Show A PLEA FOR FOK THE POOR AND AFFLICTED AFFLIC TISO wic WE have lately seen a financial un ancial exhibit which has directed our thoughts in a channel that should be of deep interest eatto to the saints it is a compiled statement of the reports of the wards of all the stakes of zion of the receipts of offerings for the poor and those of the ladies relief societies tor for the same purpose it shows those operations for a period of six ax months the system of giving aid to the needy is for each ward and stake to forward to the general tithing office in this city an estimate of the amount needed for the ensuing half year from the tithing fund in excess excess of the local contributions the reports show several peculiarities culiar aties that should be abolished one of these is the exceedingly large amount of aid called for in excess of the contributions made in the wards aud and stakes slakes for the purposes indicated nor is this all in some instances the receipt columns lor for local offerings lor for the poor are a total blank both under the head bead of fast donations and relief societies but bat there is iu in some of those iti instances stances no omission omis owis bion tion for the column provided for an exhibit of the sum needed from tile the general tithing fund which is thus made to do the whole duty of sustaining the poor in those particular localities the presiding dios bishopric are disposed to give all the aid ne necessary esary for the relief of the needy from the them means eaas at their disposal for that object and make a liberal use of it for that purpose batitis but it is not creditable to the saints who are arc well to do and especially to the presiding officers office r in the wards and stakes that the important subject of offering should be overlooked altogether or at best only faintly recognized it would indicate on the face of the matter that in those wards or stakes enose reports are blanks that there are no poor among the people of those particular sections we will here remark that such a condition as the utter ab sence of people needing substantial relief of any kind is almost past oe de liaf it maybe may be asked Is it not legitimate to supply the wants of tite poor from the tithing fund certainly and it is liberally applied for that purpose and there are numerous ways iu in which they receive its benefits besides es the were mere relief of immediate creature wants but that has no special bearing upon lupon the tendering of off offerings criggs for a special purpose tithing is a law of the gospel and has been in all dispensations being a matter of rule it is no more creditable to a man in y to 10 obey it than to be baptized for the remission of bins sorto or to comply with ethany any other ordinance tharp ahert it is no compulsion regarding it but he is a poor apology fr for a saint who does not willingly and conscientiously conform to it it does not indicate any special generosity it is the performance of a simple duty in relation to offerings it is somewhat different in them tue toe man displays the character of hie w whether bother it be expansive or contracted if he merely conform to a stiff rule of me organization and has not heart enough to accept the invitation extended by the lord in the matter of offerings to the poor he may be a good tape tapeline line saint who regulates the good he does by the square and rule but the gea generous erous whole spirit of toe the true disciple is ia not in him when the test of feeling down into his pockets without being prompted by exact measurement obligation Is applied he be diz dig deep and shows that he is pretty much of a framework saint hav hamiag i tag taken on the skeleton of th the e gospel minus the comely covering which constitutes utes the whole religious body an animated by the active moving spirit kitain SUCh OWingS as those referred to are indications atthe ot lue condition ot of the people allowing always for chett temporal circumstances they are arc still stronger as pointers regarding diug the quality of t the li pres presiding idin officers la in those these blank wards referred to f veil even they have failed to donate a dime to the suppo support t ot of the poor if they ar ara thus neglectful neglectful what can reasonably be expected from the people those men in positions of responsibility who think that the genius ol of presidency in a holy calling consists of attending public meetings sitting on the stand with their hair bru brushed sied up assuming a dignified demeanor going out from thence and forgetting all about their duties both temporal and spiritual in looking to the wants of their flocks will wake up some fine morning and find themselves short abort when they are called upon to give in an account of their stewardships steward ships talking is also good in its place and especially it it is of of the right kind the other kind is never in place but when it has no backing by works there is considerable hollowness in it above all it should be remembered that wind is poor provender upon which to feed the hungry and is chilly comfort to the naked when we heat hear it whistle we f feel eel tempted to exclaim let us go and do something those wards there are quite a number of them from which there kis Is no I 1 showing upon the exhibit referred to in relation to the ladies relief belief societies are in a one of two conditions in that regard either those organizations eions have no existence there or they are practically if not totally dead the prophet joseph mads made no mistake when he gave the organization its name neither do we apprehend that sister E R snow smith and her leading associates at the head of it have made any error in their teachings in that regard those societies are what their names imply or they are nothing po thing the intent was to constitute in in then an aid to the priesthood in caring for the poor and suc succoring corin the dip comforting the sick an and the afflicted yh these ese operations requite the receipt and expenditure of means tender woman it is much more adapted for a an u 0 office effic e of that tha t U kind andt in some of its phases than ban sterner man it is a heavenly mission to alleviate distress it should be well and intelligently done the ladles can do much good and do do it not only to the poor but to all classes especially in the matter of sickness sic kaess the more intelligent among them should see to it thih aba it is done properly particularly particular fV in la milies where there is bodily ailment and consequent distress encouragement should be tendered and a spirit of cheera cheerfulness alness diffused in place of this some have the unhappy faculty of helping to drive faith out of a house by telling how many people eople of their acquaintance have died from from the particular disease from which the visited patient happens to be suffering and ana other conversation of a gloomy complexion A good deal of attention is being bestowed upon the operations of the enemies of the who are seeking their overthrow and detraction gir this is well enough hilts in way but it is also needful that the saints begin to bookmore look more closely to their own condition and mend their methods A little or a good deal of genuine practical repent nce in relation to dadles of the most ordinary character ta i in order it if this is attended to there will be a cultivation tion of strength within that will enable the people the more effectually to withstand the assaults of the evil disposed flom without |