a member of the Church of Jesus 
Christ of Latter-day Saints April 14th, 
1832, by Elder Eleazer Miller. He was 
ordained an Elder by Brother Miller the 
same day. Three weeks later his faith- 
ful wife was baptized, dying in the faith 
the 8th of September, 1832, leaving him 
two little girls as the result of their 
union. From the day of Elder Young's 
baptism he became a most indefatigable 
and fearless advocate of the pure prin- 
ciples of the Gospel revealed to the 
Prophet Joseph Smith. His parents, 
brother Joseph, and several other mem- 
bers of the Young family also embraced 
the Gospel and became active workers 
in the church. During the summer sub- 
sequent to his baptism, he did much 
preaching in the regions about Mendon, 
baptizing a goodly number and organiz- 
ing several branches of the church. In 
this vicinity also his life-long friend, 
counselor and associate, Heber C. Kim- 
ball, received the Gospel. With Elders 
Kimball and Joseph Young, Brigham 
Young visited Kirtland, O., in the fall 
of 1832, and for the first time in life saw 
and became acquainted with the Prophet 
Joseph Smith. They were mutually im- 
pressed with the integrity of each other. 
In the evening of the day they first 
met the Prophet called upon Brother 
Brigham to pray. While praying he 
spoke in tongues. The Prophet received 
the interpretation and said it was the 
pure language spoken by Adam in the 
Garden of Eden. After Brigham had 
left the room Joseph Smith uttered the 
prophecy. "The time will come when 
Brother Brigham Young will preside over 
this church." Many thousands of peo- 
ple now live, the witnesses to the verifi- 
cation of this prediction. In the winter 
of 1832-3 Brother Brigham, with his 
brother Joseph Young, labored as mis- 
sionaries in and near West Laboro, 
Canada. They were successful in bap 
tizing numbers of people and organizing 



several branches of the church. His la- 
bors continued the following spring and 
part of the summer in Canada and 
Northern New York, with encouraging 
success. In July, 1833, be conducted a 
small company of Saints to Kirtland. 
This may be called the commencement 
of his great labors in the capacity of a 
pioneer leader, which he so fully accom- 
plished in later years, and through 
which he was often referred to as the 
"modern Moses." In the fall of 1833 he 
removed with his family to Kirtland, 
O., and was ever afterward an impor- 
tant personage in the growth and devel- 
opment of that city. In February, 1834, 
he married Mary Ann Angell, who took 
faithful care of his motherless children. 
She bore several children to him, among 
them the present Apostle, Elder Brig- 
ham Young. 

When Zion's Camp was organized in 
1834 to carry supplies and encouragement 
to the driven Saints in Missouri, and 
which needed men of integrity, endurance, 
faith and courage, Brigham Young was 
among the foremost of the faithful few 
to accomplish that wonderful pilgrimage 
to *and from Missouri, doing his work 
cheerfully, and wan never known to mur- 
mur ngninst the providences or prophet of 
the Lord. On his return to Kirtland, 
having journeyed 2,000 miles on foot, he 
occupied the remainder of the year work- 
ing on the printing office, school room and 
Temple. When the first quorum of 
Twelve Apostles of this Dispensation 
were chosen Brigham Young was num- 
bered among them; this occurred Feb. 14, 
1835, from then until 1837, he spent 
his summers preaching, baptizing, 
organizing branches. as a mis- 
sionary, and his winters working at his 
trade upon the Kirtland Temple: the 
painting and finishing of which he skill- 
fully superintended in the spring of 1836. 
He also attended the Hebrew School in 
Kirtland in the winter of 1835-36. When 
the Temple was dedicated he attended the 
solemn assembly and received his bless- 
ings in the house of the Lord. Soon after 
this performing a faithful mission in 
the Eastern states, with Dr. Willard Kich- 
ards. He returned in May 3837, and later 
the same year fulfilled another short mis- 
sion in the state of New York. During 
the financial panic of 1837. when apos- 
tacy ran so high in Kirtland and several 
of the Twelve Apostles turned against the 
prophet, with false accusations, and 
sought his overthrow, Brigham Young 
stood firm and loyal, declaring in the face 
of bitter enemies, ttiat Joseph Smith was 
true and faithful, still a Prophet of God. 
So intense was the hatred against Brig- 
ham Younpr for this hold stand that he 
was obliged to leave Kirtland to escape 
the fury of the mob. He left Dec. 22, 
1837, and arrived in the colony of the 
Saints in Far West, Mo., March 14, 1838. 
Soon after this the' entire Ohureb moved 
from Ohio to Missouri. In the meantime 
the Prophet Joseph and other brethren 
were betrayed by apostates, threatened 
with death and cast into prison. During 
this period the coming prophet, Brigham 
Young, was industrious and improving 
the land, and laboring diligently in the 
duties of his Apostleship. especially in 
preparing and planning for the exodus of 
the Saints from Missouri under the cruel 
order of extermination issued bv the mod- 
ern Herod. Gov. Lilbum W. Boggs. In 
this exodus Brigham Young exemplified 
those gifts of organization and pioneering, 
which Prividence destined him to so thor- 
oughly amplify in the great exodus of the 
Latter-day Saints r decade later. Brle- 
ham Young not only directed, but worked 
as hard in a practical way as those over 



whom he was called at this critical junc- 
ture to temporarily preside. He left his 
own family no less than eleven times to 
return with teams to bring up the poor 
and helpless. Himself and President 
Heber C. Kimball had entered into a cov- 
enant that they would not cease their ef- 
forts until all. who would should be de- 
livered from Missouri and safely harbored 
in a more hospitable state. This covenant 
they most faithfully kept. 

April 18th, 1839, with others of the 
Twelve, he left Quincy to fulfill a reve- 
lation given to the Prophet Joseph Smith 
July 8th, 1838, to the effect, that the 
Twelve should take their departure on 
their mission to England from the Tem- 
ple site in Far West. The mob had 
sworn that this should not be fulfilled, 
but under the protection of the Al- 
mighty, with Brigham Young at the 
head of the Twelve, this revelation was 
signally fulfilled. He returned to 
Quincy May 3d, and met with Joseph 
and Hyrum Smith the first time since 
their escape from enemies in Missouri. 
On the 16th ofthe same month he left 
for Nauvoo, and a week later moved his 
family across the river to Montrose, 
where he secured a room in some old 
military barracks as a temporary home 
for himself and family. The climate was 
sickly in Nauvoo and his health was 
poor, but Brigham Young was constantly 
doing all in his power to establish the 
Saints and build up the city of Nauvoo. 
He continued this labor until Sept. 14th, 

1839, when he started "without purse or 
scrip" to perform his mission in En- 
gland. He was sick when he started, 
leaving a babe only ten days old, bis 
wife and the children being ill, with no 
means of support in sight. Let it be 
acknowledged by the reader that the 
motive which prompted men to take 
such a course under such trying circum- 
stances was a pure one, and the faith 
which buoyed them up, sustained them 
and brought to them complete success, 
must have been the "faith that was once 
delivered, to the Saints," produced by a 
knowledge of the truth founded upon the 
Rock of Revelation. On his way to New 
York he did much teaching and preach- 
ing, sailing from New York March 9th. 

1840, arriving in England April 6th. On 
July 1st, 1841, he arrived in Nauvoo 
from his mission in England, and was 
cordially welcomed by the Prophet Jo- 
seph Smith. During his absence, while 
laboring in the British Isles, thousands 
of souls were added to the church in that 
foreign land, and a permanent shipping 
agency' established. Since that time 
probably not less than 75,000 souls bave 
sailed from the shores of Europe, as 
members of the Church of Jesus Christ 
of Latter-day Saints. At the first coun- 
cil of the Twelve held in a foreign land 
Brigham Young was unanimously sus- 
tained as President of that quorum. 
Under his direction steps were taken to 
publish 3,000 hymn books, 5,000 copies 
of the Book of Mormon and the Millen- 
nial Star was published, with Apostle 
Parley P. Pratt as its first editor. This 
periodical continues until the present 
time, almost half a century old, and has 
gone to the homes of thousands, bearing 
the glad tidings of the Gospel restored 
to earth. Jan. 19th, 1841, the following 
revelation was given to the Prophet Jo- 
seph Smith: 

"I give unto you my servant, Brigham 
Young, to be a President over the 
Twelve traveling council, which Twelve 
hold the keys to open up the authority 
of my kingdom upon the four corners of 
the earth, and after that to send my 
word to every creature." The Quorum 
of the Twelve stand next in authority to 



THE SOUTHEKN STAB. 



the Presidency of the church, and in case 
of the decease of the Prophet the 
Twelve preside over the church with 
their President at the head, and thus 
was brought to the front Brigham 
Young, the man whom God designed 
should succeed the Prophet Joseph 
Smith. In July of the same year the 
I^ord said through the Prophet Joseph 
Smith, "Dear and well-beloved brother 
Brigham Young, verily thus saith the 
Lord unto you, my servant Brigham 
it is no more required at your 
hand to leave your family as in times 
past, for your offering is acceptable to 
me. I have seen your labor and toil in 
journey ings for my name. I therefore 
command you to send my word abroad 
and take special care of your family 
from this time, henceforth and forever. 
Amen." 

Subsequent events in the history of the 
church demonstrated the propriety of 
this revelation to the fullest extent. On 
the return of Brother Brigham to Nau- 
voo he became active in building up the 
city, as well as constantly diligent in at- 
tending to the duties of his Apostleship. 
In July following the call of President 
Young to preside over the Quorum of tne 
Twelve, the Prophet Joseph requested 
the Twelve to take the responsibility of 
the church in Nauvoo, especially in prac- 
tical matters. They attended to the sell- 
ing of its lands, locating the incoming 
Saints, and attending to such other la- 
bors as would relieve and lighten the 
burden resting upon the Prophet Joseph 
Smith. In all this labor Brigham Young 
was energetic and efficient, proving him- 
self to be a great help to the Prophet of 
God in all the labors incident to those 
trying times. He also served with abil- 
ity as a member of the city council of 
Nauvoo. On the 7th of July, 1843, he 
started on a mission to the Eastern 
states, one chief purpose being to gather 
funds for the building of the Temple 
and the Nauvoo house. He was absent 
until Oct. 22d the same year. From this 
time until May 21, 1844, he was busy in 
his calling, often in council with the 
Prophet and other leading men, constant- 
ly alive to the interest of Zion and the 
spread of the Gospel throughout the 
world. On the date last named he went 
on a short mission to the east. While 
absent, learning of the sad news of the 
martyrdom of Joseph and Hyrum Smith, 
he immediately returned to Nauvoo. This 
was the first time in this dispensation 
the church had been called to mourn the 
loss of their Prophet, Seer and Revela- 
tor. The people were young in experi- 
ence. False brethren sought to estab- 
lish themselves as the rightful guardians 
of the church, Sidney Rigdon making 
such a claim at a conference held in Nau- 
voo Aug. 8th, 1844. When the Twelve 
were sustained as the presiding author- 
ity of the church, Brigham Young arose 
to speak, and in the presence of the mul- 
titude was transfigured by the spirit and 
power of God, so that his form, size, 
countenance and voice appeared as those 
of the martyred Prophet. Even non- 
members were struck with amazement 
and expected to see and hear the depart- 
ed Seer. From that moment doubt and 
uncertainty were banished from the 
hearts of the faithful and they were fully 
assured that the mantle of Joseph Smith 
had fallen upon Brigham Young. On 
the above occasion President Young 
said: "All that want to draw away a 
party from the church after them, let 
them do it if they can, but they will not 
prosper." So far as time has brought 
this prophecy due, it has been verified to 
the letter. It only remains for a little 



season to record the confusion and down- 
fall of any and every system wmch 
claims to be the succession to the 
church as established through the Proph- 
et Joseph $niith, and yet which denies 
the authority of Brigham Young and the 
Twelve to preside over and continue the 
work which God established through the 
Prophet Joseph Smith. 

After the martyrdom of Joseph and 
Hyrum, persecution did not cease; the 
Prophets were slain but Truth did not 
die. The man who stood as the earthly 
head was taken away, but the authority 
which he held had been conferred upon 
others. The work of God went on and 
in the midst of persecution and bitter 
hatred Brigham Young stood calmly per- 
forming his duties, counseling the Saints, 
caring for their wants, and pushing with 
zeal tlhe completion of the Nauvoo Tem- 
ple, which was dedicated and used for 
sacred ordinances before the final exodus 
from Nauvoo. Brigham Young labored 
much in the Temple until Feb. 1840, when 
he left the beloved city, and joined the 
emigrating Saints on the west side of the 
Mississippi. This was a trying time. 
20,000 Saints dispossessed of their homes, 
and turned out upon the prairies of Iowa 
in winter. It required not only a great 
man to be their leader, but one whose 
greatness consisted in his faith in' God 
and title to the right that God should be 
his strength and source of inspiration. 
Such a man was Brigham Young, a ver- 
itable "Lion of the Lord" in the face of 
persecution and trial, yet childlike, hum- 
ble and dependent on the Lord. The 
Saints were seeking a country they knew 
not where. They were poor, some were 
sick. Several babies were born in camp, 
just after leaving Nauvoo. To counter- 
act melancholy, and aid them to the exer- 
cise of cheerful hope, President Young 
would have them meet around the camp- 
fire, and engage in songs and instru- 
mental music. To aid the Saints less 
well equipped than others he established 
two resting and recruiting points, Garden 
Grove and Mount Pisgah. The main 
body, with President Young at their head, 
reached Council Bluffs, on the Missouri 
river, in June. While here he was re- 
quested by the government to furnish a 
battallion of 500 men, to engage in the 
war witih Mexico. This was promptly 
complied with, taking many of the most 
able-bodied men from the camp of the 
Saints. This battallion marched across 
the plains to California, and after being 
mustered out with honor, reached Salt 
Lake Valley a little later than the Pio- 
neers. After fitting out the Mormon bat- 
tallion, he crossed the Missouri to the Ne- 
braska side and established winter quar- 
ters, since called Florence, about five 
miles north of Omaha. Here he laid out 
streets and blocks, upon which comfort- 
able log houses were built, erecting a grist 
mill, and in numerous ways providing for 
the comfort of the Saints, while himself 
and a chosen few should fathom the un- 
explored regions of the Rocky mountains 
in quest of a home for an exiled people. 
In April, 1847, President Young and 142 
others, among whom were three noble 
women, full of faith, commenced their 
perilous journey across the plains. Ar- 
riving in Salt Lake Valley July 24th, 
1847. President Young was sick and rid- 
ing in the carriage of Apostle Wilford 
Woodruff, when his eyes rested upon the 
valley, he said "This is the place." It 
was a barren desert, but God had shown 
him in vision the place to rest, and he 
knew the valley when he saw it with his 
natural eye. President Young immedi- 
ately directed the laying out of a city, 
with ten acre blocks, with eight lots in 



each, one and one-fourth acres in size. 
Tne streets eight rods wide, to have a 
sidewalk on either side one rod wide, arid 
subsequently when water could be ob- 
tained, a beautiful row of trees to adorn 
and shade the same, watered by a crystal 
stream on the outside of the walk. This 
was the pattern and most of the cities 
in Utah, bear the main characteristics of 
the pioneer city ot Salt Lake. In Au- 
gust President Young started on his re- 
turn to winter quarters, on the way meet- 
ing about 2,000 Saints, who readied oalt 
Lake Valley in the fall of 1847. it was 
Mexican soil, and the Stars and Stripes 
had been unfurled by the Mormon Pio- 
neers on Ensign Peak above the city. 

At winter quarters Dec. 5th, 1847, 
President Young was unanimously sus- 
tained by the Twelve, President of the 
Church, and on Dec. 27, by all the au- 
thorities and Saints assembled in general 
conference at Council Bluffs. On the 
26th of May he started with his family 
on his return to Salt Lake Valley. At 
winter quarters he left a home, mills and 
other property. This was the fifth time 
he had left home and property for the 
Gospel's sake. This year he superintended 
the emigration of over 2,000 souls, ar- 
rived in Salt Lake City Sept. 20, 1848, 
and began at once giving counsel and 
planning for the general welfare. At a 
conference held Oct. 8, 1848, he was 
unanimously sustained as President of 
the Church, with Heber C. Kimball and 
Willard Richards, who had also been sus- 
tained in the conference at Council 
Bluffs. 

A new era now dawned upon the 
Church, a thousand miles from bigoted 
intolerance and mob violence. They 
found themselves in a desert, but free 
and happy, notwithstanding the task be- 
fore them of reclaiming a wilderness, 
No man in the Church, before or since, 
was better adapted to lead in colonizing 
and building up a great commonwealth, 
than was Brigham Young. He served as 
the first governor of Utah, from 1851 to 
1858, to the satisfaction of the people of 
the territory, and to the President of the 
United States, who appointed him. When 
Johnson's army was sent to Utah for 
the purpose of suppressing an imaginary 
rebellion, which the lying Judge Drum- 
mond had induced President Buchanan 
to believe existed, President Young de- 
clared that if the army persisted in en- 
tering Salt Lake Valley as a hostile foe, 
they would find it, as the Latter-day 
Saints had found it, a barren waste. Ac- 
cordingly torches were prepared to burn 
down all the houses and property in Salt 
Lake City, and the body of the Saints 
moved southward. The move was made, 
but through kind Prividence and the in- 
tervention of Col. Thos. L. Kane, the ad- 
ministration was convinced that no re- 
bellion existed among the Mormons, and 
that Judge Drummond had basely lied 
about the Latter-day Saints. The judge 
had reporred that the Mormons had 
burned the court records. The commit- 
tee who preceded the army to Salt Lake 
City, found the court records intact, 
while life and property in Salt Lake 
City was as safe to all classes, as in any 
other part of the Union. In this trying 
circumstance, the courage and prompt 
action of President Brigham Young dis- 
played the character of the man. In 
April. 1853. the porner-stones of a great 
Temnle were laid in Salt Lake City, 
which was completed forty years later. 
Before its completion President Young 
laid the foundation of three others, in St. 
George, Manti and Logan. The one in 



(See Pajre 88.) 



84 



THEJ90UTHEKN. STAB. 




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Entered at the Pott Office at Chattanooga, Torn., a» 
tecond dam matter. 



Correspondence from all part* of the missionary 
field is solicited. Give name and address, or articles 
will be rejected. Write on one side of paper only 
when sent for publication. We reserve the right to 
either eliminate or reject any communication sent in. 
Address Box in* 

Saturday, Febbuaby 10, 1900. 
ARTICLES OF FAITH 

OP THE CHURCH OP JESUS CHRI3T OP 
LATTER-DAY SAINTS. 

1. Wa bvlLt t« in tfod thf £t«ro»l Father h and in Hit So* 
Jaaui <.'hri«L, and Ld (fa* Holy Oh on, 

|u Wa balEa** that men will b* puDLibed for th«ir own 
•iaa, and n(>t for AJitd'i lr*n*gfr**iuH. 

6. Wa b«li«*o lh*U thrones ths altmemant of Ohrul, ill 
n id kind aty I* iHta. bj obtuJieii?* t* the li*i tad ordi- 
nance* at ih« Ocrt&il. 

4. W# b»IJ**B thai lha flrlt priori £►[*• and ordinance of 
tfat Goipfll ara i W\n\, Filth in lh* Lflril Jenui Uariil ; aarond, 
ftap*nt*aci i third, Unplum bf immrrtioft far the reamtKm 
0* ■!*•; fearth, Ljjiotoo or Hand* for the QiH of the Half 

gfcat 

# r Wf behav* that % ruto mult ha ralipd or £lod v by 
" probbMV, and by th* laying op of hinJi," by/ tfeote who ire 
lb authority, to preach tho coup*! and ideitaiater la th* nrdi* 
biScoi E hereof. 

4 W* baUere in tho limp orp!vii»tKitv that *sfft*d in 
the. primltW* Church— nao^lf* Apoitl«i Prop-hate, Peatcra, 
Tt*chen h i>*npr!iit*, ate, 

7, We belie* u I □ th* (tft fc[ tonfi.u a*, pjnpbecy^ t«t elation, 
Ttlkma, hauling, interpretation of tonju**, el£, 

IWi bahef* Ihe HUl V> b* thft wnrJ of Qmf, at fir 41 L| 
la troneltled eorrectlr ; w* atio belie? 1 iba Book of Mormon 
U> be the word of God, 

#. Wa Uli*T* all thai Qod h» revelled, air that EJe Joe* 
now fai a* I, and wb bliltfe that He will v*t rei**l many (rift 
and important I hi an ptrTiininR to (he hmjjdncn uf Oofl. 

10. We believe In the lit** hi fa lh ■?» n % of 1*r*el ipj in lb* 
restoration of the T*n Tribe*, that £)oo will be bmlt upon 
thii (|ba American f tontines I ; th*t€hfi*t w^l reifa tar^OO- 
*Hj Opon tb* *irth, and that trje earth wiJl be renewed and 
receive III paradihiaca] eilorr. 

XI. W* deim th* pmUeu of vorihSptnf, ATmiphtT Gad 
lC£Prdliif \a Iba dlctalat nf out rooM-iet]f« t »fid altow ill 
men th* Ukttm pwiilt&: w kl thcjji * urahiji tow. where, or what 

3. W* b«H*T* in being Mbject to kino, pteddweta. ralm, 
sod aMfftatrafeM ; in obajioc, honoring and toeteining tho law. 

If. ' W* bali*T* in boing honawi, tro*, ehaat*, bonnvolmt, 
wirtaona. and in doing good to all MM ; indeed, w* maj iaj 
that welollow the adaaooiUon of Paal, -We beliere all things, 
we hope all thinga," we have endarod many thion, and hope 
l» be able to eodnre all thing*. If there ia anything Tirtnoat, 
■eety, or effpod report or praiseworthy, we seek after tkeea 



ELDER GEO. B. MAYGOCK. 



The cartoon found on another page 
was presented to President Rich by -his 
fellow-associates, and is herewith re- 
produced in the Star while he is absent 
visiting conferences, and the office force 
assumes all responsibility for the same. 
The sketch is from the pen of Elder 
John S. Sears, and was inspired by that 
portion of President Rich's interview in 
the Chattanooga News of Jan. 24th, 
wherein he said: 

Dr. B rougher has proven beyond question 
of a doubt that he is unable to meet me 
upon the platform of reason and Scripture; 
he, having emptied his buckets of mud aud 
fllth, called to Rev. Folk for aid, which 
brought forth a speedy response. When 
these— what can you call them?— are through 
flinging mud; when they step from the gut- 
ter, wash their hands and show a willing- 
ness to ascend to the platform on which I 
stand they may have my address. 



Last week's issue of the Star marked 
the closing, for the present at least, of 
the editorial career of Elder Geo. E. 
May cock on this paper. He discontinues 
his work here to assume active charge 
of the Ohio Conference, having been ap- 
pointed President of that Conference last 
November. 

Elder Maycock has labored on the Star 
since October last, and has been faith- 
ful and anxious at all times to make our 
missionary paper full of interesting and 
profitable matter, and we believe our 
readers will agree with us that he has 
been successful. He leaves this office 
with the love and respect of his asso- 
ciates and with best wishes for his un- 
limited prosperity in his new field of la- 
bor. We believe he will have the confi- 
dence of the Elders in Ohio, as well as 
all who come to know him, and we look 
for the work of the Master, in the Buck- 
eye state, to grow and increase under 
his able direction. 

Until a new editor is found the Elders 
in the office will endeavor to make the 
Star acceptable to its iiiany friends and 
patrons. 



AUTHORITY. 



"No man taketh this honor unto him- 
self, but he that is called of God, as was 
Aaron." Heb. 5. 

Paul was proud of the authority that 
had been duly conferred upon him when 
he was set apart to act in the ministry 
and was called through the prophets of 
God who had the power of the Holy 
Ghost; as recorded in Acts 13. Miracles 
and signs followed his administration ; the 
sick were healed, devils cast out and there 
was no question of his priesthood and 
power coming from God. He was called 
like Aaron, through Revelation and the 
inspiration of the Holy Ghost through a 
Prophet. 

This was ever the custom in the primi- 
tive church and all men called of God, to 
administer in the things of God were 
called like Aaron and Paul. We know 
how Aaron was called, when Moses mur- 
mured and whined before God, because he 
was slow of speech. God said: "Is not 
Aaron, the Levite, thy brother? I know 
that he can speak well. And also behold 
he cometh forth to meet thee: and when 
he seeth thee, he will be glad in his heart, 
and thou shall speak unto him, and put 
words in his mouth : and I will be with 
thy mouth, and with his mouth, and will 
teach you what ye shall do." 

Now mark the difference with modern 
systems, as they are brought to our no- 
tice: A nobleman has three sons, Tom, 
Dick and Harry. Tom and Dick are 
smart boys and one is intended for the 
army, the other for the navy. Harry, 
however, must be a parson, his profession 
is picked out by his parents, thus we find 
the inception of his divine call. 

He goes to college, gets a smattering 
of the dead languages, is ordained by, some 
unauthorized Bishop to act in the name of 
Jesus Christ and is sent forth to preach 
the Gospel. He does not go forth like the 
diciples of old, without purse and script, 
but demands a salary, sometimes the big- 
ger the better, and is called from one dio- 
cese to another, being governed too often, 
by the price paid for his services. Thus 
he starts out, and thus his call and au- 
thority. 

The main qualifications are : knowledge 
of the dead languages and an ability to 
tickle the ears of the people. Some par- 
sons' success and popularity depend on 
the ability to dish out sensationalism, and 



to cater to the tastes of the multitude: 
he sings and prays in a tone peculiar to 
the profession. 

Paul in speaking of the last days, said 
the time would come when the people 
should heap to themselves teachers, hav- 
ing itching ears; and these teachers 
should turn away the ears of the people 
from the truth and should turn them unto 
fables, for they would not endure sound 
doctrine, but after their own lusts they 
would heap to themselves teachers, having 
itching ears. It almost appears as though 
some would rather believe a lie and be 
damned, than comply with such a simple 
sermon as Peter preached in Judaea dur- 
ing the feast of Penticost, when he called 
on the Jews, who showed their faith by 
the inquiry of "Men and brethren, what 
shall we do?" Then Peter said unto them, 
"Repent, and be baptised every one of 
you in the name of Jesus Christ for the 
remission of sins, and ye shall receive the 
gift of the Holy Ghost. For the promise 
is unto you and to your children, and to 
all that are afar off even as many as the 
Lord our God shall call." Acts 2-38. 

Here we have a pure, unadulterated, 
simple, gospel sermon, preached by a 
man of unquestioned authority, and the 
few words preached were: Faith in God, 
repentance from sin, baptism for the re- 
mission of sin and the bestowal of the 
Holy Ghost, and he said that as many 
as the Lord our God should call, should 
be called in like manner. 

Do the modern preachers call sinners 
to repentance as Peter did? Do they not 
rather call men to repentance through 
fear of a burning hell and by the relat- 
ing of graveyard stories and the depict- 
ing of deathbed scenes? They bellow, 
roar, frighten and intimidate men into 
a belief that they are saved, which is a 
false delusion, for no man can be saved 
in the kingdom of God but by compliance 
to the laws of our Master, administered 
by His legal authority. And though we 
or an angel from heaven preach any 
other doctrine than that taught by Paul, 
Peter and the Apostles of Jesus, we fall 
under the curse and anathema as pro- 
nounced by Paul in Gal. 1-8. 

How easy for us to distinguish be- 
tween the genuine and spurious ministers 
of salvation, if we will be led by the 
spirit and inspiration of the men who 
wrote and spoke in Christ's church two 
centuries ago. In those days men re- 
ceived authority from God through His 
servants, the Prophets, under the direc- 
tion of the Holy Ghost. 

Today authority to preach the Gospel 
comes from the wish and desire of a 
good father or mother, who make of 
their sons lawyers, doctors, soldiers and 
sailors. The professional divine is also 
subject to a training school or seminary, 
where he learns oratory and the other 
essentials to fit him for his profession. 

He does not come from the fishing net 
and learn inspiration from angels and 
the revelations of God, but his man- 
made religion is subject to man's ideas, 
and he must cater and tickle to man's 
taste in these enlightened (?) days, no 
matter how perverted that taste may be. 

God is left out of the question, and a 
smart worldly man who can rant and 
rave loudly, with a long sanctimonious 
expression, is the "called of God as was 
Aaron." 

Congregations meet in conference and 
the matter of a change of pastor is 
submitted, the price is stated, and if it 
meets with the approval of the clergy- 
man and the stipulated salary is satis- 
factory, generally the change is made, 
and thus Mr. Parson receives a call to 
labor in another vineyard for the Lord. 



THE SOUTHERN STAR. 



8 



It appears wholly a business transaction, 
and the best learned from a worldly 
standpoint receives the largest salary. 
The Lord does not appetfr to have any- 
thing to do with tne matter. 

Paul said, "God hath chosen the fool- 
ish things of tne world to confound the 
wisdom of the wise; and God hath chosen 
the weak things of the world to con- 
found the things which are mighty.'* 

What a difference is apparent in the 
administration of God's laws, as taught 
by Jesus and His Apostles, and the un- 
authorised practices of modern Christen- 
dom. 



How often do we hear the old bitter 
war cry coming from anti-Mormon min- 
isters in Utah: "The Mormon Church 
is responsible for it, because the Church 
does not come out openly and stop it." 
There is an old saying that some physi- 
cians do not relish their own medicine. 
Have you ever heard of a minister being 
punished by his church for raising or 
leading a mob against Mormon Elders? 
If not, then measuring the question with 
that measure meted out by Utah minis- 
ters against the Mormon Church, what 
doctrine do some churches sanction and 
secretly advocate in places where Mor- 
mon Elders are lahoring? We respectful- 
ly refer the question to Dr. Riff, of the 
M. E. Church at Salt Lake City. 



The Elders should wake up in dispos- 
ing of books. The record of some of the 
Conferences are falling off to a marked 
degree. Distribute the written word of 
God. The Elders should go to work 
with renewed determination and dispose 
of Pratt's work, Book of Mormon, 
Voice of Warning and Durant's. Our 
hymn book is now ready. 



Volume one, Southern Star, neatly 
bound in cloth, can be had at this office. 
Sent postpaid to any address for $1.75. 
It makes a neat and useful book for the 
home. They are going fast; order at 
once. 



Releases end Appointments. 

Released. 

Joseph P. Emery, North Carolina. 
Charles A. Berg, East Tennessee. 

E. J. Marston, South Carolina. 
S. D. Rogers, Georgia. 

Appointments. 
A. S. Hawkins and G. H. Mower, 
Georgia Conference. 

F. Layton and T. Bingham, Florida 
Conference. 

E. Gordon and Wm. M. Holmes, North 
Carolina Conference. 

Joseph Brimhall, North Alabama Con- 
ference. 

Transfers. 

Elder Joseph T. Wright, Louisiana to 
Ohio. 

Elder Thomas H. Rowley, Louisiana 
to Ohio. 



■ississlppi end Louisiana Conference. 

"How swift the months have passed 
away 

'Tis Conference again." 

One of the happiest times in a mission- 
ary's experience is when we meet in 
Conference. President Rich notified us 
that he would meet us on Jan. 20th and 
21st, 1900. In 1898 we tried to hold Con- 
ference in the country but were driven out 
by an armed mob. In 1899 we selected a 
small city for our Conference, and here, 
also we were disturbed by a mob and pre- 
vented from holding public meetings. This 
time we selected New Orleans thinking 



perhaps there was enough Christian 
spirit there to allow religious freedom, 
and we were not mistaken. We were 
treated with respect by all we met and in 
consequence we have a warm spot in our 
hearts for New Orleans. Should any of 
the good people of the Crescent City wan- 
der into some of our Western neighbor- 
hoods we shall remember them for their 
true Americanism and try to make them 
as happy as we felt while in their city. 

We secured, for our meetings, the Odd 
Fellows' hall, obtained rooms at the Hotel 
Metropole, and each of the daily newspa- 
pers were kind and generous enough to 
publish notices of our meetings free of 
charge. 

On the 19th all the Elders arrived and 
also Elder L. K. Anderson and Elder 
Christo Hyldahl and wife, from Chatta- 
nooga. 

Saturday was spent partly in counsel 
meeting, in which all the Elders reported * 
their work, their financial condition, 
health, etc., after which we received some 
valuable counsel. 

President Rich was delayed and did 
not reach us until Sunday morning. We 
held three public services on Sunday — the 
first was poorly attended, but more came 
in the afternoon, and at night there was a 
fairly good attendance. The curious did 
not turn out, but those who came were 
mostly from among the better class and 
evidently came to receive light. They not 
only gave the best attention, but came up 
after services to ask questions and obtain 
literature. 

President Rich spoke with his usual 
forceful and pleasing manner. He graph- 
ically depicted some of the persecutions 
passed through by the Saints and feeling- 
ly told how his own mother had her own 
home burned over her head three times, 
and how she crossed the Mississippi river 
on chunks of ice, to escape the fury of a 
Christian mob. He also told how we are 
carrying the Gospel to the nations, with- 
out purse or script, in contrast to those 
who preach for hire, divine for money and 
make merchandise of the souls of men. 
The other speakers were Elders L. R. 
Anderson, Christo Hyldahl, J. N. Miller, 
and O. D. Flake. All who attended en- 
Joyed the services, while the Elders had a 
spiritual feast. At a Priesthood meeting 
on Sunday President Rich spoke with 
such power and gave such good counsel 
that we all felt "that it was good to be 
here," and thanked God that we had been 
deemed worthy, to go into the missionary 
field, and while there, suffer a few things 
for the Gospel. 

One of the most pleasing features of 
our Conference remains yet to be men- 
tioned. Not since we left our homes had 
we had the privilege of greeting one of 
our sisters from the West, and when we 
learned that Sister Hyldahl had come to 
visit the Conference every Elder was anx- 
ious to meet her and each in turn grasped 
her hand and with" words that came from 
the hnart bade her welcome. Her bright 
face and loving expressions were an in- 
spiration to us; we thought of home and 
loved ones and every one determined to 
do more in the future, that they might be 
worthy of the surroundings, with which 
God had blessed them. As a token of re- 
membrance the Elders purchased an ap- 
propriate souvenir of New Orleans, and 
gave to our sister who had honored us 
with her presence. President O. D. Flake 
made a neat and fitting speech in present- 
ing the gift. Sister Hyldahl responded 
in a few choice words and her sincere ap- 
preciation moistened the eyes of those men 
who were used to meeting sneers, jeers, 
scoflings, cursings and threatenings, with- 
out faltering, but a few sympathetic 



words won their hearts and melted them 
to tears. 

As every sweet has its bitter, ours came 
with {he* time for parting. Monday morn- 
ing we had a group photograph taken, and 
then met in an upper room of our hotel, 
partook of the Sacrament, asked the 
blessings of God on our labors, after 
which we took leave of each other and 
started for our respective fields of labor. 
Sixteen Elders for Mississippi and six to 
Louisiana, two being transferred to Ohio. 

We cannot say too much for the kindly 
treatment, write-ups, etc., given us by the 
newspapers, during our Conference. We 
desire to express our sincere thanks to 
the newspaper men and women of ' New 
Orleans, for the fairness exhibited was 
indeed like an oasis in the desert. 

Thus ended the first successful Confer- 
ence, attended by any of the present El- 
ders of the Mississippi Conference, except 
myself. OSMER D. FLAKE, 

Baton Rouge, La. 

THE FRUITS OF GOOD AND EVIL. 



(By Charles W. Penrose.) 
In all our lives how careful should we be 
To square our actions by the rule of right, 
To speak the language of sincerity. 
Ana shun the path that will not bear the 
light. 

Who can the hasty, bitter words unsay? 

Who can a single deed obliterate? 
A flood of tears will wash no act away, 

Nor grief the spoken thought annihilate. 

Our words on earth are like the seeds we 
sow, 
They pass from sight and fade from mem- 
ory; 

But from the" good or evil fruits shall 
grow, 

To multiply throughout eternity. 

No skill of man can make two kinds of 
fruit 
Grow from one seed, however rich the 
ground; 
And ne'er on branches from an evil root, 
Shall buds of good and evil both be found. 

Fruits "in their kind" from seeds prolific 
spring. 
In their own likeness they come forth 
again; 
And so our actions, right or wrong, shall 
bring 
To us a crop of good or evil grain. 

And fertile germs in these productions 
dwell, 
Each to perpetrate their species still. 
When shall they cease to spread? ah, who 
can tell? 
Who stop their Increase by his feeble will? 

Do good to others; though ingratitude 
May often chill thy warm and gen'rous 
heart, 
And though thy motives may be miscon- 

Still act a Godlike, charitable part. 

Hold not thine hand from doing worthy 
things, 
Though praised by none and known to God 
alone; 
Virtue shall be the glory of the Kings, 
Who share the splendor of the Father 8 
throne. 

Oh! think not that the shades of darkest 

night 

Can hide the wickedness In secret done! 

With all its dire effects 'twill come to light, 

And blast with trembling shame the guilty 

one. 

Beware of doing wilful injury, 
Close not thine ear to mercy's pleading 
voice, ^ .. ... 

For thine own measures shall come back 
to thee, ... 

To bring despair or make thy soul re 
Joice. 

Give the world the same faith in God 
that Napoleon's rank and file had in their 
general, and the millennium would be 
here in the twinkling of an eye. Our 
faith is too refrigerating, and our trust 
is so much like distrust that it 1b hard to 
tell whether it is one or the other. En- 
thusiasm for the Almighty! You may 
not like the phrase, but you need what it 
represents. 



THE SOUTHERN STAB. 






| PRESIDENT RICH IN AN INTERVIEW 

| REPLIES TO REVEREND FOLK. | 



In the two previous issues of the Star 
we nave presented our readers witn Jf resi- 
dent liicn's replies to xt-ev. J5rougner, a 
Baptise minister ox cms city. Mr. 
rtrougner evidently concluded he nad re- 
ceived the worst of tne discussion xor ne 
sent to -Nashville lor ttev. uidgar ju. Foia, 
editor of the baptist itehecLor, to come 
and tell Chattanooga people uu about tne 
"Mormons." Mr. Folk, no douot was 
cnosen to rescue his orotner minister, 
irom the trouble into whicn ne had unex- 
pectedly fallen, from the tact that ne baa 
recently spent two whole weeks in utan, 
and this long residence among the Latter- 
day Saints would enable him to matte a 
thorough and exhaustive investigation 01 
their nanus, customs, and religion, at 
least it was sufficient time troui a pre- 
judiced and preconceived point ot view. 

Mr. Folk appeared in Dr. urougher's 
pulpit at tne nine appointed and delivered 
a most sensational sermon, cnaracterizing 
"Mormons and Mormonisui" as oemg an 
that is wicked and unholy, so shocking 
were parts of his tirade tnat a number 01 
his listeners refused to hear him througn 
and lert tne church in disgust. A nio*e 
indecent attack on our taith and people 
probably was never made in a pulpit, and 
as a fitting climax to tne replies to Dr. 
.Brougher we give our readers the reply to 
Dr. Folk, which closes the incident : 

Today a News reporter called at Mor- 
mon headquarters and found President 
Ben E. Rich, who had just returned irom 
New Orleans, and in reply to the question, 
"What answer are you going to give to 
the attack made upon the Mormon people 
and faith by Kev. Edgar E. Folk, in the 
pulpit of the First Baptist church, on last 
Sunday night? he said : 

"I hardly know how to deal with Dr. 
Brougher's latest inportation. All good 
Christians are taught to remember the 
teachings of mother. I had a saintly 
Christian mother, who always reminded 
me that if I laid down with certain kinds 
of animals I would be almost certain to 
get fleas on me, and remembering this ad- 
vice, you see I must feel my way care- 
fully. 

"Really, no answer to Mr. Folk is re- 
quired. In his zeal to paint a black and 
horrifying picture, he forgot to use any 
coloring of sense, logic or plausibility, so 
instead of a picture he presented his hear- 
ers with a daub of filth. He made it so 
disgusting and unreasonable that any per- 
son with common sense can see Mr. Folk 
Simply Hun it Himself. 

"Any sensible person knows the govern- 
ment under which we live would not for 
a minute tolerate the daily existence of 
such horrible crimes. 

"Then, besides, Mr. Folk says it is go- 
ing on right under the noses of intelligent 
non-Mormons, who comprise half the pop- 
ulation. Then the legal machinery of the 
state is nearly all in the hands of non- 
Mormons from the supreme court down. 
No doubt there are many intelligent, 
broad-minded gentlemen in Chattanooga 
who have visited Salt Lake City and who 
will bestow upon this foul-mouthed sland- 
erer the proper epithet which would prob- 
ably be improper for a religious man to 
use. 

"Mr. Folk remained two weeks in Salt 
Lake City. Just think of it ! Two wiiole 



weeks ! And comes back loaded. Is there 
a reasonable-minded person in Chatta- 
nooga who has doubts as to who loaded 
him? He remained long enough to copy 
What some other bigot said and then re- 
turned. 

"He went to Utah 

Simply to Pick Flaws- 
not to learn the truth, and if he did not 
try to get information under false pre- 
tenses he at least shaded his true status 
and went in the guise of a representative 
for a reputable public journal. He did 
not say he was a minister, and was intro- 
duced as a newspaper correspondent to 
President Lorenzo Snow, present head of 
the Church who after shaking hands with 
Mr. Folk, turned our reverend friend over 
to a prominent Elder. 

"Mr. Folk asked questions 

Too Indecent to Publish, 
and was told he was asking questions no 
decent newspaper would print, and that 
so respectable a journal as the Nashville 
American would not wish its representa- 
tive to insult people by asking. Mr. Folk 
was so pertinacious that tne Elder was 
again forced to tell him that no regular 
reporter of even ordinary decency would 
ask such questions and make such cross- 
examinations as he was indulging in. 

"He, like some other visitors, imag- 
ined that he could spend a few days in 
Salt Lake City, mingling chiefly with 
the enemies of the church, and thereby 
obtain sufficient information about the 
doctrines, lives and doings of the Latter- 
day Saints to enable him to write up 
their history, explain their theology, and 
proclaim to the world all about their 
character and failings. It is the acme 
of sublime egotism. 

"Mr. Brougher and Mr. Folk are evi- 
dently not 

<I* a Unity of the Faith.' 
As a sample, the former said we were 
highly educated, and took particular 
pains to show that an educated devil 
was the worst kind of a devil. The 
latter said we were degraded and very 
ignorant. Which lied? Mr. Folk should 
have had Dr. Brougher's tirades before 
him when he prepared his slime. There 
are some wide differences that might be 
noticed by friends of both. 

"I sympathize with the good, honest- 
hearted people in Mr. Brougher's con- 
gregation in having their pulpit dese- 
crated by such corruption as gushed 
from Dr. Folk on Sunday night. It 
surely must have shocked sensitive 
ears, and none could go away saying 
they had been either edified or elevated 
by going. 

"There is not a Mormon child, who 
remembers the teachings of its parents, 
who does not know that Rev. Folk 

Is a Falsifier 

from the crown of his prejudiced head 
to that portion of his misearable anat- 
omy which disgraces mother earth by 
treading upon it. 

"There is a law in the south punishing 
a black negro who commits a criminal 
assault upon a white lady; yet the white 
negro can occupy a fashionable pulpit 
and commit a criminal libel against a 
hundred thousand ladies, if they are 
Mormon ladies, and be looked upon as a 
hero. How many years ago was it that 
southern chivalry expired? Suppose a 



Mormon Elder was to malign and make 
such statements about any people in the 
south as Mr. Folk made about my peo- 
ple, how long would it be before that 
Elder would be dangling 

At the End of a Rope? 

"We believe in law and order, but 
would any community in this great na- 
tion tolerate such statements as Dr. Folk 
made? 

"Dr. Brougher has proven beyond the 
question of a doubt that he is unable to 
meet me upon the platform of reason 
and Scripture; he, having emptied his 
buckets of mud and filth, called to Rev. 
Folk for aid, which brought forth a 
speedy response. When these— what 
can you call them?— are through flinging 
mud; when they step from the gutter, 
wash their hands and show a willingness 
to ascend to the platform on which I 
stand they may have my address. 

"The good people of Chattanooga have 
heard from Brougher and Folk, they 
have also heard from me; having tasted 
of our different 

Styles of Civilization 
and decency, they shouid be fully able 
to decide in their own minds just whose 
early education in good manners has 
been neglected. If it be true that from 
the abundance of the heart the mouth 
speaketh, then I have no desire to dwell 
in their hearts and they have no desire 
to leave their wallow and come to the 
temple of reason where I have been 
reared. 

4 islr. Folk ridiculed us for believing 
there was mercy beyond the grave. I 
have always been reluctant in saying 
anything about the dead (Mr. Brougher 
having acknowledged his demise by 
sending for Mr. Folk and the latter com- 
mitting suicide by hanging himself), but 
perhaps they will some day be thankful 
if God will be as merciful to them as 
He was to those who once rejected the 
counsel of God against themselves in the 
days of Noah while the ark was prepar- 
ing. I Peter, 3-18-20. 

'in making the above statement I de- 
sire to offend no one and think I have 
been charitable to those who so despite- 
fully use us." 



History ot the Southern States Misalen. 

March, 1895— 

Early in the month eleven Elders were 
released to return home on the 30th inst. 
On the 5th inst. Elders John R. Halliday 
and Alfred W. Nebeker entered Knox- 
ville, Tenn., for the purpose of making 
a house to house canvass, providing 
themselves with 2,000 tracts. 

Elders Bird Murphy and W. J. Chap- 
man, of the North Alabama Conference, 
have begun the canvass of Huntsville, 
Ala., working with much zeal, and have 
met with favor from the leading citizens 
of the town. 

Elders C. G. Patterson and H. Turner, 
while laboring in the vicinity of Lake 
City, S. C, were ordered out of Town- 
ship fourteen by a mob. A sheriff and 
trial justice were promptly called upon; 
both promised to protect the Elders. 

Elder Archibald Bevan has been ap- 
pointed President of the Kentucky Con- 
ference to succeed Elder Louis R. Wells, 
released. 

On the 18th inst. sixteen Elders ar- 
rived, and after two days went forth to 
battle for the Lord. 

Reports this month from various Con- 
ferences are full of good tidings. Oppo- 
sition to the work of God is waning, and 
the Elders consequently encouraged, la- 
boring gently and effectively. This 
month has been characterized by ex- 
tremely wet weather and good health of 



THE SOUTHERN STAR. 



87 





— - ~ 



88 



THE SOUTHERN STAR 



REPORT OF MISSION CONFERENCES FOR WEEK ENDING JAN. 20, 1900. 


rUBSlDBHT 


COHFaKSHCE 


L. 

u 

9 

O 

o 

25 


XI 
V 

*J 

91 
2 .7 
USfi 
49U 

677 
Wl 

107U 

7iO 
1001 
100* 

308 

"373 

406 
251 


"0 

o 

B 
S^ 

217 
25 

27 
i w 
387 

uos 

» 
■8 

239 


1 

144 

165 

72 
321 

301 
36 
167 
122 

eo 

■I.H 

L55 

"so 

117 
276 


•a 
it 

■% 

■'? 

Si 

r 

32 
284 
140 
Ml 

137 
lflU 

136 
Btf 
:Ǥ 

HI 

245 

1» 
102 

■v-i 


~4l 

e 

a 

11 

it 

u = 

m 

r> 
:i3 

76 

4L 

b 

22 

iS 

11 
4 

""fi 
20 
H 


3 

3 

-E 

3 J 
go 

163 

UB4 

60S 

■W. 
75fi 
1121 
342 
«tg 

375 
106 
900 

209 
201 
315 


3 

M 

a 

151 
8-53 
40- F i 

■JJ. 
700 
1020 
202 

ass 
am 

"■ii 

36 
258 

us 


■d 

<8 

g 

n 
U 
82 

as 

64 
61 
33 
13 
26 
14 
2U 

33 
""S 


"3 

a J 


5 £ 

fi 


13 
*U 

X 
& 

3 
2a 

46 
34 
ISO 
89 
63 
36 
74 
109 
86 
M 
86 

"ai 

44 

7 


IS 

□ 

o 

174 
522 

rW; 

078 
769 

:ra* 

3S2 
833 
«06 
177 

"234 
376 
226 


V 

IS 

o 


i 

1 

ag 


TOWM 


'■TATE 


1). II H Eluia ♦♦ ......... 


(hHtlauoog& 

Virginia- ._.„.... 


11 
38 

27 
38 
38 
3* 
42 
40 
1.1 
:» 
16 
31 

16 
26 
24 


1 
2 

"T 

1 
...... 

..„.. 

3 
fi 
1 

"a' 


"j a" 

13 
17 
17 

::l 
15 
15. 
13 

6 

1 

35 
...... 

17 
3 




TWjiH*«n>Ci 


Heber ti. 01§on..._ ,.„„„.., 


Boa 383, krchmond ...... ,..„ 

Battletown., 


Virginia. 


B. F. Price 


Keniuaky ........ 

E, Tennessee* 

GeOraltt „.,,.... 


Kcntiifky 
Tenueaaee 


John Peterson .............. 


D«y ton ,.......,..► ..... . .... ►. ..... > 

Augusta..,. 


w h r>. Rencher ,. 


Georgia. 
Teuaeaeee 


T. H. Hampherya.. 

C. G. Parker-..,......,.. . 


N. Alabama.. ^~. 

Florlda ..... 

MI4. Tean , h 

N. Carolina ^ 

3 Carolina. 

Miaii£#lppl + , 

E. Kentucky , 

Louisiana 


1 
T 

6 


1 


Herapbis, Box 153... 


Lulu....,,.. ,.„,. 


Florida, 


J. Urban AUred. ...... „ 

J. W. Haws 

tiylveater Low } Jr.... «... 

0. D. Flake 


Sparta ., ,. 

Ooia*boro, Box tf-24 

8faarj>. H ., 


Tenneaaw. 
N. Carolina. 

3. Carolina. 


Brt in a Ro vige.. 

SoiuereeL ...^, 


Louisiana. 


D. A, Broadbent ........... ...... 


Kentucky. 
Lou Jslana , 


J N. Miller..... 


Shfeveport.., „ ........... „. 

BKdge Crodk,., 


W. H. Boyle™ . 


B. Alabama... 

N. Kentucky....... 

Ohio 


Florida. 


L. M. Terry 


Bagdad, Shelby Co. 


Kentucky. 
Ohio. 


<^eo. B. Haycock...... 


713 W. 8th St., CtDdauatL 











Elders, only two cases of sickness being 
reported. 

April— 

Lorely weather ushered in the month, 
with bright prospects for a vast amount 
of thorough and efficient work being done 
by the Elders. 

April 1st President Kimball left Chat- 
tanooga for Salt Lake City on important 
business associated with the Mission. 

On the 22d inst. Elders George H. 
Home, of the West Virginia Conference, 
and D. C. Hubbard, of the North Caro- 
lina Conference, were called to assist in 
the office. 

On the 16th President Kimball re- 
turned from Utah in the best of health 
and spirits, having attended the annual 
conference; meeting also in council with 
the First Presidency, and reported the 
condition of the Mission. The brethren 
were pleased with the report and prom- 
ised to render what assistance they 
could. 

Twenty-two Elders arrived from the 
west on the 16th and loth insts. 

Elder W. W. Bean was honorably re- 
leased from his labors in Middle' Ten- 
nessee Conference, having presided one 
year. Having received instructions 
from the office, Elder Bean left Nash- 
ville on the 24th inst. for Lewis county, 
Tennessee, to visit the scene where El- 
ders Gibbs and Berry were killed and 
obtain for the Contributor company a 
photograph of the Condor house and 
farm, together with what other informa- 
tion he could gather regarding the mas- 
sacre and general feelings of the people. 
Disguised as a lumberman he reached 
tne place, but was unsuccessful in get- 
ting a photograph. Many of the mob- 
bers are still living, and are extremely 
bitter towards the Elders. This feeling 
is so prevalent in the county that at 
present it is unsafe to canvass it. 

Elder O. M. Sanderson has been ap- 
pointed President of the Middle Tennes- 
see Conference, to succeed Elder W. W. 
Bean. 

Elders Holt and Chipman arrived in 
Natchez, Miss., with the intention of can- 
vassing it. They called upon the mayor 
and asked permission to labor in the 
city. He desired them to desist until he 
saw the attorney and aldermen. On the 
15th inst. the Elders received the fol- 
lowing notice: 

Natchez, Miss., April 15, 1895. 

As mayor of Natchez, Miss., I refuse 
or decline to permit Elders Holt and 
Chipman, of the Church of Latter-day 
Saints, to preach the doctrines of the 
Mormon Church or to distribute the lit- 
erature concerning said church in this 
city. W. G. BENBROOK, 

Mayor of Natchez. 

Thus for the time being the gates of 
the city of Natchez are closed against 
the work of God. 



SKETCH OF BRIGHAi YOUNG. 

(From Pasre 88.) 



St. George he lived to dedicate to the 
Lord and complete the organization of 
the Stakes of Zion, so far as population 
required it to be done. In the St. George 
Temple he explained the order and duties 
of the various offices in the Holy Priest- 
hood. During his life-time in Utah, from 
1847-1877, he labored most industriously 
in both spiritual and temporal matters 
for the welfare of all inhabitants of the 
territory, and indeed for the benefit of all 
mankind. He built mills, factories and 
graineries, etc., and encouraged every 
form of home industry, which the facili- 
ties of this region would justify. In the 
developments of mines alone, he exercised 
a check, stating that the time nad not 
come to develop them to any considerable 
extent. The wisdom of this suggestion is 
appreciated by the Latter-day Saints, 
who know that a rapid development of 
mining interests at that time would have 
brought to Utah an element of specula- 
tors and political demagogues, who would 
have waged a bitter warfare against the 
Saints when their numbers and strength 
were too limited to maintain their foot- 
hold in this region. President Young 
was the prime mover in the building of 
the Utah Central and Utah Southern 
railroads. He was a contractor on a 
large scale in building the Union Pacific 
and the telegraph line across the plains, 
also in building the Deseret telegraph line 
to local points in the State ; which line is 
still the property of the Onurch. Brig- 
ham Young and his associates founded 
the Deseret University, now called the 
University of Utah, and one of the very 
best educational institutions west of the 
Mispouri river. 

In later years, to aid the children of 
the Saints to obtain an education in re- 
ligions truths, as well as in secular 
branches, he founded and endowed the 
Brigham Youncr Academy in Provo, and 
the Brigham Young College in Logan. 
He was in all respects the friend and 
promoter of all true education, though 
limited himself in youth to eleven day' 
schooling. He founded settlements in 
Arizona, Idaho and Nevada. During 
his administration of thirty years as 
President of the Church, he made fre- 
quent tours, accompanied by his asso- 
ciates in the Priesthood, to the settle- 
ments of the Saints throughout the 
length and breadth of the land. He was 
diligent in sendinir the Gospel abroad, 
opening up new fields of labor in various 
parts of the earth. He was a man of 
God and a man of the people. He loved 
God and all mankind, yet he never ca- 
tered to public sentiment. He must al- 



ways know the truth and righteousness 
of a movement before he would espouse 
and aid it. Like his predecessor, Joseph 
Smith, and nearly all great men, he had 
bitter enemies. His character and course 
in life were traduced and villified. He 
was cast into prison on false charges, 
and the weapon of the assassin was pre- 
pared to shed his blood. But God "deliv- 
ered him out of them all." Though he 
did not utter so many distinct prophecies, 
he builded faithfully upon the founda- 
tion laid through the Prophet Joseph 
Smith, and all his movements and coun- 
sels were prophetic, as fully demonstrat- 
ed by subsequent events. He was a 
prophet, statesman, pioneer and coloniz- 
er. The saying is attributed to William 
H. Seward, secretary of state under the 
administration of Abraham Lincoln, that 
America had never produced a greater 
statesman than Brigham Young. His 
policy with the Indians was one of peace. 
"It is better to feed them than to fight 
them," was his theory, and he carried it 
out fully. The Indians loved and re- 
spected him. It cannot be denied truth- 
fully that the policy of Brigham Young 
and his people with the Indians has saved 
to our nation life and treasure in Utah 
and Arizona. 

In his family he was kind and indul- 
gent. Indeed he was a philanthropist to 
all who would receive his counsel and 
kind acts, for he was not only the hus- 
band of several wives like the Patriarchs 
and Prophets of old, and the father of 
fifty-six children, but he provided means 
for the support and education of orphans 
and others destitute of the comforts of 
life. He believed, however, in the strict- 
est industry, that it was false policy to 
feed men in idleness if work could be 
provided for them. In the face of ca- 
lumny and opposition he was calm and 
serene, and bore persecution with that 
submission and patience which stamped 
him not only a broad-minded and great- 
hearted man, but truly a follower of the 
Lord Jesus Christ. He departed this 
life peacefully at his home in Salt Lake 
City Aug. 29th, 1877. His funeral was 
attended by about 30,000 people, both of 
his faith and non-Mormons. He was a 
true and undaunted friend in life to the 
Prophet Joseph Smith, for whom he of- 
fered his life, wherever opportunity af- 
forded, and it is not wonderful when the 
spirit was taking flight from his temple 
of clay, if Joseph, the Prophet, appeared 
to him and welcomed him home to the 
spirit world, for the last words he ut- 
tered were, "Joseph! Joseph! Joseph! 
Joseph," and Brigham Young' had fin- 
ished his earthly mission. 



Which will you do, smile and make 
others happy, or be cross and make ev» 
erybody around you miserable? 




•BUT THOUGH WE, OB AN ANGEL FftOM HEAVEN .PREACH ANY 
PTMEB GOSPEL UNTO YOU THAN THAT WHICH WE 

HAVE PREACHED UNTQ YOU, LET HIM BE ACCUSED 'frfr/gp^ 




Te^gwx 



Vol. 2. 



Chattanooga, Tbnn., Saturday, Fbbruary 17, 1900. 



No. 12. 



Lines on the Second Co in inn: of 
Christ. 

By M. PIKE. 

O! ye nations, awake from your slumbers, 

arise! 
For soon will the Savior descend from the 

skies. 
The signs of His coming do plainly appear, 
As the leaves on the trees tell that summer 

Is near. 
He comes, our Redeemer, His rights to pos- 

His foes 'He'll subdue, His friends He will 

bless; 
Ev'ry eye shall behold Him and ev'ry knee 

. bow. 
And those that have pierced Him their 

error shall know. 

O! how will you feel In His presence to 
stand; 

You who now reject and despise His com- 
mand; 

'Neath the rocks and the mountains yon 



gladly would hide, 
! day of "" 



The day of His vengeance you cannot abide. 

Then come all ye honest from every nation, 

While God In His mercy still offers salva- 
tion; 

Has sent forth His servants in days as of 
old. 

As shepherds they gather the sheep to the 
fold. 

Receive ye the message, God's mandate's 

obey, 
And flee out of Bab'lon, O! hasten away, 
For the judgments are coming, e'en now at 

the door; 
They'll be to the nations most grevlous 

and sore; 
For their sin and rebllllon, their priestcraft 

and pride. 
His servants they've mock'd and His laws 

they deride; 
Oh, Bab Ion, thou doomed one, thou surely 

must fall, 
Thou hast spurned at God's mercy nor 

heeded His call! 

Like the stone in the sea, as the angel has 

shewn, 
With thy- pomp and thy pride, thou must 

be overthrown; 
Then let us excape to the land in the west. 
Where in safety and peace the Saints will 

be blest. 
There cities and Temples to God we will 

rear. 
And for the great Bridegroom will all 

things prepare; 
How Joyful we'll meet Him our Savior and 

friend, 
Our sorrows and mourning will then have 

an end. 

. We'll again meet our loved ones, and dry 

up our tears, 
And reign with the Savior a long thousand 

years; 
All creation then shall In harmony blend. 
And man everywhere meet a brother and 

friend. 
What glorious times on this earth we will 

have, 
A heaven no more beyond spnee we shall 

crave. 
From the least to the greatest the Lord all 

shall know 
And satan's dominions we'll quite over- 
throw. 



History of the Southern States Mission. 

(Continued From Page 88.) 

May, 1895— 

On the 2d inst. President Kimball left 
Chattanooga to visit Chicago on busi- 
ness. 

Elders R. J. Bischoff and N. K. Kim- 
ball were preparing to fill and appoint- 
ment to preach at Meherrin, Lawrence- 
burg county, Virginia, on the 5th irist., 
when they were ordered to immediately 
leave the town. While waiting for their 
mail a mob gathered; at the point of a 
gun they were marched out of town 
and subjected to vile and abusive 
threats. Upon leaving, the mobocratic 
leader fired a parting shot over their 
heads. Shortly after this occurrence 
Elders Bohney and Matthews, who had 
heard of the appointment, arrived in 
Meherrin for mail. Upon inquiry they 
were informed that several Protestant 
preachers were holding meetings, but 
were advised by the leader of the mob 
to leave the town. They did not in- 
stantly comply, and finally an invitation 
was extended to them to fill the appoint- 
ments made by Elders Bischoff and Kim- 
ball, which, after being guaranteed pro- 
tection, they accepted. No violence was 
offered, except during the meeting one 
corner of the building was treated to an 
explosion of gunpowder. After meeting 
the Elders left the town, traveling about 
two miles, when they sat down on a log. 
when the leader of the toob came up on 
horseback and invited them to his home. 
This feigned friendship was only of 
short duration, for he soon began to 
abuse and vilify them. The Elders 
started off, when he fired a pistol shot, 
which struck the ground so near that 
dirt was thrown upon them. The Elders 
left the neighborhood without further 
molestation. 

May 10th eight Elders arrived in 
Chattanooga from Zion, while five Elders 
who had ben assigned to labor in Texas 
arrived in that Conference from the west. 

After being importuned upon five dif- 
ferent occasions the mayor of Natchez 
finally consented to allow Elders Holt 
and Chipman to canvass that city. 

Reports during the month are very fa- 
vorable, and many are being added to 
the "fold of Christ." 

The latter part of the month was char- 
acterized by extremely hot weather. 

On the 20th inst. Elder Frank T. Pom- 



eroy was appointed President of the Mis- 
sissippi Conference to succeed Elder J. 
W. Walker, released. t 

June — 

The first week in June was excessively 
hot. 

The first electrotyped edition of the 
Voice of Warning was issued from the 
press of W. I. Crandall & Co., June 1st, 
1895. 

Sixteen Elders reported from the west 
on the 5th inst., and after receiving much 
timely and valuable instruction left for 
their respective fields. 

On the 25th inst. John R: Haliday was 
appointed President of the East Tennes- 
see Conference, to succeed W. L. Hayes, 
released. 

The health of the Elders generally has 
been very good. Much interest in the 
Gospel is being made manifest. Many 
are investigating, and several honest in 
heart have been led to accept the truth. 

July— 

On account of the sickness of himself 
and wife President Kimball was unable 
to attend the Texas Conference, which 
convened at the Grubb settlement, Hop- 
kins county, Texas, July 6th and 7th. 
Eleven Elders were present, presided 
over by President A. S. Campbell. Four 
public and three council meetings were 
held, being well attended, and an excel- 
lent spirit prevailed. 

The Mississippi Conference was held in 
a grove near Brother John Lee's, about 
twelve miles from Hamberg, Franklin 
county, Mississippi, July 13th and 14th. 

The Saints and friends in Franklin 
county had erected a neat log meeting 
house preparatory for conference, but 
on the evening of the 8th inst. it was 
maliciously set afire and burned. 

Owing to bad connections President 
Kimball did not arrive in time to attend 
Saturday's meetings. All Elders labor- 
ing in the Conference were present. Four 
public and three council meetings were 
held, being well attended, and a most 
enjoyable time was had. 

Monday afternoon, while President 
Kimball was instructing the' Elders in 
council meeting, word came that an 
armed mob of about thirty men were 
marching toward them, uttering vile and 
abusive threats against the "Mormons." 
Subsequently, through the efforts of Dr. 
Newman, they were induced to leave 
their weapons behind. They were, how- 



90 



THE SOUTHERN STAR. 



ever, reinforced, until they numbered 
fifty-six. Being met by Brother John 
Lee about 200 yards from the place of 
meeting, they were persuaded to remain 
there while he informed the Elders what 
they wanted. President Kimball went 
out to face the mob, the Elders engaging 
in prayer during his absence. On being 
asked what was wanted, the mob replied, 
"We want you Mormons to leave the 
country.", President Kimball met and 
answered every argument they advanced, 
and finally they dispersed, as one of their 
own number admitted, "The worst 
whipped crowd I ever saw." 

The Elders were given by the mob un- 
til the l($th to leave the county, but pre- 
vious to that time they all left for their 
fields of labor without further molesta- 
tion. 

Subsequently the names of the mob- 
bers have been obtained, and President 
Kimball has sent a petition to Gov. 
Stone for the protection of the Elders 
against mob violence. 

The South Alabama Conference was 
held at Bradleyton, Crenshaw county, 
Alabama, July 20th and 21st. All the 
meetings were well attended, and a feast 
of fat things, both spiritually and tem- 
porally, were enjoyed by those present. 

On the 27th inst. President Kimball 
left Chattanooga to visit Elder W. L. 
Hayes, who was released on the 20th of 
June", but through sickness has been un- 
able to return home, lying seriously ill of 
fever at Miller's Cove. Tenn., about 
twenty-six miles from Knoxville. 

Thirty-five Elders arrived during the 
month, thus adding strength to the good 
work of spreading Gospel truth. During 
the month the Elders generally have been 
revisiting Saints and friends. Much 
good is thus being accomplished. The 
Saints are being instructed in their du- 
ties, and many honest souls, with joy 
and rejoicing, have been led to embrace 
the Gospel. 

(To Be Continued.) 



PRE-EXISTENCE. 



EX C. HYLDAHL. 

A beautiful sermon was delivered by 
one of the most prominent divines of this 
city on the evening of the 4th inst. His 
text was taken from Matt. 6-9: "Our 
Father which art in heaven." Many 
beautiful thoughts were expressed on the 
subjects of Fatherhood, Duty of Man 
to Man, and Duty of Man to God. 

In the course of his remarks he also 
dwelt at some length upon our present 
estate, showing the reasons for our being 
more favored of God, seemingly, than 
many others of His children— not only 
in that we are permitted to live in this, 
the grandest country on earth, but also 
that we are accorded religious liberty 
and freedom such as few people of the 
nations enjoy. His reasons were good 
and his expressions beautiful and clear, 
but they were limited alone to this life. 
No reference was made to that estate 
all men enjoyed before they came here 
knowii as our pre-existence, upon which, 
we believe, is predicated to a greater or 
less degree the blessing that we enjoy 
here. 

Reasons for our pleasant surroundings, 
our joys, and proper liberties, are not 
alone confined to the present life of man, 
but they extend beyond the veil to his 
pre-existence, where he lived and moved, 
thought and learned before he came to 
this sphere of action. 

The purpose of the writer is not to find 
fault or to correct the reverend's dis- 
course, to which he listened with much 



interest, but simply to add to the ideas 
brought forth. 

It is very true that our environments 
in mortality have greatly to do with our 
individual present condition, but we 
must look far beyond the time when 
mortal man came to earth, and there we 
might discover reasons why some men 
or spirits were favored and blest above 
others and held in reserve to come forth 
at this the time of preparation for the 
second and glorious coming of Hint who 
shalL be hailed as Lord of Lords and 
King of Kings. 

John the Revelator, in Rev. 12, 7-9, 
speaks of a mighty struggle going on in 
heaven, long before the foundation of 
this world was laid, but at a time when 
such was contemplated and a plan pre- 
pared, whereby the spirits of God, then 
dwelling with Him, could receive a tab- 
ernacle of mortality, came to earth, and, 
by their free agency, work out an exal- 
tation that should be far greater and 
more glorious than any previously en- 
joyed. "Michael and his angels fought 
against the dragon; and the dragon 
fought, and his angels, and prevailed not; 
neither was their place found any more 
in heaven." They were overcome, and 
cast out. But there were those who 
were victorious who were on the side 
of truth and justice, and they were the 
Sons of God who remained true to their 
Father, and who kept their first estate. 

Could the vail be taken from our mor- 
tal memories and we be permitted to 
once more behold and review this grand 
army of the Lord of Hosts, who knows 
but there we might see such giants for 
truth and right as Job, to whom the God 
of heaven spake, saying: "Where wast 
thou when I laid the foundation of the 
earth?" (Job 38-4.) And Jeremiah, who 
was ordained a Prophet long before his 
advent to this his second estate? (Jer. 
1-5). 

In the Epistle of Paul to the Ephe- 
sians, 1-4, it is declared that He hath 
chosen us in Him before the foundation 
of the world. Here we are at least 
given to understand that we had an ex- 
istence before the 'one we are now en- 
joying, also that there, some were more 
valiant for truth than others, for be- 
cause of their faithfulness they were 
chosen and ordained to perform a mighty 
work here in the earth. They were held 
in reserve for a special time and work 
to come and be leaders among men. 

We live in the dispensation of the full- 
ness of times, when all things spoken of 
by the mouths of all the Holy Prophets 
since the world began, shall be restored 
to the earth*, when the Gospel shall be 
revealed in its fullness; a time of prepa- 
ration for the ushering in of the millen- 
nium of peace and righteousness and the 
coming of our Master to reign on earth. 

God, our omniscient Father, knew it 
would require valiant and faithful spirits 
to come to earth at such a time as this, 
when all the powers of the outcast of 
heaven would be arrayed against the 
principles of truth given to His children 
for the last time. Such mighty spirits 
were held in reserve, and foreordained to 
come and do the very work they are do- 
ing. They were, and are, favored of 
God beyond others, but they had proven 
themselves, and merited every gift and 
blessing they now possess. 



HE SHALL PERISH" 



Do but the half of what you can, and 
you will be surprised at the result of 
your own diligence. 



It is an old yet true saying that false- 
hood will travel a league while truth is 
putting on its boots. 



BY ELDER GEORGE REYNOLDS. 

No sooner had the riches of America 
become known to the peoples of Europe 
through the discoveries and conquests of 
the Spaniards than the various monar- 
chies began to partition the western 
world among themselves, as they are now- 
doing Africa and China. England, 
France, Portugal and other nations fol- 
lowed the example of Spain and estab- 
lished colonies in different parts of this • 
land until a map of one hundred and fifty 
years ago would show the whole of the 
American continent as belonging to or 
being tributary to some one of the Eu- 
ropean powers. The people of the United 
States were the first to shake off the for- 
eign yoke, and their example was fol- 
owed, a few decades later, by a number 
of others. It is somewhat remarkable 
that these revolutionary upheavals were 
the most active and most successful be- 
tween the time of the appearance of the 
Father and Son to the youthful ^Prophet, 
Joseph Smith, in 1820, and the publica- 
tion of the Book of Mormon about ten 
years later. Between these dates Ecua- 
dor, Brazil, Mexico, Bolivia and Peru 
declared themselves independent of all 
foreign powers. In all these cases, except 
in Brazil, a republic was declared, fash- 
ioned more or less after the pattern of 
the United States. In Brazil an inde- 
pendent empire was proclaimed. 

In the tenth chapter of the second book 
of Nephi appears the following prophecy 
uttered by his brother Jacob: 

But behold, this land, saith God, shall be 
a land of thine inheritance, and the Gen- 
tiles shall be blessed upon the land. 

And this land shall be a land of liberty 
unto the Gentiles, and there shall be no 
kings upon the land, who shall raise up 
unto the Gentiles; 

And I will fortify this land against all 
other nations; 

And he that fighteth against Zion shall 
peri 8 h, saith God; 

For he that raiseth up a king against me 
shall perish, for I, the Lord, the King of 
heaven, will be their King, and I will be 
a light unto them forever, that hear my 
words. 

It will be noticed in this prophecy that 
it is stated "there shall be no kings upon 
the land, who shall raise up unto the 
Gentiles. * * * For he that raiseth 
up a king against me shall perish." It 
cannot be said that those kings who 
were raised up unto the Genties before 
the pubication of the Book of Mormon 
were raised up against God; for where 
"there is no law there is no condemna- 
tion," and therefore those who had no 
opportunity of knowing the law or who 
were raised up before it was published 
could not have done it in rebellion against 
or in opposition to the word and will of 
the Lord. This was the case with Bra- 
zil, but even that empire has perished in 
God's own time and a republican form 
of government now controls in that land. 

But there is a case that most terribly 
fulfills the malediction contained in the 
above quoted prophecy; it is that of the 
Emperor Louis Napoleon, of France, and 
those associated with him in the attempt 
to establish an empire in Mexico. 

For a number of years Louis Napoleon 
was the mightiest man in Europe. Partly 
through the glamor of his name, as "the 
nephew of his uncle," and partly by long- 
continued endeavor, associated with po- 
litical astuteness, he had worked himself 
from being a political exile in England 
to be first the President of the French 
Republic and afterwards Emperor of the 
French. For a time all went well with 
him so far as outward appearances were 
concerned, but he undertook to raise up 



THE SOUTHERN STAR 



91 



a king to the Gentiles against the Lord 
on this continent, and then decisive, 
though gradual destruction came upon 
him. 

In the days when Napoleon was Pres- 
ident of the French Republic (1851), El- 
der John Taylor, with other brethren, 
visited Europe as a missionary of the 
Church of Jesus Christ. His labors were 
largely in France and Germany. He 
published the Book of Mormon in the 
language of both these nations, and took 
especial care that the French translation 
should be placed within the reach of the 
President of the Republic and other high 
officials. We do not know whether Louis 
Napoleon read the sacred record, but he 
had full opportunity to do so. If he was 
not acquainted with the prophecies which 
that book contains, the fault did not lie 
with the servants of God. The coup 
d'etat followed in December, 1851, and 
the slender hopes that had before existed 
of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter- 
day Saints being officially recognized by 
the French government were crushed in 
the despotism that followed. In due 
time Louis Napoleon, from being Presi- 
dent, was proclaimed Emperor (Novem- 
ber, 1852). He married the beautiful 
Spanish Countess Eugenie de Montejo, 
in 1853, who, in a few years, bore him 
a son (1856), the sole fruit of their union. 
He waged successful war against Rus- 
sia, Austria and Cochin China, in all of 
which the French gained glory, and, in 
two cases, obtained increased power and 
wealth. 

In process of time (1861), Napoleon 
took it into his head he would establish 
an empire in Mexico. The unsettled con- 
dition of affairs in that country afforded 
him the pretext that the rights of French 
citizens were not protected. England and 
Spain were at first inclined to aid him 
in this venture, but soon retired, and he 
was left alone to carry out his scheme. 
Maximilian, Archduke of Austria, a 
brother of the Emperor Francis Joseph, 
was chosen to occupy the imperial posi- 
tion. For some time he hesitated; he 
was loath to accept the proffered honor, 
but being constantly urged by the French 
Emperor and his own friends, he finally 
accepted. He, with his wife, the 
Princess Carlotta, sister of the King of 
the Belgians, came over to Mexico, and 
for a time, with the assistance of French 
bayonets and the troops of the reaction- 
ary JMexican party, he made a successful 
campaign. Thfn the government of the 
United States niade so strong a protest 
against the whole scheme, and asserted 
itself so vigorously as the champion of 
the Mexican Republic, that Napoleon 
thought it well to withdraw the French 
troops, and accordingly they embarked 
for Europe. Maximilian, who was made 
of heroic stuff, refused to flee, his Mex- 
ican followers were overwhelmed by the 
national forces, he was taken prisoner, 
and with two of his generals, Miramon 
and Mejia, was afterwards shot (June, 
1867). 

Maximilian's last words were, "Poor 
Carlotta!" And well might he say 
"Poor Carlotta!" Sad has been her his- 
tory ever since. When the French de- 
serted her husband, and she found that 
her efforts to secure help for him at other 
European courts were unavailing, her 
reason began to totter, and the news of 
his death finished the work. For nearly 
a third of a century she has been bereft 
of reason, a childless widow confined 
within castle walls awaiting the liberat- 
ing hand of the long-delayed angel of 
death. 



"Born a princess, and educated to 
wear a crown, now, although Carlotta 
has lived but fifty-nine years, thirty 
three of them have been passed within 
the walls of an asylum for the insane. 
Married at seventeen, a queen at twen- 
ty-four, and a lunatic at twenty-six, she 
was bereft of father, husband, empire 
and reason in the short space of eighteen 
months, and then, by the irony of fate, 
forever banished from human memory. 
Carlotta's career was almost kineto- 
scopic in the rapidity of its changes- 
promising in its inception, magnificent in 
its rise, pathetic, dramatic, tragic in its 
decline and fall."— Princess Slam Slam. 

And what of Napoleon and his wife, 
she who was once considered the most 
beautiful woman in Europe? A few 
years after his ill-advised attempt to 
erect an empire on American soil, he en- 
tered altogether too lightly into a terri- 
ble war with Germany (1870). The re- 
sults are known to us; he was defeated, 
the enemy overflowed his land, entered 
his capital city and compelled a humiliat- 
ing peace. Napoleon was made prisoner, 
and, in France, a republic was estab- 
lished in place 6f the empire over which 
he had ruled. He died in 1872, an exile 
in England. His only son went to war 
against savages, as a soldier in the ar- 
mies of the country that had proven an 
asylum to his father, and fn far-off South 
Africa he was slain by the hands of the 
Zulus (1879). The once beautiful Eu- 
genie, heartbroken with her sorrows, a 
wreck from disease and suffering, like 
Carlotta, still lives, the sole representa- 
tive of the family. Was ever prohpecy 
more terribly, more completely fulfilled? 
They have perished, root and branch; 
their names are blotted out, their genera- 
tions have ceased. 

But is that all? What of Maximilian's 
family? Sophie, the mother of Francis 
Joseph and Maximilian, was a princess 
of the house of Bavaria, so was Eliza- 
beth, the former's wife; and with terrible 
weight and frequency have the blows 
fallen on that monarch and his Bavarian 
kinsfolk. Himself the ruler of a divided 
house rapidly crumbling to pieces through 
the animosities of the differing races of 
which it is -composed, he has been defeat- 
ed in every war in which he has engaged 
with his neighbors. His Only son, the 
successor to the throne, the Crown 
Prince Rudolph, died a vfclent death 
(January, 1889). the details or which are 
kept a secret. It is officially said that 
he committed suicide, but the story goes 
that he was killed by a nobleman whose 
wife had formerly been a mistress to the 
Prince and on whom Rudolph still forced 
his attentions. The husband is said to 
have also killed his wife and then himself. 
Thus, like Maximilian and Napoleon, 
Francis Joseph is left without a son and 
heir to the throne. Again, the Emperor 
Francis Joseph's wife, the Empress Eliz- 
abeth, was assassinated, without provo- 
cation, at Geneva, Switzerland, last Oc- 
tober, by. an anarchist. Her sister, So- 
phie, Duchess of Alancon, was burned 
to death in that terrible fire (May, 1897,) 
at a charitable bazaar in Paris, when so 
many of the ladies of the European no- 
bility met a horrible death. The Arch- 
duchess Mathilde, another sister, care- 
lessly dropped a burning match upon her 
dress and was also burned to death. King 
Louis II, of Bavaria, became insane and 
drowned himself. Count Louis of Trani, 
Prince of Sicily, committed suicide. The 
Archduke John of Tuscany discarded roy- 
alty and was lost at sea. 

The Archduke John Salvator of Tus- 
cany, a nephew of the Emperor Francis 



Joseph, fell in love with an actress and 
singer, Ludmilla Hubel, whom he mar- 
ried in spite of all family opposition, re- 
nouncing at the same time all his rights, 
privileges and rank, and assuming the 
name of Orth, after one of his castles. 
The romantic marriage was celebrated 
secretly, but in a perfectly legal man- 
ner, in London. Johann Orth next 
bought, in 1891, a fine ship in Liverpool, 
which he renamed Santa Margarita; and 
so anxious was he to guard against the 
vessel being recognized, that he had all 
drawings and photographs of it handed 
over to him, and these he burned with 
his own hands; moreover he caused all 
portraits of himself and of his wife to be 
bought up at any price, and these were 
likewise destroyed. Shortly afterwards 
the ex-Archduke and his wife set sail 
for South America, and the vessel was 
duly reported to have arrived at Monte- 
video, and departed for a destination un- 
known. But from that moment every 
trace was lost of the ship and all on 
board, no news as to her fate bavlug ever 
been heard, although many a search has 
been made along the coast by order of 
the Emperor of Austria and his govern- 
ment. Adventurers and treasure-seekers 
have been at work, as it is well-known 
that Johann Orth had on board over a 
quarter of a million pounds in specie; it 
is believed that he intended to have 
bought an estate in Chili with the money 
and to have settled there, but that the 
vessel foundered off Cape Horn during a 
terrific storm which raged on the coast 
shortly after the ship had left. From 
time to time since then the most start- 
ling rumors have been set afloat about 
the missing Prince having turned up; one 
being that he had been one of the lead- 
ers of the Chilian rebellion, having -di- 
vided his treasure among his crew, 
burned his ship, landed on a lonely 
coast, etc. His own mother, who died 
only a few months ago at the Castle 
Orth, believed her son alive to the very 
last hour, and expected his return. 

The Archduke Wilhelm died from, in- 
juries received through a fall from a 
horse. The Archduke Ladislaus shot 
himself accidentally while hunting. "^a« 
there ever a family on whom misfor- 
tunes fell thicker and faster than tkion 
the immediate relatives of the man who 
was persuaded to establish himself 
against God's word, as Emperor orSfex- 
ico? The wonderful fulfillment oTthis 
one prediction alone stamps the Book of 
Mormon as divine, for the prophecy was 
uttered in the name of the Lord, and He 
has brought it to pass most marvelously. 
—Era. 

Released. 

J. Thornton, from the South Carolina 
Conference. 



It is a very crude and mistaken classi- 
fication which separates men into think- 
ers on the one hand and practical men of 
action on the other. No one can be prac- 
tical in any effective way without much 
thought, and for want of it many excel- 
lent enterprises break down and come to 
naught. 



An old proverb says: "Good counsel 
breaks no man's head;" on which some- 
one remarks: "But the neglect to take 
good counsel has not only broken many 
a man's head, but also many a man's 
heart/* 



Where no wood is there the fire goeth 
out: so where there is no tale-bearer, the 
strife ceaseth. 



92 



THEiSOUTHEBN STAB. 







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•f Jttu Christ if LfttUr Dty Sslsts, 

Cstttsnetp, Tain. 



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(in Mvanaa) ( Throe month* .25 

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Subscribers removing from one place to another, 
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letter. 



Altered at the Post Office at Chattanooga, Term., as 
second dan matter. 



Correspondence from all parts of the missionary 
field is solicited. Give name and address, or articles 
will be rejected. Write on one side of paper only 
when sent for publication. We reserve the right to 
either eliminate or reject any communication sent in. 
Address Box xft? 



Saturday, Februaby 17, 1900. 



ARTICLES OF FAITH 

OP THB CHURCH OP JESUS CHRI3T OP 
LATTER-DAY SAINTS. 

1. Wt beIE«*a la God the Eternal FiLhar, and fa Hii So* 
Jmdi Chfiit, and in ihe Hply GhoeL 

t- We baUefe that tnio *ll1 be pUBIahed (or their own 
■ini, ipd not far Adini'i traD*|rre*i]OB. 

8, Wa IjcIiIbtd ihit, throath the atonement of Chrlil, ill 
miflkJad may bi laved, by obedjenca t* the Uwi tad firdl- 
tianOH of t hs GdlpAl. 

i, W* bohftTe. tbaE the tint principle anril ortl3rian<?*< of 
fhf On*pfil are. i Finis Failb in the Lord J etui L'briit ; icond. 
Repentance t third, B*ptiim by tt&Btnion for the r*mj«ioa 
qf iJQfi fourth, Lajir.g on of Hindi Id: the Oift of the. li-jly 
ShoiL 

S, Wo beUire thai I did bid it he called nf (rod, hj 
41 prophecy, ind by Lbe laying, on of band*," by thote who An 
(a authority, to prwcb lb* |oipcl and administer in the anil. 



8. Wi believe la UtVwmt orfiniutico that axiftetf In 
the rrrimitife church— naroi-lr< Apoitlef, FropheU* t'uloit, 
Teacher*, Evangtli4U. tie. 

7. W a belie vein Lb q (p ft nf Tod btj m L prophecy , revelation, 
* iilooi, Iioplinaj, iBEerprcUtJon of loogtjt*, ate, 

*. V/e be|j«TQ the Bibta to be the n ord of God, aa far aj 1| 
■■ tnullted COfrettljr j w* alio behove the Booh Of Harmon 
lg he thn word nf Ciad. 

t. We beliera all that God hat fetaaled, a IT that He done 
now nraal, «nd ■* baftflM that U« will rat r#T**l many trait 
an 4 imprtint I hi tip pertaining to tha KJanJoOi of God! 

ID, Wa bflliftTj in iiia libera lEathering ofltraal and its the 
reparation Of Ihe Ten Tribe* ; that Zloo will be bmlL upon 
thii (the American) continent! that Oi Hit will nta p+r*0D> 
ally opon th* earth, and Hut tho earth will be fedewad andj 
receive m p*radii-iac*J glory, 

LI. We claim, the privilege of worshiping; Aim if b It GndJ 
according to lha dictate* of OUT coniritaro. ncni alio* alt 
h>#n the ume privilege, let Ihem vanhip how, Thar*, or whal 

11 Wa believe in befog •object to kjoga, preeideota. rubra, 
and naaiatratae ; in obeying, honoring and raataining tha law. 

lt.#Wa baJiera in baing bpnaat. ttna, ehaata, banavolant, 
virtaooa, and in doing goodto all ■•■ ; indeed, we may aay 
that we follow the admonition of Paul, -We believe all thiaga, 
we nope all thinga," we have endorod many tbioga, and hope 
•e be able to endore all thinga. If there ia anything virtoooa, 

aiiij^c^ , sssff. p ^ wortl,y,,w ^ k ^ *"• 



OUR ANNUAL REPORT. 

On another page we give to our readers 
the annual statistical report of the 
Southern States Mission for the year 
1899. The totals fully meet our expec- 
tations, and all around the report is a 
gratifying one and amply proves that 
the little stone cut out of the mountains 
without hands is rolling forth. The 
written word distributed is simply as- 
tounding, and is bound to be productive 
of much good.* , 

In some respects the figures for 1899 
do not equal those of 1898, but condi- 
tions have been different, and we have 
had a smaHer force 6f Elders. The year 
1899 will go down in the history of the 
Mission as one of the most trying in late 
years, if not since its organization. A 
furious storm of hate and prejudice, as 
usual, started 1 and fanned by counterfeit 
followers of our Lord, who cannot hear 



the voice of God calling unless accom- 
panied by their idol, the almighty dollar, 
swept over the Mission, as indeed it did 
throughout the whole of the United 
States. In not a few localities, in the 
south, mob violence displaced reason, 
law and order, trampled the constitution 
in the mire and made mockery of the 
courts of justice. In Butler county, 
Kentucky, two Elders were whipped 
with hickory withes; in Jasper county, 
Georgia, the lady of the house where 
two Elders were being entertained had 
her jaw shot away by one of a band of 
bigots who came to force the law-abiding 
and inoffensive guests to leave the coun- 
try, while in Stewart county, Tennessee, 
an innocent girl of twelve summers re- 
ceived a bullet fired from ambush at a 
''Mormon'" Elder as he and others were 
returning from worshiping the Father of 
all. Rocks, rotten eggs, and outrages of 
a smaller nature were numerous, and in 
Kentucky two of our churches were de- 
stroyed, one burned and another broken 
and chopped to pieces, by a mob, because 
it was covered by insurance from fire. 
The land was flooded with bitter newspa- 
per articles and literature, not only mis- 
leading in character, but untruthful, and 
some of it almost too indecent to be men- 
tioned by respectable people. 

The instigators of this "new crusade" 
justified themselves by claiming that 
Utah had broken faith with the nation, 
falsely proclaiming that polygamy had 
been re-established, and holding up their 
hands in holy horror because there were, 
in Utah, enough democrats to elect Hon. 
B. H. Roberts to congress. Many good, 
sincere people were fooled by the clamor 
that was raised, and thought, we doubt 
not, that they were doing God's service 
by heaping calumny upon their fellow- 
citizens, as loyal as they — and honest, 
innocent men and women, crying, "crucify 
him, crucify him," with the multitude 
whenever opportunity offered. How- 
ever, persecution is the heritage of the 
Saints, and it will always be present un- 
til the time comes for Satan to be bound. 
It is the barometer by which we can tell 
how sorely his Satanic Majesty is being 
pressed. The actions of men may hinder 
truth for a time, but right will triumph 
ana* the gospel of peace fill the whole 
earth. 

It is not strange that in a year like 
the one just passed there should be a 
temporary falling off in conversions, or 
rather new members, for many are con- 
verted yet have not the courage to im- 
mediately face the finger of scorn or the 
derision of a hostile world, and on the 
whole, as above stated, we see much 
over which to rejoice. The words of 
President Young, "every time you kick 
Mormonism you kick it up stairs," will 
be verified in this, as it has been in all 
other instances in the past. 

We say to the humble servants of God, 
in this Mission, that the purposes of the 
Almighty are fast being brought to pass 
in the earth; the leaven that is to leaven 
the whole lump is working and gathering 
momentum daily. To the Elders we say: 
Let not the bright star of hope disappear 
from your view; put on the shield of 
faith and gird on the whole armor of 
God. Never forget your full duty, and 
remember the Great Captain will be 
your protector under all conditions if you 
remain true and steadfast. 

While you have done nobly the past 
year, let us see if in the year 1900 we 
cannot achieve greater success and prove 
more valiant in the cause we love and 
to which our lives should be consecrated. 

In reviewing the report it is due to say 
that we could not get a complete report 



of the work in Louisiana, as the records 
of that Conference were destroyed by 
fire a short time before the end of the 
year. The Chattanooga report includes 
the office Elders, who, of course, can 
hardly be classed with the working 
force of any particular Conference, and 
this Conference, like Ohio and North 
Kentucky, it will be remembered, has 
been in existence much less than a year. 
It is also well to note that the number 
of Elders has been materially lessened 
part of the year in Louisiana and Missis- 
sippi for climatic and other reasons. 



"MORMONS AND MORMONISM/' 

With this issue we begin the publica- 
tion of "Mormons and Mormonism," a 
twenty-four page booklet, by the well- 
known writer and lecturer, Charles Ellis. 
This late production of Mr. Ellis's able 
pen is an intelligent and comprehensive 
treatise on the subject announced, and 
is discussed under the heads: "Why Ma- 
ligned—The People— Industry— Educa- 
tion— Morals— Polygamy— The Religion." 
The Roberts case and the manifesto is 
reviewed and creditably handled. 

Mr. Ellis, though a non-Mormon, is an 
American in all that the term implies, 
and believes in fair play. It is well 
known this is not the first time that this 
talented 'man has spoken in favor of 
giving us a place, of respectful consid- 
eration, on God's green earth, and point- 
ed out to the world that "Mormonism" 
is not what its enemies have represented. 
Certainly every man should be honest 
enough with himself and his Creator to 
be a man and stand for the right, the 
persecuted, the down-trodden and the 
oppressed, whether favored or not, but 
friends in need should at least receive 
from us expressions of gratitude and ap- 
preciation. Mr. Ellis has for years been 
a strong champion of our rights, and in 
consequence has come in for a good sized 
slice of abuse and vituperation hurled 
at those who dare to say a word favora- 
ble to that sect everywhere spoken evil 
against, which we represent. He de- 
serves consideration at our hands for 
his good acts in our behalf in years gone 
by, and this' last production excels, we 
think, anything he has ever written bear- 
ing on the subject. Being a non-Mor- 
mon, the good it will do cannot be esti- 
mated, and numbers of this pamphlet 
should be in the hands of every Elder 
in the missionary field. The article is 
copyrighted, but the author .has kindly 
given us permission to publish a limited 
number of copies, for use in this mission. 
Elders can get them by sending here for 
them. 

The. Saints in Utan can do much in 
breaking down the barriers of prejudice 
by sending some to their missionaries in 
other missions, and can procure all they 
want from Charles Ellis, Salt Lake City, 
Utah, at a small cost. Saints or sinners 
will find this exposition interesting and 
well worth perusing, and if they are 
thoughtful we assure each reader he will 
find therein food for reflection. 



ELDERS AND EMIGRANTS, ATTEN- 
TION. 



On Feb. 1st the railway companies 
throughout the United States entered 
into a general combine, to the effect that 
no special rates or reductions will be 
made, better than the regular tariff 
rates; also all concessions that have for- 
merly been given to agents, in the shape 
of commissions, etc., have stopped. In 
consequence of this I beg to say that I 
am unable to make any better rates 



TttE SOUTHERN Sf Aft. 



Chun straight tariff, and tiuit all the 
mtes that I have quoted heretofore are 
k:iI I and void. 

My advice tu the Saints would be to 
nut sell out at present, but wait for a 
little season until such times when we 
can benefit you with cheaper rates, 

I am sorry that I am compelled tu eall 
off the rates that I have quoted you, as 
1 am sure many hnvo been milking ar- 
rangements to leave for Zion early this 
spring, tint I am unable tu govern the 
circumstances, and it is unavoidable. 

Any emigrant wishing further in for- 
BULtitka 1 will gladly give it, but those 
desiring to move at present will be com- 
lulled to pay full tariff rates. 

I will gladly help the Elders with clergy 
rates* us heretofore, so far as possible, 
but I urn afraid I hat we will even be 
curtailed in these privileges to some ex~ 
tent. BEX E. RICH. 



Subscribers to the Star can tell when 
their subscription expires by noting 1 lie 
date uppnsite their name on the label 
on the Star or on the wrapper. Look ut 
yimr duies nod send funds to renew 
your subscription, because you do no! 
want to luive your name stricken from 
ihe list. 



A True Wife. 

8he is not a true wife who sustains not 
her husband in the day of calamity; who 
is not, when the world's great frown 
makes the heart chill with anguisb T his 
guardian angel, growing brighter and 
more beautiful as his misfortunes crowd 
upon his path. Then is the time fur the 
trial of her gentleness; then is the time 
for testing whether the sweetness of her 
temper beams only with a transient light, 
or like the steady glow of the morning 
star, shines just as brightly under the 
clouds. Has she then smiles just as 
charming? Does she say, "affliction does 
nut tnueh oar purity, and should not 
quench our love?" Does she try, by hnp- 
py little inventions, to lift from his sen- 
sitive spirit the burden of thought? 

There are wives- nay, there are beings, 
who, when dark hours come, fall to re- 
pining and upbraiding- thus adding out- 
side anxiety to the harrowing scenes of 
domestic strife, as if all the blame in the 
world could make one hair white or 
black, or change the decree gone im- 
mutably forth. Such would know that 
our darkness is heaven's Sight; oar trials 
but steps in the golden ladder, by which, 
if we rightly ascend, we may at last 
gain that eternal light, and but he for- 
ever In its fullness and beaut >. 

"Is that ali? ,T and the gentle 
face of the wife learned with joy her 
husband had been on the verm 1 of dis- 
traction—all her earthly pos sessions were 
gone, and he feared the result of her 
knowledge, she had been so tenderly 
eared for all her life. But, saj T s Irvine's 
beautiful story, "u friend advised him 
not to give sleep to his eyes, nor slumber 
to his eyelids, until he had unfolded to 
her all his hopeless case." 

And that was her answer with the 
smile of an angel— "is that all?" i feared 
by your sadness it was worse. Let these 
beautiful things be taken— all this splen- 
dor, let It go, I care not for It — 1 only 
care for my husband's love and emiti- 
dence. You shall forget in my nffeelion 
that you were ever in prosperity— only 
still love me, and I will aid you to bear 
these little reverses with cheerfulness." 

Still love her. A man must reverence, 
aye, liken her to the very angel?, for 
sneh El vvomjiii is a living revebition uf 
heaven. MBS. PEN! SON. 



Statistical Report of Southern States 

Mission of Zion, for Year Ending 

December 3f, 1039. 



I 

i 


= 5; 2. 5&E Kt Bit * 
; j?p: ^ s * * a : v • * : ; ' 


5 
i 

■ 

H 
% 

n 

H 
tii 




i 


: mn*' :::::'! mm: : : 


High 
Prie-U 




*afc,*8ssfc±£fes$a&$t8 


Seventies 






Elders 


M 


— 


I tfwy^L cp^icit (OfMCK tO |U!n tDt 


Priests 


7: 


— — £? I escw l - l iOL^ E ' o - - *■ ' 


Teacl iors 


— 


* 

- 1 


li i -h . : 


Deacons 


SJ 


1 M~lMMw3*JK-|3n J iK«^) 

* P* ■£ Sfi ^ "- *- * E * ' ^ ** ' " ^ 3" ™ 


M gamer* 




'i3asS5?5S6|lIi5SH 


Total Otll- 
eers htuI 
Menders 





!*£*'. 



¥ ± t. under a years 



g m\ BisgSMiesgg 






S^«*§1 



-SS* 



Total Stmts 



Hupttzed 
New 

Member* 



Children 
Baptised 

over h, y'rs 



1 .Ssse 



I Children 
Hle^ed 



3 — _±J?'j 



gn ' &+-Z 



H< iiujViO, 
gg£j; I Mtmbett 
1 Removed, 
>p.«: * ClUldren 



1 j -t r- = j- — " r- v — '■ 



•' ' 



-Sft\*V - ; 



i iiijiiii iiigi i ii 



5 T> ■: 1 — vi j- — -^ - i — :- V --z r. — z - 



Died, 
MeinherH 



Lihtldren 

Kvrnlll- 

mueieAUtd 



Miles Walked 



Miles Rode 



PainituM 



e r. It 7 = ^r k £ig|SigSSg Vlidteii 

- ri - I .£ ; li li I y - i U 5c at g — I 



. ■ — «i J ^ 1 : ■.■>-.-.— , j ' -z ■ : ■ t — - 



yg-ss 11 gg alii 



y _. _ ^. :-. f i ! ■ ti ri l-i- 

I iPiiii=iliiiiii 

■. ■ ' 1 r : 7 * _: i i - 1 - r ■ ■ , . - ■ — T: s 









1 :« 11.1 1 f- 

Ite yisited 



Eiiteriain- 
ment Refund 



Tructs 
DJfitiitmted 



l»uil*;i-T% 
Distributed 



Books 

Dem-i luited 



Meetingti 
Held 






Note,— In the nbeve report, of the R<>ok^ dls- 
tiihuteiL t^A5 were Boom Of Mormotu The 
"Miles Etode t'ohinin' 1 only repraacnia 0*4 

Tin hi 1 hK of the your, ag iluir feature w^ not 
Added until Auk'^i tost. 



A good rule— "My father tamrht me," 
said a man who had been tsaoeestiful 
in life, "never to play till my work was 
finished, and never to spend my money 
until 1 had earned it. If 1 had but an 
hour's work in a day T I must do that the 
first: ihing and in an hour, and after this 
I wus allowed to play ; then I could play 
with much more pleasure man if f had 
the thought of unfinished work before my 
mind. 1 early formed the habit of doing 

everything in time* and it somi I a use 

ensy Tor me to do so. It is to this I owe 
my prosper ity." 



Georgia Conference. 

The conference of the Georgia Elders 
was Jii-ld in Muuou, Ga., Jan, 2Tth and 
2fcth p Iftnx A hall in the coutral part 
of the rity w;i7, appropriatelv decorated 
for the oerawion by Klder« James S. 
Castletou and J, T, Barrett. 

As usual. Saturday was devoted to 
counsel with the Elders and Snnday to 
the pub lie. 

In addition to the KhJers of the <\>u- 
ference a n amber of Huiuts were present, 
l 1 resident Uich arrived Saturday morn- 
ing and ninde all ibe brethren feel that 
it was good to be at conference. 

We were fuvored with some ^ood sin^- 
in^ li> a ehornfl conipoaed ur Klders and 
dll-eeted by Elder J. It. IJurdener. 

At the taorniajj wessiou Saturday smuic 
Kood counsel was ^iveu by [-resident \V. 
i*. Ueruher und Elder S. O. Rogers. 

President Uich spoke in the afternoon, 

and cneb uf the Elders present reported 
their feelings* circumstanees, etc. tjueii- 
tnms were nuswered and other borfine&fc 
minsjK'led. 

On Sunday three public? meetings wen; 
h> !>l. At 1 In iJM'iinh^ M'ssion I'njuldetit 
1 licit occupied the linn*. He font rusted 
the condition* of the religions world uf 
today with that which existed when the 
Saints stuod upon the Rock of Revela- 
tion, and how the Gospel was being 
pre cued for a witness for the last time. 

At the afternoon and night b ess ions a 
number of prominent citizens were pres- 
ent and listened with marked attention 
to the discnurses delivered. The speakers 
were President Rich and Elders J. T. 
Barrett, 6. M< Porter and J. L. Edelf- 
son. President Rich called attention to 
Elder Barrett being a native of the 
south, and suid he wanted those present 
to hear the (inspel from one reared in 
their own country. At the close of ihe 
night meeting a gentleman in the audi- 
ence asked a few questions, which were 
sfltisfaetnrily answered by President 
Kencher. 

Monday niorniu^ the Elders assembled 
and were assigned their resjiective fields 
of labor. Brother (3. M. Porter, one of 
our ablest defenders of the truth, was 
called to act as President of the Missis- 
sippi Conference. Elders J. M. Edlef- 
son nod J. T. Barrett were transferred to 
the Louisiana r on fere nee. Cuuiiselor 
Smith D. Rogers, tried and true, touk his 
departure for Ziuu, carrying an honora- 
ble release. 

Much regret was felt at porting, espe- 
cially with those called to distant fields. 
All, "however, return to their labor feel- 
ing encouraged and determined to do 
their full duty; thankful for so great a 
privilege as enjoying, for a brief time, 
earh niher's society, and hearing the 
words of counsel fall from the lips Of 
God* » inspired servants. 

H. P. HANSEN, 
Clerk of Conference, 
(Deseret News please copy.) 



If we are cheerful and contented, all 
nature smiles with us; tbe air seems 
more hnltny, the sky clearer, the ground 
has a brighter green, the trees have a 
richer foliage, the flowers a more fragrant 
stnoll, the birds sing more sweetly, and 
the sun, moon and stars all appear more 
beau t i f u I . 

In a school. "Ale and Beer Measure 1 ' 
was given out as one of the lessons for 
the next day. Next morning the first boy 
was called upon, but said "I don't know 
it." ♦'How's that?" asked the teacher. 
"Please, sir,'* he replied, ''neither father 
nor I think its any use, for we neither 
mean to buy, sell or drink the stuff.** 



u 



Tfl£ SOtJTHEfcS STAfc. 



Mormons and Mormonism 

By a Non-Mormon. 

Copyrighted. 
[Printed by Permission of the Author, Chas. Ellis, Salt Lake City, Utah.] 



No cause has so often led to strife as 
the bigotry of religious devotees. In no 
name has hate so largely gathered har- 
vest of death as in that of God. No 
prophet ever proclaimed a new word of 
the Infinite who was not met with abuse. 
Many of the noblest men who have 
stood God-tongued on earth have re- 
ceived not only villification, but mar- 
tyrdom. Not one of them has escaped 
the cry of "infidel, atheist, impostor." 
Even Jesus was crucified as a malefac- 
tor. His simple religion of love for God 
and to man was lost in a cobra-filled 
jungle of theology. For more than 1800 
years Christianity has not been the re- 
ligion of Christ. The Christianity that 
boasts of having civilized the world is a 
mass of dogmatic bran that makes poor 
bread of life— intellectually a bran-mash 
for hide-bound bigots who send all but 
a "predestined and foreordained" ba- 
ker's dozen to eternal torment because 
they will not take the medicine. It has 
been itself partially civilized by the natu- 
ral development of the human mind, 
but is still much like that "whited sepul- 
chre," fair to see, but full of lying dog- 
mas, hypocrisy and sham. 

Into this cloaca of pretence, the Mor- 
mons say God sent Joseph Smith to de- 
stroy its rot with the quicklime of a new 
revelation from heaven of priesthood, 
prophecy and providence. The Lord 
God Omnipotent, so the story runs, came 
to this youth and informed him that the 
Gospel of Jesus had been lost to the 
world through the wickedness of men; 
that the religions of the present were a 
sham, that the churches were all wrong, 
and that the true Gospel would be re- 
stored for the salvation of mankind 
through him. 

It is not surprising that Mormonism 
met with obloquy from its birth. It 
would have been marvelous had not that 
obloquy become violence when the "new 
dispensation" showed a degree of suc- 
cess that roused the fears of the evan- 
gelical churches, out of which converts 
to the new sect were taken. The Mor- 
mon missionaries of those early years 
believed the "fullness of time" had come, 
and that "the Lord" was speedily to ap- 
pear, sweep false Christianity from 
the earth and establish His own king- 
dom. They believed it their duty to cry 
aloud, to warn the nations. The bold- 
ness of the proclamation that all 
churches were without recognition in 
the sight of God, and the only true Gos- 
pel was this "new dispensation," was 
enough to arouse an opposition that has 
never wholly ceased and is now raging 
more fiercely than ever. The rapid 
growth of the new old faith embittered 
the sects and carried them to the shed- 
ding of innocent blood, for many of the 
early Mormons suffered martyrdom for 
their faith. Yet the blood of martyrs is 



still the seed of the church. 

It is immaterial here whether Mor- 
monism was born of God or of man. I 
am not discussing its origin. No matter 
what its source, it was sure to meet op- 
position. Had it come with such pomp 
that the world could have beheld an- 
gelic heralds, it would nave been de- 
nounced as vile.* It has been so with 
the founders of all religions. The proph- 
ets are always stoned. The Buddha 
was accused of consorting with courte- 
sans. Jesus' enemies said harlots were 
His chosen companions. Mahomet was 
the called slave of an ambitious mis- 
tress. Garrison and Phillips were de- 
nounced as infidels and atheists. Joseph 
Smith was branded a fraud and lecher. 

But as time rolls away from the days 
when an agitator lived, hatred of him 
is forgotten and he is remembered in 
the results of his agitation. The Budd- 
ha preceded Jesus many centuries and 
has a following today of 400,000,000. 
Jesus is buried beneath a mountain of 
dogma, but 300,000,1^0 are seeking eter- 
nal life in His name. Mahomet came ■ 
700 years later and his people number 
170,000,000. Only sixty-nine years ago 
came Joseph Smith, and his following 
is already half a million. Give Mormon- 
ism 1200 years, as Mohammedanism has 
had, or 1900 years, as Christianity has 
had, and what was said of its founder 
will be forgotten, but his following may 
then compare satisfactorily with what 
the older faiths accomplished. 

Had Joseph Smith never declared him- 
self a polygamist he would have been 
killed. The sects were too fanatical in 
the wild west to permit so active a rival 
to exist. Had the Mormons remained 
east of the Missouri Brigham Young 
would have been killed and the church 
would have been destroyed by wholesale 
massacre. It was only their isolation 
among the mountains that saved Mor- 
minism and the Mormons from annihi- 
lation. Even that would not have saved 
them had they not increased so rapidly 
by conversions and immigration that be- 
fore their enemies realized their growth 
they had become too strong to be re- 
moved. They have survived the hate 
that carried off their leader at Nauvoo. 
They have proved themselves sublime 
stayers. They have nobly earned the 
right to the home they have made in 
"the great American desert," and they 
are entitled to full liberty of conscience 
to practice their religion, as well as to 
the same protection the nation gives to 
all other churches. 

If people must follow some leader in 
the name of God it makes little differ- 
ence what his name, when or whence he 
came, as far as the national govern- 
ment is concerned. As long as his fol- 
lowers are honest, industrious, virtuous 
and progressive they will advance from i 



existing to better conditions, whether 
they follow Moses, Jesus, Mahomet, Cal- 
vin or Joseph, and our government, 
guaranteeing rights of conscience to all, 
cannot dictate what their religion shall 
be. No matter what Joseph Smith may 
have been, the people of the United 
States should not allow themselves to 
be governed by what was said against 
him in their judgment of the Mormon 
and Mormonism as they are now. 

BY THJEIB FRUITS. 

If history is reliable many of the popes 
were steeped in crime, yet we do not 
condemn the Catholic church of today 
by that history. Protestantism has done 
many cruel things in red-handed fanat- 
ical rage, but we do not now hold it re- 
sponsible for crimes of its past. The 
daily press frequently tells of crimes 
committed by ministers of the Gospel, 
but we do not condemn the class for the 
misdeeds of some of its members. Nei- 
ther should we condemn the Mormons 
and Mormonism of today for what their 
enemies said of them forty, fifty or sixty 
years ago. Put Joseph Smith down, 
then, as one of the men who have start- 
ed new systems of religion, and judge 
him now by the results of his system, as 
we judge all others. 

Many of the Jews are grand people, 
notwithstanding some of their leaders 
ages ago were bad. There are many 
excellent men and women in the 
churches, notwithstanding the fact that 
Christianity has drenched the earth in 
blood. Mohammedanism has done a 
great work among its people, notwith- 
standing all Christiandom looks upon 
its founder as an impostor. Tried thus, 
what can be said of the Mormons and 
Mormonism ? 

INTO THE DESERT. 

It would be manifestly unfair to judge 
either Mormons or Mormonism by that 
stormy career which preceded the he- 
glra to Utah. Mormonism had no op- 
port unity to show its merits in a coun- 
try where its enemies gave it little time 
to act save & self-defense. It was ag- 
gressive in its denunciation of existing 
churches as ungodly frauds and they at- 
tacked it with violence, kept it acting 
on the defensive, forced it from place to 
place, and finally drove it out of the 
United States. Having at last found a 
spot a thousand miles from a "Chris- 
tian" and subject only to the possible 
encroachments of Indian tribes, less bar- 
barous than eastern Christians had 
been towards them, the Mormons and 
Mormonism were, for the first time in 
their history, in a condition to show 
what the people and their religion were. 

When Brigham Young and his band 
of searchers for the new holy land en- 
tered the valley of the Great Salt Lake 
there was no white man there to give 
them welcome, and therefore no alleged 
Christian present to disturb their hope. 
They had traveled far and fared hard. 
As they emerged from a rugged canyon 
the magnificent valley before them was 
the most inviting spot they had Been, 
and the leader chose it at once as their 
future home. Along the mountain 
streams, that ran gurgling through the 
valley to lose themselves in the saltest 
sea upon the earth, there was pasturage 



THE SOUTHERN STAR. 



95 



for the cattle, but for the men, exiles 
from so-called Christian civilisation, 
there was nothing save an opportunity 
to gird their loins, forget their hunger 
and compel the stubborn glebe to yield 
them food. 

LIKE THE PILOBIM FATHERS. 

When the Pilgrims landed in Plymouth 
Kay they met such a welcome of dreary 
desolation as the Mormons received in 
the Salt Lake valley. As the Pilgrims 
crossed the Atlantic to find a land 
where they could practice their religion, 
so had the Mormons crossed the plains 
of the continent. But they must live. 
In all this wide mountain land no furrow 
had been turned. It was mid-summer 
and the wanderers had little to carry 
them through the approaching winter. 
They must close with the opportunity 
and stake all on the hazard. They put 
in crops and the seed baked in the hot 
earth or the frost came before anything 
could mature. They made huts to shel- 
ter themselves against the winter, built 
a wall to guard against Indian attacks 
(or was it the Christians they had fled 
from at Nauvoo) and pulled through un- 
til spring came, and then they went out 
upon the foothills and dug the roots of 
the sego lily for food. They planted 
and watered and saw their seed spring 
and saw crickets come down upon the 
green spots, like Missouri and Illinois 
Christians, and devour their hope. They 
fought crickets, made irrigating ditches, 
cleared off sage, increased their fields, 
smothered grasshoppers, praised the Lord 
and grew until, in five years, the valley 
had become a hive of busy human bees, 
not a drone among them all, and hun- 
dreds of baby bees crawling about the 
open doors of humble homes in which 
patient, plodding, hopeful, prayerful 
women were the grandest heroes of all. 
But the people crowded in so rapidly 
that for a dozen years or more all were 
harrassed by hard want. Luxuries there 
were none. It was- one long, ceaseless 
struggle to live. Women who came then 
as little girls have pictured to me the 
cheerless years of their young lives here 
when all were poor. 

THEIB STAFF AND COMFORTS. 

What sustained those people in that 
long ordeal? Faith, the strongest power 
in all the world. Their religion was an 
enthusiasm. To them "God" was a 
living presence. He had "called" them. 
He had led them forth from persecution. 
He would remain their friend and they 
must succeed. Without that faith they 
would never have come— having it they 
could not fail. But to my mind a very 
important adjunct was the pluck that 
has made the white race superior to ob- 
stacles and the master spirits of the 
world. When we consider what the 
Mormons underwent to achieve success 
here their constancy and heroism deserve 
sublimest commendation, and they who 
will not concede this because the Mor- 
mons will not send them to congress" or 
subscribe their creeds are not true Amer- 
icans—have never known the meaning 
and the glory of our "religious free- 
dom." 

We honor the Pilgrims for their hero- 
ism in crossing the ocean and founding 
a home in the forests of the new world. 
Why? Not because of their religion. 



They were bigots and sometimes mur- 
derers. They tortured, killed, or ban- 
ished men and women who would not 
accept their theology. We may despise 
their religion, but we must honor their 
courage and be thankful for their suc- 
cess. Without them we never would 
have had our government, the light of 
the world and the hope of mankind. But 
their base of supplies in Europe was 
nearer to them, more accessible, than 
were the stores from which the early 
Mormons could draw. The Pilgrims had 
means; the Mormons had none. When 
driven from Nauvoo many of them were 
so destitute that agents were sent 
through the east soliciting aid to save 
tne people from starvation, and one of 
these agents was Lorenzo Snow, now 
President of the Mormon Church. Hun- 
dreds of the famished refugees died, in 
1846, along the malaria-poisoned bot- 
toms of the Missouri river. 

From robbery, murder and exile in 
Missouri and Illinois to success and in- 
dependence in Utah, the history of the 
Mormons is a record of privation, hard- 
snip and endurance unequalled since the 
days of the Moors in Spain, the Hugue- 
nots in France and the Protestants in 
Holland, when murder sought to exter- 
minate all heresy in the name of the 
Catholic church for the glory of God. 
It was the same spirit in the Protestant 
heart that sought the destruction of 
Mormoni8m. But no religion can be 
wholly bad, or lacking in* points of great 
merit that could produce the magnificent 
results that have sprung from the Mor- 
mon occupation of Utah. 

IN THIBTY-TWO TEARS. 

Briefly, now, let us see what the Mor- 
mons did in Utah through the years 
when they were nearly the entire popu- 
lation and while the industries and the 
progress were almost wholly their own. 

In 1880, thirty-two years after the ar- 
rival of the Mormons in Utah, they had 
9,452 farms, the average size being 
twenty-seven acres. The population of 
the territory was then 143,903, of which 
115,000 were Mormons, 99 per cent, of 
whom were living in homes of their own. 
To bring this land into productive farms 
there had to be done an inconceivable 
amount of work that was not directly 
productive. The land was covered with 
sagebrush and other wild shrubs and 
grasses that made it as hard to clear as 
swamp land in the east. In addition to 
cleaving the land it had to be lined with 
ditches to carry water to the growing 
crops. On those 9,452 farms there were 
several thousand miles of ditching. All 
of this work was dead capital. It was 
the "plant" of the farmers and was put 
in solely by the toil of a people who 
never knew when it was "sundown." 
But it was done and the farms were 
yielding great crops of small grain, corn, 
potatoes— all the vegetables of garden 
and field, and the fruits— apples, pears, 
plums, apricots, peaches, grapes, berries 
—everything that the climate would sus- 
tain. Live stock had risen from zero to 
millions in the shade of the mountain. 
There were herds of sheep, cattle and 
horses, and the great American lard 
producer was not wanting. Home 
manufactories were prosperous at sev- 
eral points. Stores were in evidence 
everywhere. "Zion's , Co-operative Mer- 
cantile Institution" was the center of a 
magnificent trade at Salt Lake, extend- 
ing throughout the territory. Temples 
had been built or were under construc- 
tion at four points in the territory. Meet- 
ing hbuses had been erected in every di- 
rection. Academies were being started 
in Silt Lake, Logan and Provo. The 
people were united and persistent in 
tfieir determination to succeed, and, un- 
<S*f the guiding will of Brigham Young, 
this most remarkable effort at coloniza- 
tion had been quietly carried forward in 
spite of the continual harrassment of the 
people by government officials, goaded 
by the anti-Mormon ministers of the 



east. In thirty-two years the exiled 
Mormons had become too strong to be 
despoiled again, and all that time this 
alleged destroyer of the American home, 
polygamy, was being practiced, and 
thousands of the most intelligent, hon- 
est, virtuous and industrious men and 
women of the state today were the off- 
spring of such marriage relations. Why 
do not the Mormon haters of today at- 
tempt to destroy the force of this fact? 
Because they know that they would fail. 

EDUCATION. 

A common charge against the Mor- 
mons for years, and revived now, was 
that they were ignorant, illiterate and 
had no use for schools save to teach 
their theological dogmas. But in 1870, 
only twenty-three years after the first 
Mormon immigration, the percentage of 
school attendance in Utah was higher 
than in Pennsylvania, New York and 
Massachusetts. In 1881 the school pop- 
ulation of Utah, from 6 to 18 years of 
age, was 43,353, and the average daily 
attendance was 44 per cent. There were 
then 395 schools in Utah. In 1888 the 
commissioner of schools, a government 
official, reports 344 school districts and 
460 public schools in Utah. The school 
population was 54,943, of which 47,371 
were Mormons. The number of scholars 
enrolled was 32,988, of which 30,721 
were Mormons. The value of district 
school property was $542,755, and. the 
amount paid for teachers in the public 
schools for the year ending June 30, 
1888, was $293,085. Yet the anti-Mor- 
mon still screeches his old cry that those 
were Mormon schools. 

Let us see. The school commissioner 
referred to was not only a United States 
official, but he was also a non-Mormon. 
Yet he reported that the 400 public 
schools of Utah were "non-sectarian." 
Then he enumerated eighty-nine denom- 
inational schools, of which only four 
were Mormon. The text books used in 
the schools, a list of which was given, 
sets at rest the charge that Mormons 
were opposed to education; and the av- 
erage of the education of those who were 
trained in them is proof that they were 
not theological schools. According to 
the United States census for 1880 the 
percentage of persons in Utah of 10 
years and upward who could not read 
was five. In Rhode Island at the same 
time it was seven, and in the United 
States at large thirteen. The average 
illiteracy in Mormon Utah, thirty-two 
years after its settlement by people ab- 
solutely without means and obliged to 
toil early and late to find a mere sub- 
sistence, was less than in twenty states 
and territories of the union. 
(To Be Continued.) 

THE DARK AGES. 

BY A. ARROWSMITH. 
(Continued from page 75.) 

THE NINTH CENTURY opened with 
the world in a deplorable state of turmoil, 
confusion and ignorance. The most 
learned class of people were the Mahome- 
tans, who virtually preserved what degree 
of intelligence the world was in posses- 
sion of, until the establishing of the print- 
ing press. Their religion spread through 
Asia, Africa and Spain in an alarming 
manner ; they established schools of learn- 
ing and were far in advance of the Chris- 
tian, and can justly be praised for pre- 
serving and restoring learning in Europe. 

The Greek Christians were advancing 
and making much progress through Rus- 
sia, while the Romans confined their la- 
bors to the west of Europe, forcing all 
who came under their dominion to adopt 
their religion. 

Ireland produced a number of eminent 
men in this century — men who were truly 
pious — and England turned out the good 
and learned Alfred tne Great, who did 



96 


THE SOUTHERN STAR. 


REPORT OF MISSION CONFERENCES FOR WEEK ENDING JAN. 27, }900. 



D.H.Klton 

Heber 8. Olson..... . 

B. P. Price 

Job ii Peterson 

W. D. Rencher 

T. H. Humpherys... 

C. G. Parker-, 

J. Urban Alired 

J. K. Haws 

Sylvester Low, Jr 

O. D. Flake - 

D. A. Broadbent 

J. N. Miller- 

W. H. Boyle- 

L. M.Terry 

Geo. E. Maycock 



CONPBUBNCB 



Cnattauooga .. 

Virginia. 

Kentucky 

E. Tennessee- 
Georgia M 

N. Alabama-.. 

Florida 

Mid. Tenn...... 

N.Carolina 

3 Carolina 

Mississippi 

B. Kentucky... 

Louisiana 

8. Alabama 

N. Kentucky... 
Ohio- .. 



323 
1132 
778 

U57 
940 

1023 
751 

1016 

1142 
448 
662 
207 
476 
476 
853 



1 

Jt 

■3 

J_ 

53 
178 

100 



r 

47 
855 
180 



14 
83 
26 



3 
Xi 

~V6 
1224 
677 



53 111 

42 



52 
1029 
490 



86 
559 
340 168 



5SI6 



II 

4 

20 
22 



it 



Cnattauooga 

Box 888, Richmond 

Bat tie town 

Dayton 

Augusta-...-...- 

Memphis, Box 153 

Lulu 

Sparta- - 

Gokkboro, Box 9.'4 

8harp- 

Baton Rouge _.... 

Somerset. 

Shreveport 

Bridge Creek 

Bagdad, 8helby Co 

713 W. 8th St., Cincinnati. 



Tennessee. 

Virginia. , 

Kentucky 

Tennessee 

Georgia. . 

Tennessee 

Florida. " 

Tennessee. 

N. Carolina. 

8. Carolina: 

Louisiana. 

Kentucky. 

Louisiana. 

Florida. 

Kentucky. 

Ohio. 



much in placing England in the van of na- 
tions and advancing it to the front in 
letters. 

Outside of a few illustrious men as 
above, Christianity had sank very low and 
became very corrupt Their Bishops had 
become voluptuous and effeminate, passing 
their time away in the courts of Kings, 
being indolent, idle and luxurious. Our 
authority says that the inferior clergy 
was sunk in gross licentiousness, and 
minded nothing, but their own sensual 
gratifications; consequently they in- 
fected their flock, who naturally looked 
up to them for spiritual guidance, with 
the most heineous vices; and as before 
stated ignorance reigned, as but few could 
read or write at this period. The reason 
of this state of illiteracy lay in the fact 
that Europe was continually under arms 
and at war with the Mahometan. This, 
in connection with the ravages and insur- 
rections of the barbarians from the north, 
kept them busy with the sword ; and eru- 
dition and the sword ever did and ever 
will conflict and will never go hand in 
hand. 

The Normans ravaged the country, pil- 
laging, destroying and devastating the 
land, finally settling in France under 
King Godofred, 850 A. D. I mention this 
fact, because they played such an impor- 
tant part in the overthrow of nations in 
after years. 

It was in this century that the woman, 
Johanna, sat in regal splendor, occupying 
the Papal chair, under the name of Joan. 
It is stated that in disguise, she attained 
to this office, being first a monk, fascin- 
ated, it is said, by the love of a monk, she 
sought hi 8 company in a monastry and ad- 
vanced in the order, became a cardinal 
and finally occupiedthe highest position ob- 
tainable — Pontiff of Rome. It is said she 
held this position two years, between the 
reigns of Popes Leo, the IV., and Bene- 
dict, the III. This was universally ac- 
cepted as a fact from this period until 
Luther's time in the sixteenth century. 
Then seeing that the acknowledgement of 
this woman would break the pretended 
great chain in the See of Rome, the evi- 
dence was denounced as false and rejected 
as a fable. The question as to the ver- 
acity of this is still dubious. 

At this period the Roman Pontiff was 
anxious to extend his power and domin- 
ion, desiring complete control of both the 
ecclesiastical and political world. In or- 
der to further his ambition, the Pope imc- 
olas of Rome, excommunicated Photius of 
Constantinople, and vice versa; excom- 
munications and anathemas were the or- 
der and were issued extensively. Thus 
the Roman and Greek church became di- 
vided and has remained in this state ever 



since. 

Monastic orders were held in 



such 



honor, that kings and princes in num- 
erous instances, threw off their royalty 
and adopted the garb of monks. These 
monks were unversally beloved and es- 
teemed for their austerities, and in many 
instances ignorant and fanatical monks 
and abbots were chosen from the cloister 
and placed in high positions, governing 
principalities, being found at the head of 
nations in regal splendor, and acting in a 
manner entirely foreign to the vows they 
had made. 

The empire of superstition and error 
had surely arisen on the ruins of virtue, 
piety and reason during this century. 
Relic worship also assumed an important 
innovation at this time, and was carried 
on to an alarming extent; becoming a 
fad and craze among the poor monks, who 
hunted through Palestine for all kind of 
relics and bones; and even the dirt that 
had been walked upon by a supposed saint, 
was worshipped. Clothing, carcasses, 
arms and legs brought big prices, as these 
things were supposed to contain great seal- 
ing virtues and the owners to have special 
immunity and freedom from disease and 
sickness. Therefore these relics of de- 
parted saints, were sought for with great 
avidity, and the church was enriched 
thereby. 

The doctrine of transubstantiation, 
which is the actual presence of the body 
and blood of Jesus in the Eucharist, 
was a principle of much discussion at 
this time. It was adopted as a dogma 
of the church, and stands today as a 
tenet of the Roman Catholic faith. How- 
ever, the bread and wine, as originally 
designed by our Savior, to be used in 
the Sacrement, is not now partaken of 
in that great church, but simply the 
bread, or a manufactured substance that 
takes the place of • the bread, and the 
wine is partaken of only by the priest. 
It is held up in the Mass before the gaze 
of an adoring populace, who believe that 
they actually partake of the flesh and 
blood of Jesus. Thus this rite of Sacra- 
ment, as instituted by our Savior, was 
changed from its simplicity of adminis- 
tration, as partaken by the twelve in the 
upper chamber. 

Various other dogmas, such as image 
worship, predestination, the immaculate 
conception of Jesus, the trinity of the 
godhead, and many more subjects, were 
treated erroneously in the many discus- 
sions of an uninspired priesthood. At 
this time it would be difficult to find any 
resemblance to the church as instituted 
by Jesus the Nazarine. 

Christianity in the ninth century was 
exceedingly corrupt, its members were 
groveling in darkness and sin, and the 
light of inspiration, connected with the 
sure word of prophecy, was entirely ig- 
nored, and unknown to the inhabitants 



of the earth during this age. Living 
Prophets and Apostles did not exist and 
were not believed necessary in the 
church. Nothing but a dead form was 
left, as the church was entirely divested 
of the powers and gifts characteristic of 
the church established by our Master 
in Galilee. Thus the world continued to 
sink from one folly to another, until the 
very semblance of Christ's institution 
had vanished, leaving the world in a 
woeful condition. 

(To be continued.) 



MARRIED 



Alston-Darnell. 

"At the home of the bride, Thursday 
evening of last week at 9 o'clock, oc- 
curred the marriage of Miss Josephine 
Darnell and Mr. James L. Alston, Rev. 
E. M. Bell ofiiciating. The bride has 
spent her life in Manchester, while the 
groom will be remembered as having been 
sent here by the Mormon element of 
Utah to do missionary work, which task 
he recently resigned. Mr. Alston states 
that he is a graduate of medicine of the^ 
Utah Agricultural College at Logan, and 
upon receipt of a $1,500 wedding present 
from his father will go to Columbus, O., 
to take up the further practice of medi- 
cine and future residence. Mr. Alston 
also states that he has had three months' 
service in St. Mark's Hospital in Salt 
Lake City and was a sergeant in Bat- 
tery B of the Utah Light Artillery dur- 
ing the Philippine campaign." 

The above is a clipping sent us from 
a paper published in Ohio. Just how 
much is believed by the people there re- 
garding him having graduated in medi- 
cine from an agricultural college depends 
entirely upon the intelligence of the peo- 
ple. So far as the young man's war 
record is concerned, the statement is 
really laughable. The young man was 
18 years old last October, reached Chat- 
tanooga about three months ago, labored 
as a missionary a little over two months, 
then married a lady in Ohio some ten or 
twelve years his senior, surrendered his 
missionary license and has gone into 
business for himself. We trust he will 
try to be a good boy and not cause much 
trouble to the kind lady who has taken 
him to raise. 



A farmer who should sit stin and hope 
for a rich harvest when he had neither 
prepared the ground nor sown the seed 
would justly excite our ridicule : yet we 
do exactly the s»ame thing when we hope 
that the months or years may yield to uk 
fruits which we have never planted, and 
benefits which we have never earned. 



Industry is the royal road to fortune 
and eminence. 




*&UT THOUOfl WE T OQ AN ANGEL FROM HEAVtN.PWACH AMY T 
PThEB GOSPEL UNTO YOU TttAN THAT WMlCH WE 

HAVE PREACHED UNTO YQLMET MIM QE ACCUSED /Sfc/gEWf 



T(^77^5C 



Vol. 2. 



Chattanooga, Tenn., Saturday, February 24, 1900. 



No. 13. 



Sketch of the Life of President John Taylor. 



BY APOSTLE MATHIAS F. COWLEY. 






The subject of this brief sketch, Pres- 
ident John Taylor, was the third Presi- 
dent of the Church ot Jesus Christ of 
Latter-day Saints. He was born at 
Milnthorpe, Westmoreland county, En- 
gland, Nov. 1st, 1808. His parents, 
James and Agnes Taylor, were members 
of the Church of England. Naturally 
enough they taught their children ad- 
herence to the principles of that faith. 
Their son John early manifested a 
strong reverence for God and sacred 
truths. He was very prayerful, and 



PRESIDENT JOHN TAYLOR 

thoroughly conscientious in his course. 
At the early age of 15 he exhibited an 
independence of character as well as 
such pronounced convictions of his own 
mind that he left the Church of England 
and joined the Methodists. Soon after 
becoming identified with the latter sect 
he was appointed a local preacher and 
labored diligently as such until he emi- 
grated to America in 1828. While occu- 
pied as a Methodist preacher, and asso- 
ciated with a much older minister of the 
same persuasion, he said to his com- 



panion one day: "I feel impressed that 
I am going to America to preach the 
Gospel. '' And with this- inspiration he 
also expressed the conviction that while 
they were doing and teaching about the 
best they knew, there was something lack- 
ing, and they did not possess the Gospel 
in its fullness, as taught by the Savior 
and His ancient Apostles. 

Upon his arrival in America he made 
a brief sojourn in New York, Brooklyn 
and Albany, and shortly afterwards 
joined his parents in Toronto, Canada, 



98 



THE SOUTHERN STAR. 



who had preceded him two years previ- 
ously to that place. While residing in 
Toronto he married Miss Leonora Can- 
non, of the Isle of Man, who Is an aunt 
to President George Q. Cannon, who 
has for many years been a member of the 
First Presidency of the Church. His 
mind constantly leading into researches 
for divine truth, and being convinced 
that the churches extant were far from 
the one established by the Messiah, he 
associated himself with a number of 
well informed, independent thinking gen- 
tlemen for the purpose of studying the 
Holy Scriptures. Some of his associates 
were members of the same church as him- 
self and laboring under similar convic- 
tions. They consequently felt free and 
untrammeled in their researches to fol- 
low their own impressions of the Scrip- 
tures, independent of any constructions 
which were placed upon them bf ortho- 
dox "Christian" teachers and commen- 
tators. Through their careful and pray- 
erful investigation they became con- 
vinced of and were much impressed with 
the clearness with which certain great 
truths (almost unnoticed by the preach- 
ers of his time) were set forth in the 
Bible, such as the ministration of angels 
in the last days, the restoring of the 
everlasting Gospel in all its ancient pu- 
rity and power, the necessity of imme- 
diate and continuous revelation, the ne- 
cessity of Apostles and Prophets, the 
inspiration and gifts of the Holy Ghost, 
the gathering of Israel, the coming and 
reign of Jesus upon the earth, and other 
glorious truths to be revealed in the last 
days. They concluded that the churches 
of Christendom were not founded upon 
.the Rock of Divine Authority. If the 
Bible was true, they were false. Under 
such pronounced convictions they fasted 
and prayed much that if the Savior had 
a church upon the earth He would send 
a messenger unto them. In his eager- 
ness to possess more truth and come 
nearer to its perfect fullness he investi- 
gated and received Irvingism, but short- 
ly afterwards Elder Parley P. Pratt ap- 
peared upon the scene as a representative 
of the restored Gospel through the Proph- 
et Joseph Smith. Brother Taylor, hav- 
ing heard the false rumors current about 
Joseph Smith and the "Mormons," re- 
ceived IJJlder Pratt very cautiously and 
asked him many questions by which he 
could compare the teachings of Elder 
Pratt with the Scriptures. They also 
invited the latter to address them in pub- 
lic, and after a thorough examination of 
his teachings John Taylor and a number 
of his associates were baptized into the 
Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day 
Saints. Brother Taylor was ordained an 
Elder by Elder Pratt, and a little later 
set apart by Elders Parley P. Pratt and 
Orson Hyde as presiding Elder in upper 
Canada. In the baptism of these people, 
which included the noble man of whom 
we write, was fulfilled a remarkable 
prophecy uttered in Kirtland, 0., by 
Elder Heber C. Kimball upon the head 
of Parley P. Pratt, which, with other 
items contained in the prediction, was 
the statement that Brother Pratt should 
find in Canada a people prepared to re- 
ceive the Gospel. This was literally ver- 
ified. Elder Taylor was diligent and 
efficient in preaching the Gospel in Can- 
ada. He was a wood turner by trade, 
and plied his avocation to secure a live- 
lihood for himself and family. In 1837 
the Prophet Joseph, with other brethren, 
visited Toronto and under the Prophet's 
hands Elder Taylor was ordained a 
High Priest. He made several visits to 
Kirtland before removing with the Saints 
to the west, and was usually the guest 



of the Prophet Joseph Smith. During 
the great Apostacy of 1837, when many 
leading men turned away and became so 
embittered against the Prophet that the 
lives of men who defended him were en- 
dangered, Elder John Taylor stood up 
boldly in the Kirtland Temple in the 
midst of foes, and with that eloquent 
power which came from God, and which 
ever characterized Elder Taylor's speech, 
and declared that Joseph Smith was a 
Prophet of the living God and had not 
fallen, as alleged by apostates. He was 
equally diligent in private conversation, 
in maintaining the integrity of the 
Prophet Joseph and spreading the Gos- 
pel among the people. From Canada he 
removed to Kirtland by request of the 
Prophet. From Kirtland he removed to 
Missouri, joining the bddy of the church 
in Far West in 1838. In his migration 
he preached the Gospel on the way and 
organized " a branch of the church near 
Indianapolis, Ind. Before reaching Far 
West, himself and little company of 
twenty-four people encountered a mob, 
led by two ministers, Abbott Hancock, 
a Baptist, and Sashiel Woods, a Presby- 
terian. July 8th, 1838, the Lord, by 
revelation, called Elder Taylor to the 
Apostleship to fill the vacancy occa- 
sioned by the fall of John F. Boynton. At 
a conference in Far West, Oct. 5th, 
1838, he was sustained by the vote of 
the Saints, and ordained an Apostle 
Dec. 19, the same year, by Apostles 
Brigham Young and Heber C. Kimball, 
having been the same day sustained by 
vote of the High Council. Elder Taylor 
entered immediately into the duties of 
his new calling, and as in all previous 
callings soon proved himself truly an 
Apostle of the Lord Jesus Christ. While 
a resident of Missouri he shared in all 
the persecutions heaped upon the Saints. 
He was so bold and powerful in his de- 
fense of their rights, and so terrible in 
his denunciations of the wicked that he 
was designated "The Champion of 
Right," and this title was ever after ac- 
corded him by the Latter-day Saints. 
On one occasion he was selected, with 
a small body of the Saints, to go and 
protect Adam-Ondi-Ahman. His influence 
to buoy up and encourage the oppressed 
was remarkable. The enemy at Adam- 
Ondi-Ahman, notwithstanding their 
superior numbers, retreated before this 
little band of faithful patriots, of whom 
John Taylor was a leading member. 
While Joseph and Hyrum Smith were 
imprisoned in Missouri Elder Taylor 
paid them several visits. He was se- 
lected by the Saints of Caldwell county 
one of a committee to draft a memorial 
to the legislature of Missouri, setting 
forth the persecutions, and asking that 
body for a redress of the wrongs im- 
posed upon them. Himself and Bishop 
Partridge were also appointed to write 
a petition to the general government. 
Elder Taylor was among the number 
who, after the expulsion of the Saints 
from Missouri, returned to Far West 
to fulfill a revelation given July 8th, 
1838, that the Twelve were to take their 
departure for their mission to Europe 
on April 2fith, 1839, from the Temple 
grounds in Far West. The enemy hav- 
ing learned of this revelation, swore 
that it should not be verified. They 
were baffled, however. The brethren ar- 
rived upon the spot soon after midnight, 
held a conference, excommunicated a 
number of persons, and ordained Wilford 
Woodruff and George A. Smith to the 
Apostleship. On the 8th of August El- 
der Taylor left Nauvoo for England. He 
was sick for eleven weeks on his way. 
He left his family in the old military 



barracks at Montrose, Iowa, in very 
poor circumstances. Most of the Twelve 
and many of the Saints were sick, hav- 
ing just passed through the persecutions 
and hardships attending their residence 
in and exodus from Missouri. Elder Tay- 
lor was a man of great faith in God and 
believed thoroughly in preaching the 
Gospel "without purse or script." When 
traveling to a certain destination, if he 
had but a pittance he would purchase 
with that, transportation in the best 
conveyances attainable, thus placing 
himself among the best educated people 
in his travels. When his means were 
exhausted, with an inexhaustible store 
of faith, he would stop and preach the 
Gospel. The L^rd would raise up 
friends who, would .give him money, with 
which he would proceed on his journey. 
In doing this he would never ask a hu- 
man being for help. He asked the Lord, 
and his prayers never went unanswered. 
His course was pre-eminently the true 
pattern which should be followed by the 
servants of the Lord in missionary work. 
When they were about to sail from New 
York to Liverppol, himself and two 
other brethren were almost destitute of 
means, not having sufficient to pay one 
passage, much less three. Notwith* 
standing their predicament, a very short 
time before the vessel was to sail Elder 
Taylor told one of his companions to go 
and engage passage, for all three to Liv- 
erpool. His fellow-laborers were non- 
plussed and asked where on earth could 
they get means in so short a time. Elder 
Taylor answered that there was plenty of 
means in the world and the Lord would 
send them enough before the vessel 
sailed to pay their way. His words were 
most remarkably fulfilled. He asked no 
person for money, and yet immediately 
after he made the prediction one after 
another came to them and proffered as- 
sistance, until enough was provided to 
meet their expenses to Liverpool. An- 
other instance, which but illustrates the 
constant manifestations of Providence 
which characterized his entire life, oc- 
curred in the Isle of Man. He had se- 
cured the printing of some tracts, which 
he wrote in reply to the falsehoods cir- 
culated by ministers and others regard- 
ing the character and doctrines taught 
by the Prophet Joseph Smith. When 
the tracts were ready the printer would 
not deliver them until every penny was 
paid which was due him. Elder Taylor 
did not have sufficient to meet the de- 
mand, and being very anxious to obtain 
the tracts went immediately into a pri- 
vate room, and, kneeling down, told the 
Lord in plain simplicity exactly how 
much he needed to pay for the matter 
he had published in defense of his cause. 
In a few minutes after his prayer was 
offered a young man came to the door, 
and upon being invited to enter handed 
Elder Taylor an envelope and walked 
out. The young man was unknown to 
him. The envelope contained some money 
and a little note which read: "The la- 
borer is worthy of his hire," and no sig- 
nature was placed thereon. In a few 
minutes later a poor woman engaged as 
a fish vender came to the house and of- 
fered a little money to assist him in his 
ministerial labors. He told her there 
was plenty of money in the world and 
he did not wish to take her's. She in- 
sisted that the Lord would bless her the 
more and she would be the happier if 
he would accept it, whereupon he re- 
ceived the offering, and to his surprise 
the poor woman's mite, added to what 
the young man had given him, made ex- 
actly the amount sufficient to pay the 
printer the balance due him 



THE SOUTHERN STAR. 



The promise of the Savior, "Ask and 
ye shall receive," was not a mere saying, 
but a living reality with President John 
Taylor. To him the promise meant ex- 
actly what it said. He arrived in Liver- 
pool Jan. 11th, 1840, and immediately 
commenced his missionary work, preach- 
ing, /baptizing, organizing branches, and 
with his brethren regulating the church 
throughout the British Isles. He intro- 
duced the Gospel into Ireland and the 
Isle of Man, extending his labors into 
Scotland. He published several tracts, 
setting forth principles of the Gospel 
and refuting falsehoods. He corrected 
the proof sheets of the Book of Mormon, 
and with President Young and Elder 
Parley P. Pratt prepared and published 
the first edition of the Latter-day Saints' 
Hymn Book. After a very active and 
successful mission he returned to Amer- 
ica, arriving in Nauvoo July 1st, 1841. 
Upon his arrival home he found his wife 
very near to death, being seriously ill. 
He called to his aid about twenty Elders'. 
They administered and prayed for her 
and she was restored to health. In Oc- 
tober, 1841, John Taylor and Elias Hig- 
bee were appointed a committee to peti- 
tion Congress for a redress of the wrongs 
heaped upon the Saints in Missouri. He 
was also appointed by the Prophet to 
present the petition. Elder Taylor ed- 
ited the last three volumes of the Times 
and Seasons, by appointment of the 
Prophet. He also edited and published 
the Nauvoo Neighbor. As well as at- 
tending to his high calling in the Apos- 
tleship, he was a city councilman, one of 
the Regents of the University, and 
Judge Advocate of the Nauvoo Legion, 
all of which he filled with ability and 
distinction. Elder Taylor was very 
firmly attached to the Prophet Joseph 
Smith. He often attended him in scenes 
of persecution and trial. When Joseph 
and Hyrum were taken to Carthage and 
lodged in jail on false charges, and prom- 
ised by the Governor of the state pro- 
tection from mob violence, and a fair 
trial, Elders John Taylor and Willard 
Richards accompanied them as friends, 
and were in the prison when the awful 
tragedy took place, which resulted in the 
martyrdom of Joseph and Hyrum Smith. 
Just before the assault made upon the 
prisoners, Elder Taylor sang the hymn, 
"A poor wayfaring man of grief." By 
request of Hyrum Smith he sang it the 
second time, although he expressed him- 
self as not feeling in a very favorable 
mood to sing. Between 4 and 5 p.m. 
June 27th, 1844, an armed mob rushed 
up the stairs of Carthage jail leading to 
the apartment where the brethren were 
confined. They shot through the door, 
and a ball pierced the face of the Pa- 
triarch Hyrum Smith. It entered his 
head near the nose. He fell upon the 
floor, calmly exclaiming, "I am a dead 
man." While the mob were forcing the 
door open and pushing their guns 
through the opening Elder Richards held 
the door the best he could, while Elder 
Taylor parried their guns off with his 
walking cane. 

Of a sudden the Prophet Joseph 
sprang to the window and leaped out. 
His motive in doing this could not have 
been to save his life, for he sprang into 
the open fire of his enemies. It must 
have been, as believed by Elders Taylor 
and Richards, to save the lives of the 
two last named brethren, by calling the 
attention of the mob from the inside to 
the outside of the building. His action 
had the desired effect, for instantly the 
mob rushed from the stairway of the jail 
to the ground below, and concentrated 
their murderous fury upon the Prophet, I 



as he fell a martyr by the curb of the 
old well by the side of Carthage jail. 
Elder Taylor ran to the window and was 
shot in and near the thigh with four 
balls. He was about to fall out from 
the window when a bullet struck the 
watch in his vest pocket and forced him 
back. He fell upon the floor, not know- 
ing at first what had forced him back, 
and *thus providentially saved his life. 
Elder Richards, who escaped unhurt, 
dragged his body to a small room and 
covered him with an old bed. The mob 
soon . dispersed in confusion, and as soon 
as convenient thereafter the wounded 
body of Elder Taylor was removed to 
Nauvoo, where he recovered, but carried 
one or more bullets to his grave forty- 
three years later. He was a man of 
wonderful vitality and nerve, bearing 
all physical pains, as he did trials and 
tribulations of another kind with forti- 
tude unexcelled. . Upon his restoration to 
health he resumed the performance of 
every duty, and was one with President 
Young and his brethren of the Twelve 
Apostles in presiding" over the church. 
He helped the Saints in their troubles 
by every means in his power, assisted in 
the 'completion of the Nauvoo Temple, 
and suffered the trials of another great 
exodus when the Saints were driven from 
their homes in Nauvoo. He journeyed 
with the first company of the brethren 
to winter quarters, assisted in organizing 
the Mormon Battalion, and was from 
this point called with Elders O. . Hyde 
and P. P. Pratt on a mission to Great 
Britain. He responded cheerfully, again 
leaving his family in the wilderness in 
tents and wagons. He arrived in En- 
gland Oct. 3d, 1846, and performed an 
excellent work, in company with his as- 
sociates regulating the affairs of the 
mission. He returned in the following 
spring and had charge .of the large com- 
pany of the Saints which entered Salt 
Lake Valley in the fall of 1847. In pio- 
neer, exodus life, across the weary plains 
afoot and with teams, under trying or- 
deals, as in all other experiences, John 
Taylor was master of the situation. He 
cheered the Saints, by faith promoting 
anecdotes of past experience amd history, 
with prophetic inspiration, pointed them 
to a future of long respite from mob vio- 
lence. He could compose and sing 
hymns and pleasant songs with high 
moral sentiment embodied in them. One 
of the favorite songs he used to sing ex- 
presses the godlike love and charity of 
the man who had suffered even the shed- 
ding of his blood to vindicate correct 
principle. It was "Nay speak no ill, 
but rather speak of all the best you 
can." There was nothing in his nature 
and sentiments of a pettish or grovelling 
character. He spurned every sentiment 
that was low or dishonorable in thought, 
word or deed. His language and manner 
of address was always chaste and digni- 
fied to the very extreme. He spent two 
years in Salt Lake Valley, was active in 
founding and building the city of Salt 
Lake. He was ingenious in mechanism, 
and withal truly a philosopher under all 
circumstances. He built one of, if not 
the first saw mill in Utah, and worked 
in it himself. March 12th, 1849, he was 
chosen one of the Associate Judges of 
the provisional State of Deseret. In Oc- 
tober, 1849, he was called on a mission 
to France, which he filled with marked 
ability and success. Upon his arrival in 
Boulogne, he was challenged to a dis- 
cussion with several clergymen, the pro- 
ceedings of which were published in 
pamphlet form in Liverpool and subse- 
quently in Orson Pratt's works. His 
opponents found themselves utterly pow- 



erless to meet him upon Scriptural or 
reasonable grounds, and speedily resort- 
ed to subterfuges, lying and slanderous 
reports, all of which were refuted in a 
masterly manner by Elder John Taylor. 
During his mission the Book of Mormon 
was translated into French and German 
under his direction, the latter being pub- 
lished in Hamburg, where he introduced 
the Gospel. He also edited and pub- 
lished in France a monthly paper called 
L'Etoile Du Deseret, and in Germany 
a periodical entitled Zion's Power. Dur 
ing his labors several branches of the 
church were organized in France. He 
also wrote while upon this mission, and 
published it after his return, the sublime 
treatise entitled "The Government of 
God." He returned to Salt Lake Valley 
Aug. 20th, 1852. He labored with his 
hands, and traveled much, preaching 
the Gospel among the Saints. In 1854 
he was elected a member of the Terri- 
torial Legislative Council, but subse- 
quently resigned this position to fill a 
mission in New York, and to preside 
over the church in the Eastern States. 
At that particular time heavy attacks 
were being made upon the Latter-day 
Saints through the press. Elder Taylor 
published a paper called "The Mormon" 
in New York City, establishing his head- 
quarters near the office of the noted 
writer and editor, James Gordon Ben- 
nett, to whose attacks Elder Taylor re- 
plied in such a vigorous manner as to 
surprise the anti-Mormon element in 
that city. His arguments were unan- 
swerable, and as usual the opponents of 
the truth resorted to falsehood and buf- 
foonery. Ho continued "The Mormon" 
until 1S57, when he was called home on 
account of the threatened* war against 
the Saints under the administration of 
President Buchanan. During the times 
and circumstances leading to the action 
of the government in sending an army 
to Utah, Elder Taylor was active and 
fearless in defending the rights of the 
Saints and denouncing the preachers and 
politicians who who were industriously, 
circulating falsehoods against the Saints. 
His replies to Vice-President Schuyler 
Colfax's ungentlemanly and unwarrant- 
ed attacks upon the Saints exhibit the 
fearless character of the man, as well 
as the clearness of his mind in penetrat- 
ing the right and wrong side of every 
proposition under consideration. He was 
very active in his efforts to secure the 
admission of the State of Deseret into 
the Union. It was upon his return 
from the publication of "The Mormon" 
that President Young designated Elder 
Taylor as the best editor of a paper 
among the Latter-day Saints. 

From this time on, for many years, 
his time was occupied in traveling, 
preaching, organizing and regulating the 
church in the various settlements . of the 
Saints. He was many times a member 
of tho Utah Legislature, and Speaker 
of the House. As a legislator he showed 
marked ability. He "also served as Pro- 
bate Judge of Utah county. He was 
present at the dedication of the St. 
George Temple, the first built in Utah. 
He took part with President Young in 
the organization of the Stakes of Zion. 
At the death of President Young In - 
1877, Elder Taylor was President of the 
Twelve Apostles, and in October, 1880, 
was sustained as President of the Church 
of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and 
Prophet, Seer and Revel a tor to the 
Church in all the world. Apostles Geo. 
Q. Cannon and Joseph F. Smith were 
chosen as his counsellors. During the 



(See Pa«e 104.) 



106 



THE SOUTHERN STAR. 




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ff Jomm Christ of Latter Dty Silite, 

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Correspondence from all parts of the missionary 
Geld is solicited. Give name and address, or articles 
will be rejected. Write on one side of paper only 
when sent for publication. We reserve the right to 
either eliminate or reject any communication sent in. 
Address Box 10? 

Satubday, February 24, 1900. 



ARTICLES OF FAITH 

OP THB CHURCH OP JESUS CHRIST OP 
LATTER-DAY SAINTS. 

1. Wa baliara io God the Stomal Fathar, and fa HU 8oa 
Jaana Carta, and in tha Holy Obort. 

f. Wt baUava that aaaa will ba paoJahad for thalr own 
aiaa. aad.aot for Adant tranagraatioo. 

$. Wa baliava that, through tha atonamaat of Christ, nil 
■Uhlad any ha saved, by obadianoa to tha lawa aod ordi- 
aiocoa of tha OoapaL 

> i. Wa baliava that tha flrat prioclpfaa aod ordinances of 
Cba Gospel ara : First. Faith io tha Lord Jews Christ ; second, 
Rapentonoa; third, Baptism by immersion for tha remission 
of do* ; foerth. Laying on of Hands for tha Gift of tha Holy 
Obott 

I. Wa bdiava that • man omit U »]t«d of God, by 
";propfa*cy, apd bj lim !#jin^ on at hindi," hy then* who in 
la ■atbont> b to stretch Lb* goipal tod id rain later ia llw ordi- 
nance* thereof- 

1, W» btlJiavfi la tbf i*m* orgiQuttiorv that eiittad io 
tho pri Haiti** church — nim<?lr„ AjKntlc*i frapnela, i'ulDn, 
Taitnen, EvanireEiiU, c!c. 

.7. Wt baLi#vfr in (be gift of longair, prophf cjr, rfivaJatlan, 
Tiuoat, hotline. InKrprvlftliDD of toiiguft, ttc 

#. Wc btlitva th* Bible to 1+ Iht ward at God, ■* fif u (| 
<■ triDilBLfd corrwtljr, wa mJto belicva tbe Book ul HormoD 
to b* the word of flo4, 

f r Wa tnlieve itJ Ilia,t God hii rc'KtMl, ill tbit Ho IdM 
130* rttnl, and #* b+li*M thai H* *iilT rat *e***I nuoy trait 
ind tcpporfinl thlngi pari a in in* [o tbe Kio<dcnn of tiodT 

10. tf« bsli*?* Hi thft literefcii tiering ufUr*#l *od Io tha 
r*« tormUoo of tbu Tea Tribal ; that Ziqq will ba built opon 
thu {the /LmeMcanj wnlHient; thtt l.'hfiit "ill iWzu p«fK>a- 
*llj open, th* aartb, ind th*t ibo «rtb will he Tenewed! and 
tecnlTB it* pnrvdititril gjarj. 

IL We cklnj lbs privilege of worth tpine; Aim if try God 
tctardloij to Ihc dkEvtct of our conkcienc^ and alkiw all 
nan it* hb« pririltp, let ib«iti worthip hov. wh«rc, or «b»l 
thay may. 

11 Wa ballad lo baing rabjaet to kinaa, praiidaota. ralara, 
aod BMctrtrataa i in bbayiog, hoooriog aod rattainiog tha lav. 
IS. »Wa baliava in baing boncat, trna, ohaata, banavolant, 
▼irtaooa. and Io doing good to all aiaa ; indaad, wa may tay 
that w« fallow tha admooition of Pool, "We baliara aU thing*, 
wa hopa all thiogB,** wa hatw aodorod many thioga, aod hopa 
» ba abla to aadora all thioga. # If thara ia aoythlng virtoooa, 



TOO MANY PREACHERS. 



Tn the Conference report of Jan. '20th 
the East Tennessee Conference report 
was credited to Georgia, while the Geor- 
gia was eYedited to East Tennessee. 



Elders. ; Ui all Conferences should be 
more promi'it in aiding their Conference 
Presidents with, stamp money for the 
forwarding of . r . papers. Many small 
amounts make a -large sum, and it be- 
comes burdensome to those who look 
after your .mail if you are not prompt 
in doing.. sour part. 



Let its take up the chisel of Faith and 
mallet of (Jood Works, and pound, pound 
away upon the crude rock of worldly 
wickedness, chipping away all iniquity, 
and when we have polished the stone 
with Gospel truth, then with the finer 
tool of the Holy Spirit let us carve these 
words, "Seek intelligence, which is God's 
glory." 



The following was clipped from one of 
our exchanges. It is an editorial in an- 
swer to the question, "Are there too 
many preachers?" which was discussed 
affirmatively by the "Interior." The ex- 
change to which we refer took issue with 
the "Interior," its argument, in part, be- 
ing as follows: 

Back In the seventeenth century, the 
question might have been raised, "Are there 
not too many emigrants going to the Unit- 
ed States? there are already ten times as 
many families on their way thither as the 
number of cleared farms." The 1 migrants 
would have laughed in the face of the ob- 
jector, and have replied, "Yes, but not too 
many to clear the farms; and the more 
that go together, the stronger are we 
against our enemies." So at the present, 
while the number of ministers may or 
may not be In excess of the number of self- 
supporting fields, it is not iu excess of the 
openings and opportunities for planting 
the Gospel. 

In the days of Christ, He bade His dis- 
ciples to lift up their eyes and behold the 
fields already white to the harvest. How 
many self-supporting Christian churches 
were there at that day open to the minis- 
trations of the disciples V Not one. There 
was, therefore, according to the argument 
of the Interior, an over-supply of at least 
seventy ministers. And yet Christ bade 
His. disciples at that time, "Pray ye there- 
fore the Lord of the harvest, that He will 
send forth laborers into His harvest." 
Matt. 9:38. Christ thought that under 
these circumstances there was not an over- 
supj)ly, but an under-supply. 

The Interior quoted statistics showing 
that there are twice as many ministers in 
the north as there are self-supporting 
churches, and argued that this is one 
forcible proof at least of there being too 
many ministers. It was to this point 
that the part of the editorial quoted re- 
ferred. 

There is no question that the world 
needs more ministers, for the spiritual 
requirements of man demand them. If 
there be any truth in the Gospel of Je- 
sus, and we know that it is divine, if its 
principles will develop and perfect our 
natures and eventually exalt us in the 
presence of God, we truly need more 
men to teach and administer those laws 
,to the human family. 

The promises made by God through 
obedience to the Gospel are so great and 
glorious that their worth is incalculable. 

Through the Plan of Salvation we are 
insured peace and satisfaction through- 
out all eternity. Our attributes and fac- 
ulties are to be perfectly developed in 
righteousness, and in the presence of our 
Eternal Father we are to live and grow 
in love, in mercy, and in justice, by rea- 
son of the intelligence we gain from God. 

The Gospel is calculated to gratify 
every pure appetite of our natures — to 
satisfy every righteous emotion of our 
souls — and to supply every demand of 
the faculties of our minds. In a word, 
it is to purge mankind from all that is 
impure, from all that is sinful and wick- 
ed, and to tone all the finer sensibilities 
of his nature with all that is virtuous 
and good, and eventually make his whole 
being companionable to God and His an- 
gels. ' His soul will be filled with love, 
with mercy and with justice, while his 
mind shall abound in the wisdom and 
knowledge of righteousness and godli- 
ness; a cord of unity will bind every 
heart — liberty will be extended and peace 
and joy will fill every heart. This is the 
destiny of the Saints of God— those who 
obey the Gospel of Jesus. 

Indeed we need men to teach us the 
means to this glorious end; and to say 
that men who are able and authorized to 
make clear these principles are too nu- 
merous as to advocate a measure that will 
oppose God and damn and curse His 
children. 



But the question is who is able and 
who is authorized to instruct mankind 
and administer the ordinances of the 
Gospel? 

In the kingdoms of the world no man 
can teaeh law until he understands it 
from those who are familiar with the 
principles thereof, and no man can .offi- 
ciate in those kingdoms until he is first 
duly authorized to that end, no matter 
how small the office he holds may be. 
A perfect knowledge of the law and 
proper authority to administer it are ab- 
solute essentials for the qualification of 
all officers, and by these principles are 
order and unity preserved. The finite 
wisdom of man understands this. But 
notwithstanding their clear understand- 
ing on this matter the Christian world 
either wilfully or thoughtlessly ignores 
these fundamental truths, and through 
their disregard their "Christianity" is a 
splintered institution, full of contrary 
dogmas and vain conjectures, which not 
reason and confuse imagination, 
only perplex the mind, but also amaze 

Instead of the ministers getting their 
knowledge of the Gospel from God 
through the means of revelation which 
He established for that purpose, they go 
to a thousand and one schools and learn 
a thousand and one Gospels (?) which 
they season with sophistry and fables 
and feed to the hungering souls for 
truth. And instead of them getting au- 
thority from God to officiate in the or- 
dinances of the Gospel, they read Paul's 
or Peter's or some of the Apostles* com- 
mission, which never was intended for 
them, and feeling impressed to preach 
they usurp the ancients' authority and 
immediately proceed to business. Be- 
cause God is more lenient than man, His 
authority is usurped and His plans for 
man's development trampled beneath the 
dust. But there will come a time when 
all men— ministers and all— will stand 
before His throne, who will be answered 
by Him, when they ask, "Lord, have we 
not prophesied and officiated in Thy 
name?" with "Depart from me ye work- 
ers of iniquity, I never knew you." 

The deplorable condition of so-called 
Christianity, filled as it is with disorder, 
contention and strife, making as it does 
more infidels than worshipers of God. 
fostering jealousy, hatred and malice in 
the hearts of men, yea, and even stain- 
ing the hands of its followers with the 
innocent blood of their neighbors (many 
of the Latter-day Saints have fell mar- 
tyrs by the hands of modern "Chris- 
tians")— such a condition as this con- 
vincingly proves that there are too many 
ministers— as they choose to call them- 
selves. They denounce revelation, they 
ignore authority, and they spread con- 
fusion and error, and create malice and 
prejudice in the hearts of men, for the 
which, reason unites with the Interior 
in contending that there are too many 
so-called divines. 

We invite all men to investigate the 
Gospel of Jesus Christ as it has been 
restored, in these last days, with its 
pure principles, for truly the channel of 
revelation is reopened and authority to 
act for the Master committed to man. 



For what doth it profit a man if a gift 
is bestowed upon him, and he receiveth 
not the gift? Behold he rejoiceth not 
in that which is given unto him, neither 
rejoices in him who is the giver of the 
gift. 



Truth is obeyed when it is loved. Strict 
obedience to the truth alone enables peo- 
ple to dwell in the presence of the Al- 
mighty. 



THE SOUTHERN STAR. 



101 



History of tho Southern States Hission, 

(Continued from page 89.) 

August, 1895— 

But three days of August had passed 
when death claimed one of God's noble- 
men. Elder Charles Scott Hall, of the 
Texas Conference. Elder Hall had been 
troubled with chills for about two weeks, 
but at no time was his condition consid- 
ered dangerous. On the morning of his 
death he arose early and went out upon 
the porch, where he fainted. He was 
carried into the house by his companion. 
Elder Heber W. Perry, and cared for, 
but passed away in less than half an 
hour. Elder Perry telegraphed to the 
office for money to prepare the body for 
removal home. President Kimball left 
Chattanooga for Fort Worth, where on 
the 5th inst. he met President Campbell, 
of the Texas Conference, in charge of 
the remains. On the same day President 
Kimball started for Utah with the body, 
arriving at Salt Lake on the 8th inst. 
Here he was met by his brother, J. G. 
Kimball, and both accompanied the re- 
mains to West Portage and spoke at tho 
funeral services. Elder Hall had been 
laboring in the Mission about ten weeks, 
and was a faithful and efficient Elder. 

President Kimball's trip to Utah pre- 
vented his attendance at the West Vir- 
ginia Conference, which convened at 
Two Mile, Kanawha county, Aug. 10th 
and 11th. All the Elders laboring in the 
Conference were present, President Sam- 
uel Brinton presiding. Public meetings 
were held daily, being largely attended 
by a very respectable and intelligent au« 
dience, who were fed the word of God 
as it fell from the lips of the humble Elders. 
It was the design to hold the conference 
in the neat frame church owned by the 
Saints on Two Mile, but on the evening 
of the 7th, through the work of a fiend 
it was burned to ashes. Conference was 
therefore held in an adjoining grove. On 
the morning of the 16th President Kim- 
ball arrived from Utah and immediately 
left for Haran to attend the Virginia 
Conference, which was held Aug. 17th 
and 18th. Although there had been 
some threats made by bitter opposers, 
no molestation was offered, and a most 
enjoyable time was had. A special meet- 
ing was held for the Saints, in which 
they were instructed in their duties per- 
taining to tithing and the word of wis- 
dom, etc. 

The North Carolina conference con- 
vened at Mount Airy Aug. 24th and 25th. 
Four public and three * council meetings 
were held. President Kimball and all 
the Elders spoke with much force and 
power. The Holy Spirit was poured out 
upon the speakers, the spirit of convic- 
tion accompanied the remarks made, and 
it was a time of great rejoicing. 

Thirteen Elders arrived from Utah on 
the 28th inst. After being instructed 
they left for their fields of labor. 

Elder Mathonihah Thomas was ap- 
pointed President of the Virginia Con- 
ference, to succeed Elder G. H. Wallace, 
released. 

During the month there has been con- 
siderable sickness in the Mission, espe- 
cially in the Texas Conference, where 
several Elders have been troubled with 
chills and fever. Several remarkable 
cases of healing have been reported, and 
a great many baptisms. 

(To be continued.) 

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, 
peace, long suffering, gentleness, good- 
ness, faith.— Gal. 5. By their fruits ye 
shall know them. Does your fruit show 
that you have the Spirit? 



HOW ONE FOLK TALKED. 



(From Deseret News.) 

From Chattanooga, Tennessee, papers, 
just received, we learn that some con- 
troversy has been going on in that city 
over attacks upon "Mormonism," made 
in the pulpit of the First Baptist Church. 
It appears that Rev. E. E. Folk had been 
engaged to lecture there on the subject 
of which he claimed to have made a 
study, his chief means of information 
having been acquired during a visit of 
"nearly two weeks" in Salt Lake City. 

His lecture consisted principally of a 
repetition of gross slanders and off color 
stories, with burlesques of "Mormon" 
doctrine and perversions of historical 
facts. The purpose in view was to 
check the influence of the "five-hundred 
Mormon missionaries," who. he stated, 
were laboring in the southern states. 

The Chattanooga News, which pub- 
lished a very full synopsis of the tirade, 
also gave place to an interview with 
President Ben E. Rich in reply to it. 
This is an evidence of fairness on the 
part of that paper, which, with other 
courtesies of a similar kind, is much to 
its credit in these times, when it is un- 
popular to publish anything on "the other 
side," that is our side of the "Mormon" 
question. 

Mr. E. E. Polk, in "coming back". at 
President Rich, mentions his visit to this 
city and his interview with the editor 
of the Deseret News, whom he mentions 
as "one of the Twelve Apostles," which 
is about as accurate as many other of hia 
statements. As he has made this refer- 
ence, we here present the facts concern- 
ing his conversation with the writer of 
this article: 

His card, presented when he came to 
this office, bore the name simply of "E. 
E. Folk, representing the Nashville Amer- 
ican." He did not mention or hint at his 
ministerial position. He posed as a news- 
paper correspondent. We gave him, by 
request, an epitome of the doctrines and 
organization of the Church, and answered 
a number of questions very frankly, un- 
til he drifted into a series of which we 
had type-written copies, that had been 
furnished to others of the genus Paul Pry 
by the clique in this city which is en- 
gaged in raking up gossip and scandal, 
for the pruient and impertinently curious, 
who come here to poke their nasal organs 
into private affairs, for the purpose of 
smelling out something that will suit 
the perverted tastes of sensation-mongers. 
We then expressed our doubts as to his 
status as a reporter or correspondent of 
a respectable journal, and told him that 
no decent newspaper man would engage 
in such work, and no reputable paper 
would want such matter for publication. 

It was evident that he was not in- 
quiring into "Mormonism" in order to 
learn the truth concerning the system, 
but was acting as a tool to dig up some- 
thing to gratify his own desires, and to 
dish up for the delectation of the de- 
praved who cover their cravings with the 
cloak of religion. 

Of course he has made the most of 
his opportunities, and in retailing the 
gossip and. dressing up in fantastic garb 
the few facts he gleaned while here, he 
has succeeded in exciting large congre- 
gations. In the. language of the Chatta- 
nooga News, "a more sensational state- 
ment was never made in a pulpit." A few 
samples of his assertions will suffice, 
without repeating the vilest of his 
charges against the "Mormon" Church 
and people. 

He revived the dead and decayed story 
about Solomon Spaulding having written 
the manuscript from which the Book of 
Mormon was "concocted." He claimed 
to have interviewed President Snow. By 
his request we introduced him to that 
gentleman, who held no conversation with 
him at all, but discerning his caliber, 
turned him over summarily to the editor 
of the "News," who treated him with 
far more courtesy than he deserved. 

Folk gave in his lecture a pretended 
history of the "Mormons," in which he 
informed his hearers that in Nauvoo "no I 



one could be arrested without the con- 
sent of the city council." That the pur- 
pose of Brigham Young in coming to 
this place, was to "establish a govern- 
ment independent of anything on earth." 
That this region was ceded from Mexico 
"much to the chagrin of Brigham 
Young." That the "State of Deseret wa« 
admitted to the Union," but "polygamy 
being openly practiced, statehood was 
taken away." That the "murdering of 
the body to save the soul was a principle 
of *Mormon' belief." That it was "noth- 
ing unusual to find the 'Mormons' lying, 
cheating, stealing, and murdering in or- 
der to carry their point." That Brigham 
Young preached "he would send every 
Gentile to hell, and that they had better 
supply themselves with coffins while lum- 
ber was cheap." That "Mormonism" 
taught that "unmarried women will be 
mere servants hereafter." That "unques- 
tioned obedience to the higher authori- 
ty is one of the requirements of the 
Priesthood, and all who will not thus 
submit will be damned." That "no one 
but 'Mormons' will be saved." That in 
Utah, "if you were to hang a petticoat 
on a bush, half a dozen men would imme- 
diately make for it." That "in one coun- 
ty it was found that 75 per cent, of the 
marriages contracted were forced,'. 'and 
in one city of 3,000 there had been no 
marriages for two years that were not 
forced. 

In addition to these pulpit utterances 
the slanders and indecencies that have 
graced the columns of a local contem- 
porary, were repeated by the ministerial 
Surveyor of such material who came 
ere under the guise of a representative 
of a respectable journal. 

The shameless falsehoods we have re- 
produced, serve to show the character of 
the discourse and of the Reverend (?) 
gentleman who delivered it. We are 
told that some of the members of the 
church where it was preached, left the 
building in righteous indignation! . It is 
surprising that any sane and decent per- 
son would remain to listen to such an 
harangue. 

The truth is, Mr. Folk came here with 
the evident intent to gather up just such 
scraps as he fed out to his open-mouthed 
audience. He found folks in this city 
ready to supply him with what he want- 
ed. The questions given him to ask of 
"Mormons, indicated his source of sup- 
ply. The egotism which lends some per- 
sons to think they can learn all about 
"Mormonism" and the "Mormons" in a 
visit of nearly two weeks," found in 
him a prominent representative. His 
mind and tastes were of the kind to 
which the vile stuff he accumulated nat- 
urally gravitated. And now he can pour 
it forth into willing ears, and also pose 
as an authority on the subject, for did 
he not spend "nearly two weeks" in the. 
capital of "Mormondom," and is not. that 
fully sufficient to constitute him an ariti- 
"Mormon" expert? 

\V> learn from our friends in Chat- 
tanooga, that, as usual after. such out- 
bursts, attention is being attracted to 
the truth find the agitation is doing good 
instead of the evil intended. They 
should not be slow to follow up the ad- 
vantages thus obtained, and by simply 
preaching the truth in plainness, with- 
out noticing the source, of those defam- 
atory utterances, they will gather in the 
honest and fair-minded, who cannot be 
deceived by the hirelings that have false- 
hood for their refuge, and who make 
merchandise of the souls of men. Mean- 
while, Rev. (?) E. E. Folk is perfectly 
welcome to publish, in full, everything 
that was said to him in the interview 
with the editor of the Deseret News. 



"In order to do anything worth doing, 
we must not stand shivering on the bank 
and thinking of the cold and danger. 
Jump in and scramble through as well 
as you can." — Sidney Smith. 



A man who respects the opinions and 
rights of others has the love and good 
will of his fellowmen. 



102 



THE SOUTHERN STAR. 



Mormons and Mormonism 

By a Non-Mormon. 

COPYEIGHTED. 

[Printed by Permission of the Author, Chas. Ellis, Salt Lake City, Utah.] 



(Continued from page 95.) 
The growth of schools in Utah is full 
of evidence that the Mormons were the 
friends of education. Remember that 
for years there was no money in Utah, 
yet the people built houses in which they 
lived, as well as hundreds of meeting 
houses. The first meeting houses were 
"boweries 11 — posts set in the ground, a 
flat roof of poles shingled with bushes 
cut in foliage. I have seen several of 
these old places of worship. But as 
soon as practicable every ecclesiastical 
"ward" had its "dobe" meeting house, 
which was also school house. But 
"Utah's best crop" would soon overflow 
any ordinary Mormon meeting house and 
more school room would become neces- 
sary. On Sunday the Bishop of a ward 
would say: 

"My brothers and sisters, we need 
more school room in this ward. What 
will you do to provide it?" 
"I will give, a team ten days." 
"I will give a thousand 'dobes." 
"I will give two weeks' work." 
"I will give twenty bushels of wheat." 
Thus it would go, and the school room 
would come as a labor of love and with- 
out the passing of a dollar. Today there 
are no people in the nation so eager to 
learn as are many of the young Mor- 
mons whom I have met in my travels 
about Utah. The State University, the 
public schools, all schools are full. The ! 
Mormon Churjch has its special schools, | 
as other sects have in Utah, and their . 
theology has its place in the studies, ' 
but the Mormons have no desire to in- 1 
troduce Mormon theology into the pub- ! 
lie schools and are opposed to the intro- ' 
duction . of any other theology, as of 
course they should be. 

M0BAL3. 

In 1876 there were thirteen counties 
in Utah without saloon, brewery, gam- 
bling house, brothel, lawyer, doctor, 
beggar, parson or politician, and the 
population was exclusively Mormon. 

In the winter of 1881-2 there were 
fifty-one prisoners in the Utah peniten- 
tiary. Only five were Mormons, and 
yet the Mormon population of the terri- 
tory exceeded that of the anti-Mormon 
500 per cent. From 1877 to 1882 the ' 
jail of Salt Lake county received only 
three Mormons. In 1881 there were 1 
1020 arrests in Salt Lake City\ of which 
103 were Mormon men and boys and 
six Mormon women; 657 non-Mormon 
men and 194 non-Mormon women. In j 
1882 the number of arrests in the same ' 
city was 1561, of which 188 were Mor- j 
mons and 1373 non-Mormons. In that 
year there were sixty-six barrooms in 
the city, and sixty of them were kept 
by non-Mormons. There were fifteen 
billiard and bowling rooms and seven 
gambling houses, all kept by non-Mor- 
mons. 

The above, as well as the following sta- 
tistics, are taken from "The Palantic," 
published by A. M. Musser. From the 
Utah penitentiary records for the year 
ending June 30, 1884, Mr. Musser 
showed that, with the population of 
Utah 83 per cent. Mormon and the non- 
Mormon population only 17 per cent., 
there were thirteen Mormon and sev- 
enty-eight non-Mormon prisoners— a dif- 
ference of 600 per cent, in favor of the 
Mormons. Add to this the difference in 
percentage of population and we have 



over 1000 to one in favor of Mormon 
morality as compared with that of the 
non-Mormon population of that period. 

It should be understood that the above 
statement is not intended to character- 
ize the whole non-Morman population. 
All through the Utah years there have 
been non-Mormons here who were most 
exemplary people. They came in to 
stay, to engage in business, to make 
homes. They have never engaged in 
the local disputes. They have never 
been anti-Mormons. Because they 
would not join the raid against the peo- 
ple they were for years sneered at as 
"jack-Mormons." The criminal element 
referred to in these statistics as "non- 
Mormons," it is safe to say, should have 
been put down as "anti-Mormons." 

When the first edition of this pamph- 
let was issued the anti-Mormon paper 
of this city and several anti-Mormon 
parsons of Utah and Canada undertook 
to answer these statistics by claiming 
that the Mormons referred to were all 
"Latter-day Saints," while none of the 
"non-Mormons" were "Christians." For 
answer I will say that the record shows 
that of the seventy-eight "non-Mor- 
mons" in the Utah penitentiary and re- 
ferred to above, forty-five were members 
of Christian churches. To show that 
this class of Utah non-Mormons were 
not worse than Christians generally, I 
refer to statistics furnished the Deseret 
News recently by Ephraim Ainsworth. 

Iu 1880 Ohio had 942 convicts in pen- 
itentiary— 826 of them belonged to 
Christian churches. In 1893 Canada 
had 11,810 convicts—Catholics, 4,395 
Church of England, 3,621; Methodists, 
1,624; Presbyterians, 1,495; other sects, 
698; Atheists, none. In 1896 the Kan- 
sas penitentiary had 343 Methodists, 
forty-one Presbyterians, sixty-one Camp- 
bellites, other sects twelve. In 1896 the* 
Michigan state reformatory had as in- 
mates 226 Methodists, eighty-four Bap- 
tists, thirty-one Episcopalians, twenty- 
eight Congregationalists, eighteen Unit- 
ed Brethren, 229 Catholics, sixty-five 
Presbyterians. From the Tennessee 
state prison, no date given, is reported 
873 convicts— 870 Christians and three 
who . would not state their religion. 
Thirty years ago a Unitarian minister 
named Hatch made a careful investiga- 
tion of criminal statistics of the United 
States and Territories and published 
the statement that 7 per cent, of male 
convicts in the penitentiaries of the 
country were ministers. Utah has had 
her full share of them in the last thirty 
years, though she has kindly permitted 
them to run away, making no attempt 
to capture them save in the case of a 
parson who killed his victim, cut her 
body up and attempted to burn it. A 
reward was offered for him, but he is 
probably sending heretics to hell yet for 
Christ's sake. It is said "there are none 
righteous, no, not one," that is, we all 
"live in glass houses" perhaps. 

Coming back to Utah morals— I have 
ben told by a physician of long practice 
here that veneral diseases are much more 
prevalent among Gentiles than Mormons. 

If the faces of children are an in- 
dex to the morals and self-control 
of parents, many Mormons have only to 
point to their offspring to prove their 
own general purity. Indeed, it would 
be difficult to find finer types of man- 
hood and womanhood than are to be 
seen among the Mormons, and this ap- 



plies as well to polygamous as to mono- 
gamous offspring. 

Right here, at the risk of being mis- 
understood, I want to say a word about 
Mormon polygamy. It was not estab- 
lished for the gratification of "lust," as 
has been so often averred, but was, I 
think, a conscientious effort to improve 
humanity by sterpiculture. It was the 
only considerable effort ever so made 
among civilized people. I think it would 
have been better to have given it a sci- 
entific instead of a theological basis. In 
the country at large monogamous mar- 
riage has long been degenerating. With 
its degradation society must sink to con- 
ditions that must eventually, if not ar- 
rested, destroy our civilization. Religion 
may insure humanity against fabled fire 
after death, but it cannot breed out de- 
fects of will and taints of blood. No- 
bility of person, life, character is born, 
not made by creeds. Humanity can nev- 
er be Godlike or fit for "the kingdom" 
until it is bred up from its sometimes 
lower than "beastly" level. Mormon 
polygamy was the beginning of such an 
effort. It has been killed by ignorant 
prejudice. But soon or late the world 
will see the infinite need of wisdom and 
science in the production and develop- 
ment of children, and then it will be un- 
derstood that the marriage system must 
be reconstructed. Mormon polygamy 
was not the "beastly" thing a nation of 
adulterers called it. It grew out of the 
belief that life is eternal, that there can 
be no marrying in the future life; that 
women not married here can never 
marry, but must be the servants of those 
who were married on earth for all time 
here and hereafter. It grew out of the 
belief that woman gains her "exaltation" 
in the kingdom with her husband, and 
he in part through the excellence of his 
family. It was the Mormon women who 
wanted polygamy. But no woman would 
enter that relation through "lust." She 
could only enter it by conquering her 
passions, and in doing that she prepared 
herself to become a divine mother. It is 
only when women can learn to do this 
and compel men to respect their rights 
in gestation, as all other female mam- 
mals do their mates, that mankind can 
be saved— from itself. I am not advo- 
cating Mormon polygamy, but the phys- 
ical improvement of humanity as the 
natural and also the scientific basis of 
mental and moral improvement. Some- 
time this great truth will receive the 
recognition denied it now. 

I come back now and say that, taking 
polygamy and all into careful considera- 
tion, the morals of the Mormon people 
have always been as good as the best in 
the nation, and through the thirty-two 
years when the population of Utah was 
almost wholly Mormon and "this peo- 
ple" had not come under the influence of 
those who wanted saloons, brothels and 
dance halls opened to tempt young Mor- 
mons, their morals were infinitely supe- 
rior to anything to be found in the rag- 
tag-and-bobtail element that for years 
existed on the western frontier and 
found in Utah the only oasis of the 
mountains. 

(To Be Continued.) 



A FOND GOODBYES. 



A fond goodbye, 
God scuds thee forth. 

A favored one thou art 
Heaven's message to Impart! 

Be brave and firm; be pure and true; 
"What man has done, that man can do. 
A fond goodbye! 

A bright goodbye. 

Where courage fails draw near to heaven 

••Ask" receives the promise given. 
Thy mission's field— with quickening pace 

Toward Zlon turn thy longing face. 
The test is o'er and he has won 

A mother's truest— a sire's "Well done." 
Home, home again, praise God above 

For life and all His wondrous love. 
A bright goodbye! 

—•'Ben Bolt." 



THE SOUTHERN STAR. 



103 



SEARCH THE SCRIPTURES. 

BY JNO. S. 8BABS. 
Search the Scriptures; for in them ye 
think ye have eternal life; and they are 
they which testify of me. (John 5-39.) 
How often in traveling among the people 
do we meet those who say they have read 
the Bible from the time when they were 
mere children, telling you with pride that 
they have read the Scriptures from be- 
ginning to end many, many times. These 
people will -trace the genealogies of many 
ancients, and can tell you much about 
the Prophets of old, as far as revealed 
by Holy Writ; yet. how few know the 
true plan of salvation, as laid down by 
our Lord; claiming to believe in Paul's 
writings, yet contrary to his teachings 
will they give heed to fables and gene- 
ologies which minister questions rather 
than godly edifying. Prom among the 
thousands, yes millions of people who 
read the Scriptures, how many "search," 
as commanded? How many can tell 
what should be done to be saved? Christ 
meant that all of God's children should 
obey the one plan, and pass through but 
the one gate, if they would gain desired 
salvation; for truly His plan is universal 
and justice forbids salvation save by 
that one way — the straight gate; for 
wide is the gate and broad the way that 
leadeth to destruction, and many there 
be which go in thereat. How different 
the roads. Two young men having 
grown to manhood, under the care of a 
loving mother, left home to*battle for 
themselves. Journeying together for 
some time, finally they separated, each 
choosing a different path. The broad 
road having been trodden so much was 
very easy to follow, besides everything 
seemed so beautiful while looking along 
its flower-lined course. The air being 
filled with perfume, the people wearing 
their fine broadcloths, silks and finery 
added enchantment to one of these young 
men. As he journeyed along all seemed 
gay and happy, money, wine, etc., were 
much in evidence. On, on, did the mass 
of people go, and as this young man 
continued, what in the beginning seemed 
a pleasure was now tiresome; murder, 
robbery and evil deeds could be witnessed 
on all sides. Many would turn and re- 
trace their steps, but no the surging 
multitude pressed forward, not seeming 
to care for the consequences. He that 
chose the straight way could tell a far 
different story. The path being very sel- 
dom traveled, was dim and rough, being 
lined with rocks, thorns and briers. En- 
tering upon the path the other young 
man journeyed on, stumbling and falling; 
often bruising himself, yet arising again, 
and continued on. Satan appeared and 
tried to lead him astray. For, said he, 
why travel upon this rough path? Why 
not take the broad one, so easy to fol- 
low? Do you not know it is very un- 
popular to be seen upon this path; can 
you not see those people pointing the fin- 
ger of scorn at you, hear them mocking 
and laughing? "Get thee hence Satan," 
and plodding his way along he went 
forth to receive at the end of his jour- 
ney the plaudit, "well done, thou good 
and faithful servant." 

There is as much difference between 
reading and searching the Scriptures 
as there is between digging a hole and 
mining. Nature bids all search out her 
riches, but suppose a man desiring to 
find gold should shoulder a pick and 
shovel, and going to the mountains should 
start picking away at mother earth with- 
out respect to location; what else could 
be expected but a failure? How differ- 
ent would the true prospector proceed 



with his labors, searching here and there, 
studying well the strata and noting well 
the ground, formation, etc. When once 
started aright, the vein is found and 
riches crown and repay for every effort 
put forth in truly "searching." The plan 
of salvation is plain indeed to them who 
will but do the will of the Father. Search 
as commanded, and when you have found 
the true plan, obey. 



THE DARK AGES. 



BY A. ARROWSMITH. 
(Continued from page 96.) 

The TENTH CENTURY was a period 
of unrest, the world being full of turmoil 
and disunion. 

In the year 912, Rollo, the Norwegian, 
a famous pirate, and the son of a count 
being banished from his native soil for his 
many lawless acts, gathered a band of Nor- 
mans and overran France. To secure 
peace Charles the Simple, King of France, 
gave Rollo a dukedom and great posses- 
sions, also his beautiful daughter, Giselda. 
The conditions were first peace, and sec- 
ond, that Rollo would embrace Chris- 
tianity. 

Rollo accepted the terms proposed, was 
baptised a Christian, was renamed Robert 
and became the founder of that great line 
of dukes who dictated the state affairs of 
nations in after years, who invaded Eng- 
land under Duke William, defeating Har- 
old at the battle of Hastings and se- 
cured the English throne, gaining the 
title of William the First, the conqueror. 

At this period the Ottoman empire was 
established on the ruins of the Saracen 
Dominion by the Turks, driving them 
from Persia and the East. Pales- 
tine and the Holy Land was and 
is still under the dominion of 
the Ottoman empire, the inhabitants of 
which are the followers of Mahomet. The 
Christians, who at this time were very 
fanatical, bigoted and headstrong, were 
determined to wrest this sacred ground 
from the Mahometans, and the authorities" 
proposed the crusades to drive the ores- 
cent, the Mahometan emblem, from Pales- 
tine and substitute the Cross. 

When Mahomet was exiled, the moon 
was in its first quarter, and on account of 
his peculiar views, he took this token as 
his emblem, and the Crescent has since 
been looked upon by the Mahometans, 
much as the Cross is oy the Christians. 

The historian speaks of Christianity, 
in this age of the world, as a rotten 
system. 

One of the Grecian Patriarchs, Theo- 
phylact by name, became vastly wealthy 
by selling church offices. He had agents 
employed in selling images, which were 
much sought after. He is said to have 
been a great lover of horses and dogs, hav- 
ing at one time over two thousand hunting 
horses to which he fed nuts, dates, dried 
grapes, steeped in wine, to which he added 
perfume. It is said of this extravagant 
pontiff, that while celebrating High Mass 
on holy Thursday, his groom brought him 
the joyful news that one of his favorite 
mares had foaled. He was so elated that 
he immediately threw down the lithurgy, 
left the church and ran in rapture to the 
stable. After having expressed his joy at 
the event, he returned to the altar and 
finished the divine service. 

The above event shows the worldly na- 
ture of those in high ecclesiastical posi- 
tions in the Greek church. 

The same authority says, that degener- 
ate and wicked as these Patriarchs were, 
they were less profligate and indecent than 
the Roman Pontiffs, who indulged in all 
sorts of indecencies and immoralities. 
They are declared to have been monsters 
and not men. Sergius the Third, was an 



adulterer. John the Tenth, was placed in 
the Papal Chair by the Empress Theodora, 
the splendid Queen of Byzantium, who 
was a lover of John. He was finally mur- 
dered by order of Marozia, the daughter of 
Theodora, who had a bastard son by the 
Pontiff Sergius the Third. This son was 
placed in the Papal Chair, and took the 
name of John the Eleventh. Such were 
some of the so-called successors of St. 
Peter. 

This century was conspicuous for the 
number of Roman Popes who were 
crowned and uncrowned, at the pleasure 
of the great Emperors of Germany, — the 
Othos. 

The custom of changing the names of 
the Popes upon election, commenced and 
was adopted in the year iro6, thus we have 
so many Johns, Leos and Gregorys. 

Concubinage and Simony, or the buying . 
and selling of church offices, were indulged 
in, by the clergy and the election to eccles- 
iastical positions, did not depend so much 
on the qualifications of the applicant, as 
on the ability to Duy such office, for they 
were bought and sold to the highest bidder. 
In consequence many times the most 
stupid wretches were raised to high posi- 
tions in church and state. 

The century generally was in a deplora- 
ble state of illiteracy. The laity were 
frightened into religeous fervor by the ter- 
rible depictions of hell. Purgatory was 
pictured in horrible colors before the poor 
ignorant people, who believed they could 
only escape the torments of the damned 
through the prayers of the clergy and of 
departed saints, which could only be ob- 
tained by paying money, or its equivalent. 

Regions of the damned were obdurate to 
all but the Priests, and their influence 
only, could release a soul from this most 
terrible place. 

The rosary was instituted at this time, 
and takes up considerable time in the Ro- 
man Catholic worship. It is a very promi- 
nent feature in their service, and consists 
of fifteen repetitions of the Lord's prayer, 
and 150 salutations, or ave marias for the 
Virgin Mary. 

Many people during this century, be- 
lieved that the day of judgment was at 
hand. The .wvH) years spoken of in the 
20th chapter of Revelations was gener- 
ally looked upon as the great winding up 
scene, and as this was the Tenth century, 
the great day of judgment was looked for 
daily by the poor fanatics; they lived in 
dread of the torments which were looked 
for at the termination of this life, and the 
coming of Christ. This superstition 
spread, so that numbers sold out the : r pos- 
sessions, gave the proceeds to the church 
and removed to Palestine, where they ex- 
pected to receive Christ, and be prepared 
for His coming. If an eclipse occurred, or 
anything unusual happened, the cities 
would immediately be vacated by these 
cowardly Christians; they sought the 
rocks and caverns for shelter, where they 
might hide themselves from the great an- 
ticipated 'display. General confusion 
reigned and dispair was depicted on the 
blanched and terror stricken countenances 
of the populace, who sacrificed their earth- 
ly possessions to the church, while en- 
deavoring to obtain spiritual preferments. 
In consequence of these dismal forbodings, 
the church became very rich. It certainly 
was a profitable misinterpretation of scrip- 
ture for the prognostications of the cor- 
rupt clergy was so generallv believed. 

The coming of the Lord Jesus, and the 
ushering in of the Millennium, or 1000 
years of peace, when Satan will be bound, 
has been anticipated and looked for, ever 
since Jesus ascended from Bethany. Paul 
said, "that day shall not come, except there 



104 



THE SOUTHERN STAR. 



REPORT OF MISSION CONFERENCES FOR WEEK ENDING FEB. 3, 1900. 



I'll ESI DENT 



D.fl. Elton 

HeberS. Olson...... 

B.F.Price 

John Peterson....,.* 

W, D* Rencher 

T. H. Hurapberys, 

C. G. Parker.. 

J. Urbaa AUrad,... 

J. If. Haws 

Sylvester Low, Jr... 
O. D. Flake,,,. 

D. A. Broadbcnt..... 

J N. Miller « 

W. H. Boyle, 

L. M. Terry. 

Geo. E. May cock... 



CONKKBBKCa 



CllMLLMMOOKa 

Virginia™...... 

Kentucky ...... 

K. TonnesHde 
Georgia ......... 

N. Alabama.. 

Florida 

Mtd.Tenn 

N. Carolina,.. 

5 Carolina.... 
Mississippi .,., 

6 Kentucky,. 

Louisiana 

S. A In ham ft. 
N. Kentucky, 
Ohio. 



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Chattanooga ........... 

Box 383, Kfebmond .. 

Batt]etovvn f „ 

Pfafflowu.. ...... m 

Augutta a , 

Memphis, Box 1&3. ... 

Lulu..... 

Bparta „ _ 

Goldtboro, Box *J24 ........... 

Sharp 

Baton Rouge.. .►«.,. 

Buck Crpek.^ 

hreveport 

HrirtEe Creek ,..„ 

Ra?dad. Shelby Co 

713 W, 8th St., Cincinnati. 



Tennessee. 
Vistula, 
Kentucky 
N. (Tarolina. 
iitsorgia. 

Florida. 

Tennessee. 

N. Carolina. 

B. Carol] pa. 

Louisiana. 

Kentucky. 

Louisiana. 

Florida, 

Kentucky. 

Ohio, 



come a fairing away first ; lie saw the pow- 
ers of darkness arrayed against the church 
of Christ, and the establishment of a great 
power, that would oppose and exalt itself, 
above all that is called God, or that is 
worshiped; that should sit in regal 
power, enthroned in the temple of God, 
and acting as God himself. This blas- 
phemous power is from beneath and is dis- 
cribed by John, as the whore of all the 
earth, who has made all nations drunk 
with the wine of the wrath of her fornica- 
tions. By and through this power, being 
devoid of the inspiration of God through 
the living oracles, the world has been de- 
ceived throughout the "Dark Ages." 

The glorious day of rest, when the earth 
shall receive its paradisical splendor, and 
be visited by the Son of God, who will 
come in the clouds of heaven, is a day 
looked for, with great anticipation, joy 
and pleasure, by the -aristian, who ex- 
pects then to get his eternal reward. 

The Millerites and Adventists have 
named the day and made due preparations 
on occasions in the past. Modern Proph- 
ets (?) through their wisdom and learn- 
ing, have set dates, looking with expectant 
anticipation for the advent of His coming 
and have stood gazing heavenward believ- 
ing that their Christ would come with His 
glorious retinue of Angels, with all the 
hosts of heaven, in response to their puny 
calls. The word of God positively states, 
that He would not come as an expected 
guest, but as a thief in the night. Aud 
not even the Angels in heaven are cogni- 
zant of when the event will happen. Be 
yo also ready, for in such an hour when ye 
think not. the Son of man will appear. 

The tenth century with its abominable 
wickedness, was hardly prepared for the 
reception of Jesus. The whole was as the 
foolish virgins, devoid of oil, the irradiat- 
ing product was not to be had, the world 
wa* in darkness, and the renovating spirit 
of light was not in the earth at this time. 
(To be continued.) 



Releases and Appointments. 

Released. 

C. G. Parker, Florida. 

I). S. Lewis, Florida. 

E. C. Openshaw. South Carolina. 

A. T. Stewart, South Carolina. 

T. E. Norton, South Carolina. 
Appointments. 

Alfred T. Jones and Jethro D. Brown, 
Mississippi Conference. 

Walter S. J. Rushton, East Kentucky 
Conference. 

Arza L. Day, South Alabama Confer- 
ence. 



No man is a true Christian who does 
not pay his honest debts, who is not 
honest and upright, and who is not will- 
ing to be measured by the Golden Rule. 



LIFE OF PRESIDENT JOHN TAYLOR. 



(From Pagre 90.) 



thirty-three years the Saints had lived 
in Utah, many had been emigrated from 
distant countries by the perpetual emi- 
gration fund and were very much in 
debt, many of them to that fund. The 
year 1880 being the fiftieth or jubilee 
year since the organization of the 
church, President Taylor was moved 
upon to forgive the people their debts to 
this fund, and thus as in olden times 
make the captive free. This was hailed 
with delight by the Saints, and is re- 
membered by the grateful, with a sense 
of love and esteem toward President 
John Taylor. President Taylor presided 
over the church with dignity and abil- 
ity, i He traveled and visited the Saints, 
as far as circumstances would permit. 
When the crusade against plural mar- 
riage came to be waged with bitterness, 
under the rule of the Edmunds-Tucker 
act. President Taylor, to prevent trouble 
and to place himself beyond the possi- 
bility of persecution for an infraction of 
the law, aud rather than live with one 
family to the exclusion of the rest, living 
in the Gardo House, having for \ his 
housekeeper his venerable sister, Agnes 
Schwartz, while all his families occupied 
their own homes. He was a just man. 
Yet notwithstanding his observance of 
the law, his enemies were determined to 
arrest him, and if possible precipitate 
an eruption, which would give them a 
pretense for still stronger measures to 
oppress the Saints. Upon his return 
from Arizona and California in 1884 he 
appeared in the large tabernacle Feb. 1st 
and preached his last public discourse in 
that building. It was a powerful ad- 
dress, exhorting the Saints to faithful- 
ness and forbearance, long suffering and 
charity in all their trials. From this 
time on until his decease he lived in ex- 
ile, attending, however, from his place 
of seclusion by letters, epistles and oth* 
crwise to his public duties. During his 
exile one of his wives was called to the 
Spirit world, after a season of illness. 
During her sickness he was prevented 
from seeing her, as her home was close- 
ly watched by miserable spotters, whose 
characters were as far beneath that of 
President Taylor as a slough of corrup- 
tion is beneath the glittering rays of the 
celestial sun. Being denied necessary 
exercise, to which he was accustomed, 
he became enfeebled in body and his 
life shortened. He died in exile July 
25th, 1887, truly a double martyr. His 
blood was shed in Carthage jail, Illi- 
nois. His life was shortened by exile 
from home, under the oppression of un- 
just men and measures. His funeral a 



few days later was attended by many 
thousands of the Saints, who revered 
and loved the man of God who had gone 
to his life beyond. During the life of 
President Taylor he traveled thousands 
of miles for the Gospel's sake without 
purse or script, baptized many people, 
organized numerous branches of the 
church, published many tracts and sev- 
eral larger works, introduced the Gospel 
to new countries. He was the author of 
many choice hymns and poems. He re- 
ceived many revelations to guide him in 
his duties, as well as being a constant 
medium of inspiration, and received sev- 
eral revelations which were written for 
the guidon^ of the church. He uttered 
numerous prophecies. Before the Proph- 
et Joseph was martyred he said to Pres- 
ident Taylor: "Elder Taylor, you have 
received the Holy Spirit; if you heed 
His teachings the same will become 
within you a constant stream of revela- 
tion." Those who know what revela- 
tion is and knew President John Taylor 
know that the Prophet's words were lit- 1 
erally verified. Among the striking 
prophecies he uttered was subsequent to 
the martyrdom of the Prophet Joseph, 
who had been virtually betrayed into the 
hands of a howling mob by the vascillat- 
ing Governor, Thomas B. Ford, who had 
promised them protection. President 
Taylor prophesied shortly after that 
Gov. Ford would live imtil the flesh had 
well nigh withered from his bones, he 
would lose his property and die a pau- 
per, the subject of charity. A non-Mor- 
mon lady who heard this prophecy, and 
also attended the funeral of Gov. Ford, 
testified, as did all the facts connected 
with the subsequent life, death and 
burial' of Thomes B. Ford, that Presi- 
dent Taylor's prediction was fulfilled to 
the very letter. President Taylor was 
a man of fine appearance; he stood about 
six feet high, his countenance was heav- 
enly, and whosoever went into his pres- 
ence, either in private or in public, felt 
intuitively that he was in the presence 
of a great man, a man of honor and 
merit. His abilities were varied, and 
though pre-eminently spiritual, he had 
a strong liking for good literature. He 
was not without financial ability. He 
left a noble family of wives, sons and 
daughters, to whom he bequeathed as a 
rich legacy his noble virtues of honor, 
self-denial, integrity, purity, faith and 
devotion to God. He taught them that 
whatever they did in life, whether spir- 
itual or temporal, to do it well. He 
said. "When anyone looks at your work 
they will not say, 'How long did that 
take?' but they will say, 'Who did that 
work?' " He lived, labored and died the 
perfect exemplification of his favored 
motto, "The Kingdom of God or noth- 
ing." 




*&UT THOUGH W£ b OB AN ANGEL FROM HEAVEN, PREACH ANY 
OTMEft GOSPEL UNTO YOU THAN THAT WHICH WE 

HAVE Fg£ACh£D UNTO YOIME.T HIM &E ACCURSED W./ePM 



ygzfS&sr 




Vol. 2. 



Chattanooga, Tbnn., Saturday, March 8, 1900. 



No. 14. 



CONFEPENCE OF CONFERENCE PRESIDENTS. 



An annual conference of conference 
presidents has become a fixture in the 
Southern States Mission and has come to 
be regarded as a time of refreshing and 
one of the leading events in each year's 
history of the Master's work in the South. ' 

It is the purpose of these conferences 
to review carefully the prospects and pro- 
gress of the Gospel in every part of the 
Mission, to devise ways and means, and t 
the best uniform methods of preaching and 
publishing the Gospel, and by mingling in 
each other's society to become more firmly 
cemented in the bonds of brotherhood, 
thus tending to deeper interest in promot- 
ing peace on earth, good will to man. 

Unoualified success attended the second 
annual conference of conference presidents 
held in this city February 17th and 18th. 
All who were fortunate enough to be pres- 
ent at the meetings and deliberations of 
the presiding elders in the Southern 
States Mission on these dates went away 
filled with the fruits of the snirit, brist- 
ling with ideas and plans for future work 
and determined to push on in the cause 
of truth with renewed vigor. 

Sociallv the meeting together of these 
sons of Zion, as in all conferences, .was a 
rare treat, an oasis in missionary experi- 
ence, and the men who are the generals 
on the "firing line" vied with each other 
in brotherly affection. A trolley ride over 
the electric lines of Chattanooga, visiting 
points of historic interest, had been sched- 
uled as the special social feature of th«* 
conference, but inclement weather caused 
this oroject to be abandoned and instead 
an old-fashioned "hand-shake" took olace 
at the home of the office force at head- 
ouarters. It was a royal good time, 
due largely to the excellent manage- 
ment of Sisters Rich and Hyldahl. 
The verv atmosphere seemed to *avor 
of the breezes that blow from Teton 
Peaks, the vallevs of the Wahsatch. and 
the mesas of the Gila, and for several 
hours Dixie's woods, plantations and 
whole-souled hospitalit" «*ave wav to the 
snow tipned mountains, th* fretful vsles 
and the happy homes in the West. The 
memories of "refused entertainment," 
"the straight forward big dirt road," "the 
friendlv dry-goods box — the street corner 
pulpit," and the scoffs and cold indiffer- 
ence of th* multitude, were over two 
thousand miles awav and renlaeed by the 
delicacies of a genuine homelike lov*» f east. 
Tn addition to the elders nrpsent. Sisters 
Nina Rich and Alii* Hyldahl. we were 
also favored at this home gathering with 
the presence of ^o Ohatta^onera Indies. 
Mrs. Cantrell and her sifter Miss Mmnie 



Crow. To see some "Mormon" ladies, the 
real article from Zion. made every heart 
glad and no doubt inspired dreams of dear 
mothers, wives, sisters and sweethearts, 
far away in the Western highlands, 
who every day petition for Heaven's rar- 
est flowers to strew the pathway of the 
absent ones that are declaring the glad 
tidings of great joy to the inhabitants 
of the South. 

The first number of the evening's pro- 
gram was given by President Rich. He 
said the old mission house never gave a 
warmer welcome and extended to his 
honored guests a wandering commission 
with the authority to devour all the good 
things for the gratification of the inner 
man that came in their way. It is hardly 
necessary to say the commission was exe- 
cuted throughout the evening in "past 
master" fashion. After this introduction 
everybody indulged in a handshake, then 
came an impromptu program, a feast of 
fruits and kindred things, after which 
some of the old songs by all present, closed 
the evening's enjoyment. 

The Conference. 

The deliberations and meetings of the 
conference were held in the Congregation- 
al Hall, located on the principal business 
street, spacious and comfortable. The 
first session was held at 10 a. m., on the 
17th. Pres. Ben B. Rich, presiding. 
Singing, "Ye Who are Called to Labor," 
Prayer. Pres. Sylvester Low, Jr. Sing- 
ing, "Now Let us Rejoice in the Day of 
Salvation." The roll call showed that all 
the conference presidents were in attend- 
ance, as follows: Thos. H. Humpherys, 
North Alabama : David A. Broadbent, 
Bast Kentucky: Osmer D. Flake. Missis- 
siDpi ; Geo. E. Maycock. Ohio : Heber S. 
Olsen. Virginia ; B. F. Price, Kentuckv ; 
John Peterson. East Tennessee: W. D. 
Rencher, Georgia : C. G. Parker, Florida ; 
.T. Urban Allred. Middle Tennessee ; J. M. 
Haws, North Carolina; Sylvester Low, 
Jr.. South Carolina; J. N . Miller, 
Louisiana; W. H. Bovle, South Alabama: 
L. M. Terry. North Kentucky, and David 
H. Elton, Chattanooga. There were also 
present Elders Geo. W. Skidraore, Flori- 
da, to succeed President Parker: G. M. 
Porter, Georgia, to succeed President 
Flake: W. W. Mackav. Bast Kentuckv, 
to succeed President Broadbent. and E. 
L. Pomroy to succeed President Peterson, 
a number of visiting elders and the breth- 
ren laboring in the office. In all 42 eld- 
ers were in attendance. 

President Rich welcomed the brethren 
present and spoke of the disappointment 
in not having one or more of the Twelve 



Apostles with us as expected. In inaugu- 
rating these conferences it was hoped 
some of the Apostles would be present to 
instruct and counsel us in our work. 
Hereafter the conference of presidents 
will be held before the regular confer- 
ences. The prime object in meeting to- 
gether was to inject new blood into our 
work by exchanging ideas and thereby 
avoid getting into ruts and improve our 
system of work. 

In appointing conference presidents, no 
precedent would be followed and it had 
been thought a good plan to often select, 
hereafter, elders from some other confer- 
ence to fill these positions. 

President Rich made a concise report 
of the Star and of the work in the Mis- 
sion which showed that progress was be- 
ing made. Announced the program for 
the conference as follows : 2 p. m., Coun- 
sel and General Instructions; 4 to 6 p. 
m., Private Consultation, and 7 p. m.. a 
special meeting of the presidents to dis- 
cuss methods, make recommendations and 
formulate questions on which explana- 
tions were wanted. On Sunday a fast 
meeting would be held at the Mission resi- 
dence at 10 a. m. A public meeting at 
the hall at 2 :30 p. m., and the remainder 
of the day after that to counsel. 

Pres. L. R. Anderson made some ex- 
nlanation of railroad conditions, and 
Pres. Christo Hyldahl showed the finan- 
cial condition of our commissarv and what 
was necessary to keep up this help to our 
work, which closed the morning session. 

Singing and benediction. 

Afternoon Session, 2 p. m. 

Pres. David A. Broadbent offered the 
opening prayer, congregational singing 
being indulged in before and after the 
same. The entire time was occupied by 
President Rich, who gave some valuable 
counsel. Elders should not make ma- 
chines of themselves and do a thing sim- 
ply because others did it. Let them 
make thinkers of themselves. In preach- 
ing they should preach the first principles 
of the Gospel and not the mysteries of 
godliness, but confining themselves to the 
first principles would not prevent them 
declaring the restoration of the Gospel 
through the Prophet Joseph Smith. Sal- 
vation for the dead and other deep sub- 
jects are pearls and should not be indis- 
criminately thrown before those who are 
of the world and cannot understand the 
principles leading up to these beautiful 
subjects. 

Tn obedience with divine command El- 
ders must not travel with monev in their 
pockets, and depend upon the same. 



100 



THE SOUTHERN STAR. 



There was no need for money in the coun- 
try. In the working of cities where the 
laws prevented us from asking for food 
or entertainment, and it was a fight for 
bread, then only could provision be made 
by the Elders for food and lodging so they 
could carry on their work. This would 
still be making the Gospel free (the in- 
tention of Christ in sending out His Sev- 
enties), and going? without purse or script 
if relatives or friends at home payed the 
necessary expenses. But this must only 
be done when conditions make it una- 
voidable and impracticable for the pro- 
gress of the work. 

Conference Presidents should take up 
the special letter of last year, on Tithing, 
Sacrament, and other subjects and bring 
it to the attention of their Conference, 
and if necessary* go through their Con- 
ference again. 

We are not ungrateful for the loyal 
support given* us in the past, but do not 
allow your Conference to get slack in 
meetings, books and tracts. We are do- 
ing an injury to an Elder when he is not 
Sushed. Wisdom in all things, but El- 
ers who are pushed most develop fast- 
est and Conference Presidents who push 
have the Elders to develop. When you 
have a dull scythe you put the whet- 
stone on it and sharpen it up, and you 
are the whetstones to put an edge on 
your Elders when they get dull. 

Singing: Benediction, President C. 
Hyldahl. 

The Sunday Service*. 

At the Fast meeting on Sunday morn- 
ing at the Mission residence the sacra- 
ment was administered and thirty-nine 
persons bore their testimony to the res- 
toration and truthfulness of the Gospel. 
The Spirit of God was plainly manifest 
and the sweet spirit of peace pervade^ 
the meeting. 

The public service in the afternoon 
was fairly well attended and was made 
up of four short addresses by Elders 
Jeddie Stokes, Ben L. Rich, son of Pres- 
ident Rich, David H. Elton and William 
T. Davis, all of whom spoke with free- 
dom upon the message they bore to the 
world. Each said, in part, as follows: 
Elder Jeddie Stoke*. 

"In all ages of the world, when the 
Gospel or a substitute thereof has been 
upon the earth, it has been taught to 
the people by men whom God authorized 
and filled with revelation and inspiration. 

"In the whole Biblical record, all the 
counsel, all the instruction, all the laws 
and the precepts that have been given 
for the advancement of the human fam- 
ily have come from God through the 
medium of inspiration and revelation, and 
this avenue of divine favor was closed 
only when the people were guilty of diso- 
bedience and ungodliness. 

"Communication with God is just as 
essential for the development of the hu- 
man family as parental admonition is for 
the betterment of the little child. 

"Let us reason for a moment, \vhat 
is the fundamental principle upon which 
depends the success of a man's family — 
that makes his children useful, intelli- 
gent, cautious, obedient and good? For 
example we will suppose that the father 
is himself a wortny and a noble man, 
having all the traits of purity and good- 
ness that mortality can claim; now, aside 
from the influence of his own perfection, 
what nrinciple must he establish and 
maintain between his children if he would 
have those children grow up to be on an 
equality with himself? I answer that he 
must establish and maintain the principle 
of instructive and directive communica- 
tion between himself and his children. 
How can the father expect these children 
to become morally, physically and intel- 
lectually developed, if he stubbornly re- 
fusos to teach them those laws? The sa- 
bred obligations of parenthood and father- 
hood demand that he do his duty by his 
infants — that he teach them and that he 
advise them each day of his life; and the 
moment that he turns a deaf ear to their 
wants and withdraws the support of his 
guiding hand, just that moment does he 
sacrifice the name of father and the suc- 
cess of his children, and as a result his ' 



family will sink into disobedience, ignor- 
ance, corruption and sin; and most truly, 
even if such a man were possessed of 
certain traits of goodness, his very ac- 
tions toward his children would declare 
him absolutely void of love, of mercy and 
of justice. 

"All fathers realize that, if they would 
have noble children, they must teach 
them to that end, and as the little ones 
grow, their environments change and 
their demands increase, which necessi- 
tates new counsel, whicn will meet their 
requirements and be applicable to their 
condition. It would be unwise, unchar- 
itable, yea, it would be even foolish, for 
any parent to simply write out a few 
rules and instructions and place them in 
the hands of his infant babe with the 
strict command, 'take this, son; This is 
your guide through all your life. I now 
close my mouth and deafen my ears 
against you; thenceforth and forever you 
must ask me nothing, no matter what 
obstacles of perplexty may confront you. 
no matter what your adversities may 
be or what your requirements are, for I 
am done with you; but still, my son, I 
demand of you to be virtuous and good» 
intelligent and true, even to the surpass- 
ing of your fellow-men.' 

"The possession of such a 'dead letter* 
would be a poor guide indeed, and then 
imagine the final deplorable outcome of 
innumerable generations if this volume 
contained the 'fullness' of their counsel, 
advice and direction, and they were re- 
stricted alone to that. And now much 
of that book's contents which had been 
given to one single individual, and under 
environments peculiar to himself, do you 
suppose the multitude could utilize advan- 
tageously to themselves? I leave you to 
conclude. 

"Just as it is with our families, so also 
it is with the great family of God. We 
are all the children of God, Acts 17:29, 
and He has commanded us through Jesus 
of Nazareth to be perfect even as our 
Father in heaven is perfect. 

"To attain to this advancement we 
must know how it is done. We need 
daily counsel and admonition, and with- 
out it it is absolutely impossible to reach 
the destiny of perfection. Hence the 
fundamental principle upon which de- 
pends the success of God's family is His 
mutual communication with them. We 
call a father's communication to his 
children instruction, we call God's com- 
munication to His children revelation, 
and upon this principle of instruction, 
from the learned to the unlearned, from 
the superior to the inferior, from father 
to son, from God to His infants upon 
earth — whom we all are — upon this prin- 
ciple depends the development of the 
human family and the perfection of the 
children of God. So from the standpoint 
of reason we must conclude that we need 
more revelation from God, for the Bible, 
notwithstanding its truthfulness and its 
divinity, is not sufficient for us today. 
What have we to do with goine to Da- 
mascus — to preaching to the Ninivites, 
building an ark, etc.? We can't annly 
these divine commands to us. because we 
are nof Pauls, Jonahs or Noahs in this 
sense. If time would permit, the voice 
of Scripture on this point could be heard 
to concur with Reason in declaring the 
fact we need living revelation for our 
cruidancp." 

Elder Ben L. Rich, Son of President 
Rich. 

"To bear ray testimony to the divinity of 
Mormonism certainly gives me happiness. 
I thoroughly realize the unpopularity of our 
cause. But If Mormonism be founded upon 
principles of truth, what matters it whether 
the winds of opposition blow and whine? 
Every reformation has met with unpopu- 
larity; every reformer has been persecuted, 
and It seems the extent In greatness of a 
reformation among men Is measured \>y the 
extent of opposition whleh It Invokes. 

"Mormonism is no exception to the rule. 
It follows the examnles made by truth In 
former ages. I say Mormonism is beautiful; 
it Is progressive: It Is everything which en- 
nobles and purifies when seen as It Is and 
Judged from an Impartial standpoint. 

"Upon her face and clear brow her ene- 
mies have put a hideous mask, and In that 
guise they exhibit her to the ridicule of an 



unthinking populace, just as Christ was 
treated 1,800 years ago when he was crowned 
with thorns and robed In a cloak of scarlet, 
and, thus disguised, exhibited to the taunts 
of a fickle ana howling rabble. 

"The prince of darkness is enthroned in 
this world of ours. Men are his servants, to 
whom they dedicate and consecrate their 
lives and souls, and whenever truth makes 
its appearance In his kingdom, the great 
prince wills Its destruction, knowing full 
well the survival of truth means the over 
throw of evil. 

"And men are just as eager In executing 
his mandates as was the soldiery of Herod 
when that wicked, potentate decreed the de- 
struction of the babe of Bethlehem." 

President David H. Elton. 

"We have listened to the voice of Rea- 
son on the principle of revelation, and I 
rejoice in tne opportunity of holding up 
to your view the plain declarations of 
Scripture on this same point. 

"How a man can profess to be a min- 
ister of God and at the same time rob 
God of the right to dictate what he shall 
teach is an Incomprehensibility to me. 
How they can teach mankind the per- 
sonality of God— His will, and all that 
pertains to godliness, and not receive any 
directions or advice from Him above, is 
truly a perplexity, for God said, Luke 
10:22, 4 that no man knoweth who the Son 
is but the Father; and who the Father 
is but the Sou and he to whom the son 
will reveal Him.' 'And this is life eternal 
to know thee, the only true God and 
Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent,' are 
the words of John 17:3. Now if this 
is life eternal— to know God and His be- 
loved Son, and if we can't know them 
but by revelation, how dare a man even 
make the assertion that we need no rev- 
elation to gain eternal life? 

"Again, Paul declares, 1 Cor. 12:3. 
that no man can say that Jesus is the 
Christ but by the Holy Ghost.' The true 
servant of God will not tell you of Jesus 
alone, but by the Spirit of God by which 
alone he can know the Son of our Mas- 
ter, he will make you acquainted with 
Him. And if he bears a testimony 
strengthened by knowledge of Jesus he 
bears the spirit of prophecy— for John 
says, Rev. 19:10, that 'the testimony of 
Jesus is the spirit of prophecy,' which by 
its very nature is a medium of revelation 
from God. In the face of these plain 
facts I cannot see how a minister can with 
consistency tell the people that revela- 
tion is done away; nor can I see how he 
can convince the people that they as 
Saints of God need no revelation. For 
on the day of Pentecost the Holy Ghost 
was promised to all who obeyed the Gos- 
pel, and those who obeyed the Gospel 
then received that spirit which leads and 
guides into all truth, and 'bears witness 
with our spirits that we are the children 
of God,' Horn. 8:lfi. This Spirit of God 
was a part of the Gospel 1900 years ago, 
and if it was then, and God is unchange- 
able, it must be today, and we bear tes- 
timony that it is. And this is not all. 
Moses says, 'Would to God that all the 
Lord's people were prophets.' Solomon 
says, 'Where there is no vision the people 
perish,' while Amos declares that 'surely 
the Lord God will do nothing, but He 
revealeth His secrets unto His servants 
the prophets.' 

"My time is limited, so I will leave you 
to ponder upon these few remarks, which 
I hope you will strive to know as I know 
that the Gospel of Jesus Christ is true 
and has been again restored to earth, bv 
which the channel of communication with 
God is opened and used today for the 
upbuilding of God's kingdom in the 
earth." 

Elder W. T. Davln. 
"The only aim that the Elders of Israel 
have in leaving their fathers, mothers, 
brothers, sisters and all that is most dear 
to them by ties of kindred and affection, 
is to better their fellow-man. They be- 
lieve, in fact, know, as did Peter, Paul 
and the early Saints, that the message 
they bring is precisely the same as the 
one designated by Paul as being the 
'power of God unto salvation' unto all 
those who will accept it and ever live 
in obedience to the same. The promise 
made by the Master, 'If you will do the 



THE SOUTHERN STAR. 



10? 



will you shall know of the doctrine,' has 
been fulfilled on their heads, and with 
this perfect knowledge of what their 
mission is they go forth as the Apostles 
of old with the same message, traveling 
as Jesus commanded, two by two, with- 
out money, without food, and lodging 
f»nly as the Lord brings friends to pro- 
vide for them. They have sought and 
found the pearl of great price, the faith 
which was once delivered to the Saints, 
hence they go forth brave as lions, but 
meek ana humbie before their Maker. 
They are not unlike the early Christians, 
who. rather than to deny God's truth, 
would be torn to pieces on racks, fed to 
wild animals, burned at the stake and 
in furnaces, martyred in every way, all 
for the testimonv of Jesus. 

The Mormon Elders are bringing to 
yon the same tidings that were so bit- 
terly opposed in the days of Christ, and 
they are meeting with the same opposi- 
tion. 

"Let me assure you that there is not 
an Elder who would even harm a hair of 
your head. The only object they enter- 
tain is the salvation of the human fam- 
ily. They teach that even the appear- 
ance of evil should be shunned, and that 
obedience to the Gospel, with a pure, 
holy and upright life ever afterwards, 
will bring eternal life; that there is but 
one Gospel and one mediator between 
God and man, and whosoever tries to 
climb up in any other way shall be count- 
ed a thief and a robber. It is further 
taught that 'man shall not live by bread 
alone, but by every word that proceeds 
from the mouth of God:' that 'where 
there is no vision the people perish;' that 
the Lord will do nothing save He reveals 
His secrets unto His servants the proph- 
ets;' in fact, all truth, whether religions, 
scientific or whatsoever it might be, is 
for the salvation of man and is included 
in the great saving plan. 

" Judge the Elders by their fruits, com- 
pare the doctrine with your Bible, and 
receive with meekness the Gospel taught 
by the Latter-day Saints, which is the 
'power of God unto salvation.' It is our 
object to seek first the kingdom of God, 
to save ourselves, and to count no sacri- 
fice too great to make for the salvation 
of the souls of man." 

A quartetet composed of Elders Stokes, 
Parker, Elton and Summerhays rendered 
some sweet music. 

President Rich announced that there 
would be preaching every Sunday in the 
Congregational Hall, to which all were 
invited. 

There has been some adverse criticism 
on the following passage from the Book 
of Mormon: 

"And it came to pass that after he 
(Coriantumr) had smote off the head of 
Shiz, that Shiz raised upon his hands and 
fell; and after that he had struggled for 
breath, he died." (Book of Ether, 15:31.) 

It is claimed that the rising on the 
hands after decapitation is an impossi- 
bility. 

The following from a dispatch to the 
Liverpool Daily Post of Feb. 1, 1900, 
on the occasion of the seizure of Spion 
Kop, in Natal, should effectually silence 
all criticism on that passage: 

"There was an extraordinary incident 
in Wednesday's battle. One of the Lan- 
caster men, while in the act of firing in 
a prone position, had his head taken 
clean off by a large shell. To the aston- 
ishment of his comrades, the headless 
body quietly rose, stood upright for a 
few seconds, and then fell."— Millennial 
Star. 

Each man can learn something from 
his neighbor; at least he can learn to 
have patience with him— to live and let 
live. — Kingsley. 

If people were constant it would sur- 
prise me. For see, is not everything in 
the world subject to change? Why then 
should our affections continue?— Goethe. 



THE DARK AGES. 

By A. ARROWSMITH. 
(Continued from page 104.) 

The eleventh century produced a very 
notable Pontiff by the name of Gregory, 
the Seventh, a very arrogant man, who 
would not stand opposition from any po- 
tentate on earth. He was the most am- 
bitious, sagacious, crafty and interpid 
Pontiff Rome had known. He desired the 
whole world to bow in submission to his 
supreme power, issuing laws against si- 
mony and concubinage, compelling all 
priests to live the lives of celebates. He 
took all rights from rulers, both civil and 
ecclesiastical, investing all authority with- 
in himself. 

The emperor, Henry the Fourth, of Ger- 
many, had the audacity to practice si- 
mony, or the selling of church offices with- 
in his realm, thus rebelling against the 
mandates of Pope Gregory for which he 
was compelled to beg absolution in tears. 
It is stated that he stood three days bare- 
footed in the snow, seeking the clemency 
and forgiveness of Gregory, who sneered 
and derided this obsequious, abject mon- 
arch. Seven years later Henry succeeded 
in driving Gregory from the papal chair, 
after great wars and woodshed, enthron- 
ing the Pope Clement, the Third, in his 
place. 

The great religious crusades started at 
this period. Pope Gregory, the Seventh, 
organized armies to invade Palestine and 
drive out the Saracens, but his quarrel 
with the Emperor Henry stopped him 
from carrying out his project. In 1093, 
the renowned Peter, the Hermit, com- 
menced preaching throughout Europe, in- 
citing all Christians to this Holy war. 
He was a very fanatical character, but 
had power to sway the multitudes, and 
through his appeals, which were supposed 
to be tempered with divine approval, suc- 
ceeded in gaining thousands or followers. 
He exhibited a letter, which he claimed 
to have received from Heaven, sanction- 
ing these bloody wars. Thousands flock- 
ed to him, volunteering their services and 
advancing to this, the first, crusade against 
the Mahometans. The approval, sanction 
and blessing of the Pope, Urban the Sec- 
ond, was given to all who would swear 
fealty to the Christian cause and work 
to suppress and destroy the baneful in- 
fluence of Mahometanism. Monks, art- 
ists, laborers, tradesmen, merchants, boys, 
girls, slaves, malefactors, prostitutes and 
profligates of every description were band- 
ed together to drive from Palestine the 
followers of Mahomet, who were supposed 
to be desecrating the land made holy by 
Jesus and the early saints. This mob, 
under the guidance of Peter the Hermit, 
were without the least martial law and 
order so necessary to military bodies and 
consequently failed in their expedition. 
The majority of these eleventh century 
mobocrats had no particular religious de- 
sire to gratify, the chief aim being 
E hinder devastation and spoil. Eighteen 
undred thousand started in sections, un- 
der different commanders, leaving a track 
of rapine and ruin in their course. How- 
ever thousands of them were slain for 
their temerity. 

A band of 80,000 Normans, who ex- 
celled in military skill and display, was 
raised in France. These were led by very 
able commanders and conducted a fine 
campaign under Godfrey. The idiotic 
rabble under Peter the Hermit, was sig- 
nally defeated and cut to pieces by the 
Saracens under the renowned warrior 
Soliman. This dispute as to the owner- 
ship of the land of Palestine engaged the 
attention of all Europe who were en- 
thused with religious zeal and fanaticism. 
Princes and dukes mortgaged their pos- 
sessions and enlisted in these wars which 
were conducted in the name of relieion 
under the full approval of the Pope. This 
filled the people with a fervid desire to 
excel in making sacrifices. They willed 
their property to the church, clothed 
themselves in coats of mail and 
were even willing to give their lives for 
this misnomer, Christianity. Thus were 
they made fanatics of by their religious I 



infatuation. Prince Robert, the son of 
William the Conquerer, mortgaged his 
Dutchy and his vast possessions in Nor- 
mandy to his brother William (Rufus) 
that he might defray the expense of 
equipping soldiery to fight in Palestine. 
Many wealthy land owners gave up their 
possessions,' expecting to lay down their 
lives if necessary, in this cause. In con- 
sequence the church was greatly enriched. 
Palestine was finally subdued and Jeru- 
salem taken by Godfrey. The rabble dis- 
persed returned home as glorious warriors 
of the cross, laden with relics of sup- 
posed sacred things which were adored 
and worshipped by the ignorant and su- 
perstitious wretches. 

This century was particularly marked 
for its display of ignorance, frenzy and 
fanatical superstition. ReMgious bigots 
have been known in all ages, but I think 
at this time liberty and truth were as 
little known and practiced as at any pre- 
vious time in the history of the world. 
The Roman Catholics would not tolerate 
anything that conflicted with their ego- 
tistical notions, and the Mahometans and 
Christians equally believed in exterminat- 
ing each other to gratify their ambitious 
bigotry. This practice has been looked 
upon with much leniency in the past as 
it invariably appears in the guise of re- 
ligion. The reformers in the sixteenth 
century were led by the same religious 
fervor. Luther in his great argument 
with Zwingli on the sacrement rite, be- 
lieving in the Roman Catholic theory of 
transubstantiation, exhibited his stubborn 
bigoted spirit when he declared that he 
would not accept common sense, carnal 
arguments or mathematical proofs. It 
was the same intoleration that suppressed 
truth as taught by Bruno, Copernicus and 
Galileo, burning the one and torturing the 
other. John Calvin, the noted founder of 
much modern sectarianism, by his bigoted 
wickedness, burnt Michael Servetus to 
death by a slow fire because he had the 
temerity to question the trinity of the 
Godhead, not being able to comprehend 
the beauties in the absurd and fallacious 
ideas of the three in one theory. Through- 
out all ages, when truth has been intro- 
duced, it has met much opposition from 
religious bigotry. In late years Jenner 
the discoverer of vaccination barely es- 
caped with his life. Simpson, the Scotch 
phvsician, the discoverer of anasthetics. 
only fifty-three years ago, was denounced 
throughout Europe and America by lead- 
ing Protestant ministers. Not many years 
have elapsed since geology was denounced 
as being not a science but a dark art, in- 
troduced by the devil in confliction to the 
testimony of the divine record. Religious 
bigots started the fires in Smithfield and 
with their narrow and contracted views 
have ever been exceedingly cruel, burning, 
driving, mobbing and ill treating all who 
opposed them, or had views that con- 
flicted with theirs. 

At the head and in the van of the mobs 
raised against the Latter Bay Saints, as 
against the former day saints, we find the 
same divine (?) Pharisaical, long faced, 
religions hypocrites, who are just as readv 
to cry "crucify Him, burn him," and with 
blood and fire gratify their insatiable lust 
for power, with the sword and not with 
the peaceful weapons of reason and truth 
which Jesus, whom they pretend to follow, 
taught them. , Is it not true that the 
bloody wars in the past and present can 
almost invariably be laid to this vile spirit 
of bigotry and intoleration? 

In this century, among the Roman 
Catholics, the people had a peculiar mania 
for torturing their own bodies and inflict- 
ing penalties on each other. D'Aubigne 
states that in Italy "nobles and peasants, 
old and young, even children of five years 
of age whose only covering was a cloth 
tied around the middle went in oairs bv 
the thousands to church during the depth 
of winter and armed with whins, flogged 
and scourged each other without pity, 
the streets resounding with groans and 
pries from the poor ignorant sufferers." 
Such was the terrible condition of Christi- 
anity in the eleventh centur*. 
(To be continued.) 



iod 



fHfi SOUTHERN STAR. 




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Address Box 10? 



Satubday, Mabch 3, 1900. 



ARTICLES OF FAITH 

OP THE CHURCH OP JESUS CHRIST OP 
LATTER-DAY SAINTS. 

1. We believe in God the EternsJFsther, end in HU Bon 
Jesus Christ, and in tba Holy Ghost. 

t. Wo believe that man will bo punished for thoir own 
sins, and not for Adam's transgrsosion. 

ft. Wo believe that, through tho atonemont of Christ, all 
mankind sjay fc* saved, by obedience to tho laws and ordi- 
naaoos of tho Gospel. 

4. Wo believe that tho first principles and ordinances of 
the Gospel are : First. Faith in the Lord Jesus Christ ; second. 
Repentance ; third, Baptism by immersion for the remission 
of das; fourth. Laying on of Bands for tho Gift of tho Holy 

L We babe** Ihil a mm m D »t »-? CStM nf God, by 
"pTnphmf, and by Lbs lt;in£ on of bands, " by tho§e who ira 
in tuthprUy, [a prsscb Lbefpip*] and admknkler in th* ordi- 
nance* thereof, 

8, W* believe In tbtfiiirie eriBQiiitkm ^^ tliilrd \ a 
lbs primiliTS church — namekj, ApwtJe*, frophcLi. hiiUn, 
Teaebert, Knn(t)i4U, etc, 

-T, Wi beHnve In thr pfl at Inn^un, r.ir6phri:y k rAvelltiuh, 
viil&ni, J-valint, lalerprtlatjob vf itm^un r tt-7, 

5. VYa belmVe Iht Hvb\t to b* the word of i Jiod, •■ fir u It 
Is tn misted eorratlj ; w* also beliute the Book of MnrmoQ 
to be (be wnnl uf G<xt 

t. We believe: all Ebst God has revealed* til thmt Tim Joea 
now rai*tl, ind w« betieve tha i 1 1* will r*t r*rea| many ffeit 
and import* at ibinfc" pert » I nine to tb« Kingdom af 0od. 

10, We t«li«¥9 in Ue literal fathering or |, r«] sod in the 
reparation of the Tan Tribe* j that Zion. wi|J be built upon 
thii f l>.t American p tcntjnttit { LA si Obefst *il] Migo p*rwn- 
all J ojron the earth, and thtt lha earth Till be renew**] and 
receive lis LWldiihatil atarj. 

H, We Claim tho prarilege of wonhipLijj Afmiphrj tliid 
according to lbs did air* of out conic i cm™. *nd tlto* all 
man the hie? jiiiuJegiJit asesn woritujjboe:, vbef«. or what 
they may. 

IS. We believe in being subject to kings, presidents, rulers, 
and maeistratee ; in obeying, honoring and sustaining the law. 

18. • We believe in being honest, true, chaste, benevolent, 
virtuous, and in doing good to all sjm ; indeed, we may say 
•hat weYollow the admonition of Paul, •We believe aU things, 
idurod 

,. If the , 

fnvaly, or of good report or praiseworthy, 
fltfaaa-JOSBFH SaUTB. 



wo hope all things," we have endured many things, and hope 
•a be able to endure all things. If there ' 



■ny mines, and nope i 
is anything virtuous, I 
', wo seek after these I 



Subscribers to the Star changing their 
address should send former as well as 
new address. 



A man who gives his children habits of 
industry, provides for them better than 
by giving them a fortune. 



At the special meeting of the Confer- 
ence Presidents, among other things of 
importance, a letter was drafted to be 
sent to the Presidents of Stakes and 
Bishops of Wards in Zion, setting forth 
some recommendations for Elders coming 
to the south. 



An exchange gets off this note: "If 
men are the salt of the earth, women 
are undoubtedly sugar. Salt is a neces- 
sity—sugar a luxury. Vicious men are 
saltpeter, stern men are rock salt, nice 
men are table salt. Old maids are brown 
sugar, good matrons are loaf sugar and 
pretty girls are fine pulverized sugar." 
Pass the pulverized sugar, please. 



DECLINE OF THE TRIBUNE. 

The Salt Lake Tribune, in its issue of 
February 14th, editorially defends the 
wholesale libeling of the "Mormon" peo- 
ple, in this city, by a pretended meek 
and lowly follower of the Lamb, Edgar 
E. Folk, and tells a deliberate falsehood 
to do it. The Tribune quotes from Pres- 
ident Rich's interview, published in the 
Chattanooga News of January 24th and 
reproduced later in the Star, in answer 
to Folk's tirade, from the First Baptist 
pulpit of Chattanooga, and published in 
the Chattanooga News of January 22d. 
Then to accomplish its nefarious purpose 
of hoodwinking its readers, it quotes 
from Folk's article in the Chattanooga 
News of January 31st, a week after the 
reply quoted from, and says: "It was 
for the above that Ben Rich waxed 
wroth and asked, 'Suppose a Mormon 
Elder was to malign and make such 
statements about any people in the south 
as Mr. Folk made about my people, how 
long would it be before that Elder would 
be dangling at the end of a rope?" The 
fact of the matter is that the article 
quoted by the Tribune was not placed 
before the public here by Folk until after 
President Rich had replied to the infa- 
mous utterances of the Reverend in the 
First Baptist pulpit, of this city, and 
what caused "Ben Rich" to rise up in 
righteous indignation was such base and 
wholesale lies that the most bitter enemy 
of "Mormonism," his S.itanic Majesty, 
must have blushed with shame. We 
wonder if the Tribune rend the report of 
Folk's abuse, or, if it did. has it sunk so 
low as to sanction and defend such state- 
ments about honest, respected, virtuous 
"Mormon" men and women, as the fol- 
lowing: "That in one county only 2 per 
cent, of the marriages were not forced." 
"In one city of about 3,000 there have 
been no marriages for two years that 
were not forced." "If you were to hang 
a petticoat on a bush half a dozen Mor- 
mons would immediately make for it," 
and "how old men bargained for and 
married girls 12 and 15 years old, be- 
cause girls of marriageable age were not 
to be found." 

It will be remembered that Folk went 
to Utah to learn for. himself of condi- 
tions there — to know the truth, and, 
after a flying trip of two weeks he comes 
back and parades such rot as this before 
the public, declaring under the cloak of 
religion, like other hypocrites of the same 
ilk, that that is the way he found things 
among the "Mormons" in Utah. It is 
safe to say Folk never had any more in- 
tention of telling the truth when he came 
back from Utah than he has of hearing 
and obeying the voice of God, unless the 
almighty dollar is made a part of the 
contract. 

Rev. (?) Folk's tirade was so disgust- 
ing that ladies of his own congregation 
left the building in disgust, and before 
the News would publish a report of the 
sensational effusion the manuscript was 
submitted to attorneys and the greater 
part stricken out on account of so much 
that was wholesale libel on its face. It 
is a wonder that any decent people re- 
mained to hear him through, and any 
public journal who defends such putrid 
untruths about respectable people is a 
foul blot on the community and a menace 
to the good government and progress of 
the state. Has the Tribune come to this? 

If a "Mormon" Apostle were to say, 
from the pulpit in the Tabernacle that 
98 per cent, of the Gentile women were 
void of virtue; that if you should hang 
a woman's petticoat on a bush half a 
dozen of the leading Gentiles of Utah 



would rush for it, and then should con- 
tinue his remarks in such indecent lan- 
guage, that "Mormon" ladies would 
leave the builuing in disgust; if on its 
face his discourse was so libelous that it 
was found necessary to go through the 
hands of attorneys before even the Des- 
eret News would publish the same; and 
if prejudice existed in Utah against Gen- 
tiles as it does against "Mormons" in 
the world, and courts of justice, and 
newspapers were not inclined to be fair, 
what punishment would the Tribune 
recommend to be meted out to the Apos- 
tle? 

There was a time when P. H. Lannan 
was filled with enough honor that he 
could afford to be fair even to an enemy; 
upon one occasion he refused to allow 
the wife of his avowed enemy to give him 
information of a damaging character, 
and gallantly informed the woman prof- 
fering such testimony that he could not 
accept it from the home of him whom he 
despised, and advised the would-be in- 
formant to go to her husband's friends 
and not to his enemy with such informa- 
tion. Those who knew P. H. Lannan 
best admired him most for many hon- 
orable acts of this kind. 

We are surprised that Lannan, if he 
still retains his old-time honor, would 
allow the columns of his paper to be- 
come the defender of a man who made 
such a wholesale attack upon the virtue 
of the "Mormon" ladies of Utah as 
did Rev. Folk. If Judge Good- 
win* with his old-time big-hearted- 
ness, had witnessed the delivery 
of that tirade of blackguardism, and 
could have seen respectable ladies leave 
the church in disgust, we believe he 
would have hesitated before his anxiety 
to defend a slanderer would have caused 
him to utter such a deliberate false- 
hood as he did in his issue of 
Feb. 14th, by selecting a portion 
of a communication given Jan. 31st 
and saying this was the cause of 
"Ben Rich's interview," which appeared 
in print Jan. 24th, and in which Mr. 
Rich declared that if a "Mormon" Elder 
had delivered such a nasty, indecent, 
contemptible assault upon any people, in 
the south, it would not be long before 
that Elder would be dangling at the end 
of a rope. If Goodwin still retained the 
high-toned dignity he once possessed, 
when he gave notice that he would re- 
sign from the editorial chair of the Salt 
Lake Tribune if that paper could not 
adopt a more dignified crusade against 
the Mormon leaders than by referring 
to some of them as the "one-eyed pirate 
of the Wahsatch," he would not now be 
calling people blackguards as an excuse 
for opening his editorial columns in de- 
fence of a blackguard. If Lannan had 
Goodwin of a few years ago could have 
been present and listened to the filth 
belched forth by Folk's slimy mouth, 
they would have* done just as some other 
respectable people did do, "got up and 
left." But perhaps Lannan and Goodwin 
of years gone by are dead. 

In conclusion, can it be possible that 
the Tribune has sunk so low that they 
actually furnished Folk with his muck, 
and are now forced to defend him in or- 
der to screen themselves? 



Find fault, if you must find fault, in 
private, if possible, and some time after 
the offense, rather than at the time.— 
Sydney Smith. 



Do the duty that lies nearest to you. 
Every duty which is hidden to wait re- 
turns with fresh duties at its back.— 
Kingsley. 



THE SOUTHERN STAR. 



109 



History of the Southern States Mission* 

(Continued from page 101.) 

September, 1895— 

On the evening of the 5th inst. Elders 
O. S. Taylor and C. W. Nibley, Jr., 
stopped with a family at Oak Grove, 
Westmoreland county, Virginia, where 
they were treated quite cool. Next morn- 
ing before taking their departure the 
Elders asked for a drink of water, which 
was given them by a woman who was 
a Baptist missionary worker. Taking 
their leave, they had not journeyed far 
when both were taken violently ill and 
for about five hours were subjected to 
almost incessant vomiting. Upon, recov- 
ering the Elders administered to each 
other, and immediately both felt relieved. 
The Elders were confident the water 
given them was poisoned, and that noth- 
ing but the hand of the Lord delivered 
them from its fatal effects. 

Upon his return from Utah President 
Kimball went direct to Kentucky, where 
he met the Elders in conference capacity 
at Hawesville, Hancock county, Sept. 
14th and 15th. All Elders laboring in 
the state were in attendance. Five public 
and three priesthood meetings were held. 
At the public meetings there was a large 
attendance, who heard the plan of salva- 
tion taught as was laid down by our 
Savior. Through the prayer of faith 
Elders Naylor and Spencer were healed, 
besides several believers were adminis- 
tered unto with good results. It was a 
time of great rejoicing among Elders and 
Saints. 

On the 21st and 22d insts. the Middle 
Tennessee conference was held at Smyr- 
na, Rutherford county. Four public 
meetings and three priesthood meetings 
were held. Interesting remarks were 
made by the Elders and much valuable 
instruction was imparted by President 
Kimball. A very fair and intelligent au- 
dience was in attendance, an excellent 
spirit prevailing throughout the confer- 
ence. 

The person suspected of burning the 
meeting house on Kanawha Two Mile, 
West Virginia, in August, is now a ma- 
niac. Surely swift retribution follows 
the evil doer. 

During the present month the Elders 
have labored with renewed energy and 
with much success. 

General good health prevailed, except 
in the Texas Conference, where several 
of the Elders are still troubled with 
chills. 

October, 1895— 

The warm months having been largely 
devoted to revisiting Saints and friends, 
the Elders are now resuming their la- 
bors with renewed energy and spirit. 
The labors during the summer have been 
very fruitful. Many souls have been 
stirred up to greater diligence and the 
untoward transgressor handled with 
righteous justice. Thus we find new 
branches organized, old ones revived, 
Sunday Schools established and strenu- 
ous efforts being put forth to lead, en- 
courage and direct the Saints in the paths 
of truth and righteousness. 

On Oct. 1st the Florida Conference 
was established, with James A. West as 
its President. * 

Three conferences were held during 
this month. The East Tennessee con- 
, f erence was held at Mr. Westley Har- 
nett's, Anderson county, Oct. 12th and 
13th. Four public and several council 
meetings were held; the spirit of the 
Lord was abundantly poured out upon all 
who addressed the conference. A very 
favorable report of the proceedings was 
given by the Anderson County News. 



The North Alabama conference con- 
vened at Kossuth, Alcorn county, Mis- 
sissippi, Oct. 19th and 20th. The place 
selected being in an isolated and sparse- 
ly settled section, the meetings were not 
largely attended, but those present were 
fed the "Bread of Life" as it fell from 
the lips of the humble servants of the 
Lord. At the council meeting President 
Kimball instructed the Elders with much 
force and earnestness, exhorting them to 
faithfulness, thus inspiring them with re- 
newed energy and zeal. 

On the 26th, 27th and 28th insts. the 
South Carolina conference was held at 
Lake City, Williamsburg county. The 
meetings were held in a spacious 
bowery which had been erected for the 
occasion. They were largely attended, 
some of the Saints and friends having 
traveled a distance of twenty miles in 
order to be present. In this, as in the 
other conferences, the Elders bore their 
testimonies and spoke upon the first 
principles of the Gospel. President Kim- 
ball's remarks were characterized with 
much force and plainness. This confer- 
ence is one of the largest in the mission. 
The labors of the Elders have been very 
successful, one hundred baptisms having 
taken place since the holding of the pre- 
vious conference. 

During October thirty Elders arrived 
from Zion, the largest number that has 
ever yet arrived in one month. 
(To Be Continued.) 



In Maiden Meditation. 

As I sit in my room looking out of th»» 
window at the violets and lilacs and applo 
blossoms; as the odor of the spring flow- 
ers and the fruit trees in bloom arises 
on the warm spring air and comes in at 
my casement window; as the hum of the 
dusty, yellow, busy bee reaches my ear 
and the silvery twitter of the birds comes 
pouring about me; how like, I think, is 
all the world to our busy human life. 
Those springing flowers, they are like 
children and young people, tender, frag- 
ile, innocent, not yet tried by the storms 
of life; not yet hardened or shriveled by 
the tierce heats, the passion of summer; 
nor ripened by the quiet, dreamy au- 
tumn, nor saddened by early frosts, nor 
chilled by the storms of winter. 

Our minds are like the garden below 
my window. If carefully tilled and 
seeded in the spring time, a divine power 
will cause them to bring forth flowers 
and fruits. If they are not cultivated 
they will be overrun with weeds. 

It is not enough, either, that we simply 
strive to keep down the weeds, without 
planting any seeds of wholesome fruits 
or lovely flowers; for even if we succeed- 
ed in this, our minds would simply be 
barren — a mental waste — a desert — like 
the alkali flats on the great American 
desert, or the burning sands of the Saha- 
ra. 

It should not be our only duty to sim- 
ply keep out evil seeds, we must plant 
good seed as well, which are sown only 
by the Good Sower, our Lord and Savior. 

We cannot neglect to sow wheat, for 
the enemy will sow tares. He will come 
in the night, or when we are not aware, 
and fill our minds with evil, our mental 
soil with thorns and thistles. 

Unless onr mind is filled with good 
growths, the enemy will have easy ac- 
cess and will find a soil ready prepared 
for him. 

"An idle brain is the devil's work- 
shop;" or as another proverbial line de- 
clares, "For Satan finds some mischief 
still for idle hands to do." 

The enemy Qf our souls has always the 
power to put evil into our minds unless 
we have filled our minds with good. We 
may not always be able to keep out the 
suggestions of the adversary, evil 
thoughts may arise unsought, evil prompt- 
ings may uninvited beckon or urge us to 



wrong, but these things cannot take root 
without our sanction. 

We can drive them away from us. We 
can refuse shelter to these birds of ill 
omen, these seeds of evil. "Resist the 
devil and he will flee from you," says the 
apostle. And he adds: "Draw nigh unto 
God and He will draw nigh unto you." 

This is the secret then; not simply to 
resist evil, but also to do good; not mere- 
ly the negative don't, but the positive do; 
not merely the exclusion of evil, but the 
cultivation of good; not the living up and 
weeding out of the tares, but the sowing 
and watering of the good seed so that our 
minds shall be gardens of the Lord filled 
with flowers and good fruits; that it may 
be said of us as the Prophet said of Is- 
rael in olden time: "How goodly are 
thy tents, O Jacob, and thy tabernacles, 

Israel!" 

As the valleys are they spread forth, 
as gardens by the rivers side; as the 
trees of lign-aloes which the Lord hath 
planted, and as cedar trees beside the 
waters. ' 

BEN B OLT. 

Abstracts From Correspondence. 

Elder Jas. H. Sullivan, of North Car- 
olina Conference, writes to the Star and 
says that in the spring of 1898 he was 
convinced that the Gospel of Jesus Christ 
had been restored to the earth through 
the great Latter-day Prophet, Joseph 
Smith. He says: 

"On March 20th of the same year I 
was baptized by Elder Lewis Swenson, 
and since that time I have greatly re- 
joiced in the cause of truth. In October, 
1899, I was notified that my service was 
needed in the missionary field, and was 
called to labor in Goldsboro, N. C. It was 
here I was set apart for my labor and or- 
dained to the Melchisedek Priesthood by 
Elder Lyman. I was afterwards called 
to labor in Onslow county, in company 
with Elder F. A. Gay. Since that time 

1 have seen the promises of, the Savior 
fulfilled (Mark 16-17). I have seen the 
sick healed, heard the gift of tongues, 
and interpretations, etc. Therefore I 
feel to bear my testimony to the truth- 
fulness of the Gospel of Christ. I know 
that Joseph Smith was a true Prophet 
of God; that the kingdom which Daniel 
saw (Dan. 2-44) has been set up, never 
more to be thrown down, and that the 
signs are truly following the Latter-day 
Saints." 

Brother J. C. Milsted, of Quitman, 
Miss., writes interestingly of his conver- 
sion to the Mormon faith. He, like 
many others, had preconceived notions 
and ideas of our faith, but unlike many 
of his fellow-Christians he set to work 
to show them wherein they were wrong, 
and, as he thought, pointing out to them 
the better way. He says that it was only 
a matter of a very short time before he 
was convinced to his entire satisfaction 
that the Elders were masters of the sit- 
uation, and that he was as the clay in 
the potter's hands. The evil spirit at 
first tempted him to rise in open rebel- 
lion, and like many others use brute 
force, but on a second and more sober 
thought knew that the impulse was not 
from a divine source, and banished it 
from his heart. "I was invited to go to 
the Scriptures and search out the plan 
of salvation as taught by the Master. 
Like a flash of lightning it burst upon 
me that indeed I had only a dead form, 
holding fast to the letter, but refusing 
the living word. I now made a study of 
the word of God as never before, and 
am pleased to say to all men that the 
Gospel of Christ is upon the earth, with 
all of its gifts and powers and blessings. 
I was baptized on Oct. 1st, 1899, by El- 
der E. R. DeWitt, and am rejoicing 
much in the truth." 



110 



THE SOUTHERN STAR. 




$ Mormons and Mormon ism 
\ By a Non-Mormon. 

Copyrighted. 
[Printed by Permission of the Author, Chas. Ellis, Salt Lake City, Utah.] 



> 
> 



(Continued from page 102.) 
Had the Mormons been Methodists the 
praises sung over their success in Utah 
would have been heard around the world. 
But if they had been Methodists they 
would not have been driven out of the 
United States. Had they been bogus 
Christians they would have been too busy 
sending other people to hell to have ever 
thought of colonizing on a barren desert 
1,000 miles from heretics. The sublime 
industry and heroic achievements of the 
Mormons among the mountains of the 
west have been studiously ignored and 
viciously misrepresented, not because of 
any real or suspected immorality or 
menace to "the American home," but sim- 
ply and solely because they were heretics 
to other sects. Anti-Mormonism never 
did and does not now care for polygamy 
— it hates the Mormon Churcn. A mean, 
whisky-guzzling government official in 
Utah once said to me : "Damn 'em, all 'e 
rights 'e Morm's hez is t' pay taxes! 
*Fthey don' tike that I'm gitout!" That 
was for years the anti-Mormon spirit 
in Salt Lake City. The struggle was to 
get control and tax the Mormons out. 
That, too, was done largely. That is, 
many of the poorer Mormons were forced 
to leave their homes in the city on ac- 
count of increased taxation levied by 
anti-Mormon officials. That old spirit is 
now revived by this new crusade, not be- 
cause of polygamy but because the Mor- 
mons were compelled to take the power to 
levy taxes out of the hands of their ene- 
mies. 

A popular impression has been craftily 
created bv the anti-Mormons of Utah that 
its priesthood and polygamy are the cause 
of all hostility to Mormonism. The shal- 
lowness of the pretense is easily seen 
when you consider that the most vicious 
of anti-Mormons accept the Bible as the 
infalliable word and will of God. Yet the 
Bible teaches priesthood and polygamy. 
Hence priesthood and polygamy cannot 
be the secret of anti-Mormomsm. The 
Protestants have been trying for a cen- 
tury to get God into our national con- 
stitution and to make Jesus Christ the 
ruler of the nation. Catholics and Pro- 
testants outnumber ivlormons a thousand 
to one. As long as they believe in the- 
ocracy they cannot quarrel with the Mor- 
mons for holding the same belief. But 
if they were afraid the Mormons might 
get into the kingdom ahead of them they 
would become jealous, and jealousy is the 
womb of hate. The evangelical churches 
fought Mormonism from its appearance, 
not because of polygamy and priesthood, 
for there was neither priesthood nor po- 
lygamy in it then, but because it was a 
more enticing faith than their own. Mor- 
monism was running smoothly and grow- 
ing rabidly without original sin, total de- 
pravity and eternal torment as its steady 
theological u.et. Therefore, it was infi- 
delity. Therefore, it must be destroyed. 
Advocates of the undying worm, the lake 
of fire and the endless roast drove the 
Mormons out of the United States. When 
they made the Utah desert a prosperous 
land, adventurers crowded in to make 
speculation and riot amon$ them, but 
found them united against invaders. That 
was put down against them. Yet a peo- 
ple driven into exile five times would be 
idiotic not to unite for their own protect- 
ion and, as soon as possible, prepare them- 
selves to refuse to be driven aeain. When 
their old enemies learned what advance- 
ment the Mormons had made in Utah 
they came to send them to perdition again, 
but it was too late. Then the'- raised the 



outcry against polygamy. That brought 
in the aid of congress, the destruction of 
the incorporated church and the confisca- 
tion of church property, but did not crush 
Mormonism. A thousand polygamists 
went, to the penitentiary, and still Mor- 
monism would not collapse. The Mor- 
mons did not hanker after salvation from 
a hot spell in another life. They were 
too busy. They had hell enough here. 
There was no brimstone in their concep- 
tion of the hereafter. A few might fal- 
ter, but the mass stood by their faith, sub- 
mitted as best they could to the insolence 
of their enemies, waiting upon the Lord 
to rescue them. Then came the scheme 
to disfranchise them. Disfranchisement 
was the culmination of forty years of ef- 
fort to conquer the Mormons. If this ca- 
lamity should fall the people would be 
at the mercy of unscrupulous legislators 
who would practice the sentiment of him 
who said all the rights the Mormons had 
were to "pay taxes" or "git out." Be- 
fore this danger the leader yielded and 
declared that to save the people from ruin 
he would take no more plural wives (he 
was then about 90) himself and would 
advise his people to do likewise. That 
was in September, 1890. Two weeks la- 
ter the church, in conference, accepted 
the advice of its president that polyga- 
mous marriages should cease. 

Then it was seen that the Mormons 
would not abandon their homes — that 
their persecutors should not grow rich up- 
on property the fleeing Saints must sacri- 
fice. They had conquered by yielding, 
and there was no other scheme to be 
sprung upon them. Those who hoped to 
crush Mormonism were forced to ac- 
cept the situation. The old political sta- 
tus disappeared and Mormons and Gen- 
tiles came together as democrats or re- 
publicans, each party seeking to gain con- 
trol of available public offices. Men who 
had for years studied how they might 
throw increased difficulties upon the Mor- 
mons were tumbling over each other in 
their eagerness to reach the Mormon 
leaders, to profess their profound esteem 
and to make known their willingness to 
aid the Latter Day Saints by accepting 
office at their hands. The new love was 
touching, but was it sincere? We shall 
see. The Mormons were rejoiced to find 
at last an atmosphere of at least seem- 
ing peace about them, and gladly gave 
their old enemies the offices they desired. 
The offices secured, the men who were go- 
ing to "boom Utah" proceeded to a reck- 
lessness of 'improvement" that increased 
public debt and taxes to an alarming de- 
gree. The Mormons disliked to protest; 
they could not "grin," so they bore it 
with long, sober faces. Then statehood 
was secured and the Mormons began to 
elect their own more cautions men. The 
new lovers, chiefly office seekers, scented 
defeat. The old snarl appeared. Startled 
politicians appealed to willing ministers 
who needed funds sadly — and the old out- 
cry against the Mormons and polygamy 
was revived in 1898. 

THE NEW CRUSADE. 

What basis is there for this renewed 
fight against the Mormons? When Wil- 
ford Woodruff declared that he would 
advise the people to cease plural mar- 
riage, and when his advice was accepted 
by vote of the church, there were men 
living in Utah who were already in polyg- 
amy. Most of them were old men, yet 
there were young and middle-aged men 
who had more than one wife. All through 
the government fight against polygamy 
these men had lived with their wives as 



far as they could in secrecy. Would they 
be likely to abandon their wives when 
peace had been received? 

To the Mormons, marriage is one of the 
most sacred of their ordinances. It is 
solemnized by a priest in the name of 
God. It is "sealed' in heaven also and 
is to continue forever. The true Mormon 
cannot ignore the claims of his plural 
wife without bein? false to his vows ana 
his God. No manifesto ot Wilford Wood- 
ruff, no vote of a conference, could an- 
nul a plural marriage or engage that 
any Mormon should cease to care for his 
plural wives. This fact was as well 
known by every non-Mormon in Utah in 
1890 as it is today. It was understood 
by every gentile politician, by every rep 
lesentative of the government, by every 
minister in Utah that polygamists had 
been all along secretly living with their 
polygamous wives. All knew that this 
would continue, yet all agreed that no 
further notice should be taken of the 
matter and polygamy should be left to die 
.its natural death. That understanding 
reached, no further eiiort was made to 
arrest "cohabs." Polygamists lived open- 
ly with their wives and, as was expected, 
children were here and there born — in 
one instance, at least, we hear of "twins." 
So matters stood from the close >f 1890 
for seven years. In 1897 we had a semi- 
centennial celebration of the arrival ot 
the pioneer Mormons. In that "jubilee 1 " 
Moimons and non-Mormons all joined 
heartily, including the ministers who have 
since become rabid anti-Mormons, includ- 
ing also the editor of the anti-Mormon 
Eaper who was so harmonious then that 
e delivered an address when the Brig- 
ham Young statue was unveiled, who was 
so far inspired by the holy ghost or some 
other spirit (he is more familiar with 
other spirits) as to declare in his paper 
that the Mormons had founded here the 
"new civilization. Yet at that very mo- 
ment he and all non-Mormons in Utah 
knew that those who were in polygamy 
when "the manifesto" was issued, in 1890, 
had been living openly with their wives 
for seven years and that children were 
being born in some of the families. No 
objection was made, I repeat, until the 
Mormons, to stay the increase of public 
debt, begun to fill important public offices 
with prudent men of their own faith. 
There is no evidence that the church had 
anything to do with this. It was the work 
of men who owned property, and were 
anxious to protect it. That this is true is 
seen in subsequent political action. A ma- 
jority of the Mormons are democrats. The 
democrats were rapidly getting control of 
the state. In the municipal election of 
Salt Lake last November the republicans 
elected their ticket over a known demo- 
cratic majority of voters. Why? Be- 
cause the republicans ran their canvass 
on the line of the anti-Mormon elections 
of a decade ago— the gentile democrat vo- 
ted the republican ticket. That is, while 
the Mormons have kept the compact 
made when the people divided on nation- 
al party lines, in 1891, the others have 
largely broken it and we have now the 
democratic and republican parties with 
the republican party working as an anti- 
Mormon party largely. The excitement 
in Washington over the fact that the re- 
publican Utah postmasters at Provo and 
Logan have been all along in the same 
boat with democratic Roberts is amus- 
ing because of the frantic efforts of men to 
show that they did not know that those 
men were old polygamists and had been 
living with their wives since the "mani- 
festo*' of 1890. Of course they knew it 
No man could have lived in Utah since 
1890 without knowing it. From 1890 un- 
til statehood came United States district 
attorney and marshal for Utah knew it 
and yet so generally was it understood 
that the old condition was to be left to 
die of old age that those officers made 
almost no effort to disturb "cohabs." The 
postmasters in Provo and Logan were 
chosen because they were influential re- 
publicans^nd their wives did not count 
—then. The anxiety over them now is 
that this excitement will defeat the hope 
of the republicans to carry Utah in 



THE SOUTHERN STAR. 



Ill 



1900, and when this whole matter is anal- 
yzed it is found that the anti-Mormon 
agtitators of Utah, with one exception, 
are republicans, and the exception is a 
democrat who, having most earnestly de- 
fended the Mormons ten years ago, was 
not recognized by them when they were 
distributing political offices. The Cath- 
olics in Utah are democrats and they 
have taken no part in this crusade. But 
the evangelical ministers and sects are 
republican. The Mormons are democrats, 
largely. The ministers have worked hard 
for 25 years to "save" the Mormons 
And yet have never "saved" one who was 
in good standing in his own church. 
When polygamy was given up, eastern 
interests in Utah missions fell, funds 
went low and the wolf was howling in 
the back yard. The politicians who had 
lived for years on salaries as government 
officers or later in state or city offices 
were in the same "fix"— they had to 
raise hell or starver-they did the first 
and, if I am not much mistaken, will do 
the second also or— "git out." 
(To Be Continued.) 

Florida Conference. 

Written for the Southern Star. 

Some two months ago a circular letter 
was sent out by President C. G. Parker 
to the Elders of the Florida Conference, 
rotifyiug them that they would meet in 
the city of Jacksonville in conference 
Feb. 11-12, 3000. Pursuant to instruc- 
tions in this letter, the metropolis of the 
"Land of Flowers" had for special guests 
in her hotels Saturday night, Feb. 10th, 
forty-four servants of God. The Elders 
entered the city in good health and high 
spirits. 

Arranffemcnti. 

President C. G. Parker and his first 
counselor, George W. Skidmore, entered' 
the city Feb. 1st for the purpose of rent- 
ing a hall and making arrangements 
with hotels. In order that the flames of 
public prejudice might not be fanned by 
that class of people who disregard the 
heavenly injunction, "Prove all things," 
the public was kept oblivious of our pur- 
poses until Saturday evening, Feb. 10th, 
when handbills were scattered through 
the entire city. After making arrange- 
ments with hotels they secured the use 
of the Park Opera House, also having 
2,000 attractive hand-bills printed. The 
two leading newspapers, "The Florida 
Times-Union and Citizen" and "The 
Metropolis," were paid to advertise our 
meetings through their columns, but 
were forced by public opinion to break 
their contract, not having backbone 
enough to stand for the right by keeping 
their word of honor in the face of public 
opposition. 

Morning: Session— Sunday, Feb, 11th, 
lOOO. 

Eleven o'clock was the hour appointed 
to meet in the morning service. Before 
the hour arrived the forty-four Elders 
were seated in a circle on the stage. They 
were anxiously waiting for President 
Rich to put in his appearance. The par- 
quet was now filling up with people: 
about fifty Saints seated themselves near 
the stage. When the short hand on the 
clock pointed to 11 meeting was called 
to order by President C. G. Parker, who 
made a few introductory remarks, stat- 
ing the object of our visit to the metrop- 
olis, lie also made mention of President 
Rich's delay, stating tnat he would in 
all probability arrive on the 2 o'clock 
train. The fifteen selected singers then 
sang "Beautiful Day of Rest," after 
which the invocation was offered by El- 
der G. W. Williams. The hymn, "When 
shall we meet the dear Savior above," 
was next rendered. President C. G. 
Parker then announced the receipt of a 
telegram from President Rich, which 



stated that the train was delayed and he 
would arrive about 2:30 p.m. 

Elder E. L. Pomeroy was then intro- 
duced as the first speaker. He spoke at 
some length on the unchangeableness of 
the Gospel, bearing testimony that the 
Gospel of Christ was the power of God 
unto salvation. Following Elder Pom- 
eroy's remarks a quartette was rendered 
by Elders Parker, Sutherland, Busham 
and Lindberg. Elder N. U. S. C. Jenson 
was introduced as the next speaker. He 
discoursed nearly . an hour on the neces- 
sity of continuous revelation. "O, my 
Father," was sung by the choir, after 
which the benediction was offered. 
Afternoon Senalon— 2t30 P. M. 

President Ben E. Rich and Counselor 
L. R. Anderson arrived on the 2 o'clock 
train. In a very few minutes after 
alighting from the cars they were on the 
stage of the Park Opera House, shaking 
hands with the Elders. Promptly at 
2:30 meeting was called to order by 
President C. G. Parker. A fair and 
representative congregation was present. 
After opening exercises President Ben 
E. Rich arose and spoke on persecution. 
He spoke to the point and made plain 
the fact that persecution was a heritage 
of the Saints of God; and that it was a 
distinguishing characteristic of those 
whom God had chosen out of the world. 
President Rich was followed by Coun- 
selor Li. R. Anderson, who spoke on the 
loyalty of the Latter-day Saints, citing 
as proofs such incidents as the ready re- 
sponse of President Young to the call of 
the chief executive of the nation in the 
days of the war with Mexico — the un- 
furling to the breeze of the stars and 
stripes on Mexican soil, 2,000 miles away 
from civilization. 

Singing, "Praise to the man," etc. 

Benediction was offered by President 
Ben E. Rich. 

Evening Session— 7 130 P.M. 

When the hour of commencing arrived 
the parquette of the Opera House was 
nearly filled, and people were still com- 
ing in. Meeting' was called to order 
promptly at the hour appointed by Pres- 
ident Parker. After the opening exer- 
cises President Rich quietly arose and 
stepped to a table standing on the center 
of the stage. In an unassuming manner 
he introduced his subject by reading 
Gal. 1 :8 and 2 John 9:10. Having read 
this Scripture he stepped out a little 
nearer the front of the stage and entered 
into a detailed elucidation of the first 
four principles of the Gospel. The audi- 
ence remained silent until the speaker 
made reference to the mode of baptism. 
At this juncture a number showed, by 
withdrawing, that they belonged to the 
class of which Paul wrote: "The time 
will come when they will not endure 
sound doctrine, but after their own lusts 
will they heap to themselves teachers 
having itching ears." After the speaker 
had shown what one must do to be saved 
—quoting Acts 2:38— he cited the condi- 
tion of Christendom as proof that the 
world was not abiding in the doctrine of 
Christ. In alluding to the departure of 
Christendom from the Gospel annunci- 
ated by the Master, the President made 
reference to preaching for hire. He said 
Peter and Paul's way of preaching was 
out of fashion now. Eternal punishment 
was* dwelt upon at some length. The 
speaker said that the "Big Hell," "Big 
Heaven" doctrine was responsible, to a 
great extent, for infidelity. At times, 
while the President was defending the 
justice of God by making plain the fact 
that all mankind would be judged accord- 
ing to their works, people in the audi- 
ence could be heard to say: "That's 



so." He concluded his convincing and 
eloquent discourse by inviting the public 
to investigate the tenets of the Latter- 
day Saints, saying "there is more in 
Mormonism than you think." 

Singing, "We thank Thee, O God, for 
a Prophet." 

Benediction, Elder L. R. Anderson. 

When the house was cleared the Elders 
were called to order on the stage by 
President Rich. The release of Presi- 
dent C G. Parker was announced. Pres- 
ident Ben E. Rich said, in 'allusion to 
President Parker's work: "If the 
church can be as well satisfied with my 
labors when I am released as I am with 
President Parker's, I will be satisfied." 
Elder George W. Skidmore was then ap- 
pointed to succeed President Parker. 
Priesthood Meeting?. 

At 9 o'clock Monday morning, Feb. 
12th, the Elders, with President Rich, 
Counselor Anderson and a few Saints, 
met at the Opera House in council meet- 
ing. After a quartette was rendered by 
Elders Parker, Bushman, Sutherland 
and Lindburg, prayer was offered by 
President Parker. After each Elder had 
been questioned by President Rich rela- 
tive to his feelings, etc., President Park- 
er made a few remarks relative to his 
labors in the Florida Conference. Elder 
H. L. Wester, of Sanderson, Fla., next 
expressed himself as feeling well in the 
Gospel, being followed by Thomas Ca- 
nova, of Valdosta, Ga., who also felt 
well. President Rich then arose and 
spoke in power, making reference to 
many special duties of the itinerant El- 
der; urged faithfulness, purity and in- 
tegrity. Before the close of meeting the 
names of Sister Andrews, of Jackson- 
ville, and Elder A. C. Jacobson were 
presented to the conference to be prayed 
for. President Rich offered the closing 
prayer, making mention of these two 
names. At 2 o'clock the Elders received 
their assignments to field of labor. 
Conclusion. 

This conference was the most success- 
ful of any held of late years in Florida, 
and President Rich complimented the 
Elders on their arrangements. A 
great deal of prejudice has been 
allayed I have been in the city 
several days since conference and have 
met with several people that were in at- 
tendance Sunday night, and they say 
they have never heard anything like it 
in their lives, being much pleased with 
the services. 

N. IT. S. C. JENSON, 
Clerk of Conference. 



South Carolina Conference. 

The South Carolina Conference con- 
vened at Columbia Saturday and Sunday, 
February 3d and 4th, in what is known 
as the Krentzlin Hall on Main street. 
Those attending the meetings enjoyed the 
services very much, notwithstanding their 
disappointment in not having Pres. Ben. 
E. Rich present, he being called to Ohio 
on business. The first public meeting was 
held Saturday night being well attended. 
Pres. Sylvester Low called the meeting to 
order and after the opening exercises in- 
troduced Pres. L. R. Anderson as first 
speaker. Elder Anderson said that Mor- 
monism, so called, is no idle dream, but 
the pure Gospel of Jesus Christ, that we 
should not judge a thing before hearing it, 
for our Savior was condemned by the peo- 
ple because they did not understand, nor 
would they listen to reason. In closing 
he would state that the Bible contains no 
record of the gifts and blessings enjoyed 
by the ancient saints, being done away, 
but bore a strong testimonv to the signs 
and blessings being enjoyed today. 

Elder Opensl-aw was the next speaker 



112 



THE SOUTHERN STAR. 



REPORT OF MISSION CONFERENCES FOR WEEK ENDING FEB. 10, 1900. 



PRBSID > 



David H. Elton 

HebenS. Olson 

B.F.kice 

Job n Peterson 

W. D. Bencher 

T. H. Humphi 
Geo. W. Skidmore 
J. Urban Allre4.„. 

J. M. Haws 

tiylvester Low, Jr.. 

O. D. Flake „ 

W. W. MacKay...... 

J. N. Miller. 

W.H. Boyle. 

L. M.Terry 

Geo. E. Maycock ... 




t hrtttanooga .., 

Virginia- .... 

Kentucky 

£. Tennessee... 

Georgia,, 

N. Al>i'',>[iia..... 

FlOTtdft 

Mid. Ten u 

N.Carolina... .. 

S Carolina 

Mf«tfrfsHippl„.„. 
E. Kentucky*... 
Louisiana........ 

S. Alabama , 

N\ Kentucky,,.,. 
Ohio M11 




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Richmond. Box 388 „„ 

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Col umbns .,. „, ,„. t .« 

Memphis. Box JM. „.„„.„ 

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Gold; bora. Box W24 

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Hughes fipur,-,>, ...»**, 

Bridge Creek.. 

Hairdad, Box 77. „ 

KW BetU ftt.> Cincinnati,,, 



Tunne*bee. 

Virginia. 

Kentucky 

S. Carolina, 

Georgia. 

Ten 1 1 > 'J..H- 1 ■ 

Florida. 

Tennessee. 

N. Carolina, 

S. Carolina, 

M ■'■•-■>* IT, j. I, 

Kentucky. 

Louisiana. 

Florida. 

Kentucky. 

Ohio, 



introduced ami by scripture and reason 
showed that tbe words uttered by the ser- 
vants of God today were as binding as in 
ancient times, that Noah did not prove 
his words from the Bible, but delivered 
the word of the Lord as he received it di- 
rect from Heaven. In conclusion Elder 
Openshaw said that the commission given 
to the twelve did not call Paul or those 
chosen after, but a new revelation must be 
given from Heaven. If that be the case 
then why not men be called today by new 
inspiration and not take the honor unto 
themselves? 

Sunday at 10 a. m. meeting was called 
to order by Counselor Ray Mecham. 
Singing — How Firm a Foundation. In- 
vocation by W. J. Hunnicutt. Singing — 
Praise to the Man. 

Elder Bolin being called to speak took 
as his text 2nd Peter, 1 :20. He referred 
to the fact that he was born in South 
Carolina, migrating at the age of 13 to 
Utah. He also stated that the people 
there were not as misrepresented by their 
opponents. 

Elder M. M. Norman then spoke upon 
"The Object of Man's Existence," refer- 
ring to the words of Amos, "Prepare to 
Meet Your God." Closing hymn, Hark 
the Song of Jubilee. Benediction oy El- 
der Wood. 

A sacrament and testimony meeting was 
then held, a good spirit prevailing. At 2 
p. m. the afternoon services were called 
to order by Counselor Rav Mecham, sing- 
ing Prayer is the Soul's Sincere Desire. 

Opening prayer by Elder Oliver L. Ful- 
ler. Singing — An Angel From on High. 
A few opening remarks were made by 
Elder Mecham, who introduced to the au- 
dience President Low. In his remarks 
he plainly pointed out how a great apos- 
tacy had taken place and how again the 
true plan of salvation had been estab- 
lished in purity and plainness. The Gos- 
pel, said the speaker, was being taken to 
the rich as well as the poor. All must 
hear the message and were invited to in- 
vestigate the teachings of the Latter Day 
Saints. 

After singing, benediction was offered 
by Elder Hunnicutt. 

At the evening meeting held at 7 :30 p. 
m., remarks were made by Pres.dent Low 
and Elder Mecham, who spoke npon the 
existing conditions of todav. President 
Anderson endorsed what had been paid and 
wanted people to judge us bv our fruit*. 
To consider the sacrifice made by the El- 
ders in leaving all which is near and dear 
to them to bring the message which will 
exalt mankind if they obev. Appropriate 
Hosing remarks were made by President 
Low and Conference closed by singing 
"Love at Home." Benediction by Presi- 
dent Low. 

On Saturday and Sunday preisthood 
meetings were held where much good in- 
struction was given, the sweet influence 
of the spirit filling all with joy. 

A farewell hand shake and then did 
South Carolina's noble workers go forth 
to continue their labors of aiding their 
followers in righteousness. 

OLIVER K. MESERVY. 

Clerk of Conference. 



EXHORTATION. 



By ELDER DAVID H. ELTON. 
Written for the Southern Star. 

Let us, with a willing heart 
Labor for the cause of Truth, 

While the Lord doth strength impart, 
In the bloom of joyous youth. 

With the glorious sun at dawn, 
Let us don the righteous shield; 

Onward in life's early morn- 
Forward to the battlefield. 

With the sword of Truth, in hand, 
Armored with the shield of Love, 

Soldiers of the Cross we stand, 
Trusting In 'our God above. 

ChrIst-our-SavIor,-Lord and Friend- 
Is our Captain in this frav; 

"He who conquers to the end, 
Shall be saved," we hear him say. 

'Tis a contest fierce and long; 
By the Spirit we are led; 

And our Gen'ral makes us strong- 
Equal to the task ahead. 

On Mount Zion's tow* ring height 
Stands the Holy men of God— 

These will guide our steps aright— 
In the path our Master trod. 

Humble, faithful men of power, 
Holding fast the "Iron Rod"— 

Stand as watchers on the tower, 
To declare the will of God. 

Let us heed the words they utter- 
Herein lies our safest guide. 

Do not 'gainst their counsels mutter— 
Nor the priesthood's power deride. 

Through the prophets God has spoken 

Since the earth began to roll- 
Since the first great law was broken 
Making man a mortal soul. 

Through His prophet God Is speaking 
Warning words for saints today; 

In the struggle we must seek Him 
Pay our tithing, fast and pray. 

Do not linger— Youth of ZIon! 

God our help In ages past. 
Make you fearless as the lion! 

Save you from the tempter's grasp. 

Guard against reading too much, or 
too rapidly. Read rather with attention; 
lay the book often down; impress on 
your mind what you have read and re- 
flect upon it. 



Releases and Appointments. 

Releases. 

O. I). Flake, Mississippi. 

P. E. Johnson, Mississippi. 

E. R. De Witt, Mississippi. 

J. P. Huber, Mississippi. 

D. A. Broadbent, East Kentucky. 

D. Hibbert, East Kentucky. 

W .C. Christensen, East Kentucky. 

James Titensor, Louisiana. 

M. B. Poole, Middle Tennessee. 

J. H. Belnap, Middle Tennessee. 

Transfer. 
George A. Adams, from Blast Tennes- 
see to Florida. 



THE DEAD. 



Sister Lucy G&yler died Jan. 27th, 
1900, having been a faithful Saint. 

Brother Addison Hassell, a true and 
faithful Saint, died on Wednesday, Jan. 
17th, of cancer of the eye. The deceased 
was baptized April 12tn, 1896, and has 
ever filled with patience the positions of 
trust given him. 



Sister Gernthy Rowenbark departed 
this life Jan. 16th, 1900. She was bap- 
tized in the fall of 1898, and although 
looked upon with scorn by many she had 
befriended (for she was an angel of 
mercy to friend and foe), remained firm 
to the end. 



Word of the death of Elder Henry 
Ward Berg at Christiana, Norway, was 
received at the President's office, Salt 
Lake City, a few days ago. He was a 
resident of Provo, the son of O. H. Berg, 
the undertaker, and was set apart for his 
mission on Oct. 13th last. Deceased was 
born in August, 1878. The cause of his 
death was not given. 



Sister Mary Maynard, residing at Bo- 
zarth, DeKalb county, Tennessee, passed 
away Wednesday, Feb. 21st. She was 23 
years of age, having been a member of 
the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter- 
day Saints but a short time. In her trials 
and suffering she was ever patient, and 
leaves a husband, one child and a host 
of friends to mourn her loss. Sister May- 
nard bore a faithful testimony to the 
Gospel of our Lord and Savior. 

E. E. KILGROW. 



Elder Stewart. 

We are pained to say that a telegram 
received at this office announces that 
Elder Alva Stewart, of Mesa, Ariz., died 
at that place on Feb. 26th. pider Stew- 
art arrived home from the Southern 
States on the 24th. He was sick when 
he left Chattanooga the night of Feb. 
19th, but it was not thought the same 
would result seriously. He labored in 
the South Carolina Conference and was 
a tireless worker and filled with the 
spirit of his mission. Particulars of his 
death will be given our readers as soon 
as they are received. 



Guilt makes a man a coward; to be 
truly brave keep a clear conscience. 



Sorrow, it should be remembered, is 
within us, and not in the things about 
us; so it is with joy. 



In the United States and the United 
Kingdom the annual consumption of al- 
cohol averages one gallon per head. 




"BUT THOUGH WE, OR AN ANGEL FROM HEAVEN .PPEACH ANY 
PTHER &05PEL UNTO YOU THAN THAT WHICH WE 

HAVE PBEACHED UNTQ YOU, LET BIM BE ACCURSED* ft* Vff?J^ 



•XPWStiH' 



gs - 



Vol. 2. 



Chattanooga, Tknn., Saturday, March 10, 1900. 



No. 15. 



Sketch of the Life of President Wilford Woodruff 



BY APOSTLE MATHIA8 F. COWLEY. 




The great and good man whose name 
and photograph appears with this number 
of the Star, was the Fourth President of 
the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day 
Saints. He was born March 1st, 1807, in 
Farmington, (now called Avon) Hartford 
county, Connecticut. He, like his prede- 
cessors in the prophetic office of the 



PRESIDENT WILFORD WOODRUFF. 

Church, came of a sturdy, industrious race 
of men and women. His progenitors were 
among the early settlers of New England. 
They figured nobly in the American rev- 
olution, and naturally transmitted to pos- 
terity a love of liberty, and traits which go 
to make patriots and martyrs. Wilford 
Woodruff possessed all these admirable 



qualities of character. These were crown- 
ed with a veneration for God, and a strong 
religious element in his being which led 
him in early youth to the consideration of 
spiritual subjects. He was also very in- 
dustrious. His father, Aphek Woodruff, 
was a miller, and Wilford assissted him 
in , running the Farmington grist mills, 



114 



THE SOUTHERN STAR. 



and, though tender in years, proved him- 
self a man in thought and labor. From 
1827 to 1832 he run a flour mill, for his 
aunt. Although religious he did not join 
any denomination until he was 26 years of 
age, because he found none which harmon- 
ized in doctrine and organization with the 
Church of Christ as described in the New 
Testament. When only a boy he would 
ask his Sunday school teacher why there 
were no Apostles and Prophets in this age, 
as in olden times. The answer he re- 
ceived only tended to disgust him with 
sectarianism. It was the same old story, 
"Apostles and Prophets are all done away 
with because no longer needed," and yet 
with all the learning of modern ministers 
they were unable to come to a unity of the 
faith as taught by the Savior and his 
Apostles. Under these circumstances Wil- 
ford Woodruff could only turn to the Lord 
in prayer for guidance, and find comfort 
in reading and believing the Prophecies 
and doctrines of the Holy Bible. In 1832 
he felt a strong inspiration to go to Rhode 
Island. Why, he did not know, and hav- 
ing already arranged to remove with his 
brother, Azmon Woodruff, to Richland, 
Oswego county, New York, he did not 
heed the inspiration to visit Rhode is- 
land, but moved to the state of New York. 
They purchased a- farm and saw mill, 
settling down to the business of farming 
and milling. On the 29th of Dec. 1833, 
over a year from the time they left Con- 
necticut, two Elders, Zera Pulsipher and 
Elijah Cheeney, came to that section 
preaching that an angel had visited the 
earth ; restored the Everlasting Gospel, 
and that Joseph Smith was a Prophet of 
the Lord. Wilford and Azmon Woodruff 
went to hear them preach, immediately 
receiving a testimony of the genuineness 
o£ their message, and offered themselves 
for Baptism. Wilford Woodruff was bap- 
tized into the Church of Jesus Christ of 
Latter-day Saints Dec. 31st, 1833, by 
Zera Pulsipher. He and his brother who 
also embraced the Gospel, immediately 
read the Book of Mormon and received a 
testimony of its truth. About this time 
Bro. Woodruff learned that at the time he 
received the impression to visit Rhode Is- 
land there were Elders preaching in that 
state, and had he gone there, the oppor- 
tunity to receive the Gospel would have 
been afforded him one year earlier. How- 
ever, his prayers were answered, the truth 
had come, iie lived in a day of Apostles, 
Prophets, Gifts and blessings, and his joy 
was indescribable. From that hour until 
ho departed for a better sphere Wilford 
Woodruff proved by a life of devotion to 
the cause of God that he was grateful for 
his existence in this age of the world. As 
a peculiar coincidence when Joseph, the 
Prophet, was writing his Journal, some 
time later, having learned of Bro. Wood- 
ruff embracing the Gospel, and notwith- 
standing hundreds were being baptized, 
Joseph not knowing him, wrote under date 
of Dec. 31st, 1833. "This day Wilford 
Woodruff was baptized." To those who 
note the purposes of the Almighty in the 
destiny and history of his noble Prophets, 
may this brief statement of Joseph Smith 
not be truly taken as prophetic ; indicative 
of the great character that Wilford Wood- 
ruff proved to be and foreshadowing his 
great destiny in the work of the Lord in 
the Last Days. Jan. 2d, 1834, a branch 
was organized in Richland and Bro. 
Woodruff was ordained a Teacher. In 
February he walked sixty miles to visit 
the Saints in the town of Fabius with 
Elder Holton. During this winter Elder 
Parley P. Pratt and others visited Rich- 
land. Elder Pratt became much impress- 
ed with Bro. Woodruff and immediately 
told him that his duty was to repair to 
Kirtland, join Zion's Camp, and go with 
that body to Missouri. He took this coun- 
cil, closed his business in Richland, and 
left for Kirtland, where he arrived April 
25, 1834. He was invited to be the guest 
of the Prophet Joseph Smith, which in- 
vitation he accepted, having a glorious 
time in his acquaintance with the Prophet 
and other leading men of the Church. 
May 1st. 1834, he started with Zion's 
Camp for Missouri, which journey was 



accomplished with considerable hardship, 
but throughout all the varied experiences 
incidental to the journey, Wilford Wood- 
ruff was, like Caleb and Joshua, among 
the number who sustained the Phophet, 
and never complained nor murmured be- 
cause of trial and privation. This exper- 
ience went to prove the metal of the men, 
and prepare them for positions of respon- 
sibility in the Church. After accomplish- 
ing all that could be done as a body, the 
Prophet advised the young men without 
families to remain in Missouri. Bro. 
Woodruff sojourned with Lyman Wight 
in Clay county, spending the summer quar- 
rying rock, cutting wheat, making brick 
and in other kinds of hard manual labor. 
During this time he was possessed of a 
strong desire to go into the world and 
preach the Gospel, but did not express his 
desires, lest he should be considered as- 
piring, this being farthest from his humble 
unassuming disposition. The Lord, how- 
ever, knew the honest desire of his heart, 
and one day while walking along the road 
he was met by one of the leading Elders 
in that section, who said to him in sub- 
stance, "Bro. Woodruff, it is the will of 
the Lord that you should be ordained a 
Priest and go on a mission." Bro. Wood- 
ruff answered, "I am ready." He was or- 
dained a Priest and went on a mission to 
Arkansas and Tennessee : this was in the 
•fall of 1834. Among the remarkable ex- 
periences of this, his first mission, he was 
grossly assailed by an apostate named 
Akeman. who when Bro. Woodruff was 
leaving his premises, came towards him 
in a savage manner as if to do him vio- 
lence, when of a sudden Akeman, the 
apostate, fell dead at the feet of this hum- 
ble servant of the Lord. This event had 
been shown to Bro. Woodruff in a dream, 
though he did not understand the full 
Import, until it was fulfilled. Himself 
and companion traveled on foot without 
purse or scrip, going through Jackson 
county Missouri, where it was dangerous 
for a Latter-day Saint to be seen, and 
were frequently preserved in a providen- 
tial manner from mobocrats. 

Bro. Woodruff's first attempt at preach- 
ing was at a tavern, one Sunday in De- 
cember, 1834. He was weary from a 
long walk through mud and slush, but 
the people desired to hear him. He en- 
joyed the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, 
speaking with freedom and power, testi- 
fying to the restoration of the everlast- 
ing Gospel, in their travels they fre- 
quently lost their way and were obliged 
to wade swamps, and to avoid expenses 
would travel down some of the rivers in 
small canoes. Between Little Rock, Ar- 
kansas, and Memphis, Tenn., they be- 
came exhausted while crossing an alliga- 
tor swamp. Bro. Woodruff's companion 
left him in the swamp suffering with a 
severe pain in his back. He knelt down 
in the mud and prayed intently, when the 
Lord healed him and he went on his way 
rejoicing. Being joined by Elder Warren 
Parrish in April, 1835, they traveled to- 
gether over 700 miles in less than four 
months, preaching the Gospel every day. 
They Baptised twenty in their travels. 
Elder Parrish also ordained Bro. Wood- 
ruff an Elder, placing him in charge, of 
the branches they had organized in Ten- 
nessee. After Elder Woodruff was left 
to travel alone he extended his field of 
labor, baptized quite, a number among 
whom were several of the Campbellite 
persuasion. In 1835, he traveled 3,248 
miles, baptized 43. organized 3 branches, 
and held 170 meetings. Subsequently, in 
the spring of 1836, he traveled respect- 
ively with A. O. Smoot and Apostle Da- 
vid W. Patten. 

After performing a faithful two years' 
mission, accomplishing the conversion 
and baptism of many souls, Elder Wood- 
ruff returned to Kirtland, Ohio, in the 
fall of 1830. In May of that year ho 
was ordained into the second Quorum of 
Seventy bv Apostle Patten and Warren 
Parrish. There he received his endow- 
ments, as far as they were given in the 
Kirtland Temple, and attended school. 
On the 13th of April. 1837, he married 
Phebe W. Carter, of the State of Maine. 
A few days later he received a remarka- 



ble Patriarchal blessing under the hands 
of the Patriarch Joseph Smith, Sr. f in 
which much of his future life was plain- 
ly foretold. 

During the troubles of 1837. when 
man- leading men became embittered 
against the Prophet Joseph Smith, Wil- 
ford Woodruff was among the number 
who murmured not, and was true to the 
Prophet of the Lord. In May, 1837, he 
started on a mission to Pox Islands. En- 
route he preached the Gospel to his rela- 
tives in Connecticut and baptized a num- 
ber of them. Aug. 20, 1837, himself and 
Jonathan H. Hale landed on north Fox 
Island, where they immediately com- 
menced preaching the Gospel. The first 
fruits of their labors was Justin Eames, 
a sea captain, and his wife, who were 
baptized Sept. 3. These being the first to 
embrace the Gospel in this dispensation 
upon an island of the sea. "Great are 
the promises of the Lord unto they who 
are upon the Isles of the Sea." (Nephi.) 
Since then the Isles of the Sea have sent 
forth many souls to the fold of the good 
shepherd. A Baptist minister by the 
name of Newton first allowed them to 
preach in his chapel, then he opposed 
them, and was humiliated by seeing the 
best of his flock leave, him and embrace 
the Gospel as tausrht bv these Elders. 
Elder Ozro O. Crockett, of Preston, Ida- 
ho; who recently did missionary work 
upon Fox Islands, testifies that the aged 
people who livr»d on the Islands over GO 
vears a*?o. still remember Elder Wood- 
ruff and the remarkable work he and 
Elder Hale did in that land. Among the. 
most conspicuous features of his labors 
in their recollection is that he baptized 
the best citizens and neighbors they had 
on Fox Islands. This is true as to both 
the North and South Islands. Two 
branches of the Church were organizer] 
and the two Elders returned to Scar- 
borough. Maine, in October, where Elder 
Woodruff had left his wife with her 
father's family. 

Elders Woodruff and Hale having part- 
ed, the former returned to Fox Islands 
in November, this time accompanied by 
his wife. He continued missionary work, 
baptizing a goodly number until persecu- 
tion became so intense that he deemed it 
wisdom to return to Maine. Accompan- 
ied bv Elder James Townsend. he intro- 
duced the Oospel into the city of Bansor 
and other places in the State of Maine. 
From this labor he returned to Fox 
Islands. In harmony with counsel from 
the Prophet. Joseph, he advised the 
Saints to sell their property and accom- 
pany him to the Land of Zion. Early in 
1838 he visited Providence, New York, 
Boston and his native town, Farmington. 
Conn. In this place be preached the Gos- 
pel to and baptized his father, step- 
mother, sister and other relatives, organ- 
izing a branch of the Church. Bidding 
his relatives a loving farewell, he re- 
turned to Scarborough, Maine, where his 
first child, a daughter, was born, July 14, 
1838. 

He again visited Fox Islands to encour- 
age the Saints and prepare them for gath- 
ering to Missouri. While laboring in 
North. Vinal Haven. Aug. 0. 1838, he re- 
ceived an official communication from 
Thos. B. Marsh, President of the Twelve, 
that he had been called by Revelation in 
connection with three other brethren, to 
bear the Apostleship and occupy a place 
in the Council of the Twelve. Thus his 
early dreams of Apostolic days were com- 
ing to a living reality, in which Wilford 
Woodruff himself was to be one of the 
Apostles. He was requested to come to 
Far West Missouri, as soon as he could 
arrange his affairs. He was told that he 
should prepare himself to carry the Gos- 
pel to Great Britain, with his associates, 
the Twelve, the following year. With 
great promptness he set about preparing 
the Saints on Fox Islands to gather to 
Missouri. About one hundred people had 
embraced the Gospel chiefly through his 
labors, upon the Islands. About fifty of 
these now prepared to gather with him 
to Missouri. Bro. Nathaniel Thomas sold 
his property and had considerable money. 
To assist his brethren and sisters Bro. 
Thomas loaned them about $2,000, which 



THB SOUTHER^ STAR. 



115 



was placed in the hands of Elder Wood- 
ruff lor their benefit. With this he pur- 
chased ten new wagons, ten sets of Har- 
ness and twenty horses. When he had 
done all he could to make ready the 
Saints, he preceded them to Scarbor- 
ough, Maine, to prepare his own family 
for the journey. The company were 
counseled by President Woodruff to start 
by Sept. 1st. but they failed to do so, 
and did not leave until the early part of 
October. In consequence of this late 
start the journey was a very hard one. 
Oct. 13, 1838, while crossing Green 
mountains, Elder Woodruff was taken 
very sick. A little later his wife was 
stricken down and came nigh to the gates 
of death. Both, however, were restored 
to health by the power or the Almighty. 
Respecting this new experience of migra- 
• tion, of which he did so much in later 
years, Elder Woodruff wrote the follow- 
ing in his journal: 

"On the afternoon of Oct 9th, we took 
leave of Father Garter and family in 
Scarborough and started upon our journey 
of two thousand miles, at this late sea- 
son of the year, taking my wife with a 
suckling babe at her breast with me to 
lead a company of fifty-three souls for 
their journey from Maine to Illinois; to 
spend nearly three months in traveling 
in wagons through rain, mud, snow, and 
frost." 

Upon arriving in Rochester, Illinois, 
Dec. 19, 1838, he learned of the persecu- 
tions and unsettled condition of affairs in 
Missouri and concluded to stop in that 
place the rest of the winter. In the spring 
of 1839 he removed his family to Quincy, 
Illinois, and from this point accompanied 
the Twelve to Far West, and was ordained 
with Elder Geo. A. Smith, to the Apostle- 
ship April 26, 1839, on the Temple site, 
by President Brigham Young, assisted by 
other members of the Twelve. After re- 
turning from Missouri he moved his fara- 
rily to Montrose, Iowa, where he was se- 
verely attacked with chills and fever. 
While still sick he started Aug. 8, 1839, 
on his mission to England, leaving his 
wife also sick, and like all the families of 
the Twelve, in destitute circumstances, so 
far as temporal necessities were concern- 
ed. To New York he traveled with pri- 
vate conveyance, stage, on foot and as 
best he could. In company with Elders 
John Taylor and Theodore Turley he ar- 
rived in Liverpool, England, Jan. 11, 1840, 
having been five months, accomplishing the 
journey. The Elders who now go to Eu- 
rope from Salt Lake City perform the 
journey in about two weeks, and under 
palatial circumstances compared with 
those surrounding Elder Woodruff and his 
companions sixty years ago. He was as- 
signed to labor in the Staffordshire Pot- 
teries, where he was successful. In the 
following March the Spirit of the Lord 
prompted him to go South. He had plenty 
to do where he was, but he heard the 
voice of the Spirit and obeyed. He went 
South to Worcester, where he met Mr. 
John Benbow, a wealthy farmer, who told 
him that in that vicinity there were about 
six hundred people, including forty-five 
ministers, who had dissolved themselves 
from the Wesley an Methodists for the 
purpose of an independent research after 
Truth. They owned several houses of 
worship, and styled themselves "The Uni- 
ted Brethren." Elder Woodruff com- 
menced at once to lay before these peo- 
ple the Truth as God revealed it, to the 
Prophet Joseph Smith, bearing witness 
as an Apostle of the Lord to the Ministry 
of Angels, and the complete restoration of 
the Ancient Gospel in these Last Days. 

The ministry of Elder Woodruff was 
not attended with the eloquence of speech, 
nor the well skilled argument which at- 
tend the labors of some men, but there 
was an earnestness in his talk and move- 
ment, and an honest straitforward, God- 
like simplicity in his simple statement of 
Truth accompanied by the influence of the 
Holy Spirit which carried early convic- 
tion to the hearts of all who were honest- 
ly seeking after Truth. In eight months 
labor, chieflv by Elder Woodruff in Here- 
fprdshire, Worcestershire, and Glouces- 
tershire, eighteen hundred people were 



brought into the Church. This included 
the six hundred United Brethren all but 
one. Two large Conferences were organ- 
ized. In August, 1840, he accompanied El- 
ders H. C. Kimball and Geo. A. Smith to 
London, where they introduced the Gos- 
pel under very difficult circumstances. 
On the last day of August, 1840, the first 
convert in London was baptized. His 
name was Henry Connor. Elder Wood- 
ruff remained in London but a short time 
when he returned to Herefordshire, and 
Staffordshire, strengthening the Saints. 
From thence he attended Conference in 
Manchester, and labored most of the fol- 
lowing winter in London, visiting also 
several other parts. 

While in England the adversary made 
desperate efforts to impede the progress of 
the Elders in their ministry. At one 
time evil spirits attacked Apostle Wood- 
ruff and Smith, in a literal manner, when, 
by the exercise of faith and the authority 
of God by these brethren, these spirits de- 
parted. Bro. Woodruff saw them as lit- 
erally as he could see the physical be- 
ing of people tabernacled in the flesh. Af- 
ter a very prosperous mission, he returned 
to America, arriving in New York May 
20, 1841. Meeting his wife at Scarbor- 
ough, Maine, after two years absence. A 
month later they returned to Nauvoo, 
where they arrived Oct. 5th, and were 
heartily welcomed home by the Prophet 
Joseph Smith. He become a member of 
the City Council of Nauvoo, and served 
the interests of the city with energy and 
efficiency. His time during the winter of 
1841-42 was mainly occupied in attend- 
ing meetings and performingmanual la- 
bor. In Feb. 1842, Apostle Woodruff be- 
came the business manager of the Times 
and Seasons. In July of the same year 
going on a mission to the Eastern States 
for the purpose of collecting funds to 
further the building of the Temple and 
Nauvoo House. He returned to Nauvoo 
Nov. 4, and again spent the winter in 
Nauvoo, and much of the ensuing year. 
He received his Endowments in the Nau- 
voo Temple under the direction of the 
Prophet Joseph Smith. He built a brick 
dwelling for himself and family on a lot 
given him by the Prophet Joseph. His 
Nauvoo residence like that of many of 
the leaders of the Church, still remains 
in a state of fairly good preservation. In 
the spring of 1844 he was called on an- 
other mission to the Eastern States. 
When about to take passage on a steamer 
from Portland, Maine, to Fox Islands he 
learned of the Martyrdom of Joseph and 
Hyrum Smith. He immediately went to 
Boston and met in council with the 
Twelve, and with them returned at once to 
Nauvoo, where he arrived Aug. 6th, 1844, 
and took part with his brethren of the 
Twelve in presiding over the affairs of the 
Church. This being their right and duty, 
agreeable to the Revelations of the Lord 
to the Prophet Joseph Smith. Wilford 
Woodruff was a personal witness to the 
power of God as it rested upon President 
Brigham Young, on the occasion when the 
latter was transfigured in the presence of 
the people, so that he appeared in person, 
and spoke as with the voice of the Proph- 
et Joseph Smith. 

Aug. 12, 1844, Apostle Woodruff was 
called to preside over the British Mission, 
departing from Nauvoo Aug. 28, 1844, 
and reached Liverpool Jan. 3d, 1845. He 
presided with ability and much industry 
over the mission about one year when he 
returned to Nauvoo early in 1846. Just 
in time to participate with the Saints in 
their great Exodus from Nauvoo. He 
with many others, left their homes and 
property which they toiled to procure, 
under trying ordeals to the disposition of 
their enemies very few receiving more 
than a nominal price for their hard earned 
homes. He was active in helping the 
Saints to migrate, not only looking to the 
comfort of himself and family, but to the 
well being of his brethren and sisters on 
every hand. 

Early in 1S47 he joined the Pioneer 
company, consisting of 143 souls, 140, 
men and boys and three women. After 
a toilsome journey they entered the val- 1 



ley of the Great Salt Lake, July 24th. 
1847— a day never to be forgotten, and 
to be handed down to all generations of 
the Saints as a day of rejoicing and cele- 
bration. It was then Mexican soil, but 
the Mormon Batallion helped to make it 
a part of American soil. The Stars and 
Stripes were soon unfurled by these loy- 
al patriots, and the foundation of a great 
western commonwealth established, 
which is destined to become the pride of 
all honorable and upright people in our 
broad land of liberty. Future genera- 
tions will do us justice, and the names 
and deeds of such men as Wilford Wood- 
ruff will yet be taught to children in the 
school room, as worthy the emulation 
and following of all who love virtue, lib- 
erty and truth. President Young was in 
feeble health when the pioneers entered 
the valley, and Apostle Woodruff had 
the honor of conveying him in his car- 
riage into the valley. In 1847 he re- 
turned to winter quarters, being present 
Dec. 5th, 1847, when Brigham Young 
was made President of the chureh. 

Brother Woodruff was among the most 
constantly industrious men the world 
has ever produced. He attended as first 
consideration to the duties of his calling, 
and then his manual labors in building 
homes and redeeming the soil from steril- 
ity, were unexcelled. •From the toils of 
redeeming the desert he was called in 
1848 to perform another mission in the 
Eastern States, from which he returned 
after diligent labor in 1850. He was the 
same year elected a member of the Sen- 
ate of the Provisional State of Deseret, 
subsequently occupying a place for sev- 
eral terms in the Territorial Legislature. 
He was also the first President of the 
Horticultural Society of Utah. Every po- 
sition, whether religious or otherwise, he 
was called to fill, he did so with distinc- 
tion and credit. No man took greater 
interest in fruit raising and farming than 
Apostle Woodruff, as well as in all en- 
terprises looking to the general well be- 
ing and self-sustaining powers of the 
people. He labored with his hands as 
well as his head. Much younger men 
than himself were not his equals in 
the performance of heavy labor. No 
class of labor, however laborious or un- 
desirable, which was honorable in the 
sight of God, would Wilford Woodruff 
ever ask any man to do that he would 
not do himself. He cut hay with a 
scvthe, he cradled wheat by hand, he 
followed the reaper, and bound the gold- 
en grain in bundles: he pitched to the 
rack the bunches of hay and the bundles 
of grain. He worked upon the threshing 
machine. He planted, irrigated, gath- 
ered and hauled from the farm, potatoes, 
corn and all other products of nis well 
tilled land. He planted vineyards, or- 
chards, made ditches, watered, and 
pruned the trees and bushes of his or- 
chard. He made roads, built bridges, 
hauled wood from the canon, made 
adobies and did all forms of manual la- 
bor which came in his way. There was 
not an idle thought in his brain, not a 
useless nor impure sentiment in his 
heart, not an iale bone, nor a drop of 
idle blood in his body. He was honest, 
unassuming, faithful and industrious. He 
had been designated in the days of Jo- 
seph as "Wilford the Faithful." He 
deserved such a title, and maintained it 
to the end. His industry was so con- 
spicuous a part of his being that when, 
at the age of 90 years, one of his grand- 
sons excelled him a very little in hoeing 
some vegetables in the garden, he said 
with apparent humiliation: "Well, it is 
the first time in my life that one of my 
children has ever outdone me in hoeing. 
He continued his hard labors upon the 
farnij whenever at uome, until beyond 
the ripe age of 75 years, when the duties 
and conditions associated with his calling 
were such as to occupy his entire time 
and attention. In the early history of 
Utah— 1852— he accompanied President 
Young on an exploring expedition to 
Southern Utah. In October, 1853, him- 
self and Ezra T. Benson were called to 
gather fifty families to increase and 
strengthen the settlements in Toole 
county. (to be continued.) 



116 



THE SOUTHERN STAR. 




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ARTICLES OF FAITH 

OP THE CHURCH OP JESUS CHRI5T OP 
LATTER-DAY SAINTS. 

1. Wab«U«*aloOodUMEt6roalFathar,aMltaBia3oa> 
Jem Christ, and ia the Holy Ghost. 

t. Wo bolloTo that noa will bo poniahad for thoir ova 
•iao, aad aot for Adam's traaagraaaioa. 

i Wo boliovo Uut, throea* the atonement of Ohriat, all 
' lad swy be ssvei, bj obodionoe to too laws aad ordi. 
• of thoQospoL 



Oaott 

6. We Wliavs Ihit a mark mmit bo til 1*1 of God, by 
" prtp**^. aud by Lhe Uym^ a& of faiodt^ bj iboso who aro 
In MtfLomj, ta preach lb* (o#p«J and nJminiilor ia tbo ordi- 
niacM 1 h*r«tf 

t. W* believi In ib* i*mr> orgtnij«rJon eliit existed la 
Iba [>rimiln»H L'burcb — QiEntlj, ApmtiJei, I'rophota, PastOfSj 
Toatfitn. KvitiftUtk, *tc, 

1. \V« believe id tot fi f L of to njruw, prophfpy, rovolatioe, 
vliJcn*. Ufrftltof. tatrrprfeUtitia at (a D gu«, vie. 

& W* t»h«*« Un Bibt# li b, tfte von) &F < <1, as far as ll 
li iranilaud rot reclly ; wo alio b*li*v* tbo Book of hfonaoa 
Ia brj the ward &r CJod- 

B. Wo UUe** all th»t God 1 hii rcT«iM r || I hat Ho does 
dot rev«nt. * nil *4 bpHjjff tJitt He will m| ro *<?it many groat 
and iffiporllnl thjngi p-rt«lniriff to th» Kin^tum if God. 

1H. Wo trtlL,T*io tiftllWAJtHhrnngof hr a r I and in tbo 
wlontfan of tb* Ten Tribu ; Ui*i Ziqd vijl b* bail! opoa 
tbi* <ihe A merman > totitlp^t ; that Cfafhl trill i-Jga porsoa* 
ally tiiwn the eirtb, And tbat Lb* «rtb wttl to rooowod aad 
tec*l¥e lli part4i*ucil tfory, 

1L Wi ctaim Llin prmJepi of worshiping Almighty God 
a^cordjo^ In the dictate* of oof cookicdco^ nnd allow all 
Btn the aaoqe prmJpge, let IbroQ wof*hi [> br f * , *-},«*, OT what 

aada 

is. 



L Wo bolioTO la bolacsabjoet to kino, presldoats. ralors, 

BMudstratos ; to obeying, honoring aad snstaiaing tho law. 

I »Wo boliovo ia bafng honest, true, charts, benevolent, 

II SMe ; indeed, wo aaay aay 

Paol, "Wo bolioro aU things, 

hired many things, and hope 

Isrsly, or of good roport or p 



re bops all things," wo have ondorod saany things, aad hope 
|» bo ablo to ondnro all things. If thoro it aoythlag rirtaons, 
neoly, or of good roport or praiseworthy, wo took after thoso 



THE ATTRIBUTES OF GOD. 



The God of the Bible can walk, talk, 
see, hear, feel, taste, and smell — in fact 
He has all the attributes of man, only in 
a more perfect way. He walked with 
Adam in the garden, walked, talked and 
partook of food with Abraham on the 
plains of Mamre. Wrestled with Jacob, 
conversed with Moses in the burning bush, 
and talked with him as one man speaks 
with bis friend. Was seen by Moses, 
Aaron, Nadab, and Abihu sitting on a 
Sapphire throne, afterwards was seen by 
Isaiah, who described His glorious ap- 
pearance, and when Stephen was stoned 
to death He was seen on the left band of 
the Son of God, who is described as the 
express image and brightness of Hi* 
glory. 

The Bible God is in every way an ex- 
alted being, and the Bible appears to speak 
of Him in the likeness of man, as it says, 



"Let us make man in our own image, and 
in the image of God man was made." 

What is the conclusion of this Scrip- 
ture. It is that God our Father who sits 
on His throne with His son Jesus, is an 
exalted being, patterned in the likeness 
and after the image of man, as man was 
made in His likeness and image, and after 
the appearance of His Son Jesus, who 
was in the express image of His Father, 
and is spoken of as our Elder Brother. 
Philip wanted to see the Father, and Je- 
sus said, He that hath seen me hath seen 
the Father, which all would imply that 
God is like the Son Jesus, and that the 
Sofa Jesus is in every way tike unto man 
in appearance and traveled about in that 
manner in the valleys of G alii lee while He 
was in the flesh. So that the Christian 
faith should be that we are in very deed 
the offspring of God, the brothers and sis- 
ters of Jesus and when we say Our Fath- 
er who art in Heaven we should mean it, 
as He is our Father in very deed. 



THE SALARY OF THE PASTOR. 

The above is the caption of an article 
which appeared in an exchange of recent 
.date. The article commences as follows: 

The regular and prompt payment of the 
salary of the pastor has a powerful effect 
upon the progress of religion in the com- 
munity in wnlch he labors. 

It seems that money does give many of 
the ministers of today inspiration, prov- 
ing that their God is gold. How is it 
that money has such a powerful effect 
upon the pastor by the prompt payment 
of his salary? Is it possible that money 
inspires them as does the Holy Spirit 
true servants? Is it not a fact that when 
they do anything it is because money 
has hired them? Taking this as a fact, 
then, money is the moving cause of all 
action with them. How different did 
the ancient servants of God travel and 
preach. They were sent out two by two 
without purse or scrip to preach a free 
Gospel; no mention was made by them 
that money would have effect upon their 
preaching. No, they trusted in God, and 
the power of their preaching was not in 
money, but faith in God and the guid- 
ance of the Holy Spirit which was prom- 
ised to them. When the promised com- 
forter came, you do not Hear of the 
Apostles waiting for a salary, but de- 
parted as commanded two by two, tak- 
ing no money, knowing of a surety the 
Heavenly Father would provide. These 
same ministers who say money causes 
religious progress in their community, if 
they are promptly paid, cite as their pat- 
tern the very Apostles who went forth 
without money. They preached a pure 
message of peace on earth and good will 
to men. Continuing, the article says: 
"Too often the sexton and the choir and 
the coal man and the gas bills are paid, 
and the minister is left to suffer." 

Of course the minister should first be 
paid, no matter if the coal man, sexton, 
choir and the rest never get their salary. 
If the pastor is paid it will so inspire 
him that he can tickle the ears of the 
coal man, etc., and get them to wait, but 
in order for the work of God to go on 
"the pastor should have his salary." 

Again we read as follows: 

It is a censurable waste to secure a min- 
ister who has received a college and a 
theological seminary education, and who 
is intellectually and spiritually and in 
every way equipped to do a valuable work, 
nnd then, by the failure to pay the prom- 
ised salary, compel him to waste a large 
portion of his time In doing the work of a 
menial, or worse still keep him so worried 
and anxious and troubled as virtually to 
paralyze his usefulness. 

To Ik? sure; if people have promised to 
pay a minister a certain salary they , 



should keep their contract, but whoever 
heard of a true servant of Christ enter- 
ing into a contract to preach for hire? 
Mankind are warned to beware of hire- 
lings who divine for money, making mer- 
chandise of the souls of men. A college 
and theological seminary education does 
not call men to the ministry. If so, 
why are there so many theological grad- 
uates without positions? The Scriptures 
teach us that no man taketh the honor 
of administering the things of God unto 
himself, except he be called of God as 
was ^.aron. He was called by new rev- 
elation, by a Prophet of God. If the 
best educated men are first called, and 
if education insures one a standing in 
the ministry, why were ignorant fisher- 
men called before Paul? Why not these 
ministers claiming to be the servants, 
go forth as did, and does the true men 
of God? One minister, in a discourse 
not long since, said he would like some 
of those who thought he was not kept 
busy to get on a horse and follow him 
around; he would wear them out. This 
man had twelve churches to visit, which 
occupied Saturday and Sunday of each 
week. If that man could but follow the 
Mormon Elders on foot — wading through 
swamps and rivers; over mountains, 
hills, etc., and often compelled to re- 
main out of doors all night. The wear- 
ing out part with this minister should he 
follow and do as they, would be that he 
would get nothing for his trouble and 
hardships endured. If he advocated 
such an unpopular doctrine as they, his 
faith would fail, for only the possession 
of the Spirit of God will enable men to 
leave all cherished ties, and make the 
sacrifice which the Elders of the Church 
of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints do. 



History of the Southern States Mission. 

(Continued From Page 109.) 

November, 1895. 

Owing to the sickness that had exist- 
ed in the Texas Conference during the 
summer, and being unable to attend the 
Conference held in July, President Kim- 
ball concluded to meet those Elders in 
conference capacity later in the season. 
Accordingly Conference convened at Van 
Sickle, near Greenville, Hunt Co., Nov. 
2 and 3. 

All the Elders were in attendance, 
President A. S. Campbell presiding. The 
meetings were fairly well attended and 
the people were taught the nrinciples and 
doctrines of the Gospel of Christ. Presi- 
dent Kimball spoke with much plain- 
ness, acquainting his hearers with the 
true condition of the people of Utah, re- 
ligiously and socially. In addition to the 
public meetings several spirited counciL 
meetings were held and the rich portion 
of the spirit was poured out upon all 
present. After a brief illness Elder Dan- 
iel J. Stewart, of the Kentucky Confer- 
ence, died of typhoid fever at Tompkins- 
ville, Monroe Co., Kentucky. Elder 
Stewart was kindly cared for during his 
illness, by his companion, Elder F. E. 
Allred. Although Elder Stewart had 
only been in the mission field three 
months, yet he was a tireless worker for 
the cause of truth. 

After returning from the Texas Con- 
ference, President Kimball proceeded to 
West Virginia, where he met President 
Brinton and a portion of the Elders in 
conference capacity. The public meet- 
ings were well attended; the remarks of 
the Elders were listened to attentively. 

On the 13th inst. nineteen Elders ar- 
rived in Chattanooga from Zion. After 
spending two days in the city and re- 
ceiving instructions, these Elders sepa- 
rated for their various fields of labor. 

On the 20th inst. Elders Wiley Nebe- 
ker and Amos Rogers, who had been la- 
boring in the city of Tallahassee, but two 
days, were arrested on the charge of be- 
ing a public nuisance. They were 
brought before the mayor and after a 



THE SOUTHERN STAR. 



117 



most farcical trial were sentenced to a 
fine of $250 each, or two mouths' im- 
prisonment. They were informed, how- 
ever, that in case they would immediately 
leave the city, judgment would be sus- 
pended. This they concluded to do, be- 
ing accompanied to the outskirts by the 
Chief of police. Thus in this enlightened 
age, in our boasted land of liberty, two 
humble servants of the Lord were arrest- 
ed without provocation, expelled from u 
state capital; yet those very peonle claim 
to believe in religious toleration. 

December, 1895. 

The month opened up bright and clear 
with the prospect of much efficient work 
being done. The arrival of twenty El- 
ders on the 12th inst. added strength to 
the Mission. 

On the 20th Elder W. E. Rydalch was 
appointed President of the West Virginia 
Conference to succeed Samuel Brinton, 
released. 

The year which is now drawing to a 
close has been a most successful one. 
The number of Elders in the Mission has 
been increased to 303, several thousand 
copies of the Voice of Warning have 
been distributed among the people, as 
well as thousands of tracts. New fields 
are being continually opened, old ones 
revisited, the Saints stirred up to dili- 
gence and every effort put forth to ad- 
vance the work of the Lord. During the 
year 555 new members have been added 
to the fold in the South. The Saints have 
been taught the necessity of paying their 
tithing, and seeing the blessings gained 
by so doing, responded. 

One new Conference, Florida, has been 
opened. There has been considerable 
sickness in the Texas Conference; other- 
wise general good health prevailed. 

The Elders are as a rule traveling 
without "purse or serin." yet they lack 
for nothing and are richly endowed with 
the Spirit of the Lord. Thus closes the 
year 1805. 

(To Be Continued.) 



THE DARK AGES. 



BY A. ARROWSMITH. 



(Continued From Page 107.) 

The TWELFTH CENTURY witnessed 
the Christian church still struggling for 
ascendency, striving after absolute power 
and dominion over the whole of Europe, 
with the avowed intention of establish- 
ing a theocratic government with the 
Pope at its head. 

At this late period in the history of 
Christianity, Finland and the whole north 
was still in a barbarous state and had 
not been subjected to the civilizing influ- 
ences of Home and in order to bring 
them in subjection with the rest of Eu- 
rope, a holy war was instituted against 
them. 

The method employed by the early 
Christians and taught by that meek and 
humble Master, who was the founder of 
the divine scheme of salvation, was en* 
tirely ignored at this time. The sword 
was used and the convert having been 
taken by force was caused to suffer all 
manner of indignities, subjected to bap- 
tism, whether ne willed it or not, or 
whether he accepted the doctrine as true 
or false. Bloodshed, cruelty and oppres- 
sion were used and the convert usually 
despoiled of his possessions, which were 
divided between the holy (?) warriors, or 
went to enrich the church. 

Early in this century the second cru- 
sade was started, but returned proving a 
total failure. The third crusade was 
fairly successful under the brave Rich- 
ard (the lion hearted) King of England, 
who played havoc among the Saracens 
and won fame as a Knight of the Cross, 
being a famous warrior and noted for his 
skill and bravery in these religious wars. 
Both of these crusades entailed great loss 
of life and wealth, accomplishing but 
little towards subduing the Mahometans. 

The renowned Becket, a man who 
worked hard as a Monk in trying to es- 
tablish the ruling influences of Rome in 



England, was murdered in this century. 
For his austerity and arrogance he has 
been looked upon with hatred by- his 
enemies and loved, canonized and saint- 
ed by the Catholics. 

At this period also commenced the sell- 
ing of indulgences by the bishops. This 
was a nefarious system, introduced to 
exact money from the lowest dregs of 
society, who took license from the fact 
that they might Day for and obtain the. 
indulgence and right to commit crime, 
the stipulated fee being exacted according 
to the nature and enormity of the crime. 
This privilege was granted by the church, 
being one of the means adopted to en- 
rich the same. This was also the princi- 
ple reason for the rebellion of Luther in 
the sixteenth century. In his day there 
was great disunion among the orders of 
the Monks as to who had the right to 
peddle off indulgences. The Augustines, 
Dominicans, Franciscans and Benedic- 
tines being jealous of each other for the 
favor of the Pontiff. Luther's opposition 
and denunciation of Tetzel, appeared to 
be of a jealous nature more than because, 
of his great desire to overthrow the sys- 
tem that Tetzel represented, as one was 
a Dominican Monk and the other an Au- 
gustine. Both these orders vied with 
each other for supremacy and the favor 
of the Pope, with the privilege of selling 
the indulgence which would give a man 
license to murder, steal, commit adultery 
or any other crime in the decalogue, pro- 
viding he would pay the stipulated fee, 
which was regulated by the Bishop, or 
Monk, favored with the dispensing of 
such. 

Heretics at this time were looked upon 
with great hatred, being much sought for 
by the crafty and wily priest who under 
the smallest pretense or shadow of her- 
esy, that would indicate guilt, would burn 
them at the stake or otherwise murder 
them. Many innocents suffered death in 
this way, their main guilt many times 
consisting in being caught perusing the 
Holy Scriptures, which ; which were not 
intended ior the reading of the laity. 
This may account, in a great measure, for 
the prevailing ignorance. Before print- 
ing was established, the books which go 
to make up the Bible were all written 
separate and copied in writing by hand, 
on papyrus or parchment and were con- 
sequently very expensive, being in use 
only among the clergy. The truths which 
the books contained were withheld from 
the laity by this extremely fanatical and 
superstitious priesthood, they being fear- 
ful of an exposure of the many frauds 
they were practicing at this time. Should 
the laity happen to obtain and read any 
portion of the divine record, they were 
immediately subjected to the rack or the 
torture prepared for the heretic. In this 
age of books and printing, when the light 
of the Gospel and its liberty loving truths 
are revealed on the housetops, as it were, 
it is hard for us to understand the con- 
dition of the poor Christians in the 
twelfth century. The fact is the priests 
were afraid of truth and knowledge, as 
their dominion could only be swayed by 
the iron chains of despotism and ignor- 
ance. The poor, innocent laity have in 
many instances been dragged before the 
inquisitorial tribunal, branded as here- 
tics, subjected to the rack, torn limb 
from limb and finally burned, for their 
temerity in reading the Holy Word. 

During this century, the doctrine was 
much advanced, that Saints died with an 
amount of good deeds to their credit. 
These good deeds were left to the Church, 
which through the Pope, had the power to 
issue them as indulgences, to counterbal- 
ance the many sins that the ungodly com- 
mitted. This relief from sin is so far 
reaching that even the sinner in Purgatory 
can gain liberation and freedom from its 
torments, upon the payment of money or 
its equivalent to the priest who officiates 
as proxy for the departed. 

The Waldenses, a sect inhabiting the 
vales of Piedmont in Switzerland, arose 
in this century, and established a grand 
reform. The founder had the Gospels 
translated from the Latin to the French 
and found that the Romanists had de- 
parted entirely from the true faith. This 



sect lived lives of comparative purity 
within the fastnesses of the beautiful 
Swiss valleys, but they were compelled to 
seclusion, through fear of being martyrd 
for their heresy. Many evidences are still 
extant of the bravery and fortitude of 
these early reformers. 

Wickedness was very marked during 
this century and ignorance reigned to the 
extent, that men who presumed, even to 
be God, or the Son of God, could get a 
large following, who would accept their 
testimony without qestion. In conse- 
quence many ambitious Monks practiced 
their perfidy, upon the poor credulous peo- 
ple, to the extent that the Priest was 
looked upon with a veneration that ex- 
ceeded all bounds and in the superstitious 
worship of man, God in many instances 
was forgotten, or given secondary consid- 
eration. God apparently turned them over 
to their own folly and wickedness and they 
inflicted such penalties and torments upon 
themselves that they created the Hell 
which they merited for their many mis- 
deeds. The Devil surely reigned supreme 
and with blood and horror, transformed 
the very nature of man, which would nat- 
urally worship God, into an idolater, who 
would bow at the shrine erected by a 
ruthless and polluted generation, paying 
homage to dead Saints and looking upon 
the Priest with awe as God's inspired 
vicegerent and infallible messenger. Even 
at the close of life, in the last hour, should 
penance have been neglected, absolution 
for sin could be obtained through the ad- 
ministration of the last rite, "extreme 
unction." And perchance should the sin- 
ner get into Hades by committing venial 
or grave offenses, the prayers of the 
church, through the Priest, Monk or Nun 
were still effectual in obtaining redress or 
immunity from the torments thereof. The 
liberality of the church was unbounded in 
its forgiveness of sin, and crime was 
looked upon with impunity, as absolution 
was so easily bought. 

It has been my privelege to know many 
Catholics who take license by this indul- 
gence. They will attend confession per- 
naps once or twice a year, pay the Priest, 
con teas their sins so far as they can re- 
member them, assume an air of penitence 
and perhaps will be repentant for a few 
days, then fall back into the same system 
of fraud and deceit, gambling and drink- 
ing with their attendant evils. Many of 
such characters (if we are to believe the 
authority of the church, of which I am 
speaking) upon the separation of the body 
and spirit, at death, are ushered into 
the realms of bliss. It is thus we find 
the Priest administering this indulgence, 
comforting and consoling the red handed 
murderer on th,e scaffold, who may have 
debauched virtue and murdered innocence. 
In spite of this guilty and wicked offense, 
the cnurch will offer absolution and for- 
giveness, placing this man, all reeking 
with blood, into the abode of purity and 
holiness, to dwell with God and His An- 
gels. In this way the church gives mercy 
more than her due and robs justice. On 
the other hand this same church will as- 
sist in paving Hell with innocent infants, 
because they are unfortunate enough not 
to have been baptized. Thus mercy is 
robbed and justice is perverted into hor- 
rible tyranny. The innocent, whom the 
murderous villain has untimely deprived 
of life mortal, must dwell as an immortal 
in Hell and suffer the torments of the 
damned. 

Oh, inconsistency, thy name is Roman 
Catholicism. Mercy thou art basely rob- 
bed and justice perverted into an ignoble 
and tyrannous superstition. While love 
and truth are unknown, as the selfish 
greed of money, opulence and splendour, 
show that the beautiful attributes of God 
are forsaken and the world is worshiping 
at the shrine of Mammon. Justice, Truth. 
Love • and Mercy being torn on the rack 
of a giddy fanaticism, called Christianity, 
(to be continued.) 



"They are fools who kiss and tell," 

Wisely has the poet sung; 
Man may hold all sorts of posts, 

If he'll only hold his tongue. 

-Kipling. 



118 



THE SOUTHERN STAB. 




£ Mormons and Mormon ism , 
\ By a Non-Mormon. 5 

COPYBIGHTKD. 

[Printed by Permission of the Author, Chas. Ellis, Salt Lake City, Utah.] 



(Continued from page liOj 

To make clear the subsequent action of 
the chief factor in the new crusade it is 
necessary to call attention to what is 
known as "the amnesty." By act of con- 
gress polygamous Mormons were dis- 
franchised. When peace was declared 
these men wanted their disability re- 
moved. A well-meaning, but not sa- 
gacious Mormon took it upon himself to 
secure that result. He went for advice 
to the man who had tried for years to 
obtain the disfranchisement of all Mor- 
mons. That person seems to have ex- 
pected such a visit. He advised a peti- 
tion to the President of the United States 
for amnesty. The unsuspecting Mormon 
swallowed the hook and asked his adviser 
to write such a petition. It was, per- 
haps, already written. The adviser, 
swearing he would never consent, con- 
sented and the -petition was produced. 
It was carried at once to President 
Woodruff, lying sick at home. The sick 
man, unable to even read the petition, 
signed it. With his name attached it 
was taken to the Apostles and all signed. 
The petition went to Washington, 
and, after much unavoidable delay, was 
granted. But the course of the writer 
of the petition, in the new crusade, his 
continual use of his petition against the 
Mormons, might possibly be taken as 
evidence that he was shrewdly forging a 
weapon that he might use against his* 
quondam friends if his love for them 
should grow cold, or if his ambition were 
not satisfied. That is, it was well known 
here that when statehood should come to 
Utah The-man-who - wrote-the-petition 
would be a candidate in the first state 
legislature for the office of United States 
senator. It was necessary, therefore, to 
have a republican legislature. To that 
end the writer of the petition exerted 
himself to defeat the democratic party 
in the election of 1895. The democrats 
were frothing over a suspicion that prom- 
inent Mormon church officials were se- 
cretly aiding the republicans. Demo- 
crats were crying bad faith on the part 
of the church. The-man-who-wrote-the- 
petition defended the church officers and 
charged the democrats with intent "to 
give Utah a black eye;" with a desire 
"to keep immigrants from coming here;" 
with "the awakening of unworthy sus- 
picions against us all:" with trying "to 
alarm the country;" with committing "an 
outrage." A few days before election, 
in 1895, The-man-who-wrote-the-petition, 
the man who, for more than a year, ha* 
found nothing too scurrilous to publish 
against the Mormons, the man who ex- 
pected to be elected to the senate in Jan- 
uary. 1896, said: 

"There is not a man, woman or child 
in Utah who for one moment thinks 
there is any agreement or thought of re- 
storing polygamy, or that it could be 
possible even if such a thought was in 
the mind of a few bigots. "—-Salt Lake 
Tribune, Oct 19, 1895. 

'"There is going to be no revival of 
polygamy; there is going to be no return 
to church rule." (The same, Oct. 22, 
1895.) 

The legislature was republican, but 
The-man-who-wrote-the-petition was "not 
in it." In the race for senatorship ho 
was shut out in first heat. That straw 
of ingratitude broke the candidate's ed- 
itorial back and he seems to have waited 
for an opportunity to use his petition. 
The Deseret News says he was paid for 
it at the time it was written, or, per- 
haps, concocted, but the action of the I 
legislature was a deadly frost and the 



bloom of his young love for the Mormon 
church was killed. 

TUB SECRET OPENED. 

In 1897, the Mormons aided and 
abetted by many of the most influential 
non-Mormons, made a non-partisan effort 
to secure much needed municipal re- 
forms. The movement was largely suc- 
cessful, but was hotly denounced by the 
office seekers of the republican and demo- 
cratic parties as a "trick" of the church 
to restore political control over its people. 
In Sale Lake City the feeling was bitter 
and an attempt was made to resurrect 
the anti-Mormon "liberal" party. Fail- 
ing in that, the excited politicians ap- 
pealed to the clergy. A Presbyterian pa- 
per in Salt Lake began the publication 
of sundry articles running back into ear- 
ly Mormon literature, culling the crud- 
ities, slips and discrepancies to be found 
therein and using them to condemn the 
Mormons and Mormonism of today— a 
course that would be paralleled by at- 
tacking the Presbyterians of the present 
with the fanaticism, folly and worse of 
"no papacy" days. This publication was 
scattered over the country and started 
up the smouldering anti-Mormon fire. The 
smoke encouraged the clergy in Utah to 
believe that there actually might be 
something in their sensational talk about 
polygamy. Then they got together in 
the summer of 1898 and adopted a series 
of resolutions declaring that plural mar- 
riages are still being contracted, that 
the Mormons control the state, injure the 
public schools and that old Mormon 
Utah is on deck again. A few weeks 
later came the state democratic conven- 
tion to nominate candidates and B. H. 
Roberts was nominated for congress. He 
was one of the men who were in polyg- 
amy when plural marriage was stopped. 
From the day of Roberts' nomination 
the writer of that petition, found his op- 
portunity and from then until now has 
not ceased to villify the Mormons. He 
insisted that the election of Roberts 
would create a storm and then created 
it himself— a very common trick of false 
prophets. He revelled in his petition. 
That is, he sprung the trap he himself 
had set. I think he was trying to force 
the Mormon church to declare for the 
election of the republican ticket, for there 
was to be another election of a senator 
in 1899. 

In addition to his use of the petition 
he reprinted the testimony of President 
Woodruff before a Master In Chancery 
and tried to prove that the manifesto of 
1890 prohibited cohabitation among those 
then in polygamy. He knew that the 
president of the church could not annul 
a marriage. He knew that the hearing 
was held preliminary to a decree restor- 
ing what remained of the escheated 
church property. He knew that property 
was worth millions of dollars and the 
church needed it. There was not an at- 
torney engaged in that hearing who did 
not want the church to get back its prop- 
erty. There was not a non-Mormon in 
Utah then mean enough to wish that the 
church might not get it. But there must 
be a record to the effect that polgamy 
had been given up. So President Wood- 
ruff consented to say that he included 
"cohabs" in his manifesto. At that time 
the editor of the Salt Lake Tribune was 
friendly, as I have shown, and although 
it now seeks to brand President Wood- 
ruff as a liar it said then that the mani- 
festo "went only to the point of plural 
marriages," and added "we believe that 
the rule laid down has been as sacredly 
kept by this people as it would have ' 



been by any other people; that the Mor- 
mons and Gentiles have a right to say 
that the change amounts to a transfig- 
uration." The measureless infamy of 
the disappointed office-seeker ■ now seek- 
ing to pile odium upon the honored dead 
will be a fitting monument to his mal- 
odorous memory in Utah for years to 
come; and if our good old friend did 
stretch the truth to save that property 
it was a lie like that of Hugo's nun, the 
recording angel dropped a tear upon the 
slate and rubbed it out 

AH this insanity of excitement through 
the country over alleged polygamous mar- 
riages has been created by a few men 
who are now laughing over their suc- 
cess in fooling the people. They have 
hunted these mountain states over— have 
imported special aid from New York- 
have declared that plural marriages are 
being contracted, and yet have not been 
able to find one case. Defeated in that 
they have arrested several men for "un- 
lawful cohabitation" and advertised that 
as proof of polygamous marriages. 

Avowing, with maledictions upon it, 
that polygamy is the "twin-relic of bar- 
barism" and must die, they yet will not 
let it die, but drag it from its senile 
jleep, enhorse and caparison it like a 
waxen image of some old Catholic saint 
and lead it in triumphal procession 
through the land to excite the clamor of 
women gone hysterical through brooding 
in nightly loneliness over the clandestine 
amours of their monogamous husbands 
with other women more charming than 
themselves! 

If polygamy were permitted to die a 
natural death the evangelical churches 
would lose their last foothold against the 
rising tide of Mormonism. It is not po- 
lygamy that disturbs them, but the 
steady growth of the Mormon church. 
Right or wrong, there is a current run- 
ning to the Mormon church with increas- 
ing volume, and velocity. The Mormon 
church and faith have been a boon to 
hundreds of thousands as poor as were 
those who heard Jesus gladly. It is to- 
day nearer to being a successful effort 
to inaugurate the Brotherhood of Man 
than anything ever tried. 

IN CONCLUSION 

I want to say that what is here pre- 
sented does not err from truth and was 
not written with either knowledge or 
consent of any member of the Mormoi 
church. It stands upon my personal 
knowledge. I am not a member of any 
church, and view all sects philosophical- 
ly. I cannot perceive that any religion 
has been of divine origin, in the theol- 
ogical sense of the terms. To my mind 
they are all human, very human in their 
origin. But, conceding to all the rights 
of intellectual liberty I claim for myself, 
I question not the right of the people to 
any religion that satisfies them. In 
so far as creeds and dogmas impose up- 
on credulity, I claim the right to pro- 
test. Thus I have long protested against 
Calvinism in all its varieties as a wholly 
unjustifiable cruelty forced upon human- 
ity through its ignorance and fear. I 
gladly admit that theology, like every- 
thing else, is subject to the progressiva 
influence of the ages, and realize that the 
God of Calvin is not as mean as he was 
400 years ago— has been much improved 
in the last 100 years under our free gov- 
ernment and public education. I cheer- 
fully concede that all theologians mean 
to be honest in the dogmas they create, 
and I believe that all churches sincerely 
endeavor to hold their people to defined 
standards of moral life. But I lay this 
against them — that they would have men 
and women practice moral living, not 
because it is right, not because it is the 
best thing to do for itself, but to 
secure a definite reward after we 
have ceased to live here, a re- 
ward called "salvation" from threatened 
ills and horrors that exist only in the ex* 
cited imagination of ignorance and super- 
stition. It is childish— it is the mother 
bribing her boy with bread and jam, or 
frightening him with threats of "the bad 
man." 

You see, then, that I am one of that 
class of persons called by nil the pro- 



THE SOUTHERN STAB. 



119 



fessors of all the thousand and one va- 
rieties of so-called Christianity "an in- 
fidel." It is the easiest thing in the 
world to call people by opprobious names, 
as the history of these unpopular Mor- 
mons makes manifest In fact no new 
thought appears that is not infidelity to 
some older one — no new issue that is not 
maligned by the satisfied believer in some 
old one. The term "infidel," as applied 
to persons who think for themselves, do 
their own business with the Infinite and 
decline proffered rewards based on fear 
of God, is one of merit rather than re- 

E roach. Jesus was the great infidel of 
is time?— crucified for truth derided by 
the prevailing orthodoxy of his day. 

There are two kinds of infidelity in 
the world. One comes by growing up out 
of existing beliefs, the other by falling 
below them. The only harmful infidel- 
ity exists in the churches, and consists 
of professing one code of morals and liv- 
ing another. For instance,, all Christians 
call Sunday the Lord's day and pretend 
to keep it holy, a sacred day devoted to 
the worship of God. Yet half of them, 
in this country, keep it as a day of frolic 
and dissipation. That does not harm the 
day, does not injure God. but it makes 
hypocrites of professing Christians. They 
are infidels who have fallen below their 
religion. For instance, again, take the 
seven million names of American peo- 
ple who petitioned congress to expel the 
Utah congressman. It is safe to say a 
large percentage of the signers were chil- 
dren who did not know what they were 
doing, but whose names were taken by 
Christian adults with intent to deceive. 
It is safe to say a large part of the adult 
signer* were women guilty of the mur- 
der of their unborn children, monoga- 
mous wives guilty of marital infidelity, 
and men guilty of adultery or fornica- 
tion or both, for these crimes are very 
common, and such criminals are ever 
loudest in defense of "virtue." Here is 
the infidelity that kills, and it is caused 
by good (?) Christians falling below the 
level of their professed religion. Again, 
great indignation has been expressed 
that Mormonism should dare to say that 
the three women who were the constant 
companions- of Jesus were His wives, 
but no objection is heard to the natural 
inference that if not His wives they 
were His mistresses. Polygamy was 
common in Jesus' day. Possibly the 
other, the unnamed relation, was com- 
mon too. It would be vastly more moral 
to say of the "Savior of the world" that 
He had three wives than that He had 
three mistresses. But, no, the blind 
guides will accept the mistresses rather 
than admit the polygamy! Thus Chris- 
tianity chokes on a gnat of new thought, 
but swallows a camel of old habit. 
Hence I say the only dangerous infidel- 
ity is in the churches. I state the facts 
and leave them. 

A long study of religions convinces me 
that all mean to do good, yet fail, in 
great part, because they work for a 
wrong purpose. That is, they work, not 
for this life, but for Qne to be some- 
time somewhere "above the stars," in a 
locality that has never been more than 
a myth; and the object of working for 
that unreality is to escape another myth- 
ical locality below the earth, in the earth 
or somewhere else equally uncertain. This 
would do in a world peopled with ignor- 
ant savages, but will not do for intelli- 
gent men and women. This fact is recog- 
nized by the churches. They spend their 
money chiefly to carry their religion to 
the "heathen," realizing that it is useless 
at home. The religions of the world need 
reconstructing. They have much to learn 
and unlearn. I know of no church work- 
ing so zealously for what it belives to 
be the good of humanity as Mormonism. 
I know its leaders, its system, its work. 
Its directors, as a whole, are sincere, 
conscientious, clean, honest men. If they 
err, it is not from evil intent. To them 
the presence of God is a living faith. It 
may be an error, but the faith is there, 
and the work is the result. 

Mormon i 8m is peculiar in this: it does 
not regard this life as a preparation for 
an eternity of idle psalm-staging in a fu- 



ture existence Lord-knows- where, but a 
school of moral training for an eternal 
life right here after "the resurrection." 
To this end it aims to make its people in- 
telligent, capable, honest, moral, success- 
ful now, as the proper means of reaching 
the greatest happiness then, fhis may be 
wrong, but it is the faith, and it has a 
practical basis for a possible end. Its en- 
emies say it is based on fraud. Well, it 
is said they cannot demonstrate that 
Christianity was not based on fraud— 
cannot demonstrate that Jesus ever ex- 
isted. But Christianity is here and. 
whether He lived or not, it will 
remain. If it should transpire that Jo- 
seph Smith was not the founder of Mor- 
monism, that the engraved "plates" had 
no existence, Mormonism is here, the 
faith is here, and it too will remain. We 
can only dismiss all questions of "fraud" 
and choose — the best. The best is that 
which is most beneficent in practical 
helpfulness. Tried thus, Mormonism pos- 
sesses merits that cannot be ignored by 
any who would concede equal rights — 
fair field and no favors—to all. I see in 
it what to me are weaknesses, but in 
what system do they not exist V They 
are the weaknesses of its youth and are 
being outgrown— would be outgrown fas- 
ter but for the malevolent opposition that 
drives it back upon itself. But iet no en- 
emy of Mormonism flatter himself that 
it can be killed by vituperation. It is the 
most remarkable movement in the relig- 
ious world since the days of Mahomet — 
the most wonderful religious movement 
in forty generations. The thunder and 
lightning of its enemies cannot strike it 
down. It must fall, if fall it must, as 
other religions have fallen— by its own 
decay after it has lived its natural life. 
Keeping Roberts out of congress will not 
arrest its course, and it is highly proba- 
ble that the time will come when the 
American people who want no church 
interference with our national govern- 
ment may be glad to have the aid of the 
now maligned Mormons. 

Consider that there are today 1,700 
young Mormons tramping over this con- 
tinent in city, town, and hamlet— young 
men who are so circumspect in all their 
deportment that not even the most bit- 
ter enemies of their faith have the hard- 
ihood to raise their voice against them — 
young men who are steadily making the 
fundamental principles of their faith 
known to the people. There has been 
nothing like it in the world for hundreds 
of years, nothing in so-called Christian 
countries since the steady persistence of 
the Protestants on the continent and in 
Great Britain and it is going to produce 
great results. The Mormons might be 
called the non-Conformists of this coun- 
try and in spite of all efforts to the con- 
trary they are going to wield an influ- 
ence upon its future. One of the Utah 
men in Washington fighting the Mormons 
was honest enough to tell the truth when 
he said in a public meeting: "It is not 
polygamy but Mormonism we want to 
check." But it won't check or warp and 
is growing, and I write with a growing 
interest in its success. In 1718 there 
came 900 non-Conformists from Ulster 
county, Ireland, to Boston. They were 
Scotch-Irish Protestants seeking relig- 
ious freedom. They introduced the Irish 
potato into New England. Some of them 
gave to older Yankees a few potatoes 
with instructions for planting them. They 

?*ew, blossomed, and bore fruit, but the 
ankees cooked the seed balls and said 
they found them anything but pood. Next 
spring when spading up their gardens 
they found the potato crop. Mormonism 
presented to Christian sorts a new the- 
ological potato, so to speak. They tried 
it, ate the wrong end of Hie growth and 
denounced it. But there will come a 
new spring in which old sectarian gar- 
dens will be plowed up and then the real 
fruits of Mormonism will be discovered 
—and will be found to be both palatable 
and healthful. 

I know but three ways of living in so- 
ciety: You must be a beggar, a robber, 
or a stipendiary, i. e., a worker for 
wages.— Mirabeau. 



The Kindness of Two Great Men. 

It isn't only in story books that kind- 
ness to others is rewarded. An exchange 
tells a charming anecdote of Finiguerra 
the master of early engraving. 

The artist, in mastering the new and 
difficult art of engraving upou metal, had 
acquired a singularly keen eye and deli- 
cate touch. 

Being a kindly man, he sometimes 
placed both his sure hand and his fine, 
tools at the service of his friends and 
neighbors, in performing for them some 
of the simpler operations of surgery, un- 
til he acquired a reputation for skill in 
doctoring their hurts. 

One day a poor laundress, in wringing 
out a garment in which a needle had been 
carelessly left, ran it deeply into her 
hand, a part remaining embedded in the 
flesh. She was in much pain and stopped 
at the house of the artist. Entering his 
studio, she hastily set down her wet and 
heavy bundle, begging his assistance. 
Finiguerra.. after long and delicate ma- 
nipulation, extracted the broken needle. 
The woman thanked him and turned to 
go, lifting her bundle from its resting 
place. 

Then he* saw that she had set it upon 
one of his engravings. Like all others 
at that time, it was a plate of engraved 
metal, complete in itself, and regarded 
as a single and sufficient picture, exactly 
as if it had been a painting. 

But as the damp bundle was raised, 
Finiguerra saw that it had received an 
impression from the engraved picture be- 
neath, and his quick mind seized at once 
the suggestion of the possibility of indefi- 
nite reproduction from a single original. 

So that from the kindness of a great 
artist to a poor washerwoman sprang the 
discovery which has placed the beautiful 
products of the engraver's art within the 
reach of all of us today. 

When Sir Humphry Davy was a boy 
about sixteen, a little girl came to him in 
great excitement : 

"Humphry, do tell me why these two 
pieces of cane make a tiny spark of light 
when I rub them together." 

Humphry was a studious boy, who 
spent hours in thinking out scientific prob- 
lems. He patted the child's curly head 
and said : 

"I do not know, dear. Let us see if 
they really do make a light, and then we 
will try to find out why." 

Humphry soon found out that the little 
girl was right ; the pieces of cane, "if 
rubbed together quickly, did give a tiny 
light. Then he set to work to find out the 
reason, and after some time, thanks to the 
observing powers of his little friend, and 
his own kindness to her in not impatient- 
ly telling her not to "worry," as so many 
might have done, Humphry Davy made 
the first of his interesting discoveries. 
From this beginning »e went on with his 
experiments as to the chemical agencies 
that produce electricity. On these sub- 
jects he delivered lectures which made 
him famous as one of the greatest chemists 
of this or any other age. 



We have a half belief that the person 
is possible who can counterpoise all other 
persons. We believe that there may be 
a man who is a match for events— 
against whom other men being dashed 
are broken— one who can give you any 
odds and beat you in the race.— Emerson. 



120 



THE SOUTHERN STAR. 



REPORT OF MISSION CONFERENCES FOR WEEK ENDING FEB. 17, lfcOO 



PR SSI PUNT 



David H. Elton 

Heber8. Olson 

B. F. Price 

John Peterson , 

W. D. Rencl 

T. H. Hum]>]j'TV>.. 
Geo. W. Bkidmore . 

J. Urban Allred 

J. M. Haws 

Sylvester Low, Jr ... 

O. D. Flake 

W. W. MacKa? 

J.N. Miller. 

W.H. Boyle, 

L. M.Terry 

Geo. E. Maycoek„«. 



COW KB HENCE 



I till t (M ill ■' <gl „ 

Virginia- ,„■,.**, 
Kentucky ..... r 
E. TennesRvi;- 

(ft'urnin 

N. ,\ Jn. i -.' Ill rl 

Florida. 

Mid. Ten 11. 

IMteroiinn 

9 Carolina. 

Mlwlraippi „..„ 
EL Kentucky,... 

Louisiana 

8, Alabama...... 

N. Kentucky..,, 
Ohio.... 



C 

a 

7M. 

■jt 

Sl V 

fit 

tm 
m 

H'lft 

m 

llL' 

.:.,4 



THE DEAD. 



ELDER ALVA T. STEWART, 

Letters from Mesa City, Ariz., bring us 
the particulars given below of the death 
of Elder Alva T. Stewart. Brother Stew- 
art left here for home on the night of 
Fob. 10th. As stated in last week's issue 
he was sick when he left here but it was 
thought the care and influences of home 
would speedily restore him to his wonted 
health and strength. Elder Eli C. Open- 
shaw, who accompanied our sick Brother 
from this city home, writes : "With the 
exception of a little delay, occasioned by 
a wreck, the homeward journey was a 
pleasant one. Elder Stewart stood the 
trip fine and I thought he was getting 
well ; the last two days he seemed much 
better. We arrived home Saturdav. 24th, 
about 10 a. m." 

Elder M. A. Stewart, brother of Alva, 
and recently of the Middle Tennessee Con- 
ference, gives us the following account of 
this sad afFair : "Our dear brother came 
home to bid us goodbye before going on 




Klder VI 



another and greater mission, but so quick 
was the call that many of his loved ones 
did not have the chance to welcome him 
home, or say goodbye before he was gone 
on his second mission. Our heavy sorrow 
was greatly modified when we saw how 
his spirit departed without calling forth a 
struggle but left him while in the sweetest 
slumber. We had told him the night be- 
fore, on retiring, to rest in the morning 
and not get up until refreshments were 
brought him. When my wife went to his 
bedside in the morning so peaceful was 
his look that it took a second examination 
to convince her that our brother was dead. 
Judging from his position his breath 
must have gone out like the passing of a 
pleasant dream. His spirit left his body 
the night of the 2oth. It was a great 
shook to my father who is 81 years of age 
and in poor health." 



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Cbaitanooga 

Richmond, Box 888 

BatUetown 

Pfaffkown 

Col am bus 

Memphis, Box 153 

Lulu 

Sparta- 

Goldsboro, Box 924 

Columbia.. 

Ackermsn , 

Buck Creek.. 

Hughes 8pur ^^, 

Bridge Creek , 

Bagdad, Box 77... 

639 Betts St., Cincinnati.... 



Tennessee. 

Virginia. 

Kentucky 

N. Carolina 

Georgia. 

Tennessee 

Florida. 

Tennessee. 

N. Carolina. 

8. Carolina. 

Mississippi. 

Kentucky. 

Louisiana. 

Florida. 

Kentucky. 

Ohio. 



"Elder Alva Thomas Stewart was born 
at Richmond. Lake county, Utah, June 
2d, 3877. His father, Alvin F. Stewart, 
joined the Church in the Prophet Joseph's 
day, in Illinois, and passed through the 
many hardships incident to those days, 
emigrating to Utah in 1853. In 1867 he 
was left a widower with a large family. 
The latter part of this year he married 
Eliza Burnett. The result of this mar- 
riage was nine children, the deceased be- 
ing the seventh child. When Alva Thos. 
was three years of age his parents moved 
to Arizona; three years later the mother 
died with smallpox and once more the hap- 
py home was broken up. 

"Young Alva lived with his brothers 
and sisters until he was able to do some- 
thing for himself." 

Elder Stewart arrived in the missionary 
field in June, 1808, and labored as a trav- 
eling Elder in South Carolina up to the 
time the sickness, of which he died, came 
upon him. He had good health until 
about three weeks before starting for 
home. 

Brother Stewart was faithful and true 
and sacrificed all for the Gospel. He sold 
everything he had to get means to perform 
his mission. He died a martyr to the 
cause of Truth and for his goodness and 
fidelity many will yet rise up and call him 
blessed. 

He probably died with quick consump- 
tion which was no doubt brought on by 
overwork, so zealous was Brother Stewart 
in the Master's cause. He died for his 
fellowman and will be crowned in Heaven. 

Elder Stewart was an unmarried man. 
May God bless and comfort the hearts of 
the grief stricken family, for thoueh they 
have the knowledge that he that loseth his 
life for the Savior's sake shall find it 
again, yet the loss is great. 



ELDER BRYAN W. PECK. 

Trouble, it seems, never comes singly, 
anil the Southern States Mission finds 
itself railed upon to mourn the loss of 
another of its valiant warriors for truth. 
The Elders of the South as well as the 
Saints will be pained to learn of the 
death of Elder Bryan W. Peck, of the 
Middle Tennessee Conference. He died 
at 5:40 a. m. Feb. 27, near Ai, Putnam 
county, Tenn., the cause of death being 
a severe attack of the measles, terminat- 
ing in acute bronchitis. His sickness was 
not considered serious until Saturday, the 
24th, when he took a change for the 
worse. At Brother Peck's bedside were 
his companion. Elder Don C. Brimhall, 
Elder J. H. BeJnap and President J. Ur- 
ban Allred, who, with others, did all in 
their power for his relief, and when the 
end came he passed away as though go- 
ing to sleep. / 

Fortunately, our brother was among 
Saints and friends during his sickness; 
especially kind were the Saints, including 
Brother Andy Vaugn and family, at 
whose welcome home Brother Peck re- 
mained during his last sickness, when' 
day and night loving hands ministered 
every earthly aid possible. Dr. W. E. 
Sypert. of Ai, attended Brother Peck 
from the beginning and did all in his pow- 
er for the recovery of the patient. 



The body, accompanied by President 
Allred and Elder Belnap, was taken to 
Nashville, where President Rich was 
waiting to have the corpse embalmed and 
prepared for shipment home. The body 
was in a good state of preservation and 
was sent home in charge of Elder Bel- 
nap, and on March 4 a telegram an- 
nounced that he had arrived safely in Og- 
den, Utah, and delivered his charge to 
the relatives of the honored dead, who 
met him there. 

Elder Peck was a single man, 22 years 
of a$e, and lived with his parents in 
Gentile Valley, Bannock county, Idaho. 
He began his missionary labors last Oc- 
tober and although of a reserved dispo- 
sition was exceedingly earnest and very 
faithful, in the performance of the many 
duties incident to missionary life. He 
did not complain during his sickness, 
which in all lasted nearly two weeks, but 
seemed resigned to the will of his Heav- 
enly Father. To know 7 him was to love 
him and in Elder Peck we have, lost a 
man of God, whose labors and presence 
we shall miss greatly. 

Like Elder Stewart and others before 
him, he died in the harness, which makes 




Elder Bryan W. Peck. 

for him salvation sure, and the blessings 
due the faithful certain. 

To the dear ones who are called to 
forego the pleasure of having with them 
in this life our dead brother, it is cheer- 
ing to know that thousands of prayers go 
to our Father to comfort their hearts and 
strengthen them in their hour of tribula- 
tion, with the sweet influence of the Holy 
Spirit. Be comforted, for there is no 
more noble thought than that he gave his 
bright young life for God and humanity. 



Releases and Appointments. 

T. G. Eraser, East Kentucky. 
A. I). Thatcher, North Kentucky. 

Trannferx. 
I. A. Foulger, Ohio to Middle Tenn. 
I. E. Memmott, Ohio to Middle Tenn. 




-H& 



*&UT THOUGH WE.OQ AN AN&U. FROM HEAVEN, PREACH ANY 
pThEfc 50SP£L UNTO YOU TtlAN THAT WrtfCH WE 

HAV£ FBEAtHEO UNTO YQU.LET HIM SE ACCURSED W/*£W 




Vol. 2. 



Chattanooga, Tbnn., Saturday, March 17, 1900. 



No. 16. 



HER HERO. .7^ 

A widow had two sons, 

And one knelt on bis knees, 
And sought to give her joy 

And toiled to give her ease; 
He heard his country's call 

And longed to go; to die 
If God so willed, but saw 

Her tears and heard her sigh. 

A widow had two sons. 

One filled her days with care 
And creased her brow and brought 

Her many a whitened hair; 
His country called— he went. 

Nor thought to say good-by, 
And recklessly he fought, 

And died as heroes die. 

A widow had two sons. 

One fell as heroes fall, 
And one remained and tolled, 

And gave to her his all! 
She watched "her hero's" grave 

In dismal days and fair, 
And told the world her love, 

Her heart, was burled there. 

— S. E. Riser. 



OUR CONFERENCE PRESIDENTS. 

Elder J. N. Miller. 

Elder J. N. Miller, President of the 
Louisiana Conference, was born in Coal- 
ville, Summit county, Utah, March 3d, 
1870. He comes of sturdy pioneer stock, 
his grandparents, on both sides, being 
onrly members of the Church, passed 
through the bitter fire of persecution in- 
cident to that time, and both were forced 
by ruthless, red-handed mobocrats, to 
leave their homes. Hia grandfather 
Miller filled several missions and had the 
distinction of baptizing President Brig- 
ham Young. His grandfather, on his 
mother's side, was a Jew, receiving the 
Gospel in England. He was master of 
several languages and was teaching the 
Prophet Joseph German at the time of 
the Prophet's martyrdom. He went to 
Salt Lake Valley in 1848, and was one 
of the first manufacturers of matches in 
Utah. 

Elder Miller's early boyhood was spent 
in the district school during the winter 
and tending flocks and herds through the 
summer months. At the age of 18 he 
moved with his father to Carbon county, 
Utah. From this time until he entered 
the ministry his career was a varied one. 
He attended the Brigham Young Acad- 



emy one year, taught school in Carbon 
and Freemont counties, of his native 
state, and followed merchandising, min- 
ing, rauching and railroading, at differ- 
ent times and places. 

President Miller is a married man. He 
arrived in the missionary field in April, 
1898, like many of the servants of God, 
selling nearly all his goods and chattels 
to got money to enable him to leave his 
family and engage in the service of the 
Master. He was assigned to the Louisi- 
ana Conference, first laboring as a can- 




t ELDER J„ N. MILLER, 

President of the Louisiana Conference. 

vnssing Elder, then as a traveling Elder, 
finally succeeding Elder Lewis Hobson 
in the Presidency of the Conference. He 
was with President Hobson when a mob 
took them in charge, holding them pris- 
oners in the woods for twelve hours, an 
account of which appeared in the Star 
shortly after. 

President Miller is loved for faithful- 
ness and unswerving integrity by those 
who know him. The Louisiana Confer- 
ence should grow and prosper under the 
leadership of such a man. 



History[of the Southern States Mission. 

(Continued from page 117.) 

January, 1896— 

Father Time having departed, taking 
with him 1895, the new born year of 1896 
was ushered in with the most favorable 
conditions prevailing throughout the Mis- 
sion. General good health prevailed ; 
new and fruitful fields * were opened : 
prejudice was rapidly disappearing, and 
in all sections good treatment was ac- 
corded our Elders. Many meetings were 
being held and every effort put forth to 
place the Gospel before the people. 

On the 23rd inst. twenty-four Elders 
arrived from the West. After spending 
two days in tho city these brethren left 
for their various fields of labor. The 
weather during the month was unusually 
mild and very favorable to canvassing. 

February : — 

On the 16th and 17th President Kim- 
ball met the Mississippi Elders in Con- 
ference capacity. One public and one 
council meeting was held, the latter lasted 
seven hours, and was a spiritual feast for 
the Elders. They were fully instructed 
regarding their duties. The Louisiana 
Conference was organized with Swen L. 
Swenson as President. A portion of the 
Mississippi Elders were selected to labor 
with the Louisiana, which bids fair to be 
a very fruitful field. Twelve more El- 
ders arrived in Chattanooga on the 19th 
inst., while two who had gone direct from 
Salt Lake reported in Texas. James E. 
Hart was appointed President of East 
Tennessee Conference to succeed John R. 
Halliday. released, while Samuel P. Old- 
ham succeeded Frank L Beatie, released. 

On the 2.">th inst., Elders M. O. Miner 
and D. C. Hess were staying with Saints 
at Craddock, Fannin county, Texas. 
About sundown the following note was 
thrown inside the gate: 

"Honey Grove, Texas, Feb. 23, 1896. 
To the Mormon Preachers of Fannin 

County : 

You all have been here long enough and 
we will give you three days to get out of 
Fannin county, and to stay, out. If we 
catch you in this county any more we 
shall have your scalps. You* all can do 
just as you please, for you know what is 
best for you all. But we can tell you 
there is but one thing: if you can be 
found in Fannin county, when the three 
day 8 are out we shall have your scalps. 



122 



THE SOUTHERN STAR. 



We have give you good warning and in 
time. Yours truly, 

Fannin and Lamar White Caps Company. 
Dictated by 64, Club No. 3." 

No attention was paid to the above 
threat The following day President A. 
C. Dalley and Elder S. H. Wells arrived 
at Craddock and the remainder of the 
week was spent holding meetings among 
I he Saints. On Sunday, March 1st. a 
Sunday school was organized. Monday 
the Elders left for Lenard, about twelve 
miles distant, where a series of meetings 
were held. The latter part of the week 
they returned to Craddock. On Sunday 
the Elders met with the Saints in Sunday 
school and meeting, expecting to separate 
and return to their various fieids of labor 
the following day. President Dalley and 
Elder Miner being unwell stayed at Bro. 
Bryants where meeting was held, while 
Elders Wells and Hess went home with 
Bro. Gregory. About 11 :30 p. m.. after 
all had retired, the house of Bro. Gregory 
was surrounded by a mob of twenty-five 
or thirty men. Bro. G. — met them at the 
door and was informed that they wanted 

those Mormon Preachers. They 

then began crying "Shoot 'em out!" 
"Shoot 'em out!" 

(To be continued.) 



Mormonism All Embracing. 

Deseret News. 

The "Mormon" faith is a huge maw 
gulping a dozen denominations, says 
Rollin Lynde Hartt in the February At- 
lantic. Are you a Baptist? The "Mor- 
mon" believes in immersion. A Meth- 
odist? The "Mormon" obeys his bishop. 
A Campbellite? The "Mormon" claims a 
yet closer return to Apostolic ordinance. 
A Theosophist? The "Mormon" holds to 
pre-existence. A Spiritualist? The "Mor- 
mon" hears voices from the dead*. A 
Faith Healer? The "Mormon" heals by 
the laying on of hands. A Second Ad- 
ventist? The "Mormon" awaits the 
Messiah. A Universalist? The "Mormon" 
says all will be saved. Massing his 
proof, he declares his peerless religion 
the one immutable, eternal faith, lost in 
the early age and restored in the latter 
days, though glimmering in broken lights 
through all the creeds of Christendom. 
"Bring me from Europe or Asia," said 
Brighara Young, "a truth that is not a 
part of 'Mormonism' and I'll give you a 
thousand errors for it, if you can find 
them." Said a "Mormon" at Harvard, 
"Sunday by Sunday I go to service in 
the Appleton chapel, and there I hear 
nothing but 'Mormon' doctrine." Limit- 
ed only by the broad bounds of Chris- 
tianity, this faith is an amalgamated and 
co-ordinated parliament of religions. 



"After a man once gets the hang of a 
thing it is just as easy to be true and 
honest as it is to be false and wabbly." 



"Kickers are never popular, but they 
often supply the impetus that makes 
other men popular." 



Only One Line That Does ft. 

There is now only one line operating 
through double daily service from Mis- 
souri River points to California, and that 
line is the Union Pacific. 

"The Overland Limited" is the fastest 
train in the west, and its equipment of 
Free Reclining Chair Cars, Buffet Smok- 
ing and Library Cars, Pullman Dining 
and Sleeping Cars is unsurpassed. 

No other line offers equal facilities for 
California travel. For further particu- 
lars and advertising matter, address J. 
F, Aglar, General Agent, St. Louis. 



SKETCH OF PRESIDENT WOODRUFF. 

BY APOSTLK MATH IAS F. COWLKY. 
• (Continued from page 115.) 

Apostle Wilford Woodruff, during the 
fifty-one years of his life in Utah, per- 
formed missions at home and abroad, 
iu America and Europe, and tilled many 
positions of honor with credit and dis- 
tinction. When President John Taylor 
succeeded to the Presidency of .the 
church Elder Woodruff became the Pres- 
ident of the Twelve Apostles, which 
place he filled with honor, until subse- 
quent to the decease of President Tay- 
lor, Wilford Woodruff, in 1889, became 
the President of and Prophet, Seer and 
Revelator to the Church of Jesus Christ 
of Latter-day Saints. During his Pres- 
idency of the Twelve, President Wood- 
ruff spent much of his time in exile, ow- 
ing to the unholy crusade against the 
Latter-day Saints. During this time, 
like John the Revelator, he was favored 
with visions and revelations of the Holy 
Spirit. On one occasion the departed 
Prophet, President Young, appeared to 
him, as he traveled along a road in Ari- 
zona, to attend a conference, and urged 
upon President Woodruff the necessity 
for the Saints to more thoroughly secure 
the companionship of the Holy Spirit and 
keep it with them. President Woodruff 
was greatly interested in the salvation 
of the dead, combining works with his 
faith, he secured from New England 
large geneaological information concern- 
ing his dead progenitors, and for their 
salvation he would work in the. Temple 
whenever possible; his family and friends 
would assist. He was so thor- 
oughly loved by the Saints and respected 
for his interest in the salvation of the 
dead that on one anniversary of his 
birthday several hundred of the Saints 
in St. George and vicinity joined him in 
the St. George Temple and received or- 
dinances in behalf of his deceased rela- 
tions. About this time one of his choic- 
est and most spiritual-minded sons, Brig- 
ham Y. Woodruff, was drowned in Bear 
river in Cache valley. President Wood- 
ruff, having allotted much upon the fu- 
ture of this noble son, was very much 
wrought up because of his death. Al- 
though he never murmured at the 
providences of the Almighty, he inquired 
of the Lord to know why it should be 
thus. The Lord revealed to him that as 
he was doing such an extensive work in 
the Temples for the dead, that his son 
Brigham was needed in the spirit world 
to preach the Gospel and labor among 
those relatives there. He had a similar 
manifestation subsequent to the decease 
of Apostle Abraham H. Cannon. The 
latter was a wise man in council, and 
although young in years. President Wood- 
ruff felt his loss very keenly, and won- 
dered why he was taken. The Lord re- 
vealed to President Woodruff that there 
was a work for him in the spirit world, 
that Abraham H. Cannon was one of 
the very purest and best men of this dis- 
pensation, and fully prepared to move 
in a more exalted sphere. Many mani- 
festations of the Spirit were given to 
President Woodruff from the time he 
embraced the Gospel until the time of 
his decease. During his administration 
as President of the church, dating from 
April 7th. 1889. George Q. Cannon and 
Joseph F. Smith, acting as counselors, 
President Woodruff 'did much to encour- 
age the cause of church school educa- 
tion, making, as trustee in trust, as lib- 
eral appropriations as the church could 
afford to sustain the Stake academies 
and other churrh schools. In 1890 Pres- 
ident Woodruff issued the manifesto re- 
specting the discontinuance of plural 
marriages in the United States, and later 
the political address, which provides that 
men who are called to spend all their 
time in the ministry shall not run into 
politics to the neglect of their spiritual 
calling without beinsr properly released 
for that pnmose. This does not abridge 
the rights of any man. since it is no 
part of a citizen's duty to seek for office. 
Tf all men were like President Wilford 
Woodruff the office would always have 



to seek the man, and when it does no 
barrier is placed in the way of his ac- 
ceptance. 

President Woodruff for many years, 
and up to his death, was Presi- 
dent of the organization instituted by 
i resident Young, known as the Young 
Men's Mutual Improvement Associations, 
throughout the church. He showed great 
love lor the young people. In ,this ca- 
pacity he was greatly loveu and respect- 
ed by the young people of the church. 
He attended their conferences when fea- 
sible, and constantly bore to them his 
testimony as an Apostle of the Lord, 
that Jesus is the Christ and that Joseph 
Smith was a mighty Prophet of the Lord, 
standing at the head of this dispensa- 
tion. Inasmuch as a certain class of 
people in the United States who are not 
Latter-day Saints, claim to believe in 
the divine mission of Joseph Smith, and 
yet deny the succession of authority to 
President Young, and also attribute to 
President young the authorship of doc- 
trines revealed to Joseph Smith the 
Prophet, we here introduce the testimony 
of President Wilford. Woodruff. Be it 
remembered that he was an Apostle be- 
fore the Prophet's martyrdom, uve years, 
and consequently was his associate, a 
personal witness of the Prophet's teach- 
ings, and the last remaining Apostle at 
his death, who held the Apostleship in 
the day 8 of the Prophet Joseph Smith. 
This testimony was borne to two hun- 
dred young men by the Prophet Wilford 
Woodruff when he was 91 years of age, 
when he soon expected to stand in the 
presence of the Redeemer and give an 
account for every word spoken, and ev- 
ery deed done in the body. 
Officers Y. M. M. I. Meeting of May, 1898: 

President Woodruff addressed the meet- 
ing. He said: 

I am deeply Interested in the position we 
occupy. The Lord has appointed the place 
we are In when the blessings were given 
of Joseph. We are the sons of Joseph. Mere 
is the place where we are going to stay. 
No power beneath the heavens will ever 
drive this people from these moan tains. 

This Was a desert when we came here. 
President .Young went to work with a will 
like a man. 1 was with him when he took 
his first walk from his carriage across tne 
site where this city now stands. When he 
reached the place where the Temple now 
stands he stuck his cane into the ground 
and said: "Here will be built the Temple 
of our God." I thought that was a strange 
prediction, but I lost no time until I cut a 
sage stake and drove it into the very spot 
where tye had marked. That was before 
any survey had been made or any street 
made, and on that spot, indicated by Brig- 
ham Young, and where I drove the stake, 
the Temple now stands. Men tried to per- 
suade President Young to go to California, 
but he replied, "I'm going to stay here to 
build a city here, a Temple and a country." 

Young men, the vision of my mind Is upon 
your position. Upon your shoulders rests 
the mission of carrying on this work of 
converting the children of men to the Gos- 
pel of Christ from the sins of the world. 
There is nothing the children of men can 
be engaged In that is equal to the converting 
of the souls of men. The only office I ever 
asked the Lord for was to be permitted to 
go and preach the Gospel. You hold the 
power of the priesthood in your hands. I 
was present In Nauvoo, when the Prophet, 
Joseph Smith, gave the keys of the King- 
dom of God to the twelve Apostles. He was 
with us about three hours. 

He was full of the Spirit of the Lord. His 
face was clear as amber. He said: "I stand 
at the head of this dispensation and God 
has given me every key of the priesthood, 
eve/y power of the priesthood. I am going 
away (we did not then know what he 
meant.) This kingdom will depend on you 
and I now roll the responsibility upon you, 
and God requires it at your hands, and If 
you do not carry it on you will be damned. ' 

Joseph never bestowed upon Young Jo- 
seph any key or priesthood or authority. 
God Is not with the Joseph! tes, nor are the 
ordinances of the House of the Lord with 
them. I was once riding on the cars from 
this city to Provo, and a man named Short 
took occasion to walk up and down the car, 
declaring that Joseph Smith never taught 
nor practiced plural marriage, and never In- 
stituted the covenants and endowments of 
the house of the Lord. That Brigham 
Young and those with him were the authors 
of these things. 

T rose up and said to him: "You say what 
Is untrue," I received my endowments uij- 



THE SOUTHERN STAR. 



128 



der the hands of the Prophet Joseph 
Smith, and he taught me the celestial order 
of marriage, and he had plural wives, and 
several of his wives are in Salt Lake City 
today. Joseph was the author under God 
of all these things. Brigham Young, George 
A. Smith and many others received their en- 
dowments from Joseph, and their wives 
were given, to them by him in the celestial 
order of marriage. I shall be a witness of 
this in the Spirit world and I shall meet 
you all there. The day is not far distant 
when you will see great events in the earth 
and sorrowful Judgments. God bless you. 

President Joseph F. Smith said that Presi- 
dent Woodruff was one of the last living. 
witnesses of the things about which he had 
spoken. Sister Bathsneba W. Smith, who is 
stluT alive, and her husband, received their 
endowments from Joseph, and the Prophet 
Joseph had conferred all keys and powers 
of the priesthood upon the twelve Apostles. 
He urged upon the young men present to 
make note of the testimony borne by Presi- 
dent Woodruff that hereafter in the genera- 
tions to come they could testify that they 
hud heard him bear witness of these 
truths. 

President Woodruff's 90th birthday 
was celebrated March 1st, T1897, by a 
grand gathering of his friends and ad- 
mirers at the Tabernacle, Salt Lake City, 
which was filled completely and was at- 
tended by the Governor and members of 
the Legislature and • many other public 
officials, Mormons and non-Mormons. 
President Woodruff made a notable speech 
on that occasion, speaking with great vig- 
or and clearness. After an appropriate 
program was rendered, President Wood- 
ruff, with his wife, Emma Smith Wood- 
ruff, 59 years of age, whose birthday oc- 
curred on the same day, was seated in 
front of the lower stand and held a re- 
ception, which lasted over an hour, al- 
most the entire assembly passing by and 
shaking hands with the venerable Presi- 
dent and his wife. Notwithstanding his 
advanced age, he received a party Of his 



ag< 
fi 



immediate friends at dinner at his resi 
dence, the same day, manifesting no signs 
of fatigue after the ordeal he had passed 
through. On July 20, 1897, he officiated 
at the great Pioneer Jubilee celebration, 
when the statue of President Brigham 
Young -was unveiled and the dedication 
prayer by President Woodruff was of- 
fered. In the afternoon, he attended a 
meeting of the Pioneers, which was held 
in the Tabernacle, and was there present- 
ed with the gold Pioneer badge, which had 
been designed for the oldest Pioneer pres- 
ent. 

On July 22d, he was honored by being 
crowned with flowers in the Tabernacle by 
the children who had marched in the pro- 
cession to the number of about 10,000. 
They were represented by Ida Taylor 
Whittaker, grand daughter of the late 
President Taylor, who said : 

"As one of the descendants of Utah's 
1847 Pioneers, I crown you, the oldest of 
that noble hand present here today, and 

?ray God's blessing on you and all your 
'ioneer companions." 
President Woodruff frequently testified 
that two powers had been at work with 
him all his life, one to destroy him, the 
other to protect him and enable him to 
complete his mission in honor upon the 
earth. The following statement prepared 
from one of his discourses will be of in- 
terest to the reader: 

"During his eventful life, President 
Woodruff met with a number of severe 
accidents, many of which would have 
killed an ordinary person. He frequently 
remarked that he had broken nearly every 
bone in his body except those of his spine 
and neck. Because of his remarkable re- 
covery from these disasters, he reached 
the conclusion that there were two pow- 
ers seriously affecting his life — one en- 
gaged to destroy him, and the other to 
preserve him. lie recognized in the latter 
the hand of divine Privi dence, protecting 
him for a wise purpose. The following 
chapter of accidents which befell him was 
prepared under his personal direction : 

When 3 years of age he foil into a caul 
dron of boiling water, and it was nine 
mouths before he was considered out of 
danger. When 5 years old, he fell from 
the great beam of a barn, striking on his 
facej three months later he fell down stairs 



and broke an arm. Soon after, he broke his 
other arm. At 6 years old he was chased by 
a mad bovine, but he fell into a posthole and 
the animal leaped over him. The same year 
he broke both bones of one of his legs in 
his father's saw .mill. When 7 years of age, 
a load of hay on which he was riding was 
tipped over upon him, and he was nearly 
suffocated. When 8 years old, a wn^on in 
which he was riding was turned over upon 
him, but he was not seriously Injured. 
When 9 years old, toe fell from an elm 
tree, through the breaking of a dry limb, 
fifteen feet to the ground, and was sup- 
posed to be dead, but he recovered, Wben 
12 years old, he was drowned In Fa fin lug- 
ton river, Conn., but wus ln-miifhi up by a 
young man from thirty ice. ul wiiui*. lie 
suffered greatly in his restoration to life. 
When 13 years of age he became benumbed 
with cold, while walking through the 
meadows, and went into the sleep of death, 
becoming insensible, but was found and 
was restored. When 14 years old, he split 
his Instep open with an ax, and was 9 
months getting well. At 15 he was bitten 
in his left hand by a mad dog. At 17, he 
was thrown from an ill-tempered horse 
over the horse's head on a steep hill amid 
the rocks; he landed over the rocks on his 
feejt about a rod ahead. It broke his left 
leg' in two places and dislocated both his 
ankles. In eight weeks he was out of doors 
on crutches. In 1827, while attempting to 
clear the ice out of a water-wheel, a full 
head of water was turned on, his feet 
slipped into the wheel, but he plunged for- 
ward head first into three feet of water and 
escaped being crushed to death. In 1831 he 
was again caught in a wheel twenty feet in 
diameter, but leaped out against a jagged 
stone wall, and escaped with a few bruises. 
During the winter of that year he suffered 
severely from lung fever. In 1833. the day 
he was baptized, a horse, newly sharpshod, 
kicked a hat off his head, and ten minutes 
later he was thrown from a sleigh, without 
any box, on which he was driving, lighting 
between the horses, and was dragged with 
the sleigh on him to the bottom of a hill 
on a snow path, but escaped unharmed. In 
1834 he narrowly escaped death twice from 
the discharge of fire arms, a rifle ball pass- 
ing within a few inches of his breast, and a 
musket, heavily loaded, being snapped with 
the muzzle pointed at his breast. In April, 
1839, in Rochester, 111., while riding on the 
forward axle tree of a wagon, he -was 
thrown so that his head and shoulders 
were dragging. His horses took fright and 
dragged mm about half a mile till they 
ran into a high fence. He was bruised, but 
no bones were broken. While going to St. 
Louis, in July, 1842, he had a severe attack 
of bilious fever, and on returning to Nau- 
voo, in August, was confined to his bed for 
forty days, and appeared to be stricken 
wtth death, but he recovered by the mani- 
festation of the power of God. Sept. 12, 
1843, at 5 p. m., he left Boston on the Port- 
land Express. Six miles south of Kenne- 
bunk, after dark, the train was wrecked, 
several cars were smashed to pieces, the 
engineer killed, some of the passengers had 
bones broken, but he escaped unhurt. Oct. 
5, 1S46, when with the camp of the Saints on 
the west bank of the Missouri river, while 
cutting some timber, he was crushed by a 
falling tree, his breast bone and three ribs 
on the left side were broken, his left arm, 
hip and thigh were badly bruised, and he 
was internally injured, yet he rode two and 
a half miles over a rough road and was then 
carried to his wagon, when President Brig- 
ham Young and his Counselors laid hands 
upon him and rebuked his pain. He had no 
physician, was able to walk In twenty 
days, and in thirty days from the time he 
was hurt he was able to work again. On 
the 21st of April, 1856, while helping to 
move an ox that had died from poison and 
had been skinned, his arm was fnocculated 
with the virus, and seven days afterward 
he began to swell, and his whole system ap- 
peared to be impregnated with the poison. 
President Young administered to him and 
promised him he should recover and live 
to finish the work appointed to him on 
earth. He subsequently recovered, although 
dead flesh had to be removed from his arm 
with instruments and lunar caustic. 

From the time President Woodruff was 
a boy he kept a complete journal of his 
daily life. Many items of important his- 
tory would doubtless have been lost, had 
it not been for the journal of Wilford 
Woodruff. For many years he was the 
Church Historian. His long personal 
experience and the accuracy of his jour- 
nal assisted him very much as Church 
Historian. 

From the year 1834 to the close of 1895 
Wilford Woodruff traveled 172,369 miles, 
hold 7,555 meetings, attended 75 semi- 
annual Conferences, and 344 quarterly 
Conferences; preached 3,526 discourses; 



established 77 preaching places in the 
missionary field; organized 51 branches 
of the church; received 18,977 letters; 
wrote 11,519 letters; assisted in the con- 
firmation into the church of 8,952 per- 
sons, and in addition to his work in the 
St. George temple, labored 603 days in 
the Endowment House in Salt .Lake 
City. He traveled through England, 
Scotland, Wales, six islands of the sea,- 
twenty-three states of the United States, 
and five territories. 

During the latter years of his life he 
suffered from insomnia, and occasionally 
went to the Pacific coast, where upon tht» 
sea level he could sleep better and would 
recruit. Ifcwas upon one of these visits 
to the coast that he became prostrated, 
and passed peacefully away Sept. 2, 1898, 
to his glorious rest. A portion of his 
family and President Cannon and others 
were at his bedside. His remains were 
brought home for interment. The funer- 
al occurred Sept. 9, in the large taber- 
nacle, was attended by many thousands 
of people, and by the general authorities 
of the Church. He left a family of noble 
wives and children to mourn his departure 
but they were not alone in the bereave- 
ment, for many thousands knew and 
loved President Woodruff as a Prophet 
of the Lord, a humble, honest, upright 
man of God. He fought the good fight. 
He kept the faith, and will wear the 
crown of eternal lives promised to those 
who leave all and follow the Lord, who 
came up through much tribulation, who 
wash their robes and make them white in 
the blood of the Lamb, for such is the 
unblemished record and history made by 
President Wilford Woodruff. 



A Spiritual Feast. 

Shelby County, Ky., March 7, 1900. 

President Ben E. Rich, 

Chattanooga, Tenn. 

Dear Brother: 

By request of President Terry I write 
you a synopsis of a spiritual feast en- 
joyed by the Henry, Owen and Franklin 
county Elders as a result of the late 
Conference of Conference Presidents held 
at Chattanooga. The Elders of the above 
named counties met March 5th, in Ilai- 
dens Bottom. Henry county. One council 
and two public meetings were held, at all 
of which the influence of the Holy Spirit 
was greatly manifest. The people were 
very kind and ministered to the Elders in 
a way very much appreciated by them. 
Those of special mention are Bros. Mes- 
sick, Ellis, Onan and Bondurant. May 
God bless and prosper such noble souls. 

Tuesday, the 6th inst., the Elders met 
in a school house to hold their council 
meeting. 

Each Elder bore his testimony, feeling 
to thank his Heavenly Father for the 
privilege of meeting with his fellow la* 
borers. The Elders have come into the 
vineyard to proclaim the Holy Word; to 
bear testimony of the restoration of the 
Gospel through Joseph Smith. Each El- 
der realized that council given should be 
obeyed, that obedience was better than 
sacrifice. Elders are as watchmen set ou 
the watch tower, to warn people of dan- 
ger. President Terry gave much valuable 
instruction, fully explaining the important 
advice and council received at the meet- 
ing of Conference Presidents held at 
Chattanooga recently. Wednesday morn- 
ing the Elders took leave for their var- 
ious fields, each wishing the others a 
hearty good bye and success in their 
labors. 

Your Brother in the Cause of Truth. 
JOHN H. BANKHEAD. 



Let us be content to work, 
To do the thing we can, and not presume 
To fret because it's little. 

— E. B. Browning. 



124 



THE SOUTHERN STAB. 




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•f JtMt Christ tf Utttr Day Salitt, 

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field is solicited. Give name and address, or articles 
will be rejected. Write on one side of paper only 
when sent for publication. We reserve the right to 
either eliminate or reject any communication sent in. 
Address Box xo» 



Saturday, March 17, 1900. 



ARTICLES OF FAITH 

OP THE CHURCH OP JESUS CHRIST OP 
LATTER-DAY SAINTS. 

1. W* b*IJ*Te Ed Uotl (ha Et*rn*l Father, and in 3 fa So» 
JaiQI Cbrijtt and in (hn Hnly OhoiL 

B. W* b»Mfl»* that D»D *ill Iw ponjihed for ibeir avn 
•ini, tad nol for Ad am 'a Lrinfjrraiihon. 

1. Wa bahava that, lhrtn*gh tin atone meal of i:hri*l, all 
map kind may la tivai, bj uqedtibcc 1* tha I*** Bud ordi- 
ciDcii of thcGoipal. 

4. Wa belJprft that lh« fint prineiplaa and ordinance* nf 
lha Qoi[ml Ho : Fint, Faith in the Lcird Jn □il'brjgt ;, itwad, 
R«p«iktaac« ; thirl, U*[jl:t*m by i m (fieftiotr frr the r* m ucim 
of una ; fourth, Lijinj oo of ilandi fo: the Gift of tea Holy 
^boat. 

a. Wb baUsTa that a man mu*t *w called of Dad, hj 
" prupfcecj. itid by tba layinf, od of hinda," by rh«e who ara 
in ■ethorJtj, |o pinch tha i«p*] and mdminiiltr lb the ordi- 



o\ W« believe Id lha'aame orfiQijatton that mJiUd in 
tha primitive church— na me tj, AjKut]**, freph*U, Fatter*, 
Taechen,, £vinxelUU, etfc 

-7. W* belie I e iq the gift of lonfne*, prophfCT, ratclaUoh, 
Tjiiooi, litnliflf, intrri>r«fatJ4D of fonffuct, «t«. 

1 We beliere the Bibie to be the word of God, ai Tar aa It 
■■ trim]ju*d correctly , wo alrt baJiel a the Bool of MofDoa 
to ba ft* word of <M. 

», Wa btJian all that Qod baa revealed, all thai Be Joaa 
HO* reveal and we be! Lave thai Ha will **t repeal many (r?*l 
. and important things pertaining to the Kiogdom of God. 

10. W* believe in the literal tilberinjt of iiraoJ and in the 
f«*lnrtt]&fi of Che Tori Trlbo*; tlimt /ion will he built Upon 
thla (lk.t American) c^titinent: that Cfaf Eat will reJ|o perton- 
ally open the airlh. and that the earth will be renewed jnd 
Frceita ita paridi«i*?*i (torjr. 

11. We claim the privilege of wonhlpiflg AloiE F ht^ God 
accoidina- to tha dktatea of our cutueitnn, and ajlo* ail 
■an tha aano jwi»ilega, let Una »wabjp boar, whew, or whmi 

11 Wa baJiara in bcangavbjact to kino, praaidaata. rubra, 
sad oaadatrataa ; la obeying, honoring and aoetalaing tha law. 

It. • Wa believe in being honaat, true, caaate, beoeToleot, 
•irtaoaa. aad in doing good to all BMa; indeed, wa nay eajr 
that wa follow tha admonition of Paul, * Wa believe all thing*, 
wa hope all thiaga," wo have andnrod many thing*, aad hop* 
to ba able to eador* all tbinga. If there ia aaythiag virtoooa, 
atfiWonlral&Ta pr ^ worthy » wa aaak altar thaaa 



The mill of the gods grinds slowly, but 
'it grinds very fine. 



Every attempt to make others happy, 
every step forward in the cause of what 
is good, is a step nearer to true man- 
hood. 



The Star extends sympathy to Elder 
J. B. Coles, in the loss of his wife. May 
God bless and comfort him. Elder Coles 
labored in Mississippi and was released 
last June. 



We will be glad to have the Elders and 
other of our readers contribute articles 
for the Star. Write your experiences, or 
your thoughts on any good subject — it 
will help you and it will help to make 
the Star more interesting. Write short 
articles and to the point. Our space is 
limited and we cannot publish all, and 
*'if at first yon don't succeed, try, try 
again." 



BIGOTRY IN JACKSONVILLE. 



In another column we give an account 
of a cowardly assault on Elder Jenaon, in 
Jacksonville, while he and Elder Wixom 
were holding a street meeting; and be- 
en use of the actions of the half intoxi- 
cuu<ii coward, the tenth century Chief 
of Police orders the Elders not to preach 
any more on the streets of that city. 
Then the two by four Florida Times- 
Union and Citizen, chimes in and says it 
was just right ; advocates mob -violence to 
American citizens, simply because they do 
not hold the same religious views, 
and at the same time holding 
up to the public this intoxicated bigot 
as a man of noble character after their 
own heart and as representing the good 
people of Jacksonville. Shame on such 
men, they disgrace the name of Ameri- 
ca and are not worthy to be American 
citizens; far less to be custodians of the 
rights of the people and moulders of pub- 
lic opinion. Thank God, such beings do 
not voice the sentiments of the best people, 
of Jacksonville or of this country. If 
they did we would still be in the dark 
ages, and burning at the stake would be 
in order. 

Of course as every circus, must have a 
clown, so also is a street gathering incom- 
plete without a crank to disturb. This 
case was no exception to the rule. While 
Elder Jenson was speaking a certain in- 
dividual demanded he answer a question 
put to him. This was done, but seeming- 
ly not to the satisfaction of the disturber, 
who struck the Elder a cowardly blow in 
the face. Next morning one of the lead- 
ing papers came out saying the Elder re- 
ceived merited punishment. Such men as 
will print things like that are the ones 
who incite men to anger, causing them to 
raise mobs and do bodily harm to inno- 
cent persons. 

Those who allow such articles to ap- 
pear in the columns of their paper, will 
be held responsible for the greater part of 
the damage inflicted upon the servants of 
God. 

Some one should take pains to inform 
the Chief of Police and the narrow con- 
tracted newspaper, above mentioned, that 
Jacksonville is in America, a part of the 
United States; that the fundamental 
principle underlying the government is 
freedom and liberty. It might take some 
time for them to comprehend American- 
ism, but then they could grow in grace, 
and it would be better for the next gen- 
eration. 

These Elders had violated no law ; they 
cast no reflection upon southern ladies, 
and if they had received justice the offi- 
cers would have said, "Gentlemen you 
have a right to preach the Gospel as you 
see it; although we differ religiously you 
are Americans and shall be protected in 
your rights. We have no right to stop 
you from preaching on the streets, unless 
all others are prohibited, the law is no re- 
specter of persons." However, it is the 
same old story, they are "Mormons" and 
cannot expect rights when they worship 
different from us. 

May we ask what the police officer 
would have done had it been any other 
kind of meeting? Would he have said, 
"I must have a warrant?" Is it necessary 
to have a warrant every time a disturb- 
ance is raised, and let the culprit get 
away while going to get one? What a 
glorious condition we should have if this 
were the case. At least it would be glor- 
ious for thugs and "athletic young men." 
Had it been other than the dispised "Mor- 
mon," who was injured, would not the 
Florida Times-Union and Citizen have 
denounced the affair as an outrage, and ■ 



called upon the Chief of Police to stop 
such business? But what could be ex- 
pected from a newspaper that did not 
have backbone enough, or is so prejudiced 
that it could not publish the proceedings 
of a "Mormon" Conference, even as a 
matter of news ; or notices of a "Mormon 
meeting after it had agreed to do so, hav- 
ing been paid for publishing such notices? 
The trouble in Jacksonville, no doubt, 
is simply this: the people were going to 
hear the "Mormon" Elders and lenrn of 
their side of the story. This fact did 
not su J .t those who evidently love dark- 
ness rather than light, and do not want 
to allow others what they ask for them- 
selves. They are too narrow-minded to 
hear both sides, and like some of old, 
dismiss the question by asking, "Can 
any good come out of Nazareth?" This 
done, they do not go and see, but justify 
themselves in trampling in the mire law, 
order, and the sacred Constitution, to 
accomplish fheir unmanly and unchris- 
tianlike purposes. 

Why not treat the "Mormon" question 
along the lines of reason and civilization? 
When force is resorted to is it not an 
admission that the question cannot be 
successfully met by fair means? We 
ask no special favors, but we do ask for 
our rights, as loyal citizens, appealing to 
the broad-minded people of Jacksonville 
to give us justice. If some do not want 
to hear "Mormonism" from a "Mormon" 
standpoint, they are not forced to go and 
listen, but should not interfere with the 
liberty of others and Bay they shall not 
go because it does not suit them. If the 
Chief of Police of Jacksonville and the 
Florida Times-Union and Citizen lift 
their puny hands to stay the progress of 
the work of God, they will sooner or 
later find they are kicking against the 
pricks; and reap the vengeance of a just 
Creator. Gentlemen, be Americans, and 
stand on the Constitution of the Repub- 
lic. Be men and fight what you believe 
to be error with the cudgels of reason 
and Scripture. Give your opponent a 
fair chance to be heard and not disgrace 
our fair land and advanced civilization 
by advocating cruel persecution and 
brute force. We commend for your 
reading the fifth chapter of the Acts of 
the Apostles. 



RIGHT WILL YET BE MIGHT. 

— — — — i 

Recent occurrences plainly show that 
Satan and his agents are still at work. 
Whenever mobbings of Mormon Elders 
have taken place in the south, or else- 
where, people living in the vicinity of the 
cowardly deeds have ever been willing to 
throw the blame upon ignorant people. 
Satan has many tools, each fitted for a 
certain labor, and he is using every one of 
them. It is an easy thing to make some 
believe that mobbings are conducted by 
an ignorant class, but upon investigation, 
nine cases out of ten will show either a 
so-called minister, or a newspaper the 
instigators. 

The money grabbing preachers, and pea- 
nut political newspaper sheets are often, if 
not always, tools through which Satan ac- 
complishes his low designs. But here is 
a clipping from a good, pure, religious 
Christian (?) paper. 

The Christian and patriotic people of the 
country must remember that the exclusion 
of Roberts from congress is not the end of 
Mormonism in Utah or anywhere else. It 
is of the utmost importance that the agi- 
tation against the abominable system bo 
kept up till it is obliterated, ana that In 
the meantime we should very diligently 
seek to so evangelize all our people as to 
have none who may become a prey to the 
plausible delusions of the Mormon emis- 
aries who are all over our land. This 



THE SOUTHERN STAR. 



125 



abomination in the tight of God and mau 
should be obliterated. 

This only corroborates what we time 
and again have asserted through these col- 
umns. That the recent fight in congress 
was not so much against B. H. Roberts, 
but was onlj a ruse to damage Mormon- 
ism, if possible. The so-called Christian 
churches have ever been jealous of the 
steady growth of the Mormon Church. 
They have used the foulest means to over- 
throw Truth, yet it lives. Men have been 
martyred for this dispised, unpopular doc- 
trine, but others have stepped gallantly 
forward to continue the sacred work. 
Many of the Christians today are like 
those of "ye pilgrim times ;" those who 
in the face of desolation, starvation, and 
hardships boldly demanded of an oppres- 
sive government their rights. Yea more 
did they do, they denounced king- 
craft, establishing a government built up- 
on the foundation of religious and politi- 
cal liberty to all. The battle was fought, 
and right became might. Then did those 
very people who made such an effort for 
freedom, do the thing they had fought 
against. Just as soon as they hat a 
little authority, they proclaimed that all 
must bow down to them ; must see all 
things like them. To be sure the end of 
Mormonism, so-called, is not at hand in 
Utah, or elsewhere. The Church of Jesus 
Christ of Latter-day Saints was estab- 
lished by divine inspiration, and will con- 
tinue to grow. Preachers may rant and 
roar, newspapers may befoul their sheets 
with falsehoods, yet be it remembered a 
Judgment Day is not far hence. Then 
will mankind know that the hated Latter- 
Day Saints are the blessed of God. 



THE DARK AGES. 

BY A. ARROWSMITH. 
(Continued from page 117.) 

THE THIRTEENTH CENTURY 
opened with the same conditions of war, 
bloodshed and turmoil that characterized 
the preceding century. Hordes of Tar- 
tars came rushing from the northeast, and 
like grasshoppers, destroyed all before 
them. Christians and Mahometans suf- 
fered alike and they played havoc with 
the religious world. They overran the 
whole east and these war-like Tartars 
have left the impress on the world of be- 
ing a bloodthirsty, savage and untamable 
race. 

In this century the Christians made 
two crusades into Palestine, but as in 
the preceding century, they were unsuc- 
cessful in accomplishing any good, en- 
tailing the loss of many lives, the expen- 
diture of much wealth and bringing many 
evils upon the land. However, the Chris- 
tians subdued Prussia, and the whole 
north of Europe, and by bloodshed, rapine 
and cruelty, compelled the people to ac- 
knowledge their supremacy and become 
Christians. This was the usual way of 
making converts at this period of the 
world's history. 

Roger Bacon, an eminent scholar and 
philosopher, graced the earth in this cen- 
tury of darkness. ITe was a man who 
loomed up at least six hundred years 
ahead of his time, and who, in his spirit- 
ual existence, made great advancement, a 
giant among pigmies, a rose among thorns, 
an oasis in a desert, rays of light in dark- 
ness. Poor fellow, he came untimely, 
was not appreciated, and was incarcerat- 
ed in a loathsome dungeon, where he spent 
many years of his life, "wasting his sweet- 
ness on the desert air." 

John, the King of England, was 
a noted character of this cen- 
turv. He was a vacillating, weak mon- 
arch, who actually signed over and be- 



qeathed to the Pope, all his kingdom, 
considering himself an abject vassal un- 
der the great Innocent the Third, the Pon- 
tiff of Rome. He was satisfied to fawn at 
the feet of this Pope, who subjected him 
to great ignominy and disgrace. This 
king has ever since been the hiss and by 
word of the nation he tried to govern and 
is considered a contemptible wretch for 
his weakness in thus giving up his king- 
dom. However, in the year 1215 the En- 
glish Barons, who were the backbone and 
strength of the nation, compelled John to 
sign the great Magna Charta, which guar- 
anteed many rights and privileges to the 
common people, who were governed by 
the Barons during the feudal age. 

Dominic, a Spaniard, and Francis, a 
converted reprobate, lived in this century 
and were the Fathers and instigators of 
the Monastic orders called respectively 
Dominicans and Franciscans. These two 
orders of mendicants were favored by the 
Pope, having covenanted to convert or 
destroy heretics. At this period they es- 
tablished the inquisition, which was a 
bloody institution, and a terror to all 
Europe. All who were not in league and 
sympathy with this means of extirpation, 
were secured as victims, and hundreds 
of lives have been sacrificed before the 
tribunals of this wicked institution. In 
Spain the cruel tortures of this order 
were especially felt, and many an inno- 
cent life was sacrificed on the altar of 
bigotry and intolerance. Instruments of 
torture of all discriptions have been 
found in the cold dungeons of the Spanish 
inquisition. Little boys and innocent fe- 
males were not exempt from the cruel 
hands of these fanatical mendicants who 
posed as the Lord's anointed. If a man 
was accused of heresy, he was imprisoned, 
brought before the inquisitors and made 
to fully retract. Refusing to do so he 
was placed on the rack, where his limbs 
would be torn asunder, his flesh ripped 
piece by piece from his body, and the 
most cruel, ingenious and exquisite tor- 
tures man could devise were administered, 
to make that man a Christian. If the 
above wicked means were not enough, 
they would take the life of their victim, 
which in mos^ cases was a happy re- 
lease and very welcome. 

In this century, whipping was indulged 
in to a great extent, that the body might 
be made subject to the spirit and also as 
a means of purging it from sin. Many 
would inflict these penalties upon them- 
selves and was really devout, believing 
that these acts of penance would give 
them control over the body and would be 
pleasing to God. It was thought by many 
that a baptism of blood was more accep* 
able to God than a baptism by water, and 
they would thus flog each other relent- 
lessly, in many instances, till the flesh 
was torn from the bones, these inflictions 
being borne with fortitude and courage as 
they were expected to bring a remission 
of sin. This was carried on to an alarm- 
ing extent in Italy, and the streets re- 
sounded many times with the cries of the 
sufferers. Those who inflicted these tor- 
tures and macerated their bodies, giving 
their possessions to the priesthood, were 
considered the most devout and holy. 
They blindly believed all the priesthood 
said and aided and abetted them in their 
work of exterminating heretics. 

The doctrine of transubstantiation was 
universally taught in this century, and var- 
ious innovations crept into the church. 
It was taught that a full remission of sins 
was granted to all who visited Rome dur- 
ing the jubilee year, which was held 
every quarter century. This was the 
means of enriching the headquarters of 
the church, Rome, as thousands would 
gather there during the jubilee year to en- 



joy the temporal festivities antf get the 
spiritual preferments. 

Various sects started in this century, 
perhaps the most important being the 
brethren of the free spirit; and the Apos- 
tles, but after much blood had been shed, 
they were speedily extirpated by the in- 
quisitors, who showed no mercy. 

A false Prophet also arose named Joa- 
chim, who said that the Angel with the 
everlasting Gospel spoken of in Rev. 
14-0, had consigned his message to him. 
That God held sway, from the beginning 
to Christ, and the Son held sway, from 
Christ to the year 12U0 A., D. Then the 
Holy Ghost took charge of affairs, and 
that he was the embodiment of that Holy 
Ghost. This man was believed by not a 
few and had considerable of a following. 

