Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1893-05-18
CHURCH RULE.


Lately good deal has been said
about what II called "Church rule"
and the probability Ia that mt this time
much more will be said on the same
subject by u certain publication In this
city. The idea is TO pronounce abroad
that some kind OF u "ruloo exists for
the government OF the Mormon people,
whereby they are made unworthy to
possess the full privilege OF American
citiz, nship. And II Ia called "Church
rule" probably In orier, by the
very sound Of the word, to arouse the
antagonism Of all who hate the Church
In general and the Mormon Church In
particular. But never was there no
much ado about nothing before; never
was false alarm so loudly and 30 per.
sistently sounded. There 10 Il good
deal less rule by the Church among
the Mormons than by the Liberals OF
Utah, fsct we'll known u all who
know anything about the affairs In this
Territory.
The allegation ia that the Mormon
Church attempts to govern It's fol.
lowers In politics. The Mormon
Church consists Of Its members, in
Guiding both Priesthood and lay
members. The meetings OF the
Church are the Sabbath meetings and
various conferences. In these the bust.
ness OF the Church Ia transacted aud
never Is anything done but what the
whole people through their representa-.
tlves have chance TO approve or IL,
therefore, 1t were true, that the
Church laid down any rules for the
political guidance OF Its members,
those rules would bo adopted by the
people In their ecclesiastical Assem-.
blies. Butall these meeting nre pub
lie. There are no secret meetings OF
the Church anywhere. Politics Ia
not part Of the subjects considered In
those assemblies, and every ono who
has attended the meetings OF the
Church knows this. 1t Ia therefore
II angc holiness on the part OF the
nssailnnts to asseTt the existence OF
"Church rule" among this people.
But this IL not exactly what they
mean. They assume that the people
ut large are "Tuled" by few promi.
nent men IN tho Church, who dictate
their political creed and actions.
When they cry out tina, Church rule
must be abandoned, they mean that
such men In the Church who are
supposed to have influence, must net
meddlo with politics, must cease to
exercise their rights as American
citizens, among which are liberty OF
apeech and thought, aud be politically
dead. Rightly Interpreted their
words Imply that one who holds nm
ecclesiastical Office In tho Mormon
Church has no more rights A.
nm American citizen, for II he OK.
presses his viows on politics, he
Is both q "iyfau" aud "seri" anu
everything else lhat 10 bad, though this
rule does not extend to and include
other denominations and Glasses, no
even their own, the WORT In lhIs
respect ofal. This is according to the
Ametlclniem Of the Uah "patriots."
The trlublo Is that the same princi-
pie IL never applied on the olhor side.
There arc prominent olergymen in
this Territory who have not scyrnei
10 join hands and hearts with the
opposing element aud preached Liber.
ullsm pure aud simple. Religious
bodies In Utah have gathered In con.
ferences aud passed resolutions In favor
OF Liberalism. But such Incidents are
not called "chureh rule" Ia Utah. Ye,
what are theyg
L, is well understood that among the
Mormons everybody thinks aud acts