The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1906-03-19
7 ested by the Law

An open letter TO charIos W. Pcnr2sc, one or
tho Twelve Apostles OF tho Church of Jesus
Christ OF 1-2ttcr-doy Salnte, Prophet, Seer and
Rcyclator.
My Dear Penrose The titles you
bear would naturally lead one to sup
pose that you hold in your person the
noblest qualities TO be possessed by
any human being To such an one as
your titles imply. the world would look
for an example of the highest type OF
Christian citizenship. You claim to have
received your apostlcship direct from
Christ through the Apostle Peter. Jo-
seph Smith, Jr., and Joseph Smith, Jr.s
successors in office. Among the very
many duties OF an apostle If is hiS
calling to "Daptl3e and 10 ordatn other
elders, priests, teachers, and deacons,
and TO administer bread and wine
the emblems OF the flesh and blood OF
Christ-and to confirm those who are
baptized into the church. by the laying
on of hands for the baptism of fire
and the Holy Ghost, according to the
scriptures; and to teach, cXpound, eN-
hort. baptiZe, and watch over the
church. and to confirm the church by
the laying ON of the hands. and the
giving OF the Holy Ghost. and to take
the lead OF all meetings. .'-Doctrine
and Covenants, section XXX, verses
39-d4
(Which twelve hold the keys TO open
up the authority Of my Kingdom upon
the four corners OF the earth, and af-
ter that to send my word to every crea-
ture. ."-Doctrine and Covenants, sec
tlon CxXiy., verse les.
You were chosen and sustained 10
this high and most responsible position
In the Church of Jesus Christ OF Lat
| S1i IN t5 hNv IA
you were re-eminently fitted for the
place. Permit me to ask you two OF
three questions. What must the world
think OF n church that VIII call, TO be
one OF It's leading representatives,
man who could give such testimony as
the following before the Senate Com
mittee on Privileges and Elections i'll
the Smoot investigation:
Mr. Taylcr Aro you poiysumist?
Mr.. Tcnrosc Yes slr,
Mr. Pcnrosc. My legal wifo Ia dead and l
havo two wives whom recognize os my plu-
Mr. Tayler So chat YOU have not been mor-
sled. tho law defines marriugc-yOu under
stand what mean by that-to either OF your
present wives?
Mr. Pcnrosc. No.
Mr roycr How long ia 1t since your legal
witc died?
Mr. Pcnroso Just about two years
Mr. Tayler Did you receive special an
]
MIR ToyIer Was It coupled with the con
diuon that YOU should thereafter obey the
s,r penrosc believe 1t Was.
Mr. Taylcr That was the law respecting
holding out moro than ono wCmnn TO bc your
wife. as we'll as the law against contracting
ncw PolyGamous marriages?
Mr. Pcnrosn. l do not remember the exact
wording OF the document but II implied that.
Mr. ray.lcr. Tint was the effect of t7
- lttF.t=s
Mr. Teylcr. You have not lived UP to that
condition have your
Mr. Pcnrose. No.
Tho Chairman. Mr.. Penroac, is 1t a mattor ot
general notoricty that YOU nre a rolygurlst7
Mr Penrosc. I think 1t wos generally IN
dCrst0ud that wns.
What conception oC honor must the
young people of your own church have
when a man can be elevated to next
To the highest position In the church,
who secured amnesty at the hands of
the President of the United States on
condition that he would comply with
the laws Of the land. and who has,
during all these years, lived In the en-
joymeat of that amnesty and at the
same time violated the very conditions
upon which the amnesty was granted?
Is the man who lives night about,
or week about, or even months about,
with two women, neither of whom Is
his wife, Il criminal before the law or
sinner in the sight of God? Again,
If neither Of these women with whom
you are living Is your wife, what legal
relation do you sustain to each other?
One more question, please: Why have
you not made one of these women your
legal wife? Is ii because you are afraid
OF a domestic war should you select the
one or the other, or is 1t because you
are getting old and are contemplating
taking to yourself (Which there is no
law to prevenD a young woman to he
your legal consort and to supplant both
the women of whom you say, on oath
In your testimony, that neither one is
your legal wife?
The world and the church Of which
you are an apostle are both entitled to
fair. unequiyocal answers to these
above questions. Sincerely yours
ANXIOUS INQUIRER.
Salt Lake City. Utah, March II, 1906,