purse and scrip, telling you that reason should supplant bigotry; love, mercy and charity replace mob violence, you remove your "righteous" apparel and show that "within ye are full of hypocrisy and iniquity. (Matt. 23: 28)." You see the influence gained under the guise of "pious Christian" to persuade a lot of boys to trample under foot the glorious Constitution, and disgrace the basic principle of Americanism-religious tolerance. Well might the Savior say to His followers, "Except your righteousness exceeds the righteousness of the Scribes and Pharisees, ye can in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven."

These religious bigots are in a similar condition to those addressed by Christ as recorded in Matt. 23: 23 and Luke 11:

42, "ye have omitted the weightier matters of the law, judgment, mercy and faith. Is it Christ-like to persecute those who differ with you?-the Great Teacher did not justify it; did He teach that mercy was to be extended only to those of our faith? No, He commands that enemies be forgiven. Would Christ be dealt with more leniently now than when he came 1,800 years ago? We have reasons for saying, no. If He were to come today and cry repentance to hide-bound Christians (?), telling them to prepare to enjoy peace on earth and have good will for all men, His superior wisdom would be recognized when His followers were told that when He came again He would come, not as the meek and lowly Nazarene, but with an army and "with power and great glory.'

It is an honor to the state of Tennessee that Mr. Mays' official career is preceded by X.

TWO PARALLEL CASES.

BY ELDER ARIEL F. CARDON. Written for The Star.

"TENNESSEE FOR CHRIST."

Catechism on Mormonism. Q. What do Mormons call themselves? A. Saints.

Q. What do they call other people? A. Gentiles.

A. Smith was slain by an outraged band of people at Carthage, Ill., because of his corruptions. Pratt was killed by a Mr. McLain, whose wife Pratt had abducted.

Q. Do Mormons believe in God? A. Yes, several of them.

Q. Do they believe in God the Father? A. They say they do. They say that Adam was God, who came to earth to live with Eve, one of his numerous wives, and that he violated his own law, and thus became a sinner.

Q. Do they believe in Jesus Christ? A. They say they do, but claim that the Virgin Mary was one of God's wives, and that Mary Magdalene and other women were wives of Jesus Christ.

Q. Do they believe in polygamy? A. Yes; it is the corner stone of their faith. Q. Do not the laws of our government A. They do. But forbid polygamy? laws cannot prohibit faith, they only profess to regulate practice.

Q. Do the Mormons practice polygamy? A. They do, in open defiance to the United States government.

Q. Ought we to receive Mormon Elders into our houses or listen to them preach? A. No. "If there come any unto you and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house, neither bid him God speed; for he that biddeth him Go speed is a partaker of his evil deeds." II John, 10-11.

Q. Is the Mormon Church wealthy? A. Very.

Q. Do they support their missionaries? A. They do not. They expect us, whom they call Gentiles, to support them. Q. Are not these Mormon Elders, then, tramps, mendicants and beggars? They are.

A.

dead, but the Roman soldiers, who are honorable men, say that the disciples of this man came by night and stole away the body. They were caught in the act of doing so, but succeeded in escaping. Q. After Christ, who was the next greatest founder of Christianity? A. Simon Peter.

Q. What became of Christ and Peter? A. Christ was nailed to a tree by a company of scribes and Pharisees, who were righteously indignant because of his great blasphemies. Peter was also nailed to a cross, with his head downward, because of his corruption.

Q. Do Saints believe in God? A. Yes, several of them. They believe in Jesus Christ as being a God, also God, the Father, and God, the Holy Ghost. Christ once said in our hearing, “Is it not written in your law, said, ye are Gods? If he called them Gods, unto whom the Word of God came, and the Scriptures cannot be broken, say ye of him, whom the Father hath sanctified, and sent into the world, Thou blasphemist; because I said, I am the Son of God?"

Q. Do they believe in our God, the Father? A. They say they do. They say He was the Father of Jesus Christ.

Q. Do they believe in Jesus Christ? A. They claim He is a God, yet we saw Him associating with wine-bibbers, adulterers, sinners, publicans, and was often seen with women at Bethany.

