The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1904-03-09


lie TeasdaIe had advised her against
allowing her daughter 10 become a plu-
raj vile on the ground that il was
against the law Of the church.
Mrs. Matthews also gave some facts
concerning her own history in response
10 questions by members Of the COM
mttee. She is a native of England
ard while living widow in that coun-
Try had become converted 10 Mormon
ism about 1888 by George Barber. mis-
slonary or the Mormon church. She aft
erward came TO Utah and married Bar
Der. becoming his third wife. She had.
she said, embraced Mormonism. know
anS that Il inculcated pOlygamy but
when she became a plural wife she WAS
not tod that polygamy was against the
law Of the land.
Merrill Recalled.
AR Merrill was Temporarily recalled
and questioned by Senator Dubois. who
Mr.. Merrill, do you still uphold the
doctrine of polygamy?"
NO, sir" was the reply.
But you practice it?'
Il do"
How do you reconcile the two state
ments?" one Of the committee asked.
The witness did not reply, but a
number of the committee illustrated by
saying he was like the man who was
for prohibition but against the en-
lOIccneuL OF Il
Lyman Defiant
Francis Lyman. a member Of the first
presidency Of the Mormon church and
the prospective successor of Mr.. Smith
as president of the church, was the
next witness He was born sixty-fOur
years ago and became an apostle in
1880
Are you a pOlygamist?" Mr.. Tayler
asked. and the witness replied frankly.
4 49,
wives and that of them two are still
living.
BY his second wife. TO whom he was
married in 1884, he had FIVE children, the
last being born in 1900. Mr.. Lyman
said that he had been one Of the signers
of the prayer for amnesty, pledging
himself TO all that it contained. He did
not. however. recall just what It did
contain
Mr. Tayler read portions Of the
prayer.
Did you he asked. interpret that
10 mean that YOU would abstain from
polygamous cohabitatiOn2"
Il interpreted it 10 mean that I
should do all that was right
Did you think it would be right to
abstain from polygamous cohaDiIa-
tiOn3'
Will Not Obey the Law.
This was not answered directly at
the time. Several questions by mem
hers of the committee followed in rapid
succession and Mr. Lyman admitted
in response TO them that he knew that
IN practicing polygamous cohaoitatlon
he was disobeying both the law or the
land and the rule OF his church. He
also said in reply TO one of these ques-
lions that he was not only now living
in polygamOus cOhabitation, but thaI
he expected To continue so to live.
no
hand aud brought out a succinct state
ment from him. which was of charac-
ter to interest all present.
Referring TO the rule of which you
have spoken" Mr.. Hoar said. you UNI
derstand the rule OF the church TO be
the law Of God. do you note"
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"
Il fully intend" said Mr.. Lyman.
showing a disposition TO elaborate more
than he had done, ito be true to the
law Of my country, 90 my God and 60
my obligations and covenants with my
wives. and have never done thing
that my. conscience did not approve"
Excuses Offered.
81 want" he proceeded. dropping into
\ pleasing tone of voice. ''to make n
brief explanation If you viii permit.
NIy case is different from that of most
other men. I was born in 1910, and L
can hardly remember when my father
was not "A polygamist. He was a friend
and adviser of Prophet Joseph Smith
and was taught by him the Importance
and the truth Of the principles Of poly
gamy. de accepted the teaching and
entered into the practice, marrying six
wives in the years 1S45 and 1876. SO
-1.r,gf one
the lie OF pOlygamy. i remember all
my fathers wives as / do my own
mother and I lived in a family thus
constituted until 1 grew up and became
the head Of a family of my own Con-
sequently j have known nothing else.
and I have felt that It was correct. I
have always felt in my soul and heart
that ] was correct. 7 married first in
1897. again i'm 1869 and once more in
1854 The situation has been very pain
fui 90 me and 1 have been greatly
panied to find myself in opposition to
the law of the country and of the
CHURCH. But I had made a covenant
with my wives To love. respect and en-
dear them. and / could not find IL in
my heart TO separate from them so long
as they were true to me-
Duty of a Polygamist.
senator Hoar-So you. an apostle of
your church, expecting to succeed Mr..
smith i'm the presidency and i'm that
CAPACITY TO receive divine revelations
Yourself. confess that you are now liv-
ing and expect to continue to live ia
disobedieuce to the laws Of the cOun-
Try. the law Of your church ana the law
Of Cod?
The witness replied with a simple
Yes" He added in reply to a ques-
tion from Senator Dubois that he con-
sidered his duty 10 live with and pro-
tect his wives.
Alr. Lyman said he became an apostle
i'm 1900 He said Mr.. Smoot had never
reproved him for living I'm polygamy.
either in public or in apostolic meet
ings.
"If 7 am thought worthy I viii sue
coed 10 the presidency Of the Mormon
church. if / survive President Smith. "
said Mr. Lyman in answer 10 ques-
ton. Mr.. Lyman said that he is the
presiding officer of the Twelve apostles
The name OF john Henry Smith. poly
gamist. was given as the second mem
Der OF the Twelve apostles. and that OF
George Teasdale. a polyEamist, as the
third apostle: Heber j. Grant. a poly
gamist. fourth: John w. Taylor a poly
gamist. fifth; Mr.. Merrill. a polygamist.
sixth making five apostles who are
conceded 10 be pOlygamists