The Washington bee., 1901-09-14
0BEYED HIS CHURCH
Utah Banker Gave Up Wealth to
Serve MOrmonism.
Hebsr j. Grant, salt Lake Millions
Rire, Sacrificed n Fortune to Ea-
gage in Missionary Work
in Jspas.

MormOnism, sending as mission.
airy to Japan a Salo Lake millionairst
banker stripped of his wealth and de-
pendent upon that which shall falIi
from the hands of his converts, isf
one of the anomalies of missionary
work in the world. Heber j. Grant,
one of the u apostles of the MOrmont
church, power in former territorial
politics, a former banker, worthj
S4,OOO,OOO, paying tithes up5n an iR-I
come of 100000 a year, and other-t
wise one of the pillars of M0rmon-I
Ism, has sailed for the Flowery[
Kingdom with only his voice and his
hands as spiritual and temporal cap.
ital.
Yokohama is the destination of thel
apostle, whittier he has gore on a
two-years' assignment by the church,
powers. Elders 4. o. Taylor u 81
Ensign, and L. A. Kelsch accompanied
the apostle, the four breaking away,
from their worldly interests in thst
state capital. as if indeed, they wersl
no part of the estate of the Latter.
Day saint.
This dispatching of the MormORt
apostle-banker on this mission is il
lustratiOn of the power of the church
which years ago was driven from
habitatiOn in Illinois.
When the admission Of Utah as a
state was under consideration and
advisement and when the Mormon
church found it expedient to treat
with the United States authority, He
Der j. Grant was one of the elect of
the church. He was high in church
councils, prominent in the affairs OF
the territorial capital, a banker, cap-
italIst, and making money in half a
dozen ventures. He kept place and
influence after the admission of the
territory TO statehood. and he waE
making money still when he was
chosen to spread the doctrines OF
Joseph Smith to Asia. He was asked
how long it would require for him
TO drop worldly affairs for this mis-
sion of the elect. His reply was
"eight months" and he has fulfilled
| the promise.
Grants first act was to resign from
his official position in the Deseret
bank. No surprise was expressed at
his willingness to lay down the office.
/ 1t was a matter of course.
The Chicago Tribune says that as a
/ capitalist, sharing in many Legitimate
ventures in the great west, he held
thousands of dollars in promiss ory
notes, drawn by western men Grant
went through these papers, classi-
/ fed them, stamped Paid" across
| their faces, and mailed them 10 the
makers. giving clear receipts for all
moneys due him on contracts.
| Friends say these notes footed into
the hundreds of thousands of dollars.
| but the man parted with them with
out a murmur. He gave up his splen-
did home in Salt Lake City, leaving
his growing family to the care of tho
church body.
As indicating the wealth of tha
man. Just before he left Salt Lake
City he paid his tithes for six
months, based upon his income, and
the check was for $4,000.
From this state of affiuence Grant
has gone, with only bare travelling
expenses, to a strange land, in which
he will preach a new religion. He has
never been a public speaker, and he'
has a natural diffidence, but in behalf
of his religion he hopes TO overcome
difficulties.
Heber j. Grant is a native of Utah.
As years old. He is of commanding
figure and would pass better as a
shrewd business man than as a mis-
sionary. His influence in the Nor
mon church could not be easily meas
ured vet heh as been called upon to-
serve it, not only without pay, but at
the cost of a fortune. That he will
he successful in the cause none on
the faithful in Utah doubts for mo-
| mRnt