Evangelical Missionary Societies Issue a Warning.
A JOINT statement has been issued by the secretaries of ten of the evangelical missionary societies of America, calling the attention of the members of the Christian denominations to the rapid growth of Mormonism. It is in part as follows: “The undersigned, representatives of missionary societies of Christian denominations in the United States, beg leave most earnestly to call the attention of the Christian public to the position, work, and menace of Mormonism in our country. We are moved to this statement by the vitality which the Mormon system has shown—not only in western states and territories, but generally throughout the country. We are persuaded that Christian people have no adequate conception of the vitality, nor of the methods—seductive and often successful—by which the hateful system is being pressed upon the public attention. “Whatever modifications public sentiment or governmental action may have forced upon the Mormon attitude and Mormon practices, it has not essentially changed its character since the days of Joseph Smith and Brigham Young. Its priestly oligarchy threatens free government, its grasping priestcraft invades property rights; its varied vices are destructive of good morals, while its pagan doctrines and practices are antagonistic to the Gospel of Christ. The ambition of Mormons, which they do not even conceal, is to secure control of State after State, until, by means of the balance of power, they may make national legislation against Mormonism impossible. Toward this end they are moving by an organization as compact and skillfully devised for its purpose as any that ever engaged the activities of man. Their approaches to people are made the more seductive because their appeal affects to be based upon commonly accepted Bible truths. Only after entrance has been gained, and the door has been closed against retreat, is the awful system gradually unveiled to its converts. We urge upon the pastors and teachers to unveil to their people and scholars this system, so seductive and dangerous to all the best interests of every community and of our country. We urge upon the public press the duty of educating the public conscience by unsparingly giving the facts of the nature and the work of Mormonism, and we appeal to Christian and patriotic people everywhere to resist wherever it appears a system hostile at once to our free institutions and our Christian faith.”—Public Opinion.