The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1909-11-08

wo,,Id .ir,niy answer theIr arguments by
saying that they were only. young boys;
and did not understand such things, ana
would rather not take part In 'ieir pro-
ceedingG. ,1
been reared in the family OF NlIllsn
Law and tho latter pretended great
friendship for him on that account, and
was very anxious TO explain to him tne
Induce him 10 Join, He would cone
around and sit beside Robert, put MS
arm around his neck, and persusde' aI
gue. and implorc him 10 join IN tnelF
effort TO rid the church Of such dam
gcrous irnpostor. At the same time
Brother Cowlcs would sit beside Brother
with him with equal oarnestness. Tue |
boys, however. were not easily convinced
Still In their replies and remarks ,they
carefully tried 10 avoid giving the least
ofTance or arousInc any suspicious re-
carding the true cause Of their presence
They said they were TOO Young 10 un-
derstand the spiritual vile dGotr,ne
OF which Joseph was accused. and many
of the other things that they conoemneo
In the prophet Joseph had never done
them any harm. and they did not ,iE like
But" they would urge. Joseph rs
fallen prophet; he receIves revelations
from the devil, and is deccirlnE the peo.
pie. and II something decisive rs n9t
done AT once 10 get rid OF him. the ~hole
church will be led by him 10 destroc-
tion" These aud many other arguments
boys to Join them, but they stll pre-"
tended not TO understand nor tnkr ruch
interest in such things At length incy
ceased their peraua sions. and; things
having developed sufficiently, they con-
cluded TO proceed with the intended or
gani1at!on
An oath had been prepared which each
member of the orga nization was no" re-
quired to take. Francis HiGbee. JUS
tce OF the peace, sat at table IN ono
end OF the room and administered the
| ,l- toll s1I zrt,o raj
| following manner: The candidate would
step forward to the table. take up a
| Bible which had been provided for the
purpose and raise ii in his right hand,
whcreupon the justice would ask him in a
| solemn tone "Are you ready: And,
receiving answer in the affirmative,
| would continue In tone and manner
that struck awe to the minds Of the
boys as they listened:
YOU SOLEMNLY SWEAR. BEFORE
! GOD AND ALL HOLY ANGELS. AND
THESE YOUR BRETHREN BY WHOM
YOU ARE SURROUNDED. THAT YOU
WILL GIVE YOUR LIFE. YOUR LIB
ERTY. YOUR INFLUENCE. YOUR
ALL, FOR THE DESTRUCTION OF
JOSEPH SMITH AND HIS PARTY, SO
HELP YOU GOD"'
The person being sworn would then
say, = do. after which he would lay
down the Bible and sign his name 10 a
| written copy OF the oaln In book that
was lying on the table. and IL would be
legally acknowledged 10y the justice OF
| The peace.
'rnc boys sat gazing upon this scene,
wondering now Intelligent beings who had
once enjoyed the hight of truth could have
fallen into such depths OF wickedness ~
! 10 be anxious 10 take such an oath
| against the prophet Of God and his faith
lul followers. They also felt no little un-
easlness concerning their own fate, and
almost dreaded the moment when the
last one should have taken the oath. At
length that portion OF the business was
accomplished, and about two hundred
number were three women, who were
ushered in, closely veiled 10 prevent be-
ing recognized and required 10 take the
same OATH. Besides doing this, they also
had endeavored TO seducc them: had
made the most indecent and wicked pro-
posals TO them, and wished them 10 be-
come their wives. After making afh-
made their exit through back door. One
OF the women, whom the boys suspected
rs being William Laws wife, was cry
ing, and seemed to dislike taking the
oath, but did one who feared that
the greatest bodily injury would follow
refusal.
After the oath had been administered
TO all but the two boys, Law, Cowles
and others again commenced their labors
to get them TO take it, but met the same
success as before. Arguments. persua-
accomplish their desire, but In vain.
They exhausted their ingenuity in In
venting arguments. lies and inducements
TO get the boys to unite with their band
Have you not heard" said they. the
strong testimony OF all present against
Joseph Smith? Can man be true
prophet who would commit adultery? Ee
is fallen prophet, and Is teaching the
people doctrines that his own imagina-
tlon or iustful desires have invented, OF
else he received that revclo ton from the
devil He will surely lead the whole
church to destruction IL his career Is moi
stopped. We can do nothing with him
by the law. and for the sake of the
church VIC deem it our solemn duty to
accomplish his destruction and rescue tho
people from this peril. We are simply
combining and conspirng to save the
church, and we wish you TO join us IN
our efforts, and share the honors thai
will he ours. Come, take the oath and
all VIII be we'll
"Oh. we arc too young" they replied
"to understand or mcddIe with sucf
things. and would rather let others who
are older and know more do such work
, We came 10 your meetings because NJ
. thought YOU were our friends and gave
there was any harm in it. but II YOU Will
allow us to go now We will not trouble
any more OF your meetings. JOSEPH
. Smith has never done us any harm. ano
We do not feel like injurins him
Come. boys said another of th'
crowd do VIC have done. You arc
Young, ana VIII not nave anything tf
do in tho affair. but We want YOU shouiC
keep it a secret and act with us; that;
! all"
! NO" replied the boys in firm but
cool tone they rose 10 leave. I'VE
! cannot take an oath like that against
any man who has never done us ths
least injury" They would gladly have
passed out and escaped the trouble they
saw brewing for them but. they
feared. they were not allowed TO depar
50 easily. Ono of the band exclaimed
in n very determined voice: "No. not by
a ID sight You know all our plans
and arrangements, and we don't pro.
pose that you should leave in that style
, You've got 10 take that oath, or you'll
never leave here alive"
The attention OF all was now directed
10 the two boys. and considerable con
fusion prevailed. A voice in the GROVE
; shouted, Dead mon tell no tales"
whereupon A general clamor arose fol
the BOYS TO take the oath he killed
Even their pretended friends, Cowles aut
Law. turned against thom. 'If YOU dc
/ not take that OATH said one Of the
leading members. in a blood curilns
tone I'VE will cut your tlroats." The
looks and conduct of the rest showed
plainly that he had spoken only what
they were ready Ia execute. IL wa: