The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1904-12-16
mormon OATH
IS NOT A JOKE.
Witness Says Obligations Were
Regarded by Him as Very
Serious Matter.
MARRIED TO DEAD WOMAN " Al
Ceremony Was Called Seal
ing and Was for Time
and Eternity.
MARRIED TO DEAD WOMAN
Try 4 ssoc,ated Press.>

. Il /.
WASHINGTON, December 15.--August
Lundstrom was recalled for cross-exai1li-
nation when the Smoot Investigation was
resumed to-day before the Senate Com
mittee on Privileges and Elections At
torncy Vancott for Senator Smoot asked
the witness II he had ever considered the
Obligations taken III the Temple as I. muse
Joke In the light of vaudeville per-
Torrance,
II always regarded the oaths as
sacred" he said. Thcn he declared that
men cannot pass through The &Ienlples
to take end owments for women.
Mr.. I.,indstrom again gave the commit
tee the oath Of vengeance or law OF re-
tributon. The witness told the con-
,nittee also Of the penalties OF muta-
ton prescribed for revealing the tokens
or violating the covenants. Tho whole
congregation passing through the Temple
repeated In tho first person the obliga-
stions and penalties and executed the
signs accompanying them. He was ask
cd IL lie had ever married in polygamy.
only In a way" he replied.
"FIave you had plural wife 2" 84@G
"Yes, SIR
Then he explained that a dead woman
had been sealed to him for eternity, but
that he had never lived with but one
wife.
Reluctant Witness.
John Nicholson, the chief recorder Of
the Mormon Temple at Salt Lake, proved
the most reluctant witness Of all the
church officials who have been brought
before the committee. BY O slow pro-
cess the attorney for the protestants
drew from him the fact that he keeps
tho records Of rnarriag es, bnptisnis and
Eendowments, which are solemnized within
the Temple. He explained that the en-
downments are the placing upon indi-
vduals Of blessings that will be upon.
them in this life and In oil eternity.
Attorney Taylor questioned Mr.. Nichol-
son closely concerning the manner of
keeping the records and obtained from
him statement that he has access to
all the records. but he would not admit
having authority over them, or knowing
whois in authority Witness said he had
brought with him records of marriages
PERFORMED in the Temple, but not the
endowment house records. On cross-ex-
animation he declared that no marriages
had been performed within the Temple
except when the legal license had been
issued by the clerks OF courts: that the
marriages performed there had always
been for time and eternity; none for time
only.
4 Marriage to Dead Woman.
Mr.. Lundstrom was recalled to the
stand and asked to explain his marriage
TO dead woman. He said this cere-
mony is called sealing and. was for
time and eternity. He was also scaled
to his legal wife, he said, but no record
or memora ndum was given him
Chairman Burrows asked: Are there
any robes worn in the endowment cere-,
nlony?"
Eyes. sir tt
Are there any marks on the robes?"
Not on the robes, but there are marks
on the priesthood garments. These marks
are to remind the person Of the covenants
he has made" s.
The witness said there are marks OF the
compass and the square ION the left and
right breasts, a rent like a button hole
over the navel and another over the
knee.
When do you wear this garment?"9
Mr.. Lundstrom was asked.
Always then he added. that the gar
ment was removed long enough only to
change into a clean one.
On scross-eXamnation he said the marks
had never been explained to him, and
that he put his own construction on. them
because of their association with the
ceremonies.
The hearing was continued until TO-
morrow.