Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1900-03-17
LIBELLous ACCUSATIONS.

In overweening anxiety to exhibit ac-
qualntance with the affairs OF the
Church. q contemporary frequently ex-
poses itself 10 the derision OF persons
who understand Church doctrine and
discipline. Statements are made which
sometimes have a thin thread OF truth,
and at others are composed Of an entire
fabric OF guesswork and falsehood.
A recent instance Is an account Of an
alleged trial before the First Presidency
OF the Mormon" Church. The details
given are Of most scandalous char
acter. such as ought not TO be pub
hshed. and are In some respects grossly
libeilous Reference to them is made
In another part Of this paper In justice
to the gentleman who has been thus
attacked in print, and who will prob
ably take his own means Of obtaining
reparation
II should be understood that the az
fairs OF the Church are not proper SUBJ
jects for secular interference, when
they relate only to members Of the
Church IN their religious standing. AL
50 that there are regular Church iri'
bunals before which such cases are in
vestgated, and that in these all the
parties are afforded ample opportunity
to present their cause. But Church
members only have the right TO appear
as acousers or accused, or as witnesses.
1t is Church affair wholly and en-
tlrely.
The common Judge in Israel is the
Bishop Of the ward where the accused
person resides. He with his counselors
sits as an ecclesiastical court aud hears
the case pro and con, and with them
renders decision according to the evil
dence
An appeal may be taken from that de.
cislon OF the High COUNCIL Of the Stake
OF which that ward Is part, and all
the parties to the first trial have the
privilege TO be present, This court is
presided over by the Presidency OF the
Stake. The whole case is gone over,
either on the minutes OF the Bishops
court II acknowledged to be correct by
the parties. or II necessary It IL tried de
noyo. Six members OF the council
watch the proceedings for the accuser
and six for the accused 10 see that no
injustice is done, and each party is al
lowed the same number OF speakers.
and. In addition. to state his or her own
case, appear as witness, and also
plead for himself or herself The Presl-
dent with his counselors renders the
decision, which stands II sustained by
majority OF the twelve High Priests
forming the council
This decision may be reviewed by the
First Presidency. 10 whom the minutes
OF the trial are sent when required. and
II error Is discovered a new trial may
be ordered, But the First Presidency
does not sit as trial court. The case
which has been improperly paraded be-
fore the public has not been under
hearing" before that body either with
Slosed doors" or openly, nor has Apostle
George Teasdale been Sitting as a
Judge in the case" as enormously de-
clared In the paper that has held up
the matter so glarngly. Were II not
for the injustice done to a prominent
man In Cache county and the scandal
thus promoted, It's statements would be
merely food for mirth.
Every facility is afforded in the
Church courts 10 secure fairness and
equity and bring out all the facts in
any case under trial. and the financial,
social, official or other status OF the par
ties cuts no figure In arriving at truth
full and just conclusions There is no
tribunal on earth where the humblest
person Is more certain Of righteous and
perfectly square treatment than in a
Mormon" High Council. Attempts TO
place them In another light are to be
elassed with the libellous charges that
have recently been made against a
prominent citizen OF Cache county and
they should receive universal reproba-
ton