Sir:--I confess my disappointment at the contents of your note in reply to mine of this date. In the far East it is impossible to distinguish the local relations between yourself and those papers which advocate the interests of your Church; and when the copy of the "Telegraph" containing the article of the 3rd of May last, reached Washington, the only construction put upon it by my friends was that it was a challenge to me to come to your city and discuss the Bible doctrine of polygamy. Had I chosen to put a different construction on that article, and to take no further notice of it, you could then have adopted the "Telegraph" as your organ and the said article as a challenge, which I either could not or dared not accept. That I am justified in this construction is clear from the following facts: 1. The article in the "Telegraph," of May 3rd, contains these expressions, alluding to my sermon as reported in the N. Y. "Herald," it says: "The discourse was a lengthened argument to prove that the Bible does not sustain polygamy. * * * * * * * * The sermon should have been delivered in the New Tabernacle in this city, with ten thousand Mormons to listen to it, and then Elder Orson Pratt, or some prominent Mormon, should have had a hearing on the other side and the people been allowed to decide. * * * * * Dr. Newman, by his very sermon, recognizes the religious element of the question. * * * * Let us have a fair contest of peaceful argument and let the best side win. * * * We will publish their notices in the "Telegraph," report their discourses as far as possible, use every influence in our power, if any is needed, to secure them the biggest halls and crowded congregations, and we are satisfied that every opportunity will be given them to conduct a campaign. We base this last remark on a statement made last Sunday week in the Tabernacle by President Geo. A. Smith, that the public halls throughout the Territory have been and would be open to clergymen of other denominations coming to Utah to preach. * * * Come on and convert them by the peaceful influences of the Bible instead of using the means now proposed. Convince them by reason and Scriptural argument and no Cullom Bill will be required."