Milford chronicle., 1904-03-11
MORMON REFUSES
TO GIVE UP WIVES
Prospective Head of Church Will Con-
tinue to Defy the Law.
QUESTIONED BY SENATOR HOAR

QOED 1lONEO - L OA1Ah@A@ Wv 49, |
Washington. March 9.-The senate
committee on privileges and elections
in the investigation of the protests
against Senator Reed Smoot, of Utah'
brought out variety of testimony OF
which the most sensational was that
given by Francis NJ. Lyman, president
of the Twelve Apostles of the Mormon
church and the man chosen to be the
successor of President Smith. His ad-
missions were similar to those pre-
viously made by Mr.. Smith pertaining
to the church government.
"Are you a polygamist?" Mr.. Tay-
Ter asked, and the witness replied
frankly Eyes" He said that he had
had three wives and that of them two !
are still living.
do you think it would be right to
abstain from polygamous cohaoita-
tion?"
Mr.. Lyman admitted that he knew
that in living in polygamy he was dis
obeying both the law of the land ana
the rule of the church. He also said
in reply to one of these questions that
he was not only now living in polyga-
nous cohabitation. but that he expect
! ed to continue so to live.
Mr.. Hoar took the witness in hand
and brought out a succinct statement
from him which was of a character TO
/ interest all present.
Referring to the rule of which you
| have spoken" said Mr. Hoar, you un-
derstand the rule or law of the church
to be the law of God, do yo unot!
Mr.. Lyman replied that such was his
understanding.
"Then you are living and intend to
live in violation of the law of God and
MANI"
81 fully intend" said Mr.. Lyman,
"to be true to the law of my country,
to nv God and to my obligations and
covenants with my wives, and l have
never done thing that my conscience
did not approve"
Senator Hoar-"So you, an apostle
of your church, expecting to succeed
Mr.. Smith in the presidency and IN
that capacitv to receive divine reve-
lations Yourself. confess that you are
now living and expect to continue to
d live in disobedience to the law OF the
, country. the law of your church and
y the law of GOd?"
9 The witness replied with simple
, "yes."
L Mr.. Lyman was asked what distinc
e tion he made between the revelations
J. he obeved and those he did not obey.
t 81 suppose you mean the laws nave
S confessed that | have violated IN co
y babiting with plural wives?" he ask
ed When told that was what was
meant he said: q trust myself to th'
mercy of the Lord
Il Have you ever repented OF that dis
obedience?" asked Nh Hoar.
mot set"
l. "Did senator Smoot know you wer'
j living with plural wives?" was asked
Mr.. Lyman answered that Senate
-e Smoot did not know. as he never ha'
y met any one of his wives. He SAT-
that the people in general in Utal
5, knew. but that he did not think MI
I, Smoot had any knowledge of the fact.
9 Senator Hoar demanded to know
- what the witness meant by such al
swers. The witness then said tina
Senator Smoot probably knew just
= much about the question as the peopl
II. in general.
- "Do YOU take back what you sal
- then that the people knew and SEM
at tor Smoot did not know?
"a. 81 take that back"
"Are your answers here by order
the Lord. or are they given in your hi
IG man capacity?" he was asked.
81 answer as the spirit of the Lor
directs"
=, ."Then it was the spirit of the Lor
-, which directed you to make the al
~ swer you just took back and whic
- YOU said was a mistaken,
IN The witness hesitated and Senate
ns Hoar remarked: We'll, if you can
~ answer that l don't blame you
-, ~ Mr.Lyman then told the story OF
ne effort on the part of Prophet JOSEF
~ Smith to get rid of one of his hig
" counsellors who had been chosen
revelation and the refusal of the pc
Su sn ple to submit to the change. This WI
~ i-9 for the purpose of showing that Il
- -, will of the people is stronger that II
LII 1yisb or command of the president
the church.
"Do you mean to say" asked Sen
tor Hoar. "that a revelation from Il
Lord which has been rejected by Il
DC people would count for nothing?
at would count for nothing for tho
- who rejected it."
lon "Then." said Senator Hoar' q
10 voice of the people is Of more authC
ra- itv than the mandates of the Lord?"
10 "The law of the Lord is whatever
tne done by common consent"