Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1906-02-07
M0rmons Bound to Pray
for Divine Wrath
on Nation.
SWORN IN TEMPLE
Brigham Young College Profess
sor Witness Against Sen
at0r Sm0ot.

| Washington. Feb. THE hearing I'm
| the case of Senator Smoot was resum.
ed today before the committee on priv
| ileges and elections. The first witness
was Prof Walter NJ. Wolfe, former
| teacher of geology in Brigham Young
college at Logan, Utah. and an apos-
| tate of the church. John G. Carlisle.
of New York, conducted the prosecu-
ton and A. S Worthington of Wash.
ington. defended the senator.
Left Church Jan. I.
Wolfe testified he had been a Nor.
mon until Jan. ] of this year when his
connection was severed through fail
ure to comply with the demands for
tithes Wolfe said he had been through
the endowment house or temple l2
times.
Did you take any obligations or
oaths when you went through"
Took Oaths.
Every time" he replied. He said
there had been obligations of chastity,
sacrifice and vengeance.
what do you mean by vengeance?"
asked Carlisle.
The witness said this oath had been
taken: you and each of you do Gov
enant and pray, and never cease TO
pray God to avenge the blood of the
prophet on this nation"
The oath, he said, was taken stand
ing, and at the conclusion each one
taking 1t was required TO bow their
heads and say, Il do
POIygnmy Upheld.
Wolfe said in southern Utah and
New Mexico polygamy is talked with
some freedom. He quoted Apostle
John Henry Smith as having said I'm
church concerning the manifesto:
ITS a trick to beat the devil at his
own game"
ITO the best of my knowledge" said
Wolfe, "polygamous cohabitation has
increased very materially since Utah
was admitted as a state"
Refers TO CIun Case.
On cross examination Mr.. Worthing-
ton produced the original charges
brought against Cluff, by Wolfe and
other members of the Mexican expedi-
ton. The witness was asked why he
had refrained from making the charge
that Cluff was living in Mexico with
Florence Reynolds.
POIygnmy Not Sin.
For several reasons" replied Wolfe.
'The chief one was that polygamy was
not crime in the eyes of the church"
When asked concerning some of the
of that trial particularly
the intimate details. he said
here was gentleman in the room
who was better qualified TO answer.
"Who?" asked Worthington.
The senator from Utah." he replied.
After stating Smoot had not been a
member of the subcommittee making
he investigation, Worthington asked
he witness concerning his habits and
whether he had been discharged from
lis position as teacher because OF
stopped Paying.
He said his resignation had been
and voluntary, and explain
d he had drank for 20 years, and there
lad been no change in his habits all
hose years, but that after refusing to
ay tithes, he had been asked TO resign
N account of having been intoxicated
ne Sunday early in January. He said
e knew the consequences OF refusing
o pay tithes.
Drunk the Next Day.
Senator Hopkins asked If the charge
ad been true that he was drunk on
he Sunday referred to.
mo, sir. If the charge had been
made the next day it might have been
rue" the witness replied.
Wolfe said he believed the seed OF
had been sown in the oath of
engeance. In answer to a question by
Hartman Burrows. he described the
Interior of the temple. Among the
ictures was one of Senator Smoot.
The committee adjourned until to-