The Savannah morning news., 1904-12-13

Reynolds was HeAru upon HIS
Church's Attitude Regarding
Marriage-A Little Fun offered.
Washington, Dec. 12.-Three wit
nesses Were heard to-day in the case
of Senator Reed Smoot before the SEN
ate Committee on Privileges and
Elections, the committee resuming it's
investigation after long recess.
The first witness was Rev. j. M.
Buckley, editor of the Christian Advo-
cate of New York, who told of a Nor
mon meeting he attended in Salt Lake,
Utah, last summer in which President
Joseph Smith declared he would not
give up his plural wives.
George Reynolds, a high official of
the church, testified in regard to cere-
monies that have taken place in the
Endowment House and concerning &C.
clesiastical divorces granted by the
church, and John Henry Hamlin told
of the plural marriage of his sister,
Lillian Hamlin, to Apostle Abram
Cannon, which ceremony, he said, he
understood to have been performed by
President Smith since the manifesto
of 1890.
Most of the testimony related to -he
inside church policy, but did not con-
meet Senator Smoot with any of the
alleged violations of state or national
statutes.
DR., Buckley told of a speech of
President Smith on the subject of
marriage. The witness said that
President 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 defended the Mormon marriage
and declared that polygamy was not
adultery, but was a system of mar
riage. President Smith was quoted by
the witness as saying that he could
not give up any of his wives.
Marriages With Dead Persons.
In answer to questions by Senator
Overman, Mr.. Reynolds said marriages
were performed with dead persons in
the Endowment House.
Mr.. Tayler then asked If divorces
were granted in the Endowment House.
The church grants divorces to those
who have been married for time and
eternity, but does not divorce legal
marriages until the courts have act
ed" said Mr.. Reynolds Plural mar
and therefore the church does not con-
suit the court in granting divorces in
cases of such marriages.
Senator Foraker asked if such di-
vorces are granted from dead per-
sons.
In a few Instances only, I should
say" said the witness.
For something done after death or
before?'' the Senator asked.
In life time"
Is the dead person given an oppor-
tunity to be 'heard?'' the senator ask
No sir. it is because such cases are
held to be unjust to the dead accus-
ed, that so few divorces of this kind
are granted" said the witness.
Is any one appointed to defend the
accused?"
Never, but the complainant is CIV
en- a hearing if satisfactory evidence
ds furnished to the church."
Personally a Polygamfst.
Mr.. Reynolds testified that the pres
tdent of the church always had had
the authority to issue ecclesiastical di-
Torces.
Mr.. Tayler showed the witness a
contract of separation between George
7. and Ellen Watson, which Mr.. Rey-
nolds acknowledged he executed in
1897. He stated that he does not know
was a plural one or not.
Are you polygamist?" Mr.. Tayler
asked.
Yes. sir" answered Mr.. Reynolds.
Have you any children married in
polygamy?'
"T believe so: one daughter.
Mr.. Reynolds testified that he has
twenty-six children.
Mr.. Reynolds gave the names of the
seven presidents of the Seventies of
which he is the fourth in rank. He tes-
titled that three of the seven were po-
lygamists.
Senator Dubois asked: you have
two wives now I believe, Mr.. Rey-
holds, your first wife being dead?"
Yes. sir"
IF YOU were to marry another wom-
an tomorrow which would be your le-
gal wife?"
THE one last married"
Would not that be adultery?"
1T would be If / continued to live
as the husband of the other women,
but do not sustain such relations with
more than one"
Didn't Disturb His Relations.
Mr.. Reynolds said he understood that
the manifesto Of 1890 permitted him
to live with his plural wives without
violating the laws, but that no further
wives could be contracted. Despite
thlS testimony II was brought out that
the witness has had children by two
wives since the manifesto Of 1890 and
he acknowledged the truthfulness of
these statements.
In answer to questions by Senator
McComas Mr.. Reynolds said he had
never preached against polygamy nor
had he tried to get others to do so.
Mr.. Reynolds said he did not know
OF any effort made by any officials
OF the church to carry out provisions
of the Woodruff manifesto putting an
end to poygamy.
Mr.. Reynolds said that he was one
OF the advisers who aided In perfect
ing the Woodruff manifesto, which was
first submitted IN President Woodruffs
handwriting. He testified that the
committee had revised the manifesto
I believe the manifesto rs said 20
have been inspired?" asked Chairman
Burrows.
~ was a revelation from the Al
mighty"
And you changed ~"
Not the meaning"
You Just changed the phraseoiogy7"
Yes, sir"
Then az 1 understand H." said Sem
atOF Burrows. when this revelation
came from the Almighty. the gram
mar was bad and YOU corrected iff"
The witness said the phfaaeoloRy
confirmed on riffh pare