New-York tribune., 1881-12-25
pRnSpEc1S or TIE MORNONS.

TALK WITH BISHOP SHARP, OF SALT LAKE CITY.
Bishop sharp, Of salt Lake City, who is in the
city in behalf Of the Mormon Church. Of which he
is a high digntary. talked with TRIBUNE reporter
at the ~. Nicholas Hotel Friday IN regard TO
the present outlook for Normonsm. The Bishop Is
a plainly dressed. intelligent looking man. with
gray hair and beard but with more OF the air of a
successful Western business man than that of a
clergyman. although be- talks N the measured tones
Of q person accustomed to pastoral duties. When
asked how the Mormon. regarded the Presidents
message and the proposed legislation by Congress
hc replied:
There T. no alarm i'm the Church in regard t. the
matter Its an old subject. and is no more talked
of now than it was twelve years ago We do not
fear any action of Congress great deal more in
tercst Is taken in the question of the admission of
the delegate to Cougrcss-whcthcr 1t will be Mr.
Cannon or Mr. Campbell. Nh Cauuon's name was
placed on the roll by the old clerk, hut | see that
Mr.. Campbcll, name is now on the roll, though he
has not been sworn IN. He IS Governor Murray 5
delegate. have no personal knowlcge ON the qucs-
ton. but f. my opinion that neither viii be. nd,
united. and that new election Will have 10 De h'ld
Il Do Won not thiul, the President is in earnest ~
hi- determination - enforce the laws 1gfiu~t tonI
President Arthur deals with tie question IN the
same way a. President Garfield. lAc I'iier mes
sage was very pointed. but n hls aim, a. have
private means of knowing 20 prevent tlc further
.N tension oi uUlyEiWy while not iui'Iruhg WIN
o.i,tlug family relations. ! dp not see what more
could T.. Duur. are families G" b" broken uP'
bro.h,f- ami sister. hD-nauis and ~ly's, srpa.
raiclf lIlt d, something which We ION ht"eNe
Will ever hr attempted OF carried ont.
">ugprsius b. De- attempted, what th"ut
III the strong arm 10. 'hr Government lS nI'usni
down upon u- d. such way, do not tLlnh IL would
Doe ,yi-r .oru- mere uauuiu, Of people TO r,SiSt
But 70, -aId before, ao NOT thul, that ht follow
crs OF thc ,Aurch. aho hay" Joued 1t as religious
.|tT % be-, bod sac e.
How many member, are there in the Church r.
About 10000. .,iryc. aIlHou th a census mas
not been taken oi b membership alone.
lel' growing sore Iiy.lll IN PI"P"II'" '''"
The G,nu. population ui iithi
Yr.. think so. Ii, ,plturu increase Is greater
Then there D, Mormon immigration ui about -.Vou
"A wear Most of these immigrants have friends or
relatives th.rc. they -'ai.rr ihig1gApni our irl-
tlcmcut, lu Utah. Montana Ne" Mexico ana else
Is there any tboucht OF removing the seat of the
Church IRON salt Lake stlty "
No. Work ON The urN temple L. advancing. IL
is now ahout six feet high, aud tho walls WIN De
100 feet high when flashed We are not an I'l1A'-
ng any trouble hud % fob" the sentiment ol lhe
masses of the people outside OF Utah, with whom
have been brought ~ contact. 70 umtt the Ohuiih
10 III pre-cui proportions. ut least 70 prevent the
extension OF poygImN. "" rcgp-hl@e uiA' III 'I'H'
solne such action may Doe taken ,1..,
You do not fear tueu aurh an increase o' "tll'IIo
population IN ltah will outvote You ana iahe
the Territorial Government out OF your hihd7
NO, we do not fear Il, because h thrN VIII give
MS as good "A Government "a, we have always had,
We Will have no objections Whatever. we nav
always selected men % administer tue Government
bccausr of their fitness, and, ol co'r.r M" 10 go
into the Church To get the best mcn Inc 'AA', are
lower ~ Utah, much lower, .th5h III any oi n lnr
other Territories. The city tax IN salt Lake Us ohy
onc-haf OF on, per cent aud the entire CITY, county
and territorial tax is only IL per cent. We nave
good schools and are tul,"'hg .."P
and improving the city and territory, lneI" ~
a railroad now running 400 mules nor. Il OF SAT-
Lake. and another running 700 niles south. lheIo
\ great uudcyrlopcd mineral wealth. Inc iIu.nH
interests, however, IN the hahos ol lht uuIHts
principally. "a the MOrmons have ehRas'd very
htJlc m that industry. Agriculture ana grazing
are our principal cnpIoyments we nave 10 Ie'ol,
10 irrigation nut there have been some SucCeS'iuI
experiments In dry farming III the Esi thTct years.
One person raised 2OuoO DushcI' ol "A'"' 'Hi' N'i
without any irrigation.
is L true that the MOmOus conduct system OF
government inside the Church, rs has been stated
recently p c.. r
TO this extent; We have Salt Lake CITY, for
instance. divided into twenty wards BlS1Op ana
two Councillor, preside over each war-tlat Is, III
the Church Whenever any dIsputeS aTlse between
the brct lrc they are settled IN the Blshopa court
An appeal can bc taken from the ward TO the court
OF the city and from there TO the hlgh
the President Of the Church. mat Is
as far as II can 90 Wcchargc no fees ana collect no
fines in the Church courts. II either lde refuses 10
abide By the Church decision Inc Only punishment
is severance from the Church. Ot course We, uuly
take cognlzance of civil cases, not OF criminal
] he Bishop explained that he came East 'No pi
three Inn. "a year and that ne should remain IN the
,ity but a day or two. In ms trip from Utah he
only on the hills. lie added that there were many
false and ridiculous stories bc published IN regard
10 the Mornons, and ho wondered tlaJ tueJ WeIo
credited Nearly all religions denominations nave
churches and schools in salt Lake Guy