The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1904-12-20
TEACH M0RMONISM
IN PUBLIC SCHOOLS
THE CUSTOM IN SALT LAKE
Is To HOLD RELIGIOUS CLASSES
AFTER DISNIsSAIS.

This Was Brought Out in the Sem
ator SmOOt OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES
intendent of Public Instruction
Was the Witness-TestimOny Adj
duced to show the influence of
EccIesinstic Courts Upon Civn
Matters.
Washington, Dec. 19.-The Senate
Committee on Privileges and Elections
was in session all day taking testi-
mony in the Senator Smoot investiga-
ton.
Interest was evinced by members of
the committee in statements by A. c.
Nelson, superintendent of public in
struction for Utah, concerning the use
of school buildings for the teaching of
the Mormon religion.
Apostle John Henry Smith was on
the stand for two hours.
Two other witnesses were Isaac Bird
sail, a Mormon, who said that his
daughter was communicated because
she would not obey a decision of a
bishops court, which had deprived her
held the lawful title: and William
Balderson, editor of the Boise. Idaho,
Statesman, who testified in regard to
political affairs in his state.
Apostle Smith said he had never
heard of any president of the church
authorizing plural marriages since the
manifesto. He denied emphatically
that he had said there had been rev.
Citations that a. certain political ticket
should be supported.
Apostle Smith. however, admitted
taking an active part in bringing about
the repeal of the territorial test oaths
which practically excluded Idaho Nor
mons from voting. He said he had
made political speeches, but appealed
to the voters as citizen, and not as
member of the Mormon Church.
Apostles and Plural Wives.
if an apostle could take a plural wife
now and retain his standing.
Unless perchance he were handled
by the laws of the country" was the
response.
You mean that some Gentle would
have to make complaint
No sir; if submitted to his coun-
ell, 1 think it would deal with him.
Apostle Smith said that the sus-
pension of the practice of polygamy
was the result of a revelation and that
it would take another revelation to put
it in force.
Then the president of the church
might put polygamy in practice by
receiving a revelation?"
mot unless the people should re-
ceive it. Nothing is forced on the
Mormon people," he replied.
Church's Influence in a Law Suit.
Isaac BirdsaH was examined con
corning a civil trial in a land case in
which he and his daughter were de-
PENDANTS. The case was heard in the
Bishops Court of Monroe ward, in
Utah, where Birdsall and his daugh-
ter were charged with un-ChTistian-
like conduct James E. Leavitt brought
the action to obtain possession of land
which he is alleged to have purchased
from the BirdsaNs. but to which he
did not have title. Mr.. Birdsall lost
the case.
Before an appeal to the first presi-
dency was attempted his daughter was
given notice to carry out the verdict
of the church courts or the first presi-
dency would take action by cutting her
off from the church. Records in the
case were introduced, showing that
Cora Birdsall. the daughter, was ex-
communicated in June, 1903. Mr. Bird
sail said that the decision so wore on
MS daughter that she neither ate,
slept nor drank and appeared to lose
her mind. Her condition was brought
to the attention of the president of
the stake and her parents were told
their daughter would be tormented and
led by evil spirits until she had COM
pned With the decision of the church
IN regard to the land, in which event
re-oaptism was promised her. Later
she was re-baptized in the church. and
then made the deed, conveying the
land to Leavitt.
Bulge Refuted This.
William Bulge of Paris, Idaho was
recalled by counsel for Mr.. Smoot He
said that as a bishop of the Mormon
church he had neved entertained a
case involving the title of land. for
the reason that presidents of the
Snurch have given instructions that
bishops and presidents of stakes should
not hear such cases.
Editor Baderson said that polygam-
ISIS living in Idaho have increased de-
spite the fact that there have been
rev plural marriages within the state
ne said that up to the last campaign
poth political parties in Idaho were
disposed to go to Salt Lake to get
straight tip as to which would get
me Mormon support. Mr.. Tayler ask
ca II they got this tip, and received
Ihe response: Yes, but they never
knew whether 1t was straight"
II was brought out by Mr. Tayler
mat the Idaho attorney general is re-
Puted to have taken a plural wife
WITHIN the last two or three years.
Used School Buildings for Religion.
A. c. Nelson of Salt Lake state SUI
Perlntendent of public instruction, and
Mormon who is now making an in
,nestlgation of the extent in which re-
Helon classes are maintained in the
schools, testified that classes are held
IN about 300 buildings. These classes
are assembled after the adjournment
Oh the regular school day. Mr.. Nelson
sdld That the school teachers usually
taugh the religion classes. Mr.. Nelson
sald he believed the use OF the school
pulldihgs for religious purposes was
contrary to law.
The hearing was adjourned until to-
morrow.
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