The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1896-04-17

To the Editor of The Herald:
1 consider the communication OF
Eugene Lewis published in your issue
of yesterday thoughtful and timely
discussion of a very grave PROPOSE
tion-the recent Mormon church mani
festo in respect to high church officials
being nominated for political office. 1t
is such a discussion as people can
afford to listen to with patience, and
treat with respect,
The gentleman considers the subject
under two headings:
First-How will it strike the outside
world?
second-How will it be apt to work
in practice?
Under the first division he lays
: down some doctrines about the rela-
tions of the church to the state with
which one could not altogether agree,
and yet requiring such nice distinctions
that the subject in hand does not
, really require they should be con-
sidered. But when he says 1.-The theory
Of republican government is. that
the highest duty of every citizen is to
the state, we do not suppose he means
by that that the first duty of every
citizen is to accept nomination for Of
fee. Yet all that is involved in this
new manifesto Of the Mormon church
is the acceptance of party nomination
for political office.
PURPOSE OF THE MANIFESTO.
First of all it must be understood
that the recent manifesto was drawn
I'D and issued for the purpose of es-
tabnshing a rule for the management
of church affairs, and not for the pur-
nose of dominating the political affairs
of the state. From this standpoint it
should be considered and not from
1hat from which it is viewed by Mr..
Lewis.
He considered it from the stand
point of it's abuse, and not from the
standpoint of its legitimate purpose.
Let us consider it from the stand
point of those who issued it. It goes
without saying that the Mormon
church is unique in its organization.
1fs worthy male members are nearly
all church officials of some grade or
other. and yet they do not constitute
such q distinct ministry as that known
70 other churches Like all sincerely
religious people, the real obligations
of their religion are to them of first
Importance, and that work which tends
TO spreading abroad a knowledge Of
It's principles is of primary Importance.
If this be true of all the officers and
members Of the Mormon church, how
much more is il true with those who
are recognized as high church officials?
The fact that the Mormon ministry is
not a salaried class, but in main sup
mort themselves by ordinary pursuits
in business and industry necessarily
draws them into secular affairs, and
they are to be found following all the
pursuits that other men follow-politics
with the rest
CHURCH POPULATIONS.
But;jt must be patent to all if these
men are sincere in their religious con-
z-ictionS and anxious TO do all they can
for the growth of their church, that
they must submit to some church regu-
Iation by which their services when
needed car be commanded If every
one be allowed to go his own way
without regard to what the church
may require of him in the matter of
service, il is clear as daylight that
there would be much confusion and
even chaos IL the management of
church affairs. Hence this manifesto.
which in its ultimate significance only
means that high church officials must
either conform 10 its requirements or
give place to others who will.
Mr. Lewis thinks there would he no
~ Of
church that no officer of the church or
no officer above certain grade should
accept any office or nomination for
any office, the duties of which take
him beyond the boundaries of the state
and that the acceptance of such office
or nomination should work an immedi-
ate FORGETTING of his position in the
church, as such rule would be simple
and self-enforcing. It is the nonina-
ton with a string to it, and that string
in the hands of three men, that the
gentleman objects to, and out of which
he expects all the difficulties he emu
nerates will grow, which, in brief are
a follows:
s.tirst-It will be understood nv tbe
world outside Of Utah that under such
q rule 1t rests with these three indi-
viduals who Of the leading members
Of the churcn can and who cannot ac-
cept nominations for important of-
fees.
second-That they can make or un-
make any candidate. -
Third-That a candidate authorized
by them, as against one Cunning with
out or against their authorization
would have very decided advantage
over his competitor.
Fourth-That this power is to give
or mfShhold their assent to a noraSna-
ton practically places the political
machinery Oh al political parties in
Lewis, ito place the state absolutelv
under the control of three men with
no responsibility but their own con-
sciences" Mr.. Lewis wants TO know
II this is not a dangerous bower. and
lis It not too much to expect that men
viii not exercise it in such a way as to
bring olscreolt upon the people of