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Show A FALSE VIEWPOINT. A gentleman Is In Salt Lake from ZIon City, Illinois, the place established estab-lished by John Alexander Dowle, otherwise other-wise known as the Elijah of the present pres-ent time. The gentleman who appears here is a commercial representative of one of the Industries of the ZIonltes He proudly states that Zlon City is free from nil sorts of vice: that tho rellglous-com-njercial enterprises of F.Jljuh, or Mr. Dowlc, as he may be called In mere earthly parlance, arc immensely successful: suc-cessful: Incidentally he makes comparison com-parison between Brigham Younjf and Dowle; although the real similarity, if any, is between Joseph Smith, founder of the Mormon faith and founder of Nauvoo, and Mr. Dowle. In that particular phase of It we have no acute Interest at this time. The visitor from Dowlc's ZIon raises a point concerning civic morality that has been discussed by countless philosophers, philos-ophers, reformers, lawmakers and religionists. re-ligionists. When a new sect, under some supposed inspired leadership, like that of D,owle, rises in the world; nnd when It gathers unto Itself many zealots, zeal-ots, consecrate to the principles of tho faith as announced by the leader, their Idea Is generally to get Into a compact body by themselves, where they can rule all the political, commercial and other Institutions of their immediate , vicinage, x-or a time this is successful; thero is no present temptation for others to enter their selected domain. And for a time, too, their boast of moral superiority has an apparent basis of fact. But Is this vaunting of extraordinary virtue founded upon anything more than vaingloriousness7 Let us sec: Select any one of the churches, Methodist, Metho-dist, Baptist, Presbyterian, for instancecall in-stancecall it Methodist, as that happened hap-pened to bo the first name mentioned In this writing. Suppose that, for reasons of their own, fifty thousand Methodists should move to a tract of land in Kansas Kan-sas or Texas; should choose to throw all of their possessions into a common store, under the direction of some bishop of their church who was their leader. Now, mark what would follow: As they would be all Methodists, they would naturally have a common religion; re-ligion; they Avould be industrious and law abiding; they would be virtuous and sober; they would be thrifty and charitable. So long as that community of Methodists existed In that singular position It would show all the virtues which ZIon City clalibs for itself. The question may be asked: Why do not Methodists do this sort of thing? And why do not other sects do this sort of thing, if the results seem so perfect? First, because if that were the plan pursued, the world would soon be in chaos and warfare. Secondly, because it is not necessary to adopt this plan that a virtuous man shall be virtuous; In order that -a temperate man shall continue to be sober: in order that a thrifty and charitable man shall continue con-tinue to be both. He is so already. Going lo Dowie's Zlon does not necessarily neces-sarily make ,a man who possesses none of tHese mmlltlpH "ImmiHn tK- tyt nr.a sessor of them .all. Dowie's ZIon scheme, like the saving projects of all the evangelical churches, gathers some men and makes them better. But Dowie's ZIon scheme is no more singular singu-lar In this aspect of Its work than is any other uplifting effort for human creatures a singularity. One can sec, at a glance how hollow is all the pretension of Dowlelsm and kindred culls. They assume the power to reveal from on high; they gather believers be-lievers into a place set apart for believers be-lievers only. And because the vices of the world do not enter there, they claim a superior holiness; when the fact Is that the same number of good people scattered throughout the cities and on the farms of the world, lead Just as good lives. .The greatest place for the righteous work of an unselfish church is in the midst of the' struggling, . hurrying, tempting world; where weak men might yield; where weak women might fall; but where the church's strong arm can sustain these frail ones across tho tottering bridge of their temptation into a safety, which is all the more to be commended because It is available at the point of danger. As all men are the children of God, the way for the better to uplift the less good Is for those who are endowed by the strength of the Spirit to make mighty battle where evil lurks; to make war for cleanliness, for civic righteousness, righteous-ness, for good lawB to govern all, and for honest liberty for all mankind. And measured by such standards, Dowlelsm Is a selfish and self-righteous scheme for financial aggrandizement and personal valnglorlousness. |