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Show THE SEARCHLIGHT Spirit Brothers An illuminating address delivered at the Brigham Young University at Provo early in the month by Dr. Joseph F. Merrill, may shed some light on the curious behavior of certain Utah personages. The theme of the learned ecclesiast may also have furnished the Searchlight with hot clues relating to the spiritual ancestry of noted Utah citizens. In his Provo discourse the eminent retigionist said: ‘‘Satan is a real being, a spirit brother of yours and mine. He tempts us on our | weaker side.’’ that testimony is added to other When definite pronouncements of Dr. Merrill and to assurances of other equally famous teachers, that one-third of the Heavenly Host east its fot with Lucifer in the Celestial Rebellion, we begin to understand why the idea persists that every third guy we encounter is something of a devil. He may be a puny devil—an imp. But nevertheless that third guy must be of true Lueiferian blood. Quite naturally there must have been captains, colonels, and generals associated with Lueifer in the organization of his rebellious contingent. Some of them may have become the ultra-brilliant so-and-sos in modern life who manage financial, economic, and political Utah, and who delight in pushing the rest of us around. Unquestionably some of Satan’s aids must have entered Utah polities in the last decade. Maybe it is that element that put Utah into the saloon business. Manifestly, Satan’s aids inspired State Reorganization. That scheme has all the earmarks—vast promises; inadequate performance. And besides, the rumor will not down that the Satanic proportion of one-third is in evidence at the Statehouse. We wish Dr. Merrill had carried his discussion a step further. We have long had an idea that most of Utah’s predatory corporations had some undisclosed alliance with the Devil. (We were judging by their actions.) Maybe, after all, Lucifer thought it safer to incorporate so as to avold personal responsibility. Perhaps he actually did incorporate in Utah. The infallible Dr. Merrill should have ee given us further hgeht on that point. Z.C.M.1., particularly, has kept us guessing. We don’t know whether that institution belongs to the one-third or to the two-thirds. But, on the other hand, no one would want to identify Dick Madsen, Rube Clark, and Orval Adams as imps. All authentic portraits of imps show them to be streamlined and slender —eraceful creatures. And the trio referred to are fat guys, incapable of any tmpish purpose. ish. Even Bert Bowen is inelined to be stout- So is Harold Bennett. Doug Moffat must have been one of the angels on the two-thirds side. Perhaps he slipped inadvertently into the orbit of a predatory corporation. Whenever we see a picture of Doug we instinctively look for a halo just above his ears. True, we haven’t actually seen a halo there yet, but that may be due But the to our lack of spiritual eyesight. Deseret News has been able to detect one. Wild Willie? Well, we are on the fence about Willie. We?’ll have to confer with Doc Merrill before we express a definite opinion about Wild Willie. The two fellows in town who really have us stumped are Gus and Stan. It’s hard to place them. If Satan does manifest himself through Utah’s predatory corporations, undoubtedly he must have some back-stage hookup with the Chamber of Commerce and _ the But, again, Gus Manufacturers Association. and Stan may be only a couple of strays from the two-thirds side who yielded to temptation. We don’t know. Maybe His Excellency, who chums with Gus and Stan, may have some inkling. Ootherwise, we will have to ask Dr. Merrill. Last but not least, come Jube and Dr. Gadsby. Obviously they are carrying out a devilish Bond & Share policy. But possibly they are not to blame. Maybe they are working under the generals of Rector street. George and Jube may be mere hatchet men—more strays from the two-thirds group who succumbed to temptation. Who knows? Perhaps the eminent churchmen who sit on the same In the board with them ean enlighten us. meantime let us be charitable. |