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Source: Church History Vol. 3 Chapter 29 Page: 555 (~1870)

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555 For writing such articles as "Our Workmen's Wages," "The True Development of the Territory," "Steadying the Ark," etc., a charge has been preferred against me of apostasy, on the ground that I have no right to publicly discuss the wisdom of any measure or policy of the priesthood and expect to retain a membership in the church at the same time. For asserting my belief that the gospel gives me the freedom to differ with the leaders of the church, and the privilege of stating my difference of opinion, provided I do it honestly and respectfully, I have been deprived of my membership in the church-the doctrine being positively laid down on the occasion of my trial by President Brigham Young and Elder George Q. Cannon, that "it is apostasy to honestly differ with the priesthood in any of their measures."

"'If this definition of apostasy be correct, of course, I am an apostate, because it is true that I do not see eye to eye with our ecclesiastical leaders on the subject of the reduction of our workmen's wages, the mineral development of the Territory, and similar matters.

"'I wish to give, in a brief way, a statement of the circumstances attending my expulsion, and the reasons by which I have been guided in the course I have taken, so that all my friends may judge for themselves. In doing this I shall have to omit most of the preliminaries connected with the case, inasmuch as they occurred at the "School of the Prophets." Suffice it to say that, on Saturday, 16th October, an announcement that we had been violently denounced by President Young reached our ears, and on the following Saturday we were publicly cited to appear before the High Council and "be tried for our standing."

"'On Monday we appeared before the High Council at the City Hall, which was densely packed with the authorities of the church-no ordinary members, except those who appeared as witnesses, or were specially invited, being allowed to be present. The following is a brief synopsis of the trial from minutes made on the spot.

"'After the charge of apostasy had been preferred by Elder George Q. Cannon, on the ground of articles in the Magazine containing views on financial questions differing

(page 555)

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