Epistle to the public, 14 October 1895
A Tribune reporter yesterday after-
noon called on President Wilford
Woodruff for the purpose of interview-
ing him relative to the disturbance
caused by Democratic leaders over the
recent priesthood meeting. The ven-
erable head of the Mormon church had,
however, already prepared a statement
for publication, which is as follows:
To All Whom it May Concern:
Inasmuch as there has been so much
written and said concerning the pro-
ceedings of a priesthood meeting held
in the Assembly hall on Monday, the
7th day of October, I feel it my duty
to make a statement concerning it.
I consider it the right of every man,
woman and child on earth to enjoy
their religion, let that religion be what
it may, for that is between themselves
and their Creator. So I say with re-
gard to politics. Every man has a
right to enjoy his political beilef un-
molested, let this be what it may.
There is not a Democrat in Utah Ter-
ritory who can truthfully say that I
ever asked him to vote a Republican
ticket, or join the Republican party.
Neither can any Republican say that I
ever asked him to vote a Democratic
ticket, or join the Democrats.
A part of my own family are Repub-
licans and part are Democrats. I have
never counseled one of them to change
his politics. They are, all of them,
strong, independent men, and they en-
joy their freedom without any inter-
ference of their father.
Now, concerning that meeting re-
ferred to, there was not, according to
my recollection, one word said about
Democrats, Republicans or politics.
Joseph F. Smith's remarks were upon
the same subject that the Apostles
had taught through the conference
to ten thousand people.
When the Church of Jesus Christ of
Latter-Day Saints was organized, it
was with the holy priesthood in its
various orders and quorums. And
when a man was appointed to the
Apostleship or Presidency, or in any
office, as a teacher of the people, it
placed him in a very grave responsi-
bility. And no man was counted at
liberty, from the organization of the
church, to engage in any branch of
business, politics, or anything else to
take him entirely away from his call-
ing, business, duty or responsibility for
a length of time, without first coun-
seling with the Presidency of the
church, or with his quorum, on its pro-
priety, and getting permission to do so.
And this order has rested upon us all
alike. And this has been my position
for sixty years of my life, and that,
too, without interfering with my man-
hood. And this course does not re-
quire a man to give up his position in
the Democratic party or in the Re-
publican.
Several Democrats have called upon
me since this campaign commenced.
Among the number was my friend,
John T. Caine, saying he had been
nominated for Governor. I said, "Go
ahead. I think you will make a good
Governor." I think so still.
Every man has his own free agency.
He has the right to withdraw from
his quorum, or the church, if he
wishes. But while he remains in his
quorum, or in the church, we think he
should be subject to the same rules
that we are ourselves. But that duty
does not require any man to withdraw
from the Democratic or Republican
party, or give up his polical princi-
ples.
WILFORD WOODRUFF.
