Protest Against Apostle Reed Smoot
At the recent Presbyterian General Assembly in Los Angeles, the Woman’s Board of Home Missions gave expression to its sentiments on the subject of Mormonism, in the following resolutions:— Whereas, Our permanence as a government of free people rests in the absolute separation of church and state, and,— Whereas, The Mormon Church at its last annual conference voted to sustain the first presidency and the apostolate as prophets, seers, and revelators, which apostolate claims “the right and authority” to dominate all governments, therefore,— Resolved, That we, as a body of Christian women in convention assembled, solemnly protest against the retention in the Senate of the United States of the Apostle Reed Smoot of the Mormon Church, who has sworn allegiance to this higher authority, teaching the divinity of polygamy and the ultimate overthrow of all other earthly government. We trust the Woman’s Board of Home Missions will not overlook the fact that the separation of church and state in this country is menaced by other religious bodies than the Mormons, and that the danger is greatest from that church which can bring the most powerful influence to bear upon lawmaking bodies to force them to accede to its demands.