Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-01-19
PRACTICES OF MORMONS
EXAMINATION OF PROF. TAIL
MAGE BRINGS OUT MANY FACTS.
Resumption Of the Inquiry Of the Sem
ate Committee Investigating
Case Of Senator Smoot.

Professor Talmage at the afternoon ses-
sion OF the Smoot investigating committee
yesterday was asked by Mr.. Worthngton
II President Smith could exercise priestly
authority over Senator Smoot SO far as
concerned his duties In the United States
Senate, or to. what extent the president of
the church could influence the acts of the
senator. The witness replied that there is
nothing in the tenets Of his church which
would prevent Senator Smoot from remind
ing the president Of the church that he
(the presidenD was not the senator.
Plural Marriage Not Mandatory.
AS to polygamy, the witness said plain
English would have to be interpreted far
differently than the construction he places
on the marriage revelation to infer even
that there is anything mandatory about it.
He said there is not one paragraph in the
revelation that contains an inference that
polygamy should be mandatory except upon
one mantle prophet Joseph-and In all
other cases polygamy was permissive. At
the death of the prophet Joseph the COM
mand contained In the revelation descend
ed to his successor, according to the con-
struction placed on Mormon doctrines by
the witness. Celestial marriage. explained
the witness, means a marriage for time and
eternity, or for eternity only.
Mr.. Worthington had put into the record
certain acts of the seventy-fourth confer
ence Of the Mormon Church, and by these
brought out from the witness the statement
that any woman who became the plural
wife of a man since October 6, 1890 is no
more a wife under the rule of the church
than she is in the eyes of the law.
Alleged Oath of Vengeance.
Professor Talmage said he had partici-
pated in or witnessed the endowment cere-
monies between one and two score times.
He denied that the alleged oath of VEN
geance" given by certain witnesses for the
protestants is a part of the ceremony, and
said further than no "oaths' are taken in
the ceremony. The obligations taken, he
said. contain nothing of the character
given by the protestant Witnesses
The witness. who is member of the
board which exercises supervision over Sun
day school work, said that there had been
instructions issued for the use of school,
houses for the conduct of religion classes
and that it had been made clear that the
religion and educational classes should be
kept entirely separate in order that the
law should not be infringed upon.
On cross-examinatio ton Professor Talmage
said he did not know whether the plural
marriage revelation had ever been laid be-
fore the people to be sustained, except as
it was adopted in the book known as
Doctrine and Covenants" He could not
say when the revelation became a part of
the Doctrine and Covenants"
More Than Twelve Apostles.
In answer to questions by Mr.. Tayler.
Professor Talmage said that frequently
there were more than twelve apostles, but
not more than twelve could claim a place
in the quorum. This situation was created
by the elevation temporarily of some apostle
to the position of counselor to the prest-
dent and the filing of such apostles posi-
ton for the time of his detachment
The establishment of the courts, in the
opinion of the witness, was in accordance
with the revelations from God. He said he
believed that any woman who became
plural wife since the manifesto was tech
nically unchaste. He said he knew of no
such marriages. and that no proof had been
offered that Abram Cannon had married
Lillian Hamlin in 1896. and that IL such a
marriage had taken place the witness
thought Mr.. Cannon had put the wrong in
depreciation on the manifesto.
Mr.. Tayler read from an address by George
@. Cannon to the effect that some things
have been revealed TO the Mormon leaders
that could not be made public. He said he
did not remember the address, but that he
did not take issue with the sentiment ex-
pressed.