Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1891-10-20
TAKING OF TESTIMONY
Before Examiner In ChanttTy Lool-
borrow Yesterday Afternoon,
IN THE CHURCH CASE.
Presidents MILFORD Woodruff and
George Q. Cannon Tell How The
Funds We're Applied.

lulf AsA'uiiutI Suhkt sFsthN''N'f 49,
same counsel appearing as la the
morning.
In the outset Attorney Narian In
terposcd, rs an objection to the appll.
cation Of this property az proposed by
the defendants, that the MATERNAL
been concluded by the decree Of the
supreme Court.
PRESIDENT GEORGE Y. CANNON
was the fret wltnes. called. II. stated,
In answer TO Mr.. Richards, that he had
resided In this Territory since isiT, and
1. one Of the First Presidency Of the
Church Of Jesus Christ Of La,ter.day
saints. He knew the defendants In
this action; they were all membefs Of
the Church In good standing. VIII
ford Woodruff had been President Of
the Church since April !, 1850, Since
the dissolution Of the corporation the
Church had existed M voluntary
religious association. lie remembered
the seizure Of the Church property by
the receiver In this matter In the year
1857.
Estate how the money and per.
sonal property now Ia the receivers
hands, aud involved Ia this oxaminA
ton, were acquired by the Church OF
Jesus Christ Of Lltter.day Saints.
A.-ltwas by the voluntary contrl.
buttons Of the member OF the Church
for religious aud charitable purposes.
q State whether or not the prop.
efty now In the hands Of the receiver
II the identical property NO contributed.
A.-Somo portion OF II l.; other pOr'
lions are the results of the disposition
or proceeds Of that property. All tho
property Involved In this litigation Is
the direct contribution VI thc Identical
property, or the proceeds rather, aud
none Of Il was contributed by any per-
sons hut members VI the Church, rs |
understand 1t.
Q.-what has been the custom Of
the members Of the Church In regard
10 making contributions?
A.-Frum the organization Of the
Church It has been the custom II our
PEOPLE to contribute small amount.
very frequently to religious and CHART.
able purposes. This money was con.
irolled anu dlsbursed under the dirrc.
ton Of the First Presidency.
Questioned ~ 10 what was the rule
prior 10 and since 1857 Ia respect to an
accounting for the disposition of the
money thus expended, the witness sald
that n iull aud complete statement
thereof during President raylor'z nd.
ministration from 1877 TO 1855 was
submitted 10 the General Conference
and always unanimously accepted by
the people.
Q.-To what purpose were these
donations applied?
A.-fsellgious aud charitable pur.
poses. A portion Of the proceeds was
expended on Temples aud meeting
houses, and Tor the poor aud such char
table objects as might arise.
Q.-What poor people were aldedl
A.-rhe INDECENT members OF the
Church. We also assisted poor In
dians.
Q.-State what you know about the
intention Of the donors u this money
aud property, as 10 what disposition
should be msde Of It.
A.-They were donated for religion,
and charitable purposes, and the dispO'
sitlon Of 10 was always left to the First
Presidency, lcrsohaliy KNOW ,hat "
DC Tue leelnH oi s'os' many VI wv
contributors
Q-What amour. OF nleah- was
spent anhusliy oy tne SnuIch prior "
March Srdi 1887, IN relieving thv poor
aud distressed nenioofH OF inc 'hutoh
anu thelr Iamliles'
Al have recollection one year OF
sll2,vOO oii ueihg ehp.hueu lOr Vaflou.
charitable purposes. hnoth.r year, J
remember, u was s''iOOO ODD would
think, myself, theIse wonll DIS any
where from SO, w 70 si0o,uuO eSpeni'
ed annually Ihls was devoted 70 th'
relief oil tho INDECENT among Church
membeh might Include IN tha'
poor In vans, whom ". nave assisted
when destitute, 70 agr,at extent
Q.-Whal portion OF u wOuiu 10 u
the lndlansT
Al mere might hhNe peen Iivi
5000 to $1,000, but not exceeding th'
latter amount.
Q.-What amour, WIN oe require.
hereafter annually Tor thr reiiei OF th'
poor! observation-disclosures
Al would say no, TESS 'n i,nd sa "a
Perhaps ~ might ,cacn .iVviuv" y
anything hko the uemhhus thht ar'
made upon US were answeied'
Q.-What amount was expended an
nually prior TO 1881 lor Tue sIeotoh o
meeting houses anu places OF worship
not Including templss' ,,
Al should think IL wouiu no. "
less than $4,000 per ahnun' sine,
1857 our finances nave been 50 reduced
that we have not been able TO supply
the demands made upon US.