Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-12-15
he knew no part of them had ever been


The Witness was asked to identify letter
hs had written to Mrs Helen b. Watson
1t, nying her request for certificate or her
marriage, Which had been solemnized with
i'm the temple Mr.. Nicholson admitted The
letter to he his but asserted he could not
remember Mrs. Watson nor any OF the ell
c,imstances attending his refusal. He SAID
he could not conceive of any conditions I'M
der watch he would decline to give a wo-
man certificate of her marriage II he
thought she were entitled to II.
81 believe you were served with SUD-
poena to bring all the records in the tenn
Pile" said Mr. Tayler.
At tho request of Attorney Worthington
the subpoena was produced, when caiieo
for the marriage records only. 49,
Did you bring all OF the temple recordsf
asked Mr. Tayler.
mo sir: l could not have no authority
to do So He added that he brought enc
record that of the marriages perro ;meo
within the temple He was asked wnere
are kept the records OF endowment house
marriages He said he believed they We're
in the temple. but that he had NJ authority
over those, nor would he admit knowledge
as to who has such authority.
IF l should walk into the temple ana
start to take records of endowmenLs you
would not stop me them? SAID MI. Iayier'
Certainly l would
But you would have no authority
Would Assume Authority.
in that case 1 should assume authority.
II.
lated Eyes, of course, you would.
Mr.. Nicholson said the book he brought
with him contained the record OF every
marriage performed within the temple since
IL opened May 81 1898, and that records
of marriages performed outside tlIe temple
are not kept within this book
On cross-examination the witness deciar-
ed that no marriages had been performed
within the temple except when the lega!
license had been issued by the clerks OF
courts; that the marriages perfcrmea there
had always been FOR time anu cteiii''
none for time only.
Mr. Nicholson also said no record or mar
riage ceremonies Is kept by him.
Would you decline to repeat the oatn VI
the marriage ceremony asked Senator
McComas.
ct Is q covenant and 1 would not repeat
It." Mr.. Nicholson said In reply:
Gould you repeat 1t II you wishedE ne
was further asked. and he again replied III
the negative.
Asked by Mr. Tayler about the record OF
his own marriage. witness said he did no'
know where 1t is as he had never had occa-
sion to look 1T up.
Why Mr. Wallis Left the Church.
]. III. Wallis who was on the stand yes
terday, was recalled. He said that In addi-
ton to others he had revealed the secrets
of the endowment house to number OF
Salt Lake City ministers and also to other
residents of that city. Among them were
Drs. Page and Christianson.
Referring to the statement of the witness
Yesterday that the penalty for telling these
secrets is to have the throat cut. Mr.
Worthington asked the witness IL his Uhe
witnessD throat had ever been cut.
He replied In the negative. He had been
once assaulted on the street but did not
know by whom. He also said that he is not
now connected with the Mormon Church
lat least not so far as l know. l told one of
ha bishOnS of desire to Withdraw.
He had ceased paying tithes. he SAID.
since upon a certain occasion he had PAID
1915 to the wife of the bishop and had fail
ed to get any account for 1t. He also SAID
that Mr.. Nicholsons act of giving out the
secrets of the endowment house had much
To do with changing his estimate of the
sacredness of the covenants of that insti-
tuition.
Then" suggested Mr.. Worthington. ut
is to be presumed that but for those reve-
lations you would still be taking those cove
nants?'
II think not" replied the witness. be
cause j had about exhausted the list OF
people 1 had to stand for
The committee took a recess until 80.
Marriage to the Dead.
Mr.. Lundstrom was called to the stand at
the afternoon session and asked to explain
his marriage to a dead woman, of which
ceremony he testified at the forenoon ses-
sion. He said this ceremony was called
sealing" and was for time and eternity.
He was also sealed to his legal wife, he
said. but no record or memorandum was
given him.
Chairman Burrows asked the witness to
how many persons he had heard adm, MIS-
tered the endowment house obligations He
said he had heard it six times to congre-
cations of from thirty to sixty persons
each. Not to take the obligation, the wit
ness said is regarded as a sign of weakness
TO the faith
Chairman Burrows-Are there any robes
worn In the ceremony
Yes, sir
Are there any marks on the robes?"
Not on the robes, but there are marks on
the priesthood garments. These marks are
to remind the person Of the covenants he
has made"
The witness said there are marks of the
compass and square on the left and right
breasts, a rent like button hole, over the
treast and another over the knee.
when do you wear this garment" Mr..
Lundstrom was asked.
Always" Then he added that the gar
ment was removed long enough only to
change to clean one.
1T Is supposed to be shield against al
danger. temporal and spiritual he said.
And the marks are to remind you of the
obligations taken?" again asked the chair
man. The witness answered in the affirma-
tive, repeating that the breast marks are
for the purpose of making the obligator re-
member his oath not to reveal his cove
nants under penalty of having his heart
and vitals cut out
On cross-examination he said the marks
had never been explained to him, and thai
he put his own construction upon them be-
cause OF their association with the cere-
monies.
The hearing was continued until tomor-
row.
Why Lundstrom Deserted.
August Lundstrom of Salt Lake testified
yesterday afternoon. He was born In Swe-
den and became a Mormon six years be-
fore coming to the United States. He has
held high positions In the church. both IN
Sweden and Utah. He testified that he
went through the temples in Salt Lake and
Logan. He had heard the endowment OBJ
legations taken six times he said. each
ceremony consuming from six to eight
hours according to the size of the crowd.
He said oaths of sacrifice and retribution
were administered.
The whole proceeding was series of OBJ
legations, said the witness. but he could not
remember all of them. The first in order.
ne said was the law of sacrifice. which
bound each person to give his entire means
and talents TO the upbuilding of the Nor
mon Church. The next obligation was that
OF retribution, in which each person cove
nanted and promised to TASK God TO avenge
the blood OF Joseph Smith upon this ma
ton" and to teach 'our children and our
children's children to do the same to the