When we look back to the thirteenth 
century, with its misery and ignorance, 
we feel shocked at the blasphemous as- 
sertions of Joachim. In this nineteenth 
century of enlightmenment Joseph Smith 
makes some very startling statements. 
He declares that the Angel spoken of in 
Rev. 14-b\ referred to above, came in 
this century, in fulfillment of the vision 
as seen by John on Patmos, and restored 
,4 the everlasting Gospel." The Angel's 
name was Moroni, an ancient inhabitant 
of the American continent, who was the 
custodian of a divine record, which is 
now in print, called the "Book of Mor- 
mon," being the history of God's deal- 
ings with the ancient inhabitants of the 
American continent and containing the 
everlasting Gospel as delivered to them 
by Jesus Christ, the Author. This mes- 
sage of Moroni was later confirmed by 
the visit of John the Baptist, also Peter, 
James and John, prominent characters 
in the primitive church. Other holy men 
came in this "the last dispensation" and 
restored the keys that had been lost in 
the "Dark* Ages." 

This man Joseph Smith was a true 
Prophet, and did not presume to be any- 
thing but a humble servant and messen- 
ger of salvation. His work from begin- 
ning to end is stamped with divinity and 
truth and cannot be gainsaid. It has 
withstood the prejudice and opposition of 
the most erudite minds of this learned 
century, and comes from beneath the cru- 
cial test of truth, more pure. It embraces 
all truth and compares strictly with the 
system inaugurated by Jesus Christ. Un- 
like the fraudulent pretensions of Joa- 
chim, who desired the opulence and wor- 
ship of mankind, Joseph Smith took no 
honor unto himself, but gave all honor, 
power and glory to the Master. The 
work and system that he has been instru- 
mental of inaugurating in these the "Lat- 
ter days" is filled with truth and will 
come off triumphant, as "truth is mighty 
and will prevail." 

In taking a retrospective view of the 
spirit of darkness, I am constrained to 
acknowledge the goodness of God, in the 
establishment of His work in these last 
days in a land of liberty and under a 
constitution that provides for due exer- 
cise of religious freedom. The wisdom 
of this can be fully appreciated when we 
understand the religious slavery that ex- 
isted for hundreds of years In the "Dark 
Ages." Every vestige of truth that 
showed its head in those days was im- 
mediately crushed with the despotic heel 
of Paganism and wholly extirpated. In 
the thirteenth century any man who pre- 
sumed to oppose the Roman Church 
must have been bold and intrepid, as it 
inevitably meant death by torture or 
the destructive element, fire. One hun- 
dred years ago witches were condemned 
and burned at the stake by religious fa- 
natics, and even in these days of light 
and truth we find the same bigots, who 



126 



THE SOUTHERN STAB. 



would still crush and extirpate truth, if 
they had the power. They, like the 
good (?) Pharisee and the powerful Ro- 
man Church of the "Dark Age/' would 
do it in the name of religion. The his- 
tory of the drivings, mobbings and the 
murdering of the Latter-day Saints will 
verify the truth of the above statement. 
(To 'be continued.) 



Abstracts From Correspondence. 

Editor Star. — Pleaqe grant me space in 
your valuable paper to tell its many read- 
ers how much valuable truth the Mormon 
Elders have brought to us. We had long 
been halting between two opinions, until 
these men of God, made plain the true 
plan of Salvation. Elder Hunt and Tin- 
gey are true gentlemen, and we know 
they are messengers of Truth. I have had 
the privilege of showing the Book of Mor 
mon to four preachers, one Methodist 
and three Baptists. I told them having 
read the book through twice I believed it 
to be a correct history of the tribes of 
Joseph : the book which Isaiah predicted 
should come forth. If they could con- 
demn the book to show me how and what 
by. H. A. R. MILLIS. 

Whitley County, Kentucky. 



Dear Editor: — A little space in the 
Star will be much appreciated by me, as 
I wish to say a few words in behalf of the 
Latter-day Saints. When the Elders first 
visited Green county, Mississippi, they 
called and left a tract and card with us. 
I paid little attention, and carelessly 
threw the literature aside, thinking ft 
was of little value. A year rolled by, 
when I had the privilege of hearing the 
Elders preach. I did long to know if they 
were true or false teachers. What joy 
filled my heart when I realized they were 
God's anointed. Indeed their words to 
me were as bread to a hungry man. Since 
I have joined the true Church of Christ, 
and can bear my testimony to the truth- 
fulness of the Gospel. I know Joseph 
Smith was a true Prophet of God. May 
those who are in darkness behold the true 
and shining path of right, is my prayer. 
MRS. ARVIE BREWER. 

Red Hill, Miss. 



Southern Star: — Having been a con- 
stant reader of your valuable paper I can 
say I am much interested in its inspired 
writings. For six months I have been a 
member of the Church of Jesus Christ of 
Latter-day Saints, and know of a truth it 
is the only true Church on the earth. I 
know the Elders are the servants, teach- 
ing the fullness of the Gospel; that Jo- 
seph Smith was a Prophet of the Heaven- 
ly Father. I send my best wishes to the 
many readers of the Star. I feel thank- 
ful to my Redeemer that I live in this 
\ the dispensation of the fullness of times. 
May God continue to bless us is the 
prayer of your Sister in the Gospel. 

LEONA PEARL CRALLEY. 

gingham, S. C. 

Releases and Appointments. 

Releanea. 

Benj. Walker, Virginia Conference. * 

A. B. Cosby, Virginia Conference. 

M. A. Clouse, North Alabama Confer- 
ence. 

James R. Hawkins, Middle Tennessee 
Conference. 

Isaac E. Thurber, Middle Tennessee 
Conference. 

Fred Evans, Chattanooga Conference. 



The measure of a man's learning is the 
amount of his voluntary ignorance — 
Thoreau. 



THE OUTRAGE IN JACKSONVILLE 

Under the caption "Resented an In- 
sult," "Mormon Missionary Receives a 
Merited Punishment," the Florida Times- 
Union and Citizen, of Jacksonville, Fla., 
of March 7th, published the following: 

For several evenings past certain persons, 
claiming to be agents of the Latter Day 
Saints, have been addressing crowds of 
varying size and interest at the intersections 
of downtown streets. Their audiences have 
been mainly of those who were attracted by 
curiosity, and have not been enthusiastic 
over what they have heard. One of these 
meetings was thoroughly broken up and the 
speaker badly demoralized last night by an 
athletic young man, who resented certain 
Imputations made by the speaker. 

It Is sufficient to say that the remarks re- 
flected on the purity of southern women, 
and when an explanation was demanded 
the speaker made a reply wholly unsatisfac- 
tory. His questioner delayed not a second 
on the order of his striking, but landed a 
blow on the missionary's solar plexus that 
entirely unfitted him for further service last 
night. Several bystanders wanted a chance 
to repeat the chastisement, but the mission- 
ary left speedily for a Baifer part of the 
town. 

Under the glaring headline of "Orders 
from the Chief of Police." the same paper 
had this to say on March 8th: 

"For several weeks past representatives 
of the Latter Day Saints have been in this 
city, preaching their peculiar doctrines and 
scattering their literature about among 
Jacksonville citizens. For several evenings 
open-air meetings have been held at the in- 
tersections of Bay street with other thor- 
oughfares, which have attracted crowds of 
passersby, who have stopped to listen to 
the speakers, apparently as much from curi- 
osity as from any other motive. 

One of these meetings was interrupted on 
Tuesday evening by a young man, who 
claimed to have heard calumniating re- 
marks upon the virtue of southern women. 
Inquiring of the speaker as to whether such 
remarks had been made, the speaker re- 
turned a reply that was unsatisfactory to 
the questioner, who promptly delivered a 
stunning blow to the elder. 

Tuis representative of the Latter-Day 
Saints called at the Times-Union and Citizen 
office, presenting a card bearing the name 
of Elder N. U. 8. C. Jenson. He presented 
also a communication over his signature, in 
which he entered a defense of the position 
that he had taken on Tuesday evening. He 
asked that, in the spirit of fairness, ne be 
allowed to state that he had made no reflec- 
tions on southern women any more than on 
those of any other part of the country, be- 
lieving that they included In the grand to- 
tal a similar proportion of outcasts as those 
of any section of the United States or of 
any other country on earth. He claimed 
that among the women of the south were 
some of his best friends and that he could 
have no object in maligning them.- 

The police were informed of the occur- 
rence yesterday and Chief Vlnzant at once 
issued an order that no further meetings 
of this nnture shall be held upon the streets, 
or In the open air. without the written per- 
mlHKloti i»f the rnayo^ nr of the tilling may- 
or In his nbseiiee. li ki-wli* liirdly possible 
that the present executive offWr of the 
city will give such pennlsaion, and ft. 
the re tore, seems qui to pro ha Me that If 
further meeting nf this nature shall be 
held. It will be In violation of law. and will 
subject the missionaries te arrest and pun- 
ishment by the authorities. 

Elder Jenson, hi reply to the questions 
whether or ntrt he nna his ronijinrtlon will 
attempt further meetings In Jacksonville, 
said that thev harl eon side red It unwise to 
hold nnv mote here, ns they could not use 
force against force and shotguns There 
was a strong prejudice n*«..*o L ..aelr doc- 
trines in this community, he declared, which 
rendered it unwise to remain here longer." 

Elder Jenson writes us the following 
particulars of the incident in question: 

"For some time we have been holding 
meetings on the streets of this city. They 
have been attended by large crowds, 
which usually have paid the best atten- 
tion to what we had to say. 

"Last Tuesday night, after my com- 
panion, Elder J. A. Wixom, had -dis- 
coursed on doctrinal topics, I took it upon 
myself to prove that the motives of the 
Church were good; that 'Mormon ism' did 
not debase women. To make the first 
part of my proposition apparent I laid 
down as a premises that 'a people with 
evil motives will invariably exhaust all 



means to keep the public oblivious of 
their motives/ Arguing from this propo- 
sition, I cited the fact that Brigham 
Young gave $500 towards the erection of 
the first sectarian church in Utah, and 
asked: 'Does not this act on the part of 
President Young repudiate the idea that 
the motives of Mormonism are evil?' 
'Would a people .with evil motives assist 
the world in becoming acquainted with 
them?' 'Does not this act of President 
Young breathe forth a spirit of fairness 
and tolerance?' 'Do you know of a re- 
ligious organization in the annals of ec- 
clesiastical history that has proven itself 
as consistent as the Mormons?' 'Yes/ 
answered a gentleman in the audience 
(who was said to be editor of one of the 
leading papers of the city). 'Which one? 
I asked. The gentleman did not answer 
my question, But asked, 'Is polygamy 
consistent?' I politely answered that 
that was not the question, as we did not 
now preach the doctrine of plurality of 
wives. 'They did at one time/ responded 
the editor. 'True/ said I; 'and the Bible 
teaches it now; do you believe the Bible?' 
'Yes/ was the immediate response. 'Very 
well, give me five or ten minutes and I 
will let the public know what you be- 
lieve/ I answered. Our audience was 
growing continually and numbered prob- 
ably 500 people, composed of both sexes. 
All kinds of remarks could be heard. 
Some said 'Run them out/ others re- 
sponded 'amen/ still others *were cursing 
and profaning, and some asked, 'How 
many wives did Jesus have?' Suffice it 
to say we felt that Jesus spoke the truth 
when He said 'I send you forth as lambs 
among wolves/ 

"In the midst of the turmoil I asked 
for silence, and when it came 'spoke for 
a few minutes on polygamy from a Bib- 
lical standpoint, citing instances in the 
sacred record of polygamists who were 
the acknowledged servants of God, taking 
care to preface my remarks that we did 
not preach or teach polygamy, but spoke 
for the information of those who were 
oblivious to the fact that we gave Scrip- 
tural reasons justifying that principle. 

"I stated in the course of my remarks 
that Abraham, who was a polygamist, 
talked face to face with God, and that 
any of the 'D. D/s' of our time had not 
been so honored. 

"When I had finished, a middle-aged 
man, half intoxicated, pushed through 
the crowd, and, approaching me, asked, 
'Do you say that southern women are not 
pure?' This was calling me to account 
for something I had not said, and not 
knowing what to say, I hesitated about 
answering, when the intoxicated man be- 
came impatient, repeated the question, 
and added with an oath that if I said 
all southern women were not all pure he 
would hit me. I was in a dilemma; if I 
said all were pure I would break the 
commandment 'thou shalt not lie/ while 
if I did not answer it would look like 
cowardice; so I answered that not all 
were pure, which most people, if sober, 
will bear me out in saying. I had no 
sooner spoken than I was struck on the 
right jaw. I made no attempt to resent 
this cowardly attack, but turned to the 
audience and said: 'Gentlemen, you see 
that is the kind of argument that the 
world uses against 'Mormonism.' I am 
but 24 years of age; I have been preach- 
ing only two years, yet I will willingly 
meet any three Doctors of Divinity in 
your city on the question, 'Is Mormon- 
ism Biblical?' 'We cannot, nor do not 
want to meet you with shotguns and 
muscle; there are only two of us and we 
are 3,000 miles from home/ 

"The police, not wanting to interfere 
by arresting the coward who struck me, 



THB SOUTHERN STAB. 



127 



for fear of public opinion, advised us to 
leave. All present did not sanction the 
unwarranted attack. We will ever ap- 
preciate the kindness of the wealthy Jew 
who owned the property on the corner 
where we held our meetings. He is a 
man of honor and integrity, and exhaust- 
ed all moans to have justice dealt out 
lo us. As soon as I was struck he came 
down from his rooms in breathless haste, 
took the officer by the arm and pointed 
out to him the disturber, but the officer 
said for a pretense, *I must have a war- 
rant/ Five minutes after the trouble 
the drunken assaulter was seen where he 
was before the meeting — in a saloon. 

"Yesterday we called upon the Chief of 
Police and found him raving mad. He 
said we must not preach on the streets. 
*If you do,' said he, 'yon mlglit be mobbed 
out,' citing a 8 proof of the correctness 
of his opinion my treatment of the night 
before. We also called upon the editor 
of the Florida Times-Union and Citizen 
and offered a written explanation for 
publication, but they did not publish it. 

"We believe it unwise to hold further 
meetings on the streets of this city at 
present, for we can get neither justice 
nor protection from the powers that be." 



A GOSPEL LETTER. 

BY MRS. ALLIB HYLDAHL. 

(By permission we publish the following 
letter written by Sister Hyldahl to a lady 
who is investigating the Gospel. It will In- 
terest Star readers and may aid other In- 
vestigators in their search for truth.— Ed.) 

A letter, at this day, would scarcely 
be complete without an apology, and I 
assay to crave leniency in your judgment 
lor my long silence, which has partially 
been due to my physical inability owing 
to the vaccination craze prevalent in this 
section of country at present. I have, 
however, thought of you the more, and 
at least expressed a silent wish to again 
enjoy the pleasure of your congenial com- 
pany. 

I thank you very kindly for your favor 
of the 21st ult., and am much pleased 
with the interest you manifest in your 
research after truth. It should, indeed, 
be the ambition of our lives to seek 
knowledge of our earthly mission, and 
when gained, if only partially, perform 
it to the glory of God's cause in the 
earth. I sometimes think that we fail 
wholly in comprehending the importance 
of our presence here in mortality, and 
think of it as only a matter of fact, when 
in truth we were sent at the fiat of an 
all-wise Father, for a great and glorious 
purpose. 

I do not mean to be egotistical when I 
say that a part of the grand opera of life 
performed on this worldly stage is re- 
quired at my hand, and that it is my 
duty to not only play my part, but to 
play it well. We have all a part to take, 
some remaining on the stage until snow 
that never melts crown their heads, and 
they grow high in years in the service 
of their Master, while others have but a 
single song to sing, when they are called 
to leave for higher spheres and diviner 
plays, but they have performed their 
duty, better, perhaps, than many who 
dreamed all the day long of things to be 
accomplished, of glories to be won, of 
destinies to be reached, but never took 
the initiative step. 

I have never before so truly under- 
stood the method pursued by the Chris- 
tian world, in its efforts to gain an eter- 
nal exaltation, when this life shall be 
no more, and while we, as a people, bid 
them god-speed in their race for victory, 
with truth on their standard and Christ 
for their Chieftain, yet with sorrow in 



our hearts we deplore that so few are 
willing and courageous enough to obey 
that Leader they strive to follow. 

You say in your letter that you firmly 
believe, and have faith that all will be 
well with those who try to do right and 
lean upon the Lord for aid, no matter to 
what church or creed they may be num- 
bered. 

I am strongly reminded of that saintly 
centurion, Cornelius, whose prayers and 
alms had ascended even before the throne 
of God and were held as a memorial in 
his favor. No doubt this good man 
sought to please God, sought to keep His 
Commandments and do His holy will, 
but that was not enough. It would 
scarcely have been any part of wisdom for 
this righteous man to have said what you 
expressed in your letter, and if he should 
have done so, we have no reason to think 
that such a course would have received 
the approving smile of a just God. We 
read in the Acts of the Apostles that an 
angel appeared to Cornelius and -assured 
him that he would be rewarded for all 
his good deeds, and that God was pleased 
to bless him for his faithfulness. Bless 
him with greater wisdom, greater faith, 
with charity in greater abundance than 
before, but also that he was to call for 
one Simon, called Peter, who would 
teach him the plan of life and salvation 
as taught by Christ and the Apostles, 
and that he was to obey it. His sin- 
cerity of belief was not enough, praying 
was not enough, nor. the giving 6t alms. 
These, indeed are principles all belonging 
to the Gospel, but does not constitute 
the Gospel of Christ. In Matt. 15 we 
are told that there shall be many who 
will worship Him in vain. Evidently 
they will lean upon the Lord for aid, and 
perhaps seek to please Him in numerous 
ways. They will call upon His name, 
they will do many great works in His 
name, yet it shall be declared unto them, 
"depart ye from me, I never knew ye." 
Well may we ask, "Who shall abide in 
the day of the coming of the Lord?" and 
cry out. "What shall we do to be 
saved?" 

These questions, while of great signifi- 
cance and wondrous magnitude, are 
much more easily understood than gen- 
erally believed. The plan of salvation is 
simple, and not hard to fathom, if we 
are in* possession of the Spirit of God. 
But we must at once understand that 
there is something for us to do, and that 
faith is but one principle out of the many 
of that plan. The Scriptures, from lid 
to lid, abound in commandments that 
we are to obey, principles that we must 
believe in and ordinances that we are 
to accept, which will be efficacious in 
bringing us eternal happiness, if offi- 
ciated in by one having the proper au- 
thority, and on the promise that we re- 
main faithful to the end. There is no 
great thing that we can do, and thereby 
lay claim to the blessings promised the 
faithful, but it is a continued research 
after truth, a constant climbing upward 
and onward. Work! Work! Work! 
There is no stand still, always progress- 
ing, having for our motto "Be ye per- 
fect, even as your Father in heaven is 
perfect." 

You express sympathy for the Elders 
who are laboring in the south, because of 
the many hardships they have to endure, 
and cruel treatment they receive at the 
hands of mobs. Yes, we, too, are very 
sorry that those who call themselves 
Christians should so far forget the com- 
mandments of their great Master to 
"Love one another," and to love and 
pray for their enemies, and in their 
places teach by example, lawless mob 
violence, cruel beatings, scourgings and 



murder. We are sorry, not that we are 
persecuted, but rather that our mission 
among the children of God, our brothers 
and sisters, is sojittle understood. Could 
the world but know the pure motives 
and the righteous desires of the hearts 
of these humble servants of God as they 
journey strangers in a strange land, en- 
during every privation known to man, 
they would then know that none, save 
those who enjoyed the constant compan- 
ionship of the Spirit of God, could be 
thus guided, and none but those who 
know the Gospel is true and understand 
the blessings awaiting the faithful could 
make the sacrifices they accept with a 
glad heart. When the call comes for 
them to go into the world and declare 
the restoration of the Gospel, and battle 
with sin and vice, they leave comforta- 
ble, happy homes, mother, father, wife 
and baby, everything that is near and 
dear to a human heart, and rejoicingly 
they journey to distant lands, to islands 
of the seas, not to be received by friends, 
but to receive sneers and jeers, hisses 
and scoffs, yes, willingly to lay down 
their lives, that they may do their full 
duty, not only to God, but to their fel- 
lows here on earth. 

It has been my pleasure while in the 
south to meet many of these valiant 
men for truth. I love to look into their 
eyes, for they sparkle with purity and 
honor. They know no fear, they would 
rather choose to go home a heap of silent 
dust than with dishonor stamped on 
their brows. Their whole desire is to be 
faithful to the cause of truth, to give the 
Gospel free to all men, and to be able 
to say: I have done my duty, I have 
kept myself unspotted from the sins of 
the world. 



TRUE EDUCATION. 



By A. ARROWSMITH. 

I have been brought personally in con- 
tact with many of the youth of Zion, who 
have had opportunities of advancement in 
the line of true education, but hav e neg- 
lected these privileges to the extent that 
many today have infidelic views. Some 
of them deny the faith of their fathers 
after having had the greatest care taken 
in order to lavish upon them all the intel- 
lectuality of the nineteenth century. This 
condition is sad to contemplate and causes 
me to write the following as I realize that 
many of our sons and daughters are ne- 
glecting the most important part of a true 
education in failing to develop the spirit- 
uality they possess. 

The advantages that are offered for 
physical, intellectual and spiritual ad- 
vancement in Utah are such that there is 
no excuse for ignorance. In the face of 
these facts why is it that we find so many 
educated fanatics in our midst who in 
their narrow contracted sphere parade 
their intelligence and declare themselves 
unbelievers in a God, thus fulfilling the 
adage "A little learning is a dangerous 
thing." It is grevious to see these con- 
ditions existing in Zion where the religion 
of Jesus is taught with such reason and 
logic, that is easily comprehended by an 
enquiring mind. The reason appears to 
be in the lack of development of the spirit- 
ual nature, which in many cases is woe- 
fully neglected. 

It is admirable to see men endowed with 
great physical and intellectual strength, 
but when the balance of the education is 
lacking there is a noticable deficiency in 
morality and goodness, which are appar- 
ent in a well balanced organism, When 



128 



THE SOUTHERN STAR. 



REPORT OF MISSION CONFERENCES FOR WEEK ENDING FEB. 24, 1900. 



Dai id II. KHon ...... 

lleberp. 0l8jm*.„ lm 
B, K. VtUhk .„„.„„„. 

Inhn Prirrwin 

W. D. Hcm-hrr 

T. H. Humph ivy-.. 
i;po. W. ^kulmorr .. 
■r. Urban Hired.™ 

-r. M.Haw* ....... ., 

STlverier Lowe, .h- . 

iv, li. Flak*' 

H\ W, MarKay_, 

J.N. Miller.., 

W. H. Boyie 

T.. M. Ti-rry .„ 

iiiHu K. May roe k 



i.'uM-KHEScl; 



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Virginia....... ...... 

Kentucky ........... 

Ei«t TViiNr— 1 -i- 
U<H>1-Sflft *.„.„...,„ 

North Alahamfl , 

Fiorina 

Mid. TVnnrssn 1 ., 
■North (.'aroliaa**. 
Routli Carolina .. 

Mississippi* 

East KnrWky.. 

IjOiiULana „ T ,. 

South A In bam a ... 
North KentlH'kv 
Ohio,,. 



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ftitt Butts *t.. ( itu-lnnati. 



wo can find a person truly educated wi* 1 
find the spirit ual, intellectual and physical 
development or parts equally blended; a 
grand and noble soul of whom God can 
justly feel proud. 

It ii true that we were nurtured and 
taught at the feet of our Father in 
Heaven, and built up our spiritual en- 
tity in a primeval state? If so, then why 
should Hot one soul be farther advanced 
and more noble than another? Is it not 
true that the arts and sciences were de- 
veloped in our former state and that we 
came here well developed ia the line of , 
education which we had adopted prime- \ 
vally? Thus we find the genius, the man 
of extraordinary talent, in the course of a 
few years may revolutionize the existent 
ideas of many generations. The spark 
within him, struck from the anvil of 
Deity, may be pregnant with truth, which 
but requires the exigences of circum- 
stances to make itself known. 

We believe we are living in the "latter 
days/' in the "dispensation of the fullness 
of times," when the God of Heaven has 
set His hand to gather Israel for the last 
time before the purging of the nations, and 
when the sons of God, who have been held 
in reserve for the grand climax of His 
work, shall tabernacle in the flesh. We 
find these noble sons coming here, gradu- 
ally preparing the earth for the abode of 
the pure, holy and righteous. The en- 
ligthenment on the true principle of edu- 
cation, in science and the arts and the de- 
velopment of electrical appliances have 
advanced in every department of learning 
in connection with theological revelations. 
All this truly speaks of God's intent unto 
the children of men in these the "latter 
days." 

The spirit of general intelligence comes 
from God and is disseminated in the 
world. "The glory of God is intelligence" 
and "a man is not saved any faster than 
he gets knowledge." Then if "knowledge 
is power," how essential it is that we seek 
after these riches and how grossly neg- 
lectful we become when we fail to seek 
after the fundamental or elementary prin- 
ciples of a true education. 

The spiritual feasts which our Father 
in Heaven has prepared for us, can be had 
for the asking; they are actual necessi- 
ties and man should not live by bread 
alone. 

It is true that theology, is the seat and 
foundation of all intelligent education ; it 
delves into the primeval existence and ex- 
poses many of the mysterious actions of 
men ; explains why one is born black and 
another white; why we have the yellow 
and red race; and why they all differ in 



advanced thought and intelligence. How- 
ever, there are many things the finite 
mind is not cognizant of that are existent 
fart*. For instance, life, reason, thought, 
hearing, eyesight, electricity, and the 
blending of the components in the breath. 
In fact we have but a smattering of knowl- 
edge in things pertaining to finite matter. 
We must look deeper than the leant? 
knowledge which is supplied by man ; we 
must become like children and humbly 
bow to the mandates of our Father in 
Heaven. Then might we know that we 
were instructed by Him. prime v ally : he- 
got tea tie fore the foundation of the earth 
was laid and that we are possessed of a 
spiritual entity that exists eternally.. We 
know that it is possible to educate this 
eternal part of man, feed it on spiritual 
realities and thus gain a logical and com- 
prehensive solution of many of the mys- 
teries of life. 

Human reason unaided by the spirit of 
God will mire us into scepticism. 

I would plead with the youth of Zion 
to cast out this spirit of distrust and ap- 
ply the healing balm of humility and 
prayer. This will cause our spiritual 
Father to testify to' you (if you will 
keep His laws and do His bidding) be- 
yond a peradventnre that : 

4 'Life is real, life is earnest, and the grave 

is not its goal; 
Dust thou art, to dust returnest, was not 

spoken of the soul." 

We will also continue to progress and ad- 
vance on through aeons of years, forever 
and forever, ultimately attaining the God- 
head; building kingdoms, peopling them, 
providing tabernacles for spiritual and 
eternal entities, who in their evolutionary 
careers advance unto perfection. Thus 
progressing on and expanding until your 
kingdoms, planets and glories are extend- 
ed beyond a solar system ; on through 
eternity, ever advancing in education and 
in glory ; the works of the Gods. In our 
contemplation of Heavenly things, the 
grovelling, carnal, paltry affairs of earth 
sink into insignificence and appear as 
nothing. I would advocate the cultivation 
of the spiritual nature, as the food, ether- 
eal as it may appear will fill the soul with 
delight which cannot be appreciated by a 
carnal mind. The question might be 
asked, what kind of food does this spirit- 
ual being partake of? I would say that 
it is an existent principle in the elements 
and one of the constituent parts thereof. 
It is one of the component parts which 
make up the sphere in which we exist. It 
is the Spirit of God, the life and light of 
all things. It is truth, be it philosophical 
or religious: no matter from whence it 
may come, if it is truth, it is God's truth. 



i 



TVini 
Virginia 
Kentucky 
V. Carolina 

World* 
Tenpei 

Carolina 

Kentucky 
Lou i* in nil 
Florida 
Kentucky 
Ohio 



It is the beautiful in all things, being 
everlasting and will eventually prevail. 
I take it that all knowledge when true 
comes from God, and when this God -given 
intelligence is imbibed by mortality it will 
purify and glorify that individual to the 
extent of eventually causing him to put 
eff mortality and put on immortality. We 
therefore have an extensive field for the 
operation of true education which will 
continue on through eternity, advancing 
from one degree to another in the pro- 
gression of i lie Gods. Whenever there 
is an end to progression there you will 
find the beginning of retrogression. 

'Wickedness, sin, Ignorance and vice in 
any shape is debasing and low, seeking its 
level in Hades. Righteousness, truth, 
knowledge and wisdom ascend in the beau- 
tiful sunlight of celestial glory. There- 
fore I would say in closing, cultivate the 
body, mind and spirit, elevate your 
thoughts that they may ascend and soar 
within the beatific glories of a kind and 
beneficent Parent who is desirious of His 
children becoming supremely happy with- 
in the light and inspiration of His Holy 
Spirit. 

"Be ye therefore perfect, even as your 
Father which is in Heaven is perfect." 

THE DEAD. 

Syracuse, Utah, March 5, 1900 
Southern Star: 

On Sunday last the funeral service over 
the remains of Sister Annie Coles was 
held, in the new meeting house. De- 
ceased was the wife of Elder J. B. Coles, 
late missionary to the Southern States. 
She was our Church organist and a faith- 
ful worker in the Sunday School and Mu- 
tual Improvement work. The speakers at 
the funeral were Apostle John W. Tay- 
lor and Elder Jas. Bate man. Ninety-five 
carriages followed the remains to their 
last resting place. The floral decorations 
were numerous and beautiful. 

Your Brother, 

J. H. COLES. 



Common men are apologies for men; 
they bow the head, excuse themselves 
with prolix reasons nnd accumulate ap- 
pearances, because the substance is not. 
— Emerson. 



You may depend upon it that he is a 
good man whose intimate friends all arc 
good. — Lavater. 



The flower of youth never appears 
more beautiful than when it bends to- 
ward the Sun of Righteousness. 



"There is no hope for a man 
thinks he is good enough." 



who 




P BUT THGUGfl WE, OB AN ANGLL FROM HEAVEN, PRE ACM ANY 
PTHEB GOSPEL UNTO YOU TttAN THAT WHICH WE 

HAVE PRE ACHED UNTO YOU, LET hlM 6E ACCUSED '^ ./*&&*? 

— — = tetfeya — "" — — '' 



» gi * 



Vol. 2. 



Chattanooga, Tbnn., Saturday, March 24, 1900. 



No. 17. 



MAKE YOUR MARK. 



(David Barker.) 
In the quarries should you toll, 

Make your mark; 
Do you delve upon the soil, 

Make your mark; 
In whatever place you go, 

In whatever place you stand, 
Moving swift or moving slow, 
With a firm and honest hand, 
Make your mark. 

Should opponents hedge your way. 

Make your mark; 
Work by night or work by day, 

Make your mark; 
Struggle manfully and well, 

Let no obstacles oppose; 
None, right-shielded, ever fell 
By the weapons of his foes; 
Make your mark. 

What though born a peasant's son; 

Make your mark; 
Good by poor men can be done; 

Maze your mark; 
Feasants' garbs may warm the cold, 

Peasants' words may calm a fear; 
Better far than hoarding gold 
Is the drying of a tear; 
Make your mark. 

Life is fleeting as a shade; 

Make your mark; 
Marks of some kind must be made; 

Make your mark; 
Make it while the arm is strong, 

In the golden hours of youth; 
Never, never, make It wrong; 
Make it with the stamp of truth; 
Make your mark. 

History of the Southern States Mission. 

(Continued from page 122.) 

As soon as possible Elders Wells and 
Hess dressed themselves and walked out 
on the porch. Elder Wells inquired what 
was the meaning of this, and was in- 
formed, "You'll soon find out." He 

tried to reason with them, but they said, 

"we have heard enough of your ■ 

Mormon clack!" They said they wanted 
to see all of the elders together and have 
a talk, but said they did not intend to 
harm them. The Elders accompanied 
them to within about 150 yards of the 
house, where Elders Dalley and Miner 
were stopping. Here a part remained 
and guarded Elder Hess while the re- 
mainder with Elder Wells went up to 
the house. The family was aroused just 
as they were taking the Elders away, 
when Sister Bryant, who was never 
known to sing before, began singing in 
a clear beautiful tone, "Jesus is Able 
Our Brethren to Save." The Elders 
were marched down the road about one 
mile when a halt was called on a bridge. 
A hasty consultation was held and the 
Elders were informed that the court had 
decided to give them five lashes each. 



Elder Miner said he would take all, when 
Elder Wells spoke up and said, "no, 
you don't!" Elder Hess reminded the 
mob of their promise not to injure them. 
The reply was "the court has so de- 
cided and you must take it." Then one 
after another each of the Elders re- 
ceived unflinchingly five stripes. The 
lash consisted of a twice doubled rope 
weilded with hands of one of the. strong- 
est men. After receiving notice to leave 
the county within twenty-four hours, the 
Elders were dismissed. The. next day 
they left for Greenville. As soon as in- 
formation of the above whipping was 
received at Chattanooga, Pres. Kimball 
wrote to Governor Culberson, appealing 
to him for protection for the Elders; 
asking him to bring the lawless offend- 
ers to justice. The governor replied that 
the laws would be enforced and the guilty 
punished. It was hoped that the great 
state of Texas would vindicate her hon- 
or, and show the world that within her 
borders there is perfect religious free- 
dom. 

Sixteen Elders arrived while about 
that number we released to return home, 
having finished a good work. 

Jos. W. Musser was called to the 
Chattanooga office to succeed A. S. 
Campbell, released. A circular letter 
replete with good advice and timely in- 
structions was written by Pres. Kimball 
and mailed to each Elder in the Mission. 
This letter was intended to strengthen 
and stimulate the Elders to greater ef- 
forts. The work of holding meetings 
and distributing literature was vigorous- 
ly prosecuted. General good halth pre- 
vailed throughout the Misson and the 
month of March closed, much good hav- 
ing been done. 

(To be Continued.) 



THE PATHWAY TO PERFECTION. 



By ELDER R. W. SMITH. 

"Be ye therefore perfect even as your 
Father which is in Heaven is perfect. 
Matt. 5—48." 

According to the scriptures the final 
destiny of man, as intended by his Cre- 
ator, is perfection. In support of this 
claim numerous passages of scripture 
might be cited, which if properly inter- 
preted, would establish the fact firmly 
upon the minds of every honest believer 
in holy writ. 

However, it is not ray intention to 
enter into any controversy upon this 
point, as is generally conceeded by all 
who have made a careful study of the 
scriptures. 

Put what I sljajl endeavor to set forth 



in this article is a brief description of 
the pathway which leads to perfection, 
according to a biblical standpoint. 

Our beloved Savior upon one occasion 
while counciling with his disciples, utter- 
ed the following injunction: "J8e ye 
therefore perfect, even as your Father 
which is in Heaven is perfect." (Matt, 
o — 4o. 

Through the justice and mercy of God 
our eternal Father, and the death and 
suffering of His Son, Jesus Christ, man 
has been alleviated from any and all re- 
sponsibility which may have rested upon 
him in consequence of the transgression 
of our ancient sire, Adam. Moreover, he 
has been surrounded with every comfort 
and convenience requisite for the devel- 
opment of his being, both physical and 
spiritual; has had portrayed before his 
mind the glorious heights to be attained 
by strict obedience to all laws and re- 
quirements of the Father governing his 
temporal existence (at the same time be- 
ing warned of the terrible consequence 
of his disobedience to the same); has 
had bestowed upon him a free agency 
to act according to his likes and dislikes, 
and after having been surrounded with 
every safeguard against the attacks of 
the evil one, inasmuch as he would avaH 
himself of extended privileges, he is com- 
manded to become perfect. 

Jesus Christ, the Only Begotten of the 
Father, the mediator between God and 
men, through whom we have hope in a 
life beyond the grave, is the one who 
came to earth to execute the decrees of 
the Almighty by offering his life as a 
ransom for the sins of the world and 
mapping out a course, which by follow- 
ing the sons of men might gain eternal 
life in the presence of God from whence 
they came. 

He marked the path and lead the way and 

every point defines, 
To Heht and life and endless day where 

God's full presence shines. 

Now this path which Jesus marked, 
which he describes as being very straight 
and narrow, is not an obscure byway, 
incomprehensible to the mind and invisi- 
ble to the eye of man, as some would 
have, you believe; but on the other hand 
as the prophet Isaiah has described it, 
it is an highway which the unclean shall 
not pass over,' but which is so plain that 
the wayfaring man, though a fool, need 
not err therein. (Isa. 35—8.) 

It is a well known, though a deplor- 
able fact, however, that the simple de- 
scription which Jesus and his apostles 
gave ua of this pathway (which by the 
way, is nothing more nor less than the 
gospel of Jesus Christ), has been so per- 
verted and changed since the apostolic 
age that the course, or I should say, the 



130 



THE SOUTHERN STAR. 



courses, for they are numerous, which 
are now being followed by the masses 
of the people called christians, have 
scarcely any resemblence to the original 
one. The result is only too plainly visi- 
ble — strife, envying, confusion, discord 
and disunion on every hand, instead of 
that peace, love and harmony which 
should exist as the true fruits of Christi- 
anity. 

With these facts staring us in the face 
then, we can see the necessity of becom- 
ing thoroughly acquainted with the 
truth respecting this generally unfre- 
quented path, in order that we may con- 
form our lives thereto and thus reap the 
promised reward. Yea, it is a duty in- 
cumbent upon every son and daughter 
of Adam to make a thorough personal in- 
vestigation of this matter inasmuch as 
they value their souls. 

And not only is it necessary that the 
candidate for eternal life shall become 
thoroughly familiar with every detail 
connected with this course which has 
been outlined by our Lord and Savior, 
but after having done so it is obligatory 
u^on him that he shall comply with every 
requirement contained therein with most 
undeviating exactness. 

To those who are in the dark as to a 
personal knowledge respecting this par- 
ticular pathway and its significance to 
them, and who are desirious of serving 
God in spirit and in truth, the oue^tion 
now arises where shall T begin? Show 
me the starting point that I also may 
establish mvself in the confidence, of my 
Father in Heaven, by rendering obedi- 
ence to His will and thus gain favor in 
His sight. 

Tt is to this class of earnest truth-seek- 
ers that T wish to direct a few remarks in 
answer to their querries; with the hope 
that my words may in some degree at 
least accomplish the purpose for which 
thev are written. 

Should you approach some of our 
world's preachers of righteousness in 
this day and time with this i»ppo~ta"t 
one«tiop* which i* th« road that i»nd« 
to the throne of the Majesty on High? 
thev would answer you that there nre 
manv roads and yon have only to make 
vonr selection of the one that suits vonr 
f«noy and follow it for the^ all lead to 
the same nlace — Heaven. T^or. he ar- 
mies. *»an*t von understand that ; * a per- 
son w»shes to sro to fho eitv of W*»ship<r- 
ton. the. capital of this nation, that he 
eon take the road that leads to the 
no»*th or to the east, as +he case may be 
end sooper or later arrive it that c*ty? 
Just so it is. he reasons, with regard to 
the road* leading to Heaven. 

But this argument, you* will observe, fa 
as unreasonable as it is nnscriprnral. 
and there Is no more comparison to ho 
drawn between the above thap there, fa 
ootweon the cerebelum and the Sierra 
Nevada. 

Nothing could be plainer or more com- 
prehensible to the understanding of man 
than the Bible is noon the fact that there 
And he who would teach yon differently 
is either himself greatly deceived, or else 
is but on* road that leads to Heaven, 
he is willfully attempting to lead you 
astray. Let us be careful in our in- 
vestigation not to start with an error, 
for if we do it is sure to lead us astray. 
Let us lay a good foundation as we pro- 
ceed. There are two mads mentioned in 
the scriptures — a broad road that leads 
to destruction and a straight apd nar- 
row opc th**t leads to eternal life. So 
then there is but one course for us to 
persne if we would rean the reward 
promfaed to the faithful in Jesus Christ. 

Tt is information then leading to a 
perfect nnderstanding of this particular 
course that we are «eeking for. T«et us 
accept the advice of the pronhct T«*niah 
then and iro to t^e law and the toot?- 
mopv to seek enlightenment upon this 
al' important ouestion. 

Tb« proper nlace to begip is at the be- 
ffin^in**' therefore we will "om^o"^ 
with Mark, first chanter. "T^e be^n- 
"»ne of the gospel of Jesus Christ the 
Son of God * * The voice of one crv- 
ip<? in the wilderness prepare ve the wu 
of tne Lord, make nfa pn**»<? <»trni^t 
John did baptise in the wilderness and 



preach the baptism of repentance for the 
remission of sins. And there went out 
unto him all the land of Judea and they 
of Jerusalem and were all baptised of 
him in the river Jordan, confessing their 
sins. And John * * preached saying 
there cometh one mightier than I after 
me the latchet of whose shoes I am not 
worthy to stoop down and unloose, I 
indeed have baptised you with water, 
but he shall baptise you with the Holy 
Ghost. * * Now after that John was 
put in prison Jesus came into Galilee 
preaching the gospel of the kingdom of 
God and saying the time is fulfilled and 
the kingdom of God is at hand; repent 
ye and believe the gospel." 

Here we have discovered the first im- 
portant point' leading to a judicious ex- 
amination of the subject in hand: the 
beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ. 
We learn here the manner in which and 
by whom it was introduced, also the 
teachings and practices of those who in- 
troduced it: belief in the gospel repent- 
ance of sin: baptism for the remission 
of sins, and a promise of the Holy Ghost. 

Let us take particular note of these 
principles in passing that we may be 
able, to contrast them later on with the 
teachings of the apostles of Jesus after 
His ascension. 

After His resurrection and just prior 
to His ascension Jesus commanded His 
disciples to tarry at the city of Jerusa- 
lem until thev were endowed with power 
from on high (Luke 24-49). which was 
to fully authorize and qualify them to 
carry to completion the work which He 
had begun. 

They tarried in obedience to this com- 
mand and as we read in the second 
chapter of the Acts of the Apostles, they 
were all of one accord in one place upon 
the day of Pentecost when the promise 
of the Father, which is the Holv Ghost, 
was received: and according to the prom- 
ise of Jesus this gift enabled them to 
prophesy and speak in tongues, which 
they began doing immediately upon re- 
ceiving it. We understand that there 
were in Jerusalem at that time devout 
men out of everv nation under heaven, 
and upon hearing the news of this 
strange occurrence a great many of them 
rushed to the place where the apostles 
were assembled and upon their arrival 
they were dumbfounded "because that 
everv man heard them (the apostles) 
speak in his own language," thev know- 
ing that the Apostles were all Galileans. 

Their cunositv was aroused immedi- 
ately and they began questioning among 
themselves what it could be that en- 
abled these Galileans to speak the lan- 
guages of the day. 

The apostle Peter stood up with the 
eleven and explained to them what the 
power was, refering them to a prophecy 
of Joel for evidence. He continued to 
reason with the multitude from the 
scriptures until he proved to a great 
number of them that Jesus whom they 
had lately crucified, believing him to be 
an impostor, was actually the Christ, the 
Savior of the world. 

No sooner did this conviction take hold 
upon the minds of these people than they 
cried aloud simultaneously "Men and 
brethren what shall we do?" (Acts 2 — 
37). Now kind reader we have arrived 
at a point in the history of the gospel 
where a great multitude of people arc 
asking the very question to which wo 
are seeking an answer. And let me ap- 
peal to you mv brother and mv sister to 
mark well this particular scripture, for 
upon this very point hinges the whole 
object of our research. Peter, an apos- 
tle of Jesus Christ. w^Uo. spenking under 
the influence of the Holv Ghost, makes 
answer to the question in the following 
language: "Repent and be baptised 
every one of you in the name, of Jesus 
Christ for the remission of <nns nnd ye 
shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. 
Can wo understand this? Oh. yes: vou 
say, "that looks pfam enough." "Can 
we rely upon it?" We certainly can if 
the scriptures can be relied upon. 

"Does this apply to me," vou ask? 
Yes thfa applies to everyone w ho knocks 
at the. door of salvation. What is re- 



quired to save one is required to save 
another, for God is no respector of per- 
sons. If you are saved you will be saved 
by obedience to Christ's laws and these 
are and ever have been invariably the 
laws of- adoptiou unto all those who 
would become initiated into the fold of 
Christ. 

But to establish the fact beyond the 
possibility of a doubt, read carefully the 
next verse (39), "For the promise is 
unto you and to your children and to all 
that are afar off, even as many as the 
Lord our God shall call." Are you be- 
ing called to obey the gospel r Then 
know assuredly that this applies direct- 
ly to you. 

Now these principles taught by Peter 
agree exactly, you will notice, with those 
taught by John the Baptist and Jesus 
Christ at the beginning. Belief in the 
gospel, or a crucified and risen Redeemer 
as preached by Peter, repentance of sin; 
baptism for the remission Of sins, and a 
promise of the Holy Ghost. 

Could anything be plainer? But let 
us make assurances doubly sure. Read 
the eighth chapter of Acts and notice 
the practice of Phillip, Peter and John. 
And again examine the nineteenth chap- 
ter of the same book and observe the 
teaching and practice of the apostles to 
the gentiles. You will discover in both 
instances that the principles taught and 
the ordinances administered are identi- 
cal. But is this all that is expected? 
Oh; no, my friend, you have just simply 
started-— you have found the door, that 
is all. These are the stepping stones to 
the gospel. But remember it is abso- 
lute conformity to the first, or lower, 
ordinances of the gospel, that leads the 
mind of man onward and upward to an 
understanding of the higher laws of 
God. 

"Now," you ask, "how shall I go on 
to perfection." Let the apostle Peter 
answer that question for you also, by 
adding "to your faith, virtue: and to 
virtue, knowledge: and to knowledge, 
temperance: and to temperance, patience: 
and to patience, godliness: and to godli- 
ness, brotherly kindness: and to brother- 
ly kindness, charity. For if these things 
be in you. and abound, they make you 
that vou shall neither be barren or un- 
fruitful in the knowledge of our Lord 
taking the advice of Jesus and "all 
things whatsoever ye would that men 
should do to you do ye even so them, for 
this is the law and the proph- 
ets." fMatt. vii.:12.) And finally, let 
us hear the conclusion of the. whole nrat- 
ter: Fear God and keep his command- 
ments, for this is the whole duty of man. 
(Eccles. xii.:13/> 



A circular is said to have been issued 
to Methodist bishops calling upon them 
to arrange for a week of prayer, be- 
cause the membership of that church is 
less than it was two years ago. Can it 
be suppossed that the Supreme Power 
has anv special interest in the member- 
ship of the body to which these "bish- 
ops" belong? Methodism has spacious 
churches, high salaried preachers, fine 
organs and expert players and singers. 
Why is the membership falling off? 
Search the scriptures for an answer. 
Something is said therein of a worship 
that is "vain" owing to the class of doc- 
trines set forth.— Deseret News. 



Weep not that the world changes: did it 

keep 
A stable, changeless state, 'twere cause 

indeed for grief. —Bryant. 



"Don't believe all the evil things you 
hear about yourself." 

"When a man tires of himself his case 
is hopeless." 



The Spirit itself beareth witness of our 
spirit, that we are the children of God — 
Rom. 8. 

It is certain my conviction gains infi- 
nitely the moment another soul will be- 
lieve in it. — Novalis, 



THE SOUTHERN STAB. 



131 



THE DARK AGES. 

By A. ARROWSM1TH. 
(Continued From Page 126.) 

The FOURTEENTH CENTURY 
opened with the Sarcaeens still troub- 
ling Europe with their warlike in- 
cursions in Spain. They held the 
kingdoms of Granada, Murcia and 
the province of Andalusia against the 
Christians, and withstood successfully 
many sieges. They were aided in their 
operations by the Princes of Africa. Mo- 
rocco being a stroug center, sent many 
Moors into Spain, and it was a question 
for some time whether the Moors or 
Christians would come out victorious in 
this decimating warfare. 

Tamerlane, a renowned warrior, who 
lusted after power and empire, placing 
himself at the head of vast armies of 
Turks and Tartars, swept through the 
east, almost destroying all semblance of 
Christianity in that section of the world. 
We must not forget that the Greek Christ- 
ian church had been flourishing in the 
east, while the Roman church had also 
made great strides in the west. But when 
Tamerlane's hordes swept through the 
land, they had no respect for person or 
religion, but drove alike the Greek and the 
Saracen, subduing the whole east and 
threatening Europe. He caused many 
Christians to apostatize, and considered it 
part of his mission to exterminate them. 

In connection with these disturbances 
in the east, the civil and ecclesastical 
powers in the west were at warfare. Em- 
perors banded vast armies, which met in 
combat with the armies of the Pope, and 
thus the world was in continuous turmoil. 

Pope Boniface, the HI, at this time 
published a Bull, stating that Jesus Chnst 
had granted a two-fold power to His 
church, or in other words, the spiritual 
and temporal strength of a theocratic 
government was vested in the Roman 
church ; that Christ had subjected the 
whole human race to the authority of the 
Pontiff, and that whoever dared to 'dis- 
believe it, were to be deemed heretics, and 
stood excluded from all poksL- ty of sal- 
vation. 

To understand the disunion of the times 
and the supreme arrogance of some of 
the Pontiffs, I will name a few incidents 
relevant to the occasion. Pope John, the 
XXII, took the papal chair in the year 
131G, but was deposed by Lewis of Bav- 
aria in 1328. Nicholas, the V, was made 
pope, but was fearful of the responsibility, 
and voluntarily abdicated in favor of 
John, in the year 1330. John held the 
chair four years, when he died, worth, it 
is said, 25,000,000 florins, in specie, plate, 
jewelry, crowns and mitres, which he had 
squeezed from the Deople and the inferi- 
or clergy, during his pontificate of four 
years. The above amount, representing 
over $12,000,000, was a vast sura in that 
age of poverty. At the death of Pope 
Gregory, the XI, Urban the VI, was 
elected, and he proved so very arrogant 
and presumptuous that he brought himself 
into disfavor with the cardinals. They 
elected Clement, the VII, to succeed him, 
which caused a split and disunion, which 
has not been entirely bridged over to this 
day. It is still a matter of doubt which 
faction held the right of office. For a 
space of fifty years there were two, and 
sometimes three heads to the church, 
which brought division, dissention, trou- 
ble, bloodshed, strife and war. The church 
was united in believing in the authority 
of the Vicar of God, and that eternal sal- 
vation could be obtained only through 
this authority. They, therefore, were 
much concerned as to who should be their 
Pontiff, as they desired eternal life and 
were consequently overwhelmed with 



doubt, and plunged in the deepest distress 
of mind concerning these intestine trou- 
bles. 

Pope John, the XXII, loudly denounced 
the Franciscans as heretics, tor believing 
that Christ and His apostles were poor, 
and had no personal property. They were 
accordingly tortured, burnt and put to 
death by the inquisitors, receiving the 
treatment of otner heretics. We can readily 
understand how John, living in luxury 
and splendor, in beautiful raiment and 
arrogant power, would despise the poor, 
macerated, fanatical mendicant, who 
sought in misery, poverty and rags, for 
the happiness of a Christian. 

It was in this age of turmoil, disunion 
and strife that John Wickliffe, a man who 
opposed the monks and the church oi 
Rome, was born. He preached and wrote 
against them, gaining a considerable fol- 
lowing, called Wickliflites and Lollards. 
These latter were terribly used by the in- 
quisition, but succeeded in spreading dis- 
cord and disunion among the Roman 
Catholics, thus preparing the minds of 
the people for the days of reformation 
that were speedily to follow. John Wick- 
liffe was a noble and bold man, of good 
intent, and was the first great reformer. 
He died peaceably, but his memory and 
opinions were condemned by a solemn de- 
cree, and about thirteen years after his 
death, his bones were dug up, and all 
that remained of poor Wickliffe was pub- 
licly burned. 

The Lollards, as a sect, were very 
charitably disposed toward the sick and 
the afflicted. In consequence of this the 
mendicant friars were jealous, and per- 
secuted the Lollards to the extent almost 
of extermination, because through them 
they lost much of their popularity. 

The Flagellants, a sect who believed in 
obtaining remission of sin by the whipping 
of the body and that baptism of water wad 
not necessary, but that a baptism of blood 
was the only effectual remedy for sin, 
flourished in this century. 

The Dancers also flourished for a sea- 
son. They were a sect, who, like the 
Dervisher, would dance themselves into 
insensibility, believing that this exercise 
was acceptable to God, and that they thus 
could obtain forgiveness of sin. How sad 
was the condition of man in this age, 
many of them undoubtedly were pos- 
sessed of Devils. 

Mosheim says: " AH those who are 
acquainted with the history of these times 
must acknowledge that religion, whether 
as taught in the schools, or inculcated 
upon the people as the rule of their con- 
duct, was so extremely - adulterated and 
deformed, that there was not a single 
branch of the Christian doctrine, which 
retained the least trace of its primitive 
lustre and beauty" 

The century was remarkable for its 
production from the region of mystery, 
of great and bold spirits, heralds of the 
great reform that God had in view, that 
man's agency might not be lost, ^.nese 
noble men had been held in reserve to 
come forth in this "Dark Age," when the 
children of men, in ignorance and super- 
stition were groveling in abject terror of 
the feet of a despotic, intolerent church. 
They came as the heralds of liberty to re- 
instate man's agency, and that he might 
have the liberty of conscience to worship 
God as he saw fit. 

One of these prominent characters was 
John Wickliffe. born in the year 1324, in 
Yorkshire, England, and died in the year 
1384 of paralysis. He translated the 
Bible and instilled much truth into the 
minds of the people, was condemned by 
the Roman church as a heretic and sen- 
tenced to be burned, no received pro- 
tection, however, through his friends, the 



Duke of Lancaster, and Lord Piercy, and 
died a natural death. 

John Hu8s also came in this age, being 
born in the year 1369, in Bohemia. He 
imbibed the same spirit as Wickliffe, and 
was a great admirer of that man. Con-« 
temporaneous with Huss came Jerome 
of Prague. These men fathered the' re- 
formation, planting the seed of revolt, 
which took root and flourished into a 
great tree, spreading its branches through- 
out all civilized nations, under the cap- 
tion of sectarianism. It is "represented 
today by upwards of 150,000,000 followers. 

The reforms which commenced in this 
century have been felt in the gradual en- 
lightment of man from that period, to the 
present time, and the ultimate outcome 
will be shown, when the earth receives 
its Paridiscal Glory, and knowledge cov- 
ers the earth, as the waters cover the 
mighty deep. The spirit of reform is 
shown in the poet, the inventor, the me- 
chanic, the artist and the printer, and 
appears to come like rays of light, beam- 
ing forth, irradiating and filling the sus- 
ceptible soul with light and truth. The 
sensitive genius, reformer or impression 
ist, as you will, grasp the inspiration— 
thus a reform. 

Many have thought the work of Wick- 
liffe, Huss, Jerome, Zwingli, Calvin, 
Luther, Melancthon, Cranmer, Wesley and 
others, was not a work of reform, but 
was rather of a revolutionary nature. It 
is true that no immediate good arose from 
their endeavors, but we can see that the 
gradual growth of civilization which came 
out of their rebellious opposition to the 
great intolerant church of Rome, has 
spread the grand principles for which 
Angels fought — liberty, truth and freedom. 

(To Be Continued.) 



Articles of Condolence. 

Sparta, Tenn., March 14, 1900. 
Editor Southern Star. 

Dear Brother — We inclose you a copy 
of articles of condolence to the parents 
and friends of Elder Peck, and would 
be much pleased if you would give space 
for same in the Star. We remain, with 
best wishes, 

Elders Middle Tennessee Conference. 
Per J. U. Allred. 

Articles of Condolence to the Relatives 
and friends of Our beloved brother, El- 
der Bryan W. Peck: 

Whereas, Our beloved brother in the 
Gospel of Jesus Christ, Elder B. W. 
Peck, one of the most faithful workers 
among the noble band of missionaries in 
the Middle Tennessee Conference, has 
been called to lay down his life in the 
field while faithfully engaged in the 
work of the Master; and, 

Whereas, Our Heavenly Father, in 
His infinite wisdom, has called our be- 
loved brother to. the great beyond, thus 
for a short season separating him from 
his loving parents and friends; therefore, 
be it 

Resolved, That we, the undersigned, in 
behalf of the Elders of the Middle Ten- 
nessee Conference, hereby express our 
heartfelt sympathy to the bereaved, 
trusting our love and prayers may com- 
fort them in their hour of trial. 

Resolved, That a copy of these articles 
be sent to the parents and printed in the 
Southern Star. 

J. Urban Allred, President. 
John Reeve. 
Emery Barrus. 



"Don't get stuck up. Remember there 
are o+hers just as insignificant as you 
are." 



182 



THE SOUTHERN STAB. 




Pablltktd Wttkly by Stitktri StttM ■.talti, Ckirok 

•f Jttog Cferlat if LatUr Day SalaU, 

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(la Mvaitt) 



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and desiring papers changed, should always give 
former as well as present address, by postal card or 
letter. 



Entered at the Post Office at Chattanooga, Tom., at 



respond 

field is solicited. Give name and address, or articles 
will be rejected. Write on one side of paper only 
when sent for publication. We reserve the right to 
either eliminate or reject any communication sent in. 
Address Box 109 



Saturday, Maboh 24, 1900. 



ARTICLES OF FAITH 

OP TtfB CHURCH OP JESUS CHRI5T OP 
LATTER-DAY SAINTS. 

I. W* b#li»T» in <J<ri in* Eternnl Fith#r r end in Bit Sam 
Jam titariit, ind in ibn Boljr Oheii, 

$. We belLare thai men vitl t» poniibed fat their ova 
lint, tod not far Adnro'i tn d^TtMion, 

t. We b*li*Tfl thit, ihroagn ins nEjonemtnt of Child, *l| 
is i& kind Mijr || ||V|d t bj tibu&enea t* tbt li«i end ordi- 
r.irjrn i..f th- Ooaflt 

4k We hellere tint the Brit prLaeJpTee ind onJi ninrei nf 
Jbi Ooipel ere : Fint, F«kh in tbt Lord f«»« Chriit ; hrii], 
RenanteJHO 1 third^ Bftptlina bf iimnenian for the remiMioa 
of tint ; fovrlb. Lkjing on uf Hindi for tin Gift of I he Hulj 



I* We belters thai t did mait 6* celled of Onl, bf 
** prophecy, nti by ibt liyim 00 of bandit" by thnoe who no 
In id lb only, to preach the fpepel and $-i inloiil/tr in the ordi- 
niiMH ihereoT- 

8. Wi believe In the iame orgetiiutJOTi Ihftt e tilted: ia 
tbi primilifo dtarcb— -namtJy, ApottJe^ Prophet** Platen, 
Teichen. Et l rt ** Li iU. etc. 

T. W» bell***. In tie pit cf tonjij**, prophecy. OTeJeli&Bi 
VMrg.ni, |:eeliD|c tDEer[irelition nf tQn£arp,4tc. 

8. V/e be] 1 w • the Bt bit to t* the **rd of Owl, m f *r m 1 1 
■l tn mlited correct] j ; we nlea be! tare the Boob of Mormon 
to be ibn mt-ri] of God. 

9 We twli«*E bJI thit Qad hi* rtvaelev*. nlT (bit: He doee 
now ret ei I, ihd we believe thai Ho 1 
■ rid Important thirty perEein 

10. Webelieteh the lilifi 
ration twn of the Too Trjbee ; tiiel Zioo wj|J M b-uiit a poo 
tbii (the AramficenJ continent ; that Oh Hit wjIL rrJjn pereon- 
ell* open th* *ktth, ind th*t tbe «nb «UI bt ten* wed ind 
Kc«i»e ile p*fi'Ji»L*f*l glorj. 

11. W« ckim the pfivibrp of wonhJping Almiphif God 
eceording to tbe dim tee of our coneclence^ end eilo* nil 
Bmn U« m4w yvi <MVB«i w* «•*•« wviNuy ww, wJMW, or «b«e 

* " * tatt. rultn, 

__„ .__ „ BfUMtow. 

1 Miog bonMt, true, chute, b«o«vol«nt, 
•Irtaou. and ia doiag good to all SMa ; indeed, we auy cay 



thai He will r<it rovonl mioy greet 
lining to the Kififdom of flod, 
iteti (leather Jog of line! nod is the 



l£ Wa beJUre In being •object to klogs, praridaata. 
aad BMfjatratai ; layobayiag, hoaoriag aad saataiBiaf U 

It. # wa beliava in being honoat, traa* chaste, beoa 
rirtaoat. 
Ihatwa/c 



lobetble 



follow the adnoaitioo of Paal, - Wa ballara all thing*, 
all thlngt," wa aara eadnrod many things, aad aopa 
a to aadara all thing*. If there b anything eirtaoaa, 



wraly, or ofgood retort or praiseworthy, wa taak after these 



Elders who have not yet had their Or- 
son Pratt's Works will be doing a favor 
1>y sending to the office for the same. 
There arc quite a number who have not 
received their Missionary Hymn Books, 
and we will be pleased to hear from them 
also. 



The Gospel of Salvation, known to the 
world as "Mormonism," is not the handi- 
work of fallible man. It was not con- 
jectured in the minds of men, neither 
was it formulated in the councils of 
poor, weak, erring mortals. It comes a 
direct revelation from the realms of 
glory. God is its Eternal Father; Jesus 
Christ its immaculate Savior, and 
Heaven its holy place of birth. In the 
blest abode of our Eternal Parents, it 
was born, nursed and cradled, and from 
that righteous habitation it has been 
sent forth in these latter days to be 
preached in all the world for a witness 
unto all men. 



MARTYRDOM VS. SUICIDE. 

Many noble martyrs have been called 
upon to lay down their lives for the 
cause of truth, in different dispensations 
and on divers occasions, and it is truly 
stated that "the blood of the martyrs is 
the seed of the church." 

We point with pride at the record of 
noble men who have sacrificed their 
lives in this dispensation, for the cause 
of Jesus. Especially at Joseph and 
Hyrum, murdered in cold blood at Car- 
thage, 111.; David Patton and hundreds 
who lost their lives in the persecutions 
in Missouri and Illinois. In recent years 
we point with pride at Elders Gibbs, 
Berry and Standing, as among that noble 
band, whose blood calls for redress be- 
fore the throne of God; also many of 
our gallant boys who withstand the 
sneers and scoffs of a cold world. Some 
being whipped, scourged and shot to 
death, for the cause of truth and the tes- 
timony of Jesus. We feel proud of our 
record in the past, and willing, if need 
be, to sustain the Gospel of Jesus Christ 
with our lives, laying all upon the altar, 
that the cause of our Master may ad- 
vance. But there is a tendency on the 
part of some of our Elders to act indis- 
creetly and unwisely in the care of their 
physical tabernacles. Somevof them, on 
returning from a two years' mission, are 
physical wrecks and prematurely old 
men, on account of injudicious care of 
their bodies. This imprudence in many 
cases bringing on disease and sickness, 
which occasionally terminates fatally. 
These noble men, rather than give up 
the fight when sick, would prefer dying 
in the harness. In many cases their in- 
tegrity and courage are admirable, and 
they are true martyrs, but in some cases 
we are afraid that the lack of judgment 
and discretion displayed by some of our 
Elders is accounted as folly in the sight 
of God. 

Elders when coming here from the 
mountains are generally robust and 
strong, full of vigor, with fine physical 
tabernacles. In many places in the 
South the air is impregnated with bac- 
teria and malarious germs which tear 
and break down the strongest constitu- 
tions. The change of food, water, en- 
vironments, from a high to a low climate, 
many times works a sore trial on our 
Elders, and they consequently get sick'. 
Some will linger sick week after week, 
and month after month, fasting, praying 
and working until nature can stand it no 
longer. They will finally get released, 
feeling that perhaps they are lacking in 
faith, and have not been a success. 
When they get home their health may 
be such that they are beyond recupera- 
tion, broken down old men. Their 
friends (?) may treat them slightingly, 
because they have not been able to stay 
in the missionary field two years. In 
consequence of this vituperation and 
scandal heaped upon these men by those 
that should be their cousolers, many of 
these noble boys would rathuer die in 
the field than go home to be branded as 
cowards. They will linger as martyrs, 
with a wrong conception of their calling, 
and occasionally will die in the harness. 

God through His inspired servants 
called Elders in the vineyard, who are 
supposed to be physically, intellectually, 
financialy and spiritualy qualified. In 
some cases the Elders enter the mission- 
ary field apparently lacking in some of 
these qualities, and they at once will 
study and apply their minds to strength- 
en themselves wherein they are weak, 
usually succeeding in brightening up and 
in many instances filling grand and noble 
missions. Some work so hard in the 



cause of the Master that they undermine 
their health, taking longer walks than 
their strength will allow, or perhaps 
their companion will urge them on, so 
that they will perform labors more than 
their physical natures are capable of en- 
during. This, in connection with their 
diet and mode of living, breaks down 
their health. A law of nature, which is 
a law of God, has been violated and the 
penalty must follow. 

Our Elders generally try to be strict 
observers of the word of wisdom and 
will refrain from tea, coffee, tobacco and 
other evils, at the same time they will 
violate some natural law of God with 
impunity, feeling justified, and then will 
fast and pray for God's healing influ- 
ence, disregarding that true axiom "pre- 
vention is better than cure." 

Many times sickness can be avoided 
by a little judicious care in keeping the 
body clean and its various functions 
working with regularity, also in exercis- 
ing wisdom as to diet. When an Elder 
overloads his stomach, overtaxes his 
strength by walking too far, has a dirty 
body, or neglects the most ordinary re- 
quirements of nature, he breaks the 
word of wisdom and a law of God, and 
consequently gets sick, sometimes dies, 
and passes off prematurely as a martyr 
for his religion. God, who exacts a pen- 
alty for all His broken laws, may regard 
it almost as suicide. 

We would not advocate an Elder going 
home upon the slightest symptom of dis- 
ease or sickness, but we certainly wish 
our Elders to act with wisdom and dis- 
cretion. 

God will certainly calj us to account 
for the way many of us treat our bodies, 
and instead of receiving a martyr's 
crown, we are apt to be punished for our 
indiscretion and follv. 

We think our training Elders many 
times are at fault; they will sometimes 
overtax a new Elder to find out if he is 
a good walker, and they may otherwise 
disnearten him, when discretion and en- 
couragement would buoy up and enlight- 
en the new exDerience. 



Rev. Sheldon claims he has tried to 
conduct a newspaper as Jesus would. 
Tried is the only fulfillment of his de- 
sires, for the scheme has been a failure. 
The reverend gentleman may have been 
sincere in his views; yet he, in the first 
place, made a mistake by claiming to 
know how Jesus would run a paper. In- 
asmuch as Brother Sheldon has not had a 
personal acquaintance with the Lord, and 
in the face of the fact that he, like all 
modern divines, do not believe in revela- 
tion, how did he know? Does the Bible 
teach one how to conduct a newspaper? 
If not, how did the gentleman know so 
much in that line? Is the paper to be 
free gratis, or a money grabbing scheme? 
Like all divines of today, Rev. Sheldon 
desires to show he is. with the mass, by 
allowing an article to be published 
against the Mormons. This is but a tes- 
timony to the servants of God, and ful- 
fills the saying made by the Lord, 
"Blessed are ye when men shall revile 
you, and persecute you, and say all man- 
ner of evil against you falsely, for My 
sake." 



With England at war with the South 
African Republics and all the other 
Christian nations preparing for war, 
Christian against Christian, will anyone 
contend that we are in a unity of the 
faith? The gifts and blessings that 
were in the primitive church were to re- 
main until we come to a unity. Where 
are the gifts and blessings? 



THE SOUTHERN STAB. 



13d 



BLESSINGS FOLLOW OBEDIENCE. 

People often wonder why the Latter- 
Day Saints have prospered so well, how 
the£ could transform a barren desert 
into a beautiful land, blossoming with 
flowers. All things work upon natural 
principles, and when we find a people 
prospering, as do God's people today, let 
us not say chance did it. A wise man, in 
building a house will lav the foundation 
strong and firm ; using the best materials 
and labor to be had. God in His infinite 
wisdom, desiring to again establish His 
plan, chose the best workmen. Having 
designed the way, He chose His laborors 
and then gave instructions how to pro- 
ceed. The foundation was laid broad and 
deep, cemented to the bed-work of reve- 
lation, bonded with truth, it will ever 
stand the beating of the rains of Satan's 
power. Most people are conversent with 
the persecutions that followed, the trying 
times which drew the line; snowing who 
were for and who were against God. The 
exodus across the plains, driven to a 
barren waste, yet the solitary places and 
the wilderness were glad for them, and 
the desert did rejoice and blossom as a 
rose, and why might be asked, could a 
mere handful of people transfer a sage- 
bush wilderness into a land of beauty? 
Being the servants of a merciful Father, 
they kept the commandments of High 
Heaven. They forgot not to carry into 
the Lord's storehouse a tenth of their 
earnings. Tithing was then a command- 
ment of God, today it is just as binding. 
Saints are promised, if they will pay 
their tithing, blessings will be poured 
down upon them; that there shall not be 
room to receive them. To those who love 
and obey, blessings have followed. Some 
are faithful, thus gaining great rewards; 
they have plenty, pay an honest tithe, and 
are happy. Some receive greater blessings 
than they can endure, for their good, and 
get proud. Forget to give honor to the 
Heavenly Father and give Him not His 
due. Like the parable told of "the rich 
man, they take great ease, eat, drink 
and are merry. Finally their land gets 
poor, trees die and destitution holds sway. 

While upon this subject no better proof 
of blessings following obedience can be 
given than the testimony of a Saint. We 
take liberty te insert this testimony which 
smacks with truthfulness. 

Chattanooga, Tenn., March 14, 1900. 
President Ben E. Rich, Dear Brother: 

I have settled down to stay here a while 
longer, it may be for the best. As I 
have began to pay tithing, things are 
looking more favorable for me. Persecu- 
tion seems to be dying out, excepting the 
case of a few religious bigots. My tes- 
timony grows stronger daily and the Lord 
is blessing me for obeying the Gospel. 
All things look more lovely and the East 
Kentucky hills look more beautiful to 
me than ever before. The world is full 
of beauty when the heart is full of love, 
lean bear persecution better if one Bap- 
tist friend did say I ought to have three 
hickory withs worn out over me for talk- 
ing of going to Utah. Enclosed find money 
for subscription for the Star. Your broth- 
er in the Gospel. A. I. KIDD. 

Monica. Lee county, Kentucky. 

Ring Pharaoh Gave Joseph. 

Preston Standard. 

Prof. John I^ansing, of New Bruns- 
wick, who has been spending the winter 
in this city, will leave soon for Colo- 
rado, where he expects to live for a con- 
siderable time for the benefit of his 
health. Ho is a very scholarly and ac- 
complished gentleman, being a minister 
of the Dutch Reformed church. He was 
l>orn in the city of Damascus, Palestine, | 
in "the street which is called Straight," 



his father being a resident missionary 
.there. Prof. Lansing for 13 years lived 
in Egypt and is the master of nine lan- 
guages. He has many curious and valu- 
able relics of Egypt, stones and jewels 
of the ancient Pharaohs. He has what 
is thought by the best Egyptologists to 
be the identical gold ring set with a 
stone, which Khab Nub, the Pharaoh, 
gave to Joseph when he made him prime 
minister over all Egypt, says an Atlan- 
tic City paper. It is a curious old jewel 
and was worn on the thumb. It was 
found at Memphis 15 or 20 years ago 
in the coffin of a mummy. He has a 
walking stone and many kinds of sacred 
beetles bearing carved inscriptions tell- 
ing of the reign in which they were the 
official emblem. He has a silk crocheted 
cap which was taken from a mummy 
and is several thousand years old, rare 
amber beads, the precious images of cats 
and ancient symbols which have been 
unearthed in the land of the pyramids. 



Education and Morals. 

Deseret News. 

Marion Crawford does not believe that 
the education of this advanced century 
has had the effect of elevating the mora,l 
standard of man. In this he takes is- 
sue with the many who see in increased 
knowledge the salvation of the race. The 
novelist finds that some of the most hon- 
est, moral, trustworthy and industrious 
people are found among those who can 
neither read nor write. On the other 
hand, he finds that the pursuit of knowl- 
edge is often merely for the material 
advancement it gives. Refinement is not 
sought. Teaching has too often been an 
aid to naturally evil propensities, giving 
them an opportunity for development 
they would otherwise not have had. 

The view is certainly well taken. 
Some of the most notorious criminals 
have been "students" of sciences, and 
their knowledge has put them in a posi- 
tion to carry out ingenious plans, no ig- 
norant criminals would have thought of. 

Morality is not a matter of knowledge. 
A human being may be able to read the 
mysteries of nature in the heavens above 
and the earth below; he may have mas- 
tered the facts of history and the theo- 
ries of philosophers from the beginning, 
and yet have no love at heart for truth 
and justice. Even the mere study of 
theology brings with it no power to do 
that which is good. The fact is that in 
most instances it is not on account of 
ignorance of that which is right that 
people go wrong, but on account of a 
failure to live up to the knowledge of 
right and wrong already obtained. 

Morality is in the last instance a mat- 
ter of training of the "heart," if that 
expression be permitted. It is independ- 
ent of the intellectual development. 
When both are in harmony the human 
life will be as near the ideal as possible. 
When the intellect alone is developed, 
there is no safeguard against plunging 
into the lower depths of human deprav- 
ity. 

Educational methods may change and 
be improved, but if the aim is to com- 
bat sin in its various forms, the power 
of schools is not sufficient. For that 
purpose no means is adequate but the 
old-fashioned Gospel, the efficacy of the 
human race. 



GOD'S LOVE. 

Could we with ink the ocean fill. 

Were all the earth of parchment made, 
Were every single stick a quill, 

And everv man a scribe by trade, 
To write the love of God above 

Would drain the ocean dry, 
Nor could the scroll contain the whole, 

Though stretched from sky to sky. 

—Selected. 



Fretting is a constant confession of 
weakness. It says — "I want to, but I 
can't." 



The silence often of pure innocence 
persuades, when speaking fails.— Shakes- 
peare. 



PRESIDENT FAIRCHILD'S TESTIMONY. 

BY BEN L. RICH. 

Strange isn't it that in this vaunted age 
of advancement, there should be manifest- 
ed such ignorance, in the clerical profes- 
sion, of things 'Mormon V" Ministers of 
the popular and worldly pulpit in Christ- 
endom, who, above all men, should know 
and speak the troth, whenever they try 
to account for the origin of the Book of 
Mormon, rehearse the long since exploded 
theory, that the plot and language of a 
story written by Solomon Spaulding in 
1812 were stolen by Joseph Smith, who 
used, they affirm the gist or substance of 
this narrative in editing the Book of Mor- 
mon. Ignorance is an embarrasing qual- 
ity, but when the narrowness of the min- 
isterial order is taken into consideration, 
sorrow, more than indignation, is ex- 
pressed for the mentally contracted condi- 
tion of the bulk of self-styled disciples of 
the Lamb. For surely none would accuse 
our friends of the cloth of deception ir. 
their treatment of a cause so misrepre- 
sented as is Mormon ism. It cannot be 
hypocrisy or intentionally unfair treat- 
ment on their part; because the untiring 
Elder from Zion has only known and cir- 
culated the facts of the discovery and 
whereabouts of the facts of the Spaulding 
story since 1885. But there is consola- 
tion in the promise that the time will come 
when truth will fill the earth even as the 
waters cover the deep. Probably not until 
then will the gospel of Christ be free from 
slander or be seen in its true light. 

A noted divine's tirade on ^Mormon- 
ism" in Ohio, caused the following com- 
munication to be written to the President 
of Oberlin College; and it is hoped that 
it may fall into the hands of earnest in- 
vestigators who will look well into the 
two sides of the question in hand before 
passing judgment: 

"Columbus, Feb. Q, 1900. 
President James H. Fairchild, Oberlin 

College, Ohio: 

,My Dear Sir: You will, I trust, par- 
don the intrusion of a "Mormon" Elder. 

I desire to hear from you, directly, 
whether or not the account published over 
your signature in the New York Observer 
is true, which credits you with saying 
that Mr. Rice and yourself, with other i, 
made a comparison between the orig- 
inal manuscript of the Solomon Spauld- 
ing story, which is now in your col- 
lege library* and the Book of Mormon, 
and that there could be detected no sem- 
blance either in general or in detail be- 
tween the two works. If the above as- 
sertion is correct, you will do me a very 
great favor by indorsing this letter and 
mailing same to my address. If the ren- 
dition be not true, would like to obtain a 
brief explanation from an authorative 
source. I will be truly very thankful for 
any information you may give me. 

The veracity of your reported testi- 
mony referred to has been questioned, and 
I desire proof for the stand: I have taken, 
hence this communication, which I pray 
you will not ignore. Yours very respect- 
fully. BEN L, RICH. 
211 East Town St., Columbus, O. 



The above letter was indorsed by the 
signature of Mr. Fairchild, with the fol- 
lowing note from his daughter, by way of 
explanation : 

"Oberlin, Feb. 12, 1900. 

Dear Sir: 

"My father's eyesight has failed him 
almost entirely so that he cannot even 
sign his name so that it can be read 
plainly. He tried to write his name at 
the bottom of your letter and says that 
your understanding of the case is correct. 
"LUCY F. KENARTON." 



1S4 



THB SOUTHERN STAR. 



ALBERMARLE MOBBING. 



Thursday evening, March 15, at 4 
o'clock, Eiders William H. Jensen and 
William 1*. Jacobs entered the small city 
of Albermarle; N. C, tor the purpose of 
getting their mail. As they approached 
che postomce, some scoffs and slurs were 
hurled at them. After obtaining their 
mail the Elders started to leave the city, 
when some cowardly persons began to 
throw rocks. Thinking to get redress in 
the laws of the country, the court house 
was entered. Having enquired tor the 
sheriff, and beiug informed he was out of 
town, they were then invited by a lawyer 
into his otfice. After a short conversation 
upon the gospel, the Elders left, but were 
surprised to find the hall crowded with a 
threatening lot of people. 

The sheriff's son acted in his father's 
absence, but when appealed to by the 
Elders, refused them protection, even be- 
ing implicated in the lawless acts. Upon 
stepping out into the hall the Elders were 
immediately surrounded by the hard-heart- 
ed and unchristianized crowd. Some went 
up stairs and when the Elders passed the 
windows, amid yells and jeers, a suffed 
sua re-crow was thrown upon them. The 
ones below siezed the dirty form, ham- 
mering their victims of injustice, on the 
heads. After suffering this abuse and 
having traveled about one hundred yards, 
they were halted, by the leaders, who 
were leading merchants of the city; men 
who claimed to be Christians. We are 
not heathens, was the cry, we are enlight- 
ened Christians; we have ministers, and 
now you get out of here. At this moment 
a man with sleeves rolled up and hands 
covered with paint, stepped forward, rub- 
bing the color upon the faces of God's 
servants. Out of this crowd of hundreds, 
but one had stamina enough to lift a 
voice in defense of justice. A woman was 
that person who cried out. Stop that! you 
have gone far enough. The demand had 
the desired effect and the Elders left town. 
Being informed that a mob was follow- 
ing them, they took to the woods, making 
their way through a dense forest. The 
night was dark, rainy and cold, but the 
Elders put their trust in God and finally 
after a walk of eight miles, arrived at 
the house of a friend, who cared for their 
wants. 

Such are the facts concerning the treat- 
ment of two humble men. When we see 
how God's anointed are treated today, 
does not it remind one of the trials and 
persecutions heaped upon Christ and his 
followers? When our Lord came upon the 
earth Satan waged war against Him, and 
His righteous course, filling the minds of 
mankind with hatred, strife and murder. 
Although the gospel was taken from the 
earth some years after the cricifixion of 
Christ, yet the adversary continued his 
work of destruction. 

The very same wicked design filled the 
hearts of the cowards at Albermarle, when 
they attacked the Elders as was manifest 
in the days of Christ. For shame, when 
men, claiming to be Christians, boasting of 
American liberty, will pounce upon de- 
fenseless men, like a pack of wolves. 
Those very brutes (they cannot be called 
men) will have to stand before the judg- 
ment seat and give an account of their 
evil deeds. Woe unto that city for this 
is the second time abuse has been heaped 
upon the Elders there. In August, 1892, 
Elders Winder and Bartholomew were 
rudely handled by people of the same 
stamp in the same city of Albermarle. 

Evidently there are some people living 
who properly belong to the Dark Ages. 
But we feel to say with the mistreated 
brethren "Lord forgive them, for they 



know not what they do." It may be more 
tolerable for Sodom and Gomorrah in the 
day of Judgment than for Albermarle, 
North Carolina. 



Abstracts From Correspondence. 

Wainsville, Ind. 
Editor Southern Star. 

I am a little Latter-day Saint girl of 
11 years. 1 have been deaf in my left 
ear all my life; I don't think I ever did 
hoar well with it. On the 2d of Febru- 
ary last I was instantly cured by the 
power of God, through the laying on of 
hands and anointing with oil. Elders 
Gwindel and Larson were the instru- 
ments in the hands of God, and this is 
testimony to me that gifts and blessings 
follow those who believe. 

Linnie Barnett. 

Another Wltneaa. 

A testimony written to the Star by 
Miss Dora Hunnicutt, of Seneca, S. C: 
Dear Editor. 

As I have been a reader of this most 
interesting paper for more than a year, 
I will be pleased to testify to the Chris- 
tian influence of the Gospel as taught by 
the Elders of Israel. From a child I 
knew nothing of the Mormons, except 
when I was quite young I remember of 
some Elders visiting our home, and I 
was so young religion did not enter my 
mind. My brother, William J. Hunni- 
cutt, left home about that time, going to 
Colorado, where he joined the Church 
of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He 
soon married a fair western girl and 
made his home in the west. Thirteen 
years passed, when he was called to fill 
a mission, and is now laboring in the 
South Carolina Conference. During the 
time my brother was away from home he 
sent us much church literature explain- 
ing the doctrines of Christ. I treated 
all reading matter sent me with pro- 
found indifference and became a member 
of the Baptist church when 13 years of 
age, and lived as true and pure as I 
could. I liked some principles, others I 
did not. I thought of joining the Meth- 
odist or Presbyterian church, but could 
not find in either the ideal Church of 
Jesus Christ. Last March, one year 
ago, my brother spent a few weeks with 
us at his old home. He taught me the 
principles of the Gospel, and I also be- 
gan to read the literature he had sent. 
I accepted the truth and was baptized 
Aug. 27th, 1899, by my brother. I feel 
that all who live Godly in Christ Jesus 
will suffer persecution. I can rejoice 
that I heard tne word of God by those 
who have authority to administer in the 
ordinances. I bear my testimony to the 
world that this is the word of God. If 
anyone will do the will of the Father 
they shall know of the doctrine. 



To The Southern Star. 



Claro, S. C. 



Thinking that my testimony to the 
truthfulness of the gospel may lead others 
to the light, I take great pleasure iri writ- 
ing this toVou. I was baptised in April, 
1898, by Elder Nelson Cotton, whom I 
recognize as a servant of God. Although 
I have had many trials and temptations to 
withstand, it is a great joy to know I 
have the Lord to help me overcome them ; 
and it only increases my faith and testi- 
mony in the same. I find great consola- 
tion in the words of the Savior : "Blessed 
are they which are persecuted for right- 
eousness sake: for theirs is the kingdom 
of Heaven." I am thankful to our Heav- 
enly Father that I have been permitted 
to accept the gospel of Jesus Christ, and 
by the help of the Lord, I will remain 
faithful to the end. I know that Joseph 



Smith was a prophet of God; that the 
gospel which is being taught by the Lat- 
cer-Day Saints, is the true and only plan. 
I ask God to bless those who are striving 
to do His will, and desire an interest in 
the prayers of the Saints. 

I am your sister in the cause of truth, 
SARAH M. JOHNS. 



Elders Banished from Denmark. 

President Andreas Peterson writes 
from Copenhagen under date of March 
3d, 1900, as follows: 

"Elders Charles C. Ronnow and Tnos. 
P. Jensen, who were laboring in Born- 
holm, had papers served on them to leave 
the Kingdom of Denmark at once, be- 
cause they were American citizens and 
missionaries from Utah. 

"They then applied to the American 
Minister for protection, as being Ameri- 
can citizens. He at once stayed the ex- 
ecution of the decree, until some investi- 
gation was made. The Minister soon 
found out the main reasons, which were 
emigration from Denmark to Utah and 
polygamy, hence he advised us to state 
our views on these questions, which we 
did as follows: 

"We, the undersigned missionaries of 
the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day 
Saints, hereby affirm that we have not 
been instructed or advised by the Presi- 
dent of our Church, nor anyone else, to 
teach or encourage the practice of plural 
marriage, or polygamy; nor to teach or 
encourage the emigration from Denmark, 
or any other country, to the United 
States; neither have we advised or in- 
structed those who labor with us or un- 
der our direction to teach or encourage 
polygamy or emigration, but to the con- 
trary we are instructed and we do in- 
struct those we labor with not to teach 
polygamy nor emigration, but to teach 
the people to live and abide by the Man- 
ifesto issued by President Wilford 
Woodruff, April, 1890, and also approved 
by his successor, President Lorenzo 
Snow; and to teach the people that they 
can live Christian lives in their own 
country as well as elsewhere. We fur- 
ther aflSrm that we have not at any time 
taught the people any other doctrine 
than that contained in Holy Writ. 

Andreas Peterson, President of the 
Scandinavian Mission. 

"Jacob Christensen, President of the 
Copenhagen Conference. 

"Charles G. Ronnow, Thomas P. Jen- 
sen, A. J. Nielsen, Peter Hansen, Oluf 
Johnsen, C. J. Plowman, F. Christensen 
and A. H. Bergman, Traveling Mission- 
aries. 

"On the strength of this statement the 
American Minister demanded that the 
banishment be revoked, but yesterday 
the Minister wrote to Charles C. Ron- 
now as follows: 

" 'I am in receipt of a note from the 
Minister of Foreign Affairs in which he 
informs me that the Minister of Justice 
does not find sufficient grounds for re- 
voking the decree of banishment against 
you and Mr. Thomas P. Jensen. 

" 'Respectfully yours, 

" 'L. S. Swenson.' 

"I have had the privilege of interview- 
ing the American Minister thrice, the last 
time today; he is a fine man, and I am 
satisfied that he has done all that he pos- 
sibly could for us. He read to me the 
full statement from the Minister of Jus- 
tice to him, in which he says that our 
points have beeu well considered and 
have modified his views in regard to us." 
—Millennial Star. 



The truest wisdom is a resolute deter- 
mination.— Bonaparte. 



THB SOUTHERN STAR. 



135 



PURE RELIGION. 

BY ELDER J. S. SEARS. 

The poet Burns has said "Religion, my 
honored friend, is surely a simply busi- 
ness, as it equally concerns the ignorant 
and the learned, the poor and the rich." 

True, indeed, religion is a simple thing, 
so plain that a wayfaring man, though 
a fool, need not err therein, yet some 
will not sense its true meaning. James 
tells us that "Pure religion and unde- 
nted before God and the Father is this, 
*To visit the fatherless and widows in 
their affliction, and to keep himself un- 
spotted from the world." Then religion 
implies that we must care for the father- 
less and widows, in fact, to do good 
whenever opportunity presents itself. 

Wealth today walks with head uplift- 
ed—proud and haughty — upon the path 
which Justice and Mercy should travel, 
but alas they are crowded from their 
true and rightful position, pushed aside 
into the gutie** of worldly wickedness; 
to be trampled in the mire. Well might 
the inscription which graces the Ameri- 
can coin be changed to "In thee we 
trust," instead of "In God we trust." 
Wealth possession produces pride which 
is not at all pleasing in the sight of the 
Heavenly Father. Glass distinction be- 
ing produced by pride, has separated 
many who claim to be Christians from 
doing their duty unto their fellowmen. 
Go to a large city today and you will 
find people living within a short distance, 
yes, often beneath the very shadow of 
"Czar Wealth," who are actually starv- 
ing. Men despondent and worn out by 
worry, because they cannot help those 
who are dependent upon them. Children 
sick and almost naked, crying to a help- 
less parent for bread, while hundreds are 
feasting in luxury. Perchance the never 
tiring mother, sick and unable for work, 
one of many, has worn blisters upon her 
fingers serving for a mere pittance to 
ward off the wolf "starvation." Rents to 
meet or be thrown upon the mercies of 
an unmerciful world, hopeless, despond- 
ent, to be pitied, are thousands of peo- 
ple today, cast down and bound by a 
proud people claiming to be Christians, 
who eat their luxurious food from golden 
spoons, surrounded by pomp and splen- 
dor, while thousands of honest in heart 
want for things to sustain life. How 
dare people say they believe in God and 
deny His inspired teachings to care for 
those in need? 

If a man say, I love God, and hateth 
his brother, he is a liar; for he that lov- 
eth not his brother whom he hath seen, 
how can he love God whom he hath not 
seen? I John, 4:20. 

The poor ye have with ye always, to be 
Mire, yet many are made poor on account 
of their own disobedience. He who 
deals with God with a slack hand shall 
be made poor, so reads the Sacred Book ; 
for this very reason many today are made 
to suffer for lack of doing their duty. 
Others are poor because they would more 
gladly serve their Heavenly Father with 
mind, might and strength, devoting their 
time, talents and all to advance mankind, 
instead of trampling them beneath their 
feet and bowing down to worship money. 
Ever keeping in mind the words of Whit- 
tier, contained in "My Prayer." 

If there be some weaker oiip. 
Give ine strength to help him on; 
Tf a blinder soul there be, 
Let me srulde him nearer Thoe; 
Make my mortal dreams come true, 
With the work I fain would do; 
Clothe with life the weak Intent, 
Let me be the thing I meant; 
Let me find In Thy employ 
Peace that dearer Is than joy; 
Ont of self to love be led. 
And to heaven acclimated, 



Until all things sweet and good 

Seem my nature's habitude. 
Often the cloak of religion is used to 
shield the evil deeds of men from man- 
kind, yet God knows all things. Every 
sectj no matter how sincere or pure its 
motives, has within its foJd command- 
ment breakers. Yet we cannot con- 
demn all because some are impure. 

"Because one rose on a grand rose tree, 
Has, by a canker foul, been blighted, 

Will all the roses that on It we see 
In their beauteous bloom be slighted? 

So numerous are the temptations offer* d 
to mankind, but a small portion keep 
themselves unspotted from the world. The 
Sabbath, designed as a day of rest, a day 
for the quintessence of noble thought and 
worship, is often rudly broken. How often 
is silence broken by the chattering of a 
fast-driven team, or the wild whirl of 
a gay party of fun seekers. None are so 
good but that a higher mark of perfection 
can eb reached. To those who obey a 
great reward awaits them. Life is but 
short and every effort made to advance 
mankind is a step nearer God. 

How long we live not years but actions tell, 
That men live twice who live the first life 
well. 



After the Mormons. 

Another bill of unusual design has been 
introduced in the house. It is intended 
as a blow at the Mormons, but might 
apply to others, depending entirely upon 
who will construe the law. Below we 
give a copy, which reads as follows: 

A BILL 
To Prevent the Dissemination of Doc- 
trines Contrary to the Bible. 
Be it enacted by the general assembly 
of the state of South Carolina: 

Section 1. That from and after the ap- 
proval of this act, It shall be unlawful for 
any person or persons, sect or organisation, 
to disseminate or propagate, either publicly 
or privately, orally or In writing or print, 
any religious system, creed or doctrine 
which does not originate In the Bible, or 
depend for its authority upon the Bible, as 
commonly understood In Its essential doc- 
trines, or which recognizes any other book 
as of equally divine authority with the 
Bible. 

Sec. 2. That any person or persons found 
to be engaged In South Carolina, shall be 
guilty of a misdemeanor, and upon convic- 
tion, shall be punished as now provided by 
law for the punishment of persons convict- 
ed of vagrancy. 

The committee did not approve of the 
bill in its original shape and recommend- 
ed the following in its stead: 

A BILL 

To Declare Persons Engaging in Certain 

Practices Vagrants, and to Prescribe 

Punishment Therefor. 

Be it enacted by the general assembly 
of the state of South Carolina: 

Section 1. That from and after the ap- 
proval of this act, It shall be unlawful for 
any person or persons (without occupation 
sufficient to yield him or her or them snp- 

f>ort other than teaching or teachings here- 
nafter mentioned) to disseminate or prop- 
agate anywhere in this state, publicly or 
privately, orally or by any writing or print, 
or otherwise, any teaching or teachings at 
variance with or contrary to good morals 
as 'recognized by the laws of this state. 
And any such person or persons be and 
hereby is or are, declared vagrants, and 
upon conviction before any court for com- 
petent jurisdiction, shall suffer the punish- 
ment now prescribed by law for persons 
convicted of vagrancy. 

Prom this it appears that a man with 
enough to live on might go ahead dis- 
seminating any doctrine ho pleased and 
he would not be molested. The main 
offense seems to be not taking up collec- 
tions, but going about preaching "with- 
out scrip or purse." 

The. above is clipped from a South 
Carolina paper. Jesus said (Luke x): 
"After these things the Lord appointed 
other seventy also, and sent them two 
and two before His face into every city 
and place, whither He Himself would 
come." "Therefore, said He unto them, 
the harvest truly is great, but the la- 



borers are few; pray ye therefore tho 
Lord of the harvest, that He would send 
forth laborers into His harvest. Go 
your ways; behold! I send you forth as 
lambs among wolves. Carry neither 
purse, nor scrip, nor shoes; and salute 
no man by the way. And into whatso- 
ever house ye enter, first say, Peace be 
to this house. And if the son of peace 
be there, your peace shall rest upon it; 
if not, it shall turn to you again. And 
in the same house remain, eating and 
drinking such things as they give; for 
the laborer is worthy of his hire.*' 

Jesus would have a hard time of it if 
He were to visit South Carolina, travel- 
ing without purse or scrip, should the 
above bill become law. 



The Richest Church in the World. 

That church is the Established Church 
in England. Yet in that church are to 
be found the poorest and the worst paid 
and most starveling clergy in the world. 
There are 13,939 parochial benefices in 
England and Wales, the Guardian tells 
us. In the northern provinces there are 
127 benefices under £100 a year, the av- 
erage value of each being £65. In the 
southern province there are no fewer 
than 1,214 benefices under £100 a year. 
And bear in mind these are benefices, 
and on their income a minister has to 
support a wife and family, unless he has 
private means — that is, unless he works 
for the National Church at his own cost. 
If the Guardian would only tell us the 
financial status of the unbeneficed clergy, 
of the curates, the figures would be pain- 
fully interesting. It is a disgrace to any 
church and a libel on Christianity to see 
great prelates and ecclesiastical digni- 
taries rolling in wealth and pomp, while 
the men who do the rough work are 
starving in want. That is not the fra- 
ternity of Christ nor the morality of His 
Gospel. It is the cunning and the cov- 
etousness of a world that is avaricious. 
"Sell -all you have and give to the poor" 
parson ought to be preached to the titled 
and untitled ecclesiastics who are draw- 
ing huge salaries while their brethren 
are hungering for food. The man of the 
world is shocked at these things, and 
more shocked when appeals are made to 
him to redress them.— Catholic Times. 



/THE DEAD. 

Brother E. N. Osborn, of Owl Hollow, 
Franklin county, Tennessee, has re- 
ceived from the great Master of heaven 
and earth an honorable release from la- 
bors here; he succumbed to the summons 
of death at his home March 2d, 1900— 
the cause of his demise being a severe 
attack of pneumonia fever. Brother Os- 
born was an energetic worker; a loving 
husband; a dutiful father, and a true 
Latter-day Saint. He leaves a wife and 
four children to mourn his loss — the two 
youngest now lying in a critical condi- 
tion, afflicted with the same disease 
which caused their father's death. In 
the departure of Brother Osborn from 
this mortal sphere, the family have lost 
a faithful head, the community a worthy 
citizen, and the Elders a staunch, true 
friend; however, we have this consola- 
tion, "We shall meet beyond the river, 
where the surges cease to roll." 

The prayers of all Israel are earnestly 
desired in behalf of the sorrowing wife 
and the afflicted children. 

Better be despised for too anxious ap- 
prehension than ruined by too confident 
security.— Burke. 



136 



THtt SOUTHERN STAR. 





REPORT OF MISSION CONFERENCES FOR WEEK ENDING MARCH 3, 1900. 




PKEHIPKNT 


\ 

CONFERENCE 


© 

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it 
§1 


"8 


"8 

£ 

3 

160 

22 
323 

10 

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112 

146 

85 
121 

29 

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65 
29 


§3 

68 

75 

93 

69 

176 

197 

83 

112 

266 

84 

189 

181 

6 

7 

189 

398 


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77 
165 
189 
247 
146 
161 
179 

84 
550 
310 

47 
208 

24 
288 
182 
122 


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89 
49 
45 
75 
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163 
736 
557 
561 
841 
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309 
381 
312 
176 
295 
81 
281 
258 
518 


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1 


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111 


852 


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76 
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114 
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420 
567 
670 
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TOWN 


HTATK 


David H. Klton„ 


Chattanooga 

Virginia. 


11 
40 
26 
87 
86 
40 
42 
»6 
45 
34 
16 
25 
6 
15 
24 
25 


156 
1164 
486 
869 
896 
788 
921 
566 
1104 
1041 
474 
572 
180 
498 
490 
868 


145 
617 
550 
278 
630 
648 
262 

55 
225 
159 

10 

205 

3 

'281 
101 


6 
76 
10 
55 
43 
81 
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11 
40 
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18 
14 
4 
20 
10 
25 




2 
19 
17 
34 
22 
29 
14 

9 
19 
12 

9 
11 
10 

6 
15 
14 


Chattanooga 




Heber 8. Olson 


4 

2 


Richmond, Box 388 


Virginia 
Kentucky 
N. Carolina 


B. V. Price 


Kentucky 


Battletown .. » 

PfafTtown 


John Peterson 


Kast Tennessee... 
Georgia 


W. D. Bencher 


4 

4 

10 
8 


Columbus 

Memphis, Box 153 


Georgia 
Tennessee 


T. H. Humphreys 

Geo. W. Skidmore 

J. Urban Allred.. ....... 


North Alabama .. 

Florida 

Mid. Tennessee .. 
North Carolina.. 
South Carolina .. 
Mississippi 


Lulu „ 

Sparta 


Florida 
Tennessee 


J. M. Haws 


Goldsboro, Box 924 


N. Carolina 


Sylvester Lowe, Jr 

O. D. Flake 


Columbia „ 


rt. Carolina 


Ackerman 


Mississippi 
Kentucky 


W. W. MacKay.. 


East Kentucky... 
Louisiana 


2 
1 


Buck Creek- 


J.N.Miller 


Hughes Spur 


W. H. Boyle 


South Alabama .. 
North Kentucky 
Ohio 


Bridge Creek « 


Florida 


L. M. Terry: 


2 
2 


Bagdad ....„ 

539 Betts St., Cincinnati ... 


Kentucky 
Ohio 


Geo. B. May cock 









Bible and the Sciences. 

Deseret News. 

The verification of the Bible by the 
sciences is one of the most interesing 
subjects of human inquiry. As far as 
it has been carried on, it has been en- 
tirely satisfactory to believers. It has 
shown most conclusively that there is 
the strongest possible ground for faith. 

Biblical hygiene, for instance, shows 
conclusively that the author of it was 
perfectly familiar with the human sys- 
tem and the causes of many diseases. 

The rules of the Mosaic legislation are 
often suggestive of the most advanced, 
modern discoveries. By these rules "un- 
clean" animals, those most likely to convey 
diseases, were excluded from the diet ; 
the blood of no animals was to be eaten, 
and effectual and clean cooking was spe- 
cially provided for, thus reducing the 
danger of infection by microbes to a min- 
imum. Further, all earthen vessels that 
had come into contact with unclean food 
were to be destroyed, and all other vessels 
were to be thoroughly cleaned. No dis- 
eased animals were to be eaten, and their 
fitness for food was determined by the 
soundness of the delicate vital organs. 

Much in this ancient legislation was 
in the ignorant ages of man considered 
as prejudice, or ceremonial enactments 
without justification, but in the light of 
modern science which has revealed a 
world in a drop of water or a particle 
of dust, the Mosaic code becomes in- 
telligible and gives evidence of its divine 
origin. 

Equally striking is the testimony of 
astronomy. All are familiar with the 
statement that the shadow on the sun 
dial of Ahaz went back 10 degrees in 
the days of Hezekiah, the king of Judeh. 
(II Kings, xx:8-ll.) It is also well known 
that the historical account of this state- 
ment has been doubted, and that it has 
been set down as a myth, or perhaps an 
allegory. 

Now in a recently published work by 
George P. Chambers, a fellow of the Roy- 
al Astronomical society of England, the 
author proves that the miracle was an 
actual occurrence. By going back through 
the annals of astronomy, he finds that on 
Jan. 11, in the year 680 B. C, there was n 
partial eclipse of the sun at 11 :30 a. m.. 
visible in Jerusalem. 

The instrument on which the miracle 
was shown must have been a sun dial 
in use at that time. It was a contriv- 
ance by means of which a shadow was 
cast along a given line. But it is evi- 
dent on reflection that the darkening of 
the upper limb of the sun by the passing 



moon would produce on the sun dial the 
effect of the shadow going back during 
the progress of the eclipse. 

On one important subject — the age of 
man on earth — there seems at present to 
be serious disagreement between the Bible 
and science. But there can be no doubt 
that discrepancies will finally be removed. 
Geology and kindred sciences are young 
yet. Theology, too, has much to learn. 
When all the facts are sifted down, it 
may be found that the disagreement is 
only between enthusiastic scientists and 
Bishop Usher's biblical chronology. The 
Mosaic account of the creation and of 
the appearance of men will be corrobor- 
ated finally. 



GLEANINGS. 

Last Monday, after a ten days' trip. 
President Rich returned to Chattanooga. 
He went to Key West to look over the 
country, and from there to Cuba on a 
pleasure trip. The historical island is 
teeming witn interesting scenes, and in 
all the visit was very much enjoyed. 

Brother Henry L. Marble, of Concho, 
Apache county, Arizona, sends us four 
subscriptions to the Star. In closing he 
says : Thanking you for the calander you 
sent. 

Well done thou good and faithful ser- 
vant, may others do likewise. 



There are about 100 students attend- 
inK the B. Y. Academy, who will soon 
be in the missionary field. Ninety per 
cent, of them are needed in the south. 
Come brethren, come. 



Elders O. K. Meservy and Ray Mecham 
are laboring in Charleston, S. C. The 
News and Courier, among other things, 
says: ,"The Elders are smooth articles 
and they refuse to stand for a throw 
down, even when it is given by the owner 
of a pretty or charming face. Introduc- 
ing themselves, the Elders say they have 
called to see the gentleman of the house, 
although the lady will do, and before a 
person can retreat they begin to rattle off 
a song and dance about Mormon ism and 
Brigham Young that makes an ordinary 
housekeeper dizzy. It is not a pleasant 
thing for a lady, who has to answer the 
bell in the absence of a servant, to be 
held up and asked : why she does not be- 
come a Mormon in word as well as deed, 
and then to be chided because she says 
she is not out for that kind of graft. The 
Elders are persistent. A smooth book 
agent could learn lots in the matter of 
nerve from these people, who are now 
working the city to a finish, and it is 
not until a door has been slammed vio- 
lently in their faces that they consent to 
move on like the tramp. Constant 



"scorns" have not made the Elders ner- 
vous, for when they are cast aside from 
one place they go to another, and stick 
there like a a leach, until driven away. 

"Several ladies, who have complained to 
one reporter within the past few days, are 
anxious to know if there is not some way 
by which they can be -protected from the 
unwelcome visits of the Salt Lake graft- 
ers. Enough Mormon literature has been 
scattered in the city within the past few 
weeks to stock a whole county in Utah, 
and the Elders are still on the lay. They 
are out for the converts." 

A little truth, much slush as usual when 
"Mormonism" is to be considered. It is 
but fair to say that the next day after the 
above was published, the same paper was 
broad enough to publish a statement from 
the Elders as well as the articles of Faith 
with scriptural references. As to the 
reporter, who wrote the article from which 
we have quoted, if it was not for the fact 
that we are taught to love our enemies 
and pray for those who despitefully use 
us we would say he is in a fair way to 
be with those without the gates of th'j 
Beautiful City, as described in Rev. 12, by 
John, the Revelator. It may be, however, 
that he is not a believer in a burning hell 
or else has resigned himself to his fate. 



PRESS NOTICE*. 

We are this week in receipt of a calen- 
dar printed by the Southern Star, pub- 
lished at Chattanooga, Tenn. It will bt» 
of use to us and will receive a prominent 
place in our sanctum.— Manti Messenger. 

The Democrat is in receipt Of a nice 
calendar, compliments of the Southern 
Star, the ofllcial organ of the Southern 
mission, published at Chattanooga. 
Tenn. Thanks.— Utah County Demo- 
crat. 



The Southern Star, published by the 
Southern States Mission of the Latter- 
day Saints Church in Chattanooga, 
Tenn., has sent the Post one of its cal- 
endars. It is certainly unique and has an 
exprwsive half tone entitled "Papa's on 
a Mission."— The Post, Idaho. 



We have received a copy of "Tbo 
Southern Star" calendar for 1900, issued 
by the Star Publishing Co., of Chatta- 
nooga, Tenn. There is a half-tone en- 
graving printed on it representing a 
scene in the home of Elder George Pal- 
mer, Farmington. Utah, who is a mis- 
sionary to England. Three children in 
their "nighties" are kneeling at mother's 
knee in evening prayer. It is a unique 
picture for a calendar, and while pretty 
enough, the very fact of such a scene 
being created for a camera detracts from 
the influence the thought of it other- 
wise would have. However, we con- 
gratulate onr Southern contemporary on 
its entemrise.— Car^ston Record, Al- 
berta, Canada, 




*&UT THOUOM WE, OB AN ANGEL F*OM HEAVtN. PREACH ANY 
PTHEK GOSPEL UNTO YOU THAN THAT WHICH WE 

HAVE PREACHED UNTQ YOU, LET nm BE ACCURSED .'fltf./tffcW 



"^e^grar 






Vol. 2. 



Chattanooga, Tenn., Saturday, Makoh 81, 1900. 



No. 18. 



Elder Lewis R. Anderson. 

The "releases and appointments" col- 
umn of this issue of the Star wttl be of 
especial interest to our readers, inasmuch 
as under the heading of "Honorably Re- 
leased," will be found the name of Elder 
Lewis R. Anderson. Very few, if any, of 
our readers, especially in the south, but 
will at once realize that in the release of 
Brother Anderson, the Mission loses one 
of its hardest workers, and one of the 
most faithful and energetic servants of 
God that has labored in this Mission at 
any time. 

Elder Anderson reached Chattanooga 
from Zion, March 23, 1898, and was as- 
signed to labor in the Middle Tennessee 




ELDER LEWIS R. ANDERSON. 



Conference. He labored in the capacity 
of traveling Elder for about four months, 
when he was called to the office to take 
charge of the railroad business. 

When President Rich assumed the reins 
of government of the Mission, Elder An- 
derson was chosen as his second counselor, 
Elder Nelson being first. At the release 
of Elder Nelson, he was chosen as his 
successor, and has since held that posi- 
tion, having also had the honor of being 
the first president of the Chattanooga 
Conference. 



While in the field he had the experience 
of being mobbed, having had meetings 
broken up, and rocks thrown at him, and 
otherwise maltreated, with but little in- 
jury. During the labors of Brother An- 
derson in the office he has seen 439 Elders 
arrive and 500 released. He has been the 
"old standby" of the mission, having 
filled at one time or another, every place 
in the office. 

Since Elder Maycock left for Ohio he 
has edited the Star, and to him, as much 
as to anyone, belongs the honor of mak- 
ing this paper what it is today. While 
he has not always filled the editorial chair, 
he has ever been a tireless worker for ttie 
advancement of the work, and always will- 
ing and ready to fill any vacancy that 
might occur. The same might be said of all 
of the many positions he has held. Be- 
sides filling the part assigned to him, he 
was ever ready to aid others in whatever 
they had to do and if anything out of the 
ordinary or of a difficult nature arose, 
it was given to Brother Anderson. 

We doubt that there is an Elder in the 
field at present, but what has some pleas- 
ant word of council, comfort or encour- 
agement and many smiles and indescriba- 
ble kindnesses by which to remember him. 
He was always ready to sympathize and 
comfort in sorrow, counsel and cheer in 
trouble, and rejoice in the joy of others; 
being the last man to let his sorrows be 
known, or to burden others with his per- 
sonal cares. 

While in the field he made many true 
and life-long friends, and it is a well- 
known fact that wherever Elder Anderson 
had made a friend, there a "Mormon" 
Elder would always find the latch-string 
on the outside. In attending to the la- 
bors of the office he has made friends of 
many of the business men of Chattanooga, 
Who are unanimous in declaring that his 
business methods are perfection, and his 
principles without fault. 

While we very much regret having to 
part with so noble and grand a character, 
we rejoice with him in his honorable re- 
turn to the bosom of his family and asso- 
ciation of loved ones and friends. We 
know that his interest in the wellfare of 
the Mission will not diminish with his 
return home, and will still feel that we 
have one on whom to call in time of need : 
one who will ever be on the watch for 
opportunities to further God's work in 
the south. 

We feel that it is useless to try to tell 
all of his good qualities, because our 
language is inadequate and our pen fails 
at the task. Those who have met Presi- 
dent Anderson know that to associate 
with him for any length of time, is to 
love him, and "the better known the more 
loved." We will miss him in every de- 



partment, and feel to say that his peers are 
few and his superiors none. His friends 
are as numerous as his acquaintances. 
His very presence inspires goodness, and 
one, after having associated with him 
and learned to know him for what he is, 
is convinced that he is indeed one of God's 
noblemen. We feel to say God bless and 
prosper him. 



OUR CONFERENCE PRESIDENTS. 

Elder W. H. Boyle. 

As the sculptor has power over the 
clay to form a beautiful work of art, so 
also has the mother the destiny of her 




ELDER W. H. BOYLE. 
President South Alabama Conference. 



children in her hands. If she be kind, 
lovable and painstaking in her care for 
them, she is shaping the grand figure of 
duty to God and man for them to ad- 
mire. A kind and loving father and 
mother are some of the many blessings 
granted the subject of this sketch, Elder 
W. H. Boyle, President of the South 
Alabama Conference. He was born 
October 19th, 1874, at Santiquin, 
Utah county, Utah, and is the 
son of W. H. and Mary Jane 



138 



THE SOUTHERN STAR. 



Euell Bovle. Like many others, his 
boyhood days were spent at home on the 
farm and attending school. When but 
12 years of age he commenced to work 
uway from home during the summer 
months, returning home to attend school 
during the reign of the snow king. With 
a mother intensely interested in school 
and education, she instilled within the 
minds of her offspring the grandeur of 
learning. "Never be late*' was her mot- 
to, and today Elder Boyle beholds the 
beauty of promptness in all duties. When 
a young man he was granted the privi- 
lege of attending the Brigham Young 
Academy at Provo. Indeed it was a 
happy change to be transplanted from 
the underground of an unvirtuous mine 
to the pure, noble, reforming influence 
of this great temple of learning. At 
once this marked change was noticed 
and realized, showing clearly that envi- 
ronments largely mold the destiny of 
mankind. Two years were spent at this 
school, Elder Boyle doing his own cook- 
ing and taking care of his own room. A 
little money was earned each week by 
milking cows and tending to stock; thus 
the first year's tuition was paid. The 
second year he went to school $7.80 was 
his total of money. Later he taught 
school for three years, and was so en- 
gaged when called to work for the Lord. 
Much time was also spent in connection 
with the Sunday School and Y. M. M. 
I. Association. His grandfather, Henry 
G. Boyle, was a native of West Vir- 
ginia, and suffered the hardships of the 
exodus across the plains, also serving 
in the Mormon Battalion. Henry G. 
Boyle was the first President of the 
Southern States Mission, and styled the 
"great friend maker." In a letter Pres- 
ident Boyle writes: My greatest ambi- 
tion now is to do my duty and to do the 
will of my Heavenly Father. This mis- 
sion has taught me to realize more what 
a grand and broad subject the glorious 
plan of salvation is. I pray I may en- 
dure to the end. 



History of the Southern States Mission. 

(Continued from page 129.) 

April, 1896- 

During this month a very praisewor- 
thy and important move was made by 
the Elders. The canvass of large cities 
alike with small villages was made with- 
out purse and scrip. This is but a tes- 
timony that the Lord can and does 
raise up friends for His faithful ser- 
vants amid the haughty and proud found 
in large cities. For some time President 
Kimball had put forth an indefatigable 
effort to convince the Elders of the ne- 
cessity of thus canvassing, for while 
working without money has prevailed 
quite generally throughout the sparsely 
settled countries, yet in city work it has 
of late years been thought too hard a 
task to attempt, money thus filling the 
vacuum of lacking faith. It was left for 
Elders Orson S. Taylor and Thomas C. 
Romney to "bre.nk the ice/' They en- 
tered the city of Lynchburg, Va., (which 
had a population of about 25.000), fast- 
ing and praying for strength and an 
opening. Almost immediately upon en- 
tering the city a friend appeared and of- 
fered his assistance. Each day new 
friends were made; hotels and boarding 
houses threw open their doors gratu- 
itously to them, while others supplied 
them with money with which to prop- 
erly dress and prosecute their work. Be- 
ing refused the use of public and private 
houses in which to hold services, the 
Elders sought the street corners, and 
there raised their voices in defense of 
truth. Policemen stood near to pre- 



serve order, and thus was Lynchburg, 
Va., canvassed. Two companies of El 
ders, twenty-six in all, arrived during 
the month. Following is the report of 
the mission for four months ending April 
30, 181)6: 

Mile* walked, 145,247; families visit- 
ed, 92,592; families re-visited, 18,202, 
i ejected testimonies, 6,500; refused en- 
tertainment, 5,170; tracts distributed, 
104,970; books sold, 574; books given 
away, 1,907; books loaned, 1,430; meet- 
ings held, 4,002; children blessed, 121; 
baptisms, 169; Gospel conversations, 3,- 
227. 
May, 1896— 

On the 6th inst. Elder W. S. Chipman 
was called to take the place in the office 
of Elder D. O. Hubbard, appointed to 

S reside over the North Carolina 
Conference. On the 15th inst., 
while canvassing the village of 
Madison, Amhurst county, Virginia, 
Elders G. H. Webb and H. B. 
Crouch were mobbed by thirty men, 
who forced them to leave the village un- 
canvassed. The mob, wrote Elder M. 
Thomas, President of Virginia Confer- 
ence, was led by George Huff, a Justice 
of the Peace, school teacher, class lead- 
er, Sunday School superintendent, adul- 
terer and all around rascal. Elder 
Wobb was dealt a severe blow in the 
face and on the back of the neck by 
members of the mob. True to their di- 
vine calling— saviors of mankind— not 
judges— pity filled the Elders' hearts, as 
they escaped further harm. The matter 
was presented to Gov. O'Ferrell by 
President Thomas. The Governor 
faithfully promised a thorough investi- 
gation and if possible bring the outlaws 
to justice. On the 23d and 24th insts. 
President Kimball met with the Elders 
of South Alabama Conference at Brad- 
leyton, Crenshaw county, Alabama. The 
public meetings were but sparsely at- 
tended, but at the council meetings the 
Elders received the spiritual food they 
so much needed. When the Elders de- 
parted for their fields of labor it was 
with a renewed determination to labor 
with more zeal and wisdom in the fu- 
ture, and without purse and scrip. On 
the 30th and 31st insts. President Kim- 
ball met with the Florida Elders at Live 
Oak, Suwanee county, Florida. Some 
very successful meetings were held and 
resulted in much good. Several applied 
for baptism. Tinder the inspired man- 
agement of James A. West, and through 
his indefatigable efforts, the Florida 
Conference flourished. During this 
month good health prevailed and the 
Elders were at their posts of duty work- 
ing with their mind, might and strength. 
(To be continued.) 



Resigned About Hb Sheep. 

We are often told to "make the best 
of a bad business," but we have rarely 
met with a better example of doing so 
than this, which appeared in Harper's 

Monthly: The late Capt. G , of 

Vermont, was a- ways satisfied. He was 
one of the early and most successful 
breeders qf merino sheep in this part 
of the state. He had a large native cos- 
set that he valued highly. His son came 
in one morning and to.d him that the 

cosset had twins. Capt. G said he 

was glad; "she could bring up two as 
well as one." Soon after his son re- 
ported one of the twins dead. Upon 
this he said the one left would be worth 
more in the fall than both. In the after- 
noon the boy told his father that the 
other lamb was dead. I am glad, said 
he; I can now fat the old sheep. The 
next morning the son reported the old 
cosset dead. "That is just what I 
wanted; now I have got rid of the 
breed!" 



THE DARK AGES. 

BY A. ARROWSM1TH. 
(Continued From Page 131.) 

THE FIFTEENTH CENTURY is one 

of the most memorable of periods. In it 
shdne many rays of truth, which opened 
the avenues of intelligence upon, a dark, 
benighted and superstitious age. It also 
presented some of the darkest pictures that 
have been taken by the* scrutinizing came- 
ra of Heaven, and which will some day 
be fully revealed, to the justice of all. 

Printing was first introduced, in this 
century, by John Guttenberg, of Mentz, in 
the year 1440. This invention has brought 
more light into the world and dissem- 
inated more truth than any one thing. 
It has been the means of putting the 
Bible, the word of God, into every country 
under the sun, and placing it within the 
reach of all the children of God. in every 
nation and clime, so that there is now no 
excuse for a people or a nation being 
ignorant of the doctrines of Jesus Christ. 

The press today rules and bears sway 
over the intelligences of civilized nations. 
Opinions are Formed through this most 
potent influence, which spreads truth, and 
also falshood, scattering broadcast the 
ideas of men of advanced thought. The 
nations which produce the most literature, 
are the most free, conservative, generous, 
hospitable, benevolent and Christian. 

In this century navigation was greatly 
extended. De Gama sailed around the 
Cape of Good Hope, discovering the South 
Sea passage to India, which has been the 
source of much wealth to Europe. 

Columbus discovered America, bringing 
to light its great wealth and wonderful 
resources. 

All these many agencies which God used 
in bringing truth and liberty forth in this 
age of darkness, speak of His goodness to 
His children. 

During this century Mahometan ism was 
being driven out of Europe. The Sara- 
cens, or Moors, were subdued in Spain, 
their last stronghold taken, and Christ- 
ianity furthered in that country. 

The Roman church was still supreme 
and her arrogance and splendor undi- 
minished. However, she was divided into 
factions at this time, and three Popes 
ruled, each one issuing excommunications 
and anathemas against the others. Nev- 
ertheless the Inquisitors were united and 
faithful laborers in the vineyard of this 
church, and were instrumental in bring- 
ing many heretics to their death. 

The latter part of the century produced 
a Pope, by 'the name of Alexander, the 
VI, who was a veritable Nero. He would 
allow nothing to stand in his way, and 
with his illigitimate children, is re- 
nowned in history, under the name of 
'Borgia. This renown arises from the fact 
that they put to death, by poison, all who 
stood in the way of their, temporal ad- 
vancement. Princes, priests and cardinals 
suffered equally, if they interfered with 
the majesty of this profligate criminal. 
Finally, through a mistake, he and his 
son drank the poison prepared and in- 
tended for others, thus dying victims of 
their own wickedness. This Pontiff is one 
of the links, in the great chain of pro- 
fessed authority, which it is claimed de- 
cended from St. Peter himself. • 

The Monks of this century were lazy, 
illiterate, profligate, licentious and sump- 
tuous enicurians. whose views of life were 
confined to opulence, idleness and pleas- 
ure; and who drew upon themselves a 
popular odium, by their sensuality and 
licentiousness. 

The Mendicants, or Franciscan Friars, 
who adopted beggary and extreme poverty, 
as the true following of Christ, were 
burned and punished with excruciating tor- 
tures, for their foolhardy methods. 

The reformers made great advancement 
in this age. The renowned John Huss, a 
good man. of uncommon sanctitv, erudi- 
tion and learning, who was professor of 
divinity in the University at Prague, spoke 
against the corruption of the church of 
Rome, and endeavored to withdraw his 
university from under the iurisdiction of 
Pope Gregory, the XII. He adopted the 



THB SOUTHERN STAB. 



130 



ideas of Wickliffe and boldly preached 
them, for which he was expelled from the 
communion of this church in the year 
1410, by Pope John, the XXIII. 
However, he treated the mandates 
of John with scorn and con- 
tempt, and continued to preach 
against Rome's corruption, and, strange 
to say, was almost universally applauded 
for his efforts. This eminent man, whose 
piety was truly fervent and sincere, 
though his zeal perhaps was rather vio- 
lent, was called before a council, at Con- 
stance, condemned as a heretic and burned 
alive, July 6, 1415. He met death with 
bravery and resignation; expressing in 
his last moment the noblest feelings of 
love to God, and a great hope beyond the 
grave. Jerome, of Prague, his most inti- 
mate companion and friend, was also 
burned for the same principles, May 30, 
1416. The enemies of these men were not 
satisfied with simply burning them, but 
their dust and ashes were carefully gath- 
ered and thrown into the river Rhine. 

The council at Constance, had con- 
demned all the Hussites, as heretics, which 
caused rebellion and war in Bohemia, 
much loss of life ensuing. This 
state of affairs existed between the years 
1420 and 1431. The demands of the 
Hussites were, that the "clergy might be 
recalled from the pursuit of wealth and 
power to a life and conduct becoming the 
successors of the Apostles; and that the 
word of God might be preached in its 
purity and simplicity to the people, not 
according to the ideas of men, but ac- 
cording to the written word." 

Both these factions wore agreed that 
it was innocent and lawful to persecute 
and exirpate, with fire and sword, the 
enemies of their religion. The Bohemians 
maintained that Huss had been unjustly 
put to death, and they thus revenged that 
act with great severity. 

There was a sect at this time called 
"The Brethren and Sisters of the Free 
Spirit," who considered themselves free, 
when divested of all covering, in which 
condition they used to meet for worship. 
They also went by tie name of Adamites, 
desiring to imitate Adam and Eve, be- 
fore the fall. These people suffered mar- 
tyrdom with great fortitude and courage, 
until their final extermination. 

All- the dissensions and revolutions that 
existed at this time did not disturb the 
serenity of mighty Rome. She had coped 
successfully with each uprising, and had 
suppressed the Waldenses, Albigenses, 
Beghards and Bohemians, by counsel, 
sword and fire. These successive revolu- 
tions were not considered formidable, and 
Rome looked upon all of her opponents as 
weak, contemptable and ignorant fanatics. 

The century was remarkable for the 
spirit of reform. The doctrines of Wick- 
liffe as preached by Huss and Jerome, 
touched the chords of truth within the 
hearts of the people, ar*d their whole souls 
cried out for liberty an.l freedom. At the 
same time that the people were filled with 
this desire to get from under the thraldom 
of Popery, God was preparing a country 
for the habitation of free people. An 
asylum for the oppressed, where peace 
and happiness could be had and a man sit 
in the shade of his own fig tree. 

Columbus, who was born in Genoa, in 
the year 1436, was inspired to make his 
solicitation at the hands of the king and 
queen of Spain. God worked upon the 
heart of good Isabella to aid and assist 
Columbus in his enterprise, the discovery 
of America. Columbus had all the quali- 
fications of a discoverer. He had courage, 
was a good sailor, student and navigator, 
and had great faith in his projected under- 
taking. 

This was remarkable, when we take 
into consideration, that the prevailing 
idea was, that the world was flat and not 
round ; and also that the wise men of the 
time were against the proiect, rejecting 
the overtures of the then friendless Col- 
umbus. 

It appears that the adventures and dis- 
coveries of Marco Polo in the flowery 
kingdom of Japan, had been read with 
much avidity by and attracted the Inter- 
est of Columbus, who believed that by 



sailing in a westerly direction, he could 
reach that beautful eastern land. 

"This is absurd," said those wise men. 
"Who is so foolish as to believe that there 
are people on the other side of the world, 
walking with their heels upward, and 
their heads hanging down? The torrid 
zone, through which they must pass, is a 
region of fire, where the very waves boil. 
And even if a ship could perchance get 
around these safely; how could it ever 
get back? Can a ship sail up hill?" All 
this seems strange to us now, and these 
arguments nonsensical, when we see hun- 
dreds of travelers annually making the 
circuit of the globe. 

However, Ferdinand and Isabella finally 
signed the agreement and the three ves- 
sels, which formed this memorable expe- 
dition, were furnished. Columbus felt 
that he was a man of destiny and foror- 
dained for his mission. This agrees with 
the Book of Mormon account, which ex- 
pressly states that he was moved upon by 
the spirit of God to accomplish the work 
of founding this western hemisphere. This 
great and inspired man was not appreci- 
ated, but died in poverty and obscurity, 
abandoned by the Jealous king Ferdinand 
and the nation, which he had benefitted 
so greatly by his discoveries. The in- 
gratitude of Spain in this instance, was 
justly punished by the overthrow of its 
navy in the Armada, and in recent years 
by its complete subjugation and defeat by 
our own nation. 

Such despotic, bigoted, religio-supersti- 
tious, fanatical nations, will sink into ob- 
livion, while upon the ruins will rise the 
star of hope, peace, love, freedom and 
justice. 

(To Be Continued.) 

A Willing Servant 

The letter given below was written to 
President Rich by Elder Bolin. It 
breathes forth such a pure spirit of duty 
and love for God and tellowmen, we take 
the liberty of publishing tne same.— Ed. 
Blacksburg, S. C. March 24, 1900. 
President Ben B. Rich, Chattanooga, 

Tenn. : 

Our Beloved Leader: Duty prompts 
me to pen you a few lines this afternoon 
in order that you might know some of 
my feelings in the great work in which 
we are ail 1 engaged. And I trust that 
my letter will not serve as an intruder on 
your valuable time in this instance. In 
as much as I have been notified of my re- 
lease to return home to Zion soon, the 
question naturally arises in my mind : 
"Have I done my duty?" It has always 
been my greatest desire to do enough; a 
desire too that I should, indeed, be proud 
of I know, for many a poor man has 
come and gone from this earth that did 
not do 'enough.' Again, I know that 
many thousands are today in death's em- 
brace who would have willingly done their 
duty, had they been blessed as we are. 
Ever since the day I planted the farewell 
kiss upon the lips of my mother and sis- 
ters, to come and fill God's call to this 
fair land, I have been prompted with the 
voice of duty. Duty has in my whole mis- 
sion told me to be an active, lively, stu- 
dious and perseverant worker; told me 
that it required such in order to do 
'enough.' If I only knew that I had not 
done enough yet, it would suffice I would 
then be contented to stay till all had been 
finished that the Lord had in view in send- 
ing me here. Yet, while these thoughts 
come into my mind, I know that our Pres- 
ident in this great mission is inspired of 
the Lord to say when we have finished 
our task here. Knowing such to be true, I 
am perfectly willing to come when I am 
called and go where I am sent. But Pres- 
ident Rich, if I have not done enough 
in this mission yet, I am here to stay until 
such is done. I am just as willing as a 
man could be to serve the Lord and keep 
his commandments, being eager to do 
honor to Him ; to declare His holy name 
to the nations and fill an honorable mis- 
sion, while here in this land. If the Lord 
and His Priesthood are well pleased with 
my work here and say "enough," go home, 
I am like all the sons of dear Zion, ready 



to go. But if they are not. I will not go, 
but will stay right here and labor till such 
can be the case. 

In conclusion, let me say, and I wish 
it was so that all the nations could hear 
me, that I know, beyond doubt, that Jo- 
seph Smith was, and is a prophet of the 
Lord Jesus; that he was sejpt in his 
dispensation to usher in the gospel of the 
kingdom of. God, in the fullness of times. 
I know that our message to the nations 
is the voice of the Eternal Father sound- 
ing and resounding to them that the King- 
dom of Heaven is at hand, and if they 
want to become kings and priests unto 
God, and reign with Him on earth, they 
must have faith in God, repent of all their 
sins with a godly sorrow, be baptized by 
one loving authority for the remission of 
their sins, and receive the Holy Ghost 
by the laying on of hands; lastly, do as 
Paul says, go on unto penection. Never 
in my life have I had so much pleasure as 
I have experienced during my mission. I 
know that I have been blessed wonder- 
fully in my work. In fulfillment of the 
words of one of the Apostles of the Lord 
in setting me apart for this mission, I 
have seen the bitterest foes of the church 
turned with a tear-drop on their cheeks, 
and are today the right-nand friends of the 
humble disciple of Jesus. I have seen the 
sick healed many times, and have traveled 
with men and heard them also speak in 
tongues and prophecy many times, which, 
when blended in with all the testimonies 
I have received during my experience in 
the true church of Jesus, causes me to 
say truly and indeed we are in possession 
of the true and everlasting gospel of the 
Lord Jesus Christ. I am made to say 
again, "It is good to be a despised Mor- 
mon and be privileged to drink of the 
waters, and eat of the bread of Eternal 
Life. I hope to see you when I come to 
Chattanooga and have the privilege of 
enjoying a few hours in your company. 
May the Lord bless our great and noble 
band of Zion's fair sons, who are fighting 
the foe; may this mission prosper, is the 
desire of your devoted worker in the gos- 
pel cause. ELDER R. A. BOLIN. 



The Truth's Reflex, our sister paper, 
published at St. John, Kansas, makes note 
of the work done in the Southern States 
Mission during 1809, and adds in closing : 
The foregoing speaks well for the Elders 
in the Southern States, and bears evi- 
dence that "Zion is growing," and that 
the little stone cut out of the mountain 
without hands is beginning to roll forth 
with great rapidity. May the good work 
still go on, until Zion shall rise and tri- 
umph and become the pride of the whole 
earth, and proclaim the glad message of, 
"Peace on earth, good will to all men." 



927 Caledonia St., North La Crosse, Wis. 

March 22, 1900. 
Editor Southern Star: 

Dear Brother : I take pleasure in say- 
ing we have had a very enjoyable confer- 
ence at Milwaukee on the 10th and ljth 
instant. Twenty-three Elders were pres- 
ent, also President L. A. Kelsch and two 
Elders from Chicago. There were twenty- 
two saints and many visitors at our meet- 
ings, the hall being filled. Elders J. C. 
Murdock and J. D. Balls were honorably 
released to return to their homes in Utah. 
The balance were assigned to their sever- 
al fields by Conference President James D. 
Cummings, and counselors, each of whom 
gave very good instructions and timely 
advice to the Elders; and all manifest a 
desire to go forth in earnest to continue 
the labor in this part of the Lord's vine- 
yard. Four of us are now in La Crosse 
and will remain, perhaps, for six months. 
Everything is wintry as yet. The Elders 
join me in extending a hearty handshake 
and kindly greeting to you all. Your 
brother in the gospel of Christ, Elder 
Thad H. Chuff. 

P. S. We take pleasure in reading the 
"Star." 



140 



THE SOUTHERN STAB. 




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Address Box 109 



Saturday, March 31, 1900. 




ARTICLES OF FAITH 

OP THE CHURCH OP JESUS CHRI5T OP 

LATTER-DAY SAINTS. 

ft. We believe In (Jed the EtarnsJ Father, and in His Sow 
Jesas Christ, aod in the Holy Ghost. 

t. Wa baUatn that men will be punished for their own 
tins, and. not for Adam's transgression. 

f. We believe that. (Broach the atonement of Christ, all 
id may he saved, by obedieoos to the tows and ordl- 
of the Gospel. 

We believe that the first principles and ordinances of 
ire i First. Faith in the Lord Jeans Christ ; second, 

,_„ ; third, Baptism by immersion for the remission 

of- sins; foarth, Laying on of Bands for the Gift of the Holy 
"host. 

I, Wa belisTH fhit ■ rain mast be v*l\*A of Gwl, by 
** prophecy, fttid by ths ts,?iQ£ on ot bspdi* rt *t (hoes "ho *r* 
In authority, Lo preach the fQip<ol to*! ad mi hi iter in theardi- 
iibomi thereof. 

S. W« Iwlie?* In ihfMmntc orgamillioa ikit elided In 
the ptimitin'fl ciurcli— nim*Jy b A pottle*, Prouhfrti. Pastors, 
Taieher*. BTin-jtliit*, at*. 

1. W« behave in the gitl nf To apt**, prophecj, nreistion, 
v litem, lieiUflf, *ntrrpr*t*tioo pf Eeofue*, eto- 

e. V/e belief a the Bible Id be the word of God, Si Til u ll 
■• tnoiUud comcll; ; wa alia beUt\ t the fr»t or Mormon 
la be the word at G«d. 

V, We beJitve »U thil Qotf fct* welled* aH that R* lose 
now t*T«al, and We Del tare that He will ret reveal rainy great 
ami important thinp pertaining To the KiD|dom of G«f 

Jfl. We believe in tie hWifci Lha ring nHii-Bal aod in Lb* 
restoration or the Ten TrLbei; that Zicm wiLJ tw bailt upon 
thia flbe American) continent; that fhti+t will reign perion 
•11 j opoa the urth, end ihtl the earth will be renewed end 
reeelvi ill oertdLiiara] f\trTY- 

1L We claim the pritilejjp of vOrthipmg Almlf htj God 
according to (tie dlelalpi of out coRKrian^*, and aIIaw all 
IDSQ the iame privilege lei them wonhfji how, where, or what 
the* may. 

ll We believe In being sobject to kings, presidents, rulers, 
and nMfjstratea ; in obeying, honoring and sustaining the tow. 
It. »We believe in being honest, true, chaste, benevolent, 
virtnoes, and in doing good to nil Man; indeed, we may say 
that wefoUow the admonition of Pool, "We believe aU things, 
we hope all things," we have endured many tbiap, and hope 
to be able to endure all things. If there is anything virtnona, 
bvaly, or or good report or praiseworthy, we seek after these 
ttlWh^OBBPH SMITH. 



In writing articles for the Star, please 
write only on one side of the paper. 

A Christian is one who does what the 
Lord Jesus tells him. Neither more nor 
less than that makes one a Christian.— 
Macdonald. * 



On the 21st inst. President Rich left 
for the west to attend conference. While 
absent the mission will be ably presided 
over by President Hyldahl, who has 
ever been a faithful and tireless worker 
for the advancement of the Mission. 



Man, like a sponge, is capable of ab- 
sorbing a great deal from his surround- 
ings: hence the importance of associat- 
ing with men and women of pure minds. 

"If wisdom's ways you'd widely seek, 
FIvo things observe with care; 

Of whom you speak, to whom you speak. 
And how, and when, and where." 

—Gospel Preacher. 



THB WOLF AMONG LAMBS. 



It would appear from an article writ- 
lea March 10th, 1900, in the Clinton 
Gazette, of Clinton, Tenn.. that we 
were still living in an age of darkness, 
bigotry and intoleration, when the 
rigbix of a citizen are ignored, and acts 
of lawlessness indorsed even by Chris- 
tians. 

It appears that a man, fiend or Devil, 
traveling under the divine appellation of 
Reverend (which is often the cloak for 
hypocrisy) came from North Carolina 
and settled in a peaceful hamlet named 
Wolf Valley, in Anderson county, Ten- 
nessee. He had the appearance and 
garb of the tramp, was hungry and pen- 
niless, but had a smooth tongue, and ap- 
parently was evading justice, seeking 
refuge among the innocent and unso- 
phisticated people of Anderson county. 

This scoundrel was a Baptist preacher, 
showed his credentials, invoked the sym- 
pathy of a kind family named Rouse, 
who took him in, pitied, fed and clothed 
him, and otherwise assisted him. 

He finally succeeded in getting a 
church in that vicinity, denominated 
l4 The Zion Baptist Church." This was 
last October, and from that time to the 
present, he has apparently pleased his 
congregation, who seem to indorse mon- 
ocracy, filth, lawlessness, adultery and 
wickedness. How this man, or emissary 
of evil, lias converted his flock to his 
system of Christianity, it is hard to 
conceive in this age of enlightenment. 
However, he paid his benefactor, Mr. 
Rouse, for his hospitable kindness by 
foully betraying his confidence, commit- 
ting rape or adultery with his wife. This 
vile reverend monster also had the au- 
dacity to assault and mistreat an inno- 
cent Mormon Elder, who was attending 
to his own business. But what appalls 
us more than anything else is that his 
church indorses his nefarious actions and 
looks upon him as a martyr, as the fol- 
lowing resolution will show: 

"Whereas, Our friend, Brother Eaton, 
came in contact with a Mormon Elder 
and gave him a genteel thrashing; 
Resolved, that we, as a Sunday School, 
tender him our thanks for his righteous 
deed; 

"Second, that if he got his clothes 
soiled in the combat, we will gladly pay 
for having them washed; 

"Third, that a copy of these resolu- 
tions be sent to Brother Eaton, and one 
to the county paper for publication." 

The newspaper in question also con- 
tains the following: 

"There has been quite a sensation in 
the Fourth concerning the alleged crime 
of Rev. Eaton. He was arrested last 
Sunday, charged with committing rape 
on Mrs. J. M. Rouse. He was tried be- 
fore Esquire Chapman on last Monday 
and bound to court. Mr. Eaton came to 
this county from North Carolina last 
fall, and has made his home with Mr. 
Rouse the most of the time since. He 
stated on the witness stand that he was 
not guilty of the crime, but that he and 
Mrs. Rouse had been on very intimate 
terms since last October, and that she 
charged him with this crime to avoid 
being disgraced. The people generally, 
who heard the evidence, believe the 
statements of Mr. Eaton. The alleged 
crime was said to have occurred on Feb. 
22 d, and the warrant was not issued 
until March 4. Mr. Eaton has had care 
of Zion Baptist church, of which Mr. 
and Mrs. Rouse are members, since De- 
cember last." 

The above is almost too filthy to pub- 
lish, but from the testimony of one who 
was present at the trial it is certain that 



this vile monster was guilty of at least 
unlawful cohabitation with the wife of 
the man who befriended him when in 
need. He is now languishing in Clinton 
jail, waiting the action of the court, and 
is not worthy of our attention, but from 
the fact that his actions receive the sym- 
pathy of his church, who have passed 
resolutions to sustain him in crime. 

Eleven months ago a Mormon church 
was burned down in this vicinity, and 
it would appear that this reverend ras- 
cal knew who committed this dastardly 
incendiary act, as he has threatened to 
betray this confidence, which appears to 
have been reposed in him through Mrs. 
Rouse. 

It is true that "murder will out," and 
perhaps the day is not far distant when 
the secret actions of these demons will 
come to light; but for a scoundrel who 
would betray the confidence of a friend, 
commit a vile crime with his wife and 
then threaten and intimidate that wife 
with an exposure of her secrets, is a low 
down villain of the deepest dye, and the 
law should execute the extreme penalty. 
He should be forsaken by all respecta- 
ble people and those called Christians, 
and not allowed to practice his divin- 
ity (?) among the people. 

A community that will indorse such 
sentiments as expressed in the resolu- 
tion that was adopted are certainly in 
the dark, groveling in bigotry, and in- 
toleration that would do credit to the age 
when people were burnt at the stake. 
The inquisition of Spain, that operated 
the auta da fe for hundreds of years 
in the dark ages, can only be compared 
to the divine (?) resolution of this un- 
christian body. 

Is it not time that protection should 
be granted innocence, and justice meted 
out to law-breakers? How pitiful in 
this land of free schools and liberty to 
find such ignorance and intolerance ex- 
isting. Would it not be well to study 
the "Declaration of Independence," for 
which many of our fathers fought and 
bled, and have the same published and 
inscribed on every church edifice and 
school house? So that at least the rising 
generation will indorse liberty, freedom 
and tolerance. Let us advance in the 
light of intelligence and civilization, and 
not retrograde and fall into the dark 
abyss of sin, ignorance and supersti- 
tion. 



THB CORN OR THE COB— WHICH? 

Modern Christians pride themselves 
on not needing the extraordinary gifts 
of the Spirit nor the direction and guid- 
ance of Apostles and Prophets. They 
boastfully and contentedly assert, "these 
were for the early Saints, but not for 
us." 

The Apostles and Prophets and the 
gifts of the Spirit of God were made in- 
dispensable parts in the body of the 
Church of Christ (I Cor., 12,) and all 
those who believed and obeyed the Gos- 
pel fell heir to the gifts of the Spirit, 
and to the counsel and instruction of 
Apostles and Prophets (Acts 2:38-39, 
Mark 16-15-19, Eph. 2:11-15). 

These beneficial and divine garnish- 
ments of the Church of Jesus Christ 
might be called, figuratively speaking, 
the invigorating and life-giving kernels 
of corn of the Gospel, and Christians 
who deem them unnecessary for them- 
selves, being content with their meager 
lot, when they can obtain the richest 
Gospel grain, are declaring to the world. 
"To the early Saints God gave the corn, 
but to us the cob." (Poor argument to 
use in converting the heathens, indeed!) 

It is self-evident that this self-denial 



THE) SOUTHERN STAB. 



141 



of the absolute necessaries of spiritual 
life is not charity to self. A person who 
would deliberately and stubbornly 
starve to death in the midst of luxurious 
food, which could be had by simply the 
reaching, could not be said to possess 
neither charity for self, nor wisdom. 



Sending forth the Star among the 
people is our method of taking them by 
the hand and wishing them success and 
prosperity. God bless you to the right- 
eous, repent ye and obey the Gospel to 
- the wicked. To the Saints cheering 
words are given, tending to invigorate 
the weak and make the strong stronger. 
News of their loved ones and friends, 
who are traveling and preaching the 
Gospel of Christ in the world, ?s nar- 
rated. To the Elders questions of im- 
portance upon spiritual, mental and 
physical development are put forth, 
penned by inspiration from on high, by 
true servants of God. It places him in 
touch with his friends in the four quar- 
ters of the globe, and cheers him to press 
forward on his righteous errand. To 
those good friends who have ever been 
so kind to the Elders, those who have 
often welcomed them after a journey 
through mud, rain and cold, with "come 
in, gentlemen, our home is a safe abid- 
ing;" to them a merciful Father will 
reward and prosper. The glad tidings 
of a restored Gospel— peace on earth, 
good will to men— is sent forth to the 
honest in heart, and may it mid worldly 
confusion be as oil upon troubled wa- 
ters, giving hope of salvation. 



Notice to Subscribers. 

The renewal blanks inclosed in the last 
number of your Star were sent to all 
subscribers alike, but applied only to 
those whose subscriptions had expired. 
If you will observe your address closely 
you will note beside them the date of the 
expiration of your paper; marked, for 
example, 3dec99, which means that your 
paper expired on the 3d of December, 
1899. If your subscription has not ex- 
pired you have no use for the blanks, 
but if it has, and you desire to continue 
your subscription, you can use them in 
renewing the same. 



Many and varied are the experiences 
of the canvassing Elder. A few days ago 
Elders James S. Blake and George E. 
Cook were distributing tracts in Raleigh, 
the capital of North Carolina. In the 
course of their travels they called at the 
office of a Mr. Everett, a dentist, who, on 
learning they were "Mormon" Elders, let 
fly the following, catching hold of the 
door and pointing the way as he did so: 

"Mormons !" "What impudence to come 
up here." "Get out of here. " "You're 
cheeky to come up here ; if I did not aave 
some ladies here I'd give it to you." 

The brethren write: "We left him to 
quietly pursue his 'extracting* process, 
feeling well paid for our visit, though we 
tried to explain as he slammed the door 
in our face that we were distributing our 
religious tracts and wanted peace. Thus 
are we despised for Christ's sake." 

We presume the dentist professes 
Christianity and wonder what he would 
have done had there been no ladies pres- 
ent. Truth affects people in various 
ways and it seems to take all kinds of 
people to make a world. No doubt Broth- 
er Everet "extracts" without pain. We 
are glad he has respect for ladies. 



"We have gathered posies from other 
men's flowers, nothing but the thread 
that binds them is ours." 



PROTECTION DEMANDED. 

Below is given a copy of letters sent to 
the Governor of North Carolina, also the 
one sent to the sheriff of Stanley county 
of the same state, which are self explana- 
tory. The mobbing of Elders Jensen and 
Jacobs, at Albemarle, and a desire for 
our rights as American citizens, has 
caused the forwarding of these letters to 
the proper parties. 

Chattanooga, Tenn., March 22. 
Hon. Daniel L. Russell, Governor of 

ISorth Carolina: Kaleigh, JS. C: 

Dear Sitr: Believing it my duty to 
inform you of the lawless acts of some of 
your officials and people, in the town of 
Albemarle, please find with this, a copy 
of a letter, to the sheriff, of Stanley coun- 
ty, which needs no explanation. Being 
unable to get justice from the county 
officials, I appeal to you, to take steps to 
bring these lawbreakers to answer before 
the law and to guarantee us, in your 
state, protection from mob violence. It 
seems to me that vigorous action should 
be taken to inform people of this class 
that no such barbarous acts will be tol- 
erated within your borders. If it is not 
done it will be taken for granted that 
North Carolina does not believe in the 
great American principle of religious lib- 
erty. We are American citizens and as 
such demand protection of the law and 
a redress of our grievance. 

From my information, I am lead to 
believe that you are a Christian gentle- 
man and a lover of liberty, and take it 
that you will not only consider it your 
duty* but an act of charity to bring these 
people to justice and teach them the first 
principles of free government, and thus 
put them in a way to become creditable 
citizens of your great commonwealth. This 
is the second time that our Elders have 
been maltreated in Albermarle, the first 
case happening some eight years ago. I 
believe the good people of North Carolina 
will not tolerate such outrages and will 
stand at your back in using the strong 
arm of the law to stop, once and for ail, 
such savagery as perpetrated upon those 
two defenseless and innocent "Mormon" 
Elders, in Stanley county on the 15th in- 
stant. 

I appeal to you as a Governor, and as 
a man of honor to give this matter your 
careful consideration. In the name of 
good government and as a loyal citizen, I 
ask you to not turn a deaf ear to our 
petition, and hope to receive an early re- 
ply from you that you will uphold us in 
our rights. 

With unbounded faith that you will do 
right in this matter, I remain most truly 
yours, BEN. E. RICH, 

President Southern States Mission. 



Chattanooga, Tenn., March 22. 
To the Sheriff of Stanley county, Albe- 
marle, N, C. : 

Dear Sir: As a loyal citizen of the 
United States and as President of the 
"Mormon" missionary work in the south, 
it becomes my duty to write you concern- 
ing the outrage perpetrated on two of 
my brethren, in Albemarle, on the 15th 
instant. No doubt, you are thoroughly 
familiar with the disgraceful affair, but 
for the benefit of others, I will review the 
occurance briefly in this letter. 

On Thursday evening, March 15th, at 
4 o'clock, Elders William P. Jacobs and 
William H. Jensen, missionaries of the 
Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day 
Saints, entered Albemarle for the purpose 
of getting their mail. They troubled no 
one and conducted themselves as gentle- 
men. As they approached the postoffice 
they were slurred and scoffed at by some 



parties, and as they were , leaving the 
office some of the crowd were cowardly 
enough to throw some rocks at these de- 
fenseless men, which would have ended 
their earthly career had the marksmanship 
been accurate, as intended. These men 
supposed, that at least, the keepers of the 
law in Albemarle were Americans, and 
repaired to the court house to ask for re- 
dress and protection from the lawless ele- 
ment who had insulted and assaulted 
them. They asked for the sheriff, but 
were told that he was not in town. The 
rabble (for after what these people had 
done they can be called neither Ameri- 
cans or Christians) followed to the court 
house, making all kinds of threats. Un- 
able to find the sheriff, they asked for his 
deputy, and were told by a friendly law- 
yer, that his son acted in his absence. 
To their surprise they found that the 
deputy sheriff was in league with the 
cowardly assailants. The Elders now 
saw clearly that protection, from the Offi- 
cers of the law, was not to be had, and 
proceeded to go their way. On stepping 
into the hallway of the court house they 
were immediately surrounded by an infu- 
riated mob, who proceeded to handle the 
Elders in a rough manner as they tried 
to leave. An old, stuffed ecajre-arow 
was thrust down upon their heads from 
an upper window of the court house. 
Those below seized the dirty form and for 
some distance used it to beat the Elders, 
striking them over their heads with the 
same. Not satisfied in thus maltreating 
their fellows, a man smeared their faces 
with paint, and they were otherwise 
abused. The Elders told their captors 
they would leave if allowed to do so. One 
of the crowd said : "We are not heathens 
here, we are Christians, and enlightened," 
giving the lie to his words by the actions 
of himself and associates. No hand was 
lifted in behalf of these two defenseless 
men, except that of a respectable lady, 
who cried: "Stop that." "You have 
gone far enough," which, thank God, was 
heeded, and the Elders allowed to go ; but 
they had been on their way but a few min- 
utes when they were warned that the 
demons were making up a mob to follow 
them and would have been mistreated 
again, probably, had they not sought the 
protection of the friendly woods. 

Some of the leaders of this Christian 
(?) mob were merchants of the town. 
The streets were lined with spectators, 
during the melee, who cheered exultingly 
and looked on in fiendish delight. In the 
face of all this abuse these men write me : 
"After wandering in the woods in the 
dark and cold drizzling rain, until late, 
we finally found the house of a friend. 
We bowed upon our knees and thanked 
God for our deliverance, and felt 
to say as did the meek and lowly Nazarene, 
"Father forgive them, for they know not 
what they do." May I ask who showed 
the Christian Spirit? Are yon not 
ashamed for your people, your county, and 
your town, that such an outrage should 
be perpetrated upon two innocent men be- 
cause they differed from you religiously? 

Those men whom your people assaulted 
are loyal American citizens. No law had 
been broken by them, they had acted un- 
gentle-manly toward none. However, this 
is not the first time that your community 
has disgraced itself. About eight years 
ago two of our Elders were falsely ac- 
cused and imprisoned in Albemarle, and 
after they had been acquitted by the 
court, were taken by a mob. Is it possi- 
ble that no ray of light has come to Al- 
bemarle, or a large portion of it, in eight 
years? Why do you continue to mistreat 
"Mormon" Elders? They force their re- 
ligion upon none and they use the same 



142 



THE SOUTHERN STAB. 



Bible believed by all professing Christ- 
ianity. Are your people so intolerant that 
they cannot bear both sides of a story and 
cannot allow others what they ask for 
themselves? You may not believe it, some 
do not want to, but no people in this 
broad land of ours are more loyal to tne 
flag of our country than the desp.sed 
"Mormons." In the late war with Spain 
none served their country more gallantly 
than the famous Utah battery, composed 
largely of "Mormon" boys, many of them 
"Mormon" Elders. In the war with Mex- 
ico my people were weighed in the bal- 
ances and not found wanting, and none 
will tight harder for liberty to all men 
under the flag. 

Suppose some of your ministers, in 
Utah (no doubt you contribute for their 
support every year) were to be treated 
as you treated ours ; you would call on the 
government to stop such barbarism, would 
you not? And it is needless to say it 
would be stopped or an exterminating 
order would be issued. Am I not right? 
You would say people who mistreat any 
of your ministers are not fit to live, would 
you not? Witness that whenever the 
Chinese do anything of the kind a battle- 
ship is sent. 

Down deep in your heart don't you feel 
that the laws of God, as well as the laws 
of the land have been counted as naught 
in dealing with "Mormon "Elders in your 
community? Can you read the constitu- 
tion of our glorious country and say that 
these people w*ho took part in the outrage 
on the 15th of the present month, and 
consented to the same, are Americans? 

We desire to injure no man. Our 
mission is one of love for our fellowman, 
and we know, if the honest-hearted people 
of the world understood us and our mo- 
tives, that they would receive us with 
open arms. 

Can we expect protection from you un- 
der the law in the future? I have sent 
a copy of this letter to the Governor of 
North Carolina, and also to United States 
senators from Utah and Idaho. We only 
want our rights and shall leave no stone 
unturned to get them. Your people ought 
to he broad enough to hear both sides 
and we assure you that in Utah where 
ignorance, by many, is supposed to reign 
supreme, that every man will be protected 
in his rights, be he "Mormon," Jew or 
Gentile. . 

If you cannot give us protection we 
shall give your Governor a chance to say 
whether North Carolina will foster and 
encourage intolerance and bigotry, by al- 
lowing people to be mobbed for their re- 
ligious opinions, or whether she will stand 
for the heaven-born principle of freedom. 
We want peace and will use all fair means 
to get justice, if we have to appeal to the 
highest tribunal in the land. As to ven- 
geance, we leave that to a just Creator, 
and pray for those who despitefully use 
us. Yours very respectfully, 

BEN. B. RICH. 



While two or our Elders were recently 
canvassing one of Georgia's most beau- 
tiful cities, they were met at the door 
by a middle-aged lady, to whom they 
handed a tract. She glanced at it for a 
moment, and upon discovering that it 
was a "Mormon" tract and that they 
were "Mormons," she immediately pro- 
cured a broom and proceeded to sweep 
the porcn where the Elders had stood. 
It is not known whether she wiped the 
door knob or not, but it is presumed she 
did. 

"Reading," says Bacon, "maketh a 
full man. conversation a ready man, 
and writing an exact man.'* 



PROPHECY FULFILLED. 

BY JEREMIAH STOKES, JR. 

From the 64th section of the Doctrine 
and Covenants these prophetic words are 
recorded as they were given by the Prophet 
Joseph Smith in the year 1831 : "For be- 
hold, I shall say unto you that Zion shall 
flourish and the glory of the Lord shall 
be upon her, and she shall be an ensign 
to the people, and there shall come umo 
her out of every nation under heaven, 
and the day shall come when the nations 
of earth shall tremble because of her and 
shall fear because of her terrible ones. 
The Lord hath spoken it." 

About the time of this prophetic utter- 
ance the very few Saints moved from New 
York, where they first embraced the gos- 
pel, to Missouri and Ohio, where they es- 
tablished themselves in a commonwealth 
of thrift and industry. 

Their faith in the gospel of Jesus Christ 
as it was primitively with its apostles, 
prophets, seventies, Elders, teachers and 
deacons, with its living blessing of the 
spirit of God, the gifts of healing, tongues, 
interpretation, revelation and prophecy, 
and all of the fundamental principles of 
the plan of salvation. Faith, repentance, 
baptism for the remission of sins and the 
laying on of hands for the gift of the 
Holy Ghost, together with the indispensi- 
ble principles of divine authority; their 
faith in all these ancient and eternal 
truths made them unpopular, and in the 
eves of "Christians" they were counted 
the most heretical and blasphemous mor- 
tals that ever claimed a place in the 
human family. 

As they grew in numbers by the »eal- 
ousness of their representatives, who 
eagerly proclaimed the restoration of the 
gospel, their enemies became more bitter 
and bold in their opposition. 

Ministers of the prevalent Christian 
churches were vigorous and mean in their 
actions against the humble Elders who 
traveled Paul and Peter like — two by two 
without purse or script. All kinds of li- 
belous fabrications were set on foot 
against the saints, which made the feel- 
ing of hatred so strong against them that 
many of them were tarred and feathered, 
whipped, imprisoned, and made the sub- 
jects of everything in the catagory of 
indignities. 

The civil officials refused to hear the 
cries for mercy and protection which 
constantly came from the lips of the suf- 
fering Saints, lest they be called sympa- 
thizers with the unpopular church and 
lose their positions. 

In 1834 the intense sentiment against 
the Saints consumated in their expulsion 
from Jackson county. 

Mobs of men numbering hundreds, 
among whom masqueraded the local 
clergy, rushed down upon the people, driv- 
ing them from their homes, burning their 
property, and injuring their bodies. 

Lieut.-Gov. L. W. Boggs said to some 
of the Saints at the outset of these out- 
rages, "you know what our Jackson coun- 
tv boys can do and you had better leave 
the county." 

These savage attacks continued, and by 
advice of a local judge, the Saints at- 
tempted to defend themselves, which only 
made matters worse. Enraged by this ac- 
tion, the mob leader, Col. Pitcher, turned 
his whole mass of savages upon the set- 
tlements of the defenseless Saints. "Out 
upon the bleak prairies, along the Mis- 
souri's banks, chilled by November's winds 
and drenched by pouring rains, hungry and 
shelterless, weeping and heart-broken, 
wandered the exiles. Families scattered 
and divided, husbands seeking wives, wives 
their husbands, parents searching for their 
children, not knowing if they were yet 
alive." . 

Thus were about 1,500 souls driven 
from their homes and possessions in Jack- 
son county. Three hundred houses were 
burned and ten settlements left in ruins. 

The pilgrims took refuge in the coun- 
ties of Caldwell, Clay. Carroll and 
Daviess, where they settled again and in 
1838 numbered about 12,000 souls. 

At tb?s time they were again molested 



by murderous mobs. They attempted to 
defend themselves and their action was 
intrepeted by the aforesaid L. W. Boggs, 
who was not made Governor, as treasou 
in consequence of which he ordered the 
state militia into service to quell the dis- 
turbance. The Saints appealed to him 
for retirees, but were answered by an edict 
of extermination, which was brutally ex- 
ecuted by the mob and the state militia. 
During this savage onslaught numbers of 
the Saints were murdered in cold blood. 

The exiles fled to Illinois and swelled 
the already growing city of Nauvoo to 
enormous numbers. Here they lived in 
peace and prosperity for a season, when 
again they were infested by their enemies, 
many of whom followed them from Mis- 
souri, to their last retreat. So intensely 
overbearing and cruel became their op- 
pressors that a committee was appointed 
to wait on President Van Buren, for re- 
dress, but their reception was cold and 
their grievances answered by "your cause 
is just, but I can do nothing for you." 

This encouraged the barbarious demons 
who lost no time in satisfying their 
blood-thirsty appetite. Their aim for 
years had been to kill the Prophet Joseph, 
whom they bad dragged into court not 
less than thirty-nine times on trumped up 
charges for which be was as many times 
honorably acquitted. 

But at. last they succeeded with the 
threat, "if the law can't reach him powder 
and ball shall." They set to work, and on 
June 27, 1844, their threat materialized. 
The Prophet's brother, Hyrum, also fell 
with him, a martyr to the cause of truth. 

After this dastardly crime, for which 
all implicated were either acquitted or 
left unmolested, the feinds incarnate re- 
newed their attacks on the Saints, burn- 
ing and plundering their property on the 
outskirts of the city. Once more the 
oppressed sought redress from their Gov- 
ernor — Ford by name — but he gave them 
in meaning, the same sympathetic ex- 
pressions as President Van Buren : "Your 
cause is just, but I can do nothing for 
you." 

The people at Nauvoo now numbered 
upwards of 20,000 souls, comfortable sit- 
uated and provided for. They minded their 
own business and lived exemplary lives, 
both as American citizens and as Saints 
of God. 

To these people God was a living real- 
ity, whose arm was not shortened that He 
could not save nor His ear heavy that 
He could not hear. They enjoyed the gifts 
of the spirit of God, they knew the gos- 
pel in its primitive beauty and simplicity 
was true and that God had again restored 
it to man, and for this they were forced 
to succor the lance of savagery from the 
hands of boasted Christians and professed 
Americans, who patriotically unfurled the 
flag of freedom and liberty in one hand 
and wontonly tied the chains of oppression 
and barbarism around the necks of their 
neighbors with the other. Oh, such hein- 
ous mockery ! What a blasphemous insult 
to American principle and what a sacri- 
ligious indignity upon the pure humane 
gospel of Jesus Christ! 

So strong and cruel became the public 
sentiment against the Saints of Nauvoo 
that in the month of February, 184G, they 
were, under the penalty of massacre and 
pillage, forced to leave their possessions 
and flee into the wilderness beyond the 
Mississippi for safety. 

Pressed at the point of the bayonet, the*- 
fled from their hard-earned and comforta- 
ble homes just in time to see them con- 
sumed by the flames. Chilled by Sibe- 
rian blasts and pursued by Christian mobs 
they fled into the desert to die from the 
hands of the native savage, to succumb to 
the calls of starvation or to survive both 
bv the almighty power of their God 
above. 

The Saints were now banished from 
civilization and without any means of 
support, save that which «.*nd nature 
voluntarily provided, and truly it seemed 
that their doom was sealed. 

It seemed that to make sure of their 
annihilation, President John Tyler sent 
a United States officer after the flee- 
ing exiles with a demand for 500 



THE SOUTHERN STAR. 



148 



men to assist in the Mexican war, 
which had recently been declared. 
This was adding insult to injury. 
The Saints had been scornfully refused 
protection by the government which now 
demanded their assistance for defense, and 
this, too, just at a time when their help- 
less and starving- wives and children 
needed a father's care and protection. 
But notwithstanding this they obeyed the 
call, relying upon God for justice and for 
mercy in their behalf. Here is a picture 
to behold. Imagine these shelterless and 
starving pilgrims, dragged from the com- 
forts of home, scourged with atrocity, 
robbed of their possessions ; many of their 
numbers martyred (among them their 
leader and prophet; without food and 
without means and dumped into the frozen 
lap of the wilderness; ignored by their 
government and ostracized by the Christ- 
ians (and all because of their religion). 
Imagine this multitude of weeping and 
heart-broken wives and children, scores of 
whom were sick from exposure or wounded 
by their enemies; fathers whose piteous 
faces revealed their burdens of grief, 
which lay heavily within their noble 
breasts. What a spectacle of suffering 
humanity, surrounded on one side by a 
dreary waste, which promised starvation, 
and on the other by a Christian mob who 
thirsted for their life's blood. 

Picture yourself, oh reader, among these 
forlorn and oppressed children of God. 
Listen to those piteous sobs, behold those 
tear-stained cheeks, look into those eyes 
that have known no rest, no sleep, since 
their loved ones fell the victims of bar- 
barism and savagery — and that, too, at 
the hands of professed American Christ- 
ians. 

Cast your eyes upon those manly forms 
who are now kissing their loved ones a 
fond farewell before departing for war. 
Does not this picture touch the sympa- 
thetic cords in your heart? Does not the 
courage and loyaltv stamped upon the 
brows of those noble men win your ad- 
miration and cause you to exclaim with 
me: "Oh, liberty and love, freedom and 
charity, thy precious names dwell not 
in the heart of modern Christianity?" 

Under such threatening circumstances 
as these the prosperity of Zion was indeed 
promising. What a glorious facination in 
Zion for the nations of the earth. How 
the powers of the world need tremble be- 
cause of her, and what an exemplar r 
ensign to the nations. Ah. indeed ! Did 
I insinuate? Pardon, I did these noblo 
pilgrims wrong. Never in the history of 
humanity have the manly traits of cour- 
age, of patience, of love, of charity and 
loyalty, and above all the God-given char- 
acteristic of true and sincere devotion to 
Deity, been exhibited in such admiration 
as they were in the lives of these rejected 
and oppressed Latter Day Saints, unless 
it was when the saints of old for the 
same religion, sweated beneath the same 
yoke of tyranny and cruelty, which was 
thrust upon them by similar inhuman sav- 
ages, who masqueraded beneath the cloak 
of religion. 

From the above discussion it is clear 
that Zion was upon the very hrink of 
destruction, which made the fulfillment of 
the prophet's prediction a question. 

Let us see the condition of Zion today 
and her relation to the world. 

In seventy years the numbers of Zion's 
people have swelled from six to approxi- 
mately 350,000, among part of whom in 
1887 there were representatives from 
twenty-four different nations and these, 
too, in the vales of the Rockies. 

Magnificent and productive farms with* 
their luxurious fruits and abundant grains 
now carpet the valleys of the great wes- 
tern plateau. Beautiful dwellings, spa- 
cious and comfortable school houses, 
churches and factories dot the desert, 
forming hurgs and cities, whose prosperity 
and thrift, industry and progression ail 
unite in one common buzz. Ninety-nine 
per cent, of the Saints own their own 
homes. Only 5 per cent, of them over 
10 years of age. as compared with 13 
per cent, in the United States, are unable 
to read or write. Up until 1870 not a 
brothel nor a saloon was known among 



them, and then it was introduced by their 
Christian neighbors of the east. In 1881 
there w«»re sixty-six saloons in Salt Lake 
City, sixty of which were run by non- 
Mormons. There were fifteen billard and 
seven bowling rooms, all kept by non- 
Mormons; there were six brothels with 
thirty-five women, all run by non-Mor- 
mons, and not a Mormon woman among 
them ; all of these statistics together with 
the courage and iterseverance of the saints 
exhibited by them in subduing the desert, 
and moreover, their stability and galantry 
in the defense of their country, (in the 
Philippine engagements hundreds of Mor- 
mon boys, who nobly and bravely fought 
in the front ranks of battle and meri- 
toriously won the admiration of the whole 
nation,) all this indeed declares that Zion 
is prospering and that she is an ensign to 
the world. 

The courageous and sacrificing lives of 
her 1,800 Elders, who journey forth, with- 
out price, teaching the pure and simple 
truths of our Master for the uplifting of 
humanity, are indeed worthy of emulation. 

And whether if it be openly admitted 
or not by, the Christian world, it is nev- 
ertheless a fact that Mormonism, so- 
called, has found its way more or less 
into nearly every Christian denomina- 
tion on earth. 

The Elders of today do not meet so 
many who hold to that bodiless and 

f passionless God — that merciless and end- 
ess hell, where sinners guilty of all de- 
grees of crime, from the slightest of- 
fense to that of the deepest dye, are 
consigned alike to an ever- burning and 
never-ending punishment; neither do they 
meet so many who denounce modern 
revelation and the extraordinary gifts 
of the Spirit and many other principles 
of the original Gospel of Jesus, showing 
that the Christian world is, in part at 
least, patterning after Zion in believing 
these divine truths. 

As to the part of the prediction quoted 
concerning the trembling of the nations, 
I would say it has not yet had a com- 
plete verification, hence I shall not en- 
deavor to establish its fulfillment, but 
shall simply make reference to some 
facts in history and daily occurrence, 
which will at least be indicative of its 
literal fulfillment. 

In some of the eastern countries the 
local officials have prohibited the Elders 
both from preaching and also from dis- 
tributing their literature. This also is 
true in not a few cities in the United 
States. 

The actions of this government and 
many of its high officials toward the 
the Saints present a strong testimony of 
the promising literal fulfillment of the 
Prophets* prediction. Let us see. Dur- 
ing all of the severe persecutions of the 
Saints in Missouri, Ohio and Illinois, 
the government was made to believe 
that the Mormon people were anarchists 
and consequently dangerous to the govern- 
ment, for the which they received no pro- 
tection. 

In 1857 an official army was sent to 
destroy them in their newly made homes 
in the mountains. Sent because the gov- 
ernment feared the commonwealth of the 
Saints. In 1862 their church property 
was confiscated by the government. 

Time and time again Utah applied for 
admission into the Union, but was re- 
fused, not because she was feeble in the 
necessary requirements for statehood, 
for indeed her qualifications were far 
superior to many of her sisters who were 
admitted, but she was refused simply 
because she was "Mormon," and tnis 
meant danger to the government in the 
eyes of the populace and their repre- 
sentatives. What motive other tnan 
that of fear could have inspired such 
unjust actions as these in the heart of 
the government? 

And this is not all. What is it that 
inspires the present crusade against the 
Saints? You answer, their dismissed 
polygamous congressman. Indeed. And 
if this be true, pray tell why all of the 
petitions to congress against him, and 
all of the anti-Roberts congressional 
speeches contained as much, vea more, 
strong opposition against the ''Mormon" 



Church than against Utah's congress- 
man? What need would there be in 
England's blackmailing the whole Cath- 
olic institution because she believed one 
of its members to be repugnant to En- 
glish principles? Absolutely none! Then 
what need has there been for such a 
unanimous crusade against the whole 
"Mormon" people simply because one of 
its members found disfavor in the eyes 
of the government? Absolutely none! 
The fact of the matter is simply this: 
the growth and prosperity of Zion is as- 
tonishing the populace; and the innu- 
merable hierling priests, whose hearts 
are more susceptible to the ring of Amer- 
ican coin than to the whisperings of 
American and Christian principle; and 
whose degree of religion varies with the 
size of their salaries. These are they who 
arouse the nation against us and incite 
the masses to cry out in holy horror 
against the Saints; and it is through the 
instrumentality of these professors (not 
possessors) of divinity that such un- 
American and un-Christian resolutions 
are introduced into the halls of Liberty 
and Justice as were recommended in the 
Governor's message to the Mississippi 
legislature recently, and as are now be- 
ing agitated by the lawmakers of South 
Carolina, the purposes of which are to 
withdraw all protection from "Mormon" 
Elders and leave them at the mercy of 
infuriated and beastly mobs, whose das- 
tardly and cowardly deeds are born in a 
"Christian" heart and made illegible by 
corrupt American dignitaries. These are 
they who inspire fear in the heart of the 
government and cruelties against the 
Saints: these are they who inspire 
hatred aeainst the Mormon ' mis- 
sionaries which not infrequently exhib- 
its itself in bands of murderous mobs 
who inflict bodily injuries upon the El- 
ders and who in times past^have stained 
the pure tresses of Liberty with the inno- 
cent blood of Saints. 

After reading the above one» cannot 
help seeing how remarkably the predic- 
tion of the Prophet Joseph Smith has 
been fulfilled. 



Releases and Appointments. 

Releases. 

President Lewis R. Anderson, office. 

J. R. Turroan, North Kentucky Con- 
ference. 

Charles Pettit. North Kentucky Con- 
ference. 

I.. M. Terry, North Kentucky Confer- 
ence. 

C. M. Miller, North Carolina Confer- 
ence. 

S. D. Fullmer, Kentucky Conference. 

C. E. Miller, Kentucky Conference. 

W. W. Osborn, Kentucky Conference. 

Jewel Norton. East Tennessee. 

H. E. Shrives, East Tennessee. 

W .J. Chadwick. East Tennessee. 

J. A. Bigelow, North Alabama. 

Joseph Morgan, North Alabama. 
Transfer. 

C. E. Crowley, from East Tennessee 
to Kentucky Conference. 



AS I AM DYING. 

MRS. ANNA KLY BRENT. 

As I am lying you shall lie: 
As I am dying you shall die. 

Prepare to meet 

Your God on high. 

The world Is wearied now of me; 
The world shall weary, too, of thee; 

And both alike 

Shall cease to be. 

An Idle life Is Satan's ban. 
Remember you were made a man. 

Be up and doing 

While you can. 

Your life by angels shall be read; 
Each act, each word that you have said, 

when you are lying 

Stark and dead. 

Then more than Jewels guard your fame 
That, In heaven, no sin or shame 

Be written up 

Against your name, 



144 



THE SOUTHERN STAB. 



BEPOBT OF MI88ION CONFERENCES FOB WEEK ENDING MABCH 10, 1900. 



PRESIDENT 



David H. Klton „*. 
Heber S. Olaon..,..., 

B. F. Price 

John Peterson 

W.D. Bencher 

T. H. HumphrcVH.. 
Geo. W. Skldmorc , 
J. Urban All ivd., ... 

J. M. Haws 

Sylvester Ixjwc, Jr 

G.M. Porter 

W.W.MacKay„... 

J.N.Miller.„„, 

W.H. Boyle.... 

L. M. Terry„.„„.„ k . 
Geo. E. May cock,,., 



CONFERENCE 



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Virginia * 

Kentucky 

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North Alabama . 

JTIoriiia 

Miri. Ten no* 100 „ 
NnrthCarolina... 
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Louisiana 

South Alabama., 
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Ohio 



PROFANE SWEARING. 



BY ELDER A. N. MACFARLANE. 

It is a very common thing for persons 
who make profession of religious faith, 
and assume all the airs of real Christian? 
to take the name of God in vain in al- 
most every sentence to which they give 
utterance. To such an extent has this 
very unseemly and sinful practice gone 
that in many places women, and even 
boys and girls, in many instances mere 
children, give expression to foul and 
til thy language in a manner truly dis- 
gusting. Judging from what assails the 
ears at every turning, one would think 
that to swear and speak profanity was 
the summit of excellence, sought after 
by a very large portion of the inhabi- 
tants of the world. How distressing to 
everyone who has the least desire in his 
heart to honor God and speak of His 
holy name with reverence, to listen to 
the foui blasphemy and cursing to be 
heard in our streets, in our workshops, 
and in almost every place where num- 
bers of persons are congregated togeth- 
er. This crying evil has taken such a 
hold upon mankind that the ordinary 
business of life seems to be incomplete, 
unless every simple statement is ratified 
with an oath. I do not wish to be mis- 
understood; it is no false squeamishness, 
or hungering after time-honored dogmas 
and pious creeds, that calls forth these 
remarks; the writer puts a very low 
value upon the "form-without-the-pow- 
er" religions of the present day; in fact, 
they never were very attractive to him 
who pens these lines. On the contrary, 
they seemed to him, as they have to 
thousands who have heard and received 
the Gospel in the latter days, utterly 
powerless to induce men and women to 
live in righteousness, and serve the Lord 
from a real love of truth. I have either 
heard, or have somewhere read a story, 
in which a highwayman is said to have 
severely reprimanded those who com- 
posed his band of outlaws, because, on 
one occasion, he overheard them cursing 
and swearing in a dreadful manner. 
"There is no gain," said he, "in swear- 
ing;" men may steal the property of 
others, and in numberless ways enrich 
themselves at the expense of their fel- 
low creatures, and may, because of their 
fellow creatures, and may, because of 
their wealth, command the respect of 
many in the world; but, said he, "there 
is no gain at all in profane swearing/' 
How far the present inhabitants of our 
land would be disposed to take counsel 
from an outlaw may be easily conceived; 
at all events, there is counsel required 
from some quarter, and that speedily, 
or the language of the world will very 
soon be composed of oaths and curses. 
There is no want of concern on the part 
of some of those who deplore the exist- 
ence of this and many other evils. They 
bold up their hands in horror when such 
things are brought before their notice, 
but generally their closing exclamation 
i«: "Oh, well, it is shocking that such 
things should exist in this Christian 
land!" This is not, in the proper sense 
of the word, a Christian land. The in- 



fluence of the Gospel has scarcely yet 
been felt in it. The power of truth has 
but little, if any, hold at all upon people. 
If it had the divine influence of the 
principles of salvation would have made 
themselves visible, not only in a godly 
walk, but in a godly conversation also. 
The Gospel brings blessings instead of 
cursings, and joy instead of sorrow. It 
makes manifest the superiority of its 
power in the many ways in which it 
works reformation in the conduct and 
conversation of those who may have 
been, all their lifetime, subject to bond- 
age. The Savior says, "it is not that 
which goeth into a man that defileth 
him, but that which proceedeth forth 
from him." If so, then there is a long 
list of defilements accumulating against 
a very large class, which will eventually 
be very undesirable, unless a renovating 
process is very soon commenced among 
them. Since the Gospel has been re- 
stored in the present generation, thou- 
sands of men and women too have borne 
testimony to its power to remodel their 
conduct, and also the language made 
use of in their intercourse with each 
other and the world. It is evident from 
the course taken by many professed min- 
isters of religion, that in relation to pro- 
fane swearing they stand much the same 
as they do in the matter of drunkenness, 
and numerons other sins so common in 
this boasted age of enlightenment, and 
Hud themselves entirely lost in their at- 
tempts to check the growing evil; even 
among those who own them as their 
spiritual guides. 

Solomon has said "Train up a child 
in the way he should go, and when he 
is old he will not depart from it." Alas! 
this is found to be almost impossible in 
these days, at least in this so-called 
Christian part of the world. Children 
are. in a great many cases, brought up 
in the way they should not go, and a 
fervent hope expressed by those who 
train them, that at some future time 
they will depart from all their errors. 
In such a state of things, it is a matter 
Of very great concern to faithful Latter- 
day Saints, who have younp children 
growing up around them in this country, 
and who desire to see them growing up 
in the truths of the Gospel. In many 
cases it matters but little how faithful 
parents are in instructing their off- 
spring, as their intercourse with those 
who have been skilfully trained in wick- 
edness has become in some places al- 
most a necessity. In many branches of 
the church, the Saints, though very 
faithful, are also very poor, which ne- 
cessitates the sending of their children 
to work in factories and other places 
where sin in its vilest forms is to be met 
with, and where rulers and ruled are 
alike given over to iniquity. This has 
indeed a baneful effect upon the young 
among the Saints, and requires contin- 
ued watching and instruction, which can 
only be given by such as give due heed 
to the counsels of the Lord through His 
servants. 

In conclusion, let us urge upon the 
brethren and sisters everywhere, the 
great necessity which exists for good 
example as well as good precept on their 



part, so that the wicked practice of the 
Gentiles may not take root in those who 
are designed in after years to take part 
in bearing the responsibilities of the 
great Latter-day work in which we are 
engaged; the truths of which stand so 
much in contrast with the feeble systems 
of our day. God's strange work is roll- 
ing on. Under the inspiration of the 
Lord, the Prophets and leaders of Israel 
are bringing to pass the wonderful 
events connected with the gathering of 
the Saints, which will eventually work 
out deliverance to the faithful among 
them. Let the counsels of the Priest- 
hood be strictly observed, and all will 
be well. Among the far off vales of 
Utah the ways of the Lord are revered; 
there, both the Saints and their children 
will be taught whatever is pleasing in 
the sight of God, while the wicked 
among the Gentiles are ripening for the 
reward of those who delight to do wick- 
edly, and profane the name of the 
mighty God of Jacob.— Millenial Star, 
Vol. 29. 



"Sir," said the Duke of Wellington 
to an officer of engineers, who urged the 
impossibility of executing the directions 
he had received, "I did not ask your 
opinion. I gave you my orders, and I 
expect them to be obeyed." Such should 
be the obedience of every follower of 
Jesus. The words which He has spoken 
are our law, not our judgments or fan- 
cies. Even if death were in the way 
it is— 

"Not oars to reason why— 

Ours but to dare and die." 

—Watch Tower. 



Pacific Unitarian. 

A little boy with an interest in the 
meaning of unfamiliar words said to 
his mother: "What's the meaning of 
♦civil' ?' 

"Kind and polite," answered • th<» 
mother. 

A puzzled look brooded for a second 
on the boy's face. Then he said: "Was 
it a kind and polite war that was in this 
country once? 



Sheldon's Paper. 

Denver Post: It is suggested that in 
giving place to an advertisement of eggs 
in his paper, Mr. Sheldon overlooked the 
fact that they might have been laid on 
the Lord's day by Sabbath-breaking hens. 

Small habits well-pursued betimes, 
May reach the dignity of crimes. 

— Hannah More. 



Persecution is the reward of innova- 
tion, in whatever form it appears. — Dr. 
Macnish. 



Some people gather truth in inch 
lengths, and yet cannot link a chain. 



Do well all you undertake to do, and 
do it better than others if you can. 




*BUT THQUGM WE, OB AN ANGEL FRGW HEAVEN, PPEACH ANY 
pThER GOSPEL UNTO YOU THAN THAT WmCH WE 

HAVE PBEAlttEP UNTO YOLUET HiM &E ACCURALS ^^ /&?<?*( 




Vol. 2. 



Chattanooga, Tenn., Saturday, April 7 > 1900. 



No. 19. 



LIFE'S VOYAGES! 

BY DAVID H. ELTON. 
Tune: "Life's Railway to Heaven." 

Life Is like a mighty ocean, 

We are vessels on the wave. 
If we'd reach the Port In safety, 

We must e'er be true and brave. 
Duty Is the course to follow, 

Righteousness our armor now; 
Faithfulness upon oar banner, 

Virtue written on our prow. 

CHORUS. » 

God will never, never leave us, 

Oh! what love he manifests! 
Tho' the storms of life surround as, 

He will ever guide and bless! 

On this voyage we'll encounter 

Storm and wind and rugged gales, 
Breakers fierce will try our vessel, 

Hurricanes will test our sails. 
But we need not fear the tempest, 

Christ, our Captain, will provide, 
Chart and Compass, Word and Spirit, 

Which will prove a safety guide. 

We shall find as on we Journey, 

Life Is a tempestuous sea: 
It will not be pleasant sailing 

Out upon the rolling lee. 
Tho' the ocean's placid surface 

May betoken, weather fair. 
Look aloft! for sharks are lurking, 

Bend the knee In humble prayer. 

Let us follow duty's pathway. 

Sailing o'er the swelling tide. 
Heed the Compass. Keep this motto: 

Let the Holy Spirit guide. 
And we'll Teach the Blessed Harbor, 

When we cross the billowy main, 
On the shores of bliss and glory, 

We Eternal Life shall gain. 



OUR CONFERENCE PRESIDENTS. 

Elder Geo. W. Skidmore. 

President of the Florida Coherence. 

Elder George W. Skidmore, whose 
picture embellishes the first page of this 
week's Star, was born of humble, indus- 
trious parents at Richmond, Cache coun- 
ty, Utah, Aug. 25, 1877. Although a 
juvenile in years, he is a patriarch in ex- 
perience. Prom the age of 7 to 15 he 
attended the 'public school, only being 
able to be in attendance a few months 
each school year on account of arduous 
labors upon the farm. In early life he 
habituated himself to constant and dili- 
gent study whenever opportunity pre- 
sented itself. When only 15 years of 
age he entered the Brigham Young Col- 
lege at Logan, Utah, for the purpose of 
taking n three-years' normal course. It 
was here that he was fascinated with a 
desire to stand before the public, and was 
also prime mover in the organization of 



the Phoe Polio Lyceum, now a perme- 
nent society at the Brigham Young col- 
lege. His was a class of twenty, all of 
whom were his seniors in years, but he 
was elected president, and valedictorian. 
During the winters of 1896 and 1897 he 
taught school in Coveville, Utah, and the 
two following years at Lewiston, Cache 
county. His school having closed op 
Friday, the Thursday following we find 
him in possession of a call to perform a 
mission unto the Lord. Like the faith- 
ful ones of old, he was ready when the 
Master called, and hastily preparing him- 




ELDER GEORGE W. SKIDMORE, 
President of the Florida Conference. 



self for the appointed work, he left the 
home of his loved ones the first Monday 
after he received his call, journeying to 
Salt Lake City, where he was set apart 
for a mission to the Southern States. 

Arriving at Chattanooga, he was as- 
signed to labor in the Florida conference. 
Having reached the field of his labor, in 
company with Elder A. B. Snowball, he 
preceeded to work the city of Kissimmee, 
but in less than thwenty-four hours they 
were mobbed out of town. "Wejl oegun is 



half done;" he began well, and al- 
though forced to leave, nothing 
daunted, he returned nine months 
later and performed the other half 
—the mob still threatening all 
sorts of uncomfortable treatment. This 
is not the only mob our brother has en- 
countered since laboring in the van of 
truth, but many times has he been ac- 
costed by these blood-thirsty law-break- 
ers. One instance, wherein the arm of 
God was manifest in his behalf, and a 
prophecy he uttered literally fulfilled we 
will relate. The particular occasion wo 
have reference to is this: 

Elder Kartchner and the subject of our 
sketch were laboring in Bainbridge, Ga., 
when an organized band of bigoted mob- 
ocrats forced them to leave the city with- 
in four hours. The elders were compelled 
to obey this inhuman, ungodly decree, but 
in leaving they declared that the judg- 
ments of God would follow such uncalled 
for injustice. While these black-hearted 
pieces of inhumanity were engaged in 
their diabolical schemes, the destroying 
element of fire visited their city and 
burned down the major portion of their 
business stores. Thus, the judgments of 
God followed in swift order, the wicked 
acts of these breakers of law, justice and 
fairness. 

Elder Skidmore was called to preside 
over the Florida Conference on Feb. 12. 
1900, when his predecessor. President 
Parker, was honorably released to re- 
turn to the bosom of his family. Elder 
Skidmore has labored in almost every 
phase of missionary life; having been 
first as well as second counsellor to the 
noble man whom he succeeded. Under the 
supervision of this youthful servant of 
our Lord, we feel assured that the work 
in Florida will maintain its high stand- 
ard! and will grow, spread, and increase. 



History of the Southern States Mission. 

(Continued From Page 138.) 
MAY. 189(5. 

During this month President Kimball 
sent forth many valuable instructions to 
the Elders, which tended to place the 
mission on a higher plane of progression. 
The Southern States Mission has always 
been a progressive one. The several 
Presidents have continued to inject into 
its operations changes justly calculated 
to keep apace with moving conditions, 
hence its rapid progress. On this 



146 



THE SOUTHERN STAB. 



point we will note a few important in- 
structions given to the Elders by Presi- 
dent Kimball. It will perhaps be noticed 
that in some of the instructions there is 
nothing new, yet the Elders have not be- 
fore grasped the grandeur of them, and 
beheld the beauty thereof to such an ex- 
tent. The custom heretofore existing of 
Elders discontinuing their regular labors 
during July and August and spending 
the time among the Saints and friends, 
in teaching them their duties was dis- 
continued. Meteoric Elders were ap- 
pointed, whose duty it was to travel in 
closed counties, from settlement to settle- 
ment, village to village, and from city to 
city. They were to continue the warning 
cry and make strenuous efforts on the 
right hand and on the left, to teach the 
people righteousness. The Elders were 
instructed to preach the first principles 
of the gospel and not give strong meat to 
those who need milk. They we counseled 
to guard jealously the feelings of the 
people and strive to bring them to a 
unity, rather than sow seeds of discord 
in their midst. As Elders are always on 
the go, they have no need of permanent 
headquarters, and should "pitch tents'* 
where night overtakes and "pull stakes'* 
on the morrow. Elders are restrained 
from debating with men. The gospel 
must not be used as an incubator of bad 
feelings and strife; instead we should 
meet the people with our "heart full of 
charity" and never tire in explaining to 
them the gospel truths. The strong El- 
der is to take the weak, that both may 
become strong. Like the apostles of old, 
they are to take those holding the lesser 
priesthood and send them out to make 
appointments and prepare the way for 
the spreading of the Gospel. In traveling 
among the people "let no man among yon 
from this hour take purse or script, that 
s:oeth forth to proclaim the gospel of the 
Kingdom. Thia commandment is unto all 
the faithful who are called of God unto 
the ministry." The Elders should de- 
pend upon the Lord for all things. In 
their council meetings during this season 
the Elders were taught the grandeur of 
the plans suggested. They were urged to 
stand invincibly for the same, carrying 
them out in the minutest detail, being 
assured as a result of such obedieneo 
of health, power and success. On the 
above platform, in the main, work was 
begun in the vear 1890. It was ex- 
tremely gratifying to note the beneficial 
results characterizing the labors of those 
who were obedient. Manv were the testi- 
monies sent in by the Elders reporting 
how well the Lord had favored them. 
They heal the sick through their admin- 
istrations. In going among the people 
some are given money, others have them 
as honored guests. The poor and ignorant 
were not the only listeners, quite the re- 
verse, for many learned and broad-minded 
people were seeing the beauties of what 
the world calls "Mormonism." It will 
continue to go on, and the campaign of 
truth will continue until in disgrace error 
shall have passed into oblivion. 
(To Be Continued.) 



Knowledge and Wisdom. 

Knowledge and wisdom, far from being one. 
Have oft times no connection. Knowledge 

dwells 
In heads replete with thoughts of other 

men: 
Wisdom In minds attentive to their own. 
Knowledge— a rude, unprofitable mass. 
The mere materials with which Wisdom 

builds. 
Till smoothed, and squared, and fitted to 

Its place- 
Does but enenmber whom it seems to eu- 

rlo*. 
Knowledge is proud that he has learned so 

much; 
Wisdom Is humble that he knows no more. 

— Cowper. 



GLEANINGS. 

Some residents of Pink Hill, Lenoir 
county, N. C., had years ago built a 
church known as the Advent Chapel. 
They made a deed stating that all de- 
nominations except the 1 " Catholic and 
colored people could use the same when 
it was not occupied by the Adventists. 
We asked for the privilege of holding 
meeting there on Sunday night, March 
11th, 1900. We were granted the priv- 
ilege we desired and walked thirteen 
miles on Sunday and held three 
fine meetings prior to the meeting 
appointed in the chapel. The Ad- 
ventists had the night before held 
meeting in which the speaker, Mr. 
Cherry, had dwelt upon the beau- 
ties of Christianity, and exhorted the 
people to love and obey the command- 
ments of Jesus; to always be charitable 
to all, and to love their enemies. After 
we had filled the lamps in the church 
house and were waiting for the audi- 
ence, Mr. Cherry and the Justice of the 
Peace arrived, informing us that if we 
held mfceting in the church we would be 
arrested for trespass. We questioned 
them upon the item in the contract, and 
they stated emphatically that the deed 
stated no Mormons should preach in the 
chapel; that Catholics and colored peo- 
ple were not barred. We then wanted 
to know why the Mormons were not al- 
lowed to have the same privilege given 
other denominations. After some con- 
versation, in which the gentlemen belied 
themselves several times, we decided it 
would not do to go on with our meeting 
in the church. A large crowd had gath- 
ered, so we announced from the chapel 
steps that we would hold meeting in 
Pink Hill that night if we had to hold 
it upon the street. We shook hands 
with Mr. Cherry and the Judge, thank- 
ing them for all they had done, and 
asked the Lord to bless them. A gen- 
tleman offered the use of his house and 
we were followed by nearly all the peo- 
ple. The house and the yard were 
crowded with people. We opened our 
meeting, which was a grand success. 
The subject of Revelation was treated 
upon from the text, Where there is no 
vision the people perish. (Prov. 29-18.) 
A comparison was drawn between the 
cold, barren, frigid zone of sectarianism, 
with their dead works, man-made sys- 
tems, and heresies and God's beautiful 
Gospel system of revelation. The people 
seemed to be much interested. The 
Christian gentleman said before some 
people, who informed me that if he 
could get ten or twelve men he would 
take the Mormons down to the pond 
and leave them there. Thus we see that 
"God moves in a mysterious way His 
wonders to perform." Had we preached 
in the church we would not had half 
the audience which we did. The work 
of the Elders in North Carolina is being 
felt by the teachers and worshipers of 
Mammon, and the people are beginning 
to think for themselves. 

JOHN BAILEY. 

R. A. PALMER. 



One bright, sunny afternoon two Elders 
were canvassing in one of the rural dis- 
tricts of Georgia. As they approached 
the house of one residenter they observed 
the gentleman standing in the door, who 
eyed them closely. Deciding that the 
visitors were Mormon Elders, he ex- 
claimed "you scoundrels, get out of here/' 
and so saying he leaped into the house as 
if in a hurry to procure a gun for their 
benefit. At this the Elders turned to go 
and were but a few steps in retreat when 
they caught the sham accented command : 
'catch 'em, sir, catch 'em!" Upon look- 



ing for the meaning of these unexpected 
imperatives, they discovered the man of 
the place with a huge masculine dog, 
which had just been released from his 
chains for the occasion. "Catch 'em, sir, 
catch 'em !" he demanded again, uut with- 
out obedience from the hound. 

By this time his wife appeared on the 
scene beside him and she, too, endeavored 
to persuade the beast lo execute their 
wish, but was met with a cold indifference 
from the dog. 

Impatient with this impudent disobe- 
dience the man seized the hound by the 
collar, while his wife unmercifully applied 
a barrel stave to the charitable animal's 
back. At every blow the poor creature 
groaned with pain and writhed in agony. 

"Now, catch 'em, sir," they demanded, 
as they turned the creature loose, but 
the dog dropped his tail and sided up 
to his master, as if to beg for mercy, both 
for himself and for his prey, which his 
massive strength could have conquered 
with ease. 

By this time the Elders were well on 
their way, but could still hear the echoes 
of the club on the animal's back, and its 
criea and groans. 

As the Elders passed along one broke 
the spell of silence by saying, "that family 
surely has had unequal training, for their 
dog really has more religion than the 
man and his wife." 

"Quite true." responded the other, "and 
it is not of the contribution box brand, 
either." 

They laughed and went on. 



A Stumbling Block. 

Thqee in the least acquainted with the 
religious world of today may often ask 
themselves whence so many lords, faiths, 
and baptisms: when Jesuss through His 
apostles, taught one Lord, one faith, one 
baptism? In the gospel according to St. 
John 14, 15 and 16th chapters, Jesus 
told His diciples that He would pray the 
Father and he would send to them a 
comforter, which the world could not re- 
ceive and which would lead them into all 
truth and bring all things to their re- 
membrance whatsoever He had said unto 
them. Surely all the different churches 
are not taught by this comforter, which 
Jesus spoke of, or else its mission has 
greatly changed : but stop, let us inquire 
as to the way of receiving this comforter. 
Jesus and His apostles taught that the 
Holy Ghost came, after baptism, by the 
imposition of hands by one holding the 
Melchisedec Priesthood. 

Since the time of Jesus and His 
apostles, nmn has created a holy ghost 
of his own. In place of being called of 
Cod as was Aaron, by phophecy and rev- 
elation, and trusting in the noly Ghost 
to lead and guide, he has created schools 
where he. must be taught God's word, 
according to the wisdom of man. which 
Paul teaches is foolishness with God. 
After a course iu one of these schools 
the candidate is sent or called by a 
church, God being left out, to preach 
Cod's word, if perchance the church can 
pay him enough. 

When asked by others, to use their 
meeting house these modern teachers of 
Jesus will likely tell you there is some 
disunion in the church now and if you 
preach it would cause more. 

Jesus says upon the rock of revelation 
will I build my church and the gates 
of hell shall not prevail against it. 
These modern divines say, by actions, 
our church is built upon the sands of 
man-made doctrine and priestcraft, and 
when we see the floods and storms 
of truth and righteousness sent by the 
Mormon Elders, we are fearful least our 



THE SOUTHERN STAB. 



147 



salary shall be lowered and we will be 
compelled to seek employment elsewhere. 
Oh, blush for shame, modern Christian- 
ity, how dare you blaspheme God's holy 
name by saying He teaches all the ha- 
tred and strife and different opinions even 
in the same church, when He says He is 
the author of peace, love, joy, meekness, 
gentleness? JOHN H. BANKHEAD. 



Elder Don G. Benson has been chosen 
to preside over the North Kentucky con- 
ference to succeed President L. M. Terry, 
honorably released. 

President John Peterson and Elder 
Wm. H. Jensen, of the East Tennessee 
Conference, spent Friday, the 30th ult., 
in Chattanooga en route to their homes 
in Zion. Elder E. L. Pomeroy has been 
appointed to succeed Elder Peterson, 
and we expect to see this Conference 
continue well in the lead under his lead- 
ership. 



Christ and the Earth— An Allegory. 

BY O. F. WHITNEY. 



The world lay wrapt in Death's em- 
brace. The tale of the Tempter had 
triumphed, and the pinions of his power 
now fettered the fair limbs of God's 
beauteous creation. Earth, a virgin, be- 
guiled, ensnared in sin, shrank shudder- 
ing from the touch of her would-be vio- 
later and destroyer. 

Hark! a cry for help. The captive 
strives to free herself from the fell 
clasp of the foe. Summoning nil her 
powers, she springs erect, and, grasping 
her chain, essays to rend it asunder. It 
will not yield. The links are firm, the 
staple strong. Madly she tugs and toils. 
In vain, alas! in vain. Baffled, bruised 
and breathless, she sinks exhausted, and 
the arms of the monster Sin once more- 
enfold her. His hot breath blisters her 
cheek, his cruel fingers clutch her throat, 
his fierce eyes flame with passion. Again 
and again she struggles, exerting all her 
strength to repel the foul polluter. Alas! 
bis strength is stronger, his grasp a 
grasp of iron; he holds her writhing 
form as in a vise, gloating over her de- 
spair, exulting in her misery, and laugh- 
ing to scorn her fruitless efforts to be 
free. Vainly she weeps and pleads and 
prays. No mercy melts that icy heart, 
no pity beams from out that baleful eye. 
She is lost, she is lost! For who can 
save her now? . Oh, that a virgin should 
be defiled! Oh, that she should be 
dragged into deeper depths of shame 
than those in which her wayward will 
and youthful folly have plunged her! 

II. 

A cry for help was heard in heaven. 
The incense of tears, the perfume of 
prayers came up before the great White 
Throne, and the heart of Him that sit- 
teth thereon — the mighty heart of tho 
throbbing universe was touched with 
compassion. "Go down, my Son, and 
rescue Earth; strike off her fetters, van- 
quish her foes, and bring her back, thy 
bride, to reign in glory. The decree of 
her banishment we revoke. She hath 
suffered double for all her sins. Go, 
bring her hither, that we may place upon 
her brow the seal of pardon, a diadem of 
power." So spake the Eternal Father. 

Obedient to the royal mandate, the 
Son departed from His Father's house. 
Yet went He not in glory, with courtly 
train or blazing equipage; nor as warrior 
girt for battle. No chariot he rode, no 
charger mounted. No shining armor en- 
cased Him. Nor sword, nor spear, nor 
shield He bore. For this He reasoned 
w : sely: "My mission is of love, my 
errand one of mercy. I go my bride to 



woo. She shall love me for myself, and 
not for wealth or station. Doffing His 
celestial crown, sparkling with jewels of 
souls erst redeemed; laying aside His 
golden scepter, and exchanging kingly 
robe for pilgrim gown, the Prince of 
Peace bade heaven farewell, and soli- 
tary and alone descended the stairway 
of the stars. 

HI. 

A sound of falling shac&les in the dun- 
geons of despair! The clash of bursting 
gates, the roar of crumbling ramparts, 
the shout, the song of joy, the trumpet- 
peal and thunder — march of victory. 
Earth! thy hour is come. Deliverance 
is here. Hell's battlements are shaking. 
Her walls go down. The standard of 
Liberty floats triumphant above her 
ruined strongholds! But ah! there looms 
another sight. A cross, a crown of 
thorns, a mantle, olood-stained, torn and 
trampled. What mean these emblems — 
these ghastly signs of suffering? Was 
this thy greeting, Earth, for Him, thy 
great Deliverer? For this came He to 
woo thee, to rescue and redeem thee, to 
exalt thee in glory above the stars of 
God? Is it thus a bride doth meet her 
lord? A voice from the depths gave 
answer: "Not mine, not mine the 
blame. I knew thee Lord, and wel- 
comed thee; but Sin and Satan laid thee 
low. In the hour of my deliverance thou 
wert slain. Woe. woe is me, a widow — 
a widow ere a bride! Where art th*>u 
gone, my Lover? My God, my God, 
why hast thou forsaken me?" 

Far through the night a solemn Voice 
fell echoing: "I go to prepare a place 
for thee, that where I am, there thou 
nrayest be also. Fear not, O, Earth! 
I have broken the bands which bound 
thee. Thy foes no more shall ensnare 
thee. The midnight hour is past. The 
morning breaks in glory. My bride thou 
art and shalt be. For, lo! I come again 
to claim thee!" 



POWER OF EXAMPLE 

BY W. W. TAYLOR. 

How easy it is to talk. To quote 
Brother Millen Atwood's favorite 
phrase: "Talking is the easiest part of 
our religion,*' or. in other words, to tell 
others how they should perform their 
duties. Yet with all the advice that is 
given, how much of it is practically ap- 
plied? 

There seems to be a natural desire in 
man at least to be considered good, and 
to have the reputation of exercising a 
good influence over others, and whether 
this is the cause for it or not, a dispo- 
sition to teach or advise others very 
generally exists. How naturally the 
question arises: "Does he practice what 
he preaches?" and what a difference in 
the effects of his teaching does the an- 
swer have. The Elders in going abroad 
to preach to the nations of the earth, 
told the people that God had restored 
the Gospel. What effect would their 
teachings have had, if they had gone 
forth and said: This is only an expe- 
riment with us. We think that if a 
people sufficiently large could be con- 
gregated and they would embrace such 
and such principles, certain results 
might follow. But this was not the 
message they bore. They said: "We 
have obeyed the principles that we 
teach, and we know that they are of 
great value to mankind, because they 
have benefited us, and for the sake of 
offering these principles to thost* who 
were unacquainted with them, we were 
willing to leave home and friends that 
all who desire it may enjoy the same 
blessings that we have enjoyed through 



our obedience. And though in so do- 
ing, we may be regarded by the major- 
ity of the people as impostors and false 
teachers, that does not weaken our tes- 
timony in our own estimation, for we 
have obeyed the doctrines we teach, and 
know whereof we speak." What a 
weight such testimonies, coupled with 
spiritual and reasonable requirements, 
would have with the honest in heart, 
and how much it would be appreciated 
by such, compared with the cant and 
hypocrisy and uncertainty of the doc- 
trines taught in the world! As members 
we frequently hear it repeated that by 
seeking the Lord in humility, we can ob- 
tain the same testimonies, that our par- 
ents have taken so much pleasure in 
bearing that we quite often hear the 
same instructions given by the young 
themselves to each other, in their meet- 
ings for mutual instruction; which is all 
right when such instructions are given 
in a proper way and under proper in- 
fluence. But may we not ask the same 
question of the young as we would of 
those of maturer years: "Are you 
teaching from experience, and if so, 
how do the principles that you teach 
affect your own life?" 

If a young man, urging his compan- 
ions to seek the Lord, with a view of 
obtaining testimonies of the truth, and 
a knowledge of the Fathers' will con- 
cerning him, can say: "I took the 
course I recommended to you, and I 
enjoy the results that are promised," his 
words would have more effect than 
those of another person, young or old, 
who simply taught what they had heard 
some one else say, but had never real- 
ized themselves. As an illustration: 
There are certain blessings promised 
through observing a revelation called 
"The Word of Wisdom." A young man 
being desirous of obtaining the bless- 
ings promised through obedience to the 
counsel therein contained, follows the 
instruction given and finds that the 
promised results follow, and are of great 
benefit to him. He feels a desire to im- 
press the truth of the principle upon oth- 
ers. What can be more forcible than 
such teaching? Where the results of 
the course indicated are shown in the 
life and conduct of the teacher; giving 
evidence that he does not talk for the 
sake of being heard, but because he 
wishes others to enjoy the same bless- 
ings that have attended his own obedi- 
ence. If such qualifications are neces- 
sary to those who teach the young peo- 
ple of God, is it not as essential that 
they should seek to qualify themselves, 
on the same principle, to teach the Gos- 
pel to the nations of the earth? Be* 
cause we have been benefited through 
our obedience to principles that the 
world does not understand. 



The New Philippines. 

The Philippines is now a familiar 
name in American ears, but few know 
that the title of the "New Philippines" 
was once attached to a large area of 
American soil. 

The first settlement in what is now 
Texas, says the Indianapolis Journal, 
was made by French emigrants in 1685. 
During the next twenty-five years there 
was an intermittent struggle between 
the French and Spanish for supremacy, 
resulting in favor of the latter, and in 
1814 the name of the "New Philippines" 
was given to the country. 

This was its official name in Spanish 
records for many years, and until the 
name Texas, from a tribe of Indians, 
gradually came into vogue. 



148 



THH SOUTHERN STAR. 




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Address Box 10? 



Saturday, April 7, 1900. 



ARTICLES OF FAITH 

OP THE CHURCH OP JESUS CHRIST OP 
LATTER-DAY SAINTS. 

1. Wt bill*?* Id U*d Ih* Enroll FitW, »nd ia Hit See 
Jmui i t, nit, » a4 In lb» Holy Ghon, 

I. W« ballEvt lbfl[ m#n villi t* paatibad for their ova 
uni r Bad flOt for Adani"* IrmntErrMiQB- 

1. Wa tx']i*T 4 that, through tbo atonement of Ohrkt, all 
aunfciad my bi uvld r t>j &b*diaue» '• th * l**t *ad ordJ- 
Q1POH of tie Gn*pel. 

4. Wb bailor* ih*t tflf tint priaelpfe* ■ml ordiaaaotaof 
<h* GoapeJ ire : Vint, Faith in ih* Lord J«di Christ; tacoad, 
fUptataara; third, Efrplf am br lm^eriLon f»r the raminioa 
of fiat; fourth Ujin[ dd pf ilandi for Lh« Gi!(. i*f the Holj 

Ih, Wt beli«fa tb.it ft man mail h* eitlad of God, by 
111 prophecy, and hj the )»yla£ on o-f bibdfc," bj' I bote who are 
Id aathont/, to preacb Itat fetpt) tad tdminitltr it the ordi- 



4. W* btlLfriB jjj tht •arm organization that axftted la 
tha primiiJva church— nimrlj, Apaallea, Prophett, Patlora, 
Trtchfrt, E * * Pi ar^l I it*, *!*, 

7. W* believe in. the gift of tongue*, prapbtf^ravalatioe, 
Tltioot* I'ttllaj. lattrprsUUon ftf EOQ«u**, tie. 

5. \Vn believe the Bible ^ L* tbc word of < 1 >it t ttftrtttl 
If trtnillLrd Correctly; Vi alio betievi the Book of MonBO* 
to ha the word of (Jod, 

ft. Wt btlleTt til thtt Gfld bfti re«e*led. ill that Ht ctbtt 
hot tui e*J h and we heUiTe thtt Me will ?tt r*»et I naaj great 
tnd Important thingi pertaining to (be Kingdom of OodT 

to. W e bal is to i a tea lSt*r*l am thtrlfif of Untt and in the 
ttatontlaa Of the Ted Tribal j that ZEoa will be built apOB 
tljii ( the Am^rsiinj f-julinftit ; thtt ChttitwNI roign ptrtOQ- 
ft II j upon the earth, and that the Birth will be reatwad and 
teeaJT*. iu para<1iti*»[ gtonr. 

11. Wt claim [ha privLiep qf vonfcipjiif A'aifhtjGod 
ercordioj To the dictate* of mat- conscience, and allow all 
men the Mme privilege, ]«t iham wonhipb&w, wh«ra,or what 

11 Wa ballara in baing •object to kloga, prtddaato. ralan, 
and nafjttratat ; in obayiag, honoring and lostaining the law. 

18. • Wa baliava in baing hontat, trua, ehatta, beatTolant, 
rirtaoaa. and ia doing good to all aiaa; indaad, wa may taj 
that wa follow the admonition of Paul, * Wa beliera all thing*, 
wa hope all things," wa hava endured many thiagt, aad hope 
tsbeablatoeBdaraallthiage. If there it anything Tirtaooa, 
feraly, or ofcood report or prtitawonhy, wa taak after taeaa 
•«ia»-JOSBPB 3M1TH. 



We realize that there are a number of 
people receiving Stars complimentary 
from Elders who have labored or who are 
now laboring in this mission. We wish 
to speak a word here to those who are 
now. receiving The Star complimentary 
from Elders who have labored in this 
mission and have been released from their 
duties here. To these we wish to say : 
If your complimentary subscription has 
expired (this is shown in connection with 
your address on each paper you receive), 
or as soon as it does expire, please notify 
to discontinue your paper, unless you de- 
sire to renew the subscription ; in this 
case please renew as soon after the ex- 
piration as possible, as it will avoid cut- 
ting your name from our list and replac- 
ing it. 

Never be afraid of doing little because 
you cannot do too much. 



the: sabbath day. 



There is much controversy going on in 
the Christian world regarding the Sab- 
bath, or the day set apart and sanctified 
for hallowed worship and devotion to 
God. It will not be the purpose of this 
article to endeavor to elucidate the sub- 
ject from a Scriptural basis, or prove the 
day appointed, but merely to answer 
a few of the arguments invariably used 
by ad\ocate8 of Seventh Day worship, 
and explain the necessity of a strict ob- 
servance of the Sabbath day. While the 
Latter-day Saints believe, with the ma- 
jority of Christendom, that the first day 
of the week, according to our present 
calculation of time, is the day appoint- 
ed of God in the heavens for devotional 
ceremonies; still we would have it un- 
derstood and known by all, that we are 
not simply imitators in this particular; 
we do not worship on this first day be- 
cause others do, but we rely solely upon 
the revealed word of God given in these 
Latter Days for our guidance and gov- 
ernment in this regard. 

If there is one passage of Scripture 
used more than any other by those who 
believe that the Seventh Day, or Jew- 
ish Sabbath, is today in vogue, and en- 
joined upon us of the Lord, it is the one 
found in Matt. 24:20, where Jesus says, 
"But pray ye that your flight be not in 
the winter, neither on the Sabbath day." 
"Now then," says our friends who be- 
lieve in the Seventh Day worsnip, "the 
destruction of Jerusalem was accom- 
plished by the Romans in A. D. 70; and 
the Sabbath, therefore, was certainly 
commanded by Christ as late as that 
period." Let us see, for we can find 
nothing in the above declaration, or the 
circumstances connected therewith, to 
warrant such a conclusion. Why did 
Jesus warn His disciples? Was it not 
because He desired them to escape from 
the clutches of the bloodthirsty Roman 
soldiery, and thus save themselves from 
the bitter seige which awaited those 
who would be found within the walls of 
the city when the army should encircle 
it round about? Yes! Well, then, by 
saving themselves from the cruel foe, 
would they not be doing the will of God 
through Jesus Christ our Lord? We re- 
ply that they certainly would. Was it 
not a good thing for them "to flee to the 
mountain" in order that their lives may 
be spared to carry on the work of God, 
and preach His everlasting word? You 
all agree. Then why not do so on the 
Sabbath day, as well as any other, for 
the Lord said it was lawful to do good 
on the Sabbath day (Mark 2:2). Let us 
reason just a little farther: Christ, with 
His prophetic eye of inspiration, could 
see, looking down the stream of time, 
that the Jews would continue to keep 
the seventh day holy according to the 
law of Moses, which law inflicted a pen- 
alty of death upon those who performed 
manual labor upon that day. Here is 
what the Scripture sayeth: "Six days 
shall work be done, but on the seventh 
day there shall be to you an holy day, 
a Sabbath of rest to the Lord; whoso- 
ever doeth work therein shall be put to 
death." (Exodus 35:2.) From this we 
can readily see that, in the advent of the 
Apostles* preparation for flight to the 
mountains on the .lewish Sabbath day, 
the Jews would lay hold upon them, 
cast them into the prison cell, and in 
all probabilities cause them to be put to 
death: thus the purpose of Christ's 
warning would have been thwarted, of 
no effect, and they may just as well die 
by the edge of the Roman sword as be 
killed by their own countrymen for 
breaking (?) the Sabbath day. For this 



cause, in order that they might make 
good their escape, Jesus told them to 
"pray that their flight be not on the 
Sabbath day;" not because He had any 
particular regard or sacred reverence 
for the Jewish Sabbath, but because He 
desired His followers to be delivered 
from the tierce persecution and ignomin- 
ious deaths which He verily knew would 
befall the wicked and ungodly Jews. 
Having gone thus far in our disserta- 
tion of this phase of the subject, let us 
now turn our minds and attention to the 
necessity of being strict observers of 
this Holy Day— not in word or letter, 
but in the spirit and hope of pleasing 
our God, from whom all blessings flow. 
There seems to be a growing tendency 
among many to disregard the Sabbath 
day, and to change it from a day of rest 
and communion to a day of recreation 
and jollification. This should not be, 
for it is displeasing to 1 God, and con- 
trary to His will and word. The Sab- 
bath should be to us a day of rest, 
wherein we worship God in spirit and in 
truth. We should seek for the commu- 
nion of His Holy Spirit, which leads 
and guides into all truth, that we may 
pay our devotions as is pleasing and 
acceptable in His sight. It should be 
the desire of God's children to keep sa- 
cred and holy this blessed Sabbath day, 
and thereby show their gratefulness to 
our Father, for His goodness, love, 
mercy and kindness. We cannot show 
to God our deep love, joyful apprecia- 
tion, and sacred regard, for the glorious 
light of the Gospel, the beautiful, sim- 
ple principles of righteousness, in a 
more pleasing manner than by keeping 
holy and sacred this appointed day for 
hallowed worship. The Lord requires 
of us; whether upon the streets, in the 
worshiping assembly, or within the sa- 
cred folds of the home circle, to study 
His word, to let our thoughts reach out 
after the inspiration of His Holy Spirit, 
our minds to be guided in the channels 
of religious thought, that we may store 
our intellectual faculties with a knowl- 
edge of His purposes, as shown in the 
sacred things which have come to us. 
Let us do as God has commanded, "Keep 
the Sabbath day holy," for it is abso- 
lutely essential to the well-being and 
exaltation of bur souls. As we disregard 
this holy day, infidelity will increase 
in a geometrical ratio, and every other 
evil work; revere and respect this sacred 
day; do not make it a dny of pleasure, 
but, on the contrary, a day of worship, 
of reverence, and love for the Supreme 
Being, remembering that, 

A Sabbath well spent 

Brings a week of content; 

And joy for the tolls of the morrow; 

But a Sabbath profane, 

Whatsomever may be gained, 

Is a certain forerunner of sorrow. 



"Ye Elders of Israel :" God has blessed 
us with His Holy Spirit, and by its di- 
vine aid we can be led into paths of right- 
eousness, peace, happiness and Truth. 
Let us do all we can to help and assist 
each other, and never allow the green- 
eyed monster — Jealousy — to creep in 
amongst us. We must needs be watchful, 
prayerful, sincere, humble, and faithful 
in all things. We have a great and glo- 
rious work to accomplish, and in the per- 
formance of this bounden duty we shall 
find that the evil one, even Lucifer, will 
stir up the sons of men to oppose, per- 
secute, and revile us in this grand and 
praiseworthy work. We must fast often 
and humble ourselves before God that we 
might receive of that Holy Spirit, which 
is a comforter in every deed. We shall 
find many obstacles to surmount, trials to 



THE SOUTHERN STAR. 



149 



endure, difficulties to encounter, and trib- 
ulations to overcome. If we would suc- 
cessfully meet and triumph over these, 
then we must train our minds, our 
thoughts, and our intellects in the chan- 
nel of divine Truth, drawing nigh unto 
God that He may draw nigh unto us to 
comfort, bless and protect us at all times. 
Let us keep our covenants sacred ; be 
true to all our promises, and at all times 
work for the glory and honor of God, the 
spread of truth, and the advancement of 
righteousness. 



All persons wishing their papers 
stopped should notify us as soon as their 
subscription expires; being particular to 
give their addresses, as well as their 
names. We expect all subscribers to 
remit for back subscription when they 
continue to take our paper from the of- 
fice nfter the date of their expiration. 



Abstracts from Correspondence. 

Goldsboro, N. C, March 27, 1900. 
Editor Southern Star: 

Dear Brother: —We do not desire you 
nor the readers of your valuable paper 
to think that the Conference in North 
Carolina is either dead or dying, al- 
though but little is seen in The Star con- 
cerning it. We are happy to say we 
stili live and enjoy the spirit of our mis- 
sion, as is proven by our weekly report 
as published by you. 

There has been between forty and for- 
ty-five Elders loboring here during the 
winter. The most of these are only very 
young men, ranging from 18 to $0 years 
of age. They are all striving to "let no 
man despise their youth," as Paul ex- 
horted Timothy to do. 

Some of thorn are laboring in the cities 
of Raleigh, Wilmington and Goldsboro, 
where our headquarters are maintained. 
The others are laboring mostly in the 
eastern counties. They preach wherever 
opportunity presents itself, very often 
receiving the free use of school house*, 
and sometimes churches are opened; yet 
bigotry and prejudice often close, both 
public and private houses against them. 

We find that those who pose as pioup 
Christians and wear a sanctimonious face 
dressed in ministerial garb are 'generally 
the direct cause of this narrowness. 

"Morinonism" is often the text even in 
sanctified pulpits, and handled without 
gloves, as the saying is, without regard 
to truth or decency. 

Many signs follow the administrations 
of our Elders, and if they were all col- 
lected and recorded in one article, many 
a so-called Christian would "stare." We 
expect a good harvest as soon as warm 
weather is well under way. 

No preaching has as yet been done in 
Goldsboro, only against us, but we live 
in hopes of yet raising our gentle voices 
here in defense of a much maligned and 
falsified cause, declaring both long and 
loud that God has again spoken from 
heaven and that the Latter-day King- 
dom has been established here upon the 
earth. That Joseph Smith was a proph- 
et. That the Book of Mormon is true, 
and we ask all readers of The Star to 
use their faith and prayers to that end. 

We have many good, fair-minded 
friends in this city and do a little preach- 
ing on the outskirts of town. 
Your brthren in the cause, 

JOHN M. HAWS, 
JOS. P. BISCHOFF, 
ROBT. L. HOUTZ. 



Witt's Foundry, Tenn. 
Editor Southern Star: 

Please allow me a little space in the 
noble Star for me to express my thoughts 
toward the Latter-day Saints. I began 
to read some of their literature some 
time ago, and in October, 1897, my moth- 
er and myself were baptized. From that 



hour I have felt the peaceful influence 
of the Spirit of God upon me, and I 
know of a surety the Latter-day Saints 
is the church of God. Of course we are 
persecuted, but that shows we are the 
children of the Heavenly Father, and if 
we will live Godly in Christ Jesus we 
will enter into His kingdom. I am try- 
ing to live up to my duties and I wish 
all the people could see the plan of sal- 
vation, whereby we trod, as I do. Al- 
though we are unjustly persecuted, I can 
endure it with faith, hope and charity, 
knowing that the gospel as taught by our 
Church is true, and if I endure to the 
end 1 will be saved. 

SARAH H. WESTON. 



Ridgeville, S. C. 
Editor Southern Star: 

Dear Brother:— We read in The Star 
of many wonderful works that have been 
wrought through the power of Almighty 
God here on earth in these the "Last 
Days." They are interesting and edify- 
ing to all readers and tend to strengthen 
the testimony of the scattered sheep 
throughout this mission. I have been an 
eye witness to a great many things per- 
taining to the work in which we are en- 
gaged, and to the manifestations of the 
Spirit, and desire that one or two of 
them should be made known. There are 
two cases of healing that are so bright 
on my mind, being performed through 
the power of God by the laying on of 
hands. A non-Mormon named Mrs. Ann 
.Jones, of Cherokee county, South Caro- 
lina, sent for Elder Jus. A. Smith and 
myself by night. We went at once, find- 
ing her very sick with fever and pains 
in the side. We asked what we could do 
for her. She said: *'I believe that you 
are the servants of God, and that if you 
will prav for me your prayers will be 
answered." We prayed over her, anoint- 
ing with oil, and rebuked the disease by 
the power of the Priesthood, which we 
held. I promised her 'in the name of 
Israel's God that she should be made, 
well from that very moment. She had 
been sick for seven weeks, the doctor 
having failed to cure her. Our prayers 
were answered, she fell asleep, arising 
the next morning and took up ner work, 
so long laid by. 

She no longer believes that we, the 
Elders of Israel, are the servants of God, 
but says, "1 know." 

My companion, Lorenzo E. Hoskins, 
of West Portage, Utah, was stricken 
last week with what I supposed was in- 
flammatory rheumatism. Saturday night 
the pains were almost unbearable, and 
he began to swell up. The pains were 
over his heart and it was almost impos- 
sible for him to breathe. We all won- 
dered what to do. I went out and al- 
most heard the words, "O ye of little 
faith." I felt this rebuke very strongly, 
and told Elder Hoskins that I would 
anoint the swollen places with oil. He. 
said it was his desire, so I did so at 
once, and then laying my hands on his 
head, commanded the disease, in the 
name of Jesus Christ, to depart. Elder 
Hoskins arose in the morning, feeling 
most like a new man. The folks won- 
dered what it was that helped him. We 
told them that the Priesthood of God 
was here on earth and that many won- 
derful works were done through faith. 
Your brother, 
GEO. L. MORTENSON. 



Perry County, Miss. 
Editor Southern Star: 

I desire space in The Star to add a 
few words. Seven years ago last Sep- 
tember I was taken very ill with typhoid 
fever and was under the treatment of 
the doctor three weeks. He gave me up, 
saying I would be dead by sundown that 
day. The doctor was just leaving as the 
Elders came in, and as I was uncon- 
scious ray husband desired them to ad- 
minister to me. He held me up while 



the Elders administered to me, rebuking 
the disease. The fever was reduced and 
1 gained strength, being able to sit up 
in bed next morning. From that day 
1 have gained strength and can bear tes- 
timony that it is today as in the days of 
the Savior, the sick are healed and Sa- 
tan can be cast out. God did heal me 
through his servants, the Elders. An 
evil spirit came out of me which I saw 
with my own eyes. My husband, mother 
and the Elders saw him. I am happy to 
think I live in this dispensation of the 
fullness of time, when God does speak 
to His people. When the same blessings 
that ancient Saints enjoyed are for the 
true believers today. May all the faith- 
ful be blessed is the prayer of your sis- 
ter in Christ, GINNIE MORRIS. 

Magnolia, Tenn. 
Editor Southern Star: 

If allowed a little space in your paper 
I would like to say a few words in re- 
gard to the "Mormons" and what I 
have learned about their doctrine. 

In the year 1887, very late one evening, 
two Elders, D. C. Markham and Geo. 
W. Stranger, called at my father's house 
and asked for entertainment; informing 
us that they were traveling without purse 
or scrip. My father welcomed the El- 
ders in and they soon were talking upon 
the gospel. I was a mere child, only 
years of age. The men and their doc- 
trine were strange, yet their words 
seemed reasonable and satisfactory to 
my soul. Later I began to investigate 
the teachings, finding them to agree with 
the Bible. August 9, 1896, I, in com- 
pany with my brother, S. A. Bigham. 
and Louisa J. Beecham, were baptized 
into the Church of Jesus Christ of Lat- 
ter-day Saints by Elder Henry A. Gro- 
ver. I can say with an open heart and a 
truthful tongue that I have a testimony 
that the gospel is true, that the Book of 
Mormon is the word of God; Joseph 
Smith a true Prophet of God. How 
pleasing to me if every living soul could 
see the gospel in its true light, and be 
endowed with the Holy Spirit that leads 
into all truth. If they would but take 
upon themselves the cross of our Savior, 
for His yoke is easy and His burden 
light. It is true that the doctrine of 
Christ is not popular, yet we can rejoice 
when our name is cast out as evil; when 
we are scourged in the synagogues as I 
have been, only makes us more humble 
and prayerful. Yes, it makes us more 
tender-hearted and brings us to a unity 
of the saving faith'. 

Yours in the cause of Truth, 

BRO. BIGHAM. 



CHURCH AND STATE— A PARABLE. 

BY BEN L. RICH. 
The State. 

Out from the long and dreary dark- 
ness of tyranny, which fell like a cloud over 
the world twelve decades ago, sprang the 
necessity of a republic, a government 
of the people, wherein man could enjoy the 
rights, the inalienable prerogatives of hu- 
man inheritance. It was inspired of God, 
and patriots wrote that all men are born 
free and equal. It was a noble cause, 
though it cost the lives of thousands of 
the New World's best men, in whose 
blood it was indelibly recorded on the 
index page of the Book of Nations. A 
government was brought into existence 
by a union of thirteen colonies. Thus 
came the United States of America. Over 
this government there are a President and 
a Vice-President, who are elected to the 
office of presidency and vice-presidency, 
by the operation of the elective franchise 
of the citizens of the Union. The Presi- 
dent is counciled by a cabinet of states- 
men. ' Under this corp there are the 
armies and navies, civil and war depart- 
ments of the nation. These are the na- 
tion's executives. The national legisla- 



150 



THE SOUTHERN STAB. 



ture is composed of two bouses ; a senate, 
whose members are senators, and those 
whose members are called congressmen. 
Were laws are made, treaties tormed and 
wars declared. The members of this de- 
partment are elected by the people di- 
rectly and indirectly. Tne judic.ary wiug 
of the government is made up of courts; 
the supreme court and several minor 
courts. This organization deals out jus- 
tice to citizens who may have been 
wronged. It also prevents the abuse of 
power. The Union is formed from States, 
over each of which there is a Governor, 
elected by the people. A state legislature 
of two branches, the house and senate and 
state courts act as the legislative and 
judiciary, respectively, to the state. In 
the state there are county and city gov- 
ernments, each with its individual execu- 
tive, legislative and judiciary organiza- 
tions. Thus in brief, is the government, 
in officers, of the United States. This 
national system is sustained by revenue 
taxes. If the government is administered 
in the spirit of its inception the soverign 
of the country will enjoy peace among 
themselves. They will not be imposed upon 
by the tyranny of foreign powers. Their 
rights will be respected, and by virtue 
thereof, freedom in religion will be 
granted. Prosperity and temporal happi- 
ness will reign, and as long as a citizen 
does not encroach upon the rights and 
privileges of another citizen, he will be 
allowed liberty, that boon of life; he can 
do, say, live and act as he desires. He is 
his own master and subject. Such is the 
condition when the constitution of the 
United States, for which the patriot fa- 
thers lived, fought and died. Is it not 
beautiful and grand? 

But after an elapse of eighteen cen- 
turies were the noble defenders of liberty 
to come back to watch the progress of 
the seed they had planted, what would 
they think if they found this condition 
existing under the stars and stripes? In- 
stead of effective and tenacious organiza- 
tion, the generals and sea captains, with 
their armies and navies, were only ex- 
tant. The army officers and naval com- 
manders issued all the laws and inforced 
their obedience by their commands. In- 
stead of the enjoyment of liberty, of the 
elective franchise of peace and prosperity, 
the people felt only the tyrant's hand, and 
reduced from the state and independent 
soverigns, to the condition of servile, 
base and dependent serfs; enjoying only 
the right which had become a burden of 
paying exhorbitant taxes. This state of 
affairs existed, too, under the constitu- 
tion, which, still the same by name, was 
so perverted and altered by selfish man, 
that it was only a shadowy figure of its 
pristine self. Instead of a country of 
freedom, it was a country of serfdom. If 
the fathers found a state of affairs so 
dark, so brutal, so degraded, so barbarous 
and unrighteous, what could contain the 
storms of indignation and righteous wrath 
with which they would anathemaize the 
perverters of liberty, the enemies of hu- 
manity, the destroyers of temporal salva- 
tion? Would they not know that decep- 
tion and hypocrisy, selfishness and weak- 
ness, resultant from wickedness, had 
been agencies in undermining all the 
American institutions? What a living He 
and sin it would be, too, for this system 
of cruel despotism to exist under the 
flag of 1776, and known as the United 
States of America! Oh, wicked dream! 
Oh, awful contemplation! May the God 
of nations forbid such a perversion of 
our constitutional rights! 



Tbe Church. 

The night of religious confusion and 
hypocrisy was made musical by the sing- 



ing of heavenly choirs; it was electrified 
by the proclamation : "Peace on earth, 
good will to man, for this night is born the 
Messiah." Christ grew to manhood. He 
was baptized of John in Jordan, and then 
entered the ministry. Although he came 
in fulfillment of prophecy and people were 
scarring the horizon for their redeemer, 
he was persecuted, rejected, cast out and 
spat upon. Religious bigotry and intol- 
erance were in full bloom, and the Son 
of God was made its victim. He was 
crucified, He atoned for the sins of a 
fallen race. After an elapse of a few days 
the body of our Lord became quickened 
and he arose an immortal prince, the vic- 
torious author of the scheme of eternal 
salvation, having risen from beneath all 
things, even the stable manger to the 
master of all things, even the throne of 
an omnipotent, omniscient God. After His 
resurrection, He labored forty days amojg 
His followers, teaching them as He had 
taught before His crucifixion, informing 
them on subjects which seemed cloudy to 
their understanding. The great Savior of 
Dove, perfected His church of peace. He 
gave all necessary authority. He explained 
thoroughly every detail of the work of 
His church, and bidding His authorities 
farewell, went to His father. He will re- 
turn some day. When He arose He left his 
church established in beauty and perfec- 
tion, ready to commence the spreading of 
the gospel, to teach every principle and 
observe every law. Thus, was the way 
to salvation marked out and arranged. 
And what do we find? In organization, 
Christ put in His society, prophets, apost- 
les, high priests, seventies, elders, bishops, 
teachers, priests and deacons. This was 
the organization* every officer to perform 
his special duties; all working in perfect 
concord and harmony. And why should 
not Christ's government work so? The 
officers were called by God ; through pro- 
phets, employing the gift of revelation, 
they enjoyed the blessings of visions, of 
dreams, healing, of prophecies; of 
tongues, of inspiration. They en- 
joyed peace and happiness. Every 
man was to every other man a 
brother, and every woman a sister 
to every other woman, all brothers and 
sisters together. Love and charity reigned 
in every heart. The initiation into the 
fold was obtained by first believing and 
trusting with implicit faith in onrist, 
thereby turning away from sin by re- 
pentance, after which the candidate for 
salvation was immersed in water for the 
remission of sins and received the com- 
forter, the agency of truth and good will, 
by the laying on of the hands of consti- 
tuted authorities. Thus, in fundamental, 
was the institution of Christ, as He per- 
fected it. Thus, did the holy apostles 
and prophets teach, live and practice. Is 
it not beautiful, harmonious, consistent, 
musical and simple? It could not have 
been otherwise since the omniscience of 
a Deity figured in its inception. 

But now, after an elapse of eighteen 
hundred years, were the Lord of humility 
to come back to the earth to the popular 
Christian world, to measure the growth of 
His life's mission, with what sorrow, more 
excruciating than His agonies on the 
cross, would He weep? What a look of 
godly indignation, more kingly than at the 
expulsion of the money changers from the 
temple, would kindle His visage? Instead 
of His church existing in harmony and 
peace with apostles, prophets, pastors, 
evangelists, teachers, deacons, etc.. He 
would find over half a thousand militant, 
jarring, quarreling, jealous sects, all pro- 
fessing divine authorship, one having this 
officer, another the name of that, all of 
them together containing only a fragment 
of the once perfect organization. All 
crying that the more powerful and author- 



itative officers, such as apostles, prophets, 
seventies, etc., were no longer needed. 
Instead of finding the divinely established 
way of entering the ministry through 
prophets and revelation, they deny reveia- 
tion and reject prophets, some of whom 
they have killed. Selfish men arrogate 
unto themselves the honor of calling them- 
selves, and use their assumed otnee for 
money making, instead of laboring with 
out compensation, as they were com- 
manded in the long ago. Instead of recog- 
nizing the first principles of the gospel 
they claim that they are non-essential and 
say that only a belief in an imaginative 
noneuity incorporeal and uncreate God is 
all that it requires for salva- 
tion, which they assert is rolling 
in laziness and indolence ou the 
clouds. Instead of finding the Gos- 
pel the institution of intelligence, 
of peace, of love, which He es- 
tablished, would He not behold a 
perile system of superstition and 
ignorance, of persecution, bigotry 
and confusion? Would He not discover 
that His church existed only in name in 
the fashionable world, that the word of 
God, the constitution of righteousness, 
had been altered and changed? Instead 
of finding anything in Christendom, which 
the gospel was, would the Christ not find 
everything which it was, and is not? 

How black and blasphemous is this 
age of apostacy? It contains everything 
to invoke the wrath of Almighty. Truly, 
is the present condition of the Christian 
world a too severe comparison to that 
awful reign of political darkness, which 
we pray will never be visited upon our 
country. 

Is it not reasonable, the re-establish- 
ment of the salvation scheme as it was 
in ancient days? And U it not consequent 
that persecution will follow the ambassa- 
dors of truth now as formerly? Christ, 
eighteen hundred years ago, was jeered at, 
and spat upon, by temperaments, whose 
counterparts in this age of bigotry and 
hypocrisy point their finger at the hum- 
ble Elder and say "Mormon." 



Advertised. 

A new and verdant postmaster in a 
small rural town had received instruc- 
tions to advertise all letters uncalled for 
at the end of a certain length of time. 
He obeyed orders by inserting the fol- 
lowing advertisement in the village 
weekly paper at the end of the first week 
of his term of office: 

There are ten letters in the postoffice 
that nobody has called for. If them 
they belong to don't take notice and 
call by the end of the month the letters 
will be sent to the dead-letter office. 
Anybody expecting letters they ain't got 
can come and see if any of these letters 
belong to them. All take notice. — 
Youth's Companion. 



An Incident Before the Civil War. 

In the year 1860, in Caliborne county, 
Tennessee, hawks representing two 
tribes met and fought. One flock was 
dark colored and the other gray. At the 
first engagement, which lasted three 
days, thousands upon thousands were 
killed. So great was the slaughter, men 
in that locality were compelled to hire 
hands to burn the birds. In the first 
battle the grays were victorious, where- 
upon the blues retreated some forty 
miles westward. There they took their 
stand, and after a fierce battle com- 
pletely annihilated the greys. 



Amongst the sons of men how few are 

known, 
Who dare be Just to merit not their own. 

—Churchill. 



THE SOUTHERN STAR. 



151 



THE DARK AGES. 

BY A. ARROWSMITH. 
(Continued from Page 139.) 

THE SIXTEENTH CENTURY is re- 
markable in history as the greatest pe- 
riod of reiorm in all ages. In it lived 
some of the most bold and intrepid self •• 
asserters that the world has ever seen, 
and who came in a time when the world 
was ripe for their appearance. 

The corruption of the clergy and things 
ecclesiastical was such, that justice de- 
manded extermination, as the world was 
in the condition of the cities of the plain 
— Sodom and Gomorrah — ready for de- 
struction. But, like Abraham, who 
plead with God to save the cities and 
spare the righteous, so mercy plead in 
this age, that the world might be spared 
and man's agency retained. God sent 
His servants, the reformers, that man 
might have religious liberty, and free- 
dom to worship as he saw fit, and thus 
mercy prevailed. 

The Pontiff of Rome, Julius II.. was 
at this time a great warrior, loving blood- 
shed and carnage, laying cities to waste 
and otherwise devastating Europe. Th»» 
occupation of this Pontiff might give us 
some idea of the miserable condition the 
church was in at this time. A man pro- 
fessing to be the vicar of Christ, who 
lived in camps, amid the din of arms, 
and who was ambitious of no other fame 
than that which arose from battles won 
and cities despoiled. Under such a Pon- 
tiff all things must have gone to ruin 
and the genuine luster of true religion 
have been entirely effaced. This man 
died in the year 1512. 

Much disunion existed among the dif- 
ferent orders, especially between the 
Franciscan and Dominican factions, re- 
garding the immaculate conception of Je- 
sus. The former approved of it, and the 
latter disbelieved it, and in order to 
gain their point, the Dominicans resorted 
to base fraud and deceit. In one in- 
stance some of their priests appeared dis- 
guised as spirits, angels and departed 
saints, to a man named Jetzer, who was 
taking priestly orders, and favored hiin 
with some wonderful fictitious visions, 
aud actually told him that he was so ap- 
proved of God that he must be marked 
like His Son; they pierced his hands and 
feet with nails, and marked his side, sim- 
ilar to the marks placed upon Jesus by 
the Romans. They fraudulently ap- 
peared unto him as the Virgin Mary, who 
told him she .was conceived in original 
sin and that she abhorred the Francis- 
cans for teaching the immaculate con- 
ception. This fraud finally came to light, 
and the deception was exposed. The Do- 
miuican monks, to hush the matter up. 
tried to poison poor Jetzer. 

At this period the public worship was 
nothing but a senseless round of exter- 
nal ceremonies, adapted to dazzle the eye; 
and the preaching consisted of fables and 
the relating of wonderful signs aud mira- 
cles, which deluded the ignorant masses, 
who were taught to respect the authority 
of the. church as infallible. The virtues 
of departed saints, the dignity, glory and 
love of the blessed Virgin, the efficacy 
of relics, the duty of adorning the 
churches, the intolerable burnings of pur- 
gatory and the utility of indulgences, 
were, advanced, and tended to increase 
the riches and fill the coffers of the 



church. The Roman Catholic authority 
acknowledges, that at this time, "the 
Papal doctrines, jurisdiction and author- 
ity, would have fallen into ruin, in all the 
world, had not the force of the secular 
arm been employed to support this tot- 
tering edifice, and fire and sword been 
let loose upon those who were assailing 
it: 1 

The historian records a horrible line of 
Pontiffs, holding the Papal chair in this 
century. Pope Clement VII. was a bas- 
tard. Pope Paul m. had two illegiti- 
mate children, named Farnese and Sfor- 
za, who were made Cardinals in their 
infancy. He was also reproached with 
poisoning his mother and nephew, and 
with having ravished a young virgin at 
Ancona; also with incestuous and adul- 
terous commerce, with his daughter, Con- 
stantia, who died of poison, administered 
by him, to prevent any interruption in 
his odious amours. He was also caught 
in delicate relationship with his niece, 
and was stabbed by her husband, carry- 
ing the wound marks to his death. It 
is recorded of Pope Julius III. that he 
was scarcely seated, before he made a 
Cardinal out ot the keeper of his mon- 
keys, a boy chosen out of the lowest pop- 
ulace, and who was also the infamous 
object of his unnatural pleasures. How 
horrible to think that a lme of authority, 
purporting to come from Peter, should 
descend through such a vile and polluted 
source. Why cannot Christianity today 
understand and realize that God's au- 
thority was never vested in such repro- 
bates, that defiled the earth during the 
Sixteenth century? 

In order to modify the doctrines and 
make them congenial to the taste, the 
counsel of Trent met, and the Latin 
translation of "the Bible, called the vul- 
gate, adopted and accepted as authentic 
and accurate in its translation, it stands 
today as a guide for the Roman Catho- 
lics. The scriptural translation from the 
Latin vulgate was adopted, on account 
of its being vague and ambiguous. The 
people could not understand it and con- 
sequently remained in ignorance, of the 
Word of God. The laity were taught 
that the scriptures were not for the mul- 
titude, but only for their spiritual teach- 
ers, and the Divine records were, taken 
from the people and largely shut up in 
the monasteries. The horrible history 
of this great and abominable church is 
written in the archives »bove, and plain- 
ly delineated in her ruins today. She 
still exists, the great "Mother of Har- 
lots/' but her power among the Anglo- 
Saxons is broken. However, among the 
Latin races, in many cases, we still find 
these abuses established in the discipline 
of their church. • The pious or impious 
frauds which are imposed with impunity 
on its deluded followers, are the same 
today as they were formerly. If we pass 
in review the corruption of the clergy, 
the ignorance of the people, the devout 
farces and ceremonies of worship; the 
insipid jargon and trifling rhetoric, that 
prevail in the discourses of their priests, 
we can see that the counsel of Trent did 
not better, to any great extent, the gen- 
eral spiritual condition of the church. 

Among the reformers, who were mar- 
vellous characters, full of zeal and cour- 
age, none was more bold than Martin 
Luther, who was born in the year 1483, 
in the. town of Eisleben. Prussia. This 
great man came out of obscurity and 
poverty and won everlasting fame for 
his bold affront, before the great Papal 
power. His memorable expression be- 
fore Cardinal Cajetan, at the Diet at 
Worms, when he stood a lone man before 
his most powerful enemies, explains the 
nature of his character better than I 
can. He said, "Unless I am convinced 
by scripture and reason. I neither can 
nor dare retract anything, for my con- 
science is a captive to God's word, and 



it is neither safe nor right to go against 
conscience. There I take my stand. I 
can do no otherwise. So help me God. 
Amen." 

Luther was a brave, fearless and in- 
trepid man, and it is remarkable that he 
died a natural death, as he was much 
sought after and hated by the Roman 
church, who looked upon him as a dan- 
gerous heretic. He died in the year 
1540. Contemporaneous with Luther 
was another great reformer, named Phil- 
ip Melancthon, who was born in 1493 
and died in 1500. He was a great schol- 
ar, being a friend and companion of Lu- 
ther. He was chief aid to the latter, 
in formulating, writing and expounding 
his creed. 

Ulrich Zwingli, born in Switzerland in 
the year 1484, and slain in a battle, 
which was fought between his followers 
and the Roman Catholics, in the year 
luol, was a bold spirit, who opposed 
Luther in some of his doctrines, especially 
transybstantiation, the tenet which Lu- 
therans and the Roman Catholics hold 
so dear to this day. John Calvin stands 
in the van of the reformers. He was a 
man of great intelligence, who bore an 
implacable hatred to all Romish super- 
stition, and yet, full of bigotry and in- 
toleration. He was born in France in 
the year 1509, and died in 1504. John 
Knox adopted the ideas of Calvin, preach- 
ing and expounding the same in Scotland. 

Perhaps the greatest step from beneath 
the power of Popery was taken by Hen- 
ry VI II., king of England, who was a 
wicked, vile man, in fact a monster, but 
who opposed the powers of Rome, and 
hurled defiance in the teeth of that great 
church. Henry was a lecherous brute, 
with the propensities of a Herod, who, 
in order to gratify his lustful bestiality, 
sought divorce from his wife. Catherine, 
that he might marry Anne Boleyn, with 
whom he was very familiar. Up to this 
time he was a favorite of the Pope, who 
gave to him the distinguished and hon- 
orary insignia of "Defender of the 
Faith." This same insignia is shown 
today on every coin of the realm of 
Great Britain. The letters on these 
coins are, V. R. D. G. F. D., which in 
Latin reads, Victoria Regina, Dei Gra- 
cia, Fidei Defensor. Translated into 
English meaning, Queen Victoria, by the 
grace of God, Defender of the faith. This 
title has been handed down from the 
Sixteenth century, and was honorably 
granted by the Pope of the Roman Cath- 
olic church to Henry VIII. for the faith- 
ful and energetic stand he took against 
Martin Luther. But now, Henry was 
opposed in his lecherous desires by the 
Pope, who would not grant a divorce 
from Catherine. This aroused his pas- 
sionate nature, and he openly rebelled 
against the Pope's authority; expelled 
Cardinal Wolse.y from his court, rein- 
stated Archbishop Cranm'er in his favor, 
and placed himself as the supreme au- 
thority and head of the Church in Eng- 
land. This audacious monarch beheaded 
his wives at pleasure, robbed the mon- 
asteries, defied the Pope and created a 
church of his own, securing his divorce 
from his favored archbishop, and caus- 
ing the sumptuous Cardinal Wolsey to 
die in poverty and degradation. King 
Henry VITL, or Bluff King Hal, as he 
is familiarly called, through his Arch- 
bishop Thomas Craumer, stands as the 
head and founder of the Established 
Church of England. The gouty old vil- 
lain died, feared and despised by all who 
knew him. His son, Edward VI., fur- 
thered the cause of the Church of Eng- 
land, which grew into a great system, 
even becoming the dominant religion iu 
England. But alas! for the dissenters, 
Edward died, and Mary, his sister, \vns 
made Queen. Her reign was a terror. 
She was a fanatical religious bigot, fer- 
vent in her faith as a Romanist, doing 
all in her power to extirpate the new 
faith. She started the fires in Smith- 
field, and created a reign of horro/ 
throughout England. She is known in 
history as "Bloody Mary." Lady Jane 
Grey, with her husband, was beheaded. 
Cranmer, Latimer and Ridley, some of 



152 



THE SOUTHERN STAB. 



REPORT OF MISSION C ONFERENCES FOR WEEK ENDING MARCH 17, 1900. 



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the best men of the Sixteenth century, 
were burned at the stake. Ridley and 
Latimer were martyred together, and ap- 
peared satisfied with their fate, kissing 
the stakes where they were tied and em- 
bracing each other. Latimer said. "Be 
of good comfort, Master Ridley, and piny 
the man! We shall this day light such 
a candle, by God's grace in England, as 
I trust shall never be put out." Cran- 
mer was rather weak and vacillating, 
and feared the torture, and he was forced 
to write and retract some of his views; 
which were, exacted by torture; but when 
he came to die, he died bravely, and re- 
gretted that he had made any written 
retraction. So keenly did he feel this, 
that, when the fire was kindled, he held 
his hand in the flames and said, "This 
hand hath offended,*' and he held it in 
the fire until it burned away. The ex- 
pression, "The blood of the martyrs is 
the seed of the church," is verily true, 
and the words of Latimer, strictly pro- 
phetic, as such a candle was lit in Eng- 
land that has never gone out from that 
day. 

At the death of Mary, Elizabeth was 
made Queen, reigning many years. She 
was friendly and furthered the cause of 
the reformers, fully establishing the 
Church of England, and forever breaking 
the. power of the Roman church in that 
country. For this she is called "Good 
Queen Bess." It is true that from that day 
England has advanced and progressed 
into the mighty empire she now is. And 
Spain, a Latin race, under the control of 
the Church of Rome, embracing all her 
superstitions, which in the Sixteenth cen- 
tury was in the zenith of her power, has 
sank from a great empire to an insignifi- 
cant monarchy, and is still sinking. 

The reformation tree in England was 
deeply rooted at the close of this cen- 
tury, and the spirit of reform spread 
through Germany in an alarming man- 
ner. The Huguenots in France also 
grew, and the Roman church became so 
fearful of this spirit of reform that they 
sanctioned their extermination. To this 
end. on St. Bartholomew's eve (Aug. 22, 
1572), at the tolling of a bell, midnight 
assassins, before appointed, went into the 
homes of the suspects and began their 
wholesale slaughter. In the city of Paris 
alone, in three days, 500 noblemen and 
6,000 Protestants were butchered in cold 
blood. Royalty ordered a similar mas- 
sacre all over France, and it is sltated 
that upwards of 50.000 perished by these 
royal assassins. To snow that these, 
bloody murders met the approval of the 
Pope, he ordered a special jubilee 
throughout Christendom, celebrating this 
terrible event. 

The spirit of the times during this cen- 
tury was reform, and the Protestants 
grew and spread, in spite of the opposi- 
tion they met. . They divided and sub- 
divided into sects and parties, contending 
with one another, each in turn claiming 
inspiration and divine guidance. They 
placed their own interpretation on the 
Word of God. making a confused mass 
of jarring sects, very similar to what we 
see today. 

(To be Continued.) 



"Public Officers Not Friends of Mormons." 

In this day of religious liberty and free- 
dom of thought, such a headline as the 
above should be spurious. But recent de- 
velopments all over this broad land, "the 
land of the free, and the home of the 
brave," show plainly that a man's relig- 
ious views, if not popular with the com- 
munity, will be dragged into the mire of 
political partisanism, to be used as a 
weapon against an opponent, especially 
if his character is otherwise without 
blemish or reproach. But, now, will it 
stop here? From the happening of late 
in Overton county, Tennessee, it appears 
not. 

There were three candidates for sheriff. 
One proposed to run on strictly honorable 
principles. As the day for the primary 
or primaries approached this man's op- 
ponents see success in his favor among 
the thinking people and naturally began 
to seek for detrimental precedents and 
accusations against him. 

The all important problem was soon 
solved. What better argument couM be 
brought against him : yea, what greater 
stigma? His daughter is a Mormon, and 
he entertains and respects the Mormon 
Elders. 

All is up now, but to make sure, they 
added to what they had : like the milk 
seller, they poured water in as long as it 
would look milky, and here is what they 
made : "They say he's got a Mormon 
Bible, grand hook ! and some folks say 
he and his wife were secretely baptized in 
the night by those awful Mormons." 

These and other fabrications of simi- 
lar cut are carried on every tongue as 
sweet morsels. Denials and explanations 
are futile because the carrion of falsehool 
has created an abnormal appetite. 
Though of baptist faith, the eentleman 
has lost the race because he will not cast 
God's servants off as impostors, but man- 
fully defends them in their rights. 

Surely the time is fast approaching, if 
not already here, as spoken of in the 
thirteenth chapter of revelations, when 
they that have not the mark or the name 
of the beast or the number of hw name 
in their right hands, or on their fore- 
heads, cannot buy, sell or obtain public 
favor in any way. 

ELDER Z. N. DECKER. 



Releases and Appointments. 

Releases. 

John Peterson, East Tennessee Con- 
ference. 

William II. Jensen, East Tennessee 
Conference. 

E. F. Kingsford, Mississippi Confer- 
ence. 

J. B. Wasden. Florida Conference. 

Lars Nelson, East Kentucky. 

R. A. Bolin, North Carolina Confer- 
ence. 



Joseph D. Fage, South Alabama Con- 
ference. 

Appointments. 

W. E. Rigby, Chattanooga Confer- 
ence. 

J. H. Watson, Louisiana Conference. 

C. E. Wade, Louisiana Conference. 
J. D. Thorn, South Carolina Confer- 
ence. 

L. G. West, South Carolina Confer- 
ence. 

J. O. Leithead, East Kentucky Con- 
ference. 

G. H. Brower, Kentucky Conference. 

D. W. Marchant, Kentucky Confer- 
ence. 

Transfers. 
A. V. Whitmer, from South Alabama 
to Virginia Conference. 



THE DEAD. 

Brother Nelson T. Jordan, of Bay 
Springs, Chesterfield county, S. C, has 
passed away, being 74 years of age. 
Since July 18th, 1898, the time of his 
baptism, he has been a strong believer 
in the doctrine of 'Christ. 



March 8th, 1900, Sister Lucy H. Key, 
of Batesville, Va., died at the residence 
of her son, I. S. Jameson, Charlottes- 
ville, Va. She was baptized May 1st, 
1891. Since taking upon herself the 
Gospel of righteousness she has ever 
been a fearless defender of the truth, 
and many are the friends and loved 
ones who will miss this noble soul, espe- 
cially the Elders who have been so kind- 
ly cared for, always being welcomed 
around the family altar. 

(Semi-Weekly News please copy.) 



The beloved wife of E. McGlone de- 
parted from this life on Feb. 6th, 1900. 
For many years this faithful handmaid 
of God had suffered much from various 
diseases, which racked her being with 
pain; but now that the valiant spirit has 
taken its flight from the mortal taber- 
nacle, we know that her sorrows and 
trials are o'er. She was baptized Aug. 
23d. 1897, and since that time has been 
a staunch, firm, true Latter Day Saint. 

Since our friend has gone to glory, 
Though we mourn, yet we rejoice; 
For she sought the way to heaven, 
And made Jesus Christ her choice. 
May the peace, joy, blessings and hap- 
piness of heaven attend those who 
mourn the loss of her who has gone 
where sorrows are no more. 



If mankind could but write down all 
their evil deeds and gaze upon their 
deformities through the spectacles of 
truth they would shudder. 



A liar is a moral coward; he is afraid 
to meet the consequences of his acts. 




"GUT THOUOrt WE, OB AN ANGEL F80M ttEAVEN.P&tACH ANY 
PTMEft 60&PEL UNTO YOU ThAN THAT WHICH WE 

HAV£ PRE Al HEP UNTO YOU, LEJ HIM &E ACCURSED W W ■/?? 3Y 



T£X(r?&±£ 



Vol. 2. 



Chattanooga, Tenn., Saturday, April 14, 1900. 



No. 20. 



THE PATH OF INDEPENDENCE. 

ANON. 
An easy task It Is to tread 
The path the multitude will take; 
But independence dares the stake 
If but by fair conviction led. 

Then haste, truth-seeker, on thy way, 
Nor heed the worldling's smile or frown, 
The brave alone shall wear the crown. 
The noble only clasp the bay. 

Go, worker of the public weal; 

When knaves combine, and plot and plan, 

Assert the dignity of man, 

Teach the dishonest hearts to feel. 

Still keep thy Independence whole; 
Let nothing warp thee from thy course, 
And thou snalt wield a giant's force, 
And wrong before thy foot shall roll. 



"Biggest Show 'Ctpt One." 

Youth's Companion. 

A circus was coming to a southern 
town, says the Portland Transcript, and 
every barn and fence within a radius of 
twenty-five miles or more had been cov- 
ered with the usual lurid announcements. 
An old-time colored man and a dudish 
yellow boy were gazing at the bills and 
wondering. 

" 4 Barnum and Bailey's circus. The big- 
gest show on earth,' " read the youngster. 

"What— what's dat?' asked the old- 
time darky, pricking up his ears. 

The boy read again the legend of the 
show-bills. 

"You don't know what you is taking 
about, nigger. Dat show kaint touch 
John Dobbinson's. He use to come froo 
here, and dat was a show wuth seein'. 
Dat was de bigges' show on dis earf , sho 
'nough." 

The old man had evidently not seen a 
circus for many years. Elderly colored 
people throughout the south like to talk 
about John Dobbinson. 

"Head it for yourself, then," said the 
boy. "I tell yon that thing says this is 
the biggest show on earth." 

The old man proceeded to spell out the 
big letters. He waded through "Barnum 
and Bailey," and after a rest began on 
the remainder of the sentence: 

"B-i-g-g-e-s-t s-h-o-w o-n e-a-r-t-h, 
S^p-t 1." 

"I knowed it! I knowed it!" shouted 
the old man, pumping up and down in his 
glee, "De bigges' show, 'cept one! Dat 
was John Dobbinson's!" 

What War Means. 

During the last two years 41,375 men 
have been killed in battle. 



OUR CONFERENCE PRESIDENTS. 

Elder W. W. MacKay. 

Some men there are, whom God has 
endowed with the gift of making friends. 
They need not speak, but one clasp of the 
hand, a look into their face at once in- 
spires admiration and respect. What 
grander talent, for it is such, can be 
given man than that of making friends? 
Elder W. W. MacKay, President of the 
East Kentucky Conference, belongs to 
that class of God's servants, who know 




ELDER W. W. MACKAY, 
President of the East Kentucky Conference. 

how to make and retain one's friendship. 
When President David A. Broadbent was 
released to return home a short time ago, 
a good faithful servant was needed to 
put his shoulder to the "Wheel of Truth." 
Elder MacKay was the man God desired 
for that place. He was born in Salt Lake 
City, Utah, Dec. 29, 1864. His parents 
joined the church in their early youth and 
were among the first settlers of Utah. 
The boyhood days of Brother MacKay 
were spent in Salt Lake, until at the 
age of 18, he moved with his parents to 



Taylorsville, Utah. He applied himself 
to farming and stock raising, until called 
to labor in the vineyard of the Lord. Ar- 
riving in Chattanooga, Oct. 24, 1898. he 
was assigned to labor in the East Ken- 
tucky conference. Six months as a can- 
vassing Elder showed forth his true met- 
al, proving him to be a noble, God-fearing 
man. While Elder R. L. Mendenhall was 
President, Elder Mackay acted as second 
counselor. East Kentucky can well feel 
proud of her leader, who will ever be 
found at his post of duty, striving to 
upbuild the kingdom of God. May the 
true worth of this humble man be ap- 
preciated, and may he be blessed in his 
efforts to benefit mankind, are the wishes 
of those who know him. ' 



History of the Southern States Mission. 

(Continued from page 146.) 

June, 1896. 

This month began with general good 
health prevailing, and the work of the 
Lord progressing nicely. Conferences 
were held among the Elders as follows • 
South Carolina, June 6th and 7th : Ken 
tucky, 20th and 21st, and Middle Ten- 
nessee, 27th and 28th. At each place it 
was vigorously urged upon the Elders to 
carry out in their minutest detail the 
counsels given. Particular stress was 
put upon the request to travel without 
purse and s»crip. To all instructions 
given the Elders pledged their support, 
resuming their labors with the zeal of 
an Apostle. Though th» weather was 
oppressively warm, yet the work con- 
tinued unabated. It. is -gratifying to note 
that the distribution of the Voice of 
Warning. Book of Mormon and oth«»r 
church works rapidly increased. In 
South Alabama and Mississinpi Sunday 
Schools were organized, and Virginia fur- 
nished a new branch of the church, called 
Golansville, On the 24th inst. nine El- 
ders arrived from Salt Lake. 

July. 1896. 

The month opened uneventful. Much 
inconvenience .and some sickness was 
caused the Elders through excessive heat, 
particularly during the latter part of 
the month. Because of the sickness ex- 
isting among the Texas Elders, caused 
lnrgelv by the unhealthy conditions sur- 
rounding their labors, all the Confer- 
ences were requested to enter upon a 
special fast and prayer for the betterment 



154 



THE SOUTHERN STAR. 



of that Conference and the Elders who 
were ill. The 19th hist, was the day ap- 
pointed for the fast. A change for the 
better at once followed the prayers to the 
Heavenly Father. President Kimball 
met with the Virginia and North Carolina 
Elders in their conferences held on the 
11th and 12th and 18fh and 10th respect- 
ively. Both Conferences were found to 
be in good running order. President M. 
Thomas was released to return home, and 
J. De Grey Dixon was chosen to preside 
over the Virginia Conference. Notwith- 
standing the Florida Elders were threat- 
ened by mobs, they succeeded in organis- 
ing, near Live Oak, a very promising 
Sunday School, with prominent people as 
its supporters. Kentucky furnished a 
large branch, containing nearly fifty mem- 
bers. During this month the sad tidings 
of the death of Apostle A. H. Cannon 
were received. In life we had learned to 
love our brother with all the affection a 
heart possesses. His life was before us 
as a model for the shaping of our own ; 
to encourage aU who seek after right- 
eousness. May the comforting influence 
of God's Holy Spirit attend those who in 
the death of Apostle Cannon have lost a 
husband, father, son and brother, were 
the prayers and wishes of Saints and El 
tie i-s throughout the world. 

(To be continued.) 



THE DARK AGES. 

BY A. ARKOWSM1TH. 
(Continued From Page 152.) 

THE SEVENTEENTH CENTURY 
dawned upon the world with the spirit 
of reform fully awake. Spirits of en- 
lightenment and intelligence came, the 
clouds of darkness, superstition and igno- 
rance, which had covered the minds of 
the people, for so many centuries, were 
beginning to disperse. However, the 
spiritual education, or things ecclesiasti- 
cal, was not bettered by the religious en- 
thusiasts, called Protestants. The doc- 
trines thev advanced were far from the 
truth, and from their inception they have 
l>een "ever learning and never able to 
come to the knowledge of the truth," but 
their teachings did tend to b*»oadpn 
and expand the mind of man. and did 
assist in gaininsr that srreat boon, relig- 
ious liberty. Their doctrines can be 
summed up in a few words — justification, 
through grace, without works* — as the 
following from Luther will show: "I 
observe that the devil is continually at- 
tacking this fundamental article by means 
of his doctors, and that in this respect 
he can never cease to take any repose. 
Well. then. I. Doctor Martin Luther, un- 
worthy herald of the Gosnel of our Lord 
Jesus Christ, confess this article, that 
faith alone without works justifies he- 
fore Chd: and T declare that it shall 
stand and remain forever, in spite of the 
emperor of the Romans, the emperor of 
the Turks, the emperor of the Tartans, 
the emperor of the Persians, in snite of 
the pope and all the cardinals, with the 
bishops, priests, monks and nuns — in snite 
of all the world and of the devils them- 
selves; and that if they endeavor to fisrht 
neaiimt this truth, thev will dr»w the fires 
of hell upon their head*. This is the 
true and holv gospel, and the declaration 

of m*s P(K»for l>*fhnr. nonnrMnQ to the 

trnnhinas of th*> TToly Ghost" 

Si^h "dn^nablo h<»**esip«*** p«* the pWvvp 
has been adopted, almost in its entirety 
by all protestantism. One of the strong- 
est advocates of Methodism, a diciple of 
John Weslev. about 100 years aso. used 
thp following argument. "ev«n adulterv 
and murder, do not hurt the pleasant 



children, but rather work for their good. 
God sees no sin in believers, whatever 
sin they may commit. My sins might dis- 
please God ; my person is always ac- 
ceptable to Him. * * * It is a most per- 
nicious error of the schoolmen to distin- 
guish sins according to the fact, and not 
accordiug to the person. Though I blame 
those who say, let us sin that grace may 
abound, yet, adultery, incest and murder 
shall, upon the whole, make me holier on 
earth and merrier in heaven." 

Such awful declarations as the above, 
come from beneath, were hatched and 
nurtured in hell, and brought to the earth 
by the father of lies. Only thirty years 
ago, when I was a small boy, I can well 
remember such pernicious doctrines being 
taught. I belonged to a branch of the 
Methodist church, whose most fervent and 
devout worshipper, would rant and tear 
like a maniac; and I was taught to shun 
a material hell of fire and brimstone. This 
filled me with dread, horror and fear and 
I know whereof I speak, when I denounce 
such fallacies as doctrines of devils. 

It is not to religion then, that we must 
look for the great reforms that have ad- 
vanced mankind, to' the degree of enlight- 
enment that they now enjoy. 

In the Seventeenth Century, the morals 
of the nobility in England, were extremely 
low and sordid, and they had become verv 
irreligious. Drunkenness and foul talk 
were not considered at all ungentlemanly. 
and purity of life was sneered at. as "out 
of fashion." The art of seduction was 
actually taught, and considered necessary 
as part of a finished and polite education. 
The commonality, or the lower level of 
the social strata, lived in extreme pov- 
^rtv: v**»*p icrnornnt. brutal, low nnd vir- 
ions. The process of manufacturing inn 
and mm. was discovered in the year 1084. 
and the result was intemperance, drunken- 
ness and immoralitv. which filled the 
British nation at this time. The various 
vpnders of these spirituous intoxicants 
Imd the most ineenions ippfhod of adver- 
Hsipe their business. On the sign board* 
thev invited the people to pome in and' 
eet drunk for a penny, nnd for two penee 
a man could get drunk and have the 
privilege of laying down upon a bed of 
straw. There is no doubt that much of 
this social degradation was due to the 
apathy and slothfulness of moral teach- 
ers at this time. 

The civil reforms, operated on a large 
«eale. and under Cromwell and William. 
Prince of Orange, England was delivered 
from kincrlv tyrnnny. These men plnved 
havoc with the Roman Catholics in Great 
Britain, despoiling their property, de- 
stroying their churches and breaking their 
power to such a degree, that, to this 
day. thev have never been able to recu- 
perate. This revolution of William, (who 
sailed from Holland in the year 10181. in- 
spired the nation with a new spirit. Hith- 
erto English philosophy and literature 
were almost unknown on the continent, 
but after the invasion of William, prince 
of Orange, we commence to hear of for- 
eigners visiting England, learning the 
English language and seeking to under- 
stand the life and eharaeter of her sub- 
jects. Thev thus disseminated the phil- 
osophv of Newton, the literature of 
ShaVespearp and Addison. Pope and 
Swift, with the seien+ifie truths of Co- 
pernicus. Bruno and Galileo: opened the 
avenues for great intellectual advance- 
ment, far sunerce<Ting an^ former age. 
and through the agency of the printing 
press. tb<*«e ideas were riven to the 
piRcppe. The most backward minds began 
fr> hnvo anm* k^wlpdi** of literature and 
the discoveries of science. 



The ancient form of royalty and chiv- 
alry had lost much of its sheen and power, 
and stood in the shady . background of the 
past. Since Oliver Cromwell, with his, 
Puritan Roundheads, governed the net* 
tion, a new generation of citizens, hence- 
forth began to occupy the earth, imposing 
new ideas on the public manners and 
stamping its image on the minds of men. 
The fiat had gone forth: man shall not be 
curtailed in his liberty and agency to 
worship God, according to the dictates 
of his conscience — To this end, the Puri- 
tan sect, who were enthusiastic religion- 
ists and had been much persecuted in 
England for their religious views, were 
compelled to seek a place of refuge. They 
sa tied from Holland and landed in Amer- 
ica, in the year 1020, and settled in the 
New England states. Here, as in En- 
gland, many sects and parties, mingled 
with each other, and jars and discord 
followed. It seems very singular that 
they should come to this land of the 
free and immediately adopt the methods 
of their tormentors, from whom they 
had fled; using force to compel each 
other to see the beauties (?) of the relig- 
ion, each had adopted. All of these 
secta, professed to derive their particular 
doctrines, wholly from the Bible, and 
they invariably denounced the old sys- 
tems, and those not congenial to their 
own particular bigotry, as rotten and cor- 
rupt; tbey alone, being holy. However, 
they were ardent, enthusiastic and zeal- 
ous in their austerity.especially abhorring 
all formalism, relying more on the efficacy 
of spirited preaching, than the rites and 
jargon that they had escaped from, "in 
the English and Roman church. 

The Puritanical long-faced enthusiast, 
of whatever sect or degree, found a home 
in America, with territory enough to 
separate, or mingle as they saw fit. On 
acount of the warlike traits of their 
neighbors, the Indians, they were com- 
pelled to unite together, as colonists, for 
mutual strength *and protection. However, 
they soon disagreed, grew turbulent, di- 
vided, and in their superstitious bigotry, 
burned people accused of witchcraft, and 
otherwise exercised an intolerant un- 
christian spirit. For his free thought 
and open religious views, Roger Williams 
was driven to seek refuge among the 
Indians of Rhode Island, in the year 
1636. He preached among the aborigines 
quite extensively and is acknowledged to 
be one of the founders of the Baptist per- 
suasion, having organized and officiated 
as pastor in that church in America. He 
had been duly appointed a minister, but, 
being an honest man, after realizing his 
position and lack of authority to ad- 
minister in the affairs of Christ, he re- 
fused to continue as pastor in his church, 
on the ground that 'there was no regu- 
larly constituted church • on earth, nor 
any person authorized to administer any 
church ordinance, nor can there he, until 
new apostles are sent by the great Head 
of the church, for Whose coming I am 
seeking." 

This confession, from this honest man, 
was equally applicable to all sects In 
Christendom. They were all, without 
question, in a state of strife and confu- 
sion, grovelling in the isms and id»as of 
uninspired ignorance. They had a "form 
of Godliness, but denying the power 
thereof." Their teachers were "men of 
corrupt minds, reprobate concerning the 
faith." The people were in the condi- 
tion of which Paul describes them, heap- 
ing up teachers to themselves, who would 
tell them fabulous tales, and thus tickle 
their ears and fancies. The same con- 
dition exists in Christendom today, strife, 
sedition, confusion and contention ; lack 



THE SOUTHERN STAR. 



155 



of authority and inspiration from heaven ; 
formulating dogmas and man-made sys- 
tems, which are obnoxious to an honest 
investigator of the Word of God. These 
religious teachers are exercising powers 
and prerogatives, which are purely of 
their own devising and not of God, being 
without His stamp of authority; conse- 
quently, under His ban, and will event- 
ually, utterly perish. 

(To be Continued.) 



MIRACLES THE FRUIB OF EVIL 

AS WELL AS RIGHTEOUSNESS. 



Science a Growing Inheritance. 

No scientific truth is born anew, com- 
ing by itself and of itself. Each new 
truth is always the offspring of some- 
thing which has gone before, becoming 
in turn the parent of something coming 
nfter. In this aspect the man of science 
is unlike, or seems to be unlike, the poet 
aud the artist. The poet is born, not 
made; he rises up, no man knowing his 
beginnings; when he goes away, though 
men after him may sing his songs for 
centuries, he himseJf goes away wholly, 
having taken with him his mantle, for 
tltfs he can give to no other. The man 
of science is not thus creative; he is cre- 
ated. His work, however great it be, 
is not wholly his own; it is in part the 
outcome of the work of men who have 
gone before. 

Again and again a conception which 
lias made a name great has come not so 
much by the man's own effort as out 
of the fullness of time. Again and again 
we may read in the words of some man 
of old the outlines of an idea which in 
later days has shone forth as a great ac- 
knowledged truth. From the mouth of 
the man of old the idea dropped barren, 
fruitless; the. world was not ready for it. 
and heeded it not; the concomitant and 
abutting truths which could give it power 
to work were wanting. Coming back 
again in later days, the same idea found 
the world awaiting It; things were in 
travail preparing for it; and some one, 
seizing the right moment to put it forth 
again, leaped into fame. 

It is not so much the men of science 
who make science, as some spirit which, 
liorn of the truths already won, drives 
the man of science onward and uses him 
to win new truths in turn. It is because 
each man of science is not his own mas- 
ter, but one of many obedient servants 
of an impulse which was at work long 
before him, and will work long after him, 
that in science there is no falling back. 
In respect to other things there may. be 
times of darkness and times of light, 
there may be risings, decadences, and re- 
vivals. In science there is only progress. 
The path may not be always a straight 
line, there may be swerving to this side 
and to that, ideas may seem to return 
again and again to the same point of the 
intellectual compass; but 4t will always 
be found that, they have reached a higher 
level — they have moved, not in a circle, 
but in a spiral. Moreover, science is not 
fashioned as in a house, by putting brick 
to brick, that which is once put remain- 
ing as it was put to the end. The growth 
of j science is that of a living being. As 
in the embryo phase follows phase, and 
each member of the body puts' on in suc- 
cession different appearances, though all 
the while the same member, so a scien- 
tific conception of one age seems to differ 
from that of a following age, though it 
is the same one in the process of being 
made; and as the dim outlines of the 
early embryo become, as the being grows 
more distinct and sharp, like a picture on 
a screen brought more and more into 
focus, so the dim gropings and searchings 
of the men of science of old are by re- 
peated approximations wrought into the 
clear and exact conclusions of later 
times.— Sir Michael Foster, M. P., in 
Great Thoughts. 



BY ELDER WILLIAM G. MILES, JH. 
Not only have the inspired writers of 
sacred history plainly predicted a total 
apostacy from the Gospel before the sec- 
ond advent of the Savior, but they have 
told us in unmistakable language that 
Satan, before that time, would make him- 
self manifest in the hearts of men, by 
the working of miracles, signs, and lying 
wonders. In the dispensations. that have 
past, we plainly observe, according to 
Scripture, that the working of miracles 
has not always been demonstrations of 
the power of God. When the Lord sent 
Moses and Aaron before Pharaoh to en- 
treat for the deliverance of the Israelites 
from the bonds of the Egyptian king, they 
were commanded to perform a miracle in 
his presence as an evidence of divine 
power. 

But we find the king calling the wise 
men, the magicians of Egypt, and when 
Aaron cast down hfe rod and it became 
a serpent they were given power to do 
the same. When Aaron, as commanded, 
stretched forth his hand and smote the 
waters with his rod, they became as 
blood, yet the magicians did the same. 
And when Aaron was enabled to put 
forth his hand and bring up frogs to cov- 
er the land of Egypt, the magicians had 
power to bring up frogs also. 

We can see plainly two powers mani- 
fest, one working against the other, and 
when God gave His servants power to 
perform a miracle Satan could endow his 
instruments with power to accomplfsh 
some of the same. 

It will be observed that it has been the 
design of Lucifer, not only in the case 
of Moses and Aaron before the king, but 
in all of his forms of deception, to imi 
tate as near as possible the works of the 
Lord; and thereby deceive many, whom 
it would be impossible to deceive other- 
wise. 

But we find, when the plague of lice 
was brought upon the land by the power 
of God, that Satan was checked in his 
designs, as the magicians could not per- 
form this miracle; thus we see the Divine 
power superseding the evil. 

And by close observance we will see 
that this always has been, and always 
will be the case; the works of the Lord, 
when compared to those of Satan, are as 
light is to darkness ; the ways of God as 
high above the ways of the Devil as heav- 
en is above the earth. 

But these facts can only be known by 
faithfulness to God, and a firm desire to 
know and obey the truth ; for Satan, al- 
though limited in his authority, will have 
such power in the hearts of men that 
some are bound to be deceived. 

The witch of Endor had power to call 
up Samuel from the dead, according to 
the request of Saul; thus it is plainly 
evident that miracles were, in olden times, 
the fruits of evil as well as righteousness. 
But the all-important question con- 
fronting us today is this : "JVas Satan to 
retain his power unto our <$£y of enlight- 
enment? 

Let ns search the Scriptures for a mo- 
ment and find out. Jesus, in speaking of 
the signs to precede His second coming, 
says: "For there shall arise false 
Christs, and false prophets, and shall 
show great signs and wonders; insomuch 
that if it were possible they shall deceive 
the very elect." (Matt. 24:24.) 

The testimony of Paul, in his second 
epistle to the Thessalonians, second chap- 
ter, ninth to eleventh verses, in which 
he says that Satan is to have all power, 



with signs and lying wonders, and with 
all deceivable of unrighteousness in them 
that perish, is virtually the same as the 
testimony, of our Savior ; and the words 
of John, as recorded in Rev., thirteenth 
chapter, thirteenth and fourteenth verses, 
corroborate the evidence given by all 
other writers on this subject. 

And furthermore, Jesus says of these 
workers of unrighteousness, "Many will 
say unto me in that day, Ix>rd, Lord, 
have we not prophesied in Thy name? 
and in Thy name have cast out devils; 
and in Thy name done many wonderful 
works? And then will I profess unto 
them, I never knew you, depart from me 
ye that work iniquity," thus plainly dem- 
onstrating that these deceivers will not 
come in the name of Satan, but in the 
name of Christ. 

The evil one is too cunning in his de- 
signs to send out messengers in his own 
name, well knowing that his plans would 
be frustrated ; but by sending them in the 
name of Christ, as wolves in sheeps' 
clothing, he is able to deceive and entrap 
many a soul, who has pleasure in un- 
righteousness. 

As children of God we have no prom- 
ise of Divine power to work miracles ; or 
of the spiritual blessings promised the 
faithful, except by yielding obedience to 
the commandments of our Savior. 

As the Apostle John has said, "If there 
come any unto you and bring not this 
doctrine, receive him not into your house, 
neither bid him God speed." (II John, 
10.) 

Miracles, then, from a standpoint of 
"Scripture and reason,* are not • always 
manifestations of the power of God. They 
have not been in times past, and are not- 
today. 

The glorious principles and ordinances 
of the Gospel of Christ, as instituted by 
Himself, and the power to work miracles 
are inseparably connected, and where 
one is taken and the other left off. it 
must undoubtedly be the fruits of evil. 

What must be our decision, then, in 
regard to those in this day, who boldly 
claim to have received a manifestation 
of God's power, and yet do not teach the 
pure doctrine of Christ? What must we 
decide in regard to those who ignore the 
commandments of their Lord, yet claim 
to be blessed with the Divine power of 
working miracles; such as healing, mes- 
merism, hypnotism, etc.? 

The question is easily answered, and 
as true believers in God, we must cer- 
tainly decide that they are of the same 
type as the magicians of Egypt, and 
many others of the same color. 

There is positively no danger of tho*e 
who are faithful being deceived by the 
cunning devices of Satan. If any there 
come, no matter how miraculous his 
power, if it be not connected with that 
pure and undefiled doctrine, which is the 
power of God unto salvation, we will be 
justified in denouncing him as a wolf in 
sheep's clothing, and an instrument in 
the hands of Satan, as were the sorcerers 
of old. 



God help us to prove faithful— 

Our duties to fulfill; 
Our covenants to keep sacred— 

That we on Zlon's Hill 
Mav rise with Christ our Savior, 

In robes of righteousness- 
Enjoying Life Eternal, 

And numbered with the blest. 

—Day Vid. 

'Tis all men's office to speak patience 
to those that wring under the load of 
sorrow; but no man's virtue or sufficiency 
to be so moral when he shall endure the 
like himself.— Shakespeare. 



156 



THE SOUTHERN STAR. 




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Saturday, April 14, 1900. 



ARTICLES OF FAITH 

OP THB CHURCH OP JESUS CHRIST OP 
LATTER-DAY SAINTS. 

I. We UliiT* in (Jod the EtarneJ Father, ifld in Eli* Bob 
Jema Chriit iad In lb* Holy Qbait, 

1. We bet'*'* bail mtD will be puruituvl for Ihtit «n 
tlb» 1 >ad nal for A^itee trarufroattoa. 

J W« behave thit, through tbc atonement of (JfariH, all 
BiBijrji! nay i* •****> by obedience te the lava end grille 
DtDcee vt the Goepej, 

4, We belieTe tBat the flrit principle* lid ordinance* of 
(he Qnapel M*l Flnt, filth IB the Lard3«iLia Chfiit ; irfu&J, 
KepetatBDC*. ; thinj,, BapUam btf imrhinlciD fnr Lhi- rrmiMum 
of aim ; fourth, Lejin| OD of Hindi N-.* the Gift of the liui j 

QneA 

4. We belief • I hi I e Cnlrt B>uil bf ailed of G*J. be 
" prophecy, ■ ad pj the Jajios on of bindi,"* bf thoe* Ban ere 
Id authority, to preach Ibe [otpel add ■doiiniatef id theordj- 



fl. We beilata la th# hqk orprjitalloa that eiJated in 

the primitive church— namely, Aj^xU**, Froph*lt t futtrre, 

'■"■radian, Erangellita, eLe. . 

J. We believe Id the fift of tonfut*. pfopb«j, nreiitfoa, 

Titiunt, haalint InlerprelaLion of Tongue*, ele. 

B. VVe be] H M the Bi ble to be the *ord of 0*1, ■■ faf ai i| 
'» tramUted correctly , b« mlao believe the Booh of Kongo* 
tw be Lha word uf God. 

t. W« belie** atl |hat CM ha* revealed, ell that He &** 
10* reread and to heliere that Ue aril] yet reteeJ 011,117 I™l 
and important rhin« parti i*i n* Eo lha KiOfdQBi of God- 
It), We belle¥a. fa lha litem] fitherlng of Ian at end in the 
rejtormtfo* of the Tea Tribe* ; lb«t Zioa *L]| b« bull ofmu 
thli (the American | continent ; that Cbriit will relg n paraon 
allr upon the earth, aod tJut the aartb Bill be rancBed and 
receive JEa peradiiLecal fJory. 

I!* We claim the privilege of Bonhiplng A\m\fh\j God 
♦ccordluf to Ibe dktatea of our conacivoce % and allow all 
men the HBt pri» iJeje, let them »or*bip bow, wberv, or "hit 

11 Webeila^iaMMnbJecttokiafAprtBidMt^nibr^ 
•od aMriatratta ; la ©baying, honoring and rastaialag the law. 

IS. •W« btJioee in being boneat, tree, esaata, becMToirat, 
tirtaoM. tad la doiag food to sll bms; iadaad, wo aaay osj 
that welolWw tea admoaltioa of Paal, "We beliere all thiols, 
■•-•-■ r thioa, aad bopo 



We are all strong enough to endure 
the misfortunes of others. — La Roche- 
foucauld. 



We thank our many correspondents 
for their expressions of appreciation for 
our paper and calendar. We refrain 
from publishing all the complimentary 
sentiments received, feeling well repaid 
to know the Star has lighted the path 
of those seeking after truth and right- 



Elder Reed Smoot, of Provo City, 
Utah, was appointed at the late con 
ference to be an Apostle of the Lord 
Jesus, a vacancy in the Apostles* quorum 
having occurred through the death of our 
beloved brother, Franklin D. Richards. 
Apostle Smoot has for a number of years 
been second counselor to President Par- 
tridge of the Utah Stake. 



THREE SCORE AND TEN. 

The 6th inst. marked the seventieth 
anniversary of the Church of Jesus 
Christ of Latter-day Saints. Three 
score and ten years have passed since 
its organization, the time ailoted to 
man. When mortal man has reached 
the seventy year mark he grows feeble, 
but far different with the Church God 
established through His servant Joseph 
Smith. As years roll by it grows in 
strength, tilling the hearts of tnousands 
of honest people with peace, joy und hap- 
piness. The Church was established 
when confusion was at its zenith, and 
those who were willing to follow its in- 
spired teachings were hated, reviled and 
persecuted, many even unto death. The 
world cared not for their religion, yea, 
they even despised the name "Mormon." 
its leaders were pure, and God looked 
upon them with approbation, sending 
forth the sunshine ot truth unto their 
souls. Who can light ugaiust the pur- 
poses of the Heavenly Father and with- 
stand Him? Cannot man, puny thing, 
understand their strength is nothing'/ 
Will they never learn that one man 
with God is greater than the whole 
world if they light against right? The 
work of Goa uuminiscered through His 
servants called "Mormofts'' shall con- 
tinue to advance until righteousness has 
tilled the earth as the waters cover the 
mighty sea. AVhat men may say we 
care not, but for us we prefer to serve 
the Lord. 



MAKE OTHERS HiiPPV. 



It has ever been the teachings of the 
inspired servants of God to instill within 
the Saints a desire to benefit mankind. 
**The true key to happiness," remarked 
President Snow, but a short time back, 
"is to make others happy." If we can but 
sense the true meaning of the Gospel 
plan, what is it but a means of opening 
the doors of happiness, and bidding all 
partake of salvation? A thankful man 
is a happy one, be he poor and little no- 
ticed by the world. No matter what his 
trials, temptations and afflictions are, he 
can always see those in his midst whose 
circumstances are not so favorable as his 
own. If we enjoy the Spirit of God our 
companions in life will be, Duty to God, 
and love for fellow men. From the ear- 
liest time when our Heavenly Father 
placed man upon this earth He has sent 
forth His Prophets to be as Physicians 
to administer righteousness unto suffer- 
ing mankind; to heal them of worldly 
imperfections brought upon themselves 
through disobedience to divine laws. The 
crowning event spread forth its light 
when the Savior came to earth to bless 
and aid. The world was at that time in 
the midst of darkness. The great and 
fearful plague of worldly wickedness was 
sweeping away mankind and choking 
his very life from him. A physician 
was needed to prescribe a remedy. The 
Redeemer said : "They that are whole 
need not a physician ; but they that are 
sick. I come not to call the righteous, 
but sinners to repentance." The world 
certainly needed to be rid of the curse of 
corruption, and if the directions of our 
Lord had been followed sin would have 
been swept away and man rescued from 
the strong grasp of Satan. Is there a 
happier man than a true servant of God, 
who responds to a call, going forth to 
search out the honest in heart? What 
worldly pleasure equals the happiness en- 
joyed by those who carry the message of 
salvation unto the people of the nations? 



None are happier, as the testimony of 
hundreds, yes, thousands of Elders stand 
forth in bold relief, saying their happiest 
days have been in the mission field. When 
an Elder is doing his duty time passes 
sweetly by, arming him with truth to 
wage battle against evil. But, say people 
of the world: How can persecution 
bring blessings? What is the secret of 
happiness enjoyed by Mormon Elders, 
even when they are in the midst of per- 
secution? Remembering that trials are 
but blessings in disguise, and being 
guided by the sweet influence of the 
Spirit, they work with a will; making 
themselves happy by the enjoyment mani- 
fest in the lives of those who have ac- 
cepted the Gospel. Why should not an 
Elder feel happy when he sees people 
whose very faces radiate with the sunlight 
of happiness? There is not a grander or 
nobler work given man to do than teach- 
ing and preaching the Gospel. Doing good 
is but a manifestation of a man's rela- 
tions to God. "Greater love hath no 
man than this, that a man lay down his 
life for his friends." 



FIFTY YEARS AGO. 

"I can say to all Israel, it is time wi- 
should awake from our lethargy, from our 
drowsy and sleepy feelings; awake to 
righteousness, and hasten the work that 
is upon us, for in a day and hour that we 
are not aware of, behold the Son of Man 
cometh!" 

Fifty years ago the above words wero 
uttered by that veritable "Lion of the 
Lord," and Moses of these last days — 
Brigham Young. They were given by the 
voice of inspiration, and spoken by the 
power and demonstration of God's Holy 
Spirit. Since the day they were spoken 
until the present time, we have witnessed 
a notable and marked era, in the mater- 
ial and religious welfare of the saints 
of latter days. Were we to examine 
ourselves today, we should find that 
the words of this great prophet are just 
as applicable to us as to those to whom 
he spoke. We must needs be on •the 
alert, and watch as well as pray, for the 
adversary of the souls of men is seeking 
our destruction. Let us awake and with 
a sense of duty resting upon us, go to work 
with a vim and vigor that the righteous 
purpose of God may be accomplished. 
This work is a glory to the righteous, a 
marvel to the wicked, and a wonder jo 
the world. We cannot afford for one 
moment to ~>e lulled to sleep, while the 
Lord is calling us to duty. Idleness, 
superstition and vice are the enemies we 
must go against. Make no compromise 
with any, but on unconditional terms, 
wage a warfare of righteousness and 
truth, which will eventually triumph over 
every foe. Let us put ourselves in har- 
mony with God and His righteous laws, 
that we may receive the divine sunlight 
of His everlasting love to illumine our 
souls, and point out the path of duty. 
Let duty be written on our brow, en- 
graved on the fleshy tablets of our hearts, 
and always manifest in our walks 
through life. Let us be up and doing, 
fulfilling the commands of our God, and 
putting into practice the words of him 
who spoke fifty years ago. 



Don't waste yourself in rejection, nor 
bark against the bad, but chant the beau- 
ty of the good— Emerson. 



THE SOUTHERN STAR. 



i»r 



President Snow's Birthday. 

Deseret News. 

The 3rd of April was the 86th anniver- 
sary of the birthday of President Lo- 
renzo Snow. The occasion was cele- 
brated Monday afternoon, the 2nd inst, 
by the officers and workers of the Tem- 
ple, in the annex of that building, which 
was beautifully ornamented with floral 
decorations.. The company consisted of 
the workers and their wives or husbands, 
as the case might be, and invited guests. 
The latter were limited to the General 
Authorities of the Church. 

When the guest of honor entered the 
hall the entire company arose and sang 
"We thank Thee, O God, for a Proph- 
et" The opening prayer was offered by 
Elder John Nicholson. 

Bishop John R. Winter, who had per- 
sonally superintended the arrangements 
and conducted the proceedings through- 
out, announced that refreshments would 
be in order. The blessing was asked by 
Bishop Romney. Then followed the 
"replenishment of the inner man," and 
engagement in pleasant social conversa- 
tion. 

At the. conclusion of this exercise the 
Temple choir sang "I know that my 
Redeemer lives." This was followed by 
an appropriate congratulatory and pre- 
sentation speech by Bishop Winder, di- 
rected to the guest of honor, to whom 
he presented the following: 

In behalf of Sister Prisdlla P. Jen- 
nings, a handsome vase and bouquet. 

In behalf of Bishop William B. Pres- 
ton, an exquisite bouquet. 

In behalf of Jonathan G. Kimball and 
wife, a beautiful bouquet. 

In behalf of the officers and workers 
of the Temple, three large lilies, em- 
blematical of the First Presidency; a 
bouquet of roses (appropriate in number) 
representative of the Twelve Apostles; 
a rose emblematical of the Patriarch of 
the Church; a bouquet of carnations, 
emblems of the first seven Presidents of 
Seventies; a trio of roses representative 
of the Presidency of the Lesser Priest- 
hood. 

The responsive remarks of President 
Snow were appropriate, pointed and in 
his usual happy vein. 

A solo was sweetly sung by Sister 
Mary Young. Suitable remarks were 
made by Elder Brigham Young. An ad- 
dress, admirably adapted to the occa- 
sion, was read by Sister Hester S. Gan- 
non, and the choir sang "Zion stands 
with hills surrounded." Then followed 
a neat speech by Patriarch John Smith; 
remarks and song (Let the Saints pre- 
pare to meet Him), by Elder George 
Teasdale, and remarks by Elder Sey- 
mour B. Young. 

A violin solo by Brother B. M. Young, 
Jr., showed him to be an unusually skill- 
ful manipulator of that instrument. 

An original poem, composed for the 
occasion, by Sister Louisa L. G. Rich- 
ards, was read by that lady. This was 
followed by interesting and impressive 
remarks by President Joseph F. Smith 
and Bishop Robert T. Burton, and Elder 
George D. Pyper sang "There is sun- 
shine in my soul." The concluding ad- 
dresses, which were in excellent har- 
mony with the occasion, were delivered 
by Bishop E. F. Sheets and President 
George Q. Gannon. 

The choir sang "Shall we meet beyond 
the river?" 

The musical exercises, which consti- 
tuted an attractive feature of the pro- 
ceedings, were conducted by Prof. C. J. 
Thomas. 

After the benediction, which was pro- 
nounced by President Snow, the com- 



pany passed in line in front of that be- 
loved and venerated man, and took occa- 
sion to shake hands with and congratu- 
late him. 

This was an ideal gathering, charac- 
terized by unadulterated peace and good 
will. All who participated will doubt- 
less retain it in their memories as one of 
their most pleasant social experiences. 



Abstracts from Correspondence. 

To The Star. 

A little space in the Star will be much 
appreciated by me, as I wish to say a few 
words in behalf of the Latter-day Saints. 
When the Elders first visited Trigg coun- 
ty, Kentucky, they called and left a tract 
with me. I paid little attention to its 
contents, throwing the literature aside, 
thinking it was of little value. A few 
weeks rolled away, when I had the privi- 
lege of hearing the Elders preach. I 
wished to know if they be true servants, 
and can say now I know they are God's 
anointed. Your sister in the Gospel, 

Jane T. Whalst. 
Fenton, Ky. 

To The Star. 

As 1 am a member of the Church of 
Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, I de- 
sire to pen you a few lines. I joined the 
church three years ago and can say I 
have learned more since that time than I 
ever thought I would. Although but 14 
years of age, yet I read my Testament 
and bear testimony to the truthfulness of 
the Gospel. I want to be a good, pure 
girl, and expect persecution by obeying 
the true plan. I am living with my 
grandparents. My grandpa likes the El- 
ders of God and treats them well, but he 
is not a member yet. I hope and pray 
that he will be soon. I will close, pray- 
ing for the continued success of the 
bright little Star. 

Nanoy F. Johnson. 
Milligan, Tenn. 



Southern Star. 

Having read the Star for some time, I 
would like to write a few lines, if you 
would please allow me space in your pa- 
per. August 1st, 1899, to my great sur- 
prise two Mormon Elders walked up to 
our gate. I told my husband to bid 
them enter, which he did. I knew they 
were humble servants of the Lord, and 
hearing them sing and preach has often 
filled my heart with gladness. Like Paul, 
I was not ashamed of the Gospel, being 
baptized Dec. 10th. I only wish every- 
one could see the beauties of the Gospel 
as I do, for I can testify to its truthful; 
ness. I have seen the sick healed by 
God through the Elders. I pray I may 
always have the Spirit to guide me in 
this life. Sabah Culpepper. 

Meigs, Ga. 



Editor Southern Star. 

Please allow me a little space in your 
welcome weekly visitor, to tell to its 
many readers what the Lord has done 
for us through the humble Elders. I 
will never forget the rainy evening, three 
years ago, that Elder Soren Peterson 
and E. R. Needham came to my house. 
We granted them shelter from the depths 
of our hearts. I will never forget the 
words spoken by them when they prom- 
ised if we would be humble and prayer- 
ful we would never regret the day the 
Elders visited us. Since that good day 
we have had the pleasure of entertain- 
ing thirty-four Elders and have heard 
400 sermons preached, and have had 
many Gospel conversations. I have read 
my Bible and compared its teachings with 
those of the Latter-day Saints and found 
them to be in harmony. My wife and 



myself were baptized the latter part of 
last year, and sinee that time much joy 
has filled our hearts. I bless the day that 
the Elders found their way to our door. 
Best wishes we send to the readers of 
the Star. Your brother and sister in the 
Gospel. N. L. BROWN AND WIFE. 



NOT ASHAMED OF THE GOSPEL 

Below is given two letters which con- 
stitutes a bit of correspondence between 
an Elder of the Church of Jesus Christ 
of Latter-day Saints and his uncle, a 
Deacon in a sectarian church. The El- 
der had given up all earthly ties, to la- 
bor for the salvation of mankind, and 
having been invited by this uncle to pay 
them a visit, wrote telling him the time 
he would call. "Denounce your religion 
and then we will give you a hearty wel- 
come,' 1 read his uncle's letter, showing 
plainly his narrowness. The Elder's let- 
ter is teeming with the fruits of the 
Spirit, and his testimony will stand 
against this self-righteous man, who has 
shown he is of the world.— Ed. 



, March 29th, 1900. 

Mr. 

Dear Burton: 

Yours of a few days since received in 
regard to the visit you propose making 
your relatives soon. None of them can 
give you a hearty welcome on account 
of the doctrine you Latter-day Saints 
preach and practice. The people in this 
section have no faith in it at all. Your 
mother wrote me a long letter not long 
since. I want no other doctrine than 
that preached by Christ and His Apos- 
tles. The absurd idea of the founder 
of the Latter-day Saints (Joe Smith) 
being worshiped by your people as 
Christ; that the Lord spoke to him in 
1832, etc. The days of miracles have 
passed hundreds and hundreds of years 
ago. Do away with such doctrines and 
fraud as your people preach and prac- 
tice, and your relatives will give you a 
hearty welcome. 

Your uncle in hope of Eternal Life, 



Mr. 



, March 31st, 1900. 



Dear Uncle— Your communication of 
March 29th to hand. The spirit of it 
greatly grieves me. As I gather from 
your letter, you do not care for me to 
visit you as long as I am a member of 
the church to which I belong? Should 
I see fit to leave this church, then you 
would be very pleased to welcome me? 
I say this is, it seems to me, the sum 
and substance of your letter. 

Now, let me say, in all kindness, that 
I cannot possibly give up my religion, 
even though the whole world were 
against me. I have spent two years of 
my time and feeble talents, free of 
charge, in preaching it to the world, and 
I intend to spend the rest of my life in 
that direction. While I may do that, I, 
however, respect all' people in their re- 
ligious beliefs, and do not force my re- 
ligion upon anyone.' My instructions, 
before I started on this visiting tour, 
were to say nothing concerning my re- 
ligious views unless asked regarding 
them. I have followed those instruc- 
tions. While I visited Uncle in 

(and, by the way, he welcomed me), 

I had nothing to say in regard to my 
religion, as you will find by writing to 
him. 

Permit me, kindly, to say a few words 
in regard to several points mentioned in 
your letter. In the first place, permit 
me to observe that we preach and: prac- 
tice nothing contrary to the Bible, not- 



158 



THE SOUTHERN STAJL 



withstanding, that our enemies often say, 
but fail to prove, otherwise. You will 
find, by referring to our Articles of 
Faith, that this statement is true. The 
Articles are on the back of my personal 
card, which I inclose. That is what we 
believe, preach and practice, here in 
Utah, and everywhere else on earth. 

You say, "1 want no other doctrine 
than that preached by Christ and His 
Apostles." Neither do we, nor do we 
ask you to accept any other. 

Christ taught (Mark 10:17:18» that 
certain gifts and blessings (commonly 
termed miracles) should (not "may") fol 
low those who believe on Him. James 
(5:14, 15) says to send for the Elders 
and have them pray over the sick, and 
the Lord should raise them up. We are 
told by Paul (an Apostle) (I Cor., 12:4- 
12) that three of the gifts of the Spirit 
are healing, working of miracles, and 
prophecy. In a number of places we 
are told that God is the "same yester- 
day, today, and forever;" and that *'Hu 
is no respecter of persons." You say 
"the days of miracles have passed hun- 
dreds and hundreds of years ago," Now, 
dear uncle, I have never seen anything 
of the kind in the Scriptures, . at least 
not in my Bible. I use King James* 
version. I may have overlooked it, but 
I think not. 

Did you ever read in Ephesians 4:11- 
10 where Paul said that Christ placed 
in the church Apostles and Prophets 
for the work of the ministry, and that 
they should remain there until we come 
to the unity of the faith? We have 
not come to that unity, so, of course, 
we must have Prophets, and why not 
Joseph Smith be one of them? Solomon 
says (Prov. 29:18) "Where there is no 
vision the people perish," and Amos 
(3:7) "Surely the Lord God will do noth- 
ing, but He revealeth His secrets unto 
His servants the Prophets." Why not 
Joseph Smith be one of those Prophets 
to receive His secrets, so that he can be 
a great power for the saving of mankind? 

Paul says (Heb. 5:4) "And no man 
taketh this honor unto himself, but he 
that is called of God, as was Aaron." 
By referring to Exodus, fourth chapter, 
you will find that Aaron was called of 
God through the Prophet Moses. So, 
necessarily, we mlist be called by a 
Prophet if we preach or officiate in the 
ordinances of the Gospel. Why not Jo- 
seph Smith be a Prophet, so that the 
earth may not be devoid of authorized 
preachers? In the Revelations of St. 
John (14:6) we find the following: "And 
I saw another angel fly in the midst of 
heaven, having the everlasting Gospel 
to preach unto them that dwell on the 
earth, and to every nation, and kindred, 
aud tongue, and people." Why should 
that angel not come to Joseph Smith? 
He says it did. What is there to dis- 
prove his statement?" 

We do not worship Joseph Smith, as 
has often been said, but we hold him 
in reverence, just as we do all of the 
Holy Prophets, such as Abraham, Mo- 
ses, John, etc. We worship God the 
Father through Jesus Christ. 

In conclusion let me say that when 
Christ was upon the earth He gave one 
infallible test of His divinity. He told 
men that if they should comply with the 
doctrines He taught they should know 
that they were divine. This is the one 
infallible test of the divinity of Joseph 
Smith. If any person will obey the doc- 
trines He taught they shall know that 
he was a true Prophet of God. Three 
hundred thousand people have obeyed 
and know. Why not you? 

While it may be heartrending to see 
my friends and my relatives turn the 



cold shoulder because of my religion, 
yet there can be only one safe path— 
the pathway of duty. I know that Jo- 
seph Smith was a Prophet of the living 
God— know it beyond a doubt-4*now it 
just as Peter knew that Jesus was the 
Christ— by the testimony of the Spirit 
of God. With this testimony in my 
heart I cannot turn back from the truth; 
I cannot leave the brightness of the 
Gospel arc-light for the dingy light of 
the sputtering tallow-candle of modern 
Christendom. 

The best I can say is to say with the 
Savior, "Ask, and it shall be given you; 
seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it 
shall be opened unto you." (Matt. 7:7), 
or with James (1:5), "If any of you lack 
wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth 
to all men liberally, and upbraideth not, 
and it shall be given him." 

That the Lord of All Mercies may 
bless you with wisdom and with His 
Spirit, that you may be enabled to 
comprehend and obey the truth, there- 
by securing for yourself eternal life, is 
the earnest prayer of your loving 
Nephew. Burton. 



A WORD IN DEFENSE. 

BY ELDER B. L. SHEPHERD. 

In a recent issue of our county paper 
here, there appeared an article on Bap- 
tism, to which I desire to reply, if I 
may be granted space in your valuable 
paper for that purpose. The author of 
the above-mentioned article desired to 
know whether baptism as taught by Jesus 
was of the water, or of the spirit. To 
those who are willing to abide in the 
words of the Master, it will readily ap« 
pear that both the water and the spiritual 
baptism are necessary to the salvation of 
their souls, for He says : "Except a man 
be bom of water and of the Spirit, he 
cannot enter into the Kingdom of God." 
Can anything be more explicit than this 
divine fiat proceeding from the lips of the 
Savior himself? It is given in clear, sim- 
ple, well defined, unmistakable terms. 
Example, in all things, being more force- 
ful and impressive upon the human mind, 
let us look for one moment at the ac- 
tions of Him who said : "Ye must be 
born again!" Was He baptised? Yes! 
verily so, Matthew, Mark, Luke and John, 
these four sacred historians all bear 
testimony that our Lord went into the 
waters of baptism (Matt. 3:16; Mark 
1:9. Luke 3,21; John 1:33) 

We see then, that the Lamb of God, 
taught by the word of precept, and living 
example essentiality, vital importance, 
and absolute necessity, of waiter and 
spiritual baptism. When the Lord 
commissioned the apostles to "go into 
all the world, and preach the gospel to 
every creature," it was with this knowl- 
edge or understanding. "He that be- 
ljeveth (the gospel) and is baptised shall 
he saved "while he that believeth not 
(consequently rejects baptism) shall be 
damned." (Mark 16:16.) Having re- 
ceived this divine commission, and being 
empowered with the gift of the Holy 
Ghost (Acts 2.4) they began to preach 
the gospel of salvation, and having es- 
tablished in the hearts of their hearers 
a true, living, profitable faith, they com- 
manded them to "repent and be baptized" 
(Acts 2:38) promising the gift of the 
Holy Ghost, to follow, as a consequence 
of obedience to these principles of faith 
and repentence, and all important or- 
dinance of baptism by water. We see 
then, that in all these scriptural refer- 
ences, baptism was made a condition of 
salvation, and by what authority has any 
man the Tight to say that this ordinance 



of baptism is not essential to the salva- 
tion of mankind. 

The author of the article under dis- 
cussion says, in speaking of Peter's visit 
with tiie devout Cornelius, "chat, at the 
nouse ot Corneuus, he u'i'tei'J wanes, or 
m-oinQienas n as a resuic. oi salvation." 
1 tail to see where he nnds any ground 
tor this conclusion, the scripture sayetn: 
"And He commanded them to be bap- 
tized" (Acts M>.*8.) Xot recommended, 
dear brother, hut "commanded in the name 
ot the Lord." The scriptures ot* truth, 
the Holy Bible, is replete with passages 
commanding those' wno desire salvation 
to be "baptised in water for the remis- 
sion of sins," and the divine historians, 
return again and again to condemn those 
who deny this essential doctrine ot' 
Christ (Heb. 0:12), and, confirm the 
teachings of those who earnestly contend 
for its obedience. Peter gives us to un- 
derstand that baptism is an essentiality, 
for in speaking of the days when the 
earth was deluged by the flood, he says: 
"The like figure where unto even baptism 
doth also now save us." Paul was com- 
manded to "arise and be baptised, and 
wash away thy sins" (Acts 22:10). In 
conclusion, 1 would say unto all : "Search 
the scriptures," 4 Do as Christ has bidden 
you to do. Follow in His footsteps. Keep 
His holy and sacred ordinances, that 
you may escape the day of burning and be 
saved with the redeemed. 



GLEANINGS. 



In the city of Richmond, Va., during 
the week ending march 31st, Elders T. H. 
Fotheringham and Joel Nibley sold sev- 
enty-one books, while Elders E. W. Allen 
and E. G. Gardner sold forty. This 
shows much zeal on their part and surely 
their efforts are praisworthy. 



President Ben E. Rich, Chattanopga, 

Tenn. : 

Dear Brother — Enclosed you will find 
$1 for the renewal of my subscription to 
The Star. It is indeed a missionary to 
our home, being highly appreciated, and 
should be in the home of every Latter 
Day Saint. It will inspire the hearts 
of all who read it and 1 will say God bless 
The Star that shines so bright in our 
home once a week. And the calendar I 
must thank you for that. It is something 
I appreciate very much. Your brother in 
the cause of truth. W. G. Palmer. 



Elder Richie Harkness called in at the 
office this week on his way home, having 
filled an honorable mission in the South- 
ern States. Elder Harkness has endured 
many trials and much persecution for 
the Gospel. He is a southerner by na- 
tivity, embracing the Gospel at his home 
in York county, South Carolina, Jan. 
0, 1885. In 1887 he was taken out and 
made to bear lashings because he was 
a "Mormon." He emigrated to Utah in 
1890, and in May, 1808, he left his loved 
ones for a mission to the south. Speaking 
of his mission he says: "I have never 
enjoyed myself better in my life," and 
he is 50 years of age. Brother Harkness 
was a Misisonary Baptist minister prior 
to his conversion to the principles of 
righteousness, as taught by the "Mormon" 
Elders. 



In the scholarly character, sought not 
for. self-indulgence, but for the service of 
mankind, is there not the harmony of all 
the efforts of the ages and the millennial 
hope of human learning?— Phillips 
Brooks. 



Habit is more powerful than nature.- 
Rufus. 



THE SOUTHERN STAR. 



159 



HAPPINESS AND PLEASURE. 



u 



BY JAMES E. TALMAGE. 



In addressing a mixed assembly of 
Jews, Christ preached untp them the 
Gospel of salvation ; and in declaring 
unto them the divinity of His own per- 
son and mission, gave this solemn prom- 
ise: 

"If ye continue in my word, ye shall 
know the truth, and the truth shall make 
you free." (John 8:32.) 

In truth alone is freedom to be found. 
The bonds of sin, the penalties of broken 
law, are stronger than any shackles that 
man can forge. Sin were possibly of less 
dreadful aspect if it ended witn itself; 
but terrible as is the fact, wickedness 
must be classed with the things that live, 
and grow, and propagate their kind. It 
is like the weed that flourishes in nox- 
ious splendor, with blossoms which out- 
bloom the flowers of sweet service ; though 
the very fragrance of its petals is deadly. 

Sin leads to sift. It is a promissory 
note in the bank of the Inferno, with 
compound interest accumulating day and 
night. The sinner is ever in debt, and 
of all who wail in bondage, the guilty 
debtor is among the most abject. The 
truth will liberate men from the serfdom 
of debt, as from all other bonds of sin. 

We speak of "telling the truth;" this 
is at best but a narrow expression, cir- 
cumscribed by custom. Truth is not a 
thing of words. Speaking the truth is 
weak compared with doing the truth — 
as feeble in comparison as is voicing a 
prayer in contrast with doing with full 
purpose of heart what that prayer im- 
plies. Let us be thankful that we have 
better and more enduring stuff than 
words with which to weave the fabric of 
our life's purpose ; grateful that we kuow 
a language more impressive and less lia- 
ble to go astray than is that of the lips. 
. The truth gives freedom, and freedom 
brings happiness. The free man is the 
truly happy man. Freedom carries with 
it burdens; it imposes responsibilities; it 
may deprive us of lesser pleasures ; never- 
theless it insnres happiness. Let it be 
noted that happiness* and pleasure are not 
the same. In the haste and hurry of our 
busy lives we ofttimes fail to distinguish 
between the two, and are ready to accept 
the one for the other. Thev belong to 
different species. Happiness is the jewel, 
pleasure but the paste imitation. Hap- 
piness is the noble metal, unaffected by 
the corrosion of the elements, unbitten 
bv the tooth of time ; pleasure is the gild- 
ed brass, which, once deprived of its 
false, scaly covering, cankers and is con- 
verted into poisonous verdigris. 

Pleasure is a weed, however alluring its 
fragrance: happiness the plant of useful- 
ness and sweetness. Pleasure is the 
tickling of the palate with th*» savory 
notta ire. too often boinrht a f th*» n^** 
of a birthright : happiness is the strength, 
the health, the vigor, that comes from 
wholesome food, honestly earned, paten 
with thanksgiving, and assimilated by a 
body that has not been wrecked through 
dissipation. 

Happiness is the love that passeth all 
understanding, which only true men 
and virtuous women can know ; the para- 
dise of the soul into which only the clean 
mnv enter. It mellows tb*» har»hn«»«<* *>f 
our natures, it restrains, it sanctifies. In 
such affection the angels lend their aid, 
and the Father approves. Pleasure is 



the ungodly passion that too often passes 
current for love; it scorches the heart 
and sears the soul; 'tis the brutish in- 
stinct that seeks only present gratifica- 
tion, and counts not the consequences; 
'tis the incarnation of selfishness, that 
would use the fairest of the works of 
God as a plaything to be broken and de- 
filed and then thrown away. 

Happiness is the joy of the angels; 
pleasure too often but the fiendish pas- 
time of the fallen. Happiness leaves no 
bitter taste in the mouth, nor does it 
impel to deeds of which there is cause to 
repent. Happiness is a gift from God; 
pleasure is the devils' counterfeit. 

The Latter-day Saints are, as of right 
they must be, a happy people. Indeed, 
I am suspicious of one professing to be 
a Latter-day Saint who is not happy. 
This is not saying that the Latter-day 
Saints should be a pleasure-loving or a 
pleasure-seeking people. Happiness may 
bring with it tears, and sobs, and sorrows ; 
but beneath them all is a current of as- 
surance that such have come from the 
loving though chastening hand of God. 

A few months ago I was one of a small 
gathering of Utah people in the city of 
London. Those who found themselves 
there face to face in a strange land, en- 
joyed an hour of pleasant converse and 
innocent recreation. Among the few 
other than Utah people present was a 
gentleman who had recently joined the 
church in Great Britain. He stood look- 
ing over the small assembly in an inter- 
ested manner; and then, taking me aside, 
he said: "I have heard numerous testi- 
monies borne since I came into the 
church; have heard many relate the cir- 
cumstances that led them to investigate 
this message of truth ; but I have never 
found another with an experience quite 
like my own. What would you say if I 
tell you that the one circumstance which 
attracted me and led me to investigate 
the message brought by the Elders of 
the Church of Jesus Christ was this: 
that all who join this church seem to be 
happy? Everybody here appears to be 
happy : and whenever I meet a Latter- 
day Saint I find myself in the presence 
of happiness and contentment." Well, I 
knew that truth before, and yet, perhaps, 
I had never framed the thought in words. 
I replied: "Why shouldn't they be hap- 
py?" In thinking over the incident I 
have reached the conclusion that happi- 
ness is not merely an incidental, but an 
essential feature in the lives of Latter- 
day Saints. 

You will understand me when I say 
figuratively that I believe happiness is 
one of the principles of the Gospel ; for 
the man who knows that he has em- 
braced the Gospel of freedom, the one 
who has heard and comprehended the 
messaare of his Father, the one who is 
no lonarer seeking here and there, and 
wandering hither and thither in search 
of the pearl of great price, because he 
has found it. ought to be, if any man can 
be. happy. HapDiness and peace will find 
a lodgment in the heart of the righteous 
man. He will be willing to forego the 
oleasurps and assume the burdens of life. 
He will be willing to meet th*» sorrows 
that come. And through it all he will be 
happy «nd thankful because he is a free 
man. He is no lonarer a slave : the truth 
has emancipated him; the Gospel has 



enfranchised him; the word of God has 
made him free. 

But the fact that we mistake pleasure 
for happiness is not without its parallels. 
This is a day of imitation, adulteration, 
deception, and fraud. What is there of 
value in the world that has not been 
counterfeited, what that has not been 
adulterated and imitated? Half the 
chemists of the world today are devoting 
their energies to the detection of adulter- 
ation; and the other half, equally skill- 
ful perhaps, and ofttimes more ingenious, 
are using their great knowledge of the 
hidden things of nature to devise and con- 
coct other adulterations that shall defy 
detection. Priesthood has been imitated 
by priestcraft. Vice ofttimes masquer- 
ades in the robes that are like unto those 
that virtue wears, and the test of revela- 
tion is required sometimes to distinguish 
between the two. But do not let us mis- 
take the one for the other. If you bar- 
gain for happiness, see that you get the 
genuine article; pleasure is not a fair 
substitute. 

Don't adjudge me as inexcusably pes- 
simistic; as seeing only the sombre side 
of human nature and institutions; as 
perceiving naught but the corruption of 
present-day society. I have not lost 
faith in ray Father's family. My fellow- 
men are children of God, and though many 
of them forget their high estate, and ig- 
nore their divine heritage, all do not so. 
Our Father looks with righteous pride 
upon hosts of His children who have nev- 
er bowed the knee to Baal; He knows 
where to find thousands who have never 
defiled themselves; He could call the roll 
of legions who are happy and free, be- 
cause the truth hath made them so. 

The Gospel of Christ is the good news 
of peace. It bears the glad tidings of 
happiness and freedom. 

Peace be with you. — Young Woman's 
Journal. 



Faith and Prayer to Accompany Fastin g. 

Juvenile Instructor. 

Probably at no time in the history of 
the church has the monthly fast day l>eeii 
observed more closely than it has been of 
late, especially since the dny has been 
eh a need from the first Thursday in the 
month to the first Sunday. The first Sun- 
day in every month is now observed 
throughout all the church, at home and 
abroad, with great punctuality. It is of 
course likely that many members do not 
observe the day with the strictness which 
is. desired, but there are very few of the 
faithful Latter-day Saints who are guilty 
of neglect in this respect. From the even- 
ing meal of Saturday to the evening meal 
of Sunday every scrupulous Saint denies 
himself all food and beverages. Indeed, 
some people of sensitive consciences have 
addressed us inquiries asking whether it 
was not breaking the fast to partake of 
the Sacrament. We think such a view is 
rather too technical. If the day is strict- 
ly observed as a fast day in other re- 
spects, certainly no barm nor wrong is 
done in partaking of the emblems of the 
Lord's body and blood in the course of 
the das*. 

In fasting on these occasions, or any 
occasion observed as a fast day, there 
should be in the minds of those who fast 
some object to foe sought after and gained 
by fasting and prayer. Every human be- 
ing has some wants, some desires near to 
the heart, which the Lord alone can 
grant. It is well at suck times, therefore, 
to bear these desires in mind, and to offer 
prayer to the Lord for them to be graut 



leo 



THE SOUTHERN STAR. 



REPORT OF MISSION CONFERENCES FOR WEEK ENDING MARCH 24, 1900. 



PBWtOKKT 



David H. Klton 

Heber 8. Olson „ 

B. V. Price 

K. L. Pomcroy 

W.D. Rene her, „„.„ 
T. H. Humphreys... 
Geo. W. SXMroore .. 
J.UrbanAUred_„ 

J. M. Haws 

Sylvester low, Jr WJ . 

G.M. Porter, 

W.W.Ml-Kin 

J.N.Miller 

W.H.Boyl- 

Don C. Benson,.,,.... 
Geo. E. Mayo nek 



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ed. These desires should be accompanied 
by all the faith possible to be exercised by 
the humble petitioner before the Lord. 

Innumerable instances might be cited 
to show how effective fasting and prayer 
have been in obtaining righteous desires. 
The Elders who go out, without purse 
and scrip, carrying the gospel, obtain an 
experience full of illustrations of the pow- 
er and efficacy of prayer in securing for 
them that which their hearts desire. In- 
deed, Elders of great faith have frequent- 
ly found themselves relieved from the 
necessity of asking for aid from thoso 
with whom they were brought in contact, 
because through the exercise of their 
faith before the Lord, He has put it into 
the hearts of men to supply their wants 
without waiting for human request or 
suggestion. Where Elders have faith 
enough to accomplish this, it is surely a 
more pleasant way of obtaining relief or 
that which is necessary to aid them in 
their missionary labors than to be com- 
pelled to ask for such aid. 

At the present time there' is a storm 
of falsehood, slander and misrepresen ra- 
tion raging against the Latter-day Saints. 
Satan and his emissaries are holding high 
carnival and flooding the country with 
every kind of story that is likely .to arouse 
wrath and indignation against the Saints 
of God. The most unscrupulous methods 
are resorted to; the most atrocious lies 
are fabricated, and the bitterest malice is 
manifested. We have these storms quite 
frequently. It would disturb us very 
much if there were any long-continued 
peace — if the Latter-day Saints enjoyed 
the favor of the world to any extent or 
for any length of time. Every one of ex- 
perience in the church is therefore re- 
minded in times of peace of the probabil- 
ity of another storm being aroused 
against the Saints in the near future. It 
is noticeable, too, that each succeeding 
storm is heavier and more widespread 
than all that have preceded it. It is a 
remarkable fact that as the church grows 
in years, in experience and in strength, 
these periodical visitations of wrath be- 
come more violent, more widespread, and 
more alarming in their character. If the 
Saints had had in their earlier days such 
trials of their faith through the threats 
and manifestations of hatred on the part 
of their enemies, it is doubtful whether 
many would not have faltered and be- 
come frightened at the outlook. But year 
after year, as one trial has followed an- 
other, the faithful Saints have been pre- 
pared for the worst that could happen. 
Each test has strengthened them the bet- 
ter to endure the next one. And they 
have finally learned to keep down all agi- 
tation and disturbance of mind at the 
malignant threats and the wicked plots 
of their enemies. 

This is the case at the present time. 
The wrath of the wicked will be turned 
aside; the Lord will cause it to praise 
him, and to bring glory to His name, sal- 
vation to His people, and an increase of 
faith and confidence to all who trust Him. 
Yet we suggest that on our regular fast 
days the Saints should supplicate the 
Lord in their prayers to look down with 
mercy and tender compassion upon His 



people and to destroy the wicked plots of 
the adversaries of truth. He is our.Grear 
Deliverer. We must rely on Him and 
Him alone. There is no earthly power 
that could have saved or that can save 
the Latter-day Saints from the destruc- 
tion that their enemies would like to 
wreak upon them. They must therefore 
look to the Lord. He will hear the 
prayers of His people. He has done so 
in the past. He will continue to do so, 
and He will work out their salvation to 
their abundant satisfaction. 



"Ye Shall Know Them By Their Fruits." 

Wearied by a long journey, a traveler 
stopped by the road side to rest. On the 
opposite side his keen eye rested upon 
something of interest. Hurriedly aris- 
ing, this way-faring man went to the spot 
which had caused him so much surprise. 
"Strange things will never cease," he 
muttered, "a grape vine, to be sure, but 
why so many different kinds of fruits 
clinging to it? There is the apple, the 
plum, peach, cherries, figs," and so on 
he enumerated them upon his fingers as 
he discovered a different kind of fruit. 
"How enticing they all look ! What a 
treat awaits me." With boyish glee he 
put forth his hand and plucked an apple. 
A look of disgust took the place of joy. 
"Not good," he exclaimed as he thrust it 
to the ground. Every kind of fruit did 
he gather with but the same result. About 
to turn away he noticed a bunch of 
grapes before unseen, clinging Close to the 
vine. "Ah ! real fruit is yet my reward. 
How delicious." Holding them at arm's 
length he stood in rapt admiriation. Many 
were his thoughts. Truly the other fruits 
were beautiful to the eye, but the only 
real child of the vine were the grapes. 
While carried away in deep thought the 
lonely traveler was greeted with a strange 
voice: "Hallo! must he traveling?" 
"Yes," was the reply. "I am journeying 
in search of a treasure; not a worldly gain, 
but treasures in Heaven — the kingdom 
of God as our Lord commanded all to 
first seek." "I cannot see," said the new- 
comer, "your reason for making hard to 
travel a road I deem easy; note the teach- 
ings of our Redeemer, for plainly he 
said 'I am the vine and ye are the 
branches.' Does not that mean that 
through Christ we receive all nourish- 
ment? Did he not mean that all phnrches 
are His, and it matters not which one 
a person belongs to?" "Yes," responded 
the truth seeker, "the Saviour did say I 
am the vine and ye are the branches. 
James also asks if the fig tree can bear 
olive berries? Either a vine figs? Your 
idea of salvation reminds me of that vine. 
I noticed such a variety of seemingly 
good fruit, but do you know that but 
one kind received nourishment from th«t 
vine? The grape only being real. God's 
creation, while the others were imitations, 



pleasing to the eye, perhaps, but not to 
the taste, because they were modeled with 
man's hands." "Today I see before me 
what people claim as God's churches, 
which they delight to call the branches. 
Like the fruit, they have no connection 
with the vine. Their imitations neither 
bring blessings nor salvation promised 
true believers. Like the reproduction of 
the amateur artist, who copies the master 
production, when placed beside the orig- 
inal show many imperfections* not be- 
ing guided by the divine hand of the mas- 
ter, modeled by men instead of God, they 
present a mass of confusion ; having a 
form of Godliness, but denying tne power 
thereof. Doubt walks upon the path 
which certainty should travel. Many, 
instead of having the spirit to guide them, 
trust ill vain imaginations of their own 
wisdom. 1 must be on my journey and 
search for the penrj of .greatest price. 
The little stone cut out of the mountain 
without hands. The true church and 
Kingdom of God, having such officers to 
bring all mankind to perfection and en- 
joying the blessings promised to those 
who will obey." 

"So on life's path he sped his way, 
To search for truth, and uot delay, 
For riches. Internal, who will but seek.? 
This earth is promised to the meek." 



THE DEAD. 



Brother William L. Kitchen departed 
from, this life on Monday morning, March 
19, 1900. He was baptized Jan, 10, 1898, 
by Elder II. B. Crouch. He had been 
a faithful Latter Day Saint, though he 
was looked upon with scorn by some who 
had been his friends before he became 
a "Mormon," nevertheless, he had many 
friends, a wife, who is also a member of 
of the "church," and two chuldren, who 
deeply mourn, because of his death.. 

He had. not been confined to his bed 
but had . been complaining for several 
weeks, and went to bed as usual on Sun- 
day night. His wife awoke about 3 
o'clock in the morning and found he was 
not breathing as usual, and she tried to 
wake him, but he was dead. His spirit 
seemed to have left him without bring- 
ing forth a struggle, leaving him while 
in the sweetest slumber. He remained 
faithful to the end. Was bom July 28, 
1832, and lived at Brierhook, Bucking- 
ham county, Virginia. 



Releases and Appointments. 

Transfers. 

L^ft Ook, from Florida to Chattanooga 
Conference, 

C. R. Humphreys, from North Alabama 
to Chattanooga (office.) 

W. B. Parkinson, from, Chattanooga to 
Ohio Conference. 




-BUT THOUGH WE, OB AN ANGtL FBOM HE AVfcN, PREACH ANY 
PTttEB GOSPEL UNTO YOU THAN THAT WHICH WE 

HAVE PBEALHED UNTO YQU.IET MlM BE ACCUSED .*<W /*&J/< 



"^0^C 




Vol. 2. 



Chattanooga, Trnn., Saturday, April 21, 1900. 



No. 21. 



THE SAINT'S INVOCATION. 



BY ELIZA R. SNOW. 
Roll on thy work, Eternal God, 

And speed the glorious time 
When thy pare Gospel, spread abroad, 

Will gladden every clime. 

When burnish'd error will return 

To chaos, whence it came; 
When truth, the lamp of life, will burn, 

With clear, Celestial flame. 

When knowledge, flowing from on high, 
Will o'er the earth be spread, 

Deep-mantling as the waves that lie 
Upon the ocean's bed. 



0»give the 
When 



_ period birth, 
strife and war shall cease; 
When all the nations of the earth 
Will learn the arts of peace. 

When foul Iniquity will hide 

In shame its hateful head, 
And wicked men no more in pride 

Upon the righteous tread. 

When all the people will be wise, 
And all their dealings just; 

When lying tongues and envious eyes 
Will moulder In the dust. 

When Zion will be plac'd on high 

In bold security; 
When all the watchmen, eye to eye, 

Upon her walls shall see. 

When love to God and neighbor, will 
Pervade each human breast; 

And in the light of Zion's hill 
The nations all be blest. 

When Zion's lofty towers will rise 

Above all earthly height; 
And, mingling with the joyful skies, 

Eclipse yon orbs of light. 

Propel thy glorious kingdom forth, 

Extend its light abroad; 
Perform thy purpose on the earth, 

Thou great, Eternal God. 



OUR CONFERENCE PRESIDENTS. 

Elder G. M. Porter. 

Our beloved brother — Elder G. M. Por- 
ter — was born at Porterville, Morgan 
county, Utah, March 17, 1871. His par- 
ents were numbered among those who 
faced the stern realities of pioneor life 
in the vales of the far west, being con- 
tent to earn their bread by prudent thrift 
and hardy toil. When Brother Porter 
was only two years of age, his angel 
mother died, and his father, being in the 
lowly walks of life, was not able to fur- 
nish him with more than a common school 
education. 

At the age of 21 we find the subject of 
our sketch located in a new valley, en- 
deavoring to make him a home, and grow 



up with the country. Before leaving the 
home of his father, he had taken as a 
companion one of the fair beauties of 
Zion, being married Oct 25th, 1803. 
Three lovely children came to grace 
their home and comfort their hearts — 
making home the sweetest spot on earth, 
and the hearth-side near and dear. 

After laboring on the farm and main- 
taining the wants of his family our 
brother* received notification that the 
Lord desired him to perform a mission. 
This was in December of 1898, and in 
the following month— January, 1899 — he 




ELDER G. M. PORTER, 
President of the Mississippi Conference. 



was set apart for a mission to the South- 
ern States. At Chattanooga he was as- 
signed to labor in the Georgia Confer- 
ence — and for the first two months was 
engaged as a canvassing Elder. When 
Conference was held in Atlanta, March 
26th, 1899, Elder Porter was appointed 
to labor in company with Smith D. Rog- 
ers, in the interest of Sunday school 
work. It was while engaged in this line 
of missionary work that he and his com- 
panion were subjected to the ill-treat- 
ment of the Jasper county mob — while 



the good and noble sister wlio strove to 
guard and protect them was made a 
target for the bloodthirsty bullets of 
these fiendish outlaws. 

At the late Georgia Conference, held 
in Macon Jan. 27th and 28th, Elder 
Porter was called to succeed President 
Osmer D. Flake, and take charge of the 
Mississippi Conference. With such a 
man as Elder Porter at the head, we feel 
assured that the work in Mississippi will 
not be neglected, but that he, like his no- 
ble predecessors, will perform a work that 
will be for the glory of God, the welfare 
of the Mission, and an honor to himself. 



History of the Southern States Mission. 

(Continued from page 154.) 

August, 1895. 

This month, true to itself, opened up 
extremely warm and dry. The heat over- 
came, for short periods, some of tne El- 
ders, but caused no fatalities. President 
Kimball met with the Elders in their re- 
spective Conferences as follows: West 
Virginia, held at Vanceburg, Ky., on the 
1st and 2nd; East Tennessee, held at 
Notla, N. C, on the 8th and 9th ; North 
Alabama, held at Russellville, Ala., on 
the 15th and 16th, and Mississippi and 
Louisiana, held together at China Grove, 
Miss., on the 29th and 30th. These gath- 
erings did much good to Saints, Elders 
and friends. About this time many 
cities and towns were being entered, 
which is termed "capturing," and the 
people therein given a chance to hear the 
true plan of salvation as preached and 
practiced by the Latter-day Saints. El- 
ders who entered these places succeeded 
remarkably well in making friends among 
the influential citizens, and did much 
good. During the conference at Vance- 
burg, Ky., the Elders were treated roy- 
ally. An opera house was furnished them 
in which to hold meetings; a hotel in 
which to entertain their President, while 
plenty of friends were on hand, anxious 
to assist in rendering tne occasion an en- 
joyable one. The people of the South are 
known throughout this broad land as be- 
ing hospitable; that wlien entertaining 
friends nothing is too good for their 
guest of honor.. Many, many honest- 
hearted people of the South have em- 
braced the Gospel of Jesus Christ as 
taught by the so-called "Mormons," and 
thousands have been made to rejoice in 
its teachings. 



162 



THE SOUTHERN STAR. 



Elder Rydalch, President of the West 
Virginia Conference, in behalf of his El- 
ders, presented President Kimball with 
a beautiful gold-headed cane. This was 
followed by the Elders presenting a sim- 
ilar token of respect to their Conference 
leader. 

During this month strenuous efforts 
were being made to establish a Mission 
paper, a medium through which the El- 
ders and Saints could be counseled and 
kept thoroughly all v^ to their duties as 
children of God; Then, again, it would 
be a means of defense, against many false' 
and cowardly attacks made upon the pure 
Gospel. Through August much good was 
done, and as the. reports came in, a marked 
improvement over those of the year: pre- 
vious was noti<«able. Following * is; the 
report for the four months ending August; 
31st, 1896: Miles walked, 156,200; fam- 
ilies visited, 64,654'; families, revisited* 
27,055 ; rejecfetl . testimfonjes, . 4,500 ; re- 
fused entertainment, 5,005; tracts dis- 
tributed, 88,424; books sold, 1.095; books 
given away, 2,235; books loaned, 1,809; 
meetings held, 6,477; Gospel conversa- 
tions, 39,440; children blessed, 277; bap- 
tisms, 561. 

September, 1896. 

On the 5th and 6th insts. President 
Kimball met with the Texas Elders in 
conference capacity at Lockhart, Cald- 
well county, Texas. These Elders were 
found to be in good condition spiritually 
and physically. They were succeeding 
nicely, considering the many obstacles 
they had to fight against; showing they 
were very "gritty." Several Sunday 
schools were organized, thus enabling 
many young people to learn of Gospel 
truth, tending to make them servants in 
very deed. The reports show plainly that 
many are willing to be baptized for the 
remission of sins and forsake worldly 
things to enjoy heavenly blessings. Six- 
teen Elders arrived during the month to 
swell the ranks and wage war against Sa- 
tan and his aids. 
October, 1896. 

The month was pleasant throughout 
and afforded the Elders opportunities for 
work. Their reports show that their la- 
bors were not in vain. To the clear and 
j*-aceful sailing the Elders had enjoyed 
during the month an exception is noted 
in the treatment of Elders O. H. Shum- 
way and N. Cottam. As they were stand- 
ing near a school house about three miles 
east of Lancaster. Lancaster county, S. 
C, preparatory to holding a meeting, they 
were met and abused by two men and 
were made to leave the settlement. The 
men drove up in a buggy, stopped near 
the Elders and got out, and without any 
word** whatever, one of tbom b^crnn ln«h- 
ing them with a buggy whip : threatening 
to fill them full of lead if they did not 
leave. The Elders saw there was no use 
resisting, as both men were drunk and 
could not be reasoned with : beside* thev 
were armed and had no more sen^e than 
to shoot. The brethren got their erips 
and started for the hi" road- Still f b« 
cowards followed, striking them with 
their whips. Elder Cottam received three, 
while Elder Shumway received five 
lashes. Friendless, the Elders had no one 
to aid them. The names of the men who 
did the whipping are Bart Sims, n drunk 
ard. adulterer and murderer. His com- 
panion, Billy Belt, was of tho game tvne 
and equally as bad as "S'ms." The mat- 
ter was laid before the Governor of 
South Carolina, and it ; s hoped that mob 
and brutal violence will be discontinued 
in that state: that the state will notice 
our plea for protection and vindicate her 
honor, 

(To be continued.) 



THE DARK AGES. 

BY A. ARROWSMITH. 
(Continued from page 155.) 
THE EIGHTEENTH CENTURY 
presented a wonderful era of civilization 
and intelligence, producing many ad- 
vanced "thoughts, which were diffused 
through the medium of the- newspaper. 
In the year 1709 appeared the first little 
sheet, no larger than a man's hand, but 
which the editor hardly knew how to 
HH, on account of the scarcity of news. 
'The news was confined to very small 
territory those days, there being no tel- 
egraphic communication. At the pres- 
ent lime there are more than 100,000,- 
#00 copies of newspapers published in 
the English language annually, many 
♦of which contain more reading matter, 
in a single number, than the whole New 
Testament. With the 'increase of this 
intelligence, the power of the people be- 
gan to l>e felt; tyranny and despotism 
began to shudder, kings and potentates 
to quake; thrones to totter, and a gen- 
eral fear of a government of the people, 
by the people, prevailed amongst the 
great and mighty of' the earth. In the 
nation of Great Britain the people vir- 
tually became the rulers. 
' Many enthusiastic spiritual guides 
started at this period what would be 
called today a remarkable religious re- 
vival, originating among a small knot of 
Oxford students, who recognized the 
immorality and drunkenness of the 
times. They revolted against such wick- 
edness, and expressed the desire to live, 
enthusiastic, austere, methodical lives, 
from which they derive the name- 
Methodists. Of this band of students, 
three attracted especial attention by 
their fervor and extravagance. George 
Whitfield became a great orator, his 
voice soon resounding in the wildest and 
most barbarous portions of England, 
from the barren moors in the north to 
the dens of infamy in London, in the 
south. Whitfield's preaching was an in- 
novation on the methods previously 
adopted, and such as England had nev- 
er heard before. Theatrical, sensation- 
al, and sometimes calm and common- 
place, he won favor by his earnestness 
and deep tremulous sympathy for the 
sins and sorrows of mankind. He was 
no common enthusiast, who could .so elo- 
quently plead the cause of the oppressed 
and downcast, and draw out the last 
cent from the cool and calculating 
Franklin; commanding admiration from 
the fastidious and skeptical Horace 
Walpole; or who could look down from 
an elevated rostrum on some 20,000 
besmeared colliers, and see as he 
preached, tears, making white channels 
down their coal-blackened faces, drawn 
from the heart by his eloquence. 

Charles Wesley was the singer of this 
movement, and was considered a won- 
derful man in that line, much like Mr. 
Sankey of recent years, but the greatest 
of this body of worshipers was his 
brother. John Wesley, an ordained min- 
ister of the Church of England, who, 
by his learning, energy and power of 
organization, gave stability to the move- 
ment. No man of that age surpassed 
him in self-denial and genuine goodness. 
John Wesley labored assiduously for 
many years, and was a tireless worker 
in the cause he advocated, dying at the 
advanced age of 88, in the year 1791. 
At the time of his death his followers 
numbered over 100,000, and today they 
are estimated to be nearly 8.000,000. 

The rough and uncultured element was 
attracted by such preaching, which also 
stirred up a passionate hatred in the 
hearts of their opponents. Their lives 



were often sought, they were mobbed, 
ducked, stoned, and many times smoth- 
ered with tilth; but the enthusiasm they 
aroused among their followers was 
equally intense. These men were ex- 
travagant, fanatical and superstitious, 
much after the Salvation Army style of 
today, but fervent withal, and stand as 
the founders of a .great many of the 
isms of today. It was the teachings of „ > 
the Puritans, Quakers and Methodists " 
that started the great wave of reform, 
which led to the establishment:, of Sun- 
day schools, hospitals, insane- asylums 
and other institution's, of hcnevolence to? 
which ^the Anglo-Saxon race is so noted. 

Willie the moral and religious iinove- 5 \ 
inents tveie in progress, things of a po- 
litical and scientific nature were making 
equal strides. James Brindley made 
Englaud a net work of cauals; Wrftt 
was silently perfecting hfs steam inven- v 
tions ; William Pitt } w t as stitrttfu^ t&e 
world with his oratory ' and statesman- 
ship, while Capt. Cook was making his ' 
grea't discoveries in the South Pacific, * - 
enlarging the British Empire by the 
discovery and acquisition of the Austra- 
lasian continent. 

Napoleon, one of the most remarkable 
men this world has known, was born 
in the obscure island of Corsica, in the 
year 17(59. He was a great warrior and 
statesman; coming like a meteor in the 
heavens, descending like a thunderbolt, 
and destroying like the lightning. He 
was a scourge to all Europe, and exe- 
cuted unconsciously the decrees of Je- 
hovah. France had become very cor- 
rupt, the nation having gone over to in- 
fidelity. They called it an age of rea- 
son, when men could mock, deride, ridi- 
cule and deny a God. The temples that 
had been erected for the worship of God 
were used for bacchanalian revels. 
They would publicly elect some strump- 
et as a goddess of love and beauty, 
bowing down in mockery and derision; 
being an exact counterpart to the wor- 
ship of Bacchus and Venus by the an- 
cient Pagans. Is it any wonder that 
such a nation should need a man like 
Napoieon, that it might in a measure 
atone for its corruption, in. rivers of 
blood, which flowed in the wake of this 
"man of destiny?" 

While the above events were transpir- 
ing in Europe, the new world was bloom- 
ing into a vast field, where religious free- 
dom was cultivated, scattering its fra- 
grance among all classes. It became the 
boast of many of the colonies that every 
man and woman could read and write, 
education being so general. The heredi- 
tary dynasties of the old world were so 
deeply engaged in war that they were 
unconscious of the rapid growth of this 
power, which was soon to inject into them 
its new ideas and principles. The hour 
of revolution was at hand, promising free- 
dom to conscience and dominion to in- 
telligence. From the broken fragments 
of European society was built up a self- 
governing democracy. 

These noble pioneers met with much 
opposition from Indians, and it would ap- 
pear that they subdued the wilderness, 
with an axe in one hand and a rifle in the 
other; but under the guidance of such 
men as Washington, Franklin, Jefferson, 
Hancock and other noble sires of this 
government — not forgetting the overrul- 
ing protection of God — independence was 
declared July 4, 1776. The French were 
subdued in the north and the Dominion 
of Canada was surrendered into the hands 
of the British. It would .appear as if the 
whole of North America was dedicated 
to freedom and to a high state of civiliza- 
tion. Unquestionably religious tolerance 
in America was brought about through 



THE SOUTHEBN STAR 



163 



the operations of Divine Providence. Such 
a medley of religious sects the world had 
never witnessed before ; New England 
was the stronghold of the Puritans; in 
some of the southern colonies the Episco- 
pal church was established by law; the 
Roman Catholics formed a majority in 
Maryland ; Pennsylvania was a state of 
Quakers; Presbyterians and Baptists peo- 
pled New Jersey ; Lutherans and Mora- 
vians settled up Georgia ; and the Hugue- 
nots from France fled from the mother 
country t6 the forests of Carolina. In 
such a chaos of creeds religious persecu- 
tion was almost impossible and much big- 
otry existed among them. 

This century was peculiar for its ag- 
nostic views ; such atheists and infidels as 
Voltaire, Mirabeau and Paine disgraced 
the earth at this time, sowing seeds of 
discord among the Christians, which bore 
an abundant harvest. They were re- 
markable men of great intellect, and 
through their reasonings have been the 
means of breaking down the faith of thou- 
sands, leaving them without hope. It 
Was the teachings of these men that made 
France the corrupt and infidelic nation 
that she is, and it is their writings, prin- 
cipally, that bolster up the shallow 
thoughts of the infidel today. It is their 
iconoclastic views which defile the many 
thousands who reject the God of heaven, 
and who wallow as dark and hopeless pes- 
simists in the filth of skepticism. These 
men undoubtedly saw the debasing re- 
sults of the thing called Christianity, 
which was obnoxious to equity, justice, 
mercy and truth, and endeavored to breal 
down the system. In doing so, they 
failed to recognize the gift of faith in 
God, which is implanted naturally in 
man, and they vainly tried to crush that 
faith, destroying the hope of eternal life 
and making of man a miserable, faithless, 
hopeless pessimist. We do not object to 
reformers, we rather welcome them, but 
such spirits as those brazen-faced free 
thinkers, who destroy faith and leave a 
man devoid of hope, should not be en- 
couraged to spread their evil thoughts. 
It would appear that infidelity cannot ad- 
vance greater arguments against Chris- 
tianity than were offered over one hun- 
dred years ago by Voltaire, Mirabeau and 
Paine. Such men as Ingersoll are but 
imitators; repeating the arguments of 
former infidels. 

This century closes with the world still 
in spiritual darkness, no voice from the 
Heavens, no inspiration, no revelation, no 
vision, nothing but dark despair. Civili- 
zation was advancing, the arts and sci- 
ences were cultivated, literature was be- 
ing disseminated, and still the science of 
theology, as advanced, tautfht and writ- 
ten by the Apostles in Gallilee, was retro- 
grading, and did not at all resemble the 
system which the founder, Jesus, intro- 
duced. We find several hundred differ- 
ing, jarring, discordant Protestant sects, 
all without authority, only that received 
from the abominable church, whose cor- 
ruptions have been shown, and who is 
represented by the Revelator John, as the 
■ mother of harlots. This mother certain- 
ly has a large family; some of her daugh- 
ters are getting full grown, while others 
again are small, then the sub-denomina- 
tions, or grandchildren of this old mother, 
are shown in the multitude of the smaller 
sects of Christendom. They are all 
united in rejecting the God of the Bible, 
bowing down to the idolatrous nonentity 
that Atheriasius erected in the fourth 
century. They also unite in rejecting the 
necessity of modern prophets, revelation 
and inspiration from heaven, with the 
gifts and graces that were so general in 
the primitive church. They also unite 



in building large pagan temples, churches 
and monuments to the memory of the dead 
prophets and apostles, and assume exact- 
ly the position that the ancient Pharisees 
took against living prophets and present 
revelation. 

We can readily see that if Jesus came 
at this time with His exclusive system 
of theology, it would be unpopular and 
rejected by the world; and, like the an- 
cient Jews, the bigoted, self-righteous, 
modern Pharisees would cry, "Crucify 
Him!" 

(To be Continued.) 



THE PATHWAY OF LIFE 

BY ELDER JOS. P. BISCHOFF. 

When man has decided to travel the 
pathway to heaven he is confronted with 
an intricate problem us to which of the 
many roads is the proper and safe way 
to travel. The finger-board points in one 
certain and sure course, while a babel of 
voices urge the traveler in many uncer- 
tain ways. 

The traveler with his wits about him, 
and especially if he is at all accustomed 
to the marts of mercenary agitators, will 
turn to the official guide book (Is. 8:20), 
and there determine which is the proper 
and original path, and which ones are 
perversions. (Gal. 1:6, 7.) 

In reading in Matt. 7:13, 14 he finds a 
command to enter the "narrow way" by 
the "straight" gate, for, properly speak- 
ing, there are but two ways and two 
gates — the one gate is wide, with a 
broad way leadmg to destruction, while 
the other bus a straight gate through 
which man enters upon the narrow way. 
He is also cautioned here from following 
the many, for they are thronging through 
the wide gate, hurrying along the broad 
way to destruction; but to enter with the 
few in at the straight gate and then 
travel the narrow way to life. 

Still studying the guide book he reads 
in John 10:9, I am the door (gate), by 
me if any man enter in, he shall be 
saved. He that enters by any other 
door, or gate, is a thief and a robber. 
(John 10:1.) So the traveler concludes 
that if there are no counter orders nor 
side tracks mentioned in the guide book, 
that it is highly necessary for him to 
enter in at the straight door, or gate, 
and continue in the narrow way if he 
desires to reach the end — salvation. 

Still reading in the Bible, or guide 
book, the traveler finds that Peter de- 
clared, "There is no other name (gate 
and pathway) under heaven given among 
men whereby we must be saved." (Acts 
4:12.) Reading still on he finds Paul's 
testimony that "There is one God, one 
mediator (gate and way) between God 
and men, the man Christ Jesus. (I Tim. 
2:5). Again, in Eph. 4:5, One Lord, 
one faith, one baptism. 

Considering the Bible, or guide book, 
as being official, no true and sincere pil- 
grim in search of salvation will enter 
any but the straight gate, and when he 
does Paul declares that on that narrow 
path he will find that the few travelling 
therein do not claim to be of this sect 
or that, nor of Paul or Appollos, but 
will find himself where there is neither 
Greek nor Jew, circumcision nor uncir- 
cumcision, Bavarian, Scythian, bond or 
free, but Christ is all and in all. (Col. 
3:11, Sal. 3:28), but that he will be a 
fellow-citizen with the Saints. (Eph. 
2:19.) 

Having now determined that of the 
many ways there is but one right and 
safe way to pursue, the traveler natu- 
rally would ask, "On what condition is 
the gate opened V for he has read in 
the guide book the words of Jesus, 



Strive to enter in at the straight gate, 
(Luke 13:24), 'and understands that he 
must do something in order -to enter. 

He is the way, the truth and the life 
(John 14:0), the door or gate (John 
10, -9), and the author of eternal salva- 
tion to all them that obey Him. (Heb. 
5:9.) So the traveller is convinced that 
he must render obedience in order to 
enter the gate or travel the narrow way. 



GLEANINGS. 

Arrivals. 

A recent number of the Millenial Star 
says that the following named mission- 
aries from Zion arrived in Liverpool per 
American line steamship Waesland, 
March 23, 1900: For the British Mis- 
sion — Matthew A. Miller, Salt Lake City ; 
John G. Wheatley, Honeyville. For the 
Scandinavian Mission— Carl A. Carlson, 
Salt Lake City, and Swen William Nel- 
son, Fairview. For the German Mission 
— Henry G. Mathis, Price. For the 
Swiss Mission — Robert F. Meyerhoffer, 
Salt Lake City, and Gottlieb Komer, Mid- 
way. 

Accompanying the missionaries were 
Elder Luke Crawshaw, of Ogden, who 
came over to visit relatives in England 
and for art study in Paris ; Sister Caro- 
line Briggs, of Salt Lake City, to meet 
her husband, President James Briggs, of 
the Manchester Conference, and Sisters 
Helen C. Buist and Mimmi Sjoberg, of 
Salt Lake City, to visit relatives and 
search for genealogy, the former in Scot- 
land and the latter in Sweden. 



Appointments. 

Elder A. T. Hill, who, after laboring 
more than twenty-eight months in the 
German mission and having been honor- 
ably released therefrom, has been ap- 
pointed to labor in the London Confer- 
ence. 

Elder Matthew A. Miller has been ap- 
pointed to labor in the Scottish Confer- 
ence, and Elder John G. Wheatley in the 
Nottingham Conference. 



Enquirer, Provo. 

The Brigham Young Academy expedi- 
tion is about ready to begin its march 
toward the sunny south. The young men 
of the expedition are of splendid phy- 
sique and abstemious habits. They will 
be able, we hope, to endure the hardships 
of the trip, and their labors should result 
\i great good, for they are going to cove* 
a rich field of antiquity. As the expedi- 
tion starts from this city this week, the 
departure should be made one long to be 
remembered. 



The Georgia Branch Conference, held 
at Fair Play, Morgan county, Ga., on 
the 14th and 15th insts., was a most en- 
joyable gathering. About twenty 
Elders were present and all bore an hum- 
ble testimony of the Gospel truths. 



Releases and Appointments. 

Releases. 

W. H. Gibbs, Chattanooga Confer- 
ence. 

J. A. Stone, Virginia Conference. 

A. McMullin, Middle Tennessee Con- 
ference. 



Blessed is the man who has the gift of 
making friends, for it is one of God's 
best gifts. It involves many things/ but 
above all is the power of going out of 
one's self and seeing and appreciating 
whatever is noble and lovable in another 
man.— Thomas Hughes. 



164 



THE SOUTHERN STAR 




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Correspondence from aU parts of the missionary 
field is solicited. Girt name and address, or articles 
will be rejected. Write on one side of paper only 
when sent for publication. We reserve the right to 
either eliminate or reject any communication sent in. 
Address Box 109 

Saturday, April 21, 1900. 



ARTICLES OF FAITH 

OP THE CHURCH OP JESUS CHRIST OP 
LATTER-DAY SAINTS. 

1, W f baliif * in fled the EleroeJ Fathvr , tod la Rb 6w 
Jmui Uhtiat, tod la th« Half dhoti. 

L We txallAfv that dud will 6* publahftd for lldr «IS 
■Iqi, and nut for Adaai'» Ua M(ro*lioo. 

|. We behave tit I, through tJje atonement ftf ChrliL, til 
mm Hod niy I* lave!* by obodlane* 1* the !■«• tad oedi- 
btbCoe or l lie <h<n,o\. 

4. W* belle re tliKl th* flrtt principle! ltd ordinance* or 
ih» GwpeL ira I Tint, Faith In the Lord J **ui t'farut ; wmbJ, 
RepenCanea; third, Bapllam by ImnwritGa, fof the r*Bil*iioo 
of ilnt i fourth L*ji»i ob of Hiodi for th* (.lift of rh* liolj 

Sfetat 

J. Wi believe thai i Enin nutt be called of God, Qf 
"prophiic^nnd by lh« la;>&£04or h»nda, rt bjr thoee who tr« 
In authority, to pretcb tb* jcwpel tbd *druiu4»t*r !■ th* ordl* 
tttOOfft tb«r»r 

C. Wo believe In the Hmeorgibiutioo thtt tsiitMl la 
th» pHmELWe church — blttrEj. Apoatki, frapheU, Cation, 
T*acb«ri, K« infill tie, e*«- 

.?. W b bcl La we 1 n the fl ft Of lOftf n «*, pmpfeecy, revel alio*, 
irlaiobi, bailing* iBlerprelafcion of tonguei, aid. 

fl. \Vb balim the Bihl* to t» the word of God. aa fir u II 
li trim tiled correct!* ; we alto believe Lba Booh of I 
In be the word of fjod- 

i. Wb belter* ill thtt God hn rcTt-ikd, ill that He 3 



no* revetl^aiid wnbeliBic that Ha will r»t iy*ra[ln*flp great 
and import ant thintt perilling lo the KlorfEim at Qfld. 
]0. Wb bBlEeve in tbe Uteri J (ilherf ng- of I inn I tad lb ti 



T*etdratJoo of tbe Teb Tribe*; Hutt Zion will be bnitt upon 
thi* (the American* eon U cent; thelChriat -ill r*i ft o perion- 
■Jfy noon the emtth, and thai the eifth will be rentv&d and 



recefte it* ptrtdialacal f Wr- 
it We claim the prkllcrt of TOrtMpEng Alnlfhtj fioj 
iccbtdlbf tft the dkltte* of nnr ron*rianoe, and »]la» all 



*!l"»; 



• privilep.b 



beUera la Magiabjaet to kiaaa, praatdaala. rvlaft, 
ratee t la obayiag, hoooriac and eaataiaias the law. 



I* • We ballava la bolag boaett, tree, eaaeta, baaavolaet, 
k aad In doiag food to all «aa; Jodeed, va aajr aaj 




For behold, it is not meet that I should 
command in all things, for he that is 
compelled in all things, the same is a 
slothful and not a wise servant; where- 
fore he receiveth no reward. 

Verily I say, men should be anxiously 
engaged in a good cause, and do many 
things of their own free will, and bring 
to pass much righteousness; 

For the power is in them, wherein they 
are agents unto themselves. And inas- 
much as men do good they shall in no- 
wise lose their reward. But he that 
doeth not anything until he is command- 
ed, and receiveth a commandment with 
doubtful heart, and keepeth it with sloth- 
fulness, the same is damned. (Doc. and 
Cov., Sec. 58:26-29.) 



Conference Presidents will please send 
us their Quarterly Conference reports. 



ZION IS GROWING. 

While the sweet children in our lovely 
Deseret are singing in beautiful strains, 
"Zion is growing," the humble servants 
of God in the Sunny South are witness- 
ing the literal fulfillment of their joyful 
lays. Yes; Zion is growing, and her 
numbers increasing! During the last 
four weeks of the month of March there 
were fifty honest souls added to 
the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day 
Saints here in the Southern States Mis- 
sion. These figures bespeak in forcible 
tones the glad tidings that Zion is grow- 
ing, and give encouragement, hope, joy 
and comfort to all who are engaged in 
the service of the Lord. What greater 
encouragement can be given a pilgrim of 
peace; a messenger of life and salvation, 
than to know that the Holy One of 
Israel is blessing his feeble efforts, and 
that many souls are being brought to a 
knowledge of the will and word of God? 
This brings joy and gladness to the hearts 
of the Elders; to know that our Father 
is blessing our efforts with a goodly in- 
crease, and crowning our labors of love 
with success, gives us additional strength 
for the conflict with sin; faith in the 
promises of God; and hope for the glori- 
ous reward promised to the obedient. 

What but the Spirit of God could 
prompt these honest souls to come forth 
in the midst of bitter opposition, and vio- 
lent persecution, to face the scoffs and 
jeers of a frowning world for the sake 
of the Gospel, and the testimony of Jesus? 
These people realize and know that they 
will have to endure persecutions, by rea- 
son of embracing that form of doctrine 
which the world erroneously calls "Mor- 
monism, ,f for persecution is the 'heritage 
of the righteous, and a legacy attending 
the faithful in this mortal life. Still, 
notwithstanding these facts, they are will- 
ing to bear the mockings, scourgings, and 
revilings of men, to unite themselves with 
the much despised Saints of Latter Days. 
It is only a divine hope of eternal life; 
a blessed assurance of salvation and ex- 
altation in the Kingdom of God's glory, 
that prompts and urges these people to 
render obedience to the everlasting Gos- 
pel. 

Let us take encouragement from these 
good reports, which indicate the progress 
of God's work, and the spread of truth. 
We are not left alone, our God is with 
us by His Holy Spirit, blessing our en- 
deavors to do good, and causing the words 
we utter to sink deep into the hearts of 
the earnest seekers for truth, and there- 
by producing the peaceable fruits of 
righteousness. Yes! Zion is growing— 
the work of the Lord is spreading far and 
wide — and the ranks of God's chosen ones 
are daily increasing in numbers. More- 
over, she will continue to grow ; her num- 
bers will continue to be added upon, until, 
from every nook and corner of the earth, 
whether it be in the North, the South, 
the East, or the West, shall be heralded 
this joyful sound, "Zion is growing!" As 
Saints of the Most High God; as Elders 
of Israel in these last days, we can sing 
with vim and vigor, with a conscientious 
soul and a true heart, "Zion is growing." 
Therefore let us do all that lays in our 
power for the growth of Zion ; the spread 
of truth ; the increase of the faithful few 
— laboring with an eye single to the glory 
and honor of Him from whom all bless- 
ings flow. 



"Behold, the way for man is narrow, 
and it lieth in a straight course before 
him, and the keeper of the gate is the 
Holy One of Israel; and He employeth 



no servant there ; and there is none other 
way, save it be by the gate, for He can- 
not be deceived ; for the Lord God is His 
name." (II. Nephi. ix.:41.) Our Lord 
has gone before. He has traversed this 
"straight course," and walked this "nar- 
row way." He has marked the path 
which man should tread, and defined the 
way which all should pursue. "Follow 
thou me," is His holy commandment, and 
"Lay up for yourselves treasures in 
heaven." The treasures which we "lay 
up in heaven," by reason of our keeping 
in His steps, will return, when time shall 
be no more, to bless and happify our lives 
throughout the countless ages of eternity. 
While laboring in the cause of Truth; 
while walking in a line of duty; we are 
working for a certain and a sure Paymas- 
ter — even Jesus Christ our Lord. We 
shall all receive the wages we merit, "ev- 
ery man according to works," thus it 
behooves us to labor while it is today, for 
the night cometh, when no man can work. 
Continue in the Truth, that the Holy 
One of, Israel may greet you with the 
welcome, joyful plaudit, "Well done, good 
and faithful servant, thou hast been faith- 
ful in a few things, I will make thee 
ruler over many. Enter thou the joy of 
my rest." 



Let the mountains shout for joy, and 
all ye valleys cry aloud; and all ye seas 
and dry lands tell the wonders of your 
eternal King. And ye rivers, and brooks, 
and rills flow down with gladness. Let 
the woods, and all the trees of the field 
praise the Lord; and ye solid rocks weep 
for joy. And let the sun, moon, and the 
morning stare sing together, and let all 
the sons of God shout for joy. And let 
the eternal creations declare His name 
forever and ever. And again I say, how 
glorious is the voice we hear from heav- 
en, proclaiming in our ears, glory, and 
salvation, and honor, and immortality, 
and eternal life; kingdoms, principalities, 
and powers. Behold! the great day of 
the Lord is at hand, and who can abide 
the day of His coming, and who can 
stand when He appeareth; for He is like 
a refiner's fire, and like fuller's soap ; and 
He shall sit as a refiner and purifier of 
silver, and He shall purify the sons of 
Levi, and purge them as gold and silver, 
that they may offer unto the Lord an 
offering in righteousness. 

Joseph Smith. 



'Tie good-will make intelligence.— 
Emerson. 

Honesty is the cause of poverty to 
many.— Rufus. 

A mind is not to be changed by place 
or time.— Milton. 

He dies every day who lives in a lan- 
guishing state.— Poullett. 

All that is good in me I owe to my 
mother.— John Q. Adams. 

If a man is worth knowing at all, he is 
worth knowing well.— Alex. Smith. 

To know that which before us lies In 
daily life is the prime wisdom.— Milton. 

The freer you feel yourself in the pres- 
ence of another, the more free he is 
also.— Lavater. 

In the eyes of a wise judge, proofs by 
reasoning are of more value than wit- 
nesses.— Cicero. 

The love of justice in most men is mere- 
ly the fear of themselves suffering from 
injustice.— La Rochefoucauld. 

We cannot make our own ancestors, 
but we can endeavor to make over our- 
selves.— Mrs. Theodore W. Birney. 



THE 9QUTHBBN STAB. 



165 



Abstracts from Correspondence. 

Clinton, Tenn. 
To The Star. 

For some time I have been impressed 
to write a few lines to bear my testi- 
mony as a Latter-day Saint. It is four 
years since I first saw the Mormon El- 
ders and heard them preach. The more 
1 listened to them, the stronger became 
my conviction that they were true ser- 
vants of God. They \were perfect gen- 
v tlemen, and often did I wonder why 
people would mistreat them. I had al- 
ways been taught by my good father 
and mother to treat others as I would 
have them treat me. I often prayed to 
my Heavenly Father for wisdom and 
knowledge, that I might understand my 
duty. I thought that every man who 
claimed to be a minister had a perfect 
right to baptize, etc. I searched the 
Scriptures much, and when I understood 
that the Latter-day Saints only had au- 
thority I was then willing to be bap- 
tized and have the hands laid upon me 
for the reception of the Holy Ghost. 
Since I was baptized, on June 13th, 
1897, my three daughters have also 
taken upon themselves the name of 
Christ. May we all prove faithful, that 
we may return back to our Heavenly 
Father and hear it said: "Well done, 
children, enter into the joy of thy 
Lord." We have a testimony of the 
Gospel, and may God bless all who are 
striving to do His will. 

Your sister in the cause of truth, 

Sarah E. Brown. 



Dear Editor. 



Beaver Dam, S. C. 



Allow me space in your paper for a 
few words I desire to say concerning 
the Mormon Elders. I have known the 
Mormons for three years and can say 
they are a God-fearing people. When 
the first Elder came to our home I 
formed a good opinion of them. I was 
told by many of my neighbors not to 
take them in, but I used my own judg- 
ment. I have read their books and 
compared them with the Bible and found 
them to be true teachings. I prayed God 
to show me what was right, and the 
more I read the more did the Lord help 
me to understand. I rejoice to say to 
the world, may God bless the day that 
the Elders first came to our door. If 
everyone could but know the truth as I 
do, life would indeed be a pleasure to 
them. May God bless all who are striv- 
ing after truth and righteousness. 

Your true friend, 

Alice B. Hereon. 



What a Drudge Became. 

John Campbell began life as a drudge 
in a printing office. When he died he 
was worth a million dollars, and had been 
Chancellor of England. He was so long, 
ungainly and .awkward that an ordinary 
observer would have said, "That boy's 
place is to run errands, sweep floors and 
do general drudgery." But his employer 
noticed that John, though dull and slow, 
was prompt and painstaking. When told 
to do anything, he went at ft promptly 
and kept at it until the job was done. The 
employer encouraged the dull, slow, but 
industrious drudge and threw odd jobs in 
his way, by which he earned a little 
money. The boy had vigorous health and 
a strong body. They, with his painstak- 
ing habit, were his sole capital. But they 
were sufficient. He worked them thor- 
oughly and rose, step by step, until the 
printing office drudge sat on the wool- 
sack. 



"LETTER OF LOVE." 

A Letter Written to an Elder Laboring 
in the Missionary Field, by His Sister. 

My Dear Brother: — Your welcome let- 
ter, also a copy of The Southern Star, 
were received and contents perused with 
pleasure. I am so glad you keep well, 
and although you may meet with difficul- 
ties and may occasionally have a door 
slammed in your face, perchance go a lit- 
tle hungry, yet, my dear brother, your 
testimony will be strengthened and that 
is what you must build upon. Testimony 
is the key that unlocks the door to great- 
ex achievements. It is that which will 
lead you to paths of greater enlighten- 
ment and will make the burden light to 
carry. Testimony will enable you to say : 

"Each back is fitted for its load, 
Which we may have to wear; 

The weak must take the lesser. 
TTie strong the greater share. 

While you are in the field, and as per- 
secutions and hardships increase, don't 
you know, dear brother, that we will pray 
the harder for you; our hearts will, if 
possible, be nearer to you than ever? 
Much is before you, because you repre- 
sent so many; much awaits you if you 
are faithful. There is no happiness like 
that which comes from having done one's 
duty. No light so bright as the inward 
light which comes from the Holy Spirit, 
and when such a light is enjoyed, like 
God's sunshine, it radiates every nook 
and corner of the soul ; warming and 
nourishing it, causing it to grow and ex- 
pand, to send forth fruits of good acts, 
good thoughts and noble deeds. I often 
wish I could go on a mission, not because 
of the good I could do, but because of 
the good it would do me — perhaps a self- 
ish desire, but naturally I crave spiritual 
light. I love religion and the peaceful 
influence of the Holy Spirit, yet I am 
weak and often wound and drown my 
good intentions; wound the Holy Spirit. 
If we lose the association of God's Spirit 
we are bereft, we lose all. None of us 
have a right to get discouraged, it is al- 
most sinful to give way to it, and if we 
do so we cannot perform our duty as 
children of God. In the words of Long- 
fellow, we should say : 

, "Let us, then, be up and doing, 
With a heart for any fate, 
Still achieving, still pursuing, 
Learn to labor and to wait" 

In closing, dear brother, it is the de- 
sire and prayer of my heart to know you 
are cared for and blessed by our Father 
in heaven. May He watch over you and 
guide you; may He provide you with 
friends and the necessaries of life, that 
you may not hunger, nor thirst often. 
May He fill you with His Spirit and lead 
you to paths of holiness, love and peace ; 
and when your mission is fulfilled may 
He bring you back to loved ones at home, 
who continually ask Him to bless you. 
Affectionately, 

Your Sister. 



A Letter From an Elder to a Saint 
Pfafftown, N. C., March 12, 1900. 
Mrs. Louisa C. Madark, Dayton, Tenn.: 

Dear Sister: — Your favor of March 6 
reached me several days ago, but until 
the present I have been unable to answer. 
I was indeed pleased to hear yourself and 
husband had recovered from your illness, 
and were now, not only enjoying fair 
health, but that you were fairly content- 
ed; your great desire is to live bo as to 
merit the smiles and approbation of our 
Heavenly Father. To a great extent life 



is just what we make it, or in other 
words, we are the framers of our own 
destinies. If we observe the laws of na- 
ture, keep our bodies pure, our system 
in. good order, we generally have fair , 
health, while if we neglect these essen- 
tials, we pay the penalty by suffering the 
pain fiesh is heir to. Again, if we love 
God and our fellow man, do as our Fa- 
ther in Heaven has required, us. to do, 
we are contented and happy ; while, on the 
other hand, a neglect on our part to fol- 
low these eternal requirements brings us 
remorse of conscience, mental pain and 
anguish. Oh, if the human family could 
and would obey those two commands, 
what joy, what peace, what satisfaction 
would be theirs; what a state of perfec- 
tion might be reached, what a heaven on 
earth! This is the ultimate destiny of 
mankind, what feelings of rapture, of 
suppressed joy fills our heart, our mind, 
when we contemplate the new approach 
of this thrice blessed day. We who have 
put on the armor of righteousness are 
engaged in the labor that will eventually 
bring about this much coveted condition 
of affairs. Therefore you as well as all 
Saints and honest-hearted individuals, 
have a great responsibility upon your 
shoulders; you are expected to instill 
these truths into the minds of both young 
and old, and by a godly life set them ex- 
amples of patience, forbearance and broth- 
erly love. Such will have an influence 
for good, causing them to desire to emu- 
late your example, and as a consequence 
you will become Saviors upon "Mount 
Zioh." Therefore, let us return good for 
evil; when they revile us or slander us, 
let us not slander them in return, but let 
us show them we really love them and it 
may be that they will become ashamed, 
desist and perchance repent and beg our 
pardon. 

I am pleased that you are determined 
to keep up the Sabbath school work, as 
I am sure good will result from the same. 
You should not become discouraged if 
you • only have a few scholars, do your 
duty toward them, and if they from your 
instructions become honorable and useful 
members of society, you have done a 
great work. Emulate the example of 
Noah, who for one hundred and twenty 
years ceased not to warn the hardened 
antediluvians, although he could «ee noth- 
ing accomplished by the same. I ordered 
a small birthday present sent you from 
the office and hope it .reached you safely, 
that you will accept of this token of my 
esteem. I hardly think I will have the 
chance of seeing you before I return 
home ; if not, however, rest assured of this 
fact, that you and all the dear friends 
of Oak Hill and vicinity occupy a warm 
spot in my heart and will always be fond- 
ly remembered. Some day I hope to meet 
you in the Vales of Utah, and there we 
can spend many a pleasant evening tell- 
ing of the pleasant as well as unpleasant 
features of life in the Sunny South. Ke- 
member me kindly to all, friend or foe, 
tell them I love them and desire their 
welfare. My earnest prayers to God the 
Father are that they may ere long see 
that the message of salvation that has 
been presented to them is of the utmost 
importance — that they will obey the. Gos- 
pel, thereby securing the salvation. of their 
souls. May heaven's choicest blessings be 
yours is the wish of your brother and 
friend, John Peterson. 



A Father's letter to his son laboring 
in the mission field: 
My Dear Son. 

This morning I came to the office early, 
that I might answer your several letters 
received since I last wrote to you. All 



164 



THE SOUTHERN STAB. 



the letters we have had from yoti have 
been received with much joy, and given 
us all good cheer. I have very much en* 
joyed the spirit of your letters, and am 
more than proud of the reports 1 have 
beard of you. May the God of Israel 
bless you with a continuation of your 
present humble spirit, and the energy you 
now seem to manifest. If He will do so 
an honorable mission for you is already 
assured. I inclose to you herewith your 
two blessings, and I want you to read 
them often and drink in the spirit they 
breathe; and keep always before you and 
forever in your mind the promises made 
in them. But never forget that the gifts 
and blessings promised are predicted en- 
tirely upon your own faithfulness. You 
can realize them all, or you can forfeit 
every one of them. I pray for you con- 
stantly, that you may live up to every 
privilege you have, and realize every 
gift, power and blessing named, and oth- 
ers that are in store for you as a servant 
of God. You have the most devoted faith 
and earnest prayers of all at home, and 
we feel that you are going to do your full 
duty to the Lord, to yourself and to us. 
The folks are all well and send unbound- 
ed love to you. We were pleased to learn 
you had met some of the Elders whom 
we know, and we wish to be remembered 
to them. Your report of your kind treat- 
ment by the good people of the south 
gives us all much satisfaction, and^ we 
know you will so conduct yourself as to 
merit a continuation of the same. Now, 
my son, write me often, for I am always 
anxious about you and think of you a 
thousand times a day; always with pleas- 
ure, for I have the fullest confidence in 
your manhood, your honor and your in- 
tegrity. You know I would, with pleas- 
ure, bring you home a corpse, rather than 
have you perform one single act that 
would mar your honor, and besmirch your 
good name. But I have no uneasiness 
about that, for I have the utmost con- 
fidence in you. God bless and prosper 
you, my dear son, and preserve you in 
every way, is the constant prayer of 
Your Devoted Father. 



-Thy Will be Done" 

O. P. WHITNEY. 
Words that should be written in letters 
of fire on the mind of every son and 
daughter of God. A motto that should be 
engraven on every heart, a motive that 
should guide and govern every impulse, a 
spirit that should inspire every prayer 
wafted on wings of faith through the 
open portals of eternity. 

The fiat of the Gods in the councils 
of the beginning, the chorus of 
stars in the glaa morning of cre- 
ation; the prayer of the suffering 
Savior at life s weary noon: the 
song of Saints on earth, the anthem 
of the angels in heaven; it yet shall be 
the closing hymn, the benediction over 
the burial of human history, the solemn 
epitaph inscribed on the tombstone of 
Time. 

"Thy will be done!" A river of power 
and of purity, flowing from the throne of 
God, making heavenly melody, as it 
surges along the shores of life, bearing 
like bubbles on its breast the mightiest 
of human aims and achievements, it 
glides down the channel of the ages, glit- 
tering in the sunbeams of eternal truth, 
and rolling the music of its bright waves 
into the boundless ocean of the Ever- 



We live in deeds, not Jrears; in 
thoughts, not breaths; in feelings, not in 
figures on a dial. We should count time 
by heart throbs. He most Mves, who 
thinks most, feels the noblest, acts the 
best.— Philip James Bailey. 



ORDER. 

It is a noticeable fact in all denomina- 
tions of worship that the members of 
each church recognize their preacher as 
the proper one to officiate in all rites and 
ordinances of their church. If the Lord's 
supper be spread, the minister must offi- 
ciate in the blessing or appoint a substi- 
tute; no individual member would think 
of stepping ahead of his preacher without 
an appointment. If a baptism or a con- 
firmation be performed, it must be done 
by a minister — for none except him has 
this authority. In brief, the people recog- 
nize in their preachers the principle of 
authority, and they see clearly the essen- 
tiality and the absolute necessity of it 
in all church matters, in order to pre- 
serve any degree of unity and peace in 
their religious organizations. 

The honest in heart, the humble and 
the prayerful, among modern. Christiana, 
find consolation and comfort in attending 
church. The story they hear of Jesus is 
to their yearning spirits a soothing balm, 
which heals the wounds of trial and sor- 
row and gives hopes for the -day. The 
sacred hymns they sing fall upon their 
ears as the music of angels, which in- 
spires their souls to thoughts and deeds 
of righteousness by which they hope to 
gain the earthly blessings of God and in 
eternity a crown of celestial glory. 

Week after week these earnest de- 
votees bend the knee of submission to the 
authority of their pastor — he has bap- 
tized or admitted them into the "fold," as 
is his custom, and perhaps, too, their 
children have been initiated into the 
church by the officiation of the minister. 
All confidence, all trust, and all faith is 
centered in their pastor — his profession 
is that of a servant of God, and no ques- 
tion is raised as to the divinity of his 
calling or the genuineness of his author- 
ity. 

Dear Christian friend, 'tis seemingly 
cruel to induce you to call in question the 
authority and the divine calling of your 
minister, but if you truly desire to be 
what you profess — a humble, obedient 
follower of our lowly Master — truth can- 
not dawn too early upon your mind. 

Let us reason together for a moment. 
Will the fact of your possessing a history 
of the United States install you the 
President of our Republic? In short, 
will that history elect and authorize you 
to fill even the humblest office in this gov- 
ernment? 

You answer "No." 

Well, why not? The history contains 
a truthful record of every official com- 
mission granted to every officer in the 
government. Why could you not applv 
any one of these commissions to yourself 
and become a postmaster, a governor, a 
foreign minister, an admiral, or even 
President of the Union? 

"Ah," you say, "such a thing would 
be foolish, and only insanity would in- 
spire such ideas of disorder; and, again, 
if such a state of affairs as that existed 
everyone who purchased a history of 
our Nation would be entitled to an offi- 
cial position, which he could himself 
choose, and in consequence we would all 
be officers, exercising our authority to 
the confusion and danger of our fellow- 
men. Instead of living in peace we would 
t>e living in perpetual war." 

Exactly. You understand that any 
official appointment in our government 
must come through the channel of legiti- 
mate authority, and that simply a record 
of another's commission cannot delegate 
some one else to act under that appoint- 
ment, and that any attempt to thus offi- 



ciate would place the . usurper liable to 
imprisonment. 

In view of these facts, how can you 
contend that your minister is called of 
God and endowed with authority simply 
because he possesses a record of the di- 
vine commissions given to the Apostles 
1,900 years ago? Your pastor says God 
doesn't reveal anything to man today, 
and that the Bible contains all that we 
need for our exaltation. "FYom the Bi- 
ble," he says, "comes the law of God, 
and from the same book comes my au- 
thority to preach and administer the 
principles of the . Gospel." 

Why doesn't your pastor assume the 
leadership of Israel and become a latter- 
day Moses? Why doesn't he become a 
Noah and build an ark? 

Why doesn't your pastor go into Jeru- 
salem and prepare an upper room for the 
Savior's Passover? Why doesn't he be- 
come a Paul, obey the command he re- 
ceived to go to Damascus and thence 
travel to Corinth, Ephesus, Galatia, 
Thessalonica, "to Macedonia and to the 
great city of Rome? Or why doesn't he 
apply to himself the voice of God to Pe- 
ter, "Arise therefore and get thee down 
and go with them, doubting nothing, for 
I have sent them" (Acts 10:20)? 

Why does he not apply some of these 
delegations and commands to himself, 
and become a Moses, construct an ark, 
make ready for the Passover, become a 
Paul, or follow three men to Caesarea 
and baptize Cornelius? All of these ap- 
ply to him as much as the official appoint- 
ment of those Apostles and Seventies to 
the ministry. The Bible gives him as 
much authority to build an ark as it does 
to preach the Gospel and officiate there- 
in. In comparison, he is as nwch called 
to the ministry .by the Bitye as I am 
called to the Presidency of this govern- 
ment by the United States history. Au- 
thority gave the commissions in the Bi- 
ble, but the Bible cannot give authority; 
else every man, ]yea, every babe that can 
lisp "go ye therefore unto all the world 
and preach 1 the Gospel"— if it possess 
this record — has equal and. unlimited au- 
thority to act in the name of Deity, 
ealled or not called, authorized or unau- 
thorized. 

• You agree that the record of the official 
appointments and commissions of men in 
this government can endow no man with 
the • United States authority, and would 
you depreciate the wisdom and judg- 
ment of God below that of mortal man, 
and assert that the record of His 
delegations to men nineteen centuries ago 
empowers men today? The records of 
this government may be absolutely free 
from error, they may be as. true as the 
polar stars, but they have no authority. 
The Bible may be pure and perfect; it 
may be unaltered and unchanged, it may 
be as exact as when it fell from the lips 
of inspiration, yet it has no authority. 
All commissions, all appointments, all 
delegations, must come from the fountain- 
head of authority, either in civil or eccle- 
siastical government. 

God's wisdom is infinite and all men 
appreciate the fact that "order is heav- 
en's first law!" , 

Today the servants of God are preach- 
ing the Gospel of Jesus Christ and min- 
istering its ordinances to mankind, but 
their authority comes not from the dead 
record of the past; but from the living 
God of heaven, and for thig cause do "we 
both labor and suffer reproach ■- because 
we trust in the living God, the riavior of 
all men. especially those that believe." 
(I Timothy, 4:10.) J. S.< 



Hatred is ingrained anger.— Cicero. 



THE SOUTHERN STAR 



167 



A PROGRESSIVE AGE. 




A NON- PROGRESSIVE VS. A PROGRESSIVE RELIGION. 



This is an age of marked advancement. 
The nineteenth century is the one century 
of centuries in which man has more fully 
developed his latent resources than in 
any other period of one hundred or five 
hundred years. In the past century, 
more than in any other, man has shown 
his predominate superiority over all other 
kingdoms of creation. Man is progress- 
ive, and, when he is not advancing, he is 
retrograding. But to look circunispect- 
ively and see the wonderful works of this 
similitude of God, it seems difficult to be- 
lieve that he would ever sink back into 
a non-progressive state. 

Discovery has been on the alert, and 
has pried into the mysteries of ages; it 
has disclosed many startling facts for 
contemplation. Education has pushed 
itself into another, sphere, and facilities 
for mental development are within the 
reach of nearly every man of ambition. 
Philosophy is piercing deeper and deeper 
into the unknowable. It nas unravelled 
many a stubborn problem, and passed 
many Gibraltars, which have, heretofore, 
seemed barriers to past civilizations. Gov- 
ernmental obstacles are becoming trans- 
parent in this dawn of intelligence. The 
Caucasian race is not now. tyrannized 
over by barbarous chiefs, .who banquet 
in mad revelry— drinking frtfm the skulls 
of their beheaded subjects. Man is a 
free being, and if he desires can enjoy 
freedom or prosperity, and become his 
own master. If ne does not enjoy these 
rights and privileges, it is because of his 
own negligence, and not a lack of oppor- 
tunity. In literature and language the 
appreciative genius of man has not been 
idle, neither has his inventive genius been 
dormant. Customs and utilities of centu- 
ries standing have been shelved, and are 
now looked unon as relics of the past. 
The winds and waters have been turned 
into the service of man — the lightning has 
been bridled, chained, and made to sub- 
serve the desires of its captor, in the in- 
stantaneous transmission of thought, as 
also in locomotive, lighting and heating 
purposes. When we see the stage coach 
exchanged for the steam locomotive which 
goes thundering at a terrible speed across 
the continent, through canyons and over 
mountains, drawing hundreds of people; 
when we see the old-fashioned steamboat 
supplanted by the iron-plated ocean 
plows that cut the seas and care nothing 
for wind or storm; we are brought face 
to face with the stern reality that man is 
a progressive being, and this a progres- 
sive age. 

While such progression has marked the 
growth of the .past century in almost 
every branch of thought or occupation, 
we find that the religion of the world, that 
system which should be most dear to 
man; which should teach him truth di- 
rect from bis Creator; progressive prin- 
ciples able to make him perfect as his 
Heavenly Father is perfect, we find the 
world's religion not only not advanced, 
or keeping pace with intelligence, but, de- 
teriorated from the simplicity and power 
of its ineipiency. 

Furthermore, it has fought liberty, free 
thought, and progression. It will have 
to answer for the death of more than one 
I>oor martyr whose life ebbed away amid 
the smoke of the stake because he dared 
to assert his honest convictions. The 
rapid flowing stream of disbelief and in- 
fidelity is growing wider and wider as 
time tallies the progress of years. 

Scientific men, in their Real for the es- 
tablishment of true philosophy, have 
looked upon the puerile system called 
Christendom, with her superstitious con- 
tradictions and division, and taking these 
conflicting factions for true Christianity, 



have denied religion, counting as spurious 
everything that savors of religion. The 
agnostic is not to be inculpated as much 
as the systems of theology— if such they 
can be called— which practically forced 
his agnosticism. It is not arrogance nor 
assumption, neither is it blasphemy, to 
say that the system which men call 
"Mormonisni" is a progressive and ad- 
vanced order of theology. Its martyred 
Prophet taught that, "The glory of God 
is intelligence," and that a man is saved 
no faster than he gains intelligence; he 
cannot be saved in ignorance, for igno- 
rance is sin. It teaches that the path of 
eternal progression is before man : and his 
future depends upon his progression. His 
advancement in power and intelligence, 
resultant from observance and obedience 
of law, will constitute his heaven; while 
his non-progressiveness or his deteriora- 
tion, resultant from inobservance and dis- 
obedience of law, will constitute his con- 
demnation or hell. "Mormohism" ac- 
cepts all truth. "If there is anything 
virtuous, lovely, praiseworthy, or of good 
report, it seeks after those things." 

It teaches the doctrine of continuous 
revelation, of communication or instruc- 
tion from a merciful, loving Father to 
His children as they $o through the life 
of probation in mortality. Its teachings, 
when understood, are elevating and in- 
spiring. They show that man truly is 
the highest creation of God, and suggest 
his possibilities. Its teachings make 

Slain the words of John: "Beloved, it 
oth not yet appear what we shall be, but 
now we know that we are the sons of 
God, and wiien He shall appear we shall 
be like Him." Its teachings satisfy both 
brain and heart. "Mormonism" is loved 
and cherished by its supporters, derided 
and ridiculed throughout Christendom, 
because it is not of the world, and the 
world knoweth it not. It is no exception 
to the venerable rule, that from prehis- 
toric times down to the present it has 
been the disposition of man, because of 
priestcraft, to reject God's truth. Some, 
of the best men who have stood for Truth 
upon the earth have been stoned and 
martyred, and their cause rejected. 
Sometimes the reformation can be meas- 
ured in righteousness by the degree of 
persecution it invokes. Truly did a 
French author say: "Many a truth has 
reached its earthly kingdom by way of 
Golgotha, jeering mobs accompanying, 
brandishing sticks and clubs; or has 
reached its goal crucified between revil- 
ing thievee." 

"Mormonism" receives its persecution 
largely at the hands of a frightened 
priestcraft, fearful lest it reach a prema- 
ture doom, and lose the hold with which 
it has wielded and swayed the past. Pro- 
fessed disciples of the Nazareue who for- 
get the commandments; "thou shalt not 
bear false witness against thy neighbor; 
thou shalt not lie," incite the unthinking 
multitude to take up the cry: "Away 
with it, crucify it!" When the cry is 
said they have produced their strongest 
argument; more effective, however, when 
they are executed, which is sometimes 
done. All are not accused of being in- 
sincere and malicious. Many a well-in- 
tended person has earnestly fought "Mor- 
monism and thought he was doing God's 
service. Many more, however, have ar- 
raigned it solely from the standpoint of 
hatred and jealousy. To the first class 
let it be said: "Beware, ye men of today, 
what you do; if this work be of man it 
will come to naught; but if it be of God. 
beware, lest haply, ye be found fight- 
ing against God." To the second class 
of persecutors, let it be said, "Mene, 
Mene, TekeV is stamped upon your fore- 
bead, and your future is sealed unless you 



speedily repent and pray to the Great 
One for forgiveness. .,_.*. 

The history of the trials, tribulations 
and endurance of the Latter-day Saints, 
is one which invokes sympathy and ad- 
miration. The history of their persecu- 
tions and oppressions at. the hands of « 
American freemen, living under a govern- 
ment brought into existence to adminis- 
ter justice to its citizens in religious and 
political right, the very name of which 
government carries with it the ring of 
liberty— the history of the persecutions 
of the Latter-day Saints, I say, is one 
which causes the spirit of Truth and Lib- 
erty to rise in righteous indignation. Can 
you blame a "Mormon" youth for conse- 
crating the best years of his life, to the 
vindication of his cause, when, because of 
which cause, his parents were mobbed, 
plundered, whippet!, imprisoned and driv- 
en from state to state? When his own 
fjesh and blood has been wronged, and, 
as a result, forced to a premature grave, 
is it not his holy and obligated duty to. 
contend for Justice? The early Chris- 
tians did not suffer more than the early 
"Mormons."- The Huguenots, Puritans 
and Pilgrims have not suffered more. Al- 
though in this age, and under the Ameri- 
can constitution, the Church of Jesus 
Christ of Latter-day Saints has felt the 
weight of tyranny, and the deepest in- 
justice. Before and after its organiza- 
tion, in 1830, its advocates have been 
subjected to physical abuse, and violent 
persecution. From New York ' it was 
gradually forced west until it reached the 
banks of the Mississippi river, leaving in 
its trail the mounds of hundreds of 
graves, the result of blood-thirsty intol- 
erance. There, at Nauvoo, the storm of 
bigotry and religious fanaticism, which 
had thundered at the heels of the "Mor- 
mon" people from the Empire State, burst 
upon the Saints in all the grim horrors 
of hell. Amid the terrors of carnage, the 
prophet of God was martyred— foully and 
cruelly murdered in cold blood. Oh! why 
did men crimson their own souls with the 
blood of these innocent Seers! The 
Saints were driven by. brute force into 
a trackless wilderness to hunt their food 
and neighbor with the savage. 

Though the way to the heart of the 
Rocky mountains is marked by human 
skeletons, God blessed the people, and 
the tree of life, planted at the cost of 
Saints' lives, and Prophets' Wood, took 
root, deep and wide, in the bosom of the 
mountains which chain together the poles 
of the earth,. and flourished. They trans- 
formed the desert wastes into beds of 
flowers. In their undisturbed peace for 
twenty-five years they founded upon triw 
principles, a strong and healthy common- 
wealth. Look at it today. No purer, 
stronger, or healthier people are to be 
found. In education, advancement, tol- 
erance and progress, they are among the 
peers. A religious system, productive vt 
such results cannot be other than the 
most desirable, let puerile opposition pet 
and whine as it may. The founders of 
such a system could not have been other 
than the most noble types of humankind. 

"Mormonism" is progressive, clean and 
elevating. It is proved by reason, it is 
corroborated by science. Science does 
not dispose true religion— they go hand 
in hand. Science does not disprove the 
existence of Deity— it does not confute 
that the soul is immortal. Man, whose 
organism surpasses all other creations, 
was not made to flourish or sparkle, and 
then, after a few short years of existence, 
sink into oblivion or blackness, like the 
dying embers of a camp fire. Man is 
made to endure, and religion and science 
are given him for his advancement. True 
religion and true science never contra- 
dict, but exist together, both subservient 
to Him who rules on high. 

The present condition of the world is a 
doleful example of the negligence of true 
religion. Science has been at work: it 
has established a wonderful and mighty 
civilization, the likeness of winch has not 
been known before. It has contributed 
much to ease human pain and increase 
human happiness. We fairly stagger at 
the rapid strides of progression, when 



168 



THE SOUTHERN STAR 





REPORT OP MISSION CONFERENCES FOR 


WEEK ENDING MARCH 31, 1900. 




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we contemplate the possibilities of steam, 
electricity, liquid air, and ethereal waves. 
There is an agency which groans with 
more threatening power, as the prospects 
of civilization deepen. It is the same 
power which destroyed the civilizations 
of Egypt^r Assyria, Babylon, Greece, Chi- 
na and Rome, and it forebodes ill to 
our own advancement. Let us turn from 
the hum of the factory, the throbbing of 
the engine, the glare and brilliancy of 
artificial stars, into the wake of this civ- 
ilization, and we shall see that our pro- 
gressive, earnest, active age is an age 
of sin and crime, where wickedness and 
corruption fester and disease, threatening 
to decay the vitals of life itself, and call 
down the wrath of a just God. Because 
of the lack of true religion, crime and 
sin walk arm in arm with the civilization 
of the nineteenth century, producing an 
unbalanced stability. Is it not time that 
an earnest and an authorized reforma- 
tion be waged? 

"Mormonism" has been planted to re- 
deem the world of sin through truth, 
which it champions. Like the Elias of 
nineteen centuries ago, its mission is to 
prepare the way of Him whose right it 
is to reign; to cry, "Repent! for the king- 
dom of heaven is at hand.'* 



Men of Genius. 

Upon examining an old biographical 
dictionary recently, containing five thou- 
sand distinguished characters, of all 
ages and nations, I found the greatest 
proportion were Frenchmen, next En- 
glish, Scotch and German, and next Ital- 
ian, Dutch and others. The reason for 
there being a greater number of French- 
men is, that in France genius is more 
patronized, no matter in what circum- 
stances it is found ; while in England few 
persons of talent, if they are not rich, or 
well-dressed, have any chance of being 
known. 

One-half of these five thousand were 
descended from poor parents, and raised 
themselves from the depths of poverty by 
their own exertions. Some trades seem 
to have produced more men of genius thau 
others. 

Many shoemakers have risen to dis- 
tinction in literary pursuits. A number 
have commenced life as tailors, many as 
weavers, and others as gardeners and 
stone masons. The following are among 
those who have struggled with poverty, 
but have succeeded in benefiting the 
world : Aesop, Terence and Epicetus, 
men distinguished in ancient times, were 
slaves at their first outset in life. Pytha- 
goras, a Greek philosopher, was a com- 
mon porter at first. Cleanthus. another 
philosopher, supported* himself by carry- 
ing burdens and drawing water. Prof. 
Heyne, of Gottingen, one of the first 
classical scholars of his age, was the son 
of a poor weaver, and for many years 
struggled with the most distressing pov- 



erty. Sir Richard Arkwright, the invent- 
or of the machinery for cotton spinning, 
was a country barber, a dealer in hair. 
Miss Benges, the authoress of the "Life 
of Mary Queen of Scots," and other pro- 
ductions of merit, was so poor in early 
life that, for the sake of reading, she 
used to i>eruse the pages of books in the 
booksellers' windows, and return day 
after day, to see if another page had been 
turned over. 

Sir Edmund Saunders, chief justice 
of the King's bench, in the reign of 
Charles II, was an errand boy. Simeans 
was apprenticed to a shoemaker. 

The famous Ben Johnson worked some 
years as a bricklayer. Kepler spent his 
life in poverty. Pope Adrian VI could 
not, in early life, afford candles; he often 
read by the light of the street lamps. 
Claude, of Lorraine, was the apprentice of 
a pastry cook. Buchanan, the Scottish 
historian, was born of poor parents, and 
underwent many difficulties. William 
Hutton, the historian, was the son of a 
wool comber. Bunyan, the author of the 
Pilgrim's Progress, Was the son of a 
tinker, and himself followed the profes- 
sion. It is well known that Burns was a 
peasant, and followed the plow. Capt. 
Cook, the navigator, was at first a cabin 
boy. Daniel Defoe, the author of Rob- 
inson Crusoe, was the son of a butcher, 
and had to struggle with many misfor- 
tunes. James Ferguson, the astronomer 
and philosopher, was the son of a poor 
barber, and was a shepherd. Geo. Fox, 
the founder of the Society of Friends, or 
Quakers, was the son of a weaver. Gif- 
ford, the distinguished editor of the Quar- 
terly Review, was at one time so poor 
that he could not buy paper, ana would 
work algebraical questions with a blunted 
awl on fragments of leather. — Juvenile 
Instructor. 



From Country to City. 

The migration of young men from the 
farming districts to the towns and 
cities has reached such proportions in 
Great Britain that not long ago a writer 
seriously contemplated the possibility 
that England would some day consist of 
a number of immense cities surrounded 
by districts of market-gardens, while 
the rest of the island would be as wild 
and uncultivated as the wastes of Cen- 
tral Africa. 

Without accepting this prediction quite 
literally, it is still nevertheless true that 
the movement in question is going on in 
this country as it is in England. 

The young men of today are most of 
them reluctant to adopt any pursuit that 
involves manual labor. Their impulse 
is to push into the already overcrowded 
sedentary employments in our cities. 
Thousands of them do not realize their 
anticipations, and live meager, discon- 



tented, unpromising lives. It is a mis- 
taken choice. The hope is that the mul- 
titude of these failures will ultimately 
bring about a readjustment of the popu- 
lar conception of country and city busi- 
ness life. 

Meanwhile education will be extended 
and specialized. It is imperative that 
educational methods should adjust 
themselves to the needs of the times. 
Already there is a movement to estab- 
lish agricultural classes in connection 
with our country schools. If the move- 
ment is successful, a large number of 
the boys of the next generation will be 
taught that intelligent farming is one 
of the most reliable pursuits to which 
thought and enterprise and industry can 
be given.— Youth's Companion. 



The Gift of Prophecy— Its Fulfillment 

On Sept. 24, 1899, while Elders R. A. 
Bolin and Jos. P. Emery were holding 
services in Wrightsville, Hanover county, 
N. C, the gift of tongues rested upon the 
latter (Elder Emery), and for some time 
he spoke in an angelic language. There 
were some fifty persons present who were 
not connected with the so-called "Mor- 
mon" Church, and also six members of 
said Church. After Elder Emery had 
ceased to speak, Elder Bolin arose to his 
feet and interpreted the remarks of his 
companion, at the conclusion of which 
he said, that if the people did not repent 
they would be visited by a severe storm, 
causing the sea to heave beyond its 
bounds, and bringing destruction upon the 
place. 

In three weeks after the above men- 
tioned meeting the winds of heaven be- 
gan to stir the calm of the earth. The 
mist of the coming storm bedimmed the 
sun's searching rays, and black clouds 
arose over the eastern horizon. The 
mighty Atlantic ocean roared, sighed, and 
groaned, as if some master hand troubled 
its tranquil rest. Finally the storm broke 
over Wrightsville. with great fierceness, 
causing much destruction. From one- 
half to three-quarters of a mile the "Shell 
Road" was literally covered with lumber, 
boards, etc. Fine houses were swept 
away and one beautiful building was lift- 
ed bodily from its foundation and hurled 
into the "Banks Channel." The sea arose 
five feet higher than ever before known — 
tearing up and demolishing railroad 
tracks. So we see that when a servant of 
the Lord filled with the Spirit of God 
utters a prophetic warning, a literal ful- 
filment thereof is sure to come to pass, 
for Jesus said, "Heaven and earth may 
pass away, but not one jot or one tittle 
of ray word shall pass away unfulfilled." . 



Kindness wins for us the affections of 
others. 




•BUT THOUGH W£.OG AN ANOtL FROM HEAVEN, PPE ACM ANY 
OThEC GOSPEL UNTO YOU THAN THAT WHICH WE 

HAVE PREACHED UNTO YOU, LET KIM 6E ACCURSED *GV./*&M_ 



-*mF3££r~ 




Vol. 2. 



Chattanooga, Tenn., Saturday, April 28, 1900. 



No. 22. 



ERROR— TRUTH— SCRIPTURE. 



BY DAY-VID. 

Error— "The way is dark, tbe path is 
clouded o'er. 
Thou cans' t not know the perfect plan of 
life; 
*Tis only understood by men of lore, 
With knowledge, wit and worldly wisdom 
rife." 

Truth— "Attend thine ear, the Plan has been 
revealed: 
We have the Light, the Truth, the shining 
way ; 
'TIs only to the blind it is concealed, 
The righteous it will lead to brighter 
day." 

Error— "Content thyself, thou need not suf- 
fer here — 
There're many ways and either one will 
do- 
Just join the sect you like and never fear 
But what you will this life pass sweetly 
through." 

Truth— "Nay! All that will. In Jesus, godly 

live. 

Must suffer persecution, scorn and hate; 

There's only One, who can salvation give; 

Oue straight and narrow way to Heaven's 

gate." 

Krror— "'TIs all a mystery, we have no 

need. 
Of prophets, seers, or revelations new: 
The canon now is full: enough's received; 
Just pay your preacher, he will guide you 
through." 

Truth— "Apostles, Prophets, Blessings as of 

yore, 

Are needed In the Church of Christ today; 

To perfect Saints of God, the world wide 

o'er. 

And keep them in the straight and narrow 

way." 

Scripture— "My tongue shall not be mute, or 
soul be dumb; 
I come to vindicate Truth's righteous 
cause, 
For Error, thou art blindly in the wrong— 
Thou tightest 'gainst the Father's holy 
laws. 

And Error, vnln deceiver, thou shalt fall. 
While righteousness and peace shall reign, 
supreme; 
Our blessed Savior, rule as King of all; 
The Saints be sanctified; the earth re- 
deemed." 



OUR CONFERENCE PRESIDENTS. 

Elder E. L Pomeroy. 

« "God give ns men! 

A time like this demands, 

Strong minds, great hearts: 
True faith, and ready hands!" 

—Holland. 

