Editor’s Table: Special Notice

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Special Notice

During the progress of the recent war in Europe the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints came to the aid of this Na- tion in its efforts with the Allies to free the world from the domination of monarchical despotism. The "Mormon" people demonstrated their devotion to country and the cause of free- dom by sending their brave sons to the front and by contribut- ing liberally to the calls for funds to meet the financial re- quirements of the gigantic struggle. The Church, through its splendid organization, was a mighty force in the fray, gathering the means in demand and sending their soldiers over the sea. It proved to the world that loyalty to the government and devotion to the welfare of humanity formed part of the "Mormon" creed and entered into the re- ligious life of its followers. The world witnessed and won- dered at this unanswerable refutation of popular slanders. Thank God, the awful strife is over, and the need for such organized help is greatly modified. There are still loud cries from various sources for money in large sums to swell the nu- merous "drives" that are in vogue. What is the position of the "Mormon" Church as to these movements? is a frequent question. It is this, and let all the Latter-day Saints and reasonable people everywhere understand it: While members of the Church are fre to donate, as they desire and are able, to any charitable and worthy cause, the Church as an organization is not in a financial position to re- spond to the demands and requests that are made upon it, and it is not required of its stakes, wards, quorums or associations

to use their ecclesiastical activities or influence in those direc- tions. There are persons and institutions in need of relief and support within our own ranks, and applications for appropria- tions to an immense amount which cannot be granted for some time to come have had to be laid over until some means can be obtained to meet them. We do not wish to cripple or restrain the hand of individual benevolence, but our organized institutions must not be ex- pected to do the impossible or neglect the duties and require- ments that are within our jurisdiction and are imperative. We trust that this will be plain and clear enough to all reasonable