Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1903-08-08
THAT BRIGHAM CITY EPISODE.

Several prominent newspapers In DIFF
ferent parts OF the country have com
mented upon an alleged condition of af-
fairs in Brigham City, Utah and taxi
ing the reports published In this city
as a basis have discoursed gravely on
the interference of the Mormon
Church In business and political AFFAIRS.
The facts In the case were given In
The Deseret News at the time, but the
rumors first sent out were those that
suited the popular notions about Nor
mon Church domination, and therefore
they were preferred, in most instances,
10 the plain. unvarnished truth.
As We have stated in these columns,
the people OF Brigham City own a
building called the Opera House. The
Church Is not the owner nor the pos
SCISSOR OF the building. II is used for
amusement purposes dancing included.
A dispute arose between the managers
Of the house and the musicians and
some of the latter decided TO erect
dancing pavilion and run It themselves,
but before doing 80 asked counsel of
the Stake Presidency After inyestl-
gating the whole matter they were adj
vised against their project. However,
they proceeded with their design and
OF course there was a rupture between
them and the Stake authorities. and
this was magnified and exaggerated
out OF all due proportions. and the
story went out that not only the mu-
sicians but large number Of the mem
bers OF the Church at that place were
threatened with accommodation. SO
much was made out Of a very small
matter, that the press OF the country
Imagined from dispatches and newspa-
per articles, that there was tremend-
Gus split in Mormondom, and that the
Church was trying TO force people TO
patronize one OF its dancing halls.
The whole affair was but Of local inn
portance, and Of small moment at that.
but had to be noticed by the Presidency
and High Council Of the Stake because
Of the action OF the musicians in seek
ing their counsel as 10 this matter or
course. all the stories about exoom-
munlcatlon and compulslon and the
rest Of II were untrue, and The com
ments Of the press concerning them
were absurd But the whole dlfIlculty,
such as Il was has now been settled,
and we give the particulars because OF
the sensational reports that have been
published concerning IT, The brethren
Who figured in the difficulty and who
were the CHIEF cause Of the contro-
vetsy, have made satisfaction and the
trouble is ended. This will fully APP
pear from the following documents
which we are permitted TO publish
brigham city, Utah,
August 8 1893
we hereby certify, and confess to
all concerned, that our presence at the |
meetings OF the High Council held |
March 2sth, and May LIST. 1908. and the |
part We took IN the deuDel0l0nS OF |
these meetings would give every inn |
preston that we came TO these au- |
ihorltes for counsel; and for this rea-
son the High Council and Stake Presl- |
dency We're fully justified IN the action |
they took and have taken in advising |
the Latter-day Saints 20 sustain and |
honor their decisions. And We hereby |
express our regrets for the part We |
have taken In causing misunderstood |
ing and division among the people,
Signed: CHRIS CHRISTENSEN,
&C. o. ANDERSON
In consideration Of the foregoing ac-
knowledgefhent, the Stake Presidency
have issued the subioleed address
Brigham city. Utah. August Ord, 1905.
I'D the I.atier-day Saints Of Box FL |
der Stake Of Zion:
In view OF the ssatement made and |
published BY tlldels Chris Christensen |
and G. U. Anderfpn Regarding the |
summer dancing Pavilion matter We
hereby withdraw our objections to the |
Saints patronlzing the pavilion as
long as proper decorum ana order Is