The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1896-05-13


] enter upon a criticism of the late
address by the authorities for many
of the ends sought to be attained
by that address seem to be right and
wholesome; yet L cannot but feel that
the means employed and the "princi-
pie" involved are in conflict with the
genius and spirit of our American in
situations.
l wish to premise, too, that I medi-
tate no reelection upon the sincerity
and patriotism Of those leading church
authorities who have promulgated the
doctrines and rules embodied in this
so-called manifesto and IN all that L
shall say. / shall hold their honor and
integrity unimpeachable. But as a
student Of government, a citizen and
friend of Utah [ deem it my duty to
point out what my intelligence appre-
hends to be a germ whose development
presages future diScord and conflict
1t is profoundly true that in the wide
trend of history those causes are most
eVentful that originate in the spon-
taneous flow of human impulse and
action into laws and institutions. 1t is
not so much the conscious planning as
the unconscious tendency that shapes
GNEI'F. can DeneNe Il3I Ine MANI
festo was planned for noble and philan-
thropic ends, and that beneath all it
might be fraught with troublous and
menacing results. / accept it as alb
solutely true that the trainers of the
document designed no infringement
upon civil functions; but in my judg-
ment would be absorbed and swal-
lowed up in the growth of the church
and the evolution of the principles"
fFaN n 41,o+ h.
devoid Of danger under this proposed
regime the church would have to
shrink in numbers and influence until
it would cease to be an importane fac
tor in society.
The special theme presented in the
manifesto is THE rights and authority
of the priesthood" This theme is
developed and applied so as ito present
statement embodying the doctrine
which has always prevailed in the
church" And they say further as to the
motive that prompted the authorities
in this particular emergency: We are
prompted to adopt this course at the
present time because of events which
have happened during the late politi-
cal contest
We may say therefore that the adj
dress of the authorities is designed to
proclaim and enforce the traditional
genius and spirit of the church in
relation to the state. For the church
has no significance except as 1T grows
out Of the priesthood; and the manifes-
to defines 1.-The rights and authority of
The priesthood in relation to political
affairs It is also stated that every
reputable member was entitled to hold
and did hold some ecclesiastical Of
flee" 1t is estimated that at the pres
ent time the leading officers including
bishops number over 5000; and if all
officials were enumerated the sum total
would be vastly greater. Practically
speaking, every male member is in
vested with some form of priestly
function, and without the priesthood
the church would be null and void
Hence, in defining "the rights and
authority of the priesthood" it stands
for everything that the church signi-
fies; and this is especially true in the
relations which the church holds to
the state.
The principle" which stands as the
key to the doctrine of the priesthood
authority is doubtless of a theocratic
character. emanating from above. in
virtue of which the whole priestly
establishment IS Theoretically organ
lied: beginning wit. the first presi-
dency there is a descending plane of
authority ranging downwards to the
lowest official in the church Each
ADNtA due StLS It's SANCTION ana
authorization from that which rises
above it. The means whereby priestly
authority is maintained and made
available for such purposes as are set
forth in the manifesto is through
counsel and this counsel is of
theocratic and patriarchal character
embodying authority and enlighten-
Inent.
The taking Of counsel" is declared
to be ne long established usage of the
church. Says the manifesto, Our view,
and it has been the view of all our pre-
decessors. is that no officer of our
church, especially those in high stand
ing, should take course to violate this
long esta blished practice"
1t is along these lines as indicated
in the nature of counsel" the obliga-
ton to take it and obey it. the extent
and spheres TO which it applies. that
there would be any grounds for
crltCiSing the relation which
the Mormon priesthood holds to the
state, as laid down in the manifesto.
The state is largely made up of the
laws. institutions and customs which
we inherit from the past: il is also
constituted in part by those who hold
positions to frame and execute its
laws. The state exists because of a
vast number of functions the per
formance OF which requires an cleo
ton to Office, and in most cases a prior
nOnlina ton.
The position of the manifesto is that
so far as the state exists in its official
functions it must hold its tenure in
harmony with the counsel of the
Priesthood; that is, if the population
We're all Mormon, IS a majority of the
Utah population is, those who hold
civil offices. or military either, would
do so in conformity with, and in sub
ordination to. counsel" No good
Mormon would be found in Office with
out the prior authorization of ''coun-
sell" for if The manifesto is infallible.
he would be a violator Of the ordi-
nance of God, and the church people
acting in civil capacity would be in
duty bound - vote against him. This
1 take 20 be he real meaning of the
rule laid down in the manifesto as
follows:
we unanimously agree to and pro-
mulgate as a rule that should always
be observed in the church. and by
every leading official thereof, that be-
fore accepting any position, political
or otherwise which would interfere
with the proper and complete dis
charge of his ecclesiastical duties. and
before accepting nomination, or en-
tering into engagements to perform
new duties, said official should apply
TO the proper authorities and learn
from them whether he can, consistent
~ with the obligations already entered
into with the church upon assuming
his Office, take upon himself the added
duties and labors and responsibilities
OF the new position"
Thus In a church every reputable
male member OF which may be in Of
Colo reSa hot -