Show AN PROPER IMPROPER idi USE OF THE HOLY priesthood WE vve print today to day the ull full f text of an interview with dr J ba M benedict as published in sundays salt lake tribune it purports to be occasioned by isome bome remarks of the DESERE T NEWS in reference to the unsavory irons towler case we did not mention the i doctors name in our editorial remarks concerning the marriage eli ell in which he officiated as our object was not to assails him personally but to explain a principle draw the line of plain limit mit alt to the author authority ty of men holding the office of elder in reference to marriage ceremonies and oppose any step calculated to cover up tire crime which had llad been committed now however that the gentleman has appeared in person 0 through the medium of the aa tribune b ute une we f feel eel at liberty to mention him in f further remarks upon this subject we did make the explanation that marriages in inthe the respective wards are under trie the direction of the bishop thereof and that no elder has the tight right in an organized stake to administer in that holy ordinance except by appointment but we did not say that there ther was ewas isome isoac some collusion on the part of dr benedict Beu edict nor that he made the marriage with the deliberate intent and purpose ot of covering up a crime 10 we intimated that the object and intent of the peculiar marriage was for that purpose pur ose and this Is not mot disputed why did diz dad not the author of the girls shame marry her before the exposure of his guilt if his only object was to give her the shield and support of his hia name and position when n he found himself inclan in clanger gerof gerot of the penitentiary he was glad to get her under his legal control and jers jens personal onal influence J nf luence that the damaging effect of her personal testimony might be turned aside the proceedings in the police court when atter utter marriage she repudiated her own affidavit made before marriage demonstrates this beyond a doubt As to Benedicts dibenedicts Dr part in the tran action we deprecated it on the ground that it was an improper exercise of the priesthood erlest kriest hood which he held and the interview which we copy makes our position stronger on this point he admits that the girls mother her natural and lawful protector was appos opposed to such a union he knew that irons had bad failed to obtain any one who would perform the ceremony he knew know that the condition of the patient was was wag not a fit nit one to undertake the responsibility of such a step he knew that there was a bishop in the ward authorized to perform marriages according to the order of the church to which ne ito belonged he knew kaew that the whole arrangement was in the interest of persons accused of a heinous crime and yet etin in a hurried manne rnear mid mida night might after he had spirited the girl uway away from her mother leaving the ithe latter to be engaged by dr A K amith smith who diverted her attention meanwhile he offic officiated by rity of the holy priesthood in a ceremony that no properly vant of god would nave have performed under the circumstances his objects his motives his hits collusion to which he refers we are not calling in question he knows what they were the public have the right to draw their conclusions from the facts which he has admitted and allowed to be placed in print we are simely referring to his act that he has elded to make public it is opan op en for public comment and we denounce it us as wrong in principle and evil in effect N under ordinary circumstances there might not be any great harm in an elders marrying fc a couple to whose union there was no valid objection and and aud yet et as we have previously shown that lla ita is a matter that is under be remembered that this marriage purports to be a church marriage solemnized under the authority of the holy priesthood not a secular ceremony performed by a civil officer therefore it must be viewed in the light of church rules and the spirit thereof and under tinder those rules and in the ithe light of that spir lly ily tl it was wrong for an elder to step over the authority of the bisho bishop p of thle thie the tile ward and administer an ordinance to which he be was not appointed but the peculiar circumstances of this case rendered it doubly wrong wron it was not only irregular it was highly ehly improper er we consider it a pr tion of that priesthood which Is sacred and bestowed for holy purposes if it was vas right and no ulterior purpose was designed why was the girl spirited away from her mother by bythe the doctor acting in the capacity of an elder of the church C why this haste why this nocturnal arrangement and anxiety to urge it to an issue we do not think there is an elder of experience and anft j judgment u who on acquaintance with the facts as given by dr benedict himself will not condemn action as disgraceful to the priesthood of the most high god dewish we wish aitto it to be distinctly understood that we have no personal controversy tro versy with dr benedict but we have a strong interest in the principle involved in this case and in the proper exercise of the functions functions of that priesthood the authority of which Is divine and we desire to impress upon the minds of allwoo all ali who have been ta favored ored with that authority that it cannot be lightly treated with impunity and while it brings bless biess blessings lags ans any and honor when used in the spirit of righteousness and solemnity it will on bring certain condemnation when pros prostituted prostitutes to evil |