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Show THE TESTMIH In Eegard to the Disposition of the Church lunds Now in the Hands of Eeceiver Lawrence. George Q. Cannon and Joseph P. Sinith Give Their Views in Eegard to the Eecent - Anti-Polygamy Manifesto. INCOME OF THE CHURCH. Money It Ha3 Disbursed in Charity During Dur-ing the Past Year A Detailed De-tailed Statement, BOOKS THAT ARE LOST. The Church at the Present Time Gives no Assistance to Immigration in Any Shape or Form, The proceedings in regard to the disposition disposi-tion of certain property belonging to the late corporation of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, now in the hands of Receiver II. W. Lawrence, were continued before Judge Loof bourow, master in chandery, this morning. The cxamina- Mr. C. It is a command. Mr. V. You say that this command was inspired by God. Why ? Mr. C From a testimony that I personally per-sonally received. In answer to a question of Mr. Richards, Mr. Cannon said that the net income to the church from the tithings reduced from the fictitious values given manv articles at the tithing houses was about "$200,000 per year. Mr. Mr. Cannon, I wish you would show from the church books the annual receipts re-ceipts for the years, commencing w ith ISio, up to 19. Mr. C We haven't got the books previous to the year 1SS7. Mr. V What has become of thorn? Mj. C That I cannot answer. They have disappeared. They were taken from the church office. President Taylor and I were then under ground, and I cannot tell what lias become of them. Mr. Richards Have you caused dilligent search to be made for these books and reports? re-ports? Mr. C. We have. We are very anxious to recover them. 1 have asked every person w ho would be likely to have the slightest kdowledge of their "whhreabouts but in vain. I am afraid that they have been destroyed. Joseph F. Smith was then called. After answering a few questions concerning his exile and the positiou he held in the church he was show n a copy of the manifesto. It had met with his approval and so far as he knew that of the people. He had only heard one person object to it. That was in a letter that he had received some time ago. He understood un-derstood that the object of the manifesto was the stopping of the practice of polygamy. He believed that- it had been inspired by God. Mr. Richards Do you believe that it would be pleasing or displeasing in the eyes of God for any member of the church to cuter into polygamy now? Mr. S. I believe it would be a violation of the rules of the church. Mr. R. What would be the penalty? Mr. S. Excommunication. Mr. R. Have you any expectations of Ttnl v ?r 111 ever hem-f re-e-.talilished ? In answer to questions by Attorney Richards, Rich-ards, Mr. Cannon said that there were now 6S1S people . draw ing more or less support from the church. For the six months ending June last, 30,0o9 w as appropriated ap-propriated for that purpose. He estimated the entire membership of the church at about 200,000 souls. Mr. Cannon was shown a copy of the recent re-cent manfesto of President Woodruff against plural marriages. It had met with his hearty approval. It met w ith the unauimous approval ap-proval of the conference, nor had he ever heard any disapproval from any source. Its object as he understood it was to let the world know that the practice of plural marriages mar-riages had ceased, and to let the members mem-bers of the church know that that same practice was forbidden. The manifesto, he believed, had been inspired by God anl he also believed that it would be displeasing in the sight of the Lord for anyone to practice plural marriages, besides being contrary to the rtiles of the church. Since the promulgation of the manifesto he had known of no plural marriages mar-riages in the church and had no hope that plnral marriages would ever be re-established. The witness was then turned over to United States Attorney Variau, in answer to whose Questions he taid that the relief fund before Mr. S. From rry present knowledge I do not see how it could be possible. 1 think that so long as the circumstances that have brought about this result exist, a rc-estali-lishment of polygamy would not be possible. Mr. Varian Lo you believe that the. principle prin-ciple of rvlural marriage came by revelation from God? Mr. S I do. Mr. V. Do you believe, that God has changed that principle ? MrT S The principle has not been changed but God has permitted its practice to be abandoned. Mr. V Will that principle be, eliminated from the church doctrines? Mr. S I do not know that it wiil. Mr. V Do you understand that the manifesto mani-festo refers to cohabitation where the plural marriage was celebrated before the issuance of the manifesto? Mr. S. I do not understand how it could be otherwise. Mr. V. Do you understand that the manifesto mani-festo is permanent? Mr. S. I consider it a permanent stopping of polygamy. Mr.'