Good men are required in all the vo- 
cations of life— in the workshop, on the 



farm, in the legislative halls, the judi- 
ciary chambers, or the pulpit — they are 
wanted everywhere. He whose glad- 
some features adorns this week's Star 
is counted by all who know him a good 
man, and of the number for whom the 
call comes, "Wanted every hour." Born 
in the quiet, peaceful little town of 
Paris, Bear Lake county, Idaho, May 
19, 1876, of goodly parents— his father, 
Francis M., having been forced from 
his home in Missouri by wicked mobo- 
crats— the early part of our brother's 
life wji8 spent on the farm, where he 
was instilled with those traits and char- 
acteristics which go to make up the 




ELDER E. L. POMEROY. 
President of the East Tennessee Conference 



lives of good men and good women. 
While he was quite young his parents 
moved to Arizona, for the purpose of 
settling in that territory, and his father 
assisted in constructing the Mesa City 
Canal. Until the age of fifteen he lived 
in the frontier town of Mesa, attending 
the district school and assisting his 
mother (the father having died when 
Elder Pomeroy was only eight years old) 
in the maintenance of the family. 

WTien only sixteen years old he at- 
tended the Maricopa Stake Academy— 
his brief sojourn here giving him a stim- 
ulus and sharpening his desires for study 
in the Brigham Young Academy, which 
was realized in 1897. Owing to una- 



voidable circumstances, he was com- 
pelled to forego his aspirations for the 
completion of his education, and at the 
close of the school year he drove by 
team from Provo City, Utah, to Mesa 
City, Arizona, intending to return in the 
fall and continue his work at school. 
When he reached home he received a 
call to devote a portion of his time to 
the work of the Lord, and apply his 
talents in performing a mission in the 
Southern States. His brother, F. T. 
Pomeroy, had just returned * from a 
mission in Mississippi, where he had 
labored for some three years for the 
cause of truth, and the two met in Salt 
Lake City— the one having performed an 
honorable mission in the South, and the 
other (E. L. Pomeroy) ready to go forth 
with a fixed determination of doing like- 
wise. 

A little over two years ago — April 10th, 
1808 — he arrived at Chattanooga, and 
was appointed to the Florida Conference. 
Here he labored with diligence and en- 
ergy— baptizing many honest souls into 
"the fold of the Good Shepherd. In 
February, 1000. he was called to leave 
the Florida Conference, and when Elder 
John Peterson was released Elder Pom- 
eroy was given the affairs of the East 
Tennessee Conference in charge. He 
says: "I have had more real joy and 
satisfaction in these last two years than 
T have ever experienced before in my 
life." 



History of the Southern States Mission. 

(Continued from page 162.1 

November. 1806. 

The usual tranquility of our Mission 
was somewhat disturbed during the 
month. The spirit of monocracy which 
announced in hellish glee its mission 
among those striving to serve the Lord. 
No lives were lost, but great persecution 
was waged against the Elders. Their 
success in spreading the truth among 
mankind had assumed such gigantic pro- 
portions ns to force Satan to greatly 
manifest his powers. About noon of the 
6th inst. some 150 armed horsemen 
passed the school house near the Carter 
settlement, about seven miles west of 
Live Oak, Fin., headed toward Mr. Geo. 
Carter's, where Elder John A. West lay 
almost dyinsr upon his bed, being nursed 
by Elders W. G. Fisher and T. F. Was- 
den. Learning of the mob's intention 
as they passed the school house, little 



170 



THE SOUTHERN STAR. 



Mamie Carter, 12 years of age, made a 
short cut through the fields and woods, 
reaching her home, about a mile dis- 
tant, some three minutes before the mob 
arrived; bruised, brier scratched and 
well nigh exhausted, she sounded the 
danger signal. 

Elder West was very low and had 
just dropped off into a fainting spell 
(these spells had been coining on him 
frequently, always leaving him very 
weak). The excitement aroused him. 
The Elders at once dedicated themselves 
to God and cooly prepared to meet the 
worst — let it be life or death. The mob 
was met at the gate by Mrs. Carter and 
her brave daughter, Hattie, who sternly 
refused them admittance. The outlaws 
threatened the women, but to no pur- 
pose; in no uncertain language the two 
heroines said: "If you pass through this 
gate you shall walk over our dead 
bodies." At the suggestion of Elder 
West, the three leaders of the gang 
were admitted to his room. By his cool, 
gentle, but impressive, determined man- 
ner. Elder West succeeded in melting 
their hearts— they left the room blessing 
him, while their eyes were filled with 
tears. 

The purposes of Satan were defeated 
for a short time, but soon arose to for- 
mer bitterness. Mob meetings were held 
in different parts of the county. It was 
openly avowed that "Mormonism must 
be uprooted, cost what it may." Whisky 
was provided by outside parties, and be- 
came a factor in the outlawry. There 
appeared in the "Florida Banner," a 
heretofore friendly paper, the following 
notice: 

"To the People of Suwanee County: 

"All the good citizens of the county 
that are opposed to 'Mormonism' re- 
maining in their midst are requested to 
meet at the old Wilson mill on Tuesday, 
the 8th of December, at 9 o'clock, for 
the purpose of stamping it out." 
(Signed) CRACKER. 

Commenting editorially upon their ac- 
tions, W. L. Whitfield encouraged the 
moo proceedings, characterizing them as 
very orderly and conservative. Elder 
W. G. Fisher wrote Gov. Thomas L. 
Mitchell at Tallahassee, Fla., relating 
to him the proceedings in full, giving 
the names of thirty or forty leading 
mobocrats, and praying for protection. 
A communication of similar import was 
addressed to the Governor from the 
Chattanooga oftlce. The gubernatorial 
reply came from his private secretary, 
D. Lang, stating in substance the dis- 
turbance was one which the local au- 
thorities must deal with according to 
the laws and constitution of Florida: 
when they had exhausted their power to 
quell any disturbance, and upon their 
report of the fact to the Governor, the 
state would come to their assistance, 
not before. As the proposition appears 
to us, our Elders and Saints must first 
be hounded down, whipped, beaten, then 
hung, at which juncture the state will 
come to our- assistance, cut the ropes 
and bold an inquest over the dead 
bodies. O, what perfidy! 

With a ^iew of averting some danger. 
Elder West was moved by wagon about 
seven miles to the house of Brother Red- 
ding, near Live Oak Station. Th«» move 
was made in secrecy at night, while his 
condition was so serious as to necessi- 
tate sending the following telegram by 
Eldors Fisher and Wasden: 

"President West is very low; we fear 
it is serious." 

The month closed the mob agitation 
still active, but no fatalities to record. 
(To be continued.) 



THE DARK AGES. 

BY A. ARROWSMITH. 
(Continued from page 103.1 

THE NINETEENTH CENTURY 
opened with Europe filled with strife und 
war; men toiled to burn each other's 
cities, to waste each other's fields and 
destroy each other's lives. Napoleon 
was in the zenith of his power, and noth 
ing less than the subjection of the world 
would satisfy his rapacity. His turbu- 
lent spirit was not conquered until af- 
ter the battle of Waterloo, 1815, when 
he was banished to the Isle of St. Hel- 
ena, dying in the year 1821. The career 
of this man reeked with blood, and war, 
with its ravaging influence, extended 
from the far north to the shores of the 
Mediterranean; from the confines of 
Asia in the east, to the Atlantic in the 
west; in some places could be heard the 
shouts of victory, in others the wails of 
defeat. 

While the above was transpiring in 
Europe, the new world, America, was 
resting in tranquility, looking from afar 
with serene neutrality upon the throes of 
war abroad. Eventually England adopted 
high-handed and offensive methods 
to obtain sailors for her navy, using the 
"press gang" and searching American 
vessels, contrary to the laws of nations. 
America naturally resented such pro- 
ceedings, and trouble arose between the 
two countries. These troubles and griev- 
ances could have been easily adjusted, 
but America and England were too an- 
gry to be reasonable, and war was de- 
clared in the year 1812. England was 
so embroiled in the Napoleonic troubles 
at home that she could spare scarcely 3,- 
000 men for the defense of her posses- 
sions in this country; in consequence, the 
British force in America was principally 
composed of Canadian militia and volun- 
teers, which were sadly defeated at the 
battle of New Orleans. This war lasted 
about two and a half years, when terms 
of peace were satisfactorily arranged. 
An era of peace and industry was ush- 
ered in, without a parallel in the annals 
of the human family, when the forces of 
modern civilization began to work, and 
a dawn of light, hitherto unprecedented, 
shone upon the world. 

From the time of the invention of 
printing to the year 1814, scarcely any 
improvement had been made in the press; 
it had been a rude machine, printing, at 
its best, scarcely 150 copies per hour. 
This was still universally in use, while 
now we have machines that print 25,000 
copies per hour. In consequence of this, 
books and papers have become very 
cheap and are at present within the reach 
of all. 

This spirit of invention operated upon 
George Stephenson, who, in the year 
1814, practically demonstrated the feasi- 
bility of his locomotive. In the year 
1825 he operated a locomotive, carrying 
passengers and traveling at the rate of 
twenty-nine miles per hour, which was 
a wonderful innovation and a marvelous 
disseminater of intelligence. 

Robert Fulton, in the year 1807, built 
the "Clermont," the first practical 
steamboat, and started up the Hudson, 
greatly startling the natives, who 
thought the devil was at the helm, it be- 
ing beyond their comprehension to see 
vessels operating against wind and tide; 
it was too miraculous to their under- 
standings, whereas in the present days 
of inventions and electricity, nothing 
shocks or appears at all marvelous. 

Such were some of the forces at work 
in the early part of this century; forces 
which were bringing the human family 
to a high state of civilization. 



Let us now examine the religious 
state of the world and see if theology 
has kept pace with the general advance- 
ment. We must bear in mind that we 
are approaching the year of jubilee, 
1830, the termination of the 1,260 years 
of darkness, which has covered the 
earth, discussed in the first article from 
the prophecies of Daniel and John the 
Revelator. 

We still find hundreds of jarring sects, 
all tenacious of their own ideas and bit- 
terly denouncing one another, howbeit, 
all of them, being without the least de- 
gree of authority.' If w T e admit the 
claims of these sects, their creeds are 
only the crystalized ideas of the leading 
men of the age that gave them birth. 
For example, the Roman Catholics did 
not depend on revelation, nor even upon 
the Scriptures, but wholly upon the tra- 
dition of the Fathers. In other words, 
the rule of faith, in the Church of Rome, 
was the conflicting ideas of men — often 
ill-informed and superstitious — who lived 
during the period of darkness, until the 
sixteenth century. The creed of Luther 
is simply his own uninspired ideas. In 
like manner the Presbyterian faith is 
but the reflex of the doctrines taught by 
Knox. Likewise Methodism and Qua- 
kerism are but the products of zealous 
reformers of the past. In fact, all the 
isms extant, that were known in the be- 

f inning of this century and that are 
nown to this day, are entirely behind 
the times, non-progressive and unfit for 
the coi|;ideratiou of advanced thought. 
An up-to-date religion is needed; this 
earnest, active, thinking period demands 
a religion that has life and power in it. 
The cold formalism of the narrow, 
contracted, long-faced, hypocritical sec- 
tarian, does not fill the bill. This is at- 
tested to today by the fact that infidel- 
ity is growing, and the empty churches 
show that their systems are failures and 
are going to pieces. 

In the midst of this strife and confu- 
sion in the theological world, a youth 
was born on the 23rd of December, 
1805, in Sharon, Windsor county, Ver- 
mont, whose subsequent life has proven 
him to be the most remarkable person- 
age that has graced the earth since 
Jesus. He was born of humble parent- 
age, living in poverty, amid pastoral 
scenes, among the' pioneers of the new 
world. When fifteen years old, he was 
much concerned about his soul's salva- 
tion. He was living, at this time, with 
his parents, in the town of Manchester, 
N. Y., where a religious revival was in 
progress. It was a joint affair; the 
Methodists, Presbyterians and Baptists 
all taking part. This boy was unable to 
decide which sect to join; thinking of 
course their systems were all of God: 
never suspecting for a moment that they 
were all wrong, devoid of inspiration 
and an abomination in the sight of God. 
The only question with him was, which 
sect shall I join? who has the most 
truth? Incidentally, coming across the 
passage in James, where it says, "If any 
of you lack wisdom let him ask of God, 
that giveth to all men liberally and up- 
braideth not, and it shall be given him." 
he became impressed, having great faith 
in this promise. The result of this faith 
was that he went in secret to the re- 
cesses of a wood adjoining his father's 
farm, and there, in humility, on a beau- 
tiful spring morning, while all nature re- 
joiced, this youth importuned his Father 
in Heaven for light. He relates a re- 
markable circumstance, which In this 
age of scepticism and man-made relig- 
ions. seem« incredible. He says the 
Father and the Son appeared unto him, 
and gave him advice and instruction, 



THE SOUTHBBN STAB. 



171 



telling him that the various faiths, dog- 
mas and isms were not acceptable to 
God, that they drew near to Him with 
their mouths and with their lips hon- 
ored Him, but their hearts were far 
from Him; furthermore, he was told to 
unite himself with none of them, for 
"they teach for doctrine the command- 
ments of men, having a form of godli- 
ness, but they deny the power thereof." 

After the hundreds of years of dark- 
ness, the heavens are opened, commu- 
nication is restored, God again speaks; 
what a glorious circumstance. The 
youth relates his vision, and naturally 
his story is not believed; he is cast out, 
derided and spoken evil of, being looked 
upon with discredit, as a foolish vision- 
ary boy. His good sectarian friends (?) 
tell him the days of revelation ceased 
when the Apostles died, that no such 
things as occurred in the Bible days are 
possible in this age of enlightenment, 
and that they are done away with. His 
story was rejected and considered ridic- 
ulous and preposterous by all; but in the 
face of all his opponents he continued to 
affirm that he had seen a vision. In the 
fall of 1823 this youth, who was then in 
his eighteenth year, declared that while 
in bed, in answer to prayer, he was vis- 
ited on three separate occasions in one 
night by an angel. The angel gave him 
much instruction regarding the estab- 
lishment of a Gospel dispensation, which 
he should be the instrument in the hands 
of God of restoring to mankind. He also 
spoke of a Divine record, which was 
hid up in the earth, which contained the 
everlasting Gospel, being also a brief 
history of' the inhabitants of the western 
hemisphere, prior to its invasion by Cor- 
tez and discovery by Columbus. The 
ground where this record laid was shown 
in a vision and the youth was instructed 
to meet this angel, each successive year, 
on this sacred spot, until September, 
1827, when the record was given him. 

The young man, who was then twenty- 
two years old, declares, and it has been 
fully attested and corroborated by eye- 
witnesses since, that the book consisted 
of golden plates, and the writings were 
after the order of the Egyptian hiero- 
glyph. This book was translated into 
the English language and for sale in the 
year 1829. It is a remarkable record, 
and goes by the name of the "Book of 
Mormon." This young man was named 
Joseph Smith, and the angel's name was 
Moroni, the son of a man named Mor- 
mon, who lived on this continent some 
1,500 years ago. This record had been 
hid by Moroni while he lived in the 
flesh, and he had charge and care of it, 
until its delivery into the hands of the 
boy Joseph Smith. 

The youth further declares that John, 
the one who is called the Baptist, came 
and delivered upto him, by the imposi- 
tion of hands, the keys of the Priest- 
hood, which was after the order of 
Aaron. Subsequently the Melchisedek 
priesthood was restored, and every key, 
ordinance and law constituting the ever- 
lasting Gospel of Jesus Christ, as taught 
by Him in Judea. The above events 
were not done in a corner, but have been 
attested to by hundreds, yea, thousands, 
of honest men, who today declare the 
truths which this young man has left on 
record. These men positively know, 
without doubt, that the thing called 
"Mormonism" is of God and nothing 
more nor less than the Gospel of Jesus, 
which has been off the earth, "driven in 
the wilderness" for 1,260 years, and re- 
stored through the power of God and 
angels, in this "the dispensation of the 
fullness of times," in fulfillment of the 
words of John where he says, "And I 



saw another angel fly in the midst of 
heaven, having the everlasting Gospel 
to preach unto them that dwell on the 
earth, and to every nation, and kindred, 
and tongue, and people." (Rev. 14-0.) 

The revelations, visions and wonders 
pertaining to these latter day mysteries 
are strictly scriptural, and fully corrob- 
orated by the Word of God— the Bible— 
as every honest investigator has fully 
proven to his satisfaction and delight. 
Joseph Smith, as a Prophet of God, or- 
ganized the Church of Jesus Christ of 
Latter-day Saints, on the 6th of April, 
in the year 1830. The progress, perse- 
cution and march of the church, from 
that day to the present time, indelibly 
stamp it as a perfect organization of the 
Kingdom of God. It is in line with the 
spirit of the times, progressive, up-to- 
date and in accordance with ancient 
prophecies. 

For a concise history of the above 
events, I would refer you to number 
seven of this volume, page 49, "Sketch 
of the Life of the Prophet Joseph 
Smith," by Apostle M. F. Cowley. 

As this closes the "Dark Ages,' or pe- 
riod of 1,260 years, which fulfills the 
prophecies of Daniel and John the Rev- 
elatory as described in the first article 
of this series, it would perhaps be bet- 
ter to throw a little light on the subject, 
and show what God has wrought since 
the establishment of His Gospel in the 
year 1830, up to the present time. 
(To be concluded.)' 

GLEANINGS. 

To his many friends here in the south, 
Elder Charles R. Spencer, of Randolph, 
Rich county, Utah, sends best wishes. 
He closes his letter, written to us of recent 
date, as follows : 

Though my lot is not cast (personally) 
among the Elders of the south, still with- 
in my mind are thoughts and fond recol- 
lections of the Elders and friends of the 
Southern States Mission, especially of the 
South Alabama Conference. May the 
hand and promise of God ever be with 
His servants, and aid them in this glo- 
rious work, that His purposes may be 
brought about. 

Elder William T. Jack, for some time 
president of the Southwestern States 
Mission, with headquarters at St. John, 
Kansas, has been released to return 
home, and Elder James G. Duffin, of 
Toquerville, Utah, now laboring in Texas, 
has been appointed to succeed him. Elder 
Duffin is the senior president of the 
Ninth quorum of Seventy. 

During the past week Elders F.W. Kar- 
ren, R. R. Humpherys, Charles McNeil 
and Thomas S. Karren, who are laboring 
in the city of Jackson, Tenn., have been 
doing much good. They have been hold- 
ing street meetings with much success. 
To be sure they have met opposition, 
and that in an un-American-like way. At 
the close of one of their meetings a few 
nights ago, etjgs were showered upon 
them. They did not expect to have bo- 
quets thrown at them, inasmuch as they 
preach such an unpopular doctrine, yet 
eggs were unexpected. An appeal to the 
chief of police was of an encouraging na- 
ture, and let it be said to his credit, he 
promised them protection. He assured 
them if he could find the guilty parties, 
they would be punished. The leading cit- 
izens of the town feel grieved that such 
a thing should happen within their com- 
munity. The street meetings will be con- 
tinued. These four brethren have been 
busy as the following report will show: 

Two hundred families visited, 120 fami- 



lies revisited, 400 tract* and dodgers 
distributed, 144 books sold, 24 of which 
were O. P. works, 14 meetings and 260 
gospel conversations. 

Releases and Appointments. 

HeleuMe*. 

Brigham Clegg, North Kentucky Con- 
ference. 

W. J. Ure, North Kentucky Confer- 
ence. 

Appointment*. 

Ohio Conference— Silas S. Smith, Jr., 
A. G. Haskell, Wilbur Sowards, John 
Banks, R. E. Skinner, Levi Dunn. 

Virginia — Francis Chi Ids, I. D. Massey. 

North Alabama Conference — J. S. 
Brown, J. R. Poulson, George Davis, 
George R. Lyman. 

East Tennessee Conference — W. R. 
Bybee, W. W. Selck, Jr., D. A. Brinton, 
J. E. Follett. 

Middle Tennessee— A. N. Allred, J. W. 
Lewis, Jr. 

South Alabama Conference — Theodore 
Marteneau, J. D. Frankland. 
Tranifem. 

C. O. Cherry from Georgia to Ohio 
Conference. 



Oratory. 

Senator Hoar's reference to Aguinaldo 
and his associates as belonging to a race 
that "handed down to us the Scriptures 
of the Old and New Testaments, the 
poetry of David, the eloquence of Isaiah, 
the wisdom of Solomon and the profound 
philosophy of Paul," would be exquisite- 
ly funny, had it not been made in the 
legislature of a great nation, during the 
discussion of a most serious question. 
Under the circumstances it must be 
characterized as a grotesque attempt at 
hiding a grim falsehood under a brilliant 
cover of oratorical flowers. Someone 
might with as much reason compare the 
Russian Laplanders to the race that gave 
us the Bible. 

Aguinaldo is, by all accounts, a Ta- 
galo with Spanish blood in his veins. 
The race that gave us the Scriptures 
were neither Tagals nor Malays, but 
Sheraites. These were the leaders of 
civilization through many centuries, and 
it was during their golden age that they 
produced the poetry of David, the elo- 
quence of Isaiah and the wisdom of Sol- 
omon. 

A legitimate use of oratory is to im- 
press a truth, to illustrate an argument 
and to rouse sentiment in favor of that 
which is good and noble, but to use it for 
the purpose of concealing the shallowness 
of the water and induce people to be- 
lieve that there is depth where there is 
nothing but mud, though very frequently 
done, is nevertheless reprehensible. It 
has no effect on thinking people but to 
render them suspicious of being imposed 
upon. A public speaker should first be 
sure that he has the truth to present, 
and then do it without recourse to the 
tricks of the orator.— Deseret News. 



Let Tomorrow take care of Tomorrow, 
Leave things of the future to fate; 

What's the use to anticipate sorrow. 
Life's troubles come never too late. 

—Swain. 



Man is glorious and happy not by 
what he has, but by what he is.— Chan- 
ning. 

The laws are most numerous when the 
state is most corrupt.— Tacitus. 



We take no note of time but from its 
loss. — Young. 



Until the end shall charity endure.— 
Churchill. 



172 



THE SOUTHERN STAR 




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Saturday, April 28, 1900. 



ARTICLES OF FAITH 

OP THE CHURCH OP JESUS CHRI5T OP 
LATTER-DAY SAINTS. 

1. W* belli" i» Uofl the Etefml FiLhir, tod \a Oil So* 
JeentthrLiL, end in the Uoljf Oh&ii, 

I. W| t^lnjnnB that men "ill be pbniehed for titir o9M 
eiae, eud not far A dens'* tteuigraeeton. 

S. Wt Nlievffl that, through the etonrmtnt at Ohritt, oil 
oimkind my b-c ■AVfttf, bj ot*4i*s*« to lh* 1*** ud urdj. 
aeficfti of th* i juJf-H. 

A. We beliefs Lh4t th* Ant prinfibl*i oiul ardininf cti of 
ihe £k*[*] »rt ; Fimt, faith in the Lard J#i«i Chritt j iocom!, 
[Up* a Una*; thJrJ, BepLiem b* t Bitted JOO fn* the feaimkoa 
of line ; FHCih, La/log 00 of Hand* for th* Gift at the Holj 
Cboet 

Ik We beljne« that » Tn*n mail be cilteJ af (knj, by 
14 pnipbecy, end bj the Tftjrinfc ud of bfttnJ*," by t-boi* who tro 
in authority T to p»ub Ihe goapel end ■dtniqifler in the ordj. 



I. We betitfe Jo ibOtamoorgt nidation thai »l«t*4 In 
the primiLi^ t hurch— nuamlj. A pottle*, frupheU, i'uiora, 
Teacbvft, r>i II gvl ii b* h «Ul 

7* We believe bo the gift af tongue** prophecj, rf T*lntfOa» 
vtiione, hovltaf, intetpreteUon at toaguei, etc 

& V* e be beie She Bible to be the word er nlo4 f ■• far u tt 
■e Iratulelvd correctly; *o alio belli- vc Lbo Book of Marino* 
U> b* the ward of Uod. 

V. We belief e elf that God hie rfr*e>)»d, ill Iktt He Jm 
naw reretl, eqd we better* that lie w<l] tot fee e*f nieoy (TMt 
end impatient thing* perteielnji to the Kingdom at Ood< 

10. We b*1i««* in the lit#r*i ft tWing of Uriel and in (ho 
r*4Lontiofl Of ibe Ten Tribe* ; thel Zion tLU be bail I upoa 
(hi* {the Aro^ricir^ Mntiiwsnt ; thai Chrfitmll reign pertOO- 
• lly upon the earth, end thet the earth wiJl be renewed «ad 
leeeife it* permdieiarel gkttjr. 

11, We claim the privilege of * or* hi pi ng Atmifhtv <Jod 
Uncording to the dicUtM of Our roo*ricnc*» and alio* all 
«a too eaoie ^uYiffgA, Let tbera wonbip bow, wh*r«, ar what 
thoynajr. 




» bo able to oodoro oil tbingt. If tboro U'aoTthTog virtaooo, 
Ij, orofjnod report or praloawortbj, wo oaok after tboao 



USB NOT VAIN REPETITIONS. 



An exchange has the following: 
"Inability to lead in prayer cannot be 
pleaded as an excuse for neglecting family 
prayer. For even a youth of twelve or fif- 
teen years can sit down and write a prayer 
to use in the family circle. It may not be 
ornate or elegant, but it vill be acceptable 
in the ears of the Lord. 

We are at once reminded of what 
Christ said about vain repetitions, as 
contained in the writings of St. Matthew 
6:7-8. "But when ye pray use not vain 
repetitions, as the heathen do; for they 
think that they shall be heard for their 
much speaking. Be not ye therefore like 
unto them ; for your Father knoweth what 
things ye have need of, before ye ask him." 



There are but very few copies of the 
hound volume of the Star left. Those 
desiring to make this desirable addition 
to their libraries should not delay in 
*w»pdin«» in their order. Sent on receipt 
of $1.75. 



"IT IS WRITTEN." 

Having gone down into the waters of 
baptism in obedience to the Divine will 
or His Father, and in order to set the 
children of men an example which all 
should follow ; the worthy Lamb of God 
was "led up of the spirit into the wilder- 
ness," where for "forty days and forty 
nights," He fasted and prayed that He 
might be tutored in His ministry, and re- 
ceive strength to overcome the tempta- 
tions of the evil one. When the tempter 
came to Him, and said, "If thou be the 
Son of (iod, command that these stones 
be made bread;" Jesus answered, "It is 
written, man shall not live by bread 
alone, but by every word that proceedeth 
out or the mouth of God." Again, when 
the evil oue told Him to cast Himself 
down from the pinnacle of the temple, 
He replied, "It is written, thou shall not 
tempt the Lord thy God." Still, a third 
time did the wicked Lucifer seek to en- 
trap the immaculate Savior and once 
more was the vain deceiver rebuked with, 
"It is written thou shalt worship the 
Lord thy Gody and Him only shalt thou 
serve." Thus we see, that in all the evil 
desires and requests of the adversary, he 
was rebuked and his purposes thwarted 
by a "It is written ;" or in other words, 
the written word, the Holy Scriptures 
were quoted by the Redeemer to silence 
and overthrow the wicked designs of Sa- 
tan. 

Last week we received an article, head- 
ed "Mormonism in Illinois," published in 
the editorial columns of the South oaro- 
lina Baptist, dated March 13, 1900. This 
article teemed with malicious misrepre- 
sentation, and the unjust conclusions of 
the author displays the fact that he was 
seething with splenetic hate for the people 
he ridiculed and reviled. The same kind 
of argument was manifest in tn.s attack, 
as that engaged in by almost all who 
undertake to expose "Mormonism," vile 
abuse, calumny, and scandal ; the same 
material was used, wherewith to tear 
down as is usually employed for that 
purpose — false histories, common report, 
and "they say so," but never once, "It 
is written." No, the one whose brain 
conceived and whose pen inscribed this 
article, "Mormonism in Illinois," totally 
neglected or entirely forgot the Divine 
way of answering opponents, but as such 
we have never arrayed ourselves. We are 
not opposed to any man, class of men, sect 
or denomination, but to error, vice, wick- 
edness and evil, wheresoever it may be 
found. Against these by the help of God, 
we wage a righteous warfare. Don't you 
think, dear brother, whoever you may be 
that composed this article under discus- 
sion, that at least you should manifest 
as much respect for "Mormonism" as 
you erroneously term it, as did your re- 
deemer for the evil one, i.e., with a "It 
is written," when you want to explode 
its doctrines, and annihilate its advocates. 
If you » a Christian, then follow in the 
footsteps of the Master, emulate His Di- 
vine example; otherwise you forfeit your 
right to the honored title of Christian, 
and by your action*? belie the utterances 
and profession of your lips.- You have 
your Guide Book — the Holy Bible; you 
deny latter-day revelation, and say: 
"The canon of scripture is full ;" therefore 
if you are earnest in your declarations, 
you, of necessity, must go to the book of 
your instruction and confession, and 
from its sacred page condemn those whom 
you wish to oppose. The moment you 
depart from the lids of your Bible, and 
resort to other works for proof and evi- 
dence, that moment you reject the ex- 



ample of Jesus and discredit the Holy 
Book you claim to believe in. Now, dear 
brother, whenever you take upon your- 
self to join the Philistines of these last 
days in snapping at the heels of God's 
chosen vessels, the "Mormon Elders," 
give us a little of the "law and the testi- 
mony," for we hunger after righteuosness 
and truth. 

In conclusion we will quote a few lines 
which are written by inspiration of God, 
and are profitable for doctrine, for re- 
proof, for correction, for instruction in 
righteousness: "That the man of God 
may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto 
all good works" (II Tim. 3:10,17). Jude 
says: "There shall be mockers in the 
last time * * * having not the spirit" 
(Jude IS, 19). Again, "With all thy 
getting get undertsanding" (fro v. 4:7) ; 
and further: "Make straight paths for 
your feet," (Heb. 12:13), "that we may 
be delivered from reasonable and wicked 
men; for all men have not faith" (II 
Thess. 3 :2). These are a very few of the 
written words of God, therefore, let every 
one take heed; for when God speaks let 
every one give ear, and let the sons of 
men hasten to obey. With Shakespeare 
we would say: "O, while you live, tell 
truth, and shame the Devil," ever being 
able to support the stand you have taken 
with, "It is written." 



A HEEDLESS GENERATION. 

Through revelation and the teachings 
of God's holy writings, we are taught 
that the many gifts and blessings en- 
joyed by the ancients can be enjoyed to- 
day, by obedience to laws divine. If 
the Gospel be the same, the Holy Spirit 
the same, why not such manifestations 
follow true believers? One of the pow- 
ers which the Spirit clothes man with 
is prophecy. Today, in the world, can 
be seen Elders of the Church of Jesus 
Christ of Latter-day Saints, traveling 
two by two. They go from city to city, 
village to village, crying "Repent ye ere 
judgments shall overtake all who heed 
not the message of v truth." If these men 
be of God, then they are guided in what 
they proclaim unto the people. "If any 
man speak, let him speak as the oracles 
of God;" and such things as are spoken 
by true servants will be unto the people 
as binding upon them to obey. Often, 
while preaching, Elders predict certain 
things which must come to pass. They 
prophesy, not with their own wisdom, 
but as moved upon by the Spirit. But 
a short time ago an Elder in this South- 
ern mission, told the people undei che 
sound of his voice that unless the laws 
of heaven were obeyed, unless they re- 
pented and were willing to bow to God 
in humble obedience, great destruction 
would be visited upon them. Time 
journeyed on and little thought of the 
prediction made was maintained in the 
minds of the people. One day came a 
most unwelcome visitor, heralded by the 
voice of a humble Elder, but unexpected 
by a non-repentant people. How the 
winds did blow and howl, the waters 
bound forward and all nature seemed to 
be enraged. Railroad tracks, bridges, 
houses, and all the handiwork of puny 
man, were piled in a confused and intri- 
cate mass. Then fear filled the hearts 
of many, and "O, Lord! Lord! spare us!" 
must have been their thoughts. While 
some would attribute the great destruc- 
tion to the fulfilment of prophecy, yet 
there are those who thought it only a 
natural occurrence. In the hardness of 
their hearts they will not repent, prefer- 
ing to continue in worldly ways. "But 
as the days of Noah were, so shall also 
the coming of the Son of Man be. For 



THB SOUTHERN STAR. 



173 



as, in the days that were before the 
flood they were eating and drinking, 
marrying and giving in marriage, until 
the day that Noah entered into the ark. 
And knew not until the flood came, and 
took them all away; so shall also the 
coming of the Son of Man be." This 
righteous man preached, plead, and la- 
bored with the people of his day, six 
score years; praying to God to aid him 
in his labors. Day after* day rang out 
his voice, yea even did his very tools, 
used in building the ark, sound forth a 
warniug voice, "ltepent, ye ungrateful 
children!" He was laughed at, and per- 
haps called a fanatic, suffering much 
abuse, yet he would not falter, he could 
not fail, for God had sent him on this 
errand of love. Many people today will 
not listen to the voice of God, sounded 
by the Elders, they will not heed the 
Yoice of the elements. 

"And again, the Lord shall utter His 
voice out of heaven, saying, Hearken, 
O ye nations of the earth, and hear the 
words of that God who made you. 

"O, ye nations of the earth, how often 
would I have gathered you. together as 
a hen gathereth her chickens under her 
wings, but ye would not? 

"How oft have I called upon you by the 
mouth of my servants, and by the min- 
istering of angels, and by mine own 
voice, and by the voice of thunderings, 
and by the voice of lightnings, and by 
the voice of tempests, and by the voice 
of earthquakes, and great hailstorms, 
and by the voice of famines and pesti- 
lences of every kind, and by the great 
sound of a trump, and by the voice of 
judgment, and by the voice of mercy all 
the day long, and by the voice of glory 
and honor, and the riches of eternal life, 
and would have saved you with an ever- 
lasting salvation, but ye would not?" 
How long will you scorn the service of 
love, the advice proffered you by mine 
anointed? Will you not realize that 
every knee shall bow and every tongue 
confess? Woe unto those who heed not 
the commandments of a wise Creator. 
The servants of God will continue to cry 
"Repentance" until the Lord shall say 
enough. They will continue in the labor 
of love until all the honest shall be gath- 
ered into the fold, yes, they will con- 
tinue to sow seeds of righteousness and 
strive to trample out the tares of world- 
ly wickedness. 



Southern States Mission. 



Tuesday, the 24th inst., President Rich 
returned to Chattanooga, having been 
absent in the West for the last few 
weeks. He brings with him a message 
of love, from the Living Oracles, to the 
Elders, Saints and friends of the Sunny 
South. 



Literature, medicine, law and other 
occupations are cramped and hindered 
for want of men to do the work, not for 
the work to do. If you wish to test the 
truth of this statement, hunt up a first- 
class editor, reporter, business manager, 
foreman of a machine shop, mechanic, 
or an artist in any branch of industry, 
and try to hire him. You will find him 
already hired. If you need idlers, 
shirkers, half-instructed, comfort-seek- 
ing editors, lawyers, doctors and me- 
chanics, apply elsewhere. They are 
plentiful.— Mark Twain. 



Henry Ward Beecher recognized that 
the audience was not to blame if it got 
sleepy during his discourse. It is re- 
ported that when he took charge of the 
Plymouth Church he said to his sexton: 
"If you see anyone asleep in the con- 
gregation, go straight to the pulpit and 
wake up the minister." 



Deseret News. 

Elder Ben E. Rich leaves the city this 
evening on his return to the Southern 
States mission, over which he has pre- 
sided for some time with signal ability 
and success. During his visit here the 
subject of the commissary department, 
which has been for many years a feature 
of that mission, has been investigated by 
the general authorities of the church, 
and being in excellent condition and 
necessary to the financial welfare of the 
mission, it has received their approval. 

From the office in Chattanooga, Tenn., 
the elders laboring in the southern states 
are able to obtain supplies in the shape 
of clothing of all kinds, traveling equip- 
ments, books, tracts, etc.. specially adapt- 
ed to the respective localities where they 
are called to labor, and these are fur- 
nished at the lowest possible rates with 
a small margin of profit which is used 
to sustain the mission. The funds thus 
obtained render it possible to conduct the 
affairs of the mission without encroach- 
ment upon the tithing, and a considera- 
ble amount in cash has been forwarded 
to headquarters recently. 

There has been some misapprehension 
in reference to this department of that 
mission, and it is but fair to state that 
while it is essential to the financial suc- 
cess of the mission, no elder is compelled 
or required by the president to obtain 
anything whatever from that source. The 
brethren are left perfectly free in this 
respect, to obtain such supplies as they 
may need from any quarter they choose. 
However, it seems clear from the condi- 
tions surrounding the Southern States 
mission, that the elders called to labor 
there should obtain clothing specially 
suited to the peculiar climate of that 
part to which they may be assigned, of 
the very extensive country embraced in 
the mission. In some parts warm cloth- 
ing is required, in other parts it would 
be a positive burden and detriment. In 
the summer time in the warmer districts 
alpaca suits are the rule, and anything 
heavier becomes a discomfort and a 
source of disease. All Elders who are 
called on missions to the Southern States 
are advised to put themselves in com- 
munication with the office at Chatta- 
nooga, before they invest in supplies for 
their journey. 

It is gratifying to learn of the success 
which has attended the management of 
the commissary department in the South- 
ern States mission, and also the labors of 
the Elders throughout that wide and 
varied field of operations. The work is 
prospering there, and Elder Rich returns 
with the blessing of the presiding author- 
ities, and with prospects of still further 
advancing the cause of truth among the 
people in the various conferences under 
his supervision. The missionaries there 
have performed a noble work, and the 
power of God has been abundantly man- 
ifested in their preservation, and in the 
outpouring of His spirit as a consequence 
of their efforts to spread the gospel. May 
they continue to enjoy their work and 
have the pleasure of seeing the fruits of 
their labors! 



that added to their beauty; they looked 
out at you with keen and searching pow- 
er; the mother's eyes had lost their vivid 
blue, their sharp- directness, but from 
their placid depths beamed forth a ray 
of love for all. 

The girls eyes asked the questions of 
life; did you but look into the mother's, 
you would find the answer written there. 

Such they were when I saw them in 
the car— mother and daughter— like and 
yet so unlike. 

Through all the girl's being runs the 
joy of living; in her mind dwells the 
thought of her faith in herself, and her 
power to dare and to do; while deep in 
her heart, unnoticed as yet, sleeps her 
faith in God. 

The mother's joy consists in having 
lived and learned life's lesson. 

"Thou shalt trust the Lord thy God." 
Therein lay the secret of the difference 
in expression. 

As I looked at the girl I felt so happy 
for her. Shall I tell you why? Life gave 
such promise for her; she did not realize 
what it all meant, but she felt no fear. 
Far in the future, I saw the means by 
which God would change that strength 
of purpose she started with, into knowl- 
edge of Him; others coming into her life, 
would take away its selfish motive; trials, 
through those whom she loved, would 
cause her to turn from herself to God for 
aid. 

Did I question the outcome? Not one 
bit. For I knew by the way her mother 
looked at her that out of the mother's . 
heart rose this daily prayer: "God grant 
that she may do Thy will, in Jesus' 
name." 

And ever as she toils along from day 
to day and year to year, she'll see again 
that look of love, she'll hear again her 
mother's prayer, "God grant that she 
may do Thy will in Jesus' name." 

And doing His will, she will truly be 
the girl with a face like her mother's. 
ELEN W. 



The GirlVith a Face Like Her Mother's. 

I saw them in the car not so very long 
ago— this girl and her mother. 

There could be no mistake in the rela- 
tionship, the likeness was too great 
Seated opposite, I made mental notes of 
the resemblance, and yet marveled at the 
difference; not in complexion, but ex- 
pression. 

The girl's hair was light, with gleams 
of gold in it; in the mother's hair the 
gold had given place to gray. 

Both had low foreheads, from which 
the parted, uncurled hair rolled simply 
back; suiting as well the pure outlines 
of the oval girlish face as it did the 
quiet look of self-forgetfulness that 
marked the mother's. 

The girl's eyes were blue — blue like 
the sky ; and shaded by long, dark lashes 



Abstracts from Correspondence. 

Gig, Va. 
Dear Brother. 

I would like to have a few lines in the 
Star to express my feelings in regard to 
the Gospel. I have been a reader of the 
Star over twelve months. I am thankful 
to my Heavenly Father that I live in 
this day and age, and hrve the true plan 
of salvation. Since I have been a Lat- 
ter-day Saint I have enjoyed the Spirit 
of God to guide me in the proper way. 
I know and testify to the world that 
Joseph Smith was a true Prophet of 
God. I remain your sister in the Gos- 
pel, S. A. Daniel. 

The Southern Star. 

To the honest in heart it is very plain 
that the Elders who travel in the world, 
representing the Latter-day Saints, are 
messengers of light, love and peace. To 
me it is very plain that the Gospel they 
preach is true. I enjoy reading God's 
word, penned by inspiration, by those 
who are pleasing to our Heavenly 
Father. May the work ever grow and 
prosper. For the benefit of my sister, 
who is ill, I crave an interest in the faith 
and prayers of the Saints. 

J. H. GOLDICE. 



When a man has no good reason for 
doing a thing, he has one good reason 
for letting it alone.— Walter Scott. 



People seldom improve when they 
have no other model than themselves to 
copy after.— Goldsmith. 



Hell is more bearable than nothing- 
ness- Bailey. 



174 



TfifiJ SOtJTHfi&N STAB. 



ftAAAaAflUMMAAAAAAAAAAAAAai 



] Unbelief in th e Promise s of the Lord. [ 

| WESTERN STANDARD, FEBRUARY 7 1857. * 

iffiftfff t t i i nmnimnMinmn 

One of the most cheering promises given 
eby tlie Lord to His people, is, that what- 
soever they ask in the name of Jesus, 
nothing doubting, shall be granted unto 
them. This promise, given by a Being of 
perfect truth and illimitable power, who 
has the will and ability to grant whatso- 
ever is asked of Him aright, ought to till 
the hearts of His people, to whom it is 
given, with joy unspeakable, and cheer 
them in the midst of all their trials and 
sufferings. • It has this effect with those 
who have kept His commandments, as 
they soon obtain the knowledge, which 
John said the ancient Saints received,— 
that whatsoever they asked, they received 
of Him, because they kept His command- 
ments. If they asked anything accord- 
ing to His will, He listened to and granted 
it. Everything connected with tho his- 
tory of God's dealings with man 
proves that the Lord always was 
a Being who heard and answered 
prayer, and granted unto His people every 
desire of their heart in righteousness. 
And, if He is an unchangeable being, the 
same yesterday, today and forever, we can 
rest assured that He will as willingly listen 
to the cries of those who seek Him today 
as He ever did. This, is one of the great- 
est points of difference between the Lat- 
ter-Day Saints and the so-called Christian 
world. The Latter-Day Saints believe 
that the Almighty's power is unrestricted, 
that He can and will bestow every bless- 
ing upon those that diligently seek Him 
today as much as He would eighteen, 
twenty or forty centuries ago, — that His 
arm is not shortened that He cannot 
save, neither His ear heavy that He can- 
not hear; but that He presideth over the 
affairs of the children of men and dis- 
penseth His gifts and blessings unto 
them according to their faithfulness in 
seeking Him, as much as .He ever did. 

Believing that Jesus meant what He said 
when He told His disciples that what- 
soever they should ask the Father in His 
name it should be granted unto them, 
and that He did not mean it to be confined 
to them alone, but intended it as a reliable 
promise to His disciples in every age, the 
Latter-Day Saints have all confidence in 
asking the Lord to bestow upon them 
the wisdom and knowledge, the gifts 
and power which were enjoyed by the 
people of the Lord in ancient days. Be- 
cause they do this they are ridiculed and 
condemned by the Christian world. 

Christendom practically assert, by their 
teachings and course, that they look upon 
the Lord as a changeable being — a being 
who is a respector. of persons. For they 
assert that the gifts, power, wisdom and 
knowledge that were attainable to tho 
people of the first century, and readily 
bestowed by the Almighty upon them, 
must not be sought for by the present 
generation, as they are not for them, and. 
therefore, cannot be obtained. If they 
did not affect to be the people of God, 
and made no pretensions to keep His 
commandments, such assertions and ideas 
as they at present advance would be 
perfectly proper; but while nretending 
to keep the commandments of God and 
to be His accepted people, they are mon- 
strous and anti-Christian, and clearly 
show that Christendom does not view God 
as a Being the same yesterday, today i*m\ 
forever, and who will bestow upon His 
people in every age the gifts and bless- 
ings of His gospel without partiality. 
Instead of their teaching mankind that the 
Lord will bestow upon them whatsoever 
they ask in righteousness, they teach them 



that there are but few things 
that they can obtain — that Uie 
Lord is not so favorably inclined 
to this generation as He was 
to former ones. The consequences are, 
doubt, gross darkness and unbelief have 
increased from generation to generation, 
until men have arrived at the conclusion 
that the Lord does not concern inmself 
about sublunary affairs, and they can do 
almost as they please without any fear 
of interference from Him. These doc- 
trines have filled the world with apostacy, 
have divided mankind into numberless 
sects and parties, and made the earth 
a pandemonium. Apostate Christen- 
dom, through the press and from the 
pulpit, has unhesitatingly and uublush- 
mgiy proclaimed that God will not reveal 
Himself or His will unto man in this 
generation. This assertion, ministers, 
professedly Christian, will not scruple to 
support with the most sophistical argu- 
ments, and they will do it, too, with the 
Bible in their hands, the Book which gives 
the lie direct to such teachings, being re- 
plete with promises and covenants, made 
by the Lord Himself, that He will reveal 
Himself and His will to those who dili- 
gently seek Him. 

That we do not misrepresent the teach- 
ings of the popular ministers of the pres- 
ent day, when we state that these are 
their doctrines, every individual who is 
in the least acquainted with their creeds 
and systems must know. Should it be a 
cause of wonder, then, that darkness 
abounds, and that faith in the promises 
of God and His ability to fulfill them, 
is stifled? Let a man go to a modern 
Christian minister and inform him that, 
being in doubt in relation to the command- 
ments he ought to obey and the church he 
ought to join, he hau gone to the Lord 
believing the promises He had given in 
His word, and had asked Him to reveal 
His will unto him and the Lord had 
done so by a aream, by vision, by open 
manifestation or by any of the ways 
which He has of revealing Himself unto 
man ,in what manner, we ask, would his 
statement be received by such a minister? 
He would be horrified at the idea, and 
would speedily caution the seeker after 
truth to beware of delusion, as such mani- 
festations were not given to man now-a- 
days. What! the Lord inform a man 
what church he must join, give him any 
light as to what commandments he must 
obey, and who possesses the authority to 
administer them? Impossible! The idea 
is outrageous! If we let this doctrine 
gain ground our craft is ended, for men 
who will take this course will all join 
one church and obey tHe ordi- 
nances taught by it, and then our 
numberless systems and sects will fall 
to the ground! Acting upon those feel- 
ings, he spares no pains to convince tho 
inquirer that he must not look for such 
things at the present day ; these blessings 
were only conferred upon the people of 
by-gone generations. Vaunting aoout the 
truth of the Bible, and at the same time 
endeavoring to persuade the people that 
the plain and unmistakable promises con- 
tained therein, were not given with the 
intention of l>eing fulfilled to men of tho 
present day! 

To us it appears strange that men will 
so obstinately close their eyes to these 
gross inconsistencies in the teachings and 
wnctiee of tho ministers of modern 
Christianity. For what were these 
promises given, if they were not to be 
fulfilled unto men when they complied 



with the conditions required of them? 
If man cannot rely upon them, how can it 
be expected that he can trust to the prom- 
ises of salvation if he should be obedient? 
The moment that the attempt is made to 
weaken the faith of mankind in any par- 
ticular promise, if successful, it weakens 
their faith in all the remaining promises, 
and such individuals are on the high road 
to infidelity. When Jesug made the prom- 
ise, that whatsoever His disciples asked 
in His name it should be given them; 
lie intended that they should avail them- 
selves of it. When He said that He would 
manifest Himself unto them that loved 
Him, He did not iutend to deceive, or to 
say one thing and mean another; but He 
uttered the truth, upon the fulfillment of 
which mankind might, if necessary, rely 
unto death. So, also, when the Lord said 
through James, that if any lacked 
wisdom they had but to ask 
Him, who giveth to all men lib- 
erally without upbraiding, and it 
should be given him,— He designed that 
it should be an incentive to them to seek 
for wisdom from Him, with the full as- 
surance that they would obtain it. Were 
men to believe in these promises, and seek 
with all their hearts to obtain them, there 
would not be the confusion there is at 
present in matters of religion; but man- 
kind would kuow what the Lord approved 
and what He condemned, and be prepared 
to adopt or reject, as truth or error might 
be presented to them. This is the great 
characteristic of the gospei of Jesus, or as 
it is now called "Morinonism;" it points 
man to these promises, and it assures him 
of tl/?ir full andjc/nnplete fulfillment if ho 
will take the proper course. The Latter- 
Day Saints have experienced their truth. 
They know that God heareth and answer- 
eth prayer; that He revealeth Himself 
and maketh known His will to those who 
seek Him, and that He bestows all the 
gifts and blessings upon His people in 
these days, that were enjoyed by those of 
former generations. Of this they boldly 
and publicly bear testimony. Is it not 
reasonable and Scriptural? Who that 
believes the Scriptures, can examine the 
position taken by the Latter-Day Saints 
on these points, and not be convinced 
that it is the only consistent and tenable 
position that can be assumed? Or, on 
the other hand, who that is not blinded 
by prejudice, can scrutinize the belief of 
Christendom on these doctrines and escape 
the conviction that they are directly an- 
tagonistic to the word of the Lord? * 



Creed Revision. 

The storm raised by the withdrawal 
of Prof. McGiffert and Dr. Hillis from 
the Presbyterian denomination threatens 
to become a cyclone. And now the de- 
mand is heard from all quarters for a 
revision of the creed. Among those in 
favor of something new is Rev. David 
Gregg, of Brooklyn, who says: "The 
Presbyterian church needs a new and 
simple creed. Though I am a conserva- 
tive Presbyterian, I say that some of 
the items of the Confession of Faith, 
on which the Presbyterian church 
stands, are dead." Another pastor says 
he "abhors some statements in the Con- 
fession," and believes "there are men in 
the church today as competent as were 
the men of two hundred and fifty years 
ago." Of course there is some opposi- 
tion, and the question is raised whether 
truth can be revised, or whether the 
Presbyterian creed is not the truth? And 
if the creed can be revised, why cannot 
the Bible, too, be revised, so as to elim- 
inate from it what some consider objec- 
tionable? At any rate the Presbyte- 
rians now have enough questions on 
hand to require them to leave other de- 
nominations alone.— Deseret News. 



THE SOUTHERN STAR. 



175 



What Shall the Harvest Be ? 



"nffflflnnnnflr.nnnnnnnnnnnnmnnm n 



Extracts from an article prepared for 
the Chattanooga Times by Rev. Marion 
F. Ham: 

"Do men gather grapes of thorns, or 
figs of thistles?" — Matt. vii:17. 

"Behold, a sower went forth to sow. * 
Think of this: every soul that cometh 
into life is directly concerned with this 
matter of sowing and reaping. The 
whole of human life is contained in a 
succession of seedtimes and harvests, 
and the whole trouble with the human 
family seems 1 to be its disinclination to 
look this fact squarely in the face. We 
are continually dodging the logic of this 
truth and striving to reap in the harvest 
what we did not sow in the seedtime. 
The human race is constantly contriving 
and inventing ways to reap rich harvests 
without sowing good seed. In fact the 
theology of many people seems to be con- 
structed with this particular end in view. 
We wish to construct some vicarious 
atonement scheme which shall relieve us 
from the necessity of reaping the fruits 
of our sowing in kind. I am persuaded 
that all such theories, however nicely ad- 
Justed to the sinner's view, will prove 
inadequate and disappointing in the end. 

No man can pluck the blossom of lust 
without receiving the wound of the 
thorn. "The soul that sinneth, it shall 
die." Why? Because sin is a poison 
and death is the consequence. 

♦ * * » 

In nature there is never the slightest 
deviation from this law of exact repro- 
duction in kind. Husbandmen know 
when they plant seed just what kind of 
a harvest to expect. Man is as yet igno- 
rant of the cause of life. He cannot 
create the life germ. But he knows that 
a fixed law governs the process of this 
life principle. 

The rosebush always bears roses and 
the bramble bush always bears thorns. 

The sower is absolutely certain when 
he plants the vine and sows the wheat, 
that grapes will not grow on the wheat 
stalk nor wheat on the grape-vine. Thus 
be is able to predict and make ready for 
the harvest. 

Obeying this fixed law, seedmen are 
able to cause plants and grains to repro- 
duce on higher planes. By careful atten- 
tion to reproduction the plant is induced 
to bring forth a higher order of flower 
and seed. This result is simply the effect 
of choosing the best seed from each har- 
vest. We call it cultivation. 

• * * * 

Now this law of exact reproduction in 
kind is not confined to the physical world. 
It applies with equal force to the spirit- 
ual life. Every soul in its daily life is 
a sower going forth to sow. And with as 
much certainty as the husbandman, every 
soul can predict and make ready for the 
harvest. 

This parable of man's moral growth 
was continually upon the lips of Jesus 
"By their fruits ye shall know them." 
Tt was his favorite illustration of the* 
great law of spiritual development. "Be- 
hold, a sower went forth to sow." 

The man who sows bad seed will reap 
a bitter harvest. "Do men gather grapes 
of thorns — or figs of thistles?" 

This is only another way of saying 
that like produces like. Nothing can pre- 
vent us from receiving in kind what we 
sow. If we sow thistles — we shall not 
reap figs. The law of exact reproduction 
in kind will give us in the end, only this- 
tles. 

Is not this a wise provision of Provi- 
dence? Suppose, for instance, tliat when 
we sowed wheat, barley or oats should 
spring up. If we planted and nurtured 
a rosebush and should find the blossoms 
only sunflowers — how could we ever be 
certain of any result in our labor? 



Thus in the general operation of this 
law we see that it is designed for man's 
good. When, in the toil of life and tho 
sweat of our brows we strive to wring 
from the stubborn earth the sustenance 
that is justly ours, how blessed a thing 
it is that uature is true to this law. How 
disastrous to life and happiness woukf be 
any break in this method. Who eoul'J 
picture the misery and want and woe if 
our fields, planted and cultivated with 
so much care and labor, should, for only 
one season, blossom and bring forth only 
tares and worthless grains in the har- 
vest. Some unwelcome seed which we 
had not sown in the seedtime. 

And so the wisdom which ordained 
that there shall be seedtime and harvest 
through all time also decreed that the 
souls of men shall sow and reap in obedi- 
ence to the same law. 

"Sow a thought, reap an action. Sow 
an action, reap a habit. Sow a habit 
reap a destiny." There is the seedtime 
and harvest of life contained in a single 
thought. 

* * * * 

Now most of us doubt this fact in our 
youth. But when we grow older and 
sadly wiser we discover that character 
is formed in just this way. Some wit 
defines experience as "something that is 
acquired after it is too late to make use 
of it." 

We all find in the later autumn of life 
that there was a seedtime in the earlj 
spring of youth and we were the inter- 
ested parties who did the sowing. 

And somehow a great many tares seem 
to have been mixed with the seed wheat. 
Some of us attempt to lay the blame 
on the cloven-footed gentleman who is 
reported to have ruined so many fine 
fields of wheat— but the majority of us 
are ready to shoulder the responsibility 
for our bad harvests. We can't accuse 
others of slipping in while the sower slept 
and sowing tares in our field. Every- 
body is too busy sowing his own tares 
to bother with our seedtime. 

No, friends; these bitter tares which 
we recognize in the sheaf are the same 
old "wild oats" which we flung far out 
with a lavish hand. The first thought 
was a seed and the harvest is a destiny 
to be reaped in some future field of ac- 
tion. It may be on this side of the door 
we call death or it may lie on the other 
side. But remember this— according to 
the kind of seed we sow in this present 
seedtime, so shall be the harvest in au- 
tumn; and all the prayers that human 
lips can utter cannot change the charac- 
ter of the harvest. 

• * * * 

Young man! What are you sowing? 
In the fierce passion of impetuous youth; 
flushed with the ecstacy of novel pleas- 
ures; buoyant with the sun of life's 
golden morning beaming full upon your 
face — I know that you do not know. 

No thought of the kind of seed in your 
hand disturbs your dream of triumph. 
The wide prairies of life, with their 
countless blossoms and endless vistas of 
hope and expectation and untried for- 
tunes stretch out before you. Fallow 
fields of unrealized ideals, wherein you 
shall walk and sow — what? I know that 
you do not know. 

Here in the beckoning furrows of time 
you stand to face the sunrise of life, with 
hot head and surging pulse, and feet 
oagorly set toward the far noon; with 
heart beating a rhythmic measure to the 
strange, new song of first love; with eyes 
bent upon the unfamiliar faces of unse 
lected companions: with hands out- 
stretched to clasp the false and the true 
alike in one thrilling, visionary fellow- 
ship — oh, boy, what are you sowing? 

Father, trembling upon the brink of 
the grave, and mother, crowned with a 
ohaplet of silver, vou know the meaning 
of this. You realize the gravity of the 



situation. I see you with tearful, anx- 
ious eyes aud loving hands, striving to 
help this boy select the good seed for his 
sowing, and may God pity the hand that 
brings the tares to this seedtime. 



Seedtime and harvest there shall be 
always; but if I could only tell this l>oy 
that the seed he is sowing shall not fail. 
That there is no possibility in the spirit- 
ual life that any sowing shall come to 
naught. 

"Be not deceived; God is not mocker] ; 
for whatsoever a man so wet h, that shall 
he also reap." 

Sow the wind, boy, aud reap the whirl- 
wind. But just as sure as you cast your 
seed upon the fields of life, just that suro 
will it spring up and bear fruit after its 
kind. 

Whatever kind of seed you sow, God's 
soil and rain and sunshine are faithful 
to bring that seed to its just and legiti- 
mate harvest. 

* ♦ * * 

God could not make us to gather 
grapes from thorns without breaking a 
most beneficent law. 

Suppose that when you and I sowed 
figs, we should find thistles growing upon 
our fig tree? Would not that be ground 
for just complaint? 

To sow righteousness and temperance 
and charity and reap infamous charac- 
ter, devilish habits, deformed moral na- 
ture — we see how terrible would be such 
a break in the law of reproduction. And 
so I thank God that His fields of spirit- 
ual life are faithful to bring forth after 
its kind all that we sow therein. I thank 
God that His providence decreed that 
like should produce like. That grapes 
should always produce grapes and thorns 
bear thorns, and virtue bear virtue, and 
sin bear sin. 

With this firm ground beneath our feet 
we can defy evil to overwhelm us. We 
can build with assurance that our labor 
shall not be lost. We can sow with the 
knowledge that our harvest shall not dis- 
appoint us. 

* * * * ■ 

I will cultivate my spiritual soil and 
plant my pleasant borders of roses and 
lilies of moral acts in the absolute cer-. 
tainty that God's justice will return unto' 
me the blossoms and the perfume of no- 
ble and exalted character. 

To the man who sows figs there is n«» 
power that can give him thistles. To the 
man who sows righteousness there is no 
condemnation nor death. "He that sow- 
eth to the flesh shall of the flesh reap 
corruption: but he that soweth to the 
spirit shall of the spirit reap life everlast- 
ing." 

It has been said that God cannot af- 
ford to damn a good man; but the evi- 
dence shows that a good man cannot be 
damned. There is in his very goodness 
that which is the element of salvation. 
There is only one tree in all God's uni- 
verse that bears death, and that is the 
tree of sin. The fruit of righteousness 
is life. It is our business to sow the 
kind of seed that produces life. We need 
not worry about the result. The God of 
nature and the God of the Bible are 
alike pledged to bring every act unto 
judgment and every seed to its rightful 
fruitage. 



Too Much Intellect; 

The dangers of the higher education 
are not often exposed so nakedly as in 
the following letter from a New En- 
gland mother to the teacher of her pre- 
cious boy, which has lately found its 
way into Harper's Bazaar: 

Dear Miss: Please do riot push 

Johnnie too hard, for so much of his 
branes is intellect that he ought to be 
held back a good deal, or he will run to 
intelleck entirely, an* I do not dezire it. 
So please hold him back so as to keep 
his intelleck from getting bigger than 
his boddy, an' injooring him for life, 



176 



THE SOUTHERN STAR 





REPORT OF MISSION CONFERENCES FOR WEEK ENDING APRIL 7, 1900. 




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EXPEDITION STARTS FOR SOUTH 
AMERICA. 

Deseret News. 

Provo, April 17.— Amid resounding 
cheers from students and citizens of 
Provo and other parts of the state, the 
Brigham Young Academy South Ameri- 
can exploring expedition started on its 
memorable march at 2 o'clock this after- 
noon. 

A large crowd had gathered to witness 
the beginning of what it is believed will 
prove to be one of the most important 
exploring expeditions of latter times. 
Those who saw it could not but feel a 
thrill of pride when the sturdy young 
Utahns gathered about preparatory to 
taking their departure. There were many 
a warm handshake and embrace and 
many a God speed benediction pro- 
nounced upon them, while tears swelled 
in the eyes and trickled down the cheeks 
of fathers, mothers, sisters and brothers 
and sweethearts. All seemed to realize 
that the undertaking was a momentous 
one, and that a long time must necessar 
ily ensue before they could meet again. 
Iiow long is not known, but it is thought 
that the expedition will cover a period 
of from a year and a half to two years. 
At the Academy. 

All of the men have been carefully 
chosen with reference to the their mora! 
and physical lives and all now seem to 
be in the very best of health and 
strength as well as spirits. When they 
entered the academy hall this afternoon 
in their brown canvas uniforms they pre- 
sented a very natty appearance and were 
given a round of applause that almost 
shook the historic building, the institu- 
tion in whose name and under whoso 
auspices the researches will be made. 

The exercises at the academy were 
very impressive in their character. They 
were presided over by Prof. Brimhall, 
who made a few brief opening remarks 
referring eloquently to tne purposes of 
the great undertaking. The academy 
choir sang several beautiful selections 
under the direction of Prof. Lund. The 
opening prayer was offered by Bishop 
Johnson, of one of the Mexican colonies, 
after which President Partridge spoke 
feelingly to all present. He said that the 
expedition was one of the most impor- 
tant ever sent out by the church, and he 
exhorted the members thereof to lead the 
lives of Latter-day Saints in order that 
Ihey might receive the blessings that 
they were entitled to. 

Elder David John of the Stake presi- 
dency said that the spirit of youth came 
over him again in looking at the young 
men who were about to undertake this 
journey, and it made him feel as though 
he would like to take it with them, that 
he, too, might be able to follow in tho 
footprints of the great men of God who 
lived anciently in South America as told 
by the Book of Mormon. 

Elder Stephen L. Chipman endorsed 
what had been said by the other speak- 
ers and added he was certain that tho 
expedition would perform a splendid mis- 
sion for mankind. Miss Ida Peterson 
then sweetly sang a solo and Col. John 



Q. Cannon gave some practical advice 
to the members of the expedition, tell- 
ing them that they should obey their 
leaders in all things. If they did this, 
he was certain they would succeed in 
the purposes for which they were about 
to set out. Furthermore he was proud 
to know that he had a son worthy of 
undertaking the trip with them. 

President Wooley of the Kanab Stake 
also offered a few words of encourage- 
ment, but said that he would meet the 
boys later, when they were about to cross 
the line into Arizona. President Wool- 
ley was followed by Hon. Geo. M. Can- 
non, who felt certain that the blessings 
of the word would attend the expedition. 

Apostle Reed Smoot was the last 
speaker. He admonished the members 
of the expedition to lead pure lives and 
to walk in fear before the Lord and to 
pray unto Him for aid. If they did this 
he was certain that the blessings of God 
would accompany them. The benediction 
was pronounced by W. H. Dusenberry. 
Flag: Preaentatlon. 

A beautiful American flag, the handi- 
work of the Brigham Young Academy 
training school, was presented to the ex- 
pedition and was accepted by President 
duff, who said he deeply sensed the re- 
sponsibility that rested upon him and 
appreciated the gift and the patriotic sen- 
timents that were back of it. The flag, 
he said, would be triumphantly borne 
wherever the party went, and that it 
would be successful in all of its efforts. 
He asked for the faith and prayers of 
the Latter-day Saints. 

The Banquet. 

A banquet then followed, during which 
the members of the party partook of as 
sumptuous a meal as trained minds and 
hands could provide for them. Tonigln 
they will be given a similar reception 
and banquet by the good citizens of 
Spanish Fork. 

Party'* Personnel. 

The entire personnel of the party is as 
follows: President B. Cluff, Prove; 
Prof. W. M. Woolfe, Provo; Gordon S. 
Beckstead, South Jordan; Prof. J. B. 
Fairbanks, Ogden; W. S. Tolton. Waren 
Shepherd, Beaver: H. E. Giles, Jr., Geo. 
Q. Cannon (son of Col. John Q. Cannon). 
Salt Lake; Eugene Roberts, Provo; 
Masher Pack, Kamns: W. M. Hughes. 
Spanish Fork; A. C. Kienke, Nephi: La- 
fayette Rees, Wales; Christian Olsen, 
Ephraim; Heber Magleby, Parley Nel- 
son, Monroe; Royal Woolley, Knab; Wil- 
liam R. Adams, Joseph Adams, Pa rowan; 
B. F. Higgs. Jr., Chester Vnn Buren. 
Orangeville; Soren Hansen. Castle Dale. 



Expedition Starts for South America. 

Salt Lake Herald. 

George M. Cannon, a member of the 
expedition's executive committee, told 
of the interest taken throughout the 
state in this enterprise. "We can hardly 
realize its importance. Hundreds of 
students in Utah are wishing they were 
members of this party. WTiere Cortez 
went with the sword this party of Saints 



will go on a mission of peace with the 
olive branch." 

Apostle Smoot spoke with great feeling 
and earnestness of this movement, say- 
ing that the work contemplated could be 
accomplished only through the Spirit of 
God. He admonished the boys to obey 
the word of wisdom strictly, and prom- 
ised them rich blessings if they should 
do so. He charged the company that 
they are not only representatives of the 
academy, but of the church, and many 
great things would be expected of them. 
The Apostle closed by assuring the ex- 
plorers that they would have the prayers 
of the people, and that if the party does 
its duty 'well the 17th of April will be 
one of the greatest days of the acade- 
my's history. 

President Cluff, in accepting the flag, 
said: *'It will be held in fond remem- 
brances, and our little band will be true 
to the stars and stripes and the cove- 
nants we have made in the house of the 
Lord. It is fitting that the United 
States flag, the emblem of freedom, 
should be carried for the first time 
through the old land by a band of Mor- 
mons. I trust the 17th of April will 
prove a great day, and I hope the acad- 
emy will not regret our mission." 

President Partridge, in his talk, con- 
sidered the expedition the most impor- 
tant the church has ever before sent out. 
One of its objects is to bring to light ev- 
idences of the divine authenticity of the 
Book of Mormon. "This party," he said, 
"go not to expand the Gospel particu- 
larly, but as explorers, pioneers, and will 
doubtless preach the Gospel to the peo- 
ple if an opportunity presents itself." 

Flowers were presented to President 
Cluff by a little child, and the touching 
incident moved many to tears. 



Bad Spelling a Disease. 

A medical authority claims that bad 
spelling is caused by a disease. In cer- 
tain conditions of brain and nerves the 
patient frequently writes "ot" : nstead 
of "to." In another slightly varying 
form, instead of "the," the first letter is 
omitted, and so on in many other short 
words. The malady usually affects the 
brain only in connection with words of 
one syllable, but cases have occurred 
where longer words have been so distort- 
ed that it was difficult to get their 
sense. It is a question whether one 
would be comforted by being told that 
bad spelling was caused by mental dis- 
ease, or whether one would prefer to 
have this lack of accuracy set down to 
ignorance or carelessness. That it is 
not always a proof of defective educa- 
tion is quite certain. 




to^B 



"BUT THOUGH WE, DO AN ANOtL FHOM HEAVEN. PR t ACM ANY 
OTMEK GOSPEL UNTO YOU TtlAN THAT WMlCH WE 

HAVE PREACHED UNTO VQU.LET ruM BE ACCURSED % M ./*&d# 



i^0?5r 




!^H— 



Vol, 2. 



Chattanooga, Tbnn., Saturday, May 5, 1900. 



No. 28. 



MILESTONES TO SUCCESS. 



Education, the capital of mind; 
Success, without It, will be hard to find. 

'Tis well to let this thought the mind im- 

That Enterprise leads always toward suc- 
cess. 

When with Enthusiasm we begin life's 

busy race we never fall to win. 
Economy— It Is a magic door, 
That leads to wealth's accumulated store. 

To win the good and overcome the ill, 
Requires but purpose, reinforced by Will. 

'Tls sad, but none the less It is a fact, 
That half 'Ife's failures comes from want 
of Tact. 

He who by Faith Is led, no danger knows; 
He dreads not unknown Ills nor unseen 
foes. 

'Tis Push that puts one's business in the 

lead, 
And makes success an easy prey Indeed. 

Most anyone the warrior's garb may don, 
But in the fight, 'tis Grit that leads one on. 

Than Purity, there Is no brighter gem 
Set In man's heavenly diadem. 

*Tis Perseverance wins the victor's crowu. 
And carries one to honor and renown. 

Let Patience be thy guide along life's busy 

And ever be thy helper, night and day. 

Let Prudence shape thy every word and 

deed, 
And to her admonitions aye give heed. 

Promptness Is always much to be desired. 
The prompt man honored Is, and much 
admired. 

The man who Courtesy always extends, 
Is never lacking of respectful frleuds. 

'TIb Cheerfulness that lights the world's 

dark ways, 
And drives away the shadows with its rays. 

Contentment is a Jewel of the mind. 
Which brings all good things unto those 
who find. 

By Concentration of the thoughts and pow- 
ers. 
The objects that we seek may be made ours. 

'Tis Courage, more than strength, that wins 

the day, 
And leads the hosts to victory In the fray. 

Good Character a sure foundation Is; 
Let man but build on that, success Is his. 

A rare possession, purchased not with 

wealth. 
Priceless beyond compare, Is perfect 

Health. 

'Tis Aspiration burns the midnight oil, 
And leads one on to unremitting toll. 
Decision, prompt and firm, one should pos- 
Without it you will scarcely win success. 

Self -culture Is the trellis of the mind; 
As It Is trained, thus Is the tree inclined. 
—Arthur J. Burdlck In •'Success." 



BE NOT DISCOURAGED. 



BY PRESIDENT W. W. CLUFF, OF THE 

SUMMIT STAKE OF ZION. 
Era. 

When young Elders are sent on mis- 
sions and meet with opposition, preju- 
dice and indifference, so general in the. 
world, they often feel more or less dis- 
couraged. They often travel days and 
weeks without apparently having mad»» 
a single convert; are refused a night's 
lodging, or even a meal of victuals, and 
are possibly reviled and threatened with 
violence. Under these circumstances, 
they are sometimes inclined to feel that 
their labors are in vain. They should 
remember, however, that Christ met 
with similar difficulties and discourage^ 
ments, yet he said to His disciples: "I 
say unto you, that likewise joy shall be 
in heaven over one sinner that repent- 
eth, more than over ninety and nine, just 
persons, which need no repentance. Like- 
wise I say unto you, there is joy in the 
presence of the angels of God over one 
sinner that repenteth;" and his apostle, 
.Tames, admonishes the Saints: "Let 
him know, that he which converteth the 
sinner from the error of his way shall 
save a soul from death, and shall hide 
a multitude of sins." 

The labors of an Elder who diligently 
bears a faithful testimony, warning the 
people to repent, will in time yield fruit. 
"Cast thy Dread upon the. waters: for 
thou shalt find it after many days." I 
call to mind an instance which proves 
the truth of the above saying, and which 
came under my own observation while 
laboring in the Scandinavian Mission, 
thirty-eight years ago. 

A young Elder, weary and foot-sore, 
called at the humble, cottage of a lowly 
peasant and asked for a drink of water. 
He met with a kind, hospitable recep- 
tion from the honest man and his wife; 
the Elder preached the Gospel, and bore, 
testimony to the unassuming occupants 
of that simple cottage; and, taking his 
departure, left some tracts, which he 
told them would more fully and clearly 
explain the. principles of the doctrine of 
Christ. 

Months after this, another Elder by 
chance called at the same peasant's 
home. On learning that the stranger 
was an Elder of the Church, the man 
said: "I have been praying to the Lord 
that He might send one of His inspired 
servants to our humble home, as myself 
and wife believe in the truth of the Gos- 
pel as set forth in some, pamphlets left 
with us some months ago by a 'Mormon* 
missionary, and we wish to be baptized 
and become members of the Church.*' 
And so this second Elder had the pleas- 



ure of baptizing that man and his wife, 
both of whom proved faithful to the 
covenants which they then made. Thus 
the "bread cast upon the waters** by 
that foot-sore and half-discouraged, hum- 
ble servant of the Lord, who first, bore 
his testimony to those honest people, 
was found by his successor, and the first 
Elder really filled an important mission, 
even though he himself never baptized 
a single person. That he did a noble 
work, the following results will prove. 
This family, consisting of father, mother 
and several sons and daughters, all gath- 
ered to Zion, and have proved faithful 
Latter-day Saints. The father and 
mother enjoyed the privilege of officiat- 
ing in the house of the Lord for their 
progenitors and relatives for several gen- ■ 
erations back; thus conferring the bless- 
ings of the Gospel upon hundreds of the 
children of men. At a ripe old age, this 
worthy father and mother died in full 
faith and in the hope of a glorious resur- 
rection, surrounded by their sons and 
daughters and numerous grandchildren 
and friends, loved and respected by all. 

Three of their sons and several of their 
grandsons have filled honorable missions 
to the nations of the earth, and were the 
means of bringing many to a knowledge 
of the Gospel. Thus we see that the 
seed sowed by that servant of the Lord 
who first visited and bore testimony to 
that family, thirty-eight years ago, in 
far off Denmark, has borne fruit an 
hundred, yea, possibly a thousand fold, 
in the redemption and salvation of the 
children of our Heavenly Father. 

Another very remarkable case show- 
ing the mighty and far-reaching results 
of the labors- of the Elders in preaching 
the Gospel of repentance to the nations 
of the earth, is the following: President 
George Q. Cannon, when on his first 
mission to the. Sandwich Islands, in 
1850-54. baptized as one of the first 
fruits of his -labors on these islands, an 
intelligent and highly educated native 
Hawaiian, who was a descendant of one 
of the old prominent chiefs families of 
that race of people- This prominent Ha- 
wniinn was among the few of his people 
ordained to the office of Elder, and he 
labored efficiently as a missionary, bap- 
tizing hundreds of his countrymen. He 
was the first of his race who came to 
Zion. He was here at the dedication of 
the Logan temple. In that holy place. 
Nnpela, this descendant of the Hawaiian 
chiefs, was bantized for many of his 
progenitors in direct line, of father and 
son. He thus carried back the blessings 
of the Gospel to his kindred and people 
to near the time when they separated 
from their Nephite forefathers on the 
continent of South America, when they 
built ships and sought to sail up the 



178 



THE SOUTHERN STAR. 



northwest coast, to seek a home in the 
north country, and by the trade winds 
were drifted to and landed on those beau-, 
tiful islands in the great Pacific Ocean. 

Now, with the knowledge the Latter- 
day Saints have of the redemption and 
salvation for the living and the dead, it 
will eafisily be seen, in this case, that 
the baptizing of Napela, by President 
George Q. .Gannon, resulted in far-reach • 
ing benefits to a large number of Ha- 
waiian families who will secure redemp- 
tion through this act and the labors of 
Napela. • The number thus benefited is 
almost beyond calculation, yet all a di- 
rect resuuof the conversion and bap- 
tism of Napela by President Cannon. 

With this understanding of the effect 
and vast results from the preaching of 
the Gospel by our Elders, what should 
discourage them or lead any to feel that 
the time and labor they spend on mis- 
sions is so much of their lives spent for 
naught? The grand and glorious results 
accruing should convince our young El- 
ders that their labors are full of encour- 
agement. They have no cause ever to 
be discouraged. 



GLEANINGS. 

The Elders laboring in Jackson, Tenn., 
were again, a few nights ago, targets of 
an unruly gang, who threw eggs at 
them. The eggs fell short of their mark 
and did no damage whatever. The Chief 
of Police has offered a reward for the 
conviction of the guilty parties. 



The State Universities of Utah and 
Nevada will hold an intercollegiate de- 
bate in Salt Lake City on May 25th. The 
home institution will be pitted against 
its neighbor on the affirmative side of 
the question, "Resolved, That territorial 
expansion would be a benefit to the 
United States." 



The many Elders who have received 
welcome greetings, hearty handshakes, 
and hospitable treatment at the hands 
of the kind people of Oak Hill, Rhea 
county, Tennessee, will rejoice to know 
that the good people there have a thriv- 
ing Sunday School, and an organized 
branch of the Church of Jesus Christ 
of Latter-day Saints. 

Brothers C. B. Madaris and N. L. 
Brown are the Priests in charge, the 
latter also being Superintendent of the 
Sunday School. The branch was organ- 
ized by President David H. Elton and 
Elder C. R. Humphreys, and is known 
as the Oak Hi.l Branch of the Church 
of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. 
May the good work grow, the Gospel 
spread, and the honest in heart be gath- 
ered out from the babel of sectarian con- 
fusion. 

Releases and Appointments. 
Releases. 

Middle Tennessee Conference — George 
M. Foyer. 

North Alabama Conference — W. P. F. 
Madsen, T. H. Humphreys and Peter 
Kingsford. 

Mississippi Conference — O. Stapley and 
William Isom. 

Georgia Conference— Thomas Nielson. 

Appointments. 
Virginia Conference — Lorin F. Rich. 

Transfers. 
A. C. Clayton, from Chattanooga (of- 
fice) to Virginia Conference. 



He that makes his soul his surety, 
I think does give the best security. 

—butler. 



Let them obey who know not how to 
rule. — Shakespeare. 



THE DARK AGES. 

BY A. ABBOWSMITH. 
^Concluded from page 171.) 

Having shown how the Gospel of Jesus 
Christ was introduced in this age, we 
will now follow up its establishment, 
with a few of the marvellous happenings 
that have" come to light from a scientific 
standpoint Many mighty wonders have 
been wrought by the power of God, since 
Jpseph Smith declared that God had 
again spoken from the heavens, bqt before 
discussing these, let us take a retrospec- 
tive view of the past articles written on 
the "Dark Ages. I have endeavored to 
trace the death and burial of the plain 
and simple doctrines of Jesus Christ 
which were submerged in Paganism, and 
hid from humanity in the year 570 A. D. 
It has been shown that these happenings 
were in fulfillment of the prophecies con- 
tained in the Bible, as alluded to in the 
first article. 1^ have also tried to depict 
the terrible and deplorable age of igno- 
rance and superstition that ensued under 
the dominion of Papal power. The condi- 
tion of the civilized world since the refor- 
mation, up to the year 1830, when the 
church of Jesus Christ was organized, 
has been shown. Also that this church 
was instituted by God, after the pattern 
of the organization in Judaea, with simi- 
lar officers, laws, rites, and ordinances, 
with similar graces and blessings follow* 
ing the believers. Strange to say, this 
is in fulfillment and confirmatory of the 
prophecies of those who wrote and spoke 
as they were moved upon by the Holy 
Ghost. 

The Holy Bible bears me out and tes- 
tifies to the truth of the system called 
"Mormonism." Since God has shed this 
radiating light among the children of 
men, marvellous transformations have oc- 
curred. When the primitive saints and 
apostles were all killed, and the priest- 
hood was taken' away, gross darkness cov- 
ered the earth and the thoughts of the 
people were continually of a wicked and 
evil nature. Finally a glimmering of light 
came; a star shone, shed its rays and 
died ; timorously a second and a third 
came, looked upon the dark world, and 
also died. At last a cluster came; they 
were the Reformers., and their radiance 
shone like the glimmering of the candle ; 
the world was attracted by this light, it 
looked so beautiful amidst the darkness. 
The inhabitants of the earth, however, 
mistook the source of the ligftt and each 
followed a particular glimmer. Several 
hundreds of these stars shone in the dark- 
ness, and enough radiance was given for 
men to become civilized. The arts and 
sciences advanced, and much thought was 
disseminated through the illuminating 
rays shed by this candle power. But be- 
hold ! in the far west, in a land advanced 
and prepared for freemen, where liberty 
and truth is inscribed upon her charter, 
the land of the free, America, n glorious 
light shining. The brighter stars in the 
east, cross the ocean, and the world gazes 
with awe upon this light, which is tyoi- 
cal of the moon, whose luminous irradia- 
tion spreads in every nook and comer of 
this fair land. The scientific intellectu- 
ality surpasses any former age. and hu- 
manity looks with wonder and surprise 
upon this God-given light. 

Conditions and circumstances b^ing 
propitious. God, who is lieht. desired to 
shed the illuminating influence that rn- 
diates from His person, among His chil- 
dren on the earth. Accordingly He sent 
a representative, a mouthpiece, a prophet, 
a seer; with all the intelligence of former 
ages, when behold ! a new orb, shining 
like the sun, whose influence was felt in 
the east, whose radiating power has been 
felt throughout all Europe. At present 
its luster is shed forth from the confines 
of the everlasting hill", the Roekv moun- 
tains of the lami of Joseph, and its illu- 
minating rays will eventually cover the 
whole earth. These rays impart knowl- 
edge and intelligence in all their ramifi- 
cations, and declare the glory of God to 
be intelligence ; they speak of a time when 
knowledge shall cover the earth as the ' 



waters cover the mighty deep; when the 
lamb and the lion shall lie down together ; 
when a day of rest and peace called the 
Millennium shall come and when swords 
shall be beaten into plow-shares and 
spears into pruning hooks. 

God has restored the sunlight of His 
everlasting Gospel, with every key, rite 
and ordinance necessary for the full es- 
tablishment of His government on the 
earth. What mighty changes have 7 oc- 
curred since Joseph Smith, that illiterate, 
God-fearing youth, went in.. the humility 
of his soul before his maker, desiring 
light from the heavens, which had been as 
brass for hundreds of years. * How little 
this light has been comprehended and ap- 
preciated. The majority of the world is 
still in darkness and idolatrv. Many 'm 
the civilized parts of the world prefer the 
candle to the gas, and others again there 
are who reject the resplendent rays of 
electricity, whose brilliancy they cannot 
fathom, preferring to^. accept the lesser 
lights. He who dares to investigate, with 
honest intent, the brilliant splendor of 
the theological orb which Joseph Smith 
was the instrument of rolling into space, 
will never again desire to grovel in the 
twilight of sectarianism. This system, 
called ''Mormonism," embraces all truth, 
from whatever source, believing that all 
truth comes from God. 

"Yes, say wnat Is trntb? 'Tis the bright- 
est prize 

To which mortals or Gods can aspire. 
Go search In the depths where It glitter 

ing lies. 
Or ascend In pursuit to the loftiest skies, 

'TIs an aim for the noblest desire." 

Like light dispelling darkness, pleasure 
overcoming pain t health destroying sick- 
ness, life replacing death, so truth will 
shine and mount, higher and higher, over- 
coming and surmounting every obstacle, 
until it reaches the pinnacle of perfection 
and is crowned in the Holy of Holies, as 
God's eternal gem. Error, on the other 
hand, will sink lower and lower into the 
depths of hades, into the darkness of ob- 
livion and forgetfulness. 

Let individuals and nations choose 
whom they will serve; there are but two 
churches — one of God and the other of 
the devil ; one good and one bad ; one 
right and one wrong; but one Lord, one 
faith, one baptism ; there are but two 
ways, the broad way and the narrow way. 
Amid the din, discord and confusion of 
sectarianism, with its disunion and strife, 
we can see the devil grinning with glee. 
He, the father of deceit and lies, delights 
in war and contention, and for this spirit 
of rebellion was, with one- third of the 
hosts of heaven, who were his followers, 
cast out into darkness. The spirit of this 
mighty and discordant Lucifer is in the 
earth today, and before every knee bows 
and every tongue confesses that Jesus is 
the Christ, great changes must transpire; 
evil must be suppressed and wickedness 
eliminated. 

In order to prepare for the reign of 
peace and righteousness, God has sent 
His Gospel, with its redeeming features; 
and has also introduced other powers, for 
the enlightenment and advancement of 
the children of men. 

In the year 1832 Samuel F. B. Morse 
conceived the idea of the electric tele- 
graph, and in 1837 the coneress of the 
United States granted him $30,000 to aid 
his great enterprise. In the year 1844 
Morse sent his first message and acknowl- 
edged the hand of God in this wonderful 
invention, his first message containing the 
words: "What hath God wrought." 
One would think that the great climax of 
invention was reached, when men could 
transmit their thoughts over the electric 
wire thousands of miles instantaneously, 
but not so. The powers of electricity 
were in their infancy. Standing on the 
threshold of a new century, who dares to 
foretell the powers of this mighty force, 
coming from the heavens, and generated 
through the dynamo. 

The same power of enlightenment is 
at work in all the arts and sciences: phil- 
osophy has worked wonders; thinkers, in- 
ventors and discoverers have been busy: 
the astronomer throws light on the heav- 
ens; the geologist reads the earth; an- 



THE SOUTHERN STAR. 



179 



thropology, sociology and philology are 
born; education becomes general; archae- 
ology unseals the mysteries of the past ; 
the telegraph, cable, railway, telephone, 
phonograph, Kinetoscope, X-ray and the 
powers ot steam, with the possibilities of 
liquified air, revolutionize the whole 
earth. 

Not many years ago, wooden plows pre- 
pared the soil, and sickles gathered the 
Harvest. Now the steam engines cross 
our fields of grain, cutting, threshing, 
measuring and filling bags, covering hun- 
dreds of acres in a day. Who would have 
thought it possible .to cross the Atlantic 
in six days, or print 90,000 four-page pa- 
pers in an hour; or to convert Dotting 
water into ice in midsummer ; or to trans- 
mit words from New York to London in 
half a minute. Any man guilty of even 
surmising the above, 100 years ago, would 
likely have been burned for • witchcraft. 
Now, we harness the waters of Niagara; 
revolutionize war methods; use horseless 
vehicles; administer anesthetics to allevi- 
ate . pain ; talk to and . recognize each 
others' voices, hundreds <^f miles away. 
Jules Verne or Bellamy apparently did 
not overdraw their fiction when they 
spoke of these possibilities. The practi- 
cal utilities of the lightning are still as 
distant in their possibilities, as was 
Franklin's kite in nis puny hand. 

"The pen is mightier tnan the sword." 
Today more steel is used in the manu- 
facture of pens than in guns and swords. 
Now who will dare say that swords and 
implements of war will not be done away 
with as civilization advances and methods 
of peace inaugurated? Who will dare to 
say that God is asleep, and that we are 
not approaching the Millennial dawn? 
And who will not admit that the powers 
of the sects, which make up Christianity 
are inadequate to cope with this advanced 
thought? Can we not see infidelity grow- 
ing and stalking through our fair land? 
As men reason and think upon the incon- 
sistences offered by theologians, they can- 
not help but fall into the mire of skep- 
ticism. We want an up-to-date religion, 
and "Monnonism" fills the bill. Its leaven 
has been set to work ; the ideas and prin- 
ciples it teaches conflict not with true 
science ; its arc Jight will shine when all 
lesser lights have burned away. Today 
many systems of religion are adopting 
principles of "Mormon ism ;" they recog- 
nize their own weaknesses and fallacies 
and, like the chameleon, change their coat 
to suit conditions. Potter, Parkhurst and 
many others are changing their views. 
Higher criticism is doing its work, and 
those who expect to retain the light of 
theiT little candle dip must continue to 
adopt changes, or be relegated to the 
past. 

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter- 
day Saints is true, and as truth it will 
prevail; its principles eventually covering 
the whole earth. From the light of the 
past, present and future, cannot we de- 
tect the way? It is clear, and "the man, 
though a fool, need not err therein." It 
is lighted bv tbe visions of heaven and 
made plain by the revelations of inspired 
men. Prophets and apostles who are 
gifted as seers, are sure guides, and the 
message to the nations is now, as ancient- 
ly: "Repent and be baptized, every one 
of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for 
the remisison of sins, and ye shall receive 
the fift of the Holy Ghost. For the 
promise is unto you, and to your children, 
and to all that are afar off, even as many 
as the Lord our God shall call." Acts 2 •. 
38 and 39. 

THE END. 



Longevity in Mental Workers. 

Prof. Manterola contributes to a Mex- 
ican scientific society a paper on longev- 
ity in connection with mental work. The 
author divides professions into three 
groups, according to their influence on 
longevity. In mental workers he states 
that the general average of life is above 
sixty-eight years, and the average of 
men of science, lawyers and historians 
is more than seventy. 



WITHOUT EXCUSE. 

BY ELDER E. M. LEU. 

We are drawing near to the great day 
of the Lord. That day is not an uncertain 
object in the dim and distant future, but 
to him who reads aright the page of pro- 
phecy and history, a vivid reality, even 
now throwing the beams of its approach- 
ing glory, and the light of its consuming 
fires upon a slumbering world. It comes 
not without the message of heralds, yet 
it will come to many suddenly and unex- 
pected. With real and unfeigned surprise, 
multitudes will awake from their condi- 
tion, as the terrible realities of this com- 
ing day bursts upon them. So different 
from expectations, so contrary to all* their 
plans, so fatal to things hoped for and 
believed. What astonishment, what 
amazement, yea, what terror will seize 
them. At once they will find themselves 
in the unrelaxing grasp of eternity, its 
irrevocable decisions upon them, and they 
among the last, how many in the agony 
of their despair will put the question 
to their own souls: Why should I be 
found in this condition? What would be 
their reply to such a question, should the 
judge of all meet tnem with the solemn 
inquiry: "Why have you not made prep- 
aration for i his day?'* What answer 
would they give; what excuse could th?y 
render? Would they say "Lord this day 
of all days, this concluding day of human 
history, this decisive day for all the hu- 
man race, should have been set forth in 
the holy word." Forcible would the an- 
swer ring : "It was set forth." Did not 
my ancient prophets speak and write the 
word? Have you not read your Bible? 
Do you not know that apostles and 
prophets lived in your age? What fear 
and trembling to the wicked, but what 
joy to the righteous. Would not they 
who had done evil stand speechless and 
condemned? O, Lord! Why were we not 
warned in regard to the moral state of the 
world? "You were, for it was declared 
in the word of God that iniquity would 
abound, that evil men,and seducers would 
wax worse." "Nations would become en- 
emies, and wars and rumors of wars 
would cause much distress to' mankind." 
"In your own day did not every paper 
groan with records of these things, and 
all the land was startled at the fearful 
spectacle which the world presented." 

Did you not see and wonder? And 
why did you not read arignt.' Paul 
warned you in his writings to not heap 
to yourselves teachers, having itching 
eaTs, that would turn away your ears from 
the truth and would turn them unto fa- 
bles. And, again in II Peter chapter 2, 
did you not read that these false teachers 
would bring in damnable heresies among 
you? And, through covetousness they, 
with feigned words, make merchandise of 
you? Also I Timothy, 4:13, "that in the 
latter times some shall depart from the 
faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, 
and doctrines of devils; speaking lies in 
hypocrisy ; having their conscience seared 
with a hot iron ; forbidding to marry, and 
commanding to abstain from meats, which 
God created to be received with thanks- 
giving of them which believe and know 
the truth. Then, again, the Prophet 
Isaiah, wrote in his 24th chapter, 5th 
verse that the earth was also defiled under 
the inhabitants thereof ; because they have 
transgressed the laws, changed the ordi- 
nances: arid broken the everlasting 
covenant. And say further, that 
messengers divinely Appointed and 
sent, should have given warning 
of the approach of the great 
and dreadful day, that the proclamation 
should have been made through all the 



land when that day was near. The an- 
swer would be, did you not read in 
Daniel 2 :44 that in the latter days of the 
kingdoms of the earth that the God of 
heaven would set up a kingdom, which 
should never be destroyed, but it should 
break in pieces ail other kingdoms; that 
it should stand forever? And the , voice 
of John, the Revelator, would be heard 
saying, did you not read in the 14:6-7 
of my Revelations that I saw another 
angel fly in the midst of heaven, having 
the everlasting gospel to preach unto 
them that dwell on the earth, and to 
every nation, and kindred and tongue, and 
people, saying with a loud voice, fear 
God and give glory to Him; for the hour 
of his judgment is come." And, also, 
Jesus saying as recorded in Matthew 
24:14 and this gospel of the kingdom* 
shall be preached in all the world for a 
witness unto all nations; and then shall 
the end come. Surely you read in Micah 
4:1, where he says: "In the last days it 
shall come td"passy that the mountain of 
the house of the Lord shall /be established 
in the top of the mountains, and it shall 
be exalted above the hills; and people 
shall flow unto it." And, no doubt Jere- 
miah would be heard saying: "Did I not 
tell you in the sixteenth chapter and six- 
teenth verse of my book that the Lord 
would send for many fishes and they 
should fish them, and after he would send 
for many hunters and they should hunt 
them from every mountain, and from every 
hill, and out of the holes of the rocks? 
The answer to these questions would be 
something like this : "No, I have not 
read of these sayings you mention. I 
depended upon my priest or minister to 
tell me what I should do to escape the 
calamities, and he told us that if we only 
believed on the Lord Jesus Christ, we 
would be saved, that we could no nothing 
of ourselves, but it would all be given unto 
us through grace." That such things as 
apostles and prophets were done away. 
There was no more visiting of angels, 
that inspiration had ceased and that these 
Mormon Elders that came among the peo- 
ple professing to be called and sent by 
inspired men were impost era and wolves 
in sheeps' clothing ; and the false prophets 
spoken of in the Bible. That we were 
not to go to hear them preach nor read 
any of their books, nor entertain them, 
that they had no business in this country 
pretending to preach the gospel that they 
were a depraved and ignorant people and 
not fit to associate with the enlightened 
people of the world. But we have 
awakened to the awful realization of our 
ccondition and find that "surely our 
fathers have inherited lies, vanity and 
things wherein there is no profit" We 
find that darkness covers the earth and 
crross darkness the people. That we 
have been following the blind leaders of 
the blind, and that we all follow into 
the ditch of condemnation together. 

"Without excuse! Without excuse! 

Why was I blindly led! 
The summer past, the harvest gone, 

My sins upon my head!" 

WORDS OF WISDOM. 



It is easier to blame others than td do 
better ourselves. 

"Keep your eye on the individual who 
does you an unexpected favor." 

Hate furroweth the brow, and a man 
may frown till he hateth.-— Tupper. 

By the street of by and by, one arrives 
at the house of never.— Cervantes. 

Of all on earth to be loved and kindly' 
cared for, the aged are first deserving. 

"The man who tells all he knows never 
gets credit for possessing much wisdom." 



180 



THE SOUTHERN STAR. 




Pifcllofcotf Wttkly by faction Ststss Mlsslts, Cbsrtb 

of Jssss Cbrlst of Latttr Day Solots, 

ChsttsaotfS, Ton. 



Tartu of Sibsorlptloi 
do Adtaooo) 



Poryoar . . $1.00 

Six Months . .50 

Throo ojootbt .25 
Slog lo Coplu, 5 Coots. 



. Subscribers removing from one place to another, 
and desiring papers changed, should always give 
former as well as present address, by postal card or 
letter. 



Entered at the Poet OOee at Chattanooga, Term., <u 
second date natter. 



Correspondence from all parts of the missionary 
field is solicited. Give name and address, or articles 
will be rejected. Write on one side of paper only 
when sent for publication. We reserve the right to 
either eliminate or reject any communication sent in. 
Address Box 109 



Satubday, Mat 5, 1900. 



ARTICLES OF FAITH 

OP THE CHURCH OP JESUS CHRI5T OP 
LATTER-DAY SAINTS. 

1. W# talitTi (□ Ued th* Etflrnml Filhur, ind Id till Sno 
ittm t'hrlrt, in J la I hi Ua\j QhotL 

I, Wi b*Ii*i# iht-% neavill be pqaitbed tin Lh*ir ewft 
lloi, mJ not for Adim'i trinperwiioa. 

8. W» b*lliv« th*t, tbroacb the atonement of Chriit, iN 
mibfctad nty It lived, by aSuJLetirt Km the l*wi ami ordJ. 
a«D«H or th* Gcipel, 

4. W* belif t» Lhit tha flrit principle! ind OTtJlinnrti of 
(h« Oaiptl fcfo: FJftL, Ftilh En the tara JeiuiCbriit l ucaad, 
Repeotuoe; third, B*ptiim fay Emmenioa tor the rrjnuikm 
of tlm i fourth, LAjring oe o£ Hindi for ihe Gift of ifa* Hq]j 

Chwt. 

A. Wg hwUc*o liil a tntn In oil be called of God T by 
" prophecy, and or Uio Uyiirt on of basd*," 1 i>y thwe who are 
la a'jthorllji to preach Lba (Dtpel a&d tdrntu Liter m tbe ordi* 
neoce* thereof. 

0. Wi baliaTO Jn tha'iamc organiiatJan that t tilled to 
the pijdtllivt church— burnt Jy, Apo*U#t h frophtu, fulcra, 
Taacnari, KTiDgelii'j. etc, 

?. W t b*l [* »e i Q tl* Ji 1 1 of [ Oti £n tl n prophecy re tb liUon* 
*i»lona. healJnjt InlirpTeLiticiri of lnBf,u»a > «({U 

*, VVe taektre the Bifcli to be t ho word of God, ji far m It 
la tritwlated correct]/ ; we alw belie ft the Boot of Mormao 
to ba the word or God. 

1, We baliave all tint God !»■ rfnaied, alf that He Am 
DOT reveal. und wb believe that He will ret reveal many f rtlt 
and In porta nt IhJnp pertaining to the Kifiddots at God, 

10. We btllevB fa the litBTafgatharirnoriirnil u4 in lb« 

, restoration tf the T*n Trlbrt; tbit ZJod will b* built upon 

thli (It* American^ continent; that thrill will reign perKIt- 

. alfjr nporj the ftrlh, and Lbet the earth will be renewed and 

ftcelia its permdiiiaca] f, tary\ 

i;. We claim the ptmJ*f S of *onh[p-lng Almifhrr God 
according Eo tha dlclitei of dot coQKienc*, and aJlow til 
to en theaaioe tTlwil^geJaL them Wfliahl p how. w here, or *bil 

li We believe Id belasMbJeet to klaa, preiideota. rulers, 
sod aftgiatratea ; to obeyiog, hoooriog sod toruioiog the law. 

lH •We believe in being oooett, tra^eheite, benevolent, 
virtoona, and'in doing good to all stss ; indeed, we bat mj 
that we follow the admooiUoo of Paul, -We believe all thing*, 
we hope all things," we have endured many thinn, and hope 
So he able to endure all thinga. If there it anything virtoooe, 
lawelj, or ofjsood report or praiseworthy, we seek a/tor these 



" Men will wrangle for religion, fight 
'for it, die for it, do everything except 
live for it. — Colton. 



We are pleased to welcome into the 
journalistic arena a bright little maga- 
zine, full of good thought for those of 
tender years, entitled "Zion's Young 
People." This magazine is published at 
Salt Lake City under the direction of W. 
A. Morton, . who also has the honor of 
being its first editor. It is a monthly 
educator for the young, subscription 
price 'fifty cents per annum. We wish 
it God speed, on its journey of instruc- 
tion and enlightenment, and pray that 
the object of its publication may be at- 
tained, viz.* that the youth of Zion may 
know and understand the truthfulness of 
the Gospel and the goodness of God; to- 
gether with a better realization of the 
beauty, reasonableness and divinity of 
what the world erroneously calls "Mor- 



LOYAL TO TUB FLAG. 

Within the* breast of ever true Ameri- 
can is born a spark of deepest love 
for the lied, White and Blue, 
which is fanned to a blaze by 
the I illy hand of the Goddess of 
Liberty. The Mormon people are no 
exception to the rule, as tneir actions of 
loyalty and patriotism invincibly prove. 

Between the years of 1830 and 1841J, 
the Latter-day Saints, in their own 
homes in Illinois, Missouri and Ohio, 
were subject to the most barbarous and 
savage treatment recorded in history 
since the days of Nero and Diocletian; 
and ultimately, for their religion, they 
were forced to flee for their lives into 
the Rocky Mountains. Notwithstanding 
the fact that their redresses to the gov- 
ernment had been ignored, they proudly 
bore the Stars and Stripes across the 
plains, and from a lofty peak in their 
asylum of peace they swung "Old Glory" 
to the breeze as a token of their patriot- 
ism for their mother country. 

It is not our purpose to elaborate upon 
how this spirit of love for their country's 
flag has been kept aglow among this peo- 
ple in all of their celebrations, etc., but 
we desire only to refer to the following 
patriotic incident, which occurred in a 
"Mormon" academy established by the 
Prophet Brigham Young and directed to- 
day by the Latter-day Saints. 

At the farewell party to the "Mor- 
mon" exploring expedition to South 
America: 

A beautiful American flag, the handiwork 
of the Brigham Young Academy training 
school, was presented to the expedition 
and was accepted by President Cluflf, who. 
in accepting the flag, said: "It will be held 
in fond remembrances, and our little band 
will be true to the stars and stripes and the 
covenants we have made in the house of 
the Lord. It is fitting that the Un'ted 
States flag, the emblem of freedom, should 
be carried for the first time through the 
old land by a band of Mormons. 1 trust 
the 17th of April will prove a great day, 
and I hope the academy will not' regret our 
mission. 

In a letter to the acting President of 
the Academy— Prof. George H. Brim- 
hall— Prof. Cluff writes: 

"As we left Wales these twelve young la- 
dies, bearing the United States flag, 
marched In front on foot to the edge of 
town and then separating, six on one side 
and six on the other, they bid us God speed 
on our journey. It was a touching sight, 
and I could not repress my feelings. 

After reading the above accounts of 
the patriotic demonstration of the "Mor- 
mon" people one is forced to the conclu- 
sion that their religion "has preserved 
their love for their country and that 
their loyalty to the Stars and Stripes is 
unexcelled in the Union, notwithstand- 
ing the false charges of their enemies 
to the contrary. 



RELIGIOUS SERVICES FOR SCHOOLS. 



Lyman Abbott now favors daily relig- 
ious services in the schools. While the 
world is in such a state of religious con- 
fusion, how can this be accomplished? 
The pupils represent different sects, and 
reason teaches us (judging from signs of 
the times) that a parent of one belief 
would not favor having contrary teach- 
ings instilled within their offspring. Per- 
haps separate services could be held for 
each sect, but if such be the case time 
allotted for studies would be monopo- 
lized. Then again if one school had a 
representation of. say, thirty sects, and 
there be but five teachers, would they 
not favor their own belief as the purest 
and best for those under their care? But 
considering the fact that many preachers 
who have been called (?), (but for some 
unknown reason are minus a position), 
could be employed, why could not they 



each day fill these appointments? If 
this rule be adopted many a minister 
will crane his neck to be sure, and hear 
the call to go and preach the Gospel to 
the children. 



The latest work which President Geo. 
Q. Cannon has furnished, and presented 
to the public, is a neat bound volume of 
216 pages, entitled "The Latter-day 
Prophet." VVe have carefully perused its 
pages and unhesitatingly recommend it 
to both old and young; especially do we 
recommend it to the Elders of Israel who 
are engaged in active ministerial labors. 
The language is beautiful and simple, its 
style interesting, the facts it contains in- 
structive, and the whole compilation is 
of such a nature that every Latter-day 
Saint should understand its contents. We 
have the book for sale here, and its mer- 
it, worth and value can best be known 
by a study of the subjects it contains. 

Price 50 cents, postpaid. 



"A STRANGER, AND YE TOOK ME 
IN." 



How dear to the heart and soul of 
every true Christian must ever be the 
words of the glorified Son of God — the 
perfect, holy Captain of our salvation. 
Behold Him! Patient in tribulation; 
lowly in walk and conversation; wise in 
counsel and admonition, and faithful in 
the midst of bitter persecution which He 
was called upon to endure, and fierce on- 
slaughts waged against him by a hard- 
hearted, stiff-necked and altogether un- 
toward generation. Go where you may 
today; journey whithersoever you will o'er 
the vast expanse of our fair republic, or 
continental Europe, and you will hear the 
sons of Adam's race singing praises to 
the Lord — even to that same Jesus of 
Nazareth, once a despised, rejected man 
of sorrows and acquainted with grief, 
'lis sweet to sing of His matchless love, 
but far better to walk in His righteous 
path, and keep His holy, sacred word. 
While He was yet on the earth perform- 
ing His divine mission of love, 'He was 
everywhere spoken evilly of, and, al- 
though the Son of God, He had not where 
to lay His head. The foxes of the earth 
had their holes as a refuge from the 
storms ; the birds of the air had their 
nests to which they could fly for rest; 
but the Messiah and Wonderful Counsel- 
lor had no safe abiding while He jour- 
neyed among the children of men, en- 
gaged in doing His Father's will. 

Just previous to His betrayal and cru- 
cifixion He explained to His disciples the 
process of the judgment day. He told 
them how the Son of Man should come 
in His glory, accompanied by His holy 
angels, and that before Him should be 
gathered all nations. Then He, as a 
shepherd divideth his sheep from his 
goats, parting his goats on his left 
hand, and the sheep on his right: say- 
ing unto them on His right hand, 
"Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit 
the kingdom prepared for you from the 
foundation of the world: for I was an 
hungered and ye gave me meat; I was 
thirsty, and ye gave me drink ; I was a 
stranger and ye took me in ; naked, and 
ye clothed me; I was sick and ye visited 
me; I was in prison, and ye came unto 
me." (Matt. 25: 34-36.) The righteous 
do not understand when they saw their 
Savior hungry and gave Him meat; 
thirsty and gave Him drink ; a stranger 
and ministered to His wants; naked and 
clothed Him ; sick or in prison and came 
unto Him. To which inquiries the King 
replies : "Inasmuch as ye have done it 
unto one of the least of these my breth- 
ren, ye have done it unto me." (40th 



THE! SOUTHERN STAB. 



181 



verse.) To those parted on the left hand 
the good Lord shall say, "Depart from 
me, ye cursed. • • • For I was an 
hungered, and ye gave me no meat; I 
was thirsty, and ye gave me no drink; 
I was a stranger, and ye took me not 
in." (41-43 verses.) The same answer, 
"Inasmuch as ye did it not to one of 
the least of these, ye did it not unto 
ine," will be given when the wicked in : 
quire, "Lord, when saw we thee an hun- 
gered, or atnirst, or a stranger, or naked, 
or sick, or in prison, and did not minister 
unto thee?" (44-45.) 

This explanation of tne judgment com- 
ing from the lips of Him to whom the 
Lord hath given all power in heaven and 
in earth, gives us to understand that His 
servants shall be "strangers" to the peo- 
ple among whom they labor, xes! A 
stranger, and ye took me in. ^mnk of 
this, ye Elders of Israel, and be encour- 
aged thereby. You are strangers to the 
people of this southern clime, and your 
mission, like that of our glorified Head, 
Jesus Christ, is one of peace, love, and 
good-will. Let the words of Jesus ring 
in your ears, Christians of the nine- 
teenth century ; let them sink deep into 
your hearts, and the practical, God-like 
application of them be manifest in your 
daily lives. We shall all be gathered be- 
fore the Good Shepherd, and it depends 
upon our actions here on earth as to 
whether we will be numbered with the 
sheep on His right hand, or the goats on 
His left. Remember the words of the 
Apostle Paul: "Be careful to entertain 
strangers," and forget not the words of 
Jesus, "/ was a stranger, and ye took me 
in." 



President Diaz Favorable. 

A recent communication from the sec- 
retary of the interior of Mexico brings 
the happy information that President 
Diaz favors the Academy South Ameri- 
can Expedition and grants exemption 
from importation duties on all their wag* 
ons, animals, scientific apparatus, etc., 
requesting them to pay the usual entrance 
charges only on tneir provisions, medi- 
cines, and on quantities of paper, should 
they have any. These are dutiable, pre- 
sumably, because the country can furnish 
them as cheaply as the United States. 
These marks of good will speak well for 
those who have the matter in charge, 
showing they have presented the motives 
of the expedition clearly and with force 
to the Mexican officials: for heretofore 
the Mexican government has proved itself 
somewhat close and unyielding in matters 
of revenue. Now they give tree passage 
through their territory for a period of 
one year, in which term the party will 
have passed into Central America 
• * * 

After passing the Mexico line, the ex- 
pedition will go through Colonia Diaz, 
and from there into Cave Valley on the 
southwest. They then will follow the 
Sierra Madre mountains, where game and 
forage is plentiful, until they reach the 
city of Chihuahua. Leaving there, their 
route will lead them to the city of Mex- 
ico and on into Yucatan and Chiapas, 
the site of the many ancient ruins. Tra- 
versing the isthmus, the Magdalena river 
will be the next objective point, though 
some travelers question the possibility of 
taking horses through the jungles and 
swamps that will be encountered before 
reaching it. Thence the Andes will be 
climbed and its valleys explored as far 
south as Lake Titicaca. The return will 
be made by water from one of the west- 
ern ports. — White and Blue, B. Y. Aca- 
demy. 

A tart temper never mellows with age, 
and a sharp tongue is the only edged 
tool that grows keener with constant 
use. — Washington Irving. 



History ot the Southern States Mission. 

i.Continued ftom page 1"iU.) 

December, JSiKi. 

feicier West was released fioni his la- 
bois and Hilder Frani* Cuuei wus ap- 
pointed to preside ovcl the lOoriua tou- 
lerence in his stead. While 1^'loriua 
groaned under the weight of outlawry, 
i lie same spirit found birth in the heart 
oi Louisiana. It seems while Hiider S. 
L. Swensen, President of the Louisiana 
conference, with his companion, A. 
Dali, were preparing to hold a series of 
meetings in Livingston Pariah, La., they 
were met by a mob of men, who com- 
manded them to leave the county. The 
mob was led by a Methodist minister, 
claiming to represent the people, warn- 
ing the holders to "get out." 

Not leaving immediately, again were 
they threatened by a mob, who made 
preparations to make an attack. To 
evade the mobbers the Elders slept in 
the woods all night, leaving the locality 
early the next morning. 

Elders A. Nelson and A. F. Bracken, 
laboring in Plaquemine, Iberville Parish, 
Louisiana, reported having been forced 
to sleep out in the woods three nights in 
one week, and had fourteen meals in sev- 
enteen days. Instead of being discour- 
aged at such treatment, it seemed to 
stimulate them, making them more de- 
termined to push the work onward. The 
Mission work was prospering, the Elders 
being faithful and determined. 

The city of Richmond, Va., was closed 
by Elders T. C. Romney and W. W. 
Huffaker. They were in the city nearly 
two months and traveled without purse 
or scrip; held a number of well attended 
meetings upon the streets, making many 
warm friends. 

Austin, the capital of Texas, was 
closed by Elders M. A. Miner and John 
Wood. They also made many friends 
and traveled as Christ sent forth His 
Apostles, without money, trusting in God 
to raise up friends unto them. 

President Kimball returned from 
Utah, having come by way of California, 
Arizona and New Mexico. Whde in 
California President Kimball visited the 
President and some of the Elders of that 
Mission; since then the policy of trav- 
eling without purse or scrip has been 
adopted as a result of his visit there, he 
having been inspired by the Lord to ac- 
complish that end. It was during this 
month that it. was decided that Texas, 
after Jan. 1st, 1897, be transferred from 
this and made a part of the Indian Ter- 
ritory Mission. 

The spirit of mobocracy still prevailed 
in Suwanee county, Florida. Threats 
continued to grow intensely bitter. Per- 
ceiving the danger Elder West and 
companions were in, Elder Musser left 
Chattanooga for Florida and assisted in 
moving Elder West. About 2 o'clock the 
following day, presuming not to have 
learned of Elder Wests' departure, a 
mob of some 200 outlaws gathered at 
the "old Wilson mill" as per previous 
appointment; then began a rampageous 
scour of the country in quest of them 

"Mormons." Finding Elder Fisher 

at the home of Brother Redding, a com- 
mittee of six was appointed to escort him 
to town, where a public gathering was 
held, in which the speaker denounced 
Mormonism, and threatened with death 
the next Elder coming into that county, 
together with those of the Saints who 
persisted in sustaining the doctrine. The 
harangue was listened to by 500 people. 
(To be continued.) 



" 'Tis sorrow builds the shining ladder 

up, 
Whose golden rounds are our calamities." 



Justice, Where Art Thou? 

Thursday, the 2Uth ult., Elders J. A. 
ltooison and YV. G. Atkin began can- 
^asslug the small city ot I'ineviue, in. 
<J. iney were getting along very wen, 
until the next morning Satan thought u 
uiue to step in. While the Elders were 
in the postomce, attending to their own 
business, a Presbyterian minister came 
in, and learning that they were "Mor- 
mons, " followed them up the street, tor- 
bidding them to enter his premises. 
Filled with the spirit of the devil, he 
rushed up to the next house, warning 
the people against them. Not yet satis- 
tied witn his low work, he circulated lies 
throughout the business part, tilling the 
minds of the merchants with falsehood, 
an art many ministers are masters of. 

It was only a matter of a few moments 
before the Elders were invited by two 
of the leading men to leave town by 12 
o'clock. It was then 11 a.m. and the 
officers were sought, but in vain, and the 
Elders were informed they were out of 
town. Whether this be true we know 
not, yet it does seem (judging from past 
experience) that officers of the law are 
very scarce when the Elders need de- 
serving protection. The cowardly May- 
or, one of the leading business men of 
the place, vanished through the back 
door of his establishment, upon the ap- 
proach of the Elders. By this time 
twelve of the leading men, most of them 
merchants, assembled together and es- 
corted the Elders to the city limits. 

Woe unto the pious hypocrites of Pine- 
ville, who garnish the outside and say: 
"If we had lived in the days of the 
Prophets, we would not have been par- 
takers with the Scribes and Pharisees in 
their deeds of death and banishment." 
The day will come when those bigots 
who drove from them messengers of sal- 
vation will pray for the rocks to hide 
them, for they will fear and tremble to 
know they . had cast out from their 
midst God's true servants. 



Elijah's Baptism. 

But a short time ago one Elijah San- 
ders desired to be baptized and become 
a member of a Baptist church in Oconee 
county, S. C. The minister refused to 
baptize him for some reason unknown to 
us, yet he did not intend to let a small 
thing like that discourage him. The reg- 
ular day for baptisms came, and again 
did Elijah (with a change of clothes un- 
der his arm) apply for baptism. Being 
refused, he walked a few yards up the 
river front, having on his mind the say- 
ing of the Savior: "Verily, verily, I say 
unto you, except a man be born of water 
and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into 
the Kingdom of God." Feeling that the 
ceremony should be performed, if he did 
it himself, he walked to the river, said 
a few words and fell backwards into the 
water, baptizing himself. Poor man, he 
came forth thinking the Master's com- 
mands had been obeyed. This man is 
just as near heaven (if he did immerse 
himself) as he Would be had the self-ap- 
pointed minister baptized him. Although 
Elijah deceived himself only, the minis- 
ter he applied to perchance is deceiving 
many by claiming to have authority from 
God to officiate in the ordinances of sal- 
vation. We would refer our Reverend 
Brethren to Paul's teachings contained 
in Heb. 5:4: "And no man taketh this 
honor unto himself, but he that is called 
of God, as was Aaron." 



Ye who would tn might excel. 
Ponder this simple maxim well: 
A wise man's censure may appall. 
But a fool's praise Is worst of all. 

—Bonn. 



182 



THE SOUTHERN STAR. 



OBEDIENCE. 

BY ELDER R. W. SMITH. 

"And being made perfect He became 
the author of eternal salvation unto all 
them that obey Him." — Heb. 5 :9. 

A promise of eternal salvation is made 
by our Lord and Savior to the entire 
race of man on earth. This promise 
however, is based upon conditions, the 
sum of which may be expressed in one 
word— Obedience. Obedience to the re- 
quirements of the Lord Jesus. 

Our beloved Savior having come to 
earth for that express purpose gave His 
life as a propitiation for the sins of the 
world, by which act He purchased the 
human family as an inheritance. Hence 
His right to prescribe the condition of 
salvation. 

By reason of this great sacrifice of our 
Master, mankind have been redeemed from 
the effects of the fall and made sure of a 
resurrection from the grave. Thus far 
salvation is free and unconditional, ex- 
tending alike to the entire human family. 
But to gain an exaltation in the kingdom 
of God, mankind, without an exception, 
must comply with all laws and require- 
ments of the Master, which He has in- 
stituted for the government of His child- 
ren. 

The scriptures are replete with pass- 
ages which, when understood, prove con- 
clusively to the reasonable mind that this 
is a fact. 

I cite the following as among the most 
pointed : 

"Though He (Christ) were a son, yet 
learned He obedience by the things wh'ch 
He suffered ; and being made perfect, He 
became the author of enternal salvation 
unto all them that obey Him." — Heb. 
5 :8-9. 

*iOt everyone that saith unto me. 
Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom 
of heaven, but he that doeth the will of 
my Father, which is in heaven. — Matt. 
7 :21. 

"Be ye doers of the word, and not 
hearers only, deceiving your own selves." 
— Jas. 1.22. "For not the hearers of the 
law shall be just before Cod. but the doers 
of the law shall be justified."— Heb. 2 :13. 
"And this is life eternal that they might 
krow the only true God. and Jesus Christ, 
whom thou hast sent." — John 17 :3. "And 
hereby we do know Him. if we keep His 
commandments. He that saith I know 
Him. and keepeth not His commandments, 
is a liar and the truth is not in him. But 
whosoever keepeth His words, in him 
verily is the love of God perfected; here- 
by know wp that wa are in Him."— 
I John 2:3-0. "If we «ny that 
we have fellowship with Him and 
walk in darkness, we lie. and do 
not speak the truth. But if we walk in 
the light as He is in the light, we have 
fellowship one with another, and the 
blood of Jesus Christ His Son. cleanseth 
us from all sins." — I John 1.6:7. 

"If ye love me, keep my command- 
ments. * * * He that hath my com- 
mandments, and keepeth them, he it is 
that loveth me : and he that loveth me 
shall be loved of my Father, and I will 
love him, and will manifest myself to 
him."— John 14.15-21. "He that be- 
lieveth and is baptised shall be saved, but 
he that believeth not shall be damned." 
—Mark 16:16. 

Numerous other passages of equal im- 
portance might be cited, if space would 
permit; however, I deem this entirely 
sufficient to firmly establish my point. 

Salvation, then, as well as the bless- 
ings of God in this life, are secured by 
obedience to the gospel laws, and in no 
other way. 



For one to have a knowledge or under- 
standing of these laws, and then to dis- 
regard them is in itself condemnation. 
For "he that knoweth to do good and 
doeth it not to him it is sin."— Jas. 4:17. 

We are told that without faith it is 
impossible to please God; and I think 
you will find that it is impossible to 
please Him without obedience. "Faith 
without works is dead." 

It is not necessary to attend a theo- 
logical seminary to learn how to obey 
God. If we live by the gospel pre- 
cepts we shall live on gospel promises. 

There is something very strange in 
the fact that everything but man will 
obey God literally and at once. In the 
beginning God said: "let there be light," 
and there was light. "Let the dry land 
appear " and it was so. The elements 
responded immediately to His commands. 
Notice the difference when He speaks to 
man. He commanded Adam not to eat 
of the fruit of a particular tree under 
penalty of death. But unlike the waters 
and the firmament he disobeyed the com- 
mand and thus brought death into the 
world. 

AH nature rendered obedience to the 
Son of Man, when He was upon the 
earth. At one time He spoke to the sea 
and it recognized and obeyed Him. He 
spoke to the fig tree, and it instantly 
withered and died. He rebuked the 
winds, and they were instantly calmed. 
He spoke to the grave, and the grave 
obeyed Him, and gave back its dead. 
But when He speaks to man, he is either 
very reluctant, or entirely refuses to 
obey. He wants to argue the point; 
and avoid, if possible, doing anything, 
however directly commanded, that would 
humiliate him in the eyes of the world, 
or discommode him in the least. 

And some there are more learned, (?) 
who want to twist and turn the wora 
of God, and try to persuade themselves, 
and all others that will listen, that God 
never means what He says in a literal 
sense. And this point once established, 
they proceed to place their own private 
interpretations on the scriptures, which 
sounds much better, in their ears, and 
makes the law much easier to comply 
with than before. How fortunate the 
world is in having men who are able to 
improve upon the long-established law 
of God, and make salvation comparative- 
ly easy, or wholly unconditional. 

The people hail this sort of man-made 
religion with delight, and pay large sums 
of money to a hireling ministry "who 
teach for doctrine the commandments 
of men" to have their ears tickled from 
Sabbath to Sabbath with "poor sinner 
you can do nothing for yourself, Jesus 
has done it all. You do not need to 
search the scriptures, the' ministry will 
keep you well posted if you keep them 
well paid." 

This class of easy-road-to-heaven seek- 
ers will utterly ignore or trample in the 
mire anything professing to be inspired, 
and hiss and jeer any people who teach 
that God requires literal obedience to 
His commands. 

But as sure as there is a just God in 
heaven, the time will come when such 
foul systems of mockery and deception 
will be snatched from their proud heights 
and utterly, consumed by the righteous 
wrath of a just Creator. 

Learn an example of obedience from 
the lives of two Sauls. They lived about 
1,000 years apart. The one started out 
poorly and ended well; the other started 
out well and ended poorly. The first 
Saul had a kingdom and a crown. He 
also had the friendship of Samuel, the 
greatest nrophet of his day; and yet 
he lost the friendship of Samuel, lost 
his crown, his kingdom and his life* all 
through an act of disobedience. All 
his kinsrly dignity and power could not 
excuse him. 

Now take the Saul of the New Testa- 
ment. When God called him he was not 
disobedient to the heavenly vision and he 
was given a heavenlv kingdom. He 
fought the good fight; he kept the faith; 
and in writing to Timothy he said: 



"henceforth there is laid up for me a 
crown' of righteousness." 

One act of obedience; one act of diso- 
bedience. The act of obedience gained 
all, the act of disobedience lost every- 
thing. "To obey is better than sacrifice 
and to hearken than the fat of rams." 

It is said above fifty times, of Moses 
that he did according to all . the Lord 
had commanded him. No wonder Moses 
was so well favored. The promises made 
to the children of Israel were always 
made upon the condition of obedience, 
and the calamities which befell them was 
the result of disobedience in every in- 
stance. 

When Jesus Christ shall come in His 
glory He will render to every man ac- 
cording to his deeds. "To them Who 
by patient continuance in well-doing, seek 
for glory and honor and immortality, 
eternal life. But unto them that are 
contentious and do not obey the truth, 
but obey unrighteousness, indignation 
and wrath."— Rom. 2:7-8. 

"Blessed are they that do His com- 
mandments, that they may have right 
to the tree of life, and may enter in 
through the gates into the city."— Rev. 
22:14. . 

And to you who are troubled rest with 
us when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed 
from heaven with His mighty 
angels in flaming fire taking vengeance 
on them that know not God and that 
obey not the gosnel of our Lord Jesus 
Christ."— II Thess. 1:7-8. 



Thirteen Months in a Year. 

At the Paris Expsoition an attempt 
will be made to have the entire world 
adopt the new calendar of thirteen 
months, devised and copyrighted by C. 
H. Bundy, editor of the Marion (Ind.) 
Morning News. It is to be urged before 
the commission already appointed to con- 
sider this ingenious new system, that is 
the only practical method of measuring 
the flight of the years. No calendar in 
present use is satisfactory. The one by 
Russia is twelve days out. That in use 
in China was four days wrong, but has 
just been corrected by an imperial edict. 
Our own is forced to drop a leap year 
in 1900 to be with the sun. Bundy's so- 
lution of the vexed problem is the intro- 
duction of a new month, Century, in 
commemoration of its adoption between 
two centuries. The name is urged as 
being well chosen, in that it is not local 
to America, but would be acceptable to 
every country. Every month will then 
have just twenty-eight days. Every 
month and every year will begin upon 
Monday.— Ex. 



Times Had Changed. 

Stories of midshipmen in the English 
navy are almost as numerous as the 
sands of the sea, yet new ones are con- 
tinually being told, and many of them 
are quite as good as the old ones. Corn- 
hill recently printed one of an amusing 
nature. 

It was in the harbor of Malta one day 
that a midshipman, of about four feet 
eight inches* addressed himself to the 
six-feet-two captain of his first sea-going 
ship. The captain looked down upon the 
boy, smiling, and good-naturedly said: 

"Well, youngster,, so you have come 
to join, eh?" 

"Yes. if you please," meekly responded 
the youthful officer. 

"Is it the same old story, 'senf the fool 
of the family to sea?' " 

"No, sir," quickly responded the lad. 
"Ob, no; things have changed since your 
time." 

"Go away," ronred the captain, and 
the middy flew below as fast as his little 
legs would carry him. — Youth's Compan- 
ion. 



THE SOUTHERN STAR. 



188 



" 'WE'LL TAKE THE ANCIENTS BY THE HAND." I 




BY DAY-VID. 



ax uax-viu. g 

IMIMUMMMMIMMJIMW 



My soul leaps forward at the thought; 
When In that happy, happy land, 
We'll take the- Ancients by the hand; 



In love and union hail our friends; 
And death and sorrow have an end.*' 

What rapturous joy thrills the soul, and 
(ills the hea^rt with gladness, when we 
clasp the hands of dear friends, and look 
into the sweet faces of those we love. 
Who is there, having been separate 
from companions and associates, who 
has not, upon being returned to their 
presence, felt the joyful emotions of the 
heart, while the whole being was filled 
with inexpressible happiness? It was 
to such an one a time of great rejoicing, 
an hour of much pleasure, a season of 
exquisite joy, to meet with those from 
whom he, or she, had been absent. 

The beautiful little verse above given, 
being composed by th£ illustrious Apos- 
tle, Parley P. Pratt, speaks of a glori- 
ous time "when in that happy, happy 
land, we'll take the Ancients by the 
hand; in love and union hail our friends; 
and death and sorrow have an end." 
This thrice welcome, happy day, will 
bring the crowning glory for the faithful 
ones of God, when they shall shine with 
resplendent brilliancy in the divine 
brightness of the Father's everlasting 
light. Reader, can you contemplate the 
grandeur of this beautiful day of rest 
and peace when, 

We meet with those who've gone before, 

Those faithful, righteous ones of yore, 

And take them by the hand; 

An<J hear the blessed Savior say 

•'Come ye who've walked the narrow way, 

And Join the heavenly band." 

As we ponder upon these future events, 
there comes the query, Who shall stand 
in that day, and who shall be able to 
join that blessed congregation of the 
righteous to grasp in everlasting friend- 
ship the hands of those faithful ones? 
And the answer comes, They who have 
pursued the same course, they who have 
walked the same narrow way; and em- 
braced the same, one, unchangeable, 
eternal, everlasting Gospel. In the light 
of Ihe Holy Scriptures, let us take a 
view of this blessed day of promise, and, 
permitting our imaginary faculties to 
expand in supposition, behold some 
events which are more than likely to 
transpire in that day. 

We behold that great Apostle to the 
Gentiles— Paul— sanctified, crowned with 
a crown of righteousness, and glorified 
with the redeemed standing in the re- 
ception chambers of heaven's holy do- 
mains, ready to greet the ransomed of 
our Lord. Let us suppose that the first 
one to approach the great Apostle is a 
reverend Christian divine— one, who, 
•while, on the. earth, was a very popular 
preacher, living in luxury and splendor, 
receiving a large salary for his minis- 
terial services, feasting on the fat of 
the earth, and treading on rich carpet- 
ing. Something like the following con- 
versation would naturally enough take 
place: The Apostle Paul: "Well, my 
friend, how did you get along while 
down on the earth?" Christian preacher: 
"Oh. first rate, no trouble whatever, all 
things glided along smoothly with me." 
"I can't say that," Brother Paul would 
remark, "for I was persecuted on every 
hand, and when I stood up to declare 
the truth all men forsook me (Tim. 
4:16), therefore I can't shake hands with 
you on that, and by the way, how did 
you travel in your day?" "We went in 
carriages to our church, preparing our 



sermons beforehand, received a good 
wage for our labors, and pleased the 
people by our preaching." "That does 
not agree with our mode of locomotion; 
our sermons were delivered as the Spirit 
gave us utterance, we preached the good 
word of salvation free, coveted no 
man's silver or gold (Acts 20:33, 34), 
and sought to please God rather than 
man (Gal. 1:10), so we can't shake hands 
on that, my friend. And what kind 
of an organization did you have?" 
Brother Paul would ask. "Oh," the 
reverend would reply, "we had a pas- 
tor, a deacon, and perhaps an Elder; 
telling the people that all other officers, 
such as Apostles, Prophets, etc., were 
done away with, as no longer needed." 

Again the Apostle would exclaim. 
"Why, God placed Apostles and Proph- 
ets in the church (I Cor. 12:28) as it 
hath pleased Him (18th verse), and we 
(the living oracles) were given to under- 
stand that these should remain until all 
should come to a unity of the faith, so 
taught I the people (Ephes. 4:13), thus 
you see our experiences are unlike in 
every respect; you were accepted, while 
I was rejected; you were welcomed and 
I was cast out; you received the smiles 
of men, counted a popular preacher; I 
received the stripes of men, counted a 
vain impostor; you was given your re- 
ward on earth, receiving your salary 
there, while I was martyred on the 
earth, to receive my salary here." 

Should we continue the conversation, 
we would find that this Christian and 
his adventures were totally unlike those 
of the bold and fearless Apostle Paul, 
and therefore he would be prohibited 
the honor of grasping the hand of this 
valiant servant, and the glory of spend- 
ing an eternity in his association. 
Jesus said, speaking to those who work 
iniquity, "When ye shall see Abraham, 
and Isaac, and Jacob, and all the 
Prophets in the Kingdom of God, and 
you yourselves thrust out. And they 
shall come from the east, and from the 
west, and from the north, and from the 
south, and sit down in the Kingdom of 
God." (Luke 13:28-29.) 

To reverse the lever of thought and 
circumstance, let us introduce another 
person into the presence of this Apostle, 
and observe how goes the conversation. 
It is the Apostle Paul and a poor de- 
spised Mormon Elder, engaged in con- 
versing with each other. Brother Paul: 
"Well, my friend, how did you get along 
while one the earth?" "Well, Brother 
Paul, I had many trials to encounter, 
much persecution to endure, and bitter 
opposition to meet." "I can shake hands 
with you on that," the Apostle would re- 
ply, "for T was smitten with stripes: 
beaten with rods; mocked and reviled, 
stoned and imprisoned; and finally put 
to death for the testimony I bore. And, 
by the way. how did you travel?" the 
Apostle would ask. "We went two by 
two, using the means of locomotion and 
perambulation which God had given us— 
afoot — preached the Gospel free of 
charge, receiving no salary* never seek- 
ing to nlease the children of men. bnt 
fearlessly preaching the truth as it is 
In Christ Jesns," the Mormon Elder 
wn"M reply. Again there would t>« n 
striking of hands, a warm clasp, and a 
glad smile, while Brother Paul would 
say, "What kind of an organization did 
von have in your day?" The Mormon 
Elder would respond, "Our church or- 



ganization consisted of Apostles, Proph- 
ets, Pastors, Teachers, Evangelists, 
etc." "An exact pattern of the church 
in my day and time," the great Apostle 
would exclaim, and they would grasp 
each other's hands in joyous mirth. Paul 
could say to this Mormon Elder, "You 
were persecuted, so was I (I Cor, 11:24- 
28). You were reviled and called an im- 
postor, I was cast out and denounced a 
babbler (Acts 17:18). Your doctrines 
were everywhere derided, and the Jews 
said of mine, 'Everywhere it is spoken 
against.' (Acts 28:22.) Our adventures 
are similar; our experiences alike; and 
our salvation shall be the same. See, 
here is the beloved Apostle John, a 
brother and companion in tribulation," 
(Rev. 1:9.) 



"THE JUDGMENT OF GOD." 

BY A. B. COSBY. 

I would not have anyone think that I 
gloat over the misfortunes of my fellow- 
men; such is not the case, and is not the 
object of this short article. I would 
rather that God pity and help them. But 
it seems that in the many workings of 
the world that each incident has a les- 
son that is profitable to mankind. So 
in this instance I believe there is an ob- 
ject lesson. 

In Caroline county, Virginia, in one 
corner, we have a- very prosperous little 
branch of Saints, consisting of about 
forty souls. All who come in contact 
with them know that they are zealous 
for the Master. One of the leading 
members was at one time quite promi- 
nent, locally, in the Baptist church. 
Since he has seen fit to cast his lot else- 
where the ministers, especially two, of 
the church he had left, seemed to have 
taken special delight in heaping abuse 
upon him. One of them, speaking from 
the church pulpit at Bowling Green, the 
county seat, uttered falsehood and cal- 
umny that would do grace to one of our 
modern New York "yellow journals," 
and certainly too vulgar for decent men 
and women to hear, in regard to our 
Saints, even going so far in his dirty 
talk as to call some of their names. 

Two Elders had been working in the 
county for some time, and as they had 
finished the rest of it they thought it 
would be well to canvass Bowling 
Green, which consisted of about one 
hundred families. All kinds of rumors 
had been set afloat as to how they would 
be treated if they attempted to canvass 
the village. However, they were not 
daunted. Putting on the armor of faith 
and trusting in the strength of the God 
of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, they went 
into the place. One of the first men met 
was the reverend gentleman (?) who had 
used such vile language in his pulpit a 
few Sundays before. He treated them 
very rudely and heaped every kind of. 
abuse at his command upon them, even 
going so far as to threaten to have them 
whipped. 

After finishing the tracting the Elders 
found that about three persons out of 
every four had refused to take tracts, 
or have anything to do with them. 

After the testimony of the Elders we 
are told that the people shall have the 
testimony of earthquakes, famines and 
scourges. The n»*opheoies must be ful- 
filled. This is one fulfillment. Some- 
times those testimonies, these iudements. 
do not immediately follow: but in thi« 
case it was different. It was canvassed 
on April 2nd, and on the 10th the larger 
nortion was reduced to ashes. To show 
how terrible was the fatoaent, X take 



184 



THE SOUTHERN STAR. 



REPORT OF MISSION CONFERENCES FOR WEEK ENDING APRIL 14, 1900. 



NUML1DNKT 


COJtritltKJVGK 


= k 


£ 

E£ 

SKi 
1012 
TO 

*Hl 

lifts 

nun 

1087 

017 

K78 

;«4 

;■;:. 

:*a 

504 
BBS 


1 

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isyi 

77 

a; 
223 
L02 

1£ 
104 

lit* 
97 
IS 

a 

in 
42 


BO -" 
aim ji« 
:;,i 137 
7ft 2^ 
nh( I&7 
-;:■■> 1 :> 
44 i :: 
1 17 1H8 
181 W> 
as aso 

AU »5 

r.a |<i 

: -; 

27 32fi 
47 117 
221 01 


3 E 
MS 




9 

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in 


li 

1 


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9 fc| 
ill 




Li 

1*1 

~21fl, 
HIIO 
B8fi 
4M 
ill 
712 
424 
3H2 
M2tJ 
672 

am 

lit* 
l<5 
414 
411 


fl 

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2 

1 

4 
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....„ 


pq 
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TOWN 


STATE 


David H, Kllon. -., 

fieher s. Olson, ........... 

B. F, Price. , 

E. !>. Fomeroy ♦♦♦„ ... 

W.D. Rancher 

T. H. Hunintii-i'V* 

litvi. W, ttkldmoro 

J. Urban AUrai. 


Chl*U*flOcjtftL 

Virginia^ 

Kentucky........... 

East Tennessee .. 

Georgia ***** 

Niu-ih Alabama.. 

Flm irift ,.„ 

MM. Tennessee .. 
North (ami inn 
South Carolina „ 

Mi^iiiipp] 

Eiw Kentucky... 

Louisiana,*, 

Mouth Alabama .. 
North Ki-iiiiurby 
Obio 


12 
41 
211 
»l 
34 

m 

40 
13 

u 

14 

7 
11 
32 
H 


ill 
30 
\fi 

SO 

i;^ 
J'i 
26 

N 
tl 
8 
10 
31 
M 


lt>l 

222 

70S 
JiiT 
7M 
IflM] 

:;J 
241 

s>;, 

420 
60 

Beg 

304 

ma 


77 

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ion 

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W23 

m 

ir> 
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247 
350 


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100 
40 
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IS 

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18 
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14 
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27 
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24 


Chaitanoo^a IHWmwM 

Richmond, Hojc 888^,. , 

Centre -* ,_ .. r ^„.,,.. ( 

Wui-l"!i-^uh'i]i ,. ir . b 

Columbus „„„„.,„,. 

MemphL* T Box l&a, „..„. 

■H14 fi.Buy St., -Inekaonvjlte 
Spiiru, BOX 4t) r .*.. 


Tenaec^m 
Virghiin 

Kentuckj 
N. Carolina 
tieorgii 
Tennessee 
Florida 


J. M. IlHWrt _ 

Mister Low, Jr,, .... 


UohlMboro* Boi fl24...„ 1WT 
rhurle^tnn , 


N T Carolina 
A. CarollliA 


Cf. M. Potftof ........ 

W. W,MaeKay_... 

J.N. Miller ..♦♦.«. 

W\H, Boyle 

Don C + Bon*on ...„„ 


Lumberum *....«.„«« 

Ittir I ion r$to i lle_ ♦„„. 

11 lights Jipur,. .* ♦♦ 

BriBee Cre*k ...„.„. 


Kentucky 
r Am i a J ana 
Florida 
Kentucky 
Ohio 


G*o. K. M ay ate k M , 


O&O^ettt St., Cla'daWi '."" 



the following from last evening's Rich- 
mond paper: 

Appeal for Help. 

The Mayor of Bowling Green has is- 
sued the following appeal for aid: 

Bowling Green, Va., April 13, 1900. 
"To the Public: 

"The Board of Trustees passed the 
following resolutions: 

"Whereas, A conflagration occurred on 
the night of the 10th instant, whereby 
over forty buildings were burned, and 
all of the business portion of the town, 
except two stores, destroyed, and many 
people rendered homeless and destitute, 
with no insurance; and, 

"Whereas, Such are objects of charity 
which this village of six hundred people 
is unable to relieve; therefore, 

"Resolved, That this fact be stated in 
the press of Richmond and Fredericks- 
burg, with the request to those people of 
means who may feel inclined to contrib- 
ute to do so. 

"Any aid you may feel willing and 
able to render will 'be gratefully received. 
"A. B. CHANDLER, Mayor." 

Perhaps it is not necessary that I 
should add more than that — 

"God moves In a mysterious way, 
His wonders to perform." 



A True American. 

A short time ago Elders Nielson and 
Johnson were laboring in Russell county, 
Kentucky. They were holding meetings 
in the Point Pleasant school house, en- 
joying their labors very much. There 
were in this neighborhood people who 
professed to be Christians, yet they were 
very jealous of the progress made by the 
Elders. Many made threats of what 
they would do if the "Mormons" did not 
get away from their neighborhood. 
These threats reached the ears of Mr. 
U. G. Anderson, who had manhood 
enough to stand for his convictions. He 
asked permission to say a few words, 
which privilege was granted him. His 
words had the true liberty-loving ring 
to them and were in harmony with the 
views of all the broad-minded peopel of 
the district. 

Mr. Anderson said: 

Ladies, gentlemen, neighbors: I regret 
very much to say, that I have heard that 
some people of this neighborhood have 
been talking of closing the doors of this 
school house against Elders Johnson and 
Nielson. I sincerely wish that these ru- 
mors of disorder were not true, but I 
»m pained to say they are. Friends, 
this kind of talk casts deflection upon us 
as citizens of the United States. Why 
should we not be willing to hear these 
men? Is it a lack of confidence in our- 
selves to heed the admonition of Paul, 
"Prove all things: hold fast that which 
is good," or is it on account of prejudice? 



I tell you we should hear all, no matter 
what a man's opinion is, he has the right 
to express that opinion, and no man has 
a right to deny him free speech. We live 
in a free country, where every man has 
a right to worship God according to the 
dictates of his conscience. These men are 
not here to force their doctrines upon 
us; they do not ask you to become Mor- 
mons against your will; all they ask is 
for you to simply give them a hearing. 
They do not ask you to believe against 
your will what they preach, but to 
weigh evidence with reason, without 
prejudice, and decide for yourselves. 
They would not for anything blot out 
the faintest star of hope, which sheds its 
radiance within the human heart; they 
only ask you to hear their doctrine, and 
compare it with the Bible. You do not 
have to believe them; you cannot know 
a thing without evidence; if you hear 
not these men, how are you to know 
their teachings? Now, friends, there are 
a few of us holding this meeting here; 
we have invited these gentlemen to 
preach, an'd we are going to hear them. 
If there be those here who care not to 
listen to these men, let them stay away. 
If they have no respect for the Elders, 
nor themselves, they should have enough 
respect for the neighborhood to let those 
who desire, hear the Gospel. 

Such were the words of a man who, 
in %he face of opposition, stood up and 
declared for what many have suffered, 
bled and died— "Liberty." 



Infant Baptisms in Russia. 

"I was fortunate enough," writes 
Trumbull White, "to visit the Church of 
St. David, in Tiflis, Russia, just in time 
to attend a baptismal ceremony. Accord- 
ing to the rites of the Greek Church, as 
practiced in this ancient Georgian tem- 
ple, the youngster in question, a fine 
boy four or five weeks old, had to be im- 
mersed three times in a baptismal font 
filled with water, each time to be com- 
pletely covered, in addition to various 
blessings and anointings with holy oil 
and several long prayers. 

"The benevolent-looking old Priest 
proved himself a man of kindly thought- 
fulness. While the family group around 
the baby was getting him properly un- 
clad, for the ceremony requires that the 
child shall be naked, the Priest surrep- 
titiously dipped his finger into the font, 
and I saw by his face that it was too 
cold. Then he stepped behind a screen, 
where his samovar was steaming, emp- 
tied the hot water into a pitcher, and 
while the family still kept busy over the 
baby he poured enough to temper the 
pool that had been provided for the 
shorn lamb. The result was that the lit- 
tle fellow took his plunges without a 
murmur and thereby distinguished him- 
self."— Chicago Record. 



THE DEAD. 

Salt Lake City, Utah, April 18, 1900. 
Editor Star. 

Dear Brother — Many readers of the 
Star will feel extremely sorry, in one 
sense, to hear of the death of their de- 
parted friend, James Ragsdale, of Mol- 
der, Madison county, Alabama. 

He was 69 years of age and first heard 
the Gospel October, 1894, at a meeting 
held near his home by Elders Bird Mur- 
phy and Warren Beckstead. Like hun- 
dreds of others with honest hearts, and 
with inquiring minds, his previous re- 
searches for truth had well fitted him 
to hear with favor the doctrine of Christ 
as presented by Mormon Elders. The 
tract which he received at the meeting 
was simply a taste of that for which he 
had been longing. He therefore await- 
ed with impatience the return of the El- 
ders, who, on meeting him, were kept 
busy for some time answering his ques- 
tions. From this time until his death, 
which occurred on the 1st inst., he was 
tireless in his study of the church works. 
So proficient in a knowledge of the Gos- 
pel did he become and so energetic and 
persistent in its promulgation was he, 
that it is not putting it too strongly to 
say that the people of his neighborhood 
doubtless heard more "Mormon doc- 
trine" than the people of any other neigh- 
borhood in his state. 

A number of his relatives have been 
baptized; he never has been, for the rea- 
son, so he affirmed, that he felt himself 
wholly unworthy of the Gospel privi- 
leges. His home has been at the dis- 
posal of the Elders since 1894. When 
they have been footsore and weary he 
has been ceaseless in his efforts to com- 
fort and refresh them: and the same can 
be said truly of his family. So, may I 
be permitted to say for all the Elders 
who have enjoyed the blessings of our 
deceased friend's home, that we join in 
tendering our heartfelt sympathy to the 
bereaved family, and join in praying 
that the Father of Mercy may assuage 
the grief and administer comfort to the 
hearts of those who have been called to 
part for a time from a promoter of 
righteousness, as well as a devoted hus- 
band and a loving father. 

Albert C. Matheson. 



J. W. Webb, who departed this life 
September 18th, 1899, was a special good 
friend to the humble Elders, and many 
of them have found his home a welcome 
place unto them. All who called at his 
home near Lowell, Gal. were treated as 
only a true Southerner knows how. He 
had read and studied the teaching of the 
Latter-day Saints and was convinced of 
its truth. 




"OUT THOUGH WE.QB AN AN&EL FftOM HtAVEN.pREACH ANY 
PTHEB GOSPEL UNTO YOU THAN THAT WHICH WE 

HAVE PB£ ACHED UNTO YOU, LET HIM BE ACCUfttE&.«fifc/gp£Eff 



^gpsr* 




&± 



Vol. 2. 



Chattanooga, Tbnn., Saturday, May 12, 1900. 



No. 24. 



PRESS ON. 

PARK BENJAMIN. 
Press on! Surmount the rocky steeps, 

Climb boldly o'er the torrent's arch; 
He falls alone who feebly creeps! 

He wins who dares the hero's march. 
Be though a hero! Let thy might 

Tramp on eternal snows Its way, 
And, through the ebon walls of night, 

Hew down a passage unto day. 

Press on! If once and twice thy feet 

Slip back and stumble, harder try; 
From him who never dreads to meet 

Danger and death, they're sure to fly- 
To coward ranks the bullet speeds, 

While on their breast who never quail, 
Gleams, guardian of chlvalrlc deeds, 

Bright courage, like a coat of mall. 

Press on! If Fortune play thee false 

Today, tomorrow she'll be true; 
Whom now she sinks, she now exalts, 

Taking old gifts and granting new. 
The wisdom of the present hour 

Makes up the follies past and gone; 
To weakness, strength succeeds, and power 

From frailty springs! Press on, press on! 

Therefore, press on and reach the goal, 

And gain the prize, and wear the crown; 
Faint not, for to the steadfast soul 

Come wealth, and honor, and renown. 
To thine own self be true, and keep 

Thy mind from sloth, thy heart from soil, 
Press on, and thou shalt surely reap 

A heavenly harvest for thy toll. 



History of the Southern States Mission. 

(Continued from page 181.) 

After treating Elder Fisher to a good 
supper, he was furnished a ticket to Chat- 
tanooga and put on the Plant System 
train. Riding into Georgia, he sold his 
ticket, returning to another part of Flor- 
ida, and continued his labors. The Su- 
wanee county Saints were not discour- 
aged, but firm and fully resolved to serve 
God at all hazards. In the mob, fifty- 
three of whose names were furnished us 
by Sister Ida J. Redding, were at least 
thirty-eight active Baptists, five Metho- 
dists, one Catholic. TTieir leader was J. 
R. Newlan, a very active Baptist mem- 
ber and the last tax collector of Suwanee 
county, assisted by W. L. Whitefield, a 
Methodist member, and editor of the 
"Live Oak Banner." Prominent among 
the mob were W. A. Parker, a very ac- 
tive Baptist member and county treas- 
urer the year before, Ohaa. McCIain, 
Methodist, and John Robinson, Baptist, 
both defeated candidates in the county 
election. 

Capt. Newlan, in a statement published 
in the "Banner," sought to justify the ac- 



tion of the mobocrats, because Judge 
Stewart, of Jasper county, sustained their 
procedure. 

North Carolina groaned under moboc- 
racy. On the 8th inst. Elders J. D. Kill- 
pack and S. C. Carlston were waited upon 
by a mob just as they were preparing to 
retire. 

Several shots were fired, but no vio- 
lence done, Tuey were escorted about 
two miles and told to leave, and not re- 
turn under penalty of death. 

It was 2:30 a. m. before they found 
a place to stop. 

Elders Joseph P. Green and R. F. Cole 
were rotten egged on the night of the 13th 
inst. at Seaboard, Northampton county, 
after holding meeting in a hall. After 
the services the hall was quickly cleared, 
and upon stepping outside a fusilade of 
dust and gravel greeted the Elders. 

They called upon a Reverend for enter- 
tainment and protection, but he could do 
nothing for them. While walking down 
the street towards the mayor's residence, 
the Elders were treated to a shower of 
rotten eggs, one of which hit Elder Cole. 
Not being able to find entertainment, they 
stayed all night in the woods. 

While canvassing the city of Raleigh, 
N. C, Elders Ira Baker and C. J. Winter 
were arrested and placed in jail. They 
had been refused entertainment some thir- 
ty times and were about to ask again for 
lodging (9 o'clock p. m.) wuen a police- 
man nlaced them in jail. Next morning 
the Elders were released without being 
granted a trial ; the mayor sent word for 
them to leave the city at once. 

About this time Louisiana, not to bo 
outdone by some of her sister states, ad- 
ded to the records of outlawry. 

While working in Livingston Parish, 
and on tne night of the 5th inst.. Elders 
R. E. Caldwell and J. Granville Pace 
were severely whipped by a mob of about 
eleven men. 

The Elders had just dismissed a meet- 
ing held at the home of W. T. Shelton. 
and were seated at the fire conversing 
with the family, when the door was qui- 
etly opened, and eleven men, masked and 
armed, walked in, demanding "them mor- 
mon preachers." They were seized by the 
outlaws, hurried out of the house, and off 
through mud, water and thickets, a dis- 
tance of about five miles. The party 
halted at a ^ ridge spanning the Amite 
river, at the junction of Livingston and 
East Baton Rouge parishes. 

The Elders were commanded to prepare 



for the hickory, and were given thirty-six 
lashes each. Three of the mob adminis- 
tered the lashes, the first giving each of 
them sixteen and the other two, ten each. 

They were then forced out of the parish 
and commanded not to return; in the 
event of their returning "hemp" would 
be the next treatment. 

The Elders were "gritty" and faithful, 
making their way back into the eastern 
part of the praish. Although they had 
obtained no sleep for sixty hours, yet they 
were by no means discouraged, but were 
thankful they were worthy of persecution 
for the Savior's name. 

Recognized among the mobocrats were 
Jim Prickett, Cumore, Drs. Dukes and 
Prickett. 

The details of this mobbing were writ- 
ten to Gov. Murphy J. Foster, at Baton 
Rouge, La., by President Kimball, to 
which no reply was made, showing the 
little regard for religious liberty main- 
tained by the Governor. 

(To be continued.) 



Mohammedans Looking for Christ's Coming 

Mohammedans throughout the world, 
but especially those residing in the Holy 
Land, are looking for the second coming 
of Christ. They expect Him to arrive at 
any time, and are prepared to receive 
Him. The reason they are so interested 
in such a subject is because the Koran 
teaches He will come, and that when He 
does so, certain new honors are to go to 
their own prophet, Mahomet. The Rev. 
C. T. Wilson has labored for years among 
Mohammedans of Jerusalem, as a repre- 
sentative of the Church Missionary so- 
ciety. His work is itinerating, for he 
visits families in their homes, and directs 
the. work in hospitals, where thousands 
hear the gospel. Direct work is not car- 
ried on, for it is death for a Mohamme- 
dan to turn Christian. There are few 
results of present mission work, and the 
few there are the missionaries say noth- 
ing about, much less publish. Mr. Wil- 
son says the Turkish government keeps 
readers even in England and in the 
United States, charged with the duty of 
reading religious papers for information. 
One mission mentioned in an Americifci 
paper was closed up within a week, 
through information cabled from New 
York to Constantinople. Missionaries in 
Mohammedan countries, Mr. Wilson 
says, are working on, praying and hopine 
for religious liberty. A Mohammedan 
saying has it that at the day of judgment 
many a Christian will be found in a Mo- 
hammedan grave. 



186 



THE SOUTHERN STAB. 



TRAITORS. 



Solemn Warnings — A Traitor Can Never Be Anything But Despicable— Examples 

of the Past. 



BY BEN B. RICH. 



The traitor is the moral cannibal. He 
feasts on the mental worth, the social 
reputation, the political welfare and the 
earthly life of his trusting and betrayed 
friend. He is the human serpent, which 
nurses and revives at the fire of charity, 
and then darts his strengthened venom 
at the bosom of his benefactor. What 
the grub is to the heart of oak, the gnaw- 
ing rat to the ship's timbers, the flaw to 
the' diamond, the poisonous asp to the 
sheltering flower — all that, aye, and more, 
is the traitor to mankind. No cause is 
so sacred, no being is so exalted as to be 
free from the pollution of his betraying 
touch. Even the celestial legions had 
their arch-traitor. Earth, from the day 
of Eden, has never been free from his 
treacherous kiss. Since the hour when 
man first learned to owe allegiance to his 
fellow-man, profane, rebellious betrayers 
have worked their insidious way, like de- 
vastating worms, through all the pillars 
upholding holy men and noble causes. 

The traitor is the worst of all thieves; 
for he steals sacred freedom from his 
trusting associates. The traitor is the 
worst of all murderers; for he plunges 
the assassin's knife into the back of his 
believing friend. 

Two soldiers are standing at the picket 
post— in the dark night, the silent forest. 
They are sworn and trusted comrades. 
The army of the foe surges around them; 
and they know that ghastly death is grin- 
ning at thera from every glade which 
opens from the dark center to the blacker 
depths beyond, and whispering to them 
upon every wind that stirs the odorous 
branches. But they fear no blow from a 
foeman's shaft— that Doble death is but 
the chance of war. Secure in mutual 
confidence, they tremble not. Thev sneak 
of country, home; of wives and little, 
prattling babes. And yet, while the 
words of soft pathetic love are on the 
Kps of one. th* other pinnies a traitor- 
ous knife, hilt-deep, into a friendly, loval 
heart. And then the assassin sweeps like 
tho shadow of a lost soul over the face 
of the betrayed sentinel: he. creeps across 
tender moss and between the trunks of 
mighty trees — everywhere leaving the 
crimson, accusing stain — until he reaches 
a distant campfire: and at the feet of the 
waiting enemy he lavs dow*> his ree^'Pg 
knife and takes his purse of gold. This 
is the traitor. And when the moon come* 
up. stealing amidst the mstUng leaves, he 
looks uron t^e cold, white fncp of a be- 
trayed fHend, whose last word was of 
confident love to the ear of a hired assas- 
sin. 

Two men are ioined in a Patriotic cause. 
To the maintenance of thp principle of 
^ust freedom thev pledge their Uvea, their 
fortune* and their s*ered honor. Hist^rv 
will cnll +np *non who or e true to this 
p«nise. lovnl nnd hmvo. The tvrnnf whom 
they seek t rt overthrow cnllja the™ con- 
spirator*. Thev me^t in a darkened 
room. wi f h curtains cloqpiv dmw™ Soft 
~»nt« hnch the sound of tho firtn footfall. 

Ster*» VOICeS. 'nero <ieo«1 fo t*ir» vflcrt cir- 

»!imfprenc«. nf the field or the regonant 
height* of the forv^. are stilled to a 
womnn f R wbisner. TTio«o two «ien are 
**iepjtri*» to si*m pr*d y'elfl t^ ~~oh other, 
for fite+p^t eo*~**«dos. th*> n1o^o>>o nf mn- 

t'ial fidelitv The ope who is ™f*«tpr o* 
the bailee ^lneoo ^nc. f^i^at n f n tnMp pnd 
«roreads hofore him for *inpt prnn-it'on th(% 
nlnns of in-sur^eetion. the liat* r»f Iripnds 
"n^ eonf n de»">te a . f ha o°th« *-»f -™ipror»nl 
feal+v. As the visitor attaches h'^ nnme 
to the solemn instruments, he sighs and 
sav«" 
"Oh. trusty frio^^t t v?^M to tW« 

OA11SP not r»Ti]r m r 1'fe ~»" fr\~+rir>c* nn' 1 
my qqornfl HOTlOr. hnt T ▼ >, 'v^<»/\ <« "t f|r»d 
to thn ?n^^«»r?tv of V011 a^d On" p'l?r«j r«*» 
aTveot wife pp«^ *" T ' 0"1''* 0"* r » — *»ot** "* 

once my present pride and future )o??' 



While the words are uttered, the bold 
and noble hand traces its way in affirin- 
atory signature across parchment and pa- 
per. Scarcely has the thrilling whisper 
of the patriot ceased to agitate the dam- 
ask curtains, when the hangings are part- 
ed by the vulture hand of the other con- 
spirator; and between their open folds 
steal the soldiers of the tyrant. These 
warlike hands grasp the shoulders of 'the 
patriot; and as they drag him forth to 
dungeon and to death, the betraying host 
cries: 

"Bind him fast, lest he should escape 
and slay me!" 

The coward, muffled in a cloak, soon 
steals from the somber chamber to the 
palace of the minister and lays before 
that waiting officer his trophies of broken 

Elans and fatal lists. He gets in return 
is patent of rank, his gift of confiscated 
estates, his pledge of his personal secu- 
rity. This is the traitor. And when the 
sun of the third day shall rise, its first 

Eitying beams will fall upon the gory 
lock, the black executioner, the basket 
with its dread burden, and the headless 
trunk of the patriot whose trust and hope 
had been in a false friend. 



Two men are joined with others in pro- 
claiming an unpopular but holy doctrine. 
Hand in hand they go through the earth 
testifying to men, to cities, to nations, 
the mighty truths. They say to all lands 
and to all peoples: 

"We know that this is the living, burn- 
ing truth. God has spoken from the heav- 
ens, and we. are His witnesses." 

To each other— in all the sacred friend- 
liness of long association, of missionary 
labor, and of a communion together when 
every human law and hand seemed 
against them— they speak in faithful hope 
of the glorious cause, which they espouse, 
and of the divine necessity which they 
are under to be faithful to God and their 
brethren. Their views are not in accord 
with public sentiment and suddenly they 
are dragged before a cruel tribunal and 
charged that they are teaching crime. 
But the law of the land says: "No man 
shall be punished because of his sincere 
religious views or practices.'* And the 
judge before whom they are arraigned 
calls to them: 

"Continue to declare that ye are doing 
the will of God, and in prison ye shall 
rest. But acknowledge that ye are pro- 
claiming a man-made system, and pledge 
that ye will cease, and ye shall go free." 

And one of them who are arraigned 
says: 

"Oh, judge! I acknowledge thy su- 
premacy. I will obey thy law. I will 
not advise others to break it. So long as 
thou and thy masters shall command, I 
will worship the graven image." 

And then he takes his seat of amnesty, 
bought at the price of a people's free- 
dom, and creeps from the presence of the 
court a man — nay, a creature — inviolable 
of his fellows, but haunted ever by the 
shadow of Judas. This is the traitor. 

And when the other prisoner is ar- 
raigned he cries: 

"ThJs is my religion! God gave it to 
me! Ye may take my earthly life, but 
ye cannot sap my manhood nor strangle 
my conscience." 

Then the judge, who has a mission to 
learn if these people are sincere, answers 
to the prisoner and for the far-off masters 
of the court: 

"Thou canst not come within the law; 
because thou canst not claim sincerity. 
Thy brother and fellow-laborer hath just 
now recanted, and this is proof that thou 
R*t not sincere, but wickedly obstinate. 
Tf thy brother had with thee remained 
firm and immovable T might have be- 
lieved in thy cause. But what man hath 
done, map can do again. Therefore, re- 



cant or« rest thou within the cold and 
lonely walls." 

And the sun and moon of another 
month, stealing through iron-bound 
chinks of rock, see the patriot pacing a 
dismal cell. 

The traitor calls himself a reformer. 
He is merely a coward. And of all the 
wretches whose presence taints the air 
of earth and heaven, the coward is the 
worst. Great Caesar said: 

"The coward's fears make him" die 
many times before his death. 

'"The valiant never taste of death but 
once. 

"Of all the wonders that I yet have 
heard, it seems to me most strange that 
men should fear seeing that death, a 
necessary end, will come when it will 
come." 

The traitor professes to believe that his 
act of betrayal will disrupt the cause 
which he deserts. This is the coward 
rebel's wish. How abjectly and miser- 
ably he fails! Sometimes the traitor lops 
from the sturdy trunk a straggling 
branch; but does the tree thrive less for 
that? Nay. The other twigs onJy bear 
blossoms the more redolent and fruit the 
more rosy. Sometimes the traitor tears 
away a cracked, a seamed, a shaling stone 
from the half-completed structure. What 
if a measure of disaster follow? Can- 
not the builder renew? And does he not 
choose better rock to bear the weight of 
his fair edifice.? Sometimes the traitor 
only hastens the success which he seeks 
to- avert; sometimes he delays the tri- 
umph against which he rebels. But al- 
ways ultimately the car of destiny moves 
to its appointed end. And the cowardly 
betrayer who thought to stop its career 
by holding back with his puny arms is 
dragged by it to his miserable end. while 
his associates — dead or alive — go with it 
to the day of triumph. 



There was once a man of mighty prow- 
ess, endowed from his first breath with 
a wondrous strength. When he grew to 
manhood, brutes, men and even armies 
fell in the dust at his feet It had been 
divinely promised of him that he should 
be a marvel of strength, and that he* 
should begin to deliver Israel out of the 
hands of the Philistines, and men and 
chains, and bolts and crates could not pre- 
vail against his manly, heroic lustiness. 
But there came a woman, with her soft, 
betraying touch. She caressed him and 
begged for love of her that he would re- 
veal the secret of his miraculous strength. 
In a foolish moment he yielded; and then 
were his Jove-like locks shorn from his 
head: and he became a blind lickey. the 
serf of th<* Philistines. Delilah, the be- 
trayer, with her traitorous kiss upon Sam- 
son's lips, and her traitorous whisper 
through the tent to his waiting enemy, 
could do what no thousand of open foes 
could accomplish. She made the proud, 
srnorb, perfect lion, a weak, whining 
whelp. 

A mighty king had a well-beloved son 
to whom he had given and forgiven more 
than is usually bestowed upon one of hu- 
man kind. And yet the son traitorously 
plotted the downfall and even the murder 
of his royal sire, and the usurpation of 
the throne. He might have succeeded in 
his' cruel, parricidal treason, but that he 
himself was in turn betrayed and finally 
slain. And when the grand, great-heart- 
ed, poetic monarch learned that Absalom, 
the sweet, the beautiful, the dearly-be- 
loved, was dead, he wept before all 
Tsrael, and as he went his sorrowful way 
thus he said: 

"O. my son Absalom! My son. my son 
Absalom! Would God I had died foi 
thee, O. Absalom, my son, my son!" 

Tf that arrow-pierced heart of the be- 
traying and bctraved Absalom could have 
quickened but for one moment how 
much sharper than the. physical death- 
thrust would it have felt King "David's 
cry of infinite forrnveness! But the past 
was irrevomble. Israel's lordlv king. +be 
beloved of God. was moaning in anguish 
nt the gate of the city: and the beautiful 
AbsMo**i with the fatal hair, the be- 
loved of his royal sire, was lying dead in 



THE SOUTHERN STAB. 



187 



the pit in the deserted wood, with ignoble 
stone crusning nis nteless uoay. 

war, uiuruer, exile were powerless to 
bring' such desolation 10 mese royal 
hearts; out wnen Absalom, Uie torgiven 
murderer, Decanie a betrayer lnnnue woe 
fell around the name of me dead prince 
and me oowed neaa ot me living King. 
JLSut uiough the great tenderness ot me 
psalmist could compass remission for Uie 
crime of Absalom, me nation and nistory 
must be more narsn. When a subjeci, 
lor seuf-agrandizeiuent, rises against a 
king, be is a traitor, but he is a thriee- 
aamned traitor wnen mat monarch 
against whom he rebels is his own tamer. 

Women are often false to their lovers; 
subjects to their sovereigns, and even 
sous to their sires. Divinity itself is no 
invulnerable shield against betrayal. A 
merciful Christ came to save mankind 
from torment and lift mem into eternal 
radiance. He chose and trusted his apos- 
tles. Me ministered to them and with 
them. They each could give a testimony 
that their Master was me anointed Sa- 
vior, me Son of me living God. f'erse- 
cution came upon Him like me storm 
cloud lowers upon the snowy mountain 
and enfolded Him in a gloomy embrace. 
The prospect of suttering with mis God- 
like Master, whom he had served as 
purse-bearer when the danger was not 
great, made Judas weak unto betrayal. 
Cowardice and avarice worked together 
in me traitor heart He kissed and cri$d: 

* 'Master, master; Hail, master!" 

Then he took his thirty pieces of silver, 
and with them he accepted a hatred of 
all mankind. 

The compassionate Redeemer of the 
world hung upon me cruel cross with 
drops of agony upon His radiant brow, 
while His lips were wreathed in a pained 
but forgiving smile. And Judas, the 
traitor, already tasting the infernal tor- 
ments, called in vain to stay the progress 
of his dread act. The black-hearted deed 
was done. The mocking trial had passed, 
sentence had been pronounced and exe- 
cuted; and then the betrayer groaned and 
Hung the money from him as a sinful, 
burning thirig which had no worth. Upon 
the bloody held he cast himself and his 
bowels gushed forth in useless contrition*. 
He died upon me spot which his blood- 
money purchased for the burial of stran- 
gers and criminals in the land. 



A brilliant general fell into disgrace 
with his military superiors and with the 
civil government of his country. He was 
impetuous and impatient of restraint. He 
was proud even to arrogance; he was ex- 
travagant even to the furthest limit of 
honesty. Other men had been advanced 
to higher posts-— he felt himself degraded. 
His disbursements upon one of his heroic 
expeditions were still unsettled — he felt 
himself defrauded. A tyrant foe invest- 
ed his country and sought to subjugate 
her people. He listened to the voice of 
ignoble avarice, of proud passion, of of- 
fended arrogance. With deliberate hu- 
miliation he sought a place of *ast trust 
mnong the defenders of his country. He 
was appointed to the command of a great 
river fortress — the key to the interior, the 
storage house of munitions dearly 
bought, highly prized and absolutely nec- 
essary for the repulse of the Invaders. He 
sold his rank, his honor and his interest 
in his native land. Just at the hour 
when his bargain was to be decided, his 
old friend and admirer, the noble com- 
mander-in-chief, said to him: 

"My dear Arnold, I am now forming 
my army for active operations in the 
field. I want a fighting general. Come, 
I offer you the command of the left wing, 
at once the post of danger and of honor." 

The traitor's face flushed with shame. 
He pleaded an old wound as reason why 
he should not go into the battlefield. Then 
he went to meet Andre and give the last 
assurance to his British masters that he 
was theirs, body and soul. By the inter- 
position' of America's sublime destiny his 
plot was discovered and foiled. 

Arnold, the trator, crept away to escape 
a betrayer's death. He received his Brit- 
ish uniform, his British gold, his British 



sword. He even came back with his 
mercenary horde to ravage, burn, destroy 
the little town in Connecticut where first 
he saw the light. 

Years later, the great Frenchman, Tal- 
leyrand, met a distinguished-looking man 
at an English country inn. The two gen- 
tlemen were total strangers to each other, 
but they soon engaged in conversation 
upon the great question of democracy. 
When they were about to part, Talley- 
rand said to his companion: 

"From your knowledge of all that re- 
lates to the United States, I am sure that 
you must be an American; my name is 
Talleyrand, and I am about to visit that 
country; perhaps you will be kind enough 
to give me letters of introduction to some 
of your friends mere." 

When me illustrious diplomat had fin- 
ished his request, the other gentleman 
bowed low; and when he looked up his 
face, even to his lips, was gray as ashes. 
In a voice which sounded weird and 
cheerless as the moan of a November 
wind across a deserted marsh, he an- 
swered : 

"Yes, I am an American. I was botyi 
in America. I have spent nearly all my 
life there. But I am probably the only 
American Jiving who can say, T have not 
one friend in my native land.' No, not 
one. Sir, I am Benedict Arnold." 

Talleyrand turned away from Arnold 
with a shudder, while the miserable 
traitor crept silently from the room. 

When the unhappy wretch was dying 
in the midst of contempt and poverty he 
grew delirious. At the last moment of 
his ruined life he called to the devoted 
wife who had been the sharer of all his 
woe: 

"Bring to me, I beg you, the epaulettes 
and sword knots which Washington gave 
ine. Let me die in my old American uni- 
form, me uuiform in which I fought my 
battles. May my God forgive me for 
ever having worn any other!" 



The greatest army which me world ever 
saw was gathered at Thermopylae more 
than two thousand years ago. 

This was the Persian host assembled 
to do battle to the little band of Spartans. 
So intrepidly did the Greeks defend that 
sacred defile which gave entrance to their 
beloved land that Xerxes became out of 
all hope of forcing his way through the 
Spartan ranks. This was the moment 
for the traitor. Before the proud Xerxes 
could withdraw his myriads, the betrayer 
came— a Greek, a native of me sublime 
country. With servile words he flung 
himself at the feet of the gorgeous Per- 
sian. He offered to lead the invaders to 
an eminence overlooking the heroic de- 
fenders of Greece. His coward wish was 
granted; and when the next morning 
dawned Leonidas and his followers saw 
the spears and helmets of their foes flash- 
ing at them from the heights. 

The rest is the most sublime tragedy of 
profane history. 

And the traitor who betrayed the no- 
blest souls of Greece to their death re- 
ceived his gold and precious stones. He 
might have died in the honest obscurity 
in which he was born and reared, but for 
his coward act. 

Ah! such notoriety is purchased at too 
high a price. It would be better for a 
man to stand modestly and firmly before 
his country's foe; to fall unrecognized 
and without praise; to fill a grave over 
which the words shall stand cut into in- 
effaceable granite, "An unknown soldier, 
who died in defense of his country." Ah. 
yes! far better thus to fall and fill an un- 
known grave — to be unremembered for- 
evermore of men — than to win a name 
of infamy, to fill the pages of history and 
bo recollected of all human-kind while 
men shall hate a traitor. 



A prophet of Almighty God came in 
the full sunlight of this great nineteenth 
century to lead men back to the glory of 
their Creator. His open enemies sought 
his life; but for years their murderous 
effort was in vain. He continued his sa- 
cred ministry upon the earth, with a pow- 



er which was divine, until the hour for 
the traitorous kiss. When Bennett sinned 
and then through hate betrayed,- th« 
shadows of martyrdom began closing 
around our grand Prophet and Patriarch. 
When the Laws and the Higbees, the 
Fosters and the Cowles, became traitors 
and gave their efforts to aid the assassin 
persecutors of their sworn brother and 
leader; then, indeed, was the fate of 
Joseph and Hyrum sealed. 

A governor of a sovereign state be- 
trayed mem to a cruel death; and Car- 
thage repeated the divine tragedy of Cal- 
vary. The Prophet and Patriarch have 
passed to their glorious immortality; their 
names shall fill a thousand hymns of 
praise on earth and welcome in the heav- 
ens. But the traitors— miserable reptiles 
—will be scorned through countless ages. 

It is always the same— prince or peas- 
ant, apostle or soldier — if a man oe a 
traitor he is remembered for that and 
nothing more. If his station be lowly, 
he will seek in vain to hide his shame in 
his native obscurity; for it will burst 
forth in lurid, bloody letters to the sight 
of all the ages that shall come. If his 
station be exalted he may try and try 
again, but vainly, to cover his treason 
with the glory of his rank or wealth; foe 
it will blacken all his brilliance and leave 
his place a plague spot; his fame, a grin- 
ning skeleton of dead despair; his career, 
an undying infamy. 

But whatever may be the varied cir- 
cumstances and results attending the 
wretched lives of traitors, there is this 
lesson which all humanity may draw: 
Successful or unsuccessful in their trea- 
son, betrayers are always execrated; suc- 
cessful or unsuccessful in their treason, 
they always live long enough to repent: 
successful or unsuccessful in their trea- 
son, they may never in this life know a 
waking moment when their own coward 
fears do not make them doubt the fidelity 
of every soul about them; successful or 
unsuccessful in their earthly treason, 
when they shall stand in that other world 
face to face with their betrayed friends, 
they will know that the blackest of all 
offenders are cowardly, assassin traitors. 

At mat great day Judas Iscariot will 
not be the only traitor to cry: 

"It had been good for me that I had 
not been born!" 

Every crisis at every period and with 
every nation exposes traitors just as it 
exalts to view patriots. 

Ah! today we see Delilah, who betrays 
her husband ; and Absalom, who is traitor- 
ous to his father: and Judas, who 
would betray his master for gold or pop- 
ular approval; the Arnold who says, "It 
is a losing cause, and T may as well de- 
sert while there is yet time." 

Yes, there are cowards and traitors in 
the land. Well, let there be, then, since 
such are necessary to make the. sum of 
human existence — let them live as hy- 
enas do. 

Grand Harry the V., of England— su- 
perb, glorious Harry- -stood once upon 
the shore of France with his little band 
of soldiers to face the countless legions 
of his hereditary foe. He heard a mur- 
mur as of fear; and turning to his nobles 
he looked at them from flashing eyes and 
spoke these very significant words: 

"He which hath no stomach to this fight. 
Let him depart, his passport shall be made, 
And crowns for convoy put Into his purse; 
We would not die In mat man's company, 
That fears his fellowship to die with us. 
I speak not this as doubting any here! 
For, did I but suspect a fearful man. 
He should have leave to eo away betimes; 
Lest. In our need, he mlpht Infect another. 
And make him of like spirit to himself. 
Tf anv sueh be here, as God forbid! 
Let him depart, before we need his help.*' 



A valiant man ought not to undergo, or 
tempt a danger but worthily, and by se- 
lected ways. He undertakes with rea- 
son, not by chance. — Ben Jon son. 



Among all the accomplishments of life, 
none is more important than refinement: 
it is not, like beauty, a gift of nature, 
and can only be acquired by cultivation 
and practice. 



188 



THE SOUTHERN STAR. 




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Saturday, May 12, 1900. 



X& 



ARTICLES OF FAITH 

OP THB CHURCH OP JESUS CHRIST OP 
LATTER-DAY SAINTS. 

I. Wt belie** [a Oed the Eternal FitW, md la Hit Saw 
Jvtai LTbnit, md ta tha Poly Qh«L 

1, W« belle** that n*D will b* pQ pithed foe thei* owe 
aim, aod do I f&r Ad»m n i IriDapeMioD. 

|. We beliaTe thai, through the M»n* mtpt or Crrrltt, etf 
mi □ kind Biy I* llftd, bj obedience Te the lawi ili-1 ordi- 
■1DCH of lb* Goipel. 

4. We belie** tbm the finl prlnc.ipln mod nnli naoeea of 
(he Gwpel a» i fir»U, Faiih Id lb* Lord J*iii* Ohrilt ; Meoad!, 
RepeotlDc*; third, H*ptiira bj imm*rnon for the rtauMJon 
of *ip«; faorih, LejLnf en of U»adi far U»« Gift of fh* Half 
Qhoit. 

Q h Wo baliftTo thai k taiii molt hi called of God t by 
u pn>phw-T. and by tbi leying on of b*nd*,™ bj too** who in 
Id lotbority, to preich the pnp*l and »JmLai*i*r Id th« erdi- 
niacM thereof. 

4. Wo b*llfl¥n lo the iiime organiiatfon that exJited in 
the i.rljnitiT* din rcb— dabielj , Apo*!]**, Prophet*. I'tattr*, 
Tft4cRftr*n E*enfeti4t*, oio. 

■1. We be J leva Id the fttfV of tonfoe» t proptltcj, revelation, 
TliiODfc hlftljb^ icjl*rprM*t^n (if tongue*, etc, 

fl. We beh*Te ihh Bible to be the wnfd of God, ■■ far u It 
r, jr-n^lalM ™rr*ttljr . ■* ilea believe ihr. Book =if Utifju-m 
to U th* W&rd of Uod. 

fc Wi Ulieve ill lint God hi* nveftbd, ill [hit Hi &*• 
Ddt noTB»l k tod wo believe that Ho wiN ret retftal many greet 
end important thlngi pertaining to Lb* KiQgdoai of (JodT 

10. We behave in the literal fathering of lira* J and in the 
wlondoo of tb* Ten Trlbei . thit fron viU bo boilt opera 
(hie f tho AmtHdo ) contloent ; that Cbrl.it will reign porun- 
1.1 If upon th* earth, end thit the earth vlll bo renewed end 
rarelTO Lti peradieiacel glory, 

U- W* clitfn the privilege; of woriniping ATosifhlj Ood 

■^cgfiLiog id the dkl*(«t of nor coTS*ci*D«, *nd illow all 

n*n the albs jriTtJefe, let them worahij* how. wh*te t or what 

tboy b§t. 

li WebfJfe^eInMaffrabi««ttokinci t p 

e^nojpWtnU*; inoboylofchooorinf udMi „ 

It. • We boliovo in boinc booMt, trao, ehasto, boDtrokwt, 
rlrtoooa, Md io dofof footfto sll bisb: indood, wo Bay *•» 
U»t wWoUow tho •dmooiUoo of Paul, "We beliere ell tbloge, 
we hope ell tkiojga, n we have eodnrod aaaj thiao, aad hope 
•o be able to eadere all thiaga. If there ie loythlog ▼lrtowae, 
hvelj, er of good report or praletworchj, we took after theaa 



CUTTLE FISH HYPOCRISY. 

When the cuttle fish wishes to hide his 
true position it opens its spleen bag of 
black gall and squirts the inky substance 
into the water around it. There are, in 
the so-called Christian world of the nine 
teenth century, a great many professed 
"preachers of righteousness," who take a 
delight (apparently so, from the numer- 
ous instances thereof,) in using the same 
methods, and going through the same ma- 
noeuvres as the cuttle fish, when they 
wish to turn the public mind against that 
system of religion erroneously known 
as "Mormonism." This "cuttle fish hy 
pocrisy" on the part of our good 
"Christian" lriends is neither sound or 
convincing. Preachers may rant and 
rage about "Mormonism;" they may howl 
and storm from their lofty pulpits; but 
after they have foamed and frothed, and 
their boiling anger is somewhat cooled, 
they look down upon this strange, pecu- 



liar sect called "Mormons," and behold! 
they grow, increase, and multiply in 
numbers. Let us reason for a few mo- 
merits, Christian people, for we do not 
look down upon you with scorn, derision, 
num-mpt or hate. No! Our mission is 
one of peace and good will; our labor one 
of love, forgiveness, gentleness, and 
sweet charity. # You know the Lord says 
through His servant Isaih, "Come now 
and let us reason together;" and, if the 
Father of all mercies will condescend to 
reason with His erring children on the 
earth, have we not the right, and should 
we not exercise the same, by reasoning 
among ourselves? Yes! for "wisdom 
and reason make us men." To reason 
then; would it not be a great deal better 
for Mr. Baptist to preach Baptistism; 
Mr. Methodist to declare Methodistism; 
than for either of them to fight against 
and endeavor to tear down "Mormon- 
ism?" Yes! And why? For this rea- 
son: They are commanded by the Lamb 
of God to let their light shine, and in 
fighting "Mormonism" they are railing 
at what they suppose to be darkness, 
and not exhibiting the light they profess 
to possess. As well might you shout to 
a man who is struggling in the deep, 
"You are drowning," and not throw out 
a life line, a buoy, or any other means 
by which he might be saved, as to rave 
and abuse the doctrines and teachings 
of "Mormonism" without casting forth 
your precious beams of holy light which 
you lay claim to have. Why do modern 
Christians forever continue to slander 
the Mormon people, and fail to give rea- 
son or Scripture for so doing? It is sim- 
ply this, they, like the cuttle-fish, are 
desirous of concealing themselves, they 
are anxious to have the minds of the 
people turned from the shallowness of 
their own false systems, hence they 
belch forth wild anathemas against the 
Latter-day Saints, hiding themselves at 
the same time behind this sectarian fog 
of error, heresy, vile abuse, and misrep- 
resentation. They define "Mormonism" 
as being a system of lust, false, heinous, 
treacherous and vile. Their definitions 
of the subject— Mormonism— puts us in 
mind of the student's answer, when 
asked by the zoological teacher, "What 
is a crab?" The student's answer was 
this, "The crab is a red fish which moves 
backward." "Very good," said the teach- 
er, "your definition is correct but for 
three things. First the crab is not a 
fish: second, it is not red; and thirdly, 
it does not move backwards." So it is 
with those who would define for you, 
that "Mormonism" is a system of lust, 
vice, and fraud. They are as far from 
knowing the truthfulness of what they 
speak, as the boy in the zoology depart- 
ment; i. e., they know nothing of its 
virtues, divinity, and praiseworthiness. 
You cannot draw water from a dry well. 
If the Christian world has light we shall 
expect them to produce the same, that 
we might walk in the paths of right- 
eousness. As yet they have failed to 
bring the light of the Holy Scriptures to 
bear upon us, but have gone astray 
from all righteous precedents, and have 
resorted to vile abuse, mob law, and 
scandalous reports. These are the co- 
cent arguments, the powerful reason- 
ings, the spntl^qs eloquence of those who 
pose as "Trath Reflectors" in the van 
of modern Christendom. The mason 
generally uses the materials at hand for 
the erection of the structure he has con- 
tracted to build; so do preachers, there- 
fore we are forced to admit that better 
material, sounder lotric, more honorable 
eloquence, and God-like conduct are 
needed in the sects of distorted and tur- 
bulent Christendom today. Brother, you 



can never build up your own church by 
striving to pull down one with kindred 
objects like as you profess to have. If 
your own cannot stand on its miry foun- 
dation you should keep perfectly quiet 
and let it have an early and peaceful 
death. 



WORDS OF CONDOLENCE. 

A letter from President J. N. Miller, 
of the Louisiana Conference, dated May 
6th. brings the sad news that three 
of his brothers fell victims in the Sco- 
tield explosion, as noted herein. Brother 
Miller says: "The news was indeed 
shocking to me, and to make it worse I 
was not there to render my assistance in 
that awful hour of trial. While I try 
to think that all is for the best, and rec- 
ognize the hand of the Lord in all things, 
yet the trial is a severe one." Brother 
Miller has spent over two years in the 
Southern States Mission, and at all 
times he has been found at the post of 
duty, performing his part with a cheer- 
ful heart, and accomplishing the labors 
allotted him with an energetic will, and 
a faithful ambition to do the right. In 
this hour of anguish and sadness we ex- 
tend unto this our beloved co-laborer our 
sympathy, love, and brotherly affection. 
May the Holy Spirit conduct him safely 
home, and may he be enabled to com- 
fort, cheer, and console those of his 
household who now languish in sorrow 
and affliction, is the prayer and heart's 
desire of all who know him. 



SCRIPTURAL PREACHING. 

An exchange has the following under 
the above caption: 

"Many are the sermons, prepared and 
preached with the best possible Intent, 
which yet fail of being edifying in a de- 
gree that Is comparable to the ability of 
the preacher. The sermon Is clear, it is 
systematic, It Is elegant, It Is closely con- 
nected, and yet It falls to be highly edify- 
ing. What Is the matter?" 

Yes! Christian friends! What is the 
matter? Why is it that such "sermons," 
"elegant," "prepared and preached with 
the best possible intent," "clear," 'sys- 
tematic," will "fail of being edifying in 
a degree that is comparable to the abil- 
ity of the preacher?" This seems to be 
the one question of questions which puz- 
zles the learned synods and theological 
students of the present day. Neither 
time nor space will permit of an elab- 
orate elucidation of this all important 
question, and the purpose of our allusion 
to the above is merely to discover the 
methods used, the qualifications neces- 
sary, and the cheering results of those 
who lived in days of old— in the days 
which Biblical history bears record of. 
We shall find by searching the Scriptures 
that our Lord chose twelve Apostles, to- 
gether with other officers placed in the 
church (I Cor. 12:28) to carry on the 
work of the ministry, and "preach the 
Gospel to every creature" (Mark 16:15). 
Continuing His instructions to them, He 
says, "Tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, 
until ye be endued with power from on 
high" (Luke 24:49). Having been "filled 
with the Holy Ghost" (Acts 2:4), they 
straightway began to tell men what to 
do to be saved (37-39 verses), and their 
words, seasoned with love, guided by 
the Spirit, and spoken with power and 
authority, sank deep into the hearts of 
those who were assembled together; had 
the desired effect for which they were 
uttered, for "the same day there were 
added unto them about three thousand 
souls." (41st verse.) Here then we see 
that the Lord required His servants to 
wait until such times as the Father 



THE SOUTHERN STAR. 



189 



would bestow upon them the gift of the 
Holy Ghost, and by being obedient to 
His divine command they were enabled 
to preach with power to the conviction 
and conversion of the honest in heart. 
"What is the matter?" asks our Chris- 
tian friends, and the answer comes in 
plain, simple, explicit terms— a lack of 
the gift of the Holy Ghost. The Chris- 
tian world will sing, "Holy Spirit, feed 
us till the Savior comes," and at the 
same time deny and reject the power and 
gifts of the spirit of Truth. Paul and 
Timothy were made able ministers of 
the word by the Spirit (II Cor. 3:6), 
knowing full well that by the wisdom of 
man the things of God could never be 
understood (I Cor. 1:21, 2:11). Neither 
the eloquent tongue of the great preach- 
er, nor the skilled pen of the ready writ- 
er, will prove sufficient for the conver- 
sion of honest souls, but the one qualifi- 
cation absolutely necessary to bring 
about this blessed condition is the power 
of God— the Gift of the Holy Ghost 
Peter says that in "old time" "holy men 
of God spake as they were moved by 
the Holy Ghost;" today "wise men" 
speak as they have learned in their 
schools of worldly wisdom. In conclu- 
sion: 

Let wisdom take her proper place; 

And reason claim her own- 
But give to God the power and grace 

To make the Gospel known. 



THE SCOFIELD DISASTER. 

During the past week there was a sad 
calamity befell the people of Utah, and 
especially those of Scofield and immedi- 
ate vicinity. The cause of this sad dis- 
aster, in which almost 900 souls were re- 
turned to that God who gave them life, 
was a terrific explosion in the coal mines. 
More than 225 bodies have been recov- 
ered, and these, for the most part, are 
horribly mutilated, being subjected to 
the fierce flames to which they were con- 
signed. On May 3rd, President McKin- 
ley wired the following message to Gov. 
Wells, of Utah: "I desire to express my 
intense sorrow upon learning of the ter- 
rible calamity which has occurred at Sco- 
field, and my deep sympathy with the 
wives, children and friends of the unfor- 
tunate victims of the explosion. William 
McKinley." We join the President of 
our glorious Republic in extending to 
those bereaved our sympathy, love, and 
affection for them in this their gloomy 
hour of bitter affliction, and we ask 
"our Father" in heaven to bestow upon 
them the sweet peaceful influence of His 
Holy Spirit, that their hearts may be 
comforted, their souls cheered, and the 
wounds of sorrow healed. 



Decline of Churches. 

The Presbyterian. 

A great awakening is needed all over 
this land, and those who feel the least 
desire for it perhaps stand most in need 
of it. Hie tide of worldliness and false 
doctrine is coming in like a flood, and 
the only hope is that the Spirit of the 
Lord will lift up a standard against it. 
The revival that is needed is one that 
must reach into hearts, into homes, into 
churches, into business, into schools and 
colleges, and theological seminaries, and 
into the highest seats of power and au- 
thority in this nation. 

We believe the day for it is drawing 
very near, for there are indications that 
it is approaching rapidly. The good news 
comes, of times of refreshing in many 
quarters, even now. 

The Catholic News. 

Two things are demonstrated by this 
appeal to the members of the Methodist 
church— first, that the Catholic practice 
of fasting and prayer is copied, and, sec- 



ond, that American Methodism, the 
strongest sect of Protestantism, is begin- 
ning to go down. The so-called evangeii 
cal Protestants have in the past not only 
criticized the Catholic habit of observing 
the .Lenten season, but even practically 
denounced it. These Protestants, in their 
desire to be free from every possible 
taint of "Komish superstition," have 
made a religion that does not appeal to 
the higher nature of man. They have 
even refused to sanction the cross, the 
emblem of salvation. The result has beeu 
that their cold and undevotional churches 
have been steadily losing ground. An- 
other reason for the decay that has set 
in is to be found in the surrender of Prot- 
estantism to the so-called "higher crit- 
ics." One leading Methodist, Bishop 
Andrews, in an interview with a reporter 
last week, practically admitted this. 



CLEANINGS. 

Lumberton, May 4, 1900. 
President Ben E. Rich, Chattanooga, 
Tenn.: 

Dear Brother: — Yesterday I received 
my release, ticket, etc., all satisfactory to 
me, and I leave here today at 11 a. m. 
for the Valleys of Zion. 1 rejoice in very 
deed to be numbered among those who 
have performed honorable missions. It 
is with reluctance I bid my co-laborers 
adieu, for I can truthfully state my hap- 
piest hours in life have been those spent 
in the missionary field. But now that the 
Priesthood has seen fit and proper to pre- 
sent me wih an honorable release, I re- 
joice and will return home, hoping ever 
to be faithful in the discharge of every 
duty given me in the Church and King- 
dom of God. Although I may be absent 
in person from the missionary field, yet 
I assure you my prayers will daily ascend 
to God in behalf of the Elders and this 
grand work of love. 

I am thoroughly satisfied with my treat- 
ment at the commissary and take this 
opportunity of thanking you for the 
many accommodations shown me. 

Praying God to be with you and all His 
chosen servants, 

Your brother in Christ, 
James L. Edlefsen. 

We are pleased with the spirit mani- 
fest by Elder Edlefsen and wish him suc- 
cess and prosperity in his labors in the 
future. He has manifested the true spirit 
of love and bears a humble testimony, as 
do all men who perform their duty unto 
God and their fellowmen. 



By the instructions of President Rich 
and under his direction some changes in 
the work and management of the Ohio 
conference have been made. On April 29th, 
some new appointments were made in con- 
nection with the Conference Presidency, 
the former President, Geo. E. Maycock, 
having lately been released to return 
home. 

• Ohio was divided into two conferences 
— North and South Ohio — and the follow- 
ing named Elders will labor in their re- 
spective fields : H. Z. Lund, Ben L. Rich, 
T. M. Warnock, R. L. Shepherd, J. S. 
Cazier, E. M. Lee, J. M. Boothe, W. B. 
Parkinson, Jos. Sutherland, M. C. Miller, 
A. J. Stoddard, Jos. F. Nibley, C. D. W. 
Priday and J. W. Bently will labor in 
North Ohio; L. M. Nebeker, Ralph Cut- 
ler, Ben Hunsaker, S. A. Hanks, J. T. 
Wright, T. T. Durham, A. A. Paxman, 
Nelson Miller, David Sudworth, C. O. 
Cherry, E. J. Hunt, S. S. Smith, M. R. 
Fisher, Wilbur Sowards and A. B. Has- 
kell will labor in South Ohio. 

Elder H. Z. Lund has been appointed 
President of the North Ohio conference 
and L. M. Nebeker of rhe South Ohio 
conference. 

For the present, until President Lund 



can visit the northern part of the state, 
locate his headquarters and arrange as to 
what parts he will assign his Elders to 
commence labors, they will report as for- 
merly in the Ohio conference; but when 
he has arranged for the commencement of 
work in North Ohio, the Elders now la- 
boring in South Ohio, who are to go 
north, will be notified to move and the 
work will then operate under the two 
heads. 



Elder A. C. Strong has been appointee 
to preside over thte North Alabama con- 
ference, to succeed President T. H. Hum- 
phreys, who was honorably released to re- 
turn home on the 1st inst. Under Elder 
Humphrey's management the North Ala- 
bama conference has been in a prosperous 
condition and the reports from that quar- 
ter speak well for the Elders. We know 
President Strong will have the love and 
good will of all the Elders, and look for 
a continuation of the splendid work done 
in the past. 



Abstracts from Correspondence. 

Thatcher, Ariz., April 20, 1900. 
Editor Southern Star. 

For the encouragement of new con- 
verts in Tennessee, my native state, and 
to all others where the Star may shed 
its light, please allow me space for the 
testimony of one who took passage on 
the old ship "Zion" sixty-seven years 
ago, and has faced the storms of perse- 
cution that have been hurled against the 
truth', and is still on deck. I was in 
the postonlce when the father of Elder 
Joseph Woolsey received his calendar, 
and having a dollar in my pocket, sent 
for your paper, which is very much ap- 
preciated. I received my third number 
last night and read it through before I 
laid it down. 

Gazing upon the portrait of Joseph 
Smith brought to my mind that familiar 
face which I had beheld with so much 
pleasure in times now past. The last 
time I looked upon him he lay in death, 
a martyr to the cause of truth, which he, 
through inspiration, established; my feel- 
ings on that occasion I cannot describe. 
My testimony is that God is able and 
will in His own due time and way meet 
every emergency. 

Patriarch Reddin E. Allred. 



Windsor, Aiken County, S. C, 
April 21, 1900. 
To the Star. 

It is my desire to express my views in 
regard to the Latter-day Saints. Some 
three years ago I began to attend the 
meetings conducted by the Elders, also 
reading literature presented by them. I 
searched diligently and found their 
teachings true, harmonizing with the 
Bible. On the 26th of March, 1899, I 
was baptized by Elder A. T. Stewart, 
and from that time have had the Spirit 
of God to be with me, teaching me the 
ways of light and truth. I am trying to 
live up to my duties and follow in the 
straight path which leads to eternal 
happiness. We are unjustly persecuted, 
but that only causes our faith to be 
strengthened. May the Lord bless the 
faithful. Your sister in Christ, 

Fanney E. Prescott. 

Language and thought are inseparable. 
Words without thoughts are dead sounds; 
thoughts without words are nothing. To 
think is to speak low; to speak is to 
think aloud. — Max Muller. 



I have somewhere seen it observed that 
we should make the same use of a book 
as a bee does of a flower; she steals 
sweets from it, but does not injure it.— 
Colton. 



190 



THBJ SOUTHERN STAR. 



CHARITY AND SPIRITUAL GIFTS. 



Discourse Delivered By President George Q. Cannon, at Salt Lake Oty. 



I have great sympathy for these return- 
ing Elder*, tor i know how i telt upon 
my return from my first mission, and be- 
ing asked to speak to a congregation of 
Saints in the oid Tabernacle. 1 Had been 
absent nve years, preaching in a toreign 
language. I had had a greac deal of expe- 
rience on that mission in preacning, bap- 
tizing, organizing branches and conter- 
ences, and laboring in every direction. 
But when I came back and was called to 
the stand, it seemed as tnougn the bot- 
tom ot my memory dropped out, 1 was 
so frightened at tacing so many people. 
1 could scarcely recollect anytUing, and, 
Having been speaking in a loreign lan- 
guage", it was difficult to speak m my 
motner tongue. I had translated the Book 
oi Mormon into that language and had be- 
come tnoroughiy laminar with it — so fa- 
miliar that ail my thoughts and my secret 
prayers were in that language, instead of 
my mother tongue. 1 suppose that has 
been the case with these Eiders who have 
come from Germany. No doubt, they 
have done their thinking as well as their 
talking in German; and therefore they 
probably have had to translate their 
thoughts into English, as 1 had to do. I 
sympathize very deeply with Elders, 
whether they have been preaching in the 
English language or in. a toreign language, 
when they come back and have to lace a 
congregation like this. It is terrifying 
to some men, though some can face it bet- 
ter than others. 1 reel that these brethren 
deserve our sympathy. We cannot form 
as good an idea of their labors as we 
could if we were better acquainted with 
them or they with us. 1 remember just 
after my return tnere was a meeting be- 
ing held in the Seventies' bail, and a 
great number of Eiders were present. 
President Young, President Kimball, 
President Wells and several of the Twelve 
were there. It was a general testimony 
meeting, and the Elders were called on to 
speak. I rose and attempted to speak in 
English. I said, in the course of my re- 
marks, that I could not express myself 
with the fluency that I desired, naving 
been accustomed to speak in a foreign lan- 
guage for a good while. President Youn? 
spoke up and said, "Brother George, 
epeak in the language you are used to." 
I commenced to speak in that language, 
and it was like hoisting a flood-gate — the 
words came out in a torrent. I have no 
doubt that these brethren, if we called 
upon them to speak in German, would 
speak with a good deal of fluency and 
much more ease. 
Spiritual Gifts to Be Sought After. 

I have felt this afternoon that I would 
like to call the attention of tne Saints 
to some points of doctrine, if time permit- 
ted. I will read a portion of the 12th 
chapter of I Corinthians: 

Now concerning spiritual gifts, breth- 
ren, I would not have you ignorant. 

Ye know that ye were Gentiles, carried 
away unto these dumb idols, even as ye 
were led. 

Wherefore I give you to understand, 
that no man speaking by the Spirit of 
God calleth Jesus accursed; and that no 
man can say that Jesus is the Lord, but 
by the Holy Ghost. 

Now there are diversities of gifts, but 
the same Spirit. 

And there are differences of administra- 
tions, but the same Lord. 

And there are diversities of operations, 
but it is the same God waich worketh all 
in all. 

But the manifestation of the Spirit is 
given to every man to profit withal. 

For to one is given by the Spirit the 
word of wisdom ; to another the word of 
knowledge by the same Spirit ; 

To another faith by the same Snirit ; to 
another the gifts of healing by the same 
Spirit; 

To another the working of miracles ; to 
another prophecy ; to anotner discerning 
of spirits; to another divers kinds of 



tongues; to another the interpretation of 
tongues ; 

.but all these worketh that one and the 
seltsame opirit, dividing to every man 
severally as he will. 

For as the body is one, and hath many 
members, and ail the members of that 
body, being many, are one body ; so also 
is Christ 

Now ye are the body of Cnrist, and 
members in particular. 

And God bath set some in the church, 
first apostles, secondarily prophets, third- 
ly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts 
of healings, helps, governments, diversi- 
ties of tongues. 

Are all apostles? are all prophets? are 
all teachers/ are all workers ot miracles? 

Have all the gifts of healing/ do all 
speak with tongues? do all interpret? 

.but covet earnestly the best guts: and 
jet shew 1 unto you a more excellent 
way. 

1 will read a portion of the next chap- 
ter (13th/, for tne subject is continued 
here : 

Though I speak with the tongues of 
men and of angels, and have not charity, 
I am become as sounding brass, or a 
tinkling cymbal. 

And though I have the gift of pro- 
phecy, and understand all mysteries, and 
all knowledge; and though I have all 
taith, so that I could remove mountains, 
and nave not charity, I am nothing. 

And though I bestow all my goods to 
feed the poor, and though I give my body 
to be burned, and have not charity, it 
protiteth me nothing. 

Charity suttereth long, and is kind; 
charity envieth not ; charity vaunteth not 
itself, is not putfed up. 

Doth not behave itself unseemly, seek- 
eth not her own, is not easily provoked, 
ihinkeu* no evil; 

Kejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth 
in the truth ; 

Beareth all things, believeth all things, 
hopeth all things, endureth all things. 

Charity never faileth ; but whether 
there be prophecies, they shall fail; 
whether there be tongues, they shall 
cease; wnether there be knowledge, it 
shall vanish away. 

For we know in part, and we prophesy 
in part. 

but when that which is perfect is come, 
then that which is in part shall be 'done 
away. 

These last words declare that prophe- 
cies shall fail, tongues shall cease, and 
knowledge shall vanish away, because "we 
know in part, and we prophesy in part; 
but when that whicn is perfect is come, 
then that which is in part shall be done 
away." We shall then not need tongues, 
we shall not need prophecy, because we 
shall have a fulness of knowledge. But 
charity, Paul says, never faileth. 

Purpose of Spiritual Gifts. 

I feel and have felt for some time that 
as Latter-day Saints our attention should 
be called more than I think it has been of 
late to those gifts which God has placed 
in His Church for the benefit of His Saints. 
For some time past I have been led, in 
sneaking to the Saints at various places, 
to dwell upon this subject. We cannot be 
the people that God designs we should be, 
unless we seek after and obtain these 
spiritual gifts. It should be the constant 
prayer of all the Latter-day Saints for 
the Lord to give us those gifts that are 
suited to our condition, and that will 
make us perfect, because the bestowal of 
these gifts is for the express purpose of 
making those who are entitled to them 
perfect before the Lord. Through the 
Fall we have inherited very many weak- 
nesses and infirmities. We are all more 
or less conscious of taem, especially if 
we come unto the Lord in humility. He 
shows us our imperfections and points out 
to us our defects in character, bv His 
Spirit. We see some very glaring defects 
in ourselves. This being the case, it 



should be our aim to seek unto the Lord 
tor gifts tnat will remedy tnese detects. 
It 1 am an unwise man (anu all are — 
some more than otners), what gitt should 
I seek tor/ I should plead constantly 
witn the i^ord to give me the gitt of wis- 
dom. I may be oehcient m discernment, 
and easily led astray. False spirits arise 
and make tnis manliest constantly. We 
are surrounded by visible agencies, many 
of them very bad, and if we yield to them 
they have influence over us. Influenced 
by these wrong spirits, men and women 
will talk to us and strive to bring us un- 
der the same influence. Is it not, there- 
lore, a good thing to have the gift of 
discerning ot spirits? Is it not a blessed 
thing thac Uod has placed in His Church 
and promised unto the members thereof 
this precious gift, whereby they can dis- 
cern talse spirits when brought in con- 
tact with them? Assuredly it is. It is 
a gift tnat should be sought for by all 
of us. There are none so perfect but 
they can derive benent from the posses- 
sion of this gift. 

Fastlnar for a Purpose. 

I have otten been struck at our fast 
meetings with the tflought that the Lat- 
ter-day Saints ought to have a purpose 
when they come together fasting and pray- 
ing. One day a month is set apart by the 
cnurch as a day ot tasting, oi prayer, ot 
Humiliation beiore the Lord. vVhen we 
get togetner there should be in all our 
nearts a desire that our prayers may as- 
cend to the L*>rd unitedly for certain defi- 
nite objects. Of course, we are ail inter- 
ested in Zion and in tne great cause of 
God. We desire righteousness to prevail, 
the will of God to oe done. We can all 
pray unitedly for this great object, and 
we should do so when we come together 
in tii is capacity, ruit I may have secret 
desires, secrec wants; I may have 
thoughts that none but God knows. 
Therefore, I should petition Him in secret 
that lie will grant unto me that secret 
desire of my heart. And at such times, 
it seems to me that our prayers, offered 
in humility and accompanied by faith, arc 
likely to be heard and answered; in fact, 
1 know that they will be heard. This 
also is a good time lor us to seek for 
these gitts of the Spirit. Do we not all 
need them? Is there any one among us 
that does not need these gifts? I need 
prophecy. How can 1 magnify my office, 
now can I stand in my calling, how can 
1 do my duty to the Latter-day Saints in 
the oihee to which God has called me, 
unless I have the gift of prophecy? That 
gift I should seek to have it increase upon 
me. The gift of revelation should in- 
crease within me. I should seek for the 
gift of wisdom, to have it increase within 
me; the gift of knowledge also. Should 
we not all do so? I need these gifts ; you 
need them. You need to have patience, 
long-suffering, forbearance. A presiding 
officer in the Church needs the gift of in- 
struction, the gift of ' counsel, and, when 
needed, the gift of reproof and warning. 
He needs to understand the plan of sal- 
vation, and what constitutes godliness: 
he needs to have the gift of healing, and 
the gift of discernment of spirits. We 
all need to have the gift of a broken heart 
and a contrite spirit; for that is the 
offering that is acceptable unto the Lord. 
When we come to Him with broken 
hearts and contrite spirits He hears us, 
and He accepts the offering. It is the 
offering that lie asks at our hands. 

Purpose of tne Gift of Tongues. 

So I might go on and enumerate gifts 
that we need. If I were called on a mis- 
sion to a oeople speaking a foreign lan- 
guage, I should pray constantly for the 
gift of tongues, and for the gift of the 
interpretation of tongues. I obtained that 
gift a few days after I reached the land 
where I was sent ; I understood all that 
was said to me. I also received help in 
acquiring the language. I know that 
such a gift is within the reach of those 
who seek for it. It is not alone given 
to us to get up in our testimony meet- 
ings and speak in tongues and somebody 
interpret it. That is very comforting and 
a very desirable gift, when it is governed 
properly. It appeals to many people; 



THE SOUTHERN STAR. 



191 



they thing it is a wonderfully great gift. 
But in my experience it is a gift that is 
apt to lead people astray, unless it is pro- 
perly controlled. Under its influence peo- 
ple sometimes give way to a wrong spirit. 
We have known in our experience many 
instances where branches of the Church, 
especially newly organized branches, have 
got into difficulty through this spirit tak- 
ing possession of them and there not be- 
ing wisdom enough in the presiding officer 
to control it. This gift, as I have said, 
is a desirable gift; but it is especially 
desirable for our Elders who go to for- 
eign lands. They should seek for it with 
all earnestness and faith. 1 testify to you 
that there is such a gift, and there is such 
a gift as the gift of interpretation of 
tongues. So in relation to all of these 
precious gifts. Why, what is our religion 
if we divest it of these gifts and we do not 
possess them? It is a powerless thing. 
But with the bestowal of these gifts, with 
the Lord giving them to us according to 
our needs, each one in his or her place, 
there is power in our religion. 
Gift of Government. 
The sisters have as much right to these 
gifts as the brethren. They have the 
right to go unto God and ask Him in the 
name of Jesus to bestow upon them such 
gifts as they need. How good a gift.it 
would be for a mother to have the girt 
of governing her children, the gift of wis- 
dom to train them and to point out to 
them the path that they should oursue. 
The mother who seeks for these gifts and 
exercises them before the Lord, she will 
have great jov in her children and will get 
amplv rewarded for all the faith that she 
has exercised and the prayers she has of- 
fered in their behalf. For what is there 
that brings greater haopiness to human 
beings than to see their offsoring doing 
right and walking humbly before the 
Lord? Therefore mothers should seek to 
obtain such gifts as are suited to their 
condition and circumstances. The Lord 
said to Joseph in the beginning. "Be pa- 
rent in th'ue afflictions: for thou shnlt 
have many." So it is with all of us. We 
have great afflictions from time to time. 
Tt seems to be necessary that we should 
be tn<><\ and proved to Fee whether we 
are full of integrity or not. In this way 
we eet to know ourp*»lves and our own 
weaknepses: and the Lord knows v«. and 
onr brethren and sister* know us. There- 
fore, it is a precious eif+ to have the gift 
of patience, to be «?ood-tcmpered. to he 
cheerful, to not be depressed, to not give 
way to wronff fueling'* and become 'inpa- 
tient and irritable. Tt is a blessed gift 
for all to tkwpps. The sift of integrity 
al«*o i?ja snlendid rift. Men may do man^ 
vick<Mi +hin*"s. and recent of them, and 
the Lord will forgive the™, if thev hav* 
Sntegritv. I value that gift exceedinglv. T 
have seen men that in manv respect $» were 
*»nvthin<r bi't what they ought to b« as 
Latter-day Saints. b"t they were full of 
''ntpfirritv. Tne^ would rot do anything to 
betrav the work of God. Under all ^ir- 
Tmstanoe* thev were full of inteerity. 
I have met, r<* vo" have. «uoh characters : 
and T have felt that such men. notwith- 
standing their ^eaWies^es. will be blessed 
of the To***. The Lord will forgive their 
f» : ns and He wpl blefs them beau** of 
their in f egritv. Therefore tb° gift of in- 
tegrity is a w ood thing. Tt is «rood also 
+o have steadfastness, v*lor and courage 
; n the hour of trial and danger — in the 
hour when men's lives are in danger. 
Beautiful Gift of Charity. 

Before T clore T will call your attention 
*o what i« said about ^hari***. Let us 
d^vell on this firlorio^s Hft. What beau- 
tiful characters we should have if we pos- 
sessed f his -nrerious si ft of charitv. Let 
us read an* 1 see wha f the Ano«*tle sav< 
aNrar it. The same tMnes can be found 
also in the Book of Mormon, in almost 
identicallv the same language. 

"Charitv suffereth long, and is kind." 
Ts no* that a lovely trait of human char- 
acter? 

"Charity envieth not." There is no 
envv in a ™an o»* a woman who possesses 
charity. Thev do not envv their fellow 
beings anvthing that thev mav possess. 

"Charity vaunteth not itself, is not 



puffed up." Charity never boasteth. I 
often think of that. If I feel inclined to 
boast a litle, I am checked immediately 
by the reflection that that is not charity. 
When we are filled with charity we are 
not vaunting ourselfev, we are not boast- 
ing of our good deeds, we are not puffed 
up, we are not telling people what mighty 
men we are, or how much good we have 
done. Charity does not indulge in this. 

"Doth not behave itself unseemly." 
It is modest. 

"Seeketh not her own.'' That is the 
spirit of the Savior. He said, "If any 
man will sue thee at the law, and take 
away thy coat, let him have thy cloak 
also;" if they wanted us to go with 
them a mile, to go with them two miles. 
It is not always quarreling and contend- 
ing for "rights." Persons who have 
the gift of charity are not always afraid 
that they are going to lose something, 
and that they must look after their 
"rights." You see that spirit frequently 
manifested. 

"It is not easily provoked." Always 
good tempered; does not lose patience. 

"Thinketh no evil." It does not in- 
dulge in evil thoughts concerning oth- 
ers. It looks upon their conduct in the 
best light possible. 

"Rejoiceth not in iniquity." Takes 
no pleasure in iniquity, but rejoices in 
that which is good — "rejoiceth ,f as the 
Apostle says, "in the truth." 

"Beareth all things, heMeveth all 
things, hopeth all things, endureth all 
things." These are blessed qualities. 

My brethren and sisters, what a prec- 
ious and a glorious gift is this gift of 
charity Would not we be perfect 
Saints if we had it? Would not this be 
heaven if we exercised it? Would not 
our houses be habitations of peace and 
joy? Would not the angels delight to 
be with us? I am sure they would. And 
why should we not possess it? What 
is there to prevent it? God has given 
to us the ""omise that we can have this 
gift of charity if we seek for it. That 
promise never faileth no more than chari- 
ty faileth. We can obtain it, and it will 
beautify and adorn all our characters. 
If our children possess it, how beautiful 
they will be in every moral attribute ! 
Let us seek for it, lot us cultivate it 
everywhere. Let us read about this oc- 
casionally, and not be quarrelsome, not 
be fault-finding, not be slandering, not be 
back-biting, not be saving evil of each 
other. That is not of Christ ; but charity 
is the pure love of Christ. God. we are 
told, is love. One of the last injunctions 
of the Apostle John was, "little children, 
love one another." If men do wrong to 
me, what must I do? Must I resent it and 
fight back? No; I must bear it patiently. 
I must suffer long, and be kind. I must 
not lose my temper and think that I 
must get even with them. That is not 
the spirit of the Gospel. Christ has 
taught us very differently. As Latter- 
day Saints, we should exercise those 
qualities and gifts that He has com- 
manded us to seek for. 

Brethren and sisters. God • bless vou 
and fill vou with His Holy Soirrt. Let 
us contend earnestly for the gifts of the 
Spirit of God. When we notice a de- 
fect in our characters, let us ask God 
with all the faith we can to give us 
the gift that will correct that, that we 
may be perfect; for Jesus says: "Be ye 
perfect, even as your Father in heaven 
is perfect," showing that it is possible 
for us, even in our fallen and ' low con- 
dition, to become perfect in.onr sphere.. 
That God may grant unto us this, and 
our hearts with this desire and tlrs <rreat 
faith, is my prayer, in the name of Jesus. 
Amen. 

Releases and Appointments. 

Releases. 

C. Jacobsen, North Alabama Confer- 
ence. 
J. L. Fdlefson, Mississipni Conference. 
J. A. Wixom, Florida Conference. 
T, H. Bowlev. Ohio Conference. 
B. F. Price, Kentucky Conference. 
J. N. Miller, Louisiana Conference. 



APPRECIATE THOUGHTFULNESS, 

Salt Lake City, Utah, May 3.— Hon. 
William McKinley, Washington, D. C— 
Your telegram, expressing your generous 
sympathy for the families and friends of 
our fellow-citizens who have so unexpect- 
edly met death in the mine explosion at 
Scofield, is received and appreciated. Sor- 
rowing Utah thanks you for your thought- 
ful interest. Hebeb M. Wells, 

Governor. 



From Congressman King. 

The following dispatch has been re- 
ceived by Gov. Wells, and indicates that 
Washington stands ready to help: 

Washington, D. C, May 3. — Gov. He- 
ber M. Wells, Salt Lake: — I mourn with 
Utah's people in this sorrowful hour. 
Please express my sincere sympathy with 
the suffering families. All classes here 
deeply sympathize with the bereaved ones. 
Evening Star offers to accept and trans- 
mit contributions. Can we do anything 
here? William H. Kino. 



France Sympathizes. 

Washington, May 3. — The French am- 
bassador called on President McKinley 
and Secretary Hay today and conveyed 
the condolence of the Frencu republic to 
the President of the United States over 
the mine disaster in Utah. He 
handed the secretary the following per- 
sonal letter on the subject: 

"Embassy of the French Republic in 
the United States. 

"Washington, D. C, May 3, 1900. 
"Mr. Secretary of State: 

"The President of the Frencu republic 
has heard of the terrible catastrophe 
which has taken place in Utah. He has 
instructed me to be his interpreter near 
the President of the United States of 
America, and to assure him of the sym- 
pathy which he feels on account of this 
sad event. 

"In transmitting to me the expression 
of the sentiments of President Loubet, 
M. Delcasse, minister of foreign affairs; 
likewise instructs me to convey to the 
American government the expression of 
the profound sympathy of the government 
of the republic. 

"Be pleased to accept, Mr. Secretary of 
State, the assurances of my high consid- 
eration. Jules Cambon." 

Late this afternoon a dispatch was sent 
to Ambassador Porter, at Paris, directing 
him to acknowledge receipt by President 
McKinley of President Loubet's message 
and to convey to M. Loubet the apprecia- 
tion of the President at the expression 
of sympathy of the French government. 



Prayer for the Dead. 

Deseret News. 

The question of prayers for the dead 
seems to be coming to the. front in some 
parts of the Protestant world. A Baptist 
periodical, quoted by the Literary Digest, 
takes the view that the departed ones 
are safe and blessed and need not our 
prayers, but that for our own consola- 
tion, prayers may be offered for them. 
Tn this connection it quotes approvinglv 
this prayer written by the late Mr. Glad- 
stone: 

"O God, the God of the spirits of all flesh. 
In whose embrace all creatures live, in 
whatsoever world or condition they be, we 
beseech Thee for him whose, name and 
dwelling nlace and every need Thou know- 
est. Lord, vouchsafe him light and rest, 
neace and refreshment, joy and consolation, 
In Paradise, In the companionship of saints, 
In Hie presence of Christ, in the ample folds 
of Thv great love. 

"Grant that his life may unfold Itself In 

Thy sight and find a sweet employment In 

the soncloi's fields of eternity. If he hath 

1 ever been hurt or maimed b^ any unhappy 



192 



THE SOUTHERN STAR. 



REPOKT OF MI8SION CONFERENCES FOR WEEK ENDING APRIL 21, 1900. 



FBZHIBBNT 



BnvidH. Elton _.. 

Heber B. Gl&on 

B* F. Price 

K. L, Pomoroy 

W. D, Rancher , 

A.C. Blrong. „„. 

Gao. W< Skldmore 

J. Urban Alined 

J, M- HawtJ. -..«.«*,. 
Bjl veater Low, Jr„ 

G. M. Porter . 

W. W. MoeKay 

J.N. Miller 

W.H. Boyle 

Don C. Benson *.*„.< 
U M* ffebekvr 



CONFBMRM0K 



it 

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tit'or^is , 

North Alabama „ 
Florid*-,., .... 
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North Carolina... 
South Carol j nn .. 

Mi^i^ippi „„ 

East Kiiinu<.'ky„. 

Louisiana w ^. 

South Alftbanm „ 
Nurih Kfiitnrkv 
Ohio... 



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word or deed of ours, we pray Thee of Thy 
great pity to heal and restore him, that he 
may serve Thee without hindrance. 

"Tell him, O gracious Lord, if it may be, 
how much we love him and miss him, and 
long to see him again, and If there be ways 
In which he may come, vouchsafe him to us 
as a guide and guard, and grant us a sense 
of his nearness In such degree as Thy laws 
permit. 

"If In aught we can minister to his peace, 
be pleased of Thy love to let this be, and 
mercifully keep us from every act which 
may deprive us of the sight of him as soon 
as our trial time is over, or mar the full- 
ness of our joy when the end of the days 
hath come. 

"Pardon, O gracious Lord and Father, 
whatsoever is amiss in this our prayer, and 
let Thy will be done, for our will is blind 
and erring, but Thine is able to do exceed- 
ing abundantly above all that we ask or 
think; through Jesus Christ our Lord. 
Amen." 

That reveals the position of one of the 
greatest thinkers of the age on this ques- 
tion. It shows that the ordinary chan- 
nels of philosophy and theology convey 
no certain knowledge of the state of the 
departed. It indicates also the need of 
human nature to feel that the ties that 
bind hearts together are not severed with 
death. Why, then, is mankind so slow 
in turning to revelation for the light 
needed ? 

If no other principle were revealed 
through the Prophet Joseph than that by 
which the dead and living are joined to- 
gether across the chasm of death, that 
alone would place him among the fore- 
most of men of God. Were there no oth- 
er doctrine of "Mormonism" than this, it 
would be a perfect justification for its ex- 
istence, for by it a new light has been 
shed on the world, for which the noble 
spirits of the earth have been praying. 
But there are other principles as grand 
and as far-reaching as the one relating 
to the salvation of the dead. They have 
emanated from the Eternal Source of all 
truth. 

An Editor's Mistake. 

Editors have their troubles, One of 
these men, who presides over the desti- 
nies of a western newspaper, is mourning 
the loss of two subscribers. Number one 
wrote asking how to raise his twins safe- 
ly, while the other wanted to know how 
he might rid his orchard of grasshoppers. 
The answers went forward by mail, but 
by accident, the editor put them into th'j 
wrong envelopes, so that the man with 
the twins received the answer: "Cover 
them carefully with straw and set fire, 
to it, and then the little pests, after 
jumping in the flames for a few minutes, 
will be speedily settled." And the man 
with the grasshoppers was told to "give 
castor oil and rub their gums with a 
bone."— Ex. 

Postal Charges in 1792. 

Kansas City Journal. 

The first law of congress, fixing rates 
of postage went into effect on June 1, 
1792, with rates as follows: 

Not exceeding thirty miles, 6 cents. 

Over thirty and not exceeding sixty 
miles, 8 cents. 



-■a 





1 




a 


2 


i 


2 


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2 




8 


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1 


2 


1 




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Chattanooga 

Richmond, Box 388.,..., 

Con t ro ^„ „ 

Wlnfllon-Sftlem 

Columbus ..^wrtrtw 

Memphis, Box 158- 

501 E.Buy 6t», Jacksonville 

Spa rta, Bo x 40.. ... 

CiililHboro, Box 034 , 

C h a rloa ton .. , „ „., „„., 

IrUraherton «„,.... >♦. „ 

B arbours ville„ .......,,., 



Ilu Khi 1 * Spur 

Bridge Creak « .„ 

Bagdad „ ,.. 

588 Belts St., Cincinnati ... 



Tennessee 
Virginia 
Kentucky 
N* Carolina 
<»K>rgia 
Tennessee 
Florida 
Tun ncaeee 
N. Carolina 
d. Carolina 
Mia*Mppl 
Kentucky 

n.»ri.1n 

Kentucky 

Ohio 



Over sixty and not exceeding 100 miles, 
10 cents. 

Over 100 and not exceeding 150 miles, 
12% cents. 

Over 150 and not exceeding 200 miles, 
15 cents. 

Over 200 and not exceeding 250 miles, 
17 cents. 

Over 250 and not exceeding 350 miles, 
20 cents. 

Over 350 and not exceeding 450 miles, 
22 cents. 

Over 450 miles, 25 cents. 

It would seem that the postmasters of 
that day must have been greatly per- 
plexed in adjusting the rates on each let- 
ter under such a diversified schedule as 
the above. The weight limit was one 
ounce (single), but a single letter was a 
single sheet; two sheets double; three 
sheets triple; four sheets a quadruple let- 
ter, even if the whole did not exceed an 
ounce. 

HE LIVES LONG WHO LIVES WELL 



Would'st thou live well? The only means 

are these— 

'Rove Galon's diet, or Hippocrates; 

Strive to live well; tread in the upright 
ways. 

And rather count thy actions than thy 
days; 

Then thou hast lived enough amongst us 
here, 

For every day well spent I count a year. 

Live well, and then, how soon soe'er thou 
die, 

Thou art of age to claim eternity. 

But he that outlives Nestor, and appears 

To have passed the date of gray Methuse- 
lah's years. 

If he his life to sloth and sin doth give, 

I say he only was— he did not live. 

—Randolph. 

BENJAMIN FRANKLIN'S ANECDOTES, 

The Silver Hook. 

Doctor Franklin, observing one day a 
hearty young fellow, whom he knew to 
be an extraordinary blacksmith, sitting 
on the wharf, bobbing for little mud-cats 
and eels, he called to him, "Ah, Tom, 
what a pity 'tis you don't fish with a 
silver hook." The young man replied, 
"he was not able to fish with a silver 
hook." Some days after this the doctor 
passing that way, saw Tom out at the 
end of the wharf again, with his long 
pole bending over the flood. "What, 
Tom," cried the doctor, "have you not 
got the silver hook yet?" "God bless you, 
doctor," cried the blacksmith, "I'm hard- 
ly able to fish with an iron hook." "Poh ! 
poh !" replied the doctor, "go home to 
your anvil ; and you'll make silver enough 
in one day to buy more and better fish 
than you would catch here in a month." 



True Independence. 

Soon after his establishment in Phila- 
delphia. Franklin was offered a piece for 
publication in his newspaper. Being very 
busy, he begged the gentleman would 
leave it for consideration. The next day 



the author called and asked his opinion 
of it. "Why, sir," replied Franklin, "I 
am sorry to say that I think it highly 
scurrilous and defamatory. But being 
at a loss on account of my poverty wheth- 
er to reject it or not, I thought I would 
put it to this issue— at night, when my 
work was done, I bought a two-penny 
loaf, on which with a mug of cold water I 
supped heartily, and then wrapping my- 
self in my great coat, slept very soundly 
on the floor till morning; when another 
loaf and a mug of water afforded me a 
pleasant breakfast. Now, sir, since I can 
live very comfortably in this manner, why 
should I prostitute my press to personal 
hatred or party passion, for a luxurious 
living?" 

One cannot read this anecdote of our 
American sage without thinking of Soc- 
rates' reply to King Archilaus, who had 
pressed him to give up preaching in the 
dirty streets of Athens, and come and 
live with him in his splendid courts: 
"Meal, please your majesty, is a half 
penny a peck at Athens, and water I can 
get for nothing." 



THE DEAD. 

Sister Tinsley, wife of Samuel Tins- 
ley, of Charleston, Tenn., on March the 
11th, was summoned home by Him 
whose wisdom is infinite and whose 
mercy is perfect. 

Sister Tinsley was not a member of 
the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day 
Saints, but she was so kind and hospita- 
ble to the Elders that her name is writ- 
ten in love upon their hearts. She leaves 
a husband with whom she lived faithful 
and true for fifty-six years, and also a 
noble and an honorable family of chil- 
dren. We sympathize with the bereaved 
father and children and pray God to 
comfort and cheer their hearts and to 
give them light and knowledge to lead 
them through life, that they may be 
prepared to meet their loved one on the 
other shore. Every Elder who is ac- 
quainted with these kind and worthy 
people join in saying from the center of 
their hearts, "God bless Brother Tinsley 
and his dear children, and may they feel 
that their darling loved one has gone to 
rest in peace." 



Yet hold it more humane, more heav- 
enly first, by winning words to conquer 
willing hearts, and make persuasion do 
the work of fear.— Milton. 



Don't try to raise too large a crop of 
religion on too small a plot of ground. 
Increase your territory as you increase 
your seed. — Watch Tower. 



Good to forgive; better to forget- 
Browning. 




■BUT THOUGH WE. OB AN ANGEL FROM HEAVEN, PR EACH ANY 
0THER GOSPEL UNTO YOU THAN THAT WhtCH WE 
HAVE PREACHED UNTO YOU. LET HIM BE ACClfRilD .*£tf./*£W 



VJ*£3MC 



Vol. 2l 



Chattanooga, Tbnn., Saturday, May 19, 1900. 



No. 25. 



Sketch of the Life of President Lorenzo Snow. 

BY APOSTLE MATHIAS P. COWLEY. 




•'God, that made the world and all 
tilings therein/' hath made of one blood 
all nations of men for to dwell on all 
the face of the earth; and hath deter- 
mined the times before appointed, and 
the bounds of their habitation." Acts 
xvii, 24,28. 

It was no accident that Abraham, Mo- 



PRESIDENT LORENZO SNOW. 

ses, Samuel, Isaiah, Jeremiah, the Mes- 
siah. Joseph Smith and all other proph- 
ets and leaders of men in the history of 
the world, were born in the age and at 
the particular time in their respective 
ages, when they were. The Father de- 
signed it thus. "Determined the times 
before appointed," each one coming when 



bis God-given graces and abilities quali- 
fied him for the events to transpire and 
the circumstances with which he would 
have to deal in this mortal state. So 
when the Lord was about to establish 
this great and last dispensation of the 
Gospel among men, ^e sent forth a co- 
terie of men, whose lives, characters . and 



194 



THE SOUTHERN STAB. 



deed* have proven them to be of Mil 
very choicest spirfta which ever came 
forth from the 6030m Of the Father. 

Among tbe foremost aud noblest of 
these nobfpnien of G6d is the subject 
of ibis sketch, President Lorenzo Know. 
He was born ni Man tuft. Portage county, 
Ohio, Aprif 'A, 1S14 the eldest son of 
Oliver and Rosetta L. Pettihnue Snow. 
His pa rents were of the old Puritan 
Htock* and> naturally enough, from them 
lie Inherited the sterling qualities Which 
characterized the early promoters of civil 
and religious liberty in 'this land. Ohio, 
at that time, was considered in the ex- 
treme west and although President Snow 
was reared upon a farm in the "wild 
west," and inured to hard manual labor, 
he early exhibited a strong desire to se- 
cure a pood education nod was often 
found by those seeking bin company 
"hid up with his book/ 1 He also enter- 
tained 11 a inclination to military tactics 
and £« ve them considerable attention. 
His faithful lister, Eliza R„ made him 
a suit of uniform. She became some- 
what ahirmed at her brother's aspira- 
tions, lest he should become a military 
man, become identified with the armies 
of his country and end his career upon 
the. gory battlefield* Her anxiety* how- 
ever, was relieved when *hc found him 
turning his attention more completely to 
a collegiate course of education. He at- 
tend ed the celebrated O be rim college. 
At that time it was strictly Presbyterian. 
Tn tbe meantime his smtcr Eliza had 
identified herself with tbe Latter-day 
Saints. He would write home and ask 
her many Questions regard in* the sub- 
ject of religion, on one occasion stating 
in a letter that if he found nothing bet- 
ter than he did at Oberlin enllege. "good- 
bye to nil religions*" During these rears 
the Saints were, building up the city of 
Kirtland aud regions round about, which 
were not very distant from th f » home of 
the Snow family. This brought them In 
close contact with the fratter-day Saint*, 
riii one occasion while Journeying to 
Kirtland he fell into the company of El- 
der David W. Patten, who engaged him 
in conversation on relieious matters. The 
ideas advanced by Elder Patten were 
both reasonable and Scriptural, They 
made such a lasting aud favorable im- 
prest on upon tbe youthful snpker after 
Irntti, that he enn&tantlv meditated anon 
them until he became fullv convinced of 
the truth and embraced the Oosnol. Tn 
Kirtland he joined the Hebrew class 
cud applied bis mind closet? to the study. 
TTe became JntftiRfttely tcwirrintert with 
the Prophet Joneph Smith* and as his as- 
sociation increased, «o did hi^ love and 
admiration for the Pmnhet of Hod. Tn 
June, 1$flfi, he was baptized by Apostle 
John FL Bovitton. 

Upon joining the church be was filled 
with the desire to obtain a testimony fm- 
himself and while pom-Wing unon the 
promised witness, the adversary sought 
tf> darken his mind and weaken his faith, 
While in this framp of mind he retired to 
a secret place and songht the Lord in 
humble prayer. The following is n de- 
scription of the result , given In his own 
words: 

"T had no sooner opened my lips in an 
effort to pray than I heard a sound insr 
above my head like the rnstttng of silken 
robes; and immediately the Spirit of God 
descended upon me. completely envelop- 
ing my whole person, filling me from the 
crown of my bend to the soles of my 
feet, and oh, the Joyful hapniness I felt? 
No language can describe the almost In- 
stantaneous t mv si Hon from a dense 
cloud of sniritual darkness into a reful- 
gence of light and knowledge, as it wan 
at that time imparted to my understand- 
ing 

T received a nerfeet knowledge that 
Grwt lives, that loams Chris* is thn Son 
of God* and of the restoration of the 
ITnW Priesttn>od. nnd th* fullness of the 
Oo*p«l T Tt was a enr^dete bant ism— n 
tangible immersion in th** hca^nly pria 
Hple er element, the FToIy Oho^t; nnd 
even men* physical in rts effect* uoon 
every nsi-t of my system than the im- 
m^sion by water" 

President Lorenzo Snow is now S<* 



years of age, aud has been tine and ab- 
solutely undeviatinif from that testimony 
these siity-Iour years. He has traveled 
tens of thousands of miles in bearing 
witness of it. He has suffered privation, 
hardships, persecution, laid down his life 
in the Pacific OOean. aud by the power 
of God took it up again, suffered beads 
aud Imprisonment, yet through it all he 
bears the an me testimony given frfer 
sixty-four years ago. We ask, where 
does the Old or the New Testament pro- 
duce a witness whose testimony is 
stronger, worthy of more respect ur more 
incontrovertible than the testimony re- 
corded above given to the Prophet Lo- 
renzo Snow? This testimony will endure 
forever and be presented at the hitr of 
Jclmviih. :i wiliH-s.-J runinsi lh"M- -,, do 
have heard and rejected it, Subsequent 
to the dedication of the Kirtland Tem- 
ple, President tiuow attended meetings 
there with the Prophet of the Lord, nnd 
other leading men of the Cbureh. He 
enjoyed the rich outpouring of the Holy 
Spirit in thai sacred edifice. I Miring the 
trouble and apostaey in Kirtland, Elder 
Snow renin med faithful and true to the 
Prophet Joseph Smith. In the spring 
of 18^ 7 he performed his tirst mission, 
traveling in the stale of Ohio "without 
purse or script*" 

In the year 1833 the Snow family 
joined tbe Saints in Missouri, and there 
witnessed the scenes of mo hoc nicy en- 
acted hi that slate. From Missouri he 
went on his second mission, this time to 
Kentucky, Illiuuis and Missouri. While 
in Kentucky he learned of the expulsion 
of the Saints from Missouri, and walked 
■TOO miles to Kirtland, Ohio. The two 
winters following Elder *Snow was occu- 
pied ia Portage eouirty, Ohio, as a school 
teacher, in which profession he was very 

silo rswfuL 

In the taring of 1840 Elder Snow went 
*m n mission t0 England. It was prior 
to his mission in Englaud that President 
Snow had revealed unto him this glori- 
ous principle, ''As man now is, God once 
was: as God now is, man may he." 

This sublime truth was not then known 
to the Latter-day Saints, It had not 
been taught bv the Prophet, and Brother 
Snow wisely kept the matter to himself, 
except that he eonlided in his sister, 
Eliza B* SHOW and President B. 
Young. The latter also cautioned hi in 
not to coutlde the matter tn others, He 
presided over the London Conference; 
lies ides laboring in Ma neb ester, Liver- 
pool and Binnj ogham. Upon reluming 
1 1 oine in 1843 he was welcomed by the 
Prophet tloseph. Returning to Nauvuo, 
President \ oung informed Brother 
Snow that the doctrine he had iin-a* 
tioned concerning God and unm was 
ture. tbe Prophet Joseph Smith having 
taught it to the people. While in En- 
da ud President Snow became one of the 
Presidency of the British Mission. Un- 
til this time Elder Snow was unmarried, 
his iuiciicctiuil and spiritual pursuits 
having excluded from his mind to a very 
considerable degree the subject of mat- 
rimony. While on a brief mission to 
Ohio Klder Snow heard of The martyr- 
dom of pToseph and Hyruui Smith. Pre- 
vious to tbe I'rophet's death be taught 
Elder Snow tbe doctrine of celestial 
marriage, hi elm line a plurality of wives. 
He left with the exodus from Illi- 
nois, when the companies for emi- 
gration were orpin bed by President 
Young, and he became the Captain of 
Ten. At Mt. Piseah, n temporary rest- 
ing place for the Saints, Elder Snow 
was appointed to preside. Here he dis- 
tinguished himself as n leader by organ - 
king and planning to alleviate the suf- 
ferings of the people and to provide for 
their maintenance. He moved to Salt 
Lake Valley in the fsll of 1848. In his 
new location he wsis among the most in- 
dustrious and cheerful tn the perform :i nee 
of every labor ami duty Incidental to 
building rt eity in the desert, 

Early in 184fl be was en 1 ted to the 
Anostleship and was ordained n member 
of the Council of the Twelve Feb, 12, 
184Ji. As an Apostle of tbe Lord Pres- 
ident Lorenzo Snow has labored with 
ability and energy since bis ordination, 
covering a period of over half a century, 



and with his present vitality bids fair 
to continue his labois in mortality for 
several years to coaie; Lord, 'grant that 
he may. Notwithstanding the marked 
ability with which the Lord has endowed 
him, the wisdom and (efficiency wiiich 
have ever characterised his labors, his 
hrimility and meekness are such that on 
one occasion himself and the late Pres- 
ident Franklin D. Richards went to* Pres- 
ident Young and offered- to yield -their 
{daces in the Quorum of the Twelve, if 
le felt disposed to accent their resigna- 
tion and nil their positions with other 
men. Of course such a proposition was 
not accepted. At the October conference 
in 1849 President Snow was called on a 
mission to Italy. En route he visited 
London and Paris, arriving in Genoa on 
the 25th of June, 1850. Among the 
Catholics Elder Snow and companions 
made little progress, but in the Piedmont 
valley they labored with considerable 
success among the Protectant Waldenses. 
In the prosecution of missionary work 
Elder Snow issued a number of pamph- 
lets which were as widely circulated in 
their mission as circumstances would per- 
mit. The "Voice of Joseph," "The An- 
cient Gospel Restored/' and "The Only 
Way to be Saved" were written by El- 
der Snow. He caused the Book of Mor- 
mon to be translated into Italian and 
under his direction the Gosnel was sent 
to Switzerland, where good success at- 
tended the Elders, and since which time 
hundreds have been gathered from that 
land. President Snow was so thoroughly 
filled with the spirit of preaching the 
Gospel to all nations, that he planned for 
missions to eytend into Greece, Turkey, 
Russia and Malta: at the latter place 
many converts were made. He also Rent 
missionaries to Calcutta and Bombay, 
where branches of the church were or- 
ganized. At Malta, journeying eastward, 
he was released to return home, where 
he arrived Jnly 30, 1852. 

Tb<* following year he was elected to 
the Utah legislature, a position he occn- 
nied for twenty-nine years, ten of which 
he presided over the Council. 

In 1853 he was called by President 
Young to remove to Box Elder county, 
nnd locate fifty families there. He cheer- 
fully consented and for forty years made 
his home in Brignam City* where he has 
been the leading spirit, not only in spirit- 
ual matters, but in every laudable enter- 
prise looking to the development of the 
country and the growth of the people in 
every desirable way. He also presided 
for year* over the Box Elder stake of 
Zion. He organized the Brigham City 
Mercantile and Manufacturing associa- 
tion, under which several industries were 
brought into successful operation, such 
as a woolen mill, tannery, shoe factory, 
hat factory, sheen and cattle, herd, cheese 
factory, saw mills, tailor. furnitm*\ black 
smith, wagon and tin shops. The pro- 
ducts of these industries in 1875 amount- 
ed in value to $260,000. The enternrises 
were conducted as nearly as possible un- 
der the existing conditions in the spirit 
of the United Order. The country was 
unbroken, the resources undeveloned. and 
when these things are taken into ac- 
count it will he readily seen that the 
task was not an easy one. Although the 
organization became extinct, and the In- 
dustries ceased. President Snow fully 
demonstrated the faet that under a more 
perfect condition of the people spiritu- 
ally the United Order is an absolute pos- 
sibility. In 1*64 President Snow, with 
Elders Ezrs T. Benson. Jos. F. Smith 
and other Elders went on a brief bnsi- 
r»e«?R mission to the Sandwich Islands. 
While going to shore, the small boat 
carrying them wa« onosized and Presi- 
dent Snow we« thrown into the sea. 
When rescued he was to all appearances 
dead. The brethren exercised great faith 
and worked over him for more ♦"ban nn 
hour, when life came back to his body. 

He concluded his mission in the Island 
successfullv and returned to resume his 
labors in Zion. In 1872. he. with his sis- 
ter Eli7a "R. and other tourists, visited 
the land of Palestine nnd dedicated from 
the summit of Mt. OH vet the land for 
the gathering of Israel in the last days. 



THE SOUTHERN STAB. 



The interesting account of their visit will 
be found in their letters published in 
book form, entitled "The Palestine Tour- 
ist." Upon his return home President 
Snow was active in his calling, frequent- 
ly visiting the settlements of the Saints 
in company with President Brigham 
Young and other leading men. 

During the crusade against the Saints 
under the Edmunds-Tucker act, Presi- 
dent Snow personally suffered the" perse- 
cution incidental to those times. 

Under the segregation, process inaugu- 
rated by the Utah courts but afterward 
reversed by the United States supreme 
court, President Snow was convicted and 
sentenced to tine and imprisonment in the 
Utaii penitentiary. He served eleven 
months without a murmur or complaint. 
Before being sentenced he was offered 
his liberty jf he would do violence to his 
own conscience by making a certain 
promise. The following is his address 
to the court: 

Your honor, I wish to address this court 
kindly, respectfully, and especially without 

S'ving offense. During my trials, under 
ree indictments, the court has manifested 
courtesy and patience, and I trust your 



honor has still a- liberal supply, from which 
your prisoner at the bar indulges the hope 
that turner exercise of those happy quuli 



Ues may be anticipated. In the first place, 
the" court will please allow me to express 
my thanks and gratitude to my learned at- 
torneys for their able and zealous efforts 
in conducting my defense. 

In reference to the prosecuting attorney, 
Mr. Blerbower, I pardon him for his ungen- 
erous expressions, his apparent false color- 
ing, and seeming abuse. The entire lack of 
evidence in the case against me on which 
to argue, made that line of speech the only 
alternative in which to display his elo- 
quence; yet, In all his endeavors, he failed 
to cast more obloquy on me than was heaped 
upon our Savior. 

I stand in the presence of this court a 
loyal, free-born American cltisen; now, as 
ever, a true advocate of justice and liberty. 
"The land of the free and the home of the 
brave" has been the pride of my youth and 
the boast of my riper years. When abroad 
in foreign lands, laboring in the interest of 
humanity, I have pointed proudly to the 
land of my birth as an asylum for the op- 
pressed. 

I have ever felt to honor the laws and In- 
stitutions of my country, and, during the 
progress of my trials, whatever evidence has 
been Introduced has shown my Innocence. 
But, like ancient Apostles when arraigned 
In Pagan courts, and in the . presence of 
apostate Hebrew Judges, though Innocent, 
they were pronounced guilty. So, myself. 
an Apostle who bears witness by virtue of 
his calling and the revelations of God, that 
Jesus Uvea— that He Is the Son of God, 
though guiltless of crime, here in a Chris- 
tian court I have been convicted through 
the prejudice and popular sentiment of a so- 
called Christian nation. 

In ancient times the Jewish nation and 
the Roman empire stood versus the Apos- 
tles. Now, under an apostate Christianity, 
the United States of America stands versus 
Apostle Lorenzo Snow. 

inasmuch as frequent reference has been 
made to my Apostleship, by the prosecu- 
tion. It becomes proper for me to explain 
some essential qualifications of an Apostle. 

First, an Apostle must possess a divine 
knowledge, by revelation from God, that 
Jesus lives— that He is the Son of the living 
God. 

Secondly, he must be divinely authorized 
to promise the Holy Ghost; a divine prlncl- 

Ele that reveals the things of God, making 
nown His will and purposes, leading into 
all truth, and showing things to come, as 
declared by the Savior. 

Thirdly, he is commissioned by the power 
of God to administer the sacred ordinances 
of the Gospel, which are confirmed to each 
Individual by a divine testimony. Thou- 
sands of people now dwelling in these moun- 
tain vales, who received these ordinances 
through my administrations, are living wit- 
nesses of the truth of this statement. 

As an Apostle. I have visited many nations 
and kingdoms, bearing this testimony to all 
classes of people— to men In the highest offi- 
cial stations, among whom may be men- 
tioned a President of the French Republic. 
I Have also presented works embracing our 
faith and doctrines to Queen Victoria and 
the late Prince Albert, of England. 

Respecting the doctrine of plural or celes- 
tial marriage, to which the prosecution so 
often referred, it was revealed to me, and 
afterwards, in 1343, fully explained to me by 
Joseph Smith, the Prophet. 

I married my wives because God com- 
manded It. The ceremony,' which united us 



for time and eternity, was performed by a 
servant of God having authority. God being 
my helper, I would prefer to die a thousand 
deaths than renounce my wives and violate 
these sacred obligations. 

The prosecuting attorney was quite mis- 
taken in saying "the defendant, Mr. Snow, 
was the most scholarly and brightest light 
of the Apostles;" and eqmiNy wrung when 
pleading with the Jury to usr-^t liiiu und ine 
^'United States of America,' 1 In convicting 
Apostle Snow, and be "would predict that 
a hew revelation would soon follow, chang- 
ing the divine law of ccle»Llai uiarrlugo. 
Whatever fame Mr. Bierbowur nmy imve 
secured as a lawyer, he certainly will fail 
as a prophet. The severest prosecutions 
have never been followed by revelations 
changing a divine law, obedience to which 
brought Imprisonment or martyrdom. 

Though I go to prison, God will not change 
His law of celestial marriage. But the man, 
the people, the nation, that oppose and fight 
against this doctrine and the Church of CR>d. 
will be overthrown. 

Though the Presidency of the Church and 
the Twelve Apostles should suffer martyr- 
dom, there will remain over four thousand 
Seventies, all Apostles of the Son of God. 
and were these to be slain there still would 
remain many thousands of High Priests, 
and as many or more £Uders, all possessing 
the same authority to administer Gospel 
ordinances. 

In conclusion, I solemnly testify, in the 
name of Jesus, the so-called "Mormon 
Church" Is the Church of the .living God; 
established on the rock of revelation, 
against which "the gates of hell cannot pre- 
vail." 

Thanking your honor for your indulgence, 
I am now ready to receive my sentence. 

The following extract from a letter to 
his family, dated Salt Lake City, Feb. 
9th, 1887, 'speaks for itself: 

"Eleven months I had been Incarcerated 
within the walla of a gloomy prison! Imag- 
ine for yourselves, how like a dream It 
seemed, when, suddenly and unexpectedly 
the prison gates flew opei, and, clad in my 
striped convict suit, I was at once ushered 
into the presence of a multitude of warm- 
hearted friends, anxiously awaiting my ap- 
{tearance. O, what warm clasping and shak- 
ng of hands! What hearty greetings and 
expressions of congratulation! 

''Having gone the rounds of this animating 
introductory scene. I repaired to the tail- 
ors' department of the prison, and donned 
a new black broadcloth suit and "Richard 
was himself again." 

"Amid the soul-enlivening and heart- 
cheering gaze of my numerous friends, 1 
was conducted by Hon. F. S. Richards to a 
carriage and seated with my daughter, 
Ellsa S. D., my son, Al virus, and a son of 
Hon. F. S. Richards. 

"When we started for Salt Lake City, it 
was a matter of astonishment that so large 

? gathering should put in an appearance on 
he spur of the moment. Included In the 
number were Heber J. Grant and John W. 
Taylor, of the Quorum of Apostles; Hon. F. 
S. Richards and wife, Abraham H. Cannon, 
representing the seven Presidents of Seven- 
ties; John Nicholson and George C. Lam- 
bert, representing the Deseret News; Pres- 
ident W. Shurtliff. of the Weber Stake, and 
many others— ladles and gentlemen— noble 
men and women of God, of whose society I 
am justly proud." 

At the general conference April 7th, 
1889, Elder Lorenzo Snow was sustained 
ns President of the Twelve Apostles, 
which position he filled with distinction 
until he became President of the. Church 
(subsequent to the death of President 
Woodruff) Oct. 1, 1898. Soon after the 
dedication of the Salt Lake Temple in 
1893, President Snow was installed in it 
as President, which honored position he 
still holds. No more fitting appointment 
could possibly have been made. He had 
ever been interested in Temple work. 
He is spiritually minded to a very high 
degree, and with his heavenly counte- 
nance and sweet, gentle dignity, no one 
living was better, if so well, qualified 
to stand as the watchman at the door 
which opens between the living and the 
dead. 

When President Snow succeeded to 
the Presidency of the church, he said 
to his brethren: "I do not want this 
administration to be known as Lorenzo 
Snow's administration, but as God's in 
and through Lorenzo Snow." Being per 
sonally acquainted with President Snow 
and observing his course in Council, the 
writer can testify that he is careful not 
to act in matters for the benefit of the. 
church unless satisfied thnt he has the 



approval of the. Lord. President Snow 
chose for his counsellors President 'Geo. 
Q. Cannon and Jos. F. Smith, wfco have 
served faithfully in the same, relation- 
ship to Presidents Taylor and Woodruff. 
During the first and very foremost sub- 
jects of consideration with President 
Snow was how to relieve the church from 
the heavy burden of debt which has 
rested upon it since the confiscation of 
church nropeEty by the government. He 
issued church bonds and witfr iRoney bor- 
rowed almost .entirely from our awn peo- 
ple, liquidated the most pressing obliga- 
tions of the church. Soon after this he 
was,' impressed to- make a tour among 
the 'settlements of the Saints in southern 
Utah. While in St. George the Lord re- 
vealed to President Snow that the Saints 
must repenf of their indifference to the 
law of tithing, reform and do better or 
many blessings would "be witftdr^wn, and 
our enemies nave ..great power over us, 
but if the Latter-day Saints wonlfl do 
their duty in this regard the obligations 
of the church would be fully met, the 
land more thoroughly sanctified as a land 
of Zion, and the people prepared for the 
great redemption. 

President Snow and the brethren haye 
visited many states of S^on, and in f*U 



1899 was a year of tithe preaching and 
tithe paying. The spirit of obedience to 
this law has permeated every state of 



Zion and every land and dime where a 
mission is established, and fte Elders 
are found proclaiming the Gospel to the 
nations of the earth. With the advance- 
ment made as a result of this movement, 
it may be safely believed that the admin- 
istration of the Lord through President 
Snow will be one of the most remarkable 
the church has ever seen. President 
Snow is now prist 86 years of n%?. H? 
Htanda ereet, in active hi body nml brigh f 
in every faculty of his mind* A* m'u\ 
of Moses, "his natural force abates pot, 
neither doth his eye wax dim/' In re- 
viewing the history of hie life, we find 
Mm it bumble farmer's boy, a student at 
college, a ten eh or and a invsaionary in 
many lands, "without money and without 
price," a pioneer colonizer, a promoter 
and manager of financial ent cry Hues, n 
legislator nnd an Apostle of the Lord, 
a Prophet of God, truly a man who can 
sympathize with the people in all th* 
conditions of life, especially those com- 
mon to the experiences of a Later-dav 
Saint, thvw aptly fittiDg him by experi- 
ence, faith and the revelations o* God 
for the ftigh stfltfott he now occupies. 
Long lire our Prophet, to be a hlesahitf 
as in the past, to the hundreds of thou- 
sands of Latter-day Saints, and to all 
who know and respect hint apjonp the nn- 
tians. For those who know bim ritfht 
cannot but respect him as a man of &o&. 

Let me here quote the testimony from 
an intelligent man not of our faith, Rev. 
Dr, Prentis, n student of human nature, 
who ffives, unsolicited, the following peji 
sketch of President Snow: 

«*e Ace Wr WUwznw" 

"Nothing Is M ranger In ihls strange world 
of Inquiry and wonderment than the entitle 
power of the human heart to distil Itself 
through n ltd ntter Itself permanent I y In 
the human faee. Every face Is cither » 
prophecy or u history. !The tender grace 
of a baby's face commanding peace to the 
troubled waves of the mother's heart, Is 
but a prophecy of the conquered peace of 
a noble life upon which that warm heart 
univ hirer lean. The droop Of the school 
Bin's eyelash, the furrow of the student** 
brow, the compression of the youth's lips 
In the various trials of life, are all prom- 
lata to the puyslognonilst wf a tale that Is 
yet to be torn: hut npou the countenance of 
the ttBcd saint or sinner every line, every 
shiule, every tracing speaks unerringly of 
a hlstorv of Blorlous triumph or disss troiu 
defeat. Before the story Is told and the 
character completed, regularity of feature, 
line* of texture, und delicacy of coloring 
nmjr cover up from ear e less eyes the deadly 
work of sqi I ritual destruction Botng on be- 
neath the appearances; hut when these have 
fallen II kf forest, leaven In the autumn of 
life, and the hoar frost of winter whitens 
the head and furrows the smooth skin, the 
history of the life can no longer he hid. and 
men may read It as in an open book. By a 



<See page 200.) 



196 



THE" SOUTHERN STAB. 




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will be rejected. Write on one side of paper only 
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either eliminate or reject any communication sent in. 
Address Box xo» 

Saturday, May 19, 1900. 



ARTICLES OP FAITH 

OPTHB CHURCH OP JESUS CHRIST OP 
LATTER-DAY SAINTS. 



I. Wi b*li*T* in Uod Lb* Etwot 

HU VtCxlt-t, md in (he Holy OhwL 

1 Wa b*U*vt that on will tM 



Etaratl FiLhcf, tad I* Hi* 9 



t. We bell it* Uat DM will trt po.rJlab*d lot thai* an 
tla*. and lot for Adam*a IraaacroMlaa. 

I. Wi b*]i*f« (bat, ft rod (h lb* ataotftieot of Chriit, nil 
bud Mnd ■•y ¥4 ■•«•<, bi obedifliica I* th* U*i h4 ordi- 
Bftoc*f of too Gcnb*1. 

A. Wa b*Uar* that th* flr*t pdaeiplH and «rdlniDo*t of 
lb* Qoipo! ire : '[fit, Filth in the Lord Jema Ohriit ; aeavad. 
ft*p*atftS**i (bird. B*p(i(EB by imntertioa fftf th* rvminiaa 
*f iio»i foarth» U/ingaa. pf ilaoda ftrf Lb» Oif t of too Holy 

Ob»t 

I, Wb be tier* thai a man muit bo called of CFod, hj 
" prophecy, thd bj th* Uyiac on of hind*." be tfaoo* who if* 
In *otoarttj t U) preach tbo pjipoJ and adminlttor in th* ottli- 
gid«* tbtrW. 

Sh Wo brlitr* in tbtriam* orfooUotion tbnl «iltled ia 
tb* nrfattifo «J>arch— aameLj, Apoatlo*, t'rophel*, Puton^ 
T**eher*i KawpSftltU, *tt 

<T, W* b*Jk*vo Id [be pi ft of ton % nei, prophecy,' revelation, 
thkwvbfilior;, loiflrpntution of torj^t^ote. 

A. W o bo] m »e the Hi bla to bo tbe ward of Ood, « for w II 
l| translated oiTHrt]/ ; ¥• 1,1k b*]i*v* the Boo*: of Uormoa 
to bo lb* ward of God, 

J. V* bolJiTt till tbll God hi* re Veiled , a If that Ho dm 
■OW rtToo], iod »b belitT* tb>{ H* vill J*t •*»*■! raittj (real 
nnd inportaal thinga pertaining to to* Kincdar/i of G«T 

10. Web«lr*F»lr.tB«ljt*jBl;{Mth.rint j [>f Ittttl and (nth* 
ft*U-r*t)ob of too Tan TtlU* ; tbll Zioo will be boil I optim 
Ittt {IS* Aawn-icen | eonttMQt ; L(l*t Chfiet *(]l toifn penofr 

r veoB lb* **ttb, ud U+t Us* emti *lll be r*ot««d *»d 



i« it* p*ridi<i*t*J sltvr- 

W* £Uiro ih. pSVikp of i 
lin| m ihi diout** of onf i 



r Torahlplof AJmifbtj Ood 

_j dinlnte* or onr codk-jodco, <od allow all 

n «BJ« eririjogajet tHern waraoJp bow. wbnra, or wUl 

W n a»lto» i in b»J n( iobj*?! lo fcl p p, pretfdeoU, ru lire, 
[ iooboflriE. Iioaorbop BadiuBtaiolniib* Iit, 



t&*W* b*IE**t in b*inf beo««U tru*, (t**i*, beneeeleoi, 
virtuoofL and in dfiing good to »l| H*n ; indted, wo may tap 
tbel ** follow Lb* BdnomUcG of Pan 3, "Wo b*ltvf* nil Us it**, 
*■ bop* nil toinfl," W* bar* rodurod tnanj thinaa, and bop* 
'B bo a bl* to andoi* iJ i th I n*i. If the r* 1 1 1« jrtbl h« *i I 



if. or or aood fftporl nr prniaewoKhf » ** a*ab *fi*> Ibnan 



of God's work than Paul, the inspired 
apoetle. Yet he is only one of thousands 
who pretend to accept the Scriptures ; but 
when pinned down to cold facts, juggle, 
twist and wrest God's holy teachings to 
suit their own windy conjecture. This 
reverend gentleman is somewhat like the 
small boy who went into his father's 
blacksmith shop to make a little hoe. He 
pounded and worked with the iron until 
convinced he could not make a hoe, when 
he changed his plans and started to shape 
a knife. After much work he became 
very impatient Getting the iron red hot, 
he said: "I know what 1 can make, a 
'phizz,' " and suiting the action to the 
word, thrust the hot iron into the water. 
Some ministers* of this age start out to 
convert the people with their flowery talk, 
but seeing they cannot combat truth with 
their weapons of falsehood, they must do 
something, which usually ends in a 
"phizz." Inasmuch as .the glorious prin- 
ciple of Salvation for the dead has caused 
our preaching friend so much worry, oc- 
casioned by the lack of the spirit of God 
to enlighten him, we will for his and 
others' benefit refer to the words of God's 
anointed. For example, Christ (as re- 
corded in I. Peter iii. : 18-21) went and 
preached unto the spirits in prison ; which 
were some time disobedient, when once 
the long-suffering of God waited in the 
days of Noah." These spirits were held 
in subjection for disobedience, and two 
thousand years having passed, God saw 
fit to send His Son (who being put to 
death in the fiesh was quickened by the 
Spirit) to preach the only plan of salva- 
tion, which embraced the rejected truth — 
Baptism for the dead. "Every knee shall 
bow and every tongue confess," therefore 
we see the reason why God gave these 
spirits a chance to accept the grand mes- 
sage of eternal happiness. I. Peter, 4-6 
says: "For this cause was the Gospel 
preached also to them tnat are dead, that 
they might be judged according to men in 
the fiesh, but live according to God in the 
Spirit ;" showing very plainly that wheth- 
er the word be received in the flesh or in 

'the spirit, it will be the same unchange- 
able plan, as preached and taught by our 
Savior. The Scriptures in numerous 

: places teaches this sacred doctrine, which 
the world cannot understand, because 
they will not humble themselves; prefer- 
ring to crawl in through many different 
Sates under the guidance of false teachers, 
lut a miserable and sorrowful calamity 
awaits those who are being led by the 
blind leaders of the blind, who teach many 
lords, many faiths and many baptisms, 

!but reject the glorious principle of— Sal- 
vation for the dead. 






HAVE EVES, BUT SEK NOT. 



It is customary for ministers through- 
out the land to read a portion from the 
Bible before preaching their sermons. But 
recently a Methodist minister in South 
Carolina was called upon to deliver a 
funeral discourse, and selected for his 
reading I. Corinthians xv. He read along 
until the 29th verse was reached. "Else 
what shall they do which are baptized for 
the* dead, if the dead rise not at all? Why 
are they then baptized for the dead?" 
Continuing, he said: "This is the worst 
false doctrine that ever was preached. 
There are men (meaning the Elders) trav- 
eling about here preaching this kind of 
doctrine, and I want you to know that 
it is the worst that ever went abroad in 
the land." 

It seems that this self-appointed spir- 
itual adviser thinks himself a better judge 



RELIGIOUS LIBERTY. 

The Latter-day Saints have always 
been a people to recognize and uphold 
religious liberty without restraint from 
opposing sects; and the manifestations 
of their acts and labors prove beyond 
controversy, that they extend freedom to 
all, with intolerance for none. Shortly 
after the Church was organized in 1830, 
when the Proptet Joseph Smith was 
asked- to give an epitomized statement 
of the "Mormon Faith," as it is common- 
ly called, among other declarations of 
the religious convictions of the Latter- 
day Saints, he made the following asser- 
tion, which has ever been kept sacred 
and inviolate by this much despised peo- 
ple: "We claim the privilege of wor- 
shipping God Almighty according to the 
dictates of our conscience, and allow all 
men the same privilege, let them worship 
how, where, or what they may." 

This declaration breathes of the same 



spirit as that which actuated the noble 
defendei-8 of '76. Hear those sturdy, 
bold, faithful patriots in Congress as- 
sembled—stirred by the promptings of 
justice— filled with a spirit of love for 
their country, and freedom for its sires, 
affirm that "Congress shall make no law 
respecting an establishment of religion, 
or prohibiting the free exercise thereof. 
or abridging the freedom of speech, or 
of the press." Happy for the country, 
blest would be the Union, if that same 
spirit of freedom, and the same acknowl- 
edgments of religious liberty had de- 
scended to after years, that the people 
of the present day might enjoy its glo- 
rious privileges. Need we say that the 
country is full of religious intolerants 
today! Have we not seen these Phar- 
asaical zealots, blinded in their own ig- 
norance and bigotry, mantled in the flar- 
ing robe of usurped authority, placing 
daggers in the hands of the reckless and 
unthinking rabble, with which to ply 
upon the righteous, and God-fearing, be- 
cause they cannot force or persuade 
them to follow in their wake? Simply 
because we do not see alike, or believe as 
our Christian friends do, should this 
give them a license to abuse and perse- 
cute us? No! verily no! We accord to 
every man the privilege of worshipping 
and believing as his conscience may di- 
rect, and we look for a reciprocation of 
such treatment, especially from those 
who profess to be followers of the Lord 
Jesus. 

It is often argued by our opponents, 
that the Mormon people are seeking to 
gain power and authority in civil affairs 

' to the exclusion of all others not of their 
faith. This is not true— the power they 

i seek for, is the power of Almighty God, 
and the liberty they crave, is freedom to 
worship Him according to the dictates 
of their own conscience. The first Pres- 
ident of the Church of Jesus Christ in 
these last days— that faithful martyr who 
sealed his testimony with his life's blood 
that his testament may be of force to 
this generation, said: "The Saints can 
testify whether I am willing to lay down 
my life for my brethren. It has been 
demonstrated that I have been willing 

j to die for a Mormon.' I am bold to de- 
clare before heaven that I am just as 

i ready to die in defending a Presbyterian, 
a Baptist, or a good man of any other 

. denomination : for the same principle 
which would trample upon the rights of 
a Latter-day Saint would trample upon 
the rights of a Roman Catholic, or any 

| other denomination who may be unpop- 
ular and too weak to defend themselves." 
Hy the spirit of its leaders, one can very 
readily come to know and understand 
the motives of their adherents. This be- 

|ing true, certainly the leaders of "Mor- 

: monism" have been (judging from the 
above declarations and assertions) men 
who were broad-minded, liberal, pa- 
triotic, and willing to grant unto others 
the blessed privilege of believing and 
worshipping as they thought best We 
have no moral right to suppress, or con- 
trol othejrs in their religious views; for 

: it is a God-given legacy and agency be- 
stowed upon man, that each shall choose 
for themselves the goal they would ob- 
tain. Then let us not be so contracted 
with hide-bound bigotry as to endeavor 
to choke others out of existence simply 
because "they don't believe as we." 
Remember the Lord God is the Judge, 
and He will reward every man accord- 
ing to his works. 



Elders who have ordered alpaca suits 
and hats should send immediately to us 
their addresses, so we can forward 
goods. 



THE SOUTHERN STAB. 



197 



History of the Southern States Mission. 

(Continued from Page 185.) 

December, 1896 — Xhe results of labors 
done during 18JJ6 were most gratifying. 
The Elders as a general rule had little op- 
position and much encouragement. Dur- 
ing the year the missionary force increased 
to over 400. The number of baptisms 
nearly thribled those of the year previous, 
while friend making was phenomenally 
successful. The Elders as a body en : 
joyed good health and no deaths occurred 
in the mission. Our brethren manifested 
a prayerful, obedient, determined and 
sealous spirit; they met the opposing 
storms of prejudice with a full front, be 
coming victorious in nearly all their con- 
flicts for the cause of truth. 

This "Word of Wisdom" was carefully 
observed by the Elders, who also am their 
traveling absolutely without purse or 
scrip, since they were urged to do so by 
President Kimball early in the spring. 
While thus working the Lord endorsed 
the plan by providing them with all they 
have needed, making them wonderfully 
successful in their labQrs\ 

Not only did the mission grow stronger 
because, of the successful operations of 
the rules directing its prayers, but indi- 
viduals were correspondingly strength- 
ened; all was harmony, union and love. 

January, 1897. — With the passing of 
1896 the new born year of 1897 was ush- 
ered in. The junior month in the new 
year was auspicious in tameness with ref- 
erence to mob violence. Judging from the 
great number of books and tracts ordered, 
the Elders began the year fn earenst. 

Elder Daniel H. Thomas was appoint- 
ed to preside over the South Alabama 
Conference, succeeding Elder J. S. Geddes, 
released. Elder W. E. Rydalch being 
called to assist with the work at the of- 
fice, Elder Elias S. Woodruff was ap- 
pointed to preside in the i*est Virginia 
Conference. 

Regarding mob violence in the Middle 
Tennessee Conference, Elders A. L. Crilli- 
more and C. Collett reported a lively time 
in the north of Chester county. An 
armed mob called upon them one night 
and ordered them out of that neighbor- 
hood. 

On the 19th inst. twenty-four Elders 
arrived and were assigned to their fields 
of labor. 

February, J807. — During the month 
many of the Elders were somewhat hin- 
dered in their work by the great amount 
of sickness existing throughout the mis- 
sion. In many sections scarcely a family 
could be found free from sickness. The 
angel of death seemed extraordinarily 
busy, still the Elders enjoyed good health. 

About this time the newspapers all over 
the south were becoming friendly toward 
our people. Many of the editors seemed 
quite anxious to obtain reliable news re- 
garding our people and belief. Twenty 
Elders arrived during the month, and 
many releases were recorded. 

March, 1897 — The m<mth was stormy. 
From me almost incessant rains resulted 
high waters throughout nearly the entire 
south, in consequence of which the peo- 
ple, the poor especially, suffered intense- 
ly; while the Elders were greatly hin- 
dered in their work. In the Mississippi 
valley the water spread over an area of 
more than fifty miles. The poor farmers 
were driven from their homes, their food 
and stock were destroyed. The people 
were destitute of food and means to sus- 
tain life. Added to the horror of floods, 
a famine was raging in parts of Louisiana, 
where over 100,000 people were being 
supported out and out by the government, 
because of their poverty. 



Elders John Woodmansee and Thad- 
deus W. Naylor were called to the office 
to assist in the work. 

The plan of furnishing uniform writing 
material to the Elders was adopted, add- 
ing dignity to our correspondence, and was 
in pleasing harmony with our calling. On 
the 14th inst. a letter was received from 
the First Presidency of the Church stat- 
ing that inasmuch as the great work of 
the . Lord was increasing in the world 
they thought it to be in harmony with the 
interests of the church and Saints to 
make a few changes in the various mis- 
sions. They thought it well to add the 
states of Pennsylvania, West Virginia 
and Maryland to the Eastern States Mis- 
sion. But before making the change they 
desired to have the opinion of the different 
Mission Presidents. The change was 
made and Elders laboring in those states 
were instructed to remain and report in 
the Eastern States Mission. Elder Elias 
S. Woodruff continued his presidency over 
what was to be known as the East Ken- 
tucky Conference. 

(To be Continued.) 



Abstracts from Correspondence. 

Fatama, Ala. 
To the Star: 

With a desire to say a few words re- 
garding the Mormon people, I write you 
at this time. During the last four years 
I have been acquainted with them and 
their teaching. The first Elders to visit 
[our place were G. A. Reed and Ira Call. 
We always welcome these servants of 
i God, as they are so pure and noble. 
■ On the 6th of December Elders Reed 
and Johnson returned, and the day fol- 
lowing my father, sister, three cousins 
;and myself were baptized. May the good 
work of salvation continue until all the 
righteous are gathered into the fold of 
Christ. Your sister in Christ, 

Miss Lucy Henderson. 



Cattletown, Ky. 
Editor Star: 

Allow me but a small space to say a 
few words in behalf of the Latter-day 
Saints. It will be three years the 16th 
of last month since I was baptized, and 
1 can bear my testimony to the truth of 
the Gospel, and realize the beauty of 
being a member of the only true church. 
1 feel to thank my Heavenly Parent for 
the beautiful plan again restored to earth 
through Joseph Smith, whom I know 
was a true prophet. The message de- 
livered to me has carried me from dark- 
ness to a bright and glorious light. I 
have been blessed by the healing power 
of God; for at times 1 could not walk 
but through the prayers of His humble 
servants I was made whole. 

Mrs. M. A. Thompson. 



More Honors for Utah. 

Salt Lake Herald: 

Ann Arbor, Mich., May 11.— Alonzo B. 
Irvine, formerly of The Herald, won 
first ptace in the final cup debate to- 
night, winning Detroit's silver cap/ and 
championship of the university. Four so- 
cieties contested. In the preliminaries 
Mr. Irvinu won first place against sev- 
enty competitors in tne Webster soci- 
ety. In tne semi-finals his team won by 
a unanimous decision. In tonight's de- 
bate a unanimous decision was given. 

For several months until last fall, Mr. 
Irvine was a valued member of The Her- 
ald reportorial staff. Especially in the 
railroad offices was he well and favorably 
known. Mr. Irvine formerly resided at 
Logan. His wife is a daughter of Hon. 
George Q. Cannon. 

WTien Mr. Irvine went to Ann Arbor 
last fall to study law all his friends knew 
that he would give a good account of 
himself at the first opportunity, and he 
has not failed to fulfill their expectations. 



WISDOM. 

BY A ARROWSMITH. 

At this period of the world's history 
the children of men are aspiring after 
knowledge, wisdom and power, and from 
an intellectual worldly standpoint, this is 
preeminently a wise age. If we look into 
the past and consider the rise and. fall of 
nations, we find that invariably those na- 
tions have attained to great power and in- 
telligence after passing through scenes of 
blood and carnage. \Vhen they became 
wealthy, they became corrupt and effemi- 
nate, but were still in possession of great 
worldly knowledge, which gave them 
power. Continual corruption brought in- 
dolence and weakness, and finally the en- 
emy would come, besiege their cities and 
bring them into captivity and slavery. 
Then would be established another em- 
pire and it would rise and fail, passing 
through a similar experience to its prede- 
cessor, and so on. This has been the his- 
tory of the past, and we find, amid these 
corrupt governments, establisu«^ uy man, 
much worldly wisdom. 

Wisdom is defined by Webster as "the 
quality of being wise; knowledge and the 
capacity to make use of it." I like the 
definition given by Coleridge: "Common 
sense in an uncommon degree is what the 
world calls wisdom," and I uunk if the 
world were in possession of the common 
sense, which is knowledge, they would be 
wise. 

It was the lack of common sense which 
brought corruption and dissolution upon 
every nation in the past, and it is the 
lack of wisdom which brings death and 
destruction to both body and soul, na- 
tions and empires, at the present time. 

It is hard to define wisdom in all its 
phases, as many conmctions occur, as to 
what it is. A? or instance, some say it is 
soothing and good to smoke and chew to- 
bacco, and others say it is unwise; some 
will argue that whisley and beer are good 
for the body, wmle others contend they 
are hurtful and not good for the body; 
there are others who delight in drinking 
tea, coffee, cocoa and light stimulants, and 
will say they are beneficial and conducive 
to health and strength; but others who 
contend that these stimulants are also 
harmful, deleterious to health and a bane 
to the human family. 

In these last days the God of Heaven 
has revealed through the prophet Joseph 
Smith, some simple rules to health and 
strength ; making many promises to those 
who will obey this "word of wisdom." 

However, wisdom was necessary and 
good anciently ; let us look to the good old 
book, 'the Bible," and see now the an- 
cients lived. We read of Adam living un- 
til he was 930 years old; of Methuselah 
dying at the advanced age of 969, and 
many antedeluvians who approached the 
thousand year mark. Why was this? It 
is possible that environments have 
changed somewhat, but it is more likely 
that mankind has forgotten how to live. 
Hear the instructions of God in the be- 
ginning ; 

"Behold, I have given you every herb 
bearing seed, which is upon the face of 
j the earth, and every tree, in which 
is the fruit of a tree yielding 
seed; to you it shall be for meat." We 
find no account of the children of God 
using such baneful stimulants as tobacco, 
or wine, or of eating meat until after the 
Deluge; then God said: "i^very moving 
thing that liveth shall be meat for you ; 
even as the green herb have I given you 
all things. But flesh with the lite thereof, 
which is the blood thereof, shall ye not 
eat. And surely your blood of your lives 
will I require ; at the hand of every beast 



m 

SSHC9C9SS 



THB S0UTE9SN STAB. 



will I require it, anu at the hand of man/' 
Here we find the Father advising and 
counselling ills children in the use of 
tlesh meat. In the beginning He gave 
Adam laws and rules of life ; his children 
became muruerous an* Wicked and it had 
been deemed wise to destroy them from 
off the earth. it also appeared wise in 
uod to again instruct ins children how 
to live, and uius we find Him instruct- 
ing them not to neeoiessly take life, for 
the blood of every beast needlessly slam 
would oe required at the hanu of tnat 
man. The Hie of man was shortened, he 
commenced to eat tlesh and also drink 
wine; lie became savage and gluttonous 
and animals became wild and afraid 01 



In the beginning it was not so. God 
had pronounced everything good, and men 
and beast* lived in unity and peace. An- 
imals wejce not hunted, and subsisted 
wholly upon the bounties of nature ; the 
lion, lamb, tjger, bear, camel, leopard, 
deer, and even the untamable hyena, at 
that time would Jive on the grasses and 
herbs that abounded in that paradise of 
peace and harmony. 

After the days of Nimrod, the hunter, 
and the bloodthirsty Esau, ihe beasts ot 
the field were driven and hunted, becom- 
ing wild and at enmity with man, remain- 
ing in that condition up to the present 
time. 

It is God's design to have a pure peo 
pie on the earth ; men, whose tabernacles 
can be a fit abiding place for tue Holy 
Ghost, and to this end He has instituted 
this ..oid of Wisdom," in preparation 
for the dawn of the day of rest, when 
the earth shall again receive its paradis- 
ical glory., and the lion and ox eat straw 
together and the wotf and lamb ne down 
together. We will eventually do away 
with the eating of fleshy meats, which de- 
stroy the body, and will subsist, as in 
the beguwMug, entirely on herus, grain 
and fruit; them we shall live, as Asaiah 
says, to the age *f a tree and a man dying 
at the age of K*l yaars, will be consid- 
ered a -chjild. As knowledge increases, 
covering the earth as the waters cover the 
deep, we sbajl study the ingredients of the 
U?ee of ttf e which will be planted, and 
lasxn to eat its fruit and prepare its 
leaves, that the sick might he healed and 
the nangs of death alleviated. The curse 
will be taken off the earth and through 
the principles of Knowledge and wisdom, 
men will become immortal and no more 
suoject to sicxness and death* 

Ancient Israel, alter its. liberation from 
the bondage of JEQgypt, was in a position 
to become a pure and holy nation. God 
desired to give them His priesthood, His 
gospel and all His laws. He guided and 
protected them, sending His overshadow- 
ing cloud by day, and a pillar of tire by 
tight, fie spoke to them from Sinai and 
desired to meet with them, but the people 
trembled and were sore afraid, saying to 
Moses: "Speak thou with us, and we 
win hear; but let not God speak with us, 1 
lest we die." They fled to their tents, to 
hide themselves from the presence of God, 
they complained, and were dissatisfied 
with the higher laws of God ; they did not 
want the manna, the pure, angelic food 
which God had prepared, but lusted after 
fleshy meats, saying: "Who snail give 
us flesh to eat? We remember the fish, 
which we did eat in Egypt freely; * * 
* But now our soul is dried away ; there 
is nothing at all beside this manna, before 
our eyes." On account of their hard 
hearts and many complaints, God's anger 
was kindled against them, and He said: 
"Sanctify yourselves against tomorrow, 
and ye shall eat flesh; for ye have wept 
in the ears of the Lord, saying: Who 



shall give us flesh to eat? for it was well 
with us in Egypt; therefore the Lord will 
give you flesh, and ye shall eat. Ye shall 
not eat one day, nor two days, nor five 
days, neither ten days, nor twenty days; 
but even a whole month, until it come out 
at your, nostrils, and it be loatheaome 
unto you;" and God showered quails 
among them and they gorged tnemselves 
with flesh, which brought sickness and 
death in the camp, so that many thou- 
sands died. He also sent them the 'car- 
nal laws, as they were not prepared to 
receive His higher laws. 

The prophet Moses established an order 
amongst the Israelites called the Nazer- 
ites, which were restricted in their diet 
and who appear to have been filled with 
the Spirit of God. Of this number we 
will mention Samson, Samuel tjnd John 
the Baptist, who took vows of the Naser- 
ites. These men, with all the prophets, 
lived on the most meager diet, and con- 
fined themselves to an abstemious mode 
of living, -that the Spirit of God could en- 
lighten and strengthen them in their call- 
ings. Daniel, the wise, received similar 
instruction in his youth, and kept the 
word of wisdom. When taken captive by 
Nebuchadnezzar, who desired him as one 
of his captives, he pleaded with Ashpe- 
naz, who was the master of the king's ser- 
vants, not to give him wine and meat to 
nourish and beautify him, but supply him 
with pulse and water, as he did not wish 
to defile his body. The Hebrew princes, 
Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Asariah, 
lived on this simple diet of prepared grain 
and water, and became notorious for their 
beauty and wisdom. The wise men of 
Babylon could not compete with this 
youth, Daniel, who kept his body pure 
and holy. Being a fit receptacle for God's 
Holy Spirit, he was able to interpret 
dreams and withstand lions, and the vis- 
ions of* eternity were opened up to his 
understanding. 

After the carnal laws had been given 
Israel, God instructed them regarding 
clean and unclean animals, as contained 
in the eleventh chapter of Leviticus. 

Since that time the Jews have been 
strict observers of the Mosaic laws, and 
m many ways have preserved their health 
and identity as God's chosen people. They 
are very particular about eating meat, es- 
pecially looking with horror upon swine 
as an article of diet. We must agree 
with them in this regard, and the meats 
forbidden ancientl" have not improved 
any by age, and are therefore not good 
now. 

(To be concluded.) 



FrankHn'f Epitaph. 

The following is Benjamin Franklin's 
famous epitaph, written by himself about 
himself, and preserved as a literary cu- 
riosity: 

The Body 

of 

Benjamin Franklin, 

Printer, 

(Like the cover of an old book, 

Its contents torn out, 

And stript of its lettering and gilding) 

lies here; food for worms. 

Tet the work itself shall not be lost, 

For it will, as he believed, 

Appear once more, 

In a new 

And more beautiful edition, 

Corrected and amended 

by 

The Author. 



When I hear a young man spoken of 
as giving promise of high genius, the 
first question I ask about him is, always, 
"Does he work ?"— Ruskin. 



All the keys that unlock the way out 
of all difficulties hang at God's girdle. 



A PROPHECY THAT FAILEP, 

BY ELDRE JOSSPH fl. LINES. 

During the month of October, 1809, 
Carroll county, and especially that part 
of it lying in the immediate vicinity of 
Mitchell's Cross Roads, was considerably 
agitated by a public discussion between 
the Rev. W. W. Otey, a minister of the 
Campbellite church, and Elder Joseph H. 
Lines of the Church of Jesus Christ of 
Latter-day Saints. The discussion, which 
lasted four days and was attended by 
from two to three hundred people, was 
upon the subject: "Resolved, that Jo- 
seph Smith Was a Prophet of God and 
that the Book of Mormon is the Word 
of God." King James translation of the 
Bible was to nave been the standard; 
but the reverend divine, like many others 
of his class, refused to be bound by such 
a trifle as a solemn agreement, and: push- 
ing the Bible to one side, he made Sten- 
house's "Rocky Mountain Saints* and 
kindred publications the standard by 
which he tried to prove that the Mor- 
mons were an utterly depraved and vi- 
cious people. He succeeded only in con- 
vincing the intelligent and honest-hearted 
people who listened to his vile talk, of 
the utter rottenness of his own heart, 
and that, so far from being guided by 
the spirit of the Lord in his shameful 
and slanderous attack upon the Mormon 
people, he was prompted bv the spirit 
which emanates from beneath and is the 
very anti-Christ; the same spirit that 
hounded the Savior to his death and 
made His followers outcasts in the world. 
It was while the discussion was at its 
height that Rev. Otey rose up and in the 
majesty of his self -appointed calling, pre- 
dicted that Elder Lines would be so ut- 
terly annihilated that he would never 
again show his face in MitchoJl school 
house, or before any considerable number 
of people in Carroll county. The sequel 
shows that the reverend must have con- 
sulted his oracles in the wrong time of 
the moon. Last Thursday, the 3d inat., 
Elder Lines, accompanied by Elder Wal- 
ter F. Ostler, again set foot on Carroll 
county soil. The news of' their coming 
had preceded them, and Dr. B. M. Wil- 
kinson, a local Elder of the church, had 
made several appointments for them to 
preach, among the rest being one at 
Mitchell school house, and here, on Sun- 
day morning, Elder lines stood up in the 
presence or quite a large congregation, 
most of whom had been present at the 
debate, and again bore testimony to the 
truths of the Everlasting Gospel; thus 
giving ample proof that he was neither 
annihilated nor ashamed of the Gospel 
of Christ. We would advise Rev. Otey 
that hereafter when he makes a predic- 
tion concernoing Mormon Elders, to be 
sure he consults his oracles when the 
signs are right; while we would call the 
attention of the 'good people of Carroll 
county to the words of Christ: "Beware 
of false prophets." , 

Here, as elsewhere, the preaching of 
the true plan of salvation causes the, 
righteous to rejoice and the wicked to 
rage. Many of the honest in heart 
become earnest investigators, while the 
wicked, the narrow-minded and bigoted 
not only will not hear the message them- 
selves, but do all that lies in their power 
to keep others from hearing it Like the 
wicked, hypocritical Pharisees and law- 
yers whom Christ denounced, they will 
neither outer into the way of life them- 
selves, and those who would enter they 
hinder. The truthfulness of the above 
was well illustrated by an incident that 
happened in this neighborhood a few 
nights back. 

About a mile from Peck postoffice 
stands an antiquated and very much dil- 
apidated temple of learning called the 
Wm. L. Smith school house. For many 
months it has stood with door unlocked 
and has been freely used by preachers of 
various denominations. Young men have 
also been wont to congregate beneath its 
roof and engage in drunken revels, and 
even now its floor is stained with blood, 
the result of a drunken row. All this 



THE SOUTHBBN STAB. 



m 



called forth no protest from the worthy 
patrons of the school house. Some two 
weeks since Dr. Wilkinson made 
arrangements for Elders Lines and 
Ostler to hold a series of meet- 
ings there beginning Sunday night, May 
6; and though the fact of the Elders go- 
ing to preach there was widely circu- 
lated among the people, it called forth 
not a single protest against the use of 
the house. But after the first meeting 
it became evident that a few honest 
hearts were becoming interested in the 
doctrine. Then Satan raged, he mus- 
tered his forces, which, we are sorry to 
say, consisted of some of the so-called 
Christians of the neighborhood, and in 
solemn council they decreed that the 
Mormons should not preach any longer 
in that school house. The result was 
that when the Elders, accompanied by 
Dr. Wilkinson and C. W. Smith and fam- 
ily, who were kindly entertaining them, 
repaired to the sehool house Tuesday 
night they found it locked and the fol- 
lowing notice tacked on the door: 

Notice:— We, the undersigned patrons 
of the Wm. L« Smith school house, 
strictly forbid any further preaching in 
this house. We forbid the door being 
opened by anyone. This May 8, 1900. 

Signed, W. L. Smith, Isaac Smith. 

Sichard Phillips, S. A. Smith, L. C. 
Marshall, John H. Duncan, J. A. Mar- 
shall, J. W. Marshall, J. E. Marshall, 
Sam Matherly, S. G. Marshall, Thomas 
Phillips, Isaac Marshall, B. P. Marshall. 
Thus do these people in their blind and 
unreasoning unbelief shut up the King- 
dom of Heaven against themselves, and 
unwittingly bring to pass the saying of 
Christ: "They shall put you out of the 
synagogues. Nevertheless, they shall yet 
know that the Kingdom of God came 
nigh unto them." 



TdMc Etiquette 

It was Emerson who said he should 
prefer to sit at table with a perfectly 
mannered scoundrel than take his mean 
with the honestest man in the World 
who ate with his knife and made a gur- 
gling noise in taking his soup. 

Soup is considered of itself a proper 
beginning of the important meal of the 
day. 

Soup is served in plates, not bowls. 
The soup spoon is laid on the right of the 
plate. 

The soup plate should never be filled 
to the rim of the bowl part of the plat**. 

It is not allowable to ask for a second 
helping of soup. 

Soup is eaten with a tablespoon, not 
a dessert spoon, such as one is furnished 
with at some or the restaurants. 

In taking the soup up, dip the spoon 
from you in the plate; drink or eat it— 
for the proper term is in dispute — from 
the side next you, and never from the tip 
of the spoon. 

This is where the mustache misery sets 
in. 

For you may not take soup except 
from the side, and then you must do it 
without the noise or sound. A man with 
a mustache must use his napkin after 
each mouthful and remove all evidences 
of the liquid. 

Nothing is so vulgar • as the hissing 
sound which only an unrefined man or 
woman makes when partaking of a 
liquid. 

Of course one must not cool one's por- 
tion of soup by blowing on it. 

And beware of the temptation to tip 
the plate so as to catch the last spoonful. 

Soup is only intended as a preparation 
for the remainder of the>meal. 

Do not appear to regard it as the en- 
tire feast. 

In eating one should not bend the head 
for each mouthful, but sit erect. 



We rely more upon the actions of oth- 
ers for our happiness than upon the sun- 
shine of our own making. 



Success depends much on our own ef- 
forts. Vegetation don't do well unless 
you keep the weeds out. 



ON tHE BALMY flaWteUW. 

BY FRANK N. TYLflB. 
To the Star: 

When conference was held at Jackson- 
ville, Fla., last February,mysetf and com- 
panion were assigned to go into Suwanee 
cotmty to labor. There had been no El- 
ders in that county since the last mob- 
bing there, which took place three yearn 
ago. In forcible language the mfobbers 
had said if ever a "Mormon Elder" came 
into that county again, no light punish- 
ment would be their lot, but they would 
be lynched and would never live to teJl 
the tale. Upon our arrival in the county 
we found many kind friends. We dtd 
what good we could in the southern part, 
in the way of holding meetings and can- 
vassing. Public houses could not be ob- 
tained, so we preached wherever given 
a chance in private places. Several 
meetings were held m a store house 
cleared out especially for our use. Our 
meetings were attended by some who 
were investigating, others who seemed to 
care very little about our message, and 
to be sure we had some bitter enemies 
to battle against. We next went into 
the Beach settlement and tried to obtain 
public places to hold meetings, but the 
same cold reception greeted us. On 
fences, school houses and trees were post- 
ed notices warning the people not to 
take us in nor pive us anything to eat. 

The notices informed the people that 
the Book of Mormon was written by the 
Devil, warning all to shun it. The 
coward who posted the notices had not 
manhood enough to meet us, but like all 
evildoers did his acts behind our back. 
He. even boasted of being one of the 
mob who forced the Elders from the 
county, and said he was ready to help 
break our necks. We next made our 
way into a neighborhood where lived 
some Saints and held many good meet- 
ings. We baptized five members April 
14th and three on the 15th. 

The Saints of Levy and Lafayette 
counties decided to meet at Pine Bluff 
May 1st and have a picnic party and to 
have us preach unto them the message of 
salvation. 

About 10 o'clock on the 1st inst. we 
launched our boats on the breast of the 
Suwanee river and glided along its course 
making our way to the mighty ocean. 
When we had all arrived at the appoint- 
ed place, a count showed fifty present. 
We. held meeting. Elder Decker and my- 
self addressing those who had assembled. 
After meeting we gathered 'nearh the 
shade of a stately oak and ate of the 
food prepared by willing hands. We felt 
very grateful to God for the privilege of 
meeting with our friends, for the kind- 
ness shown us and the good spirit mani- 
fest. No matter how bitter people may 
be in a county, there are always friends 
raised up to care for the true and faith- 
ful Elder. Our hearts were gladdened 
to sing praises unto our Heavenly Father 
and especially did we rejoice when we 
led three honest souls into the water, 
baptizing them into the fold of our Sav- 
ior. We again held meeting in the af- 
ternoon. Elders Lavton and Tones doing 
the nreachmg. After meeting we en- 
gaged in a hearty handshake and wishing 
each other well, again launched our boats 
and went back to I*evy eountv: all feel- 
ing well, thanking God for His kindness 
unto us. 

The Oldest Coin on Earth, 

Salt Lake Herald. 

The ministers and scientific men of Salt 
Lake will have an opportunity next 
Thursday and Friday to see if they wish 
what is claimed to be the oldest coin on 
eirth. It is owned by Herman Gotts- 
chalk. a commercial traveler of Chicago, 
who will pass thron*rh Salt Lake at the 
time mentioned. The coin is a holy 
shekel of Jerusalem and is said to be of 
ihe Hipp of King Solomon. Its owner 
has it insured for $20,000 and has been 
offered a fortune for it more than once. 



Tnt PERSONALTY OF GOD. 

BY PHILIP MAYCOCK. 

In the ruthlessly frenzied and godless 
days of the Commune of Paris, a vener- 
able parish priest, more than 80 years 
old, was dragged before Raoul Rigaulr. 
the Prefect of Foiice in that bJdody time. 
The old man, following the ancient cus- 
tom, mildly addressed Rigault and as- 
sociates as "my children." Ki^ault, who 
was then about 27 years old, interrupted 
Wm brusquely, saving: "Citkfcen, you 
are not before children, but ro the pres- 
ence of a magistrate. What is your pro- 
fession?" "lam a servant of God," 
answered the cure. "Where does Me. 
live?" asked Rtgautt. "Everywhere," 
answered the old man. "Send this man 
to jail," was RigamVs reply, "attd issue 
a Warrant for the arrest of his master, 
one called God, who has no permanent 
ra»de&ce. und h in con sequence, con- 
trary to law, living in a perpetual state 
of vagabondage/* 

Hrferencp is made to this occurrence, 
not indeed to approve the irreverence of 
Rigault, nor in any way to sanction the 
scoffing of thai which In reality Is sacred, 
or fiven falsely held nacred by others: but 
rather to Instance how the inconsistent 
v)<*\vs of Reeturian Christianity necessar- 
ily subject th^ advoeutcfc to ridicule, arid 
also to give occasion for the statement 
of some views of the La tier-Day Saints 
on the subject of the Godhcnd* 

There are certain paste principles of 
mental activity, according to which nil 
minds at all times act— rubrics of knowl- 
edge, I believe Bnlrtwln calls fh^m 
On rhem the very fabric of knowledge 
we have constructed Is built. Thtagai 
eon :il to flie same thing are pijim! to each 
ollu-r; no two objects can occupy the same 
place at the same time; one object can- 
not occupy two places at the same time; 
property (quality) is a characteristic or 
mode of substance; that is, there is no 
property without substance: like begets 
like. These "first principles" of time and 
place and matter, I repeat, are the 
changeless laws of thought: and in no de- 
partment of research can they be evaded 
or avoided, except, perhaps, in sectarian 
discourses about God. Now when any 
dogma of science or religion calls on us 
to sacrifice these rebrics. we should reject 
it as not only improbable but impossible. 

Tne stndent of physics, unless in con- 
trast with his species, he has been furn- 
ished with a mind adapted for life in 
topsyturvydom, reduces all hi* knowl- 
edge of matter and force in the last an- 
alysis, to these fundamentals, ftut if 
that stndent of physics at the same time 
happens to be a student of theology in 
Andover or Drew, he will have to deny 
many of the basic rnfes for truth's sake 
he was before forced to support. A 
student of biology tells ns that like begets 
like— an elephant does not beget a croco- 
dile; but if he discourses about God In 
the orthodox manner, he disregards all 
such guiding lines as led him to the 
truth in other fields of study, and tells 
us that though God is our Father and 
Christ our brother, yet they have little 
in common With us, for We. are con- 
Htnfcted on a different plan and with dif- 
ferent elements. Paul, who declares that 
we are the otfspring, to the contrary not- 
withstanding. 

Now It is because the acceptance of the 
seeretarian doctrine of Deity demands the 
throwing away of reason and consisten- 
cy, of universally established principles, 
that we Latter-Day Saints protest against 
it. We demand that the principles on 
which in every other department of life 
but religion even our opponents have 
built the structure of science shall also 
be respected in theology. We ask only 
that teachers of theology be natural, be 
reasonable. 

Of course, let it not be understood that 
we, quack-like, pretend to explain every- 
thing in religion. We cannot hope to do 
so. But we do maintain that our relig- 
ious ideas shall not be in open, irrecon- 
cilable conflict with universal reason. To 
multitudinous nuestions we may proper- 
ly— we must indeed— say we do not know, 



200 



THE SOUTHERN STAR. 



REPORT OF MISSION CONFERENCES FOB WEEK ENDING APRIL 28 t 1900. 



PRESIDENT 



Heber S. OUson 

B. F. Pricw _ 

E. I* Fomeroy .„.„, 
W. I>. ttencJier...... 

A. C. St n>ng\ ++++ >>.... 

Geo, W. M kid more , 
«T. UrbnnAllred,.-*, 

J. If.EUwa.... . 

Sy 1 y este r Low , J r„ 

G.M, Porter,*,. 

W. W. MacKay„.„ 

J.N, Miller*.. 

W. H. Boyle., 

Don C, Be awn x 

L, H. Nebekor „..,„ 



CONFERENCE 



Chattanooga ..„. 

Virginia^ M 

Kentucky ■«■., 

East Tennessee 

Georgia .,♦♦»* 

North Alabama 

Florida J 

Mid. Teuneasee .. 
North Tarol Inn.,. 
Si in tli Carol! oa .. 

MisaisHippt.,, 

Kii.it Kentucky^. 

LoiiiBiaaa .„. 

Sou tli Alabama m 
North Kentucky 
OHIO . «♦, 



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Memphis Box 153„ 



«QI K. Bay g t« , J ackfjon v U Je 
Sparta, Box 40, 



(ioMsUnro. Box SH4. 

ItauuetLimllu. >„„....„ + ...„ 

Ac k i trni u n ♦ „ *** 

BftrbouraYilto.. „..,.„...„ 

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Briilgu UPwk-i-« ** 

Hatfdnd „ ....„,„ 

63(1 Bella S(„ Cincinnati. 



TttttllWUH'U 

Virginia 
Kentucky 
N. Carolina 
Georgia 
Tennessee 
Florida 
Ton now* 
N. Carolina 
Carolina 
M'fti.asJppi 
Kentucky 
Louisiana 
Florida 
Kentucky 
Ofeld 



for there are many facto of faith the 
understanding of which is beyond our 
earthly comprehension. But the accep- 
tance of such facts does not crush into 
chaos the entire framework of our minds. 
We may have directly to antagonize 
much of what has been received as sci- 
ence; we may find that the declarations 
of God are squarely against many of our 
cherished theories. In all such cases we 
can consistently yield our experience to 
our faith, since the former, being a body 
not of fundamental principles, but rather 
of uncertain deductions, is at the best in- 
secure, while faith founded on the un- 
equivocal word of God is sure. So in 
our zeal for consistency let us not pro- 
claim that we can explain everything, for 
in the absolute sense, we can explain 
nothing. There is just as much mystery 
in the falling of the apple as in the res- 
urrection. We know that the apple does 
fall, and that the resurrection will come 
to pass; but the vexatious why of the 
former like the how of the latter remains 
unanswered.. We call the force which 
produces the falling of the apple gravity: 
but let us not be so rash as to ask what 
gravity is, else with bowed acknowledg- 
ment of our ignorance we must confess 
that it is folly here even to attempt to 
be wise. 

So when we require a reasonable God, 
we do not mean one we can absolutely 
explain; we demand merely that in ac- 
cepting Him we shall not be called on 
to contradict our established modes of 
thought. 

I know our Christian friends are re- 
pelled by our factual demands. Thev 
tell us that God cannot be laid bare, with 
scalpel, nor caught in the focus of . a 
microscope. That we, too, believe. But 
when we refuse to clothe God with irre- 
concilable attributes, we do only what 
they themselves do when thev are true 
to their consistent selves. They recoil 
in horror from the picture of the heathen 
mother who sacrifices her darling child 
in furnace heat in order to delight the 
God whom she worships. They are re- 
pulsed by the acts of those pagan votar- 
ies who slash themselves, and perhaps 
exhaust their own life in order to please 
the object of their devotion. They can* 
not associate cruelty, diabolical ferocity 
with that being whom they and we say. is 
the embodiment of love. The Christian 
world is every day more and more break- 
ing with the old Calvin istic dogma that 
God sends one to heaven and ten to hell, 
irrespective of any merit or blame of 
theirs, all for His glory, because such 
lov«»les«*nes8 and caprice are incompatible 
with the justices and raerev which en- 
lightened souls link with His character. 
We ask only that the same consistency 
be maintained when God is considered 
with reference to time and place and 
matter that is maintained when love 
and mercy and justice are in question. 
Indeed, we believe that because this in- 
consistency has been insisted on. many 
an honest man he a preferred to hold to 
the sure rod of fundamental truth and 
comequentlv to remain an unbeliever. 

We worship a God of bodily parts and 
spiritual attributes. His person cannot 
be in more than one place at the same 



time, for He is a material being of limited 
form and definite proportions; indeed, 
man, in the strictest sense of the expres- 
sion, was made in His image. Christ, 
the Son of God, has the same physical 
and mental characteristics as His Father. 
The Father and the Son are distinct 
beings, the blending of their personali- 
ties and individualities being impossible, 
their oneness, as the seventeenth chapter 
of John says, is a oneness of will of 
purpose, of intelligence, of love. Their 
omnipresence is by virtue of their agen- 
cies, they themselves being able physi- 
cally to be in only one place at any 
given time. They are of the same species 
as we; or rather, we are of the same 
species as they. As Paul says, we are 
God's offspring. In short, the Latter- 
Day Saints' doctrine is that, inasmuch 
as man is in the image of God, his 
Father, and Christ, his Drother, he has 
all the essential physical and mental at- 
tributes of his great relatives. However, 
in man these attributes are yet immature 
or distorted in deveJopment, while in the 
Father and the Elder Brother they are in 
a state of perfection. 

The views of the Latter-Day Saints 
accord not only with reason, but also 
with Scripture, for on their acceptance 
all Scripture is explainable, whereas on 
the supposition of secretarian Christian- 
ity, the greater part of the sacred writ- 
ings cannot be explained. — Young Wom- 
an's Journal. 



Why Americans Win. 

Electrical Review. 

One of the many reasons why American 
manufacturers are so successfully com- 
peting in foreign markets is to be found 
in the following episode which occurred 
recently: An American manufacturer of 
steam specialties was visiting an Knglish 
firm which made similar goods. A cer- 
tain article which both firms made was 
under discussion. 

"What is your price on this thing?" 
asked the American. 

"Well, in your money, about $19," re- 
plied the Englishman. "What does it 
cost you?" 

"I'll deliver at your door all you want 
at $7 apiece," said the American. 

"How in the world do you do it?' 

"Well, I'll illustrate," answered the 
American. "Look out of that window and 
across the street. See that man painting 
a sign?" 

"Yes." 

"He's on a ladder, isn't he?" 

"Yes." 

"See that other man sitting on the side- 
walk holding the foot of the ladder?" 

"Yes." 

"Now, in America we have ladders that 
stand up by themselves— don't need a 
man to hold 'em. So, you see, in this 
instance we divide your cost of labor 
exactly by two." 

"I see," remarked the Englishman. 



Of all the animals which fly in the air, 
walk on, the ground, or swim in the sea, 
the most foolish is man.— Boileau. 



SKETCH OF PRESIDENT SNOW. 



(From page 10S.) 



subtle alchemy Intractable to human con- 
trol, the soul shines in the face, and the 
countenance is a monument of warning or 
a poem of benedictions. Whatever estimate 
men may place upon the claims of Jesus of 
Nazareth, His fiercest detractors have never 
challenged His perfect knowledge of what 
Wfia In man. To no one was this power of 
th> bouj to distil Itself into the lineaments 
of [he fiii.-e better known than to Him. Not 
to logical symmetry of doctrines, not to 
abMnut heauty of truths revealed, but to 
the II vine beings who had 'walked with 
Jeans, 1 did the great Physiognomist appear 
as the hi-st evidence of the power of the 
Gospel s>r peace. The face which speaks 
of a soul where reigns the Prince of Peace 
is kU bctt witness. Now and then in a life 
spent in the study of men, I have found 
"such a witness. Such was a face I saw to- 
day; sa w where and when I least expected 
It; saw it in a business office, where great 
affairs are transacted, where grave respon- 
sibilities are borne, and where serious trou- 
bles come. I had expected to find intellec- 
tuality, benevolence, dignity, composure and 
strength depicted upon the face of the Pres- 
ident of the Church of Jesus Christ of Lat- 
ter-day Saints; but when I was Introduced 
to President Lorenzo Snow, for a second I 
was startled to see the holiest face but one 
I had ever been privileged to look upon. 
His face was a power of peace; his pres- 
ence a benediction of pence. In the tran- 
quil depths of his eyes were not only the 
'home of silent prayer,' but the abode of 
spiritual strength. As he talked of the 
'more sure word of prophecy' and the cer- 
tainty of the hope which was his, and the 
abiding faith which had conquered the 
trials nnd difficulties of tragic life, I 
watched the play of emotions and studied 
with fascinated attention the subtle shades 
of expression which spoke so plainly the 
workings of his soul: and the strangest feel- 
ing stole over me, that I 'stood on .holy 
ground*/ that this man did not act from the 
commonplace motives of policy, Interest, or 
expediency, but he 'acted from a far-off cen- 
ter.' I am accustomed to stndy men's iaces, 
analyse every line and feature, dissect each 
expression, and note every emotion, but 1 
could not here. What would be the we of 
my recording the earnestness of the brow, 
the sweetness of the moat*, mad all my 
commonplace descriptive terms. The man 
Is not reducible to a r ii a ar y description. If 
the Mormon Church can produce such wit- 
nesses, It will need but little the pen of the 
ready writer or the eloquence of the great 
preacher." 

Releases and Appointments. 
Releases. 
J. A. Wright, Virginia Conference. 
W. P. Coleman, Ohio Conference. 
H. L. Doney, North Carolina Confer- 
ence. 
Wm. Ruesch, Kentucky Conference. 

Transfers, 
R. L. Jenson, Georgia to Ohio Confer- 



THE DEAD. 

Sister Drucilla Barksdale, who resided 
at Zachary, La., departed this life Dec. 

24, 1890. She was a faithful member 
of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter- 
day Saints, having been baptized July 

25, 1897. 




^gwx 



Vol. 2. 



Chattanooga, Txnn., Saturday, Mat 26, 1900. 



No. 26. 



MISSIONARY HYMN. 

BY ELDER R. W. SMITH. 

Tune— "Oh God, the Eternal Father/ 
To Thee, Our Heavenly Father, 

Our voices we will raise 
In songe of true devotion, 

Of thanksgiving and praise. 
We feel to ask Thy blessings, 

Upon us day by day, 
That we may ever follow 

The straight and narrow way. 

\>e love to serve Thee, Father, 

And teach Thy righteous laws; 
We're proud to be enlisted 

In such a noble cause. 
We know If we prove faithful, 

Thy glories we will share; 
Then help us, oh, our Father, 

Thy people to prepare. 

May we who are appointed 

The gospel to declare, 
Be guarded from all evil 

And every tempting snare. 
Grant us Thy Holy Spirit, 

To gplde our thoughts aright; 
Heio us to do Thy bidding 

vvlth all our mind and might. 

Though Satan's hosts may gather, 

Thy people to defame, 
We ne'er shall cease to serve Thee, 

And magnify Thy name. 
And when our work is finished, 

We then shall go to rest, 
And rise to live In glory 

Forever with the blest. 



OUR CONFERENCE PRESIDENTS. 



Elder A. C. Strong. 

When Elder T. H. Humphreys was 
released to return to the household of 
his friends, the home of his loved ones, 
and the bosom of the church, the respon- 
sibility of presiding over the North Ala- 
bama Conference fell upon the shoulders 
of Elder A. C. Strong, who hails from 
Salt Lake City, Utah. Like the major- 
ity of Conference Presidents, Elder 
Strong comes of good pioneer stock, his 
father, James T. Strong, having crossed 
the plains in '49, arriving in Salt Lake 
City in the winter of the same year. This 
good old sire took up his abode in the 
"Old Fort" on "Pioneer Square," where 
he resided until 1850, when he moved 
into the Tenth ward, where he still lives. 
Brother A. C. Strong was born in sunny 
May on the 80th day of the month, 1876. 

He attended the Salt Lake public 
schools until he was 17 years old, work- 
ing in the summer and going to school 
in the winter— graduating in his seven- 
teenth year. When 18 years old he en- 



tered the employ of the Pacific Express 
Company, remaining in their employ un- 
til he left to perform ministerial labors 
in the Southern States Mission. Twen- 
ty-two months of this time was spent in 
working nights, attending the Salt Lake 
Business College during the day. It 
was in the month of March, 1809, that 
our brother received a call to engage 
his time and talents in the service and 
work of the Lord. He responded to the 
call with a willing heart, and on Nov. 
20th, 1899, he arrived in Chattanooga 




ELDER A. C. STRONG, 
President of North \labama Conference. 



and was assigned to labor in the 
North Alabama Conference. He la- 
bored as a canvassing Elder until March 
29th, 1900, when he was called to labor 
in Memphis, Tenn. 

Brother Strong, like his predecessors, 
seems to possess the genuine material 
necessary to the making of an able Pres- 
ident. He has the love, faith, prayers 
and good will of all his associates, and 
we shall look for the work in the North 
Alabama Conference to maintain the 
good standing it has reached in times 
past. 



History of the Southern States Mission. 

(Continued from page 197.) 

March, 1897. 

There was but one case of mob vio- 
lence during the month. Elders D. A. 
Wilcox and J. H. Stander were about to 
till an appointment in Saluda county, S. 
C, when a mob of armed men came 
upon them, bearing guns and threatening 
them with violence. An attempt to rea- 
son with the lawless men was of no ben- 
efit By the interference of kind and 
watchful friends the brethren escaped 
without much damage being done. Shots 
fired fell short of their mark. 

The latter part of the month many 
Conference Presidents were honorably re- 
leased and other faithful men called to 
fill their places. General good health 
prevailed throughout the mission. Follow- 
ing is the report of work done for the 
quarter ending March 27th: Miles 
walked, 127,006; families visited, 57,989; 
families re-visited, 28,235; rejected testi- 
monies, 4,433; refused entertainment, 
3,483; tracts distributed, 77,632; dodgers 
distributed, 20,917; books sold, 1,842; 
books otherwise distributed, 4,632; meet- 
ings held, 12,977; Gospel conversatiosn, 
64,033; children blessed, 153; baptisms, 
204. 

April, 1897. 

Much good active work was done in the 
mission. Regarding the results of this 
month's work as an index to the future, 
the success was encouraging. Since Jan- 
uary the Florida Conference Elders bap- 
tized 104 souls, while in the South Ala- 
bama Conference 136 people were also 
brought into the fold of Christ. 

President Kimball took a business trip 
east, ordering a large quantity of 
shoes, Bibles, etc., doing this initiatory 
to keeping a commissary in the office, 
from which the Elders were to be sup- 
plied. From this beginning the commis- 
sary has ever been a friend to the breth- 
ren in the field. It was a wise step, and 
many Elders have enjoyed the benefits. 

The city of Baton Rouge, capital of 
Louisiana, was successfully canvassed by 
Elders James A. Cornwall and John 
Wood. Upon entering the city the Elders 
were denied by the mayor the privilege 
of canvassing, without first paying a 
license of $5 required by the city ordi- 
nance. Upon counsel of President Kim- 
ball they importuned the mayor seven 



202 



THE SOUTHERN STAB. 



times, when his honor granted their re- 
quest with a promise of protection. 

Mobile, Ala., was also worked without 
money, the Elders laboring there for 
nearly three months, and received a 
place of entertainmetn every night. Thir- 
ty-two meetings were held in one week. 

Elders George T. Wride and Charles 
L. Haight, through the blessings of the 
Lord, have forced a successful opening 
in Birmingham, Ala., the city in which 
Elders Campbell and Belnap were im- 
prisoned and banished from in May, 
1894, for preaching the Gospel and giv- 
ing away tracts. They stayed at the 
best hotels and met with no abuse nor 
neglect whatever, and traveled without 
purse or scrip. 

To disturb the quietude of the mission 
some little mobocracy was indulged in. 

In leaving from a meeting held in 
Crenshaw county, Alabama, Elders S. It. 
Brown and Charles R. Spencer were 
taken by a mob of masked and armed 
men into the woods, and after some ora- 
torical abuse and diabolical threats, a 
promise was forced from them to leave 
the county, when they were liberated 
with threats of death should they return. 
The affair was called to the attention of 
Gov. James F. Johnston, of Alabama, 
who immediately directed and accom 
plished the arrest and began the prose- 
cution of the guilty parties., assuring us 
the full protection of the laws of Ala- 
bama while he was in office. 

In Mississippi, Elders William N. 
Dye and C. H. Johnson were betrayed 
into the hands of a mob of five men, who 
leveled their guns upon them and made 
them throw up their hands, while the 
ruffians searched their persons and 
grips. Then ordering them, at the point 
of their guns, to march, drove them ten 
miles through the darkness and com- 
manded them to leave the county and to 
not come back on pain of death. 

A company of thirty-four Elders came 
during this month, which was the largest 
company up to this time in the history of 
the mission. 

(To be continued.) 



RELATIONSHIP OF THE BODY 

AND THE SPIRIT OF MAN. 

BY ELDER J. URBAN ALLRED. 

The professed Christian world believe 
generally that man is by nature a dual 
being, but entertain many vague miscon- 
ceptions as to the divinely ordained re- 
lationship which here and hereafter will 
exist between the body and the spirit 
of man. 

Mediaeval asceticism — the basic princi- 
ple of which was the subjugation of 
the body through vigorous mistreatment 
and oftimes abuse — was the outgrowth 
of an erroneous idea that the body must 
be regarded as an object of burden from 
which the spirit must be freed. 

A doctrine taught today akin to this, 
is the one once universally, but now less 
generally taught by modern Christendom, 
of a spiritual resurrection — a resurrec- 
tion of a spiritual, not a tangible body, 
a body that has no connection at all with 
the mortal life. It is highly essential to 
an understatnding of the full duties of 
man in this life, that he know something 
of his pre-existent state, and of his fu- 
ture existence or salvation, and the con- 
ditions upon which the same is predicat- 
ed. These broad subjects can be but re- 
ferred to in this short article, the pur- 
pose of which is to set forth briefly the 



proper relationship of the spirit and the 
body of man here in mortal life, and in 
an after-existence. Through the "fair 
of Adam came the mortality of man. 
That which is called the "fall" and which 
the world has been taught to lament so 
much, was not an accident (I. Timothy, 
2:14), but a divinely ordained means 
whereby the innumerable hosts of spir- 
its in the councils of heaven were to 
receives the greatest of all gifts— a mor- 
tal body. The body and spirit make 
man "a living soul." The two were to 
work in co-operation under the healthful 
opposition in all things characteristic of 
this life, for the salvation of the spirit 
with the body. 

Job tells us in his 38th chapter and 
first to eighth verses, of the rejoicing 
among "all the sons of God" at a time 
before the foundation of the world was 
laid, which joyous songs were, no doubt, 
the result of the anticipation of the form- 
ation of the earth upon which the spirits 
were to possess mortal bodies. 

In fulfilment of the divine purpose of 
Jehovah, all the spirits of heaven who 
did not forfeit, their first estate, and 
were not drawn down from heaven after 
the great dragon (Rev.XlI, 4th and 13th 
verses) have or will possess a mortal 
body. 

The body given to every spirit upon 
its advent into mortality was designed 
to be the eternal tabernacle of the spirit, 
and the means through which the spirit 
receives a knowledge of good and evil. 
Thus 8 ur rounded with laws of good and 
evil and possessing that which we call 
will power or free agency — the supreme 
faculty of the human mind — man is a 
free agent, responsible to his Creator for 
the transgression of his laws. Spirit and 
body are mutually dependent upon each 
other for development The body is life- 
less clay without the animation of the 
spirit; and the spirit is dependent for ed- 
ucation and salvation upon the body— the 
means through which it receives sensa- 
tions and through which the mandates 
of the mind are executed. 

The Latter-day Saints have been 
taught the essential interdependence and 
eternal mutuality of the spirit and the 
body of man; that the body, or what 
Paul calls the temple of God, was de- 
signed to be the eternal body of the 
spirit; to be restrained, developed and ed- 
ucated by the spirit, and prepared in this 
life for the abode of the Holy Spirit of 
God, and to abide in the presence of God 
in a future existence. 

The body is not to be tortured nor 
neglected by the spirit; neither was the 
spirit to be degraded by the domination 
of the passions of the body, which condi- 
tion leads to but one end — sensualism and 
vice. But a healthful co-operation in 
the mutual development of the spirit and 
body, in which the latter is in harmony 
with the former, and the spirit is in har- 
mony with the laws of God, is perfect 
and complete education, and will lead to 
the goal, "Be ye therefore perfect, even 
as your Father in heaven is perfect." 

No degree of development, education, 
or salvation can, however, be attained 
to but in one way, namely: First, by an 
acquaintance with, and secondly, by in- 
telligent obedience to, truth, which, the 
Savior said, would make us free. So that 
whatever degree of intelligence the 
spirit and body may attain to in this 
l ; fe, according to Latter-day revelation, 
that intelligence is not lost by death, 
but will rise with the individual in the 
resurrection. 

Through an infinite atonement of Him 
who said: "I am the resurrection and 
the life," the same quickening operation 
of the resurrection which called forth the 
mortal body of the Son of God from the 
sepnlcher, will also pass upon all man- 
kind, for "as in Adam all died, even so 
in Christ shall all be made alive." 

"But," say modern professors in Chris- 
tianity, "that means a spiritual resurrec- 
tion ;" and Paul's words to the effect that 
flesh and blood could not inherit the king- 



dom of heaven are recited as proof of 
this belief. But the Apostle Paul did 
not say that flesh and bone should not 
enter the kingdom of heaven; but plainly 
taught a literal resurrection of the nior 
tal body: to the Roman Saints he wrote: 
"Of the spirit of Him that raised up Je- 
sus from the dead dwell in you, He that 
raised up Christ from the dead shall 
also quicken your mortal bodies by His 
Spirit that dwelleth in you." . 

The resurrection of the Savior— our 
type and pattern in all things— was an 
actual, not a spiritual resurrection. It 
was the same body of flesh and bone of 
which He said after the resurrection: 
"Handle me, and see; for a spirit hath 
not flesh and bones as ye see me have;" 
and of which he told doubting Thomas 
to thrust his hands into the marks of 
the wounds received on Calvary. And 
finally, that there should be no doubt 
of the reality of his resurrection, we 
read of Christ with his immortal, or 
resurrected body, dining upon broiled 
fish and honeycomb with his disciples. 
His words to Mary at the tomb indi- 
cate his intention of presenting his newly 
resurrected body before his Father in 
heaven before He appeared* to His disci- 
ples. He said: "Touch me not; for L* 
am not yet ascended to my Father, but 

fo to my brethren and say unto them, 
ascend unto my Father and your 
Father; and to my God, and your God." 
John xx: 16,17. 

Later we read of his glorious ascension 
into heaven, while two heavenly beings 
declared to the astonished Galilaeans 
that this same Jesus which is taken up 
from you into heaven, shall so come in 
like manner as ye have seen Him go into 
heaven. 

If the resurrection of Christ, who is 
called the "first fruits of them that 
slept", was a reality; if his mortal body 
was literally resurrected from the tomb, 
and with that body of flesh and bone He 
entered into heaven and in like manner 
is again to come back to earm, then is 
it unreasonable to believe that we, like 
our Savior and great prototype, shall ex- 
perience a literal restoration of our mor- 
tal bodies to our spirits, even after that 
separation called death? And if the 
mortal body is resurrected from the 
grave and restored "bone to his bone" 
and joint to his joint, even so shall 
all the development and education as 
well as the evil effects of sin on the body 
indelibly inscribed therein by the laws of 
justice, rise with the body hi the resur- 
rection and be the means by which it 
will be "judged according to the deeds 
done in the body." If there is no resur- 
rection of the mortal body, then the res- 
urrection is not a reality but a delusion, 
for it is onlv to the mortal part of man 
to which the power of the resurrection 
applies. The spirit does pot die, and is 
therefore not resurrected. 

But the word of the Lord declares that 
before the restoration of all things, that 
there will be a restoration, through the 
resurrection, of what was lost by death, 
and, as Ezekiel prophesied to the house 
of Israel, the graves shall be opened; and 
the body thereof shall be restored "bone 
to his bone." Then shall the body and 
spirit be restored the one to the other 
in their proper order; and the body shall 
inherit a degree of glory for which it has 
been fitted through the exercise of man's 
free agency. 

The mortal body — the tabernacle of the 
spirit of man — endowed with divine fac- 
ulties, the masterpiece of the Architect 
of the universe, in whose image it was 
created; predestined to a literal resurrec- 
tion by which mortal Wood will be dis- 
placed by eternal spirit; designed by its 
Creator through obedience to law to 
abide the celestial laws of the kingdom 
of God, there to dwell eternally in the 
presence of God the Father and Jesus 
Christ the Son, and those who are joint 
heirs with Him in celestial glory! 

Blessed, indeed, is he who keeps his 
body — the temple of God— pure and und?- 
filed! "If any man defile the temple 
of God, him shall God destroy; for the 
temple of God is holy; which temple ye 
are. * 



THE SOUTHERN STAB. 



203 



WISDOM. 

BY A. ARROWSMITH. 
(Concluded from page 198.) 

In these last days, the God of heaven 
again speaks, in the year 1833. He re- 
veals to man a few things which are not 
good; the counsel is contained in Sec- 
tion 89, Doctrine and Covenants, and it 
is called the "word of wisdom." God 
says wine, strong drink, tobacco and 
hot drinks are not good for man; that 
meat should be used sparingly and that 
it would be pleasing to God not to use 
it at all. only in winter, cold or famine. 
He further says: "All grain is good for 
the food of man, as also the fruit of the 
vine, that which yieldeth fruit, whether 
in the ground or above the ground." Ac- 
companying the above, God promises all 
who will observe this "word of wisdom" 
that they shall have health and strength 
and great wisdom, "and shall run and 
not be weary, and shall walk and not 
faint"; also "that the destroying angel 
shall pass by them, as the children of 
Israel, and not slay them." 

In the light of the above revelation 
how many there are who disregard this 
kind advice from our Heavenly Father 
and deliberately eat strong meats and 
drink strong and stimulating drinks. 
Science and advanced thought in recent 
years comes forward and testify to the 
truth of the above revelation. Recently 
a man died in Turfcey at the advanced 
age of 130 who had subsisted, all his 
life, almost wholly upon barley, and it 
has been fully demonstrated that a high- 
er state of civilization and moral purity, 
strength and endurance, can be obtained 
byr living in harmony with the "word of 
wisdom." 

Meats excite the blood, engender dis- 
ease and shorten life. Such painful dis- 
eases as rheumatism have been attrib- 
uted to life, formed in the muscular tis- 
sue, engendered by eating meats con- 
taining trichina. These parasites and 
worms breed amazingly, filling the sys- 
tem with germs, causing disease and un 
timely death. The excessive eating of 
meat causes men to become vicious and 
brutal, indirectly instigating crime. It 
heats the blood, ruffles the temper, ex- 
cites animal passions and develops the 
brute in man. The American Indian has 
developed his savagery through flesh eat- 
ing, obtained in the chase. Their fore- 
fathers, the Lamanites, lost caste, be- 
came a dark and benighted people on ac- 
count of their wickedness and flesh eat- 
in«r propensities. 

The Hottentot and cannibal, the low- 
est races of men, who gorge themselves 
with meat, are mentally deficient. I 
have seen the savage who would thirst 
for blood, eat four and five pounds of 
raw flesh in one meal, their cutting teeth 
finely developed, more like tigers thnn 
men. Intellectuality does not follow in 
the wake of the excessive use of meat, 
but cannibalism, barbarism and the low- 
est state of humanity does. 

Let us abstain from too much meat, es- 
peciallv in the summer months, and we 
shall be much healthier and stroneer 
thereby, both spiritually, intellectually, 
morally and physically. 

Now a few lines on the great- 
est cursp under which this earth 
suffers— "King Alcohol." under th«» 
names of brandy, whisky, gin and 
rum, wines and beers in all their 
demoralizing phases. His Satanic Ma- 
iesty certainly never chose a more dev- 
ilish agent to destroy man, than strong 
drink; the influences of this power have 
been felt in all the world. From the 
early ages man has learned to distil 
Honor and its baneful results have b«*en 
felt by all nations. Murder, adultery, 
theft and crime of every description fol 
low the use of this most potent agent 
from hell. It will work upon man's pas- 
sions in an unnatural way, cansiner him 
to cry, to laugh, to act the fool, and will 
excite another to commit acts of violence 
and bestiality: while it brutalizes all. 
Whv will man, who has been niad<» to 
walk uprightly, in the image of his Crea- 



tor, so stoop and grovel in obeisance 
to the god "Bacchus as to lose his iden- 
tity, sinking among the lowest of brutes, 
lying in the gutter, a sot, a drunkard. 

Some years ago I was at a small island 
in the South Pacific called "Pitcairn." 
This isle was discovered and occupied 
by men who had been convicted of crime 
in Great Britain, and who had been 
shipped off as convicts to Van Dieman's 
land, the British convict station. They 
were en route on a vessel called "The 
Bounty." Mutinizing, they secured the 
ship and located on this small island, 
about two miles in circumference; a ver- 
itable paradise located far from civiliza- 
tion. Fmits in all their variety grew 
spontaneously in profusion. These men 
began to distil alcohol from the cocoa nut, 
ana drunkenness, crime and murder was 
the outcome. Seeing the result of their 
folly, they destroyed and burned the 
stills and established a government of 
peace and abstinence. When I was at 
the island in the year 1883, it had grown 
into a thrifty community, where peace, 
unity and love abounded. 

The demoralizing influence of these 
powerful stimulants are well known, and 
we also know that if we take the stim- 
ulus, alcohol, from any distilled drink, 
it destroys its insidious effects, and the 
beer, wine or liquor becomes slop, un- 
fit for consumption. It is therefore this 
distilled spirit, fermented from decayed 
vegetation, that we must avoid, be it in 
mild or strong drink. Alcohol as a bev 
erage is a body and soul destroyer and 
should be shunned as a viper. 

There are more powerful stimulants 
than spirituous liquors, such as opium, 
morphine, cocaine and other drugs, which 
destroy men's minds, make slaves, mur- 
derers, suicides, fill hell and make devils 
grin. 

How often do we see men and boys, 
yea, even women, who disgrace their 
sex. using tobacco; it is chewed, smoked 
and snuffed up the nostrils. God says it 
is not good for man. and the laws of na- 
ture, which are the laws of God, declare 
very forcibly that tobacco is not for 
the stomach. In acquiring this habit, 
the poor stomach rebels, nausea and a 
siege of vomitinar results, and nature 
cries, "Stop!" The willing dune and 
slave to this nasty, dirty practice, per- 
sists in using the filthy weed, until th«* 
stomach demands it: thus the habit is 
formed, which is unhealthy and debas- 
ing. 

There are many evils arising from the 
use of tobacco, one of the principal be- 
ing disordered digestive orsrans, or indi- 
gestion, heart disease and lung troubles. 
Over 90 per cent, of rejections of men en- 
listing for our late war with Spain, was 
caused through having weak heart*?, 
brought about by the use of cigarettes. 
Manv of these cigarettes are manufac- 
tured from a collection of refuse gath- 
ered from the garbage of cities, which 
is ground up. made saleable and fasci- 
nating by being mixed with opiates. 

I am personally acquainted with a 
young man who was a slave to this hall- 
it; it was killing him. but he could not 
resist it. Finally his spiritual duties 
enforced him to be the man, and forsake 
the habit. I saw him when his stomach 
would be craving for this unnatural stim- 
ulant, nnd he would tremble and quake 
like the asp. and like a hungry man he 
would seize a cigarette, inhale the smoke 
and gratify this unnatural desire. Fi- 
nally overcoming the habit, he became a 
healthy, stronsr man, gaining forty 
pounds in weight in a few months. 

The appetite for this pernicious and 
soul-destroying weed, is not confined to 
men alone: we find women and children 
sucking, chewing, snuffing and smoking 
tobacco. God says it is not good and 
we can readily understand that the ta- 
bernacle of a person addicted to the ii«?« 
of this poison is not fit as a receotnolo 
for the pure influence of the Holy Ghost. 
Nicotine js a terrible poison pud is th»» 
active principle of tobacco, which gives 
it that soothinsr nnd narcotic influence: 
it is a slow, insidious, but sure invader 
of happiness and health. 



Hot drinks, such as tea, coffee, cocoa 
and other stimulants, are not good for 
the body. They weaken the digestive 
organs and cause them to act unnaturally, 
accelerating the action of the heart and 
otherwise injuring humanity. 

The stimulating principle of tea is 
theine, a deadly poison and a powerful 
astringent; extracted, one drop, like nic- 
otine, will destroy life. It also contains 
tannin, causing the internal organs to 
become discolored, unnatural, like leath- 
er. It is said the best mountain tea is 
only obtained within a radius of 200 
miles of Hankow, China, situated on the 
river Yang-tsi-Kiang, and the best qual- 
ity sells as high as $100 per pound. It 
is common for the mandarin, or Chinese 
nobleman, to pay from $25 to $50 for 
a pound of tea, and I myself have been 
acquainted with Chinese who would not 
think of paying less than $5 per pound, 
and would then have it shipped direct 
from China, fearing adulteration. What- 
ever can the article be, which sells for 
25 and 50 cents a pound? The coolie, 
or poor laborer in the far east, gener- 
ally seep the tea leaf three or four times 
before it is thrown away and it is possi- 
ble that much of the stuff called tea, 
pressed and packed for shipment, coming 
to this country has been formerly used. 
Each leaf is fingered, and the tea is 
packed and pressed into chests by dirty, 
sweaty, dog-eating coolies. 

Coffee contains its caffeine, and other 
hot drinks contain their stimulus, and 
should be avoided. The coffee berry is 
very porous and before it obtains its 
beautiful gloss, is subjected to much 
adulteration. In fact, in this age of bril- 
liant thought and invention, men manu- 
facture eges and butter without the aid 
of cows and chickens; we get chalk in- 
stead of flour and our food is tampered 
with, and much adulterated to the detri- 
ment of health. 

I have written the above that we might 
act with wisdom and discretion, shun- 
ning all evil, and cleaving unto all good. 
We must learn to be clean nnd tidy in 
our habits. Tt is said that "cleanliness 
is next to Godliness." Let us. then, have 
clean bodies, inside and outside, and God 
will favor us more abundantly. Tf we 
will observe the above, we shall be 
blessed with health of body, mind and 
heart «ud the Holy Spirit will honor 
us with intelligence like Daniel, above 
our fellow-men. The timp is not far dis- 
tant when men again will learn the law** 
of life and health and live to the age of 
a tree. Let us. therefore, prepare our- 
selves for a celestial estate, learning lino 
upon lino and precept upon precept, that 
we might attain unto perfection, ab- 
s^aininc from all thinars deleterious to 
the health of the body and mind. 

Sowing Seeds. 

While reading the testimonies in the 
Star of those who have embraced the 
Gospel, and noting the way in which 
they generally come into possession of 
that priceless pearl, the thought came to 
me that few of the Elders fully realize 
the amount of good they are daily doing, 
by distributing tracts, preaching and con- 
versing upon the principles of the Gos- 
pel. As a general rule observation shows 
that one pair of Elders sows the seed, 
hoping some will fall on good 
ground, but seldom do they see the fruit* 
of their tabor while still in the field. But 
as they go from place to place they s«»e 
the fruits of the labors of those who 
have nreceded them in times past; thus 
beholding the good that others have done. 
Tt fills them with couraee to press on in 
the cause of truth, and do what is within 
their power for the spread of the Gospel, 
trustine that their efforts will be quite 
as fruitful as their predecessors'. By 
notincr the results of kind words and 
literature dropped here and there bv the 
servants of God in rw<*t times, fulfills the 
saying that "the bread which is cast upon 
the waters will return after many da^s." 

A. S. 



204 



THE SOUTHERN STAB. 




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Address Box 109 

Satubday, May 26, 1900. 



ARTICLES OF FAITH 

OP TUB CHURCH OP JESUS CHRIST OP 
LATTER-DAY SAINTS. 

1. WtboUoToioGodtUfeoroairothor.aodlaBUSow 
Jooao Chriot, sod ia tho BoJy Ghost. 

ft. Wo bollofo teat urn will be Deafened for tbdrm 
oJbo, sod sot for Adam's traaagrooiioB. 

ft. Wo boliovo teat, throogh tho atonomoot of Chriot,-all 
_ nay be savei, by obodieooo to tbo lawo aod ordi- 
^oof the Gospel. 

a. Wo bottevo that tho .rot priacf plot and ofdiaaaoio of 
Iho Gospel aro: First. Faith ia tho Lord Jooao Chriot; oseoad, 
Ropootaaoo; third, Baptism by immorsioa for tho romioakm 
of olao; fourth. Lay log on of Haads for tho Gift of tho Holy 

Is Wo b*liflT€ that tutu muit \m eattad of God, by ' 
** propbocy. *nd by tbo Jijiftg od of baj,d»," by t&oto who i» 
In inLbontjn io preach the ft* pel and adtmm*L*r in tb* ordi- 
OtlhrOt Ihtrvof. 

t, W« behflT* la tbtfiime orpnintion that fiitt*<1 fa 
Hit HioiEtifo ds&nfb— cnudy, Aprttlat, Prophab, I'latcn^ 
Teacher*. t>BDj(rlj'it*, ate- 

7. We b«ti«T« iti tha pvft of lonftis*, prophecy, rare-liUon, 
tiiJoni, I-ejilinc, i lUarprela Ljon of tongkitt, <(c 

L Vim betiete tbe Bible to b* the wofd at God, it far m ll 
fa LnmJaLed comwi]j ; wo SJH bfliOTO tbo Book of Herman 
la be the word of God, 

9. Wo b«ji4T* all Lbat God hta *tvttt*4. tit the! He done 
OdV iwrvm], »nd wabaiievf lh,e| Lie wtJI vat. reveal raanj (real 
»nd iflifwrltnl tbinfl f+fliihinU to tha klupdoEn of God. 

10. We bellate in Lhe literal fathering of ('rial aid lb Lbo 
rntoration of tbe Too Tribe* ; that Zioo will be buili upon 
thii (the American) continent ; Lhat 4/hnal will rtifO pef»D- 
al]j opob lhe iarth, and tbat tha earth rill be renewed and 
iKtiie iu paradiilacaj fforj. 

1L W* eliiib Ibe privilege of wnrthi j i ng Almifhly God 
«Dcordln| Ut I he dkiaita cl our tuniriauce, and allow all 
•aan tbo i*flje privilege, lei them wonhjp how, where, or whit 

li. Wo bolioTo ia bofof rabjoet to kioo, ptoddoato. ralaro, 

~d mafbtratos j la obeying, hoooring aad sottaiaiog tho low. 

taCwWo bolior- *- ••-'"- ----- --— --- ■— • --- 



wo bopo all thiofa," wo haro oodnrod many thioga, aod hope 
to bo ablo to oodoro all thiaga. If thoro it aoythlag virtooea, 
fjfroly, or of mod report or praiooworthy, wo oaoh after thoao 



fwroly, or of good report or 

•io«».-Joekpe smith. 



BB PUNCTUAL. 

"Do you realize you are late in report- 
ing ? M once remarked a general to one of 
his officers. "Yes, sir, my watch was 
slow," was the only excuse offered. 
"Either secure a new time-piece or I will 
get a new man," responded the com- 
mander. 

Men who succeed in life are those who 
are punctual to every promise made. 
But a few days ago a towerman em- 
ployed to signal trains went to sleep at 
his post of duty. The train came along 
at the appointed time, and the engineer, 
seeing the signal, passed on into the tun- 
nel, only to dash against another train. 

The trusted watchman had betrayed 
the confidence placed in him, he had 
gone to sleep without changing the 
signal. 

Because one man had failed to do his 
duty he had caused sorrow and misery 
to enter many homes. He had robbed 



loving wives, fond mothers and helpless 
children of the blessed care and protec- 
tion of fathers, sons, husbands and 
brothers. 

Many good friends have been made 
and their friendship retained, by Elders 
keeping their word; by being punctual to 
every promise made, with a fixed deter- 
mination to fill them in the face of any 
and all obstacles which might arise. It 
is indeed a pleasure to note the great 
amount of confidence placed in the El- 
ders by the people of the world. An El- 
der by breaking a promise may not do 
the damage done by the towerman, but 
he can wreck the confidence of friends 
and bring sorrow upon his co-laborers. 
Each promise kept to the very letter 
lays strong the foundation of friendship 
for the Elders coming after to build upon. 
We, as servants of God, are today labor- 
ing for the grandest cause known to 
man. We are endowed with God's Holy 
Priesthood and blessings, so let us not 
betray the trust placed in us; let us be 
men in very deed. If our lives are to be 
monuments of good deeds we cannot af- 
ford to weaken the trust placed in us by 
the people in whose society we mingle. 
God taught that His people were the 
salt of the earth, "but if the salt have 
lost his savor, wherewith shall it be 
salted?" "It is thenceforth good for 
nothing, but to be cast out and trodden 
under foot of men." "Ye are the light 
of the world." "A city that is set on an 
hill cannot be hid." (Matt. 5:13-16.) 
Men, shining lights in the world, have 
often through disregard of promises 
made, become but mere creatures. In- 
stead of being as a light set upon a hill, 
they become a dim smouldering coal, and 
having lost their savor are trodden under 
foot of men. Think well before making 
a promise, and then be punctual in keep- 
ing it. 

FRUITS OF RIGHTEOUSNESS. 



In writing to the twelve tribes scat- 
tered abroad, the Apostle James says: 
"But the wisdom that is from above is 
first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and 
easy to be entreated, full of mercy and 
good fruits, without partiality, and with- 
out hypocrisy." (James 3:17.) From 
this we learn that the wisdom that is 
from above is full of "good fruits, with- 
out partiality, and without hypocrisy." 
"Full of good fruits." What are the 
"fruits of righteousness" and the mani- 
festations of godliness? Are they not 
"pure, peaceable, gentle and easy to be 
entreated?" Certainly they are! In 
whom shall we expect to behold the man- 
ifestations of the "fruits of righteous- 
ness?" Those who profess to possess 
the Holy Spirit. And Why? Because 
the Apostle Paul says that "the fruit of 
the Spirit is love, joy, peace, long-suffer- 
ing, gentleness, goodness, faith, meek- 
ness." How shall we know when one 
is really in possession of the gift of the 
Holy Ghost? By observing their acts 
and deeds, their walk and their conver- 
sation. There is a certain, sure, and un- 
mistakable way by which we may know 
the disciples of the Master, from those 
of the adversary. Jesus has solved the 
problem, and answered the inquiry. "By 
these shall all men know that ye are 
mv disciples if ye have love one to an- 
other." (John 13:35.) 

Here then we have a decision upon the 
question which in and of itself is law and 
gospel unto all those who lay claim to be 
traversing that "straight and narrow 
way" which leadeth to Eternal Life. Do 
we love one another? Do we pray for 
our enemies, and invoke Heaven's bless- 
ings on those who despitef ully ill-treat 



us? Jesus has commanded us so to do; 
and He is our Glorified Head; our im- 
maculate Savior; our Divine Law-giver, 
and blessed Teacher. These are some of 
the "Fruits of Righteousness," and when 
one fails to exhibit these fruits, they say 
in language plain and true, "We have 
not the spirit of God; we are lacking the 
gift of the Holy Ghost." This is the 
only alternative; for had they the spirit 
of God it would bear its righteous, peace- 
able fruits; otherwise it would be a use- 
less guide, and a miserable comforter 
indeed. But no! God forbid! It has not 
lost its fruits, its gifts, or its graces. 
'Twill do the same for those who pos- 
sess it today, as it did in days of old. 
Yes! it will cause the happy and favored 
possessor to forgive his enemies; to re- 
turn good for evil; to bless and not 
curse, and to exercise love without dis- 
simulation. Not a feigned and partial 
love, but a fervent and holy love, which 
endureth and. lasteth forever, and is min- 
istered to both friend and foe. 

If there is one hymn more than any 
other which touches the heart and thrills 
the soul of the Christian in the "Sunny 
South," it is that one which is invaria- 
bly sung in their "revivals" and pro- 
tracted "camp meetings," known as "The 
old time religion." AH "Mormon El- 
ders" like this dear old hymn, for they 
can sing it with a consciousness and a 
joy, knowing that they have the "Old 
time religion" to preach and declare 
unto the people. The last verse of this 
sacred song says, "Makes me love every- 
body;" and it is an eternal truth that 
the "old time religion"— the Gospel of 
Jesus Christ — will make us "love every- 
body." Love is one of the fruits of 
righteousness, an attribute of God, for 
John says, "God is love." Now, dear 
Christians, how can you consistently sing 
"Makes me love everybody," and at the 
same time despise, ridicule, persecute, 
and malign those of our brethren who 
labor among you and admonish you to 
yield obedience to the Gospel, for Christ's 
sake and your own eternal glory? You 
cannot be sincere and practice such hy- 
pocrisy. We say hypocrisy, because it 
is hypocrisy. When a person sings one 
thing aijd deliberately practices another, 
can you apply any other term than the 
title we have given? We do not judge 
anyone, but we know them by their 
"fruits." All we ask of you is a fair and 
impartial hearing; we crave an audience, 
and invite the intelligent and learned to 
come and compose that congregation. 

Remember the words of Jesus, "By 
their fruits ye shall know them," and let 
your acts abound in righteousness, peace 
and good will. James, the Apostle, says, 
"The frir.t of righteousness is sown in 
peace of them that make peace." So order 
your lives, and fashion your deeds, that 
you can conscientiously stop that good 
old time religion hymn, "Makes me love 
everybody." 



No unhallowed hand can stop the 
work of God from progressing. Perse- 
cution may rage, mobs may combine, ar- 
mies may assemble, calumny may de- 
fame: but the truth of God will go forth 
boldly, nobly and independently, until it 
has penetrated every continent, visited 
every clime, swept every country and 
sounded in every ear: till the purposes of 
God shall be accomplished and the Great 
Jehovah shall say the work is done.— Jo- 
seph Smith. 



The bound volumes of the Star, of 
which there are but few remaining, are 
going rapidly. We remind our subscrib- 
ers of this fact because we desire that 
they, especially, should be considered 



THE SOUTHERN STAB. 



205 



first. We hope that those of you who 
wish to add this neat and valuable little 
volume of fifty-two numbers of the Star 
to your libraries will be prompt in send- 
ing in your orders, before our limited sup- 
ply is exhausted. The price is $1.75, 
postpaid. Send today and receive by 
return mail a book that will please and 
interest you, and never cause you to re- 
gret the amount paid for it. 



Abstracts from Correspondence. 

Jamestown, Tenn. 
Editor Souther Star. 

In the following you will find recorded 
an instance of God's power made mani- 
fest through His servants. May the 20th. 
1808, while Elder Wheeler and myself 
were canvassing in Moore county, Ten- 
nessee, towards the close of day we 
called on a Mr. Deal. He treated us very 
kindly and asked us to remain over night 
with him. We gladly accepted his invi- 
tation and were soon engaged in conver- 
sation. Within this habitation the daugh- 
ter of Mr. Deal lay very sick with fever. 
She was very nervous and continued to 
remark that she dreaded the coming of 
night, as it seemed so long to her. We 
felt it our duty to explain the principles 
of the Gospel, with the gifts and bles- 
sings enjoyed by the Latter-day Saints. 
We stated we were authorized servants 
of God and by the anointing with oil 
accompanied by faith and prayers the 
sick were healed. We referred to James 
5: 14, 15, whereupon she requested ns 
to administer to her, having faith she 
could be healed. After retiring and mak- 
ing it a matter of prayer, we returned 
and administered to her. She at oner- 
went to sleep and rested peaceably until 
the next morning. We asked her how 
she felt. Her answer was, she felt as 
well as she ever did. We told her to 
Hve all praise, honor and glory to her 
Father in Heaven. This is not the only 
r*ase of a similar nature since my arrival 
in the mission field. I have seen God's 
power made manifest on many occasions. 
As servants of God we testify to all man- 
Mud that Christ's promises as recorded 
in Mark xvi: 17, 18. have been verified 
unto true believers in our days as in 
times past. 

Your brother in the Gospel. 

L. R. Jensen. 



K'Htnr of The Star. 

Being a member of the Church of Jesus 
Christ of "Latter-day Saints. I desire to 
bear mv testimony. I have been a mem- 
ber of the Church for two years and have 
tried to live up to every commandment 
crivon of God. I desire to gain for my- 
self an exaltation and know the way to 
voppas is in following the teachings of 
f 1 hn«t. revealed in this day and age. 
Renting that there is a straight path 
which leadeth to life eternal, and a broad 
wnv which leads to destruction, my de- 
yiro i« that I may do right. If a man 
p-otn the whole world and lose his own 
soul, his life has been a failure. Evpr 
pray'nc for the welfare of all truth seek- 
ers, T am, Your brother. 

C. H. Linch. 



Largest American Ra g. 

Washington, May 14.— Ferdinand W. 
Peek. United States commissioner-jren- 
ornl to the Paris exnostion, recently re- 
o nested the loan of the large flag which 
hnnjrs in the pension office. It was the 
intention, he said, to float it on the Eif- 
fel tower on the Fourth of July. Secre- 
tary Hitchcock has decided to grant the 
request. This is the lanrest American 
flae in the world, measuring 20 by 50 
feet. 



The flag in the pension office Is not the 
largest American flag. The one which 
was spread across the Mormon Temnle 
in Salt Lake at the Jubilee, July 24 
1807, and which is still preserved, is CO 
by 120 feet. 



NORTH CAROLINA CONFERENCE. 

After six months of faithful labor and 
remarkable success, the Elders of the 
North Oarolina conference met in the 
city of Goiusboro, May 5 and 6, for the 
purpose of holding conference. They all 
came in enjoying the spirit to a remarka- 
ble degree, though somewhat disappointed 
in not meeting President Rich from the 
office. The Elders were pleased to meet 
together and hail their belover president 
and his counselors with a hearty hand- 
shake. There was but little opposition 
manifested by the people of Goldsboro. 
though they were completely wrapped 
up in the cloak of prejudice; treating 
the Elders with silent contempt. A con- 
vention hall was secured for the purpose 
of holding conference, and the town was 
duly notified, but instead of coming out 
and hearing the servants of God proclaim 
the truth, they held extra meetings in 
order to keep the people from attending 
the Mormon services. About 200 Saints 
and friends from the surrounding neigh- 
borhoods came in, and, though our at- 
tendance was comparetively small, the 
conference was a decided success. 

Saturday night the Elders were called 
together in counsel meeting where they 
received much valuable counsel and in- 
struction from their president and coun- 
selors. A short meeting was held and 
each Elder bore a faithful testimony, 
expressing his joy of being worthy to be 
called a deluded Mormon of whom the 
world so hates. 

Saturday morning at 10 o'clock, public 
service began. President Haws presid- 
ing. Elder John Bailey was in charge of 
the singing, which was rendered with 
marked ability. Meeting commenced by 
singing "Now Let Us Rejoice." etc. 
Prayer was offered by Elder Gordon. 
Continued by singing "Do What Is 
Right." 

President Haws made the opening re- 
marks. He welcomed those present and 
extended an invitation to all to come and 
hear the so-called Mormon doctrine ex- 
plained from a Mormon standpoint. He 
spoke of the religious freedom that is 
granted to every son and daughter of 
this grand republic, and believed that 
all men should have the privilege of 
worshiping God according to the dictates 
of their own conscience. Said no people 
on earth believed and preached the Gos- 
pel as literally as did the Latter-Day 
Saints. The mission of the Elders 
was not to deceive, but to exalt 
all mankind. Elder James S. Blake 
spoke upon the restoration of the Gos- 
pel. He said if any present had come 
seeking for truth with a sincere heart, 
they would receive a testimony of the 
truthfulness of the Gospel taught by the 
Mormon Elders. He knew of no reason 
why the people of today could not enjoy 
the gifts and blessings of God as did the 
ancient Saints, if thev would only obey 
the true plan. Elder F. A. Gay spoke at 
some length upon the Gospel being 
preached in all the world for a witness 
unto all nations before the end should 
come. 

Elder Joseph P. Bischoff explained the 
dutv of all mankind in regard to their 
individual salvation. Tf the laws and 
commandments given by the Lord were 
disobeyed it would prove eternal damna- 
tion to the soul of man. while if they 
were observed it would prove eternal 
salvation to them. Service* were closed 
bv singing "Praise to the Man." Bene- 
diction by Elder Robert S. Hontz. 

Evening services were conducted by 
Elder Joseph P. Bischoff. Sinirfng— 
"What Was Witnesesd in the Heavens." 

Elder Robert TToutz was the first 
sneaker. He said he rejoiced in having 
the privilege of raising his voice in de- 
fense of the truth, speakinc at some 
length upon the principle of faith, show- 
ing that with out true and implicit faith 
in God it would be impossible to be 
saved in the kingdom of God. and where- 
evcr true faith has existed among the 
children of men it has always been ac- 
companied by prophecy and revelation. 

He bore a faithful testimony that the 



gospel had been restored, and that the 
gifts and blessings are enjoyed as they 
were anciently. 

Elder Henry Sullivan, a local Elder, 
addressed the congregation. He spoke 
upon the necessity of obedience to the 
Gospel in order to gain salvation. Elders 
Bailey and Palmer then sang "Zion Pros- 
pers, All Is WelL" with much effect. 

Elder James N. Gonnell spo&c upon the 
divine authority man must be endowed 
with to enable him to preach the Gospel. 
Services were closed by singing. "The 
Spirit of God Like a Fire is Burning." 
Benediction by Elder I. B. Evans. 

Night services were commenced at 8 
o'clock. President J. M. Haws in charge. 
Singing "Glorious things are Sung of 
Zion." Prayer by President J. M. Haws. 
Singing. "Softly Beams the Sacred 
Dawning." Elder I. H. Rogers compared 
the doctrines taught by John, the Baptist, 
the Savior, the Apostles and the Latter- 
Day Saints, showing that they all agreed 
in every principle. 

Elder W. W. Butler said that mankind 
generally preferred to walk in darkness 
rather than seek a light to be guided by. 
He told of the unjust prejudice that con- 
fronts the Mormon Elders. The meet- 
ing closed by singing the Doxology; Bene- 
diction by Elder J. W. Richins. 

Sunday morning af 10 o'clock the ser- 
vices commenced by singing "O. Ye 
Mountains High," prayer by Elder 0. E. 
Jones. Singing "When Shall We meet 
Thee." 

Elder Jesse W. Richins was the first 
speaker. He said the world has not the 
spirit of God, consequetly they cannot 
understand the things of God. The spirit 
of God will not always strive with man. 
The principle of repentence was dwelt 
upon, showing in a clear way the differ- 
ence between worldly and godly repent- 
ance, condemnation following the former, 
while salvation follows the latter. Elders 
Bailey and Palmer sang: "Hark the 
Song of Jubilee." Elder J. P. Bischoff 
said that when he looked back to the an- 
cient days, when those good men were 
persecuted' and reviled for delivering the 
message, they were taught to preach, it 
reminded him of the present day when 
ridicule, sneers and jeers are heaped 
upon the servapts and messengers of God. 
He instructed the Saints in their duties, 
exortinir them to more diligence, in living 
up to the laws of God. Closing song: 
"Ye, Who Are Galled to Labor," Benedic- 
tion by Elder George E. Cook. 

Evening services convened at 2 p. m.. 
opened by singing "Ye Elders of Israel," 
prayer by Elder Edward Samuelson; 
singing, "Now Let Us Rejoice." Elder 
Gilbert M. Williams spoke of the preju- 
dice that exists in this country against 
the Mormon faith; of how the "so-called 
Christian ministers" and newspapers sat- 
isfy the demands of sensationalism while 
they cover up their own wicked deeds un- 
der the cloak of religion. All men will be 
judcred according to their works. 

Elder John Bailey spoke of the per- 
sonalis of God, proving from the scrip- 
tures the God of the heavens is a being 
with body parts and passions, and not a 
mere spirit as is generally believed. Pres- 
ident J. M. Haws made some timely re- 
marks. He spoke of the great sacrifice 
the Mormon Elders were making in order 
to publish the Gospel to the inhabit* nts 
of the # earth. He encouraged the Saints 
in their duties, exorting them to set ex- 
emplary lives and show to the world that 
they have embraced a religion that ex- 
alts man. when he lives up to its teach- 
in*'*. Services were closed by sinHns: 
"We Are Sowing." benediction by Eider 
Joseph E. Caldwell. 

The last public service was held Sun- 
da v night, which commenced bv sin*ripg 
"O. My Father." Prayer by Elder W. A. 
Brown. Singing: "Praise to the Man." 

Elder Joseph E. Caldwell then deliv- 
ered a discourse on the divine P"then- 
ticity of the Book of Mormon. H« re- 
ferred to many passages of script "re in the 
Bible to prove the divinity of the Book 
of Mormon. He said it w»q a new wit- 
ness for God. and the Bible, while the 
Bible was a witness of it. H* said if any 



206 



THE SOUTHERN STAB. 



one would read the Book of Mormon with 
an unprejudiced mind he would know it 
was of God, not of man. Elder Edward 
Samuel. sou spoke of how the so-called 
Christians had perverted and twisted the 
Gospel to suit their own tastes. 

Being the last public service, Elder 
Bischoff, in behalf of the Elders, thanked 
those present, and the people of Golds- 
boro for the good treatment given the 
Elders. He urged them to investigate 
the Mormon doctrine and pray for a tes- 
timony of the truth. Singing the Doxol- 
ogy. Benediction by President J. M. 
Haws. 

Again the Elders met in counsel meet- 
ing Monday morning, where they re- 
ceived more timely counsel, aftqr which 
the sacrament was administered and the 
time was spent in the Elders bearing testi- 
monies. Each Elder bore a faithful tes- 
timony of the truthfulness of the Gospel. 
Some of them enjoying the gift of 
tongues and prophecy. Every heart was 
touched and tears of joy moistened the 
eyes of the Elders. What a glorious 
time, what a heavenly feeling of love 
and peace, thrilled the hearts of every 
Elder. When the interpretation of the 
tongue was given it was made-known 
that the Lord had accepted the labors 
of the Elders and had forgiven them of 
their sins. 

Thus ended one of the most successful 
conferences ever held in North Carolina. 
Every Elder went to his field of labor 
feeling amply paid for his long walk 
to get to conference. Never before have 
the gifts and blessings of God been show- 
ered upon the Elders as at this confer- 
ence. 



A NON • MORMON ON MORMONISM. 



Deseret News. 

Mr. Charles Ellis, of Salt Lake City, is 
in receipt of the following letter from a 
Mrs. Lucy Ellis (no relation), of Onslow 
county. North Carolina, under date of 
April 25: 

Dear Sir:— You will please excuse me 
for taking the liberty of writing to you. 
but as I have been reading a portion of 
an article headed, "Mormons and Mor- 
monism by a Non-Mormon," and as you 
are the author of same. I take the lib- 
erty of writing you, and would like you 
to answer a few questions on the sub- 
ject of "Mormonism." I am a non- 
Mormon, but am living among some 
members of the "Mormon" Church, and 
they are being ridiculed by some people 
for their belief. People say that they 
are an ignorant and illiterate class of 
people. Would you be kind enough to 
answer that nuestion, and also the fol- 
lowing: Do the "Mormons" preach and 
nractiee polygamy now— since the Man- 
ifesto was passed? Is there anv doc- 
trine taught among the people in the 
west, that is not allowed to be taught 
by the Elders in the world? 

Please state something about the cus- 
toms and character of the "Mormon" 
people, or anything you deem necessary 
to speak about. 

The reason I am asking these ques- 
tions is because ministers of different 
denominations are asking ninny ques- 
tions and say things I do not believe to 
be true. Therefore I would like for von 
to write me a letter, that I may have 
to show them, that they may know the 
tmth about the "Mormons." 

Please state also in your letter what 
denomination you belong to. if any. 

Yours rr»«mooH rplv. 

LUCY ELLIS. 



Mr. Bills' Reply. 

To this letter Mr. Ellis replied, as fol- 
lows: 

Madam — Your letter of Anril ? r ». ask- 
ing sundry questions having reference 
to the "Mormons." is before me, and I 
taVe plensnre in replying. 

The "Mormons" have no* only been 
"ridiculed," but they have been shame- 
fully lied about and abused, even to the 
"xtent of persecution, and in the ™iain 
by people calling themselves "Chris- 



tians." But you are aware that all 
new sects have met great opposition 
from those already established. If "Mor- 
nionisni" had not from the first met a 
waut in the lives of members of existing 
churches, if it had not made rapid 
growth, if it had remained a puny infant, 
little attention would have been paid to 
it. You must remember that in so-called 
"Christian" countries, "Mormon" con- 
verts have almost wholly come from the 
existing evangelical churches. They do 
now, and the fact that the opposition is 
found chiefly in these churches. 

As to being "illiterate," I must ask 
you to look over the people whom you 
know as members of the evangelical 
churches in your own country. If they 
are illiterate, take them as an average 
of the same churches throughout the 
world, and, then, remembering that the 
mass of "Mormon" converts have come 
out of such churches, you may draw a 
fair inference. 

But this would be true only of converts. 
Yet it is true that many "Mormon" 
converts have been uneducated people, 
it does not follow that, for that reason, 
they have been immoral or unworthy. 
Educated people are not, because of their 
education, any better "Christians" than 
the average of those who are classed as 
illiterate. In the case of "Mormon" con- 
verts from evangelical churches the 
change was merely from one church or 
sect into another, the mental conditions 
being not greatly disturbed. But from 
the time those people become "Mormons" 
education becomes an important part of 
life's work. I know of no sect that has 
beeu more persistent in the education of 
its people — old and young— than "Mor- 
monism.' ' Here, where the people have 
become thoroughly established, you would 
be greatly surprised to see the earnest- 
ness of the young "Mormons" in acquir- 
ing education in all directions. I am 
convinced that your friends who sneer 
at "Mormons" as being "ignorant and 
illiterate class of people," would be put 
to shame were their own accomplish- 
ments brought into comparison with 
those of the mass of "Mormons" born and 
reared in the "Mormon" church. 

Do they "preach and practice polygamy 
since the manifesto was passed?" For 
more than two years the anti-"Mormons" 
of Utah have been charging that polyga- 
mous marriages have been made fre- 
quently sinee the issuance of the "mani- 
festo" in 1890. Yet with the state laws 
all in their favor, with the courts very 
largely in the hands of non-"Mormons," 
there has not been a single case estab- 
lished. I am forced to the conclusion 
that there have not been any polygamous 
marriages since 1800. But the manifesto 
did not and could not annul polygamous 
marriages already existing. Such fami- 
lies have not been broken up save bv 
death, and that is the agency that will 
in due time wipe the last polygamous 
line from the slate of "Mormon" life. 

Do the Elders preach doctrines in the 
world different from those taught at 
home? I have never heard a "Mormon" 
missionary in his field of labor. But 
I have heard a great many "Mormon" 
sermons in Utah, and I have never yet 
heard anything taught that might not 
be just as freely taught by every mis- 
sionary in the field. So far I can 
speak with certainty. But I have heard 
only such tachings as are eiven in "Mor- 
mon" public meetings. What is taught 
in their temples I do not know. That is 
to say, there is a kind of Free Masonry 
in "Mormonism" — a series of "endow- 
ments" porresnonding somewhat to the 
"dogrees" of Masonry. No conscientious 
"Mormon" will talk about the secrecy en- 
joined in connection with this work, any 
more than a faithful Mason \vill divulge 
the secrets of his lodge. This phase of 
"Mormonism" is connected with its tem- 
ples, into which no Gentile enters — into 
which even no "Mormon" can enter un- 
less he or she is recommended as in "good 
standing" bv their bishops. But while 
T acknowledge my ignorance of what 
is taucht in the temples, I can say con- 
scientiously that I have no reason to be- 



lieve that there is anything taught there 
that is inconsistent with the sermons I 
have heard in public, or with what the 
missionaries teach abroad. 

My own "denomination?" Church peo- 
ple call me an "infidel." I care so little 
about their opinion that I never attempt 
to explain. To you, however, I will say 
that I do unto others as I would have 
them do unto me. Many of those who 
condemn me as an infidel call themselves 
"followers of Christ" If I know the 
Man of Nazareth at all, the only safe 
plan for such people is never to let Christ 
know they are following Him. I make 
no pretentions. My life is my religion 
and on that I stand or fall, and I demand 
for unpopular "Mormonism" every right, 
every protection extended to sects tnat 
are more popular, but not so useful. 

The article, apart of which you read, is 
from my booklet entitled "Mormons and 
Mormonism." I will send you a copy. 
I think I will also offer your letter and 
this reply to the "Mormon" paper here. 
The editor, whom I know well, may 
possibly be pleased to say something in 
regard to the temple teachngs that will 
help you to understand it better than 
you will from what I have said. 

Kindly let me know if I have satis- 
fied you. Respectfully. 

CHARLES ELLIS. 

Are they LamanKes ? 

Deseret News. 

The following remarkable story ap- 
peared in several papers, and if true it 
suggests that members of the colonies 
which left this continent manv centu- 
ries ago, and found places of abode on 
several of the islands of the Pacific 
ocean, as recorded in the Book of Mor- 
mon, may have penetrated as far as the 
Philippine Islands and left descendants 
there, whose posterity is yet to be found 
among the Malays. Or it may be that 
the immigration occurred in more mod- 
ern times. At any rate the alleged oc- 
currence is worth recording, and may 
form a subject of investigation for one 
of the scientific societies of the twen- 
tieth century. This is the report: 

"Ex-Renresentative Springer tells n 
story which is worthy of investigation 
by the bureau of ethnolocry. A Creek 
Indian from the Indian Territory, who 
was a member of the rough riders, en- 
listed in the regular army at the close 
of the Spanish war, and was sent to the 
Philipnine Islands. While campaigning 
with his regiment in the southern part 
of the archipelacro he found a tribe of 
Malays whose dialect was almost the 
same as the language of the Creek na- 
tion. He could understand them so 
well that he was able to act as inter- 
preter with a tribe he had never heard 
of before." 

"Churches Worse Than Saloons." 

Toledo, O., May 13.— Rev P. E. Pat- 
ton, a young Christian minister of this 
city, preached from the stage of Burt's 
opera house here tonight. He said: 

"Bv the practice of the church more 
people are doomed to eternal perdition 
than were ever caused bv the saloons 
or any other influence. Place no faith 
at all in your churches. Mark my words, 
that there will be a reformation that will 
shake the religious world to its founda- 
tion. Isms and schisms will be parts of 
a broken parachute." 

The Rev. Patton will arrange for a 
church edifice and will have in the build- 
ing billiards, pool, bowling, etc. 



One hundred medical students were 
asked to name the books of the Bible 
and onlv five could do so. Some named 
"T > h^isHnnf!.' , "Marcus \urelius," a^d 
"The Enistln to Hie Filipinos."— T. R. 
Burnett in "The Way." 



A man should never get so far away 
from the Lord that he cannot reach Him. 
with a short prayer. 



THE SOUTHERN STAR. 



207 



THE SPIRIT OF GOD UNI TES THE SAINTS. 

Our Good Deeds Should Increase Each Year — This is a Time of Preparation 

tor God's People. 

Discourse Delivered by Apostle F. M. Lyman, at Salt Lake City, April 6, 1900. 



While I attempt to speak to you, my 
brethren and sisters, 1 trust 1 may be 
able to make you hear, and that 
by* the aid of the Spirit of the 
Lord -we may feel encouraged and 
strengthened in our faith. We meet 
together frequently as a Church hi 
general conference for the transaction 
of business and to receive the word of 
the Lord. We have the ancient Scrip- 
tures and we have the modern Scrip- 
tures, and scriptures are being maae 
now, as has always been the case when 
the Lord has had His Church upon th-j 
earth, with the living oracles; for when 
they speak by the inspiration of the Holy 
Ghost, what they say is scripture. We 
are entitled to know individually whether 
our brethren speak to us the truth, for it 
is our privilege to enjoy the same Spirit 
that they speak by. This is the power 
that binds the Latter-day Saints togeth- 
er, and that holds us to our obligations 
and covenants with the Lord and with 
each other. We are not held by threats, 
nor by fear, but by love— the love of the 
Gospel, which has been planted in our 
hearts and has been growing with the 
people for these seventy years. We have 
oecome a pretty well trained people, and 
four-fifths of the Latter-day Saints, I be- 
lieve, are doing tolerably well, and I be- 
lieve that the one-lifth that are careless in 
some things, are perhaps laboring fairly 
well in others. There will no doubt be 
quite a percentage of the people that will 
not be found numbered among the wise. 

While listening to Brother Brigham 
Young and to President Snow, the para- 
ble put forth by our Savior, as recorded 
in the 25th chapter of Matthew, was 
presented to my mind, and I thought to 
read it, that we might be brought to 
consider by its examination whether we 
are numbered among; the wise or among 
the foolish. This is a very important 
matter; for if we travel along with this 
Church for twenty years, for thirty, 
forty or fifty years and then at the last 
find that we have failed to save our 
souls and that we are among the foolish, 
it will be very unprofitable to us. As 
President Snow has said, we are gath- 
ered together for the upbuilding of the 
Kingdom of God upon the earth, and 
there is some reason why we should be 
thus gathered; why we should take upon 
us the obligations that we have; why we 
should endure the hardships that we 
have; why we should, among all the de- 
nominations on the earth, be singled out 
for the despising of all people, and why 
this condition should stay with us and 
follow us in preference to any other peo- 
ple in the world. We are a small peo- 
ple, not very important in numbers nor in 
wealth, and yet every little while some- 
thing occurs that creates quite a furore 
in regard to the Latter-day Saints. The 
whole world becomes agitated and in a 
ferment over the Latter-day Saints, and 
there is trouble in the hearts of many 
people for fear the Latter-day Saints will 
do something very wrong. What is the 
matter? Are the Latter-day Saints mind- 
ing the business of any other denomina- 
tion? Are we troubling ourselves partic- 
ularly about our brethren who have 
other forms of religion? Are we ex- 
cited and worried over them? Do we 
combine together with some other people 
in order to look after the morality and 
purity, or the immorality and corruption, 
of other people? How carefully the Lat- 
ter-day Saints attend to their own busi- 
ness! And is it not a proper thing for 
the Latter-day Saints to take care of 
themselves, their own morality and hon- 
esty? Shall we not give attention to our 
own affairs, and are we not just about 
of the same material, the same kind of 
people, as our other religious brethern? 
Have we not come from among other 



denominations? Have we not been gath 
ered from among the Catholics, the i res- 
byterians, the Methodists, the Baptists, 
the Congregationalists and the Chris- 
tians, as well as the infidels? Now, have 
we gone to these various denominations 
and gathered the very worst of them? 
Have we ever advertised in our periodi- 
cals and in our preaching and labors, 
publicly or privately— have we ever bid 
for the bad Methodists, the bad Presby- 
terians, the bad infidels? Have we ever 
promised them an easy way of salvation? 
Have we done any of these things, or 
have we gone to the world conscien- 
tiously and honestly and laid before them 
the offer of life and salvation on consis- 
tent and Christian terms? Have we 
ever promised anybody that they could 
be saved in their sins? Have we ever 
asked anybody to come into this Church 
without repentance, without reforma- 
tion, without honesty, without virtue? 
Have we entered into a compact with any- 
body to be corrupt? Have we promised 
them immunity from the punishment of 
the law if they transgressed the law? 
Do we cover up their sins and hide them"? 
Are we doing that? Are Bishops, Pres- 
idents of States, Presidents of quorums, 
Elders, High Priests and Seventies ask- 
ing the corrupt and wicked from among 
the nations of the earth to come to us 
and we will shield them in their corrup- 
tion, in their adulteries, their fornica- 
tions, their thieving and their dishon- 
esty? Why. no. But we have presented 
to the world a very startling and re- 
markable work, a work that requires re- 
pentance and reformation. And when 
repentance has been complied with, in or- 
der that tne repentance may be genu- 
ine and the forgiveness of sins continue, 
it must be eternal. It is not enough for 
men to repent in order to come into the 
Church, and then do as they please, but 
their repentance must be perpetual; it 
must not need to be repented of. If a 
man has been a thief and ceases to steal, 
he must continue to refrain from his lar- 
cenies. If a man has been a liar, a de- 
ceiver, or corrupt in any degree what- 
ever, it is required of him in this Church 
that he must cease forever. If he should 
live a hundred years, he would not live 
long enough to have any degree of al- 
lowance shown to him for transgression 
because of his age, but the older men 
are the better they must be. I think 
that is reasonable; for the oldest of all 
whom we have ever heard of is said to 
be good and the only one who is entirely 
good — our Father who is in heaven. I 
say the father should be better than the 
son, the mother should be better than 
the daughter, and this Church has now 
arrived at the full ripe age of three score 
and ten. What shall we do who have 
been entrusted with the holy Priest- 
hood? Can we afford to be indifferent 
and careless? We are now seventy years 
nearer to the coming of the Son of Mau 
than we were when the Prophet Joseph, 
under the inspiration of the lloly Ghost, 
organized this Church. After this ex- 
tended experience, can we not well afford 
to be good, conscientious and honest with 
the Lord? Can we not afford to make 
our repentance and reformation genuine 
from this time forth, believing that the 
coming of the Son of Man, the redemp- 
tion of Zion and the fulfillment of the 
purposes of the Lord are at our door? 

Can we not afford to do this now, so 
that when the Bridegroom comes we 
shall be prepared to meet Him; for He 
will come; He has always come when 
He has promised. He has visited the 
earth in this dispensation and has estab- 
lished His authority and power among 
men, and the Millenium, the reign of 
righteousness, is to be ushered in; and 
it is liable to come in our day. The re- 



demption of Zion is also liable to coiue 
in our day. There is doubtless a set 
time for the redemption of Zion and for 
the coming of the Son of Man. The 
time has not been made known to us, 
and is not likely to be, until He comes. 
It would hardly be fair for the Presi- 
dency, the Twelve and the presiding 
brethren to know the very time of His 
coming, so that they could be prepared, 
and let the people be indifferent and care- 
less. The coming of the Son of Mau 
will be as much of a surprise to the pre- 
siding brethren as to any others. That 
is, it will occur when they are not look- 
ing for it particularly. We hope to be 
prepared, and we hope the people will be 
prepared, but it will come suddenly, and 
you will know it :is soon as we know it. 
We have the Spirit of that coming, and 
the Spirit of the redemption of Zion. We 
have the Spirit that indicates that in 
the near future the I^ord will appear. 

Hence, the Spirit of the Lord has been 
very powerfully upon President Snow 
and his brethren, and they have been led 
to urge upon the people the importance 
of reformation, not alone in the law of 
tithing, but in every other principle of 
the Gospel. Tithing alone is not enough. 
It will yield its measure of oil and light 
and of inspiration and power, to those 
who observe that law. But if we are 
non-prayers, non-partakers of the Sacra- 
ment; if we are not found doing by oth- 
ers that we would that others should do 
by us; if we are not honest and virtuous, 
the fact of our being tithe-payers will 
not be enough to save us. But it is 
pretty well discovered and understood 
that if men can stand the test of the law 
of tithing, which appeals to our wealth, 
they will be able to make other sacrifices 
as well; for there is a strength and a 
power which comes in answer to our 
fulfillment of this law that will enable 
us to do other things much less difficult. 
There are many things less difficult than 
the payment of tithing. In our fallen 
condition, being of the earth earthy, we 
love the things of this world, and it is 
a most difficult thing for some of us to 
meet this requirement of the Lord. There 
is quite a percentage of the brethren 
who have received the Priesthood, as 
well as members of the Church, who 
ought to be- tithe-payers and are not. I 
want to ask any man upon whom I have 
ever laid my hands and conferred au- 
thority in the name of the Lord Jesus; I 
want to ask any brother who has 
ever had the hands of the servants 
of God laid upon his head, to con- 
fer the Priesthood of God upon 
him, can you reconcile your course 
of life, if you neglect to furnish 
the revenue necessary for the building 



up of the kingdom of God on the earth? 
Can you Justify yourself in this? I 
want^ the High Priest, the Seventy and 



the Elder to come to me as an individual 
and show me his philosophy and reason- 
ing as to how he can conscientiously hold 
the Priesthood of God and yet decline to 
meet the obligations that belong to that 
Priesthood. I believe that there is no 
man in this Church entitled to the holy 
Priesthood who will not magnify it. I 
believe the Lord requires it of every Dea- 
con, every Teacher, every Priest, 
every Elder, every High Priest, ev- 
ery Seventy, every Patriarch, every 
Bishop, President, etc. And we will 
not always be tolerated with the 
authority of God unless we do honor it. 
We will be found among the foolish, lack- 
ing oil in our lamps and being unprepared 
for the coming of the Son of Man, unless 
we attend faithfully to these duties. 

Is a man justified in this Church who 
fails to partake of the Sacrament when 
the opportunity is offered? Is a man 
justified who does not bow his knee be- 
fore the Lord daily, and who forgets the 
Lord in secret prayer? I think not. I 
believe that the Latter-day Saints are 
required to meet all these obligations 
and to be as honest with their brethren 
us they are required to be honest with 
the Lord. It is not enough for us to 
pretend to be honest with the Lord, and 
not be honest with our brethren. We 
rannot be honest enough with our Father 



208 



THE SOUTHERN STAB. 



REPORT OF MISSION CONFERENCES FOB WEEK ENDING MAY 5, 1900. 



rilEWlTlEXT 



David H. Eltott- 

Hebtfr S. OUon.. 

B. K. Price 

K. It. Ponieroy „.., 
W. D. Itencher .„ 

A, C. Strung *» 

ilea. W. Sku! rv- 

■J. Urban Alln-d ... 

J, M. Hawa 

Sjiv eater XrfOW, .Ir.*>—. 
tt.M. Porter 

W. W. MacKay- 

J.N.MUlur . 

W.H. Boyle.... 

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in Heaven to justify us in being dis 
honest with our brethren. We must 
meet our obligations to our breth- 
ren, to our families, to the world. We 
must deal honestly and conscientiously 
in all these things. If we do not, the 
spirit of the Lord will withdraw from us, 
and when the spirit of the Lord with- 
draws from us we complain, we find 
fault, we are not happy, and we are not 
satisfied. We cannot afford to sacrifice 
the presence of the spirit of the Lord, 
because we cannot be Latter-day Saints 
unless we enjoy it and are directed by it 
constantly. It .seems to be a difficult 
thing to do to meet our temporal obliga- 
tions to the Lord. Our hearts are natur- 
ally set upon the things of this world. 
We can see temporal blessings a * little 
plainer than we can see the spiritualities 
of the kingdom, for they are here be- 
fore us, and we enjoy them. We arj 
inclined to gather the things of this 
world around us and to treasure them 
up. while the spiritual things, and eter- 
nal life with our families and friends 
hereafter, pertain to the future. They 
are a little a head of us, and if we do 
not have the spirit of the Lord strongly 
in our hearts, there is more or less a 
question of doubt and misgiving about 
them. All these things, however, vanish 
when we discharge the duties that de- 
volve upon us as Latter-day Saints. And 
we expect to look after every man, 
through the Presidents, the Bishops, and 
the Apostles, and see to it that all who 
have Been entrusted with the authority 
and power of God, shall come to the 
mark and do their duties faithfully and 
well, that they with their families may 
be saved. We want you to be saved; 
but if you do not want the salvation 
that is offered through the Gospel of 
the Lord Jesus Christ, why make the pro- 
fession that you do? There is no salva- 
tion in professions alone, or in promises 
and covenants, nor is there any salva- 
tion in the blessings that are put upon 
us under the hands of the servants of 
God, unless we do the will of God. I 
want to bear that testimony to the people, 
and ask that from this time forward we 
serve the Lord with all our hearts, so 
that when the Son of Man appears upon 
the earth, we will be numbered among 
the wise virgins of my text — which I 
have not read; you can hunt it for your- 
selves. 

We feel encouraged in our labors, al- 
though we are all the time trying to 
stir the people up. Yet in our councils 
the Lord has manifested to us that the 
Latter-day Saints are improving, that 
they are gaining strength and power, 
increasing in numbers, spreading abroad 
and becoming more firmly established on 
the earth, and that prosperity and suc- 
cess are attending upon them. The best 
days that we have ever had are the days 
in which we live now. The kingdom is 
the Lord's and He will take care of it. 
It is our business, my brethren and sif- 
ters, to see that we take care of our- 
selves. The Lord will take care of the 
kingdom, and no power on earth can pre- 
vail against it. As suggested this morn- 
ing, if it was secure when it was organ- 



ized seventy years ago, with only six 
members, what shall we say of it when 
it numbers over a quarter of a million? 
We certainly feel encouraged. We feel 
as though we were on the Lord's side, 
and that the Lord is on our side. We 
know He is, for He talks to us and di- 
rects us in all things pertaining to this 
kingdom. He sustains His servant the 
Prophet, and magnifies him in the eyes 
of the people. The will of God is known, 
and the keys and authority of God are 
always present. The Lord has estab- 
lished His work, and He will preserve 
it. God bless you, my brethren and sis- 
ters, and may His spirit fill your hearts 
that we may rejoice exceedingly in this 
conference, is my prayer through Jesus 
Christ, our Lord. Amen. 



READ AND PONDER. 

A blunt man sometimes has fine points. 

An ounce of practice is worth a pound 
of theory. 

Conceit may puff a man up, but it will 
not prop him up. 

Most people prefer to wear their own 
mantles of charity. 

Common sense is one thing you cannot 
buy with love or money. 

Some men have a gallon of words to 
every spoonful of thought. 

A young man cannot preserve his honor 
and self-respect in alcohol. • 

Experience is a dear school, and you 
have to pay your own tuition. 

Nine men are moved by sentiment 
where one is moved by sense. 

A preacher should not attempt to save 
feelings at the expense of souls. 

There is no greater fortune for a young 
man than a full set of good habits. 

You do not have to weigh some people 
in the balances to find them wanting. 

Learn to hold your tongue. Five words 
cost Zacharias forty weeks of silence. 

A serious trouble with some young men 
is, they do not like to work between 
meals. 

Many a promising young man has 
singed off his finest ambitions with a cig- 
arette. 

It is strange — but, nevertheless, true, 
as a rule — that the spoiled children be- 
long to your neighbors. They do not live 
under your roof. 

The best speaker is the one who cau 
say the right thing at the right time in 
the right way, and then keep his mouth 
shut at all other times. 

Texas is ahead. There is a church out 
there that baptizes by machinery. The 
preacher and candidate are lowered into 
the water on an elevator. 

People who pray for a baptism of fire 
and despise a baptism of water in this 
world, may in the next world despise a 
baptism of tire and pray for water.— 
T. R. Burnett in "The Way." 



THE DEAD. 

Elder Samuel A. Walton, who left the 
Louisiana Conference in April, 1899, on 
account of sickness, died on the 10th of 
last February. His home was at Au- 
burn, Uintah county, Wyo. He suffered 
from a severe attack of pneumonia, be- 
ing confined to his bed but three days, 
when the spirit took its flight. As a mis- 
sionary he was humble and faithful; as 
a son and brother he was a true and 
lovable man. He will be missed by a 
host of friends in the South and at home. 
May God comfort his loved ones, who 
know the Heavenly Father does all 
things well. 



On the 12th day of May, 1900, Sister 
Cordelia Marshall, whose home was at 
Gladesborough, Carroll vounty, Va., was 
called from this life to the Great Beyond. 
She was baptized in August, 1898, and 
was a faithful Latter-day Saint, and re- 
mained so to the end. - She leaves a hus- 
band and two children to mourn her loss. 
Elders J. H. Lines and W. F. Ostler 
were present to take charge of the fun- 
eral services. 



Sister Elizabeth Cowart, of Hillsdale, 
Pearl River county, Miss., passed away 
from this earth May 6th. Sister Cowart 
was a faithful member of the Church of 
Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Her 
life and character since her baptism has 
been one of emulation. Many a meal 
has she prepared for the Elders, who 
have always found the latch string of her 
door on the outside. She leaves a good 
and God-fearing husband and nine chil- 
dren, who will miss her from the family 
circle. All belong to the church, and will 
allow no Satanic influence to hold 
them from living the gospel. May the 
Lord bless and comfort the grief-stricken 
family. Elder J. W. Vance. 



Releases and Appointments. 

Releases. 

Jas. M. Smith, Don C. Brimhall, Mid- 
dle Tennessee conference. 

B. F. Johnson, North Alabama confer- 
ence. 

Geo. May, East Kentucky conference. 

Appointments. 

Georgia conference— E. T. Mayhew. 
W. A. Lindsay, Hyrum Brinkerhoff. 

East Tennessee conference — W. A. 
Adams, H. Randall. 

Chattanooga conference— E. R. Wool- 
ey, F. L. Hickman. 

Transfers. 

Geo. F. Summerhays from Chatta- 
nooga to North Ohio conference. 








'&UT THOUGH WE, OB AN ANGEL FflQM HEAVEN, PRE AC H ANY 
OTHER GOSPEL UNTO YOU TM&N THAT WHICH WE 

HAVE FftEACHED UNTO YOU. LET HIM BE ACCURSED *{*£J*e$£ 



^f^ST 



Vol. 2. 



CHATTANOOGA, TBNN., SATURDAY, JrjNB 2, 1900. 



No, 27. 



Sketch of the Life of President Geo. Q. Cannon. 

BY APOSTLE MATH [AS F. COWLEY. 




President Cannon was born in Liver- 
pool. Jan. 11, 1827. His parents were 
natives of the Isle of Man. Their pro- 
genitors were traceable as natives of the 
island for several previous centuries. 



PRESIDENT GEO. Q. CANNON. 

While not classed with the wealthy from 
a worldly point, they were endowed with 
even greater riches — honesty, integrity 
and devotion to principle, which secured 
to them the respect and confidence of 



the people who knew them. The posses- 
sion of these excellent traits, coupled 
with humility, are. important factors con- 
ducing to man's obedience to the Gospel. 
In later years, when Apostle John Tay- 



210 



THE SOUTHERN STAR. 



lor and his associates bore the Gospel 
message to England, the parents of Geo. 
Q. Cannon were readily found among 
those who knew the "voice of the Good 
Shepherd," and straightway hearkened 
thereunto. Early in life Brother Geo. 
Q. was a devoted reader of the Bible, 
developing a strong desire to learn more 
than he could understated by a literal 
reading of the Scriptures. He knew 
enough, however, through reading the Bi- 
ble and making comparison between its 
teaching and that of modern sectarian 
churches, that the latter were destitute 
even of the true "form of godliness;" 
much less did they enjoy the gifts and 
powers of the Holy Ghost. In his youth 
he yearned to witness the mighty deeds 
performed by the Savior and his Apostles. 

With such a preparation of heart, Geo. 
Q. Cannon readily accepted the Gospel 
as revealed to the Prophet Joseph Smith. 

In 1842 the family started for Nauvoo. 
On the way Brother Geo. Q.'s mother 
passed from this life, and was buried in 
the sea. Two years later his father 
died, leaving a family of orphan chil- 
dren. Leonora Cannon, aunt of Geo. Q., 
had moved to Canada and become the 
wife of Elder John Taylor, of whose 
family Brother Cannon became practi- 
cally a member, after reaching Nauvoo. 

Upon the arrival of the Cannon family 
there, Geo. Q. recognized in an instant 
in the midst of a large number of peo- 
ple the Prophet, Joseph Smith. Soon 
after this Brother Cannon worked for 
his uncle, Elder Taylor, in the printing 
establishment and there learned the 
printer's trade, with which he has had 
so much to do in later years. When 
the Saints were exiled from their beau- 
tiful city and homed in Illinois in 1846, 
Elder Cannon accompanied the main 
body to winter quarters. Here he re- 
mained until the next year, when he 
wended his way with the exiled Saints 
across the dreary plains to the Salt Lake 
valley. 

He arrived there Oct. 3, 1847, and thus 
became literally one of Utah's early,(and 
history has proven), best and noblest pio- 
neers. He and his uncle, John Taylor, 
who was proprietor of an old-fashioned 
saw mill— the first established in the val- 
ley, labored hard to upbuild the barren 
waste, which today blossoms as a rose. 

Geo. Q. was physically, mentally and 
spiritually an industrious young man, 
which grand quality, essential to great- 
ness, has characterized him to the pres- 
ent moment, and will remain to the end 
of time and throughout eternity. Dur- 
ing the early settlement of Utah, food, 
as well as all other commodities, was 
very scarce. For weeks at a time, much 
of the provisions upon whfch many sub- 
sisted, consisted of thistle roots, weeds 
and the wild sago root. In all these trials 
Elder Cannon was a practical partici- 
pant; for weeks at a time his appetite 
was never satisfied. 

In 1849 he was called to go to Cal- 
ifornia and from there he went on a 
mission to the Sandwich Islands. When 
the Hawaiian mission was inauguarted. 
it was not contemplated so much to reach 
the natives as to preach the Gospel to 
the white population. The Elders found 
the opportunities of preaching to the 
whites very limited, and most of them 
favored returning home. Here was em- 
phasized a most prominent trait in the 
character of President Geo. Q. Cannon. 
He had been sent to declare the plan of 
salvation. The message is to all the 
world, without regard to race or nation- 
ality. The natives, like the whites, were 
in darkness, and President Cannon de- 
termined that he would not return home, 
but remain and establish the Gospel 
among the inhabitants of the islands. He 
informed his associates that he would 
stay if he had to remain alone and labor 
without baptizing a soul. Four Elders 
remained with him, and the result of 
their labors is well known. In three and 
one-half years they baptized nearly 4,0O) 
souls. Brother Cannon also translated 
the Book of Mormon into the Hawaiian 
language. From that time a permanent 
and prosperous mission has existed upon 



the islands, and thousands of the na- 
tives have embraced the Gospel. 

Subsequently a sugar plantation was 
procured and has been successfully man- 
aged by the Elders, who have performed 
missions upon these islands. Early in 
his missionary work among the natives, 
President Cannon, in answer to prayer 
and faithful desire to preach the plan of 
life to the natives, received by gift from 
God power to understand what the na- 
tives said in their conversation. This 
was the gift of interpretation, and soon 
after he was also able to speak the lan- 
guage, with great accuracy. 

Elder Cannon returned to California 
from the Islands in 1854. For some 
time he assisted Apostle Parley P. Pratt 
in the preparation of Elder Pratt's very 



interesting Autobiography. Returning to 
his home in Salt Lake City, he became 
one of the Presidents of the 30th Quo- 



rum of Seventies, which position he filled 
with credit and ability. He was soon 
called on a second mission to the Islands, 
but before the time of starting was ap- 
pointed to assist Elder Parley P. Pratt 
In the publication of a paper in Califor- 
nia. Upon reaching California he was 
appointed to preside over the missions 
there and in Oregon, while Brother Pratt 
returned to Utah. 

Brother Cannon edited the Western 
Standard, which Contains some of his 
choicest productions in defense of the 
Latter-day work. He also printed in 
the. Hawaiian language the Book of 
Mormon, which he previously trans- 
lated. This work, with the per- 
sonal supervision of missionary la- 
bors, called for the best mental and 
physical energies of President Cannon. 
These he devoted with cheerfulness and 
great efficiency, to the perfect satisfac- 
tion of the general authorities of the 
Church. In those days missionary work 
in California, through pulpit and press, 
was attended with great difficulties, and 
it is safe to say that no one was better 
qualified by humility, faith and energy 
for such a labor than was Elder Geo. 
Q. Cannon. 

When Johnson's army came to Utah, 
President Cannon, in obedience to coun- 
sel, closed up the affairs of the mission 
and returned home, reaching Salt Lake 
City Jan. 19, 1858. He was appointed 
adjutant general in the army, organized 
to defend the people against invasion. 
He served with ability. After this he 
was appointed by President Young to 
take a printing apparatus, press and ma- 
terial and publish the Deseret News. This 
labor occupied his time from April to 
September, 1858. When at Payson, re- 
turning from Fillmore to Salt Lake City, 
he received a call to fill a mission to 
the eastern states. The call came sud- 
denly and unexpectedly, but Geo. Q. 
Cannon was, and is a minute man. He 
made it a rule of his life to answer 

{>romptly to every call of duty, and in 
ess than one hour he was prepared to 
start. The purpose of his mission was to 
enlighten the public mind regarding the 
true state of affairs in Utah. This was 
a delicate matter, as prejudice ran very 
high. The army being sent to Utah was 
entirely due to the scurrilous falsehood 
of federal officers, and others in Utah 
who thought to make capital by defaming 
an unpopular people. Brother Cannon la- 
bored with indefatigable zeal and effi- 
ciency. He was greatly aided in his la- 
bors by letters of introduction from Gen. 
Thos. L. Kane of Pennsylvania, who 
understood the situation in Utah, and 
had been an undeviating defender of the 
Latter-day Saints ever since their ex- 
pulsion from Nauvoo. By the assistance 
of these letters President Cannon was 
enabled to meet and converse with mem- 
bers of congress, many leading editors 
and other public and influential men. He 
laid before them the true status of affairs 
in Utah, and disabused their minds of 
much prejudice. At the same time he 
had charge of the branches of the Church 
in the east, and acted as emigration 
agent for the Church. In all these la- 
bors he exhibited marked ability, good 
results followed and perfect satisfac- 



tion rendered to the Authorities of the 
Church. 

During his absence he was chosen, Oct. 
23, 1859, to be one of the Twelve Apos- 
tles, a vacancy having been occasioned by 
the death of Apostle Farley P. Pratt He 
returned ten months later and was or- 
dained to the Apostleship Aug. 26, 1860, 
being then 33 years of age. 

Very soon after he was called on a 
mission to Great Britain, and reached 
Liverpool Dec. 21, 1860; subsequently the 
Church printing office was established in 
that city. Since that time, from the 
Church printing office in that city has is- 
sued tens of thousands of copies of lead- 
ing Church works and pamphlets, explan- 
atory, and in defense of the Gospel of 
Christ and the character of the Latter- 
day Saints. 

Elder Cannon returned to America in 
May, 1862, and with the Hon.-Wm. H. 
Hooper repaired to Washington, D. C. 
They had been elected senators from 
Utah, in the effort to secure admission 
for the territory into the sisterhood of 
states. After the adjournment of con- 
gress in July, 1862, Brother Cannon re- 
turned to England and presided over the 
European mission until 1864. Upon his 
return in the autumn of '64, an Indian 
war was in progress, and the journey 
over the plains was attended with perils, 
but through Divine Providence no disas- 
ter occurred. From the arrival of Pres- 
ident Cannon in Utah in 1864, dating 
backward, more than fourteen years had 
been spent in misisonary labors far from 
his mountain home. 

While returning, home and family was 
a source of joy to Elder Cannon, he had 
no disposition to lay aside his missionary 
work. The field at home was broad and 
needed attention. Thousands of youths 
were growing up in the valleys of Utah 
and to their salvation, more especially, 
did he turn his attention. In the win- 
ter of 1864-5 he established a Sunday 
school in the 14th ward of Salt Lake 
City. In 1866, he began the publication 
of the Juvenile Instructor. His experi- 
ences as a writer, his love for children 
in particular and mankind as well, aptly 
qualified him to issue such a paper, de- 
signed to inspire and promote faith in 
the hearts of Zion's youth. The magazine 
is now thirty-four years old, and it is 
safe to say that no publication in the 
shape of a magazine or paper has done 
so much good among the young people 
as has the Juvenile Instructor. It is es- 
pecially adapted to the younger people, 
and may be read with great benefit by all 
the Saints. President Cannon, though 
loaded with many duties, has never failed 
in devoting time and attention to the 
Juvenile Instructor, for the growth and 
development of faith and purity in the 
hearts of the young people. 

In 1867, President Cannon was made 
general superintendent of Sunday schools 
throughout the Church. In this position 
he has faithfully and efficiently served 
from that day to the present time. Ho 
is greatly interested in education, and 
was at one time chancellor of the Deseret 
University, and is now one of the Church 
Board of Education. He recently re- 
marked in public that no labor in life 
had given him greater satisfaction than 
the teaching and training of the youth 
in the paths of righteousness, and in all 
matters of true education as a means 
of promoting faith. President Cannon 
issued a little work called "My First Mis- 
sion." reciting the hand-dealings of the 
Lord with himself and associate mis- 
sionaries upon the Sandwich Islands. 
This was the first of a series of such vol- 
umes which have been issued since thar 
time. 

In 1867 President Young appointed him 
to edit the Deseret News, which wsa then 
a weekly and semi-weekly. While in this 
position he instituted the Deseret Even- 
ing News. In 1877 himself, with Elder 
Brigham Young, Jr., again had charge 
of the Deseret News. President Cannon 
is the author of a standard work on th»» 
life of the Prophet Joseph Smith and 
many other smaller publications. If all 
he has written in books, papers, maga- 
zines, pamphlets, etc., were published in 



THE SOUTHERN STAR. 



211 



book form they would comprise many 
volumes of several hundreds pages each; 
from every one of which could be learned 
lessons of incalculable worth to the chil- 
dren of men. President Cannon is re- 
markably attached to the Book of Mor- 
mon. He wrote "The Life of Nephi/' 
and in many of his writings can be dis- 
cerned the plain simplicity, the humble 
faith and spiritual force of the Nephite 
Prophets. He is a living evidence of the 
truth stated by the Prophet Joseph 
Smith, that by reading the Book of Mor- 
mon we should get nearer to God than 
by reading any other book extant. In a 
business line, President Gannon has been 
connected with railways, banks, mercan- 
tile and other financial enterprises, look- 
ing to the promotion and development of 
resources in the inter-mountain country. 
He took part in founding Zion's Co-opera- 
tive Mercantile Institution, and is at 
present the only surviving member of 
the original board of directors of that 
great institution. He has also been a di- 
rector of the Union Pacific railroad, and 
has been prominent as a member and of- 
ficer of the Trans-Mississippi congress. 
But recently, in company with Apostle 
John Henry Smith anu others from Utah, 
he attended the session of that body held 
in Houston, Texas, and subsequently vis- 
ited the City of Mexico, in the Mexican 
republic. 

In 1871 he was again sent on a mis- 
sion to the east, to assist in the correc- 
tion of wrong impressions created in the 
public mind by wicked and designing men 
against the Latter-day Saints. 

In August, 1872, President Cannon was 
elected to congress as delegate from 
Utah. In this position he served for ten 
years. Although not entitled to voice or 
vote in legislation, he had marked influ- 
ence among leading men in that notable 
body. On account of intense prejudice 
existing, through false impressions, 
against Utah and her people, his experi- 
ence in congress was frequently a most 
trying one. Notwithstanding this, he 
made many warm friends in the Capital, 
and accomplished much for Utah and her 
people. In 1882, when the Edmunds act 
came into operation. President Cannon 
was rendered ineligible to congress, the 
act barring him out because he believed 
and practiced plural marriage as a Di- 
vine institution. Before leaving congress, 
however, he had the opportunity of 
Speaking in defense of the people of 
Utah. He discharged this sloemn duty 
with ability and courage to the perfect 
satisfaction of his friends in congress and 
the people of Utah. In August, 1877, 
President Young died. In his will he 
named Geo. Q. Cannon, Brigham Young, 
Jr., and Albert Carrington as executors. 
The administration of the estate was at- 
tended with considerable perplexity. Sev- 
eral dissatisfied heirs started a suit. Ja- 
cob S. Boreman, the judge, issued an or- 
der increasing the bonds of the admin- 
istrators. As this act of the court was 
altogether unjust and uncalled for, the 
administrators preferred an indefinite 
term of imprisonment rather than submit 
to this travesty by increasing the bonds. 
After a three weeks* term in the peniten- 
tiary, Chief Justice Hunter, who had 
newly come into office, set aside the ac- 
tion of Judge Boreman and liberated the 
administrators. Following their libera- 
tion President Cannon and associates 
proceeded with their labors until the 
affairs of the estate were closed. 

Subsequent to the decease of President 
Brigham Young, the Presidency of the 
Church was exercised by the Twelve 
Apostles. When the Presidency was 
again organized with President John 
Taylor at the head, he chose for hi* 
counselors, Apostles Geo. Q. Cannon and 
Joseph P. Smith. Since that time the 
Presidency has been organized twice, oc- 
casioned by the decease of Presidents 
John Taylor and Wilford Woodruff. In 
each instance Presidents Cannon and 
Smith have been chosen, and hold that 
position at the present writing. In this 
position, as in all previous ones, Presi- 
dent Cannon has manifested that humil- 
ity and meekness which ever yearns for 
the guiding hand of the Almighty. His 



choice gifts to counsel and assist in di- 
recting the affairs of the Church have 
more than ever been brought into activ- 
ity in the Presidency of the Church. In 
1884, when the fury of persecution was 
raging, particularly against plural mar- 
riage, it was thought proper for leading 
men subject to these assaults to go into 
exile. The spirit of persecution against 
the Saints was exceedingly bitter. The 
law, itself severe, was transcended by 
federal officers in their determination to 
line and imprison those who were living 
in plural marriage. It appeared that the 
anti-Mormon element were determined to 
provoke violence and thus secure a pre- 
tense that migh result in scenes similar 
to those enacted in Missouri and Illinois. 
Much suffering was endured. Thousands 
of dollars of fines were imposed. Alto- 
gether about 800 men and a few women 
were imprisoned. At last the storm 
abated, the conservative long-suffering 
of the Saints was answered as a prayer 
by the Almighty, and conditions settled 
down to a moderate enforcement of the 
law. A double martyr, President Taylor, 
died in exile. In all these trials Presi- 
dent Cannon was a leading sufferer. He 
was in exile, and suffered a four-months' 
term in the penitentiary, but all this 
tended to advance the interest of the 
cause and prove the Saints to be superior 
in morals, sobriety, patience and faith, to 
their persecutors. Their prison life, rath- 
er than a stain was a credit, indicating 
their fidelity to conviction of right. The 
experiences of President Cannon's life 
have been so varied through numerous 
hardships, from his youth up, as to be 
a heavy strain upon his physical and 
mental being. He is now past 73 years 
of age. and, all things considered, is re- 
markably well preserved. He is still in 
the enjoyment of health and in the full 
discharge of his many onerous duties and 
we trust he will be continued in this 
life for many years; a blessing, a bene- 
factor to the Saints of God, as he has 
been from his early youth. His preser- 
vation is greatly due to observing the 
"word of wisdom" and personal cleanli- 
ness. An example of virtue, temperance, 
industry, courage, humility and faith to 
the people of God. President Cannon 
is gifted as a speaker and writer, yet 
his study to use simple language and 
make his meaning clear to all classes, is 
worthy the following of all young men, 
whose lot in life may be cast in a similar 
mould. Among the many noble traits of 
character possessed py this great man, 
there is none more conspicuous and which 
possibly has never been excelled by any 
man in this dispensation, and that is: 
profound respect for the Lord's Anointed. 
We think it can be truthfully said that 
no living being ever heard or could pos- 
sibly infer by word or act from President 
Cannon the slightest disrespect or even 
depreciation as to the morality or ability 
of his file leader. The names of Joseph 
Smith, Brigham Young, John Taylor, 
Wilford Woodruff and Lorenzo Snow are 
to him sacred, as shown by his life asso- 
ciation with these men of God. As a 
fitting conclusion of this brief article we 
subjoin a character sketch of President 
Cannon from the able pen of Elder John 
Nicholson : 

My first meeting with George Q. Can- 
non was in the city of Edinburgh, Scot- 
land, in 1862. On the invitation of sev- 
eral brethren of the local branch of the 
Church, I accompanied them in a friendly 
call upon him at the house at which he 
was stopping during a brief visit to the 
Scottish capital. He was at that time 
presiding over the European mission. 

