Vol. II. Voree, W. T., January 13, 1848. No. 43.
DAVID WHITMER, ENSIGN OF LIBERTY, The third number of the Ensign has really made its appearance -- every word of it by the pen of Wm. E. Our first curiosity on getting our eye on it was to see what he would say about his visit to D. Whitmer. As he had gone a journey of 3,000 miles to persuade David to pretend to be a prophet, after failing in doing so by writing, and as we had vainly tried every possible expedient to induce him to tell the result of his mission, we of course came to the conclusion that something had gone wrong. Things looked rather squally when Wm. E. returned from Mo., without any epistle from David to the flock that were bleating after him. A strong anxiety was felt to know what Whitmer had to say in the premises. When it was learned that he had given nothing for the public eye at present, some were quite uneasy; but when, after assuring them that David had really accepted his calling and appointed his brother John and Oliver Cowdery his counsellors, he charged them not to write to David and John lest the Missourians should mob them, several were so wicked as to suspect Mc. of humbugging them. Finally, Oliver, though he lives only 12 miles from Voree, would not come down and speak to the 41 apostates living in this region, whom Mc. falsely pretends to have drawn from the church here. -- All these things were onerous of deception and false pretenses. -- Yet a few, probably 8 or 10, hung on with some little hope, more or less, that some great things would burst out in a perfect blaze as soon as the Ensign could be got out. Whisperings were constant that David had written a proclamation which would do up all opposition, and set himself on a pinnacle of glory. The few who had any hope remaining looked most anxiously, and we curiously for the proclamation in the forthcoming Ensign. But -- the Ensign has finally got along -- and not one word from Whitmer or either of his counsellors. And all that Mc. ventures to say about them is the following: -- |
Vol. II. Voree, W. T., January 20, 1848. No. 44.
... when [David] Whitmer was ordained, Wm. W. Phelps and John Whitmer were ordained his counsellors. Consequently, if this ordination made him First President of the church, it made them members of the First Presidency. And as Whitmer and his brother have never acted in Mormonism since 1838, I don't know but Phelps might put in a claim that Whitmer has fallen and that he has succeeded him and gone into the wilderness with the prophetic office. You cannot get over the fact that if this ordination made Whitmer First President, it also made his counsellors members of the First Presidency. It is, to say the least, a little singular that the whole First Presidency should have fallen at the same time, and extraordinary beyond conception that God should have appointed an entire new Presidency to lead the church; and that for thirteen years of such perils as the church has passed through in that time, not one of them should have found out that he was the true shepherd, and God should never have spoken one word in that time by his prophet... |
Vol. II. Voree, W. T., February 3, 1848. No. 46.
James J. Strang, an Apostle of the Lord Jesus Christ, and a Prophet of Almighty God, to the Churches in all the world, and to all the Saints scattered abroad, greeting: -- |
Vol. II. Voree, W. T., February 17, 1848. No. 48. THE ENDOWMENT. We have received a 24 page tract containing a pretended revelation of the proceedings of what was called the endowment of the apostate Twelve and their followers at Nauvoo, with a request for our opinion of the propriety of the publication. But as the author has already printed three editions, we doubt not he was more anxious for approbation than advice. This tract, besides many other things, some of which are well enough, and some extremely erroneous, gives seven degrees of a kind of bastard Free Masonry, said to have been administered to several thousand persons in the Temple at Nauvoo under the direction of Brigham Young, &c., all committed to the authors of the work under the sanction of a solemn oath of perpetual secrecy. And that the readers of the tract may be certain that what they read is true, the authors have added their oath that these disclosures are strictly true. So, by their own showing, we have both their oath that they will not disclose and reveal, and that they have disclosed and revealed. This we know, by the testimony of perjured witnesses, that they either have or have not revealed the apostate endowment. The book contains some sterling truths in regard to the origin of the church of God, and, on the whole, we think is as likely to do good as hurt; but we cannot attempt to accomplish a good work by wicked means, and will have nothing to do with this trifling with oaths. If all the falsehood, all the perjury was left out, we should recommend the work; but as it is we cannot consent to advertise the book or the author, or place of publication, lest we should thereby become instrumental in rewarding perjury. Certainly some excuse is made in this case for violating an oath, and so every man who wishes to violate one has his excuse. Oh the inconsistency of man! ... |
Vol. II. Voree, W. T., February 24, 1848. No. 49.
A NEW MORMON LION. -- Beaver Island, in Lake Michigan, has become the chosen spot of the Mormons under J. J. Strang. The Island contains about forty square miles, has been surveyed by the government, but is not yet in market. Some 8 or 10 squatters on it have been brought up by Strang, who has issued his orders that the Mormons immediately take up their line of march to their new place of abode. Strang claims to be the Heaven-appointed successor of Joe Smith. Voree, Wisconsin, his present place of residence, contains about 1000 of his followers. His power is almost unlimited. By a bill of excommunication he recently cut off from official standing in the church, his notorious cotemporary, John C. Bennett. -- The Reveille, the organ of the Strangites at Voree, speaking of this newly fledged prophet, says there is not his equal on this earth for patience, faith, prudence, wisdom, aptness to teach, and indefatigable perseverance. Poor, weak human nature! |
Vol. III. Voree, Wisconsin, May 18, 1848. No. 9.
THE STATE OF WISCONSIN. -- The constitution of Wisconsin has been adopted, and a State government elected. It only wants the action of the Congress of the U. S. to make Wisconsin one of the States of the Union. In this work the saints have had very little to do, and we think had they done nothing it would have been well. Our opinion is now as heretofore, that the saints have nothing to do with elections, not so much as to vote. At the late election of State officers Oliver Cowdery, one of the witnesses of the Book of Mormon, was the regular candidate of the Democratic party for member of Assembly. though not in the district where the saints reside, and was defeated solely on the ground of Mormonism. His capacity and worth was admitted, but he had been a Mormon. Indeed he was worse used than the active members of the church; for here they are elected to office, though none of them attend caucuses or elections. We regret his defeat, because it was accomplished by wicked means, and as he has rejected the pretensions of various usurpers in the church, and maintained the integrity of his testimony, and settled down in the immediate neighborhood of the true church, we think he would do well to say "Othello's occupation is returned." |
Vol. III. Voree, Wisconsin, June 8, 1848. No. 12.
==> Scarcely a week passes but we see in some of our exchange papers articles credited to the Missouri Republican, speaking of the great success and prosperity of the Brighamite camp in the west. -- All this would be well enough if it was true. Indeed we think their worst enemies ought to be satisfied with what they have suffered, and to pray for a respite of the evils they are daily drawing down on their own heads. But these editorial puffs seem to be stretched to the last degree of tension, and may burst like overgrown bubbles before the papers can reach the readers. If a cause is to be built up by lying, yet it is possible to lie too barefaced. -- Certainly it looks very much like it when the Republican says that the Mormons had, at the last accounts, pit in 5,000 acres of winter wheat in Salt Valley. In an earlier article the Republican had stated that 500 teams had gone to the Valley, and though this is 336 higher than other estimates and accounts of those who met them, yet take this for a basis of reasoning, each and every team must have carried the seed for 10 acres of ground, say 13 bushels, besides carrying the families, clothing, furniture, farming utensils of every kind, and a year's provisions. If any one can believe that a single family can move into the wilderness 1,000 miles beyond the last house, carrying all provisions, clothing, furniture, tools, seeds, and everything else necessary for a year's use, including seed wheat to put in crops for market, he may believe this story. But if one family cannot do it, many cannot. Increasing the number of persons does not diminish the food and clothing necessary for each person. Besides this it should be remembered that nearly all these wagons went over late in the fall, and could not have arrived earlier than late for wheat sowing. And by showing the Republican they have built a large fortified town, as well as sowed 5,000 acres of wheat. And as by the same accounts they have taken over large herds of cattle, this 5,000 acres must all be fenced too, and the timber for the fences as well as that for building has all to be drawn some twelve miles. Nonsense! Any man who will believe such stuff deserves to be deceived. ==> We are informed that Sidney Rigdon is engaged in the honorable avocation of dressing cloth in the western part of the State of New York. This speaks well for him, and is an example that we commend to the sectarian priests who have reviled him for eighteen years. Is there not yet hope for the old man eloquent? -- Wholesome honest labor is good both for ambition and insanity, and he has shown his manliness by turning to it. Note: Following the collapse of