. The same authority that issued the manifesto through the 6ame inspiration could revoke it? Mr. S. I presume that he could. Mr. V And it would receive the same obedience? Mr. S I have no doubt that it would if the conditions were changed. An adjournment was then taken until 2 o'clock. Beginning the Testimony. Council for the church having submitted its answer which pray? that the property mentioned in the decree of the United States court be vested in the first bresideney of the cliurcli.' or body of . religious worshippers, and tfiieir successors in office, in trust, to in-vest'i.Ife5arri5 in-vest'i.Ife5arri5 and apply the proceeds and income thereof to the relief and assistance of poor distressed members of said church or body of religious worshipers, according ' to their best judgment and discretion, etc., the matter proceeded with the hearing on the cause. The evidence began w ith the introduction of President Geo. Q. Cannon, w ho testified that he was first elected in 1SS0, prior to which he occupied a position as one of the Iwelve apostles chosen in 1S59. Wilford mentioned was used only to aid the needy. No part of it had gone to assist immigrants. The church now did not assist immigration in any way. There had once been a fund for that purpose but it was now in the hands of the receiver. Some few of the immigrants im-migrants needed assistance on their arrival in this country, probably one in ten. The church however gave them no aid in getting here. Few aged or infirm came because to pass the immigrant inspectors they had to show that they were seli-supporting and also because it was against the policy of the church to encourage them to come. The $30,039 was distributed through the bishops of the various stakes. Of the bSIS persons relieved 6141 were in Salt Lake stake and they received 13,750; W e t;-taka followed fol-lowed next with 553 applicants for re'ief who received $1470. The statement of the relief was then given in detail as follows: Bannock (Idaho) ttako 2ol persons $ 395 Heaver " -3 " aw Bear Lake (Idaho) QS " l'5 Box Elder " " &S0 Cache W3 34'X Davis " 157 " 475 Cassia "(Idaho) " SI " 50 Einerv " S8 " 11 Juab " " W " iN Kanab " 54 " 25 Malad " " Msracopah (Ariz.) " 8 li ISO Millard " 43 " 1058 Morsran " ti? " .. 450 Oneidi .Idaho) " mi " 170 Panguitch " SI " F-1 Parownn " 107 " im Salt Lake " 1M1 " 13.750 Sanpete " 1! " iOi an .luan " 27 " San LuisiColoA " 43 jm Snowflake (Ariz.) " 75 " 42 Sevier " S)7 " PIC St. Joseph (Ariz.) " 108 " 15 St. .lohn " " -S4 " 190 St. lieorge " 15- " 4H'l Summit " 140 55 Tooele " 59 " 1-15 Utah " 6?1 " 7 Wasatch " 55 " 55 Diaz(lex.) " 10 " 200 None of this money w as for relief of the needy and none of it was used for any other purpose. This appropriation for relief has been gradually increasing, at the rate of about 7000 in the past ten years. Probably one fourth of it was paid in cash; - the other was in supplies from the various stake stores. Mr. Cannon said that the average annual receipts from the contributions from the people varied between one half and three-fourths three-fourths of a million but stated in explanation explana-tion that according to an old custom every bushel, of wheat was credited at S2 and an equally high valuation was put on many other articles. This was for convenience in keeping the accounts. There had been a considerable falling off in the tithings. The seizure of the church property prop-erty had beeu an important factor in this decline. The people were afraid that their offerings wouJd be taken by the government; the people were still afraid of some new-grab. new-grab. The decrease w as not so marked the last two years, but the income was not enough to snpport the church without borrowing. bor-rowing. It was borrowing money today Woodruff was elected in lb'ssi president. The money and property now in the hends of the receiver was acquired by vohintary contributioas for religious and charitable purposes. All this was contributed by members of the church to the best of the w ituesses, knowledge, and he knew of it as well as any c ne could. From the very first it had been the custom of the. people to contribute con-tribute and this was distributed under direction direc-tion of the first presidency. Up to '85 it v