Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 36, Number 58, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 11 March 1904 — CHURCH TEACHES POLYGAMY. [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

CHURCH TEACHES POLYGAMY.

Mormon President Smith Admits that Fact in the Smoot Case. Mormonism was placed on trial before the Senate committee on privileges and elections Wednesday when the taking

of ~ testimony was begun to determine whether Reed Smoot of Utah should retain his seat in the.; Senate. [Joseph D. Smith, president of the Mormon Chprch, was on tlie witness 'stand all day and in his testimony admitted that lie believed polygamy to be right nnd that the governing bodies of the church held

the same position and that the church still taught polygamy, despite tlte older Of President Woodruff against polygamy and despite the law of the nation polygamous mavringes. For those protesting against the seating of Snroot it was contended that he, being one of the church's twelve apostles, was sworn to uphold beliefs and practices in conflict with the laws of the nation and therefore was unfit to help make the nation’s laws. Mr. Smoot's lawyers tried to restrict the inquiry to certain points and to court methods. The committee, however, decided to hear every bit of testimony offered and to make its own rules of procedure and this decision put the church as well ns Mr. Smoot on trial. John G. Carlisle, former Secretary of the Treasury, and ex-Congressman It. W. Taylor of Ohio are for the protestants. A. S. Worthington of Washington nnd Waldemar Van Catt of Salt Lake City are the lawyers for Mr. Smoot. Smith Gives Eonrce of His Power. In his testimony President Smith explained that the first presidency was composed of tl\e president of the church and two high priests or councilors nnd that the twelve apostles, of whom Mr. Smoot was one, were next in authority. The presidents were elected by the council and the apostles, but he believed and It was taught that the presidents were really chosen by divine revelation nnd

endowed with the authority of the holy priesthood by authority direct from God. Mr. Smith said lie was a prophet and seer and received revelations direct from God. President Smith declared that notwithstanding a second “revelation” to the effect that polygamy is not obligatory upou members of the Mormon church, he still believed polygamy was right. He was questioned closely in regard to tlie principles of divine revelntious. He said lie adhered absolutely to all tlie teachings of the church in that regard, and that he himself hail been visited with divine inspirations from God directing him us to details in matters pertaining to the welfare of the church, though no angels had come to him, ns in the ease of tlie revelation to his uncle, Joseph Smith, Jr., tlie founder of tlie church. He subscribed to the standard of authority for the church in relation to tlie revelation commanding polygamy as nude known to the first president in a visit front “an angel in black." Great interest attaches to the hearings because of the dual purpose of the Inquiry. Other investigations Imre been directed at the rights of certain contestants to seats iu Congress, but never before has there been inaugurated an inquiry Into creeds or political factors to determine whether an unlawful influence is being exerted in the political affairs of the nation. • . The Austrian customs officials refused to permit the unloading of the consignment of forty carloads of Argentine beef, the first to reaeh Vienna, end ordered § gaturuad immediately across Ike border.

REED SMOOT.

MORMON TEMPLE, SALT LAKE.