The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1904-12-21
MORM0NS AGREE
To MutiIation for Disobeying the
Mandates of the Church.
MARRIAGE A FARCE.

Dead Men. Mrs. Geddes'
Youngest Child Not Yet
Six Years Old.
Several witnesses were heard In tn
case Ct Senator Reed Smoot before th,
senate committse on privileges ant
elections. the CON mittee resumipg it
investigation after long recess. Th
first witness vas the Rev. J. NJ. Buck
ley. editor OF the Christian Advocate
OF New York, who told OF a Mormon
meeting he attended in Salt Lake
City, Utah, last summer, in which
President Joseph Smith declared h
would not give up bis plural wives
Geo. Reynolds, high Official OF tht
church, testified In regard to the cere
mopi that have taken place 10 tht
endowment house and concerning &c
clesiaStical divorces granted by the
church, and John Henry Hamlin tolc
OF tie plural marriage OF his sister,
Lilliao Hamlin, to Apostle Abran
Cannon, which ceremony, he said, be
understood to have been performed by
President Smith since the manifesto
of 1890. Most CT the testimony re.
lated to the inside church policy, but
did not connect Senator Smoot With
any OF the alleged violations Of State
or patiinal statutes.
Dr.. Buckley told Of speech OF
President Smith on the subject OF
marriage. The witness said Presi.
dent Smith declared that the mothers
Of his own children had been given
him by God and were saints OF God.
Dr.. Buckley said President Smith de-
terded toe Mormon marriage, and
declared that polygamy was not adul-
!ery, but was system eof marriage.
President Smith vas quoted by the
witness as saying that be could not
give up any Of his wives.
In answer to questions by Senate,
O9erman, Mr. Reynolds said narri-
agns were performed with dead per.
sens il the endowment house.
Mr.. Taylor then asked if divorces
we're granted in the endowment.
''The church grants divorce to
those who have been married for time
ard eternity, but does not divorce lie.
gal marriage until the cJurts have
acted" said Mr.. Reynolds. Plural
marriages are not recognized by the
courts and therefore the church does
not consult tie court in granting d.
vorces in cases Ct such marriages" !"
Senator Foraker asked il such d.
vorces were granted from dead par.
sons.
In a few instances only, I should
say" said the witness.
For something done after death OF
befors9' the senator asked.
In life time.''
Is the dead person given an oppor'
tunity to be heard?" the senator
asked.
NO sir, it is because such cases are
held to be unjust to the dead accused
that so few divorces OF this kind are
granted," said the witnes.
rs any one appointed to defend the
accused?"
Nsver; but TIE complainant is
given nearing If satisfactory evi.
dence is furnished to the church"
Mr.. Reynolds testified that the
president OF the church always has
bad the authority to issue ecolesiasti.
cal divorces.
MI. Taylor showed the witness a
contract OF separation between George
T. and Ellen Watson, which Mr.. Roy
nolds acknowledged he executed in
1897. He stated that ne does not know
now whether the marriage he; ;dissolv
ed was plural one OF not.
Are you polygamist?" MI. Tay,
lcr asked.
Yes Sir" answered Ar. REYNOLDS
Have you any children married ir
polvgany?'
II believe 50; one daughter.
Mr.. Reynalds testified that ne ha!
26 children.
Mr. Re;Lolds gave the names o:
the seven presidents Ct the seventies
Of which he is the fourth In rank.
He testified that three Of the seve1
we're polygamists. Senator Dubois
asked:
You have two wives now, 7 be
liave, Mr.. Reynolds, your first wife
oeiag dead?"
YES SIR
II you were to marry another NO
man tonorrow which would be you.
legal wife?''
The one last married"
Would not that be adultery?"
It would be If I continued to livt
as the husband Of the other woman
but l do not sustain such relation.
with more than one. T"
Mr.. Reynolds said he understood
that the mantle; to Of 1890 permitted
aim to live with his.plural wives with
out violating the laws, but that n
further wives could be contracted
Despite this testimony 1t was brough
cut that tbs 0itHess has had children
oy two wives sirce the manifesto o
1890. ard lie acknowledged the truth
iuiness Of these statements. In answe
to questions By Senator McConas, Mr.
Reynolds said he had never preached
against polygamy nor had be tried t
get others 20 90 so.
Mr. Reynolds said he did not know
CT any effort made by any officials 0
the church to carry ont provisions 0
The Woodruff manifesto putting al
! ! ~ e.