Montpelier examiner. [volume] (Montpelier, Idaho) 1895-1937, 1896-04-11

4
divition, that people who were inexpe.
rieuced should be warned against hasty
and i'll considered action. In some cases
they were counci'led to be wise and
prui Mt in the political steps they were
about to take, and this with no idea Of
winning them against their will to eth.
or side, To this extent and ne further,
was anything said or done upon this
question and at no time and under no
circumstances was any attempt made to
say to voters how they shall cast their
ballots. Any change that has been made
to the contrary is utterly false.
Concerning officers of the church
themselves, the feeling was geaeralIy
expressed In the beginning of the po-
ittical division spoken of that 1t would
be prudent for leading men not to ac-
cept of Office at the hands of the politi-
cal party to which they night belong.
This counsel WIS given. to men of both
parties alike-not because 1t was thought
that there was any propriety in religious
men holding civil office, nor to deprive
them of any of the rights of citizenship,
but because of the feeling that 1t would
be better under all the eirsumstances
which had arisen to avoid any action
that would be likely to create jealousy
and III feeling. An era of peace snd
good will seemed to be dawning upon
the people, and 1t was deemed good to
shun everything that could have the
least tendency to prevent the consumma-
ton of this happy prospect. In many
cases, however, the pressure brought
to bear upon efficient and popular men by
the members of the party to which they
belonged was of such a character that
they had to yield to the solicitations to
accept nomination. to office or subject
themselves to the suspicion of bad faith
in their party affiliations. In some cases
they did this without consulting the au-
thorities of the church; but where i'm
lportant positions were held, and where
the duties were of responsible char
d1lCIt oOiIiC lAA 9NCh LHN NOuubCi anu
vice of the church authorities before ac-
cePting the political honors rendered
them. Because some others did not
seek this counsel and advice, ill-feeling
was engendered and undue and painful
sensitiyeness was stimulated; misuRder.
standing readily followed, and as a re-
suit the authorities OF the church
twereaccuzed Of bad faith and made
the subject of bitter reproach. We
have maintained that in the case
of men who hold high positions
In the church, whose duties are
well defined, and whose ecclesiastical
labors are understood to be continuous
and necessary, it would be an improper
thing to accept political Office or enter
into any vocation that would distract or
remove them from the religious duties
resting upon them, without first con
sulting and obtaining the approval of
their associates and those who preside
over them. 1t has been understood from
the very beginning of the church that ne
officer whose duties are of the characteF
referred to, has the right to engage Ia
any pursuit, political or otherwise, that
will divide his time and remove his at
tention from the calling already accept
ed 1t has been the cons ant practice
with officers of the church to consult
to use our language, "counsel"-with
their brethren concerning all questions
Of this kind. They have Aot felt that
they were sacrificing their manhood in
SO doing nor that they we're submitting
TO improper dictation, nor that in solic-
iting and acting upon the advice of those
over them they were in any manner
doing away with their individual rights
and agency, nor that to any improper
degree were their rights and duties as
American citizens being abridged or in.
terfered with. They realized that In ac-
cepting ecclesiastical office they as
sumed certain obligations; that among
these was the obligation to magnify the
Office which they held, to attend to its
duties in preference to every other labor
and to devote themselves exclusively to
il with all the zeal, industry and strength
they possessed, unless released In part
or for a time by those who preside over
them Our view. and it has been the
view of all our predecessors, is that no
officer of our church, especially those in
high standing, should take course to
violate this long -established practice,
Rather than disobey 1t, and declare him
: self by his actions defantly independent
of his associates and his file leaders, ii
has always been held that it would be
better for man to resign the duties Of
his priesthood; and we entertain the
same view today.
In view of all the occurrences tc
Z which reference has bees made, anc
to the diversity OF views that have
arisen among the people in consequence
we feel 1t to be our duty to clearly de
fine our position, so there may he N
sauss hereafter lor dlsputs n eOatro
sIfyersy upon the suhiscs
9 efiifat--We unanissonsly agrees % ii
8 psomanlgete as rule that should Al
G ways be observed In the church and b
every leading official thereof, tina
: before accepting any position, politica
3 or otherwise, which would interior
i with the proper and complete di'