Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1904-05-21
SPEAKING OF HIERARCHY.


In the never ending controversy The
center Of which il the Church Of Jesus
Christ Of Lattor-day Saints, 1t Ia often
asserted that the main objection Is that
the Church members permit them
selves TO be ruled by despoHc "hier-
arohy,' That accusation serves pur-
pose, II sounds awful TO minimizing
crowds, II excites fears for what may
happen, and causes a "lamor for "ener-
getic measures II serves the same
purpose MS the popular tales In Russia
concerning the Jews--that they cap
tlre and kin Christian children for re-
lIgious purposes, There the evil ru-
mors breed massacres, The impression
which the mention OF a hierarchy" Is
meant to convey is that the Church
members are "enslaved' by class Of
men WHO dictate to them how to live
and how to die, how 20 eat and drink
how to vote and to transact business
all In the interest Of that class Moth
ing, however, Is farther from the truth.
II the orlgiuators Of that battlecry
were not rank hypocrltes speaking
falsehoods against their better knowl-
odge-if they really feared "hier-
archy" on American soil they would
raise their hoarse cry against other
churches than the "Mormons," for no
church is less "hierarcha" than the
dominant Church In Utah The Ro-
man church has been called "hier-
archal monarchy but no fear is any
longer expressed for It's domlnancy IN
the affairs Of the nation. That church
expressly condemns those who deny
the existence within the echurch OF
diyiney appointed hierarchy consist
ing OF bishops, priests and ministers
The Greek church, too, recognizes "a
threefold clerical order, distinct from
other Christians, and even the Angli-
can church recognizes an episcopal or
der with diyinely conferred authority.
Why In popular clamor not directed
against these and other churches2 We
do not say that II should be, but we
claim that there is hateful neon
sistency In the outNursts that are d.
rected against the Latter-day Saints,
and not against tho churches that pro-
fessedly are governed by a hierarchy,
II that involves any peril, 1t is as dan.
gerous in one case as IN another.
The Jewish church ancently had a
iora hu a glneu dlffornVt fran, tho
rest of the people in the duties devoly-
ing upon it, and In the manner Of
maintenance. To this class the service
In the sanctuary was entrusted. They
were the guardians OF the law and the
oracleS Of the Almighty They lived on
the people they were dressed In dstiu-
gushing robes, aud they had special
powers and privileges The Mosaic dis
pensation gives us, in its priests and
Levites good idea OF what a "hier-
archy," az applied to a class, means.
In the first Christian church there
was no such hierarchy no class of
hierarchs distinct from the rest of the
body for the reason that the entire
church, when perfected, was to consist
OF priests and kings Where all are Gle.
waited to that dignity there can be no
class distinction, 'Ye are chosen
generation, a royal priesthood to Offer
up spiritual sacrifices. acceptable 10
God, through Jesus Christ" That is
the New Testament idea of the church
members in general
This is also the view OF the early
fathers who lived nearest to the apos.
tolic age, They always use tn,
word Elder for the priesthood of tn,
Christians and priest (hiereus) Tor tn,
Mosaic order Of priests. Justin Mar
tyr who probably was not what now {,
called minister, hut % layman. uevor-
theless says Of himself and corcligion
lists; I'VE Christians are the race OF
high priests" Tcrtulllan asks; ARD
not also we laics priests? It is written
lie has made us Kingdom
and priests TO God and his Father
Septimius speaking Of baptism, says.
THE high priest who Is the bishop
has the right of giving IL. Theme.
elders and deaeons. not however with.
out the authority Of the bishop on ac.
count Of the honor Of the church, which
being preserved, pence is preserved
Otherwise the laity also has the right
For what Is equally received can b,
equally given II is clear that tn,
primitive church Of Christ had ~,
hierarchy, I'm the Mosaic meaning Of th'
word. It's members were AN hcrarchs
They were all Saints set apart ion
divine service under the one divin,