The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1919-12-05
INDIES SIGNIFICANT
IN MORMON RELIGION

(Pittsburg Chronicle-Telegraph
Mrs. Lulu Loveland Shepard recent
" gave her explanation of the nature |
and significance Of the undergarmentl
said to be worn by all Mormons.
The matter came up for discussion |
1t q session Of the world Christian citi- |
Eenship conference at Syria mosque. |
James e. Talmage, Mormon apostle, |
who had asked the privilege OF speak !
Ing at the conference, was subjected
to a cross-examination by the dele
gates In the course of the question
Ing he was asked concerning the sig
nificance of the alleged Mormon un-
dergarment. He refused to reply to
the question and Mrs. Shepard, who
spoke on "The Mormon Menace, ex-
planned what she says is the reason
Tor his silence.
Mrs. Shepard says the garment is
given Mormons who have taken the
path in the Mormon temple. She
quotes the oath from senate report
ls the report. Of the United States SEN
ate committee on privileges and cleo
lions aud was signed, she says, by four
democrats and four republicans. The
path as Mrs. Shepard gives 1t follows:
"You and each Of you do covenant and
promise that You will pray and never
cease to pray Almighty God to avenge
the blood OF the prophets upon this
nation and that you will teach the
Same to your children and your chill
dren unto the third and fourth genera
lion -- - - - ~ $3.50 500
In describing the garment Mrs.
Shepard said: When the garment is
first put on in the temple the tie at
tho neck (there are no buttons on It,
but usually three ties) is of red, signi-
Tying blood atonment. Over tho right
hreast ia . square and over the left q
lcompass. these signifying that II the
Mormon brsaks the oath or reveals
khe secrets he will be quartered.
s:Acrosg tho abdomen - . slit signi-
bowels removed and that they win be
sdrsGged on the ground II he reveals
l<he oaths or secrets. The bestowing
lot the square and compass is accom-
panied by the Melchixtdek grip and
That OF the slit by the Aaronic grip.
Then ACROSS the knees II q curved line
H9gdfymG that the wearer's legs shall
fbe cut of at the knees for violation
lot tho oath. This IL accompanied by
the minor Aaronic grip.
THE garments are never removed
ffrom tho body. ] have had . number
to6 Mormon girls In my home as serv-
Fants and when they battle or change
their garments, they never entirely re-
move the soiled garment until the
sclean one is partially on. During the
war q committee from the Mormon
church waited upon President Wilson
and Secretaries Baker and Daniels and
requested that the Mormon soldiers
and sailors be permitted to wear this
garment instead of the regulation un.
derwear issued by the government.
The request was granted.
1.-THE garments are white and the
symbols are usually of white tape
They can be purchased at the Mormon
supply house. but the symbols are US
ually sewed on by the Mormon women
in their homes. In the west the Nor
mons have symbols in quite large di
mansions and they can plainly be seen
as they are hanging on the clothes
lines, but when Mormon elders 60
away from home the size Of the sym
bOls is very much reduced.
THE men practically never unloose
the garment about the neck, but when
the girls go to dances they were low
cut gowns as other girls and tuck the
church garment down inside their
dresses, but never entirely remove it,