The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1907-05-12
"BLEED THEMl BLEED THEM! u

This exclamation by Superintendent
Ben Rich Of the Southern States mission
is still the watch word Of the priesthood
toward their followers.
To show how the Mormon people are
continually bled by the ecclesiasts, The
Tribune presents herewith a copy OF
circular letter, by means of which
funds are flched from them aside from
the regular ten per cent tithe imposl-
ton. The extracts herewith presented
are quoted from letter sent out last
year by the bishoprlc of the third ward
in this city, as follows;
We have two funds in the ward which
are maintained by the voluntary dona-
tions OF the saints: the fast-oifering
fund, exclusively used for the support
of the worthy poor. and the general
ward expense fund. used for current eX-
penses, such as lighting, heating. re-
pairs. care OF the meeting house, etc.
The ward expense fund is collected by
a committee of brethren and sisters who
have been appointed 20 that work. and
we bespeak for them courtesy and
promptness on the part OF the saints.
! The members of this committee make
many sacrifices in order TO perform their
duty, and their work should be appre-
ciated and commended by every member
sible should be rendered TO make their
work as light possible
II has been customary In the past for
the saints to leave their fast offerings
with the clerk. and wait until the proper
credit had been given, This has often
caused inconvenience and delay, and
which if followed out, will overcome
this difficulty.
We are handing you herewith a little
slip and an envelope. and 1t is desired
n Nnn
you wish 10 contribute TO the fast offer
ing fund, and after signing your name
place the slip with the p, contribution In
be left with the clerk on fast day at the
fast meeting. 1t is suggested that when
you md 1t impossible 10 attend, and
still desire to contribute TO the worthy
poor, that you send the envelope TO the
fast meeting.
AT the end of the year. when YOU come
before thc bishopric 10 settle your tith-
ing the accounts OF your donations 10
both the ward expense fund and the fast
Offering fund will be shown you for your
these funds. Il financial statement will be
read at our regular ward conference for
your acceptance.
What care is taken to be very defn~
ite in the matter of collections! Never
mind about going TO meeting, but be
sure to send the money! But a signf
cant matter is contained in that letter.
The bishopric is careful to say that an
accounting Will be rendered as TO tie
disposition of the funds contributed
Not so with the tithing, however That
belongs TO the chief prophet, TO do with
secretly as he sees fit. The Deseret
News has said that the tithing accounts
arc open to the inspection of any tithe
payer. So they are, to this extent: The
1.-THE payer will be permitted to know
how much ne has paid-and that is all.
As to where the money goes TO, he can
find out nothing. 1T would seem to be
rather strange that an accounting
should be considered necessary in one
case, In order TO deal honestly with
the contributors, but not in the other,
where the larger amount is involved.
And it would be interesting to know
how long this accounting has been IN
effect, and what started the bishops to
making IT,
Whenever proper information as 10
the disposition of the tithes has been
demanded the ecclesiasts have retorted
that il is no concern OF the public what
is done with the money. But it is TO
itho public that this information be
longs II is the public concern that no IL
legitimate use be made of these funds
The hierarchs collect approximately
two million dollars each year in tithes
alone, and probably an equal amount is
annually collected in the shape of ward
and special donations. Even the little
ones who attend school have their
"nickel Sunday the children who be-
long to the primary classes are com
PEELED TO pay their donations: the
mutual Improvement associations have
their dino Tuesdays - Everything
is paid for by donation aside from the
regular len per cent tax. And all of
this money is withdrawn from the re-
sources of the State, making IL the
business of everybody in the common
wealth to know what becomes Of il.
Every citizen has a right to know If
much Of this fund is shipped out of the
State and into foreign countries, as has
been indicated in tho hicrarchial pos
sessions in Canada and Mexico. Utah
needs all the money she can get for
her own advancement. Entcrprlsing