The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1886-01-24
THE GOVERNMENT TRUSTEES.


last Monday, editorially discusses that
part of the new Edmunds bill which
provides for the appointment OF four
teen Federal trustees for the Mormon
& Church, and the writer makes such
showing as should put to blush the SEN
ators who voted for that bill. The point
first made is that the bill does not pro-
rpose to annul the act of the Territorial
Legislature, incorporating the Church
of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints,
toply SO fa- as that act precludes the ap-
pointment OF The additional trustees,
and that as these latter are to number
fourteen, while those provided for in
the charter number but thirteen. the
United States would have complete con-
troll of the corporation the Federal
trustees being in the majority. Then,
i,lasmuch as the local law of incorpoIa-
ton remains in force, the government
trustees must act under it, having
and exercising "all the powers and
functions of trustees and assistent
trustees provided for in the laws Great
ing, amending or continuing the said
corporation. 1.-THE language of the law.
The church incorporation act confers
upon the corporation the power and
authority to establish, order, and reg
ulate worship and as the government
trustees ore to be trustees under the
local law, and give bonds for the faith
full performance OF their duties under
that law, they will be compelled to
IrFestablish, order, and regulate" wor-
ship. The Times wants to know how
the trustees are going to perform this
duty.
Are they to make regulations of their
own motion, or are they to be instructed
by the Secretary of the Interior, to
whom they report2 Because they are
appointed by and with the advice and
consent of the Senate. will the Senate,
as one Senator has suggested, become
transformed into a church board for
the purpose of regulating worship in a
church? Will the erustees undertake to
change those religious tenets of the |
Mormon church which are not related |
10 the doctrine OF plural marriage?
These are certainly pertinent ques-
tons, and should have their influence
on the members of the House when the
bill comes up in that body for discus
son. Further quoting from the act of
incorporation, the Times finds that it
empowers the trustees to receive pro
perty, real or personal, by gift, dona-
tion. or bequest, or in any manner not
with the principles of
or the rules of Justice
and that the gifts and requests so
received "shall be used, managed, or
of for the benefit, improve
ment, erection of houses of public
and instruction, aud the
well-being of said church," and the
editor asks If this is the work which tie
nation, by means of its agents, the
fourteen trustees, will undertake to do
in Utah-if the United States will uss
the corporations money in erecting
church buildings and houses of religious
Instruction, and in doing 'other things
or the benefit, improvement, and we'll
,eing of the Mormon church? ?" The
rustees certainly must do this, if they
perform their duties, which
hey will bind themselves to do. The
Times article closes as follows:
Setting aside for the present all cues
ions as to the fairness of thrusting
lpon corporation a majority group OF
rustees to manage property in whose
they had o part, what ]
must be said of the religious aspect of
his plan? The Mormon religion, con-
idered aside from the doctrine
If plural marriage, is entitled to be
IS carefully considered by the
government as any other religion.
Would it not be practically violation
If the Constitution for the United
states to exert control in the direction
If the spiritual or temporal affairs of
his or any other church or religious 7
ect or society," Has Congress the
lower to provide officers who shall be |
e9uired to perform In any incorporated
ehglous association the duties imposed
lpon trustees of the Mormon Church.
ven if the association itself be wiIIino
o admit such trustees?
And if the fourteen trustees should he
ppointed nnder the provisions of this
I'LL, would they serve the Mormon. in T
bedience to the act of incorporation. /
r in defiance of law work not for the
well-being" but for the overthrow of
hat organization ...r.. u