The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1904-12-20
TENETs OF MORMON
for This PurpOse-Sleepy Day
for the Commission,
(By the Associated Press

for This PurpOse-Sleepy Day
for the Commission.
(By the Associated PresS.)
Washington, Dec. 19.-The Senate
Committee ON Privileges and Elec-
tons was in session all day taking
testimony in the Senator Smoot IN
vestigation. Nothing of a sensation
III character was brought out. In
terest was evinced by members of
the committee in statements by A. {.
Nelson, superintendent of public IN
Struction for Utah. concerning the
use of school buildings for the teach
ing of the Mormon religion. Apostle
John Henry Smith was on the stand
for two hours.t Oher witnesses we're
Isaac Birdsall. a Mormon who said
his daughter was communicated
because she would not obey decision
of a bishops court which had de-
priVed her of piece of property 10
which she held the lawful title, and
William BaldersOn. editor of the
Boise, Idaho, Statesman, who testified
in regard TO political affairs in his
State.
Apostle Smith said he had never
heard of any president of the church
authorizing plural marriages since
the manifesto. He emphatically de-
MED that he had said there had been
reNeldUOnS ItldI Il Certain pOlINlStil
ticket should be supported.
Apostle Smith. however, admitted
taking an active part in bringing
about the repeal of the territorial
test oaths which practically excluded
Idaho Mormons from voting. lie
said he had made political speeches.,
but appealed to the voters as a citi-
zen and not as a member OF the
Mormon church.
Senator Dubois asked Apostle Smith
if an apostle could take q plural w1re
now and retain his standing.
UNLESS perchance he We're handled
by the laws of the country" was the
response.
You mean that some Gentle would
have to make complaint"
mo, sir if submitted TO his council
| think it would deal with him.
Apostle Smith said that the sus-
pension of the practice of polygamy
was the result of a revelation and
that il would take another revelation
to put it in force.
''Then the president of the church
might put polygamy in practice by
receiving a revelation ?"
Not unless the people should re-
ceive it. Nothing is forced on the
Mormon people" ne replied.
Isaac BirdsaH's Story.
corning a civil trial in a land case in
which he and his daughter were de-
PENDANTS. The case was heard in the
bishops court of Monroe Ward III
Utah, where Birdsall and his daugh-
ter were charged with unchristian-
like conduct. James e. LeaVitt
brought the action to obtain posses
sion of land which he is alleged To
have purchased from the Birdsalls'
but to which he did not have title.
Mr.. Birdsall lost the case.
Before an appeal to the first presi-
dency was attempted his daughter was
given notice to carry out the verdict
of the church courts, or the first presl-
dency would take action by cutting
her off from the church. Records in
the case were introduced showing that
Cora Birdsall, the daughter. was e,.-
communicated in June 1908. M.
Birdsall said that the decision SO
wore on his daughter that she neither
ate nor slept nor drank, and appeared
to lose her mind. Her condition was
brought to the attention of the presl-
dent of the stake and her parents were
told their daughter would be torment
ed and led by evil spirits until she had
complied with the decision OF the
church in regard to the land. in which
event re-baptism was promised her.
Later she was re-baptized into the
church and then made the deed, con-
veying the land to Leavitt
William Bulge. of Paris Idaho. was
recalled by counsel for Mr. Smoot.
He said that as a bishop of the Nor
mon Church he had never entertained
a case involving the title OF land,
for the reason that presidents OF the
church have given instructions that
bishops and presidents of stakes
should not hear such cases.
Balderson on the Stand.
Editor Balderson said that polyG-
amists living in Idaho have increased
despite the fact that there have been
few plural marriages wlthin the
State. He said that UP to the last
campaign both political parties in la
no were disposed to go to Salt Lake
to get a straight tip" as TO when
would get the Mormon support
Mr.. Tayler asked if they got this
tip and received the response:
Eyes but they never knew whether
it was straight
A. c. Nelson, of Salt Lake, State
superintendent of public instruction,
and a Mormon who is now making an
investigation of the extent in which
religion classes are maintained in the
schools testified that classes are held
in about three hundred buildings.
These classes are assembled after the
adjournment of the regular school
day.
Mr.. Nelson said that the school
teachers usually taught the rellglous
classes. Mr.. Nelson said he believed
the use of the school buildings Tor re-
I Ifrri..