The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1906-12-12


they are endowed with supernatural pow
ers as prophets, seers and revelators,' and
specially commissioned by the Almighty
to dominate the affairs of this world and
that resistance to the will of this
theocracy is rebellion against God. The
testimony sustains the allegation that the
Morgan priesthood is vested with supreme
authority in all things, temporal aud
spiritual, and that the first presidents of
the twelve apostles are supreme in the
exercise and transmission of the mandates
of this authority"
Completely Under Hierarchy.
lie said that "since the admission of
Utah into the Union the people of the
state have been, if possible. more com
pletely under the domination of the Nor
mon hleraschy than during the long
years of their territorial existence"
The only office held by non-M Mormon
under the state government during the
ten years of its existence. an elective Of
ficer has been the attorney general
lie cited many instances of political in
terterence not only in Utah but adjoin-
ing states, and quoted at length the
church manifesto of 1896, requiring MEM
bers to obtain the consent of the HER
archy before becoming candidates for Of
flee. Smoot had been compelled to obtain
this permission. "He was nominated by
the hierarchy" said Mr.. Burrows land
the selection ratified by the legislature. E"
He went on:
mo more cunningly devised scheme
could possibly be coneocted to put the
church in politics and make it potential
therein than this. For the moment if il
known a IN bne =,
ment of the church and the permission
. OF the hierarchy to be a candidate that
moment he has back of him the whole
| power of the Mormon church. and his
| election is assured. There has been no
case IN which candidate for a high Of
nee IN Utah has obtained the consent OF
the church to run and has been defeated.
Shoots Membership Conceded.
He said that Mr.. Shoots membership in
the church governing body, which in
culcated a belief in polygamy is con-
ceded. Concluding that the members of
the hierarchy teach poliygamy as a prin-
clple of human conduct. he took up the
| question as to whether they practice il.
| On that point he said
! The evidence upon this point is so COM
! plete and overwhelming as to leave no
doubt as to the truth of the allegation
| The proof is indubitable that in snite of
|
church counselling the suspension of
| polygamy. in spite of the expressed inhi-
! bltlon of the constitution of the state and
OF the statutory prohibition of the com
monwealth, it appears that majority of
the members of this hierarchy has con-
tinually and persistently lived in poly
gamy, and is today openly and confessed
| ly defyng the laws of the land prohibit
! ing such crimes. The record is so shoNl-
ing as challenge credulity."
He spoke in this connection of the as
constituent of the committee at the CON
fessions of President Smith and of the
revelations of the fact that eight of the
twelve apostles have plural wives. Re-
ferring to Smiths confession of five
wives and forty-two children Mr.. Bur-
rows added;
IF the public press is to be credited
this number has been augmented during
the last year to i3, and while we are dis
GUESSING the right of the representative
of the hierarchy to a seat in this BODY.
we can imagine its sanity head; that in
the home of his fifth plural wife, rocking
the cradle of the latest illegitimate off
spring of his debauchery and crime and
with sanctmonious air singing the ia
miliar hymn of his church:
Now the Gentle reign is DER.
Darkness covers earth no more:
Gentle tyrants sink to hell.
Now $ the day of Isreal