The Morris County chronicle. [volume] (Morristown, N.J.) 1877-1915, 1904-12-13
DIVORCE FOR
THE DEAD
Head Of Mormon Church Claims
Control Of Members Here
and Hereafter.


washington, Dec. 13 Hearings il
the case of Senator Reed Smoot, in
volving important revelations Of thu
Mormon church, were resumed by the
senate COMMITTEES on privileges and
elections An attempt was made to
show IN the witnesses called that high
officials of the Mormon church stilI
practlas and prearh polygany In spite
OF the Woodruff manifesto Of 1890
John Henry Hamlin OF Salt Lake
City, a non Mormon, testified that his
sister had been married as d plural
wife of Apostle Abram Cannon BY Jo-
sept r Smith, the head Of the Nor
mon church. He said the report OF
this marriage, which was performed
in 1896, did not come out until AIr.
Gannous death, two years iater The
Witness did not see the ceremony, but
it was common knowledge in the fam
lily.
Mr.. Hanlain said the wlrereabout Of
ahis sister was unknown but he had
heard report fhsgt she had since mar
fried another Mormon as a plural wife.
A woman witness is on hand, 1t is
said. who win say she saw President
Smith perform the ceremony.
S,root Hears Testimony.
Senator Smoot listened to every
word Of the testimony and sat directly
behind his lawyers, apparently uncon-
cerned, now serious and again laugh
ing with the spectators whenever any
thing anasing was brought out in the
testimony.
OF the three witnesses heard the
Rev Dr. o. M. Buckley OF New York
was the first He said he had inyesti-
gated BIormonism and had visited
Utah in 1865, 1901 and during the
present year. On his last "trip. he said,
he heard President Joseph #. Smith
deliver speech in the Mormon taber-
nacle, In which he severely criticised
thexeustom Of decrying the mother-in
law.
II have five wives and forty five
children" said President Smith, ac-
cording to DIR. Buckley, tand / have
never found any ground of complaint
against the mother-in-1aw"
And when Mr.. Smith made such
statements as these" continued DR.
Buckley, his voice rang out strong
andecfear, like William D. Bryan's. Mr.
Smith also said he weHld mot shrink
from exile, imprisonment or any earth
" hardship rather than give mp his plu-
raj wives {"
s'Esiit affact,' asked Chairman Bur
rows, .sthat President Smith declared
thatto abandon his pluralawives would
cause eternal damnationgv
"Fes, sir, most definitely was DR..
BucKley's answer
George Reynolds, the second witness
OF the day, is a high official of the
Mormon church and has held. the offices
OF president of the seventies, first as
sistant superintendent OF the Mormon
Sunday school, secretary Of the mis-
sfonavy committee Of the Twelve Apos-
ties and associate editor of the church
organ. He said he devoxed all of his
time t0 the church work.
church Controls Living and Dead.
Mr. Reynolds caused generalssurprise
amongr the members of the committee
RJ QCCld1tnS tldb ICotOSnt tlIll III
could and did tdivorce dead men from
their widows" In other words, he
said, the head Of the church exercised
supreme power alike over living and
dead members.
DO lyou mean to say" said Senator
ONerman. that Mormon people are
baptized and married after they are
dead7"
"Yes, just as they are sometimes di
vorced The request for baptism usual
ly comes from their descendants or in
visions wlnch are interpreted by the
faithful
The church grants divorces to those
who have been married for time and
eternity, but does not divorce legal
marriages until the courts have acted"
said Mr.. Reynolds. plural marriages
are net recognized by the courts, and
therefore the church does not consult
them IN granting divorces in cases OF
such marriages.
Prominent Men White cappers7
Atlanta, Ga, Dec. ia special IL