The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1911-01-10
MORMON CHURCH.
HUNBLEST TANNER
Twelve Apostles Deprive Him of
All of His Ecclesiastical
Offices.
DECLARE ACTION is DUE
TO ATTITUDE ON P0LYGAMY
Penalty for Participation in Re-
cent Plural Marriages Paid
by Former Judge.

Henry S. Tanner has been disfellow-
shipped from the Mormon church. This
information is contained in formal
statement issued by the council OF the
twelve apostles under date of January
Z. The announcement was made public
on Monday. According to the au-
nouncement Tanner was disfellow-
shipped from the church "for being
ont of harmony with the council and
the church on the questions of the
rightfulncss of recent plural marriages
and the authority to perform such mar
riage.
The announcement does not contain
the exact nature of the charge against
him, but it is reported that he recently
took a plural wife and that he also per-
formed recent plural marriage. 1t
is known that for some years Tanner
has been in bad repute with many of
the church members because Of his at
titude with reference to plural mar
ringes.
Married Three Plurals.
Tanner is known to have married at
least three plural wives since the man
ifesto and he is reported to have as
many as twelve wives. His polygamous
marriages have brought him consider
able uotoriety during the past ten OF
twelve years. He had at least one wife
prior TO his marriage to daughter of
Morgan Richards in 1901. The father
Of the Young woman is a prominent cltl-
zen of Iron county and at present chap
lain of the house of representatives Of
- 4 ,.l,, L.,
formerly state auditor.
Another of Tanners plural wives
was Claricc Thatcher, daughter Of the
late Moses Thatcher of Logan. Moses
Thatcher bitterly opposed this mar
riage. The Young woman was educated
and refined. and n favorite daughter of
the wealthy Logan banker Mr..
Thatcher pointed out to her that she
was worthy n better place IN society
than she could possibly hope 10 attain
through being the plural wife of any.
one. He pointed out the hardships and
woes of polygamy, but in spite of his
counsel she married Tanner. The
marriage took place in 1902. There are
several children Of this union, Mr.,
Thatcher cut off Clarice in his Will with
g beQuest of 81,
Voted Against Sustaining Him
In fOc conference OF Iaoo Samucl
Russell of Salt Lake voted against
sustaining Tanner, on the ground That
Tanner had violated the manifesto.
However, Tanner was sustained. and
hns continued 10 hold various ccclesins.
teal places. In voting against Tanner
MIR. Russell took the position that
Tanners violation of the manifesto
should become known IN order that he
might be barred from high church po.
sitiops.
Two years ago Tanners name was
mentioned in connection with the
marriage of Bessie Badger
to Alpha Higgs. 1t was reported that
Tanner had performed the marriage.
Following this plural marriage ii is
said that Tanner and Louis Kelsch were
reprimnndcd by the church.
Within the next year, it is said,
Tanner took another plural wife. and
because of this the investigation which
resulted in the recent action OF the
twelve apostles. The disfcllowshlpping
of Tanner d Drives him of al his
Concluded on Page Two