The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1907-02-20

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"'fhe status of Tho man who had ct~
tered into plural marriage relntlon be-
fore tile issuance of the mnnifchto hnd
been fixed before that time, Thore
was no power IN the church or IN the
law 10 change that existing fact what
had been done had becn irrcyocnbly
done. The only question WAS % the
future. what should bc the attitude
IT the people townrd the future rev
olatlon Of those who hni entered into
pnlygnmouA status before the mnnis
fonto7 This problem was serious
ono The three assistant United States
district attorneys for that period, nyd
other government prosecuting officers,
testified before the committee 10 the
general sentiment among tho non Nor.
mon people that tho boat aud quickest
way 10 get rid OF the whole question
WIS 10 let the old-tlme relations end
In lenth. There was u general ac~
quieaccncc by the people In this sou-
tion and It IN working out complete
! and final solution
Al the time the manifesto was adop-
ted there were 2.ibi poiygnmous house
/ holds In the church. Careful gtntisr
Ties have been taken and preserved
mud win be- found IN the testimony
/ which show that this member has
gradually decreased until there was
! NJ the time the testimony closed not
! TO exceed 500 such households in cH-
iMrnec,
But. Mr.. President. Il IL claimed
/ that there have been nrw cases of
polygnmous marriages since the mani
! fc.to and this presents altogether a
different Sysiem, have no heaiih"
tion In declaring 10 the Senate ana to
the American people that In my opIn-
ion any man who has married a poly
| gam0nB wife since the manifesto should
DO prosecuted, and II convicted. should
suffer the penalty OF the law and !
care not who the man might be. or
Hhnt position he might hold In the
church, he should receive the punish
ment pronounced by law against hia
! crime
The testimony taken before toe
| committee tends 10 show that thor"
have been some polygamous marriages
since the manifesto, believe sincere
| ly. Mr. President that such causes
have been rare, They have 10; re
roiyed the sanction or the encourage
utent Of the church.
"rhc Mormon Church has stopped
! plural marriages. ana no polysamous
relation assumed subsequently to 1890
j is with the permission Of, sanction Of
approval of the church, that In hpa'
md tlxed. Every such violation OF
the law has the express condemnation
nf the lnw.
Reference has been made TO a trras-
enable obligation which It Is sought 70
! claim In II part of the Mormon en-
dowmcn, ceremony. The senate viii
/ understand that these ceremonies are
Of a sncred nature 10 those purticipa-
ting In them and are not therefore III
/ yulged. Thav we're instituted In the
/ Mormon Church by Joseph Smith some
time prior TO his death. and are Yet
i given us part Of the temple ceremonies
Being Of IA religious, spiritual charac-
Ter, they are FOR the living, ana the
dead--a part of the Mormon belief be-
ing a vicarious performance of orlin-
nn,.s an! ceremonies.
,,sr,,,o aoos nat ox,st IN tne cndow
,,o,t coremonv or the Mormon Church
,ha rcmo,os, suggestion Of hostility OIL
o,,,,,ooIs,, - rho I,plt,d statos a,
i =, ana. o,har notIon Tbcv arc of MIR,