Bradford reporter. [volume] (Towanda, Pa.) 1844-1884, 1866-08-23
CHURCH TITHING SYSTEM IN UTAH.

w uCu Il HILL IOIuS lllC MOTlnOH OuulCI,
as it exists in 9TH, he is required, as a
proof of his sincerity, to donate to the tith-
ing Office one-tenth Of all his possessions
no matter what they are, or how extensive
they may be. A man with 100000 in
money must upon his entry into fellowship
give the tithing Office $4,000 Of it. This
is the first grand principle Of Utah Nor
monism. If the man during the year made
$4,000 by judicious investment of his
remaining 100000, he must give the tith-
ing office 81 600 of the amount. This is
the second grand principle of Utah Nor
monism. And upon these two principles
hang all the law and the profits
These two principles apply to all kinds
of property. One-tenth of all man pos
sesses when he joins the Church, and one
tenth of his yearly gains so long as he be-
long to the organization.
If man has no money or other property
he is required to give one-tenth of his la
Dor to the tithing of1ice-thus he labors
nine days for himself, and the tenth day he
gives to the Church in such manner as he
may be directed. In this manner the church
claims one-tenth of every laboring mans
time-one-tenth of every trade represented
in the territOry-one-tenth of a mans life
talent, and industry. If a man engages in
farming, and raises wheat, cattle, horses,
sheep, etc, he must calculate what he has
raised-say 100 bushels of wheat at 20
days labor-the tithing office demands 10
bushels OF that grain. Should he be idle
thirty days, the tithing Office claims three
days from him on the ground that he may
do as he pleases with twenty-seven days,
but has no right to idle away the three
days belonging to the Lord. If he has one
hundred sheep he must give away one
tenth of them--he must give one-tenth of
the increase. If he has COW, and the
COW gives ten quarts of milk each day, the
Church claims one quart. In fact, the
Church tlthing system penetrates the most
abject abode of poverty in the Territory,
and extracts from it one-tenth--if it only
amounts to hens egg. (See Brigham On
Tithing, page Ill, volume |, DeSeret NelcS,
1S50)
Then, in addition to this tithing system
exacted from the people, under penalty of
accommodation if refused by them, are
the Federal, Territorial, county and town
taxes, burden altogether, quite sufficient
to continue any people, no matter how in
dustrlous, IN comparative poverty.
The tithing system is a source of large
revenue. 1t is reduced to a science. Those
who have the administration of the system
manage to live well, own the finest farms,
the best stock, and have the greatest num-
ber of women about their premises 1t
grinds down the people by its very oppres-
sive nature, and serves to build up the fa-
vored few who have the satisfaction of
handling the funds.
Now what becomes of all this tithing
fund Do the people who pay it ever know?
Have they been furnished by the tithing
firm with a baiance-sheet of the same
showing how much has been expended, and
how much remains on hand? Have the
tax laws of the nation ever reached this
fund We assert, with a full knowledge
of what we are writing. that at no time
since the Mormon advent into Utah has any
public statement of the condition of this
fund been made to the people
The men who pay these fittings are en-
titled to an exhibit of the disposition OF
them. Why are they not furnished with
it? How is it that the people who pay
these fittings are always poor, while the
men who receive them are the well-to-dC
members of the community? These are
pertinent questions, and worthy the atten
ton of the people. Many of them have al
ready asked these questions, and, as re
suit, have ceased the practice of paying
one-tenth of all they have or may gain in.
to treasury that never publishes state
ment Of its cOndition.-iSdH Lake Fedete.