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Show I PnlblUtNT SMITH DEUCES FOLLIES I of the my Salt Lake, Oct. 7 In closing the semi-annual conference of the Mormon Mor-mon church yesterday afternoon, Pres ldent Joseph F Smith delivered a vigorous denunciation of the follies of the day, which, he said, were gaining gain-ing a foothold among some members of his flock. He referred particularly particu-larly to feminine fashions, some of which, he declared, were the most Iniquitous and despicable that ever disgraced the human form. With evident wrath and indignation indigna-tion he addressed his closing remarks re-marks to the Mormon women, some of whom, he said, had been turned nway from the Tabernacle because of the disgraceful styles In which they had bedecked themselves. He said: "We have had to turn them away from the house of God because wo cannot sanction such ungodly modes of dress. I am not scolding now; I am delivering a solemn warning. Let the women take heed. There Is significance In what I say. Some of the siBtore who are supposed to be teachers In the church, far from setting the proper example to the young, have set the opposite example exam-ple and have encouraged the breaking break-ing of the word of wisdom and the defilement of themselves with disgraceful dis-graceful fashions of dress We can give the names of those to whom we refer If they are wanted. Chides and Blesses. The church leader was brief in his denunciation, devoting most of his parting address to blessings upon his people and kindly admonitions that they keep the faith and live in righteousness. I The usual unanimous confirmation of the church officers, as read to the congregation from the stand. was the feature of the closing session Ten thousand right hands were raised and lowered as one when Apostle Heber J. Grant read aloud the names of the various groups of officers to be sustained. sus-tained. Calls for a sign to the con-trary con-trary went unanswered All the present heads of the church, from the first presidency down to the general gen-eral hoards that direct the numerous branches of the church associations, v. ere sustained without exception. A remarkable feature of the conference confer-ence which closed yesterday was the absence of any declaration of church policy along any line. No word of politics ppssed the lips of the speakers speak-ers There was no mention of prohibition pro-hibition or any other of the issues on which the church leaders were wont in the past to express themselves. them-selves. Doctrinal addresses and sermons ser-mons exhorting the people to righteousness right-eousness and faithfulness were the rule without exception Would Tesch Religion. Speaking at the afternoon session on the need of keeping the young generation gen-eration true to the faith, Joseph W. Mi Murrln of the first seven presidents presi-dents of the seventies declared that iluro Is iruch bring taught in the public Rchools toda? that is contrary to the Mormon religion, and that efforts ef-forts should be put forth to counteract counter-act such Influence He said he believed be-lieved that religious teaching shou'ul be made a part of the curriculum of the schools and that all denominations denomina-tions should have an equal right to rear their children in faithfulnees through the medium of the publh schools. He quoted from the Literu-r Literu-r Digest to show that most of the Christian churches of the country are in favor of such a movement. He advocated the extension of religious reli-gious class work to supply this need for the young generation of Mor-o, Mor-o, raons J. Golden Kimball also of the first seven presidents of the seventies, de-f de-f clared that of the 10 90S seventies In the church about 4000 are in need of being saved themselves, owing to their inattention to their duties and their carelessness to the high mis slon to w hic-h they have been called. Attendance is Large. The attendance at the meeting yesterday yes-terday was about 9000 at each session. ses-sion. At the morning session the speakers were Brlgham H Roberts. Seymour B. Young and Apostle James E Talmage. Pr Talmage spoke of the modern tendency on the part of men to evade responsibility for their own evil deeds and declared It was Inconsistent to blame God for the follies of men or the existence of ev 11. saying in part "There Is a strong tendency to rele-',utf rele-',utf God to the background in the thlngB of the world, and this kindles the wrath of God. "Some say that God Is responsible for all the evil In the world, but the soul revolts against such a theology Inasmuch as there Is dishonesty and the spirit of murder abroad in the world. It is nonsense to say that God Is responsible for them. They are only the acts of man resulting from the free agency of his will to choose his own course of conduct" Elder Roberts spoke briefly of the plan of salvation and of the great program pro-gram of creation and the mighty governing gov-erning and controlling wisdom of God He expressed the belief that wherever the work of disintegration and destruction de-struction was going on In the world It but marked the band of God making Way for something better than that which was before Results of the War. The forces of war, he said, will be brought to bear to destroy some nations na-tions and upbuild others more tit to survive. He expressed the hope that now that the great war has started it will continue until justice ann