Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1906-05-25
WILL MIND ITS BUSINESS.

pattn rom lnls city dDout tne MOT
mon" Church going "out of business.
In an editorial which we reproduce in
full In another part OF this issue Of the
Deseret News, that paper gives duo
credit to the "Mormous' for their in
dustry and business sagaclty and tho
leaders OF the Church for their wise
But at the same time the Herald makes
remarks that show It 10 be IN error on
some important points, Az nearly every
newspaper IN the country Is when
touching on Mormon" topics, on the
whole. however. the article is web
worthy of consideration.
We have TO repeat our denial OF the
story about the Church going out Of
business and to express regret that
the press agent who sent the bogus
news over the wires did not exerclfe
Judgment enough to nnd out II the story
was correct or had any basis in fact
before echoing uncertain sounds and
taking for granted statements from a
VIGOROUSLY deceptive source. The
Church sold its interest In The Ealtalr
Reach and Railway 10 responsible
company. and that was all there was
10 report. The rest was fiction and
conveyed not only misstatements ms 10
alleged transactions. but differences that
were unwarranted and absurd,
The tithing system of the Church
brings into It's control various kinds Of
property The tenth OF a members
interest annually Is paid I'm kind"
that IL, in whatever Is produced by the
labor or enterprise ~ the individual.
whether cash, produce, csttle, sheep
horses or anything else This sort Of
income requires careful management
and also investment In other kinds II
property. Prudence and business saga
city have 20 he exercised so that tho
Church shall gain and not lose by tho
change The establishment and malh-
fenanco Of Industries for the employ
nent Of working people has been one
Of Tie results Of that system. AMI there
has been no announcement or Intention
on the part Of the Church 10 go out
of business"
The idea that "the laty" only are
the tthepayers and that they are taxed
or in any way compelled to 1.-THE their
income ia incorrect. The leaders of the
Church both local and general are
among the strlctest observers Of the
law Of tithing. They believe IN II as a
principle Of religion. They show their
faith by their works. Tithing IL a vol.
untary contribution, attended with both
temporal and spiritual blessing TO the
honest observer. Tho income IL not the
property Of any Individual or body Of
persons but belongs to the Church and
n sacred to the Lord, every cent TO he
used for the interest and benefit Of His
work on the EARTH
AS o matter OF fact II Is 50 held and
used, no matter what people may think
or say WHO have no business with lts
payment or disposition. not being menu
bers Of the Church.
A. to the hierarchy" limiting It's au.
thorly to ecclesiastical propagation
and defence OF the faith as mentioned
by the Boston Herald no iuumntion
has been given BY the Church To
begin with there is no hierarchy" In
g. ard the policy of the church ms to
its Temperatures has not been
changed The laity 40 the Herald
dosignates the body Of the church. al
though most Of ms members hold the
Priesthood, cannot be any more free
than they are and have been, TO serve
their Interests by independent aud In
divdual discretion" Like the mem
bers OF other churches they now have
personal freedom" There IS no such
communal order Of living or business
among them a. that paper and many
mistaken persons suppose is a
part Of the Mormon" system
Every member OF the Church
who has property Of any kind. holds II
In his or her own right. and Is free to
20 Into any trade, or business or oc.
cupotion that tho individual may select.
The operations OF the Church In the
field OF business are also much misuu.
derstood, II has no monopoly Of any
kind or character 10 has embark
ed In some industries. Js we have stat
ed, but usually as share
holder therein ana not 10 the exclusion
OF individual pacticipators IN the en-
terprise. Concerns which the Church
Is popularity supposed 10 control are I'm
the hands OF stockholders. some az
them nom Mormons" aud the Church
OF the shares Business nSHY
does not even hold majority of the
shares Business IN an its branches
and diversities Is "a flee IN Utah as
elsewhere, ana an the stories about
"Church domination are utterly hcttl-
Gus ana most OF them malignant ana
vile.
The Mormon" church VIII mind It's
own business according to one OF It's
notices. and attend to IL faithfully
whether It bs spiritual or temporal. and
VIII leave other peoples and other
churches business alone It would be
well II they would follow this example,
The properties OF this Church belong
10 II lesitlmateIy and viii doubtless be
managed In the future With as much
intelligence acumen and care as In thl
past While its members are satisfied
with it's conduct II is no concern OF
anybody else, and when n becomes wise
and beneficial to dispose Of any Of It's
Temperatures or to engage In others. Il
ia likely 10 90 so without consulting .e
- Eure
'..ras..ll sIss ~