The state rights democrat. [volume] (Albany, Linn County, Oregon) 1865-1900, 1880-06-11
ruE SENIOR AposrLG.
sketch Of JSisn Taylor. ihe Head 81 the
Twelve Apostles Of the Nor
fit0n Church.

John Taylor, senior apostle OF llIe'
Mormon Church, and By virtue there
Of President Of the quorum OF twelve
apostles, now occupies noiDinally the
same position Brigham Young did
for three years after Joseph Smiths
death. IIe Is not "Presidcnt OF the
Church." as might be Inferred from
former statements, but merely pre-
siding member OF the twelve, IN
whom the Government Is for the
present invested. While this posi-.
tion nominalIy confers very little
more power than that OF any other
apostle, yet ia practice an ambitious
man might make himself virtual di-
rector OF the Mormon people. This
IL what Brigham did within n year
after Joe Smiths death, having ex
cluded oil OF Smiths brothers and In
tinintes from AIRY share I'm the Gov
ernmeni, but IL WAS not TIL late in
1897 that Brigham was, by a foil
vote Of the Church, chosen 10 all the
honors aud titles Of the dead prophet.
II Taylor has the ability, he may by
degrees, centre all power in himself,
and follow the example Of Brigham /;
but IL Is not so bc understood that he
Is Ho,c the successor. This action Of
the Church doe, however, settle the
case rs against the sons of Brigham.
Neither OF them will succeed.
john Taylor Ia a native of Canada,
OF pure English blood, and now at
least G3 years Of age, but very vigor-
Gus and wcli-prcservcd He was
among the early nvcrl=, aud. with
his wife, Leon.'ra, passed through
most OF the tribulaiiohs Of lie church.
When Joseph and Hyrum were ar
rested Tor destroying the E.rposiioy
Office In Nanyoo, Taylor and William
Richards, another apostle went with
them 10 Jail at Cdrthagc. When the
mob fired into tire room, Taylor sood
at the door knocking down the guns
with his cane, and in the Contest was
shot with four balls When Hyrum
Smith fell dead, Joseph lcaped from
the window. but was shot in the at
tempt md fell 10 the ontside. At
this the mob ran around the building,
and IN tho melee Richards carried
Taylor to another room and covered
him with bed-cioihcs, expecting him
SELF Co b. killed. But the death uf
the Smiths satisfied the mob: Rich
ards escaped unhurt and Taylor re-
covered after II long Illness. lie still
carries two balls In his body, another
pa-sed entirely through him, aud the
fiurln struck an olI "buIis-eye"
watch in hfs vest pockei, stopping the
hssu's- at J:lG r. 81, which H. marked
l,y tine Saints as the "Solemn hour"
that X. 0f the prophets death.
tx lnr uficrward became very sue
c'',-fai as u missionary, and Is the
srf.aiihicsi nf the nit.-llea. lie L.
however, l'rs'iE,hiy the hig,erest enc
my OF the United States IN tho whole
quorum. ia most of the discussions
with The Gentle world hc has ton
ductcl The constitutional and legal
lines. of the Mormon defence. lie
had three p0lygarnous wives many
years ngo, but hislegal wife. Leonora,
died in 1869. The laws passed by
the Utah Legislature have mostly
been put in shape by him, "a he has
some legal talent, and - writer he
Is second only ia Orsnn Pratt. Ills
abilities are OF q totally different or
der from. Brigham's, i'.lt, all things
considered, he Is probably the best
man the aiormOns could select &c they
ever choose a success )r.