his splinter group church in Franklin Co., Pennsylvania, in 1847, Sidney Rigdon relocated in Cuba, Allegany Co., New York. His son-in-law, George Robinson, operated a retail sales business in the nearby town of Friendship, and it appears that Sidney's spate of "honest labor" was connected to Robinson's business dealings. Probably Sidney Rigdon's work consisted of some hours spent in a small wool carding and dressing mill, where the raw wool was prepared for weaving, and then the surfaces of the woven textiles were made smooth, by shearing, stretching and pressing. Sidney probably learned the basics of these and similar operations, when he worked as a leather finisher in the Pittsburgh area in his younger days. There he not only learned tanning, but also "currying" -- the preparation of a fine surface on leather intended for use in manufacturing, the making of book-bindings, etc. Isaac Craig, who researched Sidney Rigdon's early years, reported that Rigdon once "had a small tannery... [in Pittsburgh] for the manufacture of book-binders sheep-skins." This discovery agrees with the testimony of another old Pittsburgh resident, who recalled, "So far back as 1822 the firm of Patterson & Lambdin... did business as Publishers... [in Pittsburgh] At the same time Sidney Rigdon, tanner and currier, had his tan-yard... it is likely that, in the business transactions between book-binder and tanner, Sidney Rigdon took the Spaulding manuscript." It remains unknown whether, during his days of "honest labor" in Allegany Co., New York, Rigdon worked at finishing cotton, wool or linen -- but it is not unlikely that a portion of his finished product once again went into the production of book-bindings. |
Vol. III. Voree, Wisconsin, June 29, 1848. No. 15. THE SCATTERED MORMONS. Lyman Wight and George Miller have settled on the Colorado in Texas with some thirty houses, and have their property common and by their account are doing well. They have published a small tract giving an account of their doings and circumstances, and the reasons for their separation from the Brighamites. We have not been able to obtain a copy of the tract, but one of the elders who has read it gives us this information. |
Vol. III. Voree, Wisconsin, August 17, 1848. No. 22. AN APPEAL. It is seldom that I address the public concerning myself, and very seldom that I do so by way of complaint. On the whole I have great reason to be thankful for the kindnesses that I have received at the hands of those with whom I have associated and corresponded... And when I begin to complain, I hope it will not be supposed that I think injuries have blotted out kindnesses, or that I am in any respect destitute of friends. Considering the very arduous and difficult mission which God has committed to me, I have every reason to be thankful that my perils have not been greater... |
Vol. III. Voree, Wisconsin, August 31, 1848. No. 24. LYMAN WIGHT AND HIS POSITION. Pres. Strang -- Sir: -- I have just taken a squint at a pamphlet entitled "An Address to the Latter Day Saints, by Lyman Wight, by way of an abridged account of his life from Feb., 1844, up to April, 1848." This Lyman Wight was one of the Twelve Apostles, who was appointed of God to fill the vacancy in that quorum, caused by the martyrdom of David W. Patton in Missouri, in the fall season of 1838. I have nothing to say concerning that man (Wight) as a man, only that he is one of the most noble, generous, brave, persevering, whole hearted men that I was ever acquainted with. Many and many a time has he offered his life as a willing scarifice for his brethren; and that, too, when my life was jeopardized, for which, as a man, he is rivitted to my attention, remembrance and high regard that time and distance never, no never, can obliterate; and I know no temporal sacrifice so great that I would withhold it to save him from peril.... (under construction) Notes: (forthcoming) |
Vol. III. Voree, Wisconsin, September 21, 1848. No. 27.
New York, September 3d, 1848. |
Vol. III. Voree, Wisconsin, October 5, 1848. No. 29.
==> We are in the weekly receipt of the Walworth Democrat, published by Cooley and (Oliver) Cowdery. It is conducted with ability, and laboring hard in an uphill cause -- Cass Democracy. -- By the way, what has become of all Dr. McLellin's promises that brother Cowdery was about to join him in building up a new Mormon church? McL. has regularly roared for a year and a half, and finally run out. Had he any promise of assistance from brother Cowdery, or was he lying all this time? His defunct Ensign did contain one letter with Oliver's name to it, saying he "held the keys," &c., but as he takes extraordinary liberties both with facts and documents, we always suspected it was a forgery. Indeed we think Oliver would do worse in joining hands with Dr. McL. in religion than with Mr. Cooley in politics, and even this is the losing hand in the long run. |
Vol. III. Voree, Wisconsin, October 19, 1848. No. 31.
