Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1886-09-30
DepOsed for His SfnS.

REMARKABLE SCENE IN THE MORMON TEsi-
PLE-YoUSG JOHN q. CANNON STRIPPED OF
HIS PRIEsTLY DIGNITIEs
n correspondent at salt Lake City thus de
scribes a remarkable scene occurring during
the service in the great Mormon temple on
sunday, the 10Th instant: A tail, spare man
with a Drowned face and bristling gray mus
taehe, entered and took a seat near the pulpit
Then some one whispered to Mr.. Nicholson,
who was preaching, To sit down, which he did,
observing rather awkwardly that he would have
10 stOp-omething had occurred. He stepped
back into his seat, and a young fellow of about
20. oil rather Preposisess 81 appearanee ana
the pulpit and distinctly addressed the tnrong
TO the effect that he had disgraced his position
in the church; That he had committed a crime
second only to that OF shedding blood and that
he asked 10 be deposed from his priesthood
hoping that when Judgment had been passed
MIN he might be heard in his case" He
then sat down amid profound sensation
some OF the gentler sex cried softly and the
men looked surprised. The elders buried their
faces in their hands and were deeply overcome
The young man himself leaned his head for
ward and covered his lace with his hands. In
the meantime the why, elderly man mounted
the rostrum aud referred with emotion to mis-
sorrow that such disgrace should have be-
fallen the church and bis own family. But, he
said, as in ancient Israel the nearest OF kin
were those who cast the first stone at d culprit,
So he did demand OF the chureh that his
nephew, John e. Cannon, should be cut OH
from ali his dignifies and all connection with
the Latter Day Saints. Those in favor of this
The auditorium became brlstliDg surface OF
appraised arms 1t the police verso" OF
Deseret- "fhose opposed 10 it Will raise their
right hand. Not a hand appeared. Young
Cannon was condemned In his CONFUSION.
Angus Cannon, the uncle, straightway walked
out 0f the building Mr. Nicholson then rose
again. de extoiled the saintliness OF The father
OF the young man, George U. Cannon, and his
spotiess purity in the dOLaeStIcitieS. he l5lr
NicholsonJ could not have been more astonished
II u thunderDoit had fallen from heaven than
by this young mans confession of his crime.
.if George Cannon could have had his choice"
he continued, "between following this young
man To his grave anu seeing him IN this fallen
state, he would rather have seen the clods TALL
ing upon his breast" he continued in this
strain Tor some moments and then sat down.
John y Cannon, cut of from all ecclesiastical
union with the Latter Day saints, waited Till ne
was done, and then rose, rather red III the face,
and followed the footsteps OF his uncle. sup
pose ne felt in no humor Tor the hymn which
followed and in which the Mormon prima
donna sang as sweetly and as gayiy as If she
had not been assisting at spiritual tragedy.
Then the vast throDg surged out. was amazed
10 see that beyond the women ) tears and the
elders temporary prOstratiOn the deposition of
this brilliant young Mormon seemed To have
stirred no deplns. They quietly made home as
II nothing had happened.
The correspondent subsequently interviewed
Mr.. Nicholson, and he reports his interview as
follows:
''I came to see what the full significance Of
this afternoons episode Was, remarked. Was
the ceremony final cuttingoH from the church
OF Mr. Cannon?
Yes. He is FULLY communicated said Mr..
Nicholson politely, though the bishop may
formally sit on his case
is there no hope OF his being forgiven and re-
turned To the church? / continued.
No, think not. He was SO tar advanced in
the inducements of the church that his case is
very aggravated. He was one OF the TIVE coun-
cillors 10 the presiding Disnop.'
That Is pretty hard on the young man. re-
turned.
We'll, that is what the church says, and there
Is no going back OF that
Was II an entire surprise to every body?
asked.
.Periectr said Mr.. Nicholson. when / was
told TO stop 1 thought at first that perhaps
President John Taylor had been taken aud
they were going to tell the people ami try and
which Was the worse He added, W ell, that
would only be physical evil and this is a moral
one.
Mr.. Nicholson has served six months in the
penlten iiary - with cuLthroatS ard black
guards, he said bitterly-for polygamy. why,
u a man SPEAKS 10 his plural vile on the street
Inc local judiciary condemn him Tor violating
the Edmunds DILL Dy cOhabitiug.
such Was the episode / was Unexpectedly
let In Tor on my nrst visit to the Mormon taber-
naeie. II Was an example o. how they judge i'm
purify. The young mans OfeDse, should nave
said. was adultery He is d married man. lis
u very rare occurrence? had asked Mr..
Nicholson. Yes; pretty rare he replied,
though some one Was depOsed for ii fortnight
ago, and twelve months ago one OF the Twelve
apostles was deposed Tor il. That shows you
how We judge Of impurity. i ieit myself in-
spired to speak on that subject to-day, though
Knew nothing OF this matter"