The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1908-11-16
A SAMPLE PRIEsTLY TRICK.

Mr. Tayler:--Do you not know, as a
part Of the history OF that period, that rat
that purpose. and that men then went
and took the test oath TO the, effect that
they were not nre msm9eFS things tbaa s91sSe sre
described In the test oath; and then, hav.-
Ing taken the test oath, and having voted,
and were rebaptzed. or wha was
necessary, after having received the GER
tf!cate OF withdrawal? Was not that done
IN several hundred cases?
Mr. William Budge.-I have no doubt
it is true. I couldn't personally certify
The Chalrman.-Who were the certifi-
Gates issued by?
Mr. William Budge.-By the bishops
ANY man has a right
The Chalrman.-Bishops In the various
wards?
Mr william Budge--Yes. slr.-Testioo
mony ia Smoot case, volume g pages 2'9
and ESQ.
Here is one instance Of the trickery
TO which the Mormon ecclesiasts resort
in politics. When the Idaho test oath
was enforced it was found that practl-
cally all of the Mormous in that State
were incapacitated from voting at cleo
tions. For long period previous to
that time (1SS6-lS92) polygamy had
been increasing in Idaho to an alarm
ing degree, Because of the well known
secrecy observed concerning these un-
lawful marriages, it was found to be
impossible to procure conviction Of those
who disobeyed the law, and thoir mum.
bers were increasing to such degree
that stern measures were found to be
necessary if the State would stamp ont
the evil. Not only was difficulty en-"
countercd on account OF the deceptlons
practiced by the polygamists them
selves, but added protection was af
forded to the criminals by reason of
the Willingness of homogeneous members
OF the church TO shield their brethren in
their lawlessness. Even when they
knew the full circumstances connected
with given case, members of the
church would perjure themselves rather
than TO betray the priesthood. So that,
N order TO eradicate the malignant
crime, it was deemed necessary by the
citizens Of Idaho TO establish an cleo
tion test oath which barred from the
exercise of the franchise all persons
bound to any organization which prac-
ticed, taught or couptenanced polyg
amous marriages. 1t was upon the en-
forcemcnt Of the provisions OF this
oath that the trIckery and deception
testified to by President William Bulge
was rcsorted to. The bishops urged
upon members of their focks the ad
visibility of taking out certificates Of
virtual apostasy from the church IN or
der that they might exercise the fran
chise to retain such offices to the priest
hood as would serve to protect the law
breakers in their lawbreaking. In their
anxiety to accomplish this end, the gov
erning priests were perfectly willing
that their followers should degrade their
religion, make 4 farce OF what they
considered 10 be a sacred belief in bap-
tism, and to generally stultify them-
selves before 'she citizenship Of Idaho.
Men who would no more think Of apos-
tatizing from the Mormon church than
of committing physical suicide willingly
pretended spostasy for the purpose of
working out the political ends Of their
''holy priesthood thus making game
of the Christ and blaspheming their
own God.
Now, il it were possible at that time
10 bring about such intense hypocrisy in
a religious community with respect to
fealty to the church, how much less rep
rehensiblc would it not appear in the
eyes Of these same priests TO give &C.
clesiastical warrant 10 political party
treachery2 The presiding authorities
condemn apostasy from the church as
the most grievous Of sins-second only
to the crime of murder, They denouDce
the apostate as thing uucleap and uu-
fit for association with the Latter-day
Saints; yet in the instance cited they
actually advised apostasy for their own
protection-(for no bishop OF the church
would dare 30 take such a course with
his people without the distinct approval
or the positive command Of the chief
leaders,. Ii the mere matter of polit,
ieal party faith a recommendation to
trcachery is a frivolous thing compared
with that, SO the Democrats' Of Salt
Lake county have no right to feel any
surprise at their political assassination
l.. Il