Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1891-10-20

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There was formerly n fund for such
purposes under the control u the
Church, but what remained ot 81 was
now Ia the hands OF the receiver. 10
request Of Nit. Nauan, President Can.
non next read from a tahulaied state.
ment the number OF poor persons re-.
siding In the various States and rerri.
tories receiving support ont OF the
funds Of tho Churrh. aad tue amounts
devoted 10 each locality. None Ut
th,se allowance, he said, wefo
Tor emigration purti-scs, the
construction Of canals, dams, etc, but
simply for the relief " the needy.
The general fund surrendered by the
Church TO the receiver did not belong
a. the several Stakes, but 20 the general
organization OF The Church.
Mr.. NArlnn-What became u tho
surplus money aud produce gathered
Ia the local Stakes from the people after
meeting the local demands upon II for
Church purposes aud charitable pur.
poses; uid u go into the general fund.-
AYES.
Q.-Is II not true that tho charitable
purposes Of the Church are almost en-.
tifcly carried out through the medium
~
local funds befpr amy Of them have
passed into the general fluid?
A.-Not all, as far az they 20 Of
c0urse they are used.
p.-Mhat has been tho average
annual receipts and contributions Of
the people from the whole Church,
yearly, during the past seven or eight
xoafs?
Witness replied that It had varied
between enc halt anu thrccqunrtcrsofa
mifl0n. The year 1880 was hari One
aud the contributions fell rather short.
Their receipts depended upon tue
prosperity or Otherwise uf the com.
muuity. The seizure u the Church
Property had hal a very marked effect
upon the Income, very many mem
bors ~ the Church fearing 10
give what they otherwise would
lest further seizures might take place.
The Church was borrowing money to-
day 10 m.t current expenses. They
had expended for the building Of
meeting houses during the year la this
Territory about s20,Olo; but they hal
been unable 10 meet all the requests
made In this regntd. About 5ll,.
900 or $4,000 OF the funds, during
the past year went 10 poor Indiana.
Tue witness VA. next questioned o.
10 tho establishment Of Church schools.
The Church, he said, hHd not yet been
ahlrt tn accomplish what was desired in
this direction. lie was very much In
favor of the Bible being used a. text
book IN the schools. They had hoped
In the establishment of Church schools,
that great many libcral.minded PEG.
PIE would Lequcath sums VI money ~
cuti0w such schools. There are In.
stances where they have done 20.
To another question PRECEDENT Can
non answered that he believed the
original law Of the Church NJ In poly.
gamy was derived through revelation
given TO the Prophet Joseph smith.
Q-DO you understand that that
principle, as announced through that
revelation, Il no longer a true pFiuci-
pie ~ tenet Of the faith OF the
Church?
Al believe know, a. far ~
human being can know, from divine
source, that that revelation " from
God; but circumstances have arisen of
such a character M ~ cJNlptl Us TO no
longer obey II.
Q.-ro suspend IT, operation?
A.-Not 10 suspend, bat to cease It,
practice.
Q.-T6 suspend tho operation 5fwha
isstill n divine principle?
Ayes, the truth Is Interchangeable.
Q.-Then you do not understand
thar God has changed.that principle?
A.-Not In the least.
Q.-But thai lie las given pefmis.
zion TO cease the prsctice-ls that the
Idea?
A.-Clrcumstanccs have been such
surrounding Us for 10 many years, that
l could not, OF cOutse, help seeing In
the position | Occupied-hsv!hg hnd 10
pass through pretty severe ordoals on
this quts,iOn-that unless there was
some wonderful interpOsltlon Of proVl-
dencc, the forcc.Of public opinion, lle.
coming intensified A. the years roll by,
would eventually compel us either to
cease It's practice, or We would DO
crushed. That seemed to inc an
Inevitable consequence. hoped
Tor years that there would be some
such interpOsitiou Of Goi-that the
nation would give u1 credit for our
sincerity, aud that II would SEQ In this
practice that We were animated by
the rinCcr,st and best Of motives. l
believe God Inspired President Wood
run 10 say unto US that We had gone
far enough.
Q.-rhis manifesto IL the advice OF
President Woodruff personally?
Ayes, sir.
Cit is not a command, is II?
A.--Ptosident Woodruff In very
modest mAn. IL would have been a
command II some mun hat issued Il
and II was n command Ia his cnsc. lie
was FULLY persuaied that the Church
ut large, like himself, received testi.
mony that this manifesto was Issued
by inspiration from God.
President Joseph T.. Smith was next
called. lie said, In reply to Mr..
Richards, that he had resided here
since lsiS. Since 1885 he had been
absent from the Territory most OF the
time. He was second Counselor 10
President Woodruff, which position he
had occupied since 1853. The mani.
festo issued by President Woodruff .u
September, 1890, was handed to the
witness, who said It met with bis ap.
proval. lie had heard OF hut ono per.
sou opposed to IL asa member of the
Church.
MI, lichhrds-W what do you under.
stand 10 be the Intention Of President
Woodruff Ia issuing thx maniiesto? .
Al understand II u be TO stop the
practice u pO'yggmy In the Church.
Q-DO you believe that President
Woodruff was Inspired by Almighty
God 10 issue II?
a. COMPATIBILITY -Yes, DO.
Q-Do you believe it would be- pleas.
ing or displea1lng Ia the sight of God
for any member VI the Church 70 enter
into pOlygumOus or plural marriage?
A Mnll 1 Nn nnI LnnAr Nm | nm.