The daily morning journal and courier., 1899-10-12
MORMONISM.
Some Popular Misconceptions Corrected
 by an Elder of the Church.

by an Elder of the Church.
 When the commissioners to the gen eral assembly passed through Utah in 1892, they spent a Sunday in Salt Lake City. Charles w. Penrose was one of the speakers at great meeting held ir the Tabernacle One of the commis- sioners who was subsequently, mode rator of the assembly, said that, judg- | ing from the address alone, he would have thought that the speaker was a Presbyterian, doctor of divinity. MT. Penrose is the editor of the Deseret Evening News. the organ of the church of Jesus Christ of latter-day saints. He is also one of the elders of the church and high in Its councils. He was extremely courteous, and gave con- siderable time to the writer few weeks ago in explaining the system of educa- tion which his church inculcates, and in refuting the idea that there is polygamy in Utah.
 How many Mormons are there in this country?" was the opening ques- ton.
 About three hundred thousand" said MT Penrose; "the number has been good deal exaggerated. The figures just given do not include all the children of Mormon parents. When child Is born he is taken to the elders and blessed, but if he does not come back when he Is eight years old to be baptized, he is no longer included in the census.''
 ''Is your church increasing in num- bers?"
 Yes, both by birth and conversion. There are many elders on missions in various parts of the country, also abroad, who secure large number of converts; this Is especially true of the southern states. Formerly they were tarred and feathered, but now the teaching is being better understood, and they receive better treatment
 How are your people trained?"
 We begin with the children, having a Sunday-school which has been ac- knowledged to be superior to any other in the world. Then there are mutual improvement associations in every ward for young men, and separate ones for young women. The elder women have their relief associations, and in addition to caring for the sick and the poor. they
  are organized in companies, and are known as deacons, teachers, priests, el- ders, seventies and high priests. The young men who are deacons pass the bread and water at the Sunday services. The teachers visit in the wards, the priests preach, teach and baptize. The elders lay on hands for the giving of the Holy Ghost. There are home mission aries in every stake or conference. There is bishop in charge and two There are also home mis- sionaries in every ward who work un- der the presidents and are to hold ser vices wherever directed"
 DO the missionaries here and else- where receive a salary?"
 ''They do not receive a dollar, and more than that they pay their own ex- penses to the field and live on what they get. When they have fulfilled their the church usually pays their home.'
 What are the duties of the bisbops?'' 'They are rather of temporal than a spiritual nature. The bishop looks af- ter the temporal matters in the ward, and the poor and indigent and sick. He also stands as a common judge. For Instance: Two members in the church disagree. They are visited by other members of the church, and if they fail to bring about a reconciliation, the bishop and the presiding officers near the case. They also sit in the mat er of fellowship, and if the case war ants it, the bishop may dsfellowship a member. A member may appeal to he high council, composed of twelve nigh priests, presided over by the presi- lent of the state. It should be under stood, however that the high council loes not supersede the law of the land. The question of crime goes to the crim- nal court, as for instance, the charge f adultery
 Do you make a distinction between )olygamy and adultery?"
 ''The law of the state makes a clear- ut distinction between polygamy and oha bitation, to use the legal term; one