Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1900-01-31
TIrHING SCRIP.

Attempts have been made recently TO
cast dlscredit upon the tlthing depart
ment Of the Church, and falsehoods In
reference to II have found an appro-
pirate place. The Salt Lake Tribune
has published several communications
on the subject II has been thus stated
that contractors and others who desired
10 take advantage OF their employees,
have taken cash to the Bishops office
and purchased tithing orders at dis
count, paying them out to their work.
men at par and thus making profit
out Of the wages OF working people.
The News" has already denounced
these statements as entirely false
Everybody connected with the Pre-
siding Bishops office In this city de-
clares. that the scrip known as tithIng
orders has never been sold TO any one
in that way. There is not any founda-
ton whatever for the stories thus pub
llshed, They were devised IN malice
and printed in spite. No such transac-
lions have occurred Gentlemen sup
posed to be limited at In those commu-
nicatlons have denied the charges, and
the response has BEEN simply, rdicule
OF their protests and repetition OF the
accusations, without giving the names
OF the persons alleged to have been en-
gagged in that kind OF business.
The Church OF Jesus Christ Of Latter.
day Saints receives as the tlthes Of its
members such products or articles Of
merchandise or manufacture as they
tender Payment Is made OF tithing
In snd." II farmer raises grain,
he gives the tenth OF his increase, A
manufacturer pays tiihing with his
fabrics. dealer with his wares a wage
Garner with tenth OF that which he
receives.
In disburslng these varied articles to
persons working for the Church. to the
poor. the INDECENT and afflicted, for
convenience sake a kind of scrip Is is
sued, which passes current at the store
houses OF the Church. II is the only
way In which this extensive business
can be successfully transacted. 1t Is
paid out at It's face value and accepted
IN the same way. II calls for such
provisions AS may. be on hand at the
store.houses The goods obtainable In
this way are received and paid out as
nearly as possible at their market
value, Every person who receives them
whether for wages or for aims, under
stands what they are and what they
are for. No advantage is taken OF any
one in their disbursement or their re-
demptlon.
If any person receiving this scrip
chooses to sell Il for cash, tina, Is his own
affair and nobody's business but his
own and that Of the person who buys
Il Such dealings, however. are not
carried on or countenanced by the
Church or It's authorities. But It can
not be prevented. II Is not unlawful,
and may sometimes be considered abso-
Iutely necessary by those who make
such sales.
The question is asked by an anony-
nous writer TO the paper that publishes
such things, why payment is not made
entirely In cash so as TO do away with
the scrip business. The reason is obv-
Gus to every person acquainted with the
circumstances which We have briefly
described. II everybody paid tlthing
In money, cash only would be dlsbursed
for wages and for charity from the
tithing Offices As 1t is, the system In
vogue Is necessary and Of vast benefit
TO all PARTIES concerned The only diff
Guilty with most OF those persons who
receive the scrip Is that they cannot get
enough of IT, The provisions which are
purchasable with II are such as they
would have to obtain II they had cash
TO buy them with. And there Is no
complaint, usually, with them. Let
those who are not concerned mind their
own business.
As rule 1t would be better in COM
nercial circles II the scrip and retail
order business could be entirely abol- |
ished. but there are circumstances |
which even in those circles render them
necessary. The purchase OF such pa
per at q discount by employees and pay |
INK them out TO workmen at par, can !
not be too strongly condemned. That !
Is taking advantage Of labor for the |
advantage Of capital Buying scrip at |
a discount also ana rendering II In lieu /
Of cash for tithlng, is a species of sharp |
practice that shows a scared conscience
and is displeasing to God and honest
men.
These attacks which are made from |
time to time. in various ways. upon
the Church and It's authorities. are
straws that show which way the anti /
Mormon" wind is blowing. and they |
indicate the sentiment actuating some
people, that while the Church is to be
debarred from interfering In secular
affairs, those directors have a strong |
desire to Interfere with and dictate the
affairs OF the Church They will not
succeed. And their meddling win gain
them neither profit nor favor among
sensible men and women OF any party |
or creed