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Show -THE UTAH EVANGELIST.- <br><br> IMPRESSIONS OF THE EAST. <br> I had a very pleasant trip, and enjoyed the meetings of the General Assembly very much. Meeting with such a body of men, hearing them discuss subjects, and transact business pertaining to the interest of the church at large, impressed me more forcibly than at any time before, with the fact that there is in Christianity not only the form of godliness, but also the power thereof; and that Christianity is not on the decrease, but is rapidly increasing, and further, that the ministry of the Christian Church is not what it is represented to be by the Mormon priesthood. <br> In meeting with people, on the way to and from the Assembly, I found more interest on the Mormon Question than I had expected; and from what I heard and observed, I can truly say, that the Christian people in the East are not the enemies of the Mormons, in the sense in which they are generally thus called by the priesthood. When I speak of Christian people in this connection, I do not mean all people who are not Mormons, nor do I mean all who profess to be Christians. I mean those whose lives and conversation bear witness that they are Christians in Spirit and in Truth, whatever church they may belong to. <br> I am glad to believe that this class of people never did persecute the Mormons, though there are multitudes of them; nor do they entertain in the least degree any intention to do so. <br> While they can not regard the Mormon Church as a Christian Church, nor Mormonism as Christianity, they would like, and do, as far as possible, regard the majority of its members as honest and sincere, and as such who are prompted in all their actions by religious motives, and as such who in all their movements, have an eye single to the glory which they expect to obtain in the presence of God hereafter; but, nevertheless, deluded and self-deceived who will fail to find in Mormonism that truth which will give lasting peace of conscience, and make them free; and that ground upon which they can only rest reconciled to God in the day of Judgment. From this regard, they put in operation in Utah such agencies of the church as God has ordained, and always blessed as instrumentalities in the salvation of souls. They realize that these agencies have not operated in Utah in vain, but that many souls have been brought through them into a saved condition, and many more very near the Kingdom. <br> By these facts they are much encouraged and more ready and willing to sustain and strengthen the work, and promote its progress as fast as expedient. They are not only watching with deep interest the success of its workers, but they are earnestly and unceasingly praying for them. <br> The Christian people, East, do not, as is supposed by some, delight in malicious, slanderous, and untruthful reports, or sensational stories about Utah and the Mormons. What they want, and need, is truthful and intelligent statements of the plain facts respecting the redeeming work, in which they are interested, more than anything else. <br> While they are thus interested, and ready to do all they can as a church, they do* look to the Government for such legislation and administration, as will control in Utah, as in other Territories and States, those who are regardless of Law, and the rights of their neighbors, and bring them to Justice. <br> From what I have seen of the people in the East at large, I certainly cannot say that all the evils of the United States are centered in Utah, neither can I say that the Mormons are the worst people; but I must say, that if the Priesthood of the Mormon Church opposed evils in the same degree as the Christian Ministry, we would not see in Utah what we see to-day of that kind. Again, if the authorities of the Mormon people took the interest in benevolent and charitable work that Christian people do, more institutions of that kind would be noticed here. And they are certainly needed here as much as anywhere else. <br> But, however, let it once for all be understood, and no more be said, when institutions of intemperance and ill-fame and other demoralizing agencies grow up among the people of Utah, that the Christians are imposing such things upon them. Any one, and everybody, whose conscience is in the least awakened and enlightened by the words of truth and reason, knows, that whosoever may sustain and patronize such things, professors of religion or not, saints or sinners, he is not and cannot be true follower of Christ, and therefore not a Christian, nor one whom the Christian Church can own as such. <br> It cannot be said that all people who are not Mormons are Christians, any more than it can be said that all people who are not Christians are Mormons. Whenever this assertion is made it betrays gross ignorance. <br> C. W. BLOHM. <br><br> PROGRAMME FOR PRESBYTERIAN <br> TEACHER'S CONVENTION, <br> TO BE HELD AT SPRINGVILLE, UTAH, <br> AUGUST 20-22, 1884. <br> Leader … Rev. G. W. Martin. <br> Critic … Rev. P. D. Stoops. <br> Musical Director … Rev. C. M. Parks. <br> WEDNESDAY, AUG. 20, 7:30 P. M. <br> Address of welcome … Miss Tillie A. Wray. <br> Response … Miss Van Wormer. <br> Alternate … Miss S. A. Brown. <br> Lecture,-The Dignity of Teaching, <br> Prof. Wm. Boyle. <br> Reading of minutes of last meeting and election of officers. <br> THURSDAY, AUG. 21. <br> Day School Work, 8:30 A. M.* <br> Devotional exercises, one half hour led by T. F. Day. <br> How to conduct the opening exercises of the Day School, Miss J. A. Olmstead, Miss Fannie Galbraith. <br> Discussion.* <br> The Bible in the Day School, Rev. E. N. Murphy, Mrs. A. E. Blackburn. <br> Discussion.* <br> Recitation on Reading,… Miss S. G. Morton. <br> Teaching of morals in Day School, Rev. S. L. Gillespie, Miss S. C. Ray. <br> Discussion.* <br> Critic's Report. <br> THURSDAY, 2 P. M. <br> Music. <br> Class Drill in outlines of Theology, one hour, by … Dr. R. G. McNiece. <br> Alternate … Rev. G. W. Martin. <br> Music. <br> Grammar, Miss Anna Noble, Miss L. B. Work. <br> Discussion.* <br> Penmanship, Mrs. Wm. Boyle. <br> Discussion.* <br> Question Drawer, in charge of Leader. <br> Critic's Report. <br> FRIDAY, AUG. 22. <br> Sunday School Work, 8:30 A. M.* <br> Devotional exercises, one half hour, led by Rev. A. B. Cort. <br> Relation of the Day School to Sunday School and Church, Rev. J. A. L. Smith, Miss Eliza Hartford. <br> Discussion.* <br> Lessons supplementary to the International Series; What, and How? Rev. E. M. Knox, Miss Flora Campbell. <br> Recitation … Miss L. Lockwood. <br> How far are Day School methods (of study and recitation) applicable to Sunday School work, Miss A. Woodruff, Miss C. C. Decker. <br> Critic's Report. <br> P. M. 2-5. <br> Music. <br> Class Drill in Theology, Dr. R. G. McNiece. <br> Music. <br> Words from the "Wise men" (and women) "from the East," Prof. J. M. Coyner, Miss E. Munger, et al. <br> Question Drawer, <br> Critic's Report, <br> Miscellaneous Business. <br> It will be remembered that a programme for this year's Convention was read and approved at the last meeting. This programme was lost, making it necessary to prepare another. <br> As two members of the committee were absent from the territory, the remaining members invited the co-operation of others in this work. The resulting programme embodies as much of the old as could be remembered. <br> The above programme is respectfully submitted, subject to the approval of the convention. <br> Per order Committee. <br><br><br> * words are italicized, as are the phrases "Day School Work, 8:30 A. M" and "Sunday School Work, 8:30 A. M." <br><br> |
