The Detroit times., 1909-07-07
.REL|C0F THE EARLY.
M0RM0NOAYSG0NE
Ancient Tithing House Raced, and
Its Site Will Be Used for $4,000, 100
Hotel-0ld Members Wept

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SALT LAKE CITY. Utah, July T.
Famous historical landmarks OF the
Mormon settlement here are being torn
Gown 10 make room for modern busi-
ness structures. The latest OF these TO
be destroyed Is the Mormon church
tilhins house. which was built By
Brigham Young in lo5O as genera.
storehouse, where tribute OF one-
tenth OF ali the products OF The fields
and handicrait OF the faithful mem
bers OF the church was taken-a
church law that is still obeyed.
This building, which occupied the
northeast corner OF Main and Brigham
SITS. directly east of the great Nor.
mon temple. has been razed TO make
room Tor the construction Of one OF the
largest hotels In the west. The hotel
building will be constructed at cost
OF nearly $4,000 900, the greater part OF
which has been subscribed by Joseph
+. Si.ith, president OF the Mormon
church. as trustee In trust for the
church, and by other wealthy Nor
mons. aided by few OF the more
wealthy Gentiles OF the city.
Oio Mormons Wept.
But the interest vi the old timers OF
the state IL not In the .naguificent sky
scraper which 10 To rear its head above
the rest OF the business district, but In
the humble adobe building which has
disappeared. Their memories are tied
up in that building, and there were
tears in the eyes OF several venerable
men who had aided In It's construction
In their youth, as they watched it's de-
struction this week.
The conditions under which the old
tithing house was built were not such
as would encourage builders today 20
architectural effort. The need OF the
Mormon church for a storehouse for
the care OF the tithing offerings was
great. A large building had to
be constructed, and as lumber In suffi.
cient quantity could not be had, they
resorted TO the adobe bricks of which
their own homes were butt, The mud
OF the valley was exceptionally suit
able FOR this purpose. and the bricks
were moulded by hand from the mud.
To make the mud bricks adhere. twigJ
and straw were used These bricks
were then dl led under the heat Of the
sun, and. with homemade lime, they
were laid by the young man, who
gave a tenth OF their time as we'll as
tenth OF their worldly goods to the
church.
Strongly Constructed.
That the building was constructed
with the greatest OF care was demon.
strated when the wreckers tore II 70
pieces this week Not a rotten plank
was found. not faulty piece OF con
struction was discovered. The work
men had wrought TO the best OF their
ability and the building was a monu.
ment of the honesty OF the labor.
A few years after the building was
completed the tithing yard was re-
moved 10 larger building. and the
Deseret News. the official organ of the
Mormon church, took possession. In
the dimly lighted rooms this paper
had It's home until ten years ago.
when II moved its plant to a fine mod
crn building OF six stories.
II is estimated that the amount OF
tithing that has passed through the
Golfers OF the old tithing house woul
build double track railroad across
the American continent. No account
ing has ever been made by the trus,
tees OF this great fund. and those who
have faithfully paid 10 per cent Of all
OF their earnings for fifty years or
longer have never been told TO what
purposes the money has been put.
But the Mormon church officials to-
day occupy magnificent homes The Of
fic.als OF the church throughout thn
state control completely many lines OF
business. and absolutely TX the prices
OF commodities In many lines.
The old tithing house. when built
was behind the rock wall built by the
pioneer Mormons as a protection for
themselves their families and their
live stock from the Indians, who occa-
sionally swooped down upon them.
stealing their cattle and killing those
who attempted to interfere. Frag-
ments OF this wall still remain.