The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1898-10-09

that they would unitedly resign and re-
fuse to sing until Apostle Taylor made
an abject apology to them for the ire
parable slander spoken by him from the
pulpit. Not a few of the singers were
reported to have asserted that their
self-respect would not permit them to
ever again affiliate with the choir as
long as Apostle Taylor is one of the
chosen twelve. Others predicted that
the apostle would be unfrocked today
and as frequently it was asserted that
because the apostle had so unwarrant-
edly and indiscriminately pointed the
finger of suspicion in the presence Of
10000 people toward the mora character
of the virtuous 500 ladies and gentlemen
in the church choir, they would abso-
lutely decline to sing at today's ser
vices.
CHORISTERS EXPRESS THEM
SELVES.
For the purpose of ascertaining~ the
correctness of these rumors, a Herald
reporter last evening interviewed Pro-
fessor Stephens and several of the choir
members. The choriSterS spoken to in
variably replied that they would prob
ably do as the majority willed, but their
immediate future course in pursuit Of
a vindication would be governed large
ly by developments and by overtures
breach between them and him. Some of
those interviewed were not in a forgiv-
ing frame of mind, while others were
willing to accept Apostle Taylor's apol-
ogy if he would publicly make one to-
day. All, however, would give due con-
sideration to the wishes of their leader,
Professor Stephens, in the premises.
STATEMENT BY PROFESSOR
STEPHENS.
Professor Stephens said, in reply to
the reporters queries:
There has not been a business meet
ing Of the choir since Friday, and there
will be no opportunity to have one, if
one is desired by the members, until
after this afternoons services and sing
ing. The reason there are so few here
tonight is that more than half are at
work in stores and elsewhere this busy
night, and they were not expected to
come. I do not anticipate that the
choir or any considerable number of the
members will resign. l hope that none
of them feel that such a step is neces-
sary in order to vindicate their reputa-
ton for morality before the commune
ty. There is no significance in the call
for the temple choir to meet here before
the services this afternoon. There will
be an overflow meeting in the assembly
hall and the temple choir will furnish
the music there. That is the reason
for the call. The tabernacle choir will
sing in the afternoon, but not in the
for the reason that the En-
cry stake choir was invited, in recogni-
ton of its praisewoTthy efforts at the
Eisteddfod. This invitation was eX-
tended before Apostle Taylor made his
remarks, which have raised such a
storm of indignation on the outside.
Il can say again, as 1 said Friday
night, that regret that Apostle Taylor
made the statement that called into
question the good reputation of he choir
members. 1 know that his statement
has aroused intense Indignation, and
naturally so. But President Cannon
repudiated the apostles
or at least the authenticity of
the assertion. The matter now is only
between Apostle Taylor and the choir,
and he has not yet had any opportunity
to make amends to all the members in
a body. I do not question Apostle Tay
lor's good intentions, but I doubt the
of his public uterance against
the pure characters of the singers"