as the custom to make reports in full of what was doue w ith the funds aud they were applied on the temples, meeting houses and on the poor any charitable object that arose. Prior to '77 there was expended in one year $112,000 and in another anoth-er 175,000 for charitable purposes. This was for the indigent among the people while as much as SoOoO went to the Indians. Hereafter not less than $75,000 to 100,000 w ill be required to meet the demands. For the erection of meeting houses prior to lS-7 not less than $50,000 was expended. In future there w ould be needed at least $50,-000 $50,-000 per year, not including temples. Cpon his cross examination wiluess testified testi-fied that the gas stock w as taken in settlement settle-ment of a claim of the church against Brighain Young. The telegraph line was built by the people. The stock was held by the trustee. President Taylor sold the Theater and took notes which w ere turned ; over to the receiver, a total of $30,000. The j K0.000 sheep were contributed aud were used for the poor. One of the causes said witness for so much talk of church and state is that they have endeavored to carry out the teachings teach-ings of the Saviour as to the poor. The rule has beeu to credit each ward by amounts from relief and monthly offerings and then a balance was given. The 237,000 cash on hand was proceeds from sale of grounds and from Young's estate and some street railway stock and 75,KX! of this was in lieu of some property which had been turned over. We gave our notes for the greater part to raise the money. Each ward looks after the poor can't say approximately the number of poor. Outside of Salt Lake, Ogden, Bing- wi h which to meet tnc current expenses. Probably $20,000 had been spent during the past year to aid in erecting meeting houses and about $15,000 had been given to the Indians. Considerable sums were also spent in relief for preachers and teachers w ho had devoted their life to the work of the. church. A recent appropriation of $2.i,0tMJ had been made to the church schools. These schools were in some degree dependent on the church, although they expected that in time they would be largely supported by endowments. en-dowments. These schools, Mr. Cannon said, would teach the doctrines of the church. He admitted that among text books would probably be the Bible, the Book of Mormon and the "Doctrines and Covenants, although he himself did not consider the latter a book for the young and used his influence agaiust its use. In answer to further questions Mr. Cannon said that the original law for plural marriages mar-riages was derived from a revelation given to Joseph Smith and recorded in the book of Doctrines and Covenants. Mr. Variun Do you understand that that principle is no longer the true principle? Mr. Cannon I believe and know that that revelation was from God but circumstances have compelled us to no longer obey it. Mr. V. That is, to suspend it? Mr. C. No, to cease from its practice. Mr. V. You do not understand, then, that God has changed that principle? Mr. C. Not in the least. But He has permitted per-mitted us to cease from practicing it. Under the existing circumstances, the force of public pub-lic opinion was so strong that we saw that we would bo compellad to abandon it or be : crushed. I hoped for some interposition of Providence that would make that step not necessary ; that would show the nation that we were sincere and honest; that it was not licentiousness, but such , interposition did not come and I believe that God inspired President Woodruff to say to vis that we had gone far enough. Mr. V. This manifesto is the advice 'of President Woodruff; it is not a tomniand? ! I ham aud Tintie or the mining regions the children to be schooled are ot our church. There are fully 2M meeting houses for ward purposes under control of local organizations there are none owned otherwise other-wise except the Assembly hall cn Temple Tem-ple block, Salt Lake, which is owned by the church in geueral. The fund spoken of is derived from donation; for many years we have ceased to demand this tithing. If a man never made donations for a long period he would be looked upon as w eak and the teachers would talk with him perhaps. There is no fixed sum but it is left entirely w it! the individual. These voluntary donations dona-tions arc our only source of revenue. Some means were invested in the corporations like the Z. C. M. I. and some loons made to settlements set-tlements to build -a lals and ditches and to open up new sections for new communities. Then there were people prosecuted