Arizona republican., 1903-10-25
CHURCHES AND SOCIETY.

The people of Mesa and vicinity arc a cultured. refined. church going class. Mormon or Gentile and there is good population of the latter. so that the outlook for spiritual growth may be said to indicate an increased demand for larger church accommodations, i'm perative in the near future.
 There are three church organizations in Mesa city. In point of membership the Mormon denominati ton is in the ma- jority. This Stake of Zion, as it is cal. ed, was first temporarily organized in october. 1878. by Apostle Erastus Snow and party from Salt Lake City. who appointed Jesse \. Perkins as presiding elder. with H. C. Rogers and c. w. Sir rine as counseleTs. In 1880 John Fay Tor. president of the Universal church, called A. r. Macdonald to the presi- dency Of the settlement, and he arrived from Utah in February, 1880. retain ing Fl. C. Rogers and G. w. Shrine as his counselers. J. N. Perkins having left the country. Tn December, 1882, Apostle Moses Thatcher and Erastus Snow visited the settlement and effect ed a permanent organization. On De- cember 10. 1882, a conference was held and a change was made. Presi- dent Macdonald was sustained, as was also H. C. Rogers, but Charles I. Rob son was appointed in place of G. W. Shrine. who was honorably released. On December i, 1887 President Mac Donald was honoTably released from his position and Charles I. Robson was chosen in his stead. II. c. Rogers and Collins R. flakes were appointed his first and second counselers, respective ly.
 On February "A, 1894. President Rob- son passed away. and on May 10 of the same year Apostles John Henry Smith and Brigham Young, Jr, called C. E. flakes to the presidency of the Stake, with II. C. Rogers and James r. John son as his counselers.
 At tle departure from the communi- ty of James F. Johnson. w. J. LeBaron was chosen as counselor and after the death of Henry C. Rogers. the veteran pioneer of the Mormon colony in the valley, Isaac C. Dana was sustained as second counselor to Priest C. R. flakes, and w. J. Le Baron as first who con stitute the present presiding authority of the Maricopa Stake of Zion.
 The first meeting house was also used for school purposes, and was built in 1880. enlarged in 1882 and in 1896. the present connections house of worship.
 The tabernacle was builded by vol untary contributions at cost of $11,- 0GO, and dedicated by Brigham Young the same year and declared free from debt
 Aside from the tabernacle there are five pretentiOus meeting houses in the different wards of the Stake. each pre- sided over by a bishop and two coun- sellors. And in each ward the follow ing organizations are fostered for the instruction and benefit of both old and young: Sunday schools. Relief Socie- ty. Y. M. M. I. and I. l.. M. l. associa- tions, -(the relief society and the Y. L. NJ. l. association are members of the Woman's National Relief Society,". Pri- mary associations and religious classes each presided over by efficient presi- dents and counsellors and each organi- zation in all the wards in' turn presided over by Stake president and counsellors so that the child from the cradle to the grave can obtain the religious instruc- ton and benefit and assist in helping others in the association that he is suited. by capacity to be member of. Aside from these associations in the wards. there are the Quorums of the Priesthood-each of whcih hold their regular meetings and have a work to perform, viz: the Seventies Quorum, the Elders. Priests. Teachers and Dea- cons Quorums.
 The Maricopa Stake off Zion, as it IS called, is in a prosperous condition,