The Trial for the Membership of Apostle Matthias F. Cowley
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Minutes of a Meeting of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles
10 May 1911, 10:30 AM, Salt Lake Temple
Present of the Council:
President Francis M. Lyman
Heber J. Grant
Hyrum M. Smith
George Albert Smith
Charles W. Penrose
George F. Richards
Orson F. Whitney
David O. McKay
Anthony W. Ivins
Joseph F. Smith Jr.
and Matthias F. Cowley in response to the following summons:
Salt Lake City, Utah, April 27, 1911
Elder Matthias F. Cowley,
123 North, West Temple St., City.
My Dear Brother:
By this writing you are summoned to appear before the Council of the Twelve Apostles in the Salt Lake Temple at 10 A.M. on Wednesday May 10th, to answer complaints against you of marrying plural wives yourself and of giving plural wives to others. Also of advising and encouraging other men to enter into plural marriages illegally and against the established discipline of the Church, and to show cause why you should not be adjudged guilty.
You will be required to answer all questions that will be asked you by the Council along the above lines, telling the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth.
Do not fail to appear as we shall be there to receive you.
Affectionately, Your brother,
Francis M. Lyman, In behalf of the Council.
The meeting commenced by singing, "This Earth was Once a Garden Place,"
Prayer by Elder Heber J. Grant
Singing: "Come O Thou King of Kings,"
President Lyman:
The Brethren will remember that we have been for quite a long time trying to discover Brother Cowley. We have taken pains to put letters into his wife's hands, we have registered them to him at Baker City, Oregon, and to Boise, Idaho, and around the country and have been unsuccessful until a short time ago when we learned he was in this neighborhood and would come and see me. I talked a little with Brother Cowley when I served the summons on him about ten days ago and he disclaimed any intention of trying to keep away from us although circumstances have led us to believe that he has. I believe his case is the most remarkable that has come before us in as much as he has been with us once or twice before and he has expressed his respect for us, but we have felt that we have not been properly treated by him. We have met some things in our travels that have disposed us to believe that he was working against us and giving encouragement to those who are in this position. I am simply making these statements Brother Cowley, to give you an understanding to that you can clear yourself. We have been under the impression that Brother Cowley has been at the forefront and has been under the cause of more people entering into this condition of plural marriage than any one else and no man did more toward getting Presidents of Stakes and Presidents of Missions to enter polygamous marriages, which he should not have done and we want him to come here and tell his story, as we tell him in the letter and tell all he knows and clear himself. He has been very well informed as to the position of the Church on this question from the time of President Woodruff. We have always had advice and could always get it from those who would have advised him aright. From the time of his ordination to the Apostleship I believe I was entitled to his confidence and that he should have approached me in preference to any other man because I took him a little under my wing and we were quite confidential with each other, but since he has taken his stand contrary to the Church he has not advised with me as he should have done because he knew of my views on the question. The report is that he said you should not talk with Brother Lyman or with Brother Joseph F. Smith, as I was opposed to and President Smith did not want to know anything about it. I am convinced that in Canada and Mexico, In Idaho and Wyoming and all over he has been effecting plural marriages among the people and has done a great deal of harm in this respect. We would like Brother Cowley to stand up here and begin at the beginning and tell us of every case that he has been connected with and if he had authority where he got the authority and tell the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth and after he has got through we will be prepared to ask him a few questions. We would not like him to involve any one or place the responsibility upon some one else when he should shoulder it. We do not want him to put the responsibility upon the Church, as we stand here to defend the Church in President Snow's and subsequently President Smith's administration. We feel that Brother Cowley is more responsible for the condition in the Church than any other man in the Church and we do not want him to place the responsibility upon any dead man unless he can prove it and we want him to open his heart and be candid with us and tell everything. Brother Lyman read the summons appearing at the beginning of these minutes and also a copy of a letter which he sent Brother John W. Taylor and he was under the impression to Brother Cowley also. He had sent one to Brother Grant who acknowledged receiving it and he though also to Brother Teasdale. Brother Cowley said he did not remember receiving the letter although he received the word from Brother Teasdale. The letter follows:
Salt Lake City, Utah, May 5th, 1904
Elder John W. Taylor
Colonial Juarez.
