New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-09-25
MORMONS SHORT OF FUNDS.
LORENZO SHOWS FOLLOWERS IN a
SERIOUS DILEMMA.
RY VIRTUE or HIS OFFICE TIE PRESIDENT EN-
ERcrsEs WONDERFUL PowERS-NiNETEEN
HUNDRED MISSIONARIES ~ THE
FIELD INFLUENCE or TIE
CANNON TAMlLT

FIELD INFITENCE or TIE
CANNON rAmI.Y.
Salt Lake. r-tah sept. p (speciaD-The death Of
Wilford Woodruff the venerable president Of the
Mormon church. which occurred at san Francisco
Septemher . left tho West in a state OF guessing
as to the personality Of his successor Woodruff
Was the fourth president 81 the church. and ~ IN
the case Of Brigham Young. the second president
was elevated from tho quorum OF the Twelve Apos-
tl.s ~ tho time ~ his succession being president
of that quorum The order Of succession in the
church has always been the elevation Of the prcs-
dent Of the quorum Of the Twelve" hut following
the death of Woodruff IL was thought-and freely
ovoress,d I'm official ecclesiastical circes-'hat tho
Old ru,c would 81 necessity be varied. and that
some other than tho then president Of that quorum
would be selected. MANY believed that George @
Cannon. first counsellor 10 the president during
two administrations and the virtual head Of the
Mormon Church to-day. would he the selection.
To compass his elevation It would have been neces-
sary 10 destroy a precedent put IN force by Brig
ham Young after tho death Of Joseph Smith, In
1914 nj which time "the mantle 81 Joseph fell upon
Brigham" and the president OF the "Twelve' be
came president Of the Church, To the undoing of
Sidney Rcdon. who had been first counsellor 10
Josoph smith and is the acknowledged author NJ
THE Book Of Mormon" and the theological plan
on which the Church is founded. Rlgdon aposta-
tied but the Church kept its way as II destiny
had been It's star.
Adhcrinr to the precedent established. the
present authorities have elevated I0rerzo snow 70
the presidency OF the Mormon Church. snow was
president Of the Twelve" and the logical Sc
lection in view ~ the precedent bTt the belief was
shared by Mormon and Gentle alike that the dis
tlnguished services ~ Cannon would he recognized
and the reward commensurate be given. As II 49,
Cannon IL first counseo. 10 the president Joseph
F Smith second counsellor. and despite Inc sue
cessioa. the voice OF Cannon Is the voice OF the
people"
FASTENING SHOWS ELEVATION
r. had beon believed that the powers o, the
Church wouls deter until after election the selec-
ton Of a president. Possibly anticipating the ei-
fccts Of such mode OF procedure. they themselves
ha%tcatd the decision. and on the 'Sth INST Jus'
eleven days inter the death OF the venerable Wood
rur elected or more properly. elevated Lorenzo
Snow 10 the presidency Of the Mormon Chhr'h
An cxlgcncv existed and the following official
abatement as 10 the elevation Of Snow vii! convey
an idea as 20 the rush. That serious hnahclAl
problems confronted the Church there i no ques-
ton Just how serious were these problems Is ho'
yet popularity known. bu, that the Church Is IN
commerce TO say nothing OF politics. IS proved 10y
the following official report Of the proceedings
given out by Secretary George +. Gibbs:
To the Oflcers and Members Of the church OF
Jesus Christ Of Latter Day saints sP,t'a' rn
ing iof HANNIBAL character at witch present
ness .n or annY Franklin H. Richards George y
cannon, Joseph r smith. brigham Young, Francis
NJ Lyman. John Henry smith. George TGasd t5d
rin Anthem y Lund Matthias 9Sl"y ,i hiia
he necessity OF appointing trustee IN trust :or
the Church became apparent. IN ORDER tlnt s ~.
Hiieraflng several ~ the brethren expressed them
selves ne erect hat the 5ressen 2I wa" prsddncy
ana 80 unanimous was this sentiment NAY IN, M,
ION wa. made % that effect ana carried. l"lr1o
sDnw vas then nominated and sustained as pTesi
dent OF the Church Of Jesus Christ OF Later i'f
,nr. President snow then selected. with the ar
prova OF the Council George - onhh"h ss mr.
President Snow was then sustained as trustee "
trust FOR the Church. The connch a,so surSn iys
Frpnkin u Richards president of me 49,
Aposiies These several actions by the Counc"
wero all unanimous -, .
II annears that the special meeting was heid 70
consider important business OF financial chhrac
90, and during the deliberations tho necessity or
,ppoin,ing trustee in trust FOR the 'hurch prop
er,v becann. apparent. Close on the demise o' i'S
most revered leader the Mormon church h's''i's
the selection OF office - handle i's CONNER O'l
interests becsu.e seemingly. they are paramount
THE PRESIDENTS BROAD POWERS.
This president; Lorenzo snow is not only me
,sce-rcsent o, tho Almighty earth, he Is also
MISUNDERSTANDING II not In ,act-o' lions CO.
o,oretIv. Mercantile Institution. the most stupen-
dous commercial concern In the entire West
Lorenzo Snow was eghty-rour years old April 3
OF this wear but his capacity OF President OF mo
Jesus Christ OF Latter lay SINUS "' "'H
the power to dispose OF any or all or the properly
., the Mormon Church (of course ne has counsel
lo-s1 and II he choose he might deed away the
Temple Block Itself Indeed. he might follow n
nreccdont IN this for ono OF the most aggravating
judicial problems that came mp In titan ait'r the
death OF Brigham Young was me suit oi MS h'''s
for nossession Of this Temple Block Inc case
uas never adjudicated but the tire is stll In the
Church. Rrehams heirs will not say how
A. 20 tho spiritual powers Of the prcsden; II Is
difficult % donue them. Ry virtue or his once no
s Apostle prophet seer and revelator. and rs such
becomes the mouthpioce on his sphere % IN" Al
mighty \ PRONUNCIATION from President Snow will
be- accented as having its origin in tho highest
source OF the universe. BEFORE PRONUNCIATION the
decree yH he considered by the councillors George
! . Cannon and Joseph + Smith ana others II
| ,ocesearv IA to individual rights IN following or
sbturlng the doctrines 81 the Mormon Church ~
10 plural marriage It s understood that the powers
/ 81 the president are ended President Woodruff on
! september a. 800. promulgated the famous mani
! fesfo doing away with poygamy. and since then
70 prosecutions nave been had for the offence. As
| 10 those who had entered into polygamous state
prior to September o. $3.50 and who may still retain
! their poygamous relations, all tho CHIEFS ~ the
! Mormon church who have heen incrrogatcd have
| RETAINED from stating absolutely the position Of
| the Church President Snow + among these. ana
! bat recently. when case OF unlawful cohdhtau0n
was brought 10 his attention. said "i'il not per-e-
cute any man for living his religion" President
| Snow Is oll-so old that be says himself II
| have put away my wives. but am sorry for the
younger men"
MISSIONS OF PAST PRESIDENTS
The Mormon Church was organized April 6. 1890
| and r. consequently over sYty-eight years old. II
| has now it's NTH president and looking over its
| record the first four seem TO have each had his
! special mission. Joseph Smith was the founder.
the dlscovcrer ~ the plates from which THE Book
Of Mormon" is said 10 have been translated, the
select Of men with whom the Angel Moronl con-
yersed and 10 whom Peter. James and John de-
livered the keys 10 rhe Kingdom. During his adj
| ministration which ended by his death by violence
| June a. 1874 at Carthage. ILL.,. the Church was in
| its incubating period. The ohloquy subjecing II