Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1897-08-14

| Dear Brethren-8e hereby prefer a
| charge agniuel Brother MOpes Thatch.
! er OF apOstscy aud uuChrislianlike con-
| duct, exhibited IN luDlic speeches,
| private nversatione, in interviews
| through newspapers ana II other
ways, showing departure from the
| spirit Of the Gospel ana the doctrine
aud discipline OF the Church OF jesus
Christ Of Latter.day Saline, such MS to
Tor cit bis right TO fellowship and
Standing 10 the Church.
Your Brethren,
BRIGHAM You've,
FRANCIS M. LYMAN,
hEBER j. GRANT.
THE FINDINGS.
Apostasy, rs has been argued here,
varies in It's extent. In general way
aposlasy means revolt. 1t IL 80 de-
fined In the dictionary. But tbe
Prophet Joseph Smith says in this
q injection: "The M ment we revOl
at Anything which comes from God,
the devil Takes power" Compendium.
y. 2SS). On this grOunu "apOstasy"
includes any revolt or departure If IN
Tuio or regulation established by the
Lord, whether In person OF by His ap-
pointed servants,
We consider that Moses Thatcher
exhibited at apostate spiIit ANA was
uu.ChristianliBe Ia his conduct.
FiTst-In his Interview published in
the Salt Lake Tribune, which he has
admitted to DO In the main correct
as to his Views though not as TO his ex-
act lar & rage; he there virtually
charges tue authorities Of the Churcu
with bad IRith, In declaring, first, that
they would not Interfere In politic-,
and next that they Intended e. and
would eO interfere, anu that this g rae
tically annullsd their former declsra-
tiOu.' He also announced his reaui.
ness TO champion ".be cause lmp,r-
illed" by the latest declaration OF the
Ctutch authorities.
SocOnu. In giving to the public
private correspondence between him
and PIesiueDt Lorenzo Snow, which
related only to Church anu quorum
IN alters.
Third. BY usIrg language as follows
Ia his reply 10 Pfesidrnt Loreng
Sow, published In the Tr bune nnu
Herald Vi November II h, 1895:
Although the judges before whom 1
am to be arruigued have nearly all ex-
pressed an opinion as to the merits of
NhSti uCthstTs are To
ST. in Judgment over me; although ver-
dict has Already been delivered against
me and without hearing.
In conversation with President Lor-
emo Snow, on the train between Salt
Lake and brigham City last Saturday,
November eth, i was given the impress
sion that have absolutely nothing to
hope for in any other than Il public
hearing such as now request.
Fourth In wruiug to President
Lore 20 snow, November H., 1895,
saying:
shall not trouble my brethren there
fore to convene in special meeting
named for Thursday at 2 o'clock, p M,
in the Historians oifies.
And this after the mesting ha been
called at his special request.
Filthy resOrting % the quibbls
that he was "nUt invited" to the meet.
Ing one week later, when ne was
notified that his Csee would be CON.
sideret, and in stating, "since u e
ment IN tlebe matters has been III.
ready passed."
Slxth-In charging President Llr.
emo snow with puolishiog ';mtter
In order to crafty his apparent cur
iosity OF five young men, land det-
cribing his Brother Slow's) expia.
nations as "a bitter and acrimonious
communication"
seventh. BY endeavoring to make
1t appear that the authorities OF the
Church, N publishing the Declaration
OF Principles, bnd cJntTadicted what
they hsd previously announced In the
DEsEREr NEWS and an interview
with iho SAT- Lake Times, as to the
political liberty OF the members OF the
Church. He usei this language:
AS have already stated, | understood
the mauifesto at the time it was handed
me for approval, just as | understand ii
now. While 1t osleusibly appeared not
TO restrict the liberties OF the people, yet
there was no Limitation 10 its application,
and in view Of the fact that nearly every
male member OF the Church holds some
Office, and az there has as yet been no
public decision announced as 10 the
officers 10 be controlled by 1t, there have
arisen disputes and differences Of
opinions as to its intent. This being true,
and the danger being that il could be APP
Piled to restrict the liberties OF the peo-
plo, i cannot sustain It, | thought
then, as | think now, that such
II course would DO qualification.
l had never dreamed tina, q condition
would arse IN my lie where l could not
serve God fully and yet yield my COM
plute allegiance to my country and to my
state Tue spirit of the manifesto, AS It
appealed TO me, was in violent antagon-
ism to all | had believed and publicly
proclaimed Cor many years, and l could
not, and, so far, have not been able to
bring myself 20 point where l believed
/ should yield my political Judgment TO
any set Of men, however praisewOrthy
their intentions.
When the manifesto was presented to
me it appeared to my mind Us u com.
mand on all to recognize the right of the
Church authorities to control political
concerns; 1t meant, so far rs was con-
cerned, a recantation OF the principles
had for years advocated Tecodiug
from the ground l had occupied during
the division movement, and above all, IL
made me feel thai l would be untrue to
myself. do not claim that l cannot he
wrong; but with the light have, the man
ifesio applied as its construction will al
low, or as II would be interpreted by men
whose personal ambitions might control
and subveu their sense OF right,l could
be operated to the injury OF the STATE.
Eighth. While protesting against
the mingiiDg Of religion anu politics,
he repeatedly thrust his differences
with the CHURCH into politlcalsptec hss;
rs Tor Instance in the Legislature ~
he close OF the senatu rial contest, anu
At u reception given to him at LORAp,
Feb. II o., 1897, and also rerep ion to