Telegram-herald., 1889-11-23
MURDEROUS 0ATHS.
Taken By Mormons IA the Eadow-
ment House.
MORE TELLING EyIDEyC. HEARD.
Nea aaa Wonasa sse@r 70 Assags the
B8Ss~s II tks Snalths Furthsr Threats
ssslast the Uaitsa ststs3
Govern meat.


SAT- LAKE CRY. G. T.. Nov 22-The
insesagztion lnto the chsrac .er of the
Mormon endowment house o2ths w@s
continued Thursday, and Mrs. Beth
shsba saith. neloe by marriage OF Jcs-
sph smith. and Mercy K. Thompson
testified f0E TIE church that they na1
served ia the endoH nent house bo-n A.
Szuyoo m. -nd here, and never knew
zn cath 10 ayenge the blood OF the
smiths 70 Be taken. They had never
been present al the ceremony OF akolnt-
Ing the men
George Y Cannon, the Mormon leader
and ex- Delegate 70 Congress. vas called
by ths prosecution and identified the
circular sent out by himself and John
Taylor in May, 1855, declaring that the
rights OF tho Mormon people were being
sssailed and urging all saints % con-
tribute 70 the fund for the defense OF
Mormons charged with violating the
Edmunds law and 10 provide for the
families OF those forced 70 fee.
Mrs Gilmore testified that she went
through tho endowment house seven
teen years ago with a number Of others,
and all were called upon 70 swear that
they would svenge the blood OF
Joseph and Hiram Smith upon the
American nation and teach the doctrine
of revenge 70 their children and chill
dren's children down 10 the fourth gen
Grafton. Any one who violated the
oaths taken or revealed the secrets OF
the house was threatened with death.
Henry w. Lawrence, president of the
Chamb Der OF Commerce, and one Of the
most prominent men in the Territory,
testified that he became Mormon in
childhood He came 70 Utah thirty nine
years ago. lie oficiated in the en-
dowment house in this city several
years. He was excommunicated in
1859 for having the spirit of apostacy,
which was shown by the fact that he
questioned the right of the priesthood
20 dictate in temporal affairs. The en-
dowment house ritual is not written, he
says. In the ceremony neophytes al
ways took the following oath:
you. each and all OF you, agree 10 avenge the
blood Of the prophets, Joseph and Hiram. who
have sealed their testimony with their blood,
and that you will teach this 10 your children
and children's children TO the fourth generation.
This you do in the presence OF God and His min
istering angels"
Witness said there was another cove
nant to obey the priesthood in all
things, and the penalty OF death at
tached 10 the violation of these cove
nants and the revealing of the
secrets of the house. In the time
of Brigham Young the priesthood
was supreme and he controlled
the people in all things. The
church was in opposition to the Govern
ment and the feelings of the people are
being alienated more and more.
Witness and few others start
ed magazine TO disseminate
more advanced ideas. They were
tried before a council of priests,
and George Q. Cannon acted as the pros
ecutor. They were excommunicated.
Eli B. Kelsey voted against the PROPOSE
tion 10 excommunicate them, and for
that he was himself at once excom-
m1nicated upon motion of Brigham
Young. Witness said ne had studied the
character Of the church. 1t was claimed
10 be literal kingdom Of God, and its
jurisdiction extended to all things
and IL was expected to control the whole
earth in time. Then Christ was to come
in person and take charge. Witness was
a merchant doing business of $4,000 to
/ $50, 600 a month when communicated,
anl as soon as it became known that he
had been cut off his trade fell
off a third, and he was socially ostracised
by the men who had been intimate with
him from childhood.
Mr.. Lawrence was cross-examined by
the church attorneys, but they failed to
shake his testimony on any point The
testimony OF such man is entitled TO
and will have great weight.
/ c. w. Penrose, who was committed
Wednesday for contempt, did not file a
statement Thursday as was expected.
He is still in the penitentiary. The
court ruled that the investigation should
be closed until Penrose comes in and
/ purges himself of contempt
/
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