Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-01-21

tioning: Then, as an apostle you could
go out among your people and take that
position. and the people could refuse to
obey also and still retain their standingf
II would not want to go as far as L in
fer your question leads. i would not
want TO say that "A man could go from
one end of the church to the other and
make special point of preaching against
certain doctrines of the church and he in
full fellowship. / think that would be not
only belief in it. but open rebellion,
and through that he would be out of har-
mony. ia. -
Senator Smoot said he was sent on mis-
sion to England in 1890. He said he did not
preach polygamy there, nor had lie eve!
done so i'm his life.
Chairman Burrows asked what he would
have done if pofygamy had been assaulted.
The witness said 1t had not been assailed
to him but if ii had been he would have
referred the people to the Bible. and told
them if the Bible does not permit it then
it should not be praeticed. -.
Would Obey Law-Not the Church.
In answer to questions by Senator Bever-
idge. he said that If the law of the church
and the law of the land should come into
conflict then the law of the land is binding.
He declared that if a revelation was in con-
fiict with the law of the land it would be
an annuliity 50 far as the people We're con-
cerned.
Senator Dubois asked the witness if he
should refuse to obey a revelation of the
church whether he would be able to hold
his apostleshp. The witness thought he
would retain the aposteship. but that he
might he regarded as dereilet in his duty.
AS | understand former answer by
you, il is fundamentally and primarily
part of your religion if revelation should
come to the church that commanded you
TO disoeey the laws of the land YOU would
not have to obey it?' asked Senator Knox
The senator responded that he would &c 8.
free agent to accept or reject it. but that
If God spoke to him personally he would
leave TIE country and go to some place
where the law OF God was not in conflict
with the law of the country.
But If this revelation also commanded
you to remain in this country" asked SEN
ator Oyerman.
Il don't think the God worship is such
God. II is not a supposabfe- case re-
sponded Senator Smoot.
"Nhal priesthood do you hold?" asked
Mr. Tdyler.
The MelchZedeh priesthood" answered
Senator Smoot. and continuing. said at
that priesthood was the highest any per-
son can hold, and that he understood that
Christ held the same priesthood There are
TWO priesthoodS in the church. the Meichi-
Zedeh and the Aaronic.
Mr.. Tayler brought out from the witness
that in addition to the presidency of the
Provo WOODEN mills he holds directorships
in large number of important business
interests at Salt Lake. ..--..
Cases in the Church Courts.
An interesting statement was made by
Senator Smoot concerning the church
courts. In connection with the trial of the
Blrdsall-Leavitt land case. which has been
mentioned prominently by several wit
nesses. he said, he understands that Leav-
lit was not a member of the church. Il
only mentioned that to show how far wrong
the testimony has gone in matters of this
oh, i
such cases. In this matter the action was
inadvertently taken, | think. He could give
no explanation of the action of the church
in that matter.
What kind of eases do the church courts
try? asked Mr.. Tayler.
Those involving infraction of moral law,
as affecting the standing Of members of the
church.
Senator Smoot testified that it was known
that Joseph NJ. Tanner was a polygami
at the time he appointed as the gem
erai superintendent of Sunday school work.
Lectures on Church Leaders.
Mr.. Tayler called attention to pamphlet
issued by the general superintendent of reli-
gious class work, in which lectures are out
lined TO be given on the lives of past and
present leaders of the church. Senator
Smoot said he did not believe that point
was made of the fact that many of these
leaders were leading pOlygamous lives when
these lessons were given to the classes. He
had no definite information concerning the
character of the teachings.
DO you know asked Mr.. Tayler show
long ago it was first proclaimed and testi-
hed to that polygany was dead?"
Il do not 9.'f '-..ti''- .' '5.''.
rs it not nearly twenty years ?''
II could not say" --'7i.
Was it not claimed at one time that no
marriages. or only one or two, had actu-
ally occurred after 1852"
Il think it was later than that for TWEEN
~ Years ago people We're being sent to the
penltentiary for polygamy and unlawful
coha bitation."
At this point Chairman Burrows said that
srverai members of the committee desired
10 IN absent during the afternoon He adj
JUurnrd The hearing until Monday