Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1877-09-14

The Settlement OF Brigham YOung's
Estate-Interestfng DeveIOpmeDts ts
Promised NO Successor 90 tbe
Dead AutocrAt Likely 20 be APP
pointed.
Salt Lake Special to the N. Y. Herald, 7thl
Nine of the twelve apostles who
control the destinies of the Church
of Latter Day Saints, and who,
unlike their predecessors of old,
have a very keen eye for temporal
as well as spiritual matters, have
been engaged during the past two
or three days in looking over the
deceased presidents accounts. The
great seer and prophet seemed to
have had much difficulty in max
ing any distinction between the
personal and official character of
Brigham Young, and now that the
important trusts he held have
lapsed by death the apostles want
to know what property is left to the
church.
INTERESTING DEVELOPMENTS.
This peculiar weakness of Brig
ham in his lifetime is likely to be
followed, now that he is dead, by
some very interesting developments.
The estate of the prophet will be
sworn under $2,00O,O00. and it is
currently reported that extensive
litlgations are likely to grow out of
its settlement. The duties of the
head Of the church, as interpreted
by himself, were varied and strik-
ing, and among other things in
yolved the holding OF titles to real
estate as such head, while, by some
arrangement or understanding
growing out of the church govern
ment or discipline the real owner.
ship remained elsewhere. Now, un.
fortunately, the law does not know
such person as the head of the
church, and considers the owner
ship to follow the title. Therein
as in many other respects, Mormon
ism has way of its own. Never
theless it is probable Brigham's
heirs will have recourse to the law
in the matter, and lay claim to all
the property the title Of which was
in their father, whether as citizen
or seer.
ENDLESS SUITS.
This is likely to lead to endless
suits by parties thinking themselves
aggrieved, and by the time the
courts get through with them it is
probable the estate will be largely
pared down.
THE PRESIDENCY.
The belief is becoming general
here that there will be no election
Of president of the church at the
conference, which meets on the 9th
Of October next, as has been antic.
ipated. With all Of their profound
respect for and subserviency to
Brigham Young it is evident that
the church authorities have had
enough of the despotism which he
exercised, and have no disposition
to place it in the hands of another
While it is difficult to understand
the theory of the church govern
ment, which Brigham was in the
habit OF interpreting for himself
and for his own purposes, it is GER
tain that the twelve have power to
exercise supreme control; and, with
all their love for the methods OF
ancient times, there remains among
them sufficient of the leaven OF
self-government to prevent entire
submission to another autocrat.
FUTURE OF THE CHURCH.
AS the church has, during all its
past history, been held together by
the concentration of power in the
hands of one man, there are those
who see in this proposed diffusion
of it divisions likely to result in the
downfall of this great modern the
ocraoy, which constitutes so foul a
blot upon the century,
THEIRS.