1899-03-27-New York Sun-A Plea For The Mormons

New York Sun, March 27, 1899, p. 3

A Plea for the Mormons.

The Brooklyn Philosophers Listen to Elder John M. Calderwood.

Elder John M. Calderwood of Coalville, Utah, addressed the Brooklyn Philosophical Association yesterday afternoon on "The Relationship of Mormonism to Christianity." He declared that the Mormon Church was the legitimate successor of the church founded by Christ. He said:

"We alone of contemporary churches believe in and have the same organization that existed in the primitive church, namely, apostles, prophets, pastors, teachers and evangelists. We alone believe in the gift of tongues, prophecy, revelation, visions and healing. We believe in being subject to kings, presidents, rulers and magistrates, in obeying honoring and sustaining the law.

"The Mormons, I declare before God and men, do not preach polygamy. President Woodruff's manifesto in 1890 promised that, and when the Mormons make a promise they keep it. God countenanced our polygamy before that time, and God commanded it to stop. If the good people who have been exercised over the election of Mr. Roberts to Congress have proofs that he has contracted any plural marriage since 1890 they can take him before the tribunals of his State as a violator of the law. In Utah it was not till the advent of the unbelievers that we had the social evil to deal with."

In the discussion which followed James O'Neil, a Manhattan lawyer and a member of the Liberal Club, said:

"We must all admit that there is a great deal of good in Mormonism. The Mormon at home is industrious, and, according to our standard, in all respects except one, exceptionally moral. There are no beggars and no prostitutes in their streets. There is no 'social evil,' that worst of all ulcers on our present alleged Christian social system."