Show MIXING RELIGION AND POLITICS rev bev dr peck has been visiting and preaching in utah he has gune to the coast and is advocating the missionary interests of the methodist church he is represented by the liberal 12 organ here as advising that the liberal faction shall not divide as republicans and democrats but present an undivided front to the mormon church the probabilities are that dr peck did not say anything of the kind because it is customary for the liberal organ to put words into mens mouths that they never uttered and to manufacture for prominent persons sentiments they do not entertain but be that as it may the point we direct attention to is all the same if a prominent mormon takes any part in politics or gives anything that can be construed as advice in political matters it is claimed that this shows a union of church and state and the mormon church is at once called upon to take its hand from the throat of the people but the same carping objectors never fail to invoke the aid of maini ministers of any of the churches to bolster up their political schemes and purposes if a regularly appointed and paid priest or preacher of any denomination will work however prominently as a part izan on the liberal ll side his course is lauded to the skies and his utterances are repeated for all ail and a great deal more than they are worth but if a mormon J who occasionally casio nally sets acts as a minister uses any influence whatever in political matters matte priestly dictation to is the immediate cry and mormonism is denounced as an enemy to freedom dr peck may mayor or may not have given aid and comfort to the liberal faction by using timing his influence against republicanism and democracy in utah but it would be more modest and wise if visitors for forty eight hours in this city were to employ their time in gaining information instead or imparting immature advice about its local affairs and it would be more consistent if objectors to mormon intermingling with politics polities would refrain from trying to mix up methodist and baptist and presbyterian and episcopalian influence with liberalism and political projects |