The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1904-03-03
Drawn by Board Look
ing Unto Smoot Case.
SMITH TALKS FREELY
President of Mormon Church Presents
Interesting Testimony Before
Board of Inquiry, Digging
into Ecclesiastical Mat
ters in Utah.
ters in Utah.
fBv the Associated Press.l

Washington, ID. c., March 2.--An Ell
fort to air the innermost secrets of the
Mormon faith was manifested in the first
days proceedings before the Senate Com
mttee on Privileges and Elections in an
of the protests against Reed
Smoot retaining his seat as a Senator
from Utah. President Joseph =. Smith,
the highest official of the church, was
on the stand all day. He was questioned
closely in regard to the principles of d.
vine revelations. He said he adhered alb
sclutely to all the teachings of the church
in that regard and that he himself had
been visited with divine inspirations from
God. He also said that he still believed
in polygamy The testimony was direct
ed in a slight degree only at Senator
Smoot and no attempt was made by the
defense to curtail the admission Of testi-
mony until President Smith was ques-
toned in relation TO polygamous cohabi-
cation of certain officials of the church
before the manifesto of 1890. The attor-
neys then objected and much time was
devoted to the relevancy of such testi-
ntony. The committee went into executive
session and after a full discussion de-
termined to allow the utmost latitude to
the hearings, which means that court
practices will be avoided and thus the
irst victory was scored for the Protest
ants The committee will hear practically
all the prosecution has to offer and de-
ternine for itself z-hat is competent tes-
timony. The committee will hold daily
sessions.
President Smith, of the Mormon church,
was the first witness. r. w. Taylor, coun-
sci for the Protestants, asked Mr.. Smith
ii he was a prophet, seer and revelator,
The witness said he was so sustained,
ard received his powers by reason of the
position he holds in the church. He
said the Apostles st the church were
sustained in the same powers as pro-
pkets, seers and revelators.
Mr. Smith explained that the first presi-
cent is the president of the church
and two high priests or councillors and
the twelve apostles are next in authori-
ty. The presidents are elected by the
council and the apostles, he said, but he
believed and it is taught that the presi.
dents are really chosen by divine revela-
tion and they are then endowed with the
thority direct from God.
In relation to revelations tn: witness
said the church holds that an elder may
receive a revelation for his own guild
ance.
Then Mr. Smoot may receive such
revelations direct from God?" said Mr..
Tayler
For his own guidance, yes was the
answer.
Mr.. Smith said only those revelations
to the president which had been presented
to the church and accepted by the mem
bers were binding upon them. Mr.. Over
man wanted to know what happened to
those who did not believe in the inspired
revelations "Were they unchurched?''
he asked.
.'They unchurched themselves" was the
response.
Mr.. Tayler put the situation in this
form:
NAV the members Of the church say
to you We deny that God has told you
to tell US that, and we will not receive
vour reyelation?' Could that occur in the
church,"
st could" was the reply.
Mr.. Smith then made this statement:
..Tbe members of the Mormon Church
are among the freest, most independent
people of Ill the Christian denominations.
Thev have freedom of speech, freedom
of thought. They are not all united on
ayerv nrincipIe of the church. They are
not expected to be. So long as one ac-
cents God and his opinion is not in con-
dict with the accepted standards of the
church he enjoys fellowship in the church
uo who denies God, he who commits
adultery. or steals, or lies, or bears false
witness against his neighbor in any way,
or eoes contrary to the cardinal princi-
nIas of our Christian religion is com
oallad IN withdraw. But one who is hon
est vrtuous, believes in God and has
little faith in our religion is nurtured
tbouob he may not believe in the church
in oil that il teaches. In that book (Mr.
Sn;+l nointed to a Mormon volume) is
,oy,olot;on an plural marriages. Not more
a., +brea or four per cent of the entire
,,,n,,,arebin of the church have entered
.Lat a4o+e All the rest have abstained
from Mural marriages and many thou
sands have rejected the principle en-
tirelv." -.
Senator Dubois said;
.T not;cs YOU say that many thousands
,oiaotad tho doctrines of plural marriages.
eo' ~ ~, mean that they never practiced
~ Sou ,es or that they declared
against the doctrine -; .h
e, Mr. Smith answered again that many