The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1897-08-14

Moses Thatcher has been formally
found guilty and while in a sense ex-
communicated from the Mormon
church, yet the result is contingent
upon such conditions that it would
probably be more correct 10 say that
he is suspended. than communicated.
This decision will create no surprise.
as it was foreshadowed in Yesterdays
Herald. but a matter of great interest
Is the sort of saving clause connected
with the judgment, under which it is
possible for Mr.. Thatcher TO regain his
membership in the church. Few who
know him would suppose that he would
comply with the conditions necessary TO
bring his restoration about, and yet in
this they may be very much mistaken.
THE DECISION.
The high council met at 10 o'clock
yesterday morning. and the decision of
the presidency of the stake was an
nounced. Tt was to the effect that the
charges Of "apcstacy and unchristian-
like conduct, IS exhibited in his public
ntterances, Interviews and letters" was
sustained, and that Mr.. Thatcher was
found guilty.
DECISION SUSTAINED.
Following this announcement. the
council proceeded to act upon the de-
cisien. There was no division of senti-
ment whatever on the general PROPOSE
ton. The members of the council voted
unanimously to sustain the decision of
the presidency The effect OF this.
Standing alone, is to excommunicate
MIR. Thatcher from the church.
AN OPPORTUNITY TO RETRACT
The other proposition. however. was
to formulate a statement for Mr.
Thatcher to sign if he should desire to
be reinstated in the church It is said
that the statement includes an endorse
ment of the last manifesto, which Mr..
Thatcher formerly refused to approve.
and a retraction of the Objectionable
statements made by him in his public
addresses during the campaign last
year, and set out in his interviews and
letters
This would virtually be an acknowl-
edgement on his part that he has been
in error On all matters in controversy.
and would require him to renounce the
position he has taken heretofore on
matters with which the public is ia
miliar. such as the manifesto.
MR.. THATCHER WILL NOT TALK.
Mr.. Thatcher himself refused to make
any statement whatever and the same
secrecy was observed by the stake pres
idency and members of the council. 1t
was quite evident that an agreement
had been made to withhold all informa-
ton regarding the proceedings, but the
result. without the details, was known
throughout the city and in different
parts OF the state last evening.
ALLOWED THIRTY DAYS.
It is said that the statement prepared
for Mr.. Thatcher to sign was sent 60
him at O'Clock yesterday afternoon, |
and he was allowed 80 days in which to
subscribe to it. Should he do so. he
viii be, according to report, reinstated
in the church, but meantime he is sus-
pended from membership.
SURPRISING RUMoRs.
Inasmuch as Mr.. Thatcher declines to
give any information on the subject.
his future course is purely a matter of
conjecture. While his friends say they
do not believe he will recede from the
position he has taken, the fact that he
should even consider the conditions i'm
posed is pointed to by some as an evil
dence of a change of front. Indeed, in
some quarters, the opinion is advanced
that Mr.. Thatcher will make a complete
retraction and eventually follow the
example of B. H. Roberts.
4 SINGULAR CIRCUMSTANCE.
If the report that he is required.
among other things, to endorse the
manifesto as a condition to reinstate-
ment, be true, and it is well authenti-
Gated as passing strange that he should
require time for consideration, unless
his refusal to express himself is to be
construed as an indication that he will
make the retraction required.
THE COUNCIL.
The council that tried the case was
composed OF the following gentlemen:
William Eddington. George J. Taylor
Mr.. Woolley, "A. w. Winberg. John T.
Game, James P. Freeze, Edward Smell
grove, II. P. Richards. Elias A Smith.
John Nicholson, John Clark and D. L.
Davis.
Julius Gauer Sails For Europe.
(SDecfal to The Herald