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Show "STEBia CLEAR GF LAW7SE&," Ci?C ;, HE TELLS OF M INSTIIUu University Professor Introduced Intro-duced in Smoot Inquiry to Tell of Authority of Apostles Apos-tles and Other Officials. Senator Overman asked If the. parties to suits in the church courts are permitted per-mitted to have counsel. ' ' Steer Clear of Lawyers. The witness replied that they do not have legal counsel, as it is the purpose , of the church to "steer clear of the law-1 law-1 yera." A number of letters shewing the action ac-tion of the church In appeals of land cases were shown to Prof. Talmage. He Identified the signatures and ih letters .were offered in evidence to prove .that the church authorities seek to have disputes dis-putes settled amicably, but that they do not prevent the taking Into civil court of such matters as involve questions of law. . ( . Pratt Not Authority Prof. Talmage testified that the works of , Orson Pratt had not been adopted at the general church conference and that his works therefore were not of binding authority. His narrative concerning the church practices and history of Its various branches had not concluded, at noon, when a recess was taken. fWASHINGTON, Jan. 18. When the femoot Investigation opened today before be-fore the Senate Committee on Privileges and Elections, Prof. James E. Talmage of the Utah State University was worn. , He was born In England and has been H Mormon all his life. He testified that he is the author of the book called ."Articles of Faith," which he prepared at the request of the first presidency. The book was approved ap-proved and jjubllshed by the church. He also revised the. last edition of 'Pearl of Great Price." ... He was a member of the high council Oof Utah stake In 1884. ( . Church Organization. At the request of Attorney Worthlng-ton, Worthlng-ton, for Senator Smoot, Prof. Talmage gave a detailed description of the organisation or-ganisation of the Mormon church, together to-gether with the authority held by the various quorums. - The apostles, as a body, have no authority over the ficst presidency, except in their advisory capacity, ca-pacity, said the witness. Church courts were described, and |