Q. Ought we to receive their Elders and Apostles into our houses or lister to them preach? A. No!

Q. Why? A. Because our leaders say not to.

Q. But does not Solomon say that he that judges a matter before he hears it, to him it is folly and on him should rest shame? A. Yes, but

Q. Are these "Saints" wealthy? A. Very. They have all things in common, and as a result they prosper exceedingly.

Q. Perhaps the Lord blesses them? A. Oh, no! The Lord cannot be with them. Q. Do they support their missionaries? A. They do not. They expect us, whom they call Gentiles, to support them. They

of the Latter Day Saints."

Q. Do they believe the Bible to be the Word of God? A. Some of it.

Q. Do they believe any other book to be the Word of God? A. Yes, several. "The Book of Mormon," "Doctrines and Covenants," and several others.

Q. By whom do they claim this Book of Mormon was written? A. By Joseph Smith.

Q. Who was Joseph Smith? A. They claim that he was a Prophet.

Q. Was he a good man? A. He was not.

Catechism on Christ.

Q. What do Christians call themselves? A. Saints.

Q. Do they believe the law to be the Word of God? A. They claim parts are not translated correctly.

Q. Do they believe any other book to be the Word of God? A. Yes, several. The Gospels of St. Matthew, St. Mark and St. John, the epistles of Paul and many other works.

Q. By whom do they claim these books to have been written? A. They claim them to be inspired of Jesus Christ.

Q. Who was the next greatest founder of Mormon theology? A. Parley P. Pratt.

borhood.

Adopted by the Palestine Anti-Christian State Board.

Demetrius, the silversmith, cor. sec., Jerusalem.

The former catechism was received here from Nashville; the latter was probably written in Jerusalem (?). As is usual with anything of that kind, it afforded much merriment to think that such deep ignorance should emanate from a Christianized (?) assembly.

Of course there are errors in it. When they say we claim the Book of Mormon to be written by Joseph Smith, they state that which is not true. We claim Joseph Smith was merely an inspired translator of plates which eleven witnesses, whose testimony never was, nor can be, impeached, bore solemn record they saw and handled. Can that be said of any of the original manuscripts of the Bible?

The supposition that the Prophet Joseph was a bad man is like the ideas of a criminal brought before the court on a charge of murder. He was convicted

and sentenced to be hung. Because the judge passed the sentence the guilty wretch charged him with cruelty. This is a parallel case with the position our enemies hold.

Brigham Young was the leader to succeed Joseph Smith. Parley P. Pratt was prominent in church affairs, but was not killed because of his abduction of another man's wife.

We claim the right to have our own thoughts and opinions upon different matters. Until we are proven wrong we will hold tenaciously to them. Let the erudites of the Baptist State Board is sue impartial exposition of our advanced views of certain things, prove them beyond a doubt to be false, and we will submit to the truth.

Polygamy, of course, is mentioned. It would be impossible for a religious body to meet together, or an author to write, concerning the question of Mormonism, without stirring that up. No doubt the Pharisees of the days of Christ would have hurled that charge into the teeth of His disciples only from simple reasons; they were toto close to the time their great father Abraham practiced it, and again they were too fond of the practice themselves, not the principle. The latter reason, however, would not have influenced them much. This much to their honor, they revered the names of their worthy ancestors. The actions of the present would-be followers of the Nazarene, who was a lienal descendant of noted polygamists, would not admit of such praise.

Polygamy is not practiced in open defiance of the United States government, the Baptist State Board to the contrary notwithstanding. It is not the corner stone of Mormonism. Can the churches of the world say that concerning their contribution box?

"THE MYSTERIOUS PREACHER."

(Continued from page 296.)

And thus he went on keeping the audience in a continual titter for about one hour and a half while he portrayed the various crimes in society as being just the thing they ought to do. At the ex piration of this time he stepped forward. threw his hands down by his side and exclaimed, "Get behind me, Satan."

Every countenance was immediately changed and breathless silence reigned. He then began rebuking these actions in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, and called upon everyone to repent and turn unto the true and living God, or damnation would be theirs.

