The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1899-05-14
NATHAN TANNER, JR.,
THE COMPLAINANT
Objects to the Teachings of George
Q. Cannon.
Sends Formal Charges of Apostacy
to the High Council of Salt Lake
Stake, but President Angus NJ.
Cannon Refuses to Receive Them
Says Tanner Has Been Excom-
municated-True Doctrines of the
Church.

| Nathan Tanner. jr., a well-known
citizen of Ogden, has formulated
charges of apostacy against George Q.
Cannon, a member of the first presi-
dency of the Mormon church. These
charges were sent by Mr.. Tanner to
the high council of the Salt Lake stake,
but the clerk of the council, acting un-
der the direction of President Angus
NJ. Cannon, refused to receive the doc
ument. The rejection was based upon
the ground that Mr.. Tanner was not
in good standing in the church, and,
therefore, had no standing in church
court.
In discussing the causes which led
up to the charges, Mr.. Tanner stated
to The Herald's Ogden correspondent
that articles had appeared in the Ju-
venile Instructor from time to time,
over the signature of, or which were
written by, President Cannon, and
which Mr. Tanner did not think sound
doctrine; that he had written President
Cannon upon the subjects. as the sew
eral different articles appeared, and
that President Cannon had maintained
the correctness of the doctrine taught
by him. Mr.. Tanner said it seemed TO
him a matter of grave Importance;
that, conflicting, as they did, with the
highest authority. he deemed it of suf-
fcient Importance to warrant an ac-
ton wherein the matters could be ju-
dicially determined. He said that since
the matter related solely to President
Cannon'S published views upon doe
trine. he did not deem it any violation
of church rules or of President Can
mons rights to give the matter to the
press.
Angus Cannon's Statement.
Angus NJ. Cannon, brother of George
O. Cannon, and president of the Salt
Lake stake, when seen last evening,
stated that no action whatever would
be taken on Mr.. Tanners charges.
Il have recognized no complaint that
he has ever made to me as president
of the high council" said President
Cannon, and. after moments reflec-
ton, continued: Il have declined to
entertain any charges from Mr.. Tan
ner, understanding that he has been
cut off from the church. In a conversa-
ton with him the other morning, state
mentS that he pronounced false doc
trine, which. as he alleged, President
George Q. Cannon had enunciated. I
told him We're true, having been pro-
claimed by our martyred leader, Joseph
Smith. and taught by the leaders of
our church from the earliest of my
recollection.
From the nature of Mr. Tanners
remarks concluded Mr.. Cannon, "I
am convinced that he takes d perverted
view of matters of church doctrine. and
the greater his efforts to demonstrate
that his views are correct, the more
apparent is his ignorance of the sub
jects he undertakes to discuss
President Cannon pointed out that
if Mr.. Tanner believed he had a right
to be heard. and that the high council
should receive and consider his
CHARGES fhare hing fO
him from laying the matter before the
first presidency of the church.
Tanners Charges.
Mr.. Tanners charges are as fol-
lows:
The High Council of Salt Lake Stake
of Zion, Salt Lake City:
Dear Brethren-I hereby charge
President George Q. Cannon with apOs-
tacy, and with teaching false doctrine.
Among the things which he has
taught that are contrary to the word
of the Lord are that the kingdom of
God is not set up: that the church of
God and the kingdom of God are not
one and the same; that when the king
dom shall be set up. there may be Of
ficers in the kingdom who viii not, at
the same time, be members of the
church: that the sins of one who has
committed murder before the gospel
ItdCUSS Iilii. VIII iOl DG IGlIlllltu DN
baptism; that persons not holding the
priesthood have authority to lay on
hands and rebuke disease in the name
of Jesus.
While it is not essential to the charge
to say more at this time, 1 deem it
not improper to call your attention to
some of his writings and to some au-
thorities upon the subject.
Upon the subject of this unity of the
church and kingdom, in an article in
the Juvenile Instructor, March /. 1896,
page 40, President George Q. Cannon
wrote: THE kingdom of God is a sep
arate organization from the church of
God. There may be men acting as Of
ficers in the kingdom of God who will
not be members of the Church of Jesus
Christ of Latter-day Saints" The
kingdom of God. when established, will
not be for the protection of the Church
of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
alone, but for the protection of all
men, whatever their religious views or
opinions may be"
Converse Is True.
If there is anything which appears
to be abundantly settled by the high
est authority, it is that the converse of
President George Q. Cannon'S state
ment is true; that is that the kingdom
is set up; that the church and kingdom
are one, and that no person can be an
officer of the kingdom who is not
member of the church.
John the Baptist went about pro-
claiming. THE kingdom of heaven is at
hand" and the church of Christ was
Immediately thereafter organized; but
if there was any other organization
claiming to be the kingdom of heaven.
we have no account of it, Jesus and
his apostles went preaching the gospel
of the kingdom, as they did also the
nd har rNrfe for.
the remission of sins: yet they preached
but one gospel, and Paul tells us that if
an angel from heaven were TO preach
any other gospel than that which they
preached, he should be accursed. Je-
sus cast out devils, and ne said. IF
L. L. .s..aA ..E( 81