New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-03-24
Il NORMAN APOSTATE.
BISHOP oAHooN QUITS THE SAINTS.
HE WRITES LETTER FROM PRISON RENoUNc-
rNc pnY va nv y,u 1,vrvorr -, ,vr.x,

HE WRITES A LETTER FROM PRISON RENoUNc.
ING PoLYaAMY-rTs ETFEcr IN UTAH.
Salt Lake City. March IL (sIeciai. - q sensation
has been caused in the Mormon camp by as renuncla
ton of tho Church by Bishop who has been IN prison
and stu remains there, serving out term for polyg
amy. Only the other day President Cleveland par
doned the apostle, George @ Cannon. who was also
serving term for the same offence. Cannon came
ont to renew his polyRsmous restions whore ne had
BROKEN them on His pardon, abridgIng his sentence
by several months made bin moro bold and confident
than ever. few days after his release he appeared
IN the Tabernacle. and declared that IDS faith IN and
fidelity to the Mormon gospd greater than ever
before. The big building was crowded With Saints
and curious Gentiles. and tho apostle got hearty
greeting He then emphasized most strongly the sin
cey Of hs belief In the Divine Inspiration of Joseph
Smith and I'm the religion which Smith founded
This positive and enthusiastic declaration OF Can
mons gave Bishop Andrew Cahoon his cue The
newspapers containing report OF the apostles fervor
were read In prison By the Bishop wheteupon he SAT
down and wrote I'm open letter TO the apostle. do
nouncing the whole Mormon fabric as tissue Of i'm
pastures ard frauds Hs had suffered for the faith
he said, long befor6 tho English printer. George O
Cannon. had heard OF IT, and be had borne ell Of
hasdshps for tho sake OF sustaining his relations TO tin
priesthood He fsty denied that the founders Of the
Mormon religion, with many OF whom he was
acquainted, were possessed Of anything like divine
inspiration anything else more divine than nero
worldly wisdom. He also east serious doubts on the
sincerity Of Brother CANNON and Others uAno him
who prstod loudly of theis faith and stsadfastaess
They do notS he says. let their tongues speak wha,
their hearts feel.S
That Bishop CAhoon's apostacy VIII lead 10 many
Others among the rank and file there is no doubt.
There have been several similar movements In the
history OF the Aormons, the best remembered OF which
are those which were led by W. s. Code, II. l.. T.
Harrison and It. B. II. stenhouse, whom many Of the
most intelligent and bcst4nforned men Of the church
withdrew their allegiance from tho hierarchy.
Bishop Caheon is an old man, and has stood firmly
by the church for about half century. It may
be said Of him. as OF nearly every Mormon OF average
intelligence that no never did believe sl the teachings
and pseteRsions of the Mormon priesthood Of which
be has becp himself an important member But his
reasons Cor finally kicking over tho traces
are eminSntiy practical and comm0n-sense. A
few mouths OF Me at the drearT old
penibenttsfy had convinced him that the Mormon
Church cannot hope to conquer the United States Gov
eminent at present The laws arc stronger than the
priesthNod and he doesn't esEe TO hold out longer as
oechTed rebel against HIS country He thinks It
would be good policy, there wepa no sttou ger reason
for the priesthood 70 submit In good faith TO the laws
OF tn, land He cites sons excellent maxfms from
Mormon books on submission 70 law and closes hts
letter with tho announcement that he has done with
Old settlers here both Mormon and non Mormon,
think Bishop Cnhoon's action straw which shows
how tho wind blows. There are other agencies at
work which are rapidly and surely undermining thp
OF liberalism. The children Of tho more wealthy
Mormon and semi Mormon families who are anxious for
permitted 10 mnele with Gentle children az play and
are allowed 10 attend entertainments which arc con-
aneted entirely g Gentiles3eu q which would have
/ hierarchy.