Dear Brother:
Acting under the advise and counsel of the First Presidency I take this means of calling your attention to the official declaration on the subject of plural marriages adopted by the late General Conference of the Church; and I bespeak your hearty cooperation in emphasizing the same in your private conversations and counsels as well as your public utterances, to the end that no misunderstanding may exist among our people concerning its scope and meaning; but on the contrary, that all may be given to distinctly understand that infractions of the law in regard to plural marriages are transgressions against the Church, punishable by excommunication.
That God may bless you in all your ministry is the prayer of
Your affectionate brother,
Francis m. Lyman.
From that time I feel the brethren have been thoroughly advised. Brothers Taylor, Cowley and Woodruff were with the Council when President Snow was selected as President of the Church and the question of plural marriages came up. Brother Lyman related the circumstances surrounding the First Presidency at that time. President Snow stating that they (Plural marriages) would stop and later in January issued his declaration on this subject which appeared in the Deseret News of January 8th following his selection as President. President Lyman read this statement as also that of President Smith. Now we would like to hear from Brother Cowley concerning where he as done wrong from the first offense, where he got his authority, whether by word of mouth or written authority what his thoughts have been, who have been in his confidence and who his advisers have been. I think he has more to tell on this subject than any other man living in the Church today.
Matthias F. Cowley:
I will say, Brethren, in the onset in regard to appearing before you that it was purely an accident that I did not get the word. I moved from Boise on my way to Spokane and left word to have my mail forwarded and when I got to Union, Oregon, I got word not to go to Spokane, I did not have an address, but went to the Post Office for my mail. You have had a wrong understanding of this, as I have had no intention of trying to avoid you, but I would rather not discuss these things. I have been accused of many things which I have not done, but I do not know how I can prove my innocence. The first case of plural marriage I was connected with, as I remember, was Brother Kelsch. He returned from his mission in 1898, and was sent to me by President Cannon and all the authority I exercised on that occasion came from President George Q. Cannon. President Cannon told me he had the authority from President Woodruff and Brother Joseph F. Smith told me on two occasions that Brother Cannon had the authority and Brother Woodruff didn't want to be known in it. Brother Ben E. Rich came to me. Brother William W. Burton, a relative of President Joseph F. Smith, came to me from him. As to Mission Presidents, Brothers Rich, Robinson and Duffin are the only ones I have married. I have had nothing to do with these marriages since the resignation of Brother Taylor and myself, I have had nothing to do with any of these. Brother Alpha Higgs came to me and I told him I could not do it and as I understood things now would have nothing more to do with it. I have had two conversations with President Smith, one a few evenings ago and he said if you are free of these later offenses that is all we want to know, but we feel hard toward the man who has induced the people to go in since the declaration of the Presidency [presumably the April 1904 Conference declaration by the First Presidency]. The reason I didn't consult President Lyman was because it was given me to understand that I should consult no one. I was told to keep my own counsel and was severely censured one time by Brother Cannon for consulting someone else regarding a certain marriage. Brother Penrose told me once in the city of Mexico, that he had written the manifesto, and it was gotten up so that it did not mean anything and President Smith had told me the same. I mention these things only to show the training I have had from those over me. I have been conscientious in these things; when I got the dispensation from President Cannon, Ben E. Rich came to me and had two women and I told him I only had the dispensation for him and Laura and he eventually accepted my word. I didn't try to get people to go into it. I married Apostle Brigham Young [Jr.] and Brother Merrill. I couldn't induce these men to take plural wives if they were not already converted. The people came to me understanding I had the authority. I married Brother Young about 1902, I cannot remember the exact dates. I was never instructed to go to a foreign land to perform these marriages, although in some cases I did so. If you can give me some specific case I can better tell and you can decide whether I have been guilty. I have been lied about as others have.
Question:
It is claimed that you told Sister Dusenberry that it is probable that plural marriages could be performed.
