The Coalville times. [volume] (Coalville, Utah) 1894-1923, 1897-08-20
THATCHER DISCIPLINED
Declared Guilty Of ApOStaSy and
UnChdStian-like Conduct.
by Endorsing the Manifesto aud
Withdrawing Offensive Re.
marks lie Retains Fellowship
In the Church.

The trial OF Moses Thatcher. which
has ongrosscd the interest Of the peo-
pie OF this state for "a week uast. Is
Row at au end and the whole affair
has passed into history
The public is. Zoo a general way. en-
tlrely familiar with the details OF the
breach between MIR Thatcher and the
church, which became manifest soon
after Mr. Thatcher accepted the
nomination Tor United states senator
at the hands of the Democratic party.
This breach was widou.d during the
campaign that followed and culmI-
mated when the church formulated the
last manifesto and Mr. Thatcher re-
fused TO sign IT, Al the conference OF
the church following this. Mr., Thatcher
was suspended from the quorum OF
apostles. and q little later was de.
privcd % that office. which. however.
was loft vacant NO successor having
Yet been named.
In the last senatorial campaign. Mr..
Thatcher wa again candidate Tor
the United States senate, and his
public uttcranccs. interviews and LETT
tiers gave oncnac TO- the church author
tiles 30 that finally be was paced ON
trial before the high council and the
charges may be summed up in the one
WOrd-aposiacy
Much testimony was taken during
the hearing and the case was finally
argued boy members OF the council and
Mr. Thatcher made the closing address
In his own behalf On the following
day. Friday the sake presidency
presented their decision. finding that
the charges had been sustained.
Coupled with this however was "a
condition that Mr. Thatcher might, by
making "a declaration. Doe restored to
membership ln the church.
ON thc same day Friday. Mr.
Thatcher made a reply, accepting the
conditions ot the decision, which was
yesterday endorsed by the stake prcsl-
dcncy, ana endorsed uH "a satisfactory
compliance with the decision.
In his reply or declaration Mr..
Thatcher makes the decision "a part
OF his communication. lie now en-
durscs the manifesto, which was the
cause of so much contention. with the
explanation that the Interpretation
placed upon 10 by the authorities makes
II possible for him 20 do 30 without
stullifying himself In any way. The
and covered In the decision. were. he
says, made under mlsupptchcnHlon OF
the situation ana they are retractcd.
The history Of the case. with an
official explanation thereof was given
in last last evenings News. an Official
organ Of the church.
THE NEWS EDITORIAL.
Discussing the matter cdltorlally. the
News says:
For more than week past there
has been a great deal OF curiosity man
ifcnted aud Ercat intorcat created by
the fact that Moses Thatcher was upon
trial for HE fellowship In the Church
OF Jesus Christ OF Latter-dny Saints be-
fore the presidency and high council
OF the Salt Lake stake. Many false
statements OF the causes ana proceed
ings OF the ease have been given
through the public prints, the infor-
nation generally being only OF a hear
say character whore not actually
coined In the brain of the imaginative
reporter. In order TO correct the wrong
Impressions that have been made. and
TO present the case truthfulB In an itH
aspects Tor the Information OF an In
tCrcHtCd, the News now gives a brief
account OF the trial. with the signed
documents that 80 10 make up the rec
ord.
"The proceedings before the high
council were commenced 10y a COM
plaint (Which appears below entered
by "a committee OF three of the council
OF the apostles on behalf OF the church.
and Brother Thatcher al once signi-
fed his Intention to appear. The case
was tried under the ordinary rules Of
the high council, except that greater
latitude than common was allowed In
the Introduction OF evidence and In
statements on either side. and adjourn
mcnts were taken from time to time In
consideration OF the sim feeble condi-
ton Of the defendants health. Thus
the proceedings, which commenced on
Friday, Aug. g. continued. with daily
ressons (cNceptlng sunday to Aug.
~. Every opportunity which he could
desire was given him to explain his
position and feelings, and after hear
ing the speakers ON both side OF tho
council, and also those who filed the
complaint, he made a plea In his own
behalf, In which hc expressed his will
lingness ana his desire To make right
all the wrong that he had done TO any
OF his brethren. and also tn comply with
the decision ~ the council. whatever
that might be. lie admitted that he
had been IN error. ana Ia the dark
that he had been seeking FOR light, and
that It had come 10 him through what
had been devolopcd In this trial.
his GENERAL HOSTILITY"
1T win be seen from the findings
and decision given below that the mat
tor did not rest, as stated ana supposed
by some, upon Brother Thatchers re-
fusal TO accept the declaration OF prin-
ciples, but rather upon his general
course OF hostility 10 his brethren, par
tlcularly those who stand at the head
OF the church II appeared. however.
that much of that was prodlcatcd upon
n Misunderstanding of their motives
and purposes; ana instead OF taking
that declaration ns II stood. he as.
sumed TO make an Interpretation OF II
corresponding to his preconceived no.
lions OF what he thought the leaders
or the church Intended TO do. His pub
lie utterancea by letters and speeches
were reviewed; some OF these were
much modified by his explanations:
others which were generally understood
10 refer TO the presiding authorities OF
the church were explained as having
no reference TO them at all; thus the
bondage and oppression and
trouble 20 which he had alluded wera
explained TO be such as he feared would
come from sources outside the church
and not from Its leading authorities.
HE ACCEPTED AT ONCE.
Great plalnness OF language was
used In presenting TO Brother Thatcher
the position In which ne stood and the
effect produced on the public mind by
the course he had pursued, After the