Mr. WORTHINGTON. As another illustration,
we have heard something about Orson Pratt and his works. Has there been any
action taken in reference to these works in the way of submitting them to the
people, or in any other way?
Mr. TALMAGE. No, sir; not in the way
of adoption, but I find instances of record in early church history of all the
people being warned repeatedly against Orson Pratt’s publications, or certain
of them—
Senator OVERMAN. Do not the missionaries
take them around with them through the country?
Mr. TALMAGE. Excuse me, Senator, until
I finish my answer.
Senator OVERMAN. Certainly.
Mr. TALMAGE. Because they were not in
accord with the doctrines of the church, set forth in the standard works.
Senator OVERMAN. I ask you—did not the
missionaries carry Orson Pratt’s works with them and have them on sale
throughout the country?
Mr. TALMAGE. I do not know what the
practice of missionaries may be as to putting books on sale. They carry many
books with them.
Senator OVERMAN. Do they not carry
these books?
Mr. TALMAGE. I do not know what the
practice of missionaries may be as to putting books on sale. They carry many
books with them.
Senator OVERMAN. Do they not carry
these books?
Mr. TALMAGE. I do not know, sir. I
would infer that in all probability they do, because some of the smaller church
publishing houses—called church publishing houses because connected with church
organizations in a way, but not under the immediate control of the general
authorities of the church—have continued to publish some of these books. Many
of Orson Pratt’s works are of great value, I take it; that is to say, they
present the views of a man who was a careful student, and one whose utterances
are worthy of consideration.
Senator OVERMAN. He understood the
doctrines of the church pretty well, did he not?
Mr. TALMAGE. Yes, indeed; but in
several of his works he has allowed his imagination to play rather than to
work; and, personally, I have taken issue with some of his published
statements.
Mr. WORTHINGTON. Are you through, Senator
Overman?
Senator OVERMAN. Yes.
Mr. WORTHINGTON. The fact that Orson
Pratt publishes a certain work, and certain of your missionaries happen to have
it with them and distribute it, does not make it binding on the church?
Mr. TALMAGE. In no sense.
Senator HOPKINS. Any more than the
Life of St. Paul by Lyman abbot, is binding on his church?
Mr. TALMAGE. The analogy is an
excellent one. (Proceedings Before the Committee on Privileges and Elections
of the United States Senate in the Matter of the Protests Against the Right of
Hon. Reed Smoot, a Senator from the State of Utah, to Hold His Seat, 4 vols.
[Washington, D.C.: Government Printing Office, 1906)], 3:25)