The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1905-01-20
DECLINED TO ANSWER.
Endowment House Ceremonies Held
Sacred by Talmage

sacred by IaImage-
Washington, Jan. 19.-Prof. James A.
Talmage of the University of Utah. an
authority on the doctrine of the Nor
mon church, was again on the stand
today in the SmOOt investiga ton. Judge
r. w Tayler, counsel for the protest
ants, conducted a rigid cross-examina-
ton
The witness was asked If there were
obligations administered to him in the
endowment ceremonies, and replied in
the affirmative. but in answer TO cues
uons concerning specific obligations he
said he could not remember. He admit
ted there was an obligation of chastity
but in answer TO 4 question as to weth-
er he could say what the obligation was
that gave rise TO the testimony concern
ing the alleged "oaths of vengeance -
said he could not remember as it had
been many years since he took the en-
oowment.
His Lips Sealed.
In answer to Chairman Burrows, the
witness said he felt that he was under
obligation not to reveal anything con-
nected with the endowment ceremonies.
but that there was no penalty TO follow
81 disclosure Of what had occurred He
asserted that the inflictiOn of bodily
harm as d penalty was no part of the
ceremony, but when the chairman
asked If the ceremony called for a
change Of wearing apparel, Professor
Talmage said he did not care to answer
any more questions on the subject
In explaining the supremacy of the
Church over church authorities. Pro
lessor Tahnage said that the officers
have to be sustained at the semi-annuaI
conferences. He said that at the last
conference President Smith was sus-
tanned and that no hands were raised
against him in consequence of his tes-
Iimony before the senate committee
that he was violating the laws of the
land He was asked if Senator Smoot
was present at that conference and
could not say He was also asked why
the manifesto of 1890 prohibiting polvg-
amy was not included in the doctrines
and covenants and said that there had
been no chance in the plates of the book
since 1888
Major Young Recalled.
At the afternoon session Major Rich
ard W. Young OF Salt Lake City, a for
rner witness for Senator Smoot. was
recalled and said that the president of
the church has no power to alter a reve-
lation after IL has been sustained by the
church. He testified further that If a
man and a woman should enter into
plural marriage relations since the
manifesto, he would consider that they
were living in unlawful relations.
Chairman Burrows asked if there had
been any vote of dissent at the last
conference TO sustain President Smith
llAt NOAAAGA EAANc ldNliiB DGen nelQ since
President Smith testified that he is liv-
ing in polygamous Capitalization Major
Young replied that he had not heard of
any dissent The chairman also in
quired if the absent apostles had "A spe-
cial mission to keep out of the jurisdic-
ton Of the subpoena Of the COMMITTEES
on privileges and elections. Major
Young said he had heard the absent
apostles" were trying to keep out of the
way. Both absent apostles are reunited
10 be polygamists.
William LangtOn testified that James
II. Wallis. ST., who recently gave 10
the committee what he alleged to be the
endowment oaths, could not be be-
iieved.
Glen Miller's Testimony.
Glen Miller, former United States
marshal in Utah. who had been a can
didate for Office several times. testified
that he had defeated Mormon candt-
dates in strong Mormon district He
declared Mormons to be fair in notifies
and that Mormon officials gave impar-
tial administrations
Kearns' Name Stricken Out.
Senator Dubois asked the witness
what had caused the Mormons to holt
the Republican candidates at the last
election in Salt Lake City Mr.. Miller
replied that they objected to Senator
kearns' MANAGEMENT of the party and
(Continued on PAGE q