Matthias F. Cowley:
I saw her and Brother Jex in Provo one day talking very nicely together, I said you look like two lovers about ready to be married. It was said simply in a jocular sense, possibly unwisely. President Snow told me at one time when I went to consult him about marrying Joseph Morrell of Cache county, that he would not interfere with the unfinished business of President Woodruff. I do not feel that it is right to put all these responsibilities on me, but if it were before the world I would be willing to bear them. I married Frank Y. Taylor, John M. Cannon and others who are held in high esteem here. They were all before 1904, I think about 1901 or 1902. The first I performed was Ben E. Rich and the last David Udall, the last taking place in Idaho. I married most of them in the United States. Brother Merrill was married, I think in 1903, to Hulda Erickson. I am not dishonest and not a liar and have always been true to the work and to the brethren. I have always been true and faithful myself. We have always been taught that when the brethren were in a tight place that it would not be amiss to lie to help them out. One of the Presidency of the Church made the statement some years ago when I was in the presidency of one of the stakes of Zion in Idaho that he would lie like hell to help his brethren. What I have done has been done conscientiously and under the direction of those higher up not defiantly or with the idea of taking the bits in my own mouth. I doubt if you can bring one man who can honestly claim that I have got him to enter a plural marriage. If I have erred through these influences I ask to be forgiven. I feel that I have been punished once for these offenses and that should not be punished again. I have done nothing since 1906 nor taken a plural wife myself. I married my last wife in Canada in the summer of 1905, Sister Harker in 1899.
President Lyman:
Who married you?
Matthias F. Cowley:
Brother Merrill put me under solemn covenant binding me not to tell, I was married in the Logan Temple so leave you to guess the rest.
President Lyman:
Whose advise did you seek?
Matthias F. Cowley:
President Cannon told me to do these things or I would never have done it. President Snow, did not, he simply told me that he would not interfere with Brother Woodruff's and Cannon's work. I married Sister Harker and Mary L. Taylor, Brother J. A. Wolff married me to Sister Taylor. I heard two of the brethren in Mexico and two in Canada had authority to perform plural marriages and that it came from President George Q. Cannon. I believe no authority has been exercises, except in the Tolman case, which I know nothing about, but what came from President Cannon. I understand the President Isaac Smith had his marriage performed in Canada and Brother [name deleted] of Rexburg went to Mexico. I never directed anyone to go to Brother Wolff.
Question:
Did Brother Taylor give Brother Wolff any authority?
Matthias F. Cowley:
I don't know. All I now, I think a Brother Levitt went to President Smith and asked him if it would be alright and he referred him to Brother Taylor who had charge of all things in Canada.
George F. Richards:
Was it known at the time you were dropped from the Council of the Twelve by the Council that you had taken these two wives?
Matthias F. Cowley:
These facts were understood although the dates were not given. President Smith assured me that I should not be molested if I have not been guilty. I performed the ceremony for Brother Woodruff at Preston, Idaho, and Sister Clark about 1903, I think. I married John M. Cannon and Frank Y. Taylor to two each, long before 1904, both on the same day. Byron Sessions in the Big Horn in 1902. I did not marry Brother Basset of Rexburg[.] He came to me and asked if I could help him out and I told him no.
Hyrum M. Smith:
When did you feel your authority ceased that Brother Cannon conferred upon you?
Matthias F. Cowley:
I felt the authority I received continued only that I didn't exercise it without getting all the support I could. The most of them went to Brother Cannon and then came to me.
Question:
After Brother Snow and Brother Cannon were dead did you still exercise the authority?
Matthias F. Cowley:
I don't think I have.
Heber J. Grant related a conversation he had with Brother Cowley after he came home from Japan, when Brother Cowley came to him and said if he cold get a wife he, Cowley, would go with him to Canada or Mexico to help him out.
This conversation was denied by Brother Cowley.
Brother Grant further stated that he went to President Smith and asked him if it was possible for him to get another wife and President Smith told him it was not. Brother Grand being desirous of marrying Fanny Woolley, and Brother Cowley told him: "if you want her I will help you."
