The Iowa plain dealer. [volume] (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1867-1895, 1889-11-28
THE MORMON TRIALS.

More Sensational Testimony In the IrveSe.
igAtion at Salt Lake city = Men and
Women Who Took Oaths In the Endow.
msnt House 20 Avengs the Blood of the
Prophet smith.
SALT LAKE CRY, U. r., Nov. ao.-The
investigation into the character Of the
Mormon endowment house oaths was
continued Thursday.
George @. Cannon, the Mormon leader
snd ex-Delcgate to Congress, was called
by the prosecution and identified the
circular sent out by himself and John
Taylor in May, 1885, declaring that the
rights Of the Mormon people were being
assailed and urging all saints to con-
tribute TO the fund for the defense Of
Mornons charged with violating the
Edmunds law and to provide for the
families Of those forced to fee.
Mrs. Gilmore testified that she went
through the endowment house seven
teen years ago with . number Of others,
and all were called upon to swear that
they would avenge the blood Of
Joseph and Hiram Smith upon the
American nation and teach the doctrine
Of revenge to their children and chill
drcn's children down to the fourth gen.
Grafton. Any ono who violated the
oaths taken or revealed the secrets Of
the house was threatened with death.
Henry w. Lawrence, president OF the
Chamber Of Commerce, and one Of the
most prominent men in tho Territory.
testified that he became Mormon in
- H - y&nh III
years ago. He offlciated In the en-
dowment house in this city several
years. IIe was excommunicated In
1860 for having tho spirit Of apostacy,
which was shown by the fact that he
questioned the right Of the priesthood
to dictate in temporal affairs. The en-
dowment house ritual is not written, hc
says. In the ceremony neophytes al.
ways took the following oath:
"Yon. each and all Of you agree to avenge the
blood Of tho prophets, Joseph and Hiram, who
and that you will teach this to 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
u0ut w OuCy tuO VIiCStuOu IN dAi
things, and tho penalty Of death at
tached to 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. Tho
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 council Of priests,
and George Q. Cannon acted as the pros.
ecutor. They were accommodated.
Eli B. Kelsey voted against the propoei.
tion to excommunicate them, and for
that he was himself at once excom.
municated upon motion of Brigham
Young. Witness said he had studied the
character OF tho church. It was claimed
TO be literal kingdom OF God, and its
jurisdiction extended to all things
and it was expected to control the whole
earth In time. Then Christ was to come
in person and take charge. Witness was
= merchant doing q business of 81, 900 to
$40, 900 month when accommodated,
and as soon as 1t became known that he
had been cut off his trade fell
OF third, and he was socially ostracised
by the men who had been intimate with
him from childhood.