Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1889-11-21
rrAnru1. rrxA1rlrs IMrosrp.

FEARFUL. PENALTIES IMPOSED.
SALT LAKE CITY. 4. T., Nov. b.
Many applications for naturalization
have been made to the court here in an
tieipation OF the municipal election,
and, objection having been made to the
naturalization of polygamists and other
Mormons ON the ground that no Nor
mon who has taken the oaths in the en-
dowment house can be loyal citizen,
the court heard testimony in regard to
the charge.
John Rond swore that he had to go
through the endowment house in order
to be married in 1868. He was required
to take the obligations of the Aaronic
priesthood, by which he covenanted to
obey every doctrine of the church, es-
pecially those in opposition TO the
United States, under penalty of having
his throat cut and his tongue torn out.
Then he was required TO take an oath to
avenge the blood Of Joseph Smith on
this Nation, and to teach this doctrine
of revenge TO his children and his chill
drens children to the latest generation.
Martin Il. Wardell swore that he went
through the endowment house in 1868
or 1864 and again year later. lie took
an oath that he would ayenge the
death of Joseph Smith on this Ma
tion from the President down. II he
revealed any of the secrets of the
endowment house he was told that his
throat would be cut and his bowels torn
out. Witness saw the death penalty
enforced on man named Green
In IN mil nu zf
Green river. "W H. Dame" he said,
''the captain of the train, described the
murder, and said that they got about
S., 600 from Green. When some began
to murmur John w. Young said II we
did not shut up we would be served the
same way. The next day Dame said
Green had apostatized once and now he
had apostatized and gone to hell"
Andrew Cahoon swore to the same OBJ
legations of avenging the blood of the
prophets and TO the penalty for divulg-
ing secrets. lie said the highest al
legiance of the Mormons was to the
Mormon church or Kingdom of God"
Nothing was said in the endowment house
Of obedience to the laws OF the United
States. All were instructed that polyg-
amy was the command of God,
and all must indoise it or be
damned. He considered that the gen.
eral teaching OF the church was In
hostility TO the laws of the land. The
Mormons regard civil marriage as I'M
authorized. 1t is taught that the king
dom of God will be established and all
other governments overthrown, and
that the United States will be the first
to- go.
at was understood, he said, 'that we
had to sustain the kingdom of God
against all other powers-the king
dom of God on earth. The head Of
the church was its king. Brig
ham Young proclaimed himself king
to the pioneers | have heard leaders
of the church pray for the overthrow Of
the United States Government. 1t is SO
common that every child knows it.
have heard MILFORD Woodruff, the
present head of the church, do il. 1t is
very common for him to do that"
James McGufiie swore to the same
facts as TO the endowment oaths and
hostility to this Nation. All spoke of
murders they had either seen or heard
of from persons who knew of them,
which were committed in consequence
of these oaths.
SALT LAKE Cry, y. T., Nov. l6.-
The excitement here over the great en-
dowment-house expose continues una
bated. Joseph Silver and Levi Axtell,
two apostates, testified yesterday to the
reasonable character of the endowment
house oaths. 1t was shown that HebeE
G. Kimball, one of the twelve apostles
of the church, in sermon de-
clared the necessity for Mormons
obeying the priesthood in all things
spiritual, temporal, political and so ial
and in speaking of the oath which re-
quired Mormons to avenge the blood of
Joseph Smith on the people of the Ma
ton he said
"Will the President that sits in the chair OF
State he tipped from his seatg Yes. he will die
an untlmely death, and God Almighty will curse
him, and He will also curse his successor II he
takes the SANG stand, an3He will curse all those
who are his conductors ana who sustain him.
What forS For coming here to destroy the
kingdom of God and ne prophets and apostles
and inspired and women, and Almighty
God will curse them in the name OF the Lord
Jesus Christ according TO my calling and II
there is any virtue in my calling they shall be
curSeui every man tnat illtS MS neel agaiIst
us from this day forth.
Other lesser lights in the church were
quoted, the reading of sermons of a SIM
liar nature occupying most of the time.
to the adjournment of the court
SALT LAKE CITY, q. T., Nov. 1s.-In
the Mormon oath cases Saturday the
defense introduced Apostle John Henry
Smith, who swore that no dis
loyal oaths were administered. When
pressed regarding the throat-cut-
ting and disemboweling penalties
he refused to answer. When he pro-
fessed obedience TO the laws he was
asked IL he had obeyed the law against
polygamy, and declined to answer.
Elder Clark, also for the defense, didn't
remember any thing bad in the endow-
H.. a Al 20