The Lexington dispatch. [volume] (Lexington, South Carolina) 1870-1917, 1907-02-20
REED SMOOT SPEAKS
Mormon Senator Addresses
the Serate in Own BeI1aif
HE MAKES A GOOD IMPRESSION
Ctal, Senator Delivers Long-Expected
Address, Bejng Supported by Sen
ator Dillingham; in an Analytical
Speech of Evidence Submitted In
the Cast.
Senator

Washington, Special. - Senator
Reed Snoot:s lcng expected address
to tl,c Seua,c in defense OF his po-
sition as Senator from Utah, was the
feature of The session. He was sup
ported by Senator Dillingham;, OF
verm"rt, III an analytical speech OF
the evidence, which had been suo,
polygamy," said Mr.. smoot, land
demned polygamy in the strongest
terms and declared cmphatically that
he had taken no oath inconsistent
with that he had taken as Senator.
"rhe Senate is entitled to know my
personal attitude upon the subject OF
nolyyamv," said Mr.. Smott, "and
rpon the subject Of loyalty to tins
government. Upon these two matters
I shall express myself BRIEFLY, but
with entire candor.
"First, I desire to state, as have
repeatedly heretofore, stated to- the
Senate and to the country, that l am
not and never have been a polyga-
mist. I never have had but one wife,
and she is my present wife.
"There has been a more or less
prevalent opinion that the doctrine
Of polyganly was obligatory upon the
members of the Mormon church,
whereas, in truth and fact no such
obligatory doctrine has ever evlsted.
The revelation concerning polygamy,
as originally made and as always IN
terpreted is permissible and not man
datory. AS a matter Of fact, only a
small percentage Of the adherents Of
that faith have ever been polygamlsts
The vast majority Of the adult mem
bers of the Church from its founda-
ton to the present time have been
monogamists.
Part of Religious Faith.
"The Mormon people, however,
regarding this doctrine, although per-
missible in character, as part Of their
religious faith, and when the law was
rassed denouncing its practice, the
execution Of the law was resisted on
the ground that it was unconstltu-
tional, as being an interference with
their religious liberty. Appeals were
taken to the highest courts Of the
land, every phase Of the subject was
tested in the courts, and the law was
upheld. Then the Church adopted
the manifesto against polygamy,
which was ratified by the genearl cor
ference of the people, and thereupon
the pratice Of polygamy for the fu-
ture was abandoned.
Ceremonies not Divulged.
"Reference has been made to an al
legged reasonable obligation which it
is sought to claim is a part Of the
Mormon endowment ceremonies, The
Senate will understand that these
ceremonies are therefore not dlvulg-
ed. They were instituted in the Nor
mon Church by Jos. Smith, some tine
prior to his death, and are yet given
as part Of the temple ceremonies; be-
ing Of religious character; they are
70: the living and for the dead; a
a part Of the Mormon belief being
vicsrious performance of ordinance
and ceremonies.
There does not exist in tie endow-
ment ceremonies Of the Mormon
Church the renotest suggestion of
hostility or Of antagonism to the
United States or to any other nation.
They are Of purely religious nature,
wholly between the person taking
them and his God, and, as with the
ritual Of various fraternal organoza-
tons, regarded as sacred and secret.
"In closing let me say under my OBJ
legation as a Senator that which |
have said under oath before the
conittee, that I have never taken
oath or obligation, religious Or other
wise, which conflicts in the slightest
degree with my duty as a Senator or
as citizen. | owe no allegiance to
any Church, or other organization,
which in any way interfercs with my
supreme allegiance to r2y country
an allegiance which I freely, fully and
gladly sive.''