Daily Kennebec journal., 1904-12-16

| tlonal testimony concerning, taken by
persons VINO pass through the Mormon
| endowment house was offered We'd
nesday, in hte investigation of the pro-
tests against Senator Reed Smoot be-
fore the Senate committee on privi-
| leges and elections
Mrs. Fred Ellis of Salt Lake, was
sworn. She married her cousin, Alb
ram Cannon. when she was Is years
| old. She WAS Abram Cannon's first
| plural wife and her husband married
Lillian Hamlin in June 1896. He was
| ther one of the IL apostles. Mr.. Canon,
| witness said. had then three wives and
he told her he intended to marry Lii
lian Hamlin. He said that Lillian had
| been engaged to his brother. David.
who had died and she therefore wanted
to marry Abram.
Mrs. Ellis told her husband she did
not think he could marry Lillian Ham
lin. Mr.. Cannon said he could marry
| outside the state; that he would marry
her for time and that she would be
David's wife for eternity. Il told him
that if he did marry Lillian said the
witness. that l could not live with
him when the church or the law would
not recognize his marriage"
Mrs. Ellis told of the departure OF
Mr.. Cannon and Miss Hamlin, accom-
panied by President Smith, who is said
to have performed the marriage cere-
mOny on the high seas and Of their re-
turn about July 6. 1886. MIR. Cannon
was i'll and died about three weeks lat
er. "He confessed on his death bed that
he had married Miss Hamlin," said
Mrs. Ellis. ''and he said, I have not
had we'll day since then.' l think it
killed him." the witness added sobbing-
ly. adding that she worried over the
matter.
Mrs. Ellis could not testify from her
own knowledge who performed the GER
einony. but said she supposed it was
President Smith until he testified on
the stand here. last spring.
Mrs. Ellis was asked why she op-
posed the marriage between her hus-
band and Miss Hamlin. She said it was
because she believed the manifesto
prohibited such marriages. She went
to the counsellor, to President Smith
and asked him if such marriage (ex-
planning the case. but Withholding the
names) could be legal and was told it
could not.
James H. Wallis, Sr., who divulged
the Endowment house oaths, was re-
called by Mr.. Worthington, represent
ing Mr. Smoot and said he had been
telling Of these obligations for perhaps
a year. but he could not remember any
names except Mr.. Owen who is employ
ed in gathering testimony for the pro-
testants. Mr.. Wallis corrected his testi-
mony IN regard to the oath Of ven-
geance. This oath he now said contains
nothing concerning vengeance upon
inhabitants of the earth" but is
pledge to avenge the blood Of the slain
prophets upon the nations Of the
EARTH"
The attorneys Of the protestants were
not ready to proceed further and the
hearing was adjourned until p. NJ.
At p. NJ, August Lundstrom of
Salt Lake, was sworn. He was born In
Sweden, became a Mormon six years
before coming to the United States and
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 obligations taken six |
times, he said, each ceremony consum- |
ing from six to eight hours. according |
to the size Of the crowd. He said oaths |
Of sacrifice and Of retribution we're ad-
ministered.
The whole proceeding was series Of
obligations. said the witness. but he
could not remember all Of them. The
first in order. he said. was the law OF
sacrifice, which bOuni each person to
give his entire means ana talents to
the upbutidtng Of the Mormon church.
The next obligation was that Of the
in. which each person co.
and promised to TASK God
to avenge the blood Of Joseph Smith
upon this nation" and to teach ''your Il
children and our children's children to n
do the same to the end Of the earth"
The next oSiis.tion vas that Of ,cias-
tity.
Mr., L,ssdstsom said he penained a
Mormon until he f0pua msny inconsIs.
tencies in the beliAf sAneht. VI found
. weak seot IN ~ Nall aMd when u
= 4 s4f7 NJ -ffaE