The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1906-01-28
SPLITTING THE CHURCH.

The apparent eruption in the apos.
tollc quorum of the Mormon church
something never before seen in Utah
seems stlll to continue and increase IN
violence.
Whether there is any real and sub
stantial difference as TO doctrine and
practice is doubtful; there is. however,
clashlng of personal interests.
Upon the one side are ranged the ad-
mitted polygamists, including those
who have taken new wives since 1890.
and those who have officiated In plural
marriage ceremonies for other men. Up
on the other are ranged the men who.
like Smoot, pretend to deplore, and
seek 10 avoid responsibility for, the
recrudescence
1t has been said that a man out of
harmony with the authorities cannot re-
main in the hierarchy This still re-
mains true. Notwithstanding the In
harmony between the apostles. all Of
them arc harmonious with Joseph F.
Smith. Those who practice polygamy,
inculcate it. Induce and enable others
to engage IN It. are living in consonance
with Smiths desire and example They
are the practical supporters of his
methods. and are therefore strictly In
accord with him. Those who lie TO the
world and pretend that polygamy Is
not-cr. II 1t be. that they are Its op-
ponents-are telling the falsehood
which Is agreeable to Smith They are
seeking to mitigate the judgment of the
world. and therefore they also arc In
accord with his desire
But whatever may be the attitude of
these two factions toward each other
even II 1t could be known that no real
difference upon doctrine, or practice
but merely rivalry OF personal aspi-
rations, existed between the members
of the apostolic quorum-the effect up
on the Mormon mass is bound to be a
disintegration. Notably Will the attack
by Smoot upon Apostles Taylor and
Cowley have the effect of demoralIz-
Ing the membership of the church. If
they are right he is wrong. If he is
right they are wrong. Upon a point of
such radical difference there can be no
Polygamy is either a cor:
ner- stone OF the faith or It is a fraud
aud crime. And these palpable facts
the Mormon people, however blind. are
still competent to appreciate.
1t is interesting 10 note that Shoots
criticism was never awakened until
after the polygamy of his associates be-
gan to threaten his own personal am
billions. He was content to support the
polygamous hierarchy with voice and
vote and energy and unstinted ap-
Droyal, until he found that there was
menace to his own seat in the Senate.
Then, doubtless by connivance with
Joseph F. Smith, he began to play the
usual game of evasion and insincerity. |
Mormon solidarity was never so much |
as now. The mass of the |
people cannot follow Smith in both |
directions at the same time; nor can
hey follow at the same time Reed |
'moot, supposed monogamlst, and |
Charles w. Penrose, offensive polyea-
MIST and teacher of polygamy. All of
hem must make a choice sooner or
alter, and In making that choice, thou
'ands Of them will recede from their
of Smith and their contribu-
ions to his golden calf
1t looks very much us If Smoot's po-
ltical aspirations. and his reckless ef-
orts to protect himself In his seat In
he Senate. may be the wedge that
pitts the church in twain
The church cannot be half polyea-
nous and half monogamic 1t cannot
'e half loyal and half traitorous. 1t
an be an American institution. keen
ng within the law and Its own proper
rovince as a church; or 1t can be alien.
reasonable and unbearably offensive
o American sentimentalities.