Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1889-11-30
NATURALIZATION OF NOR
MONS"
Judge Anderson Decides that No
Member Of the Church
Need Apply.
a oHE-sIDED REVIEW OF The
TESTIMONY.

a oHE-sIDED REVIEW OF TIE
TESTIMONY.
Evidence Produced by the Doieuse
Practically Excluded FROM
the A-xu."ent.
The FedeTRl Court room was illed
this morning by those assembled to
hear the decision Of Judge Anderson
in the case involving the eligibility
Of oNIormons' 70. citizenship.
The reading OF the opinion
occupied an hour and ut its
conclusion the crowd, which
was almostentirely anti-''AIormon,"
expressed their approval Of the
judges decision by. stamping their
feet and clapping their hands. The
opinion is as follows:
h, the District Court for Ho Third
judicial District Of The Territory
Of Utah.
In the mlttcr Of the application
of John Moore. Fred w. Miller,
Henry J. Owen, John Berg, Walter
J. Edgar, Charles j.. Clissold, Nils
Anderson, Carl L. Larsen, Thomas
VI. MumfoTd, John Garbet and Ar
thur Townsend, to. become citizens Of
the United States.
OPINION.
Anderson, ].
In these applications the usual
evidence ON behalf Of the applicants
as TO residence, moral character, etc,
was introduced at q former hearing
and was deemed sufficient. Objec-
ton was made, however, To the
admission OF John Moore and
William J. Edgar upon the
ground thai they were mem
Oers OF the Mormon Church,
and also because they had gone
through the Endowment House Of
that Church, and there had taken
an oath or obligation incompatible
with the oath Of citizenship they
would be required 10 take if admit
ted. The admission OF the other ap-
plicants was objected TO solely on
the ground that by their own state
nents they were members Of the
Mormon Church, although they had
rot gone through the Endowment
House, and had not taken the oath
usually administered there, nor in
fact any oath incompatible with
citizenship.
The claim is made by those who
Object to the admission to citizen
ship Of these persons, that the Nor
mon Church Is and always has been
4 reasonable organization in its
teachings and In its practices, hos
tile io the governments Of the United
States, disobedient to its laws, and
seeking its overthrow, and that the
oath administered 10 its members ia
the Endowment House binds them.
under the penalty of death, 10 I'M
plicit obedience in all things, tent
poral rs well as spiritual, to the
Priesthood, and to ayeugc the death
OF the prophets JOSEPH and Hyrum
Smith upon the government and
people Of the United States. The
taking OF further testimony at this
time is for the purpose of determin-
ing whether or not these allegations
are true.
The third subdivision Of section
2l5j Of the Revised Statutes Of the
United States provides that in order
to entitle an alien TO he admitted a.
a citizen Of the United States, 1t
shall be made TO appear TO the salts
faction OF the court admitting such
alien that he has resided in the
United States five years at least,
and within the state or territory
where such court is at the time held,
ore year 1T least, and that
during that time lac has behaved as
a man Of good moral character,
attached TO the principles of the
constitution Of the United States.
and well disposed to the good orier
and happiness Of the same. Those
Directing to the right of these
Sp9liGapts. 10 Ee-o dmiitesl "a eiti-
nesses' who had been members
T-,ftaT-dG5 yhugsh Of Jesus Christ Of
tie NIorn,eu Church. SEVERAL o.
these witnesses had held the posi-
ton OF Bishop in the Church. and
all had gone through the Endow-
ment House and participated in it
ceremonies. The testimony Of these
witnesses is to the effect that
every member Of the Church is
expected TO go through the i.ndow-
ment House, and that nearly all DO
so; that marriages are usually sol
emniZed there, and that those who
are. married elsewhere 20 through
the Endowment ceremonies at as
early date thereafter rs practicable.
in order that the marital relation
shall continue throughout eternity.
That these ceremonies OCCUPY the
greater part Of n day, and include
the taking Of an oath. obligation or
by ali who receive their
that they will avenge
the blood Of the Prophets, joseph
and HyHIm Smith, upon the Gov
Of the United States,
and Will enjoin this Obligation
upon their children unto the
third and fourth generations; that
they will obey the Priesthood in all
things, and will never revea! the
secrets Of the Endowment House
under the penalty OF having their
Threats cut from ear to ear. their |
bowels torn out, and their hearts cut I
put of their bodies. The right arm
S annOinted that il nSy be strong /
o avenge the blood OF the prophets.
An under garment, n sort OF com !
of shirt and drawers, called |
he endowment robe, is then nut /
IN, and Is to be worn ever after. On !
his robe, near the throat. and over
he heart, and in the region OF the
ibdomen, are certain marks or de-
igns intended To remind the wearer
u the penalties thai viii he inflicted
n case of a violation OF the oath,
obligation or covenant he or she
ias taken or made.
On behalf Of the applicants. four
cen witnesses testified concerning
he endowment ceremonies. but ali
4 them declined to state what oaths
re there taken, or what obligations
r covenants are there entered into.
T what penalties are attached TO
heir violation; and these witnesses
rhen asked for their reason for
eclining to answer, stated that
hey did so con point of honor,,'
-hile several stated they had for
often what IVES said about avenp-
1g the blood Of the prophets. John
Smith, one Of the Twelve Apns-
es Of the Church, testified that
u that is said in the endowment
ceremonies about avenginc the
lood Of the prophets is said in a
,cture, in which the 9th and 10th
erses of the sixth chapter OF Reve-
ltions is recited, rs follows:
"And when he had opened the fifth |
al, / saw under tho altar the souls of !
lem that were slain for the word of
cd and for the testimony which thew
ED. And they cried with a loud )
1ice saying, How long. oJ,ord, holy
Id true, dost thou not Judge and {