The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1900-03-15
Of MORNONS
PROPOSAL REPORTED BUT is NoT
BELIEVED,
Doctrinal Differences Stand in the Way.
But Temple site at Independence Mis-
souri, Interests All Mormons.

SALT LAKE, Utah, February 23.-
The Salt Lake Herald publishes the fol-
lowing:
It is reported that an amalgamation
of the factions of the original Church
of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
has been proposed by emissaries of the
Missouri contingent If effected, 1t
means the bringing together of the Jo-
sephites, or recrganized church; the
Bedrickites and the main body, COM
monty called Mormons.
The rumor has been current for ten
days, but not until yesterday was 1t
learned that the subject had been dis
| Cussed at a recent meeting Of the
! apostles quorum. Elders Cole and
Frisby of the Hedrickites presenting it
! What decision, if any, was reached,
the authorities refuse to divulge. The
elders left last night for independence,
Mo-, and efforts to obtain from them
| the details of their labors here were
lnavailing. Elder Cole would not deny
the main fact that there was such q
| proposition made and entertained be-
fore the leaders of the church, nor
would he venture to express his salts
faction or dissatisfaction with the an
swer received. Likewise reticent were
the apostles on this point.
At the time Elders Cole and Frisby
ness was in connection with the old
temple site at Independence. Such was
the case, but their mission extended
further. According to the report they
were authorized by their own people
and the Josephites to propose a con-
solidation without stipulating any
terms. This is a source of wonder.
since the Hedrickites have but lao
members and the Josephites number
between 10000 and 100000; nevertheless.
the two elders carry credentials from
the larger body, and it is limited that
Mr.. Frisby is really a member of the
latter.
There is a Discrimination on the part
of those in positions to know to dis
cJss the sentiment of the Mormon
leaders on the subject of amalgama-
ton. 1t is a matter of record that at
the death of Joseph Smithy many of
the church members, disavowing their
belief in plural marriage, banded to-
gether under the leadership of Joseph
Smith, Jr., and remained in the east
while Brigham Young and the main
body came on to Utah. The former
were called Josephites Others follow
ed Sidney Rigdon, others man by
the name of Strang, and still others
Hedrick, all refusing to longer accept
the Mormon marriage system.
In the course of time many of the
members of these factions drifted t.
! the Smith following, but the Hedrick.
ties remained indissoluble. Going tC
Missouri, they got possession of the
temple site, while both factions anC
the MOrmons claimed it, The Hedrick
ties and Josephites plunged into litiga
ton over the property and some year.
ago the Hedrickites sent a delegation
to President Woodruff for money t.
carry on the legal battle. They may
J ana may not have received some bu
The little faction has always manifest
ed disposition to turn the site ovel
to the Mormons, knowing they canno
themselves erect temple, with so few
members to carry on the work.
BY a recent decision of the United
States circuit court of appeals, tn,
Hedrickites gained final title to tn,
: land in litigation, upon which anC
I around which the temple and city o
1 Zion are to be built, according to al
old prophecy. Now comes the visit O
the Hedrickite elders in this connec
. tion, and some significance may be at
tached to the remark of one in author
ity yesterday, when asked If the churcl
; would buy" the temple site.
Said he: 1--WE will get it easier thai
that"
How either of the churches can b
I. reconciled to the doctrines of the othe
is food for thought. On the face of
the scheme to consolidate seems i'm
practicable. 1t is not thought improb
able that the recent manifesto of Pres
ident Snow on plural marriage ha
something to do with the matter.