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Source: Church History Vol. 3 Chapter 34 Page: 680 (~1872)

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680 in God and in Christ, and are honest in their convictions; that is to say we believe the great mass of them to be. If the spirit of love to those who have known the truth binds us to a forbearance and kindness towards them, does not the same spirit of love bind us to a more comprehensive forbearance and kindness towards those whom we think have not so known the truth? We think so; and therefore we feel assured that harshness and severity exercised towards them will inevitably return upon the head of him exhibiting them.

"To the world at large, our relation should be that of teachers, exemplars; holding the truth in righteousness, and practicing virtue for the love of the commandment to be virtuous, and for the peace that virtue brings. Anything less than this is a violation of our relations with the world, the different churches, the factions of the church, and the men of the past.

"THE REORGANIZATION.

"We examine this casually in the following order as a proper closing to our lengthened article.

"The men of the present; the measures of the present; our policy, present duty, and the hoped-for end.

"The men of the present are, a great many of them, men who were pioneers in the work in the early days of its commencement; some are the children of those who have fought the good fight of faith, and have lain down to rest from their warfare, while some are those who have believed our report, and have become identified with the work during the days of the Reorganization. These men have, many of them, grievously suffered for the sake of the cause of the Master, and are not yet done with their willingness to sacrifice for the same cause; and all are men who desire the advancement of the cause in truth and righteousness. Their purpose is not to suffer defeat if they can prevent it by honorable means. They regard the men of the past as brothers, and feel that they have the right to examine the records left for their use and direction, and exercise their own right of decision upon them. To inquire into the measures

(page 680)

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