The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1906-06-12


the ceremony Is In going through the endow'
mcnt house?
Mr. Worthington I do insist upon my OBJ
lection. undcrstood tho chalr to ask me
whether l had any further objection,
Tho Chairman. Tho chair thinks It is per
m5sble; and. tho chair stated. II nothing
II. OF course 1t win have no bearing upon the
casc. Can you state what that ceremony wasI
M Mr. IL, Lyman I cGula not MI cnoiTman' Oh. T1c
Tho Chairman You could not?
Mr. Lyman. No. sir. =,
Mr.. Lyman might approximate something
OF 1t that remember
The Chairman. AS ncarly as you can
Mr.. Lyman. 1 remember that l agreed to
life agreed to refrain from sexual com
morcc with any woman except my wito or
wives. given TO me in the priesthood
The law of purity l subscribed 10 willingly.
OF my own choice, and to be true and GOOD
to all men l took oath nor obligation
against any person or any country govern
nent kingdom or anything OF that kind.
remember that distinctly
The Chairman, or course the charge Is made
ard want to know the facts. You would
know about H. having eono through the en-
dowmcnt house,
Mr.. Lyman. Yes
The Chairman. There was nothing OF that
Mt Lyman Nothing OF that kind.
The Chairman No obligation or oath?
Mr. Lyman Not at oil; no cir. q; 4Se. SD
After this had occurred, Joseph F.
Smith was recalled, and on this subject
was further examined by counsel for the
respondent, as follows:
Mr. Tayler. I wish to ask two questions
Mr Smith, something has been said about an
endowment oath l do not want TO so into
that subject or to inquire OF you what II ic.
but whatever oath or obligation has been
taken by those who have been admitted To the
s%me n%ren now " .Sat It has been for rs years.
Nr. Smith. 1t is the same TINT II has al
Mr. Tayler. 1t is the sarne that II has al
ways been?
Mr.. Smith. Yes. SO far as know
Mr., Taylor. No other oath is taken now
than heretofore?
Mr. Smith 1 should like to say that there
Is no oath taken, that vc abture oaths. We
do not take oaths unless arc forced to take
Mr.. Teyler I understand You understand
what l moan-any obligation
Eir. Smith. Covenant or agrecment-we do
Mr Tayler Any obligation OF loyalty 10 tho
church such would be proper to be taken?
Mr Smith Smith Certainly NOW ,,,. :,
Mr. Smith Yes SIR that IT has always
they arc the same as they were revealed TO
Mr. Smith And as they were taught TO
Mr Tayler. You have known them for forty
Mr smith have been more or less ac-
quninted with them for great many years.
q. 4s4)
1t will be seen that neither the witness
Lyman nor the witness Joseph F Smith
declined to answer any question that was
put to him with regard TO this alleged
covenant or obligation
The next witness on the subject (who.
like the two preceding witnesses, was
summoned and examined on behalf OF
the protestants), was Brigham n Rob
erts, After counsel for the protestants
had examined this witness and announced
that they had no further questions TO ask
him. the following occurred:
The Chairman. Mr. Roberts. there is an
other subject upon which wont TO ask you
q question II has been stated here that the
endowment house was taken down in 1890
Mr, Roberts. think earlier than that
Tho Chairman, Well al some time II
taken down?
Mr. Roberts Yes
The Chairman. Dd you ever 60 through tho
endowment housc2
Mr. Roberts. Yes. sir
The Chairman. When?
Mr Roberts I think II In 1871
The Chairman. Have you been present ut
times when othors have passed through the
endowment house?
MT. Roberta Yes, cir.
The Chairman. Frequently
The Chairman. Is the ceremony that used
10 be performed IN what called the
dowmont house performed now7
Mr.. Roberts, think so.
The Chairman. Whe-o2
Mr, Roberts When?
The Chairman. Where. I say7
Mr.. Roberts In the temples. as I under
stand IL
The Chairman How many temples are there
Mr.. Roberts. 1 believe there four.
The Chairman. And the ceremony that used
TO be performed in tho endowment house is
now performed In the temple?
Mr. Roberts. Yes. sir.
Nr. Worthington. He gays he thinks II is
He does not know
The Chairman Do you remember the cere-
Mr Roberts No sir 1 do not remember
the ceremonies distinctly.
MI Roberts Only In general way. scna-
Tho Chairman Do you know. Mr. Roberts
OF any change in the ceremony performed in
the Endowment House and as 1t is performed
today In the temple?
Mr.. Roberts No. sir,
The Chairman. The ceremony is tho same
Now, Will you statc TO the committee what 1
that ceremony was. or Is, as nearly as you
Mr Roberts We'll. the ceremonies consist OF
what would be considered series OF
monies. take II, OF which 1 only have u
general Impression.
The Chairman. You have something moro
than general impression In your own cose7
The Chairman How many days did II take
you to go through tho Endowment House7
Mr. Roberts Well. part OF one day.
time7 Do you remember
Mr.. Roberts. l do not remember
any portion OF that ceremony?
Mr.. Roberts. No sir,
The Chairman. Why not7
Mr.. Roberts Well, for one reason, do not
feel ut liberty to do 20
Tho Chairman why not
Mr.. Roberts Because l consider myself In
trust In relation those matters. and l do
not feel AT liberty to make any disclosures
in relation to them.
Tho Chairman. 1t was then a secret?
Mr.. Roberts. Yes.
Tho Chairman. Docs this religious denomi-
nation have. as OF It's ceremonies secret
obligations covenants?
MT Roberts l think they could not be
properly called secrets. OF course they nrc
common TO all worthy members OF the church.
and generally known by them.
hp
Mr. Roberts. Secret from the world
The Chairman. The obligations and cove
nants. whatever they are. then you arc not at
liberty 10 disclose
Ar. Roberts. No. SIR; would be led to
gard those obligations similar to those who
perhaps have passed through Masonic frater-
mites, members OF Masonic fraterni-
ties.
The Chairman. Then your church orgapiza-
ton in that particular is sort OF Masonic
fraternity
Mr. Roberts 1t is analogous. perhaps In
of its features
The Chairman, You say you can remember.
Of course. what occurred but you do not foel
OF liberty to disclose Il. and for that reason
you will not disclose Il?
Mr. Roberte OF arecIocniiy 7 40 MT ,rioL