Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1906-10-10
"REORGANITES" IN CANADA.

comfy published an inter lew with one
"Rev. Alvin Knlseley," missionary
OF the Reorganltes, consisting chiefly
Of TRADE against the Utah Nor
mons" and the members OF the Church
residing IN Alberta. In addition 10
the usual attacks made by that class
OF persistent decelvers, Knlselcy ex-
pressed the suspicion that poygarny
Is being practIsed IN Canada and more
particularly In southern Alberta. He
also declared that the succession In the
presidency Of the Church Is IN "the
son OF Joseph Smith the martyr" and
that "he was ordained and appointed
to this lncumbency by virtue Of the
fact that he was designated by his
father prior to his martyrdom In II.
Iinois in iA4"
AS to the falsehood about the prac-
tIoe Of polygamy by the "Mormons'
in Alberta, a vigorous reply and refu-
tation Is made In the same paper OF
. later date by f. d. Hammond, Jr.,
who goes into the subject specifically,
and turns the tables very deity and
forcibly and "knlseley upon tho Re.
organize defamer. The Winnipeg Trib-
une gives equal space and as fine a
position to Mr., Hammond's response
as II did to Mr.. KnIseley's assault, and
II makes good and interesting matter
for the general reader. We do not
care TO copy Mr.. Hammonds causuc
remarks, lest we might be accused OF
setting forth an argument in defense
OF plural marriage,
In reference TO the assertion OF
Mr.. Kniseley that the son Of the
Prophet" was ordained and appointed
TO succeed mis- father In the presidency
of the Church OF Jesus Christ OF Lat
ter-day Saints, we have to say that
the Reorganite in Canada is sadly be-
hind the times In his own organlza-
tion. HIS story was very commonly
told by preachers OF that sect several
years ago but It has been abandoned
hy most Of them since "the son OF the
Prophet" himself has denied the state
ment that he was ordained and APP
POINTED" by his father. According to
later claims he was simply blessed by
his father, as children are ordinarily
blessed in this Church. Therefore as
a matter Of fact, this claim Of Sue
cession" falls fiat to the ground, and
those Reorganite preachers who still
depend upon IL are either very ignorant
OF their own tenets or, as In some 9th
er matters, they endeavor willfully to
deceive the inquirlng mind.
That Joseph Smith, the Prophet OF the
nineteenth century, did not attempt TO
ordain or appoint or nominate one OF
his children to succeed him In the presi-
dency Of the Church, Is very clear and
beyond the slightest doubt with men,
hers OF the Church who have become
acquainted with the order OF the Priest
hood as revealed through Joseph Smith,
on March IS, 1875. contained In section
l07. Doctrine and Covenants This orr
der. establishing the First Presidency
as consisting Of "three Presiding High
Priests, chosen by the body, appointed
ana ordained to that office and upheld
by the confidence, faith and prayer OF
the Church" settled forever the ques-
ion OF hereditary succession TO presi-
dency.
II is further provided In the same
revelation that the Twelve Apostles,
travelling presiding high council, form
a quorum equal in authority and power
10 the three Presidents previously men
and II Is their duty TO build
up the Church and regulate all the at
fairs of the same In all nations" Con-
sequontly, when the First Presidency
becomes dissolved by any means, the
Twelve come next In order as the pre-
siding quorum OF tho Church, until
the First Presidency Is reorganized
This same order was given again by
revelation mt Nauvoo. January TO- ISL.
rs contained IN section l24,DoctrIne and
Covenants. Ii IL under those direct
modern revelations that the Church
has been conducted ever since tho quor-
inns Of the Melchisedek and Asronic
Priesthoods were fully organized, and
there has been no break IN the success
sion down to the present day The one
lnsn-power which the Reorganltes af-
feet to believe in, and which they must
depend upon for their pretended claim
Of ordination or appointment in any
form Of their presiding officer by the
Seer. is contrary to the ge-
MUS and spirit Of the Church set UP by
divine commandment IN tho latter days,
md Is In hostility to the order that we
have referred to.
Is 1t not about time that the leaders
Of the Reorganlte movement for their
own sakes, should correct the erroneous
assertions OF their missionaries con-
corning the "succossion," and instruct
them 10 tell the truth and let II stand
On Its own merlts2 That is. thnt after
a period OF sixteen years or more dur
ng which according TO their theory
God let tho Church which He had de-
cIared should not be left to another
people" and which He had organized
for perpetuIty. remain without leader
and without authority 10 administer in
the things OF the kingdom which He
had promised should stand for ever"
although Il contained the tulnsss Of
the Priesthood. with the Apostleshlp,
and thousands Of devoted men qualified
to officiate in all the ordinances Of the
until number OF apostates
from the faith, some communicated
persons and others who had followed
after strange delusioas and bogus
prophets. set up an organization Of
their own and induced "the son OF the