The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1897-08-15

The trial of Moses Thatcher. which
has engrcssed the intereSt of the peo-
pie of this state for week past. is
row at an end and the whole affair
has passed into history.
The public is, in a general way, en-
tirely familiar with the details of the
breach between Mr.. Thatcher ana the
church, which became manifest soon
after Mr.. Thatcher accepted the
nomination for United States senator
at the hands of the Democratic party.
This breach was widened during the
campaign that followed and culmi-
mated when the church formulated the
last manifesto and Mr.. Thatcher re-
fused to sign it. At the conference of
the church following this, Mr.. Thatcher
was suspended from the quorum of
apostles. and a little later was de-
prived of that office, which, however,
was left vacant, no successor having
yet been named.
In the last senatorial campaign, Mr..
Thatcher was again a candidate for
the United States senate, and his
public utterances, interviews and let
ters gave offense TO the church author
tiles so that finally he was placed on
trial before the high council and the
charges may be summed up in the one
word--apostacy.
Much testimony was taken during
the hearing and the case was finally
argued by members of the council and
Mr. Thatcher made the closing address
in his own behalf On the following
day, Friday the stake presidency
presented their decision. finding that
the charges had been sustained
Coupled with his, however, was
condition that Mr.. Thatcher might, by
making a declaration, be restored to
mem bership in the church.
on the same day, Friday, Mr.
Thatcher made a reply, accepting the
conditions Of the decision, which was
yesterday endorsed by the stake presi-
dency, and endorsed as d satisfactory
compliance with the decision.
In his reply or declaration Mr..
Thatcher makes the decision a part
of his communication. He now en-
dOrses the manifesto, which was the
cause of so much contention, with the
explanation that the Interpretation
placed upon il by the authorities makes
il possible for him to do so without
Objectionable statements made by him
ana covered in the decision, were, he
says, made under apprehension of
the situation and they are retracted.
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 editorially, the
News says:
For more than a week past there
has been a great deal of curiosity man
ifested and great interest created by
the fact that Noses Thatcher was upon
trial for his fellowship in the Church
of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints be-
fore the presidency and high council
of the Salt Lake stake. Many false
statements of the causes and proceed
ings OF the case have been given
through the public prints, the tnfor-
nation generally being only of a hear
say character where not actually
coined in the brain Of the imaginative
reporter. In order 20 correct the wrong
impressions that have been made, and
10 present the case truthfully in all its
aspects for the information OF all in
teIested the News now gives a brief
account Of the trial. with the signed
documents that go 70 make up the rec
ord
The proceedings before the high
council were commenced by a COM
plant (Which appears below entered
by a committee of three of the council
of the apostles on behalf of the church,
and Brother Thatcher at 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 CT evidence and in
statements on either side, and adjourn
ments We're taken from time to time in
consideration Of the still feeble condi- |
tien OF the defendants health. Thus
the proceedings, which commenced on |
Friday, Aug. 6, continued, with daily
sessions (excepting Sunday to Aug !
10. 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 the /
council, and also those who filed the
complaint, he made a plea in his own
behalf. in which he expressed his will
iingness and his desire TO make right !
ali the wrong that he had done to any
of his brethren, and also to comply with /
the decision OF the council, whatever
that might be. He admitted that he !
had been in error, and in the darz