David O. McKay:
Did any one else know you married Brother Sessions?
Matthias F. Cowley:
I think Brother Woodruff was the only one. I have had the idea that President Smith was not opposed to these marriages if it could be done without trouble with the government.
Heber J. Grant:
Several Elders came to the British Mission while I was presiding there and told me that after they had been instructed in the Temple that these things had stopped, Brother Cowley had come out and told them that if they wanted another wife when they came back they could get one.
This Brother Cowley denied.
Matthias F. Cowley:
I married Brother Taylor Twice, but not the last time, that is new to me. I don't know anything about the Sandberg girl. I married Brother Chamberlain here in Salt Lake. He was in touch with Brother Cannon. Also Brother Robinson, who was in touch with Brother Cannon.
Anthony W. Ivins:
Was it talked among the people that they could not talk to Brother Lyman and John Henry Smith about these things, and also thought permissible to date these things back before the Manifesto?
Matthias F. Cowley:
I believed it was. Brother Merrill led me to believe that President Smith's declaration was not meant for foreign countries and with that understanding I took my last plural wife.
President Lyman:
How did you come to Mary Brother Thomas Chamberlain?
Matthias F. Cowley:
As I remember it, he came to me and said he had seen President Cannon. I did not marry Israel Barlow. Brother Cowley related the Circumstances connected with the marrying of his last wife, being engaged in Mexico and latter marrying her in Canada, after she had become infatuated with another man and fallen out with him. I married Henry S. Tanner to one of the Richards girls and one of the Thatcher girls but don't know anything about any other marriages.
Anthony W. Ivins:
Did you have the Idea in your mind that it would be allright to date you marriage back prior to the date and to misrepresent the facts?
Matthias F. Cowley:
The influence of Brother Merrill and his position and his having received the authority from President Cannon had a good effect upon me.
Question:
Had it ever been discussed or thought that John W. Taylor would ever become President of the Church and it was the proper thing to get into line and stand in defense of the principle of plural marriage?
Matthias F. Cowley:
I have heard the idea that some time John W. Taylor would preside over the Church, but not in connection with plural marriage. I never entertained any idea of superiority upon the theory of plural marriage on account of those in the position. I believed President Woodruff married a wife the year before he died, of course I don't know, I can't prove it. I married John W. Taylor in Farmington at his home. I have refused to Mary Charles H. Hyde, George Porter, Lula Johnson and a girl who wanted to marry George Goddard. I didn't encourage Charles Woolfenden and Dr. McGregor. They both spoke to me and I told them that there was no possible way. Woolfenden knew Tolman and he talked to ma bout it and I told him I did not think Tolman had any authority. I married J. M. Tanner to Mrs. Evans, George C. Parkinson to Fanny Woolley in Colorado. I married Brother Arthur Hart, but not Dr. Cutler or William C. Parkinson. I don't know any one who has been performing these marriages except Tolman and I don't know where he got the authority. I did not marry Clayson.
Question: Have you ever authorized any one at any time to marry anyone else?
Matthias F. Cowley:
No sir, I don't think I had the right to.
Charles W. Penrose:
What do you think of the revelation to President Taylor in 1886?
Matthias F. Cowley:
That would not justify me. He referred to a revelation to President Woodruff, which he took to President Smith and read it to him and he said if it had not been for President Woodruff's strength in that principle we would have had worse than the manifesto, and explained what certain diplomatic brethren thought was best to do. In view of this revelation thought the brethren really felt that they were not justified in stopping it and that is all the effect it had on my mind and the Taylor revelation had very little effect. I thought I should receive my instructions from the living oracles. I claimed to have been in harmony with you brethren since I was dropped from the quorum. I had nothing to do with the Roberts case, of Wasatch, and Joseph W. Musser, except ten or twelve years ago, I married a Hill girl to him. Married John W. Wolff ten or twelve years ago.
President Lyman:
Did you marry my brother?