I was then a youth of 22 years, and 
afflicted with diffidence, amounting to 
embarrassment in the presence of strang- 
ers, and therefore on this occasion con- 
fined myself strictly to the exercise of 
observation, listening to the conversation 
and replying tersely to questions directed 
personally to myself. 

I was at once struck with the strength 
of the personality of the distinguished 
visitor, — a handsome, vigorous man of 35 
years. His figure of medium height, well 
rounded and erect; the shapely head 
crowned with a liberal growth ov* black 



hair; the cheeks and upper lip clean 
shaved; the chin adorned with a close 
hirsute growth. Up to that time his was 
one of the most striking faces I had 
seen: a forehead broad and high— the 
breadth being specially observable in the 
upper section; a somewhat large, aque- 
line nose, almost approaching the Israel- 
itish in contour; a well-formed mouth* 
without rigidity and with an expression 
of amiability. The large, clear gray eyes 
impressed me most. In the course of 
conversation, in which he took the lead, 
the characteristic mobility of his coun- 
tenance was exhibited. 

My acquaintance with the subject of 
this personal sketch covers the period 
from 1862 to the present. At times it 
has been close — notably while he was at 
the head of the Deseret News establish- 
ment and editor of that journal, com- 
mencing in November, 1867, and continu- 
ing for several years. Necessarily I had 
opportunities of becoming familiar with 
many of his traits. One of these was his 
regard for detail and appearances. While 
presiding in Europe he insisted that the 
clerks employed in the office at Liverpool 
should write with neatness and legibility. 
All those who worked under him in that 
capacity became excellent penmen. 

The importance he attaches to appear- 
ances is not only apparent in his own un- 
varying personal neatness, but in his re- 
quiring, under proper circumstances, the 
same condition on the part of others. 
Hence in the missionary field in Europe 
hQ directed that every Elder should be 
clad in a full suit of black, of clerical 
cut, and surmounted by a tall silk hat. 
Frequently when a group of missionaries 
arrived he would commission one of 
the office clerks to take the lot 
to a clothing establishment, where 
they were thus equipped. Occa- 
sionally r but rarely, some of the 
boys from the far West objected. One 
of these is now a Bishop in Idaho. 
While the latter labored abroad he in- 
sisted on dispensing with the use of sus- 
penders, in wearing a suit with some 
semblance of antiquity and not of the 
regulation cut or color, and a somewhat 
unsymmetrical article for head-gear. 
Brother Cannon sometimes good-humor- 
edly referred to this unconventional but 
really estimable individual. 

President Cannon is a gifted speaker. 
In his earlier experience he was much 
more deliberate in utterance than later 
in life. In this he showed his usual fi- 
delity to detail. If he happened to make 
the slightest error in grammar he would 
there and then correct himself by re- 
peating a sentence. This was noticea- 
ble in the first discourse I heard him de- 
liver. It was on the subject of the ne- 
cessity of continuous revelation, which 
he explained with striking clearness. For 
many years he has ranked among the 
foremost public speakers of the nation. 
Added to his wide range of information 
and deep and sometimes tremendous ear- 
nestness, he has been aided by a clear, 
resonant voice. When warmed to his 
theme he has on occasions reached the 
highest flights of oratory, thrilling and 
captivating his auditors by the forceful- 
ness of his thought and the persuasive- 
ness of his address. 

There never was a man within the 
range of my acquaintance who could so 
readily as he adapt his speech to convey 
important thoughts to the minds of little 
children. This is one of the rarest of 
gifts. It is natural to him, and he de- 
veloped "it to a high degree of excellence 
by cultivation. Hence his speech has a 
wide applicability, ranging from the un- 
developed children to the most cultivated 
audiences of mature people. His ad- 
dresses have been far from being con- 
fined to theological and moral subjects, 
but have embraced a wide variety of 
themes, including civil government and 
other matters associated with the gen- 
eral well-being of humanity. 

He is an intense lover of little chil- 
dren, in whom he takes a deep interest. 
This trait has always been manifested 
in his visits to families. He never fails 

(See paare 2*6.) 



212 



THE SOUTHERN STAB. 




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Satubday, June 2, 1900. 



ARTICLES OF FAITH 

OP THE CHURCH OP JESUS CHRIST OP 
LATTER-DAY SAINTS. 

1. Wt baHm la God tha tens! Fathar, sod la HI* 8m 
JetM Christ, sad la taa B6\j Ghost. 

I. W* aallaf* that awa will Im . 
•let, aad.ael for Adam% traaacrsasioa. 

I. W* taliava taat. throogh tha atonamaat of Christ, all 
■a*Uad say at Mftd, by obadiaaea ta tha laws aad ordi. 
aaeeat of tha OotpaL 

4. W* balisra that tha Irst principles aad ordinaacs* of 
Jha Gospal ara 1 First, Faith in the Lord Jesut Christ ; sseoad, 
tbaaataaos; third, Baptism by immsrsioa for tha ramissioo 
of siast fourth, Layinc oa of Bands for tha Gift of tha Holy 
Obost. 

5. ffi t*|j4** tin! • man nott bo c*ll*4 of Owl, bjf 
w ppophbcjr, and bj the lijiflfc on of handi^' by thou wha ar* 
In autierltj, ta pretch the fosjisl sad sdmJbiitsi Ln. Lbs. ardi- 
osdcoi lber«of. 

i. W» b*lfe*e ill tltf tsnn? ofttnttslion that oxJcted lei 
tha primus* rhurch— namt-Oj, AfrOiUe*, Propbet*, i'sslon, 
Ts a s h st a , ETSnftliala, *tc 

■7. W« beJl«*s in ibo gift of teniae*, propbrcj, rcvslstton, 
frlilona, hanJinp, interpretation of tongiiM, elf, 

8. \V* toilers th« 8ibl« Ui be th» word of Ood, Si fit tail 
ti lran*lil*d rarrocLtj; wt ittg hutiuve Lhn Boa* nf UnmiOD 
lo bs tho word of Uod. 

P. We beUeve all that Ood ha« revealed, ill that He dem 
now ravnJ, sad ** belie** that tie wilt vet rsvetl men; treat 
4nd im peril nl tEncga perlalBiiij; Eo the Rt pedum of Odd, 

10, We bslteve in the filoraJ fatheri nf of I»rieJ Ind in the 
Toleration of the Ten Tribe* ; that #00 *iJI 0* tflilt npon 
this (Us Aoitrictn) e-obttiwnt ; that Cbrnl will reign para a- 
ally npon the nartb, and lh*t the taUh will bs r*»w*d sod 
nceit* iti paradhiacal [lory. 

11, Wt claim the prUl&n of worihljrini AloiEtJitj God 
accord* rig ta the dlcLatei of nur oonacience, and! allow all 
smaa tb* ss« prlf ilsgs, 1st them worship ho# b where* aw whit 



virtaoas. nod la doing good to all mm; indsad, wo any say 
that ws follow tha admonition of Paol, -Wo boUoTo aU things, 
wo bona all things," w* hava ondnrod may things, and nap* 
•» be able to sodara all things. If there is anything virtaaaa, 
lardy, or ofaood report or praisaworthy, we saab af tar then* 



We wish to call the attention of all de- 
linquent subscribers in regard to renew- 
ing their subscriptions. 

After July 1st all delinquent names 
will be dropped from our mailing list. 
Renew at once. 



UTAH WINS. 



The intercollegiate debate between the 
University of Nevada . and the Univer- 
sity of Utah ended in a glorious victory 
for the latter. The world is beginning 
to note that much good can come out 
of Utah, and as for orators, why the 
woods are full of them in Zion. 



WILL FLOAT THE FLAG. 



Deseret l^ews. 

Gov Wells has notified all state in- 
stitutions to throw old glory to the breeze 
on President Brigham Young's birthday, 



which occurs Friday, June 1st. While 
no word has been sent to business men, 
and those having charge of public build- 
ings, it is believed that they, too, will 
fall in line and do honor to Utah's 
founder, first Governor aud pioneer. 



BRIGHAM YOUNG'S BIRTHDAY. 

Yesterday marked the ninety-ninth an- 
niversary of the birth of Brigham Young, 
second President of the Church of Jesus 
Christ of Latter-day Saints. President 
Young was born in the daybreak of the 
nineteenth century, June 1st, 1801, in 
Whitiugham, Windham county, Ver- 
mont. Much has been written of this 
noble man— the "Lion of the Lord,*' as 
he was often called. Through the many 
persecutions, trials and tribulations 
which he passed, we find him ever 
comforting and encouraging the 
Saints. , At times when men's hearts 
and courage failed them, this Prophet of 
God marched bravely on, trusting in the 
mighty arm of his Creator. He led the 
children of God across the barren wil- 
derness, and was indeed the "modern 
Moses." 

One writer has truly said that "He 
could speak the language of the stars, 
discourse eloquently regarding the organ- 
ization of worlds; and then in simple 
terms direct how to plow and* plant, reap 
and sow." 

At his funeral, President George Q. 
Cannon said "he had been the brain, 
the eye, the ear, the mouth and hand, 
for the entire people of the Church. 
* * * Nothing was too small for his 
mind; nothing was too large. His mind 
was of that character that it could grasp 
the greatest subjects, and yet it had the 
capacity to descend to the minutest de- 
tails." 

"His sermons were as practical and 
full of common sense, as his demeanor 
was calm and devoid of extravagance and 
affectation. He discussed upon the high- 
est philosophy and upon doctrine the 
most profound, but in the same sermon 
taught his hearers how to beautify their 
homes, how to build cities, how to redeem 
the desert. The embodiment of his re- 
ligion was to do good here upon this 
earth, and he put his doctrine into prac- 
tice." "The Lord does not thank you 
for your alms," said he, "long prayers, 
sanctimonious speeches and long faces, 
if you refuse to extend the hand of 
benevolence and charity to your fellow- 
creatures, and lift them up, and encour- 
age and strengthen the feeble." 

The people, from whom he sprung, and 
with whom he had always mingled, 
sought his advice for its wisdom and 
moderation, and loved him for his 
hearty, genial, lofty soul, no less than 
for his conscientious course and deep 
convictions of right and justice. "He 
has had to settle difficulties with thou- 
sands, and where is the man, Mormon 
or anti-Mormon, who ever appealed to 
him for the decision of a case but was 
satisfied with the result?" 

He had faults, because he was mortal, 
and doubtless these appeared grave to 
his enemies: but his virtues swallowed 
them up. Ranking among the immortal 
benefactors of his race, his defects need 
no apologies, as his character needs no 
chiseled monument to mark its great- 
ness. In the whole mountain region of 
the West, we see the traces of his mar- 
velous genius and his still more wonder- 
ful influence on the minds of his people, 
their organizations and institutions. FJe 
stamped his opinions on his day and age, 
and succeeding generations, gazing 
through the clarifying glasses of time, 
will know the truth even better than we, 



and link his name with the greatest and 
noblest characters on earth. 

By the inspired pen of the gifted Eliza 
R. Snow, the following beautiful lines 
were written over thirty years ago: 

"Servant of God, most honor'd— mast be- 

Jov'd, 
By Him apointed and of Him approy'd. 
Prophet and Beer— You stand as . Moses 

stood. 
Between the people and the living God.** 

"All human wisdom and ail human skill 
Could never qualify you, thus, to -tall 
The place you occupy: nor could you bear 
Thro r human aid, the weight of duties 
there." 



BALLOTING FOR BISHOPS. 

"Behold, how good and how pleasant 
it is for brethren to dwell together in 
unity!" These words were uttered by 
the sweet singer of Israel— David, the 
Psalmist — and the expression of this holy 
man of God appeals to us very forcibly 
at this particular time when the sects 
of the day are divided and sub-divided — 
not only opposing each other, but also 
divided among themselves. An apt ex- 
ample, illustrative of the disunion exist- 
ing among preachers of the same pto- 
fessed faith, and one which comes right 
home to us, having transpired but a tew 
days ago; is the Methodist General Con- 
ference recently held in Chicago. In 
balloting for Bishops it seems that there 
was a sectional division— the East and 
the West crossing religious swords, en- 
gaging in sectarian tilts, thus causing 
them to be at loggerheads. Were they 
united? Not if the reports of that Con- 
ference be true. There were long-drawn- 
out deadlocks, and it was not until six- 
teen ballots had been taken that they 
succeeded in electing a Bishop. One can 
very clearly understand the jangling and 
contention rife in that convention, when 
we read that "the venerable John Lana- 
han, of Baltimore, moved to indefinitely 
postpone further balloting and thus end 
this wrangling." Amid much confusion 
his motion was laid on the table by a 
vote of 315 to 300, and another ballot 
'was ordered. Perhaps never before, 
since the organization of the Methodist 
Church, has there been manifest such 
dissension and contrariness as was ex- 
hibited in Chicago during their late Con- 
ference. 

In the good old days of Paul and Peter, 
James and John, preachers of righteous- 
ness were made able ministers of the 
Word by the Spirit of God. It is re- 
corded in the thirteenth ohapter of Acts 
of the Apostles, that when the Lord de- 
sired His servants — Barnabas and Saul 
(Paul), to go forth and declare righteous- 
ness and repentance unto both Jew and 
Gentile, it was the Holy Ghost which 
said, "Separate me Barnabas and Saul 
for the work whereunto I have called 
them" — not the ballot box, but the Holy- 
Ghost — quite a difference and a remark- 
able distinction. The Spirit and power 
of God will unite and join as one the 
hearts of the true followers of the lowly 
Son; while the evil influence will divide 
and confuse the children of men. If we 
are true believers in the written word 
of God— the Holy Bible — then we must 
admit that those who are disunited, and 
divided, are not living and acting in ac- 
cordance with Holy Writ, for Paul says, 
speaking by way of commandment in 
the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, that 
we should all speak "the same thing, and 
be perfectly joined together in the same 
mind, and in the same judgment." Christ 
prayed to His Father and asked. Him to 
make His followers one! He told them 
"to tarry in the city of Jerusalem" until 
they were endowed with power from on 



THE SOUTHERN STAB. 



213 



high; and furthermore He gave them to 
understand that this power— the gift of 
the Holy Ghost— should guide them into 
all truth. In guiding into "all truth" 
it would naturally enough lead them from 
all error, bind their hearts together, and 
make them see with an eye single to the 
glory of God. Paul says, "Let the same 
mind be in you as was in Christ Jesus." 
The mind in Christ Jesus was to do the 
wiil of His Father, to have His follow- 
ers united as one; that peace and har- 
mony may abound, and the sons of men 
agree. Consistency and unity thou hast 
neither Dlacc or lot in the confused 
ranks of modern Christianity. 



"LKAltN WISDOM IN THY IfOUTH." 

WTaen that great and good Prophet- 
Alma — whose record we have written in 
the Book of Mormon, was giving his 
farewell instructions to his beloved son, 
Helaman, he uttered these very beauti- 
ful and expressive words: "Oh. remem- 
ber, my son, and learn wisdom in thy 
youth; yea, learn in thy youth to keep 
the commandments of God; yea, and cry 
unto God for all thy support; yea, let 
all thy doings be unto the Lord, and 
whithersoever thou goest, let it be in the 
Lord; yea, let thy thoughts be directed 
unto the Lord; yea, let the affections of 
thy heart be placed upon the Lord for- 
ever." Could a loving father give unto 
his son better admonition or more choice 
counsel, than that given above? "Learn 
wisdom in thy youth." This is the se- 
cret of final success and eternal happi- 
ness—learn wisdom. It will aid you in 
the betterment of your condition tem- 
porally, and be beneficial to the salvation 
of your soul eternally. Says the wise 
man, Solomon, "Get wisdom, get under- 
standing." Ah! wisdom, thou art a pre- 
cious gem, possessed by the few, yet 
sought after by the many. Some have 
knowledge, using it merely as a stalking 
horse to vain glory for self; but few pos- 
sess this rare and priceless . jewel— Wis- 
dom. 

These words spoken by the faithful 
Prophet— Alma— informs us that we 
must "Learn wisdom." .Yes, "learn wis- 
dom," by experience, by research, by in- 
vestigation, and above all, by revelation. 
What a blessing we would be to our 
parents, our associates and our God, 
were we but to learn wisdom in our early 
days and apply it, as is pleasing in the 
sight of Our Father in heaven. We have 
too much worldly wisdom, and not 
enough of that genuine, pure, divine wis- 
dom that emanates from the throne of 
God. "The fear of the Lord is the be- 
ginning of wisdom," say** the Psalmist 
David, (Ps. 111:10), and the question 
naturally enough arises: Do we fear 
God? Or, are we not puffed up in the 
pride of our own hearts — thinking we 
know something— being contentious, big- 
oted and self-righteous? If we lack 
wisdom; if we are void of understanding; 
if we fail to possess knowledge, light and 
intelligence, let us do as James has com- 
manded, "If any of you lack wisdom, let 
him ask of God." Why not ask the Lord 
for wisdom? Surely we need the counsel 
of a kind, loving, just, merciful Father, 
who holds in His hands the destinies of 
men and nations. "A man of under- 
standing hath wisdom," but fools die for 
the want of it; for wisdom is better 
than rubies," and all other things that 
may be desired cannot be compared 
to it. 

Let everyone give ear, and let the heart 
of man incline to the instructions of this 
dutiful, godly parent, Alma, to his obe- 
dient, faithful son, Helaman. 
Learn these beautiful words; let them 



be engraved upon the fleshy tablets of 
your heart; let them be burned in living 
letters of gold upon the conscience, to 
stir you up in remembrance of your duty 
to God, to your fellow-man, and last, but 
not least, to your own selves. 



History of the Southern States Mission. 

(Continued from page 202.) 

May, 1807. 

President Kimball visited Florida and 
succeeded in stirring the Klders to great- 
er activity, though he was decidedly un- 
well the entire time. He found the con- 
ference in good condition, and the Elders 
willing to work for the Master's cause. 

Leaving Florida, President Kimball 
took violently ill, and was carried from 
the car at Lamison, Ala., where the El- 
ders met and conveyed him to Magnolia, 
the conference place of meeting. Elder 
Musser visited the South Carolina Elders 
in conference on the 15th and lt5th. They 
seemed to be in good spirits and were 
anxious to be taught further regarding 
their duties as servants of God. It was 
quite remarkable to note how faithful 
and determined were the Saints who at- 
tended conference. Some of them walked 
as far as 250 miles, and several fami- 
lies traveled long distances in camp wag- 
ons. They were striving to observe the 
"word of wisdom" and the grand law of 
tithing; they were thirsting to drink from 
the fountain of living truth. Elder Ry- 
dalch was appointed to visit the Missis- 
sippi and Louisiana conferences, and 
labor among the Elders for about two 
months, prior to his going home. 

While conducting meeting at Elk Park, 
Mitchell county, North Carolina, Elders 
John R. Terry and W. H. Welling were 
assailed by a mob of outlaws, who threw 
at the Elders, abusing them in a lively 
shape; however, the Elders escaped unin- 
jured. Mr. Bowers, the hotel keeper, 
and a good friend to the Elders, emp^ 
tied his six-shooter into the mob, piercing 
through one man's coat sleeve and an- 
other's vest. Twenty Elders arrived 
from the west near the close of the 
month. 

June, 1897. 

Oppressive heat seemed to reign su- 
preme during June, in consequence of 
which many of the Elders suffered great 
inconveniences; still the work progressed. 
A goodly number of baptisms were per- 
formed. Elder Albert Matheson arrived 
at the office on the 18th to assist in the 
work. Elder Joseph McGregor was 
chosen to temporarily preside over the 
North Alabama conference. 

The spirit of mobocracy made a faint 
display in South Alabama conference, but 
resulted in no harm to the Elders. 

Nineteen Elders arrived on the 22d inst, 
and were assigned to their respective 
fields of labor. Following is a report of 
work done in the mission -by the twelve 
conferences for the three months ending 
June 26, 1897. 

Miles walked, 149,090; families visited, 
49,216; families revisited, 35,171; reject- 
ed testimonies, 3,677; refused entertain- 
ment, 3,488; tracts distributed, 73,621; 
dodgers distributed, 39,697; books sold, 
2,251; books given away. 2,290; books 
loaned, 1,920; meetings held, 16,569; gos- 
pel conversations, 71,746; gospel letters, 
1,307; children blessed, 296; baptisms, 
587.- 

July, 1897. 

A good deal of sickness was developed 
throughout the mission on account of the 
oppressive ht»at. 

On the night of the 3d inst., at Rodger- 
way, S. C« the meeting house belong- 
ing to our Saints was burned to ashes by 
their enemies. The fire broke out Sat- 
urday night, shortly after the close of 
the last meeting on the first day of 
branch conference. On the second day 
of conference, meetings were held at tb** 
homes of the Saints, who, undaunted by 
the outrage committed, subscribed $75 
toward the erection of a new house of 
worship. 

(To be continued.) 



JOHN W. RIGDON IS IN SALT LAKE 

John W. Rigdon, of New York City, 
the .only surviving son of Sidney Kig- 
don, tirst counselor of the Prophet Jo- 
seph Smith, is visiting old friends and 
acquaintances in Salt Lake City. He 
recently arrived from the East. In the 
course of a conversation he stated that 
a morning paper had not quoted him 
coriectly in some portions or the inter- 
view that appeared that morning, in 
regard to his father's conversion to the 
"Mormon'' Church, and his first knowl- 
edge of the Book of Mormon, he stated 
that he thought Oliver Cowdery was the 
man who brought the book to his father, 
but that Parley P. Pratt was with him 
at the time. Mr. Kigdon stated that he 
went to his father just before the lat- 
ter's death, and told him that if he knew 
anything regarding the coming forth of 
the Book of Mormon, that had not been 
told, he owed it as a duty to himself and 
his family to tell it. The father replied 
that he had but one story to tell, and 
that was the story told him by the 
Prophet Joseph Smith, that the records 
from which that book was taken were 
engraved on gold plates, and the father 
then testified to his son that Joseph 
Smith was a Prophet of God, and that 
an angel handed him the plates from 
which was taken the Book of Mormon. 
"Do you believe that, Mr. Kigdon?" 
"Yes, sir, I believe every word of it. For 
a long time I was skeptical about it, but 
now 1 believe every word my father told 
me and my heart is with the Mormon 
people. So was my father's; he would 
never permit a man to speak disrespect- 
fully of the Church in his presence." 

Mr. Kigdon stated that it was his be- 
lief that Joseph Smith instituted the 
system of polygamy, and although he 
(Kigdon) never subscribed to the doc- 
trine, he never said that it came from 
the devil, as was stated in the interview 
with the Tribune. 

In regard to the introduction of polyg- 
amy by Joseph Smith at this early date, 
there has always been a dispute. The 
Josephite branch of the Church insists 
that polygamy was not practiced or 
sanctioned by Joseph Smith, but was 
introduced by Brigham Young when he 
became the head of the Church. Mr. 
Kigdon said yesterday that he had posi- 
tive knowledge that polygamy was in- 
troduced by Joseph Smith as early as 
1843. 

Mr. Kigdon affirms that the two 
points on which his father hung out 
were polygamy *nd the accession of 
Brigham Young to the leadership of the 
Church, and although he never recov- 
ered from the humiliation, and spent the 
remainder of his days in silence, when- 
ever the Church was assailed the old 
fire would kindle in his eyes, he would 
become animated and the assailant 
would soon retire a thoroughly whipped 
man. 

Mr. Kigdon by profession is a lawyer, 
lie is a ready and intelligent conversa- 
tionalist, and very affable in manner. 
His sensitive nature was manifested, 
when, on speaking of his father's lonely 
and brooding life, he became so affected 
that he broke into tears. 

He related many very interesting ex- 
periences incident to his boyhood life in 
the Church, and stated that he was 
proud of having been baptized by Hy- 
rum Smith, the Prophet's- brother, and 
having his father and the Prophet as 
an audience. He was taken from what 
was supposed to be his deathbed, and 
baptized in the river, after which he 
quickly recovered. 



214 



THE SOUTHERN STAB. 



This is John W. Rigdon's second trip 
to Utah; his first visit was in 1803, 
crossing the plains with an ox team. 

When he was there at that time Mr. 
Rigdon states he was urged by Brigham 
Young to write to his father, conveying 
to him Brigham Young's earnest request 
to come and make his home in Salt 
Lake. He wrote the letter, and al- 
though he hoped that his father would 
accede to the request, he felt at the 
same time that he would not do it. He 
remained here and in Montana for two 
years. In 18t>5 he went to Fort Benton, 
built a flatboat and traveled down the 
Missouri to St. Joe, Mo. 

Mr. Rigdon was born at Mentor, O., 
in 1880. He has a wife and three chil- 
dren, two daughters and a son. His son 
resides in California, and the others of 
the family still live in New York. 

President Snow was a friend of Mr. 
Rigdon's father, and Mr. Rigdon him- 
self knew the President in the very early 
days of the Church. 

Mr. Rigdon said he expected to re- 
main some time, and would try to see 
more of the country than he did when 
he was out there almost forty years ago. 

He stated he liked Salt Lake, and if 
circumstances were such as to permit 
him to move there', he would certainly 
do so. 

In conclusion, Mr. Rigdon said: "I 
feel well towards the Mormon people, 
and I hope that they will continue to 
prosper, for I feel that they are the peo- 
ple of God." 



WHIMS OF NOTED AUTHORS. 

Habits and fancies of famous authors 
are a fruitful source of investigation for 
the student of literary curiosities. Bal- 
zac affected a monkish habit when writ- 
ing, a garment so wholly at variance 
with his lax code of morals as to be in 
a measure grotesque. This robe was nec- 
essary before he could settle down to 
continuous work, and then he labored 
with tremendous energy. Dickens was 
uneasy and incapable of satisfactory 
composition unless he was seated at a 
certain table. When he was in Paris and 
Bologne in 1855 and 1856 engaged in 
writing "Little Dorrit," he carried this 
table with him, having been compelled to 
abandon the attempt to work at the novel 
until his favorite piece of furniture was 
sent to him from England. The prolific 
Southey had also a favorite desK and 
though author of 109 novels and innumer- 
able articles and reviews, he could not 
write a sentence unless he was seated at 
that particular desk with his beloved 
books and familiar articles of library fur- 
niture around him. But a singular fancy, 
stranger than the foregoing, was that of 
Bacon, who drew inspiration from the 
fumes of a bottle of claret poured on 
earth which had been freshly upturned. 
Some Grotesque Notions. 

Johnson ridiculed all such fancies as 
unworthy of any sensible man, and de- 
clared that if a person were capable of 
writing at all he could write under any 
conditions "if he set himself doggedly to 
it." Presumably the good doctor would 
have attributed Lord Orrery's literary in- 
dustry while suffering from gout not so 
much to the efficacy of the attack as an 
intellectual stimulus as to the fact that 
the gout compelled the noble author to 
indulge in a sedentary occupation. De 
Quincey is authority for the statement 
that James Hogg, the Ettrick shepherd, 
and Graham, the. author of "The Sal>- 
bath," were unable to versify with any 
degree of facility unless they sat down 
with boots and spurs on. This roust have 
produced a lively sense of riding Pe- 
gasus in a manner less imaginary than lit- 
eral. One of the two poets named is like- 
ly to have imitated the other's whim, just 
as John Phillips, an English poet, whose 
existence is now known only to special 



students of minor English literature dur- 
ing the Cromwellian and restoration pe- 
riods, certainly copied the fancy of Isaak 
Vosclus, the Dutch scholar, in having his 
hair combed by a servant while meditat- 
ing his works. George Wither, whose 
poems, written about the same time, are 
spiritual in subject and treatment, re- 
cords that he was obliged to watch and 
fast while engaged in poetical composi- 
tions. His inspiraton vanished if he 
touched meat or drink; "even if I take a 
glass of wine I cannot write a line," he 
says. 

Made Themselves Ridiculous. 

Dickens was a great walker and a keen 
observer during his pedestrian exercise, 
but exercise was the primary impulse 
that started him to cover miles of streets 
and roads. Coleridge, however, told Haz- 
litt that he never composed so readily as 
when walking over uneven ground or 
making his way through a coppice with 
the twigs brushing his face. The medita- 
tive Wordsworth thought out most of his 
later poems while walking to and fro, but 
he preferred a straight gravel path 
where, he could wander mechanically, 
heedless of any obstruction or impedi- 
ment. These are different in kind from 
those caprices of costume such as Buf- 
fon's helplessness, without a spotless shirt 
and starched frill. A leading modern 
novelist wrote in a variety of uniforms 
and masquerade dresses according as the 
character was military or historical; he 
could only get into the proper vein by 
wearing the costume of the leading char- 
acter in the period treated. Dryden in- 
dulged a peculiar fancy in having him- 
self bled at frequent intervals and he ate 
raw meat, believing that it strengthened 
his imagination. This, however, was a 
less harmful stimulant than was used by 
so many famous authors. De Quincey 
and Coleridge were the two chief writers 
addicted to opium, but Bishop Horsley, 
Dean Milner, Shadwell. the poet, and 
'that precious imposter, George Psalman- 
azar. were addicted to the drug. 
They All Tippled. 

The use of wine in the eighteenth cen- 
tury was so general that practically all 
the authors who flourished then were 
drinkers. One is surprised, however, to 
find Blackstone sitting down to write his 
"Commentaries" fortified with a bottle 
of j>ort before him. Voltaire was an in- 
veterate coffee drinker while engaged in 
writing, and overindulgence in that bev- 
erage during a protracted literary effort 
was the proximate cause of his death. 
Schiller also drank coffee, "to thaw the 
frost out of his wits," but he fancied im- 
bibing the infusion while seated with his 
feet In hot water. This, he believed, 
stimulated his imagination in sluggish 
moods, and he refreshed it during work 
by copious drafts from a flask of Rhenish 
wine. Montaigne's amiable partiality for 
the companionship of his cat is a famous 
instance of a writer's whim. We can 
imagine the studious essayist stroking his 
feline pet with one hand while with the 
other he penned the witty and wise re- 
sults of his reading and meditation. 
Hobbes, the philosopher, indulged in ten 
or twelve pipes with a candle" during the 
time he sat at his desk each day, but so 
many authors have been dependent on 
tobacco since the ill-treated Sir Walter 
Raleigh introduced the Nicotian weed to 
Europe that their enumeration Is imprac- 
ticable. Tennyson, it will be remem- 
bered, was an inveterate smoker among 
the latter-day poets. 

Creatures of Caprice. 

Seasons and the conditions of weather 
were believed by many authors to have 
affected their imagination and facility of 
expression. Even the sane and philo- 
sophic Milton declared that he never could 
compose anything to his satisfaction ex- 
cept in the period between the vernal and 
autumnal exquinoxes. This was his sea 
son of inspiration and poetry flowed 
spontaneously. Thomson, who sang of 
"The Seasons." Collins and Gray con- 
vinced themselves that their muses wero 
subject to exactly the same influences as 
Milton's. What probably gave rise to 



such fancies as have been alluded to 
might be worthy of investigation by the 
student of psychology. It is known that 
obedience to some little superstition rela- 
tive to going to sleep will cure sleepless- 
ness. Perhaps some fortunate composi- 
tion at a particular time or place or un- 
der some peculiar circumstances may 
have induced the belief that the recur- 
rence or reproduction of the conditions 
might be essential to the best work. But 
we do not learn that Bunyan ever wanted 
to be sent back to Bedford jail in order to 
renew the literary inspiration which gave 
birth to "The Pilgrim's Progress." Nor 
did Cervantes care to return to the 
wretchedness of the Spanish dungeon in 
which he wrote "Don Quixote." Indeed, 
in the last analysis most of the whims 
of authors may be traced to some form 
of personal luxury or sybaritic indulgence. 
—Philadelphia Press. 



GLEANINGS. 
Coming From Nevada. 

Salt Lake Herald. 

This afternoon fifteen representatives 
from the University of Nevada will ar- 
rive in this city to take part in the inter- 
collegiate meet and public debate with 
the University of Utah. The debate will 
take place in the theatre on Friday even- 
ing, the 25th inst., and the athletic con- 
test will take place on the university 
campus at 2:30 Saturday afternoon. 
***** 

Brigham Young Birthday Celebration. 

It has been decided to ask the children 
of the Sunday schools of the Salt Lake 
stake of Zion to take part in the celebra- 
tion of the birthday of Brigham Young 
on June 1. At 9 o'clock on that day they 
will meet at the monument at the head 
of Main street. This thev will decorate 
with flowers and they will then be taken 
to the Tabernacle, where they will take 
part in commemorative services. 
***** 

This week the brethren and sisters at 
the oftice here enjoyed a call from Elder 
Geo. H. Emery, who has completed a 
two years* mission in the Virginia confer- 
ence. Elder Emery carries with him 
that sweet, congenial influence so condu- 
cive to friend making in the field, and 
so beneficial for the converting of the 
honest in heart. He is the son of Bishop 
Geo. H. Emery, of the 16th Ward, Salt 
Lake City, and has proven himeslf a wor- 
thy, true representative of his noble sire. 
He returns to be a joy to his family, an 
honor to his ward, and a benefactor unto 
all who s tan (J in need. 

The Three and Four Han. 

"At the close of the war," said a 
Southern representative today, "a great 
many negroes in the South refused to 
leave their old 'homes. My father gath- 
ered his former slaves about him and 
told them'they were free and must leave 
him. Some went and others remained. 
Among the latter was an old darky 
named Eph, who swore he would not 
leave, but would stay and take his 
chances. 'All right, Eph,* said my 
father. 'Just take four or five acres 
and go in on the three and four plan/ 

" *An' what am dat, massa, fo' de 
Lawd's sake?' 

" 'Why, if you raise three loads of 
corn you must give me one and you 
keep two.' So Uncle Eph went to work 
and raised a crop. At harvest time my 
father rode over the farm and noticed 
that Eph had cut his corn. Seeing the 
old fellow, he rode up and asked him 
why he didn't do as he had agreed about 
dividing the corn. 

" 'Well, massa, yoh said if I raised 
free loads of corn I wuz to gib yoh one 
an* take two loads myself, an' I done 
only raised two loads.' " — Washington 
Times. 



THE SOUTHERN STAR. 



215 



In Memory of the Soldier Dead. 

Extracts from an article written bv Gen. J e Wheeler for 
the (Jhattanooga Times 



Devotion to the memory of the dead Is 
not the birthright of any one people, or 
tribe, or nation, nor doea it find its ori- 
gin in any given period of history. It is 
a sentiment as ancient as creation, and 
as widespread as humanity. The first 
death recorded in sacred history left a 
broken-hearted Eve to hand down her 
tears to sorrowing mortals, and from that 
time there have ever been bleeding hearts 
which find solace in bringing flowers and 
sweet spices and precious gifts to lavish 
upon the lifeless clay, once the casket of 
a precious, immortal soul. 

Among the rudest and most savage peo- 
ple we find sparks of this sentiment. The 
old heathen held their mosts beautiful 
and attractive festivals in honor of the 
dead, and selected their most famous 
orators to chant the praises of the de- 

{>arted. The older nations of the east al- 
owed this devotion to degenerate into 
ancestor- worship. 

Our aboriginal Indians have thousands 
of quaint rites, varying with the number- 
less tribes into which they are divided, 
for the purpose of commemorating the 
dead and: keeping alive ill the hearts of 
the young the memory of the brave and 
glorious deeds of their departed chieftans 
and the beauty and virtues of their moth- 
ers. 

A sentiment so universally exhibited 
must be deeply rooted in the human 
heart; it has its source, indeed, in the 
eternal youth of the soul which finds 
its counterpart in the ever renewed 
springtime of mother earth. The heart 
may be crushed and frozen by the sordid 
cares of life which bind it c^own with 
the numbness of scores of winters, and 
yet, as the glad awakening earth flings 
up its free arms to embrace the ever- 
renewing youth and newness of the 
spring-tide, "Hope springs eternal," and 
the soul bowed down by grief and care 
and even the weight of years, lifts itself 
up in the gladness of reawakened life 
to catch the joys of the newborn spring. 
The faint murmur of the bursting bud 
and blossom, the gurgling music of the 
brook, the drone of insects and the me- 
lodious voices of nature's feathered chor- 
isters all join to soothe the spirit and 
send a quickened pulse throughout the 
weary frame. 

We look about for the dear ones wont 
to share life's joys with us. The*y are 
not visible to mortal eyes nor do they re- 
spond to our yearning call; but to the 
keener senses of love and memory they 
stand revealed so near that we can al- 
most touch their garments; changeless, 
immortal, they tread strange and unex- 
plored spheres, beckoning us ever upward 
and onward to higher and holier lives. 
And we can but keep their memory 
green, we can but salve the wounds in 
the sad hearts of those who survive them 
by enshrining in sweetest flowers the 
graves of all our loved ones gone before; 
oven more ardently and intensely does 
the heart yearn to express itself towards 
our soldier dead and the yearning leads 
us to place srarlands upon the graves of 
those whose heroic valor has won for 
them a country's love and gratitude. 
Or I or in of Memorial day. 

The American custom of decorating the 
graves of the soldier dead originated with 
the fair women of the southern states. 
If I mistake not, Alabama was the first 
to inaugurate the annual custom of ob- 
serving a day as sacred to that purpose. 

Beginning with the first anniversary of 
the close of the great struggle between 
the north and south, the ladies of the 
south, led by those of Alabama and Geor- 
gia, have held appropriate ceremonies 
each recurring spring, in honor of the be- 
loved heroes who fell in the civil war. 
The early spring of the more genial cli- 
mate of the gulf states brings its wealth 
of flowers in time to celebrate the mem- 
ory of the dead during the month when 



the great armies of Liee and Johnston 
yielded to the overpowering forces of 
Grant and Sherman; but in the northern 
states Memorial Day comes a month 
later. 

The 30th of May was chosen and for- 
mally set aside for the purpose on May 
5, 1868, in an order to the Grand Army 
posts issued by Gen. John A. Logan, then 
commander of the Grand Army of the 
Republic. The general public took parr, 
in the ceremonies thus inaugurated and 
the custom was so pleasing to the peo- 
ple at large that within a few years most 
of the northern states had made the day 
a legal holiday, to be set aside during 
all time for the special observance of 
memorial services in honor of the dead 
soldiers. 

There was at first inevitable bitterness 
and sectional rancor, but these senti- 
ments were little felt between the veter- 
ans themselves who survived the war. 
They grappled with one another and rec- 
ognized in Drave antagonists foemen wor- 
thy of their steel, mutual respect soon 
ripened into esteem and confidence; the 
conflict had broadened, not narrowed 
their souls, and by degrees the annual 
festivities of Memorial Day have wiped 
out the bitter feelings engendered by in- 
ternecine strife. 

***** 

And the boys who followed the flag to 
the far-away Philippines and djed be- 
neath the Stars and Stripes— who stops 
to ask their state or section ? It is enough 
that they are our soldiers, defenders of 
this great republic; and no honor is too 
gp*eat to pay to the memory of the Amer- 
ican soldier. His prowess, his endurance, 
his fortitude and nis courage have chal- 
lenged the admiration of the world, and 
are equalled only by his tender generosity 
toward a fallen foe. 

Today, after the suns and rains and 
dews of thirty-five years have called forth 
flowers to carpet the graves of the heroes 
who gave up their lives on the battle- 
fields of the civil war, or in the hospitals 
crowded by the conflicts and hardships 
of the struggle, we are apt to forget what 
men of '6l-'65 endured for their country. 
The shout of victory reverberating down 
the chain of time silences the moan of 
anguish which rose from the place over 
which brave columns charged. The pic- 
ture presented to our imagination of 
bright uniformed hosts, gleaming swords 
and prancing steeds, obscure those other 
scenes when the angel of death came to 
claim the men whose graves we now dec- 
orate with flowers. 

Leuoni of Patrlotl«m. 

We would have our children learn the 
lesson of patriotism which comes from 
the bivouac, the tedious march and the 
battlefield. We would have them emu- 
late the self-sacrifice of those men who so 
cheerfully left the office, the shop, the 
counting room or the plow to show their 
loyalty by fighting, and, if need be, dy- 
ing for their country. Whether they 
fought beneath the Stars and Stripes or 
beneath the Southern Cross, they fought 
for what they conceived to be right, and 
sealed their loyalty with their blood. 

If Egypt built pyramids to honor the 
memory of her tyrannical kings, it is fit- 
ting that America should keep green the 
memory of those who died in defense of 
the liberty our ancestors won by battling 
against a king. What other nation has 
such good cause for honoring its heroes 
as America? 

Not to uphold dynasties or emperors 
and kings do our soldiers battle, but for 
eternal truth and justice, and to guaran- 
tee to all over whom the flag of our coun- 
try floats the advantages of the blessings 
of the principles of the free republican 
government, which has made ours the 
leading one among the powerful nations 
of the earth. It is for this that Ameri- 
can soldiers go forth cheerfully to endure 



the hardships of the soldier's life; to die, 
perhaps, the soldier's death. 
***** 

The heroism of those whose graves we 
decorate, whether they be "The Boys of 
'CI," or "The Boys of '98," is one of the 
bright jewels in the diadem that crowns 
the brow of American liberty. It »s 
part of the heritage of every child born 
beneath our flag. Therefore, in honor- 
ing the men who died for the millions 
yet to come, for in giving testimony to 
the courage and loyalty of the men who 
sleep in soldiers' graves, we enhance 
the nation's glory and render the name 
American citizen of still more priceless 
value. 

So long as nations, like individuals, are 
prone to forget the rights of contempo- 
raries, war will be an unfortuante ne- 
cessity. The question, then, for states 
men and humanitarians to consider is 
how best to avert the horrors of war. 

In Gen. Washington's speech to both 
houses of congress, Jan. 8, 1700, we have 
the assurance of that great soldier and 
statesman that: 

"To be prepared for war is one of the 
most effectual means of preserving 
peace.'* 

The patriotism of American citizens ren- 
ders it unnecessary to maintain such 
great armies as Europe seems forced to 
keep ready for action. But there are 
many other ways to prepare for war. 

A nation whose people are ever ready 
to defend it against insult or aggression 
and to do battle for the right, commands 
universal respect. 

"Eternal vigilance is the price of lib- 
erty," and not too great a price, our an- 
cestors thought when at fearful odds 
they wrestled with a mighty foe, and 
like the stripling David came out of the 
conflict strong and free. 

The destinies of nations are shaped by 
those who fight and die at their coun- 
try's call. History is written in the blood 
of the brave and the true; But the man- 
hood 'of a nation is formed by the hand 
that rocks the cradle. So long as Amer- 
ican mothers teach their sons that the 
greatest possible privilege and the high- 
est honor is to fight for country, its safe- 
ty and its honor, so long shall we have 
a nation in whose honor, chivalry^glory 
and patriotism shall dominate. Would 
we check the greed for wealth and power, 
and stop the mad career of a mammon 
worship let us encourage the cultivation 
of high ideals and lofty ambitions. Let 
us cherish the memory of our dead he- 
roes and while we minister to the neces- 
sities of the living, let us not forget the 
dead, but as each Memorial Day rolls 
round, let us scatter flowers above the 
sacred dust and renew our tributes of 
admiration and gratitude. 

Motion and Color. 

The relations between light and the 
eye are wouderful, and the rapidity of 
the vibrations of the atmosphere neces- 
sary to produce color sensations are 
amazing. To get the sensation of red- 
ness our eyes are affected 482,000,000 
times in a second; of yellowness, 540,- 
000,000, and of violet, 707,000,000. So 
that the seven-hued rainbow, whose 
firm and subtle flame is reared out of 
drops of water that are ever shifting, 
plays upon the human eye in a manner 
so astounding that the strongest mind 
might stager beneath the awful revela- 
tion.— London Opinion. 



Releases and Appointments. 

Releases. 

Middle Tennessee conference.— L. R. 
Jensen, H. J. Foulger, Jr. 
Virginia conference— Geo. H. Emery. 

Appointments. 

Virginia conference — Isaac Glegg. 

Transfers. 
R. W. Smith, of the Chattanooga con- 
ference, has been called to labor in the 
office. 



216 



THE SOUTHERN STAR. 





. REPORT OF MISSION CONFERENCES FOR WEEK ENDING MAY 12, 1900. 




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SKETCH OF PRESIDENT CANNON. 



(From page 211.) 



to Rive a liberal share of attention to the 
little ones, with whom he pleasantly 
converses. In this capacity he has ex- 
hibited marked tenacity of memory by 
calling each child of a household by 
name after a lapse of two or three 
years between a, former and a later visit. 

His love for and interest in his own 
progeny are hardly exceeded. This pa- 
triarchal instinct prompts him to group 
the members of his fam> " and their 
branches around himself, he beinp the 
center of the aggregation. The wisdom 
of this is apparent. It is the process of 
patriarchal populous expansion. Its per- 
petuation means an incalculable wonder- 
ful result. So long as the organization 
and solidification are preserved, the ac- 
cretion must necessarily be ceaseless. 
This practical effect of his personality 
is but one of numerous evidences of the 
communal tendency of his thoughts and 
far-reaching character of his ideals. 

It must not be supposed that Brother 
Cannon's interest in and affection for 
children are merely of a centralized char- 
acter. On the contrary, these sentiments 
are, with him, decidedly expansive. His 
work at the head and front of the Sun- 
day School system, now so conspicuous 
a feature among the Latter-day Saints. 

K laces this beyond question. He took 
old of this labor when the enterprise 
had scarce an existence as^an organiza- 
tion. Now it extends to every settle- 
ment where the Saints are found, and 
has numbers of scattered branches in 
the nations abroad. I have no idea that 
this beneficent establishment has ks 
equal in completeness and efficiency in 
the world. The spectacle presented by 
the Jubilee celebration held in the Tab- 
ernacle, Salt Lake City, Oct. 8th, 1899, 
was of such a character as to impress 
any intelligent beholder with this 
thought. Who can count the number of 
precious souls whose feet have been di- 
rected and maintained in the path of rec- 
titude and salvation by the agency of 
this great institution? If the subject of 
this sketch had performed no other work 
in life than that which he has accom- 

glished in connection with the Sunday 
chool cause, it would entitle him to have 
iiis name handed down as a benefactor, 
to the latest generation. What he has 
produced under the blessing of God. 
through this agency, radiates beyond 
the limits of time and stretches into 
eternity, where the multiplication of its 
effects will parallel duration. 

The man about whom I write has 
been conspicuous for the strength of his 
personal magnetism. As a rule he cap- 
tivates those who come in contact with 
him. The influence of his personal at- 
mosphere has not only been felt among 
his co-religionists, but has extended to 
all classes of men whom he has met in 
the world. I should say that he is a 
natnral statesman. This has been vir- 
tuallv admitted by national characters 
of this Republic, while he occupied the 
position of Delegate to the Congress of 



the United States from the Territory of 
Utah, and siuce. While acting in that 
capacity he showed his usual apprecia- 
tion of the necessity for familiarity with 
details. Not only did he acquaint him- 
self with the * functions of government 
and the features indicating the limita- 
tion lines between its different depart- 
ments, but likewise with the names, 
constituencies, and some personal par- 
ticulars regarding every member of each 
branch of the National Legislature. He 
was therefore regarded by his eoteni- 
poraries in that body as a kind of indi- 
vidual intelligence bureau. When any 
one member made inquiry of another 
about some particular Senator or mem- 
ber of Congress, it was by no means un- 
usual for the gentleman interrogated to 
say, *'I don't know. Inquire of Mr. 
Cannon from Utah. He seems to know 
everybody." This species of informa- 
tion was doubtless useful to the gentle- 
man who possessed it. As a rule, men 
are pleased when they observe evidences 
of being remembered. 

Running through the career of this 
Striking character are strong evidences 
of his adherence to duty as he has un- 
derstood it. This ideal has been sus- 
tained under circumstances that have 
demanded, at the time, much personal 
sacrifice. His responses to calls made 
upon him by his superiors in office in the 
Cnurch of Christ have been prompt and 
unhesitating. I have found in my obser- 
vation of men this statement of Carlyle 
to be unqualifiedly correct: "Great 
minds are respectfully obedient to all 
that is over them. Only small souls are 
otherwise." 

The standard of the subject of this 
sketch in relation to charity has always 
been of the highest order. His exalted 
ideal in this respect has not only been 
exhibited in his public and private 
teachings, but, without doubt, is per- 
sonally exemplified in his entire mortal 
career to the present. This eminent po- 
sition regarding the most important sub- 
ject that occunv human contemplation 
has undergone in him but a single change 
— a modification in his views in relation 
to those who have not practically occu- 
pied the same elevated moral position 
as himself. 

Has Brother Cannon exhibited faults? 
Ask me if he is human. Imperfections 
are the lot of humanity. Wnere there 
is light there is shadow— the more bril- 
liant the light the deeper the shadow 
appears by contrast. The failings of 
mere men of the world pass without no- 
tice, while the defects of individuals con- 
spicuous for great qualities appear ab- 
normally large by immediate contrast 
with their opposite. In this case I speak 
not of imperfections. They should be 
buried in oblivion by the overwhelming 
weight of his virtues. 



ABOUT PEOPLE. 

Only one man who served in the Con- 
federate Senate during the war is now 
to be found in the United States Senate. 
That is Vest, of Missouri. When he re- 



tires the last of the Confederate Sena- 
tors will have passed from public life. 



When the Duke of Norfolk was about 
to depart from London for Africa he 
took his sword to the private chapel in 
the Roman Catholic Archbishop's house, 
where, according to an ancient rite, it 
was solemnly blessed before the altar 
by Cardinal Vaughan. 



Miss Bessie Shirley, of Salt Lake City, 
owns and edits a mining journal. Though 
she is but 19 years old, she has estab- 
lished the paper herself, and has made 
a success of it. She makes weekly trips 
to all the neighboring mining centers in 
search of news, and wields a great deal 
of influence. 



The Cynic 

The cynic is one who never sees a 
good quality in a man and never fails 
to see a bad one. He is the human owl, 
vigilant in darkness and blind to light; 
mousing for vermin and never seeing no- 
ble game. 

The cynic puts all human actions into 
only two classes, openly bad and secret- 
ly bad; he holds that no man does a 
good thing except for profit; his insinu- 
ations and inuendoes fall indiscriminate- 
ly upon every lovely thiug like frost 
upon the flowers. If Mr. A is pro- 
nounced a religious man he will reply, 
"Yes, on Sundays." Mr. B has just 
joined the church. "Certainly, the 
elections are coming on." The minister 
of the Gospel is an example of diligence. 
"'Tis his trade." Thus his eye strains 
out every good quality and takes in only 
the bad. To him religion is hypocrisy, 
honesty only a preparation for fraud, 
virtue only a want of opportunity. The 
livelong day he will coolly sit with sneer- 
ing lip, transfixing every character that 
is presented. 

It is impossible to indulge in such ha- 
bitual severity of opinion against our 
fellow-men without injuring the tender- 
ness and delicacy of our own feelings. 
A man will be what his most cherished 
feelings are. If he encourace a noble 
generosity, every feeling will be en- 
riched by it; if he nurse bitter and en- 
venomed thoughts, his own spirit will 
absorb the poison, and he will crawl 
among men like a burnished adder whose 
life is mischief and whose errand is 
death. 

He who hunts for flowers will find 
flowers, but he who hunts for weeds may 
find weeds. Let it be remembered that 
he who is not himself morally diseased 
will have no relish for disease in others. 
Reject then the morbid ambition of the 
rynic, or cease to call yourself a man,— 
Henry Ward Beecher, 




■BUT THOUGH WE, OH AN ANGEL FROM MEASfEN.PBtACM ANY 
pThEft GOSPEL UNTO YOU TMAN THAT WHICH WE 

HAVE PREACHED UNT O YOU, LET HIM BE ACtUR5|D ^ ^gW, 

' — *™ — "s^swi = 



Vol. 2. 



Chattanooga, Tenn., Saturday, June 9, 1900. 



No. 28. 



TRUTH SHALL TRIUMPH! 



BY ELDER DAVID H. ELTON. 
Oh! bow glorious is the thought; 

Truth shall triumph! 
Tho* her course be dearly bought— 

Truth shall triumph! 
She, the victory shall win, 

Over wickedness and sin. 
Peace and righteousness bring In— 

Truth shall triumph! 

Tho' her foes are legion now— 

Truth shall triumph! 
To her every knee shall bow- 
Truth shall triumph! 
Wicked hosts may scoff and jeer, 
Mock, revile, malign and sneer, 
Still these joyful words we bear— 
Truth shall triumph! 

From the Heaven's comes the cry- 
Truth shall triumph! 
Echoed now from sky to sky- 
Truth shall triumph! 
Earth with this glad lay shall ring- 
When the just behold their king. 
Saints and angels shout and sing- 
Truth shall triumph! 

Hallelujah! swell the strain- 
Truth shall triumph! 

Jesus comes to earth again. 
Truth shall triumph! 

Comes in power 'mid realms of light, 

Comes in majesty and might. 

Comes to put our foes to flight- 
Truth shall triumph! 

Courage! servant of the Lord! 

Truth shall triumph! 
You've received His perfect word! 

Truth shall triumph. 
Fervent love your righteous shield, 
Holy truth your sword to wield— 
Meet the foe and never yield- 
Truth shall triumph! 



Elder Christo Hyldahl. 

We take pleasure in presenting to the 
many readers of our southern "twinkler ' j 
a brief biographical sketch of the life of 
him whose gladsome, congenial features ' 
adorn and illuminate the fair page of 
this week's Star. Brother Hyldahl is 
known far and wide in the Southern 
States Mission, for the admirable char- 
acteristics which compose his being has 
made him friends wherever he has jour- 
neyed. 

Born in the far-away, sunny land of 
Denmark, he naturally inherited those 
sterling traits which have ever character- 
ized the sturdy inhabitants of the Scan- 
dinavian peninsula. His early Hfe was 
spent in the land of his childhood, where 
he cheerfully assisted his parents in main- 
taining an honest livelihood. It was here 
that he was thoroughly schooled in the 
rigid school-room of stern experience, 



which training is ever beneficial, lasting 
and of priceless worth, although severe 
and exceedingly trying when endured and 
encountered. But he braved the trials, 
and with a will which knew no defeat, 
he successfully battled with the arduous 
duties of manual labor, rising victorious 
over every obstacle and difficulty. At the 
age of 16 he left his native country, Den- 
mark, and sailed across the broad Atlan- 
tic, in company with his father. They 
settled in the thrifty city of Chicago, 
where our beloved brother labored assid- 




ELDEB CHRISTO HYLDAHL. 



uously with muscle and sinew for five 
long years. His mother (Sister Hannah 
Sorenson, having embraced the Gospel 
some years prior to his emigration from 
Denmark) left her home in Utah and 
paid a visit to her husband and children 
in Chicago, for the purpose of carrying 
the good news of salvation, which she 
had Deen made the happy recipient of. 
The testimony of the dear mother rang 
in the ears of her son Christo as a fa- 
miliar sound, and her words rested not 



alone on the ear, but he felt the sense 
as well as the sound, and they sank deep 
into his heart. Prompted by the remark- 
able impression which his mother's testi- 
mony had made, he decided to spend a 
season in the land where the despised 
people, called Mormons, dwell. He land- 
ed in IJtah, and began a course of study 
in the Brigham Young Academy. It was 
while studying in this institution that he 
became thoroughly convinced of the 
truthfulness of the Gospel, which led him 
to implicitly yield obedience to the same. 
In 1898, April 27, he received a call 
to fill a mission in the northern states 
and two weeks later found him in his 
field of labor, working as a traveling 
Elder in the city of Chicago. After 
spending six months in this capacity he 
was transferred to the Southern States 
Mission, where he occupied the position 
of commissary clerk ana book-keeper. In 
March of '99 his beloved wife—Sister 
AUie Hyldahl— was appointed and set 
apart as a missionary to the Southern 
states. When the Chattanooga confer- 
ence was duly organized in May, '99, 
Brother Hyldahl was selected as its pres- 
ident. In December of the same year 
he was released from this position, and 
appointed as a counselor to President 
Ben. E. Rich, to fill the vacancy oc- 
curred by the return to Utah of Elder 
Geo. A. Lyman. He has filled all his 
callings with signal ability and marked 
success. Having performed an honorable 
mi8sion t he, in company with our much 
loved sister and faithful co-laborer, left 
Chattanooga for Chicago on May 31. 
We wish them God speed in their jour- 
ney, success in all their undertakings, 
lor we feel that they have performed 
their part well, and that the Lord has 
many rich and perfect gifts in store for 
them. ^ 

History of the Southern States Mission. 

(Continued from Page 213.) 

July, 1897. — Some slight attempts were 
made at mobbing South Carolina Elders 
in Georgia, but no serious results devel- 
oped. Although this spirit of violence 
showed itself in the Conference just 
named, yet a feeling of comparative peace 
prevailed throughout the other parts of 
the mission. The Elders were permitted 
to hold many meetings and push the other 
work unmolestedly. This is in striking 
contrast to what the Elders were enabled 
to do during the protracted meeting sea- 
son, only a few years previous. 

Persecution in South Carolina had not 
ceased by any means. The following is but 
a brief account of mob violence near 



218 



THB SOUTHERN STAB. 



Ridgeway, S. C: The Ridgeway Branch 
Conference convened near Ridgeway, July 
3d and 4th. Threats of violence to Saints 
and Elders had been made, but no atten- 
tion was paid to them. On the night of 
the 3d inst. the church was burned by in- 
cendiaries. The Saints at once made prep- 
arations to rebuild their house, Brothers 
James A. Smith and R. E. Cleveland com- 
ing from Oconee county for the purpose of 
erecting it. Saturday, the 17th inst., these 
men were met in the road by James Har- 
rell and R. W. Mollis, who cursed them, 
warning them to leave the county. That 
night the house df Brother W. W. Collins 
was tired into by unknown parties, about 
twenty buckshot entering the building, 
slightly wounding his daughter. 

The night of July 24th, Elders Morris 
Wilson and Henry Behrman were visited 
by a mob of 120 drunken men while at the 
home of Mr. Lewis Branham, in Kershaw 
county, and warned to leave the country 
by August 1st. These Elders went to Co- 
lumbia, where they were met by Samuel 
P. Oldham, the president of the Confer- 
ence. Elders Oldham and Wilson called 
'upon the Governor of the state, who as- 
sured them that they were entitled to pro- 
tection. Elders Wilson and Behrman then 
returned to Fairfield county, and visited 
the Saints. Some hostile demonstrations 
were indulged in by the mob element, but 
they made no attempt to get the Elders 
until a later day. 

Thirteen Elders arrived on the last day 
of the month and were assigned to various 
fields of labor. 

August, 1897 — President Kimball, on ac- 
count of sickness, was unable to attend the 
Kentucky Conference, which began on the 
7th inst. Elders John Woodmansee and 
Albert Matheson, who were laboring in 
the office, were sent by him to hold con- 
ference with the Elders. The Elders gath- 
ered at Junction Branch, Metcalfe county, 
in a frame meeting house with a seating 
capacity for about three hundred people. 
It was built by the Saints of that county, 
and at the beginning of this conference 
meeting it was dedicated by John F. 
Wakefield, President of the Kentucky 
Conference. There were in attendance not 
less than 1,000 people, which included 
about 100 Saints, some of whom had trav- 
eled from 150 to 175 miles to attend con- 
ference. On this occasion the spirit of 
the Lord was enjoyed in a rich measure 
by the speakers, to the edification of El- 
ders, Saints and the public in general. 
(To be Continued.) 



The Morning. 

The morning is the gate of day, and 
should be well guarded with prayer. It is 
one end of the thread on which the day's 
actions are strung, and should be well 
knotted with devotion. If we felt more 
the majesty of life we should be more 
careful of its mornings. He who rushes 
from his bed to his business and awaiteth 
not to worship is foolish as though he 
had not put on his clothes or cleansed his 
face, and as unwise as though he. dashed 
into battle without arms or armor. Be it 
ours to bathe in the softly flowing river 
of communion with God before the heat 
of the wilderness* and the burden of the 
way begin to oppress us.— Spurgeon. 



Language. 

A century ago, the French language 
was spoken by 10,000,000 more people 
than spoke the English tongue. Today 
the English lends. The figures are given 
as follows: The English language is 
spoken by 115,000,000 out of the world's 
inhabitants. Russian by 85.000,000 Gor- 
man by 80.000,000, French by 58,000,- 
000, and Italian by 38,000,000. 



AS IT WAS IN THE DAYS OF NOAH. 

BY ELDER B. W. SMITH. 

The Scriptures inform us that "as it 
was in the days of Noah, so shall it be 
in the days of the coming of the Son of 
Man." This being the case, it would be 
of great benefit to us to know something 
of ihe general conditions as they existed 
in those days, as it wouM enable us to 
xiontrast them with existing conditions of 
the. present time and' prove, or disprove, 
the claims which are being made in the 
world today to the effect that the com- 
ipg of the Son of Man is nigh at hand — 
even at their doors. 

"fhis is a highly important question, 
and ono tjh,at concerns most vitally every 
in/iividual now living, upon the face of 
fhe'cjarth^ahd especially 4 thpse who are 
interested- in their soul's salvation. It is 
in view of this fact, and with a hope of 
doing good, that I offer a few remarks 
upon the subject. - 

The days of Noah are distinguished as 
being among the most remarkable of the 
world's history, from the fact that at that 
time the earth was entirely submerged 
in water, and totally depopulated with 
the exception of eight souls. This we 
Understand was its water baptism, or 
cleansing by' Water. The days of the 
coming of Christ to reign on earth will 
mark the greatest epoch or the world's 
history since its creation, for the reason 
that at that time the consummation of 
the wicked is to take place, all things are 
to become new, nnd the earth is to re- 
ceive its spiritual baptism or cleansing 
by fire. 

The religious condition of the world 
today is very similar to that of Noah's 
day and time. This may be considered 
by some to be a very broad assertion. 
But allow me to remind you that the 
truth is very broad. Aye, so broad that 
the entire struggling, opposing, contend- 
ing masses of humanity could unitedly 
stand upon it, if they would but consent 
to do so. 

This assertion, however, is not made 
without sufficient reasons and evidence 
to back it, as will be seen by what fol- 
lows. 

Let us go back now to the days of 
Noah just prior to the flood, and exam- 
ine into the true state of affairs with re- 
gard to the social and religions condition 
of the people of the world in general. 
Notwithstanding this people had with 
them a living oracle of God, who was in 
direct 'communication with the heavens, 
to give instruction and advice to them 
concerning their spiritual duties; yet we 
find that they gradually drifted from the 
truth, until finally they apostasized alto- 
pother from the teachings of the mouth- 
piece of God. This of course gave Satan 
full sway, and he lost no time in making 
complete havoc of the entire generation. 
They turned their attention entirely to 
the things of the world: they were marry- 
ing and giving in marriage, increasing in 
licentiousness and vice, as they increased 
in numbers, until they became so corrupt 
and wicked *rh*t -t he- Lord- determined to 
destroy them from the face of the earth. 
Not, however, did he carry' this terrible 
dec r e e i n to exec u t i o n un til H e-had given 
them ample time to repent of their sins 
and receive a remission thereof. He com- 
missioned Noah to preach to the people, 
calling them to repentance and warning 
them of the terrible judgments which 
would shortly follow if they refused to 
do so. Noah went forth with the proc- 
lamation of the Lord as commanded; and 
how was he received? 

Naturally we would think that his mes- 
sage would be received with .the deepest 
gratitude and thankfulness by that con- 



demned generation; but instead of this, 
they coldly rejected the Lord's anointed 
with his message of love, liberty and 
salvation, and thus lost the last chance 
of a reconciliation with their Father and 
God. Did Noah cease to warn them, and 
to urge upon them the great importance 
of his mission among them? No. Al- 
though* branded as a fanatic, scorned as 
a heretic, hissed and jeered for believing 
what they considered such absurd non- 
sense, he labored diligently and inces- 
santly for a period of one hundred and 
twenty years, and then only succeeded 
in convincing his three sons /and their 
wives pt the divinity of his mission, and 
the rest were swallowed up in the great 
deluge which followed. All that was 
good and desirable might have been en- 
joyed by, this generation of people, had 
they so desirlMi and lived for it; What 
was it' that debarred diem from the en- 
joyment of 'the blessings that might 
have been theirs? It was their persist- 
ent obstinacy in refusing to hearken to 
the commandments of God through His 
servants, and trusting 4o their own wis- 
dom and learning to guide then* through. 
Esteeming themselves far greater and 
wiser than any whom God might send 
to correct them in their manner of living 
and lead them into paths of rectitude and 
right 

Now cast your eye critically over the 
world and examine closely into the con- 
ditions as they exist today, and you will 
discover, as I have previously remarked, 
that they are strikingly similar to that 
day and time. The great masses of the 
people have become worldly; utilizing 
their time and talent in keeping up with 
the fashions of the day, and paying far 
more attention to the adornment and 
comfort of their bodies than to their 
moral and spiritual development, and the 
building up of the Kingdom of God on 
the earth. Those who profess to be fol- 
lowers of Christ are virtually in the same 
condition as were the antideluvians. They 
refuse to accept the God of Abraham, 
Isaac and Jacob as the God of today, 
and have substituted in His stead a God 
that has no body, parts nor passions. 
The Scriptures teach that in order to 
come to God we must first believe that 
He is; but modern Christianity teaches 
that He isn't. They claim that He is an 
immaterial being, and of course that 
means nothing; therefore they deny His 
existence. The Bible also speaks of a 
time when men would deny the only God 
that bought them, and it appears that 
that time has come. However, when we 
come to think about it, it becomes quite 
necessary on the part of our Christian 
friends to invent a new God, in order to 
be consistent with the rest of the im- 
provements (?) which they have made 
upon the long-established order of 
heaven. For they have so perverted and 
changed the doctrines of the Bible that 
it would never do to retain the God of 
Abraham as the author of their faith 
and practice. It would never do to asso- 
ciate modern Christianity with the God 
of the Bible, for they could never agree 
worlds without end. Hence the neces- 
sity of a change in the person of the 
Deity. But I am digressing. 

No doubt there are thousands today 
who, if you should remark in their hear- 
ing that the people of today were in very 
much the same condition as were the an- 
tideluvians, would throw up their hands 
in horror and say, "Oh, no! That cannot 
possibly be true! This is a day of pro- 
gression and advancement. The people 
are becoming educated and enlightened 
at the present time, and are far in ad- 
vance of any generation that has ever 
lived upon the earth." It is quite true; 



THE SOUTHERN STAR. 



210 



the world is advancing and. making rapid 
progress along certain lines, but what 
are they? Is it progressing religiously? 
No, verily, no. Religion is loosing its 
hold upon the minds of the people every 
day. There never was a time in the his- 
tory of man when sue]} confusion, con- 
tention, discord and disunion existed 
among religious classes, as we see before 
as at the present time. 

This proves that the churches of today 
are transgressing and not abiding in the 
doctrine of Christ. For if they abide in 
the doctrine of Christ, John says they 
have both the Father and the Son; and 
if they had the Father and the Son, 
such confusion a^nd contention would not 
exist, for God positively declares that 
"He is not the autbo* of confusion but of 
peace." (I Cor. 14, 33.) Therefore we 
can come tp no other conclusion than 
that "the earth is defiled under the in- 
habitants thereof, for they have . trans- 
gressed the laws, changed the ordinances, 
broken the everlasting covenant;" and 
except they repent of their sins and turn 
unto tlye Lord they will meet a fate sim- 
ilar to that of the antideluvians, for the 
Lord God hath spoken it. 

If we could lift the veil from this 
earth of ours for just a moment, 
and get one glance at the cor- 
rupt condition of the majority of 
the people, our hearts would grow 
sick and faint within us at the hor- 
rible spectacle which would meet our 
gaze. Sin, corruption, wickedness in 
every imaginable form fills the earth, 
which we would see if we were permit- 
ted to glance behind the scenes. One of 
the lines upon which the world is mak- 
ing the most rapid progress is the art of 
concealing sin. And one of the most im- 
penetrable shields for sin now in use to 
baffle the public gaze and keep down sus- 
picion, is the oloak of religion. The wear- 
ing of this shield has become quite pop- 
ular in the world today, especially 
among the up-to-date, fashionable classes. 
There is enough sin, however, open and 
above board to occupy our attention 
-without going into its secret hiding 
places to create a reformation. 

The people of today are drifting into 
darkness, rather than gaining light. They 
cleave to darkness and shun the light. 
And why? Because the light would re- 
veal them as they are, and that is what 
they wish to conceal. "Men love dark- 
ness because their deeds are evil." 

Today pride and ambition have taken 
the place of virtue and godliness. Licen- 
tiousness walks the earth unbridled. Vice 
flaunts itself upon the streets. Pomp 
and pride exist where virtue would be 
ashamed to set her feet. And when a 
Prophet of the living God steps forth 
and declares that God has again spoken 
from the heavens, and that He is dis- 
pleased with the actions of the children 
of men and desires them to repent and 
work works of righteousness, lest He 
should come and smite the earth with a 
curse; and that the great and dreadful 
day of the Lord is nigh at hand, when 
the Son of Man will come to execute 
judgment upon the earth; and to punish 
with everlasting destruction from the 
presence of God all those who know not 
God and have obeyed not the Gospel of 
our Lord Jesus Christ. He is ridiculed 
and mocked on every hand, hissed and 
jeered at and branded as a fanatical 
fool, unfit for the association of fashion- 
able Christians. And those few honest- 
hearted who heed the glad message, and 
unite themselves with the armies of 
Israel to wield the sword of the Spirit 
in the defence of truth, are classed as 
deluded fanatics and not fit for the com- 
panionship of respectable people. How 



similar are the conditions at the present 
time to those of Noah's day. 

There was a living Prophet of God 
upon the earth in the days of Noah, and 
Christ said that it should be the same 
in the days of His second coming. In the 
days of Noah' there were eight souls 
saved out of the whole world. Few, 
wasn't it, comparatively speaking, with 
the number of inhabitants then upon the 
earth? How many today are following 
the straight and narrow way mapped 
out by our Lord and Savior? According 
to the words of Christ, should we look 
for the biggest crowd in searching for 
the people of God? "Straight is the gate 
and narrow is the way that leadeth unto 
life, and few there be that find it." 

The burden of Noah's mission was to 
expose the wickedness of the people and 
call them to repentance. He did so and 
incurred the displeasure of the entire 
populace, and persecution followed. 

The same burden rests upon the shoul- 
ders of the servants of God today, and 
in the discharge of their bounden duty, 
they encounter the same, or greater op- 
position. This is but natural, however, 
as the same cause always produces the 
same effects. Let all mankind awaken 
from their sleepy condition and prepare 
for the second advent of the Messiah, for 
He has warned us that He would come 
as a thief in the night, and at a time 
when He was least expected. And when 
He shall make His appearance He will 
"gather His wheat into the garner, but 
He will burn up the chaff with unquench- 
able fire." "Repent ye therefore, and be 
converted, that your sins may be blotted 
out, when the times of refreshing shall 
come from the presence of the Lord. » 

Services at the Salt Lake Tabernacle. 

Elder W. H. Chamberlain, a recently 
returned Elder from the Society Islands, 
was the first speaker. He opened by say- 
ing that the children of men had been 
separted from the courts on high, 
that through trials and tempta- 
tions that they might appreciate their 
heavenly home. So it was in the far-off 
islands of the sea. It was glorious to be 
home again, to hear the choir and to be 
among friends and kindred. 

The speaker read from the fourth chap- 
ter of Nephi, in the Boole of Mormon, 
wherein the prophet Nephi is grateful to 
the Lord for the light He had given him, 
and also bewails his own weakness. The 
Prophet also speaks of the power of the 
Lord made manifest in his behalf. 

The speaker stated that it was while 
reading such noble thoughts and senti- 
ments that he formed an attachment to 
the descendants of the Prophet Lehi. He 
had had the pleasure of laboring among 
some of them. These people were people 
of Israel because they naturally believe 
in God, and many of them embrace the 
(gospel. 

Elder Chamberlain stated that, before 
going on his mission, he had expended 
his energies along other lines, and was 
not anxious to be called, but one morn- 
ing, just before he awoke, he dreamed 
that he had been called on a mission, and 
it awakened within him a great love 
for the Gospel, and within one hour 
from that time he received his call. 

The first "Mormon" Elders landed on 
the Society Islands in 1843. Many of 
the natives of that group have em- 
braced the Gospel and they are gen- 
erally faithful. The speaker had been 
in the islands nearly three years, and the 
Elders there are very energetic. 

He had experienced the influence of the 
Holy Ghost, and he knew that it sur- 
passed any other feelings that he had 
ever experienced. Feeling, said the 
speaker, is the basis of belief, and the 
Later-Bay Saints must be in harmony 
with God to experience the feelings that 
they enjoy. Elder Chamberlain closed by 
bearing an earnest testimony, and ex- 



pressing a warm desire for the blessings 
of the Lord upon the people. 

By request of President Cannon, Elder 
Chamberlain spoke briefly in the native 
tongue of the Society Islands. 

President George <fc. Cannon. 

President George Q. Cannon next ad- 
dressed the assemblage, ami in opening 
stated that he had been much interested 
in the testimony of the Preceding speaker. 
He said that there were many words used 
by the natives of the Society Islands that 
were identical with some contained in the 
Hawaiian language. These people also 
have customs similar to the ancient He- 
brew rites, showing that they are of the 
house of Israel. 

The speaker stated that when the more 
enlightened men throughout Christianity 
embraced the Gospel, and then fell away 
into sin, they generally become very bit- 
ter towards the church, but the Polyne- 
sian people may embrace the Gospel and 
fall into sin, and after a lapse of years, 
repent and come back to the church ap- 
parently with as much faith as ever. 

The Indians are natural Latter-Day 
Saints; even where they are indoctrinated 
with sectarian ideas they readily embrace 
the Gospel. 

President Cannon spoke of the authori- 
ty that is embodied in the priesthood of 
the Son of God. The "Mormons," said 
he, are a peculiar people, and one thing 
that tourists notice of is that the Latter- 
Day Saints are a mixed people, that they 
have come from all parts of the world, 
and this, said the speaker, is one of the 
strongest testimonies of the work of God, 
this gathering of people from all parts of 
the world. 

Joseph Smith started out with the as- 
sertion that all the churches wore wrong, 
but that God would restore His church. 
This was a most remarkable statement 
to make. It was the universal belief 
throughout Christendom that the Bible 
was all that was necessary to gain sal- 
vation. Joseph Smith claimed that he 
had received authority that was held by 
the ancient servants of God. Men who 
had never been taught in theology, were 
ordained by Joseph Smith to go out and 
preach the Gospel, with the result that 
people were converted and the Spirit of 
God descended upon them, and the gifts 
that had been enjoyed in ancient days 
were again experienced. Nearly every 
land has furnished its quota of believers 
in the message brought ny Joseph Smith. 
Whenever the Gospel has been embraced 
the gifts of the gospel have been en- 
joyed, and it is that which united the 
people together. 

There is nothing that can be met with 
anywhere that can be compared with 
the organization of the "Mormon" 
Church. 

The speaker had witnessed hundreds of 
people gather in cathedrals and worship 
with nparent sincerity, yet in their midst 
vice abounded and unvirtuos people were 
numerous. ^VTiat good is religion if it 
does not make a man honest and virtious. 
Virtue, declared the speaker, has nearly 
fled from the earth. He thanked God 
from h!s hen.rt that he had the revealed 
principles of riffhteousnoss and mirity. If 
it were not for the few Latter-Day Saints 
who hold to virtue, the world would be 
lost. Latter-Da v Saints must be a vir- 
tuous* people, if not they will be de- 
stroyed. The young people must be 
trained in purity and virtue, for as sure 
as God lives, those who indulge in unholy 
practices will be destroyed, as the ante- 
diluvians were dotroyed. not by water, 
but destructions that will be as universal 
in th^ir effect. God will destroy man- 
kind if they do not repent. The wicked 
shall be destroyed, with their knowledge 
of evil, and the Lntter-Day Saints will 
share in these destructions if they do 
not remain pure and upricrhr. 

The Gospel was restored that all who 
love truth and righteousness and virtue 
may be gathered out from among the 
wicked. 

The choir sang the anthem, "Lift up 
your heads, oh ye gates." 

Benediction was pronounced by Presi- 
dent Jos. E. Taylor. 



220 



THE SOUTHERN STAR. 




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Saturday, June 9, 1900. 
ARTICLES OF FAITH 

OP THE CHURCH OP JESUS CHRIST OP 
LATTER-DAY SAINTS. 

L Wo believe lo<M the fteraaJFfethw.aiidio Bis 8es> 
Jwh OuHit, and is the Holy Ghost. 

t. We believe test men will 1m poaisbed for their ova 
utd eot for Adaort traoefressJoo. 
We believe tat, throats the atoneaneot of Christ, ell 



oios, sod eot tor Adaort tranacrsssiool 

A We believe test, throoch the atoi „ __.__ _„ 

■Mttklod my be saved, by obedience to the lews sod ordi. 
aaaeet of the GospsL 

A We believe that the flrst principles aod ordioaoees of 
ihe Gospel are : First, Faith io tho LordJesos Christ ; seooed, 
Bepootaaee; third, Baptism by imuersioo for the ressissioa 
of tioit foertb, Layiof oaol Haods for the Gif t of the Holy 
Ghost. 

6. We believe thai a man matt bo called of God, by 
H pro^ecj. and bjr ih» l*yint l-d of beads," by thote who are 
Id mUiQritjN to preach Ui* fo*pel ud edauoister is the ordi* 
aaoooi thereof. 

0. Wfl twJi«r« Id tbtf *amt organisatioa that exitted la 
to* priori lit* churcfa — nameJy b a potties, Prophets, Pasters* 

. 7. Wa behfl ft I d the gt ft of ton goes, prophecy, n 



tfikmi, healing, toterprsttttaa ftJ t 

6. V/e be lie po thu Bi bl« ui ba the Vord of God, as far as It 
U traosUud coriwilf ; *o >tw believe the Booh of Monnoe) 
Id be ihe word of fjoo\ 

9 W» h* tiw* sli that Gml h« i revelled, all that Be does 
no* re*«l, aiwj we Ii«Itbt« thai He will yet reveal maoy great 
and impoftstrt tiling* pertaining to the Kiofdom of OodT 

Ilk We belie v« in tea literal p tiering of Israel aod is the 
retlorittan of Iba Tan Trtboi ; [hat Zioo will be boilt opoo 
ibia ( che American t continent i thait Christ will reigo person- 
allv upon the«arih, and that Lh. , arth will bo renewed aod 
raceJit* Iti paradisical glory. 

11. We claim the pri'due i*f worshiping Alsilghty God 
OEcordJar to the dictate* of oof eooeeieoee, aod allow ell 
eien to* u«o t*l *!!*£•, Itl them warship how, where, or what 

li. We believe io being so bject to klogs, presidents, rvlsre, 
aod oaaistrates ; io obeying, honoring aod •attaining the law. 

He We believe io being booest, tree, chaste, beoevoleot, 
eirtooos. aod io doing good to all ass; indeed, we ssay say 
that we follow the admonition of Paul, -We believe all things, 
wo hope all things," we have eodorod aiaoy things, aod hope 
to be able to eodoro all things. IT there is anything virteeeo, 
tea' W W^J n ^^ VniMW9rJKft we s^ aflw thesa 



HONORABLY RELEASED. 

This week's issue announces the release 
of Elder Jeremiah Stokes, Jr., from labors 
in the Southern States. Elder Stokes 
carries with him the love, respect and high 
esteem of all who knew him. As an Elder 
in the van of Truth, he was valiant, stead- 
fast, industrious and faithful ; and those 
who have been honored with the privilege 
of being associated with him in the min- 
istry, speak of him in the highest com- 
mendable terms. He was gentle, lovable, 
kind, good-natured ; yet was he firm in his 
convictions of the truth, fixed in his pur- 
poses to do the right, and earnest in his 
efforts to convert souls to the ways of 
righteousness and peace. The last five 
months of his mission were spent in the 
office, where he labored assiduously for the 
cause which we are engaged in promulgat- 
ing. May God bless him, the Holy Spirit 
attend him, and happiness amj success be 
bis to enjoy. 



"WHAT WERE HIS RESOURCES?" 

The Apostle Paul, in writing to the be- 
loved Timothy, makes this emphatic dec- 
laration: "All Scripture is given by in- 
spiration of God, and is profitable for 
doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for 
instruction in righteousness; that the man 
of God may be perfect, thoroughly fur- 
nished unto all good works." (2 Tim. 
3:16, 17). New England agnosticism and 
higher criticism of the written word— the 
Holy Bible— -apparently do not care to 
accept these words, spoken by a true ser- 
vant of the Lord Jesus in simple, plain, 
unequivocal language. Our reason for 
making this assertion is. that Eev. Ly- 
man Abbott, who succeeded Henry Ward 
Beeener, in a recent public address de- 
livered in Boston, declared that the Book 
of Genesis was n myth — a legend written 
before the flood by some unknown Proph- 
et—and that it was impossible for Moses 
to have known of the things that trans- 
pired 2,000 years before he was born, and 
he asks: "What were his resources if 
they were not legends and myths?" We 
do not wish to take issue with the learned 
divine of Plymouth, but merely desire to 
say a word in defense of the good "Old 
Book," and, if possible, bring to light 
some of the "resources" which the Proph- 
et Moses — "God's first pen," had access 
to, and which the "great preacher" over- 
looked in his eagerness to foster Higher 
Criticism. 

Let us first see the prominence given 
the Prophet Moses over those other 
Prophets of Old Testament times. The 
Lord Jesus, when giving the parable of 
Lazarus and the rich man, said, "If they 
will not believe Moses and the Prophets, 
neither will they believe though one rose 
from the dead." Yes! and furthermore 
He gave the Jews to understand that the 
rejection of His message was due to their 
not believing the words of Moses, for, 
said He, "Had ye believed Moses, ye 
would have believed me; for he wrote of 
me." The words of the Savior certainly 
gives Moses a prominent position in the 
ranks of holy men and inspired seers, and 
when we learn that the Lord gave unto 
him the laws and statutes by which the 
children of Israel were to be governed; 
that it was Moses who was intrusted 
with the tables of stone upon which were 
written the ten commandments by the 
finger of God; that it was Moses who 
stood in the presence of our Eternal 
Father when the law was thundered 
from Mount Sinai during that wonder- 
ful display of divine power and majestic 
glory; that it was Moses who stood on 
the mount of transfiguration when our 
Lord was transfigured and glorified in 
tho presence of the Apostles— Peter. 
James and John; and that it was Moses 
of whom the Apostle Paul testified as 
being faithful as a testimony of those 
things which were to come after: when 
we learn all these important events 
in which the Prophet Moses figured so 
conspicuously, we are at least convinced 
of this fact: that he was the vicegerent 
of the Almighty, and inspired Prophet 
of the Most High God. This being true, 
why not give him credit f&r having wrote 
all the books known to us as the Penta- 
teuch? How can we believe the New 
Testament (which the reverend gentle- 
man professes to accept) and at the same 
time endeavor to demolish and destroy 
the Old Testament, when the one is re- 
vealed and made known in the other? It 
is altogether inconsistent to indulge in 
such vain sophistry. Christ and His 
Apostles accepted the "Law and the 
Prophets"— -the Old Testament— they read 
from it, preached from it, and from it 
proved their doctrine and their mission, 



holy and divine. Peter says that in the 
days of Noah eight souls were saved by 
water, while the disobedient perished in 
the flood. This exactly corroborates 
with the record given in Genesis, which 
was written by the hand of Moses. If 
the account given by Moses is incorrect, 
then Peter— that stalwart giant for 
truth— was hoodwinked by a false his- 
tory, and was also guilty of fostering and 
maintaining the error by quoting it as 
authentic unto others. Would it be 
plausible or feasible to suppose that Pe- 
ter—blest with the gift of the Holy 
Ghost, endowed with power from on 
high, commissioned by the Lord Jesus, 
and placed at the head of the twelve 
Apostles— would indulge in "legends," 
"myths," fables, and the like? It does 
not appear reasonable to have such vain, 
erroneous suppositions. Peter possessed, 
as all true servants of God do, the power 
to discern between right and wrong; 
truth and error; good and evil. 

But to return to the question of the 
pastor at Plymouth: "What were his 
resources, if they were not legends and 
myths?" Let us see; Jude says some- 
thing touching upon this subject which 
may interest us somewhat, and throw a 
ray of inspired light upon the question. 
Here are his words, "And Enoch also, 
the seventh from Adam, prophesied of 
these, saying, the Lord cometh with 
ten thousand of His saints." If Jude, 
living at a period some 2,000 years after 
the flood, understood and knew of the 
prophesies of Enoch, who was only the 
seventh in descent from Adam, is it not 
quite consistent and reasonable to be- 
lieve that Moses had the writings of this 
holy man Enoch before him when he 
wrote the book of Genesis/ If Enoch- 
just and righteous seer— prophesied of 
the coming of Christ— why should these 
prophesies be hid from Moses, when God 
had called him to be a leader and a 
Prophet unto Israel? We understand 
"the Gospel was preached unto Abra- 
ham." (Gal. 3:8.) Abraham came on 
the scene of action before Moses, and 
so he (Moses) had another resource, 
without giving heed to "legends and 
myths." This would give the faithful 
Moses at least two most worthy and di- 
vinely reliable witnesses, from whom he 
could gather facts and incidents as ma- 
terial for the composition of the former 
part of Genesis— at least that portion 
that bears record of events which trans- 
pired in their own day, and previous to 
their birth. 

Moreover when we come to under- 
stand that Moses walked and talked with 
God, and that he was blessed with rev- 
elation and inspiration, being in commu- 
nion with the heavens, and in close touch 
and intercourse with his Creator, we 
can very readily see that his resources 
were of the very best and most substan- 
tial nature. Could one desire a more 
worthy source of edification than to be 
privileged to have access to the teachings 
of the righteous Enoch and the faithful 
Abraham, together with the choice, di- 
vine gift of conversing "face to face" 
with his Maker— the just and merciful 
law-giver? No! for the latter— revela- 
tion — is the surest and best means of 
enlightenment and correctness, in any 
line of study or branch of science. 

When we gather with the righteous 
and the blest in that bright, eternal city 
of the New Jerusalem; when the earth 
shall be as a sea of glass, being full of 
the glory of God; we shall hear the 
heavenly choir chanting in sweet melody 
the songs we love so dear, and, among 
other beautiful hymns which fall upon 
the ear. filling the heart with joy and the 
soul with gladness, shall be heard "the 



THE SOUTHERN STAB. 



221 



song of Moses, the servant of God, and 
the song of the Lamb, saying, Great and 
marvelous are Thy works, Lord God Al- 
mighty; just and true are Thy ways, 
thou King of Saints."- (Rev. 15:3.) Yes, 
and when we shall hear this angelic 
strain by heavenly beings sung, then 
shall we know, even as the Apostle John 
states, that Moses is a "servant of God," 
and, as such, he demands our love, re- 
spect, honor, and confidence. Perhaps 
when we meet him in that home of peace 
and bliss, we shall find that his resources 
were many, and that he had access to a 
great many sacred rolls and holy books, 
which we today are lacking. The young 
and tender mind is so apt to become in- 
fected and infatuated with this Scrip- 
ture-destroying, seductive influence, 
known as Higher Criticism, that we feel 
to say, Let reason weigh the mountains, 
count the planets, and measure the dis- 
tance from earth to sun, but in matters 
pertaining to the divinity, sacredness, 
and authorship of Scriptural writings, 
let revelation speak. She hath spoken, 
and we know that Moses did write the 
books accorded him in the Bible; there- 
fore let us stand by the good word of 
God, accept the writings of inspired seers 
as holy and true, and not quibble and 
say, "Where were his resources." 



THE E3LDBRS DEFENDED. 

In another part of this week's issue we 
are pleased to publish an article written 
by a Virginian in behalf of the Elders. 
The writer is not of our faith, yet feels 
a desire to do something to lessen the un- 
just persecutions heaped upon the Elders. 
We take the liberty of quoting from the 
letter accompanying the able article: "I 
am endeavoring to do my duty in the 
sphere where God has placed me." "I 
have great sympathy for these men who 
are subjected to such harsh criticisms- 
such cruel hardships, and I would like to 
feel that I had done something (though 
of course it is very little) to lessen their 
burdens." "I know they do not deserve 
such treatment as they have received, 
and are still receiving." "Many of the 
Elders have stayed with us; some while 
canvassing ip this county, others who 
have been journeying through our neigh- 
borhood. I always found them humble, 
meek, deserving Christians." "I thought 
that this article would have more weight 
if published in one of our papers, so I 
sent it to a church periodical, but they re- 
fused to publish it— said it was unsuita- 
ble for their columns." 

That the article was not suitable for 
the church paper is no surprise to us, for 
these good Christian editors do not care 
to deal out justice to the much hated 
Mormon Elders. No, they prefer to have 
false articles stain their inspired (?) 
pages, in an endeavor to darken the 
minds of the people in regard to the true 
religion of Christ, as taught and prac- 
ticed by the Church of Jesus Christ of 
Latter-day Saints. 



DEMISE OF JOHN JAQUES. 

Deseret News. 

John Jaques died at his home, 530 East 
South Temple street, at 6 o'clock last 
evening of.Bright's disease, after an ill- 
ness of seven weeks. Prior to the at- 
tack of that dreadful malady Mr. Jaques 
had been a very healthy and active man, 
and the rapidity with which the disease 
sapped his vitality and laid him low, was 
remarkable. John Jaques was the assis- 
tant historian of the Church of Jesus 
Christ of Latter-day Saints, and general 



Church recorder. In those positions he 
was eminently efficient. 

He was born in Market Bosworth, 
Leicestershire, England, on Jan. 7, 1827, 
and had consequently attained to a ripe 
old age. In his youth he joined the "Mor- 
mon" Church, and emigrated to Utah in 
1856, l>eing a member of the famous 
handcart company. His brave heart and 
cheerful nature did much towards encour- 
aging the more despondent members of 
the company. When a young man be 
evinced no mean literary ability, and 
was given a position on the Millennial 
Star, then located in London. He held 
that position until his departure for Utah. 

Soon after his arrival in Salt Lake, 
Mr. Jaques secured a position on the 
Daily Telegraph, which was published by 
T. B. H. Stenhouse. He followed the 
paper to Ogden, but subsequently ac- 
cepted the position of associate editor of 
the Deseret News. His work was always 
satisfactory, being a careful, painstak- 
ing writer, and at the same time force- 
ful. After serving the News a few years 
he was called to a postition in the histor- 
ian's office, where he labored carefully 
and assiduously during the remainder of 
his life. He rose to the position of assist- 
ant Church historian and general Church 
recorder in October, 1881. 

John Jaques was a strong man, his 
abilities rising high above the average. 
He was useful wherever he was placed, 
and performed several missions abroad. 
He was the author of the catechism, a 
most valuable work for the children of 
the Saints. 



Accept Your Lot 

A plow in the shop, polished and 
equipped, wanted a field. It understood 
its mission— to stir the ground and kill 
the weeds and make the corn grow. So 
,it received a call. But it was not a prom- 
ising field. The ground was hard, and 
there were stumps and stones. The corn 
was not thrifty, but the weeds were. The 
plow had expected mellow soil, and a lux- 
uriant growth of good things. So it was 
discouraged and resigned. At last an- 
other field was found, but there were 
clods and weeds and hardened soil in it 
also; so the plow again resigned. And 
thus it went from field to field till plow- 
ing time was past. Now the plow is on 
the shelf in the barn. — St. Louis Ob- 
server. 



Quantity or Quality? 

r JTie Presbyterian general assembly is 
reported to have declared that the supply 
offering for the ministry is insufficient. 
This is contrary to the popular impres- 
sion, which has it that there are more ap- 
plicants for positions as clergymen than 
there are profitable pulpits. But pos- 
sibly the Presbyterian, sages were talk- 
ing about the quality rnther than quanti- 
ty of the theological students. The qual- 
ity may be "insufficient," while the quan- 
tity is abundant. The point should be 
cleared up. Whenever there is a profit- 
able puloit vacant — always remembering 
the qualification profitable— there is -i 
rush for it, which indicates, strange to 
say, that in the minds of modern preach- 
ers, the laborers are plentiful, while the 
harvest — in dollars — is scarce. 



Sorrow'* Lesson. 

'TIs wnll all sotiIp were made to wuffer, 
That eneh for others' woes might feel; 
For pain unlocks the door of merry— 
So learns the wounding hand to heal. 

— O. P. Whitney. 



CHARACTER OF BRIGHAM YOUNG. 

Hon. Thomas Fitch, a non-Mormon, 
speaks eloquently of the great founder, at 
the Anniversary Celebration, Salt Lake 
City June 1. 1000. 

(Extracts from Deseret News.) 

My friends, the man whose birth we 
commemorate and whose memory we hon- 
or today was known to me not through 
the report of others, but with an intimacy 
born of the relation of lawyer and client, 
an intimacy which soon ripened into a 
friendship which continued until he passed 
into the beyond. A quarter of a century 
has gone since he bade me farewell- with 
a blessing which, although not of his creed, 
I did not scorn, yet his vital and vigorous 
personality seems as if it were here today, 
throbbing with life and strong in pur- 
pose. 

It is such perceptions as these of the 
continued existence of those who have 
journeyed on that — without help from the 
dogmas of theologians, and without hin- 
drance from the greater dogmas of scien- 
tists^ — come to us at times, and then with 
an intuition that is higher than reason 
we are convinced that our little life here 
is not rounded with a sleep, that it does 
not moulder to ashes in the dark house or 
perish in the incinerating flame, but that 
it goes out to broader fields of effort, to 
grander cycles of time, to worlds before 
which this world shall pale as a star pales 
in the presence of the morning. 

This is no time nor place to speak either 
in criticism or in defense of the religious 
faith in which and by which Brigham 
Young lived and died, nor of the peculiar 
tenet of that faith which excited the ani- 
mosity and inspired the hostile action of 
the religious and political world of 
America. 

Yet it may not he unfitting to remark in 
this connection that while "the Lord lov- 
eth those whom he chasteneth," it often 
happens that the chastened ones do not 
immediately reciprocate the affection. Ilis- 
tory is filled with examples of people who 
have accepted in good faith the results of 
defeat on the battlefield or at the ballot 
box, or in the court room, and who yet 
have not hastened to love and reward those 
who, in their opinion, had "despitefully 
used them." Much of the prejudice that 
has been created and kent alive in the east 
against the people of Utah has resulted 
in part from the selfish obstinacy of a few 
Latter-day Saints who have preferred ad- 
herence to their own opinions to the wel- 
fare of their people : but it has resulted 
also from the unphilosophical unwilling- 
ness of some of those who successful Iv 
conducted the campaign asrainst Utah's 
peculiar institution to content themselves 
with the moral results of their victory. 

Time will correct all this. It will ao- 
pear to all who study the situation with- 
out prejudice that the practice of plural 
marriage is at an end, and the missionary 
zeal of the misinformed will abate when 
this utter extinction becomes apparent to 
the world. 

With it will disappear all that is objec- 
tionable in the religion of the Latter-day 
Saints, and the people of Utah will no 
longer be subject to criticism on account 
of their domestic relations. The civilized 
world has reached the conclusion that be- 
lief is not a matter of volition, that the 
will of man cannot dominate his brain, 
and that it is not given to priest or philos- 



222 



THB SOUTHERN STAR. 



opher to sit in judgment upon any faith 
in the hereafter which restrains the evil 
passions and uplifts the purposes of man- 
kind. 

Heredity, environment, education, all 
contribute to fashion our beliefs and unbe- 
liefs. The profoundest intellects of the 
orient accept the teachings of Buddah, of 
Confucius, or of Zoroaster. Scholars and 
statesmen proclaim that there is but one 
God and Mahomet is His prophet, and 
those who are now in the youth of their 
old age can recall the days when any sect 
of the Christian church would have ex- 
pelled from its membership any one who 
dared to doubt the literal truth of the story 
of the sun's obedience to Joshua, or the 
narrative of the muscular exploits of 
Sampson, or the tale of the sojourn of Jo- 
nah in the interior of the whale, or the 
absolute verity of any of the numerous al- 
legories of the divine philosophy. 

The faith of the Latter-day Saints with 
polyeamy eliminated differs but little in 
spirit or in detail from any evangelical 
creed. Its followers accept the ten mes- 
sages of the thunder as the origin of all 
law for human government, they sit rev- 
erently at the feet of the crucified Christ, 
and their belief in the revelations of their 
prophets is as reasonable as many fea- 
tures of the creed of Christendom. 

Indeed, the logicians, the skeptics and 
the theologians may all suggest that if 
revelation from God to man be a truth at 
all. why should it have ceased nineteen 
hundred years ago? Why should it not 
have continued until the present time 
through such inspired ones as might be 
selected by the Almighty as batteries to 
receive and interpret His message to man- 
kind? 

An effort — should effort be anywhere 
made — to now place the people of Utah 
under a cloud because of their theological 
idiosvncracies will fail — utterly. The 
world is moving into the new centurv. It 
has left behind it the rusted racks of Tor- 
quemada. the cold ashes of the fagot in 
which Socrates roasted, and the wrecks 
of the pillories in which the Puritans tor- 
tured the Quakers. 

Brigham Young lived according to his 
light, and no prophet, priest or seer in all 
history was more sincere than he in be- 
lieving that the light came from above. 
His spiritual and material systems were 
both engraftures upon a Puritan tree. He 
was a Vermont Pericles, an American 
Cromwell, a western Columbus: but he 
was above all the very incarnation of the 
Puritan idea. 

The Pilgrims launched boldly out into 
the Atlantic and trusted God. The Pil- 
grim spirit was not confined to any re- 
ligion or race. Lord Bacon was a Puritan 
in spirit, for as he takes his proud march 
down the centuries he mav lay one hand 
on the steam engine and the other 0Y1 the 
dynamo, and say, "These an* mine, for I 
taught vou how to invent." Columbus 
was imbued with the Puritan spirit when 
he made the historic reply to his remon- 
strating first officer — 

"What shull I say. rrreat eantn'n. sny, 
Tf we stent naught but sea nt rtnwu? 

Why yon shall sav at break of day, 
Sail, sail on, sail on and on." 

Brigham Young, like his Athenian pro- 
totype, was formative in his ideas. He 
was a masculine man. He was instinct- 
''velv an architect — a builder — a creator. 
n*» loved to plan houses, to organize indus- 
tries, to provide for the erection of mills 
and factories. The overland railroad and 
teleeranh lines throueh Utah, and the 
great irrigating canals were constructed 
un^er his guidance. 

He would tolerate no slighting or in- 
efficient work. "Rvory stone in the tem- 
ple from foundation to s™'re was cut 
to exactly fit its place. While a pn**t 
of the foundation was beincr In id Presi- 
dent Young was absent. On his return 
he visited the work and noticed a ma- 



son placing "spawls' or chips of granite 
under one of the blocks. "What is that 
for?' he inquired. Mn order to make 
the stone level/ was the reply. "How 
much of that kind of work has been 
done?" he sternly asked. "All the way 
down," was the answer. "Then," said 
he, 4 tear it out all of the way down and 
begin over. Make every stone fit its 
neighbor, and stand level without any 
'spa wis, ' and when the stones don't fit 
cut and shape them until they will fit. '■' 
He had the patience with small an- 
noyances that is an attribute of a great 
and placid soul. He brushed away the 

fad-flies instead of trying to crush them, 
lis suaviter in modo was superb, but the 
forties in re was behind it Beneath 
the velvet glove was the grip of steel. He 
was the Cromwell of hispeopie, the lord 

Srotector of his realm. He had the same 
esire as the great covenanter for the 
freedom of his creed and clan; the same 
intense belief in the righteousness and 
wisdom of his own institutions; the same 
intolerance of interference with his meth- 
ods; the same instincts of leadership; 
the same love of power. 

A thousand miles toward the sunrise 
the Missouri rolls its turbid flood, yet 
in thirty-six hours we may journey here 
from there in a luxurious car. But the 
men and women who founded this com- 
monwealth plodded for weary weeks 
across alkaline deserts under the fierce 
throbbing light, and over mountains torn 
from the tortured breast of chaos and 
thrown away upon the world. Footsore 
and weary, yet submissive to discipline 
and undaunted of soul, they faced the 
storm and the savage of the desert and 
disease, with the spirit of the Spartans 
whose messages to the ages is graven 
upon the rocks of Thermopylae: 
'Co stranger, and in Lacedemonia tell. 
That here, obedient to her laws we fell." 

And ever in the vanguard was the lead- 
er — comforting, cheering, advising and en- 
couraging his band, and with brave and 
prophetic messages inspiring them even as 
Napoleon inspired his troops when he 
said: "Soldiers, from the heights of 
yonder pyramids forty centuries look 
down upon you." The foliaged avenues 
and gardened palaces of the capital of 
Utah— the most beautiful city in the 
United States — were planned and planted 
under the direction of Brigham Young, 
and this magnificent pavillion — unrivaled 
in Europe or America — where the ozone 
of mountain heights mingles with the 
sweety salt breath of an inland sea is an 
offspring of his policy of improving every 
natural advantage of Utah. 

President Young was an ardent and 
persistent advocate and helper of the 
cause of education. He was an archi- 
tect of States as of temples, and in the 
erection of both he provided for the 
future. He knew that no edifice, whether 
of character or of granite, can be erected 
without a solid foundation, and that the 
education of the school room is the found- 
ation of the house of life. 

Under President Young's direction ed- 
ucation of children extended to morals 
and manners as weli as music and math- 
ematics. The boys in Zion's schools did 
not smoke cigarettes during recess. Slan- 
der and malicious gossip were strangers 
in the homes of Utah, and there was ever 
a single standard of morality for men and 
women. The head of the Latted-D:iy 
Saints advised his young people to aim 
high, and make a point of reaching their 
aim, and if they fell below it to go at 
it again wtih redoubled zeal, for he knew 
that high and inflexible purpose is truth 
upon a cycle, swift, silent and sure to 
get there. 

In private conversation as in public 
speech President Younc's words were 
apt and to the point, and he aboundoned 
in homely and forceful metaphors. Said 
he. in my presence, to a young man 
who sought his counsel: "No man can 
make it rain, but any man can keep his 
platter right side up, so as to get some 
of it when it does rain." To another he 
remarked: "Be sure there is something 
you can do thoroughly well, and it is 
your business to find out what that some- 
thing is. Don't fritter away your time 



by attempting the impossible. Remember 
that genius is often judgment." The en- 
thusiastic Methodist brother who was 
haunted day and ni^ht by letters "G. P. 
C," believed that it was a divine call 
to "Go Preach Christ." But, after hi** 
ministrations had driven away the con- 
gregation, he concluded that the letters 
really meant "go plant corn." 

The history of Brigham Young has, 
except in Utah, been written by his 
enemies, who have allowed their hatred 
of one feature of the strange new faith 
which he preached and practiced to 
blind them to his greatness and good- 
ness. He wronged no man. He lied 
to no man. He kept the faith with all 
men. He was just and generous, and 
charitable. He was loyal to his people, 
his country and his convictions of right 
He was gentle and courteous. He was 
wise in counsel and fearless and un* 
wavering in action. He ought not to be 
judged by ordinary standards. 

No men and women in alt this land 
are more progressive than are those of 
Utah. They do not resemble the man of 
whom Douglas Jerrold said, "He can 
never fully relish the new moon out of re- 
spect for that honorable institution the 
old one." The Latter-Day Saints have 
adopted some valuable legal and social 
reforms. when an advanced thought 
presents itself they do not telephone for 
police protection, they give it hospitable 
welcome. They limit by law the hours of 
labor; they compel the manager of stores 
to provide seats for female help; they pro- 
hibit blacklisting; they make wages a pre- 
ferred debt, and exempt them from gar- 
nishment; they have modified the com- 
mon law injustice which denies redress 
against the employer to the employee in- 
jured through the . negligence of a fellow 
servant; they punish those who overwork 
or underfeed dumb animals; they were 
pioneers in establishing woman suffrage, 
and their legislatures have never yet sold 
a senatorial toga. 

J have already sugested that the Puri- 
tan spirit has ever pervaded and con- 
trolled not only the spiritual and intel- 
{gcfual but the economic life of Utah 
Brigham Young adopted the plan of 
D "»<Jing villages in which those who 
tilled the soil should live, and whence 
they would go forth to their labors in 
the surrounding fields. In the earlv New 
England settlements this method was 
adopted for more efficient defense against 
the Indians, with whom the colonists « 
were usually so unfriendly that Lowell, 
was impelled to say that "the Pilgrim 
fathers first fell upon their knees and 
then fell upon the aborigines." ' Presi- 
dent Young's motive was to guard the 
young men and women against the dis- 
content engendered by lonely and isolat- 
ed lives, and to make farm life attractive 
by affording opportunity for social gath- 
erings and ratio.nal amusements. 

It has sometimes been charged against 
Brigham Young that he was disloyal to 
the government of the United States. 
This unjust aspersion rests solely upon 
the conjectures of his enemies, for there 
cannot be found a single authenticated 
act of utterance of his to sustain the ac- 
cusation. When demand was made by 
President Polk upon the scattered, hunt- 
ed, and depleted fugitives from Nauvoo 
for a battalion of 500 men for the Mexi- 
can war, Brigham Young replied with- 
out hesitation: "You shall have your 
battalion, Capt. Allen, and if there* are 
not young men enough we will take 
the old men, and if they are 
not enough we will take the women." 
The battalion was raised without delay, 
and on the eve of its departure the lead- 
er of his people said to them: "I want 
to say to every man that the Constitu- 
tion of the United States, as framed by 
our fathers, was dictated, was revealed, 
was put into their hearts by the Al- 
mighty, and I tell you in the name of 
Jesus Christ, it is as good as I ever could 
ask for. I say unto you, magnify the 
laws. There is no law in the United 
States or in the Constitution but I am 
ready to make honorable." 
The loyalty which Brigham Young 



THE SOUTHERN STAB. 



223 



proclaimed in those early days he main- 
tained unto the end. In 1872, when his 
liberty and his life were menaced by 
those* who were using the forms of law 
to compass their designs, there were 
some among his own people who advised 
resistance, and some who advised flight, 
but he promptly rebuked all such coun- 
sel. He held his American citizenship, as 
among the most valued of his possessions. 
Once, when it was learned that an 
indictment for a non-bailable crime had 
been fouud against him by a picked and 
packed grand jury, and that he would 
soon be arrested and probably incarcer- 
ated at Gamp Douglas, a prominent 
member of his church said to him in my 
presence: "President Young, remember 
the fate of Joseph Smith. Do not place 
yourself in the power of merciless ene- 
mies. . From this room the road: is open 
to you unto a safe retreat in the moun- 
tains of Mexico, and there are not enough 
deputy marshals or troops in Utah to 
overtake or capture you?' The grand 
old man arose, and outstretched his arm 
with that gesture of mingled patience 
and power which the artist has present- 
ed in his statue, and exclaimed: "No, 
brethren, there is no road open for me 
in which to travel as a fugitive from my 
people or my country. I will meet these 
false accusers face to face and defend 
myself to the uttermost. The Supreme 
Court of the United States will give us 
justice, and God will not desert me." 

The cities of Utah today with their 
hundreds of miles of graded and shaded 
avenues, with their iron arms reaching 
out for the traffic of a mountain 
empire, with their glowing furnaces, 
their clanking forges, their hum- 
ming factories, their miles of costly 
and beautiful homes, their Dalaces of 
art and industry and trade, their trolley 
cars propelled by prisoned waterfalls— all 
lived in the brain of Brigham Young 
when— 63 years ago— he looked from the 
summit of Big Mountain upon the Salt 
Lake valley, and exclaimed: "Enough, 
this is the right place, drive on." 

The age through which we have passed 
is but the herald of the age upon which 
we are entering. The pioneers have 
broken the path, it is for you, oh, young 
men and women of today, to follow. It is 
for you to lay check upon the wrong, to 
give encouragement and direction to the 
right, to place all your resources under 
contribution, to develop the posisbilities 
within you, to train your hands to the 
magnetic needle of self-government, to 
broaden your mantle of charity, to 
strengthen your discernment of error, to 
teach yourselves self-restraint and self- 
control. 

The lesson that may be drawn from 
the life which we honor this day is that 
it is best to 'be patient, to be wise, to 
be strong, to be brave, to be hopeful, 
and— above all— to be good. Virtue is 
surely its own reward. It may be that 
in our earth-life it is sometimes the only 
reward that virtue ever receives, yet it is a 
reward nevertheless. I am neither sage, 
moralist, nor preacher, but I have found 
in a life that has mainly been one of 
toil and battle, that the success or grati- 
fication which comes from disregard of 
the higher and better impulses of the 
soul is always uncompensating. Such 
fruit will ever be Dead Sea apples — ashes 
and dust. 

The bronzes of conquest on the column 
Vendome in Paris perpetuate the memory 
of triumphs won by Napoleon, who deso- 
lated a world that he might illumine a 
throne. But no story of blood or tears 
mars the harmony of the greeting which 
all Utah sends today, even into the All 
Hail Hereafter, to the leader whose 
bronze image stands under the shadow of 
the anthem in granite he planned, stands 
in death as in life, watching over his 
Israel with unslumbering eyes. The paths 
which he hewed through the passes and 
over the summits are now resonant with 
the rush of iron feet, and about the ashes 
-of his camp-fires cities have grown, yet 
not for ' many generations will his name 
and bis. fame be forgotten by the people 
he served and loved so well. 



An Appeal to Virginians in Behalf of Mormon Elders. 



BY A VIRGINIA EPISCOPALIAN. 



Representatives of the Church of Jesus 
Christ of Latter-day Saints, commonly 
known as Mormons, have for some time 
been doing active work in Virginia, and 
bitter indeed has been the opposition with 
which they have met. Very few there are, 
who pause long enough to see any good 
in a Mormon Elder. The mere fact that 
he is a Mormon is enough, in the opinion 
of some, to call down the combined wrath 
of heaven and earth upon him; so strong 
is the prejudice against them. So cruel 
are the indignities to which they are sub- 
jected, so persistently are they abused 
and dogged from place to place, that the 
sympathy of a few who call them friends 
has been justly aroused and they are de- 
termined to do something to alleviate 
the suffering of this unfortunate class of 
men. It is in the name of this small 
band that this appeal is written. 

We, Virginians, know very little about 
the people whom these men represent; 
very little, comparatively speaking, about 
the teaching of their church, their cus- 
toms, etc., being so far removed from 
them; but the mere fact that they are 
followers of God ought to be enough to 
cause us to stop and reflect before sub- 
jecting them to any unnecessary hard- 
ship. Some of you have such an unbound- 
ed dislike for the whole Mormon church 
and the Elders in particular, that you 
seem to lose sight of this. And yet, it 
is a fact. They worship the same God 
that w«j worship. They believe in the 
same Redeemer that we believe in. They 
believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of 
God and that He came into the world to 
save us from our sins. 

Any of the Elders will tell you, if von 
allow them, that this is their belief. They 
acknowledge and worship the only true 
God—The Holy Father— and if they 
choose to serve Him in a way that is 
different from our own private and per- 
sonal way. is it fair, is it Christ-like, to 
close our doors against them? You wor- 
ship Him in the way that seems the most 
acceptable to you, according to your 
understanding of the Scripture, and I in 
the way that seemeth best to me. and 
thus it is throughout this whole broad 
land of ours. We all, as a nation, ack- 
nowledge Him, but claim the right at the 
same time to worship Him according to 
the dictates of our own conscience, our 
own religious convictions, as individuals. 
It is a privilege we all enjoy. And while, 
no doubt, it is right for us, each and ev- 
ery one, to serve Him in the way that 
seems most acceptable, and not only to 
serve Him ourselves, but to lead others 
to serve Him in our way, we should be 
very careful to guard against bigotry. Of 
course, we should let our light shine at 
all times, but then we must not think 
because we are right that everyone else 
who does not conform to our particular 
faith is wrong. We have no right to 
judge another. After all, we do not know 
that ours is the most acceptable form. 
We may 'think it is; we hope it is; but 
then we do not know. At any rate, it is 
certainly very uncharitable to condemn 
those who, as worshipers of God, are Just 
as sincere in their religious convictions 
as we are in ours. It is unkind. It is un- 
Christlike. Do not condemn them or turn 
them away, my friends, without at least 
giving them a hearing. Even the mean- 
est criminal is allowed to say a word in 
his defense. Take them in and talk with 
them calmly and quietly, about their doc- 
trine; then, after you have obtained a 
fair knowledge of their belief, compare 
it with your own and point out to them 
what you believe to be erroneous.. It will 
do no harm and it is undoubtedly your 
duty. 

They come among us as missionaries, 



as servants of God, and as such we ought 
to receive them, no matter how widely 
in many points we differ in religious opin- 
ions. How can you expect or hope for 
our own missionaries to be kindly treated 
by the heathen— those poor benighted 
creatures who have never known the re- 
fining, softening influences of the religion 
of Christ — while we, who live in the broad 
daylight of God's blessed Gospel, treat 
these men so inhuman, so shamefully? 
Is it possible that you expect more of 
the heathen than you are willing to £ive? 

Possibly, you think that you are justi- 
fied in your course of action by feeling 
perfectly sure that your way of serving 
God is the right one and the Mormons 
are wholly in the wrong and ought, there- 
fore, to be supressed. And so you go 
rigorously to work to do all you can 
towards what you believe to be your 
Christian duty. 

My friends, just stop for a moment and 
reflect. Do not deceive yourselves by any 
such false idea of Christianity. That 
is not the religion of Christ. 

Our dear Master is just as surely a God 
of love and mercy today as He was when 
He bade him who was without sin oast 
the first stone at her .who was accused, 
so many years ago; He loves each and 
every one of us, and the Mormons, de- 
spised though they are, are just as surely 
His children as you and I. They may 
hold erroneous ideas, but we do, too, per- 
haps. They may be the least among His 
children; but they are undoubtedly His. 
He, Himself, told you that when he said 
"He that is not against us is for us." 
Luke 9:50. And being His children, He 
certainly loves them as such and will 
surely hold you responsible for any suf- 
fering that you cause them, either direct- 
ly or indirectly. Remember that, for 
while He is a God of love and mercy, He 
is also a God of justice. But granting 
that your form of worship is the right 
one, that you have rightly interpreted the 
Bible teaching and that you are serving 
God in the way that is most acceptable, 
so far as doctrine is concerned, and the 
Mormons are a misguided people, wholly 
and entirely in the dark. 

Are yon leading them any nearer to 
Christ by closing your doors against 
them? Do you think you are helping 
them to find the true light by refusing 
to allow them to tell you one word con- 
cerning their belief? Do you think yon 
are showing them tliat your religion is 
one that enjoins love and charity to all 
men when you refuse them even so much 
as a night's shelter? 

Is this the blessed religion of Christ? 
Is this the charity that covereth a multi- 
tude of faults? The charity that suffereth 
long and is kind? 

But, laying aside the religious part of 
the question, you ought to receive them 
and treat them kindly for humanity's 
sake. It is not much they ask of you— 
only shelter and a little food. Surely that 
is very little to give a fellow-creature in 
need. They are strangers in a strange 
land, as it were, and entirely dependent 
upon your kindness and when you refuse 
to take them in and care for them, they 
must suffer. There is no alternative, 
they have no means, no way of providing 
for themselves. In accordance with their 
doctrine, they carry no money on these 
tours, believing that they are doing the 
will of God in traveling as He command- 
ed His disciples to travel. (Mark 9:7-10.) 
That is their belief; they try to live np 
to it, and surely it is as little as we can 
do, to provide them with food and shel- 
ter while they are in our midst. Do not 
close your doors against them, my 
friends. I beseech you, in the name of 
humanity, in the name of God, in the 
name of Him who was, Himself, a 
stranger and a wanderer here, not to 
turn these men away— away from your 
homes, away from your hearts, to wan- 
der on, weary and unoared for. 



224 



THE SOUTHERN STAB. 



REPORT OF MISSION CONFERENCES FOR WEEK ENDING MAY 19, 1900. 



PEM9IPKNT 






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Abstracts From Gwrcspondcncc. 

Old Town, Lafayette County, Fla. 
To The Star: 

With a desire to testify to the truth- 
fulness of the gospel, which we embraced 
on March 18th, 1899, we pen you a few 
lines: 

Having become disgusted with religion, 
for in the world we could see nothing but 
confusion and contention. The iirst time 
we ever heard the pure gospel of Christ 
was in February, 1898. Elders Watts and 
Coombs called at her house and asked for 
entertainment for the night. We were 
well pleased with them and invited them to 
call again. Alter hearing them preach 
four times we were convinced that they 
were the messengers of the pure gospel, 
having all the gifts and blessings prom- 
ised to the pure and obedient of our Lord. 
At the time we applied for baptism we 
were both unwell. 

After baptism the Elders administered 
to us and we immediately recovered. This 
with other things has been a strong tes- 
timony to us. We wish to bear witness 
to all people that the gospel is true and 
Joseph Smith was a prophet of God. 
Yours in the Gospel, 

J. W. Bennett. 
Nancy Bennett. 



Itockwood, Tenn. 
To The Star: 

I trust you will allow me space in your 
paper that I may bear my testimony to the 
truthfulness of the gospel. I do not only 
believe, but I know that the gospel 
preached and practiced by the Latter-Day 
Saints is the one accepted by our Father ; 
being the same as taught by our Savior, 
while on earth. I know that Joseph Smith 
is a prophet of the true and living God. 
I was baptized July 20, 1897, by Elder D. 
W. Jeffs. The same day my mother being 
ill the Elders administered to her and she 
received strength and relief at once ; aris- 
ing from her bed she assistetd in prepar- 
ing dinner, and attended the baptizing in 
the afternoon. Praying that all saints 
may ever have the holy spirit to guide 
them in the paths of righteousness. Your 
sister in the Gospel, 

Virgie Ellis. 



Lincolnton, N. C. 
To The Star: 

A few nights back, while traveling the 

roads through rain, in quest of a place 

to tarry for the night (having been turned 

from many doors) my thoughts were, 

"how would I receive a stranger if he 

called at my door?" Surely he would not 

be turned away. There are many blessings 

awaiting those who entertain the servants 

and children of God. If Lot had turned 

from his door the angels he would have 

been destroyed with the wicked of Sodom. 

"Be not forgetful to entertain strangers; 



for thereby some have entertained angels 
unawares." The words of Christ should 
be a warning to those who profess to be 
Christians, yet they obey not his teachings. 
"For I was an hungred, and ye gave me 
no meat; I was thirsty and ye gave me 
no drink ; I was a stranger, and yet took 
me not in." 

"Then shall they also answer him, say- 
ing : Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, 
or athirst, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, 
or in prison, and did not minister unto 
thee? Then shall he answer them, saying, 
verily, I say unto you, inasmuch as ye did 
it not to one of the least of these, ye did 
it not to me." (Matt 25 ; 42-45.) 

Again we are commanded to do unto 
others as we would have them do unto us. 
"If thine enemy hunger, feed him, if he 
thirst, give him drink, for by so doing you 
heap coals of fire upon his own head." 
If we love the Lord we will do as he com- 
mands. Elder W. C. Packer. 



Thanks God for His Cigar. 

"Mr. President," said Bishop Stevens 
at the recent general council of the Re- 
formed Episcopal church in Baltimore, 
"I smoke, and I shall continue to smoke. 
I don't believe the use of tobacco is as 
bad as it has been described; I believe 
it is all a piece of will worship. God 
has never said anywhere that we shall 
not be ministers of His Gospel if we do 
use it. God provided for every need in 
nature, and I thank God for my cigar." 



GLEANINGS. 

A few weeks ago, Elder J. A. Wixon, 
having been honorably released, paid the 
office brethren a visit, while en route home. 
His most pleasant hours were while ex- 
amining into our mode of rondusting a 
paper. These were happy moments to 
him, and often his mind wandered back 
to day 8 past, when he too used to handle 
type. His thoughts centered upon the 
beauties of the paste pot, and the never- 
failing friend of an editor — "the scissors," 
Elder Wixon is now busily engaged read- 
ing choice poetry, etc., as the following 
clipping from the Box Elder News, Brig- 
ham City, will tell : 

Announcement. 

It is with pleasure that we announce 
that Mr. J. A. Wixon has purchased an 
interest in the Box Elder News and will 
hereafter be associated with Hyrura 
Standing and S. C. Wilson in the busi- 



Mr. Wixom has for many years past 
been in the newspaper business and is a 
practical printer. We fell that the com- 
pany will be greatly strengthened by ac- 
quiring his assistance and that our pa- 
trons will be also benefited. 



The home of Brother and Sister Top- 
ham, of Paragoonah, Utah, was made 
happy a short time ago, by the arrival of 
a visitor — viz. a baby boy. Elder Topham 
labored in the Southern States as a mis- 
sionary and did a good work. He lives in 
hope his son may fill a similar mission to 
that of his father some day. The Star 
sends congratulations. "The harvest is 
great and the laborers are few," so there 
will be plenty of room for the junior Top- 
ham. 

♦ * * * ♦ * 

For some time past Elders C. N. Cor- 
bridge and Manasseh Smith have been 
holding a series of meetings near Tyus, 
Ga. One evening after the close of meet- 
ing rocks were thrown at the house by 
unknown parties, but the Elders took 
very little notice of the unruly disturbers. 
The brethren accompanied a friend home 
and thought when they retired for the 
night their enemies had lost track of them. 
Such was not the case, however, for about 
11 o'clock the bigots surrounded the house 
and fired a number of shots, presumably 
into the air. The armed cowards carried 
their plans no further, knowing full well 
that a man in the south will protect uis 
guests against abuse, preferring to lay 
down his life for them, rather than have 
them harmed while under his roof. 



Releases and Appointments. 



J. 



President Chris to Hyldahl, office; 
Stokes, office. 

North Alabama Conference — Joseph 
Brimhall, N. E. Jensen. 

Middle Tennessee Conference — James 
Kirk, Isaac W. Parry. 

Transfers. 

F. P. Hammond from East Tennessee 
to North Ohio Conference. 



THE DEAD. 



Sister Alice Cherry, wife of Brother H. 
C. Cherry, departed this life May 6, 1900. 
She was born May, 1858, in Beaufort 
county, N. C. 

She was a kind and devoted soul, and 
leaves a devoted husband, eight children 
and a host of friends. 

Both she and her husband were bap- 
tized March 19, 1899, and have lived faith- 
ful Latter-day Saints. 



Sister Eliza Willford, of Clay county, 
Florida, met with a sad accident on the 
18th ult. Her clothing caught fire and 
burned her so badly she only lived a very 
few hours. The sister was about 67 years 
of age and always tried to live up to all 
the light she had received. She has al- 
ways been kind and loving and will be 
missed by Elders, Saints and friends. 




■OUT THOUGH YY£,OG AN ANGEL FROM HEAVEN ^l ACM ANY 
pTttEB GOSPEL UNTO YDU THAN THAT WHICH WE 

HAVE; FBEACHED UNTO YOU, LET HIM &E MXV^bWU^?^ 



v&0m 



Vol. 2. 



Chattanooga, Tenn m Saturday, June 16, 1900. 



No. 29. 



HOPE, FAITH, LOVE | THREE LBS- 
SONS. 

There are three lessons I would write; 

Three words as with a burning pen, 
In tracing of eternal light 

No night but hath its morn. 

Have hope. Though clouds environ now, 
And gladness hides her face in scorn, 

Put thou the shadow from thy brow; 
No night but hath Its morn. 

Huve faith. Where'er thy bark be driven, 
The calm's disport, the tempest's mirth, 

Know this— God rules the hosts of heaven. 
The inhabitants of the earth. 

Have love. Not love alone for one. 
But men, as men, thy brothers call, 

And scatter, like the circling sun, 
Thy charities on all. 

Thus grave these lessons on thy soul; 

Hope, faith and love — and thou shalt find 
Strength when life's surges rudest roll, 

Light when thou else wert blind. 

— SchHIer. 



OUR CONFERENCE PRESIDENTS. 

Elder Don C. Benson. 

There is an ancient! Greek aphorism 
which says: "Good men never die.'' 
This maxim has stood the critics' test 
for over a thousand years, and today 
it remains just as true and accepted, as 
the day when it was first spoken by the 
Grecian philosopher. Slightly para- 
phrased we have it thus: Good never 
dies." No! for "to live in hearts we leave 
l»ehind. is not to die." Apostle Ezra T. 
Benson was a great and good man, who 
bestowed noon his posterity an inherent 
and God-like goodness. Although he 
passed from this sphere of action some 
years ago, and now mingles with the 
just and true of by-gone days, it can 
truthfully be said of Trim that he lives 
in the hearts of those whom he left 
behind. Apostle Benson was a sturdy 
pioneer, who braved the wilds of the 
inter-mountain region, and assjsted m 
the establishment of that beautiful com- 
monwealth which graces the Rockies of 
the far west by its beneficient presence. 
Thrice pleased must be this faithful seer, 
when he beholds his children ministering 
the word of salvation to those who sit 
enveloped in spiritual darkness — destitute 
of divine power, and utterly void of the 
Gift of the Holy Ghost. 

He, whose portrait will be scanned, 
and whose brief biography will be read 
by the many readers of this week's Star, 
is a son of the staunch anq firm Apostle — 
Ezra T. Benson. His presence in the 
mission field, clearly predicts that the 
good spirit of his father is npt dead, 
neglected or forgotten, J*o! for Pjde'r 



Don C. Benson is declaring the self- 
same message of life and salvation which 
his father so gallantly, fearlessly, hero- 
ically and faithfully advocated. 

Brother Don C. Benson first saw the 
light of day in Logan, Cache county, 
Utah, Sept. 29, 1869. A few short years 
after his birth his father was called be- 
yond the grave and his angel mother 
was left a widow with six little children 
to care for. She struggled nobly, and 
by; the help of God she succeeded in bring- 
ing them up as is pleasing in the sight 
of the Lord. She sought by faith and 
prayer, by counsel and instruction to 
have her children versed in the laws and 




ELDER DON C. BENSON, 
President of North Kentucky Conference. 



ordinances of the Gospel. In his tender 
years our brother attended the district 
schools, and when large enough to work, 
he attended in the winter and labored 
in the summer. After completing his 
studies in the district schools, he com- 
menced a course in the Agricultural col- 
lege, Logan, Utah, but not having much 
of a desire for scholastic education, his 
sojourn in the class room was very brief. 4 
Prizing the gospel above all things 
else in this world, when he received a 
call to perform a mission, he was found 
ready to go, and so be reporteq to the 
Presidency in |Sa)t Lake pify r Jt was 



on the 19th of June, 1899, that he ar- 
rived in Chattanooga, where he was as- 
signed to labor in the North Kentucky 
Conference. His first five months m 
the ministry were spent in the capacity 
of canvassing Elder, after which he 
labored as a traveling visiting Elder. 
When President L. M. Terry was re- 
leased to return home, April, 1900, Elder 
Don C. Benson was chosen and appointed 
to fill his place. Since that time until 
the present he has taken charge of the 
affairs in the North Kentucky Confer- 
ence. Elder Benson is prompt, humbl*>, 
faithful and true, and bids fair to make 
a mark in the world. May the blessings 
of God attend him, and the good spirit of 
the Lord be present with him. 

History of the Sou them States Mission. 

(Continued From Page 218.) 

Elders T. W. Naylor and Albert 
Matheson held conference with the Mid- 
dle Tennessee Elders at Beersheba 
Springs, Grundy County, Tenn., on the 
14th and 15th. 

Elder Matheson held conference with 
the East Tennessee and North Carolina 
Elders. With the former brethren on the 
21st and 22d at Jacksboro, Tenn., and 
with the latter on the 28th and 29th, neat 
Princeton, N. C. At each of the gath- 
erings a good spirit prevailed. At the 
Priesthood meetings which were held 
the day after the public meetings closed, 
the Elders manifested a strong desire to 
receive counsel; expressing their desire 
to carry the same into effect. 

On the 20th inst., Eiders Behrman and 
Wilson were staying at the house of Bro. 
James E. Dixon, four miles southwest of 
Camden, Kershaw County. Abont 11 
p. m. a mob of probably 100 persons sur- 
rounded the house and took the Elders 
outside. Brother Dixon was not at home 
at the time; the Elders were taken about 
twenty rods from the house and whipped 
with a strap, Elder Behrman receiving 
thirty, and Elder Wilson forty lashes. 
The mobbers failed in making the Elders 
promise to leave the county. A day or 
two previous to this time, some of the 
houses of the Saints at Fairfield, were 
raided by the law-breakers, but no Elders 
were found. The Saints prosecuted twen- 
ty-four members of the mob, but they 
were acquitted by the jury. Twenty- 
seven Elders arrived on the 25th inst., 
which greatly strengthened the mission. 

{September, 1897. 
v .President Kimball's health was improv- 
ing somewhat, yet not enough to allow 
^jm the privilege of visiting the differ- 
.ont conferences. Elder Matheson vis* 
ited the brethren and held the following 
conferences on the dates mentioned: Vir- 
gwift Conference at tytftord Utfc an<} 



226 



THE SOUTHERN STAR. 



12th, North Alabama at Big Cove, Mad- 
ison county, on the 18th and 19th, and 
East Kentucky, the 25th and 26th. In 
Mississippi, South Alabama, Louisiana 
and some parts of Florida, the yellow fe- 
ver <9fcfeich had broken out in Mississippi 
1 the month previous) had spread so much 
that the efforts of the Elders were badly 
luftnpered. Quarantine regulations not 
only prevented them from moving among 
the people, but in many cases the mails 
were stopped. 

President J, A, Cornwall, of the Louisi- 
ana Conference, not hearing from a large 
majority of his Elders, was unable to 
report the condition of his con fere nee. 

In the southern part of Mississippi, 
mutters were no better* The Elders sim- 
ply had to stay in the homea of their 
friends, contenting themselves by work- 
ing among them* Notwithstanding these 
disadvantages, the work progressed fav- 
orably* More books were sold, during 
this mouth, than any previous month of 
the year. Seventeen Elders arrived from 
Zion on the 22d in*t t Following is the 
report of work done by the twelve con- 
ferences in the mission, for three months 
ending Sept, 2ft, 1SW7: 

Miles walked, 137,524' families visited, 
48,535: families re- visited, 34,847; re- 
jected testimonies. 2,717: refused enter- 
tainment, 3,520: tracts distributed. 03,- 
C30; dodgers distributed, 47,105; books 
sold, 3.402; books given away, S,U33; 
nooks humeri, 1,771: meetings held, 18,- 
- i*2n : gospel eonvenwtlona, 07,410: gospel 
letters, 4.03'J: children blessed 252: bap- 
tisms, 539. 

October, 1897. 

Yellow fever was still raging in the 
gulf states. The presidents of the confer- 
ences were requested as they were the 
month previous, to take their co-laborers 
from the fever-stricken districts, into the 
less effected northern counties of their 
respective states. Quarantine regulations 
were strict, and compelled the Elders to 
remain where they were thus stopping 
the work to a certain extent. 
(To be continued.) 



Thomas B. Reed on Life. 

"You are Veil experienced in this 
world's affairs," I ventured. What do 
you take to be the object of life? Mon- 
ey r 

"No." 

"Individual happiness?" 

"Not wholly. Right action. A man 
should take a part in the affairs of his 
feilow-men and live up to the dictates 
of his conscience in acting. He should 
be of some use. If he has desires, all 
the better. A desire for anything that 
will help others and satisfy you is a 
good thing. A man has a right to de- 
sire money or place or public praise, 
but he has no right to any selfish feel- 
ing in the matter. He ought to desire 
to be liberal and earn his reward by 
service of some kind.' 

"Do you think the world offers as 
much to individuals as it ever did?" 

"If we can trust history, it does. The 
literature of earlies times seems more 
complaining than our own. Men were 
just as dissatisfied a thousand years 
ago as they are now. Man seems al- 
ways to have craved a great deal more 
than he could obtain. Individually, 1 
think the age is richer with oppor- 
tunities than for ages. The system un- 
der which we live is somewhat defec- 
tive, and many suffer by it; but it is 
changing and the world grows better. 
The unselfish man will find enough, I 
fancy, if he honestly fulfills his duty to 
his fellow men. It is all a question of 
peace of mind, and that can be ob- 
tained in various ways— the best one, 
by doing right."— Success. 

A good old dame, who appearantly 
spent a great deal of her time reading 
her Bible, was very seriously relating 
the death of an infant in the neighbor- 
hood, to her neighboring friend. "Did the 
child suffer much?" asked her friend, 
"Suffer! of course it suffered. Didn't 
Jesus say "Snffer little children to come 
unto me?" 



THE BOOK OF MORMON -ITS AUTHENTICITY. 



A LECTT7RE GIVEN BY INVITATION, APRIL 29, 1900, BEFORE THE OHIO LIB- 
ERAL SOCIETY, CINCINNATI, OHIO, BY ELDER BEN. L. RICH. 



On April 29. 1900, Elder Ben. L. Rich, 
by invitation, appeared before the Ohio 
Liberal Society at Cincinnati to deliver a 
lecture upon the Book of Mormon. The 
G. A. R. Hall was well filled with an 
appreciative audience and the young man 
received marked attention. At the close, 
fifty minutes were devoted by the congre- 
gation in asking questions. After the 
rendition of a beautiful musical program, 
the chairman introduced the speaker as a 
young man who was worthy the respect 
due a gentleman and who would be found 
fully able to take care of himself. 



Ladies and Gentlemen: There is 
probably no cause so universally dis- 
cussed, and yet of which so little is 
known, as the one termed "Mormonism." 
Most undoubtedly you have all heard of. 
or read about the Mormon" people, but 
probably this is the first opportunity 
the majority of this audience nas evt-r 
had of actually seeing a real live "Mor- 
mon." By our pious brethren we are 
branded as a stigma upon our pure civ- 
ilization. But let those who may raise 
aspersions upon cur people, please to 
give us an impartial account of their 
own, and we shall be satisfied. I was 
born of "Mormon" parents, have been 
raised in the faith of my fathers and 
nearly all my life have breathed "Mor- 
mon" atmosphere. But until I came east 
and was made to view myself as others 
see me, I did not know what a very bad. 
wicked man I really was. To say that 
the "Mormon" people and their belief 
have been erroneously and sinfully 
abused and misrepresented, is to speak 
the # truth but mildly. "Mormonism as 
it is, not as our enemies would have ?t 
be, possesses 1>eauty, intelligence, truth 
and purity. An enforcement of its teach- 
ings tends to the development of man 
morally, spiritually and physically. The 
practice of its precepts inspires virtue 
and progression. It looks forward to a 
perfect consummation of the brotherhood 
of man. when all men will enjoy the in- 
herent prerogatives of their birth, bound 
together in mutual co-operation under 
freedom, truth and righteousness. Such 
are the purposes and intentions of "Mor- 
monism." Its enemies, however, have 
put upon its clear brow a repulsive and 
hideous mask: and thus disfigured and 
masqueraded, it is exposed to the taunts 
and mockery of a thoughtless and fickle 
rabble. Knowing whereof I speak, I 
hold up before the gaze of all men th<* 
Mormon people, as a class, and challenge 
comparison in patriotism, in education 
in morality, in tolerance, freedom and 
humanity, with any other class of mor- 
tals; and candidly ask for their parallel, 
go where you will upon the face of this 
broad land. Our cause is persecuted 
largely by a frightened priestcraft—fear- 
ful lest it be overthrown and reach a 
premature doom. Professed followers of 
the rueek and lowly Jesus, who apparent- 
ly forget the commandments, ' xhou 
shalt not lie; thou shalt not bear false 
witness against thy neighbor" are the 
cause of our misrepresentation. Because 
of religious fanaticism and bigotry the 
Mormon adherents were expelled from 
the confines of a Christian civilization: 
and m Christian America, Mormon blood 
has been made to flow like water. In the 
name of religion and by religious people 
some of the most inhuman crimes that 
have crimsoned the pages of historv, haw 
been committed. And I ask you to look 
well into the history of our cause, and see 
for yourselves if our wide-spread unpopu- 
larity cannot be traced to the sam#» re- 
ligious, unfair, and narrow sorce. 

Do not judge our cause from the stand- 
point of our avowed enemies. Disabuse 
your minds of prejudice, consider the 
supporters of "Mormonism" sincere, mor- 
al and intelligent; view them and their 
cause in the light of true American tol- 



erance, determined to give honorable 
treatment and hear the support of -both 
sides, with an unbiased brain, before 

?assing judgment. Remember that while 
am a "Mormon" I do not surrender my 
rights as a gentleman, and in the pres- 
ence of ladies and gentlemen I only ask 
the respect due a gentleman. You may 
not believe my religion; you may consider 
me deluded, you may ridicule my faith; 
but to me my Church and its teachings 
are most dear. I am thoroughly sincere 
in my convictions, and ask that my be- 
lief may be treated with fairness, liber- 
ality and reasonable consideration. 

From the religious enthusiast a "Mor- 
mon" Elder receives the arguments of 
abuse, denunciations and ridicule, but 
from liberal minds he expects more hu- 
mane and consistent treatment. 

The religious organization to which I 
belong is the Church of Jesus Christ of 
Latter Day Saints. It is falsely called 
the "Mormon" Church and its teachings. 
"Mormonism:" because it affirms the Di- 
vine Authenticity of the Book of Mor- 
mon. 

The Book of Mormon purports to be a 
historv of the ancient inhabitants of 
America, the progenitors -of the Indian. 
It holds that a people left the old world 
many centuries ago, and were led by the 
hand of God to the land now called 
"America." The first colony -came to 
this continent soon after the confusion 
at Babel, when people were scattered up- 
on "all the face of the earth." Here they 
lived, prospered and flourished for a time, 
until finally through wickedness and by 
internal dissention they became extermi- 
nated. A history of themselves, which 
they kept, and a scanty compilation of 
which the book of Mormon contains, was 
found by a people who subsequently in- 
habited the hemisphere. The second col- 
ony, with which the Book of Mormon 
deals principally, left Jerusalem, under 
the leadership of one Lehi, shortly before 
the Babylonian captivity of the Jews 
They set sail from the Arabian sea and 
under trying circumstances, landed on 
the western coast of South America, near 
the present site of Valparaiso, Chili. This 
transpired in the sixth century before 
Christ. The story is a long one, and as 
I am to give reason for my belief in the 
Book of Mormon and not to give the 
narrative of the people which it records, 
my account must be curtailed. After the 
death of Lehi, the patriarch or leader of 
the little colony, a division of the people 
was effected through the jealously of 
brothers, and two tribes or nations re- 
sulted, one called Lamanites after La- 
man, a son of Lehi, and the other Ne- 
phites, after Nephi, brother of Laman. 
xears passed, the inhabitants of the new 
world grew in numbers, expanded and 
quarreled. One nation tended towards 
civilization and advancement; the other 
by indolence and debauchery deteriorated, 
and in the course of years became an in- 
ferior and benighted people. 

However, in the third or fourth cent- 
ury after Christ, the condition of the bet- 
ter class was wickedness itself. In a 
frightful war of extermination the race 
known as the Nephites was blotted out, 
or what remained became absorbed in 
the numbers of the Lamanites. Divis- 
ions arose, clans, tribes and nations broke 
off and grew away from each other. 
Some retained many of the arts of civili- 
zation; others retrograded. In 1492 Co- 
lumbus discovered a remnant of this La- 
manite nation and called them Indians. 
To this day scientists are unable to di- 
vine the direct origin of this copper col- 
ored race. 

The Book of Mormon holds that among 
the people known as Nephites there lived 
prophets and Holy Men of God. Some 
wrote histories of the travels and wars 
of the people, others wrote prophecies 
and exhortations, while others recorded 



THE SOUTHERN STAB. 



227 



the ministry of Christ, upon this conti- 
nent after His resurrection, and of His 
teachings and commandments. Many of 
these writings were handed down 
from one dynasty to another, from 
one ruler to another, until the 
time of a prophet named Mormon, who 
engraved upon metallic plates a compila- 
tion or an abridgement of nearly all these 
records. He condensed the writings into 
a small volume, gave each section or book 
the name of its original author, and en- 
trusted the keeping of the work to his 
son, who finished the work and hid ii 
away in the earth. The metal book has 
been described as a volume of thin gold 
sheets, of the thickness of common tin. 
engraved on both sides and bound or 
fastened on one edge by three rings; in 
dimensions it measured about eight inches 
in length, seven in width and six in thick 
ness. 

On the night of September 23, 1823. 
Joseph Smith, a young man of eighteen 
years, while engaged in fervent and faith- 
ful prayer, received an answer to his sup- 
plications by the manifestation of a 
heavenly messenger, an angel who gave 
his name as Moroni; said that he had 
lived upon this continent long ago, tk'_- 
last of a succession of prophets; said that 
his father's name was Mormon, also a 
prophet, who had compiled a set of rec- 
ords of the ancient occupants of this con- 
tinent which contained a fullness of the 
gospel of Christ. 

Joseph was told many things about the 
race of man and its destiny, about the 
apostacy from the gospel established of 
Christ; and was promised on condition 
of his faithfulness, purity and chastity 
that he would be made an instrument in 
instituting under truth, a mighty refor- 
mation of the human family. He was 
told that throughout the world his name 
would be held for good by those who 
love and know the truth, and for evil by 
«he wicked and unenlightened. The rest- 
ing place of the records was made known, 
and instructions given concerning their 
translation and his preparation for his 
life's labors. After an elapse of four 
years Joseph Smith obtained the plates 
from their place of deposit, a hill twenty- 
live miles southwest of Rochester, N. Y., 
and with much difficulty incident to the 
severest kind of persecution, translated 
them. In 1829 the Book was published. 
Since then it has been printed in every 
language of the civilized world. 

Such in extreme brevity, eliminating 
much that would interest and instruct, is 
the account of the Book of Mormon. 
# It is considered very unpopular to be- 
lieve in the manifestation of angels now- 
adays, and some say it is not fashion- 
able to believe even in a God. I do not 
know,, I am sure, what you may think of 
a person who honestly and sincerely be- 
lieves in the genuiness and truthfulness 
of the Book of Mormon. But there are 
thousands of men in intelligence, 
Who peer the peers and who, not 
without cause or reason, accept the 
Book of Mormon and affirm it 
to be what it purports. If it is 
true it contains the secret of human sal- 
vation. If it is false, while it will ele- 
vate the human family by moral pre- 
cepts and admonitions, it should be ex- 
posed and held up before the gaze of men 
as an object lesson of the frailties of 
falsehood. But until it is justly dis- 
proved, no man has the right to question 
the motives, or ridicule the belief of its 
adherents. No reasonable, fair person can 
have the arrogance to say it is imposi- 
tion. When the Book was published 
men tried to account for its origin. It 
created a violent disturbance in all the 
Christian world. That it was of mere 
human origin the majority thought then, 
n^id to this day think, if, indeed, they 
can be said to think, that it is other than 
what is claimed for it by its supporters. 
Speculation became rife, and bright in- 
tellects endeavored to account for its au- 
thorship. Many and varied were the ar- 
guments advanced against the boy pro- 
phet" and his works; but unless accom- 
panied by brute force, spurned on by ig- 
norance and ill-directed zeal, each and 
every argument fell piteously and help- 



lessly to the ground. For want of a bet- 
ter argument, which since, though, has 
shown to what deception, prejudice and 
bigotry will resort, the religious oppon- 
ents proclaimed that it was a new reve- 
lation and that as such it must be false, 
for said they: "Revelations have long 
since ceased. God has sealed up the 
heavens and has withdrawn himself from 
the human family for nearly two thou- 
sand years." Thus they reasoned. Not. 
thinking for a moment that they might 
have changed, not God, as a reason of 
which they did not receive revelation. 
They supported their wild assertions by 
shallow perversions of the scripture. 
But that objection has long since fallen. 
The objection is as inconsistent as it is 
unscriptural, and as unnatural as it is un- 
real. 

Scripture does not prohibit revelation. 
On the other hand it shows the utter im- 
possibility of righteous permanency with- 
out it. Continuous and new revelation is 
to church what a main spring is to a 
watch, what heat is to fire, what savor is 
to salt, and what a rudder is to the ship; 
without it, the church crumbles away in 
decay, becomes decrepit and childish. 
Because of the lack of revelation, look 
upon Christendom today and contem- 
plate its fickleness, its inconsistencies, its 
divisions and its superstitions. This ar- 
gument of revelation against the Book of 
Mormon lacking reason and stability, an- 
other must be found. It was said, know- 
ing that such a work could not have been 
written by Joseph Smith, who was un- 
learned in the worldly sciences and un- 
schooled in literature and the classics, 
that Sidney Rigdon, a bright character 
in church history, was the real author of 
the Book, and had hidden his imposition 
behind Joseph Smith. No attempt at 
explanation was given, however, why Mr." 
Rigdon should have used Joseph Smith 
for his cloak. But this objection or ex- 
planation fell when it was proven that 
at the time of the publication of the Book 
of Mormon, Sidney Rigdon was a Camp- 
beltite minister in the wilds of Ohio, and 
until years after did not know the exist- 
ence of Joseph Smith or the Book of 
Mormon. Then the opponents of "Mor- 
monism" believed they had found proof 
of the so-called deception when they 
found within the Book this fact, that 
since it was a book of books, each book 
given the name of its author, the same 
style of dictation and manner of writing 
appeared in most of the books. And it 
was contended that various authors could 
not use the same style of writing; and 
since the same style was found through- 
out the several books, under the names 
of different composers, that necessarily 
the Book was written by the same au- 
thor; and, therefore, it was false. This 
explanation gained credence; but it too 
was doomed to the same end as its prede- 
cessors. The Book of Mormon purports 
to be a book of books, of several writers, 
but says that it was compiled and abridg- 
ed by Mormon. It is perfectly natural 
that in his paraphrases he would observe 
his originality in the books he abridged. 
Indeed, it would be most detrimental to 
the Book were this not the case. How- 
ever, several of the sections were not 
abridged; and in them we find a marked 
difference of manner and style from the 
records rewritten by Mormon. This fact 
makes the work more consistent. Instead 
of becoming an argument against, this 
objection brings out an argument in favor 
of the Book of Mormon. 

D. P. Hurlbert, an anti-Mormon, excom- 
municated from the church because nf 
his immorality, accounted for the Book 
of Mormon in a manner most satis- 
factory to the public and in which the 
world places more confidence than in any 
other explanation. He attempted to 
show that Joseph Smith obtained the plot 
and gist of his work from the manuscript 
of one Solomon Spaulding written in 
northern Ohio in 1812. The false affidav- 
its of this man Hurlbert, while they were 
replete with absurdities and contradic- 
tions, appeased the public curiosity, and to 
this day there are men who believe that 
the Solomon Spaulding story was the 
origin of the Book of Mormon. This ar- 



gument has been thrown into the face of 
every Mormon Elder who has ever de- 
fended the faith of his convictions. Mr. 
Hurlbert gave out that the manuscript 
had been burned by accident; but in 1885 
it turned up in Honolulu, having been 
taken there with the business: and effects 
of the Painesville (Ohio) Telegraph, 
years before. It seems that the manu- 
script was taken to the printing house of 
the Telegraph for publication* but prob- 
ably because of dioftppointatirt of its 
contents was ordered burned. It hud 
been lodged among some old papers, and 
turned up in the Sandwich Islands; half 
a century later to witness for the cause 
of truth. The manuscript is at present 
in the State, and lately I communicated 
with its custodian. 

Columbus, February 6, 1900. 
President James II. Fairchild, Oberlin 

College, Ohio: 

My Dear Sir: You will, I trust, par- 
don the intrusion of a "Mormon" Elder. 

I desire to hear from you, directly, 
whether or not the account published 
over your signature in the New York 
Observer is true, which credits you with 
saying that Mr. Rice and yourself, with 
others, made a comparison between the 
original manuscript of the Solomon 
Spaulding story, which is now in your 
college horary, and the Book of Mormon, 
and that there could be detected no sem- 
blance either in general or in detail be- 
tween the two works. If the above as : 
sertion is correct, you will do me a very 
great favor by indorsing this letter and 
mailing same to my address. If the ren- 
dition t>e not true, would like to obtain 
a brief explanation from an authorative 
source. I will be truly very thankful for 
any information you may give me. 

The veracity of your reported testi- 
mony referred to has been questioned, 
and I desire proof for the stand I have 
taken, hence this communication, which 
L pray you will not ignore. 

Yours very respectfully, 

BEN. L. RICH, 
211 East Town St, Columbus, O. 

The letter was indorsed by the signa- 
ture of Mr. Fairchild. 

TO be continued. 



METHODIST REFORMS. 

Philadelphia Call. 

By the conference's action the time 
limit is entirely removed and the great 
Methodist denomination passes into the 
domain of Congregationalism, where no 
limit to a pastoral is fixed 



Brooklyn Eagle. 

When a man has a reasonable assur- 
ance of permanence in his position he 
can do better work than when he is cer- 
tain that he will have to more within 
a few years. It takes time to accom- 
plish big results. 



Chicago Chronicle. 

The removal of the time limit on the 
service of Methodist clergymen will in- 
stall a new era in that denomination. 
For the present it is an experiment. But 
doubtless the plan will produce results 
as acceptable and as valuable as have 
followed the same method in other Chris- 
tian sects. 



Indianapolis Press. 

It is asserted that the new rule will 
be a great advantage to the talented 
ministers of the church by giving them 
a chance to build themselves up in com- 
munities that appreciate their ability 
and power. It will raise the standard 
of the Methodist ministry. 

Cause and Effect 

"For what do you educate your girls, 
finely furnish your homes and give them 
social pleasures?" asked Prof. Cristman 
at the Des Moines Mothers' congress. 
Without pausing for a reply, he answer- 
ed his own question, as follows. "To 
make them marriageable." Then the con- 
gress hissed him. Perhaps the professor 
had prepared his lecture for a fathers-* 
congress. 



ti& 



THE SOtJTHEftN StfAft. 




••blls«tw Weekly by SMtbtri State* ■ImUi, Cbtrth 

•f JtMt Christ tf Utter Day Stilts, 

Cisttsssegs, Tea*. 



(Per ytar 
Six ninths 



- - - ,.- . - $1.00 

Terns tf Subssrlptls* : \ Six ninths . .50 

(la Mvaaat) [ Throe mtatba .25 
Slug it Ctplaa, 5 Caata. 



Subscribers restoring ^rom one place to another, 
and desiring papers changed, should always give 
former as well as present address, by postal card or 
letter. 



Altered at the Pott Omee at Chattanooga, Tom., at 
Kcona dam matter. 



Correspondence from all parts of the missionary 
field is solicited. Give name and address, or articles 
will be rejected. Write on one side of paper only 
when sent for publication. We reserve the right to 
either eliminate or reject any communication sent in. 
Address Box to» 



Saturday, June 16, 1900. 



ARTICLES OF FAITH 

OP THE CHURCH OP JESUS CHRIST OP 
LATTER-DAY SAINTS. 

I, W» t*U»T* id God the £t*FMJ F*th*r, tad la Bli So* 
J*t a< Chrti^ ■ □& in lh» fjalj OtlOlt, 

1. W« b*li«*« lint UcQ wi|[ ba puuiihtd for tb^r ova 
|Ibi, *nd Dot for idim'i trt DicnHlafi. 

I, Wt b*lh«v* that, th lunch taa fttoq«in*Dt of Ohrlit, *U 
n id kind my It ttvtl, bj utodieuca U iht liw* *a<] ordt- 
fllb£*l Of lit Ooiptl. 

4- W* btJi*i« tint th* But priactpTer ind ordintncei of 
<bt Gnptl trtL Fint. Futb in ft* LordJwm L'Mil; i«coad, 
R*P4uLabo«: third, El pi J Ifll fcr inur.enion twr the remiiwcia 
tf lint; fourltL, Ujin| on at H*mil lor ta* GEfloi the Holy 

5! W# btlitet that t tukq mm i be eilkd of God. bj 
" prD^iwav, end bj th* l*yin£ on of fatadi," bj tbtiM too eft 
U tBtborllJ. to pretcb the pup*] tbd idtniaiMar it th« Ordi. 
nince* thereof. 

6- W# beliat* in Utfipait orptiitltfan lb it **Ji£*d to 
tbi nrimi(|M« cbofcb— nilnil;, Apo*U#*, HropbeU. Patter^ 
Touotn, Kfiqfcliiu, et*. 

T h Wt Ulitv i I & tbe p ft of t g n (««, prop b«j, »* tlilio% 
Tlilooe, beelinf, inttrprettlioti of Son rum, tie, 

6. We b«]i»*« th* BJbl* to be tJit word of rtod\ m f*r u i| 
*■ InaileLtd mrrtctiy ; TO *Jw belief the Book of U«mo B 
la bt lb* wort of God. 

»- W« b*U«¥t il] tit* I God bee fe»eiJ*d, alj Iblt He dott 
■0* rt 'i*l n md *e belief* LbuL B* wf (T T*t r**e*I meny *rul 
»r,d uobortlnt l.ilnp p*rf Maine to the Kiofdom or God; 

lit. W* be ti«i t in the b tore f t* tboti n ff of lirael ■ d4 I D lh* 
retiorttidb of ihe Tta TrJttt; thiC Zioq will bt built apoD 
tbie (Lb* ArAtrlHnjTQntfDtnE; tfltt Chrftl will r^ifo ptnon 
■Itj qp»n tho eiTLh, eod lb it lb* tOTtb will be renewed eod 
ieoedv* it* pertdifiaceJ (lory, 

11- Wi tlilm lb. pHrllei* of vonfaipiac AJnfrAtj Ood 
ttcOrdin ( to lb* dleUtte of oor naKieect, eod #llo» til 
■Pit th* use prifiltft, 1*1 Ihota »/)r»hip bow. where, or wbftl 

T 2* J**^ ,0 WMtobJtet Co klBtm, prtddtoU. raltn, 
MdMg*tnt«t( UobtrlofcboiM^i^t^weuloii^lbtUw: 

U. eWt btJlett !■ btlDg hoDttt, trats cbMtt, tWoUtt, 
rlrtooat. sod Is doing gooofto all mm ; iodttd, we stay m} 
•ktt wtioJJow tb# tdmooition of Ptol, -V.btMwVt all thiofX 
2•^ 0i R• ,, »"»!*»" V •"»*• •n*irwi mnj tbion, sad hope 
•» be able to tadort all thlagt. If there it aajtaTng Hrtweaa; 

wB-lWow£raTSSm. pf ^^ •• «*■*"» •"» 



SUMMER EXCURSIONS. 

(Colorado, Utah.) 
The Union Pacific will place in effect 
on June 21, July 7 to 10 inclusively, 
July 18 and Aug. 2 t summer excursion 
rates of one fare for the round trip, 
plus $2 from Missouri river to Denver. 
Tolorado Springs, Pueblo, Ogden and 
Salt Lake. Tickets good for return 
until Oct. 31. For full particulars ad- 
dress J. P. Aglar, General agent, St. 
Louis. 



THEN AND NOW. 



All Elders who have ordered alpaca 
suits should send to us at once their ad- 
dresses, that wc may send the goods. 
If there are Elders desiring these suits, 
who have not yet -ordered, they should 
attend to this matter immediately. 



Our "colored" shirts are now in stock, 
and We shall be pleased to furnish our 
Elders with the same promptly u|m>ii re- 
ceipt of their orders. 



Upon a brass tablet, found in the year 
1280, among a quantity of records of the 
kingdom of Naples, in the city of Aguil- 
la, was found the following inscription. 
Pontius Pilate sentenced onr savior to 
be nailed to the cross, for six reasons, 
as follows: 

1. Jesus is a disturber of the peace. 

2. Jesus has taught the people sedi- 
tion. 

3. Jesus is an enemy to the laws. 

4. Jesus calls Himself the Son of God. 

5. Jesus calls Himself the King of 
Israel. 

6. Jesus disturbed the worship of the 
temple, by leading a mob of people with 
palms in their hands. 

Primitive Christianity was not so pop- 
ular and so fashionable as is the system 
of worship which is so falsely called 
Christianity today. In that day to be a 
Christian was to be despised, looked upon 
as ari enemy to the laws and a part of a 
disturbing element; but today, to be what 
is called a Christian, is to possess a 
passport into fashionable society. Then, 
to defend a Christian or speak kindly 
or truthfully of Jesus, was to be de- 
spised, derided and mocked, also to be 
shunned by man, therefore it was very 
seldom that a man of influence could be 
found with a heart brave enough, and a 
mind independent enough, to speak the 
truth about Jesus or His followers, who 
were everywhere proclaimed as disturb- 
ers of the peace, teachers of sedition, 
enemies of the laws, leaders of mobs 
and disturbers of those who desired to 
worship. 

Among those who virtually led the per- 
secution against this despised body of 
hated Christians and who were foremost 
in crying "Crucify him, crucify him," 
were chief Priests who were ministers of 
the so-called Gospel of that day. 

There are many leading men of today 
who are looked upon as manly and brave 
fellows, who speak with profound respect 
when dealing with modern Christianity, 
who, had they lived eighteen centuries 
ago, would have occupied the same po- 
sition towards Christ and Christianity 
in its unpopular and hated condition 
that they now occupy against Joseph 
Smith and his friends, who believe he 
was a Prophet of God. Joseph Smith 
and the Latter-day Saints occupy the 
same position before the Christian world 
today, that Christ and the Former- 
day Saints did before the Jewish 
people in their day. They are charged 
with the same crimes, and hated for the 
same causes; they are despised by the 
same kind of Chief Priests, and lied 
about by the same kind of Scribes, who 
are hungry for popularity and who are 
desirous of making a cheap display of 
pretended bravery. Had the class of 
individuals, here referred to, lived then 
instead of today, they would have re- 
corded the resurrection of Christ as 
blasphemy; they would have sneered at 
the testimony of those who claimed to 
have seen the risen Redeemer, and 
would have given publicity only, to the 
statements of the pronounced enemies 
of Christ and the perjured Roman sol- 
diers who guarded His grave. 

If C. C. Goodwin, of the Salt Lake 
Tribune, had lived in the days of 
Christ, he would have shown his bravery 
by attacking Jesus and the Former-day 
Saints in about the same manner that 
he did Joseph Smith and the Latter-day 
Saints in the June number of Munsey's. 

He's n slave who dare not speak for the 

right, fallen and weak: 
He's a slave who dare not he in the right 

with two or three." 



ATTACKED BY COWARDLY MOBOCRATS. 

"Man's Inhumanity to man, 

Makes countless thousands mourn." 

How very true indeed are these words 
spoken by the good-natured and jovial 
Scotch poet— Robert Burns. 5 Yes! 
"Man's inhumanity to man makes count- 
less thousands mourn." Man's worst and 
most fierce enemy is man. Just to think 
that tlrat being who, in the image of his 
Creator, and blessed with wisdom and 
intelligence, will commit such devilish 
and inhuman acts as to cast him be- 
neath the ferocious auimals of the forest 
for bloodthirstiness, is enough to make 
one shudder, and exclaim, "Man's inhu- 
manity to man makes countless thou- 
sands nlourn." 

On Sunday, June 3d, 1900, a wicked 
mob rushed into the home of Brother 
George H. Gaiinan and savagely at- 
tacked- Elders Joseph H. Woolsey and 
William A. Adams, who were staying 
there on that date. Elders Woolsey and 
Adams have for the past six weeks been 
laboring in Cabarrus county, North Car- 
olina, and on the Sunday above men- 
tioned liad met at Concord for the pur- 
pose of conducting religious services. A 
meeting was held at 2 p.m., and all 
went well with the exception of a few 
low mutterings which afterwards proved 
to be the foreboding of the coming 
storm. The brethren had gone home 
with Brother Garman and had held meet- 
ing at his home in the evening, where the 
spirit of the Lord prevailed, and a most 
enjoyable time was spent. It was about 
11 p.m., and the Elders were preparing 
to sing one of their beautiful hymns, 
when a masked mob, heavily armed, 
burst in upon them and straightway 
rushed for these two peaceable, unarmed, 
defenseless followers of the Master. 
Brother Garman courageously inter- 
cepted these savage intruders, but the 
odds were against him and he was vio- 
lently hurled from the room over a flight 
of steps into the yard, receiving severe 
bruises' about the head and limbs. This 
cowardly act accomplished, one of the 
fiends laid hold upon Elder Woolsey, 
who quietly shook him off as a terrier 
shakes, a rat. Elder Woolsey, seeming- 
ly caring little as concerned his own 
personal danger, hastened to the side of 
Brother Garman, who lay bleeding oh 
the ground, and attended to his wants. 
During this time the same outlaw who 
had thrown the injured brother from the 
room rushed across the floor and clinched 
with Elder Adams, and together they 
went struggling towards the door, it be- 
ing directly opposite the one where the 
other brethren were. In the doorway a 
fierce tussle ensued, and Elder Adams 
was about to free himself from the grasp 
of his adversary, when the remainder of 
the mob came forth, and as many of 
them as possibly could, pounced upon him 
and dragged him from the house— the 
few who could find no hand hold lin- 
gered behind, shooting their pistols and 
shouting vociferously. Elder Woolsey 
had not discovered the absence of his 
companion, being intently engaged in ex- 
amining Brother Garman's wounds, in 
order to. find out the extent of his in- 
juries. As soon as Elder Adams was 
missed Elder Woolsey went around the 
house to discover if possible just where 
he was. On account of the continuous 
shooting it was exceedingly dangerous 
for one to venture out, and owing to 'this 
fact the brethren were kept apart. 

Fearing their force — about nine in all — 
too weak to hancle both of the Elders 
(Elder Woolsey is a giant, compared 
with these pigmy mobbers) they con- 
cluded it best for the consummation of 



TfiE SOUTHERN STAB. 



229 



their ungodly schemes to f take Elder 
Adams alone. Their beastly anger was 
manifest, when one delivered a stinging 
blow upon the breast of Elder Adams, 
who was at the same time held fast in 
the grasp of the others, their hold being 
so firm as to make it impossible for him 
to move. There were nine of these 
wretches surrounding him when he was 
thus struck, and it was sdme few mo- 
ments before he could regain bis breath 
sufficient to speak. Notwithstanding 
their numbers, the hideousness of their 
blackened faces, and the presence of 
their deadly revolvers, he felt the power 
and strength of the Lord with him, and 
he rebuked them for their cowardice, 
and reproved them for their rank injus- 
tice. 

They decided to take him to the Rocky 
River bridge, some four miles distant 
from Brother Garman's home, and feel- 
ing the influence and spirit of *his re- 
buke they promised to let him go with- 
out injury, providing he would walk 
along peaceably. It was a singular 
march which occurred when they com- 
menced their journey to Rocky River 
bridge. There were two scouting in the 
lead, followed by three— the center one 
being the "Mormon Elder"— a mobocrat 
on either side, closely followed by two 
more of the same stripe, while three of 
the gang loitered some three or four hun- 
dred yards in the rear, anxiously look- 
ing (?) for Elder Woolsey. 

During the trip, the mobbers began to 
ask questions concerning "Old Joe 
Smith" and "Brig. Young," and, al- 
though in rather uncomfortable quar- 
ters, yet the Elder was ready to give 
them in words of plainness and sincerity 
the truth of the lives of these worthy 
seers. When asked what became of Jo- 
seph Smith, Elder Adams promptly told 
them that it was an armed mob who 
could not bear or accept the truth that 
had cruelly spilt his life's blood. 

On arriving at the river bridge (which 
is about 150 feet in length) they marched 
the Elder into the center thereof, and 
then commanded a halt. Here an "in- 
dignation meeting" was held, in which 
the Elder was commanded to leave the 
community and never return on peril of 
his life. He was also told to inform his 
companion by letter of the dangers 
awaiting him in that locality. Bidding 
them good-night, and thanking them for 
their kindness in accompanying him so 
far entirely out of their way, Elder 
Adams started for the farther end of the 
bridge. As he was going, all alone, and 
bareheaded, the leader of the mob ex- 
tended a little "brotherly love," for pull- 
ing off his little skull cap, which had 
been drawn down over his , eyes, he 
handed it to the Elder, who eagerly ac- 
cepted the same, again thanking them 
for their due consideration. Upon 
reaching the other end of the bridge, 
Elder Adams knelt down and 'poured out 
his soul in prayer to God, thanking Him 
for His goodness in protecting him from 
his wicked enemies, and preserving his 
life from the evil one. He had felt the 
power and strength of the' Lord with 
him, and words, were inadequate to ex- 
press the joy of his heart and the grat- 
itude of his soul. 

After a few moments' reflection he de- 
cided to follow his companions— the mob 
—fearful lest they should come upon El- 
der Woolsey and do him bodily harm. 
Not willing to disgrace his head by wear- 
ing the cap of a chief coward, he took 
the aforementioned article in his hand 
and commenced trudging his way back— 
this time alone, save it were for the cap. 
The Lord led him a different road from 



that traveled by the mobbers, and it 
were well for him that he took another 
route, for his enemies were on the look- 
out for his return. After a somewhat 
tedious and tiresome walk over bridges, 
through forests and across fields, he 
finally arrived at Brother Garman's 
house. Elder Woolsey was not found 
here, and Brother Garman knew naught 
of his whereabouts. He had left the 
house about thirty minutes after the 
trouble in search of Elder Adams. Not 
finding his beloved companion, Elder 
Adams took his hat, grip, etc., and 
walked over to Mr. Hampton Howell's, 
a distance of about one mile. He had 
not been here long before Elder Woolsey 
made his appearance, and it is needless 
to say that they were highly pleased and 
exceedingly thankful to find each other 
safe, sound, unharmed, and unhurt. 

The Elders express a desire to press 
on, and feel as did David of old when 
he said, "The Lord is my shepherd, I 
shall not want." Elder Adams has only 
been in the Missionary field a very few 
weeks, and if he continues steadfast in 
the hour of trial and persecution as 
herein shown he will prove a noble, val- 
iant "Soldier of the Cross." 



Mormon Pluck. 

Chattanooga News, June 7, 1900. 

Yesterday afternoon a News reporter 
called at the Southern States Mission 
headquarters and obtained the following 
interesting facts from Elder David H. 
Elton, president of the Chattanooga con- 
ference, regarding the mission. 

Elder Elton said: 

"At present there are but twelve El- 
ders laboring in our conference, and the 
work is progressing to a marked degree. 

"You know as we also do that oppo- 
sition is necessary and essential to the 
development and advancement of any 
work. We are opposed on every hand, 
but like the faithful ones of old, we 
take it all in good part and hope for bet- 
ter treatment, when the minds of the 
people shall have become enlightened and 
educated as pertains our true motives and 
pure desires. 

"In many ways are the lives, labors 
and travels of our Elders strikingly anal- 
ogous to those holy men who labored for 
the Master during His own personal min- 
istry in Palestine and Judea. The apos- 
tles and disciples of former days were 
valiant and courageous— fearing God- 
trusting in Him for strength, and rely- 
ing upon the gift of the Holy Ghost for 
guidance in the line of duty. No one, to 
be truthful and know whereof they speak, 
can say that our Elders are not God- 
fearing men, who put their faith, hope 
and trust in Him from whom all blessings 
flow; and in regard to their pluck, bold- 
ness and valor in declaring the message 
they have been sent forth to proclaim, let 
me cite you to the stick-to-it-ive -ness of 
one of our Elders here in the Chattanoo- 
ga conference. His name is J. W. Berry, 
and at present he is laboring in Bledsoe 
county, Tennessee." 

Reporter— "It seems to me that I have 
a slight rcollection of the name of Elder 
Berry, in connection with a mobbing 
which occurred in Lewis county, Tennes- 
see, some years ago. Is the Elder of 
whom you have referred, any relation to 
the Berry I have mentioned?* 

Elder Elton— "Yes! the young man now 
laboring in Bledsoe county is a son of 
Elder W. S. Berry, who was brutally 
martyred by a savage, cruel mob several 
years ago. It was a dastardly, heinous 
crime; and a more , cold-blooded, pusillan- 
imous atrocity has never been committed 
to mar the pages of Tennessee's fair his- 
tory. When we reflect upon the memor- 
able incident I have just related, and 
then consider the fact that the son of 
this brave martyr is here in Tennessee, 
preaching the same gospel for which his ' 



father nobly fell, declaring the same fear- 
less testimony as that borne" by his hon- 
orable sire,, we must at least acknowl- 
edge that the world will not, can not 
compete with the Mormon pluck! Just 
to think that that son will volunteer to 
leave the home of his loved ones, the 
bosom of his friends, and all that is near 
and dear in this life for the purpose of 
advocating an unpopular religion, yea so 
unpopular that is cost his beloved father 
his life, is enough, it seems to me, to 
convince the fair-minded of the earth 
that wa are devout, sincere, earnest and 
fearless. 

"It is very severe and' exceedingly try- 
ing to have to smart under the last of 
that which one knows to be rank injus- 
tice. I have just received a letter from 
Elder Berry, in which he says: 'We at- 
tended preaching from a good Christian 
brother on Saturday evening and Sunday 
morning. Oh! how he did rail on us by 
calling us the false prophets, false teach- 
ers, and tallow-faced devils, also many 
other vile names, which I do not deem it 
wisdom to repeat. We took it like little 
men, and felt to ask the Lord to bless 
him with wisdom, love and light.* He is 
composed of the same admirable qualities 
which were ever' manifested in the life 
of his martyred parent, and which com- 
pose the anatomy and moral fibre of the 
true servant of God in these latter days." 

Elder Berry has a brother laboring in 
the North Alabama Conference. The two 
boys left home together and arrived in 
this city (Chattanooga) Jan. 21, 1899. 
They are true as steel, with a faith firm 
as tne Rock of Ages, and their testimony 
of the Gospel cannot be shaken by the 
scoffs and jeers of the frowner, or the 
threats and abuses of the wicked mobo- 
crat. The blood of a brave martyr flows 
in their veins, and such cannot fail to 
be productive of heroic deeds, faithful 
acts, and honorable conduct They can- 
not be made to complain; but like the 
faithful ones of old, they press forward 
to the goal of Eternal Life. 



GLEANINGS. 

An Example Worthy of Imitation. 

Mapleton, Utah, June 5, 1900. 
Editor Southern Star, Chattanooga, 

Tenn.: 

Dear Brother" — Please find money en- 
closed in payment for subscriptions to 
The Star, which please send to par- 
ties whose names appear below. I have 
tried hard to increase the subscription of 
your valuable - paper, which I deem a 
faith promoter, and which should be read 
by the young men in Zion and elsewhere. 
I suggest that every missionary returning 
home act as an agent for The Star. Your 
brother in the Gospel. 

Bishop Wm. T. Tew; 

We centainly appreciate the efforts of 
Brother Tew and thank him for aid given 
us in promoting the publication of the 
gospel. 

Our mission paper is performing a labor 
in carrying forth the revealed truths. 
In doing as Bishop Tew has recommend- 
ed, we are assisting the glorious work of 
upbuilding the kingdom of God. 



A quiet wedding took place in Mesa 
City, Arizona, Thursday evening the 31st 
ult., at the home of President C. R. 
Hakes, he uniting in the holy bonds of 
matrimony Mr. George M. Fryer and 
Miss Lucy Phelps. While it was not a 
surprise to their many friends, yet but 
few were informed of the wedding hav- 
ing occurred until afterwards, when the 
happy couple were introduced as man 
and wife at the choir practice, which 
they attend. The bride is a daughter of 
H. S. Phelps, living just east of Mesa, 
and the groom is an adopted son of Wil- 
liam Lang and wife of Mesa. Both are 
very popular in Mesa society. Con- 
gratulations are extended to the happy 
couple. May their lives be long and 
happy.— rExchange. . 

The Star sends congratulations to Bro. 
and Sister Fryer, and wishes them much 
happiness. 



230 



THE SOUTHERN STAB. 



God's Infinite Love— Atonement— Gospel of Salvation. 



BY ELDER DAVID H. ELTON. 



"For God so loved the world that He 
gave his only begotten Son, that who- 
soever believeth in Him should not per- 
ish, but have everlasting life." (John 
3:16.) 

In the meridian of time it pleased our 
Eternal Father to send His beloved Son 
Jesus into the world to suffer for the 
sins of mankind and bring to pass the 
resurrection of the dead. The world 
was sorely in need of an Atoner, a Re- 
deemer, and a Savior; for the sons of 
men were groping under the dominion of 
sin, and the unrelaxing grasp of deatfr 
powerless to free themselves therefrom, 
save one who was holy and perfect, 
should act as a mediator and redeem 
them by the free will offering of His 
own life. Christ volunteered to do His 
Father's bidding. He left the courts 
on high, where He had glory, honor and 
power; and came to the earth as. a 
Lamb without spot or blemish, full of 
mercy, equity, grace and truth; pure, 
righteous, just and true, to present Him- 
self a perfect, holy sacrifice for the sina 
of the world. The offering was accept- 
ed, justice was satisfied, sweet mercy 
rejoiced, and infinite love was manifest; 
while "whosoever will may come," re- 
sounded from shore to shore, and was 
re-echoed wheresoever the servants of 
God journeyed. The Prince of Peace,, 
Jesus, the light of the world, had made 
it possible for mankind to live again; 
for their mortal bodies to be raised in 
immortality, clothed with a robe of 
righteousness, the fair brow adorned 
with a crown of everlasting life— the 
"robe of righteousness" and the "crown 
of everlasting life," being predicated 
upon obedience to the Gospel plan; while 
the redemption of the body from the 
grave was a free unconditional gift, ex- 
tending to the whole human race, wheth- 
er they be good, bad, or indifferent. It 
matters not, so far as the coming forth 
from the grave is concerned, what has 
been our life while here on earth, wheth- 
er it has been a pure life of true devotion 
to God, or whether, on the other hand, 
we have catered to the world, the flesh 
and the devil, we shall be resurrected 
from the grave, for, "As in Adam all die 
even so in Christ shall all be made 
alive." (I Cor. 15:21.) But we shall, 
not all be resurrected at the same time, 
neither shall we be resurrected with the 
same glory* for in the same chapter from 
which I have just quoted, the Apostle 
Paul says, "There is one glory of the 
sun, and another glory of the moon, and 
another glory of the stars; for one star 
differeth from another star in glory. So 
also i» the resurreetion of the dead,:* 
(41, 42 verses.) 

We understand by perusing the word 
of the Lord, that there are two resur- 
rections yet to take place, viz., a resur-< 
rection of the just, which will occur 
when Christ comes in His glory, and a 
resurrection of the unjust, to take place 
one thousand years after our Lord's sec- 
ond advent. The Prophet Daniel, in the 
last chapter of his book, says: "And 
many that sleep in the dust of the earth 
shall awake, some to everlasting life, 
and some to shame and everlasting con- 
tempt" (Dan. 12:2.) From this we 
observe that those who, in the justice 
of God, have merited "everlasting con- 
tempt" will be resurrected nevertheless, 
and be punished according to their des- 
serts. Their sins and offences in this 
life will not prohibit them from being 
resurrected, but they will prove an hin- 



drance and a detriment as pertains their 
glory, exaltation and eternal progres- 
sion. John, the beloved, records the 
Savior as saying, "Marvel not at this; 
for the hour is coming in the which all 
that are in their graves shall hear His 
voice, and shall come forth; they that 
have done good, unto the resurrection of 
life; and they that have done evil, unto 
the resurrection of damnation." (John 
5:28, 29.) Here we have the plain dec- 
laration of our Lord as an evidence di- 
vine, supporting the doctrine that the 
good, the evil, the righteous, the wicked, 
the just and the unjust, will all come 
forth from their graves in the own ap- 
pointed way and due time of the Lord. 
In Paul's defense before Felix we have 
another ray of light thrown upon this 
subject. He makes this confession, 
"That after the way, which they (the 
Jews) call heresy, so worship I the God 
of my /fathers, believing all things which 
are written in the law and in the Proph- 
ets; and have hope toward God, which 
they themselves also allow, that there 
shall be a resurrection of the dead, both 
of the just and the unjust." (Acts 24:14, 
15). If further proof were necessary we 
need only turn to the testimony of John 
the Revelator, who, when the curtains 
of the present were parted aside, was 
permitted to gaze down the dark vista 
of future ages until he "saw the dead, 
small and great, stand before God. * * 
and death and hell delivered up the dead 
which were in them; and they were 
judged every man according to his 
works." (Rev. 20:12, 13.) 

Sufficient Scripture has been given to 
prove this fact; that Christ voluntarily 
left the mansions of His Father's glory 
(John 10:17,18, Matt, 26:53, 54) and 
gave himself a ransom for all (I Tim. 
2:6), for the Prophet Isaiah, at a period 
700 years before the Messiah's birth, 
prophesied of Him, saying, "He was 
wounded for our transgressions, He was 
bruised for our iniquities; the chastise- 
ment of our peace was upon Him * 
and the Lord hath laid upon Him the 
iniquity of us oK. (Isaiah 53:5, 6.) 

We see, then, what the atoning blood 
of our Savior hath wrought for us! By 
reason of His redeeming love manifest 
in the free-will offering of His own life, 
we are given a resurrection from the 
grave; and now it remaineth with us, as 
to whether we shall gain glory, honor and 
immortality in His presence. There is 
only one way by which an exaltation can 
be gained. Christ hath given us a salva- 
tion — free and unconditional — but our ex- 
altation depends upon our lives of right- 
eousness, together with the mercy and 
grace of God. Let it be understood that 
our individual acts would avail us nothing 
were it not for the atoning blood, the 
redeeming love, and the never-failing 
mercy of our Father and His Cnnst. God 
hath loved us, yea, with such infinite di- 
vine love and compassion, that He sent 
His only-begotten Son to the earth, who, 
pre-eminently the "man of sorrows, and 
acquainted with grief," offered Himself a 
spotless sacrifice for the sins of fallen 
man. So far as our resurrection pertain- 
eth, Christ hath done it all. We cannot 
resurrect ourselves; the power to bring 
this restoration about resteth only with 
God, and He will redeem us from the 
grave, and break the bonds of death. 
Herein is a fulfillment of that oft-repeated 
passage : "By grace are ye saved through 
faith; and that not of yourselves; it is 



the gift of God: not of works, lest any 
man should boast." (Eph. 2 :8,9) We are 
saved through grace— not of works, for 
how could works exalt if grace had not 
first abounded? It is by the grace of 
God that we live, move and have a be- 
ing; and therefore, whatsoever we gain, 
whatsoever we enjoy, whatsoever tends to 
save and exalt us, is a gift of God, a 
blessing from Him who is mighty to save. 
As pertains to our individual- salvation, 
mentioned hereinbefore, this depends upon 
our implicit obedience to the laws and 
ordinances of the Gospel. When the 
Apostle Paul was engaged in instructing 
the beloved Timothy by letter, he wrote 
thus: "Be not therefore ashamed of the 
testimony of our Lord, nor of me His 
prisoner; but be thou partaker of the 
afflictions of the Gospel according to the 
power of God: Who hath saved us, and 
called us with an holy calling, not ac- 
cording to our works, but according to 
His own purpose and grace, which was 
given us in Christ Jesus before the world 
began; but is now made manifest by the 
appearing of our Savior Jesus Christ, 
Who hath abolished death, and hath 
brought life and immortality to light 
through the Gospel." (2nd. Timothy 1: 
8-10.) From the above it will be seen 
that "immortality to light is brought" 
through the Gospel. In other words, life 
eternal, the best of all good gifts, is 
granted unto mankind by virtue of their 
compliance with Gospel law, and divine 
commands. Christ, we are told, is the 
Author of eternal salvation unto all them 
that obey i*im (Heb. 5:8,9) "the Savior 
of all men, specially of those that be- 
lieve." (1st Tim. 4 :10) . The acceptance 
of these passages of Scriptures in the 
spirit and the intent of the word, means : 
that although we may truthfully sing, 
"Grace is free, salvation a blessed gift!" 
it is nevertheless a fact that we must 
partake of these gifts, having clean hands 
and a pure heart; being righteous, (Sod- 
fearing and faithful; in order to enjoy 
the rich fruits thereof. A simple illus- 
tration will suffice to make the meaning 
clear: Here is a free gift offered unto 
all. Does this gift benefit the man who 
stands idly by, heeds not the invitation to 
come forth and be fiHed, but carelessly 
neglects his every opportunity of being in 
possession of said gift? No! Verily, no. 
Neither can we expect to enjoy the free 
gifts of the Gospel, save we reach forth, 
take hold, and grasp the same. They are 
within reach of all. God hath so ordained 
them, and He has made known unto us 
how we may become the happy recipients 
thereof. David says we must "walk up- 
rightly before the Lord, work righteous- 
ness, and speak the truth in our hearts." 
(Psalms 15:2), and James informs us 
that we must "resist the devil and draw 
nigh unto God." (James 4:7,8.) By 
doing these things we are treading upon 
the stepping stones to salvation and life 
everlasting; and by continuing on in the 
line of duty we shall inherit the glorious 
rewards promised unto the faithful and 
true. The Gospel of salvation has been 
instituted of the Lord, and established by 
Him at the cost of His life-blood, for our 
exaltation and advancement in things 
spiritual and eternal. While the Gospel 
is, as Paul emphatically declares, "the 
power of God unto salvation" still it must 
not be supposed for one moment that it 
will prove a savor of life unto eternal 
life to those who do not accept its pre- 
cepts and obey its ordinances. No, we 
must of necessity obey the word of God, 
and keep His holy will, if we would re- 
ceive of His divine gifts and enjoy His 
blessed promises. Here is an elevator, 
and as I stand on the first floor I observe 



THE SOUTHERN STAR. 



231 



that by means of this operation scores are 
lifted to the second, third, fourth and fifth 
floors, etc. Well, now, if I would be raised 
in the elevator, It is self-evident that I 
must step inside ; otherwise I might stand 
theve, gazing intently and with all my 
mind believing — a mere intellectual assent 
only — and I would never, no never, worlds 
without end, attain to any loftier or high- 
er position in that building, than my 
present standing on the first floor. 

The Gospel is a logical, reasonable code 
of consistent laws. To the humble disci- 
ple of the lowly Nazarene it is a beautiful 
system, furnishing food for. thought, mate- 
rial for reflection, and life and light for 
the spiritual being. God's infinite love 
is clearly and beautifully manifest in 
the atonement of His beloved Son. The 
love of Christ for all mankind is readily 
seen when we understand that He gave 
His life freely and voluntarily ; and the 
grandeur, symmetry and magnificence of 
the Gospel structure, mingled with the 
sweet enlightening influences of the Holy 
Ghost, makes one precious, perfect total 
of love, supreme, divine and beneficent. 
To meditate upon the love of God and His 
Christ ; to ponder and reflect on the plan 
of Hfe and salvation, brings joy and glad- 
ness, sweetness and comfort, faith and 
hope, together with gifts and benefits, 
glory and honor, power and exaltation. 
Yea, more: it gives knowledge and wis- 
dom, health and beauty, strength and no- 
bleness, patience and fortitude, intelli- 
gence and serenity ; above all that mortal 
man can express: until in the ecstacy of 
our mirth we exclaim : 

"How great the wisdom and the love, 
That filled the courts on high* 

And sent the 8avior from above 
To suffer, bleed and die!" 

- OBSERVATIONS IN UTAH/ 9 

The Wilkes-Barre (Penn.) Times of 
April 24 has the following defense of 
the "Mormon" people which, coming 
from a non-"Mormon' source and over 
the writer's own signature, is par- 
ticularly gratifying and worthy of re- 
production in the Deseret News: 

"The Times is requested to print the 
following from the pen of Mrs. Henry 
Rose, who is a former resident of Kings- 
ton, but who ha 8 made her home in the 
west. She was before her marriage Miss 
Edith Lewis of Plymouth, a daughter 
of David Lewis. She is here on a visit 
to relatives: 
"To the Editor of The Times; 

"Since leaving my home in the west I 
have been asked by many people re- 
garding the 'Mormons/ as I came from 
their midst, and take this means of in- 
forming your readers of my impressions 
as to this people after associating with 
them for many years. I was surprised 
at the strange idea entertained by 
intelligent people regarding this pe- 
culiar sect. I could not account for the 
prejudice existing until I learned of the 
source of the information sent broad- 
cast. I have lived in Salt Lake City, 
Park City and Rock Springs, Wyoming, 
and have visited sections almost entirely 
'Mormon/ vet in all the vears of my 
mingling with them, never nave I found 
anything upon which to base such un- 
called for stories as I hear in the east. 
It really seems surprising that people 
who say they are in the service of the 
Master should wilfully invent the ab- 
surd nonsense that is given to the pub- 
lic here as facts relative to the 'Mor- 
mons.' 

"Mistakes may have been, in the past, 
by this misjudged people, but if we ex- 
amine a system results should be loked 
for rather than beginnings. I do not 
write in defense of 'Mormonism,* as I 
am not a member of their church, but 
simply state facts as I know them. 

"Their teachings are consistent with 
Bible doctrines as they adhere closely to 
the instnjefiops of phrist The poojf gf 



Mormon and other church works, do not 
differ in teachings from the Bible. 

"In their homes will be found peace 
and love as "Mormonism" embraces all 
principles of harmony. The oft-repeated 
stories of the degradation of the women 
are false; no people on earth present 
a more contented, hopeful, praying indi- 
vidual than the Mormon* mother. It is 
her greatest ambition that her children 
be taught pure principles and lead holy 
God-fearing lives, worthy of emulation. 
There is an absence of many evils found 
here in the 'Mormon' settlement. 

•The youth are taught to become self- 
supporting and not dependent upon oth- 
ers. They branch out into the surround- 
ing districts and acquire homes of their 
own. It is estimated that 90 per cent, 
own their own homes, yet they are 
termed indolent. A person has but to 
look over the beautiful valleys teeming 
with industry and prosperity to be con- 
vinced of the results of a united people. 
The tourist is pleased to notice the reg- 
ularity that characterizes the building of 
towns and cities. The irrigation system 
marks the ingenuity with which these 
sturdy pioneers were blessed. Nowhere 
can be found the ignorance that is sup- 

Sosed to exist. Schools of high-grade are 
ourishing everywhere. 

"We honor the Pilgrim fathers for their 
great work, why not honor the 'Mormons' 
for opening up the avenues of industry 
in the west. Both people were driven for 
the same cause: Their religion has paved 
the way for the future openings. 

"Mormons are tolerant to other relig- 
ions, they court investigation, and grant 
courtesies to others which I am sorry 
to say, are not received by their Elders, 
especially in this section. The 'Mormon 
creed is 'Mind Your Own Business,' and 
if their opposers would teach the Gospel 
of peace and remember the above creed 
they would better deserve the name of 
Christian. 

"Mormon" teachings are elevating and 
come nearer the mark of bringing about 
a united people than any other system 
I am conversant with. Many persons 
think 'Mormonism' means polygamy, 
which is wrong as that doctrine is not 
taught or practiced now. 

"The claims made by this people are 
great and if true effect every individ- 
ual. It is our duty to solve the prob- 
lem, but not by force as has been done 
in the past. We should exercise charity 
patience and love instead of hatred. 
'Mormons' 'are very sincere in their 
worship, showing a broad-mindedness 
hard to equal. 

"The question as to whether Joseph 
Smith received the manifestations ne 
claims, deserves the attention of all. It 
has not been solved as yet and never 
will be if the methods pursued in the 
past be followed. 'Mormonism* is grow- 
ing faster than any other denomination. 
There seems to be a superhuman force 
behind it that causes it to advance in 
the face of stern opposition. Let us ex- 
ercise our American privileges of hearing 
both sides before condemning. Be not 
deceived by the invented falsehoods afloat 
which have been instigated through envy 
and jealousy. Mrs. Henry Rose. 



HOW DOBS IT SBEM TO YOUt 

It seems to me I'd like to go 

Where bells don't rlnsr, nor whistles blow. 

Nor clocks don't strike, nor gongs don't 

sound. 
And I'd have stillness all around. 

Not really stlllnes, but just the trees' 
Low whisperings, or the hum of bees, 
Or brooks' faint babbling over stones 
In strangely, softly tangled tones. 

Or maybe a cricket, or katydid. 
Or the songs of bfrds In the hedges hid. 
Or just some such sweet sounds as these 
To All a tired heart with ease. 

If 'twern't for sight and sound and smell, 

I'd like a city pretty well. 

But when it comes to getting rest 

I like the country lots the best. 

Sometimes It seems to me I must 
Jnst quit the city's din and dust 
And get out where the sky Is blue. 
And say, now, how floes it seem to you? 
r-Bugene Field, 



THE MISSIONARY'S MESSAGES. 

While packing up my trunk to go upon my 
journey home— 
'Twas alter years that I had spent away— 
1 stopped to shake the hand of one In whom 
I recognised 
My partner in my labors till today. 
"Omy dear boy!" I said to him— he quickly 
turned away; 
His eye was wet. "Wait now," said I, 
"my friend, 
You know I'm going back to see our loved 
.ones and I thought 
Perhaps a message you would like to 
send." 

Chorus: 

"Jrist tell them that I'm faithful," he said, 
"they'll know the rest; 
Tell them I am looking well, you know; 
Just whisper, if you get a chance, to the 
dear ones there and say 
I love them as I did long years ago." 

"Your cheek is pale, you're feeling sad, 
just let me take a word 
To that lone wife you love and hold so 
dear; 
We know she's longing now for you, just a 
word from you, we know. 
Will cheer her heart as nothing else can 
* cheer." 
"I long to see her soon again, but not just 
yet," he said; 
'Tls duty now that's keeping me away. 
Just tell her not to worry, for I'm all right, 
don't you know, 
Toll darling I am coming home some day." 

Chorus. 

"Your heart Is warm, I know you feel a 
thrill within your breast 
At mention of your darling little boy. 
Just let me bear those pretty shells, and 
kiss his brow and say 
'They're from your father dear, and you're 
his Joy.' " 
"Just take the shells," he said to me, "and 
say a father's tear 
Bedewed them each: and kiss his* Infant 
brow, 
And tell him that my anxious prayers for 
him do e'er ascend, 
And some day papa* 11 kiss as you do now." 

Chorus. 

Those little girls you've fondled so, you'll 
send by me a toy, 
And bid me dandle each upon my knee, 
And tell them that their father' 11 come 
when hfe mission's ended here. 
And soon their darling papa they shall 
see." 
"Don't make me weep for them,' he said, 
"my darling little ones! 
Their mother dear is ever with them 
there. 
But take a token from my heart, and whis- 
per, if you will, 
(Sometime again they'll have a fathers' 
care." 

Chorus. 

"I would not touch your heart yet more, 
but think of that dear one 
Whose age and cares are told by locks of 
grey, 
Who'll haste to grasp my hand and ask, 
'How Is my darling son, 
That boy of mine who Is so far away?' " 
"Jfy mother dear! Just tell her how I am 
and how I feel— 
Tou know It better that I now can say; 
Just tell her my faith and seal, and make 
her feel I still 
Am true to God and her, though far 
away." 

—Elder Barker, in Deseret News. 



I envy no quality of mind or intellect 
in others, be it genius, power, wit, or 
fancy; but if I coulfr choose what would 
be most delightful, and, I believe, most 
useful to me, I should prefer a firm re- 
ligious belief to every other blessing; 
for it makes life a discipline of goodness 
—creates new hopes when all earthly 
hopes vanish— throws over the decay, the 
destruction of existence, the most gor- 
geous of all lights— awakens belief in 
death— and from corruption and decay 
calls up beauty and divinity. — Sir Hum- 
phrey Davy. 



Be noble! and the nobleness that lies 
In other men, sleeping, but never dead, 
Will rise in majesty to meet thine own. 

— Lowell 



282 



THE SOUTHERN STAR. 





REPORT OP MISSION CONFERENCES FOR WEEK ENDING MAY 26, 1900. 




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Abstracts From Correspondence. 

Datura, Va. 
Editor Star: 

With a desire of bearing my testimony 
I will write you a few lines. The Elders 
visited my home and I treated them the 
best I knew how. I learned from them 
the true plan of salvation, which I had 
been seeking after for a long time, as I 
well knew modern ministers were not 
teaching the true gospel. On Sept. 24, 
1899, I joined the Cnurch of Jesus Christ 
of Latter-Day Saints, and I am thankful 
to say I have lived to behold the gospel 
again restored to earth in its purity. I, 
like thousands of others, enjoy the gifts 
and blessings promised to the saints. 
The Star is a welcome visitor. Ever 
praying for the welfare of all the honest 
in heart, I am your sister in the gospel, 
Susan W. Woodson. 



Rocky Mount, Va., June 6, 1900. 
President Ben E. Rich, Chattanooga, 

Tenn.: 

Dear Brother— Thinking perhaps a few 
lines from me will be of Interest to you. 
I take this opportunity of writing. I am 
pleased to say that my testimony prows 
stronger every day. I am trying, in my 
weak way, to spread the gospel truths 
among the people, and to overcome no- 
faults; to be a true and faithful follow- 
er of our Savior. The Lord has blessed 
ine, and I know that if I continue to labor 
for His cause, He will give me continued 
light. I realize that we all have our trials 
to pass through, but by living up to coun- 
sel given by God's annointed, we will be 
better able to overcome all obstacles. To 
be sure one cannot learn all in a day, but 
must learn here a little, and there a little, 
.line upon line and precept upon precept. 

What a pleasure it is to one to know 
his understanding increases from time to 

time to comprehend the beauties of 

God's Holy Priesthood, delivered again in 
this age, to the Prophet Joseph Smith. 
Obedience to the Priesthood brings bless- 
ings tenfold. Elder Pratt and myself are 
laboring in Franklin county and have 
made many good friends, and a number 
of them are investigating the gospel. We 
held a meeting at a very influential gentle- 
man's house last Sunday, about thirty 
people attending to hear us. We had such 
a good meeting and the spirit of God was 
in our midst. The gentleman of the house 
is a Sunday School ^ choir leader, and he 
had his choir furniln the singing at our 
services. He desires us to visit him again 
and hold another meeting at his house, 
so we gave out an appointment for next 
Saturday night. We have made many 
good friends in this section, which has 
caused the scribes to rage. I believe th* 
day will come when many people in these 
parts will embrace the gospel. The Lord 
will not permit the honest in heart to 
always be deceived by men who teach for 
hire and divine for money ; men who are 
corrupt at heart and care not for nothing 
but earthly possessions. I will be pleased 
to hear from you whenever you can find 
time to write. May the Lord bless and 
protect you in your labors. Your brother 
fn the fogpeJ. Frank H. Snow, 



A Good Name. 

Secure a good name to thyself by liv- 
ing virtuously and humbly, but let this 
good name be nursed abroad and never 
be brought home to look upon it. Let 
others use it for their own advantage; 
let them speak of it if they please; but 
do not thou use it at all but as an instru- 
ment to do God glory and thy neighbor 
more advantage. Let thy face, like 
Moses', shine to others, but make no 
looking glass for thyself.— Jeremy Tay- 
lor. • 

Flowery Sermons. 

It is said that a young preacher, once 
desiring to get the opinion of Prof. Jow- 
ett as to a sermon he has preached, 
asked him what he thought of it. The 
profesosr looked at him a moment, and 
then slowly added: "Edward, if you 
would pluck a few of the feathers from 
the wings of your imagination, and stick 
them in the tail of your judgment, you 
would make better sermons." That is 
a criticism not likely to be easily for- 
gotten.— Christian Observer. 



FUNERAL OF MISS RICHARDSON. 

Chattanooga Times, June 12. 

Yesterday forenoon, at the family res- 
idence on Fairview avenue, Dr. Elmore 
conducted the beautiful funeral rites of 
the Presbyterian church over the re- 
mains of Miss Annie Grey Richardson, 
who passed away Saturday evening. He 
delivered a, very choice sermon, dwelling 
upon the many virtues of the departed 
and speaking words of comfort and con- 
solation to the bereaved family. Many 
friends gathered at the family residence 
to pay their last loving respects to her 
memory and; follow the remains to their 
last resting .place at the Forest Hills 
cemetery, covering the sacred spot with 
costly and fragrant flowers, laid upon the 
grave as tokens of remembrance and es- 
teem to the purity and loveliness of the 
character of our sister. Miss Annie had 
certainly been a« patient sufferer for 
years, and during the past fourteen long 
weeks has been confined to her bed; 
yet during illness she was never heard 
to murmur; on the contrary, she had ever 
shown that patient resignation to the 
will of God that always accompanies the 
true Christian spirit. During all her 
suffering she was so filled with the spirit 
of Godly charity to all mankind as to en- 
dear her to all who had the honor and 
pleasure of knowing her. She was truly 
a noble and loveable young lady, and 
those wiio had a knowledge of her good- 
ness will always remember her as one 
who c&frie upon the earth like an angel 
of peaqe. who remained just a little 
while to [spread rays of sunshine in the 
path of others and then returned to her 
Savior and her God, leaving tfte earth a 



little better than it might have been had 
she not been on it. 

To the parents and their family we re- 
peat the words of the poem, written by 
Mary Ma pes Dodge: 

We know not what is It, dear, this sleep so 

deep and still, . ,_ , 

The folded hands, the awful calm, the cheek 

po pale and chill; 
The lids that will not lift again, though we 

may call and call, m ^ ^ 

The strange, white solitude of peace that 

settles over all. 

We know not what M means, dear, this 

desolate heart oaln, 
This dread to take our dally way and walk 

in it again. 
We know not to what other sphere the 

ioved who leave us go, 
Nor why we're left to wonder still, nor why 

we do not know. 

But this we know, our loved and dead If 

they should come this day, 
Should come and ask us, "What is life? 

not one of us could say: 
Life Is a mystery as deep as ever death can 

be: 
Yes. O! how dear It Is to us— this life we 

live and see* 

Then might they say— these vanished ones— 

and blessed Is the thought: 
"Lo! death is sweet to us, beloved! though 

we may show you naught, 
We may not to the quick reveal the mys 

tery of death; 
Ye can not tell us, If ye would, the mystery 

of breath." 

The child who enters life comes not with 

knowledge of Intent, 
So those who enter death must go as little 

children sent. 
Nothing Is known, but I believe that God 

is overhead, 
And as life Is to the living, so death is to 

the dead. 



THE DEAD. 



Sister Mary Ann Driggers, an aged 
an respected member of the Church of 
Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, passed 
away on the 5th inst. From the best 
information obtainable she was 101 years 
of age. 

July 31, 1898. she was baptized by El- 
der W. J. Fife and was a faithful ad- 
vocate ox truth. Until one week before 
her death, she was active in mind and 
body, when she gradually began to weak- 
en until her life ebbed away and her 
spirit returned to God who gave her life. 

Releases and Appointments. 
Releases. 

Nephi J. Black, Florida Conference. 

Lee Preston, North Kentucky Confer- 
ence. 

William H. Ellis, Jr., Virginia Confer- 
ence. 

Transfers. 

J. J. Shumway, from North Carolina 
to Ohio Conference. 

E. S. Budge, Middle Tennessee, to Ohio 
Conference. 

J. H. Bankhead, Nor# Kentucky to, 
Florida Conference, '' " 




52*7^ 



Vol. 2. 



Chattanooga, Tenw., Saturday, Junk 28, 1900. 



No. 80. 



Sketch of the Life of President Joseph F. Smith. 

BY APOSTLE MATHIAS F. COWLEY. 




For twenty years President Smith has 
been Second Counselor of the Church 
of Jesus Christ of Latter day Saints. He 
was born Nov. 13th, 1838, in Far West. 
Caldwell county, Missouri. The period 
of his birth was a stormy one in the his- 
tory of the Church— a time when it was 
but in its infancy. His father, Hyrum 



PRESIDENT JOSEPH F. SMITH. 

Smith, the Prophet's faithful brother, 
was all and more to Joseph than Jona- 
than was to David. In life they lived, 
labored and suffered together, and when 
their time came, died like men filling the 
martyr's grave for the salvation of man- 
kind. Mary Fielding, the mother of Jo- 
seph F. Smith, was a native of England. 



and for energy, faith and determination, 
coupled with good business abilities, was 
a most worthy and suitable companion 
for her noble husband. A few days pre- 
vious to the birth of Joseph F., his 
father and uncle, Joseph, with other 
brethren, were betrayed into the hands 
of armed mobocrats, through the cruel 



234 



THE SOUTHERN STAR. 



treachery of George M. Hinkle. Being 
courtiuartialed, they were sentenced to 
be shot, but this failed, by the interposi- 
tion of Providence through Gen. A. W. 
Doniphan. They were then hustled off 
to prison, but before starting were al- 
lowed a few minutes to bid farewell to 
their families, being told they would 
never see them again. With such scenes 
being enacted, with mob rule holding 
sway, plundering*, drivings, imprison- 
ment without trial, or conviction, poverty 
and distress, at such a time was Joseph 
F. Smith born into the world. His child- 
hood days were spent amid scenes of per- 
secution and hardships, which resulted 
in the martyrdom of Joseph and Hyrum 
Smith. His mother left Nauvoo in 184G, 
as an exile from her home and country, 
for no other cause than that of worship- 
ing God according to the dictates of her 
own conscience. Although at this time 
Joseph F. was but a lad of 8 years of 
age. he drove an ox team for his mother 
across the state of Iowa. During the 
sojourn of the family at Winter Quarters, 
Joseph was occupied as a herd boy, in 
which he took special pride, feeling that 
his mother's cattle were the only means 
by which they were to make their. exodus 
across the great plains of the "Far 
West." Even after reaching the valley 
Brother Smith was engaged in herding, 
and so close and conscientious was his 
attention to duty that he never lost a 
"hoof" through neglect or carelessness; 
this attention and devotion to responsi- 
bilities placed upon him has always 
marked his character, and is seen in all 
the labors of his life. During his trials 
at Winter Quarters, while herding cattle, 
he passed through a thrilling experience 
witn Indians, who suddenly came upon 
him and his companions for the purpose 
of driving off their cattle. In the excit- 
ing chase, two Indians, one on either side 
of Brother Smith, rode up to him, and 
taking hold of his arms lifted him from 
the saddle, and probably would have 
scalped him, but for the unexpected ap- 
pearance of a number of men who were 
going to the hay field. The Indians sud- 
denly dropped Him to the ground, and 
thus by the aid of Providence his life 
was saved; his bravery and fidelity to 
trust saved the cattle. President Smith 
was taught by the example and precept 
of his noble mother that in the perform- 
ance of all duties and labors, he should 
go to the Lord in prayer. As a striking 
illustration of the faith with which he 
became imbued in his early boyhood, by 
the example of his mother, we present the 
following incident, related by President 
Smith, in, his own language: 

"In the spring of 184* a portion of 
our family crossed the plains, following 
the pioneers to the valley of the Great 
Salt Lake, the remainder of the family 
intending to proceed on their journey to 
the west the following spring. 

In the fall of 1847 my mother and her 
brother, Joseph Fielding, made a trip 
down the Missouri river to St. Joseph, 
Mo., about 150 miles, for the purpose of 
obtaining provisions and clothing for the 
family fqr the coming winter, and for 
the journey across the plains the follow- 
ing spring. They took two wagons with 
two yokes of oxen on each. 1 was al- 
most 9 years of age at this time, and ac- 
companied my mother and uncle on this 
journey as t\ teamster. The weather 
was unpropitious, the roads were bad, 
and it rained a great deal during the 
journey, so that the trip was a very hard, 
trying and unpleasant one. At St. Joseph 
we purchased our groceries and dry 
goods, and at Savannah we laid in our 
store of flour, meal, corn, bacon and 
other provisions. Returning to Winter 
Quarters, we camped one evening in an 
open prairie on the Missouri river bot- 
toms, by the side of a small spring creek, 
which emptied into the river about 
three-quarters of a mile from us. We 
were in plain sight of the river, and could 
apparently see over every foot of the 
little open prairie where we were 
camped, to the river on the southwest, 
to the bluffs on the northeast, and to 



the timber which skirted the prairie on 
the right and left. Camping near by, on 
the other side of the creek, were some 
men with a herd of beef cattle, which 
they were driving to Savannah and St. 
Joseph for market. We usually un- 
yoked our oxen and turned them loose 
to feed during our encampments at 
night, but. this time, on account of the 
proximity of this herd of cattle, fearing 
that they might get mixed up and driven 
off with them, we turned our oxen out to 
feed in their yokes. Next morning when 
we came to look thfin up, to our great 
disappointment our best yoke of oxen 
was not to be found. Uncle Fielding and 
I spent all the morning, well nigh until 
noon, hunting for them, but without 
avail. The grass was tall, and in the 
morning was wet with heavy dew. 
Tramping through this grass and through 
the woods and over the bluffs, we were 
soaked to the skin, fatigued, disheartened 
and almost exhausted. In this pitiable 
plight 1 was the first to return to our 
wagons, and as I approached I saw my 
mother kneeling down in prayer. I halt- 
ed for a moment and then drew gently 
near enough to hear her pleading with 
the Lord not to suffer us to be left in 
this helpless condition, but to lead us to 
recover our lost team, that we might con- 
tinue on our travels in safety. When 
she arose from her knees I was standing 
near by. The first expression I caught 
upon her precious face was a lovely 
smile, which, discouraged as I was, gave 
me renewed hope and an assurance I 
had not felt before. A few moments 
later Uncle Fielding came to the camp, 
wet with the dews, faint, fatigued and 
thoroughly disheartened. His first words 
were: 'Well, Mary, the cattle are gone!' 
Mother replied in a voice which fairly 
rang with cheerfulness, 'Never mind, 
your breakfast has been waiting for 
hours, and now ? while you and Joseph 
are eating, I will just take a walk out 
and see if I can find the cattle.' 

My uncle held up his hands in blank 
astonishment, and if the Missouri river 
had suddenly turned to run up stream, 
neither of us could have been much more 
surprised. 'Why, Mary, he exclaimed, 
'what do you mean? We have been all 
over this country, all through the timber 
and through the herd of cattle, and our 
oxen are gone — they are not to be found. 
I believe they have been driven off, and 
it is useless for you to attempt to do such 
a thing as to hunt for them. 

'Never mind me,' said mother. 'Get 
your breakfast and I will see,' and she 
started toward the river, following down 
the little stream. Before she had pro- 
ceeded out of speaking distance the man 
in charge of the herd of beef cattle rode 
up from the opposite side of the creek 
and called out: 'Madam. I saw your 
oxen over in that direction this morning 
about daybreak,' pointing in the oppo- 
site direction from that in which mother 
was going. We heard plainly what he 
said, but mother went right on, paid no 
attention to his remark, and did not even 
turn her head to look at him. A moment 
later the man rode off rapidly toward his 
herd, which had been gathered in the 
opening near the edge of the woods, and 
they were soon under full drive for the 
road lending toward Savannah, and soon 
disappeared from view. 

"My mother continued straight down 
the little stream of water, until she 
stood almost on the bank of the river, 
and then she beckoned to us. (I was 
watching her every moment and was de- 
termined that she should not get out of 
my sight.) Instantly we rose from the 
"mess-chest," on which our breakfast 
had been spread, and started toward her, 
like John, who outran the other Disciple 
to the sepulchre, I outran my uncle and 
came first to the spot where my mother 
stood. There I saw our oxen fastened 
to a clump of willows growing in the bot- 
tom of a deep gulch which had been 
washed out of the sandy banks of the 
river by the little spring creek, perfectly 
concealed from view. We were not long 
in releasing them from bondage and get- 



ting back to our camp, where the other 
cattle had been fastened to the wagon 
wheels all the morning, and we were 
soon on our way homeward bound, re- 
joicing. 

"This circumstance was one of the 
first practical and positive demonstrations 
of the eflScacy of prayer I had ever wit- 
nessed. It made an indelible impression 
upon my mind, and has been a source of 
comfort, assurance and guidance to me 
throughout all my life." 

The impression made upon Joseph's 
mind by this striking answer to his 
mothers* prayer, has never left him, but 
has done much to encourage him 
in meeting every responsibility; 
causing him to realize that no matter 
how arduous the task the Lord will net 
fail those who put their trust in Him. 
Crossing the plains from Missouri river, 
to the Salt Lake Valley, Brother Smith 
(though less than 10 years of age at that 
time) drove two yoke of oxen attached 
to a heavily laden wagon, the entire dis- 
tance of more than one thousand miles. 

Reaching the valley of Salt Lake with 
his mother, Sept. 23d, 1848, he continued 
in charge of the cattle as herd boy for 
several years, and never lost an animal, 
notwithstanding the great number of 
large wolves iu the valley. This work 
of herding was interchanged with plow- 
ing, harvesting, canyon work, etc., idle- 
ness taking no part in the life of this 
noble man. 

The opportunities for education in 
those early days of trying experiences of 
the Church, were limited. Such learn- 
ing as Brother Joseph possessed he ac- 
quired chiefly from his mother. She 
taught him to read the Bible dur- 
ing their pilgrimage across the 
plains, in the tent, and by the 
camp fire Such facilities as have 
been afforded him have not passed 
by unimproved. Being fond of hooks, 
he reads extensively the best of them, 
always with a purpose in view — viz.: to 
learn lessons of worth for practical use 
in life, and it is safe to say that no man 
living applies them better to himself and 
family than does President Joseph F. 
Smith. His mother died Sept. 21st, 1852, 
leaving him an orphan at the age of 14. 
When 15 years of age he was called on 
a mission to the Sandwich Islands. He 
received his endowments in the Old 
Council House, and was set apart in the 
same building by Apostles Parley P. 
Pratt and Orson Hyde. Brother Pratt, 
who was spokesman in setting him apart, 
declared that he should receive the 
knowledge of the Hawaiian language "by 
the gift of God as well as by study." 
This prophecy was literally fulfilled, for 
in less than four mouths from his arri- 
val (two weeks of this time was spent in 
severe sickness) he was able to make a 
tour of the Islands of Maui; to preach, 
baptize and administer the Sacrament, 
etc., all in the native language. He left 
his mountain home to fulfill this mission, 
May 27th, 1854, in company with other 
missionaries. The Southern route was 
taken, accompanying as far as Cedar, 
President Young and party, who 
were on their tour to the South- 
ern settlement. This little band 
of missionaries was headed by Par- 
ley P. Pratt. In crossing the desert 
country, from Southern Utah to Califor- 
nia, they were followed a long distance 
by numbers of the Pah-Ute Indians, who 
were almost famishing for food. The 
only alternative was to share food with 
them, which they did to keep on friendly 
terms. As a result the missionaries were 
compelled to subsist on very short ra- 
tions, consuming the last of their sup- 
plies the day they reached Cajon Pass. 
Parley P. Pratt proceeded to San Fran- 
cisco. During the sojourn of Brother 
Joseph F. in California, he worked hard 
for a livelihood to earn means sufficient 
to pay his passage across the Pacific to 
Honolulu; much of his time being spent 
in the manufacture of cut shingles. He 
and his fellow missionaries embarked 
upon the "Vaquero," and after a some- 
what disagreeable voyage they landed in 



THE SOUTHERN STAR. 



235 



Honolulu, Sept. 27th, 1854. After a few 
days there Brother Joseph was assigned 
to the Island of Maui, to labor in com- 
pany with his cousin, Silas Smith, S. B. 
Thurston and Washington B. Rogers. 
He was shortly afterward prostrated for 
more than two weeks with a severe fever. 
Upon his recovery he was assigned to 
Kula, the place where President Cannon 
first introduced the Gospel to the Ha- 
waiian race. He pursued the study of 
the language with much diligence and 
faith, soon being able to bear witness 
that "by the gift of God, as well as by 
study," were the words of Brother 
Pratt concerning his acquisition of the 
language verified; his experiences 
brought him near to the Lord. Relative 
to the manifestations of the Spirit to him 
h© says: "Of the many gifts of the 
Spirit which were manifest through my 
administration, next to my acquirement 
of the language, the most prominent was 
perhaps the gift of healing, and by the 
power of God, the casting out of evil 
spirits which frequently occurred." One 
stance occurred at Wailuku, where he 
sojourned with a native family, being 
engaged in the study of the language. 
One night the woman was suddenly 
seized with evil spirits. She went 
through all manner of hideous contor- 
tions. Her husband was overcome with 
such fear that he trembled as a leaf in 
the wind. Brother Joseph was seized 
with fear at . this new and unexpected 
demonstration, but suddenly all fright 
left him, the power of the Holy Ghost 
rested unon him, and he stood upon his 
feet, facing the woman possessed of de- 
mons. "In the name of the Lord Jesus 
Christ I rebuke you," he said, when sud- 
denly the woman fell limp to the floor 
and became as one dead. The husband 
pronounced her dead, and then set up a 
hideous howl, which Joseph promptly 
rebuked, after which quiet and peace 
was restored and the young missionary 
proceeded with his studies. Brother Jo- 
seph labored upon the Island of Maui 
over eighteen months with great success. 
The readiness by which he acquired and 
used the language astonished his breth- 
ren and the natives. After President 
Hammond took his departure for 
his home in Utah, Brother Joseph presid- 
ed over the Maui Conference; later he 
also presided over the Kohala Confer- 
c»nce for six months, and the Island of 
Hawaii for the same length of time. 

Brother Joseph was laboring upon thi* 
island at the time of the great volcanic 
eruption of 1855. He says: "I experi- 
enced the tremendous shocks of earth- 
quake which immediately preceded the 
eruptions, and subsequently visited the 
great lava flow which issued from the 
crater. It was said that this eruption 
in the quantity of lava thrown out, has 
probably never been surpassed during 
the residence of foreigners on the islands. 
The flow continued for about thirteen 
months, reaching to within six or seven 
miles of the city of Hilo, more than sixty 
miles from the crater. The city and 
bay of Hilo were in imminent danger of 
destruction for months. I have seen it 
stated since that the area covered by 
lava from this eruption exceeded three 
hundred square miles, or about one-thir- 
teenth of the area of the Island of Ha- 
waii." President Smith continued his 
labors upon the islands with efficiency, 
passing through many scenes which add- 
ed strength to his testimony of the Gos- 
pel and fitted him for positions of re- 
sponsibility, to which he has since been 
called. He has sometimes said that he 
was "never thankful but once that his 
first mission was upon the Sandwich 
Islands, and that once has been all the 
time, from the time of his mission to the 
present date." 

Owing to the approach of Johnson's 
army to Utah President Young sent in- 
structions that he desired all El- 
ders laboring in foreign missions to re- 
turn home. Accordingly President 
Smith and other Elders took passage on 
the bark Yankee. Oct. 6th. 1&57. Upon 
landing at San Francisco they reporte4 



to President George Q. Cannon, at the 
Western Standard office. Shortly after 
arriving on the coast Brother Smith jour- 
neyed south to Santa Cruz, there join- 
ing a company. He next arranged to 
drive a team to Utah for George Cris- 
raon, arriving in Great Salt Lake City 
Feb. 24th, 1858, having been absent four 
years all but a little over three months. 
Immediately upon his return home he 
joined the militia, and started with an 
expedition to intercept the hostile army, 
which had been sent to Utah, without 
the slightest cause of justification. He 
served under Col. Thomas P. Callister, 
and later was Chaplain of the regiment 
under Col. Heber 0. Kimball. He says, 
in speaking of his enlistment and expe- 
riences in the Utah army: 

"The day following my arrival home I 
reported myself to President Young and 
immediately enlisted in the legion to de- 
fend ourselves against the encroachment 
of a hostile and menacing army. From 
that time until the proclamation of peace, 
and a free and full pardon, by President 
Buchanan came, I was constantly in my 
saddle, prospecting and exploring the 
country between Great Salt Lake City 
and Fort Bridger, under the command of 
Col. Thos. Callister and others. I was 
oh picket guard with a party of men un- 
der O. P. Rockwell, when Commission- 
ers Powell and McCollough met us near 
the Weber river with the President's 
proclamation. Subsequently I was on 
detail in the deserted city of Great Salt 
Lake, until after the army passed through 
the city, and thence to Camp Floyd. Af- 
ter this I assisted my relatives to return 
to their homes, from which they had fled, 
going to the south some time previous." 

At the session of the Legislature held in 
the winter of 1858-59 President Smith 
officiated as sergeant-at-arms in the coun- 
cil, and on March 29, 1858, he was or- 
dained into the Thirty-second Quorum of 
Seventies. He was married April 5, 
1859, and on Oct. 16, of the same year 
was ordained a High Priest, also being 
made a member of the High Council of 
Salt Lake Stake of Zion. At the April 
Conference, 1860, Brother Joseph was 
called on a mission to Great Britain. He 
was in straightened circumstances finan- 
cially and was almost obliged to discon- 
tinue housekeeping, and allow his wife 
to return to her mother's home for the 
time being. He was soon on his way, in 
company with his cousin, Samuel B. 
Smith, each driving a four-mule team, 
to pay their way across the plains. They 
had an interesting trip to the Missouri 
river; from that point to New York they 
went by way of Nauvoo and viewed the 
homes of their childhood days, calling 
upon the wife and children of the Proph- 
et Joseph Smith. They sailed for Liv- 
erpool July 14, arriving in that port on 
the 27th of that month. During his mis- 
sion in England President Smith traveled 
in various conferences, and in all his 
ministrations among the Saints and 
strangers left an impression for good 
that can never be effaced. President 
George Q. Cannon was also in Great 
Britain on a mission at the same time, 
and it was while there, perhaps, more 
than any other place they learned to love 
and esteem each other; where a friendship 
was established which has grown strong- 
er as the years have gone by. That was 
the commencement of an intimacy which 
their labors together in the same coun- 
cils of the Holy Priesthood have en- 
hanced from that time to the present 
moment. 

During his mission in Europe President 
Smith, with President George Q. Can- 
non, visited several of the conferences 
in Denmark, and with Elder Brigham 
Young, Jr., and others, visited Paris. 
France. Brother Joseph F. was released 
after filling a most honorable and effi- 
cient mission, returning home in 1863: 
himself and companions were in New 
York City, at the time of the "dreadful 
riots," which occurred in July of that 
year. Crossing the plains, he was Chap- 
lain in Cant. John W. Woolley's com- 
pany. Arriving home he found his wife 
in,a. very poor state of health, which for 
some tfrae grew worse, buj Jie waited up- 



on her day and night with little or no 
rest for many weeks, when she gradually 
recovered her health. It was not in the 
providences of the Lord that Brother 
Joseph should remain long at that period 
of his life to enjoy the quiet and peace 
of home, for in March, 1864, he started 
on his second mission to the Sandwich 
Islands. He went in company with Apos- 
tles Lorenzo Snow, Ezra T. Benson, El- 
ders William W. Cluff and Alma L. 
Smith. The purpose of their mission was 
to regulate the affairs of the church on 
the Islands, which had been greatly in- 
terfered with by one Walter M. Gibson, 
who had presumptuously established him- 
self as leader of the Church upon the 
Islands. They labored faithfully to con- 
vert Mr. Gibson from his wrong doing, 
but to no avail. The man was not hon- 
est at heart, and they were obliged, for 
the protection of the native Saints, to ex- 
communicate Gibson from the Church. 
The trouble being settled, the Apostles 
soon returned to America, leaving Presi- 
dent Smith and other American Elders 
in charge of the mission. He returned 
from this mission in the winter of 1864- 
65. While upon this mission an incident 
occurred which is worthy of note: 

The ship upon which the brethren ar- 
rived was anchored in the channel, where 
the sea was usually very rough. A 
breakwater had been constructed, and by 
the protection of it the natives success- 
fully ran their boats ashore. However, 
in approaching it there was danger of 
disaster. It was proposed to land the 
passengers in the ship's freight boat, 
which was unwieldy and not easily man- 
aged. 

President Smith at once apprehended 
the danger and stoutly protested against 
the proposition, warning the brethren of 
the great danger of capsizing the boat 
at the breakwater. He refused to ac- 
company them in the boat, and tried to 
persuade his co-laborers not to go. They 
were persistent, however, and made the 
attempt, while Brother Joseph offered 
even to go alone for a better boat. When 
they were determined to go he persuad- 
ed them to permit him to remain on the 
anchored ship and leave their clothing 
and valuable articles with him. They 
consented to this reluctantly, and as 
they moved away from the ship, Joseph 
stood upon the latter gazing at his 
brethren with awful anxiety, apparently 
knowing their fate. His fears were not 
ungrounded, for as their unwieldy freight 
boat struck the breakwater a heavy 
wave dashed against it and in- 
stantly capsized it, emptying its human 
cargo into the surging billows. A boat 
manned by natives came to the rescue 
and recovered all but President Snow, 
when they started for shore. Brother 
W. W. Cluff demanded the return of the 
boat, that they might secure Brother 
Snow, which was done, and when his re- 
mains were recovered, to all appear- 
ances he was dead. Through the mer- 
cies of the Lord, however, he was re- 
stored to life. All this time Brother Jo- 
seph stood in awful suspense, a helpless 
spectator upon the floor of the anchored 
ship. This action of President Smith 
indicates that fearless trait of his char- 
acter which has been manifest through- 
out his life, showing that he has the 
courage of his convictions, and is most 
vigorous and earnest in expressing them. 
When Brother Smith returned home 
from this mission, he was employed as 
a clerk in the Endowment House and at 
the Historian's office, frequently per- 
forming home missionary work in the 
Territorv. He was also an active and 
efficient member of the Great Salt Lake 
City Council for several terms; the ef- 
fects of his influence in that municipal 
body are today monuments of worth to 
the city of Salt Lake. The possession of 
Libertv Park today by Salt Lake Citv 
is due to his influence and determined 
convictions, more than to the labors of 
anv other man. July 1st. 1866, he was 
ordained an Apostle by President Brig- 
ham Young, and on the 8th of October. 



(See PfMre 238.) 



236 



THE SOUTHERN STAR. 




NhlltM Wttkly by Seitieu Stttt* MImIoi, Chore! 

tf Jotit Christ tf letter Dtj Stilts, 

Chattiittp, Tnii. 



{Per year . . $1.00 

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and desiring papers changed, should always give 
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letter. 

Entered at the Post Office erf Chattanooga, Tewn., as 
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Correspondence from all parts of the missionary 
field is solicited. Give name and address, or articles 
will be rejected. Write on one side of paper only 
when sent for publication. We reserve the right to 
either eliminate or reject any communication sent in. 
Address Box 109 

Saturday, June 23, 1900. 



ARTICLES OF FAITH 

OP THE CHURCH OF JESUS CHRI5T OP 
LATTER-DAY SAINTS. 

t. We believe In (Jod the Eternal Father, and in HU 8o» 
Jim Christ, and io the Holy Ghost. 

t. We belief e that meo will be punished for their owe 
•ins, and. not for Adam's transgression. 

1 We believe that, throeS the atonement of Christ, all 
mankind may fee te/ed, by obedience to the laws and ordi- 
nanont of the Gospel* 

4. We beHere thet the first principles and ordinances of 
the Gospel aye t First, Faith io the Lord Jesas Christ ; second, 
Repentanee; third, Beptism by immersion for the remission 
ei sios; foorta, Laying on of Bands for the Gift of the Holy 



*, We btftt*e itint i kid euit be rmU*4 <rf (.tod, bf 
" prophscjr , ind hy Lha liyinf on of hindi,," bjf tbte* »bo tr* 

In selh&ntj, to Dlttctl the gMpel tad *ii mini iter Em U)»6fdK 



0. We bcllerq la H« lime DFfinhiaticn ihml etitled In 
* primiiire chorea — i^sDsJy, Apottlei, Propbrts, {^utorv 
PICA in, ETADfclEtlMt rit. 



7. W« tallies In tJie jif( o( lun^U**, frropbecj, rsvclstioB, 
*iiion», lie* I trip, inlerprstitjon of ton^u*!, ale. 

1 V* b*|j*i« Ihs Bible K> bm th* fcofj of Graf* ■■ far ull 



I* trinnlilsd eainclij i wf »)ut ferUfv* ihe Book of U armor* 
to be the word «f God. 

V We belief* mil tbat fit*} hu rt i* j)td, *ll thrill* Jo*t 
ftow reveal, sod Petal l«*r ihitHe will vet r<s**alniit>j fjtii 
end i ft parti d( fhtafi p? ttri 'p.i njj Io Ihv Ki ordain of tiod. 

W, W* btTre** Id the iitermJ t»EJieru>g of ljntl tod in tbe 
tenor iticn of the Tea tribes; tbet 7-itia will hi famli bdob 
this (the Americna ) con Lineal : [hit cbriit *i)t r*%D pereoo- 
elfr a nan the «rlh, sod Hist Lbe urtb will be Tojiewtd snd 
rtcette iu p«rsdjtuir>J jjorj, 

11. W« cunm the pritikrs of vorfhipirje. Afmffhfj Opd 
nceerdJnc Bo the dlcUtei of oar wn K i*n« t ind iJlow ill 
men the; seeaepri »i]*j*. lit ihem ToriiiipboT.vbere, or vbsl 

11 wi beliere In beiof enbject to klnce, presidents, rulers, 
nod OMfbtrates ; in bbeying, honoring aadsostainJng the law. 

U-vWe believe in being honest, tree, chaste, benevolent, 

▼Irtooos, and in doing goodio all i 

•haswelol* ' ■ - » -*^ 



to be able to endore all thin 



MODERN METHODS. 



Many perhaps have noted that certain 
preachers, called ministers of the meek 
and lowly Savior, are again at their old 
trick of disturbing the peace of mind of 
liberty-loving people. They are in a 
cowardly manner doing to the Mormon 
Elders just what the enemies of Christ 
did unto Him in His day, and yet they 
claim it Christlike. When a porcupine 
gets in a close place he always begins to 
throw his quills. It is his only means 
of defense. He is not a fighter, he is 
not a foot racer; his only protection is 
to make himself as disagreeable as pos- 
sible. When our Elders go into a neigh- 
borhood the ministers will not meet them 
with Scripture and reason, they will not 
come out openly and accept the truth as 
it is in Jesus, but instead use the same 
method as . the porcupine of throwing 
their quills of falsehood. It is their only 
means of defense, but at once cowardly 



and unjust, and in the end will bring 
condemnation to their souls. These 
preachers are not called of God, and 
therefore have not His spirit to guide 
them, but think more of money getting 
than of soul saving. Their only protec- 
tion and shield is in flinging filth when 
they get cornered. Nature gave unto the 
porcupine his quills as a means of de- 
fense when cornered, and so does Satan 
arm these so-called preachers with false- 
hoods, that when cornered by truth they 
might defend themselves by letting them 
fly broadcast. It does seem strange, nev- 
ertheless it is a fact, that the different 
religious sects will jangle and quarrel 
with each other until it seems that a 
reconciliation is out of the question, and 
yet just as soon as an Elder of the 
Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day 
Saints comes into their midst they will 
all join hands and lay plots and devise 
ways and means of getting rid of these 
"despised Mormons." Instead of taking 
up their Bibles and going to the Elders 
in brotherly kindness, with a desire to 
point to them their errors, they take up 
the club and lash; raise mobs and then 
tell the people they are humble servants 
of the Master. "It must needs be that 
offences come, but woe unto that man by 
whom the offence cometh." 

"It were better for him that a mill- 
stone were hanged about his neck, and 
he cast into a sea, than that he should 
offend one of these little ones." 



"WITHOUT MONEY AND WITHOUT 
PRICE.** 

"Ho, every one that thirsteth, come ye 
to the waters, and he that hath no 
money; come ye, buy and eat; yea. come, 
buy wine and milk without money, and 
without price." (Isaiah 55:1.) Here we 
have a call, uttered by a Prophet of the 
living Gad unto all those who are athirst 
for righteousness. This call extends, as 
the Prophet hath said, unto "every one 
that thirsteth:" but fearful lest the poor 
should think themselves not accounted 
worthy of this "milk and wine" of salva- 
tion, the holy man of God — Isaiah — con- 
tinues by saying, "and he that hath no 
money; come ye, buy and eat." Who 
is it that "hath no money?" Is it not the 
poor among men, and those that are in 
the lowly walks of life, that have no 
money? It is verily true! And they— 
the poor among men — are given the 
blessed promise of enjoying the gifts of 
the Gospel of Jesus Christ. The Gospel, 
therefore, must needs be free, else how 
could they "that have no money" pur- 
chase the same? 

Let us turn our attention to that good 
old Book of Books—the Holy Bible— for 
within its sacred pages we shall find 
much to comfort and gladden the hearts 
of the poor; we shall find much to sup- 
port and uphold the doctrine that the 
Gospel shall be preached free; and we 
shall also find that the Lord condemns 
those who preach for hire, and divine for 
money. 

The Apostle Paul says, "For the love 
of money is the root of all evil; which 
while some coveted after, they have erred 
from the faith, and pierced themselves 
through with many sorrows. But thou, 
O, man of God, flee these things." (I 
Tim. 6:10, 11.) 

This passage of Scripture is preceded 
by a verse which informs us that riches 
drown men in destruction and perdition. 
In this same chapter of Paul's epistle to 
Timothy, we find that those destitute of 
the truth suppose that gain is godliness 
(5th verse). Today, we observe that .a 



large salary makes a big preacher. If 
the Christian (?) minister of today can 
demand and obtain $5,000 a year, why 
it goes to say that he is an evangelist of 
no small type. But the country pastors, 
sometimes called "Jack-legged preach- 
ers," who can only succeed in draining 
the members of their circuit of, say $500, 
why he is not designated as a great 
preacher, as is his fellow laborer who re- 
ceives the larger salary. Why is this 
the case? Cannot we truthfully say that 
it is an exact fulfillment of what Paul 
said, writing to Timothy: they 

are "destitute of the truth, supposing 
that gain is godliness?" (I Tim. 6:5.) 

"Be ye followers of me, even as I also 
am of Christ." (I Cor. 11:1.) Paul cov- 
eted no man's silver or gold, but energet- 
ically labored for his sustenance with 
his own hands. (Acts 20:33 and 34) 
that he, by so doing, might not abuse his 
power in the Gospel. (I Cor. 9:18.) Pe- 
ter commanded the Elders to feed the 
flock of God, not for filthy lucre (money), 
but of a ready mind (I Peter 5:2), not 
following the way of Balaam, who loved 
the wages of unrighteousness (II Peter 
2:15). When our Lord sent His Apos- 
tles out on their first mission, He com- 
manded them to go forth and preach say- 
ing, "The Kingdom of Heaven is at 
hand. Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, 
raise the dead, cast out devils. Freely 
ye have received, freely give." (Matt. 
10:7-8.) He never revoked this com- 
mand, and it is enjoined upon all who 
would preach the everlasting Gospel. 
Furthermore we hear Him declaring, as 
an evidence of His Messiahship, that 
"to the poor the Gospel is preached." 
(Luke 7:22.) He, the Savior of the 
world, the Redeemer of all the sons and 
daughters of Adam's race, neglected not 
the poor, neither did He deprive them of 
the glorious privilege of hearing and ac- 
cepting the glad tidings of great joy 
which were heralded by Him and His 
humble followers. 

The Scriptures of Holy Writ return 
again and again to condemn the prac- 
tices of a hireling clergy, and to uphold, 
indorse and sustain the actions of the 
true followers of the Lamb who preach 
the Gospel free. 

In conclusion, let the words of John, 
the divine Revelator, be heard, "And the 
Spirit and the bride say come, and let 
him that heareth say, come, and let him 
that is athirst say come; and whosoever 
will, let him take the water of life free- 
ly." (Rev. 22:17.) 



PRESIDENT LORENZO SNOW. 

Our venerable leader and beloved 
President, Lorenzo Snow, has been af- 
flicted with illness of late, but we are 
pleased to announce to the Elders and 
Saints of the Southern States Mission 
that he is convalescent at the present 
time. Let the prayers of all Israel as- 
cend to the Throne of God in behalf of 
President Snow, that we may all be 
blessed with his presence, comforted by 
his loving words, and instructed by his 
choice admonition and God-like wisdom, 
for many days yet to come. 



Elder W. O. Phelps is now in charge 
of the Louisiana Conference. Although 
there are but a small force of Elders in 
that conference, yet the brethren in the 
past have done nobly, and we rest as- 
sured that under the guidance of Brother 
Phelps the good work will continue. 



God gives every bird its food, but He. 
docs not throw it into its nest. — J. G. 
Holland. 



THE SOUTHERN STAR. 



237 



THE BOOK OF MORMON -ITS AUTHENTICITY. 



A LECTURE GIVEN BY INVITATION, APRIL 29, 1900, BEFORE THE OHIO LIB- 
ERAL SOCIETY, CINCINNATI, OHIO, BY ELDER BEN. L. RICH. 

(Continued from Page 227.) * 



Thus you see the frailties of the strong- 
est objections advanced against the au- 
thenticity of the work in question. Many 
more arguments and objections were 
raised but they are all too absurd and self- 
contradictory to receive any attention 
whatever. And the history of the western 
ancients will have to be explained by 
much stronger arguments than have been 
advanced heretofore to disprove its truth- 
fulness. Now since the objections are so 
palpably weak and irrational, the evi- 
dence of its authenticity must necessarily 
evince strength and reason. And I ask 
you candidly to weigh carefully the 
proofs of its claim. 

There is a fulfillment of prophecy in the 
coming forth of this record. 

The Book of Mormon purports to be a 
history of a remnant of the people of 
Israel that was practically destroyed. It 
is claimed to have been taken from the 
earth and translated in an ancient stylo 
somewhat resembling biblical. And Isaiah 
(29 chap.) in speaking of a people akin 
to Israel wrote: "And thou shalt be 
brought down and shall speak out of the 
ground and thy speech shall be low out of 
the dust, and thy voice shall be as of one 
that hath a familiar spirit, out of the 
ground, and thy speech shall whisper out 
of the dust." Does not the Book of Mor- 
mon fulfill this ancient prediction? Some 
of the characters were transcribed from 
the plates and given to Martin Harris 
who took them to Professor Anthon, of 
New York. The Professor gave a certifi- 
cate of the genuineness of the characters, 
saying that they resembled the ancient 
Egyptian Chaldaic Assyria letters. A 
Prof. Mitchell of New York also gave 
similar testimony. "Where did this man 
Smith get the records?" asked Mr. An- 
thon. He was told that he received them 
from an angel. He continued. "Brim: 
me the plates and I will translate them." 
Mr. Harris said that a part of the records 
was sealed, that Joseph was not permitted 
to translate but part of them, whereup- 
on the doctor heartily ejaculated, "I can- 
not read a sealed book," thus fulfilling 
another of Isaiah's predictions (29 chap.) 
which read: "And the vision of all is be- 
come unto you as the words of a book 
(the words of the book, not the book it- 
self) which men deliver to one that is 
learned, saying read this I pray thee; and 
he saith I cannot for it is sealed; and the 
book is delivered to him that is not 
learned." Can you not also see the ful- 
fillment of ancient prediciton in this pas- 
sage? 

The Book of Mormon purports to be a 
record of the descendants of Joseph. The 
Bible is principally a record of the de- 
scendants of Judah. We hold' that the 
Bible and Book of Mormon contain many 
truths in common, and are one in the 
cause. The Prophet Ezekiel knew of the 
coming forth of the two books and pur- 
posely wrote (37 chap.): 

"Moreover, thou son of man, take thee 
one stick, and write upon it, for Judah, 
and for the children of Israel his com- 
panions; then take another stick, and 
write upon it, for Joseph, the stick of 
Ephriam, and for all the house of Israel 
his companions: 

"And join them one to another into one 
stick; and they shall become one in thv 
hand. 

"And when the children of thv people 
shall speak unto thee, saying, wilt thou 
not show us what thou meanest by these? 

"Say unto them, thus saith the Lord: 
Behold I will take the stick of Joseph, 
which is in the hands of Ephriam. and 
the tribes of Israel his fellows, and will 
put them with him, even with the stick 
of Judah, and make them one stick, and 
they shall be one in mine hand." When 
we realize that the ancients wrote on pa- 
pyrus and parchment and rolled them 



upon sticks and called the writing a scroll, 
u book or a stick, the weight and signifi- 
cance of this quotation can be seen. 
Christ made a remark recorded by John 

SO) which has great meaning. In the 
ook of Mormon it teaches that Christ 
visited the people of this continent after 
his crucifixion. We know that on the 
eastern continent Christ did not go arnong 
any people other than the Jews. And un- 
til the explanation found in the abridge- 
ment of Mormon the statement of Jesus 
was considered mysterious. He said: 
"And other sheep I have which are not 
of this fold; them also I must bring and 
they shall hear my voice, and there shall 
be one fold and one shepherd." There 
are many more Biblical proofs of the 
Book, but the paragraphs quoted show 
that its advent satisfies clearly, literally 
and exactly predictions of the Prophets. 

But from the researches of scientists in 
the traditions of the Indian and in the an- 
tiquities of America we find greater evi- 
dence of the authenticity of the Book of 
Mormon. Now when the record was pub- 
lished in 1829, the wonderful ruins ami 
relics of the new world's antiquities prac- 
tically lay undisturbed, in the sleep of 
centuries. But the facts revealed in 
American Archeology and ethnology won- 
derfully show that the work brought forth 
by Joseph Smith is at once reasonable and 
consistent. 

Furthermore, the history of America's 
past, makes it plain that an imposition 
could not summon to its support such 
evidences as discovery and investigation 
afterwards contributed to the account 
published through the instrumentality of 
ihe boy Joseph. 

When the Book of Mormon said that 
this continent had been inhabitated by a 
powerful, intelligent race which enjoyed 
a civilization akin to that of the old 
world in past centuries, men of more zeal 
than wisdom laughed at the idea. They 
said can this man believe he can palm off 
onto intelligent people such absurdities? 
They sneered at the proposition that the 
progenitors of the Indian ever lived in a 
state of civilization. But research came 
to the rescue, and we now find proof 
that the civilization of ancient America 
rivals that of ancient Egypt, Assyria and 
Babylonia. The ancients of this hemis- 
phere understood an advanced style of 
architecture. They built cities with walls, 
with terraces, with towers and with paved 
streets, many of which exist well pre- 
served today in New Mexico, Arkansas, 
Arizona, Mexico, Yucatan and Central 
and South America. In Yucatan there is 
a foundation which contains a stone of 
almost incredible dimensions, a rock mucn 
larger than can be managed nowadays. 
This stone is shown to have been taken 
from a quarry over a hundred miles dis- 
tant. To have quarried and transported 
such a stupendous block of granite gives 
evidence that a knowledge of levers and 
engineering prevailed. They knew how 
to temper copper to such hardness that it 
could cut steel, an art unknown today. 
They understood the art of making and 
coloring glass. They understood geoin- 
eterv, the science of war and fortification. 
In New Mexico there have been unearthed 
networks of cemented rock canals, which 
carried water onto an arid land. This 
shows that the 19th century is not the 
only age that can boast of artificial irri- 
gation. Hieroglyphics and queer charac- 
ters are found engraved on walls, col- 
umns, monuments, pyramids and parch- 
ment scrolls over all the hemisphere, 
proving that the ancients possessed a 
written language and enjoyed an ad- 
vanced civilization. And since an intelli- 
gent and civilized race did exist upon 
this continent would it not be cruel, un- 
natural, unmerciful and unjust, for a lov- 
ing and just God to withhold His bless- 
ings from this people and favor another 



people no more worthy of such blessings? 

Does not the God of heaven tell us that 
He is an impartial Being, no respector 
of persons? Would it not be the height 
of partiality to bless the inhabitants of 
one part of the earth with the plan of hap- 
piness and' salvation, and hold another 
race in chains of darkness? . * 

But the Book of Mormon solemnly af- 
firms that the ancients of this land did 
have the Work of God and did know of 
Christ and His gospel. When this in- 
formation came to the world in the early 
decades of this century, men ridiculed 
more and more the claims of Joseph 
Smith. They thought surely he had great- 
ly underestimated the intelligence of the 
age or else had lost his mental balance. 
But investigation again came to the res- 
cue, as investigation often does. It shows 
that the religion and tradition of the ab- 
origines of America resembled that of 
the Israelites. Although the traditions 
and belief through apostacy, ignorance 
and degeneration lost many of their beau- 
ties and gave place to vague superstitions, 
we can, however, see in the belief of the 
native races a parallel of biblical teach- 
ings. Not many years a^o in Licking 
County, O., a tablet was discovered, con- 
taining, inscribed in corrupt Hebrew, 
the ten commandments. Parchments have 
been discovered recording prophesies of 
Isaiah and other ancients. There are ex- 
tant many stories among the Indians rel- 
ative to the deluge and the confusion at 
Babel. The Central American used to 
practice the rite of circumcision. Th%j 
ancient Peruvians offered burnt animal 
sacrifices. We note in these things, rud- 
iments of the practices in the Mosaic 
dispensnation. It is explained from the 
fact that Lehi left Jerusalem long 
before the Christian era. He brought 
with him a language of his fathers and 
worshipped in the customs of the Jews. 

The Book of Mormon also states that 
a knowledge of Christ was held by the 
peoples whose historv it records, and we 
find in the religious beliefs of the Indian 
i aces corroborative evidence of this as- 
sertion. The ancient Chilians said that 
their fathers were visited by a wonderful 
person full of grace and love, who did 
many wonderful works and taught them 
to worship a creator who dwells in the 
heavens, whom they called the Great 
Spirit. The ancient Mexicans found a 
deity in one Quetzalcoatl who, they held, 
took upon himself human nature, endured 
sorrows and pain and voluntarily died 
for the wrongs of their fathers. This 
same Quetzalcoatl is chiseled in the walls 
of an aneient temple, with outstretched 
arms, crucified, bearing imprints in his 
hands and feet. We can see in this tra- 
ditional Quetzalcoatl none other than thu 
crucified Christ. The early Catholic 
priests found in Yucatan a perfect knowl- 
edge of the God-head, among the natives. 
And they, the priests, in their inability 
to account for its origin, said that Satau 
had instituted a counterfeit religion. The 
people of Yucatan believed in God who 
resided in the heavens, even the Father, 
the Son and the Holy Spirit. Thy said 
the Father's name was Yeona; that his 
son was born of a virgin; that he was 
scourged and put to death with arms 
outstretched upon a beam of wood; that 
he came to life again and went to His 
Father and afterwards sent to them the 
Holy Spirit, who came in the person of 
a good merchant, distributing precious 
gifts abundant and divine. This is not. 
mysterious to one familiar with the Book 
of Mormon. 

We are also told that the sign of the 
cross was prevalent among the Mexicans 
at the time of Cortez and that the priests 
who accompanied him were astonished to 
find that the Aztec priests practiced an 
ordinance similar to the sacrament of the 
Lord's Supper. They were seen to mix 
blood with a cake of flour and to consecrate 
it and distribute it to the people to eat, 
saying that it served as the flesh of 
Deity. Again I say, while these ordi- 
nances and traditions of the Indian peo- 
ples are corrupt, we can plainly see in 
them corroboration of the statements of 
the Book of Mormon. 

From the researches of such men of 



238 



THE SOUTHERN STAR. 



unquestionable authority as Waterman, 
Baldwin, Seott, Lord Kingsborough, 
Schoolseraft, Pritchard, Botwini, Clare- 
goo, Priest, Morgan and Prof. Jas. 
E. Talmage, one of few Americans 
of the Edinberough Society of Geology, 
has compiled these conclusions: 

(1) '*That America was inhabited in 
very ancient times, probably soon after 
the building of the Tower of Babel." This 
agrees with the Book of Mormon; for it 
says that Jared left the old world for 
this continent soon after the confusion 
at Babel. 

(2) "That the continent has been suc- 
cessively occupied by different peoples, 
at least by two classes or races at wide- 
ly separated periods." The Book of 
Mormon states that the Jaredites occu- 
pied this continent from the scenes at 
Babel till the sixth century B. C, and 
that the Nephites and Lainanites occu- 
pied the hemisphere from the fifth or 
sixth century B. C. till the fourth cen- 
tury A. D., when the Nephite nation be- 
came extinct, leaving only a degenerate 
remnant of the Lamanites. 

(3) "That the aboriginal inhabitants 
came from the. east, probably from Asia, 
and that the latter occupants, or those 
of the second period, were closely allied 
to, if not identical with, the Israelites." 
The Book of Mormon says that Jared 
came from Asia and that Lehi, an Is- 
raelite, came direct from Jerusalem. 

(4) "That the existing native races of 
America have sprung from a common 
stock." This agrees identically with the 
Book of Mormon. 

Now, mv friends, appeal to your rea- 
son and ask yourselves the question, could 
Joseph Smith, a youth unlearned in the 
sciences and classics, unschooled in geog- 
raphy and history, by his own accord 
and wisdom have authorized a work 
which in after years summoned to its 
support the. evidences of an extinct civ- 
ilization? Had the work been of an 
ignorant, presuming mind, is it not much 
more reasonable to conclude that instead 
of proving, the tombs of American anti- 
quities would have furnished evidence 
sufficient to disprove and overthrow such 
a work as the Book of Mormon with all 
its claims? The force of archeological 
and ethnological corroboration of the 
Book of Mormon is self-evident and gives 
it uncontradicted support of its authen- 
ticity. 

But there are other evidences of the 
Book of Mormon. The question might 
be asked: Who other than Joseph 
Smith saw the plates from which the rec- 
ord was translated? On account of the 
sacred character of the volume, it was 
not exhibited to satisfy mere curiosity. 
But eleven men, praised for their hon- 
esty, truthfulness and sobriety, give their 
testimonies to the fact that they saw and 
handled the plates. They subscribed 
their names to an affidavit, solemnly af- 
firming upon the honor of tneir manhood, 
that they saw and handled the curious 
volume; that it was marvelous to their 
understanding; but nevertheless they 
gave their word to all men and nations 
what they saw and did, and called upon 
God and angels to witness that they 
spoke the truth. But, says one, could 
these men not have been deceiving? Men 
noted for honesty and truthfulness do 
not very often deceive in such matters, 
but let us see. When men deceive they 
do it either for wealth, for power or for 
, notoriety. If these eleven witnesses were 
not speaking the truth, what other mo- 
tives would prompt them to fabricate? 
Could they have sought wealth by their 
testimonies? It seems a queer way of 
becoming rich, for by their act they were 
socially ostracised; nay, more, they were, 
ridiculed and abused. By being "Mor- 
mons" they were mobbed, plundered of 
all they possessed, their homes" burned 
and their lives jeopardized. These are 
not the proceedings of men in search of 
wealth by lying. Most of the number 
lost their standing in the church, lived 
in poverty and were offered bribes to re- 
tract from what they had sworn to; but 
they never denied their testimonies. No, 
it could not have been for money that 
they gave their good names. Then, was 



it for power? Had it been, when most 
of them lost their standing in the church, 
when they were excommunicated and 
became enemies of Joseph Smith, and 
forfeited the chance of realizing auy am- 
bition or power whatever, had power 
been their motive, they, in anger or in 
jealousy, would have denied their testi- 
monials. Surely, through revenge, one 
would have retracted his statement to 
overthrow the work which grew on his 
testimony. Was it for reputation or no- 
toriety, then, they might nave deceived ? 
Indeed, what enviable notoriety; to be 
called an imposter, a "Mormon," to be 
mobbed, and risk their lives, all for the 
sake of reputation. Had their motives 
been for notoriety, when they were ex- 
communicated from the church, could 
they not have gained more popularity 
and notoriety by denying their testimo- 
nies and thus be the means of overthrow- 
ing such a growing and gigantic organiza- 
tion? But they did not. They could not 
have been under a spell pf mental hallu- 
cination. Who ever heard of a young 
man deluding eleven of his superiors by 
mental magnetism t and holding them de- 
ceived all their lives, when separated 
from them in after years in every way? 
No, it was no deception, delusion, or im- 
position. The evidence of any three of 
the eleven, if given against any man in 
the courts of the United States, would 
convict him of any crime. The testimo- 
nies of Joseph Smith and the eleven wit- 
nesses to having seen and handled the 
plates, would convince before any im- 
partial court. There are millions of peo- 
ple who believe in the resurrection of 
Christ, through the testimonies of a few 
witnesses, two thousand years ago. Yet 
the evidence of the witnesses of the Book 
of Mormon is stronger, more binding, 
more conclusive and lasting than the 
witnesses of the immortal Christ. The 
evidence of the Book of Mormou is not 
from contradicted sources, filtered 
through ages of ignorance and supersti- 
tion, as have many of the strongest sup- 
ports of the Christian faith. There is 
much more cause to question the wit- 
nesses of Christ's immortality than to 
doubt the validity of the testators of the 
Book in question. Still there are men 
who accept without thought the former, 
and because, the latter savors of Mormon- 
ism, still not knowing what Mormonism 
is. they will not give it reasonable atten- 
tion. No; the witnesses of the metallic 
plates were not deceiving. Who ever 
heard of a conspiracy among men em- 
bracing whole, families, risking their lives, 
sacrificing their property, losing their 
good names, and all for what?— for the 
sake of elevating and making better the 
human family? Who ever heard of such 
a deception! Had it been deception, in 
after years, when in disappointment, 
when in poverty, when entertaining bit- 
terness against one another, surely one. 
just one, would have exploded the folly, 
had it been a folly. But to the end each 
man upon his deathbed, whether in or 
out of the pale of the church, reaffirmed 
his testimony of the Book of Mormon. 
What would Christendom give for such 
evidence in proof of its ancient record? 
Now, my friends, you have heard in 
brief my humble attempt in support of a 
work which I revere as bearing the im- 
press of truth upon its pages. The Book 
of Mormon in its construction is simple, 
logical and harmonious. The spirit which 
permeates its pages feeds the soul. To 
read it is to be a better man, to feel purer 
and happier. It, in itself, is an argu- 
ment able, to satisfy its claims in its evi- 
dence of prophecy and consistency. You 
have heard exploded its objections and 
noted its proof from various sources. Is 
it not reasonable? Does it not deserve 
careful and serious investigation? If it 
is true, is it not of incalculable value to 
the human family? If it is not true, 
why have the brains of men been at a 
loss to show its falsity? If true, it will 
weather everv wind of opposition. Its 
proof makes it true. It explains the ori- 
gin of the Indian races. It is a crite- 
rion by which to tell the truths of the 
Bible and serves as a key to many so- 
called mysteries of the Jewish scriptures.' 



It is an evidence that God lives. It is 
an evidence that Jesus is the Christ. It 
is an evidence that when the Spirit of 
Joseph Smith was beaten back to the 
bosom of its God by an ungrateful and 
blood-guilty world, the inhabitants of the 
earth had again martyred a valiant son 
of the Great Eternal Father. 



GLEANINGS. 



Sunday last, Elders Iverson and Per- 
kins came up from Memphis, spending 
the day with us. These brethren, with 
others, are doing a good work in that 
city. 

Monday, the 18th inst., a company of 
twelve Elders arrived from Zion. We 
also were favored with the presence of 
Brother John H. Bankhead, who was 
on his way to Florida, having been trans- 
ferred from North Kentucky to the prov- 
erbial "Land of Flowers." 



Last week a number of Elders going 
to and returning from their fields called 
and paid the office brethren a visit. El- 
ders Blake, Gay and Rogers, who have 
been honorably released from labors in 
the North Carolina Conference, called 
upon us en route home, spending the day 
visiting, etc. Elder J. A. Robison, of 
the East Tennessee Conference, was 
so anxious to get home that three hours 
spent in Chattanooga seemed like months. 
He no doubt thinks the railroad people 
very unaccommodating because they do 
not run trains every hour, bound for 
Zion. 



Forsyth county, Georgia, has been fa- 
vored for a short time with the presence 
of Elders R. D. Green and E. T. May- 
hew, but it seems their labor of right- 
eousness was not appreciated by some of 
the people. Having canvassed the coun- 
ty scat, they proceeded to the northeast- 
ern part of their field. On the 13th inst. 
the brethren were successful in getting 
the Castleberrie school house to hold a 
meeting in. That night about 8:30 
o'clock (meeting having been given out 
during the day), a crowd of boys and 
men, numbering about thirty, began 1o 
gather. The Elders had sung a few 
songs, when a young Baptist preacher 
informed them that "they did not allow 
Mormons in their neighborhood." The 
preacher of the word (?) then withdrew, 
when eggs, rocks, etc., were thrown 
through the windows ami doors by out- 
side parties. The brethren were then 
told to "make tracks," and amid a show- 
er of the aforesaid over-ripe hen fruit 
and the vilest cursing, they moved up the 
road with the mobocrats following. Fi- 
nally at the turn of the road the breth- 
ren retreated into the protecting woods, 
while the mobbers thinking they had con- 
tinued up the road, proceeded past them. 
In closing the Elders write: "This is 
our first experience with rotten eggg in 
the hands of modern Christians, and we 
hope it will be the last, for indeed these 
people's idea of Christianity and rotteoi 
egtrs seem to work harmoniously." 

Why ministers are sent to the so-called 
"poor heathen lands." to civilize those 
people, when in this boasted land of lib- 
erty such uncivilized people exist, we can- 
not understand. When men claiming to 
be ministers of the Son of God will per- 
secute Mormon Elders they show their 
true color— hypocrites of the worst type. 

Summer Excursions— Colorado, Utah. 
The Union Pacific will place in effect 
June 21, July 7 to 10, inclusive, July 18 
and August 2, summer excursion rates 
of one fare for the round trip plus $2 
from Missouri river to Denver, Colorado 
Springs, Pueblo, Ogden and Salt Lake. 
Tickets good for return until October 31. 
For full particulars address J. F. Aglar, 
General Agent, St. Louis. 

Reduced Rates to Salt Lake, via Union Pacific. 

June 25th to July 11th, Union Pacific 
make one fare plus two dollars for the 
round trip. Chicago, St. Louis and Kan- 
sas City to Ogden and Salt Lake. 



THE SOUTHERN STAR. 



239 



SKETCH OF PRESIDENT J. F. SMITH. 

(From Paste 230.) 



1807, was called to fill a vacancy in the 
Council of the Twelve. When President 
Young chose to have more than two 
counselors President Joseph F. Smith 
was one of the number selected. 

In 1868 he was called with President 
Woodruff and Elder A. O. Snioot, to go 
to Provo and labor for the upbuilding of 
that city and Utah county. He served 
one term in the Provo City Council. By 

?ermission of President Young he in 
808-09 removed his family back to Salt 
Lake City and resumed his labors in the 
Endowment House, and Historian's office. 
On Feb. 28, 1874, Brother Joseph F. 
started on his second mission to Great 
Britain. This time to preside over the 
European mission. During his labors in 
Europe, Scandinavia, Germany, Switzer- 
land and France were visited, as well as 
the several conferences of the British 
Isles. Brother Joseph proved himself 
to be one of the very choicest Presidents 
that has ever presided over any mission, 
not only for his prompt and wise meth- 
ods of conducting affairs, but also his 
humbleness in obeying the whisperings 
of the Spirit, for which he constantly 
lives; for his personal love and tender- 
hearted kindness to every Elder in the 
mission, which has endeared him to the 
hearts of thousands of Elders and Saints, 
who have lived and labored directly un- 
der his personal ministrations. 

Soon after the decease of President 
Geo. A. Smith, in the fall of 1875, Broth- 
er Smith was released to return home.; 
and upon returning from this labor of 
love he was appointed to preside over the 
Saints in Davis county, the county at 
that time not being organized into a 
Stake of Zion. He held this position un- 
til the spring of 1877, when he was called 
on his third mission to Great Britain. 
Before leaving he witnessed the dedication 
of the St. George Temple, the first com- 
pleted in the Rocky Mountain country. 
During his labors on this mission Elder 
Orson Pratt came to Liverpool to pub- 
lish new editions of the Book of Mormon 
and Doctrine and Covenants. Later they 
appeared with copious marginal j-ef- 
erences and foot notes, prepared by El- 
der Pratt. About the 1st of September 
they received the sad news of the death 
of President Brigham Young and were 
requested by the Council of the Apostles 
to immediately return home. They 
reached Salt Lake City Sept. 27, 1877. 
and the following year Brother Joseph 
was sent with Elder Orson Pratt on a 
short mission to the east. They visited 
noted places in church historv, in Mis- 
souri, Illinois, Ohio and New xork, call- 
ing upon David Whitmer, one of the three 
witnesses to the Book of Mormon. When 
the Endowment house was reopened in 
Salt Lake City, subsequent to the death 
of President Young, President Joseph F. 
Smith was placed in charge. In Octo- 
ber, 1880, when the presidency of the 
Church was organized, with President 
John Taylor at the head, President 
Smith was chosen to be his second coun- 
selor. He was chosen to the same posi- 
tion under President Woodruff, and now 
occupies that honored station under the 
presidency of President Lorenzo Snow. 

During the presidency of President 
John Taylor, and under the trying scenes 
of the anti-Mormon crusade, by direction 
of President Taylor, Brother Smith per- 
formed another faithful mission in the 
Sandwich Islands. While there he ob- 
tained an exact copy of the old Spauld- 
ing story, and by evidence incontrovert- 
ible showed that not the slightest resem- 
blance existed between the Book of Mor- 
mon and the Spaulding story. 

His labors in the Oity Council, the 
Legislature and other places of civil and 
financial responsibility, are too numerous 
to mention m a brief sketch. President 
Smith has filled every position of trust 
assigned him with such unblemished 
honesty and fidelity, that no man can 
justly say aught against him. One of 
the grandest traits of his character is 



impartial justice. The great system of 
Patriarchal Marriage, so well designed 
to prove the hearts of men and women, 
and to develop in them the principles of 
pure love, charity, justice and" impartial- 
ity, has no better examples among God's 
noblemen than President Joseph F. 
Smith. Whatever obligation he is under 
to that sacred principle for his existence, 
and for the possession of his own pos- 
terity, he is meeting that obligation man- 
fully, with the record that his example 
shall exemplify the truth of Celestial 
marriage as revealed to the Prophet Jo- 
seph Smith. 

During his connselorship in the presi- 
dency he has traveled extensively in the 
stakes of Zion, in Utah, Arizona, Color- 
ado, Idaho, Canada and Mexico, and 
continues active, whether at home or 
abroad. As a fitting conclusion of this 
meagre sketch of a useful and noble life, 
we quote a pen sketch of President 
Smith from the able writer, Elder Ed- 
ward H. Anderson: 

"President Smith has been constantly 
in the service of the public, and by his 
straightforward course has won the 
love, confidence and esteem of the whole 
community. He is a friend of the peo- 
ple, is easily approached, a wise coun- 
selor, a man of broad views, and, con- 
trary to first impressions, is a man whose 
sympathies are easily aroused. He is 
a reflex of the best character of the 
"Mormon" people — inured to hardships, 
patient in trial, God-fearing, self-sacri- 
ficing, full of love for the human race, 
powerful in moral, mental and physical 
strength. 

President Joseph F. Smith has an 
imposing physical appearance. Now 
completing his C2d year, he is tall, erect, 
well-knit and symmetrical in build. He 
has a prominent nose and features. 
When speaking, he throws his full, clear, 
brown eyes wide open on the listener 
who may readily perceive from their 
penetrating glimpse the wonderful men- 
tal power of the tall forehead above. His 
large head is crowned with an abundant 
growth of hair, in his early years dark, 
but now, like his full beard, tinged with 
a liberal sprinkling of gray. In conver- 
sation, one is forcibly impressed with 
the sudden changes in appearance of his 
countenance, under the different influ- 
ences of his mind; now intensely pleas- 
ant, with an enthusiastic and childlike 

interest in immediate subjects and sur- 
roundings; now absent, the mobility of 
his features set in that earnest, almost 
stern, majesty of expression so charac- 
teristic of his portraits— so indicative of 
the severity of the conditions and envi- 
ronments of his early life. 

As a public speaker, his leading trait 
is an intense earnestness. He impresses 
the hearer with his message more from 
the sincerity of its delivery, and the hon- 
est earnestness of his manner, than from 
any learned exhibition of oratory or 
studied display of logic. He touches the 
hearts of the people with the simple elo- 
quence of one who is himself convinced 
of the truths presented. He is a pillar 
of strength in the Church, thoroughly 
imbued with the truths of the Gospel, 
and the divine origin of this work. His 
whole life and testimony are an inspira- 
tion to the young. 

I said to him: "You knew Joseph, the 
Prophet; you are old in the work of the 
Church; what is you testimony to the 
youth of Zion concerning these things?" 
And he replied slowly and deliberately: 

"I was acquanted with the Prophet 
Joseph in my youth. I was familiar in 
his home, with his boys and with his 
family. I have sat on his knee, I have 
heard him preach, distinctly remember 
being present in the council with my 
father and the Prophet Joseph Smith 
and others. From my childhood to 
youth I believed him to be a Prophet of 
God. From my youth until the present 
I have not believed that he was a 
Prophet, for I have known that he was. 
In other words, my knowledge has su- 
perseded my belief. I remember seeing 
him dressed in military uniform at the 



head of the Nauvoo Legion. I saw him 
when he _ crossed the river, returning 
from his intended western trip into the 
Rocky Moim tains to go to his martyr- 
dom, and I saw his lifeless body, togeth- 
er with that of my father, after they 
were murdered in Carthage jail; and 
still have the .mout palpable remem- 
brance of the gloom and sorrow of those 
dreadful days. I believe in the divine 
mission of the Prophets of the nineteenth 
century with all my heart, and in the 
authenticity of the Book of Mormon and 
the inspiration of the Book of Doctrine 
and Covenants, and hope to be faithful 
to God and man and not false to myself, 
to the end of my days." 



THE PROBLEM SOLVED.' 



BY ELDER JAMES KIRK. 

Prominent among religious circles 
seems to stand the stubborn and intri- 
cate problem of how the firm and per- 
manent foundation of the Church of 
Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, or so- 
called Mormons, can be successfully com- 
bated to accomplish its overthrow. The- 
ological schools have assailed it with a 
prospective triumph before them; 
but their brilliant banner of fancied vic- 
tory has never been unfurled to wave 
over its ruined stronghold only in vain 
imagination. The learned, the wise, the 
great and small, have all contributed to 
effect its utter annihilation. Sullen and 
malignant foes have frowned upon its 
gleaming battlements, but, like a wind- 
driven cloud, have cast but a transient 
shadow of gloom upon its perpetual 
strongholds. 

What seems to be most perplexing to 
the minds of all is the current of power 
which permeates the whole organization 
from center to circumference, uniting its 
members and their interests into one solid 
compact. 

Some have attributed this unanimity 
to isolation, others to ignorance or ple- 
beian subservance to their despotic lead- 
er. But the people themselves proclaim 
that it is the power of God. And if 
those who are swathed in the labyrinth 
of prejudice and bigotry would study 
more carefully the results of cause and 
effect, perhaps their mental burden would 
become less ponderous in trying to solve 
the "Mormon problem." 

Let us search the Scriptures for a little 
intelligence along this line. 

The Apostle Paul, in teaching the an- 
cient Saints, explained to them the na- 
ture and necessity of a completely or- 
ganized body in the Church of God; that 
they should not be tossed to and fro and 
carried about with every wind of doc- 
trine and cunning craftiness of men 
whereby they lie in wait to deceive. 
(Eph. 4.) 

Now, Paul goes on to tell us (I Cor. 
12) that the body of Christ (the church) 
consists of Apostles and Prophets, 
teachers, evangelists, pastors, etc., Jesus 
Christ being the head. (Eph. 4-11, 
Eph. 5-23, Col. 1-18.) 

That the subject may be made clear 
it will be necessary to place these mem- 
bers in their relative positions and de- 
pendency on each other. Christ being 
the head, the Apostles and Prophets be- 
ing next in order, would constitute the 
trunk, the evangelists, pastors and 
teachers the legs; and the members or 
Saints the feet and toes. Now, we find 
recorded in the fourth chapter of Ephe- 
sians that this kind of a body "fitly 
joined together and compacted by that 
which every joint supplieth according 
to the effectual working in the measure 
of every part maketh increase of the 
body unto the edifying of itself in love." 

Again, in speaking to the Corinthian 



240 



THE SOUTHERN STAR. 



REPORT OF MISSION CONFERENCES FOR WEEK ENDING JUNE 2, 1900. 


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Saints upon this same subject, Paul 
says: "Now ye are the body of Christ 
and members in particular * * * and 
the eye cannot say unto the hand, I 
have no need of thee; nor again the head 
to the feet, I have no need of you. Nay 
much more those members of the body 
which seem to be more feeble are nec- 
essary. * * * For our comely parts 
have no need; but God (not man) hath 
tempered the body together, having 
given more abundant honor to that part 
which lacked: that there should be no 
seism in the body; but that the members 
should have the same care one for an- 
other. And whether one member suf- 
fer all the members suffer with it; or 
one member be honored, all the members 
rejoice with it." 

AH that is necessary to an understand- 
ing of the nature, importance and har- 
mony of such a thoroughly organized 
system as Christ effected upon the earth, 
according to Faul's explanation, is for 
one to acquaint himself with the work- 
ings and relationship of the members of 
his own physical organism, and the sys- 
tem of communication carried on be- 
tween the various parts of the body; for 
Paul tells us that the church is identi- 
cally the same in its organization and 
operations. 

Now if you should ransack the whole 
domain of Christendom would you be 
able to find such a perfect and complete 
church organization? No. Outside of 
the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day 
Saints it cannot be found upon the 
earth. All churches professing to be 
Christian look to Christ as their bead. 
But the Apostles and Prophets, which 
constitute the main body of the church, 
are rejected by them as being unneces- 
sary- But although Apostles and Proph- 
ets are dead and gone, evangelists, pas- 
tors and teachers, which form the legs 
to the body, are still alive and actively 
engaged in disseminating the Gospel 
truths (?) in the world. 

Who ever saw a head, legs and feet 
without a body? Paul tells us that the 
head cannot say to the feet, I have no 
need of you, and if such be true, cer- 
tainly the feet and legs cannot say to the 
body, we have no need of you, for they, 
being the lesser members, would be left 
powerless by rejecting the greater. 
Now, if we should separate the head 
from the feet and legs by removing the 
trunk of the body, would it be possible 
for the legs or feet to have any connec- 
tion with, or receive any revelation or 
intelligence from the head? Of course 
not, such a thing would be an impossi- 
bility. 

Then, like the amputated limbs of the 
human body, the Christian world today 
is entirely cut off from all communica- 
tion with the head (Christ), and as it is 



only a matter of time when the severed 
limbs will wither away and die, just so 
it will be with all those who deny the 
essentiality of Apostles and Prophets in 
the church or body of Christ. 

Now, if we are willing to accept the 
teachings of the Bible in preference to 
that of man. there will be no schism in 
the body, the spiritual gifts will be en- 
joyed as in days of old and a current 
of power will permeate the whole sys- 
tem. Otherwise it is contrary to both 
reason and Scripture to suppose that 
such blessings could be enjoyed and 
such conditions exist. 

In conclusion, "Let no man deceive 
you with vain words; for because of 
these things cometh the wrath of God 
upon the children of disobedience. Be 
not ye therefore partakers with them." 
(Eph. 5-0 and 7.) 



History of the Southern States Mission. 

(Continued from Page 226.) 

October, 1897— As a whole, the mission 
work progressed very favorably, the El- 
ders were holding a great number of 
meetings and distributing many books 
and tracts. 

After an absence of more than foul* 
months, President Kimball returned to 
Chattanooga from the west, arriving* Oct. 
19, bringing with him his wife and chil- 
dren. 

On the 30th inst. a letter reached the 
office from Elder Thomas Martin, James- 
town, Ky., bearing the news that Elder 
Lewis J. Bushman was very sick with 
typhoid fever, and asking how to best 
care for him. The following morning a 
telegram was received from Elder Martin 
informing President Kimball that Elder 
Bushman had just died. Instructions 
were immediately wired to Brother Mar- 
tin to have the body embalmed and to 
take his sacred charge to Cincinnati, 
Ohio, where it would be met by Presi- 
dent Kimball. Of course the death of 
this brother caused a feeling of sorrow 
to overshadow the mission, but to the 
understanding minds of Elders and 
Saints thev know that to die while in the 
service of the Eternal Father is but 
passing from this sphere to a better rest- 
ing place. 

The stringency of the quarantine regu- 
lations in the Gulf states, to prevent the 
spreading of yellow fever, hindered our 
Elders from doing much work in that 
part of the mission. 

November, 1897 — On the night of the 
10th, Apostles F. M. Lyman and M. F. 
Cowley arrived from Zion. The purpose 
of their visit is set forth in the following 
lines, which is a copy of a letter they car- 
ried With them from the First Presi- 
dencv of the Church: 

Salt Lake City, Utah, Oct. 22, 1897. 
To the President, Elders and Saints of 

the Southern States Mission: 

The bearers of this communication, El- 
ders Francis M. Lyman and Mathias F. 
Cowley, members of the Quorum of the 
Twelve Apostles, have been called and 
appointed to make a special visit to the 



Southern States Mission, to meet with 
the Elders and Saints in public and pri- 
vate, and to give such instruction and 
counsel as wisdom and the spirit of the 
Lord may suggest. As our fellow ser- 
vants and embassadors of the Lord Jesus 
Christ, we commend Elders Lyman and 
Cowley to your kind consideration, and 
trust whatever instruction, advice or 
counsel they may be led to impart will be 
received by you as though coming from 
ourselves. And we pray the Lord to bless 
these our brethren in their travels and 
labors, and to bless the Elders and Saints 
who may receive and hear them, that 
their visit may be fraught with good re- 
sults to the mission and blessings to the 
people. We are your brethren, 

WILFORD WOODRUFF. 
GEO. Q. CANNON, 
JOSEPH F. SMITH. 

At 10:15 p. m., only a few moments af- 
ter the" arrival of the Apostles, President 
Kimball's 14-months-old baby died. Jon- 
athan Golden Kimball (the name of the 
babe) had been a delicate child. On the 
11th inst. at 2 p. m. funeral services were 
held in the parlor, where twenty-one 
friends of the bereaved had gathered. 
Apostles Lyman and Cowley did the 
speaking. The body was interred in a 
lot of Mr. Ed Davidson in Forest Hills 
Cemetery. The sympathy of the en- 
tire mission went out to President Kim- 
ball and family. 

South Carolina Conference was held 
on the 13th and 14th insts. at Society 
Hill, Darlington county, S. C. The 
North Carolina Conference was held on 
the 20th and 21st at Princeton. John- 
ston county, N. C; the Virginia Confer- 
ence was held near Haran, Va., on the 
27th and 28th. Apostles Lyman and Cow- 
ley and President E. S. Kimball were 
present. On the 20th inst. twenty-one 
Elders arrived from Zion and were as- 
signed to their various fields of labor. 

The month closed with the most of the 
Elders enjoying good health, and work- 
ing with a determination to scatter seeds 
of truth; to warn mankind of the pre- 
cious truths held by the servants of God 
in this day and age. The Saints were 
vigorous in doing their duty, which was 
a source of much joy to those in charge 
of this part of the vineyard. 
(To be Continued.) 



Releases and Appointments. 

Releases. 

J. A. Robison, East Tennessee Con- 
ference. 

J. S. Blake, F. A. Gay, I. H. Rogers, 
North Carolina Conference. 

Appointments. 

Chattanooga Conference— George Mi- 
ner, Alfred C. Jensen. 

North Carolina Conference— Charles R. 
Sullivan, Virginius Bean, Burton J. Bean. 

North Kentucky Conference — Myron 
O. Cooley, Robert J. Evans, John W. 
Frinco. 

North Alabama Conference — Willard R. 
Johnson, Ezra Bunker. 

Middle Tennessee Conference — James 
Smith, Charles E. Napper. 

Georgia Conference— Jens J. Jensen, 




■OUT THOUGH WE OC AN ANGEL FROM hEAVEW, PREACH ANY 
OTHER GOSPEL UNTO YOU ThAN THAT WHICH WE 

HAVE PREACHED UNTO YOU, LET tiiM &E ACCURSED .'tffr/gpj/T 



Vol. 2. 



Chattanooga, Tenn., Saturday, Junb 80, 1900. 



No. 81. 



WOMKp AND WAR. 

Ella Wheeler Wilcox. 

We women teach our little sons how wrong 
And how Ignoble blows are; school and 

church 
Support our precepts and lnnoculate 
The growing minus with thoughts of love 

and peace. 
"Let dogs delight to bark and bite," we say; 
But human beings with immortal souls 
Must rise above the methods of a brute 
And walk with reason and with self-control. 

And then— dear God! yon men, you wise, 

strong men, 
Our self-announced superiors in brain, 
Our peers in Judgment, you go forth in war! 
You leap at one another, mutilate 
And starve and kill your fellow men and ask 
The world's applause for such heroic deeds. 
You boast and strut; and if no song is sung, 
No laudatory epic writ In blood, 
Telling how many widows you have made. 
Why then, perforce, you say our bards are 

dead 
And inspiration sleeps to wake no more, 
And we, the women, we whose lives you 



What can we do but sit In silent homes 
And wait and suffer? Not for us the blare 
Of trumpets and the bugle's call to arms— 
For us no waving banners, no supreme, 
Triumphant hour of conquest. Ours the 

slow, 
Dread torture of uncertainty, each day 
The bootless battle with the same despair, 
And when at best your victories reach our 

ears, 
There reaches with them to our pitying 

hearts. 
The thought of countless homes made deso- 
late 
And other women weeping for their dead. 

O men, wise men, superior being say. 

Is there no substitute for war In this 

Great age and era? * * • 

Why should we women waste our time and 

words 
In talking peace when men declare for war? 



GOD'S GREATEST GIFT. 



BY KLDKK DAVID H. KLTON. 

"Howe'er it be. it seems to me, 

*Tls only noble to be good. 
Kind hearts are more than coronets, 

And simple faith than Norman blood." 
—Tennyson. 

Herein lies the secret of true happi- 
ness, "to be good," and the "simple faith" 
once delivered to the Saints will bring 
to pass this "true happiness" — heartfelt, 
everlasting and eternal. Our subject topic, 
"God's greatest gift," is an important 
one. for it most vitally concerns 
the inhabitants of the earth in every land 
and clime under the sun. When once we 
realize its beauty, glory, magnificence and 
heavenly splendor, we shall never rest 



contented, our souls will never be 
satisfied, until we have reached its 
blessed portal, and obtained its 
peace and bliss. To specifically 
and distinctly define God's great- 
est gift, means to say that He is the 
Author of many rich and perfect 
blessings; all of which we shall nud go 
to make up this supreme gift or sum- 
mum bonum of divine favor, .fames, the 
Apostle, says, "Every good gift and every 
perfect gift is from above, and cometh 
down from the Father of lights, 'with 
whom is no variableness, neither shadow 
of turning." (James 1:17.) From this 
we learn that "every good gift and every 
perfect gift" emanates from the throne 
of God; that they are bestowed upon the 
sons of men, by the "Father of 
lights, with whom is no variable- 
ness, neither shadow of turn- 
ing." Let us not overlook this 
fact; that there is "no variableness, 
neither shadow of turning" with Him 
who is the Giver and Bestower of all 
"good gifts;" therefore can we place all 
confidence in His promises; all faith in 
His holy words; and implicit trust in His 
righteous decrees; for being an unchange- 
able God, He will be the same yester- 
day, today, tomorrow, and forevermore. 

There are "good gifts," and there are 
"perfect gifts," all of which come from 
the one source, the fountain head of 
Truth, God, the Eternal Father. We 
may define the "good gifts" as health, 
strength, food, raiment, homes, habita- 
tions, and all that we really enjoy of a 
temporal nature, or it may be said, all 
blessings that are more nearly connected 
with our earthly existence, happiness, 
and maintenance. These are ail "good 
gifts," yea, they are precious gifts and 
much to be desired; but there are other 
blessings, which the Apostle wisely des- 
ignates as "perfect gifts," which pertain 
to our eternal natures, and which exalts 
the spirit, cleanses, purifies, redeems, and 
immortalizes the body of man. God's 
gifts are given unto man to counteract 
the evil influence and wicked power of 
the adversary. Thus, health combats 
sickness; strength conquers weakness; 
food allays hunger; raiment shields, and 
protects from exposure and inclemency; 
homes provide a shelter from the storms; 
and habitations supply for us a place to- 
dwell. The Father of all mercies and 
the Author of all things beautiful and 
good, is the Giver of these choice tem- 
poral gifts. Yes, for in the beginning 
when all was pronounced "good" by the 



Maker, and sin and wickedness had no 
place in all the footstool of Omnipotence, 
the Lord blessed our first parents— Adam 
and Eve— yea, He gave them health; He 
gave them strength; He gave them food; 
He gave them the new-born earth for a 
blessed home, and the Garden of Eden 
for a celestial habitation. 

"The earth is the Lord's, and the full- 
ness thereof; the world and they that 
dwell therein." (Psalms 24:1.) He 
hath loaned it, with all the blessings it 
produces, with all the rich gifts which it 
affords, and the hidden treasures which 
it possesses, unto the children of men for 
a temporary habitation. As Jehovah is 
the creator and preserver, so is He the 
owner of the world, and all things there- 
in; and He has a perfect right to rule, 
govern, and dispose of all as seemeth 
good and righteous in His holy sight. 
Purity of heart, chastity of conduct, and 
obedience to divine commands are essen- 
tial to our enjoying the good and perfect 
gifts of God. 

This, then, naturally leads us up to the 
subject, "God's greatest gift;" for if 
there is one gift more precious, more 
profitable, and greater than all others, 
it behooves each and every one to dili- 
gently seek for this paramount blessing; 
that they might receive of the Lord's 
highest rewards. It will be agreed by 
all concerned and interested in the re- 
demption of the soul of man, that "God's 
greatest gift" is salvation, exaltation, 
and life everlasting in His celestial king- 
dom. Yes, for then we shall be given 
this earth, sanctified and glorified, for an 
everlasting inheritance, and an eternal 
dwelling place. Says one: Is it possible 
that this earth will be prepared, cleansed, 
renewed, and made the eternal home for 
immortal man? Yes, kind reader, such 
is verily true, and the Scriptures of Holy 
Writ are replete with passages confirm- 
ing the same. With your generous con- 
sideration, let us- do as the Lord* Jesus 
hath commanded, "Search the Scrip- 
tures," and in them we shall find an 
abundance of testimony and evidence to 
support and sustain the stand taken in 
this regard. "And the Lord said, I have 
pardoned according to thy word; but as 
truly as I live, all the earth shall be 
filled with the glory of the Lord." (Num. 
18:20-21.) Why "all the earth filled with 
the glory of the Lord?" for this reason; 
"the valleys shall be cleft as wax before 
the fire." (Micah 1:34), and this same 



242 



THE SOUTHERN STAR. 



destroying, cleansing element "shall con- 
sume the earth, and set on fire the foun- 
dations of the mountains." (Deu. 32:22.) 
After which cleansing "the upright shall 
dwell in the land* and the perfect shall 
remain in it. But the wicked shall be 
cut off from the earth, and the trans- 
gressors shall be rooted out of it." (Prov. 
2:21-22.) Then will be fulfilled the beau- 
tiful promising words of the Redeemer, 
when He said, "The meek shall inherit 
the earth." It comes to "the meek" as 
an everlasting inheritance, a heaven-born 
legacy, a holy heritage—a gift from God. 
That this blessed inheritance of the earth 
by the righteous and God-fearing shall 
be forever, we need only turn to the 37th 
Psalm, where we shall find the following: 
"Those that wait upon the Lord, they 
shall inherit the earth," (9th verse), "and 
their inheritance shall be forever" (18th 
verse). And furthermore, "The right- 
eous shall inherit the land, and dwell 
therein forever." (Psalms 37:29.) It 
would not be possible to have more point- 
ed, direct, explicit declarations than 
those herein given. The Prophets and 
holy men of God have spoken very plain- 
ly upon this subject, and from their in- 
spired words we learn that the earth 
shall be cleansed with fire, and "every 
valley shall be exalted, and every moun- 
tain and hill shall be made low; and the 
crooked shall be made straight, and the 
rough places plain; and the glory of the 
Lord shall be revealed, and all flesh shall 
see it together; for the mouth of the Lord 
hath spoken it." (Isaiah 40:1-5.) This 
is in part the restoration, and then the 
Lord God shall cause His Holy Spirit to 
dwell on all the face of the earth, that 
His words might be fulfilled, "All the 
earth shall be filled with the glory of 
the Lord." 

When the glory of our Lord shall cover 
the face of the purified soil, then shall 
als* this Heavenly influence rest upon 
man and beast, removing from them the 
enmity which was placed there by rea- 
son of the transgression of our fore- 
parents in the Garden of Eden, for God 
said, *I will put enmity," (Gen. 3:15), 
and now we are given to understand that 
this enmity shall be removed, and that 
the Spirit of the Lord shall be poured 
out upon all flesh. (Joel 2:28.) This glo- 
rious outpouring of God's Spirit will bring 
to pass that blessed state of affairs which 
Isaiah's pen has so beautifully described: 
"But with righteousness shall He judge 
the poor, and reprove with equity for 
the meek of the earth; and He shall 
smite the earth with the rod of His 
mouth, and with the breath of His lips 
shall He slay the wicked. And right- 
eousness shall be the girdle of Hia lions, 
and faithfulness the girdle of His reins. 
The wolf also shall dwell with the lamb; 
and the leopard shall lie down with the 
kid; and the calf and the young 
iion and the fatling together; and 
a little child shall lead them. And the 
cow and the bear shall feed; and their 
young ones shall lie down together, and 
the lion shall eat straw like the ox. 
And the sucking child shall play on the 
hole of the asp, and the weaned child 
shall put his hand on the cockatrice's 
den. They shall not hurt nor destroy in 
all my holy mountain; for the earth shall 
be full of the knowledge of the Lord, as 
the waters cover the sea." (Isaiah 11:4- 
9.) This is the millennial era, when 
Christ shall reign upon the earth; when 
righteousness and good will shall 
abound: when sin, wickedness, and vio- 
lence of every kind shall cease; when 
the Saints of the Most High God shall 
be given the kingdom of the Lord for- 
ever, and they shall live together in har- 



mony and love, blessedness and peace 

The earth thus cleansed, beautified re- 
deemed, sanctified and glorified, being 
graced With the presence of its Creator- 
Jehovah- and blessed with the sweet 
pervading, enlightening influence of His 
glory, is now a fit, heavenly abode for 
immortal man. Is not this, then, the 
greatest of nil God's good and perfect 
gifts; to be redeemed from the grave 
raised with an incorruptible tabernacle 
of flesh and bones— the eternal Spirit of 
God coursing through the veins, taking 
the place of the corruptible blood, and 
supplying life, light, wisdom, and intel- 
ligence to the whole being, and then di- 
vinely favored with the celestial earth 
for an eternal home, and heavenly blessed 
with our Redeemer, Lord, and Savior 
for our Everlasting King? Can the mind 
of man anticipate greater joy, long for 
higher rewards, or hope fjor more glori- 
ous gifts, than a salvation which will 
place him beyond the wicked Lucifer's 
enticements, and an exaltation with God 
and His Christ? No, verily no! This is 
the jcme of reward for the humble, 
the Himalayas of expectation for the 
faithful and earnest. It is the highest, 
the best, the richest, and the greatest 
gift of a loving God to a fallen race. 

This is what the Lord taught His dis- 
ciples to pray for, "Thy kingdom come, 
Thy will be done in earth, as it is in 
Heaven." (Matt. 6:10.) When the will 
of God is obeyed on earth as it is in 
heaven we shall find all things in sub- 
jection and submission thereto. Now, 
kind reader, does not your soul long to 
enjoy this holy peace, this sacred rest, 
in the celestial kingdom of God's glory? 
Would you journey along this highway 
of salvation that you might be made the 
happy recipient of God's greatest gift; 
then follow, the course pursued by the 
Savior, yea, keep in that straight and 
narrow path marked out by Prophets 
and Apostles under God's direction. It 
is both plain and safe, and no honest in- 
quirer after truth, no earnest investigat- 
or for righteousness, need fail to traverse 
its beaten track, or go astray after he 
has entered upon it; for the Lord hath 
promised unto all those who obey Him 
a spirit which will lead and guide into 
all truth, and which the Prophet Isaiah 
says shall be as a word behind you, say- 
ing, "This is the way, walk ye in it." 

There is glory and honor for the faith- 
ful, and life everlasting; but as long as 
wickedness abounds, and sin can find a 
place in the hearts of men, the righteous 
will have to meet opposition, battle with 
persecution, and overcome evil with 
good. Now, we know that, although the 
Church of Jesus Christ has been, and 
now is, oppressed on every hand, she will 
eventually triumph, and the final issue 
of all her sufferings and conflicts shall 
be universal victory over her enemies, 
permanent tranquility, holiness, and 
peace; when love unfeigned shall reign 
supreme, and extend all around, and all 
above, until the whole earth and the in- 
habitants thereof are filled with the 
peaceable fruits of righteousness. In 
subsequent issues we will consider the 
plan of life and salvation through which 
God's greatest gift is obtained, and by 
which the obedient may enter into their 
heavenly home, "with songs and ever- 
lasting joy upon their heads." 
(To be continued.) 



He is the noblest who has raised him- 
self by his own exertions to a higher sta- 
tion.— Cicero. 



Drive thy business, let not that drive 
thee.— Franklin. 



United States Census Estimated to be 78,964.742 

Below is given a summary of the cen- 
sus work compiled from the best obtain- 
able information. The figures were fur- 
nished by 3,000 different persons in all 
parts of the United States. 

The general result, of the work is given 
in the following table: 

Population of the United States, ex- 
clusive of Alaska and island possessions: 
Per cent, of gain. 20: 1900, 78,1)04,742; 
census of 1800, 62,622,2"*). 

Value of manufactured products: Per 
cent, of gain, 36; 1900, $12,698,403,000: 
census of 1890, $9,372,378,843. 

Value of farm land: Per cent, of gain, 
39: 1900. .$17,865,200,831; census of 1890, 
$13,279,252,649. 

The population of the twenty-five larg- 
est cities in the country is as follows: 

Per cent. 

of gain. 1900. 

Greater New York — 3,654,590 

Ntw Vurk 63 2,007,241 

Chhnsu .,.68 1,843,678 

Brooklyn 57 1,267,168 

Philadelphia 16 1,200,000 

St Louis 52 687,795 

Baltimore. 38 600,000 

Boston 24 556,067 

Cincinnati 36 400,000 

Buffjik. 57 400,000 

Cleveland ,. 49 390,000 

San Fmnrihco 14 340,000 

Pittsburg 34 326,000 

Detroit 52 315,000 

New Orleans 24 300,000 

WaaninxtfiS 28 294,674 

Miiwiifee 43 292,000 

Newark, N. J 61 276,000 

Ltmbvii: 45 232,000 

MluiivapullH 22 200,000 

Jersey «iiy 23 200,000 

Denver 78 190,000 

Rochester 35 150,000 

Indianapolis 69 180,000 

In numerical order, the five leading 
states are New York, Pennsylvania, Illi- 
nois, Ohio and Missouri, the last named 
showing the most marked gain in popu- 
ation. 



Girls Compared. 

Deseret News. 

An investigation of peculiar interest to 
the West has been completed by Miss 
Anna Barr, of the physical training de- 
partment of the University of Nebraska, 
and as a result it has been announced 
that the Western woman is physically 
more perfect than her eastern sisters. To 
be more explicit upon a subject of such 
importance, it has been found that the 
"girls from the East are flatter chested, 
flatter headed, lesser in lung capacity and 
bigger footed than the Western girls." 

The measurements were made by Miss 
Barr upon 1,500 Nebraska girls, but it 
goes without argument that if the expe- 
riment were repeated in Utah, the result 
would be still more favorable to the 
West. For physical perfection there is 
nothing like the valleys of the moun- 
tains, with their pure air, pure morals 
and lofty ideals. 

And the truth is that this physical 
beauty is but an outward expression of 
the beauty of soul. There is a law ac- 
cording to which that which dwells with- 
in will find an expression in the outward 
form. The sculptor no more faithfully 
carves his ideal in the marble than does 
the indwelling spirit stamp its image 
upon the walls of the home in which it 
dwells. Sorrow, joy, passions, happi- 
ness, will leave their peculiar traces. If 
the heart is pure, the faith strong, and 
the mind bent submissive to divine will, 
the tent in which such a personality 
lives will show it, just as the surround- 
ings of a home give a fair index to the 
character of the inhabitants thereof. 

Miss Anna Barr has paid a great 
compliment to the Western woman, and 
found that the idea of the West as 
"wild and woolly" is entirely erroneous. 
Wildness must be looked for where "flat 
heads" and other deformities prevail. 



THE SOUTHERN STAR. 



243 



WHAT GOD REQUIRES. 

The Gospel in Brief — Only One Church — Its Organization— Persecution. 

BY, ELDER B. W. SMITH. 



No doubt there are many honest-heart- 
ed people in the world today who are 
trying to serve God to the best of their 
ability according to their conception of 
His divine will; but who are so blinded 
by the traditions and false doctrines 
which are so universally taught in the 
world, that they are in a great measure, 
if not entirely, ignorant of what our 
Heavenly Father actually requires of 
His children in this life. It is a great 
thing to know the will of the Father, but 
a greater one to do it when once under- 
stood. Knowledge is a great blessing to 
one who puts it to proper use and culti- 
vation. But to have a knowledge per- 
taining to the things of God and His 
commandments and then to ignore them 
or fail to govern our lives accordingly, 
is in itself sin. James says, "he that 
knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to 
him it is sin." In order to do good, how- 
ever, we must first get understanding, 
without which all is uncertainty and 
doubt. Those who desire an inheritance 
in the mansions of our Father in the life 
that is to come, and who are willing to 
sacrifice the pleasures of this life, and 
life itself if necessary, in order to obtain 
it, should first of all turn their whole at- 
tention to acquiring a knowledge of the 
conditions upon which this great blessing 
is predicated. Then, having gained the 
necessary information of what to do, by 
coupling with that, faith and energy to 
act accordingly, obeying each principle 
as it is brought to your understanding, 
you are then in a fair road to final suc- 
cess and ultimate salvation; which you 
will gain by continuing steadfast unto 
the end. 

Should the investigator, seeking the 
"straight and narrow way," go no far- 
ther In his investigations than to observe 
those who profess to be following it and 
serving as guides to others, he is almost 
sure to be defeated in his object and give 
up in despair; for one could never pat- 
tern after modern methods of Christiani- 
ty as an example of obedience to the Gos- 
pel of Jesus Christ. The spectacle pre- 
sented by the combined forces of modern 
Christendom is, to say the least, discour- 
aging to one who is trying to solve the 
great problem of salvation. Here is one 
sect or party advocating certain princi- 
ples and ordinances as a means of salva- 
tion; another alongside of it directly op- 
posing its teachings and holding up to 
the public gaze an entirely different sys- 
tem of worship; and still a third openly 
condemning the other two and advocat- 
ing other doctrines agreeable to their 
own peculiar views. And so we might 
go through them all with the same result 
— opposition, division, multiplied divi- 
sion, and the farther we go the more 
complicated it becomes. 

What seems most strange and perplex- 
ing to the mind of the truth seeker in his 
investigations, is the fart that each one 
of these sects claim to be following the 
same road, with Christ and the Apostles 
as their guide and example. Now our 
natural conception of reason and sound 
judgment teaches us that there is some- 
thing very wrong here, and that there 
are many thousands who are being de- 
ceived and led astray either by the mis- 
taken ideas and conjectures of men. or 
their cunning craftiness, or perhaps both. 
The wise man. therefore, will be warned, 
and instead of stumbling, as many have, 



will keep clear of this web of deception 
and learn the will of God by endeavor- 
ing to comply with His requests, and 
obtain His Spirit as a teacher, by which, 
and it alone, mankind can understand 
the things of God. 

In starting out upon a search after the 
Kingdom of God we must of necessity 
come to one of two conclusions to com- 
mence with; either that all the churches 
now in existence claiming to be Chris- 
tian taken as a whole, constitute the 
Church of Christ; or that one only is 
right and the rest wrong. It would be 
entirely unreasonable as well as un- 
scriptural for one to arrive at the first 
named conclusion, for Christ Himself 
said that if a house be divided against it- 
self it could not stand. God also said 
that His house is a house of order, and 
the teachings of the Apostles was to the 
effect that all true followers of the Mas- 
ter must be baptized by one spirit into 
one body, and live in the unity of the 
faith, being perfectly joined together in 
the same mind and in the same judg- 
ment. This brings us then to the last 
nam/d conclusion, viz., that there can be 
but one true Church of God upon the 
earth. 

It should be, therefore, the uppermost 
desire in the heart of every individual, 
as it certainly is his duty and obligation 
to God, to seek out that one organization 
or Kingdom of God, and when found to 
accept the terms of admission, become 
associated therewith and obey its pre- 
cepts, principles and doctrines, which 
alone will bring salvation in the celestial 
Kingdom of God in the life to come. 

The Church of God as it rolled from 
the hands of its divine organizer, Jesus 
Christ, and as it must remain as long as 
God has a people on the earth, is a per- 
fectly organized system, or body, con- 
taining all the gifts, powers and bless- 
ings requisite for its government and 
perpetuation in the earth; and its mem- 
bers enjoy all the rights, privileges and 
blessings which has ever been accorded 
the people of God by our Eternal Fath- 
er. It is built upon the foundation of 
revelation, and is presided over by a 
quorum of Apostles, who stand as 
prophets, seers and revelators to the 
Church, and who exercise the right of 
holding direct communication with the 
heavens and making known to the chil- 
dren of the kingdom the mind and will 
of God respecting their lives and actions 
from time to time as circumstances may 
require. 

You will find by referring to 1st Corin- 
thians, 12th chapter and 18th and 26th 
verses, that God Himself placed these 
officers, together with many others, in 
the Church; and from Bphe. 4. 11 to 14, 
that He placed them there for an ex- 
press purpose, which was to edify or in- 
struct the Saints and to attend to the 
work of the ministry; and also that they 
were to remain until all men should come 
to a unity of the faith and of the knowl- 
edge of the Son of God unto a perfect 
man. 

Paul, in the same chapter referred to 
above (1st Cor.. 12th chapter), likens the 
Church to the body of a man, and rea- 
sons that to dispense with one of the of- 
ficers of the Church would be equivalent 
to severing one of the members of our 
physical organism. We could, therefore, 
with as much propriety assert that the 



body would survive after the head had 
been severed; as that the church* would 
still exist although you should exclude,, 
or do away with its visible head— Apos- 
tles and Prophets. 

According to the Apostles' doctrine, as 
taught in the Bible, the first requirement 
made of the candidate for salvation is 
that he shall believe on the Lord Jesus 
Christ; second, that he must repent of 
his sins; third, that he should receive a 
remission thereof by being baptized in 
water by a legally qualified servant of 
God; and fourth, that he should receive 
the gift of the Holy Gnost by the impo- 
sition of hands of those holding the au- 
thority to confer it. And having obeyed 
these principles, he is considered a le- 
gally adopted citizen of the Kingdom of 
God on the earth, prepared to ascend 
higher and higher on the Gospel ladder 
leading to the throne of the Majesty on 
high, which he must do by adding to his 
faith, virtue; and to virtue knowledge; 
and to knowledge temperance; and to 
temperance patience; and to patience 
godliness; and to godliness brotherly 
kindness; and to brotherly kindness char- 
ity, and so oh till the last round, perfec- 
tion, is reached. This is the Gospel of 
Jesus Christ, pure and simple. 

Is there anything strange, inconsistent 
or unreasonable about it? No. it is 
beautiful and grand when understood in 
its true light, aod exhibits most beauti- 
fully the divine hand of Providence in 
its composition and arrangement; each 
principle following the other in perfectly 
natural and harmonious sequence. IJijs 
is the Gospel as taught by that generally 
despised sect known to the world .as 
"Mormons." These are the principles 
they advocate, and for defending them 
they are subjected tfr the same treat- 
ment, and made to suffer the same*' in- 
justice, and receive the same persecu- 
tion at the hands of- their fellow-men, as 
was our beloved Savior and His follow- 
ers who inaugurated the system eighteen 
hundred y**ars ago. 

Yet, notwithstanding the great oppo- 
sition which is encountered in the. wotfk 
of disseminating these divine principles 
and doctrines among the children of men, 
they are being widely proclaimed in all 
the world by the humble servants of the 
Master in whom they originated; and the 
time is not far distant when all mankind 
who will deign to listen will have heard 
them and had the opportunity of em- 
bracing them. And when ample oppor- 
tunity for their acceptance will have befen 
given the sons of men and they are left 
entirely without excuse, then Christ .will 
make His appearance, wickedness ^11 
be overthrown, Satan will be bound and 
justice will be meted out to all. 

"The time is nigh, that happy time, 
That great expected, blessed day, 
When countless thousands of our race 
Shall dwell with Christ and Him ob*y." 



LIFE. 



HENRY KING. 



Like to the falling of a star. 
Or as the flights of eagles are. 
Or like the fresh spring's gaudy hue, 
Or silver drops of morning dew. 
Or like a wind that chafes the flood. 
Or bubbles which on water stood— 
E'en such Is man, whose borrowed light 
Is straight called In, and paid tonight. 
The wind blows out. the bubble dies. 
The spring entombed In autumn lies; 
The dew dries un, the star Is shot. 
The flight is past— and man forgot! 



Let not one look of Fortune cast you flown: 
She were not Fortune If she did not frown: 
Such as do bravest bear her scorns awhile 
Are those on whom at last she most will 
smile, 

—Lord Orrery, 



244 



THE SOUTHERN STAR. 




^aC^ESSg 



PibllaM Watkly 17 Stfthtri Sttttt MlMltMCbaroa 
tf Jmis Christ tf Utttr Dt j StliU, 

ChttttBMp, T«H. 



{Poryear . . $1.00 

Six aeatb* . .50 

Three moith* .25 
Slag lo Coplot, 5 ConU. 



Subscribers removing from one place to another, 
and desiring papers changed, should always give 
former as well as present address, by postal card or 
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Entered at the Poet Office erf Chattanooga, Torn., <u 
sseotid dam matter. 



Correspondence from all parts of the missionary 
field is solicited. Give name and address, or articles 
will be rejected. Write on one side of paper only 
when sent for publication. We reserve the right to 
either eliminate or reject any communication sent in. 
Address Box io» 



Saturday, June 30, 1900. 



ARTICLES OF FAITH 

OP THE CHURCH OF JESUS CHRI5T OP 
LATTER-DAY SAINTS. 

1. W# fetlltTt Id Uod tfc* El*rotl Pit her, and In Wm So* 
J««l Chrilt, ind in !bs HoIt Oho*L 

&. Wi b*H«i* tb*t mis w3H b* puaiibtd far tbeff ova 
■Joi^tsd DPt for AJimV iriDPgretnon. 

f. Wi UliiTt thit, USTOUSll th* itcn#tupnt of Ohriit, *Jt 
mink lad iuy It ttvtd, br ob*dl«ci« t* lbs li.*i iad ordi- 
itttH *f (hi GofptL 

ir W* Wi*** (kit th* Am prtQcistii tbd tirditunaai off 
lit Ovip«l *r* I Flr»l b Filth la ibi Lard Jem* CfluMj Mcund, 
fUpuUoc* ; third, Baptiim br imm#riion for ih« rvmiiuan 
Bf ■!■« j fOtjrUt, Lkjiaf on af Uiodi fur lb* QU\ t>f th* flolj 
Ml 

I. Wo biljiT* liit i bis mutt ho «!l*d of Gad, ay 
" prop**cr P Ml bj th* Ujriaff no trf bindi," bj lb«« who »r* 
id iiibE>n(j L to prttch tit jt*p*l *ad idmiaiitor it th* ar^i. 
niactt f b*r«af . 

t. W« a€li*T« Ed ■MftfBS ofpuwiJon tbil «iitt*d to 
tbt piimilW* church— umilj, ApotUu, Frpphttt* Fjutom, 

■7. Wi fcwIiiYi in lb* (i ft at ton(a»i. prupbeey, ri^iJiUou, 
vttloai hcilia|, inttrpreUtiaa of [fcnjruM, tic, 

#, Wo bvboTi th* EibJ» La b« the word uT (Jod, •• fir u L| 
If tnofkled i'0f pikU* I ■* lltfJ ImIJotb lis Book of Iton&u 
to b* th* word of Uod. 

» W* uliw ill tbit God bii ifoejlei, *1J ihi t Ho 36m 

DOW rtfOit. pad w* balfevt lh*t Ho wjll » ot Mteft] rainy DHl 
■ ad Inporlinl t'aiap pttttlalng lo Lb* KLacdopi of OodT 

10. Wi belmT* id th* lil*r»J(* th*r I ng of" LirmL apd icj tbt 
rtPtontioq of th* Tib Tribw ; ihit Z»eid wi|J do built upoo 
Uit (tfao Arawricin) coJiUn«Dt j (hit Cbriit wiSi r*^o portoa- 
DII7 apon Ihi mi-LIi, iod thit Lh#*.rti will bo riaovtd lad 
riciJT* iti psridiAiicii (lorj. 

II- Wf tUim tb B privLlfln of wanhlpine AltaifHtj Ood 
•ceordiai to tht di«ttt*t of our (Dnuieoco^ »od *]low ill 
rat q th* nni J>fiTi]*^ l«t tbiOl won hip haw. where, or wait 
Ihoj miT. 

191 Wo tvTIflV* f D b*lo| la b]Hf lo kJ in, pr«id«nti, rulen, 
•Dd atrtttritot ; \a obejJac, honoriDgDDd Uut* \a i dg, thi It*. 

ft, vW* biJien jd b*in s hufl*il, trje L cbailt, b*A*ToJ«Dt^ 
vlrtiiQDi r tod \a doiog good to tir mm: ind«?d, w* cniy u r 
Uit wi follow Lbi idmoQitiOfl af Piol h "We bili«Te »tJ thingi, 
*• bap*. tlJ taingi," *• hiTO endunrd n*-QJ ihingn. sod hnp* 

00 ibl« Lo «od jt* ill tAEnffc If f bifi ii id/ thing virtiOHS 

?*''■ •'.ilESl"^" or Pi-t^io worth jr t wo *tok iiut ib*#* 



s 



Ii».^I09»TH i 



ARGUMENTS OF BIGOTS ANSWERED. 



We have recently received several let- 
ters, asking if the Latter-day Saints be- 
live a woman cannot be saved, unless she 
be, as our enemies express it, "tacked on 
to some man." This argument is only a 
fair sample of many of its kind used by 
silly, bigoted fanatics, who are unable 
to meet our Elders in reasonable argu- 
ments, and are constantly resorting to 
just such rot as this. There is not a re- 
ligious sect on earth, professing a belief 
in Christ Jesus, whose religious views 
are filled with so much charity, concern- 
ing the salvation of the daughters of 
Eve, as is the belief of the Latter-day 
Saints. 

When the great day of eternal judg- 
ment dawns it will be found that man 
will be punished and damned for the sin- 
ful lives lived by many of the women of 
the world; God will deal out a just and a 
charitable punishment to those of His 



daughters who sin, but this punishment 
will be nothing compared to the judgment 
that will be pronounced upon man, whom 
God created, the stronger of the sexes, 
and therefore expected him to become a 
protector, instead of the defiler of His 
daughters. Man will be more severely 
punished, because he will be looked upon 
as the responsible one. It would not sur- 
prise us, if, when a daughter of Eve, one 
who has lead a life of sin in this world, 
stands before the great judgment seat, 
that God's voice may not be heard telling 
her to step aside, before receiving her 
sentence, until He had first passed 
judgment upon the man who was the 
cause of her starting out on this life of 
sin, and also upon the men who were the 
cause of her continuing in this down- 
ward path. 

But to return to the original subject, 
the fault of mankind today lies in their 
ignorance in not knowing the difference 
between merely being saved and being 
exalted. Many will be saved who will 
not be exalted, because there are differ- 
ent degrees of salvation, just as there are 
different glories in the Kingdom of God; 
as the Apostle Paul i says, one like unto 
the sun, another like the moon, and oth- 
ers like the stars; or, as the Master Him- 
self said, in His Father's house were 
many mansions, and that He would go 
to prepare a place for them, that where 
He was there they might be also. Those 
who will inherit the greatest glory and 
dwell with Christ will be those who will 
be exalted; others of God's children will 
be saved, each one according to his or 
her acts, but none will reach that glory 
like unto the sun, save they obey the 
Gospel of Christ, and none will be ex- 
alted in that glory (because there will 
also be different degrees of salvation in 
that glory), unless they are faithful in 
keeping all of God's commandments. We 
therefore believe that no woman can 
reach the highest exaltation without the 
man, and that no man can be thus ex- 
alted without the woman. We cannot 
help whether this doctrine suits bigots 
or not, it is the law of God and will be 
understood when the great day dawns, 
and to those who open so wide their 
mouths in denouncing the Mormons we 
ask why they do not denounce the Apos- 
tle Paul in the same manner? He taught 
the same doctrine when he said the man 
was not without the woman, neither the 
woman without the man in the Lord. The 
trouble is that modern Christianity has 
heaped unto themselves teachers for such 
a length of time and has listened so 
much to man's interpretation of God's 
word, that they understand about as 
much regarding being saved, being exalt- 
ed, and being sanctified, as a pickaninny 
coon knows about ancient Greek. That 
our readers might know something more 
about our belief concerning woman, we 
reproduce, in this number, an article on 
the "origin and destiny of woman," from 
the pen of the late President John Tay- 
lor. 



The Fairhope Courier, a neat little 
journal, published down in Alabama, 
contains the following, from the pen of 
Marie Howland: 

We have had a visitation from the Church 
of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Very 
fpw indeed were out to hear the Elder's 
(Martlneau) address, given on such short 
notice, merely nut on the bulletin board a 
few hours, and aR there was a band re- 
hearsal, and at Cllflf Cottage a class meet 
ing.— Speaking for myself, only. I was pii- 
tertalned and instructed: and of absorbing 
interest to me was the account of that 
small band of devoted Saints traveling 
from Missouri hundreds of miles (through 
a desert recrlon mnch of th*» way) and among 
savage Indians: most of them nushlnjf two- 
wheel carts, containing all their worldly 



goods; arriving at length, weary, lame, hun- 
gry and foot-sore, In tne Great Salt Lake 
valley. There they halted, and before 
twenty-four hours had passed prepared a 
little portion of the soil and planted some 
of the precious seeds they had Drought with 
them. They were on that inhospitable al- 
kali soil, and for years they fought death, 
starvation and other enemies with an 
indomitable will and an unfaltering trust 
that God had led them there to found the 
Church of Zlon and to build up a noble com- 
monwealth. No wonder, when we consider 
what they have accomplished, that they be- 
lieved themselves divinely led. 

I never saw a Mormon before, though one 
of my most valued and learned correspond- 
ents, the editor of the Young Woman's 
Journal of Utah, is one of the Saints; and. 
literally, judging from the wise, tolerant, 
liberty-loving spirit she always manifests, 
and from her beautiful photograph, I believe 
her to be of the "salt of the earth." I 
should also add from the testimony of those 
who know her personally. 



We wish to call the attention of all de- 
linquent subscribers in regard to renew- 
ing their subscriptions. 

After July 1st all delinquent names 
will be dropped from our mailing list. 

Please note date of expiration on your 
wrapper, and if behind renew at once. 



Annie Beers, 

William H. Petty, 

Married in Logan Temple, 

Wednesday, June 20th, 1900. 

We send congratulations and wish 

Brother and Sister Petty happiness and 

prosperity through life. 



Words of Condolence. 

All who are acquainted with Elder 
Sylvester Low, President of the South 
Carolina Conference, will be pained to 
learn of the death recently of his 9-year- 
old son, Leslie. Brother Low is a man 
of sterling worth, who is loved and re- 
spected by all who know him, and in his 
hour of trial we pray he and his family 
may be comforted by the sweet influence 
of God's Holy Spirit. 

"Cease, ye fond parents, cease to weep, 
Let grief no more your bosoms swell: 

For what is death? Tls nature's sleep: 
The trump of God will break the spell, 

For He, whose arm is strong to save, 

Arose in triumph o'er the grave. 

"Why should you sorrow? Death is sweet 
To those that die in Jesus' love; 

Though called to part, you soon will meet 
In holler, happier climes above; 

For all the faithful, Christ will save, 

And crown with vlct'ry o'er the grave." 



News' Special Edition. 

The special edition of the Deseret 
News, issued June 16th, in commemora- 
tion of the fiftieth anniversary, is indeed 
a gem. teeming with good reading. For 
general make-up, clean and newsy read- 
ing, and as an educator, the News is a 
leader. In comparing the two papers, 
that of June, 1850, with the one recently 
issued, we see and appreciate the real ad- 
vancement made by the News, which has 
ever had as its motto. "Truth and Lib- 
erty." 

Summer Excursions— Colorado, Utah. 

The Union Pacific will place in effect 
June 21, July 7 to 10, inclusive. July 18 
and August 2, summer excursion rates 
of one fare for the round trip plus $2 
from Missouri river to Denver, Colorado 
Springs, Pueblo, Ogden and Salt Lake. 
Tickets good for return until October 31. 
For full particulars address J. F. Aglar, 
General Agent, St. Louis. 



Reduced Rates to Salt Lake, via Union Pacific. 

June 25th to July 11th, Union Pacific 
make one fare plus two dollars for the 
round trip, Chicago, St. Louis and Kan- 
sas City to Ogden and Salt Lake. 



THE SOUTHERN STAB. 



245 



ORATORICAL CONTEST. 

The Young Men's Mutual Improve 
ment Association's oratorical contest, 
held in the Assembly Hall, Salt Lake 
City, June 11, was won by Walter J. 
Sloan, there being five contestants. The 
judges of the contest were, on delivery. 
B. H. Roberts, O. P. Whitney and Geo. 
H. Brimhall; on thought and composi- 
tion, Dr. J. E. Talinage, Prof. N. L. 
Nelson and E. H. Anderson. We publish 
the prize oration, "Thou Shalt Not," in 
full, as contained in the Deseret News of 
June 12th: 



"THOU SHALT NOT/* 

The thoughts which I shall utter are 
the result of some study as to the causes 
which have led to most, if not all, the 
persecutions that have been heaped upon 
former, as well as upon Latter-day 
Saints. 

Pour thousand years ago, God thun- 
dered from the summit of Sinai, ten 
great commandments. Since that event- 
ful day in the world's history, each has 
been broken time and time again, yet 
the breaking of none has caused so much 
sorrow and suffering, misery and deafh 
as the breaking of the ninth, "Thou shalt 
not bear false witness against thy neigh- 
bor." 

The world's tragedy, enacted on the 
summit of Calvary, was but the effect of 
a cause which had preceded it. The 
breaking of the sixth commandment had 
been preceded by the breaking of the 
ninth commandment. Let your minds go 
back to the sceno which was enacted in 
the judgment hall of Pilate, nearly 1,900 
years ago. Seated upon his throne, with 
his purple robes about his form, is the 
Roman governor; before him stands the 
man who. but a few hours earlier, had 
been dragged from his agonizing prayer 
in Gethsemane; to the right and left, 
stand Rome's hirelings; close to the 
throne stands the band of priests, elders, 
and scribes, every feature of their vicious 
faces showing the hatred which they bear 
towards their intended victim. Only one 
thought seiems to control their actions: 
"Away with him. Let his blood be upon 
us and upon our children." The back- 
ground of the judgment hall is filled with 
a hating, howling mob, crying, "Crucify 
him! Crucify him!" presenting in their 
action, a nicture of hate and murderous 
intent such as the world has rarely seen. 
Pilate finds no fault. The testimony is 
not strong enough to convict. Are, then, 
the priests, elders and people to be de- 
nied the blood of their intended victim? 
No, for, "At last came two false wit- 
nesses." It would be unjust to say that 
Pilate knew that the testimony was false, 
yet upon it he sentenced the "oerfect 
man" to death upon the crn<?f«. The Son 
of God was crucified on Calvary. He 
was convicted before Pilate. He was 
murdered bv haters. He was convicted 
by linrs. The brenking of the sixth com- 
mandment on Calvary Hill was not a 
greater enme than was the breaking of 
the ninth in the judgment hall of Pilate. 

The Savior was crucified through fho 
breaking of it: Peter and John were, im- 
prisoned by the same means; as wen* 
also Paul and Silas; the stoning to death 
of Stephen was not an effect from the 
same cause: Peter was crucified, head 
downward: Paul was beheaded; all the 
horrors of the early Christian persecu- 
tions wnr« but the outcomo of the testi- 
monv of false witnesses. Read the story 
of the Inquisition; of the massacre of 
St. Bartholomew; of the religions per- 
secutions through the world for the past 
nineteen centuries, and then tell me if 
you know of any other commandment, 
the breaking of which has had as far- 
reaching an effect as has the breaking of 
the ninth. Time forbids a detailed ac- 
count of all the horrors committed in the 
name of relieion, but in nearly ev*vy 
case the cause, was the same as that 
which drove the "Man of Sorrow" from 



the judgment hall of Pilate to the Hill 
of Calvary. 

No sooner did the "Boy Prophet of the 
Nineteenth Century" tell of the heaven- 
ly visit which he had received, than false 
witnesses arose. Read the story of his 
mob-driyen life from the age of 14 until 
his cold body lay against the stone wall 
of Carthage jail. Read the history of 
the Latter-day Saints from Kirtland to 
Jacksou county, to Nauvoo, to Par West, 
to the valleys of the Rockies, the story 
of Johnson's Army and the Utah. State 
Penitentiary and then tell me what was 
the cause of all the robbing, driving, im- 
prisonments, beatings, mobbin$s and 
murders which have been committed in 
the name of religion and justice, if it 
did not arise from the testimony of false 
witnesses? 

Let your minds dwell for a moment on 
the tragedy enacted dn Slippery Fork of 
Cane Creek, in Lewis county, Tennes- 
see, in 1884, in which Elders Gibbs and 
Berry gave their lives for the cause of 
truth, or turn to the tragic death of Elder 
Standing in Georgia, and then answer 
what was the incentive which organized 
and drove those mobs to their bloody 
work if it was not the testimony of false 
witnesses? 

Let any Elder of this Church who has 
filled a mission to any nation of the 
earth, tell you of his trials and persecu- 
tions, and ask him the cause. I think 
that he will answer with me, that it was 
brought about through the testimony of 
false witnesses. 

The history of the world's great crimes 
may be written in two sentences, The 
breaking of the ninth commandment, the 
cause: stealing, mobbing and murdering, 
the effect. 

Few, if any, people in the world's his- 
tory have suffered so much from the 
breaking of this commandment as have 
the Latter-day Saints, yet sometimes I 
wonder if many have not forgotten tha 
cause of their persecutions, of most of 
their sorrow and sufferings? If some of 
them have not forgotten that the God 
who gave them existence has said, "Thou 
shalt not?" If many of them have not 
forgotten that good (though homely it 
may be) maxim of the Church, "Mind 
your own business?" 

The lowest, most contemptible and 
cowardly creature is the character assas- 
sin, for his work is usually done in such 
a way that his victim has no chance for 
defense. The thief and murderer are oft- 
times brave in comparison, for "none 
but cowards lie." No person can have 
the right to break the ninth command- 
ment any more than he can have the 
right to break the sixth or seventh. 

If, for the breaking of the ninth com- 
mandment, you can plead "not guilty," 
for you have injured no man with false 
testimony, then all praise to you for keep- 
ing free from this sin. But characters 
may be ruined without a direct lie. by 
inuehdo, a false impression, by a half a 
truth and half insinuation. "A lie that 
is half a truth is the blackest He of all." 
Such actions always have weight with 
those who wish to believe evil. A word, 
a look, a sigh, then metaphorically like 
the Arab, you fold your tent and silently 
steal away; Mark Antony-like, your ac- 
tions seem to say, "Now let it work: 
mischief, thou art afoot. Take thou 
what course thou wilt." "When we. say 
of people what we will not say to them, 
we are either cowards or liars." 

You tell me that man is the architect 
of his own life, that if he has broken 
the law. he must pay the penalty. I 
grant your charge. But his actions do 
not license you to add greater crimes to 
his credit. I deny any man the right to 
sit in judgment upon the actions of his 
neighbor, unless he has been iniured: yes, 
even then. I deny him the right to judg- 
ment. "Judge not lest ye be judged." 
"Forgive one another, even as God. for 
Christ's sake, has forgiven you." If you 
pray to God to forgive you of your sins 
and refuse to forgive your fellow-man, I 
deny you the right to utter the Lord's 
Prayer, "Forgive us our debts as we for- 
give our debtors." Note the first thought 



which The Prince of Peace uttered after 
the prayer, "For if ye forgive men their 
trespasses, your Heavenly Father will 
also forgive you, but if ye forgive not 
men their trespasses, neither will your 
Father forgive your trespasses." Before 
you refuse to forgive, I ask you to re- 
member the last great prayer — "Father, 
forgive them, for they know not what 
they do." Forgetting not the words of 
life and beauty, "Blessed are the merci- 
ful, for they shall obtain mercy." 

Humanity is frail enough; the faults 
and wrongs which we have and commit 
are numerous enough without any adding 
thereto. What joy or satisfaction does 
it give to tell the faults of another? God 
has not appointed us to tell the faults of 
our neighbors, to make their failings 
known to the world. Would it not be 
nearer our religion and our Prince to 
hide the faults and to try and lead the 
erring one from the errors of his way? 
Remembering that "The words of the tale 
bearer are as wounds?" 

Let me maxe a plea for the erring soul. 
Fathers, mothers, you who know the 
faults of your neighbors' son, or the indis- 
creet acts of their daughter, — before you 
tell them, think how your story would 
sound if it were directed against your 
own loved ones and how you would feel 
if the story told should blight the fair 
name of your child and cast a stigma 
upon yourself? You who have children 
whom you love with your heart's strong 
beating, what would be your feelings if 
it were your child whom some one had 
spoken ill of? 

"If you're the first to see a fault. 
Be not the first to make It known." 

Hide rather than expose a fault, for 
there are times when silence is better 
than the truth. The first Napoleon had, 
as one of his mottoes, "I command, or I 
am silent." Can we not take for a mot- 
to, "I speak good of others, or I am si- 
lent?" 

Young man, you have a mother and 
sisters, ere you speak ill. true or false, 
against the mother or sister of another, 
let me ask you to think how your words 
would sound spoken against those dear 
ones whom yon love, remember that to 
the true man. the character of a woman 
is ever sacred; no matter what she is or 
may have been, you do but lower your- 
self to speak ill of her. To the young 
woman who is given to this fault, of evil 
speaking, I can only say. Thou art thy 
sex's own worst enemy. Thou hast less 
charity toward thy sex than has man. 

We are human, weak and frail. Paul- 
like, "the spirit is willing but the flesh 
is weak." How willing, how weak, only 
the struggling, fighting soul knows. The 
greatest battles of life are those fought in 
silence. Be he what he may or where he 
may, away down deep in every heart lies 
the wish to lead a higher, a better, a 
nobler life.; yet how hard it is to over- 
come evil, to leave forever the flesh-pots 
of Egypt! Yet. how much easier would 
be our fight if there were only a helping 
hand, a smile or a word of encourage- 
ment. Would it not be better for the 
young man or woman whom you see go- 
ing wrong, if, instead of telling others of 
the wrong, you were to go to them with 
love and kindness and try to help them 
to a higher and better life. A pound of 
help is hotter than a ton of advice, an 
ounce of kindness better than a car load 
of faultfinding. "There is an infinite sat- 
isfaction in receiving the gifts of God, 
but the privilege of becoming the means 
through which He will bestow light and 
blessings upon others is the greatest privi- 
lege bestowed upon man." "There is no 
beautifier of the form, complexion and 
manner like the wish to scatter joy and 
not pain around us." I cannot think 
that we would defame the character of 
our brother wilfully: I cannot think that 
we would injure, by tale-bearing, with 
malicious intent; but rather I try to think 
that we do not know the "whys and 
wherefores" for every false step that 
he may have made. It is not given us 
to know his temptations and trials. If 
we understood his heart's motives, we 



246 



THE SOUTHERN STAR. 



would be less ready to find fault, more 
ready to help. 

"If we knew the cares and trials, 

Knew the efforts all In vain, 
And the bitter disappointments, 

Understood the loss and gain, 
Would this grim exterior roughness 

Seem, I wonder, just the same? 
Would we help where now we hinder? 

Would we pity where we blame? 

"Ah, we judge each other harshly, 

Knowing not life's hidden force; 
Knowing not the stream of action 

Is less turbid at its source. 
Seeing not amid the evil 

All the golden grains of good; 
Oh, we'd love each other better 

If we only understood." 

I plead for the erring, struggling, mis- 
understood soul; that with love and kind- 
ness it shall be led, not driven, to a 
higher, a better, a nobler life. 

God gave ten commandments. They 
are as binding as they ever were. Where 
is the Latter-day Saint that would make 
unto himself any graven image? Where 
is the one who would worship any other 
God? They are not Sabbath breakers; 
they are not profaners; they are not 
■ thieves; the teaching of the seventh com- 
mandment is sacred to them; the mur 
derer is unknown among them. All of 
these commandments have they kept 
from their youth, up; but do they break 
the ninth commandment? Do they bear 
false witness? You ask me if I place the 
bearing of false witness upon tne same 
level of crime as the breaking of the 
sixth, seventh, eighth or tenth command- 
ment? And why not? God made no 
distinction when He gave them. He pre- 
faced each with "Tnou shalt not." 1 
know of but one distinction made in Holy 
Writ — that which was made by the 
Christ. The first great commandment is 
this: "Thou shalt love the Lord thy God 
with all thy might, mind and strength." 
And the second is like unto this — "Thou 
shalt love thy neighbor as thyself." Who 
is thy neighbor? Read the parable of the 
Good Samaritan? Do I love my neigh- 
bor as myself when with words I rob 
them of their honor, of their good name? 
You remember the words which the 
"Bard of Avon" has put into the mouth 
of his character of lago? "Good name 
in man and woman, dear my Lord, is the 
immediate jewels of their souls: Who 
steals my purse, steals trash; 'tis some- 
thing, nothing; 'twas mine, 'tis his, and 
has been slave to thousands. But he 
that filches from me my good name, robs 
me of that which not enriches him and 
makes me poor indeed." "The crown 
and glory of life, is character." Wealth 
nor talent should be so priceless. Fame 
is oft times but a dream; wealth, but a 
will-o'-wisp. 

Death robs you of your loved ones and 
sorrow fills the heart; friends prove false 
and regret floods the soul; wealth van- 
ishes and leaves poverty; take away re- 
ligion and the bright star of hope is 
gone; health goes, the vengeance of a vio- 
lated law of nature remains. Wealth 
may be regained, health may return, 
other loved ones may fill the aching void, 
new friends take the place of those lost, 
the star of hone may once more shine, 
but take away honor and you leave noth- 
ing but desolation, heart-aches and mis- 
ery! The sun of life is set; darkness 
alone remains. You have stolen that 
which can never be. returned. And as 
surely as God lives you shall pay the 
penalty of that theft. The laws of the 
land may fail to reach you in this life, 
but the la^'s of God will reach you in 
eternity. You have broken a command- 
ment and the penalty shall be paid. 

The breaking of the ninth command- 
ment has ever been followed by suffering, 
misery and death. The partial breaking 
of it by disgrace and dishonor. "Blessed 
are the merciful, for they shall obtain 
mercy." "Forgive us our debts as we for- 
give our debtors." "Thou shalt love thy 
neighbor as thyself." "Thou shalt not 
bear false witness against thy neighbor." 
Such are the commandments of God. 
Can we, will we, do we follow them? 



The Origin and Destiny of Woman. 

The following article appeared in the 
Mormon, a publication issued in New 
York City in the fifties, under the edito- 
rial management of the late President 
John Taylor. The date of the issue con- 
taining it was August 29, 1857. It has 
been reproduced in the columns of the 
Deseret News: 

The Latter-day Saints have often been 
ridiculed on account of their belief in the 
pre-existence of spirits, and for marrying 
for time and all eternity, both being Bi- 
ble doctrines. We have often been re- 
quested to give our views in relation to 
these principles, but considered the 
things of the kingdom belonged to the 
children of the kingdom, therefore not 
meet to give them to those without. But 
being very politely requested by a lady 
a few days since (a member of the 
church) to answer the following ques- 
tions, we could not consistently refuse — 
viz.: "Where did 1 come from? What 
is my origin? What am I doing here? 
Whither am I going? And what is my 
destiny after having obeyed the truth, 
if faithful to the end?" 

For her benefit and all others con- 
cerned, we will endeavor to answer the 
questions in brief, as we understand 
tnem. The reason will be apparent for 
our belief in the pre-existence of spirits, 
and in marrying for time and all eter- 
nity. 

Lady— Whence comest thou? Thine 
origin? What art thou doing here? 
Whither art thou going, and what is thy 
destiny? Declare unto me if thou hast 
understanding? Knowest thou not that 
thou art a spark of Deity, struck from 
the tire of His eternal blaze, and brought 
forth in the midst of eternal burnings? 

Knowest thou not that eternities ago, 
thy spirit, pure and holy, dwelt in thy 
Heavenly Father's bosom, and in His 
presence, and with thy mother, one of 
the queens of heaven, surrounded by thy 
brother and sister spirits, in the spirit 
world, among the Gods? That as thy 
spirit beheld the scenes transpiring there, 
and thou growing in intelligence, thou 
sawest worlds upon worlds organized and 
peopled with thy kindred spirits, took 
upon them tabernacles, died, were resur- 
rected, and received their exaltation on 
the redeemed worlds they once dwelt 
upon. Thou being willing and anxious 
to imitate them, waiting and desirous to 
obtain a body, a resurrection and exal- 
tation also, and having obtained permis- 
sion, thou made a covenant with one of 
thy kindred spirits to be thy guardian 
angel while in mortality, also with two 
others, male and female spirits, that thou 
would st come and take a tabernacle 
through their lineage, and become one of 
their offspring. You also chose a kin- 
dred spirit whom you loved in the spirit 
world (and had permission to confe to 
this planet and take a tabernacle), to be 
your head, stay, husband and protection 
on the earth, and to exalt you in the 
eternal worlds. All these were arranged, 
likewise the spirits that should taber- 
nacle through your lineage. Thou longed, 
thou sighed and thou prayed to thy Fa- 
ther in heaven for the time to arrive 
when thou couldst come to this earth, 
which had fled and fell from where it 
was first organized, near the planet Ko- 
lob. Leave thy Father and mother's 
bosoms and all thy kindred spirits, come 
to earth, take a tabernacle, and imitate 
the deeds of those you had been exalted 
before you. 

At length the time arrived, and thou 
heard the voice of thy Father, saying, 
go, daughter, to yonder lower world, and 
take upon thee a tabernacle, and work 
out thy probation with fear and trem- 
bling and rise to exaltation. But daugh- 
ter, remember you go on this condition, 
that is. you are to forget all things you 
ever saw, or knew to be transacted in 
the spirit world: you are not to know 
or remember anything concerning the 
same that you have beheld transpire 
here; but you must go and become one 



of the most helpless of all beings that I 
have created, while in your infancy; sub- 
ject to sickness, pain, tears, mourning, 
sorrow and death. But when truth shall 
touch the cords of your heart they will 
vibrate; then intelligence shall illumin- 
ate your mind, and shed its luster in 
your soul, and you shall begin to under- 
stand the things you once knew, but 
which had gone from you; you shall then 
begin to understand and know the object 
of your creation. Daughter, go, and be 
faithful in your second estate, keep it as 
faithful as thou hast thy first estate. 

Thy spirit, filled with joy and thanks- 
giving, rejoiced in thy Father, and ren- 
dered praise to His holy name, and the 
spirit world resounded in anthems of 
praise and rejoicing to the Father of 
spirits. Thou bade Father, mother and 
all farewell, and along with thy guardian 
angel, thou came on this terraqueous 
globe. The spirits thou had chosen to 
come and tabernacle through their line- 
age, and your head having left the spirit 
world some years previous, thou came a 
spirit pure and holy, thou hast taken 
upon thee a tabernacle, thou hast obeyed 
the truth, and thy guardian angel minis- 
ters unto thee and watches over thee. 
Thou hast chosen him you loved in the 
spirit world to be thy companion. Now, 
crowns, thrones, exaltations and domin- 
ions are in reserve for thee in the eternal 
worlds, and the way is opened for thee 
to return back into the presence of thy 
Heavenly Father, if thou wilt only abide 
by and walk in a celestial law, fulfill the 
designs of thy creation, and hold out to 
the end. That when mortality is laid in 
the tomb, you may go down to your 
grave in peace, arise in glory, and receive 
your everlasting reward in the resurrec- 
tion of the just, along with thy head and 
husband. Thou wilt be permitted to pass 
by the Gods and angels who guard the 
gates, and onward, upward to thy exalta- 
tion in a celestial world among the Gods. v 
To be a priestess queen unto thv Heav- 
enly Father, and a glory to thy husband 
and offspring, to bear the souls of men, 
to people other worlds (as thou didst bear 
their tabernacles in mortality), while 
eternity goes and etespity comes; and *f 
vou will receive it, lady, this is eternal 
life. And herein is the saying of the 
Apostle Paul fulfilled, "that the man is 
not without the womnn in the Lord, nei- 
ther is the woman without the man in the 
Lord. "That man is the head of the 
woman and the glory of the man is the 
woman. Hence, thine origin, the object 
of thy creation, and thy ultimate des- 
tiny, if faithful, lady, the cup is within 
thy reach, drink then the heavenly 
draught, and live. 



Keep Still. 

Keep still! When trouble is brewing, 
keep still; when slander is getting on its 
legs, keep still; when your feelings are 
hurt, keep still till you recover from 
your excitement at any rate. Things 
look different through an unagitated eye. 
In a commotion once I wrote a letter and 
sent it, and wished I had not. In my 
later years, T had another commotion 
and wrote a long letter: but life rubbed 
a little sens*? into me, and I kept that 
letter in my pocket against the day when 
I could look over it without agitation 
and without tears. I was glad I did. 
Less and less it seemed necessary to send 
it. I was not sure it would do any hurt, 
but in my doubtfulness I leaned to reti- 
cence and eventually it was destroyed. 

Time works wonders. Wait till you 
can speak calmly, and then you will not 
need to speak, maybe. Silence is the 
most massive thing conceivable some- 
times. It is strength in very grandeur. 
It is like a regiment ordered to stand 
still in the mad fury of battle. To plunge 
in were twice as easy. The tongue has 
unsettled more ministers than small sal- 
aries ever did or lack of ability. — Ex- 
change. 



THE SOUTHERN STAR. 



247 



GLEANINGS. 

Elder George A. Adams has been chos- 
en to succeed President Elton, of the 
Chattanooga Conference. Elder Adams 
is an intrepid worker for the Master, and 
we look for a continuation of the good 
work in this conference. President El- 
ton has been called to labor in the office. 



Ere this, J. Urban Allred, former Pres- 
ident of the Middle Tennessee Confer- 
ence, is in Zion enjoying the association 
of loved ones and friends. Brother All- 
red filled every position given him, while 
in the Mission, with honor. His success- 
or, Elder John Reeve, takes hold of his 
new and responsible position with a de- 
termination to keep Middle Tennessee 
Conference where she now standsMn the 
front ranks. 



Miss Knight at Home. 

Provo Daily Enquirer, June 12. 

Miss Inez Knight, daughter of Mr. and 
Mrs. Jesse Knight, of this city, returned 
home last evening, from her missionary 
labors in Great Britain. Miss Knight 
left Provo April 2, 1898, and has worked 
continuously in the Bristol and London 
Conferences. The lady took up the same 
work as the male missionaries in preach- 
ing in the streets and halls, and distrib- 
uting tracts. The Millennial Star states 
that Miss Knight is the first lady mis- 
sionary to fill a full mission, and that she 
has done much to demonstrate the fact 
that ladies are a success in spreading the 
Gospel. The returned missionary has 
the distinction of being one of the first 
two ladies ever set apart for regular mis- 
sionary labors. Since returning to this 
side of the pond, Miss Knight has visit- 
ed many of the interesting points in the 
east en route home. 



Abstracts From Correspondence. 

Mt. Pleasant, Utah, June 17, 1900. 
President Ben E. Rich, Chattanooga, Tenn.: 

Dear Brother— I assure you that I ap- 
preciate the interest you and the breth- 
ren at the office have taken in me, and 
I wish to thank the Elders of the 
Southern States Mission for their fast- 
ings and prayer in my behalf. I believe 
I have been benefited already, and trust 
I shall recover completely in the near 
future. 

Thanking you one and all for your ex- 
pressions of sympathy and love, I am, 
your brother in the Gospel, 

A. C. CANDLAND. 



Corbin, Ky., June 19, 1900. 
To The Southern Star. 

Today we have completed our tracting 
in this town of about 2,500 inhabitants, 
having spent just a week here. 

Although we have many friends at 
present, the way has appeared rather 
misty at times since our arrival in the 
city, and our experience has not been un- 
like that of others in our position, which 
we will take time to relate in as few 
words as possible. 

On Tuesday, June 12th, we entered 
Corbin with the intention of doing all in 
our power, by the assistance of God, to 
warn the people of the approaching 
judgments upon the wicked, and to im- 
part the plan of salvation unto them, as 
God had given us a knowledge of the 
same. 

We were unsuccessful from the start 
in procuring a house to speak in, but 
were granted the privilege by the chief 
executive to distribute our tracts, sell 
books, and hold street meetings. We held 
one meeting without disturbance, but at 



our second night's service we were treat- 
ed to a shower of eggs just as we closed, 
but escaped unharmed, and were taken 
to a hotel by a kind friend, who paid for 
our night's lodging. 

We were out early next morning to see 
if we could have protection from such 
a lawless and disrespectful set as those 
who mistreated us, and we were prom- 
ised by those in authority that we should 
be protected. Saturday last we went to 
the home of a friend, Levi Ellison, and 
found a letter awaiting us, which read 
as follows: 

Corbin, Ky. 
To the Mormon Elders: 

We will give you until tonight to leave 
this town, and we warn you not to un- 
dertake to speak any more on our streets. 

Please take notice to this. 

COMMITTEE. 

From the time of our mistreatment, 
our friends have increased in number, 
and many have become indignant at 
such lawlessness on the part of some of 
their townsmen. 

As to the notice received, we gave very 
little attention to it, because there were 
so many who promised us protection, and 
Saturday night we stood on the same 
corner where we had received the eggs, 
and while several men stood by as guard, 
we preached the Gospel. 

Upon leaving we can truthfully say 
that the people of Corbin, with the ex- 
ception of those few whom we have 
mentioned, have proven to us a fair- 
minded and liberty-loving people. 

Among our friends and kind benefac- 
tors, of Corbin, may be mentioned the 
names of Levi Ellison and family, J. D. 
Shotwell and family, John Shotwell, Sol- 
omon Wilder, George Wyatt, Samuel 
McKargue and wife, and many others, 
who shall receive their reward according 
to the promise of our Savior. 

WM. G. MILES, JR. 
HUGH ROBERTS. 



Valuable Note Book Free. 

The Union Pacific Railroad Company 
has just issued a publication entitled 
Outdoor Sports and Pastimes. It is one 
of the best publications of its kind ever 
issued, contains all that can be learned 
in relation to base ball, bicycling, cricket, 
croquet, foot ball, golf, lacrosse, lawn 
tennis, polo, quoits, and outdoor sports 
of all kinds. It is a very useful little 
book, well printed, with diagrams to il- 
lustrate the text. No devotee of any of 
the sports enumerated should be without 
it. It contains all the up-to-date rulings 
of the United States Golf Club 
Association, twenty-nine foot ball 
rules, with a dozen minor notes; also 
fifty-five rules for cricket. If this book 
was sold in book stores it would be con- 
sidered cheap at 50 cents, but J. P. Ag- 
lar, general agent Union Pacific Railroad, 
903 Olive street, St. Louis, will mail the 
same free on receipt of 3 cents in stamps 
to cover cost of postage. 



How Toil Conquered Pride. 

John Adams, the second President of 
the United States, used to relate the fol- 
lowing anecdote: 

"When I was a boy I used to study 
Latin grammer; but it was dull, and I 
hated it. My father was anxious to send 
me to college, and therefore I studied 
the grammar till I could stand it no long- 
er; and, going to my father, I told him 
that I did not like to study, and asked 
for some other employment. 

"My father said: 'Well. John, if 
Latin grammar does not suit you, try 
ditching— perhaps that will. My meadow 



yonder needs a ditch, and you may put 
by Latin and try that/ 

"This seemed a delightful change, and 
to the meadows I went. But soon I 
found ditching harder than Latin, and 
the first forenoon was the longest I ever 
experienced. That day I ate the bread 
of labor, and glad was I when night 
came on. That night I made some com- 
parison between Latin grammar and 
ditching, but said not a word about it. 

I dug next forenoon, and wanted to 
return to Latin at dinner; but it was 
humiliating, and I could not do it. At 
night toil conquered pride; and, though 
it was one of the severest trials I ever 
had in my life, I told father that if he 
chose I would go back to Latin gram- 
mar. 

He was glad of it, and if I have since 
gained any distinction, it has been owing 
to the two days' labor -in the ditch." — 
Christian Standard. 



A Flower Emblem. 

It is said that there is a flower in 
South America which is visible only 
when the wind blows. The shrub belongs 
to the cactus family and the stem is cov- 
ered with warty-looking lumps in calm 
weather. These lumps, however, need 
but a slight breeze to make them unfold 
large flowers of a creamy white, which 
close and appear as dead when the wind 
subsides. Fit emblem this of many 
Christians who in ordinary times exhibit 
but little of active grace and are sup- 
posed to be unsympathetic and indiffer- 
ent, but when reverses and afflictions 
come to themselves or others, when there 
is' a call for what they can do or give, 
open out into the loveliness of charity 
and minister joy unto all about them by 
their grace. — Peloubet. 



"Smoking Glass." 

Pat was no astronomer, says the Cleve- 
land Plain Dealer, but next to his pipe, 
he loved to be "up to date." A friend 
had been telling him about an approach- 
ing eclipse of the sun. 

That night Pat sat on his door-step, 
patiently puffing away at his old pipe. 
He would light a match, pull at the pipe, 
and then, as the match burned out, try 
another. This he did till the ground was 
littered with burnt matchwood. 

"Come to supper, Pat!*' called his wife 
from the kitchen. 

*"Faith, an' Oi will in a minute, Biddy," 
said he. "Moike has been a-tellin' me 
that if Oi smoked a bit av glass, sure I 
could see the shpots on the sun. Oi don't 
know whether Moike's been a-foolin' me, 
or whether Oi've got hold of the wrong 
kind o' glass." 



He is the man who is apt to be offend- 
ed, and to be "hurt," as he calls it, be- 
cause someone passed him at the church 
door without speaking, or "said things" 
about him— he knows not what — behind 
his. back, or objected to some plan which 
he proposed, or refused to do something 
he asked. Having worried his wife about 
the matter, and talked himself into a 
fever of wounded vanity, he gives every- 
body to understand that he has a griev- 
ance, and assumes the air of a martyr. 
As a formal protest he may even absent 
himself from church for two Sundays, 
and will be still further hurt if no one 
calls to inquire the reason. Of course he 
is very provoking, but there is no malice 
in the man and he ought to be gently 
treated. It is his misfortune, rather than 
his fault, that he has no scarf skin, and 
no protection against the inevitable fric- 
tion of life. A gentle touch and a liberal 
use of spiritual ointment will cure his 
wounds, or, rather, scratches. — Ian Mac- 
laren. 



248 



THE SOUTHERN STAR. 



REPORT OF MISSION CONFERENCES FOR WEEK ENDING JUNE 9, 1900. 



PRESIDENT 



David H. Elton .... 

Heber 8. Olson ~ 

•J.G.Bolton 

E. L. Pomaroy * 

W.D. Bencher 

A. C. Strong „..., 

Geo. W. Skidmore . 

John Reeve.. , 

J. M. Haws 

8ylvester Low, Jr.., 

G. M. Porter 

W. W. MacKay „..., 

W. O. Phelps- 

W.H.Boyle 

Don C. Benson 

L. M. Nebeker „ 

H. Z. Lund „ 



CONFERENCE 



L-liftltUii»H»Kit 

Virjfinla^.^ 

Kentucky «.<„.„.. 

East TenilHWtf'LV.. 

Goofrgia _ 

N-irth Alabama.. 

Florida 

Mi^i. TVnm-i—i'i" .. 
North Carolina,.. 
South i nrnlina.. 
Mi^ii^ippl ......... 

Ei^l Kentucky ... 

Lmiisirttm 

South Alalminrt. 
North KeiHLii-ky 
Snutli uhio .... ... 

Nurtli i>hi<i....„... 



1* 

ii 

12 
41 
24 
86 
84 
82 
89 
82 
44 
85 
12 
27 
6 
16 
20 
16 
13 



"8 

360 
1086 
624 
917 
808 
808 
892 
tS21 
1291 
841 
251 
740 
71 
508 
626 
894 
264 



History of the Southern States Mission. 

(Continued from Page 240.) 

December, 1897— After holding the Vir- 
ginia Conference, President Kimball re- 
turned to Chattanooga on the morning of 
the 1st inst.. remaining until the night of 
the 3d, when he started for Vanceburg, 
Ky., at which place the East Kentucky 
Conference was held on the 4th and 5th. 
The Kentucky Conference was held at 
Centre, Metcalf county, Kentucky, on the 
11th and 12th inst, Apostles Lyman and 
Cowley, President Kimball and Elder 
John Woodmansee visiting with the breth- 
ren. The chief topic and instructions to 
the Elders was the cultivation of the 
Holy Spirit by obedience. 

On the night of the 11th, Elder James 
E. Hart, President of the East Tennes- 
see Conference, arrived in Chattanooga, 
informing President Kimball that he con- 
sidered it impossible for that Confer- 
ence gathering to be held at Wood- 
dale, Knox county, Tenn., on the 25th 
and 26th insts., the place where the El- 
ders had been notified to gather. Elders 
A. W. Ensign and Jos. R. Morrell, who 
were laboring in Knox county, were no- 
tified by an organized mob of eighteen 
men to leave the county. A Mr. Lut- 
trell was the chief mobocrat, and was 
considered by the people who respected 
justice to be an unruly citizen. He lev- 
eled a gun on one of the Elders whom 
he met in the road, and threatened to 
kill him if he remained in the country 
much longer. He used vile language and 
by his actions toward the brethren in- 
cited others to persecute them. The 
Elders had been in the county but a 
short time, and in the face of much op- 
position were making converts. In that 
county were many honest-hearted peo- 
ple who were awaiting the voice of the 
Shepherd. Some had accepted the faith, 
while many others were investigating. 
There were also many good people who, 
although they did not believe in the so- 
called "Mormon" doctrine, yet they were 
willing to entertain and respect the El- 
ders as American citizens. The whole 
community became excited and the El- 
ders withdrew, resuming their labors in 
another part of the county. Although 
released to return home by Dec. llui. 
President Hart of his own free will, 
went to Johnson City, Tenn., and there 
made preparations for Conference. 

Middle Tennessee Conference was held 
on the 18th and 19th, at Duck River. 
Hickman county, Tenn. The East Ten- 
nessee Conference was successfully held 
at Johnson City on the dates appointed 
and much good instruction was given by 
Apostles Lyman and Cowley. The year 
of 1897 closed, much good having been 
accomplished. Many honest-hearted peo- 
ple had come out from the world and 
were willing to serve God with mind, 
might and strength. Books and tracts 
had been left at many thousand homes 
by the Elders. Taking the year as a 
whole, much good had been done and 
the seeds of righteousness sown were 
sure to bring forth some good. 

We might well conclude the year's 




h 



© 

318 
668 
893 
616 
675 
682 
841 
868 
969 
600 
186 
439 
117 
167 
898 
298 
114 



a w 





2 




1 


1 


4 




2 


8 


11 




2 


8 






i 


2 




....» 


'"i 




4 



Chattanooga 

Richmond, Box 388 M 

Centre 

Winston -Salem 

Columbus 

Memphis, Box 153.. 

V aid o.st a 

147 N.Summer st. Nashville 

Goldsboroi Box 924 

Bennettsville 

Ackerman..... 

Barboursville 

Hnghes Spur 

Camden .. 

418 W. Chestnut,Louisville 
589 Betts St., Cincinnati ... 
41 Cheshire St., Cleveland 



Tennessee 

Virgiuia 

Kentucky 

N. Carolina 

Georgia 

Tennessee 

Georgia 

Tennessee 

N. Carolina 

*. Carolina 

Mississippi 

Kentucky 

Louisiana 

Alabama 

Kentucky 

Ohio 

Ohio. 



history of the Mission by quoting the 
poem written by Willis: 

"Fleetly hath passed the year; the seasons 

came 
Duly as they were wont— the gentle Spring. 
And the delicious Summer, and the cool, 
Rich Autumn, with the nodding of the grain. 
And Winter, like an old and hoary man, 
Frosty and stiff— and so are chronicled. 
We have read gladness In the new green 

leaf, 
And In the first-blown violets; we have 

drunk 
Cool water from the rock, and In the shade 
Sunk to the noontide slumber; we have 

plucked 
The mellow fruitage of the bending tree, 
And girded to our pleasant wanderings 
When the cool winds came freshly from tin* 

hills; 
And when the tinting of Autumn leaves 
Had faded from Its tflory, we have sat 
By the good fires of Winter, and relolced 
Over the fullness of the gathered sheaf. 
'God hath been good!* 'Tls He whose hand 
Moulded the sunny hills, and hollowed out 
The shelter of the valleys, and doth keep 
The fountains in their secret places cool; 
And It Is He who leadeth up the sun, 
And ordereth up the starry influences, 
And tempereth the keenness of the frost; 
And, therefore, In the plenty of the feast, 
And In the lifting of the cup, let Him 
Have praises for the well-completed year." 
(To be continued.) 



The Influence of a Mother. 

Not long ago an old man lay dying. 
For days he had lain almost unconscious, 
only rousing himself to take a little nour- 
ishment. Suddenly his strength seemed 
to return. He raised up in bed. "Moth- 
er!" he called. "Oh, 1 thought 1 heard 
my mother," and frequently thereafter 
until his death he talked to those about 
him of the personal appearance, manners 
and life of the mother who had died when 
he was 9 years of age. Think how strong 
an impression was made by that mother 
in the brief years her boy had been under 
her control. He had grown to manhood 
without her, had taken part in the busi- 
ness, social and political life of his na- 
tive place, yet at the last, business cares, 
social pleasures, political triumphs, were 
forgotten. His mother and his early life 
at home alone remained in his thoughts. 
It seems remarkable that mothers so of- 
ten fail to realize the impressions they 
are making on their children. 

"He will never remember," said a moth- 
er lately, when her conscience smote her 
over some acts of injustice to her 7-year- 
old boy. But that boy will remember, 
and his mother's influence will be weak- 
ened by just so much. 

A young officer was asked recently how 
it was he was able to live so noble a 
life in the midst of such tremendous temp- 
tations. His answer was, "I had a good 
mother." 

Another well known man in London so- 
ciety was remarked upon as taking a 
strong line of his own, both moral and 
religious, and the question was one day 
put to him: "By whose preaching did 
you become the man you are?" 

"It was nobody's preaching, but my 
mother's practicing," he replied. "Her 
daily teaching and example were enough 
to influence her children. 



This magic power of influence is one 
of the greatest of God's gifts— and it is 
in a special manner granted to mothers — 
only they cannot exercise it if they are 
giving too much time to society, to travel- 
ing or to philanthropic work which takes 
them away from their home, and if they 
decline to give up many pleasures for 
the elementary duty of devoting them- 
selves to their children's training in the 
first years of life. — Christian Observer. 

Releases and Appointments. 

Releases. 

J. Urban Allred, Middle Tennessee 
Conference. 

W. J. Hunnicutt, South Carolina Con- 
ference. 

Ray Mecham, South Carolina Confer- 
ence. 

D. D. Jones, Mississippi Conference. 

W. H. Wilkinson, East Kentucky Con- 
ference. 

J. D. Burnett, Chattanooga Confer- 
ence. 

C. E. Jones, North Carolina Confer- 
ence. 

N. U. S. C. Jensen, Florida Conference. 

Transfers. 

A. C. Jacobson, from Florida to Ohio 
Conference. 

George A. Adams, from Florida to 
Chattanooga Conference. 



THE DEAD. 



After being sick nearly two months, 
Brother James Anderson, of Pike coun- 
ty, Ky., died June 10th. He was bap- 
tized July 9th, 1899, and has ever been 
a faithful member of the Church— a 
ready defender of truth — a loving hus- 
band and a devoted father. Brother An- 
derson was 33 years of age, and leaves 
a wife and eight little children, and a 
host of friends to mourn his loss. The 
many Elders who knew him will join us 
in wishing the comforting influence of 
God's blessings to be with his family and 
loved ones. 



Sister Amber R. Nickolas, of Oilville, 
Goochland county, Virginia, departed 
this life the 16th inst., being in her 20th 
year. She was baptized April 25th, 1898, 
and acted as Secretary and Treasurer of 
the Oilville Sunday school until her mar- 
riage. She will be missed by her rela- 
tives and many friends, who had learned 
to love her. 



The excesses of youth are drafts upon 
old age. payable with interest about thir- 
ty years after date. — Colton. 

When anger rushes, unrestrained, to action, 
Like a hot steed, it stumbles in its way. 
The man of thought strikes deepest, and 
strikes safely. 

—Savage. 




"OUT THOUGH WE, OB AN AN&tL fHOM MtAVEN.PfiEACH ANY 
PTHEB GOSPEL UNTO YOU THAN THAT WMtCH WE 

HAVE FBEAChED UNTO YQU.LtT HIM &£ ACCURSED .W /*EW 



KsStgJfcil 



Vol. 2. 



Chattanooga, Tbnw., Saturday, July 7, 1900. 



No. 82. \ 



THE CRISIS. 

The crisis presses on us; face to face with 

us It stands. 
With solemn lips of question, like the 

sphinx in Egypt's sands! 
This day we fashion destiny, our web of 

fate we spin; 
This day for all hereafter choose we holi- 
ness or sin; 
Even now from starry Gerizlm, or Ebal's 

cloudy crown, 
We call the dews of blessing or the bolls 

of cursing- down; 
By all for which the martyrs bore their 

agony and shame; 
By all the warning words of truth with 

which the prophets came; 
By the future which awaits us; by all the 

hopes which cast 
Their fatait and trembling beams across the 

blackness of the past; 
And by the blessed thought of Him who 

for earth's freedom died, 
O my people! O my brothers! let us choose 

the righteous side. 

-Whittier. 



OUR CONFERENCE PRESIDENTS. 

Elder W. 0. Phelps. 

There is one St. Valentine's day which 
will ever be remembered by Brother Hy- 
mm S. and Sister Clarinda Phelps. It 
was in 1876, and on that memorable day 
the hearts of these faithful parents were 
gladdened and made to rejoice by the 
presence in their home of a sweet baby 
boy. The grandparents of this new- 
comer to earth were numbered among 
those sturdy pioneers who braved the 
sterile plains and faced the stern reali- 
ties of frontier life. When the little fel- 
low was only three years old his parents 
moved to Southern Arizona, and there 
settled on a tract of land with other 
faithful Saints of God for the purpose 
of beautifying and cultivating the same, 
that they might wrest therefrom a main- 
tenance for their offspring. The land 
was considered worthless, so far as the 
production of vegetables and fruit were 
concerned, but they went to work with 
a will, and being united in their efforts, 
the Lord blessed them, and today the 
splendid results of their diligent labors 
are seen in the presence of the thrifty 
little town of Mesa, which is the pro- 
duction of their work. 

The early life of our young brother 
was spent on the farm, where he learned 
to plow, to sow, to reap, and to mow, 
and to make himself generally useful. 
Fortune provided him with a couple of 
years' schooling in the Arizona Territo- 
rial Normal Academy, at Tempe, and he 
strove to make the best of his opportuni- 
ties. Having been taught the Gospel by 
his loving parents, and instructed m the 



ways of righteousness from his youth, 
when the call came to fill a mission to 
the nations of the earth, he was ready to 
go, and responded with a willing heart. 
He left his all upon the altar of conse- 
cration, and in the latter part of March, 
1808, he arrived in Salt Lake City. Here 
he was given to understand that his la- 
bors were wanted in the Southern States 
Mission, and so the subject of our sketch, 
W. O. Phelps, for this was he, was ap- 
pointed to labor in the Florida Confer- 
ence. Nineteen months of his time was 
spent in Florida, when he was trans- 
ferred to Louisiana, where he has since 
endeavored to point out to fallen man 
the path of duty, the way of salvation. 

When President J. N. Miller was re- 
leased to return to his loved ones, the 




ELDER W. O. PHELPS. 
President of the Louisiana Conference. 



responsibility of presiding over the Lou- 
isiana Conference was entrusted to his 
care. Although his corps of laborers in 
Louisiana are few, we look for a contin- 
uation of the good work, and trust that 
through his labors the hearts of many 
may be made to rejoice, even as his par- 
ents rejoiced on that Valentine's day in 
187C when he was born. 



History of the Southern States Mission. 

(Continued from Page 248.) 
January, 1898. — The year's work began 
with very favorable conditions existing. 
The health of the Elders was as a gen- 
eral rule good, and all of them were de- 
sirous of doing their duty. New sections 
of country were visited and many people 



taught the true plan of salvation. Where 
friends were found, enemies also existed, 
to battle against truth and righteousness. 

Ou the 1st and 2d insts. the Florida 
Conference was held at Sanderson, Ba- 
ker county Fla. The Elders had the 
privilege or listening to the inspired 
teachings of Apostles Lyman and Cow- 
ley, which were timely, planting within 
the hearts of the brethren a desire to up- 
build mankind and show unto the world 
we are performing our labors with love 
in our hearts. 

The South Alabama Conference was 
held January 8th and 9th, near Jones' 
Mills, Monroe county, Ala., and was very 
successful throughout. On the 15th and 
16th the Mississippi Conference was held 
in the opera house at Jackson, Miss. Dur- 
ing this short stay in the city the minis- 
ters did all in their power to instill within 
the minds of the people falsehoods, their 
main object being to prevent the honest 
in heart, or, in fact, any from hearing 
the truth. And these were men claiming 
to be called of God to teach their fellow 
men: "Love your enemies; bless them 
that curse you ; do good to them that hate 
you." 

Louisiana Conference was held near 
Vowells Mills, Natchitoches parish, La., 
and the North Alabama Conference con- 
vened at Plymouth, Pontotoc county, 
Miss., on the 29th and 30th. 

Ten Elders arrived from Zion the lat- 
ter part of the month and were sent 
forth into different fields of labor. 

Generally speaking, the work of the 
various conferences progressed favorably. 
Uainy weather interfered somewhat with 
the Elders traveling, yet a good work 
was done during January. 

February, 1898.— On the night of the 
1st Apostles Lyman and Cowley left for 
New York. Their visit to the mission 
was appreciated very much and the good 
advice and council given was sure to pro- 
duce a bounteous harvest of good works. 

The 2d inst. found Elders Jabez Faux 
and L. W. Robbins in Tampa, Fla.. 
ready to go to work. The mayor of that 
city did not seem to appreciate their ser- 
vices and told them plainly that if they 
continued their work, they could not 
have his protection. He also informed 
them that from the principal men of the 
city he had received a petition requesting 
the expulsion of the Elders, else the citi- 
zens would expel them, using plenty of 
tar and feathers in the work. Not wish- 
ing to remain where they would not be 
respected as servants of God, or Ameri- 
can citizens, the brethren left the city. 

An account of their expulsion appeared 
in the Tampa papers and was copied in 
the Chattanooga News. The following 
day after its appearance here the Chat- 



250 



THE SOUTHEEN STAR. 



tanooga Times took occasion to severely 
criticise the article and the action of the 
people of Tampa. The Times spoke in 
words of praise of the Mormons as it 
had found them in Chattanooga. 

Very favorable reports reached the of- 
fice from Elders working in Shreveport, 
La., Selma, Ala., Charlotte and Winston, 
N. C., a.lso from many other county seat*. 
President Kimball felt that a Georgia 
Conference should be created and chose 
for President of the same Elder Albert 
C. Matheson. From two to six Elders 
were chosen from the sister conferences, 
and word to that effect was sent out in- 
forming the different Conference Presi- 
dents. The transferred Elders were in- 
structed to preach and do all the good 
possible en route to the new conference. 

President Joseph Cornwall, of the Lou- 
isiana Conference, reported that an ar- 
ticle appeared in the Shreveport Times 
to the effect that Elders Arthur Dall and 
G. B. Moore had received a shower of 
rotten eggs in Preston, La. 

W. E. Robinson, President of the East 
Tennessee Conference, reported excellent 
success in Charlotte, N. C. He and 
companion were unable to accept all in- 
vitations to dine and enjoy the comforts 
of the homes of their friends. 
(To be Continued.) 



WHY IS IT? 



BY THEODOKE MAKTINEAU. 
In these days of progress and advanced 
thought, it seems rather surprising to the 
thoughtful mind that there should be so 
little recognition given to the doctrine* 
of the universal brotherhood of man, a 
doctrine which is as old as Adam and 
which, an this age of free thought and 
religious liberty, should be a recognized 
principle of ri^ht and justice in the mind 
of every intelligent being in existence. 

Springing from the same source, com- 
posed of the same elements, actuated, In 
general, by the same impulse and emo- 
tions, breathing the same air, subject to 
the same divine laws of nature, and mov- 
ing toward the same goal — how is it we 
find mankind so alike, yet so different? 

With but few exceptions all recognize 
the existence of a Supreme Being. All 
look for something beyond this brief 
span of life. All have a fear of punish- 
ment and hope of reward, yet how few, 
comparatively, are willing to lay aside 
their own petty jealousies and narrow 
prejudices and try to reach a higher plane 
of justice and toleration! 

The Bible is thedr acknowledged stand- 
ard, yet they reject its teachings and 
trample in the dust its divine truths. 

Claiming to be followers of Christ, they 
crucify Him anew in their own hearts; 
preach righteousness and practice hypoc- 
risy. Mempership in the true Church of 
Christ is claimed, vet the principles and 
ordinances upon which that church was 
founded are rejected. 

They preach Christ, yet renounce thos* 
who come in His name, bearing the same 
Gospel which He established while here 
on earth. 

They have a form of Godliness, but 
deny the power thereof. 

Why should such conditions exist? If 
God is an unchangeable being, the same 
yesterday, today, and forever, is not His 
word the same likewise? Will not obe- 
dience to the same laws and ordinances 
which were established itf ancient days 
for the salvation of the human race prove 
just as effective today as in the past for 
the elevation of mankind? 

If not, why not? If the truth of the 
past is also the truth of the present, and 
of the future, is not obedience to the same 
laws and ordinances which were estab- 
lished in the past just as essential to our 
welfare for the present and the future? 
By what authority, then, do men set 
themselves up as judges of their fellow 
men? By what authority do they reject 
the truth, pervert the Scriptures, and 
teach for the word of God the man-made 
creeds of today? 
Why do they preach the Gospel of 



Jesus Christ and yet deny the signs 
which Hepromised should follow the De- 
lie ver? Why do they proclaim liberty to 
all men and yet persecute those who dif- 
fer from them in their religious opinions? 

These are thoughts which must occur 
to every thoughtful person, and questions 
which each should answer for himself. 

In my travels among my fellow men, 1 
find those who can preach eloquent ser- 
mons on the story of the Good Samari- 
tan, yet whose souls are too narrow to 
allow them to succor an afflicted brother. 
Their pathetic narration of the sufferings 
of Jesus bring tears to the eyes of the 
whole congregation, and the meek, for- 
giving spirit He exhibited toward His 
torturers is dwelt upon in a manner cal- 
culated to melt the heart of a hardened 
villain, yet none are so uncharitable as 
they toward one who has been found in 
a fault. 

Do not the same causes produce the 
same effects? Are not the fruits of the 
Gospel the same today as in the past? 
Why, then, should the love, peace, char- 
ity, faith and virtue which were fruits of 
the Gospel in former days, give place to 
contention, hypocrisy, envy, pride and 
malice among those who are professed 
followers of Christ in these latter days? 
Who will answer? 



Abstracts From Correspondence. 

tx ^,. x Vinscent, Ky. 

Dear Editor: 

It was in March, 1S98, while seated on 
a pile of lumber, that I first beheld the 
Mormon Elders, and to me they were a 
curiosity, wearing their long coats, derby 
hats and carrying grips. This was in 
Lee county, Kentucky, at a saw mill 
which employed a small squad of men. 
The strangers came to where the men 
were working and introduced themselves 
as messengers of God. I shook hands 
with them and we sat down upon some 
logs and began to converse. At that 
time I was a Campbellite preacher, false- 
ly called Christian. I wished to know 
something concerning their belief and 
asjeed a number of questions. This 
j/emed to please the Elders. They in- 
formed me their mission was to enlighten 
mankind upon the plan of salvation, and 
for me to ask all the questions I desired. 
I truly thought I could defend my belief 
against "all comers," but alas! like many 
others who have tried to overthrow the 
true doctrines of the Latter-day Saints, 
I was defeated. Our conversation drifted 
to the Scriptures which mentions that th* 
signs should follow the believers. I de- 
nied the existence of signs, etc., in this 
age of enlightenment, but I must confess 
I was again vanquished, and tried to ex- 
tract myself by demanding a sign. I 
told them that if they would go and heal 
a sick friend of mine I would believe 
them and their doctrine of God. They 
referred me to the words of Jesus as re- 
corded in the writings of Matthew xii.: 
rf9: 'An evil and adulterous generation 
seeketh after a sign; and there ^shall no 
sign be given to it, but the sign of the 
Prophet Jonas," which was too much for 
me and I left. I did not let the Elders 
know they had made an impression on 
me, that they had planted a truth within 
my heart that caused me to think. I 
studied and pondered over our argument, 
and fully decided that if signs did not 
follow believers today the Gospel Christ 
taught was not upon the earth. I con- 
tinued to reflect upon the things told me 
by those humble men, Elders Mansfield 
and Bartholomew. 

They left that section of the country, 
and the next Elders I met were Wright 
and Tanner. They informed me that 
they were holding meetings at the Need- 
more school house, Ousley county, Kv., 
and that evening found me under the 
sound of their voice listening to the in- 
spired teaching they uttered. I bought 
the Voice of Warning and read it, vet 
I could not fully comprehend that Jo- 
seph Smith was a true Prophet. Next I 
read Orson Pratt's works and was con- 
vinced that a Prophet of God should be 
upon the earth today, and whv not that 
man be Joseph Smith? 



January 22d, 1899, I was baptized and 
became a member of God's Kingdom. 
Crowds of people flocked to the water's 
edge to see the baptism and many, in- 
stead of repenting of their sins and obey- 
ing as I did, made light of the whole af- 
fair. My wife was baptized in April of 
the same year. The longer we belong to 
the church the more satisfied are we. 
Our hearts are filled with joy to realize 
that we are numbered with the chosen 
seed. We now know that the signs do 
follow the believers, that the gifts and 
blessings enjoyed by the ancients can be 
and are enjoyed today by the Latter-day 
Saints. May the blessings of heaven be 
with the faithful. Your brother in the 
Gospel, Abner Langdon. 

He Won the Case. 

Prof. Stevens was once working upon 
a mining case for the government in a 
Western State where Mr. Lincoln was 
practicing law. Mr. Lincoln at the time 
was comparatively unknown in law and 
politics. When the professor engaged 
his room in the crowded country hotel, 
he found that a Mr. Lincoln was to oc- 
cupy one bed in the room, as there was 
no other place where he could be accom- 
modated. After arranging his books the 
professor settled down in an easy chair 
to prepare his brief. 

Mr. Lincoln soon came in and made 
himself known. He said he also had to 
spend the evening making up an argu- 
ment upon a' mining case, and he knew 
less about mines than about anything 
else. In an hour the professor finished 
his work and retired, but before he did 
so he granted his roommate the privilege 
of using all his books, maps and papers 
upon mines and mining. Then he went 
to sleep, and when he awoke at 7 the next 
morning he found Mr. Lincoln just where 
he had left him poring over his books 
and papers. The lamp was still burning^ 
although it was daylight. 

As Prof. Stevens' case did not come 
up the next day he attended the court to 
hear Mr. Lincoln present his arguments. 
He reached the scene in time for the 
opening speech by his roommate, and he 
staid all through the session. 

Although Mr. Lincoln spoke for over 
an hour on the technicalities of mines 
and mining, he did not make a single 
mistake. He cross-examined some half 
dozen surveyors and engineers and in 
every case puzzled and embarrassed them 
with his knowledge of the subject. Of 
course he won the case. But Prof. Ste- 
vens said that everybody in the court be- 
lieved that he had been graduated in 
mining engineering and had gevoted 
years to the study of the science.— Sat- 
urday Evening Post. 



A New Ten Commandments. 

Thomas Jefferson. 

1. Never put off till tomorrow what 
you can do today. 

2. Never trouble another for what you 
can do yourself. 

3. Never spend your money before you 
have it. 

4. Never buy what you do not need be- 
cause it is cheap. It will be dear to you. 

5. Pride costs us more than hunger, 
thirst and cold. 

6. We never repent of having eaten 
too little. 

7. Nothing is troublesame that we do 
willingly. 

8. How much pain have cost us the 
evils that have never happened. 

9. Take things always by their smooth 
handle. 

10. When angry, "count ten before you 
speak. If very angry, count one hun- 
dred. 



THE SOUTHERN STAR. 



251 



OBEDIENCE. 



BY APOSTLE M. F. COWLEY. 



"To obey is better than sacrifice, and 
to hearken than the fat of rams." (I. 
Samuel xv.:22.) In an age of the world 
when independence is the proud boast of 
the nations, obedience is, by mistaken 
ideas of freedom, considered a mark of 
humiliation. To the contrary, it is an 
indication of moral courage, union and 
power. It is not blind obedience that 
we maintain, but that type which char- 
acterized the ancient Seers and Saints, 
who, like the Messiah, were ready to say 
by word and deed, "I came not to do 
mine own will, but the will of my Father 
who sent me." The Latter-day Saints 
are credited with being obedient and sub- 
missive to authority, this fact being of- 
ten used by their opponents as a stigma. 
They forget that God requires obedience, 
that the best embodiment of this prin- 
ciple, the most humble and yielding to 
the Divine will, was the best and purest 
being who ever dwelt in mortality, viz., 
the Lord Jesus Christ: He in whose 
mouth there was found no guile; who 
was perfect and without blemish in all 
the walks of life. While obedient to His 
Father's will, and humble to the extreme. 
He was independent of the influence and 
persuasions of wicked men. 

This, too, is the status of the Latter- 
day Saints. They are obedient to con- 
science, to convictions of right, to Divine 
authority and to God, in whom they trust. 
While thus submissive, their persecutors 
have found them equally oblivious to the 
behests of wicked men, whether high or 
low. Men have been found in the 
factories of the old world, working side 
by side at the weavers' loom, in the coal 
pit, or elsewhere in plying their various 
avocations of life — in this condition the 
Gospel preached by the Elders of Israel 
has found them. Alike, many of them 
have received convictions of the truth. 
Some have said: "This is the 
truth; I must obey it or stand con- 
demned." Others have said: "It is 
true, but if I obey I will be ostracized, 
perhaps lose my employment and be an 
outcast from ray father's house. Better 
that I reject the truth and live in peaco, 
than take upon me this cross of obedi- 
ence to unpopular truth." 

The first obey the Gospel, suffer per- 
secution, prove themselves men and will 
reap eternal life. The others are slaves to 
their own fear of popular clamoiL and to 
the unseen powers of darkness which 
lead men to reject the plan of salvation. 
Of the first named class are the Latter- 
day Saints; a host of men and women 
who have left home, kindred and country 
for the Gospel's sake. They have en- 
dured persecution even unto death, priva- 
tion and suffering in every form; have 
redeemed a desert and built up a com- 
monwealth so fruitful with education, 
thrift and enterprise, that any nation be- 
neath the sun might well be proud of 
them. Obedience and moral courage they 
bequeath to their posterity as a legacy 
better than diamonds or the honors and 
praise of a fallen world. They look back 
to their associates in early manhood, who 
for fear, rejected the truth, and find 
them, whether living or dead, in most 
cases, unhonored and unknown. The 
obedience rendered by Latter-day Saints 
to the authority of the Priesthood is not 
secured by virtue of any solemn obliga- 
tion entered into by the adherent to obey 
the dictum of his superiors in office; but 
upon the nature of the Gospel, which 
guarantees to everv adherent the com- 
panionship of the Holy Snirit, and this 
Spirit secures to every faithful individual 
a living testimony concerning the truth 
or falsity of every proposition presented 
for his consideration. "By one Spirit 
are ye baptized into one body;" and "by 



one Spirit have we access unto the Fa- 
ther." (Eph. ii.) So that as all men and 
women who embrace the Gospel are en- 
titled to an individual testimony of the 
truth, so the same Spirit guides into all 
truth, reveals the things of the Father, 
and imparts that inspiration essential to 
preserve mankind from blind obedience, 
to erroneous principles and false guides. 
The statement of the Savior as recorded 
in St. John vii.:17, covers the ground in 
the broadest light: "If any man will do 
His will, he shall know of the doctrine, 
whether it be of God or whether I speak 
of myself." This secures to every true 
Saint, if he is faithful, protection against 
imposture, the abuse of power, and the 
false decisions of man-made councils. In 
this particular the Church of Christ is 
distinguished from all other systems and 
institutions. He has promised to guide 
and direct, and that He "doeth nothing 
but He revealeth His secrets unto His 
servants, the Prophets." (Amos iii.:7.) 
This does not imply the infallibility of 
man, but it does imply the promise that 
no man or council of men who stands ai 
the head of the Church shall have power 
to lead the Saints astray. With this as- 
surance, then, the people of God in every 
dispensation have been justified in ren- 
dering absolute, yet intelligent obedience, 
to the direction of the Holy Prophets. It 
is an undeniable fact in the history of 
the Saints, that obedience to whatever 
united council has come, either by writ- 
ten document or verbally from the Pres- 
idency of the Church, has been attended 
with good results. On the other hand, 
whosoever has opposed such council, with- 
out repentance, has been followed with 
evidence of condemnation. 

Even applying this principle to the or- 
ganizations of a civil and business char- 
acter, confusion and weakness results 
front men refusing their support to the 
decision of the presiding authority or of 
the majority, where the action is left to 
popular vote. Carlyle, the great English 
writer, said: "All great minds are re- 
spectfully obedient to all that is over 
them. Only small souls are otherwise." 

The obedience rendered to God is based 
upon a conviction that He is perfect In 
nil His ways. Possessing the attributes 
of justice, judgment, knowledge, power, 
mercy and truth in all their fullness. 
Obedience to His appointed authority 
upon the earth is obedience to Him, and 
is so taught by the Savior. "He that re- 
ceiveth you receiveth me, and he that 
recciveth me receiveth Him that sent 
me." (Matthew x.:40.) "He that hear- 
eth you heareth me; and he that de- 
spiseth you despiseth me; and he that 
despiseth me, despiseth Him that sent 
me." (Luke x.:16.) 

"Verily, I say unto you, He that receiv- 
eth whomsoever 1 send receiveth me; and 
he that receiveth me, receiveth Him that 
sent me." (St. John xiii.:20.) 

It is not the attractive qualities of the 
individual, however great, which renders 
submission to his administrations valid, 
but the authority of God which he hears. 
The acts of Philip, Stephen, Paul, or 
James were just as valid and binding as 
those of the Messiah Himself when per- 
formed by His authority and in His 
name. To reject the personal teachings 
and offices of the Savior could bring no 
greater condemnation, than to reject the 
teachings of any man sent of God bear- 
ing authority and the inspiration of the 
Holy Spirit to speak and act in His name. 
This great truth was told by the Savior 
on more than one occasion, but perhaps 
no more forcibly or in more beautiful 
terms than expressed in the following: 
"When the Son of Man shall come In 
his glory, and all the holy angels with 
him, then shall he sit upon the throne 
of his glory; and before him shall be 
gathered all nations; and He shall sepa- 
rate them one from another, as a shep- 
herd divideth his sheep from the goats. 



And He shall set the sheep on His right 
hand, but the goats on the left.. Then 
shall the King say unto them on His 
right hand, Come ye blessed of my Fa- 
ther, inherit the kingdom prepared for 
you from the foundation of the world. 
For I was an hungered and ye gave me 
meat; I was thirsty and ye gave me 
drink; I was a stranger and ye took me 
in: Naked and ye clothed me: I was 
sick and ye visited me; I was in prison 
and ye came to me. Then shall the 
righteous answer Him, saying: Lord, 
when saw we Thee an hungered 
and fed Thee? or thirsty and gave 
Thee drink? When saw we Thee 
a stranger and took Thee in? 
or naked and clothed Thee? or when 
saw we Thee sick, or in prison, and came 
unto Thee? And the King shall answer 
and say unto them, Verily I say unto yon, 
inasmuch as ye have done it unto one ot 
the least of these, my brethren, ye have 
done it unto me." 

When He told the wicked that they 
had failed to thus administer unto Him, 
they began to plead that they had not 
seen Him sick, in prison, hungry, naked 
or athirst. He answered them, "Inas- 
much as ye did it not unto one of the 
least of these, ye did it not unto me." 
(Matthew xxv.:31-45.) It was not the 
individuality of the person which called 
for respect and consideration. It is the 
principle involved. God had placed His 
authority upon humble men. Through 
their administrations only can be secured, 
the benefits and blessings which follow 
obedience to the ordinances of the Gos- 
pel. 

Implicit obedience must be rendered. 
The mandates of Jehovah are imperative. 
No substitute will do. The blessings are 
offered to all upon condition. The con- 
dition is obedience complete, to the plan 
as God has established it. 

Saul was commanded to destroy Agag 
and all his hosts, man and beast He 
kept the best of the flock, for. he said, a 
sacrifice, but God had ordered otherwise 
and Saul's disobedience caused him to 
lose the kingdom, shut him out from the 
revelations which came by dream, vision 
and Urim and Thurmim. "Thou shalt 
not steady the ark," and they who dis- 
obeyed were smitten of the Lord. Israel 
by disobedience lost the guidance of the 
Almighty, went into spiritual darkness, 
and have been scattered to the four quar- 
ters of the earth, "a hiss and a proverb 
in the mouths of all nations." 

Obedience is essential to salvation, es- 
sential to success in every avenue of hu- 
man enterprise, whether rendered to the 
laws of God direct, in their moral and 
spiritual phases, or to His authority vest- 
ed in man, obedience must be implicit. 
The haughty man boasts of independ- 
ence. He scorns the humble followers 
of the Lord, but while he prates of free- 
dom, he is himself slavishly obedient to 
his own whims and mistaken ideas, or to 
the spirit of evil; to popular sentiment, or 
other influence always dangerous to the 
welfare of mankind. The Saints have 
been accused of being Priest-ridden and 
fearful to use their own judgment. What 
do the facts show? They are only asked 
to do right, live pure lives, do good to 
all men, evil to none, respect the order of 
God's kingdom that salvation may come 
to them and be extended to all the world. 
Their obedience has made them the best 
and purest body of people on the earth. 

What of the character of those who 
have derided them? They are slaves to 
a shallow and excited sentiment, or to 
wickedness and vice: obedient to their 
own lusts and wicked ways. Compared 
with those they misrepresent, they are 
below them in almost every trait which 
characterizes noble manhood. By obedi- 
ence to God and His Priesthood the 
Saints in this age have come off triumph- 
ant over obstacles within and foes with- 
out. By obedience to God and His com- 
mands they will continue the blessed and 
favored of the Lord forever; truly they 
have proven the words of Samuel to 
Saul, verily true, "To obey is better than 
sacrifice and to hearken than the fat of 
rams." 



252 



THE SOUTHERN STAB. 




Pikllthtf WMkly by Sm tktri Sttttt Misslts.lCbirtb 

tf Jess* Christ tf Utttr Day f ■lata, 

Chsttasetp, Taaa. 



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Address Box 109 



Satubday, July 7, 1900. 



ARTICLES OF FAITH 

Ol* THE CHURCH OP JESUS CHRI5T OP 
LATTER-DAY SAINTS. 

I. «b believe Io (tod the KterooJ Fate, aod foBbSooj 
Jews Christ, aod is the Holy Ghost 

t. We believe test ace will be ponUbed for their eve 
tie*, tod .set for Adan*i transgression. 

1 We believe that, throngh Um atonement of Christ, nit 
■Mftkiod Sity ho saved, 07 obedience to the lawa aod ordi- 
000001 ef too QetpoL 

4. We believe that the Brat principle and ordioaooea of 
the Gospel ore : First, Faith in the LordJceo* Christ; sseood, 
Bepeotooee ; third, Baptism by immersion for the remiatioo 
of iIm ; foorth, Laying os of Hoods for the Gift of the Holy 
Ghost. 

I. Wf beEi«TA thit a man mail he cal!#d of God. by 
N propbM¥ H tod by the laying on of biod*," by tbnto who aro 
Id authority h to preacb lh» gcipel anil id mia if |*r ■« l&e erdi» 

0. W» MitTfl in thtfiiTne oriiniiitian 1J11E flitted {ft 
tbe primitive cburch — Dllnelr, ApoitJ^ fropheu. Pastor** 



Tearheri, t»inK*rh-U, tie, 

7. Wo bflllevolo liie flft of t*>nt;ui 



t prophecy, re v* kalian. 



viaiani tiailjng,. i*Larpr*La[ion of toogut*, etc. 

H. We twin »ft lh« Bible to bo ih* word of Qed, si far u ll 
1 1 traiuiital OfTMllj l V* llw> belief* ths Book of Mormon 
to b* the word of UwJl 

ff. We twl I bt* al 1 1 bit God h li r** el led, ■!{ thit He do** 
DOw htbiI, md *t believe that li* will T*t r*v6il hunt free.1 
and import! tit tiling* pertaining to th« Kincdorn of Dock 

10, W* crelloTe i n ti* literal «» lb* ri fl g of I if ae I and i a Lbs 
mtoratfoa Df th* Ten Tribe*; that Zien rill be baiU npoa 
thii jib* ArcjBrtcan/ MittiMht; that Thrill will rel(n p«raa- 
a] I j opon tha earth, and thai the earth will b* renewed and 
retoiT* it* p*r*fli*iirtl glory. 

U. W* claim the prmtiiH of worshiping Almlfhry God 
accord Qg [« tb« dictate* of oar contdtne*. and allow all 
men th* iame primage. Ill them venhip bow, vkirt, or what 

"S^e believe lot 



PERSECUTED DISCIPLES. 



11 We believe In being an bjeet to hlnan, presldeots. raters, 

I OMgJkrtrates ; io obey log, honoring and raotaioJog the law. 

II OWe believe io being booest, tree, chaste, benevolent, 
eirtooos. and io doing goooTto oil sieo : indeed, we may soy 
loot we follow the admonition of Paol, -We believe all things, 
wo hope all thing*," we hare endured many thioas, aod hope 
to be able Io eodore all things. If there is anything rirtoeoo, 



THE BIRTH OF AMERICAN LIBERTY 



Wednesday, the 4th inst., marked an- 
other birthday of America, a day long to 
be remembered by every true American 
citizen. The life and death struggles of 
those days of '76, causes the fire of pa- 
triotism to glow anew and finds expres- 
sion in the firing of cannons, and patriotic 
speeches. 

The germs of liberty sown in those co- 
lonial days are transplanted within the 
hearts of each succeeding generation. 
When that decisive blow was struck in 
the name of liberty, truth and freedom, 
the whole universe shook and the fet- 
ters of tyranny fell from the hand of fair 
Columbia. Long live the memory of those 
noble patriots who fought, bled and died 
for the liberty we enjoy today. 

In face of death who dared to fling 
Defiance to a tyrant king." 



An exchange has the following to say, 
relative to the treatment of Christian mis- 
sionaries in the orient of China : 

The ignorant people of China have organ- 
ized their opposition to foreigners and 
Christians, and are now In open rebellion 
against the government and at war with all 
Christendom. A number of missionaries 
have been cruelly killed and many others 
are fleeing for their lives. Of the 80,000 
Chinese Christians scattered over the em 
plre hundreds have perished at the hands 
of. their persecutors, and the rest are In 
great peril of life and property. 

They perish like Stephen, praying for 
their persecutors. "The blood of the mar- 
tyrs Is the seed of the church." China's 
redemption is near. Let your missionary 
offerings flow into the treasury that we 
may be ready for the larger opportunity 
that Is at hand. 

The civilized nations, Including Japan, 
are hurrying military and naval forces to 
the scene of riot for the protection of mis- 
sionaries and other foreigners. 

Let the whole church pray for the per- 
secuted disciples in China. 

We sometimes wonder if modern Chris- 
tendom ever stops long enough to engage 
her serious and sober attention towards 
a people upon this boasted land of liberty 
and equal rights, who have suffered much 
persecution, endured fierce and cowardly 
opposition, at the hands of a professedly 
religious and Christian generation. 

When the call for volunteers came 
in '98, many of our Elders laid aside 
their Prince Albert suits to don the blue 
uniform and defend American rights in 
the Philippines and Cuba. We are just 
as ready and willing today, to shoulder 
arms, and take our places in the ranks 
of Uncle Sam's armv, in defense of 
Protestant and Catholic ministers in 
China, while our own brethren remain 
behind to be persecuted and abused by 
those who should be our very best aud 
dearest friends— Christian ministers! 

What is the matter? Whoever 
heard of armored cruisers and iron- 
plated sea plows scudding the wave, 
manned with skilled marines, for the pro- 
tection of a poor, defenseless Mormon El- 
der who was being brutally punisn^v. by a 
horde of wicked tnobbers? No, the Elders 
of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter- 
day Saints, may be waylaid, mobbed, 
abused and even slain, and all the conso- 
lation or justice they receive may be 
summed up in the words of President Van 
Buren to the Prophet Joseph Smith : 
"Your cause is just, but 1 can do nothing 
for you." 

We have no moral or legal right to op- 
press or persecute anyone. As Latter-day 
Saints we could not if we would, we would 
not if we could. Talk about praying "for 
the persecuted disciples in China." Why 
not do just a little praying *or the per- 
secuted disciples in America? Charity 
begins at home. First set your own house 
in order, see that love abounds therein, 
with good-will for all the children of tne 
household ; then branch out beyond the 
precincts of home and lend a helping hand 
to a distressed and afflicted neighbor. The 
actions of the good Christians of this 
present day are similar to the acts of 
those earlier religionists who fell on their 
knees, and then rose up and fell on the 
aborigines. 

We do not, by any means, sanction or 
encourage the act of the heathenish China- 
man, in slaying or scourging the mission- 
aries, but we do say, in all soberness and 
earnestness, that modern Christendom has 
been feeding the Mormon people on just 
such harsh and altogether un-Christian 
treatment since the organization of the 
Church in 1830. Our efforts and our tal- 
ents shall ever be pledged to bring about 
a restoration of peace, an era of good will, 
when everyone shall enjoy liberty of con- 
science, freedom of speech, and the perfect 
right to worship God according to their 
conception of Deity, without restraint or 



opposition. Why not be fair-minded, mod- 
ern Christians? Why not be liberal, con- 
sistent and just in your views; no matter 
with whomsoever ye may be dealing? Prac- 
tice just a little of the immortal Lincoln's 
make-up : "Love towards all, with malice 
for none." This is the true and only gen- 
uine Christian spirit. Give us a hearing 
that we might be understood ; grant us an 
audience that we might declare our mes- 
sage; give us 'an opportunity of appearing 
in our own defense, and then do as the 
Apostle Paul commands: "Prove all 
things, hold fast that which is good," (i 
Thess. 5:^i) "but shun profane and vain 
babblings; for they will increase unto 
more ungodliness." (1 Tim. 2:16.) 

Ever since the day when the first mar- 
tyr, Abel, fell beneath the cursed blow of 
his wicked brother Cain, the ungodly have 
striven to club and drive from the face of 
the earth the righteous, the faithful, the 
just and the true. And so it will be thus 
until that great and dreadful day of the 
Lord cometh, when all the proud and they 
that worketh wickedness shall be as stub- 
ble to be consumed before the fiery indig- 
nation of God's righteous wrath. "Ven- 
geance is mine, I will repay, saith the 
Lord God." 

Why, modern Christendom, will ye re- 
main mute, and close your ears against the 
appeals of a people who profess to be- 
lieve in the same God you claim to obey? 
Why will ye allow your souls to be dumb, 
your tongues silent, and your hearts un- 
loving, when mob violence is rampant, 
and persecution raging in our own fair 
land? Why not buckle on the armor of 
fair-mindedness, and, like valiant men, as 
you should be, stand to the colors of your 
honored and respected grandsires, who 
nobly fell at Lexington, Concord and Bos- 
ton, that all the gallant sons and lovely 
daughters of Columbia may be privileged 
to enjoy liberty and freedom, now and 
forevermore? These are pertinent ques- 
tions, and we shall find that when we treat 
each other kindly, that God will bless us, 
prepare our way, make our path plain, 
and fight our battles. 

It is perfectly right and proper that 
the civilized nations of the earth should 
come to the aid of our countrymen in 
China, and quell the barbaric treatment 
ministered by the Boxers unto the Chris- 
tian missionaries. We have an abhorrence 
for such conduct, and trust that the Chi- 
nese government will be taught a lesson 
not soon to be forgotten, and one which 
will prove an example worthy of emula- 
tion unto all who endeavor to suppress 
religious differences by brute force. When 
the flood gates of civilization are opened, 
let the barriers of barbarism flow down 
before its enlightened surge. Barbarism 
must ever give way to civilization, even as 
darkness must vanish and flee before the 
rays of light. By her blood-thirsty and 
heathenish acts China has sealed her 
doom ; her downfall is inevitable ; the 
hand-writing of the nations' finger de- 
clares her wreck and ruin, and soon the 
tide of civilization will sweep across her 
vast domains. 

We are indeed proud to know that Co- 
lumbia will join hands with the mighty 
powers of the earth, and that the Star- 
Spangled Banner will be carried by the 
gallant marines of Uncle Sam's navy to 
Chinese blood-stained soil, in vindictive in- 
dignation of the murder and persecution 
of its noble citizens. Let the nations com- 
bine, and say, as with a voice of thun- 
der, "It is a God-given legacy that all 
should have the privilege of believing as 
their minds may incline, and worshipping 
as their consciences may direct, and we 
will protect them in the exercise of their 
rights." Then, when the foreign conquest 
shall have ended, and the idolator taught 
this lesson, let the "powers that be" see 



THE SOUTHERN STAR. 



253 



to it that their own children strictly com- 
ply with their teachings, granting due re- 
spect unto everyone, let them worship how, 
where or what they may. 



ELDER N. V. S. C. JENSEN. 



There has been a rumor going the 
rounds of the press to the effect that El- 
der N. U. S. C. Jensen, of Sugar Ward, 
Salt Lake county, Utah, was one of the 
victims of that sad railroad wreck which 
occurred at McDonough, Ga., on the night 
of the 23rd ult. The evidence pointing to 
his identification as one of the number 
killed, was owing to the presence of his 
baggage on the wrecked train; but Elder 
Jensen did not accompany his baggage ; he 
came from Macon to Atlanta just one 
train ahead of the same, arriving safe and 
sound. Strange to say, however, his per- 
sonal effects were found with the body of 
one who was unknown, and unidentified. 
Naturally enough it was believed to be his 
body, for on the unknown dead was found 
one of Elder W. H. Jensen's name cards, 
and all around the corpse, and even un- 
derneath the same, were found articles be- 
longing to Elder N. U. S. C. Jensen, and 
bearing his inscription. The parents of 
Elder Jensen were wired that their son 
was killed, and were asked to telegraph 
instructions concerning the disposal of his 
remains. A telegram from President Rich 
corrected the mistake and brought joy to 
the hearts of the grief-strickn parents, 
who were informed that their son was 
well and would soon return to comfort 
them by his presence. Many good friends, 
who supposed that one of our Elders had 
fallen a victim in the wreck, came to our 
aid, and endeavored to render all the as- 
sistance within their power. We highly 
appreciate their kindness, and feel to make 
special mention of the generous, hospita- 
ble good-naturedness of Brother and Sis- 
ter Ford, of Atlanta*', who strove to make 
themselves useful and helpful in our be- 
half. 

Our love, faith, prayers and good will 
go out to those who are bereaved of loved 
ones by reason of the disastrous accident, 
and we feel to ask God's blessings upon 
them in the hour of their affliction. That 
all may know that we extend our heart- 
felt sympathy unto those whose dear ones 
were so suddenly taken from their midst 
in this awful wreck ; that they may know 
that we fully appreciate the kindness of 
the many friends who freely and voluntar- 
ily proffered their services in our behalf, 
and that Elder N. U. S. C. Jensen was 
not one of the number killed, we pen this 
brief note. 



THE PROPHETS DEATH. 



June 27th was the fifty-sixth anniver- 
sary of martyrdom of Joseph and Hyrum 
Smith. In speaking of the anniversary, 
the Deseret News has the following: 

"They were both murdered by a mob 
of so-called 'Christians,' who had their 
faces blackened, at Carthage, 111., June 
27, 1844. There was no legal case 
against them, although they had given 
themselves up to arrest. But it was evi- 
dent that the charges against them were 
false, and that they could not be convict- 
ed. It was therefore declared: 'Law can- 
not touch them, but powder and ball 
shall.' They were slain for the truth's 
sake. They sealed their testimony with 
their blood. The soil of Illinois is stained 
with it, and it has never been avenged. 
Its voice is added to the cries of those of 
old from 'under the altar,' and will not 
be heard in vain. 'The blood of the mar- 
tyrs' has once more proved to be the 
'seed of the Church.' The names of the 



brothers in kin and in faith are known 
throughout the civilized world, and 
heathendom has heard of them, while 
hundreds and thousands of seekers after 
divine light have found it, as brought to 
earth and spread through their instru- 
mentality. The work they began in the 
flesh they are now carrying on in the 
spirit. A host of faithful servants of 
God who have followed them behind the 
veil, are laboring with them for the re- 
demption of the dead. We do not wor- 
ship either of them, but we revere their 
memory and honor them as worthy of 
our everlasting regard. The great prin- 
ciples for which they lived and died will 
never perish, and the influence of their 
testimony and their example will never 
fade. Hail to the Prophet and Patriarch 
of the last dispensation! Let the day of 
their birth be ever commemorated, and 
the day of their martyrdom be always 
kept in mind. They were chosen of God 
to be saviors of men, and they will shine 
with the crowned in the glory of the 
Father." 



BRIOHAM YOUNG ACADEMY. 



We are pleased to announce our receipt 
of the Brigham Young Academy circular 
for the twenty-fifth academic year. Its 
title page is adorned with that good old 
motto of our Deseret home — the Bee Hive 
— signifying no idlers or drones wanted, 
but busy workers in demand. The insti- 
tution has done much for the furtherance 
of the work of God, and from its educa- 
tive chambers have come many valiant 
defenders of righteousness whose efforts 
have been productive of much good in the 
Southern States Mission. We wish it suc- 
cess in its endeavors to promulgate the 
right ways of the Lord, and pray the bles- 
sings of heaven upon all who strive to edu- 
cate, enlighten and instruct the youth of 
Zion. 



PRESIDENT SNOW IMPROVING. 



Late reports from Salt Lake City bring 
the encouraging news that President Snow 
is improving from his sickness. Such 
good tidings will cause Elders and Saints 
in all the world to rejoice and give praise 
to God, the Eternal Father. 



Brother John Harvey has written us 
desiring that we request the Elders to try 
and find the whereabouts of his son, King 
M. Harvey. He was in Pasco county, 
Florida, when last heard from seven years 
ago. If his address be known, please in 
form John Harvey, Springville, Ky. 



