Where are you Markk, still digging... chuckle
Ralf...focus once again
The church ex'd Oliver for the following...this pated from the original excommunication record...
2 April 1838 • Thursday
The High Council and Bishoprick of Zion met according to appointment in
Far-West April 12th 1838
Edward Partridge Presiding
The Council was organized as follows;
Voted unanimously that
John Murdock be a President of the High Council, whose duty it shall be to receive charges and give notice to the defendant, also, to call the Council together and organize them &c
The Counci[l] opened by prayer by
E. Partridge
After some remarks by
Edward Partridge, several charges were read by him prefered against
Oliver Cowdery which are as follows;
“To the
Bishop and Council of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter day Saints in
Missouri.
I do hereby prefer the following charges against President
Oliver Cowdery.
1st, For stiring up the enemy to persecute the brethren by urging on vexatious Lawsuits and thus distressing the inocent.
2nd, For seeking to destroying the character of President Joseph Smith jr, by falsly insinuating that he was guilty of adultry &c.
3rd For treating the Church with contempt by not attending meetings.
4th. For virtually denying the faith by declaring that he would not be governed by any ecclesiastical authority nor Revelation whatever in his temporal affairs
5th For selling his lands in
Jackson County contrary to the Revelations.
6th For writing and sending an insulting letter to President
T[homas] B. Marsh while on the High Council, attending to the duties of his office, as President of the Council and by insulting the whole Council with the contents of said letter
7th., For leaving the calling, in which God had appointed him, by Revelation, for the sake of filthy lucre, and turning to the practice of the Law.
8th, For disgracing the Church by lieing being connected in the ‘Bogus’ buisness as common report says.
9th. For dishonestly Retaining notes after they had been paid and finally for leaving or forsaking the cause of God, and betaking himself to the beggerly elements of the world and neglecting his high and Holy Calling’ contrary to his profession.
Far West April the 7th 1838.
Seymour Brunson”
It was not considered a difficult case, therefore, two <one> spake on a side viz
Samuel H. Smith on the part of the Church and
Jared Carter on the part of the defendant.
A letter was then read by
Edward Partridge from
O. Cowdery which reads as follows:
Far-West Mo April 12th 1838
Dear Sir.
I received your note of the 9th inst on the day of its date, containing a copy of nine charges prefered against <before> yourself and Council, against me, by Elder
Seymour Brunson.
I could have wished, that those charges might have been defered untill after my interview with President Smith; but as they are not, I must waive the anticipated pleasure with which I
had flattered myself of an understanding on those points which are grounds of difference different opinions on some church Church regulations, and others which personally interest myself.
The fifth charge reads as follows: “For selling his lands in
Jackson County contrary to the revelations” so much of this charge, “For selling his lands in
Jackson County” I acknowledge to be true, and believe a that a large majority of this Church have already spent their Judgements on that act, and pronounced it sufficient to warrant a disfellowship; and also that you have concured in its correctness— consequently, have no good reason for supposing you would give any decision contrary
Now sir the lands in our Country are allodial in the strictest construction of that term, and have not the least shadow of feudal tenours attached to them, consequently, they may be disposed of by deeds of conveyance without the consent or even approbation of a superior.
The fourth charge is in the following words, “For virtually denying the faith by declaring that he would not be governed by any ecclesiastical authority nor revelation whatever in his temporal affairs.”
With regard to this, I, think, I am warranted in saying, the Judgement is also passed as on the fifth matter of the fifth charge, consequently, I have no disposition to contend with the Council: this charge covers simply the doctrine of the fifth, and if I were to be controlled by other than my own judgement, in a compulsory manner, in my temporal interests. of course, could not buy or sell without the consent of some real or supposed authority. Whither that clause contains the precise words, I am not certain— I think howevere they were these “I will not be influenced, governed, or controlled, in my temporal interests by any ecclesiastical authority or pretended revelation
what ever, contray to my own judgement” such being still my opinion shall only remark that the three great principles of English liberty, as laid down in the books, are “the right of personal security; the right of personal liberty, and the right of private property” My venerable ancestor was among that little band, who landed on the rocks of Plymouth in 1620— with him he brought those maxims, and a body of those laws which were the result and experience of many centuries, on the basis of which now stands our great and happy Government: and they are so interwooven in my nature, have so long been inculcated into my mind by a liberal and intelligent ancestry, that I am wholly unwilling to exchange them for any thing less liberal, less benevolent, or less free.
Continued...