freedom shall triumph, In order that humanity shall not have suffered in vain Elder Young talked of the circumstances circum-stances surrounding the birth ol iirlst and how the Bigns of the times indicated mat things were again shaping shap-ing themselvew toward a second redemption re-demption of the world The afternoon session was opened by the singing of the hymn, "iNow Let t's Rejoice." Elder Samuel E Wooley delivered the benediction The speakers were J. Golden Kimball, Ruion s Wells. Charles H, Han. J M. McMurrm, all of the first seven president of the seventies, and President Pres-ident Joseph F Smith. Charles H. Hart talked of the pow or of arbitration to avort war. He extolled the policy of the present gov. eminent of this nation to submit all things to arbitration and to work to ward treaties with other nations that will Insure arbitration before war. He cited the history of the arbitration arbitra-tion movement and Ita growth from the earliest centuries down to the present, und predicted that eventually eventual-ly It would entlrels tal- the place ol war In the dealings of the nations with one another. Predict Dawning. This war is but the foreruuner of a better peace, but the hour or darkness before the dawn." be said Elder Hart advocated the universal univer-sal extension of woman suffrage, saying say-ing that when women wield an equal ower with men In the affaire of the world wars will be forever relegated to the past lu bin parting remarks. President Joseph Smith said. In part: "In theie days of war I ;m remind ed that we, too, are engaged In warfare, war-fare, battling on the side of the Lord against the powers of ein and dark nesfi. Our first enemy is in our selves, thi. eiu niy that would have us doubt our God and follow not bia precepts. Let us overcome this ;ir ti enemv first before wo turn our energies ener-gies to other evils. Let live In Htrlct obedience to the principles Ol life and salvation Duty to the World w hen e have conquered the evil within ourselves, then let us wai with all our might and main against false teachings, unbeliel error, falsehood and that so called Bclence that would destroy the foundation of our faith and our gospel by setting up that there Is no God, that man is not of divine origin and that there Is QO in. beyond this. Let us war against tliee ungodly theories and against all things that would dim the glory of Christ's gospel and hinder the oming of 1 lis kingdom "Let us war against covetousness. against vanity and against all the petty tendencies of man which hinder hin-der his growth and his exaltation. Remember that c;od is the mightiest warrior of all and that he will finally final-ly triumph over all powers tliat seek to thwart Ills will. Nothing will win 1 IHssi sHI but truth. Peace must be built on truth, for the world will never have peace until wo have drunk at the great fountain of eternal truth as God has revealed it " Then canie the denunciation of mod-erp mod-erp fashions and the follies to which, he said, women allow themselves to be carried In their vanity and their love of worldlinesa, The conference olosed with th' ast congregation singing the doxology Hyruin G. Smith, the presiding pa triarch. delivered the benediction A meeting of churjeh patriarchs wat yffi SIS ilSf SfiSii held in the Bishop's building att'-r H the adjournmont of conference. This H morning at 10 o'clock there will be J a meeting of all who hold the priest-hood priest-hood In the Assembly hall. Presl-den) Presl-den) Smith, In announcing the meet- ! ing. said that none but those wno H beer the priesthood will be admitted Authorities Sustained. Following are the general Church leaders who were sustained by unant- jf mou8 vote of the conference: President-- Joseph F SmiOi lfl (Continued on Page T) H PRESIDENT SMITH DEUCES FOLLIES : OF THE DAY (Continued from Page 3) Counselors Anthon H. Lund and j Charles W. Penrose. President of the council of the twelve apostles Francis M. Lyman. Members of the council of the twelve apostles Francis M. Lyman, ( Heber J. Grant Rudger Clawson, Reed Smoot, Hyrum M. Smith, George Albert Smith. George F. Richards, Orson F. Whitney, David O McKay,' Al thony W. Ivins, Joseph F. Smith! Jr . and James E Talmage. First seven presidents of seven-tiee seven-tiee Seymour B. Young. Brigham H.' Roberts, Jonathan G. Kimball. Rulon S. Wells. Joseph W. MoMurrin Charles H Hart and Levi Edgar Young. Presiding patriarch Hyrum G I Smith. J Presiding bishopric Charles w Xlbley. bishop, Orrin P. Miller and David A. Smith, counselors. Church historian Anthon H. Lund Assistant historians Andrew Jen-son. Jen-son. Brigham H. Roberts, Joseph F Smith, Jr., and A. William Lund General church board of education Joseph F. Smith, Willard Young Anthon H. Lund, George H. Brimhall, Rudger Clawson, Charles W Pen rose. Horace H. Cu ram lngs, Orson F. Whitney and Francis M. Lyman, with Arthur Winter as secretary. Having been closed during conference, confer-ence, the temples of the Mormon church will be opened for regular work on the following datee: Salt Ivake, October 7; Logan, October Octo-ber 8, St. George, October 12; Maatl, October 12. General stake and locaj officers of the Young Ladies' Mutual Improvement Improve-ment association of the Mormon church will meet this morning at 10 o'clock in the Eighteenth ward chapel, corner of Second avenue and A street. Reports of renerai officers will be read and regular business transacted. |