| 237 In Herald for August 15, President Joseph Smith made the following comment regarding the closing of houses of worship against others:
We are informed that an elder of the church under President John Taylor, of Utah, in reporting his labors, states that the use of a church, or meeting-house, owned and controlled by the "Josephites" was refused him sometime during the last winter or spring. We hope sincerely that this is not true.
Our opinion from the start has been that our houses of worship should be open, under proper circumstances, to all; and especially to those with whom we were particularly antagonistic. We have ever acted upon this principle, and always advised the church to do so. That sort of conservatism that sits in a manger neither eating the hay, nor suffering the ox to eat it, we have little sympathy with. Nor have we much more sympathy with that principle of controversy that asks to be heard, but refuses to hear. We can not consistently complain that others, including the Utah church, close the doors against us and will not permit us to speak in their houses, if we do so to them; for by refusing to give them the use of our houses to preach in, we virtually say to them, "This is the way we wish you to do to us." So far as we are concerned, we are not ready to say that to any one.
Our ministry are abroad, and in Utah, asking the people to hear them; can we afford to turn the key of their houses against our brethren by locking their ministers out of our houses; we say no. Let us be consistent if we be "fanatical."
We believe that the truth we bear will not be hurt by the occasional showing up that we get from others; and this is conspicuously so, to our mind, in reference to the efforts against us, by the Utah system. We control a meeting-house at Plano, and wish our Utah religionists to know, that if they come, we shall hear them if they will talk to us.
Commencing August 20, a debate was held in Red River County, Texas, between Elder A. J. Cato and a Christian minister. It was reported to have resulted favorably to the Saints.
The semiannual conference for 1878 convened at Galland's Grove, Iowa, September 7, Presidents Joseph Smith and W. W. Blair presiding; Elder Henry A. Stebbins, secretary, with T. W. Smith and Eli T. Dobson his assistants. Reports from missionaries in the field and from local authorities were quite general and encouraging.
President Joseph Smith, chairman of the committee previously appointed on affairs in Canada, made a lengthy report on the conditions existing there, recommending that
(page 237) |
