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

THE CASE OF MOSES lHAItHEh'
For more than n week past there
has been a great deal of curiosity
manifested and great interest created
by the fact that Moses Thatcher wDs
upon trial for bis fellowship in the
Church OF Jetus Christ Of Lstter-day
Saints before the Presidency and
High Council OF the Salt Lake Stake.
Many false statements OF the causes
ana proces diugs in the case have been
given through the public prinls,
the Information generally being
only Of hearsay character,
where not actually coined in the
brain OF the imaginative reporter. 10
order to correct the wrong Impressions
that have been made, ana to present
the case ttuthfully in all It's sspects
for the iniormat of all Interested,
the NEWS now gives briei account
OF the trial, with the signed docu'
mepts that 60 to make up the record.
The proceedings before the High
Council were commenced by com.
plant (Which aprears below entered
by ommlttee OF three OF the
Council OF the Apostles on behalf
Of tue Church. ana Brother Thatcher
at once signified his intention
to appear. The case was tried under
the ordinary rules OF the High Gown
ell, except that greater latitude than
comm N was allowed In the iniroduc.
tlon Of evidence and in statements ON
either side, and adjournmonts were
taken from time to time In conaideIa-
tlon OF the still feeble condition OF the
defendsnPs health. Thus the proceed
ings, which CONNER ced on Friday,
August 9Th, continued, with daily
sessions excepting Sunday to
August 18Th. Every opportuni.
~ which he could desire was
given him to explain bis position
and feelings, and after hearing the
speakers on both sides of the Council,
and also those who filed the com.
plaint, he made plea In his own be.
hall, In which he expressed his vii.
lingnesa and his desire to make right
oil the wrong that he had done to any
OF his brethren and also to comply
with the declsi0n OF the Council, what
ever that nigh be. He admitted that
he had been In error, and in the dark
that he had been seeking for light
and that II had come to him through
what had been developed n this trial.
1t will be seen from the findings
and decision given below that the
matter did not rest, as stated and sup.
posed by some, upon Brother ThatcheT's
rc'usal to accept the Declaration OF
Principle, but rather upon his general
course OF hostility to his, brethren,
particularly those who stand at the
head OF the Church. 1t appeared,
however, that much OF tina, wac
predicsted upon misundeTstand.
ing OF their motives and purposes;
and instead OF taking that Dee.
laratlon us 1t stood, he assumed to
make an Interpretation OF II cor
responding 10 his precOncsived notions
OF what he thought tho leaders OF The
Church intended to do. His public
uttersnces by letters and speeches were
reviewed; come Of these were much
modified by his explanations; others
which were generally understood to re.
fer to the presiding authorities OF the
Church were explained as liza Wing no
reference to them at all; thus the"bond.
age" anu oppression" ana "rouble"
10 which he had alluded were OK
planned to be such as he feared would
come from sources outside the Church
and not from its leading authorities.
Great plainness Of language was
used In presenting to Brother Thatcher
the position In which he stood and the
effect produced on the public mind by
the course he had pursued. After the
dency OF the Stake had taken the mat
ter under RdvIsement, they presented
the findings and decision given below,
which were unanimously sustained by
the High Council, and were satisfactory
10 those who filed the complaint.
Time was given to Brother Thatcher
to consider whether he could ana
would July comply with the decision,
and TO formulate such a document In
his own language Rs would express
his Views and teelings-,hls limit
time being fixed at thirty days. From
his letter, which follows, It viii b.
seen that he hns at once acted In tn
matter, endorsing the decision in the
most unequivooal manner, and mani
Testing q spirlt OF humility aud repent
Ance that Will be very gratifying to all
who have real Interest in his welfare.
BY the final approval, on the part Of
tie Presidency OF the Stake, OF his
conduct in this matter, he retains hi,
handing and fellowship In the Church.
We now present, without turtle
6Emsnt, tbs documents In the case.