The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1889-11-17

marriage IN Qenance OF the law. DO nOJ re
member a sermon by G. w. Penrose, on
July 26 1884, saying twas right and con-
stitutional to practice plural marriage. Do
not remember him saying, in regard TO
| polyg amy, that the people thought the law
had no right to interfere. and pronounced
woes upon those who shrank from preach
| ing the gospel. l am not compelled
| to endorse Mr.. Penrose's views. l
have heard preaching which might
| be construed by some people to enjoin pc
| lygamy, but l did not, nor did others I'M
derstand it that way. l understood that
Mr.. Penrose said and meant that we would
contend legally for our rights, and we have
done So | did not understand Mr.. Pen
rose to pronounce condemnation upon
those who do not preach celestial marriage.
Celestial marriage does not mean polygamy.
1t means marriage for time and eternity.
| do not understand that Mr.. Penrose had
any reference to polygamy, but he meant
! the gospel. / do not say the church has
not taught plural marriage since the law of
| 1862 was declared constitutional. There
may have been, and probably have, but
can recall no instance; nor do l recall any
instance Of an editorial in the Deseret NewS
of that kind. l do not remember the con-
tents of the address to President Cleve-
land. may have read it, but do not rec
ollect it. I presume | did, but do not
remember the contents. l do not
remember the declaration that plural
marriage was "a vital part of our
religion, the decision of the courts
to the contrary Notwithstanding" l do
not say plural marriage is not doctrine,
but the law has interfered with its prac-
tice / never covenanted to implicitly obey
the priesthood. | have heard that idea
preached, but did not and do not believe it.
l believe the priesthood has right to coun-
sci and advise, but the people can accept it
! or not just as they choose. l see no obiec-
ton to that doctrine. That don't mean
obedience to the priesthood. 1t says and
means that the priesthood can advise and
counsel. I regard the president of the
church as, to certain extent, the mouth
piece of God, that Is, he is the only oEe
authorized to receive written revelation
for the church. 1t is his privilege to re.
ceive those revelations, but do not say
whether he does or not. The people are
not compelled to obey. In temporal
way man is free to do as he pleases,
that is, if he does right. 1t is the same
in politics. If the president of the church
ordered me to vote for man at an election,
if it was the best ticket would vote for it.
If | thought another ticket was best, ]
would vote it. / might be susceptible of
conversion, but would act ON my own
Judgment. The church, as such, does not
control in politics. l have not heard that
the president of the church claims that
right Individuals, holding the priesthood.
use their influence, but only as individuals.
They advise only as friends, and 1 see no
wrongin following that advice if l wont to.
am a citizen of the United States. | don't
remember any of those frightful penalties
spoken Of All have heard are the state
ments made here in court. | cannot say
there were or were not penalties of some
kind, because do not remember them. Elk
penalty that | know of for violating church
covenants.
To LIE Grand Young memory re-
garding that alleged avenging OF the blood
has been kept fresh by the false statements
that have been made by certain parties for
many years, and | say that their statements
about avenging blood on this nation is un-
true in my experience. These false state
ments have called that point specially to
my attention. l have heard of the many
statements of John Hyde, Mrs. StenhOuse
and others, and my attention has been
drawn to that point.
To Mr.. Dickson-I never heard of the
penalties, except in court the past few
days. | wear the endowment robes, but
do not remember the meaning of the marks
thereon.
To Mr.. BaSlIin-I do remember cove
nantS to lead an honorable, moral life. Do
not remember just what they were in
detail. ] know that | took no covenant
about the United States
To the Court-Marriages in the EndOw-
ment house are those usual for members
of the church, but mary are married other
wise l could not say the proportion of
each kind, but only the Endowment house
or temple marriage includes the covenant
for eternity.
To Mr.. Dickson Some devout members
are married outside of these places, and
afterwards go to the temples.
JUDGE E. g. wooLLBY
testified-I am A; am a Mormon: was
born in the church; received my endOw-
ments about twenty-f four Years ago. l
never took any oath, obligation or VOW to
avenge the blood of the prophets on the
United States or it's people. l am positive
of that. l never covenanted to avenge the
blood of Joseph or Hyrum Smith on any
body. l heard nothing in regard TO polyg
amy. Made no agreement in that regard,
nor was / asked to. l have resided in Utah
thirty-nine years. In 1870 l went to the
southern part of Utah and came back two
years ago. Am merchant.
To Nh DickSOD-I have been through
the endoWments four times, twice in st.
George. The second time l was married,
and the last two for dead friends. Was
never married but once. l never had but
one wife. Was never counseled 10 enter
polygamy. decline to say whether there
was anything said about avenging the
blood of the prophets.
Mr.. Dickson-What was it!
Judge Woolley-I decline to answer.
Dickson repeated the question, and the
witness again declined to answer.
Mr.. Dickson-What was the penalty for
violation of your covenants, or any duty
eniOined upon you!
Judge Woolley-I decline to answer.
Dickson went through list of penalties,
and asked if any of them were mentioned
there. These questions Judge WOolley de
clincd to answer.
JAMES Il. ANDERSON
reside in Salt Lake city; am thirty
two years of age; am printer by
trade, at present engaged as reporter on
the Deseret NeWs. Am a member of the
Mormon church. Have received my en-
dowments; received them in this city eight
years ago. l took no oath to avenge the
blood of the prophets against the govern
ment of the United States; there was no
such oath or covenant administered. |
took no oath to enter into polygamy; did
not hear it taught that day.
Cross-examined by Dickson.
Q-You say you made no promise about
| polygamya
A-No, sir 1 do not remember poly
gamy having been mentioned; heard moth
| ing said TO my wife about her duty in this
regard; it was not said that l was at liberty
to marry more wives than one.
Q-What was said about avenging the
blood of the prophets2
Al decline to state.
Q-What was the penalty for the viola
ton of your covenantsi
Al remember none.
Q.-Was there penalty of death for
anything!
Al decline to state.