The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1896-12-01

of that body The letter addressed at
that time to his associates was ade1per-
atelv composed communication showing
that he was able TO understand the doeu-
ment which he refused TO sign, ana ms
prompt publication Of that letter. IN a
secular newspaper shows that he mad
deliberate intention TO oppose Inc
declare ton and defy his brethren who
promulgated, it, But If he did not nave
sufficient time 10 consider the declaration
at Ehe-HDFH conference, what about the
six months which elapsed before the &c
enough During that interval he was
visited by many, Of his brethren, some OF
them apostles. and no change was Ell
fected, but he failed even to attend the
October conference or 10 manifest dis
position to conform TO the principle OF the
declaration
health during that period But he was
not too i'll to upbraid brethren who tired
to impress him with the danger OF MS
position, nor TO accuse some of them OF
having "blanketed their conscience" in
signing the declaration.
He states in his letters that he would
have attended the October conference
If it had not been for the assurances
and reassurances" he had received that
nothing would he done concerning ms
standing until his health should be re-
stored He then complains bitterly of the
explanations given TO the conference as
to his position and seeks 20 convey the
impression that they We're breach OF
good faith.
The assurances" to which he refers
were faithfully fulfilled He was left
in statu quo Every time il was shown
that the condition of his health would
not admit of his meeting with his QUO
rum the question of his standing was
postponed. But meanwhile he and MS
friends were not slow 10 talk about MS
associates and to convey unwarranted
impressions concerning their course IN
his case. So much misunderstanding was
thereby created that it became absolutely
necessary TO make some explanations
that the Latter-day Saints might not De
deceived. President Woodruff was so
strongly Impressed with this that he ad-
dressed the conference on the subject
and his statements were endorsed by
several of the twelve who followed him.
This was no trial Of Moses Ina tcher
It was simply necessary explanation OF
his status 1t 1nNOiNeq me question OF
his lack OF harmony with the church au-
thorities. His claim that he was publicly
accused and therefore should have pub
lie trial is astonislAngly absurd. He WIS
not accused in the sense Of a trial or N
vestigation. The fact Of his lack Of
harmony with the authorities was eX-
planned and SHOWN to be OF much carrier
date than his refusal 10 sign the declara-
ton and his engaging in active politics
To place himself in harmony with the
twelve, or refuse 10 do so. required no
trial either public or private. He did
neither. Yet the assurances given him
which he misconstrues were observed
and his ease was not called up until
he was able 10 appear.
1t was but a few days afte- the con-
ference, even if it had entirely closed, be
fore he appeared and spoke at public
meeting as though he still held the au-
thority in which he had not been sus-
tanned at conference This necessitated
the announcements from the first DreSl-
dency through the Deseret News that he
had no right to ofiiciate in the priesthood
while in his Suspended condition.
THE TEMPLE INCIDENT
Notwithstanding that announcement,
when he chose TO present himself to the
authorities he presumed 10 attempt en-
trance to the temple for that purpose, and
at a time when the first presidency as
well as the twelve met for the conssdera-
ton of other church matters and for
holding their prayer circle No one could
attend but those of their own body, nor
even enter the house unless in good stand
ing. No member of the church without
the proper recommend can obtain admit
lance TO the temple. no matter how much
he may have contributed 10 its erection.
That would cut no figure at all in the
right of entrance. It Is amazing ina [
Moses Thatcher should attempt 10 inJrude
the boast Of his contributions into the
question of entering the temple OF God
when not in good standing and full fellow
ship
HIS exclusion from the temple he con-
strues into being denied the privilege
Of meeting with the quorum No one
Knew better than he that there was no
such denial. The assurance given him
by Elder F. D Richards and others Of
the quorum was proof of their willingness
10 meet him and their Joy at mis- mani
festation OF even a desire to meet them.
That there We're other places and &C
casions when he could properly have an
interview with his brethren he fully IN
derstood. and he should have done long
before.
In passing I will notice his technical
quibble about the closing of the temple
against him on October 18th Tor his dis
regard of my letter of October 2Sr'i, which
he says is nard for him 10 understand A
careful reading of my letter VIII show
that the difficulty is Of his own manu-
facture. What 1 said conveys no such
meaning as he asserts. / said, This be
ing the condition OF affairs you We're not
admitted 10 the temple on the forenoon
of Thursday" The condition of af-
fairs" which caused that exclusion is set
forth in the first paragraph Of my letter.
and relates to occurrences before the
18th. Il is true that my letter of the Ord
IN reply 10 his of the 18th is incidentally
mentioned but only something growing
cut of what happened on the 18TH. and of
course was moi intended TO amply IS a
condition existing before mat GATE Ms
rerversion Of plain language shows what
small evasi0ns VIII be resOrted 20 when
one gets into the dark
THE CONFERENCE ADDRESSES.
Reference to the conference discourses
published n the Deseret News was made
thai Brother Thatcher might know ex-
actls what the brethren said. that he
might see the necessity there was Tor the
people 10 understand where he stood and
that he might see me feeu OF putting MN
self in harmony with the church authOr-
lies
II IS necessary 10 notice his complaint
that he had not been invited to attend the
meeting at which final action WAS taken
IN his case. 10 his letter dated November
9Th he SAYS:
4 returned TO this city Thursday
week agO tomorrow-and have daily eX-
pected 10 hear respecting time when I
could see the brethren once more to
gether. So WORD having reached me
respecting that matter. ! adopt this means
CT respectfully asking you when such
meeting can be arranged. As carly a
reply as convenient VIII greatly obiige,
your brother III The gospel,
MOSES THATCHER"
To this 1 replied as he has published.
under date OF November o:
in accordance with your wishes Tor q
meeting. ] take pleasure in appointing >
o'clock on Thursday next AT the his
toran's Office. upon which occasion the
with kindest regards, your brother and
Sellow servant
On the day thus appointed the apostles
met al the time and place thus desig-
mated. when they received his lengthy
communication. dated November II, in
which lie sal
I shall not trouble my brethren there
lore 10 convene in special meeting
named for Thursday at p. m at the
historians Office.
Thereupon the council OF the apostles
gave him one week more. and notified
HIM that his case would be called up fo<
action at meeting TO be held in the