Summer Excursions— Colorado, Utah. 

The Union Pacific will place in effect 
June 21, July 7 to 10, inclusive, July 18 
and August 2, summer excursion rates 
of one fare for the round trip plus $2 
from Missouri river to Denver, Colorado 
Springs, Pueblo, Ogden and Salt Lake. 
Tickets good for return until October 31. 
For full particulars address J. F. Aglar, 
General Agent, St. Louis. 



Reduced Rates to Salt Lake, via Union Pacific. 

June 25th to July 11th, Union Pacific 
make one fare plus two dollars for the 
round trip, Chicago, St. Louis and Kan- 
sas City to Ogden and Salt Lake. 

Once to every man and nation comes the 
moment to decide, 

In the strife of Truth and Falsehood, for 
the good or evil side: 

Some great cause, God's new Messiah, offer- 
ing each the bloom or blight. 

Parts the goats upon the left hand, and 
the sheep upon the right; 

And the choice goes by forever 'twixt that 
darkness and that light. 

—James Russell Lowell. 



GOD'S GREATEST GIFT. 

BY ELDER DAVID H. ELTON. 
(Continued from page 242.) 

THE GOSPEL— We have concluded 
that the greatest gift of God is salvation 
in His celestial kingdom, and now we 
proceed to investigate the principles and 
ordinances conducive and essential to 
that end. By salvation, let it be under- 
stood that we mean not only a redemption 
of the mortal body from the grave, and 
a reuniting of the spirit with the same, 
but also a deliverance from sin, a victory 
over every evil, and a triumph over all 
wickedness, being ransomed, sanctified, 
and exalted with our Lord and Savior 
Jesus Christ. You remember that the 
Messiah hath said, "To him that over- 
cometh will I grant to sit with me in my 
throne, even as I also overcame, and am 
set down with my Father in His throne." 
(Rev. 3:21.) To sit with Christ in His 
throne certainly gives us a state of high 
and eternal exaltation and blessedness; 
but we must not suppose for one moment 
that this exaltation and glory can be 
obtained and enjoyed without any effort 
on our part. To suppose such would be 
a vain delusion, for the Psalmist has 
said, "He that walketh uprightly, and 
worketh righteousness, and speaketh the 
truth in his heart," shall abide in the 
tabernacle of the Lord, and dwell in His 
holy hill. (Psalms 15.) A mere intel- 
lectual assent to the will of God, or a 
verbal expression of belief in Deity, will 
not save; these must be of such a nature 
and profitableness as to lead one to com- 
ply with His holy laws, then are they pro- 
ductive of rich fruits and manifold bless- 
ings. We have been given the key note; 
we have been s^iown the way of salva- 
tion; the path of duty is made plain by 
the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, and 
we need not wander, knowlug not whith- 
er we go, being driven hither and thither, 
tossed to and fro upon a sea of confusion 
by every wave of doctrine and petty for- 
malism. 

The light of the world is Jesus, and if 
mankind will only "walk In the light," 
do as He has bidden them do, obey His 
holy and righteous commands; put them- 
selves in perfect harmony with God and 
His laws, then the redeeming blood of 
Christ will cleanse them from all sin, 
and our Eternal Father will raise them 
up at the last day to glory, honor, and 
everlasting life. Christ came to do His 
Father's will; He learned obedience *v 
the things which He suffered; He drank 
the dregs of that bitter cup prepared for 
Him from before the foundation of the 
world; He satisfied the stern demands of 
justico and paid the penalty upon the 
Cross: He subjected Himself to the sting 
of death, to the loneliness and solitude of 
the tomb, that He might burst asunder 
the bands of death, rob the grave of her 
victory, and rise a resurrected, trium- 
phant, immortalized and glorified Medi- 
ator and Redeemer. Now all this was 
done that justice might be satisfied; that 
the Adamic debt might be paid: that all 
the sons and daughters of men might be 
redeemed and loosened from the dominion 
of death, and raised in immortality to life 
eternal. 

The means of grace, the plan of salva- 
tion, is known to us as the Gospel of 
Jesus Christ. It was instituted of God 
in the heavens, and was established upon 
the earth by the only Begotten Son at 
the cost of His life's blood. The Savior 
gives us to understand that He "came 
down from heaven not to do His own 
will but the will of the Father" (John 
6:38), and He furthermore said, "My 



254 



mil 



THE SOUTHERN STAB. 



meat is to do the will of Him that sent 
me, and to finish His work." (John 4:34.) 
Is it necessary that we too must also do 
the will of the Father? Yes, absolutely 
so. Let the Savior address you in His 
own words, "not every one that saith un- 
to me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the 
kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth 
ihe will of my Father which is 
in heaven." (Matt 7:21.) Here 
we observe that men are to receive re- 
wards, not for their words or profession, 

. but for their obedience to the revealed 
will of God. The will of God is beauti- 

, fully manifest and made known in the 
life, labors, commands and holy precepts 
of the Son. He commands us to follow 
Him, and do the will of the Father, tell- 
ing us at the same time that if we will 
so do that we shall enter "into the king- 
dom of heaven." 

We have heretofore stated that "th* 
means of grace" by which we are re- 
deemed, and the plan of life by which 
we are saved, is known as the Gospel of 
Jesus Christ. "To the law and to the 
testimony." (Isaiah 8:20.) "The begin- 
ning of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, the 
Son of God." (Mark 1:1.) To define 
the Gospel in simple terms, we might 
say with Paul that "it is the power of 
God unto salvation;" or, that it is a code 
of reasonable principles and ordinances, 
beautifully adapted to the children of 
men in their fallen state, consistent and 
logical, embodying all that is good and 
lovely to the exclusion of all that is evil 
and bad. To obey the Gospel, means to 
be sincere, honest, truthful, kind, benevo- 
lent, and upright; delighting in holiness 
and righteousness, with an abhorrence 
of wickedness in every form; ministering 
to the afflicted, comforting the downcast, 
visiting the widow and the fatherless, do- 
ing good to all who stand in need, and 
keeping free and unspotted from the sins 
of the world. (The principles and ordi- 
nances of the Gospel will receive atten- 
tion and consideration in another num- 
ber.) 



Now the Gospel must be obeyed if 
Gods' greatest gift would be obtained. 
The Thessalonian Saints were undergo- 
ing much bitter persecution, when the 
Apostle Paul wrote unto them these very 
cheering words: "To you who are trou- 
bled rest with us, when the Lord Jesus 
shall be revealed from heaven with His 
mighty angles, in flaming fire, taking ven- 
geance on them that know not God, and 
that obey not the Gospel of our Lord 
Jesus Christ." (2 Thess. 1:7-8). Those 
that do not obey this one eternal, ever- 
lasting Gospel, will come under condem- 
nation, when our Lord shall re-appear, 
according to the words of the inspired 
Paul. You need not marvel, kind reader, 
for God has spoken it. His holy word 
records it, the spirit of truth reveals it, 
the servants of God declare it, 
and not one jot or one tittle of 
His word shall fall to the 

ground unfulfilled. Was Paul not an 
authorized servant of the Lord? All 
Christians will agree. Then can we not 
place implicit trust in the words he wrote 
and spoke? To be consistent in our pro- 
fessions of belief in the Bible, we must 
of necessity accept them. The Apostle 
Peter says, "The word of the Lord en- 
dureth forever, and this is the word 
which by the Gospel is preached unto 
you." (I Peter 1:25.) The word of God, 
which is the Gospel of Jesus Christ, "en- 
dureth forever," and such being the case 
will it not always be binding upon the 
children of men to obey? We reply in the 
affirmative, and inasmuch as the Gospel 
is the appointed means of saving the soul, 
men, by believing and obeying it, are in- 



strumental in bringing about their own 
eternal exaltation. Let us once more give 
ear to the Sacred Book, and listen to the 
inspired words of holy men. Paul, speak- 
ing of the gift of God, and the power of 
the Gospel, says that Christ "hath abol- 
ished death, and hath brought life and 
immortality to light through the Gospel." 
How can we deny the efficacy, or the 
essentiality of rendering obedience to the 
Gospel when the Scriptures of divine 
truth are so very plain and clear on this 
point; or how can we expect or even hope 
to gain that blessed "immortality to 
light," while we remain disobedient to 
God and His laws as revealed in the Gos- 
pel plan? So long as we reject the coun- 
sels of God, neglect to yield obedience to 
the everlasting Gospel, and deny His 
tender mercies and heavenly goodness, 
we can never, worlds without end, re- 
ceive of His greatest gift. 

The Gospel being as Paul declares, 
"the power of God unto salvation," it is 
self-evident to the reasonable mind that 
this power must be applied if the end- 
salvation— would ever be attained, for 
neither the power, the love, or the grace 
of God will ever save any who reject; 
therefore all who hear, should, without 
procrastination or delay, believe to the 
saving of their souls, i. e., implicitly obey 
the means appointed. 

There can be only one Gospel, or rather 
one plan, known as the Gospel, which 
will bring to the obedient, salvation in 
the kingdom of God. It is unchangeable, 
for the great Apostle to the Gentiles 
says, writing to the Galatian Saints, "I 
marvel that ye are so soon removed from 
him that called you into the grace of 
Christ, unto another Gospel, which is 
not another; but there be some that 
trouble you and would prevert the Gos- 
pel of Christ. But though we, or an an- 
gel from heaven, preach any other Gospel 
unto you than that which we have 
preached unto you, let him be ac- 
cursed. As we said before, so. say 
I now again. If any man 

preach any other Gospel unto you than 
that ye have received, let him be ac- 
cursed." (Gal. 1:6-9.) Paul verily knew 
that there was "not another" Gospel 
which was recognized of God and which 
received His divine manifestations; and 
he declared with earnestness, power, and 
emphasis, that those who would engage 
in proclaiming "any other Gospel," than 
that taught by the Lord Jesus, revealed 
by the Holy Spirit, and confirmed by 
them that heard him (Heb. 2:3), should 
be accursed. This is also in corroboration 
with the words of the beloved John, 
"Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth 
not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not 
God. He that abideth in the doctrine of 
Christ, he hath both the Father and Son. 
If there come any unto you, and bring 
not this doctrine, receive him not into 
your home, neither bid him Godspeed; 
for he that biddeth him Godspeed is par- 
taker of his evil deeds." (TL John 9-11.) 
Thus we see that those who reject the 
great truths taught by Christ and His 
Apostles, who abide not in His righteous 
doctrine, are not of God; and not to be 
received as servants of the Master. 

When Christ was here on earth in the 
flesh, just after His resurrection and 
prior to His ascension, He 

called around Him the quorum of Apos- 
tles, and sent them forth with a commis- 
sion as follows: "Go ye into all the 
world, and preach the Gospel to every 
creature. He that believeth and is bap- 
tized shall be saved; but he that believ- 
eth not. shall be damned." (Mark 16:15- 
16.) Here then is eoneliunvp evidence 
that the Gospel must be implicitly obeyed, 
its holy principles accepted, and its 



righteous ordinances complied with. 
Jesus hath spoken the words, and to- 
gether with other passages of the good 
old Book, it becomes an unimpeachable 
fact — an irrefutable evidence. 

What remaineth for us to do? Seek to 
know the principles, to understand the 
ordinances, and comprehend the beauty, 
magnitude and power of the Gospel. We 
have seen that it is true according to the 
Bible, and now we should energetically, 
with a prayerful heart and an inquiring 
mind, endeavor to discover from the "law 
and the testimony" just what principles 
must be accepted, what ordinances must 
be obeyed, the course of life and conduct 
to be followed in order to purchase God's 
greatest gift— that precious heavenly 
boon— Life Eternal. To prove from the 
Holy Scriptures the principles and ordi- 
nances of the Gospel will be the intent 
and purpose of our next article, that we 
all may find that path of duty which 
shines brighter and brighter even unto 
the perfect day when time shall be no 
more. 

(To be continued.) 



GLEANINGS. 



A short time ago Elders E. D. Olprn 
and J. E. Myler were spending Sunday 
with some friends and were requested to 
hold services. Many neighbors gathered 
in and paid good attention to the words 
spoken. After meeting was dismissed, 
the gentleman of the house, Mr. John 
E. Ruby, said he desired to say a few 
words in behalf of the Mormon Elders. 
We quote from a letter written by one 
of the Elders, what this gentleman said: 

"Ladies and Gentlemen — In speaking 
to you upon this occasion I would prefer 
that it were upon the cross roads or in 
some public building, rather than in my 
own home, where you have fathered. I 
feel it my duty to say a few words, for 
I am ashamed of my country, and the 
state of Kentucky, where the constitu- 
tion says all men shall have the right to 
worship God as he nleases. Judging from 
the treatment received by these Elders 
at the hands of professed Christians, I 
behold the constitution of this glorious 
government trampled in the dust. I do 
not profess Christianity, I do not want 
you to understand I am preaching Mor- 
monism (I would to God I was worthy, 
for I am convinced that if they are not 
preaching the Gospel, it is not upon the 
earth), but if they were foreigners or in- 
fidels, it would be our duty to show them 
respect at least. They have proven to 
me that they are gentlemen in every re- 
spect, and as such should be protected." 
Mr. Ruby spoke for about thirty min- 
utes, and did much to batter down the 
walls of prejudice existing in the minds 
of the people. One minister desired them 
to preach at his house, which proved him 
to oe broad-minded and willing to hear 
both sides of the question. Mr. Ruby 
has often defended the Elders in their 
righteous cause, and is a man of influ- 
ence among his countrymen — one who 
believes in justice and liberty being grant- 
ed to all mankind, whether professed 
Christian or Mormon. 



The South Alabama Branch Confer- 
ence will be held on the 14th and 15th 
insts. at the Saints' Meeting House. 
"Bodiford Old Field," four miles south 
of Highland Home, and two miles north 
of Saville, Alabama. 



If you desire great things, remember 
that you must not lay hold of them with 
a small effort.— Epictetus. 

The hands of the young are active in 
deeds, but the judgment of the old is 
superior. For time gives a variety of les- 
sons.— Cicero. 

God's gift was, that man should con- 
ceive of truth, and strive to gain it— 
Browning. 



THE SOUTHERN STAR. 



255 



OUR TRUST IN THE LORD. 

It Requires Moral Courage to Accept the Gospel— Hear the Word of the Lord and Do It— Woe 
Unto Us If We are Overcome of the World. 

DISCOURSE DELIVERED BY APOSTLE GEOBGR TEASDALE AT SALT LAKE OITY, 

APRIL 6, 1900. 



I am very thankful to our Heavenly 
Father that 1 have the privilege of at- 
tending this conference and of rejoicing 
with my brethren that we are seventy 
years of age. I was very much im- 
pressed in listening to the instructions 
that have ibeen given, how everything 
tends to establish the Scriptures. The 
37th Psalm says: 

"Fret not thyself because of evil-doers, 
neither be thou envious against the work- 
ers of iniquity: 

"For they shall soon be cut down like 
the grass and wither as the green herb. 

<4 Trust in the Lpcd, and do good; so 
shalt thou dwell in the land, and verily 
thou shalt be fed. Delight thyself also 
in the Lord and He shall give thee the 
desires of thine heart. 

"Commit thy way unto the Lord; trust 
also ih him, and he shall bring it to pass: 

"And he shall bring forth thy right- 
eousness as the light, and thy judgment 
as the noonday." 

From the testimonies that we have 
heard this seems to be the history of the 
Latter-day Saints. They are the most 
valiant and courageous people on the face 
of the earth, because they "trust in the 
Lord and do good." It required a great 
deal of moral courage to accept this Gos- 
pel, to come out of the world and take 
up the cross of Christ, and to advocate 
a doctrine that was everywhere spoken 
against. But it has established in us an 
everlasting character. We know no fear. 
Our trust is in the Lord; and the exhor- 
tation to us, Learn the will of God and 
do it, brings forth and establishes within 
us a character. We are always willing 
to do the will of God. We came into the 
Church for that express purpose. We 
found that it would be impossible for us 
to be delivered from death, hell and the 
grave, unless we accepted of the doctrine 
of Christ as taught bv the insured ser- 
vants of God: and being on the unpopu- 
lar side we had to defend ourselves. We 
tested the principles of everlasting life, 
and we have discovered they are true. 
God has given unto us line upon line, 
precept upon precept, here a little and 
there a little, and we are growing in 
grace and in the knowledge of God. He 
has told us over and over again that if 
we will loVe Him and keep His com- 
mandments we shall prosper in the land. 
The Scriptures are true. The Holy Spir- 
it has come unto the sons and daughter* 
of God in the dav and age in which we 
live. We all realize that we have our in- 
dividual mission: that when we seek un- 
to the Lord and ask His guidance, He 
guides and directs us. He gives us the 
opportunity of being everything that we 
could wish to be, in fulfilling the mis- 
sion he has appointed to us, to His honor 
and glory. There is no need of our ever 
being deceived or being beguiled by the 
influence of the adversary — who of course 
is adverse to God's will being done— if 
we will only observe the will of the Lord 
and do it. We have a Father in heaven 
who loves us, and who has given unto u& 
the privilege of dwelling upon the earth 
in the dispensation of the fullness of 
times. We encourage the rising genera- 
tion to trust in the Lord and individual- 
ly seek His counsel. The Lord does not 
require a blind obedience, but an intel- 
ligent obedience, and the Savior has ex- 
horted us to ask and it shall be given us, 
to seek and we shall find, to knock and 
it shall be opened unto us. On one oc- 
casion He gave us the parable of the un- 
just judge, and told us to pray without 
ceasing, to put our trust in the Lord, and 
He would give us everything necessary. 

The Church of Christ has a bad repu- 
tation. It always did have. "We desire 
to hear of thee what thou thinkest; for 



as concerning this sect, we know that 
everywhere it is spoken against," was 
said of old. It is a trick of the adver- 
sary that we should be evilly spoken of. 
and it is his disciples, who despise the 
commandment "thou shalt not bear false 
witness against thy neighbor," who have 
given us our bad reputation. But that 
matters very little. We know we are of 
God, and that the world lieth in the armb 
of the wicked one. We know that the 
principles of everlasting life, which we 
have subscribed to ; are true, and it is to 
our best interest individually to accom- 
plish that which the Father has given u& 
to do. If those who fight against us, 
who despise us and who will not fellow- 
ship us would search for themselves in- 
dividually as we have done, they would 
see as we see and have the same compre- 
hension of the principles of everlasting 
life, because they would have the same 
spirit, even the gift of the Holy Ghost, 
without which no man knoweth the things 
of God. I have no faith in the wisdom of 
man, nor in doctors of divinity. They 
have made a mistake from the beginning. 
The history of the world tells us that 
mankind always accepted false prophets 
and slew and rejected those who were 
sent of God with the glad tidings of great 
joy. In the days of Noah, but eight per- 
sons out of the whole world accepted the 
Gospel of the Son of God, and were 
saved, while the others, under the do- 
minion of the prince and power of the 
air, rejected light and truth and made 
their bed where we would not like to go. 

I say to you, my brethren and sisters, 
seek the counsel of the Almighty in your 
individuality, and when the Lord reveals 
to you what your mission is, fulfill it to 
the glory of God, no matter who else is 
pleased or displeased. The whole duty 
of man is to serve God and keep His 
commandments, and woe unto us if we 
do not do it. We have been slothful; we 
have been indifferent ; we have robbed 
the Lord in tithes and offerings; we have 
been self-sufficient and have despised the 
counsels of the Almighty, and He has 
called upon us to repent, to reform, and 
to consecrate unto Him that which is 
His due, according to His commandment, 
which is, that of everything He shall 
give to us, we will consecrate to Him 
one-tenth, and our ears shall be open to 
the cry of the widow and the fatherless, 
and we shall visit them in their distress. 
The Lord has also commanded us to get 
out of debt, so that we may owe no man 
anything and be independent and keep 
the law of God. Unless we do so He 
cannot establish His statutes upon the 
land. I want to bear my testimony to 
the truth of these principles. I know 
they are true. I know that God lives; 1 
know that Jesus is the Christ. I know 
that Joseph Smith was a true Prophet 
sent of God. All mankind can obtain 
this testimony, if they will seek for it. 
There was a time when I did not know 
it. I sought the Lord for it, and He gave 
it to me, to my perfect satisfaction. My 
exhortation to the people all the time is, 
for goodness sake be kind to yourselves; 
hear the word of the Lord and do it; 
stand in the dignity of your manhood and 
resist the influence of the world. Woe 
unto us if we are overcome of the world; 
woe unto us if we are excommunicated 
from the Church. We have a long list of 
men who should pay tithing and do not. 
I am sorry for them. I wish they had 
sense enough to be kinder to themselves, 
for they are laboring under a curse who 
rob God in tithes and offerings. They 
have no right to partake of the Sacra- 
ment, being unworthy. Every time they 
do it they eat and drink damnation; for 
they tell the Lord that they are willing 
to take upon them the name of Christ 
and to keep His commandments, yet they 



do not do it. Hypocrites! Hypocrites! 
A great deal better if they should wake 
up to an understanding of the dangerous 
position they occupy. If the bishops are 
kind and considerate to bear with them, 
to plead with them and to dig all around 
them, and they reject it, when they pass 
behind the veil their record is made, the 
day has gone, the night has come, and 
their souls are not saved. Then comes 
the agony; but we have made it ourselves. 
We work out our salvation, or we work 
out our damnation. It is our own act. 
I know these principles are true; they 
are common sense. There is no blessing, 
no eternal life promised to those who de- 
spise God and His commandments, and 
who prefer darkness to light. It is a con- 
demnation to reject light and truth; and 
when the Lord Jesus Christ shall come 
in flaming fire, to take vengeance upon 
them who know not God and keep not 
His commandments, those who love dark- 
ness rather than light will be punished 
with everlasting banishment from the 
presence of God and the Lamb. 

I rejoice very much in the instructions 
that have 'been given today. I am in 
harmony with every revealed principle. 1 
say that the Latter-day Saints are the 
noblest people upon the face of the earth ; 
and instead of governments striving to 
stay their progress, they should do every- 
thing to enable them to progress in light 
and truth, and to develop principles and 
conditions which they know nothing at 
all about. We know what we are doing, 
and we understand the science of 
life. We understand where we came 
from, what we are here for and what is 
our future destiny, because we are taught 
of God. We are in harmony with eter- 
nal principles. Our . Elders go forth 
preaching the Gospel of the Son of God. 
They take their lives in their hands, 
leaving their families behind, and pro- 
claim this glad message of great joy and 
that God has again spoken. They call 
the people to repentance, and warn them 
of judgments to come. We are told that 
judgment will commence at the house of 
God. It will fall upon this very class of 
people who despise God, and reject His 
commandments. We take our little chil- 
dren to our Sabbath schools, our prima- 
ries, our Mutual Improvement Associa- 
tions and quorums of Priesthood, for the 
express purpose of training them that 
they may grow up without sin unto sal- 
vation. The Lord wants to establish His 
righteousness. That is what He has 
hired us for, and we should love truth 
and righteousness, and have our ear* 
open to hear, our eyes to see and our 
hearts to understand, that we may be for 
God and His righteousness. 

Did you ever know this people so un- 
patriotic as to be petitioning the govern- 
ment against any handful of people? No 
patriot was ever guilty of anything of 
the kind. A patriot is a man who sus- 
tains the constitution of the United 
States and believes in religious liberty. 
There are hypocrites among professed pa- 
triots, as well as other classes of people. 
I say God "bless the patriots. God bless 
our government, and give them wisdom, 
strength of character and moral courage 
to stand by the principles of the consti- 
tution, and not be cowards. I would 
plead for this with all my heart. For of 
all people in the world, we are interested 
in having a righteous government. We 
know how to appreciate liberty and free- 
dom, and we never interfere with other 
people's doctrines or belief. We have 
enough to do to teach our own. We have 
the truth, the way and the life and we 
have no time to find fault with others. 
It takes us all our time to publish the 
glad tidings of great joy. 

I pray God my eternal Father that He 
will establish the kingdom of God upon 
the earth in power; that the kingdom of 
heaven may come; that His will may be 
done on earth as it is done in heaven, and 
that we who have taken upon ourselves 
the name of Jesus Christ may be true 
and faithful to our covenants, and that 
we may have the grace of God to over- 
come and endure unto the end, in His 
glorious kingdom, through Jesus Christ. 
Amen. 



256 



THE SOUTHERN STAR. 



REPORT OF MISSION CONFERENCES FOR WEEK ENDING JUNE 16, 1900. 



PRESIDENT 



David H. Elton 

Heber S. Olson 

J. G. Bolton „.„ 

E. L. Pomeroy 

W.D. Bencher 

A. C. Strong ,„ 

Geo. W. Skidmore . 
John Beeve ...„„„„. 

J. M. Haws 

Sylvester Low, J rv 

G. M. Porter 

W.W.MacKay 

W. O. Phelps 

W. H. Boyle..... , 

Don C. Benson 

L. M. Nebeker 

H. Z. Lund .... 



CONFERENCE 



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REMINISCENCES. 



BY J. B. SMITH. 



Away down on the old Suwannee river, 
far, far away, on old Piney Bluff, the 
Latter-day Saints of Levy, lyafayette 
and Alachua counties gathered one day 
last month to enjoy the pleasure of u 
picnic, given in honor of the Elders la- 
boring in that locality. The occasion 
was planned and prepared that Saints 
and friends might join together and 
spend a few hours as nature's guests. 
Besides the party of Saints, consisting 
of Brothers D. H. Airline, C. C. String- 
fellow, J. J. Hodge, W. J. Burnett, Aaron 
Higginbothan, with their wives and chil- 
dren, were also mauy prominent citizens, 
who took quite an active part in the pro- 
ceedings. Everyone seemed well pre- 
pared to enjoy themselves, and none de- 
sired to go hungry, judging from the 
bounteous lunches prepared by skilled 
hands. Some had gone to fish and soon 
returned heavy laden with fine specimens 
of the finny tribe, which were soon In 
the pan frying. Under the shade of the 
mighty oaks the food was made ready for 
the hungry picnickers. 

As the Elders sat eating, surrounded 
by friends, their thoughts wandered back 
to just such happy gatherings they had 
enjoyed in their native clime. It was 1 
o'clock before this feast of good things 
ended and then the people were called to 
order. Under the shady trees songs were 
sung, followed by speaking. Elder N. A. 
Decker first addressed the people, select- 
ing as his subject "Divine Authority." 
He plainly and forcibly portrayed to the 
attentive audience the absolute necessity 
of a commission from God, ere any man 
could preach or officiate in His sacred 
ordinances. Elder Frank N. Tyler gave 
a brief talk, admonishing the Saints to 
strictly obey Christ's teachings— to live 
pure and obedient lives before man and 
God. That persecution was an heritage 
of the Saints all Bible read people could 
testify. "Yea, and all that will live God- 
ly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecu- 
tion." Christ told His disciples that all 
manner of evil would be spoken against 
them, and inasmuch as the world would 
not receive Him, neither would they be 
received. 

Elder F. P. Jones spoke, showing the 
duties and labors of a true Saint, point- 
ing out to them that in order to enjoy 
the spirit of God we must prepare our 
bodies as a fit dwelling of the Holy 
Spirit. He quoted from I. Cor. vi.:19: 
"What? Know ye not that your body is 
the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in 
you, which ye have of God, and ye are 
not your own?" 

The closing hymn, "We Thank Thee, 
O God. for a Prophet," was sung in a 
spirited manner and all nature seemed to 
smile and rejoice at this song of praise 
to the Creator of all things— the giver of 
all perfect gifts. After meeting had been 
dismissed by prayer four honest -heart eel 
people were led into the waters of bap- 
tism. Those who were willing to forsake 
the world and take noon them Christ's 
name were Ezekiel Johnson, formerly a 
Methodist preacher, and his wife; Amos 



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Ferkiway and Mrs. G. W. Newmans. 

The sun was fast making its way be- 
hind the towering hills— the day was 
drawing to a close, and, in fact, nature 
would soon be wrapped in the shadows 
of night. Things were hurriedly gath- 
ered together and back to their homes 
went this picnic party, feeling to rejoice 
in the good time spent that day. The 
conformation of those baptized was at- 
tended to upon arriving at Brother Allin's 
home. 

Thus closed the day of pure and en- 
lightening recreation enjoyed by the 
Saints of God. Such gatherings where 
peace, love and joy exist are pleasing in 
the sight of God and tend to unite in 
bonds of friendship those who partici- 
pate. :_ 

Morality and Religion. 

Juvenile Instructor. 

Occasionally we find people who dis- 
claim haviug anything to do with religion; 
at the same time they profess to believe 
in the practice of what are known as 
good moral principles. Such people do 
not seem to understand that morality is 
religion— that the Gospel is but a system 
for the development of moral principles. 
Without morality religion is but a use- 
less form, and without the aid of the or- 
dinances of the Gospel morality cannot 
be brought to perfection. There is no 
dividing line between the la.ws of moral- 
ity and the laws of the Gospel. The Gos- 
pel includes them all; and any system of 
morality which does not embrace all the 
principles of true religion is imperfect or 
incomplete. 

It may be supposed that obedience to 
the Gospel requires the observance of 
practices that have no connection with 
morality. It is true that the Gospel in- 
culcates ordinances and duties that seem- 
ingly are not necessary to the practice of 
moral principles. They appear to be ar- 
bitrary requirements. But when the phi- 
losophy of these Gospel ordinances is un- 
derstood it will be discovered that they 
are but necessary aids to the practice of 
moral principles. 

Prayer, for example, may be regarded 
by some to be strictly a religious duty, 
having no connection with moral obliga- 
tions. If prayer were only a form this 
might be true. But prayer is for the pur- 
pose of obtaining Divine aid in order to 
more fully perform moral duties. With- 
out the assistance of the Lord a person 
cannot live a strictly moral life, hence 
prayer is as much a part of morality as 
of religion. One who lives a moral life 
cannot be otherwise than a religious per- 
son, at least to the extent of his obedi- 
ence to what he regards as moral laws. 
As long as he rejects the Gospel ordi- 
nances that to him may appear to be un- 
necessary for moral development, he will 
never reach that moral perfection which 
may be obtained by those who render 
obedience to all the Gospel requirements. 



It matters not how long we live, but 
how.— Bailey. 

Eloquence is a painting of the thoughts. 
—Pascal. 



THE DEAD. 

Elder Horace O. Hurst, of Dublan, 
Mexico, died at his home June 21, 1900. 

Brother Hurst was born May 9th, 1873, 
at Fairview, Sanpete Co., Utah. While 
on his mission of a little over two years 
he labored in the North Carolina Confer- 
ence and was a zealous worker in the 
cause of truth. Through his untiring ef- 
forts many honest-hearted people were 
made to rejoice. Last December, having 
filled his mission, an honorable release 
was given him and he returned to his 
friends and loved ones. But since God 
has in His wisdom seen fit to recall the 
spirit of our beloved brother, although 
his presence will be missed, yet we know 
all things are for the best. Elder Hurst 
lived this life as a faithful Saint, and 
though called away in his early man- 
hood, yet rich blessings await him. 

"How long we live, not years, but actions 

tell; 
That men live twice who live the first life 

well." 

We sympathize with the loved ones who 
are called to part with he whom they 
hold dear, and wish them the comforting 
influence of the Spirit of God. 



On the morning of the 20th of June, 
1900, Sister Hattie Louisa Redding, the 
beloved wife of Brother W. Hampton 
Redding, of Live Oak, Suwannee county, 
Florida, passed quietly away to enjoy 
the blessings of another and better world, 
after an illness of about eight days, of 
congestion of the brain. The deceased 
was 45 years of age. She became a 
member of the Church of Jesus Christ 
of Latter-day Saints June 21st, 1896, be- 
ing baptized by President Joseph A. 
West. It was at her place where Presi- 
dent West was kindly taken care of dur- 
ing a greater portion of his severe sick- 
ness while in Florida. The humble Elder 
was ever welcomed at her home, and 
many have partaken of her generous hos- 
pitality. It was while at the home of 
the Redding family that Elder Fisher 
was taken by a ruthless mob, and com- 
pelled at the point of the bayonet to 
leave the county. Sister Redding* s kind 
and amiable disposition always drew 
friends to her wherever she was. She 
died a faithful Latter-day Saint, entitled 
to a glorious resurrection with the just. 
She leaves a husband, three children, and 
a host of friends to mourn her loss. 

The funeral services were held at the 
Macedonia church June 27th, 1900, the 
funeral sermon being preached by Elder 
Peter E. Van Orden. The remains were 
interred in the Macedonia church yard, 
beside three of her children, who passed 
to the other shore before her. 




-6UT THOUGH WE, OB AN ANGEL FftOM HEAVEN ,PPEACH ANY 
QTHEG GOSPEL UNTO YOU THAN THAT WHICH WE 

HAVE PREACHED UNTO YOU, LET HiM 6E ACCURSED, 1 fitt/fWg 



!&*- 



Vol. 2. 



Chattanooga, Tehn., Satubday, July 14, 1900. 



No. 88. 



TRUTH. 



O. F. WHITNEY. 

An ocean jewel, cast upon the sand, 
Unseen, yet glittering 'neath the trampled 

sana, 
Neglected and alone, in darkness lay, 
Tlh time, in many a wave, had rolled away. 

In vain the loud surge dashed upon the 

shore, 
In vain the lightning's wrath, the thunder's 

roar, 
Securely slumbered in its lowly bed, 
A rarer gem than e'er decked a kingly head. 

At length, a Shining edge peered forth to 

view, 
A sun-lit drop, as 'twere, of morning dew, 
And yet no glance e'er rested on the prize, 
None guessed what lay concealed from hu- 
man eyes. 

Men came and went, but all were proud and 

vain, 
They gazed upon the sky and distant main, 
Eager for wealth, yet none would look so 

low, 
Or stoop for gems, howe'er so bright, below. 

Along the lonely beach one summer day, 
It chanced, at length, a little child did stray, 
Beheld the jewel sparkling in the sand, 
And drew it forth with tiny, eager hand. 

And thus the treasure, which had lain con- 
cealed, 
In fate's full-ripened hour to be revealed. 



Long kept from pride, or Mammon's sordid 

sight, 
By humble means at last was brought to 



E'en so with truth, the richest, rarest gem 
Save one, in Christ's eternal diadem; 
By merit worn, though oft in meanest guise, 
Men scorn the source, and trample on the 
price. 



History of the Southern States Mission. 

(Continued from page 250.) 

March, 1898— 

On the 8th, a letter was received at the 
office from Brother Robert Humphreys, 
stating that a mob of 200 men were gath- 
ering near Live Oak, Fla., to do violence 
to the Saints who lived six miles south- 
west of that place. Immediately a letter 
was sent to the Governor of Florida, lay- 
ing the situation clearly before him, re- 
questing a proper exercise of the. law in 
the matter. A favorable reply was re- 
ceived, and the mobocrats, learning that 
the Governor would protect the Saints, 
abandoned their wicked designs and peace 
continued to reign in the homes of the 
Saints. 

On the 12th N. P. Nelson, President of 
the Middle Tennessee Conference, came 
to the office to labor, while Blder Albert 



C. Matheson took up his labors in Geor- 
gia as President of that Conference. 

About the middle of this month a letter 
was received from Ezra C. Robinson, 
President of the North Carolina Confer- 
ence, stating that a Sunday School had 
been organized at Raleigh, N. C. This 
circumstance is of special interest, from 
the fact that less than a year and a half 
before, the Elders had no friends, but 
many bitter enemies in the city. About 
Christmas time of 1890, Elders Ira Baker 
and C. J. Winter were put in prison for 
tracting the city without purse or scrip. 
The Elders had asked many times for 
entertainment, when they were arrested. 
They were discharged, and by order of 
the mayor were commanded ^o leave the 
city. This feeling prevailedMn Raleigh 
eighteen months previous to the organiza- 
tion of the Sunday School, which had 
twenty members and was reported to be 
in a thriving condition. 

Fourteen Elders arrived from Zion on 
the 23d. 

A letter, under date of March 23d, was 
received from Elders Jesse H. Wheeler 
and Levi A. Gayler, stating they had met 
with harsh treatment at the hands of 
cowardly men. As they were going to a 
place called Yellow Rabbit, to baptize a 
convert to the true Gospel, a mob of 
twenty men met them in the road and 
took them up into a hollow. After abus- 
ing the brethren and cursing them, they 
tore Elder Gayler's coat from his back 
and struck him fifteen unmerciful licks 
with a "black snake" whip. Next they 
took Elder Wheeler and likewise adminis- 
tered the lash upon his body, he receiving 
twelve lashes. The mobocrats said they 
would hang the Elders if they ever re- 
turned to those parts again, and the next 
mob would be led by the sheriff. 

It seems that the evil one was working 
hard to overthrow the work of God, if 
we are to judge from mob violence re- 
ceived by the Elders. From many places 
came the news of abuse heaped upon 
them. The brethren were brave and val- 
iant, and did not intend to give way to 
Satan and his hosts. He used his choice 
implements of war, some of his minis- 
ters, who claim to be servants of God, 
but judging, as Christ said to judge them, 
"by their fruits," we must admit that 
their fruits are manufactured falsehoods 
to overcome the righteous servants of 
God. 



Much persecution and hatred grew out 
over a debate held: Resolved, That the 
Morman missionaries be excluded from 
the state of North Carolina." To cap the 
climax, the ministers took Mormonism 
for their text Sundays in their churches. 
On tne 30th inst. Elders W. H. Carter 
and W. E. Robinson, while tracting Con- 
cord, N. C, presented themselves at the 
door of a man's home. The gentleman 
(William Caldwell), not being home, the 
brethren did not tarry, but lett a tract 
with the lady of the house, who accepted 
it. While canvassing on the street, the 
man accosted them while walking down 
the sidewalk. He inquired of the Elders if 
they had been in his yard. They replied 
they were visiting all of the houses and 
may have called at his place. At this 
point he raised a club about two feet 
long — a deadly weapon — and struck Elder 
Robinson with intent to kill. In the vil- 
lain's eye could be seen the look, of ha- 
tred, and within his heart was murder. 
Elder Robinson guarded the blow with 
his hand, causing the club to strike heav- 
ily upon bis arm, damaging it considera- 
bly. The next blow struck Brother Rob- 
inson on the head, inflicting much suffer- 
ing and raising a large lump. 

By this time he had endeavored to get 
away from his would-be assassin, and 
started to run. For a distance of twenty- 
five yards he was followed by the man, 
who hit him twice. Being a faster man 
than his enemy, Elder Robinson was soon 
out of his reach, but not without sore 
spots upon his body. Not yet satisfied, the 
befouler of American liberty turned on 
Elder Carter, striking him also. The 
brethren tried hard to find the civil offi- 
cers, and at a late hour were successful. 
They advised the brethren to get out a 
warrant, but nothing was done in the 
matter, and the assaulter was left to con- 
tinue his meanness. Although he, like 
others of his same kind, may go unpun- 
ished here upon earth, yet a time will 
come when every person shall stand be- 
fore God and be judged according to their 
works done here in the flesh. 
(To be continued.) 



Nothing is so hard for those who 
abound in riches as to conceive how oth- 
ers can be in want. — Swift. 

If the power to do hard work is not 
talent, it is the best possible substitute 
for it-nJames A. Garfield. 



258 



THE SOUTHERN STAB. 



GOD'S GREATEST GIFT. 

BY ELDEK DAVID H. ELTON. 
(Continued from page 254.) * 
Principles and Ordinance!. 
In matters of religion, when dealing 
with the Christian world, the appeal for 
truth must be made to the Bible, for this 
is the jbook they claim to believe in ; and 
tliis was tne method invariably used by 
the Savior to prove- ilis mission holy and 
divine. '"Have you not read," are llis 
words to the- unbelieving Jews, and 
"Search the Scriptures; lor tnerein ye 
think ye have eternal life; ana uiey are 
they which testify of me." (Matt. 19:4, 
John 5:39.) He desired that the sons of 
men should have an intimate acquaint- 
ance with the written word; for He de- 
clared that the Scriptures bore record of 
Him, and showed that He was the Mes- 
siah, and that they must believe on Him 
or perish for their disbelief. Now, the 
good old Bible lays open before us; its 
sacred pages exposed to view; that all 
may read and learn of Him who is 
mighty to save. Let us avail ourselves Of 
this generous opportunity, this blessed 
privilege, and, invoking Heaven's gifts 
and blessings, let us scan the holy word 
and peruse its heavenly truths. If we 
would receive light upon the Scriptures; 
if we would become wise in the knowl- 
edge of the Lord ; let us seek these benefi- 
cent gifts at the throne of God's mercy, 
in whom is no darkness at all. 

Our Savior having completed His mis- 
sion on earth; having been subjected to 
much pain, sorrow and grief ; having been 
suspended between the heavens and the 
earth, nailed to Calvary's cross, on Gol 
gothas' dreary ..eights ; having bowed His 
sacred head and exclaimed — while the 
body was racked with intense agony, and 
the mind sorely distressed — "It is fin- 
ished" (thus signifying that the birth of 
salvation was complete and His earthly 
mission ended), was laid in the tomb; 
from which He arose triumphant on the 
third day, and afterwards appeared unto 
His faithful Apostles. With them He 
journeyed some forty days in His resur- 
rected body, teaching, instructing, and 
tutoring them in the great work they had 
been called to perform. At the expira- 
tion of this time, and just before His as- 
cension, He called these Apostles around 
Him m Galilee, and gave unto them this 
commission: "Go ye into all the world 
and preach the Gospel to every creature. 
He that believeth and is baptized, shall be 
saved ; but he that believeth not shall be 
damned." (Mark 16:15-1(5.) The Gos- 
pel was to have a universal proclamation, 
and it was the will of Christ that the 
glad tidings of salvation should be 
preached to all men ; yet, notwithstanding 
that salvation through the Gospel should 
be preached unto all, still none, without 
believing and obeying could be saved from 
individual transgression. Now, kind read- 
er, let us pursue our investigation, and 
endeavor, by the aid of God's holy spirit, 
to discover the principles and ordinances 
which pertain to our redemption and ex- 
altation. 

We will follow these faithful Apostles, 
and find out what they taught, then we 
shall know what the principles and ordi- 
nances of the Gospel are. You have not 
forgotten that they received their com- 
mission and authority fresh from the lips 
of the Savior, and that salvation was 
promised unto all those who believed and 
obeyed the Gospel they taught. 

There yet remains another point that 
we must not pass by unnoticed ; it is the 
final command of Jesus unto His Apos- 
tles recorded by the sacred historian, 



Luke, "I send the promise of my Father 
upon you ; but tarry ye in the city of Je- 
rusalem, until ye be enaowed wuu power, 
from on high." (Luke 24:49.j Why 
this delay V may be asked with propriety. 
Had not these holy inspired men been 
with Jesus for a length of time, in Jura- 
tion almost three and one-halt years? 
Yes! Had they not walked and talked 
with Him face to face, as one man walks 
and talks with another? Had uiey not 
beheld the many wonderful manifestations 
of His heavenly power, which were 
wrought by Him while yet with ihem in 
the flesh? Had they not witnessed the 
tongue of the dumb loosened, the ears of 
the deaf unstopped, the eyes of the blind 
opened; the lame made to walk; the lepers 
made whole; and those possessed of evil 
spirits cleansed from the wicked power, 
and the dead brought to life again? Yes, 
they had beheld all these wondrous things 
come to pass through the Lord's admin- 
istrations, and yet they were not fully 
equipped to preach the everlasting Gos- 
pel. And why? Because the Lord never 
has, and never will, send out His ser- 
vants to preach until He first bestows 
upon them the Gift of the Holy Ghost — a 
portion of His power. Evidently had the 
Savior permitted His servants to go out 
without granting them the spirit of 
truth for a guide, within twelve months 
we should have found them preaching 
twelve different contrary Gospels. But, 
blessed with the Spirit of God which 
emanates from the presence of God, and 
leads those possessed thereof into all 
truth, we can readily see that they would 
then preach the one, everlasting, un- 
changeable Gospel. This was the ex- 
pressed desire of the Savior — it was His 
earnest prayer to the Father to make 
His followers one. (John 17:11.) 

Obedient to the divine command, to 
"tarry in the city of Jerusalem until en- 
dued with power from on high," we find 
the Apostles gathered with "one accord" 
in the chief city of the Jews. It is now 
the day of Pentecost, and some fifty days 
have elapsed since Christ hung in agony 
upon the cross, making* about one week 
since He was received into the Heavens 
from their vision, as they stood gazing in 
wonderment and awe at Bethany. They 
have not forgotten His last words of 
counsel and instructions, 'but expectantly 
await the glad realisation of the blessed 
promise He gave them. On this memorable 
Pentecost was the promise of the Lord 
fulfilled, for "suddenly there came a sound 
from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, 
and it filled all the house where they 
were sitting. And there appeared unto 
them cloven tongues like as of fire, and 
it sat upon each of them. And they were 
all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began 
to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit 
gave them utterance." (Acts 11:21-8.) 
Now that the Apostles are "filled with 
the Holy Ghost," we know that they are 
fully prepared to preach the Gospel and 
administer the ordinances thereof; there- 
fore their words will be truth, yea, even 
the power of God unto salvation to all 
them that believe and obey. We can rely 
upon the words they speak, the principles 
they advocate, the ordinances they per- 
form, as being essential to our soul's sal* 
vation, and pleasing in the sight of the 
Lord ; for it was Jesus who had sent 
them forth; it was He who had ordained 
them to the ministry, and it was God the 
Father who had empowered them with 
authority from on high. 

Peter, standing at the head of the 
Apostles, having received "the keys of the 
kingdom of heaven.'.' Matt. -6:19), began 
to preac. the Gospel unto those unbeliev- 
ing Jews — unbelieving because they had 
rejected the Messiah and spurned His 



message from them. He straightway be- 
gan to preaeh unto them of "Jesus of 
Nazareth," ' + * * < whom God hath 
raised up, having loosed the pains of 
death; because it was not possible that 
He should be holden of it." (Acts 2:22- 
24.) His words, seasoned with love, 
spoken wu- power and authority, and 
conveyed by the medium of the Holy 
Ghost, carried conviction to the hearts of 
his hearers, and established therein a 
true, living, profitable faith, which led 
them to exclaim, "Men and brethren, 
what shall we do?" (37th verse.) Peter 
was reauy with an answer for their in- 
quiry ; he was fully prepared to tell them 
what to do, and had we been present on 
that eventful occasion, we should have 
heard mm boldly declare, "Repent, and 
be baptizeu, every one of you, in the name 
of Jesus Christ, for the remission of sins, 
and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy 
Ghost." 38th verse.) What have we 
now discovered? We have seen that Jesus 
sent forth His Apostles to preach the 
Gospel; that He commanded them to 
tarry in the city of Jerusalem until they 
were endued with power from on high; 
that they were obedient to His command, 
and in consequence thereof they did re- 
ceive the Holy Ghost; that they, being 
filled with this Holy Spirit, began to 
preach the principles of righteousness in- 
culcated in the everlasting Gospel; and 
that these principles and ordinances were, 
first, faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, sec- 
ond, repentance; third, baptism for the 
remission of sins; and fourth, the Gift 
of the Holy Ghost. Is this not Scriptur- 
al? All will readily agree. Is it accord- 
ing to "the law and the testimony?" None 
can deny. It is simple and plain, and we 
shall hereafter find that it is beautiful 
logical, reasonable and consistent. 

If further Scriptural references were 
necessary to prove these principles and 
ordinances divine, we might go back to 
the days of John the forerunner of Jesus. 
Mark tells us that the presence of John 
in the wilderness of Judea was "the be- 
ginning of the Gospel of Jesus Christ 
the Son of God." (Mark 1:1.) What 
did the Prophet John teach? Did he not 
teach faith in the Lord Jesus Christ by 
telling the Jews of His coming? Yes. Did 
he not command them to repent, and did 
he not preach "the baptism of repentance 
for the remission of sins?" (Luke 3:3-9.) 
Yes. Did he not inform them that the 
Lord who cometh would baptize them 
with the Holy Ghost? (Mark 1:8.) Yes. 
Here we have the selfsame principles and 
ordinances annunciated as those declared 
by the stalwart Peter on the day of Pen- 
tecost. Peter and John the Baptist agree 
m proclaiming Faith, Repentance, Bap- 
tism, and the Gift of the Holy Ghost as 
the fundamental moans of salvation. Here 
are two witnesses, and you remember the 
words of the great Apostles to the Gen- 
tiles — Paul, "In the mouth of two or 
three witnesses shall every word be es- 
tablished." vil Cor. 13:1.) The Savior 
comes as a third witness, for He said, 
"Ye believe in God, believe also in me." 
(John 14:1.) This then would 
create faith in the Lord Jesus. 
"Except ye repent, ye shall all 
likewise perish." (Luke 13:3.) Here 
He taught the essentiality of repentance ; 
and to the midnight inquirer — Nicodemus 
— the Savior said, "Except a man be 
born of water and of the Spirit, he can- 
not enter into the kingdom of God." (John 
3:5.) Again we see that the principles 
and ordinances, upon obedience to which 
were predicated salvation, were, faith in 
the Lord Jesus, Repentance, Baptism, 
and the Gift of the Holy Ghost. Paul's 
conversion to the truth as it is in Christ 
Jesus is another striking example of the 



THE SOUTHERN STAR. 



259 



divinity, power and essentiality of the 
Gospel. His faith in the Messiah was 
well rooted and grounded after the vision 
had cleared from his deluded eyes the su- 
perstition and heresy of the Jews ; his 
repentance was of a Godly manner, and 
well worthy of imitation ; after which he 
received the divine injunction, "Arise 
and be baptized, and wash away thy 
sins," (Acts 22:16), "and be filled with 
the Holy Ghost" (Acts 19:17.) 

Now some may endeavor to excuse 
themselves by saying that these princi- 
ples and ordinances were preached only 
to the Jews, and that the Gentiles were 
exempt from strictly complying thereto; 
however, the word of God is sufficiently 
explicit on this point as to leave no room 
for doubt, misunderstanding or excuse. 
There is only one way — a straight and 
narrow course — and all, both Jew and 
Gentile, must journey therein if they 
would become partakers of God's Greatest 
Gift. If you will turn to the first chap- 
ter of Colossi an«, and the fifth and sixth 
verses, you will read, "For the hope 
which is laid up for you in heaven, where- 
of ye heard before in the word of the 
truth of the Gospel; which is come unto 
you, as it is in all the world ; and bring- 
eth forth fruit, as it doth also in you, 
since the day ye heard of it, and knew 
the grace of God in truth." From this 
we learn that the Gospel heard and be- 
lieved by the Colossian Saints was the 
same "as it is in all the world;" and 
therefore it was the one, everlasting Gos- 
pel for both Jew and Gentile. The devout 
Gentile, Cornelius, was first taught faith 
in the Lord Jesus Christ (Acts 10). and 
as a token of divine recognition, the Holy 
Ghost was poured out upon him, then 
Pater "commanded them to be baptised 
in the name of the Lord." (Acts 10:48.) 
TTie self-same principles are here ad- 
vised, and the self-same ordinances com- 
manded, for this saying went forth, 
"Then hath God also to the Gentiles 
granted repentance unto life." (Acts 11: 
18.) 

We see then that the way of salvation 
as declared and made known unto the 
Jews was just as applicable and essen- 
tial to the Gentiles, and just as necessary 
for. them to obey if they would enter into 
the true fold of the Good Shepherd. 

When there arose a dispute concerning 
the law of Moses and its application 
to the Gentiles, "Peter rose up and said 
unto them, Men and brethren, ye know 
how that a good while ago God made 
choice among us, that the Gentiles by my 
mouth should hear the word of the Gos- 
pel, and believe. And God which know- 
eth their hearts, bore them witness, giv- 
ing them the Holy Ghost, even as He did 
unto us: and put no difference between 
us and them, purifying their hearts by 
faith." (Acts 15 :7-9.) Thus we see there 
was "no difference" put between Jew or 
Gentile, but all were to enter in through 
Him who was the Light, the Truth and 
the way, by obedience to His everlasting 
Gospel, the fundamental principles and 
ordinances of which we have herein de- 
fined. 

As the written word has named these 
principles and ordinances, their proper 
and perfect order is thus: First, faith 
in the Lord Jesus Christ: scond, repent- 
ance after a Godly manner; third, bap- 
tism for the remission of past sins; and 
fourth, the Gift of the Holy Ghost, as 
a Guide, a Companion, and a Comforter. 
By the divine aid of the 8pirit of God. 
and the sweet assistance of that good old 
Book of Books — the Holy Bible — we shall 
endeavor to give further light and intel- 
ligence upon these beautiful principles of 
induction into the Church of Christ, that 



all may know of the goodness of our God 
in providing for our salvation such a 
grand structure of heavenly truths, so 
simple, so plain, so deep, so comprehen- 
sive, that we are at once led to exclaim, 
"His yoke is easy, His burden is light 
the way of salvation plain, and the course 
for man to follow, straight and narrow." 
(To be continued.) 



YOUTHS HOMAGE TO THE AGED. 



Deseret News, July 6. 

The most popular excursion of the sea- 
son is that conducted by the Old Folks' 
committee, of Salt Lake. It is not only 
the best patronized outing, but it is in 
every respect the one in whicn all classes 
of the community take the greatest per- 
sonal interest. Almost every nationality 
is represented ; nearly every family in the 
city has its representative veteran, who 
has passed the three score and ten years 
alloted to man, and whose declining years 
are cheered and made glad bv these an- 
nual midsummer socials and excursions. 

Through the courtesy of Simon Bam- 
berger, Esq., the twenty-sixth annual Old 
Folks* outing and social was held today at 
Lagoon, and the grandfathers and grand- 
mothers of Salt Lake City to the number 
of 500 were given a free ride on the Old 
Folks' special, which left the city at 10 
a. m. It is conservatively estimated that 
at least 400 more were taken to the re- 
sort on earlier and later trains. 

The pleasure of the ride through the 
beautiful orchards, gardens and farms of 
Davis county was enhanced oy the sweet 
music discoursed on the way by the Old 
Folks' choir, under the direction of Wil- 
liam H. Foster, which passed through all 
the thirteen cars of the special, discours- 
ing sweet melodies. 

The Old Folks' committee and their 
aids and the proprietor and attaches of 
the resort, were indefatigable in their ef- 
forts to make the old people happy, and 
sought in every way to make the day most 
pleasant and agreeable, and they were em- 
inently successful, judging from the many 
words of commendation and appreciation 
heard on every side. The ample grounds 
and generous shade of the cool and beau- 
tiful resort were highly appreciated by 
all, particularly by those who called to 
mind the nlmost shadeless resort to which 
the old folks went a year ago. 

At 11 a. ra. the choir gave a short con- 
cert in the dancing pavilion, the principal 
numbers of which were: 

"America," by the choir. 

"Hail, Smiling Morn." by the choir. 

Solo and chorus — "Dear Heart. We 
Are Growing Old," Mrs. Julia Silver- 
wood. 

Tenor solo and chorus — "Cousin Jede- 
diah," Henry Gardner and choir. 

Besides the old folks of Salt Lake City 
and Stake, large contingents of veterans 
came in carriages from all parts of Davis 
county ; many of the Bishops and promi- 
nent people of the county were also pres- 
ent in large numbers, and the grounds 
were pretty well filled with veterans who 
enjoyed the occasion to renew old acquain- 
tances. 

Among the prominent people from the 
city were President Josenh F. Smith. 
Apostles Friffham Young and Francis M. 
Lyman : Bishop Robert T. Burton and 
John R. Winder of the presiding Bishop- 
ric ; James S. Brown and Oliver G. Work- 
man were representative* of *he famous 
"Mormon" batallion: Nathan Tanner, Sr., 
was the only representative of the few 
remaining survivors of Zion's Camp, a 
hody of Elders which marched with the 
Pronhet Joseph Smith from Kirtland. O., 
to Jackson county. Missouri, in 1884. 
Prominent among the ladies were a large 
number of Relief Society members of 
both Salt Lake and Davis county Stakes. 
Mrs. M. Isabella Horne. president of the 
first named organization, enjoyed the oc- 
casion very highly. 

Of course the great majoritv of the vet- 
erans were wearers of the red badge — in- 
dicating that thev had arrived at and 
passed their 70th milestone — but there 



were a host of octogenarians who wore 
the blue badge, and there were quite a 
number who had passed their 90th year, 
and wore white rosettes. 

At 12 o'clock lunch was served in the 
bowery and refreshments were served 
by the committee and aids. This has al- 
ways been a prominent feature in these 
outings. The committee is noted for its 
generous care of the aged excursionists. 

OLD FOLKS' COMMITTEE. 

The old folks' committee is composed of 
the following well known gentlemen : 
William B. Preston, Chas. R. Savage, 
Wm. Eddington, Wm. Naylor, Wm. L. 
Binder, John Kirkman. Andrew Jenson, 
Nelson A. Empey and Heber S. Goddard. 

AFTEBNOOlf FESTIVITIES. 

At 1 :45 this afternoon festivities began 
in the pavilion, the inimitable C. R. Sav- 
age, master of ceremonies, the choir sing- 
ing' "Jerusalem" for an opening chorus. 

Hon. Ezra Clark, of Farmington, fol- 
lowed with a speech of welcome. 

Heber S. Goddard next sang the old 
people's favorite — "Hard Times Come 
Again No More," the concourse of people 
all joining in the chorus. 

The honorableJudge J, F. Kinney, a 
veteran of 84, who came to Utah forty- 
six years ago, and was at one time the 
chief justice of Utah Territory, responded 
to the call for a speech in a very happy 
and patriotic vein. He said he was pleased 
to met with the veterans who had helped 
to redeem the desert and make of Utah 
the paradise that it is. He remembered 
Salt Lake forty-six years ago, as a ham- 
let, and he was proud today of its pala- 
tial and comfortable homes. 

Mrs. Lizzie Thomas Edward verv sweet- 
ly rendered the Scotch favorite, ^Comin* 
Thro' the Rye." 

Apostle Brigham Young followed in a 
short and happy address, reminiscent of 
early scenes in Utah, and referred to the 
honorable career of Judge Kinnev when 
on the bench and since. The speaker was 
glad to meet with the veterans of pioneer 
days, and was pleased to note the efforts 
made to make glad their declining years. 

"Let the Mountains Shout for Joy" 
was joyously rendered by the choir, who 
never seemed to tire of singing for the 
aged sires and matrons. 

Apostle Francis M. Lyman was the fol- 
lowing speaker, and his felicitous and 
happy address wag much enpoyed by the 
audience. His references to old tiroes 
and early scenes in the history of the 
state were full of tender reminiscences. 



CONCERNING "MORONISM." 

A contributor to the current number 
of Harper's Weekly, Mr. E. S. Martin, 
has this to say of the Church and its 
missionary zeal : 

"They say the Mormon Church is grow- 
ing like the traditional weed : that it has 
more than 2,000 missionaries working for 
it in all ports of the world. There are 
two or three hundred in Canada, many 
more in the east and the south, many 
more in Europe, and they are great mis- 
sionaries, too. Thev work hard and draw 
very little pay. They seem, too, to be- 
lieve in Mormonism, and in most places 
where they go they are abundantly stim- 
ulated by persecution. If the stories 
about them are true, they are making ex- 
cellent progress in disseminating the doc- 
trines of their Church and making con- 
verts. The enthusiastic modem Mormons 
are quoted as saving that polygamy has 
really gone out of their relijdon, and that 
when the plural wives now living have 
died, there won't be anv more. Maybe 
not. Polygamy can hardlv stand against 
the rise of American civilization, but the 
Mormon Church in its other particulars 
may last and flourish. It seems a curious 
heresy, but on its practical- side, at least, 
it is strong, and it seems to excite just 
as much zeal as any other religion. It 
is worth knowing more about than most 
of us know. Polygamy aside, very few of 
us know how far and in what particulars 
it differs from the Christian religion. An 
American Church, which has 250,000 
members, is worth some study." 



260 



THE SOUTHERN STAB. 




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•f Jtaia Christ tf Utttr Day Stlatt, 
ChatUw— ft, Ttii. 



fPor year 
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either eliminate or reject any communication sent in. 
Address Box 109 



Satubday, July 14, 1900. 



ARTICLES OF FAITH 

OP TMB CHURCH OP JESUS CHRI5T OP 
LATTER-DAY SAINTS. 

1. W.aaaUwiaaadtBaftaraalfataar,aadiaBb8a» 
4mm Christ, aad ia tha Holy Oho*. 

i. We baUava test men will be paatohad for taatr ova 
•lai, aad.aot for Adas'* traaanaarioa. 

t. Wa baliar* teat, tluoaS taa atoaaoMBt of Ohriat>att 
■•akJad nay aa saved, 07 aaadiaaoa la tea lawi aad ordl. 
aaaaai af tea GaapaL 

a. Wa baUava that tha flnt priadplas aad ordJaaaaai ef 
Ihe Oaapal are : FInt, Faith la the LordJ*nu Carl* 



by iauaenJea for tha laariariaa 
Baadi for tha Gift of tha Holy 



si third, 1 

etdets feartb, Lsjiag oa af I 

6. Wi balim th*t 1 wiu mu*t b« calltd of God, by 
" prophecy, 4nd bj tha by in* am of btDtU/* bf tAoM WOO are 
Id tuLhontj, 10 preach ih* tP*p*\ tad idsiinftutr ia the aidi* 
nflfeci Ihtrtof 

I* W* t*Ht*a in tatftaaa orpnitiifon that existed la 
the frimitba thnrch — nim*!^ ApoiLtw, Praphftta, Paatafa* 

1. W* tm N«Te Ld lh* (i ft &f toof b«, prflphtcj, ff iBtJee, 

YfliOQL [filing, JDt«rpr«UtiDD of fnDfUH, itr, 

ft, We be h* v« m* Bi b)t to t* ih e vwi of God, at far as it 
H 'nihil 1*4 cof rwtJ-j ; Hi »l*o believe 4* Book of MoraMS 
lo be the ward of U*J- 

». Wa twl > fl *» ■ Ll ili. i God hii n mH ■ I! chat He does 

nam reTeil, »nd we belitf e that U* *il J ret retail BktBJ great 
arid in peril Ei l tjiLon pert lining to the KiQfdoBl of OodT 

10, W f b*] ;« t # i q LK* li Un ffi tberi bg at Iinol aad ia the 
T*»Ct>ntifla af Lb* Tin Tribe*, ib*t Zi« will b* baihapoa 
th» {th# America* i cDittJornl-- that CfaHtt will ligB 
nil j atrtn ihu airth, ind th*t tbe *ulb will i *•!■ 
fectlTB ju p*r«d»Liul gJorj. 

a*. W* «kia ia* omuip. rf wonbipiBi Aissifhtr Gad 
aeeording to the dieUtet of oar eoaacieaea, and allow all 
maa the mom privilefa, let than worship haw, where, or what 

I* We believe iabatagsobjeot to Map, praaideata.ralsrs, 
aad SMtjatrataa ; la obayiag, boooriag aad sastaiaias; the law. 

11 wWa baliere ia baiaa hoaost, tree, chaste, beaetoleat, 
eirtaoas.aad ia doiag foodio all ejse; indeed, we 
that wa follow the adsooaiUoa of Paul, "We believe al 



B&LwWK ! 



"HIS ENEMY CAME AND 
TARES." 



SOWED 



How cheering to the heart; how com- 
forting to the soul; how comprehensive, 
lovely and beautiful are the sweet and 
refreshing words of our Master, Jesus! 
His precepts and instructions given in 
parables; His walks by the sea-side with 
the multitude; His conversation with the 
learned; His humility, patience, lowli- 
ness, and obedience; all declare His per- 
fectness, His holiness, His divinity and 
Godliness ! His mission was one of holy 
love, compassionate mercy, and divine 
good will! Hear Him declare in appeal- 
ing tones, "Come unto me, all ye that la- 
bor and are heavy laden, and I will give 
you re*t.Take my yoke upon you, and 
learn of roe; for I am meek and lowly in 
heart; and ye shall find rest unto your 
souls. For my yoke is easy» and my bur- 
den is light." (Matt. 11:28-30.) Well 
might we exclaim, "Wha, i frfem^ w; 



have in Jesus," and sing for joy of the 
goodness of our Lord, of His abundant 
love, and tender mercy. But our love for 
Him, who died that we might live, is 
best manifest and most pleasing when we 
keep the commandments He has given 
us, and yield obedience to His holy and 
most righteous laws; for He has said, 
"If ye love me, keep my commandments." 
(John 14:15.) Ah, fellow-Christians, it 
is a great deal easier to sing of His love, 
to speak of His goodness, and talk of His 
mercy, than to follow in His holy steps, 
to comply with His laws, and live up to 
every word that proceedeth forth from 
His mouth. 

He gave His chosen followers to under- 
stand that in the world they should have 
tribulation, affliction, sorrow, anguish, 
and pain; but in Him suould they enjoy 
rest, yea even peace, comfort, and happi- 
ness. Though tribulations might rage 
abroad; though the evil one may bring 
bitter persecution upon tne faithful, and 
cause fierce and wicked opposition to be 
brought to bear upon the righteous; still 
we may hear the holy word, coming unto 
us as a sweet morsel, a divine comforter, 
a heavenly balm, "In me ye shall have 
peace." (John 16:33.) These sweet, 
promising words give us joy in the hour 
of affliction, strength in the midst of per- 
secution, and hope when all seems dark 
and dreary. The Lord hath said that if 
we will out put our trust in Him and be 
of good courage, that He will strengthen 
our hearts. (Psalms 27:14.) 

The Savior frequently addressed the 
people in parables, giving unto them some 
simple apt illustration, that they might 
easily comprehend His teachings, and un- 
derstand His mission and work in their 
midst. These parables are beautiful, im- 
pressive, grand and comprehensive. They 
convey to the mind the idea the speaker 
wishes to impress, in appealing, graceful, 
convincing terms, for mortals can better 
understand things which are brought 
right home to themselves, and shown by 
example, contrast and illustration 
Among the many beautiful parables which 
Jesus gave unto the Jews, He put forth 
this parable, saying, "The kingdom of 
heaven is likened unto a man which 
sowed good seed in his field; but while 
men slept, bis enemy came and sowed 
tares among the wheat, and went his 
way." (Matt, 13:24-25.) How very 
true are these words; and how applicable 
are they to the children of this present 
generation. "His enemy came and sowed 
tares." Yes, this is ever the work of the 
enemies of righteousness to scatter seeds 
of ill-will and wickedness, to do as Jesus 
said, "sow tares." The good sower of 
the word — the true, humble follower of 
the Master, endeavors to implant in the 
hearts of the people seeds of righteous- 
ness, grains of truth : while the enpuiy 
strives to choke out the good seed sown, 
and substitute in its stead seeds of vain 
tradition, superstition and perilous her- 
esy. 

How often is it the experience of our 
Elders, that after leaving a neighborhood 
where the people have apparently delight- 
ed in the law of the Lord, and have enter- 
tained them with the honor, respect, love 
and esteem a true servant of the Lord 
deserves, they return to find that during 
their absence the enemy has been and 
sowed tares, and the hearts of the people 
are turned against them and their mes- 
sage of salvation. Well did the Apostle 
declare, "I know this, that after my de- 
parting shall grievous wolves enter in 
among vou, not sparing the flock." (Acts 
20:29.) And well did the Savior say, 
"His enemy came and sowed tares." The 
Elder goes forth armed with the word of « 



God, preaches simple, plain Bible doc- 
trine unto the people, causing their souls 
to rejoice, and their hearts to be made 
glad; he is followed by one who claims 
to be a disciple of Jesus, a "preacher of 
righteousness," but instead of assisting 
the Elder to disseminate the good word 
of salvation, he seeks to destroy his influ- 
ence, and supplant his message by instill- 
ing in the minds of the people, hatred, 
malice, contempt, scorn, prejudice, and 
narrow-minded blinded bigotry. Such is 
the status of affairs today, and it is a 
very serious and vital question which now 
confronts every professed minister of 
Jesus Christ: Are you sowing tares in 
the furrows of time, the evil fruits of 
which you must reap throughout eter- 
nity? If the teachings of these Mormon 
Elders be according to the Bible, and the 
doctrines they advocate the same as those 
taught by Jesus and His Apostles; can 
you feel justified in uprooting and impov- 
erishing the same by sowing tares, circu- 
lating falsehoods, creating prejudice, and 
causing much bitter persecution? These 
are burning questions, pertinent ques- 
tions, questions which each should deride 
in the light and intelligence of the Holy 
Scriptures, and the revelations of God's 
divine will. We shall each and every one 
be called upon to give a strict account of 
our acts when we shall stand before that 
great tribunal on high, when He who was 
pierced for the sins of men, shall judsre 
and reward every one according to his 
works. We only make this journey of 
mortality once, we shall travel this road 
no more, therefore we should do all the 
good we can as we tread the weary way 
of life. "Be not deceived; God is not 
mockeu; for whatsoever a man soweth, 
that shall he also reap. For he that sow- 
eth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap cor- 
ruption ; but he that soweth to the Spirit 
shall of the opirit reap life everlasting." 
(Gal. 6:7-8.) 

While we now have life, and health, and 
strength, and the mercy of our loving 
Father is extended unto us with abund- 
ant jvindness and manifold goodness, let 
us not procrastinate, delay, or neglect to 
improve the opportunities at hand, o* 
fail to cultivate the privileges that are af- 
forded us. Overcome evil with good, sow 
the precious seeds of righteousness, and 
although the enemy may sow tares, be 
not discouraged, weary not, fight man- 
fully and valiantly for the truth. "Wait 
on the Lord; be of good courage, and He 
shall strengthen thine heart." (Psalms 
27:14.) 

Let each' one strive with might and mind 

To serve the Lord our God, 
To nreach the word In every clime 

And spread the truth abroad, 
Then shall we feel the Spirit's power— 

The Comforter and Guide. 
To lead u« on life's ruged way, 

No matter what betide. 



Whenever stamps are mailed to the of- 
fice, see to it, brethren, that they are 
so arranged and wrapped as not to stick 
together, and thus destroy the mucilage. 
We have lately received quite a number 
of stamps that were all glued together in 
a solid mass, and we kindly ask you to 
avoid such inconveniences. 



Idleness, that is the gate of all harms. 
An idle man is like a house that hath no 
walls: the devils may enter on every side. 
— Chaucer. 



Enthusiasm is the genius of sincerity, 
and truth accomplishes no victories with- 
out it.— Lord Lytton. 



Most men employ the first part of their 
lives to make the latt part miserable.— 
La Bruyere. 



THE SOUTHERN STAB. 



261 



SOMETHING ABOUT PROPHETS. 

BY ELDER JOSEPH H. LINES. 

The members of the Church of Jesus 
Christ of Latter-day Saints, commonly 
known as "Mormons," are considered by 
a great majority of the Christian world 
to be a very peculiar people in their re- 
ligious belief, but the person who makes 
an honest investigation of "Mormonism" 
cannot but reach the conclusion that the 
so-called peculiarity consists entirely in 
their being firm believers in the teachings 
of Holy Writ, and devout followers of 
the meek and lowly Nazarene; which are, 
indeed, peculiar traits possessed by but 
few in this enlightened age. Modern 
Christendom, generally speaking, find it 
very hard, and I may say impossible, to 
believe that God has again spoken from 
the heavens, and revealed again the full- 
ness of the everlasting Gospel through 
the Prophet Joseph Smith. Indeed, in 
this age of advanced thought, it is con- 
sidered almost blasphemy to believe in 
Prophets at all. The Latter-day Saints, 
to the contrary, hold that to disbelieve in 
Prophets is to depart from "the faith 
once delivered to the Saints," and there 
is an abundance of Scripture to sustain 
them in their belief. The history of 
God's dealings with His children here 
upon the earth, shows that for a period 
of over four thousand years, embracing 
the time from the placing of Adam and 
Eve in the Garden of Eden to the death 
of the Apostles of Christ, there was an 
almost unbroken succession of Prophets 
upon the earth, through whom God re- 
vealed His will unto His children. It is 
true that the Lord, at various periods of 
longer or shorter duration, withdrew 
from His children the gift of prophecy, 
but in all such cases the withdrawal of 
the heavenly gift was the result of trans- 
gression, and was a sure sign that the 
people were not in favor with God, as will 
be clearly seen by reading the third chap- 
ter of Micah, which plainly shows that 
when the sun went down over the Proph- 
ets and the day became dark over them; 
when the seers were ashamed and the 
diviners confounded; when there was no 
answer of God; when, instead of heav- 
enly inspired leaders who gave freely the 
bread of life, the heads thereof judged 
for reward, the priests taught for hire, 
and the Prophets divined for money, it 
was a curse, and not a blessing, brought 
upon the people because of wickedness. 
God, however, declares that He is full 
of power to declare unto Jacob his sin 
and unto Israel his transgression. Now, 
as the Lord says through Amos that He 
will do nothing unless He reveals His 
secrets to His servants, the Prophets, 
(Amos 3:7), we may reasonably expect 
that, whenever the Lord does declare 
unto Jacob his sin, and unto Israel his 
transgression, He will do so through the 
medium of Prophets. That this expecta- 
tion is reasonable must be patent to any- 
one who rends the emphatic declaration 
of the Lord that He does not change. 
(Mai. 3:0.) 

Thousands of years ago, God spoke to 
Israel and said: "Hear now my words: 
If there be a Prophet among you, I, the 
Lord, will make myself known unto him 
in a vision, and will speak unto him in a 
dream," and Solomon says that "where 
there is no vision the people perish." So, 
when Christians say there is not an in- 
snired i>»*ophet of God in the world today, 
they nl*o declare that the people are 
perishi"? for want of the bread of life, 
and vainly thirsting for the living water 
that flows from the fountain of eternal 
salvation. Well could the Lord say of 
modern Christendom, as He did of an- 



cient Israel: "For my people have com- 
mitted two evils; they have forsaken me, 
the fountain of living waters, and hewed 
them out cisterns, broken cisterns, that 
can hold no water." Though ancient 
Israel at times lost the gift of prophecy 
through sin, yet the Lord was always 
ready and willing to restore them to fa- 
vor whenever they manifested a sincere 
repentance. Isaiah says: "Let the wick- 
ed forsake his way, and the unrighteous 
man his thoughts; and let him return 
unto the Lord, and He will have mercy 
upon him, and to our God, for He will 
abundantly pardon." (Isaiah 55:7.) And 
the Lord Himself, speaking through Ma- 
lachi, says: "Return unto me and I will 
return unto you, saith the Lord of 
Hosts." (Mai. 3:7.) And if our Christian 
friends will forsake their idols and return 
to the God of Israel, we can promise them 
that the Lord will again restore them to 
favor and grant them again the glorious 
gifts and blessings of the Gospel, 
which they have been for many long cen- 
turies destitute of. 

Leaving the Old Testament and coming 
down to New Testament times, we find 
that the beginning of the Gospel of Christ 
was the voice of a Prophet of God crying 
in the wilderness of Judea, "Prepare ye 
the way of the Lord, make His paths 
straight." And as long as we can trace 
the history of the Church which Christ 
established, we find the gift of prophecy 
abundantly manifest among the Saints, 
even women enjoying the heavenly gift, 
which enabled them to pierce the vista of 
the future and reveal the mysteries of 
unborn time. Indeed, the gift of proph- 
ecy was one of the results of acceptance 
of tlie Gospel. 

When John the Baptist came preaching 
in the wilderness, he declared that, 
though he baptized alone with water, 
there should one come after him who 
would baptize them with the Holy Ghost. 
Christ came and promised His followers 
that when He should be taken from their 
midst, He would send them the Com- 
forter which would abide with them for- 
ever. Peter, upon the day of Pentecost, 
promised the assembled multitude that if 
they would repent and be baptized in 
the name of Jesus Christ, for the remis- 
sion of their sins, they would receive the 
gift of the Holy Ghost, and lest there 
should be some narrow-minded person 
there who would think that the promise 
was limited to those who heard it. Peter 
further said: "For the promise is unto 
you, and to your children, and to all that 
are nfar off, even as many as the Lord 
our God shall call." (Acts 2:39.) Peter 
again says: "The Lord is not slack con- 
cerning His promise, as some men count 
slackness: but is long suffering to-ns- 
ward. not willing that any should perish, 
but that all should come to repentance." 
(2 Peter 3:9.) 

From the above we learn that all man- 
kind are called upon to repent and accept 
the Gospel, and upon condition of doing 
so. are promised the gift of the Holy 
Ghost. Now, what will be the effect of 
the gift of the Holy Ghost upon those 
who receive it? For answer, we will not 
go to the preacher of modern Christian- 
ity, which, by the way, is very different 
from that which was taught by Christ 
and the Apostles, but we will take the 
Savior's advice and "search the Scrip- 
tures." Jesus sa ? d: "Howbeit when He, 
the spirit of truth, is come, He will guide 
you into all truth; for He shall not speak 
of Himself: bqt whatever he shall hear, 
that shall he speak: and He will show 
yon things to come." (John 16:13.) Tho 
abilitv to see things to come was one of 
the essential qualifications of the true 



Prophet in "ye olden time." Paul, the 
great Apostle, writing to the Corinthian 
Saints, and speaking of the glorious man- 
ifestations of the Spirit, or Holy Ghost, 
says that to one is given wisdom, to an- 
other knowledge, to another faith, to 
others the gifts of healing and the work- 
ing of miracles, and to another the gift of 
prophecy. (I Cor. 12:10.) Christian 
friend, won't you please look in your Bi- 
ble and see if the above quotations are 
not there, and if they are, then know of 
a surety that, either there are Prophets 
on the earth today, or else there is not a 
living soul in all the world who has re- 
ceived the gift of the Holy Ghost. And 
if there are none who receive the Holy 
Ghost today, then one of two things is 
certain; either there are none who are 
entering by the door into the fold of 
Christ, or else the promise of Christ and 
the Apostles has utterly failed. The Sa- 
vior again says: "But when the comfort- 
er is come whom I will send unto you 
from the Father, even the spirit of truth, 
which proceedeth from the Father, he 
shall testify of me." (John 15:26.) Now, 
would we know what the testimony of 
Jesus is? If we would, let us go to the 
writings of John the Revelator, and 
read the words spoken to him upon the 
lonely isle of Patmos, by the angel of 
the Lord, at whose feet he had fallen 
down to worship. "See thou do it not; I 
am thy fellow-servant, and of thy breth- 
ren that have the testimony of Jesus: 
worship God ; for the testimony of Jesus 
is the spirit of prophecy" (Rev. 19:10.) 
Now, Christian friend, let me ask you if 
you think there is just one person in this 
world who has the testimony of Jesus? 
And if you think there is, what is that 
testimony? "The testimony of Jesus is 
the spirit of prophecy." Dare you deny 
it? If you do, you deny the inspiration 
of the Scriptures, and proclaim Christ 
and the Apostles to have been base im- 
posters. On the other hand, if you ad- 
mit the inspirations of the above quota- 
tions, you also admit that Mormons are 
justified in declaring that modern Chris- 
tianity has departed far, very far, from 
"the faith that was once delivered to the 
Saints." 

Christianity, so-called, teaches that 
there were to be no more Prophets after 
the death of the Apostles, but either 
Christianity or the Bible is wrong, for 
the Bible teaches that when Christ as- 
cended up on high He led captivity cap- 
tive and gave gifts unto men, and that 
among those gifts were "Apostles and 
Prophets, who were, to perfect the Saints, 
perform the work of the ministry, and 
edify the body (church) of Christ "till we 
all come in the unity of the faith, and 
of the knowledge of the Son of God unto 
a perfect man. unto the measure of the 
stature of the fullness of Christ." (Bph. 
4:8-13.) Whtah goal of perfection we 
have not reached yet by any means. 

Paul in describing the Church of Christ 
in the twelfth chapter of his first epistle 
to the Corinthians, compares it to the 
body of a man. and says that as the body 
has many members, and that all the 
members have not the same office, so 
also is the body (church) of Christ He 
compares the various officers and bless- 
ings in the Church, such as Apostles, 
Prophets, etc.. the gifts of tongues, heal- 
ings, etc., to the various members of the 
human body, such as head, hands, feet, 
etc., and says that not one of these mem- 
bers can .be done away with, but that 
even those which seem, to uninspired 
man; to be least useful are necessary. 
That the head cannot say to the feet, we 
have no n«»ed oi thee, nor the feet to the 
head, we have no need of thee. Another 
tiling we notice in Paul's description of 



262 



THE SOUTHERN STAB. 



the Church is that the members thereof, 
whether they were Jew or Gentile, bond 
or free, were all baptized by one spirit 
into one body (church), and were all made 
to drink into one Spirit, even the Spirit 
of troth, the Holy Ghost, which guides 
into all truth and shows things to come. 
What a contrast with the teaching of 
the college-bred dispenser of modern 
Christianity, who tells us that the mem- 
bers of Christ's Church are baptized by 
many spirits into many bodies (churches), 
and are made to drink of many spirits, 
none of which guide into all truth or 
show things to come; and that, though 
the feet (pastor, deacon and members) 
have kicked the head (Apostles, Prophets 
and blessings) off of the body, they still 
have the complete Church of Christ. 

John the Revelator, while in vision on 
the isle of Patmos, saw the time (still 
future) when for a thousand two hun- 
dred and threescore days, two servants 
of God would prophesy in the streets of 
Jerusalem, after which, by the power of 
the evil one, they will be put to death, 
and the inhabitants of the earth will re- 
joice because the servants of God are 
slain. But after three and one-half days, 
they will rise again and be taken up to 
heaven- (Rev. 11:3-11.) It would no 
doubt be interesting to the Christian 
world to be able to lift the veil of the 
future and see who it will be who will 
kill those two Prophets and rejoice when 
they are slain. Suffice it to say that in 
past ages when the inspired servants of 
the Lord have been martyred, they have 
alwnvs met their fote at the hands of 
people, who. while professing a belief in 
the dead Pronhets, would not believe in, 
nor tolerate the presence of the living: 
and it is just possible that in the case of 
the two Prophets who will be sin in in 
Jerusalem, that history will repeat itself. 
Further on in the same vision John saw 
the time when even angels would leave 
the throne of God with the seven last 
plagues to be poured out npon the earth, 
and after describing the pouring out of 
the first two vials of wrnth snd the re- 
sult, he says: "And th#» third angel 
poured out his vial upon the rivers and 
fountains of waters: and they became 
blood. And I heard the angel of the 
waters say, Thou art righteous. O Lord, 
which art. and wast, and shalt be, be- 
cause thou hast judged thus. "For thev 
have shed, the blood of Saints and Proph- 
et*, and thou hast given them blood to 
drink: for they are worthy." (Rev. 10:4- 
G.) Now, how will it be possible for the 
people living in the last days, even when 
the seven last plagues are being poured 
out upon the earth, to have shed the 
blood of Saints and Prophets, if there 
were to be no more Prophets after the 
death of the Apostles of Christ eighteen 
hundred years ago? 

From the foregoing It can be clearly 
seen that the belief of the Mormon peo- 
ple in Prophets is neither unreasonable 
nor unscriptural: and that without 
Prophets in the last days there cannot 
be a complete fulfillment of the Scrip- 
tures, of which the Savior said that "not 
one iot or tittle should fail till all should 
be fulfilled." Christ spoke the truth. 
The promises of God never have and 
never will fail, and all the prophetic ut- 
terances of those holy men of old will a* 
surely come to pass, as that the day will 
follow the night. Already many of the 
prophecies relating to the last^ days have 
been fulfilled. The angel has flown 
through the midst of heaven and re- 
stored again the everlasting Gospel. The 
sun has again risen in glory over the 
Prophets of Almighty God, and the day 
is bright with the promise that it never 



more shall set. The Kingdom of God is 
set up; the gifts and blessings of old are 
being enjoyed. One of a city and two of 
a family, the honest in heart, are being 
gathered from every land and from every 
clime, to Zion, where God gives them 
pastors after His own heart, who feed 
them with knowledge and understanding. 
The mountain of the Lord's .house is es- 
tablished in the tops of the mountains, 
and all nations flow unto it. The heralds 
of salvation are proclaiming in the ears 
of all nations the heaven-sent warning: 
"Come out of her, my people, that ye be 
not partakers of her sins, and 
that ye receive not of her plagues." 
As servants of the living God, 
we say to all people. Christian friends, 
strike off the fetters that bind 
you to believe in the foolish traditions 
and vain philosophy of uninspired men, 
and accept the plain and precious truths 
of the Gospel of Christ, and you too shall 
know that the so-called peculiar doc- 
trine, nicknamed "Mormonism," is noth- 
ing more or less than the teachings of 
the Savior and His Apostles—Bible doc- 
trine, and the power of God unto salva- 
tion to all who will believe and obey it. 



What Hai Become of Hdl? 

Deseret News. 

This is the startling question asked by 
the Atlanta Constitution. The paper 
makes these observations: 

"One reason why our modern pulpit 
lacks the force which characterized the 
pulpit of fifty years ago is that preachers 
do not put enough fire and brimstone into 
the sermons which they preach from Sab- 
bath to Sabbath. Instead of bringing 
the world up to the standard of the Gos- 
pel they are bringing the Gospel down 
to the standard of the world, and the 
outcome of this departure from the beat- 
en paths of orthodoxy must eventually be 
the overthrow of Christianity unless di- 
vine power intervenes to prevent this re- 
sult. We are hopeful enough to believe 
that the pendulum will soon swing back, 
and that our ministers will return to the 
methods of the old school, but in the 
meantime, as we listen to the chiming of 
the Sabbath bells as they float out this 
morning on the tranquil air and summons 
us to the discourses which await us in 
the sanctuaries, we find o.urselves con- 
fronted with the question, "What has 
become of hell?" 

Our Southern contemporary is not alone 
in the sentiment of regret at the elimina- 
tion from modern theology of the doc- 
trine of fire and brimstone. Rev. George 
Wolfe Shinn, in an article in the North 
American Review, raises the same 
piquant question. He argues in this way: 

"The conscience of men must be 
aroused, and the most effectual quicken- 
ing of conscience is through the dread of 
the judgment to come. We may talk as 
we will about the evanescent nature of 
fear, and we may talk about its being an 
inferior motive, but in all other things in 
life it is appealed to. Take it out of life, 
and chaos comes in ordinary matters. 
Because it has been taken out of religion 
—out of the religion of our time— there 
has ben a weakening of the force of re- 
ligion. If we had perfectly normal be- 
ings to deal with— and that is a modern 
way of saying, if we were all without sin 
—then might there be no reference to 
fear, but an appeal to everything high 
and holy within us. We have to do with 
beings who are sinful and who must be 
led up to the higher motives by the exer- 
cise of the power. What, then, has be- 
come of hell? It has not been obliterated. 
It cannot be obliterated. Retribution ex- 
ists as an awful fact back of all figura- 
tive language. Men in our days have 



overlooked retribution in seeking to get 
rid of materialistic notions concerning 
hell. The time has come to recall the 
awful fact of retribution. But it must 
be done discreetly, and always with 
those exceptions in mind which greatly 
modify it." 

It is noticeable that in both these quo- 
tations the admission is made that mod- 
ern Christianity is weakening, and that 
the ultimate result will be its "over- 
throw." This is important, though the 
reasoning that the doctrine of hell is the 
central point or the corner stone of trae 
religion is false. The central point is the 
doctrine of the Fatherhood of God, and 
the weakening has come as a result of 
the loss of knowledge of God, the Father. 
The declaration that God is "incompre- 
hensible," was the mortal blow to the 
Christianity of JeBiis, whose express mis- 
sion was to declare and to make known 
the Father. Let theology return, not to 
the lake of brimstone, but to the bosom 
of the Father. 



-NOT HUSBANDS ENOUGH." 

Saints' Herald, Lamonl, Iowa. 

It appears that Utah is unique in sev- 
eral ways. In the Salt Lake Tribune, 
for June 12, 1900, in a report of a con- 
ference of the Y. L. M. I. A., occurs the 
following: 

♦•Miss Sarah Eddlngton and Mrs. Maria Y. 
Don gal made brief remarks to the young la- 
dles, congratulating them upon the progress 
thev have made and are making in their im- 
provement work. Mrs. Dougal said that 
marriageable girls are so much more nu- 
merous than marriageable young men, that a 
good many of the girls must necessarily re- 
main single, and so she adlsed them to lit 
themselves for the missionary field, saying 
she was confident that women could preach 
the Gospel as forcefully and as logically as 
their brothers." 

For some time past there have been 
telegrams in various papers something 
like the following: 

44 A carload of girls, converted to "Mormon- 
Ism." passed through Denver today en route 
to Utan. They were In charge of a Deacon 
and his wife. They came from Missouri, 
Illinois and other states." 

Dispatches similar to this have come 
from various places. The Deseret News 
comments editorially on these reports, 
under the caption, "An Absurd Dispatch," 
and ridicules the idea of there being 
girls in car load lots sent to Utah. Among 
the reasons presented for pronouncing 
the news absurd, the News presents this: 

••One fact ought to be known, as It would 
furnish a sufficient refutation of such sto- 
ries as that wired from Denver. That Is. 
there are hosts of marriageable girls and 
women In Utah wtoo are single, and appar- 
ently have no opportunities of entering the 
matrimonial state. It Is something that is 
srreatly deplored by thoughtful people anx- 
ious for the general welfare. There Is not a 
town or settlement In Utah without a large 
number of young women, capable of mar- 
riage, -who seem to have no present chance 
to become wives and mothers, for wlilch 
nature has designed them. There Is a back- 
wardness on the part of many men. young 
and old, to embark on the sea of matrimony. 
Whether It is for fear of the expense which 
accompanies family responsibilities in these 
extravagant times, or for other causes, Is 
not explained, but the condition exists and 
It Is one that gives reason for serious re- 
flection." 

From the foregoing quotations it seems 
that Utah is confronted with a condi- 
tion that exists in very few, if any other, 
places. In this country the number of 
females has usually been slightly smaller 
than the number of males, except pos- 
sibly immediately following the great 
wars. It will be interesting to watch 
the census returns to see what the true 
conditions are. The idea seems to be 
somewhat prevalent among our Utah re- 
ligionists that there is an urgent need 
for husbands. Of course the girls must 
get married; and it there are not men 
to marry them, what next? The Salt 
Lake people (the men) have wonderfully 
broad ideas on matrimony, and they wilj 
probably solve the problem some way. 



THE SOUTHERN STAB. 



268 



THE REDEMPTION OF ZION. 

The Saints Are Marching On to Success and Victory — Tithe Paying Not a Question of Money, 

But of Principle. 

Discourse Delivered by Apostle Brigham YO*ung, at Salt Lake City, April 6, 1900. 



I take great pleasure in bearing testi- 
mony to the remarks that have been made 
by President Snow this morning. I am 
thankful to God and to our President for 
the testimony that he has given us. It 
arouses in my mind many reflections, 
brings before me the past history of this 
Church and foreshadows the future des- 
tiny of this people. God has been merci- 
ful to the Latter-day Saints, and if there 
are any men opposing us that have the 
idea that we do not pray for them, they 
are mistaken. We pray the Lord to soften 
the hearts of our enemies. We pray that 
they may be turned from their evil ways 
and not kick against the prices, but seek 
to forsake the evil that is within them 
and to do good. They are, however, in 
the hands of God, as we are. 

We are riad to know that this people 
have gained victory after victory. They 
have marched on, conquering and to con- 
quer. In oar youth, as stated by our 
President, when struggling against fearful 
odds, we came out greater, nobler, better 
soldiers of the cross than when we en- 
tered into this vortex of persecution ; and 
now in our manhood, in our riper years, 
thank God that we have heard the voice 
of our leader saying that we are marching 
on to success and victory — to the time 
when men and nations will arise up and 
say, "Thou blessed people, that have 
fought the good fight, that have led the 
way and established righteousness in the 
land of our fathers." I expect to see this 
day. There is no power that can battle 
successfully against our Father and God. 
If we are His people, we are sure to win. 
If we are not His, how is it ^at we have 
been so successful from the beginning? 
and have through His power, in which we 
have trusted, grown to be seventy years 
old, instead of oeinz a mere child in swad- 
dling clothes? God has done it; He has 
?:iven us these rights and blessings. I 
elt in my heart while the President was 
talking that I could prophesy to those 
who fight against us, Do your worst; do 
your best; try to accomplish all the evil 
that is in your hearts ; but as true as God 
lives this kingdom will sweep on, this 
Church will progress, and the Kingdom 
of God will be as the stone cut out of 
the mountain without hands — it will 
crush all opposition. Now, that is not 
disloyal, because God will do it, not man. 

I am not onnosed to any man who seeks 
to do right. I am not opposed to any 
government that seeks to give liberty to 
the people and tne privilege to exercise 
that free agency which God has given to 
all men. Every man and woman must 
have their agency. o man can take it 
from the sons and daughters of our 
Father. 

It occurred to me this morning while 
sitting here that if I happened to be 
called upon to speak, I would read a 
part of the 29th chapter of Alma, in the 
Book of Mormon. 

"O, that I were an angel, and could 
have the wish of mine heart, that I 
might go forth and speak with the trump 
of God, with a voice to shake the earth, 
and cry repentance unto every people; 

"Yea, I would declare unto every soul 
as with a voice of thunder, repentance, 
and the plan of redemption, that they 
should repent and come unto our God, 
that there might not be more sorrow upon 
all the face of the earth. 

"But, behold I am a man, and do sin 
in my wish ; for I ought to be content 
with the things wbicu the Lord hath al- 
lotted unto me. 

"I ought not to harrow up in my de- 
sires, the firm decree of a just God, for I 
know that He granteth unto men accord- 
ing to their desire, whether it be unto 
death or unto nte; yea, I know that he 



alloteth unto men according to their wills, 
whether they be unto salvation or unto 
destruction. 

"Yea, and I know tnat good and evil 
have come before all men; for he that 
knoweth not good from evil is blameless; 
but he that knoweth good and evil, to him 
it is given according to his desires; 
whether he desireth good or evil, to him it 
is given according co his desires ; whether 
he desireth good or evil, life or death, joy 
or remorse of conscience. 

"Now, seeing that 1 know these things, 
why should I desire more than to per- 
form the work to which I have been 
called? 

"Why should I desire that I was an 
angel, that I could speak unto all the 
ends of the eartn? 

"For, behold, the Lord doth grant unto 
all nations, of their own nation and 
tongue, to teach His word; yea, in wis- 
dom, all that he seeth fit that they should 
have; therefore we see that the Lord 
doth counsel in wisdom, according to that 
which is just and true. ' 

The Lord is with His people, and I 
know it We have learned to Know good 
from evil. Three score years and ten shall 
be the days of man on earth. We have 
arrived at the full stature of a man; for 
we are three score years and ten this day, 
and if this people will arise in their man- 
hood, as they have struggled to their feet 
in their childhood and youth, God will 
give them the strength of a man. They 
shall have the power to build up and in- 
habit, to sow and reap, and if the snows 
do not come in the mountains, God will 
send through the faith of the people, the 
pleasant rains to moisten the earth, that 
vegetation may spring forth and gladden 
the hearts of ail. Now I learn a good 
many lessons myself from what I read to 
you. though I have not reflected so much, 
perhaps, as I will on the words of Alma. 

I heard a man say in relation to tith- 
ing: "I don't want to pay my tithing, 
unless I can make a showing that will 
be a credit to me and really help to 
build up Zion. If I could put in $10,000, 
I would be glad to do it, but I have noth- 
ing. I could pay a little tithing, but the 
idea seems ridiculous for me to step for- 
ward and pay a dollar in tithing. It 
seems to me like I was making a mockery 
of tnis sacred principle." .but I take the 
other view of this, and I said to him, 
"My friend, if you were a child and re- 
ceived five cents. I would caution you to 
remember the fact that you owed half a 
cent tithing, and when you had received 
another and another five cents, until they 
amounted to fifty cents, I would advise 
you to go and pay your tithing on that, 
not for the sake of 1 the money, but for 
the sake of principle." If it were a 
question of money, where would have 
been the salvation of this people? When 
President Snow was Bpeaking this morn- 
ing I felt that the power of God was 
manifest in our preservation and that 
money had nothing to do with it. The 
everlasting power of our Father has 
brought this people to see this auspicious 
day. If every man and woman would 
follow the example of the widow and cast 
in their mites, they would be acting upon 
principle. The amount of money paid 
has nothing to do with it. It is the prin- 
ciple which God has commanded us to ob- 
serve. This is the idea that we want to 
instill into the hearts of the people of 
this generation, especially at this time, 
when the servant of God has delivered 
unto you and me the message that the 
time has come when this revelation, given 
on the 8th da^ of July 1838, in Far West. 
Caldwell county, Missouri, must be ob- 
served. That revelation has now come to 
the front. It is as if God had inspired 
His servant to wirte a new revelation to 
the people, which must be observed, be- 



cause it lies at the foundation of our pros- 
perity in these mountains. Gen. Thomas 
L. Kane once said to me : "This land, on 
the backbone of the American continent, 
from Mexico to Canada, it seems to me, 
belongs to the 'Mormon' people. They led 
the way into the Uocky mountains, and 
occupied these valleys, and they ought to 
have the land." Well, there are not many 
people that think that, but I am of the 
same opinion as Gen. Kane. We ought 
to have this land. uut in relation to our 
preservation upon this land, I have felt 
sometimes very insecure. Alma wished 
that he were an angel, that his voice 
could be heard by the whole world and 
that he could convert all the sons and 
daughters of Adam to the Gospel which 
he had received. I would that 1 had a 
hundred thousand dollars to pay in as 
tithing, not because it would make a good 
showing and I would be taiked aoout. 
but for the ver/ principles sake. 
And some have the ambition to be spoken 
of in the midst of Israel. But I want to 
say to you that tithing is a principle that 
God has established for the training of 
men. It has been with us in our cnild- 
hood and in our boyhood and in our young 
manhood, and a^arently it has almost 
but for the very principle's sake, 
been a dead letter at times. But the rev- 
elation has come to us in our manhood, 
when we have reached a stage wherein 
we know God. and having received this 
knowledge ana being of the full stature 
of a man, we can rise up as one man and 
obe~ this commandment, which has come 
from God through His authorized ser- 
vant. I appeal to you on this point. Let 
every man and woman in this Church arise 
and do that which God has called upon 
them to do, and this land may be sancti- 
fied and be a land of safety unto us. I 
do not wish to utter a threat, but 1 do 
know this: every time we have disre- 
garded and set at naught the command- 
ments of Almighty God, we have paid for 
it. We must learn, if it must needs be, 
by the things we suffer. By and by the 
Saints will prove to all concerned that 
this principle of tithing is dear to them, 
and they will surely tulfill to the very 
letter what God has called upon them to 
do. 

In a little time you will hear something 
like this : "Well, the 'Mormons' are mov- 
ing again. They are leaving Utah, Ne- 
vada, Arizona, New Mexico, Old Mexico, 
Wyoming, Idaho and all these places 
wherever they are located, and they are 
having another exodus." Where are they 
going? Why, you will find out that it will 
be a pretty strong company going down 
to Jackson county .Missouri, to redeem 
and build up Zion, but the word will go 
forth that tne "Mormons" are having an- 
other exodus. The people will say that 
we are going down to innabit this land 
of Missouri, and "we are willing they 
should." Some that are afar off may 
howl, but the people mostly interested 
will be glad to see the "Mormons" return 
to that land and build it up. Some will 
say. "We have been upon that land and 
it has proved a land of death unto us." 
They will have suffered the full force of 
that desolating sickness which will cover 
the land, even in Jackson county, Mis- 
souri. But when our leader calls upon 
the Latter-day Saints that are worthy to 
move down there, the land will be pre- 
pared for the Latter-day Saints — not 
"Mormons." Those who go to Jackson 
county in that day will be Latter-day 
Saints. The "Mormons" will be left in 
Utah, with enough Latter-day Saints to 
control them. 

I will tell you what is in my heart. We 
are preparing this day in our manhood 
for the most glorious epoch that has ever 
come to man upon the earth. If you do 
not feel in your hearts that this is the 
most glorious day that we ever witnessed 
on this earth, then you do not feel as I 
do. I feel that there is more of the spirit 
of God, more wisdom, more knowledge, 
more light, more intelligence and a better 
union among those that are Latter-day 
I bear you m^ testimony that the provi- 
dences of God have been with this people, 
and the scenes that will come before us 
will be such that we will need all the 



264 



THE SOUTHERN STAB. 



REPORT OF MI88ION CONFERENCES FOR WEEK ENDING JUNE 23, 1900. 



PRESIDENT 



titH). A. Ad anu .,*,..„..„ 

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W- H. BoytET^. ...... 

Don C. Beu»ou , 

L. M, Kebefcor .....„„„. 
H, Z. Lund . 



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power and all the union we can get to 
stand and accomplish his work. Mow is 
the accepted time to thrust in our sickles 
and reap that which has been sown among 
us and which is now ripe. It was sown 
in 1838 ; it is ripe today. That revelation 
is ripe and the fulfillment of it is ripe. 
We are now in our manhood, when we 
can receive and act upon it without ques- 
tion. God will bear us off victorious and 
we can smile like Him who sits in the 
heavens and laughs, for we are told that 
He shall have the wicked in derision, and 
this people will smile to see the fruitless 
efforts of those who would retard the 
progress of the work. They may have been 
successful sometimes in the past for a 
little season, but through it all they have 
seen us grow until we have now arrived 
to our full manhood. Thank God we see 
this day. God bless you and all who are 
interested in this work, is my humble 
prayer, in the name of Jesus. Amen. 

Everyday Goodness. 

Youth's Companion. 

The stout man had jostled and fought 
his way through the crowd at the en- 
trance to the Brooklyn bridge, and was 
scowling fiercely as he pushed out a bit? 
dent in his hat. Seated next to him in 
the bridge car was a man who had an of- 
fice in the same building. 

The stout man pointed to the battered 
hat and said, "I believe men — and wom- 
en, too, for that matter — are no better 
than savages. It's every one for himself. 
There isn r t a day passes but that I see 
something which convinces me civiliza- 
tion is only skin-deep." 

4 *l'm afraid you see only one side of it," 
replied his neighbor. "There are lots ot 



good things to be seen every day, too. 
Now, here is something that gives m# a 
deal of happiness during the year." lie 



pulled a small note-book from an inside 
pocket. Then he went on: "I used to 
feel as you do— that people are very self- 
ish; but when 1 began to study them more 
closely, I saw so many pleasant things 
that I got in the habit of making notes of 
them, and so I carry this little book. 
Here s what I've jotted down today, for 
instance: 

"On my way to the bridge this morn- 
ing my hat blew off. I chased it, but be- 
fore I reached it three other men were 
after it, and one of them caught it for 
me. Now, there was an entirely unself- 
ish act on the part of men who were 
strangers to me; and you may see the 
same thing any windy day. 

"As I was crossing City Hall park a 
woman in front of me dropped a glove 
without knowing it. Two boys made a 
dive for it and shouted. 'Lady, lady, 
you've dropped your glove!' Another act 
of kindness. 

"Just as I reached Broadway a truck- 
man's horse fell. The driver had hardly 
left his seat before the drivers of three 
other trucks stopped, got down, and be- 
gan to help raise the horse. They did it 
because they saw a fellow-workman in 
trouble, and knew that they might need 
the same help at any time. 

"On my way back to the office I passed 
a heavy, two-horse load of flour, stuck 
on the car track. I stopped a minute to 



look, and saw several men put their hands 
to the muddy wheels and push till the 
dray started. They had no selfish inter- 
est in that load of flour; they only want- 
ed to help. 

"These are little things, but I think 
they show something very different from 
savagery. Some days 1 see even more, 
and some things I see every day. The 
reason we don't notice them more is be- 
cause they are so common. You watch 
when we get off the car now, and you'll 
see half a dozen of these men give the 
papers they have just glanced through to 
the newsboy at the foot of the stairs. 
They might easily throw them away, but 
they know the boys can sell them again 
and thereby make a few extra pennies." 

And the stout man himself, when he 
reached the foot of the stairs, dropped a 
pace behind his neighbor, and hastily 
slipped his paper into the hands of a 
nigged newsboy. 



Abstracts From Correspondence. 

Bennettsville, S. C. 
To The Southern Star. 

Allow me space in your paper to give 
my testimony concerning the truthful- 
ness of the Gospel. 1 have been a mem- 
ber of the church for five years, and can 
say that I feel to rejoice that I have had 
the privilege of embracing the plan es- 
tablished by our Savior. Having been 
brought up in the Methodist church, I 
was contented with its teachings until 
the time came when the Lord sent His 
servants in our midst to show us the 
true light. I was only too willing to ac- 
cept the glad message, and the five years 
spent as a member of the Church of Je- 
sus Christ of Latter-day Saints have 
been the happiest of my life. Although 
we do not gain the love of the world by 
becoming members of the true church, 
yet by obedience to divine will the Lord 
blesses us. The Lord is not slack con- 
cerning His promises and does care for 
His chosen people. Ever praying for the 
good work. Your sister in the Gospel, 
Lizzie Fowler. 

Concord Depot, Campbell Co., Va. 
To the Editor Southern Star: 

It is my desire to write a few lines in 
regard to the Mormon people. I have 
often heard them spoken evil about, 
but since hearing the Elders preach I be- 
lieve them to be good people. For about 
twenty-five years I have been a member 
of the Baptist church, but last March 
discovered much error in their system of 
worship. Elders Lines and Ostler visited 
us and preached at our house. I never 
heard the Bible explained so clearly be- 
fore. My husband being sick, desired 
them to administer to him, which they 
did. At that time he was not able to at- 
tend to his work, but by the blessings of 
God through the administrations of His 
holy servants, he is now able to work. 
While I am now a non-Mormon, yet I 
hope soon to be a Saint in very deed. 
Mary A. Ryan. 



Necessity is the last and 
weapon. — Livy. 



strongest 



Mr. Spurgeon's Parable. 

Mr. Spurgon once made a good parable. 
He said: 

'There was a tyrant who summoned 
one of his subjects into his presence and 
ordered him to make a chain. The poor 
blacksmith- that was his occupation — 
had to go to work and forge the chain. 
When it was done, he brought it into the 
presence of the tyrant, and was ordered 
to take it away and make it twice the 
length. He brought it again to the ty- 
rant, and again he was ordered to double 
it. Back he came when he had obeyed 
this order, and the tyrant looked at it, 
and then commanded his servants to 
bind the man hand and foot with the 
chain he had made and cast him into 
prison. 

"That is what the devil does with men. 
He makes them forge their own chain, 
and then binds them hand and foot with 
it, and casts them into outer darkness." 
That is just what every sinner is doing 
—that is just what drunkards, gamblers, 
blasphemers are doing. But, thank God, 
we can tell them of a Deliverer. The 
Son of God has power to break every one 
of their fetters if they will only come to 
Him. 

Releases and Appointments. 
Releases. 

J. W. Vance, Mississippi conference. 

M. N. Fisher, Mississippi conference. 

A. H. Kempton, North Alabama con- 
ference. 

F. W. Karren, North Alabama confer- 
ence. 

E. W. Allen, Florida conference. 

R. E. Butler, South Alabama confer- 
ence. 

Willis Call, South Carolina conference. 

M. M. Norman, South Carolina confer- 
ence. 

Transfers. 

Thos. East, from South Carolina to 
North Alabama conference. 



THE DEAD. 

Henry W' infant son of Brother 
and Sister Henry W. Rucker, died June 
17 1900. 

*The parents of the little one which has 
been called away have ever been untiring 
workers in the cause of .truth. We trust 
God will bless them and comfort them ; 
that peace will abound in their hearts. 



Ours the seedtime. God alone 
Beholds the seed of what Is sown; 
Beyond our vision, Weak and dim, 
The harvest-time is hid with Him. 

—J. G. Whittler. 

On Folly's lips eternal tatllngs dwell; 
Wisdom speaks little, but that little well. 

—Bishop. 

A vile conceit in pompous words expressed. 
Is like a clown In royal purple dressed. 

—Pope. 




"OUT THOUOn WE t OQ AN ANGEL FROM HEAVf/f.PBEAtH ANY 
OTMEB GOSPEL UNTO YOU THAN THAT WHICH WE 

HAV E PREACHED UNTO YOU, LET hlM M ACtUftSLD*^ V^EWf 

— = ' tesfftjEa "" "^ 




^?T- 



Vol. 2. 



Chattanooga, Tbnn., Saturday, July 21, 1900. 



No. 84. 



t< 



THE VERY PLACE." 



The following, taken from the History of 
Utah, written by the gifted poet and au- 
thor—Bishop O. F. Whitney— beautifully ex- 



presses the entranced vision of the pioneers 
as they gazed upon the Great Salt Lake 
Valley— then desolate and uninhabited; and 



the impressions of the mind that great and 
good man, Brlgham Young, as he reclined 
in Apostle Woodruff's carriage, and viewed 
the vast area of country which lay before 
him, on that memorable Pioneer Day in 
1847. -Ed. 

Silence and desolation reign. A silence 
unbroken, save by the cricket's ceaseless 
chirp, the roar of the mountain torrent, 
or the whir and twitter of the passing 
bird. A desolation of centuries, where 
earth seems heaven-forsaken, where 
hermit Nature, watching, waiting, weeps 
and worships God amid eternal soli- 
tudes. 

A voice breaks the stillness. It is the 
voice of Brigham Young. Pale and wast- 
ed from his recent illness, and still re- 
clining wearily in the light vehicle which 
has borne him through the mountains, 
the pioneer chieftain sweeps with a pres- 
cient glance the gorgeous panorama 
spread out before him— the contrasted 
splendors of mountain, valley, lake and 
stream, glorious and glittering in the 
summer's sunlight. Far over and beyond 
all these extends that inspired gaze. It 
sees not merely the present, but the fu- 
ture; not only that which is, but that 
which is to be, when from these barren 
sands shall rise, as rose proud Venice 
from the sea, a city fair as Adriatic's 
island queen, and no less wealthy, famed 
and powerful. It sees the burning plains 
to blooming gardens turn; the desert 
change to an oasis; the sterile valley, the 
reproach of Nature, which naught before 
had borne, teeming with varied life and 
yielding rich fruits and rare flowers for 
the sustenance and delight of man. Au 
inanimate Sarah, a barren Rachel, trans- 
formed by the touch of God to a joyful 
mother of children. The curse of centu- 
ries is lifted, the fetters of ages are 
stricken off, and the redeemed earth, like 
a freed captive, looks up to heavep and 
smiles. Cities, towns and hamlets mul- 
tiply; farms, fields, orchards and vine- 
yards fill all the land. Egypt, the wilder- 
ness are past; another Canaan appears: 
and here a Moses who shall smite the 



rock, a Joshua to sit in judgment and 
divide to Israel his inheritance. 

Still he gazed on. Still rolled before 
that enraptured sight, in waves of pro- 
phetic imagery, the sunlit panorama of 
the future. Saw he no cloud? Yes, one. 
He thought upon the oppressor and he 
frowned, for he was human, and he re- 
membered the past; upon the Master and 
His mission of mercy, and a softened 
look played upon the wan and wasted 
features. Yes, he too could forgive, as 
he hoped with all men to be forgiven. If 
the Gentile came he should be welcome, 
blessing should be given, for cursing, and 
the olive branch, and not the sword, 
would Ephriam extend to Japheth. But 
he must come peaceably, give friendship 
for friendship, and honor the laws of the 
commonwealth. No stirrers-up of strife, 
no monocracy would be tolerated. Jap- 
heth, if he desired it, should indeed 
"dwell in the tents of Shem," but he 
must dwell there in peace and in propri- 
ety, or his room would be preferable to 
his company. 

Is it all fancy? Did no such thoughts 
sweep through the mind of the 
Mormon leader that day — one who 
believed himself, as tens of thou- 
sands believed him, a divinely ap- 
pointed law-giver, a Moses indeed 
to another and veritable Israel? Dichno 
such sentiments swell his breast, as he 
surveyed for the first time the land, the 
desert land, which his directing genius 
and his people's united industry were 
destined to redeem and render immortal? 
Perhaps we shall see as we proceed. 

"The very place." Such were his sim- 
ple words, but they were words that 
spoke volumes. Says Wilford Woodruff, 
who, with Heber C, Kimball, Lorenzo 
D. Young and others, had remained be- 
hind with the President, and now stood 
with him upon the narrow plateau near 
the mouth of Emigration Canyon: "We 
gazed in wonder and admiration upon 
the vast valley before us, with the waters 
of the, Great Salt Lake glistening in the 
sun, mountains towering to the skies, and 
streams of pure water running through 
the beautiful valley. It was the grandest 
view we had ever seen till this moment. 
Pleasant thoughts ran through our minds 
at the prospect that not many years 



hence the house of God would be estab- 
lished in the mountains and exalted 
above the hills, while the valleys would 
be converted into orchards, vineyards and 
fruitful fields, cities erected to the name 
of the Lord, and the standard of ZJon 
unfurled for the gathering of the nations. 
President Young expressed his entire sat- 
isfaction at the appearance of the valjey 
as a resting place for the Saints, and felt 
amply repaid for his journey. While ly- 
ing upon his bed in my carriage, gazing 
upon the scene before us, many things 
of the future, concerning the valley, were 
shown to him in vision." 

Some of the pioneers, however, weary 
and worn by their long pilgrimage, were 
far from enchanted at the prospect of re- 
maining in such a desolate place. Their 
hearts sank within them at the announce- 
ment of their leader, that this was the 
very spot — a spot which he claimed to 
have previously seen in a vision, as held 
in reserve by the Almighty for His peo- 
ple. Said Harriet Young: "Weak and 
weary as I am, I would rather go a 
thousand miles farther than remain in 
such a forsaken place as this." Ellen 
Kimball, her sister pioneer, felt likewise. 
Clara D. Young was the only one of the 
three who felt at all satisfied with the 
situation. Said she in later years: "It 
did not look so dreary to me as it did to 
the other ladies. They were terribly dis- 
appointed because there were no trees. 
My poor mother was almost heartbroken. 
I don't remember a tree that could be 
called a tree." Lorenzo D. Young says 
there was a scrub-oak or a cottonwood 
here and there, but that the general out- 
look was dreary and disheartening. And 
thus were opinions and expressions di- 
vided. All in all, it is evident, from the 
concensus of their views, which might 
be multiplied ad libitum, that beyond the 
scenic glory of Salt Lake Valley, which 
still remains unrivalled, its inviting feat- 
ures at that time were more visible to the 
eye of faith than to the natural vision. 

Continuing, Apostle Woodruff says: 
"After gazing awhile upon this scenery, 
we moved four miles across the table- 
land into the valley, to the encampment 
of our brethren, who had arrived two 
days before us. They had pitched upon 
the banks of two small streams of pure 



266 



THE SOUTHERN STAR. 



water, and had commenced plowing. On 
our arrival they had already broken five 
acres of land, and had begun planting po- 
tatoes in the Valley of the Great Salt 
Lake." 
* * ••/*''* * 

Not many seasojttweJlapsed, after the 
pioneer year 1847, "before the main city 
of the Sajnts, which served as a model 
for' scores of oth&s, with iU wide and 
regular streets flanked with shade trees, 
neat and substantial dwellings embow- 
ered in grove* and -gardens, crystal 
streams fresh ' from the towering snow- 
crowned hills, flowing 'down both sideH 
of its charming a&d healthful thorough 
fares, presented the appearance, especi- 
ally in summer, when orchards were all 
abloom, of one vast, variegated bouquet, 
radiant wity beafcty and redolent of 
mingled perfumes. The transformation 
from sage-brush and sunflower was 
truly wonderful, and the fair and peace- 
ful city, as peaceful as it was fair, was 
a perpetual delight, not only to its build- 
ers and inhabitants, but likewise to th» 
stranger guest, the weary traveler and 
passing pilgrim from abroad. 
(History of Utah, Vol. 1, Chap. 18.) 



GOD'S GREATEST GIFT. 

BY ELDER DAVID H. ELTON. 
(Continued from Page 259.) 

FAITH — Now that we have discovered 
from the inspired testimony of the sacred 
writers of the Holy Bible the several prin- 
ciples and ordinances of the Gospel of Je- 
sus Christ, let us not weary in well doing, 
but rather let us diligently pursue our in- 
vestigation with an earnest, souFs sincere 
desire to become better acquainted with 
God and His laws, that we might more 
fully discern the worth, beauty and excel- 
lence of these simple constituent rules of 
the Gospel. It is God's greatest gift we 
would obtain, and inasmuch as "All Scrip- 
ture is given by inspiration of God, and is 
profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for 
correction, for instruction in righteous- 
ness; that the man of God may be per- 
fect, thoroughly furnished unto all good 
works" (II. Tim. iii. :16, 17) ; it shall be 
our sole aim and object to give the pure 
and unadulterated teachings, of the sa- 
cred- word. 

Peter has given us some important coun- 
sel and instruction which it would be 
well for us to keep in mind and not for- 
get in our search of the Scriptures, for 
we shall find that it will greatly aid and 
benefit us, and guard us against the fatal 
mistakes many make who apply private 
interpretation and spiritual izat ion to the 
word of God. The admonition of the 
faithful Apostle is as follows : "We have 
also a more sure word of prophecy ; where- 
unto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto 
a light that shineth in a dark place, until 
the day dawn, and the day star arise in 
your hearts: Knowing this first, that no 
prophecy of the Scripture is of any pri- 
vate interpretation. For the prophecy 
came not in old time by the will of man ; 
but holy men of God spake as they were 
moved by the Holy Ghost." (II. Peter 
i.:l&-21.) 

With this beneficial and timely instruc- 
tion as a compass and guide, we will en- 
deavor, by the help of the Lord, to prove 
the principles of eternal life simple and 
plain. Of course it will be readily seen 
by all concerned that our elucidation of 
the subject is very brief, purely scriptural, 
without length ly dessertation, or exegesis ; 
for we feel that the Scriptures are, in 
general, self-explanatory, requiring little 
or no elaboration' nr comment other than 
a citation to the Scripture and the pas- 
sages quoted in full. In our treatise of 



the principles and ordinances, we invaria- 
bly named them in the following order: 
first, Faith; second, Repentance; third, 
Baptism ; and fourth, the Gift of the Holy 
Ghost, because we believed that this was 
their proper and perfect rank in the Gos- 
pel, and the Lord had so arranged them 
in the Scriptures. 

To deal with these principles according 
to the order given, we have first, Faith, 
and we shall now proceed to see what the 
Scriptures sayeth concerning the same. 
Paul has given us a definition of faith in 
the following passage: "Now faith is the 
substance pf things hoped for,' the evi- 
dence of things not seen." \ (Heb. xi. :1.) 
From this we learn that faithias the as- 
surance or belief in the mind of man of 
the existence of things which the eye has 
never beheld. While we define |aith as a 
belief, strictly speaking it is, more than 
a mere intellectual impression of the 
mind. Peter, speaking of the power of 
God through faith, says: "Receiving the 
end of your faith, even the salvation of 
your souls." (I. Peter i. :9.) Thus, if 
the end of one's faith be the salvation of 
their soul, faith constitutes the whole, and 
is therefore greater than the part — a mere 
belief. We may say that belief is the 
avenue ; faith the public broadway ; be 
lief the germ of the plant, and faith the 
full-grown tree. From the faint and 
scant impressions of belief, properly di- 
rected and cultivated, grows the true, the 
living, the profitable and operative faith. 
Belief is the nucleus of faith, its first in- 
cipiency, its ground work and foundation. 
Belief is the inclination to do good, faith 
the very act of doing good ; therefore, faith 
is the outgrowth or product of belief, and 
as such claims a prominent and impor- 
tant place in the Gospel structure. 

We mention faith as a belief because 
the sacred historians have applied these 
terms as synonomous expressions, and 
this, we believe, grants us the license to 
treat of them on this wise, when dealing 
with Biblical teachings; therefore, with 
this understanding, we will use the terms 
faith and belief even as the holy men of 
old have. Perhaps it would be well to 
substantiate the assertion that faith and 
belief are placed on equal and like terms, 
and used to mean one and the self-same 
thing, by the inspired writers of the Bi- 
ble. In the fourth chapter of the Roman 
letter, and ninth verse, we read "Faith 
was reckoned to Abraham for righteous- 
ness," and in the third verse of the same 
chapter we are given to understand that 
•'Abraham believed God, and it was 
counted unto him for righteousness/' 
Here, then, is one of the many striking 
examples in Holy Writ that at once go 
to prove that these expressions, faith and 
belief, were used synonymously, and to the 
same intent and purpose, by the Prophets 
of old. 

It is by faith that we move upon the 
face of the earth; that we walk, talk, live 
and act. Some men have great faith in 
the laws of hygiene, and hence by obedi- 
ence to those laws they secure physical 
health and happiness. Others have faith 
in the laws of intellectual development, 
and by study, research, investigation and 
application, they become mental giants- 
the great thinkers and mighty rulers of 
the earth. But in all their advancement 
and progression they realize and know 
that the secret of their success is the 
proper application of the means at hand, 
or, in other words, a strict observance 
and compliance to the rules and regula- 
tions governing the coveted prize — devel- 
opment. "There is no royal road to suc- 
cess," no glittering, shining, easy path- 
way to the goal of advanced intelligence. 
It is faith in the .mind of man whi^b 
prompts and urges, him forward, it is k 



mighty stimulus to action, the motive 
power of operation. "We walk by faith, 
not by sight." (II. Cor. v. :7.) 

Faith, then, we say, is a principle * of 
power. Thus:, we believe firmly and in- 
telligently that we can accomplish a cer- 
tain work, and with this impression we 
set to with a determined will, and per- 
form the act." You remember that Jesus 
invariably said unto those whorii He had 
healed, blessed and comforted, "Thy 
faith hath made thee whole." "As your 
faith is, so shall it be unto you." "Great 
is thy faith." He desired that the peo 
pie should believe on Him; that^He was 
indeed tfie Son of God, and thtft He had 
come to earth to redeem them' frOm the 
grave, and loosen them from th&jentau- 
glements of sin. f{ 

Our Lord plainly taught that faJth was 
a principle of power, for He said, "If yo 
have faith as a grain of mustaro seed, 
ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove 
hence to yonder place;* and it shall re- 
move; and nothing shall be impossible 
unto you." (Matt. 17:20.) "Faith as. a 
grain of mustard seed" — quality and not 
quantity is here meant. A grain of 
mustard seed, although a tiny speck, is a 
perfect plant in embryo, capable of bring- 
ing forth, under proper conditions, thirty, 
sixty, and a hundredfold increase — send- 
ing its branches far up into the heavens, 
that the fowls of the air may rest there- 
in. The grain of mustard seed has faith 
to fulfill the measure of its creation, and 
produce a mighty increase, and this is 
the kind and quality of faith the Lord 
desired we should possess. Time would 
fail to tell all the wonderful manifesta- 
tions of power wrought out by and 
tnrough the gift of faith. How Elijah 
closed the heavens (I Kings 17, James 
5:10-17), how the sun and moon obeyed 
Joshua (Joshua 10), how Samson smote 
the massive pillars of stone and the great 
temple fell a heap of ruins (Judges 16). 
how the holy men of God, "through 
faith, subdued kingdoms, wrought right- 
eousness, obtained promises, stopped the 
mouths of lions; quenched the violence of 
fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out 
of weakness were made strong, waxed 
valiant in fight, and turned to flight the 
armies of the aliens." (Heb. 11:33-34.) 

When we begin to meditate upon this 
principle of power — faith — and ponder 
upon its excellence and worth, our minds 
begin to enlarge, our thoughts to expand, 
until we realize the magnitude and far- 
reaching properties of the Gospel plan, 
as never before. The principle of faith 
is a grand and glorious one, and the mor- 
tal mind has never yet exhausted th«; 
subject. It is a gift of God, and by cul- 
tivation and righteous application it will 
enable the mind of man to discern the 
glories of the kingdom of our God, the 
loving kindness of our blessed Savior, 
and the beanty, harmony and consistency 
of all the commands of the Father. 

Faith, then, is the assurance of things 
hoped for, the evidence of things not 
seen. Noah felt assured that God would 
visit the earth with a flood, and this as- 
surance led to obedience, insomuch that 
he prepared the ark as God had com- 
manded him, and saved the members of hi* 
own household. Abraham felt assured 
that the Lord was able to restore his son 
Isaac to life again, and therefore he was 
willing to slay the boy in whom the prom- 
ise of posterity and increase had been 
given. Likewise Daniel felt assured that 
God was able to close the mouths of the 
ravening lions; the Hebrew children that 
ne was able to quench the violence of fire 
anci release them from the burning fur- 
nace. This assurance of the power and 
might of God enables us to place implicit 



THE SOUTHERN STAR. 



267 



trust in His promises, and confidence in 
His holy laws. It becomes self-evident, 
then, that faith is the foundation princi- 
ple of all revealed truths. 

Our faith, our hope, our trust must 
ever be in God, who is mighty to save, 
anxious to bless, willing to impart, and 
ready to assist all who come unto Him in 
spirit and in truth. We must strive to 
understand and know the characteristics 
and attributes of our Father, whom we 
should adore, worship and obey. For t4 this 
is life eternal that they may know Thee 
the only God, and Jesus Christ, whom 
Thou hast sent." (John xvii. :3.) It is 
"life eternal" to know God, and we shall 
find from the revelations He has given us 
that He is a God of infinite love, compas- 
sionate mercy, knowledge, faith, justice, 
judgment and truth. The Scriptures bear 
testimony that the Lord is no respector of 
persons, that He is an unchangeable God, 
the same yesterday, today and forever. 
Accompanying the assurance that He pos- 
sesses these divine attributes and holy 
characteristics, comes the belief and faith 
that all His promises will be fulfilled to 
the very letter. Without a knowledge that 
God is loving, kind, just and true, we can 
never exercise faith in Him for life and 
salvation. 

Having searched the Scriptures thus 
far, our analysis being exceedingly brief 
for want of space, let us now consider a 
few passages which explain in whom we 
should have faith. Paul, the great Apos- 
tle to the Gentiles, says: 4 *That your 
faith should not stand in the wisdom of 
men, but in the power of God." (I. Cor. 
ii. :5.) Of course our faith must be in the 
power of God, for it is by the power of 
God that we will be saved, redeemed, ex- 
alted and glorified. "Without faith it is 
impossible to please Him ; for he that 
cometh to God must believe that He is 
and that He is a rewarder of them fhat 
diligently seek Him." (Heb. xi. :6.) Then 
we can readily see that we must have 
faith in God. It was the anxious desire 
of the righteous seers of old to possess a 
testimony that they might know that Their 
course in life was pleasing unto God. This 
testimony could only be obtained by plac- 
ing implicit faith in the Lord, for "with- 
out faith it is impossible to please Him." 
Again, Peter in his epistle, speaking of 
the glory of Christ, and the power of God. 
says, "That your faith and hope might 
be in God." (I. Peter i.:21.) 

Some will declare, "Repent and then be- 
lieve," but to whom shall we repent if we 
have no "belief? How can we repent of 
sins committed if we have no faith that 
the Lord 'is ready to forgive us our sins, 
and cleanse us from all unrighteousness? 
We must first believe, and with such an 
earnest faith as leads to repentance and 
every other good wo r k. It was not until 
the seeds of faith were sown (by the 
preaching of the word and the manifesta- 
tions of the spirit) in the hearts of those 
Jews on the day of Pentecost that they 
cried aloud, "Men and brethren, what 
shall we do?" (Acta ii. :37. > Here is 
an example of the fulfillment of Paul's 
words to the Roman's, "Faith cometh by 
hearing and hearing by the word of God." 
(Rom. x. :17.) Faith in the mission and 
work of the Messiah came unto the unbe- 
lieving Jews by hearing the word of God 
preached and made plain, by the faithful 
Apostles of the Lord Jesus. Faith in 
God cometh by hearing the word of God 
We must first believe, for the divine in- 
junction has gone forth, "Whosoever shall 
call upon the. name of the Lord shall be 
saved. How, then, shall they call on Him 
in whom they have not believed?" (Rom. 
x. :13, 14.) Here is the question, "How, 
then, shall they call on Him in whom thev 
have not believed?" How can they call 



upon Him, or worship, or obey Him, with- 
out they first believe that He is, and that 
He is a rewarder of them that diligently 
seek bim? 

We are commanded to "draw nigh unto 
God" (James iv. :8), and Paul tells us to 
"draw near with a true heart in full as- 
surance of faith." (Heb. x.:22.) This 
then is the first principle of salvation, and 
in order to put ourselves in harmony with 
God and His laws, He requires that we 
shall first exercise faith in Him ; that we 
shall believe with our hearts, and mani- 
fest by our acts that our faith is living, 
active, and operative. Faith is the foun- 
dation stone of the Gospel superstructure. 
It naturally enough wins for itself first 
place in the plan of salvation from the 
very order of things, and now, that we 
have briefly touched upon this first prin- 
ciple leading up to God's greatest gift, we 
will pursue our investigation of the sec- 
ond in our next issue. "I love them, them 
that love me, and those who seek me early 
shall find rest." Seek the Lord in faith, 
nothing wavering. Call upon Him in 
mighty prayer. Petition Him to bestow 
upon you the gift of faith, for all the 
principles of the Gospel are gifts and 
free-will offerings from God. You know 
that our Savior hath said, "Be ye there- 
fore perfect, even as your Father which is 
in heaven is perfect." (Matt. v. :48.) 
The pathway to perfection and holiness 
is obedience and consecration to duty. 
Faith is a principle of the Gospel, and 
before we can attain to higher glories ami 
eternal rewards we must mount the lad- 
der of Truth round by round, commencing 
at the foot, by placing faith in God, and 
then ascending after the order of princi- 
ples revealed. "And if ye call on the Fa- 
ther, who without respect of persons judg- 
eth according to every man's work, pass 
the time of your sojourning here in fear" 
(I. Peter i. :17), "that ye may be blame- 
less in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ." 
(I. Cor. i.:0.) 

(To be Continued.) 



Popular Misquotations. 

From the Pall Ball Gazette. 

Unlike certain correspondents, I shall 
not only point out the most familiar mis- 
quotations, but give the correct version 
immediately after: 

"The tongue is an unruly member" — 
"But the tongue can no man tame; it is 
an unruly evil." (James iii., 8.) 

"Charity covereth a multitude of sins" 
—"Charity shall cover the multitude of 
sins." (I Peter iv.. 8. Rev. Vers., "Love 
covereth a multitude of sins.") 

"A little knowledge is a dangerous 
thing"— "A little learning is a dangerous 
thing." (Pope, "Essay on Criticism.") 

"Speed the parting guest" — "Speed the 
going guest." (Pope, Satire II.) 

"A man convinced against his will will 
hold the same opinion still"— "He that 
complies against his will is of his own 
opinion still." (Butler, "Hudibras," Part 
III.) 

"Make assurance doublv sure"— "Make 
assurance double sure." "(Macbeth," 
Act IV. Sc. 1.) 

"Benedict the marieid man" should be 
"Benedick the married man." ("Much 
Ado About Nothing.") 

"Falleth as the gentle dew"— "Drop- 
neth as the gentle rain." ("Merchant of 
VemVe. Act IV, Sc 1.) 

"The man that hath no music in his 
soul"— "The man that hath no music in 
himself." (Ibid., Act V., Sc. 1.) 

"Falls like Lucifer, never to rise again" 
—"Falls liko Lucifer, never to hone 
agnin." ("Henry VII.." Act III, Sc. 2.) 

"Thick as antumn leaves in Vallom- 



brosa"— "Thick as autumnal leaves that 
strew the brooks in VallQmbrosa," (Mil- 
ton, "Paradise Lost," Book I.) : 

"Fresh fields and pastures new"— 
"Fresh woods and pastures new/' Mil- 
ton, "Lycidas.") 

"'Twas ever thus from childhood's 
hour"— "Oh, ever thus, from childhood's 
hour." (Moore, "Lalla Rookh;" "Fire 
Worshippers.") 

"By small degrees and beautifully less" 
—"Fine by degrees and beautifully less." 
(Matthew Prior, "Henry and Emma.") 

"A wet sheet and a flowing sail"— "A 
wet sheet and a flowing sea." (Cunning- 
ham.) 

"When Greek meets Greek, then comes 
the tug of war"— "When Greeks joined 
Greeks, then was the tug of war." (Na- 
thaniel Lee.) 

"Praise from Sir Hubert Stanley is 
praise indeed"— "Approbation from Sir 
Hubert Stanley is praise indeed." (T. 
Moran, "A Cure for the Heartache,") 

"The even tenor of their way"— "The 
noiseless tenor of their way." (Gray's 
"Elegy.") 

Poor Gray suffers also in this year's 
Academy. Picture 339 reads "And all 
the air a solemn silence holds,"* instead 
of "And all the air a solemn stillness 
holds." ^^^^^^ 

An Old Boer Bible. 

Perhaps the only copy of the Boer Bi- 
ble in the country is in the possession of 
Peter M. Camnbell. of Denver. The Bi- 
ble is in the Dutch language, and was 
published in the Netherlands, as is an- 
nounced in the preface, in 16m Mr. 
Campbell, who is the son of Sir Duncan 
Campbell, of Scotland, came into posses- 
sion of the volume some eighteen years 
aero, at the time of the first Boer war. 
He was acting as a newspaper corre- 
snondent at the time, and remained in 
the Transvaal for five veers. 

During his residence there he bought 
the book from a minister of the Gospel 
named Hoxmeyre, who gave the follow- 
ing account of its history: 

The book was for a long period! of 
years in the .Tnbert. or Joubert. family, 
of which the late Gen. Joubert was a 
noted member. It was bronght' to Cape 
Town by the first band of Dutch emi- 
grants, and was the second book ever 
taken to South Africa. The book itself, 
aside from its history, is interesting as- a 
specimen of bookmaking. Tt is a # huge 
volume, about 12 inches wide. 18 inches 
Ions and 7 inches thick, and weighs thtr- 
tv oonnds or more. It is bound in* calf, 
and the backs are boards half an i"*h 
thick and bevelled at the edges. The 
comers are bound with heavy brass pieces 
in front and at the back. Tt is held 
closed by two massive brass clasns. 

In typography the volume, though near- 
lv three hundred years old. is excellent. 
There are ornamental letters at the be- 
ginning of each book and ornate tail 
pieces. 

One of the queer customs of former 
times— thnt of renresenting biblical char- 
acters clad in the fashion of the time 
the booV was printed — is shown in sev- 
eral striking instances. 

Tn the illumined letter at the becrinnin* 
of Genesis, Adam and Fve are represent- 
ed snrro»»"ded by animals — lions, ele- 
phants, chickens and ducks. Adam is 
wearing a long mustache a^d Vandyke 
beard, such ns were in fashion amon*? 
courtiers of the seventeenth century. A 
tree in the s«*me mcture is represented 
with a large branch sawed off. 



"T*ove thinketh no evil." imputes no 
motive, sees the bright side, nnts the. best 
construction on every action.— Henry 
Drummond. "" 

Youth fades: lov« droops; the leaver 1 o? 

friendship fall: 
A mother's secret hope outlives them all. 

—Holmes. 



268 



THE SOUTHERN STAB. 




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tf Jmm Ckrltt tf letter Day Silsts, 
Chtttn—fi, Ttsa. 



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letter. 



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fi4jd is solicited. Give name and address, or articles 
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Saturday, July 21, 1900. 



ARTICLES OF FAITH 

OP TUB CHURCH OP JESUS CHRIST OP 
LATTER-DAY SAINTS. 

Eternal Father, and is Bit 8m 

Qhoet. 

witt be peofehed for their «v» 



1. W**eBeee le God the 
JeeeeCtfHet, and is Ike Holy 

S. Wo belieee thai SMS , 

slat, aad.sot for Aden's traaairaaitoa. 

i. WoWlioTOtkatitliroaA the at 
SMikiad any so ssvsi, by obedience 



• oTthaOoapoL 
We belieee tint tbe Inti 



of Ghrh*,«lt 

to tho lawa and ordJ. 



ro that tho I nt vriaclplee and ordii 

._ ,„ - . . flrok Faith in tho Lord Joiqi Christ . _™. 

Beeeetteee; third, BapUm by innenioa for tho reouarioa 
of stse; foerth, Layiof oa of Heeds for tho Gift of tho Holy 
QheeL 

I, Wa b*li*re iKil t mi a mutt he called of God, by 
m ftopinKY, ind by Lb* liyin£ aq of btbdt/ 1 by Lh«f who ar* 
la lalhgrllj, to pr#mi th# *o*p€l inJ ■dmirvuMt te lh< ofdf- 
Biteta tht w^ 

$. We b*li*T« in Lhtfucnt orrmiiittoit that aiiited la 
lh" rirlmitiTfl church— ntnuljf, ApOttln*, Prapll*!*, Futon, 
TsiGbtJi, Eraegeliitft, it*. 

T. We fa Utve in Lh« pft of ti 



fttloDltbtalidL Interpret! Lion of teofuet, «b!. 

8, Wi btliaTa the Bible to be tin pord of G«d, •* far a* It 
(■ traivriiled cortrcti; i we alio beliefs tbe Book of M«nouni 
to be As ipprij of God. 

#. We belJeti ill that Owl hu r#*e*le4 h air that Be Jom 
no* t*TH.I,ind «• bdlicTocbic He will vetmeiJ man* er**i 
Sad liUTrfirUnt liffiup pertaining to tbe Kingdom &t Ootf. 

10. We believe In the literal jalherjnj f>{ Ipreel and in tile 
feilotilifta of Ihfl fen Tribe*; that Zion *i]J be twill upon 
tbii ( Lhe American ) OWTfOeU t that Chrtil will relr.n pereoa 
ally ipon tbe earth, md (bit Ibe earth wiJI be rtaeoed and 
mcaife htt par+diiLaeal jclory. 

11. We claim th* pri y i]*ru of worshiping AlmlfbLy God 
etcordiDj to tbe dictate* of OUT cmwrieiHW, and iJ!r>e a |1 
fceo ibe time privilege, let than vorabip boe, -he™, or what 
Uey mil 

II Wa believe in baln« intjeel to binttl. pmid^nti, mlere^ 
and vactitriTei ; in obeying, boa d riband initjiuir,^ iba li*. 

IS. S)We be]ie*e in twfnj honcet, truot cb«tc, banevoleoL, 
tirtuooL tod in doing food to elf nee: indeed, ve any *ar 
thlt we foliow tbe idftrtaLUaa of Pi a J, ' W InlieTe ell tbinn, 
ere acne il] tntan,*' ie her« eedurod auny ibinn, tod bope 
So be able to enrfott aJ] Uilngi. if there u iD^thing ^irfoeek, 
°'*o^EpH r a£? rt ° r P r,jMWOfth '* *• "•k • ft " *sos 



RfiLBASBS AND APPOINTMENTS. 



Releases. 

George W. Skidmore, Florida Confer- 
ence. 

George L. Mortensen, South Carolina 
Conference. 

E. L. Pomeroy, Bast Tennessee Con- 
ference. 

Transfers. 

Ralph Cutler, from South Ohio Con- 
ference to office. 

A. C. Clayton, from Virginia Confer- 
ence to office. 

A. T. Jones, from Mississippi to Ken- 
tucky Conference. 



When goods are ordered from the office 
and are not at the postoffice Elders should 
also call upon the express company. Please 
note this fact and avoid delay in obtain- 
ing articles ordered. 



HONOR THE PIONEERS. 



The man that makes a character, makes 
foes.— Young. 



The 24th of July marks a notable, event- 
ful day in the history of the Latter-day 
Saints, and more particularly in the set- 
tlement of the present state of Utah. 
Ever since the. organization of it he Church 
of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, in 
the Empire state — New York — on the 6th 
of April, 1830, its advocates and adherents 
have been fiercely persecuted, violently 
opposed, wickedly abused, and maliciously 
reviled, because of their religious convic- 
tions, and devotedness to God and His 
holy laws. They had settled in the state, 
where the seemingly new faith received 
its incipiency (New York), and many 
honest souls flocked around the standard 
of Truth, lifted as an enBign to the na- 
tions. (We say "seemingly new faith," 
because many look upon it and treat it 
as such, but upon closer investigation and 
study it is found to be nothing more nor 
less than the genuine, good "old-time re- 
ligion.") A prophet being, as Jesus says, 
not without honor, save in his own house- 
hold and among his own friends, it could 
not be otherwise than that the people 
called Latter-day Saints, and their faith- 
ful prophet Joseph Smith, should receive 
the same kind of treatment as our Lord 
when He "was come into His own coun- 
try." Witness the altogether un-Chris- 
tian and unholy reception given to the 
Savior on that occasion. The people mur- 
mured, became exceeding angry, insomuch 
that He was contemned by His own coun- 
trymen, and they were offended in Him. 
and said. "Is not this the carpenter's son? 
Is not His mother called Mary? and His 
brethren, James, and Joseph, and Simon, 
and Judas? and His sisters, are they not 
all with us? Whence, then, hath this man 
all these things?" (Matt, xiv.:54-58.) 
We must agree and admit that such a 
welcome home was anything but cordial, 
inviting, or enticing, and we are not at 
all surprised or amazed when we find Him 
departing from these ungrateful people, 
because of their unbelief, stiffneckedness, 
and obdurate natures. So it was with the 
prophet. Joseph Smith, and the Latter- 
day Saints, they found the people "at 
home," so to speak, very bitter, malignant, 
and scornful, and they were on this ac- 
count forced to journey westward to the 
state of Oiiio, at that time in the frontier 
region. 

Here they endeavored to be at peace 
with their neighbors, to worship God in 
spirit and in truth, and serve Him with 
all the energies of the soul, and the fac- 
ulties of the being. JLneir missionaries 
were not dormant or idle, but they vigor- 
ously and diligently carried the word of 
salvation to many of the sons of men, and 
succeeded in organizing branches in the 
United States and Canada. But falsehood 
was on the wing, misrepresentation was 
afloat; and religious bigots, full of vile- 
neas and contempt, with a foul mouth of 
slander and a forked tongue of envy, 
stirred up the people to anger and hatred 
toward them, and they were once more 
forced to flee from their homes and lands, 
while their houses were burned and their 
fields of grain laid waste. Neither daunt- 
ed or discouraged, they wended their 
weary way into Illinois, and settled in the 
bend of the Mississippi river, the spot 
where they pitched their tents being con- 
sidered very unhealthy, "a fit abiding 
place for malarial diseases." A common- 
wealth was here commenced and the city 
was christened Nauvoo, signifying beauty 
and rest. 

It was not destined that these faithful 
pilgrims should tarry long in this city 
they had erected with their own hands, 



by the help of the Lord. They had jour- 
neyed now over almost one-half the 
breadth of the continent, and many of the 
residents of Nauvoo had been converted 
to the faith of the Saints in European 
nations, and had crossed the broad Atlantic 
to join the body of the Church in Nauvoo 
and mingle with their American brethren. 
The city grew, its citizens multiplied, a 
charter was granted, and the work pro- 
gressed and prospered all along the line. 
Notwithstanding the fact that the people 
increased and their numbers grew, we find 
that they were being harassed, tormented, 
insulted and plagued by their enemies. 
They were well versed in the truthfulness 
of Paul's instruction to Timothy, "And 
all that will live Godly in Christ Jesus 
shall suffer persecution" (II. Tim. iii. :12). 
for they had experienced naught but per- 
secution from the day of their conversion 
to and connection with that despised sect, 
erroneously known as Mormons. 

The storm clouds of violence had been 
gathering thick around them, and on the 
ill-fated 27th, of June, 1844, the awful 
tempest of devilish hate, which had visit- 
ed them so often before, burst forth in 
terrific fury, and the faithful prophet, 
Joseph, together with his beloved brother 
Hyrum, were cruelly martyred, wnile 
Apostle John Taylor was savagely wound- 
ed, by a masked mob, whose blackened 
faces reflected the color of their wicked 
hearts. Their prophet and patriarch slain, 
the feelings of those who looked upon 
them as emissaries sent of God can bet- 
ter be felt than expressed, for the condi- 
tion of the minds of the people, at this 
special period, beggars all description. It 
was only a few months later when the 
Saints were expelled from Illinois, and 
forced at the point of the bayonet to aban- 
don Nauvoo, the beautiful city of their 
workmanship. It was in the cold, dreary 
month of February, 1846, that they, with 
tear-dimmed eyes and saddened hearts, left 
their homes, their habitations, their beau- 
tiful temple, and lovely city, to face the 
wild desert, and brave the savage Indian's 
haunt. Crossing the ..lississippi river, 
which at that time was frozen, they pur- 
sued their course in the direction of the 
Missouri — the ground being covered with 
snow, the weather cold, damp and dismal. 
Many of their number died for want of 
the necessary comforts of life, and today 
their mounds rise up as signals to the na- 
tion, and tokens unto the world. 

Having spent the winter of 1846 at 
Garden Grove, Pisgah and Winter Quar- 
ters, in the spring of the following year 
the Saints began to prepare for that great 
exodus of 1.000 miles across the dreary 
plains. One would naturally suppose that 
a people having undergone the severe trials 
these worthies had, would shrink from the 
journey which now lay before them, and 
faint by the wayside in despair and utter 
discouragement. But no, they knew in 
whom they believed and trusted — the God 
of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob — that He 
was a God of the friendless, and a Father 
unto His faithful children. They had 
learned to sing with a consciousness and 
vigor that good, inspiring hymn : 

"Wo doubt not the Lord, nor H1r goodness: 
We've proved Him in days that are past; 
Thp wicked who fight agalnRt Zion 
Will surely be smitten at last.*' 

And so they lifted their heads, believ- 
ing that God was at the helm of the Ship 
of Zion, and no matter how fierce the 
storms, how trying the tempest. He would 
guide them safely through. 

Twelve companies of twelve were se- 
lected to pioneer the way, and among this 



THE SOUTHERN STAB. 



268 



chosen band were three brave, noble wom- 
en. Three heroines were they, faithful 
and true to the Master's cause, willing to 
bear His cross, and suffer for His holy 
name's sake. Like the faithful three who 
followed Jesus through Galilee, minister- 
ing unto His wants, who were last at the 
cross, and first at the tomb ; so these gen- 
tle mothers in Israel were devoted and 
true to the same good Master. Ah ! who 
can doubt the success of a people who had 
been true to God, loyal to their country t 
and loving to their fellow-man ! God had 
. said, "I will never leave thee, I will never 
forsake thee." True their path was not 
strewn with roses, neither was their 
course paved with beautiful gems. No, 
they had not the luxuries of life, or the 
comforts of cushioned seats. Theirs was 
a thorny path, a rugged way, a rocky in- 
cline. For six hundred miles they con- 
structed an entirely new route, traveling 
the remainder of the journey aided by a 
trapper's trail. It was on July 24th, 1847, 
that they entered Salt Lake Valley, the 
place which the Lord had shown in vis- 
ion to Brigham Young as the resting place 
of the Saints. 

Ob, the goodness of our God in^ deliver- 
ing His children from the hands of their 
enemies and establishing them in the tops 
of the mountains! These noble, valiant 
pioneers had marked the path, and by the 
help of God had led the way, so that the 
Saints might come to where the bold moun- 
tains rise as a refuge, and there find a 
haven of rest. Their pathway was often 
moistened with tears, but they struggled 
on for God and the right. They had not 
forsaken the United States or the Consti- 
tution, but the United States had forsaken 
them in the very hour of need, when per- 
secution drove them from their homes. 
When they arrived in the Salt Lake Val- 
ley "Old Glory" was floated to the breeze 
the Declaration of Independence was read, 
and the Constitution revered, its statutes 
kept sacred and inviolate. Honor the 
pioneers, who made the desert to blossom 
as the lovely rose garden. Yes! we will 
honor,, love, respect and praise them. 
These worthy sires made it possible that 
the people of God might worship the Lord 
free and unrestrained, granting unto all 
the same right and privilege they had en- 
dured so much to sustain. Upon the 
foundation stones which they hewed out 
and cemented in the commonwealth, has 
been built a superstructure which reflects 
honor to their names; for Utah now 
shines in the galaxy of states with a brill- 
iancy to dazzle her sisters older and longer 
established than she. Of the pioneers but 
few remain in mortality — the major por- 
tion have passed through the valley of 
death, and now rest 'neath the shade of 
Paradise, from whence they shall arise in 
the morning of the first resurrection to 
glory, honor and life eternal. Those liv- 
ing in the flesh see day by day the won- 
derful products of their early labors, and 
we cannot be engaged in a better or no- 
bler work than in honoring the pioneers. 
We feel to breathe for all these valiant 
sires a hearty, fervent "God bless you." 
Fifty-three years have passed since they 
entered their mountain retreat in the 
Rockies of the far west. Let each suc- 
ceeding generation rise up and call them 
blessed. 



on deposit before we can get those 
tickets. 

Elders when notified of their re- 
lease are given sufficient time to enable 
them to write home and have money 
placed to their credit here in the office. 

Then, again, some of the brethren 
write in one day, telling us where to send 
their tickets, and if they are not there 
on the following day, whether it be 100 
or 500 miles away from Chattanooga, 
they at once send in a l6ng telegram, 
which only adds expense. We try our 
best to be patient, and do all in our pow- 
er to aid the Elders, but there are cer- 
tain rules laid down which must be kept. 
One of them is as follows: We cannot 
advance money to purchase tickets for 
Elders returning home, when they have 
none on deposit. 

Hereafter we must have ten days' no- 
tice where to send tickets, and will have 
it whether it cause inconvenience or not. 



To Elders who are about to return 
home, or who shall return in the future, 
we direct these few lines. Every Elder 
should know that it takes money to pur- 
chase their railroad tickets, to return 
them home, and they should understand 
also that it is necessary to have money 



GLEANINGS. 

Elders Duffln and Cook, a short time 
ago, arrived in the Meadow neighborhood, 
a thriving little spot in Johnston county. 
N. C, and at once visited the school di- 
rectors with a desire of obtaining their 
permission to use the school house. Their 
wishes were kindly granted, and news 
of "Mormons are going to preach" soon 
spread among the people. When services 
commenced a well filled house of eager 
and attentive people were present. When 
the brethren had explained some of the 
Gospel principles and were about to dis- 
miss, one of the most prominent minis- 
ters of that section arose, advocating 
mob violence. In a very ungentlemanly 
manner he vilified and slandered them 
and the cause they represent; referring 
to false histories and magazines for his 
proof. After he had sung his little song 
(the same arguments having been used 
as all false teachers harp upon) he sat 
down. The reverend gentleman was then 
informed by the brethren that he had not 
spoken the truth about the people of 
God, and his arguments would not stand 
the test. Like the Scribes, Pharisees and 
hypocrits of old, he demanded a sign of 
the Elders, and wanted them to drink a 
Tial of poison. After proving to him from 
the word of Christ that "an evil and 
adulterous generation seeketh after a 
sign," he left the building. The attack 
upon the brethren made friends for them, 
while it injured the minister who was 
so willing to persecute his fellow-men. 

Three other meetings were held and a 
very large audience attended each time. 
The choir freely gave their services and 
furnished fine music, which was much 
appreciated. 

The meetings held were the means of 
doing much good. It seems strange that 
so-called ministers will not soon realize 
that they only damage themselves when 
they give way to their false utterances 
and think to overthrow righteousness. . 

But the blessed of God are promised 
persecution, as is written in Matthew 
5:11: "Blessed are ye, when men shall 
revile you and persecute you, and shall 
say all manner of evil against you false- 
ly, for my sake." 



tion's creed in Utah he might substitute 
"Christian" for "simple," as here its 
"confession of faith" is . substantially 
"anything to beat the 'Mormons.' " 



The latest census of Utah, it is esti- 
mated, will show over 4,000.000 sheep 
for that state. Perhaps this explains 
why the west is called wild and "wooly." 



Deseret News. 

Dr. Greggs says "the Presbyterian 

church needs a new and simple creed." 

If he were to recognize his denomina- ' 



Elder E. L. Pomeroy, who has ably 
presided over the East Tennessee Con- 
ference since last February, paid the 
office brethren a visit last Tuesday. He 
' expects to reach his home in Arizona to 
enjoy the 24th of July celebration, to be 
given in honor of the noble pioneers who 
made the western lands to blossom as the 
rose. J. Spencer Worsley has been 
chosen to succeed Brother Pomeroy and 
lead the good work in "Old East Tennes- 
see." We congratulate Elder Worsley 
upon his appointment, and look for a 
continuation of good reports from that 
section of the Lord's vineyard. 

Why so Many Fail. 

President James Rea, of the New 
York Commercial Teachers' Association, 
tells in Success for July why many per- 
sons fail to obtain and hold good posi- 
tions: 

"Many young men fail to achieve suc- 
cess because th^y lack the power or in- 
clination to do hard work. The head of 
one of our large department stores, in 
addressing a body of teachers, said: 
'No man in the practical world of today 
can hope to get on if he shirks his work. 
I ask you to use all your power and in- 
fluence to instill in the minds of thost; 
you teach the truth that a man owes 
work to the world, while the world does 
not owe him anything.' An expert ac- 
countant of many years* practice said: 
'The best man I ever had in my employ 
was a plodder.' The writer, in his expe- 
rience as a teacher, coming into contact 
with many thousand young men, has 
rarely, if ever, found a student who did 
not possess sufficient ability to make a 
successful start in life if he was thor- 
oughly imbued with the precept— 'Keep- 
ing everlastingly at it brings success.' 
Many young men fail to render valuable 
service, through lack of ability to do ac- 
curate, systematic work. The business 
community demands well-trained minds, 
capable of grasping details and carrying 
out instructions in a correct and orderly 
manner. The young man who possesses 
this faculty is a rarity, and never need 
be without profitable employment. 

"Above all else, the young man who 
would succeed must be honest and tem- 
perate. He must be what he would ap- 
pear. There is a premium upon those 
who possess sterling manhood, fixity of 
purpose, and a determination to over- 
come obstacles. Life's highest prizes are 
within their grasp." 

China's Population. 

The population of the earth is 1,440.- 
650,000, according to the latest and most 
reliable statistics. 

The Indo-Germans, or Aryan race, 
which cover Europe, inhabit a large por- 
tion of the American continent and may 
be found in almost any part of the known 
world, are estitmated to number 545,- 
000,000 in all. This includes what 
might be termed the "civilized world." 

The population of China is placed at 
402,680,000, not including Chinamen in 
other countries. The entire Mongolian 
numbers close to 700,000,000. 

By way of comparison it may be said 
that the population of China is equal to 
four-fifths that of the civilized world. 
Yet a difference of opinion may exist as 
to how the inhabitants of the civilized 
world are to be counted— whether by 
countries or by race. 



270 



THE SOUTHERN STAB. 



NEBUCHADNEZZAR'S DREAM; 

OR, THE METALLIC IMAGE. 



BY A. ARROWSMITH. 

Many comments have been made on the 
dream of this mighty monarch, and as it 
deals with a latter-day kingdom, which 
should be established in the last days, 
it is doubly interesting and especially 
worthy of the consideration of every stu- 
dent of theology. Every Bible student 
and scholar allows that we live in the 
latter days, and if the God of heaven has 
not yet established His kingdom, He will 
surely do so, as this marvelous dream, in 
all its bearings, in connection with the 
visions of Daniel, have thus far been 
most marvelously fulfilled. 

I will endeavor to point out, by the 
light of profane history as well as the 
word of God, the miraculous handiwork 
of the Almighty in His control of na- 
tions and peoples; that the words of His 
prophets might not fall to the ground, un- 
fulfilled. 

The dream in question, contained in 
the second chapter of Daniel, in connec- 
tion with the visions of Daniel in his 
seventh and eighth chapters, all bear on 
the same subject, representing the rise 
and fall of nations and empires. 

The interpretation has been made so 
clear by the literal fulfillment, with evi- 
dence from profane writers, in connection 
with recent archaeological testimony, 
that there is no room to doubt Daniel s 
prophecies. 

In the desert wastes of Arabia, amidst 
a most arid region, archaeologists have 
labored among the sand dunes and plains 
of Assyria, bringing to light vast ruins 
of mighty dynasties and ancient civiliza- 
tions. Among the mighty cities thus un- 
earthed, Babylon has been found and 
Eroof conclusive to the most skeptical 
as been brought to li^ht, showing the 
grandeur of this beautiful city, in the 
plains of Shinar, built on each bank of 
the River Euphrates. This is evidence 
that Babylon was no myth, or poetic ef- 
fusion of a disordered braiu, but was as 
described, "the pride of the Cbaldees." 

The city of Babel (Babylon) was found- 
ed by Nimrod, the hunter (Gen. x.:10). 
For location it was most beautiful, being 
well watered, prolific and fertile, and for 
ages the most prosperous and the most 
desirable of countries; blossoming and 
blooming as the rose. 

This plain of Shinar, and this mighty 
empire, in connection with the city of 
Babylon, were at the zenith of their 
glory in the days of Nebuchadnezzar, 
and he, in connection with his kingdom, 
is called "the head of gold." 

The father of Nebuchadnezzar had 
been a very successful warrior and gen- 
eral in the Assyrian armies. His name 
was Nabopolassar, and for success in 
many conquests of nations he was re- 
warded by the king of Assyria, the city 
of Babylon. He beautified and strength- 
ened the city, but it was left to his son, 
who also was a successful soldier, to 
make it the glory and the pride of the 
world. .1 will repeat, Babylon was beau- 
tifully located, being built on each side 
of the river, which at this point was a 
quarter of a mile in width. The city was 
sixty miles in circumference, and was 
built square, fifteen miles each way. The 
whole was surrounded by a vast wall, 
which stood over 150 feet high and, be- 
ing 87 feet thick, was considered impreg- 
nable.: The streets ran parallel the whole 
length of the city, fifteen miles, and were 
150 feet wide, lined with beautiful shade 
trees, which were enticing to the weary 
traveler and which made the place most 
entrancing. The entrances and exists to 
this vast city Were guarded by brass 
eates, which were closed after sundown. 
There were twenty-five of these gates 
on each side of the city, or 100 in all. 
In addition to these barriers, watch tow- 
ers were placed on the wall and a strict 
guard kept, rendering it impossible for 
an enemy to get into the city. 

From the descriptions of Babylon given 
by Herodotus, the Greek traveler, who 
visited the place about 400 years before 



Christ, it was most magnificent. The 
great temple of Bel towered in the air, 
upwards of 000 feet, a fitting monumeuT 
to the great tower of Babel; its founda- 
tion was a half mile in circumference, 
and a circular causeway led to the sum- 
mit. The top was crowned by a beau- 
tiful reception chamber, adorned, beau- 
tified and prepared for the Pagan god 
Bel, Baal or Jupiter, when he should 
deign to visit the earth. The hanging 
gardens of Babylon have become prover- 
bial and renowned in history as one of 
the seven wonders of the world, being 
constructed on terraces ascending up- 
ward some 200 feet overlooking the city, 
making a grand and imposing spectacle 
of the most verdant green, trees, ferns 
and beautiful flowers that nature and 
wealth could supply, the whole being wa- 
tered artificially by hydraulic power and 
their system of irrigation, which ap- 
peared to be most perfect. The concen- 
tration of wealth, the most beautiful in 
art and the greatest displays of magnifi- 
cence that were to be found in the civil- 
ization of that age, centered in Babylon. 
They were enlightened in astrology, as- 
tronomy, the arts and sciences to a great 
degree, and possessed of much mysteri- 
ous lore that has since been lost to the 
human family. 

This, with its architectural beauty, its 
quays, bridges, hanging gardens, artifi- 
cial lakes, floating islands, that have 
never before or since been equalled; the 
wonderful Babylonish palaces, which 
were inlaid with fold, silver and precious 
stones, dazzling in magnificence, all go 
to show that this empire is rightfully 
designated "the head of gold. This 
mighty city was surrounded by a moat, 
or ditch, which corresponded to the 
height and width of the wall, that is, a 
ditch 150 feet deep and 87 feet across. 
The ditch and wall were lined with brick 
cemented together with bitumen, making 
a composition strong and durable, and 
impregnable to the assaults of battering 
rams and implements of ancient war- 
fare. Many writers have mentioned the 
height of these walls as having been up- 
wards of 300 feet, which is correct if the 
measurement be taken from the bottom 
of the moat. 

Isaiah calls Babylon "the golden city" 
(Isaiah xiv.:4), and prophesies of her rise 
and fall. Over 100 years before Cyrus 
was born, Isaiah, in his forty-fifth chap- 
ter, calls him by name and points out the 
fact that he (Cyrus) would break down 
those gates of brass. The above proph- 
ecy was remarkably fulfilled, in connec- 
tion with the utter downfall, ruin and 
destruction of the city, with its present 
desolation, as predicted in the thirteenth 
chapter of Isaiah. 

In the days of Belshazzar, the king, 
during the progress of an impious annua! 
feast, in which they drank libations to 
their idols from the sacred vessels, God 
sent His sign of displeasure in the fa- 
mous handwriting on the wall, "Mene, 
Mene, Tekel, Upharsin," with Daniel's 
interpretation, "God hath numbered thy 
kingdom, and finished it. Thou art 
weighed in the balances and art found 
wanting. Thy kingdom is divided and 
given to the Medes and Persians." The 
chapter closes on the last and thrilling 
scene in this great drama, with these 
words: "In that night was Belshazzar, 
the king of the Chaldeans, slain." In 
the midst of revelry, feasting and drink- 
ing, when everything looked so secure, 
this mighty dynasty fell. 

Cyrus, the Persian, had been held in 
reserve, foreordained and duly appointed 
by the Almighty for this work, to bring 
to pass the downfall of this empire. He 
was the son of Cambyses, the king of 
Persia, and the nephew of Darius, the 
king of Media, and was placed in com- 
mand of the vast armies of the Medes 
and Persians, amounting to over 720,000 
warriors. Ho had besieged Babylon un- 
successfully for two years; his batteries 
had been useless against that city and 
his armies were discouraged, when he 
hit upon a stregem which was to divert 
the course of the river. 

He dug vast channels, dammed up the 
main course and turned the waters, then 



marched with his soldiery along the riv- 
er bed, breaking down the gates of brass, 
and while the inhabitants were drunken 
with wine and surfeited with feasting, 
the city was taken and the king, with bis 
lords and nobles, put to the sword. The 
head of gold was subdued. 

The Medio-Persian empire is represent- 
ed as the breast and arms of silver, being 
the unity of the kingdoms of Media and 
Persia in Cyrus, who ultimately con- 
trolled and had dominion over the whole 
empire under the name of the Persian 
empire. It was thus when be issued his 
famous proclamation in favor of the 
Jews at the termination of their seventy 
years* captivity, as contained in Ezra 
1-2. 

This empire lasted about 200 years, 
governing and controlling over 100 prov- 
inces, but finally becoming effeminate and 
luxurious, their soldiery were easily over- 
come. 

In Macedonia, one of the Grecian king- 
doms, a sturdy race of men were being 
raised; men innured to hardship, with 
tried sinews, and muscles of steel; heroes 
every one. who entered battle to conquer 
or die. Prominent amongst this race 
arose the great Alexander, the son of 
Philip, king of Macedon. who was des- 
tined to conquer the world. At the time 
Alexander started his military career, 
Darius Codomanus occupied the throne 
of Persia and could command over 1,000,- 
000 soldiers. 

Nothing daunted, however, the intrepid 
Alexander, who took pleasure in danger, 
advanced his 30,000 men and engaged 
over 100,000 Persians in the battle of 
Granicus, defeating them with great 
slaughter. In the battle of Issus, Alex- 
ander had the audacity to meet the com- 
bined Persian host, which was command- 
ed by Darius himself. He was again 
victorious, slaying over 100.000 men in 
this battle. After this, Darius was anx- 
ious to compromise, and offered the Mpc- 
edonian hero immense wealth and the 
hand of his daughter Barsine in mar- 
riage. Alexander rejected these splen- 
did offers, saying, "The world will not 
admit of two suns, nor of two sover- 
eigns." At this the Persians arrayed the 
majesty of their vast armies against the 
Greeks, in the battle of Arbela. TbW 
nrmy comprised 000,000 foot and 50.000 
horse soldiers, with 200 scythe chariots 
and fifteen elephants. Alexander's army 
consisted of 40.000 foot and 7,000 horse, 
but notwithstanding this disparity Alex- 
ander gained the day and slew over 300.- 
000 Persians, with a loss of only 1,200 
men. Such wonderful achievements 
placed th<* Grecians, with Alexander st 
thoir h*»ad. in control of the world. He 
subdued Ml the provinces of Persia, ex- 
tonding his conquests to India and 
Egy^t. Tn fact, in any place that he 
could find a foe or an unconquered spot, 
this rapacious youth was to be foimd. He 
finallv died of fevor in the citv of Baby- 
lon, in the year 323 B. C. being onb* 33 
years old, having broueht the whole 
world in subieetion to h«s arms by his 
martial prowess. h»in<* desiennted "the 
king of th*» world." It is said of bini. 
that when he had virtually connu^red tb»» 
whole of the then known world, he wept 
for more worlds to conquer. 

(To be Continued.) 



(Tnther ye rose-hnds while ye may, 

Old Time Is still a-flylng. 
And this same flower that smiles today. 

Tomorrow will be dying. — Herrlck. 



Imnatient people, according to Bacon, 
are like the bees, and kill themselves in 
stinging others.— Oeorge Eliot. 

He that cannot forgive others, breaks 
the t>ridge .Qver which he must pass him- 
self.— Herbert. 



Everything has two handles. The one 
by which it may be borne, the other by 
which it may not.— Epictetus. 



Prosperity is a great teacher, 
sity is a greater.— Hazlitt, 



A4ver* 



TfiB SOtTtflttfcN STAfi. 



271 



AN ADDRESS 

To the Elders and Saints in France, Switzerland and Italy, as Published in the First 
Number of the "Etoile du Dcseret," Parts, France, May, 1851. 

BY PRESIDENT JOHN TAYLOR. 



Beloved Brethren:— At the commence- 
ment of this publication, 1 wish to ad- 
dress a few words to you. 

The Lord has been pleased in His good- 
ness and mercy to restore to the world 
the primitive Gospel in all its simplicity, 
beauty and purity, as it formerly exist- 
ed among the primitive Christians, dur- 
ing the days of Jesus and His Apostles. 
In the midst of the darkness and degen- 
eracy of men, at a time when .the world 
was perplexed with a thousand conflict- 
ing opinions, the light of truth burst 
forth. 

The wise, the learned, the pious, the 
philosopher, the legislator, the divine, and 
Christian have been in search of some- 
thing to ameliorate the condition of 
man; but, notwithstanding, in the midst 
of their researches and various plans, 
the world has continued unchanged, and 
unregenerated; contention, trouble, per- 
plexity and .misery till the earth, and ev- 
ery plan put into operation by man, to 
regenerate the world, only exhibits more 
fully his folly and incompetency ; and in 
spite of every effort, religiously, morally, 
and politically, the world is getting worse 
and worse. 

If we trace carefully and minutely the 
dealings of God with the human family, 
we shall find that all these evils origi- 
nate in the departure of the natons, and 
the world from God, and nothing but a 
return to Him can stop the mighty tem- 
pest, calm the roaring sea, still the un- 
ruly and wayward passions of man, and 
restore to the moral, religious and po- 
litical world that order which exists in 
the physical creation of God. 

The works of creation are still as per- 
fect an on the day they proceeded forth 
from His hands; all creation' is orderly, 
beautiful and harmonious, being governed 
by the wisdom and power of God. And 
if man had not abused that moral agency 
with which he has been entrusted; if he 
had not corrupted himself, and become, 
proud, and arrogant, and forsaken God; 
if he had sought for and obtained wis- 
dom from that Being who suspended the 
orbs in their motions, and regulates the 
universe; if he had copied after the beau- 
ty, order, harmony and innocence of na- 
ture; if he had yet been noble, magnani- 
mous, virtuous, pure and good; dispens- 
ing to and receiving blessings from all; 
being taught by his Father in heaven, 
and copying after His works, this world 
might still have been an Eden, a Para- 
dise, and man have stood in his place, as 
the representative of God on the earth. 

It is the religion that you have believed 
in and teach, that is destined to restore 
the earth and men to their proper posi- 
tions, to leqd men back to God; and out 
of this chaos that exists in the world, 
morally, religiously and politically, to 
gather a people that shall be guided and 
acknowledged of God, that shall be hon- 
orable before men, and natons, and that 
shall assist in building up the kingdom 
of God in these last days. 

Our religion is not a wild phantasy, as 
some have supposed, based upon some 
obscure vision, or idle tale. It is a reve- 
lation of God to us and the world. It 
accords with every principle of reason, 
revelation, intelligence and philosophy. 
It is the restoraton of the primitive Gos- 
pel in all its purity, fullness, beauty, in- 
telligence and power, and clothed m its 
native original simplicity. 

An angel of God has appeared to Jo- 
seph Smith, and also to others associated 
with him; but angels also appeared to 
Abraham, Moses, Gideon, Zachariah, Jo- 
seph, Peter, Paul, James, John, Cornel- 
ius and others. And why not to people 
in this day? An angel revealed to Jo- 
seph Smith the ancient annals of the 
aborigines of America; but we are not 



left to his testimony alone, for an angel 
confirmed also the same thing unto oth- 
ers, who bear testimony to it. Is it a 
thing very remarkable that the Lord 
should reveal the history of millions upon 
millions of people; the inhabitants of thai 
great continent, whose ruins are living 
monuments of their intelligence and civ- 
ilization? Or must we be told that the 
Lord would, or could, only reveal Him- 
self to a few people in Asia, and leave 
the rest of the world in darkness? If 
these records be true, there will yet be 
other discoveries concerning the dealings 
of God with other people, that the world 
will be compelled to believe. How did 
the world come into possession of any 
knowledge of God? By revelation, or 
through the Scriptures which are give»i 
by revelation; and without revelation we 
must have been ignorant of God. Who 
is there, then, that would shut the mouth 
of God, and tell us that He must not, and 
ought not again to communicate with 
man? To be consistent, we must either 
say that He never has done it, or admit 
the probability of His doing it again; for 
if we can believe that He. ever nas spo- 
ken to man, why not believe He will do 
the same thing now? 

But we are told that there have been 
many impostors in the world. True; but 
did an impostor ever come with the full- 
ness and simplicity of the Gospel? We 
answer no, it cannot be shown. John 
says: "Whosoever transgresseth and 
abideth not in the doctrine of Christ hath 
not God. He that abideth in the doc- 
trine of Christ he hath both the Father 
and the Son." Now, where is the im- 
posture associated with this gospel, or 
with these records? The Gospel we teach, 
and the Gospel contained in these records 
is just the same in doctrines, ordinances, 
and blessings, as that contained in the 
Bible; and this record of a people on the 
American continent is confirmatory of the 
Asiatic record. Did the Apostles in for- 
mer days tell the people to "believe in 
the Lord Jesus Christ and repent of their 
sins?" So do we. Did they tell them to 
"be baptized in the name of Jesus for the 
remission of sins?" So do we. Did they 
lay on hands for the gift of the Holy 
Ghost? So do we. Did they believe in 
prophets, revelations, visions, healing the 
sick bv the laying on of hands, through 
faith in Jesus? So do we. Had they 
hope in the resurrection? So have we. 
Did they look for the Second Advent and 

florious appearing of our Lord and Savior 
esus Christ? So do we. Had they 
Apostles, Prophets, Pastors, Teachers, 
and Evangelists? So have we. Had 
they gifts, tongues, interpretations, vis- 
ions, governments, helps, etc.? So have 
we. Did they practice the doctrines, 
precepts and examples of Jesus Christ? 
We also seek to do so; and we know that 
God has restored again these ancient 
blessings to His Church. 

What is there, we would ask, in all the 
above that is inconsistent? Which is 
most inconsistent, to believe and prac- 
tice the Scriptures, or to say we believe 
them, and then deny them in our or- 
ganizations, doctrines and works? 

But are not visions, prophecies and rev- 
elations apt to lead to wildness, and fa- 
naticism? Yes; the visions of men and 
delusions of Satan are. But if the Lord 
had thought that Hirf visions and reve- 
lations were injurious to the people, why 
did He give them in former days? If 
they are injurious now, they certainly 
would have been then. The wildness, 
folly, and fanaticism of men is one thing; 
and the Lord revealing His will to the 
I people for their organization, stability, 
, comfort, union, teaching, and edification, 
I and for the establishment of His king- 
dom, another. 
• The principles that we believe in and 



teach are in strict accordance with rea- 
son, revelaton and philosophy. 

Who made the earth, and man? If 
God did, has He not a right to govern 
and dictate; to instruct and teach? Is 
it more reasonable that man, the image of 
God, destined to live here and hereafter, 
should remain in total blindness as it 
regards his present and future happiness, 
or that his Father should teach him those 
things? Has it indeed become degrading 
to acknowledge God? 

Again, if we speak philosophically, 
what is it that can produce the greatest 
happiness to the human family? Intel- 
ligence, virtue, purity, union and broth- 
erhood. And why is the, world in its 
present unhappy, debased, corrupt and 
unsettled state? It is for the lack of 
the pure principles of true philosophy. 
For the want of a philosophy and intelli- 
gence taking cognizance of the earth and 
heavens. For God's work, whether on 
the earth or in the heavens, spiritual or 
temporal, are all governed and controlled 
according to the strictest principles of 
philosophy; the philosophy of God, as 
manifested in the heavens and on the 
earth. And if man has come to any 
wrong conclusions relative to the deal- 
ing$ of God, it is for want of a knowl- 
edgfe of God and of His laws, many of 
which can only be obtained through reve- 
lation. But as all His laws that come 
within our cognizance are orderly and 
perfect, so are those which are not gen- 
erally known. 

* Philosophers have sought in ' man, in 
the earth, and in the works of creation, 
to find a true system. They have each 
had their day; they have introduced many 
good principles, but so far as the amelio- 
ration of the world is concerned, they 
have failed. Their systems, however 
good many of them mav have been, are 
not commensurate to the object; 4 they 
have been weighed in the balance and 
found wanting." 

We believe in every true principle of 
philosophy, and then seek the wisdom of 
God to associate with it. .They search 
wisdom from the earth and the works of 
God; we from His works, and also from 
God the Author. They search the bless- 
ings of this earth; we, those of this and 
the next, a reward in time and in eter- 
nity. If we possess any intelligence, we 
are not ashamed to own that God gives 
it. If the Lord has given laws, we are 
not ashamed to observe them. If Jesus 
went to John and demanded to be im- 
mersed in water, we are not ashamed to 
follow His steps. If He appointed faith, 
repentance and baptism, we are not 
ashamed to adopt the same plan. If He 
appointed the laying on of hands for the 
gift of the Holv Ghost, we think it prop- 
er also; and if by the observance of those 
ordinances they obtained divine, favor, 
and received a Spirit that "should lead 
them into all truth; bring things past to 
their remembrance, and show them things 
to come," we rejoice in His having dis- 
covered to us the way to obtain true in- 
telligence, a knowledge of true princi- 
ples, ancient and modern, of our rela- 
tionship to God, and the way to promote 
our happiness and the happiness of the 
world. 

The world has run to two extremes in 
regard to religion: the one has made 
everything spiritual, aerial and vision- 
ary; they have become ascetic, morose 
and superstitious, and have" put unnat- 
ural bonds upon the human family. While 
the other, to burst these restraints, have 
run into excesses, violated the laws of 
morality and virtue, neglected or denied 
God, and have sought in licentiousness, 
vanity and the gratification of their lusts 
and passions, that happiness which alone 
can be obtained by virtue, moderation, 
purity and the fear of God. 

Our religion is temporal, spiritual and 
eternal. It is adapted to both body and 
soul, for we have both; and the God 
which made one also provided the other. 
The object or redempton is to save both 
body. and soul; it effects us in time and 
will in eternity. As men we have to use 
our judgment, reason, and intelligence 
to obtain possessions, organize society, 
to labor, till the earth, sow, plant and 



272 



THE SOUTHERN STAB. 



REPORT OF MIB8ION CONFERENCES FOR WEEK ENDING JUNE 30, 1900. 



PRIBID1NT 



Geo. A. Adams.... „, 

Heber S. Olson... 

J.G.Bolton.. 

J. Spencer Worslcy.,, 

W.D. Bencher 

A. C. Strong , 

Geo. W. Skidmor 

John Reeve - 

J. M. Haws 

Sylvester Low, Jr 

G.M. Porter ...„ 

W. W.MacKay 

W. O. Phelps. 

W.H.Boyle 

Don C. Benson 

L. M. Nebeker 

H. Z. Lund „. 



COKFEfclCHOI 



L'llllMiiJl'H-KIl 

Virginia-. - + . ... 
Kentucky., , 

Efl-l Tl'tilic-r.- 

Georgia -.. 

North Alabama 

florida 

Mill* TVniM'-^i',- ., 
North Carolina „ 
South Carolina.. 
Mi**i*Pippl ..„»„. 
Kn*t Kentucky. >. 

Louisiana 

South Alabama,. 
North Kentucky 

South Ohio 

Korth Ohio 



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Chaitauouu-a .,.♦ „, 

Richmond, Box 3SS 1 .,, 

Centre „♦.. _,«..,.«« 

Charlotte 

Bowett villa* ., 

Memphis, Box 153_.„ H 

Valuta 

147 N .Summer ht. Nii-hMlha 
Gohlftbwro, \^x \ru . 

Bi [Kwllr. .., 

Arkcrman 

Bui iHinrsvilk 

Hlitflns Spur 

LUUOU' „ ... 

109 w, Gray St,. J.ouisviKe 
68tt Bt-tta su, L'inciniiBti ... 
41 i. 'lunjliire wu, i ItfVtilaud 



IVnneiwee 
Virginia 
Ken lucky 
N . Carolina 
Georgia 
TeniiesBiee 
Georgia 
Tennessee 
s . CaroHua 
& Carollua 
M s^igsippi 

Kentucky 

Louisiana 

Alabama 

Kentucky 

Ohio 

Ohio 



reap, and provide for our families; as 
Christians, to seek from God, wisdom to 
direct us in all things spiritual and tem- 
poral. And as eternal oeings, to act in 
this life in all things, with a reference to 
the next; that we may be honorable here, 
and stand in our position with God in the 
eternal world, when our bodies and spir- 
its shall be again united. 

The -Lord has given us revelations con- 
cerning both our temporal and spiritual 
affairs. He has commenced to build up 
Zion, and to establish His kingdom, and 
He will roll on His purposes, and fulfill 
the words of the prophets, and His work 
will roll forth until the designs of God 
shall be accomplished. 

Ijet me say to the brethren, then, be 
virtuous, be pure, keep the command- 
ments of God. Pray to your Father in 
heaven for wisdom, grace, patience and 
meekness, that you may be examples of 
everything that is good, great, noble and 
intelligent, that your light may shine be- 
fore men. Avoid political strife, and 
pray for the nations in which you reside, 
and their rulers, and imitate our Lord 
and Savior in manifesting goodness and 
mercy, kindness and benevolence to all. 
In short, if there is anything good, praise- 
worthy, honorable and exalted; seek after 
these things, and the truth shall make 
you free; you shall be gathered in due 
time to Zion, and rejoice in the fullness 
of the blessings of the Gospel of peace; 
you shall know how to enjoy this world, 
and how to obtain a knowledge of and 
an inheritance in the celestial kingdom 
of God. 

History of the Southern States Mission. 

(Continued from page 257.) 

March, 1898— 

During the latter part of March, Elders 
James Larson and R. G. Archibald en- 
tered Cookville. Tenn.. to canvass, 
preach, etc., but met with a very cool re- 
ception. Knowing that the brethren trav- 
eled without purse or scrip, many of the 
people did all that lay within their power 
to see that no food or shelter was pro- 
vided them. The Easter season was near 
at hand, and eggs being very plentiful, 
the people showed their appreciation (?) 
of a visit from the "Mormons." Elder 
Archibald's hat was used roughly, being 
almost filled with eggs, while both Elders 
had them thrown upon their clothes, 
without respect to location. This gang 
of toughs was headed by the deputy 
sheriff of the county, Mr. Jared, and a 
newspaper editor, Mr. Sims. 

The sheriff had granted the Elders per- 
mission to preach in the court house, but 
as they were about to begin services Mr. 
.Tared entered, informing them that a re- 
hearsal was to be held and they would 
have to get out. Next appeared a number 
of toughs, who also ordered the Elders 
to leave the court house post-haste. As 
they were going down the stairs leading 
to the street, a number of eggs were 
thrown, while one man threw a chair, 



which struck Elder Archibald on the 
head, nearly knocking him down, break- 
ing his hat badly. As Elder Larson was 
going out of the main entrance someone 
from above dropped a brick which just 
grazed his hat. Had it struck him per- 
haps it would have ended his earthly ex- 
istence. But in the midst of persecution 
the brethren were kindly cared for by a 
citizen, who, in the face of threatenings 
and abuse, was not afraid to denounce 
the unruly mobocrats. 

The month closed, having been an 
eventful one in many respects. The El- 
ders worked with a will to spread the 
Gospel message, and many honest-heart- 
ed people were baptized. 

April, 1898— 

April 5th Elders A. C. Matheson and 
Fred M. Michelson began work in At- 
lanta, Ga. 

Fourteen Elders arrived in Chattanoo- 
ga from the West on the 16th inst. 

There was no mob violence shown the 
Elders during the whole month, which 
was good news. The Elders enjoyed very 
good health and opened up many new sec- 
tions of country heretofore uncanvassed. 
The Saints as a rule were in a prosper- 
ous state, both spiritually and temporal- 
ly. They were taught the beautiful 
truths which would save and exalt them 
by obedience. Reports received from 
every part of the mission were favorable 
to a marked degree. 

May, 1898— 

Very little from the usual happened 
during this month, and everything seemed 
to work in harmony. Thirty-seven El- 
ders arrived from the West during the 
month, which added much strength to 
the working force in the field. 

June, 1898— 

On the 5th inst. Elder J. Golden Kim- 
ball, of the First Presidency of Seven- 
ties, arrived in Chattanooga from Salt 
Lake City, to visit with the brethren. 

A letter, dated June 9th, 1898, from 
President Frank Cutler, of the Florida 
Conference, who was then at Sanderson, 
Fla., gave the following sad news of the 
assassination of Brother Canova. 

"We regret deeply that fate compels 
us at times to report anything but pleas- 
ant news. But a gloom has been cast 
over us that will sadden the heart of 
every Elder in our Conference, and grief 
has been brought upon Saints and friends 
that tears cannot wash away. Our no- 
ble and stannch friend, Brother George 
P. Canova, was foully assassinated a 
little after dark last Sunday night. June 
5th, taking from our midst one whose 
generosity had reached the heart of every 
Elder and Saint who knew him. Brother 
Canova was a local Elder and presided 
over a branch of the Church at Sander- 
son. 

We were holding a branch confer- 



ence at New Zion on the 4th and 5th 
insts., and he was in attendance. He 
enjoyed the services and was in high 
spirits when he separated from us to re- 
turn home, some twenty-five miles away. 
The distance compelled night travel, and 
at Juncture, when Brother T. Hill, his 
only companion, was opening a gate. 
Brother Canova was fired upon. The 
perpetrator finished his horrid deed ot 
murder and then made his escape. The 
body of our beloved brother was taken 
home to the grief-stricken family, and 
after fitting services the remains were 
interred in the Evergreen cemetery at 
Jacksonville. 

Brother Canova, since accepting the 
Gospel, has been a sincere member of 
the Church, ever striving to live up to 
all its requirements; happy and content- 
ed was he in the hope of eternal life. No 
cause existed for the committal of such 
a crime, not the slightest provocation 
was given. The fact that murders are 
being perpetrated and the guilty evade 
punishment, forces our minds to recall 
the state of affairs that existed among 
the Nephite nation, previous to, and in- 
strumental of bringing about their down- 
fall and destruction; also the prediction 
concerning the things that should exist 
in our day previous to Christ's second 
coming." 

(To be continued.) 



Ant Engineers. 

Something new and interesting about 
ants was learned by a Mount Airy florist 
recently. For a week or so he had been 
bothered by ants that got into boxes of 
seeds which rested on a shelf. To get rid 
of the ants he put into execution an old 
plan, which was to place a meaty bone 
close by, which the ants soon covered, 
every one deserting the boxes of seeds. 
As soon as the bone would become thick- 
lv inhabited by the little creepers the 
florist tossed it into a tub of water. The 
ants having been washed off, the bone was 
put in use as a trap again. ... 

Then the florist bethought himself that 
he would save trouble by placing the bone 
in the center of a sheet of fly paper, be- 
lieving that the ants would never get to the 
bone, but would get caught on the sticky 
fly paper while trying to reach the 
food. But the florist was surprised to 
find that the ants, upon discovering the 
nature of the paper trap, formed a work- 
ing force and built a path on the paper 
clear to the bone. The material for the 
walk was sand secured from a little pile 
near by. For hours the ants worked, and 
when the path was completed they made 
their way over its dry surface in couples, 
as in a march, to the bone. — Philadel- 
phia Record 

People who have little to do are great 
talkers. The less we think, the more we 
talk.— Montesquieu. 

The misfortunes hardest to bear are 
those which never come. — Lowell. 




'BUT TMQUGrt WE h O0 AN AMGLL FROM rtCAVEN,Pft£ACH ANY 
pTHEG GOSPEL UNTQ YOU THAN THAT WHICH WE 

HAVE PREACHED UNTO YGUJ.ET HIM &E fcQJbttSWJV&dK 
^" 1 5*^ — 



^&" 



Vol. 2. 



Chattanooga, Tbnn., Saturday, July 28, 1900. 



No. 85. 



OUR CONFERENCE PRESIDENTS. 

Elder L M. Nebeker. 

"A sacred burden In this life ye bear, 
Look on it, lift It. bear It solemnly, 
Stand up and walk beneath it steadfastly. 
Fall not for sorrow, falter not for sin, 
But onward, upward, till the goal ye wiu." 
—Frances Anne Kemble. 

What a choice blessing and much to 
be desired, is the glorious privilege of 
being born of goodly parentage. This is 
a divine gift, a heavenly treasure! To 
be nurtured in the admonition of the 
Lord, and instructed in the perfect way 
of righteousness, while yet life's sun is 
dawning, is a boon priceless, invaluable, 
and of everlasting worth. Under such 
beneficial conditions, did our brother, 
whose firm and pleasant features are de- 
lineated on the fair page of this week's 
Star, make his advent upon this terra 
firraa. 

He comes of the good old pioneer stock 
whose industry and energy have re- 
deemed the wilderness and converted the 
barren desert into a fruitful field. The 
favored spot where he first saw the light 
of day on this mundane sphere in a cor- 

Eoreal existence, is that peaceful little 
amlet in Sevier county, Utah, known 
as Annabella, and the date of his inau- 

furation as a mortal being was May 21. 
379. 

It was only two days after his birth 
that his beloved father was summoned 
beyond the grave, leaving the faithful 
mother a sorrowing widow. The sweet 
balm of the Holy Spirit had scarcely 
soothed the troubled soul, when the good 
mother was again called to mourn; this 
time it was her oldest boy, whom the 
Lord had taken from her side to join 
his father in a Paradise of bliss. 

The father having been dead some fif- 
teen months, his mother was united in 
the bonds of matrimony with one, Wil- 
liam N. Spofford. who proved a veritable 
father unto our brother, teaching him by 
example and precept to be honest, indus- 
trious, upright and obedient, which 
gained for him the everlasting esteem and 
respect of his stepson. Elder Nebeker 
was known among his playmates as an 
honest boy, truthful, aud obedient, and 
during his boyhood days upon the farm, 
he struggled hard to assist in maintain- 
ing a livelihood. 

His has been a varied experience for 
one so young in years. Timbering, rail- 
roading, farming and mining, all coming 
within the range of his experience. Af- 
ter attending the public school at Rich- 
field, Utah, for some months, he entered 



the Brigham Young Academy at Prov«, 
Utah, and here he engaged his time and 
talents in a twenty weeks' Y. M. M. I. 
A. course, which, in a measure, prepared 
him to begin work in a higher and more 
difficult class, even that of the mission- 
ary field. 

On the 15th of March, 1809, Elder 
Nebeker reported at Salt Lake City as 
being ready for the mission appointed 
him of the Lord, and on the following 
day he boarded the train for the South- 
ern States, in company with other El- 
ders. The Chattanooga Conference was, 
at that time, being organized, and our 
brother was called to labor therein. For 
five months he remained in the Chatta- 
nooga Conference, being diligent in his 




ELDER L. M. NEBEKER, 
President of the South Ohio Conference. 



labors and energetic in spreading the 
good word of salvation. 

When Ohio was transferred from the 
Northern States Mission and made a 
part of our Southern Mission here. Elder 
Neberker was called to operate in that 
state. President J. W. Funk chose him 
as a counselor, and upon his release, 
when Elder Maycock took charge, Broth- 
er Nebeker was retained in the office he 
held. 

When the conference was divided In 
April, Elder Nebeker was chosen to pre- 
side over what is now known as the 
South Ohio Conference. He has proved 
himself energetic in all the scenes of life. 



and his work in the missionary grades 
is of the best type, at once winning for 
him the love, confidence, respect and high 
esteem of his brethren. Elders Ralph 
Cutler and Benham Hunsaker are his 
noble aids in the conference, together 
with a corps of valiant "Sons of Zion," 
of whom much is expected, and from 
whom, we firmly believe, much will be 
received. 



History of the Southern States Mission. 

(Continued from Page 272.) 

June, 1898-On the 10th inst. Presi- 
dent Kimball received a letter from the 
First Presidency at Salt Lake City, stat- 
ing that he had been honorably released 
from his labors as presiding Elder of the 
Southern States Mission, and Elder Ben 
E. Rich had been chosen to succeed him. 
President Rich arrived in Chattanooga 
on the 19th inst. 

June 21st, the following named Elders 
arrived from the West, and two days 
later were assigned to their various 
fields of labor: J. Urban Allred, Wm. 
T. Davis, Jeremiah Stokes, Jr., George 
R. Harris, Joseph H. Woolsey, Daniel 
J. Sparks, Joseph H. LineB, Thos. Pres- 
ton, Thos. E. Norton, Woodard W. 
Crockett, Alva Stewart, Zeno M. John 
son, C. Warren Petersen, Geo. W. Fuller, 
Langley A. Moore, Heber C. Petty, Lew- 
is P. Warren, Wm. P. Murry, M. H 
Archibald, Albert Young, James Weav- 
er, Wm. F. Tate, Stanley A. Hanks, 
Wm. H. Boyle, Hugh Dana, Peter John- 
son, Robert Davidson, Samuel D. Fuller, 
John S. Allen. 

Following is the semi-annual report of 
the Mission, for the six months ending 
June 30, 1898: 

There were fourteen conferences, but 
the Georgia Conference was not organ- 
ized until March 12th. 1898. Miles 
walked, 329.384. Families visited. 170,- 
625. Families revisited, 69,284. Reject- 
ed Testimonies. 10,470. Refused enter- 
tainment, 9,383. Tracts distributed, 
204,421. Dodgers distributed, 167,912. 
Books sold, 13,450. Books given away, 
5,138. Books loaned, 4,270. Meetings 
held, 38,632. Gospel conversations, 169,- 
981. Gospel letters written, 8,891. Chil- 
dren blessed, 620. Baptisms, 751. San- 
day schools organized, 33. Branches or- 
ganized. 

The month closed with a good spirit 
prevailing throughout the mission. All 
the Elders reported good treatment, but 
some sickness. 

July, 1898-On the 1st inst. President 
Rich took charge of the mission. On 



274 



THE SOUTHERN STAB. 



the 2d inst. the following letter was sent 
each Conference President, with instruc- 
tions to send a copy to each Elder labor- 
ing in his conference: 

Chattanooga, Tenn., July 2, 1898. 

To the Elders of the Southern States 

Mission: 

Dear Brethren:— In assuming the pres- 
idency of this, the Southern States Mis- 
sion, I feel impressed to send you a few 
words. President Kimball having been 
released from a four years' mission, 
transfered the business of the office to 
me yesterday and started on his return 
homeward. I fully realize that in order 
for my mfasion to be successful, I must 
have the spirit of my calling, the help 
of God, and the love, confidence, faith 
and prayers of all the Elders who are 
laboring in this part of the Lord's vine- 
yard. If 1 have the spirit of God it will 
be made manifest in my dealings with 
the humble Elders, who are laboring un- 
der my direction; the spirit of humanity, 
of meekness, of charity, of love and 
mercy, are all some of the attributes of 
Christ; we are all His servants and have 
been commanded to follow Him and care- 
fully study the glorious example He has 
set for us. To oe embassadors of Christ, 
is a mighty calling and carries with it 
a great responsibility. In order for us to 
fully magnify our calling we must be 
clothed with the spirit of God; we must 
follow our Master s teachings ; we must 
banish from our hearts all enmity against 
those who at times despitefully use us. 
We are commanded to love those who 
injure us. Remember, brethren, that a 
kind word will often turn away wrath, 
and therefore I pray you to scatter seeds 
of kindness wherever you go, among 
friends or enemies. God has said He 
will forgive whom He will forgive, but 
has commanded us to forgive all men. 
When you see an individual engaged in 
persecuting the Saints, pray for that 
man. Perhaps his eyes may yet be 
opened to the truth, remember the glori- 
ous lesson taught us by glancing at the 
history of the Apostle Paul, who was 
once a persecutor of the Saints, but he 
eventually had his eyes opened and tie- 
came valiant in the cause of Christ. Do 
not forget that false reports have been 
circulated against us everywhere; this 
seems to have been the heritage of the 
Former-day Saints, and also the misfor- 
tune of the Latter-day Saints. How nec- 
essary, then, that our words, our acts, 
and even our thoughts should bear tes- 
timony unto all men that we are falsely 
accused. You have been sent with au- 
thority to preach the Gospel of Christ, 
and to speak in His name, then be dill- 
gent in crying, "Repent ye, for the King- 
dom of Heaven is at hand." Do not be 
anxious to engage in the work of tear- 
ing down the churches, but rather de- 
vote yourselves to explaining the Gospel 
in plainness and simplicity; point to the 
beauties of the principles and the perfec- 
tion of the organization, when you have 
done this under the influence of the Holy 
Spirit, the honest in heart will see before 
them a vision of such a heavenly temple 
that they will admit in their hearts it Is 
a better house than the one in which 
they now dwell; and then mankind will 
be more willing to come into that build- 
ing and take up their abode, than they 
would if you were to use your talents in 
tearing their present religious house to 
pieces. You can afford to be patient be- 
cause you are the followers of a Master 
who was the very embodiment of pa- 
tience, and you can afford to be brave, 
because you are clothed with the power 
of God and His Holy Priesthood. Do 
not foolishly seek persecution, try to 
avoid trouble at all times, but should 
this be. impossible, then let it come, and 
meet it as humble. charitable and brave 
men of God should. 

Remember the first Sunday in each 
month, which is a day set apart by the 
authorities of the. Church for fasting and 
prayer: observe it, brethren, and you will 
be blessed of the Lord; it will give you 
strength with Him: you will enjoy the 
sweet influence of His Holy Spirit, and 
the power of His Holy Priesthood will 



be with you; should you desire to fast 
and pray at other times, do so and you 
will be blessed and strengthened. 

I have felt impressed to call to my as- 
sistance as counselors in this work Elder 
N. P. NeiBon, who until recently pre- 
sided over, the Middle Tennessee Con- 
ference, and Elder L. R. Andersen, who 
is at present laboring in the field. I feet 
that these brethren are filled with the 
spirit of their calling and will be a 
blessing to the Elders and Saints of our 
mission. When you meet them give heed 
unto their counsel, follow them because 
they are the servants of God. and a part 
of the presidency of this mission, fhe 
appointments have been sent out to all 
the Conference Presidents, giving dates 
for holding our conferences, and we hope 
soon to be able to meet you face to face, 
shake you by the hand and bless you. 
Yon have our faith aud prayers, we ask 
for yours. Store up your minds with 
useful knowledge, and when you under- 
take to speak to the people, place your- 
selves under the direction of the Spirit 
of God, be led by its influences and fol- 
low its whisperings. May God bless you 
in your labors; may you have health, and 
may you find friends, but above all, may 
yon have the spirit of your mission and 
make God your friend. 

Your brother and fellow servant, 

Ben E. Rich. 

Neil D. Forsyth arrived from the West 
on the 7th inst. and was assigned to la- 
bor in the Middle Tennessee Conference. 
(To be Continued.) 

GOD'S GREATEST GIFT. 



BY ELDER DAVID H. ELTON. 
(Continued from Page 267.) 

REPENTANCE— In our investigation 
of the subject— God's Greatest Gift- 
thus far we have adduced our evidences 
from the revelations He has given us, as 
contained within the sacred lids of the 
Holy Bible. In our previous issue we 
defined Faith, as the first stepping stone 
to glory and exaltation. Faith, once 
fully established (not necessarily perfect) 
in the mind of the individual seeking to 
please God and gain His smiles and ap- 
probations, there dawns this realization, 
"I am a sinner," and consequently a de- 
sire to be reconciled to that God from 
whom you were alienated by reason of 
the Fall. We shall need to exercise our 
faith in God all along the line, and as 
we pass from one principle to another, 
in pursuit of truth, we shall find that our 
faith is necessary, beneficial and helpful. 
We can make no progression, no advance- 
ment in this life without the operation 
and application of faith; therefore, as 
the field broadens before us, and our 
study deepens, so will our faith increase 
and our assurance ripen. 

Having said so much in regard to the 
exercise and needful companionship of 
faith, we will now endeavor to define 
the second principle of the Gospel — Re- 
pentance — and discover perchance its es- 
sentiality and vital importance as a 
means of salvation. Repentance means 
a sincere desire in the heart of man to 
be forgiven of past sins and offenses, 
with a righteous ambition to overcome 
evil with good and sin no more. The. 
truly repentent individual will be found 
forsaking sin, walking uprightly before 
the Lord, and manifesting a Godly sor- 
row for transgressions committed. Hear 
what the prophet Isaiah says: "Seek 
ye the Lord while He may be found; 
call ye upon Him while He is near. Let 
the wicked forsake his way and the un- 
righteous man his thoughts: and let him 
return unto the Lord, and He will have 
mercy upon Jiim; and to our God, for 
He will abundantly pardon." (Isaiah 
55:0-7). This, then, involves a forsaking 
of evil ways, which constitutes a true, 
genuine, unaffected repentance: or as an- 
other ancient prophet has said : "Cast 



away from you all your transgressions, 
whereby ye have transgressed." (Ezek. 
18:31). To do this we neea 4 the help of 
our Father in heaven, the assistance of 
that spirit which strives with man to 
lead him aright, and the co-operation of 
that Light "which lighteth every man 
that cometh into the world." (John 1:11). 
True repentance humbles the heart; 
and, coupled with, the faith already ex- 
istent in the mind, it leads one to draw 
ni£h unto God, to call upon Him who is 
mighty to save, and to plead before. Hi* 
throne for mercy, forgiveness and, re- 
demption. We know that God is merci- 
ful, and although just and holy, we shall 
find that all His commands are fash- 
ioned in the mould of Mercy, and meted 
out with loving kindness. He says: "1 
have no pleasure in the death of -him 
that dieth, saith the Lord God; where- 
fore turn yourselves and live ye." (Ezek. 
18:32). In pleadiug with ancient Israel, 
God continually remonstrated v with them 
to "turn from their evil ways." "Return 
unto me, aud I will return unto you/' 
(Mai. 3:7). "Repent, and turn your- 
selves from all your transgressions; so 
iniquity shall not be your ruin." (Ezek. 
18:30). "Come now and let us reason 
together, saith the Lord; though your 
sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white 
as snow; though they be red like crim- 
son, they shall be as wool." (Isa. 1:18). 
These are only a few of the many ex- 

Fressions of mercy and love which the 
*ord gave unto His erring and disobe- 
dient children; but notwithstanding these 
divine entreaties, and the many mani- 
festations of His power they had wit- 
nessed, they continued to rebel against 
His will and word, became stiff necked, 
hard-hearted, obdurate and obstinate, re- 
jecting the counsels of God against 
themselves, and denying His tender mer- 
cies and all-wise, loving kindness. They 
would not repent as the IiOrd command- 
ed; they refused to become reconciled to 
His laws; they repudiated the ancient 
seers, killed many of the* holy prophets, 
and stoned those whom the Father hud 
sent to prune His vineyard. 

It was to this perverse and untoward 
generation, when the time was fully 
come spoken by the prophets of old, that 
Christ came, as a Redeemer and Savior. 
His advent was preceded by the procla- 
mation of John the Baptist, who had 
made the wilderness of Judea ring with 
the startling declaration. "Repent for the 
Kingdom of God is at nand. Had the 
Jews have given heed to the words of 
this forerunner of the Messiah, this her- 
ald of a coming kingdom of righteous- 
ness, this harbinger of truth and glad 
tidings of great joy, they would have 
been prepared and in readiness to meet 
their Captain and Prince. Yes, had they 
straightway given heed to His call to re- 
pentance, after a godly manner, bring- 
ing forth "fruits meet for repentance" 
(Mark 3:8), then would they have wel- 
comed their Savior, received their Re- 
deemer, and been perfectly willing to be- 
come obedient subjects unto their Kins 
the Messiah. 

Evidently many of them had the cow- 
viction of guilt, of sin. and of trans- 
gression, but they failed to exercise re- 
pentance toward God, and therefore the 
mere presuasion of offense against God, 
was not sufficient, it was not enough, 
there must be a genuine manifestation 
of repentance, a departing from sin, and 
a cleaving to that which is good. This 
is what the Lord requires, and this is 
what the Lord accepts and holds good, 
blessing the participant therein with a 
free pardon of past offenses, a forgive- 
ness of sins. 

Now repentance, kind reader, does not 
mean to feel sorry for wrong doing, and 
continue in the evil indulgence. It 
means just what the holy men of God 
said it meant, and that is, to forsake sin, 
and serve God. To keep His command- 
ments, obey His will, and live up to 
every won! that proceedeth forth from 
His mouth. There is no virtue in mourn- 
ing, weeping, and sobbing because you 
are found a transgressor and your con- 
science smites you as a sinner, but fner* 
is virtue and forgiveness in forsaking the 



THE SOUTHERN STAB. 



275 



"downward roa4/' in departing from the 
forbidden partus, and following the 
straight and narrow course marked oat 
by Jesus our Lord and King. 

I>o you art know how very . loving the 
Lord is and how abundant in mercy, and 
forgiving kindness? Ah, yes! One can- 
not fail to see the love of God and His 
never-ifcfling mercy when we read, 
"Whep I say unto the wicked. Thou 
shaU Mirely die; if he turn from his sin, 
and do that which is lawful and right; 
if Hie wicked restore the pledge, give 
again that he had robbed, walk in the 
tfiitutes of life, without committing ini- 
quity; he shall surely live, he shall not 
die. None of his sins that he hath com- 
mitted shall be mentioned unto him; he 
hath done that which is lawful and right: 
he shall surely live." (Ezekiel 33:14-16). 
"None of his sins that he hath commit- 
ted shall be mentioned unto him." This 
is the divine example of forgiveness and 
pardon, not to mention any more the 
sins forgiven, but to forever blot them 
out of His book of remembrance, pro- 
vided we observe to keep His holy laws. 
Knowing this, then, we have the assur- 
ance that if we will repent as God has 
commanded. He will pardon our sins, 
and mention them against us no more. 
This at least should lead us to repent- 
ance, when we know of the goodness 
of God, in this regard. Well might the 
Apostle Paul exclaim, "Despisest thou 
the riches of His goodness and forbear- 
ance and long suffering; not knowing 
that the goodness of God leadeth thee 
to repentance?" Yes, it is the "goodness 
of God" which leads men to repentance, 
but how can we become convinced of 
the goodness' of God save we exercise 
faith in Him, trust in His righteous 
promises, and become acquainted with 
His everlasting goodness. When we 
have been made partakers of the good- 
ness of God by being blessed with the 
gift of faith, which comes from Him, 
then are we in a proper condition to be 
led in the way of repentance, and every 
other good and holy work. The good- 
ness of God, then, through the exercise 
of Faith, will convince one of the error 
of his ways, and lead him unto repent- 
ance. Before he can repent, it must 
needs be that he is convinced of sin. and 
this conviction comes by reason of the 
Faith which operates within. 

Thus far we have dealt with the Old 
Testament scriptures, but we shall find 
that the burden of the New Testament 
writers was to preach Christ and Him 
crucified; and call the children of men 
to Repentance and obedience. When 
that multitude of devout Jews assem- 
bled in Jerusalem at the Fentecost feast, 
and Peter stood up to defend the Gos- 
pel, we. find that when his hearers wen? 
convinced of the divine mission of Jesus 
Christ, they cried aloud. "Men and breth- 
ren, what shall we do?" and received 
in answer to their inquiry the command, 
"Repent and be baptized," etc. (Acts 
2:37-38). Again the same apostle gives 
us to understand that "the Lord is not 
slack concerning His promise, as some 
men count slackness; but is long-suffer- 
ing to usward, not willing that any 
should perish, but that all should come 
to repentance.** (II. Peter 3:0). 

In order to gain salvation, God's great- 
est gift, there must be a real sorrow of 
heart for sin, a eennine. true repentance 
toward God, without which there can be 
no deliverance. Nothing short of this 
will be productive of good. "For Godly 
sorrow worketh repentance to salvation 
not to be repented of, but the sorrow of 
the world worketh death" (II. Cor. 7:10), 
and "Except ye repent, ye shall all like- 
wise perish." (Luke 13:3). 

We should repent because we believe 
God loves us. and is able to forgive us 
our sins and cleanse us from all unright- 
eousness. We should repent becaust 
God has commanded us so to do; not so 
much from the fear of punishment as 
for the hone of reward, that the love for 
virtue, holiness and truth may be upper- 
most and foremost in our souls. You 
remember how, that when Paul went to 
Athens he stood on Mar's Hill and stern- 
ly reproved the superstitious Athenians, 



telling them that there was a time when 
God winked at their ignorance; "but now 
commandeth all men everywhere to re- 
pent:* (Acts 17:30). Yes, "all men 
everywhere" commanded to repent, and 
that decree has never been revoked, yea, 
more, it never will be! None are to be 
excused, but all are to repent ! 

You have the Holy Bible at your elbow, 
pointing out the many evils you should 
repent of, and therefore it is not neces- 
sary for me in this article to describe 
every particular evil. What is your of- 
fense before God; wherein do you err 
from the Holy command, and stray from 
the beaten path which lies in a straight 
course before you, and leads to Eternal 
Life? Are you guilty of defrauding your 
neighbor or employer; of speaking evil 
of things vou understand not ; of slander- 
ing, reviling and abusing those whose 
religious convictions differ from your 
own: of indulging in tradition and error, 
to the exclusion of righteousness and 
truth; of oppressing the poor; and of 
.overburdening the weak? All these and 
many other evils must be repented of, 
or you cannot enter the Kingdom of 
God. How sweet and refreshing are the 
words of Jesus, "Come unto me, all ye. 
that labor and are heavy laden, and I 
will give you rest." (Matt. 11:28). How 
comforting and soul-inspiring are those 
promising words found in the Apoca- 
lypse, "And the Spirit and the bride say, 
Come. And let him that heareth say, 
Come. And let him that is athirst come. 
And whosoever will, let him take the 
water of life freely." (Rev. 22:17). 

"Repent ye therefore, and be convert- 
ed, that your sins may be blotted out, 
when the times of refreshing shall come 
from the presence of the Lord." (Acts 
3:19). These are a few more of the 
words of the inspired Peter, when he, 
in company with the beloved John, was 
preaching to the multitude from Solo- 
mon's porch of the beautiful temple. 
Again went forth the cry of repentance, 
not only to the Jews, but also to the 
Gentiles, for we read, "Then hath God 
ak»o to the Gentiles granted repentance 
unto life." (Acts 11:18). We can truth- 
fully say, without fear of controversy 
or dispute, that the overthrow of Baby- 
lon, the fall of Rome, and the destruc- 
tion of Jerusalem were, owing to the dis- 
obedient, unrepentant natures of the 
people who inhabited these once beauti- 
ful, mafimificent, grand cities. How nec- 
essary it is that we procrastinate not the 
day of our repentance, or delay to hum- 
ble ourselves in lowliness and meekness 
before God. It is the contrite heart, and 
the broken spirit the Lord demands, of- 
fering unto us pardon, and fonriveness ' 
as a result of our obedience to His com- 
mands. He will not force or compel xm 
to repent. He will persuade, gently lead, 
and divinely guide, and if we want to 
be kind to ourselves, to become agents 
in bettering our own conditions, to do 
ourselves a favor, we will repent, rely 
upon His tender mercies, and seek to 
gain glorv and exaltation in His King- 
dom. Whatsoever we do in advancing 
ourselves along the lines of sanctifiea- 
tion and holiness, that we may become 
perfect as our Father in heaven is per- 
fect, we should do willingly and with a 
cheerful spirit. Whatsoever the Lord 
does to elevate our fallen natures, to 
make us like Him, He does freely and 
with abundant loving kindness. Then 
we should be willing to serve God, be- 
muse He is willing to bless us in this 
life, and raise us up at the last day to 
eternal glory. 

Before we dismiss this principle of the 
Gospel -Repentance— let us take a glance 
at a few thimrs mentioned by the. Apos- 
tle Paul in the fifth chapter of Gala- 
Hans, commencing at the 19th verse, 
"Now the works of the flesh are mani- 
fest, which are these: adultery, fornica- 
tion, uncleanness. lasciviousness, idolatry, 
witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, 
wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, envy- 
ing, mnrdprs. drunkenness, revellings, 
n nrt such l'ke: of the which I tell vou 
before, as I have also told you in timo. 
past, that thev which do such thins* 
shall not inherit the kingdom of Cfad. 9 * 



Could the word of God be more plain or 
explicit? ShaU not inherit the kingdom 
of Cfad. What shall we do? Repent of 
these things, forsake them, shun them, 
make no compromise with any, but upon 
unconditional terms be forever separate 
from evil, free from guile, and unspotted 
from the sins of the world. We should 
constantly keep in mind these evils here 
mentioned, and that, too, with a fixed 
determination of overcoming them with 
righteousness. Let these words be burned 
in our conscience, printed in our thoughts 
and written on the fleshy tablets of our 
hearts, "they which do such things shall 
not inherit the kingdom of God.* 1 

"Wherefore putting away lying, speak 
every man truth with his neighbor; for 
we are members one of another. Be ye 
angry and sin not; let not the sun go 
down upon your wrath; neither give 
place to the devil. Let him that stole 
steal no more; but rather let him labor, 
working with his hands the thing which 
is good, that he may have to give to him 
that needeth. Let no corrupt communi- 
cation proceed out of your mouth, bu; 
that which is good to the use of edify- 
ing, that it may minister grace unto the 
hearers. And grieve not the Holy Spirit 
of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the 
day of redemption. Let all bitterness 
and wrath, and anger and clamour, and 
evil speaking, be put away from you 
with all malice; and be ye kind one to 
another, tender-hearted, forgiving one 
another, even as God for Christ's sake 
hath forgiven you." (Ephes. 4:25-32). 
"For to be carnally minded is death; but 
to be spiritually minded is life and 

Keace." (Rom. 8:6). This, then, we 
ave. found, that Repentance is a prin- 
ciple of the Gospel or Jesus Christ, that 
it consists of a heart-felt sorrow for sin, 
a sincere, deep contrition for guilt, creat- 
ine a reformation in life, a forsaking oi 
wickedness, a departing from every evil 
way. "The Lord is nigh unto them that 
are of a broken heart; and saveth such 
as be of a contrite spirit." (Psalms 
34:18). . 

(To be Continued.) 



When Shall These Things Be? 

The Apostles asked, "when shall these 
things be " "The times and the seasons 
the Father hath kept in His own power," 
was their answer. The destruction ^ of 
Jerusalem was foretold, the succeeding 
desolation and spiritual death also, then 
the second coming was promised, which 
glorious event is to be preceded by the 
restoration of the Gospel, for He said, 
"This Gospel of the kingdom shall be 
preached in all the world for a witness, 
and then shall the end come." But in 
solemn warning He admonishes us to be 
always watching and praying; be in 
readiness for his coming; "Watch, there- 
fore, for ye know neither the day nor the 
hour the Son of Man cometh." "There- 
fore, to impress yet more indelibly upon 
their minds the lessons of watchfulness 
and faithfulness, and to warn them yet 
mope emphatically against the peril of 
the drowsy life and the smouldering 
lamp. He told them the exquisite para- 
bles — so beautiful, so simple, yet so much 
in instruction— of the Ten Virgins, and 
of the Talents; and drew for them a 
picture of that Great Day of Judgment, 
on which the King should separate alt 
nations from one another as the shep- 
herd divideth his sheep from the goats." 
— Farrar. 



Our Heavenly Father sends us troubles 
to try our faith, and if it be worth any- 
thing, it will stand the teat. Gilt is 
afraid of the fire, but gold is not; the 
paste gem dreads to be touched by the 
diamond, but the true jewel fears no test. 
— Spursreon. 



The man who seeks one thing In life, and 

but one. 
May hope to achieve it before life Is done. 
But he who seeks all things, wherever he 

goes. 
Only reaps from the hopes which around 

him he sows, 
A harvest of barren regrets. 

—Lord Lytton. 



276 



THE SOUTHERN STAR 




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Saturday/July 28, 1900. 



ARTICLES OF FAITH 

OPTHB CHURCH OP JESUS CHRIST OP 
LATTER-DAY SAINTS. 

1. 1Tj»1wlto?«ls<lo4theBtarMlFBtaw ( SBdteBi«8oe 
Jaaat Ctriat, sad la the B0I7 OhcaC 

t. Wa NUw test bm will be paaiaaad for iMron 
slat, Md. sot for Adaart traaaxraanaa. 

$. Wa belieta task, thfoagh the atonemeet of Oariat,«ll 
stUkiad swy ss tavei, bj obadieaea to tba laws and ordi. 

* M iTw© aabava that tba flrtt prioeiplat tad ordinance* of 
the Goapal ara : Tint, Paitb la tba Loid Jeans Christ ; aecoad, 
Bapaataaaa; third, Haptiara by imawaloo for tba raaiaaioa 
ei Smi faarth, Lajtag oa of Baa* for tba Gift af tba Holy 

4. Wt believe that ■ nun suit tw eaEJed at God* by 
m proper**, and by the Uylag on of heada," by thee* *bu i» 
in authority, to preach the foipeJ mil admioiiter km thoerdl* 
oafleei r hereof. 

6. Wt believe to thtfume oraa relation thai eaifted la 
Ilia cirbjnltiT* church — aamekj, Apc*llei, L'ropheU, Pealon, 
Tiflchirin EiangtUiU. ei&, 

7. We baJlere 1n the [1 ft of tonpjpi, prophecy, re relitloe, 
1 ietont, ht*IJn([, ialerprtULton or tobgur*, etc- 

P. Wi b*]rn»* iht Bible to be tba vt-ra of God, n fej u || 
<» IrtnlJittd cortPftJj 1 ; we al*D belle *e the Book o( Herman 
to be th* word of U*d- 

t. We believe it] Lhit GnJ bat f**eeI*J t ell tbat He doe* 
DO* re»*»], fM *e bfiln-e? tba( Lie vi\\ rt>% reveal mmji (tell 
and in porta ul thinpi perl aiming to the kingdom of tied. 

10. We fcelr**t in tie literel Catherine of larval ecu! In Lb* 
restoration of (fee Tan Tribe* | Lblt 7i&n wit] be baitl gpon 
thu (tbt American) eontdneet 1 that Cbrlat will nlfn parton 
ally upon ibe iarth t and that the earth will be renewed and 
rteoire Ht pandiebwil glory. 

11. We claim tbe pHTlleta of wnrtblpltif Almlffcly God 
*C<ordiO| to the dktatea ef oar conidence, and allow all 
aien tbe lame p r i Tilege, let them wotitaip bow, ebere, or wbit 
tftey ■ar- 
il, We believe to b*fn| inbject to rrifigt, pra*fd*eU, rvlert, 

aad noftatretei ; la obeying, ho-noriatj and in itala i ng Lbe lew, 
It, |W« belle*e to ocioc booett, troe, ebaate > beoovoloni^ 
rtrltloda. and Fa doiaf ariod to |U lirtn; indeed, we majr aaj 
that we follow lb» admooittoo of P*ol, " We belief ■ aJJ thJOfa. 
e>t hope a] I lbinpi N we faare end u rod naanj tblnfi, and bope 
to be a g]t 10 eodure all thiij^e. tf there ft toj thing Tirtnoaa, 
la»*3y. or af Rood report or pmiiewor'.hj, we lees aftat (aew 

llasfc-JOfllFfl abUTiL- 



SOMBTHING FOR NOTHING. 



The teachings or many of the most pop- 
ular religious societies in the world today 
exhibit clearly the fact that they believe 
in the principle of something for nothing, 
with regard to the work of individual sal- 
vation. They seem to be laboring under 
the impression that the great sacrifice, 
which was made by the Lamb of God for 
the human family, is sufficient to save and 
exak them in the Kingdom of God, if they 
only believe that Jesus is the Christ, and 
have their names enrolled on the church 
records. Perhaps we should add going 
to church and paying the preacher. 

This idea, however, notwithstanding 
its popularity among religionists, does not 
accord with the terms of salvation as de- 
fined by Christ and the Apostles, as re- 
corded in the New Testament Scriptures, 
and is simply the outgrowth of ignorance 
of God's laws on the part of our Chris- 
tian friends. The atonement of Christ is 
greatly misunderstood, and misapplied, by 



a great many who profess to be learned 
in the Scriptures. The mission of Jesus 
Christ on earth was twofold in its nature. 
First, He came to atone for the original 
sin of our first parents and bring about 
the resurrection from the grave. From 
this portion of Christ's atonement all man- 
kind who ever have, or wno ever will live 
upon the earth, will derive an equal ben- 
efit, as it is general in its application and 
is wholly unconditional. The second part 
of His mission was to establish the Gospel 
in the earth with a promise that all who 
would obey its requirements should be 
saved and exalted. Now this part you see 
is conditional and the only ones who have 
any promise of exaltation are those who 
obey the commandments of the Lord Jesus 
Christ. 

Belief in Christ, while it is entirely es- 
sential, does not constitute the whole 
Gospel of Jesus Christ, not by any means. 
Man cannot be saved in his sins, and be- 
lief will not remit them. There are ordi- 
nances named in the Gospel whereby we 
can obtain this blessing. That is by re- 
penting of our sins and being baptized in 
water for the remission thereof. This 
part of the Gospel is just as essential as 
the commandment to believe on the Lord 
Jesus Christ, and the reception of the 
Holy Ghost by the impositions of hands is 
just as much a part of the Gospel as 
faith, repentance, or baptism. 

Let us say, in conclusion, to all who 
are seeking after truth, don't allow your- 
self to be persuaded that you can sit idly 
by and ignore the commandments of God, 
and then enjoy equal glory and exaltation 
with those who obey them strictly. If 
you do you are deceiving yourself, and 
the result will be disappointment, misery 
and woe. To expect such a thing is con- 
trary to all reason, contrary to all Scrip- 
ture and contrary to sound judgment. 
God is a just God. Would it be in accord 
with the principle of justice, for Him to 
reward equally the righteous and the un- 
righteous, the obedient and the disobedi- 
ent, when the promise of reward was only 
to those who should be diligent in keeping 
all His commandments? Answer this 
to yourself. The Lord says that every 
man shall be judged by his works. This 
being the case, then, all will know what 
to expect and certainly cannot expect 
something for nothing. 



WEALTH. 

The state of society in these, "the latter 
days," appears to be in a very deplorable 
condition. We still have the rich and the 
poor, with their class distinction ; all striv- 
ing after the same end, the attainment of 
wealth. The great gulf that exists be- 
tween the rich Dives and the poor Laza- 
rus has never been bridged. In many 
respects the rich and poor resemble each 
other, but the chasm of class distinction 
still remains, and if anything, widens. We 
have, as represented in Europe, kings, 
princes, dukes, earls, lords, knights, middle 
class, commonality and paupers, each mov- 
ing in distinct circles. In America we 
have the select 400, societies of million- 
aires, Masonic orders, secret societies, and 
exclusive church organizations. Orders 
and societies, ranging from kings to pau- 
pers, and from millionaires to loafers, 
assemble to pass judgment upon their 
brethren, combining to protect industry 
and labor, as well as destroy life and 
property. 

In these days of commerce, it would 
appear that without a man joins some one 
of these organized institutions, he may 
find it difficult to secure employment, 
and in many cases to live. We are prone 
to lose sight of the fact that all mankind 



were made of one blood and that we 
"should brothers be and a' that," and we 
continue to struggle for ascendency amid 
the scale of wealth and opulence. 

In the whirl of business, that we might 
attain wealth, we act much like children, 
grasping at a soap bubble. Some in this 
giddy race appear successful, but gener- 
ally at the termination of life, they die 
disappointed and confess that "all is van- 
ity and vexation of spirit." 

There is a saying in the Mahometan 
Koran, attributed to Christ, which reads 
as follows: "He who longs for riches is 
like a man who drinks sea water, the more 
he drinks the more thirsty he becomes, 
and never leaves off drinking till he per- 
ishes." 

How true the above is, in nations, em- 
pires and individuals, ever seeking after 
power and wealth, until sunk with pride, 
luxury and debauchery, into an untimely 
grave. 

The following clipping shows the spirit 
of the times : 

"New York, June 2d, 1900. 

"James Henry Smith, the richest bach- 
elor in the world, has suddenly entered 
New York society. He has about $50,- 
000,0Uu in ~»s own right. Society is de- 
lightfully expectant and more than one 
mamma has an eye open \o windward for 
her beautiful daughter." 

We would say of the mother who would 
sacrifice her daughter at the altar of 
wealth, disregarding the finer feelings of 
love, which go towards making up happi- 
ness in this life, that she is equally as un- 
natural in her affections as the Hindoo 
mother who would cast her child in tlie 
Ganges, as food for reptiles, that she 
might appease the anger of her Pagan 
god. 

Shame on such a civilization where 
trusts and combinations of wealth work 
a detriment to the whole human family, 
and enslave our beautiful American girls, 
whose mothers worship at the shrine of 
wealth. 

Daily we read of some poor imbecile En- 
glish lord, or French count, marrying 
some rich American heiress, whose good 
mother (?) has enslaved the daughter 
for a title. 

These times would also indicate that 
merit, fitness and capability do not count 
for anything, against tue influence and 
wealth of secret societies, and combina- 
tions of power in this corrupt age. 

Greed and pride have destroyed empires 
in the past, and it was the main cause 
of the downfall of the Nephite nation on 
this continent, and "the love of money is 
the root of all evil." It is al«o hard for 
a rich man to enter into heaven ; let us 
therefore take warning and not make a 
god of money, but let us seek first the 
Kingdom of God and His righteousness 
and all other things will be added. 



Elder Willard BuTgess, who is perform- 
ing a faithful mission in the East Ten- 
nessee Conference, has received word that 
his beloved brother. Howari. L. Burgess, 
29 years of age, died on the 29th ult. The 
Star extends sympathy to Elder Willard 
Burgess and his loved ones at home. May 
God bless and comfort them. 



Everv blade of grass in the field is 
measured: the green cups and the colored 
crowns of every flower are curiously 
counted; the stars of the firmament wheol 
in calculated orbits; even the storms 
have their laws. 



It's faith in something and enthusiasm 
for something that makes a life worth 
looking at,— Oliver Wendell Holmes, 



THE SOUTHERN STAR 



277 



SOUTH ALABAMA CONFERENCE 

The South Alabama Conference con- 
vened at "Bodiford Old Field," Cren- 
shaw county .Alabama, on the 14th and 
15th insts. The first meeting, according 
to appointment, was held in the Latter- 
day Saints' meeting house, President W. 
H. Boyle, Elders W. T. Davis, O. M. 
Hess, J. J. Thompson, Daniel Bagley, 
A. I* Mecham, Alvin Warner, J. D. 
Frankland and E. B. Daruion, a local 
Elder, being present. 

President Iuch was unable to attend, 
but Elder Davis, from the Chattanooga 
office, was present. 

The meeting house, a frame building, 
was well filled at eacn meeting, although 
the Campbellites were holding a protract- 
ed meeting about one \ hundred yards 
away, crying out, "Ix>! here is Christ/" 

The first principles of the Gospel were 
explained in brief by the Elders Satur- 
day morning, which brought joy to the 
listeners. 

Sunday morning the house was filled 
to overflowing, the alleyways were also 
crowded with people desirous of learning 
of the true Gospel of Christ, as taught 
by the true servants of God. Meeting 
opened by singing "Ere You Left Your 
Room This Morning." The remarks thai 
followed were upon Faith, Persecution of 
the Saints and the Restoration of the 
Gospel. Meeting closed with singing and 
prayer, after which all present sat down 
to a dinner prepared by the kind Saints 
of that neighborhood. A feast of spir- 
itual food having been given those who 
attended meeting, then followed a feast 
of temporal things, prepared by willing 
hands. The tables laden with pies, 
cakes, jams, etc., were spread beneath 
larjre oak and pine trees, where all were 
invited to freely partake. 

Meeting was again called to order at 
2 p. ni. After singing and prayer, El- 
ders Boyle and Davis addressed the 
meeting. They plainly pointed out with 
reason and scripture the great apostacy 
which took place, a time when all man- 
kind were destitute of the Gospel of 
Christ, when darkness covered the earth. 
The restoration of the Gospel to the 
earth again, and the divine mission of 
Joseph Smith were pointed out to those 
present and strong testimonies to the. 
truthfulness of the Gospel were born. 
At the close of meeting many expressed 
themselves as being well pleased with the 
valuable instructions received. 

Monday morning the Elders met in 
council meeting and were given instruc- 
tions by President Boyle, who is loved 
and respected by all of the Elders in that 
conference. Companions were assigned 
them, fields of labor appointed to labor 
in, and then did the Elders, after a hand- 
shake and a God bless you, separate to 
go forth and warn their fellow-men. 

The conference was a decided success 
and to the Saints and friends who worked 
so hard to make the Elders comfortable 
much praise is due. To the Elders who 
have left all for the Master's cause, it 
is a great pleasure to meet and mingle 
with the Saints and friends of righteous- 
ness. The Elders all feel well in the 
work of God and have gone forth with a 
renewed determination to do their best 
in getting the world to see us in our true 
light. To be sure, the South Alabama 
Conference was much enjoyed and the 
good time had will long live in the 
minds of those who were present. 

J. D. Frankland, 
A. L. Mecham. 

To climb steep hills requires slow pace 
at first.— Shakespeare. 

He who gets what he wants is fortu- 
nate, but he who wants what he gets is 
thrice so.— Mappe. 

The diseases of the mind are more de- 
structive and in greater number than 
those of the body.— Cicero. 

Let us have faith that right makes 
might; and in that faith let us dare to 
do our duty as we understand it.— Abra- 
ham Lincoln, 



HISTORY REPEATED 

BY ELDER ELIAS C. ASHTON. 

The history of Christianity is dotted by 
certain events that stand out like mile 
posts along the track of spiritual progress, 
each has its purpose to bring about the 
effects designed by God. 

There are two events in the history of 
mankind that affect most materially the 
hopes of the spiritually minded man. They 
are, perhaps, of greater importance to 
him than any other two events that have 
transpired to adorn history's checkered 
page. They are important because they 
have to do with man's noblest aspirations 
and loftiest emotions. They are impor- 
tant because they concern the inmost de- 
sires of the human heart. They are im- 
portant because they are inseparably con- 
nected with the salvation of fallen mor- 
tals. 

Different as they are in character, a 
very close relationship exists between 
them. Although widely separated by the 
lapse of time, the conditions existing at 
their advents are more or less analogous. 
Each had a peculiar age to contend with. 
Each had a manifestly strange people to 
deal with. Each had the prejudices of 
centuries to overcome. And each was 
ushered in by an unusual train of events 
similar in some respects. 

The one occurred in the Orient, the 
other in the Occident. The one is a tale of 
antiquity. The other graces the historical 
pages of the present. The coming forth 
of both is in fulfillment of prophesy. They 
both declare in emphatic language the 
mercy and love of God. They both add 
dignity to the Scriptures. They both of- 
fer a marked contrast to the age in which 
they transpired. 

The effect of the former was to revive 
faith and in a sense dispel error. The 
effect of the latter was to stem the tide of 
infidelity and skepticism and divert the 
thoughts of men from the barren, unfruit- 
ful fields of sectarianism into the rich gar- 
dens of Gospel truth, where the fruits of 
the Spirit indicated vitality. The com- 
plete accomplishment of the first event 
required thirty-three years, during which 
brief period a new standard of truth was 
unfurled, truth radically different from 
the established customs of former years. 

Nineteen hundred years ago Christ was 
born into a world unconscious of its De- 
liverer. He came to "save that which was 
lost." He came when the Jews were in a 
state of rank apostacy, when religious 
controversy waged hot. For 600 years 
Palestine had \>een the battle ground for 
the surrounding nations. The Jews, led 
from one captivity, endured another at the 
hands of a new power equally as oppres- 
sive and corrupt. The world was in a 
state of unrest. The Jews in their oppres- 
sion looked for the advent of a great tem- 
poral ruler who would lead them out of 
bondage. They were narrow, bigoted and 
self-righteous. They were technical, child- 
like and carnal minded. They were mate- 
rialistic in their views, following Christ, 
many of them, for the loaves and fishes. 
On this account they failed to understand 
the import of His mission. The bread of 
life they expected to satisfy their greedy 
appetites. How vain ! How basely ignor- 
ant ! How peevish ! Yet with all they are 
God's chosen people and He will make 
them the glory and admiration of the 
world. He will subdue their enemies and 
lead them back to the land of promise, 



and there they will dwell in peace, no 
longer the hiss and by-word of the world. 

Among these people Christ ministered 
and to them He preached the Gospel that 
was in itself a stern rebuke to the existing 
sects of the day. He came forth in fear- 
lessness and marked humility, reproving 
and severely chiding them that worked 
iniquity. His message was ignored, and 
He, after much ridicule and persecution, 
became the victim of the cross, a martyr 
to the cause. The principles that He in- 
stituted, rejected by the Jews, were ac- 
cepted by the surrounding nations. The 
center of civilization became the center 
of religion. The Christian religion car- 
ried to Rome, partook of her corruption 
and there lost its divinity like nation* 
before her had there lost their liberty. 
The condition of Rome at this time was 
pitiable indeed. Virtue had taken her 
flight, the standards of morality lost their 
dignity and the banners of vice and licen- 
tiousness flaunted in every breeze. De- 
pravity took possession of men and animal 
passion became the motive power of so- 
ciety. In Pagan Rome, Christians became 
Pagan, but still retained the name of 
Christian. 

Christianity may be compared to the 
metamorphosis of the butterfly. The larva 
of the butterfly developes itself within the 
silken cocoon immediately before its 
transformation into the pupa state, which 
serves as a protection for the inactive and 
helpless germ from which develops the 
butterfly. So Constantine made for Chris- 
tianity a silken cocoon of pride and power 
which protected the inactive and helpless 
germ from which developed the reforma- 
tion. A change as radical as that from 
the larva of the butterfly had been effected 
with respect to Christianity. 

The falling away so often referred to 
by the Prophets had now been accom- 
plished. 

After the religious world had become 
weak and morbid, after darkness had 
overshadowed the earth, after rank apos- 
tacy had "changed the ordinances, trans- 
gressed the laws and broken the everla st- 
ing covenant," after iniquity and sin had 
surged upon the face of the entire earth, 
causing the pure and virtuous to cry in 
tones of agony for a reign of godliness, I 
say, after these things, intellectuality be- 
gan to awaken, new thought gave men a » 
broader concept of life. Printing was in- 
troduced, literature had a new birth, 
Greek and Roman philosophy were 
disseminated broadcast over the 
civilized world. With intelligence 
came power, and power asked that 
the Pope be more tolerant. Catholi- 
cism began to wane and the Papal See 
lost much of its prestige. 

No longer were men fettered by a 
priestly monarch, no longer did the popu- 
lace remain enveloped in the mists of gross 
darkness, no longer was the canon of 
Scripture chained like a Bastile prisoner 
to the pillar of some dark monastery, 
only to be read out and studied by the 
pompous priest arrayed in his purple robe, 
but religious truth became commonplace, 
and men gave theological study a more 
prominent position. Theological study 
srave issue to ecclesiastical research. This 
was followed by a change in creed. Reform 
called for a religious revolution. Absurdi- 
ties in creed were abolished to some extent. 
Then seisms and doctrines almost as ad- 
verse to pure, simple Christian doctrines 
were introduced. This gave rise to re- 
ligious controversy and bitter denuncia- 
tions. The conflicts that now raged were 
not settled like were those in the early 
days of Catholicism, nor were the con- 
tenders burned as heretics, but religious 
freedom became almost universal, and 
each religious contender formed a sect. 
These increased until now this multiply- 



278 



THE SOUTHERN STAR 



ing of sects serves only as a bewilderment 
to confuse the honest seeker after truth. 

It only needs to be said that we are 
now prepared to discuss the other event, 
of which brief mention has been made. 

Now, as John the Baptist was the fore- 
runner preparing the way for the Savior, 
so this intellectual awakening, this 
breadth of thought, this religious liberty, 
was the forerunner preparing the way 
for the life work of Joseph Smith. As 
John's life and message bore testimony 
of the necessity of Christ's advent, so the 
age preceding our second event gave evi- 
dence that such an event was necessary. 
And as Christ's life declares in the strong- 
est terms His divinity, so the labors of 
Joseph Smith and the work accomplished 
by him assert the divinity of his' message. 

Christ came to save that which was lost. 
It was Joseph Smith's province to restore 
that which Christ had established that 
which was once pure but corrupted by 
ages. The age in which Christ appeared 
was characterized by apostacy. Joseph 
Smith appeared in an age when apostacy 
was most prevalent. The Gospel proved 
a successful weapon in the hands of each. 
A ridicule like that heaped upon the Mas- 
ter was heaped upon Joseph. The word 
Christian was as much a nickname to for- 
mer day Saints as the word Mormon is to 
the Latter-day Saints. 

The same charges brought against the 
meek and lowly Nazarene were brought 
against Joseph Smith. Their cause was 
the same, their mock trials were analo- 
gous, and they both met a martyr's death. 

As Cnrist rebuked everything that was 
pretentious and arrogant, enjoining hu- 
mility and self-abnegation, so Joseph 
Smith taught truths that conflicted the 
dogmas of the day. As the Scribes and 
Pharisees, who had been so severely and 
openly exposed in all their hypocricies by 
our Master, took the lead in causing His 
crucifixion, as the sophists and tyrants of 
Athens headed the fanatical persecution 
of Socrates because he exposed their 
shallowness and worldliness and stung 
them to the quick by his truthful satire, 
as Galileo aroused the anger of the In- 
quisition by his great scientific discov- 
eries and made that august body a life- 
long enemy, so Joseph Smith, denouncing 
the errors of man-made systems brought 
upon himself the rage of a vanquished 
world of religious professors. 

Because of the message Christ bore He 
was crucified, because of the truth Soc- 
rates introduced he was hated, because of 
the discoveries Galileo had made he was 
ostracised, and because of the light Jo- 
seph Smith brought he was shamefully 
martyred. 

Joseph Smith was not backward in re- 
minding modern Christendom of her er- 
rors. While modest in his assaults, he 
displayed no reluctance in pointing out to 
the vision of reason doctrines that bore 
the imprint of human folly. It was not 
pleasant to the Pharisees and Sadducees 
of ancient times to face the criticism of 
the Savior, it was not pleaesant to the gay 
leaders of Athenian society to hear the 
utter vanity of their lives painted with 
such unsparing severity, nor was it 
pleasant to the sophists and rhetoricians 
to see their idols overthrown and they 
themselves exposed as false teachers and 
shallow pretenders. Neither was it pleas- 
ant to the clergy of 1830 to have the van- 
ity of their worldly lives painted with such 
unerring clearness, nor was it pleasing to 
the well-paid ministers of the age to see 
their idols of luxury and pomp thrown 
down and they themselves exposed as 
shallow pretenders by the unassuming, 
humble Mormon Elder traveling in their 
midst without purse or scrip. 

A very distinguished writer has truly I 



said: "It is the fate of Prophets to be 
exiled or slandered or jeered at, or stig- 
matized, or banished from society, to be 
subject to some sort of persecution ; but 
when Prophets denounce woes and utter 
invectives and provoke by their stinging 
sarcasms, they have generally been killed. 
No matter how enlightened society is or 
tolerant the age, he who utters offensive 
truths will be disliked and in some way 
be punished." So Joseph Smith must 
meet the common fate of Prophets. 

In many respects the martyrdom of Jo- 
seph Smith was a blessing, a victory to 
an unpopular cause. It brought before the 
world the truths of a great religion in a 
manner more impressive. The Prophet 
knew well the greatness of a martyr's 
death, therefore took it calmly. Had he 
not met such a fate, he never could have 
filled his mission. At the moment when 
the mob was in a furore and his brethren 
in A rage of excitement, he was peaceful 
and acted with wonderful foresight. "I 
am going," said he, "like a lamb to the 
slaughter, but I am as calm as a summer 
morning. I have a conscience void of of- 
fense toward God and toward all men. I 
shall die innocent, and it shall yet be said 
of me, 'he was murdered in cold blood." 
He was not seeking the vain glory of man, 
he was not seeking the rude applause of 
mortals, his desire was to render to his 
God an humble devotion and gain for the 
cause a final triumph, which was best se- 
cured by martyrdom. 

Joseph Smith, like Christ, bore an im- 
portant message and sealed his testimony 
with his blood. Peculiar as that message 
appears to the world, it is either false or 
true. If true, it calls for an earnest in- 
vestigation at the hands of every honest 
soul, and demands the recognition of every 
man who is concerned in the things of 
eternity. If false, its instigator, Joseph 
Smith, should be branded as a dangerous 
heretic or rank imposter, and we, his fol- 
lowers, as noor. weak, deluded creatures. 

Joseph Smith, the faithful Proohet 
of the nineteenth century, declnres 
that an angel had visited him: 
the world is startled and cri<»s "ini- 
noster, messenger of strong delusion. ' 
How could delusion so great be manufac- 
tured by a boy so illiterate? How could he 
institute a doctrine so perfect, a creed so 
infallible? How could this insignificant 
lad promise miracles to the believer? 

Yes. this man is dead, but the institu- 
tion that found its inception in him still 
flourishes and is an everlasting monu- 
ment to his never dying memory. 

Tn conclusion, we would ask who 
gave to him this wisdom and superhuman 
virtue? Who gave to him this insight 
into the fundamental principles of re- 
ligion? Who in this respect made him a 
greater lisrht and clearer expounder than 
the Christian Paley? Who made him in 
all spiritual discernment a wiser man than 
Wesley? Who made him in government 
theory a greater character than the giftpd 
John Stuart Mills? Who seems to have 
been a more sincere seeker after truth? 

Tf th« sceptical Gibbon could s^e i" the 
crumbling columns and shattered palaces 
of Rome a God made manifest, can we 
not see in this boy Prophet the inspira- 
tion of Israel's God? His life and doc- 
trines were a stern rebuke to sectarianism. 
Who cannot look upon him as an Elias 
rebuking tho Pharisees and Saddnope* nf 
modern Christendom, a reformer, a fore- 
runner to the Greater One who is to come 
in the clouds of fire? 

Thp time has now come when Mormon- 
ism is no loncrer to be dismissed with 
threats and sinful vituperations, nor is 
this srreat spiritual force to be over- 
whelmed by the caprices of minisWiM 
striplings, no lonffpr "re the tenet* of tMq 
religion to be met by brute mobocratic 



force. They have proved themselves too 
powerful for such foes. Mormonism has 
already astounded the Christian world 
with her vitality, her philosophy has baf- 
fled the most profound scholars, and she 
has for a posterity a mighty race of men. 
No, the age has not solved Mormonism, 
nor will it until she has worked out her 
destiny and accomplished her purposes— 
the brotherhood of man and the redemp- 
tion of the human race. Thus history re- 
peats itself, and the trials of the righteous 
in these last days are but a repetition of 
the scenes of early Christianity. Let no 
one infer from what has been said con- 
cerning Joseph in connection with Jesus, 
that we look upon the former as our 
Lord and Savior. No. no. Jesus is our 
Glorified Head, our Redeemer and King, 
while Joseph is a Prophet of the Most 
High. 

PROMISES THAT SOMETIMES FAIL 

BY ELDER CARL A. MILLER. 
It is such an easy matter to make prom- 
ises, but quite a different thing to fulfill 
them. An Elder tries to please everybody, 
but he cannot possibly do so. When 
asked by Saints and friends, in various 
parts of the mission, to write them, how 
apt are we to answer, "Yes, I will," be- 
fore thinking of the many duties we have 
to perform and the responsibilities red- 
ing upon our shoulders. The ones who 
have been promised a letter look fanr«rd 
to its arrival, but how often dffl* the 
promise fail. The Saints are iu4*t»sted in 
our work of righteousness, all* being anx- 
ious to know how such and 4*ch an Elder 
who has been at their pfece is faring. 
Every Elder in the ft£jd knows how 
pleased a Saint or friand is to get a letter, 
and often do the/ freep tnose letters 
guarded as they would treasure. How 
often do they open that missive and read, 
and although U may have been received 
many montto before, yet they never seem 
to tire of ks contents. Many times do we 
meet with people who hold up to our gaze 
a lettny. perchance written years and 
years ago, by such noble men as Wilford 
Woodruff, John Morgan, or many others 
whose good deeds shall ever live after- 
them. Follow the course of all the suc j 
cessful missionaries who have labored 
here in the South, or elsewhere, and you 
will find men who always kept their prom- 
ises. Dear brethren, when you make a 
promise be sure to keep it, no matter how 
much inconvenience it may cause you. 
When you read this let your mind wander 
back, and if yon have made a promise may 
it be said of you, "He kept his word." 



• Summer Excursions, Colorado, Utah. 

The Union Pacific will place in effect 
on July 18th and August 2d, 7th and 
2tst, summer excursion rates of one fare 
for the round trip, plus $2, from Mis- 
souri river to Denver. Colorado Springs, 
Pueblo. Ogden and Salt Lake. Tickets 
good for return until October 31st. For 
full particulars address J. F. Aglar, 
General Agent, St. Louis, Mo. 



Oregan, Washington, Idaho, Montana. 

The Union Pacific railroad is the short 
line to Idaho, Montana, Oregon and 
Washington, consequently it will cost 
passengers less money by this route. Ask 
your nearest ticket agent for tickets via 
Union Pacific, from Omaha or Kansas 
City. For full particulars, maps and 
namphlets of territory reached via the 
Union Pacific, address J. F. Aglar, Gen- 
eral Agent, St. Louis, Mo. 

Nature ever yields reward to him who 
seeks and loves her best— Barry Corn- 
wall. 



THfl SOUTHERN STAR 



279 



NEBUCHADNEZZAR'S DREAM > 

OR, THE METALLIC IMAGE. 

BY A. ARROWSMITH. 
(Continued from page 270.) ' 
At the death of Alexander, his vast do- 
minions were divided between four of his 
chief generals: Cassander reigning over 
Greece and Macedon, with the western 
provinces; Lysimachus over Thrace and 
Bythnia, with the northern provinces; 
Ptolemy over Egypt and the southern 
provinces; and Seleucus over Syria and 
the eastern provinces. The two last do- 
minions, the Egyptian and the Syrian, be- 
ing the greatest and by far the most noted 
and powerful, are appropriately symbol- 
ized as the two brazen* thighs, which 
came out of that Alexandrian or Mace- 
donian belly of brass, they being in a 
flourishing condition in the days of the 
Maccabees. 

In the division of the Grecian empire 
to the four generals of Alexander, as re- 
corded, the western and northern prov- 
inces were soon swallowed up in the rising 
Roman power, but the eastern and south- 
ern provinces, governed by the Syrians 
and Egyptian kings, held out for some 
time under the Ptoyemies of Egypt and 
the Antiochus family of Syria, who wert 
especially distinguished in their implaca- 
ble hatred of the Jews. 

The instance of the defiling of the tem- 
ple by Antochus Epiphanes is especially 
mentioned by Daniel in his eighth chapter, 
eleventh verse. Judea was saved from his 
further ravages, by the heroic family from 
Modin, the Maccabees, with Judas Macca- 
beus as leader. That revolt from the Sy- 
rians is memorable in history, which is in- 
terestingly recorded by Joseph us. 

The Grecian empire held sway for up- 
wards of 300 years, in literal fulfillment 
of that wonderful dream. The courage of 
the Spartans and their wonderful achieve- 
ments in arms are engraven in the heart 
of every soldier, especially their doings at 
Marathon and Thermopylae, being the 
exemplification of great bravery and dar- 
ing. 

Athens and Alexandria became the 
seats of much learning, and the arts and 
sciences were highly developed during the 
sway of this great temporal government 
They, like their predecessors, the Baby- 
lonians and Persians, became luxurious 
and wicked, devoting much of their time 
to lustful gratifications, which weakened 
and destroyed the physical manhood which 
had characterized their progenitors, the 
Spartans, and they were consequently 
overcome by their more hardy and pro- 
gressive neighbors, the Romans, who were 
extending their possessions in the west. 

We have successively reviewed the rise 
and fall of the Babylonian, Persian and 
Grecian empires, represented in the im- 
age, as the gold, silver and brass king- 
doms, and we have descended to the legs 
of iron, or the fourth kingdom, the great 
Roman power, which, if anything, was 
more formidable and aggressive in mili- 
tary exploits than the Grecians them- 
selves . 

The kingdom of Macedonia fell, soon 
after the defeat of Perseus at Pydna, when 
20,000 Greeks were slain and 10,000 taken 
captive. Subsequently the beautiful city 
of Corinth was destroyed and all the Gre- 
cian provinces brought in subjection to 
Rome. 

At the time when Jesus of Nazareth 



was born, this vast Roman empire held 
sway over the whole known world, and 
Augustus Caesar was its first emperor. 
It had broken in pieces and trampled un- 
der foot every otiier power; it had lived 
under a petty monarchy for upwards of 
250 years, was governed as a republic for 
over 450 years and existed and ruled the 
world as an empire for hundreds of years, 
until swallowed up in the kingdoms which 
were represented by the ten toes of that 
great image. 

This mighty empire »ell, like all its 
predecessors, into luxury and licentious- 
ness and became so corrupt in its civili- 
zation that God -allowed the barbarians 
from the north to -despoil it of all its pow- 
er and dominions. 

As a republic she ruled the world, and 
fifty years before Christ, all the known 
world had acknowledged the supremacy of 
this "iron kingdom." Pompey and Cas- 
sius had invaded Judea and the south, 
and Julius Caesar returned as a mighty 
conquerer from his invasions among the 
barbarians in the north. The Dictator ac 
Rome passed judgment upon kings and 
princes, and to be a Roman was consid- 
ered to be "greater than a king." 

Herod, the Great, received his crown 
from Rome, and his sons confirmed by the 
same power in state offices. The offices 
of Ethnarch, Tetrarch and Procurator 
were given to the favorites of the Emperor 
of Rome, and although they were called 
kings many times, and ruled as kings, they 
were simply governors of provinces and 
entirely subject to Rome. Herod, the 
Great, was virtually the last king of Ju- 
dea; he had the kingdom given him by 
Augustus Caesar, who was the first Em- 
peror. 

After the assassination of Julius Cae- 
sar, who aspired to become Emperor, the 
great Roman republic became divided; 
Marcus Antonius, or Mark Antony, with 
Lepidus and Octavius (nephew of Julius 
Caesar, and afterward named by the sen- 
ate, Augustus), took sides against Brutus 
and Cassius and utterly defeated them in 
the battle of Philippi. Rome was then 
governed by the triumvirate, or a govern- 
ment by three, namely, Mark Antony, Oc- 
tavius and Lepidus. The last named had 
no force of character and was soon lost 
sight of. Mary Antony was a gallant war- 
rior and a very successful leader, and un- 
doubtedly would have gained the empire, 
had he not been led away by the luxurious 
and sensual Queen of Egypt, Cleopatra. 

Octavius was ambitions, and by force 
of arms gained his ascendency over An- 
tony, into the hearts of the people, and 
was elected by vote of the senate, the first 
Emperor of Rome and renamed Augustus. 

It was in the days of this Emperor, at 
the general taxing of Judea, that Joseph 
and Mary were detained at Bethlehem and 
the great advent of the Messiah took place. 

Herod, the Great, was King of Judea, 
which he held subject to Rome, and after 
his death, which occurred in the infancy 
of Jesus, Judea was governed by a Roman 
Procurator, which was duly appointed by 
the Emperor of Rome. In many places 
in the Scriptures these governors and te- 
trarchs are called kings, such as Herod 
An Upas, tetrarch of Galilee, who had 
John the Baptist beheaded, also Herod 
Agrippa, the first, #nd Agrippa, the sec- 
ond, and many oojera, and a student of the 
Bible is apt to mix up the Herods and 
over- rate their kingly authority. 

They were all subject to that great 
power, the Roman empire, and had to 
pay tribute to the same, holding office, as 
governors of provinces ; scores of prov- 
inces existed, and they were all governed 
by a petty king, elected and duly appoint- 
ed from Rome. 

I have mentioned the above in detail, 



that the power of this iron kingdom might 
be better understood by the reader, show- 
ing how she ruled the world ; bringing all 
other nations in subjection. Her laws were 
equitable and a certain freedom was grant- 
ed all her subjects, which gave much li- 
cense to the early Christians, as the death 
penalty was taken out of the hands of the 
High Priest and Sanhedrin, and the ac- 
cused, as in the case of Jesus Christ', 
had to receive sentence from the Procura- 
tor, Pilate. In reugion, Rome was Pagan 
and had thousands of Gods, which were 
worshipped amid scenes of lust, vice and 
debauchery. It was not until the sixth 
Caesar (Nero) that the Christians re- 
ceived any severe persecutions from the 
empire, but from that time until Con- 
stantine, for nearly 250 years, the empire 
was bathed in Christian blood, drawn by 
the tyrannous laws and exactions of a 
despotic and devilish power, controlled by 
Paganism. 

The empire gradually declined and fell, 
and the kingdoms of the Vandals, Ser- 
vians, Visigoths, Alans, Burgundians, 
Franks, Britons, Huns, Lumbards and Ra- 
vennas, which by some are considered the 
ten kingdoms, or ten toes of the image, 
were erected on its ruins. These king- 
doms arose in the fourth and fifth cen- 
tury, and have been partly strong and 
partly broken, rising and falling in their 
times and in their seasons, and occasion- 
ally changing names. At the present time 
they may go under the names of England, 
Germany, Austria, France, Russia, Italy, 
Spain, Portugal, Holland and Greece, and 
there may be more or less, but neverthe- 
less they still have the stamp of the ten 
original Kingdoms, which were man-made 
institutions, organizations started and 
controlled by man, without the sanction of 
God, being under His ban anu, are des- 
tined to fall. The histories of these king- 
doms are written in letters of blood and 
have stained all Europe, millions of lives 
having been sacrificed to their corrupt and 
unauthorized institutions. 

(To be concluded.) 

GETHSEMANE 

"Passing through one of the city gates, 
down the steep sides of the ravine, across 
the wady way of the Kidron (which is 
rather a ravine than a brook, no water 
runs in it, except occasionally, after 
heavy storms) they came to Gethsemanc 
— a pleasant field or garden at the foot 
of the Mount of Olives. In the quiet 
olive and pomegranite shades of this 
spot Jesus and His Apostles often find 
rest and quiet for prayer and conversa- 
tion. Leaving the majority of the Apos- 
tles to slumber on the grass, He took 
with Him Peter, James, and John and 
went about a stone's throw farther. But 
soon even the society of these chosen 
and trusted ones was more than He could 
bear. A grief beyond utterance, a strug- 
gle beyond endurance, an hour of great 
darkness, a giddiness and stupefication 
of soul overmastered Him, as with the 
sinking swoon of an anticipated death. 
It was a tumult of emotion, which none 
must see. 'My soul,' he said, 'is full of 
anguish, even unto death." Stop here and 
keep watch.' * * * He then retired 
still farther, perhaps out of the moon- 
light into the shadow. And then, until 
slumber overpowered them, they were 
conscious of now dreadful was that 
paryoxism of prayer and suffering through 
which He passed. They saw Bum some- 
times on His knees, sometimes out- 
stretched in prostrate supplication upon 
the damp ground; they heard snatches of 
the sounds of murmured anguish, in 
which His humanity pleaded with the 
divine will of His Father. The actun! 
words might vary, out the substance was 
the same throughout. "Abba, Father, 



280 



THE SOUTHERN STAR 



REPORT OF MT8STON CONFERENCES FOR WEEK ENDING JULY 7, 1900. 



Geo. A. A<ljmiH, r . 

lieber 8. Olaon 

J. 15. Bolton 

J. .Spencer Worrtley,. 

W\ V* Rene nor 

A. c. StrQng t . tttt „,..... 
John H. HnnkUtwl... 
John Ht'ove „.„♦..„.. .. 

J.M.Hawa... 

ttjlveaier Low, Jr.... 

U. M. Porter .... 

W. W. Mac Kay 

W. U. Phelpa. 

W, H, Boylo.. 

Don C Builkoii 

!.. M, NH„-l^i 

U.Z. Lund 



COtiKKRRKl^E 



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Virginia ... 

Kentucky ... 

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K*»fc Kentucky... 

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South *>Uio ', 

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all things are possible unto Thee; take 
away this cup from me: nevertheless, not 
what 1 will, but what Thou wilt." * * * 
And whence all this agonizing failing of 
the heart, this fearful amazement, this 
horror of great darkness, this passion 
which almost brought Him down to the 

grave before a single pang had been in- 
icted upon Him— which forced from Him 
the sweat that streamed like drops of 
blood — which almost prostrated body, 
and soul, and spirit, with one final blow? 
Was it the mere dread of death; the 
mere effort and determination to face 
that which He foreknew in all its 
dreadfulness, but from which, neverthe- 
less, His soul recoiled? * * * No, it 
was something infinitely more than this; 
infinitely more than the highest stretch 
of our imagination can realize. It was 
something tar deadlier than death. It 
was the burden and the mystery of the 
world's sin, which lay heavy on His 
heart. It was the tasting in the divine 
humanity of a sinless life, the bitter cup 
sin had poisoned; it was the bowing of 
Godhead to endure a stroke to which 
man's apostacy had lent such frightful 
possibilities. It was the sense, too, of 
how virulent, how frightful, must have 
been the force, of evil in the universe of 
God, which could render necessary so 
infinite a sacrifice. It was the endur- 
ance, by the perfetal guiltless, of the 
worst malice which human hatred could 
devise. It was to experience in the 
bosom of perfect innocence and perfect 
love, all that was detestable in human 
ingratitude; all that was pestilent in hu- 
man hypocrisy; all that was cruel in hu- 
man rage. It was to brave the last 
triumnh of Satanic spite and fury unit- 
ing against His lonely head all the flam- 
in e arrows of Jewish falsity, and heathen 
corruption — the concentrated wrath of 
the rich and respectable, the yellow fury 
of the blind and brutal mob. It was to 
feel that His own, to whom He came, 
loved darkness rather than light—that 
the race of the chosen people could be 
wholly absorbed in one insane repulsion 
against infinite goodness and purity, and 
love."— Farrar. 



After once choosing your occupation, 
never look backward; stick to it with all 
the tenacity you can muster. Let nothing 
tempt you or swerve you a hair's breadth 
from your aim, and you will win. Do 
not let the thorns which appear in every 
vocation, or temporary despondency or 
disappointment, shake your purpose. You 
will never succeed while smarting under 
the drudgery of your occupation, if you 
are constantly haunted with the idea that 
you could succeed better in something else. 
Great tenacity of purpose is the only 
thing that will carry you over the hard 
places, which appear in every career, to 
ultimate triumph. This determination, or 
fixity of purpose, has a great moral bear- 
ing upon our success, for it leads others to 
feel confidence in us, and this is every- 
thing. It gives credit and moral support 
in a thousand ways. People always be- 
lieve in a man with a fixed purpose, and 
will help him twice as quickly as one who 
is loosely or indifferently attached to his 



vocation, and liable at any time to make 
a change, or to fail. Everybody knows 
that determined men are not likely to 
fail. They carry in their very pluck, grit 
and determination, the conviction and as- 
surance of success.— J. Lincoln Brooks, 
in Success. 



SECRET SOCIETIES. 

Deseret News. 

In the discussions that are taking place 
regarding the noticeable decline in the 
membership of some of the large Protest- 
ant denominations, one point has lately 
been made, which deserves more than a 
passing notice. A contributor to The Ad- 
vance, a Congregationalist periodical, 
justly, we think, charges that much of 
this jdecline depends on the influence of 
secret societies. 

Every little town has its lodges. The 
members meet every week. They all have 
a personal interest in the welfare of the 
lodge; 'hence they talk about it, argue 
about it and win members, while the in- 
terest of the church is left principally 
with the clergyman. 

The lodge seeks to benefit its members, 
in some way, temporally, and generally 
appeals to the religious sentiment, too, in 
the prayers and rites they use. Human 
vanity is also catered to in the high- 
sounding titles and glittering regalia. In 
these and other particulars the secret so- 
cieties have become the rivals of the 
churches, particularly the Protestant 
group, which has discarded most of the 
pomp that secret orders seem to have bor- 
rowed from older religious organizations. 

It is not necessary to say anything 
against the charitable object some secret 
societies seek to attain. But the fact re- 
mains, nevertheless, that by their very 
work of charity they have become the ri- 
vals of the churches. They have estab- 
lished themselves in the consciousness of 
their members so firmly that many reject 
the church and actually say, "The lodge 
is good enough for me." 

But is not this fact a serious reflection 
upon the churches? When the Church of 
Christ was founded upon this earth, its 
object was to bring salvation, both tem- 
poral and eternal ; to save both from sin 
and its conseouences. It was a fraternal 
society, in which the boundaries between 
Jew and Gentile, free and slave, man and 
woman, were eliminated, and all were 
made to realize their position as children 
of God. The Church of Christ set the seal 
of condemnation upon the arrangement 
of the human family in castes. It 
brought relief to the poor, comfort to 
those who were bereaved, healing to the 
sick, and hope to those ready to pass be- 
yond the veil. 

Some of these things the churches hard- 



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Kichmonil, Hux !&&„...„ 

Centre , «* .. ...... 

Charlotte* „..*...„......, 

Bowuravilh? . „„ 

Memphis Box 1 &&....... 

V a I doa I a. ........... ., .. „„. . 

U2& N,S u mmi*r *l. M wli v il I u 
(ioldfiboro, Box BS4„ 

Be I H L r M M i ) 1 1 ' > - . .. ....... ., . ...... 

A ckeriu an. ,«„... ....... 

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Battfl St.. Cincinnati ... 

tu-liirv M., ( Itvctrtrul 



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Virginia 
Kentucky 
N. Carolina 
Georgia 
Tennessee 
( .i-i irtfiL* 
IVnuoasee 
N . Carolina 
d. Carolina 
Mitniaalppi 
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Louisiana 

AUI'Liiiill 

Kentucky 

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Ohio 



ly consider as part of their work. It is a 
reflection on them, that lodges had to take 
up the. neglected duties of religious or- 
ganizations. There can be no reason why 
the church should not be all-sufficient. 

The church is "spiritual ;" it is not "of 
this world ;" but unless its influence is to 
form the world in harmony with the laws 
of the Almighty — to make of "the world" 
the "kingdom of heaven," in which peace 
and happiness rule, its mission is a fail- 
ure. It is this great truth, which the de- 
cline of membership and the spread of se- 
cret societies should impress upon the 
Protestant churches. 



. Releases and Appointments. 
Releases. 

J. S. McGuire, South Carolina Confer- 
ence. 

S. A. Hanks, Ohio Conference. 

Appointments. 

Seven Elders, whose names are given 
below, arrived from Utah on the 23d 
inst., and were assigned their fields of 
labor as follows : 

Eugene C. Miller, Riverton, Utah, to 
South Carolina Conference. 

Joseph Mills, Washington, Utah, to 
Middle Tennessee Conference. 

Nicholas L. Richards, Mendon, Utah, 
to Chattanooga Conference. 

James W. Imlay, Panguitch, Utah, to 
North Alabama Conference. 

George H. Clark, Freedom, Wyoming, 
to North Alabama Conference. 

Christopher L. Riding, Panguitch, 
Utah, to Virginia Conference. 

Lot Robinson, American Fork, Utah, to 
Virginia Conference. 

Transfers. 

R. L. Houtz, from North Carolina to 
South Alabama Conference. 

C. R. Humpherys, from office to South 
Carolina Conference. 



THE DEAd. 

On the 12th inst. our beloved sister, 
Mary M. Dees, was summoned from this 
life by our Heavenly Father. She was 
born Feb. 21st, 1847, and was baptized 
March 11, 1899, by Elder O. S. Staples, 
and confirmed a member of the Church of 
Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints by El- 
der D. Dudley Jones. Sister Dees was 
born in Mississippi, emigrating to Ari- 
zona, where she was residing at the time 
of her death. She leaves a husband, five 
children and a host of friends to mourn 
her loss. While in Mississippi her home 
was an abiding place for the Elders„and 
they were always welcome to the very best 
in store. We sympathize with Brother 
Dees and family, and pray the Lord to 
bless, comfort and cheer them in their 
time of sorrow. 




■BUT TMOUOn WE. OB AN ANGEL FOOM MEAVfN.PREACM ANY 
OTHEB Q05PEL UNTO YOU THAN THAT WHICH WE 

HAV E PBEACHED UNTO YOU, LET MM 6E ACCUftSEP.'W./PPJ^ 

— !w*iy«t 




Vol. 2. 



Ohattahoooa, Tun*., Satubday, August 4» 1900. 



No.- 86. 



THE CHURCH 



The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter- 
day Saints is the organization tnrough 
which the Lord is accomplishing the dec- 
laration of the Gospel in the last Gays, 
gathering Israel, administering the ordi- 
nances of salvation, and in short accom- 
plishing His purposes as predicted by the 
mouths of all His Holy Prophets sines 
the world began. It is called the Church 
of Jesus Christ because it is His He 
directed how and when to organize it, 
pointing out by direct revelation the 
manner of church government, the prin- 
ciples and ordinances of the Gospel; the 
blessings to be enjoyed by those who 
obey Him, and also the respective duties 
of each quorum or council of the Holy 
Priesthood. The phrase of "Latter-day 
Saints" is used to designate it from the 
former day dispensation or the Church 
of Jesus Christ of Former-day Saints. 
The authority of God dedicated to man 
is called the Holy Priesthood. This 
Priesthood is arranged in two great 
heads, the lesser, which is called the 
Levitical or Aaronic, because it was con- 
ferred upon Aaron and his posterity. It 
holds the keys of the administration of 
angels, administering the outward ordi- 
nances of the Gospel, such as "baptism 
by immersion for the remission of sins," 
the Sacrament of the Lord's Supper, the 
receiving and distribution of tithes and 
offerings, all subject to the direction of 
the Higher Priesthood. The officers in 
the Aaronic Priesthood consist of Bish- 
ops, Priests, Teachers and Deacons. 
There is a presiding Bishop, who holds 
the keys of this Priesthood, also other 
Bishops, who preside over the interests 
of the lesser Priesthood in wards or 
branches, looking after the temporal in- 
terests of the Priests, who are standing 
ministers, all orpan'zed into quorums ot 
forty-eight in eack. The duty of the Priest 
is to visit the home of each mem- 
ber, expound the Scriptures, invite all to 
come unto Christ and exhort the Saints 
to perform every duty enjoined by the 
Gospel of Christ. Teachers are organ- 
ized into quorums of twenty-four each. 
The duty of those bearing this office is 
to see that the Saints do their duty, en- 
tertain no ill-feelings toward their fel- 
low-beings; to see that all perform their 



BY APOSTLE MATHIAS F. COWLEY. 

duties, and that no iniquity exists in the 
Church. These general duties, common 
to all Saints, consist in living a chaste, 
honest, upright, temperate and industri- 
ous life, attending to secret and family 
prayers* attendance at meetings of wor- 
ship, partaking of the Sacrament, the 
payment of tithes and offerings, observ- 
ing the Sabath day and kindred obliga- 
tions, all made plain in the revelations of 
God to the Church. The Deacons are 
organized into quorums of twelve each,' 
and are to assist the teacher in all the 
duties of his calling, as occasion may re- 
quire, but their especial duty is to look 
after the houses of worship, keep them 
clean, see to the arrangement of seats 
and the seating of the people in public 
assemblies of worship, and such other 
labors under the direction of the Bishop 
as may conduce to the welfare of the 
Church. The Melchesidek Priesthood 
holds the keys of the Kingdom of 
Heaven. Power to seal on earth and it is 
sealed in heaven; to loose on earth and it 
is loosed in heaven; to receive the revela- 
tions of God; to guide the Church in all 
things, and to understand the mysteries 
of Godliness so far as they are ever re- 
vealed to men in the flesh. In ancient- 
times these keys and fullness of authority 
were given to Peter when the Savior said 
to him, "And I give unto thee the keys 
of the Kingdom of Heaven." (Matt, xvl.- 
18.) The offices of this Priesthood con- 
sist of the First Presidency, a quorum 
of three, bearing the Holy Apostleship, 
and as the organization of the Church on 
earth typifies the heavenly, these threw 
symbolize the Father, Son and Holy 
Ghost, and hold the keys of authority 
over all departments of the Church, on 
all matters, spiritual and temporal, even 
as the Godhead is the great ruling power 
of the universe, the heavens and the 
earth and all that in them is. 

Next come the Twelve Apostles, who 
hold the keys of opening the door of sal- 
vation to all nations, kindred tongues 
! and peoples. The reason that this quo- 
rum numbers twelve is in honor of the 
twelve tribes of Israel. Jesus said to 
the Twelve at Jerusalem. "Thou shalt 
sit upon twelve thrones, judging the 
' whole house of Israel," and again upon 



the foundations of the heavenly Jerusa- 
lem were to be the names of the "Twelve 
Apostles of the Lamb." The Church in 
government Is "built upon the foundation 
of the Apostles and • Prophets, Jesus 
Christ Himself being the chief corner 
stone." (Bph. 11:19-20.) The duty or 
the Twelve is to carry the Gospel to all 
nations and to send the same by their 
associates, the Seventies. The Seventies 
are organized into quorums of seventy 
in each, presided over by seven of their 
number. Their especial calling is, like 
that of the Twelve, to be witnesses of 
the truth in all the world, and are the 
ones especially appointed to associate 
with the Twelve in conveying the Gos- 
pel -message to all mankind. 

The office of High Priest is -one of 
Presidency. They are not limited to any 
especial number to constitute a quorum, 
but any number existing in a Stake of 
Zion are a quorum, presided over by 
three of their members. High Priests 
are chosen to preside over Stakes of 
Zion act as High Counselors, preside 
over temples, officiate in the ordinance* 
of the House of the Lord, and where the 
literal descendants of Aaron are not 
found the High Priest is chosen to offici- 
ate in the Bishopric. Where men art- 
found among the Seventies or Elders In 
any ward or Stake, more suitable to fill 
a vacancy in the ward Bishopric, Stake 
Presidency, or High Council, than the 
resident High Priests, such men are se- 
lected and then ordained to the office of 
High Priest. As standing ministers in 
wards and Stakes the office of Elder ex 
ists, and a quorum of Elders numbers 
ninety-six. . They have authority to 
preach the Gospel, baptize, confirm, ad- 
minister the sacrament, anoint, and lay 
on hands for the healing of the sick, but 
differ from the Seventies in not being 
under the especial duty of traveling 
abroad to preach the. Gospel. 
. There is in the church a presiding Pa- 
triarch, and other Patriarchs in all the 
• Stakes of Zion. The duties of this high 
ouice is to impart blessings to the Saints 
of God. In presenting the general an 
thorities of the Church the name of the 
Patriarch is presented next to the Twelve 
Apostles. 



282 



THE SOUTHERN STAR 



These general authorities, presented 
for the acceptance of the Church at 
every general conference, are. the Presi* 
deney, the Twelve Apostles, the Patri- 
arch, the Seven Presidents of Seventies 
and the presiding .Bishopric of the 
Church. The names of the officers In the 
Priesthood are Apostles, - Patriarchs*, 
High Priests Seventies, Elders, Bishops, 
Priests, Teachers and Deacons. When 
difficulties arise between members of the 
Church and they fail to settle them by 
themselves and the assistance of one or 
two witnesses as the Savior directs, the 
Bishopric of the ward form an ecclesias- 
tical court, to which they can refer their 
difficulties. If the decision is unsatis- 
factory to either party, there is a court 
of appeal in each Stake, called the High 
Council, consisting of twelve High Priests 
presided over by the Presidency of the 
Stake., From their decision an appeal 
can be had to the Presidency of the 
Church, which is the end of controversy. 
These courts are not paid for their ser- 
vices. They are supposed to exercise the 
functions of their calling without parti- 
ality and with the fear of God before 
their eyes, and to be guided by the Spirit 
of the Lord in their conclusions. 

In the selection of any and all officers 
in the Church the Saints have a voice. 
"No person is to be ordained to any of- 
fice in this Church, where there is a reg- 
ularly organized branch of the same, 
without the vote of that Church." (Doct. 
and Cov.. section xx: v 65). "And all 
things shall be done by common consent 
in the Church, bf much prayer and faith, 
for all things you shall receive by faith." 
(Doct. and Cov., section 26, v 2.) The 
Gospel is a perfect law of liberty, and 
no people upon the earth have broader 
freedom and a stronger voice in govern- 
ment, religious or otherwise, than do the 
Latter-day Saints in the governmental 
and all other affairs of the Church. 
The reader is referred to the rev- 
elations of God in the last days 
to the Prophet Joseph Smith, 
for a more , perfect understanding 
of the offices and duties thereof, pertain- 
ing to the Church of Christ They are 
to be found in the Book of Doctrine and 
Covenants. These revelations throw 
great light upon the fragmentary state- 
ments of the New Testament, because in 
the latter no one can learn the relation- 
ship of one quorum in the Church to 
another, nor the explicit duties of these 
respective offices in the Holy Priesthood. 

This Church was organised on the 6th 
of April, 1830, as far as could be with 
the limited membership of six men— Jo- 
seph Smith, Jr., Hyrum Smith, Oliver 
Cowdery, Samuel H. Smith, Peter Whir- 
raer, Jr., and John Whitmer. It was 
truly as "a grain of mustard seed, the 
smallest of all seeds/' in comparison with 
other organisations. A less number 
could not have been organized under tne 
laws of New York. The great founder 
under God of this Church had never be- 
longed to any other. It was not the off- 
shoot of Catholic or Protestant, but as 
"a little stone cut out of the mountains 
without hands," bore no relationship to 
any human system, and as the stone 
should increase in velocity as it rolled 
On, so has the Church grown in magni- 
tude from the "mustard seed" to a great 
tree. It is believed by the Saints that 
the Savior was born on the 6th of April, 
and that the organization of this Church 
commemorates that great event. On the 
4th of April, 1830, Oliver Cowdery 
preached the first Gospel discourse of this 
dispensation. Soon branches of the 
Church were raised up in New York and 



Pennsylvania. Men were being brought 
into the fold, who later filled such nota- 
ble places in the Church. Brigham Young, 
John Taylor, Wilford Woodruff, Lorenzo 
•Snow and other leading men embraced 
the Gospel between 1830 and 1837. The 
Book' of Mormon had been previously 
translated and published to the world. 
News of the new dispensation was her- 
alded abroad by friend and foe. At thai 
time many were prepared to embrace tne 
'Gospel, far the Lord had shown untu 
them that the Gospel in its fullness ana 
purity did not exist in the Catholic and 
Protestant systems of so-called Chris- 
tianity. The ministration of heavenly 
beings had been renewed, and during tne 
entire lifetime of the Prophet Josepn 
Smith he was the recipient of messages 
from the eternal worlds. Persecution 
arose, and bitter opposition was arrayed 
against the Church. The Prophet was at 
times waylaid by wicked men, and some- 
times arrested upon unfounded, trumped 
up charges. From all these he was de- 
livered until the time came" for him to 
offer his life as a martyr. In the fall ot 
1830 Oliver Cowdery, Parley P. Pratt, 
John Whitner and Ziba Peterson were 
called to carry the Gospel to the Indians 
(Lamanites), located in what was then 
the western wilds ot these United States. 
Near Kirtland, Ohio, they met Sidney 
Rigdon and other followers ot Alex. 
Campbell. The Elders presented to them 
the restored Gospel, with the Book of 
Mormon. Many of them received tne 
truth, and the town of Kirtland became 
a gathering place for the Saints. Joseph 
Smith, the Prophet, removed to thai 
point, and the Church ad a body were 
chiefly located there as early as 1831. In 
the meantime the future site of the chief 
city of Zion was designated by revela- 
tion to the Prophet, dedicated and set 
apart for the gathering of the Saints. In 
1832 the first periodical in the Church 
was published, the "Evening and Morn- 
ing Star," at Independence, Mo. The 
press and property of this publication 
was subsequently destroyed by a mob. 
Persecution in Missouri became very bit- 
ter. Many of the Saints were treated 
with bodily violence, their houses and 
property destroyed by fire and themselves 
expelled from the county by armed mobs. 
In the meantime Kirtland was being 
built up. The Lord required the Saints 
to build a temple, in which to receive sa- 
cred ordinances for the salvation of the 
living and the dead. To this labor they 
devoted their energies, and notwithstand- 
ing their poverty the temple was complet- 
ed and ready for dedication in March, 
1836. Joseph Smith, the Prophet, trans- 
lated by inspiration the New Testament, 
completing the work Feb. 2, 1833. Five 
months later he finished the translation 
of the Old Testament, so far as the Lord 
indicated the necessity of so doing. Tne 
Latter-day Saints Messenger and Advo- 
cate was published in Kirtland. The 
Church, though organized by the author- 
ity of the Apostleship, did not contain 
sufficient adherents at first to organize 
the Councils of the Priesthood, so as time 
went on and numbers increased, the Lord 
would indicate when and how to organize 
these quorums. The quorum of High 
Priests was organized in Kirtland March 
18, 1833. The Presidency and High 
Council of the Church was organized 
Feb. 17, 1834. That of the Seventies 
commenced Feb. 28, 1835. Thus from 
time to time, as the Church grew and de- 
veloped, the Lord made plain by revela- 
tion how to organize every quorum, and 
finally Stakes of Zion and branches in 
them and branches scattered abroad. On 



Aug. 17, 1835, the Book of Doctrine and 
Covenants, containing the revelations of 
the Lord to the Church up to that date, 
was accepted as a rule of faith and prac- 
tice. Between that date and the mar- 
tyrdom of the Prophet many revelations 
were given, but owing to the poverty 
and unsettled condition of the Church 
many of them were not published until 
subsequent to the decease of the Prophet. 
During the troubles in Missouri a body 
of men called "Zion Camp" left Kirtland 
May 5, 1834, to carry supplies and relieve 
the distress of their co-religionists, who 
had been exiled from their homes in In- 
dependence, Mo. They performed the ar- 
duous journey on foot, through the wil- 
derness of Indiana, Illinois and Missouri, 
accomplished their mission and returned 
to Ohio. Early in the year 1836 tne or- 
dinances of blessing and anointing wern 
attended to in the Kirtland temple, and 
that sacred edifice was dedicated, to tne 
Lord March 27, 1836. In the temple the 
gifts of the Holy Ghost were poured out 
in abundance. Many saw visions. The 
Savior, Moses, Elias and Elijah ap- 
peared to Joseph Smith and Oliver Cow- 
dery. Previous to this, Joseph's first 
vision was a personal visit of the Father 
and the Son. Again, on Feb. 16, 1832, 
the Savior appeared to Joseph Smith and 
Sidney Rigdon and revealed unto them 
the glories of the celestial, terrestial and 
telestial worlds, and the suffering and 
condemnation of those who are unworthy 
a kingdom of glory. In 1837, during tho 
financial panic, a great apostacy took 
place in Kirtland, which involved the 
standing of several of the Twelve Apos- 
tles. Persecution raged in Missouri. El- 
ders Kimball, Hyde and Richards intro- 
duced the Gospel into England and per- 
formed their first baptism July 30th, 
1837, in the River Ribble. From then un- 
til the present date a prosperous mission 
has been conducted in Great Britain. 
Thousands have joined the Church In 
that land and gathered to Zion. Subse- 
quently John Taylor introduced the Gos- 
pel into France, and with others into 
Germany, Erastus Snow to Scandinavia, 
Lorenzo Snow to Italy, and from these 
countries, especially Germany and Scan- 
dinavia, thousands have come to swell 
the ranks of the Latter-day Saints. Into 
each of these tongues, and in others, has 
the Book of Mormon been translated In 
fulfillment of prophecy. 

The Gospel continued to spread in Can- 
ada, where it had been introduced by 
Parley P. Pratt, the United States and 
Europe. Persecution raged in Ohio and 
Missouri. The Saints as a body left 
Kirtland July 6th. 1838, for Missouri, 
chiefly locating at Far West, Caldwell 
county. In the fad of the year Apostle 
David W. Patten fell a martyr at the 
hands of a mob on Crooked river. Joseph, 
Hyrum and others had been sent to pris- 
on without trial or conviction, and yet 
the work prospered and spread abroad. 
During these sore trials, when death to 
the Prophet and others appeared inevita- 
ble, he prophesied of their safe deliver- 
ance from the mob in Missouri. While 
Joseph and Hyrum were still in prison 
Presidents Young and Kimball led the 
suffering Saints to Illinois, where they 
established the famed city of Nauvoo. To 
this point Joseph and his brethren made 
their escape and enjoyed a brief respite 
from mobocracy. The Prophet predict- 
ed, however, that Nauvoo would not be a 
long resting place for the Saints. • In 
keeping with this inspiration, he proph- 
esied Aug. 6th, 1843, of their coming lo- 
cation and greatness in the Rocky moun- 
tains. He also prepared an expedition to 



THE SOUTHERN STAR. 



283 



explore the west, bat died a martyr be- 
fore its consummation. Although Nauvoo 
was a sickly place, the industry of the 
Saints, attended with the blessings of 
Divine Providence, the city grew with 
magic speed. A temple was soon com- 
menced. A charter was obtained from 
the State Legislature to establish a Uni- 
versity, and prosperity almost unparal- 
leled characterized their labors. How- 
ever, the combination of political in- 
trigue and religious bigotry on the part of 
religious professors, coupled with trans- 
gressing apostates, soon conspired to 
spread death and destruction among the 
Saints. In Missouri, at Hann's mill and 
elsewhere, many had been shot down m 
cold blood, property burned and a whole 
people exiled from the State. In Illinois 
the trouble was inaugurated by Missou- 
rians. They sought on one occasion to 
kidnap the Prophet, but failed. Trumped 
up charges were made against the Proph- 
et. He was tried as before, and every 
time acquitted. When his last trial wa» 
conducted, the mob (like the rabble in the 
halls of Pilate) said if the law cannot 
touch him powder and lead shall, and 
their nefarious purposes were permitted 
to be carried out, and on June 27th, 1844, 
Joseph and Hyrum, while under the 
pledged protection of Gov. Ford, were 
assasinated by a howling mob in Car- 
thage jail, Hancock county, Illinois. Pre- 
vious to his martyrdom he had received 
more than one hundred revelations, organ- 
ized the Church in its fullness, and be- 
stowed the keys of the Kingdom of God 
upon the Twelve Apostles. To Nauvoo 
were gathered thousands of people from 
the several States. Canada and Great 
Britain. At the time of the Prophet's 
martyrdom the Twelve were abroad on 
missions, with the exception of Elders 
John Taylor and Willard Richards, who 
were with the Prophet and Patriarch at 
the time of martyrdom, Elder Taylor 
himself being wounded with four balls. 
While the Saints were in Missouri the 
Lord commanded that they should im- 
portune the officers of the law in the dis- 
tricts where the trouble occurred, and 
not being heeded should appeal to the 
Governor, thence to the President of 
these United States. All this was done, 
without avail. The President answered 
their appeal by saying, "Gentlemen, 
your cause is just, but I can do nothing 
for you." Governors of States wen? 
written to, to use their influence to adjust 
the wrongs heaped upon the Saints, but 
from one or two only came a favorable 
response. On the failure of the State 
and Nation to protect her own citizens 
against mob violence and plunder, the 
Lord promised to vex the nation with a 
sore vexation. This was done in the 
mil Hone of lives and treasure lost in the 
civil war. Of this war, the Lord revealed 
to Joseph twenty-eight years before ft 
came to pass. The Church was not 
founded by men, nor did it depend upon 
any particular man or set of men for 
strength, growth and progress. 
(To be continued.) 



Releases and Appointments. 

Releases. 

R. W. Smith, Office. 
J. T. Barrett, Mississippi Conference. 
Sylvester Low, Jr., South Carolina Con- 
ference. 
E. M. Lee, North Ohio Conference. 



Worth, courage, honor, these Indeed, 
Your sustenance and birthright are. 

— Stedman. 



GOD'S GREATEST GIFT. 

BY ELDER DAVID H. BLTON. 
(Continued from Page 275.) 

BAPTISM, ITS ESSENTIALITY— 
We now come to the important ordinance 
of Baptism. From what has been previ- 
ously written, it is evident that this or- 
dinance must be preceded by a living, op- 
erative, saving faith; a true, genuine, 
godly repentance. Then Faith and Re- 
pentance are prerequisites to Baptism. 
This, we have shown, is the Gospel order, 
and we cannot reverse it without incur- 
ring the displeasure of Almighty God. and 
stand convicted as false teachers. 

The Gospel of Jesus Christ contains 
the truth, and is presented to the mind 
as the power of God unto salvation to 
every one who will believe and obey. We 
have no right or authority to change or 
alter God's holy plan. It has been given 
us for our redemption and exaltation, and 
must be obeyed in the order of its estab- 
lishment, vis.: to follow in the course 
marked out by Christ Suppose we should 
receive and adopt another plan — a plan 
which has been instituted of man, that 
which is not true — and believe it firmly 
and defend it vigorously. Will our faith 
save us? No, it will not Why? Be- 
cause, in the first place, it is not the 
truth we have believed in, and conse- 
quently our faith is vain, and unprofit- 
able ; and, secondly, our faith fails to em- 
brace the proper plan, or saving code. 
Error may be believed with as much inten- 
sity as is possible for a man to believe 
a thing, and vindicated with seal and en- 
ergy ; yet, it can never save the one thus 
believing. He may be sincere, and think 
that he is doing God's service ; yet if his 
faith is not rooted and grounded in the 
truths offered for his salvation; if his 
faith is not firmly established in the per- 
fect plan of life, he will fail to obtain that 
precious, everlasting boon— exaltation and 
life eternal — God's greatest gift. 

"To the law and to the testimony; if 
they speak not according to this word, it 
is because there is no light in them." 
(Isa. 8:20). Keeping in mind this in- 
junction written by the zealous Prophet 
Isaiah, let us turn to Luke 7 :28-29, where 
we read, "And all the people that heard 
Him, and the publicans, justified God, 
being baptized with the baptism of John. 
But the Pharisees and lawyers rejected 
the counsel of God against themselves, be- 
ing not baptised of him." Here we see 
that those who failed to obey the ordi- 
nance of Baptism "rejected the counsel 
of God" then Baptism is "the counsel of 
God," and hence essential to the salvation 
of man, for no man can be saved in re- 
bellion to God and His laws. Further- 
more, we find that it is a law of God, 
"He that believeth (the Gospel) and is 
baptized shall be saved; but he that be- 
lieveth not (and as a consequence of non- 
belief fails to be baptized) shall be 
damned." (Mark 16:16). Again, "Go 
ye, therefore, and teach all nations, bap- 
tizing them in the name of the Father, 
and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: 
Teaching them to observe all things, what- 
soever I have commanded you; and, lo! 
I am with you alway, even unto the end 
of the world." (Matt 28:19-20.) 

That Baptism is essential to the salva- 
tion of man, we need only to review the 
incident of the conversion of Cornelius, 
the devout Gentile. Cornelius was a gooo 
man and one who feared God, who dis- 
tributed alms to the people, and prayed 
to the Father of Mercies, for Htfht and 
understanding. It pleased the Lord to 
send an angel to visit this devout Gen- 
tile, who informed him that his prayers 



and alma had come up for a memorial be- 
fore God, and who told him to send to 
Joppa f or Peter, that he might hear words 
of salvation and truth. Peter responds 
to the call of Cornelius, visits his home, 
preaches the word of God, and commands 
them "to be baptized in the name of the 
Lord." (Acts 10:1-6-47-48). When Pe- 
ter returns to Jerusalem and is ques- 
tioned by the Apostles as to the propri- 
ety and appropriativene88 of ministering 
unto the Gentiles, he repeats the narra- 
tion of Cornelius' conversion. (Acts 
11:14-19.) 

For another example take the record of 
Paul's adventures. You remember how 
that he had zealously persecuted the 
Saints of God, casting them into prison, 
compelling them to blaspheme the Holy 
name of Christ, and giving his voice 
against them when they were put to 
death. (Acts 26:9-12). On his way to 
Damascus, with writs of authority from 
the chief Priests to lay hold on the Saints 
of God, and punish them, he receives a 
vision from the heavens of glory, the brill- 
iancy of the light is so great that Paul is 
stricken blind, and prostrated to the earth. 
In his humility and affliction he cries 
from the very depths of his heart, "Who 
art thou, Lord?" and the answer comes, 
"I am Jesus whom thou persecutest" 
"Lord, what wilt thou have me to do?" 
inquirer the repentant Saul, and then 
comes the command from the lips of 
Christ, "Arise and go into the city, and 
it shall be told thee what thou must do." 
(Acts 9:1-6).' Something is going to be 
told him which Jesus says he "must do." 
Let us hear the important decree, "Arise 
and be baptized and wash away thy sins." 
(Acts 22:16). It looks as though Bap- 
tism was essential to salvation, does it 
not? Here was Cornelius, a good man, 
worthy of an angelic visit, "commanded 
to be baptised in the name of the Lord," 
by obedience to which he might be saved ; 
then we have Paul calling upon the Lord 
to know what he should do in order to be 
redeemed from his many sins and trans- 
gressions, and he is commanded to "Arise 
and be baptized in the name of the Lord." 

The evidences to prove the essentiality 
of Baptism as a means of salvation are 
so numerous and striking, that for any 
one to deny the same is to contradict the 
word of God through and through. It 
was taught by the Prophet John (Matt 
3:13-17; Mark 1:1-11), by the Apostles 
(Mark 16:15-16; Matt 28:19-20; John 
4:2). by Paul (Acta 16:29-34; Gal.. 3:26- 
27 ; Heb. 6 :l-2 ; Acts 9 :1-18 ; Acts 26 :19- 
20), by Peter (I. Peter 3:17-22; Acts 
10:47-48; Acts 2:37-41), and finally by 
our Savior (John 3:22; John 4:1-2; 
Mark 16:15-16; Matt. 28:19-20). Sure- 
ly it is essential to our soul's salvation. 

Our glory and exaltation is predicated 
upon obedience to the commands of God. 
If we do just what Christ has command- 
ed, regardless of modern speculation, we 
shall then occupy a safe and secure posi- 
tion. Let the world wrangle and jangle 
concerning the import of this sacred and 
holy ordinance — Baptism ; let them quar- 
rel and quibble upon the very brink of the 
water as to whether it is necessary to the 
salvation of the soul, but let us who be- 
lieve the word of God, take heed and obey. 
It is enough for us to know that Baptism 
is a command of God, and that the whole 
duty of man is to "fear God and keep His 
commandments." (Bccles. 12:13). 
(To be Continued.) 



All who would joy win must share it: 
Happiness was born a twin.— Byron. 



Evil is wrought by want of thought as 
well as by want of heart.— Lowell. 



284 



THE SOUTHERN STAR 



Si.if 



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Batubday, August 4, 1900. 



ARTICLES OF FAITH 

OPTHB CHURCH OP JESUS CHRIST OP 
LATTER-DAY SAINTS. 

1. W»btHevtis<l»ith«BleraslFits«r ( »DdieBlt8oe 
JemCEHrt,sad»tft«Bel7GlMMt. • 

t. W* b«lUv« tfctt BMwiUteptaklMd foetfcrfrova 
slat, sad.aot foe Adurt toao* y *»lo*. 

t We bsliro last, thmsk U* ato**m**t of Oarfat»«n 
nwAkJad swy ft* ssvei, by obsdteM* to th* liwa end ordt. 

^eftatOoffsL 

— -*-"—- -■- ' lp! M udordl»MeMof 

dJ<*atCfariat; mom4. 



-- .-^ -^ — -r • Gift of Um Holy 

0boat> 

\. Wt b*li«Tt ti.il i mtn mutt b* cillad of God. bj 
" pKtJtH*CT y Kid b/ Lbi Ujrin$ an o€ bind*," bj Lbo*a who ir* 
in, aqtborilj. to pntdl tb« fPtp«l tail i dminutir ia lb* «rdi< 
DAQcw tbtrvor 

B- Wi bttl«T« Ifi lnr*Kne arpaliilion till tltHtd Id 
th» primiLWt church— aijueJj, ApotU**, Proj^ta, i'utwit 
TMcharv, Et* ngt]j*t« T ite. 

.7. W« b«li«vB La tbe fifl of toofutt, prapltej, r*i«laiian, 
*iiloB| .bailing, itllKprvtiLjoD of 1oa(UH, (It, 

ft. Wo belifTt th« 64 bit lo b* Lb* word of God, ■■ for u ll 
1* Inntltud eorrtctly ; vt oloo fc*b*v. th* Booh of U«d« 
«0 bt th* word of God. 

ft. Wi b«Jlo*o ill that QraJ bi« rtvnltd. ill I bit Ha Jo** 
cow r«TBil, an J *e b*li*Ti that Ha will rot ro^fal midj C r*ii 

■ nd i 10 porta 1 T'niop pert lining to lbi kingdom of God! 

10. Wa belter* i* Lbi IJlsnl plh#Hri( of l,r**l aed ia Lb* 
mtontfoD of tho Tag Tribet; Lb*t Zjoo wltf b* balJt ana 
Lbii fth* American; couUncct, Ebat i:faritt ■ |tl»i C n partem. 
•i\j 00011 Lba cirth, aad tb*t th* otftb *N1 b* rooewd *Dd 
ratai to iu p*ftd [iticml glory. 

lh Wo rJalm Ui« prmltf* of wofihipinj AfmiftitT Ood 

■ ccordioj to Stir. dJctatoi of oor wbiHodc*, *od iJlow all 
alio Lba nmt priri|«f*^ i«i tbam wonhip ho*\wb«r*, tit wbol 



•*Jt-?f; 



ll We bollor* la befog mbjest to Map, preridooto. raltn, 
1 DMcbtratM ; to obeyiog, booorieg ood*>*toiidog die kw. 
IA OW* boiler* to faotog boootUAe, ehaito, bw^oleat, 
oirtaooa. ood io dotag goodie all bmb ; lodoad, wo may **y 
Utot welellow too •dnooltioe of Pftel, -Wo boUeV* all tolege, 
wo bopo ell tblom," wo boto oodotwd bmdj thiago, oad bop* 
•^bfsbtotoeadoroaUUilogm. U tboro b MjtStog firteeao, 

5CsMo^^Sl^ pr * , ^^ 



§OME MEN ARE NOT MEN. 

There should be a vast difference be- 
tween man and beast; but sometimes man 
so degrades himself by subverting his 
talents and his liberties and sinks to such 
a level that, almost with propriety the 
dumb beast can protest against the supe- 
riority of the great biped race. Beasts 
are dominating by their animal, muscular 
power, contented with food and comfdrt- 
able shelter and satisfied with these if 
permitted to propagate their kind and 
protect their offspring. But a beast is 
moral. Man has these characteristics to 
a greater or less extent; but he, in these 
fast times, is generally immoral. When 
a man has no other attributes than those 
mentioned of brutes, he virtually ceases 
to be a man and for all purposes becomes 
a brute. If he is a selfish man — selfish 
in not allowing his fellow-creature to 
unmolestingly enjoy the right* to which 
the Great God has made him heir— he is 



unworthy the appellation, "man." Think 
how despicable a person must be who by 
physical strength would prevent a neigh- 
bor from worshiping his Creator in the 
manner he desired. Yes, there are men, 
white men (?) who profess Christianity, 
call themselves civilized and enter the so- 
cial circles of intelligent people, who 
would have their fellows rocked and 
scourged, incarcerated and decapitated, 
if a refusal was made to accept their 
style of worship or a charge made against 
the infallibility of their systems of the- 
ology. Nearly every one of the five hun- 
dred ''.Mormon" Elders in the Southern 
States can truthfully bear testimony that 
there are still living, men who would, if 
they had authority, again crimson the 
skies with the flames from the stake. All 
the infamy and cruelty and degredation 
of which the human heart is capable, 
grows clamorous and bears fruit in the 
breasts of such intolerant creatures. A 
man -who would prevent religious liberty 
•by brute force, is the embodiment of 
every black attribute which alienates 
him from God and adopts him, body and 
soul, to the bosom of the fiend of all 
crime and misery. Direct such a wretch 
to the black savage of Africa for wis- 
dom. Show him that a century and a 
half ago in the Dark Continent, the un- 
clothed cannibals, little above beasts 
themselves, whom the slaver stole for 
merchandise, would enslave to themselves 
a fellow black if he even attempted to 
interfere in their strange worship of 
rocks, trees and animals. These inferior 
human flesh eaters evinced more man- 
hood in this important direction than he 
who is a religious intolerant, though he 
be dressed in broadcloth and make a 
show of learning. A man who will not 
allow another man perfect freedom in his 
holy prayers and practices, if those prac- 
tices and prayers do not encroach upon 
the privileges and rights of anybody else, 
is not a man. He is a beast; his attrib- 
utes are brutal. He disgraces humanity 
because he is called a man. He blas- 
phemes the personality of God; because 
he. is made in the similitude of His per- 
son. 



TRIALS OF LIFE. 



While we journey upon the earth in 
mortal probation it has been wisely des- 
tined that we should encounter difficulties, 
endure trials, and bear tribulations. From 
the moment we launch our frail barks up- 
on the stormy sea of life to battle with 
the rough waves of stern reality, until 
we reach the blessed haven of rest, where 
time is no more, we shall meet with 
rugged gales, fierce breakers and perilous 
squalls. 

We are not alone upon this voyage of 
life, for if we look around we shall find 
that others are scudding before the gale, 
that they are braving the tempest, and 
striving manfully to reach the Port in 
safety. Are we discouraged? Do we be- 
come despondent and downcast? Is there 
a gloomy shadow of sorrow upon our 
faces; a look of sadness in our eyes? Let 
us take courage from the life of Him who 
walked the shores of Galilee, who re- 
buked the winds and the waves, and 
quelled the threatening storm. 

It sometimes happens that the honest 
in heart who hear and accept the Gos- 
pel of Salvation in the nations of the 
earth, leave the land of their nativity and 
emigrate to the west, where the Saints of 
God are colonized. The Gospel was the 
sweetest morsel their hungry souls had 
ever tasted, and with joy and gladness 
they hastened to the land from whence 
came the messengers of Truth ; but when 



they reached the land of the setting sun, 
they found the Saints of God not quite 
so good as the joy of their souls had de- 
picted. As a consequence they became dis- 
satisfied, discontented and discouraged. 
Their expectations had almost led them 
to look for a perfect heaven on earth 
where the Saints dwell, and they had over- 
looked the fact that the Gospel net gath- 
ers all kinds of fish. This was an ex- 
ceedingly hard trial of their faith, a rigid 
test of their religion. 

We should not look for perfect peace 
and heavenly rest on earth, for pur Glo- 
rified Head has told us that in this world 
we shall find tribulation. The "tares and 
the wheat" are permitted to grow up to- 
gether until the reaping time, when the 
wheat shall be bound in sheaves and car- 
ried into the garner, while the tares shall 
be plucked up, rooted out and destroyed. 

If we will do as Peter has commanded, 
'Let your faith and your trust be in God," 
and not man, we shall never fail or weary 
in well doing. "Trials make our faith 
grow stronger" if we only use them as 
stepping stones to higher glories and more 
eternal rewards. Then do not be discour- 
aged because of the acts of fallible men, 
but let your light shine, and it cannot fail 
to lead some honest soul aright. "A lit- 
tle leaven leaveneth the whole lump." We, 
as a people, are too apt to look at the 
acts of men, and neglect to observe and 
realise the beauty and holiness of the 
Gospel. Let us look to our Father in 
heaven, and lift up our heads, knowing 
that our redemption draweth nigh. 

Paul in his epistle to the Roman 
Saints says, "Who shall separate us from 
the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or 
distress, or persecution, or famine, or 
nakedness, or peril, or sword? * * * 
Nay, in all these things we are more than 
conquerors through Him that loved us. 
For I am persuaded that neither death, 
nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor 
powers, nor things present, nor things to 
come, nor neigh t, nor depth, nor any * 
other creature, shall be able to separate 
us from the love of God, which is in 
Christ Jesus our Lord.' f (Rom. 8:35- 
39). The misgiving and discouragement 
which, will creep sometimes over the 
brightest faith, has. in the above expres- 
sion of the inspired Paul, received a re-' 
buke which should silence them forever. 
In all things we are more than conquer- 
ors. 

Now then, dear Saints, if you have been 
called upon to bear such trials as we 
have herein mentioned, take joy and con- 
solation from the words of holy men of 
God. There is a beautiful hymn found 
on page 212 of our Missionary Hymn 
Book, which each and every one of us 
should learn and comprehend. "Think 
not when you gather to Zion," etc. 



PIONEER DAY. 



The following is from the pen of C. C. 
Goodwin, of the Salt Lake Tribune. We 
nre pleased to give it space, because re- 
cently we were almost converted to the 
belief that the man. whose pen is might- 
ier than the sword, had departed this life: 

"It Is Kood for the people of Utah to cel- 
ebrate the 24th of July. It is a most mem- 
orable anniversary. It signals a day when 
some men who were poor and worn out and 
filled with both sorrow and apprehension 
had turned their backs on civilization, by 
weary marches had crossed the then ten- 
antless plains and stubborn mountains, and 
planted their stakes In the desert, and be- 
gan the building up of a State. That wa«_ 
but fifty-three years aj?o, but it has .been 
sufficient time In which to transform this 
region. Save the mountains, the lake and 
the summer air, there Is nothing here as it 
then was. 

"That band of men, with but rude appli- 
ances, went to work, but the zeal of youth 
was upon most of them. They went to their 



THE SOUTHERN STAR 



285 



work with songs, and the smiles on their 
faces were penciled by sunbeams. 

"Most of those faces have since grown 
withered and seamed and have disappeared, 
overborne by the irresistible friction of toil 
and care and time. But before .they de- 
parted those smiles that they brought here 
went out and lighted the desert, and what 
was the desert reflects, them now In tree 
and flower and meadow and the waving 

fold of the harvest, and thus the youth of 
hose pioneers is made perpetual in the ra- 
diance of the beautiful valley. 

"It is well to celebrate the day, to recall 
the old names, to do reverence to their 
memories, and to be sure to do nothing that 
will grieve the old pioneers if their spirits 
are watching what may be done." 



PRESIDENT OF B. Y. COLLEGE. 

Professor James H. Lindford was 
unanimously elected president of the Brig- 
ham "Young College, Logan, Utah, on July 
28th ult. He is a popular man among the 
residents of Cache county and his selec- 
tion meets the approval of all who know 
him. He was bom August 27th, 1863, in 
Centerville, Davis county, and is a grad- 
uate of the University of Deseret, and 
has also taken a course of study in the 
Wesleyan University of Illinois, and the 
Chicago University. His ability fully 
qualifies him for the position be has been 
elected to occupy, and we wish him suc- 
cess in his new field of labor. 



Unveiling of Pioneer Monument 

Desexet News, July 25, 1900. 

The principal feature of the observance 
of the twenty-fourth was the unveiling of 
the completed Pioneer monument at the 
intersection of East and South Temple 
streets this forenoon. While the number 
of citizens present were not as great as at 
the time of the laying of the comer-stone 
or as on the occasion of the unveiling of 
the statue of President Brigham Young 
just three years ago, it was, nevertheless, 
a large and reverential one. 

The ceremonies today were brief and 
impressive and were conducted under the 
auspices of the Brigham Young Memorial 
Association, Hon. James Sharp, president, 
and were highly reminiscent, and extreme- 
ly interesting throughout, and a testimo- 
nial to the energetic men who for the past 
ten years have had the memorial project 
under way ; for it is just that length, of 
time since they began the work, the com- 
pletion of which they thankfully cele- 
brated today. Only those who for a de- 
cade have labored for the building of a 
lasting monument to the memory of the 
founders of Utah's commonwealth under- 
stand the difficulties that have beset their 
path. 

'What It Hm Cost. 

The monument when completed in its 
entirety will cost $27,500. Of this amount 
$15,000 goes to Sculptor C. E. Dallin, the 
designer and construction supervisor. 
About $25,000 in all has been expended. 
The remaining $2,500 will be used in put- 
ting a handsome granite coping that is to 
replace the wooden fence that now sur- 
rounds the monument. The story of how 
the money was raised to erect the shaft 
is of itself an interesting one. At first 
the work of securing the funds was divid- 
ed among the various Stakes and for a 
time subscriptions came in gradually from 
all classes of the community, including the 
widow and Sunday school child, who con- 
tributed their five cents with the same 
willingness that characterized the dona- 
tions of those who were able to give larger 
sums. A pleasing fact was that many of 
those who sent their checks to the com- 
mittee were not of "Mormon" faith. They 
simply admired the greatness of Brigham 
Young and his sturdy followers and de- 
sired to show substantial evidence there- 
of. It was during the Semi-Centennial 



Jubilee that the movement to erect the 
monument received a marked impetus un- 
der President Woodruff, who came to its 
rescue' at a time when the work was lag- 
ging. Recently President Snow ' gave 
much personal attention to the comple- 
tion of the work, though the general com- 
mittee <of course performed the more ar- 
duous part of it, and are entitled to all 
praise. 
* * * * * * 

President George Q. Cannon made the 
first address. He said that being one of 
the pioneers who came here in 1847, many 
reminiscences crowded his mind and he 
could not help drawing contrasts between 
conditions now : and those existing here 
fifty-three years ago. While some people 
cannot or will npt acknowledge that Brig- 
ham Young was an inspired man and a 
Prophet of God, aU will concede the fact 
that he was a great man and a strong 
leader of men. When the Pioneers first 
looked into this valley all was desolation ; 
the courses of the streams running into 
the valley being marked by willows, the 
only green to be seen. When Brigham 
Young saw the valley he declared it to be 
the stopping place of the pilgrims, and 
this in the face of assertions of trappers 
and hunters that it would be impossible 
for a community to live here. He sent 
exploring parties to the south and to the 
north to investigate the country and ail 
returned declaring that the decision of 
Brigham Young, was a wise one. The 
people suffered almost untold hardships 
during the first years of life in this val- 
ley when the elements were more inclem- 
ent than now. They suffered the pangs of 
hunger in their, most extreme distress. 
Once a week in my uncle's house, where 
I lived, said the speaker, we would weigh 
out our provisions in the family and then 
eke them out for the week. Our rations 
were very short ; we did not have enough 
to eat; we were hungry, very hungry — 
hungry to the ends of our fingers ; hungry 
to the ends of our, toes; always hungry — 
one good meal would not suffice to satisfy 
us, our hunger was so great. We cut 
thistle tops to eat and I never tasted such; 
"greens'* in my life. I actually began t« 
get fat on thistle tops^ Even boiled hides 
were eaten by the people, and even after 
the grain had been planted and began to 
grow, giving promise of a bread supply, 
the crickets came and swept it all away 
and added more hardships to those al- 
ready endured by the settlers. 

When gold was first discovered in Cali- 
fornia, Brigham Young advised the people 
to remain here and cultivate the land, 
promising them that they should be pros- 
pered if they did so. And while it has 
been charged against Brigham Young that 
he discouraged the development of the min- 
eral industries of Utah, the sequel proved 
that his advice was wise, for by remain- 
ing at home and producing food the peo- 
ple placed themselves beyond the danger 
of a shortage of food supplies and put 
them in a position to pursue the search for 
gold and silver without jeopardizing the 
lives of their families by lack of something 
to sustain life. 

I am not much of a believer in monu- 
ments, for I think that men and their 
good deeds should live in memory; but 
this present monument is a very proper 
one. The story of the pilgrimage of the 
Pioneers and their settlement here should 
be told and retold to our children in order 
that they may know of the heroic deeds 
done by their forefathers. 

Hon. Jam en T. Hammond. 

Hon. James T. Hammond said that he 
did not believe in the worship of a monu- 
ment, but thought the accomplishment 
which it represented was the thing to be 



revered. Mr. Hammond reviewed the his- 
tory of the erection of the monument and 
the life of the sculptor, Mr. C. E. Dallin, 
and introduced that gentleman. 

The Sculptor. 

Mr. Dallin excused himself for reading 
his address, saying that he was an artist, 
but not an orator. Continuing, he said: 

"Friends, it is some twenty years since 
I turned my face eastward toward the un- 
known land of my hopes and aspirations, 
and as one who has visited strange lands 
and seen many sights, I return to the font 
where I first drank the life-giving waters 
of pure inspiration. To those who are 
born and reared amid these circling hills 
I have little need to tell what a potent 
spell they have, and as whatever little I 
have done has been directly traceable to 
their influence, you can well understand 
how they are intimately connected with 
the most sacred part of my being. To the 
mighty forms of sculptural beauty and 
the ever changing lights and shades of the 
peaks, my mind was ever atuned and as 
the history of sculpture plainly shows, 
sculptors have ever been reared amid the 
mountains. These silent, formative influ- 
ences are even deeper and more" Jasting 
than we realize, and to you who have the 
privilege of this silent communion of the 
hills your spirits must ever be awake to 
the beauty and poetry that daily speak to 
you from the mighty heights. 

"Art of every kind is simply the realiza- 
tion that beauty lies around us on ever- 
hand, and the artist is only he who possi- 
bly realizes more fully this truth, and he 
only becomes an artist in trying to reveal 
this truth to his fellow man. Art to the 
many is considered a luxury or an ac- 
complishment, whereas in truth it is one 
of the most necessary functions of a well 
ordered life, and to deprive man of this 
means of expression would plunge him into 
a barbarism from which there would be 
on hope of ever rescuing him. 

"I want to impress upon your minds 
thes few truths. a* the dignitv of our art 
demands it, and although I cannot claim 
for my own work any small degree of 
these attributes. I still live in hopes that 
some day I shall realize some part of my 
dream. And in regard to the monument 
which is now completed after many de- 
lays. T can only trust to your indulgence. 
In unveiling it now. after nearly eight 
years since T did the work. I feel some- 
what as thonsrh I were exposincr some 
early sin, and I only regret that X could 
not do it over again, as I am confident I 
could do it better. 

"The monument *« it now stands is an 
attempt to depict the earlv history and 
condition of Utah, and with the excepts 
of Br'trbam Young, the statutes are repre- 
sentative. Thus the 'Indian' represents 
the early condition that prevailed in this 
valley before the advent of the white*, 
and the 'trapper' represents the first 
white man that over n^netrated the wil- 
derness. The 'Pioneer' irronn represents 
the hardv, indomitable familv that first 
made their home in the wilderness, and 
from them sprang the first civilization of 
the great west." 

The Unvetltntr. 

It was just 10 :58 a. m. when a trumpet 
call was sounded and the veil of banners 
was loosened . and fell from around the 
monument, disclosing the new bTonze fisr- 
nres. while the band played "America." 
Then there were cheers and the crowd 
surged about the monument to view the 
figures that finished the monument to the 
Pioneers and their hrave deeds. 

Miss Margaret Young, a daughter of 
Major R. W. Young, and a srranddaueh- 
ter of Brigham Yonnp, drew the cord that 
released the veilings. 



286 



THE SOUTHERN STAR 



History or the Southern States Mission. 

(Continued from Page 274.) 

July, 1898— On the morning of the 8th 
inst. President Rich and Elders Nelson 
and Anderson left the office to visit the 
Georgia Conference held at Monk, Camp- 
bell county, Ga. A most pleasant time 
was enjoyed. 

July 25th the following Elders arrived 
from Salt Lake City and were assigned 
to their various fields of labor: Robert 
L. Shepherd, Samuel O. White, Francis 
P. Carlisle, Lewis Bastain, George May, 
LeRoy Farley, Hyrum K. Mortensen and 
Jesse W. Richins. 

On July 27th, Elder N. P. Nelson re- 
turned from Middle Tennessee Confer- 
ence, held at Byrdstown, Pickett county. 
Reported and excellent time and Elders 
feeling well in the work. Elder John W. 
Bench, Jr., was called to labor in the of- 
fice. 

On the 28th, inst. President Rich and 
Elder Nelson left for a tour of confer- 
ences not yet visited. July 29th, at about 
6 p. m. the following significant telegram 
was received from President Rich, dated 
at Bentonia, Miss., July 30th, 1898: 
"Don't send mail here. We leave tonight 
to hold conference at Jackson. Have 
been driven out by one hundred and fifty 
men with rifles and shotguns." 

The above telegram explained the rea- 
son why conference was not held at Me- 
chanicsburg, Miss., as intended. There be- 
ing a number of Saints in Yazoo county, 
Mechanicsburg had been chosen as a de- 
sirable place to hold meetings. 

While riding through the country to the 
appointed place of gathering, President 
Rich and the Elders who had met him at 
the train noticed men all along the road. 
Some of them looked very tough and car- 
ried guns. The driver was asked why so 
many men could be seen and he told them 
that it was their intention to break up the 
Mormon Conference, which was to be held 
on Mr. Martin's farm, about one mile from 
Mechanicsburg. He further stated that 
the men had been gathering their forces 
for several days. When asked who the 
men were he mentioned several names of 
men who were engaged in the movement. 
Nearing the place of stopping, the breth- 
ren were met by a crowd of nearly two 
hundred men, armed with rifles and shot- 
guns, pistols also being carried by many. 
When asked by President Rich to step 
aside and let them pass, the mobocrats 
did so, but not without some mutterings. 
When the passage through the lines had 
been made, and the house where some of 
the Elders had congregated was reached, 
a committee was sent to await upon Pres- 
ident Rich and notify him that there 
would be bloodshed unless they left the 
country immediately. "I would like to go 
down the road and talk with the crowd," 
remarked President Rich to the commit- 
tee, "because they are American citizens 
and will surely allow us our right to prac- 
tice and preach the religion guaranteed to 
us under the constitution of the United 
States." 

Major Dill and Captain Lee, two mem- 
bers of the committee, were opposed to 
such a move. They were not in sympa- 
thy with the mob, but wanted to see peace 
and avoid violence. They further said 
that the men were hot-headed and if their 
desires were not granted blood would sure- 
ly flow. When told that meeting could be 
held and the place vacated by the Elders 
before 6 o'clock, the committee would not 
consent to this, agreeing to give them un- 
til 2 o'clock to leave the country, which 
was consented to. 

In spite of the mob, the people were 
preached to for one hour, the situation be- 



ing explained. President Rich while 
speaking remarked that he did not desire 
to have trouble, and would, therefore, 
withdraw. He took occasion, however, to 
pay his respects to the mob, telling them 
they were a set of cowards, who were un- 
willing to allow others to enjoy the re- 
ligious liberty they themselves possessed. 

It was a lawless crowd and they re- 
fused to listen to reason, therefore the 
brethren consented to leave, being marched 
down the middle of the road between the 
mobbers, who, armed to the teeth, had 
lined up on either side. 

The train was boarded in the afternoon 
and the thirty-four Elders were allowed 
to hold conference in Jackson, Miss., the 
capital, and very good treatment was re- 
ceived. Tne Daily Clarion Ledger, pub- 
lished in that city, on August 1st, gave 
a very fair account of the mobbing in 
Yazoo county. The Elders were brave, 
and although forced to leave the place 
first appointed to hold meeting, yet they 
realized it was but fulfilling prophecy ut- 
tered by our Lord. 

The month closed with the Elders in 
the field generally feeling well spritually 
and physically. Some little sickness and 
suffering owing to the intense heat. 
(To be Continued.) 



BRANCH CONFERENCE HELD NEAR 
SOCIETY HILL, N. C, 

July 21 and 22, fourteen Elders of the 
South Carolina Conference, together with 
numerous Saints and friends, met in 
branch conference, near Society Hill, ac- 
cording to previous arrangements made 
by President Sylvester Low. A neat and 
comfortable bowery had been erected 
for the occasion, near the one from whose 
platform Apostles Lyman and Cowley 
declared the word of the Lord, some few 
years ago. 

President Low, Elders Lewis, Ilium 
and Jensen occupied the time at the 
morning services on Saturday, speaking 
very forcibly upon those principles and 
doctrines of the Gospel which effect the 
salvation of mankind. A large and ap- 
preciative audience listened with much 
interest, some of whom came from many 
miles around and camped about tho 
grounds during the conference. 

All were surprised and much disap- 
pointed at the afternoon services, when 
they learned President Rich would not 
be present. The time was occupied by 
Elders Nix, Taylor, Thome, Severe and 
Humpherys, all of which in their turn 
spoke upon the principles of the Gospel 
and bore firm testimonies of the mercy 
and goodness of the Lord and to the 
truthfulness of the Gospel. The peace- 
ful influence of the Holy Spirit was 
richly manifested during the meetings, 
and after all disappointments the people 
thought it good to be there. 

Sunday morning the bowery was 
crowded beyond its seating capacity with 
Saints and friends, eager to learn more 
of the Gospel. All listened attentively to 
President Low, Elders Anderson, Adams 
and Humpheryo- Sunday afternoon El- 
der Lazenby was first called upon to 
speak, which he did with interest upon 
the first principles of the Gospel, after 
which President Low, being released to 
return home, preached his farewell ser- 
mon, and by the aid of the Holy Spirit 
spoke with power, proving the necessity 
of a visit and message from heaven in 
these last days in order that the people 
might be redeemed, and that the prophe- 
cies and predictions of ancient men of 
God might have their fulfillment. 

Priesthood meeting was held after the 



afternoon services, where much good in- 
struction was given. The Elders were 
assigned their fields of labor and went 
their way rejoicing, and with a determin- 
ation to do their whole duty. 

Our retiring President — Sylvester Low 
—is succeeded by Elder C. R. Hum- 
pherys, and we all feel to press on the 
work of the Lord. Elder Low has been 
an ardent, energetic worker, and he car- 
ries with him the love and esteem of all 
the Elders. 

GLEANINGS. 

On the morning of July 20th, Elders 
Jesse W. Richins and John Banks en- 
tered Gibsonville, N. C, with the inten- 
tion of canvassing the place, and, if pos- 
sible, secure a place to hold meeting in. 
They were kindly received by a friend, 
who had previously invited them to call 
and preach. A visit was made to the 
Lutheran minister, who treated the breth- 
ren with silent contempt, would not let 
them use his church under any circum- 
stances. Next they paid the owner of the 
school house (he is also' the owner of the 
Methodist church building, a leading mer- 
chant and a magistrate) a visit and were 
treated very roughly ; he would not reason 
with them and finally ordered the Elders 
to leave his store. They at once called 
upon the mayor (the Lutheran minister 
had been to see him before they arrived), 
and he would not shake hands, but in- 
quired if they were Mormons. When told 
that they were servants of God, common- 
ly called Mormons, the Elders were plain- 
ly told to "get out" "Are you not the 
mayor: inquired the brethren. "Yes; and 
I want you to get out at once," was the 
response. Withdrawing the Elders walked 
up the street and could see the minister 
and magistrate following them up, incit- 
ing people to run them out. A crowd of 
leading men of the town fell in behind 
and prepared for action. The magistrate 
then went to where the Elders were and 
told them that he did not want to see them 
receive injury, but that they must leave 
the town, "for," said he, "the people do not 
want any of your rotten dogmas here." 

The Elders endeavored to reason and 
explain, but to no avail, for ignorance 
was bliss, and hatred held sway. 



Elder John Bankhead has been appoint- 
ed to preside over the Florida Confer- 
ence. We trust that the spirit of God 
will be with him in his labors down on 
the Balmy Peninsula, and that the prov- 
erbial "Land of Flowers" may blossom 
with the fruits of righteousness and peace. 
Florida has many good Saints and kind 
friends to whom we extend a welcome 
greeting and a hearty "God bless you." 



Summer Excursions, Colorado, Utah. 
The Union Pacific railroad will place 
in effect on August 7th and 21st, 
1900, summer excursion rates of one fare 
for the round trip, plus $2, from Mis- 
souri river to Denver. Colorado Springs, 
Pueblo, Ogden and Salt Lake. Tickets 
good for return until October 31st. For 
full particulars address J. F. Aglar, Gen- % 
era I Agent, St. Louis, Mo. 



Oregan, Washington, daho, Montana, 

The Union Pacific railroad is the short 
line to Idaho, Montana, Oregon and 
Washington, consequently it will cost pas- 
sengers less money by this route. Ask 
your nearest ticket agent for tickets via 
Union Pacific, from Omaha or Kansas 
City. For full particulars, maps and pam- 
phlets of territory reached via the Union 
Pacific, address J. F. Aglar, General 
Agent, St Louis, Mo. 



THE SOUTHERN STAR 



287 



NEBUCHADNEZZAR'S DREAM « 

OR, THE METALLIC IMAGE. 

BY A. ARROWSMITH. 
(Concluded from page 279.) 

Daniel, in his seventh chapter, relates 
a wonderful vision or dream, which he 
afterwards' recorded. I presume this 
dream was written by Daniel as he recol- 
lected it, appearing as a panoramic pict- 
ure of events that would transpire down 
through the vista of time, even until the 
Ancient of Days sat in judgment upon all 
the children of men. 

He did not only see the decline of the 
empires of Babylon, Persia, Macedon. 
Rome and the ten kingdoms, but tells ot 
a power; that appeared boastful and more 
stout than his fellows, speaking great 
things, which subdued three kingdoms 
and made war upon the Saints, prevail- 
ing against them, and it appears that this 
condition of affairs was to exist until the 
Ancient of Days came in judgment. 'We 
all know that this event has not hap- 
pened yet, and if I were to attempt the 
translation of this dream of Daniel's, as 
contained in his seventh chapter, I 
would say that the horn referred to, 
which was so stout, and that arose in the 
wake of the ten kingdoms, is the great 
American republic. 

This government gained its power, ter- 
ritory and pre-eminence through the sub- 
jection of England, France and Spain. X 
would also add that this power has made 
war with the Latter-day Saints and pre- 
vailed mightily against them, insomuch 
that the Saints have been driven from 
pillar to post, and at present are trying 
to enjoy peace in the confines of the 
Rocky mountains. In my further inter- 
pretations I would place the 25th verse 
immediately after the 23d, as the prim- 
itive Saints were worn out and time and 
laws were changed under the Roman em- 
pire, before the ten kingdoms as spoken 
of in the 25th verse, were instituted. 

One might think it presumptions and 
unlawful in me to make such changes, 
but who has ever dreamed or seen visions 
and been able to retain a true chronol- 
ogy ; let me illustrate. For instance : 
John, the Divine, on Patmos, had a vis- 
ion, part of which is recorded in the 12th 
chapter of Revelations. Let us note the 
chronological order of that short chapter. 
He first records seeing the coming of the 
Savior and the twelve Apostles, then he 
saw the Devil and a third part of the 
hosts of Heaven cast out, which was a 
primeval occurrence; then he returns to 
the primitive days and saw the church 
driven off the earth ; then again he speaks 
of the great war in Heaven, and so on. 

If this great history of Israel, contained 
in the Bible, had been told in chronologi- 
cal order, it would have cleared up many 
apparent mysteries. I take it, the things 
of God are only understood by the spirit 
of God, therefore it would be well for 
every reader of the word of God to be in 
possession of the spirit in which the 
things therein are written. 

To return; I would say that the events 
in history, profane and divine, corrobo- 
rate the above explanation of this chap- 
ter, and all the institutions and kingdoms 
that will not serve God nor keep His 
laws and commandments, will come to 
naught, be broken in pieces and utterly 
destroyed. It is true that America is the 
promised land of Joseph (who was sold 
into Egypt), and choice above all other 
lands, and that this government is su- 
perior to all the kingdoms of Europe in 
its magnanimous treatment of the op- 
pressed. However, it is far from perfec- 



tion, and must be purified from center to 
circumference, politically, socially, intel- 
lectually and spiritually. 

It is true that the Gnurch of Jesus 
Christ has been established once more 
on the earth, and a nucleus of the king- 
dom formed, but the kingdom of God, 
which is a theocratic government; where 
Christ will reign in person and issue laws 
from Zion, has not been fully established 
on the earth. At present, subjects are. 
being prepared, as anciently, and the El- 
ders cry out still, "Repent ye, for the 
kingdom of heaven is at hand," and He, 
who will come in glory and splendour, 
will have subjects prepared for His re- 
ception, but that temporal power with 
all its laws and enactments has not yer 
been instituted on the earth. 

The gradual growth of the Church ot 
Christ will cause the world to become 
pure and holy, and when the people are 
prepared, they will demand higher laws 
and nothing but a pure government of 
the people, for the people and by the 
people, with righteous laws administered 
by holy and pure men, will satisfy the 
children of the Kingdom of God. 

The world is still subject to the king- 
doms of men, but the God of Heaven 
has decreed that in the latter days, He 
would set up His kingdom, which would 
overthrow and entirely break up the Im- 
age of gold, silver, brass, iron and clay. 
Daniel says: "Thou sawest till that a 
stone was cut out without hands, which 
smote the image upon his feet that were 
of iron and clay, and brake them to. 
pieces. Then was the iron, the clay, the 
brass, the silver and the gold broken to 
pieces together, and became like the chaff 
of the summer threshing floors; and the 
wind carried them away, that no place 
was found for them; and the stone that 
smote the image became a great moun- 
tain, and filled the whole earth." 

In the face of history, which so clearly 
interprets Nebuchadnezzar's dream, can 
we who are living in "the latter days" 
not see the pending breaking up of the 
man-made unauthorized systems and gov- 
ernments that now exist in the world, 
and the necessity of the establishment of 
a kingdom of peace and righteousness? 

Their doom is fixed, the fiat went forth 
from the Almighty, and the idolatrous 
Chaldean, Nebuchadnezzar, with Cyrus, 
Alexander and the Caesars, testify to the 
literal fulfillment, in the downfall of their 
empires. The kingdoms of today present 
a picture of wealth, luxury and rapacity; 
ready to pounce on each other on the 
slightest pretence. Their vast armies 
and navies, with the continued manufac- 
ture of high explosives, explains to us 
that they design to destroy life and prop- 
erty, and that they are operating con- 
trary to the principles of peace, justice 
and equity, and not in harmony witn the 
Gospel of Jesus, and therefore they will 
go to destruction. 

It would appear, at this writing, that 
we are on the eve of a terrible war with 
the Celestials in the far east. This might 
terminate in the loss of many lives and 
the division of the Chinese empire; bui 
who dare say that, in the division of tho 
spoils, other troubles will be averted. 
Jealousy exists between Russia and Ja- 
pan, France, Germany and England, 
and they all appear anxious and ready 
to leap at and rend and destroy each oth- 
er. When the time comes, the Almighty 
will fully vindicate His position, and al- 
low the "Gods of war" to destroy the ten 
kingdoms and all the institutions, estab- 
lished contrary to His principles, and In 
their place He will set up His theocratic 
power, which will usher in the reign of 
peace, when swords will be beaten into 



plowshares and spears into pruning 
hooks. 

I have taken some of the following 
ideas from the Millennial Star, which 
will close this argument. 

Being aware that it is quite popular 
among professing Christians to believe 
that the kingdom specially referred to 
as being set up by God, was a spiritual 
kingdom set up by Jesus 1900 years ago. 
Such a view of the matter we consider en- 
tirely erroneous, insomuch as it does, not 
agree with the 'facte in the case. The 
kingdom mentioned by Daniel and other 
Prophets was to be a literal kingdom, it 
being so catalogued with others which we 
have proven to be literal. Again it was to 
be a kingdom set up "in the latter days," 
which would be superior in its orgnlza- 
tion and entirely different and distinct 
from its predecessors, and would also be 
the last kingdom set up. 

The days of Nebuchadnezzar, Cyrus or 
Alexander, could not be called "the latter 
days," and inasmuch as the Roman power 
was broken up, and other kingdoms arose 
from its ruins, the days of the Caesars 
could not have meant "the latter days." 

Upwards of 1900 years have passed 
away since Christ, and we believe tnese 
to be "the latter days" spoken of by 
Daniel. If not, they must come, and 
the Kingdom will also come, as predicted, 
and "stand forever." 

Again, it was to come "in the days of 
these kings." The Emperor of Rome, 
the ruling sovereign in the days of Christ, 
could not be designated "these kings," 
neither could his predecessors on the 
thrones of Babylon, Persia, or Macedon, 
who were dead and their kingdoms sub- 
verted. Evidently, then, "these kings" 
or kingdoms referred to, are those de- 
noted by the toes of the image, and also 
by the ten horns of the fourth beast in 
the corresponding vision, in respect to 
which Daniel expressly says, "and the 
ten horns out of this kingdom are ten 
kings that shall arise." Kings are here 
used as representatives of their king- 
doms, so that what was said of them re* 
ferred to their respective dominions, as 
in the case of Nebuchadnezzar. Said 
Daniel, "thou art the head of gold; and 
after thee shall arise another kingdom 
inferior to thee, and another third king- 
dom." Nebuchadnezzar died, and Bel- 
shazzar succeeded him on the throne; so 
that it was the latter king who was de- 
throned by Cyrus, and not the former. 
As, however, Nebuchadnezzar is merel.v 
named as the representative of the em- 
pire over which he presided, so the "ten 
kings" alluded to are merely introduced 
as the representatives of the dominions 
which they held. The Medio-Persian em- 
pire did not succeed Nebuchadnezzar, as 
he had long been dead, and his place 
filled; but it did succeed the Babylonian 
empire, over which Nebuchadnezzar had 
been, and Belshazzar was then, reigning. 
The Greco-Macedonian kingdom did not 
succeed "Darius, the Median," nor Cyrus 
the Persian, for they had been dead near- 
ly 200 years; but it did succeed the Per- 
sian empire, over which Darius Codoma- 
nus last wielded the sceptre. The Roman 
empire did not succeed Alexander, for 
he had been dead nearly 300 years; but 
it succeeded the Greek empire. So, in 
like manner, the "kingdom" which it was 
declared "the God of Heaven" would 
"set up" on the earth "in the latter days" 
was not ,to follow the immediate reign 
of the "ten kings" who first occupied 
the ten thrones, but it was evidently to 
succeed and "consume all these king- 
doms," which their regal successors 
would be found presiding over. These 
kingdoms into which the Roman empire 



THE SOUTHERN STAB. 



REPORT OF MISSION CONFERENCES FOR WEEK ENDING JULY 14. lyoa 



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was divided are still in existence. Royal 
intermarriages and military subjugations 
have effected various national amalga- 
mations, and numerous political changes; 
provincial extensions have from time to 
time taken place, since the original "ten 
kings*' first sat upon their thrones of 
power; but still their dominions exist. 

In conclusion, I will say that, inasmuch 
as these toes of the image, or kingdoms, 
were not formed, nor even begun until 
centuries after Christ and His Apostles, 
it must, of necessity, follow, that the 
•'kingdom" represented by "the stone," 
which "was cut out of the mountain," 
could not have been "set up" in those 
days, and those days certainly cannot bo 
regarded as "the latter days." 

We testify in all soberness that tne 
nucleus of God's government has been 
formed and His Church is established, 
that the people might be prepared for the 
reception of His kingdom, His laws, His 
government in every detail and ramifica- 
tion. 

(The end.) 



CALLED HOME. 

BY W. T. WBBB. 

"Death with his sickle keen 

Gathered the bearded grain at a breath 
And the flowers that grow between." 

Elder Thomas E. Norton, a promising 
young man, died of lung trouble at his 
home in Pima on the 16th of July, 1900, 
after an illness of several months. He 
leaves a wife and five little girls to fight 
life's battle alone. 

Hie funeral services were held July 
17th, in the Pima meeting house, which, 
large as it is. would scarcely accommo- 
date the hosts of friends and relatives 
who gathered to pay their last respects 
to their departed brother. 

Elder Norton was never very robust, 
but still able to lead an active, useful life. 
He was engaged in the confectionery busi- 
ness up to May 25th, 1808, at which time 
he was set apart for a mission to the 
Southern States, where he labored as 
faithfully and energetically as his health 
would permit until March, 1900, at which 
time he was released and returned home. 

Elder Norton was a son of Henry E. 
and Sarah A. Norton. He was born at 
Lehi, Utah, Oct. 23d, 1860, his parents 
moving to Arizona in 1880, where they 
have since resided. 

Had Elder Norton's true physical con- 
dition been made known to the Church 
authorities at the time he was called on 
his mission they would probably not have 
permitted him to go, but with his usual 



unselfish devotion to the cause he so loved, 
he made no excuse, but promptly respond- 
ed to the call. His contitution, however, 
could not long withstand the inroads made 
upon it by the damp, fever-stricken dis- 
tricts where his labors called him, and 
after twenty months spent amid the 
swamps of the south, handicapped by sick- 
ness and disease, continually growing 
weaker until worn out nature could stand 
no more, he returned to his family and 
friends, where loving hands did every- 
thing possible for his comfort and to aid 
in his recovery, but in spite of the many 
earnest prayers which ascended in his be- 
half, an all wise Father saw fit to call 
him home, and since he has laid down his 
life in the cause of truth, which no man 
could do more, his friends should find con- 
solation in their grief from the assurance 
they have that the smiles of an approving 
Heavenly Father will welcome him on the 
other side, where he will dwell in the so- 
ciety of the noble and good of God's chil- 
dren. While the cold, inanimate clay, the 
house he used to live in, is left to be cared 
for by his loved ones here until the morn- 
ing of the first resurrection, it, too, will 
come forth again covered with immortali- 
ty and eternal life and in the full enjoy- 
ment of the exaltation he has earned by 
his faithfulness. 



Apostle Anthon H. Lund. 

We are pleased to announce tne ap- 
pointment of Apostle Anthon H. Lund as 
Church Historian to fill the vacancy oc- 
casioned by the demise of the late pres- 
ident and Church Historian— Franklin 
D. Richards. Apostle Lund, like h:» 
predecessor, is diligent and energetic, 
blessed with wisdom and understanding; 
and together with his expeditious nature, 
nnd painstaking spirit, we predict suc- 
cess to follow in his steps. 



Herald and Presbyter, July 25, 1900. 

Which is the best educated state in the 
Union? 

Don't answer offhand. Take a little 
time to think it over. Your first and most 
natural guess would be Massachusetts, 
wouldn't it? — the proud parent of Bos- 
ton, that center of poetry, music and art, 
the Hub of the universe, the locality of 
Emerson, the apex of culture and the 
home of the gentlemen most noted for 
their science in literature and fistics. 

Well, you're wrong. Massachusetts 
isn't among the first six states which 
stand for the higher education. Now, try 
again. Which state gathers within its 
borders the more students? Not the 
greatest number of children engaged in 
puzzling out the mysteries of the three 
"R's," but the commonwealth boasting the 
largest total of attendants at the univer- 



sities and colleges, where the most ad- 
vanced ideas are handed down by learned 
professors and grave and reverend seig- 
neur. 

Illinois it is. Yes; Illinois, the place 
where the Chicago river flows* Didn't 
associate Chicago with higher education, 
did you? Didn't give the city and the 
rest of the state credit for teaching the 
greatest number of young men and young 
women the principles of advancement, did 
you? Listen: Illinois leads the United 
States in learning. There are 13,787 stu- 
dents enrolled in the various colleges and 
universities of the Sucker State. And, 
remember, Illinois isn't the first state in 
point of population in the Union. New 
York has more people within its bounda- 
ries. So has Pennsylvania. 

New York comes second. Her record 
is not far behind that of Illinois. The 
figures are 13,007. And after her comes 
another eastern state — Pennsylvania. The 
Keystone institutions hold 11,396 persons 
who are being familiarized with the 
higner forms. Ohio is close up. Her rec- 
ord for students of this class is 11,239. 
And then comes a point for our southern 
friends. Tennessee stands fifth. They 
run to learning down in Dixie. Tennes- 
see has 7,139 students to her credit. Mis- 
souri .is sixth, with a showing of 6,513. 

So much for the -igher education. Now, 
try the same questions as applied to the 
common schools. Where does the great- 
est percentage of enrolled scholars ob- 
tain? You might as well save yourself the 
trouble of guessing. You would hardly 
pick it out in a dozen trials. Kansas! 
Bleeding Kansas! The home of the cy- 
clone and the corn crop ! Considered with 
regard to its total population, the enroll- 
ment in Kansas is really remarkable. The 
percentage is 27.87, and the figures show- 
ing the number of scholars of the public 
institutions are 370,240. 

The west is away ahead of the east in 
this proposition of public schooling. Fol- 
lowing Kansas comes West Virginia, 
where the number of enrolled scholars is 
230,188, which is 27.27 per cent, of the 
population. And Utah, which we are 
hurling stones at — Utah, which we con- 
sider lost to saving grace and lots of other 
useful things — Utah looks after the school- 
ing of its young. The figures show that 
there are 70,878 scholars, a percentage of 
20.75. And then comes Iowa, with a per- 
centage of 2G.13, and again Tennessee, 
where 25.tx> per cent, of the population 
are enrolled scholars. Mississippi is 
sixth, with a percentage of 25.38 to her 
credit. Massachusetts has a percentage 
of only io.^, and New York isn't much 
ahead of the Bay State, for its figures are 
17.56. Verily, there is more common 
school education in the west and south 
than was dreamed of in the eastern phi- 
losophy. 




•BUT THOUGH WE, OP AM ANGtL F&OM MEAViN,P»EACH ANY 
OThEQ &OSPLL UNTO YOU THAN THAT WfllCH WE 

HAVE PREACHED UNTO YOU, LET tiiM BE ACCURSED *W J*P6K 

===== " x^yft^x 



^ gt - 



Vol, 2. 



Chattanooga, Tenn., Satubday, August 11, 1900. 



No. 87. 



ONWARD EVER! 



BY ^LEN HIN8DALB RICH. 

Do the duty nearest, 
Cling to truth the clearest, 
Face the ill thou fearest, 
Hold thine honor dearest, 
Knowing God la good. 

Life is worth the living; 
What foe withstands forgiving? 
Love lives but in believing, 
Peace follows after grieving, 
For death is only life! 

All good awaits thy earning; 
Great souls for light are yearning; 
Heaven's lamps are always burning; 
Bless God there's no returning 
Unto oar buried past! 

OUR CONFERENCE PRESIDENTS. 

Elder Herbert Z. Lund 

In these days of dishonesty and de- 
ception, when avarice and the desire for 
personal gain employ and subvert the 
finer and ennobling qualities of man- 
hood, it is pleasing to meet a man who 
possesses a brilliant, active intellect, 
whose life is untinctnred by the sins of 
the world and whose personality, because 
of his virtues, inspires confidence, respect 
and honor. Elder H. Z. Lund, whose 
portrait is herewith presented, is such a 
man. He is a type, a fair type, of "Mor- 
mon" manhood. And people who are ac- 
quainted with the pure and elevating 
influence of the teachings of the Latter 
Day Saints, will readily appreciate the 
importance of the term "Mormon ' man- 
hood," and will know that the subject of 
this sketch is a character of no common 
virtues. 

Elder Lund first saw the light of day 
in Ephraim, Sanpete county, Utah. 
There in the tops of the mountains, 
where nature smiles and the air is fresh 
and the waters pure, far above and away 
from the smoke and dust and the weak- 
ening influences of the dense populations 
of the east and the west, the boy Ray 
grew in strength and purity. During 
his infancy and youth his parents incul- 
cated into his life those principles which 
ever enter into and make up the man in 
after years. And now that he has merged 
into manhood, he serves as a living re- 
flector of the worthiness and chastity 
of his "Mormon** mother and father. 

Elder Lund spent the first twenty years 
of his life in his native county. He 
completed the school courses prescribed 
in the grammar grades and Stake acade- 
mies of Sanpete county, and did credit to 
his scholarship in the Brigham Young 
academy at Provo, Utah, where so many 
princes' of Zion have studied and devel- 



oped. And for the past three years, pre- 
vious to his missionary life, he assisted 
in the instruction of the young people of 
southern Utah. Whether as instructor 
in the school room or as teacher in the 
Sabbath school, Brother Lund always 
wore a smile and was never found with- 
out a kind word of advice or sympathy 
for the most obstinate and unruly pupil. 
By the employment and observance of 
the same deportment, he has won the 
love and confidence of his fellow laborers 
in the missionary field. 
When Ohio was divided into two oon- 




ELDER HERBERT Z. LUND, 
President of the North Ohio Conference. 



ferences, Elder Lund, who had acted as 
President Mayeock's counsellor at Cincin- 
nati, was called to preside over the North 
Ohio division, the baby conference and 
the northernmost of the mission. His 
headquarters are. at Cleveland, on Lake 
Erie. 

Although President Lund has been in 
the missionary field but ten months, he 
has made great advancement. His 
friends love, honor and respect him, and 
he has many friends. The work in 
Northern Ohio cannot do else than pro- 
gress under President Lund's manage- 
ment. And success and prosperity will 
accompany him in whatsoever pathway 
his judgment may direct his footsteps. 



History or the Southern States Mission. 

(Continued from page 286) 

AUGLo^, 1808.— On the 6th and 7th 
last, conference was held with the Flor- 
ida Elders at New Zion, Columbia coun- 
ty, Florida. A good time was enjoyed 
by all present. Several public meetings 
were held and much choice counsel and 
timely instruction were given. The El- 
ders of the South Carolina conference 
were called together at Bridgewav, those 
of Louisiana, North and South Ala- 
bama meeting in conference assembled 
a few days earlier. In South Alabama 
a wonderful outpouring of the gift of the 
Holy Ghost was manifest, while in the 
North Alabama district the Elders were 
presented with two notices, in the form 
of petitions , or lists, warning them to 
leave. The names of two prominent 
ministers of the community headed the 
lists or petitions. 

While Elder Nelson was over in Ken- 
tucky holding conference, President 
Rich was journeying among the Elders 
and Saints of North and South Caro- 
lina. Both reported enjoyable times and 
Elders feeling well in the work. Just 
before the close of the month conferences 
were held in East Kentucky, East Ten- 
nessee and Virginia. At the first named 
place Elder John Woodmansee was ap- 
pointed to preside. 

. The month closed with considerable 
sickness among the Elders. At one time 
all the Elders but five in the Mississippi 
conference were reported sick. On the 
23d inst. Elder Jos. E. Caldwell arrived 
from Zion, and was appointed to labor 
in the state of North Carolina. 

September, 1898.— The month opened 
with much bitter opposition manifest in 
many parts. On the 3d, President Rich 
left for St. Louis, and returned a few 
days later in company with Sister N. P. 
Nelson. Lorin F. Rich, his son, and Le 
Roy Pugmire, just from Zion. On the 
8th inst. a letter from Apostle M. F. 
Cowley conveyed the sad news of Presi- 
dent Woodruff's death. A circular let- 
ter was at once sent to presidents of 
conferences, notifying them of what had 
occurred and instructing them as to suc- 
cession in the Presidency. President 
Woodruff had lived a long and useful 
life, being sincerely devoted to his God. 
and for the salvation of his fellow-man. 
Many hundreds have been brought to a 
knowledge of the truth through his un- 
selfish, diligent, energetic labors in the 
work of God. He has gone to receive 
that never-fading crown of righteousness 
which will adorn and enwreath his brow 
forever and forever. 

The weather begins to be more mild, 
and the heat not so oppressive. With 
this moderation in the weather comes 



290 



THE SOUTHERN STAB. 



favorable reports from nearly all the sick 
Elders. President Rich left on the 8tn 
inst. to attend general conference in 
Zion. 

A letter from Elders James A. Kelley 
and Albert O* McMullen gave informa- 
tion that a band of seven men (?) dressed 
in the 1 Ku-Klux garb, had paid them a 
visit and threatened them all sorts of un- 
comfortable treatment if they did not 
leave the community. The Elders left to 
avoid further injury, and thus escaped 
the ill treatment which would have oth- 
erwise followed. 

Elders Melvin Henderson and John S. 
Sears arrived from Salt Lake City on 
the 13th and 14th inst., respectively, and 
were both assigned to labor in the East 
Tennessee conference. These two Elders 
were closely followed by a company of 
thirteen .who arrived on the loth inst. 
and were assigned their various fields of 
labor: Their names are as follows: E. 
Jerome Child, Frank Corbett, Pearis 
Raymond, Peter Anderson, Alfred Jen- 
sen* Sextos E. Johnson, Wandle H. 
Mace, Leonard D. Cox, Wm. Ruesch, 
Geo. B. Folkman, Geo. A. West, Alma 
Iverson and Leslie George. 

The close of the month much sickness 
was still reported, the dreadful yellow 
fever raging in Mississippi and Louisi- 
ana. President Condie and companion 
were quarantined in Jackson, Miss. 
(To be continued.) 

GOD'S GREATEST GIFT. 

BY ELDRB DAVID H. ELTON. 
(Continued from page 283.) 

BAPTISM — ITS MODS, OBJECT AND FBOPEB 
SUBJECTS. 

While it is almost universally believed 
by the Christian world that baptism is a 
law of God, taught by precept and exam- 
ple by the Savior and His Apostles, still 
there exists a variety of opinions as to its 
mode, object and proper subjects. We be- 
lieve that the word of the Lord is suffi- 
ciently clear upon these things, and by 
the aid of the Spirit of God they are 
made plain and explicit, being unfolded 
in a clear, simple, beautiful way t to the 
convincing of every honest inquirer for 
truth. Now we know that whatsoever is 
commanded of the Lord for us to obey is 
essential to the salvation of our souls. 
The Father does not deal with non-essen- 
tials, but all things spoken by Him are 
for our profit and learning, that we 
through obedience to His holy laws and 
righteous commands may enjoy life eter- 
nal. 

As to the mode of baptism, first, then, 
let us glance at the example of that Great 
One who truly said, "I am the Light, the 
Truth and the Way." Was He baptized? 
Verily so! and you remember how that 
"example is better than precept" that 
'factions speak louder than words." Yes, 
example is as the record deeply engraven 
upon the rock, which neither wind nor 
storm can erase; while precept without 
practice is written in the sand only to be 
washed away by the waves and obliterat- 
ed by the storms. Our Lord's example 
is before us — His life and labors are the 
exact pattern of what the Lord requires 
of us, therefore it becomes necessary for 
us to shape and govern ourselves accord- 
ing to the same. If the pattern as given 
by Christ is acceptable unto the Lord, 
and we so order our lives as to coincide 
thereto, does it not appear self-evident that 
the Lord will be pleased to own and bless 
us as He was His only begotten Son, 
when He said, "This is my beloved Son, 
in whom I am well pleased." 

Let us see what act the Savior had per- 
formed to bring forth this approbation 
and sanction of His Father. The Apostle 
Matthew informs us that while John was 
baptizing at Bethabara in the river Jor- 
dan Jesus presented Himself as an ap- 
plicant for baptism. John, either by di- 
vine inspiration or prophetic revelation, 
recognized and acknowledged the superi- 
ority of Christ's mission and work, and 
said unto the Lord, "I have need to be 
baptized of Thee, and comest Thou to 
me?" The Savior did not deny his pre- 



eminence above that of the Baptist, but 
He told John that this act of baptism was 
one of the Heedful accomplishments in or- 
der "to fulfill all righteousness." Then 
Jesus was baptized, and "went up 
straightway out of the water : and, lo, the 
heavens were opened unto Him, and He 
saw the Spirit of God descending like a 
dove, and lighting upon Him ; and lo a 
voice from heaven, saying, This is my be- 
loved Son, in whom I am well pleased." 
(Matt. 3:13-17.) It was a righteous de- 
cree ordained of God in the heavens that 
Jesus should come upon the earth to set 
mankind an example in righteousness, to 
show them the way of life by His loving 
acts as well as His righteous commands. 
Baptism, we have seen, was His first step 
in attending to ordinances. Baptism is 
an external physical act, consequently it 
is a work of righteousness, the participant 
therein having believed in God and the 
Plan of Redemption, and repented of his 
sins with a godly sorrow, and a soul's 
sincere desire to sin no more. 

John tells us that Jesus went up 
straightway out of the water." Now the 
end defines the means. If Jesus "went 
up out of the water," is it not a logical 
antecedent that He also went down into 
the water and was buried there beneath 
the wave? The end is plainly asserted: 
"He went up straightway out of the wa- 
ter." The means are that He went down 
into the water, which would constitute a 
complete submersion. Baptism, we be- 
lieve, then, so far as our Lord's example 
governs and controls our faith, should be 
By immersion. Some may suppose that 
the mode of baptism is not an important 
clause in the injunction given unto us to 
"Repent and be baptized, but we fail to 
see why it should be so considered. If 
obedience in all things is necessary to sal- 
vation, then why not obedience as per- 
tains to the exact mode be essential and 
vital? Who has assumed the prerogative 
to draw the dividing line? If baptism, 
which (we have clearly proven) be requi- 
site for each to obey, why not the mode be 
carried out in connection with all other 
things which pertaineth to life eternal? 
It is not for us to tamper or trifle with 
God's holy laws, and the Savior's divine 
pattern, but we, as obedient children, 
should render ourselves subservient to His 
will and word. 

The rite of baptism is significant; its 
mode, symbolical, and the element in 
which it is performed, typical. The sig- 
nificance and importance of the ceremony 
is owing to the fact that it is the counsel 
and law of God; the symbolism of its 
mode signifies the death and resurrection 
of Jesus Christ and our union with Him 
by being baptized by one spirit into one 
body ; and the element in which the cere- 
mony is performed typifies a birth, for as 
the child comes from the womb and gasps 
the breath of life, so we come forth from 
the watery tomb to walk in a newness of 
life. This, then, gives us a better under- 
standing of the words of Jesus to Nico- 
demus, ^'Ye must be born again. Born of 
the water, and of the Spirit." This 
"again" birth is the birth or baptism of 
water and the reception of that sanctify- 
ing additional grace, known as the gift 
of the Holy Ghost. 

Paul tells us (the Saints) that we are 
"buried with Him in baptism ; wherein 
also ye are risen with Him through the 
faith of the operation of God, who hath 
raised Him from the dead." (Col. 2 :12.) 
To be "buried with Him" certainly im- 
plies a complete immersion, and when we 
take this passage in connection with the 
Apostle's words to the Roman Saints, we 
shall find the self-same idea involved: 
"Know ye not, that so many of us as 
were baptized into Jesus Christ were bap- 
tized into His death? Therefore we are 
buried with Him by baptism into death; 
that like as Christ was raised up from the 
dead by the glory of the Father, even so 
we also should walk in newness. For if 
we have been planted together in the like- 
ness of His death, we shall be also in the 
likeness of His resurrection." (Rom. 6: 
3-5.) Here the Apostle not only likens 
baptism to a 'buriaP' but also to a "plant- 
ing," which most assuredly signifies im- 
mersion, for a "burial" and a "planting" 



certainly means a complete covering, and 
for baptism to resemble either of these 
it could: "not be o^heco.than immersion. 



Moreover, we reaa^a 
Baptist* ''Arid JT ~ 
in JSnoA near to Si 
much water there r 
were baptized." (. 

was baptizing in , . 

cause there was much water there. 



tcerning John the 
go was baptising 
lecause there was 
they came and 
23.) "John;al*o 
m," Why? VBe- 
" The 



conjunction 'because" gives evidence of 
the matter of fact that John selected a 
place in the river where there, was "much 
water," at least sufficient to completely 
immerse the repentant * believers. ' 

Perhaps it would be well in treating 
upon this subject to digress just a little 
from precedents and give a few historical 
notes from profane writers- who are cred- 
ited as authentic historians: Mosheim, 
the great German ecclesiastical historian, 
says. Vol. 1, p. 129. that baptism by im- 
mersion was practiced in the first cen- 
tury. Also (p. 211) it was practiced in 
the second century. Calvin, the founder, 
of the Presbyterians, says that baptism 
by immersion was practiced by the an- 
cient church. Shaft the Swiss historian, 
says it was not until the end of the thir- 
teenth century that sprinkling became the 
rule, and immersion the exception. Gahn 
the Catholic historian, says that Novatian 
was the first man to be sprinkled, this 
innovation being substituted about 200 
A. D. Eusebius also says that Nova- 
tian was the first man ever sprinkled (p. 
113), but admits that it was not bap- 
tism. Surely the writings of these men, 
who are accounted historians of no small 
repute, should be regarded with some de- 
gree of acceptance. 

The object of baptism, the holy writers 
of the Bible have declared to be for the 
remission of sins and that we may be- 
come members of the church of Jesus 
Christ, citizens of the kingdom of God. 
We read that "John did baptise in the 
wilderness, and preach the baptism of re- 
pentance for the remission of sins." 
(Mark 1:4). Luke makes a similar dec- 
laration, "And he came into all the coun- 
try about Jordan, preaching the baptism 
of repentance for the remission of sins " 
(Luke 3:3.) To the inquiring multitude 
on the day of Pentecost Peter taught 
"baptism in the name of Jesus Christ for 
the remission of sins" (Acts 2:38), as 
a condition of salvation. To the convert- 
ed Paul came the divine command, "Arise, 
and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, 
calling on the name of the Lord." (Acts 
22:16.) This was altogether useless if 
Paul' sins had already been remitted unto 
him, as some will declare, who claim that 
remission of sins is not suspended on bap- 
tism, but on faith Paul had great faith, 
he had truly repented, and yet the one 
thing he must do in order to gain a re- 
mission of his sins was, "Arise and be 
baptized." This is plain, and beyond con- 
troversy or cavil. Some will say that we 
are baptized because we are saved and 
not saved because we are baptized. How 
do such assertions harmonise with the 
words of Jesus, He that believeth and is 
baptized shall he saved" The fact of the 
matter is this: They make baptism the 
effect of salvation, when in reality it is 
the cause. Every student who has any 
knowledge of mathematics knows that the 
sum or problem must be in existence be- 
fore there can be answer of it The sum 
is never produced by the answer, but the 
answer is produced by the sum — the an- 
swer grows out of it. Now the sum of 
all righteousness is obedience, the answer 
salvation. Well, then, kind reader, bap- 
tism being a command of God is the sum 
to be wrought out, and the answer there- 
to is a remission of sins, with a promise 
of the Holy Ghost. To argue otherwise 
would be to reason fallaciously and to the 
detriment of our soul's salvation. As 
well might you hang a sign out over the 
door testifying to the world that goods 
are within, when at the same time the 
houses is empt" as to profess a remission 
of sins through faith only without a 
strict compliance to that ordinance which 
God has ordaine- for the remission of sins 
— even baptism. 

It is clearly seen from the Scriptures 
that baptism was taught and practiced 



THE SOUTHERN STAB. 



291 



for the remission of sins. Thus it bad 
been instituted, and thus it was preached 
unto the people. All the petty objections 
that may be offered,. and all the frail in- 
genuity and false reasonings of uninspired 
men cannot set aside these divine truths. 
Furthermore, we have additional proof in 
the Holy Bible. Paul taught the Roman 
Saints that in baptism the "old man is 
crucified with Him (Christ) that the body 
of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth 
we should not serve sin." (Rom. 6:6.) 
This, then, should convince and satisfy all 
who, profess to believe the word of God 
holy and divine. 

Who are the proper subjects for bap- 
tism? may now be asked with propriety 
and reasonableness. Jesus said to His 
Apdstles, "He that believeth and is bap 
fixed shall be saved." etc. The subject 
for baptism, then, should be a true be 
Uever. This will emolude little children, 
and admit onlv those who are capable of 
knowing good from evil, and who are wil- 
ling to accept the good, and depart from 
evil. The Apostles were also commanded 
to go and "teach all nations," baptizing 
them in the name of the Father, and of 
the Son. and of the Holy Ghost.'* (Matt. 
29:19-20.) Little children are not capa- 
ble of being taught the principles of eter- 
nal life in infancy, therefore thev are not 
E roper subjects for baptism. "Repent and 
e baptized," was Peter's counsel to the 
Jews thus showing that repentance was 
required before baptism. Little children 
are freed from sin by the atoning blood 
of Jesas. "As in Adam all die. even so 
in Christ shall all be made alive." (I 
Cor. 15:21.) These little ones are "made 
alive" to things eternal in Christ by rea- 
son of the atonement, for by our own 
transgressions we alienate ourselves from 
the Kingdom of God to which by birth 
we are rightful heirs. ~ut by offenses be- 
come st rangers and foreigners. Jesus 
sa id, "Suffer the little children to come 
unto me, and forbid them not ; for of such 
is the kingdom of God." This leads us to 
believe that hell never heard the wail of 
the infant's plaint, but Heaven is graced 
with their sweet faces. 

When Philip went to Samaria to preach 
concerning the Kingdom of God, the peo- 
ple readily gave heed, and were baptized, 
"both men and women** — no mention be- 
ing given of little children. The proper 
subjects for baptism, then, are they who 
believe and repent and are willing to 
serve the Lord God. Baptism is a post 
tive law, and must be obeyed according 
to the very letter of the law, and in the 
order given, and for the specific design 
prescribed by the Law-Giver. 

Baptism is a good work, a righteous 
work, and is the cause of salvation and 
not the effect. The divine fiat has gone 
forth: "Except a man be born of the 
water and of the Spirit he cannot enter 
the Kingdom of God." (John 3:5.) 
This is an irrevocable decree, eternal and 
unchangeable. "I am the Lord God, I 
change not." "Follow thou Me." Bap- 
tism is the initiatory ordinance, the first 
ordinance of induction into the Kingdom 
of God. It is the law of adoption, neces- 
sary and essential as a preparation for 
the seal of the Holy Ghost — the witness 
of God's acceptance of our works of right- 
eousness. In conclusion of this subject let 
us consider with diligence a few historical 
notes from eminent writers, as pertain to 
the proper subjects for baptism: Ter- 
tullian, one of the Latin fathers, says: 
"Let them become Christians when they 
can know Christ." Calvin admits that 
baptism is not properly administered un- 
less it is preceded by faith. Dr. Neander. 
another German historian, remarks: "It 
is certain that Christ did not ordain in- 
fant baptism." Martin Luther, the leader 
in the Reformation, and the father of all 
Protestant churches, says : "It cannot be 
proved by the Scriptures that infant bap- 
tism was instituted by Christ, or begun bv 
the first Christians after the Apostles." 

The words of the poet upon the subject 
of baptism are beautiful and worth our 
careful perusal: 

Behold the Lamb of God, 

In His divine array. 
Go down Into the flood 

His Father to obey-* 



In Jordan's stream to be baptised, 
Though by a carnal world despised. 

Can we pretend to know 
More fully God's design? 
Can we pretend to show 
A conduct more divine? 
Can we neglect this ordinance 
Without an insult to our Prince? 
(To be continued.) 

The Queen of Saxony is of a most 

Ehilanthropic and charitable nature. In 
er youth her zeal far exceeded her 
knowledge, but was never abated. In- 
deed, she was often in the habit of 
visiting the poor, under the guise of the 
Countess of X, in order to come in 
closer contact with their misery and 
want. Many laughable mistakes re- 
sulted, and at one time she even equalled 
Marie Antoinette's famous remark about 
cake as a substitute for bread, when the 
latter was not obtainable. It happened 
that the "Countess," entering unexpect- 
edly upon one of her favorites, who felt 
the pinch of poverty in its most acute 
form, found the good woman's little boy 
in tears over a swollen cheek. "What 
ails the child?" inquired she. "Nothing 
much." replied the mother unconcerned- 
ly; "he was naughty, so I boxed his 
ears." "Ah, you should never strike a 
ch.id," said the sympathetic "Countess. : ' 
"Next time you ought to punish him by 
depriving him of his dessert."— Ex- 
change. 

A Joyful Time. 

BY ELDER EDWARD 8AMUEL80N. 

The Saints and friends of the Heber 
branch desired to celebrate the 24th 
of July as "Pioneer Day." Therefore in- 
vitations were extended to several of the 
Elders (in near counties) to attend. The 
grounds and bowery having been pre- 
pared, all was in readiness when the 
people began to assemble at 10 a. m. 
Forty minutes later the meeting began 
and an excellent programme was ren- 
dered, commencing with Elder Edward 
Samuelson giving an explanation of why 
the Latter-day Saints celebrate the an- 
niversary of the pioneers entering Salt 
Lake valley. Singing by the congrega- 
tion, "Gladly Meeting." Prayer by the 
chaplain, Elder R. E. Skinner. During 
the. programme, several pieces of music 
were beautifully rendered by the Wal- 
thington Brothers' string band. Shore 
sketches of Church history were deliv- 
ered by several of the Elders, showing 
the circumstances under which the Lat- 
ter-day Prophet made his advent, the 
rise of the Church, and its steady 
growth and progress during the 
severe drivings until entering Salt Lake 
valley, also the hardships of the first few 
years and the condition and the circum- 
stances that now exist in Utah, educa- 
tionally and financially, as well as spirit- 
ually. Very pointedly was it shown that 
the Latter-day Saints are loyal to the 
Stars and Stripes by referring to the 
rame gained by the Utah batteries in 
the Philippine Islands. Although the 
Mormon Elders are persecuted from place 
to place in this boasted "land of liberty," 
still those same Elders are willing to 
don the uniform of Uncle Sam and de>- 
fend the rights of the American Chris- 
tian ministers in China. Several songs 
and recitations were rendered by mem- 
bers of the branch and also by some of 
the Elders, after which six of the young 
ladies and their assistants commenced to 
spread on the table roasted chicken, pies 
and cakes, etc., which had been prepared 
by the kind ladies of the branch: then 
it was evident that all were willing to 
"work," or at least to partake of those 
things which we should take to sustain 
the "inner man." While some were pre- 
paring the ice cream and lemonade, the 
rest were enjoying themselves, making 
or listening to "stump speeches," recita- 
tions, etc. 

So ended one of the most joyful days 
ever spent by the Saints of the Heber 
branch. After a short rest, many of 
the Saints and friends met at the home 
of Brother Hopkins to listen to the El- 
ders preach. From the beginning of the 



meeting it was evident that the spirit of 
God was with us. as the Elders flU bow 
a strong and faithful testimony to ttar 
truthfulness of the Latter-day wMfc. 8a 
abundantly were we blest with the 'Holy 
Spirit that the gift of* tongues was en- 
joyed, which was a warning for the 
SKwle to prepare for the judgments of 
od that were soon to come? upon this 
land. All seemed to realise their -posi- 
tion and felt very humble, many being 
melted to tears. We hope the celebration 
did some good in allayinjr prejudice, as 
many were there who otherwise would 
not have come. Those who attended the 
meeting went away with a new deter- 
mination to serve the Lord more in the 
future than they have in the past. 

Abstracts From Correspondence 

We are just in receipt of an apprecia 
tive letter from Mr. W. C. Bose, of Dai- 
las, S. C. Mr. Rose is not a member of 
the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day 
Saints, but is numbered among the. few 
broad-minded of the earth who are will- 
ing to investigate our claims, and do as 
Paul says, "Prove all things; hold fast 
that which is good." He is a close and 
studious reader of the. Star, and here is 
what he says concerning the same— his 
words of appreciation being commenda- 
ble, and his ewample worthy of emula- 
tion: "You will please find inclosed, One 
Dollar ($1) to pay for the renewal of 
my subscription to that valuable little 
paper— the Southern Star. I am not a 
member of any church, but I am a 
friend to the so-called Mormons, and I 
like to read their literature, for I can 
gain more light from it than any other 
missionary work that I have ever read." 

Releases and Appointments. 

Releases. 

A. J. Stoddard, North Ohio Confer- 
ence. 

George Davis, North Alabama Confer- 
ence. 

W. O. Phelps, Louisiana Conference. 

F. L. Osborn, North Alabama Confer- 
ence. 

George A. Mitchell, Bast Kentucky 
Conference. 

W. H. Boyle, South Alabama Confer- 
ence. 

Facts About China, 

Ancestral worship is said to cost China 
$151,752,000 yearly. 

The historical works of the Chinese 
cover mythological periods of from 45,000 
to 500,000 years. 

China's coal measures are twenty times 
more extensive than those of Great Brit- 
ain. 

The Chinese are gardeners, rather than 
farmers, and every kind of fertiliser is 
used, including the hair from the barber's 
razor. 

Jesuit missionaries surveyed China in 
1708-18, but the people have wild ideas 
of any localities except their own imme- 
diate one. 

To the average Chinaman the world is 
a synonym for China. He calls his coun- 
try "THen Hsia," all beneath the sky, 
and "Ssu Hai," all between the four seas. 

No people attach such importance to 
their education, such as it is. The grada- 
tion of society are, in their order, scholar, 
farmer, mechanic, tradesman and soldier. 

The Americas and Africa are entirely 
omitted on most Chinese maps, and Eng- 
land, Holland and Portuguese Goa, Luco- 
nia, Bokhara, Germany, France and In- 
dia are arranged on the western side from 
north to south, in a series of islands and 
headlands. Russia significantly occupies 
the whole north, and Slam, Java and Ja- 
pan the south and east 



292 



THB SOUTHERN STAR. 




fttftttat WMfclf If tastbtri States «1mI«i Ciarth 

•f Jstat Clrttt tTUttor Day Satatt, 

CtstUastfi, Tsaa. 



Tsras tf Svbasrlttlsa 
(la * 



Ptryttr . . $1.00 

Six asatas . .50 

Taraa atitbt .25 
Slat It Capita, • Caata. 



Subscribers removing- from' one place to another, 
and dedriaff papers chanced, should always give 
former as well as present address, by postal card or 



JMfcrwf at the Post OMceat Chattanooga, Tarn., as 
second dam matter. 



Correspondence from all parts of the missionary 
field is solicited. Give name and address, or articles 
will be rejected. Write on one side of paper only 
when sent for publication. We reserve the right to 
either eliminate or reject any communication sent in. 
Address Box 109 



Satubday, August 11, 1900. 
ARTICLES OF FAITH 

QimfB CHURCH OP JESUS CHRI5T OP 
LATTER-DAY SAINTS. 

L 1btoHmia<Mtl»ntoadFttew,urfleBb8oe 
Jem CM*, m« la tat Holy Oho*. 

t. W« adWv* tatt awa vill b« paaatod forth* ova 
rist.wd.Mt Tor Adtat trtMfTwtioa. 

1 W« *•)]•*• ti^taiovg* tat •toaMMattfOhrfcl.-alt 
awakiai any Is anrei, fcy obtditMt tt tat hvt and ontt. 

■umif thmOmmtL 




We b+lnjTt th»l i min matt Kb »M of God, by 
" prtfi#CT t *nd bj |h« lijrlnf cm of b*n4L," by tbov* who in 
la MlborilT, La pntrb lb* ftap«l mud nJmiQi*t4f 1b Lb* ftfdi- 



■ tbertcf. 
W* tal*** im the* 



a of point Eon tbtl tliitad 4 



tbi tmnhiife cbsreb — n»a*ljF, ApattJvi, Propbmu, t'ttton, 
Tcvabcr*. Etf&fvllita, «k. 

■7. Wf b*li*f s hi tbi gift of tange m. prophecy r* vtltttob, 
*lltaa*, b*llJng. JatarpnliLioa of taQfttr*. «tt 

•l Wf b*]i*f • tbt Bt bio to b* th p word of Ood, at fir Is It 
It trtntltUMl eometlj ; «* also si lit*# tb« Book of Mormon 
to ba tht woTd of Ood, 

I. W« belies ttl LbiL God bit rwtvilad, ill tiit ff« daw 
B*# twtml, iqd vi bttift** Lb it U« will T+t r*f«J tntaj m*l 
ind IneortlLtit tiiinp ptrliibini t* rh* Kingdom »T Mod, 
W. Wo belt*** la Lbt litoriifi ibui n ( af l ?f ,t | isd | D ti* 



I of the Ton Trjbot ; Lblt ZioO will b« hntll epos 
tbli (lb* AiMrkinl continent ; thiL CTbritl will t+l t u pcrtag. 
oily ipoo tb# «ftb, ibo Ui#i tb« **rih trill bo r*nt*td ibd 
tfoolTt it* pindJiiJCi] t,)otj. 

II. W» djJm Ibo pririktp of wr>nllpJn( AlfflFffctj God 
BeOordJOI IO tbi dlcLitH of our eoo*d*nc«, lod i]|o* lit 
•» I** **aw prlrf Itn, hi tb*i& nnbjp boo-, what*, 01 vbti 

ll "jfctattf* b briastesjest tt Mao, sttridtetaraltn, 
sadsosditntttt bWmtko^ntUrj^intlukw: 

It ,•¥• WBtotfa Ms* bttott, Itm, tSMtt, uUvolort, 
olrtetafcsadiadoiastMd^sNsMs; iadoedVvtawytir 
t^VwoloUow tat tdaoaHlee tf Ftel* • WtkttttVt iiJ l-W 



W&M'aB&L' 



WHAT IS HBATHBNI9MT 



Under the above caption there appears 
in the Christian Observer of Aug. 1st. 
an article written by Rev. R. B. Mc Al- 
pine. The article for the most part is 
good, and that which is good meets our 
approval and indorsement; but Rev. Mc- 
Alpine, like many of his colleagues, 
must make an attack upon Mormonism, 
before his article could be complete for 
a Christian journal. Here is what the 
learned divine says: "And when we set; 
how 'Christian Science' and Mormonism 
are spreading abroad, and even such a 
transparent money-loving fraud as 'Doc- 
tor* Dowie can gull the public, can we 
deny that superstition is abundant in our 
home land?" We shall leave the "Chris- 
tian Science," and "Doctor" Dowie fac- 
tions to appear in their own defense, 
and simply treat upon that which most 
vitally concerns us as a people. 

The reverend gentleman defines super- 
stition as a branch of heathenism, and 
then indirectly accuses the "Mormon" 
people, so-called, of being superstitious. 



hence as a logical sequence of his asser- 
tions: Mormonism is Heathenism. This 
in not strange or new, for we are well 
« ware of this fact, that our good Chris- 
tian friends have been toiling for the last 
seventy years to prove Mormonism heter- 
odox, but all in vain. Assertions have 
been made, it is true, but when brought 
to the touchstone of truth they have 
dwindled away into oblivion. It is the 
truth we want, and the truth we must 
have, if we would be made free from 
the entanglements of sin. "The truth 
shall make you free." 

We agree with the gentleman when he 
declares that heathenism is not limited, 
to so-called heathen lands, but that she 
stretches her scrawny fingers over the 
dominion of our own fair Republic. If 
the worthy preacher would only study 
the travels and wanderings of the Mor- 
mon people from the east tp the far west 
of our home land; how that they ha*e 
been scourged and flogged, whipped and 
imprisoned, driven and slain, for the 
cause of truth! Yes, if he would only 
give the trials of this people a fair and 
impartial investigation, we are fully as- 
sured that he could not fail to recognize 
in their persecutors and tormentors the 
very essence of barbarism, heathenism, 
and Paganism. Was it because they 
were superstitious, as the Reverend al- 
leges they are? No, for from it. If 
there is one tenet in the Mormon faith 
which calls for a superstitious accept- 
ance, we have not yet discovered the 
mite, and we would invite our good broth- 
er to dust his dogmatic spectacles, and 
gaze upon the religion of this "peculiar" 
people in search of the same. On the 
other hand, the leaders and shining lights 
of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter- 
day Saints have constantly exhorted the 
people to rid . themselves of superstition; 
to root out the vain traditions of men, 
and seek the guidance of God's Holy 
Spirit. 

True, Mormonism is spreading abroad: 
but with the sword of truth — the word 
of Ood — she intends to smite the chains 
of error, tradition and superstition which 
bind the sons- of men in ignorance, and 
spiritual darkness. Her mission is one 
of peace; her message one of good will, 
and her labor one of love. She calls 
upon all to investigate her claims, and 
submit themselves to God's holy will 
with a repentant heart, and a believing 
mind. Her declarations are bold, but 
her fortress is strong, for it stands upon 
the Rock of Revelation — the foundation 
of all righteousness and truth. She has 
withstood the wicked assaults of the un- 
godly for seventy years: she has stemmed 
the torrent of vile abuse, and braved the 
storms of fierce persecution, and today 
she sails on and on. weathering the gale — 
her destination being the shores of 
eternal bliss. Let the gloomy shadows of 
superstition, heresy, and unholy tradi- 
tion give way, that the rays of living 
light divine may shine out in perfect 
brightness, and everlasting splendor, un- 
til the earth is full of the glory of God, 
and the will of God is done on earth, as 
it is now done in Heaven. 



PERILOUS TIMES. 



Paul, the great Apostle to the Gentiles, 
in writing to the beloved Timothy, uses 
these nronhetic words: "This Jcnotc also, 
that in the last dau* perilous times shall 
comer (II Tim. 3:1.) 

In scanning the news of the day, one 
cannot fail to be forcibly impressed that 
the very "times" spoken of by the Apostle 
Paul are at hand, and that we are even 
now passing through these "perilous" 
scenes. 



In the far East the black war clouds 
are gathering thick, soon to burst forth 
in terrific fury, and cause a torrent of 
human blood to flow. "On to Pekin," 
seems to be the universal shibboleth of 
the civilized nations of the earth, and the 
"powers that be" stand ready to avenge 
their countrymen's lives, and assert upon 
the gory battlefield that religious liberty 
and freedom shall prevail in heathen 
China. 

We read, also, that King Humbert, of 
Italy, has been cruelly assassinated by 
a ruthless fiend; that a murderous at- 
tack was made upon the Shah of Persia, 
who barely escaped the villain's thrust; 
and that the Czar of Russia has been in- 
formed that he is the next victim in the 
assassin's bloody catalogue. With these 
things before us can any one deny that 
we are now living in perilous times t 
Dare any one assert that in this present 
age we have an era of peace, harmony 
and good will? 

Instead of peace, harmony and good 
will, we have strife and contention, ava- 
rice and deception, hatred and malice, 
envy and murder, war and desolation. 
These are manifest in "perilous times"— 
the times that try the very souls of men. 
The hour of God's judgment has come, 
and it behooves each and every one to 
stand firm in their integrity to do the 
right and let the consequence follow. 



OPPRESSIVE AND UlfJUST TREAT- 
MENT. 



The clippings here given below are 
taken from The Chattanooga Times of 
July 30th, August 1st, and August Oth, 
respectively : 

Ducktown, Tenn., July 29.— (Special.)— 
The people of Shoal Creez. Cherokee coun- 
ty, North Carolina, six miles east of this 
place, are in open rebellion against a class 
or sect that professes and preaches sanctlfi- 
catlon or the second blessing. One hundred 
and ten of the citizens of that community 
met yesterday at this church, demolished 
It, and burnt it np. Rev. Gay Bryant, a 
Methodist minister, preached a sermon to 
the excited and Infuriated crowd, while 
the building was burning. It appears that 
some three years ago, that this doctrine 
of sanctiflcation was brought to this com- 
munity, and within a short time, it had 
a considerable following, and they erected a 
church In which to worship, as the other de- 
nominations refused them the use of their 
churches. 

The teaching and preaching of such a 
doctrine created a great deal of excitement 
and confusion. They soon began to teach 
baptism of fire, the holy dance, the dyna- 
mite, the llddvte, the exlte, the sellte .and 
many other things never heard of before. 
They claimed that Ood had revealed things 
to them In various ways, such. as total ab- 
stai nance of coffee, meats, medicines, etc. 
About ten days ago the son of Andy Bry- 
ant, who is one of the members of this 
church, was taken down sick with typhoid 
fever, and Drs. Klnsey and Past el le, of this 

Slace, were called to treat him. Henry 
oblnson, Pink Berrang and other leaders 
of this church went to the home of Mr. 
Bryant and Induced the young man to take 
no more medicine, and to destroy the med- 
icine that he had in his possession, claiming 
that they could cure him by "laying on of 
the hands," and they worked and prayed 
with the young man over night. In a few 
days the people and neighbors began to 
realize that Pink Berrang was becoming 
insane. 

They arrested Berrang and took him to 
Murphy, N. C, where he was adjudged in- 
sane by the proper authorities and is now 
confined In the Jail at Murphy. Young Bry- 
ant grew gradually worse and received no 
medical attention for ten days. All this 
aroused the indignation of the cltlsens. so 
on last Friday P. E. Neelson, Rev. Gay 
requested all the people to meet them at 
this church on yesterday morning, for the 
purpose of destroying it. About 110 people 
met them there, and of this number six re- 
fused to assist in destroying the church, 
claiming that every man had a right to 
worship God according to the dictates of 
his own conscience, and that no one had a 
right to destroy his property or put him in 
fear. The other 106 rased and burned the 
church, and Rev. G. Bryant delivered a 
sermon while the building was burning. 



THE SOUTHERN STAB. 



283 



They pasted . a resolution notifying the 
members of this church not to build another 
church anywhere in ' that county. 

Great excitement prevails throughout that 
county. 

Columbus, O.. July SI.— Last night a mob 
stormed a residence in Mansfield, where 
Zionist Eiders were holding services, and 
captured the Elders. 

Two of them— A, McFarland and G. Ste- 
venson, of Chicago— promised to leave the 
city and were released. The others, C. P. 
Fisher and A. W. McClurkln, of Chicago, 
refused to make such a promise, and the 
mob, after stripping them of their clothing, 
painted their bodies with ultra marine and 
paraded them through the streets. 

Today John Alexander Dowie, head of 
the Zionists, telegraphed Gov. Nash from 
, Montague, Mich., asking for protection for 
the Elders at Mansfield. 

The Governor communicated with the 
Sheriff of Richmond county, who replied 
that the Elders had left and everything 
was quiet. 

Mansfield. O., Aug. 6.— Overseer John Pi- 
per and Eiders E. P. Fisher, A. W. Mc- 
Clurkin and A. McFarland, of Dowie's 
Christian Catholic Church. arrived here 
this morning at 6:35, as scheduled. A mob 
of over 2.600 was in waiting. 

The policemen refused to allow them to 
get out of the car, and amid cheers and 
shouts they went on to Ashland, fourteen 
miles east. There they attempted to hire 
a carriage to drive here, but aH the livery- 
men refused their requests. 

They telegeraphed back at noon that they 
would be here again at 230, and they cfme. 
Nearly 4,000 peopel were at the depot, and 
again they were not permitted to leave the 
car. They then said: 

" x JL we can,t * et off nere w * will go on 
.to Chicago, but we cannot promise that 
we will not be back here next Sunday." 

The city is quiet again for a while. 

These things go to prove that the Chi- 
nese Boxers have some very bigoted 
rivals npon this land of professed relig- 
ious freedom, where the Flower of Lib- 
erty is supposed to bloom in rich abund- 
ance, and every son enjoy its sweet per- 
fume, and bask in its delightsome fra 
grance. The patriots' loyal blood was 
made to flow because of fealty to the 
cause of freedom, and yet we find such 
inhuman and ungodly atrocities perpetrat- 
ed upon the very soil their life's blood 
defended. Such heathenish acts as 
these, committed in an avowed Christian 
land of liberty, consummated by a pro- 
fessed religious people* outclasses the 
cruelty of the heathen, and totally 
eclipses the barbarism of the idolatrous 
savage; because we have been given light, 
knowledge, and understanding, while the 
untamed barbarian is destitute of these 
gifts of enlightenment and civilization; 
hence "where much is given, much is re- 
quired/' therefore the citizens of this 
blest land will be called upon to make 
a better showing, to exhibit more fer- 
vent love, than the denizens of Africa, 
or the heathen Chinee. 

We have a land full of Bibles, and 
there is no need for us to resort to the 
inhuman practices of those poor creatures 
whose souls have never been enlightened 
with the rays of civilization. Where the 
people are devoid of intelligence so far as 
culture and refinement are concerned; 
where the light of man's duty to his fel- 
low-man has never shed its brightness, 
we may look for brute force in opposi- 
tion to religious differences; but in this 
favored land above all other lands under 
the sun's vast circuit, let us not degrade 
ourselves by indulging in such brutish, 
merciless acts as those recorded in the 
above clippings. 

"Wisdom is better than weapons of 
war." The Lord offers wisdom unto all 
who call upon Him in faith. If we are 
Christians let us so live and act as Christ 
has commanded, "Love your enemies. 
Return good for evil. Bless and curse 
not. Pray for those who despitefully 
use you." These are a few of the duties 
enjoined upon Christians by the Captain 
of our salvation— Jesus. If you do not 
consent to the teachings of Christ, and 



follow in His steps, then throw aside 
your hypocritical guise of Christianity, 
discard the cloak of religion and cease 
to try and deceive God and your fellow- 
man. 

We do not believe, as the "Sanctifica- 
tionists" do; we do not believe as the 
Chicago Zionists do; but we do believe 
in law, order, justice, and equity. 

Let the law take its course, and then 
all is well; but allow Judge Mobocrat to 
prevail, and the whole land will reek 
with the blood of all who oppose his 
ruthless violence, and unjust measures. 



A TESTIMONY. 



(The following testimony of the truth 
fulness of the Gospel, and the power Of 
God, came unsolicited from Sister Domey 
C. Ross, of Radford, Montgomery county, 
Virginia.-Ed.) 

Please allow me npace in the columns 
of your paper to bear my testimony to 
the truthfulness of the Gospel of Jesus 
Christ. I have been a member of the 
Church of Jesus Christ for over twenty- 
nine months, and I can truthfully say 
that -I have seen the power of God made 
manifest in my behalf. In June, 1899, 
a very painful accident befell me. My 
face and eyes were severely scalded with 
boiling coffee, and for four days I was 
so injured that I could hardly see. I 
could not rest, but was in agony and 
pain. 

Elder Charles T. Furrow came and 
administered to me, and in one hour 
from the time of his administration, the 
acute pain left me, and I was able to 
sleep and rest, which was indeed a relief 
to me, for I had not been able to do either 
for four days past. My neighbors said. 
"Send for a doctor," but I did not want 
human aid, it was divine power that I 
rested upon for assistance. I remembered 
how that Jesus had said, "These signs 
shall follow them that believe. * * * 
They shall lay hands on the sick, and 
they shall recover." I also kept in mind 
Ihe injunction given by James, "Call for 
the Elders of the Church." I had done 
so, and by the prayer of faith, through 
the power of God, I had received the 
promised blessing. 

Should any have occasion to doubt my 
word, there are something like fifty per- 
sons here who can testify to my veracity. 
They are not all members of the so- 
called Mormon Church, but are uninter- 
ested witnesses. 

I thank God that He has sent the 
"Fishers and Hunters" with the ever- 
lasting Gospel, and that He gave me the 
spirit of investigation, for so many seem 
careless and indifferent to this good word 
of salvation. I know that, in the Church 
of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 
that the signs promised by Jesus do fol- 
low the true believers. (Mark 16:16), and 
I am not ashamed to own the same be- 
fore all men, and decelare it unto the 
very ends of the earth if need be. 



Oregan, Washington, Idaho, Montana. 

The Union Pacific railroad is the short 
line to Idaho, Montana, Oregon and 
Washington, consequently it will cost pas- 
sengers less money by this route. Ask 
your nearest ticket agent for tickets via 
Union Pacific from Omaha or Kansas 
City. For full particulars, maps and pam- 
phlets of territory reached via the Union 
Pacific, address J. F. Aglar, General 
Agent, St. Louis, Mo. 



"Can you give a first-class polish to a 
pair of shoes?" 

"Shud say so. boss. Why, when Ah 
polish a ge'man's shoes de ladies glance 
down at his feet to see if deh hats am on 
straight" 



THE MORMON GOD. 

Under the above head, there appeared In 
the Charlotte News of North Carolina, July 
31. 1900, the following article penned by one 
of our Elders in reply to a tirade of abuse 



on "the Mormon God." written b> a Rev. 
Mr. Belk. We are pleasd.to note the fair- 
ness and generosity of the News in giving 
the Elder an opportunity to defend his be- 
lief and that of the Mormon people. Other 
journals would do well to follow the good 
example of the Charlotte News.— Ed. 

Editor Charlotte News: 

I find in your issues of the 13th and 
21st of July, a diatribe written by a 
reverend gentleman named Belk. If you 
would kindly give me snace for an an- 
swer, it would be appreciated and I will 
gladly avail myself of the opportunity 
in defense of that denounced system, 
"Mor monism." 

The fact is that the "Mormon Elder" 
travels through the states of this free 
government, laboring like the apostles 
and disciples of old, "without purse and 
scrip," offering salvation without money 
and without price, and the reverend di- 
vines of the day preach "for hire and 
divine for money. Fearful lest they 
might lose their prestige and converts, 
they villianously attack a pure system of 
religion of which they are in ignorance. 

The two articles referred to above, are 
mainly an attack on the "God of Israel." 
Mr. Belk calls Him "the Mormon God" 
and says that He is a tangible being like 
a man and declares such to be the doc- 
trine of the "heathen Chinese." Know- 
ing that Mr. Belk is ignorant of the God 
of Israel with His attributes, I will re- 
fer him to "the word of God," the "law 
and testimony," to find out what kind 
of a being He was thousands of years 
ago, and as He is unchangeable, of course 
He will be the same today; I will then 
describe the being Mr. Belk worships 
and the reader can decide who are the 
"heathen." 

The God of the Bible could walk, talk, 
see, hear, feel, taste and smell— in fact, 
He had all the attributes of man, only 
in a more perfect way. He walked with 
Adam in the garden; walked, talked and 
partook of food with Abraham on the 
plains of Mam re; wrestled with Jacob; 
conversed with Moses in the burning 
bush, and talked with him as one man 
speaks with his friend; was seen by Mo- 
ses. Aaron, Nadab and Abihu sitting on 
a sapphire throne; afterwards was seen 
by Isaiah, who described His glorious ap- 
pearance; and when Stephen was stoned 
to death He was seen on the left hand 
of the Son of God, who is described as 
the EXPRESS IMAGE and brightness of 
His glory. 

The God of the Bible Is in every way 
an exalted being, and the Bible speaks 
of Him as being in the likeness of man. 

It says: "Let us make man in our 
own image," and in the image of God man 
was made. We must conclude, then, 
that God, our Father, who sits on His 
throne with His Son Jesus, is an exalted 
being, patterned in the likeness and after 
the image of man, as man was made in 
His likeness and image, much like the 
appearance of His Son Jesus, our Elder 
Brother, who was declared to be the ex- 
press image of His Father. When Philip 
wanted to see the Father, Jesus said: 
"He that hath seen me hath seen th» 
Father," which all would imply that God 
the Eternal is like His Son Jesus. The 
Son Jesus was in every way like unto 
man in appearance and traveled about 
as the "son of Joseph, the carpenter," 
in the valleys of Judea. 

The "Mormons" accept this God of the 
Bible, as described in "Holy Writ" as 
their God, and worship the Father of 
the spirits of all flesh. They claim to be 
His offspring and to have the right to 
address Him as "Our Father who art in 
Heaven," notwithstanding the objections 
of such reverends as Mr. Belk. who 
would have us worship a nonentity, a 
heathen God, who was manufactured in 
the early part of the fourth century, 
when "paganism" intermixed with Chris- 
tianity and polluted the whole system. 
Then it was that a renowned bishop 



294 



THE SOUTHERN STAB. 



by the name of Athanasius instituted a 
creed, which has been adopted univer- 
sally by modern Christendom. From his 
theory of the Godhead sprang the first 
article of religion in the Episcopal 
church, which reads as follows: "There 
is but one living and true God, everlast- 
ing, without body, parts or passions." 
Other authorities declare God to be an 
"incorporeal" being, and it is common for 
the modern long-faced Pharisees of today, 
who pose as shining lights to guide the 
unsophisticated, such as the Rev. Belk, 
to say they have Jesus in their hearts. 
Let us consider the fallacy of such 
heathenism: Jesus, who after His res- 
urrection, was a man of immortal taber- 
nacle, having flesh and bones, who sits 
at the right nand of His Father, in His 
express image and glory, as seen by 
Stephen. Think of such materiality 
dwelling in the heart of such a small- 
souled being as Mr. Belk has proved 
himself to be. Is it not generally be- 
lieved that God is so large that He fills 
the universe and so small that He can 
dwell in man's heart? 

Mr. Belk ventures the assertion that 
"God is a spirit." I agree with him 
and go further and say that man must 
worship Him in spirit/' This does not 
mean that a man must die and become 
a spirit to worship God. All theologians 
recognize the duality of men—the blend- 
ing of spiritual essence with temporal 
substance, but generally the spirit is 
looked upon as immaterial. I have asked 
the question, "What is a spirit?" and in- 
variably the reply has been, "Spirit is 
nothing," or in other words, God is noth- 
ing, or a nonentity, without body. To 
assert the immateriality of God is not 
only to deny His personality, but His 
very existence. It is the description of 
an infinite vacuum and the only differ- 
ence between the modern Christian and 
the atheist is one of terms and not in 
fact. The latter says there is no God, 
and the former in his creed says "God 
is nothing." I say that this airy, mya- 
tical being is the God of modern Chris- 
tendom, and a "Mormon" who presumes 
to worship a tangible reality, who can 
hear, see, taste, smell and has all the 
passions with which He has blessed His 
children, are called "Heathens." 

Mr. Belk speaks falsely when he say* 
that Mormons worship more than one 
God. It is true that we believe with 
Paul that there are "Gods many and 
Lords many," and with Moses that the 
Lord our (*od is "God of Gods and Lord 
of Lords," and we believe like Daniel 
and all the Prophets in a plurality of 
Gods, but we believe in worshiping the 
Father and Creator of our spirits, the 
true and living God, who, with His Son 
and the Holy Ghost, constitute the om« 
"Godhead." 

Moses, thousands of years ago, saw 
the time when Israel would bow down to 
a senseless nonentity, such as is wor- 
shiped today, and in the 4th chapter 
of Deuteronomy, commencing at the 27th 
verse, he said that Israel would be scat- 
tered and would become so idolatrous 
that they would worship a God that 
couju not see, nor hear, nor eat, nor 
smell. 

Is not the above prophecy verily ful- 
filled today in modern Christendom? Are 
they not worshipping at the shrine of 
such a God? 

Paul says, in the last days, the people 
would not endure sound doctrine, but 
would heap up to themselves teachers, 
having itching ears, who would turn 
them away from the truth and turn them 
to fables. 

The Mormon Elders are warning them 
to keep away from these hirelings, who 
are ever learning but never come to the 
knowledge of the truth, and they simply 
ask the people to adopt the teachings of 
Jesus, as they were taught and practiced 
in Judea 1900 years ago. If the people 
will do this, they will repent and be bap- 
tized for the remission of sin and have 
hands laid upon them by one holding, au- 
thority, for the reception of the Holy 
Ghost. They will believe in the "God 
of Israel" and be led by His spirit and 



not by blind guides, and they will know 
the Lord, whom to know is life eternal. 
They thus will be born again, and be- 
come adopted sons of God. Space for- 
bids me to say more, but I would refer 
the readers to the ''word of God, the 
Bible." to support the "Mormon" in his 
belief in a tangible God. See Gen. 5:1,2. 
male and female made in the likeness of 
God; Gen. 18, the Lord ate and talked 
with Abraham; Gen. 32:30, Jacob saw 
God face to face; Exo. 15:3, the Lord 
is a man of war; Exo. 24:10, they saw 
God and did eat and drink; Exo. 33:11, 
the Lord talked with Moses as one man 
speaks with a friend, and, as before 
stated, man was created in the image of 
God. See Gen. 1:27. _ 

The above shows some of the attributes 
of the God of Abraham, Isaac and Ja- 
cob, whom the Mormons are proud to 
worship, and to whom they make their 
petitions. 

The nonentity that the world has set 
up and been worshiping so many hun- 
dreds of years does not answer prayer, 
and it is little wonder that such men 
as Bradlaugh and Ingersoll defy such a 
being, an immaterial nothing. The priests 
of Baal, on Carmel, could get no reply 
from their God and in their chagrin, cut 
themselves with knives; they were wor- 
shiping a myth, a nonentity; Elijah's 
God responded to his prayer, he wor- 
shiped the tangible reality, the material 
God of Israel, and the priests of Baal 
were compelled to acknowledge His su- 
premacy. 

The day will come when Mr. Belk and 
others of his divine order, who have 
gained their seminary idea of the God- 
head through the perverted Athanasius 
channel, will forsake such paganism and 
worship "the true and living God." 



A MINISTER'S DEFENSE. 

BY ELDER S. H. POTHEBINGHAM. 

We are sorry to say that some of the re- 
ligious hirelings are still pursuing their 
wicked course, and are hiding their 
meanness behind the cloak of religion. 
Still, the deception can easily be detect- 
ed by the true servant of God, or a 
truth seeking people. Strange it is that 
intelligent people in this fair land of 
ours will take such a delight in slander- 
ing and abusing the servants of God. 
Intolerance and persecution seem to fur- 
nish sufficient evidence to the narrow- 
minded and ignorant as proof that the 
Mormons are wrong, but a more stub- 
born or erroneous opposition never could 
be resorted to. 

All kinds of resistance and rehashed 
fables, too old to keep, are quite fre- 
quently resurrected, with the necessary 
changes and additions, calculated to de- 
ceive the people. They have been quite 
successful in poisoning the minds of man- 
kind. Many of the Elders have been 
brutally treated at the hands of hard- 
hearted Christians (?). The campaign 
is usually conducted or led by a minister 
falsely called a servant of Christ. A 
few days ago myself and companion met 
a learned "divine" of Patrick county. 
The eminent gentleman (?) informed us 
that he knew all about Mormonism and 
was .very familiar with our teachings. 
He called our attention to the fact that 
he himself was well posted. We com- 
menced what we thought would end in a 
friendly talk, but to our great surprise, 
he arose with trembling voice, and with- 
out cause or provocation he pulled from 
his saddlebags a pistol, and in tones of 
thunder ho dononnoed us as "false 
teachers." His defense was strong, too 
strong to be refuted bv Scripture, or rea- 
son. We surrendered at once, realizing 
that his gun was all he had. Oh, ve 
ministers of modem Christendom, why 
do ye fi>ht aminst God's risrhteons pur 
poses? Why do you resist the truth «nd 
resort to such cowardly methods? Why • 



not leave your guns at the- arsenal, and 
bring along your Bible, and a better spir- 
it will doubtless prevail. 

Who ever heanj of God's servants de- 
fending the Gosper with a "six shooter," 
instead of our reverend brother being 
equipped with the armor of God, and be- 
ing influenced by the spirit of truth, he 
was led by another spirit, or spirits. 

While in the act of drawing his gun 
from the saddlebags, I informed him 
that the New Testament was our only 
weapon; and the only one we had any 
use for. To this he had little to say. 
His eyes sparkled with anger. We said 
no more to him, as a word from us would 
only rekindle the fire of hatred that our 
friend (?) seemed to possess. 

We bade him good day and went oa 
our way rejoicing, willing that a just 
God should judge between us and him. 
We believe the Lord will come, to our 
rescue and bear us qut triumphant over 
those that oppress us. We have no de- 
sire to force our teachings on the people, 
but we do protest for our rights. We 
demand the rights of American citizens. 
We are loyal to our country, so are we 
loyal to our God, and will ever be found 
with devoted efforts, zeal and vigor, 
faith and works, to promote a cause that 
is noble and elevating, and a cause that 
we are proud to proclaim. 

Now we ask the people, in all humility, 
to be careful as to what ye do to thes«* 
men, that claim to be the servants of 
God. Put them forth a little pace, inves- 
tigate their teaching*, listen to the woi;ds 
of Gamaliel (Acts 5:38-39). and now I 
say unto you, refrain from these men, 
and let them alone; for if this council or 
this work be of men it will come to 
naught, but if it be of God, ye cannot 
overthrow it lest haply ye be found fight- 
ing against God. 

Gfve us a fair and impartial trial. Give 
us a hearing, for we testify that this Is 
God's work and cannot be overthrown. 
Tt will cau»e the wicked to revile and the 
righteous to rejoice. 



