The New York herald., 1870-02-07
d @ r M o NISM.
Progress Of the "New Church
of Zion.n
Some Divine and Human Revelations
Text Of the Church Constiiatisn--A
Lengthy IL not Orcr-Com-
prchensiye Document.

SALT LAKE CITY, Jan. 20, 1870.
At the meeting last tuesday evening Mr.. Kelsey
rose and said the grand outlines Of the consti
ton OF this new Church OF Zion rough draft OF
which was now TO be presented, had been received
from heaven by revelation, but that Its details had
been left to be supplied by the thought OF inavid.
mails. fundamental principle OF the system was
government, not by force, but BY the persuasive
influence OF love and tho Wishes or the people. That
Immortal principle OF truth and other general prin-
Cples IN winch they had been instructed, had
enabled them to prepare draft OF the constitution
OF the Church so broad and liberal and comprehen
sive in ali its provisions that 1t destined TO
attract the attention OF the civilized world
and command tho admiration of the most
advanced Of human minis. 1t was the
intention OF the heavenly powers TO demonstrate TO
this people that they must never more pin their
faith 10 the coat sleeve OF any individual. There
was natural tendency In the human mind, to do so
and the people would have 10 be educated OF IL
and taught 10 look mol To direct Ia God. All
authority and power in the Church would spring
from tue people, and rest upon the will not OF rne
governing but the governed. Every man from the
nrst presidency down. would be neld responsible
directly to the people for the faithful perloy OF
the duties OF his calling me constitution, the pre-
Imlnary draft Of which was be read tllis evening"
wou be presented III its completeness for ratllca-
fson by all the members OF the Church the 9th OF
April The various "quOrumsn OF the Church would
be organized gradually according rs tho Cnurca was
Joined by the proper persons TO constitute SUCH
quorums. The quorum OF The first presidency
had been already called by revelation. The quorum
OF the Twelve Apostles would also called by rev.
elation. According as the heavens should manifest
their viii and designate apostles such apostles
would take their positions IN the quorum which
would thus gradually grow into completion and the
Twelve would then elect their president unless he
should be appointed direct by revelation. The quo
rum or the seventies would DO flied UP as suitable
persons were enrolled in tho general Church. ana so
they would elect their president. who would preside
over them, all other cases. only just 50 long as
he presided In the confidence ana affections OF the
members OF the quorum. and upon that principle
the qaorums themselves would contn ue to preside
only just SO long as they retained tue confidence
and affections OF the people. Branch organic atons
would be organized as necessities demanded them.
Mr.. Kelsey mere Told story which Illustrated the
extent 10 which the Morm0ns have hiiheFtO been
morally enslaved by the power Of the present
priesthood Al the new movement, he saId was
being talked over among the people that part OF
Utah where he lived as Individuals were making up
Their minds about joining IT, and the dreadful doom OF
peing scut ON from tile old organization was being
canyassed. there was Tecentiy q man who had u
large lot OF bricks on hand, who felt himself mn
PEELED TO join IT. and the point OF the story that
one OF Mr.. kelsey's little daughters for he has
several wives and several aaugnersj thought 1t
suicidal IN the man 70 think OF dong 10 until after
he had scla pricksu because ol tue certain per.
eecutlon tnat ould follow hlS espUnSal vi the
ment. This dea." said Mr.. Kelsey, 'speaxs vol
unes against the InlqSliy oi the present system.
under winch q man could LOT give expression to
his opinion and his rai,h wltaoat ms brethren
SILL thus Tied up by The teetn; they had ios yet
4sod Eeir bricks,n but there Was no Necessity Tor
preclpltale haste; they could take tteif time, aud
could join the movement wnen they had sold all
tncir bIcks."
comments concerning the consultation. which, as
had been inerfed, was only rough draft, and
sey's observations he SAID the su0llme controlling
sen n1ments, tne grlnd governing prlncipies enun-
ciated In their former manifesto" aad such adji.
t0na points us were contained IN ms present con-
sutution had been conveyed 10 tnem BY reyeiaton,
but the details had oeen left Tor them TO
Selves M sh .qae aPeV naayens. @ ' he sa,a s IN s''
smiling way. 'haye sucn love for US
WITH with our our own arrangement." The heavens
had faiih IN the proprieB oil the people arranging
matters 10 best suit themselves, SO long as tney
were governed BY great fundamental truths The
heavens mad no desire to supersede human brains;
Church OF Zion to amend the petty details OF its
ORGANIZATION III accordance with human conditions
and necessines Not that the heavens were aoove
sucn small considerations, out tnat II was more III
accordance with divine Intention thai human minds
should work out such detans for themselves Upon
thls principle tney were free TO luoaiy matters
Keeping with the progress OF the times The whole
OF The constitution wonld not always be appii-
oil necessity be modined, the reopie
gradually grew into new conditions. "lhere
would come day. he said, ',wHen would
have put away 50 much Of our eartniy condltlon.
wnen the sublime ana simple sentiments OF Jesus
would 80 rciga In human hearts tnat human char
acier would here approach very near the immortal.
Under such cOpditious as well as under inCerme-
date ones. the constitution would have 10 undergo
very many changes Hence ther had left the back
door OPEN so that there would ne plenty or room
TO get out from anythng.'" I'VE VIII never corner
ourselves Or our descendants" ne said by framing
conditions which cannot be overturned when such
overtnrning is required. That 10 the sentiment of
TINS Church, and II II Knocks into impeIcepuDe
atoms all tnat we ever may have done, we wlll ac-
cept 1t II the light Of God In future Times shall
fest its truth. We will be ready to Incorporate
into our constitution such new principles as shall
recommend themselves to the people as being good
meIled, that can recede from any old position
Al we can demonstrate that new one Is better We
VIII apostatize' from tins Time forward from all
the traditions we have ever held aud from any
ditlons tnaL may be Incorporated Into our oOnstu-
ton the rough draIt OF which will now DO presented
previous TO ITS accurate revision and It's ratification
when we shall meet az the same time that the old
Church will meet according 70 its annual custom, IN
conference next April Mr.. HARRISON then read the
following preliminary draft OF the
". ,oossrITgTIes y, or ,n. THE onuzcn y,I OF ZION
ss ns e @ hs
World do ordan the following constulion:-
S Tas
,as u'n. p,ssensd n sns w9il: %
be understood that the Church OF Zion
Zion In spiritual and celc .tial spheres.
This Church snai limit herself
cepons OF TRUTH but she shall be 20 advanced
principles. She shall also be open TO Improvement
in external form of her administration which the pro-
gosed condition OF her people demand provided that
such changes In her organization mode OF adminsa~
sanctioned by OF three fourihs OF the
of the Church.
Members shall be admitted by the ordinance of baptism
fby mmerson which shall be AZ the ordinance
ofinducon bv the laying of hands which shall be
deems ed ordinance Of confirmation.
20 of this Church shall be expelled
of opiuon they accept tho inaory ordinances OF
tbs Gospel and this constitution.
violation the principles OF purity and right shalt
held TO opposition u the teachings Of Z,on, bat her
spirit shall all her laws who wish
reform 100 sn more" The desire to remain
accepted sufficient evidence repent
nnce IN all cases.
necessary for the support of hs poor and tho
public church shall be met by the collection
p hne which shall oonas, OF onesbh Of the clear gain
profit obtained during the after dcducns tho abso
utey necessary OF each PERSONS fnmy Or inni
vdua support Every member OF tho Church shall be thrown
entirely bis her Of fight determine
what such Individual expenses should be rae n M well
20 ascertain how much the due from them for thn9