Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1905-01-24
Reed Smoot fxpIaines Nature Of
Obligation lie Took.
Why he DECLARES TO ANSWER
Solemn Promise to Never Reveal the
Nature Of the Ceremonies Of the
H's Lips Hearing Nears Erd.
tEy Associated 1.ress.)

Wv r-'ol Ii-\Ns YIN, -. ~ jail. .-'.-- Ht'
Senate Investigation into the protests
against Senator S,moot will be brought
"a Il close .his week
The. crUsSrXamina1iOn Of the re-
%pOndent terminated earlier than OK
pt'.tc'l and several other Witnesses for
the defense We're examined. II was
announced just before adjournment or
the .C!I:nittrc u,: privileges and eiec-
'ioE: ,!:n' only Il few more witnesses;
would b" pul on the stand and except
for some documentary evidence. This
evidence ruv close he hearing.
Refuse 10 Testify.
Tie cross examination If Senator
SLloui resulted in an absolute refusal
ia trs,il. III regard to the endowment
ceremonies. He also asserted that il
was mol his business tn call 10 account
President Smith. OF the Mormon
church because OF The fact that Smit II
admitted 10 tho committee that nt was
living in violation Of the laws Of the
land. Three ether witnesses refused
70 tell the committee the character OF
The "ndowE'ent- ceremonies.
Direct Revelation.
After tcstifyins that the president
was supreme. rs head CT the Mormon
church, Senator Smoot said:
DO you think the president OF The
communicates directly with GOd--has
direct rere,ation:"
II Gh1 desires TO speak TO his REQ
~: II would he through the president
Ct the cll:rch'
II! answering question as 10 his be
l:ti III iEadtrn prophecy. Senator
SlOOt said
Wen speaking today under the in
Sr'ra,inH 81 TIE l-3rd--their counsel
= lus' as soo, as that Of The prophets
mat spoke under inspiration in ar
Client. days
Senate S.noct said he originally
'G'k the endowment ceremony once,
mt dat he could nor say what The
ceremony was as he did not have any
definite recollection OF it,
No Oath of Vengeance.
is tncrc anything in the ceremony
about avencing the blycd OF the mar.
IFS of lie chEre h?"
There is not
How long did it take 10 perform
tins ceremony?
From TIC beginning TO the end
..:t,:.. three or four hours
State What vCn arc able &c recall,
~ IT,"
wo''ld very much prefer not to-"
why not?"
Made a Vow, Not an Oath.
For conscientious reasons made
a row, not an oath with my Gul not
vail; any man. not with the president
9! he church or with living soul. bu
did make u vow that I would keep
these endowment ceremonies sacred
l.
have i1crt that ell NY life'
VAS there any penalty attached for
s!"' violation 81 your Obligation"
perler moi to say anything fur
ter
hid you remember whether there
rs; :.r ',Or
- prefer not 10 say anything fur
Fer"
Did YOU know why Inc oath OF Sc
riecy was imposed?"
IL is purely religious ordinance
refers absolutely 10 mans hereafter.
a:": has nothing whatever 10 do with
;n"thinS other than mans relation to
his God and suppose that it is an
ordinance in the church and the. iulr
is thai it Ee not revealed"
Church Tithes
DO you know how much money is
paid into the church annually in
Eithes? asked Senator Overlnan.
Mr. Smoot replied the church'S in
come was some years more than mil
lion ana some years lehs The church
III. said, has capital invested in indus
trial institutions. but in nearly every
case minority Of the stock.
Chairman Burrows asked:
You heard the testimony of Presi-
dent Smith that he is living in de-
lance OF the laws Of the iand?"
Yes. sir.
"An, that he is also living in def
nnce OF the Divine law?'
Yes, sir, and heard the qualfica-
lions he male"
No Proceedings Against Him.
Has the church proceeded against
him because OF his violations OF the
Iaws?"
III has not
Has there been any attempt to try
him because he is living in polygamous
co-habitation?"
There has not"
Did you see him after he testified
before this commission
The senator said he seen the presi-
dent of the church, both in Washing
Ton and IN Utah, after his testimony,
and had made no protest to him con-
corning his manner Of living.
You have not sought to bring him
TO trial in any manner?' asked the
chairman
Il have not
Do you intend tO?"
Il do not
Mr.. Smoot admitted he sustained
D~nr g..