OPEN COLUMN

New Zealand Times, Volume LXXI, Issue 4298, 6 March 1901, Page 3

OPEN COLUMN

A MORMON “MIRACLE.”

Referring to a humorous anecdote, printed in our Supplement or Saturday' last, referring to an alleged “ miracle ” performed by Joseph Smith, with tho assistance of ono D. K. Rice, -Mr J. E. -Magloby, a Mormon cider now in Now Zealand, writes a long letter, in which he maintains that the allocations arc unjust to Joseph Smith and the Mormons. These people, ho says, are not fools, and as to- the story of the miracle, he adds:—Vvliat an absurdity, to say nothing of-the slur to D. E. Ilioc, tho aged and much-honoured gentleman now living in Honolulu, whom Joseph Smith, never was intimate with, nor did ho ever live among the people of Nauvoo when the Mormons did, hence there is a mistake somewhere, and Mr D. E. Rico has been dealt unjustly with by associating him with such an unfounded tale. Just who is to blame for beginning tho story wo *annot toll, but those who rejoice in it before knowing of its truth are not showing a brotherly spirit. Joseph Smith never tried to establish faith in the hearts of the people by working “miracles,” to say nothing of such an absurd affair as walking upon a “ platform placed under muddy water.” He, however, did much in aiding the poor, helping the needy, healing the sick, casting out devils, and comforting the distressed. England, has contributed more people to the following of “ Morrnonism” than any other nation under tho sun, unless perhaps the United States. Hence it is crediting tho nation with having many “ credulous ” people. _ Over 100,000 of the Latter Day Saints have crossed the Atlantic, leaving good old England because they loved their faith more than home and country. Though falsely, it is, nevertheless, intimated that “ Mormouism ” fiourish.es best among the ignorant; but the fact of the matter is that the Anglo-Saxon races are those out of whom the “Mormons” have so far come, and that out of the highest orthodox churches, Protestants in particular. There are in the Mormon following today abou,t 500,000. Tho church sends out over 1000 missionaries every year, mostly young men, who go into the world, as the apostles of old, without price, bearing their own expenses. Now, it is funny that some of these or tho 500,000 do not find out the fraud of the “Rank Impostor,” if such he was. Probably tho people do not know Joseph Smith was murdered in cold blood 57 years ago, and that tho Church has grown to number overTiix times as many as it did wizen he was alive. By baptism they are adding of foreigners from 5000 to 10,000 yearly, to say nothing of their internal increase, despite the hardships and persecutions they have ever endured. Go to their homes in Utah, Idaho, Arizona and adjacent States, see what they have accomplished through their unity, notwithstanding they came there under extreme poverty, having been driven from their homes seven different times by mob violence. Read what tho country was when they settled it, then see what it is now, and I am sure all will join in saying, “Truly they have brought pools upon the parched soil and made the desert to blossom as th« rose.” SABBATH, SUNDAY AND BRITISHISJ!.ABLITISH IDENTITY. In the “Times” of tho 28th we have (writes Mr R. G. Knight) a protest from tho Rev J. Kennedy Elliott against the wanton desecration of the Siuibath as planned, sanctioned and carried out under the personal superintendence of the Premier. Mr Elliott, surely, is not ignorant of the fact that Sunday is tho first day of the week, not the seventh, tho Sabbath of the Lord our God. The Old Testament tells us to keep holy the seventh day. The New Testament tells v,s that Jesus the Christ kept holy the seventh day; it also tolls us that after His death, His disciples joined in the temple worship on tho Sabbath, and met together on the first day of the week to remember tho Lord’s death and attend to financial affairs by putting by as God had blessed them of their abundance for His work and the relief of the necessities of the Saints. History tolls us the seventh day was observed till 300 years after Christ, when Constantine decreed the first day of tho week should he kept holy, to please the heathen population of his kingdom, who had been accustomed to worship tho Sun-God on Sunday. Since then tho Christian Church has observed Sunday on some man’s suggestion that as Christ rose from the dead on the first day of tho week, that should be onr holy day. God did not say so. If He did, will Mr Elliott let us know where it is to bo found in the Scriptures. Mr Elliott must remember the lion R. J- Seddon is Premier of the Seventh Day Adventists (I am not one) and tho Jews, as well as of the Presbyterians, and ho is as likely to be dictated to with regard to his conduct by the Presbyterian moderators as Henry the L.ehth of England was by the Pope of Rome. I trust the outcome of Mr Elliott’s zeal will be that his ardent nature will he led into unstudied channels of thought on subjects that are deserving and demanding attention, one beinw the Israelitish origin of the British nation, and that we arc the people wdip pertain to the promises of national greatness made to Abraham and his seed; and God-honouring duties, one of which is to honour tho day of ; His choice, not the one of man’s choice. Our Factory Act closing the factories on the afternoon of the seventh day is the insertion .of the thin end. of the wedge to thd setting apart of the whole ! da- for holiday or holy day. . For myt- self, I would Tike- to : see Saturday the , seventh day, God’s chosen holy day, • and for Sunday to he holiday, or day of rejoicing or fellowship. The identity of the° British nation with the lost tribes of the house of Israel is becoming i clearer year by year. 1 believe another

quarter of a century will find King David. Edward tho Seventh’s grandson, on the throne of British Israel, united a vain with the Jews of the tribe of Judah. The nations paving been purged tjv wars, yo'.t• fence, famine and the Battle of A.i mugeddon, we shall come forth a pure and holy nation, anxious to love tho Lord cur Cod with all our In,arts; the toil of man_ reduced by machinery, thorns and thistles blighted off the renewed earth, and the greed or man <rivc place to kindly consideration for each other. Alan shall love his brother in spirit and m truth.