‘Mormonism’s’ Message to the World

" 'MormonismV Message to the World" Concluded from page 894. At Chattanooga, Term., a special conference was held on May 29, 1916. The Daily Times of May 30 published an extended report of the proceedings, embodying the following: An audience that completely filled the assembly rooms at the "Mormon" Mission house, in this city, gathered on Monday evening on the occasion of a special convention of the Tennessee conference. Chattanooga is the headquarters of the Southern States Mission, which embraces ten states and comprises a membership of over twenty thousand souls. The mission house is at 711 Fairview avenue and is in charge of President Charles A. Callis, who, with his family, has made it his home during his presidency, which has already extended through more than a decade. The mission is particularly interested at present in the visit of Dr. James E. Talmage, of Salt Lake City, who is one of the general authorities of the "Mormon" Church, he being a member of the council of apostles. Aside from his high official position in the Church and his reputation as an author of several large works on theoloical subjects, Dr. Talmage is a man of recognized standing in the scientific world. For many years he served the University of Utah as its president and professor of geology, and he holds the distinction of life fellowship in many learned societies, among which are the geological societies of England and America, the Philosophical Society of Great Britain, and the Royal Society of Edinburgh. He is ***** a graduate of Lehigh University, and has received the honorary decorate of that institution. President Callis and Dr. Talmage reached Chattanooga yesterday after a tour of official visitation to several conferences in the Southern States Mission. Both speak with great satisfaction of the steady and stable growth of the liberality and hospitality with which their missionaries are received throughout this region. The two gentlemen have recently addressed large assemblies in Greenville, S. C, where they dedicated a new brick church, in Atlanta, Ga., in Douglas, Ga., where a large country conference has just been held, and in Jacksonville, Fla. "The Southern people," said President Callis, "realize that "Mormon" missionary service is a labor of love. Our elders, as well as the missionary sisters, are sent out without salary; they bear their own expenses; no admission fees are charged at any of our meetings, and no collections are taken up. The missionaries serve for indefinite and varied terms, but the usual period of individual service is from two to three years. We have already built several fine churches in this mission, and others are in course of construction and in prospect." Dr. Talmage's address last night was entitled " 'Mormonism's' Message to the World". In the eloquent simpicity of plain statement and forceful diction he summarized the distinguishing features of "Mormonism". He said in part:

" 'MORMONISM'S' MESSAGE TO THE WORLD" 991 " 'Mormonism' is the embodiment of the Gospel of Jesus Christ as taught by the Master and His apostles in ancient times. hold We that Jesus\ Christ is the one and only Redeemer of mankind and Savior of the race, and that to this divine mission of supreme import He was called and ordained in the councils of heaven before the beginning of human history. 'Mormonism' accepts literally the scriptural record of the Savior's life and ministry in the flesh, and proclaims His eternal godship. " 'Mormonism' affirms the free agency of man, the divine birthright to which the human race is heir, and that, having the right to elect or reject, man is held individually accountable for his acts. We do not believe that any man but Adam shall be punished for Adam's transgression. The fall of man was forseen, and in divine plan provision was made for ameliorating the; results thereof, and fcr turning seeming evil into actual and eternal good. That provision was the atonement wrought by Jesus Christ, whereby redemption from death is assured, and salvation is provided for all who will comply with the prescribed terms of obediene to the laws and ordinances of the Gospel. The evident operation of the law of heredity is admitted; but we hold that whatever disadvantage may come to man through inherited tendencies, whatever handicap he may be placed under, shall all be taken into just consideration in the summing up of his life's account. Dr. James E. Talmage, of the Council of the Twelve Apostles, with C. A. Callis, President Southern States Mission, on the right, and traveling elders and missionary sisters,present at the dedication of the Greenville, S. C, church, May 21, 1916: Front row, left to right: Streeter Wallace, G. L. Hart, H. P. Workman, Dr. James E. Talmage, President Chas. A. Callis, Sister Grace E. Callis, Sister Eph. Larson, Eph. Larson. Second row: J. H. Leavitt, President Jno. J. Sarbach, Sister Ivey Enckson, R. C. Carter, R. A. Nash, Sister Clara Peterson, G. A. Thorup, L. L. Culhmore, W. L. Sagers (North Carolina conference). Third row: A. Jarvis, Sister Pearl Hamilton, C. O. Hamilton (Georgia conference), M. G. Larscn, C. R. Thorne, W. Hurst, L. A. Green and M. D. Perry (North Carolina conference). Fourth row: Willard Smith, H. E. McNiell, Glen G. Smith, G. A. Dewsnup (North Carolina conference).

