The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1896-11-14
TRous-E AMoNa zee sAINTs
Thatcher said 10 BE Possessed Forbid.
den 10 Teach the Fallhful-PrO.
tected widows and Receives
Condemnation.

LOGAN, Utah, Nov. TO- [Srecial
TRIBUNE correspondence mot long
ago an item appeared in the Deseret
News, the Mormon church organ pub
lished at Salt Like City. which relates
that Moses Thatcher, one of the Twelve
apostles, resident in Logan, had been
forbidden to preach or exercise any of
the functions Of the priesthood, until
he shall make satisfactory amends to
his fellow servants in the household of
the Amounted. also see by the min
ntes Of the general conference that
President Woodruff made the state
ment that Apostle Thatcher was beset
by evil spirits, when instantly all the
other speakers perceived the devil in
the eeuntenaRee of the FeealeitFant
Moses, but none of them undertook to
point out his offense or name the sin
which he had committed. However,
all followed the same strain of abuse
until it reached the man who has long
since steeled his heart against sympathy
for any Of the human race, as the
speech of Joseph r. Smith at that time
viii show. Mems religious natures
differ. Some are born skeptics and fail
to believe the marvellous and super
natural without substantial proof.
They may desire ever so much, but
their faith will not respond. Others
believe at once. Their faith is ALIEN
braeing and unquestioning. ANY
statement emanating from the
authorities that be" is promptly &C.
cepted as divine ordinance. Apostle
Smith belongs to the order Of magnif.
cent faith. Everything goes with him,
Whether the whale swallowed Jonah or
Jonah did the swallowing, depends with
Joseph f. on what the authorities"
say on the subject. Moses Thatcher is
a little skeptical and given, at times, to
question the absolute divinity of the
authorities" His gullet is not quite
as eapacious as that of Joseph F., and
is equipped with screen which effec-
tuaIly separates the kernels of truth
from the chaf of falsehood.
But why should Moses Thatcher
humble himself? He is a man honored
ana beloved; man OF immovabie and
spotless integrity; firm as the noun
tains, spiritual as an angel. Every
breath he draws is leaden with noble
purpose and high resolve. He mounts
upward as naturally as the free bird
that carols in the morning sky. His
henevOlence embraces all mankind.
Why should he bend to men unworthy
to loosen the latches of his shoesp If
he has sinned as stated, why not say
whereinP Show him his offense, and
he will seek forgiveness from Him,
who alone holds in His hands the great
pardon granting power
The people here think they know
where the shoe pinches. Apostle
Thatcher once recovered for some
widows valuable property and other
means which had been unlawfully taken
from them by one very near the pin
nacle of ecclesiastical power. But more
of this at another time. will tell you
what and thousands of others in the |
church believe. 1t is this: If the first
presidency and the twelve apostles of |
the Mormon church were called to stand
before the bar of justice at this mo-
ment to receive the reward they merit,
Moses Thatcher alone would escape
punishment.