Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1908-08-22

thians: "Ye walked In the statutes of
God. being subject to your rulers or
preshyters, or elders, among you
Here the character OF the rule is
explained as guidance" The rulers
are guides" Polycarp exhorts the
Philippians: Let the elders be COM
passionate aud merciful to all convert
ing those that have been led aStray,
Inspecting all the weak So therefore
LEI us serve with fear and all piety,
as he himself commanded and the
apostles and prophets preached In
this manner the various ecclesiastical
cGicers OF the early churches are re-
ferred to by the Fathers. They are
servants, not masters. They are
guides, not despots. As long as the
Spirit of God was the moving influ-
ence in the church, its officers we're the
servants. Their greatnes was achieved
through service,
A radical change was brought about
when the spirit Of Roman imperialism
WIS introduced lllNb Alt' AlluiNl SWIM
ment. The gradual Steps by which this
innovation was effected are easy 90
trace Ambition and pride led bishops
TO usurp monarchcal prerogatives,
first over one church and then to ok
tend their jurisdiction over several
churches. Then came archbishops, and
over the archblshops higher officials
were placed until we reach the highest.
The right Of popular vote was taken
from the people, because the departure
from the Apostolic standard went so
far that popular elections of ecclesias-
teal officers gave rise TO wars and
bloodshed Rome. according to Sitting
fleet, was for several days the scene
of riots over the election OF Damascus,
That was an evidence Of apostasy from
Gods form of government, and the sub
stitution Of a worldly form. Though
the Lord had exhibited the domination
of earthly Kingdoms as a beacon, say
ing to His disciples; 1T shall not be
so with you" their successors took this
dominion as their pattern, saying, 1t
nlldll w ~ WIN US anu 81 Alitg a't w
ecclesiastical officers and built up Il
hierarchy initiating all the grada-
tons of Imperialism, from petty Off
GERS, ~ TO governors, dukes, princes,
emperors Lightfoot asCribes the
change to pagan influences exclusively,
while others see in it an attempt to
introduce a corrupt form of Judaism
into the church BE this as it may the
introduction of Imperialism in the form
of sacerdotalism and the assumption
by the ministry OF hierarchica power
We're features of the predicted general
apostasy.
When the Church was restored in this
age through the fundamentally of the
Prophet Joseph, one of the first princi
pies of government given was; IAN
things shall be done by common con-
sent in the Church, by much prayer
and faith That brings the Church gov
eminent back to the primitive pattern.
Where the law of common consent OBJ
tains there can be no hierarchy"
There all are brethren, each laboring
in his own sphere and calling for the
good of all.
Someone has suggested that the Ro-
man church may be said to be HER
archal monarchy, the Greek in some
sense patriarchal oligarchy. and the
Anglican an episcopal aristocracy. The
Church of Jesus Christ Of Latter-day
Saints has been termed a theo-democ-
racy, and that characterizes sufficient
~ its distinctive features of govern
ment The only "hierarch" in the
Church is the divine Head of the
Church. the great Captain of our sal
Vation