Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1905-08-05

5ALT LAKE CITY, AUG. 5. 1905,
GOODS TENTH"
We publish today an article from the
pen OF q Christian minister. Rev. A. j.
Gordon, D. D.. which Is being distrlb-
uted among the Baptist churches IN
the East and wlll be read with interest
by many OF our people and by students
of the scriptures in different denomlna-
tlons. The subject is Of great import
ance and ia very well understood by
the Lattor-day Saints. The writer
strongly favoiS the principle Of tlthing
/ ne Of divine origin and for human bene-
ilt He calls It Gods Tenth" This
IS a very appropriate title for his little
pamphlet which has also been pub
lished In the Baptist Missionary Maya
zine. We commend IL to an persons
who believe in the Bible, as worthy Of
their close consideration.
There Is much misunderstanding IN
relation 10 the supposed enforcement
of the law Of tthing upon the Nor
mon people. II ls commonly supposed
( that It is in the nature Of a tax. Also
: that any member OF the Church who
fails to respond to the demand Of the
1 tenth Of his or her increase. Is per-
emptorIly communicated The truth
Is that In this Church tlthing is n
frce-wlll offering. ana that there are
many persons stil in the Church who
do not fully comply with the doctrine,
and some who do not pay anything at
all.
Every person who contributes TO the
Z tlthing fund in any degree Is entitled
! 10 a receipt for the amount. stating that
/ he or she has voluntarily donated 1t
TO the Church Of Jesus Christ of Lat
! ter-day Saints az tthlng" strict
nccount Is kept OF every cent received
by the respective Bishops and these ac-
iuounts are forwarded 10 the Presiding
Blshoprlc, whose books are kept In
! the most perfect order and are open to
the inspection OF Church members to
see " their accounts are correct
" -
The payment Of tithing is n matter
of religious doctrine ard personal con-
science, II is proclaimed az a divine
7.,,t t,ot ttn g.,,,. .., tl,, I,,,. ,,,,,..,r,,
ing the Sabbath, or any other COM
Imandment given by the Lord for the
observance OF His people It is not a
Inew thing under the sun az shown IN
ithe article entitled Goods Tenth" AS
10 this Church Of the latter days, the
law Of tithing was revealed July S.,
1898, and the manner OF IT. distrlbu-
ton and the purposes thereof on
July 49, 1888 These revelations are to
be found in Sections 1l9 and 800, OF
tho Doctrine and Covenants They are
observed Ia the Church at the present
tlme.
Gods Tenth Ia not regarded -
1he property OF any individual or In
ldivlduals In the Church, TO be used for
Ithelr own purposes or according to
Their own notions or desires. The fund
hhus created Is sacred trust, COM
omitted 10 the Church authorities as de-
fined ia the section last referred TO-,
rpd Is q matter that concerns the Lat
tcr-doy Saints only, other people and
societies have nothing to do with H.,
land all efforts ON their part to pry
anto the concerns OF this Church are
sheer lmpudence, ana their impertu-
lent curiosity Is not TO be eratlded.
This Church has its own discipline and
mcans Of management ana will con-
duct It's finances as directed by COM
lmou consent
: The idea which some persons en-
heovor to convey that the payment Of
sithing Is q burden and imposition up
on those who thus contribute OF their
substance. is evidence either OF mis-
understanding Of the divine law and
she blessings that come from complying
Herewith, or Of desire to injure the
Church as body and prevent It's
members individually from obtaining
those returns which the Almighty has
promised to the obodicnt The pay
)nent Of onc-tenth OF persons iu-
terest annually FOR the rurtherance
of the work of the Lord I'm the earth
is a privilege. It Is % commandment
with pnmise. GOD says. observe the
law ana will ada the blessings These
are both temporal and spiritual Pros
pcrity in earthly things and a rich out
pouring Of heavenly things are TO be
the result Of compliance with the COM
mand.