| 110 vividly portrays the prophetic statements, denouncing the coldness and apathy of the Christian church throughout the world, at the present day. Arguing from appearances, he draws his deductions from Scripture that the end of the present dispensation is close at hand. In his views there is nothing of a speculative character, the foundation of his belief being based upon the orthodox teaching contained in Scripture. Polygamy is not a doctrine of his section of the church, but is severely denounced as impolitic and unscriptural.
We have had two additions to our list of religions, lately, viz.: the Latter Day Saints and the Unitarians. The former is represented by an elderly and sincere-looking gentleman named Rodger, who can be heard on Sunday at Mr. Fryar's room, opposite the goods shed. I had a long conversation with him the other day, although there is no fear of his converting me to his theological views, I was rather taken up with him. . . . Mr. Rodger told me that his church does not believe in nor practice polygamy, and is not to be confounded with Brigham Young's order. The former gentleman is a minister of the original church of Saints, over whom the son of Joseph Smith is at present president. The great aim of this body is to found a community, in which all the virtues-and, if possible, none of the vices-of modern society shall flourish. To accomplish this, they have established settlements in Iowa and Missouri, where they teach and practice the doctrines of their faith.-The Saints' Herald, vol. 22, pp. 598, 599.
In the World's Crisis, for July, 1875, appeared a lengthy article from the pen of Elder William Sheldon, of the "Second Advent Church," entitled "Mormonism; or was Joseph Smith a Divinely Inspired Prophet?" This was quite an exhaustive and ingenious attack on the doctrine and text-books of the church. It was replied to by Elder W. W. Blair, of the First Presidency, and published in the Herald. Afterwards it was published in book form, and is yet on sale by the Herald Publishing House, under the title of, "Joseph the Seer; His Prophetic Mission Vindicated and the Divine Origin of the Book of Mormon Defended and Maintained." This is a valuable work.
August 10, 1875, Elder Hervey Green, a veteran who had passed through the troubles of Missouri, Illinois, and the dark days of apostasy, and who was in the active ministry as a representative of the Reorganization, died at the residence of John Nightingale, in San Joaquin County, California.
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