The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1909-07-08
.REL|COF HEEARLY
M0RM0NOAYs GONE
Ancient Tithing House Raced, ana
Its Site Will Be Used for 50, 100000
Hotel-0ld Members Wept

SALT LAKE CITY. Utah. July -
Famous historical landmarks OF the
Mormon settlement here are being torn
Gown 20 make room Tor modern ousi-
ness structures. The lates, OF these 10
bc destroyed Is the Mormon church
uLhmg house. which Was built ~
krigham Young IN 1850 as genera.
stOrthuuse. where tribute OF ore.
tenth OF AL the products OF The fields
anu hand.cTail or The faithful mem
1Crs OF the church WAS taken-a
church law that is suN obeyed.
This building. Whieh occupied the
northeast corner OF Main and Brigham
sts.. directly east OF the great Nor
mon temple, has been RACED 10 make
room Tor the construction OF one OF the
largest hotels in the west The hote.
building viii be constructed al a cost
OF nearly S2.090.000. the greater part Il
which has been subscribed by Joseph
r, smith. 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.
Old Mormons Wept.
But the interest Of the Old timers OF
the state is not in the magnificent sky
scraper which Is 10 rear its head above
the rest OF the business district but IN
the humble adobe building which has
disappeared. Their memories are tied
up n that building. and there were
tears IN the eyes OF several venerable
men who had aided IN its construction
II their youth. as they watched It's de-
struction this week
The conditions under which the old
uthing house was built were not such
as would encourage builders today 70
architectural effort. The need OF the
Mormon church for a storehOuse for
the care OF the tithing offerings was
great. A large building had -
be constructed, and as lumber IN suiti
cient quantity could not be had. they
resCrted 10 the adobe bricks OF which
their own homes were built The mud
OF the valley was exceptionally suit.
able for this purpose, and the bricks
were moulded by hand from the mud
70 make the mud bricks adhere. twigS
and straw were used. These bricks
We're then d 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 well as
a tenth Of their worldly goods 70 the
church.
Strongly Constructed.
That the building was constructed
with the greatest OF care was demon
strated when the wreckers tore IL d
pieces this week Not q rotten plank
was found. not a 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 TO a larger building. and the
Deseret News. the official organ OF the
Mormon church. took possession. In
the dimly lighted rooms this paper
had its home until ten years ago,
when it moved its plant 10 a fine mod
ern 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
inc has ever been made by the trus
tees OF this great fund an6 those who
have faithfully paid 10 per cent OF all
OF their earnings for fifty years or
longer have never been told 10 what
purposes the money has been put.
But the Mormon church officials to-
day occupy magnificent homes The Of
fc,als Of the church throughout the
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 fo-
themselves. their families and their
live stock from the Indians. who occa-
sionally swooped down upon them,
stealing their cattle and billing those
who attempted 20 interfere. Frag-
ments OF this wall still remain.