The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1904-03-05

Continued from page Ten
He ard his fellow high counsellor and
two apostles. have been appointed since
Mr.. Smith became president He said he
could not say whether these men are CO.
habiting with more than one wife, but
that they are reputed to be the husbands
Of more than one wife"
In regard to John Henry Smith,
cousin. Mr.. Smith said their families are
intimate and II am strongly inclined TO
believe he is cohabiting with plural
wives"
READ A SERMON
Referring to Senator Bailey's question
YESTERDAY In regard to the manifesto. Mr..
Worthington read from sermon OF
President Woodruff delivered year
after the manifesto against plural mar
riages. I'm which President Woodruff de-
clared that he was moved and 10000 Later
Day Saints were moved by the spirit or
God TO abandon the practice OF plural
marriages.
senator Bailey contended that II was In
obedience to the demands % the laws or
fear of the consequences of the laws that
provoked the revelations 49,,
don't have much faith I'm a doctrine that
does not get revelation commanding
change OF conduct until there Is statute
"Au that, OF course, is matter OF
opinion" said Senator Foraker.
NOT A MATTER OF PUBLIC OPINION.
7 don't know that It. Is pni,sS mater OF
myself have been compelled 70 submit TO
certain rules Just because II was the law.
would have submitted il I had received
revelation from God 10 do something else
/ am not prepared TO say. think the
whole thing was more matter OF law
than religion" /"
when the laws were passed, which
were not i'm harmony with the teachings
OF our church." said Mr.. Smith. I'VE he'd
that they were unconstitutional. OF
course our own rules commanded that we
obey the constitution of the land but we
fought the validity OF the new laws from
the lowest TO the highest court and when
81 was settled by the supreme court OF
the United States that plural marriages
could no longer be indulged IN, OF course
we were inclined TO obey"
'But we had a revelation on our statute
books in regard 10 plural marriages and IL
obtain certain blessings that could not be
Sas oSsy Ssh3us tSe Iesy9s s% m land or
tinue TO practice the law OF the church
was a serious question.
We hold that the president or the
church Is entitled 10 receive revelations
inspired by the Almighty God President
Woosy-un sought guidance from the LORD.
that it was his duty 10 styp plural mar
rtages. He proclaimed that revelation.
and IL was submitted 70 the entire church
and accepted by the church, and thus II
became binding. and from that day TO this
the laws OF the land have been kept 40
far as plural marriages are concerned.
But there is n great difference between
taking a plural wife contrary TO law and
in taking care OF the wives taken before
not desert my wives J would not aban-
don my children. ! viii run my risks
before the law
HIS VOICE SHOOK.
President Smiths voice shook with
emotion He showed more feeling than
he had az any previous time exhibited
and said: But 81 is 90 the laws ~ Utah
that ! am snswerahle. IL is the law of
my state that has the right 10 punish me.
The courts OF Utah are OF competent jur-
isdiction Congress has no right 10 In
tersere with my private affairs.
''If the courts OF my state don't see 70
20 call me 20 account for my conduct
cannot help 81. Congress has no right 60
interfere-it has no right TO pry into my
marriage relations and call me w ac-
count"
Chairman Burrows AZ this point ques-
TONED the witness lie asked. You say
YOU would not abandon your wives or
your children. Why do you consider 10
necessary 20 have issue from your plural
wives In order 20 clothe ana care LOT your
children that have been born before un-
lawful cohabltation became a crime
WIVES LIKE OTHER WOMEN.
because my wives are like all other
women II is necessary 20 maintain
peace. harmony and good will between
myself and my good wives. That IL the
keynote IN the nut. That Is why have
chose not 20 obey the laws of my state.
rrohfbffiug f,oiygqrnous cohabitation." +"
''The church gave me my wives and 7
don't think the church could be consistent
in taking them away" Mr.. Smith. I'm
answer 90 a question as 10 why he did not
agree with the Woodruff manifesto said: /
THE Lord giveth and the Lord taketh /