The St. Louis Republic., 1904-12-13
Witness Admits That Officials of
Church Changed Phraseology
of Order They Believed to
Be From the Almighty.

President Smith was quoted by the wit
| ness as saying that he could not give ur
any of his wives; that it meant eternal
;iamnation to abandon a multiplicity OF
wives.
Doctor Buckley said he had made In.
quircs concerning Senator Smoot. and he
had found no one who said one wo-d
against him. Everywhere. the witness
said. Senator Smoot was given an excel
lent character.
George Reynolds. a Mormon living ir
Salt Lake. testified that he is the first as
sistant superintendent of the Mormon
Church Sunday school and secretary OF the
Missionary Committee of the apostle:
and formerly clerk or recorder Of the en-.
Gowment house. This relation was severed
ir: about 1871. The endowment house was
torn down in 1850. but the temple Is now
used for the anne purposes.
In answer to Questions by Senator Over
man Mr.. Reynolds said marriages were
performed with dead persons in the en-
damment house..
Mr.. Taylor then asked II divorces were
granted in the endowment house
THE church grants divorces to those
who have been married for time anc
eternity, but does not divorce legal mar,
riages until the courts rave acted, said
Mr.. Reynolds.
Plural marriages are not recognized by
courts. and, therefore. the church does
not consult the court in granting divorces
n cases. of such marriages"
DIVORCES FROM DEAD PERSONS
Senator Foraker asked II such divorces
are granted from dead persons
I'm few instances only 1 should say.
'aid the witness. a..
For something done after death or be-
fore2r the Senator asked.
In lifetime.r
to bs e SsaSs sas 1ss! ths IS Senator sr *
No ejr:s IL Is because such cases are
held to be uniustfo the dead accused tha
so few divorces Of this kind are granted.
rs anyone appointed to defend the &C,
Never: but The complainan. is given q
nished to the church.
Then 1t is pure.y ex parte?"
Mr.. Tayler showed the witness a con
tract of separation between George T.
and Ellen Watson, which Mr.. Reynolds
acknowledged he executed In MI he said
that he does not know now whether the
marriage he dissolved was ,pIuIal one
or not.
Are you a polygamist? Mr.. Taylel
asked.
YES, SIR" answered Mr. Re. nolds.
Have you any children married in pc
Il believe so; one daughter
ITO whom Is she marriel?'
"If married. it is to Benjamin Cloueh.'
The witness explained that the mar
riage had taken place in Mexico. but tha
he had no, knowledge of the ceremony, anc
neysr. had made any inquir e., coi,cerIlii,s
Il. TWAS; brought out by Mr.. Tayler tha
the subject of the marriage because Ile
believed The marriage to De a plural one.
. HAS. As.TWENTY-SIX CHff.i;REN.
/ Mr.. Reynolds testified that he ha.
twenty-six children. He gave the name
of the seven presidents of the seventies
Of which he is fourth in rank. Three Of
the seven were polygamists- He Reyn
olds), had two wives now.
Off you were to marry another won-
an tomorrow. which would be your lega
wife?'
A.: "The one last married"
O.: "Would not that be adultery!
A: "It would be IL l continued to live a!
| the husband OF the other women, but
DO not sustain such relations with NOR
than one"
Mr.. Reynolds said he understood tha
| the manifesto Of 1890 permitted him to live
with his plural wives without violating
The law. but no further ssdssd wives eodio ,,o o.
the manifesto of 1890. Witness had nevel
preached against polygamy. nor hao M
| tried to get others to DO SO.
Il have held my tongue" said MT Roy
! nolds
you to do SO. did it mott?
Il think II did"
Mr.. Reynolds said he did not know o.
any effort made by any officials OF thu
| church to carry out the provisions OF tht
| Woodruff manifesto putting an end s'
Mr.. Reynolds said the only plural mar
| -iages he had heard of since the manifesto
was that of his daughter. which tool
| place In Mexico.
Senator Dubois asked Mr.. Reynolds 1
ais daughter or her husband had been GU
| Of from the church because Of the mar
riage. The witness said that both Of then
| had been in Mexico and had never beer
before the church authorities for trial.
CHANGED INSPIRED MANIFESTO.
Mr.. Reynolds said that he was one O
the advisers who aided in perfecting th'
| Woodruff handwriting. He testified tha
the committee had revised the manifesto
Il believe the manifesto is said to hav'
been inspirei?" asked Chairman Bur
roughs.
1T was revelation from the Al
mighty"
and you charged it?''
Not the meaning"
You Just charged the phraseology?"
Yes. SIR
Then. as understand It." said Senate
BURROWS. when this his revelation cam am
The witness said the phraseology ha,
! not, been inspil ed, but was 'Presiden
Woodruff's own This testimony kept tn
committee-room In an uproar.