One evening, at a meeting composed mostly of his followers, the features of Mr. Edge turned purple. No sooner had all quieted down to their seats that he sprang to his feet and severely reprimanded them for the course they were taking; "For," said he, "you have not only been planning and plotting among yourselves to deceive me, but you have brought with you legions of devils. Why, I can see them all through the house." On another occasion, after Mr. Edge had returned from holding meeting at the court house in Lexington, three of his young followers were out in the yard severely criticising the course pursued by their new preacher. One in particular thought it was the height of folly for a man in these days to pretened to be While they were just inspired of God. in the heat of their vilification Mr. Edge came out of the house, which was about one hundred and fifty yards away, and yard. The boys saw him, ceased their very calmly walked down towards the

abuse and turned towards the house.

drawn by Mr. Edge while in this locality. ine one that more particularly attracted my attention was a beautiful arch drawn upon the front of a large Bible, owned by Mr. Sireneous Reed. Directly up the center of this arch were very neatly placed seven steps, on the foot of which

was written, beginning at the bottom, the following words:

Virtue, Knowledge, Temperance, Patience, Godliness, Brotherly Kindness and Charity.

Just beneath the bow of the arch was

placed the figure of a young man who had just climbed this narraw stairway. kneeling upon the top step, receiving a magnificent crown from the hands of an

angel.

In the early part of July, Mr. Edge kindly informed his followers that he would soon depart on his Father's business. Before leaving, however, he de sired all those whom he au blessed to go with him throug.. a fast of three days. In calling...s brethren and sisters together he told them the fast he desired them to pass through was similar to that observed in ancient days by the Apostle Paul.

e gave as his reasons for this task the cleansing and purifying of the system, the preparatory step to a greater labor, to test their worthiness to enter God's kingdom; and lastly, if they would honestly and faithfuly go through this fast, it would enable them to taste that spirit that would hereafter through obedience, bring them forth in the first resurrection.

As the greater part of his followers lived on the banks o. the beech River, near the mouth of Haley's Creek, this fasting. These three days were spent in place was selected for the purpose of the Lord. Once a day they were allowe singing, and praying, and rejoicing in

and see whose building will quake.

Why should not Mormons be received into your homes? That injunction of John's does not warrant their exclusion. How do you know they are not bringing Christ's doctrines to your homes if you do not first investigate their claims? If, after proving all and holding to that which is good, it is found we do not possess the Gospel, then deny us ingress to your homes. But first exercise love and charity, fulfill your duty by calling us to repentance, and then your hands will be free of our blood.

In the future if our enemies would attack us by the force of reason their headway would probably be much greater among the learned; at present it is among the ignorant, whose passions are easily swayed to violence. It now looks like the latter is what they are striving for. To state something is very easy, but when one undertakes to prove it, it is much different. If we would publish such trash as that catechism for our young people in Utah we would expect the wrath of God to break over our

heads.

But, to the contrary, we busy ourselves teaching them the Gospel of love and letting them find out the faults of others by actual contact.

We could resent, with as much propriety, the invasion of our homes by other denominations of the world, as they do us among them. We could mob them and we could murder them, but if we did so we would be breaking the commandments of God and would be on the road to destruction. But then, we have the Gospel and know enough to do different.

about him, and said:

"Young man, you will not do; my spirit has been listening to your cowardly slandering !"

The boys, knowing that they were too far from the house to be overheard, grew somewhat astonished when Mr. Edge told the young man every sentence, word for word, that he had uttered.

Mr. Edge came to the residence of a widow lady by the name of Telitha Cumi Reed, one day, about twelve o'clock, took off his hat, set aside his cane and amused himself by reading while the lady prepared refreshments. After they sat down to the table, Mrs. Reed turned and asked Mr. Edge to return thanks, when she saw a bright light encircling his head, which made a strange feeling pass over her; however, she sat perfectly quiet. After grace the light passed

away.

While upon this subject I will relate a few out of the many cases of healing that were effected by the imposition of hands during Mr. Edge's stay among them: This same lady, Mrs. Reed, had been bowed down with rheumatics for several years. On learning that this hands for the healing of the sick, she strange preacher taught the laying on of believed he was a servant of God and sent for him. Without detailing how marvelously this lady recovered we will say that two years later her walk was as free and easy as though rheumatics had never racked her frame.

