The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1889-12-01
NOT FIT TO BE CITIZENS
The Teachinrs of the Church Declared so
Ise Hostile to the Governmsnt-What
Hs says OF the Evidence
in the Case.


SALT TLAKE,Nov.O. Anderson to-
day delivered his decision i'm the matter of
the application of Mormons who have talk
en- the endowment house oath for admis-
sion to citizenship. The decision reviews
the testimony at length and denies the ar
plication. In his decision Judge Anderson
states the ground of his opposition tn the
admission of the applicants to citizenship
to he that the Mormon church is and al
ways has been u reasonable organization
i'm its teachings and practices, hostile to
the government Of the United States, dis
ol,eslient to it's law and seeking it's over
throw; that the oath administered to its
members in the endowment house binds
them under penalty OF death to implicit
obedience i'm all things, temporal AS well
as spiritual to the priesthood. and to
avenge the death of tho prophets, Joseph
and Hiram Smith, upon the government
and people of the United States.
The Judge reviews at length the evidence
submitted by the government regarding
the Endowment house ceremonies, teach
ings OF the church, etc. Referring tn the
testimony of the witnesses for MorInons
he said all of them testified concerning
the Endowment ceremonies, but declined
to say what oaths were taken, or obiiga-
tions or covenants entered into penal
tics attached to violation. while some
stated that they had forgotten what was
said about avenRing the blood OF the
DrCDlctS, These
rendered their testimony of little value
and tended to confirm the evidence Of
fercd by the objectors to the applicant.
The evidence established beyond any rea-
sonable doubt that the Endowment cerc-
monies are inconsistent with the oath of
citizenship and the nppiirati1n OF John
went through the Endowment house is
denied.
cants upon the ground of their being
members Of the Mormon church. u large
mass OF evidence was introduced. consist
ing mostly OF sermons and writings oi
Mormon rulers and leaders published
under direction of the church. The judge
o"nsh,e o,nstion bu, ,ba. h the church Claims and
exercises the right tn control its members
in temporal well "a spiritual affairs.
The evidence also shows that blood atone
ment is one OF the doctrines OF the
The judge quotes Brigham Young at
considerable length and refers especially
| to his denunciation of the government
| when. in 1857. United States troops were
he SAYS: Whether the langua9c of Brig
| ham Young. Hrber Kimball, Orson Hyde
and others instigated the MountaiI
| rihlc butchcry was done by direct COM
mard of Young. will probably never he
known. The evidence, Judge Anderson
of the counsel that the feelings of
the people toward the government have
| the feeling of hostility has disappeared OF
become greatly modified. The evidence
| shows that the church has i'm the most de-
| termined manner. and with all means M
| it's command opposed the enforcement oi
| the laws of the United States against po
| a word of evidence was introduced show,
| ing that any preacher OF that church ever
| i'm n single instance advised obedience al
trary. the EVIDENCE showed il has per
sistcntiy refused obedience to a
at at; least portion ,ss of ;hs,,,,aS the laws !"
driven United States officers from the ter
ritory. and has denied the authority of tn.
polygamy as unwarrantcd interference
| with the Mormon religion. Cndoubtedl,
there are many members of this churci
| who feel friendly toward the government
and would gladly break the shackl,.s bind
ing them il they dared, hut with an organ
ization more thorough than can be iTnag
ined, which can he welded against them
| they remain in the cause rather thar
take. risk of financial ruin and social or
After reciting the teachings OF th'
church at length the Judge says: ut ha
always been and still is the policy OF thi
government to encourage aliens who IL
good faith come to reside i'm this countr.
to become citizens. but when man q
foreign birth comes here and joins organ
izations which, professedly religious. re
quires of him allegiance paramount tn hi
allegiance to the government, an organi
zation that impiously claims to be tn
kingdom OF God, to control its member
under his immediate direction and We
Shocking % to Christian people everyMRers % .
| il is time for the courts to pause and in
quire whether such men should be nd
Initted to citizenship. The evidence il
this case establishes unqucstionably tina
the teachings, practises and purposes a
| the Mormon church are antagonistic
| the government of the United States, am
| that it's members are animated by n feelin
| of hostility toward the government and II
| laws, therefore an alien who Is "a membe
| of said church is not fit person to
made citizen of the United States.'
| His suit Dismissed.
SCoTTDALE, Pa, Nov. 3o.-The case &
Edward Calla0han against Mcssrs. Pow
| derby. RYrne and w ise. nromineut kni0hI