Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-12-15
THE TEMPLE SECRETS
Testimony Before the Smoot
Investigating Committee.
OATH OF V EN- GEANCE
RECORDER NICHOLSON TELLS
ABOUT MARRIAGES.
Would Not Repeat the Oath Taken at
the Ceremony Importance of
Lundstrom's Testimony.
OATH OF VENGEANCE

In the Senate committee investi-
CATION OF the Smoot case this NOM
ing August Lundstrom, formerly a
high official in the Mormon Church,
again gave the oath of vengeance or
law OF retribution. John Nicholson
chief recorder of the Temple, proved
a reluctant witness, but declared
that legal licenses were required for
all marriages performed in the TEN
pie. J. II. Wallis told why he had
lett the Mormon Church.
The testimony of August w. Lundstrom
III relation to the oaths of the Norman
Church before the Senate committee on
| privileges and elections has made a pro-
| found impression on senator's and others
who are carefully following the proceedings
IN The Smoot case. Mr. rLundstrom is a Swede
py plrth, man of evident Intelligence who
LOT many years was a missionary and elder
| OF the church, who, upon coming into more
| Intimate relations with that institution Is
| approved of many of its acts and of its
! doctrines His testimony was given In
| rather disinterested way showing care
| In narrating facts in an exact way and
! without special feeling against the church
! organization.
For sixteen years he has lived in this
country. and six years prior TO that he was
member OF the Mormon Church In his ma
| tive home in Sweden. acting there as a mis-
| sionary and there as such being an elder
| He was a high priest of the church and
acted as bishops counselor. He went
| through the temple ceremonies and through
| the ceremonies of the endowment house.
! No one better qualified to speak of those
ceremonies has been before the committee
The Oath Of Vengeance.
In describing the ceremony in the endow
| ment house he stated sone OF the oaths to
be in these words: II do solemnly covenant
and promise that shall ask God to avenge
the blood of Joseph Smith upon this ma
| ton"
In describing the oath he said there
something more added to that to the effect
that the person taking the oath should
| teach his children and childrens children
to the same effect.
There is other testimony in corroboration
of this. but the standing of Mr.. Lundstrom
In the church and his manner of giving his
testimony has greatly impressed every one
III. morning
for Senator Smoot cross-examined Mr..
Lundstrom. but did not continue his ques-
| tions for any great length of time.
Did Mr. Smoot Take the Oath.
Eventually Senator Smoot will be asked
whether he has taken this oath to avenge
| the blood Of Joseph Smith upon this nation,
| but whatever his testimony may be, the
! fact has already been established that there
| has been no change in the rites Of the
| church and In its oaths since the time TO
which Mr. Lundstrom refers in his testi-
mony and 1t has also been established that
this oath must have been administered to
any one who has reached the high position
of Senator Smoot in the Mormon Church.
The right of Senator Smoot to occupy his
place in the United States Senate while
| under an litigation to 'avenge the blood OF
| Joseph Smith upon this nation. If he is
| now under that obligation, will be question
| ed very seriously.
Today's Investigation.
August Lundstrom was recalled for
| cross-examination when the Senator Smoot
investigation was resumed today before
the Senate committee on privileges and
elections Attorney Van Cott, for Senator
Smoot asked the witness If he had ever
considered the obligations taken in the
temple as a huge joke or in the light of
vaudeville performance. Il always re-
garded the oaths as sacred" he said. Then
he declared that man cannot pass through
the temples to take endowments for
women.
Mr.. Lundstrom again gave to the commit
tee the oath of vengeance or law of retri-
button, over which there has been contro-
versy between witnesses. The oath was as
given by Mr. Wallis in his corrected tes-
timony. The witness told the committee
also of the penalties of mutilaton pre-
scrbed for revealing the tokens or violai-
ing the covenants The whole congregation
passing through the temple repeated in the
first person the obligations and penalties
and executed the signs accompanying them.
The last ceremony he attended, the wit
ness said, was in 1858 at the Logan Tenn
Pile when Apostle Merrill officiated at the
sealings.
Lectures were delivered by the witness
at the Swedsh-Lutheran Church, In which
he gave his rea sons for leaving the church.
Were you ever taken to task for your
statements?" asked Senator Dubois.
well, the officials of the church called
me a liar " said Mr.. Lundstrom.
He was asked If he had ever married IN
only I'm a way" he replied.
Have you had a plural wife?'
Then he explained that a dead woman
had been sealed to him for eternity, but
that he had never lived with but one wife.
A Reluctant Witness.
John Nicholson, the chief recorder of the f,
Mormon Temple at Salt Lake, was sworn.
He proved the most reluctant witness OF all
the church officials who have been brought
before the committee. By slow process
the attorney for the protestants drew from
him the fact that he keeps the records oc
marriages, baptsms and endowments which
are solemnized within the temple. lie ex-
planned that the endowments are the plac-
ing upon individuals OF blessings that will
be upon them in this life and in all eternity.
Attorney Tayler questioned Mr.. Nicholson
closely concerning the manner OF keeping
the records, and obtained from him state-
ment that he has access TO all the records.
but he would not admit having authority
over them, nor that he knew who is in au-
thority. He said he knew where to lind tho
records of all persons married within the
temple who had taken the endowment,
and could give such information upon de-
mand. adding. however. that unless the per-