The wife of James Reed, who was then said to be in the last stages of consumption, was almost instantly healed through the imposition of Mr. Edge's hands in the name of Jesus Christ.

There were several beautiful sketches

Some were only able to fight the pangs of hunger one day, while others held out until the evening of the second day; but only seventeen out of the sixty odd who began the fast were able to say on the evening of the third day, "I have truthfully kept the fast."

It may seem strange, although nevertheless a fact, that everyone of those who kept not the fast turned to be his bitterest enemeies.

It is not neccessary for me to explain to him who has battled against popular sentiment that, though the acts of this little band were as pure as the falling drops of rain, many of the most glaring falsehoods were circulated about them.

In those who had followed him through these ordeals Mr. Edge seemed to have implicit confidence. Hence, he began teaching the more advanced principles of eternal life, such as building places of worship, erecting temples to the Most High, and to prepare for the grand millenial day of rest, when Christ will reign a thousand years on earth. In this connection he told his followers that this continent, the land of the free, the home of the brave and the asylum of the opwho reigns on high for the building of pressed, is the place designated by Him that beautiful city, the new Jerusalem; aye, and more: that the day would come when these United States would be dotted with temples, one of which would be built in Henderson county, Tennessee.

Soon after their fast he called them together and pronounced upon each couple the ceremony of marriage, and gave them to understand that if another opportunity was not afforded them, this would hold throughout time and all eternity. He also gave them some few tokens that they

might know when they entered a temple controlled by the servants of God.

At another time, when admonishing them, he quoted Rev. ii, 17. "To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the hidden manna, and will give him a white stone, and in the stone a new name is written, which no man knoweth save he that receiveth it."

The story, ere this, had been circulated that Mr. Edge was a Mormon preacher, in this county for the purpose of leading silly women astray. The name of 21 Mormon had a peculiar jingle in the ears of his followers, hence, they flew to their preacher, Edge, at once for the truthfulness of this story. He neither affirmed nor denied their queries; but regarding polygamy he said:

"If God shall give a man one wife she shall be his; and if it so pleaeses Him to give the same man two, three, or even more, they also will be his."

Dear reader, to save wearying you, we will only relate one instance where Mr. Edge was miraculously delivered from the hands of a ruthless mob, among many smilar cases that occurred while he was in the county. The last time the pleasant countenance of Robert Edge was seen by his beloved followers he stayed at the residenece of E. R. Reed, some seven miles north of Haley's Creek.

At supper he gave Mr. Reed and family to understand his intentions were to remain among them some three weeks longer in order to more thoroughly organize and instruct them in the Gospel truths.

About eleven o'clock that night Mr. Reed was aroused from his slumbers by Robert Edge gathering up his small bundle, Bible and cane. Mr. Reed inquired what was wrong. Mr. Edge replied:

"There will be a mob here shortly, and I must depart."

At this Mr. Reed sprang from his bed, saddled his animals, and he and Mr. Edge mounted them and departed down through the woods in the direction of Alabama.

Although Mr. Reed was familiar with the roads for miles away, Mr. Edge led their course through the woodlands in the darkening hours of night.

Soon Mr. Edge dismounted from his horse and told Mr. Reed he had gone far enough. Then taking his bundle, Bible and cane, he bade Mr. Reed farewell.

We will return to Mrs. Reed, who was left with the little ones, anticipating a mob every moment.

This was the first thing to attract the attention of the followers of Mr. Edge towards the Latter Day Saints, and being desirous to learn more about this peculiar people they addressed a letter of inquiry to the county clerek of Salt Lake county. D. Bockholt, being clerk at that time, at once sent them the "Voice of Warning" and several copies of the Desert Neews, with advice to address President John Morgan at Rome. Georgia.

After reading the "Voice of Warning," and being favorably impressed with the doctrines contained therein, they addressed a letter to President Morgan, informing him that one of our preachers visited them a few yeears previous and laid his hands upon their heads for the receeption of the Holy Ghost, but did not baptize them. Hence, they were very

desirous to have an Elder sent there to perform this ordinance.