Utah Boyi at West Point 

Once more have sons of Utah demon- 
strated their ability to hold their own 
with the brightest young minds of the 
nation in crucial tests for high honors. 
Edward D. Le Compte. of Park City, 
and Rupert A. Dunford, of Salt Lake, 
who, last June, in this city, scored the 
highest in the preliminary examination 
for appointment to cadetships v at * the 
military academy at West Point, have 
successfully passed the recent final ex- 
aminations at the academy. 

In a special dispatch to ari Eastern 
naper last Tuesday appear the names of 
Le Oomte and dunford among the eighty- 
three successful candidates. Seventy- 
five of the applicants were disqualified. 
Several were appointed from the country 
at large, and Utah is one of the few 
States whose two candidates won their 
spurs. 

Altogether the boys from the West did 
extremely well in the final entrance for 
examinations for nlace at Uncle Sam's 
military school. Besides the names of 
the Utah lads there a^e mentioned in the 
triumphant list Otto L. Brunzell, of Ida- 
ho; Fred A. Garges, of Nevada; Stanley 
Koch, of Montana: Torres R. Maghee. 
of Wyominsr. and James R. Walker, of 
Colorado.— Salt Lake Herald. 

Summer Excursions, Colorado, Utah. 

The tfnion Pacific railroad will place 
in effect on August 7th and zlst, 
1900, summer excursion rates of one fare 
for the round trip, plus $2, from Mis- 
souri river to Denver, Colorado Springs, 
Pueblo, Ogden and Salt Lake. Tickets 
good for return until October 31st. For 
full particulars address J. F. Aglar, Gen- 
eral Afent, St fcouto, Mo. 



tttfc sototfritofeN s#Ak 



THE CHURCH. 

BY APOSTLE MATHIAS F. COWLEY. 
(Continued from page 288.) 

God has founded, protected - and is 
perpetuating HiB TJhurch in the 
earth, . sa ' that tflgn 4 the ; Prophet 
passed to. the *ttfe beyond, the 
work continued and grew with great ra- 
pidity. It is said, "The blood of the mar- 
tyr is the seed of the Church." President 
Brigham Young and his associates of the 
Twelve, according to the voice of the 
Spirit and the order of the Holy Priest- 
hood, succeeded to the Presidency of the 
Church. The work of the Lord continued 
to prosper, contrary to the prediction of 
its enemies that when the Prophet Jo- 
seph was but of the way the work would 
come to naught. The foundation of a 
temple had been laid, and this was 
pushed to completion, dedicated to the 
Lord and ordinances performed therein. 
Mobocratic hostilities were renewed, 
however, with determined vigor. Nau- 
voo was besieged. The temple was 
burned. Elder William Anderson and 
hi* son were killed, and the Saints ex- 
pelled at the point of the bayonet. They 
had built up a flourishing city in an in- 
credibly short time, were quiet, peacea- 
ble, . law-abiding, industrious citizen*. 
The killing ofc their loading men, burning 
of their homes, the numerous indignities 
heaped upon them was as dastardly and 
cold-blooded as any persecution chroni- 
cled in the annals of history, especially 
when wa consider that it occurred in a 
free country, where freedom to every 
race and religion is the proud boast or 
its people. Many of the people left Nau- 
voo in the dead of winter, 1845-6, cross- 
ing the Mississippi river on the ice. The 
day after the general exodus nine chil- 
dren were born in the camp of the ex* 
iled people. Under the leadership of 
President Young and his associates they 
moved westward across the State of 
Iowa and built up a settlement called 
Winter Quarters, where the people re- 
mained to recruit until 1847. While there 
the government called on the Saints for 
500 men to engage in the war with Mex« 
ico. They were promptly supplied, and 
the most able-bodied men were sent to 
defend their country. 

In the spring of 1847 President Toung 
and a small company, numbering 143, in- 
cluding three women, started from the 
Missouri river to find beyond the Rocky 
mountains a place of rest, where they 
might build and inhabit; and worship 
God "free from the furious rage of 
mobs." After an interesting and trying 
journey of about three months this noble 
band of patriots entered Salt Lake Val- 
ley July 24th, 1847, o?er 1,000 miles from 
the Missouri river. As they emerged 
from the mouth of what was afterwards 
named Emigration Canyon, they stood 
upon a plateau facing westward, 
and to the north and south a 
great valley extended, bordered on 
the west by mountains and a 
great inland sea of salt water, which ts 
the Great Salt Lake. The islands in the 
lake are mountains, almost destitute of 
timber, but supplied with grass suitable 
for the grazing of horses and cattle. The 
valley was poorly watered, and dry steril- 
ity was the appearance of the country 
before them; but God was their leader, 
and He had shown to President Young 
beforehand the Salt Lake Valley. When 
they entered the valley the Prophet said, 
"This 1s the place. Here we will build 
ft dtyi" When they came upon the 
ground where the temple now stands 
President Young, thrusting his cane into 
the ground, said in substance, "Here w«j 



will stay, and upon this ground we will 
build a temple." All the events conduc- 
ing to the growth and development of the! 
Valleys prove that President Brigham 
Young knew whereof he spoke, and Goa, 
has confirmed his words by the many* 
blessings of Divine Providence show-) 
ered upon the people in building up al 
commonwealth in what was in those 
days a great barren waste. The! 
soil upon which they then stood belonged 
to Mexico. These pioneers were as truly 
exiles from their country as the Puritans 
who ploughed the trackless ocean and 
planted their feet upon Plymouth Rock. 
And yet the Latter-day Saints had now 
500 men in the American army, in tne 
contest with Mexico. Upon a prominent 
mountain peak, called Ensign, these 
pioneers planted the Stars and Stripes, 
the flag of their country, and possessed 
the land as citizens of the United States. 
Upon the arrival of this first company 
the work of plowing and building imme- 
diately commenced. It would take vol- 
umes to tell the history of their growth 
and progress from then till now. But 
these volumes are written both in books, 
upon the mountains, and in the valleys, 
which are an open book for the inspec- 
tion of all people. In the fall of 1847 a 
large company of Saints crossed the 
plains, led by President John Taylor and 
other prominent men. The companies con- 
tinued to pour into Salt Lake Valley and 
spread into the valleys north and south 
each year from 1847 to 1900, coming as 
Latter-day 'Saints under the regulations 
of thii Church. The ic-ading brethren had 
made covenant that they would not cease 
their energies until all the Saints who 
would remain faithful should be gath- 
ered to the place appointed. 

Before the death of the Prophet Joseph 
many had apostatized. The Saints were 
not so well established in doctrine as 
they are today, and some were led astray 
by the pretensions of prominent men who 
were disposed to leave the Church and 
follow in their own -course. The Twelve 
Apostles stood next in authority to the 
Presidency of the Church, by the order 
pointed out in the revelations of God. At 
the time when Sidney Rigdon was as- 
serting his claims to the guardianship of 
the Church, President Brigham Young 
stood up to address the Saints. A re- 
markable manifestation of God's power 
took place. President Young was trans- 
figured before the people. He appeared 
to increase in height and in the form of 
his face and body to the exact personal 
appearance of the Prophet Joseph Smith. 
When he spoke his voice was as that 
of the martyred Prophet. People 
who were present on that occa- 
sion say that had their eyes been closed 
so that they had not seen President Young 
when he arose from his seat they would 
not have believed the speaker to be other 
than the martyred Prophet, Joseph. 
Truly the mantle of Joseph had 
fallen upon Brigham, and while Joseph 
had received all the keys of the Priest- 
hood and bestowed them upon the Twelve, 
and the revelations upon which to build 
the Church of Christ, President Young 
as truly built upon those revelations dur- 
ing his entire administration. In 1849 
at Winter Quarters he was sustained as 
President of the Church by the unani- 
mous voice of the Priesthood, with Heber 
C. Kimball and Willard Richards as 
Counselors, and by the voice of the 
Church thereafter at each general con- 
ference during the remainder of his life- 
time. President Young presided over the 
Church as the Senior Apostle for thirty- 
three years, five years in connection with 
the Twelve and twenty-eight years in 



the Presidency. Soon after the settle- 
ment of the Saints in Salt Lake Valley 
other valleys were explored north and 
south, and settlements established wher- 
ever water could be obtained, as rapidly 
as the strength and numbers of the 
Saints would justify. As early as the year 
ltttR) settlements were founded and 
the Saints organized in wards, with quo- 
rums of the Priesthood from Cache Val- 
ley to St. George, a distance of over 400 
miles from north to south. Wherever 
the Saints locate in settlements of a few 
families, or more, they are organized 
with a Bishop or Counselors to preside 
over them, with Priests, Teachers and 
Deacons, as before explained, for a lo- 
cal ministry. As helps in government 
they had in those early days the Relief 
Society, to relieve the poor and afflicted. 
The society is composed of women, and 
was first organized March 17, 1843, by 
the Prophet Joseph Smith in Nauvoo. In 
1849 the first Sunday School Was estab- 
lished in the Church by Richard Bal- 
lantyne in the Fourteenth ward, Salt 
Lake City. Later, and during the ad- 
ministration of President Young, the 
Young Men and Young Ladies' Mutual 
Improvement Associations were inaugu- 
rated. Still later, by suggestion of Sister 
Aurelia Spencer Rogers, under the ad- 
ministration of President John Taylor, 
the primary associations, presided over 
and conducted by capable sisters, were es- 
tablished for the especial benefit of little 
children. All these are helps and gov* 
ernments to meet the growing require- 
ments of the Saints in matters of relig- 
ious, moral, and intellectual training and 
development. Each of these organiza- 
tions exist in every Bishop's ward, un- 
less the number of any class who prop- 
erly belong to one particular of the asso- 
ciation named are too limited to make 
the organization profitable. In such cases 
those who would take part in such asso- 
ciations are not unprovided for, because 
the Sunday school, more than any other 
association in the Church, takes in all 
ages of both sexes. Our Sunday schools 
now have a population of nearly 
121,000 pupils. Where there are 
a sufficient number of wards 
in any section of the country, 
these wards are presided over by a Pres- 
ident and two Counselors, with a High 
Council, who have certain jurisdiction 
over matters pertaining to the Church in 
this group of wards. The associations, 
Sunday schools, societies, etc., have a 
general superintendency of three, with 
aids to assist them, and this organization 
over these wards is called a Stake of 
Zion. For convenience sake, the geo- 
graphical boundaries of the Stake are 
usually the same as those of the coun- 
ty, but not always or necessarily so. 
Sometimes the population of two or three 
counties is not too great to be one 
Stake, were the settlements close 
together, or not separated by 
mountains, which render the attendance! 
of the people at Stake conferences, espe- 
cially in the winter season, very labori- 
ous, and in some instances almost Im- 
possible. We now have forty-two Stakes 
of Zion. They extend from Canada to 
Mexico. They exist in Utah, Idaho, Ari- 
zona, Wyoming, Colorado, Canada and 
Mexico. Many of them were organized 
just prior to the decease of Presidenc 
Young, the remainder under his success- 
ors, respectively: Presidents Taylor, 
Woodruff and Snow. April 6th, 1853, 
the temple in Salt Lake City was com* 
menced. It was just forty years In 
building. It is built of granite. The rock 
was first hauled, for fifteen years, 
with ox teams a distance of sixteen 



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miles, two yoke of oxen frequently being 
required to draw one huge stone, but 
many years before its completion the lo- 
comotive, with many car loads of stone 
at a time, rolled into the temple block 
and left its cargo by the side of the grow- 
ing temple. The cap stone of this mag- 
nificent house of the Lord was laid by 
electricity. The current was applied by 
the finger of God's Prophet, Wilford 
Woodruff, then 84 years of age, ana one 
of that noble band of 143 who entered 
Salt Lake Valley July 24th, 1847. Pres- 
ident Young was instrumental In laying 
the foundation of four temples in Utah, 
Salt Lake, St. George, Logan and 
Manti, They have all, years ago, 
been completed, the Salt Lake temple be- 
ing dedicated April 6th, 1893, by Presi- 
dent Wilford Woodruff. The ordinances 
of salvation for the living and the dead 
are performed therein, and tens of thou- 
sands have been officiated for since their 
completion. Subsequent to the exodus 
of the Church to Salt Lake Valley, the 
Gospel was introduced to the Pacific 
Isles by President George Q. Cannon 
and other Elders in 1853. In the worn 
of preaching the Gospel many countries 
have not accorded perfect religious free- 
dom, and to penetrate these the Churcn 
awaits only the providences of the Al- 
mighty to brea* down the barriers and 
make it feasible to promulgate the Gos- 
pel in those countries. In other lands, 
where freedom reigns, the Elders have 
carried the glorious message. The Book 
of Mormon has been translated into Ger- 
man, Danish, Swedish, French, Spanish, 
Italian, Hiwaiian, Maori and other 
tongues, and will continue to be until 
the truths of the Gospel upon its sacred 
pages shall be read in every nation, kin- 
dred, tongue and people. The thousands 
who have embraced the work with honest 
motives have received the witness of the 
Holy Spirit to their own satisfaction. 
Gifts and blessings which the ancient 
Saints enjoyed have been renewed m 
this glorious dispensation. 

The external history of the Church has 
been the same as in other times. "If ye 
were of the world, the world would love 
its own, but because ye are not of the 
world, therefore the world hateth you." 

"And they that live Godly in Christ 
Jesus shall suffer persecution." 

Prophecy has been and is being ful- 
filled. "What is prophecy but history 
reversed?" History repeats itself. When 
Joseph Smith declared a new revelation, 
religious and irreligious fought against 
such an idea. Professing religionists 
sought to prove by the Scriptures that 
revelations were not for our day. In this 
they fail, because the Old and New Tes- 
taments abound in predictions of future 
revelations and events which cannot be 
fulfilled without revelation. Next the 



wicked resorted to slander, ridicule and 
lies, then to violence, resulting in the de- 
struction of property and human life. All 
this being futile, they moved the nation 
by the falsehoods of Judge Drummond 
to send an army to Utah. But when the 
army came they found that this United 
States officer had basely deceived the 
President of the nation by telling that 
the Mormons were in a state of rebellion 
and had burned the court records. The 
court records were unharmed. The Mor- 
mons were at peace with God and all 
mankind, quietly minding their own busi- 
ness, pursuing their avocations of life 
and building up the country for the ben- 
efit and blessing of all who should come 
within their gates. The army came to 
Utah in 1857, and subsequently re- 
turned to the South, their lead- 
ing officer to take part in the 
Confederate army in the great rebellion. 
He fell upon the battlefield April 6th, 
1862, at Shiloh, thirty-two years to the 
day after the Church was born in this 
dispensation. The army, sold to the Mor- 
mons, mules, wagons, .harnesses and oth- 
er material much needed, at a mere nom- 
inal figure, and thus being a blessing, 
proved the words of Isaiah true, "I will 
make the wrath of man to praise me." 
As the Saints grew in prosperity and im- 
portance, avarice and prejudice seized 
political demagogues, adventurers and 
religious bigots, to stir the nation to a 
systematic effort to crush out Mormon- 
ism. Special legislation was enacted and 
enforced beyond the severity of its own 
provisions. About 800 men went to pris- 
on; a few women were incarcerated be- 
cause they would not testify against their 
husbands; heavy fines were paid, and 
hundreds went into exile, rather than 
prove untrue to the solemn covenants 
and obligations they had entered into 
under their religious convictions. Finally 
confiscation of church property took 
place, but much of it was afterward re- 
stored. In 1890 President Woodruff is- 
sued his manifesto regarding plural mar- 
riages, feeling that the courts of the coun- 
try had been placed upon record, by le- 
gally contesting the unjust rulings of 
lower courts, and that justice was in the 
hands of God, and eventually would be 
maintained by the administration of 
righteous men in the nation. In this 
form of opposition to the Church a 
prophecy of Joseph Smith is fulfilled in 
which he said, in substance, that perse- 
cution against the Saints would extend 
from township to county, from county 
to state, and from state to nation. His 
words have been remarkably fulfilled. 
The Saints, in enduring persecution, did 
so with patience and forbearance. They 
have no spirit of revenge. They allow 
that much of the popular sentiment 
against them is based upon misunder- 



standing, founded In the falsehood of 
wicked and designing men. The Spirit 
of the Gospel teaches them that it is bet- 
ter to suffer wrong than do wrong, and 
that patience and charity is necessary as 
a testimony of the truth, for without the 
approval of the Lord they could not en- 
dure the trials and temptations . which 
beset them. From the commencement 
the Church has taught the utmost free- 
dom of mankind to worship as they 
choose, such liberty bein$ curtailed only 
when it runs into license, and infringes 
upon the rights of others. In the early 
inception of the Church God commanded 
His people to study and learn from the 
best of books; to acquire an understand- 
ing of the laws of God and the govern- 
ments of men; to become acquainted 
with the heavens and the earth. See 
section eighty-eight of the Doctrine 
and Covenants. Thus they are the 
friends of all true education. Jo- 
seph Smith established a school 
in Kirtland for the study of 
Hebrew, and other branches of knowl- 
edge. In Nauvoo he founded a univer- 
sity. Brigham Young and his associ- 
ates founded the Deseret University, 
now called the University of Utah. They 
have also established Church schools. 
The Brigham Young Academy in Provo, 
the Brigham Young College in Logan, 
Stake Academies and other' schools. The 
sons of Latter-day Saints have gradu- 
ated with honor in the Military Academy 
at West Point. In Ann Arbor, Michi- 
gan, they have a record unsurpassed in 
the law school and in other branches 
taught by that noted institution, and this 
is true of their record at Harvard and 
elsewhere; as also graduates of medicine, 
dentistry, civil engineering, etc., as 
taught in the great schools of Chicago, 
Philadelphia and other places. 

Mission conferences are established In 
almost ever State of the American Union, 
England, Ireland, Wales and Scotland, 
in Denmark, Sweden and Norway, In 
Germany, Holland and Palestine, In 
New Zealand, Australia, the Hawaiian 
and many other isles of the Pacific 
Ocean. The population of the Church, 
men, women and children, is not far 
short of 375,000 souls. While there has 
been steady progress in the numerical 
strength of the Church, it is not in num- 
bers that strength consists, for we fully 
realize that "straight is the gate and 
narrow is the way that leadeth into life, 
and few there be that find it." The 
strength consists in the purity of prin- 
ciple and the impossibility of the wicked 
and corrupt to long remain in the Church. 
God is the Founder and Builder. He es- 
tablished the Church of Jesus Christ of 
Latter-day Saints. It will stand foreyer. 
for "whatsoever the Lord doeth, He do- 
eth it forever." 




Vol. 2. 



Ohattahoooa, Tbnu., Saturday, August 18, 1900. 



No. 88. 



A Short Sketch of the Life of Apostle Orson Pratt. 



This great Apostle was born in Hart- 
ford, Washington county, New York, 
Sept. 19th, 1811. His father's name was 
Jared Pratt, his mother, Charity Dick- 
inson Pratt. They were 
of the sturdy, hard-work- 
ing element who furnished 
the muscle and sinew 
which founded and build- 
ed the Nation in the early 
days of our country. Or- 
son was a younger broth- 
er of Parley P. Pratt, 
both of whom became 
members of the first Quo- 
rum of Twelve Apos- 
tles chosen in this dispen- 
sation. They were accus- 
tomed to hard work, and 
throughout life were very 
industrious. The Pratt 
family moved to New 
Lebanon, in Columbia 
county, at which place 
Orson obtained a common 
school education. Brother 
Pratt early became a stu- 
dent of the Bible, as well 
as manifesting a strong 
desire for useful knowl- 
edge in whatever line and 
from whatever source he 
could obtain it. 

In the fall of 1827, he 
went to Ohio. One year 
later he walked nearly 700 
miles . to Connecticut. 
From there he went to 
Long Island, where he 
studied in 1829-30, gram- 
mar, surveying and geog- 
raphy, at a boarding acad- 
emy. Although studious 
and prayerful, neither he 
nor his parents joined any 
of the sectarian denomina- 
tions. 

His brother, Parley, 
who had a few months 
previously embraced the Gospel as re- 
vealed to the Prophet Joseph Smith, 
now came to Caman, N. Y., with 
another Elder to preach the Gospel. Ol- 
son at once received their testimony and 
was baptized Sept. 19th, 1830, the nine- 
teenth anniversary of his birthday. In 
October the same year he traveled 200 



BY APOSTLE MATH I AS F. COWLEY. 

miles to see the Prophet Joseph Smith. 
It was on this occasion, Nov. 14th, 1830, 
where the Lord, through His Seer, spoke 
to Orson Pratt, giving the revelation 




APOSTLE ORSON PRATT. 

found in section 34 of the Doctrine and 
Covenants. This revelation told the 
calling of his future life. Prior to this, 
though studious and industrious, he had 
wandered much, and felt that there was 
something lacking. He longed for the 
Pearl of Great Price. Now he had 
found it. What a glorious blessing to 



thus be called and directed by our Heav- 
enly Father. Such was the -blessed priv- 
ilege conferred upon Orson Pratt when 
19 years of age. His calling was to lift 
up his voice, and cry re- 
pentance to a fallen 
world, and thus, like John 
the Baptist, prepare the 
way for the coming of the 
Lord. He was confirmed 
and ordained an Elder 
Dec. 1st, 1830, and im- 
mediately performed .his 
first mission to Colesville, 
Broome county, N. Y. 
Early in 1831 he walked 
300 miles to Kirtland, 
Ohio. From Kirtland, as 
headquarters of the 
Church, Elder Pratt per- 
formed several short mis- 
sions in Ohio, Illinois and 
Missouri. He was great- 
ly blessed in bringing peo- 
ple into the Church, most 
of them proving to be 
good reliable people, who 
proved a blessing to the 
cause. June 25th, 1832. 
he was chosen to preside 
* over the Elders of the 
Church, and was sent on 
a mission to the Eastern 
States. Subsequently he 
was ordained a High 
Priest, and continued mis- 
sionary work through 
Ohio, Pennsylvania, New 
Jersey and New York, 
traveling without purse 
or scrip. He traveled on 
foot and extended his la- 
bors into New Hampshire 
and Connecticut. Upon 
returning to Kirtland 
from his mission in 1832, 
he had walked about 4,- 
000 miles, baptized 104 
persons and organized 
several branches of the Church. In 
Kirtland he attended the School of the 
Prophets, and in the spring of 1833 per- 
formed another mission, traveling 2,000 
miles and baptizing over fifty persons. 
Succeeding this he filled a special mission 
with Elder Orson Hyde, and next he was 



298 



THE SOUTHERN STAB. 



one of that noted body known as Zion's 
Gamp. 

April 26th, 1885, he was chosen one ok 
the Twelve Apostles. During the winter 
of 1885-6 he studied Hebrew and re- 
ceived his endowments in the Kirtland 
Temple. After this he filled a mission 
in Western Canada, baptized a number 
and organised several branches of the 
Church. July 4th, 1836» he received in 
marriage Sarah M. Bates. In April, 
1830, he joined the Twelve at Far West 
to fulfill- a revelation, and from thence 
started on & mission to Europe. On his 
way he preached to the branches of the 
Church in the Blast, and embarked for 
England in the spring of 1840. He la- 
bored principally in Edinburgh, Scotland, 
where he raised up a branch of over 200 
people. He returned home in the spring 
of 1841, In Nauvoo, to which point the 
Saints had removed, he taught a math- 
ematical school* In 1848 he filled a mis- 
sion in the Eastern States, and on re- 
turning to Nauvoo was made a member 
of the City Council. He assisted in 
drawing up a memorial to Congress and 
repaired to Washington to present it in 
the spring of 1844. He labored in the 
East until the martyrdom of the Prophet 
and Patriarch, when he returned with 
the Twelve to Nauvoo. During the trou- 
bles following the martyrdom of the 
Prophet, Brother Pratt shared in all the 
trials and toils incidental to those times. 
He was in the exodus from Nauvoo, and 
when the pioneer company to cross the 
plains was mad* up Orson Pratt was 
one of that historic body. While en 
route he made astronomical observations, 
and by the aid of the sextant and circle 
of reflection, determined the latitude and 
longitude, as well as the changes of ele- 
vation in different points above sea level. 

He entered Salt Lake Valley with 
Brastus Snow three days in advance of 
the main body of pioneers. 

In 1848 he was appointed to preside 
over the British mission, which then in- 
cluded the Conferences in England, Ire- 
land, Scotland and Wales. During his 
Presidency of two years, over 12,000 peo- 
ple joined the Church in that mission. 
While presiding in England he edited the 
Millennial Star, published fifteen pamph- 
lets of his own production, and circulat- 
ed several thousand of them in different 
languages. He traveled and preached 
much, and started for Zion twenty ship 
loads of Latter-day Saints. Soon after 
his return he delivered twelve astronom- 
ical lectures to crowded audiences in the 
old Tabernacle. He became a member 
of the Utah Legislature at its first ses- 
sion, and for many sessions thereafter 
when he was in the Territory, and was 
seven times Speaker of the House. In 
1852 he went to Washington, D. C, and 
published the Seer, which contains much 
of his choicest writings. In 1860-61 he 
performed a mission in the United 
States, and in 1864-5 himself and Elder 
William W. Riter went to Austria to in- 
troduce the Gospel, but the stringency 
of Austrian laws prevented them from 
accomplishing the object of their mis- 
sion. He bore his testimony to govern- 
ment officials, and left them. Returning, 
he visited the Conferences in England, 
and labored there until 1867. In 1869 
he went to New York City, translated 
and published the Book of Mormon in 
phonetic characters. In August, 1857, 
he held the famous three days' discussion 
with Dr. J. P. Newman, on the question, 
"Does the Bible Sanction Polygamy?" 
A verbatim report of the discussion is 
published, and all who wish may read 
and judge for themselves. 



In 1874 he became Historian and Gen- 
eral Church Recorder, which position he 
filled with ability to the time of his de- 
cease in 1881. He crossed the ocean 
again in 1876, this time to transcribe and 
publish an edition of the Book of Mor- 
mon in the Pitman phonetic character*. 
About one year later he published edi- 
tions of the Book of Mormon and Doc- 
trine and Covenants, with extensive ref- 
erences and foot notes, making for that 
purpose another trip to England. Upon 
returning home, he was again elected to 
the Legislature, occupying his usual po- 
sition as Speaker of the House. 

His health failed him in 1880, and he 
suffered with kidney troubles for over 
a year. His last public address was de- 
livered in the Tabernacle Sunday, Sept. 
18th, 1881. The writer was present and 
heard this last earthly address of one of 
the greatest Apostles who ever lived. In 
his remarks he expressed a desire, were 
it the Lord's will, to continue in this life 
to preach and publish the Gospel abroad. 
When he concluded, Apostle Woodruff 
arose and said in substance: I have 
known Brother Pratt for forty-five years. 
I have traveled witn him by sea and by 
land. He has been faithful and ener- 
getic in his calling. I have never known 
the winds upon the mighty ocean to toss 
the vessel too much, and we have been 
in storms, when Orson Pratt could not 
sit calmly upon the deck or in his room 
and study astronomy, mathematics or 
the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ. 

Orson Pratt died Oct. 3d, 1881, at his 
home in Salt Lake City. 

When Brother Pratt died he was 70 
years of age. He had been in the Church 
fifty-one years. During that half cen- 
tury he traveled thousands of miles in 
his own country, much of it on foot, and 
crossed the Atlantic ocean sixteen times, 
bearing the glad tidings of salvation to 
the nations of the earth. Besides his 
incessant industry as an Apostle of the 
Lord in preaching and publishing the 
Gospel, he studied astronomy and higher 
mathematics. He left in manuscript a 
work on the Differential Calculus, con- 
taining original principles. He also pub- 
lished Pratt's Cubic and Bi-quadratic 
Equations, and another work entitled 
Key to the Universe, or a New Theory 
of Its Mechanism. Learned professors 
in the Universities of America and Eu- 
rope who knew Orson Pratt pronounced 
him one of the profoundest scholars of 
the age, especially in mathematics and 
astronomy. He had conferred upon him 
the degree of M. A. Elder Pratt, while 
a profound thinker, acknowledged that 
the key to his success in science as well 
as religion was contained in the revela- 
tions of God to the Prophet Joseph 
Smith and the inspiration of the Holy 
Spirit to himself. 

Elder Pratt was blessed with such 
profound concentration of thought that 
he was frequently oblivious to every- 
thing around him. He was not disturbed 
by the noise of children in the house or 
the passing railroad trains or wagons in 
the streets. 

Members of his family relate that on 
one occasion, during several days of 
constant study on some problem, he came 
down stairs in the morning trying to 
button his spectacles around his neck. 
When one of the family, much amused, 
called his attention to the fact that spec- 
tacles were not worn on the neck, he 
said, "Oh, I thought it was my collar." 
Owing to his profound study, he was not 
given to ready conversation, and per- 
chance at times he felt that he should 
talk more in private to his associates. He 



said once to Brother Joseph Bull, in En- 
gland: "Brother Bull, I almost envy 
you your powers of conversation." Not- 
withstanding his deep researches for 
knowledge, his great learning and the 
rich measure of inspiration he enjoyed, 
he was humble and meek, as all truly 
great men are. He acknowledged that 
God was above all, and the source of all 
true knowledge. He saw so much ahead 
to be learned that what he knew he rec- 
ognised to be only a grain of sand upon 
the sea shore, or a drop* in the mighty 
ocean, 

Orson Pratt was of medium height, 
square built. He wore a flowing full 
beard, white as the driven snow, which 
made him appear truly patriarchal, and 
reminded us of the title given to our 
first progenitor, *The Ancient of Days." 

He bore his trials with patience and 
"acknowledged the hand of God in all 
things." 

As a fitting conclusion of this brief 
sketch, we quote from the Deseret News 
the finale of the editorial at the time of 
Elder Pratt's decease: 

"Orson Pratt was truly an Apostle of 
the Lord. Full of integrity, firm as a 
rock to his convictions, true to his breth- 
ren and to his God, earnest and zealous 
in defense and proclamation of the truth* 
ever ready to bear testimony to the 
latter-day work, he had a mind stored 
with Scripture, ancient and modern, was 
an eloquent speaker, a powerful minister, 
a logical and convincing writer, an hon- 
est man, and a great soul who reached 
out after eternal things, grasped them 
with the gift of inspiration, and brought 
them down to the level and comprehen- 
sion of the common mind. Thousands 
have been brought into the Church 
through his preaching in many lands, 
thousands more by his writings. He set 
but little store on the wealth of this 
world, but he has laid' up treasures in 
heaven which will make him eternally 
rich." 



SPIRITUAL GIFFS. 

Spiritual Gifts Must Exist in the Church of 

Christ— Their Absence an Indication. 

of UabeJk* 

Discourse delivered by Apostle Aothon BE. 
Lund, at Salt Lake City, April TthTlSbo. 

I hope, while I shall address you, that 
the same good spirit may guide me as 
has assisted my brethren who have al- 
ready spoken in the different meetings 
of this conference. I have enjoyed their 
remarks very much, and I believe all 
who have been present have felt to re- 
joice in the good teachings that have 
been given us. 

This morning, when Brother John W. 
Taylor read the testimony of the Proph- 
et Moroni to us, I was much struck with 
some of the words he read. We were 
told that the spiritual gifts should al- 
ways be found in the Church, and that 
if there ever came a time when these 
gifts were not in the Church it would be 
on account of unbelief; and a woe was 
pronounced upon the inhabitants of the 
earth if such should be the case. I 
thought how clear the Prophet Moroni 
made this; that the Church whenever it 
is upon the earth must have the Holy 
Spirit within it; the members of the 
Church must have this Spirit, and the 
spiritual gifts must be manifested; oth- 
erwise it would be a dead Church. These 
words are recorded in the Book of Mor- 
mon — this wonderful book that has been 
brought forth by the power of God in 



THE BOUTHEBN STAR. 



299 



our age. This book -was printed 'before 
there was a Church organized, and yet 
we find these remarkable words in it. 
which at once furnish the world with a 
test whereby they can judge if this ts 
the Church of Christ or not. It says 
that in the Church there must be found 
these gifts. Now, if Joseph Smith had 
not been an inspired man; if the Book 
of Mormon was not the word of God, 
but written by man, how careful such a 
man would have been not to furnish the 
world with a test like this whereby they 
could at once detect whether it was the 
Church of Christ or not. A man who 
should fraudulently give himself out to 
be an inspired man, would be careful 
that such words should not be given to 
the world. But these were not the 
words of Joseph; they were the words of 
a Prophet that lived some fourteen hun- 
dred years before, and one who under- 
stood the Church of Christ. 

When we look back upon the history 
of the Church we find that the spiritual 
gifts were very abundant in the original 
Church, and that whenever the Saints 
met they were much blessed with the 
power of the Spirit. They were so eager 
to attend their meetings and to speak, 
prophesy and talk in tongues, that the 
Apostle Paul had to regulate their meet- 
ings and give them counsel in regard to 
the manner of conducting them, that or- 
der might prevail. The Saints were 
abundantly blessed with these manifes- 
tations of the Spirit But when the 
apostasy took place, the Spirit of the 
IiOrd departed, its manifestations were 
fewer, and at last they were not known 
in the Church. Then it was very con- 
venient to teach the people that revela- 
tions were no longer needed, that Proph- 
ets were not needed; that these spiritual 
gifts were given only in the beginning 
of the Church, to convert men; but that 
they were not to continue with the mem- 
bers of the Church, and therefore they 
were done away. When Jesus appeared 
to the Nephites, upon this continent, He 
taught them the pure Gospel and organ- 
ised His Church. He left this power of 
the Priesthood with His servants here, 
the same as He had with His servants 
upon the Eastern continent, and the 
spiritual blessings were enjoyed as long 
as the Church was in existence upon this 
continent. Moroni understood this so 
well that he said these gifts must al- 
ways be found in the Church, and if not 
it would be a sign of unbelief. 

After the Book of Mormon was pub- 
lished, the Church was organized, and 
then men could read the book and test 
the words, and judge whether or not the 
Church that was afterwards organized 
corresponded with what the Prophet had 
said the Church should be. 

It was but a few days after the Church 
was organized before the Spirit uttered 
itself in power, and spiritual manifesta- 
tions were given and miracles performed, 
showing that the Church which had been 
so recently organized was not an imita- 
tion, but that it was the Church itself, 
containing the same power and spiritual 
blessings. In fact, this wonderful book 
itself was translated by the power of 
God. Joseph Smith was an unlearned 
man; he had not studied at colleges; he 
was not much of a writer at that time, 
but had to employ others to write for 
him, and those who wrote for him wrote 
as he dictated. Now, you who have tried 
to dictate to a person know how hard it 
is to dictate, and to continue to do this, 
without altering or without having the 
last sentence repeated; but Joseph dic- 
tated to these men, and was not under 



the necessity of asking them where they 
had left off, because he translated by the 
power of God. The Urim and Thummim 
was in his possession, and with this in- 
strument he was able to translate the 
characters that were engraven upon the 
plates. This was a miracle in itself, and 
these men who wrote for him would 
soon have been able to detect whether he 
was inspired in the translation^ or wheth- 
er it was his own brain that furnished 
them the material to write. And let me 
say that no man could write such a 
work, if he were ever so gifted. He 
would be detected in some fault or other. 

The book has been given unto us by the 
Lord, and we find in it prophesies con- 
cerning our time and prophecies con- 
cerning the time that is already past, 
which have been fulfilled, proving the 
book to be an inspired one. These gifts 
which the book mentions should be found 
in the Church; my testimony to you is 
that they are found fn the Church. Talk- 
ing in tongues has been very common in 
the Church. Nearly all the members 
have at some time or another heard this 
gift, as well as the interpretation of 
tongues. Some may say, But how can 
we judge whether this is a true tongue 
or not? You can judge by the Holy 
Spirit whether it is prompted by that 
Spirit or not. There have been times 
when the proof of the tongue spoken has 
been overwhelming. When President 
Peterson, of the Sanpete Stake, was a 
young man he attended a meeting in Il- 
linois. There were many present, and 
the Spirit of the Lord was poured out 
upon the Saints in a great measure. He 
felt urged by the Spirit to talk in 
tongues, and when he sat down a young 
girl arose and interpreted it. She was 
but 17 years of age, perhaps younger, 
and she interpreted what Brother Peter- 
son had spoken. Some of the brethren 
there, then in good standing, but who 
afterwards left the Church, were told 
that if they did not take heed they would 
apostatize, and that the balance of the 
branch should emigrate to the West 
and travel in wagons li*.e houses, across 
large plains. This was the interpreta- 
tion of the tongue. They did not then 
know that there would come a time when 
they should travel in covered wagons 
and go to the West. But a remarkable 
thing happened at that meeting. Two 
young girls that had been stolen while 
children, by the Indians, and been 
brought back by the government, were 
present. They heard Brother Peterson 
speak in tongues, and they declared that 
he spoke in an Indian tongue, which they 
had heard before, and they understood 
most of it, though they said he spoke it 
better than they ever heard the chiefs 
speak it, and the young girl, they said, 
had translated what they understood 
correctly. This is a great testimony of 
the truth of that gift, and many other 
instances could be mentioned, showing 
that this gift is in the Church. The gift 
of prophecy we know is in the Church. 
How many of the prophecies of our be- 
loved Prophet Joseph Smith have not 
been fulfilled to the very letter? You 
take the book of Doctrine and Cove- 
nants, and you will find there many 
prophecies that have been fulfilled al- 
ready, and many relating to time yet to 
come, which we believe will be fulfilled 
just as literally as have those that have 
already been fulfilled. Let me read a 
few words of a revelation given March. 
1831, some eleven months after the 
Church was organized. In talking about 
what phouM come to pass, the Lord re- 
vealed to Joseph: 

"But before the great day of the Lord 



shall come, Jacob shall Nourish in the 
wilderness, and the Lamanites shall 
blossom as the rose. 

"Zion shall flourish upon the hills and 
rejoice upon tile mountains, and shall 
be assembled together unto the place 
which I have appointed." 

This was many years before the Lat- 
ter-day Saints were driven from the 
States, and it talks in such friain -terms 
concerning the gathering. The gather- 
ing is a unique principle In this Church, 
one that is not found in other churches. 
It is referred to in the Book of Mormon, 
and in the early revelations to the 
Church it is given to the people in great 
plainness. We ate told in some of the 
revelations that the people should be 
gathered from all nations unto this land, 
which should be the land of Zion. When 
we now read about this, it may not seem 
so remarkable. But let us pot ourselves 
back to the time when the Church num- 
bered but a few members and was hard- 
ly known outside of a few counties, and 
remember that then the Lord told the 
Prophet that the work should be known 
in other lands and that the people should 
be gathered from aH nations, and it be- 
comes, indeed, marvelous unto us. Grad 
ually our missionaries are reaching the 
different nations of the earth, and we 
have people here from every part of the 
earth, if not yet from every nation. Our 
missionaries are going in faith, proclaim- 
ing the truth. They are reaching one 
people after another. Nearly every na- 
tion in Europe has had the Gospel offered 
to them. I was reading a letter last 
night which Brother Hintze had re- 
ceived from Athens, Greece, a country 
where we have not yet done much mis- 
sionary labor. Brother Hintze went 
there and preached the Gospel and the 
seed sown is germinating, and they want 
to be informed concerning the truth. 
Certain principles have struck them as 
true; others they do not understand yet. 
In the Donaw principalities we have a 
man laboring, who has already baptized 
several persons, and k will not be long 
before H can be said that aH nations in 
Europe have been informed -concerning 
the Gospel. And the myriads in Asia 
and Africa will yet have to hear the Gos- 
pel. The Lord is in His marvelous way 
preparing the way for the Gospel to be 
taught to men. I rejoice in contemplat- 
ing the dealings of the Lord wtth this 
work of His, and my testimony to you 
is that God has established this work, 
and that He will see that it shall triumph 
in the earth. God bless you all, amen. 



Orcgsn, Washington, Idaho, Monte**. 
The Union Pacific railroad is the short 
line to Idaho, Montana, Oregon and 
Washington, consequently it will cost pas- 
sengers less money by this route. Ask 
your nearest ticket agent for tickets via 
Union Pacific, from Omaha or Kansas 
City. For full particulars, maps and pam- 
phlets of territory reached via the Union 
Pacific address J. F. Agtar, General 
Agent, St. Louis, Mo. 



The wealthy and the noble, when they 
spend large sums decorating their houses 
with the rare and costly efforts of ge- 
nius, with busts from the chisel of Oa- 
nova, and with cartoons from the pencil 
of Raphael, are to be commended, if 
they do not stand still here, but go on 
to bestow some pains and coat, that the 
master himself be not inferior to the 
mansion, and that the owner be not 
the only thing that is little amidst every- 
thing else that is great.— Colton. 



300 



THE SOUTHERN STAR. 




'^m^gmmm 



ftMlsat* Wttfclf If tMtWt States ■IselsiieiMrt. 

•f JttM Christ tf Latter Day Selata, 

Chettaaeefa, Tmi. 



Texas tf Seiserietlee 



Ptryttr . . $1.00 

Six Mantes . .50 

Three Beetle .25 

Single Cenlee, 5 Cent*. 



<{! 



Subscribers removing; from one place to another, 
and desiring papors changed, should always give 
former as well as present address, by postal card or 
letter. 



JMareri at the Pott (Met at Chattanooga, Term., at 
mama clam matter. 



Correspondence from all parts of the missionary 
field is solicited. Giro name and address, or articles 
wUl be rejected. Write on one side of paper only 
when sent for publication. We reserve the right to 
either eliminate or reject any communication sent in. 
Address Box 109 



Saturday, August 18, 1900. 



ARTICLES OF FAITH 

OP THE CHURCH OP JESUS CHRIST OP 
LATTER-DAY SAINTS. 

t, W/ txUm la Uad iht Etaraat Fathrr, end la n ii Horn 
/«*■■ Cfctitt, and La ih# BqIj Oh«L 

f. W» bfhir* ifail otn will bt> f>odI*hed, Tor their on 
flat, tad *4t fw Ad*ia'i lriQigr*Hloii. 

#, W| bclia'B Lkit, through ihn *toneu#dlaf Chriit, nil 
mink. lad arty at uiritf, t>j 4tmliai>ea la taa U*i and ordi- 

■ §9C*l of tba <io*i*st. 

4, Wt b*ti»** lb*l lb* Aril pHacipltl and Oftf Jainn* af 
IN Gwptl ara; Firrt^Fiilli (o tiie Lord J«ji Thriit F waul. 
fUp*ntaa«; third, BlplltlD bf i ft rftrnioO for the rtmiHioa 
of lilt; foqrlb. Ujinj on at liindi /o? the Gift or tb« Holj 

Qntti 

5. W| toll it e (hafc ■ rata on|[ be cilW of God, bf 

■ prophecy, and bj la* liyVnf ob of hind*," by ibo«« who ire 
Id tuEJicntjn to pretca tea (o«p«l and idniinitter ia lha ordl- 
Bibc«i rhetoof. 

a. W« b*Ueve la ta* «in* a* jiinintini) that atJitad 14 
tbo ptinitiTi church — nim^y, ApoitJe*, 1'rophett. t'ueer*, 
T*itfe*r* F E«r(*li*t*, *tr- 

7. Wt IhIJotb in the ftft of truipj**, prophfrj; revel 
vtiioai, hatHof. latarpraution of too^jc*, ate. 

1 W * b»li«T« the Bl hie to be lb* word or Liod, *i r« U It 
<• tnealebtd tarrerfly | wt abo btli#*e ta* Boob of Harare* 
U> b* the word gf CM. 

». W* b*H*f* ilf that Oat] hii resiled, ilT thit E* doc* 
new r«T*hl p #od we belitTA tbal B* will rat r*T«l ta*af freel 
and JDibprriDt iblnfi perliLaJag to th« kingdom or Gffi. 

10, We b*ir«T* in lb« iiLeiml g* tacrine of J trial *ad in tb* 
reparation at lh# Tan Tribe* ;, IbiL Zion wit] fa* bniU apo> 
tblt (tb* JUSnSiSSe) «otin*nt 1 lh»l Cfafitt Bill feigo perHn 
allj npaa the Birth, md th«t Lb* euth wijl b# ranrvad tad 
racoLri in p*r*d|*i«r»l |lor». 

11. Wl daim lb* pririlep of worshiping MmlfhtJ God 
Bccordjnj t« th* dicUtM of Our corfKirnre t Pod tlta* ill 
bm tba Mae {iritiltft.lal Lbem wortAipbow. »b«o. tyi wb*t 

a "Va baliara ia Magaabjaet to kioaa, praddaata. ralara, 

aadaMfbtrataa; to abaaiaa, koaadaf aacfrattaiaiai ■*» bw. 

UL«W» aaHara to batog hoaaat, troa, oaaata, ba ea a olaa t , 

Ifooffe '* * 




IPTVINCIBLB DBTBRMINATION. 

"The longer I live," said Fowell Bux 
ton, "the' more deeply am I convinced 
that that which makes the difference be- 
tween one man and another— between 
the weak and the powerful, the great 
and the insignificant, is energy— invin- 
cible determination— a purpose once 
formed, and then death or victory." 
These beautiful words bespeak with spot- 
less eloquence the secret of true great- 
ness. The old maxim, "It is better to 
be born wise than rich," is a true one, 
and worthy our consideration. 

The great men of the earth— the men 
whose names are chiseled on the monu- 
ments of history, whose records are en- 
graved as examples of worth and honor; 
have not been men to lounge in wealth 
and splendor, to spend their precious mo- 
ments in some trifling amusement, or 
trivial enjoyment. No! They were val- 
iant, sturdy, energetic souls, whose in- 
vincible determination knew no defeat, 



and whose vigorous efforts surmounted 
every seeming obstacle. The men who 
have been truly great, whose lives we 
honor, whose acts we should emulate, 
and whose names we cherish and revere, 
have been men of muscle, brain, and 
power, who trod life's rugged way, and 
walked through trials, hardships, and 
temptations, instead of riding in the 
cushioned carriage with coachman, 
lackey, or postilion. 

True greatness consists in doing, not 
in being done for; in helping one's self 
and others, instead of standing with 
arms akimbo and calling for assistance. 

This was the divine counsel of the Lord 
Jesus to His Apostles, "Whosoever will 
be great among you, let him be your min- 
ister; and whosoever will be chief among 
you, let him be your servant." It is the 
invincible determination, "to do," that 
characterizes the great man or woman. 
No matter how lowly one may be in the 
walks of life, how hidden and obscure 
from the public gaze or the world's plau- 
dits, it is possible for such a one to be 
great, to wield an influence for good 
among those with whom he may asso- 
ciate. Those who have risen to emi- 
nence, whose names are found in the 
immortal niches of fame, have been per- 
fectly willing to do the task alio ted them 
to perform, without grumbling or shirk- 
ing. Would we become as Paul and 
Timothy, "able ministers of the word of 
salvation," then we must shoulder the 
Cross, brave the perilous storms, stand 
close to the banner of Truth, unfurl the 
flag of righteousness, and be determined 
that, in the providence and will of God, 
we will win souls for Christ, and lambs 
for the Shepherd's fold. 

We have the most glorious opportuni- 
ties of becoming great, for unto us has 
been committed a dispensation of the 
Gospel, and we are placed in a position 
where we can exercise those traits and 
qualities which go to make illustrious 
men and women. We can be great, and 
wise, and good. We can wield an in- 
fluence for righteousness, and become 
powers in the earth. It is not a lack of 
opportunity that makes one destitute 
of power and influence, but an inability 
to grasp the many opportunities and ap- 
ply them to a proper use. 

We can all be instruments in produc- 
ing human happiness as well as human 
salvation. The secret of success, the 
keynote to the whole situation, is to 
have something righteous to do, and a 
determined will to do it. "I can't" has 
never accomplished anything, while "I'll 
try" has wrought apparent wonders. 
Invincible determination is what we all 
need to possess and practice. The exer- 
cise of this resolute will power will 
prove a help, a stimulus and an ln- 
spirer to noble deeds, and lofty accom- 
plishments. Be humble, obedient, ener- 
getic and determined, then success 
awaits you in this life, and glory in the 
life that is to come. 



STRANGER THAN FICTIOV. 

It has been said that the turtle is the 
embodiment of several fleshy meats, such 
as chicken, beefsteak, veal, and possum, 
etc. This is very wonderful, it is true, 
but yet we have in Chattanooga one 
greater than the hard-shelled turtle — 
not in the line of fleshy varieties, but in 
the modus of entertaining specialties. 
Its crowning roof somewhat resembles 
the concave shell of the tortoise, but in 
other respects they differ widely. The 
denizens of Bushtown, Ninth street and 
other remote parts of Chattanooga, call 



it the Ninth Street Oar, and, as such, 
it will ever grace the history of the mu- 
nicipality. Like many other good things 
in this world, the value and accommoda- 
tion of this noted car can never be ap- 
preciated until one proves it for himself. 

It is only five cents from transfer sta- 
tion to terminus, and if perchance your 
feet and sides are sore indeed from the 
ride, why you are at perfect liberty to 
walk back, providing you step from the 
track for regular cars. As to the va- 
riety of sports and amusements, a brief 
enumeration will suffice to arouse the 
curiosity of those who never stepped 
aboard this car. You can have a horse- 
back ride with a medley of gaits — gallop- 
ing, trotting, pacing, and single footing 
(but it is not wise to stand on a single 
foot), all being on the bill of out-door 
sports. The car will snort, pitch, rear and 
buck, and the railroad managers think in 
the near future that they can give you a 
fair example of a voyage on the large 
ocean . liners, by letting the grade de- 
cline just a trifle, and the incline fall 
away a little span. High joints and low 
centers are the sole cause of this rock- 
awaj inland (or onlandj bark, or vice 
versa. On Saturday, when the sun ia 
hidden in the west and the arc lights 
cast their brilliant rays upon this level 
track, there is a fight between heavy 
colored-weights, or colored heavy- 
weights, all seen and enjoyed for the one 
nominal sum — five cents — the scene of 
the affray being on the Ninth street car. 
It has been whispered that the decree 
has gone forth to the effect that hereon 
and after date all patrons of this famous 
charger shall supply themselves with a 
pair of extra heavy Spanish spurs, and 
prepare to hunt for leather; No class 
distinction is shown, but, like the famous 
Rough Riders at Santiago, every man 
takes his life in his own hands, pays his 
nickle, and keeps his standing, if he 
can't sit down or fall off. 

The wise man, Ecclesiastes, says, "Is 
there anything whereof it may be said. 
See, this is new? It hath been already of 
old time, and there is no new thing un- 
der the sun." If perchance the great 
preacher lived in the days of old when 
Ninth street cars held sway, we are not 
surprised when we hear him exclaim, 
"All is vanity and vexation of spirit." 
"That which is crooked cannot be made 
straight; and that which is wanting can- 
not be numbered;" still there is room 
for redemption and plenty of chances for 
improvement on this railroad line. 



The Secret of Health. 
A contemporary gives these ten rules 
for maintaining one's health: 

1. Keep worm. 

2. Eat regularly and slowly. 

3. Maintain regular bodily habits. 

4. Take early and very light suppers, 
or, better still, none at all. 

5. Keep a clean skin. 

6. Get plenty of sleep at night. 

7. Keep cheerful and respectable com- 
pany. 

8. Keep out of debt. 

9. Don't set your mind on things you 
don't need. 

10. Mind your own business. 



Nothing wastes time like miscalcula- 
tion. It negatives all results. It is the 
parent of incompleteness, the great au- 
thor of the unfinished and the unservice- 
able. — Hamerton. 



Without force one becomes the play- 
thing of circumstances, the slave of the 
bread one eats, of the woman one loves, 
of the wealth that one possesses.— Suc- 
cess. 



THE SOUTHERN STAB. 



301 



GOD'S GREATEST GIFT. 

BY JSLDBR DAVID H. BLTON. 
(Continued from Page 291.) 

THE HOLY GHOST.— Following the 
baptism of repentance for the remission 
of sins comes the promise of the Holy 
Ghost, and it is to this principle of the 
Gospel of Jesus Christ that we now di- 
rect our attention. In our brief investi- 
gation of this subject there is a passage 
of scripture which it would be well to 
learn and comprehend. The same is 
found in the writings of the beloved Apos- 
tle John, and is as follows : "Whosoever 
transgresseth, and abideth not in the doc- 
trine of Christ, hath not God. He that 
abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath 
both the Father and the Son." (II. 
John 9.) > 

Undoubtedly there is no principle of 
salvation so grossly misunderstood by the 
so-called Christian world, as this princi- 
ple of the Holy Ghost. When it is re- 
ceived, its manifestations, power and ef- 
fect, are a total mystery to modern Chris- 
tendom. This is one of the doctrines of 
Christ, which has been clouded with er- 
ror, shadowed by apostacy and hidden 
from the knowledge of men by the vain 
traditions and superstitions of the "Dark 
Ages." 

To enlighten the mind of poor tradi- 
tionated, deluded man upon this subject, 
required a beam of divine revelation, a 
bright ray of heavenly truth — the light 
and inspiration of the Spirit of God. 
When once this holy light was shed upon 
the good old Book the way of salvation 
was made so very plain, the path of life; 
so simple and clear, and the office, work 
and mission of the Holy Ghost so easy 
to be understood. Without the inspira- 
tion of heaven mankind will ever wander 
in darkness; by the aid of the same, all 
may walk in the light 

We have said that the Holy Ghost is a 
principle of the Gospel of Jesus Christ,, let 
us proceed to the "law and the testimony" 
as heretofore, and see if the word of God 
supports or condemns us in this declara- 
tion. Paul, in his letter to the Hebrews, 
says : "Let us go on unto perfection ; not 
laying again the foundation of repentance 
from dead works, and of faith toward 
God, of the doctrine of baptisms, and of 
laying on of hands." (Heb. 6:1-2). Here 
we have mentioned as the "principles of 
the doctrine of Christ," faith, repentance, 
baptism and laying on of hands. (We 
shall find hereafter that the "laying on of 
hands" is for the reception of the Holy 
Ghost — the subject under consideration.) 

Now, if the "laying on of hands" be, as 
Paul emphatically declares, a •"principle 
of the doctrine of Christ," it, too, with 
the other principles mentioned, must be 
observed and obeyed, else the consequence 
— hath not God. "Without me, ye can 
do nothing," says the Lord, and here we 
have th% "laying on of hands" given as a 
* doctrine of Christ," with this distinct 
and definite understanding, "Whosoever 
transgresseth, and abideth not in the doc- 
trine of Christ, hath not God: 1 

Peter, we understand, preached unto 
those believing Jews on the day of Pente- 
cost, that if they would repent and be 
baptised for the remission of sins, they 
should receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. 
(Acts 2:39-41). And, furthermore, he 
gave them this blessed assurance, that the 
promise was unto "all that are afar off. 
even as many as the Lord our God shall 
call." Wherever the Gospel of salvation 
is preached, and men called to repentance, 
the promise of the Holy Ghost is given. 
Again, when the Apostles were being 
charged not to preach in the name of Je- 



sus, by the council of the High Priests — 
Peter and the other Apostles answered 
and said, "We are His witnesses of these 
things (Christ's crucifixion and exalta- 
tion on the right hand of God as a Prince 
and Savior) ; and so is also the Holy 
Ohost^whom God hath given to them that 
obey Him" (Acts 5:28-32). Can any- 
thing be more plain than this; that God 
hath promised, and will give, the Holy 
Ghost unto those that obey Him? Is it 
not then recognized as a principle of sal- 
vation? And is it not essential that man- 
kind should be in possession of the same, 
and understand somewhat of its gifts, 
powers and graces? Of course, we real- 
ize that our knowledge, at best, is imper- 
fect, and merely "in part," but it is pos- 
sible for us to obtain sufficient under- 
standing concerning this power, that shall 
prompt us to desire its aid and assist- 
ance. 

Our Savior said unto His Apostles: 
"Behold, I send the promise of my Father 
upon you; but tarry ye in the city of Je- 
rusalem until ye be endued with power 
from on high." (Luke 24:49). From 
these words it will be readily observed 
that this "power" was necessary to fit 
and qualify His chosen ones to preach 
His everlasting Gospel. He had told them 
that it was expedient that He should go 
away, "for," says He, "if I go not away, 
the Comforter will not come -unto you; 
but if I depart, I will send Him unto 
you" (John 16:7), "that He may abide 
with you forever." (John 14:16). 

. At the baptism of Jesus we read that 
"the Spirit of God descended like a dove." 
On the "day of Pentecost" "there came a 
sound from heaven as of a rushing, mighty 
w^nd," and to the Apostles there appeared 
"cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat 
upon each of them. And they were all 
filled with the Holy Ghost." (Acts 2). 
Being; a spirit of intelligence, of power, 
wisdom, and knowledge, it is able to come, 
as we have seen, in the form of a dove, 
or as a mighty rushing wind, or in cloven 
tongues, like as of fire. If we would 
know some other forms it may take upon 
itself, let us turn to the 19th chapter of 
I. Kings, where we shall find that it 
may come as a "strong wind," "an earth- 
quake," "a fire," and a "still small voice." 
(Verses 11-14). 

The mission of the Holy Ghost can read- 
ily, be understood from the words of Jesus, 
"But the Comforter, which is the Holy 
Ghost, whom the Father will send in my 
name, He shall teach you all things, and 
bring all things to your remembrance, 
whatsoever I have said unto you." (John 
14:26). Here we have the direct words 
of the Master telling us that the Holy 
Ghost shall come to teach and bring past 
things to our remembrance. Again, the 
office work of this Spirit is defined by the 
Lord Jesus, when He says, "Howbeit, 
when He, the Spirit of Truth, is come. 
He will guide you into all truth ; for He 
shall not speak of Himself, but whatso- 
ever He shall hear, that shall He speak ; 
and He will shew you things to come. He 
shall not glorify me ; for He shall receive 
of mine, and shall shew it unto you." 
(John 16:13-14). 

The Holy Ghost is a Spirit of Truth, 
given unto all who obey God. It will 
teach the blest possessor the peaceable 
things of the heavenly kingdom, bring past 
things to his remembrance, show him 
things to come, and take of the things of 
the Father and reveal them unto him. 
Tnese are some of the things which Jesus 
said the Holy Ghost would do for those 
who were made the recipients thereof: 
but, mind you, kind reader, this spirit of 
wisdom, of revelation, of prophecy, and of 
truth, is only bestowed upon the followers 



of the Lamb— -those who render implicit 
obedience to the Gospel. 

Paul, in writing to the Saints at Cor- 
inth, with a desire to have them become 
enlightened concerning spiritual gifts, 
says: "Wherefore I give you to under- 
stand that no man speaking by the Spirit 
calleth Jesus accursed; and that no man 
can say that Jesus is the Lord, but by 
the Holy Ghost." The manifestation of 
the spirit, then, is a testimony of the 
Lord Jesus Christ. He continues on to 
tell them how the gifts and operations of 
the Spirit are diversified. How that to 
one is given the spirit of testimony, to 
another "the word of wisdom ; to another 
the word of knowledge ; to another faith ; 
to another the gifts of healing ; to another 
the working of miracles; to another 
prophecy; to another discerning of spir- 
ts; to another divers kinds of tongues; 
to another the interpretation of tongues." 
(I. Cor. 12:1-11). These gifts and mani- 
festations are all the operations and work 
of the Holy Ghost, "dividing to every 
man severally as he will." 

One may possess the spirit of God, and 
still not be blessed with all the gifts there- 
of ; however, such a one will receive some 
manifestation of this divine power, which 
if cultivated and trained, will grow, in- 
crease, expand and enlarge. 

The fruits of this spirit are clearly de- 
fined by the same Apostle in his epistle 
to the Galatian Saints : "But the fruit of 
the spirit is love, joy, peace, long-suffer- 
ing, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, 
temperance; against such there is no 
law." (Gal. 5:22-23). It never ceases 
to bear these righteous fruits, and the 
manifestation of these Christian traits 
enables one to distinguish between the 
true possessor of the Spirit of God and 
the mere professor of the religion of Je- 
sus. "By their fruits ye shall know 
them," was the counsel Jesus gave, so, 
therefore, we may know those who have 
been born of the Spirit by the exhibition 
of these precious fruits, and no matter 
how loud a man may profess to be a 
Christian, if he fails to reveal the fruits 
of the Spirit, we know he is lacking the 
same, for it is fruitful and fertile; con- 
sequently he is not a true follower of the 
Lord Jesus. 

Having seen that it is a principle of 
the doctrine of Christ; having briefly re- 
viewed some of the forms taken; having 
seen what, it will do for those possessing 
its divine influence; having touched upon 
the manifestations and fruits thereof, let 
us now see when we may expect to re- 
ceive it, and the preparation requisite to 
its reception. We find in our study of 
the good word, that the Apostles of the 
Lord Jesus had labored in the ministry 
witji Christ some three years after bap- 
tism before they received the Holy Ghost 
as an abiding comforter. (Acts 1-5; 
2:4). The people of Samaria, to whom 
Philip preached the word of God, "be- 
lieved and were baptized," the scriptures 
inform us, before they received the Holy 
Ghost. (Acts 8:5-20). Then we have 
those twelve disciples at Ephesus whom 
Paul met. They had believed, for the 
Apostle said, "Have ye received the Holy 
Ghost since ye believed f* (Acts 19:2). 
Before they received the Holy Ghost, 
however, they were "baptized in the name 
of the Lord Jesus." (5th verse). The 
sign of the Holy Ghost descended upon 
the Lord Jesus, after His baptism in the 
waters of Jordan. (Matt. 3:16). And 
to Nicodemus the Master said. "Except 
a man be born of water and of the spirit, 
he cannot enter into the kingdom of God." 
(John 3 :5). In all these examples, then, 
we have the Spirit of Truth following, 
and not preceding obedience to the prin- 



302 



THE SOUTHEBN 8TAB. 



cjples of faith and repentance, and the 
initiatory ordinance of baptism. Of 
course, it is the spirit and holy influence 
of God's might and power which leads 
us to render ourselves obedient to His 
will; but for us to possess this Gift of 
the Holy Ghost, as a Guide and Com- 
panion, that it may be the Man of our 
counsel, our Comforter, and Instructor, it 
becomes absolutely necessary that we 
comply with God's command, i. e., that 
we exercise faith in Him, repent of all 
eins, and be immersed in baptism for the 
remission thereof. Thus we see and un- 
derstand from the scriptures quoted that 
we must be prepared for the reception of 
the Gift of the Holy Ghost. Our bodies 
become the receptacle or tabernacle of the 
Holy Spirit, hence the vital importance 
of a thorough preparation, that we may 
receive the same to the awakening of our 
souls, the quickening of our spiritual fac- 
ties, the enlightening of our minds, and 
that it may continue to abide with us 
forever. The prayer of David, the sweet 
singer of ancient Israel, was this, "Create 
in me a clean heart, O God ; and renew 
a right spirit within me/ 1 (Psalms 
51:10). The Psalmist knew that the 
cleansing of the heart was the first thing 
required, and the renewing of the right 
spirit a blessing to follow. So it is, and 
thus it will always be. The destruction 
of the body of sin in baptism, the cruci- 
fixion of the "old man" with all his evil 
ways, and then the bestowing of the Gift 
of the Holy Ghost as an additional grace 
to help fallible man to shun the ways of 
wickedness, to depart from the precipices 
of vice and ruin, and cling to the truth, 
hold fast to the good, and gain the best 
of all good gifts— Sternal Life— is the 
order of procedure in the Gospel plan. 

Upon one occasion, when Jesus had 
been declaring Himself to be the bread 
of life to believers, He said, "It is the 
spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profit- 
eth nothing; the words that I speak unto 
you, they are spirit, and they are life." 
(John 6:68). "It is the spirit that 
quickeneth." The theory and philosophy 
of life is that, like life produces like life, 
and proceeds from antecedent life. The 
spirit of God proceeds from the throne 
of God. and is a spirit of life, of light, 
intelligence and power. In imparting life, 
contact becomes a necessity. To impart 
or bestow this spiritual life, contact is 
likewise necessary, as in the vegetable or 
animal kingdom. This, then, leads u* up> 
to the subject as to how the Holy Ghost 
is conferred as a Gift upon repentant, 
baptized believers. Just a few citations 
as conclusive proof of the value of contact 
or touch, in the imparting of this spirit- 
ual fluid, known as the Holy Ghost. Mark, 
the sacred historian, records a verv^ re- 
markable incident in the life of Jesus. 
"A certain woman which had an issue of 
blood twelve years," having faith in the 
Lord, and desirous of being healed, pushed 
her way through the crowd that thronged 
about Him, and touched His garment. 
Immediately was she healed of that 
plague. "And Jesus immediately know- 
ing in Himself that virtue had gone out 
of Him. turned Him about in the press 
and said. Who touched ray clothes?" 
(Mark 5:25-34). The Apostles mar- 
veled at His question, "Who touched my 
clothea?" for they knew that the crowd 
were thronging about Him. Here is an 
instance where the efficacv of touch was 
made manifest. Again Luke tells us. 
that "the whole multitude sought to touch 
Him: for there went virtue out of Him, 
and healed them all." (Luke 6:1ft). 
Matthew also says that the people "be- 
sought Him that they might only touch 



the hem of His garment ; and as many as 
touched were made perfectly whole." 
(Matt. 14:36). 

The significance of touch or contact to 
impart, from one organism to another, 
the eternal fluid of spiritual life, is read- 
ily perceived in the divine examples given 
above. The .Savior, a holy, perfect Be- 
ing, was full of the spirit of His Father; 
yea, more, His very garments were 
charged with that heavenly influence, and 
by preparation and faith they (who de- 
sired to be healed) touched His clothing, 
and sufficient of the healing spirit passed 
from Him to them to cleanse their in- 
firmities. He perceived the same, and 
said, "Who touched me?" In the scien- 
tific world it has been proven by varied 
experiments that Life can only come 
from the touch of Life. Huzley declares 
that this doctrine of "life only from life, 
is victorious along the whole line at the 
present day." 

The healing properties of the Holy 
Spirit were received by the faithful, by 
reason of touch or contact. Jesus pos- 
sessed the same, with all power to impart 
unto others, and we shall see that this 
same power was conferred upon His ser- 
vants. Inasmuch as this theory of life 
(Life can only come from the touch of 
Life) is proven in the scientific world, 
we shall proceed to see how the Gift of 
the Holy. Ghost was bestowed upon the 
obedient "believers in the days of Christ 
and the Apostles, and endeavor to find 
out if such is verily true as pertains to 
the spiritual life. "It is the spirit that 
quickeneth." The gift of healing, as illus- 
trated in the examples of our Lord, is 
only one of the many gifts of the Holy 
Ghost. This gift came by virtue of touch 
— faith being co-existent with the act. 
Does the Gift of the Holy Ghost, prom- 
ised unto all that obey God, come in like 
manner, that is, is this Gift imparted or 
bestowed through the method of touch or 
contact? 

(To be Continued.) 



Do What Yon Feel Yon Should. 

If you've auy task to do, 
Let me whisper, friend, to you, 
Do it. 

If you've anything to say, 
True and needed, yea or nay, 
Bay it. 

If you've anything to love, 
As a blessing from above, 

Love it. 

If you've anything to give, 
That another's joy may live, 

Give it. 

If some hollow creed you doubt, 
Though the whole world hoot and shout. 
. Doubt it. 

If you've any debt to pay, 
Rest you neither night nor day, 
Pay it. 

If you've auy Joy to hold, 
Near your heart, lest It grow cold, 
Hold It. 

If you've any grlet to meet, 
At a loving father's feet. 

Meet it. 

If you know what torch to light, 

'ildr 



Guiding others in the night, 

Light it 



—Success. 



Summer Excursions, Colorado, Utah. 
The Union Pacific railroad will place 
in effect on August 7th and 21st, 
1900, summer excursion rates of one fare 
for the round trip, plus $2, from Mis- 
souri river to Denver, Colorado Springs, 
Pueblo, Ogden and Salt Lake. Tickets 
good for return until October 31st. For 
full particulars address J. F. Aglar, Gen- 
eral Agent, St Louis, Mo. 



THE SEAL*. 

Willie T. Fielder passed away from 
this mortal probation July 2d, 1900. He 
was born Sept. 3d, 1866, and the cause 
of his demise in the very prime of man- 
hood was a severe attack of typhoid fe- 
ver. His death was peaceful, and when 
the last breath of life left its mortal 
tabernacle, he passed away, as a little 
one rocked to sleep. Brother Fielder 
was not a member of the Church, but 
was a bold and fearless defender of the 
faith of the Latter-day Saints. His 
house was always open as a refuge for 
the weary Elders, a haven of rest for 
the pilgrim of peace. Brother Fielder 
leaves a sorrowing wife and three sweet 
children to mourn his loss. May God 
ble3s and prepare them to meet their 
loved one in the morning of the first 
resurrection. 



J. F. Ferns, of Grantsboro, Pamlico 
county, N. C, died July 14th, 1900. Like 
Brother Fielder, he was not a member 
of the Church, but was a warm-hearted, 
true friend to the Elders. May the peace 
and blessings of Heaven attend all those 
who are called to mourn his loss. The 
time of meeting soon cometh, and we 
can then lift up our heads and greet our 
blessed loved ones. 



It is with a feeling of sorrow that we 
record the death of Gracy Peters, the lit- 
tle daughter of Brother and Sister J. H. 
Peters, of Wolf Valley, Tenn. She had 
been sick but four days, and passed away 
on the 23d uit. The sympathy of Elders, 
Saints and friends is extended to the 
loved ones, and may they enjoy Hie com- 
forting Influence of the Holy Spirit in 
their time of sorrow. 



Releases and Appotafantafti. 

Releases. 

L. J. Bowen, East Kentucky Confer- 
ence. 

C. W. Peterson, East Kentucky Con- 
ference. 

T. M. Warnock, North Ohio Confer- 
ence. , 

W. P. Murray, Middle Tennessee Con- 
ference. 

W. C. Packer, East Tennessee Con- 
ference. 

F. Layton, Florida Conference. 

Transfers. 

F. Child, from Virginia Conference to 
Office. 

A. C. Strong, from North Alabama 
Conference to Office. 



A skeptical young man confronted an 
old Quaker with the statement that he 
did not believe in the Bible. The Quaker 
said: , 

"Dost thou not believe in France?" 

"Yes, though I have not seen it, I 
have seen othere that have; besides there 
is plenty of corroborative proof that such 
a country does exist." 

"Then thee wlH not believe anything 
thee or others have not seen?" 

"No, to be sure I won't." 

"Did thee ever see thine own brains?" 

"No." 

"Ever see anybody that did?" 

"No." 

"Does thee believe thee has any?" 



Much of the failure in this world may 
be attributed to the fact that too many 
people are firing at the bull's-eye of suc- 
cess with blank cartridges.— Success. 



THB SOUTHBBN STAB. 



History of the Southern State MiukM. 

(Continued from Page 290.) 

October, 1868.— On the 9th inst. a spe- 
cial fast day was sanctified in behalf of 
the sick Elders — especially Elder Thos. 
R. Gondie, who was stricken down with 
yellow fever. By the blessings of the 
Lord and the prayers of faith, with fast- 
ing, he was restored from the dreadful 
plague. 

For some time there had been much 
talk of publishing a Mission paper, as an 
aid to the work in the Southern States, 
a comfort to the Saints, and a benefit to 
the Elders. The subject was laid before 
the authorities, the result being a favor- 
able response, and' a hearty approval. El- 
der D. P. Felt was called in from the 
field to take charge of this important 
work, under the direction of the Mission 
President. 

Another matter which had been sug- 
gested many times now came up for due 
consideration and adoption. It was this : 
The Elders had long felt the need of 
some book which they could use as a 
"running mate" for that choice little gem 
of inspired truth, "The Voice of Warn- 
ing," and "Mr. Durant, of Salt Lake 
City." "That Mormon" was chosen to 
fill the emergency* With the consent and 
indorsement of the First Presidency, 
President Rich permitted his little work 
to take its place as a co-laborer and silent 
preacher of righteousness with the choice 
catalogue of books, tracts and dodgers 
then in general use, publishing the same 
on his own responsibility, and it was de- 
cided to print the book in size like "The 
Voice of Warning," the cost about equal 
thereto. 

On the 25th inst. the following Elders 
arrived from Salt Lake City: Sylvester 
Low, Jr., Wm. I. Burk, Elijah Orton, 
John F. Perkins, Andrew O. Madsen, 
Chas. S. Anderson, Benham Hunsaker, 
W. W. MacKay, Willard O. Atkin and 
Brigham L. Tippets. 

The month closed with the work pros- 
pering for the most part, although in Ala- 
bama, Mississippi and Louisiana the El- 
ders were handicapped to some extent* 
owing to quarantine regulations. Elder 
Orson Wilkins arrived from Zion on the 
last day of the present month. 

November, 1898. — The following Elders 
arrived on the 3d, 7th and 10th, respect- 
ively : Keenes R. Sowards, Christo Hyl- 
daW and W. B. Parkinson. President 
Rich returned from the west on the 9th 
and reported an enjoyable time with the 
Saints and leaders in Zion. The Elders 
in Atlanta were visited and counseled as 
to work in that city. 

From the North Carolina Conference 
came the following letter, which explains 
the bitter feeling prevalent on the east 
coast, where the Elders met with such 
marked success just one year ago. The 
letter was headed Colon, N. C, and dated 
Nov. 9, 1898, being addressed to President 
Ben El Rich : "Dear Brother :— The El- 
ders are having a hard fight in the east- 
ern counties. The ministers are well or- 
ganised and doing all they can to preju- 
dice the people and stay the progress of 
the work. Two of the Elders who are 
laboring in- Pamlico county received a 
very warm reception the first night they 
conducted services. Sixteen buckshot were 
fired into the building and several pistol 
shots were heard on the outs Me. Lewis 
Swensen." 

On the 21st another company of Elders 
arrived in Chattanooga, to spend Thanks- 
giving day with the good, hospitable peo- 
ple of the south. Tbey were given some 
excellent and timely instructions before 



leaving for their fields of labor. Sixteen 
composed the chosen band, their names be- 
ing as follows : Riego S. Hawkins, Philo 
V. Carter, James J. Facer, Wm. J. Suth- 
erland, J. W\ B. Scott, Ulysses S. Cline, 
James T. Rich, Daniel Wells Qrover, Jo- 
seph S. Casier, Chas. C. Town, David C. 
Shupe, W. A. Call, Matthew A. Clouse, 
Elijah R. DeWitt, Wm. Larson and Mi- 
lan C. Miller. 

Very little sickness existed at the close 
of the month, and the general report 
showed the Elders to be making good 
headway and feeling well spiritually. 

December, 1898. — Word was received 
on the 1st that another of our meeting 
houses had been burned in Kentucky by 
some red-handed, lawless incendiary. The 
scene of the conflagration occurred in the 
East Kentucky Conference, at Vance- 
burg, Kentucky. It was near midnight 
of Sept. 18th when the Church on Blaine 
creek was set on fire by a drunken mob, 
and now the good Saints of Kentucky 
once more suffered the loss of a meeting 
house. 

President George A. Lyman sent in a 
full report of the occurrence, which can 
be found on page 63 of Vol. I. 

Twenty-one Elders arrived on the 20th 
inst. to swell the ranks of Zion's army in 
the South. Their names were as fol- 
lows: W. D. Rencher, George F. Cor- 
nish, James Smith, Peter Kingsford, 
Charles J. Howard, R. L. Jensen, David 
R. Morgan, Edmond S. Parkinson, Chas. 
E. Wright, Samuel A. Watton, L. J. 
Willis, Orin M. Hess, W. J. Staples, Jas. 
D Taylor, Chas. Edward Hancock, Chas. 
N. .Corbridge, Chas. Gilbert, Geo. A. Grif- 
fith, Edwin S. Budge, Wilford Reunion, 
and R. L. Hoots. 

With the close of the month came also 
the close of one of the most eventful years 
in the history of the Church, and also of 
the mission. President Wilford Wood- 
ruff had been called to leave this sphere 
of mortality and soar aloft to brighter 
worlds and fairer scenes. Apostle Lo- 
renzo Snow had been called to stand at 
the helm of the Ship of Zion as a seer, 
prophet and revelator unto all Israel, to 
succeed his noble predecessor. As the 
wheels of Time roll round and round, so 
the little stone is rolling and increasing 
in its progress and advancement Over 
1,200 souls have been added to the true 
fold of tike Good Shepherd Jesus in the 
south, and the good work is advancing. 
The year c loses, and the noble warriors 
of the Lord's army are standing in line, 
shoulder to shoulder, united and detere- 
rained to conquer error wheresoever it 
may be found. 

(To be Continued.) 



God'* Cl&oieeat Gift. 

"God thought to give the sweetest thing 

In His almighty power 
To earth: ana deeply pondering 

What it should be. one hour, 
In fondest Joy and love of heart 

Outweighing every other, 
He moved the gates of heaven apart 

And gave to earth a mother. 

The most cheerful author — Samuel 
Smiles. 

The noisiest author — Howells. 

The tallest author — Longfellow. 

The most flowery author — Hawthorne. 

The holiest author — Pope. 

The most amusing author — Thomas 
Tickelk 

The happiest author — Gay. 

The most fiery author — Burns. 

The most talkative author — Chatterton. 

The most distressed author — Akenside. 
— Chicago 'jL.mes-Herald. 



Realisation is anticipation with the 
edge taken off.— New York Sun. 



THE GREAT ARMY OF "SILVER 
GREYS." 

Juvenile Instructor, Aug. 1, 1906. 

Every visitor to Utah is impressed with 
the large proportion of aged people in the 
community. We who- reside here would 
notice the same thing, if it were not that 
we have become so accustomed to it that 
it seems to us quite regular. We meet 
and know so many who in other places 
would be called old that we cease to re- 
gard either the surprising number of them 
or their great weight of years. It seems 
so natural with us for men and women 
to live to a great age that almost any- 
body with less than seventy or eighty 
years is regarded as only of middle age, 
and if such a person dies, he or she is 
mourned as one who, if not cut down in 
the prime of life, had at least several years 
of usefulness ahead. Men's heads become 
silvered with the snows of many winters ; 
women lose their freshness of countenance 
and bend a little through many years of 
work and care; and yet their general 
health continues good and their faculties 
are bright and keen as ever. They grow 
old as a sound and vigorous tree grows 
old ; not shriveling and withering but giv- 
ing forth even more of wisdom's fruit 
and beneficent shade, retaining their use- 
fulness and beauty of character to the 
last. 

No one who has attended what we call 
an "Old Folks' Excursion" needs further 
proof of the correctness of the remarks 
above made. This annual excursion or 
entertainment of the veterans is a pecul- 
iarly Utah institution, or rather it is pe- 
culiar to the Latter-day Saints, whether 
in Utah or elsewhere*— though Its bene- 
fits are not confined to members of this 
Church by any means. It is a beautiful 
custom. It gives the aged, of whatsoever 
name or faith or color, to understand that 
on this particular occasion everybody is 
prepared to do them honor. The town or 
the resort they visit is completely theirs, 
for the time being. The steam and street 
railways, the wagons and carriages, are 
also theirs — and woe to any employe or 
driver who would act gruffly or impa- 
tiently to even the humblest of them. 
Reaching their destination the best that 
the land affords is spread lavishly be- 
fore them. Their slightest want Is min- 
istered to by the youth and beauty of the 
vicinity. Then their games or contests, 
the various competitions for which appro- 
priate prises are offered, their delightful 
reminiscences, their gladness and grati- 
tude — what a splendid occasion it is, and 
how charming and memorable to all those 
who take part in or even witness it ! 

But why should not people live to be 
old, under the shadow of these mighty 
mountains and under the teachings of the 
true Gospel? There is an inspiration to 
longevity in the sight and contemplation 
of the "everlasting hills." In the observ- 
ance of the laws of God there is not only 
life eternal, but also health and life tem- 
poral. AH the conditions favor the at- 
taining of greater age than people in the 
world are accustomed to look for. The 
air and influences which surround us are 
of the best— at least the other kind can 
easily be escaped. Grinding toil, as the 
world understands the term, is unknown 
to us. Of course there is hard work, and 
plenty of it; but with it there is free- 
dom and peace and the happy assurance 
that what we strive for we shall either 
enjoy ourselves, or our children will after 
us. Then how perfect is the Gospel in 
its instructions as to man's welfare, both 



304 



THE SOUTHERN STAR. 



BEPOBT OF MIS8ION CONFERENCES FOB WEEK ENDING JULY 28, 1900. 



PRJE8IDI ■ 



Geo. A. Adams 

Heber 8. Olson 

J.G.Bolton.. , 

J.-Spencer Wersluv 
W.i>.Bencher tt+ ..;.. 

A. C. Strong „,„ 

John H. Bank tit- liiI 

JohnBeeve.. w 

J. M. Haws 

C. B. Humphry 

G.M. Porter...,. 

W.W.MacKay ...,._.. 
W. O. Phelps...... 

B. L. Houtz ,.. 

Don C. Benson,..,,. , 

L.M.Nebeker 

H. Z. Lund „, 



CONFERENCE 



JJhiutanooga 

Virginia,. 

Kentucky „..< 
East Ton 

gaofgfa, 

North Alabama,, 
Florida... 
Mill. Tun 
Surth Carolina... 
South UuroJiua „ 
Missttislppi ....♦„,, 
Kiwt K t -ui wi'L y ... 

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South Alabama .. 
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here and hereafter! Its strict require- 
ment as to the observance of the Sabbath 
— one day's rest in seven! Its plain ad- 
vice and word on temperance in all things 
and on abstaining from the things which 
"are not good for man !" Its glorious 
promises to those who abide these com- 
mandments, as to health, endurance, vig- 
or and length of life! People cannot 
help but live to be old under such sur- 
roundings. 

As to the aged among the Latter-day 
Saints, it may further be said that they 
represent the stoutest and best types of 
the people from whom they were gath- 
ered. It has always required some cour- 
age to become a "Mormon." That faith 
has been unpopular. Its believers have 
had to endure the scorn of those with 
whom they had previously been associ- 
ated. To join the Church meant frequent- 
ly, loss of employment, of friends, of fam- 
ily affection even, sometimes. The will- 
ingness to incur these penalties (for such 
they would be called by most people) for 
the sake of obedience to conscience and 
conviction, indicated in the outset a 
strength of character beyond the ordinary, 
a degree of sturdiness that comparatively 
few possess. It is true that these are 
mental attributes rather than physical; 
but will any one deny that mental strength 
has a great deal to do with physical 
health and energy? 

The remarks last made necessarily ap- 
ply to those who accepted the Gospel in 
their native lands. The Church has only 
been established seventy years, so those 
who may be called veterans in years could 
not have been born in it. But there is no 
reason why their descendants should not 
inherit longevity along with the other vir- 
tues displayed by their parents. On the 
contrary, there is every reason why they 
should do so, and in an increased degree. 
They ought not only to possess the health 
and vigor of their sires, but their im- 
proved surroundings ought to add to it. 
Freed from the traditions of their an- 
cestors, they ought to be able to live more 
completely the laws of God. These, as 
already stated, carry their own sure re- 
ward with them. Then the honor they 
do the old folks is in itself a promise that 
we shall always have lots of veterans; 
for by the great Creator Himself is it not 
said of those who honor their father and 
mother that "their days shall be long in 
the land?" 



Cultivate the physical powers exclu- 
sively, and you have an athlete or a 
savage; the moral only, and you have 
an enthusiast or a maniac; the intellect- 
ual only, and you have a diseased oddity, 
it may be a monster.— Success. 



The less you say, the more the people 
will remember. 



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Chattanooga .„ 

Richmond, Box 888 

Centre M ...... 

Charlotte, , 

Bowergville. 

Memphis, Box 158 M 

VaklckKia , 

■•■i- N" .Summer st. Nashville 
GoltiHhoro, Box 924...... 

"■■ • k-hurg „ 

Ai'kerratt.*, 

Harboursville 



II ughe.4 Spur. 
La pint 

109 \V.oray St., Louisville 
&3ti Bet 1 1 St., Cincinnati ... 
41 Cheshire 8t. ^Cleveland 



Tennessee ■ 

Virginia 

Kentucky 

N. Carolina 

Georgia 

Tennessee 

Georgia 

Tennessee 

N. Carolina 

S. Carolina If 

Mississippi 2 

Kentucky 

Louisiana 

Alabama ' 

Kentucky 

Ohio 

Ohio 



DON'T BE IN A HURRY TO GET 
INTO PRINT. 

Charles Dudley Warner, In Success. 

A little trumpeting at the start has 
ruined many a promising writer. It 
usually happens in this way: A young 
man or woman writes something that 
sounds well. It is praised by the young 
person's friends. The composition goes 
to an editor. Perhaps it is printed. 
Again the friends shower their praises. 
The youthful author feels that his repu- 
tation is made, and that very little hard 
work is before him. 

"Never was a greater mistake made. 
Few people realize that literature is a 
trade and an art. The trade must first 
be mastered. There are mechanical 
rules to be learned and utilized, just as 
much as in any manual work. To go 
through the period of apprenticeship in 
the trade, then develop into an artisan, 
and finally become a real artist, requires 
a long, steady, and oftentimes discour- 
aging struggle. Nearly every person 
who can write a good letter thinks him- 
self perfectly competent to write a 
story for a magazine, and, indeed, much 
above penning a communication to a 
first-class newspaper. Little does that 
person appreciate that the gulf between 
him and the real writer is almost im- 
measurable. 

"But it is, and this fact must be burned 
into the brain of everyone who wants to 
do great writing. Work, work, work, 
is the only rule. Write, and keep on 
writing, and never think what you have 
written amounts to much unless you 
have worked at it for a long time. Even 
then you should be your most severe 
critic. 

"I do not think much of the new writ- 
ers, as a class. So much is being writ- 
ten that most of it must necessarily be 
poor. Literature is being commercial- 
ized so rapidly that little first-class work 
can be expected. Genius cannot be cre- 
ated by offerings of so much a word. A 
few year's work on a daily newspaper 
forms the best training for a writer. 
There the young man or woman gets 
very close to the world. It becomes pos- 
sible to know what people of all classes 
are thinking of, and how they look at 
things. A newspaper reporter should 
make his every story the very best he 
is capable of writing, so that each will 
be at least a little better than the one 
that went before it. He should write with 
the same care he would exercise if he 
were writing something to which he 
was to sign his name. Meantime out- 
side reading must not be omitted by him. 



In fact, it is very important. The news- 
paper is liable to work very harmful re- 
sults unless there is a flow of light from 
the best writers constantly illuminating 
the mind of the young people. If a re- 
porter is working in a large city, where 
schools and colleges are available, he 
should seek to take some work in one of 
these. Then he will have practiced 
hand to guide his reading. As to rules 
for writing, the best one I have ever 
known is this: Never write anything, if 
possible to avoid it, in the same way it 
has been done before. Shun hackneyed 
phrases. If a writer sticks to this, he 
is very soon likely to have a style of his 
own. But above all things else, don't 
rush into print." 



Tn these days of Bible "higher-criti- 
cism" and discredit in the Old Testa- 
ment it is good to notice what wholesome 
approval and confirmation the old Scrip- 
tures received from our Lord in that He 
studiously fulfilled the prophecies in 
their minuteness. In this act— the riding 
on the foal of an ass, the Master ful- 
filled faithfully the prophecy of His ser- 
vant, Zechariah, made 500 years before. 
In this beautiful performance we see the 
nature of the Lord's mission portrayed. 
"They lifted him upon the colt, and the 
triumphal procession set forth. It was 
no seditious movement to stir up politi- 
cal enthusiasm, no insulting vanity to 
commemorate ambitious triumph. Nay, 
it was the mere outburst of provincial 
joy, the simple exultation of poor Gali- 
leans and despised Disciples. He rides 
not upon a war horse, but on an animal 
which was the symbol of peace. The 
haughty Gentiles, had they witnessed the 
humble procession, would have utterly 
derided it, but the Apostles recalled in 
after days that it fulfilled the prophecy 
of Zechariah: 'Rejoice greatly, O daugh- 
ter of Zion; s hoot, O daughter of Jeru- 
salem: behold, thy King cometh unto 
thee; He is meek, and having salvation; 
lowly, and riding upon an ass, and upon 
a colt the foal of an ass.' Yes. it was a 
procession of very lowly pomp, and yet 
beside it how do the grandest triumphs 
of aggressive war and unjust conquest 
sink into utter insignificance and dis- 
grace."— -Farrar. 



The gold mine owners in the Transvaal 
are realizing with a pang of horror, that 
they own the only things of value in the 
country and that the indemnity for the 
war must come out of their pockets. 



Watch out that y,our popularity is not 
due to the fact that you tell a piece of 
gossip surprisingly well. — Atchison 
Globe. 




m 1Q^ 



-BUT THOUGH WE, 00 AN ANGEL FDOM HEAVEN, PRtACH ANY 
PThEB GOSPEL UNTO YOU THAN THAT WHICH W£ 

HAVE. PREACHED UNTO YOU, LET HIM BE AeCUtt5E0.««r./geW 
" r 1&0L& ' 



Vol. 2. 



Chattanooga, Tbnn., Saturday, August 25, 1900. 



No. 89. 



LINES 

Respectfully Inscribed to the Departing 
Missionaries. 

Shrink not from the task assigned you, 
Though sore trials you may meet, 

While the souls who lived before ye, 
Trod this path with bleeding feet. 

Hungered, thirsty, faint and shoeless, 
Traveling o'er the dreary plains; 

Scoffed, reviled, and oft inaltrea tea- 
Starved in. dungeons, bound In chains. 

When beset by opposition. 

And the tempter's subtle wiles, 
Qlve no heed to his begulllngs— 

This will gain you angels' smiles. 
Yea, Jehovah will support you, 

And your enemies confound, 
And the hand that's raised against ye 

Weak and powerless shall be found. 

Take no thought for food or clothing- 
God has said He would provide; 

If you valiant do your duty, 
Strictly in his word confide. 

He will bid His watchful angels 
Guard your footsteps front and rear; 

Heaven will aid ye, God will bless ye, 
You've no cause for doubt or fear. 

Should you labor all your lifetime, 

Saving only one poor soul; 
Oh, how pleased will be the meeting, 

When ye greet In heavenly goal. 
Yes, while laboring in the vineyard, 

When the vintage it be o'er; 
Garnered sheaves will sure reward ye, 

A thousand times, yea, more and more. 

Heed not scoffing unbelievers. 

When they vent their furious wrath; 
And would fain do violence to ye, 

And like fiends beset your path. 
Know that He who's work you're doing 

Has you in His watchful care; 
Nothing 'scaping His keen vigils, 

E'en the failing of a hair. 

Shrink not, shirk not. fill the mission 

God requires It at your hands; 9 
Count It but a pleasing duty. 

Pilling one of God's commands. 
Fret not 'bout the absent loved ones, 

They are seen by watchful eye; 
He wno notes the sparrow's falling. 

Feeds the ravens when they cry. 

Ever meekly, lowly walking. 

Place Implicit faith In God; 
Realising 'tis an honor, 

You to wield the "Iron Rod." 
Not forgetting Saints are praying 

For your welfare day and night: 
And before the throne are pleading. 

In circles sacred, rob'd In white. 

. We, the Saints, now here assembled. 

Very kindly say farewell; 
Devoid are we of tears and sobbing. 

Realizing that all Is well. 
Go In peace, return In safety. 

Ever kept by His right hand, 
Is the fervent supplication 

Of the Saints In Dixie land. 

— O. L. Walker, St. George, Utah. 
Aug. 1, 1900. 



OUR CONFERENCE PRESIDENTS. 

Elder J. G. Bolton. 

When Elder B. F. Price was honora- 
bly released to return to the home of his 
loved ones, the responsibility of taking 
charge of Kentucky Conference affairs 
was intrusted to him whose portrait is 
here given, Elder J. G. Bolton. 

Brother Bolton was born .Tune 19th, 
1876, at Mill Creek, Salt Lake county, 
Utah. He is a thoroughbred TJtahn, 




ELDER J. G; BOLTON. 
President of Kentucky Conference. 

for his parents — Charles G. and Pris- 
cilla O.— also first saw the light of day in 
the land of the setting sun; 'nea'th the 
shade of the towering Rockies. 

Home Itjeing the. sweetest place on earth 
for Brother Bolton, we naturally enough 
find him spending most of his time 'round 
the hearth, or on the farm, with the ex- 
ception of the time when atteuding the 
Central Seminary and University. 

It was on the 13th of April, 1899, that 
Brother Bolton bade the good folks adieu 
and left for his mission to the Southern 
States. He was appointed to labor in 
the Kentucky Conference, and for the 



first year his time was spent as a can- 
vassing Elder, afterwards as a Counsel- 
lor, and finally as President. In a recent 
letter he says: "It has been my desire 
to serve God and do my duty to my fel- 
low-brothers." This is his motto, and a 
better one cannot be conceived. We look 
for the work to grow and spread under 
his supervision, as it has done under the 
wise direction of his predecessors. 



History or the Southern States Mission. 

(Continued from page 303.) 

January, 1899-The record of 1898 is 
now written in the Volume of the Past, 
and old Father Time has sealed the book, 
and clasped its lids. The acts of men are 
indelibly engraved thereon, and those 
who have maliciously reviled and per- 
secuted the Saints of God, or the Elders 
of Israel .during the year just passed, 
will some day meet their reward, and be 
called upon to give an account of their 
evil deeds before the flaming bar of 
God's eternal justice. Though the record 
is sealed, the history written, their ac 
tions chronicled, still there Is yet an op- 
portunity for an erasure to be made, a 
blessed privilege granting unto them re- 
pentance and forgiveness. The records 
on earth are only a facsimile of the sa- 
cred rolls written by the recording angel 
of God and kept in the archives of 
Heaven's lofty vaults. When "the books" 
are opened, and we stand up for judg- 
ment before our Savior, .lesus, if we 
have not made good use of this prepara- 
tory probation, and have not repented 
of our sins and transgressions and have 
failed to render obedience to the Gospel 
plan, and give glory unto God, the pen- 
alty will be uttered, and our sentence we 
may read, "Depart from me ye that 
Vfork iniquity into outward darkness. I 
never knew you." 

The new year dawned with the pros- 
pects fair for a noble work to be per- 
formed by the Elders. In order to fa- 
cilitate the work of the Elders and that 
the results may loom up in good round 
numbers, President Rich decided to visit 
all the Elders, become acquainted with 
them as a brother, and associated with 
them in their modus operandi. The Con- 
ference Presidents were informed of this 
intention, and told to prepare to have 
their Elders assemble together within 
the next three months. 



306 



THB SOUTHERN STAR. 



Sister Nina Rich arrived at the office 
on the 14th inst. to act as housekeeper 
and matron. 

As history bears record of all things, 
both sweet and bitter, joyous and sor- 
rowful, so it becomes our duty to in- 
scribe the death of Brother Sampson O. 
Hale, a local traveling Elder in the 
South Alabama Conference. Elder Hale 
was called into active missionary work 
in the summer of 1898. At the time of 
his demise he was laboring in company 
with Elder W. C. Carver in Monroe 
county, Alabama. Elder Hale was born 
in what is now known as Provo, Monroe 
county, Alabama, April 18th, 1862. Com- 
ing of humble parentage, his youthful 
days were spent in arduous toil upon the 
farm. He had a valiant spirit, was bold, 
fearless, faithful and true; It was In 
January, 1806, that he was baptized into 
the Church, and since that time until 
his spirit left its mortal home, he was 
energetic in assisting to disseminate the 
truths of the Gospel among his fellow- 
men. 

The remains of Brother Hale were 
taken by wagon and rail a distance of 
fifty miles to his grief-stricken relatives, 
whom he had left. His family— a wife 
and two children — bore their sorrow with 
marked humility, long suffering and pa- 
tient fortitude. He was put to rest in 
the land of his nativity. Appropriate ser- 
vices were conducted by the Elders pres- 
ent, consoling remarks being made to 
cheer the bereaved and gladden the 
mourners. His life was one of noble 
acts; his character made up of noble 
Christ-like attributes. To those who 
knew him, he was a true brother and a 
faithful friend. The good he did will 
never die, and never be forgotten. 

On the 12th inst. Elder George W. 
Williams arrived from Salt Lake City, 
and was assigned to labor in the Florida 
Conference. On the 23d a company of 
twenty-four arrived in Chattanooga. 
Among this noble band were two of El- 
der Berry's valiant sons — he who was 
cruelly martyred in Lewis county with 
Elder Gibbs, August, 1884. (See page 225, 
Vol. 1.) The Elders were as follows: 
Ben L. Rich, Thomas N. East, George 
O. Curtis, Jacob A. Hancock, Edward 
T. Lofgreen, John Mcintosh, John M. 
Haws, F. H. Whittle, James J. Thomp- 
son, John E. Myler, James J. But tars, 
Charles E. Atkinson, Bert Hoopes, F. 
W. Karren, George A. Brower, Jesse 
Arthur Berry, John William Berry, John 
Alma Stapley, Emery Barrus, Prestou 
A. Bushman, Aaron Jacobseu, Jr., Clar- 
ence O. Cherry, G. M. Porter, and James 
S: Castleton. 

On the 28th inst. William Irvin ar- 
rived, and was assigned to labor in 
Florida. The Elders all left for their 
fields feeling well, and determined to be 
useful in the work of the Lord. 

The month closed with the health of 
the Elders generally well, and the work 
progressing. 

(To be continued.) 



GOD'S GREATEST GIFT. 

The Holy Ghost— How Conferred. 



Business men who are accustomed to 
write standing before a high desk will 
appreciate the following story: 

Prof. Simon J. Brown, the astronomi- 
cal director of the naval observatory at 
Washington, was standing, as usual, be- 
fore his desk, when a colleague came into 
his office. 

"Is it possible," said he, "that yon 
work in that way? I can't stand stand- 
ing." 

"That's odd," replied the professor: 
*it's different with me. I can't stand 
sitting."— Exchange. 



BY ELDER DAVID H. ELTCto. 
(Continued from page 302.) 

We have concluded that the gift of the 
Holy Ghost is the spiritual life of man, 
giving unto him an inspired intelligence, 
pertaining to things heavenly and eter- 
nal, and a knowledge of the things of 
God pertaining to the gospel and gifts of 
salvation. As we have heretofore seen 
its purpose is to reveal the glory of God 
the Father, bear testimony of Christ the 
Son, and lead the sons of men from error 
into all truth, from darkness into light 
divine. 

Wo read in Deuteronomy that "Josh- 
ua the son of Nun was full of the spirit 
of wisdom; for Moses had laid his hands 
upon him." (Deut. 34:9.) The "spirit of 
wisdom" here spoken of by Moses can 
mean no other spirit than the Gift of the, 
Holy Ghost, for we have already noted 
this fact: that one of the many gifts of 
the spirit is the gift of wisdom. "Moses 
had laid his hands upon him." The re- 
sult of the action of Moses was the im- 
parting of the "spirit of wisdom." In 
this instance, then, the laying on of 
hands was the means applied to produce 
the end— the imparting of the "spirit of 
wisdom." We nave not forgotten that 
Paul makes mention of the "laying on of 
hands" as one of the doctrines of Christ. 
(Heb. 6:2.) 

Coming down the stream of time, we 
find Peter, standing at the head of the 
Church on earth, as the chief Apostle, 
promising unto the people the gift of the 
Holy Ghost, and, with the Apostle John, 

Eracticing the laying on of hands to 
estow the same upon baptized believers. 
Let us investigate the incident referred 
to: Philip had been commissioned by au- 
thority to go and preach the word of the 
living God unto the people of Samaria. 
He did so, and was very successful in 
ministering the Gospel, insomuch ■ that 
"they believed Philip preaching the things 
concerning the kingdom of God, and the 
name of Jesus Christ," and "were bap- 
tized, both men and women." "Now 
when the Apostles which were at Jeru- 
salem heard that Samaria had received 
the word of God, they sent unto them 
Peter and John: who, when they wer»«. 
come down, prayed for them, that they 
might receive the Holy Ghost; (FOK AS 
YET HE WAS FAJ.LE& UPON 
NONE OP THEM; ONLY THEY 
WERE BAPTIZED IN THE NAME 
OF THE LORD JESUS.) Then laid 
they their hands on them, and they re- 
ceived the Holy Ghost." (Acts 8:10-17.) 
It is self-evident, and beyond the cavil 
of disp liters, that on this occasion the 
Holy Ghost was given through the lay- 
ing on of hands, and we must not over- 
look this remarkable fact: that the par- 
ticipants in the bestowal were none other 
than the two leading Apostles, who were 
the highest Church officials on earth. 
Would it be reasonable,' probable, or 
feasible, to suppose for one moment that 
they made a mistake, and adopted a 
practice not in accordance with the teach- 
ings of the Master? No, verily no! Si- 
mon the sorcerer, who had beforetime 
bewitched those people of Samaria, when 
he "saw that through the laying on of 
the Apostles' hands the Holy Ghost was 
given, he offered them money, saying, 
give me also this power, that on whomso- 
ever I lay hands, he may receive the 
Holy Ghost. But Peter said unto him, 
Thy money perish with thee, because 
thou hast thought that the gift of God 
may be purchased with money." (18-20 
verses.) 

In the next chapter of Acts we have 
one Ananias, a servant of the Lord, sent 
by the voice of Jesus to minister the or- 
dinances of salvation unto the repentant 
Saul of Tarsus: "And Ananias went 
his way, and entered into the house; and 
putting hit* hands on him, said, Brother 
Saul, the Lord, even Jesus, that ap- 
peared unto thee in the way as thou 
earnest, hath sent me, that thou mightest 



receive thy sight, and be filled with the 
Holy Ghost." (Acts 9:17.) The same or- 
dinance as practiced by Moses and Peter: 
and, as some contend that it was only 
Apostles in the days of Jesus who held 
that power, it would be well to note 
right here that Ananias was. not an 
Apostle, but "a disciple," holding the au- 
thority to lay on hands for the gift of the 
Holy Ghost. (10th verse.J We have, 
then, thus far, the example of Moses, 
Peter and John and Ananias. The Lord 
Jesus also led His disciples out as far 
as Bethany, "and He lifted up His hands 
and blessed them." (Luke 24:50.) This 
was His last act before His ascension, 
and afterwards they were filled with the 
Holy Ghost according to divine promise. 
(Acts 2:4.) 

"Paul, having passed through the upper 
coasts, came to Ephesus; and finding cer- 
tain disciples, he said unto them, Have 
ye received the Holy Ghost since ye be- 
lieved? And they said unto him, We 
have not so much as heard whether there 
be any Holy Ghost. And he said unto 
them, Unto what then were ye baptized? 
And they said, Unto John's baptism. 
Then said Paul, John verily baptized 
with the baptism of repentance, saying 
unto the people, that they should believe 
on Him who should come after him. that 
is, on Christ Jesus. When they heard 
this, they were baptized in the name of 
the Lord Jesus. And when Paul had 
laid his hands upon them, the Holy Ghost 
came on them; and they spake with 
tongues and prophesied" (Acts 19:1-6.) 
Here is another remarkable incident given 
in' the sacred word, to show unto us that 
the Holy Ghost came through the meth- 
od of laying on of hands. The baptism 
of John was valid, it is true, but those 
people had not been baptized unto the 
baptism of John, as they supposed. By 
saying "unto John's baptism' they evi- 
dently meant, by immersion, but the au- 
thority from God was lacking, the ad- 
ministrator of the ordinance was an ini- 
poster, hence Paul baptized them over 
again, and then laid his hands upon them 
that they might receive the Holy Ghost. 
John's baptism is efficacious and effective 
— it means to be. immersed by one having 
authority from God to administer in the 
ordinances of the Gospel. 

This same apostle wrote to Timothy and 
said, "Neglect not the gift that is in 
thee, which was given thee by prophecy, 
with the laying on of the hands of the 
presbytery" [Elders] (I Tim. 4:14.) 

Again, in his second epistle to Timothy 
he exhorts him thus: "Wherefore I put 
thee in remembrance that thou stir up 
the gift of God which is in thee by the 

Cutting on of my hands." (II. Tim. 1 :6.) 
ret us see now. when Simon bargained 
with the Apostles to purchase the gift 
of the Holy Ghost with money, Peter 
rebuked him saying, "Thy money perish 
with thee, because thou hast thought 
that the gift of God may be purchased 
with money." (Acts 8:20.) Paul tells 
Timothy to "stir up the gift of God." 
and Peter informs Simon that this "gift 
of God" (the Holy Ghost) is not to be 
bought with money. Then Paul evi- 
dently referred to the gift of the Holy 
Ghost which Timothy possessed, for we 
have seen that these two — "gift of God," 
and ""gift of the Holy Ghost," are used 
as synonymous terms. 

From these plain scriptural declarations 
we can readily see that this ordinance of 
"laying on of hands" for the reception 
of the Holy Spirit was taught anciently 
by Moses and the Prophets; that it was 
practiced in the "meridian of time" by 
Jesus and His Apostles, and that Paul 
enumerated it as one of the doctrines of 
Christ. Could we crave further scrip- 
tural evidence, with the abundance of 
proof cited? Can we be consistent, and 
beg the question by saying, "It is not 
plain enough— I can't understand, and 
the Lord will not condemn me for my 
ignorance?" Such would be altogether 
unreasonable and unjust! We can under- 
stand and know the purposes and will of 
God, as regards our actions, and what 
we should obey! We need not grope 
around in spiritual darkness and blindei] 
ignorance, for the Lord has promised tq 



THE SOUTHERN STAR 



307 



give wisdom unto all who ask in faith, 
and till with the Holy Spirit such as 
obey His commandments. 

The- ordinance of laying on of hands 
for the gift of the Holy Ghost, is phil- 
osophic, scientific, scriptural and consis- 
tent. Of course we know that the admin- 
istrator must in and of himself possess 
this power, or he can never impart it 
unto others. This authority to adminis- 
ter in the ordinances of the Gospel, in 
given unto all who are called of God, 
either by direct revelation, or as Aaron 
was called. Paul says: "No man taketh 
this honor unto himself, but he. that is 
called of God as was Aaron." (Heb. 
5:4.) The administrator must possess 
the power, and the applicant be thor- 
oughly prepared for its reception by 
faith, repentance, and baptism for the re- 
mission of sins. 

We have seen, then, that the gift of 
the Holy Ghost is jpven after the same 
order as was the gift of healing in the 
instances related in previous number; 
namely, by touch or contact, or better, 
rather, as Paul says, "by the laying on 
of hands." Some admit that the Jews 
should receive the Holy Ghost by the 
imposition of hands, but claim that the 
Gentiles would receive Him without the 
imposition of hands. We have shown 
heretofore that God made "no difference" 
between Gentile and Jew (Acts 15:9). 
and again, we would draw your attention 
to the fact that Timothy's mother wan 
a Jewess, while his father was a Greek, 
yet Paul laid his hands upon him for 
the gift of the Holy Ghost. 

The ecclesiastical historians of the early 
centuries have made special mention of 
this ordinance, and we will take the lib- 
erty of quoting from their writings a few 
brief extracts: 

Turtullian says (in the second century) 
"After baptism succeeded the laying on 
of hands, with prayer, calling for the 
Holy Ghost." Cyprian, Bishop of Car- 
thage, says (in third century), "They ob- 
tain by our prayer and imposition of 
hands the Holy Ghost." Mosheim, speak- 
ing of the third century: "The Bishop, 
by prayer and the imposition of hands, 
conferred the Holy Ghost." Augustine 
said (in the fourth century), "We still do 
what the Apostles did when they laid 
their hands on the Samaritans and called 
down the Holy Ghost upon them." Eu- 
sebius says (p. 113), speaking of Nova- 
tion, after admitting that sprinkling was 
not baptism: "Nor was he sealed by 
the Bishop's imposition of hands; which, 
if never received, how did he receive the 
Holy Ghost?" 

These historical notes give added evi- 
dence to the scriptural declarations al- 
ready quoted. The sacred historians 
bear record of this ordinance, and the 
profane writers chronicle the same facts 
on the pages of history. They join hand 
in hand in proclaiming to the earnsst in- 
vestigator for truth the order of affairs 
practiced and pursued under the direc- 
tion and supervision of "Living Oracles/' 
and as we, kind reader, are seeking to 
put ourselves in harmony with God and 
His laws, that we might through obedi- 
ence obtain His greatest gift unto fallen 
man, it behooves us to weigh this all- 
important subject in the. scale of divine 
truth, and in humble prayer seek wis- 
dom at the throne of our Father in 
Heaven. 

We may not be able to define this bles- 
sed gift, this heavenly power, the gift of 
the Holy Ghost. It is a testimony to the 
senses, and all who receive the same are 
able to bear record of its benign and 
peaceful presence. We cannot tell others 
just how it operates and comes, or goes. 
Jesus, in His conversation with Nicode- 
miis, said: "The wind bloweth when? 
it listeth. and thou nearest the sound 
thereof, but canst not tell whence it 
cometh, or whither it goeth: so is every 
one that is born of the Spirit." (John 
3:8.) We cannot see the wind, but we 
feel it, and breathe it. It is within us, 
and round about us. We also perceive its 
effects on other objects. The gentle 
swaying of the trees, the motions of the 
quivering leaves, the rapid moving of the 
passing clouds, are all evidences of the 



existence of wind. So everyone who is 
born of the Spirit, who have received the 
gift of the Holy Ghost, has an internal 
evidence which gives them a testimony 
of things eternal, and their words and 
acts testify to others that the Spirit 
enlightens their souls, and prompts them 
to perform deeds of righteousness. 

The effect of the Holy Ghost on the 
individual is beautifully described by an 
inspired servant of the Most High God, 
who wrote thus: "An intelligent being, 
in the image of God, possesses every or- 
gan, attribute, sense, sympathy, affection 
of will, wisdom, love, power and gift, 
which is possessed by God Himself. But 
these are possessed by man in his rudi- 
mental state in a subordinate sense of 
the word. Or, in other words, these at- 
tributes are in embryo, and are to be 
gradually developed. They resemble a 
bud, a germ, which gradually developes 
into bloom, and then, by progress, pro- 
duces the mature fruits after its own 
kind. The gift of the Holy Spirit adapts 
itself to all these organs or attributes. 
It quickens all the intellectual faculties, 
increases, enlarges, expands and purifies 
all the natural passions and affections, 
and adapts them by the gift of wisdom, 
to their lawful use. It Inspires, devel- 
opes, cultivates and matures all the fine- 
toned sympathies, joys, tastes, kindred 
feelings and affections of our nature. It 
inspires virtue, kindness, goodness, ten- 
derness, gentleness and charity. It de- 
velopes beauty of person, form and fea- 
tures. It tends to health, vigor, anima- 
tion and social feeling. It developes and 
invigorates all the faculties of the physi- 
cal and intellectual man. It strengthens, 
invigorates and gives tone to the nervew. 
In short, it is, as it were, marrow to 
the bone, joy to the heart, light to the 
eyes, music to the ears, and life to the 
whole being." (Parley P. Pratt.) 

Obedience to this ordinance of laying 
on of hands for the gift of the Holy 
Ghost is requisite to the salvation of the 
sons of men, as obedience in all other re- 
quirements is essential to our exaltation 
and well-being. Obedience means to per- 
form the act required, not to do some- 
thing else, and suppose all is well. Saul, 
the mighty king of ancient Israel, was 
sent by the voice of the Lord down to 
the. city of the Amalekites for the pur- 
pose or utterly destroying those wicked 
people who had caused the children of 
God such trouble when they came up out 
of Egypt. He went, commanded to slay 
both man and woman, infant and suck- 
ling, ox and sheep, camel and ass." but 
he did not strictly obey, for we read that 
he spared Agag the king, together with 
the best of the sheep, and of the oxen, 
and of the fatlings, and the lambs." For 
this he was rejected, his kingdom given 
to another, and sternly rebuked by the 
Prophet Samuel in these impressive 
words: "To obey is better than sacri- 
fice (for his excuse for sparing the cat- 
tle was that he might make sacrifice unto 
the Lord), and to hearken than the fat 
of rams." (I Samuel 15.) 

We may profess to serve God and fol- 
low Christ, but if we do not keep His 
words, and obey every ordinance He has 
ordained, we show to the world that we 
have not the mind of Christ, for the mind 
of Christ was to do His Father's will. 
Let us profit by the example of the weak 
and foolish Saul, and render unto the 
Lord an obedience which is precisely as 
He has directed, without any deviation 
in reference to the thing to be done, or 
to the order in which we are required 
to perform it. God will not accept any 
substitute in the place of that which He 
has commanded. The very thing He 
commands us must be done, else where 
were the obedience? 

The words of the Lord through His 
servant Paul are fitting in conclusion of 
this subject: "But though we, or an 
angel from heaven, preach any other gos- 
pel unto you than that which we have 
preached unto you, let him be accursed. 
As we said before, so say I now again, 
if any man preach any other gospel unto 
you than that ye have received, let him 
be accursed." (Gal. 1:8,9.) 

(To be concluded.) 



Abstracts from Correspondence. 

Elder Jas. S. Blake, who was recently 
released from a successful mission in 
North Carolina, writes us from Hinckley, 
Utah, his mountain home, a very nice, 
encouraging letter. Here is what our 
brother says: "Though delighted to be 
once more . in the sweet society of dear 
ones at home, 1 have not forgotten my 
many friends in the Southern States Mis- 
sion. I rejoice in that the Lord permit- 
ted me to bear His message of salvation, 
and point out the way of righteousness 
to those who sit in spiritual darkness. 
My happiest moments were those that I 
spent, in humility, endeavoring to preach 
the gospel of Jesus Christ unto the peo- 
ple. I know that the glorious light of 
truth has burst forth in these last days, 
and that God's righteous purposes are 
being established upon the earth. My 
soul's sincere desire is that the glorious 
work may spread and increase, that the 
many honest souls in the world may 
understand the beauty and power there- 
of, and become sons and daughters of 
God, our Eternal Father. 

"I have seen great and glorious man- 
ifestations of the Spirit, for the Lord did 
confirm His word with signs following 
as promised by Jesus. I know whereof 
I speak, having been made the recipient 
of these precious heavenly gifts. I can 
testify in the name of Jesus, that the 
gift of speaking in tongues, of interpreta- 
tion of tongues, of prophecy, revelation, 
visions, healings, etc., is enjoyed by the 
faithful Latter-day Saint." 



Elder W. J. Sloan writes us from Salt 

Lake City, under date of Aug. 12, 1900: 

Dear Brethren— Permit me to thank 

you for having furnished me many hours 
of pure joy in reading the paper which 
tells the news of the mission field in 
which I spent two happy years. Each 
week 1 look for the Star as a sweet 
letter from dear friends. 

Knowing that you have among the 
people of the south many readers who 
are not members of the Church, I enclose 
a question to them, should you deem it 
wisdom to publish the same. 

Wishing you God-speed in your noble 
work of converting the honest in heart, 
I remain, 

Your brother. 



Here is Elder Sloan's question, and a 
good question it Is. All should study the 
same, with deliberation and earnestness, 
striving to please God, and glorify His 
name.— Ed. 

Oftentimes in this life (and I fear that, 
with many, it will be more so in the next) 
we find out when too late that our belief 
and faith has been in vain. No matter 
how much we may believe that we are 
right, our faith does not make us so. 

One night a boat steamed up to a land- 
ing on the Mississippi river. A man, who 
wished to go ashore, stepped out upon 
what he supposed to be the gang-plank, 
leading from the steamer to the shore. 
What he supposed to be the plank was 
only a shadow cast upon the water from 
the smoke-stack. He fell into the river, 
and it was some moments before he wan 
rescued from what might have been a 
watery grave. 

He was honest, he was sincere; yet no 
amount of faith would ever construct the 
mere shadow into a gang-plank, by which 
he could reach the snore in safety. And 
thus it is in real life, no amount of 
faith, no matter how honest it may be, 
can make right that which is erroneous 
and false. 

We are walking from the steamer 
berth of this life to the shores of eter- 
nity. The man in the river was saved, 
but when we reach the great white throne 
it will be too late to throw out the life- 
line. Is our footing solid, or are we 
walking on a shadow? 



306 



THE SOUTHERN STAR. 




ftkllta* WMkly iy Sffrttori States ■Iwltt-LCkirtk 

•f Jmn Ckrltt af latter Day Stlatt, 

Cktttaittfi, Tail. 



TorMt tf Sobaorlptlta 

(It MvtBM) 



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Address Box io» 
1 * 

Saturday, August 25, 1900. 



ARTICLES OF FAITH 

OP THE CHURCH OP JESUS CHRIST OP 
LATTER-DAY SAINTS. 

1. W»uHot in (Mtkesferoftl Fitter, and fa Bb8w 
Jaaas Ctirfct, and la Iba Holy ©ho*. 

t. Wa btlltrt that nta will ba paaiahad for thair ova 
aiaa, aad aat for Adan't traaaaraafioa. 

t. Wa baliota that, throadh tho atoaonoat of Ohriat, alt 
aaaakiad nay be save*, by obadiaaoa to tht lava and ordi- 
aaaotc of tho OotpaL 

4. Wa baliava that tht Irat priaciplaa. aa4 ordiaaaoM of 
ttoOoflsalara: Fink Faith io thaLonlJaaatCarirt; taoaad, 
Rapaataaea; third, Baptism by immtreipo for tho ramiMloa 
ai afaai forth, Larlaf on of Haada for Um Gift of tho Holy 



I. Wo t*lj*Ti thit ft min mutt 1m cillad of God, hf 
** prophecy, and by th* 1 B fh>I oa of bimj^," bj th«o who ir* 
to mttmritfT bJ prtftefc lb* (rupa! mad id mi flitter in t*4 ord*- 
niCKci lhcr*of. 

0. W« btlftw Id tbrfiim^ OTfinitiitfon that tiiit*d to 
Lbs tirimtliip churfi — aim*]*, AjWitl**, PjqphaUk Fiftlwt, 
Ttacavr*. £>*»(«! Lit*, «t& 

1. Wa h*lj*vB in the gift of tdttfUM, pfopWj, reT«l*Lta*, 
Tlpicn*, l>**Un|, Intarpratfttion at fonruw. etc. 

$. Wt-fali*T« Lb* Bible tn l>nhe wnrJ of God, it fault 
U irantltlpJ corr*cLly; wi tlw bell*** lis Book of Hormoo 
to ha th* *ord of Ood. 

p. Wa Iwlitt* til taal God bu rr Tttfed, alT (bit H* &*a 
bdw r*f«*I t *nd wotwIJBTQ ibal Ijfl will t#1 rcT«f mnnj mil 
and iapoftint rbtna* petUlnln* to Eh* KtbtdoDi of GodT 

10h W> t»li*T« In U| Ut«r«J £ath*iinf of it rial nod in tba 
THtOMtJon fif I he Tpd THtnti that Zloa *11J be bnilt upon 
(bi* (!*« American j {sflf,[io^ l a» ; ihit Carta will fliifnj p*r*4(l- • 
mlij t pOli the emrLh. and that lb? earth will bo rrneved «nd| 
f«el»t iti [u ri d i liftra I £ \f>lj- 

U W* rtilim lb* privilege of wc^hipioK AlralfhCj God 
accofdinf to lit dlclaiat of &or fonftritinrov afti iJlo» all 
n«o Iba uuc j*iTikgi..isl A eJB vonhipbo*. vb&rc, or wb*j 

11 wi bollava la baiag aabjaat to klnaa, ptaaMaota. ralaia, 
aod BMeittrataa ; fa obayiog, heooriaf aod raauiainff tho law. 

lA eWo baliava ia baiag hoaaat, trao, chaste, baoovolaat, 
«1rtaoea.aad ia doinf ^oMto all sjss; ladoad, wo may toy 
IhatwofoT 9 - ^^ --"--• **- * " " - A -" 



•abaaUatoaadaraalll 
■?a|r, or of jaood roport 
5*BaaI-J08EPB 8M1T 



ATTENTION, SUBSCRIBERS! 



The "stibHcripffon letters" recently sent 
out' from this office, seem to be misun- 
derstood by some of our patrons. The 
amounts specified in your letters when 
paid will entitle you to the Star until 
the expiration of 'Vol... 2, which closes 
on Nov. 24th of the present year. We 
trust you will . understand, and thank 
you all for past favors shown. 



"Let your light shine forth in righteous- 
ness; your thoughts be pure with holy 
love; your words seasoned with the good 
spirit, and your deeds manly with fer- 
vent zeal." — W. T. t Davis. 



Doing things as well as they can be 
done is not only the quickest way to ad- 
vancement, but it has a very great in- 
fluence upon one's character and self-re- 
spect. If for no other motive than to 
maintain our self-respect, we should 
never allow ourselves to get into a habit 
of half-doing things. — August Success. 



IS THIS CHRISTIANITY t 

In another column of this issue will ba 
found an article headed, "Forced to 
Leave a Christian ( ?) Burg," which gives 
a brief account of the harsh and alto- 
gether un-Christian behavior of some of 
the good citizens of our sister State — 
South Carolina. We desire to call the 
attention of our many readers to this 
wonderful fact, relative to South Caro- 
lina, that according to the last census 
she is said to have a larger proportiou 
of professed Christians than any other 
State in the Union. In order to make the 
subject of this census clear and reliable?, 
we quote from the Christian Observer of 
very recent date the following: 

"South Carolina, according . to the last 
census, haa the honor of having a larger 
proportion of her people professed Chris- 
tians than any other State In the Union. 
Her percentage is 43, while that of Texas is 
29. and of the Dakotas is 18. In New York 
City proper, only 7 per cent, of the popu- 
lation are members of the Protestant 
churches. Allowing about half as many for 
the Roman Catholics, the percentage would 
be about 11. It is said that there are 1,- 
300,000 people in New York beyond the pale 
of the churches altogether. These figures 
are a loud and alarming call to earnest 
evangelistic work, especially among those 
foreign multitudes who are coming con- 
stantly to our shores. We must evangelize 
them, or they will paganise us." 

Is it not a remarkable fact that this 
very state of boasted supremacy in 
Christian evangelism should permit its 
citizens to expel from their midst two 
unarmed, defenseless Mormon Elders? 
What is their crime, fellow-Christians? 
What have they done? Why resort to 
such lawless* and cowardly practice**, 
when you have statutes and laws for the 
government of your commonwealth, and 
the punishment of criminal offenders? 
Have they broken any law, violated any 
statute, or stepped beyond the precincts 
of your municipal leniency? Are you 
prepared to conscientiously and truth- 
fully answer these questions before the 
flaming bar of God's eternal justice? 
Know you their message, their mission, 
and their plea? Have you deliberately 
considered the import of their claims, 
and the magnitude of the Gospel they 
bring unto you? Or have you spurned 
from you the means whereby you might 
see, and know, and comprehend; only to 
welcome the religious blatherskite, with 
his falsehood and misrepresentation, 
who would blind you with error, and per- 
suade you to madly rush, blindfolded 
and hoodwinked, to the consummation 
of wicked schemes, diabolical plots, dev- 
ilish measures, and Satanic enormities? 
Is this what you call Christianity? 
Whence came such a sudden metamor- 
phosis, and transformation? Christ, whom 
you profess to worship as your glorified 
head, never instituted such a state of 
affairs. It has a later inception than 
His day. Christianity in His day was 
persecuted, its followers driven, hound- 
ed and scourged; but today so-called 
Christianity is persecuting, driving, dog- 
ging and scourging. Lowell says, "New 
occasions tench new duties," and being 
as our fellow-Christians have seen fit to 
change .the ordinances, transgress tho 
laws, and break the everlasting cove- 
nants, perhaps it were good and strictly 
proper that they should also adopt new 
tactics of operation, so that, by their 
fruits we may know them, and avoid 
them. "If they persecute you in one 
city flee to the next." 

Think of it! South Carolina, who tow- 
ers above all other States in the Union 
in Christian profession, being guilty of 
allowing two humble servants of the 
Master, Jesus, to be driven and ordered 
about as criminals, slaves, or dumb 



brutes. Is this Christianity? Did Jesus 
do thus and so? If you were following 
in His steps would you be found doing 
so? Then why persist in such inhuman 
conduct, and even if you don't engage 
your efforts in the outrage, why stand 
by with dumb souls, mute lips, and help- 
less hands when the same is being per- 
petrated? Are there not enough men in 
the Sunny South State to arise in the 
dignity and manliness of American pa- 
triotism, and say, "We will grant unto 
all the privileges and blessings accorded 
by our nation's constitution?" Has the 
freeman's blood of '70 and 1812 become 
frozen in your veins that ye have no 
heart or life for liberty and freedom? 

South Carolina— the palm leaf State- 
why permit your citizens to brandish 
weapons of oppression, and wield imple- 
ments of violence .at the very zenith of 
your advanced and enlightened Christian 
civilization? Have you forgotten the 
words of the Master to the resolute Pe- 
ter, "Put up the sword; they that tak»» 
the sword shall perish by the sword?" 
Justice demands that all shall have a 
fair trial, and impartial hearing, and an 
unbiased jury! With these privileges 
granted, love may abound, and good will 
prevail; but set them aside, and manifest 
religious distinction, malice, hate, an;i 
oppression, then the gory hand of vio 
lence will reign supreme, and the f ait- 
soil of our glorious Republic be stained 
with human blood. 

Oh, Christendom, where are thy charms, 
which preachers and poets have seen? 

Better dwell in the midst of alarms 
Than live where thou reignest supreme! 

While the American battleship is on 
her way to the Orient, that Baptist and 
other missionaries may be protected from 
the onslaughts of the Chinese Boxer, the 
Religious Boxer of South Carolina is at- 
tacking and mobbing Mormon Elders 
right here in our home land. Is it a good 
and holy law that will permit the execu- 
tive of the nation to send warships into 
foreign waters, and land soldiers on for- 
eign soil to defend a Baptist preacher in 
his legal rights as an American citizen, 
and at the same time prohibit him from 
vindicating and protecting the rights 
and privileges of a Mormon Elder in 
South Carolina, who also is an American 
citizen? 



WHO WOULD RECEIVE HIMT 

Every age has had its special devel- 
opments in some line or branch of 
knowledge. They have had their vir- 
tues, as well as their vices; their good 
qualifications, as well as their evil fail- 
ings. The past centuries were often 
crimsoned with bloody military con- 
quests, and civil rebellious strifes; still 
they acquired great learning in the arts 
and sciences, and maintained a lofty 
standard in literary accumulation and 
composition. This age is marked by 
what is known as religious toleration, by 
which people have a right to worship 
and believe as their consciences may dic- 
tate, providing such a course does not 
trample upon the privilgea of others, or 
break the governmental laws. 

Were it true that such a glorious state 
of religious liberty existed in our land 
today, what a blessing, what a joy, what 
a comfort it would be! But the topics 
of the times indicate to the contrary. In- 
stead of religious freedom, we are com- 
pelled to confess that in many instances 
religious oppression holds sway, and the 
hand of brute force and violence is used 
to suppress differences of belief. This 
age has become a mighty power in scien- 
tific discovery. The inventions of the 



THE SOUTHERN STAB. 



309 



present day are beyond the conception 
of the masses, and are only understood 
by the few great minds whose genius and 
skill have brought them into effect. 

But have the religious faiths kept 
abreast with the swelling tide of science 
in its mighty surge? We will have to 
say, Nay! Had the spiritual kept pace 
with the intellectual, we would not bo 
confronted with, scenes of burning, mob- 
bing, and inflicting punishment because 
of religious differences, and contrary be- 
liefs. No man has a legal, moral, or 
any other kind of right to apply might 
as a means of supporting what he sup- 
poses to be right. There is a cause for 
every effect; then what are the causes 
conducive of this spiritual dwarfism or 
decline? Why has so-called Christianity 
fallen to the rear of advanced science, 
and been compelled to admit, contrary to 
her own confessions and creed, the truths 
explored, and the facts demonstrated? 
Her place is in the lead, and not in th^ 
rear of the van. 

The reason is this: She has made her 
formal creeds, her jailor, who has shut 
her up in the dungeon of narrow-minded- 
ness, completely excluding the gems of 
divine revelation, and forever refusing 
to accept the bright rays of truth which 
illumine and inspire the scientific world. 
How can she advance in such a prison 
cell? The turnkey will only let her out, 
as the prescribed creed permits, and this 
would keep her imprisoned until "Doom's 
Day;" for the rules of her faith and 
practice prohibit new revelation, and 
they have spiritualized and mangled the 
Old until it suited their belief, so that it 
becomes next to an impossibility for pro- 
gression to be made under such man-con- 
structed, uninspired ' articles of confes- 
sion as at present rule the sects. 

She can never grow unto the perfect 
measure of the stature of the fullness of 
Christ, save she discharge her jailor, 
look unto the Father; receive divine rev- 
elation, and join the Kingdom of the 
Lord. Will she ever come to the unity 
of the faith? Will she ever give up her 
useless forms, rituals, and solemnities? 
Is she ready to accept the Lord? Would 
she receive Him? Has she undergone 
tue preparation, kept the faith once de- 
livered to the Saints, and believed that, 
"Surely the Lord God will do nothing, 
but He revealeth His secrets unto His 
servants, the Prophets?" 

To all these inquiries we can give but 
one answer, and that is, No! The 
Prophet hath said; "The Lord whom 
we seek, shall suddenly come 
to His temple." Has modern Chris- 
tianity erected a temple dedicated unto 
the Lord? No! Then she is not yet pre- 
pared to receive Him, and what is more, 
she never will be so long as she continues 
to fight, and persecute the Saints, and re- 
ject the angelic message given in these 
last days. 

Search all Biblical history, and you 
will find that when the current of divine 
revelation or communication has ceased 
to be enjoyed by man, they have drifted 
far from the truth, become dwarfs relig 
iously, and fairly die spiritually, "Where 
there is no vision, the people perish." 
(Prov. 29:18.) There was never a time, 
when man grew spiritually, without the 
divine influence of inspiration or revela- 
tion. While the pure in heart are com- 
muning with God, and seeking to be led 
by His Holy Spirit, the wicked and un- 
godly are striving to overthrow the good 
work they construct, and the weapons 
they use are after the same order as the 
"gibbet," the "rack," and the "inquisi- 
tion." 

The people who would receive the Lord 



are they who believe in divine revelation, 
"all that He has revealed, all that He 
does now reveal, and that He will yet 
reveal, many great and important things 
pertaining to His Kingdom." This is 
scriptural, reasonable, consistent, and 
logical. God has declared that the things 
of His Kingdom can only be understood 
by the spirit of revelation. "For whit 
man knoweth the things of a man, save 
the spirit of man which is in Him? even 
so the things of God knoweth no man, 
but the Spirit of God." (1 Cor. 2:11.) 

This is an all-important subject. Who 
would receive Him? To be in readiness 
when He cometh, obey the Gospel, re- 
ceive His Holy Spirit— the Comforter, 
add to your faith virtue and knowledge, 
wisdom and love, hope and charity, gen- 
tleness and temperance, then the mercy 
of God will abound. His righteousness 
reign supreme, and His . glory cover the 
earth as the waters now cover the 
mighty deep. The Lord speedily cometh, 
blessed are they whom He finds watch- 
ing; He will receive them, and they shall 
be redeemed and sanctified. Who will 
receive Him? 

The Love of Excellence. 

If I could give but one word of advice 
to those who are trying to get on in the 
world, I should say, "Constantly culti- 
vate a love of excellence." It is surpris- 
ing how the mind and character expand 
and grow upward by the application of 
this stimulus. 

Nothing has more to do with forming 
a strong character and ability of a high 
order than constant cultivation of a love 
of excellence, a determination to do to 
a finish whatever we undertake. It is 
not enough to do a thing pretty well; it 
should be done as well as it can be done. 
"Oh, that is good enough!" has been the 
unsafe stone in the foundation of many 
a life which has caused the building to 
topple. 

A habit of incompleteness formed when 
young is the secret of innumerable fail- 
ures. Cultivating an upward tendency 
in all that we do, and holding steadily 
a high ideal in the mind, is a perpetual 
stimulus to do things better and better, 
a daily incentive to a love of excellence. 

A habit of half doing things, or of 
doing them in a slipshod manner, will 
soon leave its demoralizing mark on th<- 
character. The mind soon becomes ac- 
customed to low ideals, and little by lit- 
tle the fine edge of conscience is blunted. 

The world wants your best, and you 
should resolve early in life never to give 
anything but the best of which you are 
capable. Put your best thought, your 
best work, your best energy, into every- 
thing you do. Make up your mind that 
you will never do anything by halves, 
no matter what others may do. Your 
life is worth too much to be thrown away 
in half doing things, or in botching any- 
rhing you undertake. 

There is a great satisfaction in doing 
things just ri^ht. It is a perpetual tonic 
to feel each night that you have not been 
slurring things during the day, that you 
have done everything you attempted just 
as well as it could be done. This sense 
of completeness, of things well done, has 
a most salutary influence in strengthen- 
ing the character, and bringing all the 
faculties into harmony, in qualifying us 
for better and higher work. 

I should advise a youth starting out 
in life to adopt the motto, "Perfection to 
the Finish." This should be the motto of 
the young, for its adoption early in life 
may mean all the difference between suc- 
cess and failure. 

People laughed at Stradivarius for 
spending months and months in making 
a violin. They thought he was throwing 
his time away. But today a Stradiva- 
rius, wherever found, is worth from 
$5 to $10,000, or several times its 
weight in gold. Everything that has 
immortality stamped upon it has been 
done in the most painstaking and careful 
manner. 



If the characters of criminals, of 
tramps, of the great army of unemployed 
and side-tracked people, were to be anal- 
yzed, it would be found that most of 
them have been accustomed to half-do 
things. It is very seldom that a per- 
son who does whatever he undertakes to 
do as well as it can be done, who does 
not slur over his work, is out of a situa- 
tion, unless he possesses some other seri- 
ous character defect. It is a fact that, 
although there are hundreds of thou- 
sands out of employment, almost every 
great concern in the country is constant- 
ly on the lookout for better employes, 
better clerks, more careful bookkeepers, 
better stenographers, better everything. 

It is more difficult than one would im- 
agine to find employes who are thorough- 
ly conscientious in their work, who do 
everything they atempt to the very best 
of their ability, and who are resolute in 
their determination not to slight any- 
thing. 

When an employer wishes to promote 
any of his clerks, he always looks for 
the one who does his work in the most 
complete and satisfactory manner. This 
is usually the great test of fitness. Every 
employer dislikes slipshod and slovenly 
methods. He wants orderly, systematic, 
painstaking employes. 

Doing things as well as they can be 
done is not only the quickest way to ad- 
vancement, but it has a very great influ- 
ence upon one's character and self-re- 
spect. If for no other motive than to 
maintain our self-respect, we shouJd nev- 
er allow ourselves to get into the habit 
of half-doing things. 

If we were to ask employers all over 
this country what ? in their opinion, is 
the greatest impediment to the advance- 
ment of young people, I believe the ma- 
jority of them would say, "the habit of 
naif-doing things." 

rhis is a slipshod age. Poorly done, 
half done, done in a careless manner, is 
written all over modern life. Buildings 
fall down almost before they are com- 
pleted, clothing comes to pieces before it 
is half worn out, because not half made, 
and all through mercantile and profes- 
sional life the same slipshod n ess is visi- 
ble. 

The man who is never quite sure of 
anything— who thinks, guesses or ima- 
gines, about the amount or the distance— 
who comes somewhere near, but never is 
quite certain of anything— rarely gets 
very far in this world. It is the accurate 
man, the painstaking man who is exact, 
who attains to the highest success. 

The boy who half learns his lessons, 
who skims through his examinations, 
who is slovenly in his habits, lacks sys- 
tem and order, who does things in a 
half-hearted way, is almost sure to be a 
failure in life. The habits formed in 
boyhood characterize the man. He is 
continually looking for something, and 
nexer knows exactly where, anything is. 
He never knows where he stands. His 
books are inaccurate, and he cannot tell 
whether he is solvent or not. He is a 
,little- late at the bank; his paper goes to 

Krotest, and he loses his credit; and so 
e goes on, blundering all through life. 
Such a man is not only a failure, but he 
demoralizes everything and everyone 
about him. His employes fall into slov- 
enly ways, and never think it worth while 
to do anything just right, because their 
employer does not do so himself. They 
become careless, inaceurate, and habitu- 
ally negligent. These defects and weak- 
nesses permeate the whole establishment, 
until, finally, the man's business goes to 
ruin. Then he. is unable to trace the 
blame to its true source, but bemoans 
himself as a victim of ill luck.— Selected. 

A Bright Soldier. 

A captain, possessed of the importance 
of patriotic precept, thought he noticed 
a lack of enthusiasm in a young recruit. 

"What should you think," said he, "if 
you saw the Stars and Stripes waving 
over the field of battle?" 

"I should think that the wind was 
blowing," was the logical reply.— Youth's 
Companion. 



310 



THE SOUTHERN STAB. 



Gen. Lees Punctuality. 

Robert E. Lee, a son of" Gen. Lee, 
writes of his father in Frank Leslie's 
Populur Monthly: 

"My father was the most punctual 
man I ever knew. He was always ready 
for family prayers, and at all meal times, 
and met every engagement, business or 
social, on the moment. He expected all 
of us to be the same, and impressed 
upon us the use and necessity of form- 
ing such habits for the convenience of all 
concerned. I never knew him late for 
Sunday service at the post chapel. He 
appeared in uniform some minutes before 
anyone else, and would jokingly rally my 
mother and sisters for being late, or for- 
getting something at the last moment. 
When he could wait no longer, be would 
say, 'Well, I'm oftV and march away to 
church by himself, or with any one of 
us who was ready. Then he took his 
seat, well up in the middle aisle; and, as 
I remember, he got nlways very drowsy 
during the sermon, and sometimes caught 
a little nap. At that time this drowsi- 
ness of my father's seemed something 
awful to me. I knew that it was very 
hard for me to keep awake, and fre- 
quently I did not: but why he, who I be- 
lieved could do everything that was right 
without any effort, should sometimes be 
overcome, I could not understand, and 
did not try to do so." 



Forced to Leave a Christian (?) Burg. 

Elder E. G. Anderson writes the fol- 
lowing account of evil treatment re- 
ceived in the civilized State of South 
Carolina: 

At the close of our conference held 
July 21st and 22d, at Society Hill, Elder 
Joseph H. Lewis and I were assigned to 
labor in Chester county, for which place 
we started after having a spiritual feast, 
determined not to leave any stones un- 
turned that would advance the cause of 
truth. 

Before leaving, our President advised 
us to enter Chester City and work it be- 
fore doing any canvassing in the country. 
Upon our arrival in the city we found 
three families of Saints, who were 
pleased to meet us. 

We first visited the Mayor and asked 
his permission to work the city by tract- 
ing, selling books, holding street meet- 
ings, etc. 

After listening to our request he de- 
cided he could not give us any answer 
until he met the City Council and learned 
tbeir feelings relative to our work. 

To make a lengthy story short, he met 
with the Council and they gave us per- 
mission to proceed with our work, with 
the exception of street meetings. He 
also guaranteed us protection while we 
were under his jurisdiction. 

Accordingly we proceeded with light 
hearts to do the will of Him who sent 
us, met. many who opposed our teach- 
ings and told us wo had ought to be 
drummed out of the town. We paid lit- 
tle or no attention to the insults hurled 
at us by those who knew little or nothing 
about us. 

On Sunday, Aug. 12th inst.. we attend- 
ed a meeting held by Rev. H. C. Buck- 
holz, subject discussed, "Mormonism as 
It Is" (?). After very grossly misrepre- 
senting our faith for an hour and a quar- 
ter, we asked permission to speak, which 
he would not permit us to do in his meet- 
ing, as he knew, or we suppose he did. 
that we could prove to him and his au- 
dience that he had not fairly represented 
our faith, but we cannot expect anything 
better from the adversary of truth. 



At the close of the meeting we could 
hear some say: I'll help get up a mob 
and drive them out, and the following 
Monday, when at the home of a friend, 
we received a note, ordering us to leave 
the town within twenty hours. Tuesday 
morning we again called on the Mayor 
and showed him the note. He said he 
was sorry anything like that had oc- 
curred, and that he would grant us our 
rights. 

We, feeling safe with this assurance, 
proceeded with our work again unmolest- 
ed, until about 9 o'clock at night seven- 
ty-five or one hundred armed men came 
up to the house where we were staying 
and demanded the "Mormon Elders." 

We went out to see what they wanted, 
and they informed us that we were to 
get out of the county and stay out, if we 
didn't want to get hurt. They then per 
mitted us to stay in the city until morn- 
ing, upon condition that we would leave 
before 10 o'clock. We could not learn 
who the leader was, but was told this, 
that the Mayor's son and one of the po- 
lice were among the number of good 
Christians (?). 

The next morning I called at the home 
of the Baptist preacher and found out 
that he left his home about 8 o'clock th<» 
night of the raid. I do not know wheth- 
er he was with tbe mob or not, but there 
is no doubt but what his sermon Sunday 
was the cause of it. 

We promised to leave when we saw 
that there was no reason whatever in 
the crowd. 

They said, If we can't put you out by 
reason we can by force. 

Thus we have brought to our minds 
very forcibly this fact, that with all the 
skill the devil has he cannot overthrow 
the truth by reason. This can only b«« 
done by brute force. We felt to say. 
Father, forgive them, for they know 
not that they were rejecting a message 
from the Lord, and closing the door of 
the Kingdom of Heaven to those whu 
would be willing to accept the Gospel in 
its purity. 

The Star is a regular visitor, and the 
gems that adorn its pages are of lifelong 
benefit to the earnest seeker after truth. 



PARALLEL EVENTS. 

BY ELDER JOSEPH H. LINES. 

Almost two thousand years have come 
and gone since Adam and Eve were driv- 
en forth from the Garden of Eden to sub- 
due the thorns and briers and earn their 
daily bread in the sweat of their faces. 
Their sons and daughters have multiplied 
until they have become a mighty multi- 
tude. As they grew in numbers, wicked- 
ness increased among them, until, we are 
told in the Bible narrative, that the 
thought of their hearts was only evil con- 
tinually. So terribly corrupt had they 
become that God in His sore displeasure 
resolved to destroy them by a mighty 
flood. But God is just and merciful, and 
He will not destroy His children without 
giving them a chance to repent. So He 
sent them the Prophet Noah, who, for 
one hundred and twenty years, lifts up 
his voice in solemn warning to that wicked 
people; calling upon them to repent of 
their sins, and warning them of the great 
destruction that will surely overtake them 
if they do not do so. 

They reject the message; they scorn 
and ridicule the Prophet and count hi in 
an imposrter. As a result of their un- 
belief and wickedness, God opens the win- 
dows of heaven; the fountains of the 
great deep are broken up ; the rain pours 
down in torrents; the angry waters rise 



higher and higher, until the highest moun- 
tains are covered and everything upon the 
earth is destroyed. Borne upon the sur- 
face of the mighty flood rides a solitary 
ark ; in it is the Prophet of God and sev- 
en other souls — all who would listen to 
the heaven-sent message. They, alone, 
of all the earth are saved. 

How sad it is to think that so many 
of the sons and daughters of God would 
thus reject the counsel and advice of a 
kind and merciful Father, spurn the mes- 
sage do full of love and mercy sent to 
them by His authorized servant, and rush 
blindly to their own destruction. But 
were it possible to stop here and record 
that succeeding generations had profited 
by the knowledge of the awiul destruction 
which overtook the antediluvians, the sad 
thought would be robbed of a portion of 
its sadness, but alas ! such is not the case, 
as a further examination of the world's 
history will amply demonstrate. 

Two thousand years have been added 
to the roll of time since the mighty flood 
devastated the earth. The world is again 
peopled by millions of human beings; in 
the land of Palestine dwell a portion of 
the descendants of Abraham — the chosen 
people of God. Moses, the great law-giv- 
er, and the many mighty prophets who 
succeeded him have long since laid their 
bodes in the silent tomb. If we examine 
the religious belief of this chosen people 
of God, we find that they are divided into 
numerous sects and parties, all sharply 
contending among themselves over doc- 
trinal points. They are a nation of hypo- 
crites. For pretense they stand upon the 
street corners and in the synagogues and 
pray long and loud to be seen and heard 
of men. In fact, their religion consists 
of an outward show of sanctity, while 
within it is full of rottenness and corrup- 
tion. They garnish the tombs of the dead 
prophets and stand ready to kill and per- 
secute the living. They say: "Had we 
lived in the days of the Prophets we would 
not have persecuted them as did our fa- 
thers; had we lived in the days of Noah 
we would have accepted his message and 
been found among the saved." Ah, ye 
hypocrites! God is about to send you a 
message by the Greatest Prophet the 
world has ever seen, and what will vou 
do with it? 

In the midst of the confusion and con- 
tention existing among the Jews a babe 
is born in Bethlehem of Judea. Angels 
wend their way to earth and in the pres- 
ence of the humble shepherds give voice 
to that heavenly song, "Peace on earth, 
good will to men." 'And well might the 
angels sing, for that little infant wrapped 
in swadling clothes and lying in its man- 
ger cradle, is the Son of God — the only 
Begotten of the Father, who has been 
sent to this wicked and sin-stained world 
with a message of Divine love ; a message 
that breathes of life and salvation to all 
who will receive and obey it. 

The Son of God grows to manhood: 
He goes forth among His brethren and 
sisters and in meekness and humility 
points out to them the narrow way that 
leads to eternal life. He heals the sick, 
casts out the devils, makes the blind to 
see, the deaf to hear and the dumb to 
speak. He binds up the broken-hearted, 
and brings consolation and comfort to 
the oppressed and sorrowful. He makes 
the honest in heart to rejoice in the glo- 
rious truths of the everlasting Gospel. 

He rebukes the fawning hypocrite and 
preaches repentance to the straying sin- 
ner. Gazing upon the proud dtjr of Je- 
rusalem and the beautiful temple, He 
foretells their utter destruction because 
of the wickedness of the people, and gives 
His followers a sign that when they shall 



THE SOUTHERN STAB. 



311 



see it come to pass they may take warn- 
ing and fiee to a place of safety. Surely 
the Jews will accept this divinely sent 
message, and listen to the warning voice 
of this mighty Prophet of the living God 
and lay hold upon eternal life. 

Let us see. 'Tig the year 33 A. D. 
Mighty crowds are surging back and 
forth in the streets of Jerusalem — a man 
is on trial for his life before Pilate, the 
Homan Governor; in mockery they have 
clad him in a gorgeous robe and placed 
upon his brow a crown of thorns; he is 
insulted, mocked, spit upon ; but he bears 
it all without a murmur. He is accused 
of sedition ; of perverting the nation ; of 
being a blasphemer, in that he being a 
man, proclaims himself the Son of God. 
The evidence has been produced; is he 
guilty V Let Pilate speak: "Ye have 
brought this man unto me, as one that 
perverteth the people; and, behold, I, 
having examined him before you, have 
found no fault in this man touching those 
things whereof ye accuse him. * * * 
I will therefore chastise him and release 
him." But the people, led on by the chief 
Priests, who are loudest in the outcry 
against him, will not have it so, and with 
one voice they cry, Crucify him ! Crucify 
him ! The dread sentence is passed ; they 
take him to Calvary's hill, and there be- 
tween two thieves they crucify him. The 
cruel nails are driven through his hands 
and feet ; the spear of the Roman soldier 
pierces his side ; and there, upon the cross 
he yields his soul to God. Who is this 
man? Why is he hated by his fellow man, 
and why, though innocent of any crime, 
has he been condemned to die? Ah, read- 
er, this is he, who thirty-three years ago 
first saw the light of day in the stable 
manger at Bethlehem ; this is Christ, the 
Son of God, the only Begotten of the 
Father; He who was sent to the earth 
with a message of divine love, and to 
point the way to eternal life. And this 
is the way He has been received : hated ; 
ridiculed; persecuted ; driven from city 
to city, from synagogue to synagogue; a 
hiss and a byword among His fellow men. 
His teachings scorned; His counsel and 
advice disregarded; His warning unheed- 
ed. History has repeated itself; and as 
was the case with the antediluvians, the 
rejection of the heaven-sent message is 
followed by dire calamity. 

In fulfillment of the prophecy of Jesus 
the Roman army enters Palestine and 
lays siege to Jerusalem, and the horrors 
of that siege are beyond the possibility 
of mortal tongue to describe. To such 
extremities are the inhabitants of the city 
reduced that mothers are forced to eat 
the flesh of their own children. At last 
the defenders of the city are overcome, 
and Jerusalem is in the hands of the Ro- 
man legions. They raze the walls of the 
city level with the ground, and so effect- 
ually destroy the temple that not one 
stone is left upon another. Over a mill- 
ion Jews have perished. Ninety-seven 
thousand are taken captive; thousands of 
these are sold into slavery; thousands 
more lose their lives in the arenas of 
Home fighting as gladiators, or are torn 
to pieces by wild beasts to furnish sport 
for the heathen inhabitants of the Roman 
cities. And all this sorrow has been 
brought upon the Jewish people because 
of their rejection of the Savior and the 
message He brought them, while the few 
who did accept Christ were gathered to a 
place of safety and thus escaped the 
dreadful horrors attending the siege and 
capture of Jerusalem. 

Thus has God again brought death and 
destruction upon those who rejected His 
servants ; and as in the case of the ante- 
diluvians, we were unable to record that 



succeeding generations had profited by 
their dread example, so are we now un- 
able to record that the generations fol- 
lowing Christ have profited by the knowl- 
edge of the awful calamities which befell 
the Jews as a consequence of their rejec- 
tion of the Savior. 

The wheels of time slowly revolve ; gen- 
eration succeeds generation, until almost 
another two thousand years have passed. 
It is the time of the restitution of all 
things spoken of by Peter ; ihe time when 
the kingdom of God is to be set up, as 
toreseen by Daniel. The world is slowly 
emerging irom the long night of spiritual 
darkness that followed the overflow of 
the early Christian Church, and while re- 
ligious liberty is enjoyed throughout a 
large part of the civilized world, fake 
doctrines prevail in all lands. The nu- 
merous religious sects, offshoots of the 
great Roman Catholic Church, are clash- 
ing and contending over doctrinal points; 
"confusion worse confounded" reigns su- 
preme. In the midst of this confusion a 
man child is born in the village or Sharon, 
Windsor county, Vermont, who is des- 
tined to be an instrument in the hands of 
God to usher in the dispensation of the 
fullness of times. His parents are poor, 
but honest and God-fearing country folk ; 
as he grows up he has to toil early and 
late to help keep the wolf from the door. 
On account of the poverty of his parents 
his education is very limited. At the age 
of fourteen he becomes very much con- 
cerned for the welfare of his soul; and 
being unable to gain any degree of satis- 
faction from the conflicting religious 
creeds of the day, he determined to take 
the wise counsel of the Apostle James: 
"If any of you lack wisdom let him ask 
of God, who giveth to all men liberally 
and upbraideth not, and it shall be given 
him." So, on a beautiful spring morning 
he seeks the seclusion of the woods and 
pours out the desire of his soul to God in 
earnest prayer. In answer to his humble 
petition a glorious vision bursts upon his 
view; he beholds two heavenly beings 
standing above him in the air, and is told 
in answer to his question, "Which of all 
the denominations are right?" that they 
are all wrong and that he must join none 
of them ; but that if he will wait and re- 
main faithful he shall be an instrument 
in the hands of God to restore to earth 
the fullness of the everlasting Gospel. He 
is subsequently visited by an angel, who 
tells him of the existence of an ancient 
record, which lies hidden in a hill near 
his home ; and which contains the history 
of a people who had once dwelt upon this 
continent, and of the dealings of God with 
them; also the fullness of the Gospel as 
taught them by the Savior Himself. 

The record is finally delivered to the 
keeping of this boy Prophet, and through 
the gift and power of God he is enabled 
to translate it into the English language, 
and the work of sending it, with its glo- 
rious message, into all the world is at 
once begun. In the meantime the heav- 
ens have again been opened; John the 
Baptist, now a resurrected being, comes 
to earth and confers upon the Prophet 
and his assistant, Oliver Cowdery, the 
Aaronic Priesthood, giving them the right 
to preach the preparatory Gospel and 
baptize for the remission of sins. After- 
ward came Peter, James and John, who 
confer upon them the Melchesidec Priest- 
hood. They also ordain them Apostles 
of the Lord Jesus and confer upon them 
the keys of the kingdom of heaven. Un- 
der and by virtue of this authority the 
Prophet organizes the Church of Christ 
upon earth according to the ancient pat- 
tern, with Apostles and Prophets at its 
head. 



Through the Prophet the Lord gives nu- 
merous revelations for the guidance of 
His people, and directs the sending forth 
of numerous Elders to cry repentance to 
a sin-stained and unbelieving world, and 
to promise to repentant baptized believ- 
ers thaa the same gifts and blessings that 
followed the disciples of Christ in the 
early dawn of the Gospel light will follow 
them now. The Elders go forth and the 
promise is verified; the sick are healed; 
the eyes of the blind are opened, and the 
ears of the deaf unstopped. Thousands 
are gathered out from among the ungod- 
ly and are made to rejoice in the glorious 
truths of the restored Gospel. The Proph- 
et gazes upon the land of his birth and 
sees thousands of human beings toiling in 
slavery. More than this; he sees relig- 
ious liberty trampled in the dust. The 
gift of prophecy rests upon him in mighty 
power; he foresees that trouble is coming 
to the nation if it persists in such a 
course; he sees the war clouds gathering 
and points out to the people of this mighty 
republic how such a calamity may be 
avoided. Surely such a great and glori- 
ous work as described above will meet 
with the approval of all men who love 
to serve God and keep His command- 
ments. Surely the people will rejoice that 
the gift of prophecy is once more upon 
the earth. And as this wonderful work 
is being inaugurated in a day when re- 
ligious liberty is being almost universally 
enjoyed, and in a country the supreme law 
of which guarantees to every man the 
right to worship God according to the 
dictates of his own conscience, we should 
be able to record that the followers of 
this modern Prophet are permitted to en- 
joy, to the fullest extent, the blessings of 
civil and religious liberty; that they are 
permitted to worship God in peace and 
to preach the "glad tidings of good 
things" unharmed and unmolested. But, 
alas ! such is not the case ; for the people 
living in the dawn of the nineteenth cen- 
tury, though boasting a high degree of 
civilization, and of being followers of the 
lowly Nazarene, with the love of God and 
their fellow man burning in their bosoms, 
have proven themselves possessed of the 
very spirit of anti-Christ. 

No sooner does this boy Prophet an- 
nounce that he has seen a vision than he 
is made the object of ridicule and perse- 
cution ; he is hated and despised ; an out- 
cast among his fellow men, who delight 
to point at him the finger of scorn. As 
the years go by and followers gather 
round him, the hatred and persecution in- 
creases ; numerous attempts are made up- 
on his life. At midnight he is dragged 
from his bed by an inhuman mob, tarred 
and feathered and beaten almost to death. 
False charges are made against him that 
they may deprive him of his liberty ; for- 
ty-eight times he is dragged before the 
courts on trumped up charges, and forty- 
eight times he is acquitted; but with the 
dogged persistence of the Jews, who 
hounded the Savior to His death, his ene- 
mies still seek his destruction. 

"The law will not reach him," they 
say, "but powder and ball shall." And 
just as it was in the days of Christ, the 
spiritual leaders of the people, the pro- 
fessed ministers of the Gospel, are his bit- 
terest foes and are first to cry, kill him ! 
kill him ! At last they get him in their 
power; and while confined in Carthage 
jail, with the honor of one of the great 
commonwealths of this mighty republic, 
pledged, through its chief executive, to 
his protection, the jail is suddenly sur- 
rounded by a masked and painted band 
of human devils, and the Prophet of the 
nineteenth century is murdered in cold 
blood. Now, while his murdereis are fly- 



312 



THE SOUTHBBN STAR. 



REPORT OF MISSION CONFERENCES FOR WEEK ENDING AUG. 4, 1900. 



PRESIDE 



Geo. A. Adams., 

Heber S. Olson 

J.G.Bolton «.;.„. 

J. Spencer Woraley.,... 

W. 6. Bencher..... . 

A. C. Strong 

John H. Bankh niw I 

John Reeve M t 

J. M. Haws 

C. K. Humphrey* 

G. M. Porter , 

W. W.MacKav M 

F. H. Critchueld... 

R. L. Houtz 

Don C. Benson 

L. M. Nebeker 

H. Z. Lund 



LlONIi-KHEXi:*: 



ChuUlUUmtfH 

Virginia,.,,......... 

Kentucky 

R&St TenngHAee., 

tieurgia ..... 

Sin- Eh Alabama hr 

Florida 

Mid. Tvniii'swr „ 
North Carolina... 
South Carolina .. 

Hi*ai&uppi .„ 

Rust Kentucky... 

Louisiana 

Suiuh Alabama.. 
North Kentucky 

smith Ohio 

North uhio, ........ 






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ing panic-stricken from the scene of their 
awful crime, let us pause to ask : Who is 
this man — why is he so hated of his fel- 
low man, and why, though innocent of any 
crime, has he been put to death by a 
cruel mob? Ah, reader, this is Joseph 
Smith, the founder of the sect called in 
derision "Mormons." He is persecuted 
because he has been chosen of God to ac- 
complish a mighty work. He is hated 
because he is not of the world, but being 
chosen out of the world, 'therefore the 
world hateth him." He has been put to 
death because the hosts of Satan vainly 
hoped thereby to stop the progress of the 
work of God. And what of his people? 
Let us follow them as they are driven 
from place to place; shot down by scores, 
their homes burued, their lands confis- 
cated by lawless mobs. Let us follow 
them where they leave their blood-stained 
tracks in the frozen snow as they seek a 
place in this boasted land of liberty where 
they can worship God in peace according 
to the dictates of their own conscience. 
Let us follow them as they are driven be- 
yond the confines of civilization to seek 
a home among the savage red men in the 
midst of the Kocky mountains, and there 
let us leave them while we pause to ask, 
if the people of this great nation who 
have perpetrated this monstrous outrage 
upon an innocent and unoffending people 
are going to be permitted to go un whipped 
of justice; unchastened by the hand of 
God? No ; for already the coming of ret- 
ribution has cast its .dark shadow ovet 
the land. The war clouds gather thicker 
and blacker until at last the gathering 
storm bursts .upon the country and civil 
war in all its savage fury desolates the 
land. Oh ! the horrors of those four years 
of internal strife! Great armies of mad- 
dened men surging back and forth, leav- 
ing death and desolation in their path ; 
the roar of cannon, the rattle of mus- 
ketry ; the tramp of the charging hosts; 
the heap of mangled slain ; mothers 
mourning the loss of gallant sons; wives 
weeping for husbands who will never re- 
turn;. the thousands of orphans bewailing 
the loss of fathers; all, all, bear testi- 
mony that God has again poured out the 
vials of His wrath upon those who have 
rejected His servants and set at naught 
His counsels. 

But let us turn from a picture so full 
of woe to gaze upon the valleys of far off 
Utah, where dwell the followers of Jo- 
seph Smith. And as we gaze upon its 
peaceful vales and notice that they are 
unscarred by red-handed war, let us re- 
member that the Mormon people escaped 
the dreadful horrors of this most terrible 
of civil wars simply because of their be- 
lief in the divinity of the mission of the 
Prophet Joseph Smith. They heard and 
heeded the Prophet's message; and God 
led them to a place of safety. 



History has again repeated itself. The 
lessons of the past were unheeded. God 
spoke to a disobedient and sin-stained na- 
tion ; He sent a Prophet to warn it of the 
danger of its course and point out the path 
that led to safety. The. Prophet was re- 
jected by the many, and they reaped sor- 
row and suffering. He was accepted by 
the few and as a result they were saved 
from the fury of the storm that deso- 
lated the land. What greater, what more 
convincing proof could possibly be pro- 
duced to establish the fact that Joseph 
Smith was sent of God? 



Releases and Appointments. 

Releases. 

E. D. Curtis, Chattanooga Conference. 

F. M. Pratt, Virginia Conference. 
E. G. Gardner, Virginia Conference. 
L. A. Moore, East Tennessee Confer- 
ence. 

C. E. Crowley, Kentucky Conference. 
John S. Allen, Virginia Conference. 
Alma Iverson, North Alabama Confer- 
ence. 

Joseph Hastings, North Alabama Con- 
forenee. 
B. V. Pack, Virginia Conference. 
I>. Wood, Virginia Conference. 

D. H. Jones, Florida Conference. 
Willard Burgess, East Tennessee Con- 



GLEANINGS. 

The following letter, written by Pres. 
John Reeve of the Middle Tennessee con- 
ference to Brother Austin and family, of 
Monroe, Tenn., under date of Aug. 11, 
1900, conveys words of condolence, coun- 
sel and instruction to those bereaved. 
Miss Mary Austin succumbed to the 
summons of death July 30.— Ed. 

"Elders Decker and Da vies have just 
written me of the death of your daugh- 
ter and sister, Mary. Accept my heart- 
felt sympathy in your behalf, in the tem- 
porary loss of your loved one. 

"The ways of the Almighty are not 
always understood by us. His childreu; 
but this we do know, that His ways are 
just and true. *The Lord giveth, and the 
Lord taketh away.' The reason why He 
calls the faithful home, may be to labor 
among those who have gone on before, 
and have departed this life without ever 
hearing the sound of the Gospel. Hun- 
dreds and thousands have died when 
there was no Gospel upon the earth. 
Nearly eighteen centuries have elapsed 
since the gospel was taken from the chil- 
dren of men because of their wickedness, 
during which time, millions lived and died 
without the privilege of hearing the Gos- 
pel. 

"Not until the year 1830, when the 
I^ord saw tit to reveal Himself to His 
children again, and could find individuals 
who would do His will, was the Gospel 
once more given to mankind upon the 
earth. 



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Richmond, Box :ixs ... 

Centre ..... 

Charlotte. ... ... 

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Memphis, Box !fi& 

ValdiMta..,, „„„„, 

fflifl N. summer <t \**JivUJe 
Uuldttlioro, Wojc ttU ......... 

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Tennessee 

Georgia 

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Alabama 

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"Joseph Smith was the man whom the 
Almighty honored and entrusted with 
that glorious charge. Joseph was so 
honored because the Almighty knew Him 
even before the foundation of this earth 
was laid; knew of his faithfulness and 
integrity; knew that he would remain 
firm and undaunted, knew that he would 
stand as fixed and unshaken as the ever- 
lasting hills, even under the most disas- 
trous storms of persecution that would 
be heaped upon his head by wicked men; 
knew that before he would deny his God, 
and turn traitor to the message from 
heaven, he would seal his testimony with 
his blood. He did seal his testimony 
with his blood. The teacher is now dead 
and the testimony is in force. And the 
Almighty through that man has restored 
to earth the plan of life and salvation 
by which all mankind may be saved 
through obedience to the same. Your 
deceased loved one was made partaker 
of that divine message, and has gone to 
the spirit world to inform her aucestors 
of the glorious truths that have been re- 
vealed to earth through that mighty 
Prophet, Joseph Smith. 

"While this chosen vessel of the Al- 
mighty was incarcerated in Liberty jail, 
Clay county, Missouri, for declaring, 
Paul-like, that he. had been visited by 
heavenly messenger, the word of the Lord 
came to him thus: "The ends of the 
earth shall enquire after thy name, and 
fools shall have thee, in derision, and hell 
shall rage against thee.* 'While the pun- 
in heart, and the wise, and the noble, 
and the virtuous, shall seek counsel and 
authority, and blessings constantly from 
under thy hand.' No Prophet's words 
have been so literally fulfilled as have 
these. Go where you may, among the 
civilized world, and you will find people 
enquiring after His name, and fools hav- 
ing His name in derision, and hell rag- 
ing against Him. On the other hand, 
we find the pure in heart, and the wise, 
and the noble, and the yirtuous, seeking, 
and have sought counsel, and authority, 
aud blessings constantly from under the 
hands of that mighty Prophet. Yea. in 
nearly every land and clime we have 
found the pure iti heart praising the 
name of the Prophet, leaving home and 
friends and worldly honors, traveling 
thousands of miles across burning des- 
erts and drifting sands, enduring perse- 
cution, hunger and even death, to re- 
ceive blessings from the Almighty under 
the hands of that inspired Prophet. All 
the spiritual blessings that I, my pa- 
rents and loved ones have, or ever will 
receive, have and will come from under 
the hands of that man. Those blessings 
which you and your departed loved one 
have received, in that you have been 
baptized by the authority of heaven, 
have come from under the hands of that 
God-sent Prophet, Joseph Smith. Jr. I 
know that if we remain faithful to 
this message we shall all rise in the 
morning of the first resurrection, and 
meet the Prophet Joseph, with the Sav- 
ior and all tne Holy Saints, and there 
receive crowns of eternal life in the 
kingdom of God." 




"BUT TI10UGH WEOC AN ANGEL FGGM HtAVlN, PREACH ANY 
PTMEft G05PLL UNTO YOU ThAN THAT WMICH WE 

HAVE_FRE AIMED UNTO YOU, LIT hlM ftfc ACCUSED *G4i.f*?3y. 



-T&tg&r 



Vol. 2. 



Chattanooga, Tbnn., Saturday, September 1, 1900. 



No. 40. 



DARK CLOUDS. 

BY WILLIAM B. CRAIG. 

"Tla not all sunshine. Storms we must have 

To appreciate the calm; 
Dark clouds must hover o'er life's frail 
barque, 

And then a healing balm 
Will soothe the Ills and cares we may en- 
dure. 

While life doth last, 
And help us look with confidence secure 

O'er all the past. 

'Tis well to have a hope 

Which reaches far within the v ail, 
And live the lives of righteousness ' 

Which ne'er will fall 
To bring a blessing from above, 

From Him who dwells 
Amid the realms of light and love; 

Whose bosom swells 

With tender care for all who will 

Obey His word, 
And on His Spirit's power depend. 

Which will afford 
A consolation in the hour 

Of trial near. 
Oh, happy Is the soul who doth 

His name revere. 

And while I struggle on 'gainst adverse 
powers, 

My soul from sin to free, 
To Thy Almighty care I leave the rest, 
Father, Supreme, to Thee. 



FRIENDSHIP, LOVE AND TRUTH. 

When friendship, love, and truth abound 

Among a band of brothers, 
The cup of Joy goes gaily round, 

Bach shares the bliss of others. 
Sweet roses grace the thorny way 

Along this vale of sorrow; 
And flowers that shed their leaves today 

Shall bloom again tomorrow. 
How grand In age, how fair in youth, » 
Are holy friendship, love, and truth! 

On halcyon wings our moments pass, 

Life's cruel cares beguiling. 
Old time lays down his scythe and glass, 

In gay good-humor smiling; 
With ermine beard and forelock gray, 

His reverend front adorning, 
He looks like winter turn'd to May, 

Night soften'd into morning. 
How grand in age. how fair In youth. 
Are holy friendship, love, and truth! 

From these delightful fountains flow 

Ambrosial rills of pleasure; 
Can man desire, can heaven bestow, 

A more resplendent treasure? 
Adorn'd with gems so richly bright, 

We'll form a constellation, 
Where every star, with modest light, 

Shall gild his proper station. 
How grand in age, now fair in youth, 
Are holy friendship, love, and truth! 

—Montgomery. 



DEATH OF ELDER ROBERT A. PAXTON. 



Elder Robert A. Paxton, of Kanosh, 
Utah, fell asleep in the arms of death 
while engaged in the service of the Lord. 
His demise occurred at Blacksburg, S. 
C, on the morning of the 27th ult., as 
a result of a very severe attack of 
pneumonia. At this time it is not pos- 
sible to obtain a cut of his portrait, but 
we hope to produce the same with a full 
account of his death, in our next issue. 
As soon as word was received of his 
death, Sister Rich sent the following 
epistle of condolence to the beloved moth- 
er of our departed brother. Our sister's 
letter but speaks the express feelings of 
our tender and sympathetic emotions, 
therefore we publish the same as it was 
written: 

"Chattanooga, Tenn., Aug. 27, 1900. 

"My Dear Sister Faxton— In all prob- 
abi!ity t before this missive reaches you, 
you will have been informed of the sad 
news relative to the demise of our be- 
loved brother, and your dear son, Elder 
R. A. Paxton. I hasten, dear sister, to 
pen you a few lines of condolence, that 

Eerchance I might console you in the 
our of your bereavement. 

"Like you, I also am a mother in Is- 
rael, and I, too, have had to bid my 
boys farewell, when they have left my 
side to labor in the service of the Lord. 
Even now, dear sister, I have a son in 
the state of Virginia, engaged in mis- 
sionary labors, and so, I feel from ex- 
perimental knowledge, a loving mother's 
sympathy and tender affection for her 
boy. Thus, I realize t to some extent, the 
sadness of your spirit, the depression of 
your soul and the sorrow of your wound- 
ed heart in this hour of sad affliction. 

"Though my feeble pen may fail to in- 
scribe the intense feelings of my heart, 
and words prove inadequate to commu- 
nicate the profound love and sympathy I 
would extend to you, still, dear sister, 
within the depths of my soul there throbs 
and beats for you a gentle compassion- 
ate tenderness which only those who 
know the love of God can comprehend. 

"I have just received a telegram from 
ray husband, and he will accompany your 
son's body from Blacksburg to Chatta- 
nooga, where all necessary arrangements 
will be made for shipment and transpor- 
tation. When the news reached us. in 
Chattanooga it seemed to cast a solemn 
gloom over all the Elders here, and to- 
night when the knee was bent and the 
body bowed in supplication before the 
throne of God, from the heart there 
came an earnest prayer to our Father 
in Heaven, asking Him to bless and con- 
sole you, and comfort all those who are 
connected by the endearing ties of kin- 



dred affection, with our departed brother, 
and deceased co-laborer, whom we all 
honor and revere. 

"Remember, dear sister, that 'Earth 
has no sorrow that heaven cannot heal.' 
God will not leave you or forget you in 
your affliction. He never forsakes His 
children, but He, who tempers the wind 
to the shorn lamb, will also bless, and 
comfort, and protect you. Hope, the 
precious gleam of spiritual life, will shed 
a ray of living light through the thick- 
est gloom. 

"How consoling are these beautiful 
words, spoken by David the Psalmist; 
'Weeping may endure for a night, but 
joy cometh in the morning.' Ah! these 
are sweet, impressive words, and the joy 
and peace they convey to the troubled 
heart passeth all earthly understanding. 
Again, we hear the same sweet singer 
of ancient Israel declare, "The Lord is 
my Shepherd, I shall not want.' Think 
of these beautiful expressions, in which 
is plainly seen the abundant love of 
our Father God. Yes, dear sister, there 
is much joy and consolation to be ob- 
tained in reading God's Holy Word. 

"Paul, the great and good Apostle of 
the Lord, said: 'Now no chastening for 
the present seemeth to be joyous, but 
grievous; nevertheless afterward it yield- 
eth the peaceable fruit of righteousness 
unto them which are exercised thereby/ 
Not only can you find consolation and 
encouragement from the Word of the 
living God, but the Holy Ghost— that 
benign and heavenly comforter—will 
soothe your cares and sorrows, dry up 
the falling tear r heal your broken heart, 
and gladden with the sweet Balm of 
Gilead your saddened soul. 

"Take joy in this divine knowledge and 
blessed assurance. We shall meet again, 
yes, we shall meet again! In that holy 
congregation of the righteous, on the 
celestial Mount of Zion, your son shall 
rise in honor, robed in righteousness, and 
crowned with glory. He fell while strug- 
gling for the right, yea, in the harness, 
clad with the armor of truth and the 
shield of love. He shall come forth 
again when the dead in Christ shall rise 
and the great last trump of God shall 
sound, both loud and long. Be of good 
cheer, and the Lord will strengthen thine 
heart, so that, when time shall be no 
more, you can sing and exclaim, *AU is 
well.' 

"May God bless you, and may the 
Holy Spirit guide you ever, and the peac* 
and joys of IJeaven attend you. The 
Elders all join in a fervent, God bless 
you.' Your loving sister, # 

"Nina F. Rich." 



314 



THE SOUTHERN STAR. 



GOD'S GREATEST GIFT. 

BY ELDER DAVID H. ELTON. 

(Concluded from page 307.) 

IN CONCLUSION.— We have now dis- 
covered that which we sought, namely: 
the greatest gift of God to a fallen, sin- 
ful r&ce/ and' the means appointed of the 
Lord' whereby we may obtain it! Let 
us hot forget this fact, so oft declared 
in .Holy Writ, that all blessings and 
gifts' ftre predicated and based upon' the 
principle of' obedience. "Obedience Jto 
temporal law;s, the laws of health, brings 
happiness and - physical* strength; and 
obedience to the commands of God, tlu- 



law of the v Gospel,, brings joy; peace, 
, £lory, immortality and life eter- 
nal. When- the will" of ;God is made 



known unto us through His holy Word, 
"or by the moiith of His servants, let 
us hasten to obey, and not procrastinate 
the* day of' our repentance. We have 
briefly touched upon the principles and 
ordinances of the Gospel conducive and 
essential to the saving of the soul, and 
the exaltation of all the sons of men. 
These principles and ordinances have 
been proven iroin the "law and the tes- 
timony" to be in strict accordance with 
the Scriptures of Holy Writ, and the 
question is this: Will we treat them as 
useless and altogether unworthy our im- 
plicit acceptance, or shall we give dili- 
gent heed thereunto, submit ourselves 
to their requirements, and hold them as 
sacred and divine, the appointed means 
through obedience to whicn, salvation Js 
obtained? As we have found these prin- 
ciples to be the will of God, it were well 
that we remember the words of Peter, 
how that he said, in the face of his 
bitter enemies and wicked opponents: 
"WE OUGHT TO OBEY GOD RATH- 
ER THAN MEN." (Acts 5:29.) 

Through our individual acts of wick- 
edness, our transgression of God's law, 
we have alienated ourselves from the 
kingdom of heaven, and become strangers 
and foreigners. This is self-evident from 
the carnalitv of our fallen natures, and 
our disposition to sin,- to retrograde, and 
sink deeper and deeper into vice, and a 
thousand evil ways. Without the atone- 
ment of Jesus Christ, and the gift of a 
Gospel plan of righteousness, which is 
the power of God unto salvation, we 
could: never gain the glories of salvation, 
or overcome the temptations of the 
world, the flesh and the devil. But 
through the abundant mercy and loving 
grace of God. we have seen that the way 
is opened, the offering made, and the 
course mapped out. 

Now, kind reader, if we were foreign- 
ers from some distant land, and had 
wended our way to the soil of liberty on 
this American continent, in these United 
States, and desired to become citizens of 
this glorious republic, what must be done 
before we can enjoy the privileges we 
crave, or be members of these free-born 
institutions? Must we not first declare 
our intentions of loyalty and fealty, then 
suffer the oath of allegiance to be ad- 
ministered unto us while we bow in ac- 
quiescence, and then receive our papers 
of citizenship with the proper seal af- 
fixed, which final act grants us the rights 
and privileges of a full-fledged citizen? 
Yes; thi? is the order of procedure. As 
to our citizenship in the kingdom of God, 
then! We are all foreigners until we 
have embraced the Gospel of Jesus 
Christ, and rendered ourselves obedient 
to His will: so the first act on our parr 
is to declare our intentions of obedience 
by exercising faith in the Godhead, and 
repenting of our past sins with a Godly 
sorrow and a firm desire to sin no more. 
Following, we submit ourselves to the 
oath of allegiance — baptism by immer- 
sion for the remission of sins, and then 
are made the recipients of the heavenly 
blessings by receiving th<» seal of our 
adoption, the gift of the Holy Ghost by 
the lavine on of hands. As it is in the 
laws of the lnnd. so has it been declared 
in the council of God. viz.: that no one 
shall officiate in administering these or- 
dinances, save he v o<ss<»8s authority from 



God, either by direct revelation, or 
through the medium of His servants, the 
prophets. No man has any right to take 
honor or authority unto himself. It 
must be conferred or bestowed, by those 
possessing' the same, acting under the 
directions of God, through the prompting 
of the Comforter,, or the revelations of- 
His will. We cannot expect to enjoy the 
powers and blessings of heaven, save we 
become members of Christ's church, and 
fellow-citizens with the Saints, and of 
the household of God. 

Man's ways are not God's ways. 
"For my thoughts aro not your thought* 
neither are your wnjrs my ways,' saitlj 
the Lord. For as the?heavens are higher 
than the earth, so affe my ways ;highei 
than your ways, and my thoughts highej 
than your though ts." (Isaiah pS^8, 9'.< 
We nrnst do- as God bids us do, and nbl 
what we feel is right td do. If we ever 
enter into 'the glories of the kingdom of 
God, and receive the joy of our Lord, we 
must come in according to the ways of 
the Ijord. The Savior taught His disci- 
ples to pray unto "Our Fatper" in heav- 
en, "Thy kingdom come," and further- 
more they were commanded, "Seek ye 
first the kingdom of God, and His right- 
eousness; and all these things shall be 
added unto you." (Matt. 6:33.) How 
necessary, then, that ,we "seek" and 
"pray" for the kingdom of God. Dan- 
iel in' prophetic vision saw the time 
when, in the last days, the God of heaven 
would set up a kingdom which should 
never be destroyed or given to another 
people. He compared it to a little stone 
cut out of the mountain without hands, 
which increased until it became a moun- 
tain, and filled the whole earth. (Dan. 2.) 

The principles and ordinances as de- 
fined in previous issues, appeal to one's 
reason, as being philosophical, logi- 
cal, and consistent, besides being 
Scriptural, holy and divine. Should 
not these plain facts prove all-suf- 
ficient to convince the honest in- 
quirer for truth of the absolute neces- 
sity of implicitly complying thereto? Bui 
remember, that it is not enough to merely 
render obedience unto these fundamental 
rules prescribed. No, we must go on 
unto perfection, and remain faithful even 
unto death. * ; He that endureth to the 
end shall be saved," said the Lord to 
His disciples (Matt. 10:22), and Peter 
gives us some timely counsel and in- 
struction which it were well to consider 
and adopt. "Add to your faith virtue; 
and to virtue knowledge; and to knowl- 
edge temperance; and to temperance pa- 
tience; and to patience godliness; and to 
godliness brotherly kindness; and to 
brotherly kindness charity. For if these 
things be in you, and abound, they make 
you that ye shall neither be barren nor 
unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord 
Jesus Christ." (II Peter 1:5-8.) Jesus 
commanded His Apostles to "teach all 
things" whatsoever He had commanded 
them to teach. (Matt. 28:20.) We shall 
find that in our journey for the goal 
perfection and exaltation, we can never 
stand still, or rest upon the oars. There 
are no relay stations, no hitching posts 
to which we may safely tie for a sea- 
son, no stopping points where we can 
take a rest, but onward and upward 
must be our motto, until we gain the 
heavenly boon — life eternal, and obtain 
God's greatest gift. Acts of righteous- 
ness for the glory of God, deeds of fer- 
vent love for the alleviation of a brother 
or sister, and pure thoughts, upright con- 
duct and holy desires, are all essential 
to the advancement and development of 
the human soul. A "Let your light so 
shine before men, that they may see your 
good works, and glorify your Father 
which is in heaven." 

Example is better ihnn precept. "If 
ye love me, keep my commandments." 
(John 14:15.) If we love Him we will 
keen His commandments, and seek to 
honor His high and holy name. It is 
life eternal to know God (John 17:3). and 
"Hereby we do know that we know Him, 
if we keep His commandments. He that 
saith, I know Him, and keepeth not Him 
commandments, is a liar, and the truth 
is not in him." (I John 2:3, 4.) The 



Savior volunteered to come upon the foot- 
stool of His Father God, and offer Him- 
self a ransom for 'all. He gave His life 
freely that the inexorable dejoiands of 
justice might be satisfied, that the Ad- 
am ic debt might be paid, and mankind 
redeemed and loosened from the bands 
of the captive death. Not only did the 
immaculate Son of God grant unto all 
through His atonement and free will 
offering, on unconditional gift in the 
resurrection of the body frqaa the grave: 
but He also instituted certain ruleV, pre- 
served in? the Gospel, by whrich the 
way was provided* ' that man^ might re- 
ceive a remisskm of individual £ins, and 
be lifted up at th^ last' day to eternal 
Hfe^-God's, greatest) gift. ' ! ! # 

Tfous we; see that'His.was a duajr mis- 
sion* with* a two-fold purpose in', view. 
The^ decree of justice having beeh met, 
the debt paid, and death swallowed up 
in victory, we are no -longer un<Jer the 
dominioin or thralldoiu of the Adamic or 
original sin, but are held accountable 
before God for the commission di indi- 
vidual transgression, or the omission of 
laws God requires us to obey. 

We have seen what God's greatest 
gift is, namely, eternal life, — salvation 
from the grasp of the wicked one, and 
exaltation with the Savior of all man- 
kind. Of course, the mere statement, 
eternal life, does not convey the beauty, 
grandeur, power or priceless worth ' of 
this blessed gift. "Bye hath not seen, 
not ear heard, neither have entered into- 
the heart of man the things which God 
hath prepared for them that love Him.*"* 
We have shown from the Bible, by the 
aid of the Spirit of God, that the means 
whereby and through which this great- 
est gift is obtained, is the Gospel of 
Jesus Christ. The principles and ordi- 
nances of the Gospel we have seen, are. 
first: Faith in the Godhead and the 
power of the Gospel; second, repentance 
of all past sins after a godly manner: 
third, baptism by immersion for the re- 
mission of sins at hands of one duly 
authorized of God and commissioned in 
the name of Jesus Christ to administer 
in the ordintances of the Gospel; and, 
fourth, the laying on of hands for the 
reception of the Holy Ghost. These 
obeyed, we become members of the 
Church of Jesus Christ, and are now on 
the straight and narrow path, leading 
unto life eternal. We have only .now 
entered into the way; have jqst gotten 
upon the path, and it becomes necessary 
for us to follow Him who trod the weary 
road alone and led the righteous on to 
glory. We must follow Him through evil 
as well as good report, over the stony 
places, and through the piercing thorn* 
and prickly briars. 

The question now arises, kind reader, 
where shall we find these simple, beau- 
tiful principles of salvation taught in 
their purity and power by God's chosen 
and appointed servants who have been 
given authority to preach His Gospel 
and administer in the ordinances thereof? 
Yes! Whither shall we go, and how are 
we to know, when the true servant lifts 
his warning voire, and the pure and un- 
adulterated teachings of Jesus ar* 
taught? We want to make our calling 
and election sure, our salvation certain, 
and our reward positive. To these in- 
quiries, as to all other questions pertain- 
ing to eternal life, we have only the one 
answer, and that is: Let the Holy Spirit 
guide, and the word of the Living God 
direct you. Assertions without evidence, 
bald and sterile, or worse than useless, . 
because they confuse, and do not convict, 
puzzle and do not convert. Then we 
want the evidence, and when we have • 
the Scriptures declaring the necessity of " 
such and so, we should be on the look- 
out for the same, and be willing to acv • 
cept it when it shall come in the pre- 
scribed manner, bringing the needed evi- 
dence and supported by the word of" 
truth. 

As concerns the principles and ordi- 
nances set forth in our brief investiga- 
tion thus far. you can find them in the* 
written confession of faith, and mani- 
fest in the lives and labors of the true* 
servants of Jesus Christ. These fun- 



THE SOUTHERN STAR. 



315 



da mental principles arc unchangeable, 
eternal and everlasting. They have al- 
ways beep taught when the Gospel of 
Jesus Christ has been upon the earth, and. 
will always be advocated as long as there 
are souls unsaved and unredeemed. Hav- 
ing been plainly set forth, we need not 
be at sea concerning the same, neither 
need we be deceived and led astray af- 
ter strange and divers doctrines. "One 
Liord, one faith, * and one baptism" is 
the Apostle Paul's declaration to the 
Saints at Ephesus. 

A word now in regard to. the authority 
to administer in the ordinances of the 
Gospel. In whom is that authority vest- 
ed, and whence received they the dele- 
gated power to act in the name of the 
Lord? We know that John the Baptist 
possessed the authority to officiate in 
the ordinance of baptism and call the 
sons of men to repentance. We need 
not doubt the legality and validity of his 
administrations when we read that Je- 
sus our Lord suffered Himself to be bap- 
tised at his hands. Then the Lord con- 
ferred the Apostolic power upon His 
chosen twelve, placing Peter at their 
head as the chief Apostle, together with 
James and John as co-laborers and aids. 
The Lord had said unto Peter, "And 1 
will give unto thee the keys of the king- 
dom of heaven; and whatsoever thou 
shalt bind on earth shall be bound in 
heaven ; and whatsoever thou shalt loose 
on earth shall be loosed in heaven/ 1 
(Matt. 16:19J 

In the early part of the present century 
there was heard in the state of New 
York a proclamation strange and new 
to the people of this age, yet familiar 
and ancient when compared with the 
incidents of primitive Christianity. A 
young man of humble, industrious, yet 

Soor parentage, had announced that the 
eavens had been opened, and in answer 
to his prayer for light and knowledge 
relative to the various sects, tno 
Father and His Son Jesus had appeared 
and communed with him. This startles 
the hireling clergy, and raises a bitter 
storm of vile abuse upon his youthful 
head. But true to the instructions re- 
ceived from the lips of the Master, he 
joins himself to none of the creeds, and 
in the own appointed, time of the Lord, 
he is honored by an angelic visit. This 
heavenly messenger came, the youthful 
prophet declared, in fulfillment of tht: 
words of John the Revelator (Rev. 14 :G), 
and revealed an ancient record of the 
aborigines of the so-called American Iu- 
dian, containing the fulness of the ever- 
lasting Gospel. 

Subsequently John, called the Baptist, 
acting under the direction of Peter, 
James and John, came and conferred the 
authority he held, which authority gave 
the young man power to preach and ex- 
pound the word of God, cry repentance 
unto the children of men, and baptize 
for the remission of sins. This same 
youth earnestly and soberly declared that 
Peter, James and John also appeared 
unto him, and bestowed the keys ana 
powers they held upon his head. 

Perhaps you will say, kind reader, as 
many before you have often said: Well, 
what need was there for John the Bap- 
tist to come and restore the authority 
which he had? Why did Peter, James 
and John come to the earth to ordain 
men to the authority which they held? 
And what need was there for that book 
or record to be introduced to the people, 
seeing that they have the Bible? Why 
should there be any new revelation? 
Have we not sufficient for our salvation 
in the Old and New Testaments? These 
inquiries often arise, and they can be 
briefly answered thus: All these inci- 
dents are in fulfillment of Scriptural 
prophecy. John says. An angel should 
fly in the midst of heaven having the 
everlasting Gospel to preach to them 
that dwell on the earth. Malachi says, 
"Behold, I will send my messenger TJohn 
the Baptist] and he shall prepare the 
way before me." Isaiah speaks of a 
record or book which should come forth 
(Chap. 29) and Ezekiel says that this 
record should become one with the stick 
of Judah [Bible] (Chap. 37). Well, you 



say, who was this young man, and what, 
and where, is the record he received from 
the hands of the angel? The young man 
was Joseph Smith, Jr., born in the state 
of Vermont, Dec. 23. 1806; the record 
is known to the world as the Book of 
Mormon, and can be obtained from any 
of these so-called Mormon Elders % who 
travel through your land, two by 'two, 
preaching the Gospel free, and receiving 
no salary or remuneration whatever for 
their missionary services rendered in de- 
fense of righteousness and truth. 

This young man claims to have re- 
ceived his authority from those who pos- 
sessed, it anciently and who alone had 
the power to restore the same. This is 
in strict keeping with the Scriptures, 
and an evidence of no mean worth. He 
furthermore solemnly testifies that a dis- 
pensation of the Gospel was committed 
to him by an angel. (Rev. 14:6.) From 
the very hour he announced that he had 
received a heavenly vision until the time 
of his cruel martyrdom in 1844, he was 
subject to persecution, to the hate and 
scor,n, malice and envy, of an evil, de- 
signing, wicked influence which sought 
to stay the progress of the mighty work 
he was instrumental in establishing upon 
the earth. 

During the short ministry of the 
Prophet Joseph Smith, from the year 
1830, when the Church was organized 
with only six initial members, until 1844, 
when, as before stated, he met a mar- 
tyr's fate t great numbers were added to 
the seemingly new faith, and became 

Sartakers of the joys and blessings of 
eaven. The work of God is a progres- 
sive and an eternal work. Its incipiency 
was truly like a grain of mustard seed, 
but it grew with every additional con- 
vert, until it had gathered within its 
embrace tens of thousands. It was car- 
ried to European nations, and extended 
its onward march into the uppermost 
parts of Canada, and although its 
Prophet, seer and revelator was cruelly 
slain, still the good work he inaugurated 
under the direction of God and heavenly 
beings continued to grow, and marvel- 
ously increase. 

Religious bigots whose hearts are hard- 
ened with tradition and error, may pelt 
the Prophet's name with all sorts of 
unsavory and vile epithets, but, thank 
God, evidences are not to be set aside 
with a sneer, or overcome with a dis- 
dainful frown or contemptible scorn. 
These are the weapons of zealots and 
fanatics, but fair-minded men and women 
should look for more solid argument, 
and more sound reasoning, than mere 
common report, vile abuse, calumny and 
misrepresentation. The Savior gave us 
an infallible rule by which we may know 
of the doctrine whether it be of God or 
whether it be of man. Here are His 
words: "If any man will do His will 
(speaking of His Father) he shall know 
of the doctrine, whether it be of God, 
or whether I speak of myself." (John 
7:17.) As heretofore' declared: Receive 
the Gospel, and repent of all your sins. 
Yea, be baptized by those that have 
authority to administer it for the remis- 
sion of sins, and you shall receive the 
Holy Ghost bjr the laying on of hands. 
This is the will and word of God, con- 
cerning the salvation of your souls, and 
after you have done these things, the 
light of God will illuminate your minds, 
and you will receive a witness for your- 
selves that the work is true. Before this 
divine knowledge doubt flees, misunder- 
standing is scattered abroad, falsehood 
is detected and the evil spirit of men 
discerned! Yes, we realize that the 
Comforter guides into all truth, shows 
things to come, and comforts our souls 
in the knowledge of God, and the testi- 
mony of Jesus. 

Amid temptations, trials and persecu- 
tions the humble Mormon Elder goes 
forth from place to place preaching the 
Gospel of the kingdom of God. "The 
Lord working with them, and confirm- 
ing the words with signs following." 
The kingdom is growing, and today the 
Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day 
Saints has communicants numbering in 
the near vicinity of 400,000, and accord- 



ing to ttie word of God it will continue 
to grow, until it extends from pole. to 
pole and fills the whole earth. Daniel 
says, "His dominion is an everlasting 
dominion, which shall hot pass away, a^d 
His kingdom that which snail not be de- 
stroyed/' (Dan. 7:14.) , n And the Mg^" 
dom shall not be left to other people;, 
but it shall break in pieces and consume 
all these kingdoms, and it shall stand 
forever." (Dan, 2:44.) "And. the king- 
dom and dominion, and the greatness of 
the kingdom under the whole heaven, 
shall be given to the people of the Saints 
of .the Most High, whose kingdom is an 
everlasting kingdom, and all dominions 
shall serve and obey Him." (Dan. 7:27.) 
Then there will be heard great **voices 
in heaven, saying, The kingdoms of this 
world are become the kingdoms of our 
Lord, and His Christ; and He shall reign 
forever and ever." (Rev. 11:15.) 

Kind reader, would vou become a citi- 
zen of the heavenly kingdom, then seek 
to do the will of God, and render obe- 
dience to the principles and ordinances 
of the everlasting Gospel. The way is 
made plain in Holy Writ, the path of 
life has been trod by the Lord Jesus. 
He has left His footprints for us to fol- 
low; erected the signal boards, and 
raised the finger posts, which point the 
way to life eternal. "Be not deceived" 
—there is only one sure and safe way 
marked out for all to follow. "One Lord, 
one faith, and one baptism." 

Remember, kind reader, that "today is 
the day of salvation, and now is the ac- 
cepted time." 

"Tomorrow Is with God alone, 
And man hath but today." 
The end. 



"Prove All Things, Hold Fast to That Which is 
Good. ' 

I. We are what we choose; we can be 
what we want to be. 

A strong body depends upon how you 
sleep; and how long you sleep. 

3. More impure thoughts come from 
diseased bodies. 

4. If we learn to honor our father and 
mother, we will, in time, learn to honor 
ourselves. 

5. Love is at the foundation of per- 
fection. 

6. A perfect home is the most perfect 
bit of heaven. 

7. Motherhood is the essential element- 
to "womanhood. 

8. A good wife yields a point, and en- 
ters heartily into plans of another one. 

9. Of all things that can be left out of 
a woman's life, children cannot. 

10. Nine-tenths of the pleasures of 
married life depends on the girl life — 
her habits of thought. 

II. The girl who makes herself fit for 
a mother, makes herself fit for an angel. 

12. One of the ways of loving a per- 
son, is to love their way. 

13. One must love a little, think a lit- 
tle, give a little, and so on, to be happy. 

14. But trusting instinct to the end, it 
shall ripen into truth, and you shall 
know wny you believe. 

"Ben Bolt." 

Rnskins First Lesson. 

Mr. Ruskin, who wrote so many fa- 
mous books, said that the first lesson he 
learned was to be obedient. 

"One evening," he says, "when I was 
yet in my nurse's arms, I wanted to 
touch the tea-urn, which was boiling mer- 
rily. It was an early taste for bronzes, . 
I suppose; but I was resolute about it. 
My mother bade me keep my fingers 
back; I insisted on putting them forward. 
My nurse would have taken me away 
from the urn, but my mother said, 'Let 
him touch it, nurse/ 

"So I touched it, and that was my first 
lesson in the meaning of the word lib- 
erty. It was the first piece of liberty I 
got, and the last which for some time I 
asked."— Youth's Companion. 



316 



THE SOUTHERN STAR. 




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Address Box 109 



Batubday, September 1, 1900. 



ARTICLES OF FAITH 

OP THE CHURCH OP JESUS CHRIST OP 
LATTER-DAY SAINTS. 

1. 1b%aUavaia<)odtaeCtarBalFatbor,aiidfaBi«0a» 
Jot Carlit, sad la tba Holy Gawk 

t. W« bellovo that am will bo poaJsbod for IboJrowa 
aiaa, aad.aet for AdaaVk traaogroaaioB. 

«. Wa balleia that, tbraogh tba atoaaaMat of Obriat,«ll 
aaabJad swy be stvtd, by obadJaaea ta tao lava aad ordi. 
eoeaat of tao Gotpsl. 

4. Wa baHovo that tba tnt priadplos aad ordioaBeaa of 
tbo Goapol ara: Fint. Faitb la tao Lord Josat Christ; toooad, 
Ropoataaaa; third, Bapttan by immertioo for tho roariaofoa 
of alas; foarth, Lajrlag oa of Haada for tho Gift of tba Holy 



(. Wt b*litTt \h*% * nin aiott bo eatlod of God, by 
- prophecy,, ind bjr the fivin^ on of bandl," by tbOM WBO are 
Id mbemj, to pnmh too gp*pt& aad adauaittar ia tho ordi* 



«. W# bcliaie in tie **rnr oisaaisatioa that axiatad to 

the pHraiLkc cburch— r.irr.^J;, , Apottlot, FlOphaU, Pastata* 
IWhtrt. Evflogtlint*, die, 

7. Wa boljuve in the pft at toofnoa, °propboey,ro?o)atlaa, 

Tl»ioQ». ha*Hn£, interpret* htm of toagaoi, Ote. 

I. Wtbali«T«t>]*liibl*to bcthowordofOod,aifaraafl 
U truiiliitd oor nctl r j oh *]*o baliora tho Book of Moraoe 
to bi ii« HonJ df Qo& r 

i. w e b*We itl that Q<-; ia* rovoalad, all that Ha eoao 
bdw rtrul p *nij w*b«lit*4 thic do will yot rovoal maay jroai 
•n<J ■npnriiQi r'ninp pen lining to tho Kiacdoai of OodT 

10, Wi Mv/tvia it* Utcr*! ptborfagof Israalaadiatbo 
letiontjon of tho Tin Tribe* : that Zioo will bo baiH apoe 
tfaii (the Amcritin \ oontin*M ; that Obrlst will raigs ponoa- 
slty open tba - «trih» mil thit tba aarth will bo roaowod aad 
Nhh iiJ ptndlttiei) f tory. 

11. Wt eliim ih« pririlec* of wonhiplaf Alaishty Ood 
esterdJoc *a tho dicutot of oar coaoeioace, aad allow all 
awa tto tosH pnWItf*. lot loom worship how, where, or what 

tL Wa bollora la boiag oabjoct to Mass, pratldoat*. ralara, 
art Mgittratai j ia bboyiaa, booorinf aadraataiaJngtbo taw. 

lt.ew« baliovo la baiag boaoot, trao, ehaoto, boaovolaat, 
«jrtaoaa.aBd In doing gootfto all •oa; iodood, wo aiay oay 
that wofollow tho adaoaiUoa of Paol, - Wt bolioVo aU tainp, 
wa bopa all thiojp," wo havo oodored maay thiaga, aad bape 
•a^aaahMtooadaroaUthiagB. If Ihoro ta aayUJag f1rtwaaa» 
5lasWo^^ln^ Pr ^ W ^ , wa ^ tiaar those 



You say that "this world to you seems 
drain'd of all its sweets!" At first I had 
hoped you only meant to insinuate the 
high price of sugar, but I am afraid you 
meant more. O, Robert! I don't know 
what you call sweets. Honey and the 
honeycomb, roses and violets are yet in 
the earth. The sun and moon yet reign 
in heaven, and the lesser lights keep 
up their pretty twinklings. Meats and 
drinks, sweet sights and sweet smells, 
a country walk, spring and autumn, 
follies and repentance, quarrels and 
reconcilements, have all a sweetness by 
turns. • • • You may extract 
honey from everything; do not go a- 
gathering after gall. I assure you I 
find this world a very pretty place.— 
Charles Lamb. 



"Full many a gem of purest ray serene 
The dark unfathomed eaves of ocean 
bear; 
Full many a flower Is born to blush 
unseen 
And waste Its sweetness on the des- 
ert air." 



METHODISM IN SALT LAKES CITY. 

Our good Methodist brethren of Utah 
recently held a three days* conference 
in Salt Lake City. As usual, tho most 
palatable cud for these divine prelates 
was the question of Mormonism and how 
to accomplish its overthrow and utter 
destruction. Wild denunciations, fierce 
and bitter invectives, and vicious attacks 
of the Mormon people were the emis- 
sions of these gentle, loving, long-haired 
men of the pulpit. Mormonism seems to 
furnish them with material which is 
hard to swallow, impossible to digest, 
and so they reproduce it upon their ven- 
emous tongues of slander and envy, and 
blat it out to the people in "red hot 
style." They evidently recognize in 
Mormonism something more powerful, 
compact, and solid, than they have ever 
turned their "pop guns" upon before. 
They begin to realize that their ammuni- 
tion is too palpably weak, and so they 
must stir up the pot of strife, and make 
the people back east think they are not 
dead, but awake and alive to a sense of 
their duty — to evangelize and Christian- 
ize the Mormon people. 

The fierceness with which they ar- 
raigned the Mormon people as "Godless," 
and altogether beyond the pale of Chris- 
tianity—without Christ, or the pure re- 
ligion of Methodism, puts us in mind of 
the good old Quaker and his wife. The 
wife said to the pious old man, "I do 
believe that all people are off except me 
and thee, and I have seen thee acting a 
little queer." This sanctimonious old 
lady is not alone in the world, but, from 
the reports of the Methodist conference, 
we discover that there are other saintly 
hypocrites of the "Holier than thou" 
stripe. One of the "reverend gentlemen" 
showed his love for the people who have 
treated him so kindly in the following 
beautiful, charitable terms: 

"We've got to stir up this ant's nest, 
kick the top off and capture some of the 
ants before they get housed again." 

This expression betrays the intense 
bitterness of his narrow-minded soul. 
These "ants," as he calls our people, 
have built their homes by ; thrift, indus- 
try, and perseverance, and now he would 
make might right by kicking "the top 
off," and capturing "some of the ants 
before they get housed again." Ah! 
brother, it would have been better for 
your poor soul, and the cause you repre- 
sent, had you left those words unsaid. 
The Mormon Elder often hears this hue 
and cry, "You Mormons come to break 
up our churches, proselyte' our people, 
and make converts jo your faith." Is not 
your fellow-brother out in Utah guilty of 
the same offense, if it be a crime? And 
does not the words of his mouth assert 
that he would use oppressive and vio- 
lent means to bring to pass his evil de- 
signs, if it lay in his power to do so? 
Yes, it does, and none can deny it. Sup- 
pose, for one moment, that a Mormon 
Elder should go in a Southern commu- 
nity where the Baptist faith is the pre- 
vailing creed and utter such abusive and 
vicious threats against the Baptists, as 
the words of the Methodist Bishop 
against the Mormons where that people 
are dominant, what would be the result? 
We fancy, "The place that knew him 
once would know him no more." It is 
only a momentary supposition, and it 
would, in all probability, be but a mo- 
mentary stay our brother would enjoy in 
that neighborhood. 

It is a good and righteous thing that 
the Mormon people have learned to pos- 
sess a little of that sweet Christian char- 
ity, which, with our evangelistic breth- 



ren, is such a manifest rarity. The fruit 
of the spirit is "love, joy, peace, long- 
suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, 
meekness, temperance; against such there 
is no law." We believe in religious lib- 
erty, religious toleration, and religious 
freedom, but we do not believe that these 
give any one a religious license to abuse, 
threaten, malign, and misrepresent an 
innocent, unoffending " people, who may 
perhaps differ with them religiously. Re- 
member, brother, that these "ants" 
builded their homes without your aid; 
that they dwelt in perfect peace and hap- 
piness before your portentious arrival; 
that they craved not your potent pres- 
ence, neither did they ask your benign 
assistance. They have been taught the 
higher way of living, and scorn to stoop 
to low, ignoble practices. "Mind your 
own business," has been their motto. 
Now, brother Methodist, go to these 
"ants," and learn thou a lesson of thrift, 
industry, frugality, love, and pure re- 
ligion. 

Another good fellow, not wishing to be 
outdone by his worthy Bishop, rose np in 
that solemn assembly and told his hear- 
ers this sad tale of woe: 

"We live in a community of Godless 
homes, where people talk religion but 
do not live it. Where there is a larger 
per cent, of homes that have no Bible 
than can be found anywhere out of 
heathendom. The reason for this lies 
in the fact that the teachings of the 
dominant Church have dethroned Christ, 
stultified and destroyed His word, etc." 

Does any one doubt the rendevous 
where this gentleman was wont to spend 
his time? .Tuojging from his own confes- 
sion, he must riave suffered much from 
the evil contaminating influences of such 
"Godless homes," whither he was used 
to wend his way. After all, it may be 
possible that the good brother has been 
in the company of fellow-religionists who 
spiritualize the word of God, and with 
their "Higher Criticism" seek to destroy 
many of its glorious truths; so that when, 
perchance, he saw the King James trans- 
lation of the sacred word— the authorized 
version— he failed to recognize it as the 
Holy Bible. Time's a friend to inno- 
cence, and a cure for falsehood and hy- 
pocrisy. Time will cure, and lies are 
doomed to perish. We would invite the 
good brother to seek better society, 
where the word of God is believed, 
preached and practiced. Go to any of 
the Mormon worshipping assemblies, and 
you will get enough Bible, and Bible 
straight, to convict you of the error of 
your ways, and lead you in the path of 
truth. Every Mormon Elder carries a 
Bible, and cherishes it dearly as the 
word of God. We do not hate our broth- 
er Methodist, but we can't love his mal- 
ice, hate, envy, falsehood, and slander. 
"From the abundance of the heart the 
mouth speaketh." "Let us oft speak kind 
words to each other." These will convert. 
Listen to the words of Benjamin Frank- 
lin, "A spoonful of honey will catch 
more flies than a gallon of vinegar." It 
may be that you can apply the same to 
"ants" with great profit and rich suc- 
cess. We feel to say, "God bless our 
brethren who have so maliciously and 
wilfully reviled and slandered us, be- 
cause we know they stand in sad need 
thereof." 

"Christians have burnt each other, quite 
persuaded 

That all the Apostles would have done as 
they did." 



The true foundations of a state are not 
liberty, but obedience, not mutual an- 
tagonism, but mutual help. 



THE SOUTHfiBN STAB. 



317 



FIGHT FOR THB GOOD. 

Of late we have received from our good 
friends in the South some anti-Mormon 
tracts, with a request that we refute the 
errors contained therein through the col- 
umns of our paper, and thus overthrow 
the false assertions of our enemies. We 
thank our friends for exhibiting such an 
interest in this work of "Latter Days," 
as to desire a complete refutation of 
these evil designing tracts, but we cannot 
afford to devote the valuable space of 
our paper to silence some contemptible 
religious demagogue, who has more 
learning than brains, and whose only aim 
is to tear down that which he ignorantly 
supposes to be false, instead of building 
up that which is righteous and good. 
We firmly believe with the poet, Tenny- 
son, that "It is better to fight for the 
good, than rail at the ill." 

The question is: After we have prov- 
en the assertions of these tracts to be 
false and altogether erroneous, what 
have we gained? It is true we have oc- 
cupied much space, but have we bene- 
fited ourselves or others by so doing? 
No, we think not; at least not near the 
amount of good we could have done had 
we continued in vigorously declaring for 
the right, and let the evil perish with its 
wicked worshippers. If we were to 
stop to silence the snarl of every little 
dog which snaps at our heels, it would 
keep us busy muzzling them, and thus 
deprive us of preaching the good word 
of salvation unto others who remain 
bound in chains of error, superstition, 
and tradition, waiting for the Gospel of 
Christ to break their fetters, and set 
them free. Our motto is, and ever shall 
be, "Do what is right, let the consequence 
follow." 

We would gently remind the authors of 
these base fabrications circulated 
throughout this land, that there is a 
place in hell for all who love and make 
n lie. W hy delight in sneaking evil «jf 
things you understand not? Why not 
be broad-minded enough to investigate 
with a soul's sinceru desire to know the 
truth pertaining to this much di-spised 
and everywhere spoken against people, 
and not merely to find flaws or discover 
defects? You sing of your good old-time 
religion, and say, "Makes mo love every- 
body,'* and at the same time your whole 
miserable anatomy is seething with hat- 
red and malice for n people professing to 
worship the same God you claim to be- 
lieve in. Oh, how utterly inconsistent! 
How manifestly hypocritical! How un- 
christian, unholy and dispicable! 

We love the sons of men, we love the 
Lord our God, we love the good Bible, 
ond prize the Gospel of Jesus Christ as 
the power of God unto salvation. Do 
you hate us for these things? Of course 
you say, "Nay!" Then what do you 
hate us for? You know not. to be con- 
sistent and true to jour confessions and 
loud professions. And you can never be 
just and fair in speaking evil of things 
you understand not. Milton says, 
"Good, the more communicated, more 
abundant grows.'' Remember the words 
of the poet. We repeat them again, for 
your special benefit. "It Is better to 
fight for the good, than rail at the ill." 

We shall continue to "contend for the 
faith once delivered to the Saints," and 
let our adversaries howl and bark to 
their hearts' content. Onward, upward, 
is the watchword, with a cordial invita- 
tion to all to come and join the army of 
the Lord. The right will prevail, right- 
eousness triumph, and truth outlive her 
wicked opponents. So we fear not the 
outcome, but gladly await the coming of 



our Lord, for then we know that salva- 
tion awaits us if we are true to the 
teachings of that which the world has 
nicknamed "Mormonism." 



History ol the Southern States Mission. 

(Continued from page 306.) 

FEBRUARY, 1899.— On the 7th inst. 
Elder Geo. A. Lyman arrived at the 
office, having been released from presid- 
ing over the East Kentucky conference 
to assist Pres. Rich as a counsellor. Al! 
the Elders of the Louisiana conference, 
with the exception of Elder Louis A. 
Warren, were met in conference assem- 
bled at Red Rock, Natchitoches parish, 
Louisiana, on the 14th inst. Much good 
instruction was given, and a time of re- 
joicing and gladness was had. 

On the 21st a company of Elders ar- 
rived from the vales of the far west. 
Their names were as follows: Albert 
Arrowsmith, Wm. J. Hunnicutt, Joseph 
P. Tingv, Ernest Knowles, A. B. Sco- 
vil, Miel C. Pierce, Joseph M. Holt, 
Jonathan D. Wood, Albert I. Grover, 
Conrad Maag, Jr., Ernest S. Fisher, 
John Jensen, Job Adams, David J. 
Paice and William A. Brown. Elder 
Frank H. Snow arrived on the 13th inst. 
and was assigned to labor in the Vir- 
ginia conference. 

It was also on the 21st, the day of 
the company's arrival, that a telegram 
was received from Elder R. A. Robinson 
of the Louisiana conference which read 
as follows: "Elder Louis A. Warren 
died last night of pneumonia. Arrange 
by wire for transportation of corpse and 
Elder." A full account of Elder War- 
ren's death, of his fidelity, integrity. 
and faithfulness, is given on page 101 
of Vol. 1. 

During this month the Chattanooga 
conference was organized with Pres. L. 
R. Anderson at its head. It embraced 
some twenty counties, located as fol- 
lows: Sequachee, Marion, Franklin, 
Grundy, Hamilton, Polk, James and 
Bradley in Tennessee; Jackson, De Kalb 
and Cherokee in Alabama; and Dado, 
Catoosa, Walker, Chattooga, Whit- 
field, M-urray, Floyd, Bartow and Gor- 
don in Georgia. 

On the 24th, a portion of the Middle 
Tennessee Elders were met at Tulla- 
homa. Tenn., and on the 28th the re- 
mainder were met at Rural Hill, Wil- 
son county, Tennessee. At both meet- 
ings a splendid time was enjoyed. 

Thus the month closed. 

MARCH, 1899.— In general the month 
of March was one of joy for the Elders. 
Not much sickness was reported, and in 
only one or two instances did mobs dis- 
turb the Elders in their labors. 

On the 7th inst. Pres. Rich met in 
conference with a part of the Elders of 
the East Tennessee conference at Milli- 
gan, Tenn., where the Elders enpoyed 
much of the Spirit of God in their as- 
sembly. At Clinton, Tenn., on the 9th 
inst. the remainder of the Elders of the 
East Tennessee conference were visited, 
and a good spirit prevailed. 

At Hewlett, Va., on the 12th inst. a 
part of the Elders of the Virginia con- 
ference were gathered together, and the 
remainder at Bridges on the 14th inst. 
The Elders were much encouraged to go 
onward in their work with a determina- 
tion to win the prize of eternal life. 

On the 19th, the Elders of the Missis- 
sippi conference assembled at Hatties- 
burg, Miss., to hold their special confer- 
ence. Although the Elders had sought 
halls in which to meet, they were un- 
able to obtain one, because of the ex- 
treme prejudice of the residents of the 
city. It was with difficulty that a hotel 
could be persuaded to furnish lodgings 
for the Elders. At last one was pro- 
cured, and in one of the large rooms, 
council meeting was held. The Elders 
were warned to leave the city by noon 
of the next day and reluctantly they 
did so, seeing that nothing could be done 
with the half-crazed, frenzied bigots of 
that place (see page 175, Vol. 1). 

On the 20th inst., twelve Elders ar- 



rived from Salt Lake City. They were 
as follows: Lewis M. Nebeker, Jos. D. 
Burnett, Geo. A. Adams, Wm* J. Turner, 
Chas. L. Bean, John Gooch, Jr., Wm. 
Fifield, W. , W. Butle^ £lmy C. Clay- 
ton, Jos. H. Corbridge, Geo. F. Surniner- 
hays and Niels C. Jensen. 

The Georgia conference convened in 
Atlanta on the 23d and 24th. A hall 
was procured in which services were held 
and a feeling of fairness and love seemed 
to characterize the whole proceedings. 
The Elders reported feeling well, and 
encouraged in the work of the Lord. 

The next conference was held at Or- 
lando, Fla., on the 26th and 27th. The 
work was progressing, and the Elders 
enjoying the blessings of the Lord. 

On the 30th and 31st, the South Ala- 
bama conference met at Montgomery. 
The people were free from the prejudice 
so prevalent in the south, so they granted 
the brethren the use of the opera house 
on Sunday, free of charee. 

Thus the month closed, with all the 
Elders feeling well, and working har- 
moniously for the spread of the everlast- 
ing Gospel. 

(To be continued.) 



A FAIR-MINDED REPORT. 

[The Republican News, of Hamilton, O., 
under date of Aug. 23, gives a fair report 
of the work of our Elders in that city. 
We congratulate the good people of Ham- 
ilton for having such a bright, lively, 
honest journal as the News, ana we admire 
the straightforwardness and apparent 
broad-mindedness of our contemporary. 
Here is what the News has to say;— Ed. J 

"For the past few weeks the attention 
of pedestrians on High street has been 
attracted to men garbed all in black, 
with long coats and black ties, who 
were familiarly called Mormon preach- 
ers, but, more appropriately, Elders of 
Christ's Church. 

"These Elders have been influential in 
converting four Hamiltonians to their 
faith, and the service of baptism was 
to have taken place in a few days, but 
on account of the illness of one the 
same has to be postponed until some 
later date. 

"There is living on the northeast cor- 
ner of Park avenue and D streets, a 
family which is composed of Cassius 
Smith, Mrs. Lillian Briggs Smith and 
Gertrude and Robin Smith, that have 
accepted the faith of the Christ church 
and will be baptized at some future date. 

"The acceptance of this faith, how- 
ever, is not a rash step, as Mr. and 
Mrs. Smith have known and thought se- 
riously of belonging to this Church since 
their residence in Kokomo, 111., where 
there is a very large Mormon Church. 

"Mrs. Smith stated this afternoon that 
for the past six days she had such a 
severe case of quinsy that she could 
neither eat nor sleep and has suffered 
much from the effects of the same. Yes- 
terday afternoon the Messrs. Jacobson 
and Smith, the Elders working in the 
city, called and poured olive oil, similar 
to that which Christ used, upon her 
head; and after doing this they earnest- 
ly prayed for her recovery. The result 
was that Mrs. Smith was much improved 
today and was able to partake of some 
food. 

"Mrs. Smith stated that her mother 
was a Methodist and that she herself 
was reared in that denomination, but 
in reading and studying this subject she 
has been led to the conclusion of ac- 
cepting the Mormon faith, and she and 
her family will be baptized as soon as 
she recovers from her illness. 

"Mrs. Smith said: 'These people are 
devoted Christians. They are friends to 
the poor. They show kindness to all. 
They have the Holy Ghost from Christ 
and from thence comes their power. The 
Elders are noble young men. They are 
intelligent, end therefore speak accord- 
ingly.' 

"Mr. Smith is an employe at the Cham- 
pion Coated Paper mills and Mrs. Smith 
is a pianist of no mean ability. They 
have resided in Hamilton for the past 
year." 



318 

SBOT9 



TUB SOUTHERN STA1L 



DID OUR SPIRITS E XIST PRIOR T O MORTAL BIRTH? 

TAKIN FROM A SERMON DELIVERED BY ELDER BEN. L RICH, IN COLUMBUS, O., SUNDAY, APRIL 1, 1930. 

It is generally conceded throughout 
Christendom that men's souls or their 
spirits had no existence prior to their 
birth into mortality. While this conces- 
sion agrees with the philosophy of Plato, 
it is at variance with the written word 
of God.- It is as inconsistent with Scrip- 
ture to disbelieve in the pre-existence of 
spirits, as it is to believe that revealed 
truth teaches the existence of Deity, de- 
void of mind, body and attributes; not- 
withstanding such an idea of God had 
its inception in Plato's ethics, as did the 
doctrine » inimical to an ante-mortal life. 
To believe that the ego or spiritual self 
of man lived before mortal birth is to 
accept reasonable truths of the Gospel. 

Surely it will not be denied that Christ 
enjoyed a pre-existence? Because of this 
fact: The Bible is replete with allusions 
to Him as the "Lamb slain before the 
foundations of the earth, "the Mighty 
Prince," foreordained "to be a propitia- 
tion for the sins of fallen man," etc. 
Having voluntarily accepted the condi- 
tions of the atonement before man upon 
this earth fcgan to be, He made known 
the great sacrifice to His Holy Prophets, 
who understood, and who wrote, and 
who offered, sacrifices in commemoration 
of the magnanimous act of love and 
mercy to be enacted in the meridian of 
time. 

The Apostle to the" Gentiles wrote in 
his letter to. the Hebrews, "God, Who at 
sundry times and in divers manners 
spake, in times past unto the fathers by 
the Prophets, hath in these days spoken 
unto us by His Sou, Whom He hath or- 
dained to be heir over all things, and 
by Whom also the worlds were "made." 
Now, then, let it be frankly asked: "How 
could Christ, as Paul affirms, assist in 
the creation of the earth, unless He ex- 
isted before that world was created?" 

John, the belpved, calls Him the Word. 
"The Father. Word and Holy Ghost," 
and says in nis Gospel: "In the begin- 
ning was the Word, and the Word was 
with God, and the Word was God, and 
was made flesh and dwelt among men." 
From this we see definitely that Christ 
in the beginning was a God with His 
Father and in the course of time became 
clothed UDon with mortality. 

Indeed, we have the Messiah's own tes- 
timony of His former life. One day, 
when. His disciples were confused by a 
remark of the Savior, as John records, 
He. inquired: "What, and doth this of- 
fend you? What and if you shall see the 
Son of Man ascend up where He was 
before t" In the garden before the be- 
trayal by a kiss, the Man God lifted up 
His voice in humble prayer and said: 
"Oh, Father! I have glorified Thee on 
earth, I have finished the wprk which 
Thou gavest Me to do, and now, O Fath- 
er, glorify Thou Me even with Thine 



own self, with the glory I had with Thee 
before the world was. Surely no bal- 
anced mind will question Christ's prime- 
val existence? 

Now, then, the Nazarene was like 
other men in a hundred ways. He was 
born of. woman, He was raised as other 
men, fed by the same food, wearied by 
the same toil, warmed by the same fire, 
chilled by the same cold, and subject to 
everything of which flesh is heir. His 
temperament was sensitive and He was 
of all characters the "man of sorrow." 
His countrymen said: "Whence has this 
man this power? Is not He the carpen- 
ter's son, is His mother not called Mary, 
are His brothers not called Simon, Ju- 
das, James, and are not His sisters, too, 
among us? Whence has He this power 
and authority?" They rejected Him be- 
cause they considered Him an imposter, 
and because they branded Him as an 
imposter they crucified Him and thought 
He was only a man. Now, then, if the 
birth of Christ was a union of a spirit, 
which has existed in the courts of God 
before the world began, and a mortal 
tabernacle, is it at all unreasonable to 
believe that our birth is a union of a 



mortal tabernacle and a spirit which, too, 
existed before the world was, though not 
in such princely power as did Christ's? 

However, there are stronger evidences 
than mere logical inferences. Man is a 
dual being, physical and spiritual, with 
modifications of morality and intellectu- 
ality. The spirk of man, that which 
leaves men when they die, is the off- 
spring of God. Truly "man is a spark 
struck from the blaze of Deity." God is 
the Father of the spirits of men, and 
because of this relationship the Son of 
God taught us to pray: "Our Father 
Who art in heaven." These words are 
not without signification. In times of 
trouble, affliction or pain, bereft of 
friends, faced by starvation or in the 
midst of a raging storm, when the ele- 
ments go wild and seem to defy the 
laws of their Creator, the inward self, 
the spirit, naturally and instinctively, like 
a true child, leans upon the arm of its 
Father for comfort, for assistance and 
protection. The word of God sustain* 
and recognizes this relationship. In the 
sense that God is the Father of our spir- 
its, we are all the children of God. We 
are the literal progeny of Adam, and 
Luke, in giving the genealogy of Joseph, 
says, "who was the son of Enos, who 
was the son of Seth, who was the son of 
Adam, who was the son of God." And 
Paul writes: "We have fathers of the 
flesh which corrected us and we gave 
them reverence, shall we not much rather 
be in subiection to the Father. of Spirits 
and live? But John in his epistle makes 
it plain. "Beloved," says he, "it doth 
not yet appear what we shall be, but 
now we know that we are the sons of 
God, and when we shall appear we shall 
be like Him," etc. There, as aforesaid, 
we are the sons of God, because God is 
the author of our spirits, because of 
which we call Him, "Our Heavenly Fath- 
er." Now listen: "And God said unto 
Job, gird up thy loins like a man and 
answer thou Me, for I will demand of 
thee. Where wast Thou when I laid the 
foundations of the earth? Declare, if 
thou hast understanding, who laid the 
corner stone thereof when the morning 
stars sang together and all the sons of 
God shouted for joy? Where wast thou, 
declare?" Job must have been some- 
where at the time of the creation of the 
earth, or why the question? And since 
we are all the sons of God, and at the 
laying of the earth's corner stones, as it 
were, all the sons of God shouted for 
joy, we of necessity existed in a condition 
anterior to our mortal probation. Is not 
the conclusion logical? 

Christ and His followers understood 
the doctrine. One day in His travels, ac- 
companied by His Apostles, Jesus met a 
man blind from birth. His disciples 
asked Him, saying: "Master, who hath 
sinned, this man or his parents, that he 
was born blind?" Now the Savior inva- 
riably rebuked any of His disciples when- 
ever they made light or idle remarks, 
but not so here. He understood the worth 
of the question and approved it by an- 
swering that "neither* had sinned, but 
that he was born blind so that the power 
of God might be asserted. The all-wise 
Omnipotence is a God of justice. He 
does not inflict punishment before the 
commission of sin. And if this blind man 
could have sinned (and it was possible 
because of Christ's sanction of the query) 
and as a result of that sin was born 
blind, he must necessarily have sinned 
before he was born and consequently ex- 
isted before mortal time. 

. The ancients in the Mosaic period also 
understood the subject: "God said unto 
Jeremiah, "Before thou wert conceived 
of woman I knew thee, and before thou 
wert formed into mortality I sanctified 
thee and ordained thee a Prophet unto 
the nations." It is the reason of a sound 
mind to admit that Jeremiah must have 
existed before his birth, in order for him 
to have been recognized, sanctified and 



ordained before he was clothed upon 
with flesh. 

Job records that every man possesses 
a spirit and the inspiration of the Al- 
mighty giveth it understanding. Eccle- 
siastes says, in speaking of his death: 
"Then shall the dust return to the earth 
as it was and the spirit shall return to 
God Who gave it." If a tourist ha** 
been to Salt Lake City, to Denver, to 
Chicago, or Atlanta, that tourist can re- 
turn to Salt Lake, Denver, Chicago or 
Atlanta, by reason of his first having vis- 
ited those places; but if he has never 
been to New York or London or Paris, 
he cannot return to New York, London 
or Paris till he first visits those cities!. 
And if the spirit returns to God Who 
gave it, as the Scriptures affirm, it ar- 
gues beyond contradiction that the spirit 
once existed with God before it returns. 

It is reasonable that there was a life 
before this sphere of action. The 
achievement of such refinement as man's 
intellect required a period longer in its 
growth and existence than two or three 
decades of worldly years. It is no more 
impossible that we did exist than that 
we will exist hereafter, or that we do 
now exist. The greatest mystery is the 
present life of man, yet it is the most 
actual and real. Who first wound up 
the life's clock of man and set his heart 
beating? Why does the heart still' beat 
independent of any exertion? Why is it 
that by simple volition the right hand 
can be raised: or the brain think? Would 
it not be folly to argue that because we 
cannot know or understand why any- 
thing is, that therefore it is not or ha* 
not been? And it is no more impossible 
for life to be after the grave than for 
it to have been before the grave. But 
until it can be proven that the souls of 
men are not immortal, it cannot be 
proven that the souls of men did not ex- 
ist before this sphere of action. And if 
it cannot be shown that the souls of men 
will not exist hereafter because they do 
exist now, and the living revelations of 
a just God have shown that there is life 
beyond death and also that there was 
life before birth. And who can disprove 
the teachings of the Great One, when 
every word is truth? 

Understanding the pre-existence of 
spirits, we can understand the true fath- 
erhood of God and brotherhood of man: 
we can appreciate the justice of God. in 
permitting one child to be born white 
and another one black, we can under- 
stand why one intellect is superior to 
and more brilliant than another. Wher- 
ever a son of God exists, whether here, 
before or hereafter, that son had or will 
have or has his agency, his liberty to 
act without coercion. He possesses free- 
dom and individuality. And it has been 
revealed in this age that we exist In 
mortality because of actions in our for- 
mer life. Those spirits who disobeyed 
the injunctions of the Father were cast 
out and became tempters of men. We 
will all exist after the grave, but if 
we "place ourselves in subjection to the 
Father of spirits" and prove ourselves 
worthy of His trust by complying with 
His wishes concerning us, we will exist 
in power; we will progress to perfection 
in love, mercy, justice, truth and happi- 
ness, enthroned in the courts of eternal 
intelligence, the glory of salvation. Is 
not this end worthy the means of its 
accomplishment, when the simple execu- 
tion of the Gospel laws tend to mortal 
felicity? We did exist before our mor- 
tal birth; and we will exist after our 
mortal death, but in what condition de- 
pends upon self and only self. "Choose 
this day whom ye will serve." 



You will find it less easy to uproot 
faults than to choke them by gaining 
virtues. Do not think of your faults, 
still less of others' faults; in every per- 
son who comes near you look for what 
13 sood and strong; honor that; rejoice 
in it, and, as you can, try to imitate it; 
nnd your faults will drop off, like dead 
leaves, when their time comes.— John 
lluskin. 



TI1E SOUTHEttN STAtL 



310 



CONTIN UOUS REVEL ATION. 

The Church Built on the Foundation of Continuous Revelation— Each Member En- 
titled to an Individual Testimony of the Truth. 

DI80OUR8K DELIVERED BY APOSTLE M. V. COWLEY, IN THE TABERNACLE AT 8ALT LAKE CITY, APRIL 

7TH, lttOO. 



My brethren and sisters. I am pleased 
to -have the privilege of meeting with 
jou at this Conference. I desire in the 
performance of my duty the kind as- 
sistance of your pray ei*s of faith. I 
have been edified through the instruc- 
tions of my brethren. They have en- 
couraged me, and also corrected me, 
for I find in them instructions which 
will enable me to improve wherein I 
lack, and encourage me in the enjoy- 
ment of the blessings resulting from the 
duties which perhaps I have performed 
more faithfully than others. In contem- 
plating the character of these instruc- 
tions, it is a solemn testimony to me of 
the truth of which my brethren have 
spoken, that the Church is guided by 
the spirit of revelation. But we are 
not guided by the spirit of revelation 
as much as we ought to be. I think 
sometimes that we have not fully divest- 
ed ourselves of the elements of sectari- 
anism which some of us may have 
brought from the world and which others 
may have imbibed because of their 
weaknesses. Our Elders, in preaching 
the Gospel in the various nations of the 
earth, call attention to the fact that it 
las always been a characteristic of hu 
manity to profess u belief in the reve- 
lations and the remarkable manifesta- 
tions of Ihe power of God. which havi.- 
been exhibited ljefore their day* But 
when confronted with the opportunity or 
necessity of exercising the same faith, 
and enjoying immediate revelation, they 
have been weighed in the balance and 
found wanting. The Church of Christ 
never did exist on the earth, only as it 
existed, by the spirit of revelation from 
God. The Jews, when the Gospel was 
presented to them by John the Baptist, 
ajid also by the Savior, had just the 
same opportunities that the Christian 
world of today have, that is, of reading 
from the Scripture, which had been 
made by the Prophets preceding them, 
and receiving instructions * from tin? 
doctor* of the law and those whose pre- 
tended business it was to expound the 
Scriptures. But when one came to 
them and said that the kingdom .of God 
was nigh at hand, they were not pre- 
pared to receive it. The Gospel then, 
as now, was a test to all institutions. 
John the Baptist said, "The ax is laid 
unto the root of the tree, therefore ev- 
ery tree which bringeth not forth good 
fruit is hewn down and cast into the 
fire." Jesus was desiring to bring to 
the attention of His Disciples the neces- 
sity of being built upon a solid founda- 
tion, aud propounded a question unto 
them as recorded in Matthew, 16th 
chapter. He said: "Whom do men say 
that I, the Son of Man, am?" And His 
Disciples said, "Some say that thou art 
John the Baptist; some, Elias; and oth- 
ers, Jeremiah or ouo of the Prophets." 
Thus we see that it was nil guess work 
with them, so far as the general pub- 
lic were concerned. He turned to the 
Apostles nnd said: "But whom say ye 
that I am?" In response there came 
an emphatic testimony, not from a doc- 
tor of the law, not from an educated 
man, who had built his faith upon a 
mere reading of the ancient Scripture, 
but from a poor, unlettered man, who 
had been called by the voice of the Son 
of God from the fisherman's net, when 



the Messiah had said to him and his 
brother Andrew, "Come and follow me 
and I will make you fishers of men." 
From Peter the testimony came in no 
uncertain tones, saying, "Thou art the 
Christ, the Son of the living God." And 
Jesus said to Peter: "Blessed art thou, 
Simon Barjona; for flesh and blood hath 
not revealed it unto thee, but my 
Father which is in heaven." 

I» wish to bear my testimony that 
flesh and blood never did, because it 
never could, reveal unto man the iden- 
tity of the Son of God, or mak»» plain 
to the understanding of the children of 
men the things of God in any respect; 
and if it roquired a revelation for the 
Apostle Peter to bear witness that 
Jesus was the Christ, it will require 
revelation for every man and woman 
in every dispensation of the Gospel, to 
bear the same testimony. Indeed, the 
Son of God enunciated this fact as an 
eternal doctrine, when He sent the Sev- 
enties out to declare the Gospel. He 
had commanded them to go without 
purse or scrip, just as the servants of 
God have been commanded in this dis- 
pensation, that the world may be test- 
ed, and that the Disciples of the Son 
of God may act upon the principle of 
faith and trust in God to provide for 
them the necessities and comforts of 
life. When the Seventy returned to the 
Savior with the report of their mission, 
thev said that they lacked nothing: 

"In that hour Jesus rejoiced in spirit, 
and said, I thank thee. O, Father. Lord 
of heaven and earth, that thou hast hid 
these things from the wise and prudent, 
and hast revealed them unto babes; 
even so, Father, for so it seemed good 
in thy sight. 

"All things are delivered to me of my 
Father; and no man knoweth who the 
Son is, but the Father; and who the 
Father is, but the Son, and he to whom 
tins-Son will reveal Him," 

This is a plain and simple doctrine, 
and whatever may be the attainments 
of mankind, based upon the opportuni- 
ties of the age in which we live, aug- 
mented by the experience and the learn- 
ing of the preceding generations, they 
cannot understand the things of God, 
without the spirit of revelation. 

I wish to bear my testimony that the 
Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day 
Saints was founded upon the principle 
of revelation, and that it has been 
guided and controlled by the spirit of 
revelation from its' inception to the pres- 
ent time. God designed to guide this 
Church by the voice of revelation. When 
I see any lack of confidence on the part 
of our people in the wisdom of the 
Prophet of God and his associates, 1 
am impressed with the fact that we 
are lacking in that faith which belongs 
to the work of God. When the Prophet 
Joseph Smith was instrumental in es- 
tablishing this work, he made certain 
promises, such as have been alluded to 
by my brethren today. These promises 
have been fulfilled to the very letter. 
They not only extended to the remark- 
able manifestatiton of the gifts and 
powers of the Holy Ghost, but they ex- 
tended to a promise that every man and 
every woman in the Church should have 
a substantial testimony concerning the 
propriety of every movement made by 
the Propbet of God, in advancing the 
interests of the work of God uf^n the 
earth. And it can be pointed out on 
the pages of history that neither the 
Prophet Joseph Smith nor any of his 
successors ever gave counsel unto the 
Saints of God that was not attended 
with blessings and prosperity to those 



who heeded and acted upon it. More- 
over, it cannot be found upon the pages 
of history where any man has risen up 
in opposition to that counsel and has 
stretched forth his hand to steady the 
ark of God, but what that man has 
come to disappointment and his folly 
has been made manifest in the midst 
of the people of God. I can bear my 
testimony that these evidences, which 
have been recorded as a result of the 
experience of this Church, will con- 
tinue down to the latest period of time. 
God has established this- work; He has 
maintained it; He has prospered it in 
the earth, and He will continue to do so 
from this time henceforth and forever. 
God bless you, in the name of Jesus. 
Amen. • 

GLEANiNGS. 

Sister Aderholt, a young lady of 1!) 
summers, living., near Evergreen, Miss., 
writes a firm and strong testimony of 
the truthfulness of the Gospel of Jesus 
Christ. She has been connected with the 
Saints of God for something like four 
years, and rejoices in the knowledge of 
the truth. 

Bro. T. T. Bookman and wife, of 
Sharp, S. C, write a very nice letter, 
in wnich they sav: "We are members 
of the Church of Jesus Christ and gladly 
bear our testimony to the truthfulness 
of the Gospel the Elders are teaching 
in these latter days. We know and real- 
ize that this is the same Gospel as taught 
anciently by Christ and His Apostles. 
The Elders have always been welcomed 
to our home, and we never feel better 
than when they are with us. We would 
be pleased if all people could see and 
understand as do the Latter-day Saints." 



Bro. Mayo sends some encouraging 
news from Westville, Holmes county, 
Fla. Here is what our brother says: 

"As many readers of the Star are 
acquainted at this place,- I thought a 
few lines might be interesting to them. 
Health is better than usual for the sea- 
son, though there is some fever among 

"Our Sabbath school is moving along 
and I hope will improve in the near fu- 
ture, as the people are becoming more 
acquainted with the Gospel. There is 
nothing I enjoy more than Sabbath 
school work, and there is no institution 
more cultivating or developing to the 
moral character of the youth than the 
Sabbath school among the Latter-day 
Saints and if the Saints and friends could 
only realize this fact it would be a great 
aid in publishing the Gospel. 

"Elders Jas. J. Thompson and Daniel 
Baglev, who are traveling in the inter- 
est of the Sabbath schools in this, the 
South Alabama conference, are 'in- this 
locality now. They arrived here Sat- 
urday, the 11th, held meeting Saturday 
night, met with us hi Sabbath school 
Sunday at 10 o*clock. We' were ad- 
dressed by Elder Daniel Bagley, fol- 
lowed by Elder Thompson. They also 
held meeting Sunday night." 



Sensible Advice. 

C. P. Huntingdon, who after a phe- 
nomenal career in business became a 
Pacific Railway President, through the 
columns of Success says these sensible 
words to boys and young men who are 
ambitious for honorable achievement: 
Advice is thrown away on a boy or 
young man who considers it beneath 
him to work at anything which hardens 
the hands or soils the garments, but 
who prefers a clerkship in a store or 
office at starvation wages. Good 
clothes should not be worn at the ex- 
pense of a* career. To the man who is 
not afraid of dowuright hard work, I 
would sugest frugality, investing .sur- 
plus earnings, if only a dime a day, in 
a savings hank, and reading usefu! 
books during leisure hours. 



320 



THE SOUTHERN STAR. 



REPORT OF MISSION CONFERENCES FOR WEEK ENDING AUG. 11, 1900. 



PRESIDENT 



Geo. A. Adams,. . 

Heber S. Obwn t «., 

J. G. Bolton 1 „ 

J. Spenoer Woratey.. 
W. D. Bencher 

A. C. Strong... .,_ 

John H. Bankhtiwi... 
John Reeve _„ . „ .. T « . . . , 

J. M. Haws..... « 

C. R. Humph rcya..... 

G. M. Porter ...... 

W.W.MacKaj 

F. H. CritchileJd 

B. L. Houts .... 

Don C. Benson 

L.M.Nebeker 

H. Z. Lund 



CONFERENCE 



Chattanooga 

VfrKJtoliL,....*,..... 

Kentucky 

Kn-t. Tennessee.. 

Georgia 

North Alabama.. 

FJnrida...... ,.. 

Mid, Tennessee „ 
North* utuljeia ... 
s,,nth Carolina.. 
UlaaisdmJ .„„,... 
Earft Kentucky.,, 
Louisiana mmM , wvtm ^ 
.s..»iLh Alabama „ 
North Kentucky 
South Oh lo.„ ...... 

North Ohio 



|2 



:3 

1* 



03 

1W 

U>B8 

H7t 

019 

23 
l» 
1 22 

i>n 

>25 
12 
JO 

$0 



FOUND WANTING, 

AVhile staying at Brother James Gresh- 
am's, in Colbert county, Alabama, there 
was a Baptist minister by the name of 
W. S. Jones came in the neighborhood 
and told the people that he came to 
stamp out Mormonism and to drive the 
Mormon Elders from the county. He 
made his brags that he was going "to do 
the Mormons up,'* and the people seemed 
to think he was just the man they had 
been looking for, so they made a great 
to do over him. The Rev. W. S. Jones 
sent me word that lie was coming to see 
me and challenge me for a debate. On 
the morning of Aug. 14th Mr. Jones came 
to the house where I was stopping, and 
in company with him was the Deacon 
of the Baptist church, Mr. M. A. 
Thompson. They stated that they had 
called to see me. I told them I was at 
their service. Mr. Jones then said be 
was a minister, representing the Mission- 
ary Baptists. I replied, I am also a 
minister, representing the Church of 
Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He 
then read the following to me: "The 
Church to which I, W. S. Jones, stand 
identified has the Bible characteristics, 
which entitle it to be called the Church 
of Christ, it being in harmony with the 
teachings of Jesus Christ and the Apos- 
tles in respect of doctrine and prac- 
tice." He then asked me if I 
agreed with him. I replied, "No." 
He then challenged me to debate 
with him. I told him we were not out 
here hunting debates or stirring up 
strife, but if he wanted to have a friend- 
ly discussion upon the principles of the 
Gospel I would accept the challenge. T 
then drew up an agreement that there 
was to be no slandering nor abusive lan- 
guage used. by either party, and we were 
to take King James* translation of the 
Bible for our standard. We both signed 
the agreement with witnesses. The dis- 
cussion was to commence Aug. 17th at 
10 a.m. and continue four days. The 
people went to work and built a bowery 
to hold the discussion under. On the 
16th Mr. Jones left, telling the people 
he would be back on the train on the 
morning of the 17th, and that he had 
some business to attend to in an adjoin- 
ing town. During this time I wrote to 
President A. C. Strong at Memphis and 
Elder William Larsen came on the train 
on the morning of the 17th inst. The 
people commenced to gather at the bow- 
ery on the morning of the 17th, and we 
had a nice congregation, but no Rev. 
Jones put in an appearance. We waited 
until 11 o'clock, and still fie did not 
come. We then called the people to or- 
der and opened the meeting by singing 
and prayer, and Elder Wiliam Larsen 
preached to them for some time upon the 



417 

20 

17 

72 

1»5 

206 

131 

188 

40 

28 

54 

44 

34 

5 

1047 

262 



fj! 



i 1 

a 



347 :t00 
■■I, 214 

a i9i 

<-' l'24 

n:« •:« 

50 

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!M 150 
Hi 57 

m m 

29 

Kid ;J8 

si 

2r:. ill 



1 
•I 

ll 



401 



512 
375 
688 
396 
468 

74 
491 

22 
318 
971 
1354 
873 



II 



a 
rags 



64 
14 
51 
63 
10 
28 
30 
14. 
15 
3 
11 
3 
9 
jfi 
I 56 
19 18 






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3*' 487 

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y« 



Sweet Uum, Van iJurtm Co 
Richmond, Box 3Sy„, 

Centre „.-.„„« 

Charlotte .. 

Bowor^ville , 

Memphis, Box 15S.„„ H 

Villi !u>*ta... T 

S2;i N r . Summer et. Nil-Ii villti 
Gold* ho ro, Box ***,„„„.-, 
Btarksburg. »„,„„„... 

Avkerman. „«....„ 

BarhoiirsvUJe„ „ 

Lake Village. 

La pine .._...♦.„ „.,„ 

109 w.Gray St., Louisville 
5&t Belts St., Cincinnati ... 
41 1 haihJre St., Cleveland 



STATS 



Teniit&aet.' 

Virginia 

Kentucky 

N, Carolina 

Georgia 

TciitteatHte 

tieorgia 

in Ulll».*rt'i- 

N. Carolina 

& Carnlina 

H i *-i B&i pp i 

Kentucky 

LxiuUtana 

Alabama 

Kentucky 

Ohio 

(J bio 



first principles of the Gospel, and many 
who would never go to hear a Mormon 
Elder preach got to hear one, and on ac- 
count of threatening rain we adjourned 
the meeting until Saturday morning, 
Aug. 18th, at 10 o'clock, in order to give 
Rev. Mr. Jones time to get back. Sat- 
urday morning came, but no Jones, and 
we found out that the Rev. W. S. 
Jones, who was going to stamp out Mor- 
monism and drive the Mormons out of 
the country, was in jail at Moulton, 
Lawrence county, Alabama, for practic- 
ing medicine without a license. The 
Lord God of Israel is able to take care 
of those who fight against His servants 
and "His work. Saturday morning Elder 
East spoke to the people upon Divine 
Authority, and Elder Larsen made a few 
closing remarks. The Deacon, Mr. M. 
A. Thompson, telephoned to Cherokee 
and Tuscumbia, and wrote letters to ad- 
joining towns for a minister to come and 
take Mr. Jones' place, but they would 
not come. 

The Lord works in a mysterious way 
His wonders to perform. "He plants 
His footsteps in the sea, and rides upon 
the storm." 



Abstracts from Correspondence. 

Elder P. N. Nelson gives us the follow- 
ing account of a pleasant time in the 
Florida conference: 

"In these days of advancement, when 
truth and reason are beginning to batter 
down the fortifications of man-made sys- 
tems and sectarian dogmas, it is ludi- 
crous to note the weapons that the de- 
fenders of error will use, as a means of 
last resort. One of recent invention is 
that the Mormon Elders receive a large 
salary for their services, but pretend 
otherwise. 

"On the 19th of August, President 
Bankhead met fourteen of the Elders at 
Spring Hill and after a two days' meet 
with Saints and friends, we met in priest- 
hood meeting. 

"That the spirit of God was with us 
could be seen by the most unbelieving. 
Men who could leave families and loved 
ones and face the jeers of a cold and 
unbelieving world were melted to tears, 
words being too weak to give expression 
to their feeling of love as inspired by 
the Spirit of God. To hear men, whom 
God had seen fit to bear special witness 
of Him, stand up and by the power of 
the Holy Ghost testify that they know 
Jesus is the Christ, that the Gospel is 
the power of God unto salvation to all 
that obey and that Joseph Smith was 
the chosen instrument in the hands of 
God in restoring the Gospel and to usher 
in the dispensation of the fulness of 
times, causes a feeling of wonder and 
curiosity to occupy the minds of the 
most skeptical. 

"We all agreed that we had been 
amply paid for our services and were 
willing to devote our time and talents to 
the same Good Master. 

"P. N. Nelson." 



Releases. 

North Alabama conference— G. A. 
Newell, J. C. Stover. 

South Carolina conference— G. H. Se- 
vier. 

Georgia conference— A. S. Hawkins. 

Middle Tennessee conference— C. L. 
Miles. 

North Carolina conference— John Bai- 
ley, Bert Hoopes, Ole A. Alfred, J. N. 
Connell. 

Arrivals. 

Jas. M. Taylor, of Fremont, Utah, to 
North Carolina conference. 
t Alfred B. Hill, of Salt Lake City, to 
North Carolina conference. 

W. C. Crump, Jr., of Mousley, Utah, 
to South Carolina conference. 

Ira DeMill, of Rockville, Utah, to 
South Carolina conference. 

W. H. Wilcox, of Faruiington, Utah, 
to Chattanooga conference. 

THE DEAD. 

Bro. H. F. W. Lee passed peacefully 
away from this mortal life on Aug. 
14th, 1000. He was born June 14th, 
1850, and was baptized into the Church 
of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints 
Oct. 21st, 1894. Rev. Lee was ever 
faithful in the performance of all du- 
Oct. 2 1st, 1894. Brother Lee was ever 
ready to lend a helping hand to a dis- 
tressed brother or sister, who stood n 
need of his assistance. Although our 
departed brother lived in a community 
where the Mormons were laughed to 
scorn, and frowned upon, still he was 
valiant in defense of the Gospel, and 
with an unerring zeal kept the faith. 
"Love and good will to all* was his 
motto, . and the manifestation of his 
conduct proved that he practiced both. 
He leaves a wife and seven children to 
mourn his loss. To the sorrowing wife 
we would say, have courage, be of good 
cheer, your husband you again shall 
meet, and to the children, be true to the 
Gospel, and like your dear father cling 
fast to the faith, even unto death. 



Sister Mary Jane Foot departed this 
life July 29th, 1900. Sister Foot was 
born in Georgia, Aug. 3d, 1835, and 
lived there until 1896, when she saw 
the light of the Gospel as taught by the 
Latter-day Saints and had the courage 
to accept it. 

Some time after, she with the rest of 
the family, moved to Gadsden, Ala., 
where she connected herself with the 
branch of the Church at that place. 
Sister Foot bore a strong testimony to 
the truthfulness of the Gospel, and to 
the divinity of Joseph Smith's mission. 
Through all her suffering previous to 
her death she was patient and willing 
that the Lord's will be done in her case. 
She leaves a husband and several chil- 
dren to mourn the loss of a devoted 
wife and loving mother. 




- to. 



•BUT THOUOfl WE , OB AN ANGEL FROM HEAVEN. PRE ACM ANY 
DTHE6 GOSPEL UNTO YOU THAN THAT WHICH WE 



HAVE PREACHED UN TO YOU. LET HIM 6£ ACCURSED.' <Stf, /«"<?<?* 

urifcfc&T * — — = 




Vol. 2. 



Ohattanoooa, Tbnn., Satubday, Sbptbmbbb 8, 1900. 



No. 41. 



Sketch of the Life of Apostle David W. Patten. 

BY APOSTLE MATHIAS F. COWLEY. 



. The great man of whom we write was 
born in the State of New York in the 
year 1800. His parents were farmers 
and earned their livelihood from th* 
products of the soil. 
David was industrious 
and energetic, possessed 
of a strong, healthy 
body and a bright, ac- 
tive mind. Early in 
life he manifested a 
great interest in the 
subject of religion, and 
was endowed with such 
faith in God that he 
was the recipient of 
dreams and visions from 
the Lord. When 21 
years old he testified 
that the spirit of God 
commanded him to re- 
pent of his sins. He 
aid so, and during the 

?ears following several 
uture events were re- 
vealed to him in dreams 
and visions. He looked 
for. the restoration of 
the Gospel in its ancient 
purity, completeness and 
power, and felt that he 
would live to see it. In 
1830 he first saw the 
Book of Mormon. Being 
impressed with its truth, 
he cried unto God for 
more faith. His brother, 
John Patten, received 
the Gospel previous to 
May, 1832, and in that 
month wrote to his 
brother, David, of the 
rise of the Church in 
the last days, the res- 
toration of spiritual 
gifts, etc. David was 
convinced that God had 
revealed Himself, and on 
June 15th, 1832, was 
baptized by his brother, 
John, in Green county, 
Indiana. On the 17th of 
the same month he was 
ordained an Elder by 
Elisha Groves, and sent on a mission 
with a Brother Wood to Michigan. He 
was mighty in faith. Many remarkable 
cases of healing occurred during this mis- 
sion. In many instances when the sick 
said they had faith to be healed and 



promised to obey the Gospel he would 
command them to arise and walk, and 
they did so, being instantly healed by the 
power of God. On this brief mission of 




WaftYYWS© m 




about three months they baptized sixteen 
persons. 

In October he went to Kirtland, where 
he spent a few weeks, and then started 
on his second mission, this time going 
into Pennsylvania. Himself and com- 



panions baptized several on the way. To 
the sick he taught faith in the ordinances 
of the Gospel, and where their hearts re- 
sponded, he commanded them in the 
name of the Lord to be 
healed, and it was done. 
Many people came long . 
distances, having faith to 
be healed, and their 

Srayers were answered. 
>ne woman who had been 
afflicted for nearly twenty 
years was instantly heal- 
ed. He returned to Kirt- 
land Feb. 25th, 1833. The 
next month he was Bent 
with other Elders on a 
mission to preach the Gos- 
pel and advise the Saints 
to gather at Kirtland. He 
traveled with R. Cahoon. 
At Father Bos ley's, in 
Avon, they preached to the 
people. Their meeting was 
disturbed by a boisterous 
man, who defied any man 
to eject him from the 
meeting. Brother Patten, 
being aroused with right- 
eous indignation, told him 
to be quiet or he would 
put him out. The fellow 
said, "You can't do it." 
Brother Patten promptly 
answered, "In the name of 
the Lord I will do it." He 
seized the disturber, car- 
ried him to the door and 
pitched him onto a wood 
pile. The saying went out 
that Patten had cast out 
one devil, soul and body. 
They met with much 
opposition and persecution 
in Orleans, Jefferson coun- 
ty, New York. Notwith- 
standing they raised up a 
branch of eighteen mem- 
bers. In Henderson he 
baptized eight persons. 
When the Elders con- 
firmed them the Holy 
Ghost came upon them, 
and they spoke with 
tongues and prophesied. He . organ- 
ized several branches during the sum- 
mer, numbering eighty members in 
alL Of the power of God manlffest 
through Elder Patten's labors, he himself 
writes: "The Lord did work with tne 



322 



THE SOUTHERN STAR. 



wonderfully, in signs and wonders fol- 
lowing them that believed in the fullness 
of the Gospel of Jesus Christ; insomuch 
that the deaf were made to hear, the 
blind to see. and the lame were made 
whole. Fevers, palsies, crooked and 
withered limbs, and in fact all manner 
of diseases common to the country, were 
healed by the power of God that was 
manifest through His servants." He 
returned to Kirtland in the. fall of 1883, 
worked one month on the temple, and 
then went to bis former place of residence 
in Michigan. From there he moved to 
Florence, O. He was sick for some time, 
but being full of desire to labor for the 
salvation of his fellow-beings, he con- 
secrated himself to the Lord and began a 
preaching tour. One day the Spirit of the 
Lord said to him, "Depart from your 
field of labor and go unto Kirtland, for 
behold I will send thee up to the land of 
Zion, and thou shalt serve thy brethren 
there." 

He obeyed, and was immediately sent 
South with William D. Pratt to convey 
messages to th« Saints ia Missouri. They 
arrived in Clay county March 4th, 1884, 
after a trying journey from cold and fa- 
tigue. He remained m Missouri until 
the arrival of Zion's Camp. During these 
troubles a bitter enemy approached 
Brother Patten, and said, with a drawn 
bowie knife in his hand, "You d— 
Mormon, I will cut your d— throat." 
Blder Patten looked him square in the 
face, and putting his hand in his left 
breast pocket, said, "My friend, do noth- 
ing rashly." Brother Patten was un- 
armed, but the mobocrat was seized with 
fear and turned away, saying, "For God's 
sake, don't shoot." 

Sept. 12th, 1884, Elders Patten and 
Warren Parish started on a mission to 
Tennessee. In Henry county they la- 
bored about three months, baptising 
twenty persons. The sick were healed 
in a remarkable way. One instance of 
importance was the case of Johnston F. 
Lane's wife, who had been sick for eight 
years. Learning of the Elders and the 
faith they taught, they sent for them. 
Brother Patten preached to ]£r. Lane 
and his family that the power to be 
healed was given to those who had faith 
to receive it. Mrs. Lane believed, and 
Brother Patten laid his hands upon her, 
saying, "In the name of Jesus Christ I 
rebuke the disorder and command it to 
depart." He also commanded her in the 
name of the Lord to arise, go forth and 
be baptized, which she did the same hour. 
After baptism and confirmation he told 
her she should gain in strength, and in 
less than a year become the mother of a 
son. She had been married twelve years, 
and had had no children. Nevertheless 
this prophecy was literally fulfilled, for 
within the year she bore a son, whom the 
parents named David Patten. 

Brother Patten returned to Kirtland 
in the winter of 1834-5. On Feb. 15th, 
1885, he was ordained one of the Twelve 
Apostles. On the first mission of the 
Twelve he traveled through New York, 
Canada, Vermont, Maine and other 
States, setting the branches in order, at- 
tending Conferences, etc He returned 
to Kirtland in September, 1885. Soon 
after receiving his endowments in the 
Kirtland temple he went on another mis- 
sion to Tennessee. Here he. found 
Brother Wilford Woodruff on admission 
from Missouri. May 17th, 1835, Mar- 
garet Little was instantly healed, being 
at the point of death. She had covenant- 
ed to be baptized, but after being restored 
she refused. Elder Patten told her the 
affliction would come back if she did not 
repent. On their return they again found 



her very low. She begged them to ad- 
minister to her, promising that she would 
obey the Gospel. She was again instant- 
ly healed, and this time received the 
Gospel. They continued their labors 
against much persecution. On one occa- 
sion an armed mob fled before him, being 
seized with fear, though Brother Patten 
had nothing but a walking stick with 
him. A little later Warren Parrish ar- 
rived from Kirtland, and the three jour- 
neyed together from town to town in 
Kentucky, preaching the Gospel wher- 
ever opportunity afforded. The Spirit of 
the Lord wrought mightily with them, 
especially in healing the sick. The devil 
opposed them bitterly, and on one occa- 
sion a mob of about forty men, headed 
by the Sheriff and a Methodist priest, 
took them into custody on a complaint of 
Matthew Williams, who swore to the 
complaint that these brethren had proph- 
esied "that Christ would come the second 
time before this generation passed away, 
and that four individuals should receive 
the Holy Ghost within twenty-four 
hours." Upon examination, Elders Pat- 
ten and Parrish were placed under $2,000 
bonds to appear for trial June 22d. Early 
on that date they appeared in court. The 
officers took from Brother Patten his 
walking stick and penknife. The court 
denied the prisoners the right to produce 
any witnesses on their side. The trial 
was a mockery. They were prohibited 
from saying anything in their own de- 
fense. Elder Patten bore the indignities 
until forbearance ceased to be a virtue, 
when he arose, filled with the Holy 
Ghost. The court and spectators were 
spellbound while he addressed them, re- 
buking the court sharply for their unjust 
proceedings, the judge having declared 
them guilty of the charge, and yet there 
was nothing in the charge conflicting with 
. any law of God or man. 

Brother Parrish remarked afterwards 
that while Elder Patten was speaking, 
"My hair stood up straight on my head, 
for I expected to be killed." The Judge 
was astonished, and said, "You must be 
armed with concealed weapons or you 
would not treat an armed court as you 
have this." The Apostle replied, "I am 
armed with weapons you know not of, 
and my weapons are the Holy Priesthood 
and the power of God. God is my friend, 
and He permits you to exercise all the 
power you have, and He bestows on me 
all the power I have." The court and 
mob were defeated in their purposes and 
the prisoners released. The Sheriff ad- 
vised the brethren to leave at once, as 
their lives were in imminent danger from 
the mob. The Elders went to Brother 
Seth Utley's, but soon after the mob 
Quarreled, many of them being exasperat- 
ed because the brethren were allowed to 
go. The mob were again in speedy pur- 
suit The Elders, learning of this, mount- 
ed their mules, and by a circuitous route 
through the woods reached the house of 
Albert Petty, where they put up their 
mules and laid down to rest. They had 
only been sleeping a short time when a 
heavenly messenger appeared to Elder 
Patten and told him that the mob would 
soon be at the house where they were 
sleeping. He awoke Brother Parrish, in- 
formed him of the danger, and they soon 
left. Shortly afterwards the mob reached 
Albert Petty's, surrounded the house and 
demanded the Elders. Being informed 
they were not there, the house was 

fiearched. The mob remained until day- 
ight, when they tracked the brethren's 
animals to the county line, and turned 
back disappointed. 
' Concluding his mission in the South, 



Elder Patten, accompanied by his wife, 
repaired to Far West, Missouri. He re- 
mained there until the spring of 1837, 
when he traveled and preached through 
the States until he came to Kirtland. It 
was a season of great apostacy. His 
brother-in-law, Warren Parrish, had 
apostatized, and Elder Patten, though 
faithful and true himself, experienced 
great sorrow because of the apostacy of 
many of his brethren. He returned to 
Missouri, and Feb. 10th, 1338, ^vith 
Thomas B. Marsh, was appointed to pre- 
side over the Church in Far West during 
the absence of the Prophet Joseph Smith. 
While in this position he wrote an epistle 
and delivered his last testimony to the 
Church and the world so far as this mor- 
tal life is concerned. Oct. 24th, 1838, 
Samuel Bogart, a Methodist preacher, 
leading a mob of seventy-five men, were 
committing outrages on Log Creek. They 
were destroying property and taking 
prisoners. Apostle Patten and about sev- 
enty-five others went out to meet the 
mob, and early the next morning encoun- 
tered them in battle. During the en- 
gagement Elder Patten was mortally 
wounded, though the mobbers were de- 
feated. Upon returning to Far West 
with the dead and wounded. Brother 
Pattens' pain and suffering became so 
intense that he asked his brethren to 
leave him. He, with Brother Seeley, an- 
other of the wounded, were placed upon a 
litter and carried gently by kind and 
loving hands. They were met by Pres- 
idents Joseph and Hyrum Smith, Elder 
H. C. Kimball and others. Brother Patten 
became so distressed that they could con- 
vey him no further, and he was taken tp 
the home of Brother Stephen Winches- 
ter, about three miles from Far West, 
where he expired in peace with a clear 
mind and a happy spirit, at 10 p.m. Oct. 
25th, 1838. Of his last moments Presi- 
dent Heber C. Kimball wrote: "When 
the shades of time were lowering, and 
eternity with all its realities were open- 
ing to his view, he bore a strong testi- 
mony to the truth of the work of the 
Lord and the religion he had espoused. 
The principles of the Gospel, which were 
so precious to him before, were honorably 
maintained in natures' final hour, and 
afforded him that support and consola- 
tion at the time of his departure which 
deprived death of its sting and horror. 
Speaking of those who apostasised, he 
exclaimed, "Oh, that they were in my sit- 
uation; for I feel I have kept the faith: I 
have finished my course; henceforth there 
is laid up for me a crown which the Lord, 
the Righteous Judg*, shall give to me." 
Speaking to his beloved wife, who was 
present, and who attended him in his dy- 
ing moments, he said, "Whatever you do 
else, do not deny the faith!" A few mo- 
ments before he died he prayed thus: 
"Father, I ask Thee in the name of Jesus 
Christ that Thou wouldst release my 
spirit and receive it unto Thyself." The 
brethren committed him to the Lord, and 
he quietly breathed his last without a 
struggle or a groan. At the funeral, Oct. 
27th, 1838, the Prophet Joseph Smith, 
pointing to his lifeless body, said: 
"There lies a man who has done just as 
he said he would; he has laid down his 
life for his friends." David W. Patten 
was truly one of God's noblemen. He 
was faithful and true, and gave all that 
man could give, including his life, for 
the testimony of Jesus and the word of 
God. He belongs to that honored num- 
ber that the angel said to John upon the 
Isle of Patmos should be slain for the 
testimony of Jesus, before God would 
avenge the blood of those whom the 
Apostle saw under the altar. David W. 



/ 



THB SOUTHERN STAB. 



328 



Patten was the first Apostolic martyr of 
the dispensation of the fullness of times, 
and will be among the first fruits of the 
Resurrection of the Just. Joseph, the 
Prophet, wrote of him: "Brother David 
W. Patten was a worthy man, beloved by 
all good men who knew him. He died as 
he had lived, a man of God, and strong 
in the faith of a glorious resurrection, in 
a world where mobs will have no power 
or place." 



AMERICA; 
Or, The Land of Joseph. 

BY A. ARROWSMITH. 

This land of liberty and freedom. 
America, the home of the oppressed and 
downtrodden— the most glorious and 
blest land in all the world will be the sub- 
ject of my hasty sketch. 

The name, America, is taken from 
Amerigo Vespucci, a Portuguese explorer, 
who followed in the wake of Columbus 
and who took many of the laurels and 
honors which rightfully belonged to Co- 
lumbus. He explored the coast of South 
America and made charts, in the year 
1499, of the coast line, from the Orinoco 
to the Amazon rivers. His expeditions 
were published by a noted Florentine and 
Amerigo' was given credit for finding the 
mainland of the western continent. 

This land is called the new world, on 
account of its comparative recent discov- 
ery by«the Caucasian race. It, however, 
contains the most ancient habitable spots 
on earth. 

In the beginning God created the world. 
Ho divided the waters from the land. 
The seas were gathered together m one 
place and the dry land was likewise unit- 
ed. TCiere were no continents and divis- 
ions, such as we find today. This divis- 
ion did not occur until 100 years after the 
flood, when we read in Gen. 10:25 that 
in the days of Peleg the earth was di- 
vided. 

Prior to this great division, the earth 
had enjoyed a paradisical state: Eden's 
trees had bloomed and the tree of life 
and of knowledge of good and evil had 
blossomed and borne fruit. Adam and 
Eve in their walks in this beautiful spot 
had enjoyed this felicious state of un- 
alloyed bliss and happiness, in connection 
with all the immortal animals and crea- 
tures of God. They thus worshipped and 
praised their Maker, in purity and har- 
mony, walking and talking with Him in 
the garden. 

•God had made His workperfect and 
He pronounced it good. We must not 
forget that the first chapter of Genesis 
deals strictly in a spiritual creation and 
that all the creations of God, which have 
life, from the smallest animalculae to the 
largest mast ad on in the animal kingdom; 
from the weakest blade of grass to the 
giant tree, in the vegetable kingdom; in- 
cluding the lowest forms of life to the 
highest development man, all have their 
spiritual entities, and are dual beings, be- 
ing in their spheres, as spiritual and tem- 
poral entities, living souls. 

These immortal living souls came upon 
the earth in the beginning and were com- 
manded to multiply and replenish the 
earth. The environment of the earth did 
not appear propitious for the propagation 
of temporal tabernacles, and the earth 
must necessarily fall. Man's agency must 
not be tampered with and a law was giv- 
en with a penalty affixed for an infraction 
of that law. 

The tree of knowledge of good and evil 
was forbidden our first parents, and the 
command sent forth that in the day the 
fruit was eaten death would enter in the 
world. This particular tree appears to 
have had great prominence in the beauti- 
ful garden, and was desirable to look up- 
on, so that the fall was brought about 
easily and perfectly natural, being in- 
tended from the beginning, and part of 
the plan of salvation. 

The cupidity of Eve was aroused and 



the fruit, appearing beautiful and lus- 
cious, she partook, and fell. In order 
that man might be and that the purposes 
of God might not be frustrated, Adam 
also fell. 

Adam and Eve were the first flesh on 
the earth. When they fell, all creation 
fell. Immortality ceased and death 
reigned. The earth was cursed and sub- 
ject to the devil, its environment was 
changed and gradually from a state of 
peace and blessedness, turmoil, disorder, 
strife and bloodshed was felt. Thorns, 
thistles, briars, obnoxious weeds and par- 
asites which would burden, afflict and tor- 
ment man came forth. Animals became 
wild and vicious and man became wicked 
and an abomination in the sight of the 
Creator. 

Eden was vacated, the sons of Adam 
scattered and the earth became densely 
populated. 

God gave His children the laws of His 
everlasting gospel and taught them how 
they again could regain His presence. He 
instructed them in the laws of sacrifice, 
that they might look forward to the time 
when His Son would fully atone for the 
fall, through His expiation on the cross, 
on Calvary. 

Man was driven forth from the garden, 
to eat his bread by the sweat of his face 
and grapple with the stern realities of life 
in all its phases. 

Eden has been pictured on the banks 
of the River Euphrates, near its head- 
waters, m Persia. 

Sectarianism, among its many follies, 
believes that the antedeluvians and all 
things scriptural originated in what they 
are pleased to call the "old world," and 
that all the works of God were confined 
to the neighborhood of Palestine. The 
people of the world, generally, does not 
consider the division of the earth which 
occurred after the flood. This division 
of the earth did not take place for over 
2,000 years after the fall of man. 

The Prophet Joseph Smith, in the face 
of the profound learning of this enlight- 
ened age, boldly states that Eden was 
located in the western part of the state 
of Missouri. 

That Adam built his altar and offered 
sacrifice there. That Enoch and his city, 
with Noah and the righteous antedelu- 
vians, were located in the land of Zion. 
America. 

Instead of this country, then, being the 
"new world," it is the ''old world," and 
the most ancient inhabited spot that we 
have any record of. We finally read of 
the antedeluvians becoming very wicked 
and corrupt, and the Creator chose to de- 
stroy them from off the earth. The earth 
with all its inhabitants were baptized, or 
buried beneath the waters of the deluge, 
save Noah and his family, with the va- 
rious animals, in the ark, all were lost 

The ark was driven over to the eastern 
hemisphere and rested on Mount Ararat. 

From henceforth the record of scrip- 
ture, as contained in "the Bible," deals 
wholly with the eastern hemisphere and 
almost entirely in the neighborhood of 
Palestine. 

The division as spoken of in that one 
little verse in Genesis, must have been a 
tremendous upheaval of nature. The vast 
gulf which forms the Atlantic and Pacific 
oceans, changing the face of the whole 
earth, forming the valleys and the moun- 
tains. It must have been a wonderful 
transformation. 

This vast continent, America, had been 
submerged in the flood, and all land ani- 
mals been drowned. It laid in solitude 
and lonely security until the confusion of 
tongues, at Babel, when it was peopled 
by the Jaredites. 

In the confusion of tongues, which oc- 
curred at the building of the tower, at 
Babel or Babylon, there was a God-fear- 
ing and righteous man, named Morian- 
cumhr. This man had a brother named 
.Tared, who also was faithful and true to 
God. On account of their faith, their 
language was retained and preserved and 
God promised them an inheritance, far 
from the strife and confusion of Babylon. 
He told them of a land of promise, re- 
served for the righteous, ordained to lib- 1 



erty, truth and justice; where dema- 
gogues, despots and kingly tyranny would 
not thrive. 

About 125 years after the flood, a small 
colony of Jareditea settled in what is now 
called North America, These people mul- 
tiplied and grew, until they covered the 
whole land. 

The Jaredites occupied this continent 
upwards of sixteen hundred years, and 
during this time millions upon millions of 
souls had peoplix! the land, which had 
been covered with inhabitants from ocean 
to ocean. Ureal civil wars and factional 
disturbances degsimated this race and 
God decreed that the descendants of Jar- 
ed and his brother should be wiped from 
the earth. They had lost the faith of 
their fathers and had become very wicked 
and were exterminated about the year 600 
B, C. 

A decade before the invasion of Jeru- 
salem by Nebuchadnezzar, God warned 
the inhabitants of Judea of their over- 
throw and their destruction, if they did 
not repent. The prophets, Jeremiah and 
Lchi, proclaimed their downfall and cap- 
tivity and for their trouble were scourged 
and driven from the city. 

Lebi was warned through vision and 
dream to flee from the land of Judea, and 
he with his family journeyed in the wil- 
derness some twelve years, along the 
shores of the Bed sea, in Arabia. This 
small colony was finally instructed in 
the art of shipbuilding-, and constructed 
seaworthy vessels. They embarked from 
the shores of Arabia, and going eastward 
finally landed on the western coast of 
Chili, in South America. 

Still another colony, led by Mulek, a 
son of King Zedekiah, came to this land. 
Tn after years these colonies mingled to- 
gether. 

Among the sons of Lehi, we find two 
leaders. The elder, named Ionian and 
the younger named Nephi. Laman was a 
rebelh'ouH and wicked man, who would 
not heed the counsels of God. He, with 
h\fi faction, called the Lamanites, were 
in con sunt warfare against the principles 
of righteousness, and in consequence God 
cursed them with dark skins. 

Nephi, on the other hand, was favored 
of the J^ord, was obedient to His instruc- 
tions, and was s mighty prophet in the 
land. His followers were called the Ne- 
phi tea. 

The history of these people is graphic- 
ally portrayed in the "Book of Mormon." 

Mke the Jaredites, who fell, the Ne- 
phi tes became proud, haughty, filled with 
bigotry and intolerance, and were also 
exterminated about the year 400 A. D. 
The remnants left in the land were the 
descendants of the Lamanites— the In- 
dians—who continued their tribal wars 
until recent years. 

(To be Continued.) 

Without Shuffling or Evasion. 

From Fennimore Cooper and other au- 
thorities we have gained the impression 
that the Indian is a stolid, severe indi- 
vidual, with no sense of the white man's 
humor, but one red brother showed him- 
self quite a civilized joker the other day 
in the United States court. He was on 
the stand in a hotly contested case, and 
Attorney D. R. Bailey, of Sioux Falls, 
was after him in the most approved fash- 
ion of eroaH-examinatiou. Finally, after 
apparently frightening the Indian with 
the awful consequences which would fol- 
low the slightest deviation from the truth, 
Mr* Bailey took his moat portentious tone 
and solemn manner and demanded : 

"Now. sir, I want you to tell me the 
exact tmth, without any shuffling or eva- 
sion. I want you to Took me square in 
the eye and tell me how you get your liv- 
ing. sir. 1 ' 

The lad inn looked straight at Mr. Bai- 
ley and, with that im r>erturbable air fa- 
miliar to all sr*n us Inter! with the red men, 
siirmly said. "Eat." 

The court room roared, even Judge Gar- 
land smiled and Mr. Railey let the wit- 
ness go.— St. Paul Pioneer Press. 



324 



THE SOUTHERN STAR. 




r'ibllahee' Weekly by Soitbore States MImIoi Cborob 

ff Jem Cbrlit of Uttor Dey Seleta, 

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Correspondence from all parts of the missionary 
field is solicited. Give name and address, or articles 
will be rejected. Write on one side of paper only 
when sent for publication. We reserve the right to 
either eliminate or reject any communication sent in. 
Address Box 109 



Batubdat, September 8, 1900. 



ARTICLES OF FAITH 

OP TttB CHURCH OP JESUS CHRIST OP 
LATTER-DAY SAINTS. 

1. W> btljfT* in <Jod Lht Eterofcl FilW, tad la tiii So* 
Jwm t'lmiU iad in lb* HoLy t»hc»L 

%. Wt Mlin tbit idiq *iH b* puaitbtd far tfaeir on 
tlai, led not for AiJ»cb> Ui aitreiuoa. 

t, Wt b*lk*T« tbit, through th* 4tofi* moot of Chriit. ill 
DAafcftad mty It uvidl. by cbodtonot t* ta* lt*i tod ordl. 
men of til* OcrtpaL 

i, Wt balitT* that Eh* flr« principle* »n4 ortfarttrHm of 
fcbt 00*0*1 irtl FSnt, Filth in the Lord JiiunJbmt ; weand, 
fUeoatuo*; third* Btptjun bf Iromtntaii far to* r* mini na 
Of iLai; fourth. Ujriof OD of HinJi far th* Gkiicf tb« Ufllj 
Obd*L 

4. W» b*H«*t thit * min mail bfl called of Go*!, bj 
" prophaej, *ad bj ib* lijint *n of btndh," by 1ho*« -ho ir* 
In ■■taorilf^ to pna&h lb* f4*p*l ind nlminUHf la lb* otdi* 



#. W* b*li*T* Id thtfltma piftaiptUori thai *ij*i*d la 
lb* ptJoitlT* cbarcb — DimBlj t A[»*lJm, Vropbiti* i'utpri, 
TucWi, ETinielLtbk, *tc 

■T. Wt b*]JlM Id tb* rft or ton^iiM, pr ipbecy, rWitio*, 
*l*lon.i howling, m[»rp-r*[*tiun of tOOgutl, «t& 

«. W* bo! m » Ui» Bib-tt to b* th* word of God, ■ 1 hi u li 
1 1 trtrviliKd curT»ct]jr ; to ibo bailor* th* Book a! Mormon 
lo b* th* «ord of Ood. 



reHBriLion of th* T*Q Tribat; Lhil lie* wall t* baitl a pea 
thii (tfa* Arncrlctn) continent ; Lb it Coritl will nipi ponoa- 
■ l)j *pon lb* t*rth n tad th*t th* *wtb wilt b# r*Qt«*d tod 
r*ciJt« ill pUfiiitLjcjJ ilory. 

Jl, ff* dilm Us* pfiTil*p ot vortblpfac Almighty Ood 
tttCrdJot b> th* dtciotao of our coduicdc*, lud dlow til 
ewe Ho nai pri*ilt£*y 1*1 tbtoj vpnbip bum, «b*r*, ot *b#t 

XL Wo believe is boiag sebjoet to kloct, protidoata. rulaco, 
ead aadtlmtei t laeeeylDA boooriag and Motaialag tea law. 

Ill ewe beliere ia beinc hoaeei, trae, ehaete, benereleet, 
•Irteoof.aad la doiag foodio all aea: indeed; we any taj 
leal welollow tee admeaiUoa of Paul, " W* beliere ail thlaaa, 
we aeee all tblBta t n we have eodnred many (hlaam, and bepe 
fa be able to eadero all thief*. If there i* aaything vifteeea, 
fSvely, er offped report or praiseworthy, we eeek after thee* 



Enemies are to man what projecting 
rocks of the sea are to ships. With a 
ship, the rock hides itself by the covering 
of the waves, but once too close,, the ves- 
sel meets with destruction. So it is with 
an enemy : He is always dangerous to 
man, the projecting rock of the water is 
like his. anger, and his sea of deceitfulness 
hides his intentions.. When an opportu- 
nity permits the man to encounter his 
wrath, the life of the enemy is in dan- 
ger. 



THE SPIRITUAL. LIFE. 



Prof. N. L. Nelson, of the Brigham 
Young Academy, Provo, Utah, writes a 
very nice letter to The Star. Of course 
we know that it would appear egotistical 
oh our part if we were to quote that por- 
tion of his letter which reads as follows : 
"I shall read the copy (Star) coming to 
the Academy. It is an unusually vigor- 
ous and creditable paper. Success to 
you," therefore we will desist from pub- 
lishing any further commendable clauses 
he may have inserted. 



The fruit of the Gospel is the spiritual 
life, which enables man to commune with 
his God, and enjoy the blessings of heav- 
en. Rob the individual of this divine 
gift, and you take from him the means 
appointed whereby he may become per- 
fect even as our Father in Heaven is per- 
fect, 1 which is the ultimatum of man's 
righteous ambition. 

The spiritual life of man is that which 
blends with the heavenly and eternal, and 
tends to make of man an exalted being in 
the glory of his Lord. Devoid of spiritual 
life we are destitute of hope beyond the 
grave, and of faith in the promises of God. 
Blessed with this divine nature, we are 
ofttimes lifted out of this present evil 
world with its vice and sin and made to 
behold with enraptured vision the beau- 
ties of the eternal kingdom, and to feel 
the sweet joy of the spirit's pervading in- 
spiring presence. 

Man is a dual being — physical and spir- 
itual. His physical body is derived from 
his parents on earth ; his spiritual entity 
came down from Him who reigns on high, 
the offspring of God, whom we are per- 
mitted to address as our Father. It is 
man's privilege to become perfect even as 
his Father in heaven is perfect. He may 
so order his life as to make this his glo- 
rious destiny, or he may pursue evil and 
sink into sin until he is shut out from 
the presence of God to languish in chains 
of darkness, woe and misery. 

The Gospel is the means through which 
mankind may be saved from the woes of 
damnation. It is so ordained and de- 
creed of God as to be comprehensive and 
essential for the betterment of both the 
physical and spiritual entity of man. 

Now the spiritual life of man is given 
an additional grace to aid in the work of 
exaltation and advancement toward the 
goal of perfection. This additional bene- 
factor is the holy Comforter of promise — 
the Spirit of Truth. This Comforter 
dwells in the love of God, and reaches out 
for all that is good and holy. It gives an- 
imation and stimulus to the spiritual life, 
and unites, harmonizes and beautifies the 
souls of men ; it is not staked by narrow 
limits, neither is it circumscribed by the 
will of man ; it is bound by no sect or un- 
inspired opinion, but it reaches out, and 
its effects are everlasting and eternal, for 
it deals with Deity, and things divine. 

Some one has very truthfully expressed 
the presence of the genuine spiritual life 
in these words : "There is a spirit which 
I feel, that delights to do no evil, nor to 
revenge any wrong, but to endure all 
things, hoping to enjoy its own in the 
end. Its hope is to outlive all wrath and 
contention. As it bears no evil, so it con- 
ceives none in thought to any other. Its 
ground and spring are the mercies of God, 
its crown is meekness, its life is everlast- 
ing love unfeigned." It is the spiritual 
life which causes man to love his fellow- 
brother, and even his enemies. Yes. it 
gives to man a sweet, peaceable influ- 
ence, by the aiu of which he is enabled to 
suffer injustice and wrong without re- 
sentment or vindictiveness. This makes 
the true Christian, the worthy follower of 
the Lamb, the obedient child 01 God. 

The exhibition of these divine attrib- 
utes and Christ-like traits are seen as 
striking characteristics of the true Chris- 
tian. One may know the true son or 
daughter of God, by the manifestation of 
the blessed fruits of spiritual life. It is 
not necessary for the Christian man or 
woman to wear a badge conspicuous to 
the natural eye, but the act of doing good, 
shunning evil, and obeying God are sure 
evidences of the spiritual life. 



OAK HILL. BRANCH, 



As many of our Elders have been par- 
takers of the generous hospitality of the 
good citizens of Oak Hill, Rhea county, 
Tenn., a word from that point will no 
doubt be of some interest to the readers 
of the sunny 4 Tw inkier." The Branch 
of the Church in that locality is steadily 
growing and its numbers gradually in- 
creasing, notwithstanding the assaults of 
the enemy in his vile attacks to impede 
the progress of God's work. 

We do not believe that God ever plant- 
ed a vineyard to die and perish. No, 
through the faithfulness of its members, 
it is destined to grow and become mighty, 
being productive of rich fruits and heav- 
enly gifts. With Brothers Madaris and 
N. L. Brown at the head, we see for this 
branch a glorious future and a triumphant 
end. The Sunday school is growing, and 
the Elders who have journeyed through 
Rhea county years ago, would feel to re- 
joice and praise God if they could only 
step into the Grassy Branch Church some 
Sunday morning about 10 o'clock and 
hear the sweet voices of little children 
and grown people singing, "In Our Lovely 
Deseret," "Beautiful Zion," and "Hail to 
the Prophets," etc. 

With love and good will for all they 
make a "Lovely Deseret" in this sunny 
southern land. Life is what we make it; 
the good folks of Oak Hill and Grassy 
Branch make life pleasant, sweet and 
wholesome for all who come their* way. 

Brother N. L. Brown has charge of the 
Sunday school work, and is assisted by 
a corps of able teachers, with Sister Nan- 
nie Bowyer as secretary. Miss Delia 
Travis, the former secretary, has been 
quite ill with fever, but we are pleased 
to announce that she is now on the im- 
prove. May God bless the good folks of 
Oak Hill and Grassy Branch, and may 
His Holy Spirit abide with those who are 
sick and afflicted to comfort, cheer and 
raise them up. D. H. E. 



ELDER JOS. A. WILLIAMS. 

Elder Joseph Williams of Salt Lake 
City, passed through Chattanooga en 
route to the bedside of his brother, Gil- 
bert M. Williams, who lies dangerously 
ill with fever at Hampstead, Pender 
county, N. C. Elder Williams will be 
remembered by many honest souls in the 
old North State, who owe their knowl- 
edge of God's revealed truths, in a great 
measure, to his indefatigable and ener- 
getic labors for the Master's cause. El- 
der Williams did not have much time to 
spend here, as he was etxremely anxious 
to reach his brother, and be in his pres- 
ence, but during his brief visit his com- 
pany and congeniality was certainly en- 
joyed and appreciated. We trust that 
he will find his brother and our beloved 
co- la borer convalescent, and that the Lord 
will bless him on his journey, and return 
the twain to the home of a loving father, 
who anxiously and longingly awaits their 
arrival. Elder Josepn A. Williams spent 
some thirty months in North Carolina 
and was the pioneer Elder in Pender 
county, where his brother now languishes. 
The fruits of his labors there are the 
conversion of many honest souls, the es 
tablishment of one of the largest branches 
in the South, and the organization of a 
thriving, growing Sunday school. 

The people of Hampstead and vicinity 
have been very kind and exceedingly good 
to the Elders, and we know that for so 
doing the Lord will abundantly bless and 
amply reward them. 

Elder Gilbert Williams, who is af- 
flicted with illness, has our faith 



THE SOUTHERN STAB. 



825 



and daily prayers in his behalf, 
and for nis speedy restoration. 
•May the blessings and healing pow- 
er of God abide with him, and the peace 
and joys of heaven attend all who strive 
to do the Master's will, and minister to 
the wants of His faithful servants. 



CHRISTIAN METHODS. 

Upon another page of this week's Star 
will be found a very sad story of the 
death and burial of a little boy. All 
deaths are Bad, more or less, but the in- 
cident of this special case here referred 
to, becomes all the more sad and distress- 
ing When we understand the conditions 
under which the innocent one was buried. 
Its parents live in Yazoo county, Miss., 
from which county in '98 the Elders of 
the Mississippi Conference were forced to 
leave, being ordered to "get out," by an 
armed mob of two hundred men (?). 
They sought refuge in the state capital — 
Jackson — where they might convene in 
conference capacity, without molestation 
or wicked -assaults from American Boxers, 
whose deadly weapons of cowardly oppo- 
sition were shotguns, clubs, rifles and re- 
volvers. 

A Christian minister of that commu- 
nity, an individual who posed before the 
gullible as a professed "Truth Reflector," 
was for two whole days and the major por- 
tion of two nights in the saddle, engaged 
in the very Christ-like business of hunt- 
ing up men whose morbid, ignorant minds 
were diseased, like his own, with bigotry, 
to form a mob to drive out the Mormon 
Elders. This self-same, would-be tyrant, 
when questioned as to his conduct, very 
politely stated in one of the public prints 
that he considered any and every weapon 
justifiable when wielded in opposition to 
Mormonism. The man's calibre, his 
make-up, his love for his fellow-brethren, 
for American principles of freedom, or 
constitutional rights of liberty, can be 
readily perceived from his despotic ac- 
tions, and evil designs. 

Since the day of the Elders' expulsion, 
in 1898, until the present time, they have 
been forbidden by lawless mobocrats to 
preacji or even visit the good people of 
that community, upon peril of personal 
violence, danger of bodily injury, or 
slaughter of human life. The sadness and 
depression of the bereaved parents can 
be understood, from that portion of the 
father' 8 letter which says, "it is hard to 
live in a Christian land and be deprived 
of the blessed privilege of having one of 
your Elders present, that he might con- 
sole our heart 8 with the good word of 
Eternal Life, and pray over the grave of 
our departed little one, as a last respect 
to his remains. We won't even have a 
prayer at his grave. God help these peo- 
ple to see where they stand." 

Such a sad scene as the above might 
well cause the people of Mississippi to 
.blush with shame, and look with con- 
tempt upon the lawlessness and cruel op- 
pression of those who would deprive the 
honest • in heart from hearing the truth, 
and the bereaved mourner from being 
comforted by the consoling word of the 
Lord. Think on this, ye who would en- 
list your efforts to impede the progress of 
God's eternal work, or banish the Mor- 
mon Elder from your midst ; yea, and 
hide your crimsoned cheeks in disgrace be- 
cause of such outlandish savagery ! Here 
was a sweet, dear little innocent boy, the 
loving son of goodly parents, laid to rest 
in the cold grave, without a prayer, a 
hymn or a benediction. No funeral note 
of consolation for the bereaved ; no word 
of comfort for the mourner. A chilly si- 
lence ; a troubled stillness reigns supreme ; 



the parents grieve and mourn alone. 
Why such a solemn occasion, without a 
word of condolence, or a strain of en- 
couragement and hopeful relief? The an- 
swer is readily given : The Elders had 
been compelled to leave, and though the 
parents requested their consoling com- 
pany, brute force debarred their entrance, 
and they were forbidden to return. So 
far as the little one is concerned, we know 
he is secure in the arms of God's loving 
mercy; redeemed and wholly sanctified 
through Christ's atoning sacrifice, for, 
44 As in Adam all die, even so in Christ 
shall all be made alive." 

At the time of this mobbing some of the 
state officials of Mississippi were appealed 
to for redress and protection, but they 
were "too busy" with campaign affairs, 
and too anxious for another feast at the 
public crib, for election day drew near, 
to heed the cry of the innocent or give 
ear to the just complaints of the op- 
pressed. When Mississippi's stalwart, 
giant-like Governor sent his message to 
the legislature, he betrayed the Hercu- 
lean strength of his Christian weakness, 
in petitioning that honorable body to en- 
act laws and legislate against the Mor- 
mon people. Why did he do this? To 
gain political power and the support of 
the public, we reply. He was at that time 
a candidate for senator; the office he 
sought was his theme and glory, the Mor- 
mon people the subject of his spleen and 
hatred. He stands today in the upper 
house, and we would like to know if a 
man who is not loyal to the nation's con- 
stitution when in the state as Governor, 
will be apt to be true to that God-inspired 
document in congress as a senator? Is 
such a one fit to be a law maker unto the 
most enlightened people upon the face of 
the earth, or to keep sacred and inviolate 
the holy laws already established? How 
very honorable indeed; how exceedingly 
just; how superabundantly loving must 
be that noble defender of the constitu- 
tion! Not satisfied with the lawless op- 
pression of the Latter-day Saints, he 
would make their persecution legal, and 
their evil oppressors law-abiding citizens. 
Does the junior senator from Mississippi 
remember one named Thomas Jefferson, 
a patriot of '76, who wrote a document 
called the Declaration of Independence? 
Does he have just a faint recollection of 
the father of his party and founder of 
democracy? then listen to his words: "I 
have sworn upon the altar of God, eter- 
nal hostility against every form of tyr- 
anny over the mind of men." Read, 
mark, learn, inwardly digest and straight- 
way adopt and practice this good old 
maxim. 

What would our Protestant brethren of 
Utah think if they were banished from a 
community in that state by the Mormons, 
even as our Elders were expelled by pro- 
fessed Christians from Yazoo county, 
Miss.? 

Suppose some of their members in Utah 
should desire their presence at a funeral 
of a loved one and they be prohibited and 
forbidden to attend the same, what would 
be the result? A howl, a wail, a cry of 
pain would be reverberated from one end 
of the continent to the other, and gov- 
ernors, senators, representatives and mag- 
istrates would throw up their hands in 
holy horror, exclaiming, "Awful, horri- 
ble, un-Christian, barbaric!" Popular 
opinion, public favor, and national sym- 
pathy would be at once extended to the 
exiles ; but oh ! how very different when 
that which the world calls "Mormonism" 
is being abused and its missionaries ex- 
iled! The drama is changed, the curtains 
of public sympathy are drawn aside, and 
the whole programme entirely reversed. 



Consider the end of such injustice and 
rank oppression. Justice will some day 
claim His own, and every man rewarded 
according to his works. 

If it be lawful and just to send an army 
to foreign shores that American citizens 
might be protected from those who would 
injure them, is it not just as legal to de- 
fend the rights of American citizens in 
our own home-land, from religious bigots 
and hireling fanatics? Some of our El- 
ders who now labor in the Southern 
States Mission were numbered among the 
Rough Riders. There were "Mormon El- 
ders" in Cuba and the Philippines. Re- 
turning from missions, when the call for 
volunteers was sounded, our Elders threw 
aside the ministerial garb, and missionary 
grip, to put on the blue uniform and sol- 
dier's knapsack and fight for Uncle Sam ! 
They stand ready to defend the rights of 
the American citizen from the onslaught 
of the heathen Chinee; yea, willing to 
face the shot and shell that Christian min- 
isters may be protected from the savage 
Boxer; and yet, eighty per cent, of the 
mobs congregated to do our Elders injury 
and violence have been led and instigated 
by those who claim to follow Jesus, to 
preach His word, ministers of the Gospel, 
so-called. These are startling figures, yet 
they are true and reliable nevertheless! 

What would the leaders of our country 
think should they read the above? Yea, 
what would Bryan and McKinley think 
about these things? Would they feel jus- 
tified in spending millions to protect a 
Methodist in China and still wink at the 
lack of liberty at home? Would they feel 
proud of the boasted state of Mississippi? 
Would they hate the heathen Chinee, 
while they break bread and partake of the 
sacrament of the Lord's supper with the 
American Boxer? We think they would 
hear the still, small voice of a departed 
true blue American repeating: 

"Oh, say, does the Star Spangled Banner 
yet wave 
O'er the land of the free and the home of 
the brave?" 

Ben. E. Rich. 

THE DEAD. 

Little Fred Martin, the sweet, loving 
son of Brother J. J. Martin, of Mechan- 
icsburg, Yazoo county, Miss., passed 
peacefully away from this life of mortal 
probation on the afternoon of August 28, 
1900, after an illness of but twelve hours' 
duration. It was a sad day for the be- 
loved parents, all the more so because it 
was not possible for the Elders to be 
present, that they might console and buoy 
up their sorrowing hearts. Cruel op- 
pression was the reason of their absence ; 
they are forbidden to enter the county, 
or visit the people. We feel to extend our 
tender sympathy and loving affection for 
the bereaved parents. They desired the 
presence of the Elders, but it was not pos- 
sible for them to attend. May the Father 
of all mercies bless, guide, comfort and 
console them. 



Since making up the subject matter for 
this week's Star we have received the sad 
news of the death of another of Brother 
Martin's little children, who was born 
Oct. 10, 1893, and died Aug. 30, 1900. 
May the sweet influence of God's Holy 
Spirit abide in the hearts and homes of 
the sorrowing parents. 

Twilight is like death ; the dark portal 
of night comes upon us, to open again in 
the glorious morning of immortality. — 
James EUhC- 

Vice is a monster of so frightful mien, 
As to be hated needs but to be seen; 
Yet seen too oft, familiar with her face. 
We first endure, then pity, then embrace. 



326 



THE SOUTHERN STAB. 



DISCOURSE DELIVERED BY APOSTLE A, 0. WOODRUFF 

IN THE TABERNACLE AT 8ALT LAKE CITY, APRIL 7, 1900. 



My brothers and sisters, I trust that 1 
may have your support and the blessings 
of God to guide me in my utterances here 
this afternoon. I have no other desire in 
standing before you than to give you that 
which the Lord may reveal unto me, and 
I desire to so live that whenever I am 
called upon to occupy a position of this 
kind, the Lord may be pleased to favor 
me with His Holy Spirit, that I may not 
be left to depend upon the wisdom of 
man. 

I have a desire this afternoon to say 
some words that may be stimulating and 
encouraging to those who hold the Priest- 
hood, especially to those who are acting 
in the Lesser Priesthood. President 
Snow has gone among the people and 
discharged the duties which our Heaven- 
ly Father has given him to perform, and 
after doing so, ne unloads a great degree 
of this responsibility upon the shoulders 
of the Priesthood in all its organizations. 
I know there is not that activity among 
many quorums of the Priesthood that 
there ought to be; and while it is true the 
Latter-day Sants during the past year 
have done exceedingly well in the pay- 
ment of their tithes, they have not done 
as well as they would have done had the 
Teachers, and Priests and the Elders in 
Israel performed their duties as faith- 
fully as President Snow has discharged 
his. True, most men who hold these po- 
sitions are younger men than President 
Snow, but I regret to have to acknowl- 
edge that they have not been as diligent 
throughout the different Stakes and 
wards of Zion in regard to this message, 
which the Prophet of the Lord has given 
to the people, as they should have been. 
While visiting a Stake a short time ago, 
I learned by questioning the High Coun- 
cil, that some of them had not been vis- 
ited by their Teachers for years; and 
while that Stake had increased about 50 
per cent, in the payment of their tithes 
during the past year. I thought to myself, 
what a showing they might have made, 
if the Priesthood in all its departments 
had been active and faithful. 

In order that I might bring before you 
what I desire, I will read a portion of 
the twelfth chapter of First Corinthians: 

"For by one spirit we are all baptized 
unto one body, whether we be Jews or 
Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; 
and have all been made to drink into one 
spirit; 

"For the body is not one member but 
many. ^ 

"If the foot shall say, because I am not 
the hand, I am not the body; is it there- 
fore not of the body. I 

"And if the ear shall say, because I am 
not the eye I am not of the body; is it 
not therefore not of the body? 

"If the whole body were an eye, where 
were the hearing? If the whole were 
hearing, where were the smelling? 

"But now hath the Lord set the mem- 
bers every one of them in the body, as it 
has pleased him. 

"And if they were all one member, 
where were the body? 

"And now are they many members, yet 
but one body. 

"And the eye cannot say unto the hand, 
I have no need of thee; nor again, the 
head to the feet, I have no need of you. 

"Nay, much more, those members of 
the body, which seem to be more feeble, 
are necessary; 

"And those members of the body, which 
we think to be less honorable, upon these 
we bestow more abundant honor; and 



our uncomely parts have more abundant 
comline8S. 

"For our comely parts have no need; 
but God hath tempered the body to- 
gether, having given more abundant 
honor to that part which lacked. 

"That there should be no schism in the 
body; but that the members should have 
the same care one for another. 

"And whether one member suffer, all 
the members suffer with it; or one mem- 
ber be honored, all the members rejoice 
with it 

"Now ye are the body of Christ, and 
members in particular. 

"And God hath set some in the Church; 
first, Apostles; secondarily, Prophets; 
thirdly, Teachers; after that miracle*; 
then gifts of healing, helps, governments, 
diversities of tongues. 

"Are all Apostles? are all Prophets? 
are all teachers? are all workers of mir- 
acles? 

"Have all the gifts of healing? do all 
speak with tongues? do all interpret? 

"But covet earnestly the best gifts; 
and yet shew 1 unto you a more excellent 
way/' 

The Church of Christ was referred to 
here yesterday and compared to a man 
70 years of age. The Apostle Paul also 
in his beautiful figure compared the 
Church of Christ to the body of a man. 
I wish to say a few words regarding this 
figure which has been used. I have asked 
myself, what is the greatest cause for 
the difference between the Church of 
Christ and the churches that have been 
established by man, for there are many 
forms of religion, some patterning closely 
after the one founded by our Lord and 
Master Jesus Christ And I have thought, 
is it not because these different bodies 
have not the Spirit? I compared this 
spirit to the Priesthood of the Son of 
God, and concluded in my own mind that 
this was the greatest cause of the differ- 
ence which exists between the Church 
which Christ has established and the 
churches which have been established by 
man. When the Prophet Joseph inquired 
of the Lord regarding the divinity of the 
different denominations that then existed 
upon the earth, and many of which exist 
today, he was told that they had a form 
of godliness, but denied the power there- 
of; that they drew near unto the Lord 
with their lips, but their hearts were far 
from Him. I thought to myself what a 
comparison there was between the true 
Church of God, with the Priesthood and 
Spirit to enliven it, and the dead forms 
of religion, as they have been instituted 
by men. We might carry this compari- 
son a little farther, and take the skeleton 
of this body, the organization of the 
Church of Christ animated by the Spirit 
and Priesthood of God, and in connection 
with this skeleton we have the sinews, 
the helps in government, the muscles, the 
nerve system and the circulation of the 
blood from the heart into all parts of the 
body. And just as it is impossible for a 
human body to exist without the spirit, 
so is it impossible for the Church of 
Christ to exist without the Priesthood of 
the Son of God. Just as it is impossible 
for a body to be complete without the 
brain, the heart and the other organs of 
the system, so would it be impossible for 
the Church of Christ to exist in perfec- 
tion without the Presidency, the Apos- 
tles, the Seventies, the High Priests, 
the Elders, the Priests, Teachers 
and Deacons. All of them have 
their special work to perform, just 



as the organs of the human system have 
their particular part to do. I compared 
the circulation of the blood in the body 
to the active Priesthood, which goes 
about the whole body of the Church, im- 
parting life and vigor and setting in or- 
der all of the parts that may be out of 
place. Whenever a member becomes in- 
jured, the blood assists in building it up. 
So with the workings of the Presthood 
of the Son of God. in the great body 
which Christ has established. 

I believe that every organisation of the 
Priesthood is just as important and vital 
to the Church of Christ as every organ 
is to the human system; and in Stakes 
or wards where the Deacons, the Teach- 
ers, the Priests and the Elders have noth- 
ing to do. there will be a stagnation of 
Mood. Our people have suffered the mal- 
ady in neglecting to pay their tithes, but 
now this Priesthood is getting to work, 
this blood is ciruclating more freely, and 
directing its attention especially in the 
direction of curing the body of this par- 
ticular malady. The Priesthood has la- 
bored energetically, but not as much so 
as we should have done. Think of what 
a beautiful body this would be if every 
quorum was active; if the blood circulat- 
ed through every part of the system, and 
if every part was renovated and cleansed, 
so that it might be in a perfect state of 
health. God help us that we may be able 
to get this body, the Church of Christ 
into this desirable condition; that the list 
containing thousands of nameB of persons 
who ought to be tithe-payers and are not 
may be wiped out. I believe that one of 
the most practical ways of bringing 
about this condition is for the Presidents 
of Stakes, Bishops of wards and the 
Presidents of quorums to see to it thai 
they discharge their part of this respon- 
sibility. It is not expected that President 
Snow will be able to reach all parts of 
the body, and be able personally to regu- 
late and renovate the body of Christ but 
there are members of the body that have 
been chosen to do this work, and if they 
do not do it, that condition which we de- 
sire will not exist. 

I hope, my brethren and sister*, that 
President Snow shall live to see the de- 
sires of his heart granted unto him. I 
pray for this and labor for it among the 
brethren in the Stakes where I go, so 
that confidence in the Church of Christ 
in regard to financial affairs may be 
maintained. The Church is now upon a 
good financial basis; but we ought not to 
cease our labors as soon as we hear good 
news. We ought not to run well for 
awhile, and then tire out just when our 
assistance is most needed. It has taken 
considerable labor on the part of the 
Priesthood to stir the people up to a real- 
ization of their condition and their neg- 
ligence in regard to the payment of tith- 
ing, and it will take a continual labor on 
our part to keep the people awakened to 
these things. Strange that we always 
have to be labored with in order to get 
us to do right; nevertheless we have to 
be labored with and we have to labor 
with each other that we may keep alive 
in the Church of Christ. If we are not 
brought in contact with this Priesthood 
and- its workings we soon die out. just 
like a member of the human body would 
die out if the blood did not circulate to 
that part. Thus it is very necessary that 
the brethren who hold the Priesthood and 
the sisters who are engaged in the differ- 
ent organizations of the Church should 
carry their responsibility and feel that 
there is an individual responsibility con- 
nected with this work which rests upon 
them, and that God will not justify them 



%« 



THE SOUTHERN STAR. 



327 



if they do not discharge their duties in 
their separate callings. 

I wish to read, for the benefit of those 
who hold the Priesthood, from the third 
chapter of Ezekiel, beginning at the sev- 
enteenth verse: 

"Son of Man, I have made thee a 
watchman unto the house of Israel, 
therefore hear the word at my mouth, 
and give tirem warning from me. 

"When I say unto the wicked, Thou 
shalt surely die; and >thou givest him not 
warning, nor speakest to warn the wicked 
from his wicked way, to save his life; the 
same wicked man shall die in his iniquity; 
but his blood will I require at thine hand. 

"Yet If thou warn the wicked, and he 
turn not from his wickedness, nor from 
his wicked way,' he shall die in his 
iniquity, but thou hast delivered thy soul. 

"Again, when a righteous man doth 
turn from his righteousness, and commit 
iniquity, and I lay a stumbling-block be- 
fore him, he shall die; because thou hast 
not given him warning, he shall die in his 
sin, and his righteousness which he hath 
done shall not be remembered; but his 
blood will I require at thine hand.." 

This, my brethren and sisters, my be 
applied to those of us who have received 
the Priesthood of the Son of God. We 
have not received it through man. The 
leaders of this dispensation received it 
from Peter, James and John and John 
the Baptist, the men who held the keys 
of the Priesthood and who received it 
from the Son of God Himself. There- 
fore the responsibility that we are under 
has not been placed upon us by man; it 
has come to us from God; and when the 
head shall say to us, Do this, or that, 
we are under obligations to do it. We 
are under obligations to see that there is 
no stagnation in our part of the body; 
that there is no negligence in the pay- 
ment of tithes or in the keeping of any 
of the commandments in our Stake or 
ward or association. It is my duty at 
the head of any association, ward or 
Stake to see that the people are doing 
their duty. If they are entirely negli- 
gent to the teachings of God that come 
to us through His mouthpiece, I want 
to tell you, my brethren and sisters, that 
those who stand at the head of these or- 
ganisations will come under condemna- 
tion. The Presidency, the Twelve, or the 
Seventy cannot be in all the wards; but 
there are men placed there with equal 
responsibility in their callings, and they 
have to discharge these duties or the 
Lord will not hold them guiltless. He 
will not excuse, them if they do not labor 
diligently and delve into the dark corners 
and see that there are no cobwebs in 
their Stake or ward, but that everything 
is working as it should do; that there 
is no clog in the machinery of this great 
body of Christ, but that each is doing his 
part. If we will do this we will gain sal- 
vation and we will enter into the pres- 
ence of God and hear the welcome plaud- 
it, "Well done, thou good and faithful 
servant." If we do not, we cannot ex- 
pect, because the Priesthood has been 
conferred upon us, that we will inherit 
the celestial kingdom of our God. The 
Lord will not reward the drone nor the 
slothful. He will not reward the unjust 
steward, the one who has not taken ad- 
vantage of the opportunities God has 
placed within his grasp. If our talents 
are great, we have that much more need 
to use them than those who are not so 
greatly blessed. 

Before taking my seat there is another 
matter that occurs to me which I wish 
to speak upon. I have noticed that there 
is a spirit creeping in among a certain 
class of the Latter-day Saints which is 



not of God, but of the world. It has 
been popular, ever since Mormonism was 
established, to have large families; for 
we understand that there are hundreds 
of thousands of spirits in the other world 
anxious to be tabernacled by good fathers 
and mothers, that they may pass through 
the state of probation. But there is a 
certain class of Latter-day Saints that 
has come to think as the Gentile world 
does— that it is not stylish, not nice to 
have large families; and therefore we 
find, much to our sorrow, that in some 
instances steps are taken to prevent 
these spirits being tabernacled by them. 
I want to say that every Latter-day 
Saint ought to feel that they are not 
justified before God their Father in pur- 
suing a course of this kind. We want, 
so far as God will favor us, the privilege 
and blessing of posterity. And those who 
employ means to prevent this will find 
in the spirit world that they have lost 
the stars in their crown and have shut 
out a means of exaltation; that they have 
done a grievous wrong which they may 
not be able to repair for many ages, if 
at all. Those who fought the system of 
plural marriage in years gone by were 
people who were, as a rule, opposed to 
the large families of the Latter-day 
Saints, and took steps themselves to pre- 
vent spirits coming to them to be taber- 
nacled, in some cases going so far as to 
be guilty of murdering the unborn inno- 
cents. Upon such the curse of God will 
rest. I greatly desire that the practice 
shall not creep in among the Latter-day 
Saints. I have prayed that the Spirit 
of this subject might be given to some 
of the older members of this quorum, or 
to the Presidency, that they might dwell 
upon it, because I know, from what I 
have heard from reliable sources, that 
this spirit which I have spoken of is in 
a slight degree at any rate creeping in 
among the Latter-day Saints. Thank 
God for posterity. Thank God for the 
large families of the Latter-day Saints. 
I wish that we had millions more of them 
today, and that the world were full of 
this class of people, who fear God and 
who desire to serve Him and keep His 
commandments, and whose sons and 
daughters are reared in the principles of 
the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ. 

I thank my Heavenly Father for the 
testimony which He has given me that 
this is His work, that President Snow is 
a Prophet of the true and living God, 
that God is with him, that He has in- 
spired him, and that the changes 
which are being brought about in 
our financial conditions are due to the 
revelations of God through His Prophet. 
May God help us to be faithful, to be 
loyal. May He give us His Spirit, that 
we may not get into the dark, that we 
may not lose the Spirit of the Gospel of 
the Lord Jesus. Let us stand up to the 
rack and do our part. Let us see to it 
that the responsibility which is 
placed upon us is discharged, that 
we may enter into the presence 
of God our Father, and share 
the reward of the laborer and those who 
have been valiant for the testimony of 
Jesus, and receive eternal life. I ask it 
through Christ, our Redeemer. Amen. 

BRIEF AUTHORITY. 

A brook once, puffed up by a sudden shower, 
Imagined that he had a river's power, 
And roughly dealt with neighbor vines and 

His oldest friends, that he had loved to 

please; 
To them he used to sing his songs of praise, 
Passing their doors upon his woodland ways; 
But after falling to his former sise 
He looked too mean for them to recognize. 
And so it is with some, when lifted nigh 
To brief authority that passes by. 

—Alfred French. 



History of the Southern States Mission. 

(Continued from page 317.) 

April, 1899.— The holding of confer- 
ences was continued in this month— the 
first to meet being that of South Carolina, 
at Charleston, on the 5th and 6th. This 
Conference was a success, the people of 
the city treating the Elders with kind 
ness, and the newspapers acting very 
kindly towards the cause of truth. 

As is usual when the North Carolina 
Conference convenes, large numbers of 
people attended the meetings. Much 
good counsel was given to the Elders at 
that Conference, which met at Radford's 
Cross Roads, Wayne county, North Car- 
olina, on the 8th and 9th insts. The gift 
of speaking in tongues and the interpreta- 
tion of tongues was enjoyed in counsel 
meeting, and a time long to be remem- 
bered and never to be forgotten was the 
happy result of the association. 

At Junction Branch, Metcalf county, 
Kentucky, the Kentucky Conference as- 
sembled on the- 14th and 15th. The El- 
ders were all in the enjoyment of health 
and the good Spirit of the Lord, and as a 
consequence they rejoiced in fhe glorious 
work of "Latter Days.*' The meetings 
were a success, and ail passed off smooth- 
ly, free from molestation or disturbance. 

A company of thirty-six Elders arrived 
on the 17th, and reported for missionary 
appointments. They were counseled in 
all things pertaining to ministerial work 
and conduct. The names of this large 
company are as follows: George William 
Perkins, Edward Leavitt, Joseph H. 
Lewis, David and Thomas Chamberlain, 
Charles 6. Larson, Arthur S. Wood, Da- 
vid B. Wilson, Edward G. Samuelson, 
Henry H. Gibby, Walter G. Coleman, 
Eli M. Lee, Hugh Roberts, Ezra Baird, 
Walter G. Waldron, R. W. Smith, Par- 
ley M. Griggs, Jr., Allen Taylor, Jr., S. 
W. Nelson, John F. Lazenby, Jr., Robert 
A. Paxton, Richard S. Stevenson, John 
F. Hamilton, John J. Shumway, Frank 
N. Bleak, R. R. and Charles R. Hum- 
pherys, John A. Lindberg, John G. Bol- 
ton, John W. Hamilton, W. E. Stratton, 
James M. Godfrey, David Hopkins, John 
T. Horne, Alfred G. Keetch, Jr., and 
Sydney D. Dibble. 

The East Kentucky Conference was 
held on the 17th and 18th. at London, 
Ky. The Spirit of God shed a ray of 
light and gladness over the whole pro- 
ceedings, and the Elders received a rich 
spiritual feast, departing for their vari- 
ous fields of labor with renewed energy 
and increased determination. 

A second company of Elders arrived on 
the 24th, to assist in publishing the Gos- 
pel of peace and glad tidings to the peo- 
ple of the South. The company consisted 
of twenty-three Elders, as follows: Lu- 
cius N. Marsden, Orson P. Washburn, 
J. Spencer Worsley, Clarence E. Crowley, 
Francis Neilson, Hebei- W. Bowdon, Wm. 
P. Jacobs, Adam Fletcher, John D. Mor- 
rill, Henry Taggart, Joseph S. Anderson, 
Silas J. Ward, Thomas H. Bell, George 
Q. Taylor, Henry P. Bronson, Peter E. 
Van Orden, Hyrum E. Davies, Alfred E. 
H. Cardwell, Joseph H. Moss, Parley 
Nelson, John Kingdom, Richard A. Tal* 
bot and Walter F. Ostler. 

The last Conference to be held was at 
Aberdeen, Miss., on the 29th and 30th, 
with the Elders of the North Alabama 
Conference. A most liberal spirit pre- 
vailed among the people of that city, and, 
as a consequence, an ideal meeting was 
held. 

The month closed with some of the El- 
ders quite sick in the Gulf States. 
(To be continued.) 



328 



THE SOUTHERN STAR. 



• BEPOBT OF MISSION CONFERENCES FOR WEEK ENDING AUG. 1*, 1900. 



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King Humbert, who Pardoned Hb Foes. 

DAVID S. ST. CLAIR. 
When Humbert, of Ityly, perished at 
the hands of an anarchist, there passed 
a king, one of whose chief traits was a 
disposition «to pardon all of his enemies 
Time and again he was assailed with 
pistol and dagger, yet his assailant in 
each case got off with some trifling sen- 
tence, or secured a royal pardon. 

When Humbert succeeded his father, 
Victor Emmanuel II., in 1878, he was a 
most unpopular and unpromising prince. 
His first act was to pardon the thousands 
of political criminals in the prisons. His 
next was to pay his late father's debts, 
some $7,000,000, out of his own private 
purse. To do this, he was obliged to part 
with two or three of his largest palaces 
and game preserves, and to sell many of 
the finest horses in the royal stables. All 
Italy smiled with satisfaction, for a wild 
and wayward prince had suddenly devel- 
oped into a high-minded, noble-hearted 
king. 

But the opportunity of his life to make 
himself forever beloved of Italian hearts 
came in 1881, when beautiful Naples lay 
helpless with the pest of cholera. At that 
time the municipality of Genoa invited 
Humbert to a banquet. "Men are feast- 
ing in Genoa; men are dying in Naples; 
I go to Naples," said the king, and to Na- 
ples he went, into the very slums. When 
he left that city the cholera had subsided. 
He drove the pest out of his kingdom by 
visiting city after city and inaugurating 
new methods of sanitation. He crowned 
himself with the complete love of his peo- 
ple, and doubtless thus saved his king- 
dom from revolution. 

Soon after he was crowned he and his 
beautiful queen were driving through the 
streets of Naples. Along the line of pro- 
cession were several trade delegations 
bearing banners. While the royal car- 
riage was passing one of these organiza- 
tions, the banner bearer, a lunatic named 
Passananti lunged at the king with his 
banner pole, on the end of which was 
fixed a long dagger. The prime minister, 
in foiling the attack on his majesty, was 
severely wounded in the leg. The man 
was sent to prison, but soon pardoned; 
and Humbert, on learning that his mother 
was destitute, made her comfortable from 
his own purse. 

On another occasion, an anarchist 
drove his stiletto into the carriage cush- 
ions beside the king, who drove the as- 
sailant back with his sword, and then 
calmly said: "My wretched man, what 
can I do to help you?** 

Humbert went in disguise among his 
poorest subjects, to investigate their con- 
dition, and sometimes he went openly. 
He would stop, shake hands, and con- 






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Kiclniitjiui, Box 388 „..,....., Virginia 

Cuntm ...... .^ Kentucky 

Ohftrtotft*....,....,.. N, Carolina 

Bowvravllte .. h (JWHTgfl 

Memphis Uoi 155L. Touneasee 

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100 \\ Almy Su Loulavilhi Kentucky 
km Betts St., Cincinnati ... Ohio 
41 Cbenblre St,, tlevelamt Ohio 



-ST a re- 



verse with a peasant on the road as read- 
ily as he would with a noble. It is said 
of him that, while in the Italian Alps, he 
would visit the charcoal kilns, where 
some of the poorest people in the world 
are to be found. He would distribute 
all the coin he had in his pocket among 
the men. He went everywhere, and was 
often seen on foot on the highways. 

His queen, Margherita, was the most 
beautiful princess of Europe, who did 
much to increase the popularity of his 
reign. The queen is still beautiful and 
well preserved, though she has passed 
well into middle life. Recently she asked 
the gallant king if he thought she was 
too old to wear white. He replied that 
he would think about it. A few days 
afterwards a Paris house shipped to the 
queen a large box of white dresses. 

It is a mystery why this king was so 
often attacked, and finally assassinated. 
Five other great chiefs of state, three of 
them heads of republics, have been mur- 
dered within the last twenty years. They 
were all— even Humbert— the victims of 
notoriety-seeking madmen with anarch- 
istic affiliations. — September Success. 



DEATH OF ELDER R. A. PAXTON. 

It is with intense sorrow and regret in- 
deed that we are compelled to announce 
the death of one of our beloved brethren, 
a noble man of God, Elder Paxton, who 
died at Blacksburg, S. C, Aug. 27th, 
1900. 

In April, 1899, Elder Paxton responded 
to a call from the servants of God to go 
to the Southern States as a vindicator of 
truth, thus leaving his home and those 
that make life so sweet. He arrived in 
Chattanooga April 17th, 1899, and was 
assigned to labor in the South Carolina 
Conference, where he made rapid pro- 
gress as a canvassing Elder, exhibiting 
that spirit of humility that characterizes 
all true servants of the Master. 

Elder Paxton was taken sick with chills 
and fever at Greenwood Aug. 9th, while 
working in that city. The attack, how- 
ever, he did not regard as of a serious na- 
ture. Aug. 18th, by our request, he came 
to Blacksburg, where he could be among 
the Saints and receive our care and at- 
tention until he regained his strength. 

Aug. 19th a physician was summoned 
and found him suffering from nervous 
prostration. His speedy recovery after 
this seemed positive, as his improvement 
and increase of strength was very percep- 
tible. It was not until the afternoon of 
Aug. 25th that an opposite change was 
evident. Nothing was left undone that 
would promote his comfort and recovery, 
but all to no avail. He steadily grew 
weaker until 4 o'clock in the evening of 



alize that the great Master who gave his 
spirit had summoned it to life's other 
side to engage in a greater labor, where 
the evils of this mortal existence do not 
abound, and where he will inherit the 
blessings of eternal life and wear a crown 
of righteousness. The thoughts of death 
caused him no fear. He possessed the 
freedom of conscience which the Apostle 
Paul felt, at having done his whole duty 
to God, just previous to his death, and 
the same expressive words were uttered 
by Elder Paxton upon his deathbed, '1 
have fought a good fight." Elder Walker 
and I were at his bedside when he passed 
away with a ray of peace and a beam of 
sunshine upon his countenance. 

He died at the home of Brother and 
Sister J. L. Etters, after being confined 
to his bed thirteen days. Their acts of 
kindness, as well as those of other Saints 
and friends, will ever be appreciated and 
remembered, and will be as brilliant jew- 
els that adorn their crown of righteous- 
ness in the judgment day. 

Throughout Elder Paxton's labors in 
the missionary field, by the spirit of love 
and humility which he possessed, he suc- 
ceeded in softening the hearts of his en- 
emies and eradicating from their beings 
the dark clouds of prejudice. As a ser- 
vant of God he was energetic, fearless, 
and always felt to say, "Thy will, oh. 
Father, and not mine, be done." What 
more can be said than to say he gave his 
life for the Gospel of Jesus Christ? 

C. R. Humpherys. 

Releases and Appointments. 



R. 



Releases. 

Farley, North Alabama ConFer- 



L. 

ence. 

h. George, Virginia Conference. 

George W. Williams, Florida Confer- 
ence. 

M. Henderson, East Tennessee Confer- 
ence. 



Aug. 27th, when wc were brought to re- | kin 



"Drunkenness very slightly encourages 
murder, and universally encourages idle- 
ness. * * * Drunkenness is not the 
cause of crime in any case. It is itself 
crime in every case. A gentleman will 
not knock out his wife's brains while he 
is drunk ; but it is nevertheless his duty 
to remain sober. 

"Much more, it is his duty to teach his 
peasantry to remain sober and to furnish 
them with sojourn more pleasant than the 
pot-house, and means of amusement less 
circumscribed than the pot. And the en- 
couragement of drunkenness, for the sake 
of the profit on sale of drink, is certain Jy 
one of the most criminal methods of as- 
sassination for money hitherto adopted by 
the bravos of any age or country." — Rua- 




BUT THOUGH WE OB AN ANGtL FROM HEAVEN. PREACH ANY 
OTHEB GOSPEL UNTO YOU TnAN THAT WHICH WE 

HAVE PBE ACHED UNTO YOU, LET HIM &E ACCURSED, »Stt./^<?W 

TB^grir — — 




<I^ « — 



Vol. 2. 



Chattanooga, Tenn., Saturday, September 15, 1900. 



No. 42. 



Sketch of the Life of President Heber C. Kimball. 

BY APOSTLE MATHIA8 F. COWLEY. 



President Heber C. Kimball 
was born in Sheldon, Frank- 
lin county, Vermont, June 
14th, 1801. His father was a 
blacksmith and farmer, and 
taught by example and precept 
that "to earn the bread by the 
sweat of the brow" was hon- 
orable to the fullest extent, as 
long as the labor performed 
had nothing to do with intem- 
perance or immorality in any 
particular. The Kimball fam- 
ily moved to West Bloomfield, 
Ontario county, New York, in 
1811. He went to school when 
5 years of age, and continued 
most of the time until 14, when 
he commenced to learn black- 
smithing. During the war of 
1812 his father lost his prop- 
erty and was reduced to very 
stringent circumstances. At 
the age of 19 Heber found him- 
self dependent upon his own re- 
sources. In this condition he 
accepted an offer from his elder 
brother, Charles, to learn the 
potter's trade. He learned this 
trade, and many times in later 
life while preaching the Gos- 
pel he used the familiar phrase 
that we should become in the 
hands of the Lord "As clay in 
the hands of the potter." In 
the meantime he had moved to 
Mendon, Monroe county, New 
York. In November, 1822, he 
took to wife Vilate Murray, a 
most estimable young lady, 
born in Florida, New York. 
June 1st, 1806. He followed 
the potter's trade for more than 
ten years. He became a Free 
Mason, and in 1823 he received 
the three first degrees of Ma- 
sonry. In 1824, with five oth- 
ers, he petitioned the Chapter 
to receive all the degrees of 
Masonry up to that of Royal 
Arch Mason. The petition was 
granted, but before the degrees 
were conferred the anti-Ma- 
son's burned the Chapter build- 
ings. 

Brother Kimball early in life evinced 
strong religious tendencies, and had many 
pressing invitations to identify himself 
with one or other of the religious sects. 
Feeling anxious to find the truth, he 
joined the Baptists, believing it to be the 
best he could do at the time. Still he felt 
that something was lacking. Three 




PRESIDENT HEBER C KIMBALL. 

weeks later Elders representing the 
Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day 
Saints came into the neighborhood and 
were received at the home of Phineas 
H. Young. Brother Kimball, learning 
of their arrival, became very desirous to 
meet them. He went to hear them 
preach and at once was deeply impressed 



with their teachings and testi- 
monies. He desired to know 
more, and with Brothers Bing- 
ham and Phineas H. Young 
went to Pennsylvania, where 
he spent six days with the 
Church, attending the meetings 
with great interest. In >~nl, 
1832, Elder Alpheus Gifford 
came to Brother Kimball's pot- 
tery, and after a few moments 
conversation the latter request- 
ed baptism, which Elder Gif- 
ford cheerfully administered to 
him in a small stream near oy. 
Two weeks later his wife, Vi- 
late, was baptized by — der Jo- 
seph Young, and with Elder 
Brigham Young commenced 
preaching the Gospel in Gen- 
esee, Avon, and Lyonstown, 
where they baptized a number 
and organized several branch- 
es.. In September, 1832. he, 
with Elders Brigham ana Jo- 
seph Youne. visited the Prophet 
Joseph Smith in Kirtland O. 
One year later he sold his pos- 
sessions, and with Brisrham 
Young removed to Kirtland, 
the home of the Saints. In 
May, 1834, he started with 
Zion's Camp, becoming the 
Captain of the third company. 
At the camp on Salt river, Mis- 
souri, he was chosen as one of 
the Prophet's life guards. He 
suffered from an attack of 
cholera, but was healed b- the 
power of God. During all the 
trials of their march to Mis- 
souri and back, Brother Kim- 
ball bore 'his resnonsibilities 
with patience and was never 
known to murmur at his 
lot or against the Prophet of 
the Lord. He returned to Kirt- 
land Julv 26th, 1834, where he 
established a pottery and work- 
ed at his trade until winter. 
During the winter he attended 
the theological schools in Kirt- 
land. February 14th, 1835, he 
was ordained to the Apostle- 
ship, becoming one of the first 
Quorum of Twelve in this dispensation. 
On the third of May be, with his fellow- 
Apostles, went on a mission to the 
branches of the Church in the East. He 
visited Sheldon, Vt., his native town, 
and preached to his friends and rela- 
tives. He visited New York, met with 
the Twelve in conference at St. Johns- 



330 



THE SOUTHERN STAR. 



bury, Vt., and returned to Kirtland Sept. 
25th, 1835. 

Brother Kimball was present at the 
dedication of the Kirtland Temple, March 
27th, 1836. He received his blessings 
therein and participated in the great 
spiritual work bestowed in that Holy 
Temple. After the dedication he filled 
a mission in the northern part of thp 
United States. He returned to Kirtland 
in October. Apostle Kimball was called 
through the Prophet Joseph to carry the 
Gospel to England; to open the door of 
salvation to the inhabitants of that land. 
Eighteen thirty-seven was a year of 
troublous scenes in the Church. Many 
apostatized, several of the Twelve being 
among that number. Elder Kimball was 
very sorrowful over the conditions exist- 
ing, but was among the valiant number 
who were true to God and His Prophet, 
though assailed by apostates on every 
hand. .Tune 13th, 1837, accompanied by 
Orson Hyde, Willard Richards and Jo- 
seph Fielding, he started on his mission to 
England. At New York they were joined 
by several others, and set sail across 
the mighty deep, the first to bear the 
glad tidings of the new dispensation to 
the shores of Europe. They reached Liv- 
erpool on the ship Garrick July 20th, 

1837. The history of Apostle Kimball's 
first mission in England would make an 
interesting little volume of itself, as 
thrilling and accompanied by the power 
of God as thoroughly as was the travels 
of the Apostle Paul in Southern Europe 
more than 1,800 years before. Elder 
Kimball returned to Kirtland May 22d, 

1838, being absent eleven months, and 
with his associates was instrumental in 
baptizing nearly 1,500 persons, and organ- 
izing large branches in various parts of 
England, thus opening and establishing 
the European mission from which has 
come to the Church of Christ in the 
last days more than 100,000 people, v 

President Smith and other leading men 
having removed to Missouri, Elder Kim- 
ball removed with his family to Far 
West. They journeyed chiefly by water, 
on the Ohio, Mississippi and Missouri 
rivers, reaching Far West July 25th, 

1838, and enjoyed a hanpy meeting with 
the Prophet Joseph Smith and other 
leading men. 

He immediately set to work building a 
small house for the occupancy of himself 
and family. During its erection they 
lived in a small shanty about eleven feet- 
square, so low that President Kimball 
could scarcely stand upright in it. 

During the summer he went with the 
Prophet Joseph and others to Daviess 
county to afford the Saints protection 
against mob violence. At the invasion 
of Far West by the mob militia, Elde* 
Kimball was present to offer his life or 
undergo any ordeal that might come upon 
the Saints. He visited, in company with 
President Young, the Prophet in prison 
and did all he could to secure his release, 
and was also active in providing for the 
comfort of the wounded and helpless whe 
had suffered from the outrages of their 
enemies. He attended the secret confer- 
ence on the Temple grounds April 26th. 

1839, at which Wilford Woodruff and 
George A. Smith were ordained to th* 
Apostleship. He went with the Twelve 
to Quincy. 111., where his family await- 
ed him. and from thence moved to Nau- 
voo, where he built him a residence. The 
old home still remains, sixty-one years 
of age. and the letters H. C. K. ar»» 
still seen on the front of the building. 
Nanvoo, the former home of the exiled 
Saints, thouarh reduced from a popula- 
tion of 15.000 to 1.200, is still marked 
with the old residences of Joseph Smith. 



Brigham Young, Heber C. Kimball and 
many others of the leading men, who 
were robbed of their homes and prop- 
erty by the action of mobs in 1845 and 
1846. 

In September, 1839, with President 
Brigham Young, he went to England on 
his second mission. . He was hailed with, 
delight by his former acquaintances 
throughout the mission. He labored with 
great diligence for over one year. They 
reached Liverpool April 6th, 1840, and 
returned to Nauvoo July 1st, 1841. He 
was elected Oct. 23d, 1841, a member 
of the Nauvoo City Council, and la- 
bored in various capacities to promote 
the growth and development of the city 
and the Church. From Sept. 10th to 
Nov. 4th, 1842, he, with Brigham Young, 
George A. Smith and Amasa M. Lyman, 
labored diligently in Illinois to allay ex- 
citement, remove prejudice and correct, 
false doctrines. In July, 1843, he went 
on a preaching mission to the Eastern 
States, returning to Nauvoo Oct. 22d of 
the same year. 

May 21st, 1844, he started to Wash- 
ington, D. C., to petition the authorities 
of the nation to redress the grievances 
heaped upon the Saints by their enemies 
in Missouri and Illinois. On his return 
trip he heard the sad' news of- the -mar- 
tyrdom of Joseph and Hyrum Smith. 
Apostle Kimball was" active in sustain- 
ing the Saints in the great afllietion by 
his encouraging councils, and united with 
his brethren to finish the Nauvoo Tem- 
ple, and in every way -nobly met under 
trying circumstances the responsibilities 
of his high calling as an Apostle of the 
Lord. What the people suffered he suf- 
fered, the labors which they performed 
so did he. After the trying experiences 
of the exodus from Nauvoo, and the jour- 
ney to Winter Quarters, he became on** 
of the historic 143 who constituted the 
Pioneer company who entered Salt Lake 
Valley July 24th, 1847. Elder Kimball 
was one of the foremost men in all the 
important labors incidental to founding 
a great commonwealth in a desert land. 
In December, 1847, when President 
Young was sustained as President of the 
Church, Apostle Kimball was chosen as 
his first counselor, and sustained this 
position with credit and ability until his 
death in 1868. He was also Lieutenant- 
Governor in the Provisional State of 
Deseret until his decease. For a number 
of years he was a member of the Legis- 
lative Council, the last three years be- 
ing President of that body. He was ever 
constant in his devotion to the Church, 
the State and the nation. He was a typ- 
ical American, and so were his ancestors 
for many generations. He officiated in 
the House of the Lord. He visited every 
settlement in Utah, most of them, many 
times, preached the Gospel, uttered many 
prophecies which have received literal 
fulfillment, and gave counsel, spiritual 
and temporal, to advance the work of 
God upon the earth. In May, 1868. he 
received a severe fall in Provo. which 
brought on sickness and resulted in hi? 
death June 2d. 1868, at his home in Salt 
Lake City. He died as he had lived, 
true, full of faith and the hope of a glo- 
rious resurrection. 

President Kimball was a man of digni- 
fied bearing, standing about six feet in 
height and well proportioned; complex- 
ion dark. His hair was thin. His pierc- 
ing dark eyes seemed to penetrate one's 
very soul and read the very thoughts of 
the human heart. Many times he told 
men what they had done, and what 
would befall them, not by any human 
knowledge, but by the spirit of discern- 
ment and revelation. He had many odd 



sayings, which, said by him, left a last- 
ing impression upon his hearers in pub- 
lic and private. With all his frank and 
fearless manner of telling to men what 
many would shrink from telling, he was 
a loving, peaceful man, and was desig- 
nated as the "Herald of Peace." During 
the hard times in Salt Lake City, Presi- 
dent Kimball was so blessed with tem- 
poral subsistence, breadstuff chiefly, that 
he was able to feed his own numerous 
family and loan to men considered much 
better financiers than himself. His spe- 
cial gift of the Spirit was that of proph- 
ecy. His predictions and their fulfill- 
ment would make a long chapter of 
themselves, and full of thrilling interest. 
When the Saints were about to settle in 
Commerce, 111., and though received with 
open arms by the good people of Illinois. 
President Kimball looked upon the beau- 
tiful site and said sorowfully, "This is a 
beautiful place, but not a long resting 
place for the Saints." Sidney Rigdon 
was vexed at the prediction, but its ful- 
fillment is too well known to need re- 
peating here. When hard times pressed 
the Saints in Salt Lake City, and a thou- 
sand miles separated them from commer- 
cial points, President Kimball stood up 
in the Tabernacle and prophesied that 
in less than six months clothing and oth- 
er goods would be sold in the streets of 
Salt Lake City cheaper than they could 
be bought in New York. This astonished 
the people. One of his fellow Apostles 
said to him after meeting that he did not 
believe it. "Neither did I," said Brother 
Kimball, "but I said it. It will have to 
go." No one saw the possibility of it* 
verification. Six months, however, had 
not passed away when a large company 
of emigrants, burning with the gold fever 
from the east, came into the city, and 
becoming eager to reach the glitering 
gold fields of California, they sold 
their merchandise on the streets for a 
less price than the New York prices. 
They sold their large animals for pack 
houses, and thus more than literally ful- 
filled the remarkable prophecy of Presi- 
dent Heber C. Kimball. These are but 
examples of many like predictions uttered 
by this great Apostle of the Lord. 

He was broad and magnanimous in hi« 
ways, kind to the widow and the father- 
less. He was beloved by his associate* 
in the Apostleship and by all the Sainte. 
He fullfilled the characteristics of an hon- 
est man. "The noblest work of God/ 



Dead Millionaire's Secret of Success. 

"The great secret of success is laying 
by a nest egg and adding to your little 
store — never spending more than you 
make." 

"A young man should command what 
he is worth, always keeping his eyes open 
to better himself." 

"Many young men make a mistake in 
going to college and losing the most im- 
portant part of their lives in filling them- 
selves with knowledge of other men's 
deeds, of no practical use to the commer- 
cial world." 

"I do not think the life of one who has 
accumulated a hundred millions, more or 
less, although interesting, is inspiring." 

"No one can follow in the footsteps of 
another. He must work out his own des- 
tiny." 

"If you observe the rules of honesty, 
integrity and economy and fear God, you 
have just as good a chance as any man 
that may be cited." 

"Never allow any social obligation to 
interfere with a business engagement." 

"/ have never cared a cent what any 
human "being said or thought about my 
actions so long as I was satisfied.'* 



THE SOUTHEBN STAB. 



331 



THE PARABLE OF THE SOWER. 



To illustrate His parables, the Lord 
always took something that the people 
were familial* with; such as the "tig 
tree," the "vineyard," the "wheat" and 
the "tares"— something That would ap 
peal to their hearts. And as things told 
in story form are more interesting to us, 
so it was to the people in the days of 
Christ. And He found it necessary to 
speak to them in this form, that they 
might be taught true things, and find a 
better world. The parables of Christ are 
so simple, and so beautiful, yet contain 
important lessons; and if carried out will 
bring us salvation. 

Jesus had been throughout every vil- 
lage and city, preaching and showing 
forth the glad tidings of the kingdom of 
God. His Apostles were with Him. 
Many came to Him to be healed of their 
infirmities; devils were cast out, and th*t 
sick were healed, etc. And when many 
people were gathered together, He spoke 
to them in this parable: 

"A sower went out to sow his seed; 
and as he sowed some fell by the wayside; 
and it was trodden down, and the fowls 
of the air devoured it. 

"And some fell upon a rock; and as 
soon as it was sprung up, it withered 
away, because it lacked moisture. 

"And some fell among thorns; and the 
thorns sprang up with it, and choked it. 

"And other fell on good ground, and 
sprang up, and bare fruit an hundred 
fold." And when He had said these 
things, He cried, He that hath ears to 
hear, iet him hear. 

And His Disciples asked Him, saying, 
What might this parable be? 

And He said. Unto you it is given to 
k«iow the mysteries of the kingdom or. 
God; but to others in parables; that see- 
ing they a\\ght not see, aud hearing they 
might not understand." 

The Lord explains this paiable. The 
Sower was Himself, and it may also 
mean every minister of His Gospel; the 
seed which He sows is the best of seed— 
God's word; the ground upon which He 
sows is the heart. 

When He sows, sometimes the wicked 
one comes and takes away the seed, and 
when we do not pay attention, we let 
the devil get into our minds, and like the 
little birds with the seed, he carries away 
from us all the good we might get. 

At other times we hear the word with 
great pleasure, but if any wicked person 
finds fault with us— that we are too re- 
ligious, then we are in danger of mind- 
ing what they say, and of thinking too 
lightly of the joy we felt when we heard 
the gracions truths of the Gospel; and 
so we are like the stony ground hearers, 
for the seed withers in our hearts, in- 
stead of taking root. 

At other times we let bad, foolisH and 
vain thoughts enter our minds while *ve 
are hearing, and these become so numer- 
ous that thciv fa not room for anything 
else to enter Ihtn it is that the word 
in our hearts resembles the seed sown 
among thorns. 

But, If we hear tht word, if we under- 
stand it, and if we bring forth fruit, and 
t:re holy in our thoughts and lives, then 
ihe good seed tukes root aud we sho,v 
that we have not received it in vain. 

As the- young tree is easily bent, and 
the brook, at its head, easily turned 
aside, godliness may I e more c-asiiy 
learned in youth than age. Youth is the 
time to sow the seed, if we want it to 
thrive and grow. It is necessary to sow 
well, that we may reap well. What a 
man soweth, so shall he reap, as in the 



case of Daniel— he feared God, and 
though he suffered trial and persecution 
from his captors, being carried captive 
into Babylon, and seeing » Jerusalem be- 
sieged and sacked, and suffering the ut- 
most humiliation, yet this did not seem 
to mar the godliness or faith of the cap- 
tive boy. The seeds of truth and fear 
of the Lord had been sown in his heart, 
and he did not swerve from this knowl- 
edge. He drew nearer to the Lord; the 
truth in his soul bore fruit unto holiness; 
God was glorified, and that boy was 
blest. 'Twas thus then that Daniel 
sowed; and how did he reap? Friend af- 
ter friend was raised up; heart after 
heart was open before him; in the won- 
drous providence of God, whom Daniel 
feared, Nebuchadnezzer himself became 
his fast friend; in short, Daniel had hon- 
ored God, and was not put to shame. He 
might sow in tears, but he reaped in joy. 
The good and noble attributes of our 
natures require constant care and watch- 
fulness, to get them to grow and bear 
fruit. Anyone can be a weed, but it 
takes a great deal of effort, and study, 
and self-denial to be a useful plant. We 
should, each of us, be determined that in 
the vineyard of the Lord, we will be use- 
ful plants, bearing good fruit, and not 
worthless weeds. "BEN BOLT." 



History of the Southern States Mission. 

(Continued from page 327.) 

MAY, 1899.— After leaving Aberdeen, 
Miss., President Rich went to St. Louis, 
where he met Apostles John Henry 
Smith and Mathias F. Cowley. 

In visiting* the various conferences 
there was seen a need for a more sys- 
tematic mode of work than that in vogue, 
and in order to obtain more of a uni- 
formity the idea of having a conference 
of conference presidents was conceived— 
a fitting climax indeed to the work just 
completed. All necessary preparations 
were made for the event to take Place 
in Chattanooga on the 6th, 7th and 8th 
of the month. Each conference presi- 
dent was to rehearse the method of labor 
in his conference, and to suggest any- 
thing that might be assisting to the work. 

It was, moreover, designed to have 
some of the leading authorities present, 
that they might witness the proceedings, 
understand the manner of work, and 
give counsel and instruction as to how 
the work should be continued in the fu- 
ture. Through the kindness of Presi- 
dent -Snow, Apostles John Henry Smith 
and Mathias P. Cowley were appointed 
to attend. President Rich accompanied 
them from Kansas City to Chattanooga, 
arriving on the 4th, and met the Elders 
in conference on the 6th. Meetings were 
held in the auditorium, and a general 
good spiritual feast was enjoyed by all. 
(For a full account of conference pro- 
ceedings see pages 188 and 196, Vol. 1.) 

On the 8th inst. seventeen Elders ar- 
rived from Zion, their names being as 
follows: Edwin D. Olpin, Geo. L. Mor- 
tensen, James C. Barrington, David 
Hughe*. John Ilium, Heber Olsen, Sam- 
uel Williams, Geo. E. Cook, Jos. W. 
Thorne, W. E. Bench, Jos. P. Bishoff, 
Frank W. Barnes, Isaac B. Evans, An- 
drew Nyman, Jr., Fountain S. Johnson, 
Jas. S. Sterling and Geo. W. Hilton, Jr. 
Counsel meeting was held with the Pres- 
idents and new Elders, which concluded 
the first conference of Conference Presi- 
dents. 

On the 11th inst. the Apostles and 
their wives left for their homes, together 
with Sister Rich and the children. They 
were accompanied by President Rich as 
far as Kansas City, Mo. 

Another company of Elders numbering 
thirty-one arrived on the 22d inst. They 
were: C. W. West, Heber S. Olsen, Geo. 
H. Walker, Cyril C. Tingey, Willis Call, 
Chas. W. Walker. James M. Connell, 
Joel H. Orton^ J. W. Bateman, Lorenzo 
B. Hoskins, William Smith, Henry M. 



Godrey, John E. Godfrey, Wilford Geor- 
geson, Stephen H. Fotheringham, Ezra 
Brown, Thos. Neilson, Jas. E. King, 
Hans P. Hansen, Fred Christiansen, 
John H. Bankhead, Albert M. Olsen, 
Thos. J. John, J. K. Lemon, Jr., Chas. 
H. White, Wm. N. Eldridge, Frank N. 
Tyler, Alma Page, Oliver Jacobsen, Wai- 
ter A. Adams and C. A. Burnham. 

The month closed with quite a number 
of Elders sick, especially those in the 
gulf states. 

JUNE, 1899.— The needs of an office • 
down town had long been felt, so, ac- 
cordingly, one was procured in the rear 
of the Third National Bank. The com- 
missary and all other business was moved 
down on the 3th and 9th inst. A change 
on the Star was made on the 15th, when 
Editor D. P. Felt was released to return 
home, and Elder Ray Ashworth appoint- 
ed to succeed him, with Elder A. F. 
Cardon as his assistant. 

On the 19th, a company of thirty-four 
Elders arrived in Chattanooga and re- 
ported for duty. The names of this large 
company are: John Reeve, Z. N.' Deck- 
er, Samuel S. Cluff, Jr., Clarence A. 
Hoagland, Jos. F. Nibley, Frederick P. 
Jones, Daniel Perkins, James McArthur, 
Wm. H. Lowder, L. E. Jordan, Geo. 
O. Holt, Andrew J. Reese, John Bailey, 
Willard Burgess, John W. Freestone, 
James Piatt, Joel Nibley, Otto Lundburg, 
Don C. Benson, E. B. Snow, Jr., Charles 
McNeil, Alma Olson, Fred K. Jacobs, 
Bryan W. Peck, Hans P. Rasmussen, 
Joseph Sorenson, James A. Thornton, E. 
D. Curtis, Carl A. Miller, Gilbert M. 
Williams, W. W. Allen, W. G. Miles, 
Hymen W. Jones and Francis P. Hain- 
mand. Elder L. Eugene Jordan came to 
labor as book-keeper in the ofiice. 

On the 25th, Elders Anderson and Ly- 
man left for Chicago. Together with 
President Rich, they met, at Chicago, 
Apostle F. M. Lyman, and with him they 
held a consultation upon matters per- 
taining to the work of God and the la- 
bors of the Elders in the Southern States 
Mission. 

(To be continued.) 

New Books and Tracts. 

The articles which have been published 
in the Star entitled "The Dark Ages" 
have been compiled into book form and 
can be had for the nominal sum of 10 
cents. The writer has spent many years 
in the study of ancient history and is 
well versed in the same. From the most 
authentic writers he has condensed hU 
work. It is perfectly reliable and every 
Elder should nave one with him to study 
for his own 'benefit, and carry them for 

The mission has also published a pic- 
ture book of forty pages, containing por- 
traits of all the authorities of the church 
from its organization down to the pres- 
ent time. It also contains cuts of the 
temples, the public free school of Salt 
Lake City, which should be conclusive 
evidence that we are not opposed to ed- 
ucation. It contains pictures of the 
different denominational churches of Salt 
Lake which show to the people that we 
believe in religious toleration. There 
are inspiring pictures of mountain scen- 
ery, etc.. all of which make the book of 
great worth to the Elders in making 
friends. The price is 25 cents, and no 
book will allay prejudice and right 
wrong ideas concerning our people more 
than this book of views. 

Inasmuch as we have had many appli- 
cations for the letters answering Dr. 
Brougher's tirade on Mormonism, which 
were published in the Star of some 
months ago, also Ellis' lecture on Mor- 
monism, we have published them in 
tract form to supply the demand. They 
will sell for the same price as our other 
tracts. __ 

We have on hand Missionary Hymn 
Books, copies of "Voice of Warning," 
and '*Mr. Durant," of Salt Lake,. Jn 
leather binding, which sell for 35 cents 
per copy. These books are of inestima- 
ble value to present to dear friends as 
tokens of loving remembrance. 



332 



THE SOUTHERN STAR. 



HE 



Ntlisawf Weekly ly Saatbtni Statee MltslosiCbirsb 

el Jesse Cbrltt ef Lattar Day Stlite, 

Cwtttaissfs, Toil. 



Terms of Subscription 
(la asviiat) 



Per year . . $1.00 

Six months . .50 

Three noatbs .25 
Steele Copies, 5 Cents. 



■II 



Subscriber* ramoring from one place to another, 
and desiring papers changed, should always rive 
former as well as present address, by postal card or 
letter. 



Mmtertd at the Pott (Mice at Chattanooga, Tom., as 
Wm tteomadam matter. 



Correspondence from all parts of the missionary 
field is solicited. Give name and address, or articles 
will be rejected. Write on one side of paper only 
when sent for publication. We reserve the right to 
either eliminate or reject any communication sent in. 
Address Box io» 



Saturday, September 15, 1900. 



ARTICLES OF FAITH 

OP TUB CHURCH OP JESUS CHRIST OP 
LATTER-DAY SAINTS. 

1. W» b*ti*T* Id God th* ELsmil Mat tut in Ea So* 

Jmq* thrift, tod Eb tba Bcljr GhtwU 

1 W« b*ll*T* t&al m*o wiLl ba ponliiitd for Ibvlr ow* 
■Ih, and nal for Adttn'i LranHrwtiOfl, 

I. W* b*E3«T» ibat, ih/uarh Lh« atontQMDl of Chrltt, alt 
waUind. SJVJ** *■*•*", h-jf ob«d4*iie» I* tfaa lawa tad ordi. 

of 
lasted* 



euuMof lb* 'jotptlr 

i. W» b*li*T* thjit Lbb flrit principle! and ardJnu 
IW Qoiptl in : Pint, filth la Ui* Unf J«tm Obrtat ; i 



* j laird, Euptlam bj Jnnnf nion for th* runlaiion 
of VlDt ; f oo rib. Liriof ob of Hindi for tha Gift of t h« Bel* 

OtMt. 

L Wa btlJiTt titt « nan nail ba «]l«l of Chd, bj 
H pvqpbac*i and bj tB« laying on of bind*," b>r tBOta wha ar» 
ia ■ UlWilj, la pralcB lb* foipml and •dtniat»t«r in tha ordi. 

aaata* rbtrtor 

«. W. belli** la tbtfnm«ci«iQimi[ioD lb»| iiJtUd fa 
*bl prim Kit* cStfrth— c*ffi+l/, ApOitf**, Froph#U, fallen, 
TucaerVj En □ f*IJ it*, ate. 

■T r Wt b*[j*v# la Ibe gift Of tonEttW, propb«c* t rvvaJatiaa, 
viiioai. heilln^,, iELlerprelaboo of Ijxiji}**^ etc 

& Wt bvlitvo tha Blbl* to be tb* word of God, 11 fir u || 
h tn ntklH correct Ij ; wa tlto buJit* t ti« Boot of Uorno* 
to U t*4 word of God. 

ft. Wf balia** it] lhat God bit r*vcil*4, ill that Ha oW 
BOW r»H*t t and we b«li*TS ibaL 11* will ret r«.T*al many |r*«l 
and impartial fa\np ptrlaif>iit£ To rb> kiatdooi of God, 

10. Wi balkavo id tbi LUrii pth»ri>i|oritra*| aod ib lb* 
taatormtioo of lb* T*Q Tribal -, Uut Zion *il] U boJtt upon 
I* it (tba American j continent ; Lb at Cbri*{ will rei(B part* o- 
alJj upon the «a rtb, atid ib+l tb« oaltb will b* renewed and 
Iiealf • 1U ppradlilual flnrjr. 

U. W« claim ib* pri^ilea* of worablpfnf Almla-htr God 
*t«fdJTif to itio dicta tea qi our coeaoi*aoe t and allow all 
BU IW ataia pririlefe, lei them warihio bow, where, or wiat 

tL Wa baltara la baiog Mbjaet to kiaa, praaidaota. ruVm, 
sad aanajalntos ; la abaylnf, heooriof aidwaUiaJ ogta* law. 

11. aWa ballaTa la baiac booanTtraa, eaaata, banaTolaai, 
ajrtaooa. and ia dotag food to all bmb: iadaad, w* aaay mj 
laatwaToIlow tat eteoolttoa of PaoL, - Wa baJtora alltHafla, 
*e aopa ail UUoa, N wa h*T* aadored away ibiaaa, sad espa 
tobaaMatoaaderaallthliigB. If tbar* ia aartaTaf riftoaea, 
Slasi^rTlfeWlTaTI 9nk%w%hj * wa a^ ^lat taaaa 



"He only is advancing in life whose 
heart is getting softer, whose blood warm- 
er, whose brain quicker, whose spirit is 
entering into living peace." 



Conference presidents will greatl}* 
oblige us if they will send in monthly 
history, at the close of each month. 
Those who have not sent them in for 
the months of July and August will 
greatly favor us if they will do so, at 
their earliest convenience. 



Releases and Appointments. 
Releases. 

Blam Olsen, Middle Tennessee Confer- 
ence. 

B. Hunsaker, South Ohio Conference. 

Bmily Hunsaker, South Ohio Confer- 
ence. 

A. H. Young, East Tennessee Confer- 
ence. 

N. C. Jensen, South Carolina Confer- 
ence. 

J. J. Jensen, Georgia Conference. 



AFFLICTIONS. 

The object of penning these lines is to 
comfort and strengthen those tried by 
affliction. Afflictions do not come by 
accident or chance — they seem to be the 
common heritage and universal lot of 
man. Some endure more sorrows than 
do others; they wade through the deep 
waters of trial from early morn till 
late, until they begin to realise w:th the 
faithful Job, that: "Affliction cometh not 
forth of the dust, neither doth trouble 
spring out of the ground; yet man is 
born into trouble, ns the sparks fly up- 
ward." (Job 5:6-7.) 

When we think our lot in iife hard and 
miserable beyond the hardships of all 
others, if we will only just visit our 
neighbors, and take a peep into their 
homes, we shall very soon become con- 
vinced that others are wading in as 
deep waters as we, with as little, or 
perhaps less help and encouragement 
than bestowed on us, struggling against 
adverse powers, and striving to keep 
their heads above water. Then let us 
not despair and imagine our lot the 
saddest of all. Do you know of anyone 
who has no sorrows, cares, or trials to 
encounter and endure? Simply because 
you may not discern sorrow depicted «n 
the features, manifest in their acts, or 
spoken in their words, do not by any 
means suppose they have no burdens in 
this life. Perhaps such a one may have 
many trying ordeals, but he is playing the 
noble, manly part, expressed in the good 
old hymn, "Go bury thy sorrow, the 
world hath its share." You may be 
brought low upon the bed of sickness, 
your body racked with excruciating pain, 
your whole being scorched with a burn- 
ing fever, your strength gone, the vital 
forces weakened, leaving you helpless 
and miserable indeed, but remember that 
tens of thousands are suffering like af- 
flictions. There hath no trial befallen 
you, but that which is common unto man, 
and which the mortal body becomes 
heir to. 

The Psalmist David rejoiced in his 
sorrows and cried with joy, "Many are 
the afflictions of the righteous, but the 
Lord delivereth him out of them all." 
Oftentimes those very things we con- 
sider our worst calamities turn out to be 
our greatest benefactors, and affliction 
teaches us many a good lesson we would 
not otherwise have learned. The storms 
of winter strip the trees of their leaves, 
and bare their massive branches of the 
green foliage, covering them instead 
with the cold, chilly icicles, and divesting 
them of luscious fruit and fragrant flow- 
ers; but it is while they are thus stripped 
that they send their roots deeper into 
the soil, and prepare for a more abund- 
ant harvest. So it is with the humble 
followers of the Lamb; having borne 
good fruit in the summer of life, when 
all went well and pain and sorrow were 
foreigners to their peaceful abodes, when 
the winter of affliction comes with its 
stinging blasts and fearful storms, their 
faith in God drives them to the throne 
of grace, for consolation, comfort and 
protection. 

In the hour of grief and sadness, our 
God will never us forsake. He will lend 
a helping hand, bestow a heavenly com- 
forter, and assist us to rise above our 
sorrows, that we might take a glimpse 
of heavenly joys, which mortal tongues 
can never express, or feeble pen commu- 
nicate. We learn in affliction who are 
our real friends, upon whom we can rely 
for earthly aid and temporal assistance. 
Sometimes our friends in the trying hour 
of need are total strangers to us; yes, 



people lend us a helping hand, and speak 
cheering words of comfort, whom we 
have scarcely formed an acquaintance 
with. Our Elders, wandering as strang- 
ers among strange people, are sometimes 
afflicted with diseases common to the 
country where they labor, and the gen- 
erous, whole-souled people of the land 
take them in, minister to their wants, 
nurse them in their afflictions, and care 
for them until they regain health and 
strength again. Such acts of human 
kindness are Christ-like, heavenly, and 
savor of divinity. This is true Chris- 
tianity, genuine godliness, and a fair 
exemplification of love unfeigned. 

"Weeping may endure for a night, but 
joy cometh in the morning." If we are 
sickly, weak, and almost helpless, let us 
take joy and encouragement from the 
promises of the Lord— "In Me ye shall 
have peace." Do not allow the dark, 
lowering clouds of sorrow to bedim your 
eyes from beholding the silver lining of 
God's love, and the joys which await 
you hereafter. Yonr redemption and de- 
liverance draweth nigh; therefore lift 
up your heads and rejoice; for this life 
is but a single drop compared with the 
vast and endless ocean of eternity. "He 
that endureth to the end, the same shall 
be saved." 

*Tl8 sorrow builds the shining ladder up, 
Whose golden rounds are our calamities.'* 



A TESTIMONY OF THE TRUTH. 

Elder Almy Clayton recently received 
a letter from some good friends in Vir- 
ginia, in reply to a Gospel letter sent by 
him. We take the liberty of publishing 
the same, or portions of it, that the read- 
ers of the Star might enjoy the testi- 
mony of one who has not as yet identified 
herself with the Saints of Latter Days. 
We will withhold names, dates, and 
place, for obvious reasons. 
"My Dear Brother: 

"I received your highly appreciative let- 
ter, which was read with care and pleas- 
ure. I shall join the Church of Latter- 
day Saints, and be baptized by one hav- 
ing authority the very first opportunity 
I have. Indeed, Brother C— - , I feel 
that I would never be happy if I did not 
join myself with the Saints. I am con- 
vinced they are the true Church and the 
only true Church on earth. I am per- 
fectly satisfied and do truly believe Jo- 
seph Smith was exactly what he claimed 
to be. I shall always look back with 
pleasure on the time when you and com- 
panion called on us, for if yon had never 
came I should have been groping in dark- 
ness still, trying to find the true religion 
of Jesus Christ, for I could not see it in 
any of the churches. 

"I enjoy reading the Star, for I fee! 
that you are all my dear brothers and 
sisters, and I love all the true Saints. 
You Icnow the Bible says, "We have 
passed from death unto life, if we love 
the brethren." There is so much broth- 
erly love among our people; I am proud 
to say our people, for I feel that I am 
truly one with you. 

"I am always pleased to hear from 
those who have obeyed the truth as it is 
in Christ Jesus." 

The above letter speaks a good word 
for the Saints of God, and breathes a 
loving spirit in every word and line. It 
is possible for all to know, even as the 
author of this letter, that the Church of 
Jesus Christ is on the earth, with all its 
beauty,grace, divinity and holy organiza- 
tion. 



Good order is the foundation of all 
good things. 



THE SOUTHERN STAB. 



333 



DISTRESSING FLOOD IN TEXAS. 

On the 9th inst., the city of Galveston, 
Texas, was visited by a disastrous flood. 
It is reported that about 2,000 lives are 
lost, while the estimate of property de- 
stroyed is incalculable at the present 
time. This is the most appalling tornado 
that the Lone Star State has been sub- 
jected to. The waters of the Gulf of 
Mexico were heaved beyond their usual 
bounds, and the Island City was sub- 
merged, almost entirely. Galveston has a 
population of some 68,000 souls, is built 
on an island, extending east and west for 
twenty-seven miles, and is seven miles 
in its greatest width, north and south. 

In these days of "perilous times" tor- 
nadoes sweep the deep, fierce hurricane3 
cause the mighty surge to leap and roar 
in terrific fury, men's hearts fail them 
for fear, and the signs of the times de 
note the coming of the Son of God, and 
a reign of righteousness and holy love. 
Let us watch and pray, serve and obey, 
that we may be prepared to hail our 
Lord, and welcome our King, the Mes- 
siah, the Prince of Peace. 



TEMPTING THE LORD. 

The Chattanooga Press of the 7th inst. 
contains the following startling news, as' 
an item of mammoth importance. Inas- 
much as it assumes such vital consequence 
as to find its way into the columns of a 
contemporary up-to-date newspaper, it 
may prove amusing to our Elders, and 
amazing to the public who fail to read 
the Press. For the benefit of all, and 
being as it is brief, we quote the same 
in full: "A Mormon Elder near Pulaski 
said that if a man was right with his 
Savior nothing could injure him. He 
refused to drink carbolic acid offered by 
a minister, however." 

After reading the above, does it not 
look a little strange that such a remark- 
able Christ-like individual as a professed 
minister should offer a fellow-brother 
"carbolic acid?" His actions were whol- 
ly foreign to those of the true and faith- 
ful servant of the Master, but still they 
were akin to the conduct of the majority 
of his cloth. Did that good old minister, 
whomsoever he may be, think he was 
doing Christ service when he requested 
a Mormon Elder to take deadly poison? 
Was it a noble, righteous deed; or was 
it not base, ignoble and wickedly ma- 
licious? What if the Mormon Elder did 
say (which we do not necessarily admit) 
"that if a man was right with his Sa- 
vior nothing could injure him?" Did a 
professed follower of Jesus find fault 
with this saying, which makes the Lord 
all powerful? Surely the minister, if 
he be of the chosen number, had ought 
to grasp him by the hand, and bid him 
God speed, instead of presenting him 
with "carbolic acid," and asking him to 
partake of the same, as a proof and test 
of the truthfulness of his assertion. 

Perhaps it would be well for that dear, 
good, Christian minister, if he would 
adopt, and liberally practice the example 
of the homeopathic quack doctor, who 
never gave his suffering patient a course 
of medicine without first partaking of 
the lotion himself; then, if he survived 
the dose, he felt safe to administer it 
unto the sick. At least it would teach 
him a good lesson, which all good people 
like he should learn: "Do unto others as 
you would that others should do unto 
you." 

Remember the words of Jesus, how He 
said, "Thou shalt not tempt the Lord 
thy God." Beware, lest the wrath of an 
indignant God smite you in His sore dis- 



pleasure, for your evil words and wicked 
designs. Those self-righteous Pharisees 
of old tempted Jesus in like manner as 
modern hypocrites are now tempting the 
servants of the Lord. Even when the 
Son of Man was crucified, they reviled 
Him, and said, "He saved others; Him- 
self He cannot save. If He be the Christ 
let Him come down from the cross, and 
we will believe Him." His wonderful 
power was never exercised to satisfy the 
morbid curiosity of sign-seekers, whom 
He designated as "wicked and adulter- 
ous," and He taught His Apostles to 
be "wise as serpents, and harmless as 
doves." Why did the self-righteous 
preacher at Pulaski betray such a low, 
unbelieving, sign-seeking spirit, as to re- 
quire the Elder to drink carbolic acid be- 
fore he would believe the words of Jesus, 
or the divinity of His mission? How 
would he receive Christ, as the Son of 
God? Would he offer the Lord car- 
bolic acid? Undoubtedly he would, for 
our Savior would tell him the same things 
as those spoken by the Elder, and he 
cannot refute them. We know of no 
better advice to give to this professed 
minister, and to all others of his kith 
and kin, than those spoken by Jesus to 
the evil one on the occasion of the temp- 
tation in the wilderness, "Thou shalt not 
tempt the Lord thy God." 



"HIGH CHURCH." 

The Boston Transcript tells of an Episco- 
pal church that is being sued because it is 
not sufficiently "high church." It seems that 
a certain person left money to the church, 
with the provision that the services should 
come up to a certain standard of church 
manship. The minister has failed, it is 
claimed, to get as mnch ritualism into the 
service and the responses of his flock as 
the money calls for. 

This puts us in mind of the "Parson's 
Prayer:" 

"I have candles and all sorts of dresses to 

buy, 
For I wish you to know that my church Is 

called High— 
I don't mean the structure of steeple or 

wall. 
But so high that the V>rd cannot reach it 

at all.* 
"Ritualism" is not Christianity, but 
merely a vain and foolish tradition. Can- 
dles, dresses, robes, and outward ceremo- 
nies, to the exclusion of faith, hope, love, 
and good will for all, are useless, mean- 
ingless, and altogether unbecoming for 
true Christians, being detrimental to the 
salvation of their souls — a stimulus for 
the "down-grade" run. Keep on going. 
Churches are plentiful, and up-to-date 
pastors are in demand. The time has 
come and now is when people are heap- 
ing to themselves teachers having itching 
ears, being destitute of the truth, lovers 
of fables and pleasure, more than lovers 
of God and godliness. 



THE WISH AND THE EFFORT. 

He that rises In the morning 

Saving to himself: "Todayy 
I will strive to do my duty 

And to walk in wisdom's way," 
Seldom, when the night approaches, 

Leaves a stainless page behind, 
Or can sink to slumber fully 

Satisfied in heart and mind. 

Yet he triumphs who thus rises, 

Even though sometimes he may 
Stumble where the roads are roughest, 

Or be tempted through the day— 
Though he fall to do his duty, 

Still he triumphs after all. 
For the wish— the hope— is mighty, 

Though the effort may be small. 

Chicago Times-Herald. 



Special low rates via Union Pacific 
railroad to all leading western points 
Sept. 16th, Oct. 2d and 16th. For par- 
ticulars address J. F. Aglar, Gen'l Agent. 
St. Louis. 



The Lord Will Protect Hb Servants. 

"If ye were of the world, the world 
would love his own: but because ye are 
not of the world, but I have chosen you 
out of the world, therefore the world 
hateth you. Remember the word that 
1 said unto you, the servant is not great- 
er than his lord. If they have persecuted 
me, they wiU persecute you; if they have 
kept my sayings, they will keep * yours 
also." John 15: 19-20. "Yea, and all 
that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall 
suffer persecution/' 2 Tim. 3:12. 

The same cause will always produce 
the same effect. The other night at the 
home of Bro. and Sister M. L. D. Hart's, 
Chester county, Tenn., while my compan- 
ion, Elder Ezra Bunker and I, were en- 
joying the sweet slumbers of a good 
night's rest, on one of the well stuffed 
feather beds we find in the south, we 
were suddenly aroused from our slumbers, 
about 12 o'clock at night, by the sound of 
a rough "Halloo" on the outside. Bro. 
Hart answered the call by asking, ''Who 
are you?" "It is me," was the answer; 
"Me; who is me?" Then there was a 
pause for a moment, when the droll voice 
outside broke the silence by: "Is there 
any Mormon preachers here?" "Yes, two 
of them," was the answer. "Then," con- 
tinued our midnight visitor, "we have 
come to notify them to be away from 
here by sunrise tomorrow morning, if not 
they will find themselves swinging to a 
tree, and if you harbor them any more 
you will swing with them; do you hear 
that?" "Sweet land of liberty, of thee 
we sing." It makes me blush to think 
that American citizens will degrade, them- 
selves to a level with China. 1 am almost 
persuaded to say, we are guilty in this 
boasted land of freedom and liberty, of 
crimes we are condemning other countries 
for. When these cowardly, inhuman 
skeptics had delivered their message, and 
leaving, not being satisfied with what 
they had said, added another act to show 
their inhuman characters by showering 
a volley of rocks against and upon the 
house. Still to farther show their inhu- 
man characters, they fired several shots 
It was not long when all was quiet and 
we were sound asleep again. Sunrise 
found us at Bro. Hart's. We have not 
forgotten the words of our Savior, "Be 
not afraid of them that kill the body, 
and after that have no more that they 
can do. But fear him who hath power to 
destroy both soul and body." Luke 12: 
4-5. We have broke no law, nor done 
any thing that we are ashamed of. We 
believe we are living in a free country, 
under the glorious stars and stripes wav- 
ing to every man freedom to worship 
Almighty God according to the dictates 
of his own conscience. We were not un- 
easy, but felt assured that our friends, if 
we may call them such, would be ashamed 
to show their faces in daylight to carry 
out their threat. 

They choose darkness rather than light, 
because their deeds are evil. We have 
many friends in this county who will be 
sorry to hear of this cowardly act. We 
left Bro. Hart's when we got ready, and 
will leave this county when we feel we 
have done our duty. We are enjoying good 
health and feel to thank God we have 
been counted worthy of coming forth as 
ambassadors of Truth, and take pleasure 
in bearing our testimony to the truthful- 
ness of the restored Gospel, and the di- 
vine mission of Joseph Smith. 

Andrew O. Madsen. 
Ezra Bunker. 



334 



THE SOUTHERN STAB. 



DISCOURSE DELIVERED BY PRESIDENT JOS. F. SMITH 



In the Tabernacle at telt Lake City, April 7. 1900— Preservation and Multiplication 

of Lite — Dangers of Sign Seeking — Man Established in the Truth by 

Faithfulness and the Spirit of God. 



It will give me great pleasure to re- 
ceive the spirit to bear testimony to that 
which we have heard today and yester- 
day. I think the true spirit of counsel 
and instruction has rested upon the 
Apostles who have spoken to us during 
the conference so far, and I desire to say 
that I endorse with all my heart the ex- 
cellent counsel and blessed instruction 
which they have given to this people. 1 
sincerely hope we will remember these 
counsels, and remembering them, carry 
them out in our lives. It matters not 
how many good things we may hear, nor 
how much we may know, if we do not 
apply the instructions we receive and the 
knowledge we possess to the accomplish- 
ment of the work that we have in hand. 
The paramount duty is to labor for Zion, 
and work for our own salvation, that we 
may gain the victory over ourselves and 
over the powers of evil that are in the 
world. The Gospel has been preached 
to us, and we have essayed to obey it, 
that we might become the sons and 
daughters of God—heirs of God and 
joint-heirs with His Son. We can never 
attain to the blessings of the Gospel by 
merely becoming acquainted with it ana 
then sitting down and doing nothing 
ourselves to stem the current of evil that 
is preying upon us and upon the world. 

The remarks that have just been made 
by Brother Woodruff are worthy of at- 
tention and acceptance on the part of 
the young men and young women of 
Zion. Those who have taken upon them- 
selves the responsibility of wedded lite 
should see to it that they do not abuse 
the course of nature; that they do not 
destroy the principle .of life within them, 
nor violate any or the commandments of 
God. The command which He gave in 
the beginning to multiply and replenish 
the earth is still in force upon the chil- 
dren of men. Possibly no greater sin 
could be committed by the people who 
have embraced this Gospel than to pre- 
vent or destroy life in the manner indi- 
cated. We are born into the world that 
we may have life, and we live that we 
may have a fullness of joy, and if we 
will obtain a fullness of joy, we must 
obey the law of our creation and the law 
by which we may obtain the consum- 
mation of our righteous hopes and de- 
sires—life eternal. 

If the time will permit, I desire to en- 
dorse the sentiments that were expressed 
by Brother Grant. It is a wicked and 
adulterous generation that seeketh after 
a sign. Show me Latter-day Saints who 
have to feed upon miracles, signs and 
visions in order to keep them steadfast 
in the Church, and I will show you mem- 
bers of the Church who are not in good 
standing before God, and who are walk- 
ing in slippery paths. It is not by mar- 
velous manifestations unto us that we 
shall be established in the truth, but it 
is by humility and faithful obedience to 
the commandments and laws of God. 
When I as a boy first started out fn the 
ministry I would frequently go out and 
ask the Lord to show me some marvel- 
ous thing, in order that I might receive 
a testimony. But the Lord withheld 
marvels from me, and showed me the 



truth, line upon line, precept upon pre- 
cept, here a little and there a little, until 
He made me 1 to know the truth from the 
crown of my head to the soles of my leec, 
and until doubt and fear had been ab- 
solutely purged from me. He did not 
have to send an angel from the heavens 
to do this, nor did he have to speak witn 
the trump of an archangel. By the whis- 
perings of the still small voice of the 
Spirit of the living God, He gave to me 
the testimony I possess. And by this 
principle and power He will give to all 
the children of men a knowledge of the 
truth that will stay with them, and it 
will make them to know the truth, as 
God knows it, and to do the will of the 
Father as Christ does it. And no amount 
of marvelous manifestations will ever 
accomplish this. It is obedience, humil- 
ity and submission to the requirements 
of heaven and to the order established in 
the kingdom of God upon the earth that 
will establish men in the truth. Men 
may receive the visitation of angels; they 
may speak in tongues; they may inter- 
pret; they may prophesy; they may heal 
the sick by the laying on of hands; they 
may have visions and dreams; but ex- 
cept they are faithful and pure in heart, 
they become an easy prey to the adver- 
sary of their souls, and he will lead them 
into darkness and unbelief more easily 
than others. The devil himself can ap- 
pear like an angel of light. False proph- 
ets and false teachers have arisen in the 
world. There is perhaps no gift of the 
Spirit of God more easily imitated by 
the devil than the gift of tongues. 
Where two men or women exercise the 
gift of tongues by the inspiration of the 
Spirit of God, there are a dozen perhaps 
that do it by the inspiration of the devil. 
Bless your souls, apostates speak in 
tongues, apostates prophesy; apostates 
claim to have marvelous manifestations. 
And what is that to us? The trouble is, 
we know so little of the truth ourselves 
and we live by it so poorly that almost 
any little jackanapes in the country may 
rise up and claim he has had a vision, 
or some marvelous dream, and however 
absurd or untrue it may be, he may find 
believers and followers among those who 
profess to be Latter-day Saints. 

I believe in the gifts of the Holy Spirit 
unto men, but I do not want the gift of 
tongues, except when I need it. I 
needed the gift of tongues once and the 
Lord gave it to me. I was in a foreign 
land, sent to preach the Gospel to a peo- 
ple whose language I could not under- 
stand. Then I sought earnestly for the 
gift of tongues, and by this gift and by 
study, in a hundred days after landing 
upon those islands I could talk to the 
people in their language as I now talk 
to you in my native tongue. This was a 
gift that waa worthy of the Gospel. There 
was a purpose in it. There was 
something in it to strengthen my 
faith, to encourage me and to help me 
in my ministry. If you have need of 
this gift of tongues, seek for it and God 
will help you in it. But I do not ask you 
to be very hungry for the gift of tongues, 
for if you are not careful the devil wil! 
deceive you in it. He can talk by the 
gift of tongues as well as the Lord can. 
Paul did not seem to care much about the 



gift of tongues, either. He said to the 
Corinthians: 

"I had rather speak five words with 
my understanding, that by my voice I 
might teach others also, than ten thou- 
sand words in an unknown tongue/' 

So far as I am concerned, if the Lord 
will give me ability to teach the people 
in my native tongue, or in their own 
language to the understanding of those 
that hear me, that will be sufficient gift 
of tongues to me. Yet if the Lord gives 
you the gift of tongues, do not despise it, 
do not reject it. For if it comes from 
the Spirit of God, it will come to those 
who are worthy to receive it, and it is 
all right. But this idea of seeking it, 
desiring it, when you don't pay your 
tithing, when you don't pray in your 
families, when you don't pay your debts, 
when you desecrate the Sabbath day, and 
when you neglect other duties in the 
Church; I tell you the devil will take ad* 
vantage of you bye and bye, if he does 
not at first. 

The time will not permit me, or I would 
like to take the Scriptures and read from 
them in relation to this subject. I love 
the truth; I love my brethren, and I 
know that the visiting of an angel alone 
will not keep one in the Church. The 
opening of the heavens to you in marvel- 
ous manifestations will not establish you 
in the truth. We have abundant proof 
of that in the K history of the Church. B,ut 
the men and the women who arje honest 
tyefore God, who humbly plod along, do- 
ing their duty, paying their tithing and 
exercising that pure religion and unde- 
nted before God and the Father, which 
is to visit the fatherless and widows in 
thjeir afflictions and to keep one's self 
unspotted from the world and who help 
look after the poor; and who honor the 
holy Priesthood, who do not run into 
excesses, who are prayerful in their fam- 
iAies and who acknowledge the Lord in 
their hearts, they will build up a foun- 
dation that the gates of hell cannot pre- 
vail against; and if the floods come and 
the storms beat upon their hofuse, it shall 
not fall, for it will be built upon the rock 
of eternal truth. I pray that this vast 
congregation will build upon this imper- 
ishable foundation, upon the principle ex- 
pressed by the words of Joshua. "as for 
me and my house, we will serve God," 
and as also expressed by Job. "Though 
He slay me. yet will I put my tuust in 
Him." If you have that spirit toward 
God and His work in these latter days, 
you will build, steadily and, slowly it 
may be, but surely, upon a foundation 
that will endure throughout the count- 
less ages of eternity. And if yo>u do not 
get any great manifestations, you need 
not worry about it. \Yovl will get the tes- 
timony of Jesus Christ in your hearts 
and you will know God and Jesus whom 
He has sent, whom to know is life eter- 
nal, just as well as those who receive 
visions. For those who do receive vis- 
ions, the devil will try to make them be- 
lieve that they were delusions, and if 
they commit sin, he will be sure to make 
them believe it. God bless you, is my 
prayer. Amen. 



Even With Them. 

An old man's wit is apt to be dry, and 
that of an old soldier is no exception. 

A veteran who was boasting of his 
prowess during the civil war was asked: 
"How many of the enemy did you kill, 
anyway?" 

"How many did I kill? How many did 
I kill?" repeated the veteran, slowly. 
"Well, I don't know exactly how many, 
but I killed as many of them as they did 
of me." — Youth's Companion. 



THE SOUTHERN STAR. 



335 



AMERICA; 

Or, The Land of Joseph. 

BY A. ARROWSMITH. 

(Continued from page 323.) 

God, who is no respector of persons, 
built up and founded these vast dynas- 
ties, sent His Prophets, and His ever- 
lasting Gospel, in the different dispensa- 
tions, and enlightened His children in 
the principles thereof. 

His work was not confined wholly to 
the inhabitants of the eastern hemi- 
shpere, which history we have in the 
Bible; but He had vast interests in the 
west, which we read of in the Book of 
Mormon. The peoples of this hemisphere 
have been blessed with Prophets and 
Apostles and personal visitations of the 
Redeemer and God has vindicated His 
Word, which declares that He is no re- 
specter of persons. 

This land of America is the most fa- 
vored part of the earth. When Jacob 
blessed his children we find that his 
choicest blessings fell upon Joseph and 
his sons, Ephraim and Manasseh. In 
consequence of Reuben's transgression 
the birthright and blessing of the first- 
born fell upon the descendants of Jo- 
seph, Ephraim receiving the greater bles- 
sing. Joseph was to be "a fruitful bough, 
even a fruitful bough by a well, whose 
branches run over the wall," and Jacob 
further said: "The blessings of thy 
father have prevailed above the bles- 
sings of my progenitors unto the ut- 
most bound of the everlasting hills.*' 

We here find that the branches from 
the vine, or the descendants of Joseph, 
should go over the wall, or beyond the 
ocean, to the utmost bound of the ever- 
lasting hills, or the Rocky mountains of 
America. 

We can picture the patriarch Jacob, !n 
the land of Goshen, in Egypt, looking 
beyond the vast ocean towards Zion, 
the great inheritance of his son Joseph. 
With what pride he would contemplate 
the ultimate redemption of Zion by the 
seed of Ephraim. He would also look 
with sorrow upon the wicked actions of 
the Lamanites in their savagery and red 
skins, descending through the tribe of 
Manasseh, the eldest son of Joseph. 

We can also look with Ezekiel, who 
in vision saw Mulek and his seed branch- 
ing out. He refers to the King Zede- 
kiah, as a cedar, whose high branch, 
Mulek, his son, should be cropped off 
from the main tree, and planted upon 
the mountains in the heights of Israel, 
and there he should propogate his seed 
and bear much fruit. See Ezek. 17:22. 

We have much evidence in the Bible 
to support the aforementioned coloniza- 
tion of this continent, also sustaining 
the history of these colonists, as recorded 
in the Book of Mormon. 

When the eastern continent was strug- 
gling from beneath the iron heel of op- 
pression and despotism, God was prepar- 
ing the explorer, Columbus, to open this 
country as a home for the oppressed. 
The Reformation had done its work and 
the lovers of liberty found an asylum 
and an haven of rest in America. 

It hath gone out in an unalterable de- 
cree from heaven, that oppression, des- 
potism and bigotry will not be tolerated 
in this land, and all such oppressive 
measures will surely not thrive in this 
land, which has been consecrated to lib- 
erty. 

Kings and potentates cannot prosper 
on this continent and demagogues and 
trusts which operate oppressively against 
the poor, will hp cleansed from this land 
of freedom. The judgments of the Al- 
mighty will be poured out upon the wick- 
ed and this land will be purified, the 
abiding place of the pure in heart, Zion. 

America is remarkable as being the 
birthplace of one of the greatest of 
Prophets, Joseph Smith who opens the 
great "last dispensation of the fullness 
of times" and establishes the foundation 
of the great kingdom of God, which will 
be set up in the earth. 

America is the Zion spoken of by the 



Prophets, the great gathering place for 
Israel in the last days. See Isaiah 2:2, 
5:26, 11:11, 35:10, 51:3; Jeremiah 3:14, 
31:8, 50:4. The Scriptures are replete 
with references to God's great work in 
the last days. 

I am aware that many commentators 
refer to Zion, strictly, as the little hill 
which stands near the city of Jerusalem. 
A careful perusal of the Holy Word will 
show us that Zion means the pure in 
heart, it is also referred to as a city built 
up by Enoch, also the hill adjoining Je- 
rusalem; but the Zion, spoken of by all 
the Holy Prophets, as the great gather- 
ing place for Israel is the land of Joseph, 
America. This land as I said before, will 
be cleansed and purified and made an 
abiding place for the righteous. Holy 
temples will be constructed on this con- 
secrated land from the Atlantic to the 
Pacific and work for the salvation of 
both living and dead will be extensively 
carried on in Zion during the 1000 years 
of peace and rest, the millennium. 

The center stake of this great land of 
Zion will be located in Jackson county, 
Missouri, and a temple will be built there 
which will be the glory of the Lord. 
Christ will personally visit, and as Mala- 
chi say, "Suddenly come to His temple." 
"But who may abide the day of His com- 
ing? and who shall stand when He ap- 
peareth? for He is like a refiner's fire, 
and like fuller's soap." Mai. 3: 1. 

The law will go forth from Zion, and 
the nations that will not worship God and 
respect the mandates as issued from Zion, 
will be terribly scourged. The Lord will 
be King over all the earth. He will reign 
in Zion and in Jerusalem, these places 
will be His seats of government. 

All European potentates desiring to re- 
tain their power will be obliged to con- 
form to the laws of Christ and they will 
send their representatives over to Zion, 
America, to learn the ways of the Lord. 

War and bloodshed must cease, and a 
period of peace and love enjoyed. Men 
and animals will become tame and vicious 
propensities done away. Animals will 
not be hunted for their flesh as men are to 
live to the age of a tree and live wholly 
on vegetation. In that day a man dying 
100 years old will be considered an in- 
fant, so says the Prophet Isaiah. 

Ezekiel in his forty-seventh chapter re- 
cords some of the features in the millen- 
nium, when God's house is built He 
speaks of a river of magnificence, whose 
sides were lined by beautiful fruit trees, 
which should bring forth new fruit ac- 
cording to his month. This fruit in its 
variety shall be for meat, and the leaves 
thereof, for medicine. 

As wickedness is eliminated and the 
inhabitants of the earth become pure, 
righteousness will abound, immortal res- 
urrected beings will visit and dwell on 
the earth. These immortals will bring 
the records of the Ancients, who have 
accepted the Gospel in Paradise, or the 
spirit-world, and the viceroy's ordinan- 
ces will be performed by proxy for their 
redemption. During this reign of peace, 
the aforementioned temples which will 
cover this land of Zion, will be exten- 
sively operated, and through the vi- 
carious atonement offered by the 
Captain of Salvation, Jesus, every 
knee will be brought to bow and 
every tongue confess. Thus Lucifer, the 
devil, will be defeated and bound; finally 
being expelled from the planet with all 
his adherents. 

The great judgment will sit, the sheep 
and the goats divided, all being judged 
according to their works. Some will 
have one glory, some another and com- 
parative few will be cast out with the 
devil and his angels and retrograde. 

The variety and grades of resplendency 
in the glories, must be countless. Many 
steps must be ascended from the lowest 
position in a telestial glory to the pinna- 
cle of a celestial glory. God is just, and 
every variety of spirit will find its re- 
ward or punishment and obtain that for 
which it labored. 

During all this time, America, or Zion, 
will be the great leader in the variety of 
reforms and will instruct the world in 



the civilizing influence of God's ever- 
lasting Gospel. I before stated the cen- 
ter stake of this diversified intelligence 
will be located on the spot where the 
Garden of Eden, Paradise, was enjoyed 
by our parents, Adam and Eve: Jack- 
son county, Missouri. Do not get star- 
tled, dear reader, by these statements, 
as all the Prophets speak of the earth 
becoming pure and receiving its pristine 
beauty and paradisical priory. It will 
again be united, or marned, and Isaiah 
tells us "every valley shall be exalted, 
and every mountain and hill shall be 
made low; and the crooked shall be made 
straight, and the rough places plain." 
The earth will be redeemed from the 
fall. The deserts will be made to blos- 
som and bloom as the rose. The regions 
of ice and the uninhabitable portions of 
the earth, will be made prolific and hab- 
itable. The seas will go to the north 
and the south, and the tribes of Israel 
receive their inheritance as per the origi- 
nal division foreordained before the fall. 
See Deut. 32:8. The lost tribes will 
return to Zion and lay their treasures 
at the feet of Ephraim and all the chil- 
dren of God will take their place and 
receive their reward upon the planet 
which gave them birth. 

It has been estimated by that great 
thinker and mathematician, Apostle Or- 
son Pratt, that if this world continues 
for 8,000 years, bringing spirits in the 
world at the ratio of the past, that there 
would still be one acre and a half for 
each inhabitant. 

Taking into consideration that thorns, 
thistles, briars and noxious weeds will 
not abide in Paradise and that the tree 
of life will grow abundantly, we have 
no need to fear the lack of food, or 
room to dwell. 

The last grand transformation, when 
this planet will be purified by fire, chang- 
ing its environment and becoming celes- 
tial. 

The New Jerusalem, the Zion of Amer- 
ica, will be took up and connected with 
Enoch's city. The translated Zion, with 
its inhabitants, after the purification of 
the earth, will descend as a bride adorn- 
ed for her husband. No more sighs, no 
more sorrow, no more tears, no more 
trials, no more pain, former things are 
passed away. The habitants of this ce- 
lestial state are pure and holy, having 
washed their robes and made them white 
in the blood of the Lamb. 

I pray that we may be worthy to par- 
take of the tree of life on the banks of 
the pure river of the water of life, clear 
as crystal, proceeding out of the throne 
of God and the Lamb, and that we may 
gain an everlasting inheritance in this 
land of Zion, America. 



CONTENTMENT. 



Oh, birds that sing such thankful psalms, 

Rebuking human fretting, 
Teach us your secret of content, 

Your scl3uct of forgetting, 

For every life must have Its Ills, 
You, too, have hours of sorrow; 

Teach us, like you, to lay them by, 
And sing again tomorrow. 

For gems of darkest jet may He 

Within a golden setting, 
And he is wise who understands 

The science of forgetting. 

Each night Is followed by the day, 
Each storm by fairer weather, 

While all the works of nature sing 
Their psalms of Joy together. 

Then learn, O heart, the song of hope; 

Cease, soul, thy thankless sorrow; 
For, thongh the clouds be dark today, 

The sun will shine tomorrow; 

Learn well from bird, and tree, and rill, 

The sin of dark resentment, 
And know the greatest gift of God 

Is faith and sweet contentment. 

—From Modern Astrology. 



Men who come hungry for righteous- 
ness cannot be satisfied with rhetoric. 



THE SOUTHERN STAB. 



REPORT OF MISSION CONFERENCES FOR WEEK ENDING AUG. 26, 1900. 



ntKBlDlCNT 



iieo. A. Adam*.*.... 

Heber£. Olson. .„,„».,., 

J. G, Bottom 

J. Hpeneer WoraLey.,., 

IV, D, Bencher.. 

A. C. Strong,,,., ...... 

John H, Bunk head..... 
John Reeve „.,, IH huu 

J. M. Hawa. 

C. It. Humphreys. 

G,M, Porter 

W. W. MaoK fl y„. ....... 

F, H. Critt-hfleld 

K. I.. Houtfc... ,... 

Don C, Benson .,.,.,,„„, 

1^ M, Nebeker 

H.Z. Lund. 



otimuorai 



CbAttamwga .. 

Virginia,, .„ 

Kentucky -...., 
Kast Tennessee.., 

Cuorria _ 

North Alabama.. 
Florida...... .... 

Mill. Tt 'iinr^tv .. 
North Carolina.., 
South Carolina .. 
&aiaa I pui .<..„„. 
Eaafc Kentucky... 

Louisiana 

south Alabama.. 
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Sweet Cum, Van ft u ran to 

Richmond, Box 888.. 

Centre „.,.,.,„,, „.,„„*^...„„ 

Charlotte , 

Bowersviiie, J 

Memphis, Box 153.. 

Valdosta , . 

33BX.Su mine ret. Naahvilta 

Goldaboro, Box OS*. 

HI ae ksi burg . ,„ ., „ ,„„ . p . . „„ . 

Ackcrman „,... 

Barbonr»ville rt .♦,.... .« 

Lake Village 

Lapjne „„. ..«„„.„. ,»«*«»., 
10U W.Uray Su, Louiaville 
aaa Bette Sk, Cincinnati ... 
41 Cha-ibira St.. < h^^liitKJ 



Tenneiwe* 
Virginia 
Kentucky 
N. Carolina 
Georgia 

Georgia ' 

Tennessee 

N« Carolina 

eJ, Carolina 

M •a«ii»i ppi 

Kentucky 

Loiiiaiana 

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Kentucky 

Ohio 

Ohio 



An Interesting Letter* 

In i»i irauiug our labors as ambassadors 
of Christ, aotoug the hills of East Ken- 
tucky, we find, aa a ruJe, very kind and 
hoBpi table <'Iji>s of people and have been 
success fill in gaining a host of friends, 
many of whom are sinctJtely investigat- 
ing the message wo bring them. 

Of Inie we have had the pleasure or 
baptizing some few into the fold, which 
has caused Satan to rage, and combine 
his forces against us. 

The Presbrterinns, particularly, have 
been energetic in opposing the message 
wo bear, having gone into neighborhoods 
where we hare had the most success, en- 
deavoring to poison the minds of the 
people against the truth, by distributing 
anti-Mormon literature and delivering 
anti-Mormon speeches. 

On Friday, toe 17th inst,, we baptized 
three into the fold, who reside at Bull 
Creek, Floyd county, Kentucky. Upon 
hearing of this a Rev.(?) of the Presby- 
terian church announced a meeting at 2 
p. m. the following Sunday, at which he 
would expose Mormonism. 

We being informed of the purpose of 
said meeting, made it our business to be 
present. 

At the appointed hour, from far and 
near, people had gathered in to hear, as 
they supposed, the errors of Mormonism 
pointed out. 

The school house being much too small 
to accommodate the crowd, a grove near 
by was resorted to, where two or three 
hundred people seated themselves in si- 
lent expectation. 

For more than two long hours they lis- 
tened to the speaker, who, instead of 
following the admonition of Isaiah 
(Isaiah 8:20) "to the law and the testi- 
mony" to prove wherein we were teach- 
ing false doctrines, other means were re- 
sorted to, and a more disgraceful tirade 
of slander and abuse against a God-fear- 
ing people, was never heard. 

The arguments set forth were of such 
a disgraceful nature that many left in 
disgust, ere the speaker concluded. 

We here give a few, among the many, 
utterly false statements made: 

**In Utah and Idaho," said he, "polyg- 
amy is raging at full height, and in con- 
sequence of this vice, more than one-half 
of the children to be seen on the streets 
are club-footed. 

''President L#orenzo Snow's saloons are 
so numerous and doing such lively busi- 
ness that scores of both Mormon boys 
and girls from 10 years old and upwards 
are to be seen lying around public places 
in an intoxicated and helpless condition. 

"Appeals have been made, time and 
time again, by ministers of the different 
Christian churches, to close his saloons, 
but their efforts were all in vain, and 
drunkenness reigns supreme. 

"Ninety per cent, of the women of Salt 
Lake City are without virtue; in fact, 
the Mormons do not seem to know what 
morality is. 

"To add to this frightful condition, 
Mormon leaders in Zion teach the doc- 
trine of blood atonement, which means, 
that he who is found in transgression 
should have his blood spilled that his soul 



may be saved; this is to lovo our brother 
as yourself, 

"The result of this soul-destroying doc- 
trine having been instilled into the minds 
of their deluded followers, is what might 
be expected. Many innocent persons are 
being murdered in cold blood, their only 
crime thnt of not believing Mormon 
teachings. 

**You might ask the question: How is 
it such crimes go unpunished? I will 
tell yon. As the Mormons hold exclu- 
sive rule and sway in this modern Zion, 
you can readily see how impossible il 
would be to convict the offender with 
a Mormon judge and jury.*' 

In his concluding remarks, he counseled 
those who had been misled, to immedi- 
ately retrace their steps, for, said he, 
"it will be easier to do so now than 
later on." 

Immediately after his dismissing, we 
called the attention of the audience, and 
briefly pointed out, to the satisfaction of 
those present, the falsity of the state- 
ments made, by reference to Mormon 
teachings, and the true condition existing 
in Utah and elsewhere among the Lat- 
ter-day Saints, also extending to one 
and all an invitation to do as Isaiah 
says (Isaiah 1:18): "Come now and let 
us reason together." 

At the close of our remarks, many, in- 
cluding ministers, took us by the hand 
and bade us God-speed in sowing the 
seeds of truth. 

Cheers for the Mormons arose on all 
sides, while he who lifted his puny arm 
in opposition to the work of God was in- 
vited to return to the neighborhood no 
more, "as his so-called sermon was a 
disgrace to the human family." 

Many more friends were added to the 
goodly number we already had. Thus the 
truthfulness of the saying of President 
Brigham Young is emphasized: "Every 
time you kick a Mormon, you kick him 
up-hill." 

Your brethren in the cause of truth, 
Clarence A. Hoagland. 
Daniel R. Wi lson. 

Strange Reptiles. 

A western writer thinks one of the se- 
verest tests ever put upon his risibles 
was endured at a London dinner-table. 

He was seated next a lovely, rosy- 
cheeked, gray-eyed English girl, who 
displayed a most absorbing and flattering 
interest in his native land. She appeared 
to have imbibed some extraordinary 
ideas about the perils to be encountered 
in the newly settled regions of the United 
States, and tried not to look incredulous 
when she was assured that things were 
really not as bad a3 she imagined. 

"I'm sure it's pleasant to be told there 
are not rattlesnakes in all the gardens," 
she said, with a pretty smile, "but my 
cousin wrote not long ago that he had 
seen over forty wigwams in one little vil- 
lage. Perhaps," she added, as her com- 
panion made no immediate reply, "the 
wigwams are not as venemous as rattle- 
snakes, are they?" — Exchange. 



THE DEAD. 

Wb are sorry to report the death of 
Grandfather Poole, which occurred At 
ltuvctiruL Cherokee county, South Caro- 
lina, Aug* 17, 1900. 

The many riders who have found shel- 
ter under his roof will feel keenly the 
worth and loss of this our brother. He 
has assisted in mnny ways to further 
the struggle for righteousness. He has 
been a faithful member of the church for 
fifteen years and dieti ut the good old 
11 ge of 84 years, 



Sister Mary E. Wade, of Kirk's Grove, 
A In Tin mil, paused awav from this stage of 
action on Sept. 3rd, 1000, of heart fail- 
ure. She was born at Kocktnghuin, South 
Cnrolinn, April 1st, 1853, and moved to 
this place with her husbnml in February, 
1898. Sister Wade was not a member 
of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter- 
day Saints, but ever since hearing the 
first sermon preached by the humble Mor- 
mon Elders she has been investigating 
the doctrine as taught by them and was 
very favorably impressed with -it. She 
was kind hearted, loved by all who knew 
her, and proved herself a mother to the 
Elders. She leaves a husband and four 
children to mourn her loss. 



It is with sorrow that we are called 
upon to report the death of one of our 
beloved sisters. 

Sister Elvah Emaline Vinson was born 
Dec. 1, 1870, in Giles county, Tennes- 
see, was baptized May 27. 1898, and died 
Sept. 1. 1900, at Gipsy, Limestone coun- 
ty, Alabama. 

Sister Vinson was known by all as a 
kind and charitable lady. She always 
kept an open door for the Elders and will 
long be remembered by them for her 
kindness and hospitality. 

She bore a strong testimony to the 
Truth and died as she lived, a faithful 
Latter-day Saint. 



Union Pacific Railroad. 

Another Portland train. Two trains 
daily. Effective April 22, the Union Pa- 
cific. Oregon Short Line and Chicago 
Railroad and Navigation company will 
place in service an additional Portland 
train. 

This train, "The Pacific Express," will 
leave Kansas City 10:40 a. m. Only 
three days on the road. 

Equipped with Palace Sleepers. Free 
Reclining Chair Cars, ordinary Sleeping 
Car, Dining Car Service (to Granger). 

The time of the present Portland train, 
"The Overland Limited," leaving Kansas 
City 6:40 p. m., will be reduced 2 hours 
and 45 minutes between Granger and 
Portland. 

Only 69 hours Kansas City to Port- 
land. 

Palace Sleeping Cars. Dining Car Ser- 
vice. Buffet Cars, Chair Cars. 

For time tables, folders, illustrated 
books, pamphlets descriptive of the ter- 
ritor- traversed, address .T. F. Aglar, 
general agent, St. Louis, Mo. 



r "*7 ~ - - 




-fe 



-6UT THOUGH WE 00 AN ANGEL FROM HEAVEN. PREACH ANY 
PTNEG GOSPtL UNTO YOU TH*N THAT WniCM WE 

HAVE PBEACHED UNTO YOU, LET tUM ftE HK\ft$Ub*&tJ#&dK 



"X^JWJT 




Vol. 2, 



Chattanooga, Tbitk., Saturday, September 22, 1900. 



No. 48. 



SAND. 



I observed a locomotive In the railroad 

yards one day, 
It was waiting In the round-house where 

the locomotives stay; 
It was panting for the journey, It was 

coaled and fully manned; 
It had a box the fireman was filling full of 

sand. 

It appears that locomotives cannot always 
get a grip 

On their slender Iron pavement, 'cause the 
wheels are apt to slip; 

And when they reach a slippery spot, their 
tactics they command, 

And to get a grip upon the rail, they sprin- 
kle it with sand. 

It's about this way with travel along life's 
sllpperv track. 

If your load is rather heavy and you're al- 
ways sliding back; 

So, If a common locomotive you completely 
understand, 

You'll provide yourself in starting with a 
good supply of sand. 

If your track is steep and hilly and you 

have a heavy grade. 
And if those who've gone before you have 

the rails quite slippery made: 
If you ever reach the summit of the upper 

tableland, 
You'll find you'll have to do It with a liberal 

use of sand. 

