The Montgomery advertiser., 1905-01-21

lContinued from Page One.l President of the University could not disregard the law.
 Have you anything to do with re- ligious classes in Utah?" asked MT. Worthington.
 Religious Classes in School.
 No; I have not. I have not the least doubt but religious classes have been held in the schools after school hours. as was stated here," replied MT. Shoot.
 T would like to add thG. have sl- ways thought 1t would be best for religious classes not to be held in school houses"
 MT. worthington had put into the records a recent order of the church prohibiting the use of school houses for religious classes.
 Senator Shoot said he was very glad this order had been issued.
 Taking up the charges in the protest, MT. Worthington asked.
 Have you in any way since you be- came an apostle, promulgated or ad- vised the practice of polygamy?"
 'I have not"
 Ut is charged that the president of the Mormon church and a majority of the twelve apostles now practice polygamy and some have taken plural wives since 1890. Have you any knowledge on that subject except that produced here?"
 T have not"
 the knowledge and consent of Reed Shoot"
 That is not true"
 Tt is said the plural marriage cere- monies have been performed by apost- les"
 Not to my knowledge"
 Do you know that by reputat ation?'
 Not until saw this testimony about Brigham Young performing that one in Mexico
 Omcials and Plural Marriages.
 Tt is charged that many bishops and other high officials of the church have taken plural wives since the manifesto"
 T have not heard of it except those mentioned in the testimony"
 Tt is said that all of the first presi- dency and apostles encouraged poly gamous cohabitation. Do you2'
 T do not"
 That they countenance 1t: do you?"
 'I do not"
 That they are honored and reward ed by high office and by distinct pre- ferment; have you ever upheld any man far any office in the church be- cause he was a polygamist?'
 T have not"
 You have been a Mormon all your 1ife?"
 Yes; sir; but not a very active one," replied the senator.
 He explained this by the statement that he never had held any office of importance until 1895. He said he had faith in his religion and that his faith fnHRAaQnA deepened since he became an apostle. of his faith in his parents. Senator Shoot said impressiveIy:
 No man ever had n better mother in the world than I had"
 It had been brought out previously that Senator Shoots mother was a plural wife.
 Concerning the prosecutions for polygamous conhabitation before the manifesto. Senator Shoot said he was aware of the sufferings of the families of polyagmists. The senator said that his father was arrested, stood trial and was acquitted. He said the mani- festo made the impression on him that 1t was going to stop polygamy forever He did not understand that 1t dispara- ged the doctrine Of polygamy but that it did disparage the practice
 Cause of Manifesto.
 NIT. 5hOot, Tn answering a question regarding the cause of the manifesto. said that in his opinion the manifesto came partly from a pressure from within the church, prompted by a de- sire to obey all the laws of the land.
 T never have been taught anything in my life but to obey laws of my coun- try asserted Mir. Shoot
 Senator Smooth later on said that he thought President smith could be con demned if he abandoned his wives. and he thought President Smith, in an ad- dress, had intimated that he intended to be husband to all his wives. The statement was prefaced. however, by declaration that President Smith had