Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1894-12-22
lwHuon Tor tno DEstuEr NEws By Elder
John Nicholson.l
STAKE men COUNCILS.

STAKE nIGH COUNCILS.
Numbers Of the mentors Of tho
Church nave merely a general and
perhaps not very distinct under.
standing OF the procedure OF tho several
oocloslas,ical courts that exist within
the body.religi Fortunately this
lack Of Information il tue result Of tho
nnmber Of commandments who have
recourse To those tribunals boiug
few, compared with tho bulk Of
the people. As consequences.
tho opportunities for observation by
means Of close contact are not numor.
Gus. This thought has suggested the
advisability Of making Que class Of
Church coutls--5taso High Councils
the subject VI brief article.
The construction OF Stake High
Council IL simple, ye. IL form is re-
markAbly effective Tor tho prosecution
VI ils purpose. Il is composed VI
twelve High Priests who arr ordained
anu set apart ~ High Councillors. over
this body IL is the duty VI the President
Of the stake to preside, aui II Is his
privilege TO DO assistei by his two
ooanselor. "in cass OF thr absence
Of one or both Of those who are APP
pointed TO assist him, no has power 10
preside over the Council withou, an
assistant, aud In case that no himself
is absent" his counselors shave power
to preside Ia his steAd, both, or either
OF them"
Associated with the regular NOM
bers OF the Council 10 number Of
other High Priests who have been
ordained aud SGT apart as alternate
High Councillors. II IL their duty ~
DO present at all the mee.iugs, and Ia
take the places OF any OF the mem.
beers who may DO absent from any
cause.
This tribunal has appellate as well
AZ original lurlaIioIion. Tho appealed
cases originate In the Bishops courts.
When either OF the principals 10 a trial
before ono Of the latter courts Is
dissatisfied with the Bishop'a decision
and desires 10 appeal 10 the High
Clunoil Of the Stake, no must show
proper grounds a. reason Tor th,
appeal aud n they arc deemed SUN
Gent the minutes Of the proceedings
are sent up to the appellate court
Unless the reasons given Tor the action
VI appeal are trivial or frivolous the
request is granted. Should the Bishop,
however, dsollne - grant an appeal,
the applicant muy complain 10 the
President Of the sake, by whom II
will be submitted TO the High Council.
II that body decides that an appeal
should be granted, tho President
will direct the Bishop TO
show cause why he should not
DO required to grant II aud
10 send up the minutes of the pro.
ceedings had before him Ia the case.
In a case which comes up In the
Council ON appeal, the minutes OF the
trial before tbs court IN which It orlgi-
mated are read. II II appears to the
court that the papers are insufficient TO
give a full and clear understanding Of
the matter, u h decided 90 Investigate
The case on It's merits, but no Witnesses
who were not examined before the
Bishop's court are allowed 10 bs intro.
duoed, tue object Of thu appellate pro-
coeuings being to determine whether
or not the decision OF tue original
court ought TO besustained or otherwise.
lfduriug the invostig CATION il should APP
pear that either " the parties can
anu desires 10 intro luOa now witnesses
who can give additional and vital tosti.
mony, the case may DO sent back to the
Blsnop's court In order 10 give that
tribunal an opportunity to determine
whether or not the new eviienoo
would cause him 10 onaugo or alter his
decision.
Before entering upon the trial OF u
case, the Council 10 daily organized.
The twelve High Councllora are
ranged In two semi.olrcles, each com.
prisod Of hix members. In this
shape ono-hat the Councillors face the
ofhyr halt Each regular member has
permanent number-irom ono TO
twelyc-and no occupies a po'
auion according 10 1t. The
six odd NUMBER comprise one half
airole and tne even tue other. There
10 a suaou between the ends Of the two
arml.algolel, and Tie Presidency Of