If you strike some frigid weather and dis- 
cover, to your cost. 

That you're liable to slip on a heavy coat 
of frost, 

Then, some prompt, decided action will be 
called Into demand, 

And you'll slip way to the bottom if you 
haven't any sand. 

You can get to any station that is on life's 
schedule seen. 

If there's fire beneath the boiler of ambi- 
tion's strong machine; 

And you'll reach a place called Flushtown 
at a rate of speed that's grand, 

If over all the slippery places you've a good 
supply of sand. 

—Exchange. 



ELDER JOHN S. SEARS. 



Perhaps no Elder has left a better, or 
a more lasting impression upon the minds 
of the people among whom he has la- 
bored than has Elder John S. Sears, 
whose picture is herewith presented. 
There is scarcely a phase of missionary 
life common to an Elder in the Southern 
States, but what he has had some expe- 
rience in, from that of canvassing Elder 
among the hills of Eastern Tennessee 
and Western North Carolina to the posi- 



tion of editor of one of the brightest Stars 
which ever shed a literary gleam of re- 
ligious light, he has wended his way 
since being numbered with God's noble 
servants in the South. 

It is a little over two years since Elder 
Sears reported for duty at Chattanooga, 
and was assigned to labor in the East 
Tennessee Conference.. During that time 
he has labored diligently and vigorously 
for the spread of truth, that he might 
assist the Father in the establishment of 
His righteous purposes on the earth. The 




early days of his missions were spent as 
canvassing Elder, after which he la- 
bored as a training Elder, and when El- 
der F. B. Hammond was appointed to 
succeed President W. E. Dawson, Eider 
Sears was chosen as a counsellor and aid 
in the responsibility of presiding. Pres- 
ident Petersen also recognized his ster- 
ling Qualities, and chose him as first 
counsellor, which position he held until 
called to labor in the Office in the month 
of January last 



When Elder L. R. Anderson was re- 
leased in the latter part of March, the 
work of editing the Star devolved upon 
Elder Sears, and, as in all other labors, 
he proved himself adequate and equal to 
the task. He filled the office with signal 
ability, energy and integrity, being 
prompt, punctual and zealous in the good 
work. He succeeded in keeping up the 
good standard which the paper had 
reached under his most worthy, indus- 
trious predecessors. 

When the telegram from Elder Meach- 
am was received on Thursday, Sept. 13th, 
bringing the sad news of Elder J. D. 
Frankland's sudden demise, it became ab- 
solutely necessary for some good, relia- 
ble man to go down to Montgomery, 
Ala., for the purpose of accompanying 
the body of the corpse home. Elder 
Sears was asked to perform this labor 
of love; he cheerfully responded, leaving 
the work he was engaged in, and in 
about three hours from the time he was 
notified he was on his way to the State 
Capital of Alabama. 

Elder Sears is of a rather reserved and 
quiet disposition, being calm and delib- 
erate in all his undertakings, and faith- 
ful and true until the work in hand is 
finished. Nothing rash or rabid in his 
nature, but a careful, painstaking spirit 
signalizes all his work. A favorite mot- 
to practiced by him is, "What's worth 
doing at all is worth doing well," and by 
ever keeping this in mind, he works well, 
acts well, lives well, and does well. As a 
preacher of righteousness, he is very 
spiritual, forceful, plain, and explicit, be- 
ing humble, submissive and lowly. He 
has made hosts of friends wherever he 
has gone, friends who love him for his 
goodness and childlike simplicity. Like 
most Elders who journey in the South, 
he has met with mobs who expelled him 
from their midst, being willing to enter- 
tain the devil, rather than the Mormon 
Elder. 

Brother Sears is a cartoonist of no 
mean repute, having studied art in New 
York, prior to his ministerial career. We 
shall all miss him, but we rejoice to 
know that we have met him and have 
been privileged to enjoy his society. We 
wish him success, joy and peace, and pray 
the blessings of heaven upon him. 

Elder Sears sends a fond "good-bye" 
to all his friends, together with a hearty 
"God bless you ever." 



338 



THE SOUTHERN STAB. 



DEATH OF ELDER J. D. FRANKLAND. 



Friday, r Aug. 31st, Elders J. D. Prank- 
land and A. L. Mecham arrived at the 
home of Samuel MeQuegge, who lives 
about four miles east of Ansley, Pike 
county, Ala. It was their intention to 
meet Elder O. Jacohson, counselor to 
President Houtz, and held some meet- 
ings in that neighborhood. Monday 
morning, Sept. 3d, Elder Mecham mailed 
their weekly report, and at that time 
Brother Frankland seemed to be enjoy- 
ing his usual health. The same evening 
he complained of having a bad headache^ 
and qt times he suffered greatly, until 
administered to by his companion, when 
the pain left, but was followed by a 
burning fever. It was not thought by 
Elder Mecham that Brother Frankland 
was serious, as he did not complain. Nev- 
ertheless every care was shown -him, and 
all present thought he would be up and 
around in a few days. Tuesday, the 11th 
inst., Elder Frankland, not being able 
to write, desired his companion to pen a 
letter to his kind and loving wife, who 
resides at Salt Lake City. The missive 
was but brief, yet it carried an humble 
spirit and closed by saying he was sick, 
but expected to be at work again in a 
few days, and intended to visit the Saints 
at La Pine. Wednesday night at 8:40, 




without a struggle, the spirit of our true 
and faithful brother took its flight. He 
died as he had lived, one of God's noble- 
men, and a ci'own of righteousness shall 
be his reward. Too much praise cannot 
be given the kind family where Brother 
Frankland died, and may God bless them.' 

Elder Frankland was born. Jan. 4th, 
1874, and had just passed his 26th year 
when he entered the mission field in 
April lust. He was of a studious nature, 
bright, quick witted, and blessed with 
no small amount of intellectuality. He 
had been dead some twelve hours 
before word was received at Chattanooga 
of his demise. It was a sudden shock 
to all, for there had not been the least 
'intimation given of his illness. 

Elders John S. Sears and L. E. Jordan, 
" together with an undertaker, left on the 
first train for Montgomery, Ala., after 
receiving the sad news of his sudden 
death. At this place he was embalmed 
and placed in a metallic casket, upon 
which was inscribed this befitting in- 
scription: "To the cause he loved his 
life was given." 

As heretofore noted, Elder Frankland 
was a married man, and leaves a sorrow- 
ing wife to mourn his loss. She will not 
mourn as those who have no hope, for 



the sweet spis-ft whispers peace to the 
troubled soul, ''a<6V gives her an assur-r 
ance of a glorious resurrection of the 
just, when her faithful husband shall rise' 
triumphant, and victorious. 

Elders J acobsen and, Meacham were 
aealons iu~Adminis,teririg to the wants- of 
our departed, brother, and much credit is 
.due them for the 'able manner in which 
they* conducted affairs generally. The 
railroad officials wore very courteous and 
accommodating to the" Elders all along 
the line, and ?h^ friendliness of the un- 
dertaker in Montgomery deserves a word 
of praise and appreciation. All earthly 
power available was rendered our broth- 
er, but the Lord .called him hence, and 
our loss is his gain. The whole Mission 
and all who knew Elder Frankland will 
miss him, and let us unite in heart and 
soul and exercise: our faith and sympathy 
in : behalf of the bereaved wife. 



A Letter of Condolence. 

Chattanooga, Tenn., Sept. 18, 1900. 
Mrs. J. D. Frankland, Salt Lake City, 

Utah: 

My Dear Sister — You will pardon the 
intrusion of a seemingly unknown friend; 
yet one who loves you dearly, and 
who would; were it in my feeble power to 
do so, console you in the hour of your loss 
and sad bereavement. Before this brief 
note arrives you have undoubtedly been 
apprised of the demise of your loving hus- 
band, who was snatched from our midst 
so suddenly and taken to a far brighter 
world than this. 

One cannot die in a better cause, or 
pass away serving a better Master than 
the Lord God, whom your husband listed 
to obey. ■ No. It can be truly said of him 
that, he gave, his life willingly for his 
friends, and_ for the Gospel of Jesus 
Christ. His reward is certain; his crown 
of righteousness secured. No one can 
rob him of that prize he strove so faith- 
fully to gain; even the precious boon of 
eternal life; and you, dear sister, in the 
realms of glory, will share with him the 
joys that await the faithful and true. 

He looked unto the Lord and trusted in 
his God— the Holy One of Israel. Those 
who knew him in the Mission field speak 
of him in the highest commendable 
terms, as one who had no other desire 
than that of serving the Lord. His com- 
panions loved him, and during his brief 
sojourn in the Southern States he was 
successful in making many friends and 
in allaying much of the wicked prejudice 
that rankled in the hearts of his enemies. 
His energy paved his way, and by humil- 
ity and lowliness he won a place in the 
hearts of the people, gaining their love, 
respect and esteem. 

As you look around ywi on every hand, 
you cannot fail to realize the brevity and 
uncertainty of life. The moment we be- 
gin to live, that moment are we subject 
unto the pangs of death. It has been de- 
creed by God that all must pass through 
this mysterious change, and narrow cav- 
ern, we call Death; but in or journey 
from the cradle to the grave, we can 
have hope, and feel assured with the 
Psalmist David that God is with us to 
shield, guide, comfort and protect us. 
Here is what the Psalmist says: "Yea, 
though I walk through the valley of the 
shadow of death, I will fear no evil; for 
Thou art with me; Thy rod and Thy 
staff they comfort me." This blessed 
divine assurance comes from God through 
the medium of His Holy Spirit, which is 
indeed a Comforter. * . 

Can we not rationally believe that "Our 
Father" has a work of a glorious and 
exalted nature for your husband to per- 
form beyond the grave? We must keep 
in mind this revealed knowledge, that 



the preaching of this Gospel is not lim- 
ited, to this narrow little sphere upon 
which we dwell, but that it reaches into 
the eternities, and saves all that can be 
saved, whether in the flesh or in the 
spirit; therefore is it not in strict keep- 
ing with consistency and reason for us 
to believe that the Lord called him hence 
to minister His word in the spiritual re- 
gions of Paradise? Meditate upon these 
things, and think of the goodness of God, 
who doeth all things well; and the com- 
forting influence of God's Holy Spirit 
will anoint you with the oil of gladness, 
and open the eyes of your understanding 
that you may behold the wisdom and 
mercy of God in all things. 

Let your hope, and faith, and trust be 
in God. He alone is mighty to save; 
your Friend and your Deliverer. Like a 
wise physician, He has a balm for every 
wound; a cordial for every care; and a 
mighty remedy to soothe and allay all 
trials and tribulations. Look unto Him, 
dear sister, for He has promised to be 
a strength to the needy, a rock in their 
defense, a shadow from the heat of fiery 
afflictions. Remember how the Savior 
said, "Let the weary ones come unto 
Me." "Come unto Me, all ye that labor 
and are heavy laden, and I will give you 
rest, yea, 'rest unto your souls." 

May God help you to obtain the rest 
promised, and may you receive from Him 
comfort in the hour of your affliction, is 
the prayer and heart's desire of your 
loving sister, NINA F. RICH. 



THE DEAD. 

Brother Allen Kidd passed away from 
this mortal probation on the afternoon 
of Sept. 10th, 1900, after an illness of 
twenty months, at his home in Morgan 
county, Ala. The cause of his death was 
cdtisumption. He -leaves a wife and six 
children to face the cold world alone, 
and meet whatever fate the future has 
in store for them. Brother Kidd was 
baptized by Elder L. R. Farley and con- 
firmed by Elder J. W. Imlay, Aug. 5th, 
1900. The thought of death seemed to 
cause him no fear. He passed away with 
an abiding confidence that he would in- 
herit eternal life. 



Rhodie I. Imman departed this life 
Aug. 5th, 1900, leaving a husband and 
nine children to mourn her loss. Sister 
Imman had been a faithful member of the 
Church for about eighteen years, and 
she was beloved and respected by all who 
knew her. May the peace and blessings 
of heaven attend the bereaved. 



She Deserved Them. 

A poet once wrote of his gentle wife: 

"She doeth little kindnesses 

Which most leave undone or despise." 

The same is illustrated in this story: 
A gentleman was once walking behind a 
well-dressed girl, and thought to himself, 
"I wonder if she takes half as much 
pains with her heart as she does with her 
clothes?" A poor old man was coming 
up the road with a loaded barrow, and 
just before he reached the girl he made 
two attempts to go into the yard of a 
small house; but the gate was heavy and 
would swing back before he could get 
through. "Wait," said the girl, springing 
lightly forward, "I will hold the gate 
open." She did so, and received his 
thanks with a pleasant smile. "She de- 
serves to have beautiful clothes," thought 
the gentleman, "for she 'has a beautiful 
spirit." 



THE SOUTHERN STAB. 



SOWING AND REAPING. 

BY ELDER J. S. STERLING. 
The Apostle Paul, in writing to the 
Corinthian Saints, said: "He which sow- 
eth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; 
and he which soweth bountifully shall 
reap also bountifully;" (H ix:6.) This 
we know to be true, because we have 
seen it verified time and time again, with 
our own eyes. We behold a man who 
earns his bread by the sweat of his face, 
in the field, sowing the seeds; if he sows 
sparingly he will reap sparingly, if he 
sows bountifully he will reap bountifully. 
We see a person who expects to sow 
his seed, in the ground, going forth get- 
ting his ground in shape, and carefully 
preparing it so it will yield a harvest, 
and he expects, if he gets his ground 
properly tilled and planted, and is ever 
watchful over his coming harvest, to reap 
bountifully. Another thing we watch him 
doing, is carefuly selecting his seed, be- 
cause if he sows oats, he expects to reap 
oats, if he sows corn he expects to reap 
corn, etc. He fully realizes the truth- 
fulness of Paul's letter to the Saints of 
Galatia, wherein he plainly says, "Be not 
deceived, God is not mocked, for what- 
soever a man soweth that shall he also 
reap." (Gal. vi:7.) He is sowing the very 
same kind of seed that he expects to reap. 
Do we fully sense the quotation given 
above, together with the one following it, 
for we are told "He that soweth to the 
flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption, 
but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of 
the Spirit reap life everlasting." We are 
given to understand that if we sow to 
our flesh, we shall of our flesh reap cor- 
ruption, but if we sow to the Spirit we 
shall of the Spirit inherit or reap life 
everlasting. 

We fully realize with Job, "They that 
plow iniquity and sow wickedness reap 
the same," and we should ever be care- 
ful to sow good seeds, and be every mind- 
ful that our salvation depends on the 
seeds sown by us, while here in this mor- 
tal state. One may ask, "Does the Book 
tell us what the- seeds of righteousness 
are?" We say yes, also of unrighteous- 
ness. 

We find recorded in the Epistle to the 
Saints at Galatia, v. 19 to 21, "Now the 
works of the flesh are manifest, which 
are these: Adultery, fornication, un- 
cleanliness, laciviousness, idolatry, witch- 
craft, hatred, variance, emulations, 
wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, envy- 
ings, murders, drunkenness, revelings, 
and such like of the which I tell you be- 
fore, as I have also told you in times 
past, that they which do such things 
shall not inherit the Kingdom of God." 

Now for the works of the Spirit. We 
find in the 22d and 23d verses of the 
same chapter, "But the fruit of the Spirit 
is love, peace, long suffering, gentleness, 
goodness, faith, meekness, temperance." 
We have now seen what the fruits of the 
Spirit and the works of the flesh are, 
and we can ask ourselves the question, 
which are the seeds the people of the 
world today are sowing most, and devot 
ing most of their time to? 

We find that many are indulging in, 
and daily and nightly sowing seeds to 
their flesh, which will be sure to bring 
condemnation to their own selves. 

It seems as though they who are de- 
voting their time to the workings of 
Satan, are perhaps serving their master 
better than we, for they serve him Sun- 
day and every other day. While we find 
many who only serve God on Sunday, 
and spend the coming six days in pleas- 
ure, or laboring wholly for the big dol- 
lar. 



We are told, "Lay up for yourselves 
treasures in heaven, where neither moth 
nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves 
do not break through nor steal." "For 
where your treasure is, there will your 
heart be also." 

Let us pause a few moments. Do we 
find as many today devoting their time 
and talents, as much to the serving the 
Savior of the world, as they do to serving 
Mammon? No! we do not, for we would 
have a far different condition in the 
world than exists today, if we were only 
trying, to overcome the works of the 
flesh, by the fruits of the Spirit, using 
more of the spirit of love, gentleness, 
goodness, and temperance to bring the 
world to a higher plane, so we, the in- 
habitants, could rejoice more in the "Holy 
One of Israel." 

We have all been placed on this earth 
for a purpose, and that is "to work out 
our own salvation with fear and with 
trembling." 

Do we find mankind worried so much 
about their future salvation as they are 
about making money? No! they are 
not. We find people troubling their 
minds because they cannot perhaps meet 
an engagement, to make a little money, 
but they are not troubled so much about 
meeting their "Maker;" they don't worry 
nor strive near as hard, as a general 
thing, to keep the commandments of God, 
as they do to enjoy themselves. Do we 
find people taking as much pains to 
serve their Maker on the Sabbath day, 
as they do to get ready to go on a pleas- 
ure trip? No! "We need some pleasure 
on Sunday, we need to rest our bodies; 
we'll go on a pleasure trip next Sunday." 
But it is seldom we hear them say. 
"Well, Sunday will soon be here, we'll 
have to make preparations to go to 
church." 

We think it is terrible to walk a mile 
on Sunday to go to church, but we could 
take interest in walking three miles to 
see some old friend. Which way is our 
mind being trained? Are we among 
those who "push the ox in the mire on 
Saturday to pull him out on Sunday?" 
"Six days shalt thou labor and do all thy 
work." and while we are at work we can 
be serving God, and be striving to obey 
His commandments. We were told not 
to live by bread alone, but by every 
word that proceedeth out of the mouth 
of God." And let us be ever mindful of 
this, and try to feed our spiritual body, 
and labor as hard to maintain it as we 
do our earthly tabernacle. 

There is a day coming when we will 
have to rive an account of the deeds 
done in the body, and then when we see 
that we have spent so much time sowing 
to the flesh, and so little in sowing to the 
Spirit, we may regret it. 

We may not realize the magnitude of 
the words of Paul now, with regards to 
sowing our seeds to our spirit, that we 
jnay reap life everlasting, but there is a 
time coming when we will, and then it 
will do us no good "to weep, and wail, 
and gnash our teeth." 

There is a tim« to serve God, and that 
is on a week day, as well as on Sunday. 

If we would wait till the horse wag 
stolen, before we locked the barn door, 
some people would be liable to call us un- 
wise, but what will we have to say to 
our dear selves if we do not devote more 
time to sowing seeds pertaining to eter- 
nal life? 

"Be it good and let us do it, giving soul 
and our strength to the deed." 

If we wish to enter life we must keep 
the commandments. 

"A £ood man's fortune may by chance de- 
cay, 
But wb soul's riches none can take away." 



339 



We should be striving at all times to 
plant our seeds in 'good ground, that it 
may come forth and yield an hundred 
fold, and not be content with receiving 
thirty or sixty, but labor while the day 
is here, and we have the chance. 

Let us have our seeds sown on well 
prepared ground, not on the stony ground, 
nor among the thorns, such as the cares 
of this world, the deceftfumess of richesV 
and the lust of other things, or allow' 
afilietion or persecution to choke our good 
seeds, but to endure to the end that we 
may be saved. 
And as the poet has said: 

^ws the seed time. God alone 
Behold the seeds of that is sown; 
Beyond our vision weak and dim. 
The harvest time Is hid with Him." 

The time is coming and we know not 
how soon it will be. when we will have 
to rest in our grave, and wait till the 
harvest time. 

The words of the poet are indeed. true, 
which says: 

We are sowing, dally sowing! 
Countless seeds of good or Til, 
Scattered on the level lowland, 
Cast upon the windy hill; 
Seeds that sink In rich brown furrows, 
Soft with heaven's gracious rain; 
Seeds that rest upon the surface 
Of the dry unyielding plain. 

So let us ever sow seeds to our spirit 
that we may enter into life, and feel to 
say, when that time comes, as Paul said, 
"I have finished my course, I have kept *• 
the faith; hence there is laid up for me 
a crown of righteousness." 

Abstracts from Correspondence. 

The spirit of mobocracy and intoler- 
ance is not dead, as will be seen from 
the following letter written by Elders 
A. O. Smoot and W. G. Atkins: * 

Connelly's Springs. N. C, Sept, 12. 
President Ben B. Rich, Chattanooga, 

Tenn.: 

# Dear Bro.— We take this opportunity to 
inform you that we have just been run 
out of Statesville, N. C, by a Chris- 
tian (?) mob of about twenty men. They 
were all business men of the place, and 
were led by a Christian (?) minister. 
They met us on the street while we were 
canvassing the business part of town, 
and showed us the road to the depot, 
giving us notice that our time was short. 
We made for our boarding house and had 
not time to get things packed up untjl 
they sent a man to inform us that our 
time was about up. We got ready, as 
soon as possible, and then made our way 
to the station. The mob followed us and 
gave us to understand that it was their 
turn to preach, and not ours. When we 
would open our mouths to say anything 
we were told to keep still. They said we 
had better not show up in Statesville any 
more, or we would see what love they had 
for the Mormon Elders. They told us 
to inform our brethren to keep out if 
they did not want trouble. 

The Mayor of the city was quite friend- 
ly, and was willing that we should can- 
vass the place, when we called on him 
yesterday: but one of the policemen stood 
by and beheld the mob march us down 
the street, saying never a word to re- 
store peace and order, or to disperse the 
rabble. 

We asked them for the rights of 
American citizens, but they gave us a 
sharp reply that there would be a cheap 
funeral in town if we did not keep still, 
and get out, and stay out. 

W. G. Atkins. 

A. O. Smoot. 



Books are preserved souls if sweet and 
wholesome, but pickled souls if acrid and 
pessimistic— Rev. Newell Dwight Hillis. 



840 



THE SOUTHERN STAB. 




Mlfrtttf Wttkly »y Itst-tra States ElsslwhtCksrofc 
•f Jtsss Christ tfUtttr Dty Sslsta, 

CtsttlStSft, Tsf*. 



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(la Mvsms) 



Ptrytar . . $1.00 

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Entered at the *o*OMce at Chattanooga, Tarn., at 
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Idem matter. 



Correspondence from all parts of the missionary 
field is solicited. Give name and address, or articles 
will be rejected. Write on one side of paper only 
when sent lor publication. We reserve the right to 
either eliminate or reject any communication sent in. 
Address Box to* 

Saturday, September 22, 1900. 



ARTICLES OF FAITH 

OP TUB CHURCH OP JESUS CHRI5T OP 
LATTER-DAY SAINTS. 

1. W> UUrra f d God Lb* Et*rotl FilW, md Id Q u So* 
Jwh Cbrjtt, a ad h lho Holy Ghoat. 

L W# btlitr* ibil m» will b* paaithod far ihair on 
lilt, *od n«I for Adam a IrBOMroufoo. 

I W* bill*?* Li lit, Lhroocfa I** ito*«(n*Dt of Chriat, alt 
aidkipd vty fr* livll, t»j tbedienca to th* l*w* ud a nil- 

•peew «f tb* 0&*p*t, 

i. Wo baliota l hut tho in( priacipl** and ordkntncoa or 
IK* Qotpol tr* : Pint, faith io th« Lord Jciui i/hrirt ; aoooad, 
Jt*y»lMo*i third, Bjpiiin hi immtrtion for th* remiuiua 
of tlio S (Writ. Ujiof Oft pf Honda for Ue Oift of f b» Hol*" 



. W# faoliofo that k mtn moit bo citl*d rf God, bj 
*■ prophocj, and by th* liyin[ on of hoadt," by tbooa who iro 
lb MtW^to preach, ib* ewp*J *od adoiLolittr is thoordi- 

5. Wo b*li»Tt in thar ■ am* oafa Dilation thtt flllvtod la 
tb* prisiti** church— aomely, ApoatJaa, fropbti*, futon* 
Ttiehora, K*aB(t>i*u, «(«. 

t. W* b*lio«t la lb* [irt of tonru«, prophet, nTtlttio*, 
viiioDiJ dmUdc, taiarpnULion of too^u**, at*. 

6. W* botio'O Lho Bible to be Loo ran] of 0«4, ■■ fit u fl 
It treiultlf d flOf r*ctl> ; F« tlta hollar* lho Book, at Monnoo 
10 bo lho word of God. 

S. W* boUtt* at] Lh*t God hat rtTtBlod, tit ihaE H* do** 
*•* r*fo*J, tod wo h*Ji*ia ibll H* will t*t ft teal tnauj pei| 
tod Isporbml to lop p#r I lining to th* kingdom of God7 

10. W* bolroro Id to* Ul**a| |tth*ring of lartti tad ia tho 
f»tan(l«a of tho Tib Trlbm; Lb it Zioo rill b« hulll o&oa 
(bit flha Am#ri«n) »htJt>«at : thfct Chriil will reif o porooo^ 
Sit* °P»o tbt oirth. tnd thai tho cirth »kU b* r*nt»*d Ood 
NWH It* oofmd Ititsl (lory. 

11. W B tlolm lho prirllfln of »*r<hipiog Almirhty God 
*C*0rdjo| to lb* dicta lot Of oaf cootc'tnet^ and oJ|*t tl) 
B9tn lb* utno prirjlff ». Itl th*m wOrthlp how. whors, or what 
thor TH*T 

IS- Wi botlov* i q h*l nf ID bj*c t lotiup, p r«i do nta, rutart , 
Ood aiajrUtntoB ; in obof let, hoDorlo( iq4 tuitkibiog. th* liw. 

l&SWo balitt* in b«ll>t bODHMroa, chotte, btflOToloat, 
*f rtaoat, tad I* dc<Df food lo ill mtn ; ind*rd 1 w? tntf tar 
thlt wo follow th* addiOslUoO Of Paul, "Wi b*)nT* all thitxft, 
%f% hop* a|] thin(i n ' h wt haT* fcidurE>d minr thion, tad bopo 
It b* ablo to OBtJufa a|] ihlftji. If Lbaro la aajthtof flrtota^ 
*-'»lF, or ofjfOOd rtporl or brtiMworlbr. ■• ***fc *fl*f Lh*** 



b 



IF WE ONLY KNEW. 

There are gems of woudrous brightness 

Ofttime lying at our feet, 
And we pass them walking thoughtless 

Down the busy, crowded street. 
If we knew; our pace would slacken, 

We would step more oft with care, 
Lest our careless feet be treading 

To the earth some jewel rare. 

If we knew what hearts are aching 

For the comfort we might bring. 
If we knew what souls are yearning 

For the sunshine we might fling; 
If we knew what feet are weary 

Walking pathways roughly laid, 
We would Quickly hasten forward 

Stretching forth our hands to aid. 

If we knew what friend around us 

Feels a want they never tell, 
That some word that we have spoken 

Pained or wounded where It fell, 
We would speak in accents tender 

To each friend we chanced to meet; 
We would give to each one freely 

Smiles of sympathy so sweet. — Sel. 



After a man's jaw begins to swell, Jje 
realizes that silence is golden. 



TWO SIDES TO THE BLATTER. 



You will always find that there are two 
sides to every question, one in" favor of, 
and one against. Some of our good Chris- 
tian friends do not seem willing or at all 
inclined to grant us an opportunity of 
speaking in our defense— they delight in 
fighting Mormonism to the exclusion of 
the Mormon Elder, and are perfectly sat- 
isfied to feed the gullible on "billings- 
gate" entirely, providing they can mus- 
zle the Elder while the performance is go- 
ing on. What we want is clear, calm, 
logical, Scriptural argument, from begin- 
ning to end. Don't forget that there are 
two sides to the matter, and that it is 
nothing but just and proper that you 
should hear them both before passing 
judgment. Would you say it was a just 
law that would condemn the prisoner at 
the bar upon the testimony of the prose- 
cution alone? No, you would not. Then 
can it be a fair trial that would accuse 
and pass sentence upon the Mormon 
without an opportunity being given them 
to appear in their own defense? Let us 
be just and equitable to all, allowing all 
the same privileges we would crave our- 
selves. 



FAITH. 



A contemporary makes the following 
assertion: "Faith is the immediate con- 
dition of sanctification, and God always 
saves the moment true faith is exer- 
cised." Iiet us sue if this is in accordance 
with the "law and testimony" of the 
Prophets. Paul tells the Hebrew Saints 
to "Go on unto perfection," and not lay 
again the "foundation of repentance from 
dead works, and of faith toward God." 
(Heb. 6:1.) Why the need of exhorting 
to "go on unto perfection," when they 
had already exercised "faith toward 
God," if "faith is the immediate condi- 
tion of sanctification?" This would be 
altogether unnecessary, and to no pur- 
pose whatever. Again the same Apostle 
says: "Let us draw near with a true 
heart in full assurance of faith," show- 
ing, by this, that the full assurance of 
faith "is the prompter or stimulus to ac- 
tion, causing one to draw near unto 
God." Peter says: "Add to your faith 
virtue," and the other godly attributes 
which go to make up the life of a true 
and worthy Christian. Why" any addi- 
tion if faith alone "is the immediate con- 
dition of sanctification?" 



WHATEVER IS— IS BEST. 

Could we but always feel in life, when 
surrounded with trials and afflictions, 
that, "whatever is— is best," we should 
experience a calm, sweet repose even in 
the midst of disaster and woe. We owe 
much to the inspired writers of poetry 
for the deep spirit of philosophical resig- 
nation inculcated in their poems. The 
poets whose verses find a repetition on 
almost every tongue, whose writings have 
become as household words, have been 
men and women upon whom Tested a 
goodly portion of divine inspiration, and 
whom the Lord blessed with intelligence, 
wisdom, and understanding, that they 
might be the means of teaching to some 
oxtent at least, the higher way of living. 
To such we owe a great debt of gratitude 
for their soul-inspiring, elevating words. 

Ella Wheeler Wilcox, in her beautiful 
poem, "Whatever Is— Is Best," draws 
from the depths of sentimentalism the 
rich suggestions of brotherly love, and 
holy patience. Her poems breath an air 
of pure affection, an atmosphere of love 
unfeigned, bubbling with optimism, as 



the pure stream the sparkling water, 
and call forth those rare and best sensi- 
bilities of mortal man. As human beings 
we seem to be always suspicious of oth- 
ers, fearful of the worst, instead of hope- 
ful for the best. The hardest and most 
difficult obstacles can be surmounted by 
that indomitable energy, called Perse- 
verance. More force, more power, more 
sand, and then we can climb life's 
rugged incline. If we chance to take a 
fall, let us not remain down, but let us 
get up, and try it again. "The fault is 
not in never falling, but in rising every 
time you fall." Having a bright hope 
for the best, and the glad assurance that 
the results will be our victory, we can 
plod onward and upward to the goal we 
would gain. 

We often mistake and misjudge the mo- 
tives of our fellow-brothers, whom we 
suppose are maliciously endeavoring to 
do us wrong. Let us not journey in a 
pathway of selfish friendship, but be 
liberal, kind, loving and forgiving. As 
Mrs. Wilqox says: 

"I know that each sinful action, 
As sure as the night l,rlngs shade, 
Is somewhere, some time puntahod, 
Tho' the hour be long delayed. 
I know that the sou! Is aided 
Sometimes by the heart's unrest, 
And to grow means often to suffer- 
But whatever Is— is best." 

There can be no doubt that each wrong 
action— each evil thought— brings to the 
soul of man the corroding consequence of 
sin. Nor is it less true that sorrow often- 
times expands this life into higher aims 
and more nobler purposes. With the 
growth of the soul there comes also a 
consciousness that God is good, and all 
His ways are righteous and holy. He 
leaves us not in darkness to linger and 
grope, but He grants unto all the light 
of His Holy Spirit, to lead and guide us 
aright. His plan is perfect, eternal, un- 
changeable. This realization led the 
poetess to express herself thus: 

"I know there are no errors 

In the great eternal plan. 

And all things work together 

For the final good of man. 

And I know when my soul speeds onwara 

In its grand eternal quest, 

I shall say, as I look back earthward, 

Whatever Is— is best." 

Hope for the best, and rise above the 
clouds of sorrow on the wings of humble 
prayer until you can watch the sunshine 
play upon the silver lining. This requires 
effort and manly resignation, but such Is 
the duty of all the sons and daughters of 
God. "Whatever is— is best." 



A Word to Boys. 

You are made to be kind, boys— gener- 
ous, magnanimous. If there is a boy in 
school who has a club-foot, don't let him 
know you ever saw it. If there is a poor 
boy with ragged clothes, don't talk about 
rags in his hearing. If there is a lame 
boy, assign him some part in the game 
that doesn't require running. If there is 
a hungry one, give him part of your din- 
ner. If there is a dull one, help him to 
get his lesson. If there is a bright boy, 
be not envious of him, for if one boy is 
proud of his talents and another is envi- 
ous of them, there are two great wrongs 
and no more talent than before. If a 
larger or stronger boy has injured you, 
and is sorry for it, forgive him. All the 
school will show by their countenances 
how much better it is than to have a 
great fuss.— Horace Mann. 

May I tell you why it seems to me 
a good thing for us to remember wrong 
that has been done us? That we may 
forgive it.— Dickens. 



THE SOUTHERN STAB. 



341 



SALVATION FOR THE LIVING AND THE DEAD. 



Liberality of the ••Mormon" Faith— A Discourse by Charles W. Penrose, Delivered to- 
the Tabernacle, Salt Lake City, Sunday Afternoon, August 19. 1900. 



(This sermon is published in tract form, 
and can be purchased from the Deseret 
News Publishing Co., Salt Lake City, 
Utah.) 

I am thankful for the opportunity of 
meeting with the Latter-day Saints in 
this Tabernacle, and I trust that our 
assembling together will not be, in vain, 
but be profitable to all of us. I have 
been called upon to address the congre- 

§ation. I desire to do so under the in- 
uence of that Spirit which guides into 
all truth, and which makes plain the' 
things of God to the minds of men. I 
trust that this Spirit will not only rest 
upon me, to enlighten my mind and to 
give me words which will be of benefit 
to those who hear, but that it may also 
rest upon the congregation, that we may 
be able to see "eye to eye." 
Characteristics of True Religion. 
One mark of true religion is a regard 
for the welfare of other people. True re- 
ligion does not make people selfish. It 
creates in their hearts a feeling of chari- 
ty and a desire to bless; not to injure 
in any way, not to wish the downfall 
or hurt of a fellow creature, but rather 
to desire his uplifting, and benefit, and 
comfort, and joy. Our Heavenly Father 
created the earth upon which we live for 
the comfort and happiness of His creat- 
ures. The plan of salvation, which was 
prepared before the foundations of the 
world, was designed for the improvement, 
the benefit, and the ultimate salvation of 
all His sons and daughters. When we 
have a desire in our hearts to bless and 
benefit mankind, we have the right side. 
When we feel a spirit of revenge, of re- 
taliation, and a desire to do harm, that 
is not of God, but is from beneath. Our 
Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, we are 
told, "came into the world, not to con- 
demn the world, but that the world 
through Him might be saved." That 
was the purpose of the coming of our 
Savior Jesus Christ in the flesh, and of 
the atonement that He wrought out for 
mankind by His death on the cross. The 
spirit of Christ is the spirit of salvation, 
the spirit of blessing, the spirit to do 
good, to improve the condition of the 
human race, and to prepare us all for 
the presence of our Eternal Father and 
to enjoy the glory of His Kingdom. 
Universal Salvation. 

One of the great differences between 
the faith of the Latter-Day Saints and 
that of most of the denominations called 
"Christian" is that the Latter-Day Saints 
teach that salvation is for all people, of 
all ages, of all races, of all colors, who 
can be saved. The doctrine that the 
Lord has revealed through His servant 
the Prophet Joseph Smith is that salva- 
tion is to come unto all, and that none 
will be lost who can possibly be re- 
deemed; that the plan of salvation is as 
broad as the fall of man. Our first par- 
ents broke a divine law, and through 
their disobedience death came into the 
world. As by disobedience of one man 
sin, and death as the wages of sin, came 
into the world, so by the atonement and 
obedience of one, life and salvation will 
ultimately come to all the family of 
Adam. "As in Adam all die, so in 
Christ shall all be made alive." This 
doctrine was enunciated by the Apostle 
Paul in his epistle to the Corinthians. 
The full meaning of that is not explained 
in the old scriptures, neither is it under- 
stood generally in the Christian world, 
but it was revealed in great plainness 
to the Prophet Joseph Smith and Sidney 
Rigdon. I will not read to you the vision 
which was given to them, explaining this 
doctrine of salvation, but will perhaps 
read a few verses of it, so that the full 
extent of the plan of salvation may be 



comprehended to some little degree by 
the- congregation. 

Let me say, first, that the book from 
which I am to read contains some of th;: 
revelations of God to the Church of Jesus 
Christ of Latter-Day Saints in this age 
of the world, and we regard these as 
Scripture. We believe in the Bible. We 
believe that "holy men of old wrote and 
spoke as they were moved upon by the 
Holy Ghost.' r We also believe that the 
same Spirit in this age of the world will 
make plain the things of God exactly 
in the same way as they were revealed 
in former times. In other words, we 
believe that the Spirit is the -rime in 
all ages, and that God ami Oh rim are 
"the same yesterday, today mh\ r.iwor." 
If God could reveal His word through 
Prophets in ancient tim^>, certainly He 
can reveal His word, through Prophets 
in modern times. If not, why not? 
What reason is there Mmi inn] slmuld 
not make manifest His truth in Hie 
nineteenth century as well as in the firs*: 
century, or in times before the beginning 
of the Christian era? Has the Eternal 
Father ceased to have power to make 
Himself manifest? Has He bound Him- 
self with an oath and promise that He 
would not speak again, after He revealed 
Himself through the Prophets and Apos- 
tles in the first age of the Christian 
era and before that time. If so, where 
is His word and promise recorded? I 
know of nothing of the kind in the book 
that is supposed to contain the Holy 
Scriptures. The Bible contains some few 
things revealed by the Lord through His 
servants in former days, and by reading 
it carefully I find that it contains an 
abundance of promises that in the last 
times, in the times of "the restitution of 
all things spoken of by the holy Prophets 
since the world began," in the "dispen- 
sation of the fullness of times" in which 
God is to gather together in one all 
things that are in Christ, there is to be 
more light, more revelation, more mani- 
festation of the power of God; greater 
miracles and greater outpouring of the 
Spirit and the knowledge of God, until 
the time shall come when a man shall 
not have to say to his neighbor, "Know 
ye the Lord, for all shall know Him, 
from the least unto the greatest," and 
"the knowledge of God shall cover the 
earth as the waters cover the great deep." 
so the prophets of old predicted. This 
being so there is nothing unscriptural 
or unreasonable in the idea that God 
should reveal His word in this age of 
the world as He revealed it in former 
times, and as it was customary with Him 
when He had any special work to per- 
form among the children of men, or any 
special truth to reveal, to raise up a 
prophet or prophets through whom His 
word was communicated, that in the 
last days He should act in the same way, 
seeing that He is an unchangeable Be- 
ing. 

We testify that in the nineteenth cen- 
tury our Heavenly Father has been 
pleased to open the heavens once mor.?, 
and to send His Son Jesus Christ, our 
Redeemer, with a message of life and 
light, similar to that which He pro- 
claimed when He tabernacled in mor- 
tality. We testify that angels have 
come down from the courts of glory, 
bringing light and truth for the enlight- 
enment and salvation of all the human 
family, and a message to be carried to 
"every nation, kindred, tongue and peo- 
ple." 

We recognize the fact that throughout 
Christendom there are various religious 
societies, composed in the main of good 
people, and having among them very 
talented men, some of whom minister in 
the name of the Lord without authority, 
while others explain the Gospel accord- 



ing to their understanding of it— which 

is very limited; and that there are peo- 

le of all sects and denominations who 

_ to serve the Lord and walk in 

ways, but who cling to the notions 

ideas which have been handed down 

to them by tradition. We do not wish 
to interfere with any of them in their 
religious rights and privileges. We rec- 
ognize the right of every man to worship 
God according to the dictates of his own 
conscience, and think that people ought 
not to be molested in that worship, and 
that they should be perfectly free to 
carry out their religious convictions, so 
long as they do not infringe upon the 
rights' and liberties of others. That is 
the line we draw, and when men step 
beyond that, then the secular law ought 
to step in and protect people in the ex- 
ercise of their rights, and from the de- 
signs and wicked acts of those who seek 
to infringe upon them. 

But One God and One Faith. 

But while we recognize this, we do not 
lose sight of this one great fact, which 
all people should consider; that as there 
is but one God for us to worship, there 
can be but one true religion. A va- 
riety of Gods might introduce a variety 
of creeds; but "there is one God even 
the Father, of whom are all thing*, 
and one Lord Jesus Christ, by whom 
are all things." Therefore, the religion 
of God and Christ must be one. Truth 
is not divided against itself. Truth and 
error will clash, but truth and truth 
will always harmonize. Anything that 
God reveals must be true, for He is 
truth; and everything that. comes by the 
way of Jesus Christ, His beloved Son, 
must be true, for He is the way, the truth 
and the life. No error will be intro- 
duced into the world under, the direction 
of the Father, or of the Son. And 
the Holy Ghost is "the Spirit of truth." 
It guides into all truth. It takes of the 
things of the Father and of the Son and 
reveals them unto men. It will not sub- 
stantiate or reveal any error; but it will 
manifest truth and make it plain- There- 
fore, all that is error in. the world, 
whether it bo among Christians or pa- 
gans, is not of God, and is not recognized 
of Him. It will not lead' to God; it will 
not benefit mankind: but it wijl do in- 
jury. It is the truth that* exalts, that 
ennobles, and that will save mankind. 
Falsehood and error will not. Anythinir 
that is contrary, to truth cannot be of 
God. but may be of that "Evil One, who 
was "a liar from the beginning." 
Sincerity Not Conclusive Evidence of 
Truth. 

That there is an abundance -of error 
in the "Christian" world as well as some 
truth, must be natent to everybody who 
has investigated the conditions of man- 
kind in the present day, because these 
multifarious sects and denominations are 
discordant. They do not unite — except on 
special occasions when they meet to- 
gether to denounce the "Mormons;" they 
o»r\ unite on that question • sometimes. 
The spirit of division, strife, and conr 
tontion exists among people callod Chris- 
Hans as well as among people called 
Paeans. That fact alone makes it evi- 
dent that thee is a groaf- deal of error 
^-istins in what i« called Christendom. 
That is because these various systems 
which have been established are the in- 
ventions of men. They n»ay havo been 
good men who started these different 
sects — T will, not judge the matter; +hat 
is with the Eternal Jlidre — but these 
sects were the offspring of men. Thesr 
men may have read the Scriptures, and 
have entertained certain ideas founded 
unor their r^adinr: and they may have 
established thes° different svstems in ac- 
cordance with their sincere ideis of what 
was right. But sincerity of itself is 
not n conclusive evidence of truth. Tho 
heathen is lust »s sincere in b'« idol 
wnrjshin as the "Christian" is in p*s va- 
rious rnodes o* bowincr down to D**ity: 
and onrtninly the La+ter-T)ay Saints havp 
manifested their <unceritv before thr» 
whole *"orH n* well cs before *he heav- 
ens. The Elders of this Church w!k» sro 
out into the world to proclaim the Gos- 



342 



THE SOUTHERN STAB. 



pel as they understand it, manifest their 
sincerity. Yet our "Christian" friends 
will not recognize them as Christians, 
nor believe that they are right. They 

?'o out without purse or scrip, without 
ee or reward. They are not paid for 
their work. They make sacrifice of home 
and its comforts, and leave their loved 
ones behind, and go to face a frowning 
world, to meet persecution and obloquy, 
and sometimes imprisonment, stripes, and 
death. What for? To proclaim that 
which they know in their hearts is true. 
They are sincere enough, but that does 
not prove that they are right. Our 
"Christian" friends will acknowledge that. 
On the other hand, the sincerity that 
may be exhibited in the various "Chris- 
tian" sects by the people who coihpose 
the members, and by the preachers who 
teach them, is not of itself an evidence 
that they are right or that they have 
the truth. But the fact that they are 
divided and conflicting is proof enough 
that there is a great deal of error among 
them. 

Now, that which comes from God is 
the truth. If Jesus Christ has a church 
on the earth under His direction and 
inspiration, containing men whom Ho 
has appointed, who hold His authority, 
who are sent by His word, and who have 
divine authority to administer in the 
name of the Father, and of the Son, and 
of the Holy Ghost, that church will 
have the truth. It will not have error in- 
termingled with it, because it will be di- 
rected by Christ, being His Church. Men 
may build up a church and call it the 
Church of Christ, but that does not make 
it so; it is the church of the men who 
organized it. If John Wesley—a good 
man ; as T believe with all my heart, 
a mighty man, who did a great and good 
work in the earth — organized a religious 
society and called it the Church of Christ, 
that does not make it so. and it is noth- 
ing more than the church of John Wes- 
ley. If other good men assemble to- 
gether and agree on points of doctrine 
and organize a religious society that so- 
ciety is theirs. It is not God's unless 
He ordered it, revealed it, and accept- 
ed it. 

Oneness of the Church of Christ. 

I think that these simple ideas will be 
received by this congregation and by any 
reasonable person. If Jesus Christ had 
a church on the earth in the first cen- 
tury, it was the Church that He estab- 
lished. There is evidence that He did 
establish a church. By reading the New 
Testament it is plain that He organized 
it Himself; therefore it was His Church. 
He placed in it Apostles, Prophets, evan- 
gelists, pastors and teachers, (so we read 
in the epistle to the Ephesians, 4th chap- 
ter.) "for the perfecting of the Saints, 
for the work of the ministry, for the 
edifying of the body of Christ; till we 
all come in the unity of the faith, and 
of the knowledge of the Son of God." 
These men were sent out to preach the 
Gospel without purse or scrip. They were 
commanded to "go into all the world and 
preach the Gospel to every creature." 
And the principles which they taught 
were the principles of Jesus Christ. The 
plan of salvation that they introduced 
was divine. It was not their own. When 
Paul preached to the Gentiles and Peter 
preached to the Jews, they preached the 
same Gospel, the same doctrine, by th«* 
same Spirit. The people who received 
their word and repented of their sins, 
believing in the Lord Jesus Christ, were 
all baptized by one spirit into one body. 
There was but one body, no matter how 
many members there were in it; there 
was but one church, no matter how 
many branches there might be to it. 
The Church was one, the Gospel was 
one, the God they worshipped was one, 
the Savior was one. There was "one 
Lo»*p\ one ffitb. one bnntism. one God 
and Fathrr of all:" and the path that they 
walked in was the one way marked out 
bv the Lord Jesus Christ, who said: 
"Wide is the gate and broad is the way, 
that leadeth to destruction, and many 
there be which go in thereat: because 
straight is the gate, and narrow is the 



way, which leadeth unto life, and few 
there be that find it." 

These men whom the Lord placed in 
His Church had the word of the Lord. 
God revealed Himself unto them. Jesus 
Christ manifested Himself unto them. 
This is one of the characteristics of the 
Church. It was in communication with 
its Divine Author. The spirit that came 
down from heaven was in these men; not 
only in them, but in the body of the 
Church. The* whole body was quickened 
by it, led by it, and inspired by it. There- 
fore the truth was in the Church. But 
there came a great change after the 
Apostles were slain. Darkness came iu 
like a flood and overspread the earth, as 
the prophet of old foresaw when he 
said that "darkness would cover the 
earth and gross darkness the people." Be- 
cause of that darkness which has over- 
spread the earth has come the condition 
that exists in the Christian world today. 
True Gospel Affaln Revealed From 
Heaven. 

Now, in this age of the world, I re- 
peat, our Heavenly Father has been 
pleased to reveal Himself again. Hear 
it! oh, ye people! As sure as the sun 
shines in the heavens, as sure as we 
are in this Tabernacle this afternoon, the 
Mighty God ; even the Lord, hath spoken, 
and is "calling the earth from the rising 
of the sun to the going down thereof.' 
His word to all people is that the Gos- 
pel in its purity nas been restored; His 
Church has been set up again on the 
earth, under His personal direction; 
Apostles, Prophets, Evangelists, Pastors 
and Teachers once more are endowed 
with the Spirit that comes from on high, 
and all people who receive their testimony 
and are obedient to the Gospel are bap- 
tized by one spirit into one body, whetn- 
er they be Jew or Gentile, bond or free, 
and they are all made to partake of one 
Spirit. This Gospel and the proclamation 
thereof is to all the worfd, to every 
creature. This is the commandment of 
God to His servants in the Church of 
Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. And 
all people will hear the sound thereof, 
no matter how much it may be opposed. 
The Elders of this Church, going out as 
the servants of God did of old, are en- 
dowed with the same authority, the same 
power, and. the same right to administer 
in the name of the Father, and of the 
Son, and of the Holy Ghost. And the 
word of Christ is to them as it was to 
the early Anostles : "He that receiveth 
you receiveth me, and he that receiveth 
me reciveth Him that sent me. And he 
that rejecteth you rejecteh Him that 
sent me." The word of the Lord to all 
people everywhere is to turn from their 
wickedness, from their corruptions, from 
their false creeds, from their bowing 
down to anything that is not God, from 
the notions and ideas of men that have 
been preached in the world for the doc- 
trines of Christ, and come unto God their 
Eternal Father in humility, in contrition, 
repenting of their sins, confessing them, 
and forsaking them. 

(Continued.) 

Union Pacific Railroad. 

Another Portland train. Two trains 
daily. Effective April 22, the Union Pa- 
cific. Oregon Short Line and Chicago 
Railroad and Navigation company will 
place in service an additional Portland 
train. 

This train, "The Pacific Express/' will 
leave Kansas City 10:40 a. in. Only 
three days on the road. 

Equipped with Palace Sleepers. Free 
"Reclining Chair Cars, ordinary Sleeping 
Car. Dining Car Service (to Granger). 

The time of the present Portland train, 
"The Overland Limited," leaving Kansas 
City 0:40 p. m., will be reduced 2 hours 
and 45 minutes between Granger and 
Portland. 

Only 69 hours Kansas City to Port- 
land. 

Palace Sleening Cars, Dining Car Ser- 
vice, Buffet Cars, Chair Cars. 

For time tables, folders, illustrated 
books, pamphlets descriptive of the ter- 
ritory traversed, address J. F. Aglar, 
general agent, St. Louis, Mo. 



•BY THEIR FRUITS YE SHALL KNOW 
THEM." 



BY GEO. HILTON. 

A good tree cannot bring forth evil 
fruit; neither can a corrupt tree bring 
forth good fruit. (Matt. 7:18. "Where- 
fore by their fruits ye shall know them." 
(20th verse). In my travels in the dif- 
ferent parts of the world, I find hun- 
dreds of diverse denominations of reli- 
gions, and all claiming to be the true 
followers of Jesus Christ, our file Leader. 
At the same time they all differ from 
that which Jesus taught as recorded in 
the Holy Bible. A short time ago I 
visited Winchester, the old capital of 
England. Here I attended divine ser- 
vice in the largest cathedral in England. 
Services commenced at 10 a. m. and 
lasted until 12. There were from ten to 
fifteen ministers officiating, appearing to 
be very zealous in the labors which they 
were engaged in. At the conclusion of 
the services I introduced myself to one 
of those gentlemen, and asked this most 
important question: "Is this the Church 
of Jesus Christ, and have you the same 
organization of officers as Jesus had in 
the church when He sojourned upon 
earth?" The answer was in the affirma- 
tive, I then said: "My dear sir, would 
you he so kind as to introduce me to one 
of your twelve Apostles ?" I noticed at 
that moment he became a little uneasy. 
The necktie and collar needed a little 
adjusting. And then said: "We haven't 
got any Apostles or Prophets in the 
Church in these days. It's the Mormons or 
Latter-Day Saints that believe in Proph- 
ets and Apostles: "I then said: "My dear 
sir, how can you get along without these 
officers and be the true Church of Jesus 
Christ?" I then took my Testament from 
my pocket, and read from Mark 14:10. 
"And Judas Iscariot, one of the twelve, 
went unto the Chief Priest to betray 
Him unto them, and when they heard it, 
they were glad and promised to give him 
money; then Judas, which had betrayed 
Him, when he saw that he was con- 
demned, repented himself, and brought 
the thirty pieces of silver to the chief 
priest and elders, and he cast down the 
pieces of silver in the temple and depart- 
ed, and went and hanged himself." At 
this moment we find the quorum of 
apostles imperfect, there being only 
eleven apostles. We find the church of 
Christ very different from the churches 
established by men. The apostles had re- 
turned to Jerusalem from the mount 
called Olivet. And when they were come 
in they went up into an upper room and 
continued in prayer and supplication, and 
they prayed and said: '*Taou, Lord, 
which knoweth the hearts of all men, 
shew whither of these two, Joseph called 
Bursa bas, who was surnamed Justus, and 
Matthias, that he may take part in the 
ministry and apostleship, from which Ju- 
das, by transgression, fell, that he may 
go to his own place, and they gave forth 
their lots, and the lot fell upon Matthias, 
and he was numbered with the eleven 
apostles." (Acts of Apostles 1:13-24.) 
Jesus addressing his apostles, said: "Ye 
have not chosen me, but I have chosen 
you, and ordained you, that you should 
go and bring forth fruit, and that your 
fruit should remain that whatsoever ye 
shall ask of the Father in my name, He 
may give it you." (John 15:16) "He 
that abideth in Me, and I in him, the 
same bringeth forth much fruit, for with- 
out rap ye can do nothing." Jesus ap- 
peared unto the Apostles as they sat at 
meat, and gave them their commissions 
how to preach and what to preach, and 
by their fruits ye shall know them. And 
Ho said unto them: "Go ye into all the 
world, and preach the Gospel to every 
creature: he that believeth and is bap- 
tized shall be saved; but he that believ- 
eth not shall be damned. And thesp signs 
shall follow them that believe. In my 
name shall they cast out devils; they 
shall speak with new tongues; they shall 
take up serpents, and if they drink any 
deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; 
they shall lay hands on the sick, and 



THE SOUTHERN STAB. 



343 



they shall recover." And they went forth 
and preached everywhere, the Lord work- 
ing with them and confirming the Word 
with signs following on in other words 
"By their fruits ye shall know them.' 
(Mark 16). "Jesus appeared again unto 
his Apostles, and instructed them what 
to preach to the people for their salvation 
and exaltation in the Kingdom of God, 
saying: *A11 power is given unto men 
in Heaven and in earth, go ye therefore, 
and teach all nations, baptizing them 
in the name of the Father, and of the 
Son, and of the Holy Ghost, teaching 
them to observe all things whatsoever 1 
have commanded you, and lo, I am with 
you alway, even unto the end of the 
world. Amen." (Matthew 28:19) "And 
it shall come to pass in the last days," 
saith God, "I will pour Out of my Spirit 
upon all flesh, and your sons, and your 
daughters shall prophesy, and your young 
men shall see visions, and your old men 
shall dream dreams, and on my servants 
and on my handmaidens, I will pour out 
in those days of my Spirit and they, shall 
prophesy." (Acts of the Apostles 2:16.) 
If the preaching of the Gospel and the 
obedience to its requirements do not pro- 
duce these fruits, we then have cause for 
suspicion, whether it be the true Church 
of Christ or the work of men, and under 
these circumstances we must be looking 
for the fulfilment of John the Revel a- 
tor's vision: "After this I looked, and 
behold, a door was opened in Heaven, 
and the first voice which I heard was as 
it were of a trumpet talking with me, 
which said: 'Come up hither, and I will 
shew thee things which must be here- 
after.* Rev. 4:1. And I saw another 
Angel fly in the midst of Heaven, having 
the everlasting Gospel to preach unto 
them that dwell on the earth, and to 
every nation, and kindred, and tongue, 
and people, saying with a loud voice: 
'Fear God, and give glory to Him, for 
the hour of His judgment is come, and 
worship Him that make Heaven, and 
earth, and the sea, and the fountains of 
water." Rev. 14:6. And I heard an 
other voice from Heaven, saying: 'Come 
out of her, my people, that ye be not par- 
takers of her sins, and that ye receive 
not of her plagues, and in her — Babylon 
was found the blood of Prophets and of 
Saints, and of all that were slain upon 
the earth.' " Man, know thyself, be not 
deceived. "By their fruits ye shall know 
them." 

History of the Southern States Mission. 

(Continued from Page 331) 

July, 1890.— President Rich returned 
from Chicago on the 1st, while Elders 
Anderson and Lyman did not return un- 
til the 3d. As heretofore stated, the 
brethren had met Apostle F. M. Lyman, 
and the proposition to include Ohio in 
the Southern States Mission was laid 
before him, and the presiding authorities 
of the Northern States Mission. It met 
with the approval of all after some con- 
cessions, and Apostle Lyman promised to 
bring the subject up before the Mission- 
ary Board at Salt Lake City. Only a 
few days after, word was received official- 
ly that the change was agreeable, and 
to so make all necesasry arrangements 
with the other missions. Accordingly, 
President Rich went to Chicago on the 
23d to complete the transfer. The re- 
sults were gratifying indeed. Nine of the 
Elders then laboring in that state re- 
mained and were given -companions, while 
the others left the state for various fields 
in the Northern States Mission. John B. 
Erekson, who was at that time president 
of the Ohio Conference, was chosen to 
preside, and nine Elders were sent up to 
the Conference from the South. The 
transfer did not go into effect until 
Aug. 15. 

Elder Lyman, who had held council 
meeting with the Elders of the East Ten- 
nessee Conference at Knoxville, reported 
the following: "Our council meeting is 
just over; the Elders all feel fine, and 
are doing a good work. Knoxville has 
opened up in good shape. The mayor 
and other officials of the town are very 



friendly disposed. The ministers treat 
us very fair. The newspapers are also 
friendly and seem to have a desire to 
see us have fair play. 

"The Saints at Hart's Branch are 
good people." 

On the 25th a company of six Elders ar- 
rived and on the following day were set 
apart for various fields in the South. The 
names of the arrivals are Quincy R. 
Gardner, Benjamin Y. Baird, Augus V. 
Whitnier, Geo. A. Matthews, Win. T. 
Gale and Adam R. Brewer. 

A church house situated in the village 
of Bushburg, Fleming county, Kentucky, 
was destroyed about the 20th by a mob 
of men. Instead of burning the house 
and thereby permitting the Saints to ob- 
tain insurance on it, they surrounded the 
house with guards, and with sledge-ham- 
mers, saws, axes and firearms, they tore 
down the building. They then withdrew 
and left the ruins to the Saints. 

The following startling dispatch from 
Atlanta. Ga., appeared in the Chatta- 
nooga Times of the 28th inst.: 

Atlanta, Ga., July 27— The Constitution 
has received a special from Its Covington, 
Ga., correspondent, which says that a mob 
of flty masked men made way with three 
Mormon Elders who have been proselyting 
in Jasper county. 

The storv is to the effect that the three 
Elders visited the home of William Cun- 
narri, near Xewton factory, Jasper county, 
yesterday und endeavored to persuade Mrs. 
Ciimuiril to join the church. 

White they were at the Cunnard home, 
fifty Jiitm. masked and on horseback came 
up :uiij naked the Elders to accompany 

tfii !., 

They refused to do so and while they 
wm parleying Mr. Cunnard procured a rifle 
and aided ihB mob in taking the Mormons. 

Several shots were exchanged and in the 
excitement Mrs. Cunnard had her jaw shat- 
tered. 

The mob finally secured the Elders and 
rode off with them. Nothing has been seen 
of them since. 

The Elders were driven out of two towns 
in Jasper county early in the week. 

This greatly concerned the Elders at 
the office because much of it might be 
true, for the Elders were in imminent 
danger. The only thing possible was to 
telegraph the postmaster of Flovilla, Ga., 
which is near the place of the mobbing, 
and where conference headquarters had 
been for some time. A reply was re- 
ceived later in the day, which read: "One 
Mormon Elder in office this morning. 
Told citizens he was one of the Elders in 
the hands of mob. Could not get par- 
ticulars. He said the woman of the 
house was badly shot, but not by her 
husband, as reported in the papers. He 
went south, walking along the railroad 
track before I learned that he was one 
of the Elders that had been mobbed. 
"W. F. Smith, P. M." 

Other news was awaited with interest, 
but when it did come it showed that 
nothing serious had happened to the El- 
ders. The woman, however, was quite 
seriously wounded. (For a full account 
of mob, see page 285, Vol. 1, Southern 
Star.) From afar echoes of the great 
♦uprising were heard. Facts were mis- 
construed to frightful proportions. The 
month closed in great excitement. 

(To be Continued.) 



Releases and Appointments. 
Releases. 

J. S. Sears, Office. 

P. V. Carter, Louisiana Conference. 



Transfers. 

C. E. Wade, from Louisiana to East 
Kentucky Conference. 

W. H. Irvine, from Florida to North 
Alabama Conference. 



Special low rates via Union Pacific 
railroad to all leading western points 
Sept. 16th, Oct. 2d and 16th. For par- 
ticulars address J. F. Aglar, Gen'l Agent. 
St. Louis. 



A HYPOCRITE. 

A hypocrite is one who pretends to be 
what he is not. Forgetting Washington's 
maxim: "Speak no' evil of the absent; it 
is unjust," he will act the part of Judas 
after winning one's confidence and love. 
Still, according to his pretentions, he is 
friendly, sincere and true. 

Satan has many such clients among 
the "Worldites," and one does not have 
to step beyond the bounds of remem- 
brance to find such a creature. Friend- 
ship, affection, love, countrymen, kings, 
and even empires have vanished away 
by the presence of concealed hypocrisy. 

The subject walks upon two legs: those 
of deceit and treachery. Lies and false- 
hoods are his companions. His mission 
is to pollute and destroy those attributes 
which come from God and are for the 
upbuilding of virtue, love and goodness. 
Heaven would not be what it is unless it 
were devoid of such beings. "God is not 
the author of confusion, but of peace." 
Hypocrisy results in confusion, and 
hence its source is from an inferior chan- 
nel. A hero, whose deeds never die in 
the memory of mankind, is one whose 
life and character is unblotted with the 
traits of a hypocrite. He does not re- 
member that a friend who fears to make 
enemies is not a true friend. Being two- 
faced, he fails to see that it is more hon- 
orable to openly make- an enemy, when 
just causes are present, than it is to make 
an enemy by telling his faults to others, 
and then denying his statements to the 
victim. 

Impure substances emanate from dis- 
eased bodies. Likewise, impure, bigoted 
and false statements come from the mind 
of a diseased soul. The hypocrite who 
prevaricates, intentionally and conscien- 
tiously, is morally diseased. Indeed, we 
may classify him as a living ulcer, upon 
the back of humanity. Corruption and 
attacks upon innocent characters are 
constantly conceived in his thoughts, and 
his tongue is the weapon he disgraces 
by allowing it to execute his wicked 
heart's desire. This world possesses 
many people who could have their names 
added to the hypocrites' "Roll of 
Honor (?)." 

"Should you feel inclined to censure, 
Faults of others you may view, 

Ask your own heart e're you venture, 
If It has not fallings too." 

L. F. RICH. 



A Word from Magnolia, Tenn. 

Magnolia, Tenn. 
Please allow me a little space in the 
Star, that I may express my thoughts. 
I have been a member of the Church for 
some years, and I can say that it is the 
true Church of Christ. It is all that 
holds one up in this lonesome place on 
earth is to know that the time is not far 
distant when the goats will be separated 
from the sheep. Elders, hold up your 
heads and look the world in the face and 
preach the true and everlasting Gospel. 
I would to God that I could tell all the 
world that I belong to the Mormon 
Church. I think it is a great honor to be 
enrolled with the Saints of God, for I 
am not ashamed of the Gospel of Christ, 
for it is the power of God unto salvation. 
Preach on, my brothers, the time is not 
far distant when God will send His Son 
Jesus. I am happy to think I live in this 
dispensation of the fullness of time, 
when God does sneak to His people. 
May all the faithful be blessed, is the 
prayer of your sister in Christ, 

B. A. BINGHAM. 



344 



THE SOUTHERN STAB. 



REPORT OF MISSION CONFERENCES FOR WEEK ENDING SEPT. 1, 1900. 



PRESIDENT 



Geo. A. Adams 

Heber S. Olson 

J. G. Bolton 

J. Spencer Wbrsley 

W.D. Rencher 

A. C. Strong 

John H. Bankhead...... 

John Reeve 

J. M. Haws 

C. R. Humphreys 

G. M. Porter 

W.W.MacKay 

F. H. Critchfleld. 

R. L. Houtz 

Don C. Benson 

L. M. Nebeker 

H. Z. Lund 



CONFERENCE 



CluLUiinonjcu ■■■■■ 

Virginia 

Kentucky „„„„„. 

Bust 'IV nn <■.-«.■*..*' ... 
Georgia „,.,.„_,„.. 
Noritt Alabama.. 

Flurida., 

M Id. Tennessee - 

Nnrttl i SH.ih tin . 

South Carolina „ 

M l>:-*fr-*\ [SJJl .., rr .. T . 

Eu.-t Kentucky... 

Louisiana .>,., 

SOfltfa AJltl'LUliik .. 

North Kentucky 

Smith uhlo„ 

North Ohio,., 



I* 

sS 

H 
Hi 
24 

IS 

m 

31 

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Valdosta 

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Goldsboro, Box 024 

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Ackerman..... 

Barboursville.. 

Lake Village 

Lapine .... 

109 W.Gray 8t., Louisville 
589 Betta St., Cincinnati ... 
41 Cheshire St., Cleveland 



Tennessee 

Virginia 

Kentucky 

N. Carolina 

Georgia 

Tennessee 

Georgia 

Tennessee 

N. Carolina 

8. Carolina 

Mississippi 

Kentucky 

Louisiana 

Alabama 

Kentucky 

Ohio 

Ohio 



DOES A COLLEGE EDUCATION HELP 
OR HINDER? 



There seems to be a general impression 
that the college graduate is losing caste; 
that he is becoming a very ordinary be- 
ing. This i3 due not to the fact that 
the college man is deteriorating, but that 
the masses are becoming better educated 
through the rapid increase of newspapers 
and periodicals, the establishment of tree 
libraries, university extension, evening 
schools of ail descriptions in the large 
centers, correspondence schools, Chautau- 

?ua reading circles, and summer schools, 
n this way, the sharp distinction which 
formerly existed between the college man 
and his untrained brother has become 
somewhat obliterated. 

Some one has well said that the men- 
tal capacity of a college graduate is like 
the power of steam or electricity, which 
is not applicable to runnig one kind of 
engine merely, but to any mechanical ap- 
pliance. "The untrained man makes one 
think of Niagara going to waste, or only 
half utilized; or of a team of horses 
laboring through mud and mire when 
they might haul tons on a smooth road.*' 

Harvey E. Fiske, the banker, in an 
article in "The Outlook," on "The Value 
of a College Education to a Business 
Man," says: 

"I am a great believer in laying deep, 
broad, r substantial foundations for all un- 
dertakings in life. ...... If a boy in- 
tends to become something more than an 
under-clerk or a small tradesman, he 
will need the best preliminary education 
that his parents can afford to give him. 

"In the early stages of his career in 
business, a young man will not appre- 
ciate what he has missed by not going to 
to college. Assuming that he entered an 
oflice or a store at it, and that his friend 
entered college at the same age, he will 
feel at 21 greatly the superior of his 
friend in business ability. But five or 
ten years later, the one who had the 
college training will probably be found 
to be working more easily, with greater 
confidence, and with exactly as much suc- 
cess as the friend who had four years 
the start — if not greater. A college ed- 
ucation will strengthen all your faculties, 
and, rightly used, will be a blessing all 
through life/' 

"It is a popular fallacy," says Charles 
F. Wright, that self-made men have 
taken the lead in this country." Of our 
presidents, Washington, Jackson, Van 
Buren. Harrison, Taylor, Fillmore, Lin- 
coln, Johnson, and Cleveland never went 
to college. On the other hand, Grant 
was educated at West Point, the two 
Adamses at Harvard, Jefferson, Monroe, 
and Tyler at William and Mary, Madison 
at Princeton, Polk at the University of 
North Carolina, Pierce at Bowdoin, 
Buchanan at Dickinson, Hayes at Ken- 
yon, Garfield at Williams, and Arthur at 
Columbia. The list of fifty-three famous 
Massachusetts men inscribed on the dome 
of the Boston state house contains 72 
per cent, of college graduates. Among 
them is Morse, the inventor of the tele- 
graph. 

It is undoubtedly true that thousands 



of youth are positively injured by going 
to college. But this is not the fault of 
the college. Many of those young men 
receive an education which fits them for 
occupations and professions for which 
they have not the slightest inclination, 
and the smattering of book knowledge 
which they have acquired, though very 
superficial, has made them discontented 
with the common life which they are com- 
pelled to lead. An unsuccessful student 
with a smattering of everything is raised 
as much above his original condition as if 
he were successful. It is a significant 
fact that a large portion of Paris cabmen 
are unsuccessful students in theology and 
other professions, and unfrocked priests, 
and they are very bad cabmen. 

1 do not claim that a college education 
is intended for all. Unless a youth is 
dead in earnest and anxious to make the 
most possible out of himself, he should 
not go to college. A great many boys 
who go to the universities are utterly 
without purpose, without any aim in life, 
or any ambition to be anything or to do 
anything. They are simply drifting 
drones. They wist to have a good time, 
and many or them go to college to get 
rid of hard work at home. It is lamenta- 
bly true that a great many college boys 
waste .their time in dissipation, neglect 
their studies until near the close of the 
term, and then employ tutors and cram 
for examinations. I do not call this a 
college education. Thousands of youths 
have diplomas which really mean noth- 
ing. — Success. 

GLEANINGS. 



Rutledge, Ga., Sept. 6th, 1900. 

I desire to express my feelings towatd 
the Latter-day Saints. It has been more 
than a year since I first saw a Mormon 
Elder. Two came to our house and were 
invited in. They talked a little on their 
faith and left a tract, which we did not 
read much, although 1 believed them 'to 
be servants of God. I was laughed- at 
when I spoke in their favor, and then I 
thought if I never find out better I wilf 
always think they are right. They then 
called at one of our neighbor's, and were 
well treated, and held many good meet- 
ings there. I then had the privilege of 
hearing them preach, and I saw it was 
all from the Bible. My father bought 
the Voice of Warning. I read it with a 
prayerful heart and asked of God to 
know whether it was of God or of men, 
and I have received a testimony that this 
is the Gospel that Christ taught when 
He was upon the earth. That it has 
been taken from the earth, and that it has 
been brought back by an angel, as spoken 
of in Revelations xiv:6, And I also bear 
testimony that Joseph Smith was a true 
Prophet of God; that the Book of Mor- 
mon is a divine record. I was baptized 
on the 29th of November last, and can 
truthfully say that the same gifts and 
blessings as promised by the Savior are 



enjoyed in this day and time by all that 
will obey the Gospel of Christ and keep 
the commandments of God. 

I have met with some persecutions, but 
that only makes my faith grow stronger, 
for I know all that will follow Christ 
must suffer persecution. I am not 
ashamed to say I am a Mormon, and if 
I will be faithful in keeping the com- 
mandments of God I will be saved in the 
Kingdom of God. 

Your sister in Christ, 

MOLLIE McOLAIN. 



As I see nothing written from Jackson 
county, I will pen a few words to the 
much prized little Star, that lights our 
home once a week. There is so much 
valuable truth contained in the Star 
that it does my soul good to read and re- 
read its valuable pages. I love to show 
it to the different church members of 
other faiths. You brethren that may 
chance to see this that have been to my 
home, remember me in your prayers, and 
know, too, that I and my house will serve 
the Lord. On the morning of the 5th of 
July Elders O. M. Hess and J. D. Frank- 
land left my house, and we have not had 
the pleasure of seeing an Elder since. I 
will say to all the Elders who it has been 
my good fortune to meet that I am well 
and am fixed in purpose. I know we 
have the Gospel again restored to earth, 
and I know if I am faithful I shall meet 
them in heaven. Many of the Elders 
seem as dear to me as my own sons. Our 
parting is very trying. But how joyous 
will be the reunion, when parting will be 
no more. There are sixteen of my family 
who have been baptized into the Church 
of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and 
I feel proud to know that we are enlisted 
in King Emmanuel's army. 

We are surrounded by other denomina- 
tions, but they do not molest us or make 
afraid. When we meet them with the 
truth they have to give back. 

In conclusion, I ask the faith and 
prayers of all the Saints. 

E. P. MELVIN. 

Cottondale, Fla. 



Do not keep the alabaster boxes of your 
love and tenderness sealed up until your 
friends are dead. Fill their lives with 
sweetness. — Ochiltree. 



I find nothing so singular in life as 
this, that everything opposing appears to 
lose its substance the moment one actu- 
ally grapples with it.— Hawthorne. 



Let anyone set his heart to do what is 
right, and ere long his brow is stamped 
with all that goes to make up heroic ex- 
pression.— Charles Kingsley. 




"OUT THOUGH WE.OB AN ANGEL FROM HEAVEN. PREACH AMY 
OTHER 60SPE.L UNTO YOU THAN THAT WHICH WE 

H AVE PREACHED UNTO YOU, LET HIM BE ACCURSED ."Sg./PPd/- 

Jt»fc,Vit — — - 



■ o>< - 



Vol. 2. 



Ohattahooqa, Tkhw., Sattjbdat, September 29, 1900. 



No. 44. 



Sketch of the Life of Apostle George Albert Smith. 



BY APOSTLE MATHIAS P. COWLEY. 



George Albert 
Smith, who in his life- 
time was one of the 
Twelve Apostles and 
a First Counselor to 
President Brighain 
Young, was born June 
26, 1817, in Potsdam, 
St. Lawrence county, 
New York. He was 
the son of John Smith 
and Clarissa Lyman. 
His father was a broth- 
er to Joseph Smith, 

Sr., the father of the 

Prophet; thus George 

Albert being a fir<*t 

cousin to the Prophet 

Joseph Smith. The 

Smith family was a 

noble race of sturdy, 

honest, industrious 

men and women, typ- 
, ical Americans, who 

loved their native soil 

and offered their lives 

at various times of 

emergency to establish 

and perpetuate the 

principles of human 

liberty in the United 

States. 
When George Albert 

was born he weighed 

four pounds ; when full 

grown about 250. lie 

was noble and digni- 
fied in his bearing, yet 

affable and kind, with- 
out affectation, in all 

his deportment. He 

was so conscientious 

that if he offended a 

little child he would 

ask that child's for- 
giveness. In other 

words, he possessed 

what few men can 

claim — the moral cour- 
age to be humble and 

meek. Two traits 
among many other great qualities of Geo. 
A. Smith which characterized our Lord 
and Savior were the courage of a lion and 
the meekness of a lamb. He dared to do 
right, no matter what the consequences 
might be, and would rather suffer a great 
wrong than to do the least wrong him- 
self. In boyhood he was trained in 
the tenets of the Congregational church 
until 15 years of age. While attending 




APOSTLE GEORGE A. SMITH. 

school in Pottsdam a peculiar circum- 
stance occurred which exhibited his 
strong sense of honor and his sensitive 
nature. He grew very rapidly, in con- 
sequence of which he was very awkward. 
To this inconvenience was added the 
misfortune of being near-sighted. The 
boys of the school taunted and made 
fun of him. Being wrapped up in his 
studies and contented with the company 



of older and wiser 
persons, he made no ef- 
fort to curry sympa- 
thy and favor with the 
boys of the school. 
They continued to 
make fun of and ridi- 
cule him until he felt 
thoroughly outraged 
and determined that 
longer forbearance 
would not be a virtue. 
He therefore resolved 
to resent this kind of 
treatment by whipping 
the perpetrators. He 
had been very sick, 
and was just recover- 
ing, when these resolu- 
tions were firmly es- 
tablished in his mind 
as the right thing to 
do. He therefore 
waited patiently until 
sufficient strength was 
regained, when he 
started in to threshing 
the boys, and did not 
refrain until he had 
soundly whipped every 
boy of his age and size 
in the school. It was 
a very practical lesson 
for his schoolmates, 
but it was effectual, 
for they never made 
fun of him after that. 
In the winter of 
1828, Geo. A. Smith's 
father received a let- 
ter from the latter's 
nephew, Joseph Smith. 
Jr., in which he pre- 
dicted that the judg- 
ments of God were 
coming upon the earth 
because of wickedness 
a n d abominations 
which exist among the 
people. 
This letter made a 
lasting impression upon George A.'s 
mind, and his father remarked that "Jo- 
seph writes like a Prophet." 

In August, 1830, Joseph Smith, Sr., 
and his son Don Carlos, paid their rela- 
tives a visit in Potsdam. They brought 
with them the Book of Mormon and left 
it with father John Smith, while they 
proceeded to visit other family relations. 
Geo. A. and his mother immediately set 



340 



THE SOUTHERN STAR. 



about reading the strange book. Neigh- 
bors came in and heard portions of it 
read. They ridiculed and raised objec- 
tions to it. These objections young Geo. 
Albert found himself trying to answer, 
and with remarkable success, although 
but 13 years old. The Spirit of Light 
rested upon him to the discomfiture and 
defeat of his opponents. They would 
leave the. house with the remark to his 
mother, that her boy was a little too 
smart for them. George A. himself, felt or 
thought he saw objections to the book. 
Upon the return of his uncle and Don 
Carlos, he expressed these objections, 
when his uncle Joseph took them up one 
by one, quoting the Bible to show that 
such a work should come forth, and that 
it was perfectly reasonable that such 
should be the case. George Albert Smith 
was thoroughly convinced, and from this 
time on became a staunch advocate and 
defender of the Book of Mormon as a 
divine record. He was also convinced 
that some authorized system of religion 
was essential to salvation. Soon after 
this he attended a Congregational re- 
vival, and while nearly every non-believer 
in the audience was converted but him- 
self, he sat day after day in the gallery 
awaiting the sensation of religion. Fi- 
nally the minister gave Geo. A. up as a 
reprobate and sealed him up to eternal 
damnation, saying, "Thy blood be upon 
thine own hand." "Nine times he thus de- 
livered this inoffensive but unsatisfied 
seeker for religion to the buffetings of 
Satan and the burning of an endless 
hell." 

Two years Jater, Sept. 10, 1832, Geo. 
A. Smith embraced the Gospel of Christ 
being baptized into the Church of Jesus 
Christ of Latter-day Saints by Elder 
Joseph H. Wakefield. May 1, 1833, he 
left with his parents for Kirtland, O. 
They reached their destination May 25 
and were warmly received by the Proph- 
et Joseph Smith. Geo. A. at once im« 
bibed the spirit of the work, became 
deeply interested in the affairs of the 
Church, and was delighted with his 
cousin, Joseph the Prophet. This was 
their first meeting. 

He was valiant for the cause to the 
fullest extent. On hand for any duty re- 
quired. He spent many nights guarding 
the brethren whose lives were in Jeopardy 
from the violence of mobs. In the sum- 
mer he was occupied quarrying and haul- 
ing rock for the Temple and doing other 
manual labor about the building. Geo. 
A. Smith and Harvey Stanley hauled 
the first two loads of rock from Stan- 
ard'8 quarry to the Temple ground. He 
was one of that valiant band known as 
Zion's Camp, leaving Kirtland for Mis- 
souri in May, 1834. The Camp had to 
undergo, many hardships, and, like many 
in the Camp of Ancient Israel, murmured 
against the Prophet Moses, so did some 
in Zion's Camp complain against the 
Prophet Joseph Smith. Geo. A. was not 
only free from the least disposition to 
murmur, but was extremely cheerful, 

Eossessed of a happy vein of becoming 
umor. On one occasion when sent to 
a house to obtain some buttermilk, the 
lady of the house gave him the milk in 
a bucket not very clean. Some of the 
brethren complained very severely, when 
Geo. A. laughingly remarked: Tf you 
had seen the churn the buttermilk came 
from, you'd never mention the bucket." 
On his journey to and from Missouri he 
traveled on foot 2,000 miles. 

March 1st, 1835, he was ordained a 
Seventy by Joseph Smith, Sr., Joseph 
Smith, Jr., and Sidney Rigdon, the lat- 
ter being spokesman. Geo. A. was the 
junior member of the First Quorum of 
Seventies in this dispensation. 

June 5, 1835, with his second cousin, 
Lyman Smith, he left on a mission to the 
east. They journeyed on foot, traveled 
without money, held about eighty meet- 
ings in Ohio, Pennsylvania and New 
York. Geo. A. returned to Kirtland Oct. 
5, 1835. He received his endowment in 
the Kirtland Temple in the spring of 
1836 and soon after performed a mission 
in Ohio, traveling nearly 1,200 miles on 
foot. 



Early in 1S37 he performed a mission 
in Ohio and Virginia occupying about 
one year, traveling 2,500 miles; half the 
distance on foot. 

In 1838 he removed with his father's 
family from Ohio to Da vies county, Mis- 
souri. June 28, 1838, he was ordained a 
High Counselor. 

The fall of the same year found him n 
missionary in Kentucky and Tenness* •». 
He traveled 800 miles on foot. 700 i y 
water during his absence, and acco;.i- 
plished a good work. Subsequently oe 
moved into Illinois with his father's 
family and early in 1839 returned to Tar 
West. 

On the 26th day of April, 1839. Geo. 
A. Smith was ordained one of the Twelve 
Apostles of the Church on the south-east 
corner stone of the Temple which through 
persecution had not yet been built. 

On Sept. 21, 1839, he started on his 
mission to England, arriving in Liver- 
pool the 6th of April, 1840. He was one 
of the best of missionaries, always affa- 
ble and kind in his manner, and perfectly 
clear in his testimony and understanding 
of the Gospel. These good qualities were 
so thoroughly quickened by the inspira- 
tion of the Holy Spirit in Apostle Smith 
that he won the love and respect of the 
honest in heart wherever he traveled and 
was instrumental in bringing many to a 
knowledge of the truth. He returned to 
Nauvoo July 5, 1841. The 25th of the 
same month he received in marriage 
Bathsheba W. Bigler. From this time 
until the martyrdom of the Prophet and 
Patriarch of the Church, Elder Smith 
was busy at home and abroad, building 
up the city and the Temple and spread- 
ing the Gospel throughout the land. He 
preached in the principal cities of Illinois 
and performed another faithful missiou 
in the middle and eastern states. 

When he learned of the death of his 
cousins, Joseph and Hyrum Smith, he 
was engaged as a missionary in the state 
of Michigan. He returned at once to 
Nauvoo and actively participated in all 
the councils and deliberations essential 
to the well-being of the Saints in those 
sad days of trial and tribulation. 

Sept. 17, 1844, he was made quarter- 
master of the Nauvoo Legion; was also 
a trustee of the Nauvoo House Associ- 
ation and active in forwarding this House 
and the Temple to completion and pre- 
paring for the exodus of the Saints from 
Nauvoo. 

In February, 1846, he crossed the Mis- 
sissippi river with his family, an exile 
from home, to find a place of rest and 
respite from the furious rage of religious 
bigots, who were mobocrats while hypo- 
critically professing Christianity. The 
ensuing winter he lived at winter quar- 
ters, where the people suffered much 
sickness. At this place his wife and four 
children died. He visited all the camps 
of the Saints and urged the raising and 
use of potatoes as a remedy for scurvy. 
But little seed could be obtained, but 
from that little a marvelous yield was 
the result. 

The next season in Pottawattamie 
county, Iowa, the potato crop was a fail- 
ure, and the saying went out that it was 
because Geo. A. Smith, "the Potato 
Saint," had gone to the mountains. 

In 1847 he was numbered with the 143 
Pioneer Company to Salt Lake Valley, 
arriving in the valley July 24, 1847. He 
walked mucli of the distance and in find- 
ing the place and subsequent places for the 
location of the Saints, Brother Geo. A. 
was one of the foremost and best ex- 
plorers in the Church. He planted the 
first potato from which a crop was pro- 
duced by the Saints in Salt Lake Val- 
ley. He built a house for his father in 
the Old Fort, and returned to winter 
quarters in the fall, arriving there Oct. 
31, the same year. He opened a farm 
near Kanesville, had charge of the con- 
gregating Saints, and with the last com- 
pany of them, left with his family for 
the Valley July 4, 1849. Their teams 
were overloaded and progress slow. They 
met with hail and rain-storms. Their 
stock was stampeded and at South Pass 
a cold, heavy storm caused the death of 



seventy animals. They reached Salt Lake 
Valley Oct. 27, 1849. 

Apostle Smith was a member of the 
Senate in the Provisional State of Des- 
eret. He presented a bill for the organ- 
ization of the judiciary. This was the 
first bill presented for the. consideration 
of members. He also reported a MR" 
relating to the construction of a railroad 
across the continent. 

In December, 1850, he headed a com- 
pany of volunteers to make explorations 
in Southern Utah. They determined the 
location of Parowan and built a road 
six miles into the canyon. They hoisted 
the American flag on a 90-foot pole on 
the town site and dedicated the ground 
by prayer and supplication to the Lord. 

He had been elected Chief Justice of 
the Provisional State, and was em- 

?owered to complete the organization of 
ron county. An election being called, 
two associate justices, county recorder, 
member of the House in the General As- 
sembly and all other officers to make 
the organization of the county complete, 
were elected. 

In the winter of 1850-51 the settler* 
erected a fort in the enclosure of which 
they built their homes, house of wor- 
ship, the latter being used for meetings, 
schools and a watch tower. It was built 
of logs and shaped like a Greek cross. 
It was used for fifteen years and then 
replaced by a suitable stone ' structure. 
In the winter Brother Smith taught 
school with thirty-five pupils. Around the 
camp-fire at night he gave them lectures 
on English grammar. When the Terri- 
tory of Utah held its first election, Geo. 
A. Smith was elected a member of the 
council. He held positions (one of post- 
master at Centre Creek, Iron county) by 
appointment of Postmaster-General Hall, 
and military offices under appointment of 
Gov. Brigham Young. 

In every place he honored his calling 
and filled the office with great ability. 
He was very efficient as a peace-maker 
among the Indians, protecting the Saints 
by wise council and proper precautions 
from much trouble. Like President 
Young, he felt it better to feed than to 
fight the Indian, and this has been the 
principle of the Latter-day Saints from 
the beginning. 

In 1852, having been called by Presi- 
dent Young to preside over the affairs of 
the Church in Utah county, he left Iron 
county. He traveled much, especially 
where he had immediate oversight, en- 
couraging the Saints in all their labors 
to promote the growth of the Church 
and State. 

At the general conference in 1854 he 
was chosen and sustained as Historian 
and General Church Recorder. President 
Willard Richards was his predecessor in 
the office of Historian, and had written 
on some blanks he had prepared to be 
filled out, as if with prophetic eye, "To 
be supplied by Geo. A. Smith." Presi- 
dent Richards well said, for after his 
decease Geo. A. Smith was the man 
chosen to fill this important position. 
He was well qualified for this particular 
work, for he was himself a fund of his- 
tory. 

Feb. 2, 1855, he was admitted as a 
member of the bar in the Supreme Court 
of Utah Territory, receiving his certifi- 
cates as an attorney, solicitor in chan- 
cery and counselor-at-law. He was one 
of a committee in convention which 
drafted a constitution, was elected by the 
convention with Apostle John Taylor to 
present the constitution to the President 
and Congress, asking admission into the 
Union on the same footing with the ori- 
ginal states. Performing his duty with 
ability and devotion as a delegate, he 
also did valiant missionary work in New 
York, New Jersey. Connecticut, Pennsyl- 
vania, Virginia, Ohio, Illinois, Iowa and 
Missouri. He was absent about eleven 
months, and this was a pleasant respite 
from the close application of his labors 
in the Historian's office. 

April 11, 18G6, he was commissioned 
by Gov. Durkee brigadier-general and 
appointed aide-de-camp to the lieutenant- 
general of the Nauvoo Legion. 



THE SOUTHERN STAB. 



347 



At the October conference in 1868 he 
was sustained as First Counselor to 
President Brigham Young, succeeding the 
late President Heber C. Kimball. This 
honored station he filled with wisdom, 
energy and great efficiency during the re- 
mainder of his natural life. 

With his file leader, fellow-counselor 
and associate Apostles, he met in all the 
important councils of the Church, trav- 
eled throughout the Stakes of Zion, con- 
tinued as Church Historian and filled 
places of responsibility and distinction 
in a civil capacity. 

Oct. 15, 1872, he, with President Lo- 
renzo Snow and others started on a mis- 
sion to the Holy Land. En route they 
visited many notable places and distin- 
guished persons in the nations of Eu- 
rope. Tney knelt upon the Mount of 
Olives, where our Savior once stood, and 
where Apostle Hyde previously dedicated 
the land to the gathering of Israel. Pres- 
ident Smith and companions also dedi- 
cated the land to the return and posses- 
sion of the House of Jacob. While ab- 
sent he was sustained as trustee in trust, 
which position he filled until his de- 
cease. Upon his. return he spent much 
of his time in St. George, the chief city 
in Southern Utah, and nonored with his 
name, giving much attention to the 
building of the Temple. He was an able 
advocate of the United Order. His dis- 
courses upon that subject being most im- 
pressive and characterizing him as an in- 
spired political and domestic economist. 
Soon after his return he was attacked 
with intense cold, which settled upon his 
lungs and terminated in his death Sept. 
1, 1875. 

Geo. A. Smith was one of God's no- 
blemen—few, if any, better types of 
Sure, honest, Godlike manhood ever lived, 
fore than half his entire life was spent 
as a minister of life and salvation to a 
fallen world. In matters of civil govern- 
ment, his political career covered the 
entire history of his life in Utah. He 
held various positions of a civil and mili- 
tary nature. He was a member of the. 
Utah legislature in every session but one 
(and then he was absent from the ter- 
ritory), until 1870, in the last six being 
President of the Council. He was a 
wise counselor, a great preacher, a 
sound statesman, a pioneer and colonizer 
of the highest ability, an able lawyer 
and an efficient educator. 

Several years before his decease he had 
traveled tens of thousands of miles by 
land and sea, and preached over 3,800 
discourses in various portions of the 
globe. He was recognized as the father 
of the settlements in Southern Utah. 
St. George, the chief city in Utah's 
Dixie, bears his name. He was always 
ready in public and private. No one 
over wearied of his preaching. He was 
brief, and interspersed his doctrinal and 
historical remarks with anecdotes most 
appropriate and timely in their applica- 
tion. Short prayers, short blessings, 
short sermons, full of spirit, was a happy 
distinction in the ministry of Geo. A. 
Smith. He was humble and meek, yet 
full of courage and unbounded energy in 
the cause of right. He always had time 
to notice young people and children and 
leave his eternal impress of love and 
kindness upon the tablet of their hearts. 

I once gave President Geo. A. Smith 
a ride in my wagon from Draper to Lehi 
and the tone of his conversation, with 
the influence which he shed around him, 
drew me to him like a magnet draws the 
needle. I could never forget the impres- 
sions of love and respect which I then 
formed for him. 

As a fitting conclusion we quote the 
words of President Brigham Young on 
the morning of President Smith's de- 
cease: "I have known Brother Geo. A. 
Smith for forty-two years, have traveled 
and labored in the ministry with him 
for many years, and have believed him to 
be as faithful a boy and man as ever 
lived; and, in my opinion, he had as 
good a record on this and the other side 
of the vail as any man. I never knew 
of his neglecting or overdoing a duty; 
he was a man of sterling integrity, a 



cabinet of history, and always true to his 
friends." 



History of the Southern States Mission. 

(Continued from page 343.) 

August, 1899— On the 5th, news was 
printed in a local paper of the arrest of 
Elder R. T. Mitchell on the charge of 
using obscene language while preaching 
on the streets of Knoxville, Tenn. He 
was wired as to its truthfulness, and an 
answer was received denying the charges, 
but substantiating his arrest. 

Particulars followed by letter, which 
stated that his arrest was due to quoting 
the words of Joseph Smith when rebuk- 
ing his insolent guards in the prison at 
Far West, and from Brigham Young to 
Gov. Cummings, when he said. "We 
have seen our women ravished before our 
eyes." Upon arriving at police headquar- 
ters he was dismissed on bis promise to 
appear next morning. At his trial next 
morning a few questions were asked of 
two or three alleged witnesses, and Elder 
Mitchell was released. 

At Sweetwater, Tenn., Elders George 
A. Adams and F. P. Hammond were 
egged from the town. An interesting ac- 
count of the mobbing, written by Presi- 
dent F. B. Hammond, can be found on 
Page 304 of Vol. 1, Southern Star. 

On the 5th President Rich left for 
Jacksonville, Fla., and Atlanta, Ga. In 
Atlanta he interviewed Gov. Candler on 
the recent mobbing in that state. Presi- 
dent Rich found the Governor to be a 
true man, and obtained the promise from 
him that if all facts to the convicting 
of the parties engaged in the dastardly 
affair at Jasper county were gotten to- 
gether and placed before him in person, 
that he (the Governor) would see that 
these men would be brought to justice. 
A very fair interview appeared in the 
Constitution. This omitted the parties 
referred to for obvious reasons. This 
interview can be found on page 293, 
Vol. 1. 

Full particulars were received from 
the Kentucky, Louisiana and Mississippi 
mobbings. 

The Kentucky trouble occurred on the 
4th of the present month, in Spencer 
county. Elder D. Afiect was preaching 
in the Mt. Eden neighborhood, and hav- 
ing good success, when on the night of 
the above date a large mob ordered him 
to leave the county. The mob was led 
by a preacher, and most of the gang were 
church members. Although Elder Afleck 
did not go upon the order of the mob, 
he had to secrete himself in a neighbor- 
hood four miles away, where he was 
guarded by friends until the following 
Monday, when he went into Douisviile. 

On the 11th President Rich interviewed 
Gov. Bradley in Frankfort, Ky. Al- 
though he treated him nicely, he was not 
as much disposed to settle the question 
of persecution as was Gov. Candler, of 
Georgia. 

On Sunday night, Aug. 29th, word 
was received of the death of Elder Thos. 
H. Bell, of the Georgia Conference. The 
death occurred at Berzelia, Ga., and 
President Rich, accompanied by an un- 
dertaker, wont to that point and pre- 
pared the body for shipment west. Elder 
Bell was a married man, and his sudden 
demise was a fearful blow to his loving 
wife and near friends. He was faithful, 
and this inscription upon the metallic 
casket in which his remains were en- 
cased bespeaks the worth and fidelity of 
his soul: "Faithful and true; he died in 
the harness." 

4 On the 21st a company of Elders ar- 
rived from Zion, nine in number, as fol- 



lows: A. W. Larsen, H. J. Schlappy, 
Harvey J. Harper, Jr., James R. Haw- 
kins, Frank L. Osborn, Jefferson G. 
Hunt, Alfred P. Harper, Erastus Chris- 
tensen and Morgan J. Rich. 

The following clippings, the first from 
the Times of Aug. 30th, and the other 
from Sept. 1, are self explanatory. They 
need no further explanation from man, 
seeing they convey the manifestation of 
eternal retribution: 

Mormon Meeting Raided. 

Dover, Tenn.. Aug. 29.— (Special.)— While 
two Mormon Elders were holding services 
at Vinson's school house, fifteen miles be- 
low Dover, Sunday night, a raid was made 
upon the audience by unknown parties. 
Several rocks were thrown into the crowd. 
Pistols were fired, and one little girl was 
shot through the leg. The neighborhood Is 
very much wrought up over the affair, and 
an effort to detect the guilty parties T>y aid 
of bloodhounds is being made. 

The same paper of Sept. 1 says: ' 

Suicide Through Remorse. 

Dover, Tenn., Aug. 81.— (Special.)— Baston 
Wlnson, a farmer of this county, committed 
suicide Monday night by shooting himself 
with a pistol and then cutting his own 
throat. Bloodhounds which were put on the 
track of the parties that broke up the Mor- 
mon meeting and shot a little girl Sunday 
night tracked up to Vinson's premises Mon- 
day. No arrest was made, however, but 
Vinson was supposed to be one of the guilty 
parties. It seems from writing he left on a 
pillow case that he thought he had killed 
the little girl and then committed suicide to 
rid himself of remorse of conscience. The 
writing was to that effect, and stated that 
he shot at one of the Mormon Elders and 
did not Intend to hurt anyone else. 

Hand in hand with this dastardly af- 
fair, was the attempted assassination of 
Elder James Duffln. Returning to the 
house of a friend, after having held ser- 
vices, the Elders had to pass through a 
dense forest. The elders had been threat- 
ened with mob violence, but no attention 
was paid to the threats. Elder Duffin 
thus explained the wicked assault: 

"When we came to the darkest place two 
ruffian 8 rushed upon me with large clubs: 
the first lick struck my right shoulder and 
was immediately followed by a hard blow 
upon my head, which stunned me; two more 
blows were struck, knocking me senseless 
for a few moments.^ Elder Smith hit one of 
the ruffians with a lantern, breaking the 
globe and putting out the light, and In this 
way my life was saved. As soon as the light 
was out the men ran into the woods. We 
armed ourselves with clubs and proceeded 
on to Brother Toler's, where we will remain 
long enough to get well enough to go Into 
Richmond?' 

(To be continued.) 

TO MARY. 



(A poem written by Sister L. L. Greene 
Richards In the Temple at Salt Lake City, 
Sept. 13, 1900, being the day on which Sister 
Frankland (Mary) was apprised of the death 
of her husband, Elder John Frankland.) 

Dear Mary! Look up in this time of bereave- 
ment, 
This .«ad, solemn hour which has come 
unto you: 
Be assured 'tis some glorious, mighty 
achievement, 
Your true, noble lord has beeu chosen 
to do. 

How bitter the cup! Yet the powers that 
distill it 
Are Judgment and Mercy and Kindness 
and Love; 
An exalted position was waiting— to fill it, 
Your John was ordained In the councils 
above. 

He came to this earth to fulfill his proba- 
tion; 
To be father to your precious child— baby 
John, 
Which preceded him back to their glorified 
station, 
Where with sweet recognition their works 
will go on. 

Oh! grieve not their spirits with sad lamen- 
tation; 
Be calm In your sorrow, cling close to 
the One 
Who alone can console In your deep desola- 
tion, 
And will lead you to them when your 
earth' 8 work is done. 



348 



THE SOUTHERN STAB. 




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Saturday, September 29, 1900. 



ARTICLES OF FAITH 

OP THE CHURCH OP JESUS CHRIST OP 
LATTER-DAY SAINTS. 

1. WjstMlieTelaCfedtiieBteraairathar.aadlaBisSsa) 
Jases Cbrist, end ia the Bolj Ghat. 

a. We belle** test eras will be pooisbsd for tboir eve 
lias, sad .aal for Adust tnuianessioB. 

f Waballavatha^thfoaA theatoMBMatof GhriaVell 
■Mihlad aty N Stvei, bj obadiaaea te the lavs aad ordl. 
eiaea t of the GespaL 

4. Wo belie** that the flirt principles aad ordiaaaeei of 
Iha G«pel are: lint. Faith ia the LonMseas Christ; steoad, 
Rspantaaos; third, Baptism bj immersion for the fomissioa 
ei das; foorth, Lajiag oa of Hands for the Gift of the Holy 



ft W* bfli+T* ihiL 1 itilil DUft bfl cstltd of God. bj 
" prOphacy, Ind bjr tine Iiyin&on at bin-it^' hj tboM who If* 
Id »g thorny, to preach Lbs pup* I ud sdmiDUtcr fa tbi ordl- 
niOcei ihiTwf. 

*.. Wo bsllevB Id Lbs urn* eaajwsatjnsj thtt *iEitt4 i* 
Ifa* primitive rhurch — oiEDs/j. ApovUs*, ProphlU* Pltlora, 
Ts*ohen T ffvuftlUu, sic. 

■7, W» balitTft in th<j (jft of tongo*«, prcpfctty, ra**Ubo&, 
*Ui«DlJ)SiSiDa, (Q[«rprtUtaoa of t6Qgu«, tlr. 

1 Wi believe ibs Bib I* to b« lbs word of Ood, ■■ f« u It 
Li trsniJitrf correctly | w* ilio bc-li«Tt tha Book of kfon&oo 
to be tbit wDfd of CfcxL 

fl. W« b*!inTPS tlJ tbtt QemJ hu resiled, sll that H* Joso 
□Ot rave.*!, ind w* believe th*t He »ill Vtt f«T«il miajr m«l 
sod important [iiinp pertjintnR to loe KiPfdQO) of OtfdT 

10. W* tsltftTfl J ft the Liter*! B>tb«HnR oflmel in J in lb* 
r«»torsLio& of (he Tea Tribe* ; Lhn| Zipo »iM b* built apon 
tbJi (lbs American} eon Lineat > thst Cbriit wifl nign p* wo- 
olly upon the eirlh. ind th»t Lb*es/tb will b* renewed ind 
receive its ptradieiictl glorr. 

11. Wi tliim Lb*. ph'tlece of vortbiplntf Alffllfhty Qod 
SecvrdiDf to the dktitei of oar rc-nirl no?*, And 4ll*w ill 
ALSO Uttuot prJTLJ*(,* b Jet thfOi wo-rihip haw, where, or "h»i 

IX We believe ia balnf sabjoet to Mags, prosMoats. ralara, 
aad BMftjatrata* ; la obaylag, honoring aad sastaiaiag the lav. 
,UL«Wa balieva in boiac honest, trae, ehasta. banavolank 



W bops mi things," we have endnred many things, I 
•abeabletoeaaorealltbiags. If there is aaythTag rirsaeea. 



Union' Pacific Railroad. 

Another Portland train. Two trains 
daily. Effective April 22, the Union Pa- 
cific, Oregon Short Line and Chicago 
Railroad and Navigation company will 
place in service an additional Portland 
train. 

This train, "The Pacific Express," will 
leave Kansas Oity 10:40 a. m. Only 
three d*iys on the road. 

Equipped with Palace Sleepers. Free 
Reclining Chair Cars, ordinary Sleeping 
Car, Dining Car Service (to Granger). 

The time of the present Portland train, 
"The Overland Limited," leaving Kansas 
City 6:40 p. m., will be reduced 2 hours 
nnd 45 minutes between Granger and 
Portland. 

Only 69 hours Kansas City to Port- 
land. 

Palace Sleeping Cars, Dining Car Ser- 
vice, Buffet Cars, Chair Cars. 

For time tables, folders, illustrated 
books, pamphlets descriptive of the ter- 
ritory traversed, address J. F. Aglar, 
general agent, St. Louis, Mo. 



IMMORTALITY. 

It is almost universally accepted in 
what is known as the scientific and re- 
ligious world, that the spirit or soul of 
man is immortal — not born to die. While 
this acceptance and belief is common in 
c general sense, still there are some few 
who contend otherwise; arguing that the 
spirit -only lives while the physical organ- 
ism—the body— is active, that is, between 
mortal birth and bodily death, then ceas- 
ing to be active until the resurrection of 
the dead; at which time, be they wicked 
and sinful, they are utterly destroyed, 
completely annihilated, stamped with the 
terrible "Forever" as an infliction of 
judgment. 

In the investigation of this subject- 
immortality— we should not deign to 
spurn or deride the belief of others who 
may differ with us, but be candid and 
fair towards all, looking at the evidences 
adduced from reason and revelation with 
an untrammeled and unbiased mind, that 
we may ascertain whether our views are 
well founded and securely established 
upon a true basis. Upon all subjects and 
inquiries the mind requires the absolute 
truth, and more especially with regard 
to spiritual and eternal things; so is it 
the case with the question now under 
discussion, the truth of the matter is 
what we want, it is the desirable and es- 
sential matter requisite to a proper un- 
derstanding. Error is of no value or 
worth to anyone, and upon matters of in- 
terest and importance it is the truth we 
should earnestly strive to obtain. All 
truth is an achievement. If one would 
have truth at its full value, let them win 
it by study, research, prayer and faith. 
The words of the Lord Jesus are. "Seek 
and ye shall find." "Seek ye first the 
kingdom of God," etc. This verb "Seek" 
means for us to look for, go in search of, 
dig, delve, explore, study, etc., and by 
this injunction, "seek," we are given to 
know that we are not merely here to see 
and hear truth, but individualities in a 
real world, to seek and achieve it. 

The first inquiry we make is: Do the 
Scriptures, confirmed by reason, teach 
that the spirit of man is immortal? Does 
his primeval conscious existence begin 
with the present life, and end with it, to 
be revived no more forever, as taught by 
the Sadducees and by Atheists? ^ Is the 
spirit conscious and alive only while man 
is a physically organized being, between 
his birth and death, then ceasing to live 
until the resurrection of the dead, as the 
Adventists declare? Does the spiritual 
life begin at mortal birth, never to end, 
not even at death, as is the common be- 
lief at the present day, among the sects 
called Christians? Or is it an intelligent 
entity, the offspring of Deity, which ex- 
isted with God in the eternities before 
the worlds were framed, and is destined 
to live on even when the mortal body be- 
comes inanimate, by reason of the spirit 
having taken its heavenward flight? 

According to the Scriptures we are led 
to accept the latter theory, that is, that 
the spirit is an intelligent entity, the off- 
spring of Deity, etc. That our spirits are 
the offspring of God, is plainly enunci- 
ated by the Apostle Paul, who addressed 
the Athenians thus: "Forasmuch then 
as we are the offspring of God, we ought 
not to think that the Godhead is like 
unto gold, or silver, or stone, graven by 
art and man's device." (Acts 17:29.) 
Could we desire a more explicit and clear- 
ly defined statement than these words 
spoken by Paul? We think not, and in- 
as much as they are true let us examine 
by the aid of the Scriptures into the na- 
ture of that Great and Holy One, of 



whom we all are offspring. Inasmuch 
as like begets like, may we not consist- 
ently believe that our spirits will possess 
the same qualities and characteristics as 
are found in the nature and attributes of 
God? That the Apostle referred to our 
spirits as the "offspring of God," and 
not our mortal bodies, is evident from 
his words to the Hebrews: "Further- 
more, we have had fathers of our flesh 
which corrected us, and we gave them 
reverence; shall we not much rather be 
in subjection unto the Father of 
spirits, and live?" (Heb. 12:9.) From 
this, then, we are given to understanding 
and believe that we are the offspring of 
God, and He is the Father of our spir- 
its. 

Xow let us see what the "law and the 
testimony" has to say relative to His na- 
ture and the duration of His power and 
attributes. We will quote but a very 
few of the many passages found in Holy 
Writ: "But the mercy of the Lord is 
from everlasting to everlasting upon 
them that fear Him." (Psalms 103:17.) 
"Before the mountains were brought 
forth, or even thou hadst formed the 
earth and the world, even from everlast- 
ing to everlasting Thou art God." (Psalms 
90:2.) "And Thou, Lord, in the begin- 
ning, hast laid the foundation of the 
earth; and the heavens are the works of 
thine hands; they shall perish, but Thou 
remainest; and they shall all wax old as 
doth a garment, and as a vesture shalt 
Thou fold them up, and they shall be 
changed; but Thou art the same, and 
Thy years shall not fail." (Heb. 1:10-12.) 
"Every good gift and every perfect gift 
is from above, and cometh down from 
the Father of lights, with whom is no 
variableness, neither shadow of turning." 
(James 1:17.) "For I am the Lord, I 
change not; therefore ye sons of Jacob 
are not consumed." (Mai. 3:6.) 

The passages above quoted are all suf- 
ficient (to the ardent believer in the Bi- 
ble, at least,) to prove that our Father, 
God, is eternal, everlasting, unchangea- 
ble; that He was God before the worlds 
were made, and that He remained the 
same Almighty Ruler after the forma- 
tion of the earth. This being true, and 
inasmuch as we are the offspring of God, 
is it at all unreasonable or irrational for 
us to believe that our spirits are immor- 
tal? (We are not dealing with evidence 
to prove the pre-existent state; this will 
follow in another issue.) We think not, 
and we certainly have an abundant array 
of evidence in the word of God to sup- 
port and sustain us in our faith. Jesus 
taught His Apostles to pray after this 
manner: "Our Father who art in 
heaven," etc. Again we are given to un- 
derstand that the relationship existing 
between God and man is identical with 
that of an earthly father to his son, only 
that our heavenly Father is perfect in 
all His holy ways, and our spirits, not 
our bodies, come from Him. 

The wise man, Ecclesiastes, has said, 
speaking of the temporal death, "Then 
shall the dust return to the earth as it 
was ; and the spirit shall return unto God 
who gave it" (Ecclesiastes 12:7.) The 
meaning here conveyed is in strict keep- 
ing with what has already been written— 
"Unto God who gave it," and the same 
writer says, "I know that whatsoever 
God doeth, it shall be forever." "There 
is no man that hath power over the spirit, 
to retain the spirit." We are also given 
to understand that Jesus is our Elder 
Brother, and that we are to be "joint 
heirs" with Him in the kingdom of our 
Father, if we are faithful and true, which 
certainly makes us sons and daughters 



THE SOUTHERN STAB. 



349 



of God. Moreover, the sacred historian, 
Luke, in tracing the genealogy of Joseph, 
the carpenter, takes us back to David, 
Abraham, Noah, and finally to our first 
earthly parent, Adam, whom he calls 
"the son of God." (Luke 3:38.) Are not 
we all descendants of this self-same 
common parent— Adam? Are not we all 
the progeny of those two whom God cre- 
ated in His likeness and image, and 
placed in the Garden of Eden? We 
most assuredly are, and who can deny 
or refute the same from a Bible basis? 
We, too, then, are the sons of God, and 
He is the "Father of spirits." 

There seems to be some little confusion 
in the Scriptures concerning the spirit 
and the soul of man. These two— spirit 
and soul— are oftentimes used as synony- 
mous expressions— to mean one and the 
same thing, when in reality they are very 
diverse, and separate. When man be- 
came a "living soul," according to the 
writings of Moses, he possessed a fleshy 
tabernacle and an immortal spirit— the 
two combined constituting the soul. The 
soul, then, is not the spirit, but consists 
of body and spirit consolidated, and when 
we speak of the souls of men here upon 
the earth, technically and properly speak- 
ing we mean the living mortal being. 
While the two may be combined and 
work harmoniously together, still they 
are separate and distinct from each oth- 
er, performing their prescribed functions. 

That the spirit is a separate, independ- 
ent, real, intelligent entity from that of 
the body, ean be readily seen by using 
an apt illustration or example which all 
may comprehend. Let us imagine our- 
selves in the presence of a corpse — the 
lifeless clay— the inanimate tabernacle of 
flesh and bones, which once moved, was 
active, operative, and buoyant; but now 
lies motionless, silent, still— released from 
the actions of mortal life. As we gaze 
upon the dead body our natural eyes be- 
hold every part and organ which we ob- 
served in life— the limbs, the eye, the ear, 
the mouth and the tongue; furthermore, 
were we to dissect the anatomy and view 
the internal regions, we would find the 
lobes and cells of the brain exact in their 
correct locations, the heart in its proper 
cavity, the lungs and all the vital organs 
in their adapted places, and still life is 
extinct, and death reigns supreme. It 
matters not how perfect a picture may 
be formed upon the retina of the eye, it 
is sightless— nothing is seen; no matter 
how complete a vibration may be .pro- 
duced upon the drum of the ear, nothing 
is heard. There is neither light for the 
eyes, music for the ears, words for the 
tongue, or thoughts for the mind. What 
is the matter? Why such a radical 
change, and yet all parts of the physical 
organism visible as they were when the 
blood coursed through the veins and the 
heart beat in life? We say that the spir- 
it has taken its flight; yea, it has re- 
turned to God who gave it, hence the 
lifeless clay, the inanimate body. 

It follows, then, that this spiritual or- 
ganism was that part of the living soul, 
which sees and hears and feels, which 
suffers and enjoys, which thinks and wills 
and executes; which is, in short, the life, 
light, and intelligence of the whole being. 
It came from an immortal Father, took 
upon itself a mortal body of flesh ' and 
bones, and when the time appointed for 
the body to die, to decay, and pass to 
the dust from whence it came, arrives, 
the spirit takes its heavenward flight and 
returns to God who gave it. Is not this 
reasonable, philosophical, and above all 
Scriptural? 

The Scriptures having furnished such 
valuable evidence and testimony relative 



to the immortality of the spirit, we need 
not turn to science for aid and endorse- 
ment, although philosophy and meta- 
physics join hands with the great truths 
of the Bible in declaring the spirit of man 
immortal. One very learned writer says, 
"The soul is a simple, spiritual essence, 
immaterial, uncompounded, and indivisi- 
ble," and H. W. Beecher remarked, "It 
is formless, shadowless; no eye beholds 
it, no hand handles it, no pencil may 
trace its lineaments." A more complete 
definition of Nothing could not be given 
than the above. What they term the soul 
is in reality the spirit, as heretofore stat- 
ed. To define the spirit as an immaterial 
essence is a contradiction in terms, since 
all spirit is matter. The spirit of mortal 
man is pure and fine beyond the percepti- 
bility of mortal eyes, or the comprehen- 
sion of the human mind; but nevertheless 
we need not suppose that it is "formless, 
shadowless," etc. When our bodies are 
purified, and the eyes of our understand- 
ing opened, then shall we see that it is 
all matter with dimensions, form and 
shape, being fashioned and moulded by 
an Eternal Parent. So much for the 
immortality of the spirit. 

The Apostle Paul, in writing to the 
Saints at Corinth, says: "For this cor- 
ruptible must put on incorruption, and 
this mortal must put on immortality." 
(I Cor. 15:53.) Our mortal tabernacles, 
then, will also some day put on immor- 
tality, and this corruptible body become 
incorruptible. We are told that "the life 
of the flesh is in the blood." that is. of 
this mortal flesh. Now the blood is the 
corruptible mortal part of man's flesh, 
and so long as blood flows through the 
veins we are subject unto death; there- 
fore the mortal part is overcome in the 
death of the body, and the immortal 
fluid substituted in the resurrection of 
the dead. When we shall rise in the 
likeness of Christ's resurrection, the mor- 
tal blood will be stricken from our veins, 
and the eternal fluid of God's Holy Spirit 
will course in lieu thereof. 

The spirit of man is immortal, an in- 
telligent entity, not devoid of shape, nor 
destitute of form, and is destined to in- 
habit an immortal body, when the dead 
in Christ shall rise. All attempts to 
prove otherwise are futile, unphilosoph- 
ical, unreasonable, and consequently op- 
posed to facts, common sense, and the 
Bible. Canon Mozley, in his great ser- 
mon on Eternal Life, says, substantially, 
"It does not matter how we came to be 
what we are; we are what we are," and 
Novalis remarks, "Philosophy can bake 
no bread; but she can procure for us God, 
Freedom, Immortality." It is the spirit 
which receives or rejects truth as it may 
be revealed to the human mind; hence 
the absolute necessity of a re-uniting of 
the spirit with the body in order to await 
the judgment, when we are all judged 
according to men in the flesh. The spirit 
transcends the physical. It is not visible 
to the natural eye, but is felt by man, 
for it furnishes him with intelligence, life 
— force, power and ability to act, move, 
and have a being. 

"Life In real, life Is earnest. 

And the grave Is not Its goal; 
Dust thou art. to dust returnest, 

Was not spoken of the soul." 



JONATHAN OWNSBY. 

On the 24th inst. we enjoyed a visit 
from Jonathan Ownsby, whose name will 
be remembered by the many readers of 
the Star, as being identified with the 
martyrdom of Elder Joseph Standing, 
not as the name of a culprit, but as one 
who stood firmly and boldly, and testified 
in the witness* stand against the ruthless 



murderers of a true servant of the Lord 
Jesus Christ. Jonathan Ownsby is now 
in his 77th year, and has faced many 
trials and difficulties during the almost 
four score years he has been upon the 
earth. His form is bent with age and 
toil, but his eye is quick, sharp and keen, 
and his memory has not failed him one 
degree. He talks with ease and appar- 
ent correctness upon the incidents of 
twenty and twenty-two years ago. 

He related the occurrence when he 
met the two Elders upon the "Big Road," 
in the custody of armed mobbers, and 
one could not, from the earnestness and 
positiveness of his statements, doubt the 
veracity of the incident. Mr. Jonathan 
Ownsby had entertained Elder John 
Morgan and Joseph Standing at his home 
near Catoosa Springs, where he conduct- 
ed, on a small scale, a dairy business. He 
says: "I left my home on Monday (Sun- 
day is incorrect) to go over to Joseph 
Conester to buy a cow. When I got there 
I met the two Elders, and Elder Stand- 
ing introduced me to Brother Clawson. 
The Elders left Conester before I did, 
and I was returning home when I met 
them in the hands of the mob. Someone 
asked me if there was anything the mat- 
ter with my horse, and I told them 'No,' 
for, said they, 'We will have it healed by 
laying on of hands." When asked as to 
how the Elders appeared, he said they 
looked calm, resolute and determined. 

He further stated that he heard that 
one of the mobbers was hung in Texas. 
After the trial some of the mobbers be- 
came angry at Mr. Ownsby, or, as he 
himself remarked, "Some of them acted 
the fool, and got mad at me because I 
told the truth." There was a great deal 
of prejudice shown at the trial, but Mr. 
Ownsby was not swayed by threat or 
bribe; he told the truth, told it fearlessly, 
spoke it boldly, and his very bitterest en- 
emies could find no fault or discrepancies 
in his unerring statements. He said that 
the Judge fined him $5 for being fifteen 
minutes late for the trial on one occasion. 
It wag certainly interesting to hear him 
relate the incident, and as we shook his 
hand "good-bye" we felt to say, "God 
bless you." 

Releases and Appointments. 

Releases. 

J. E. Tanner, East Kentucky confer- 
ence. 

Jas. W. Wood, East Kentucky confer- 
ence. 

W. T. Davis, ofiice. 

Frank N. Bleak, Florida conference. 
Appointments. 

Heber C. Kimball, Salt Lake City, 
Utah, to Georgia conference, 

Reuben O. Jackman, Joseph, Utah, tc 
North Kentucky conference. 

A Few Clippings from Washington. 

"Time may unfold more than prudence 
ought to disclose." 

"Few men have virtue to withstand 
the highest bidder." 

"It is to be lamented that great char- 
acters are seldom without a blot." 

"Books are waste paper unless we 
spend in action the wisdom we get from 
them." 

"Without virtue and without integrity 
the finest talents and the most brilliant 
accomplishments can never gain the re- 
spect and conciliate the esteem of the 
truly valuable part of mankind." 

"I require no guard but the affections 
of the people," 

"I consider such easy vehicles of knowl- 
edge more happily calculated than any 
other to preserve the liberty, stimulate 
the industry, and meliorate the morals 
of an enlightened and free people." 



350 



THE SOUTHERN STAB. 



SALVATION FOR THE LIVING AND THE DEAD. 



Liberality of the "Mormon" Faith— A Discourse by Charles W. Penrose, Delivered in 
the Tabernacle, Salt Lake City, Sunday Afternoon, August 19, 1900. 



(Continued from page 342.) 

Gospel 'Will be Preached to Every 
Soul. 

This is a corrupt age. The world is 
full of evil. That perhaps may be con- 
sidered an extravagant term, for there is 
without doubt a great deal of good in the 
world as well as evil; but I mean to say 
that evil abounds everywhere. Take 
your "Christian" cities — those that have 
the most churches and chapels dedicated 
to "Christian" service— and sin, corrup- 
tion, vice, and evils that are unmention- 
able, abound in them. The word of God 
to all people is to repent, and turn from 
iniquity, and come unto the Lord, that 
they may be saved. This Gospel will be 
preached to every nation, tongue and peo- 
ple. The barriers that are now in the 
way of the progress of the servants of 
God will be broken down. War, plague, 
l>estilence, famine, earthquake, the de- 
vouring fire, the cyclone and the whirl- 
wind will be agencies in the hands of an 
offended Deity to open up the way for 
the spread of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. 
Nations that today sit in darkness will 
hear it, and the "Christian" nations will 
hear it; for the word of the Lord is to the 
priest as well as to the people, to the 
king as well as to the peasant, to those 
in high places as well as to those who 
grovel in filth and dirt on the earth or 
beneath its surface. To all people every- 
where this Gospel is to go. Those na- 
tions where it is now impossible to pro- 
claim the Gospel freely will be so over- 
turned in the providences of our Father 
in this fast age, that all nations will be 
opened and the Elders of this Church 
will carry the message to the uttermost 
parts of the earth. 

Now in regard to people who will not 
receive the Gospel when it is presented 
to them. When they reject it, they re- 
ject the Lord. But are they to be ever- 
lastingly lost and destroyed? If so, only 
a few people among the great family of 
the Eternal Father would obtain the 
blessings of salvation. What I will read 
to you from this book relates to the final 
condition of the human race. As I said, 
I will not attempt to read the whole of 
it; it would take too long. I will read 
only a few verses. But I recommend all 
people to read it fully. I consider it the 
most glorious manifestation of light and 
truth concerning the future of mankind 
that has ever been put in print. There is 
nothing in the Bible equal to this mani- 
festation from God, of His plans and 
purposes regarding His children who 
dwell on earth. The first part of this 
revelation contains the statement that 
Joseph Smith and Sidney Rigdon, being 
in the Spirit on the 16th of February, 
1832, were surrounded by His power 
and light, and they beheld the Father 
seated upon His throne, and Jesus 
Christ, His Son, at His right hand, and 
the angels that surround the throne and 
worship before their face. The Lord 
manifested in this vision the conditions 
of the human family in the world to 
come, who will be partakers of the vari- 
ous degrees of glory — the celestial glory, 
the terrestial glory, and the telestial 
glory. The part I wish to read is this: 

"And this Is the Gospel, the glad tidings 
which the voice rut of the heavens bore 
record unto us: * 



"That He came Into the world, even 
Jesus, to be crucified for the world, and to 
bear the sins of the world, and to sanctify 
the world, and to cleanse it from all un- 
righteousness. 

"That through Him all might be saved 
whom the Father had put Into His power 
and made by Him. 

"Who glorifies the Father, and saves all 
the works of His hands, except those sons 
of perdition, who deny the Son after the 
Father has revealed Sim. 

"Wherefore He saves all except them; 
they shall go away into everlasting punls- 
ment, which Is endless punishment, which Is 
eternal punishment, to reign with the devil 
and his angels In eternity, where their worm 
dleth not. and the fire is not quenched, 
which is their torment. 

"And the evil thereof, neither the place 
thereof, nor their torment no man knows." 
(Doctrine and Covenants, section 76, vs. 
40:45.) 

But Few Will Be Lost. 

My friends, the great truth is declared 
in this revelation that Jesus Christ will 
ultimately save ALL mankind, except a 
few who are called the sons of perdition, 
"who deny the Son after the Father has 
revealed Him." This is a very different 
idea of the plan of salvation to that 
which is entertained by most, if not all, 
our "Christian" friends, who say that we 
are very illiberal. They have an idea 
that the Latter-day Saints are very ex- 
clusive and illiberal in their religion. 1 
wish to say here that there is no creed 
in Christendom which is so liberal as that 
which is believed in by the Latter-day 
Saints. We do not hold that all who dif- 
fer with us in regard to the principles 
of salvation will be irretrievably lost. We 
do not consign our "Christian" friends, 
as they do us, to an everlasting hell, to 
frizzle and fry in brimstone and fire 
while eternity comes and goes; not at all. 
We do not believe that our Eternal 
Father will condemn any person who acts 
according to his sincere belief and who 
endeavors, as far as he can, to under- 
stand and practice what is true. The un- 
derstanding and the practice of truth is 
that which exalts; and the time will come 
—according to our faith— when every- 
body who dwells on the earth, and those 
who have dwelt here and have gone 
away, will hear the sound of this one 
Gospel; for, as I said, there can be but 
one Gospel, one way of salvation, and all 
those who do not get into that one way 
are in the broad way. 

There are millions and millions of 
heathens who never heard the name of 
Jesus Christ. What is to become of 
them all? There are millions of Jews 
who reject Jesus Christ as the Savior of 
the world. Are they all to be lost eter- 
nally? They will be, according to the 
doctrines of some of our liberal "Chris- 
tian" friends. According to their doc- 
trines, no one will be saved who does not 
believe in Jesus Christ. And they have 
warrant for that in the Scripture; for 
*^there is none other name given under 
heaven whereby men can be saved than 
the name of Christ Jesus." That being 
true, all who do not hear the name of 
Jesus Christ and believe in Him will be 
condemned. If, therefore, only while 
men dwell in the flesh they may hear the 
name of Christ and have the privilege of 
obeying His Gospel, then the vast ma- 
jority of the human race, the sons and 
daughters of the Eternal God, will be 
doomed to everlasting punishment, ac- 
cording to the modern creeds. But ac- 



cording to what the Lord has shown to 
this Church by revelation, this Gospel 
will be preached to every creature. If 
people do not hear it while they dwell in 
the flesh, they will hear it after they 
leave the body. That is contrary to the 
doctrine of modern Christendom, I am 
aware. It comes right in contact with 
one of the tenets of faith of all "Chris- 
tian" sects. They do not believe in the 
doctrine of preaching to men after they 
are dead. They do not believe that there 
is salvation for mankind after they leave 
tnis body. To use expressions common 
with them, "As the tree falls, so it lies;" 
"as death meets us, so judgment finds 
us;". "There's no repentance in the grave, 
nor pardon offered to the dead." That 
is modern "Christianity." 

Salvation for the Dead. 
But that is not the Christianity of 
Christ. I would direct the attention of 
my friends to the book of the Prophet 
Isaiah. I will not take time to turn to 
it this afternoon. Read the 61st chap- 
ter, 1st verse, and you will find there 
this prophecy concerning the coming of 
the Redeemer: (See also 42nd chapter, 
7th verse.) 

"The Spirit of the Lord God is upon 
me; because the Lord hath anointed me 
to preach good tidings unto the meek; 
He hath sent me to bind up the broken- 
hearted, to proclaim liberty to the cap- 
tives, and the opening of the prison to 
them that are bound; to proclaim the ac- 
ceptable year of the Lord." 

Jesus Christ accepted that as a pre- 
diction concerning Himself, as you will 
read in the Gospel according to St. Luke, 
(iv., 18), by getting up in the synagogue 
on the Sabbath day and reading that 
Scripture to the Jews, testifying that it 
referred to Himself. Jesus, while He 
dwelt in the flesh, preached good tidings 
to the meek. He healed the sick; He 
comforted those that mourned; He bound 
up the broken-hearted. But how about 
proclaiming liberty to the captives, and 
the opening of the prison to them that 
were bound? The Apostle Paul says 
that when Jesus was raised up op high 
"He led captivity captive, and gave 
gifts unto men." How did He lead cap- 
tivity captive? Why, Peter explained it, 
but the eyes of the "Christian" world 
have been closed to it for hundreds of 
years. In the third chapter of the first 
Epistle of Peter, 18-20 vs., we read: 

"For Christ also hath once suffered 
for sins, the just for the unjust, that He 
might bring us to God, being put to 
death in the flesh, but quickened by the 
Spirit; by which also He went." 

Now, mark it. He was put to death 
in the flesh; He was quickened by the 
Spirit; and He went — where? Our 
"Christian" friends say He went up to 
heaven. This is a mistake, because Je- 
sus, after His resurrection, when He ap- 
peared to Mary in the garden, said. 
"Touch me not; for I am not yet ascend- 
ed to my Father." (John xx, 17.) Where 
did He go, Peter? Let us hear what he 
says: 

"By which also He went and preached 
unto the spirits in prison." 

Yes; Isaiah said He should "preach 
deliverance to the captives, and the open- 
ing of the prison to them that were 
bound." He went and preached unto 
the spirits in prison. Whe were they, 
Peter? He tells us: 

"Which sometime were disobedient, 
when once the long-suffering of God 
waited in the days of Noah, while the 
ark was a preparing." 

Now, if we will take that just as it 



THE SOUTHERN STAB. 



351 



stands, and leave out the interpretations 
given by uninspired men and the non- 
sense preachers weave around it to mys- 
tify, we can understand it right enough. 
Jesus Christ was put to death in the 
flesh; He was quickened by the Spirit; 
His body lay in the sepulchre, while He 
went and preached to the spirits in pris- 
on, who had been there since the days of 
the flood. What did He preach to them? 
We can find that out by reading the sixth 
verse of the next chapter of this epistle: 

"For, for this cause was the Gospel 
preached also to them that are dead, 
that they might be judged according to 
men in the flesh, but live according to 
God in the spirit." 

Here is an account of what was 
preached to them and the object of the 
preaching. He preached the Gospel to 
them, the same Gospel that He preached 
in the flesh. He preached it to them 
that they might be judged as meu in the 
flesh are; because they had the same 
Gospel preached to them. They could 
not be judged like men in the flesh unless 
they had the same Gospel preached to 
them as men in the flesh had. The 
heathen who never heard the Gospel 
cannot be judged like those who have 
heard it; but if they hear it in the spirit, 
then they can be judged in the same way 
as other men are judged in the flesh; and 
they may live according to God in the 
spirit, because they can repent and re- 
ceive that Gospel. 

This is clear and plain to those who de- 
sire to understand it. But when men do 
not want the truth; when men live by 
publishing falsehoods; when men preach 
for hire and divine for money, and their 
craft is in danger, they do not want to 
see it, nor do they want their congrega- 
tions to perceive it. We can thus under- 
stand what I read to you just now from 
this modern revelation. Jesus Christ 
died for the sins of the world, and He 
will eventually save all, except a few 
who are called the sons of perdition, who 
deny the Son after the Father has re- 
vealed Him, who sin against the Holy 
Ghost, and against light and truth, and 
who are irredeemable. But all things 
that can be saved will be; for our God 
is a great economist. Everything in His 
universe is put to a good use, and noth- 
ing is lost. Not a particle of matter is 
annihilated. You may burn a substance 
and destroy its present form, but the 
particles thereof remain, the original ele- 
ments abide; they are indestructible, and 
God has a use for them somewhere in 
His universe. Our Heavenly Father 
will save everything that can be saved, 
and He will put it somewhere where it 
can be of use. All His sons and daugh- 
ters, at some time or other in the eternity 
to come, will hear the Gospel, and will 
bow the knee; for as we are told in the 
New Testament, "As I live, saith the 
Lord, every knee shall bow to Me, and 
every tongue shall confess to God." And 
also: "Every tongue shall confess that 
Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God 
the Father." (Philip, ii, 2.) And then 
when they do bow the knee and receive 
Christ as their Redeemer, He will re- 
deem and save them; He will take them 
out of the prison house, and He will lead 
captivity captive, again and again, until 
every son and daughter of Adam's race 
who can be saved will be brought out of 
hell and death, darkness and despair, 
suffering and punishment, and placed 
somewhere where they can enjoy exist- 
ence and glorify their God and be of ben- 
efit to one another. 

(To be continued.) 



Funeral of Elder J. D. Frankland. 

BY WILL SEARS. 

The funeral services of Elder Frank- 
land were held at the Twelfth Ward 
meeting house, Salt Lake City, Utah. 
Sept. 19th, commencing at 2 :30 p. m. 
Many Saints assembled to pay their last 
respects to he who had given his life for 
the cause of truth. ( The casket was lit- 
erally covered with flowers plucked by 
sorrowing hands and tied together as to- 
kens of respect by bonds of love. The 
music furnished by the Temple choir was 
most beautiful. 

The services began by the choir sing- 
ing "Nearer My God to Thee." Prayer 
by Elder James Sharp. Singing, "I Need 
Thee Every Hoar." 

Bishop II. B. Clawson then introduced 
Elder J. S. Sears as the first speaker, 
stating that he had returned home with 
the remains of Elder Frankland. Elder 
Sears said in part: "My brothers and 
sisters, to stand before you at this time 
and bear to you the sad tidings of the 
death of our brother is indeed one of the 
hardest trials of my life. While I speak 
unto you I trust that I may enjoy the in- 
fluence of the Holy Spirit, that I may 
say such things as will comfort the heart 
of the sorrowing wife and those who 
mourn. I first met Elder Frankland when 
he passed through Chattanooga for his 
mission field last April. He impressed 
me as being a noble character; one who 
was humble and obedient to the call made 
upon him. Always ready and willing to 
do that which he was called to do by those 
in authority, he gave his life for the cause 
he loved. Our Lord and Master said, 
'Greater love hath no man than this, that 
a man lay down his life for his friends.' 
Elder Frankland laid down his life for 
his friends; he died in the harness. He 
kept the covenants which he made with 
God, and so ambitious to do his duty was 
he that he would not give up his work 
of sacrifice and love until sickness made 
him unable to go any farther. Even 
while he lay near unto death he did not 
despair, but requested his noble compan- 
ion, Elder Mecham, to write his dear wife 
at home that he would be preaching again 
ere many days had passed. He was faith- 
ful and his reward is sure. We may sor- 
row for him, but we must realize as Lat- 
ter-day Saints that all is well with our 
brother. 

"Everything possible was done to bring 
the body back in safety, that the sorrow- 
ing loved ones might once more gaze upon 
the face of he who had died truly one of 
God's noblemen. The poet has said, 'How 
long we live not years but actions teJl, 
that men live twice who live the first life 
well.' Elder Frankland was but a young 
man, yet he lived this life well. May 
God bless and comfort the wife and may 
all who do mourn take comfort and be 
consoled by the words of our Savior: 
'Blessed are they that mourn ; for they 
shall be comforted/ The Holy Spirit 
will comfort and guide in such times of 
sorrow if we will but ask of God for aid. 
I feel to ask our heavenly Father to bear 
up our sister in this her hour of afflic- 
tion and trial, and I do so in the name of 
Jesus Christ Amen." 

Elder W. H. Boyle was the next speak- 
er. He said: "I was President of the 
South Alabama Conference at the time 
Elder Frankland first came into the mis 
sion field. I had known him before that 
time, however, having met him some five 
or six years ago when we both attended 
school together at Provo. I first heard of 
his sad death from reading of it in the 
'News,' which greatly shocked me. I well 



remember when he first came to Alabama 
I met him and we talked over old times 
and old friends. I heard his first sermon. 
He was filled with the Holy Spirit and 
we had a time of rejoicing together. He 
remarked after the meeting of the good 
spirit which prevailed. He was an ener- 
getic Elder, and I often talked with him 
of the loved ones at home, and promised 
him that I would call on his wife when 
I returned. lie was one of the most 
humble Elders in the Alabama Confer- 
ence and was always found willing to do 
anything asked of him. He gave up his 
life for the Gospel and his reward Is sure. 
He fought the good fight, he kept the 
faith and his reward awaits him on the 
other side. I hope we may all live as 
good a life as he did, that we may receive 
the reward which awaits Elder Frankland. 
I ask these favors in the name of Jesus 
Christ. Amen." 

Elder Seymour B. Young then said, in 
part: "We have before us all that is 
mortal of Elder Frankland. I well re- 
member when he was called to fill a mis- 
sion, he stood ready to respond. He held 
his life sacred and he died the death of a 
soldier of God» battling for the truth. 
He was cut down in the bloom of his 
young manhood, -ne destroyer has taken 
his body, but his spirit has gone to God. 
My heart goes out to his wife and rela- 
tives and we should realize that God has 
an all-wise purpose in view. His wife, 
with the rest of us, must acknowledge 
that God does everything for the best I 
know that our heavenly Father will com- 
fort those who weep, and they will know 
that all is well with Elder Frankland." 

Apostle Mathias F. Cowley then spoke 
as follows: I desire in saying a few 
words to be filled with the Holy Spirit. 
I know that such occasions are sorrow- 
ful, especially to those bereft. In listen- 
ing to the excellent character of Elder 
Frankland as given by Elders Sears and 
Boyle, we know that he was a faithful 
Elder. I was not personally acquainted 
withjiim, but I know that his condition 
is one of glory. He has fought the good 
fight, he has kept the faith, and a crown 
is laid up for him. While we mourn his 
loss, if we could but penetrate with our 
eyes to the other side of the vale, we 
would see that his lot is a very happy 
one. He has laid down his life for the 
Gospel's sake. We cannot understand 
just why he or anyone else is taken to 
the other side. These things are beyond 
our understanding. When a man has 
lived his life and carried the Gospel to 
mankind, all is well with him. If we 
could understand all things as God under- 
stands, we would rejoice to behold the 
glorious position which our departed 
brother will occupy. He has only laid 
down his body for a short rest, and he 
has won the victory over death and hell. 
We have very little occasion to mourn 
for him, but we should weep for the liv- 
ing. We have not finished the fight yet; 
there is a possibility of us losing the 
faith and falling. When he had his 
companion write to his wife and tell her 
he would be preaching again in a few 
days he told the truth. The Gospel must 
be preached in the spirit world, and Elder 
Frankland has been called for that mis- 
sion. My brothers and sisters, I rejoice 
in the record of such men, and can say 
this Elder will come forth in the first 
resurrection. He is one of those who 
have received God, and his blessings are 
great. 

When the first trump is sounded he 
will be found standing with the faithful 
on the right hand of God. There will be 
no question about Elder Frankland's lot. 



.V>2 


THE SOUTHttfcN STAR. 






REPORT OF MISSION CONFERENCES FOR WEEK ENDING SEPT. 8, 1900. 



PftSSMKUT 



Geo. A. Adama, 

Heber S, Olson 

J. G, Bolton w 

J, Spencer Woralcy 

W. D. Bench&r 

A. C. Strong *., „, 

John H. Baakhead.,..* 

John Reeve ......... , 

•I, M- Haws ,.., 

d K, Humphreys 



LOSPKRtKCl 



G. M, Porter. Bti — t- r i ^vi 



W. W. MacKay,, 
F. H. Critchfleld.. 
It. .L. Houtz ......... 

Don < . Benaon.., 
L, M, Nebeker ..... 

H. Z. Lnnd. 



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Virginia. . ...., . 

Kentucky _.. 

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Georgia , , 

North Alabama _ 

Florida 

Iff 4. Tennessee .. 

North Carolina.*, 

South Carol Jim * 



Eaat Kentucky... 
Louisiana 
Bouth Alahama 
North Ken lucky 
South Obio„.. T ... 
North Ohio „ 



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rtweet Gum, Van Buren Co 
Kic-hniond, Bol 388 _ 

Centre , „ „. 

Charlotta „,„„ 

Boweravilta 

Memphis Box 158,,,,. 

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Lapine ^ rt .. .......■,„..„„.. .... 

lo» W.Gray St., Louisville 
638 Rutts St., Cincinnati .., 
41 Cheshire St,, Cleveland 



STATE 



Tenn 

Virginia 
Kentucky 
N . Carolina 
Georgia 
XtttlfeNMM 

iivHirgia 

Tennessee 

N . Carolina 

s. Carolina 

M'S-Hiasipui 

Kcnuicky 

Louisiana 

Alabama 

Kentucky 

Ohio 

Ohio 



All is well with him. We should feel to 
honor such men. He has done a good 
work and been called to the other side. 
Presideut Woodruff once said, **I do not 
feel to mourn for those who die in the 
faith. All is well with them. We should 
have joy in thinking of them." It is bet- 
ter that we die in the faith than that we 
have worldly wealth and honor, if by do- 
ing so we must lose one grain of the 
good. God expects us to do our duty at 
all times. 

Elder Frankland was a wealthy man. 
I care not what worldly means he may 
have possessed. If he did not even have 
a house of his own or a foot of ground 
or a cent on earth, he was a wealthy 
man. His riches were not in worldly 
things, but treasures laid up in heaven. 
He died in the faith, and we are ex- 
pected to do our duty at all times, that 
our reward may also be the crown of 
righteousness. 

Sister Patten then sang "Beautiful 
City." 

Apostle Brigham Young, in arising to 
speak, said he did not propose to occupy 
much time. We have heard the words 
of comfort which have already been 
spoken, and it should make us feel* con- 
soled. I knew Elder Frankland as a 
faithful, upright man in the community 
in which he dwelled. He has a glorious 
future opened before him, and has been 
called to do a great work. He has won 
a great fight. We should all feel it one 
of the happiest things to lay down our 
lives as he has done. He has died, as 
you might say, a martyr for the Gospel 
he loved so dear. Brother Frankland 
was a good neighbor. He was a good 
citizen, and he was a faithful man. 
While sitting here I was led to think 
that Elder Frankland was wanted on 
the other side to do a great work. He 
went into the mission field to better pre- 
pare himself for it. He has gone to 
labor with those who have died. We 
should look to ourselves. Are we pre- 
pared to face our God and account for 
the deeds done here on earth? These 
are important questions. We should pre- 
pare ourselves now. We know not when 
we may be called as was our brother. In 
closing, I wish to extend my sympathy 
to the bereaved. They should feel com- 
forted in knowing that he fought a good 
fight and is now with the sanctified. 
AVith these few remarks I will close, 
praying the blessings of the Lord to rest 
down on us all. Amen. 

Singing by the choir, after which 
prayer was offered by Elder John 
Nicholson. The following brethren acted 
as pall-bearers: W. H. Boyle, Joseph 
Christenson, T. A. Williams. N. G. 
Stringham, J. S. Sears, J. G. Midgley, 
G. B. Freeze, and F. M. Atkins. At the 
City Cemetery the grave was dedicated 



to the Lord by Apostle Mathias F. Cow- 
ley. 

President Rich, not being able to at- 
tend the funeral services on account of 
deficiency in the operator's room, wired 
the following: 

Rexburg, Ida., Sept. 19, 1900. 
Elder J. S. Sears, Twelfth Ward Chapel, 

Salt Lake, Utah. 

Message received just now announcing 
funeral today. Message sent yesterday 
and not received here until today. Please 
explain my sorrow in not being there. 
Will arrive Salt Lake in morning. Meet 
me. Ben E. Rich. 



GLEANINGS. 



Bowman, S. C. 

As the letters of others have been a 
great help to me, I wish to say a few 
words in regard to the Latter-day Saints, 
that those who are earnestly seeking the 
truth may know that they are the true 
servants of God. The first Mormon El- 
ders that I ever met were Elders Ray 
Mecham and N. C. Jensen. In April, 
1899, they called at our house and in- 
formed us that they would preach at our 
school house that night. I went, not ex- 
pecting to hear anything worth hearing, 
but to my surprise I heard the Gospel of 
Jesus Christ preached in its purity for 
the first time in my life. It went straight 
to my heart, and although opposed on 
every side, 1 was determined to investi- 
gate their doctrine. By reading the Bi- 
ble and humble prayer I found that the 
Elders taught the same doctrine that was 
taught by Jesus and His Apostles while 
here on earth. I had been a member of 
the Baptist church for a number of years, 
had tried to live a Christian life, but felt 
that something was lacking. I was satis- 
fied now that I had found the Church of 
Christ; still for a. time I was very, un- 
happy. I felt that I could not bear the 
persecution and the name of Mormon. 
But finally made up my mind to do what 
was right, let the consequence follow. 

On the 23d of May, 1900, I was bap- 
tized by Elder Ray Mecham, and rejoice 
in saying the message delivered by these 
humble servants of God has carried me 
from darkness into the light. I am 
scorned by those that once loved me, but 
feel assured that strength will be given 
me to bear up under all circumstances, 
and know if I endure to the end I will be 
saved. Your sister in Christ, 

Julia Bair. 



Holmesville, Ga., Sept. 12, 1900. 
Please allow me space in your paper 
to give my testimony concerning the 
truthfulness of the Gospel. I was a mem- 
ber of the Missionary Baptist Church 
three years. I was not contented. I 
would read the Bible and try to convince 



myself, but found it impossible. I could 
not see why they did not have a Church 
like the Church Christ established while 
He was here on earth with the people. I 
did not know there was such a Church 
as the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter- 
day Saints until two years ago last Feb- 
ruary. My sister met with two Elders 
at a neighbor's house, and when she came 
home she said she saw two Mormon El- 
ders and she believed they were God's 
humble servants, traveling "without 
purse or scrip." In June, 1898, they held 
meetings in the school house. I. did not 
go myself, but some of the family did, 
two of my nieces and my sister-in-law. 
My brother told her to bring the Elders 
home with her to preach for him. On 
June 12th they came to brother's and 
preached the precious Gospel of Jesus 
Christ, and I was able to realize they 
did. I felt like my heart was relieved of 
its burden, and I then began to read the 
literature. I read their tracts, Voice of 
Warning, Mr. Durant, Book of Mor- 
mon, Doctrine and Covenants, which I be- 
lieve is the revelations of a true Prophet 
of God. I also read Orson Pratt's work. 
It is a fine instructor. They are books 
which everybody should read and go by. 
After sister was baptized, then the per- 
secutions commenced against the Mor- 
mons. I would tell them I loved the true 
and everlasting Gospel of Jesus Christ 
that was taught by the Mormons. I 
would tell them to read their Bibles, and 
if they lack wisdom, ask it of God that 
giveth to all men and upbraideth not. It 
requires some courage to become a Lat- 
ter-day Saint; they have to endure scorn 
from those whom they thought their best 
friends and associates; you are sure to 
lose some dear friend and loved one that 
is willing to lock arms with you and walk 
down that broad road that leads to de- 
struction, but when you turn to go the 
narrow road that leads to life eternal, 
they will laugh at you. I have been a 
member of the Church of Latter-day 
Saints nearly twenty-one months. I was 
baptized by Elder Tobe Felkers, con- 
firmed by Elder T. J. Chipman. I 
thank God for sending the Elders with 
the everlasting Gospel of Jesus Christ. I 
can truly say that Joseph Smith was a 
true Prophet of God. I am not ashamed 
of the truth. I close, hoping this will 
not visit the waste basket, as it may 
do someone some good. Your sister in 
Christ. Polite Kyle. 

"To know the affinity of tongues seems 
to be one step toward promoting the af- 
finity of nations. Would to God the 
harmony of nations were an object that 
lay nearest to the hearts of sovereigns 
and that the incentives to peace, of 
which commerce and facility of under- 
standing each other are not the most in- 
considerable, might be daily increased." 




"OUT THOUGH WE OB Ah ANGtL ROM HEAVEN .PREACH ANY 
0THEB GOSPEL UNTO YOU THAN THAT WHICH W£ 
HAVE ~ 



PBEACMED UNTO YOU, LET HIM BE A CCURSED »6^/^?<?>^ E 

^fejguA ' 




Qt - 



Vol. 2. 



Chattanooga, Tenn., Saturday, October 6, 1900. 



No. 45. 



Sketch of the Life of Apostle Willard Richards. 



BY APOSTLE MATHIAS F. COWLEY. 



Familiarly known as Dr. Richards, was 
one of the Twelve Apostles from April 
14, 1840, to 1847, when he was chosen 
and sustained as Second Counselor to 
President Brigham Young, which posi- 
tion he occupied until his death in 1854. 
He was born at Hopkinstou, Middlesex 
count y, Massachusetts, 
June 24, 1804, and was 
the son of Joseph and 
Rhoda Richards— his pro- 
genitors being among the 
early settlers of New 
England. His parents 
were religious and early 
impressed their children 
with religious sentiments. 
At the age of 17 he of- 
fered himself for member- 
ship in the Congregational 
church, he having passed 
the ordeal of conversion. 
For some cause his appli- 
cation was disregarded, 
mid this led him to scru- 
tinize more thoroughly the 
tenets of their faith, and 
in fact those of modern 
"Christianity" as a whole. 
The result of his re- 
searches was a most pro- < 

found and emphatic con- 
viction that no sectarian 
church possessed more 
than mere fragments of 
Gospel truth, and were 
destitute of all authority 
to administer the ordi- 
nances of the Gospel. 

With this conviction 
came also the strong pro- 
phetic impression that the 
Lord would in the near 
future restore the Gospel 
and establish His church 
upon the earth by revela- 
tion. With such convic- 
tions from this time on 
Willard Richards held 
himself aloof from all sec- 
tarian churches. If any- 
one asked why, he freely told them his 
impressions and belief, regardless of the 
popular sentiment against such views. 

He learned the Thompsonian system of 
medicine and was practicing his profes- 
sion near the city of Boston when, in 
1835, he providentially found at the home 
of his cousin, Lucy Parker, a copy of 
the Book of Mormon left there by his 
cousin, Elder Brigham Young. Before 
this he had never seen a publication nor 



an Elder of the Church. All he knew of 
the Mormons was from scurrilous news- 
paper reports which simply amounted to 
the statement: "That some boy named 
Smith out west had found a golden Bi- 
ble." When Dr. Richards' opened the 
Book of Mormon regardless of page or 




APOSTLE WILLARD RICHARDS. 

paragraph and knowing nothing of its 
claims, he had read but half a page when 
he exclaimed: "God or the devil has had 
a hand in that book, for man never wrote 
it." In about two weeks he read the 
book through twice, and arose from its 
perusal a witness of the promise that 
whosoever will read the Book of Mormon 
with a prayerful, honest heart shall re- 
ceive a conviction of its truth. Thor- 
oughly satisfied that the record was Di- 



vine, he at once commenced selling his 
stock of medicine and settling his busi- 
ness that he might repair to Kirtlaud, O., 
for a more complete investigation of the 
Church and its doctrines. AVhen he de- 
termined to investigate the truth, he 
was stricken with palsy and suffered 
from this malady during 
the remainder of his life. 
On account of this sick- 
ness his journey to Kirt- 
land was deferred until 
October, 1836. His broth- 
, er, Dr. Levi Richards, 
went with him and at- 
tended him as physician. 
Upon their arrival in 
Kirtland they were most 
cordially received a n d 
cared for by their cousin, 
Brigham Young, and on 
Dec. 31. 183(1. Elder 
Young baptized h i s 
cousin, Dr. Willard Rich- 
ards. He at once cast 
his lot and all his inter- 
ests with the Saints of 
God. 

March G, 1837, he was 
ordained a n Elder b y 
Alva Becman, and in a 
few days was off on a 
mission' to the New Eng- 
land states, from which 
he returned June 11. He 
was not to be idle nor to 
be occupied with worldly 
matters. God ordained 
Willard Richards t o a 
higher purpose. The next 
day following his return 
from his first mission, he 
was blessed and set apart 
by the Prophet of the 
Lord, to go with Ileber 
C. Kimball and assist in 
the introduction of the 
Gospel to the nations of 
Europe. Landing in Great 
Britain, they soon estab- 
lished the Church in Pres 
ton, when Elder Richards was assigned 
to Bedford and vicinity, where he la- 
bored with much success. 

He returned to Preston, and was there 
ordained in conference, April 1, 18J58, a 
High Priest. Upon the return of Apos- 
tles Kimball and Hyde to America, Bro. 
Richards was appointed First Counselor 
to Joseph Fielding in the Presidency of 
the British mission. While in England 
President Kimball baptized a lady named 



354 



THE SOUTHERN STAB. 



Jennietta Richards The day of her bap- 
tism Elder Kimball prophesied to Bro. 
Richards, saying: "Willard, I baptized 
your wfe today/' Wthout any effort to 
fulfill the prophecy, Elder Richards be- 
came attached to this noble lady and she 
was married to him Sept. 24, 1838. In 
1839 he labored successfully in Man- 
chester, BoKon, Preston and several 
other places. July 8, 1838* he was called 
by revelation to be one of the Twelve 
Apostles. To this holy office and caning 
he was ordained in England April 14, 
1840, the first and only Aoostle of this 
dispensation as yet ordained in a foreign 
land. 

When the Millennial Star was estab- 
lished he labored as assistant editor to 
Parley P. Pratt, and performed other 
general duties incidental to the Presi- 
dency of the mission. From Preston 
he moved his family to Manchester in 
February, 1841, and April, the same 
year, returned with others of the Twelve 
to the body of the Church to Nauvoo, 
UK, where they arrived Aug. 16, 1841. 

Bro. Richards, agreeable to counsel, lo- 
cated for the time in Warsaw, a few 
miles from Nauvoo. This was a bitter 
anti-Mormon city, in which was con- 
ducted a scurrilous sheet known as the 
Warsaw Signal. 

Oct. 30, Apostle Richards was elected 
a member of the Nauvoo city council and 
removed to Nauvoo in December, 1841. 
Dec, 13 he was appointed Recorder for 
the Temple, private secretary to Joseph 
the Prophet and general Church clerk. 
Each position he filled with marked abil- 
ity and credit to the cause. 

From this time forth until the martyr- 
dom of the Prophet he was with Joseph, 
keeping his private journal and record- 
ing all important events in Church his- 
tory. Just before the awful tragedy at 
Carthage he entered an important item 
in the Prophet's journal. When the mar- 
tyrdom of Joseph and Hyrum Smith oc- 
curred, Willard Richards, with Apostle 
John Taylor, were in prison with the 
Prophet and Patriarch as their bosom 
friends. When the assault was made 
upon the jail by the infuriated mobo- 
crats, Elders Taylor and Richards stood 
at the door parrying off the intruding 
guns with their walking sticks. When 
Joseph fell from the window, and was 
being slain by his enemies. Apostle Rich- 
ards rushed to the window in the face 
of the muskets on the outside and se- 
cured a glimpse of his dying friend and 
inspired leader. There he stood, with in- 
lent look, gazing upon the Holy Prophet 
of God until he felt assured that the 
noble spirit had taken its flight. He then 
carried the wounded body of his fellow- 
Apostle. John Taylor, into a room of the 
jail, and there remained until the mob 
had fled, panic-stricken, from the scene. 
Elder Richards escaped without so much 
as a "hole in his robe." President Tay- 
lor was seriously wounded with four 
balls. All the Twelve but these two 
were in the east. 

Elder Taylor being wounded, this left 
the burden of responsibility to counsel 
and direct, for the time being, the Saints 
in their terrible troubles, upon Willard 
Richards. But God qualified him for 
the task, and his wise letters of advice 
and personal counsel to the Saints proved 
him to be a man of strength and in- 
spired capacity. His letters of advice 
were timely and indicated under all these 
trials that he was possessed of great 
self-command and deliberate judgment. 
He passed through the trials of the exo- 
dus from Nauvoo, was with the Saints 
in that trying period, and when the pio- 
neer company was made up in the spring 
of 1847, Willard Richards was among 
that honored number. During all these 
vicissitudes he was the Church historian 
and kept an accurate history of the pass- 
ing events. He returned to winter quar- 
ters to assist in caring for and prepar- 
ing the Saints for emigration. While at 
Winter Quarters he was chosen and sus- 
tained as Second Counselor to President 
Brigham Young in the Presidency of 
the Church. On his return to Salt Lake 
Valley he had charge of a large com- 



pany of Saints who reached the valley 
in the fall of 1848. He was active in 
all matters respecting the growth and de- 
velopment of the Saints. In a civil ca- 
pacity, he was secretary ft the provi- 
sional state of Deseret. Subsequently he 
did most of the work of secretary of the 
territory of Utah and presided over the 
legislative council of Utah for a number 
of years. For several years he was post- 
master of Salt Lake City, where he pos- 
sessed the full confidence of the postmas- 
ter general in matters pertaining to 
postal affairs throughout the inter-moun 
tain territories. Relating to the gather- 
ing of the Saints, President Richards was 
a faithful worker in the P. E. Fund com- 
pany, whose mission succeeded in the 
emigration of many thousands. 

He was also the editor of the Deseret 
News, General Historian ( and Church 
Recorder. He was eminently fitted for 
these various responsibilities, for he was 
a gifted man, though modest and unas- 
suming. His rare soundness of judgment 
and tenacious memory were very marked. 
The confidence of the Church in him was 
well expressed in the numerous omces 
and positions of responsibility which he 
held at the time of his decease. Whether 
in ecclesiastical or civil office, he honored 
his calling and served with credit to him- 
self and all concerned. In the First 
Presidency he shed rays of light and 
consolation by wise counsel and kind en- 
couragement administered to the Saints. 
His love for the Truth grew and in- 
creased by obedience to the laws of God 
as the years rolled by. He was a com- 
petent man, in several branches of edu- 
cation, and indeed was better qualified 
for the God-given responsibilities which 
he carried than he himself knew. 

On great occasions his choice attain- 
ments, quickened by the inspiration of 
the Holy Spirit, made him master of the 
situation. Tens of thousands loved 
Apostle Richards and from his inspired 
teachings and counsels drew comfort and 
consolation. He was reserved in his man- 
ner, calm and even-tempered, and a man 
of original and independent thought. 
From the ti.* 4 e he commenced his inves- 
tigation of the Book of Mormon until 
his decease, he suffered more or less from 
palsy. He died at his home in Salt Lake 
City March 11, 1854, leaving a large fam- 
ily, a numerous host of friends and the 
thousands of Latter-day Saints to *eel 
the loss of his departure. He was beloved 
and esteemed by all who knew him and 
passed to the great beyond a witness 
for God with the full assurance of a glo- 
rious resurrection. 



His Fire Was a Converter. 

Brother James A. Smith, a local Elder, 
residing at Seneca, S. C, writes of an in- 
teresting incident which took place in 
Oconee county. South Carolina, some few 
months ago. There was a certain man 
living at Fort Madison who purchased 
some books from the Elders, and began 
to dilligently study the subject of Mor- 
monism. He could find no fault with 
the books, but began to see that some- 
thing was wrong with the different de- 
nominations, and that authority from 
God was not to be found in any of the 
Christian sets, so-called. Fearful lest 
the reading of the books would convert 
him, he decided to burn them, and dis- 
miss the subject of Mormonism from his 
mind; so in accordance with a precon- 
ceived plan he prepared a large fire for 
the purpose of destroying the books. The 
fire was ablaze when he gathered the 
literature and cast it therein, saying, 
"Farewell to the Mormon doctrine." It 
was only a few moments before all that 
was left of the good books was a little 
pile of ashes. 

Thinking all was over, the good brother 
went about his work, but there was a 
something attendant with him that 
seemed to "o^ "You have done wrong," 



and he began to seriously reflect upon 
the foolishness of his act in burning the 
books, and to ask himself, Suppose they 
do contain the fullness of the everlasting 
Gospel, how can I appear before the 
throne of God in the great judgement 
day? What will the Lord require of m* 
for burning those books? It seemed as 
though all the answer he could get to 
these inward interrogations was an im- 
pression that he should repent and be 
baptized, so he decided to follow the 
promptings of the good spirit, and imme- 
diately sent to Chattanooga for Elders 
to come and attend to this initiatory ordi- 
nance. Word was sent to President 
George A. Day, of the South Carolina 
Conference, of the man's request, and 
he assigned Elders R. E. Cleveland and 
James A. Smith (local Elders) to go and 
comply with the converted man's desire. 
These brethren went to Fort Madison 
and baptized into the Church of Jesus 
Christ of Latter-day Saints; thus we 
see that his fire was the means of ac- 
complishing the necessary work of 
causing his conversion. 



Mormon Murdered in Cold Blood. 

Deseret Evening News, Sept. 24. 

The News this morning received the 
following letter from Elder Joseph Hub- 
bard, written from Charleston, W. Va-, 
under date of the 17th inst. : 

"A member of the Church has been 
shot down and murdered in cold blood. 
The victim is John Dempsey, of Eugene, 
W. Va. His slayer was Thomas Clark, 
a Campbellite preacher, wno was his near- 
est neighbor. 

"Dempsey was known as a peaceable 
citizen, and was widely respected. He 
was in every way trying to live the life 
of a true follower of Christ, and was in 
the strict discharge of duty when he met 
his fate. The school house had been or- 
dered closed by the school board, and 
Dempsey was the man chosen to close U. 
The decision did not meet with the ap- 
proval of Clark and, being filled with 
intense hatred toward the "Mormons" and 
toward Dempsey, in particular, he 
watched his chance from a hiding place 
by the roadside, and as Dempsey passed 
he poured the contents of a double-bar 
reled shotgun into his body. 

"Having accomplished the murderous 
deed, for which he had made premeditated 
preparations, -lark ran to his home, 
knelt down and prayed and then fled to 
the woods, where he has been in hiding 
ever since. The Dempsey family has the 
sympathy of the community, and efforts 
are being made to bring the murderer to 
justice. 

"Clark's dislike for everything 'Mor- 
mon* has been most intense, and recently 
he was known to remark that if 'Moi* 
mon' Elders were treated as they should 
be, they would be ridden on rails out of 
the country. But it seems that he had 
in heart a still worse feeling — one that 
caused him to dip his hands in human 
blood. He is one of the ministers who 
has been persecuting the 'Mormon' El- 
ders, and saying all manner of evil against 
them falsely. It is to be hoped that this 
alleged minister of the Gospel of Christ 
will be run down and caught, and that 
law and order will be permitted to take 
their proper course. 

"Mr. Dempsey leaves a grief-stricken 
wife and five children, one of them being 
a babe but a week old at the time the 
murder was committed. He was on the 
way to get the doctor for his wife at the 
time he was shot, and only stopped at the 
school house for a moment to close the 
door." 



THE SOUTHERN STAB. 



355 



RICH WITHOUT MONEY. 

I ought not to allow any man, because he 
has broad lands, to feel that he is rich In 
my presence. 1 ought to make him feel that 
1 can do without his Tlches, that 1 cauuot 
be bought—neither by comfort, neither by 
pride— and, although I be utterly penniless, 
and receiving bread from him, that he Is 
the poor man beside me.— Emerson. 

The habit of measuring everything by 
the yardstick of wealth or fauie has be- 
come so fixed with Americans as to be 
considered a national trait, and it is dif- 
ficult for the majority of us to think of 
a man as successful who ignores wealth 
or feels that there is something worth 
struggling for of infinitely greater value; 
than money. 

We all admit that there should be 
something in a man's life greater than 
his occupation or achievement. But with 
most of us this is but a pleasant theory, 
for in the struggle for position, power or 
wealth, we fail to actualize it in daily 
life. And yet, no matter how we may 
lull our consciences, the great truth, that 
the supreme object of lite, whatever his 
vocation, should be to raise the man to 
his highest power, to develop him along 
the jine of his noblest nature, remains 
undisputed. 

It is one thing to succeed invbusiness 
according to the ordinary acceptation; 
it is another and a totally different thing 
to succeed in life. Many a man has 
failed in business and yet lived a truly 
successful life, because he has lived up 
to his highest ideal. The man who does 
the very best he can under all circum- 
stances, who makes the most of his abil- 
ity and opportunities, who helps his fel- 
low-man whenever it is in his power to 
do so, who gives the best of himself to 
every occasion, who is loyal and true in 
his friendships, kindly, charitable, and 
magnanimous toward all, is a successful 
man, though he may not leave enough 
money to pay his funeral expenses. 

A noble character cannot be developed 
under the shadow of a low, sordid aim. 
The ideal must be high; the purpose, 
strong, worthy and true; or the life will 
be a failure. The man who is constantly 
scheming and planning to get the better 
of his neighbor, to drive a bargain in 
which the advantage will all be on his 
side, can never attain the dignity and 
grandeur of true manhood. 

He is really the richest, the most suc- 
cessful, who enriches his country the 
most, who gives himself with his money, 
who opens wider the door of opportunity 
to those about him, whose beneficence 
and kindness enrich his neighbors. Such 
a man makes every acre of ground in 
his community more valuable, and in- 
creases the wealth of every man who 
lives near him. On the other hand, 
many a millionaire impoverishes his 
whole neighborhood and lessens the value 
of every foot of land in his vicinity. 

He who regards manhood and character 
as the supreme objects of life may not be 
rich in money, but he is rich in a truer 
and better sense; for manhood is above 
all riches and overtops all title, and 
character is greater than any career. 

Refreshing as an oasis or a gushing 
fountain in a dreary desert, is the sight 
of a man in this money-mad age for 
whom the glitter of gold has no attrac- 
tion. Such a one is John Burroughs, that 
great soul who lives near the heart of 
nature, who draws sweetness and 
strength from communion with her, 
whose daily life is rich beyond the wild- 
est dream of the millionaire. 

Mr. Burroughs believes that a man 1? 
a failure, even though he have millions, 
whose mind has been trained in mere 
shrewdness, in alertness to take advan- 
tage of his competitor's weakness, to get 
ahead of others, to be sharp, eagle-eyed 
for the weak place in a rival's armor. 
He sees no success in using as stepping- 
stones to elevation those unfortunates 
who have fallen behind in the race. He 
thinks that the only success worth striv- 
ing for is that which conies from the 
consciousness of growing higher and 



broader and deeper in mental and moral 
power every day, from the daily expand- 
ing and unfolding of the faculties which 
permit the leaven of truth to permeate 
the whole being. 

The great naturalist feels that many a 
man dwarfs his manhood, cramps his in- 
tellect, crushes his aspiration and blurs 
his finer sensibilities in some narrow oc- 
cupation, because, perchance t there may 
be a fortune in it. He thinks that a 
hod-carrier may be infinitely superior to 
the millionaire under whose bricks he 
staggers; that it is a contemptible esti- 
mate of a vocation to look on it as a 
mere means of getting rich; that, if it 
does not develop the higher manhood and 
lead to a larger, nobler life, it is un- 
worthy of the man. 

This nature lover believes that the 
beauty and the sweetness of life are lost 
to the great majority of people who are 
infatuated with the glamour of money. 
He has so trained his eye by close obser- 
vation of the processes of nature that it 
is a perpetual magnifying glass, reveal- 
ing beauties invisible to the uncultivated 
eye. His simple life of high thinking, 

Elain living and careful study, opens to 
im a thousand new avenues of enjoy- 
ment, undreamed of by those who are 
engaged in the pursuit of wealth. 

Here is a man who sees beauty and 
true riches everywhere; who is not blind- 
ed by the glitter of gold; who "worships 
the splendor of God which he sees burst- 
ing through every chink and cranny." 

Like Thoreau, Phillips Brooks, Agassi z 
and Beecher, he sees beauty in the flower, 
glory in the grass, "books in the running 
brooks, sermons in stones, and good in 
everything." 

Tn the quiet forest, beyond the reach 
of the city's din or any artificial noises 
except the distant screech of the locomo- 
tive, this high priest of nature holds 
daily heart-to-heart talks with the great 
goddess at whose shrine he reverently 
worsh ips. — Success. 

Greatness does not consist of much talk- 
ing; doing counts. 

"Do little things now; so shall big things 
come to thee, by and by, asking to be 
done." 

"Don't let your heart grow cold, and you 
shall carry youth with you into the teens 
of your second century." 

Live In the Kingdom of Hope. 

Life is a struggle, a school, a test of 
fitness; no struggle, no school; no school, 
no fitness; nor fitness, no future, either in 
this world or in any that may follow. 
If a man keeps steadily in view, no mat- 
ter what discouragements, what hin- 
drances may bar his way, the end he had 
in view in his creation, sooner or later 
his time will come To be prepared, to 
be honest, to be true, — this is to merit 
success; and, when really and truly mer- 
ited, it is given. 

Let no man despair because of the 

Erejudiced frown of his neighbor. If he 
as within the witness of his own spirit, 
let him believe in himself and live. For, 
if he accepts the judgment of those who 
enter into competition with him, he is 
condemned already. They will damn him 
with faint praise, or, perchance, if more 
honest, give him the coup de grace at 
once and forever. No man of mark has 
ever yet accepted as final the judgment 
of other men regarding himself. Of 
some completed work of his he may, and 
often will, do well to heed the opinion 
of the world; but in himself he will keep 
his faith to the end, sure that somehow, 
somewhere, the brightest visions of his 
youth will yet come true. He must live 
in the Kingdom of Hope. The very air 
of that land is inspiring. All truly great 
men have breathed it. But if one at- 
tempts to follow their example, let him 
be sure of himself— this, first of all. Let 
him not accept the honeyed words of 
friends and relatives, who may possibly 
regard him as very near perfection al- 
ready. No loyal wife or doting mother 
can be trusted here. We must know our- 
selves, as we. are.— John R. Rogers, Gov- 
ernor of Washington, in Success. 

Right makes might.— Lincoln's motto. 
Scatter seeds of sunshine; the world Is 
better for a smile. 



The Habit of Skimming. 

A teacher in the highest grade of the 
grammar schools in New York tells us 
that 50 per cent, of the pupils who come 
to him from the lower grades do not 
end their sentences with periods, or be- 
gin them with capitals. 

The papers of students taking the en- 
trance examinations to even the best col- 
leges of this country show incredible 
blunders in spelling, grammar and other 
elementary branches. The name Cyrus, 
for instance, was spelled in more than 
twenty different ways by students com- 
peting for entrance to Harvard college 
in one year. 

"The manager of an immense busi- 
ness," savs a writer in the Youth's Com- 
panion, '^declares that it costs his house 
$25,000 a year to correct errors in in- 
voices and other papers— mistakes due to 
poor writing and poor English." 

If it costs so much to correct the avoid- 
able blunders of one house, think what 
the aggregate cost of the blundering and 
bungling of the business establishments 
of the whole country must amount to! 

The habit of skimming, of doing things 
in a careless, superficial manner, is one 
of the greatest stumbling-blocks to suc- 
cess, and it is a habit to which young 
Americans are especially prone. In the 
hurry to rush ahead and achieve in 
one year or two what it has taken others, 
perhaps with more ability and more 
power, years and years of patient toil 
and waiting to accomplish, they commit 
blunders and fall into errors which re- 
tard, and, perhaps, indefinitely postpone 
their advancement.— Success. 

"All that you do, do with your might; 
Things done by halves are never done 
right." 

"Character must stand behind and back 
up everything— the sermon, the poem, the 
picture, the play. None of them is worth 
a Straw without It." 



THE DEAD. 

Miss Mary E. Hill, of Springvale, 
Hamblin county, Tenn., departed this 
life July 8th, 1900. She was born on 
Feb. 19th, 1858, and was baptized Oct. 
23d, 1895, by Elders J. R. Halliday and 
R. R. .Tudd, and lived a faithful Latter- 
day Saint. She leaves an aged father 
and mother to mourn her loss. 



An Interesting Letter. 

Water Valley, Miss., June 25, 1900. 
President Ben E. Rich. 

Dear Brother — Allow me a small space 
in your valuable paper in which to bear 
my testimony to the truthfulness of the 
Gospel of Jesus Christ as taught by the 
Elders of the Latter-day Saints. 

I had been thirsting after righteous- 
ness for some time. I was not satisfied 
with the doctrine taught by the so-called 
ministers of Christianity of this land. 
My wants were never satisfied until I 
heard Elders Bigelow and Kempton. I 
know the Gospel they taught emanated 
from God, and was the path marked out 
by our blessed Lord and Savior Jesus 
Christ. I realized they were ordained 
of Jesus Christ to officiate in the ordi- 
nance of the Gospel. Therefore I freely 
accepted their message, and on Dec. 18th. 
1898, I, like the people on the day of 
Pentecost, entered the water of baptism 
that my sins might be washed away; 
that I might walk in the newness of life. 

Since that day I nave had a contented 
mind. I have seen the power of God 
manifested many times. I know that 
Joseph Smith was a Prophet of God, 
and hope my testimony may be strength- 
ened, that I may grow in grace and re- 
main faithful to the end. Your brother 
in the Gospel. A. J. Wrenn. 



'Influence is not government." 



350 



THE SOUTHERN STAR. 




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former as well as present address, by postal card or 
letter. 



Entered at the Poet (Mce at Chattanooga, Tenn., at 
teeona dam matter. 



Correspondence from all parts 'of the missionary 
field is solicited. Give name and address, or articles 
will be rejected. Write on one side of paper only 
when sent for publication. We reserve the right to 
either eliminate or reject any communication sent in. 
Address Box to? 



Satubday, October 6, 1900. 



ARTICLES OF FAITH 

OF THE CHURCH OP JESUS CHRIST OP 
LATTER-DAY SAINTS. 

1, fc> Wli«f* in «od th* Euro ■ J Father, and ■ & BE. fl*» 
JmiCfeript, and la lha Elalj GhoiL 

JL W| b«Ht** that Jneo wi\\ h#i panilhtd for Ibciraw 
•iai. and ant for Adtm'i traD»gr«*iDD> 

3, W# b«U*Ta that, thrcnih the atonement of Chhit, ill 
in ib kind (Mjr tt Uvld, by a bedJaiica l. th* Jaw« *od ordj. 
OBBfel Of th* Gd#p(t. 

4. Wj tntiaro chut th* Ant principle! and *vr<J>rnnr« of 
tht Oo*p*l ira: FEnt, Faith in th* Lord JriufObriit; atcoEid. 
B«pflncin«- third, Bapliam b,T fmmenirm *nr th* rtttilMlou 
of iltia; fourth, Laying 4b aj Hinds for ihe Gift of ih* Holr 

L W# bailor* that * mm moat ha railed of Ood, tiy 
** prophecj, and for th* lajjnj qd of band*," Or I hot* who irq 
In WtiOfLty, to preach Lbe iwp*] Had id mi nl iter in, th* ordi. 
ninctl thfTi».ir. 

fl. Wo hfllintn in that umi Or«i niitCina [hit «*itUd tn 
th* prlaitiv* church— nimtlf, Apotttai, frophota, Puton* 
Teachtfi, ETin[eti«U, etc 

7, W* btliftvftiD the gifloMongo**, prophecy, r*Telaticnij 
Tiiiont, baalJrrE/, Interpret it ica of (onpin 4 elfi. 

g. W* bahtv* ih» Bibt* (o ta th* rord ef God, ■■ far ull 
f| IriniJited correctly ; we iJio bet i eve th* Hook of Mormon 
to b* th* word of God. 

9. Wo bclicTa all that Sod fan rebelled, *]J that He doe* 
bow fcjt*i|, and *fl bnHr*o that H« will fet repeat many f»ik 
ami important Eninn pertaining Eo Ih* KtrtdOTn of OwL 

JO. W* b*1ic>w4 ifl th* literal palherFnjj of [trial a*d IB th* 
r**toritinn of [ho Tea Tribal ; Chat £ioa *|]J tw built npaq 
(.hit ( the A ttj*t i ti n ) continent J that Chriit vilL rel^U parMJo- 
allf npnn the earth, and tbal tb***rth wU\ b* renewed and 
reteira if* paradisLicaJ glory, 

IX. Wh claim Uto prMl«n* of worshiping ATmifhty God 
*ccotdiQf to the dictates m crfjr {oiwkeno*. and; alien* all 
■an th* he* prirUrps let ihrm wnrihin bo* L wh*ra, or what 

II W* baMara in Mng rabjeet to kino, pre*! drats. ruteft, 
•od BMdstntM ; in obeyiog, honorinf sod sMttieiog Um law. 
lt.eW* bell*** Id being honeat, iron, chaatt, ben*ToUot, 
virtnont. and in doing good to all sran ; indoed, w* may aaj 
that w* follow tha admonition of Panl, »W* b«li*T* all things 
»• bop* all things," w* bar* andnrod many thinga, and nope 
» ba abla to •odor* all thing*. If thara la anything virtnaae, 
lj, or of good rajport or prsiaavorthj. «• aaak aflar these 
— "-"* UTH-. 



Union Pacific Railroad. 

Another Portland train. Two trains 
daily. Effective April 22, the Union Pa- 
cific, ' Oregon Short Line and Chicago 
Railroad and Navigation company will 
place in service an additional Portland 
train. 

This train, "The Pacific Express," will 
leave Kansas Oity 10:40 a. m. Only 
three days on the road. 

Equipped with Palace Sleepers. Free 
Reclining Chair Cars, ordinary Steeping 
Car, Dining Car Service (to Granger). 

The time of the present Portland train, 
"The Overland Limited," leaving Kansas 
City 6:40 p. m., will be reduced 2 hours 
and 45 minutes between Granger and 
Portland. 

Only 60 hours Kansas City to Port- 
land. 

Palace Sleeping Cars, Dining Car Ser- 
vice, Buffet Cars, Chair Cars. 

For time tables, folders, illustrated 
books, pamphlets descriptive of the ter- 
ritory traversed, address J. F. Aglar, 
general agent, St. Louis, Mo. 



PRE-KXISTKNCE. 

Sir Henry Drummond, speaking on 
Biogenesis, says: "For two hundred 
years the scientific world has been rent 
with discussions upon the origin of life. 
Two great schools have defended exactly 
opposite views— one that matter can 
spontaneously generate life, the other 
that life cau only come from pre-exist- 
ing life." The advocates of the former 
doctrine, that life can be generated 
spontaneously, have been forced to aban- 
don their views, for it has been proven 
by demonstration and test that life is 
not capable of springing into being of 
itself: it must have an antecedent. 

While science has awakened the world 
to a realization of these facts, revelation 
has not been silent, but her voice is also 
heard declaring in corroborative language 
the selfsame assertions as those discov- 
ered by scientific research; indeed we 
may go farther, and show that while 
philosophic giants were wrestling with 
t—s subject of the origin of life, the 
won. of God — the Holy Bible — laid bare 
the facts in the case, and to these Bibli- 
cal statements, science has been forced 
to bow in acquiescence. 

Tne beauty and worth of truth is that 
it never changes, and that sooner or 
later it will win the day. Now here was 
a grand truth, plainly declared by God 
to His ancient servants, the Prophets, 
and within the reach and study of all 
for hundreds of years. It was not ac- 
cepted by the world for a long season; 
on the contrary it was vigorously op- 
posed on every hand, and the limited few 
wno dared to even intimate of its possi- 
bility were accounted fanatics, and 
branded as fools, knaves, and impostors. 
Bye and bye the field of scientific knowl- 
edge began to deepen, widen, and broad- 
en. Liberty and freedom to express 
opinions were granted, and the intellec- 
tual mind of man began to solve some 
very startling problems. Among the 
many solutions of what seemed hereto- 
fore insolvable, came the proof and dem- 
onstration of the doctrine called in 
science — Biogenesis; that is. that life 
can only come from the touch of life. 

Experiments have proven the doctrine 
ol Biogenesis to be a scientific fact, on 
this wise; Hass vessels were three parts 
failed witn infusions of hay or any or- 
ganic matter. They were then boiled 
to kill all germs of life, and hermetically 
sealed to exclude the outer air, with a 
precaution to insure absolute sterility, 
suggested by the most recent science dis- 
covered by Professor Tyndall. The ex- 
periment was manipulated in an atmos- 
phere which under the high test of opti- 
cal purity — the most delicate known test 
— was absolutely germless. Here not a 
vestige of life appeared— the matter in 
the germless* air never yielding life. Now 
if this be true in the lower and simpler 
forms of life, is it not also self-evident 
that such will be verily true in the higher 
and more complex forms? Yes, it is 
true of all life; whether it be generated 
in the one-celled Amoeba, or in the mul- 
tiplicity of cells which constitute the hu- 
man organism. 

These experiments have viitually solved 
the problem, and practically closed the 
question, so far as the surface is con- 
cerned: that which can be traced by the 
aid of the microscope, or dissected by the 
application of the scalpel, has brought 
about this one acceptable, logical conclu- 
sion, that life can only come from the 
touch or life. Professor Tyndall rather 
reluctantly, but truthfully asserts: "I 
affirm thtat no shred of trustworthy ex- 



perimental testimony exists to prove that 
We in our day has ever appeared inde- 
pendently of antecedent life," and the 
learned Thomas Huxley states in very 
positive terms that the doctrine of Bio- 
genesis, or life only from life, is "victo- 
rious along the whole line of the present 
day." Now while science deals with the 
grosser matter, revelation gives us a 
testimony of the finer: that which is be- 
yond the ken of mortal man, the spirit. 

We have said, heretofore, that the 
Holy Bible, that wonderful "Book of 
Books," gave evidence upon its sacred 
pages, of the great truths which science 
has recently discovered. Let us proceed 
to the facts. Ecclesiastes, the wise man, 
sayeth, "There is no new thing under 
the sun," and science affirms that all 
things have had a pre-existence in some 
state or other. Newton did not make the 
law of gravitation, he simply discovered 
its existence and power: as also Benja- 
min Franklin with his kite exploits dis- 
covered that electricity was but a dis- 
charge of lightning. Science does not 
create or make anything, she simply ex- 
plores the realms, unites the varied dis- 
coveries made, and brings to pass the 
wonderful results which puzzle the mind 
of man to comprehend. Now it is a self- 
evident fact that that which is con- 
structed by man can also be controlled 
by man. That which the mortal has 
power to bring into existence, and to 
cause to live, he can also destroy and 
cause to die. 

When our Father placed our first par- 
ents, Adam and Eve, in the Garden of 
Eden, they were immortal souls, not 
subject unto the pangs of death. The 
law of God unto them was, "Of every 
tree in the garden thou mayest freely 
eat; but of the tree of the knowledge of 
good and evil, thou shalt not eat: for in 
tne day that thou eatest thereof thou 
shalt surely die." From this it is plain 
that they were immortal, or why the 
penalty of death to follow as an infliction 
for the violation of the law, if they were 
not immortal? They fell, and became 
mortal, subject unto death with all its 
woes and misery, and their offspring as 
a natural consequence became mortal 
also. Cain, the first murderer, rose up 
and slew his brother, when the Lord 
said. "What hast thou done? The voice 
of thy brother's blood crieth unto me 
from the ground." The bodies of those 
two sons — Cain and Abel — came into ex- 
istence by virtue of the conjugal rela- 
tionship of their parents— Adam and 
Eve — therefore man had power to de- 
stroy these bodies, seeing they were the 
workmanship of mortal man. But there 
was a something connected with that 
body that Cain did not kill, for God said. 
'The voice of thy brother's blood crieth 
unto me," etc. Then this "voice" came 
from a higher source, inasmuch as it was 
beyond the power of man to destroy it. 
Man may slay his fellow-man, or destroy 
his own body by self-murder, but he can- 
not kill the spirit; herein we perceive the 
truthfulness of that Scripture which 
sayeth, "There is no man that hath pow- 
er over the spirit to retain the spirit," 
(Eccles. 8:8) and why. because the spirit 
is the "offspring of God," and is many 
years older than the mortal tabernacle. 
He who gave that spirit has power to 
destroy it, and He alone. Jesus said. 
"Fear not them which kill the body, but 
are not able to kill the soul: but rather 
fear Him which is able to destroy both 
body and soul in hell." (Matt. 10:28.) 

That which science cannot handle it 
cannot prove by demonstration: that 
which is beyond the bounds of its com- 
pass, the scientist designates as myste- 



THE SOUTHERN STAB. 



867 



rious, ^indefinable, incomprehensible. The 
spirit of man cannot be bared to the 
scalpel, or mounted for the lens, hence 
it is beyond the conception of the sci- 
entist, and science must therefore re- 
main silent, while revelation speaks and 
makes known the facts as regards its 
present and pre-existent state. To the 
Prophet Jeremiah the Lord said, "Before 
I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; 
and before thou earnest forth out of the 
womb I sanctified thee; and I ordained 
thee a Prophet .unto the nations.** (Jer. 
1:5.) Let science learn her lesson con- 
cerning the spirit at the shrine of reve- 
lation. The Lord knew Jeremiah before 
his immortal spirit was incased in a 
mortal body. Knew his faithfulness, his 
fidelity, his valor, and worth, and or- 
dained him a "Prophet unto the na- 
tions." Jeremiah then had an existence 
before his mortal probation, for God 
said, "I knew thee.*' The patient Job 
was also made the recipient of divine 
communication, for unto him the Lord 
said, "Gird up now thy lions like a man; 
for I will demand of thee, and answer 
thou me. Where was thou when I laid 
the foundations of the earth? declare if 
thou hast understanding. • • • • 
When the morning stars sang together, 
and all the sons of God shouted for joy?" 
(Job 38:3, 7.) Job evidently had an ex- 
istence, or why would the Lord say, 
"Where wast thou?" What need was 
there for this interrogation if his primal 
existence, both body and spirit, com- 
menced with his inception into mortal- 
ity? None whatever! It would be 
a* foolish and absurd question, 
and God has told us to "avoid 
foolish questions," (II Tim. 2:23), 
and surely He would not condemn them, 
and at the same time indulge therein 
Himself. No, we cannot believe this, 
but we do believe that Job was there 
with his Father when the "foundations 
of the earth were laid," for we read that 
"all the sous of God shouted for joy." 
Not a few, but all, says the good word. 

John the Itevelator. and called also 
"the beloved Apostle of the Lamb," in 
vision upon the Lord's day, tells us that 
"There was war in heaven; Michael and 
his angels fought against the dragon: 
and the dragon fought and his angels, 
and prevailed not; neither was their 
place found any more in heaven." (Rev. 
12:7, 8.) Here we have an account of 
a war which took place in heaven; that 
the dragon and his angels were over- 
come and cast out from the presence of 
(rod. The Apostle Jude speaks of the 
same occasion and says, "The angels 
wnich kept not their first estate, but left 
their own habitation. He hath reserved 
in everlasting chains, under darkness, 
unto judgment of the great day." (Jude 
6), and Peter had reference to that war 
in heaven when he wrote, "For if God 
spared not the angels that sinned, but 
cast them down to hell." (II Peter, 
2:4.) Then the angels who kept not their 
first estate were cast out. This is evi- 
dent, but the question now is: What hap- 
pened to those who did keep their first 
estate, who fought for righteousness un- 
der the banner of Michael, when the 
proud, haughty, Lucifer and his rebel- 
lious hosts were overthrown? John in- 
forms us that tais dragon drew with him 
a "third part of the stars of heaven," 
(Rev. 12:4), and we would inquire as to 
the residue, what became of them? From 
the very matter of fact that a first estate 
is mentioned, the rational mind is led to 
believe that a second estate would be 
granted unto the faitlitul ones, as a re- 
ward and a blessing for their honor of 
God, and Michael and his archangel, in- 1 



somuch as they stood ~rm and true when 
the struggle for supremacy took place. 
To keep the first estate meant to be given 
an opportunity of living in a second es- 
tate, where if the laws of God are 
obeyed, the faithful son or daughter was 
to have glory added upon them and 
raised to life everlasting at the last day. 

We have seen that there were "sons of 
God," who "shouted for joy" when the 
earth was formed, and these were they 
who had kept their first estate. They 
shouted for joy, because they were given 
to understand that this earth was made 
as a mortal home for them, and that they 
were to come down from the home of 
their first estate— heaven— and take upon 
them a body of flesh and bones. Is it a 
great sin for us to believe that we were 
there and that we kept our first estate — 
not only those whom the world calls 
Mormons, but all people that have ever 
dwelt, or ever will dwell, as mortal 
creatures upon this earth? No, it is not 
a sin to thus believe, but an acceptance 
of a truth made known in Holy Writ. 
Our spirits existed, as intelligent and in- 
dependent entities, before the birth or 
conception of this mortal framework— 
the body. We could "shout for joy," 
could see, and know the plan'bf salva- 
tion, and understand the will of God; 
with the privilege (not right) of being in 
the front ranks of the righteous ones, or 
swelling the band of slothful, neglectful 
children. 

We see two little children, perhaps the 
offspring of a common parent. Both pos- 
sess healthy bodies, well formed, and 
perfect in their anatomy. They play to- 
gether, eat at the same table, and oc- 
cupy the same little cot at night; yet one 
of these little tots is bright, keen-eyed, 
quick-witted and intelligent; while the 
other is dull and does not seem to ob- 
serve the beauty of nature, rather stupid, 
you would say, and lacking the mental 
activity and comprehension of its little 
mate! What is the cause of this appar- 
ent difference, the effects of which are 
plainly manifest in everyday life? It is 
this, that the spirit which animates the 
body of that bright little child, attained 
to an advanced degree of intellectual pro- 
gression in its first estate; while the spir- 
it of its mate was not so energetic, duti- 
ful, or valiant. Thus, as they were there, 
so are they, in a measure, here, and as 
they are here, so will they be, as justice 
determines, when they leave this stage 
of mortal probation. The intellectual 
giants of the land come not about by 
chance, their mental energy is born in 
them, and by proper application and cul- 
tivation, it increases, develops and ma- 
tures. 

Again we observe that there are people 
born with black skins, others with yel- 
low, red, and coppered colors, while some 
have beautiful white complexions. 
Now God says, through His servant, 
Paul, that "He hath made of one blood 
all nations of men, for to dwell on all the 
face of the earth; and hath determined 
the times before appointed, and the 
bounds of their habitation." (Acts 17:26.) 
From this we learn that even the places 
of birth and the time of incipiency hath 
been determined, and before appointed; 
this to being governed by our lives 
heretofore, the ruling being in strict ac- 
cordance with the holy laws of justice. 
Thus we see that the degree of intelli- 
gence, type of feature, color of skin, time 
of birth, and even the land of our nativ- 
ity, had been pre-determined before the 
earth was made, yen, even in our pre- 
existent life, while in our first estate. The j 
question propounded to Jesus by His 

postles, "Master, who did sin, this man, I 



or his parents, that he was born blind?" 
(John 9:2) is a fitting conclusion to this 
subject. From this it is plainly seen that 
it was possible for that blind man to have 
sinned even before his mortal birth, 
which most assuredly gives him a pre- 
existent state, in which he acted with a 
free agency, was intelligent, independent 
and real. So are we all; our spirits came 
from God who is our Father; with Him 
they lived in a primeval state, our first 
estate, as Jude says, and to His presence 
they will return when freed from this 
mortal tabernacle. 

"What's sprung from earth dissolves to 

earth again, 
And heaven-born 'things fly to their native 

seat." 



ELDER WM, T. DAVIS. 

In the "Release" column of last week's 
Star will be found the name of Elder W. 
T. Davis, who for some nine months 
past has labored in the Office here. El- 
der Davis spent over twenty-seven 
months in the Mission field, and during 
that time has passed through a varied 
experience, laboring for the most part 
amid the pleasant hills of East Ken- 
tucky. He was ever ready to perform 
with diligence and promptness any and 
every labor required at his hands. No 
matter how busy he may have been, and 
how pressed on every hand with work 
to do, he wore a pleasant smile, and 
worked with a cheerful heart. He was 
a joy to all who really knew him, a com- 
fort to those who required help, and a 
friend to those who stood in need. 

Previous to coming into the Office he 
acted as first counsellor to President D. 
A. Broad'bent, and for some time the 
affairs of the East Kentucky Conference 
devolved upon him, and he proved him- 
self equal to the task. While here in 
the Office he acted as typewriter for the 
Mission, and was never "found want- 
ing" in this capacity. He leaves a host 
of friends in the South, and we would 
cite our many readers, and his acquaint- 
ances, to the letter he wrote just before 
his departure, as will be found in this 
issue. He left on Wednesday, Sept. 
26th, in company with Elder F. N. Bleak, 
of the Florida Conference. 



A Brave Little Elght-Year-Old. 

New York Evening Journal. 

Maria Santello, 8 years old, with the 
utmost bravery and coolness, prevented a 
frightful disaster to the Chicago express 
on the Lehigh Valley railroad last Sat- 
urday. 

The heroic, frail child saved the pas- 
sengers on the express by throwing a tie 
from its track. Her cool courage saved 
her own life, too, for she stopped be- 
tween the ties over a narrow, shallow 
brook. But she grasped the rail, not the 
ties, and the locomotive wheels cut off 
her hands. She was quickly taken from 
the brook by two men. 

As she lay fainting, wounded, dripping, 
Engineer Thurston, of the express, told 
the passengers how much they owed to 
her. They could not pay that, but Wm. 
S. Stewart, of Cleveland, took off his 
hat, dropped a ten-dollar bill in it, and 
passed around the hat. Miss Stella J. 
Sutton, of Oswego, gave a five-dollar 
gold piece; the grateful passengers con- 
tributed $65, while the women kissed 
Maria and the men patted her head and 
told her what a fine girl she was. 

A surgeon amputated her right hand 
and all the fingers on her left hand. She 
will recover, a cripple. 



358 



THE SOUTHERN STAB. 



SALVATION FOR THE LIVING AND THE DEAD. 



Liberality .of the "Mormon" Faith— A Discourse by Charles W. Penrose, Delivered in 
the Tabernacle, Salt Lake City, Sunday Afternoon, August 19. 1900. 



(Continued from page 351.) 
That is the Gospel of Jesus Christ as 
revealed to the Latter-day Saints. That 
is the Gospel in which we delight. Sal- 
vation! On, the joyful sound! We do 
not wish to condemn; we do not wish to 
injure; we do not wish to curse; we do 
not wish to revile our enemies. We are 
glad in the thought that even those who 
revile us, and persecute us, and say all 
manner of evil against us falsely for 
Christ's sake, will some day or other un- 
derstand the truth as it is; and we hope, 
as instruments in the hands of God, that 
we will peradventure be chosen to help 
them out of darkness, out of despair and 

Sunishuient, when they have paid their 
ues, because the authority that God has 
revealed continues and abides. It seals 
on earth and it is sealed in heaven. It 
does not depart the body. The men 
whom God has called in this generation 
to labor in His cause, when they die and 
lay their bodies down, like their Great 
Master will go into the spirit world, 
where there are myriads of people who 
need enlightenment— "Christians," pa- 
gans heathens, all races, all tribes, all 
tongues. The work of the servants of 
God is to them in the spirit as well as 
to men in the flesh. They are to preach 
the Gospel to every creature, and the 
sound thereof will go to the uttermost 
bounds of the spiritual world as well as 
to the natural world; and every immortal 
spirit, son or daughter of the great Eter- 
nal Father, will have an opportunity to 
bow the knee and accept the truth. 
Different Degrees of Glory. 
But they will not all be saved in the 
same degree of glory. That would be 
unjust. God is just as well as merciful. 
His mercy balances with His justice, 
and His justice with His mercy. One 
will not rob the other. There are eter- 
nal principles from which even He can- 
not swerve and still be God. God must 
govern Himself by the eternal principles 
of right. This He teaches to His chil- 
dren, and so far as we conform to that, 
so far will be our power, our glory, our 
joy and our exaltation in worlds to come. 
The Gospel is preached to men and wom- 
en in the flesh; and if they repent, and 
are baptized in the name of the bather, 
and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost, by 
one having divine authority, and receive 
the Holv Spirit by the laying on of hands 
as a gift of God to enlighten their minds 
and guide them into all truth, and they 
abide in it and are really baptized into 
Christ, then when Christ appears in His 
glory they will be with Him, and be num- 
bered as His jewels. They will be 
"Christ's at His coming." They will 
have part in the first resurrection. Ihey 
will be clothed with glory, immortality 
and eternal life. They will dwell in the 
presence of the Father and of the Son 
forever. They will be crowned with the 
power of His might. Those who belong to 
them, if also faithful, will share this 
glory with them— the husband with the 
wife, the parents with the children. The 
beginning of their glory will be the foun- 
dation of their family government, un- 
der their Eternal Father, for ever and 
ever; and their increase in numbers, in 
power, in might, in dominion, in intelli- 
gence, in everlasting progress, in all that 
is good and beautiful and happifying, 
will have no end. This is in the celestial 
glory— the glory that is typified by the 
sun. Then there are others who receive 
not the Gospel of Christ in the flesh, but 
afterwards receive it in the spirit; they 
will receive a terrestrial glory, typified 
by the moon. There will be millions of 
heathen nations, who knew not God on 
the earth, but who will receive the truth 
in the other world, and they will inherit 
a glory of the kind that I have briefly 



alluded to. Then there is a vast number, 
which cannot be counted by mortal man, 
who will be thrust down to punishment. 
Justice will claim its own. Some will be 
beaten by a few stripes, and some by 
many stripes. Some will be forgiven in 
the next world for sins that they did not 
repent of in this world, and others may 
have to pay "the uttermost farthing." 
Eternal justice will deal out to every 
soul that which should be his; for all 
shall be judged according to their works. 
But through the power of the atonement 
of our Lord Jesus Christ, when they are 
willing to accept it and conform to the 

Erinciples of eternal life, they will be 
rough t out of their punishment and sor- 
row, and they will be placed in a degree 
of glory suited to their capacity and con- 
dition. That glory is called the glory of 
the stars; and as one star differs from 
another star in $lory, so also will be 
their several conditions. 

Eternal justice and eternal mercy will 
each operate in every individual case, 
and a just and righteous judge will deal 
out that which belongs to all. He will 
not judge as men do, by the sight of the 
eye and the hearing of the ear; but He 
will judge according to justice and right- 
eousness and according to the motives 
and intents of the hearts of the children 
of men. Men strive to do right some- 
times and fail. God will judge them ac- 
cordingly. There are people born with 
certain tendencies and proclivities; there 
are others who have environments around 
them which almost impel them to do that 
which is evil. God will comprehend all 
this, and judge accordingly. He will deal 
out to every man as his works shall be, 
and according to the desires of his heart 
and his efforts to do good or to do evil. 
He who wilfully does evil will reap evil. 
There is an eternal law of compensation 
which God cannot turn aside and be God. 
Every tree will bring forth of its own 
fruit. Every seed will bear of its kind. 
*'He that sows to the flesh shall of the 
flesh reap corruption; but he that sows to 
(he Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life 
eternal." 

Liberality of the Gospel. 

This, I think, Is a very liberal Gospel. 
But we do not claim credit for it, my 
friends. This was not invented by the 
boy Prophet, Joseph Smith, who was 
proclaimed an ignoramous, a fool, an id- 
iot, a knave. No, he did not invent this 
beautiful doctrine that 1 have been briefly 
proclaiming this afternoon. It was re- 
vealed from on high. It came by the 
voice of God from the eternal heavens. 
It is too good for a man to originate. 
It is Godlike; it is Christlike; it is broad, 
beautiful and grand. It reaches the 
whole of the human race, from Adam, 
our father, down to the last person born 
on this globe. The heathen the "Chris- 
tian," the Jew, the pa gen, the Moham- 
edan, the infidel, the SKepric, the agnostic, 
all people, all races, all tongues, all 
tribes — all shall hear the Gospel. Every 
ear shall tingle with the sound thereof. 
Some may say, how can an ear tingle in 
the spirit? My friends, perhaps you do 
not know much about these things that 
are called spiritual. The spirit of man 
is an entity, a personality, a substance. 
It is not a mere myth, a breath. True, 
it is a more refined substance than that 
which composes our body, so much so 
that we cannot comprehend it in our 
present condition. But when the spirit 
goes out of the body it is an individual, 
in the shape and form of the body, be- 
cause the body is conformed to the spirit. 
Sometimes the spirit is temporarily con- 
formed to the body in deformed persons: 
bnt these are exceptional cases. The 
spirit of man is a son of God, made in 
His image and likeness. Jesus was the 



express likeness of the Father, and we 
are His brothers and sisters. He is the 
oldest, "the beginning of the creation of 
God " "the first born of every creature/' 
in the spirit, and "the only begotten" in 
the flesh. When the spirit leaves the 
body, there is an individual, capable of 
progress, capable of hearing, capable of 
receiving or rejecting, an individual with 
agency, with power to do good and power 
to do evil. And these spirits will be 
gathered together in classes. Each spirit 
when it leaves the body, will gravitate to 
its proper place, just as naturally as 
things gravitate on this globe toward the 
center thereof. It will be so in the spir- 
itual world; for earthly thrinps are after 
the pattern of heavenly things. Thus 
each individual will have an opportunity 
at some time of hearing and receiving 
the truth. And, thank God, we have the 
assurance that the time will come when 
the great mass of the human family will 
cheerfully bow the knee to the Great 
Eternal Father and accept Jesus Christ, 
the Elder Brother, as their Redeemer. 
They will receive the Gospel in the spir- 
it, if they did not in the flesh; and then 
they will be judged according to their 
works. The Father will find a place for 
them all, somewhere in His great uni- 
verse, where they can be happy, where 
they can fill the measure of their crea- 
tion, where they can progress forever, 
learn more and more, become better, 
brighter and more glorious, and unite 
with Him in His great and glorious pur- 
poses concerning His children. 

This is the Gospel of Christ as we 
understand it. Now contrast that, my 
dear friends, for a moment, with the reli- 
gion that is commonly taught in the 
Christian world by people who say we 
are illiberal. What ao tney tell us? "If 
you do not believe in Jesus Christ while 
you dwell in the flesh, when you die you 
will go to hell." What is hell? "It is 
a place of burning torment, where you 
will welter in misery so great that no 
tongue can tell it, forever and forever, 
and there will be no end to it." And i 
some of them will tell you that God, be- 
fore the foundations of the earth, in the 
very beginning, chose a few out of the 
rubbish of nature to be saved and exalted 
to His divine glory, and the rest were 
doomed to everlasting condemnation and 
ceaseless misery in flames and torment 
with the devil and his angels. Which is 
the more liberal doctrine of the two? 

"Everlasting Punishment.' 

But what about this "everlasting pun- 
ishment?" Does not the Bible teach ever- 
lasting punishment? Yes. If I had time 
I would read something from Section 19 
of this Book of I)octrine and Covenants 
in regard to that; but I will briefly al- 
lude to it. The Lord revealed to Joseph 
Smith that "eternal punishment is Goa's 
punishment," because God is eternal. 
The meaning of that is this: An eternal 
Being, having eternal laws, has also eter- 
nal penalties; and those who will not 
obey the laws must suffer the penalties. 
The penalty will abide forever, because 
it is eternal: but a man will not suffer 
it forever. Each individual will receive 
of that punishment that which eternal 
justice will mark out as his due. To il- 
lustrate it in a simple way: Here we 
have a penitentiary. Some men go in 
there for six months and when their time 
expires they come out; but the peniten- 
tiary still remains. So with the- judg- 
ments of our Eternal Father. He is end- 
less, eternal: His laws are eternal. His 
punishment is eternal. But He is just, 
and He will give to all who disobey His 
laws just that meed of eternal punish- 
ment which they ought to have, out no 
more. They will be judged "according to 
their works." If they are worthy of but 
few stripes, they will not have many; if 
they are worthy of many, they will not 
get off with a few. If they ought to pay 

the uttermost farthing" without being 
forgiven, they will have to pay it. If 
there are circumstances in their case 
which warrant forgiveness after a cer- 
tain amount of punishment, the Lord will 
forgive them and deliver them. 



THE SOUTHERN STAB. 



359 



Work In the Spirit World. 

The organization of His Church is for 
the proclamation of the Gospel, not only 
in the flesh, but also in the spirit. The 
Church on earth is united with the 
Church behind the veil. The Pronhet 
Joseph Smith, who was martyred for the 
word of God and testimony of Jesus and 
who sealed his testimony with his blood, 
and his brother Hyrum, opened the door 
of salvation to the spirit world for the 
last dispensation, as Christ opened it for 
the time that He went there. Our Apos- 
tles, Elders and brethren who have fol 
lowed, who have laid down their lives for 
the truth, who have been worn out in 
the service of God and in laboring for the 
salvation of mankind, are also laboring 
there among the hosts that sit in dark- 
ness. We who still remain in the flesh 
expect, when our earthly work is done, 
to follow on; and the priesthood winch 
the Almighty has given us wherewith to 
labor for the uplifting and salvation of 
mankind in the flesh, will be our author- 
ity and power when we pass behind the 
veil and mingle with the spirits of the 
departed. The Gospel will be preached 
to every creature, whether in the body 
or out of the body, "the quick and the 
dead." Christ preached the Gospel to 
those that were dead as well as to the 
quick, and we expect to follow in his 
footsteps, according to His promise, He 
that believeth in me, the works that I do 
shall he do also; and greater works than 
these shall he do, because I go to the 
Father.*' 

My friends, I have only just touched 
on the outer rim of this great theme of 
salvation. Our Heavenly Father pre- 
pared the plan of salvation before this 
earth rolled into being, before the corner- 
stones thereof were laid, "when the morn 
ing stars sang together and all the son 
of God shouted for jov," and when Jesus, 
our Elder Brother, "the Lamb slain from 
the foundation of the world," was nre- 
nared for the sacrifice to come m the me- 
ridian of time. And Lucifer, who was 
cast down with his hosts, and who leads 
men astray, will not gam the victorv 
He will not triumph over the Redeemer. 
Christ will 'destroy death, and him that 
hath the power of death, which is the 
devil;" and as 1 have read to you, He 
will redeem all that the Father hath 
placed in His power— all His brothers 
and sisters. They in the spirit will be 
brought out of darkness and punishment, 
and they will all reach some condition in 
the place* prepared of God. In the many 
mansions that there are in the * atner s 
kingdom they will all find a place, after 
they have paid the penalty, where they 
can bow the knee to the Lord and be 
happy; for though "Adam fell that men 
might be, and men are that they may 
have joy." God has created us to give us 
happiness and pleasure. 

Cherish No Evil Feel In*. 

My brethren and sisters, let us take 
care that having received the Gospel, we 
are led by the spirit thereof and are kind 
to one another, and that we cherish the 
spirit of kindness to the world, even to 
those who may persecute us, and deride 
us, and say all manner of evil against us 
falsely. Do not cherish the spirit of re- 
taliation and revenge in your hearts. 
"Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith 
the Lord." It is not for us to take ven- 
geance. Let us entertain the kindest 
feelings we can. Where it is appropri- 
ate, let us say as Jesus did, "Father, for- 
give them; they know not what they do." 
Oh! I wish that I could say that with 
regard to some of those who speak evil 
of us— that they know not what they do; 
I would cherish in my heart a feeling of 
sympathy and pity for them; but I know 
to the contrary. Many of them know 
what they are doing; and when they 
speak falsely against us they do it wil- 
fully, with a knowledge that they are 
telling that which is untrue. But even 
then we leave them in the hands of our 
Eternal Father; for He will deal out a 
righteous judgment to all. We can af- 
ford to pity them; for they will reap the 
consequences of their wicked acts, as 
sure as the sun rises and sets, and as 



sure as justice will have its own. Let 
us be kind to one another. Let us help 
one another on the road of life, and be a 
comfort and a blessing to those with 
whom we associate, instead of a curse. 
Put away all our evil feelings, our jeal- 
ousies, our faultfinding, our irritability, 
our disposition to say and do things that 
are bad, and let the Spirit that comes 
from Christ our Redeemer flow down 
into our souls and quicken and enlighten 
us. I know that that Spirit is in the 
Church. I know it is a reality. I know 
this Church is the Church of Christ, 
that He has established it, that He is 
with it, and that His revelations and His 
Spirit are in it. I know it by experience. 
I know what I am talking about, just 
as sure as I know that I am standing 
here. I know this work will prosper and 
go on. Barriers may be raised in its 
way; its enemies may come against it 
like a flood, and weapons may be formed 
to attack it; but no weapon that is 
formed against it shall prosper, and the 
tongue that rises in judgment against it 
God will condemn." The truth will be 
triumphant; the Gospel will be preached 
to every creature; the honest will be 
gathered out; the kingdom of our God 
will be built up; Christ our Redeemer 
will come; the earth will be redeemed 
from sorrow, from sin, and from the 
power of Satan, and Jesus will "reign 
in Mount Zion and Jerusalem, and be- 
fore His ancients gloriously," and a rich 
reward shall come to all those who are 
faithful in Him. 

May God help us to perform our part 
in this great and glorious work, and may 
we obtain the crown in the kingdom of 
our Father, for Christ's sake. Amen. 



AN INTERESTING LETTER. 

Written by Elder W. T. Davis to Good 
Friends in Kentucky. 

My Dear Friends — While it has been a 
long time since I have written you, do 
not for a moment believe it has been so 
long since I have remembered you. Sel- 
dom does a day pass without bringing to 
mind the many and much appreciated 
hospitalities you have shown me. No, I 
cannot forget those who minister to my 
wants and befriend me in times of trib- 
ulation. I often wonder if I shall ever 
be privileged to repay you for the kind- 
ness shown me. "A friend in need is a 
friend indeed," said one of the poets, and 
it is verily true. Those who will befriend 
another when the world generally is in 
bitter opposition is truly a friend and can 
be depended on. 

In your letter to me, of some months 
ago, you said that you did not see why 
the people could not bear the sight of the 
Mormons. It is strange indeed, because 
none of them have seen or know from ac- 
tual experience the truth regarding the 
Latter-day Saints and their belief, mode 
of living, etc. Solomon has rightly said 
that whosoever judgeth a matter before 
he heareth it is not wise. Were all peo- 
ple to be condemned on the testimonies 
of their accusers, how long would it be 
until there would be neither law or or- 
der? The time would be very limited 
when all the human family would be con- 
demned to death. Those who are so nar- 
row-minded as to believe every vile thing 
they hear of an individual and will not 
listen to anything good are in the hands 
of Satan and are filled with that spirit 
which rebels against truth and right. 

John, the Revel ator, was shown, in 
vision, the war in heaven which the 
Devil and his followers waged against 
the Lord and His obedient children. From 
that date to the present there has exist- 
ed the same opposition. The spirit of 
hatred, malice, wrath, strife, murder, 
etc., is throughout the world. Those 



who cherish such feelings and hold them 
against their brethren are in the gall of 
bitterness and in the bond of iniquity, 
'Iney must repent and cherish the spirit 
of love, long-suffering, peace and good 
will, or they will never be able to dwell 
with God and the Saints who have gone 
before. "He that loveth not knoweth 
not God," says the Scriptures. Jesus, 
our pattern in all things, has /told us to 
love our enemies, to pray for those who 
despitefully use us and abuse us, and re- 
turn good for evil. Forgive those who 
do anything against you seventy times 
seven. Yes, we are commanded to for- 
give everybody, but God will forgive 
whom He will. Such are a few of the 
teachings of Christ, and who dare say 
they are His obedient children and hold 
malice, hatred and murder in their 
hearts? 

Of course we are commanded to judge 
no man, yet we may know them by their 
fruits — actions. "A pure fountain can- 
not send forth impure water." We 
know the feeling existing in the hearts 
of the people regarding this work, but 
like the Apostles of old we know of the 
Gospel and cannot keep silent. The Gos- 
pel has been revealed in its purity; we 
have received it freely and it must be 
delivered to the whole world without 
price. The Gospel is to ?.ll mankind, 
whether rich or poor, bond or free, Jew 
or Gentile. We all stand ready to de- 
fend the truth we bring. We declare in 
words of soberness, "The Gospel is 
true," and it is with the Latter-day 
Saints pure and simple. Who will dis- 
prove the declaration? For the past 
seventy years Mormonism has gone 
through* the most scrutinizing examina- 
tions, everybody has gazed upon its doc- 
trines, the ministers have tried to tear 
it down by strong reasoning and Scrip- 
ture, but what a miserable failure they 
have met. It is true, and the false tra- 
ditions of nations, no matter how much 
cherished, cannot pull it down. , 

Not wishing to cast any reflection on 
the religions of the world, but just to ex- 
amine them and compare them with the 
Bible — their rule of faith and practice — 
to show how far from the Word of God 
they have departed. Jesus came into 
mortality 1900 years ago and gave the 
children of men certain laws and ordi- 
nances which they were to follow, prom- 
ising the obedient blessings. Paul tells 
us that the first principles and ordinances 
of the Gospel are faith, repentance, bap- 
tism and the laying on of hands. (Hel>. 
vi. :l-2.) The New Testament is replete 
with proofs of the above, hence we will 
pass on. Jesus gave us gifts and bless 
ings; the speaking in tongues, prophesy- 
ing, healings, casting out of devils and 
many others, all to be with the Saints. 
Wherever the Gospel was in its purity 
there would the blessings be also. He 
also placed Apostles, Prophets, etc., in 
the church for its perfection and that the 
church might be edified. Jesus said, "If 
ye are not one ye are not mine." Solo 
mon said, "Where there is no vision the 
people perish." Amos has told us that 
the Lord God would do nothing save He 
revealeth His secrets to His servants — 
the prophets. Paul exhorts the Corin- 
thians to desire spiritual gifts, but rath- 
er, or above them all, desire to prophesy. 

Ask the ministers if they believe in 
prophets today, and the answer will be. 
No. Do you believe in the gifts and bless- 
ings enjoyed by the early Christians? 
They answer in the negative. Ask them 
why their churches have not the founda- 
tion laid down by Jesus, which is Apos- 
tles and Prophets. They were to remain 



300 



TOE SOUTHERN STAR. 



REPORT OF MISSION CONFERENCES h)R WEEK ENDING SEPT. 15, 1900. 



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Hcbur K. Olaon 

J. (J. Bollun „„.,..„...„ 
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W, D> Rencher 

A.C. Strong „.,„, 

John H. Baiikhead .... 

Jobn Reeve- mmmt 

J. M. Hawg ,.., 

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G. M. Forter . 

W, W. MacKaj 

f, H. Crilehllelrt 

E, L. HouU ttt(t(Md . 

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L. M. Nebeker 

H, Z. Lund ., 



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North Kentucky 

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until we all come to a unity of the faith. 
Why not have them? Do they believe in 
revelation? The answer comes that the 
heavens have been closed for 1900 years, 
yet Amos says that the Lord will do noth- 
ing unless He reveals His secrets to His 
servants — the Prophets. Well, then, with- 
out revelation and prophets God will do 
nothing for His children. What can we 
do without Him? Here is mjr conclusion 
of Christianity : They have the letter 
and the Scriptures say "the letter kill- 
eth." They possess all that poor mortal 
man can reach, but what is that? To 
me modern Christianity is to the living 
spiritual gospel of Jesus what the body 
of man is when the spirit has taken its 
flight — inanimate. The form is there, but 
nothing more. No, the vital, vivified por- 
tions are lost. It is dead, hence its effects 
can be nothing but death. 

Brother, probably I have spoken too 
rashly, but these are my views and, ac- 
cording to the freedom of this age, you 
have a perfect right to disagree. I do 
not say this to offend you ; no, it is not 
my intention to wound any of your feel- 
ings. I know 4hat the Christians, most 
of them, try to do right, but they cannot 
gain salvation only by obedience to the 
truth. Now, then, search for it, fast and 
pray for it, do not rest until you are iu 
possession of it. God will reveal it to all 
honest seekers. 

My testimony to you and to all the 
world is that God has again spoken from 
the heavens, His Gospel has been deliv- 
ered to man, the Mormon Elders, hated as 
they are, hold the power and authority 
to preach, teach and baptize in the name 
of Jesus Christ and to confer the gift of 
the Holy Ghost by the laying on of hands. 
Everyone who will obey their teaching 
will know that I speak the truth and I 
declare the same before God and angels. 
Search, fast, pray and ask in faith to 
know whether my letter is the truth or 
not and whether the Mormons are truly 
the messengers of Christ. 

May God's holy blessings ever be poured 
out upon you for your good deeds, and 
may you see the light of the Gospel and 
embrace it. In the end, God grant you 
eternal life in His presence. These, with 
all other blessings of earth that are for 
your good, I pray God to give you. 

Your true friend and well wisher, 

William T. Davis. 



History of the Southern States Mission. 

(Continued From Page 347.) 
Sept. 1899 — This month found more or 
less sickness among the Elders. The yel- 
low fever was raging in the lower states 
adjoining the Mississippi river, and some 
of the Elders were quarantined. Elder 
S. F. Smith, John W. Berry and P. E. 
Johnson were reported very sick in Mis 



sissippi — the two former ones being trans 
ferred to the Chattanooga Conference. 

Elders J. H. Horr and 1). D. Jones were 
disturbed while holding meeting in a 
Christian church in Carroll county, Mis- 
sissippi. After services were dismissed 
this professed servant of God shamefully 
abused the Elders. 

Having investigated to some extent the 
mobbing in Jasper county, Georgia, the 
following letter, which is self-explanatory, 
was addressed to Gov. Chandler: 

To His Excellency, Gov. Allan P. Chan- 
dler: 

Atlanta. Ga.. Sept. 8, 1899. 
My Dear Sir: — Pursuant to my con- 
versation with you relative to the mobbing 
of some of our Elders in your state, I now 
present my finding in the Jasper county 
case. Shortly after my talk with you we 
sent a man to the scene of trouble 10 
look over the situation. He spent some 
time in Jasper county, and now reports 
that, in his opinion, no chance whatever 
to receive justice from the local officials. 
It is reported to us that even the sheriff 
of the county is in league with the mobo 
crats, and we do not believe a grand jury 
made up of citizens of Jasper county, 
would return an indictment, no matter 
how strong the evidence might be. We 
are forced to this conclusion because we 
are informed that it is almost common 
knowledge as to who the guilty parties 
are, indicating that the local officers are 
either sympathizers or men who are afraid 
to do their duty. We see no way for 
these lawbreakers to be reached, save the 
state take the matter in hand. 

Enclosed please find some letters which 
I have lately received, one from Mrs. Cu- 
nard, and two from Mr. Bryant. You 
can see from Mrs. Cunard's letter who 
the mobbers are and the reign of terror 
existing in that community. Mr. Bryant 
is confident that he can produce the 
guilty parties and furnish enough evi- 
dence to convict, if the parties were taken 
to Macon, Ga. T for trial; With these 
facts it seems to us that the state should 
take vigorous steps to punish these out- 
laws, who openly commit crimes, and then 
mock the courts of justice. We appeal to 
you not to let these people, who are a 
standing menace to law and order, go 
unpunished. 

With highest personal regards, I re- 
main, yours most respectfully, 

Ben. E. Rich. 

On the 29th Elders E. T. Lofgreen and 
J. A. Handcock were run out of Lancas- 
ter county, South Carolina, by a mob of 
about fifteen armed men, led by a post- 
master, Frank Osborn, of Flat Creek 
By the Elders agreeing to leave no vio- 
lence was done. Elders Sylvester Low. 
Jr., and W. J. Fife held a three days' de- 
bate at Pireway, S. C, with a Rev. Hy- 



gema, a free Gospel advocate. The de- 
bate resulted in much good to the cause 
These same Elders were also arrested 
and taken before a magistrate on the 
charge of insulting one Gaston Stanley, 
a Baptist minister. The minister had 
said while denouncing Mormonism, "TIh 
Mormons believe Joe was a Christ." Af- 
ter services the Elders called the gen- 
tleman's attention to the error, and asked 
him to rectify it or allow them the privi- 
lege. The minister promptly ordered the 
deacon to put the Elders out of the 
church. The brethren said they did not 
desire to create any contention, and af- 
ter shaking hands with the preacher they 
quietly left the place. Next morning at 
the instigation of Deacon Thos. Stanley, 
they were arrested and brought before the 
magistrate. They were released by pay- 
ing part of the costs. 

Elders Thos. Hall and Bryan W. Peck, 
while holding meeting in Sulphur Springs. 
Lincoln county, Tenn., had eggs and rocks 
thrown at them and their meeting dis- 
turbed. The eggs were ancient and 
strong with age, which made the Elders* 
clothes very odious. 

Beginning on Sept. 24th, a four days' 
debate was held at Poplar Springs, Stew- 
art county, Tenn., between Elder W. B. 
Poole and Rev. Matthews, a Campbellite 
preacher of Windy, Ky. Subject for dis- 
cussion, "Which is the Church of Jesus 
Christ in practice and doctrine?" As 
usual, the minister resorted to abuse and 
slander and the debate resulted in a vic- 
tory for Elder Poole and the Gospel. On 
the night of the 27th Elders Thos. Halls 
and Bryan W. Peck were disturbed in 
their meeting by a large rock being 
thrown against the door of the school 
house. This occurred at Cyruston, Lin- 
coln county, Tenn. On the night of the 
28th, while these brethren were prepar- 
ing to hold meeting a Dr. Hulbert, of Cy- 
ruston rode up to the place of meeting 
and informed the Elders that a drunken 
mob was being organized to do them 
harm. This kind friend took the breth- 
ren to his home for the night, leaving the 
deserted school house to the cursings of 
angry demons. 

There was some persecution in almost 
every part of the Mission. The crusade 
against Congressman B. H. Roberts 
aroused much prejudice in many sections, 
which caused us much trouble. In the 
larger cities the work is opening up well, 
and being pushed with vigor. 

On the 25th the following Elders ar- 
rived at Chattanooga for missionary 
work : Edward Duffin, St. George Mor- 
ris, Willis Rogers, W. L. Rich, Jr., Geo. 
if. Bennet, John Henry Chase, David 
B. Thorn, Charles Dewitt Priday, Her- 
bert Z. Lund, Alvin Warner, Z. M. Redd, 
and E. E. Morgan. 

(To be Continued.) 




"BUT THOUGH WE OB AN ANGIL FROM HEAVEN, PREACH ANY 
OTHER GOSPEL UNTO YOU THAN THAT WHICH WE 

HAVE FBEACttED UNTO YOU, LET HIM BE ACCURSED *&i .&?&£ 



~^SfgJEEC~ 




Vol. 2. 



Chattanooga, Tenn., Satubday, October 18, 1900. 



No. 46. 



Sketch of the Life of Apostle Erastus Snow. 

BY APOSTLE MATHIAS F. COWLEY. 



The subject of this 
sketch was bora at St. 
Johnsbury, Caledonian 
county, Vermont, Nov. 9, 
1818. He was the sixth 
son of Levi and Lucinda 
Snow. On his father's 
side he was a descendant 
of the early settlers of 
Massachuset t s. His 
mother was a member 
of the Wesleyan Metho- 
dist church and Erastus 
became early impressed 
with religion. In the 
spring of 1832 Orson 
Pratt and Luke S. John- 
son introduced the Gos- 
pel to the Snow family, 
all of whom received it 
except the. father and two 
sons. William and Zer- 
babel were the first 
baptized and Erastus, 
then but 15 years old, 
was baptized Feb. 3, 
1833, bv his elder broth- 
er William. He was or- 
dained a teacher June 
18, 1834, by Elder John 
9. Bovnton. His broth- 
er William ordained him 
a Priest. 

In this capacity he ex- 
tended his missionary la- 
bors into New York and 
New Hampshire, where 
he held meetings and 
baptized a number of hon- 
est souls. 

He was ordained an El- 
der Aug. 16. 1835, and 
continued with much zeal 
in his missionary work. 
Nov. 8, 1835, he left his 
home for Kirtland by wa- 
ter, being almost ship- 
wrecked en route, but 
reached his destination in 
safety Dec. 3. He met the 
Prophet for the first time 
and lived with him sev- 
eral weeks. In the winter 
he attended the Elder's 
school and in the spring 
received his endowments 
in the Kirtland Temple, 
together with nearly 200 other Elders. 

About this time he was ordained into 
the second quorum of Seventies and re- 
ceived his Patriarchal blessings under 
the hands of Joseph Smith, Sr. Thus 




APOSTLE ERASTUS SNOW. 

in youth he became a witness that God 
had renewed His choice spiritual bles- 
siugs upon men in the flesh. He soon 
left on a mission to Pennsylvania, April 
16. 1K36. He was gone eight months, 



traveled 1,600 miles, 
preached 220 times, bap- 
tized fifty persons, and or- 
ganized several branches 
of the Church in western 
Pennsylvania, returning 
to Kirtland Dec. 29, 1836. 
Brother Snow was al- 
most incessantly engaged 
in missionary labor. He 
traveled in Ohio. Pennsyl- 
vania, Maryland and Vir- 
ginia. On one occasion six 
ministers assailed him on 
the Book of Mormon. He 
proposed to produce as 
much proof for the Book 
of Mormon as they could 
for the Bible, but none of 
the six would accept the 
proposition, and in order 
to present the truth to the 
people he accepted of 
other terms and came off 
victorious. At one gather- 
ing he debated twelve 
hours with his opponent. 
In May, 1838, he re- 
ceived a message to re- 
turn to Ohio for the pur- 
pose of removing to Mis- 
souri. 

June 25th, 1838, Elder 
Snow started with about 
fifty others for Far West, 
M o . After nearly a 
month's journey by water 
down the Ohio 950 miles, 
up the Missouri 550 to 
the Richmond landing, 
and forty miles by team, 
they arrived in Far West 
July 18, 1838. 

Dec. 13, 1838, he mar- 
ried and during the win- 
ter taught school in Far 
West. With others Broth- 
er Snow visited the 
Prophet Joseph in Liberty 
jail. In an attempt of the 
prisoners to escape, the 
visiting brethren were 
locked in the jail, and 
placed under a r r est. 
Threats of a violent char- 
acter were made upon 
their lives, but the Proph- 
et Joseph told them not to be 
alarmed; that the Lord would de- 
liver them and restore to them their 
horses, saddles, blankets and all that had 
been taken from them. When they were 



3ttE 



THE SOUTHERN STAR. 



brought to trial. Elder Snow, by advice 
of the Prophet, plead' their own cause 
without the aid or a lawyer, and was bo 
inspired in his address that at the con- 
clusion of the* same, the attorneys flocked 
around him and wanted to know where 
he studied law, stating they had never 
listened to a better plea. 

During the effort to secure the liberty 
of Joseph and his brethren, Erastus 
Snow took a leading part. He visited 
the state authorities at Jefferson City, 
Mo. They treated him contemptuously, 
but by faith and perseverance he finally 
succeeded in procuring a change of venue 
and on the way from Liberty, the pris- 
oners escaped the guard and made their 
way to Illinois. 

In the spring of 1837 Elder Snow com- 
menced to build a home in Nauvoo, but 
soon after rented a small dwelling in 
Montrose, Iowa, and started on a mis- 
sion. He preached in several counties 
of Illinois, administered to the sick, and 
while journeying on this mission the 
Lord revealed to him in a dream that 
his family were sick, and that he should 
return home. On his return he found his 
wife and other relatives very sick with 
the fever and ague. Elder Snow, with 
others, went from house to house ad- 
ministering to the sick until he was 
seized himself with the fever. 

In October. 1839, Brother Snow became 
a member or the High Council at Mont- 
rose. He endeavored to be active in the 
ministry during these days of sickness 
among the Saints and by over-exertion 
was prostrated again and in Knox coun- 
ty, seventy miles from home, was laid 
up at the house of Brother Haws. At 
the same time his family were very sick 
at heme. On the return of the Prophet 
from Washington in 1840 he told Brother 
Snow that his labors were needed in 
Pennsylvania. 

Through much sickness he was re- 
duced to poverty, but by the kindness 
of Saints in Commerce he. secured some 
means and left on his mission April 27, 
1840, with Elder S. James as a com- 
panion. They traveled by water on the 
Mississippi and Ohio rivers a distance of 
1,400 miles to Wellsburgh, Va., where 
they commenced their labors. He debat- 
ed two days with Matthew Clapp, a 
Campbell ite preacher, with victory to the 
truth. They proceeded to Philadelphia 
and during this mission, Elder Snow 
did successful missionary work in Penn- 
sylvania, New York, New Jersey and 
Rhode Island, baptizing a goodly number 
and holding a great many meetings. He 
returned in six months to bring his wife 
to Pennsylvania, having traveled 5,650 
miles. He started on his return Nov. 7 
and soon after his arrival in Pennsyl- 
vania he published a tract in answer to 
a publication issued against the Saints 
by a Methodist preacher. 

While laboring with great zeal in Penn- 
sylvania and New Jersey, he met Elder 
Geo. A. Smith on his return from Eng- 
land, also Hyrum Smith and others who 
visited the New England states. Elder 
Hyruni Smith expressed a desire that 
Brother Snow should go to Salem, Mass., 
and introduce the Gospel to the inhabi- 
tants of that city. Previous to this, the 
Lord had revealed to the Prophet Joseph 
that he. had much people in that city. 
Brother Snow had expected to return to 
Nauvoo. Protracted sickness in his fam- 
ily and cou tin ued absence from home 
had reduced him to poverty. Notwith- 
standing this, he started for a strange 
and unknown region. He took his wife 
and child to his brother's home in Rhode 
Island and continued his journey to Bos- 
ton, where he met Elder Benj. Winches- 
ter, who had been assigned as his trav- 
eling companion. 

On Sept. 3, 1841, they proceeded to Sa- 
lem, a city of 1,800 people at that time. 
They secured lodging at one of the 
cheapest hotels and the next day hired 
the Masonic hall to preach in. They then 
wrote an epistle to the people of Salem, 
setting forth the principles of the Gos- 
pel in plainness, and circulated about 
2.500 copies of them amonp the people. 
Elder Winchester then repaired to Penn- 
sylvania, while Brother Snow labored in 



Salem, preaching four times a week in 
the Masonic hail. The congregations 
contributed to pay the hall rent. Oppo- 
sition soon began, and friends also were 
raised up who took an interest in the 
message delivered to them. His friends 
became numerous and he was no longer 
required to live at a hotel. He also 
asked the Lord to provide a home for 
his family, and this prayer was soon an- 
swered, for a Mr. Alley, of Lynn, five 
miles from Salem, invited him to bring 
his family to his home and there abide. 
Subsequently they removed to Sal^m. 
The opposition to Brother Snow was k»d 
by a priestly editor who published in his 
paper scurrilous falsehoods against the 
Saints, but refused to publish Elder 
Snow's replies. This led to a six days' 
public debate held in Masonic hall. 
About 500 people were present, aud as 
the days went on, the interest increased. 
The popular feeling turned against the 
editor, whose arguments were made up 
of slander and abuse. Many more 
friends were made, new investigators 
came to the front and on Nov. 8, 1841, 
five persons were baptized and soon after 
thirty more. On March 5, 1842, he held 
a conference in the Masonic hall and or- 
ganized a branch of fifty-three souls. By 
the following June another conference 
had been held in Salem and tho number 
of members increased to ninety. In Sa- 
lem, May 1, 1842. his first son was born. 
Elder Snow continued his labor* in Sji 
lem and vicinity until the spring of 
1843. During this time he baptized 
many, the sick were healed, branches or- 
ganized and many meetings held. He had 
several discussions with ministers of va- 
rious sects, always resulting in a victory 
for the truth as represented by Elder 
Snow. Among his opponents the notori- 
ous apostate, John C. Bennett, cam,* to 
Salem and lectured against Joseph Smith, 
and the Saints, telling base falsehoods. 
Elder Snow met bim so ably and firmly 
that Bennett soon left the town. Con- 
cluding his fruitful mission. Elder Snow 
left Siilea! A»ig. 9 and reached Nauvoo 
April 11, 1843, leaving his family in Sa- 
lem. 

He returned to Salem in Mav. labored 
several months in the mission field, nud 
brought his family to Nauvoo in Novem- 
ber, 1843. 

Elder Snow remained in Nauvoo during 
the winter. He was intimately associ- 
ated with the Prophet Joseph Smith, 
with whom he spent many pleasant 
hours. He was suecessful in the mer- 
cantile business with Elder Parly P. 
Pratt. He became, a member of the Ma- 
sonic lodge at Nauvoo and soon advanced 
to the degree of Grand Master. A: the 
dedication of the Masonic Temple April 
5, 1844, Elder Snow delivered the dedi- 
catory address. At the April conference 
in Nauvoo. 1844, Elder Snow was again 
called to the eastern states, where he la- 
bored diligently. , 

He returned to Nauvoo, finding the 
Saints bowed down in sorrow over the 
sad martyrdom of their beloved Prophet 
and Patriarch. He shared in all tbcfr 
sorrows, and was a support to the Twelv 
in encouraging and sustaining the people 
in their great affliction. He was present 
at the special meeting Aug. 8th, when 
the Twelve, with President Young as 
their senior, was acknowledged to be the 
presiding authority in the Church in the 
absence of the First President. Brother 
Snow was a living witness to the trans- 
figuration of President Young and felt, 
with the Saints present, that truly the 
^anrle of Joseph Smith had fallen upon 
Brigham Yonng. Elder Snow spent the 
winter in Nauvoo, being diligent in his 
calling and laboring with his hands to 
provide for his family. 

In September, 1845, the mob renewed 
with vigor their persecution. Elder Snow 
was present at the general council of the 
Church in October, '45, where Gen. War- 
ren, Judge Douglass and other represent- 
atives of Gov. Ford were present to ne- 
gotiate with the Saints to leave the state. 
This thev agreed to do the following 
spring. The state authorities guaranteed 
their protection until thev could arrange 
their affairs and leave. This pledge, like 



the one to protect the Prophet, wmfl nertx 
kept, for the mob before the time for all 
to leave, were suffered to do them vio- 
lence and destroy their property. The 
Saints now intensified their diligence in 
completing the Temple. This accom- 
plished, they set to work administering 
the ordinances therein. 

Before the exodus Elder Snow sent to 
Quincy to prepare supplies for the pio- 
neer company. Upon retiring he was 
asked by President Youn$ to prepare him- 
self and family for the journey. He ac- 
cordingly sold his personal property at a 
low figure, provided himself with teams 
and provisions such as his limited means 
would allow, and with his family left Nau- 
voo Feb. 10th, 1846. Crossing the river 
the boat capsized, resulting in the loss 
of some of his property and the narrow 
escape of his eldest child from drowning. 

His family pressed on to ML Pisgab. 
On his arrival he found it difficult to sell 
his property and had to dispose of it at 
about one-fourth its value. From here 
they proceeded until they reached the 
main body of Saints at Council Bluffs, 
and thence crossed the river to the Camp 
of the Twelve at Cutler's Park. Subse- 
quent to this he had much sickness. His 
youngest child died Sept. 9th, 1846. In 
the winter he made several trips to St. 
Joseph, Mo., and other points to lay in 
supplies for his family and others, to sus- 
tain them in their pilgrimage. 

At a special conference April 6th and 
7th, 1847, Elder Snow was selected as 
one of the noted 143, who constituted the 
Pioneer Company to Salt Lake Valley. 

The interesting episodes of this great 
Latter-day exodus, in which Erastus 
Snow was a leading spirit, would fill a 
volume of itself. 

Their patience and endurance in sick- 
ness, privations and dangers from In- 
dians was truly that of men and women 
whose trust was in the living God. After 
three months' journey Erastus Snow, 
with Orson Pratt, emerged from the 
canyon overlooking the Salt Lake valley, 
July 21st, 1847. When they first sighted 
the blue waters of the Great Inland Sea, 
Brother Snow says : "We simultaneous 
ly swung our hats and shouted, Hosan- 
nah! for the Spirit told us that here tbe 
Saints should find rest." 

Brother Snow took an active part in 
laying out the city and building the Old 
Fort. He started on a return trip Aug. 
26th, 1847, to bring on his family. On 
his arrival at Winter Quarters his joy 
was mingled with grief over the death of 
a sweet little daughter, Mary Minerva, 
who had died during his absence. Find- 
ing the Saints very destitute at Winter 
Quarters, having been robbed of their 
homes in Illinois. Elder Snow was ap- 
pointed to accompany Apostle Ezra T. 
Benson to the branches of the Church in 
the Eastern States and solicit aid from 
the Saints and others to alleviate the 
wants of their suffering brethren and sis- 
ters. 

Some received them kindly, while mo3i 
of those not in the faith turned the cold 
shoulder to them. They were absent 
about three months. Upon their return 
all was activity, in preparing to cross th*» 
plains with their families and a large 
company of the Saints. He reached the 
valley with Presidents Young. Kimball 
and his family Sept. 20th, 1848. The 
following Feb. 12th, 1849, Erastus Snow 
was called and ordained one of the Twelve 
Apostles of the Church. It is not unsafe 
to say that no man called to the Apostle- 
ship in this dispensation bad been a more 
constant and efficient laborer in the cause 
from the time he was 15 years of age up 
f o the date of his ordination than Erastus 
Snow. Following his ordination be 
worked in the ministry and labored with 
his hands incessantly to build up the 
country and strengthen the Saints to en- 
dure their trials. 

At the October conference, 1849, Elder 
Snow was appointed to open the door of 
the Gospel in Scandinavia. He left on 
his mission Oct. 19, 1849. They had an 
interesting journey across the plains, 
thence to the Atlantic coast, and across 
the ocenn from Boston to Liverpool. 



THE SOUTHERN STAB. 



:W8 



*tara be landed April 16, 1800. H« tm- 
ited tile branches in England, Scotland 
and Wales. Accompanied by Elders 
George P. Dykes and John E. Forsgren, 
he set foot in Copenhagen, Denmark, on 
the 14th of June, 1850. Brother P. O. 
Hansen, a native of that city, who had 
embraced the Gospel in America, con- 
ducted them to a hotel. Here they knelt 
in* solemn prayer and dedicated them- 
selves and their mission to the Lord. The 
details of Elder Snow's labors in Scan- 
dinavia, the manifestations of God's pow- 
er, his mastery by study and inspiration 
of the Danish language, and all associat- 
ed with his remarkable mission would 
make many chapters of themselves, and 
present to the honest incidents as re- 
markable and impressive as those at- 
tending the ancient Apostles in introduc- 
ing to the world the pure plan of salva- 
tion. The first baptisms in Denmark 
were performed by Elder Snow, near 
Copenhagen, Aug. 12, 1850. Fifteen 
were baptized on that occasion. The first 
branch was organized Sept. 15,1850, with 
fifty members, in Copenhagen. While on 
this mission Elder Snow wrote a pamph- 
let in Danish, called "A Voice of Truth." 
Others were translated into Danish, and 
a most effectual door opened in Scandina- 
via. Scores were baptized, many 
branches organized. From that day 
until the present the fruits of the Gospel 
have been enjoyed in the Scandanavian 
countries. Thousands have embraced 
the Gospel and emigrated to Zion. They 
are among the most faithful Saints of 
the Church, the most honorable citizens, 
of the country, and best redeemers of a 
barren country. 

Erastus Snow was beloved by all the 
Saints, but he is especially endeared to 
the Saints and their children who have 
come from the far off Scandinavian coun- 
tries of the north. To them his name is 
almost the synonym of love and admira- 
tion. He was gone on this mission nearly 
three years. He arrived in Salt Lake: 
City Aug. 20, 1852. The following year, 
October, 1843, Elder Snow, with Elder 
George A. Smith, was called to gather 
fifty families to strengthen the settle- 
ments in Iron county, which they did sue-, 
cessfully. In 1854 he was called to pre- 
side over the Cnurch in St. Louis and 
the Western States. Nov. 4, 1854, he 
organized a Stake in St. Louis, and soon 
commenced the publication of the St. 
Louis Luminary. He assisted in the 
emigration of 2,000 Saints in 1855, and 
returned home Sept. 1 of that year. Be- 
tween April 22 and Aug., 1856, he filled 
another mission to the States, and later 
filled another in the East. Subsequent to 
this he was called with Apostle George 
A. Smith to locate other settlements m 
Southern Utah. The Missionary com- 
pany left Salt Lake City Nov. 29, 1861, 
and ever since that time Brother Snow 
has made his home chiefly in Souths n 
btah. The great pioneer, the wise coun- 
selor, the constant worker, his labors as 
a pioneer and colonizer have also extend- 
ed into Arizona, Mexico and other places, 
and wherever he has gone, either to 
preach the Gospel or counsel tlie Saints 
in practical matters, Erastus Snow has 
left the impress of a wise leader and a 

freat man. For God has made him such, 
brother Snow repeatedly represented 
Southern Utah in the Council of the 
Utah Legislature for many years. In 
1873 he went on a short mission to Eu- 
rope, visiting England and Scandinavia. 
Since that time he was constantly at 
work among the Saints at home, travel- 
ing throughout the Stakes in Utah, Ida- 
ho, Colorado, Arizona, Canada and Mex- 
ico. He has probably done more pioneer 
work than any other Apostle in the 
Church. He was a true patriotic Amer- 
ican, and yet during the anti-Mormon 
crusade he was an exile from home. He 
might with consistency ask as the 
Savior did, "Many good things have I 
done unto you, and for which of these 
do ye persecute me?" 

Brother Snow was an active partici- 
pant in all moves looking to the mate- 
rial development of the country, and the 
employment of the Saints. He wns in- 



Ur#tt#d in the •duration of tb* youth, 
and a staunch supporter of the Church 
and public schools. He instilled into his 
sons and daughters by example and pre- 
cept the habits of industry, temperance 
and economy. He was kindhearte.1 and 
benevolent. He was a man of 
fine appeaarance, strong in build. Like 
all great men, he had his peculiarities. 
He was a deep thinker, and at times so 
swallowed in profound thought that ho 
took but little notice of things aroaiid 
him. Sometimes when asked a question 
he would not answer it until the next 
day or perhaps later still. Some would 
think that he did not hear the question, 
but he seldom failed to answer it at 
some future time. An amusing incident is 
told of him by one who waspresent. It 
was Saturday afternoon. He sat with 
his wife and others in a room of his 
house in St. George. While the others 
were conversing he was intently looking 
at the floor and tapping bis cane on the 
heel of his shoe. His wife spoke to him 
and said: "Brother Snow, will you 
preach at Washington tomorrow?" He 
made no answer, and did not appear to 
notice the question. The interrogation 
was not repeated and conversation went 
on as before. The next morning as the 
family arose from their knees in prayer. 
Brother Snow quietly said: "Yes, Mi- 
nerva, that is my intention." At first 
they were a little dazed, but suddenly it 
dawned upon them as the answer to 
Sister Snow's question propounded the 
day before. 

After a most remarkable and useful 
life, fraught with great events, and 
crowned with blessings not a few, Apos- 
tle Erastus Snow departed this life at 
his home in Salt Lake City May 27, 1888, 
a little under the age of three-score years 
and ten. He had said before: "I never 
want to outlive my usefulness," and when 
through hardship and exposure his body 

fave way to the blows of adversity, the 
<ord took him to a field where he could 
continue his labors in the cause of truth. 
He was an honest man, a true husband 
and a kind father, a wise counselor, an 
efficient pioneer and colonizer, a great 
statesman and in every sense or the word 
truly an Apostle, of the Lord Jesus 
Christ. Hds name and his works will 
live forever in the • generations of th»j 
Saints who loved and respected him as 
their friend and counselor. God bless his 
memory. 

TO MAKE MEN FREE. 



To make men free has been the dream 
Of every noble soul on earth- 
To bring a better time to birth; 
To see the future's hills agleam 
With the first holy light 
Of a new era bright. 
Prom which the human night 

Of ages speeds away. 
Its sable folds withdrawn 
Before the golden dawn, 
Where earth goes rolling on 
Into the grander day. 

To make men free from court and throne. 
Free from the money-changer's greed, 
Free from hypocrisy and creed, 
Free from the dreaded last of need, 

And free to reap where they have sown 
Free from earth's scourge, the con- 
queror, , 
Free from the mnrderous lust of war, 
Free from the robber's cry of more; 

And free to have their own. 

Free voluntarily to share 

Their blessings for the common good; 
Free to each other's burdens bear, 

In brotherhood and helpfulness. 
Free In security to live 

And seek the blessing of content; 
Free In the freedom love can give— 

The freedom of enlightenment! 

To make men free! It is with me 
The dearest purpose of my heart 
That I may know and do my part 

To help the cause of liberty; 

My energy and life to be 
Made consecrate to the one theme, 
The single purpose and the dream. 

In every land, to make men free- 
To make men free. 



A MINISTER'S HARANGUE. 

BY ELDER JOHN T. HORNE. 

On the 22d of July last, in a church 
situated near the junction of Boyle, Ca- 
sey and Marion counties, Rev. Thomas 
Hall, an eminent preacher of the Baptist 
creed, made himself quite conspicuous by 
delivering a lecture "For Men Only." 
The object of his discourse was "to ex- 
pose the evils of Mormonism," and was 
of such a character that the fair sex and 
all boys under 16 years of age were de- 
barred the privilege of attending it. This 
harangue of abuse proved to be nothing 
more than a rehearsal of the old fabulous 
stories which have been written and r& 
iterated by a jealous clergy until worn 
threadbare; coupled with a late construc- 
tion of falsehoods, purporting to expose 
various crimes perpetrated by the Lat- 
ter-day Saints during the efforts of B. 
H. Roberts to obtain his seat in congress. 
To prove the veracity of his statements, 
Brother Hall frequently read and quoted 
from the writings of a Methodist minis- 
ter. This history (?) has been written 
since the expulsion of Mr. Roberts, and 
because of the recent date of its publi- 
cation, our reverend brother says "its 
authenticity is unimpeachable." He for- 
gets, I suppose, that religious bigotry and 
prejudice is waxing worse instead of 
abating as the tide of time ushers the 
world nearer its final destiny. Paul 
graphically depicts the deplorable condi- 
tion into which the human family were 
to drift in the last days, and as we are 
living in that important time, it might be 
well to quote his prediction. In writing 
to Timothy, he says, "This know also, 
that in the last days perilous times shall 
come. For men shall be lovers of their 
own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, 
blasphemous, disobedient to parents, un- 
thankful, unholy, without natural affec- 
tion, truce-breakers, false accusers, in- 
continent, fierce, despisers of those that 
are good, traitors, .heady, high minded, 
lovers of pleasures more than lovers of 
God, having a form of godliness, but de- 
nying the power thereof; from such turn 
away. (II Tim. 3:1-6.) The people of this 
age are certainly an enlightened race, 
but notwithstanding their intelligence, 
many leaders of modern Christendom are 
gifted with fully as much envy and jeal- 
ousy as has been the case in any epoch 
of the world's history. There were four 
of our Elders present when Dr. Hall gave 
his lecture. At the close of the services 
we requested the privilege of using the 
church to repudiate the false assertions 
wnich had beeu made, and vindicate the 
cause we believe is of such infinite im- 
portance. Our request was not granted, 
however, but through the liberality of 
some fair-minded persons, we obtained 
the use of a nice, large grove, and upon 
the following Sunday presented our side 
of the question to a large and very at- 
tentive audience. After the services we 
sang with vim the soul-inspiring song, 
"Utah and the Mormons,'* which was 
very appropriate for the occasion, and 
well received by those present. 

Brother Hall's was another fruitless at- 
tempt to injure the Mormon cause. 
"Truth is mighty and will prevail," and 
by means of this lecture we were permit- 
ted to present the Gospel plan to many 
who probably would not have beard it 
otherwise. 



atw 



THE SOUTHERN STAB. 




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Saturday, October 13, 1900. 
ARTICLES OF FAITH 

OF THB CHURCH OP JESUS CHRIST OP 
LATTER-DAY SAINTS. 

]. Wt b*li*v« (a fiod to* Eur oil F*tb*r. tod la Hi Son 
/«ut CHriit, tnd fa to* BoJ j Qb«v 

L W« tali*™ thit tata Till b* paoinhod far tholr on 
•Jpi H and not Tor Adtaj'i lrin«r™ion. 

J. W* IxslJiTe ihiL, thwuti Ibt ■tontraeot of Chriit, *tt 
mink in d nt; ■* ■■»**. by nbedienee (• tb« law* and ordi. 
PAOCM OF tb* G«pel. 

t, Wa believe th»l lh* tint principle ind or4iniW« of 
ti* Ooip*l ■»; Fir»t, FiiLb Jd tht Lord JrtidiOhfiit ; •«(>□*, 
fUptnLaao*;, Lhlrd, BiplUm t>v immtnipq far tb# r*iai*iioo 
of iJoi £ fcrartb, Lajmg on qf Hindi fo- the GLJtoi the Eiolj 

*. Wo bilioT* tb.it ■ ft>in a lit b# rilled of Oad. tit 
" propiiKT, ind bjr lb* Itjiaj oa or band*, 1 * kj !b«* who it* 
Id totberttj, to preacb lb* r>«P* ! "4 idmlni*t*r in tb« ordi. 
fit 0c** [berwir. 

fl. Wo b*lJ«*f to Ibtf i*n» Qreiniiilicn (bat stilted l« 
li« primiUra cburcb— Diamfr, ApOftivt, Prophet*, fttton, 
Tooebonk EwDftlUti, *to, 

4. wo baliere la Lbs p ft of t nnru#», p ro pbeey, loiolotioD^ 
Tiilooe, bultag, lnterpr*Ul>r>D of ion(UM, rtc. 

ft Wi baheT* tb* Bi bli to be tho wot d of Oad, ■■ for u Ik 
It tnotltud corrocti jr ; to al» bollcro tbo Book of Hormoa- 
Hi ba the word of Goa. 

I. Wo bdti'o it] thit God bit rfTtiltrf, »U Lb*t Bo dm 
now r«Tnl h ind wsb^litro thil lie will v^t revet) many [»■( 
ond itaporltnl Tiiinfi pertaining to tbo biogdom of OodT 

ID. Wi believ* in Lbs lueral g* then Fig ar lirtal aod Intba 
f**(ont1oa Of the Ten Trltwi; tblt Zlon will b« bfltll upod 
(hit { the Am* riens ) CQntJDent ; tbil t.hiitl wkJ] rel(D per»on< 
*Jlj" Dpail the Birtb, ind ti*t tb« OETtb Till b* r* be Ted ind 
TecelTi tU p*rmdU[*c«l f^orr. 

11. Wo *l«im thi pilTilce* of TonhEpEoc AJmiifhly God 
according; to tbo dlciitH of OUT roDKienco, *nd eilow ill 
fDta tbo UUt privileEpJei {hwm wnribfpliow, *beft\Or Thil 

U. Wo boUrfS In befograbjoet to klo«, proddont*. nilon, 
s«d oMfbtntoo | in oboyiog, honoring and tojtaining tbo law. 
It. »W« belioTo in boing bonost, troo, ebuto, bonovolont, 
vlrtttom. and In doing goodto sll bms : iodoed, to may «ay 
•hat toYoUov tbo adatonition of Panl t "Wo bolioro all thing*, 
wn hops aU thiojg*," to havo ondnrod many thiaaa, and bopo 
i» ba abla to ondara all thing*. If thoro is anything Tlrtnaaa, 
" tod raport or ■ ' ' *" "* 

PBflQaUTaL. 



Union Pacific Railroad. 

Another Portland train. Two trains 
daily. Effective April 22, the Union Pa- 
cific, Oregon Short Line and Chicago 
Railroad and Navigation company wnl 
place in service an additional Portland 
train. 

This train, "The Pacific Express/* will 
leave Kansas Oity 10:40 a. m. Only 
three days on the road. 

Equipped with Palace Sleepers. Free 
Reclining Chair Cars, ordinary Sleeping 
Car, Dining Car Service (to Granger). 

The time of the present Portland train, 
*'The Overland Limited," leaving Kansas 
City 6:40 p. m., will be reduced 2 hours 
and 45 minutes between Granger and 
Portland. 

Only 09 hours Kansas City to Port- 
land. 

Palace Sleeping Cars, Dining Car Ser- 
vice, Buffet Cars, Chair Cars. 

For time tables, folders, illustrated 
books, pamphlets descriptive of the ter- 
ritory traversed, address J. F. Aglar, 
genera] agent, St. Louis, Mo. 



TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN. 

Recently we received a tract published 
by the Pastors' Association of Salisbury. 
N. C, upon the front leaf of which, in 
glaring block type was inscribed these 
words, "Dangers of Mormonism ; or Why 
We Should Not Join the Mormons." If 
our readers will be indulgent and bear 
with us, we will, by the help of God, pro- 
ceed to explode some of the facts ( : ) 
contained therein, and ventilate its foul 
pages with a pure, wholesome air of truth, 
which is foreign and unknown upon this 
slanderous sheet. If we speak plain, and 
to the point, it is because we desire to 
firmly assert the truth of the matter, and 
defend boldly that cause which is every- 
where spoken against. We will nor 
wreathe our thoughts into a pretty bou- 
quet of nice sounding terms or cull from 
rhetoric a garland to garnish and embel- 
lish the same ; but simply state the truth 
in outspoken, plain, simple language, that 
all who chance to read may know and 
understand. 

First, this tract is written by professed 
ministers of the word of salvation, meu 
who pose as "Truth Reflectors," whose 
mission is to call sinners to repentance, 
expound the Word of the living God, ano 
earnestly exhort aU to render obedience 
to the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Comiug 
from such an enlightened (not inspired; 
source, we shall expect to find in their at 
firmations the truth, the whole truth and 
nothing but the truth. These ministe-s 
launch forth with this assertion : "Mor- 
monism originated in fraud and impos 
ture;" but they do not cover eight lines 
before they stick in the mud of falsehood, 
and dabble with untruths, in which falla 
cious mire they sink deeper and deeper, 
as they bedaub the history of our people. 
After making the above declaration they 
proceed to say that the Mormon Churcu 
was organized with six members, "undei 
the direction of the younger Joseph 
Smith, who claimed to be a prophet, anu 
the discoverer of the Book of Mormon/ 
Joseph Smith did not claim to be a "dis- 
coverer'* of the Book of Mormon, as the 
divine (?) gentlemen accuse him. Again, 
here is another falsehood : "Smith claimed 
that an angel had directed him to dig oil 
the summit of the hill Camora (we sup- 
pose they mean Cumorah), and that h<> 
would find a volume, which had been bur- 
ied there for upwards of fourteen hun- 
dred years." Joseph Smith never made 
any such claims; he proclaimed that thi? 
volume was delivered unto him by the 
angel Moroni ; that neither "digging" nor 
"discovering" were necessary to bring 
about the same. Such palpable errors as 
this are enough to sicken the honest in 
heart, and cause the intelligent and sounri- 
minded to nauseate. Those solemn, sanc- 
timonious prelates know, or had ought tc 
know, better than this, or else keep siler.i 
until they learn. These stories about Jo 
seph Smith discovering or digging up a 
"Golden Bible" are as fabulous as Rob- 
inson Crusoe, Sinbad the Sailor, and the 
like. It was revealed to him, delivered b> 
an angel, given into his care and keeping 
by a heavenly messenger, until it wa? 
translated into English, when it was re- 
turned to its proper custodian — the an 
gel. Gentlemen, confine yourself to th<- 
truth, and give due credit to the claims 
of this young man, as he himself affirim 
them, and as his advocates bear testimo 
ny. Take his claims, and fight these, T 
you are so anxious to antagonize and op- 
pose, but do not construct from your owr 
silly imagery a dummy, call it "Mormon 
ism," and then stand off and pelt it with 
mud. 

These gentlemen tell a very funny story 



about Joseph's encounter with the devil, 
and how his Satanic majesty kicked the 
boy four feet in the air. We suppose they 
consider it very humorous; so do we ; but 
strange to say, they admit that he sue 
ceeded in triumphing over the evil one. 
which none of his servants are able to do, 
for how shall a man be greater than his 
master? Perhaps the adversary has no 
need to "kick" about the way that those 
good pastors are conducting affairs. They 
rehash the Solomon Spaulding story, dis- 
torted, discolored, but the same old ro 
mance, as a proof for the origin of the 
Book of Mormon. Gentlemen, did you 
ever read that book? If so, you could 
never accredit its composition to a crack 
orained, crank preacher; and again, the 
original manuscript of the Solomon Spaui 
ding story can be found in Oberlin Col- 
lege, Ohio, with President Fairchild's at 
rested signature, that there is no sem 
olance or similarity between the two. 
You say, **The very men who aided in 
copying and publishing the Mormon Bi- 
ble a few years afterward solemnly swore 
that their former affidavits concerning the 
genuineness of the book were false." Not 
so! David Whitmer, just previous to his 
death (he was one of the three witnesses 
of the Book of Mormon) wrote this brief 
but significant statement: "J/y testimo- 
ny in the Book of Mormon is truth." 1 
Jliver Cowdery for some years ceased to 
)e affiliated with the church, owing to 
transgression, but finally renewed his 
covenants, and was faithful until death. 
Martin Harris bore witness to the end of 
his days that he saw the angel and the 
plates. In the face of these facts, what 
;-an you say to excuse your falsity? These 
men fell, but never denied their testi- 
Jiony. Gentlemen, when ye think yc 
stand take heed lest ye fall. 

Again it is stated, "Joseph Smith, who 
was illiterate but shrewd, and Sydney 
Rigdon * *. * were the joint com- 
pilers of the Book of Mormon, using 
Sprague's (we suppose they mean Spaul- 
iing's) Lost Manuscript as the ground 
work of the compilation." Let us see, 
Sydney Rigdon 's name is nowhere men- 
tioned in the Book of Mormon, and be 
was not an aid in its compilation. The 
Church had been organized, and mission- 
aries sent forth ; the Book of Mormon ha J 
been published, and was in the hands of 
the missionaries, when Elder Parley P. 
Pratt visited Sydney Rigdon at Kirtland. 
Ohio. (Remember, that Joseph Smith 
was in New York). At this time Sydney 
Rigdon had never seen Joseph Smith, and 
never before heard the proclamation of 
•'Mormonism." Parley P. Pratt present- 
ed him with a copy of the Book of Mor- 
-non, which aided in his conversion, and 
vet our pious brethren in Salisbury, N. 
C, indulge in that oft-repeated falsehood 
that the Book of Mormon was the corn- 
lined production of Joseph Smith ami 
Sydney Rigdon. You say that "Their 
neighbors were always willing to accord 
:o them the privilege of worshipping God 
according to the dictates of their own con 
sciences." If this be true, why is it that 
":hey have been driven from state to state, 
md finally from the confines of the United 
States? How is it that over 80 per cent. 
->f the mobs organized to antagonize and 
ibuse this people, have been instigated 
->r led by some professed preacher of 
-ighteousness? It cannot be refuted, for 
we have the proofs at our elbow. 

You say, "The Book of Mormon pre- 
ends to be a history of the ten lost tribes 
if Israel." It makes no such pretension* 
nit is a history of the descendants of « 
amily who were of the tribe of Joseph. 
If you will read Chap. 29 of II. Nephi, 
Book of Mormon, you will find that the 



THE SOUTHERN STAR. 



305 



"lost tribes of Israel are mentioned," and 
that a record of these tribes will at some 
future time be revealed, but the Book ot 
Mormon is not that record, and does not 
purport to be. Now, what do you say to 
that? Where have you been getting your 
fund of information? You must have 
placed yourself in the clutches of error, 
and she has woven out these "yarns" for 
you ; we see no other alternative. Will 
you admit that you are so weakly made 
as to be driven by such false devices, and 
not strong enough to confess your fault, 
and make reparation? Need we go far 
then than this? Is it not evident that 
these pastors are wilful prevaricators, or 
the ignorant dupes of falsehood and mis- 
representation? They appeal to the peo- 
ple very coaxingly and say, "You have 
near you learned, blameless, devout minis 
ters of half a dozen or more reputable 
churches of Jesus Christ. These minis- 
ters and churches you know. Why for 
sake their counsel?" This is very pretty, 
and quite self-righteous, for pastors to 
call themselves "learned, devout, blame- 
less ministers." Why not tell the people 
as James the Apostle, or a Mormon Ei 
der, "If any of you lack wisdom, let him 
ask of God, that giveth to all men lib- 
erally, and upbraideth not; and it snail 
be given him." (James 1:5). Yes, to* 
day preachers are learned, more learning 
than brains, more learning than love, more 
learning than the Spirit of God. Many 
churches (half a dozen or more in Salis- 
bury), many faiths, a heaven beyond the 
bounds of time and space, a God without 
"body, parts or passions," whose center 
is everywhere, and whose circumference 
is nowhere — a monstrous nonentity, a 
great big NOTHING. 

They give as their mode of' rendering 
judgment, "The rule of testimony is that 
if the witness is false in one declaration 
he must be regarded as false in every 
one." Now, gentlemen, to be judged by 
your own rule, measured by your own 
yard-stick, is it necessary to continue 
further, since we have proven your state- 
ments false, in more than one or two 
declarations, and you say: "If the wit- 
ness is false in one declaration, he must 
be regarded as false in every one." 
It is your own rule, your own line 
of measurement, and not ours, therefore 
you cannot dodge the judgment. Be just 
and fair! Tell the good people of Salis- 
bury that you have been misinformed, that 
your assertions were erroneous, and that 
you have misstated the faith of the Lat 
ter-day Saints, and misrepresented the 
Mormon people. There is a day coming 
when Justice will claim His own, and ev- 
ery man be judged according to his works. 
We await the coming of the judgment 
day, with joy and gladness in our hearts, 
for we know in whom we have believed 
and trusted. He is a God who says, "I 
will never leave thee, I will never forsake 
thee." You 'Bay that your "historical 
statements have been gathered from such 
authentic sources as the Encyclopedia 
Brittanica, The American Review an1 
some reliable tracts published by religious 
bodies." We agree that it must have 
been "gathered from," yea, a long way* 
"from" but never coming in contact with 
"authentic sources." A solemn warning, 
a word spoken in due season, "Repent and 
be baptized every one of you in the name 
onf Jesus Christ for the remission of 
sins, and ye shall receive the Gift of the 
Holy Ghost." (Acts 2:38). 

On another page will be found a few 
things relative to the life and mission of 
Joseph Smith, Jr., written by one who 
knew him, associated with him, and la 
bored for him. Read it, ye who would 
pelt your unsavory epithets at his fair 
name. Ye accept the testimony of eleven 



interested witnesses who bear record of 
Christ, and yet reject the words of those 
who knew the Prophet Joseph Smith 10 
life, and who testify that he was a man 
of God. Be generous, as was the Master. 
There are thousands of living witnesses 
who stand ready to declare before higb 
heaven that Joseph Smith was a Prophet 
of the Most High God. 



BORN OP WATER. 

A religious journal, an exchange, says: 

"Born of water cannot signify water bap- 
tism. Because baptism is a burial ("Burled 
with him In baptism."— Rom. 6:4), and noi 
a birth." 

If "born of water" does not mean bap- 
tism, what does it mean? When on 
comes forth from the watery tomb, hav- 
ing been immersed therein, do they not 
gasp the breath of life just the same as 
the infant born into the world? Our 
friends tell us that "born of the water" 
means to be born of His word, begotten 
by His everlasting truth! Why spiritual- 
ize away the first, and accept the second 
in its literal sense? Jesus said, "Boin of 
the water and of the Spirit;" you accept 
the latter as meaning just what it says, 
but the former you change and alter, 
saying it means "born of the word." Oh, 
consistency and reason, where art thon? 
Logic and judgment, where is thy dwell- 
ing place? Did you ever stop to think 
that baptism is more than a mere burial? 
Leave your baptized converts buried, 
keep them in the watery tomb, andjife 
would soon be extinct. You not only bury 
them in baptism, but they must be risen 
also, and walk in a newness of life, thus 
signifying the new birth. 

The Savior meant just what He said, 
when He looked upon the astonished Nic- 
odemus and said, "Except a man be born 
of water, and of the Spirit, he cannot en- 
rer the Kingdom of God." (John 3:5.) 
There is no need whatever for the sons 
of men to quibble and say that He meant 
this thing, or that thing, or the other 
thing. Herein lies the fault of the 
Christian sects; they profess to believe 
the Bible, and endeavor to change some 
of its most plain and precious truths, by 
spiritualizing and placing private inter- 
pretations upon the Scriptures, while 
«uch capers are strictly condemned by 
the word of God. (II Peter 1:20.) All 
of the words of our blessed Savior are 
plain and simple, easy to be understood, 
convincing to the honest in heart; still 
professed followers of the Lamb, with 
rheir much learning, higher criticism and 
other seductive influences, seek to mys- 
tify, make obscure, and hide from the 
understanding of man, those clear-cut, 
open truths. 

If there were any reason for us to be- 
lieve that "Born of the water" meant 
born of the word, we may give it some 
credence, but as it is, there is neither rea- 
son or Scripture to warrant this as- 
sumption; therefore we are left with it ir 
'ts proper and divine expression. "Born 
of the water," nothing more, and noth- 
ing less than just what it says. 



Brother James O. Earnest, of Lynch- 
burg, Va., called at the office on his re- 
turn to his home in the Old Dominion 
State, after visiting for a space of two 
"ears the s:ood people of Utah and Idaho. 
Brother Earnest speaks highly of the 
neople where he has spent the two last 
vears, and says it seemed like, leaving 
home to part with the hosts of warm 
friends who made life so pleasant for 
him in the west. They treated him roy- 
illy, and he carries to the people of Vir- 
ginia a good and honest report of his 
visit. 



OUR CONFERENCE PRESIDENTS. 

The subject of this ske#h was born 
at Paris, Idaho, March 17, 1877. He is 
a grandson of the late Apostle Charles 
C. Rich, and his parents were among the 
first settlers of Bear Lake Valley. His 
early life was spent on the farm, and he 
attended the public schools until the age 
of 17, when he was moved with a desire 
to obtain higher scholastic training than 
the public schools could afford. His pa- 
rents were uuiiring in their efforts to pro- 
mote the welfare of their children, and 
through their self-sacrifice, energy and 
economy the way was opened for our 
brother to attend the Agricultural college 
in Logan r Utah. He spent three years in 
this institution of learning, his special 
study being mechanical engineering. 

After leaving the Agricultural college 
he spent two years as a pedagogue, that 
he might obtain the necessary means with 
which to pursue his course of study. It was 
while teaching school in Wyoming that 
ho. received a summons from the Prophet 




ELDER C. R. HUMPHERYS. 

of God, soliciting his labors in the mis- 
sion field. Only a short week elapsed * 
from the time of receiving his notice un- 
til he was in Salt Lake City, reporting 
for duty. He was set apart for his mis- 
sion April 13. 1809, and arrived in Chat- 
tanooga on the 17th. 

He was assigned to labor in the North 
Carolina conference, but was afflicted 
with illness which necessitated a transfer 
to North Alabama. For some time his 
labors were required in the office, where 
he acted as commisary to the mission. 
When President Syl. Low, Jr., was re- 
leased to return to the west. Elder Hum- 
phervs was appointed to labor in his 
stead, and so we find him today down in 
the Palm Leaf state, among the piney 
woods of South Carolina, presiding over 
one of the brightest and best conferences 
in the south. In a letter written to the 
office, he says: 

"I crave at all times the assistance 
of God that I may follow Paul's advice 
to Timothy: 'Study to show thyself ap- 
proved unto God, a workman that need- 
eth not to be ashamed.' " 

Mighty deeds of valor stand out in the 
pages of history as so many incentives to 
greatness of action in the present. Great 
armies and navies, arsenals and fortifi- 
cations, empires and powerful states win 
from us our appreciation, but what are 
they? Empires are overthrown, cities 
crumble into dust, nations cease to exist, 
but a written word endures for all time 
and the "handwriting on the wall" as a 
living reality throughout all the ages.— 
The Book World. 



.T06 



THE SOUTHERN STA1L 



ARE MORMONS POPULAR? 



This seems to be a popular question, 
and from the interest maniiested by some 
of our reverend friends, in their teachings, 
one would naturally think that they were. 
We decided to spend Sunday, the 13th u£ 
May, with Brother George Garmond in 
Union county, N. C, and arrived at lus 
home at 4 p. m. Saturday. On arriving 
we were made acquainted with the fact 
that Elders Lumburg and Welker haJ 
made an appointment near New Hope 
Church, about seven miles distant, and 
that a Mr. or Rev. (?) H. G. Hotchkiss 
was going to meet them there and expose 
Mormon ism. We decided to grace the 
meeting with our presence, and on Sun- 
day morning set out for the appointed 
place, in company with Brother Gar- 
mond. We arrived at New Hope just in 
time for the services of Rev. (?) Hotch- 
kiss. After singing and prayer he com- 
menced his little recitation on Mormon- 
ism, using the same old accusations that 
have been hurled at this people more than 
a thousand times. He had the rapt at- 
tention of all present, Elder Georgeson 
and myself included. Mr. H. presented 
his irrefragible truths (?) to the people 
with all of the eloquence at his command. 
His lungs were well tested while exerting 
his malicious powers to the utmost to in- 
furiate the minds of the people against 
Mormons. O! what rapture must have 
filled his bosom when the deacon of the 
church countenanced his jargon with a 
nod. Mr. H. thought that he had won 
his celebrity. He then launched forth 
with renewed vigor to impugn the char- 
acter and virtue of Joseph Smith and 
the Mormon Church. After making a 
few bold assertions, bis calumny was 
turned on the Elders. They were accused 
of being "murderers, thieves and liars,' 
and our reverend friend event went so 
far as to say that there was not an hon- 
est man in the Mormon Church. It is 
evident that the gentleman (?) never ha* 
read the sayings of St. Paul (Rom. 2:1), 
or if he had, thought that by making such 
a vigorous attack on the Latter-day 
Saints, he could gain the confidence of 
the people and thus hide some of his mis 
erable trickery. However, there must be 
a clown in all "big" shows, and Rev. H. 
with his pestiferous remarks played hi* 
part well. The characters of Mr. and 
Mrs. Joseph Smith, Sr., were next as 
sailed. The former was accused of being 
a swindler and almost always in an in- 
ebriate condition. The latter, he said, 
was a witch and schooled her son in the 
art, making him proficient in locating far 
sheep and chickens. No proof whatever 
was furnished to substantiate his naked 
falsehoods. Mr. Hotchkiss, beware! Re- 
member Pharaoh and learn wisdom. 
Good advice to you, Mr. H., would be 
to never murmur against God's anointed. 
Remember the two hundred and fifty 
princes of the children of Israel, who were 
swallowed up in the earth for murmurin? 
against Moses. (Num. 16:2, 31-33). Ma- 
riara, who was stricken with leprosy for 
murmuring against the prophet. (Num. 
12). Do you remember Paul, how he 
was stricken blind on the way to Damas- 
cus, for persecuting the Saints? O, ye 
vile accuser ! Seek ye the Lord while He 
may be found; call ye upon Him whilo 
He is near; forsake your evil way and 
your evil thoughts; return unto God ami 
He will have mercy upon you. During 
the dark ages or times of ignorance God 
winked ; but now He commandeth all mer 
everywhere to repent. If ye say that y 
have no sin, ye deceive yourself and the 
truth is not in you. Mr. Hotchkiss said 



that Mormons were teaching that Jesus 
Christ had a plurality of wives and that 
while upon the cross He looked upon Hi* 
own seed. Mr. H. admitted that he never 
heard an Elder preach such doctrine, 
"but some one else told him" Yes; it is 
the same old smile. A naked falsehood. 
A lie! He says that "Mormons are not 
fools. You can't corner them on the Bi- 
ble." No! Mr. H., you cannot, and that 
is the plain reason that such men as 
yourself resort to such infernal, miserable 
trickery. 

"Mormons are arraigned in the Tem- 
ple, and with uplifted hand are made to 
swear by oath not to question the author- 
ity of the Church, not to betray any se 
crets of the Temple; always to remain 
enemies to the United States, and under 
penalty of death dare not deny the divine 
authenticity of any Church work." Such 
unembellished, superficial, revolting false- 
hoods are humiliating to Satan himself. 

Again, he says that Mormons are still 
practicing polygamy, and shedding inno 
cent blood. His friend, a pastor of the 
Presbyterian church, keeps him posted. 
Mr. H., if your friend in S. L. C. knows 
these things to be true, why does he not 
take steps to put a stop to them? Doesn't 
he claim to be trying to Christianize the 
world? O! you tell me that you cannot 
convict a Mormon in Utah. No! and 
why, Mr. H.? Simply because the law 
cannot convict an innocent man. "These 
Elders are shipping our fair sex out of 
North Carolina by the car loads." Oo 
whom is Mr. H. casting reflections? I 
answer, on the female sex of North Caro- 
lina, and not on the Mormon Elders. If 
a despised Mormon can ship women to 
Utah by the car loads, what could a well- 
dressed sharper from New York do? He 
could take them all ! Are the women of 
North Carolina as he represents them? 
God forbid! Mr. H. is a blight to the 
fair sex of this state, and should be si 
lenced by the brothers and fathers of his 
community. I will not rehearse any more 
of Mr. H.'s little speech, as it is old and 
not as good as second-handed. I only 
appeal to the reason of intelligent people. 
Such opposition doesn't discourage a tru<» 
servant of God. Nay ! but the love of 
Christ and freedom instilled in their bos- 
om by loving mothers prompts them ou 
and they know no defeat. I am sorry 
that in this day and age of the world we 
still have blind leading the blind, and 
with the Scribes and Pharisees of old. 
cry, "If we had lived in the days of oui* 
"athers we would not have been partak- 
ers with them in the blood of the proph- 
ets." Prophets and Apostles are sent 
among them in this day. Some they per- 
secute and drive from the synagogues and 
ounish in the meanest ways possible. 
They are in a stage of gross darkness. 
Their hearts are waxed gross, and their 
^ars are dull of hearing, and their eye9 
♦:hey have closed; lest at any time they 
should see with their eyes, and hear with 
fc heir ears, and understand with their 
hearts and should be converted." (Matt. 
13:15). Christ said to His apostles: 
"He that heareth you, heareth me, and 
he that despiseth you despiseth me, and 
he that despiseth me despiseth Him that 
sent me." Mr. II., do you despise the 
Elders? They are God's chosen servants 
ind have a like commission to the apos- 
les of old. The preaching of the cross 
: s to them that perish foolishness; but 
mto us who are saved it is the power of 
"'od. The foolishness of God is wiser 
han men, and the weakness of God is 
Wronger than men. God has chosen the 
'oolish things of the world to confound 
c he wise; and He has chosen the weak 
things of the world to confound the things I 



which are. mighty. W« speak, not in the 
words which men's wisdom teacheth, but 
which the Holy Ghost teacheth. The 
Gospel which we teach we received not of 
man, neither were we taught it ; but by 
the Holy Ghost. At your meeting, Mr. 
H., you didn't allow us liberty, but you 
must remember that Paul said : "Where 
the Spirit of God is there is liberty." 
(II. Cor. 3:17). And now you must ad- 
mit that your circumlocution was not 
from the Spirit of God. Like the apos- 
tles of old, we (the Elders) are sent out. 
as it were, appointed unto death ; for 
we are made a spectacle unto the world, 
and to angels, and to men. We are fools 
for Christ's sake; but we are wise in 
Christ ; we are weak, but we are strong ; 
we are honorable, but we are despiscu; 
being reviled we bless ; being per&ecuteo. 
we suffer it ; being defamed, we entreat ; 
we are made as the filth of the world 
and are the off-scouring of all things un- 
to this day. The Kingdom of God is not 
in word, but in power, and our light af- 
fliction, which is but for a moment, work 
etn for us a far more exceeding and eter- 
nal weight of glory. Haughty ignorance 
and bigotry will yet be constrained to 
cast their honors in the dust ; and bow 
their reverend heads at the feet of real 
worth, and learn in humble silence thai 
one fact clearly demonstrated is worth 
ten thousand theories and opinions of 
men. Mr. H., we are proud to say that 
your satanic efforts made friends for the 
Mormons. "God moves in a mysterious 
way His wonders to perform." 

J. S. Worsley. 



THE DEAD. 

Sister Lora A. Pittman, of Tyre, Doug- 
las county, Ga., passed away from this 
earth July 29. Sister Pittman was a 
faithful member of the Church of Jesus 
Christ of Latter-day Saints. Her life 
and character since her baptism had been 
one of emulation. Many a meal she pre- 
pared for the Elders, who always found 
che latch string of her door on the out- 
side. 

She was baptized Sept. 24, 1899, by 
Elder Smith D. Kogers and confirmed by 
Elder A. C. Candland. She leaves a good 
and God-fearing husband and five small 
children, who will miss her from the fam- 
ily circle. May the Lord bless and com- 
fort the grief-stricken family. 



W. D. Kitchen, the son of Brother and 
Sister John A. Kitchen, quietly passed 
from this life Aug. 21, 1900, of typhoid 
fever. Sister Kitchen is a faithful Lai- 
ter-day Saint and is devoted to the cause 
she has espoused. Brother Kitchen is not 
a member of the Church, but is very kind 
to the Elders and deserves much credit 
for the good he has done. May the Lord 
bless Brother and Sister Kitchen in •tei«* 
hour of bereavement and sorrow. 



From "A Book of Verses," by Nixon Water- 

man. 
My little boy en me from his school today 

With his heart In a flurry of glee. 
"O. papa! they've taken our pencils away. 

And I'm writing with Ink," said he. 

And his breast Is filled with a manly pride. 

For it joys him much to think 
He has laid his pencil and slate aside. 

And Is writing his words In Ink. 

O, innocent child ! could you guess the truth 
You would ask of the years to stay 

"Mid the slate and pencil cares of youth 
That a tear will wash away; 

For out in the great, wide world of men 
The wrongs we may do or think 

Can never be blotted out again. 
For we write them all in ink! 



THB SOUTHERN STAR 



367 



DEATH OF ELDER H. D. BRQNSON. 



It Is with feelings of sorrow and pain 
that we are called upon to report the sad 
death of Elder H. D. Bronson, of Fair- 
view, Idaho. For the past nineteen 
months Elder Bronson has been laboring 
in the Georgia Conference, performing 
a noble, successful woik, and in every 
way proving himself an able, earnest, en- 
ergetic servant of '.he Master. On Sat- 
urday evening, about 4 o'clock, 0<*t. 5, 
we received ihe following telegram from 
Eatonton, Go., signed by Elder H. C. 
Butler. "H. D. Bronson, Fairview, 
Idaho, was drowned in the Oconee river 
this morning at 7 o'clock; body not yet 
found." This was a terrible shock to all 
at th* Office, and it was some few mo- 
ments before we could thoroughly sense 
the message. A cloud of sadness and a 
gloomy shadow seemed to rest upon us, 
and we at once felt that someone should 
go to the scene of the calamity and ren- 
der assistance in discovering the body. 
Elder L. E. Jordan was appointed to make 
the trip, and at 6 p.m. was seated on the 
southbound train to Atlanta. Arriving 
in Eatonton, he wired the following mes- 
sage, dated Oct. 7: "Instructions i*<*i™* 
from Rich. Body not found yet; will 
embalm at Macon. Have Elder ready 
to accompany home." The second mes- 
«aze from Elder Jordan, dated the 8th, 
was: -Can't find body; will use dyna- 
mite at daylight." And again on the 9th 
came the following: "Not yet found, 
working, hoping to hear from Rich; 
can't get photo; plenty help." L. E. Jor- 
dan. Thus we were kept in anxous sus- 
pense, while the Elders were doing their 
level best to recover the body of our be- 
loved brother. Tuesday evening, Oct 
9 we received word that the body had at 
last been found, and was prepared for 
shipment to the West It was found on 
the morning of the 9th, just after ^Elde- 
Jordan had sent his last message, Eaton- 
ton, the telegraph station, being about 
fifteen miles from the spot where the 
Elder was drowned. 

Elder Manasseh Smith wrote the fol- 
lowing brief account of the drowning: 
TOe g re were four of us (Elder Bron- 
son, Butler, Mayhew and myself) travel- 
ing down to the lower counties, where 
we had been assigned to labor, and on 
arriving yesterday morning about tJ 
o'clock at a point on the Oconee river 
called the Long Shoals Factory, we 
called to the ferryman on the other side 
of the river, but failed to get a reply. So 
after waiting an hour and a half, Elder 
Bronson and Butler decided to swim the 
river and bring a boat over and 
get us and our grips, but when 
they got about one-third of the 
wav across the stream Elder Bron- 
lon ?Srned and said he could not 
make it and called for help and sank 
Elder Butler turned and swam as fast 
as possible to him and caught him just 
as he was going down the third I time 
and they both went down together, but 
Elder Butler brought him to the top 
again and tried to save him, b«* h « ° im : 
self being exhausted, he had to let go of 
Elder Bronson in order to save his own 
life but I assure you he did all he could 
to save him, but it seems that our Heav- 
enly Father had a better work for him 
to do on the other side. Elder Butler 
and I got across the river in a boat and 
went to Brother C. J. Callihan s, at Ea- 
Tonton, and wired you. We had to walk 
about twelve miles, and that is the rea- 
son why the message was late, I re- 
main, as ever, your brother m the Gospel 
nf truth Manasseh Smith. 

FJder Bnmson was a lender among his 



companions, a power for good wherever 
he went, and a faithful defender of the 
Gospel. A young man, single, with lov- 
ing parents, who will grieve the loss of 
a dutiful, affectionate son. His whole 
desire was to do his duty, and he met 
his death while performing an act which 
was to benefit his companions. He was 
just 22 years of age, being born Aug. 18, 
1878. Much credit and praise is due to 
those good, kind people who generously 
labored night and day for the recovery 
of his body. Elder Jordan accompanied 
the body to Chattanooga, and from here 
to Salt Lake City it will be accompanied 
by Elder J. F. Perkins, of the North 
Alabama Conference. 

We trust that the Lord will bless those 
who are near to our departed brother by 
the endearing ties of kindred affection, 
and that they may ever enjoy the sweet, 
life-giving and comforting influence of 
His Holy Spirit. 



History o\ the Southern States Mission. 

(Continued from page 360.) 
OCTOBER, 1899.— This month opened 
with cooler weather, which was much ap- 
preciated by the Elders. The tidal 
wave of monocracy, prejudice and hatred 
which had swept over the country was 
subsiding, and a better feeling .seemed 
?o exist in all parts. The . ministers, 
h°ow e ev£ were.nSt dilatory in inciting 
the people against the faith, and tne 
npwsnaner journals were occasionally 
KHith vile stuff, calculated to dam- 
age our cause. Elders were at work in 
nfarlv all the large cities throughout the 
South; where mucli street preacling was 
being done. A good work was done in 
Nashville. Knoxville, Montgomery Ral- 
eigh, Richmond, Cincinnati, Louisville 
and other prominent cities. of the south. 
Many friends and nvestigators were 
made, and some baptisms were reported 
President T. H. Humpherys and Elder 
Matthews made an etfort to work .Bir- 
mingham, Ala. After exhausting every 
means to effect an opening they were 
forced to give it up for the time being. 
Se mayor was intensely bitter and de- 
nied them every privilege pertaining to 
their work in tne city, until they could 
secure from each of the four local min- 
isters a document paying that Mormon 
literature would not be objectionable to 
the citizens of Birmingham An appeal 
was made to the city aldermen, who 
without reference to what themayoi had 
said or done, passed an ordinance pro- 
hibiting all Mormons from oreachmg or 
officiating in any capacity in the city, 
S 5f their own church buildings 
Later the mayor repented somewhat, and 
allowed the Elders to preach on the 
sTeet corner, but denied them the privi- 
lege of selling books or distributing lit- 
erature. A Tittle excitement was cre- 
ated, when it was announced through the 
papers that the Mormons would preach 
on the streets. Great interest was man- 
ifested, and each night the street was 
crowded with people. 

Rachel L. Baird, who for some six or 
seven years had been an invalid, was in- 
stantly healed by the power of God 
through the administration of Elders 
Reeve and Stewart. This occurred in 
Pickett county, Tennessee. The sistei 
hid been confined to her bed for these 
many years, but she arose, was baptized, 
and came up out of the water exclaim- 
ine. "I am well now." . 

On the night of the 4th, President J. 
U AHred and Elder -J. A. Kirk .were 
holding meeting in Nashville, when a 
minister interrupted them and J»lelvac- 
cused them of being guilty of defiling 
nouses. The Rev. f?) gentleman was 
promptly challenged to there and then 
prove his accusations, but he suddenly 

di Elders r a H. Wentz and Thos. Halls, 
while laboring in Fayetteville, Tenn 
had notice served on them by the Raw 
Dough Society" of that place to leave 
Ihe citv The Elders did not leave, and 



were not molested. The Elders m Mar- 
shall county, Tennessee, upon entanng 
Petersburg, were notified to leave at 
once. The notice was served by a col- 
ored boy who said he was acting in 
behalf of the city police. This was the 
result of an agitation started there by a 
local preacher, who "swung high in the 
anti-Mormon crusade. The Elders m 
Houston county, Tennessee, were denied 
the right of laboring in Erin, the county 
seat, and even prohibited from remaining 
there longer than the calling. for their 
mail required. Some of the citizens re- 
marked that if this injunction was vio- 
lated that they would enforce it, not be- 
neath masks or blackened, faces, but in 
the full light of day, and m the garb of 
citizens. __ , , . , 

President Lewis Hobson gave a brief 
report of work in Louisiana, as follows: 
A great deal of persecution was exneri- 
emced, caused by ministers communicat- 
ing with our enemies in Utah, and also 
as a result of the anti-Mormon literature 
scattered broadcast over the land. An 
attempt was made to mob Elders Carter 
and Hobson, but the hand of providence 
prevented the accomplishment of the evil 
plan. Mass meetings were held at Mount 



&armel, where seventy men pledged 
themselves to get "shet" of the Jformoii 
Elders, even to the spilling of blood if 
necessary. Elder P. V. Carter, who had 
been left with Saints on account of a 
sore foot, was, on the 9th, visited by a 
mob of seventy-eight ruffians headed by 
a Baptist preacher— J. D. Ford. They 
were met at the house by Sister Clark, 
and ordered not to come in. The mob 
demanded the Elder, but his friends re^ 
fused to give him up. Ford was allowed 
to go in unarmed, and interview Elder 
Carter. Mr. Ford stated that, as the 
representative of the "seventy-eight" and 
500 more, he demanded that all Mormon 
Elders leave and never return. Elder 
Carter endeavored to reason with him, 
but to no avail— abuse was his only wea- 
pon. On the 12th, a heavily armed mob 
of twenty-five men came to Victoria, 
where President Hobson and Elder J. 
N. Miller were staying, and demanded of 
them to leave the country. Mr. John R. 
Tones and his "mill" hands protected the 
Elders, and robbed the mobbers of their 
innocent prey. On this, as well as on all 
other occasions, the Elders were kind, 
and tried to reason with the self-right- 
eous bigots, but their appeals were met 
with vulgar insults. When the leader 
was asked by what authority he demand- 
ed them to leave, he boastingly replied. 
"In the name of Jesus Christ and as a 
representative of the people of this par- 
ish." The Elders were given until the 
15th to leave the parish. President Hob- 
son went to Shreveport. „ /v/k ~v ~ 

At the close of the month 10,000 Or- 
son Pratt's Works were printed, also a. 
new missionary hymn book. 
(To be co ntinued.) 

Releases and Appointments. 

Releases. 

J. E. Tanner, East Kentucky Confer- 

en jas. W. Wood, East Kentucky Confer- 
ence. 

F. N. Bleak, Florida Conference. 

W. T. Davis, office. 

N. D. Forsyth, Middle Tennessee Con 

Jos. E. Follet, East Tennessee Confer- 

en s! E. Johnson, North Kentucky Con- 
ference 

L. Bastain, East Kentucky Conference. 

P. Anderson Middle Tennessee Confer- 
ence. ^ „ 

F. P. Carlisle, Kentucky Conference. 

W. W. Crockett, North Carolina Con- 
ference. .... ^ * 

M. E. Gifford, Mississippi Conference. 

Daniel Bagley, South Alabama Confer- 
ence. 

O. L. Peterson, Virginia Conference. 
Transfers. 

W. A. Adams, East Tennessee to North 

R. A. Palmer, North Carolina to Col- 
orado Mission. 



368 



THE SOUTHERN STAR. 



REPORT OF MISSION CONFERENCES FOR WEEK ENDING SEPT. 22, 1900. 


PRlilDZKT 


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Kentucky 
N. Carolina 
Georgia 
Tennessee 


J, G. Bolton „. ,„ .... 

J. Spencer Worsley..... 
W. D, Kencher., 


Kentucky .„.♦..»♦» 
East Tt-nneast^e™ 
Georgia _„„„,„„ 


C*«tr* M „. 

Halo. Mii^l^U Ln.. 

Savannah.. ,.„.... . tw 4rti 

Memphis, BOJE l&L 


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North (■ art ilinLk 
South Carolina ., 
MmisHippj ......... 

EsM Kentucky... 

Louisiana.., .. 

South Alabama.. 
North Kentucky 
South Ohio... , 
North Ohio 


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102 1M 

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158 * 


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John Reeve ................. 

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Tennessee 
N CaruUna 


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■*. Carolina 


G. M, ('oner ......... 

W. W. Sflac Kay ..„...„.. 

F. H. UiitehHeld 

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530 Bett§ gt,, CiiH-iiiuaU ... 
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Kentucky 

Louisiana 

Alabama 

Kentucky 


.Don C. Ben*on„.., ,,.„,. 


[.. M. Nulteker ...... 


H. Z. Lund ,. .... 




;: 


Ohio 



A TESTIMONY OF JOSEPH SMITH. 



BY ELDER LOKIN F. RICH. 



In this day, people who profess to be 
Christians, accept the Apostles' testi- 
mony that Jesus is the Christ. They do 
this because the Apostles were acquaint- 
ed and associated with Christ, and bet- 
ter knew His character than His enemies 
did. On the other hand, Christ's ene- 
mies called Him "a gluttonous man, and 
a wine-bibber, a friend of the publicans 
and sinners." 

Those who were broad-minded t open- 
hearted and seeking for truth, investi- 
gated the teachings of the Savior. Ah 
they progressed in their searches for 
truth, their belief became knowledge and 
they bore their testimony that Jesus is 
the Son of God. This is the testimony 
that is accepted by professed followers 
of Christ. Why do they accept this tes- 
timony? Simply because an acquaint- 
ance of the Savior would know His mis- 
sion and speak the truth as to the divin- 
ity of His work. 

If the so-called Christians of today 
would ask who Joseph Smith was, and 
inquire as to his claims, who should he 
go) to, for a true answer? Should he go 
to enemies who have not investigated his 
claims, or should he go to one who was 
acquainted with Joseph Smith? Only 
people who are narrow-minded would 
seek advice from bigoted enemies. Jo- 
seph Smith's enemies (who can be found 
wherever priest-craft exists), abuse his 
good name and character with the same 
injustice as Christ's enemies did when 
they called Him "a sinner," etc. But 
those who were broad-minded enough to 
investigate, and were seeking for truth, 
bear their humble testimony to the. world 
that Joseph Smith was a prophet of tho 
Most High God. 

While thinking over the above ideas 
and truths, I remembered that my grand- 
father, who is still living, was intimately 
associated with Joseph Smith. I desired 
his testimony, and a short time ago wrote 
for it. One testimony strengthens an- 
other. My grandfather would have no 
object in deceiving me in a matter per- 
taining to life and salvation, and I firm- 
ly believe his testimony. 

Believing the following will be of in- 
terest to the readers of the Star, I pub- 
lish the same as it was received from 
Lorin Farr, my grandfather, in a letter 
to me, dated Aug. 14, 1900: 

"I had the great pleasure of becoming 
acquainted, when I was quite a young 
boy. with the Prophet Joseph Smith. I 
don't suppose there is any man living who 
was so well acquainted with the Prophet 
Joseph Smith as I was. I used to live 
with him, and done work for him, when 
but a boy. I never got acquainted with 
a man that I thought as much of as I 
did of him. He was a very kind man 
to his family. He used to call on me to 
take my turn in family prayers. He was 
a very humble, prayerful man. He was 
a very industrious man. always doing 
something useful; and was not afraid to 
reprove a person for wron? doing in the 



past. Lorin, I positively know, beyond 
the possibility of a doubt, that he was 
the greatest man that ever lived on this 
earth, except Jesus Christ. Ha wa« 
chosen and ordained to hold the keys of 
this dispensation; to come and take his 
tabernacle in this day and age, and did 
take it on- the 23d of December, 1805 
A. D. 

I have traveled with him; slept w*th 
him; was with him a great deal through 
some of the most trying times, and know 
that he was faithful and true to the. last. 
He brought forth the same Gospel; the 
same plan of salvation that Jesus Christ 
brought forth, but his enemies; would 
not let him live. They took him whilst 
he was under the care of the Governor 
of Illinois, and put him to death. He 
■sealed hiai testimony with his blood, and 
the inhabitants of tnis great republic will 
know and understand some day that 
they have put to death one of the great- 
est men that ever lived on this earth. 

The Jews took Christ, after he had la- 
bored between three and four years, and 
put Him to death. He sealed His testis 
mony 1 by His blood. But the Jews have 
been paid pretty dearly for their terri- 
ble crime, Christ said (Matt. 24:14): 
* 4 This Gospel of the Kingdom shall be 
preached unto all the world, as a witness 
unto all nations, and then shall the end 
come," or the destruction of the wicked. 

I think if the Christian world would 
read the 24th chapter of St. Matthew 
a little more, and try to understand it, 
they would begin to see what is coming 
and what is about to take place on this 
earth. \ 

Joseph Smith was the great forerunner 
to prepare for the second coming of the 
Savior. I embraced the Gospel of Je- 
sus Christ under the preaching of Joseph 
Smith, and the ("Mormon" church, as it 
is called) Church of Jesus Christ from 
the beginning, and I know full well what 
I am writing is the truth. 

There was a portion of the 24th chap- 
ter of Matthew fulfilled in the days of 
the Savior here on the earth, and that 
which has not come to pass will all be 
fulfilled. The Church of Jesus Christ 
has been set up and has come to stay. 
Notwithstanding they killed the Prophet 
Joseph, the Church remains and will re- 
main until Christ comes to reign on th** 
earth as He now reigns in Heaven, and 
there shall be no power on this earth 
that can stop it." 



GLEANINGS. 

I have many dear and highly esteemed 
friends and acquaintances, readers of The 
Star, to whom I desire to send greetings, 
love and kindest regards; also inform 
them of my safe return home, after an 
enjoyable stay of two years in Utah. 
Left numerous friends and loved ones 
there in coming to Vigrinia, the home of 
! my rhildhood, and will say to my south- 



ern friends that they are entertaining 
worthy servants of God — the Mormon Ei- 
ders. I have had the privilege and pleas- 
ure of visiting all over the state and was 
kindly treated; other strangers treated 
likewise; they are more industrious than 
any people I was ever amongst; have no 
drones or beggars in the "Beehive State.*' 
I am kindly and gladly received back 
at home and lots of friends are anxious to 
hear me talk of Utah and the "Mormons ;" 
say they will believe me, so I am arrang- 
ing to travel and lecture on the wild 
west, expose the Mormons, etc. Have a 
long, busy and enjoyable visit among 
friends in Appomattox, Campbell, Char- 
lotte and other counties I esteem so high- 
ly. The Elders and friends are invited 
to call and see me; be at home with me; 
also write. With kindest regards to all, 
I am your humble brother in Jesus Christ, 
James Earnest. 



Grantsboro, Pamlico County, N. C. 
Dear Editor— Please allow me space 
in the little Star to express my feeling 
towards the Church of Christ and the 
Saints in it, for I love them all, wher- 
ever they are. I have been a member 
of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter- 
day Saints nearly three years. I was 
baptized Feb. 18th, 1898, by Elder W. 
M. Wooley, and I can bear a faithful 
testimony to the truthfulness of the Gos- 
pel and the divine mission of the Prophet 
Joseph Smith. I had never heard the 
Gospel preached until I heard Elder 
Killpack preach it. I am a Mormon, 
and I am not ashamed of it. I wish that 
I could only tell the world about my 
"Mormonism." The Lord has delivered 
me out of all my persecutions, and I 
know that "all that will live Godly in 
Christ shall suffer persecution." 

Amanda E. Homes. 



Chilton, Clark County, Ala.,, 
Sept. 26, 1900. 
We have had the misfortune to lose 
our little girl. She was born Jan. 23d, 
189G, and died Aug. 30th, 1900, after an 
illness of two days. She was a very 
hearty child, and it was a sore trial to 
part with her; but we have the consola- 
tion of knowing that if we, as parents, 
do our duty, that we shall again have the 
privilege of meeting her in the Father's 
Kingdom. I have been a member of tho 
Church for five years, and I can testify 
before God and the world, if need be. 
that Joseph Smith was an instrument in 
the hands of the Almighty in setting up 
His kingdom in these the last days. I 
feel to thank the Lord and bless the day 
that He seen fit to bless me with a knowl- 
edge of the same. 

John W. Brown. 

Fanny V. Brown. 




bUT THOUGH WE OS AN ANGtL FROM HEAVEN, PR! ACM ANY 
PTHER &0&PEL UNTO YOU TMAN THAT WHICH WE 

HAVE PPEACHED UKTO YOU. LET HIM kE ACCUSED *&lJ*e&V. 

= = — X^fo^ — 




Q< - 



ILVol. 2. 



Chattanooga, Tenn., Saturday, October 20, 1900. 



No. 47. 



Sketch of the Life of Apostle Parley P. Pratt. 

BY APOSTLE MATHIAS F. COWLEY. 



Parley P. Pratt, Who was one of the 
First Council of Apostles in the dis- 
pensation of the fulness of times, was 
born in Burlington, Otsego county, New 
York, April 12, 1807. He was the third 
son of Jared and Oharity Dickinson 
Pratt. While still in boyhood Parley 
was noted for his remarkable activity 
of body and mind. He worked hard 
upon his father's farm, and when oppor- 
tunity afforded him the privileges of 
school he was cited as an example of 
studiousness worthy the following of alt 
his associates. He was a descendant of 
Lieut. William and Elizabeth Pnitr, 
who were among the first aetrlprs of 
Hartford, Conn., in the 
year 1639. The supposi- 
tion is that they accom- 
panied the Rev. Thos. 
Hooker and his congre- 
gation of about 100 from 
Cambridge, then known 
as Newtown, Mass., 
through a wilderness in- 
habited by savages and 
wild beasts, to the place 
where they founded the 
colony of Hartford, Conn, 
in 1C36. This early 
pioneer, William Pratt, 
was a member of the 
Connecticut legislature 
for some twenty-five ses- 
sions, his long term of 
service proved his effic- 
iency to hold the office 
and the high esteem in 
which he was held by 
the people. The general 
court gave him 100 acres of land 
in Suybrook, Connecticut, for gal- 
lant services rendered in the Pequot 
war. He was a judge in the first court 
of New London county. Parley P. and 
Orson Pratt are lineal descendants of 
the seventh generation from that worthy 
pilgrim and pioneer. 

Parley P. Pratt was distinguished in 
his early boyhood for the maturity of 
manhood in his thoughts and actions. 
The opportunities afforded him for edu- 
cation were extremely limited, and yet 
the originality of his thought was so dis- 
tinguished that he was looked upon by 



many who knew him as a leading spirit 
with a great destiny before him. He 
also displayed strong tendencies of a 
religious character and for some time 
was associated with the followers of 
Alexander Campbell. 




APOSTLE PARLEY P. PRATT. 

In September, 1830, he felt strongly 
impressed while residing in Ohio to jour- 
ney eastward. Acting upon this sug- 
gestion of the Spirit of the Lord, he 
went eastward several hundred miles, 
where he came in possession of a copy 
of the Book of Mormon. He read the 
sacred volume with a prayerful heart 
and arose from its perusal a witness 
that the promise contained in the Book 
that those who read it with a desire to 
know the truth should receive a testi- 
mony of its truth. Parley immediately 
set out in search of the honored men 
who had seen the Angel and heard the 



voice of God. He soon found some El- 
ders and learned from them of the or- 
ganization of the Church on April 6, 
1830. He received baptism and was at 
once ordained an Elder. He visited Ca- 
naan, Columbia county, New York, 
whore he had spent many of his boyhood 
days. Ho preached several times in the 
neighborhood and baptized his brother 
Orson on the 10th anniversary of the 
bitter's birthday, Sept. 19, 1830, and 
theo went to Seneca county. New York. 
In Ortohrr, 1830, Parley P. Pratt and 
three others were commanded by reve- 
IjiIUhi to carry the Gospel to the Laman- 
iteK or Indians located in the western 
boundaries of Missouri. 
On their journey they 
spent some time at Kirt- 
land, Ohio, where they 
preached the Gospel to 
Sidney R ig d o n, Orson 
Hyde and other followers 
of Alex Campbell. They 
baptized many of them 
and pursuing their jour- 
I ney to Missouri, Bro. 
f Parley P. Pratt was 
; among the first of the 
I Latter - day Saints to 
stand upon the flavored 
site where the city of 
Zion and her glorious 
Temple are to be reared 
in the last days. 

Early in 1831 he went 
east as far as Ohio and in 
Kiftland met the Prophet 
Joseph Smith. During 
the summer he performed 
another faithful mission in Ohio. 
Indiana, Illinois and Missouri, preach- 
ing the Gospel, baptizing many and 
promoting by every possible mean* 
the interests of the Church. While the 
Presidency of the Church and main 
body were established in Ohio, Bro. Par- 
ley was among the number located in 
Jackson county, Missouri, building up 
the city of the Saints in that chosen land. 
In the fall of 1833 he, with over 1,000 
men, women and children were driven 
from their homes and dispossessed of 
their property in Independence and sur- 
rounding country. Two hundred houses 



370 



THE SOUTHERN STAR 



were burned;, also hay stac~s, cattle and 
hogs were soot down; many of the 
Saints crkielly whipped, others killed, 
and the bedy v pf the people driven across 
the river iajto + Clay county. Subse- 
quently Hfifer Pratt performed a long 
mission of over 1,200 miles to the east, 
preaching the Gospel and encouraging 
the Saints. 

In 1834 he returned to Clay county, 
Missouri, and wherever he went was 
a most energetic and capable minister 
of the Gospel. He returned to Kirtland, 
O., and on Feb. 21, 1835, having been 
previously called to the Apostleship, re- 
ceived his ordination. After his ordina- 
tion he went east' with his fellow Apos- 
tles and performed a faithful mission in 
New York, Pennsylvania and the New 
England states. 

In 1836 he preached the Gospel in 
Canada, where he organized a large 
branch of the Church in Toronto, and 
others in neighboring towns. Upon this 
eventful mission he baptized the late 
President John Taylor and others who 
became such substantial advocates of 
the cause of Christ in the last days. Be- 
fore leaving Kirtland Apostle Kimball 
prophesied to Bro. Parley that in Can- 
ada he would find a people prepared to 
receive him, and that his wife should 
bear him a son. They had been mar- 
ried ten years without posterity. Both 
these remarkable predictions were liter- 
ally fulfilled. 

In 1837 Bro. Pratt founded a large 
branch of the Church in New York City. 

In 1838 Elder Pratt removed from 
Ohio to Caldwell county, Missouri, where 
persecution was raging in a furious man- 
ner. Over a score of men, women and 
children were murdered in cold blood. 
Many hundreds of thousands of dollars 
of property were destroyed, over 10.000 
people banished from the state. Elder 
P. P. Pratt was among the number 
captured by the mob militia through the 
treachery of Geo. M. Hingle, and sent 
to prison in Richmond. Ray county, Mis- 
souri, with other brethren. 

He was kept in prison seven months 
without trial. By the help of the Lord, 
he escaped from prison, on July 4, 1839, 
and successfully regained his liberty. In 
this way he joyfully celebrated the na- 
tion's anniversary. Upon gaining his 
freedom he published a history of the 
Missouri persecutions, the first edition 
appearing in Detroit, Mich., in 1839. 

He went with the Twelve to England 
in 1840. and became the first editor of 
the Millennial Star, a periodical now 
sixty years of age, and still running as 
the exponent of the history and doc- 
trines of the Church, especially devoted 
to the interests of the European mission. 
In 1841 he was appointed to preside 
over the British mission. In this ca- 
pacity he continued to edit the Star, 
visit the several conferences of the mis- 
sion, superintend the emigration of the 
Saints, and in a most efficient manner 
conduct all the general affairs of the 
mission. He also wrote and published 
several interesting little works explain- 
ing the principles of the Gospel. 

In the winter of 1842-3 he returned 
to Nauvoo, the home of the Saints, con- 
tinuing at home as well as abroad faith- 
ful at work in his ministry. 

In the summer of 1844, when the mar- 
tyrdom of Joseph and Hyrum Smith oc- 
curred, Elder Pratt was doing mission- 
ary service in the east with most of his 
quorum. All at once he was impressed 
to leave prematurely for his home in 
Nauvoo. Taking passage on a canal 
boat near Utica, N. Y., his brother Wil- 
liam, also on a mission, came aboard 



the same boat. Bro. Parley felt over- 
come with gloom and said to his brother, 
"Brother William, this is a dark hour, 
the powers of darkness seem to triumph 
and the spirit of murder is abroad in 
the land and it controls the hearts of the 
American people, and a vast majority of 
them sanction the killing of the inno- 
cent." Many other expressions did he 
utter of like character, without knowing 
the exact cause, but it was June 27, 
1844, in the afternoon, and about the 
same hour when a furious mob 1,000 
miles distant were shedding the blood 
of Presidents Joseph and Hyrum Smith 
and Elder John Taylor in Carthage, 111. 
He hastily returned to Nauvoo, receiving 
on the way the revelations of the Holy 
Spirit that all would be well. The work 
of God would roll on and His kingdom 
be established regardless of all efforts to 
destroy it. Bro. Parley was full of en- 
couragement to the Saints and loyal to 
the Holy Priesthood during these trying 
scenes. 

In the spring of 1845 he was appoint- 
ed to preside over the conferences of the 
eastern and middle states, with head- 
quarters in New York City. While there 
he published an interesting and spirited 
periodical entitled "The Prophet." He 
returned home in the summer of the 
same year. In February, 1846, he again 
became an exile, being driven, with 15,- 
000 coreligionists, from their homes in 
Nauvoo, for no other cause than the one 
which induced Cain to slay his brother 
Abel, the brethren of Joseph to sell him 
to the Ishmaelites, and the Jews to be- 
tray and crucify the Redeemer. The 
victims of hatred had offered a more 
acceptable offering unto the Lord. The 
home of Elder Parley P. Pratt still re- 
mains in Nauvoo in good preservation, 
a monument of his never-ceasing indus- 
try. 

Himself and family passed through 
many tribulations in their pilgrimage 
and finally found a temporary resting- 
place in the Indian country at Council 
Bluffs, Iowa. Here he was called by 
the voice r.f inspiration through the 
Prophet of the Lord to perform another 
mission in Europe. He left his family 
almost destitute of food and shelter upon 
the broad prairies of Iowa, to comply 
with this divine call. He accomplished 
a faithful work in the British Isles, 
visiting the various conferences and 
strengthening the branches of the 
Church. He returned to his family in 
the spring of 1847, and the same sum- 
mer and autumn wended their way 
across the great plains to Salt Lake 
valley, where they arrived in the fall 
of 1847. They passed through the or- 
deals and hardship incident to the found- 
ing of settlements in the once desert 
lands of Utah. Bro. Parley was a most 
industrious, hard-working man. Making 
new roads, building bridges and in ev- 
ery practical way promoting growth and 
developement among the Saints of God. 
He was prominent in the formation of 
a constitution for the provisional state 
of Deseret, elected a senator in the gen- 
eral assembly, and subsequently served 
with distinguished ability in the terri- 
torial legislature of Utah. 

In 1851 he went on a mission to the 
Pacific Islands and South America. He 
was absent upon this mission about four 
years. Returning home, he occupied 
much of his time visiting the colonies of 
the Saints in their several places of lo- 
cation, and when at home was busy in 
manual labor, improving his home and 
the city of the Saints. 

In the winter of 1855-6 he officiated as 
chaplain in the legislative council of the 



territory, convened at Filmore City. In 
the fall of 1856 he crossed the plains 
with a company of Elders and spent the 
winter visiting the Saints and preaching 
the Gospel in Philadelphia, New York, 
St. Louis and other places. In New 
iork City he met his warm, devoted 
friend, Apostle John Taylor, whom he 
had baptized twenty years before. While 
there, having a premonition that the 
finale of his earthly career was rapidly 
approaching, he wrote his poem, called 
"My Fiftieth Year." Throughout the 
poem is the spirit of prophecy pointing 
to the end of his mortality. President 
Taylor also knew by the spirit of reve- 
lation that it was the last time he 
should ever see Bro. Parley in this life. 
Elder Taylor wrote in beautiful verse 
an appropriate response to Bro. Parley's 
poem, ''My Fiftieth Year." These pro- 
ductions are to be found in the autobi- 
ography of Parley P. Pratt, as written 
by himself and published by his eldest 
son, Parley, many years after his father's 
decease. On his way home he came by 
Fort Smith and Van Buren, Ark., where 
he was arrester on a trumped-up charge 
of a bitter anti-Mormon, thrust into 
prison. Upon his trial before the court 
he was proven innocent in the fullest 
degree and given his liberty. Several 
of the old settlers, who knew Elder 
Pratt in that section of Arkansas, still 
remain and testify in the highest terms 
of the nobility and grandeur of the char- 
acter of Parley P. Pratt. The judge 
who tried his case said to a relative sub- 
sequent to the trial, that he never expe- 
rienced so sublime a spirit and influence 
as when in the presence of this great 
man, and "if there is such a thing as 
an Apostle of Jesus Christ, Parley P. 
Pratt is such a man." 

When he was discharged, and friends, 
knowing of the bitterness of his ene- 
mies, felt sure of his assassination, and 
offered him weapons of defense, he an- 
swered no, that the end was near and 
that his mission was peace on earth and 
to man good will. 

On the 13th of May. while journeying 
westward on the wagon road running 
from Fort Smith to the Indian terri- 
tory, he met his death at the hands of 
a wicked assassin. He was laid to rest 
near the fatal spot by Elder Geo. Hig- 
ginson and a few kind friends who lived 
in that region. Parley P. Pratt was 
one of the most efficient Apostles of the 
Lord who has ever lived in any dispen- 
sation. Tn writing and speaking the 
word of the Lord he was filled with the 
inspiration of the Holy Ghost. He was 
truly poetical, and many of the choicest 
poems and hymns familiar to the Latter- 
day Saints are the expressions of divine 
inspiration through Apostle Parley P. 
Pratt. He wrote "The Voice of Warn- 
ing," "Key to Theology," a history of 
his own life and travels and many small- 
er works, all of which bear the unmis- 
takable evidence of an inspirational 
mind. His "Voice of Warning" as :i 
means of conversion to the honest in 
heart, has no superior among books, 
save it be the Book of Mormon and 
other records of divine truth. At times 
he was so full of inspiration, that the in- 
fluence which radiated through him, and 
the intensely interesting character of his 
conversation in public and private, that 
to his listeners many hours apparently 
reduced themselves to brief moments of 
time. While traveling as a missionary 
on foot without purse or scrip, the Spirit 
of the Lord would often inspire him to 
write, when he would sit down by the 
roadside or in the shady wood land, and 
write the glorious truths of heaven. He 



THE SOUTHERN STAB. 



371 



also wrote much while in prison for the 
Gospel's sake. He traveled thousands 
of miles in his own and foreign lands 
for the salvation of the human family, 
and was instrumental in bringing many 
souls into the fold of Christ. 

He had a testimony that every prin- 
ciple revealed through the Prophet Jo- 
seph Smith was true and so taught his 
own family. All his children are in the 
church, imbued with the faith of their 
honored sire, and his memory will outlive 
the limits of time and extend to all the 
eternities of the boundless future. 

President John Taylor wrote concern- 
ing Bro. Parley in the preface of his 
autobiography: "He has gone— but has 
left a name and a fame that will live 
throughout time and burst forth in eter- 
nity. And in the morning of the first 
resurrection, when the opening heavens 
shall reveal the Son of God, and He shall 
proclaim, 'I am the resurrection and the 
life,' when death shall deliver up the 
dead, I expect to meet Bro. Parley in 
the resurrection of the just." 



Certificate or Character from Mark Twain. 

During the campaign of 1880, Mark 
Twain, for the first and only time in 
his life, took an active part in politics. 
While visiting in Elmira. N. Y.. in 
the fall of that year, he made a short 
speech one Saturday night, introducing 
to a republican meeting Gen. Hawley, 
of Connecticut. In the course of his 
remarks, Mr. Clemens said: 

*'Gen. Hawley is a member of my 
church at Hartford, and the author of 
•Beautiful Snow.' Maybe he will deny 
that; but I am only here to give him 
a character from his last place. 

"As a pure citizen, I respect him; as 
a personal friend of years, I have the 
warmest regard for him; as a neighbor, 
whose vegetable garden adjoins mine, 
why— why, I watch him; as the author 
of 'Beautiful Snow' he has added a new 
pang to winter. 

"He is a square, true man in honest 
politics, and 1 must say he occupies a 
mighty lonely position. So broad, so 
bountiful is his character that he never 
turned a tramp empty-handed from his 
door, but always gave him a letter of 
introduction to me. Pure, honest, in- 
corruptible—that is Joe Hawley. Such 
a man in politics is like a bottle of 
perfumery in a glue factory; it may 
moderate the stench, but it doesn't de- 
stroy it. I haven't said any more of 
him than I would say of myself. La- 
dies and gentlemen, this is Gen. Haw- 
ley."— Chicago Chronicle. 



Union Pacific Railroad. 

Another Portland train. Two trains 
daily. Effective April 22, the Union Pa- 
cific. Oregon Short Line and Chicago 
Railroad and Navigation company will 
place in service an additional Portland 
train. 

This train, "The Pacific Express/' will 
leave Kansas City 10:40 a. m. Only 
three days on the road. 

Equipped with Palace Sleepers. Free 
Reclining Chair Cars, ordinary Sleeping 
Car, Dining Car Service (to Granger). 

The time of the present Portland train, 
**The Overland Limited," leaving Kansas 
City 6:40 p. m., will be reduced 2 hours 
and 45 minutes between Granger and 
Portland. 

Only 60 hours Kansas City to Port- 
land. 

Palace Sleeping Cars, Dining Car Ser- 
vice, Buffet Cars, Chair Cars. 

For time tables, folders, illustrated 
books, pamphlets descriptive of the ter- 
ritory traversed, address J. F. Aglar, 
general agent, St. Louis, Mo. 



GLEANINGS. 

Somerville, Tenn., Oct. 2, 1000. 

As I haven't seen anything from Fay- 
ette county, I will pen a few lines to the 
much prized little Star that visits our 
home once a week. We are always anx 
ious for it to come, it has so much valua 
ble reading in it that it does my soul good 
to read it. I think it ought to be in every 
home. I never saw a Mormon Elder un- 
til last March two came to our house — 
Eider Larsen and Elder Redd. They were 
invited in ; they came in and talked a lit- 
tle on their faith and left a tract, which 
we read with interest. Sunday following 
Elder Larsen spoke to the people at a 
school bouse' nearby. Myself and family 
attended and were well pleased with his 
sermon. In May following Elder Osboru 
and Elder Redd came back and preached 
to the people at the same place again. 

They stayed with us while in the neigh- 
borhood, and while here spoke of want- 
ing a place to spend a few days for their 
President to visit them. We were oniy 
too glad to hear them speak pf wanting 
to stop in the neighborhood. We invited 
them to come to our house and told them 
that our doors would always be open to 
receive them; that they were welcome at 
any time. 

President Strong, Elder Humpherya, 
Elder Osborn and Elder Redd came to 
hold a three or four days' meeting. They 
preached Saturday night, Sunday night 
and Monday. We attended every time. 
I never heard the Scriptures explained so 
clearly in my life. The people, most of 
them, in the neighborhood would not go 
to hear 'them; they treated the Elder* 
very unkindly. As for myself and family, 
we went to hear them and treated them 
the best we were able to while here. I 
thank the Lord .for sending His servants 
in our midst, for if they had not come 1 
would have been groping in utter dark- 
ness yet, for I fail to see the right Gos- 
pel preached in these other churches. 1 
am no member of the Church, but hope 
at the* earliest opportunity to become a 
member of the Latter-day Saints, for 1 
do believe that they teach the Gospel that 
Christ taught while here on earth. 1 
also believe that Joseph Smith was a true 
Prophet of God. May the blessing of 
God attend all the Elders and Saints in 
His service is the wish of your most de- 
voted friend, Mrs. S. E. Cox. 



Shelton, N. C, Sept. 30, 1900. 

Perhaps you have never heard a word 
from any of the Saints of Surry county. 
North Carolina. For some time I have 
felt desirous of penning you a letter, if 
perchance I might encourage some poor, 
persecuted Saint to press onward in the 
work of the Lord. % I have been the re- 
cipient of that most valuable little paper, 
The Star, for some time. It is indeed the 
brightest star that ever shed its flickering 
rays over the Saints. It inspires with 
new hope, courage and determination. 

To read of the persecution, mobs and 
evil treatment heaped upon the Elders is 
strong proof that the Latter-day Saints 
have the only true and everlasting Gos- 
pel, and, on the other hand, to witness 
the divisions and contentions among the 
so-called Christian denominations is con- 
clusive proof that they are wrong and de- 
lusive, for we read that God is not the 
author of confusion, but of peace. God 
is the same yesterday, today and forever. 
It seems to me that to be a Mormon El- 
der, going forth as sheep among wolves, 
without purse or scrip, facing mobs and 
all sorts of abuse requires more heroism 
than that of Hobson, Dewey or any man 



of war going forth amid the applause and 
sanction of a nation. 

May God bless the humble Elder while 
away from home and dear ones, among a 
frowning world. 

There are but a few of us members of 
the Church in this settlement, but we are 
desirous of having a Sunday school es- 
tablished in our midst. We have secured 
a school house for the present and will 
build a church as soon as practicable. 
I realize that if we fail to inherit the 
promised blessings it will be because we 
have failed to do our duty. I am* willing 
to do anything the Lord will have me 
to do. May God bless you all in the 
spread of truth. Your brother, 

J. Monroe Hiatt. 



Prida, La., Sept. 25, 1900. 
As I have never seen anything in the 
Star from this part, I will ask for a 
space to express my thoughts as to the 
so-called Mormons. I have been a mem- 
ber of the Church three years, being bap- 
tized by Elder J. P. Sharp* of Vernon, 
Utah, and confirmed by Elder Ellis H. 
Johnson, of Meca City, Arizona, June 
13th, 1897. When first hearing of the 
Mormon Elders in our parish we were 
never satisfied until we had met them. 
Elders Joseph P. Sharp and Joseph A. 
Cornwall were the first Elders we ever 
met, and after hearing them speak were 
convinced of the truthfulness of the Gos- 
pel. I am thankful to God to be permit- 
ted to live in this dispensation of the 
fullness of time, when the Gospel has 
again been restored to earth, and . is 
taught in all its purity, and I know that 
all who will obey its teachings will in- 
herit eternal life. I know that the Gos- 
pel is true, and that it is the power of 
God unto salvation to all that believe. I 
also know that Joseph Smith, Brigham 
Young, John Taylor and others were 
Prophets of the true and living God. I 
have met with some opposition, but that 
only helps to strengthen my faith, for 
I realize that all who live godly in Christ 
Jesus must suffer persecution. May the 
blessings of heaven attend all the Saints 
and Elders, and desiring an interest in 
their prayers, I am your sister in the Gos- 
pel, Lillie May Craig. 



Doing One's Best. 

That is all you can demand from peo- 
ple — and all one can insist upon from 
one's self — to do one's best in every 
sphere and situation. In the shop or fac- 
tory, at home or at school, in the pulpit 
or on the bench, the inexorable law is the 
law of doing one's best. 

As to what is the best, that is to be 
left to the individual, and it is not our 
business to set down a canon or stand- 
ard as to our neighbor's conduct. Let us 
sweep the snow from our sidewalk first; 
let us do the nearest duty to be done ; let 
us breathe into our work all our man- 
hood or womanhood, all our earnestness 
and determination. — Jewish Messenger. 



For Good or Evil, 

On trifles that seem light as air, deep 
and far-reaching issues are hung. A 
word, a smile, a frown, a moment'a hesi- 
tation, a thoughtless step — who can tell 
what destinies shall turn on them? For 
this reason God has determined that men 
shall give account in the day of judg- 
ment for every idle word they shall speak. 
An idle word may be a potent word for 
good or evil. — Lutheran. 

Clean hands, pure hearts, honest con- 
duct and godly lives are the essentials 
for glory in the life that is to come. 



372 



THE SOUTHERN STAR 




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Saturday, October 20, 1900. 



ARTICLES OP FAITH 

OFTtfB CHURCH OP JESUS CHRIST OP 

latter-day SAINTS. 

I. W» botiaaa fo God tli« Etaroal Father, nod [a aii So* 
Jwu Chrilt, and in Tha H't\* GbwL 

t W* b*li*«* tbat mm will bo paatabtd far tbair on 
■Ih. iad net far Adam'i tnatfftMicQ. 

t W* b*li*FS Lbit, thraath Lb* ■LontlTrtDt ftf Cbriai. aft 
BiAkiad my hi livid, bj obtdianea [• th» tawa and ordj- 
imhi of tb* Gcwpvl. 

i. W( t«titT« Uiat tht Anl pnaeipl« inj anf jnir>c*f of 
Eba Oo«p«l ara: Firit, F*i lb la tb<s Urd J«tQi Uhrlit f letoad. 
lUpfQtIBM: third, BipLitDi bj ira OKmon for Si* tutntnuia 
Of llaa [ fourti, Lijriitj qn &f Hand I for tha Gift af th« Holy 

I. Wi bvlioto that ■ man nut ha calJ*d or God, by 
m prophocTp and bjr tb* laying on of baadf," hj fboM who ara 
lb aatborltj, to preach Lbf |C4frtl tad adfflinLiler in C±i* wdl. 
U4CM tbtrwaf, 

4. W» boii«m Id LWiainft argiELiiatJca Lb at ciintod (» 
tot CTIffiJlitft cbuj-rh— EnmeJj, An»t]«, fraph*l* L Faiaori, 
Taacban, Evanj* li*U b *ie. 

7, TVfl belts r fl Id tb* ptt of (ontoM, prophrcj?,' nTalatkta, 
*EiIddi, baalinj, interpTetition of Conjuw, etc 

ft. W<t EmLbtb Lb* Bjeto E& b* th* **rd of God, ia f*r at tl 
la ttanalaued correcll/; *a mlio beLi#T« UtO Book of Mormot 
to be t%* trard of Ood. 

V, Wa b*ij«T* ill that God daa rtrtafed, all Iblt Ha fcf* 
DOV rovoal. and ie baliera tbat Ha »il] yet r^eaf mtoy ffvat 
and important Tnififs pertafaing fn fta Kingdom af God, 

10. Wi baltcra iq tha Utartl 0tberJn( of liraa] aod io lbs 
tfeMoratioo of iha Tao Tribea ; that Zi«D wJU be bqilt OPOO 
tbii (tbe American } oniitJneot^ Lbai Chriat mi\] r«i^a penon- 
uUf upon Lbn iirth, and ibat tb« OVtb Till bo reoevod and 
HMIto iu paradt|lj|x»} clary. 

It, W* cllJm la* prlrUefO of wartbiplaa; Almi(b(T Ood 
accOrdJnaj to th* dklaEw of Oar contcloDO*, tad allow all 
ana tbe jama pritlltfa. lei thata wortbip bow,, vbora, or wkal 

*Tl "^t beOIoTo la bting nbjtct to kioa, pctj-ideeta. rulofm, 
1 OMrbtrmUa ; ia dbayioc hoooring andlettoiiUiii fta* law! 
latWa btJtoTt la being bonc«Mnie, chart*, banavokwt, 
*—- "4 la doiag sooofto til ■«•; Indeed, w« maj *aj 



s^ga«i f ssffi 



inference Presidents. 

AH Conference Presidents whose biog- 
raphies have not yet appeared in The 
Star will greatly oblige us by sending in 
the same at their very earliest conven- 
ience, together with a cabinet photo suit- 
able for cut. We are desirous that these 
will be forthcoming at an early date, and 
that no unnecessary delays will be made. 



NON-FIT. 

A big, square peg cast longing eyes 

At a small, round hole In an oaken beam, 
And sighed and cried In great surprise 
Because forbidden by fate to rise 
And enter this goal of Its wish supreme. 

A country lad of a lowly race 

Yearned for the whirl of a city life, 
Abandoned a modest but model place 
To find a gilded but grim disgrace 
Amid our metropolitan strife. 

'Twas ever thus: men never learn 

The homely adage old Time has writ 
On pages of souls with pens that burn, 
In symbols of pain that writhe and turn— 
Snccess is to stay In the spot you fit. 

-H. *. Butler. 



ENLIGHTENMENT. 

If there ever was a time in the history 
of the Latter-day Saints in which a spirit 
of energy and ambition was needed more 
than any other, it is the present. The 
young men and women who have been 
blessed with a testimony of the Gospel 
realize, or should do at least, that the 
"dispensation of the fullness of times'* 
has been ushered in; the mammoth dis- 
pensation of all ages past; the dispensa- 
tion whicji will witness the consumma- 
tion of all things; the redemption of the 
faithful Saints; the celestialization and 
sanctification of the earth. During this 
epoch the Lord will gather together alJ 
things in one, both which are in heaven 
and in earth. The honest-in-heart are 
to Jbe gathered out from the wicked and 
ungodly. The nations of men must be 
warned, the Gospel must be preached to 
every creature, and Zion— -the habitation 
of the pure in heart— must be built up 
preparatory to the second advent of the 
Son of God. To many, especially those 
of agnostic tendencies, these things may 
appear to be a "whim of the brain," but 
no, all these things spoken by the mouth 
of all His holy Prophets, both ancient 
and modern, will be fulfilled. 

To accomplish this great work— and the 
responsibility of its accomplishment rests 
with those whom the Lord has commis- 
sioned to act in His name — energetic ser- 
vants of the Master are needed, and ser- 
vants, too, whose qualifications must 
needs be adequate to the task. 

Never in the history of the world has 
intelligence reached a higher stage of 
perfection and development than in the 
present age. To ponder upon the inge- 
nuity of the human mind today, together 
with the wonderful discoveries found, 
and inventions wrought, is almost to 
conclude with amazement and astonish- 
ment that it has certainly reached its 
Himalaya of accomplishment. But still 
it moves on into the field of knowledge, 
daily revealing to the world great truths 
which confound and bewilder the curious 
multitude, who eagerly follow their leader 
into the labyrinth of science, wrestling 
with the giant truths which present them- 
selves to view. Universities, academies, 
colleges, and seminaries of learning have 
ceased to be a rarity. The notoriety oc- 
casioned by "going off to school," is no 
longer considered remarkable, but has 
quietly taken its place among the every- 
day events of life. Public institutions of 
education are to be seen in every hamlet 
and village; and both young and old 
tread the path of development and ad- 
vancement. But notwithstanding the re- 
markable development of the %ge, in a 
scientific, philosophic, and intellectual 
line, it must be remembered that the 
spiritual side of the masses has been 
sorely neglected, or at best poorly 
trained. 

Some may suppose us pessimistic in 
our views of the spiritual characteristics 
of man, but no, we believe that there are 
several good sound reasons why he has 
not advanced in this regard. It is true 
that so-called Christianity has been of- 
fered to a low per cent, of the world's 
population, but of its purpose as decreed 
by God it must be acknowledged a fail- 
ure; not only has it failed with those to 
whom it was carried, but also among 
those very ones who have been nurtured 
in the lap of this so-called Gospel, for 
nowhere has it produced the gifts and 
graces promised by Jehovah. The dis- 
cord and contention, the contradiction 
and dissension, the war of words issuing 
from every pulpit and press, as exists in 
the Christian world, are stumbling 
blocks to the intelligent and thinking 



minds, both of the Christian and also of 
the heathen nations. 

Instead of the world coming to a 
"unity of the faith" the breach is getting 
wider and wider, and the line of demar- 
cation more distinct and visible. Divis- 
ion and subdivision, "confusion worse 
confounded," is written in the dome and 
pinnacle of the so-called Christian world. 
Instead of "One Lord, one faith, and one 
baptism," there are many Lords, a mul- 
tiplicity of faiths, and a baptism, or non- 
baptism to suit every mind. Instead of 
Christianity producing the fruits and 
gifts of the Spirit of God, they bear the 
manifestations of hatred, malice, antag- 
onism, rancor and disunion, while they 
piously remark with a sanctimonious vis- 
age, that "These things are all done 
away with, as no longer needed." Fur- 
thermore, it might be said, that if our 
good Christian friends continue in their 
work of diminishing, and a few more 
New England curates adopt the High 
Criticism system, the Bible, too, will be 
buried as another "fad of primitive 
Christianity," needed only for the "ignor- 
ant" Saints of old, whose inferior intelli- 
gence and knowledge necessitated the 
"Law and the Prophets," "Living Ora- 
cles," the communion of God, and the 
companionship of the Holy Ghost, with 
all its gifts and graces. 

Modern Christians are inclined to look 
upon the Former-day Saints as effemi- 
nate and childish. They were command- 
ed to "search the Scriptures;" living ora- 
cles — Apostles and Prophets — were given 
them for the work of the ministry, the 
edifying of the body of Christ— the 
Church, and their perfection. But the 
so-called follower of Jesus today has 
soared above them, and in their exalted 
position, and superior development, sorry 
to confess it, they possess neither mercy 
or justice, wisdom or knowledge, to say 
nothing of the spiritual barrenness of 
their creeds and sects. If they were mer- 
ciful and just, they would not persecute 
and misrepresent their fellows; and if 
they possessed wisdom and knowledge, 
they would preach the fullness of the 
Gospel of Christ and practice the teach- 
ings of the Great Law-giver— God. Yes. 
indeed! The early Saints required all 
the graces of the Gospel; they stood con- 
stantly in need of the help of the Lord, 
for they knew that this was the only 
means by which they could become per- 
fect even as their Father in heaven was 
perfect. They may be called, by their 
professed brethren and sisters, the weak- 
lings of Christianity, whose inability de- 
manded every gift and grace of the Gos- 
pel, but let us not overlook this self-evi- 
dent fact, that the superiority of one 
man above another depends solely upon 
the light and intelligence emanating from 
the presence of God. The fact of the 
matter is this, the early Saints were the 
peers of the profesed Christians of today! 
Peter and John, the poor, humble fish- 
ermen of Galilee, with little or no learn- 
ing, and Matthew, the despised tax col- 
lector, could preach in plainness and sim- 
plicity the plan of life and salvation by 
the power and demonstration of the Holy 
Ghost to the convincing and conversion 
of whole multitudes of sinners; while 
great divines today, with their much 
learning, make these simple and plain 
teachings of the Apostles mysterious and 
profoundly obscure. Although these 
learned prelates have become gray in 
their study of theological lore, and eccle- 
siastical desserts tions. still they are at a 
loss to explain the fundamental princi- 
ples of righteousness and truth. 

It is evident that the Christian world 
has departed from the "old faith," that 



THE SOUTHERN STAB. 



37a 



"faith once delivered to the Saints," 
which Jade exhorts us to contend ear- 
nestly for. They have digressed from 
the primitive Gospel of Jesus Christ, (it 
is the same from everlasting to everlast- 
ing), having the naked form of godliness, 
devoid of the power and life thereof. It 
is not our purpose in this article to prove 
the apostacy, for one need only look at 
poor destitute Ch-istianity and compare 
her lifeless form with that of the living 
Church of Cnrist, with inspiration cours- 
ing through every vein, and all parts 
working in perfect harmony, to realize 
the utter deficiency and marked depart, 
ure. Our epistle is to encourage the 
Saints and Eiders of Israel. 

Today the au-searching eye of science 
and revelation, both ancient and modern, 
is making known the unreasonableness 
and errors manifest in many of the dog- 
mas and theories of Christianity, and 
confirming and indorsing the truths of 
that which the world calls "Mormonism." 
As a result, many of the more intelligent 
and thinking class of people are becoming 
agnostic and infidelic in their views upon 
religion, for they see the many incon- 
sistencies which Christianity has been 
palming off upon the world, and trying 
to crowd down the throats of humankind. 
Not willing to sacrifice their good names 
and become connected with the univer- 
sally despised, and everywhere spoken 
against Mormons, they endeavor to blunt 
their finer sensibilities, and deaden their 
spiritual passions, by saying, "There is 
no God. I don't believe." 

Germany, one of the most intelligent 
nations under the sun, aud perhaps the 
leading country of the century in educa- 
tion, produces more infidels and agnostics 
than any other land, and daily they are 
increasing to such an alarming extent 
that the success of the Church is in 
jeopardy, owing to its continual leakage. 
In our own country the same spirit is 
taking root in the minds of many, as is 
also true in all the civilized countries of 
the world. Why is it? Is it not because 
the traditions and error in so-called 
Christianity, when unveiled by reason 
and revelation, cause men to reject the 
whole system as a fraud forged upon the 
human family? 

The thinking class of men find it im- 
possible to associate the terms, God of 
truth, unchangeable, everlasting, whose 
spirit breathes love and peace, mercy and 
justice, with the generally accepted the- 
ory of God in Christendom, together with 
its decayed fruits. On all sides you hear 
the freethinker and agnostic declare, 
"Behold your God, a being whose spirit 
incites His children to contention and 
strife, yea, even to mobocracy and mur- 
der, that their sect might prevail! Could 
I worship a God like that? No, f my prin- 
ciples of freedom and right are superior 
to those of creed and sect, and so I will 
remain apart from them. To join a 
Christian church is almost to admit that 
I am willing to persesute, misrepresent 
and slander my fellows of some other de- 
nomination, to say nothing about the un- 
scriptural and unreasonable theories I 
will have to believe in. No, away with 
such a religion, for your acts are not only 
unjust, unfair, erroneous and false, but 
also unscriptural, unreasonable, incon- 
sistent and illogical." 

To this assault upon the religion of 
Jesus, the so-called Christian world are 
totally unable to reply with satisfaction 
or conviction. For them to attempt to 
defend their positions from Holy Writ, 
means to expose to light their own weak, 
shallow foundation, which is in contra- 
diction to primitive Christianity; and to 
apply the searchlight of reason to their 



creeds is dangerous in the extreme, be- 
cause that would disclose such egregrious 
errors that to attribute them to a God 
of intelligence, justice, mercy and truth, 
would be to exalt the intelligence of man 
above that of God— a most reasonable 
state of affairs! What can be done for 
those whose intelligence has lifted them 
above superstition and dogmatic asser- 
tions? There can be only one answer. If 
ever they are converted to true Chris- 
tianity—the principles of truth revealed 
by Christ, and taught by His Apostles- 
it will be done by appealing to their in- 
telligence and reason. They are not to 
be duped with a simple assertion or dog- 
matic assumption, based upon sheer su- 
perstition. No! Reason must play her part 
in the role of conversion; for she is a 
gift of God destined to lead man into 
truth, so far as the finite mind can com- 
prehend, and she must not be ignored or 
neglected. 

As Latter-day Saints, we are able to 
give a reason for the hope within. We 
know that the Gospel of Jesus Christ is 
true, that it has God for its author, and 
Reason as a supporter, while science is 
an advocate. We are not afraid to have 
the principles of our religion exposed to 
the searching ray of Scripture, reason, 
or science. Our belief, mode of worship, 
conduct towards others, and organization, 
may be searched with the scrutinizing eye 
of revelation, and she will fail to point 
out one defect, flaw, or fault, in the 
whole fabric or system. 

For seventy years passed the Gospel of 
Jesus Christ, as revealed in these "Last 
Days," has withstood all the forces of 
reason, all the powers of revelation, yea, 
more, it has withstood the more horrible, 
yet less forcible opposition— fire, smoke, 
blood, and banishment, and still it stands 
even firmer than before, unshaken in its 
purposes, unmoved from its foundation, 
like the mighty Rock of Gibraltar, 'gainst 
which the angry waves of sectarian hate 
dash only to rebound a mass of foam and 
spray. The walls of superstition shake, 
totter, tremble, and soon will fall, but 
truth will stand unmoved amid the bat- 
tle's din. triumphant in the end! 



Brother R. S. Humphries and wife 
called at the office on their return trip 
from the west, where they have been 
spending some time in visiting friends. 
Brother Humphries lives at Awensdaw, 
S. C, and is an influential citizen of the 
Palm Leaf State. Sister Humphries 
went to Utah in June, while Brother 
Humphries left in the early part of Sep- 
tember and spent a month with the Mor- 
mons. They report that they had a very 
enjoyable time and that they found the 
Mormon people, not as they had been rep- 
resented in the South, but a people fraught 
with good deeds and abundant in loving 
acts. They had the privilege of attend- 
ing the Semi-Annual Conference, and of 
sitting under the sound of the voice of 
Living Oracles of God, who spoke with 
authority and power as the Spirit gave 
them utterance and not as* the Scribes 
and Pharisees. They feel amply repaid 
for time they have spent in the Sego Lily 
State, and only have words of praise for 
the people of Deseret. It is good to 
meet with those who have the manly and 
womanly courage to speak of people as 
they are, and these folk are just the very 
ones that are true to themselves and to 
their fellowmen, let them be what they 
may, religiously, politically or otherwise. 
"Stand for the right and let us speak of 
all the best that we can," is the motto of 
Brother and Sister Humphries. 



FREEDOM AND EDUCATION. 

It is often urged by those who do not 
know our people as they really are, but 
who are willing to believe the rank asser- 
tions of our enemies, that we are a low, 
debased, immoral, godless sect; that our 
leaders and chief officials have ever been 
the worst kind of men, and have strenu- 
ously and successfully kept us in the dark, 
duped and hoodwinked; reveling in igno- 
rance. The people of the world, generally 
speaking, are inclined to look upon what 
tney term "the Mormon Priesthood," as 
an awful, fearful, hierarchy, organized 
tor the sole purpose of despotism, mili- 
tarism and politicalism. They imagine it 
a political machine, which crusnes all 
who dare oppose its progress, and seeks 
to gain control of the government at large. 
They suppose that it thrives best where 
ignorance prevails, and that it contra- 
venes intelligence and education, desirous 
of remaining in the dark rather than be- 
ing exposed by the light. 

Those who believe the above assertions 
are indeed and in truth the ignorant ones ; 
for had they searched beyond the denun- 
ciations of our bitter opponents ; had they 
been fair-minded enough to hear both 
sides of the matter; and did they but 
really know something about our people, 
they would not indulge in such vain and 
malicious sophistry, but would be eager 
to partake of the Truth, to accept it, and 
live up to it. The Mormon people are 
not ignorant. Mormonism does not flour- 
ish in ignorance, but to the contrary, she 
has taught, from the commencement, that 
"no man can be saved in ignorance," and 
that "the glory of God is intelligence." 
Trace the history of the Mormon people, 
and it will be seen that they have been 
staunch advocates of education, believing 
that by this means the people are enlight- 
ened, which enlightenment is absolutely 
necessary for the advancement and pro- 
gression of God's work on earth. As ear- 
ly as 1832 the Prophet Joseph Smith re- 
ceived a revelation from the Lord, in 
which the following was enjoined upon the 
Saints of God, by way of commandment: 
"Seek ye diligently, and teach one an- 
other words of wisdom ; yea, seek ye out 
of the best books words of wisdom; seek 
learning even by study, and also by faith." 
(Doc. and Cov., Page 318:118). From 
this one can readily observe that the 
Saints were not to remain ignorant, but 
that they were commanded to search out 
of the best books, and teach one another 
words of wisdom. 

Mormonism grants more freedom, and 
perfect liberty to its communicants than 
any other organized body of religious wor- 
shippers under the sun. When we say 
"freedom and perfect liberty," we mean 
freedom to serve God and "perfect lib- 
erty" to advance in the paths of holiness 
and peace, not freedom and liberty to do 
evil, but freedom and liberty to do good; 
for it is neither freedom nor liberty that 
allows man the right to do wrong, but 
license, which we do not grant — they may 
have the privilege, but not the right. 
When Jesus said, "Ye shall know the 
truth, and the truth shall make you free," 
He did not mean that they would be re- 
leased from duty or freed from service, 
but the "freedom" He promised was into 
service, into duty; in other words, they 
should be made free from the entangle- 
ments and bondage of sin, that they might 
serve Him, walk in a line of Christian 
duty and keep His holy commands. So 
it is, and thus it ever will be, with all 
those who earnestly desire to follow in 
His steps; they will ever be willing to 



374 



THE SOUTHERN STAB. 



accord to each other the liberty which 
makes men free! 

The people called by the world *' Mor- 
mons" look after the education of their 
children. The Herald and Presbyter of 
July 25th says: "And Utah, which we 
are hurling stones at — Utah, which we 
consider lost to saving grace and lots of 
other good things — Utah looks after the 
schooling of its young." And not only 
the young, but also for those of mature 
years are there institutions of learning. 
Yes! Utah holds her place, and ranks 
with the most advanced in educational 
facilities. The inspired men, who stand 
as watchers on Mount Zion, have urged 
the young to avail themselves of the many 
opportunities to obtain a good education 
which have been placed within their reach. 
They contend that Truth, Heason, Intel- 
ligence and Education go hand in hand, 
and are destined to gain the ascendency 
and supremacy over Error, Bigotry, Igno- 
rance and Illiteracy. Those who follow 
the teachings and exhortations of the 
"Mormon Leaders," as they are called, 
will avail themselves of the educational 
facilities granted in this land of the free. 
Where true education is there we shall 
find freedom and liberty ; where ignorance 
prevails there we shall find bigotry and 
intolerance. The Gospel of Jesus Christ 
courts investigation by the learned, the 
educated and the mental giants of the 
land. Like Paul to Agrippa, so we to 
the world can say, "This thing was not 
done in a corner;" neither is it hidden, 
but all who desire can investigate its 
claims and scrutinize its organization and 
development. Priestcraft does not lead 
the Latter-day Saints, the Holy Spirit 
guides, the voice of inspiration points the 
way, and holy men of God receive reve- 
lation for the work of the ministry, the 
perfection of the Saints, the edifying of 
the body of Christ. Thus by love un- 
feigned are all the workings of Christ's 
people conducted. The spirit of love per- 
vades all, and unites in one perfect whole 
every part of the organization. It is the 
spirit of God which unites the Saints, 
and prompts them to render obedience to 
those whom God hath placed over them. 
Education properly applied but acts as 
a stimulus, while freedom gives us the 
liberty to serve God, and become like unto 
our Father in heaven. 

Freedom and Eucation are both hon- 
ored, respected, taught and practiced by 
the Latter-day Saints. They are not 
curbed or Priest-ridden, but are free to 
act and choose for themselves. They af- 
firm that all mankind have their free 
agency ; that it is given them of God, 
and no one has the right to suppress, co- 
erce, or intimidate them in the exercise 
of the same. Freedom and Education 
will make the world better, brighter, love- 
lier far ! We crave it, seek to bring about 
ks glorious reign, and welcome all who 
strive to facilitate these two grand prin- 
ciples — Freedom and Education. 



President W. D. Rencher, of the Geor- 
gia Conference, called at the Office en 
route to his home in Eager. Arizona. 
This is the second mission that Elder 
Rencher has filled in the Southern 
States. His first mission was spent in 
Mississippi, where he labored some 
twenty-seven months, during which time 
he acted as president of that Conference, 
being engaged in this responsible position 
for about one year. The first six 
months of his second mission, the one 
from which he is now honorably released, 
was spent in Mississippi, after which he 
assumed the reins of conference affairs 
in Georgia; this makes something like 



two years and six months that he has 
acted as Conference President. He re- 
turns feeling well repaid for the time 
spent in the service of the Lord, and is 
filled with the spirit of his mission, 
crowned with honor and success, and 
enriched with the blessings of the Holy 
Priesthood. President Rencher will act 
as an instructor in the St. John's Stake 
Academy, Arizona, and we wish him 
success and joy in that line, even as he 
has been successful and found joy in 
his missionary labor. 

History ot the Southern States Mission. 

(Continued from Page 367.) 
November, 1899— The month began 
with beautiful weather and the health of 
the Elders generally good. The work was 
prospering, but as the time for congress 
to assemble drew near the ministers be- 
came more bitter and aggressive in their 
efforts to stir up prejudice against the 
Elders and their teachings, the subject, 
as before stated, being centered in the 
case of Elder B. H. Roberts. 

President Rich began his tour over the 
Mission, and on the 4th and 5th held 
conference in North Carolina, at Golds- 
boro. The Elders met with much oppo- 
sition and were forced to use a vacant lot 
for the purpose of holding services, as no 
building in the burg could be procured. 
This condition was the work of professed 
servants of God, who were no doubt fear- 
ful that their salaries would diminish and 
their craft be in danger if the people 
learned the truth about the Mormons. 

The Virginia Conference convened in 
Richmond on the 5th and 6th. The news- 
papers were fair and gave an unbiased 
report, but still the same opposition 
caused by the anti-Roberts crusade was 
met. One minister stood at the door lead- 
ing to the conference meeting place and 
entreated the people not to go in. 

On the 7th Elders F. P. Carlisle and 
J. E. Myler received a whipping at the 
hands of a mob. This occurred five miles 
from Morganton, Ky. President B. F. 
Price sent in an account of the mobbing 
which can be found on page 413 of Vol. 
1. Nov. 11th and 12th, conference was 
held at Knoxville, Teiin., with the Elders 
of the East Tennessee Conference. The 
public meetings were fairly well attended 
and a good time was had. The newspa- 
pers were very fair, although the minis- 
ters, as usual, were bitter in their de- 
nunciations of the Mormon people. The 
new town hall was very generously ten- 
dered and four meetings were held there- 
in. 

At Hopkinsville, Ky., on the 15th and 
16th, the Kentucky Conference was held. 
The people of the city treated the Elders 
with due respect and not a few came out 
to the meetings. A large number of 
Saints were present and a most enjoyable 
time was had. On the 19th and 20th the 
Elders of the North Alabama Conference 
met at Tuscaloosa, Ala., in annual meet- 
ing. Some very strong opposition was 
here met with, and* the papers were full 
of all sorts of mean things about the Mor- 
mons. The North Kentucky Conference 
convened in Louisville, Ky., on Nov. 25tn 
and 26th, and the Elders of the Ohio Con- 
ference met at Columbus, Ohio, on the 
28th and 19th. Successful meetings wen? 
held at both these places and a time of 
enjoyment was had by the Elders. 

Florida reported success in the cities 
of Cainmilla, Ocala, Fitzgerald, Pelham, 
Tipton and Quincy. President Osmer D. 
Flake reported the following from Missis- 
sippi : During the month three parishes 
I in Louisiana were opened, viz., St. James 



St. Bernard and Plaquemine. In the 
first the Elders met but little success and 
only a few meetings were held ; were dis- 
turbed by mobs several times, and pelted 
with eggs, until finally, after a stay of 
two weeks, they were driven out by a 
mob, who told the Elders (M. N. Fisher 
and M. E. Gifford) that the people there 
were all good Catholics and Baptists, and 
wanted no Mormon preachers. In. St. 
Bernard parish Elders J. W. Vance and 
Wm. Isom found but few white folks and 
no hospitality. They were forced to sleep 
in the woods part of the time. E. R. De- 
Witt and E. T. Kingsford met with very 
little encouragement in Plaquemine par- 
ish. Were compelled to go without food 
for three nights at a time, and one night 
had two shots fired at them. 

President J. U. Allred, of the Middle 
Tennessee Conference, reported that 
much trouble was experienced in getting 
a place of meeting for conference. This 
was owing to the anti-Mormon sentiment 
created by anti-Mormon mass meetings. 

The month closed with the health of 
the Elders generally good. 

(To be Continued.) 



Letter from Elder Claries G. Larsen. 

As I have had the sad news reach me 
a short time back of the death of my be- 
loved mother, I thought I would write a 
short biography of her life, and if you 
see fit you may place it in The Star. 

Annie Sophia Larsen was born in Swe- 
den, Oct. 12, 1839. At the age of 17 
years she embraced the Gospel of Jesus 
Christ as taught by the Elders in that 
land. In the year 1875, in company with 
her husband, she emigrated to the land 
of Zion, and lived in Utah until the year 
1881, when they move to Idaho (Oakley) 
and lived there until her death, which 
occurred on July 21, 1900. 

She had been a faithful member until 
her death. She leaves a loving husband 
and four children to mourn her loss. The 
eldest (Charles G.) was laboring in the 
state of North Carolina as an embassador 
of Truth when the sad news reached him 
of her death. 

If you can find space in your valuable 
paper to copy the above biography I will 
be pleased. Please correct all errors and 
arrange it different if you see fit. 

It was hard for me, when I received the 
news of her death, for I know that I have 
lost my best friend on earth. I hope to 
live so when I am called to leave this pro- 
bation I may be permitted to meet her 
again, for I know she has filled her mis- 
sion with honor both to her God and fam- 
ily. I will close, hoping this will meet 
your approval. I remain your brother in 
the Gospel of Christ, 

Charles G. Larsen. 



Releases and Appointments. 

Releaaea. 

R. L. Shepherd, Ohio Confenence. 

J. F. Perkins, North Alabama Confer- 
ence 

E.' J. Child, North Alabama Confer- 
ence. 

D. W. Grover, North Alabama Confer- 
ence. „ 

H. K. Mortenson, North Alabama Con- 
ference. ^ 

John A. Welker, East Tennessee Con- 
ference. 

Jos. H. Woolsey, East Tennessee Con- 
ference. „ m 

W. D. Rencher, Georgia Conference. 

W. Bennion, Georgia Conference. 

J. S. Cazier, North Ohio Conference. 

J. R. Sellers. Florida Conference. 

J. W. Richins, North Carolina Confer- 
ence. 



THE SOUTHERN STAR 



876 



CONSOLATION FOR A BEREAVED 
MOTHER. 

Chattanooga, Term., Oct. 10, 1900. 
Mrs. E. H. Bronson, Fairview, Idaho: 

My Dear Sister : — I feel it my bounden 
duty to write you a few lines with a sin- 
cere hope that I may say something that 
will tend to console and comfort you in 
the hour of your grief and affliction. I 
know that it is hard to part with those 
we love ; we are loath to return those pre- 
cious jewels which the Lord so kindly 
tendered to our care — even our beloved 
children. Yes, they are jewels of price- 
less worth, and to part with them gives 
sorrow of heart, but could we penetrate 
the dimming vail which separates us from 
them, methinks that our heaviness would 
be turned to joy, our grief to gladness, 
and our sorrow to enraptured bliss. 

What is this mortal life but the school 
room in which we are trained for a higher 
and a better life; in which we are dis- 
ciplined for a grander sphere, and taught 
those Holy Laws that prepare the soul 
and pave the way to the blessed boon we 
all would gain, even life eternal in tha 
kingdom of God. Yes, this life is the uni- 
versity, in which we gain a varied ex- 
perience, and from which we are destined 
to graduate to a higher grade, providing 
that we learn our lessons well, and pass 
the final examination. As in the college, 
so is it in real life; when we graduate 
from this mortal sphere it is but the com- 
mencement exercise for another grade, 
which is higher, brighter and nobler far 
than this present one. 

Temptations beset us on every hand; 
tribulation, affliction and trials meet us 
it« the way, and obstacles arise before us. 
Our course is not strewn with roses or 
paved with pearly gems: but stern real- 
ity which manifests itself in thorns and 
briars must be encountered on our jour- 
ney. With courage and patience, faith 
and hope, we pursue our course, and 
blessed are they who have the companion- 
ship of the Holy Spirit, for then the 
rough places are made smooth, the ob- 
scure plain, the crooked straight, our 
seeming obstacles surmounted, while we 
are enabled to endure our trials and trib- 
ulations with fortitude and long-suffering. 
Oh ! the Spirit is a wonderful Comforter, 
a Holy Guide, a divine Companion! 
Were it not so, then life would be miser- 
able indeed, but now we can have joy, not 
joy because trials await us, but because 
of the more abundant life which is prom- 
ised to the obedient and the faithful. 
"Adam fell that man might be and men 
are that they might have joy." We are 
here that we might have joy, and you will 
remember that Jesus said: "I am come 
that they might have life, and that they 
might have it more abundantly." Do we 
perform our part well here, then we shall 
be raised to higher stations. Do we hon- 
or God and love Him here, then He will 
honor us and love us there! He is mer- 
ciful. He is kind, He is loving. He is just, 
and if we only trust Him to the end. He 
will prove His love and mercy by exalt- 
ing us in glory with the redeemed ! 

The kindred affection of a mother to 
her boy is centered in a mould that is 
finely fashioned, and touched with love's 
pure finger — the heart. Under the houie 
roof you have seen him grow from child- 
hood to manhood. You have given him 
the strengthening nutriment, you have 
nursed him in sickness, nourished and 
cared for him while under your paternal 
keeping, and when he honored the call to 
perform » mission to the people of the 
Southern States, ard the hour to say 



good-bye arrived, you bade him God-speed 
with a mother's blessing. He went as a 
true and trusted soldier to his post of 
duty; you thought of him when he was 
far away ; yes, thought of him all the live- 
long day; and when the shades of even- 
ing fell, you knelt before the Throne of 
Grace and prayed the Lord to bless him. 

The Lord heard your supplication in 
his behalf, and blessed your darling boy 
so that be prospered to a marked degree. 
Yes, he became a mighty worker in the 
vineyard of the Lord, enlisting his every 
effort for the advancement of God's right- 
eous purposes upon the earth, wielding 
the sword of truth and proving himself a 
power for good wherever he went. His 
companions loved him, and he was beloved 
by all who knew him. Always ready and 
'willing to assist a brother, lending a help- 
ing hand to all, making himself useful 
and beneficial to those who stood in 
need, and when, in a righteous en- 
deavor to aid his companions, he met 
his sad and sudden death in the turbulent 
waters of a treacherous stream, his spirit 
returned to that God in whose service he 
was engaged. 

All that remains of his earthly taber- 
nacle has been casketed and returned to 
the home of his childhood, but you, dear 
sister, his loving mother, will not grieve 
as those who have no hope. Mother ! Sis- 
ter! you will meet your son again, know 
his gladsome features, you have marked 
his cheerful smile when he played around 
your knee in infancy, and you will know 
him when the trumpet of God shall sound 
and the dead in Christ shall rise. You 
will know him, and he will know you 
and then shall we all know and realize 
that "God doeth all things well." 

I pray the Lord to bless you, and com- 
fort you ; to bestow in your grief-stricken 
home the Spirit of consolation, and shed 
around you that benign influence which 
makes the mourner to rejoice and the sad 
to find joy in the Lord. 

Your loving sister and true friend, 
Nina F. Rich. 



SOUTHERN BOXERS. 

Sept. 20, Elders C. G. Anderson and 
George O. Holt entered a little settle- 
ment called King's Creek, in Cherokee 
county, for the purpose of visiting some 
Saints whom they had recently baptized. 
Just before reaching their destination 
they were accosted by eight men. who 
warned them to leave inside of two 
hours, and were only protected then from 
the cowardly assaults of the villians by 
a man who interfered in behalf of the 
Elders. After dusk a mob of thirty-five 
men started upon the track of The El- 
ders, but were confused in the route of 
the brethren and abandoned the pursuit. 

Oct. fith. Elders J. P. Ilium and J. T. 
Lazenby were passing through the same 
neighborhood, en route to Blacksburg. 
and were evidently followed and located 
at the home of Brother J. L. Etters, at 
Blacksburg, by three men. Elder Laz- 
enby was sick and went to bed as soon 
as he arrived. Elders Anderson, Holt 
and Ilium held meeting the same night 
at the home of Brother Sanders. After 
meeting Elder Anderson returned with 
Brother and Sister Etters, where 
Elder Lazenby had been left sick in bed. 

About 11 o'clock, as they all sat enjoy- 
ing a pleasant conversation, their peace 
and silence was broken by confusion 
and clamour like a pack of Russian 
wolves in the act of surrounding their 
helpless victims. The house was soon 
surrounded and filled with cowardly 
fiends, who bore every characteristic 
quality of the Prince of Darkness. One 
miserable coward drew a gun on Sister 
Etters when she interferred in behalf of 



the Elders, and threatened to treat her 
like they intended to mete out to the El- 
ders. Brother Etters also was covered 
by two or more guns, as was Elder An- 
derson. 

In the meantime several men entered 
an adjoining room, in which Elder Laz- 
enby was sleeping, and cruelly dragged 
him from his bed and started with him 
in the direction of the woods, with no 
other clothing on than his garments. 

Upon trying to reason with the mobo- 
crats, Elder Lazenby was struck over 
the head with a weapon, which nearly 
rendered him unconscious. Elder An- 
derson was pulled out of the house by 
four men, and taken with Elder Lazenby 
into the woods, where the mob's horses 
were tied. 

Elder Anderson was partly stripped of 
his clothing and given forty lashes, while 
Elder Lazenby was given but eighteen, 
because of its being his first entrance 
into the county. They then were re- 
leased and warned to leave the state at 
once, under penalty of hanging. Elders 
Holt and Ilium, who were stopping at 
the home of Brother Gordon, were at 
once notified of the presence of a mob. 
and found refuge in the woods. 

The mob, which consisted of thirty-five 
men, then went six miles to Cherokkee 
Falls, and severely whipped Brother 
Thomas Martin, who has just recently 
joined the Church. 

Elder Nix and I, on the afternoon of 
the mobbing, went ov.er .the line into 
North Carolina to see so'me Saints. On 
entering a little town named G rover we 
were informed by a man that there w r as 
a mob after us. We took no notice of 
the rumor, but continued on to our des- 
tination, supposing our presence was the 
cause of the action. Monday we returned 
and learned of the trouble; also that 
part of the men had come from North 
Carolina. We went at once to the offi- 
cials at Blacksburg, whose duty it is to 
maintain peace and order, and asked 
for protection, as a petition to ostracize 
and drive out the Elders, Saints and 
friends from the county has been and 
now is in circulation among our enemies. 

The justice of the peace gave us no 
satisfaction whatever and intimated by 
his prejudiced conversation that his code 
of laws afforded no justice for a "Mor- 
mon," which indeed was amply proven 
by remarks made by him to one of our 
members, in which he said: "The law 
can't get at the "Mormon Elders" for 
preaching their doctrine; neither can the 
law get at those who mob them." 

There is an effort now on the part of 
these fiends to effect a union between 
the merchants and millers to prevent the 
Saints and friends from getting food 
and supplies. 

As is invariably the case, we have 
found at the head of this mob a man who 
professes to be preaching the Gospel of 
Christ and who pretends to teach those 
righteous principles which will result in 
the universal brotherhood of mankind. 
Among the mob also was a merchant 
and others quite as prominent. May 
the Lord have mercy on their poor souls, 
should; they ever be considered worthy 
of beholding His presence on the day 
of judgment. 

C. R. Humpherys. 



Silent Prayer. 

No soul can preserve the bloom and 
delicacy of its existence without lonely 
musings and silent prayer, and the great- 
ness of this necessity is in proportion to 
the greatness of the soul. — Canon Far- 
rar. 



37& 



THE SOUTHERN STAR. 



REPORT OF MISSION CONFERENCES FOR WEEK ENDING SEPT. 29, 1900. 



PRESIDENT 



Geo. A. Adams , 

Heber S. Olson 

J. G.Bolton „ 

J. Spencer Woreley... 

W.D. Bencher 

A. C. Strong 

John H. Bankhead... 

John Reeve ~ 

J. M. Haws .... 

G. B. Humpherys 

G.M.Porter 

W.W.MacKay 

F. H. Critchfleld 

R. L. Houtz , 

Don C. Benson 

L. M. Kebeker 

H. Z. Lund 



CONFERENCE 



Chattanooga 

Virginia 

Kentucky 

East Tennessee... 

Georgia 

North Alabama .. 

Florida 

Mid. Tennessee - 
North Carolina.. 
South Carolina .. 

Mississippi 

East Kentucky.. 

Louisiana M 

South Alabama .. 
North Kentucky 

South Ohio 

North Ohio 



|2 
II 

14 
25 
28 
24 
88 
81 
80 
81 
3» 



M 

a "3 
S* 
278 
553 
534 
504 
861 
555 
652 
678 
701 
595 
ISO 
583 
38 
464 
534 
427 
240 



is 

18 
51 
12 



72 
87 
100 
188 
20 



Si 

jfl 

7» 
99 
176 
158 
164 
126 
109 
178 



a 



ill 



H 

all 

U 








6 
17 




2 


18 


8 


8 


2 


10 


2 


16 




K 




10 
20 


2 


1 

1 




16 


1 


14 




6 


1 


12 


2 


9 


1 





aw 






20; 

8K 
895 
519 
742 
487 
848 
388 
600 
465 

85 
848 

86 
186 
353 
446 



8 



FOR THE RELIGIOUS. 

BY ELDER N. D. FOBSYTH. 

It is strange to observe that people 
who claim to be so much wrought upon 
by the extension and forceful rays of en- 
lightenment that is said to have come 
down to them, will make null and void 
their affirmation by endeavoring to fa- 
cilitate the downfall of their fellowman 
by misrepresentation and fraud. 

One would naturally think that where 
such perfect systems of ethics and reli- 

fion existed there would be seen manifest 
ut few of the fruits of the evil spirit. 
Especially would he look for their com- 
parative scarcity among those of the "re- 
generated" who profess to have been 
called to the very grave and responsible 
work of preaching the gospel of peace. 
It would be only reasonable to expect 
that the predominence of education over 
» ignorance would mean the decline of at 
least such earthly features as narrow- 
mindedness and bigotry. 

If modern Christianity be the embodi- 
ment of all that has been given for the 
perfection of mankind, in short, if it be, 
as it is often claimed, the culmination of 
that progressive system which Jesus 
Christ established 1900 years ago, the 
observer is compelled to either take the 
very critical position that its evolution 
has been on the road of degeneracy and 
it is now sadly in need of reconstruction, 
or. that like causes will not produce like 
effects. 

In the person of Jesus Christ, the 
founder of ancient Christianity, may be 
recognized the beneficent and admirable 
effects of the system he practiced. His 
mind, we find, was too full of such vir- 
tues as meekness, gentleness, love and 
charity, to allow any room whatever for 
such wretched and demoralizing vices as 
are to be seen emanating from the more 
conspicuous figures in modern Christen- 
dom. 

Therefore, in keeping with the former 
position, we wish to say that we. are 
personally acquainted with professed 
ambassadors of our Lord who, by man- 
ifesting evil fruits, not only lead us ro 
discredit the idea of their being His true 
followers, but who persist in exposing 
their gross ignorance by clinging tena- 
ciously to and teaching time-worn and 
truth-subverted ideas the absurdity <-f 
■ which common intelligence would readily 
teach, for the purpose of harming a 
cause with the true merits of which they 
are quite unfamiliar. 

Prominent among the many ideas which 
are now and then rehashed for evil pur- 
poses, is that concerning the t raged v of 
Cane Creek. It is the general impression 
among those who know no better than 
to believe all their pastor tells them, that 
the reason why the Mormon Elders were 
killed, was because they not only tauarht 
but practiced a part of their devilish 
system which is so repugnant to thp 
virtueloving minds of the people who 
thus exhibited their heroism. 

Tt is also believed that the hero «B. H. 
Roberts) who rescued the dead hod if.*, 
stepped far beyond the bounds of manly 
conduct and bravery by disguising hiui- 



Chattanooga 

Richmond, Box 388 „ 

Centra „ 

Hale, Mitchell Co 

Savannah 

Memphis, Box 168 

Valdosta. „ 

325 N.Summer st. N ashville 

Goldsboro, Box 024 

Blacksburg 

Ackerman._ 

Barboursville.. 

Lake Village 

Lapine 

100 W.Gray St., Louisville 
580 Betts St., Cincinnati ... 
41 Cheshire St., Cleveland 



Tennessee 

Virginia 

Kentucky 

N. Carolina 

Georgia 

Tennessee 

Georgia 

Tennessee 

N. Carolina 

8. Carolina 

Mississippi 

Kentucky 

Louisiana 

Alabama 

Kentucky 

Ohio 

Ohio 



self and deceiving the fiendish cowards, 
who were anxious to further exhibit their 
brutish power. 

For the benefit of the blind, both those 
who do not see and those who do not 
wish to see, we herewith give informa- 
tion reliable, having taken pains to inves- 
tigate the matter to the extent of visit- 
ing personally the spot where the Elders 
were killed, and getting the direst testi- 
mony of the parties most familiar with 
the case. Also the direct testimony of 
those assisting in the recovery of *he 
dead bodies. 
To whom it may concern: 

With the view of correcting the erro- 
neous ideas which seem to be prevalent 
regarding the Cane Creek tragedy, the 
undersigned being personally acquaint- 
ed with the whole affair, solemnly bear 
our testimony to the effect that, not only 
was it an event absolutely uncalled for, 
but was wholly and perfectly oat of or- 
der. The men who were thus cilled t » 
yield up their lives for the anke of what 
they believed to be the Gospel, wer«* to 
the best of our knowledge, hones*, up- 
right, straightforward and virtuous men. 
Never in all our experience with them 
did we see anything in their characters 
unbecoming oerfect gentlemen and true 
servants of their Master. The many evil 
reports circulated about them wore, to 
our knowledge, entirely without founda- 
tion. And we are forced to say that 
they were innocent and defenseless men 
martyred in cold blood. 

The mob who perpetrated the cowardly 
deed was composed of men who had nei- 
ther respect for themselves nor regard 
for the rights and privileges of others 
They were intolerant, they were igno- 
rant, they were barbarious. And they 
prcmeditatedly and without the least 
•cause comniitted the crime which now 
brands them as cowards and murderers. 

Elisha Tallev. Malinda Condor. Ban- 
nister Talley, Mary Ann Sealey, Wm. J. 
Condor. 

To whom it may concern: 

As it is thought by many that Elder 
B. H. Roberts of the Mormon Church, 
resorted to illegitimate means in the 
recovery of the bodies of Elders Gibbs 
and Berry, who were martyred Aug. 10. 
1884, by a mob on Cane Creek, and, be- 
ing asked to publish our knowledge con- 
cerning the affair, we. the undersigned, 
being participants in the work, solemnly 
testify that the means adopted by Elder 
Roberts and ourselves was wholly and 
strictly justifiable. Under such condi- 
tions as then existed we deemed it quite 
inadvisable to endanger our lives by pro- 
ceeding to the task under the leadership 
of one known to be a Mormon Elder. 
For truly the lives of such people were 
then in danger. The mob would have 
gladly treated him as they had treated 
his brethren. The means he devised and 
the courage he exhibited were only indi- 
cations of wisdom and true heroism on 
his part. 

Henry H. Harlow, Wm. Church. 

It is hoped that the above will be care- 
fully considered, especially by those who 
are. occupied in teaching religious truths 
to people who confide in their doctrine. 



THE DEAD. 

Miss Maud E., the 15-year-old daugh- 
ter of Jesse J. and Martha A. Price, de- 
parted this life Aug. 30th, 1900. Broth- 
er Price's whole family are faithful Lat- 
ter-day Saints, and Miss Maud was bap- 
tized Aug. 27th, 1897, and lived a true 
Christian ever since. She was loved by 
all who knew her, and bore the pain of a 
billious fever with wonderful fortitude. 
Her people are comforted with a hope, 
of a reunion in eternity on the morning 
of the first resurrection. 



Edgar Lee, the sweet little baby boy 
of sister Doaralles Bonner, of Black- 
burn, La., passed away from this mortal 
probation on the 20th of August, 1900. 
He was a dear little child, beloved by 
all who knew him, a joy and a comfort to 
his parents, and the life of the family, 
so that his loss is greatly felt in the 
home of his childhood. The loving 
mother has been sore afflicted with grief 
over the loss of her darling boy, and 
still mourns for him. It is hard to part 
with rhose we love, but we know that 
they have gone to the home of a loving 
Father in heaven, and they await our 
coming, for "as in Adam all die. even so 
in Christ shall all be made alive." Little 
ones are made alive in Christ, and 
through His atoning bjood are they fully 
redeemed from all sin: therefore we 
need not mourn their departure from this 
earth of sorrow, grief and pain. Our 
seeming loss is their ultimate gain, and 
all is well! We shall meet again and 
they will know us. and if we are worthy 
of their sweet and pure society, then we 
shall once more clasp them to loving 
hands and enjoy their innocent compan- 
ionship. The little boy was almost 4 
years old, and was a great favorite with 
the Elders who have labored in that 
community. We truat that the Elders 
will write to the bereaved parents and 
counsel them in the hour of their sad 
affliction. 



WHILST THERE'S LIFE THERE'S WORK TO DO 

Whatever thy place in H{f JEy.J*' • 
List to my motto— you'll find it true, 

There is a mission appointed thee, 
And whilst there's life there Is work to do. 

Be thine a rich or a poor estate. 

Work on, work on. but withal be true: 
And thou wilt find that It is thy fate, 

Whilst thou hast life to have work to do. 

And If ourselves no help we need. 

As this life's journey we travel through, 
How many we find to prove indeed 

That whilst we live there Is work to do. 
— • . : li-j. • -a 

Then whatsoever thy lot may be 

List to my motto, you'll find It true; 
There is a mission appointed thee, 

And whilst there's life there is work to do. 
— S. C. Watson. 




"BUT THOUGH WE OB AN ANGIL FttQM MEWEN. PREACH ANY 
OTHER GO&PEL ONTO YOU THAN THAT WHICH WE 

HAVE PBEALHED UNTO YOU, LET MIM BE ACCUSED. *<JV./ej?dt! 
— — X^til 



!&*- 



Vol. 2. 



Ohattakoooa, Tknk., Saturday, October 27, 1900. 



No. 48. 



Sketch of the Life of Apostle Franklin D. Richards 

BY APOSTLE MATHIAS F. COWLEY, 



Apostle Franklin Dewey Richards was 
born in Richmond, Berkshire county* 
Mass., April 2d, 1821. He was the son 
of Phineas and Wealthy Dewey Rich- 
ards, and was the fourth born of nine 
children. Like most all of his early as- 
sociates in the Church, he was of the 
old New England race, who hnd distin- 
guished themselves in the early settlc- 
ment of our country by toil, cnurnse ami 
patriotism to the young Republic. Frank- 
lin was raised on a farm, and by no 
means a stranger to hard work. He 
early displayed a strong desire for edu- 
cation and used his spare time in seek- 
ing for treasures of knowledge. Before 
he was 10 years old he had perused every 
book in the Sunday School, which com- 
prised several volumes, and at 13 he at- 
tended for one winter the Lenox Acad- 
emy. His parents were devout Con^re- 
gationnlists and trained their children 
in strict piety. Franklin early developed 
strong impressions of a religions char- 
acter. He was so decided in his view* 
that he differed with most of the people 
around him on Scriptural 
points of doctrine. Be- 
cause of this he declined 
a special offer made him 
to be educated for the sec- 
tarian ministry. Elders 
Brigham and Joseph 
Young visited Richmond 
in 1836 and presented the 
Restored Gospel. Frank- 
lin read the Book of Mor- 
mon, accepted it as the 
truth, and later, when his 
father went to Kirtland, 
0., with his younger 
brother, George Spencer 
Richards, they were bap- 
tized into the Church. On 
his return to Kirtland he 
found his son, Franklin, 
ready for baptism and ad- 
ministered that ordinance to him June 
3d, 1838, in his native town. Oct. 22d, 
1838, he bade adieu to his native home 
to cast his lot with the persecuted Saints 
in Far West, Mo. While crossing the 
Alleghenies he received the sad tidings 
of his brother, George S. Richards, be- 
ing assassinated at Haun's Mill, Mo. 



Undaunted, he journeyed on to Missouri, 
and soon after his arrival found employ- 
ment along the Mississippi river. In 
May, 1839, he first met the Prophet Jo- 
seph Smith. The following spring he 
was ordained a Seventy and went on a 




APOSTLE FRANKLIN D. RICHARDS. 

mission to Northern Indiana. He was 
very successful and soon established a 
branch of the Church in Porter county. 
Before he attained his twentieth anni- 
versary he delivered a series of public 
lectures, which attracted much attention 
and left a lasting impression upon the 
minds of those who were in attendance. 



He attended the laying of the corner 
stone of the Temple in Nauvoo at the 
April Conference in 1841, and then re- 
sumed his labors in Indiana. He con- 
tinued his missionary work, though sick 
with fever most of the time. In Decem- 
ber, 1842, he married Jane Snyder. In 
May, 1S44, he was ordained a High 
Priest, and started on a mission to En- 
gland, but hearing the sad news of the 
martyrdom of Joseph and Hyrum Smith; 
he ref timed to Nauvoo. In the fore part 
of 1845 he traveled over 1,000 miles in 
gathering means for the Nauvoo Temple. 
After this he was called to be a Scribe 
in i he offire of Church Historian. He 
also hi bored as a carpenter and joiner on 
Hip Temple, He received his endow- 
ment* in the Temple and subsequently 
milr-imed In administering the ordinances 
lu others In the exodus of 1846 he sac- 
rinVrd lus little home, built by his own 
InnuR and started his family westward 
with l he moving Camp of Israel. After 
seeing bis family driven into the wilder- 
ness he turned his face 
eastward, and with true 
heroism left to fulfill his 
mission in England. 
Franklin possessed the 
faith of the ancient Apos- 
tles, for with meager 
clothing and almost desti- 
tute of money he made his 
way to the Atlantic coast 
and thence across the 
mighty deep to the shores 
of Europe. Before leav- 
ing the shore of America 
the last word he received 
from the exiled Saints was 
that his wife had given 
birth to a baby boy and 
she was lying at the point 
of death. With this addi- 
tional trial he resolutely 
commended his family to the Lord, pur- 
sued his way to England. Upon his 
arrival in Europe he was appointed to 
preside over the Church in Scotland. 
Shortly afterward he became one of Pres- 
ident Orson Spencer's Counselors over 
the British Mission. He was then 25 
years old, and through the serious sick- 



378 



THE SOUTHERN STAR 



ness of President Spencer Elder Rich- 
ards sustained the responsibility of vir- 
tually presiding over the entire Mission. 
He labored efficiently and faithfully until 
Feb. 20th, 1848, when he started home- 
ward, in charge of a large company of 
emigrating Saints. During his mission 
he received the sad news that his brother, 
Joseph William Richards, had suc- 
cumbed to death while marching as a 
member of the Mormon battalion. 
Brother Franklin's daughter, Wealthy, 
had also died during his absence. Upon 
his return he found his wife and their 
relatives who had ssurvived the perils of 
the exodus at St. Louis, Mo. This was 
the middle of May, 1848. In June he 
went to Southern Iowa to buy cattle 
with which to move the company under 
the direction of his uucle Willard Rich- 
ards across the plains. The company left 
for Salt Lake Valley July 5th, 1848, with 
Franklin as Captain of fifty, t The jour- 
ney was a most trying one, as Sister 
Richards was very sick nearly the entire 
distance, but by the blessings of the 
Lord and kind, helpful friends she sur- 
vived the journey and is today one of 
the Presidency of the Relief Societies 
throughout the Church. They reached 
their destination Oct. 19th, 1848, with 
hearts of gratitude to God to be once 
more with the body of the Church, and 
especially far removed from the scenes 
of mobocracy and persecution. Elder 
Richards exchanged his cloak and other 
available articles of clothing for building 
material, and by dint of honest toil and 
hard labor constructed a small room in 
which they sojourned during the winter. 
While dwelling in this humble adobe hab- 
itation he was called to receive his oi- 
dination to the Apostleship Feb. 12th, 
1849. He immediately became asso- 
ciated with the leading men of the com- 
munity in forming the provisional gov- 
ernment of the State of Deseret, in 
Churcn work generally, and was very 
active in establishing the Perpetual Em- 
igration Fund. In October, 1849, he was 
again called to Europe to continue his 
missionary labors in a foreign land. He 
traveled across the continent and oceau 
with Apostles John Taylor, Lorenzo and 
Erastus Snow, with other Elders. Hos- 
tile Indians, inclement weather, icy 
streams, etc., went to make up an event- 
ful journey. January, 1850, they visited 
friends and Saints in St. Louis. They 
arrived in Great Britain March, 1850. 
This was an eventful year in the history 
of the Church, so far as spreading the 
Gospel abroad is concerned. President 
Taylor was sent to open the door of sal- 
vation to the French nation, Lorenzo 
Snow to Italy, Erastus Snow to Scandi- 
navia. Orson Pratt was presiding in 
Liverpool, but being called hastily to 
Council Bluffs, Brother Franklin was 
left to edit the Millennial Star and pre- 
side over the British Mission. He founded 
the Perpetual Emigration Fund in 
England on a solid basis, and labored 
efficiently in every department. Apostle 
Pratt returned to England. Elder Rich- 
ards became his assistant, and upon the 
release of Brother Pratt in 1851 Apostle 
Richards became President of tho Brit- 
ish Mission. With energy and great zeal 
himself and fellow-laborers spread the 
Gospel throughout the British Isles. He 
increased the labors in tho Liverpool 
office very materially. In a short time 
he revised and published a 25,000 edition 
of the Hymn Book, a new edition of 
P. P. Pratt's Voice of Warning, stere- 
otyped the Doctrine and Covenants, pre- 
pared and published the Pearl of Great 
Price, paid an interesting visit to Elder 
Taylor in France, and from 1850 to 1852 
about 1(5,000 souls had been added to the 



Church by baptism in the British Mis- 
sion. He started to Zion the first com 
pany of Saints which sailed fronv Eu- 
rope under regulations of the Perpetual 
Emigration Fund, with Apostle Erastus 
Snow, arranged for the organization of 
a company to manufacture iron in Utah. 
Soou after his return he was again 
elected to the Legislature and resumed 
his labors as a law-maker. Early in 
1853 he participated in the dedication 
of the Temple grounds, and laying the 
corner stones thereof in Salt Lake City. 
In July of this year he went to Iron 
county to establish iron works, but this 
project, under existing conditions, was 
impracticable. While there Gov. Young 
and Lieut.-Gen. Wells issued military 
orders, owing to Indian hostilities. 
Brother Richards labored faithfully in 
gathering in the outposts, changing tho 
site of Cedar City and preparing the peo- 
ple to resist the aggressions of the In- 
dians. Returning to Salt Lake City, he 
was just in time to witness the decease 
of his mother. He returned to Iron 
• county in October, 1853, and labored 
there until called to his Legislative work 
in the winter. W r hile in Salt Lake City 
he was notified to prepare again for tho 
British Mission. Before leaving he ded- 
icated his home, property and all he pos- 
sessed to the Lord. He reached England 
June 4th, 1854, and immediately as- 
sumed the responsibilities of the Mis- 
sion. His letter of appointment from 
the Presidency implied the amalgamation 
of the European Missions all under one 
head, as it authorized to him "to preside 
over all the Conferences and all the af- 
fairs of the Church in the British Isles 
and adjacent couutrics.'* While presid- 
ing in Europe he visited the continent, 
promoting the interests of the Gospod 
of peace and harmony among the people. 
It was during this mission that Brother 
Richards baptized that noble man who 
has done so much for Zion, especially the 
youth, in religious and secular education 
—Dr. Karl G. Maeser. In 1855 he se- 
cured for the growing necessities of the 
Mission the premises now renowned as 
42 Islington, which have been occupied 
from that time to the present as the 
Mission headquarters. In October, 1855, 
under President Richards* personal di- 
rection, the Saxon Mission was estab- 
lished in Dresden, which has yielded 
many intelligent converts to the faith. 

He was constant in his travels, and 
it was also within his province to direct 
the branches in the East Indies, Africa. 
Australia and other parts, which re- 
quired the concentration of every inter- 
est, with an eye ever single to the glory 
of God. Brother Franklin Was probably 
better informed on every detail of for- 
eign Missions than any other man. Pre- 
vious to leaving for his home the Presi- 
dents of Conferences met in London and 
paid a glowing tribute of respect and es- 
teem to President Franklin D. Richards. 
Oct. 4th, 185(», he once more reached 
his mountain home. He again became a 
member of the Utah Legislature, aud 
was re-elected a regent of the Deseret 
University. April 20th, 1857, he was 
elected and commissioned Brigadier-Gen- 
eral of the Second Brigade of Infantry 
of the Nauvoo Legion. During the 
Johnston army troubles he was engaged 
with a detachment from his brigade to 
support Gen. Wells in Echo Canyon. 
With others he left his property to be 
committed to the flames in case the army 
persisted in driving the Saints from their 
homes and despoiling them of their prop- 
erty. July 21st, 1859, he began a polit- 
ical tour in Southern Utah to arrange 
for the election of a delegate to Congress. 



Upon his return to Salt Lake City he 
was appointed with President Johu Tay- 
lor to meet two companies of emigrants, 
many of whom were old aud endeared 
associates of these two Apostles. During 
the seven years following he was labor- 
ing chiefly among the Saints. His la- 
bors were varied and multifarious, eccle- 
siastical, political, mill building and ag- 
riculture. He was never idle, but the 
embodiment of industry with hand and 
brain. July 29th, 18<j<>, he was again 
called on a mission to Europe, was on 
the way in two weeks, reached Liverpool 
Sept. 11th, 18WJ, and immediately com- 
menced a tour of the Conferences, in- 
cluding Scandinavia and several eonli- 
nental Conferences. In July, 1806, he 
again became President of the entire 
Mission. He had a noble corps of Elders 
to labo^ in the various fields, and the 
year following Great Britain alone fur- 
nished over 3,400 souls for baptism into 
the Church, and in about the same time 
nioro than 3,000 Saints emigrated to 
Utah. Up to this time sailing vessels 
were used for transporting the Saints to 
America, but President Richards, look- 
ing to the future, deemed this inade- 
quate, and changed from the sailing ves- 
sel to the steamship, aud this has con- 
tinued until the present time. 

This was Apostle Richards' last for- 
eign mission. He had crossed the ocean 
eight times, and had spent much of his 
time in the ministry abroad. Under his 
supervision, the Lord directing him. 
many thousands of souls had embraced 
the Gospel, and a mueli greater number 
gathered to Zion. His missionary zeal 
had not abated, but his wise counsels 
wore needed at home with the body of 
the Church. A new experience in his la- 
bors now came to him. In February, 
18(11), he was electa! Probate Judge of 
Weber comity. He occupied this posi- 
tion for fourteen years. He served with 
great ability and wisdom, making friends 
on every hand. He was familiarly called 
by business and political men "Judge 
Richards.*' He had many warm friends 
among the non-Mormon population of 
the community. Ogden City and W'eber 
county are recognized as next in impor- 
tance to Salt Lak;* City aud county, and 
much of the growth and progress of 
Weber is due to the potent influence of 
Brother Richards. Up to this time Og- 
den had no paper, lie established an 1 
for some time edited the Ogden Junc- 
tion, which subsequently took the title 
of the Ogden Herald and is still runinne. 
He did much to improve the schools of 
Weber county. He organized societies 
which preceded the Mutual Improvement 
Associations, and originated a plan by 
which rlie youth of Wel>er county, with- 
out t'ost, could hear the most talented 
lecturers of Utah on scientific aud other 
subjects. He taught the people by pre- 
cept and example how to avoid the in- 
fluence of the mixed population so rap- 
idly gathering into Ogden City, and how 
to make home pleasant and attractive. 
During his administration of fourteen 
years as Probate Judge no decision of 
his was ever reversed by a higher tri- 
bunal. Hundreds of cases of divorce, 
land estates and land suits were brought 
before Tiim. He adjudicated the land 
titles of Huntsville, North Ogden and 
Plain City. None of these arrangements 
were ever set aside by any court. Be- 
sides these, he had many criminal cases 
presented before him. the decisions in 
none «-- which have ever been reversed. 
His administration financially was also 
a great success. Roads were built, and 
many bridges. The only toll road in the 
county, the one through Ogden Canyon, 



THE SOUTHERN STAR. 



379 



was purchased and made free. His po- 
sition had no salary attached, and yet 
he lr bored with unselfish devotion to the 
county and people. The expenses of the 
county were maintained entirely free 
from debt. He continued a member of 
the Legislature, traveled, preached and 
counseled throughout the Territory. 

He assisted President Young in organ- 
izing nearly all the Stakes of Zion up 
to the decease of President Brigham 
Young. Nearing the close of his official 
career, Congress passed a law known as 
the "Hoar Amendment,'* which author- 
ized the Governor to fill vacancies caused 
by failure to elect officers at the August 
elect iou of 1882. By claim of authority 
from this act Gov. Murray appointed 
James N. Kimball Probate Judge of 
Weber county. Judge Richards denied 
the vacancy, and Mr. Kimball instituted 
a mandamus suit to compel a relinquish- 
ment of the office and records to him. 
The District Court decided in favor of 
Mr. Kimball. Judge Richards appealed 
to the Supreme Court of the Territory, 
which affirmed the lower court. He 
then appealed to the Supreme Court of 
the United States, where it rested until 
the time of Mr. Kimball's appointed term 
had run out. This was a test case, and 
had it not been contested with determin- 
ation the Governor's appointees would 
have displaced the officers elected by the 
people, and thus given the political con- 
trol into the hands of v the "liberal 
Party." V 

For many years Apostle Richards was 
Church Historian and Gbneral Church 
Recorder. This position he filled with 
usual ability and devotion until the 
time of his death. He was much inter- 
ested in work for the dead, and had ac- 
complished as nimh perhaps in this line 
as any other man except President 
Woodruff. He took great interest in the 
Genealogical Society of Utah, and sought 
to interest others. 

When President Lorenzo Snow became 
President of the Church Brother Rich- 
ards succeeded to the Presidency of the 
Twelve Apostles, and occupied this place 
when he departed this life. He was en- 
deared to his associates and to all the 
Saints and many not of our faith be- 
cause of his kind, affable manner. Dur- 
ing the latter years of his life his time 
was chiefly occupied in the office of His- 
torian, but he visited many of the Stakes 
and was faithfully industrious to the 
last. Fn the fall of 1800 he became en- 
feebled through strokes of paralysis, and 
after an illness of several weeks, accom- 
panied by brief spells of apparent im- 
provement, he passed quietly into the 
spirit at 12:14 Saturday morning, Dee. 
0th. 1800, at his home in Ogden City. 

President Richards was noted for the 
kindness of his heart, the gentleness of 
his manners, and his constant, unceasing 
devotion to the work of God, and whita 
he has gone to the unseen world he still 
lives by the great labors of his life, and 
will be perpetuated in the love and mem- 
ory of the Saints throughout all genera- 
tions. His funeral was held in the Og- 
den Tabernacle Dec. 12th, 1800, was 
attended by a host of the Saints, and 
his remains were laid quietly to rest in 
the Ogden Cemetery. President Snow, 
his Counselors, Elder Brigham Young 
and others spoke at his funeral in terms 
of highest esteem. Among the glowing 
tributes of respect to the character and 
faith of President Richards President 
Joseph F. Smith said that he had seen 
him under such trying ordeals that few 
could endure, and under which President 
Richards had shown the patient submis- 



sion, faith and devotion of Job, when he 
exclaimed, "Though He slay me yet will 
I trust in liim." The industryt integ- 
rity, faith, purity and devotion of such 
men will serve as a beacon light to all 
generations who shall read his history, 
bless his memory and praise God who 
sent him to perform his part in the great 
dispensation of the fulness of times. 



OUR CONFERENCE PRESIDENTS. 

Special traits of character inherited or 
developed in progenitors, frequently are 
seen in their posterity ; and this is true 
to a marked degree in the subject of our 
sketch. President J. Spencer Worsley was 
born in Provo City, Utah, Oct. 17, 1878. 
He is the eldest child of a family of six 
children. His parents, Mr. and Mrs. J. 
H. Worsley, resided in Provo City until 
he was 8 years of age, when they removed 
to Ashley Valley, Uintah county, Utah, 
where they resided some eight years. How- 
ever, through the lack of educational fa- 
cilities, due to the early growth of a new 
country, they returned to Provo that they 
might have better opportunities to edu- 
cate their children. Since that time he 




has been compelled to pursue his search 
for knowledge in connection with worldly 
duties, which he did until December, 1898, 
when he received a call to take a mission 
to the Southern States. He then applied 
himself to a theological- course in the 
Brigham Young Academy at Provo. 

His labors in the missionary field prove 
that he has made good use of the chances 
he has had. On April 20, 1800, he left 
his home and loved ones, in obedience to 
the call he had received. Arriving at 
Chattanooga headquarters, he was as- 
signed to labor in East Tennessee Con- 
ference, arriving at his field of labor on 
the 26th of the month. President Wors- 
ley comes from "good old English stock" 
on his father's side, nis grandparents 
joined the Church in England, came to 
Nauvoo and took part in the travels and 
hardships in the early rise of the Church. 
His grandsire died at St. Louis, Mo., leav- 
ing a widow, two sons and four daughters, 
who are all faithful Latter-day Saints. 
His father is a blacksmith, which ac- 
counts for the iron will of his son in try- 
ing to do his duty in the dissemination 



of Gospel truths. On his mother's side 
his progenitors are a race of people of 
whom we may be proud, tracing bis lin- 
eage back to the martyred Apostle David 
*« . Patten, Titus Billings and Isaac Wor- 
ley ; names so prominent in the early his- 
tory of the Church, that it is not neces- 
sary to detail their labors. His grand- 
father, A. N. Billings, came to Utah in 
1848, passing through all the trials of 
frontier life. He suffered heavy losses by 
Indians and other causes; was called to 
fill a mission to,Eld Mountains, of which 
he had charge and built a fort near the 
present site of Moab, Grand county, 
Utah. President Worsley's mother was 
born in Manti,' Sanpete county, Utah. Her 
parents moved to Provo, Utah, when she 
was small. She attended the best schools 
until she became a teacher, which pre- 
pared her to instruct her son, and the ef- 
fects of her training has proved of great 
value to him. With such parentage and 
such home teaching we look for a good 
work from President Worsley. 



Abstracts from Correspondence. 

If you will kindly spare me a little 
space in The Star 1 would like to give 
my testimony as to the truth of the Gos- 
pel. 1 know that Joseph Smith, our 
Prophet, was sent of God to restore the 
Gospel in this, the last dispensation of 
time. I know the blessings promised of 
God to those who obey His ordinances are 
enjoyed by the faithful today, even as 
when' the Former-day Saints were on 
earth, and that the signs do follow those 
who believe. As soon as I listened seri- 
ously to the Elders as they unfolded the 
plan of life and salvation I became con- 
vinced of its truth, and was baptised, on 
the Cth day of last May, by- Elder Joseph 
li. Jeppson. That same night, after my 
baptism, my sister was taken violently ill. 
Ail the remedies we gave her failed to re- 
lieve her, and we felt she would die if 
she could not receive help. I asked her 
to 'have the Elders administer to her, and 
she consented, and immediately after fell 
into a sweet sleep and slept until morn- 
ing. It would take too much space to 
tell all the things that make me know it is 
the true and everlasting Gospel of Jesus 
Christ, which was delivered by the angel 
to Joseph Smith, our noble Prophet, for 
my testimony is added to and grows 
stronger eaeh day. "Line upon line and 
precept upon precept," the testimony is 
given through the whisperings of the Holy 
Spirit, that Comforter which was prom- 
ised us by our Lord and Master ere he 
left us to ascend into heaven, and I frould 
that all people and all nations might 
know the joy and peace which fills one's 
whole being when earnestly striving to 
follow the teachings of the Spirit, and 
obey the Gospel commands. May God 
bless and keep us each and every one, and 
may we hold to the iron rod until it leads 
us to the throne of God in His beautiful 
kingdom prepared for those who love Him, 
is the prayer of your sister in Christ. 
Virginia C. Moon. 

Ponchatoula, La., Oct. 12, 1900. 

Join hands with the righteous and take 
Christ as the Captain of our Salvation, 
and the banner of Truth will yet wave 
over every land and clime. 

Spend less than you earn ; earn all that 
you spend. 

Fear God, love one another, honor your- 
self. 



Be . just, . then generous ; honest, then 
liberal. 

Pray without ceasing, and never cease 
praying. 



380 



THE SOUTHERN STAR. 




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Address Box xos 



Saturday, October 27, 1900. 



I Wt btlJtvt that » 



ARTICLES OP FAITH 

OPTNS CHURCH OP JESUS CHR15T OP 
LATTER-DAY SAINTS. 

I. ^htntt«laaodtkellenairsta»r,esdlaBbSe» 
Jeset CirUt, tad ia tee Holy Obest, 

ft. Wt believe last am will b» assisted for tadrm 
tJea, aedaet for Assart t w g r awlos. 

A Wt belief* test, tluee* tfcesleaesMetef ClrkAeJI 
enisled aty as saved, by obedient* to tee lavs sad ore*, 
assess of tat GetpoL 

A WobeUoToUMUtaolm^adpltttadofdlatBewof 
lie Gospel srt : First. Faith is lbs Lord Jtsos Christ; tested, 
■oseetsatt; laird, Bsplisai by lumen!** for tat rossisaioa 
eislati fesrtb, Laylagoa el Beads for tat Gift of tat Holy 

«t t» ciHwJ of Go< by 
M proptiH^, and bj tit liy tfl{ ca of b*r.4»," bj the** who an 
111 latoontf, to prtich ibt (up*! «nd ■dm<ni»nr ia to* aril. 
niD£*i thereof- 

4. w. b*llnt« la tbff Hoit ocpnin (fo» Uiti e tJibd ia 
tta brlajtios cbureb— D*fa«lr, Apoitlw, frapheu, I'tuar** 
Ttuaart, CtiaplJiUy «Ut 

r Wt btlitot 1 a Lb« ti rt or tan [□ f« t pmpfatt ;-; rtf tlttfo*, 
f Ukoni, hailing EalarproLatioil of tvaftj**, ot«. 

P. Wo bailee lb* Bible to b* the word of Ood, ■» far u It 
ll tnailitcd correct!; ; wt alto btlkrt tfa* Book of MOrvo* 
lo b« the *«ri Of God. 

|. Wt bolitvt a] I tint Ood bit r«fiiltd t i7 tbmt H* do** 
bow rtftil, *nd wo belie to that fit will t«I r*f+a| FHHi> gr**| 
tod inaportant liiiop poruinjng Id tho Kinta'aai of OodT 

1G, Wt talittt ia tin titeraJ fitbeu nf of IirtcJ lad la Eh* 
r**lor»tJnB of Ibt Too Trib«: that ZFon will b* bqiti apoo 
(bio [(Jit AArtrlcan) wntLncnt ; tr.it CbrWt "111 r*J|D portoo 
all; bod u tht etrib, and tb*L e.bt a*nh will bo renewed. Bad 
rvc»iio it* ptradiaiftnJ florr. 

U. Wt citlai tho OrMlep of wonhlpjog JilmlfhtJ Gtd 
•rrqrdirif to tho dkutu cw oar cOq*cp«dh t Bad alio* til 
■*a tb* otat prittUgv, J«l Ihem worship bofr. vbwro, or wbs| 

l3L "Vo btUoTo Is btiaff sBbJeet to kla-i 
Mrslosi teoboylBff.boeoriiigu^ 

---*• btlloso is boieg boDosMrw 
wtrtaoes.aed ia doing goodlo elf aes; IndtodVwo sssy say 
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EASY TO CRITICISES. 

