Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1904-03-05

| bishops in our church who are bachei-
Ors. Do you regard it divine COM
mand that the bishops shall have one
wife Or more? What 1 want to know
is how you construe that commando
Il believe that practice of polygamy
was general among the Jews at the
time the Scriptures We're written" said
Mr.. Smith. Il believe that it was COM
manded that Il bishop should be mar
red man because his duties made it
necessary that he should be an expert
| enced man."
Here the chairman had to rap loudly
to restore order in the committee room.
Senator McComas took the witness in
hand to bring out whether as head or
the Mormon church Mr.. Smith had ever
rebuked the apostles of the church for
teaching polygamy since the manifesto
of 1890, and Mr.. Smith declared:
No member of the church has ever
taught pOlygamy since that time.
How about Apostle Grant," he was
asked.
Mr.. Smith asserted that the incident
about which the anti Mormon papers
had made such hubbub' had been n
had two wives. That declaration. the
witness said, had been made by Grant
in private speech and he had not
taught the practice of the system.
What would you do if the principle
Of plural marriages was publicly at
tacked?" said Senator McCOmas.
I'VE would defend it," said Mr..
Smith.
The witness having concluded his
testimony, the committee adjourned
until 2 T. NJ.
When the afternoon session of the
committee opened, Mr.. Taylor read
passages from the book Doctrine and
Covenants" the first revelation to 10
seph the Seer" at Kirkland, Ohio in
1881, and the book on Mormonism by
Brigham P. Roberts. which were in
cOrporated into the record as part of
the testimony.
Senator HOar in lengthy statement
going over the testimony that has been
introduced said it would be known
whether Mr.. Taylor expects to contro-
vert the facts as set forth by Mr.. Smith,
that there have been no plural mar,
/ ria geS since 1890 but that those who
; had plural wives would continue to
care for them.
Il expect to show" said Mr.. Taylor,
that many plural marriages have been
: solemniZed in Utah since 1890.
Il expect to show that these mar
riages have been consummated among
; officers of the church and that Senator
> Smoot as a member of that hierarchy
. must have had knowledge Of the fact"
Many quotations from the book
, lad A ,.In Dr 4
in the record.
At 3.15. Mr.. Smith was taken in hand
by the defence and questioned by Mr.
Worthington.
Mr.. Smith said that only the presi-
!, dent could receive revelations for the
entire church." though every member
of the church could receive revelations
for his personal guidance provided they
lived worthy to, receive inspirations
from God. The last revelation received.
3 according to Mr.. Smith, was in 1882.
and came from President John Taylor,
calling two men to the apostolate
THAT is the only one in 20 years
them" said Mr.. Worthington.
THE only one except the manifesto"
| said Mr. Smith,
why is it that the manifesto does
not appear in the Doctrine and Cow
enants with the other revelations?"
said Mr.. Worthington.
1T is an oversight, I should judge.
l believe now from what l have heard
said and I certainly will use my infiu-
ence to have it inserted in the next edi-
l ton published" answered Mr. Smith
Mr.. Smith testified that the lawmak-
ing polygamOus cOhabitation a crime
| hvyx hn vt,,l rioJ lnr
islature which was overwhelmingly
composed of Mormons and that the
constitutional convention also was
composed to a large majority of Nor
mons.
Senator Hoar asked 4 number Of
questions to determine the relative
weight of revelations and the law of
the land. when the two come into con-
tact and asked particularly regarding
the old revelations.
Bringing the question up to the later
periods, Senator Hoar wanted to know
what Mr.. Smith would do if the reve-
lations conliicted with the law. (Which
would obey?" he asked.
with me, perhaps, the revelation
would be uppermost-,'' said Mr..
Smith.
Can you say perhaps to such a
question" interrupted Mr.. Hoar Sc
| verely.
Continuing, he asked: Suppose YOU
receive revelation commanding your
people to do something which would
conflict with the law OF the land. Which
would they have to obey?"
| whichever they pleased" was the
reply, there is no compulsion"
| Mr.. Smith, in answer to Senator Bev-
| eridge. said that under the discipline
| that had been maintained for the last
20 years the people in the Mormon
church would obey the laws rather than
any revelation which might be in con-
flict.
| (Which would you do?" asked Sena-
tor Burrows.
| Il could strive with all my might to
| obey the laws of the land" said Mr.