President Morgan at once forwarded the letter to President Franklin Spencer at Shady Grove, Hickman county, Tennessee, who was then presiding over the Tennessee Conference, at the same time writing to these people in county, informing them that there was a branch of the Church on Cane Creek, Lewis county, Tennessee.

On receiving this intelligence four of them mounted their horses and rode about sixty miles before they reached Cane Creek; but finding no Elders there they returned.

previous. As we knew nothing of Mr. Edge we sat and listened very attentively to his long story. He spoke about Mr. Edge being inspired of God, about his peculiar manner of going and coming from meeting, of his being hunted down by mobs, of their fasting three days, and more particularly about the lumbering noise he heard about the time Mr. Edge came among them.

On the evening of the 21st we arrived at Sireneous Reed's. He received us kindly and sent out for a number of his brethren; and, you may be assured, we had a good old-time chat that evening.

On the 15th day of June we obtained the following statement, which was signed by two of them: "Lexington, Henderson County, Tenn., "June 15, 1880. "Historical Sketch of How We Became Acquainted With the Doctrine of Christ.

"In May, 1878, a man by the name of Robert Edge came to this neighborhood preaching the Gospel after the Apostolic

order.

the

At the time this epistle came from President Morgan there were laboring in the Conferenece, President Franklin Spencer, George H. Carver, Lorenzo Hunsaker and myself. Brother Carver and myself were seleceted to visit West Tennessee. This left President Spencer and Brother Hunsaker each to travel alone. However, before starting Presi dent Spencer and I visited Cane Creek, at the same time sending a letter to West Tennessee.

"Then calling on all to come out of Babylon who were willing to forsake man-made institutions and follow Christ, and assist in rolling forth the purposes of God, and prepare for the great millennium, which will soon be ushered in. Then will Christ reign personally upon the earth.

They arrived at Cane Creek late in the afternoon. That evening and the following day were spent in conversing with these two gentlemen upon the principles of the Gospel, who Mr. Edge was, how he taught the falling away and restoration of the Gospel, the necessity of building temples, the name that one would receive who should remain faithful after passing through the temples, etc.

This little band of Mr. Edge's follow ers, according to his instructions, met together often, talked to each other and sang praises to God. They frequently referred to the sayings of Mr. Edge. where he told them that if they remained faithful, and followed the dictations of the good spirit, that other preachers would visit them and lead their footsteps to the main body of the Church.

During the winter of 1880 there appeared in the New York Sun an interview with President John Taylor by O. J. Hollister, in which the officeres of the Church were named and many of its doctrines spoken of.

"What hindereth us from putting on the whole armor of God that we might withstand the fierey darts of the adversary?" Hence they were baptized and returned home rejoicing.

On the 13th day of May, 1880, Brother George H. Carver and myself started on our trip to Hendereson county, Tennessee.

Not until we arrived within about thirty miles of Lexington did we hear much about this peculiar preacher.

On the night of the 20th we stayed with 'Squire Long, a very intelligent gentleman, who began telling us about that wonderful preacher, Robert Edge. who came in their midst some two years

der, by the laying on of hands and blessing us. He admonished us to be faithful and pray to God always; and that the Lord would reveal many great and important things that we should understand.

"He requested us to fast for three days in succession, after which he administered the Lord's supper, informing us that we were not the only ones, 'but that there were many more in the United States.' He evaded giving any further information; only if persecution caused us to leave we should go west.

(To be continued.)

Salt Lake Tribune (Special).

San Francisco, Aug. 11.-When orders were read to the Utah batteries at retreat today a communication to Maj. Grant from Minister A. E. Buck of the United States legation at Tokio was published. In his letters Mr. Buck commends the conduct of the Utah troops during their sojourn in Japan in the highest terms. In conclusion he says that he has made a report to the secretary of war embodying the same sentiment.

We view the world with our own eyes each of us, and we make from within the world which we see. A weary heart gets no gladness out of sunshine; a selfish man is sceptical about friendship; and a man with no ear does not care about music.-Thackery.