••It Is easy to sit in the sunshine 
And talk to the man In the shade." 

It Is easy to float In a well-trimmed boat, 
And point ont the places to wade. 

But once we pass Into the shadows 
We murmur and fret and frown, 

And our length from the bank, we shout for 
a plank, 
Or throw up our hands and go down. 

It is easy to sit in your carriage 

And counsel the man on foot; 
But get down and walk and you'll change 
your talk. 

As you feel the peg in your boot. 

It is easy to tell the toiler 
How best he can carry his pack; 

But no one can rate a burden's weight 
Until it has been on his back. 

The up-curled mouth of pleasure 

Can preach of sorrow's worth; 
But give it a sip, and wryer Up 

Was never made on earth. 

—Ella Wheeler Wilcox. 

To glorify God is the mission of every 
soul upon the earth. 



"DOING GOOD." 

What volumes may be penned from 
these two words— "Doing Good!" What 
wholesome pleasure; what blessed hap- 
piness would be ours to enjoy; if every 
soul were but engaged in doing good! 
Yes! Life would be more sweet; our 
homes a divine abode; and the earth 
would be transformed into a heaven- 
being full of the glory of God, full of 
peace, bliss, unity and good-will! The 
secret of real joy here with a hope of 
eternal salvation hereafter, depends upon 
our conscious application of these two 
words, and our practical daily adoption 
of them. To do good, is to aid all that 
stand in need of our assistance, shun 
evil, yield not to temptation, honor your 
calling and prove yourself a useful in- 
strument in the hands of a merciful God. 

Peter, the Apostle, that stalwart giant 
of truth, while speaking to his brethren 
concerning the Lord Jesus, summed up 
the whole of the Master's life, mission 
and work, in these two words— Doing 
Good. Said he: "God anointed Jesus 
of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and 
with power; who went about doing good, 
and healing all that were oppressed of 
the devil; for God was with Him." It 
matters not where the Lord was found; 
whether He was in the Temple at Jeru- 
salem; on the stormy sea of Galilee; the 
streets of the Holy City; the wilderness, 
the mount, or the Council Chamber, "He 
went about doing good." Yes! doing 
good to all; leaving blessings for the 
downcast; joy for the mourner; comfort 
for the sorrowful; strength for the af- 
flicted, and words of light, life and truth 
for the children of men. His whole life 
was made up of acts which characterized 
Him as one who went about doing good! 
He restored to the blind their sight; to 
the deaf their hearing; to the dumb their 
speech; to the lame strength in their 
limbs; to the bereaved Jarius his daugh- 
ter in life, and to the sorrowing widow 
her only son. What a wonderful life 
was His! How replete with blessings 
for all; how superabundantly kind, mer- 
ciful, and forgiving was He! His was 
a life devoted to the will of His Father: 
prompted by love for the human race, 
crowned with a desire to do good unto 
others, administer to their wants, and 
bless them in their trials and tribula- 
tions. Well may such a noble, divine, 
aoly life be expressed in these very sig- 
nificant words, "He went about doing 
good!" 

There is a great deal of difference be- 
tween trying to do good and the act of 
doing good! What we should aim at is 
the end — doing good! and not be content 
with the mere trial. There are a thou- 
sand ways in which we can apply our- 
selves in the exercise of doing good; 
there are innumerable avenues opened 
on every hand that we may traverse an 1 
find regions awaiting our administra- 
tions. There is a vast field outstretched 
before us and the possibilities for doing 
good are met on every side, so that no 
one need be idle or excuse themselves 
because of a lack of opportunity, for the 
field is ripe with privileges for all who 
are inclined to avail themselves of the 
same. Jesns did not merely strive to do 
good, but He actually went about doing 
good, so the Good Word informs us. May 
we not then naturally enough expect to 
find all His followers engaged in the same 
holy Christ-like conduct? It is the only 
reasonable and logical sequence; if they 
follow Christ tney are going to be trans- 
formed into His image and likeness, and 
become like Him in all things. 



Oh! how very true it is, that there are 
those who loudly profess their fidelity 
and loyalty to Christ and His laws; who 
claim Him as their Lord and King, and 
yet at the same time will become so 
loose, vile and wanton, that they will 
persecute, mock and revile those who 
may chance to differ with them as per- 
tains to the Gospel o t jesus Christ. In 
persecuting your fellowman are you do- 
ing good? With hatred and malice man- 
ifested in your lives do you think for 
one moment that you are following the 
Lord, who went about doing good? Verily 
no! Such were impossible! When yon 
hear some self-righteous, pious old min- 
ister belch forth a storm of anathemas, 
and wild denunciations against another 
class or sect, you may know by his mean 
display what is in the heart of the man. 
You may know by whom he is lejcl if you 
will study the passions and propensities 
that govern his nature. We are com- 
manded to follow the Lord and keep in 
His steps, then we should ever be found 
doing good, blessing and not cursing, al- 
leviating and not suppressing, pointing 
out the way of Eternal Life, exercising 
towards all love unfeigned, with malice 
and hatred for none. 

It may be that you have read lives of 
Christ, beautifully written with eloquent 
composition, and you have admired the 
talent of the persons who could write so 
well; but the best life of the Messiah is 
written in those words accredited to Pe- 
ter; "He went about doing good!" This 
is, a concise biography, but a remarka- 
ble one indeed, for it omits nothing and 
covers the whole. Do we follow Christ; 
do we go about doing good? Do we love 
Him with a pure, unselfish, disinterested 
love, yes, do we love Him because we 
are grateful to Him for His atoning sac- 
rifice, and for His precious words of 
heavenly truth divine, not obedience that 
is prompted by force; nor of compulsion: 
nor of fear; but one that is influenced by 
the same spirit which actuated the Son 
of God when He said, Father, Thy will 
be done!— working for the honor and 
glory of God. The very act of doing 
good brings joy and gladness to the heart 
of the doer, and comfort and happiness 
to tho recipient thereof. The inward 
peace and bliss which one feels when h«» 
is doing good is of itself sufficient to r»»- 
pay one for the action; but this is not 
all, by doing these things we not only 
realize joy in this life, but salvation in 
the life that is to come. 

Let the love of Christ burn in the heart 
and soul of a person, and let that heav- 
enly power influence them in their acts, 
and they will not, cannot go astray. 
Nothing but our own transgression and 
evil ways can separate us from the love 
of God which we have received in Christ 
Jesus our Lord. If we will ever let this 
question arise before us in our journey 
through life, Am I doing good; is this 
a righteous act? we will not scorn or 
hate, mock or revile, deride or persecute 
our fellowman, for these things are not 
good and they shall have no place in our 
midst. God is the Eternal Parent of all 
things good, while the wicked Lucifer is 
the author of all things bad. 

Christ dealt out the honest truth to 
the people and so must we. He obeyed 
the will of His Father, we must there- 
fore do likewise. Regardless of the es- 
teem of the world, popular opinion, and 
public favor; averse to all human parade, 
pomp and ceremony, He stood for the 
right, went about doing good, and glo- 
rified God, whose only begotten Son He 
was. His trials and temptations were 
many; His persecutors and offenders not 



THE SOUTHERN STAB. 



881 



a few; but He braved all, led the Way, 
niurked the Path, erected the Signal- 
boards and raised the Finger-posts, 
pointing the course of Eternal Life. 
"Make us like Thee," should be our con- 
stant prayer, our daily supplication; that 
we too may brave the storms of perse- 
cution, shun the wiles of the evil one, 
overcome temptation, and do good to our 
fellowman. 

•'These are Thy glorious works, Parent of 

good, 
Almighty, Thine this universal frame, 
Thus wondrous fair; Thyself how wondrous 

then." 



History of the Southern States Mission. 

(Continued from Page 374.) 

December, 1809.— On the 1st and 2d 
conference was held at London, Ken- 
tucky, with the Elders of the East Ken- 
tucky Conference. It was impossible to 
procure a hall in which to hold public 
services, so a large room in the Riley 
House was prepared for that purpose. 
This conference assembly was a success, 
so far as the Elders were concerned, but 
a failure from a public point of view. 

The Middle Tennessee Conference was 
held in Nashville on the 9th and 10th. 
The Odd Fellows' hall was secured for 
the occasion. A very slim attendance of 
strangers was noticeable, perhaps from 
the fact that the weather was disagree- 
able. The Nashville American gave a fair 
report of the Sunday meeting. 

On the 16th and 17th the Chattanooga 
Confarence was held in Chattanooga. Two 
public meetings were held in the Congre- 
gational hall, 708 Market street. The at- 
tendance was fair and the meetings were 
spirited and good. President Rich ex- 
tended an invitation to all the ministers 
of the city to call on the Elders at head- 
quarters. He said : "Let us not hate one 
another, but let us reason together. If 
you have a truth that we have not, we 
will gladly accept it, and if we have an 
error that you can point out, we will as 
willingly abandon it, and be thankful to 
you for showing it to us." 

No doubt it was in accordance with this 
invitation that Rev. J. Whitcomb Brough- 
er, pastor of the First Baptist church of 
this city, preached the same night a ser- 
mon on "Mormonism and Polygamy." The 
tirade was in keeping with the regular 
falsehoods afloat about our people. The 
Rev. said : "There are some things about 
Mormonism which must be given up be- 
fore it can be recognized as a Christian 
church." "Mormonism is based on a tis- 
sue of lies," was another charge made by 
this worthy gentleman. Two or three 
days after this sermon was delivered El- 
ders J. Stokes and L. F. Rich called on 
Dr. Brougher, who admitted to them that 
he had never read anything at all con- 
cerning the Latter-day Saints except from 
their enemies. He would not discuss the 
principles of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, 
neither wov.ld he ask the brethren any 
question about their faith, for they tried 
every possible way to get him. into a con- 
versation upon the subject of Mormon- 
ism, of which he # had said so very much 
in his sermon on Sunday night. This 
learned divine is a fair sample of those 
who revile the people of God most — they 
know not of that they do speak about. 

President Rich made a vigorous reply 
through the columns of the News, one of 
Chattanooga's dailies. This appeared on 
Dec. 25th (see page 69, of vol. 2, of The 
Southern Star). The Rev. attempted to 
answer on Jan. 1st. His second attack, 
like the first effusion of total ignorance 
and unmitigated hate, may truthfully be 
called No. 1 enlarged upon. President I 



Rich replied to this (see page 77 of vol. 
2, Southern Star.) 

This silenced the doctor and he at once 
sent to Nashville for one Rev. B. E. Folk, 
who had recently spent almost two whole 
weeks with the Mormons in Salt Lake 
City. This fellow delivered one of the 
most sensational sermons ever heard in 
the city of Chattanooga. According to 
Mr. Folk, virtue was unknown among the 
Mormons. He painted such a black, 
filthy picture that many of the people 
who were present left in disgust long be- 
fore his sermon was finished, which lasted 
over two hours. To this new-comer Pres- 
ident Rich replied in very forceful terms 
and the same was published in the News ; 
it may now be seen page 86 of vol. 2. The 
liberality tendered by the News showed 
them to be Americans. They exhibited a 
fairness not often shown to the Mormons. 

This incident occasioned much comment 
in religious circles in Chattanooga, and 
was the means of making many friends 
for the cause of truth and explaining the 
principles of righteousness. Many per- 
sonally expressed congratulations for the 
able manner in which the discussion was 
conducted on the part of President Rich, 
and also letters were received to the same 
intent. The work was prospering very 
nicely, and the month closed with all well 
in the field. 

January, 1900. — The isew Year dawned 
and found us all well and not anything 
startling going on in the Mission field. 
The annual report was published in the 
Star and made a good showing. On the 
20th and 21st conference was held in 
New Orleans with the Mississippi and 
Louisiana. The conference made a good 
impression. New Orleans journals spoke 
very highly of the Elders. In addition to 
the presence of President Rich there were 
also Brother and Sister Hyldahl and El- 
der L. R. Anderson. 

On the 22d the following Elders ar- 
rived from the West: A. J. Stoddard, 
John Knight, Neils Behram, John V. 
Sperry, Thos. H. Karren, R. A. Palmer, 
N. B. Porter, J. H. Stocks and David 
Sudwort. 

On the 27th and 28th conference was 
held at Macon, Ga., with the Elders of the 
Georgia Conference. It was a success and 
allayed much prejudice in that city. Many 
men of high standing there expressed 
themselves in terms of praise for our peo- 
ple. (To be Continued.) 



Union Pacific Railroad. 

Another Portland train. Two trains 
daily. Effective April 22, the Union Pa- 
cific, Oregon Short Line and Chicago 
Railroad and Navigation company will 
place in service an additional Portland 
train. 

This train, "The Pacific Express/' will 
leave Kansas City 10:40 a. m. Only 
three days on the road. 

Equipped with Palace Sleepers. Free 
Reclining Chair Cars, ordinary Sleeping 
Car, Dining Car Service (to Granger). 

The time of the present Portland train, 
"The Overland Limited,*' leaving Kansas 
City 6:40 p. m., will be reduced 2 hours 
and 45 minutes between Granger and 
Portland. 

Only 69 hours Kansas City to Port- 
land. 

Palace Sleeping Cars, Dining Car Ser- 
vice, Buffet Oars, Chair Cars. 

For time tables, folders, illustrated 
books, pamphlets descriptive of the ter- 
ritory traversed, address J. F. Aglar, 
general agent, St. Louis, Mo. 

Special Low Rates Via 

Unoion Pacific Railroad every Tuesday 
to Colorado, Utah, Montana, Idaho, Ore- 
gon, Washington. For particulars ad- 
dress J. F. Aglar, General Agent, St. 
Louis. 



OUR CONFERENCE PRESIDENTS. 



Elder R. L. Houtz was born in Salt 
Lake City, Aug. 18th, 1876. His par- 
ents, Henry P. and Sarah Houtz, having 
accepted the Gospel In the East, came to 
Utah in 1848. They experienced the 
trials and endured the hardships incident 
to Pioneer life. In 1880 they left Sait 
Lake City and settled in Idaho. In 1880 
they returned to Salt Lake City, in or- 
der that their children might have the 
benefits and advantages of the better 
schools than those of Rockland, Idaho, 
where they resided. 

Brother Houtz attended the District 
school, and later attended the L. D. S. 
College, where he spent three years. In 
1892 thy moved back to Rockland, and 
engaged in the sheep raising business, • 
so that it can be said of him, as of Da- 
vid the Psalmist, "he tended his fath- 
er's flocks." He was always attentive to 
religious duty, and was ever interested 
in Sunday School and mutual improve- 
ment work. In the Ward he was obedi- 
ent, energetic, and ambitious. 




ELDER H. L. HOUTZ. 



It was on the 31st of October, 1898, 
that he was informed by letter from Box 
B. that his presence, time and talents 
were desired in the Mission field. The 
Lord required his labors, and he cheei- 
fully responded to the call. On the 14th 
of December he was set apart for a mis- 
sion to the Southern States, and upon 
arriving at Chattanooga was assigned to 
labor in the North Carolina Conference. 
He had scarcely spent one year in the 
service of the Master before he was 
called to act as a counsellor to President 
J. M. Haws. He filled this calling with 
signal ability, and was beloved by all his 
brethren. 

When President W. H. Boyle was re- 
leased from his labors in the South Ala- 
bama Conference, Elder Houtz was chos- 
en to fill his place, and so we find him 
today President of the South Alabama 
Conference. Brother Houtz is a willing 
worker, humble, steadfast, and true. In 
a recent letter he said, "My only desire 
has been, and is now, to do my whole 
duty; that I may be a credit to my par- 
ents, and an honor to the cause I repre- 
sent; that when I may leave the Mission 
field, it can be said, 'He did his duty.' " 



382 



THE SOUTHERN STAR. 



OPENING ADDRESS OF THE CONFERENCE. 



President Lorenzo Snow at the Sev- 
enty-first semi-annual Conference of the 
Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day 
Saints, in the Tabernacle, Salt Lake City, 
October 5, 1900, said: 

Brethren and Sisters : — I feel to rejoice 
greatly for this opportunity of meeting 
with you this morning and to deliberate 
upon all such things and talk about them, 
as may pertain to our present condition 
and secure our future prospects. When 
this Gospel — these principles which we 
have espoused, came to our ears in the 
different countries and nations where they 
found us, of course they opened up to us 
certain prospects — prospects that relate 
to the present time, and to present time 
matters, of the highest consequence in re- 
lation to our temporal salvation ; and 
again, prospects in reference to the fu- 
ture ; what should be the outcome of keep- 
ing the commandments of God ; what 
should follow ; what should be the results 
when we have accomplished these things 
that are required of us; what would be 
the results in the next life? 

Now, so far as regards our temporal 
advantages and our temporal prospects, 
they certainly must be far superior to any 
that were before us before this Gospel 
reached us; before the offer of salvation 
saluted our ears. In the days of Noah 
the Gospel which we have espoused was 
proclaimed to the people of his genera- 
tion, and the same prospects as are pre- 
sented to us were presented to them, tem- 
poral advantages, temporal salvation, and 
spiritual exaltation and glory; and the 
circumstances were of that character that 
every person that listened to the voice of 
Noah could receive clear manifestations, 
satisfactory knowledge, that what he said 
came from the Almighty — came from the 
Lord. Now, when we received these prin- 
ciples it was clear to us, I presume, that 
we received, actually received, assurances, 
the most perfect assurances, that what 
was said to us, was actually of the Lord, 
that the parties that brought us these 
principles were actually inspired from the 
Most High, the nature and character of 
the work that each one would necessarily 
have to perform, the circumstances that 
would surround us and the trials and 
temptations to which they had to be ex- 
posed, would require a perfect under- 
standing, not through the teachings of 
these individuals that proclaim to them 
these principles, but actual manifestations 
and assurances that should come from the 
Lord, either by extraordinary faith or by 
a perfect reception, physical and spiritual, 
of the Holy Spirit, a baptism of the Holy 
Ghost, as was promised in former days to 
those that should receive the Gospel. 

WltneM* of the Truth TVecenaary. 

And I dare say that the people that are 
before nie this morning have learned 
that it was an absolute necessity to have 
a perfect understanding, a perfect knowl- 
edge, and that it should come from the 
Lord, that what they had received and 
what they had sacrificed foi* — it was nec- 
essary. I say, to have a perfect under- 
standing, and an understanding that 
could only come directly from the Lord. 
It would not be satisfactory simply to 
turn over the leaves of the New Testa- 
ment and to see that these principles 
were in accordance with those preached 
by the Apostles of old, but to have this 
knowledge come direct to themselves 
from the Lord. Now, I say this in order 
that if there are any here, any person, 
any Latter-day Saints, who have not ad- 
vanced to this knowledge and can see 



and understand clearly that they have 
espoused the principles of salvation and 
exaltation and glory, and that directly 
from the Lord, it is time they were about 
it— about receiving this information. 

Trial and Sacrifice Essential to Per- 
fection. 

We are not through with our labors 
yet, although we have got through a 
great many of them that have been con- 
siderable of a trial to us, and tempta- 
tions, perhaps, have been to some of us 
of a nature that almost amounted to a 
disposition to turn away from the prin- 
ciples that we had received. The trials, 
the temptations, have been very great 
to many of our people, and more or less, 
perhaps, to all of us. It seems to me the 
nature of the gospel of life. The Lord 
seems to require some proof on our part, 
something to show that He can depend 
upon us when He wants us to accom- 
plish certain things in His interest. The 
reason is that the condition in which we 
will be placed in the future, as time 
passes along, as eternity approaches, and 
as we move forward in eternity and 
along the line of our existence, we shall 
be placed in certain conditions that re- 
quire very great sacrifice in the interests 
ot humanity, in the interests of the Spirit 
of God, in the interest of His children 
and our own children, in the generations 
to come, in eternity. Jesus Christ, the 
Son of God, was once placed in a condi- 
tion that it required the highest effort in 
order to accomplish what was necessary 
for the salvation of millions of the chil- 
dren of God. It required the highest ef- 
fort and determination that had to be 
exercised before the Son of God could 
pass through the ordeal, the sacrifice that 
was necessary. 

I believe that His Father had educated 
Him, had passed Him through scenes 
that were of a very serious character, of 
great trials, and lie knew just what Ho 
could depend upon from the facts that 
were illustrated and shown by His expe- 
rience. We place men here from time 
to time in positions of Presidents of 
Stakes, as Bishops of Wards. We are 
called upon sometimes to take into con- 
sideration whom we will place in this 
Stake or that Stake of Zion to preside 
over us. Perhaps there are 14,000 mem- 
bers, Latter-day Saints, in that Stake, 
or there may be 15,000 or 20.000, and the 
prosperity of the people of that Stake, 
to a certain extent, anyway, depends 
upon the qualification of that President. 
How Renponnible Poftltlonn are Filled 

Well, now, how can we determine in 
order to make the proper selection? How 
are we to determine so as to make a wise 
selection, in placing the responsibilities 
upon a man that we propose to take this 
position? The people of the Stake are 
greatly concerned; they want a good 
man; they want a wise man; they want 
a man that by night and by day will 
think how he can best improve them, 
make them happy, place them in circum- 
stances that will be agreeable and ad- 
vance them. We look around to find a 
man that we feel has a thorough inter- 
est in the people and who is a wise and 
a good man, and it is well that we should. 
That is our business — to look after the 
interest of the Saints, and to place such 
men before them to look after their in- 
terests as will be faithful in their calling 
and will be unselfish, and will not spend 
their time in any other direction than 
that which pertains to the general ad- 



vancement of those they are appointed 
to look after. Well, is it possible that 
we sometimes make a mistake and get 
the wrong man? Is it possible? Well, 
you perhaps should be the judges. But 
I can tell you one thing surely, that we 
use our best efforts to find the proper 
man. How do we do it? Well, we send 
somewhere about 1,800 missionaries to 
the nations of the earth. We keep about 
that number of missionaries in the dif- 
ferent nations. We appoint men here 
at home, we place responsibilities upon 
them, large responsibilities. We look 
over the history of these men. Perhaps 
this man was a Bishop. Well, how did 
he act and perform his duties as a Bish- 
op? Did he devote himself to the inter- 
ests of the people of his Ward, or was he 
trying to make himself wealthy? Was 
his mind devoted to saving what he could 
for himself and in enhancing his own in- 
uividual interests and that of his wife 
anu children, and neglecting the inter- 
ests of the people of his Ward? How is 
it?' Well, we inquire around. We get 
the history of the mau, his past experi- 
ences. He has had several calls here and 
there. Did he answer those calls? Was 
he called as a missionary to leave his 
wife and his children and go to the na- 
tions to be gone two years or three years 
or four years, as the case may be? And 
did he go or did he say: **Oh, no; I 
would like to go very well, but my cir- 
cumstances are not quite so pleasing or 
advantageous as they ought to be under 
such circumstances in order that I might 
go; I cannot go and leave my family very 
well?" 

Did he make these excuses, and how 
has he been all along the path of his 
life for the past few years or for many 
years, as the case might be? We judge 
the man not always by his looks or ap- 
pearances; not always by hearing him 
preach a sermon; but we judge him by 
what he has done or failed to do in th»? 
past. That is just the way the Lord 
intends to do with you or me exactly. 
We will be judged according to what we 
have done or what we have failed to have 
done all along the line of our experiences. 
When Jesus was placed in a condition 
where acting in propriety or otherwise 
confronted Him; when He saw before 
Him the cross and the immediate pros- 
pects of being placed ui>on it and of His 
undergoing those excruciating tortures 
that lie had seen others experiencing, 
then His nature failed as it were and 
He said: "Father, if it is possible that 
this experience or this cup pass from me, 
let it pass." 

That is the way He told the Lord. But 
notwithstanding, He said: "If this can- 
not be done, Thy will be done, and not 
Mine." So He was placed upon the 
cross and suffered that excruciating tor- 
ture. Supposing that He had failed, the 
nations of the earth, and the people of 
the Lord, His sons and daughters, would 
have failed to be put into that position 
of having the opportunity that you and 
I have today. They would have failed 
for a long time, to sap the least. Of 
course, the provisions would have been 
made and the work of the Almighty 
would have been proceeded with, but 
there would have been a halt there. But 
the Lord knew just what He could de- 
pend upon, and therefore He selected 
that Son of His, our Savior, Jesus 
Christ, and He has wrought out that 
great work of redemption for the human 
family, the living and the dead. 

What the Gospel Han Done for Us. 

Now, brethren and sisters, what have 
these principles we have espoused done 



THB SOUTHERN STAR. 



383 



for us? Are you satisfied? I am, per- 
fectly and fully satisfied. I have gone 
through a great many things that were 
very unpleasant, far from being agreea- 
ble all along the line, and I do not know- 
how mueh further or what else will Ik* 
required of me of this character; but I 
am satisfied with what the Lord has 
done for me and what 1 expect He will 
do in regard to my temporal affairs, tem- 
poral salvation, and also in regard to the 
future. 

My hopes in reference to the future 
life are supremely grand and glorious, 
and I try to keep these prospects bright 
continually; and that is the privilege 
and the duty of every Latter-day Saint. 
I suppose I am talking now to some Lat- 
ter-day Saints that have been sorely 
tried, and they have thought sometimes, 
perhaps, like the Savior felt, that He had 
no friends; that His friends had all gone; 
and everything was going wrong, and 
everything was disagreeable, and his 
circumstances were continuing to get 
worse and worse, and those that he de- 
pended upon for assistance failed per- 
haps to render the assistance expected, 
and all that sort of thing. Likewise 
everything sometimes becomes dark to 
us and we almost forget the relationship 
that we stand iu to the Lord, and begin 
to feel as though it was not what we ex- 
pected. 

I wonder if there are not a few here 
within the sound of my voice that have 
feelings of this kind, like old Job had, 
for instance. A poor man who wondered 
why his children were taken from him: 
why his herds were destroyed and why 
his houses, his dwelling, went up in 
flames, and why he was left without any- 
thing. He formerly was a very wealthy 
man, left without anything. Well, Lis 
friends came about him. They were sup- 
imsod to be friends. They were friends 
formerly. They came about him an] 
wanted to show him that these evils came 
upon him because he had failed to do his 
duty in the past; because he had commit- 
ted some sin. That was the kind of ideas 
that they had that they communicated to 
him. But there was nothing of the kind. 
It was not so. They were vastly mis- 
taken. The I/ord has a certain position 
iu which He sought to place Job in the 
future. At some futre time, when years 
and years had rolled away, perhaps, and 
He wanted to try him. He wanted to 
educate him so that he would not com- 
plain, no matter how illy he thought him- 
self treated by the Lord. That was a 
glorious trial of Job's. It has come down 
in history; his experiences and his trials, 
and it has been a wonderful consolation 
to the people of the Lord to read the his- 
tory of his experiences and his trials 
and how well he passed through them. 
GlorlouH Future ProMpectn. 

The religion that we have received, 
the principles of exaltation and glory 
that you and I have received, bring upon 
us persecution, or else they are not those 
principles that we thought they were. 
They bring upon us trouble upon the 
right hand and upon the left, but we 
should seek to be calm and cool as Job 
learned to be calm and cool under cir- 
cumstances of the most unhappy charac- 
ter. We should learn to do this and 
there are things that are provided for us 
by which we can learn this. Think of 
how much worse you and I might be, 
and then think of what superior bless- 
ings we actually possess. We know that 
in the future, after we have passed 
through this life, we will know this. We 
will then have our wives and our chil- 
dren with us. We will have our bodies 



glorified, made free from every sickness 
and distress, and rendered most beauti- 
ful. There is nothing more beautiful to 
look upon than a resurrected, man or 
woman. There is nothing grander that 
* can imagine that a man can possess 
than a resurrected body. There 
is no Latter-day Saint within the sound 
of my voice but that certainly has this 
prospect, of coming forth in the morning 
of the first resurrection and being glori- 
fied, exalted in the presence of God, hav- 
ing the privilege of talkiug with our 
Father as we talk with our earthly 
fa ther. 

WJiat a glorious thing! We* 11 know no 
prison walls, your friends turning away 
from you, your being dispossessed of 
your property, being driven from your 
home, being ca«t iuto prison, being de- 
famed. These things do not hurt you one 
tMrticle. The- do not destroy your pros- 
pects, which are still glorious before you. 
And then we should understand that the 
Lord has provided, when the days of 
trouble como upon nations, a place for 
you and me, and we will be preserved as 
Noah was preserved, not in an ark, but 
we will be preserved by going into those 
principles of union by which we can ac- 
complish the work of the Lord and sur- 
round ourselves with those things that 
will preserve us from the difficulties that 
are now coming upon the world, the 
judgments of the Lord. We can see, as 
we read in the newspapers, we can see 
that they are coming upon the nations 
of the ungodly: and they would have 
been upon us if we had stayed among 
the nations, if the Lord had not inclined 
our ears and brought salvation to us, 
we would have beeu as they are and 
will be. 

Well, now, brethren and sisters, I feel 
to say God bless you. Here are my 
counselors. We are one. We are unite*!. 
We do not quarrel with each other. We 
speak well of one another because we 
ought to do it, and we think we are wor- 
thy of being well spoken of by each 
other. And here we have twelve men 
sitting in front of me— twelve Apostles. 
There are many of these that you know. 
You know them from hearing what they 
have accomplished. You have a per- 
sonal acquaintance with some of us. 
Now, they are with us heart and soul. 
We are united together. We do not 
quarrel with each other. We do not 
slander each other, but we go where 
council requires and we are heart and 
soul together. What for? Not to make 
ourselves rich, not to make ourselves 
wealthy, but to see what w r e can accom- 
plish in the interests of the people, and 
we are laboring continually to see what 
we can do. We come together every 
week and we talk about what we can do 
for the people. What can we do for 
these forty-two or forty-three Stakes of 
>jion? Are some of the Presiding Elders, 
some of the Presidents of these Stakes, 
getting too old to administer to the peo- 
ple? Are some of them neglecting their 
interests? We talk these things over. 
We study and consider them. We try 
to ascertain what they are doing and 
what their feelings are and how they 
manifest themselves in the presence of 
the people. Are they working for them- 
selves? Are they trying to see how 
much money they can get into this bank 
or the other, or are they engaged heart 
and soul in doing what should be done 
in their respective responsibilities? Well, 
we are not idle in these things. 

You will have some speakers hero 
during this Conference, you will proba- 
bly have in the neighborhood of twenty 
speeches here. When the brethren arise 



to speak you ask the Lord to let them 
say something that you want to know, 
that they may suggest something to you 
that will be of some advantage to you. 
If Jou have any desire to know certain 
matters that you do not understand, 
pray that these brethren in their talks 
may say somethiug that shall enlighten 
your mind in reference to that which 
trouble* you, and we will have a grand 
and glorious Conference, a better one 
than we have ever had l>efore. Strange 
as it may appear, our last Conference al- 
ways seems the best, and may this be 
the case: and you, brethren and sisters, 
let your hearts raise up to the Lord and 
exercise faith while our brethren are 
talking to you. We will not be disap- 
pointed and you will not go home, you 
will not retire from this Conference 
without feeling that you have been 
greatly and abundantly blessed. Amen. 

New Company of Elders. 

John P. Greene, South Carolina Con- 
ference. 

John A. Richey, Mississippi Confer- 
ence. 

Joseph Johnson, Kentuckv Conference. 

Franklin Crow, North Kentucky Con- 
ference. 

W m. I'arkinson, Virginia Conference. 

James P. Iverson Kentucky-Nashville, 
Tenu., Conference. 

II - rum Morrison, North Alabama Con- 
ference. 

Ed J. Smith. Kentucky Conference. 

Jefferson Boffin, Georgia Conference. 

Win. C. Woottou, South Alabama Con- 
ference. 

Oscar Geertsen, North Ohio Confer- 
ence. 

Ed 1j. Linford, Virginia Conference. 

George O. Hamblin, East Tennessee 
Conference. 

Preston D. Thomas, Mississippi Con- 
ference. 

George Q. Stephenson, North Ken- 
tucky Conference. 

Jesse H. LePcvre, Georgia Conference. 

Ed C. Bagley, North Ohio Conference. 

Crozier Kimball, East Kentucky Con- 
ference. 

Wilford McKendrick, South Alabama 
Conference. 

Warren D. Keed, East Kentucky Con- 
ference. ___________^_______ 

Releases and Appointments. 



RclenMen. 

Thomas M. Stevensen, Louisiana Con 
ference. 

G. M. Williams, North Carolina Con- 
ference. 

Joseph E. Caldwell, North Carolina 
Conference. \ 

J. W. Aiclntosh, North Carolina vxm- 
ference. 

E. B. Snow, Jr.. North Kentucky Con- 
ference. 

Trannfern. 

J. P. Poulsen, North Alabama Confer- 
ence to South Ohio Conference. 



THE DEAD. 

Brother S. B. Mormon, of Defeated, 
Smith county, Tenn., departed this life 
Oct. 12th, 1000. He was born July 0th, 
1#<>8, and was baptized August, 1000, by 
Elders Emery Barrus and John Kingdon, 
and lived a faithful Latter-day Saint up 
to his death. He bore a faithful testi- 
mony to the truthfulness of the Gospel 
while lying upon his deathbed. He 
leaves a mother and brother and several 
sisters to mourn his loss. 



Little Alice Jones, the infant girl of 
L. T. and Quilla Jones, departed this life 
Oct. 7th, 1000. She was born May 2d, 
1800, and was the only child of loving 
parents. Earth hath no sorrow which 
heaven cannot heal. 



384 



THE SOUTHERN STAR. 



REPORT OF MISSION CONFERENCES FOR WEEK ENDING OCT, 6, 1900. , 



mm ma*? 



Geo. A, Ailmm +T ..„„. 
Hulwr 8. Ul§on„ .„„.,. 

J. U, Bolton 

J. Spejicur Wuralpy.*. 

W, D, Hunriier. 

A.CSlrdng...,,.,.,,..... 
•Tohn EL KankhtHuL.. 
John Koii¥e-i,«.«.**M. 

J. M. Haw* . „ 

V. U. Hurophcrys 

G. M + Porter „,„..„„„ 

W. wMtaoKay 

K. 11, Critch field „ 

K. J.. HoiiU ,.„. 

l>t)il C. BOPIOD 

L. M. Nebeker 

H. /. Lund ».. 



CON Ft HE SO K 



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Virgin! a...... ...„„, 

Kentucky,, 

)£iutT*niHMeeti„, 
Georgia **.„„„„.. 
North Alabama, 

Florida „„.. 

MM. Tennessee .. 
North Carolina.. 
Soutli * ii ottna „ 

MirWAsippi 

East Kentucky 
LooMpb* _.*.*.. 
&mtu Alabama.. 
North Kcntni'kv 
youth Ohio.,... 
Vn'Hifilim,,... 




A JOYOUS GATHERING. 

Logan Journal. 

It was such a reunion as Logan has 
seldom witnessed, no loud demonstration 
or ostentatious display marked its be- 
ginning, only the quiet assembling of a 
little band which had stood together for 
the right in a far off clime; but no meet- 
ing of old comrades in arms was ever 
marked by more genuine brotherly feel- 
ing, or keener joy to its participants than 
this one. 

When the train pulled in on Saturday 
bearing the visiting contingent there 
were scenes, pathetic and inspiring. 
Young fellows who had tramped togeth- 
er the roads of Tennessee, who had suf- 
fered and triumphed together for the 
truth's sake, and who had not seen each 
other since leaving the missionary field, 
jumped into one another's embrace, and 
danced away to their carriages, while 
others stood with clasped hands, their 
hearts too full for utterance. 

The Logan contingent was on hand to 
receive the visitors and on Saturday the 
afternoon was spent in visiting the col- 
leges and other points of interest. In the 
evening a ball was given in the Palace 
Hall, and all those present thoroughly 
enjoyed themselves. 

On Sunday morning, or rather just at 
noon, a meeting was held at which the 
following officers of the organization 
were elected: 

President— J. S. Sears, of Salt Lake 
City. 

Vice President— Ralph T. Mitchell, 
of Logan. 

Secretary and Treasurer— Samuel B. 
Thatcher, of Franklin. 

It was decided to hold the next re- 
union in Salt Lake City next October. 

In the afternoon the time at the Tnb- 
crnaclo was turned over to the young El- 
ders. An' account of the services ap- 
pears elsewhere. 

In the evening a meeting was held in 
the Fourth Ward meeting house, which 
was entirely too small to accommodate 
the throng "which assembled there. The 
following programme was carried out: 

Address— Elder H. L. Bair. 

Solo— M. .T. Ballard. 

Address— C. A. Merkley. 

Recitation— Miss Nellie Hayball. 

address— Elder A. H. Young. 

Song— Miss Nora Eliason. 

Address— Elder Soren Peterson. 

Song— Miss Minnie Petersen. 

Address— Elder II. E. Shrives. 

Addrcls— Apostle A. O. Woodruff. 

The visiting members of the society 

J. R. Ilalliday and wife, of Pleasant 
Grove. . _, , 

W. E. Robinson, of American Fork. 

George A. Smith and wife, of Salt 
Lake. 

Nathan Tanner, of Ogden. 

H. L. Bair, of Richmond. 

r l nomas W. Sloan, of Salt Lake. 

John P. Janes, of Paradise. 

A. H. Young, of Perry. Utah. 

J. S. Sears, of Salt Lake. 

H. E. Shrives, of Franklin. 



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Memphis Hoi L5A_„... M .. M . 

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A!Mi Betts St., Cincinnati „. 
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Virginia 
K unlucky 
N. Carotin* 
Georgia 
TunnvMoe 

(i.'tjT'K-irt 

Tennwuw 
N. Carolina 
4. Carolina 

Kentucky 

Louisiana 
Alabama 
Kentucky 
Ohio 



S. B. Thatcher, of Franklin. 

Joseph B. Woodward, of Wellsville. 

O. A. Merkley and wife, of Fairview, 
Wyo. 

A. R. Cutler, of Preston. 

James Roskelly, of Smithfield. 

T. H. Smith, of Paradise. 

The Logan members of the Reunion 
Society are: R. T. Mitchell, Soren Pe- 
terson, Elias Kimball, Ariel Cardon, J. 
E. Everton, E. R. Needham. 
At the Tabernacle. 

Services at the Tabernacle on Sunday 
were held under the auspices of the 
Union of the returned Elders of the 
East Tennessee Conference. 

Elder Ralph Mitchell presided, and 
about him were grouped a dozen or more 
of the visiting Elders, forming as fine 
looking a group of young men as one 
often sees. 

In opening the services the congrega- 
tion sang the hymn, "Praise to the man 
who communed with Jehovah." Elder H. 
L. Bair, of Coveville, offered prayer. A 
selection by the choir followed, and then 
Elder Ralph Mitchell introduced as the 
first speaker 

Elder W. E. Robinson, 
of American Fork. He told of the great 
joy experienced by Elders in meeting 
once more after having been separated 
for a period of time. "While President 
of the Eastern Tennessee Mission," said 
the speaker, "I had for a companion 
Elder S. B. Thatcher. I learned to love 
him, and no one but those who have been 
on missions can compare the great joy 
that swelled up in my heart and in his 
when we met once more." Elder Rob- 
inson then told in interesting detail of 
his call to and labors in the missionary 
field: relating incidents of the providence 
of God as manifested in behalf of the 
Elders in the mission field. 

Elder John R. Halllday, 
of Pleasant Grove, spoke next. He, too. 
expressed his pleasure at being able to 
greet his old missionary comrades. 

The speaker dwelt at some length upon 
the objects of the missionary reunion. 
"We do not gather particularly to in- 
struct the Latter-day Saints," said he, 
"but we hope by our example to im- 
press some idea of the greatness of the 
Gospel upon the minds of the young. 

"Missionary work is a wonderful fac- 
tor in the development of God's people. 
Every year we send out nearly one thou- 
sand missionaries, and of course as many 
return each year. These men have 
rubbed up against the many opinions of 
the world, and as a result a crystaliza- 
tion of all the ideas of the world will be 
found in Utah. This is not alone helpful 
to the individuals themselves, but also 
to the community at large." 

Elder Nathan Tanner, 
of Ogden, was the third speaker. He 
bore a strong testimony to the divinity of 
the Gospel and voiced his pleasure at be- 
ing present at the reunion. 

Elder Thoma* IV. Sloan. 
of Salt Lake City, spoke next. He said: 
"There is great satisfaction in address- 
ing a congregation of Latter-day Saints, 



for no matter how strange to each other 
we may be, the Spirit of God which the 
baints enjoy soon makes us friends. The 
world greatly misunderstands the Mor- 
mon missionary, and this fact makes it 
hard for some of the Elders to pursue 
their calling, but nevertheless I can say 
that the happiest moments of my life 
were those spent in spreading the Gospel 
in Tennessee." The speaker urged all 
young men to prepare for and strive to 
obtain a call to the missionary field, for 
there you will find the supreme joy of 
your life. 

Elder Elias S. Kimball 
followed Elder Sloan. He said: "A man 
does not know the real joy of life until 
he has been out in the world seeking the 
souls of men. There is no joy that com- 
pares with it, and although, like other 
men, I love riches and the luxuries of 
life, down in my heart there is the 
knowledge that the greatest pleasure and 
satisfaction is found in laboring in the 
interest of God's work. Seek the Spirit 
of God, for it is more valuable than any 
worldly gift you can obtain. God' is 
blessing us wonderfully, and from now 
on, if faithful, the Saints will make 
great strides in the knowledge that will 
not perish." 

The speaker urged his hearers to re- 
pent and seek to walk always in the 
light of God's Spirit. 

Elder John S. Sears 
was the next speaker. He but recently 
returned from the missionary field. He 
corroborated the statements of those 
who preceded him, relative to the joy 
found in promulgating the Gospel. T 
traveled over 5,000 miles in the East 
Tennessee Conference and I was not 
compelled to go hungry or to want for a 
bed, and I can bear my testimony that 
God does bless and provide for those 
who put their trust in Him. 

The missionary is called upon to make 
great sacrifices, but none realize so well 
that sacrifice brings forth the choicest 
blessings of heaven as the missionary- 
Some of the Saints misjudge the re- 
turned Elders. The one who is gifted 
in oratory and is profuse of speech *s 
apt to be credited with having performed 
an excellent mission, while his humbler 
and less gifted brother is looked upon 
as having done less good in the field. 
This is a mistake, as the unlettered, 
humble servant of God is frequently the 
best laborer in His vineyard. 

The choir then sang and Elder Merk- 
ley pronounced the benediction. 

Then take your fortune as it cornea, 
Whatever God may give, 

And through the day 

Your heart will snv, 
'Tis luck enough to live. 



Liberality consists in giving to those 
who stand in need. 



Lavish not your gifts upon those who 
are overloaded. 



Be kind without partiality; amiable 
without hypocrisy. 




"BUT THOUGH WE Oft AN AN6EL FROM MEAVEN, PREACH ANY 
fiTMEB GOSPEL UNTO YOU THAN THAT WHICH WE 

HAVE FBEACHED UNTO YOU, LET HIM BE ACCURSE.&,'S<f./Pi?<;>r .' 

— — — ■ — *#<ysAi — =— 



Lgt - 



Vol.52. 



Chattanooga, Trans., Saturday, November 8, 1900. 



No. 49. 



Sketch 7 of*the Life of Apostle Charles C. Rich. 



Among the great and good men of this 
dispensation is the subject of our sketch, 
Charles Coulson Rich. He was the son 
of Joseph Rich and Nancy O. Neal, and 
was born in Campbell county, Kentucky, 
Aug. 21st, 1800. His parents were of 
the substantial class of people who are 
always the backbone and sinew of every 
country and community. They weiv in- 
dustrious and possessed the traits of 
hospitality and kind heartedne^s so pro- 
verbial in the South. Charles C. im- 
bibed these characteristics in his early 
youth, and maintained them with uni- 
formity throughout life. While not pos- 
sessed of the tendency to piotli religious 
profession that so many in these clays 
manifest, he exhibited a consistent prni" 
tical view of religious matters, which 
protected him against the fanatical steal 
of many by whom he was surrounded. 
When the restoration of the Gospel iij 
these last days was made 
known to him he received 
the impressions of its 
truth, and with an hon- 
est, earnest heart em- 
braced the same without 
delay. He was baptized 
April 1st, 1832, by Elder 
Ira M. Hinkley in Taze- 
well county, Illinois. He 
soon started to Kirtland 
to see the Prophet Joseph 
Smith. While on his way 
he was ordained an Elder 
by Zebedee Coltrin in 
Fountain county, Indiana. 
He honored his calling as 
an Elder by laboring 
faithfully in this office at 
home and abroad until in 
1836 he was ordained a 
High Priest by the Patri- 
arch Hyrum Smith. He 
also received his endow- 
ments in the Kirtland Temple, participat- 
ing in the blessings of that holy Temple. 
With his father he removed to Far West, 
Mo., and was soon involved in the trials 
and tribulations which came upon the 
Saints through mob violence. He received 
in marriage Sarah D. Pea Feb. 11th, 1837, 
near Caldwell county, Missouri, who 
shared with him all the persecutions of 



BY APOSTLE MATHIAS F. COWLEY. 

those days, was exiled with him from 
place to place, bore to him noble sons 
and daughters, and survived her husband 
several years. Her son, Benjamin E. 
Rich, now presides over all the Confer- 
ences of the Southern States Mission, 




APOSTLE CHARLES C. RICH. 

the land that gave his father birth, and 
afforded to the Church of Christ one of 
her Twelve Apostles. It is but a fitting 
coincident that Charles C. Rich should 
be represented in the Southern States by 
one who presides over the interests of 
the Church in that land. Though the 
truth today is submerged in the muddy 
stream of prejudice, founded on false re- 



port, and which shuts the door of inves- 
tigation, the day will come when the sons 
of the South will rejoice in having pro- 
duced such men as Charles C. Rich, 
Abraham O. Smoot and others of similar 
mould, who had the courage of their con- 
vietiojjH and embraced the Gospel as re- 
realed from Heaven to the Prophet Jo- 
seph Smith. Elder Rich, with undaunted 
VAlor* took a most active part in defend- 
ing the Saints against mob violence. 
While carrying a flag of truce he was 
shot at by Samuel Bogart, a Methodist 
im'su'litT. only about thirty feet distant. 
At the battle of Crooked River, when 
Apostle David W. Patten was fatally 
vv.nuiih'tl by the mob, Brother Rich laid 
jown his sword while the battle was 
r;i l?m K mid administered the ordinance of 
heiilirm to the dying martyr. He then 
resumed his weapon of warfare, took 
eoiiinunul, and the battle was won by 
the Saints. On account 
of the prominent part he 
took in these troubles, 
and because justice for 
Latter-day Saints was not 
found in the courts of 
Missouri, Brother Rich 
was compelled to flee for 
his life to the State of Il- 
linois. After the found- 
ing of Nauvoo and the 
more complete organiza- 
tion to meet the growing 
needs of the Church, he 
was ordained a member 
of the High Council in 
Nauvoo, and also became 
a member of the City 
Council. He filled both 
places with becoming dig- 
nity and ability. 

At the exodus of the 
Saints Brother Rich left 
Nauvoo Feb. 13, 1846. The 
following winter he presided over Mt. 
Pisgah Branch, and left there for 
Winter Quarters March 20th, 1847. 
From this point he took charge 
of a company of Saints and com- 
menced the journey to Salt Lake 
Valley June 14th, 1847. He was a good 
pioneer, and a source of encouragement 
to the Saints in their pilgrimage across 
the plains. He reached Salt Lake Valley 



\ 



386 



THE SOUTHERN STAB. 



Oct. 3d, 1847. While the Twelve were 
absent on their return to Winter Quar- 
ters brother Rich acted as Counselor to 
Father John Smith, the Patriarch who 
presided over the new colony. , On Feb. 
12th, 1849, Elder Rich was ordained one 
of the Twelve Apostles. .He was con- 
stantly faithful in building .up the inter- 
ests of the^jfcowiug city of Salt Lake, 
and in his ministry. Oct. 9th, 1849, he 
started on a mission to California, re- 
turning Nov. 4th, 1850. March 6th, 1851, 
he started again for California, accom- 
panied by a portion of hte family. The 
purpose of the mission was to purchase 
land for the location of the Saints who 
might be gathered from the Pacific 
Islands. 

Amasa M. Lyman and himself pur- 
chased a large tract of land at San 
Bernardino, comprising about 100,000 
acres of land, at a cost of $77,500. The 
company of Saints from Utah moved to 
this large ranch and began the settlement 
of a section, which is now among the 
choicest spots in California. When the 
Buchanan war was inaugurated the 
tract at San Bernardino was sold and 
the Saints returned to Utah. Brother 
Rich left California in April, 1857, ar- 
riving in Salt Lake City the following 
June. He was associated with Gen. 
Daniel H. Wells at Echo Canyon and 
Fort Bridger. impeding the progress of 
the army until President Buchanan 
should send a committee to investigate 
the situation in Utah. It is a notorious 
fact that the sending of the army to 
Utah was actuated by the scurrilous 
falsehoods of Judge Drummond. who 
said the Mormons were in rebellion and 
had burnt the court records. This was 
a base falsehood in every particular. The 
counsel and assistance of Apostle Rich 
in those trying times was of paramount 
importance. He was wise and courage- 
ous. He had learned in Missouri the les- 
son of facing mob armies on the battle 
field and was well prepared for any emer- 
gency that might arise in later times. 

After the trouble subsided and the 
building of homes and settlements re- 
sumed with vigor, Elder Rich, in 18(50, 
was called on a mission to England. 
Upon his arrival there he was associated 
with Elder Amasa M. Lyman in the 
Presidency of the European Mission. 
He returned home in 1862, resuming 
his faithful labors among the Saints. In 
the fall of 1863 he explored Bear Lake 
Yallev, removing his family there in the 
spring of 18<>4. He was the leader of 
the pioneers in that valley, which today 
is one of the most beautiful and prosper- 
ous valleys in the West. The climate is 
cold and rigid. The snow falls deep in 
the valley, and much more so in the 
mountains adjoining. In those early 
times, long before the advent of the rail- 
road, the only way of receiving and send- 
ing mails was to cross the mountaius on 
snow shoes. This was a hazardous un- 
dertaking when the storms of winter 
were beating viciously upon the snow- 
clad mountains. When others shrank 
from this task, Apostle Rich would set 
out. His physical endurance was won- 
derful, so great that he scarcely knew 
its limit. He made such trips many 
times, and being for several years a mem- 
ber of the Territorial Legislature, he 
would go to and from its sessions across 
the mountains on snow shoes. Bear Lake 
Vallev was then in Utah, now in Southern 
Idaho. Rich county, in Northeastern 
Utah, was named in honor of Brother 
Chas C. Rich. Elder Rich was a natural 
pioneer. Much of his time was spent on 
the frontier. He continued his labors in 
the Anostleship. chiefly among the Saints 



during the latter years of his life, and 
in every position was capable and faith- 
ful. He was stricken with paralysis 
Oct. 24th, 1880, and suffered very much 
for three years. He died at his home in 
Paris, Bear Lake county, Idaho, Nov. 
17th, 1883. During these years of af- 
fliction he never murmured, but cheer- 
fully resigned himself to the trying situ- 
ation, acknowledged the "Hand of the 
Lord in all things." Apostle Rich was 
a humble, unassuming man. He was 
not given to many words in public or 
private, but what he did say was full of 
good counsel and wisdom. His example 
was his best sermon, and that was 
preached every hour. He was' a man of 
great moral and physical courage. He 
had the courage of his convictions, not 
merely the courage to face the foe in 
sanguinary conflict upon the battle field, 
but the higher courage to act upon the 
right, against the popular sentiment of 
a frowning world.. Under the strains of 
martial music, many a man will face 
death in the conflict of war who would 
shrink from the sentiments of the world 
around him. The man who is truly 
brave is he who dares to do what is right 
against the power of might. Such a 
man was Apostle Charles C. Rich. He 
dared to embrace uupopular truth and 
declare it to all the world. He had the 
courage to dress plain, to patronize home 
industry, to speak and act for the weak 
and unprotected. He was noble, gener- 
ous and brave, qualities which are want- 
ing in most men of this favor-catering 
sycophantic age. These great qualities 
of heart and brain he sought to impress 
by example upon all around him. 

Perhaps no man more than Brother 
Rich entertained and acted upon the sen- 
timents of freedom expressed by the poet: 

"Is true freedom but to break 

Fetters for our own dear sake. 

And with leathern hearts forget 

That we owe mankind a debt? 

No! True freedom is to share 

All the chains our brothers wear; 

And, with heart and haucl, to be 

Earnest to make others free! 

They are slaves who fear to speak 

For the fallen and the weak, 

They are slaves who will not choose 

Hatred, scoffing and abuse, 

Uather than in silence shrink 

From the truth they needs must think; 

Thev are slaves who dare not be 

In the rhzht with two or three. 

Apostle Rich believed in the words of 
Jesus and Paul: "If ye were the seed 
of Abraham, ye would do the works of 
Abraham," "and if ye be Christ's, then 
are ye Abraham's seed and heirs accord- 
ing to the promise." He was the father 
of a large family, and not only this no- 
ble, patriarchal family mourned the loss 
of a nobh? husband, father and friend, 
but all who knew him throughout the 
Stakes of Zioii. When the trump of God 
shall sound and the sleeping dust awake. 
Apostle Charles C. Rich will be of the 
first fruits of the resurrection. 



THE MISSION OF CHRIST. 



BY ELDER R. O. LARSEN. 
My thoughts often revert to the days 
and ministry of Christ. To his humble 
birth at Bethlehem, born as He was 
amidst the struggles of poverty as far as 
this world was concerned, but rich as to 
divine favor and approval. I remem- 
ber with admiration His quiet and un- 
obtrusive early days as they were spent 
in the little hamlet Nazareth in Galilee, 
surrounded by the grand and inspiring 
mountain scenery, sheltered by nature 



in peace and quietude, within view of 
the hills of Gilead, and the peaks of Her- 
mou and Lebanon. ■ 

Our admiration for our Savior's sim- 
plicity should be greatly augmented by 
the fact that in early youth He was al- 
ready conversant with the grandeur and 
magnitude of His own mission; with 
His origin and with His destiny. Note 
how His tender years were watched by 
the two powers, the power of God and 
the power of Lucifer, and how the evil 
one employed his agents that he might 
accomplish the destruction of the infant 
King before His earthly mission had 
scarce begun: but by the power of God 
manifested in dreams, through the in- 
fluence of the Divine Spirit, the path of 
safety was shown to those who were now 
Christ's earthly guardians. Thus by the 
flight into Egypt was fulfilled the words 
of the Lord by His Prophet, "Out of 
Egvpt bave I called my Son." (Hosea 
11:1.) 

Thus the Lord always adopts measures 
whereby He may accomplish His 
purposes, irrespective of the desires 
and plans of the evil one to 
frustrate them. \> hen in the course of 
time Herod died, the angel of the Lord 
appeared unto Joseph and bade him take 
the young child and its mother, and 
again return to their native land, wit- 
ness with what care Joseph avoided go- 
ing where prejudice toward the Son of 
God might still exist; therefore they 
wended their steps toward Galilee and to 
the city of Nazareth, that it might be 
fulfilled which was spoken by the Proph- 
ets, He shall be called a Nazarene. 

Thus when prophetic words are uttered 
under the inspiration of God they will 
and must eventually come to pass; they 
come from a source which knows no fail- 
ure, but where power and love ever 
abound. The early life and childhood of 
the Savior was being guided by the pow- 
er of the Almighty. He was being pre- 
pared for the future great and eventful 
life which awaited Him. Behold Him 
at the tender age of 12, discussing with 
and confounding and astonishing the 
wise and the learned. The power of 
Heaven, the mantle of His calling, rested 
upon Him. Through the light of proph- 
ecy and inspiration was opened up to 
Him. the channels and avenues of wis- 
dom and knowledge. How grand it 
would be if we, too, who pretend to be 
His followers, would drink of that knowl- 
edge which today flows from that same 
eternal fountain. The opportunity is 
ours if we but will. Christ came, He 
lived, and He died. And for what pur- 
pose? If we consider for a moment the 
labors of Christ and those whom He 
called to assist Him, and upon whom the 
work after His departure devolved, it will 
at once become apparent what the pur- 
pose of Christ's mission was. Christ 
came to make salvation possible and to 
offer its laws and conditions to mankind. 
He gave His time in life to His Father's 
purposes. His love and His greatness of 
soul did always predominate in His 
every day action. 

What, then, were those laws of salva- 
tion as established and offered by the 
Savior? The efforts of His life's work 
is before us, recorded in Holy Writ. We 
are told that He gave Himself as a 
ransom for all. Yea, He gave Himself, 
His human body, as a sacrifice to satisfy 
the demands of justice. Paul says: For 
since by man came death, by man came 
also the resurrection of the dead. For as 
in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall 
all be made alive. (I Cor. 15:21, 22.) 

Christ through His love for us made 



THE SOUTHERN STAB. 



387 



future advancement possible. He re- 
deemed us from the grasp of sin and 
death. He did that for humanity which 
they could not do for themselves. He 
broke the chaiu of death, but beside that, 
did He not make requirements of us by 
obedience to which we may gain the full- 
est benefit .of His atonement? If not, 
why then His arduous labor as a teacher 
and preacher of doctrine for three and a 
half years among the Jews? We find 
Him on one occasion saying: If ye love 
me keep my commandments. (John 
14:15.) If there had been no require- 
ments, if there had been no command- 
ments, Christ would not have made such 
*a statement. His ministry was spent to 
a purpose. He preached what His 
i. ather sent Him to preach, and estab- 
lished laws which the children of men 
must obey if they would share the full 
joys made possible by His last and crown- 
ing work here on earth, How well the 
children of men have kept . those laws 
and availed themselves of their privilege 
is a subject which must of necessity 
question the individual to answer, be- 
cause by perusing the Scriptures we find 
that it was an individual work required. 
The Scriptures are replete with -accounts 
of the work of the Savior and those 
whom He called to assist Him in the 
ministry. The commission He gave His 
Apostles, Go ye into all the world and 
preach the Gospel to every creature. He 
that believetl\ and is baptized shall be 
saved; but lie that believeth not shall 
be damned, (Mark 16:15, 16), lies be- 
fore us and is worthy of our considera- 
tion. The words and admonitions of the 
Apostle Peter (Acts 2:38, 39) on the day 
of Pentecost to the assembled multitude, 
ought to prove the fact that it is an in- 
dividual work required of us as well as 
of those unto whom the Apostle was 
speaking. Thus Christ, through His au- 
thorized servants, made known to man- 
kind what tney were expected to comply 
with. We find the Apostle Paul later on 
delivering the same message, or rather 
referring to it as having been formerly 
delivered to the Hebrew Saints (Heb. 
6:i-2) as that preached by Peter on the 
day of Pentecost. Did Christ and His 
Apostles teach the people that they must 
have faith, repent, be baptized and re- 
ceive the Holy Ghost through the impo- 
sition of hands? If so, is that doctrine 
in its fullness taught by the preachers 
of today? If they do not, their condition 
and punishment is made very clear by 
the Apostle Paul when he says: But 
though we, or an angel from Heaven 
preach any other Gospel unto you than 
that which we have preached unto you 
let him be accursed. As we said before, 
so say I now again, if any man preach 
any other Gospel unto you than that ye 
have received let him be accursed. (Gal. 
1:8-9.) Was there any blessings promised 
to those who believed on the teaching of 
the Apostles and acted in accordance 
therewith? Read Mark 16:17-18, and 
there learn of the marvelous signs prom- 
ised by the Savior, to follow the believ- 
ers. Are these signs promised today, and 
do' they follow those who believe on the 
various preachers? If not, can a sub- 
stantial reason "be given why they should 
not? Let us not lull ourselves into 
happy dreamland with the idea that noth- 
ing is required of us, that Christ has 
done it all, for such is not the general 
tone of the record of His faithful min- 
istry. The organization which formerly 
existed is also made very plain to us by 
the Apostle Paul in his writings, both 
to the Corinthians and Kphesian Saints, 
and to the latter he emphasized the fact 



that these officers of which he spoke 
should remain in the Church, for the 
perfecting of the Saints, for the work of; 
t-e ministry, for the edifying of the body 
of Christ, till we all come in the unity 
of the faith, and of the knowledge of 
the Son of God, unto a perfect man, 
unto the measure of the stature of the 
fullness of Christ. (Eph. 4:12-13.) 

Is the religious world, or the various 
Churches of today, organized after that 
pattern, or do we find them greatly 
changed, so that they, in many cases, 
are reduced to lay members and a 
"preacher?" How can intelligent people 
consistently harmonize the two organiza- 
tions? Which of the two would it be, 
most profitable for us to follow, the one 
organized by the 8avior and His Apos- 
tles or the changed form, organized by 
man? As men have their free agency 
they have a privilege to exercise it in this 
respect, and of course abide the conse- 
quences. 

Those who embraced the Gospel in the 
days of the Savior and His Apostles, had 
a right to enjoy the Spirit of God and 
be in possession of the fruits of the same, 
so beautifully portrayed by the Apostle 
Paul in his epistle to the Galatian Saints. 
He says: But the fruit of the Spirit is 
love, joy, peace, long suffering, gentle- 
ness, goodness, faith, meekness and tem- 
perance. (Gal. 5:22-23.) Are these 
fruits predominating among professed 
Christians of today, or do we find them 
nearer that other state also described by 
l'aul in his letter to the highly beloved 
Timothy. Paul, with the power of in- 
spiration resting upon him, looked down 
through the unborn ages of time and de- 
clared that the time will come when 
they will not endure sound doctrine; but 
after their own lusts shall they heap to 
themselves teachers, having itching ears, 
and they shall turn away their ears from 
the truth, and shall be turned into 
fables. (I Tim. 4:3-4.) And as a con- 
sequence that deplorable condition of 
the world in the latter days, which the 
same writer depicted in the third chap- 
ter of the same epistle. It should not 
be Uifiicult to establish in our minds the 
fact whether such a condition exists in 
the world today or not. Other Prophets 
have spoken concerning the condition of 
the world in latter days. Isaiah says: 
The etorth also is defiled under the in- 
habitants thereof; because they have 
transgressed the laws, changed the ordi- 
nances, broken the everlasting cove- 
nant. (Isa. 24:5.) By reading the 
whole chapter it is clear to be under- 
stood that the Prophet here spoke con- 
cerning the last days, and those who will 
compare the doctrine which Christ taught 
with the doctrines of the manifold sec- 
tarian Churches of today, must confess 
that the conditions of the world as fore- 
told by Isaiah has most effectually come 
to pass, and that it is quite as universal 
as the same Prophet in his twenty-fourth 
chapter, second yerse % said it would be. 

Much more could be said upon this; 
subject of apostacy from the Gospel of 
Christ, for the Scriptures are full of 
prophecies concerning it; but one more 
reference will perhaps prove sufficient at 
present. The Prophet Amos, in his 
writings, says: Behold the days come, 
said the Lord God, that I will send a 
famine in the land, not a famine of 
bread, nor a thirst for water, but of 
hearing the words of the Lord, and they 
shall wander from sea to sea, and from 
the north even to the east, they shall run 
to and fro to seek the word of the Lord, 
nl stall not find it. (Amos 8:11-12.) 



CHURCH AND STATE. 

Salt Lake Herald. Oct. 3, 1900. 

According to the Herald's dispatch 
from Price, published yesterday, the 
Rev. T. C. Iliff of the Methodist church 
made a good republican campaign speech 
to the congregation and its friends there. 
The report says that the audience which 
was assembled to hear a sermon was 
much surprised to hear a campaign talk 
instead. If the people of Price knew 
the doctor as well as he is known -here 
they would have been surprised if he 
had not talked politics. The turmoil 
and excitement of a campaign is in a 
way as interesting to the doctor as a 
revival meeting. The- impropciety of 
church interference in political affairs 
never occurs to him unless it happens to 
be the other fellow who talks, and then 
he objects. 

If Bishop Scanlan, for instance, were 
to rise up and protest publicly in .Ihe 
cathedral against the way this adminis- 
tration has allowed the Catholic church- 
es in the Philippines to be desecrated 
and despoiled, none would be quicker 
than Iliff to protest against church in- 
terference in politics. If President Snow 
were so unwise as to publicly declare 
his approval or disapproval of either of 
the presidential candidate^ who would 
be heard from as suddenly km- Iliff? 

He has been prominent ifi;*; every ef- 
fort to separate church • and state in 
Utah— unless the church helped the re- 
publican party— since the division on 
party, lines. If he stripped to consider 
the welfare of his denomination he 
would see that nothing can so embarrass 
its mission in Utah as to have it , iden- 
tified with the very thing that injures 
a church most— the impression that it is 
being used for political purposes. 

To Tne Soutnern Star: 

As the letters of others have been a 
great help to me, I wish to say a few 
words in regard to the Latter-day Saints, 
that those who are earnestly seeking the 
truth may know that they are the true 
servants of God. The first Mormon El- 
ders I ever met were Elders Dunkley and 
Nuttle. I had been very weak for some 
time, not able to do my work. Those two 
Elders spent the evening with us. As I 
have said, I was very weak, but it seemed 
to me that God gave me strength to go 
into my kitchen and cook those two ser- 
vants of God their supper, which I. did 
with pleasure, and felt much better after- 
wards. I have met a great number .of 
Elders since that time and am always 
ready and willing to do what I can for 
them to help them proclaim the true Gos- 
pel. I have been a member of the Mis- 
sionary Baptist church for a number of 
years and tried to live a Christian. But 
felt that something was lacking. It did 
not take me long to see that the so-called 
Mormons had a much truer pattern of the 
Church of Christ than any other it has 
been my lot to hear, so I went to hear 
them every chance I got, and the more I 
hear the more I wanted to hear them, 
notwithstanding my folks would rave on 
me for going to hear them or having any- 
thing to do with them ; but their raving 
only made the few sparks kindle and 
shine brighter. Finally I made, up my 
mind to do what was right, let the con- 
sequence follow. So on the 25th of June, 
this year, I. and . my husband and oldest 
daughter were baptized and. confirmed by 
Elder D. H. Elton. I can truthfully say 
that I am perfectly satisfied with what L 
I have done, and am not ashamed of the 
name Mormon; Your sister in Christ, » 
Dellie Bowyer, 
Evensville, Tenn. 



388 



THE SOUTHERN STAB. 




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Saturday, November 3, 1900. 



ARTICLES OF FAITH 

OPTTO CHURCH OP JESUS CHRIST OP 
LATTER-DAY SAINTS. 

1, Wa b*li*»« Ib Uod The Eurae! Filbit. tad la Hit So* 
Jeiu* L'hrltt, end i0 lb* Bo\f GhwL 

I W# b«HtT« Ihit men Till be [oanhad far &*U 0*t 
•Ih, end BDt for Ad*ro'i tr*D«tr*ttJcji. 

#. W| batia-VB Ibet, thron£h the itoruMn*nt *f Chrtlt, *1 
mall ad Biy bt iltrid, bj obedience t* Lhe livi and ordi- 
■UCH of lb* Oo*p*l. 

4. W# better* thfcl thfl An( principle* iod ordtalnca of 
*h» Oo*p*l er* : Fi nt> Fi i \-h i a li « Lard Je* p* Cn H*l ; tecciid; 
Jtap*ote£«; third, Baplirln br immertion for lh» rvmiuion 
of ■ La* ; fourth. UjJnf on 0/ Hindu tar tis* Oifi at the HdIj 

Otf* 

It W* b*h*r« that • nun matt be celled of Ood, hj 
" prophet?, and by tha Tajrina - ca o/ bind*," hf that* ■«« »» 
la jglhcmtj, la pr* ich Lb* (tup*! *ad ■daitDiitaf ia the ardi- 
MDcci ihiTeOf 

#, W» btJlrr* Is. tatf aim* otcanitalioa that eibted Id 
lb* primitive ch a rch— moiel;* ApoiUef, Frephlte, FeUott, 
Ttacban, Biftarelitte, ate. 

■T, w* believe la the pf| of ton[o**,, propbtty, rttralatfoa, 
tlaloaiJ heeling, interpret* Lion of too|u» t ate, 

ft. We behave tha tfi ble In t* lb* Wfl rd of God, ■■ fit *i I| 
h transited cnrrectJy ; *a alea ballcre lh« Book of Mormon 
Id be tha word of 0od> 

t. W* bell*** ill that Gad baa revealed, all ft it H* do** 
bow raf eal, ind we bajieve that [is *tll Vet rein} mioy |rai| 
and importJot liulngi perniojoc [o Eh* Ki DtdoD of Uod. 

10, Wi tflfmv* to tb« Utrril |i ther i n[ of Li n e<l and in tha 
reitoralion of tha Ten TrLbei ; ibit Xlon wfEJ b« buJlt apod 
thli (tha Amariaa) oonUoabt j tilt ChrJti will nifo paraon- 
• ll; opofi tha aarth, and that th< •nfth will ba taaaVad iod 
notlfa III panditiJCal glory. 

11. We claim the privily* of wonbiprog ATmifhty Ood 
tccordju( to tho dkULav of oaf ESBKJ«ac«, and alio* ill 
■MD the HAt prjvtWfB, let th#lD fronhJphaW, %bara 1 of whit 

a. wi UUara in Mag t«bj««t to kinn pratideata. ralm, 
•ad — fU t raU a j la obayiag, hoooriag and tnctainJog Um law. 

IH #Wa bcilava la Mag booeat, tma, eaaita, DMavolaat, 
•Irtaoaa. aad la dolag good to all ■•■ ; iodaad, w ma/ aay 
that vafollov tha admooiUoD of Paul, "Wi beliara all thlaga, 
«• aopa all tillage, 1 * we have oodorod auta/ thlaga, aad bopa 
fa ba able to aadara aU Ullage. If there la aaythTag vlrtaaae. 



Easy Enongh to Be Pleanant. 



It is easy enough to be pleasant 

While life flows by like a song, 
But the man worth while Is the one who 
will smile 

When everything goes dead wrong. 
For the test of the heart Is trouble, 

And always comes with the years, 
And the smile that Is worth the praises of 
earth 

Is the smile that shines through tears. 

It Is easy enough to be prudent 

When nothing tempts you to stray; 
When without or within no voice or sin 

Is luring your soul away. 
But It is only a negative virtue 

Until it Is tried by Are, 
And the life that is worth the honor of earth 

Is the one that resists desire. 

Bythe cynic, the sad, the fallen, 

Who hath no strength for the strife, 
The world's highway is cumbered today; 

They make up the Items of life. 
But the virtue that conquers passion 

And the sorrow that hides in a smile, 
It is these that are worth the homage of 
earth. 

For we find them but once In awhile. 



THE RESURRECTION. 

Perhaps there is no other subject upon 
which the people generally have such va- 
ried, confused and erroneous ideas, as the 
one here given above — -the resurrection. 
It is true that Christian worshippers 
unanimously, and universally, declare their 
belief in the resurrection, but as to the 
joys, tangibilities and realities thereof 
they are at sea; at a loss to know — the 
advocates of senseless theories. The pop- 
ular theory of the resurrection is that it 
is solely spiritual, and this spiritual with- 
out form, knowledge or comprehension ; 
that the resurrected ones will gently waft 
through space as angels winged and feath- 
ered, sitting upon silvery clouds, playing 
on golden harps, to the adoration and sat- 
isfaction of a Being whom they term God, 
whose lofty dwelling place is no other 
than the toppermost pinnacle of a topless 
throne. To the reasonable person, to the 
man blessed with his proper capabilities 
and intellectual faculties, these theories 
are vain and nonsensical ; and to the de- 
voted student of the Holy Bible, who has 
gained a fair understanding of the writ- 
ten word, they are false and delusive, 
being contrary to the declarations of in- 
spired men of God. We need only rely 
upon the spirit of wisdom, the Holy 
Ghost,* and the word of God will at least 
convince us that the popular theories of 
the world are not in accordance to His 
will. 

It is hardly necessary to prove that, 
according to the Scriptures, there will be 
a resurrection of the dead, seeing that we 
are living in a blest community of people 
who hold aloft the Holy Bible and say, 
"We believe it to be the word of God;" 
for this doctrine — the resurrection — is 
plainly and profusely taught in that good 
old Book, yea, that Holy Book of Books. 
Paul, in defending the Gospel and preach- 
ing concerning the resurrection of the 
dead, gave this concise, but comprehen- 
sive, statement, "As in Adam all die, even 
so in Christ, shall all be made alive." (I. 
Cor. 15:21). And again,, speaking of 
the doctrines of Christ, the same Apostle 
writes, "Of the doctrine of baptism, and 
of laying on of hands, and of resurrection 
of the dead, and of eternal judgment." 
(Heb. G:l). From these passages, and a 
score of others which might be given, we 
can readily see that there will be a resur- 
rection of the dead, so that as concerns 
this phase of the subject we should be 
convinced and satisfied. There will be 
a resurrection of the dead, for for this 
cause (that He might bring to pass the 
redemption of the body from earth's si- 
lent tomb) was the Son of God revealed 
in the meridian of time. Said Jesus. 
"This is the will of Him that sent me, 
that everyone which seeth the Lord, and 
believeth on Him, may have everlasting 
life; and I will raise him up at the last 
day." (John 6:40). Again, the Mes- 
siah spoke these words, "And I, if I be 
lifted up from the earth, will draw all 
men unto me." (John 12:32). This as- 
surance we have, that there will be a res- 
urrection of the dead, for "If in this life 
only we have hope in Christ, we are of 
all men most miserable." (I. Cor. 15:19). 

Let us first see who are the ones to be 
made partakers of Christ's atoning sacri- 
fice, so far as the redemption of the mor- 
tal body is concerned. We must not over- 
look the fact that the atonement is far- 
reaching, that its redemption is univer- 
sal, that it provides for the salvation of ' 



all things. From the scripture given 
heretofore, "As in Adam all die, even so in 
Christ shall all be made alive," we are led 
to believe that the atonement extends in 
its redemption unto all the sons and 
daughters of men ; whether they be good, 
bad or indifferent; righteous, sinful or 
negligent, they are all to be made alive 
through the Savior's self-sacrifice, "For 
as in Adam all die, even so in Christ 
shall all be made alive." The Master 
taught that they "that are in their graves 
shall come forth; they that have done 
good, unto the resurrection of life; and 
they that have done evil, unto the resur- 
rect ion of damnation." (John 5:29). 
And Daniel testified, "Many of them that 
sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, 
some to everlasting life, and some to 
shame and everlasting contempt" (Dan- 
iel 12:2), while Paul in his defense be- 
fore Felix acknowledged, "But this I con- 
fess unto thee, that after the way which 
they call heresy, so worship I the God of 
my fathers, believing all things which are 
written in the law and in the prophets; 
and have hopes toward God, which they 
themselves also allow, that there shall be 
a resurrection of the dead, both of the 
just and unjust." (Acts 24 : 14-15) . From 
these words we come to understand, hav- 
ing faith in the Scriptures, that the res- 
urrection is universal, and provides for 
the general salvation of all classes, wheth- 
er penitent or impenitent, righteous or 
ungodly, good or evil, holy or unholy. 
They will all be loosened from the thrall- 
dom of death and lifted up at the last 
day. "There is one God, and one media- 
tor between God and men, the man Jesus 
Christ, who gave Himself a ransom for 
aU to be testified in due time." (I. Tim. 
2:5-6). 

Having briefly touched upon the ques- 
tion as to the recipients of Christ's atone- 
ment in the resurrection, and having dis- 
covered that all, without exception, are 
unconditionally appointed to share in this 
free gift, let us next investigate as to the 
time of the resurrection, and see what the 
good old Book— the Holy Bible — has to 
say upon this subject, by way of giving 
us light and intelligence concerning the 
same. In writing to the Thessalonian 
saints, the great Apostle to the Gentiles 
says: "For the Lord Himself shall de- 
scend from heaven with a shout, with 
the voice of the archangel and with the 
trump of God; and the dead in Christ 
shall rise first." (I. Thess. 4:16). The 
"dead in Christ," then, are to be raised 
first. Now, who are "the dead in Christ?" 
Are they not those who have died in the 
faith of the Lord Jesus? Yes! these are 
they who have been valiant soldiers of 
the cross ; who have accepted Christ, and 
become the recipients of His choice bless- 
ings. These shall rise first. Paul in 
writing concerning the saints, and the 
many trials they passed through, and per- 
secutions endured, said that they braved 
all ; "that they might obtain a better res- 
urrection." (Heb. 11:35). Then there 
is a "better resurrection" in store for 
those who, like these persecuted saints, 
remain faithful unto the end, and deny 
not the tender mercies of Christ, "choos- 
ing rather to suffer affliction with the 
people of God than to enjoy the pleasures 
of sin for a season." (Heb. 11:25). 

Let us investigate this better resurrec- 
tion. John, the beloved Apostle, in vis- 
ion upon the lonely isle of Patmos, when 
the curtains of the present were parted 
aside and he was permitted to gaze down 
the vista of future ages, saw, among other 
grand and glorious things, the resurrec- 
tion of the just, the millennium, and the 
general, or last resurrection. Speaking 
of the righteous — those who had not wor- 



THE SOUTHERN STAB. 



389 



shipped the wicked beast — he says, "They 
lived and reigned with Christ a thousand 
years. But the rest of the dead lived not 
again until the thousand years were fin- 
ished. This is the first resurrection, 
i^iessed and holy is he who hath part in 
this first resurrection; on such the sec- 
ond death hath no power, but they be 
priests of God, and of Christ, and shall 
reign with Him a thousand years." (Be v. 
20:4-6), The resurrection, here desig- 
nated by the Apostle as "the first resur- 
rection," is indeed that "better resurrec 
tion" of which Paul spoke in his Hebrew 
letter, and which we have noticed here- 
inbefore. We are not at all surprised 
that the saints were perfectly willing to 
sacrifice their all upon the altar of con- 
secration, and even life itself, for the 
privilege of sharing the joys and glories 
of this first, or better, resurrection. The 
dead in Christ, the righteous and just, 
will be redeemed from the bonds of death 
when the Messiah cometh to gather the 
faithful and make up His jewels; while 
the wicked, the sinful and the ungodly 
will be reserved in chains of darkness, 
woe and misery until one thousand years 
have passed, during which time the re- 
deemed saints, with the immaculate Sa- 
vior, will live and reign upon the earth. 
At the expiration of the "thousand years," 
millennial reign, the Apostle says, "I saw 
the dead, small and great, stand before 
God ; and the books were opened ; and 
another book was opened, which is the 
book of life; and the dead were judged 
out of those things which were written 
in the books, according to their works." 
We learn, then, that between this first 
and last resurrection, that a thousand 
years will elapse, a thousand years of 
peace, when the wicked shall not stand, 
and Christ as King of Kings, and Lord 
of Lords, shall reign supreme and super- 
vise the celestialization, salification and 
universal redemption of the earth. 

But some one may say, How are the 
dead raised, and with what bodies will 
they come forth? The dead will be awak- 
ened by the voice of the Almighty, and 
raised from their graves by the power of 
God. "The hour is coming in the which 
all that are in their graves shall hear His 
voice and come forth." (John 5:28). To 
the unbelieving Sadducees, who denied the 
resurrection, Christ said, "Ye do err, not 
knowing the Scriptures, nor the power of 
God:* The power of God is sufficient to 
raise the dead, and is the means applied 
for their redemption. As pertains to the 
body, it is self-evident, from the scriptures 
of Holy Writ, that the same body that 
•died and was placed in the tomb, will be 
made olive and come forth. Yes! come 
forth from the grave; as the mortal body 
dies, and is placed therein, so the immor- 
tal spirit breathes life, and brings it forth 
therefrom. But the question is asked, 
"Where in the Holy Bible is there any 
declaration or necessary implication, that 
the identical material body which was a 
tabernacle for the spirit in life, will be 
made alive?" By reference to Paul's let- 
ter to the Romans, we find a plain, posi- 
tive declaration that the mortal body shall 
be made alive in the morning of the res- 
urrection ; for it is written, "If the Spirit 
of Him that raised up Jesus from the 
dead dwell in you, He that raised up 
Christ from the dead shall also quicken 
your mortal bodies." (Rom. 8:11). We 
are also informed by the same Apostle, 
"that if we have been planted together in 
the likeness of His death, we shall be also 
in the likeness of His resurrection." Now, 
let us see, Jesus was born of the Virgin 
Mary, and took upon Him the seed of 
Abraham. He grew to manhood, and 
possessed a tangible, material body of 



flesh and bones, much the same in appear- 
ance and dimensions as His fellow-coun- 
trymen. This body of flesh and bones 
was nailed to the cross, and when life was 
extinct therein was taken down and laid 
in the tomb. Three days later this self- 
same body was resurrected, and Jesus 
once more stood upon the earth. If we 
are to be raised in the likeness of His res- 
urrection, as the Scriptures declare, then 
how can anyone consistently declare in 
favor of a mere spiritual, shadowless, 
formless resurrection? After His resur- 
rection He appeared to His disciples and 
snowed His hands and side to them. He 
ate with them, and to the doubting Thom- 
as, He said, "Reach hither thy finger, and 
behold my hands; and reach hither thy 
hand and thrust it into my side; and be 
not faithless, but believing." (John 
20:27). Christ is our divine Pattern in 
the resurrection, as in all holiness and 
truth, or, as Paul expresses it, "Christ 
the first fruits; afterwards they that are 
Christ's at His coming." (I. Cor. 
15:23). 

The Apostle Matthew records, "And 
the graves were opened ; and many bodies 
of the saints which slept arose, and came 
out of the graves after His resurrection, 
and went into the holy city and appeared 
unto many." (Matt. 27:52-53). The 
bodies of saints came out of their graves 
and appeared to many in Jerusalem. This 
is as plain as language can make, or 
words express it, that the body that dies 
and sleeps in the tomb will be made alive. 
The patient Job, a man perfect in all his 
ways, believed and taught a bodily resur- 
rection, for he says: "I know that my 
Redeemer liveth, and that He shall stand 
at the latter day upon the earth; and 
though after my skin, worms destroy this 
body, yet in my flesh shall I see God; 
whom I shall see for myself, and mine 
eyes shall behold, and not another." (Job 
19:25). Isaiah also says: "Thy dead 
men shall live; together with my dead 
body shall they arise." (Isaiah 26:19). 
These inspired writers plainly and em- 
phatically teach that the same body that 
dies will be redeemed and loosened from 
the grave. It will be a resurrection of 
the dead — of dead bodies. If the self- 
same body that dies is not raised, it can- 
not be called a resurrection, but a new 
creation. 

Our bodies will be raised in a refined 
state and made immortal — the corruptible 
blood being stricken from our veins. Af- 
ter this change it will still be the iden- 
tical body which the spirit inhabited, but 
purified, redeemed, and clothed with im- 
mortality. "And the dead shall be raised 
incorruptible, and we shall all be changed. 
For this corruptible must put on incor- 
ruption, and this mortal must put on im- 
mortality." (I. Cor. 15:52-53). What 
will put on immortality in the morning 
of the resurrection ? Will it be a new and 
spiritual body which never died, that will 
be thus clothed? Paul answers these in- 
quiries when he says : "This mortal must 
put on immortality." That which dies 
and is placed in the tomb will be resur- 
rected, and clothed with immortality. 
When clothed with immortality death 
will have no power over the body. We 
shall know each other, yea, know even as 
we also are known, and will have a di- 
vine, sacred work of a glorious nature to 
perform. 

Through the atonement of Jesus Christ 
mankind are raised from the tomb, and 
death is swallowed up in victory. Thus 
will the redeemed and sanctified sing this 
triumphant song, "O death, where is thy 
sting? O grave where is thy victory?" 
while they enter into celestial joys, and 
are forever with the Lord. 



EVILS OF IDLENESS. 



Man was born to work. To be happy 
he must have something to busy himself 
with. The mind, as well as the body, 
must be occupied with labor or problems 
of some nature. Unhappiness, discontent 
and unhealthy conditions all come from 
idleness. And all human beings are alike 
susceptible to these evils. 

A splendid illustration of this fact is 
found in the recent farewell address of 
Hon. E. G. Coffin, late warden of the 
Ohio penitentiary. He said: 

"It will be clearly seen that, although 
these financial results have been happily 
achieved, they have not been at the ex-' 
pense of the prisoner's welfare. We have 
reduced the number of idle-houses from 
six to one, and that contains, on an av- 
erage, less than fifty men, all infirm or 
convalescing from illness. It might now 
appropriately be called a 'rest-house, ' 
where men whose vitality has been, im- 
paired by sickness can recuperate. 

"When I assumed the wardenship I re- 
ceived hundreds of applications for work 
from the enforced idlers, who looked up- 
on their condition as one of slow torture. 
One of them said: 

" 'I know how many nails there are in 
the floor within reach of my eye, and the 
number of seams, also. I am familiar 
with the stained spots, the splintered fur- 
rows, the scratches and the uneven sur- 
faces of the planks. The floor is a well 
known map to me — the map of monotony 
— and I con its queer geography all day 
and at night in dreary dreams. I know 
the splotches on the whitewashed wall as 
well as I know the warts and moles on 
the hopeless faces opposite me. My mind 
is a mill that grinds nothing. Give me 
work—work for hand and mind, or my 
heart will lose its last remnant of rea- 
son.' 

"But now, and for a long time, all this 
has been changed. Even the men in the 
idle-house contribute something to the in- 
dustry of the establishment, by assisting 
in the preparation of the vegetables for 
the great kitchen. I believe in labor. 
Whatever capital there is in existence is 
the fruit of labor. Work and wealth are 
parent and child. Work is a wonderful 
medicine, and it is not patented by any- 
body. It cures the blues and conquers 
time and trouble. While it may be that 
contract labor in any form is not the best 
system of prison labor, it is better than 
idleness. It is also better than a mere 
pottering and tinkering that cannot be 
styled labor. If I had my way, every 
prisoner should enjoy the net product of 
his labor, after deducting the necessary 
expense for keeping him." 



Union Pacific Railroad. 

Another Portland train. Two trains 
daily. Effective April 22, the Union Pa- 
cific, Oregon Short Line and Chicago 
Railroad and Navigation company will 
place in service an additional Portland 
train. 

This train, "The Pacific Express," will 
leave Kansas City 10:40 a. m. Only 
three days on the road. 

Equipped with Palace Sleepers. Free 
Reclining Chair Oars, ordinary Sleeping 
Car, Dining Oar Service (to Granger). 

The time of the present Portland train, 
"The Overland Limited," leaving Kansas 
City 6:40 p. m., will be reduced 2 hours 
and 46 minutes between Granger and 
Portland. 

Only 68 hours Kansas City to Port- 
land. 

Palace Sleeping Cars, Dining Car Ser- 
vice, Buffet Cars, Chair Cars. 

For time tables, folders, illustrated 
books, pamphlets descriptive of the ter- 
ritory traversed, address J. F. Aglar, 
genera] agent, St Louis, Mo. 

Special Low Rates Via 

Union Pacific Railroad every Tuesday 
to Colorado, Utah, Montana, Idaho, Ore- 
gon, Washington. For particulars ad- 
dress J. F. Aglar, General Agent, St. 
Louis. 



390 



THE SOUTHERN STAR. 



RELIGION. 

BY L. E. JORDAN. 

The above word signifies an outward 
expression of devotion and love for some- 
thing superhuman, or overruling power. 
Religion 'is 'found in every nation and 
clime under the sun. The sage and sav- 
age, black, whlite, Ted or yellow, all ap- 
pear infected with this attribute (which 
comes from God), to worship some form 
of deity. 

The inclination to bow down in reKg- 
ious devotion and praise to a God is gen- 
eral among all the children of men, in all 
the world. The Asiatic appeals through 
his idols to Buddha and Brahma, whose 
teachings in connection with Confucius, 
are the embodiment, to him, of all that 
is divine. He is willing to make weary 
pilgrimages, hundreds of miles, some- 
times measuring the distance with his 
body, prostrating himself with the most 
sacred and humble devotion to his idol, 
and his sincerity cannot be questioned. 
These enthusiasts are willing to sacrifice 
all and even life itself in the service of 
their God. 

In the city of Benares, in India, dur- 
ing the great annual festival held in hon- 
or of the idol juggernaut, many of these 
frenzied idolaters sacrifice their lives. 
When the great car, containing the idol, 
rolls forth, drawn by thousands of fa- 
natics, many will stand in the way and 
willingly throw themselves beneath the 
wheels, being ground to pieces and con- 
sidered martyrs to a glorious cause. Their 
carcasses being left on the ground to be 
devoured by vultures, which are also con- 
sidered sacred, and who glut themselves 
during this annual high festival with the 
blood of these poor fanatics. 

The sincerity of the Hindoo mother can- 
not be questioned, when she will willing- 
ly throw her only child, her bosom's joy, 
into the river Ganges to appease the 
wrath of her God and satiate the appe- 
tite of the sacred crocodile. Millions' of 
infants have thus been sacrificed to this 
inhuman and unnatural system. Such 
rites and ceremonies have, and do still, dis- 
grace the sacred name of religion. The 
fakir still practices his austerities and 
macerates his body, will tie himself in 
some unnatural position and thus remain 
for years, before disease and death lib- 
erates him from his self-inflicted torments. 

The Mussulman dervisher, in his fa- 
naticism, will whirl in his mazy dance 
untii exhausted and insensible, and the 
true followers of Mahomet are ever 
found willing to sacrifice their life for 
their religion. It is thus we find him 
courting death in battle, making of him a 
brave and intrepid warrior, hard to over- 
come. He believes that if he dies in de- 
fense of his faith that Paradise and a 
beautiful harem await. 

The sincerity of the above so-called 
heathen cannot be brought in question, 
and the Protestant reformers were equal- 
ly as honest in their views. Many of 
them died at the stake and were burned to 
death for the principles they espoused. 
Sectarians as well as Catholics; Pagans 
as well as Christians, all have suffered 
tortures and death for their religious 
principles, and to say men or systems of 
religion are sincere does not imply their 
truthfulness. Many people today believe 
that for a person to die happy with a be- 
nign and cheerful countenance, express- 
ing great faith in religion, that their sal- 
vation is secure and that such a person 
has gone to heaven. I would say to those 
people — be not deceived; such enthusi- 
asm, emotion and fervor is no token of 
true religion and the gifts of heaven are 



not secured by any such manifestations. 
Many deceitful spirits are gone forth 
and made manifest in the various rites 
and ceremonies of a corrupt Christianity. 
The enthusiasm displayed through relig- 
ion is deceiving the world and superhu- 
man efforts are being made by the father 
of lies to give miraculous manifestations 
of his power, to attest his claim, as "the 
God of this world ;*' in consequence many 
are following these delusive spirits. 

One hundred years ago, in the south, 
great reHgious revivals were in progress. 
Large bodies of worshippers would gath- 
er in camp-meetings and wonderful pow- 
ers were witnessed — men and women were 
cast to the ground, were rolled and tossed 
to and fro, fell in trances, acted like ma- 
niacs and otherwise were transported 
with enthusiasm—being possessed of 
devils. At this time it was called an out- 
pouring of the Holy Ghost ; a second Pen- 
tecostal shower ; the greatest ever wit- 
nessed in America ! 

Since that time many revivals of a like 
nature have occurred and the same spirit 
has been manifested ; perhaps not to such 
an extent, but still today peculiar phe- 
nomena and miraculous things occur 
through the influence of evil spirits, in 
the name of religion. Old men and old 
women, crippled, gouty and stiff with age, 
will leap and dance like the young, shout- 
ing glory, being apparently transported 
to the third heaven with glee. This ex- 
hibition of enthusiasm lasts until the vic- 
tim of such fanaticism sinks exhausted 
in a delirious trance or visionary insen- 
sensibility. 

The following, which I recently clipped 
from a newspaper, shows the same en- 
thusiastic fanaticism displayed by the 
fakir of India, the dervisher in Asia, and 
the American Indian, who will dance 
around his camp fire until he becomes 
drunk with excitement, and many times 
in his fervor falls in the fire, a victim to 
his religious superstition. 

The religious order of Shakers practice 
similar methods. The article reads as 
follows and is headed, "Some Sanctifica- 
tion :" 

"For some days a sect with no known 
title, composed principally of ignorant 
country people, has been holding reviv- 
als in Roylston's big camp-meeting 
ground. After they have prayed ten min- 
utes, all present, young and old, of both 
sexes, rise from their knees and dance 
most violently. There is no concerted 
movement, each individual gyrating as the 
spirit impels. Some of the women whirl 
around in a continual circle until too 
dizzy to continue. Men cut all sorts of 
capers, keeping up the most infernal din 
until finally all become completely ex- 
hausted. Then, with the perspiration 
streaming from their faces, they proceed 
to exhort all within hearing to join the 
sect and become sanctified. 

"All claim that they are constrained to 
this peculiar conduct by the fact that 
they have lydite, dynamite and other ex- 
plosives in their souls. The ceremonies 
yesterday were especially violent." — Roys- 
ton <Gi\.) Special to the Philadelphia 
Evening Telegram. 

The only apparent difference in this 
sanctified class and other fanaticism is 
that they are filled with more modern and 
powerful explosive material. 

Common gunpowder might do for the 
Methodist and Baptist, who may be more 
moderate in their enthusiasm, but an up- 
to-date deacon, occupying the amen cor- 
ner, in this enlightened age, must be 
filled with gun-cotton and lydite, or the 
bottom will be knocked out of his religion, 
founded on enthusiasm. 

From the above we can readily see that 



the foundation of modern Christianity 
is generally based on emotion and enthu- 
siastic fanaticism, and it would be true 
to state that this same system of religion 
is practiced the world over, being bred 
and fathered by Paganism. 

True religion will stand scrutiny ■ and 
honest investigation; it is logical and 
philosophical and will not conflict with 
truth, wherever found. A scientific truth 
is just as valuable as if gleaned from the 
sacred pages of Holy Writ, and true re- 
ligion will not conflict with the Word of 
God. 

In these days, as well as in the past, 
archaeologists and geologists and other 
scientists who have delved into history 
and science have been condemned by big- 
oted Christiana, who have looked upon 
their discoveries as being in conflict to 
the teachings of the Bible. The fact gen- 
erally has been that their own interpre- 
tation of the Word of God has been in 
error. The false doctrines which are 
taught in the name of religion are as- 
tounding. Several hundred professed 
faiths, all claiming Christ as the author 
and founder of their views, when the rites 
and ceremonies they practice are abso- 
lutely framed and manufactured by man. 

Let us view some of the trait* of the 
religion which Jesus taught in Judea. He 
was unpopular and branded as a wine- 
bibber, blasphemer and imposter, but the 
preachers of today are very popular, nev- 
ertheless they teach for doctrine the com- 
mandments of men and are ever learning, 
but never able to come to the knowledge 
of the truth. 

Jesus did not worship an etheiial be- 
ing who lived beyond the bounds of time 
and space, who sits on the top of a top- 
less throne, and who is described in the 
creed of the Church of England as a 
God, without body, parts or passions. 
Jesus did not sprinkle, christen or bap- 
tize infants. He did not deal in peni- 
tent forms, mourner** benches, with 
their attendant dancing and shouting. 
He did not wear a beautiful gown, with 
a mitre on His head, when delivering His 
discourses. He did not have any tiaras, 
croziers and beautiful vestments, nor 
teach His disciples to adore the virgin 
Mary. He did not teach that belief 
alone would save a man. He did not 
pander to the rich, but chose His follow- 
ers from the meek, poor and lowly. He 
did not indorse the religion of the Jew, 
be he Saddueee, Pharisee or Esenee. 
He did not say the Pagan, epicurian or 
academic was right. He did not sympa- 
thise with Greek philosophy and its pie-, 
roma. 

Jesus Christ pronounced them all 
wrong. He laid the axe at the root of 
the tree and looked upon the whoie sys- 
tem of theology, in His day, as being 
very corrupt. He called all men to re- 
pentance and taught an exclusive faith. 
He said, "Except a man be born of wa- 
ter and the Spirit, he cannot enter the 
Kingdom of God." His religion was 
looked upon with disfavor by all the 
world. He warned His disciples, how- 
ever, that they would be hated of all 
men for His name's sake, but that, if 
they would endure to the end, they would 
be saved. He taught them faith in His 
Father, of whom He was the brightness 
and express image of His person, that 
is, a material God, with a body, with 
parts and with passions, a God that 
could hear, taste, see and smell, with 
a-l the attributes of man, as man was 
made in His image. His converts were 
all baptized by immersion that their sins 
might be washed away, and hands were 
laid upon them that they might receive 



THB SOUTHERN STAB. 



391 



the Holy Ghost. He, in connection with 
His Apostles, traveled without purse or 
script, taking no thought of the morrow. 
They ditl not labor for filthy lucre, 
preaching for hire and divine for money, 
thus making merchandise of the souls of 
men. Jesus said, "Not every one that 
saith Lord, Lord, shall enter into the 
Kingdom of Heaven; but he that doeth 
the will of my Father which is in 
Heaven," and "If ye love me, keep my 
commandments." In the most beautiful 
sermou ever recorded, He said, after 
teaching the people, "Whosoever heareth 
these sayings of mine, and doeth them, 
I will liken him unto a wise man, which 
built his house upon a rock; and the rain 
descended, and the floods came, and the 
winds blew, and beat upon that house; 
and it fell not; for it was founded .upon 
a rock. And every one that heareth 
these sayings of mine, and doeth them 
not, shall be likened unto the foolish 
man, which built his house upon the 
sand: and the rain descended, and the 
floods came, and the winds blew, and 
beat upon that house; and it fell; and 
great was the fall of it." 

This same Teacher taught humility 
and took infanta in His arms and blessed 
them, and told His disciples that except 
they became pure like a little child, they 
were not His, "for of such is the King- 
dom of Heaven." He taught His dis- 
ciples to observe all things .whatsoever 
He had commanded them, gave them au- 
thority and sent them forth to preach 
His Gospel and cry "Repent, for the 
Kingdom of Heaven is at hand." 

Jesus Christ's Church, or exclusive sys- 
tem, was governed by Apostles, Proph- 
ets, Seventies, High Priests, Elders, 
Priests, teachers and Deacons, which 
officers and instructors were to remain 
until all were brought to a unity of the 
faith and a knowledge of the Son of God. 
It embodied "one Lord, one faith and 
one baptism," and the spiritual gifts 
whioh would follow believers were wis- 
dom, knowledge, faith, healing, miracles, 
prophecy, descerning of spirits, tongues, 
interpretation of tongues, etc., and He 
also said that these signs shall follow 
them that believe, they should cast out 
devils, speak with new tongues, they 
should take up serpents; and if they 
drank any deadly thing, it should not 
hurt them, and they should lay hands 
upon the sick, and the sick should re- 
cover. These same Apostles, when asked 
by believers what they must do to get 
saved, said, "Repent, every one of you, 
and be baptized in the name of Jesus 
Christ, for the remission of your sins, 
and you shall receive the gift of the Holy 
Ghost." They also taught that this sys- 
tem of salvation was not only applicable 
to the generation in which they lived, 
but was "to all that are afar off, even 
as many as the Lord our God shall call." 

The above are a few of the Scriptural 
truths taught by Jesus, the Nazarine, 
the Captain of Salvation and the founder 
of Christianity. His theology is pure and 
undefined and finds no place among fanat- 
icism and intolerance. Let us therefore 
follow Him and keep His command- 
ments and be truly religious. Let us 
build upon a good foundation, so that we 
may be able to withstand the storms of 
scepticism, fanaticism and wickedness, 
which overwhelm the earth. Thus we 
will bring about the reign of peace and 
righteousness, the desired end of Christ's 
system of theology. 



RELEASES AND APPOINTMENTS. 
Release*. 

D. J. Sparks. Virginia Conference. 
A. Arrowsmith, office. 



OUR CONFERENCE PRESIDENTS. 

The third president of the Chattanooga 
Conference — Elder Geo. A. Adams — was 
born Dec. 4, 1S<»4, in Iron county, Utah. 
He comes of good, valiant, sturdy pio- 
neer stock, and his parents are enrolled 
among the early settlers of Utah and the 
West. His father worked on the Nau- 
voo Temple, Illinois, and was an eye 
witness of the remarkable transfigura- 
tion of President Brigham Young when 
the mantle of the martyred Prophet Jo- 
seph rested upon him, and he spoke as 
with the voice of Joseph, while in ap- 
pearance, attitude and figiire the resem- 
blance was strikingly similar. 

It was in 1849 that Brother Adams' 
family settled in Iron county, Utah, and 
began to till the soil, irrigate the crops, 
and make the sterile wastes to yield the 
bounties of life. George A. worked on 
the farm in the summer and attended the 
district school during the winter season 
of the year. He remained at home until 
the spring of 1881 1 at which time he wa* 
called to locate in San Juan county and 
reclaim that barren plain. He obeyed 
without hesitation, and engaged in vari- 
ous kinds of labor. 

Realizing the truthfulness of the word 




■■■ 



ELDER GEORGE ALBERT ADAMS, 
President of the Chattanooga Conference. 



of the Lord when He said, "It is not 
good for man to be alone," Brother Ad- 
ams changed the name of Nancy E. 
Mortensen to Sister Adams. This lucky 
move took place April U2, 1885, and since 
that time six sweet babes have been sent 
to cheer their hearts and make of home 
a home indeed! These little ones are 
faithful to fast and pray for "Papa** and 
the progression of God's work. 

In January, 18SH), Brother Adams was 
notified that his labors were desired in 
the ministry of the South. He cheer- 
fully responded, and with a ready, will- 
ing heart was set apart March 15, 1899. 
Arriving in Chattanooga, he was as- 
signed to labor in the East Tennessee 
Conference. Here he spent a few 
months, and then was transferred to the 
Florida Conference. When President 
David H. Elton was released from pre-' 
siding over the conference, that he might 
devote his time and talents to the work 
on The Star. Elder Adams was called 
from Florida to succeed him, and so for 
some four months he has presided over 
the Chattanooga Conference. 

Brother Adams is an earnest worker, 
untiring in his efforts to warn the people 
to tlee from the wrath to come, and 
preaching the Gospel of the Kingdom of 
God. He has no peers in the line of 
book selling, and when he fails to sell a 



book no others need apply. He is steady, 
deliberate, conscientious and faithful. He 
is wise in counsel, and is beloved of all 
the Elders under his jurisdiction. With 
such a valiant corps of soldiers, and such 
a gallant, trusted captaiu, we naturally 
enough look for a good, praiseworthy 
work from this Chattanooga Conference. 
Brother Adams is very humble, and this 
excellent trait, coupled with his stability 
and earnestness, makes him a power for 
good among his associates. He has the 
faith and love of all; the esteem and 
good will of his companions, and this has 
much to do with his present success. 

Funeral of Elder H. D. Bronson. 

The train bearing the earthly remains 
of Elder II. I). Bronson arrived at Pres- 
ton, Idaho, Oct. 14, 11)00, at 11 a. m. 
There were present at the depot a sor- 
rowful father, a weeping mother, and host 
of relatives and friends of the deceased. 
The Bishopric and almost the entire com- 
munity of Fairview were on the platform 
of the station when the train pulled in. 

The body was first taken home, and 
then to the meeting house, where a large 
congregation had assembled to show their 
esteem, love and respect to the departed 
brother and friend, who had laid down 
his life in the service of the Lord. 

Meeting was called to order at 2 p. m. 
by Bishop M. W. Pratt. There were 
present Apostle M. F. Cowley, Geo. C. 
Parkinson, S. H. Hale and Jos. S. Ged- 
des, of the Stake Presidency. The choir 
sang that beautiful hymn, "Home, Sweet 
Home," and prayer was offered by Pres- 
ident S. II. Hale. Continued singing, 
"The Resurrection Day." Bishop Pratt 
then introduced Elder John F. Perkins, 
who had accompanied the corpse from 
Chattanooga. Elder Perkins spoke in 
glowing terms of the faith and fidelity of 
the deceased brother while he labored in 
the vineyard of the Lord, and also ex- 
plained how he came to lose his life. 

Bishop Pratt also spoke words of praise 
for and in behalf of the deceased. Apos- 
tle Cowley, Wm. C. Parkinson, Geo. C. 
Parkinson, and Jos. S. Geddes all spoke 
words of commendation for the noble, 
sterling characteristics of Elder Bronson, 
and words of consolation for the bereaved 
parents. The choir then sang, "Fare- 
well, all earthly honors," etc., and the 
benediction was pronounced by Apostle 
M. F. Cowley. 

LOVE'S SONG. 

I saw a youth and maiden 

Upon a pleasant day. 
Their hearts responses heating 

To raptures of the May. 
Young buds with fragrance waited 

To greet them on their way; 
Sweet birdies carolled gladness 
From every bush and spray. 
So happy were they all tney needs must 

slug: 
"Oh, welcome, oh, welcome, lovely spring! 
The earth is fresh and flowers gay, 
And love Is love in Joyous May. 

I saw two happy beings 

Whose lives were made complete, 
For scenes of summer beauty, 

Of wreaths and roses sweet. 
Bright autumn's golden harvest 

Of luscious fruits and grain. 
And winter's hoary whiteness 
All breathed the soft refrain: 
"Oh, love, thou gift to mortals given. 
Thou gift which flows from out of heaven! 
Each gentle word, each tender thought, 
By thy sweet spirit, Love, is taught." 

I saw two white-robed angels 

Upon that far-off shore, 
Where earthly scenes had vanished 

And earthly trials were o'er; 
With crowns of glory resting 

Upon each peaceful brow, 
This holy anthem pealing— 
(I hear It eveu now)— 
"Oh, love, thou love which e'er endureth! 
The angels' song the theme immureth: 
Though life and time no more shall be. 
Thou lasteth through eternity." 

— L. Taylor. 



302 



THE SOUTHERN STAB. 



REPORT OF MISSION CONFERENCES FOR WEEK ENDING OCT. 13, 1900. 



PHlSIDStfT 



Geo. A. AdAmd 

AebeT S, Olson. ........... 

,).<.}. Bolton- 

J. s™inr*r Worsley, 

VV. f». Rene her 

A. C. Strung..,...*. 

John It, llankh«'Ud 

John Reeve 

J, M. Haws 

Ci K. HurnpheryB ..< 

G.M. Porter 

W. W. MacKay 

F. H, CrUoWhsJdL™ 
It. 1.. Houlz „„.„..„. 

Don C. Ronton 

L. M. Kabuktir ........ 

H. Z. Lund 



CONriBEMCK 



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Kentucky -,„,„ 

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Georgia 

North Alabama 

Florid! 

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North i 'nmJirin... 
Smith t urolina .. 

East Kentucky.., 

Louisiana ..... 

South Al«hams.. 
North Kentucky 
South Ohio.., ...... 

North Ohio <.....„. 



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Centre M „,.....„„„,„ 

Hale, Mitchell Co 

Savannah 

Memphis Box 153.....™, 

Valdo*ia 

m N. Summer fit. N a»h villi- 
^oldsboro, Box «M_ 

Blackbhurg. 

Ackcrmtui „....,..,... 

l?arbourHville_ ...... 

Lake Village ........... 

Lapine,,,... 

100 W.tiray St., Louisville 

tw BrtinSt., Cincinnati... 

41 I leMiire Bjg ChsTeUnd 



BTATS 



Tenoe 

Virginia 

Kentucky 

N. Carolina 

Georgia 

TTenuuftsue 

lioorgla 

Trinneanee 

IT. Carolina 

rt, Carolina 

Mississippi 

Kentucky 

Louisiana 

Alabama 

Kentucky 

CMS 

oiao 



OBITUARY. 




Kobert Anthony Pax ton w«s horn in 
Katiusb, Milinri] county, Trait, Oct. 
25th, 18T4. He Attended the H. Y, A. 
tit Bearer, nod whs the rirsit missionary 
culled from that branch. 

The poem here given wits written by 
his father. 

lie sillied on the lifeboat Klon. 
Launched from the land of tbe urnYe 
To resCMe tin 1 pt-rlsliirm fnvmi'ii 
Who istrLvt 1 on tbe brlok of the grave. 

Ib j knew not tbe points of tbe eotxtpass, 
He cured tio( Hie depths of the sou. 
He heeds nut The volee of tin- C'aptolu 
Woo '-nils front thu letter box M B. 

He hent to the our like -i vPiininn, 
Bs aenfbt but the *t ranger to tja\ + t i ; 
No thought for himself In the eo nil let, 
He heeds not the ma In rip I wove. 

AVhen drift inir nbont on half rations, 
Or fainting he fotok on Ihe fleck. 
Up atlll throws* o Line t<» hln uei^hhor. 
A wreck In search of a wreck. 

Ab I read the note* In bin joarnnl, 
Kneb contents marked with a sob, 
My heart grows sick with emotion 
when I tld tik of my brave boy, Rob. 

He inn ile ninny friends of the foe-men, 
nil eolari h»» oallnd to the mast. 
And threw out n huoy to his comrades 1 . 
"Willi u rope to the vessel made fust. 

Tie died on the good ship &1od. 

Col! -if fulfil, with the harbor In xisrht, 

And HMld with n umlle when purl in t'. 

"1 have fought, 1 have fought a yood light." 

The nugelR hnve opened lite portal »» 
A hfro oos rats r A In hi* chi-ck. 
The Muster has re;id from til^ passport, 
He died at bis post on dc>/k, 

—James M, Taxlon, 



History of the Southern States Mission, 

(Continued from page 381.) 

February, 1JI00— On the 3d ami 4th, 
conference was held with the South Car- 
olina Ehlers at Columbus. The meet- 
ing* were well attended and a good time 
wnK had by all present. Business of flu 
important nature culled President Rich 
lo Ohio, so Elder L. R. Anderson took 
clmrge of the affairs of the Conference 
in his absence. The press in Columbus 
^;ivv a fair report, and the Elders were 
treat erl very nicely by all the good peo- 
ple of that city. 

< »n the Tdb a conipuuv of Elders ar- 
rived 1'roin the West, and gave their 
noiaos a* follows: F. Lnyton, W» M. 
Holmen, «. H. Mower, T. Ringhnni, Eli 
Gord*n t A. S. FInwkins and Joseph 
Rrimhalh On the 11th and 12th, the 
Florida Conference was held in the Park 
Opern House, Jacksonville, Flu. The 
papers treated the cause with silent con- 
tens pt, and miserably broke their con- 
tract to publish notice of the meetings. 
This Conference comidcted Brother 
Rich's; tour of the Mission, and was one 
of tbe most successful held, there being 
a large turnout at the Inst meeting. 

The second annual Conference of Con- 
ference Presidents was held in Chatta- 
nooga on the 17th ami tflth. The details 
were tfiven in the Star— Vol, 11, page 
In".. Four lOidors arrived on the 11>th. 
The names of this quartette arc \V\ J. 
Kushtou, A. T. Jones, A. Lr. Day and 
J # D, Brown* 

On the 21 Uh a telegram from Mesa 
City, Ariz., Announced the death of El- 
der Alva T. Stewart, vvlift left here on the 
H)th in»t. t en route home on account of 
sickness. He died on the morning of the 
2'dh. 

Elder Stewart labored in the South 
Carolina Conference nnd performed his 
labors with honor and credit. He arrived 
iti the field in June, 1898, and can be 
truthfully termed A martyr for the tniMi. 
Mis death was occasioned, it is believed, 
by quick consumption, which was con- 
tra el ed bv overwork. (See Star, Vol. 2, 
pa** 120.1 

On the 27th, Ebler .1. U. Allred, of 
the Middle Tennessee Conference, tele- 
phoned the death of Elder Bryan W. 
Peek, of O entile Valley, Idaho, His 
death was caused by a backset of 
men sic*, which term inn ted in acute bron- 
Chitte. His relatives were wired the sad 
news. On tbe 28th President Rich met 
the body of our defld brother in Nash- 
ville, had it embalmed, placed in a nice 
casket, and sent home in charge of Klder 
J, II. Relnam 

On March 4 th Elder Belnap tele- 
graphed his safe arrival in Gentile Val- 
ley, where he was met by the bereaved 
relatives. 



Elder Peck came to the Mission June, 
lMUy T nnd was untiring in bis zeal, faith- 
ful und courageous in the work of God. 
God took him, no doubt, to do a grander 
nnd n greater work. *See Star, Vol. 2, 
page 120 ,i 

Murch— On the l!>th, Elders W. H, 
Jensen and W. P. Jacobs were mobbed 
in the city of Albemarle, N. C, by a 
band of mobocrats numbering some 100 
men, one of the men having the audacity 
to saj% "We are Christians." Letters 
were sent to the Governor of North Car- 
olina, and also to the Sheriff of Stanley 
county, where the mobbing took place. 

On the 7th the Eiders in Jacksonville 
were abused by a drunken fellow, who 
struck Elder Jensen and called the Lat- 
ter-day Saints all sorts of bad names. 
The Mayor refused to grant the Elders 
protection, and so the work in that city 
was abandoned for some time. 

In the Georgia Conference, good weath- 
er, good health, peace and prosperity pri^ 
vailed. On the 21st President Rich left 
for the West t<> attend the April Confer- 
ence, 

<To be continued.) 



A Testimony of Iht Gospel. 

I trust yon will allow me a little space 
in the vntunble little Star to bear my 
bumble testimony to the truthfulness of 
the Gospel as taught by the Latter-day 
Saints. 

I never was a member of any church 
until I joined Die one established by our 
Lord and Master, and revealed in these 
tbe last days to the Prophet Joseph 
Smith. I first heard tbe Elders preaeh 
about July, 181A in Calhoun county, Ala., 
and commenced to investigate their doc* 
trine, and hy January, 1S!)5< I was so 
well satisfied of its divinity (bat I applied 
for baptism, the ordinance being performed 
by Elder Murphy, and was confirmed by 
Elder Becks tend, 

1 have had a testimony of tbe Gospel 
ever since, and it becomes stronger w. ;> 
day ; and I know that any person who 
will investigate the doctrine with a prayer* 
ful heart can have a testimony, for Christ 
has said, *'If any man will do his will 
he shall know of the doctrine, 1 ' 

We often meet with persecution, bnt 
this only strengthens us and makes us 
press ahead end live near to the Lord* 
John Hicks. 

THE DEAD. 

Brother James Monroe Hale, of Provo, 
A hi,, died at his home Oct 10th, at 1 .30 
u. m. He leaves a wife and six children 
to inourii his [oos. Brother Hale was a 
loving husband, a peaceful citizen, a 
Large-hearted neighbor, and a faithful 
Latter-day Saint. He has pone to enjoy 
the glories of eternity and mingle witii 
the redeemed. 




P BUT THOUGH WE, OB AN ANGEL F*OW HEAVEN, Pftf ACH ANY 
PTHEfe GOSPEL UNTO YOU THAN THAT WHICH WE 

HAVE PBEACHED UNTO YOU, LET niM BE ACCURSED. ^./gj^/T 



^ gi — 



Te^gwr 



Vol, 2. 



Chattanooga, Tbnn., Saturday, November 10, 1900. No. 50.^ 



SKETCH OF THE LIFE OF APOSTLE :ORSON HYDE 



The subject of our sketch was one of 
the first Quorum of Twelve Apostles 
chosen in this last dispensation. He was 
the son of Nathan and Sally Hyde, and 
born in Oxford, New Haven county, Con- 
necticut, Jan. 8th, 1805. Like all his 
associates in the first Council of Apos- 
tles, Orson Hyde and his progenitors for 
several generations were native born 
Americans. The love of country was a 
strong element in their composition, and 
this trait Orson inherited from his fore- 
fathers in a high degree. His father was 
. a talented man intellectually, possessed 
of keen wit, and was athletic and strong 
in his physical anatomy. Nathan Hyde, 
Orson's father, served in the United 
States army in Canada and was several 
times wounded. He was on the frontier 
in the war of 1812. Orson's mother died 
when he was 7 years old. Himself, eight 
brothers and two sisters became sepa- 
rated by living in different families. Or- 
son was placed in the care of Nathan 
Wheeler, a gentleman, with whom he 
lived until he was 18 years of age. When 
Orson was 14 Mr. Wheeler moved from 
Derby, Conn., to Kirtland, Ohio. The 
young man Hyde walked the entire dis- 
tance, 600 miles, carrying his knapsack. 
Subsequent to his arrival in Kirtland he 
launched out into the world for himself, 
reliant and dependent upon the provi- 
dences of the Lord to ever rule his 
course and guide his footsteps in proper 
channels. He labored at various occu- 
pations and for some time served as a 
clerk in the mercantile establishment of 
Gilbert & Whitney in Kirtland, Ohio. 
In 1827, under the influence of a relig- 
ious revival, he joined the Methodist 
church and became a class leader. Re- 
alizing, however, that the truth he had 
received was only fragmentary and that 
he must look for something better, he 
subsequently embraced the Campbellite 
persuasion, which taught faith, repent- 
ance and baptism by immersion for the 
remission of sins. This being in form 
more Scriptural, he accepted it as a 
step in advance. He went to reside in 
Mentor, Ohio. Under the direction of 
Sidney Rigdon he took up various lines 
of study, and by close application of 
mind became quite proficient in several 
branches of education. 



BY APOSTLE MATHIAS *. COWLEY. 

He soon became a preacher and took 
part in organizing branches of the Camp- 
bellite persuasion in Loraine and Huron 
counties, Ohio. Over these branches he 
was appointed pastor in 1830. In the 
autumn of that year several Elders, Oli- 
ver Cowdery, Parley P. Pratt and others 
came to Ohio with their Book of Mor- 
mon and declaring a new dispensation. 
This was the first time Sidney Rigdon 
had seen the Book of Mormon, notwith- 
standing the oft repeated fallacy that 
his learning was coupled with Joseph 
Smith's ingenuity to produce the Book 
of Mormon. The book was published to 
the world several months previous to Sid- 
ney Rigdon ever seeing the book or the 
Prophet Joseph Smith. Orson Hyde 
read a portion of the New Record, and 
by request preached against it, but feel- 
ing convinced that he had done wrong, 
he determined to say no more against it 
until he had investigated thoroughly for 
himself with an unprejudiced mind. He 
recognized the great truth that no man 
can know a thing nor justifiably oppose 
anything concerning which he knows lit- 
tle or nothing. "He that judgeth a mat- 
ter b-fore he heareth it is not wise." Af- 
ter some consideration of the new mes- 
sage he went to Kirtland to see the 
Prophet Joseph Smith, and bent on fur- 
ther investigation. Upon his arrival 
there he learned that Sidney Rigdon and 
others of his Campbellite associates had 
embraced the faith taught by the Latter- 
day Saints. Upon a more mature inves- 
tigation, with a prayerful spirit to obtain 
light from Heaven, he became convinced 
that God had really spoken from the 
Heavens and established anew the 
Church of Christ after the primitive pat- 
tern. He accordingly presented himself 
for membership and was baptized Oct. 
31st, 1831, by Sidney Rigdon and con- 
fii med the same day by the Prophet Jo- 
se oh Smith. He soon received strong 
and most convincing manifestations of 
the Holy Spirit concerning the truth of 
the work, and began in earnest to bear 
witness to his former associates. Shortly 
afterwards he, with Hyrum Smith, per- 
formed a very successful mission among 
the Campbellites of Ohio. Brother Hyde 
had been ordained a High Priest in the 
Church. They baptized a goodly num- 



ber, organized several branches of the 
Church, and under their administration 
many sick people were healed. The Lord 
"confirmed their words with signs fol- 
lowing" in a remarkable manner. In 
those day 8 spiritualism and other coun- 
terfeits of God's power were not extant 
in America. They are prevalent today, 
as predicted by Joseph Smith and the 
ancient Prophets. In the early days of 
Elder Hyde's ministry in the Church, 
thousands of people had been, by the op- 
eration of the Spirit of the Lord upon 
their own hearts, in course of prepara- 
tion to receive the Gospel. They knew 
the voice of the Good Shepherd, and fol- 
lowed the same. It was the good for- 
tune, God-given, of Elder Orson Hyde 
to reap the fruits of Gospel seed, sown 
by the Almighty in the hearts of thou- 
sands, who readily received baptism 
when the truth in its purity was present- 
ed to them. In the spring of 1832, with 
Samuel H. Smith, he accomplished an 
arduous mission in Massachusetts, New 
York, Rhode Island and Maine. They 
traveled on foot 2,000 miles without 
purse and scrip, and rejoiced in being 
counted worthy of so great an honor. 

Early in 1833 he went with Elder Hy- 
rum Smith and performed a faithful mis- 
sion in Ohio and Pennsylvania. They 
baptized many people in the course of a 
brief mission. Returning to Kirtland, 
Elders Hyde and John Gould were ap- 
pointed as message bearers to the perse- 
cuted Saints in Missouri. They traveled 
on foot 1,000 miles, and crossed the riv- 
ers and large streams by swimming. Or- 
son Hyde was strong and active in body, 
cheered on by the living faith and a cer- 
tain testimony of the truth. They fre- 
quently walked forty miles a day. They 
performed their mission faithfully and 
returned to Kirtland in November of the 
same year. Shortly after this he, with 
Elder Orson Pratt, filled another impor- 
tant mission in Pennsylvania. In May, 
1834, he went with Zion's Camp to Mis- 
souri. On the way to their destination 
Elder Hyde, with Elder P. P. Pratt, 
called on Gov. Daniel Dunklin to secure 
his offices in restoring the Saints to their 
homes and lands in Jackson county. This 
property they had secured legally from 
the government and by purchase from 



394 



THE SOUTHERN STAR. 



individuals, and from which they had 
been driven without provocation or even 
the shadow of law, by ruthless mobs, 
the excuse of their enemies being that 
the Saints believed in revelation, fulfill- 
ment of ancient prophecy, spiritual gifts 
and blessings, and in the abolition of 
slavery. The Governor gave them no 
encouragement, and their effort to save 
the chief executive of Missouri from the 
shame of cowardice, because he feared to 
do his duty, was comparatively in vain. 
Sept. 4th, 1834, he married Marin da 
Johnson, a sister of Lyman E. and Luke 
S. Johnson, who were also members of 
the first Council of Apostles. In the win- 
ter of 1834 Elder Hyde was chosen to 
be one of the Twelve Apostles and or- 
dained to that holy calling Feb. 15th, 
1835. With his associates in the Apos- 
tlesnip he traveled on a mission through 
Vermont and New Hampshire. In 1886 
he went on a mission to New York, 
thence to Canada, where, with Elder 
Parley P. Pratt, he raised up several 
branches of the Church. In 1837 he 
went with Elder Kimball and others to 
introduce the Gospel into England. The 
history of Apostle Hyde in this first 
mission to Europe is largely the same as 
that of President Kimball and the other 
Elders associated with them. The spread 
of the truth was rapid. The power of 
God richly attended their labors, and in 
one year the baptisms in the British Isles 
approximated 1,500 souls. Elder Hyde 
returned to Kirtland May 22d, 1838, and 
in a short time removed to Far West, 
Missouri. Following the bitter persecu- 
tions endured by the Saints in Missouri 
he removed to Nauvoo, Illinois, and took 
part in the early settlement of that his- 
toric place. At the April Conference in 
1840 Brother Hyde was called on a mis- 
sion to Jerusalem. He was soon on the 
way, bearing the Gospel message to the 
land of Caanan, where once dwelt the 
Messiah and His holy Prophets and 
Apostles. John E. Page was appointed 
to accompany him, but failed to comply, 
and Elder Hyde proceeded alone. 

Crossing the ocean to Great Britain, 
he passed on to Germany and in Bavaria 
sojourned awhile to learn the German 
language. He proceeded to Constanti- 
nople, thence to Cairo and Alexandria, 
and encountered many hardships during 
the journey. He reached the Holy City 
in October, 1841, and on Sunday morning, 
Oct. 24th, 1841, he ascended the 
Mount of vylives, the sacred spot where 
once stepped the feet of the Savior, and 
where He will stand again in the last 
days, and consecrated the land for the 
gathering of the Jews. He erected a 
pile of stones there as a witness, and one 
upon the Mount Zion, in verification of 
a vision given him before leaving Nau- 
voo, and the predictions of the Prophet 
Joseph Smith concerning him. He 
reached his home in Nauvoo December, 
1842. Brother Hyde was active at home 
as well as abroad in preaching the Gos- 
pel and assisting to build up the interests 
of the Saints in Nauvoo. When the 
Prophet and patriarch were martyred 
Elder Hyde was on a mission with other 
Apostles, but returned with them to Nau- 
voo after receiving the sad news. Apos- 
tle Hyde was with the Saints in their 
exodus from Nauvoo and endured pa- 
tiently the hardships incident to those 
trying ordeals. In 1846, with Elders 
John Taylor and Parley P. Pratt, 
Brother Hyde went on a mission to En- 
gland to set in order the Churches in that 
land. Upon their arrival he was placed 
in charge of the Millennial Star, while 
Elders Taylor and Pratt visited through- 

\ the mission and regulated the 



branches of the Church. He edited the 
Star efficiently, and his writings were 
read with much interest by the Saints in 
the British Isles. He returned to Win- 
ter Quarters in 1847. While the Pioneer 
company explored the West and located 
the resting place of the Saints in Salt 
Lake Valley Elder Hyde remained in 
charge of the Saints at Winter Quar- 
ters. He published a paper at Council 
Bluffs, known as the Frontier Guardian, 
and came to Salt Lake Valley in 1851. 
He was energetic in helping to found the 
new commonwealth and in every way 
promote the growth and development of 
the Church and the country. In 1855 a 
mission was established in Carson Val- 
ley under the immediate Presidency of 
Apostle Orson Hyde. He organized a 
county there, which was then in Utah, 
but subsequently was a part of Nevada. 
In later years Brother Hyde was sent to 
take charge of the interests of the Church 
in Sanpete county, making his residence 
at Spring City. He was the leading 
spirit in that region up to the time of his 
decease. For a number of terms he rep- 
resented his county in the Territorial 
Legislature, and was an active, efficient 
law-maker. He was also occupied with 
President Young and other leading men 
of the Church in visiting the settlement 
of the 'Saints and encouraging the people 
in all their labors, both spiritual and tem- 
poral. He was also a member of the 
committee for the construction of Manti 
Temple. More than 78 years of age, and 
after a Hfe of useful activity, in which he 
suffered many trials and hardships, 
Apostle Orson Hyde departed this life 
at his home in Spring City, Sanpete 
county, Utah, Nov. 28th, 1878. He left 
a large family and a numerous host of 
co-religionists and friends, who loved 
him in life and mourned his absence when 
the hand of Providence beckoned him to 
another sphere. Apostle Hyde was a 
man of marked ability. He had a strong 
physical constitution and a powerful 
intellect. By application of mind he ac- 
quired a good education, which, coupled 
with a long and varied experience, made 
him a strong instrument in the hands of 
God in disseminating and t defending the 
truth. He was a great Scriptorian, and 
it was said of Orson Hyde that in his 
younger days if anyone should quote or 
read a passage from any part of the 
Scriptures Elder Hyde could quote the 
next verse and tell you where to find it. 
He was a gifted speaker and writer, and 
like all true servants of the Lord, as- 
cribed all the praise, honor and glory to 
our Heavenly Father. 



A DISGRACEFUL AFFAIR. 



Cleveland, O., Oct. 23, 1900. 
President Ben E. Rich. 

Dear Brother— Since last I wrote I 
have been mobbed, but feel more persist- 
ent and determined to battle for truth. 

Last Monday, Oct. 15th, Elder C. D. 
W. Priday, George Summerhays and I 
set out for Damon, Ashtabula county, to 
hold a series of meetings. After an 
eleven minutes' walk from the end of the 
car line we arrived at our place of des- 
tination and were welcomed by our many 
friends. Tuesday the news that the 
Mormon Elders would speak in the 
church was noised around. The meet- 
ings held Tuesday and Wednesday even- 
ings were successes in every particular. 
Thursday, when we went to the church, 
we found the following notice: 

"To the Mormon Elders who are now 
assembled in Damon: Ton are hereby 



notified to leave town within twenty- 
four hours and avoid further trouble. 
"Judge Lynch." 

The significant brand, skulls and bones, 
was on the whitecap sneet. During the 
day rumors were afloat that the Mormon 
Elders were to be mobbed. We supposed 
that there was more 44 threat" and "blow" 
than anything else, so paid little or no 
attention to the circulating stories. 

Thursday we held .forth. The services 
were unmolested. Part of the mob had 
assembled, but being fewer than the 
number of friends, there were no serious 
results — a few eggs were thrown. 

Notwithstanding the many threaten- 
ings, Friday night found us about our 
Father's business. Scarcely had the 
strains of the second song, "Weary not," 
died away, than pealed forth a war 
whoop that would make the strongest 
heart shring. Immediately the door flew 
open. About two dozen rotten eggs 
strucK us and the pulpit simultaneously. 
The women and children rushed scream- 
ing into the aisle, thus getting quite be- 
smeared with bad eggs. The men leaped 
to the door and succeeded in closing it 
against the mob. One man grabbed an 
iron rod and calmly told the lawless ones 
that they would walk over his body be- 
fore a hair of an Elder's head 
was touched. The mob rushed to 
the window near the pulpit Soon 
eggs, apples and most everything 
they could get hold of was piling 
through the window. Brother Priday 
and I received some stinging pelts. The 
rabble was very determined. It was 
some time before the men within dared 
to venture out. When they did the 
how.'hg outlaws were dispersed and pur- 
sued in all haste across the meadows. 
i>one were caught, but most of the of- 
fenders wore identified. 

Saturday morning, when we went to 
the church, we found several baskets, a 
can of tar and a jackicnife. What their 
intentions were I'll leave you to judge. 

The church was badly damaged. It 
will have to be repapered. The pulpit 
and floor were- a loud mess. When I saw 
the age of some of the eggs I did not 
wonder from where the mob could get 
feathers. However, it was rather re- 
versing the order of tar and feathers. 
Our clothes were spoiled. The dresses 
of many were ruined. 

Now, distinctly understand that the 
Damon people did not take part in this 
disgraceful affair. The blamable ones 
were factory hands and hoodlums that 
live nearby. The good citizens of Da- 
mon regard it as most disgraceful and as 
an insult to the neighborhood. The cow- 
ardly rascals will be handled by the 
State. The charge is riot. It is to be 
hoped that the guilty ones shall find a 
home at Columbus. All praise is due the 
Damonites for their manly stand in be- 
half of right and truth. We will keep 
you posted on court proceedings. 

I hardly thought that I should ever 
be mobbed for the cause of Christ, that, 
too, so near the place where the Prophet 
Joseph was stripped, covered with tar 
and beaten on the night of March 25th. 
1832. However, I thank God that I 
have a testimony of the Gospel for which 
I am willing not only to be whipped but 
to die. Your brother, 

H. Z. Lund. 



"Pure religion, and undefiled before 
God and the Father is this: to visit the 
fatherless and the widows in their af- 
fliction, and to keep himself unspotted 
from the world." 



"Everyone that loveth is born of God 
and knoweth God." 



THE SOUTHERN STAB. 



895 




HHEm i Wffl WM^ 



mm\ 



& BY LEROY PUGMIRE. 



This life is a university; experience is 
the pedagogue; the earth the school 
room, and all people scholars. Each 
member of this alma mater has lessons 
assigned, examples allotted, and prob- 
lems apportioned them to solve. Old 
Father Time stands at his post of duty; 
the past he has written and her record 
he has sealed; the present is revealed 
upon the page before him, while with 
his unerring ruler he points into the 
future, and warns us that the hours are 
swiftly fleeting by. Learn your lessons, 
.learn them well, battle with experience; 
brave the trials that beset you on every 
hand; make your seeming defeats rounds 
in the ladder to success; your obstacles 
stepping stones to higher grades. 

Some of the best lessons we ever learn 
we learn from mistakes and failures. 
The error of the past, carefully and judi- 
ciously avoided in the present, becomes 
the success of the future. One great 
man has very truthfully remarked thus: 
"The longer I live, the more deeply am 
I convinced that that which makes the 
difference between one man and another 
— between the weak and the powerful, 
the great and the insignificant, is energy 
— invincible determination— a purpose 
once formed, and then death or victory.** 
These words bespeak in forceful terms 
tae secret of {rue greatness, and sound 
in striking tones the keynote to success. 

Example is better than precept; the 
acts of men are safer guides than mere 
theory or verbosity. Look over the pages 
of history and biography; peruse the acts 
and general conduct of the great and 
mighty men of the earth, scan 
with delight and satisfaction the 
joyful results of their labors, until 
you are filled with pride and am- 
bition, and led to exclaim. "What 
man has done men can do," like cause* 
will produce like effects under similar 
conditions. You will find that these no- 
ble sires whose worthy names grace the 
history of the past, whose records are 
cniseled on the monuments of everlast- 
ing remembrance; whose lives are deeply 
engraven as examples of honor and ster- 
ling integrity, have been men who were 
willing to work with muscle and brain 
power, not disposed to shirk the present 
duty nor content to lounge in wealth and 
splendor, or spend their moments in 
idle pastime or trivial enjoyment. No! 
they were valiant, sturdy, energetic 
souls, whose energy knew no defeat, 
and whose invincible determination sur- 
mounted every seeming obstacle in their 
way. The men who have been truly 
great in the public mind, whose lives we 
honor as exemplary, whose acts we deem 
worthy of emulation, and whose immor- 
tal names we cherish and revere, have 
been men who, for the most part, have 
arisen to their prominence through the 
school of adversity, who have braved 
the trials of human kind and trod with 
weary feet life's rugged way. 

The successful man is he who first 
learns* to govern himself; for if he can 
master self, and better his condition, 
then he is gaining the ascendency in the 
scale of progression and advancement. 
To be successful means to be great, 
and to be truly great means to be good, 



and goodness consists in helping one's 
se.f and others, instead of standing idle 
with arms akimbo expecting some one 
to help you, and making yourself weary 
calling for assistance. It is said of the 
Master that He went about doing good, 
and thus it can be stated of all great and 
good men; they are the successful ones 
in life. If one would be successful, then 
he must needs be useful. No matter in 
whatsoever avocation he may be placed, 
let him learn to be useful, exhibiting a 
careful willingness to maite the very best 
of life, to take the good of every day and 
hope for more tomorrow. Honor your 
calling, whether it be in the lower walks 
of life, or in higher circles, for no matter 
what the calling may be, it will never 
degrade the man, but the man may, and 
oft times does, degrade the calling. 

Success in life depends upon the well 
directed ambition, the will to do, the 
energy to do it, and the understanding to 
do it well. "Wisdom," says the wise 
man, "is the principal thing; therefore 
get wisdom, but in all thy getting, get 
understanding." Success is an achieve- 
ment; if we would gain it, then we must 
win it, achieve it by our efforts if you 
will, for men are not born successful, 
and success is not a legendary virtue, a 
gift of ancestry. Its satisfying results 
are the natural consequences of well di- 
rected energy, prompted oy righteous am- 
bition. Successful men have possessed 
the mind and will to do it, and they 
either found a way or made one. It 
was not with them a faltering attempt, 
an indecisive endeavor, but a firm, de- 
termined resolution, which carried out 
with vim and vigor, gave them a name, 
never to be forgotten or erased, but for- 
ever to be remembered, honored and re- 
vered. The nation's history is full of 
examples of men who, by their firm in- 
tegrity, determined energy, and indomit- 
able stick-to-it-iveness, have overcome bar- 
riers, surmounted obstacles, and became 
heroes of the past. Galileo, in prison, 
where one ray of light shone in his Cell, 
worked out his astronomical problem 
proving that the world moved around 
the sun. Hilton, the poet, was blind; 
Beethoven, the musician, was deaf. 
These masters of art, literature and 
science came up through the school of 
adversity, which has produced more no- 
ble graduates than any university in the 
world. Adverse winds filled their sails, 
and wafted them to the shore of Suc- 
cess. We are placed in more favorable 
positions than were these honored souls, 
we labor under more advantageous con- 
ditions than they, and our opportunities 
for development and advancement are 
more prolific and plenteous than theirs. 
Kites rise against the wind, not with it. 
No man ever worked his passage any- 
where in a dead calm. Opportunity! 
why, her avenues are legion, her chan- 
nels are innumerable! She greets us on 
every hand, she smiles upon us on all 
sides. Like the stinging nettle of the 
meadow, she must be grasped firmly and 
tightly, if we would claim her as our 
own, held tenaciously, and worked out 
energetically, that the boon Success may 
crown our efforts. Let no one lament — 
sorrowing because of a supposed lack of 
opportunity, or bewail thinking there are 
no privileges of becoming great and suc- 
cessful. Their mourning and weeping is 



in vain, for through the tears which be- 
dim their eyes may be distinctly observed 
the avenues and highways they imag- 
ined barred and hidden. Then it is not 
a lack of opportunity which checks the 
course of progression, but the inability 
to grasp it and apply it to its proper use. 
All things in nature are useful, save to 
be an idle, shiftless man, and all things 
have been placed here for a purpose. The 
deadliest of poisons act as an antidote, 
and the little insect under the water 
builds a rock; everything is made for 
some end. The sun has her appointed 
station in the luminaries, the moon her 
course arranged, and the twinkling stars 
their place in the spacious firmament, 
but pray, what were men created for — 
shall he, the crowning glory of all crea- 
tion's handiwork, be useless, helpless, 
and unsuccessful in his lofty sphere? 
Common sense will not have such to be 
so, and reason forbids the reiteration. 
You have heard a score of times that if 
you do but drop a pebble in a brook it 
causes a small ring at first, then an- 
other outside of that, and then another, 
and then another, till the influence of 
the pebble is perceptible over the entire 
bosom of the water. So success hinges 
upon the doing well of small things, and 
the gradual, but continual ascendency 
into those positions for which we are 
best qualified and fitted. 

Contentedness is a blessed gift, and a 
stimulus to success. Not that one should 
be content to be idle and ignorant, no, 
not by any means whatever, but content 
to remain where you are placed, to fill 
your lowly calling with signal and 
marked ability, and then step higher as 
your qualifications may merit, and your 
faithfulness deserve. Do not leave your 
humble position to degrade one which 
you are not able to fill. Gen. Washing- 
ton was contented as a farmer in Vir- 
ginia. Abraham Lincoln conceived some 
of his brightest thoughts while splitting 
rails. James A. Garfield was happy 
while working for his mother in a little 
log cabin. Thomas A. Edison was con- 
tented with the workshop. The lives of 
these illustrious men stand out as mon- 
uments of honor, and signal posts to the 
present generation. The secret to suc- 
cess, the keynote to the whole situation, 
is to have some righteous target in view 
with a determined will to deliver the 
shaft. I can't has never accomplished 
anything, while I'll try has wrought 
wonders. Invincible determination is 
what we need to possess and utilize. The 
proper and lawful exercise of this reso- 
lute will power shall prove to all a 
blessing, it is a stimulus to noble deeds, 
an inspirer for the accomplishment of 
lofty purposes. Man is his own star, the 
master of his own fate, the architect of 
his own destiny. If he would build a 
monument that shall never crumble or 
decay, then* let the foundation stones be 
first hewn, then squared, then smoothed, 
and fitted in their adapted places by 
wisdom's gifted hand. Erect a super- 
structure worthy of this broad founda- 
tion, and with well directed effort, en- 
ergy and tact you may place the cap 
stone of success on this pinnacle of 
honor. The greatest man is he who 
chooses right with the most invincible 
resolution, who resists the sorest temp- 
tations from within and without, who 
bears the heaviest burdens cheerfully, 
who is calmest in storms, and most fear- 
less under menaces and frowns. What 
can be said of the great man can be as 
properly applied to the truly successful 
man, for the success of one will make 
him great and the greatness of the other 
will make him successful. 



396 



THE SOUTHERN STAB. 




••alltand Wstkly by Soitbtri StatM IImIoi Chiron 

;tf Jotit Cbrltt of Ltttor Oty SaliU, 
CbattaiMfa, Too. 



Terns ef Subserlptlen 
(li Mioooo) 



Per year . . $1.00 

Six aenths . .50 

Three aeetha .25 
Slnfle Ceplea, 5 Ceata. 



Subscriber* removing from one place to another, 
and desiring papers changed, should always give 
former as well as present address, by postal card or 
letter. 



Entered at ike Pott (Mice at Chattanooga, Jo**., at 
tecona clots matter. 



Correspondence from all parts of the missionary 
6eld is solicited. Give name and address, or articles 
will be rejected. Write on one side of paper only 
when sent for publication. We reserve the right to 
either eliminate or reject any communication sent in. 
Addr ess Box io? 

Saturday, November 10, 1900. 



ARTICLES OF FAITH 

OP TTO CHURCH OP JESUS CHRI5T OP 
LATTER-DAY SAINTS. 

]. W# belLata io God lb* Et«oaJ ri&ir. tad Jn Hii Sew 
Jwuj t'hriiL, lad Id lb« Hd? Oh«L 

I. Wi b*!i*ra that Hutu wj IE be poQitbad f« ineif ow*i 
tlai. ud qui for Ad*m r a [r«Eirrwinjn. 

1. Wa falk**e thlt. tbcuugh Uj# ttai>im«Qt«r Cfcrilt, mil 
m id kind rHiy fa> I1V1*\ fcy Db*J«nc« [• ihe l*wa and ordi. 
0*0661 Of tb* CiMffl- 

4. Wa WiftT* [hit tii» tnt principal mud airtinacKM* of 
111* Goipel are k Flnt, Filth id tb* Lord Jiili Ob Hit ; tecOadi. 
Kcp€DLkB»; third, BapUara br inroinJaa for tit* reaniuoa 
of 1I01: fourU, U/iai to pJ 11 audi for toe Gift of tb* Hoi/ 
$0*4 

f, W# b*li«i« thai ■ man touil b* caltfd of Odd, b* 
*• profSetT, arid bjr th* laying oo of b*B4i, rt hj *fce*o who in 
to iflLiontj, to orouh the fMpel and id min titer in th* ordi- 
nate** thtreof. 

0. W* believe la th«~*amH ijraanLiaiina chit «iit*d iq 
Iha primilLva church— mm*] j, ApofLlea, Frtrphcta, FiitOn, 
Teacher*, EviogtHctt,fto, 

■7 b Wa b*|i**a In the gift of toagnea. propb«J, WHilitioo, 
f lii do ■, hauling, intarpret-HJon of EODfU**, ♦le- 
ft, W* b*tj«T« tb* Hi at* to b* th* word of God, ii Tit *i 1| 
i» tr>m]*Lrd cbftvctly ; w* alto belie re tb* Book of Uofdod 
to be th* word of tod* 

9. W* balisT* all that Oml hit r***iled, *Jt that Be dbet 
SOW riT«), iltd w* bttitT* that H* wi]| jet rive* J hiidj (real 
«od Important litlDta pertaining to th* Kidgd&m of GodT 

10* W* bati*»a m th* literal £* Uteri at ci'liraa! and Id tb* 
reilontion nt the Tan Tribe*; that Zion will ba balJt upon 
toil f tha Aseriein) cOMlirvant ; that Chritt will reign p*raoa- 
• llj upon tb* earth, and that th* earth Will be renewed and 
recti ve jta pnridiiiJca] ajotr. 

II. W« claim the priviton of wonbEpjnf Alrnifbtr God 
accnr^Jog to lbs dhtalaw or oaf DDDi^enco, and allow all 
man th* aame pfirileft, lei th*D WOtiJlip how, wb*re. dt wbat 

they nay. 

li. Wa bolfv** in belaff rabjoet to kion, praddonta. ruUra, 
sod OMfjatratot ; in bboyinf, honoring sod tntuininf tho law. 

•• ~*»- v..,._. »_ t .,__ t ._ ,t, trna, ebaato, bnnnvolnnl, 



M-eWa btJinva in Ulna hooaat, 1 



jbaiagL ... , 

virtooos. and in doing goodto all MM ; indeed, wa awy mj 
that vafoUov the admoniUon of Pan), -We beliare aU Ihioga, 
wa nope all thinga," we hare endvrod many tbinga, and nope 
to be able to endure aJlthioga. If there it aaytaing Tirtnwaa, 
■valj, or ofgood report or praiseworthy, wa teak after Ante 



Union Pacific Railroad. 

Another Portland train. Two trains 
daily. Effective April 22, the Union Pa- 
cific, Oregon Short Line and Chicago 
Railroad and Navigation company will 
place in service an additional Portland 
train. 

This train, "The Pacific Express," will 
leave Kansas Oity 10:40 a. m. Only 
three days on the road. 

Equipped with Palace Sleepers. Free 
Reclining Chair Cars, ordinary Sleeping 
Car. Dining Car Service (to Granger). 

Tne time of the present Portland train, 
"The Overland Limited," leaving Kansas 
City 6:40 p. m., will be reduced 2 hours 
and 45 minutes between Granger and 
Portland. 
Only 69 hours Kansas City to Port- 
Palace Sleeping Cars, Dining Car Ser- 
vice, Buffet Cars, Chair Cars. 

For time tables, folders, illustrated 
books, pamphlets descriptive of the ter- 
ritory traversed, address J. F. Aglar, 
general agent, St. Louis, Mo. 



THE KINGDOM. 

A religious journal on exchange, re- 
cently published an article entitled 
"Phoenix, Miss., and Mormonism," writ- 
ten by John Lee Black. It appears that 
Mr. Black has been down in Mississippi 
holding religious services, and that while 
at Phoenix he was suspected and taken 
for a "Mormon Elder." Of course the 
accusation was false, but nevertheless it 
caused Mr. Black no small annoyance, 
as he readily perceived the intense ha- 
tred manifest toward the Mormon peo- 
ple, and was on this account refused per- 
mission to use the school house. To 
prove his identity, or at least to prove 
that he had no connection with the so- 
called Mormon Church, he says, "I gave 
them a discourse against Mormonism to 
convince them that I was not a Mormon 
in disguise, as I had been accused." 

Evidently Mr. Black was preaching 
some glorious truths, and advocating 
parts of the everlasting Gospel which 
led the people to suppose him a Mormon, 
and then, fearful of the consequences of 
such a supposition, he winds up with a 
"discourse against Mormonism/' The 
truths he advanced when he first entered 
that hostile and bitter community were 
in strict harmony and perfect accord 
with the doctrines as taught by the gen- 
uine Elder, and therefore he was si- 
lenced; but when he exhibited an antag- 
onistic feeling for the Mormon Elder, 
he was allowed to remain in peace and 
quietude, and preach early and late. It 
is ever thus: so long as a fellow will re- 
vile the Latter-day Saints, scoff and 
scorn at their peculiar faith, deliver racy 
sermons in condemnation and derision 
thereof, he will be granted "both sides 
of the road, ' an open field and innumer- 
able favors shown; but just let a Mor- 
mon Elder arrive upon the scene, who 
minds his own business and preaches the 
word of God, pure and simple, and the 
"tables are turned," another vastly dif- 
ferent episode takes place and he is 
compelled to depart on danger of bodily 
injury or peril of his own sweet life. 

In speaking of the Latter-day Saints, 
or as he designates them, "Mormon 
Prophets," Mr. Black says: "If they 
(the Mormon Prophets) give us another 
Gospel, Paul says we are accursed if 
we preach it; and if they give us the same 
Gospel, we have it already, and so we 
have no use for the *Latter-day Proph- 
ets.' 'Whether there be prophecies they 
shall fail." (I Cor. 13*.) The gentle- 
man has evidently overlooked the fact 
that John the Revelator in prophetic vis- 
ion saw the time when an angel should 
restore to the earth the everlasting Gos- 
pel (Rev. 14:6), and inasmuch as God 
deals with the children of men through 
His servants, the Prophets, (Amos 3:7), 
it becomes absolutely necessary that the 
Lord should prepare and appoint a 
Prophet to receive this heavenly, angelic 
message — the everlasting Gospel. If the 
children of men already possessed the Gos- 
pel in its fullness, then John's words are 
delusive and his professed vision a myth 
So far as the Scripture contained in (I. 
Cor. 13:8) and quoted above by Mr. 
Black, is concerned, it is but an additional 
proof for a firm belief in prophecy. Proph- 
ecies were not to fail until perfection was 
attained, when we should see eye to eye, 
know as we are known, the dimming 
vails removed, and all mysteries under- 
stood. This is clearly seen by perusing 
the following verses: "For we know in 
part, and we prophesy in part. But when 
that which is perfect is come, then that 
which is in part shall be done away. 
Have we arrived at perfection in the 
knowledge of the Lord or in the unity of 



the faith? No! Then prophecies have 
not yet failed to be a gift of the Spirit, 
and consequently are enjoyed where th«it 
goodly influence prevails. There is no 
denying this fact; it is an evidence for, 
and not against. Those who use the same 
to overthrow Mormonism are condemning 
themselves, and are finally prostrated in 
their own pitfalls. 

Mr. Black continues: "The Mormons 
say that the kingdom prophesied of by 
Daniel (chap. 2) was set up by Joseph 
Smith in the year 1830, because it was to 
be in the Matter days;' but Peter tells us 
that the things which happened on the 
day of Pentecost were to come to pass in 
4 the last days.'" (Acts 2:17). The 
prophecy of Joel as referred to by Peter 
was not altogether fulfilled on the day of 
Pentecost, for the things which did trans- 
pire on that memorable day, were only 
in part and not in full, as Mr. Black 
would infer. So, then, we have no evi- 
dence to prove that these manifestations 
were not to be witnessed at a much later 
date than Paul or Peter's time. The gen- 
tleman asks this question : "If Peter had 
the keys of the kingdom (Matt. 16:19). 
how could Joseph Smith unlock the door 
eighteen hundred years after Peter's 
time?" Of course there is only one way 
that this could be done, and that is for 
Peter to restore those "keys" and the au- 
thority of the Holy Apostleship upon tho 
boy prophet — Joseph Smith — which the 
latter day prophet solemnly declares he 
did. The testimony of Joseph Smith to 
the people of this generation is to the ef- 
fect that the Apostles Peter, James and 
John came from the mansions of glory 
and conferred upon him all the keys, au- 
thority, privileges and blessings pertaining 
to the work of God on the earth, and the 
setting up of His kingdom among the 
children of men. 

The time of the setting up of this king- 
dom spoken of by Daniel, the prophet, in 
his second chapter was not to be in the 
meridian of time — the days of Christ's 
personal ministry on earth — but in the 
dispensation of the fullness of times — the 
great and mammoth dispensation of all 
ages^ — the last days. The kingdom of God 
is eternal, everlasting, and although it 
may be overcome in the earth through the 
wickedness and sinfulness of men, still it 
exists in perfection and completeness in 
the heavens of glory. From the very mat 
ter of fact that Daniel speaks of the sec- 
ting up of a kingdom which should "never 
be destroyed," or "left to other people," 
it gives us to understand that at some 
time it may be destroyed in the earth or 
given to other people, but at this specific 
time it would not. 

Our brother will discover that that 
which the world erroneously calls "Mor- 
monism" is well guarded against all as- 
saults, fortified for all attacks, and per- 
fectly able to defend her glorious system, 
in the face of all opposition. Our claims 
are broad, because we stand upon a broad 
foundation — the solid rock of revelation ; 
our faith is steadfast because we heed the 
voice of God as He speaks through His 
servants the prophets; and our feet are 
kept in the straight and narrow way, be- 
cause we march to the music of heavenly 
inspiration. We testify that the kingdom 
spoken of by Daniel is being established 
upon the earth, that God has communi- 
cated His mind and will to man, and that 
the Gospel of salvation is being heralded 
from shore to shore, as a witness unto all 
nations, before the end comes. 



"For God hath not given us the spirit 
of fear: but of power and of love, and of 
a sound mind." 



THE SOUTHERN STAB. 



897 



EDITORIAL THOUGHT. 

An ambitious man without energy is 
like a well equipped vessel stranded upon 
the shores waiting for some favorable 
tide to waft it upon the ocean of fortune. 

Persistent effort, determined energy, 
and a resolute will, guided by a righteous 
motive, and prompted by holy desires, 
are sure to win success in the struggle 
of life. 

Strive for godliness, manifest humility, 
exercise charity, and overcome evil with 
good. 

Let no man deceive you, the prize of 
Eternal Life awaits the enduring faith 
of the righteous. 

Would you be loved, then bestow love 
upon others; would you have mercy ex- 
tended unto you, then be merciful; would 
you receive the forgiveness of another, 
then see to it that you are willing to for- 
give. 

Pluck, push, perseverance, these three 
are necessary in the affairs of life. Take 
hold, stick to and don't let go, for by thus 
doing you can shape your own fate, and 
master your own destiny. 

Scatter seeds of truth in the stream 
of time that when launched upon the 
bosom of eternity you may reap the 
peaceable and everlasting fruits of right- 
eousness. 

We are here for a purpose, and our 
stay is brief. The end is not far distant, 
and the day of final accounts is near. 
Will we procrastinate the day of our re- 
demption, and woefully neglect the sal- 
vation so graciously offered us by our 
Lord? 

Our three worst enemies are, idleness, 
superstition and vice. The first wastes, 
the second frightens, and the third poi- 
sons. These are enemies to our tran- 
quility here, and will prove detrimental 
to us hereafter. 

Let us step aboard the ship of Zion as 
she stems the tide of persecution, and 
braves the tempests of false accusation. 
Her destiny is the harbor of life ever- 
lasting, and the shores of Eternal Bliss. 
No matter how the waves may dash, the 
winds howl, and the storms beat, the 
ship of Zion will suffer no harm, and all 
who keep aboard shall land in safety and 
security. 

Do we fear the foe, then are we cow- 
ards; do we fear God, then are we His 
chosen sons. Never fear the puny arm 
of flesh, but trust in God and do the 
right, for to him that doeth good and 
lovetn God there is a glorious crown in 
store. 

A mighty and just Ruler is our God, 
whose ways are love, mercy and truth. 
To the murmurer He gives faith, to the 
weak strength, to the mourner joy, to the 
afflicted comfort. For all His wayward 
erring children, He has love and abund- 
ant mercy. To all who will come unto 
Him in spirit and in truth He has prom- 
ised to bless, and not turn aside empty- 
handed, or cast them out forlorn and 
disappointed. Serve ye the Lord, and 
sing ye of His goodness, for He doeth 
all things well 



"Let us not be weary in well doing: 
for dn due season we shall reap, if we 
faint not." 



"Not as a servant, but above a ser- 
vant." 



Special Low Rates Via 

Union Pacific Railroad every Tuesday 
to Colorado, Utah, Montana, Idaho, Ore- 
gon, Washington. For particulars ad- 
dress J. F. Aglar, General Agent, St. 
Louis. 



OUR CONFERENCE PRESIDENTS. 

Away down in the extreme southern 
part of Utah, on the banks of the turbu- 
lent Rio Virgin river, in Washington 
county, at the little village of Dunsaw, 
Elder John Reeve first saw the light of 
day in a mortal existence. The village 
is now vacated by reason of the fact that 
the river washed away much of the 
town and farming land. In 1892 the 
family sought a new home at Hinckley, 
Millard county, Utah, at which place 
they are now located— it being the home 
of the subject of our sketch. 

.The parents of Brother Reeve were 
converted to the Gospel on the other side 
of the Atlantic in the sunny isle of Great 
Britain, and are English by nativity. 
They emigrated to Utah in 1853. and are 
therefore well acquainted with the trials 
and hardships of pioneer life. 

To those who are familiar with the ed- 
ucational facilities of Southern Utah, it 
is needless to say that they are limited, 
scant and meager. Like the majority of 
sturdy Westerners, Brother Reeve at- 




ELDBR JOHN REEVE. 
President Middle Tennessee Conference. 



tended the public school for a few months 
in the winter, and during the summer 
worked upon the farm. After locating 
at Hinckley he was imbued with a strong 
determined desire to obtain a higher ed- 
ucation, and so he attended the Latter- 
day Saints College, and afterwards the 
Brigham Young Academy at Provo, 
Utah. 

After leaving the academy he taught 
school for two winters, and it was while 
teaching at Leamington, Utah, in the 
spring of 1899 that he received a call to 
preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ in the 
Southern States. 

It was June 15th, 1899, when he left 
Salt Lake City for the South, and four 
days later he arrived, with the company, 
in Chattanooga, from which place he was 
assigned to labor as a canvassing Elder 
in Davidson county, Tenn., of the Middle 
Tennessee Conference. When the Mid- 
dle Tennessee Conference was held in 
Nashville, Dec. 9th and 10th, 1899, 
Brother Reeve was called to act as a 
counsellor to President J. U. Allred, and 
upon the release of the President in 
June, he was selected to succeed him in 
the Presidency, choosing for his coun- 



sellors Elders Emery Barrus and John 
Kingdom. 

President Reeve is a married man, and 
has two sweet little boys and a loving 
wife in his cozy domicile at Hinckley, 
who anxiously and longingly await the 
time when he shall return with honor and 
the blessings of the Holy Priesthood. 
Brother Reeve will be 28 years old on 
the 13th day of the first month of the 
new year. He is energetic, zealous, fear- 
less and bold, being an intrepid defender 
of the faith and a stalwart supporter 
and advocate of righteousness and truth. 
His testimony to all the world is this. 
"The message delivered in these last 
days through the Prophet Joseph Smith, 
is the Gospel of Jesus Christ— the power 
of God unto salvation." 



IN HONOR BOUND. 

(Inscribed to W. S. Stratton.) 

In honor bound to serve the state- 
Humanity. Alone the great 
Are they who nobly strive with fate 

And love their fellow men; 
Who bravely share the lot of those 
Who by their manly toil uprose 
To well-earned competence, and chose 

To help their brothers then. 

In honor bound to seek the right 
Of public questions— hail the light— 
With brain and brawn urge on the flight 

For Justice and "The Stars;" 
To follow where our heroes led. 
To trust our leader who has shed 
New glory on our valiant dead, 

And won in righteous wars. 

In honor bound to meet a debt 
With honest dollars. Never yet 
Knew freedom shame, or base regret, 

Or greed of place and power. 
On in the march of progress! Yield 
No foot to treason! Ours to shield 
Savage from savagery! Our field 

Is earth's God-given dower. 
—Helen Hinsdale Rich, in Chicago Inter 
Ocean , Oct. 9, 1900. * 

THE DEAD. 

Brother R. J. Ridgway, of Clarendon 
county, S. C. has been called to mourn 
the loss of one of his sweet little girls, 
who departed this life about Oct. 7th, 
1900. Brother Ridgway is a faithful 
Latter-day Saint, and has been called to 
suffer much affliction for the Gospel of 
Jesus Christ. He is heart-broken over 
the loss of his sweet little girl, and we 
trust the Lord will bless him in the hour 
of his bereavement, and comfort him by 
the sweet consoling life-giving influence 
of His Holy Spirit. 



Opportunity. 

The recent death of ex-Senator John 
J. Ingalls will give new interest to the 
poem, entitled "Opportunity," which he 
wrote many years ago. It has been 
widely printed and much admired: 

Master of human destinies am I! 

Fame, love and fortune on my footsteps 

wait. 
Cities and fields I walk; I penetrate 
Deserts and seas remote, and, passing by 
Hovel and mart and palace, soon or late 
I knock unbidden once at every gate! 

If sleeping, wake— If feasting, rise before 
I turn away. It is the hour of fate, 
And they who follow me reach every state 
Mortals desire, and conquer every foe 
Save death; but those who doubt or hesi- 
tate, 
Condemned to failure, penury and woe, 
Seek me in vain and uselessly implore. 
I answer not, and I return no more. 

A Chicago professor predicts that in 
1,500 years Chicago will be inundated by 
Lake Michigan. The city is sinking at 
the rate of nine inches every 100 years. 

"His truth shall be thy shield and 
buckler." 



398 



THE SOUTHERN STAB. 



PF i n T H? irF Hr l i J ^f J HHHi J HPHHf tf Hrii J PHHf J HHHHHHHi J HHHr'Hrfi J H^Hrfr'Hi u HiJ 



BY A. ARROWSMITH. 
^ ?? P ffr^ r!n'rfrWHrWrfH^^ 



"Enter ye in at the strait gate; for 
wide is the Kate and broad is the way 
that leadeth to destruction, and many 
there be which go in thereat; because 
strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, 
which leadeth unto life, and few there 
be that find it." 

Near two thousand years ago the Cap- 
tain of Salvation uttered the above in 
connection with many beautiful truths. 
After His resurrection, when all power 
was given unto Him both in Heaven 
and in earth, He gave a commission unto 
His Apostles (eleven of them), saying, 
"Go ye into all the world and preach the 
Gospel to every creature." "Ye have not 
chosen me, but I have chosen you and 
ordained you." "Go ye therefore and 
teach all nations, baptizing them in the 
name of the Father and of the Son and 
of the Holy Ghost." 

Upon the strength of the above com- 
mission, men of all nations, creeds and 
colors have taken it upon themselves to 
go forth in the pomp of their own doc- 
trines, rites and ceremonies and preach 
their system of religion, calling it Chris- 
tianity. The result is that upwards of 
500,000,000 of the inhabitants of this 
world profess a belief in Jesus of Naz- 
areth and accept Him as Divine, "the 
Son of God," the way, the truth and the 
life," and apparently Christianity has 
been a success in bringing humanity to 
a knowledge of its faith. 

In this age of the world man has 
adopted a system of manufacturing par- 
sons, and seminaries of learning have 
been provided so that men whose ambi- 
tions and aspirations are of the clerical 
order might be educated in the profes- 
sion of a preacher, and a line of argu- 
ment adopted so that each particular sect 
might, with apparent authority, have the 
conscience to proselyte its particular 
faith. 

We thus have multitudes of uninspired 
parsons, ever learning and never able to 
come to the knowledge of the truth, men 
of corrupt minds, reprobate concerning 
the faith, in every nation under the sun, 
preaching dogmas contrary to the in- 
structions of the Divine Master they pre- 
tend to follow. 

Such is the general condition of Chris- 
tianity, and with its multitude of creeds, 
rites and ceremonies, it is sneered at by 
the Pagan and held up in derision as a 
system of discord and disunion, a "house 
divided against itself," stigmatized and 
branded "confusion." 

"God is not the author of confusion," 
and sent His Son Jesus in the meridian 
of time to introduce a system of pure 
theology. He came from the Father, 
with due authority, and presented His 
"Everlasting Gospel," which was a code 
of laws, suitable for mankind, to purify 
and sanctify them and make them per- 
fect. Jesus was "the perfect man" and 
practiced what He preached, designing 
that His Kingdom should be an ever- 
lasting Kingdom and that His Father's 
will should be done on earth as in 
Heaven; also that He should reign on 
the earth, as King of Kings and Lord of 
Lords. In fact, He laid the foundation 
for a theocratic government, whose pure 
and equitable laws should abound, from 
the east to the west and from the north 



to the south; which should eventually 
cause all men to see eye to eye and 
knowledge to cover the earth as the wa- 
ters cover the sea. The ultimate design 
of onrist's system of theology is perfec- 
tion, and is embodied in the expression, 
"Be ye perfect, even as your Father 
which is in Heaven is perfect." 

In order to attain perfection, it is ab- 
solutely essential to secure an entrance 
into "the strait and narrow way" and 
become citizens of Christ's government, 
and then to walk uprightly, not swerving 
to the right or to the left. Snares are 
laid by the adversary, and man, unless 
he is thoroughly clad in the armor of 
righteousness, is apt to stumble and fall. 
Perfection is apparently unattainable in 
this life, and although we may strive our 
utmost to overcome the weaknesses of 
the flesh, we fall and -are compelled to 
recognize the fallibility of man. 

We need a guide that we might get on 
that "strait and narrow way," and the 
"law and the testimony," the "Word 
of God," should be studied, which is the 
plan of salvation. "Search the Scrip- 
tures, for in them ye think ye have eter- 
nal life; and they are they which testify 
of me." If we will do this, taking the 
advice of Jesus, and study the acts and 
doings of th£ Apostles, who walked and 
talked with the Captain o£ Salvation for 
upwards of three and a half years, we 
will find that faith was one of the essen- 
tial requisites, and that "without faith 
it is impossible to please God," that 
whosoever would come unto Him must 
believe that He is, and that He is a re- 
warder of them who diligently seek Him. 
(Heb. 11:6.) Another essential gift in 
the order of salvation is repentance,' 
which is a godly sorrow for sins com- 
mitted, which would work a repentance 
unto salvation not to be repented of, 
whereas the sorrow of the world worketh 
death. (II Cor. 7:10.) The next requisite 
was to obtain a remission of sins, and, 
according to Holy Writ, this could not 
be obtained only through baptism by im- 
mersion, which was ordained by God, 
for to remit sin. (Mark 1:4.) 

The tabernacle now being pure, is a 
fit receptacle for the Holy Ghost, for 
man must be born of the Spirit. An- 
ciently this was conferred by the laying 
on of hands. (Acts 19:6.) 

All the above gifts could not be be- 
stowed by the devout Pharisee or Sad- 
ducee, much less by the magician or 
sorcerer, and the keys of the Kingdom 
were only held by one man, at one time, 
who was recognized as the mouthpiece 
of God upon earth, "a Prophet, seer and 
revelator." In the primitive church 
Christ chose His Apostles and delegated 
Peter to be the head, bestowing the keys 
of the Priesthood of Melchisedec upon 
him, that whatsoever he should loose on 
earth should be loosed in Heaven, and 
whatsoever he should bind on earth 
should be bound in Heaven. (Matt. 
16:19.) 

1'i.is authority upon the earth did not 
grant to others the right to officiate in 
the name of Jesus Christ. The eplcu- 
rians and gnostics, likewise academics 
and platonics and all the Pagan faiths, 
were equally obnoxious to Christianity. 
The devout Pharisee, Essenee and Sad- 
ducee were equally gone astray and grov- 



elling in the dark, and unless they re- 
pented they likewise would perish. All 
the world stood opposed to the Gospel 
of Christ and the principles of righteous- 
ness, xne theology of Jesus was there- 
fore exclusive, it was not a system of 
many lords, many faitns and many bap- 
tisms, but only acknowledging "one Lord, 
one raith and one baptism"— but two 
ways, the one broad and the other nar- 
row, and it is not everyone that saith 
Lord, Lord, that enter Heaven, but it is 
the one who doeth the will of the Father. 

Just before the ascension from Beth- 
any, Jesus imparted His final instruc- 
tions to the Apostles, which was that 
they bear His Gospel and deliver His 
message unto all the world, and "He 
that believed and were baptized should be 
saved, otherwise they should be damned." 
These men who had been duly chosen 
by the Savior, filled their mission accept- 
ably, judging from the record of "the 
acts of the Apostles." They preached 
and exhorted all men to accept Jesus as 
the Christ, and called upon them to ex- 
ercise faith in Him, repent of their dins, 
be baptized for a remission of the same, 
and receive the Holy Ghost. These were 
the initiatory principles, to adopt aliens 
into the Kingdom of God, and to fully 
attest the divinity of this message, cer- 
tain signs should follow believer*. 

Upwards of six weeks elapsed after the 
departure of Jesus, and these • Apostles 
were met together in an upper chamber 
conversing of past events, and the mirac- 
ulous work of the Messiah. It was in 
Jerusalem, at the feast of Pentecost, 
when the Jews were gathered from all 
nations, understanding different lan- 
guages, when lo! the Holy Ghost, the 
promised Comforter, came to testify to 
the divinity of the mission of the Naz- 
arene. The Apostles spake in strange 
tongues, declaring to each nation repre- 
sented the glad tidings of great joy. Ap- 
parently the message spread consterna- 
tion among the Jews, and they thought 
such actions wai the result of drunken- 
ness, but Peter boldly told them it was 
the operation of the Spirit, spoken of by 
Joel, the Prophet, which should eventu- 
ally be poured out upon all people. These 
foreign Jew* listened, became convinced 
and converted to the fact that the Son 
of God had actually been led as a lamb 
to tue slaughter. Many of them had not 
taken active part in the crucifixion, nor 
consented to His death, and others again 
had actually taken part in that sad 
drama before Pilate and had shouted 
with the rabble, "Crucify Him, crucify 
Him, away with Him, the blasphemer," 
and perhaps they had spat upon their 
Redeemer; however, they were filled 
with remorse, and believed, crying "Men 
and brethren, what shall we do?" Peter, 
in the majesty of his Priesthood, said 
unto them, "Repent and be baptized, 
everyone of you, in the name of Jesus 
Christ for the remission of sins, and ye 
shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. 
For the promise is unto you, and to your 
children, and to all that are afar off, even 
as manv as the Lord our God shall call." 
(Acts 2:38.) 

The above is but a very brief account 
of the establishment of the Kingdom of 
God upon the earth in the primitive days. 
That particular event was remarkable 
and attested by great power, about three 
thousand being added to tne Church and 
were baptized. The labors of those min- 
isters of salvation, who, by the way, 
were not college-bred, seminary-learned 
parsons, but were chiefly composed of 
poor, illiterate fishermen, were confined 
for many years to the land of Judea, 



THE SOUTHERN STAB. 



899 



among the lost sheep of the house of 
Israel. As the Church grew they obeyed 
the law of consecration and had all things 
in common. In order that the temporal 
affairs of the Church could be better at- 
tended to> seven men were ordained by 
the laying on of hands, to the lesser 
Priesthood, which held the authority to 
preach and baptize, but not the authority 
to confer the Holy Ghost. (Acts 6:G.) 

Philip was one of the seven, a man 
who performed a remarkable mission 
among the Samaritans. He baptized 
many into the Church and worked many 
mighty miracles, but in order that they 
might be endowed with the Holy Ghost, 
it was necessary for Peter and John to 
travel from Jerusalem to Samaria, a dis- 
tance of seventy miles, and lay their 
bands upon the heads of those baptized 
converts, that they might be filled with 
the Holy Ghost, and the record says: 
"Then laid they their hands on them, 
and they received the Holy Ghost." 
(Acts 8:17.) 

In the latter part of this same chapter 
we also read of another convert, who 
desired to get into "the narrow way," a 
man in authority, being a treasurer to 
Candace, Queen of the Ethiopians. This 
man evidently was a Jew and a student 
of the Prophets, being deeply interested 
in the prophecies of Isaiah. Philip rode 
in his chariot and interpreted the fifty-, 
third chapter of Isaiah to him, giving 
the eunuch such evidence that convinced 
him that Jesus was the Christ. 

When he was converted, like the Jews 
at Pentecost, and the people of Samaria, 
he desired membership into Christ's 
Church through the door of baptism, say- 
ing: "What doth hinder me to be bap- 
tized?" And Philip said, "If thou be- 
lievest with all thine heart, thou may- 
est." And he answered and said, "I be- 
lieve that Jesus Christ is the Son of 
God." And he commanded the chariot 
to stand still; and they went down both 
into the water, both Philip and the 
eunuch; and he baptized him." (Acts 
8:38.) 

Contemporaneous with these events, 
and an active mobocrat against the Chris- 
tians, was one Saul, a young man born 
in Tarsus, in the province of Silicia. His 
father, a Jew of the Pharisee order, hav- 
ing aided the empire in conquests, was 
granted his citizenship and made a Ro- 
man. Saul was educated in the hellenic 
schools, and learned the trade of tent- 
maker, but in order to give him more 
faith in the religion of his fathers, he 
was sent to Jerusalem and instructed in 
theology by the great teacher, Gamaliel. 
In this school he was taught to believe 
Jesus an impostor, and he labored faith- 
fully, as an honest mobocrat, to expunge 
this new religion from off the earth. He 
was in league and union with the Sanhe- 
drin and Priesthood of the Jews and was 
remarkably active in driving the Chris- 
tians from Jerusalem. 

At the head of a band of mobocrats, 
with due authority from the High Priest, 
he started on a long journey to Damas- 
cus for the purpose of persecuting a 
few Christians organized there. En 
route, when near his destination, this as- 
siduous worker of wickedness was called 
upon to halt in his career, and hence- 
forth we find him transformed into a 
worker of righteousness. It required a 
remarkable manifestation and a verbal 
conversation with the slain Messiah to 
convert this young man. The brilliancy 
of the light from Heaven affects his 
sight, aad we find him a blind, helpless, 
penitent sinner, searching for Ananias, 
a devout Christian of Damascus. Ana- 



nias had been duly notified in a vision 
of Saul's conversion and was instructed 
to go to the house of Judas, in Straight 
street, and he would find the repentant 
Saul, who had fasted three days and 
nights and was fully prepared for the 
message of Ananias. Saul was com- 
manded to be baptized and wash away 
his sins, and Ananias laid his hands 
upon his head, thus bestowing the Holy 
Ghost and restoring his sight. Saul was 
born again, and started in that strait 
and "narrow way," putting off the old 
man with his sins and putting on the new 
man in Christ Jesus. He was after- 
wards generally known by the Greek ap- 
pelation, Paulus, or Paul, and was the 
most intrepid and valiant disciple that 
the primitive Church had. As a soldier 
of Christ, he was clothed with the armor 
of righteousness, being always in the van 
in contesting with the powers of dark- 
ness. He was persecuted and finally 
martyred in Rome. A short time before 
he was beheaded, he made use of the 
grand expression, "I am now ready to be 
offered, and the time of my departure is 
at hand. I have fought a good fight, I 
have finished my course, I have kept the 
faith; henceforth there is laid up for me 
a crown of righteousness, which the 
Lord, the righteous Judge, shall -give me 
at that day; and not to me only, but to 
all them also that love His appearing." 
(II Tim. 4:6.) 

Another notable convert in those days 
was Cornelius, a Gentile. Being a Ro- 
man citizen and a soldier of renown, he 
had been made a man in authority, a 
centurian, or Captain over one hundred 
soldiers. The record states that he was 
just, prayerful and hospitable, and that 
his supplications before the throne of 
grace had come up as a sweet memorial, 
so much so that God sent an angel to 
visit him, to give him instructions and 
set him on the "narrow way," that he 
might obtain salvation. Cornelius, who 
resided in Caesarea, was told to send 
for Simon Peter, who at that time was 
lodging with a man named Simon, a 
tanner, at Jopp'a, and he would tell him 
what he should do, in order to get into 
the Kingdom of God. The instructions 
were obeyed, and Peter traveled that 
thirty-three miles to Caesarea, in order 
to tell Cornelius and his household 
woros whereby he and all his house could 
be saved. 

Peter was not convinced that the Gen- 
tiles were fit subjects of the Kingdom, 
and .t was necessary for the Lord to send 
him a vision, of a variety of beasts let 
down in a net, when he waa commanded 
to kill and eat. Peter being a Jew, was 
very particular about what flesh he par- 
took of, and he said: "Not so, Lord; for 
I have never eaten anything that is com- 
mon or unclean." The answer was: 
"What God has cleansed, that call not 
thou common." Immediately after this 
vision the messengers of Cornelius were 
admitted, and Peter accompanied them 
to Caesarea, saying, "Of a truth I per- 
ceive that God is no respecter of per- 
sons; but in every nation he that feareth 
Him, and worketh righteousness, is ac- 
cepted with Him." Afterwards Peter 
taught this household the doctrines of a 
resurrected Savior, and the Holy Ghost 
came upon them, as upon the Jews at 
Pentecost, and this Gentile family spake 
in tongues and glorified God. Until this, 
Peter appeared reluctant about allowing 
the Gentiles in the strait and narrow 
way, but upon seeing that the Holy 
Ghost operated among them, he said. 
"Can any man forbid water, that these 
should not be baptized, which have re- 
ceived the Holy Ghost as well as we? 



And he commanded them to be baptized 
in the name of the Lord." Thus the 
Gentiles were started in the "narrow 
way" and made heirs of salvation. (Acts 
10.) 

I will recount one more instance of the 
Gospel being taken to tne Gentiles, also 
a iComan, a native of Philippi, then I will 
close this article. Paul and Silas had 
been preaching and organizing a branch 
of the Church in the city of Philippi, had 
started Lydia and her household in the 
"narrow path," baptized them, and were 
meeting with some success, when they 
were taken and whipped by the authori- 
ties and cast into prison. During the 
night an earthquake shook the prison, 
liberated the captives and opened the 
doors. The jailor, in terror, believing 
his prisoners had gone, drew his sword 
and attempted suicide. He had been 
asleep on duty and it was a capital of- 
fense, under the Roman laws, to allow a 
prisoner to escape. Paul said, "Do thy- 
self no harm; for we are all here." The 
jailor appeared filled with gratitude and 
thanksgiving at this joyful news, and he 
washed their stripes. Undoubtedly the 
backs of Paul and Silas were raw and 
sore with the beating they had received, 
and the grateful jailor administered com- 
fort to them and washed and anointed 
their backs. Paul meanwhile preached 
the plan of redemption to this man and 
his family, converted them, took them out 
in the night and baptized them, starting 
them also in the "narrow way." (Acts 
16.) 

Wnat more need we add? Is not the 
way made clear, so that a man, though 
a fool, need not err therein? Does not 
the Gospel of Jesus, as taught by Him 
and His Apostles, show clearly that the 
fundamental laws requisite to get into 
the "narrow way" are, first, faith, second, 
repentance, third, baptism by immersion 
for the remission of sin, and fourthly, a 
baptism of the Holy Ghost, which is 
conferred by the, laying on of hands? 
These ordinances being duly administered 
by one holding authority. (Heb. 6:1.) 

Reader, examine the several hundred 
sects in Christendom and see if they re- 
semble the primitive Church of Christ, 
as described in this article. This Church 
was built upon the foundation of Apos- 
tles and Prophets, High Priests, Seven- 
ties, Elders, Priests, teachers and Dea- 
cons. See if their rites and ceremonies 
are identical with those enumerated 
above. Ask them if signs follow believ- 
ers as they did anciently, when the sick 
were healed, devils cast out and men 
spake in tongues and prophesied. 

Thus you can prove all things and hold 
fast to that which is good, and be a fol- 
lower of Jesus Christ, a "Latter-day 
Saint," and you will go on unto perfec- 
tion, growing in grace and a knowledge 
of the truth, learning line upon line and 
precept upon precept, until you become 
perfect, having walked in the "narrow 
way" and earned the crown of righteous- 
ness laid up for the faithful. 
(The end.) 

The battle is not to the strong, 
The race not always to the fleet; 

And he who seeks to pluck the stars 
Will lose the jewels at his feet 



The profit of books is according to the 
sensibility of the reader. The profoundest 
thought or passion sleeps as In a mine, un- 
til an equal mind and heart finds and pub- 
lishes It.— Emerson. 



Modern education too often covers the fln- 

fers with rings, and at the same time cuts 
he sinews at the wrist.— Earl of Sterling. 

Men are as much blinded by the extremes 
of misery as by the extremes of prosperity. 
—Burke. 



400 



THE SOUTHERN STAB. 



REPORT OF MISSION CONFERENCES FOR WEEK ENDING OCT. 20, 1900. 



PRESIDENT 



Goo, A. Adams....... 

Heber i?. Ul son,. .,..,. 

J. G. Bolton.-.. _ 

.T. Spencer Worsiey 

11. l\ Hansen, „ 

A. c. strong.*. ..« 

John H. Bankhead... 

■ i.ihn Itft-vi' ,. 

♦L M. Haws,. 

C. R. Humphcrys...,. 

<J. M. Porter , 

W. W. MoeRay - 

J. H. trite afield...... 

K. L. Houtz * 

Dot! C, Benson,........, 

I,. M. Nebeker M1 , , 

H.Z. Land. »..„, 



CONFERENCE 



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North Carolina M 
South Carolina _ 
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East Kentucky... 
Louisiana ..„..„. 
South Alabama 
North Ktnitm L kv 

South Ohio 

North Ohio..,.. 



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Cu rtera villa , ,„„, 

KJchniond, Box SS8 „..„., 

Centre . h ...„.««„« 

Kale, Mite hull Co„.., 

Savannah , + .,„,.*„,„ 4 t 

Memphta, Box lfi!L„ w „„. 

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Sparta, White County,,. 

Gohi«lioro> Box tt*4 

Bojl l30t, Lir^L-nvilly..,.^. 
M, Helena Pariab^„.,„ t+t 

Barbourgvillo^ , 

I^Akv Village .«. , 

LapLne ... 

10ft W.Gray St., Louisville 
S39 Belts St., Cinelnnatl 
MuWado Park Avenoe. 



STATS 



Georgia 
Virginia 

Kentucky 

N. Carolina 

Georgia 

Tennessee 

Georgia 

Tr-n «..---. ■■.- 

N, Carolina 

a, Carolina 

Louisiana 

Kentucky 

Louisiana 

Alabama 

Rentucky 

Ohio 

Cleveland O 



History o\ the Southern States Mission. 

(Continued from Page 392.) 

April, 1900. — President Rich visited the 
Ohio Conference during the latter part of 
the month. The conference was divided, 
and Elder H. Z. Lund was called to pre- 
side over the North Ohio Conference, with 
headquarters at Cleveland, Ohio, while 
Elder L. M. Nebeker was appointed to 
take charge of the South Ohio Conference, 
with headquarters in Cincinnati. Presi- 
dent Maycock was called home on account 
of the death of his father. 

The city of Jackson, Tenn., was opened 
during this month, and a good work was 
performed in that place. Some opposi- 
tion, led by a sanctified preacher, was en- 
countered, and a few eggs were thrown, 
but no serious damage was done. 

In Macon county, Tenn., Elders J. 
Reeve and E. S. Parkinson were molested 
and threatened. Hickory switches were 
left on the door step of the home of Broth- 
er Choate, with a note warning Elders 
that they would be visited in the night. 
The threats were made by cowards, and 
nothing came of it outside of the above. 
All was peace! The arrivals for this 
month were : Silas S. Smith, A. G. Has- 
kell, W. Sowards, John Banks, R. E. 
Skinner, L. Dunn, F. Childs, Ira D. Mas- 
sey, J. S. Brown, J. R. Poulson, Geo. Da- 
vis, Geo. R. Lyman, W. R. Bybee, W. W. 
Selck, D. A. Brinton, J. E. Follett, A. N. 
Allred, J. W. Lewis, Theo. Martineau 
and J. D. Frankland. 

May — The Elders met with some little 
opposition during this month. On the 
9th President Rich made a remarkable 
and somewhat hazardous trip to Yazoo 
county, Miss. The purpose and intent of 
his visit to that place was to see that the 
Saints were not despoiled of their rights. 
The trip was entirely satisfactory, and 
President Rich was able to hold meeting, 
bless two children, and return unmolest- 
ed. 

The arrivals for May : E. T. Mayhew, 
W. A. Lindsay, Hyrum Brinkerhoff, W. 
A. Adams, H. Randall, Isaac Clegg, E. 
R. Wooley and F. L. Hickman. 

June — In Buchanan county, Va., on the 
4th Elders Lewis Bastian and K. R. 
Sowards were in the woods reading, when 
they were attacked by some demons in 
the form of men, who amused themselves 
by throwing rocks at the Elders. Some 
shots were also fired, but the Elders es- 
caped unharmed. Elders Hugh Roberts 
and W. G. Miles, Jr., were egged in the 
town of Corbin, while preacning on the 
streets, but instead of being a detriment 
to the cause, it made many friends for the 
Elders. 

At Middleton, Tenn., a crowd of un- 
ruly fellows gathered for the purpose of 
breaking up meeting, but failed in their 



attempt. Several shots were fired, but no 
one was injured. 

On the 18th inst. an armed mob of 
forty-four went to Brother Gray's house 
in Hardeman county, Tenn., in search of 
Elders Fisher and Brown. The Elders 
had not been there for several days. The 
mob intended to drive the Elders out of 
the county, and made many threats. 

In Georgia a mobocratic spirit was 
manifest. Elders M. Smith and G. H. 
Mower were compelled to leave McWhor- 
ter and vicinity, Douglass county, be- 
cause of the orders of an "Organized 
Mob" of about fifty men. Elders R. D. 
Green and E. T. Mayhew had a meeting 
broken up in Forsyth county, Ga., by a 
gang of about thirty hoodlums, while a 
few nights later they were pelted with 
rocks and eggs. (See Star, page 238.) 

In the East Tennessee Conference El- 
ders J. H. Woolsey and W. A. Adams re- 
ceived some rough treatment at the hands 
of a masked mob, who molested them at 
Brother Gorman's home, Cabarras county, 
N. C. (See Star, page 228.) 

The June company of Elders were: 
Geo. Miner, A. C. Jensen, C. R. Sullivan, 
V. Bean, B. J. Bean, M. O. Cooley, R. J. 
Evans, J. W. Prince, W. R. Johnson, Ez- 
ra Bunker, Jas. Smith, C. E. Napper and 
Jens J. Jensen. 

(To be Continued.) 



GLEANINGS. 



Cows Wearing Glasses. 

Cattle with spectacles are to be seen 
on the Russian steppes. The steppes 
are covered with snow more than six 
months of the year. The cows subsist 
on the tufts of grass which crop above 
the snow, and the rays of the sun on the 
snow are so dazzling as to cause blind- 
ness. To obviate this calamity, it oc- 
curred to a kind-hearted man to protect 
the cows' eyes in the same way as those 
of human beings, and he manufactured 
smoke-colored spectacles which could be 
safely worn by cattle. These spectaclts 
were a great success, and are now worn 
by upwards of 40,000 head of cattle, 
who no longer suffer from the snow- 
blindness which once caused such suffer- 
ing among them.— Exchange. 



Honor and shame from no condition rise; 
Act well your part, there all the honor lies. 

—Pope. 

Love all, trust a few, 
Do wrong to none; be able for thine enemy 
Rather In power than use; and keep thy 

friend 
Under thy own life's key; be checked for 

silence, 
But never taxed for speech. 

—Shakespeare. 

The best laid schemes o' mice and men 

Gang aft a-gley. 
And leave us naught but grief and pain, 

For promised joy. 

—Burns— To a Mouse. 



Trenton, Fla., Oct. 11, 1900. 
To the Southern Star. 

With pleasure I herewith write to the 
valuable little Star— the welcome visitor 
to the homes of the Saints— and tell of 
the good and pleasant meetings we had 
together with the Saints and Elders in 
the Branch Conference over at Moroni 
school house, near Old Town, Fla., on 
the 30th day of September. Elders Pe 
ter Vanorden, Andrew J. Reese, Charles 
H. White and Wiliam L. Eldridge, the 
Elders that were present, who, being no- 
tified by President Bankhead that he and 
his companion, Elder Nelson, would meet 
with them on the occasion. But on ac- 
count of the sickness of the President, 
the Elders had learned he would not be 
present. The Elders present proceeded 
with the organization of the Branch 
Conference. Meeting was called to or- 
der by Elder Vanorden at 3:30 o'clock in 
the afternoon. The name for the branch 
was sugested by Brother John L. Hogan 
to be the name of Zarahemla, which was 
adopted, and Brother John L. Hogan 
and D. H. Arline were ordained Elders. 
But Brother Hogan was sustained to be 
the Presiding Elder over the Branch. 
Harvey Arline was sustained as clerk 
and Sister Annie Hogan as assistant 
clerk. Brother D. H. Arline was sus- 
tained as treasurer, this being the offi- 
cers elected in the Zarahemla Branch, , 
and enrolling thirteen of the names of 
the other members of the Latter-day 
Saints gives to the Zarahemla Branch 
forty-three members in this part of the 
vineyard. Fourteen able, instructive 
sermons were delivered by the Elders on 
the true and pure Gospel of Christ. 

A good spirit prevailed throughout the 
whole entire meeting, and much good ? s 
being done in the Sunday School also, 
which is bringing about much good in 
the cause of truth. J. R. Smith. 

The Eternal Remedies. 

There is usually but a single remedy 
for every evil, great or small. Sophistry, 
temporizing, experimenting or dodging 
are alike futile, says the Toledo Bee. 
One remedy for each ill is law. 

The remedy for slavery is liberty. 

The remedy for doubt is faith. 

The remedy for transgression is re- 
pentance. 

The remedy for trouble is hope. 

The remedy for indolence is industry. 

The remedy for sin is renunciation. 

The remedy for want is prudence. 

The remedy for unhappiness is content. 

"For all the law is fulfilled in one word, 
even in this: thou shalt love thy neigh- 
bor as thyself." 




Tesgjggr 



Vol. 2. 



Ohattakoosa, Tejix., Saturday, Novbmbbr 17, 1900. 



No. 51. 



Sketch of the Life of Apostle Ezra Taft Benson. 

BY APOSTLE MATHIAS F. COWIaEY. 



Ezra T. Benson was born on the an- 
niversary of Washington's birthday, Feb. 
22, 1811, in Worcester county, Mass. He 
was the eldest son of John and Ghloe 
Benson. His father was a farmer and 
Ezra, who, like his father, was extremely 
industrious, worked upon his father's farm 
until he was sixteen years of age, when 
he went to reside with his sister and her 
husband, who kept a hotel in the city of 
Uxbridge. His Grandfather Benson sud- 
denly died while at work in the field, after 
which Ezra T. was placed in charge of the 
farm, which he managed successfully. At 
the age of twenty he received in marriage 
Pamelia Andrus, of Northbridge, Worces- 
ter county, Mass. Soon after this he 
moved to Uxbridge, bought out his brotb- 
er-in-law and became a hotel keeper. He 
was engaged in this business two years, 
in which time he made considerable 
means, which he invested with his wife's 
brother in renting a cotton mill, and com 
menced the manufacture of cotton in 
liolland, Mass. A combination of cir- 
cumstances which he could not control 
rendered him unsuccessful in this busi- 
ness. He lost money and, retiring from 
it, went to hotel keeping, and was also 
postmaster in the same town. He was 
very prosperous in this avocation, rapidly 
making means, but a strong, unexplainable 
desire came over him to visit the west. 
He knew not why, and yet he could not 
shake off this feeling. Early in 1837 
himself and family left for the west. In 
Philadelphia a gentleman whose acquaint- 
ance he formed spoke against the west 
and persuaded him to locate in Salem an J 
he would assist him with means to estab- 
lish himself in business. He acted upon 
this suggestion and spent one year in 
the place. In the meantime this great de- 
sire to go west remained with him, and 
he could not rid himself of the feeling. 
His friends offered him money and tried 
to persuade him to tarry and locate with 
them, but to no purpose ; he longed for 
the west and in that direction he started. 
Calling at St. Louis, he purchased a 
small stock of goods and went up the 
Illinois river, not knowing where he 
should land. While on the river he be- 
came acquainted with a gentleman who 
proved to be h'l father's cousin. He 



lived at Griggsville, Illinois, where ^zra 
concluded to stop. He was still unset- 
tled in his feelings and only remained a 
short time, when he moved to Lexington, 
111., thence to the mouth of Little Blue 
river, where he and a man by the name 
of Isaac Hill located and laid out a town 
and named it Pike. 

At this place he built a dwelling and a 
warehouse, but the place was sickly and 
his restless spirit led him to move on- 
ward. In 1839, early in the year, he 
was led by his impressions to Quincy in 
search of a home. Soon after he heard 
of the place he was impressed to move 
there, and here for the first time in his 
life he met the Latter-day Saints, who 
had just been exiled from their homes in 
Missouri. Becoming acquainted with their 
history and sufferings, his sympathies 
were enKsted. He heard they were very 
peculiar in their views, yet in conversa- 
tion with them and listening to their pub- 
lic discourses he was very favorably im- 
pressed. 

During the winter he boarded with a 
family of the Saints, whose faith and de- 
portment in the walks of life led Brother 
Benson to hold them in high esteem. 
About this time a public debate was held 
in Quincy, in which a Dr. Nelson opposed 
the doctrines of the Latter-day Saints. 
The Prophet Joseph was in attendance 
and Ezra T. Benson listened with honest 
attention to both sides. At tlje conclu- 
sion of this debate he was fully convinced 
that the principles of the Saints were su- 
perior to those of their opponents and in 
perfect harmony with the Bible. While 
rejoicing in their victory over the oppo- 
nent, Ezra had no idea at that time of 
joining the Church. He and his wife con- 
tinued to hear them and their doctrines 
were the chief topic of conversation. His 
wife first declared her faith in the doc- 
trines, and when the people who knew 
them learned of their belief in "Mormon- 
ism" they made a determined effort to get 
them identified with a sectarian church. 
About this time Elders Orson Hyde and 
John E. Page, on their way to Jerusalem, 
preached in Quincy, and all doubts, if any 
still existed in the mind of Ezra T. Ben- 
son, were removed. He and his wife were 
baptized by the President of the Quincy 



Branch July 19th, 1840. From the time 
he reached Quincy all desire to move left 
him. He was content, and when the light 
of the Gospel was given to him through 
obedience to the same he knew why he 
wanted to go west and why discontent 
attended him in every place until he 
reached Quincy, the home of the Latter- 
day Saints. The Lord led him by his own 
right hand and prepared his heart and 
that of his wife to obey the truth and ac- 
complish the great work which Ezra T. 
Benson subsequently performed as a ser- 
vant of God. In the fall of 1840 at con* 
ference in Nauvoo he was ordained an 
Elder. Soon after his return to Quincy 
he was honored with a visit from Presi- 
dent Hyrum Smith, who ordained him a 
High Priest and appointed him second 
counsellor in the presidency of the Stake 
recently organized by President Hyrum 
Smith in that place. In April, 1841, he 
moved to Nauvoo, purchased a lot, built 
a home and was in every way active in 
promoting the growth of the Church and 
the city of Nauvoo. 

June 1st, 1842, he went on a mission 

to his native Eastern States, performed a 

good work and returned in the fall of 

1843. In the month of May, 1844, he 

went east with Elder John Pack and was 

| absent until they learned of the martyr- 

! dom of Joseph and Hyrum Smith, when 

they returned to Nauvoo. In the fall of 

1844 he was called to be a member of the 

I High Council in Nauvoo, and soon after 

was sent on another mission to the East- 

' era States. He presided over the Boston 

i Conference until May, 1845, when he was 

i counseled by the authorities of the Church 

to gather up the Saints in that region ani 

lead them to Nauvoo. 

Upon his return he went to work on the 
Nauvoo Temple, working hard by day and 
many times by night standing guard to 
prevent the onslaught of fiendish mobo- 
crats. 

At the exodus from Illinois, Ezra T. 
Benson and family moved out with the 
first company in 1846. William Hunt- 
ington presided at Mount Pisgah, and to 
him Ezra T. Benson was appointed a 
counsellor. While at Pisgah he was no- 
tified of his appointment to the Apostle 
ship to fill the vacancy in the Council of 



402 



THE SOUTHERN STAR 



the Twelve made by the Apostacy of 
John E. Page. He moved on to the main 
camp of the Saints in Council Bluffs, an 1 
at this place was ordained to the Apostle- 
ship July 16th, 1846. From Council 
Bluffs he went on a brief mission to the 
east, returning Nov. 27th, 1846. In the 
following spring he was selected by Presi- 
dent Young as one of the honored com- 
pany of 143 to pioneer the great West jtnd 
find the home which God had held in 
reserve for his people. When Brother 
Benson, years before, felt the spirit urg- 
ing him westward little did he dream how 
great the import of such impression, j-hat 
in the west he should find the True Plan 
of Salvation and carry the standard of 
that Gospel still westward 1,500 miles, 
plant the Stars and Stripes on Mexican 
soil, and be himself one of the first men 
in founding the greatest commonwealth 
of people ever founded in our great re 
public. 

Soon after his arrival in the valley he 
returned to meet the companies of Saints 
en route and inform them that a place of 
location had been found. He accompanied 
them to their destination and then re- 
turned to Winter Quarters with the pio- 
neers. He next performed a successful 
mission in the east, being absent several 
months. On Jan. 14th, 1847, he with 
others was named in a revelation to the 
Prophet Brigham Young to organize com- 
panies of Saints for their pilgrimage to 
the Far West. "Let my servants, Ezra 
'±. Benson and Erastus Snow, organize a 
company," was the word of the Lord to 
His mouthpiece on the earth. Upon re- 
turning from his mission to the east he 
was appointed to preside in Pottawat- 
tamie county, Iowa, where he was asso- 
ciated in the management of the Church 
in that region with Apostles Orson Hyde 
and George A. Smith. Concluding his 
labors in Iowa, he moved to Salt Lake 
Valley in 1849. En route he was seri- 
ously ill, but by the prayeTs of the camp, 
with fasting, the power of God was mani- 
fested and he recovered. Again in lboi 
he was sent to Pottawattamie county, 
Iowa, to gather up the Saints and help 
move them to the body of the Church. 
From this mission he returned in 1852. 
While at home in Utah he was constantly 
at work either with his hands to improve 
and develop the country, in council with 
the Priesthood, or preaching the Gospel 
among the Saints. In 1856 he went on a 
mission to Europe, where he was asso- 
ciated with Apqstle Orson Pratt in the 
presidency of the British Mission. He 
returned home the following year. Elder 
Benson was not considered as a great 
public speaker, yet he was vigorous and 
earnest. When the weather was oppres- 
sively warm it is said that he would take 
off his coat while preaching and remark 
to the congregation that he believed In 
"comfort more than in style." In 1860 
he was called to preside over the Saints 
in Cache Valley. He made this his home 
the remainder of his natural life, being 
the Apostle of the Northern country. He 
was wise in council, industrious and ex- 
emplary, and a source of great strength 
to the people in colonizing and building 
settlements in that valley. In the early 
settlement of Cache it was so cold that it 
was hardlv deemed feasible for being oc- 
cupied. Today it is the best watered and 
has under cultivation a greater percentage 
of its land than any other valley in Utah. 
He went to the Sandwich Islands with 
Apostle Lorenzo Snow, Elders Joseph F. 
Smith. Alma L. Smith and Wm. W. Cluff, 
to regulate the affairs of the Hawaiian 
Mission. He. with President Snow, nar- 
rowly escaped drowning while approach- 



ing the coast of one of the islands by the 
capsizing of the boat. This was the last 
mission abroad performed by Apostle 
Benson. 

Aside from his labors abroad he per- 
formed many important missions among 
the Saints. He was an active member 
of the Provisional State of Deseret. Af- 
terwards he became a member of the 
house for several sessions in the Terri- 
torial Legislature, and the last ten years 
of his life was elected and served with 
ability in the legislative council. 

In 1869 he became associated with El 
der Lorin Farr and Bishop Chauncey 
West in constructing the Central Pacific 
railway. They had a large contract of 
grading on the promontory. On Oct. 3d, 
lov~/, while in Ogden City attending to a 
sick horse he was suddenly stricken with 
heart failure and died the same day. ^xis 
funeral occurred in Logan a few days 
later, with a numerous family and thou- 
sands of Saints and friends to mourn his 
departure. 

He had "fought the good fight, kept the 
faith and finished his course." He went 
to receive the crown of glory laid up for 
the faithful and left to his sons and 
daughters the legacy of a good character, 
a faithful record of devotion to God and 
His cause. He gained eternal riches and 
"He that hath eternal life is rich." 



History of the Southern States Mission. 

(Continued from page 400.) 

July, 1900— Owing to the revivalistic 
feeling prevailing throughout the South 
at this season of the year, the Elders 
were counseled to conduct themselves in 
a quiescent manner, and therefore the 
month opened with things in a quiet 
way, generally speaking. 

Elders J. A. Welker and W. A. Adams 
encountered a mob in Cabarras county, 
North Carolina, but the brethren escaped 
unharmed. In Charlotte, N. C, the Gos- 
pel was opposed by a sectarian preacher, 
and a discussion was carried on through 
the columns of the Charlotte News. Fair 
play was granted on both sides, and we 
trust that many honest souls were thus 
brought to a knowledge of the truth, or 
at least, a better understanding of our 
faith. 

.Elders E. G. Anderson and Joseph H. 
Lewis were forced to leave Chester City, 
Chester county, S. C, being ordered to 
do so by a band of mobbers. (See Star, 
308-310.) In all the work is. progress- 
ing, although the reports of the Elders 
are small. 

The arrivals from Zion for the month 
of July are: J. W. Imlay, George H. 
Clark, C. L. Riding, Lot Robinson, N. 
L. Richards, Joseph Mills and Eugene 
IX Miller. 

August, 1900— The month opened with 
the weather hot and dry. There seems 
to be much illness among the Elders, ow- 
ing the excessive and oppressive heat. In 
North Carolina several cities were 
opened, and work in them successfully 
conducted. The Elders in Mississippi 
were threatened with mob violence, but 
they avoided the ruthless fiends and the 
Lord protected them. 

On Aug. 9th Elder Robert A. Paxton, 
of the South Carolina Conference, was 
taken sick at Greenville. After languish- 
ing for twelve days he was taken to 
Blacksburg, where he could be better 
cared for by the Saints and Elders. He 
showed every sign of recovery until 
Aug. 25, when a change was noticeable. 
He steadily srrew weaker until the even- 
ing of the 27th, when he passed peace- 
fully from this mortal probation, saying, 
"I have fought a good fight." President 



Rich, who had just returned from New 
York, received word in Richmond, Va., 
of the death of Elder Paxton, and has- 
tened to Blacksburg, at which place the 
body was embalmed. (See Star. Vol. II, 
313, 328, 392.) 

umj five Elders came during this 
month. They were: James M. Taylor, 
Alfred B. Hill, W. C. Crump, Jr., Ira 
De Mill and W. H. Wilcox. 

September, 1900— The spirit of heathen- 
ism was manifest in Statesville, N. C, 
and Elders W. G. Atkin and A. O. Smoot 
were commanded by a band of about 
twenty men to abandon the city and keep 
out of its precincts. Florida reported 
that not a few of her Elders were sick 
and unable to work. 

This month, like unto August, wit- 
nessed the death of one of our faithful 
and valiant Elders, whose energy and 
zeal made him an efficient and successful 
worker— Elder J. D. Frankland. His 
death was sudden, and his beloved com- 
panion, Elder A. L. Meacham, did all in 
his power to help him, but the call to a 
higher mission could not be thwarted, 
and he succumbed to the summons Sept. 
12th at 8:40 p.m., near Ansley, Pike 
county, Ala. (See Star, 338, 347, 351.) 
He died, as he had lived, a faithful ser- 
vant of God. 

On the night of Sept. 9th Elders J. F. 
Hamilton and A. T. Jones met with an 
experience in Battletown, Ky., which 
assumed a serious aspect. Having just 
received a visit from their President, 
they appointed a meeting at a friend's 
house, and were favored with a large 
congregation. The President and his 
companion remained at the friend's home, 
while Elders Hamilton and Jones left 
for the home of another friend. On their 
way they were compelled to pass through 
a thick patch of woods, and here they en- 
countered a shower of eggs, ancient with 
age, and strong to the sense* of smell. As 
luck would have it, none of these "rotten 
members" found a resting place on the 
Elders, although the womenfolk in the 
company received a goodly share, more 
than the average sister would bargain 
for. The President left the next day, 
but the Elders remained to hold meeting 
in the city. A large crowd turned out, 
and the brethren felt safe and secure, 
but when meeting was over and they 
were walking around the house they were 
very much surprised to find themselves 
confronted by a mob of masked men, 
about twelve or fifteen in number. One 
of the ladies present recognized the voice 
of one of the mobbers, and procuring a 
lantern she went up to him and uncov- 
ered his face. Her recognition was cor- 
rect, for it proved to be her own brother, 
and when he found himself thus identi- 
fied he became exceedingly angry, and 
grabbed his sister, kicked her, struck her 
violently with his fist, and finally endeav- 
ored to choke her, and it is doubtful if 
she will ever fully recover from his 
wicked, uncalled, malicious assault. At 
this juncture the hearts of these outlaws 
began to fail them and auake with fear, 
so they decided to go. The Elders took 
advantage of the opportunity and left 
also, moving to another part of the coun- 
ty, that they might continue their work 
without molestation. 

Only two Elders arrived during this 
month, and these two, Heber C. Kimball 
and Oliver .Tackman, were fitted out and 
assigned to their fields of labor. 
(To be continued.) 



"Let us hear the conclusion of the 
whole matter: Fear God and keep His 
commandments; for this is the whole 
duty of man." 



THE SOUTHERN STAR 



403 



OUR CONFERENCE PRESIDENTS. 

Louisiana is soon to become a part of 
the Southwestern States Mission, but 
before we bid adieu to her and her noble 
Elders, we desire to present to the read- 
ers of the Star a brief sketch of the life 
of Elder F. H. Critchfield, who now pre- 
sides in that Conference. In the cold, 
bleak month of December, on the 13th, 
in the year 1874, at Batesville (now 
Erda), Toole county, Utah, he first saw 
the light of day. 

When 6 years of age his parents moved 
to Oakley, Idaho, at which place they 
now reside. In a newly settled region 
it was not possible for our brother to 
obtain a high scholastic education; such 
blessings were not afforded him, but he 
labored with his parents to redeem the 
barren land and make the desert to blos- 
som as the rose. Under such conditions 
one would naturally develop more brawn 
than brain, more muscle than mentality. 
Environments, to a great extent, make 
us what we are, and if you would find 




ELDER F. H. CRITCHFIELD. 
President of Louisiana Conference. 

bold, sturdy, true-hearted, whole-souled 
men, then explore the regions of the 
West, where the towering peaks of the 
snow-clad Rockies stand out as sentinels 
to the clear, blue sky. 

In the winter you might find our 
brother in a little log school house, wrest- 
ling with mathematical problems, dicta- 
tion exercises, spelling, or articulating 
grammatical difficulties. The summer 
found him upon the farm, attending to 
the necessary chores, and making him- 
self generally useful. From the log 
school house he graduated to the Cassia 
Stake Academy, where he spent a few 
jnonths in study. 

Although his father never obeyed the 
Gospel, he accepted it, and taught his 
children to ever observe the Golden Rule. 
At the age of 17 he commenced to work 
for himself, separate from the household. 
For some time he herded sheep, and thij 
exercise in the material, literal world 
gave him a slight insight for his future 
work of gathering lambs for the fold of 
the Good Shepherd, Jesus. In 1894 he 
became the husband of a sweet damsel, 
who awaits his release with expectant 
anxiety. 

It was on the 2d day of April, 1809, 



that he was notified that his services 
were required to preach the Gospel in 
the South, and, as all the faithful have 
done heretofore, he responded. Scarcely 
a year has passed since he was set apart 
(Nov. 16th, 1899,) and today we find him 
presiding in Louisiana. 

He has but a very small corps of la- 
borers, the smallest in the Mission, but 
they are doing a good work, and the Lord 
is blessing their noble efforts. Brother 
Critchfield and the Elders of the Louisi- 
ana Conference have a hard field, but by 
the help of our Father they struggle with 
might and main for the Gospel of salva- 
tion. 

The Magnificent Revenge of the Governor 
of Missouri. 

A few years ago, while Robert Stewart 
was Governor of Missouri, a steamboat 
man was brought in from the penitentiary 
as an applicant for a pardon. He was a 
large, powerful fellow, and, when the 
Governor looked at him, he seemed stange- 
ly affected. He scrutinized him long and 
closely. Finally, he signed the document 
that restored the prisoner to liberty. Be- 
fore he handed it to him, he said : "You 
will commit some other crime and be In 
the penitentiary again, I fear." 

The man solemnly promised that he 
would not. The Governor looked doubt- 
ful, mused a few minutes, and said: 

"You will go back on the river and be 
a mate again, I suppose?" 

The man replied that he would. 

"Well, I want you to promise me one 
thing," resumed the Governor. "I want 
you to pledge your word that, when you 
are mate again, you will never take a bik 
let of wood in your hand and drive a sick 
boy out of a bunk to help you load your 
boat on a stormy night." The steamboat 
man said he would not, and inquired what 
the Governor meant by asking him such 
a question. 

The Governor replied : "Because, some 
day, that boy may become a Governor, 
and you may want him to pardon yon 
for a crime. One dark, stormy night, 
many years ago, you stopped your boat 
on the Mississippi river to take on a 
load of wood. There was a boy on board 
who was working his passage from New 
Orleans to St. Louis, but he was very sick 
of fever and was lying in a bunk. . You 
had plenty of men to do the work, but you 
went to that boy with a stick of wood in 
your hand and drove him with blows and 
curses out into the wretched night, and 
kept him toiling like a slave until the load 
was completed. I was that boy. Here 
is your pardon. Never again be guilty 
of such brutality." 

The man, cowering and hiding his face, 
went out without a word. 

What a noble revenge that was, and 
what a lesson to a bully! — Success. 



The Road to Success. 

Dr. D. K. Pearson, millionaire, philan- 
thropist and patron of colleges, says that 
the rules of life can be summed up as 
follows: 

1. Practice steady economy. Do not 
spend until you have it to spend. Be 
strictly honest, and never take advantage 
of men. Avoid show and extravagance. 
Use your money to educate the poor. 

2. Be your own executive. Trust no 
man to administer upon your estate. You 
cannot carry out of this world any 
amount with your dead hands. There is 
no use for money beyond the grave. — 
Saturday Evening Post. 



OUR CONFERENCE PRESIDENTS. 



Elder John H. Bankhead was born at 
Wellsville, Cache county, Utah, Oct. 
12th, 1874. His parents are Utahns— 
on his mother's side of English descent, 
and on his father's of Southern Dixie 
lineage; thus we may properly designate 
him an Anglo, Southern American 
Utahn. 

His early boyhood days were spent 
upon the farm in the summer, and in the 
Wellsville district school in the winter 
time. After graduating from the district 
school in 1893, he entered the State Ag- 
ricultural College. In 1807 he received 
his diploma, which conferred upon him 
the title of B. S., having completed a 
four years* commercial course. He taught 
school in Wellsville during the winter of 
1897-98 and 1898-99. While thus en- 
gaged he received a call to perform a 
mission to the Southern States. His call 
came in the early part of March, 1899, 
and on the 18th of said month he left 
Salt Lake City for Chattanooga. 




ELDER JOHN H. BANKHEAD. 
President of Florida Conference. 



Upon arriving in Chattanooga he was 
assigned to labor in the North Kentucky 
Conference. He spent the first nine 
months as a canvassing Elder, and was 
then called to act as first counsellor to 
President Don C. Benson. During the 
three months that he occupied this posi- 
tion he visited all the Elders in that Con- 
ference. 

In the latter part of June Brother 
Bankhead was transferred to the Flor- 
ida Conference to succeed President 
George W. Skidmore, of that Conference. 
Since July 16 he has assumed control of 
Conference affairs in the Balmy State, 
and his work and manly effort is a strik- 
ing and lasting testimony of his worth 
and sterling integrity. He exercises great 
care, is judicious, wise and discreet. His 
reports show him to be a careful and ear- 
nest presiding officer. The Elders love 
him, and a perfect unity exists in his 
Conference. 

Elder Bankhead is a married man, and 
Miss Annie Mipplesen was the lucky 
girl, who is now the honored spouse. His 
labors have been a source of joy and 
pleasure, and we trust they may ever 
continue so to be. 



404 



THE SOUTHERN STAB. 




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Entered at ike Pott OMce at Chattanooga, Ttnn., as 
tecond dam matter, 

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Addr ess Box io* ^ = _ =e= _— 

Satubday, November 17, 1900. 
ARTICLES OF FAITH 

OP THE CHURCH OP JESUS CHRIST OP 
LATTER-DAY SAINTS. 

L Wa baliava la (fed tha Etaraal Father, sad In Bit 8oa> 
Jam Chrtat, sad is tha Holy Ohptt. 

1 Wa baliata that maa will ba poaiihad for thair ova 
alaa, aad aat for Adaa* traaanaaiioa. 

A Wa baliava that, throoS tha atonamaat af Christ, all 
■aSkiad any be Stvad, by obadienet ta tba lava and ordi. 
■■anai of tha OospaL 

A Wa ballava that tha flrtt principle aad ordlaaneas of 
fha Qoapal ara: That, Faith la tha Lord Jatat Christ; aacond, 
BapMtaaoa: third, Baptian by immantoa for tha ramiiaioa 
of Sm i fearth. Laying on of Baodi far tha Gift of tha Holy 

OhOrtr 

ft, W» bella*» Ihot ■ ipin ma it h# callad of Ood, bf 
- praphwSr. iwl bj Hi» !mylnt on of 6*adl " bT than who ira 
lb author ii^ to pr(*ch tta toipoi *nd id mini iter in taa ordi* 
■tAcei thcrrol, 

0, Wt biSiaVft in th#»me ordain Hod lhat (iiiUJ fa 
th# HMlttN daurch— nwneijV Apwtki, Frojdwu, fuiflri, 
T#*eh*r* h EuDgeliHt%«lG. 

7* W# ba li«* • In the (ift of toagu*^ p rep b*cj, nvalatfen, 
TiiJtfl», litiHnc, interpret* tic ji or tanguti, *U^ 

1. Wa ialBtl ih# BibJo to bfl the word or Ood, If Tit m II 
I* tnntUlwJ correctly [ w* lIio t*li*Ta tfa* Boat of Mormon 
to be Las word or OmL 

9. Wo b«|j*T« ill thit God Ijir rrrtil*^ ill (sit FTs Jom 
now rof Eftl H ind Wn btlifrvt tftit H* will jot re*eiJ niiDjr gr-it 
Arid inpQTtjnt luinjt pertaining to thi Kingdom of t)od. 

10, Wb bcliste in l*( liKral fitherinf. of 1 1 rial And in lb* 
ttftonliOD of th« Tan TYibei \. ibat Zlon, will bo built a poo 
thii (tha American) continent ; that Cbriit Till rtiga poftcn- 
ally apon Lbe eirth r md that the earth will be r»n«w*d arjd 
fe^elra iti pnradiiLAtal glorf. 

11. W| tltlm th* pRrtfeiw of wonhipini AlmifMy God 
accoJ-dJEif to tha dictate* of Oaf « n»fieii f.fl, nod iNow *JJ 



ttjj-. 



'»; 



■ privilege l«t ibto wonhJp hn* b whare % or »b*l 



li Wa ballara la balagsabjaet to Mass, praddaata. ralna, 
tad aiafistratat ; in obayiac hoaoriag aad rattaialag tha lav. 

lAvWa baliaTa ia baiaa hoaatt, traa, ehatta, baaavotaat, 
virtaoos. aad ia doiag goodto all sua; indeed, vo nay any 
that va follov tha admooitioo of Paol, u We beliere all thlaaa, 
va hope all thiaaa," va ha«a endured many thi do, aad aopa 
'a be able to aadara ail thiaaa. If there hi aaythlag virtaaaa, 



"BE NOT DISMAYED.*' 

Mankind are easily discouraged in this 
life, and oftentimes, otherwise noble, val- 
iant souls, sink beneath the yoke of dis- 
appointment, failure, affliction and perse- 
cution. While it is true that in this mor 
tal probation we have many trials which 
in their nature are discouraging and do 
pressing, yet we can also find joy, conso- 
lation, strength and encouragement. There 
is no trial but what there is also a way 
by which it may be successfully encoun- 
tered, and triumphantly overcome. Many 
trials and much affliction seems to be the 
common heritage and legacy of the peopie 
of God, and to all such the Father of 
mercies has, through His inspired ser- 
vants, both ancient and modern, given 
words of encouragement and comfort. 

Speaking by the mouth of the prophet 
Isaiah, the Lord says, "Fear thou not; 
for I am with thee ; be not dismayed ; for 
I am thy God; I will strengthen thee; 



yea, I will help thee ; yea, I will uphold 
thee with the right hand of my righteous- 
ness." (Isaiah 41:10). Here we have 
a divine expression of the help of the 
Lord, a comforting counsel to "be not dis- 
mayed," a promise of strength, and that 
we shall be upheld with the right hand 
of righteousness. It has ever been neces- 
sary for the Father to comfort His peo- 
ple, for they have at all times been sub- 
ject to the wrath of the evil one, targets 
for the enemy, and material for the scoffs, 
jeers and Tidicule of the ungodly. So \*e 
find the Creator blesses them with in- 
spired men, upon whom He bestows the 
spirit of wisdom, counsel and revelation, 
that they in turn might impart the same 
unto the people and comfort them in their 
afflictions. To the gallant Joshua, the 
valiant captain of Israel's host, the Lord 
spake thus : "Be strong and of good cour- 
age; be not afraid, neither be thou dis- 
mayed ; for the Lord thy God is with thee 
whithersoever thou goest." (Joshua 
1:9). When we have the blessed assur- 
ance that God is with us, and that by Hi3 
holy spirit He will shield, strengthen, 
guide and comfort us, we need not be dis- 
mayed, or fear the hosts of the wicked, 
for legions of angels stand ready to pro- 
tect the servant of righteousness. Couid 
we but realize the majesty, might and 
overruling power of our God, and then 
consider that One great as He is even our 
Rock and Defense, why should we fear 
the foe or be dispirited for the conflict? 
The Father has in times past bared His 
mighty arm in defense of His chosen ones, 
and He has not lost His strength, neither 
has His love for His people vanished. He 
stands ready now to defend the righteous 
and bring the wicked low in misery and 
anguish. 

Though afflicted, persecuted, scorned 
and derided, the people of God can lift up 
their heads and rejoice, knowing full well 
that their redemption draweth nigh, and 
that the truth they have embraced wi'l 
eventually triumph and righteousness fill 
the whole earth. Ye need not be dis- 
mayed, saints of the Most High God, the 
Lord He is your friend, your strength and 
your Deliverer! When the wicked scorn, 
the ungodly deride, and the evil ones per- 
secute, look unto the Lord, read the good 
word, and find joy in these words, "The 
Lord is with thee whithersoever thou go- 
est." The joy one derives by reason of 
loyalty to God, and fidelity to His laws, 
is a joy supreme, holy and divine, and 
one which passeth all understanding. In 
serving the Lord we oppose the world; 
in serving the world we oppose God. We 
cannot afford to bow in acquiescence to 
the ways of the world, neither can we af- 
ford to worship at the shrine of mammon. 
If we would only forsake God, righteous- 
ness and truth, and be one with the world, 
honors from men, titles, dignities and 
worldly favors would be ours ; but, on th*> 
other hand, to serve God and walk in His 
holy ways, means that we shall be sub- 
jected to hate, that we shall be maligned, 
reviled and sneered at by the lovers of 
this world. We have a faith that impels 
us onward, forward, upward. Yea, in the 
midst of persecution, misrepresentation 
and false accusation, we can plod cheer- 
fully the weary way of life, with a hope 
of enjoying that more abundant life prom- 
ised to the faithful. 

"Why should we mourn and think our lot 
Is hard? 
'Tls not so, all Is rlehtl 
Why should we think to earn a great re- 
ward? 
If we now shun the fljrht!" 

This is the theme and song of the right- 
eous. This was the anthem the exiled 
Saints sang as they crossed the barren 



desert from Winter Quarters to Salt Lako 
City ! They cried unto the Lord in their 
distress, and He delivered them from the 
hands of the enemy. They sang of His 
goodness and He led them forth by the 
right hand of righteousness. Footsore 
and weary, hungry and fatigued, half-clad 
and destitute, they journeyed on, and the 
Father brought them to the land of their 
present inheritance, where they founded 
a city of habitation, and are now estab- 
lished in the tops of the mountains, ex- 
alted above the hills. 

Our Father has ever proven a deliverer 
and a friend unto those who serve Him 
in spirit and in truth, then let all the 
faithful take courage, and be of good 
cheer. "I will never leave thee. I will 
never forsake thee," are His loving words 
to His erring children. Oh! that we 
might never leave Him, or forsake the 
truth, then our happiness here, and our 
salvation hereafter would be secured and 
made certain. He will never leave us, and 
if we will only cling fast to the word of 
God, strive for the guidance >of His Holy 
Spirit, we may know that He is our stay. 
an(l our course in life pleasing and ac- 
ceptable before Him. In the hour of trial 
let us draw near with a true heart in full 
assurance of faith, and when the clouds 
have rolled away, and we feel the warmth 
of the sun's bright ray, let us still be 
found faithful and true, honest in our 
convictions, and steadfast in our integri- 
ty to do the right. Let the wicked scoff, 
and the ungodly frown, truth will yet 
prevail, and righteousness reign supreme, 
while the glory of God shall be poured 
out upon all fiesh. 

Be not dismayed, but arise in the 
strength of the Mighty One of Israel. 
The goal is in sight, the day of redemp- 
tion awaits the faithful and true. Cleave 
to righteousness and truth, that you maj 
be raised at the last day to honor, glory, 
immortality and life eternal. Be not dis- 
mayed, though trials come, and tribula- 
tion visits you with affliction, for you 
have One who stands ready to grant re- 
lief, to bestow comfort, and minister con- 
solation. Be not dismayed, though false 
accusations may arise against you, and 
vile abuse descend upon your bead; the 
faith of the ancients should be your faith, 
and such a faith will give you strength to 
cope with anything. When fierce perse- 
cution makes you the butt of violence and 
oppression, remember the words of the 
Lord, "Be not dismayed," and the words 
of the Messiah, when in the throes of 
death, "Father, forgive them, for they 
know not what they do." 

"Fear not, I am with thee, O, be not dis- 
mayed, 

For I ara thy God, and will still give the 
aid; 

I'll strengthen thee, help thee, and cause 
thee to stand, 

Upheld by my righteous, omnipotent hand.*' 



LIFE'S COMPLETENESS. 



There are no lives unfinished. Incomplete. 
God gives each man at birth some work 

to do, 
Some precious stone of strange prismatic 

hue 
To carve and polish, till it shall be meet 
To place within Ms temple, still and sweet. 
Ere that be done, the soul may not pass 

through 
The door to grander worlds, to aim more 

true, 
To wider life with love's sweet Joy replete, 
And, If the working time be short, and earth 
With Its dear human ties be hard to leave. 
Be sure that God, whose thought hath given 

thee birth, 
Still holds for thee the best thou canst re- 
ceive: 
Be sure the soul, in passing through that 

door, 
Though losing much, gains infinitely more. 
—Christian Leader. 



THB SOUTHERN STAR 



405 



EDITORIAL THOUGHT. 



Would you be immune from the odium 
of the world, then lock arms with world- 
lings, and lore worldliness ; then you shall 
be "Hail fellow well met." ' Would you 
so conduct yourself as to be the object of 
persecution, and the butt of ridicule? then 
join hands with the righteous, love godli- 
ness, and let revealed truth be your choice 
companion and wise counsellor, and you 
shall be counted a vain babbler, a rank 
impostor, a false prophet, heretic, crank 
and fanatic. 



The truly brave man is he who dares to 
do right in the face of bitter opposition 
and fierce persecution; whose faith in 
God and the divinely established laws of 
salvation will enable him to forsake all. 
and glory in the knowledge of the truth. 



Let us prepare ourselves for the gifts 
and blessings of heaven as Elisha for the 
mantle and priesthood of Elijah. 



Boast not of riches, boast not at all, 
but be thankful that the Father of ali 
mercies and good gifts has blessed you in 
the past, and even now holds out a help- 
ing hand to the unrepentant, wilful sin- 
ner. 



"God hath commanded men everywhere 
to repent." Repentance, deep repentance, 
must take place in the heart and be mani- 
fest in the acts. If men fail to repent 
and fail to exhibit a godly sorrow for sin, 
with a sincere desire to sin no more, then 
they will most assuredly be punished, and 
they will fall and fester in their own cor- 
ruption and wickedness. 



No one need be idle; there is work for 
all, and blessed is the man who doeth 
with his might the labor assigned. Work 
will ease the mind, harden the muscles, 
and strengthen the body. Re not afraid 
to bend your back, or use your hands in 
honest toil, for there is a dignity attached 
to honest toil which makes the trusted 
laborer a worthy, upright man; a man 
whom all must respect and honor. 



Do you not behold the "Signs of the 
Times?" The journals of the day bring 
new accounts of floods, distress, destruc- 
tion of life and property! These things 
were to come to pass, and then the Lord 
of Hosts, Jesus, the light of the world, 
will suddenly come to His temple. Pre- 
pare yourselves, ye sons and daughters 
of men, and ye inhabitants of the earth, 
be ye moved to repentance so that when 
the Lord cometh He may be pleased to 
own and bless you! 



* Do not sit idly by and sing, "Rescue 
the perishing, care for the dying," but 
arise and let your light shine, that others 
may behold your good works and glorify 
God in the highest. As Christ is our 
Helper and Friend, so should we help and 
befriend each other. 



The riches of heaven are eternal, the 
joys of the kingdom everlasting. All that 
the Lord doeth He doeth forever; His 
handiwork shall never fail. His love and 
gentle goodness will never fade or grow 
dim with age. 



Let your anthem be, "Glory to God in 
the highest :" your daily life an exemplifi- 
cation of your seraphic muse. 



"What doth the Lord require of thee 
but to do justly and to love mercy?" 



U^J^JUJJ^MMUMUiJJ^^JlMJiMiJJMtMMJJJJMJ^^UUI^^M 



nmTEGMtu)! 



BY A AREOWSMITH. 



The age in which we are now living 
is, without doubt, the most wonderful 
through which the world has ever passed. 
These are peculiar times. Science is pro- 
ducing so much new food for thought 
that one must be indeed up and doing to 
keep pace with passing events. 

Infidelity and agnosticism stalks ram- 
pant through the land, and daily we are 
being brought in closer touch with things 
etherial and the unknown world, so much 
so, in fact, that to the clear, thinking, 
unbiased mind the immortality of man 
is an assured fact. 

Among the mysterious agencies being 
made use of in this age, we find Spirit- 
ualism taking an active part, also hyp- 
notism and mesmerism. Either of these 
can be made the agent for good or for 
evil, and through them many marvelous 
things are accomplished. 

The Bible specifically testifies to a time 
when Lucifer (the devil) should have such 
power as to cause fire to come down from 
Heaven, on the earth, in the sight of 
men, and deceive them that dwell on the 
earth by the means of such mighty mir- 
acles. 

At this day it is impossible, without 
the spirit of discernment, to distinguish 
between good and bad, truth and error, 
right and wrong, and it is hard to detect 
where truth ceases and error commences. 

When the Gospel was restored to this 
dispensation, Satan realized that truth 
had once more been introduced, and that, 
through faith, devils were cast out, the 
sick healed and the dead raised to life. 
Knowing that his power and dominion 
were in danger of being overthrown, he 
shook off the lethargy into which he had 
fallen and proceeded to introduce some 
of his wonders. 

Spiritualism, with its rappings, mut- 
terings and unintelligible jargon, was one 
of them, and it led many from the way 
of righteousness and truth, to the broad 
road of infidelity, some of these thus led 
away being among the grandest spirits 
of the day, whose noble souls have been 
deceived with this demonstration of the 
miraculous. 

I believe it to be true that foolish and 
ridiculous spiritual agencies can make 
chairs and tables move, and there are 
powers at work which mortality cannot 
see, which will raise heavy substances 
from the floor; that will inhabit the tab- 
ernacle of mortality and demonstrate 
wonderful powers beyond the comprehen- 
sion of man. 

Often a medium who is illiterate and 
unlearned, will, under the influence of 
this power, deliver the most learned dis- 
course, perhaps treat on philosophy, ar- 
chaeology and the higher studies, or 
charm the hearers with beautiful music, 
as the case might be, thus making full 
use of the arts and sciences. It is a 
fact, however, that nothing new is ever 
brought out by this means, and what is 
done is simply a repetition of something 
formerly accomplished. 

These peeping, muttering spirits do not 
teach us anything but the fact that man 
is a anal being, and that there is a spirit 
life closely connected with this mortal 
life. This system or sect does not recog- 
nize Christ as the Son of God, and right 
here is the key by which we find its 
source, and it thus discloses from whence 



it came. The Apostle John says that 
every spirit that confesseth not that 
Jesus Christ is come in the flesh, is not 
of God, but is the spirit of deception, and 
anti-Christ. 

These deceptive spirits have been 
known thousands of years. We read 
that before the peopling of this world 
by mortality, of a war in Heaven, where 
Satan and one-third of the hosts of 
Heaven, who followed him, were cast 
out on the earth, and ever since, they 
have been busy trying to deceive and de- 
coy man from the path of virtue and 
truth. 

Peter says, "Be sober, be vigilant; be- 
cause your adversary, the devil, as a 
roaring lion, walketh about, seeking 
whom he might devour." 

Upwards of 2,800 years ago Isaiah ad- 
vised Israel to avoid these manifestations 
of evil. He says: "And when they shall 
say unto you, seek unto them that have 
familiar spirits, and unto wizards that^ 
peep and that mutter; should not the peo-* 
pie seek unto their God? for the living 
to the dead? to the law and to the tes- 
timony; if they speak not according to 
this word, it is because there is no light 
in them." 

This condemns spiritualism and shows 
us plainly that a seeker after the mys- 
teries pertaining to the dead and the be- 
yond, must apply through the legitimate 
channel, viz., godliness, and the law and 
the testimony. 

The magicians and soothsayers of an- 
cient Egypt, Babylon and Assyria, who 
performed and worked their marvels 
through the channels of this "dark art," 
were able to turn rods into serpents, wa- 
ter into blood and bring frogs on the 
land of Egypt. 

Saul, the King of Israel, disappointed 
at the withdrawal of his Priesthood and 
power, desired communication with the 
unseen world, he sought out a witch at 
Endor, who had the power to gratify 
his desire, and he held discourse with 
Samuel. The result of this interview 
was misery and death. The same would 
apply to all who seek after information 
in this forbidden channel, and is very 
graphically related in Shakespeare's 
Macbeth, who is described as a very am- 
bitious Thane, who cruelly murdered the 
good King Duncan and his friend Ban- 
quo, that he might himself sit on the 
throne of Scotland. His conscience sore- 
ly troubled him, and he sought frequently 
the haunts of witches, that he might get 
consolation through their power. They 
gave him encouraging information, and 
he felt perfectly safe, but the result was 
deception and he died a miserable and 
untimely death, cursing the deceptive 
power which gave him the intentive and 
wicked encouragement to let nothing 
stand in the way of his ambition. 

We therefore find that these many at- 
testations of power, miraculous as they 
may appear, are lacking, and invariably 
those who seek for information through 
these influences, like Saul and Macbeth, 
only reap misery and death. 

It is said "there is good in all things 
evil, could men but observingly distil it 
out," and because we find so much evil 
arising from the abuse of these powers, 
we find many who at once pronounce 
them of the devil and from beneath, 



406 



THE SOUTHERN STAR. 



without an honest investigation. It is 
always easy to deny the existence of 
what we cannot understand; far easier 
than it is wise; for by such stubborn de- 
nials the world is often kept in pitiable 
ignorance of precious truth. 

The mysterious happenings, which ap- 
pear as supernatural, through the powers 
of hypnotism, are usually pronounced as 
impostors and humbug. Leading and ac- 
knowledged authorities say that hypno- 
tism is really the basis for the explana- 
tion of much of the phenomena that has 
occurred and that now happens, and that 
psychologly is a true science. They say 
that the mind of man is dual; it consists 
of a subjective part, or spirit, and an ob- 
jective part, or intellect. 

The subjective part is immortal, inten- 
tive, has control of the bodily functions, 
is the seat of instincts and memory. 

The objective mind, or intellect, is 
mortal, depending upon the brain as its 
functioner, and declining its power as 
the brain declines its physical vigor. Our 
objective mind is given us to enable us 
to cope with our environments in this 
life. It is capable of inductive and de- 
ductive reasoning. It is the guide and 
controller (while we are in this life) of 
the subjective mind or soul, which it can 
fit for an eternity of bliss or remorse— 
that is— we have free will, we are free 
agents to work out our own salvation. 

Tne Ail Wise Creator has provided us 
with a perfect instrument; but it is left 
for us to decide whether or not we will 
keep it in tune and bring out all its mu- 
sic; till on its divine harmonies we soar 
aloft. 

We are free agents, not machines. The 
subjective mind, when it passes from 
the control of the objective, accepts 
whatever premise is presented to it, and 
reasons from that premise, with wonder- 
ful power and acuteness. 

It is therefore through the power of a 
natural law that hypnosis is produced 
and the subject made to operate, appar- 
ently, supernaturally. The objective 
mind sleeps; the subjective mind is on 
the alert to receive and grasp any sug- 
gestion which is earnestly made to it, by 
a spoken word or concentrated thought. 
It is thus disease and sickness is cured 
in many cases; also men of immoral ten- 
dencies have been benefitted through this 
power. 

The "Book of Mormon" declares tbat 
the Spirit of Christ is given to every 
man, that they may know good from 
evil; "everything which inviteth to do 
good, and to persuade to believe in Christ, 
is sent forth by the power and gift of 
Christ; wherefore ye may know with a 
perfect knowledge it is of God; but what- 
soever thing persuadeth man to do evil, 
and believe not in Christ, and deny Him, 
and serve not God; then ye may know 
with a perfect knowledge it is of the 
devil, for after this manner doth the 
devil work, for he persuadeth no man to 
do good, no. not one; neither doth his 
angels: neither do they who subject 
themselves unto him. Then Mormon 
goes on to say. "Seeing that ye know 
the light by which ye may judge, which 
light is the light of Christ see that ye 
do not judge wrongfully; for with that 
same judgment whicn ye judge, ye shall 
also be judged. Wherefore I beseech of 
you, brethren, that ye should search dil- 
igently in the light of Christ, that ye may 
know good from evil; and if ye will lay 
hold upon every good thing and condemn 
it not, ye certainly will be a child of 
Christ." 

We all know in past ages that the 
truths advanced by Copernicus, Galileo, 



Newton and others were rejected by a 
bigoted and superstitious people. Even 
in recent years many truths have been 
kept back and withheld, through big- 
otry, being prejudged as falsehood of the 
devil. Modern Christendom has railed 
against some of the grandest discoveries 
in this century, simply because they con- 
flicted with their supercilious, arrogant 
and unscriptural forms of worship and 
their misconception of the Word of God. 

Faith is a mighty fulcrum in moving 
the powe-s with which we are surround- 
eu, and God's laws are natural laws; so 
that if one of His children understand 
some of nature's laws and can even call 
down fire from Heaven, he will operate 
his power through a natural law, God's 
law. Such a man might be wicked and 
evil, but his understanding and applica- 
tion of a truth brings the fire, neverthe- 
less. Evil is nothing but truth corrupted 
and misapplied, and God does not always 
reveal His truths through His Church.* 

Edison has been a grand instrument In 
revealing some of the powers of God, 
through electricity, and Edison does not 
believe in vision and revelation and does 
not understand the channel from whence 
he gets his inspiration; but he is God's 
instrument, notwithstanding. 

The fakir in India who is the most 
successful hypnotist is described as liv- 
ing meagerly, on the most simple diet, 
and he strives to kep his body pure, that 
it might be a fit receptacle for the influ- 
ence which gives him power In his pro- 
fession. Anciently the most wise men 
sought seclusion in the deserts, macer- 
ated their bodies and held long fasts. 
They were desirous of communication 
with the spirit world, and if we are to 
believe history many of them attained 
great knowledge on things etherial. It 
is true that many fanatics would sit for 
years in silent contemplation of the suf- 
ferings of Jesus, and it is related that 
the nail marks, as suggested by thought, 
would appear on their hands, feet and 
side. 

My object in writing the above is that 
we might be careful in judging between 
right and wrong, good and evil, and not 
condemning everything we see, because 
we don't understand it. God is operat- 
ing and controlling all things, and He 
sometimes makes the wrath of man 
praise Him. Let us therefore learn how 
to separate truth from error and apply 
it in our lives. 

The principle of faith has, in the past, 
as well as the present, been the most po- 
tent factor in disclosing the mysterious. 
Realizing this, we find the Christian Sci- 
entist and many others working miracles 
and healing the sick. 

The Roman Catholic exercises faith 
in the bones and clothing of departed 
Saints, and they actually idolize such 
relics. Strange to say, they often obtain 
miraculous blessings through the faith 
and prayer they offer these idols. 

ivtany pilgrims who seek for health 
through the waters that have been 
blessed by Saints in the past and who 
bow with reverence and worship to the 
bones of some supposed Saint, receive 
benefit, and sometimes, if we are to 
credit history, many are cured from dis- 
ease. 

Through the exercise of faith these re- 
sults are brought about, as Jesus would 
say, "Thy faith hath made thee whole." 
If some poor superstitious and ignorant 
fanatic bows down and worships a yel- 
low dog, or even some old rags or bones, 
be it the coat of Joseph, the carpenter, 
or the raiment of Jesus, the soldiers of 
Rome cast lots for, or the bones of a 
primitive Saint, no matter, that poor soul 



is a child of God, and an object of com- 
passion, entitled to the respect of a just 
and merciful Father, providing, of course, 
the individual is honest, knowing no bet- 
ter, and does the best he can. His poor 
weak soul, like the Hindoo fakir, is will- 
ing to do anything, according to the 
knowledge and education it has imbibed, 
to get eternal bliss and immunity from 
pain, sickness and disease, both body and 
spirit. 

There is a true and a false faith. They 
will both work wonders. To illustrate, 
I wi.» relate a circumstance: Some years 
ago a school of medical men, desiring to 
test the powers of the imagination, se- 
cured for their test a man condemned to 
die. They blindfolded him. gagged him 
and bound him to a chair, and while he 
sat thus, unable to speak or see, he was 
able to hear all they said. They spoke 
of how they would open the jugular vein, 
and by so doing the victim would die in- 
side of five minutes. 

One student he.- his pulse, another a 
watch, whilst another poured blood trick- 
lingly from the poor fellow's neck into a 
bucket oy his side. The doctor pricked 
the neck with a pin without injury, but 
this poor victim of experimentation im- 
agined, fancied, or had faith, false faith 
if you please, that he had been subjected 
to the knife, and he believed what the 
doctors said, that within five minutes he 
would bleed to death. He heard the 
blood as it trickled into the bucket, and 
the false faith that he exhibited caused 
him to die within the limit. 

Many such illustrations could be cited, 
showing the powers of the imagination, 
when controlled by a false faith. Why 
should not this same faith have also a 
healing influence upon the weak-minded 
fanatic, even should he exercise it on old 
bones and relics of the middle ages? 

All mankind are the children of the 
Eternal Father, and the principle of 
faith is a part of their spiritual inheri- 
tance as His sons and daughters. They 
can aii come unto Him in sincere and 
earnest prayer — and no matter what may 
be their race or creed, He will regard 
their devotion when they seek to serve 
Him as best they can. We therefore do 
not think that the ears of Deity are open 
solely to the members of one particular 
religious body. Faith is not confined to 
any specially selected individuals. "God 
is no respecter of persons." The Savior 
said: "All things are possible to them 
that believe. ' We must give God credit 
for all good things, and attribute all evil 
to Lucifer. 

Union Pacific Railroad. 

Another Portland train. Two trains 
daily. Effective April 22, the Union Pa- 
cific, Oregon Short Line and Chicago 
Railroad and Navigation company will 
place in service an additional Portland 
train. 

This train, "The Pacific Express," will 
leave Kansas City 10:40 a. m. Only 
three days on the road. 

Equipped with Palace Sleepers. Free 
Reclining Chair Cars, ordinary Sleeping 
Car. Dining Car Service (to Granger). 

The time of the present Portland train, 
"The Overland Limited," leaving Kansas 
City 6:40 d. m., will be reduced 2 hours 
and 45 minutes between Granger and 
Portland. 

Only 69 hours Kansas City to Port- 
land. 

Palace Sleeping Cars, Dining Car Ser- 
vice. Buffet Cars, Chair Cars. 

For time tables, folders, illustrated 
books, pamphlets descriptive of the ter- 
ritory traversed, address J. F. Aglar, 
general agent. St. Louis. Mo. 

This is my commandment; that ye love 
one another." 



THB SOUTHERN STAB. 



407 



WOODRUFF MONUMENT DEDICATED 



Deseret Evening News, Nov. 10, 1900. 

The monument to the memory of the 
late President Wilford Woodruff was 
dedicated with imposing ceremonies in 
the city cemetery at 1 o'clock today. 
Something like 100 people were in at- 
tendance, mostly members of the family 
of the departed President. By request 
the male quartette, consisting of 
Messrs. Pyper, Whitney, Patrick and 
Spencer, furnished the music and opened 
with the hymn "Lord, We Come Before 
Thee Now." Apostle Heber J. Grant 
then made a few remarks, speaking of 
the pleasure it had given the General 
Board to receive the responses with 
which their request for subscriptions 
from the Mutual Improvement associa- 
tions throughout the Church in aid of 
this cause aad been met, and asking the 
blessings of God upon the family of Pres- 
ident Woodruff. 

~ Elder James Woodruff, son of Presi- 
dent Woodruff, then returned thanks to 
the General Board on behalf of the fam- 
ily, and appealed to all the members of 
his father's family to so live that he 
would never have cause to blush for his 
sons and daughters. 

Apostle Lund expressed pleasure with 
the beautiful monument and said its 
plain, solid character indicated fittingly 
the man who rested beneath it. 

President Joseph F. Smith stated that 
the granite from which the monument 
was built came from President Wood- 
ruff's native State, Connecticut. He said 
he was grateful and proud to see this 
monument erected to the memory of one 
who had .been so loved as President 
Woodruff, but he desired to say that the 
record he had made in life would outlive 
this monument, and when the granite 
had mouldered Into dust his work would 
still be remembered, and his great labor 
known by millions yet unborn. He con- 
gratulated the family, and all who had 
contributed to this monument, that the 
work had been done under such happy 
auspices. He urged the members of the 
Woodruff family to honor the memory 
of their father, and this they could do in 
no better way than by showing by their 
lives and works that they appreciated 
the example he had set. 

President George Q. Cannon followed, 
speaking of the providence shown in the 
raising up of men of distinguished char- 
acters to stand at the head of this work 
since its commencement. He told of Jo- 
seph Smith's special adaptation for the 
great work he had to perform during his 
life, and said that when he fell it seemed 
as though no one could be found to fill 
his place. Yet President Brigham Young 
had been raised up, and he was a man 
well fitted for the problems with which 
he had to contend. Then came President 
Aaylor, who had himself been almost a 
martyr, and whose familiar name was 
"the cnampion of liberty." Following 
him came President Woodruff, a man 
whose character was the most childlike, 
humble and unassuming and free from 
ostentation and pride, more so than that 
of any character he had ever known 
among his people. He was the embod- 
iment of truth and innocence, and yet a 
man of undaunted courage. This was 
well shown by the "manifesto" which 
had been isssued by him. The speaker 
said, knowing Brigham Young and John 
Taylor as he had, he doubted whether 
they could have brought themselves to 
do what President Woodruff did in that 
respect. It seemed as though the Lord 
had decreed in advance that Wilford 
Woodruff should be the man to do that 



work. He spoke of President Snow's 
particular mission on earth and said he 
possessed the particular qualities of mind 
and character that enabled him to per- 
form it, and closed with an appeal to 
the members of the Woodruff family to 
tread in the footsteps of their father. 

The dedicatory prayer was then feel- 
ingly pronounced by President Joseph F. 
Smith, after which the quartette rendered 
"The Last Hope," and Bishop John R. 
Winder offered the final prayer. 

Elder Thomas E. Hull, on behalf of 
the family, thanked those who had taken 
part in the services and the assemblage 
dismissed. 

The beautiful monument is of solid 
granite and faces east and west. On the 
north front * are inscribed the words, 
"Fourth President of the Church of 
Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1889- 
1898. ' On the west side is inscribed the 
names of the wives of the deceased: 
"Phoebe W. Carter, born March 8th, 
1807, died Note. 10th, 1885. Mary A. 
Jackson, born Feb. 18th, 1818, died Dec. 
25th, 1894." The monument cost about 
$1,500, nearly one-half of which was 
subscribed by the members of the Young 
Men's Mutual Improvement Association, 
and the remainder by the Woodruff fam- 
ily. It was erected by Elias Morris & 
Sons Company. 

HONOR GOD'S PRIESHOOD. 

BY ELDER W. G. MILES. 

It has long been an established fact to 
the reasoning mind that when God, in 
past ages, designed to accomplish a cer- 
tain work upon earth He did it through 
His servants, who were divinely chosen 
from among men, and upon whom he 
conferred His Priesthood or authority. 
At one period of the world's history so 
great became the inclination of a people 
to honor God's Priesthood, and so com- 
plete and perfect became their love for 
each other, that they were translated 
with their beloved Prophet and leader, 
Enoch. At another time in the history 
of the world we find the people almost 
universally repudiating God's Priesthood 
and Prophet, Noah, bringing upon them- 
selves the displeasure of a just Creator, 
manifest by their total extermination 
in flood. We will not dwell longer upon 
the condition of man at this stage, but 
hastily come to the time when God sent 
His only begotten Son into the world, 
who was to do not His own, but His 
Father's will. 

As He Himself has said, "For I came 
down from Heaven not to do mine own 
will, but the will of Him that sent me," 
(John 6:38). and that Jesus held the 
Priesthood of God, with power to confer 
it upon others, is very evident from His 
teachings, especially His words recorded 
in John 14:10, wherein He tells us that 
the Father dwelleth in Him. By a fur- 
ther investigation of Scripture, we find 
that Christ did not withhold this Priest- 
hood from others, but it was extended 
unto the Apostles and those whom He 
had chosen. The object of this article 
is not to make a lengthy explanation of 
this subject, but to briefly point out the 
necessity of, and the safety in. honoring 
and obeying those who hold the Priest- 
hood of our Creator; and on the other 
hand the apparent danger encountered 
by those who ignore these divinely au- 
thorized servants. No better under- 
standing can be had on this point than 
that given in the words of Jesus as re- 
corded in Matt. 10:40-42, wherein He 
says. "He that receiveth you receiveth 
me;" also in Matt. 25:35-46, "Inasmuch 
as ye have done it unto one of the least 



of these, my brethren, ye have done it 
unto me," showing very decisively that 
wnosoever will not receive those servants, 
sent of Him, but will mistreat them, 
shall be held just as responsible as 
though they rejected the Son of God 
Himself. 

But in this advanced age of bigotry 
and intolerance, when men are profess- 
ing great piety and holiness, we find 
them ready on every side, not only to 
repudiate, but put to death those holding 
Goa's Priesthood, and bearing to them 
the fruits of the Gospel. 

Let the world awake from her pro- 
found sleep of spiritual darkness and 
shake off the iron-clad fetters of super- 
stition and eiTor, which are binding her 
inhabitants so close. 

And to those desiring to be among the 
right ous few, who shall inherit the 
kingdom prepared from the foundation 
of the world, let them become submissive 
to the will of God, by honoring, uphold- 
ing and sustaining His Priesthood here 
upon earth. 

THE END OF THE WICKED. 



BY ELDER J. W. BERRY. 

Varied conclusions have been presented 
to my mind recently regarding the final 
destiny of the ungodly and sinners. Many 
people strive hard to justify themselves by 
becoming members of some church, and 
then cease their good works, forgetting 
that they have an individual labor to per 
form, to gain the blessings of the Lor-1 
hereafter. The Bible is sufficient to at 
least satisfy the earnest, who desire to 
know what is required of them. Mark 
well the prayer of the Psalmist David, 
"Draw me not away with the wicked, and 
with the workers of iniquity, which speak- 
eth peace to their neighbors, but mischief 
is in their hearts. Give them according 
to their deeds, and according to the wick- 
edness of their endeavors; give them af- 
ter the work of their hands; and render 
to them their desert." (Psalm 28:34;. 
We can see by this petition that he de- 
sired assistance from the Almighty that 
he might be enabled to cease an associa- 
tion with the ungodly. 

We will notice in the following verses 
that Solomon makes mention of some 
praiseworthy deeds, and their opposite 
vices. "The fear of the wicked it shall 
come upon him, but the desire of the 
righteous shall be granted. As the whirl- 
wind passeth, so is the wicked no more, 
but the righteous is an everlasting foun- 
dation. As vinegar to the teeth and as 
smoke to the eyes, so is the sluggard to 
them that sent him. The fear of the Lord 
prolongeth days, but the years of the 
wicked shall be shortened. The hope of 
the righteous shall be gladness, but the 
expectation of the wicked shall perish. 
The way of the Lord is strength to the 
upright, but destruction shall be to the 
workers of iniquity. The righteous shall 
never be removed, but the wicked shall 
not inhabit the earth." (Prov. 10:24- 
31). Is it not our desire to inhabit the 
earth? The Savior says "the meek shall 
inherit the earth." 

The Apostle Paul in his letter to the 
Thessalonians gave warning of the ap- 
pearing of the anti-Christ, who should 
shortly visit them. He said, "For the 
mystery of iniquity doth already work, 
only he who now letteth will let, until he 
be taken out of the way. And then shall 
that wicked be revealed, whom the Lord 
shall consume with the spirit of His 
mouth, and shall destroy with the bright- 
ness of His coming." (II. Thess. 2; 
7-8). Read carefully the words of Job, 
and you will readily see that the trans- 



408 



THE SOUTHERN STAB. 



REPORT OF MISSION CONFERENCES FOR WEEK ENDING OCT. 27, 1900. 



PRIfllflENT 



CONFKBKN0I 



(Jeo. A- A<1jkui* 

Hebcr B. OImb... 

*F. G.Bolum <_,...,*■„.,.„. 

J. Spencer Wonsley„,.. 

H. F, H*nwn 

A. C. Strang - 

John H< BankheacL 

John K^tive 

J. M, IIilwh „„ hi 

(J- tt, Humpherya 

G. M, Porter „ 

W. W, Mac Kay .... 
V. H. Critchlleld,, 

R, L, Honta 

Don C Benson 

L, M. No twicer .♦.„ 
H. Z. Lmul 



Chattanooga ~ 

Virginia.. 

Kentucky ^mmp^l 
lCiwstTennewLe.. H 

Georgia.. , 

North Alabama. 

Florida ... 

Mid, Tennessee ,. 
North Carolina.. 
Mi hi i h 1 aroJins ., 

M Ksi^ippi ,., 

Eft!*t Kentucky., 

Louisiana 

South Alabama „ 
North Kentucky 

South Ohio 

North Ohio 



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Richmond, Box 888- 

Cmure 

Hale, Min>liellCO-... 

Savannah ... T „„ „„ 

MempliiK. Box WlU...„„ 
504 K Bay ft i .Jacksonville 
Spurt a. White County 
Gubtabom, Bag ttt*.... 

Bust 129. Ore cnville 

St. H I'h'ini Pariah 

Barium ravine- ^ M 
Lake Village ..—... .**,♦„ 

Lupine . „. „ * ++++ , „„. . ( 

low w Gray St., Louisville 
ftfrl Betta .St., Cincinnati 
24 1 1 WiiiJe Park Avenue.. 



gressor is almost in a hopeless conditio a 
regarding the salvation of his poor soul. 
4, 15ut the wicked shall be cut off from the 
earth, and the transgressors shall be root- 
ed out of it." (Prov. 2:22). 

The Savior in giving a description of 
the last judgment, says to the wicked on 
the left hand, "Depart from me, ye cursed, 
into everlasting fire prepared for the devil 
and his angels." (Matt. 25:41). Paul, 
in speaking to members of the Church, 
said, "For if we sin wilfully after that 
we have received the knowledge of the 
truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice 
for sins." (Heb. 10:26.) John in his 
prophetic vision while in banishment upon 
the Isle of Patmos describes the residence 
of sinners thus, "But the fearful and un- 
believing and the abominable, and mur- 
derers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, 
and idolaters, and all liars, shall have 
their part in the lake which burneth with 
fire and brimstone, which is the second 
death." (Rev. 20:8). 



GLEANINGS. 



As I see nothing written from Missouri, 
I thought I would write a few words to 
the much prized little Star that lights our 
home once a week. There is so much val- 
uable truth contained in its pages that it 
does my soul good to read and re-read it 

I moved from Cocke county, Tenn., to 
Missouri one year ago. You brethren 
that may chance to see this that have 
been to my home, remember me in your 
prayers, and know, too, that I will say 
to all the Elders who it has been my good 
fortune to meet that I am well and still 
firm in the faith. I know we have the 
Gospel again restored to earth, and I 
know if I am faithful I shall meet them 
in heaven. I am surrounded by other 
denominations, but they do not molest or 
make afraid. In conclusion, I ask the 
faith and prayers of all the Saints. 

Your sister in the cause of truth, 
Mrs. Jane Gillespie, 

Holt, Mo. 

RELEASES AND APPOINTMENTS. 

Releases. 

J. C. Barrington, South Carolina. 

R. E. Skinner, North Carolina Confer- 
ence. 

Ralph Cutler, Ohio Conference. 
Transfer*. 

Peter A. Bushman, from Florida to 
Southwestern States Mission. 



Special Low Rates Via 

Union Pacific Railroad every Tuesday 
to Colorado, Utah, Montana, Idaho, Ore- 
gon, Washington. For particulars ad- 
dress J. F. Aglar, General Agent, St. 
Louis. 



STATE 



rgia 
I ginia 
Kentucky 
N ■ Carolina 
Georgia 
1 neaaee 
Florida 

I nessee 
N. Carolina 

i arolina 
i liaiana 
Kentucky 
U 'diaiana 

I I a bama 
Kentucky 
Ohio 
Cleveland, O. 



I "YE SHALL KNOW THE TRUTH" | 



{John 8: St.) 



What a heavenly gleam of light 
Beaming from the Southern Star, 

Pointing out the path of right, 
Radiates and shines afar! 



How the faithful joy to meet thee. 

Precious gem of priceless worth! 
May success and victory greet thee, 

In yonr mission here on earth! 



I have been a constant and studious 
reader of the Star ever since its incep- 
tion in the fall of '98. and I desire to 
communicate through its inspired col- 
umns, to my fellow-men of this South- 
land, a brief recital of my experience, 
and how I became a Mormon. I am a 
Georgian by nativity, and Jefferson coun- 
ty is the home of my birth. My parents, 
Dr. William and Eliza Hauser, were 
anxious for me to be a defender of the 
faith, after the order of John Wesley, 
and so I was sent to Trinity College, 
North Carolina, and educated for a 
Methodist Priest. I was turned out in 
first-class style, I suppose, fully equipped 
with the schemes and dogmas of unin- 
spired theologians, and fortified with the 
necessary paraphernalia essential to the 
defense of the sect I was to represent, 
and yet I was not content. I could not 
harmonize the mode of baptism believed 
in by my tutors with the words of the 
Apostle, who said, "Buried with Him in 
baptism," and therefore, to be consistent 
with my own views and conscientious 
with my fellow-man, I became affiliated 
with the Baptist Church, and donned my 
ministerial cloth in defense of their be- 
lief. 

All went well; that is, I continued to 
preach to the best of my ability and un- 
derstanding of the Scriptures, until 1879, 
when Elder Matthias F. Cowley (now a 
member of the Quorum of Apostles), a 
"Mormon," came into Tazewell county, 
Virginia, where I was holding forth for 
a season. Of course, the presence of a 
Mormon Elder created no small stir in 
the neighborhood, for the people were 
possessed of all sorts of strange vagaries 
and vain imaginations concerning this 
peculiar sect. It did not take me long 
to discover the weakness of my creed, 
when compared with the everlasting Gos- 
pel in its fullness, as declared by this 
young man of tender years. I perceived 
with plainness and perspicuity that I 
was without a foundation, adrift upon a 
sea of confused sectarianism, no anchor- 
age, stability, or landing of security. The 
words of this young man were convinc- 
ing, and had a familiar sound, so differ- 
ent from anything I had ever before 



heard. I listened with attention, be- 
lieved in faith, accepted with gladness, 
and rendered obedience with thankful- 
1 ness to Him from whom all blessings 
| tlow. Friends forsook me, my salary 
I vanished, and threats of mob violence 
j were uttered against me. The schemes 
of theologians, dogmas of commentators, 
j and instructions of Trinity College, were 
j nothing to me now; they had departed 
j as the dew before the sun's directer ray. 
when brought in contact with the touch- 
stones of truth, and I possessed only that 
simple faith once delivered to the Saints, 
with a glorious hope of salvation in the 
kingdom of our God. 

Some may contend that it is not possi- 
ble for mortal man to know of the truth- 
fulness of the Gospel, but I have a living 
testimony of its divinity, and through 
the medium of the Holy Ghost I am en- 
abled to say that I absolutely know that 
the doctrines enunciated by the so-called 
Mormon Elders are true, ordained of 
God, and the only means appointed of 
the Father for the salvation and exalta- 
tion of the children of men. Since the 
day of my acceptance and obedience until 
the present time I have never doubted, 
but, contrariwise, the testimony of the 
truth has been multiplied upon me and 
increased. I know that the Gospel is 
true through the whisperings of that 
"still small voice," and the influence of 
the Good Spirit. I know it by compari- 
son with the Holy Bible, by contrasting 
it with poor, confused, divided Chris- 
tianity, and by my experience in the 
world, by the rebuffs, scoffs, jeers and 
frowns of the ungodly which the faithful 
Latter-day Saints are called upon to en- 
dure. I know that Joseph Smith was a 
true Prophet of the Most High God, and 
that he was the chosen instrument in the 
hands of the Lord to assist in the estab- 
lishment of His righteous purposes upon 
the earth. The Book of Mormon is a 
sacred, divine record, this I know beyond 
all question or controversy. I am proud 
of my faith, my co-religionists, my lead- 
ers, and all connected with the Church 
of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and 
I thank God that I am what the world 
calls "a Mormon." 
Your brother in the Gospel, 

O. M. HAUSER. 





"BUT THOUOtt WE* OB AN ANGEL FROM MEAV EN, PREACH ANY 
OTHEQ GOSPEL UNTO YOU THAN THAT WHICH WE 

HAVE PREACHED UNTO YOU, LET rilM BE ACCUSE Q*&4{ J*Pfi¥. 



X^gJW* 



Vol. 2. 



Chattanooga, Tbnn., Saturday, November 24, 1900. 



No. 52. 



Sketch of the Life of Apostle Brigham Young, Jr. 



A son of the late President Brigham 
Young and Mary Ann Angell Young was 
born in Kirtland, Geauga county, Ohio, 
Dec. 13th, 1836. With his parents he 
removed to Missouri, and thence to Nau- 
voo, Illinois. In these states, ^though in 
childhood, he learned something of the 
hardships of persecution, and they litive 
never been effaced from his memory. Hi* 
father, as well known, was ouv of the 
first and greatest Apostles of the 
Church. His mother, too, was a uotnV 
type of womanhood, and a true, devoled 
Latter-day Saint. While in poverty and 
her husband on a mission to Grcnt Brit- 
ain, Elder Lorenzo (now President) Baott 
called upon Sister Young on the eve of 
his departure to fill a mission in Em-npe. 
He asked Sister Young what news from 
home he should convey to her husband. 
She answered, "Tell him 
we are about as well as 
other people, and though 
in straitened circ^i in- 
stances, temporarily 
speaking, we don't want 
to see him home until he 
has completed a good 
mission and has been 
honorably released." Be- 
fore their children, the 
Church and the world 
this example of endur- 
ance and devotion to God 1 - 
and His cause did the 
parents of Apostle Brig- 
ham Young set all the 
days of their lives. Brig- 
ham was baptized by his 
father in the Mississippi 
river at Nauvoo, 111,, 
when 8 years of age. 

He was exiled with his 
father and family from 
their home in Nauvoo in 
1846. With liis mother he remained 
in Winter -Quarters until 1848, when 
they journeyed across the plains and 
reached Salt Lake Valley in Sep- 
tember of that year. Brigham was 
then only 12 years of age, but he 
at once performed good service as 
a herd boy, working in the canyon and 
other manual labor. He was likewise a 
"minute man," keeping watch against 
the encroachment of hostile Indians. In 



BY APOSTLE MATHIAS F. COWLEY. 

this capacity he participated in several 
dangerous expeditions. Nov. 15th, 185J, 
he took to wife Sister Catherine Curns 
Spencer, daughter of Orson Spencer. At 
tne approach of "Johnston's" army he 
did able work as a scout, suffering many 




APOSTLE BRIGHAM YOUNG, Jr. 

hardships while in the mountains from 
inclement weather and overexertion in 
nis duties. When one of the hand-cart 
companies crossing the plains were in 
distress Brother Brigham went as one 
of a relief party, and suffered such ex- 
posure and hardships that he was at- 
tacked with inflammatory rheumatism, 
from which he has suffered at various 
times ever since. 



At the April Conference in 1861 he be- 
came a member of the Salt Lake Stake 
High Council. In 1862 he went Bast 
with U tan's delegate to Congress, Dr. J. 
M. Bernhisel. While in New York City 
he received a letter from his father re- 
questing him to proceed as a missionary 
to Eforopa. He promptly complied and 
mailed for Liverpool, where he arrived 
-oly 20tht 1862. His labors were prin- 
c .pally in London with Elder William 
<\ Stjiirns. He also visited Scandinavia 
tiud other parts of Europe. He sailed 
from Liverpool on his return home Sept. 
1st, lNi;;*. In 1864 he was again called 
to Europe, this time to associate with 
President Daniel H. Wells in the Presi- 
dency of the European Mission. Accom- 
panied by his wife, Catherine, he reached 
Liverpool .Tuly 25th, 1864. He labored 
in company with Presi- 
dent Wells, looking after 
the interests of the Mis- 
sion in all departments, 
until August, 1865, when 
he succeeded President 
Wells as the President «f 
the Mission. During his 
administration he traveled 
extensively through the 
Conferences upon the 
I British Isles, and several 

P j times visited the Conti- 
nent, giving personal at- 
tention to the interests 
of the Church in Den- 
mark, Sweden, Norway, 
Switzerland, France and 
Russia. By request of 
his father he returned 
home on a visit, sailing 
from Liverpool Sept. 19th, 
1865, Apostle Orson Pratt 
taking charge of the Mis- 
sion. A peculiar incident 
occurred while crossing the Atlan- 
tic ocean. A terrible storm arose, 
threatening to sink the vessel. A 
portion of the rigging was torn down by 
the wind, and one man was washed over- 
board. A burly Irishman on board in 
the shape of a religious fanatic, attrib- 
uted the cause of the storm to the fact 
that a "Jonah" was aboard the ship in 
the shape of a "Mormon" Elder. He 



410 



THE SOUTHERN STAR 



made a persistent demand of the captain 
that Elder Young be cast into the sea. 
He was so boisterous and persistent that 
at last the captain bad to interfere and 
compel the Irishman to hold his peace. 
After a very rough journey by sea and 
land, Elder Young reached home Oct. 
25th, 1865. In the spring of 1866 he re- 
turned to Europe, resumed the responsi- 
bilities of the Mission, and continued his 
labors until he sailed from Liverpool on 
his return home, June 29th, 1867. While 
absent be visited the World's Fair at 
Paris, France. Returning home, he left 
the Mission under the Presidency of 
Apostle Franklin D. Richards. While 
on his mission two of his children were 
born in England, Mabel and Joseph. The 
following year Elder Brigham Young, 
with his brother, Joseph A., acted as 
agents for their father (in sub-contract- 
ing), who had contracted to grade a 
great many miles of the Union Pacific 
Railway. Brother Young was also prom- 
inent in the Nauvoo Legion as a military 
man until its disorganization in 1870. In 
that capacity he displayed considerable 
talent, and did efficient service in the an- 
nual drills of the Territorial militia. El- 
der Young was previously ordained to 
the Apostleship, and was set apart as 
one of the Twelve Apostles Oct. 9th, 
1868. From then to the present his chief 
and almost entire labors have been di- 
rectly in the duties of his Apostleship. 
Subsequent to the decease of Apostle 
Ezra T. Benson he was called by Presi- 
dent Young to preside over the affairs of 
the Church in Cache Valley. For this 
purpose he removed to Logan City and 
presided in Cache Valley until the Stake 
was organized in 1877. At the annual 
Conference held in April, 1873, Apostle 
Young was chosen one of the assistant 
five Counsellors to President Brigham 
Young, which place he filled until his 
fathers' death in 1877. During this pe- 
riod he spent much of his time in St. 
George, looking to the interests of the 
Church in Southern Utah. After his 
father's demise he was appointed one of 
the administrators of his estate. In set- 
tling the affairs of the estate he showed 
a just and amicable disposition, which 
elicited the confidence and respect of the 
Saints, as well as that of his father's 
family. For refusing to deliver certain 
Church property into the hands of the re- 
ceiver, W. S. McCormick, he, with Pres- 
ident Jdhn Taylor, George Q. Cannon 
and Albert Carrington, were adjudged 
guilty of contempt by Judge Boreman. 
Aug. 4th Apostle Young, with the two 
last named brethren, was sent to the 
penitentiary, where they remained until 
Aug. 28th, when they were liberated, 
the decision of Judge Boreman having 
been reversed by the Supreme Court of 
the Territory. 

In 1881 Apostle Young went to Ari- 
zona, where he spent one year, returning 
in time to wait upon his noble mother in 
her dying moments. She departed this 
life at her home in Salt Lake City June 
27th, 1882. Among the many positions 
of honor and trust held by Apostle 
Young, and always held with integrity 
to his sacred trust, he has served several 
terms in the Territorial Legislature. He 
has been East on several visits in the 
interests of the Church, as well as doing 
considerable missionary labor abroad. In 
more recent years his labors have been 
chiefly in the Stakes of Zion, quite ex- 
tensively in Mexico, Arizona, New Mex- 
ico and Colorado, as well as Utah, labor- 
ing zealously with his brethren, the 
Twelve, in the many duties and respon- 
sibilities of their high calling While visit- 



ing the Yaqui Indians in Mexico he was 
stricken with yellow fever and brought 
nigh unto death, but was healed by the 
power of God. During the anti-Mormon 
crusade in Utah and surrounding Terri- 
tories Apostle Young suffered, with many 
of his brethren, an exile from home. And 
ngain in 1890 he presided over the Euro- 
pean Mission. He labored with zeal for 
the spread of the Gospel, possessing the 
love and confidence of the Elders 
throughout the Mission. He returned 
home in the spring of 1893 in time to 
take an active part in the dedication of 
the Temple of the Lord in Salt Lake 
City. Since then he has traveled exten- 
sively among the Stakes of Zion, assist- 
ing to regulate the affairs of the Church, 
and has been prominent in the councils 
of the Presidency and Apostleship of the 
Church. He stands today the fourth 
Apostle in the order of the Priesthood, 
Presidents Snow, George Q. Cannon and 
Joseph F. Smith being his seniors, but 
they constituting the Presidency of the 
Church, leaves Apostle Brigham Young 
the presiding officer in the Quorum of 
the Twelve. Apostle Brigham Young is 
a social, unassuming, humble and pleas- 
ant man, and from the nature of his dis- 
position is most beloved and appreciated 
by those who know him best. As a fit- 
ting conclusion of this very brief and in- 
complete sketch of his life, we subjoin 
the following quotation from the gifted 
pen of Sister Susan Young Gates, a be- 
loved and devoted sister of Apostle Brig- 
ham Young: 

"Brigham Young is a noble representa- 
tive of his father's family. His gentle 
wisdom, his merry heart, and his integ- 
rity and truth are known to all the 
Saints. No matter what may be his 
troubles, he does not impose them upon 
his friends. He has naught but con- 
tempt for all forms of hypocrisy or de- 
ceit. His own life and soul is a clear, 
open book, and he would not gain the 
whole world were it to be secured 
through policy or subterfuge. A wide 
stream of bubbling gaiety flows through 
much of his life. All who know him, 
even in the least, are well aware of this 
trait in his character. Yet, well as he 
loves a joke, he cannot tolerate anything 
savoring of irreverence or mockery. His 
wrath is rare, but so much the more to 
be dreaded. Woe to the doer or speaker 
of anything which might savor of the 
betrayal of the Priesthood when Brig- 
ham Young is nigh! One of his most 
notable traits is an innate modesty, 
which is almost extreme when he esti- 
mates bis own worth and character. Ask 
him for the facts of his life and he will 
innocently ignore that you are asking 
about himself, and will give you leaf 
after leaf from the life of his beloved 
father, or others of his friends and asso- 
ciates. He must be often reminded that 
it is his life that you are seeking to know 
about. He will assure you that he is the 
least worthy of his exalted position of 
any in bis Quorum, and your silent com- 
ment thereon is, 'He that is least among 
you the same shall be greatest.' Today 
Apostle Young has the same genial tone 
of voice, the same youthful spirit, and 
the same quiet wisdom that have been 
so prominent jn his character from boy- 
hood. Those who know him best honor 
and revere him most. May his useful 
life be prolonged many years upon the 
earth." 

Wilt thou seal up the avenues of 111? 
Pay every debt as If God wrote the bill! 
—Emerson. 



Force Is no argument.— John Bright. 



GLEANINGS. 



I have found joy in reading the testi- 
monies and experiences of my fellow- 
Saints in the South, and I take pleasure 
in writing a brief testimony for my 
brethren and sisters to read. The testi- 
monies of others have given me added 
testimony, and I trust that mine will in 
like manner strengthen and increase 
their faith in the Lord and hope of sal- 
vation. 

My home is in Tipton county, Tennes- 
see, and I have been a member of the 
Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day 
Saints some five months. I have wit- 
nessed the fulfillment of Christ's words 
where he says, "If any man will do His 
will, he shall know of the doctrine, 
whether it be of God, or whether I 
speak of myself." (John 7:17.) I have 
obeyed the will of God, and in conse- 
quence thereof I have received a testi- 
mony of the truth, so that I can now say, 
"I know it is the power of God unto sal- 
vation." 

There were no Saints in this county 
when the Elders came, and in the month 
of June last Sister Waldron and myself 
led the way, being the first to be im- 
mersed for the remission of sins in this 
county, at the hands of a duly author- 
ized servant of God, at least of late 
years. Since our acceptance fifteen 
others have been led in the right way, so 
that we know "Zion is growing! Zion is 
growing!" 

I rejoice in the Gospel of salvation, 
and pray ior the success and final 
triumph of truth and righteousness. I 
have my* trials, but by the help of the 
Lord I will strive to endure to the end. 

Your sister, Mrs. Fannie Smith. 

THE BEAUTIES OP NATURE. 



BY W. HAMILTON MAYO. 

Written for The Southern Star. 
To look upon the forest, 

With its many sparkling rills, 
And to view the grassy meadows 

And the grand old ancient hills. 

Just to see the leafy woodland. 

With her green and lofty bowers, 
Can we tell the varied specie 

Of the grasses, birds and flowers? 

Oh, how beauteous the creation. 

All Its scenes our hearts to cheer, 
When our minds are overladen 

With affliction, toll and care! 

There's one star whose light Is shining, 
That some cold heart It may warm, 

With the honest it Is pleading 
Southern Star, Millennial Dawn! 



Union Pacific Railroad. 

Another Portland train. Two trains 
daily. Effective April 22, the Union Pa- 
cific, Oregon Short Line and Chicago 
Railroad and Navigation company will 
place in service an additional Portland 
train. 

This train, "The Pacific Express," will 
leave Kansas Oity 10:40 a, m. Only 
three days on the road. 

Equipped with Palace Sleepers. Free 
Reclining Chair Cars, ordinary Sleeping 
Car, Dining Car Service (to Granger). 

The time of the present Portland train, 
"The Overland Limited," leaving Kansas 
City 6:40 p. m., will be reduced 2 hoars 
and 45 minutes between Granger and 
Portland. 

Only 69 hours Kansas City to Port- 
land. 

Palace Sleeping Cars, Dining Car Ser- 
vice, Buffet Cars, Chair Cars. 

For time tables, folders, illustrated 
books, pamphlets descriptive of the ter- 
ritory traversed, address J. F. Aglar, 
genera] agent, St. Louis, Mo. 

And when with envy Time transported 
Shall think to rob us of our joys, 

You'll in your girls again be courted, 
And I'll go wooing In my boys. 

—Thomas Percy. 



THE SOUTHERN STAB. 



411 



THE WORD OF WISDOM. 

If you will kindly spare a little space 
in your valuable paper for me, I shall be 
pleased to relate an experience which 
will doubtless be of interest and benefit 
to readers of the Star. 

Before and after the Elders first vis- 
ited us I was addicted to the uses of to- 
bacco and coffee— in fact, I was a slave 
to the former. In lonely hours, the poi- 
son weed, I believed, was my best com- 
panion; in times of trouble and worry, 
my best comforter. In fact, it had be- 
come so much a part of my life that it 
seemed impossible to do without it. The 
Elders taught me the evil of its use; but 
still I could not realize the evils of using 
it, nor did I see any wrong in it. 

I was convinced of the truthfulness of 
the Gospel as taught by the so-called 
"Mormon" Elders, and was baptized; but 
still I did not see the evil of the tobacco 
habit, always declaring it to be too good 
a friend to desert, until one memorable 
Sabbath morning, while fasting, I re- 
tired to a secluded spot in the woods and 
petitioned our Father above to guide me 
right, to teach me my duty, and to help 
me live a godly life. After finishing 
my prayer I was walking slowly in deep 
meditation, when suddenly a deep im- 
pression came to me, and seemed much 
as if a voice speaking, which said, "It is 
best for you to quit tobacco." I stopped, 
being very amazed, and looked around 
as if to see who spoke to me; but no one 
was in sight. I realized the nature of 
the warning; but I said to myself, as if 
in argument to the voice, "My tobacco is 
my comfort, my happiness, and my great- 
est luxury. I inhaled it with almost my 
first breath; I have loved and used it 
from infancy; and now, after fifty-seven 
years, is it necessary for me to reform?" 

This argument seemed a consolation, 
and I was about to forget the event, 
when the same impression returned even 
stronger than ever. The same argument 
was again used as before, and again my 
memory was about to lose the event, 
when the same impression roused me 
with the same warning as at first, and 
adding that blessings greater than I had 
ever dreamed would be given me, pro- 
viding I would obey. 

I had just taken a chew of the forbid- 
den weed; but upon receiving the third 
admonition i cast it from me, fully de- 
termined to obey the prompting. 

My faith, however, was very weak, 
and the struggle to keep my resolve was 
hard, and to add to the trial the absence 
of my "comforter ' caused me to become 
despondent and gloomy. I continued thus 
until the following Tuesday, when the 
same voice brought consolation to my 
troubled soul, and repeated the promise 
that through faithfulness those greater 
bless" ngs would be realized— blessings 
that I could not receive while using the 
hlthy weed. 

I now felt like a new being, and re- 
joiced at the victory I had gained, and I 
soon realized the evil of indulging in the 
use of the poisonous plant; but above all 
x felt a greater flow of the Spirit of God 
and saw more clearly the beauties of the 
Gospel. 

Shortly after, while attending a Con- 
ference, I was ordained to the Priesthood, 
and the blessings of God multiplied, un- 
til now I fully understand the necessity 
of repenting of those evil habits. Today 
I am proud to say that I am obeying the 
word of wisdom as near as I under- 
stand it. 

And now, after being so favored with 
the blessings of God, allow me to testify 
to all that the use of tobacco as prac- 



ticed in its various and filthy forms, is 
displeasing in the sight of God, and will 
deprive those who claim to be Saints and 
use it, from receiving many great bless- 
ings, and will drive from us, to a greater 
or less degree, the Holy Spirit. 

Liquor, tobacco, coffee and tea are 
weapons used by Satan to keep the Saints 
from the blessings which belong to the 
faithful Latter-day Saints. 

Dear reader, which do you think I en- 
joy best today, the presence of the Com- 
forter from above or my former consola- 
tion (?) I can only answer, All the 
pleasures of this earth, with its wealth, 
pomp and show, would not induce me to 
exchange my present joys for those of 
former days. 

Hoping these lines will be of benefit to 
others and a strength to those who may 
read them, I remain sincerely your broth- 
er in Christ, E. J. Callihan. 

THE BLESSINGS OF GOD. 



Thinking a few lines from this part of 
the Lord's vineyard will be of some in- 
terest to the many readers of the Star, 
we thought we would let you know how 
the Lord is blessing us in our labors. 
I met Elder Morgan J. Rich in Giles 
county, at Mountain Lake. He had been 
sent by President Olson to take charge 
of a Conference that was to be held at 
that place on the 8th and 9th of Sep- 
tember, in connection with Elders 
Fletcher, Larson, Gooch and Miller. We 
obtained a beautiful grove, and then we 
all went to work and placed seats under 
the trees and made a pleasant place to 
hold our Conference. All of the Elders 
spoke under the influence of the Holy 
Ghost. Hundreds of people listened to 
the inspired words that were uttered by 
the Elders. 

Elders Gooch and Miller baptized five 
members a few days after our Confer- 
ence. Elder Rich and myself then went 
to Ha ran and held an interesting Con- 
ference at that place on the 22d and 23d. 
Elders Gooch, Miller and Peterson were 
with us, Elder Rich taking charge. From 
Haran Elder Rich and I went up in 
Bedford county to visit the Saints. We 
arrived at Montvale on the 16th of Oc- 
tober. We found a number of good 
Saints and a good Sunday School. All 
the Saints were pleased to meet the 
Elders once more. The people up in the 
mountains were anxious for us to hold 
meetings. We gave out a week's meet- 
ing and held them at private houses and 
out in the groves. We had hundreds of 
people out to listen to the Gospel plan. 

The people insisted on us remaining 
over another week So we gave out anoth- 
er week's meetings. The Methodists were 
trying to hold meetings, but they were a 
failure. Nine-tenths of the people were 
out to listen to the true servants of God. 
We baptized six Methodists— and they 
are an honor to the Church they have be- 
come affiliated with. One of the mem- 
bers we baptized was a blind lady over 
00 years old, and sick in ]?ed. Her little 
home was, or is, located high in the 
mountains, and her name is Mary Dooley. 
We gave out in one of our meetings that 
we would baptize her on the following 
day. The Methodist preacher gave out 
in his meeting that she would never be 
baptized by a Mormon Elder. At the 
time appointed the good Saints fitted up 
a litter, put some quilts and pillows on 
it, and marched down the mountain sin- 
gle file and laid the blind lady down by 
the water's edge. We sang and dedi- 
cated the waters, and then grandma was 
assisted in and Elder M. J. Rich bap- 
tized her. When she came up out of the 



water she looked like a new woman, and 
thanked the Lord that she had embraced 
t-e true plan of salvation. 

We will never forget that solemn occa- 
sion, when they brought the blind lady 
to the water's edge. It would remind 
you of a funeral procession. It brought 
tears to the eyes of many. One good 
Christian woman wished that the poor 
blind lady would drop dead before we 
could baptize her. But in the place of 
dropping dead, she was born again. The 
ministers did all they could to prevent 
grandma from being baptized. Before 
we left we strengthened the branch by 
putting in a President and a teacher and 
Deacon. The Spirit of the Lord was 
manifest to a great extent in all of our 
meetings and at our baptisms. We were 
only reaping the fruits of other good El- 
ders, and we hope that someone may 
reap the fruits of our labors. With best 
wishes to all at the Office, we remain 
your brethren, F. H. SNOW. 

MORGAN RICH. 



THE DEAD. 

Sister M. P. Cobia, the affectionate 
and loving wife of Brother W. N. Cobia, 
was called to answer the summons of 
death Oct. 21st, 1900. 

The deceased was born Oct. 22d, 1860, 
and became a member of the Church 
Sept. 17th, 1892, and since that time she 
has lived the life of a Latter-day Saint. 

Her door was always open to the El- 
ders, to whom she gave the best she had. 
Her husband and twelve children survive 
her and mourn her loss. We extend our 
heartfelt sympathies and pray God to 
give them comfort by His Holy Spirit. 



Mrs. Susan Taylor died at her home 
in Secanto, Florida, Oct. 5th, 1900. She 
was not a Latter-day Saint, but was a 
true, devoted friend to the Elders, and 
was ever willing to minister to their 
wants when opportunity offered her this 
privilege. She was laid to rest in the 
Secanto cemetery by the side of her only 
son, who preceded her some nineteen 
years. Her many friends, two daugh- 
ters and a loving husband mourn the loss 
of a good, earnest soul in the demise of 
Mrs. Susan Taylor. 



DEATH NOTICE. 

"There Is a reaper whose name is death— 

And with his sickle keen- 
He reaps the bearded grain at a breath, 

And the flowers that grow between." 

These beautiful and expressive lines 
come forcibly to mind as we chronicle 
the sad news of the passing of another 
of those valiant spirits who only needed 
to hear the Gospel's glad message to be 
convinced of its truthfulness. Sister 
Louisiana Starling departed this life Aug. 
12th, 1900, after a brief illness, leaving 
a husband and a large family of children, 
besides hosts of friends, to mourn her 
departure. She was baptized May 30th, 
1894, was a true Latter-day Saint, and 
died in full hope of a glorious resurrec- 
tion. Of such we say, "Oh, death, 
where is thy sting? Oh, grave, where is 
thy victory?" 

The beaming Star is a welcome visitor 
to our home once each week, as it bringj 
us news from those whom we have 
learned to love most dearly that are 
bearing the Gospel banner. May it con- 
tinue to shine till its illuminating powers 
shall have reached the heart of every son 
and daughter of father Adam, and shed 
forth a divine ray that will bring peace 
and joy to their heavy laden minds and 
them to a knowledge of the truth. 

W. H. Mayo. 



412 



THE SOUTHERN STAR. 




Pabllthtd Weakly by Stathtn Statte Mission: Charts 

•f Jem Christ of Lstttr Day Sslsts, 

Csttttntoft, Tom. 



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Satubday, November 24, 1900. 



w* Deiwv* toat to* nm principle* ana ordinance! or 
Mpel are : First, Faith in the Lord Jasos Christ ; second, 
itsnoe ; third, Baptism by immersion for the remission 
• ; fourth, Ujiag on of Bands for the Gift of the Holj 



ARTICLES OF FAITH 

OP THE CHURCH OP JESUS CHRIST OP 
LATTER-DAY SAINTS. 

1. We believe in God the Eternal Father, and in Bis 8oe> 
Jems Christ, and in the Boly Ghost. 

I. We believe that men will be punished for their owa 
•ins, and not for Adam's transgression, 

5. We believe that, through the atonement ef Christ, all 
mankind may be saved, by obedience to the lavs and ordl* 
nances of the Gospel. 

«. We believe that the first principles and ordinances of 
IheGospelai "" — « ■ • r * ••• 

Repentance; 
of sins; ' 
Ghost 

6. W# belies t hi ft t a ru»n most be called of God, by 
M prophecf , ind \>y tfis liyin^ en of hands," by those who are 
in laiboriLjr, to ; il and administer in the ordi* 
nsocH Tbtnof- 

«. Wa belief \a ihsiime organisation that existed io 
Uv* nrimilivt, church — nsmdv. Apostles, Prophets, Pastors, 
Tncwn, Ev*n(elinli F etc, 

.% Wa UJifl *e i n the p f t of tongues, prophecy,~reve)atJoa, 
y[i[oni L ]ieilini 1 fn[or[itet*tJOa of toofues, etc. 

8. Wfl b*ir«T4 the Bible i* 1» the word of God, as far as II • 
I ■ tntiilit^j mrrvcLly ; we alio believe the Book of Mormon 
to be ihs word of Ood. 

1 W* beliave *] 1 1 hit Grd lias revealed, all that Be does 
now r« ail. nml we ballet* that He will ret reveal many great 
and imporfint libinn port&iiiinc to the Kingdom of God. 

10. W* bslis vs fa tie ti t*r« I gathering of Israel and in the 
reitnratian nr the To& TKt*»; that Zioo will be built upon 
thu | Lbs American) continent : that Christ will reign person* 
•.Ht npon tbe *^^tb, and tbst (he earth will be renewed and 
f*ei»i»* it* r*railiiiac«] B.tary. 

IL We claim the privilege of worshiping Almighty God 
according to the dkiatei of oar conscience, and allow all 
wiflB the iams privtlrgc^ Let ihvm worship how, where, or what 
they may. 

IS. We believe in being subject to kings, presidents, rulers, 
and magistrates ; in obeying, bonoring and sustaining the law. 

IS, #We believe in being honest, true, chaste, benevolent, 
virtuous, and in doing good to all men; indeed, we may say 
•hat we follow the admonition of Paul, "We believe all things, 
we hope all things," we bave endured many things, and hope 
to be able to endure all things. If there is anything virtuous, 
•arelj, or of good report or praiseworthy, we seek after shea* 
iinaav-^JOfifcPH duUTB-. 



"LOVE ONES ANOTHER.' 



It was a memorable occasion, and one 
never to be forgotten by the worthy Apos- 
tles of the Lamb. Jesus with His chosen 
servants — the Twelve — had assembled in 
the appointed "upper room furnished and 
prepared," for the purpose of instituting 
the Lord's supper, and further instructing 
them in the work of the ministry, and 
their conduct one towards another. As 
an example of humility, and lowliness, the 
Savior had girded Himself and taking a 
towel, had condescended to wash their 
feet. This having been completed, He 
gives them some excellent counsel, and 
admonishes them saying, "A new com- 
mandment I give unto you, that ye love 
one another; as I have loved you, that ye 
also love one another. By this shall all 
men know that ye are my disciples, if ye 
have love one to another." (John 13 : 
34-35). 

Our first thought in considering this 



admonition is : Was the commandment to 
"love one another" a new one? Had not 
this command been a law of God from the 
very beginning, and was it not thundered 
from Mount Sinai during that marvelous 
display of divine majesty and power, 
when those tables of stone were delivered 
to Moses, upon which the decalogue was 
inscribed by the finger of the Creator? 
j.es; for the Lord promised to show 
"mercy unto thousands of them that love 
me, and keep my commandments." Now, 
we shall find that all these command- 
ments hinged upon Jove ; tihat love was the 
nucleus around which they clustered, and 
from which they radiated. The Father 
who had given them to the wayward Jews, 
to bring them unto Christ, was, and is, a 
God of love, oohn says, 'God is love," 
and we read in Malachi, "I am the Lord, 
I change not;" therefore, love was a di- 
vine injunction from the very beginning! 
But why did tlhe Savior remark, "A new 
commandment I give unto you"? Evi- 
dently this was a new commandment to 
the stiff-necked, hard-hearted children of 
Israel in that day, for in their struggle 
for wealth, fame and honored titles they 
had failed to exercise love. Jesus told 
them that they had omitted the weightier 
matters of the law, "love, judgment and 
mercy," so that, to such as they were, it 
could be consistently announced, "a new 
commandment." 

Christ desired His people to forsake the 
ways of the world, to cleave to the per- 
fect word of God, and 16ve one another. 
Very well, did He realize that the world 
would hate and despise tfaem, and that in 
the world they would find no happiness 
and peace ; therefore He said, "Love one 
another." If they would have joy it must 
be found in their own circle ; if they would 
be loved it must be by their brethren, for 
the world stood ready to hate, mock, de- 
ride and persecute them. This new com- 
mandment to them was an important one, 
vital, essential and absolutely requisite 
for their security, happiness and salva- 
tion. Where love abounds, peace reigns, 
and where yea.ee reigns there is a happy 
contentment, the crowning glory and cap- 
stone of pure joy. Love has ever been a 
law with God, and "love one another" has 
been a universal summons ever since the 
creation. In His dealings with His err- 
ing children, He manifests love, and ex- 
hibits abundant goodness and never-failing 
mercy. Those worthy apostles did not for- 
get the holy word, for we find Peter say- 
ing, "Above all things, have fervent char- 
ity among yourselves; for charity shall 
cover a multitude of sins." (I. Peter 
4:8). Charity is the pure love of God, 
and when this dwells in the heart and 
soul, then do we behold the manifestation 
of the fruits of righteousness. 

Paul gives us to understand that "love 
is the fulfilling of the law" (Rom. 13 :10), 
and the same apostle, when enumerating 
the fruits of the spirit, mentions "love" 
first. In order for love to fulfill the law, 
it must be pure, holy, unfeigned, such a 
love as the Messiah possessed, whicfa 
prompted Him to leave the courts of glo- 
ry in the mansions of heaven and suffer 
the pangs of death upon the earth, that 
the will of His Father. God, might be 
done, and a wav prepared for the wander- 
er to return from darkness into light, 
from the power and thralldom of Satan 
unto the almighty power and grace of 
God. The love of God shed abroad in our 
hearts will actuate us to perform deeds of 
loving kindness to all. "If a man say, I 
love God, and hateth his brother, he is a 
liar; for he that loveth not his brother, 
whom he hath seen, how can he love God, 
whom he hath not seen ? And this com- 



mandment have we from Him, that lie 
who loveth God love his brother also." 
(I. John 4:20-21). 

Oh! how vastly different would be the 
state of affairs in the earth today if all 
the sons and daughters of men would but 
render obedience to this divine command, 
and earnestly walk in the light thereof. 
Alas! envy and rank jealousy have sup- 
planted love and good will; and hypoc- 
risy and empty pride have taken the place 
of straightforwardness and humility; 
while the stalking horse of vain glory and 
pomp has overridden the pure wisdom and 
meekness of primitive Christianity. Did 
love but abound and sweet charity reign, 
the world would be better, its people 
wiser, its homes brighter, and all filled 
with a nobler desire. What is the status 
of affairs today, and how goes the world 
at large? Scientific controversy is in- 
dulged in by the philosophers, social dis- 
turbances are manifest on all sides, po- 
litical turmoil is rampant, and religious 
strife and contention issues from the pul- 
pits of the learned divines. Why all this 
confusion, political jargon, religious mal- 
ice, and social jealousy? Is it not due to 
the fact that mankind have not the love 
of Christ in their hearts, and can we not 
trace its inception and nascent operation 
to a transgression of this divine com- 
mand, "Love one another?" Yes! Were 
the Lord to be revealed in the present day 
of turmoil and strife, when overreaching, 
penurious sycophants are taking the life's 
bread from the mouths of the poor. He 
could well repeat in thunder tones with 
renewed and vigorous emphasis, "A new 
commandment I give unto you, That ye 
love one another." 

Yes! it would be new, in deed, if not 
in thought or verse. Men may read it, 
quote it from memory, preach eloquent 
sermons from it, but few, very few, en- 
gage themselves to an earnest literal ful- 
fillment of it. They have neglected this 
weightier matter, love, while they have 
erected churches to the memory of men, 
built synagogues and endeavored to con- 
vert the poor cannibal with his sharp 
teeth and small modicum of clothing. Love 
at home is the first essential, and then 
success abroad is inevitable. "By this 
shall all men know that ye are my disci- 
ples, if ye have love one to another." 

This is the divine rule by which we 
may know the true dlisciples of the Lord 
Jesus. Do we love one another? Are 
we kindly affectioned one to another? Do 
we manifest good will without dissimula- 
tion, and are we charitable to all men? 
If these can be truthfully answered in the 
affirmative, then it can be rightfully con- 
cluded that we are following the Lord. 
We are left to choose for ourselves, if we 
want happiness, then let love abound, and 
if we want misery and woe to sour hap- 
piness, poison joy, blight the bloom of life, 
and debar us from the heavenly kingdom, 
then let hatred and malice prevail. It is 
a duty devolving upon us, that we love 
one another, and that good will, harmony 
and a perfect unity, predominate and reign 
supreme. "A new commandment I give 
unto you, That ye love one another." 



FRET NOT THYSELF. 

BY PHILLIPS BROOKS. 

The little sharp vexations,' 

And the briars that catch and fret, 
Why not take all to the Helper 

Who has never failed us yet? 
Tell Him about the heartache. 

And tell Him the longings, too; 
Tell Him the baffled purpose 

When we scarce know what to do; 
Then, leaving all our weakness 

With the One divinely strong, 
Forget that we bore the burden 

And carry away the song. 



THE SOUTHERN STAB. 



413 



THE WHEELS OF TIME. 



The constant rolling wheels of Time 
have brought us to the close of another 
volume, and in taking a retrospective 
view of our labors here in the South, we 
are led to behold on every hand the re- 
markable manifestation of God's good- 
ness and love unto us. Were it not for 
the blessings of God, for the strength 
and power we receive from Him, and 
which we derive by obedience to His 
laws and commandments, then we could 
not have completed our work, neither 
could we have maintained our position 
" as His people upon the earth. It has 
been with us, even as with the great 
Apostle to the Gentiles, "If God be for 
us, who can be against us?" What can 
the puny arm of flesh do in its frail op- 
position to things divine and eternal? 
What doth it profit them who array their 
-feeble forces in antagonism to God's 
work? As well might they go to the sea- 
shore and command the stormy ocean 
to be still, or the surging tide to cease 
its mighty inward flow, as to oppose 
God's eternal work of righteousness, 
which He hath set His hands to estab- 
lish, and decreed shall come to pass. It 
is increasing in the earth, and is destined 
to become mighty and powerful as a de- 
fender of justice, equity and truth. 

The volume just brought to a close re- 
veals the fact that although men may 
oppose the Saints of God, and endeavor 
to despoil them of their rights and priv- 
ileges as American citizens, still the good 
work continues, and over one thousand 
souls have been added to the Church. 
This record alone, the bare figures in the 
case, are sufficient to prove that that 
which the world erroneously calls "Mor- 
monism" is growing and increasing. In 
the vales of Utah and on the rising 
plateaus of the Western Highlands the 
children are singing, "Zion is growing," 
while here in the Sunny South the El- 
ders are valiantly rolling up their sleeves, 
baring their arms, and fulfilling the* en- 
couraging anthem. * * 

When the Prophet Joseph Smith an- 
nounced to the world that the heavens 
had been opened, and divine communica- 
tion had been given in answer to his 
humble prayer for wisdom and light, he 
was scoffed and derided, counted a 
fanatic, a knave, false Prophet, impos- 
tor, fool, etc. Later, when the Church 
was organized, and willing messengers 
responded to bear the glad tidings of 
the restored Gospel to the nations of the 
earth, the enemies of righteousness and 
truth raised a hue and cry, saying, "It 
Mormonism is true it will stand, if false 
it must fall." Judging from their own 
assertion (which we do not admit a 
righteous criterion), Mormonism must be 
true, for she has stood, and that too in 
the face of all opposition, supported only 
by God and the right. Yes! she has 
weathered a stromy gale of fierce perse- 
cution, and her gallant leader was cruelly 
martyred while piloting her course to the 
shores of safety and eternal bliss. Still 
she is afloat, her timbers well seasoned 
by the storms, her sails well proven by 
the winds, riding o'er the ocean of time 
to the shores of eternity. 

How thankful indeed we should be to 
that God who reigns on high, whose chil- 
dren we are! He has been our strength 
and stay, our rock of defense, and refuge 
from the storms. The longer we live 
upon this earth, the more deeply are we* 
brought to realize that without the Lord 
we can do nothing. We are grateful for 
the privilege of presenting another vol- 
ume to the people of the world, and we 
trust that the many truths contained 
therein will be utilized profitably, and 



for the saltation of the sons of men. In 
closing this volume, we can say that the 
work has been a joy and not a labor al- 
together, a blessed • privilege and not a 
mere duty. When the first number of 
this present volume was issued, it con- 
tained in its editorial columns these 
words, "Our intention is to produce only 
those articles that will impress readers 
to be good, virtuous, honest and holy, 
to strike out for whatever is right and 
manly, to make principle and not popu- 
larity, one milestone in your career, in 
short, to do good." We shall leave it to 
the discretion and judgment of the read- 
er, as to whether or not we have ful- 
filled our claims, and kept the promise 
made. 

Time is on the wing; the days come 
and go, the weeks pass and are no more, 
the months and years speed swiftly by 
to constitute the past. Our life here in 
mortality is but brief if we chance to live 
out the allotted three score years and ten, 
but during the time spent here on earth, 
the Lord hath made it possible for us to 
prepare for a never-ending existence in 
the eternal worlds of glory. Let us 
prove ourselves true to the trust, valiant 
in defense of righteousness, sober, ear- 
nest, honest, faithful, and obedient chil- 
dren, then the Lord will be pleased to 
own and bless us, and at the last day 
lift us up to glory, honor and immor- 
tality. 



History of the Southern States Mission. 

(Continued from page 402.) 

October, 1900— A telegram from Elder 
H. C. Butler, dated Oct. 5th, brought 
the sad news of the demise of Elder H. 
D. Bronson, who met his death by 
drowning in the Oconee river, near Ea- 
tonton, Ga. The message read as fol- 
lows: "H. D. Bronson, Fairview, Idaho, 
was drowned in the Oconee river this 
morning at 7 o'clock. Body not yet 
found." A full account of the causes 
which led up to, and terminated in, his 
death can be found in the Star under 
date of Oct. 13th, 1900. This intelligence 
was communicated by wire to President 
Rich, who, at the time of the accident, 
was in Salt Lake City. The funeral ser- 
vices over Elder Bronson's body were 
held Oct. 14th, at Fairview, Idaho. 
Many glowing tributes were paid to his 
cherished name. Sister Nina F. Rich 
w,rote a cheering letter of consolation to 
the bereaved mother, as a token of 
heartfelt love and sisterly affection. (See 
page 375.) 

In the early part of the month Elders 
Wilford Bennion and J. J. Facer en- 
tered Savannah, Ga., for the purpose of 
propagating the Gospel in that city and 
promulgating righteousness. Much bit- 
ter opposition was encountered, and for 
a time they were blankly prohibited 
from preaching, or distributing literature 
in any way. Finally, by dint of persever- 
ence and manly stick-to-it-ive-ness, they 
succeeded in holding forth. Elder Ben- 
nion was taken dangerously ill with the 
dreaded chills and fever, and on this ac- 
count was released to return home. 

The authorities in Zion deemed it wis- 
dom to transfer the Louisiana Confer- 
ence to the Southwestern States Mission. 
This will be consummated some time in 
November, when all necessary changes 
can be completed. 

Elders T. S. Karren and J. M. Redd 
went into the little city of Milen, Gibson 
county, Tenn. They interviewed the 
Mayor, and from him obtained permis- 
sion to canvass the city and preach on 
the streets. The Elders at once proceed- 
ed with their labors, and at night were 



out on the streets for the purpose of 
holding meeting. Near the close of their 
services' they were pelted with rotten 
eggs. This, of course, created confusion, 
and gave rise to a disturbance, which 
was soon brought to a quietus by the 
night watchman, who rode into the 
crowd with a pack of hounds. One good 
fellow, whose heart was truly Christian, 
cared for the Elders over night, and the 
next morning they sallied forth with un- 
daunted determination to do the Mas- 
ter's will. They were met by the Mayor 
and police, who commanded them to 
leave town, the chief executive saying, 
"If you do not you will be severely pun- 
ished." The Elders, remembering the 
words of Jesus, "If they persecute you 
in one city flee to the next," departed, 
and left that burg. 

Circular letters were sent out to all the 
Elders-, and their aids at home, giving in- 
formation of the policy of the Church 
relative to the Mission, and requesting 
the Elders to have money on deposit. 

A disgraceful affair took place in the 
North Ohio Conference, in which the 
Elders were subjected to some severe 
treatment. (See page 394.) In all, the 
health of the Elders is at par with the 
general report. Silent contempt seems 
to be the most formidable weapon used 
in opposition, although mob violence is 
exhibited in some few places. The work 
is prospering, notwithstanding, and the 
results are indeed gratifying and very en- 
couraging. The force of Elders is not as 
large as formerly, and the ranks are be- 
ing thinned each month. Twenty Elders 
arrived from Zion and were assigned 
their fields of labor. In appearance, 
judgment, and general deportment they 
were a worthy band of men. Their 
names and fields of labor are as follows: 

John P. Greene, South Carolina Con 
ference. 

John A. Richey, Mississippi Confer- 
ence. 

Joseph Johnson, Kentucky Conference. 

Franklin Crow, North Kentucky Con- 
ference. 

William Parkinson, Virginia Confer- 
ence. 

James F. Iverson, Kentucky Confer- 
ence. 

Hyrum Morrison, North Alabama Con- 
ference. 

Ed J. Smith, Kentucky Conference. 

Jefferson Boffin, Georgia Conference. 

William C. Wootton, South Alabama 
Conference. 

Oscar Geertsen, North Ohio Confer- 
ence. 

Ed L. Linford, Virginia Conference. 

George O. Hamblin, East Tennessee 
Conference. 

Preston D. Thomas, Mississippi Con- 
ference. 

George Q. Stephenson, North Ken- 
tucky Conference. 

Jesse H. LeFevre, Georgia Conference. 

Ed C. Bagley, North Ohio Conference. 

Crozier Kimball, East Ketnucky Con- 
ference. 

Wilford McKendrick, South Alabama 
Conference. 

W. D. Reed, East Kentucky Confer- 
ence. 

The Conferences report in good style, 
and all indications point to a steady 
growth, with a solid united effort on the 
part of the Elders. 

(To be continued.) 

Special Low Rates Via 

Union Pacific Railroad every Tuesday 
to Colorado, Utah, Montana, Idaho, Ore- 
gon, Washington. For particulars ad- 
dress J. F. Aglar, General Agent, St. 
Louis. 



414 



THE SOUTHERN STAB. 



r 



SAINTS OF THE SUNNY SOUTH. 






My Beloved Brethren and Sisters: 

For some time past I have felt an in- 
tense desire to address a general commu- 
nication to you, my fellow Saints of the 
household of faith, who reside in this 
sunny Southland. Ever since I have 
taken charge of the affairs in this mis- 
sion, now almost thirty months, I have 
thought of you constantly, exercised my 
faith in your behalf, given you the bent- 
fit of my prayers, and labored for your 
welfare and felicity; your future happi- 
ness and exaltation. I realize, ts some 
extent at least, the many trials and tab- 
ulations you are called to endure, and 
that persecution is your common heritage 
in this life, and fierce opposition your in- 
heritance. It has ever been thus since 
the days of righteous Abel, who fell a 
victim to his brother's cudgel — the wicked 
have sought to club and drive from the 
face of the earth the upright, faithful and 
honest in heart. The Lord God hath pro- 
tected His people, and, in obedience to 
His will and word, they have been given 
strength, faith, hope, and love. He will, 
and does, protect us in the present, and 
soon He will bare Hie almighty and pow- 
erful arm in defense of His chosen ones, 
and the wicked and ungodly will feel the 
avenging hand of God, and shall be de- 
stroyed from the earth, for they shall have 
no place or inheritance wHh the righteous. 

You have not forgotten the words of the 
Father, and how that He hath declared, 
"Vengeance is mine, I will Tepay." Let 
no spirit of vindictiveness or revenge have 
place in your hearts, or be exhibited in 
your dealings and affairs of life. Rather 
that you manifest love unfeigned, charity, 
pure, sweet and simple, forgiveness, for- 
asmuch as we are commanded to forgive 
all men. The Lord will forgive whom He 
will, as justice and mercy shaM deter- 
mine ; but we must forgive each other and 
exercise righteousness in spirit and truth. 

Just so long as wickedness abounds 
and evil finds a place in the hearts of the 
children of men, we may look for persecu- 
tion, for the Gospel of Jesus Christ, em- 
bracing as it does all truth, comes in di- 
rect opposition to error, and is averse to 
evil, so that a conflict ensues as a logical 
sequence. As the children of God, who 
have been rescued from the darkness of 
Satan, and given the light of inspiration, 
we should so conduct our lives and labors 
as to be effectual in leading others aright. 
How very careful we should be that we set 
an example worthy of emulation, that our 
neighbors and friends may observe our 
acts of pure godliness, and fruits of per- 
fect righteousness, and that they, thus 
seeing, may be led to glorify and serve 
our Father in heaven. 

In the eyes of the Lord you are His 
chosen people, and to the Church, Latter- 
day Saints, but to the world you are poor, 
fanatical, deluded "Mormons." You must 
never expect in this mortal sphere to gain 
the friendship, esteem and regard of the 
world, for the friendship of the world is 
enmity wtth God, and those who serve the 
world are not serving God, but contra- 
wise, they are led by that wicked one, even 
Lucifer, who seeks the destruction of their 
souls. You remember that the Apostle 
Paul said, "The carnal mind is enmity 
against God.* 1 The lovers of this world, 
and her evil ways are carnally minded, 
"lovers of pleasures more than lovers of 
God," and in their carnality and worldli- 
ness they are not fit subjects for the heav- 



ettly kingdom. It is expected of the true 
Latter-day Saints that they will be spir- 
itually minded, seeking only the glory of 
God, the salvation of a brother or sister, 
and the progression and advancement of 
the Gospel of Jesus Christ. If we will 
only strive to help others, and keep our- 
selves unspotted and untainted from the 
sins of this generation, the Lord will bless 
us, and reward us with the rich, everlast- 
ing treasures of heaven. 

To know that you are doing those 
things which are pleasing and acceptable 
unto the Lord is, in and of itself, a com- 
fort and a joy, the best of all blessed as- 
surances we can possess, for you remember 
that this was the testimony given to the 
righteous Enoch, who never tasted death, 
"Re had this testimony, that he pleased 
God" Now we can all receive this divine 
assurance, if we will serve the Lord with 
full purpose of heart, and never weary 
in well doing. We should earnestly and 
diligently strive for the same, and then 
we can overcome the trials of the world, 
the weaknesses of the flesh, and the temp- 
tations of the devil. Our Savior overcame 
all, and we are told that we should strive 
to have the same mind as was in Christ 
Jesus, in order that we may receive of 
the joys of our Lord, for He hath said, 
"To him that overcometh will I grant to 
sit with me in my throne, even as I also 
overcame, and am set down with my 
Father in His throne." 

Love liberty and justice, freedom and 
equality, while you spurn and shun in- 
tolerance and partiality, slavery and dis- 
honesty. Your love of liberty will place 
you on the right platform, that is, liberty 
to serve God, and freedom to worship 
Him in spirit and in truth. You may not 
have justice meted out to you in this life, 
but you cannot afford to deal unjustly, 
notwithstanding, for dishonesty is a crime, 
and they who indulge therein sinners and 
transgressors of the law of God. It is 
better to suffer wrong than do wrong, as 
it is also better to suffer for well doing 
than evil doing ; for if you suffer for your 
evil deeds you justly deserve your pun- 
ishment, but, on the other hand, if you 
suffer for well doing you justly merit the 
smiles and blessings of God, who will 
abundantly reward you when He comefh 
to gather up His jewels, and call the ran- 
somed home. 

"Wisdom is better than weapons of 
war," says the wise preacher, therefore, 
"get wisdom." You will be able to es- 
cape many seeming trials and difficulties 
by the proper and legitimate exercise of 
wisdom. The Savior told His disciples to 
"Be wise as serpents, harmless as doves." 
Answer not railing with railing, and 
where you perceive deep-seated hatred and 
cankered prejudice, splenetic fury and 
fiendish malice, do not scatter your pre- 
cious seeds of righteousness, for these mor- 
tal vultures will not only shun the pre- 
cious seed, but endeavor to destroy the 
life-giving influence of your words and 
work. The bread of spiritual life is for 
the children. "Feed my lambs," says the 
Savior, but He never told us to stuff 
them. You have received of the truth, 
and the truth will make you free. When 
it was first revealed to you it seemed 
as though it was the sweetest 
story ever told, the sublimest mes- 
sage ever announced, and you thought 
that others would see as you did, 
and rejoice with you; but no, many for- 
sook you, and you were left to struggle I 



alone, so far as human assistance was 
concerned, and still you strove manfully 
against great odds and adverse powers, 
until a testimony burned within, and you 
knew it was of God. The Gospel you have 
embraced is worth more than all the 
wealth of the world, for it is the power 
of God unto salvation, the means ap- 
pointed of the Father, by obedience to 
which we may be saved and exalted with 
immortality and life eternal. 

Our cause is just, and the time is not 
far distant when the Prince of Peace, 
Jesus, the Light of the World, will be re- 
vealed in the heavens of glory, and then 
the faithful can lift up their heads, while 
their countenances beam with joy and 
satisfaction, and go forth to meet Him 
who was slain for the sins of the world. 
He will vindicate the cause for the right- 
eous, and rule with equity, justice, mercy 
and truth. We should prepare for His 
coming, and pray for the glorious advent, 
that when He comes to earth again we 
may be found watching. "Blessed is he 
whom the Lord finds watching. Watch 
and pray lest ye enter into temptation. 
These are perilous times, rimes which try 
the souls of men, and only the faithful 
and dutiful will stand the great sifting 
test to which the Saints wiH yet be sub- 
jected. "Fear not, little flock, it is the 
Father's good pleasure to give you the 
kingdom." It was only to be a little flock, 
and yet the kingdom to them was prom- 
ised. I woudd exhort you to be constant 
in your prayers, faithful in the perform- 
ance of every duty and the strict observ- 
ance of every law of God. All that the 
Lord has commanded us to obey is indeed 
requisite and essential to our soul's salva- 
tion. If it were not so, our Father would 
never have spoken the word. The law of 
tithing, and the word of wisdom, are both 
ordained of God, and vital to the well- 
being and exaltation of the sons of men. 
Let us see to it that we render obedience 
to these holy laws. Pay your honest, 
lawful tithes and be blessed of God, with 
the treasures of heaven and the riches of 
eternity. Away with intoxicants, coffee, 
tobacco and snuff, they are not good for 
man, but destructive to the physical be- 
ing, and poisonous to the finer sensibili- 
ties and faculties. Cleanse your systems 
and purify your bodies, that the spirit of 
truth may find a fit and wholesome re- 
ceptacle in which to dwell. We must 
overcome our habitual tendencies to in- 
dulge in stimulants and narcotics, and 
stand erects free from the evil customs of 
the race, in the likeness of our Father 
in whose image we are created. 

Do not be despondent or discouraged, 
my beloved brethren and sisters. All 
things work together for good to them 
that fear God. You stand upon the solid 
rock of divine revelation; the Church is 
built upon the pillars of eternflty ; Christ 
is our Glorified Head, and God our Eter- 
nal Father; therefore be not dismayed, 
for "All is well! All is well!" As the 
sturdy patriots sang of their country's 
flag, so we can sing of our faith and 
cause: 

"And conquer we must, when our cause it 

is just, 
And this be our motto, *In God is our trust:* 
And the banner of Justice In Mercy shall 

wave 
O'er the land of the free, and the home of 

the brave." 

May God bless you and multiply upon 
you the testimony of the truth. May 
the peace and blessings of heaven attend 
you, mercy and justice prevail, righteous- 
ness increase, love abound, the truth 
spread, and liberty and freedom extend 
from pole to pole* Your brother in the 
Gospel. Ben. B. Rich. 



THE SOUTHERN STAB. 



415 



RULES FOR THE SUNDAY SCHOOL. 



Deseret News, Nov. 13, 1900. 

The Sunday School convention met 
again this morning (Tuesday) at 10 
o'clock, with a large attendance of dele- 
gates. "Come, join our celebration," was 
the opening hymn. Prayer was offered 
by Elder George Teasdale. 

Elder H. S. Ensign conducted the mu- 
sical exercises and singing practice on 
the following hwmns: "Rock of My Ref- 
uge," and "Kind and Gracious Father." 

"Importance of home influence in Sun- 
day School work" was the subject of a 
highly interesting address by Elder 
George M. Cannon. He said the influ- 
ence of environment is a great factor in 
the formation of character, and the con- 
dition of the home surroundings of the 
child i3 equal to all other influences which 
have a bearing upon the growth and de- 
velopment of child character. To obtain 
the most satisfactory results, home influ- 
ence should harmonize with the work and 
purpose of the Sunday School, and each 
should loyally support and sustain the 
other. While the work of the teacher 
sometimes may be crude and his methods 
open to criticism, the parent cannot af- 
ford to do other than loyally sustain tho 
teacher, and if any criticisms is to be 
made they should be made to the teacher 
personally. If any criticisms reaches the 
ear of the child the influence of that 
teacher over the child is nullified. En- 
couragement should be given the children 
at home to prepare their lessons. Regu- 
lar attendance depends in a great meas- 
ure upon home influence and training. 
If the young people are permitted to al- 
low trivial things to prevent their regu- 
lar attendance at school, they are likely 
to grow up shiftless, useless members of 
society. The speaker paid a glowing 
tribute to mothers, and cited the great 
influence they had in the formation of 
noble characters. No great man ever 
lived, he said, who did not have a great 
and good mother. 

Elder George Teasdale spoke interest- 
ingly of the "Duties of Sunday School 
workers outside the Sunday School." The 
calling of the Sunday School teacher is 
a divine one, as important and as direct 
a calling as a foreign mission. It is a 
home mission. The speaker read from 
the Doctrine and Covenants the qualifi- 
cations of an instructor of the Gospel, 
namely, humility, a strong desire to 
bring about righteousness, and the fel- 
lowship of the Spirit of God. The learned 
Jeremiah, the Prophet, said he, should 
not glory in his worldly wisdom or 
knowledge, but should glory in the 
knowledge of God. To get the Spirit 
of the Lord and keep it should be the 
aim of every Sunday School worker; by 
it they will become powerful for good, 
and all other qualifications will be added 
to them. Outside the school much can 
be done by the loving teacher to lead the 
children to love the lessons of the Gospel 
he strives to teach them. If any are 
sick, visit and comfort them; talk to 
them when met on the street; invite the 
children to your homes and make them 
feel that you love them and desire their 
welfare. 

In answer to a question, President Can- 
non stated that the Sunday School Board 
recommended that the four standard 
works of the Church be the only recog- 
nized text books, other works were to be 
used as aids and supplements. 

Elder George D. Pyper sang in fine 
voice the solo, "The Children's Friend." 

Elder Horace S. Ensign read the Rules 
and Regulations adopted by the Deseret 



bunday School Union Board for the gov- 
ernment of the Sabbath Schools of the 
Church, which are as follows: 



Sunday School Rule* and Hernia- 
tions. 

Since the year 1805 the Deseret Sun- 
day School Union Board has adopted the 
following resolutions and instructions for 
the government and discipline of the va- 
rious Sunday Schools throughout the 
Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day 
Saints. They are hereby compiled, class- 
ified and presented for the guidance of 
the officers and teachers: 

ON ORGANIZATION. 

1st— Superintendents and Assistant Su- 
perintendents of Sunday Schools should 
be selected from among those holding 
the higher Priesthood. In instances 
where suitable and qualified men hold- 
ing this Priesthood cannot be found, 
brethren holding the lesser Priesthood 
may act as Superintendents or Assistant 
Superintendents, or in exceptional cases, 
properly qualified sisters may act as 
these positions. 

2d— Where Sunday Schools are organ- 
ized in the various Missions of the 
Church, it is desirable that the President 
of the Mission select some Elder to act 
as Mission Superintendent of the Sunday 
Schools, who will report directly to the 
Sunday School Union Board, Templeton 
building, Salt Lake City, Utah. If de- 
sirable every Conference may have a 
Superintendent of Sunday Schools. 

3d— Wherever it becomes necessary to 
fill vacancies among officers and teachers 
of a Sunday School, preference should be 
given to those who practice the Word of 
Wisdom, honor the Sabbath day, sustain 
the Priesthood, observe the law .of tith 
ing, and are not members of secret so- 
cieties. 

4th— Where the theological depart- 
ment is made up largely of parents and 
elderly people, it would be better to place 
pupils who are promoted from the sec- 
ond intermediate class under a separate 
teacher, and such students be classified 
as the preparatory theological class. The 
work of this class should be preparatory 
to the regular theological work. 

ON DISCIPLINE. 

1st — As soon as a primary or interme- 
diate department or second exceeds the 
number of fifty, the Superintendent 
should, if he has suitable teachers and 
suflicient room, divide it into two sec- 
tions. The same lessons shall be taught 
in both sections. 

2d— When the Superintendent and the 
Assistant Superintendents are absent 
from the school, they should appoint 
someone to take charge, but in case they 
fail to make such appointment, it be- 
comes the duty of the Secretary to call 
the roll as usual, the senior male teacher 
then take charge of the school. Should 
the Bishop also be absent, the senior 
teacher, providing he holds the necessary 
Priesthood, should direct the adminis- 
tration of the Sacrament. 

3d— The minutes of the Sunday School 
should always show that the Superin- 
tendent presides, if he be present. If 
one of his assistants takes charge, it 
should be shown upon the minutes, but 
the Superintendent, when present, is al- 
ways recorded as the presiding officer. 
After the minutes are read, if there are 
no amendments, or the amendments of- 
fered are approved, the minutes should 
then be accepted with uplifted hand. 

Teachers who are present when the 
roll is called at 10 o'clock should be re- 
corded "early." 

4th— When Stake annual Sunday 



School conferences are held, it is pre- 
ferred in the future that the Sacrament 
be administered at the morning session, 
instead of the afternoon, as heretofore. 

5th— It is recommended that the chil- 
dren should remain seated during the 
opening prayer. 

6th— It is preferred that promotion be 
made once a year. In special cases 
transfers may be made whenever occa- 
sion requires; but at all times by mutual 
understanding between the presiding de- 
partment teacher and the Superintend- 
ent. 

7th— The average attendance of the 
school should be made up from the full 
attendance of officers, teachers and pu- 
pils each Sunday, as ascertained by the 
Secretary. The annual average attend- 
ance is ascertained by putting down the 
actual number in attendance each Sun- 
day during the year; add these numbers 
together and divide the total by the num- 
ber of Sunday School sessions held dur- 
ing the year. The answer will be the av- 
erage attendance. 

8th— When the Quarterly Conference 
of the Stake is held, the Sunday School 
of the Ward in which the conference is 
held should convene for one hour in the 
morning, from 10 to 11 o'clock, and a 
general programme take the place of the 
regular exercises. 

ORDINANCES AND PRINCIPLES. 

1st— The following instructions from 
Superintendent George Q. Cannon have 
been adopted as the general sense of the 
Deseret Sunday School Union Board: 

"Officers and teachers in the Sunday 
Schools of the Latter-day Saints should 
be observers of the Word of Wisdom, 
who live upright lives and perform the 
obligations required of them, and who 
are living examples to the children they 
are called upon to teach. In no office 
in the Church is it so necessary for per- 
sons to be free from the use of intoxi- 
cants, tobacco, Sabbath breaking, pro- 
fanity, etc., as in the case of Sunday 
School officers and teachers; for they are 
examples immediately before the chil- 
dren, and this Board should give the ap- 
pointment of persons so guilty the 
stamp of disapproval. It is better that 
a position in a Sunday School should be 
vacant for a time than that men who 
are users of intoxicants and tobacco, 
profaners of Deity, and Sabbath break- 
ers, should be set up as teachers of the 
youth of Zion." 

2d— In the absence of the Bishop, the 
Superintendent of the Sunday School 
should, when necessary, instruct those 
administering the Sacrament to be cau- 
tious about breaking more bread than is 
necessary for use in the school. The 
residue of the bread broken should be re- 
turned to the brother or sister who has 
furnished it, and be put to some good 
use; it should never be wasted. The 
greatest cleanliness should be required 
of those who break the bread. Children 
should be prohibited from drinking out 
of the Sacrament cups after the water 
has been passed, or from interfering 
with the Sacrament service. Buckets 
and cups or dippers should be provided 
for the children to quench their thirst. 

It is not advisable to require fast day 
offerings from the children. 

MISCELLANEOUS. 

Officers, teachers and members of the 
Sunday Schools are expected to remain 
aloof from all secret societies, and to 
refrain from wearing badges, political 
or others, in the Sunday School. 

Superintendents are requested to read 
at the regular monthly meeting of the 
teachers all general instructions of the 



416 



THE SOUTHERN STAB. 



REPORT OF MISSION CONFERENCES FOR WEEK ENDING NOV. 3, 1900. 



1BIDEMT 



Geo. A. Adama... 

HeberS. Olson... 
J. G, Bolton ...„„.____ 
J. Spencer Worsley^,.. 

H. K Hansen 

A. C. Strong 

John H. Bftukheid 

John Reeve..,, .„.. 

J. M.Hawa 

C ft. Humpheryg....,,, 

G. M. Porter 

W. W. MacKay 

•K. L. Hotita.., „„..„„„, 
I>on C Benson ........... 

L, M. Neheker , 

H. Z. Land 



COKFBKKNCE 



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Virginia-.*... 

Kentucky .... 

Kast Tennessee - 

'Georgia , 

North A Labatiia H 

Florida „ 

Mid. TenneA&ee , 
North Carol ina ... 
South Carolina 

Mi^HiSHlppl 

final Ken lucky. 
South Alabama .. 
North Kentucky 

South Ohio 

North Ohio..... 



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Richmond, Box BS8 _.,„„... 

Centre „,«.,.. -...««,....... 

Hale, Mitchell Co- „ 

Savannah _„ «.*,„„_„, 

Memphis Box 1B3„.„ 
504 E Bay Si , Jacksonville 
Sparta* White County..... 
(ioldsboro. Box GS4„. ♦.„„., 

Boi i;Hi T re*m ville F „, 

t. Helena J'arish., 

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Lapine .,..,♦♦.... .. . 

IWW, Gray St., LouLmlh- 
6HU Belt* St., Cincinnati ... 
2^i Wmh: Park Avenue 



i Georgia 

Virginia 

Kentucky 

N. Carolina 

Georgia 

Tt-nneAsee 

Florida 

Tennessee 

N. Carolina 

S. Carolina 

Louiaiunn 

Kentucky 

Alabama 

Kentucky 

Ohio 

cv eland, O 



Union Board published in the Juvenile 
Instructor. 

Each Sunday School should take one 
or more copies of the Juvenile Instruct- 
or, so that they may be in close touch 
witn the Deseret Sunday School Union 
Board and be informed as to its rulings. 

Superintendents of Sunday Schools are 
asked to furnish the Stake Superintend- 
ents and the Deseret Sunday School 
Union Board with copies of all printed 
matter originating with them, which 
they propose to use in their, schools. 

Contentions and debates on religious 
questions, wherein men assume positions 
for the sake of argument and then un- 
dertake to uphold them, should not be 
permitted in our Sunday Schools. 

In the announcement of hymns, Super- 
intendents should read the pages of both 
the hymn and the song book. 

Under the approval and direction of 
the Bishopric, each school shall meet 
once a year in special session, or Ward 
Sunday School conference, and by vote 
sustain the officers and teachers of the 
school. A special programme may be 
rendered, and the sessions shall only last 
during the usual time of holding Sunday 
. chool. A desirable time to hold such 
special sessions would be on the Sun- 
day nearest the date of the anniversary 
of the organization of the school. 

Secretary Ensign then called the roll 
of the Sunday Schools by Stakes. Nearly 
all the Stake Superintendences were rep- 
resented. Most of those not so repre- 
sented had delegates present, as well as 
a number of foreign Missions. 

Assistant Superintendent George Rey- 
nolds, in behalf of the Board, advised 
the holding of District Conferences in 
the various Stakes, for the reason that 
many Stake Conferences are little more 
than a conference of the one school 
where held; only a few delegates from 
other schools being present, few children 
attending except from the one school. 

Elder Reynolds called attention to the 
Jubilee History of the Sunday Schools 
of the Church. The book is now ready 
for distribution, at $1 per copy, postage 
20 cents. The Union has on hand also 
a number of new Bible charts, illustrat- 
ing twelve of the miracles of Jesus. It 
also has chronological charts of the Book 
of Mormon, covering the full period of 
its history. 

"How to use the Sunday School Leaf- 
lets" was minutely explained by Assist- 
ant Superintendent Maeser. The Leaf- 
lets present the lessons in two divisions, 
first, the subject matter, which includes 
the text, notes and references; and sec- 
ond, what can be learned by the lesson, 
which includes the lesson statement, an- 
swers to questions. The speaker partic- 
ularly emphasized the importance of 



thoroughness; every word and sentence 
should be fully explained and under- 
stood before taking up another lesson, 
even if it takes a month to get through 
with a leaflet. 

Elder George D. Pyper stated that 
answer to a question that Sunday 
School choirs were not intended to do 
the singing, but to lead in the music; it 
is desired that all the children of the 
school should sing. 

"Beautiful words of love" was sung 
as the closing hymn, and the benediction 
was pronounced by Elder Brigham 
Young. 

TUESDAY AFTERNOON. 

Order was called at 2 o'clock by Gen- 
eral Superintendent Cannon. "Hope of 
Israel" was sung for the opening. 
Prayer was offered by Elder John Henry 
Smith. 

Prof. Evan Stephens directed the music 
practice for this session, and the follow- 
ing selections were sung: "Improve the 
Shining Moments," "The Primary 
March," "Our Mountain Home So Dear." 

Elder Thomas A. Clawson briefly dis- 
cussed the "Study of the Scriptures," 
urging the importance of a better ac- 
quaintance with them. To obtain a 
knowledge of the laws of God, and of 
His dealings with the children of men, 
an acquaintance with the Scriptures is 
not only desirable, but necessary. Faith 
in the Gospel, and in the purposes of the 
Loro in respect to mankind, depends in 
a great measure upon an acquaintance 
with the teachings of the truths con- 
tained in the Scriptures. Familiarity 
with the Bible and other holy books is 
a fortification against evil, and a means 
of inspiring faith and confidence in our 
Heavenly Father, and love for Him. 

"Kind Words are Sweet Tones of the 
Heart," solo and chorus, was beautifully 
rendered by Elder Horace S. Ensign and 
t-e assembly of delegates. 

President Lorenzo Snow was the next 
to address the assembly. He expressed 
delight at what he had heard in the con- 
vention. He said that if he, now in his 
77th year, could receive instruction in 
this grand Sunday School work, as he 
had done at these meetings, he felt that 
there was none too old to become identi- 
fied with and receive instruction in the 
Sunday School. In speaking to the sub- 
ject assigned, "Tithing," he said he de- 
sired to impress upon his hearers the 
great importance of that principle. He 
read a portion of the 119th section of 
the Doctrine and Covenants. It was 
a singular thing that the land of Zion 
could be sanctified by the observance of 
the law of tithing, but such was the 
fact, and in no other way, he said, could 
this land become the land of Zion, to the 
people of the Lord, and it was of the ut- 



most importance that this law be ob- 
served. The principle should be taught 
in the Sunday School, to teachers and 
pupils. Referring to the land of Zion, 
he said the spirit of returning to Jack- 
son county was felt among the Latter- 
day Saints, and wealthy people among 
them were offering large contribu- 
tions towards the purchase and redemp- 
tion of that land. The day was near at 
hand, President Snow said, for the re- 
turn of the Saints to the land of their 
first inheritance. This laud is not our 
home, he said, and the majority of those 
who were before him would live to see 
the return of the children of the Saints, 
the sons and daughters of those who 
were dispossessed of their inheritances 
in the early history of the Church. But. 
he said, the Saints will not be prepared 
to return thither till they are willing to 
pay their tithing. 

Elder Heber J. Grant was the next 
speaker, his subject being "Keeping pace 
with the children." He prefaced his 
address by singing Brother George God- 
dard's favorite song, "Who's on the 
Lord's Side?" One of the means of 
keeping pace with the children is for Su- 
perintendents, officers and teachers 
meeting together often to study up and 
devise ways and means of making the 
work of the Sunday School more at- 
tractive, interesting and profitable to the 
children who attend. Make the school 
interesting, and take part in all the work 
of the school, and never, ask the chil- 
dren to learn anything that the officers 
and. teachers are unwilling to do them- 
selves. 

Elder Benjamin Goddard followed in 
an interesting talk on "How to induce 
our young men to attend Sunday School." 
Elder Goddard said the first essential 
was the organization of a suitable class 
for young men, with a teacher who was 
adapted to the task of drawing young 
men to the class, and who was thorough- 
ly imbued with the Spirit of the Gospel 
and capable of teaching its principles, 
so that he could be master of the situa- 
tion. Earnest, cheerful class work, in 
a conversational manner, avoiding dis- 
cussions, will attract members and keep 
up their interest. When the class is 
started, the use of the visiting book in 
the hands of a committee will soon bring 
into the class most of the young people 
of the Ward. Class reunions and other 
social gathering may be adopted with ex- 
cellent effect. 



In silence 
Steals on soft-handed Charity, 
Tempering her gifts, that seem so free, 

Bv time and place, 
Till not a woe the bleak world see, 

But finds her grace. 

— Keble, "The Christian Year.* 




*BUT TMQUGM WE OB AN ANGEL FROM HEAVEN .PREACH ANY 
OTrlER GOSPEL UNTO YOU THAN THAT WHICH WE 

HAVE P ttEACHED UNTO YOU. LET hlM BE ACCUSED. 1 Stt/gftd?/f ■ 

— xsUtjyril — === — ~ — ' — "" ^ 



Vol. 2. 



Chattanooga, Tenn., Satubday, Decembeb 1, 1900. 



No. 53. 



Sketch of the Life of Apostle Francis M. Lyman. 



This worthy Apostle of the host was 
born in Goodhope, McDonough county, 
Illinois, Jan. 12, 1840. He is the eldest 
son of Amasa Mason Lyman and Louisa 
Maria Tanner Lyman, both of early Puri- 
tan stock. The time of his birth witnessed 
the days of tribulation to the Saints of 
God. They had been driven from Jock- 
son, Clay and Caldwell counties, and were 
now taking refuge in Illinois. In the 
spring of 1840, Bro. Lyman's family 
moved into Iowa, thence to Nauvoo in 
1841. From there, m 1843, they moved 
to Alquina, Fayette county, Indiana, 
where they remained until after thr> mar- 
tyrdom of the Prophet and Patriarch of 
the Church in 1844, when they turned to 
Nauvoo. Elder Lyman is probably the 
youngest man living who remembers to 
have seen the Prophet Joseph Smith, 
and who also received administration In 
the Nauvoo Temple, for in 
that sacred building he 
was sealed to his parents 
by Presidents Young and 
Kimball in 1846. 

In June, 1846, he, with 
his mother and three other 
children in charge of his 
mother's father, John 
Tanner, journeyed west to 
Winter Quarters, his ~* 
father having already gone 
with the pioneers from i 

Nauvoo. 

July 1, 1840, being a 
little over 8 years old, 
Bro. Lyman was baptized 
by his father in the Elk 
Horn river and confirmed 
by him. 

Notwithstanding his 
tender years, on their 
journey to Salt Lake Val- 
ley, he drove a yoke of 
cattle and wagon to Utah, 
arriving in the Valley 
Oct 19, 1848. During the next three years 
he occupied his time in such labor and di- 
versions as were the lot of pioneer children 
in those early days. The opportunities 
for education were meagre, but such as 
they were Francis Marion received the 
benefits thereof. His father and Elder 



BYJAPOSTLE .MATHI AS F. COWLEY.] 

Unas. C. Rich having purchased a ranch 
in San Bernardino, intended as a tem- 
porary home and outfitting post, the 
family removed to California in 1851. On 
the way young Bro. Lyman performed a 
man's duty in driving loose stock, etc., 
the entire distance. 




APOSTLE FRANCIS M. LYMAN. 

For several years he was employed 
handling animals and freighting between 
San Bernardino and Salt Lake City, mak- 
ing in these years sixteen trips across 
the desert between California and Utah. 
His winter months were spent in school 
in San Bernardino, obtaining such edu- 



cation as the schools afforded. With 
Thos. W. Whittaker he worked about 
eighteen months at the joiner's trade. In 
April, 1853, he was a witness to the lay- 
ing of the corner stones of the Temple in 
Salt Lake City. 

In 1857 he was selected as a mission- 
ary to Europe, but the advent of Johns- 
ton's army deferred his mission for the 
time being, although he came as far as 
Salt Lake City en route to Great Britain. 
Here it was deemed wisdom that he 
should return to the coast and move his 
father's family to Salt Lake Valley, all 
the missionaries and colonizing Saints 
being called to Utah from California. 

In 1S56 Bro. Lyman had been ordained 
an Elder in California by his father, and 
May 1, 1860, he started on his mission to 
Europe, While his public life in the min- 
istry really began at this time, he had 
filled the colonization mis- 
sion with his father in 
San Bernardino. In 
1858, he had explored 
with the elder Lyman in 
Colorado and was or- 
dained a Seventy in 
Farmington, Utah (where 
he had removed to culti- 
vate his father's farm) 
on Jan. 7, 1860. In the 
winter months of 1859- 
60 he presided over the 
Young Men's Literary 
Association in Farming- 
ton. 

On Nov. 15, 1857, he 
had received in marriage 
Rhoda Ann Taylor, who, 
with her father and fam- 
ily, had received the Gos- 
pel in Australia under 
the administration o f 
Elder Wm. Hyde. Be- 
fore leaving for England 
Elder Lyman built a log 
room in Beaver, Utah, and to that place 
he removed his family, consisting of a 
wife and one child. 

En route to Europe he visited Kirt- 
land and by Martin Harris, one of the 
three witnesses to the Book of Mormon, 
was shown through the Temple. Since 



418 



THE SOUTHERN STAB. 



then he has visited the sacred edifice sev- 
eral times. He takes profound satisfac- 
tion in visiting the places of note in the 
early scenes and history of the Ohurch. 
At this writing he is on a tour to the 
east, accompanied by Sister xvaoda Ly- 
man, intending to visit Independence, Nau- 
voo, the Hill Cumorah, the early home of 
his father in New Hampshire and other 
points in New England. He sailed for 
Liverpool on the steamship Edinburgh, 
and landed in that city July 27, I860. 

At this juncture let us quote a para- 
graph of his life written for the Juvenile 
Instructor by Elder Edward H. Anderson : 
"Let us ask the boys and girls to look 
back over the life of this boy of 20 years 
and see what he had accomplished. What 
an astonishing record of activity and 
work! Frontiersman at birth and baby- 
hood; pioneer and teamster at 8; herds- 
man and cowboy at 11; learning a trade 
at 13 ; plowing the trackless deserts as a 
leader and captain at 16 ; married at 17 ; 
exploring the wilds of Colorado at 18: 
a Seventy and a missionary at 20; with 
farming, attending school, presiding over 
improvement associations, building the 
log cabin of the pioneer, as incidents 
thrown here and there in between." What 
an example of industry, labor, faith and 
devotion, worthy the following of every 
human being! 

While absent he not only labored in 
Great Britain, but made tours of Scot- 
land, Wales, Germany, Denmark. France 
and Switzerland. On his return he was 
accompanied by 300 Saints. 

In April, 1877, he attended the dedi- 
cation of the St. George Temple. 

When the Tooele Stake was organized. 
June 24, 1877, Elder Lyman was placed 
to preside over it. For the next three 
years we find him at the head of affairs 
in that county, religiously and politically. 
The Liberals had obtained control, and 
by dishonest extravagance had spent in 
four years the revenue of five, leaving 
the county in debt $16,000. President 
Lyman was elected county recorder and 
representative to the legislature /from 
Tooele county. He set his mind at once 
to dislodge from power the Liberal party 
in Tooele county, and with his determi- 
nation and persistent qualities he never 
relaxed his energies until the good work 
had been accomplished. 

In 1878 the legislature passed a law 
which required the registration of voters. 
which meant dissolution to the so-called 
"Tooele Republic." In August, 1878, all 
the candidates of the people's party were 
elected by a safe majority. The Liberal 
officers refused to count the votes and 
by a system of technicalities declared the 
candidates of the people's party not 
elected. Hon. F. M. Lyman filed notice 
of contest and carrying it to the supreme 
court, the court issued a peremptory or- 
der which required the officers to declare 
the correct result of the election. This 
action placed the candidates of the peo- 
ple's party in office and by economv and 
watch-care the county was redeemed from 
the debt incurred by corrupt officials. El- 
der Lyman in this experience, as in all 
similar ones, has proven himself to be a 
terror to evildoers. 

While on a tour in southern Utah, Ari- 
zona and New Mexico, Elder Lyman was 
called at the general conference in Oc- 
tober, 1880, to be one of the Twelve Apos- 
tles. Elder John Henry Smith was called 
at the same time. Bro. Lyman was or- 
dained to the apostleship Oct. 27, 1880, 
by President John Taylor. From that 
day until the present his whole time 
and energies have been devoted to the 
apostleship. No Apostle travels more 



among the Stakes of Zion, and reaches 
more of the settlements of the Saints than 
does Apostle Lyman. He is incessant 
in his work by day and by night. Since 
his call to the apostleship he has per- 
formed at least one important mission 
among the Lamanites of the Utah Reser- 
vation, one mission in California accom- 
panied by Elder B. H. Roberts and one 
in the southern states with Elder Mat- 
thias F. Cowley as his traveling compan- 
ion. When called to fill his Indian mis- 
sion it was on Nov. 17, 1883, by Presi- 
dent John Taylor. Before leaving be 
asked President Wilford Woodruff of the 
Council of the Twelve how to proceed. 
President Woodruff answered that Bro. 
Lyman was entitled to know the will of 
the Lord and would be guided aright. 
While camped on Currant Creek en route 
to the Unitah Reservation, Apostle Ly- 
man ascended a hill, 1,000 feet above the 
table land in that vicinity. While climb- 
ing the steep his thoughts were upon the 
difficulty of his mission. He had no prac- 
tical knowledge of how to proceed. If 
he asked the agents he might be refused 
the privilege of presenting the Gospel 
to the Indians, as other missionaries had 
been. While thus in troubled thought, 
the Spirit of the Lord impressed him 
to go to the summit of the hill. Upon 
reaching the top he found a large flat 
rock, upon which he stepped, removed 
his hat and fell upon his knees in prayer 
to God with his face toward the east. He 
says: "I went before the Lord and told 
Him all about my troubles; how every- 
thing seemed against us; how little I 
knew about the work ; how I had learned 
that the agents at Unitah and Ouray 
were bitterly opposed to the Mormons 
and their doctrines; and then asked for 
the successful opening of the mission to 
the Lamanites in that region, and that 
God might guide me aright, and soften 
the hearts of the agents with favor 
towards us and our cause." 

When he kneeled to pray the atmos- 
phere was perfectly calm, when suddenly 
a wind began blowing which increased in 
force almost to a tempest, and lasted dur- 
ing the half hour he was engaged in 
prayer. When his supplications ceased 
the wind as suddenly ceased to blow and 
all was calm and serene. As he arose and 
left his place of prayer, the quiet yet 
unmistakable testimony of the Holy Spirit 
rested upon him and he felt to go straight 
forward with his mission, visit the agents 
and all would be successful. Subsequent- 
ly this testimony of the Spirit was veri- 
fied in a most remarkable manner, for 
the agents and Indians received him well, 
and an effectual door for doing good 
among them was opened wide. But before 
the fulfillment of this prophetic convic- 
tion as the wind had howled around him 
while engaged In prayer, so he personally 
had to pass through well-nigh the ordeal 
of death. The event is described by El- 
der E. H. Anderson as follows : 

"On the morning of the 12th (May) 
the camp was up early and it appeared 
that all the difficulties which had so far 
surrounded there were at length over- 
come. He was sitting on a camp stool 
just before breakfast and reached over 
to pick up some object, when he was sud- 
denly seized with the most excruciating 
pain that could be imagined in his left 
side. It was a threatened rupture. It 
was so severe and agonizing that all hopes 
of his recovery were given up. Every- 
thing that could be done was done to re- 
lieve him, but all to no avail. They had 
no medicines of any kind; one of the 
brethren proffered to send fifty miles away 
for a doctor, but Bro. Lyman forbade 
him, saying that he could not last till 



the arrival of a physician. It was sug- 
gested that he be taken back, but it was # 
impossible to move him, the pain was so* 
tormenting. For two hours he remained 
in such terrible agony that the cold sweat 
stood out in great beads upon his face. 
During this time he says that every good 
act of his life passed before him, and, 
strange to say, not an evil thing that he 
had done came to his mind — nothing but 
good. He saw himself carried home dead, 
and beheld the consternation of bis family 
at his death and what had overtaken him* 
During all this time, strange to say, nei* 
ther he nor his companions, although 
they had done everything to alleviate hii 
sufferings, had once thought -of the oxdi* 
nance of administration. 'It mever onc4 
entered my mind,' he says, 'nor did thf 
brethren think of it.' At the close of 
that time, one of the brethren suggested 
administering to him, which was accord* 
ingly done. No sooner were the hand* 
of his brethren lifted from his head than 
the pain left him as suddenly as it had 
come. He became perfectly free, and had 
thus been healed by the power of God 
by the laying on of hands by the Elders. 
'Then,' he says, 'I thought how good it is 
to only be free from pain ! It is the great- 
est heaven of all. And yet the most of 
our lives we are free, but scarcely ap- 
preciate it.' He fell into a sweet sleep 
and in a comparatively short time was 
able to proceed on the journey." 

The Adversary determined to frustrate 
their mission was thus overcome by the 
power of God. Reaching their destina- 
tion, the Lamanites and the agents, J. J. 
Critchlow, of Unitah and J. F. Minness 
of Ouray, received the brethren with great 
courtesy. The Gospel was freely taught 
and the Book of Mormon introduced 
among them by Elder Lyman and his as- 
sociates. Elder Nephi, surnamed Lehi by 
Apostle Lyman, Chief Tabby and other 
Ute chiefs also preached and bore testi- 
mony, being faithful Latter Day Saints, 
and many were converted to the truth. 
In the winter of 1893-94 Apostle Lyman, 
accompanied by Elder B. H. Roberts, per- 
formed a good mission in Southern Cali- 
fornia, visiting some of his father's fam- 
ily and other relatives who still reside 
there. In the winter 1897-98 himself and 
Elder M. F. Cowley visited each confer- 
ence of the Southern States Mission, held 
a two days' meeting with the general pub- 
lic and one day of Priesthood meeting 
with the Elders in each conference. His 
counsels, admonitions and instructions, 
often couched in quaint sayings, will ever 
be remembered by the Elders then labor- 
ing in the southern states. Apostle Ly- 
man is one of the very most active work- 
ers in the Church. He is never idle. He 
keeps a daily journal, in all probability 
the most complete in detail of any private 
journal in the Church. When he goes 
to the sphere beyond, he proposes to place 
his journals in the Archives of the Church 
for the benefit of the Church. He writes 
it up daily, never getting behind. In 
keeping a journal, which every active El- 
der and some of the Sisters ought to do, 
Elder Lyman's example and method may 
well be followed with great profit. Apostle 
Lyman is very practical in word and deed, 
his teachings are always seasoned with 
the influence of the Holy Spirit. Owing 
to his very practical, well adapted teach- 
ings to the Saints in public and private. 
he is often referred to as "The Teacher 
of. the Church." He is pre-eminently a 
peacemaker. When difficulties exist where 
the general authorities are requested to 
participate in their settlement. Bro. Ly- 
man, if within reach, is almost invariably 
the first man selected to adjudicate the 
trouble. He is firm, yet kind, never be- 



THE SOUTHERN STAR 



419 



traying petty anger or a sense of insnlted 
dignity, because of opposition in his ef- 
forts to make peace, and yet probably no 
man more than Elder Lyman, renders 
more becoming deference to Seniors, and 
he expects others to observe the same 
principle. He has the faculty of saying 
unpleasant things to those who need re- 
proof without giving offense, and thus 
winning the recreant to a reformation of 
life. 

As in the case of his Indian Mission, 
he usually sets no Stakes, but depends 
upon the inspiration of the Holy Spirit 
to meet the emergency, and never fails 
to be impressed about right. His "off- 
hand" answers to questions and quaint 
sayings, always containing a good thought, 
would make a little volume, both pleasing 
and instructive. He was asked before a 
public audience in the opera house at 
Jackson City, Miss., by an impertinent 
fellow, "If the Mormons did not still be- 
lieve in plural marriage, only discontinu- 
ing it because of a compulsory law, and 
if that law was repealed would they not 
continue it?" 

Apostle Lyman coolly replied, "When 
you get the law repealed will be time 
enough to answer your question." 

During the Tooele troubles, a govern- 
ment official wrote from Salt Lake City 
and asked him, among other queries: 
"Who is the heaviest sheep owner in 
Tooele county?" He answered: "I am. 
I weigh 289 pounds. Other questions an- 
swered on receipt of $2." 

Bro. Lyman looks upon death with 
utmost freedom from concern. His expe- 
rience while filling his Indian mission 
doubtless makes him a personal witness 
that to the faithful "death is sweet," and 
the grave has no victory. The writer of 
this little sketch was favored a few weeks 
after his call to the Apostleship to be 
with Elder Lyman day and night for four 
months, and will never forget the lessons 
taught, through example and precept, by 
Apostle Francis M. Lyman. He is one 
man out of many who never meets an- 
other, if the slightest opportunity pre- 
sents, without expressing, some thought 
by which he is ever remembered and 
which encourages the hearer to do good 
and shun evil. The people, old and young, 
male and female, among the Saints uni- 
versally love and respect Apostle Lyman. 
He is so pre-eminently one of them and 
never fails to make them feel at home in 
his presence. He does not wait to be ap- 
proached. "He speaks and greets you first 
and always has a word to say that is well 
to think of and remember." 

Apostle Lyman is now past the age of 
60, but of well-preserved body, full of 
endurance and activity, standing over 6 
feet high, weighing 250 pounds and unbur- 
dened with surplus flesh. His life of use- 
fulness, his constant labor, his marked 
ability, his title by merit to the inspira- 
tion of the Holy Spirit, all endear him 
to the Saints and make us fondly hope 
that he shall live for yet many, many 
happy years. In concluding this imper- 
fect sketch let us repeat the counsel of 
Apostle Lyman which he gave to the read- 
ers of the Juvenile Instructor: "Boys 
and girls, be pure in thoughts and ac- 
tions; do nothing that will make you 
feel ashamed to face any good person in 
the world. This course will make you 
free and happy. There is no other bond- 
age so heavy as the bondage of sin; no 
other freedom so delightful as the freedom 
of innocence and purity. Guard your 
good name and your happiness by deter- 
mining to be free from sin ; protect your 
innocence by thinking pure thoughts; 
shield your purity by noble actions." 



ELDER DAV.D H. ELTON. 



BY L. E. JORDAN. 

Born on the other side of the Atlantic 
Ocean, Jan. 12th, 1877, beneath the folds 
of the Union Jack of Old England, was 
the subject whose picture is herewith 
presented. In the midland part of En- 
gland was the home of his nativity, in 
that quaint historic city of Worcester, 
on the banks of the River Severn, where 
the Royal Charles the First made his 
last and final stand against those sturdy 
commoners under the leadership of that 
renowned defender of liberty— Oliver 
Oromwell. Having been brought up to 
sing: 

"Hurrah! for Merry England, 
Her woods and her valleys green! 

Hurrah! for England's country! 
Hurrah! for England's Queen!" 

it is quite natural that he should still 
cherish a fond love for his mother coun- 
try, and good old Queen Victoria. There 
flows in his veins that genuine, pure* un- 
adulterated Anglo-Saxon blood which has 
ever characterized the people of his race, 
and exhibits in their lives valor, honor, 
worth and unswerving integrity. 
Brother Elton was almost 14 years old 




when he left the land of his birth to 
unite with the Saints of God in the West. 
He found the ways of the citizens of 
Salt Lake City diverse from the old-fash- 
ioned English customs and manners, but 
he soon became Americanized and 
learned the "ins and outs" of the West- 
ern land. After spending some seven 
years in Salt Lake City, engaged for the 
most part in assisting his widowed moth- 
er, he was called to labor as a missionary 
in the Southern States. Almost thirty- 
three months have passed since he began 
his labors here— being the only Elder in 
the field at present who has labored un- 
der the jurisdiction of President Elias 
S. Kimball. 

For about five months he labored on 
the balmy peninsula of Florida, but ow- 
ing to sickness he was transferred to the 
Old North State, North Carolina. Here 
he spent eight months, and at the expira- 
tion of that time he was called to labor 
in the Chattanooga Conference. For 
about seven months he acted as First 
Counsellor to President Christo Hyldahl, 



and also as President of the Conference 
for the same length of time. In the lat- 
ter part of last March he was called to 
labor in the Office, a vacancy having oc- 
curred when President L. R. Anderson 
was released to return home. From that 
time until the present he has been con- 
nected with the Star, and for the last 
four months has shouldered the respon- 
sibility entirely. 

The readers of the Star need no com- 
ments as to his ability as a writer, for 
his work stands out in bold relief, and 
both volumes of the "Twinkler" have 
contained articles from his able pen. Ever 
since his arrival he has been the Poet 
Laureate of the Mission, and was always 
on hand, no matter what the occasion 
might be, to add charm and interest to 
the same by the composition of a very 
choice poem. Brother Elton has had 
many commissions given to him during 
his ministerial career, and in none of 
them has he been found wanting. He 
has been prostrated on the bed of afflic- 
tion many times, and although those in 
authority have advised his release to re- 
turn home, still by pluck, grit, faith and 
indomitable will he has triumphed, for 
the which the Mission has had cause to 
rejoice. 

It has not been Brother Elton's misfor- 
tune to be made the material of mobo- 
cratic hate, as some of our good Elders 
have, although many threats have been 
uttered against him. Whether this has 
been owing to his dignified mien, or the 
large voice proceeding from a pair of 
massive stentorian lungs, we are unable 
to say, but either would in all probabil- 
ity be sufficient to disperse any ordinary 
mob, especially the latter. His ability 
as a writer is equalled, if not surpassed, 
as a speaker, and we expect to hear his 
massive voice thundering down the Halls 
of Fame in times yet to be. His thor- 
ough knowledge of the Gospel, combined 
with his extraordinary ability as an ora- 
tor, has been the means of causing many 
to embrace and obey the Gospel truths. 
He has thirty baptisms to his credit, and 
twenty babies blessed—six of the latter 
having been given the cognomen "Elton." 

Before donning the Prince Albert coat, 
and assuming the role of Knight of the 
Grip, Elder Elton was wont to chase the 
pig-skin upon the foot ball gridiron, and 
some of the qualities which gained for 
him renown as a bucker in the Eleven, 
have distinguished him since, among 
which are pluck, determination, a total 
lack, of fear, and splendid growth of hair. 
"Hit the line hard, boys," has been his 
favorite motto. Elder Elton will remain 
in the Mission for some weeks, and if he 
continues to advance along the lines 
which h J s life has thus far been set, we 
feel safe in predicting for him health, 
happiness and success, and the blessings 
of our Heavenly Father to crown his ef- 
forts at all times and under all circum- 
stances. 

John Buskin once wrote: "People are 
always expecting to get peace in heaven, 
but, you know, whatever peace they get 
there will be ready-made. Whatever of 
making peace they can be blest for must 
be on the earth here." 



THE DEAD. 

We are pained to announce that Pres- 
ident F. H. Critchfield, of the Louisiana 
Conference, has been called to part with 
his loving baby boy. We hope that the 
peace and blessings of heaven will at- 
tend the bereaved parents, and comfort 
be administered to them in the hour of 
their affliction. 



420 



THE SOUTHERN STAB. 



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Saturday, 1 ecember 1, 1900. 



ARTICLES OF FAITH 

OP THE CHURCH OP JESUS CHRI5T OP 
LATTER-DAY SAINTS. 

t. Wi b«lE»ia in God the Eternal Ttth*t\ and In Ui* Sow 
Jetot 1-hrUt, itiJ in the Rolj Qhwt, 

t, We belter* that inen wtll be pun bi had for tfcelx ow* 
•lilt, end ddI fnr Atfttt'l Lr*GifT*aiion- 

B. We be!i«TB lhat, ihrtupJi Ibe atonement of ChriiJ. *M 
mankind 0>ly bt lltld, bj obedience I* ibt 1**1 lad ord*. 
Vknz+i of the Go*pi[. 

4. W* beliete th*t Ibe ftrtl prtaetofre md ordlnihret of 
the Goepel Stl : Flret, Faith la the l«qn) J eta* Cnriat | teeoad, 
ft*pentuve«i third, BiptJiin bf Ihim+rtion for the reoiluioiL 
or Ml f oor lb. Uying on of Hindi for tbt Qih of the Eiply 

Ok** 

L Wt believe that * nut mutt he called of God* by 
M prophecy, and by the lijini; on of handi," bj I hot* who ire 
In * a khan [j, to preach, *he (oepel end adminiiter In the ardi- 
n»tH rbereof^ 

8. We believe En Ikf urn* otfiD.iurfoii Hint 4 tilled in 
the nrimitLvn church nainsJy, ApoalJei, L'ropheLi, fallen^ 
Taacnert, E* ■ r r gt] inti,, etc. 

,7. W* boUe m « i n tie (J ft of In ntfjet, prophecy, revelation, 
tiiLnni healing, En terp reLitia □ of tongue** ete. 

6, w* believe lha BLbJe to U t*e word of God, » fnr m I* 
It tTloflmd BGintctly; ib alto believe lie Book of llarnum 
to He itiij word or God, 

9. We be Lev* nil that God b» ^veiled, ill thil He 3qh 
now roveel. end we believe that Ho will v&t retell man/ mil 
end important (tiinp pertaining to the KJOfdoiS of GodT 

10. we believe in tbe literaL gathering of lirne] ud Lo tbn 
r*»loratinn of the Ten Tribe*; thit Zion will be hniU opoa 
thil ftiw An«rieia) rontioeol; LhitfbHil will reign peraan- 
4lljr npop the Mrlh 4 nnd ihel tie etrta will be renewed tod 
receive it* ptrndiiUcnl glorj. 

11- We claim ibe pri^iUte ef worahipFuf Atiolfbtj God 
MOOT 41 PI tQ Ibe dicLntaa of ngr ronaricote, and j.H[jw all 
■MA Um Mb* jm.»iligM > lei tfceA moatufi how, wiwe, w wiaa 

Ul We beUere la btiagmbjeet to Hop, preddeata. roltn, 
•ad aseJetntM { la obeying, honoring tnd raetaiaing tb* law. 

IS. eWe beJieT* is being honest, troe, ebaeto, beoerotent, 
wirtaoeM. aad ia doing good to all awa; indeed, wo bmj mj 
teat woiollow tea adaoaiUoa of Paal, "Wo boliaro aU tbinga, 
we bopa all tbJag« ( n wo b*To ondorod moay things, aad bopo 
to bo able to eodore all thing*. If there fa aajrtaTag vlrtaaaa, 
fc^^?^^^;^ H>i-worthy t wa aaak aftot taeaa 



"WAITING, -WATCHING, UTORKING. 

These three words— Waiting, Watch- 
ing, Working— are intended to suggest 
to the mind of the reader a few abbre- 
viated thoughts so often expressed by 
our Lord during His sojourn here on 
earth, either in parables or direct and 
pointed declaration. These words are 
very significant, as being indicative of 
the life-time teachings of Christ to His 
chosen people. Indeed, it readily appears 
to be the burden of His parting counsel 
to His Disciples to admonish them to 
wait upon the Lord, earnestly watch for 
His coming, and assiduously work for 
the honor and glory of His name! The 
lessons inculcated in these words are cal- 

nnlotpd <r» mnfcp nnp rplinnt iidoti thp 

tender mercies of Jesus Christ, depend- 
ent upon the gift of His goodness, that 
they might obtain strength to labor for 
the truth, and flaunt the banner of sal- 
vation to the world. Upon one occasion 



He addressed His Apostles thus: "Let 
your loins be girded about, and your 
lights burning; and ye yourselves like 
unto men that wait for their Lord. * * * 
Blessed are those servants, whom the 
Lord, when He cometh, shall find watch- 
ing." (Luke 12:35, 36.) This teaches 
plainly that the Lord's Disciples should 
be found at all times in readiness to 
meet their Redeemer, for He cometh at 
an hour when we are not aware, and if 
we have not made due preparation, how 
then can we go forth to meet Him? We 
should be found waiting for His coming, 
anxiously expecting His triumphant ad- 
vent to the earth; not idly waiting, or 
carelessly watching, but with vigilance, 
faith and hope, looking with a steadfast 
faith, yea, moreover, working with a 
cheerful heart, utilizing the gifts and 
powers we possess for our own salvation 
and the betterment of others. Some 
there are who suppose that so long as 
they sing "Glory to His name," "I am 
washed in the blood of the Lamb," etc., 
that they are true to the Lord, and are 
faithful to Christ, and consequently are 
waiting for His coming. To all such we 
have only one plea, "Be not deceived." 
To wait for the coming of the Lord 
means something more tangible and solid 
than the melodious notes of praise issu- 
ing from the lips, for it requires a sim- 
ultaneous exercise of the head, the heart, 
the hands, and the feet; that by patient, 
faithful service, we may joyfully engage 
all our faculties for the upbuilding of 
His Church, the progression of His work, 
either by ministering to others, testifying 
of His goodness and love, sacrificing our 
own pleasure for the happiness of a 
brother or sister, in short, giving all that 
we possess, whatever we have, and what- 
ever we can for the spead of righteous- 
ness and the welfare of godliness. 

About seven hundred years before His 
first advent, in the book of Isaiah, we 
find these words written: "The Lord is 
a God of judgment; blessed are all they 
that wait for Him." (Isa. 30:18.) Is not 
this a rich and glorious benediction? 
"Blessed are all they that wait for Him." 
He came in fulfillment of the written 
word, and He has told us that He will 
come again. When He ascended from 
the slopes of Olivet into the clouds of 
heaven, and His receding form vanished 
from view, two heavenly messengers said 
to the wondering Disciples, "Ye men of 
Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into 
heaven? This same Jesus which is 
taken up from you into heaven, shall 
so come in like manner, as ye have seen 
Him go into heaven." (Acts 1:11.) We 
are to wait for His coming, even Jesus, 
the Prince of Peace, our Elder Brother, 
Savior, Redeemer, Lord and King. His 
own word, and the words of His inspired 
witnesses, and the testimony of the Spir- 
it most emphatically declare that He 
will surely come again. That His com- 
ing shall be in glory, honor, majesty and 
power. Wait with a living faith, a real 
faith, a true profitable faith in what His 
accredited witnesses have said concern- 
ing His return. 

Now we are not only to wait for the 
Lord, or to use the words of the Psalm- 
ist, "Wait on the Lord," but we are also 
commanded to watch for His coming. 
While these two words, Wait and Watch, 
may be considered in a simple sense as 
synonomous expressions, still in their 
more complex application, there is a vast 
difference. One may be waiting for a 
friend and not watching for him; there- 
fore watching is the stronger of the two 
terms, being more intense than waiting. 
Paul, in writing to the Thessalonians, 



says, "Therefore let us not sleep as do 
others; but let us watch and be sober." 
(Thess. 5:6.) Many other passages of 
Scripture may be cited, such as (Rev. 
3:3, 16:15), and it would be well to state 
that our blessed Master did constantly 
urge His Disciples to watch, for no less 
than seven times does the word occur in 
His discourse about the last things. We 
are sojourners, pilgrims, wanderers, 
strangers in a strange land; there are 
enemies on every hand, pitfalls, evils, 
and various dangers. Worldliness, car- 
nality, formalism, love of ease and 
wealth, pronenees to be slack in our du- 
ties, to run down, neglectful, careless, 
idle, coid as to spiritual life, and waver- 
ing as to faith in Christ, are all extant, 
and have more or less effect upon, save 
we look unto Christ with a glorious 
hope of exaltation and redemption when 
He shall reappear in the clouds of heav- 
en. We need not be puffed up bigots, 
or indulge in fanaticism, religious 
egotism, and fetishism; but look forward 
with faith unshaken, watch at every 
season, pray and labor for the bright 
millennial dawn. Perhaps the last labor 
or work is the best incentive to, and aid 
in watching, earnestly and faithfully for 
the coming of the Master. 

Waiting, Watching, Working! The last 
is by no means the least, for it comes, 
as the climax, the crowning cap-stone 
for the pillars— Wait and Watch. Says 
the great Apostle to the Gentiles, "Glory, 
and honor and peace to every man that 
worketh good." (Rom. 2:12.) Give dili- 
gence to present thyself approved unto 
God, a workman that needeth not to be 
ashamed." (II Tim. 2:15.) These are 
ringing, significant words, and, like 
trumpet calls, they sound a warning note 
to all. There is a pressing need, for good, 
unselfish, disinterested Christian work. 
On every side, in every land, there is op- 
portunity and material for an earnest, 
goodly work. Valiant souls are in de- 
mand, souls who will wait, watch and 
work for the establishment of righteous- 
ness, the propagation of truth, and the 
preparation of our Lord's majestic ad- 
vent. It has been demonstrated in in- 
numerable ways that where there is 
great faith, there is also a great work 
accomplished; true faith, a true, lasting, 
eternal work performed. "Hope de- 
ferred maketh the heart sick." Defer 
not hope, but let this ray of confidence 
divine enlighten your path, and give you 
courage for the conflict, that whether it 
be weal or woe, you may stand the test 
and gain the prize. "Wherefore gird up 
the lions of your mind, be sober, and hope 
to the end," that when Christ shall be 
revealed in glory, He may find you 
Waiting, Watching and Working. 



NEW BOOKS. 

We wish to announce to our many 
patrons that it is our intention to pub- 
lish for sale, at a nominal sum, all the 
articles written in the Star by Apostle 
M. F. Cowley. These articles will con- 
stitute two books, which will be of great 
worth to the Saints, friends and investi- 
gators of righteousness. Everybody 
should avail themselves with these two 
books, and become fortified with doc- 
trinal facts, enlightened on biographical 
data, and informed in Church history 
generally. 



Rather than upbraid God for ills that 
have befallen thee, thank Him for those 
that have not befallen thee.— Ivan Pa- 



THE SOUTHERN STAB. 



421 



Sketch of the Life of Apostle John Henry Smith. 



This son of the late President George 
Albert Smith and his wife, Sarah Aim 
Libby, was. born at Carbunce, L'uttnwata- 
mie county, Iowa, Sept. 18th, 1S4S. 
When asked in later years by an ac- 
quaintance where he was born, he an- 
swered, "In the garden spot of the 
world." So great was his admiration 
for the rich lands of his native place 
that he esteemed it worthy of the title, 
"Garden spot of the world." 

The time of his birth was that period 
of trial incident to the exile from Nuu- 
voo and the pilgrimage of the Saints 
from Illinois to the valley of the Great 
Salt Lake. His father had gone to the 
valley with President Brightim Young 
in the pioneer band of one hundred and 
forty-three, and shortly thereafter had 
returned to Winter Quarters on the Mis- 
souri river to assist in gathering the 
Saints and to remove his family to Salt 
Lake Valley. In the summer of 1S49 
George A. Smith started across the ] 
plains with his family. When they 
reached their destination the subject of 
this sketch was one year old. in Ies« 
than two years from the time of their 
arrival his mother died, leaving John 
Henry as their only child. He was im- 
mediately taken by .his 
aunt, Hannah M. Libby 
Smith, also a wife of his 
father, and under her kind 
watch and care was reared 
to manhood with all the 
tenderness bestowed upon 
her own son. She also 
had a son, Charles War- 
ren, but a few months the 
junior of John Henry. 
The two were reared to- 
gether, and as they grew 
in years so they became 
more and more endeared 
to each other, becoming 
as the years rolled by to 
each other as David and 
Jonathan. Although in 
later years conditions 
have thrown them apart, 
the attachment of early 
youth remains bright and 
untarnished. The family 
of George A. Smith, be- 
ing called to colonize dif- 
ferent places, became 
very much scattered, some 
in Salt Lake City, some 
in Provo, and others 
and his many public duties rendered it 
impossible to devote much personal at- 
tention to his family. For this reason 
Brother John Henry feels that much of 
his success in life is due to the careful 
training afforded him by his devoted 
aunt and stepmother. In 1852 his aunt 
removed to Provo, and in that city he 
spent his early boyhood days. In ex- 
pressing his heartfelt sentiments of re- 
spect for the noble mother who reared 
him he but corroborates the heartfelt tes- 
timony of thousands whose noble attain- 
ments in life are largely due to the ex- 
ample and teachings of a loving and de- 
voted mother. Like many other pioneer 
boys of Utah, his occupation consisted 
of herding the stock. This he did on the 
Provo bench and along the shores of the 
Utah lakes. He was of large stature, 
full of life and merriment, always es- 
teemed by his associates as the very em- 
bodiment of good nature. During the 
Indian troubles which occurred in Utah 
county in its early history, John Henry, 



BY APOSTLE MATHIAS F. COWLEY. 

though very young, participated, aud on 
one occasion was shot at, but escaped 
unharmed, On another occasion, when 
but 14 years of age, he came nearly 
drowning in the Provo river, but the eye 
o( the Lord was upon him. His mission 
was to Uve and labor for man's salvation. 
He was aaved in a most marvelous man- 
ner. In company with Thomas and Geo. 
M. Brown, ho attempted to cross the 
river in a small boat, 'inis was June 
Sth, 1SG2, when tim water was hi£k and 
the current swift. The boat was cap- 
si&ed, and while the other boys made 
safely to shore, John Henry became en- 
tangled in some drift wood and disap- 
peared below the surface of the stream. 
He was under water so long that his 




in Parowan, 



APOSTLE JOHN HENRY SMITH . 

comrades on the bank lost hope of his 
being saved from drowning, when all of 
a sudden, with no apparent cause, he was 
lifted to the bank of the stream and res- 
cued. Soon after this occurrence it was 
learned that his father, who was at the 
time in Salt Lake City, felt impressed by 
the Spirit of the Lord that his son, John 
Henry, was in peril of his life. He 
therefore, in prayer and supplication, 
sought the Lord to save his life, and his 
prayer was immediately answered in the 
manner described above. 

The facilities for education in those 
days were meager compared with the 
present, but the best that could be had 
was placed within the reach of Brother 
John Henry, and he improved his time 
as opportunity would permit. Among 
the numerous incidents of boyhood days 
which strongly impressed the young man 
with a strong earnest desire to live a 
righteous life and be useful was a patri- 
archal blessing given him by his grand- 
father, John Smith, then Patriarch to 
the Church. In this prophetic blessing 



hia future life was foretold. It pointed 
out to him glorious attainments on con- 
ditions, as all blessings are, of his devo- 
tion to the truth and his industry in keep- 
ing the commandments of God. This 
blessing was ever before him, an anchor 
to his soul in time of trouble, and a mo- 
tive power of action under every condi- 
tion of life. While still a young man he 
called upon that distinguished man, and 
ever constant friend of the Latter-day 
Saints, Coi. Thomas L. Kane. Col. • 
Kane, who knew the early leaders of the 
Church, and who understood the suffer- 
ings through which the Saints had 
passed for pure principle, looked John 
Henry EtyLWUe in the face and said in a 
most impressive way, "Young man, I 
trust that you will ever remember that 
the best blood of the nineteenth century 
flows in your veins." This was too im- 
pivasive to be forgotten, an appeal to 
patriotism, not only to his own kin, but 
the nobility which is born in love and 
unswerving integrity to the truth, so 
thoroughly characterized all the faithful 
founders of God's work and the com- 
monwealth of Utah that their descend- 
ants forever should be patriotic to their 
names and memory and to the great 
cause for which they 
lived and died. 

John Henry Smith was 
married at the early age 
of 18, receiving in mar- 
riage an estimable daugh- 
ter, Sarah, of Elder Lo- 
rin Farr, of Ogden City, 
Utah, who has proven to 
be a true and devoted 
wife in every sense of the 
word. 

Brother Smith made his 
home in Provo, being em- 
ployed as a telegraph op- 
erator, and ecclesiastically 
occupied the place of 
Counsellor to Brother W. 
A. Follett, of the Fourth 
Ward, Provo. Near the 
completion of the Union 
and Central Pacific rail- 
way he left Provo and en- 
gaged with Messrs. Ben- 
son, Farr and West in 
grading about two miles 
of the Central Pacific rail- 
way. Subsequently Gov. 
Leland Stanford, of Cal- 
ifornia, offered him a lu- 
crative position in Sacramento. This 
he declined to accept, his father 
desiring his return to labor with 
him in bait i^ake City and elsewhere. 
During his early manhood days John 
Henry accompanied his father, with 
President Brigham Young and party, in 
their visits to tne several settlements of 
the Saints. This brought to him the so- 
ciety of the noblest and grandest men on 
earth. He studied their characters, ob- 
served them closely, and sought to dis- 
cover the secret of the grand qualities 
which adorned them. His own nobility 
and magnanimity of heart and mind 
proves that the example of his father and 
other noble men were not placed before 
him in vain. He profited greatly by these 
opportunities. 

In 1S72 he was assistant clerk in the 
House of Representatives in the Utah 
Legislature, and held the same position 
in the Constitutional convention held in 
1872. In May, 1874, he was called to 
fill his first mission in Europe, and was 
set apart for that purpose by President 



422 



THE SOUTHERN STAB. 



John Taylor. He started June 29th, 
reached New York July 4th, but before 
sailing for Europe he visited his mother's 
brother in New Hampshire. He reached 
Liverpool July 26th, and was soon as- 
signed his field of labor in the Birming- 
ham Conference, under the Presidency 
of Elder R. V. Morris. His kinsman, 
President Joseph P. Smith, presided over 
the Mission, and with him, Elder F. M. 
Lyman and other Elders, made a tour 
of the mission, visiting most of the Brit- 
ish Conferences, as well as Denmark, 
Germany, Switzerland and France. Ow- 
ing to his father's sickness Elder Smith 
was called home one year after his arri- 
val in England, reaching the bedside of 
his noble father fifteen days before his 
decease, which occurred Sept. 1st, 1875. 
The improvement attained by Elder 
Smith in the important matter of preach- 
ing the Gospel during this short mission 
was so pronounced that younger men 
looked upon him with wonder and ad- 
miration, feeling that only God could so 
inspire humble and unlettered men to 
speak with the power and inspiration 
which accompanied the remarks and tes- 
timonies of Elder John Henry Smith. 
Nov. 22d, 1875, he was called by Presi- 
dent Young and ordained Bishop of the 
Seventeenth Ward, Salt Lake City. This 
position he filled with marked ability, 
possessing the love and confidence of all 
the Saints in the Ward. While acting 
as Bishop he worked for a livelihood in 
the freight department of the Utah Cen- 
tral Railway, keeping accounts and han- 
dling funds, which he did with accuracy 
and honesty of the strictest type. At 
the October Conference of 1880 Bishop 
John Henry Smith, with President Ly- 
man, of the Tooele Stake, was called 
to fill vacancies in the Quorum of the 
Twelve Apostles. In 1839 his father 
and President Wilford Woodruff were 
ordained to the Apostleship at Far 
West, Missouri. They two being asso- 
ciated together, the desire entered 
Brother Smith's heart to have President 
Woodruff, then President of the Twelve, 
ordain him. Silently he offered a prayer 
that such might be the case, and he 
would take it as a testimony that his call 
was from the Lord. Elders Lyman and 
Smith were ordained to the Apostleship 
Oct. 27th, 1880. President Taylor or- 
dained Elder Lyman and then called on 
President Woodruff to ordain Elder 
Smith. No one but Brother John Henry 
Smith knew his heart's desire, and yet 
it was answered by the Lord in prompt- 
ing President John Taylor, the Prophet 
of the Lord, to so arrange it. This was 
all the more remarkable because of the 
usual practice that when one is ordained 
to the Apostleship the President of the 
Church officiates, and when two or more 
his First Counsellor next, and then his 
Second Counsellor, not that this is a 
law, but the usual practice. In this in- 
stance, however, it was varied from in 
answer to a silent prayer. Since his call 
to the Apostleship his labors therein have 
been incessant, preaching at home and 
abroad, and performing other labors, al- 
ways in the interests of the Church and 
humanity at large. Three successive 
times he has been to Washington, D. C, 
to assist in allaying prejudice, staving off 
inimical legislation which is inspired by 
false report and misrepresentation, also 
in urging Statehood for Utah. The first 
time he went in company with Apostle 
Moses Thatcher, and subsequently with 
other brethren. In October, 1882, he 
was called to preside over the European 
Mission. He was absent twenty-nine 
months, looking with deep and impartial 



interest to all Conferences and depart- 
ments of the Mission. His genial, lov- 
ing interest in all the Elders and Saints 
won for him their utmost love, confidence 
and respect. In the meantime prosecu- 
tions under the nefarious Edmunds- 
Tucker act were being vigorously urged. 
Upon his return he was arrested for the 
prevailing charge— but discharged for 
lack of evidence. In 1876 he was elected 
City Councilman of Salt Lake City and 
served with credit to the people for six 
successive years. In 1881 he was elected 
a member of the Utah Legislature, and 
when the State Constitutional Convention 
convened which framed the Constitution 
upon which Utah was admitted into the 
Union as a sovereign State, Apostle John 
Henry Smith presided over that impor- 
tant assembly. He takes an active inter- 
est in the Civil Government of his State 
and country as truly patriotic and a full- 
fledged American, not in letter only, but 
in the deepest sincerity of spirit. His 
progenitors on both sides of the house 
have been native born Americans for 
many generations, and all the patriotic 
qualities which distinguished them are 
reflected with honor in Apostle John 
Henry Smith. In the spring of 1899 he, 
accompanied by Elder Matthias F. Cow- 
ley, attended a conference of the Presi- 
dent and Conference Presidents of the 
Southern States Mission, held in Chat- 
tanooga, Tenn., May, 1899. While there 
they preached in the Opera House and 
were favorobly reported by Mr. Adler 
in the Chattanooga Times. They visited 
the old Chickamauga battle grounds, the 
National Cemetery, and from the sum- 
mit of Lookout Mountain beheld the bat- 
tlefields where thousands of human be- 
ings laid down their lives in sanguinary 
strife. Several times he has been a del- 
egate from Utah to the Trans-Mississippi 
Congress. From the last one which he 
attended, held in Houston, Tex., with 
President George Q. Cannon he paid a 
visit to the City of Mexico. He was 
much impressed with what he witnessed 
in the Republic of Mexico. Among the 
many events of Providence which have 
favored the life of Apostle Smith and 
enabled his mission of salvation to be the 
more complete to the living and the dead, 
is a well prepared genealogy of his moth- 
er's kin, the Libby family, containing on 
his mother's side the names of thou- 
sands of their progenitors who have lived 
and died, and many who now live, but 
who have not heard and embraced the 
Gospel. His relative who prepared this 
important record said to him in sub- 
stance one day, "John, while preparing 
that work I could not rest day nor night, 
I was so intensely interested, searching 
the musty town records of the past, the 
names and tombstones, anything and 
everything to get light on the subject. 
Now it is done, I have no particular in- 
terest in it, the dry facts of births, mar- 
riages, deaths and places, of what value 
are they, and especially none to anyone 
outside the family?" The author of the 
book knew not that God inspired him to 
the work, but his humble Apostle, John 
Henry Smith, knew what it all meant, 
and thanks the Father for this volume 
of names so sacred to himself and fam- 
ily. Apostle Smith is now in his 52d 
year, hale and hearty, ever active in his 
ministry, and interested in his country. 
He is -oving and genial to all around 
him. Frank and open in his character, 
easy to understand, a worthy example 
for all to follow. To know him is to love 
him. His disposition is a happy one. His 
character and record without blemish. 
Generous in his feelings for others, not 



jealous nor envious, but quick to recog- 
nize and appreciate the good qualities 
and talents of others, broad-minded in 
his ideas, just, merciful and kind in all 
his administrations. May he live yet 
many years to benefit and bless man- 
kind, especially the {Saints of God. 



History of the Southern States Mission. 

(Concluded from page 413.) 

NOVEMBER, 1900.— During the eajrly 
part of this month the weather was ex- 
tremely cold in this otherwise sunny Dixie 
land, and as a consequence thereof the 
Elders worked along quietly. No mob vio- 
lence was encountered, although in some 
parts of South Carolina, threats of this 
nature were afloat upon the wings of gos- 
sip; however, trouble was avoided and 
the work glided along. The reports show 
a goodly number of baptisms, while meet- 
ings held and books sold fall a trifle below 
the average. 

It is just two years since we began to 
publish in print the History of the South- 
ern States Mission, and in looking back- 
ward to recapitulate, we have beheld 
many wonderful and marvelous manifes- 
tations of God's power and goodness. Dur- 
ing the twenty-five years of its existence, 
from 1875 until the present time, it has 
been blessed with six worthy presidents, 
including the present head, whose pic- 
ture we herewith present. 

The first presiding officer in this Mis- 
sion was Elder Henry G. Boyle, a man 
faithful and true to the Gospel, humble 
and obedient to the will of God, earnest 
and diligent in the pursuit of duty. His 
simple, plain homely way made him at 
once an interesting guest, and his humil- 
ity and Christian love won for him the 
esteem and regard of the honest in heart* 
Following in his steps came the sturdy, 
valiant, plucky John Morgan, a veritable 
Lion of the Lord, and a trusted Soldier 
of the Cross. In his little grip-sack might 
be found tracts of his own composition, 
aided by the Spirit of Truth. He laid a 
solid and a sure foundation, hewed out 
the stones with his own hands, and set 
them in their adapted places. His course 
was one of honor and fidelity, fealty to 
God and His holy laws being the para- 
mount and vital issue with John Morgan. 
His name is known far and wide, and the 
good influence attending his presence, has 
been felt many times by the Elders, and 
returned to bless them in the hour of need. 
After ten years of faithful, energetic ser- 
vice, he was succeeded by Elder Wra* 
Spry, whose kind, amiable congeniality 
won for him many friends, to whom he 
preached in convincing tones the Gospel 
of Salvation. In the upper part of Geor- 
gia, where the writer has labored, he is 
known as the "Singing and Preaching 
Man," so from this we know he was a suc- 
cessful laborer — "singing and preaching" 
being one of the greatest incentives to 
this end. Elder Morgan did not sing, but 
preached, and let hid congregation tune 
their sweet voices in hymns of praise. 
Elder Spry was both a singer and a re- 
nowned preacher, and after laboring in- 
cessantly for four years as president, he 
was released, and Elder J. Golden Kim- 
ball appointed to fill the vacancy. To 
those acquainted with the name of Kim- 
ball in connection with the history of 
the Church it is needless to repeat the 
sterling qualities and striking character- 
istics of this man, for J. Golden was a 
literal "chip of the old block," and what 
more noble spirit has ever tabernacled 
in the flesh in these last days than that 
of Heber C. Kimball, the father of J. 
Golden? True as steel, strong as iron 



THE SOUTHERN STAB. 



428 



bands, was the faith and integrity of this 
noble man. He had no fear, only that 
which all God's children feel when they 
realize the power and might of the Crea- 
tor. He was a successful worker, and 
built an excellent superstructure upon the 
broad foundation laid by his predecessors. 
Unflinching in defense of truth, disinter- 
ested in his love for his brethren, yet firm, 
commanding and stern, not overbearing, 
officious or despotic, but a desire to have 
the Elders push their work, and make 
good use of their valuable time. When 
the time came for Elder J. Golden Kim- 
ball to return to his home and loved ones, 
the Mission stood in need of another just 
like he, and his worthy brother, Elias S., 
was chosen for the position. In him the 
Elders found a wise leader, conservative 
in his manner, dignified in his bearing, 
a gentleman in every sense of the word, 
yea, more, a man of God; and this con- 
stitutes the best, truest gentleman. The 
writer calls to mind the time when he 
first came to Chattanooga and met Pres- 
ident Kimball, who was then (March, 
1808) presiding over the Mission. His 
counsel was choice, his admonition 
timely, and his instruction invalu- 
able. Like his brother, J. Golden, 
he was a "pusher," to the full ex- 
tent of the letter, and the times, 
conditions and favorable opportu- 
nities required just such a man as 
he, at the helm. He was untiring 
in his ambition to have the Elders 
work energetically and zealously for 
the spread of truth. "Be neat, 
brethren, earnest and true," was 
the general trend of his wise coun- 
sel. 

In June 1&98, after a successful 
term of some four years' duration, 
Elder Elias S. Kimball bade fare- 
well to the Elders and Saints of 
the sunny south, and also to the 
many warm-hearted, true friends he 
had made during his successful ca- 
reer, and was succeeded by Elder 
Ben E. Rich, Whose picture, for 
the first time, appears in the Star. 
Each of the Mission Presidents 
have had their cuts in the Star, 
together with a memoir of their 
**ves and labors, and the editor 
deemed it best to introduce at the 
close of this volume a brief sketch 
of him who now pilots the affairs 
of this Mission with a keen, watch- 
ful, cautious eye. 

Elder Ben. E. Rich was born in Salt 
Lake City, Utah, Nov. 7, 1855. In the 
early part of 1880 he responded to a 
Mission call, and crossed the* Atlantic to 
the shores of England. Here he labored 
diligently for some twenty-six months, 
during which time he traversed the whole 
of the United Kingdom — England, Ire- 
land, Scotland and Wales, preaching in 
each of the British Isles. When released 
he scanned the records at Islington, Liv- 
erpool, England, and to his joy discov- 
ered that he was the last of his company 
to return. Soon after his return, now 
almost eighteen years ago, he engaged in 
public discussion with one Rev. Hartley, 
in the Ogden Tabernacle, Ogden City, 
Utah. About 20,000 of these public dis- 
cussion pamphlets have been circulated 
throughout the land. 

It was while canvassing in behalf of 
one of the Church magazines that Bro. 
Rich was inspired to write some simple, 
concise treatise on the Gospel, for the 
edification and enlightenment of the young 
people of Zion. "Mr. Durant, of Salt 
Lake, That Mormon," is the outgrowth 
of that inspiration, and it is perfectly 
safe to say that upwards of 35,000 of 
these books have been placed in the hands 



of the people of the «outh (this does not 
include the first edition of 10,000). The 
book itself is the best recommendation and 
witness of the simplicity and earnestness 
of its author. While it is simple, it is 
comprehensive of those fundamental prin- 
ciples of induction into the Church and 
Kingdom of God, and its style being con- 
versational and in a measure novelistic, 
at once interests the reader, and at the 
same time enlightens the mind to the 
convincing of the heart. 

Many years ago, one of Bro. Rich's 
tracts — "A Dialogue: True vs. False Re- 
ligion" — was used in this Mission with 
marked success, while the "Friendly Dis- 
cussion" tract, abridged from Mr. Durant, 
has been widely circulated, in almost ev- 
ery land and clime, whither the humble 
Elder has journeyed. Fully 3,000,000 of 
these tracts have been published during 
the last eight years. Last year the num- 
ber amounted to 700,000 in the American 
Missions and this year will loom up with 
equally as great a showing. This little 
tract, "Friendly Discussion," has been 
translated into the German and Scandi- 




BEX. E. HIGH, Prksidint Southern States Mission. 



navian languages, is used extensively in their 
all parts of Europe and our own Colum- 
bia, as well as in the islands of the Pa- 
cific. The same is also true of the book — 
"Mr. Durant" 

The writings of Bro. Rich have found 
appreciative readers in almost every part 
of the known globe, and his labors in the 
Mission have endeared him in ties of lov- 
ing affection to all his co-laborers and as- 
sociates. Since being in the south he 
saw the need of another tract, as a re- 
canvassing pamphlet, and he set himself 
to work to bring about the same. He 
sought and obtained an interview which 
was published in the Atlanta Constitu- 
tion, a paper with the largest circulation 
of any journal in the southern states. 
This interview is now published in tract 
form, and fills a place in the Mission field. 
About 219,Ov^ have been printed and the 
demand for this tract does not lessen by 
any means. 

About one year ago, a reverend gentle- 
man of Chattanooga attacked the Mormon 
faith as an imposture built upon a tissue 
of lies. President Rich replied in two 
vigorous open letters published in the 
Chattanooga News. The demand for 
these letters being so great, 10,000 of 
them have been published in pamphlet 



form, and they have been the means of 
doing much good by way of allaying pre- 
judice and opening the way for earnest 
investigation. 

We can see the fulfillment of Isaiah's 
prophetic word, when he spoke of the 
last days and the inauguration of "a mar- 
velous work and a wonder." Surely it 
has come to pass even here in the south- 
ern states. Noble, worthy, upright, hon- 
est, industrious leaders have ever been 
placed at the head ; men who dard to do 
the right, fear God, denounce evil and 
make no compromise with sin. Bro. Rich 
has traveled in three-fourths of the states 
of the union. From the rice fields of 
Florida to the balmy breezes of Maine, 
from the Atlantic to the Pacific. During 
the last two years he has traveled about 
70,000 miles, visited all the Elders sev- 
eral times, counseled, instructed and ad- 
monished them in the ways of the Lord. 
He is beloved by all who know him, af- 
fectionate, kind, fatherly and benevolent. 
The work will continue to grow, for the 
Lord blesses its interests with valiant 
energetic leaders, who labor for the ad- 
vancement of truth. 

This issue will, in all probabil- 
ity, complete the publication of 
the Star, and so we now have the 
history of the mission up to date 
of this number. It has had a won- 
derful record thus far, and we 
trust that the good work will con- 
tinue in its beneficent labor of sav- 
ing souls, and preaching the Gos- 
pel of Salvation. 

David H. Elton. 

A SHINING LIGHT. 

[Editorial] 
In speaking of the divine mis- 
sion of John, surnamed in the 
Holy Scriptures, the Baptist, Je- 
sus gave vent to this beautiful ex- 
pression : "He was a burning and 
a shining light; and ye were wil- 
ling for a season to rejoice in his 
light." (John 5:35.) Yes! it was 
true that John was a "burning and 
a shining light," and that for a 
time the Jews rejoiced in his light : 
but they soon dwindled away and 
refused to be his Disciples, since 
he bore testimony of Jesus, as, 
"The Lamb of God that taketh 
away the sins of the world." John 
laid the axe at the root of all 
traditions, foolish opinions, and 
absurd superstitions. He called them 
a "generation of vipers," and warned 
them to flee from the wrath to 
come. The shining light which led him 
on, and attended this humble Prophet, 
was only a faint glimmer of that glori- 
ous sunlight which burst forth when Je- 
sus trod the way of life, and raised His 
voice in defense of His Father's will. The 
mission and work of John was one of 
preparation. He was a "shining light,'' 
sent of God to make straight a highway 
in the desert, and cry, "Repent, for the 
Kingdom of Heaven is at hand!" He 
filled his mission with honor, and gave 
his life for the truth! Faithiul even unto 
death was this "shining light," and of 
him the Savior said, "Among them that 
are born of woman there hath not risen 
a greater than John the Baptist." 

Those who walked in that "shining 
light" were prepared to receive Jesus as 
the Christ to the glory of God the Father; 
but the haughty, stubborn willers who 
rejected John's testimony, and failed to 
receive his message, also persecuted and 
reviled the immaculate Son of God. The 
shining light was sent as a blessing and 
a guide to all, but only those who were 
willing to walk in the light were made 



424 



THE SOUTHERN STAB. 





REPORT OF MISSION CONFERENCES FOR WEEK ENDING NOV. 10, 1900. 




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the choice partakers of it, and the diso- 
bedient, wilful, perverse sinner remained 
in the dark as though the light had never 
shed its benignant ray. It did not profit 
the wayward, no matter how great or 
glorious the light might be, unless he 
humbled himself and in obedience strove 
to walk as it pointed out the way. When- 
ever a gift is presented unto man, or a 
privilege granted him, it becomes abso- 
lutely necessary for him to reach out, 
grasp and obtain, otherwise it will bene- 
fit ii.m nothing. Now the words of Jesus 
as pertains to John, might well be sup- 
plemented by His holy words to the 
Greeks, "Walk while ye have the light, 
lest darkness come upon you: for he that 
walketh in darkness, knoweth not whith- 
er he goeth. While ye have light, be- 
lieve in the light, that ye may be the 
children of the light." (John 12:35, 36.) 
If we will walk in the light that we have, 
according to the wisdom we possess, and 
the knowledge we have received, then 
as more light is given, so shall we be 
prepared to accept it. The Lord will in- 
crease our faith, as our ability to per- 
form present duty is adequate, and as 
our understanding enlargens, to compre- 
hend line upon line and precept upon pre- 
cept the wonderful works of God. 

The Lord does not require impossibili- 
ties at the hands of His children; He 
simply beseeches us to receive the light 
which He freely grants, and walk by 
faith according to its divine ray. The 
condemnation of the present generation 
is that light has come into the world, 
and men love darkness rather than light 
because their deeds are evil. All God*s 
servants are shining lights unto the peo- 
ple to whom they are sent. The children 
of men may choose to grope in darkness, 
and wallow in error, but still the light 
will shine, and whosoever will may be 
led by its irradiating gleam. It matters 
not how few accept, or how many re- 
ject, the light will shine on, and the few 
shall know whither they are journeying. 
Blessed are they who walk in the light, 
for, "If we walk in the light, as he is in 
the light, we have fellowship one with 
another, and the blood of Jesus Christ, 
His Son, cleanseth us from all sin." (I 
John 1:6.) The light is divine, its source 
is an eternal blaze, it will last forever. 
None can check its illuminous rays, for 
light is greater than darkness, and where 
light pervades darkness flees away, for 
the ligbt will prevail. No matter how 
gross or pitchy the darkness, procure a 
light, and keep it aglow, then will the 
mist and gloom vanish, while your path 
or course is made plain and clear before 
you. Jesus, the light of the world, will 
overthrow all the powers of darkness, 
and reign triumphant over every foe. 
Remember the words of the God of Ja- 
cob, "But unto you that fear my name 



shall the sun of righteousness arise with 
healing in His wings." 

A glorious day Is dawning; 

A day of peace and rest- 
That bright Millennial morning, 

When with the true and blest 
The faithful shall assemble 

With heavenly songs of mirth, 
The wicked fear and tremble 

When Christ returns to earth! 



NOTIFICATION. 



THE STAB WILL CLOSE. 

It is with feelings of profound regret 
that we are herewith compelled to an- 
nounce to our many kind patrons that 
this issue will not only mark the close 
of Vol. 2, but also witness the termina- 
tion and demise of our Southern weekly. 
We have labored incessantly for its con- 
tinuance as a Missionary, but existing 
conditions at the present time, and 
Church affairs generally, warrant us in 
concluding it best to cease its publication. 
We know, by the success that has at- 
tended our feeble efforts, that our little 
paper has supplied a long-felt need, and 
that its release from the journalistic 
arena, and the homes of the Saints and 
friends in the South, after a prosperous 
existence of over two years' duration, 
will cause much sorrow and regret; but 
still we are unable to continue its main- 
tenance, and the intent and purpose of 
this notice is to inform all our subscrib- 
ers that this issue will wind up the Star, 
and that the farewell requiem is even 
now being chanted upon the breezes of 
Time! 

When the Star was first published In 
the latter part of November, 1898, there 
were about five hundred Elders in the 
Southern States Mission; whereas at the 
present time there are only about three 
hundred. Each Elder in the Mission was 
a subscriber to the Star, as also his folk 
at home. Now to cut down the force 
t.vo hundred (approximately figuring) 
simply meant something like a decrease 
of four hundred subscribers, and this 
number comprises almost one-fifth of our 
entire mailing list. The number of El- 
ders in this Mission will not increase, 
but gradually diminish, and therefore we 
are forced to conclude, while we can do 
so with justice and honor to all con- 
cerned. Wisdom asserts the vital im- 
portance of this conclusion, and we heed 
her warning voice, for if the Star must 
die, and her end is inevitable, why let 
us see to it that she goes not to her rest- 
ing place, a poor, famished, impover- 
ished, indebted skeleton, but in robust- 
ness, vivacity and honor, free from debt, 
that she may justly merit a righteous 
and glorious resurrection. The divine 
truths she has conveyed will never die, 
and the memory of this Star will live 



forever in the minds of those who have 
chanced to read its inspired pages. 

We desire- that our subscribers who 
are in arrears will kindly liquidate their 
indebtedness at the earliest possible mo- 
ment, and if those who have paid for pa- 
pers after the close of this volume wish 
a refund of the amount due them we will 
gladly return the same upon application 
within sixty days. Bound volumes of 
the Star will be on hand for sale after 
the first of the year, and we will be 
pleased to furnish all with the same in 
a neat, substantial binding, ornamental 
to any library in the land, and worthy a 
place in every home. All communica- 
tions should be addressed to Box 103, 
Chattanooga, Tenn. 

We trust that all will understand why 
it becomes necessary to close the Star, 
and see, as we do, the wisdom and jus- 
tice of the same. Many homes have been 
brightened, and many hearts gladdened 
by the presence of this weekly messen- 
ger of truth and righteousness. Its irra- 
diating gleam will still shed a ray of 
light divine, and the holy principles of 
the everlasting Gospel for which it has 
vigorously contended, will yet prevail in 
every land and clime, when the earth 
shall be filled with the glory of God, and 
every knee bow before Christ the Lord. 
BEN E. RICH. 



Union Pacific Railroad. 

Another Portland train. Two trains 
daily. Effective April 22, the Union Pa- 
cific, Oregon Short Line and Chicago 
Railroad and Navigation company wul 
place in service an additional Portland 
train. 

This train* "The Pacific Express," will 
leave Kansas City 10:40 a. m. Only 
three days on the road. 

Equipped with Palace Sleepers. Free 
Reclining Chair Cars, ordinary Sleeping 
Car. Dining Car Service (to Granger). 

Tne time of the present Portland train, 
"The Overland Limited," leaving Kansas 
City 6:40 p. m., will be reduced 2 hours 
and 45 minutes between Granger and 
Portland. 

Only 69 hours Kansas City to Port- 
land. 

Palace Sleeping Cars, Dining Car Ser- 
vice, Buffet Cars, Chair Cars. 

For time tables, folders, illustrated 
books, pamphlets descriptive of the ter- 
ritory traversed, address J. F. Aglar, 
general agent, St. Louis, Mo. 

Some of Victor Hugo's thoughts, from 
"The Toilers of the Sea: 

Cowards are the only traitors. Treason 
is the church of hell. 

Men hate those to whom they have to 
lie. 

Conscience is the straight line, life is 
the whirlwind which creates above man's 
head either black chaos or the blue sky. 



/ 




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