The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-03-09
The Spirit of the Lord.

directs
 The Spirit Of the Lord.
 Then 1t was the spirit of the Lord which directed you to make the answer you just took back, and which you said was mistake?"
 The witness hesitated and Senator Hoar remarked
 Well. if you can't answer that don't blame you"
 After much effort a statement was ob- tained from the witness that he thought Senator Shoot was acquainted with the general reputation, and accepted report that MT. Lyman was living in polygamous cohabitation with his plural wives.
 Chairman Burrows asked MT. Lyman in regard to the reorganized church of Lat ter Day Saints of Lamont, Iowa. of which a son of Joseph Smith, the prophet, IS the head and MT. Lyman gave his ideas of the difference between the two organ izations. He was asked if the reorganized church did not denounce polygamy, and answered:
 @They denounce it so hard that it al- most provokes us to defend It."
 Senator Dubois asked if the reorganized church teaches absolute obedience to It's leaders, and was informed by MT. Ly- man that he understood the church was not very strenuous in that regard.
 Now, in regard to the consent given Senator Shoot to become candidate Tor senator. suppose President smith nao re- fused to give this consent, and Shoot had insisted on becoming candidate. what would have happened to him?" asked Senator Dubois.
 Would Be Insubordnate.
 MT. Lyman said Senator Shoot would have been considered insubordinate and
 
 taken to task, reproved or corrected. He was asked what would have happened in the event President Smith had given his consent to another aplicant to become a candidate for the senate.
 T do not know. It would have made lots of confusion. We will scrap about that question when 1t comes to us." MT. worthington. having objected to questions concerning the belief of the re- organized church as irrelevant, Senator Hoar said that the senate Investigation was more like a grand jury's inquiry than a trial and was not confined to the narrow issues of this question. If we had been, I would not have put many of the questions which have in this case" MT. Worthington said he had no ob- jection to the testimony, so long as 1t Is understood that much irrelevant matter will not be taken seriously by the com mittee.
 MT. Tayler said that 1t had been shown that one of the religions was composed of peaceable, law-abiding citizens, while the other is a menace to society and good government, and that in the latter Sena- tor Smoot Is so woven into the organiza- tion that we hold he. cannot be extricated without cutting himself off entirely"
 Could Resign ApostIeship.
 MT. Worthington inquired of MT. Lyman whether Senator Shoot could not resign his apostleship if he wanted to do any thing winch the church forbids, and still remain a Mormon in good standing. The witness answered affirmatively. MT. Ly- man told the story of an effort of the prophet Joseph Smith to get rid of one of his high counsellors who had been chosen because of a revelation, and the refusal of the people to submit to the change. This was for the purpose of show ing that the will of the people is stronger dent of the church"
 Do you mean to say.' asked Senator Hoar, that revelation from the Lord which has been rejected by the people. would count for nothing?'
 'It would count for nothing to those who rejected it."
 Would it be binding upon the instru-
  ton? I mean if the revelations should be received by you and the people refused to accept 1t, would 1t be binding upon you to follow the revelation, or to follow the wishes of the peopleT'
 eve should follow the wish of the peo- pie"
 Well how about ycu?"
 '.I should be bound by what the people direct.'
 Then" said Senator Hoar. "the voice of the people Is of more authority than the mandate of the Lord?"
 ''The law of the Lord is whatever Is done by common consent
 Then the Lord submits to the people whatever he desires to have done. and If the people like 1t they give. their consent, That is your belief. Is it?"
 People Have Their Rights.
 People have their rights and they must be respected, answered the wit ness 'The Lord can't make the people do right or accept his laws. Man Is left to follow his own agency in regard to religion, business and politics"
 Then" persisted Senator Hoar. where the Lord has chosen certain persons as