Show SAVE YOUR SYMPATHY THE papers have not yet finished their comments on the statistical reports read at the recent general conference of the church in this city the number of persons holding the priesthood is dilated upon and much commiseration is expressed for the poor latter day saints who have to support such an immense paid army of elders priests teachers and deacons Del deacons cons the idea that that any religious minister officiates except for pay does not seem to strike these newspaper editors A sermon and a collection are essential associates in sectarian services A salary and a minister are almost synonymous terms in the various denominations the performance for mance of any religious rite such as baptism makri marriage age burial or other ceremony means the requirement of a fee therefore it is not surprising that wonder and sympathy are both excited over the number of men in the I 1 mormon 10 church who occupy sacerdotal positions but we will inform our contemporaries por aries at a distance distan cd that this army of priests is not a paid ministry we have no hireling clergy in this church nearly all the adult male members bear a portion of the priesthood by which t the he mor mons are supposed to be ruled rule dand and their wives partake of its power by virtue of their matrimonial union they are thus self ruled rule d and self dominated if there is any domination and all are or ought to be according to their faith ready to minister in the gospel for mutual benefit and the promulgation of saving truth the mormons cormons Mor mons are less priest ridden than any religious people in the united states and the very number of persons holding ecclesiastical las office among amo ng them is evl evi dence of th if those who are arcao 00 ready to take a fling at them would only stop to think of it if a little we do not pay men for preaching we do not pay fees for we do not usually take up collections and whatever may be thought or said upon this subject Mor ormon molli ism does not make merchandise of f the souls of men our friends may save their sympathies for them t selves and others nearer home |