The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1899-07-03

Hereafter TO member of the Mormon
church who is delinquent in the pay
ment of tithes will be permitted to cele-
brate his marriage and other religious
rites within the temples of the church
This was the rule that was urged by
the general authorities at yesterday
conference of church officials, the most
important gathering held by the Lat
ter-day Saints in recent years. There
We're church officials in attendance from
Mexico, Canada, all parts of Utah and
nelShborlng states, and the conference
Vas IN secret session in the temple for
Line hours
Payment of tithes was the theme of
the seventeen church leaders who adj
dressed the meeting. and the discourses
were IN vein similar to those that
have recently been delivered at the
tabernacle and at other church meet
lngS- No definite rule or plan to en-
force better observance of the law of
tithing was adopted and the instruc-
ton noted aboVe-to withhold recon-
mencs TO the temple from delinQuents
does not mean that payment of tith-
ing will be made a test of fellowship
IhoSS VINO do not cOnScientiously OBJ
serve this law will not be excommuni-
Gated, but they will be denied adrnis-
sion to the temples.
President Shows Statement.
President Snow, when seen last even
ing, was not so fatigued as might be
expected. He talked freely of some
matters pertaining to the assembly.
which he refers to as a grand success
The addresses made said he were
substantially the same as those deliv-
cred in the south on our recent tour.
General subjects of interest to the
church We're discussed. tithing form
ing one theme, and what was said. /
presume, will be echoed in the pulpits
of the church in all directions.
i was astonished to see with what
readiness the authorities assembled
this morning. The hour set was 1910
but upon my soul" laughingly the
president declared, both rooms We're
literally packed when l entered with
my counselorS an hour beforehand
Only two presidents of stakes were alb
sent, and they, l believe, were repre-
scented by counselors.
We had a glorious time. and / do
not hope to experience any gathering
more harmonious. peaceful and full of
good will. l believe everybody there
feels well repaid for their attendance"
A Large Attendance.
" Ei-A lfSlNtiiA SHOW tdiltG the dS
sembly Ia order at 1890 there were be
tween 600 and 200 people IN the two
large rooms on the second floor of the
temple thrown open. Every stake was
represented in this number. which con-
Sututed a gathering Of officials from
every locality. from Canada to Mexico.
of forty-tWo presidents of stakes for
~ were present and about 500 bishops.
together with the first presidency.
twelve apostles, seven presidents of
seventies, the church patriarch and the
heads of various church Institutions
were in attendance. Thirty or forty
special invitations. including those 10
several ladies. were issued. The tenn
PIE choir furnished music. and besides
these, no one was present, or at any
rate. six doorkeepers and gatekeepers
vigilantly discharged their duties and
checked from , long list the name of
each who entered the particular do
main over which he had been placed as
guard. The gates of the temple block !
We're locked, and many tourists. who
probably would have paid but little at |
tention to the grounds at any other I
time, walked up and down the street. /
wondering what on earth was going on |
on the inside
THE Mormon priesthoOds in ses-
sion" was a frequent breathless an !
nouncement. and certain it is that no
other announcement could strike as
much awe and wonderment TO the
stranger within Zion's gates.
Object of Conference
The object of the meeting was osten-
sibly to impress upon the minds of the
church authorities the necessity of
1.-THE paying and 10 instruct them to
thus teach their people. Heretofore, in
matters pertaining to church laws. in
strUctions have gone out by indirect
communication, but in this important
instance it was probably felt that the
effect of face to face talks with the
presiding officers would be much more
impressive. Tithing was the one sub
ject discussed. Presidents Lorenzo
Snow. George Q. Cannon and Joseph +.
Smith, each member of the apostles
quorum, Presiding Bishop Preston and
Elder lie Roi c. Snow, son of President
Snow. were the speakers, and each
dwelt upon the one subject.
No Recommends to Delinquents.
While no formal rule was adopted.
1t was urged that a more strict adher-
snce to the law be made compulsory, !
and that no recommends to the temple
be issued except to 1.-THE payers. Pres
dent Joseph F. Smith was particularly
strong on this point. and was very
straightforward in his remarks.
There was nothing in the conference '
lleAN NDbtN bt NtaiA ith StnSdtlbildl. NOIn-
Ing occurred of more than ordinary in
Lerest. Church finances We're not con-
sidered, except in a way of general all
fusion. and those who expected other
wise viii be disappointed
Cautioned to Secrecy.
President Snow spoke for over an
-FOUR in beginning, and added to his
address at various intervals throughout
he meeting In closing the conference. i
lie reminded those present that he :
AIRED little what the reporters might :
ay on the morrow, but he desired il
understood that whatever ]
hey might say should not come from c
ny of those present. This caution was 3
aid because of the rule that all pro-
eedinss in the temple, of whatever :
lature whatsoever, are sacred Moth .