The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1885-11-11
ALBERT DARLINGTON.

Nothing that has occurred in the ca
rser Of the Mormon Church during late
wars has created more of a sensation
both in and out of this community
than will fol Ow last evening announce
ment that the quorum of Apostles had
accommodated firm the church one
OF their number, Albert Darlington, for
the offenses of "iewd and lsscivious con-
duct and adultery" In church circles
there will be almost universal sorrow
aud regret-not so much because
Elder Darlington has been ''eut
of" but that he has been
guilty of ofTenses demanding his
expulsion. Very few men have stood
higher in the church than he, and not
many have been garded with more
reverence and affeI--on. During gen.
Grafton he has held the apostleship; he
has stood close 70 the First Presidency
during the past and present
administrations, and being an ed
ucated and Intellectually able
man, has commanded respect and
confidence. The man who, without
knowledge Of the fact. had cha ged such
grave offenses at the door OF the Elder
would have found no believers for his
tale, and been regarded as a malicious
ecandal-monger. such supreme conf
denee had the people in the moral
purity and faithful regard for church
law of the gentleman. Hence the SEN
sahon that this affair will occasion. and
the grievous sorrow that it viii bring
to the thousands of his late brethren
and sisters.
AT the same time. there win be among
them but. one opinion as to the wisdom.
the propriety, the necessity Of the order
of accommodation. The Mormons
all the time lie under the charge of be-
ing a Hcentious and sexually immoral
people, but those at all &C
quainted with them know that
this accusation is wickedly false and
maliciOusly cruel and unjust.
There is no religious sect on earth that
processes or maintains higher regard
for marital vows than the Mormons.
and sexual crimes are regarded by them
IS the most heinous of offenses both in
religious theory and religious life. One
who has lived among them, has heard
their preaching and is acquGiuted with
their sentiments, ideas and beliefs will
not attempt TO deny the truth Of the
above declaration. The Darlington ex-
PulsiOn from the Church itself, as other
cases have done, furnishes the strongest
possible proof of the correctness of the
assertion that the Mormons look with
adherence on sexual 0ffehses. The
crime could not be overlooked and
forgiven n him who stood SO high IN
authority, any more than IN the
comsaon plodder whose name and fame
are unknown beyond his own ward.
In the eyes Of some who under
stand the full spiritual force and
meaning OF an communication from
the Mormon Church. Elder Caring
tons punishment VIII seem severe. vet
its severity IS not more terrible in the
mind OF the deTout and faithful Saint
than the enOrmity Of his SHINING de-
mands. Whatever may be the opinion
the offense. the Apostles Who
have thus cut &drift one Of their num-
Der whom they found to beunclean. haTe ]
shown themselves 70 be consisten.
with their religious professions, and !
faithful in thsir practice as in their I
belief. The action cannot fail to COM
nand the approval and respect Of fair
and unprecedented men outside the |
Mormon church. as il certainly will re-
seive the endorsement OF the masses
n the church. It shows 3 degree Of
moral courage and faIthfainess to :
principle under trying circumstances
hat would be heroism in the political
rorld. but is integrity aud uprighsness
D the religious. +
People other than Mornons who {
now Albert Darlington viii regret his !
DOWNFALL and grieve over his disgrace. =