CHAPTER XI THE PRACTICAL WORKINGS OF MORMONISM As has already been explained in the discussion of the organization of the Mormon Church, the interests of each individual are by no means sacrificed to those of the mass. Each one has his place in the ranks, holding some grade of the priesthood, or belonging to some quorum, in addition to his regular membership in the ward and stake organizations. The whole force of the Mormon organization is exerted to maintain constant association of individual members, and such an arrangement could not fail to promote personal benefit and mutual helpfulness; at least so we would be informed, if the discussion were concerned with any other organization, religious or social. "As a people the Saints are thriving and prosperous, and are continually extending their settlements throughout the inter-mountain region from the Province of Alberta, Canada, in the North, to the northern states of Old Mexico. They have 20,000 farms, 18,000 of which are free from mortgages and encumbrances; and ninety per cent. of the whole Church membership own their own homes, while the average number of people who own their homes in the United States is something like five per cent. It has ever been the policy of the Church leaders to beget in their people an ambition to own their homes and the lands they cultivate, and avoid debt; the wisdom of which policy is unquestionably vindicated in the above showing.”—B. H. Roberts ("Mormonism: its Origin and History," pp. 65–66). The interest of the Church in the individual member does not end, however, with the benefits accruing to him as the member of a ward, quorum or community. He is followed up in the midst of his troubles, as well as in the days of his prosperity and strength. As already indicated, it is an essential part of the duties of the ward bishop to inform himself as to the temporal condition of all persons and families in his ward. If a case of need is brought to his notice through the ministrations of the teachers or of the Relief Society, it is his duty to investigate further and give such relief as may be needed. It is the duty of the bishop, moreover, to dispense such charity as may be needed in individual cases, whether the applicant be a member of the Church, or not. Indeed, such is the liberality of Mormon well-doing that very many outsiders are assisted in their need, particularly those who have no friends or connections in the state. Accurate accounts of all disbursements for charity are rendered by the ward bishops to the Presiding Bishop. It is customary for the bishops to make regular allowances to the indigent aged and feeble, also, to widows, wherever necessary. Many persons are assisted temporarily, as to tide over a hard winter, or when unable to obtain employment. Very frequently the assistance so rendered is gladly returned, as soon as possible, although no condition ever attaches to any such advances made by the Church authorities. As represented by authoritative statements, the bulk of the expenditures for beneficence go to the aged, the infirm and the widows, also, as needed, to those out of work and in reduced circumstances. The inestimable advantage to persons of this class to be derived by membership in such an organization as the Mormon Church may thus be understood. But, as if to make good its claim that our present order must be supplanted by some other offering greater justice and opportunity to the individual, the Presiding Bishop is authorized, not only to relieve temporary embarrassment, but also to maintain a regular bureau for soliciting employment for persons out of work. In the operation of this bureau, whose services may be commanded without charge of any kind, the Bishop's office regularly sends out forms of inquiry to all the bishops, asking what opportunities are to be obtained by unemployed men in their wards. Every sixty days, as a rule, answers to such inquiries are received, and unemployed persons directed to places where employment may be had. If necessary, they are assisted to places designated. The regular forms periodically circulated by the Church authorities are given herewith: Will you please advise us if there are any opportunities in your vicinity for employment; such as farm work, janitor service, ordinary day labor, work in factories, mills or other similar employment? Enclosed is a blank form upon which we shall be pleased to receive a report from you within the next 15 days, and if you think it would help in this good work, read this letter at your next ward priesthood meeting. Many of our brethren are out of work, and we have more applications here at our Employment Bureau than we can fill. Besides this, many Latter-day Saints are arriving from foreign lands, and we feel it a special duty to render them all possible assistance, so that they can obtain a livelihood among our people. Thanking you for the help you may be able to render us in this good cause, we are Your brethren in the Gospel, Presiding Bishopric. The blank form enclosed with such letters is as follows: (Here follows a ruled blank for appropriate entries) Respectfully yours, .... Bishop. Of course, as may be readily understood, opportunities for securing suitable employment may not always be found for the asking, and, as it sometimes happens, a man may be supported from the Church funds for some time before finding a position that he can fill to satisfaction. He is greatly advantaged, however, in having available to his needs so well organized an "employment bureau" as is conducted by the Presiding Bishop's office, which makes a constant and systematic canvass of all the wards of the Church for the very kind of situations that newcomers may require. In special cases such letters as the following are sent out to the ward bishops. These letters are actual transcripts from letters mailed by the Presiding Bishop. SPECIAL APPEAL FOR NEWLY ARRIVED FAMILIES: UNEMPLOYED. Bishop .... Dear Brother: Ward. 191... It has been deemed advisable to extend our efforts in the matter of assisting our people along the line of their industrial activities. It is desirable that our brethren and sisters, who come to us from the mission fields, should be