Fort Mill times. [volume] (Fort Mill, S.C.) 1892-current, 1904-03-09
THE SM0OT INVESTIGATION
ureat Latitude viii Be Allowed In
Examining Witnesses.

nesday's proceedings before the Sen
ate committee on privileges and elec-
tions, in an investigation OF the pro
tests against Reel Smoot. claiming
his seat as Senator from Utah
President Joseph F. Smith, tho high.
est official Of the church. was on the
stand all day. He was questioned
closely In regard to the principles or
divine revelations. Ha said he ad-
hered absolutely to all the teachings
of the church in that regard and that
he himself had been visited with di-
vine inspirations from GCd. He also
said that he still believed in polyg-
amy. The testimony was directed in
slight degree only AT Senator Smoot
and no attempt was made by tho dc
Tense TO curtaii me admission OF tcsti-
mony until President Smith was Ques-
toned in relation TO polygamous CO.
habitation of certain officials OF the
church before the manifesto of 1890.
The attorneys then objected. aud
much time WAS devoted to the relC-
vaDcy of such testimony. The COM
mlttec went into executive session,
and after full discussion determined
TO allow the utmost latitude 10 tho
hearings, which means that court
practices will he avoided. and thus
tho first victory was scored for the
protestantS. The committee will
hear practically all tho prosecution
has 10 offer and determine for itself
what is competent testimony. The
committee will nold daily sessions.
Prcsidon; Smith was the first wit.
ness. II. w. Taylor. counsel for the
Professionals. :skcd Mr. Smith il he
was ~ prophet. seer and revelation
Mr. Smi,n hn Ia
powers by reason of tho position he
held. He said the apostles OF tho
church were Sustained in the same
powers rs prophets, see,s and rcvc-
latOrs."
Mr.. Smith explained that tho first
presidency is the president OF the
church. and two high priests or coun-
selors. and the twlcvc apostles arc
next in authority. The Presidents
are elected by the council and tho
apostles. h said, but he beloved and
II is taught that presidents arc really
chosen by divine revelation. and they
aro then endowed with the authority
OF the hoiy priesthood by authority
direct from God.
In relation to ~ y latiCn the Wit
ness said the church holds that any
elder may receive revelation fer
Then Mr.. Smoot may receive such
revelations direct from God?" said
Mr.. Taylor
For his own guidance, yes" was
tho answer.
Mr.. Smith said only those rovela-
tions 10 the president which had been
presented 10 the church and accepted
by the members wcrc binding upon
them. Mr.. Ovcrman wanted to know
what happened % ,nose who did not
believe in the inspired revelations.
"Wero they unchurched?" he ask
Cd
"They unchurchcd themselves"
was tho response.
Mr.. Taylor put the situation in
this form: May the members of the
church say To you. We deny that
God has told you 10 tell us that. and
we will not receive your revelation"
''It could was the reply.
Mr.. Smith then made this state
ment:
THE members OF the Mormon
church are among the freest. most
independent people OF all the Chris
tian denominations. They have free
dom OF speech. freedom OF thought.
They are not all united on every
principle of the church. They are
not expected To he SO long as one
accepts God. and his opinion is not
in conflict with the accepted stand
ards OF the church, he enjoys fellow
ship in the church He who denies
God, ne who commits adultery, or
steals or Lies. or bears false witness
against his Ecighbor in any way. or
goes contrary TO the cardinal princi-
pies Of our Christian religion, is COM
PEELED to withdraw. But ono who is
honest, virtuous. bciicS cs in God arc
has ri little faith in our religion :
nTtured though he may not believe
in the church in all that it teaches. In
that bbok (Mr. Smith pointed 10
Mormon volume) is a revelation on
plural marriages. Not more than
or per cent. OF the entire member
ship of the church have entered that
state. All the rest have abstaned
from plural marriages, and many
thousands have rejected the principle
entirely
Senator Dubois said: Il notice you
say that many thousands rejected the
doctrines of plural marriages. DO
you mecn that they never practiced
plural marriages or that they de-
clared against the doctrine?"
Mr. Smith answered again that
many thousands in the church had
declared against the principle OF plu-
raj marriages as given to the church
In revelation from Joseph Smith,
Jr. To bring out the effect Of refus-
ing to subscribe to the teachings OF
the church, Mr.. Hoar asked a number
OF questions, and Mr.. Smith said:
The principle of revelation is the
fundamental principle OF the charac-
ter
Have yon ever received such a
revelation direct from God " asked
Mr. Taylor.
Il never said he'd received a reve-