The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1904-03-12
WON'T GIVE Up WIVES
Mormon Apostle Declares His In
tention to Defy the Law.
SOME STRANGE RELIGIOUS VIEWS

LOfQs
Washington. March 9.-The senate
committee on privileges and elections
In the investigation of the protests
against Senator Reed Smoot. OF Utah.
brought ont a variety OF testimony. OF
which tie most sensational was that
given by Francis VI. Lyman. president
OF the Twelve Apostles of the Mormon
church and the man chosen TO be the
successor uf President Smith. His adj
missions were similar to those pre-
viorsly made by Mr.. Smith pertaining
TO tie church government
are you a polygamist?' Mr. Tay-
Ter asked. and the witness replied
frankly eyes" lie said that he had
had three wives and that OF them two
are sim living.
"Do you think II would be right 10
abstain from polygamous cohablta'
tom
Mr. Lyman admitted that he knew
that I'm living IN polygamy he was dis
obcylne both the law of the land and
the rule Of the church He also said
IN reply 10 one of these questions that
he was not only now living in polyga-
nous cohabitation. but that he expect
cd to continue so 10 live.
Mr.. lIoar took the witness in hand
and brought ont a succinct statement
from him which was of character to
interest all present
Referring 10 the rule OF which you
have spoken" said Mr. Hoar. you un'
derstand the rule or law OF the church
to be- the law Of God, DO 20 unot?'
Mr. Lyman replied that such was his
understanding
Then You are living and intend 10
live in violation Of the law Of God and
man."
Il fully intend" said Mr. Lyman,
"to be true 20 the law Of my country.
to my God and To my obligations and
covenants with my wives. and ! have
never done a thing that my conscience
did not approve
Senator Hoar-"SO YOU. an apostle
Of your church. expecting to succeed
Mr.. smith In the presidency and In
that capacity To receive divine reye.
lations yourself confess that you are
now living aud expect to continue To
live In disobcdience to the law Of the
country. the law OF your church and
the law OF God?"
The witness replied with a simple
yes.
Mr. Lyman was asked what dlstInc'
tion hc made between the revelations
he oheyed and those he did not obey.
81 suppose you mean the laws have
confessed that I have violated in CO
habitng with plural wiyes?" he ask
ed. When told that was what was
meant he said: 81 trust myself to the
mercy OF the Lord. "
Have YOU ever repented Of that dis
obedience" asked Mr.. Hoar.
"Not yet"
"Did Senator SmoOt know you were
living with plural wives?" was asked.
Mr.. Lyman answered that Senator
Smoot ala not know, as he never had
met any one OF his wives He said
that the people in general in Utah
knew. but that he did not think Mr..
Smoot had any knowledge OF the fact.
Senator Hoar demanded to know
what the witness meant by such an.
swers. The witness then said that
Senator Smoot probably knew just as
much about the question as the people
in general.
do you take back what you said
then that the people knew and Sena
tor Smoot did not know
81 take that back"
Are your answers here by order Of
the Lord. or are they given in your hui
man capacity" he was asked.
q answer as the spirit of the Lord
directs"
Then II was the spirit of the Lord
which directed You to make the an
swer you just took back and which
you said was a mistaken"
The witness hesitated and Senator
Hoar remarked. well, If you can't
answer that | don't blame you"
MrLyman then told the story Of an
effort on the part of Prophet Joseph
Smith to get rid OF one of his high
counsellors who had been chosen by
revelation and the refusal of the peO-
pie to submit to the change. This was
for the purpose OF showing that the
will of the people is stronger that the
wish or command of the president of
the church.
do you mean to say" asked Sena-
tor Hoar, that a revelation from the
Lord which has been rejected by the
people would count for nOthing?"
ut would count for nothing for those
who rejected II"
Then" said Senator Hoar, "the
voice of the people is OF more author
ity than the mandates of the Lord?"
"The law of the Lord is whatever is
done by common consent"
'Then the Lord submits to the peo-
pie whatever he. desires to have done
and II the people IKE 1t they give their
consent. That is your belief is IT." -
"People have their rights and they
must be respected. The Lord can't
make the people do right In regard to
religion. business and politics"
'Tben," persisted Senator Hoar
where the Lord has. chosen certain
persons as apostles and the people do
not care to accept the selection, what
happens?"
"The man always steps aside when
the people reject"
"They have a sort OF veto power
over the Lord then" remarker Sena.
tor Hoar.
do 1T TODAY"
The time-worn injunction, "never
put off till tomorrow what you can
60. Il Il.