Semi-weekly herald., 1909-10-25

| these places OF amusement The efec
ton Of the 100000 pavilion at The
lake was simply a continuation of the
philanthropic policy to promote the en-
joyment and thereby the coptentmenl
OF the masses.
From the beginning the officials oi
the church have endeavored to con
troll the political opinions and actions
OF its members. although this effort
has not been entirely successful. The
membership OF the church Is, and al
ways has been divided In opinion on
national issues. such as the thrift and
currency. the forestry policy and the
disposition of public lands. but wher-
ever there has been an attack or a
threat against Zion they have stood
unanimously to resist II. And today
the officials at the presidency, like
those of every other organization In
existence, secular or religious. endeav-
or TO use their power and influence
to control every vote they can reach
for the election of such men as they
believe to be favorable to their idens
and their interests
This Is done by several other re-
llgious denominations. The Methodist
church. the Christian church, the Ro
man Catholic church and every other
denomination invariably endeavors to
unite its members In the support or
the defense of what 1t believes TO be
right and essential TO its prosperity
with tho advantage of more compact
and thorough organization
The office of trustee -in-trust" has
been held by Joseph Smith. Brigham
Young. John Taylor. Wilfotd Wood
ruff, Lorenzo Snow Joseph +. Smith
and other men, who have shown ex.
agement OF the financial affairs of the
church. Brigham Young. for example,
Invested the church funds In The DE.
serot Telegraph lme. which was built
entirely with Mormon capital and la
bor; he invested heavily IN the promo
lion of the Union and Central Pacific
railroads. he organized Ziou's coop.
erafive Mercantile institution, mann
moth concern which does the larger
part Of the mercantile business of the
state OF Utah and has been managed
with remarkable ability President
Woodruff built the Pioneer Electric
Power company at a cost OF several
million dollars; the church has pro.
NOTED the sugar beet industry with
general libefality and enterprise: It
Is the principal owner OF several large
irrigation projects and other business
enterprises which were intended. to de
velop The resources and the Industries
or Ntnh. There has. however. been
no speculation, and was informed by
q reliable authority that the church
han never held share of mining
stock
The "irustee-in-tiust" is prominent
In many business concerns He ~ n
director In many companies by inher
ltance from his predecessors. As the
financial agent OF the church he ex,
orclses tremendous influence in
banking, commercial Industrial. mcr.
camille and agricultural affairs. AS
the agent of the church. he controls
several Of the largest banking insiia
tuiiohs In Utah; building aud loan
associations, insurance companies. and
other corporations which are distinc
lively Mormon and are accused of fa
yoring the Mormon element OF the
population.
That. however, Is one OF the objects
OF the church, which endeavorsdo pro
mote the material as well as the spr
ltual welfare of its members. II not
only educates them and provides them
with amusements, but II teaches them
thrift. economy, honesty, aud encour
ages the accumulation Of wealth. as
Is perfectly natural The larger the
iuIllIy tne idISsT lne CHURCH inc flcH-
er the Individual the more lithes,
which are still paid by every Nor
mon. rich or poor. high OF low. capt
talist or laborer. to the extent of one
tenth Of his annual income. The high
er men IN the church give this offer
ing ms well az the bumbler, and the
proceeds are used for the relief of the
sick. support of the aged. the care, Of
the widows and orphans. for building
temples and houses OF worship. for
promoting immigration. for the main
lenance OF schools and colleges, for
missionary propaganda. and for other
denominational purposes. Whatever
surplus may remain after the ecclesi.
astical necessities are provided for IL
Invested by the finance committee OF
the presidency In the name of the
"trustee-n-trust for the Body OF Re
llgious Worshippers known as the
Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day
Saints"
There Is difference OF opinion con.
corning the aggregate amount OF these
Investments. Some people insist that