Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1897-04-14


churches and who cried "porsecuion"
when brought TO hook, Ia this happy
land OF ours we have complete religious
liberty. Every man has right 10 be-
love or disbelleve in any ,enet,doctrine,
creed Any two or m re persons, noluing
the same belief, have tight TO formulate
a Crend and set uD scot Ihey nave
lawful right 10 believe ard declnro-if
they SEQ fiJ-ihat their belief is he only
true faith; that their path is the only
way that leads 10 Tho Heavenly City.
THIS absolute religious freedom has
naturally resulted In multiplication OF
churches, denominations ana sects, Inc
Sign. ost difference in belief sometimes
sphts u church into two or more parts,
so that we have various divisions II Pros
bytouans, Methodisls, Baptisls, Quakers,
etc.
The Post Gays this religious freedom
W fks we'll under existing Conditions
in contributing TO the peaceful and
orderly Conduct Of religious bodies,
40 adus:
But no church or sect compels any
person to join its membership. and no
man can boc.me Clergyman OF any
dc omination except by his own seeking.
Aud cYory man who takes the Office of
pastor, pTiesl or minister, must solemnly
declare that he believes tho doctrines OF
II church and pledge him elf TO obey lis
laws. lie Is not bound to believe
and obey TO tho end OF his lie.
ao may change his faith at any
time. Ho may come to believe that
this or that tenet Is erroneous, or this or
that rule a mistake. But, as IN honest
| man, he Is bound 20 step down and out
when he can no longer Keep his ordina-
ton pledge; bound 70 refrain from dis
obedience uf cauOns or regulations. And
| 81, wneu he has disobeyod, aud is called
To account aud put on trial, he raises the
"persecutlon" cry, he in entitled 10 no
sympathy. Ev1ry organization among
men, whether for religious social, com
| mefcial, scientific, or any o.hor purpose
| every organ zed body from q baseball
club TO tho gfea.est church cohncll-has,
and must have, its laws; aud II it, OIL
| Gers OF members Violate them thoy are,
and ought to be, subject 10 disciplinary
proceedings.
| The POs!'s srliCle covers the ground
pretty well rs regards the primo pie
inv0.vsI. II an organization we're 10
pursue person who hal with irawn
from 1t bec ,use ne dill MT submit to
It's rules, ami who made no assault
upon the organization but let 1t severe-
| ly alone, there would be persecution.
But any lawful organization has q
right 10 act in its own defense, ami to
enforce the rules OF the society upon
lie members. II the latter no not sp.
prove OF the rules they can Withdraw
iro m membership, where the rules no
onger apply to them; AMI no church
or society could maiDtain its self.
reepect IL 1t did not enforce its rults
upon recnlCltrant members. s. every
eli.respectlug person who has the
urage Of his convictions and expects
to stand by them, wheo these dis gree
with the rules OF any organiza.
uon, Will vindicate them by With
drawing from that society whose
rules he dissinta from. II mem
beers OF church entertain We've on
doctrine and discipline contrary TO the
church rule, they have no just c., m
plant at the organization for either
discipliniug or expeiling them. II they
wish to maintain those contIary views
they should retire from the society
with which they disagree; but to retain
membership while nnlagonizlng d
church doctrine or rule L. tTespassing
upon the religious freedom OF that
church to the extent OF tins dissensiou
or disturbance that ID caused in It,
ranks by such anita Onism,