The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1906-06-12
Tho Chairman That is all

against the law. Vol /, PIP i29. la iis. i97,
SS2)
The list also includes George Teasdale
an apostle, John w. Taylor apostle;
John Henry Smith, an apostle, Mariner
w. Merrill. also an apostle, Heber j.
Grant, an apostle; NJ. F. Cowley, an apos-
tic; Charles w, Penrose. an apostle; and
Francis NJ. Lyman. who is not only an
apostle. but the probable successor Of Jo-
seph f. Smith as president OF the church.
Thus 1t appears that the first president
and eight of the twelve apostles a con-
siderable majority of the ruling authori-
ties of the Mormon church. are noted po-
lygamiSts.
In addition to these. the list Includes
Brigham IL Roberts, who Is one OF the
presidents OF sevenues and q leading Off
cial OF the church. j. NJ. Tanner. superln-
JenSon. assistant historian of the church,
Thomas IL. Merrill. a bishop of the
church; Alma Merrill. one of tho presi-
dency OF a church stake: Angus NJ Can
non. patriarch of the Mormon Church, n
man named Greenwald, who is AT the
mead OF a church school, George Rey-
seventies and first assistant eupcrintend-
ent OF sunday schools of tho world;
George II. Brimhall, president OF Brigham
Young University; and Joseph Hickman,
teacher In Brigham Young University,
All tho officials named were appointed,
either directly or indirectly. by tho orst
presidency and twelve apostles, and In
the case OF j, NJ, Tanner. his appointment
10 his present office was made after no
had been compelled to resign his position
as president OF the agricultural college
because of the fact that he was polyg
amis..
These facts abundantIy Justify the as
sertion made In the protest that 1.-THE su-
preme authorities In the church, Of whom
Senator-elect Reed Smoot is one, to wit.
the first presidency and twelve apostles,
not only connlye at violation of, but pro-
tect and honor tho violators OF the laws
against polygamy and polygemous cohab-
u.In \,
only do tho first presidency and twelve
apostles encourage polygamy by precept
and teaching, but that a majority OF the
members OF that body OF rulers OF the
Mormon people give tho practice OF po-
lygamy still further and greater encour-
agement by living the lives, of polyga-
Of all their followers in tho Mormon
Church 1t cannot be doubted that this
method OF encouraging polygamy, is
much more efTcacIous than the teaching
OF that crime by means OF the writings
and publications of the leaders OF tho
church and this upon tho familiar prin-
ciple that actions speak louder than
words"
And not only do the president and a
majority of the twelve apostles of the
Mormon Church practice polygamy, but
of this crime who testified before the
committee, the determination was ex
the commission OF this crime without re-
gard TO the mandates of the law or the
prohibition contained In the manifesto.
And II is In evidence that the said first
president, addressing a large concourse
of the members OF the Mormon Church
at the tabernacle In Salt Lake City in
the month OF June, 1904. declared that II
relation with his plural wives he should
be forever damned and forever deprived
of the companionship OF God and those
Thus 1t appears that the prophet, seer.
and revelator" of the Mormon Church
pronounces decree of eternal condemna-
tion throughout nil eternity upon all
members OF the Mormon Church who
having taken plural wives, fail to con-
tinue the polygamous relation So that
a whole, can leave no doubt upon any
reasonable mind that the allegations In
the protest are true, and that those who
are IN authority o In the Mormon ehu1eh. Church
aging the practice OF polygamy among
the members of that church, and that
polygamy is being .precticed to such an
extent as to call for the severcst con-
demnation in all legitimate ways
The Manifesto a Deception.
Against these, facts the authorities OF
the Mormon Church urge that In tho
year 1890 what is generally termed
manifesto was Issued by the first prcsi-
dency of that church, suspending the
bers of that church. 1t may be said In
the first place that this manifesto mis-
states the facts In regard to the solemni-
zation OF plural marriages within a short
period preceding the Issuing OF the man
ifesto. 1t now appears that In number
of instances plural marriages had been
solemnized In the Mormon Church, and.
in the case of those high in authority in
that church. within very few months
preceding the issuing OF the manifesto.
1t is also observable that this manifesto
in no way declares the principle of polyg-
amy to be wrong or abrogates 1t as a
doctrine OF the Mormon Church; but sim
ply suspends the practice OF polygamy TO
be resumed at some more convenient sea-
son either with or without another reYe
lation. 1t Is now claimed by the first
president and other prominent officials OF
the Mormon Church that the manifesto
was not a revelation, but was, at the
most, an inspired document, designed Ito
meet the hard conditions then confront
and polygamous cohabitation. leaving
what the Mormon leaders are pleased to
term the principle of plural marriage
OF practice when possible. as It was be-
fore the manifesto was Issued. Upon
that subject Joseph F. Smith testified as
follows;
Mr Teylcr. The revelation which Wilford
Woodruff received In consequence of which
tho command TO take plural wives was sus-
pended did not es you understand change tho
divine view OF plural marriage. did itf
Mr. Smith 1t did not change our belief
MI Tayler 1t did not change your belief
at alG
Mr. Smith Not at all. sir.
Mr. Tayicr. You continued to believe that
plural marriages right2
Mr.. Smith We did I did. at least. do
not answer for anybody clse. 1 continue to
believe I did before, tVol. 1, y. 107)
And one of the twelve apostles has de-
clared the fact to be that The manifesto
is only trick to beat the devil at his
own game" Further than this, II is
conceded by all that this manifesto was
intended to prohibit ,polygamous cohab-
tatlon as strongly as 1t prohibited the sol
emnization of plural marriages In the
case OF polygamous cohabitation, the
manifesto has been wholly disregarded
by tho members of the Mormon Church.
1t is hardly reasonable TO expect that the
members of that church would have any
greater regard for tho prohibition of
plural marriage
One Living in Polygamous Cohabita-
tion Is in Law a Polygamost,
The members OF the first presidency
and twelve apostles of the Norman
Church claim that there Is distinction
between what they term polygamy-that
Is, the contracting OF plural marriages
a, hal a tioD with Mural