The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1899-01-08

the modern young Mormon, man or
woman, can believe seriously that pos
lygamy is likely to be revived as part
of their religious system.
HEAD OF THE MORMON CHURCH.
The Latter-day Saint of this genera
/ ton and the pioneer who crossed the
plains in the late '40's, both have their
types among the leaders Of the church,
but the pioneers are few now, and the
| spirit of the church is progressing nat
urally with the influx of new popula-
ton and the influences of education
and travel
Picture the present head of the
church as l saw him the other day. To
one acquainted with conditions in Utah,
the power Of this man is not easily
imagined. His office carries with it the
control of enormous material interests,
as we'll as the command of affairs Spir-
ituaA. When he speaks with authority
it is recognized by half a million people.
He alone is authorized to proclaim the
divine command and TO him alone are
all the authorities of the church subor-
dinate.
In the business affairs of the church,
as we'll as in spiritual matters, the
president is eX-officio the supreme
power. AS head of the church he is
president of the lions Savings & Trust
company, of the lions Cooperative
Mercantile Institute, one of the great
cooperative stores of this country; he
is director-in-chief of the church pub
fishing houses, and passes upon all
questions of policy affecting the official
organ of the church, the Daily Deseret
News These are only a few of the
business interests under his supervision.
The headquarters of all this power and
responsibility is in the unpretentious,
but famous Lion House." which tour
lists in Salt Lake City always go to see.
Entering a small, plainly furnished an
te-room under the Stucco lion which
gives name TO the building, the visitor
is expected to make himself known by
knocking at the door into the private
office. Probably the president himself
will meet his guest and lead him into a
large, well lighted room, looking more
like a comfortable parlor than an office,
except that half a dozen rpller-top
desks and tables covered with papers
show the class Of work being done
there. The president uses a large desk
at the end of the room farthest from
the street, close by a big, CHEEKY CRATE.
When 1 called upon him and told him
it was intended to publish something
about him and his policy, he was en-
tirely cordial, though a little reserved
at first. Then he chatted most inter-
estingly of his life. Before he told of
his boyhood, he asked, with an I'M
you suppose 1 amp" When the guess
came, "72 or 75,' he laughed with the
gaiety Of a boy. "Eighty-five soon," he
declared, and repeated with relish, ''S5
SOON"
PICTURE OF PATRIARCH SNOW.
The wonderful vitality of the man
seemed remarkable in one of his years.
TAN, rather slender, erect, his form
has none of the angu!arity that usually
betokens old age, and the shrinking of
the muscular fibre. His brown eyes
are as bright as youngsters, and he
will read fine print without glasses,
just to show you what rational living
can do to preserve the eyeSight.
How do L manage to keep so well?'
he responded to a query. why, by
being thankful for what 1 have and
not worrying about what I can't get.
Of course, too, L take good care of my
SELF
He might have added that, in obedi-
ence to the old rules of his church, he
has never used liquor, tobacco, coffee
or tea. His complexion, while swarthy,
is of the clear olive that betokens clean
living and years of outdoor life.
Continuing to talk about his age, he
said he probably owed much to the
pnySiQue given MIN Dy MS parents,
Massachusetts people who went to the
Western Reserve of Ohio as pioneers
and settled near Ravenna, about thir-
ty miles from Cleveland.
You see" he went on, "our family
has done a good deal of pioneering.
My parents settled in a wilderness, and
when l grew up l came across the
plains in 1S4S, one year after our peo-
pie made their great journey to Utah.
Since then my missionary work has
taken me to England France. Ger
many, Italy, Austria, and to the Sand
Wlch islands, so l have been a good
deal of traveller
The conversation suggested a query
as to the missionary system of the
church.
MAKING NEW CONVERTS.
1--WE have about 1,4OO missionaries
out now" said President Snow Most
OF these are young men, and they go
to stay two or three years, those in
foreign lands taking the longer term.
Aside from the value of their work, to
the church, the missionary system is a
great educator for the young men.
They see new people and new lands:
they learn human nature, and thew
come home broadened by their expert
ence."
Are the new converts who come to
Utah advised as to where they shall
settle?" was asked
mo, not at all. Many of them have
friends here, and, naturally, wish to be