Matthias F. Cowley:
He talked with me, but I had nothing to do with it. I possibly told him he could go to Mexico or Canada. I am willing to do anything I can to be in harmony with you, If I have done wrong. I ask your forgiveness. I am willing to do anything to set matters right. I want you to treat me as considerately as possible. I feel that I have erred in view of the sentiments and feelings of the brethren. I feel that the Lord has greatly blessed me in spirit and in regard to my personal standing before Him, and when you brethren have ruled I propose to stand by it in the future. I have never made a practice of performing marriages and encouraging them.
Meeting adjourned at 2:30 and reconvened at 3:30 PM
Hyrum M. Smith:
Did you place any of these brethren under covenant to not divulge anything regarding their marriages or place them under oath?
Matthias F. Cowley:
No, not under covenant or under oath, but I told them to be cautious and not get the Church into trouble. I was put under oath myself. The conditions were different then than now. I never performed a ceremony except in all solemnity. We always had prayer first and everybody knew who I was and I knew who I was marrying. No one was in disguise. I was asked to hold up my hands and solemnly swear, but I never did anything of that kind with the people I married.
President Lyman:
You didn't consult me regarding these marriages.
Matthias F. Cowley:
I understood that I was not to consult you or John Henry Smith, that you didn't want to know anything about these things.
President Lyman:
Do you think you are justified in lying to help your brethren?
Matthias F. Cowley:
I don't feel that a brother would be justified in screening another brother in doing that which is wrong, but in protecting him in doing that which is right.
President Lyman:
I do not know how far I would be justified in lying or in [not]telling the truth to protect a brother in doing what is right to protect him. As far as I feel, I don't think it has been required since President Woodruff's time that a man enter into plural marriage and those who have entered into it have done so upon their own responsibility.
George F. Richards:
Has Brother Tanner ever asked you to marry him more than twice?
Matthias F. Cowley:
No sir.
President Lyman:
Where you married people have you had recommends from their Bishops or presidents of stakes?
Matthias F. Cowley:
No sir, they usually came with word from President Cannon.
Question: Did you marry Peter Anderson? Or Patriarch Tolman?
Matthias F. Cowley:
No sir. I married Alonzo Merrill, but not, Fred, who I understand committed adultery. I married Hugh J. Cannon about 1903, I think. After President Cannon died I performed marriages for people who had been promised before that time. I married Heber Bennion and Brother Smart in Salt Lake City, also Jesse N. Smith.
The Sears matter was referred to and Brother Cowley said he had not married him although Brother Sears told him President Smith was vexed when he heard that he had not been married and he was married as late as 1906. There were instances where Brother Merrill sent men to me with the understanding on my part that they came from President Cannon.
Charles W. Penrose:
I understand that Brother Cowley advised Brother Bastian?
Matthias F. Cowley:
I don't remember talking with him. I had the understanding when I married any one that they had been promised by someone in authority higher up. I also married Reuben G. Miller, Josiah Hickman, Abraham O. Woodruff, M. M. Steele, Jr. And George M. Cannon.
It was moved that Brother Cowley be excused, in parting, he said:
I want you brethren in considering my case to prove John W. Taylor a false prophet when he said that I would be excommunicated from the Church. If there is anything I can do to make good our honor to the nation and to the saints I am willing to do it. I want you to know that I am not rebellious and never have been and if I have erred it has been because of these circumstances and the example of my brethren. I am in harmony with you and would like you to put me upon my honor to make that good in the future. I would rather die than be cut off from the Church.
After the departure of Brother Cowley the brethren of the Council each in turn expressed his views in relation to the case of Brother Cowley, the brethren remaining in session for some time. The matter was continued until Thursday, 11 May.
At a meeting of the Council of the Twelve Apostles held in the Temple, Thursday afternoon, 11 May 1911, the following action was taken:
This day by unanimous vote of the Council of the Twelve Apostles it was decided that Matthias F. Cowley, for insubordination to the government and discipline of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, be and he is hereby deprived of the right and authority to exercise any of the functions of the Priesthood.
Francis M. Lyman
In behalf of the Council.
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