properly located and begin their new homes in an environment and under conditions that will be conducive of their best temporal and spiritual welfare. Besides this, there are many families now residing in the crowded centers of population, who would be far better off in every way if they could locate in the country districts. We have thought of your locality as a likely place for such people to settle, and we shall be glad to have you advise us just what the situa tion is in your ward. Can you assist one or more families to get started, who might come to you with nothing more than a willingness to work and determination to succeed? If so, please give us the specific conditions on which such a family could begin, as for instance, we have in this ward a farm of 20 acres, with a fairly good three room house, barn, etc., which a family might take on shares, with an option to purchase, etc." If there is no such opening, what is the possibility for a family with a very limited capital? The spirit back of our efforts is the same that has prompted our people from the beginning of the history of the Church. We feel that it is the duty of each member to help his brother as far as possible. In the earlier days, when a new brother came to reside among us, one neighbor gave him a chicken, another gave him a pig, and possibly some more prosperous brother gave him a cow. Occasionally the neighbors helped him to plow his first ten acres, and a general interest was taken in him until he got well started and then he in turn was able to assist some one else. Many of our people have to thank this interest taken in them upon their arrival for their present success and temporal prosperity. To obtain the successful results hoped for in this movement it will be necessary to have the cooperation of the presiding brethren and the saints as a whole in the wards where new comers locate. We feel confident that this movement meets a long felt need among our people and, therefore, will have your hearty support. Your brethren in the Gospel, THE PRESIDING BISHOPRIC. SPECIAL LETTER TO MISSION PRESIDENTS IN BEHALF OF YOUNG MISSIONARIES ABOUT to Return frOM THEIR FIELDS OF LABOR, President .Mission. .191... Dear Brother: It has been deemed advisable to extend our efforts in the matter of assisting our people along the line of their industrial activities. It is especially desirable that our brethren and sisters who come from the mission fields should be properly located, and begin their new homes in an environment and under conditions that will be conducive of their best temporal and spiritual welfare. The department, having this matter in charge, is under the direction of Elder Roscoe W. Eardley, late President of the Netherlands Mission. It will be our endeavor to assist returned missionaries, where necessary, to secure suitable employment or take up their work where they laid it down to enter the missionary service. We will also enlist the services of elders who are returning from their missions abroad, and who are in a position to assist those who have emigrated from the fields in which they have labored, by asking them to take a fatherly interest in such immigrants until they have established themselves in the stakes of Zion. To attain the best results in these matters, it will be necessary that we have the co-operation of the presiding brethren in all the mission fields, and to facilitate this matter, we are sending under separate cover forms to be filled in and forwarded to this office, prior to the de parture of the missionary or immigrant from the field. These reports are confidential. Will you please ask all returning missionaries to call at this office upon their arrival in Salt Lake City, and enquire for Brother Eardley? We feel confident that this movement meets a long felt need among our people, and therefore will have your hearty support. Your brethren in the Gospel. THE PRESIDING BISHOPRIC. The practice of circulating such appeals to the Church authorities, also of advertising in the public prints, as is also done on occasions, indicates a laudable benevolent activity, and may be held to signify no more than a practical application on a systematic scale of the very spirit that inspires all intending benefactors of their fellow-men. We must not lose sight of one essential feature, however, and this is that the Mormon Church, unlike other religious bodies, does not leave this highly important branch of practical benevolence to unassociated good intentions, nor yet to auxiliary organizations, as is the current practice elsewhere. It gains an immense prestige among its followers by meeting them and providing to supply their needs at the very times and at the very crises in their several careers, when help and encouragement, temporal and material, as well as spiritual, is most sorely needed. If the mechanism of this Church's organization is kept running, as it was intended by its founders. that it should run; if, in other words, the accredited officers are faithful in the performance of their appointed and designated duties, there need be no just charge of unanswered prayers of need and distress. If such officers do not perform their proper duties and it must be said to their credit that the average of faithfulness is high among them—the fault is in them, and in the failings common to humanity, and not in the organization. In any case, the organization is there, but, like every other machine, designed for practical work in the world, it must be kept well oiled and in running order. As previously suggested, the Church itself frequently provides, not only temporary relief for the distressed and for those out of employment, but also, in many cases, has created work for the sake of employing those among its poor who had not been located otherwise. This, as previously stated, was Brigham Young's object in taking the contracts for the building of the Union Pacific and Central Pacific railroads in 1868-69. He also projected and built, entirely with home capital and home labor, the Deseret Telegraph line in Utah, which was later operated in connection with the great transcontinental system. Other more local enterprises were undertaken in precisely the |