Lewiston evening teller. [volume] (Lewiston, Idaho) 1903-1911, 1907-02-20
SMOOT DEFENDS
HIS OWN CAUSE
Continued from Page Three1

ton or the encouragement Of the
charch.
For nearly half a century the right
fumes Of polyganay was taught and
it's practice no longer encouraged.
But I submit that it would have been
remarkable thing If in the course OF
t6 years there should not have been
occasional instances of new poly
gamy.
I'm respect to the thorougnness of
the search made by the committee for
such violations of the law a witness
before the committee testified that he
had been employed since 1898 in hunt
ing down such cases; that he had
undoubtedly the closest information
possible on this matter.
Collected Many Idle Rumors
This witness gathered and present.
ed all the rumors and suspicious he
could discover on the polygamous re-
lations in the United States, Canada,
Mexico or elsewhere and the whole
number suggested, though not proved
is less than an average of two cases
for each year since the manifesto, in
all these communities, numbering over
5000 people.
"In most of the cases such persons
are and have been fugitives from jus
tice and of the alleged marriages rome
Of them have been charged to have oc-
Cured within the Jurisdiction of the
United States.
But In one instance was there d.
rect proof of the plural marriage, and
this, It was testified, occurred in
Mexico.
'Tf any of those cases were cases OF
attempted assumption of polygamous
relations. such attempt is not only
without the sanction and approval OF
the Mormon church. but Is in the face
of and in defiance of It's most solmen
protests and admonition
Church Stops Plural Marriages.
THE Mormon church hay stopped
plural marriages and no polygamous
relations assumed subsequent tc
1890 is with the permission, sanction
. and approval of the church; that is
final and fixed.
Every such violation of the Law
has the express condemnation of the
church The manifesto of 1890 was
submitted to and approved by the con-
ference of the church--which, mean!
by the body of the members Of thu
: church-and 1t remains the law of thu
!, church, binding upon every office
/, thereof, however high.
at cannot be repealed, modified o.
suspended except by the same powe
that enacted it.
Reference has been made to an al
LEGGED reasonable obligation which !
: is sought to claim is a part of tn
) Mormon endowment ceremony. Tn
senate will understand that these cere
e tmonies are Of pacred nature to tlios'
= participating in them and are there
fore, not divulged.
d Famous Endowment Ceremony,
e "They We're instituted in the Nor
e mon church by Joseph Smith som
e time prior to his death. and are we
If given as a part of the temple cere
monies, being of religious, spiritua
character they are for the living an
:. the dead-a part of the Mormon be
lief, being vicarious performance O
ordinances and ceremonies.
There does not exist in the Endow
IT ment ceremony of the Mormon churc
u the remotest suggestion of hostilit
or antagonism to the United States @
any other nation.
"They are of a purely religious ma
II ture, wholly between the person TAX
: ing them and his God, and as with tn
ID ritual of various fraternal organiza
c. lions, regarded as sacred and secre
"Adverting to the religious and tn
4
- les, 1t is conceded that such characte
in ceremonies often have an infiuenc
)" on the conscience and conduct of tn
" person concerned.
Exile From Mexico.
lie There is not a solitary instanc
r where that influence in the endow
ment ceremony has been displayed
III an act of hostility to the government
ly II any effect has been welded 1t ha
d been for that most devoted loyalty
is our nation.
ne 1.-THE application in this respect. q
ar to the loyalty of the Mormon jeojl
he can be brought home readily. We WI