The Coalville times. [volume] (Coalville, Utah) 1894-1923, 1896-12-18

we're indeed Hsupcr1uous and unneccs.
cary" Had known 'ha. they would
have been sD regarded ! never would
have made them will confess they
were appeals. uof FOO the plh''. 1u, 'u
| my brethren They were cries oi an.
|guish from heart uckei with pain
| They were plea. Tor mercy prayers ilr
| light Tor information a. go my offend.
Ing Bot why should you imagine that
that they we're published to excite pub.
Tic sympathy DO you consider that To
be the natural result Of their publIca.
'ion' An appeal from one IN dls.
trees, In jeopardy, Is not connected"
Rather does II not require the dellbera.
lions of a trained, skilled and diplomatic
mind to close the ears and hearts Of men
against such appeals'
You say Daring that Interval tApril
10 October he was visited BY many Of
his brethren, some Of them APOSTLES. and
no change was effected. but be failed
even 20 attend the October conference
NJ 10 manifest deposition 10 conform
TO the principles Of the declaration II
"a true that be- was In poor bodily health
during that period but bee was not too
40 10 upbpld brethren who tried TO i'm.
pres. him with the danger of hi, poi
ton. nor 10 accuse some Of them Of
having "blankc,sd" their conscience In
signing The declaration"
DID you. President Snow. ever hear
me say any thing ofthc kind' Which Of
the brethren sd upbraid or accuse Of
"blanketing" his conacicucc' You DO.
not seem aware Of the fact that. Of all
the apostles and members Of the first
presidency, only one, Apostle = d.
Richards, ever talked with me about the
manlicsto since the day IL was pfcsntcd
to me for my signature. True, Brothers
Richards and Young called one day just
a. I was leaving my residence In Salt
Lake City for the depot, with guests and
we talked few moments while the car |
rlage was waiting at the door Al an.
other time. said to Brother John Hen.
~ Smith. "llow could you. knowing a.
you do Of my work In the church for a
quarter of a century. vote for my sus.
pension simply because I could not see
my way clear to sign the maniiestop
How could you adiudge me guilty con.
iemn me and execute your judgment
III within a few hours and without a
rearing" lIe replied 81 will not talk
With you about that, Tor you are too M,
md conversation on that subject
'lll make you nervous" then raid
Which, Brother John. do you think
would make me most nervous and III,
o have the brethcren humlllate and de.
,rade me by dropping me out Of my
'laee, or talking about II after the deed IL
lone" Said he ii am with my broth.
en-"
During all these weary months,
while friends aud physicians believed I
vas on the verge Of the grave. was
administered to only once by members
u our quorum, althogh day after day
Engagements made Tor that purpose
we're. for reasons unknown to me. not
,cpt And after The manifesto was re-.
urned to You unsigned, none Of the
postles. excepting the three mentioned,
'ycr came to my house or isitcd me Tor
my purpose whatever. do not men.
Ion this hy way Of complaint but be.
ause, from the general tone and certain
tatemcnts In your letter. you do not
een 20 be fully acquainted with these
acts
a few men holding a lesser authority
n the church called and argued with
ne, and sometimes may have heard the
'ceylsh plants Of sick man. which. Il
Gems, were carefully delivered and pre-
erved, and with which you are now
willing to reproaeh me. Il appears that
very groan that uttered In my pain
md weakness was borne away and used
o poison the minds of those living In
he light against weak and helpless
'roihcr
In this connection would Ike TO
tate that even before the presentation
4 that manifesto for my slgnsture not
me Of the brethren had taken mp
nbor with me concerning any Of the
matters Il was made 10 embody.
You contend that shouldhavc signed
simply aud solely because other OH
ers Of the church had signed n, with.
.u' hesitation and "without requiring
Inc 10 deliberate" I cannot see how
hat statement adds TO the credit of
he document Such matters dcmand
and because always 30
outend am called continuation aud
obstinate" /, may he that Elder Il II.
Roberts signed II without consideration,
nat lhave been authoritatlvely Informed
hat, strodg aud healthy a. he was IN
mind aud body, several members of the
Quorum 10 which ! belonged lahorcj
With him day after day Tor weeks before
Ic consented TO accept the principles OF
bsolutlsm Il contains. How many OF
he brethren deemed It necessary TO
waste their time on me, though ! was
lex and near the portals OF death Not
me. Yet they expected me 20 sign
/ when Il was presented, although YOU
ay was considered "contumacious and
obstinate" II that was my disposition