The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1884-02-10

Gentile's part, doss not have its ro<
in religious antsgonism. It ia on
side OF doctrine or dogma. It spring
from political, though not necessariI
party. Jealousy. 1t is strife for
THE MAsTERsHIP OF UTAH,
and it is marked by an intensity @
bitterness without parallel in an,
other section.
The two institutions of Mormon
dom which are the subjects OF severes
criticism, are their secret courts, o.
councils, and their system of polyg
amy.
The first ia that which anti Nor
mons assert to be complete system
OF government, through which the
rights. duties, interests and affairs Of
the Mormon population are defined,
imposed. conserved and regulated,
secretly and through priestly inter,
vension and control, to the detriment
and danger OF the community. It ls
charged that these councils make up
a government within the government,
an imperium in imperio, and 80 are
not merely institutions disrespeotful
to the legally-constituted authorities.
but schools OF treason and q menace
to the State.
The Mormon answer TO this critic
ism ia that these councils are simply
oonciliatcTy c0urts. for the arbitra>
ton of matters arising between breth-
rem of the same faith, voluntarily re-
sorted to by thoss involved in dis
putes, and whose awards must be vol
unfairly scquiesceh In or remain
without effect. The Mormon theory
Ia that the bulk of differences which
result in widespread quarrels, fire.
quently involving entire communi-
ties, may readily be composed and
adjusted it taken in hand at their be-
ginning and bsfore the passions OF
the disputants become seriously ex-
cited. For this purpose, in each OF
the smallest divisions of church juris-
diction, sgents-called teachers-are
employed, whose business it is to &C
quaint themselves with neighbor-
hood grievances, and by bringing the
pa ties together seek their compost
ton. Failing in this, the matter is
reported to the bishop the district, or
ward. who offers his services, With
those OF his couDeelors, SIS a court OF
arbitration. Appeals lie from the
award of this bishops court through
other similarly constituted bodies OF
higher dignity, until that of last re.
sort is reached, before the first presi-
dent and council. II the final award
is rejected, the church discipline al
lows q sentence of disfellowship
against the contumacious party. No
other penalty is attempted to be en-
forced, as in the nature of the case
none could be.
It is difficult to see how this course
OF proceeding differs from that of
other ecclesiastical tribunals, except
that it covers q wider range, and
seeks in the interest of harmony and
Fellowship to adjust secular as |
we'll as doctrinal disputes. But this
Mormon system, while it exceeds in
Its scope the similar courts OF many
other religious bodies, is no more ex>
tensiye than that employed by the
.ect Of Quskers, which, in its further
ance of 'peace on earth. good will to
men," has always been held to be
me of their highest titles to The re-
lpsot of mankind.
That substantial justice is the rule
If the awards of these conciliatory
courts is shown by the fact that they
ire habitually res1fted to by the
Mormon laity, II is idle to say, as it
3 frequently said, that they are
orced thither by the terrorism OF
'rlests, to become the subjects of
poliation and wrong, for whatever !
heir average Intelligence. DO system ]
Iabituslly unjust in temporal affairs
ould retain the support OF any peo-
lie. And that it does command their
is shown By this fact. that !
re records of the civil courts reveal {
,arcely. an instance where plaintiff
I'D defendant are both OF the Nor q
ION faith. Gen,iles SUE Mormons. 2
nd Mormons sue Gentiles; but Nor !.
ION suing Mormon is a proceeding Q
} rare as practically to be unknown 4
the judicial history of Utah. Now,
hether the average quality of Justice y
1ministered in these tribunals is =,
,ove Or below tina. of { civil courts. '
it would seem. q question solely
r the solution of those who resor.
them. There is no legal compul- :
IN attaching to them; they are self
iposed and seli-endured; and if they q
il 10 answer The purpose Of their ex- I
ence, will be self-abrogated, by dis Il
9. No harm can come of their Il
,plUyrent, but much good, from p
Q private and speedy settlement of
ighborhood quarrels; and least OF NJ
need they be the occasion of pub "
Jealousy as airogsting the func. =
ns OF the public judiciary. Litigs-
q is not plant of 60 rare value
1t its grow b should be fostered and
mu'ated; and society would be the
iner il arbitration were substituted -
its place more generally than it ~ =,
" is. and that, too, whether un-
: priestly or secular control. No
rho nti Aornoona obo,ca khok tho