New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-12-16
MORE MORMON SECRETS.
,Smoot Committee EFtorts Reuela-
tons from an Un7cilling FITNESS.

t;ous from an Un7cilling Witness,
Washington. Dec 15.-August Lundstrom was re-
caI,od for cross-examiuaton when the Smoot in
,.estieatiou was resumed to-day before the Senate
,,r,,,,tt,oo on Privileges and Elections. Mr.. Van
Colt attorney for Senator Smoot. asked the wit
ness if he had ever considered the obligations taken
IN the remnIe as a huge joke. or in the light or
vaudeville performance.
Il always regarded tho oaths as sacred MI
Iur.7stron, said Then he declared that men can
not pass through the temples to take endowmehts
for
Mr. Ta1ndstrom again gave 70 the committee the
oath Of vengeance or law of retrhution, over whch
there has been controversy between witnesses
The oath given by Mr.. Wallis in his cor
Tected testimony. The witness also told the com
mittec Of tho penalties Of mutilation prescribed
for revealing the tokens violating the covenant.
The whole congregation. passing through the tenn
pie repeated in the first person the obligation and
penalties. and executed the signs accompanying
them. The last ceremony he attended was in 1898
at the Logan Temple. when Apostle Merrill Of
fcated Mt the sealnss Lectures were delivered
by the witness at tho Swedish Lutheran Church. in
which he gave his reasons for leaving the Church.
Were you taken to task for your state
ments?' asked Senator Dubois.
Well. the officials Of the Church called me
liar" said Mr.. Lundstrom lie was asked if he had
ever married in poygamy.
"Only in a wav." he replied,
'1iaye you had plural wife,
yes sir
Then he explained that dead woman had been
sealed to him for eternity but he had never lived
with than one wife.
John Nicholson. the chief recorder OF the Mormon
Temple Salt Lake, 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 keeps the records
OF marriages. baptisms and endowments which
solemnized within the temple He explained that
blessings that win be them in this life and in
all eternity.
Mr. TayIer questioned Mr. Nicholson closely con-
corning the of keeping the records. and
obtained a statement that he has access to all the
records. but he would not admit having authority
them nor that he knew who in authority.
He said he knew where find the records of all
persons married within the temple. or who had
taken the endowment, and could give such informa-
tion demand. adding however that unless the
person making the request was entitled to the in
formation il would be given to him. He said
ne was responsible for the safe keeping OF the
records. and. so far as he knew. no part of them
had ever been taken from the temple.
Mr.. Nicholson said the book he brought with him
contained the record of every marriage performed
within the temple since it opened. May q.
1888, and that records of marriages performed out
side the Temple not kept within this book
on cross examination the witness declared that
marriage had been performed within the tenn
PIE except when the legal licenses had been issued
by clerks OF courts: that the marriages performed
there had always been for time and eternity. none
/ for time only He also said no record of mar
. riage ceremonies kept by him.
J. II. Wallis who the stand yesterday,
was recalled.
7 believe you were served with a subpoena to
P Pa52s al the records in the temple said Mr.
/, At the request of Mr. worthington the subpoena
! only
IBID YOU brins all Of the temple records" asked
No, sir, I could not I have no authority to
He added that he brought record that of the
idTI5agfs IIornea Wlt9lR ne 1empiei ne was
riages are kept. lie said ~ believed they in
would he admit knowiedee as 10 who has such
/ authority He said that. in addition to others. he
! TO number of Salt Lake City ministers other
/ residents Of that city Among them were Drs.
Referring 10 the statement Of the witness yester-
! have The throat cut. Mr. Wilmington asked the
w f5s ms thro4f had ever been cut He replied
/ the street, bur did not know by whom. He also
Church-.at least not so far ! know. I tfId one
Of the bishops Of my desire 10 withdraw" He had
occasion he had paid g - to the wife Of the bisboT
@R@ h9 b5t aSd E Eef any account Of it. He asC
secrets of the Endowment House had much to Dc
SoSsnqnts q that ns5taton the S'y'e'S' OF '0'
Mr.. I.undstrom. at the afternoon session explain
ing his marriage to dead woman said this cere
/ mony is called sealing and for time anC
said. but no record or memorandum was given L
him The witness said he had heard the Endow
congregations of from thirty sixty persons en- 81,
weakness in the faith Robes are Worn in the cero
mony There are no marks on the robes, but Their
marks are 70 remind the person Of the covenant
of the compass and the square on the left an,
| right breasts, rent Ike buttonhoie over tin
When do YOU wear this garment Mr. Lund
ALWAYS Then he added that tho garment w