Virginia citizen. (Irvington, Va.) 1891-1921, 1906-01-19

mud despatched garments OF ecclesi-
asticism. 1t is the Tripoli pirates de-
handing blood immunity pay from all
those who come under its churchly
shadow. 1t is the holdup call of the
nighwayman, demanding that the
stages passengers empty their pocket
books at its affairs. 1t was conceived
with the idea Of financial graft, de-
veloped with the idea of graft, and IL is
perpetuated with the idea Of graft.
The members OF the hierarchy are no
more phiianthropists than the bucca-
neers OF old were -philanthropists or
that Captain Kidd was a philanthropist
when he raised his black flag over the
Adventurer on the Madagascar coast
in the latter part of the seventeenth
century.
Brigham Young did not elect himself
as head OF the Mormon church for the
benefit or his followers any more than
Boss Tweed ruled New York for the
benefit of its people. He was a finan-
ciai robber, pure and simple. He at
once commenced to levy his taxes. This
tithing system grew aud grew until out
of the Ubiquitous system Brigham Young
became one of the wealthiest men ia
America. The world marvels at the
Few hundreds of thousands Of dollars
which members OF the iniquitous DO
Etical rings OF New York and Phlladel.
phia were able 70 steal. Why. these
men were only babes In the art OF finan.
cial graft compared to this monstrous
adventurer. Some years ago. with the
goyernerof what was then Utah terri.
tory = was driven about Salt Lake
City. Almost everywhere I could see
the results Of Brigham Young's finan.
cial depredations. Two years after his
death the Salt Lake Tribune declared
that Young had secured from the tith.
Ing system or Utah over S13,OOO.OOO,
Nine million dollars of this he suuan.
dered on his family; $4,000. 900 he left
to be fought over by his heirs. 1 have
been told that at his death he owned
one-tenth of all the wealth of Utah
Can any man read an account of such
financial dealings and not declare that
he was the king Of grafters?
King OF Grafters.
What the Mormon church stood for
In its financial dealings fifty years ago
1t stands for today. BY its tithing sys.
tenn the Mormon church has now an i'm.
come of at least 100000. Where is
1t going to- For what means is all
this vast amount OF money being used
For the spread of the Mormon gospels
On, yes. Some or 1t Is spent In that
way, just as some Of the money of the
Infamous Louisiana lottery was used
for advertising the lottery tickets ali
over the world; but, without doubt. a
vast percentage of that income goes
into the pockets OF the Mormon. leaders.
But" says some one, '.you should
not condemn the Mormon leaders like
that. They do not compel the men,
bers OF the church to stand and de-
liver, as a highwayman gruffiy orders
his victims to do. These church men,
bers do not have to surrender their
tithes any more than the members of
your church have to give into the col
lection plates unless they wish to do
SO. IL the Mormon people give to >Jo-
seph =. Smith they give OF their own
free will" All, my friends, that is one
or the biggest decisions ever sent
broadcast over this land. The Mormon
victims do not give willingly. They
are compelled to give, whether they are
willing or not, by the thumbscrews of
the boycott and financial ostracism. III
you want proof Of what say read to-
day the marvellous Investigations OF
"Mormonism Unveiled" by Irving Say
ford, already quoted. Not only does he
cite facts seen with his own eyes. but
he corroborates with names and dates
this ono fact-that Mormon cxcom-
munication means financial persecution
and financial humiliation II a man in
Utah does rot give to the church his
tenth the church will deliberately start
forth to take away his trade. The most
fiendish work OF the most merciless
trust is not more relentless and destruc-
tive than this evil institution of which
Brigham Young was the creator and of
which Joseph =. Smith Is now the In
iquitous head. aa
But In this description OF the Nor
mon hierarchy we must also declare
that modern Mornionism stands FOX
licensed libertinisrn and immortality.
Many OF theoe long bearded apostles,
by their OWL confession, are living to-
day In open adultery. These gray whis-
kered Mormon criminals before the
senate Investigating committee not
only pnblushiagly admitted that they
were living with plural wives, but they
even Were photographed with them and
VAN their iliegitimafe. offspring. born
siAse the famous manifesto whereby
he Mormon leaders 1declared they
would only cleave to one wife there
d. Now the rank and fiie OF a church
cannot. be better tl<l the leaders OF a
church IL you have corrupt pulpit
IN time,y you will have a corrupt pew.
Dean Swift In clericais garb means
Bean Swift with a. debauched congre-
CATION Water by the law of specific
gravity cannot rise higher than It's
source. Yet it is undeniable that there
are many of the rank and file who are
thoroughly Disguised with the odious
lives and false pretenses of those lead
ers. To these honest ones, who long
for better things, we must extend all
sympathy.
A Visit To Salt Lake City.
Let us go and visit Salt Lake City.
We stop and look in the city directory
to find where the Mormon leader lives.
My" you say, Uncle Joseph must
move quite often to escape paying
rent. Why, here are five different
houses under his name. - ssYes,"s say.
'she sleeps In one house, eats, breakfast
In another house, has supper in another
house. spends the evening in another
house and sleeps In another house. In
each one of these homes he has a diff
ferent wife. When he walks along the
street forty-two different children can