Mr. CARLISLE. Professor Wolfe, did you ever pass through the Endowment House?

Mr. WOLFE. I have been through the Endowment House.

Mr. CARLISLE. How many times have you passed through the Endowment House?

Mr. WOLFE. Not less than twelve.

Mr. WOLFE. Excuse me, secretary. By the Endowment House I suppose you mean the Temple?

Mr. CARLISLE. Yes, the Temple.

Mr. WOLFE. Because the old Endowment House is torn down. I was never in that. I first passed through in May, 1894.

Mr. CARLISLE. When was the last time?

Mr. WOLFE. October, 1902.

Mr. CARLISLE. Will you state to the committee whether there is, as part of the ceremonies in the Temple, any oath administered.

Mr. WOLFE. There are several oaths administered.

Mr. CARLISLE. Can you state what they are?

Mr. WOLFE. There is an oath of chastity, or, I might say, a covenant or law—a law of sacrifice and a law of vengeance.

Mr. CARLISLE. When you-say a law of vengeance, what do you mean? Do you mean that there is any promise or pledge to avenge a wrong, or do you mean simply that there is some law read to you or some rule read to you?

Mr. WOLFE. There is no covenant or agreement on the part of any individual to avenge anything.

Mr. CARLISLE. Just state to the committee what it is.

Mr. WOLFE. The law of vengeance is this: “You and each of you do covenant and promise that you will pray, and never cease to pray, Almighty God to avenge the blood of God’s prophets upon this nation, and that you will teach the same to your children and your children’s children unto the third and fourth generations.” At the conclusion the speaker says: ‘‘All bow your heads and say yes.”

Mr. CARLISLE. Was that done?

Mr. WOLFE. It was done.

Senator OVERMAN. Was that done every time or just one time?

Mr. WOLFE. It was done every time I went through.

Senator OEERMAN. That was twelve times?

Mr. WOLFE. Yes, sir.

Mr. CARLISLE. Twelve times at different times, he said.

Mr. WOLFE. At different times.

Mr. OVERMAN. I understand they were at different times.

The CHAIRMAN. Let me ask you if the persons present’ when this obligation is imposed assume any particular attitude, whether they are kneeling or standing?

Mr. WOLFE. They are standing.

The CHAIRMAN. And how about the right hand? Is it uplifted? Mr. Wouters. Yes, sir. [The witness illustrates. ]

Mr. CARLISLE. Prior to the administration of this oath, or the taking of this pledge, whatever it may be called, was any ceremony of anointing gone through?

Mr. WOLFE. Yes, sir.

Mr. CARLISLE. What is done in that ceremony?

Mr. WOLFE. Those who participate in it are washed. The different parts of the body, from the head to the feet, are washed, and blessings are pronounced with the washing, and the anointing is done with oil from the head to the feet, and the blessing is pronounced with that.

Mr. CARLISLE. These ceremonies were the same, were they, each time you went through?

Mr. WOLFE. Yes, sir; each time.