The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1906-02-20
A Candid Statement
By H. w. Lawrence

Editor Tribune The evidence hereto
fore given before tho courts, and more
recently before the United States SEN
ate Committee OH Privileges and Elec-
tions. by men formerly connected Win
the Mormon church. In relation to secret
obligations and ceremonies imposed on
the adherents Of the church, having
caused strong prejudice against them
on the part OF those i'm the Mormon
faith and by some non Mormons,
deem IL due to myself and others TO
make statement Of our position.
UNNECESSARY CRISIS.
In the first place, the present Sena-
torial crisis In this State could nave
been avoided by the leaders OF the
dominant church II they had not been
determined TO have an apostle OF the
priesthood represent them In the united
States Senate. They were warned Dy
their friends and opponents of what
the result OF this course would be, the
opening up of old wounds and bringing
to view the practical workings of the
church organization" They blundered
on, courtlng the issue and defying the
consequences of their actions. The re-
suit has been. witnesses have been sum-
moncd to 60 To Washington to give
evidence much against their incltna-
ton, knowing that II they were true 10
their convictions. animosities would be
renewed against them, that now slum-
bered.
WHAT is ONES DUTY?
Under these conditions what should
be the duty OF a citizen of this State
when questioned under oath on the wit
ness stand Should he say that he
had forgotten, "he did not know, Il
decline to answer? Should he shield
an organized priesthood claiming the
divine right to rule their adherents, en-
shaving the minds of the young and ls-
norant I'm the old Ishmaeltish spirit or
hatred and revenge, under the sanctity
OF secret religious ceremonies, or should
witness sustain free government and
what he believes 10 be the best Inter
ests Of society7 Under our body polite
all natIonalitics and creeds are allowed
and protected. but there is one standard
that all must conform TO, The Public
Good " our position is that no society
or organization. whether clothed In the
garh of divinity or otherwise. should be
allowed to impose secret obligations or
ceremonies that cannot stand out In the
open and bear an intelligent inyestiga-
ton.
RELIGION NOT ATTACKED.
We are charged with attacking the
holy ordinances of religion We say
what we oppose are eXcrescences that
do not belong to any true religion, and
the system and the people Will be the
better when they are eliminated. II has
been taught that man is not always
capable OF distinguishing between the
right and wrong without the priesthood
to guide him. and that Gods ways are
not as mans ways" Our answer is
that Deity Is better represented In ar
enlightened humanity than In those
claiming TO be his authorized agents.
The divine right of kings TO rule has
been ignored by the American people,
so should the divine right OF priest
hoods be frowned down, as both have
ever been the foes to human progress
There Is not man who has been promi
nently connected with the Mormon or
ganlzation who is not aware of the fact
that a great part Of the trouble and
opposition that the people have had to
meet In the past has been caused by the
priesthood meddllng with politics, the
spirit of the age is opposed to tho
forms OF Democracy being used to per-
petuate Theocratic rule; and every man
in the Mormon church who has ever
stood up for liberal thought and re-
forms has been mathematical as apos-
tate
INCONSISTENT PRIESTHOOD.
he TuI1nR DTleStnOOQ mas never rec
ognized an honest difference; the people
who have come out of other religious
denominations and Joined the Mormon
faith are commended for their wisdom
and discretion, but let them afterwards
change their minds. or those who have
grown up In the system evolve out OF
5leir former belief. they are denounced
as apostate vile and wicked. The apos-
tates from the Mormon church are gem
orally men who have begun to think
for themselves. have opinions of their
own and the manhood to express them
The apostates have been the heralds OF
reform and progress In all ages, and
were IL not for them the people would
still live In the belief that the world
was fiat.
KINDLY FEELING.
In conclusion let me say that the ma
Jority of those who have seeded from
the Mormon church have only kind
feelings towards their former associates
and wish to see them live In harmony
with the laws of our country and the
progressive spirit of the age, and while
forms. ceremonies and the divine rule
of the priesthood are no longer potent
factors to influence their belief and
course OF life. religion OF good deeds
that Will lift humanity to higher
standard of thought and action viii
have their hearty support
HENRY w. LAWRENCE
Salt Lake City, Feb, 10, 1906