AMONGST THE MORMONS

New Zealand Times, Volume LXXVI, Issue 5294, 4 June 1904, Page 10

AMONGST THE MORMONS

POLYGAMY IX UTAH. PECULIAR EVIDENCE GIVEY IR ADHERENTS. Tho inquiry by tho United States Senate Commiltoo on Privileges and Elccticns has brought our. some remarkablo evidence in connection with the protests against Senator Smoot. Tim inquiry has served to show that polygamy is still rife in Utah. Charles F. Merrill, son of Apostle Morrill, and a polygamist, was asked for a description of I lie marriage ceremony ;n 18S8, but lie declared he could not remember how it was performed. Xo marriage certificate was issued, and thoro was no record of an.y documents of any kind that ho knew. •’Thoro was nothing but the marriage ceremony,” ho said. “XVell, tell, ns about that,” several members of the committee demanded., “I cannot repeat it,” said the witness. “Do you moan to say that you do not know the ordinary marriage ceremony of ho Church?” asked Senator Hoar severely. “Tos, I know that,” answered the witness. “And was not that what was asked?” ho was asked. Tho witness said it was. He was told to giro the substance of it. Hn said he and Ids wife stood up and joined hands. “Then they made yon someTu’iig, did they not?” inquired Senator Hoar. • “Yes, sir.” “But you have forgotten what it was?'* Tie Senator remarked, with a laugh., “Oh, no, I have not forgotten,” said Morrill. Ho then said ho had promised to love, cherish, and support tho woman. In regard to his father’s family Mer rill said ho had a father with six wives, and that ho had 20 brothers and 17 sisters. He was asked how many nephews and nieces lie had, and said ho did not know, but thought there were more -han 100. Francis Lyman, a member of the first presidency of tho Mormon Church,_ and tire prospective successor of President ■Joseph Smith, said lie was born G 4 years ago, and became an apostle in 18S0. “Are you a polygamist?” Mr Tayler asked, and the witness replied frankly. Yes.” He said that he had had throe wives, and that of them two are still living. Lyman said that ho had been one of tho signors of tho prayer for amnesty, pledging himself to all that it contained. Ho did not, however, recall just rhat it did contain. Taylor road portions-of ’ the prayer. “Did you,” he asked, “interpret that: to moan that you would abstain from polygamous cohabitation ?” “t interpret it to moan that X should do all that was right.” “Did yon think it would be right to .bstain from polygamous cohabitation ?” Lyman said he was not only now living in polygamous cohabitation, but i hat ho expected to continue so to live. “Referring to the rule of which you have spoken,” Senator Hear said, “you understand the rule or’tho law of the Church to bo the law of God, did you not?” Lyman replied that such was his \ understanding. “Then you are living and intend to live in violation of the law of God and man ?” “X fully intend,” said Lyman, showing disposition to elaborate more than he had done, “to be true to the law of my country, to my God.’ and to my obligations and covenants with ray wives, and t have never done a. thing that my conscience did not approve.” In answer to a,question by' Senator Jvorman, Lyman said that despite tho manifesto of 1800 the president of tho ’hurch could issue authority upon an elder to perform plural marriages. “Tho president holds the keys,” said Lyman. “What do you mean?” '“[Tiat ho is the only one who has any authority.” Worthington asked how it was that ho president could issue authority in conflict with tho manifesto, which is said to.te the law of God, and concluded his question thus: “Is he above tho Lord?” “Oh, no: lie is not above the Lord.” Lyman said that while the people knew he was a polygamist Senator Smoot did not know it. After some evasion Lyman eventually said Senator Smoot probably knew just as much about it as the people in general.. “Do you take back what you said, Tien, that the people knew and Senator Smoot did not know?” asked Senaor Hoar. “I take that back,” “Don’t you think, Sir Apostle; that it behoves you to be a little careful about what you say, so that you will not have anything to take back?” asked the Sena;or, severely. Senator Hoar followed this question by asking the witness if he had received a revelation concerning what he was to ■estify to on'the stand, and whether such revelation could bo responsible for his change of mind in regard to the questions asked. “Are your answers here by order of :he Lord? Are they given in your human or inspired capacity ?” tho Senator asked. “I answer as the spirit of the Lord lirects.” ‘Then it was the spirit of the Lord which directed you to make the answer you just took back, and which you said was a mistake?” Tho witness hesitated, and Senator Hoar remarked: “Well, if you can’t answer that I lon’t blame you.” , Lyman told the story of the efforts on iho part, of Prophet Joseph Smith to get rid of one of the high councillors who had been chosen by revelation, and tho refusal of tho people to submit to tho change. This was for tho purpose of showing that tho will of the people is stronger than the wish or command of he president of the Church. “Do you mean to say,” asked Senator Hoar, “that a revelation from the Lord which had been rejected by the people would count for nothing?” “It would count for nothing for those who rejected it.” “Would it be binding upon the instrument of the Lord who received the revelation? I mean if the . revelation ,hould bo received by you and tho people refused it would it bo binding upon .you to follow the i evolution or to follow ho wish of the people?” ’

“We should follow the wish of the teople.” ■•Well, how about you?” “I should be bound by what the pooio direot.” ‘-x'hen.” said Senator Hoar, “tho voice of the people is more authority than che mandate of the Lord?’ “The law of the Lbrd is whatever is done by common consent.” “Then the. Lord submits to the people whatever he, desires to have done, and if rho people like it they give their consent. That is your belief, is it?” ■ ‘The people Imre their rights, and they must be respected,” answered (he witness. •‘The Lord can’t make the peo-

plo do right or accent his laws. Man is left Ic follow ills own agency in regard to religion, business, and politics.'’ ■’Then. 1 ’ persisted Senator Hoar, ’’where the Lord has chosen certain persons as apostles and the people do not. envo to accept the selection, what happens?” ■■The man always steps aside when the people reject.” -They- have a sort of veto power over .he Lord, then?”