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

to this Office are precisely those imposed
upon the bishops Of the Roman Catholic
Church in whose name all the real es-
tate and other property stands, and
the bishops are expected to exercise their
Judgment. with the advice Of such lay
men as they have confidence in, wherever
IT is necessary or advisable to expend or
invest the funds intrusted to their care
The office of trustee in trust has
been held by Joseph Smith. Brigham
Young. John Taylor. MILFORD Woodruff,
Lorenzo Snow, Joseph F. Smith and 9TH
shrewdness in the management Of the
financial affairs OF the church. Brigham
Young, for example invested the church
funds in the Deseret Telegraph line.
capital and labor, He invested heavily
In the promotion of the Union and Gen.
trail Pacific railroads: he organized lions
Cooperative Mercantile Institution.
mammoth 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
promoted the beet sugar industry with
great liberality and enterprise: it is the
principal owner of several large irriga-
ton projects, and other business enter
prises which were intended to develop
There has. however. been no speculation,
and was Informed by a reliable author
1ty that the church has never held a
share of mining stock.
The trustee In trust" is prominent in
many business concerns. He Is a director
In many companies by inheritance from
his predecessors, AS the financial agent
of the church he exercises a tremendous
influence In banking, commercial indus
trial, mercantile and agricultural affairs
1,n Hv~<,1c
several of the largest banking institu-
tons In Utah, the building and loan as
socia1onS, insurance companies and other
corporations which are distinctively Nor
mon and are accused of favoring the Nor
mon element of the population.
Material and Spiritual Interests.
That, however. is one of the objects of
tie church, which endeavors to promote
the material as we'll as the spiritual well
fare of its members. 1t not only educates
them and provides them with amuse-
nents. but IT teaches them thrift, econ
omy, industry, honesty and encourages
the accumulation of wealth as we'll as
the raising of large families This is per-
fectly natural-the larger the family the
larger the church, the richer the individ-
ual the more tithes, which are still paid
by every Mormon, rich or poor, high or
low. capitalist or laborer, to the extent
The higher men in the church give this
Offering as well as the humber. and the
proceeds are used for the relief of the
sick, the support Of the aged, the care of
the widows and orphans. for building
temples and houses of Worship for pro-
noting immigration. fer the maintenance
of schools and colleges, for missionary
propaganda and for other denomnational
purposes. Whatever surplus may remain
after the ecclesiastical necessities are
nr0yi6aH cd l,x,< 10
committee of the presidency in the name
OF the trustee in trust" for the body of
religious worshipers known as the
Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day
Saints
There is difference of opinion as to
the aggregate amount of these invest
ments. Some people insist that the church
is as rich as John d. Rockefeller; others
VIII declare that it is frequently embar-
raised financially and has suffered enor-
nous losses. But it may be said that
its credit is sound and undoub.-
ediy equal to any demands that
may be made upon it. and that nobody
knows the extent of its holdings.
Money-Getters and Money-Keepers.
The Mormons. as rule. have an excel
lent reputation for money-getting and
money keeping: they are almost invaria-
bly, successful in business enterprises:
their credit is better than that of the
average of citizens because everybody
knows that the official of the church will
not commune with member who does
not pay his debts or respect his obliRa-
tons or with man of Incorporate or
dissolute habits. There are no paupers.
no beggars. no tramps. Improvident and
impecunious saints are taken care of by
the church. and employment for whici,
they are competent is provided for them.
There is disposition among the MEM
bers OF the Mormon Church to conceal
every weakness or defect, financial or
otherwise. among their number They are
loyal. helpful and benevolent toward each
other. When brother shows Signs of
weakness he Is strengthened when he
becomes offensive he is hustled out of
sight; when he becomes INDECENT he is pro-
vided for. Therefore the Gentle world