The county record. [volume] (Kingstree, S.C.) 1885-1975, 1904-03-10
THE SMOOT INVESTIGATION
Great Latitude Will Be Allowed In
Examining Witnesses.

mormon ldllH "dS uitihiiS9N 1A w.
nesdays proceedings before the Sen
ate committee on privileges and elec-
tions, in an investigation of the pro-
tests against Reed Smoot, claiming
his seat as a Senator from Utah.
President Joseph F. Smith, the high
est official Of the church. was on the
stand all day. He was questioned
closely IN regard to the principles OF
divine revelations. He said he ad-
hered absolutely tc all the teachings
of the church in that regard and that
he himself had been visited with dl-
VINE inspirations from God. 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 the de-
fense to curtail the admission OF testl-
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, and
much time was devoted to the rele-
vancy of such testimony. The COM
mittee went into executive session,
and after full discussion determined
to allow the utmost latitude to the
hearings, which means that court
practices will be avoided, and thus
the first victory was scored for the
protestants. The committee will
hear practically all the prosecution
has to offer and determine for itself
what is competent testimony. The
committee will hold daily sessions.
President Smith was the first wit.
ness. R. w. Taylor, counsel for the
Protcstants, >sked Mr.. Smith If he
was a prophet, seer and revelation.
ist. Mr.. Smith said he received his
powers by reason of the position he
held. He said the apostles Of the
church were sustained in the same
powers as prophets, seers and reve-
lators."
Mr.. Smith explained that the first
presidency Is the president OF the
church, and two high priests or coun-
selors, and the twleve apostles are
next in authority. The Presidents
are elected by the council and the
apostles, he said, but he believed and
1t is taught that presidents are really
chosen by divine revelation, and they
arc then endowed with the authority
of the holy priesthood by authority
direct from God.
In relation to revelation the Wit
ness said the church holds that any
elder may receive a revelation lot
his own guidance.
"Then Mr.. Smoot may receive such
revelations direct from God?" sad
Mr.. Taylor.
For his own guidance. yes" was
the answer.
Mr.. Smith said only those rovela
lions to the president which had been
presented 10 the church and accepted
by the members were binding upon
them. Mr. Overman wanted to know
what happened 70 those who did not
believe in the inspired revelations.
"Wero they unchurched?" he ask
ed.
"They unchurched themselves"
was the response.
Mr.. Taylor put the situation in
this form: MAY the members OF the
church say to you, We deny that
God has ,old you to tell us that, and
we will not ,aceive. your revelation?"
1T 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 be. 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; he who commits adultery, or
steals. or lies. or bears false witness
against his neighbor in any way, or
goes contrary to the cardinal princi-
Piles of our Christian religion, Is COM
pelled to withdraw. But one who is
honest, viPtuous, believes in God and
has a little faith in our religion Is
nurtured though he may not believe
in the church in all that it teaches. In
that book (Mr. Smith pointed to
Mormon volume) is a revelation on
plural marriages. Not more than
or 4 per cent. of the entire member
ship of the church have entered that
state. All the rest have Sustained
from plural marriages. and many
thousands have rejected the principle
entirely"
Senator Dubois said: 81 notice you
say that many thousands rejected the
doctrines of plural marriages. DO
you mean 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 a revelation from Joseph Smith,
Jr. To bring out the effect Of refus-
ing to subscribe to the teachings OF
the church, Mr.. Hoar asked number
of questions, and Mr.. Smith said:
"The principle of revelation is the
fundamental principle of the charac-
ter"
"Haye Won ever received such a