The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1897-03-01

he was confined in the Boise prison,
the wife of his youth died with quick
consumption, and his plural wife hav-
ing been seduced, ii was said by a
deputy marshal, contracted a loath-
some disease, from which she. too.
died. while the husband was yet in
prison. When he had finally complet-
ed his sentence he came out of that
prison house wifeless and bordering on
the brink of hopeless insanitv-a hap
less wreck of his former self
A knowledge of such facts, and wit
Messing such scenes, impressed me as
nothing in life ever before impressed
me, and / resolved then that l never
would consent to the development of
circumstances leading to such condi-
tons among my brothers and sisters
in this church.
My friends, that has been the in
spring motive of my conduct in the
political affairs causing my deposal
from church official position. Personal
ambition or thirst for office has had
nothing to do with it whatever. SEN
ator Edmunds in 1892 declared that
church interference in political affairs
was the main issue then, and that I'M
less we removed the hands of the
church from the throat of state, we
would ultimately be destroyed. He
mentioned the intervention of France
in Mexican affairs and the attitude of
the United States in the matter as a
warning.
Now 1 don't want to see anything
done that might make our state lines
as a means of defense like cob-webs.
That is what 1 fear. That is what L
protest against.
Now, in conclusion, permit me. my
friends, to say, should serious trouble
with the national government grow out
of this persistent and continuous in
termeddling and interference with
the civil matters of the state and with
the political affairs of the individual
citizen thereof, by the ecclesiastical Of
ficials of any church whatever, would
it not be folly in the extreme for such
officials, high or low, to expect to be
handled with gloves or accorded quar-
ter when to the innocent none has
been given? Had there been no diff
ferences and misunderstanding as be-
tween the nation and the people of
Utah in the past, a forecast might just
~ follow those lines originating in
Christian mercy, but trouble has ex-
listed heretofore. Personally, l have
no grievances to be settled here or
hereafter; nor have 1 any spites to be
gratified nor revenges TO be placated.
individuals, as such, cut but small
figure in matters of the magnitude of
those now confronting the people of
Utah. When the manifesto" or the
so-called rule of church discipline was
presented to me for my signature,
every fiber of my nature seemed in
stantly filled with the sentiment of ap-
prehension and l realized that 1 was
fronting a great personal danger from
which there seemed no way of escape.
If | signed it, l must do so at the cost
of honor, truth and integrity. If L
signed it, 1 must recant the teachings
of a quarter of a century respecting
the proper functions of the state in
relation to those of church organiZa-
tons. If 1 signed it, 1 must ignore the \
declarations of the reorganiZed con-
vention reiterating the Declaration of
Independence. If 1 signed it, l must
become a covenant breaker by casting
to the winds public promises made
in the most solemn manner, and
trample underfoot private political OBJ
legations made with Mormon, Jew and
Gentle. To do these things meant, to
me, qualification, and qualification
meant dishonor, and dishonor meant
shame and disgrace. And so, as l ex-
planned at the time, I could not sign it
and retain an unSullied conscience |
You know what followed my refusal |
Others knew what would follow before |
the document assumed written form. !
My young friend and brother, b. H. /
having well weighed the |
of an unwritten requirement, |
chose what doubtless he believed was |
to him the least harmful of the two |
horns of a deadly dilemma. 1 chose |
the other Both led to that which was /
and with each has been ac- |
compliShed just what its author in |
tended should be accomplished. II was |
written for Moses Thatcher-at least. |
[ have been informed that Apostle F. !
NJ. Lyman so proclaimed in public at /
your last quarterly conference. From !
he very beginning l believed that to |
De the fact, but L never expected any
prominent church official to admit it.
That the document was premeditated |
md inspired by aforethought, few
would doubt, but not many were pre-
pared for the announcement that it
vas written expressly for one individ-
lal
1 have my views respecting the mo-
i've prompting it's issuance, and each
If you can draw conclusions most sat-
sfactory to you and yours. AS to its
as a disciplinary measure
he document is certainly not above
criticism. That the church or its of
icerS and members have been benefited
by it, is open to discussion, but as iap-
Piled to myself, it has, without doubt,
proven WDdI II was hlenueQ 10 De-
repressive and Oppressive measure,
lepriving me of official standing in the
hurch of the Lord Jesus Christ. for
which and to which 1 had dedicated the
,est efforts and most devoted service
f an honest and sincere heart for
learly 40 years. If my humiliation and
degradation has been as gratifying to
hose who accomplished it, as it has
een painful and sorrowful to me, then
he doctrine of compensation has been
indicated. Having now the facts be-
ore you. it will be easy for you to
that / am now occupying
prearranged and predesigned posi-
ion, and that il has at no time been
n my power to prevent what has hap
ened to me.
That being so, 1 submit to what is
ntil the searcher of all hearts and
he judge of all men shall rectify
,rongs, and without malice towards
ny l submit my case to the judg-
lent and findings of He who. singly
nd alone, trod the wine-press of hui
IAN wrath, while submitting to hui
nan wrongs.