who had to be fed and when in prison we assisted their families. In cases under the Edmunds law there was a special fund aside from the church f und. There was a great deal contributed con-tributed especially for the several charities. In the opening of the "crusade" there was a fund commonly called the defense fund gotton up and this was drawn on for payment pay-ment of court expenses etc. In his re-direct examination witness testified testi-fied that there were stake organizations which also own meeting houses but they frequently called for aid; mechanics aud farmers were employed to teach the Indians in Box Elder county; a good school was established es-tablished among jthem; the Uintah tribes were also helped in various w ays, the church feeling it a duty to do so until title was secured se-cured "to the lands. President Wilford Woodruff was then sworn and testified he was 84 years of age the first day of March last, was born in Farmington Conn, and had resided in Salt Lake since 1S47; came into the valley with the Pioneers on July 24 of that year and baa been president of the church since April Continued oa Pae-Foux,.. THE TEpOflY, Continued from I'age One. ISf?'.). Prior to that time, was a member of the Twelve Apostles und presided over them from t lie time President Taylor was "elected president of the church which was in ISl. , The manifesto issued by liini ou September 25, 18'.KJ was introduced and tiled as Ex- hibit "A". The object of the manifesto, said .the witness, wit-ness, was to announce to the world that plural marriage, had been forbidden by the church aud that it could not be practiced hereafter. It was presented to the quorum of the twelve apostles, accepted by them aud afterwards presented to the officers and members of the church assembled at the Sixty-second semi-annual conference on Oct. 6, lb'.H), at which time, it was adopted by a unanimous vote. There were. lO.OuO officers offi-cers and member present on that occasion. -Witness had never heard f any opposition or disseut and as far as lie knew it had been willingly accepted by members of the church, j It woujei bp contrary to the law of the church j for any member to enter into or contract a plural marriage and any person so doing would be liable to excommunication. To witness' knowledge there had not been any polygamous marriages entered into since the date "of the manifesto nor h id lie sine advised ad-vised or encouraged the practice ; knew of no other officer of the church who had advised, ad-vised, encouraged or assented to the practice prac-tice ; liad no hope or expectation that the practice of polygamy would ever be established. estab-lished. . Crossi Examined Witness never made but one manifesto; the principle of plural marriage mar-riage was derived through revelation; all revelations received by us have been accepted accep-ted by a vote of the people; as a general principle prin-ciple none had ever yet been rejected; the church, I believe, believes iu the principle of plural marriage. A principle may be believed in by the church and still not be practiced; in the declaration, of course, I expected to obey the laws of the land and request that the Latter-day Saints do the same, aud to carry out that principle in obeying the law whether it was all stated or riot; that was the ground; a failure to follow this advice would subject the members to church- discipline dis-cipline whether it is stated or not; I don't know that I can say that it is stated here; the intention of the proclan.atiou was to obey the law myself oil the laws of the land, and expecting of the church the same; the declaration applied to existing marriages. mar-riages. Allowed an explanation the witness said there w as no law against the principle no law against polygamy or the patriarchal order of marriage practiced by the saints until 1862. The members of the'ehureh did not believe, that law constitutional. He himself hardly believed it. But few la u yers, judges and those versed in the constitution of the country believed it and it remained a dead letter for many years. After he became be-came president he looked the question over and became satisfied that the subject would have 1o be changed, that plural marriage would have to be stopped in the church altogether; alto-gether; it was upon this ground that the manifesto was issued and I will say, as I viewed it by inspiration; I believe it was my duty; I believe it was the. duty of our peo-pld peo-pld to obey the law; the manifesto was intended in-tended to apply to the church iu every ua-1 ua-1 tion aud every country. |