The President's court also took Brother Daniel Copley's Priest's license and membership from him, because he refused to fulfil his mission according to the council of the High Priesthood of the holy order of God.
Excommunication of "Doctor" Hurlburt.
June 23."Doctor" Philastus Hurlburt was again called in question, by a general council; and Brother Gee, of Thompson, testified that Brother Hurlburt said that he deceived Joseph Smith's God, or the spirit by which he is actuated. There was also corroborating testimony brought against him by Brother Hodges. The council cut him off from the Church.[[3]]
Case of James Higby.
A council of the Elders of the church was held at Westfield, New York, the same day. Elder Gladden Bishop was president, and Brother Chester L. Heath clerk. Brother Paul entered a complaint against Brother James Higby, an Elder, for circulating false and slanderous reports, and not observing the order of the Gospel, and presented evidence unimpeachable, to substantiate the same to the satisfaction of the council; upon which evidenceand from Brother Higby's own mouth, and the spirit he manifestedhe was declared guilty by the council, and he was cut off from the Church. The council then demanded his license and the Church record, which he utterly refused to give up; therefore, resolved that the proceedings of the council be sent to Kirtland, that it may be known among the different branches of the Church.[[4]]
Footnotes
[1]. Doctrine and Covenants, sec. xcv.
[2]. Doctrine and Covenants, sec. xcvi.
[3]. Owing to the subsequent prominence of this man, "Doctor" Philastus Hurlburt, as a bitter anti-Mormon, more should be said of him than is given in the Prophet's narrative. He was not a physician, as the title "Doctor" would seem to indicate; but being the seventh son in his father's family, according to the old folklore superstition that the seventh son would possess supernatural qualities that would make him a physician, he was called "Doc," or "Doctor," "This said 'Doctor,'" wrote Sidney Rigdon in 1839, to the Boston Journal, "was never a physician at any time, nor anything else but a base ruffian. He was the seventh son and his parents called him 'Doctor;' it was his name, and not the title of his profession. He once belonged to the Methodist church, and was excluded for immoralities. He afterwards imposed himself on the Church of Latter-day Saints, and was excluded for using obscene language to a young lady, a member of the said Church, who resented his insult with indignation which became both her character and profession." Joseph E. Johnson, in a communication to the Deseret Evening News, under date of December 28, 1880, says of "Doctor" Hurlburt: "In the year A. D. 1833, then living in Kirtland, Ohio, I became acquainted with a man subsequently known as Dr. Hurlburt, who came to investigate the truth of Mormonism. Claiming to be satisfied, he was baptized and became a member in full fellowship. He was a man of fine physique, very pompous, good looking, and very ambitious, with some energy, though of poor education. Soon after his arrival he came to my mother's house to board, where he remained for nearly a year, while he made an effort to get into a good practice of medicine, sought position in the Church and was ever striving to make marital connection with any of the first families. Finally * * * he was charged with illicit intercourse with the sex, was tried and cut off from the Church. He denied, expostulated, threatened, but to no use, the facts were too apparent, and he at once avowed himself the enemy of the Church."
[4]. The account of the council of Elders at Westfield was copied into the Kirtland Church record on the 29th of June, 1833.