Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-10-16
Another Charge Brought.

The polygamy issue having become OBJ
solete, the Mormon Church is now charg-
ed with. violating the Constitution and
conspiring to destroy the American home
because the presidency, the apostles and
other officials dictate in a despotic man
ner how the members of the church shall
live and work and exercise their privi-
leges and duties as citizens The church
IS called an Oligarchy whose practices and
principles are repugnant to the american
standard of liberty and civilization. 1t is
not necessary to say that this charge is
no made by the members of the church.
those whose interests are most affected
The victims of the tyranny seem to be
contented and satisfied with their situa-
ton. and there is no more prosperous
class of people under the sun
The officials of the church exercise a
paternal interest over all the members,
Doth temporal as well as spiritual; over
their morals as well as their theology;
over their amusements as we'll as their
worship; over their domestic relations as
fairs.
No matter that affects Mormon fam
lily or individual is too trivial to escape
the vigilance of the elder or bishop The
roman Catholic Church extends protect
Ing wings over all of the children of that
faith. particularly in European countries,
but its paternalism does not reach half so
far or go half SO deep as that of the
Mormon hierarchy. / have already writ
ten and told you about the activity the
church has shown in the physical de-
velopment. the literary ard musical Gull
ture Of It's members. and it exerts a sim
liar influence over their amusements and
recreations
One of the first things that Brigham
Young did after founding his empire in
the Wasatch valley was to build a the
ater social hall for dancing and other
assemblies and the officials of the church
have always exercised a censorship over
the management of thes@ popular places
Observation-Disclosures pavilion at the
lake was simply a continuation OF the
phlianthropc policy to promote the en-
joyment and thereby the contentment of
the masses.
Activity in Political Matters.
From the beginning the officials of the
church have erdeavored to control the
political opinions and actions of it's
members. although this effort has not
been entirely succe ssful. The member
ship of the church Is and always has been
divided in opinion upon national issues
such as the tariff the currency, the for
estry policy and the disposition of public
lands; but wherever there has been an
attack or a threat against Zion they
have stood unanimously to resist it. And
today the officials. like those Of every
other organization in existence secular or
religious, endeavor 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
ideas and their interests. This is done
by several other religious denominations.
The Methodist Church, the Christian
Church. the Roman Catholic Church and
every other denomination invariably en-
deavors to unite it's members In the sup
port or the defense of what it believes
to be right and essential to its prosperity.
The Mormon Church does the same. with
tie advantage of more compact and
thorough organization.
It is also charged that the church has
been and still is guilty of commercial
ISM" of avarice and sordid methods to
increase it's wealth and thereby its in
fiuence. As an evidence OF this DISPOSE
ton, It's critics point out the cooperative
policy that is followed in commercial and
industrial matters and the investment OF
ecclesiastical funds in business enter
prises In reply, the defenders of the
church explain that the cooperative idea
has always prevailed from It's organiza-
ton and that the Office of Trustee in
Trust" was first held by the prophet.
Joseph Smith at Nauvco. H.. and was
established in conformity with the laws
of that state which require every re-
ligious body to have a financial agent to
act for it, and to hold the legal title to
its real estate and other property.
President in 'Trustee-in-Trust."
Ever since that time the president Of
the church or one of the apostles has
been chosen at a general conference to
act as trustee in trust for the body of
religious worshipers known as the Church
of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints
The powers and responsibility attached