OCR Text |
Show ROBERTS FALSIFIES THE RECORD. President Brighnm H. Roberts was tho speaker at tho sorvioos in the Mormon Mor-mon tabornaclo on last Sunday afternoon. after-noon. It. is right fo say of him that he deeply interested his congregation, for he is a forceful and magnetic speaker; speak-er; and his oratorical ability ranks high !n 4llflf Mlni WIlAn 1. usually says something worth while, as tho following, from our report of his sermon will siguif3': From tho midst of these holy associations associa-tions I denounco ns maliciously false the charge that the Mormon church lacks In Its rcspoct and honor for womanhood. It Is not true. Tho attitude of tho Mormon church toward woman has been defiuod by the highost recognized authority of that organization or-ganization which Mr. Roberts is not nnd tho official pronouncements, mado at different periods in tho history of tho church, are at variance with his indignant, outburst of Sunday afternoon. Wo will "to the law and to tho testimony.-" Joseph F. Smith, president, prophet, seer and rovolalor of tho Church of Josus Christ of Latter-day Saints, defined this attitudo beforo ail tho world when he testified in tho Smoot investigation at Washington. He was examined with respect to certain provisions and requirements ns set forth in the po-gamous rovolation coutainod in tho Doctrine and Covenants, which is the official law book of the church. With roforenco to tho frco agency eu-joyod eu-joyod by Mormon Iogal wives Josoph F. Smith's testimony (official report, volume 1, page 201) was as follows: Senator Balloy. Is it not true that In the very next verse, If she refuses her consent her husband Is exempt from the law which requires her consent? Joseph F. Smith. Yes: ho Is exomnt from tho Inw which requires her consent. con-sent. Senator Bailey. She Is commanded to consent, but If sho does not, then he Is exempt from tho requirement? Joseph F. Smith. Then ho la at liberty to proceed without her consent, under the law. Senator Boverldgc. In other words, her consent amounts to nothing? Joseph F. Smith. It amounts to nothing noth-ing but hor consent. Senator Boverldgc. So that so far as there Is anything in there concerning her consent, It might ns well not bo there. This is tho interpretation of Mormon Inw by its highest living interpreter. Co'uld anything bo more contemptuous of woman? Simply stated, it is to the effect that a man maj' be married to a woman, to whom ho is all in all in lifo; oach is the love of tho othor's 3routh, sacredl' sworn lo devoto all their energies and affections to thoir mutual happiness; tho man, contaminated contami-nated eventual! with tho unclean polj-g-amous "principlo" taught by tho Mormon Mor-mon church, determines to take to him self ono or moro .plural wives; he broaches tho matter to his wife, and sho becomes terror-stricken in tho thought that his lovo has been stolon away from her; sho sees in the polygamous condition condi-tion only a life of misery for herself and shame for her husband; her heart, of hearts, devoted to the man in all its intense gentleness and loving regard, rofuscs in the hope that thus sho might save him from ruin and prevent the destruction of her household's happiness; happi-ness; the Mormon law authorizes him to proceed as against hor wish, nnd ho plunges her into the misery which sho dreads, and does so under authority of tho law of tho Mormon church. Could an3' situation be conccivod under which a woman might be ignored so completely complete-ly and in such utter contempt of her right as established -in tho sacred law that "they twain shall bo one flesh "i And this is tho law of the Mormon church, intorprctod by tho highest living liv-ing authority in that organization! There is other highest of high Mormon Mor-mon authority which wo aro disposed to presont in refutation of Elder Roberts Rob-erts upon this score. In tho Deseret iNcws or uciouer l, 1856, we find a report re-port of a sermon delivered by President Brigham Young on Septcnibor 21 of that yonr. Speaking concerning this very matter of women's detestation of polygamy, and incidentally showing the "respect and honor for womanhood" of which Elder Roborts falsely boasted " from tho midst of tlieso holy associations" associa-tions" in tho tabernacle on Sunday, President Young said: Now for my proposition: it is more particularly for my sisters, as it Is frequently fre-quently happening that women say that they are unhappy. Men will say, "My wife, thouph a most excellent woman, has not seen a happy day since I took my second wife;" "No, not a happy day ror a year, ' says ono; and another has not seen a happy day for five years. It Is said that women arc tied down and abused; thai, they aro misused and have not the liberty that they oiiKht to have-that have-that many of thorn are wadlnp through a perfect flood of tears, because of tho conduct of some men. together with their own folly. I wish my own women to understand that what 1 am solni; to say Is for. them as well as for others, and I want those who are here to tell their sisters, yes all the women of this community, and then write it back to the States, and do ns you please with It. I am jjolng to give you from tills time to tho 6th day of October next, for reflection, that you nlny determine whether you wish to stay with your husbands or not. and then I am going to sett every woman at liberty nnd say to thorn, Now go your way, my women with tho rest, go your way. And my wives have got to do one of two things, olther round up their Bhouldcrs to endure tho afflictions of this world and live their rellsIon, or they may leave, for I will not have them about me. I win go Into heaven alone, rather than have scratching and lighting around mo, 1 iJvUl S9,K ?,n nt "ncrty. "What, first wife, too?" Yes.. I will liberate you all. Again, there was President Hober C. Kimball, who wan contemporary with Brigham Young, being a member of the first prosidency, and always backing up "Brothor Brigham" in everything he said, as "Brothor Brigham" constantly approved tho utterances of "Brothor Heber." Ou July 12, 1S57. Hober C. pronchod a sermon which wo find reported re-ported in volume 5 of (ho Journal of Discourses. On pago 28 that report makes President Kimball to say: Well, my wife may say, "If you will sustain Brigham in preference to mo, I will loavo you." I should reply, "Leave, and be damned!" nnd that very quickly. That is part of my religion "Leave quickly, you poor snoop!" And now as to Elder Roberts himself. Ho also testified in tho Smool investigation investi-gation at Washington. Speaking of his own conduct toward his own wives lie testified (Officinl report, of proceedings, volume 1, pages 712 and 713) as follows: fol-lows: Senator Overman. Did your first wife or your second wlfo consent to your marrying the third wife? Mr. Roberts. No. sir. Senator Overman. Did thev nrotcst against it? Mr. Roberts. I do not hear the question. ques-tion. 'Senator Overman. Was there any protest pro-test on their part? Mr. Roberts. No. sir. Senator Overman. Did they know of It at the tlmo? Mr. Roberts Not at tho tlmo. M The Chairman. You understood at that tlmo that tho marrlngo was Illegal? Mr. Roberts. I did. Thero wns but ono respect, in connection con-nection with tho text which wo havo taken from his sermon, in which Elder Roberts was truthful. Monogamous Mormons have a greater or loss degree of "rcspoct and honor for womanhood," as their monogamy prbvos them lo possess pos-sess in commpn with other decent men. But that Mormon polygamists havo anything any-thing but the utmost contempt for women, wom-en, including their own wivos, he can not show bj' the law and tho testimony. testi-mony. In this matter Mr. Roborts falsified falsi-fied the intont of Mormon law, falsified tho attitude of tho Mormon chiofs, and most miserably misrepresented his own personal conduct. |