Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1908-06-11
Argument Between Elders Fades
And Curtis Regarding
Succession.
AUDIENCE is DISTURBED.
ThoughtIcss Persons In Choir Annoy
Speakers and Those Gathered to
Hear Opponents Express Views.

The debate on succession In the pres
idency, which commenced Monday even
ing between representative OF the
Church Of Jesus Christ of Latter-day
Saints and an elder of the Reorganized
church. came to a srse last night. The
three sessions were held In the Second
ward westinghouse, Murray. and were
largely attended, unusual Interest being
manifested In the discussion.
The debaters were Elder Jacob A.
Fades. of West Jordan, and Elder J. f.
Curtis. the latter appearing for the Re-
organized church. Last night the for
fner had the opening speech, taking the
affirmative of the following proposition:
Resolved, that Brigham Young was
the lawful successor of Joseph Smith
as president OF the Church OF Jesus
Christ Of Latter-day Saints" Bach
speaker had an hour In which to pre-
sent his views. divided into half hour
addresses, with five minutes each for
closing. The rebuttal had not been
provided for in the written agreement,
but the suggestion for extension OF time
was agreeable to both speakers.
THoUGHTLEss WOMAN.
Under this arrangement Elder Curtis
mad the last say, and IL was at this
Juncture that the one regrettable incl
dent OF the evening occurred. The
speaker had scarcely commenced, when
q thoughtless woman in the choir began
to litter and laugh. Some of the
younger members OF the congregation
and some older ones. Joined in the un-
seemiy conduct, and Elder Curtis was
forced to wait until the confusion was
over before he could proceed with his
remarks. BY far the greater part of
the congregation disapproved of the
occurrence and regretted that 1t had
taken place.
The real question at issue, the sue
cession was almost lost sight of In the
discussion. Elder Curtis seemed more
inclined to speak OF other questions
than the one agreed upon. Polygamy
ana blood atonement We're particularly
picked cut by him as shafts considered
py him as more or less deadly to the
ciaims of the Church in Utah. These
points were touched upon by Elder
Eades only to the extent of advancing
arguments to the effect that plural
marriage was in the Church prior to
.ne sscendeney of Brigham Young TO
the presidency. and that it was placed
there by no less parsonage than the
Prophet Joseph Smith himself To
prove his assertion he read extracts
from the Saints Herald, the Reorgan-
lzed Church organ. to the effect that
the prophet had taught and practised
the doctrine, but subsequently, repented
OF is action in this regard and burned
the revelation he had received on the
SUBJECT But the question asked by
Elder Fades of his opponent was how
could the doings or even the inisdo-
ings, of Brigham Young confer the
powers of priesthood and presidenev
upon the person formerly known as
Young Joseph.
Admitting as you do. Elder Curtis
that the head of the Reorganized
Church was not directly set apart and
ordained by his father. how could pow
or and authority to lead the Church
be conferred by Marks, Briggs. Gour
ley and Blair. the first three OF whom
had been communicated from the
Church established by the prophet
while the latter was never member
OF that church, asked Elder Fades.
NOT ANSWERED.
The question was not answered nv
Elder Curtis, but he contended that
Brigham Young could not have been
the legal successor, because In his.
Elder Curtis opinion, President Young
did not follow the prophet In his teach
ings.
the Doctrine and Covenants, showing
the closeness existing between the
quorum of the twelve and the first
presidency. Statements of various
leading men were referred to relating
TO the anxiety of the Prophet Joseph
Smith just prior to his martydrom to
see that nothing was left undone by
him that would interfere with the
work In case of his death Al his right
hand stood his brother Hyrum and at
his left stood his brethren of the
twelve. When Hyrum was no more. the
powers of presidency rested upon the
twelve. the great majority of whom
stood as unite. and who were sus-
tained by the Church in conference as
sembled. without one dissenting voice.
Elder Curtis took the ground that
at the conference alluded 10. the twelve
were sustained in their calling" and
he contenoed that that meant only as
apostles and had no bearing upon the
presidency.
AS 10 blood atonement, Elder Fades
emphatically declared that the Church
does now and always has left such
matters 10 the civil law, and the lues-
ton had no place whatsoever n, thIp