Montpelier examiner. [volume] (Montpelier, Idaho) 1895-1937, 1896-12-18

tress, In jeopardy, is not "concocted."
Rather does 1t not require the delibera-
tions of trained, skilled and diplomatic
mind to close the ears and hearts of men
against such appealsi
You say; "During that interval tApril
to October) he was visited by many of
his brethren, some of them apostles, and
no change was effected, but he failed
even to attend the October conference
or to manifest disposition to conform
to the principles of the declaration. 1t
is true that he was in poor bodily health
during that period. But he was not too
Ill to upbraid brethren who tried to i'm
press him with the danger of his posi-
ton, nor to accuse some of them of
having "blanketsd" their conscience in
signing the declaration"
Did you, President Snow, ever hear
me say anything of the kindi Which of
the brethren did l upbraid or accuse of
"blanketing" his conscience3 You do
not seem aware of the fact that, Of all
the apostles and members of the first
presidency, only one, Apostle F. d.
Richards, ever talked with me about the
manifesto since the day 1t was presented
to me for my signature. True, Brothers
Richards and Young called one day just
as was leaving my residence In Salt
Lake City for the depot, with guests and
we talked few moments while the car
riage was waiting at the door. At an
other time, said to Brother John Hen
ry Smith. allow could you, knowing as
you do of my work In the church for a
quarter of a century, vote for my sus.
pension simply because could not see
my way clear to sign the manifesto
How could you adjudge me guilty con
denim me and execute your judgment
all within a few hours and without g
hearing" He replied: al will not talk
with you about that, for you are too i'll
and conversation on that subject
will make you nervous" I then said
(Which, Brother John, do you think
would make me most nervous and Ill
to have the bretheren humiliate and de
grade me by dropping me out of my
place, or talking about 1t after the deed Il
donel" Said he: al am with my breth
rem"
During all these weary months
while friends and physicians believed
was on the verge of the grave, wa
: administered to only once by member
of our quorum, althogh day after da
engagements made for that purpos
: were, for reasons unknown to me, no
l kept. And after the manifesto was re
turned to you unsigned, none of tn
T apostles, excepting the three mentioned
E ever came to my house or visited me TO
i any purpose whatever. l do not men
: ton this by way of complaint, but be
; cause, from the general tone and certai
S statements In your letter, you do nc
: seem 20 be fully acquainted with thes
I facts.
A few men holding lesser authorit
! in the church called and argued wit
a me, and sometimes may have heard tn
: peevish plants of sick man, which,
r seems, were carefully delivered and pre-
i served, and with which you are no.
e willing to reproach me. 1t appears thi
Y every groan that uttered in my pal
T and weakness was borne away and use
: to poison the minds of those living |
d the light against weak and helplet
" brother.
/ In this connection | would like /
state that even before the presentatio
e of that manifesto for my signsture nj
: one of the brethren had taken up
q labor with me concerning any of III
e matters 1t was made to embody.
/. You contend that should have signe
d 1t simply and solely because other of
e GERS of the church had signed 1t, will
d out hesitation and "without requirin
e time to deliberate" cannot see ho
n that statement adds to the credit {
e the document. Such matters demon
s deliberation, and because l always s
It contend am called "contnmacious an
a obstinate" 1t may be that Elder B, l
: Roberts signed 1t without consideration
n but have been authoritatlvelv informe
e that, strong and healthy as he was
mind and body, several members of til
: quorum to which | belonged lahore
+ with him dav after day for weeks befol
1t he consented to accept the principles {
y absolutism 1t contains. How many {
), the brethren deemed 1t necessary |
Y waste their time on me, though VIZ
t. sick and near the portals of DEATH NJ
e one. Yet they expected me to sig
d it when it was presented, although yo
t say was considered @eontumacious an
: obstinate" If that was my dispositio
Il why was l not laboredgwith for week:
IS Or why was I expected to answer
r without such attention? Did you reall
4 believe me "contumacious and obst
II mater"
l do not desire to be understood
y complaining of the short time given m
for the consideration Of the manifest
: the hour and half at noon on I'll
day my name was dropped from the Ii
= of church officials, understood it the
4 as understand It now. But when