992 IMPROVEMENT ERA " 'M.ormonism' aftirms the principle of liberty in worship, but goes not to the extreme of saying that any religious system is as good as any other, or that divers churches with antagonistic creeds can each or all together be the Church of Christ. The authority of lie holy priesthood, which is after the order of the Son of t God, is an indispensable investiture of the Church of Jesus Christ, and this authority, we aver, is now operative upon the earth, it having been restored by direct dispensation from the heavens, following the long night of the great apostasy. That there would be a general falling away from the faith was predicted by the apostles of old, and it is made plain that this defection had begun during the apostolic period. A restoration of power and authority from God, a new dispensation of the Gospe' became essential to the re-establishment of the Church. " 'Mormonism' declares to the world that the current age is the period of the last days spoken of in the scripture, constituting the dispensation of the fulness of times; and that in these times has been realized the vision-prophecy of John the Revelator, relating to the angel of the last days who should come to earth, bringing the everlasting Gospel to preach to all nations. ***** "The true name of the restored church is the Church of Jesus Christ of Later-day Saints. We are called "Mormons", but the appelation is a misnomer, and came into use through popular interest in the Book of Mormon, which is a scriptural volume containing the secular and religious history of the aboriginal peoplesi who dwelt upon the western continent, and of whom the American Indians are the degenerate posterity. The Book of Mormon in no sense substitutes the Holy Bible in our estimation, but it stands before the world as an independent record. "A proclamation of the greatest import, embodied in the message of 'Mormonism'* to the world, is that relating to the second advent of the Christ. 'Mormonism' teaches that the great event, which shall be known as the consummation of the ages, is very near at hand. The conditions specified by the Savior as signs of the imminence of his coming are rapidly maturing. The great world war now in progress is one of the most portentous. It was forseen and foretold. The mission of the Church is to teach the doctrine of preparedness, that the earth and its people may be ready to receive the King of kings, who shall come to inaugurate the millennial reign of peace." In its issue of May 31 the Chattanooga Nezvs printed the following: Dr. James E. Talmage, of Salt Lake City, former president of the University of Utah and now one of the general authorities of the "Mormon" Church, was the principal sneaker at the convent on : of the officers and members of the East Tennessee district of the Church, held Monday in the chapel at mission headquarters. During the last two weeks, accompanied by President Charles A. Callis of the Southern States Mission, the church dignitary has been attending and delivering sermons at conventions held in Greenville, S. C. Jacksonville, Fla., Douglas and Atlanta, Ga., and Chattanooga, Tenn. At Greenville, S. C, Dr. Talmage dedicated a handsome brick church. Before the noted lecturer and author left for Kansas City a \ r eivs reporter secured an interview with him. "What is the situation of your people in Mexico?" was the first question, to which ">r. I Talmage replied as follows: "When the president of the United States wisely advised the

"'MORMONISM'S' MESSAGE TO THE WORLD" 993 Americans residing in Mexico to leave that unhappy country for the purpose of escaping the perils of the fierce revolutionary warfare raging there, the First Presidency of the 'Mormon' Church counseled the members who had settled in Mexico to follow- the President's counsel. In every case, where it was possible, the members of the Church came across the border, leaving millions of dollar's worth of property, represented in houses, farms, horses and cattle. When peace seemed about to smile upon that revolution-rent country a number of the 'Mormon' settlers returned to their homes. The majority of them, however, are farming and building new homes in the border states." When asked concerning the much discussed cooperative mercantile system in Utah, Dr. Talmage said: "In 1868, President Brigham Young, the noted pioneer, colonizer and leader, organized Zion's Cooperative Mercantile Institution, the regulation of trade for the benefit of the people of Utah being the chief purpose of its organization. Non-'Mormons' are among its stockholders. At that time the merchandise was brought into the desert colony by caravans of 'prairie schooners' and it was sold as fast as it could be put out. To protect the people against exhorbitant prices the big mercantile institution was established. Scattered over the state and owned by the people, irrespective of creed, there are more than a hundred similar though smaller organizations." " 'Mormonism' ", said the distinguished churchman, "lives and thrives because within it are the elements of thrift and the forces of life. It embraces a boundless liberality of belief and practice. True toleration is one of its essential features. It makes love for mankind second only to love for Deity. Its creed provides for the protection of all men in their rights of worship according to the dictates of conscience. It contemplates a millennium of peace, when every man shall love his neighbor and respect his neighbor's opinion — as he regards himself and his own a day when the voice of the people shall be in unison with the voice of God. The philosophy of 'Mormonism' rests on the literal acceptance of a living, personal God, and the unreserved compliance with his law as from the time revealed." Elder Talmage next visited the Central States Mission, and in company with President Samuel O. Bennion, held meetings at Independence, Mo., on June 1, and at St. Louis, Mo., on Sunday June 4. The good effects of the devoted and efficient labors of President Bennion were abundantly manifest. I know this, that the Latter-day Saints, as a people, will have to give more attention to the cause of international arbitration than they have done, if they want to prepare themselves and the world for the coming of the Lord. According to the Doctrine and Covenants (Sec. 105:39), it is the mission of the Church to "lift up an ensign of peace, and make a proclamation of peace unto the ends of the earth;" and when the New Jerusalem is established it will be "a land of peace, a city of refuge, a place of safety;" in fact, a place of gathering for all nations (Sec. 45:66-69). It is a great question whether we realize fully the great mission our Lord and Savior lias given His people in this age, before His coming. — J. M. Sjort.wir..