Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1904-12-15
REGARDED THEM AS SACRED.
Repeated for the Committee the AlIeg.
ed Oath Of Vengeance or Law Of
RetrlbutiOn,
John NICHOLSON A WITNESS.
Temple Records 80 Admitted He Had Not
Brough! All, Having No Authority
Over Them

Washington. Dec l5--August Lund-
strom was recalled for croas-examina.
ton when the Senator smoct inyestigo-
ton was resumed today before the seu-
ate committee on privileges and cleo
lions, Atty Van Colt for Senator
smoot asked the witness If he had ever
considered the obligations taken IN the
Temple as huge joke or In the light
Of vaudeville performance.
II always regarded the oaths as sac
red" he said. Then he declared that
men cannot pass through the temples
10 take endOWments for women
Mr.. Lundstlom again gave to the
committee the oath OF vengeance, or
law Of retrlbutlon. over which there
has been controversy bet 4een witness
es The oath was as given by Mr..
Wallis In his corrected testimony The
Witness told the committee also OF the
practise Of mutllation prescribed Cor
revealing the tokens on violating the
covenants.
The whole congregation passing
through the temple repeated IN the
first person the obligation and penal
ties and executed the signs accom-
panying Them The last ceremony he
attended the witness said was IN
1898, at the temple, when Apostle
Merrill oiiiciated at the sealings, Lee
lures were delivered by the witness at
the Swedish Lutheran church In which
he gave his reasons for leaving the
Church.
Were you ever taken to task for
your statementsY' asked Senator
Dubois
Well, the 0flicials OF the Church
called me1s llak, = Sqt&fiir. Iandstr,la.
He was ask( IN he hFd ever married
In polygamy.
"Only In way" he replied,
Have you had a plural wlfe2'
yes sir
Then he explained that the dead wo.
man had been sealed TO him for eter-
nifty, but that he had never lived with
one wife,
NICHOLSON TEsTlFIEs. y
T John Nicholson, the chief recorder OF
the Mormon" Temple az Salt Lake
city was sworn. He proved the most
reluctant witness Of all the Church
officials who have been brought before
the committee.
by a SLOW process the attorney for the
protestants drew from him the fact
that he kept the records OF marriages.
baptsms and endOWments, which ara
solemnized within the Temple. He
explained that the endoWments are the
placing upon individuals blessings that
viii be upon them during this life and
eternity
Attorney Taylor questioned Mr.. Mich
olson closely concerning the manner OF
keeping the records and obtained from
him a statement that he had access 10
all the records but he would not admit
having authority over them, or that he
knew who Is IN authority. He said he
knew where to ind the records Of all
persons married within the Temple or
who had taken the endowment and
could give such Information upon de-
mand. adding however that unless the
person making the request was en-
titled to information It would not be
given to him. He said he was respon-
sible for the safe-keeplng OF the records
and that so Tar as he knew no part of
them had ever been taken from the
Temple.
II believe you were served with a
subpoena to bring all the records in
the Temple2" asked Mr.. Tayler.
At the request Of Atty. Worthlngton
the subpoena was produced, which
called FOR the marriage records only.
Did you bring all OF the Temple
records p" asked Mr. Tavlpr
"No, sir; / could not / had no au-
thority to-
He added that he brought one record,
that OF the marriages performed With
in the Temple, He was asked where he
kept the records OF the Endowment
House marriages He said that they
were In the Temple, but that he had no
over those nor would ho adj !
NIT knowledge as to who had such au-
thority,