==> Where are the Brighamite Twelve? Phineas Young informed us personally, not two weeks since, that six of them were at the Salt Land, and six at Council Bluffs. Letters from various places mention them in different locations. For instance, we learn that Wilford Woodruff is in Boston, and in no hurry to start to the Salt Land. Also Orson Pratt has left his family in New York and gone to England. Orson Hyde is sculling about the land seeking whom he may devour. Wonder if they cannot look up some body to be leader. It might patch up their affairs for a few weeks if they could but get some man of character to go up into the wilderness and consent to be their leader. |
Vol. III. Voree, Wisconsin, January 4, 1849. No. 42.
EXTRACT OF A LETTER TO THE Mr. Cooper, -- Sir: -- * * * * I think that you will some day wake up to an understanding of your situation, for I think that you have more mind than to remain blind forever. -- For your benefit I will give you a short history of Mormonism. I will commence with the golden Bible. It was written in Erie, Pa., as a romance with regard to the ten lost tribes of Israel. From Erie it was sent to Pittsburgh in manuscript to be printed, where Rigdon, the great Apostle of "Mormonism," was at work as a journeyman printer, whole stole the manuscript, and with "Jo Smith" commenced one of the greatest systems of fraud and humbug ever got up. Jo Smith learned the manuscript off by heart, and then got a piece of glass and called it the philosopher's stone, with which he would read from the plates, which he found when the Devil kicked him six feet on end. And as for Jo Smith, he was known to be one of the greatest villains in the western part of the State of New York. |
Vol. IV. Voree, Wisconsin, March 22, 1849. No. 1.
==> Reader, this number commences the fourth volume of the Herald. And for once we can say the morning dawns brightly. -- This paper commenced with the year 1846, and when the first number issued we had less than a dozen subscribers... For three years the Herald has been the only Mormon paper on earth. It is true that several have attempted what they please to call Mormon papers, but all have failed, unless we exempt a small monthly sheet irregularly issued at Kirtland, by the followers of J. C. Brewster. The Nauvoo Neighbor failed late in 1845, and the Times and Seasons a few weeks after. In the summer following Rigdon's Messenger stopped. The apostates in Voree started one in Jan., 1847, got out two numbers, and advertised a great Conference, which not one soul attended. W. E. McLellin attempted a publication in Kirtland, which lived through four or five numbers. Orson Hyde last fall published a prospectus and canvassed the United States for subscribers and we presume got a few, but we cannot learn he has issued a paper, and presume he never will. We understand that the Millenial Star has not been published for some two years. Isaac Sheen, Wm. Smith, and we believe two or three others, have attempted to start publications, which have entirely failed. The Herald, alone of all papers, has stood, the bulwark of the church of God, and the "defender of the faith."... |
Vol. IV. Voree, Wisconsin, May 10, 1849. No. 8.
==> We crave pardon of President Strang -- we should most pos-i-tive-ly have kept silent, had we thought our article would have called forth such a burst of small thunder from the Great I Am, James J. Strang. As far as the Col. is concerned in the matter of which the Herald speaks, we will exonerate him from all parts in the same. -- The associate editor of the Standard stands accountable for all those outrageous sayings. The senior editor might have taken a different course had he been at home -- the junior has no sympathy with the Herald, or its impostor, nor with the people, as religionists, over which Mr. Strang is called to preside -- we believe them to be a poor deluded set of fanatics, without one particle of foundation for the creed they put forth. As for the other insinuations about the paper, &c., we would merely say -- when we become so reduced in the scale of being as to become a nuisence to ourself, we may advocate Mormonism, but even then we presume we should perfer some other occupation. |
Vol. IV. Voree, Wisconsin, May 24, 1849. No. 10.
The Gospel Herald says, "the combined wisdom and learning of this generation have as yet failed," to prove Mormonism to be a humbug. We never saw a man with common reason who presumed it to be anything else, but a humbug. As for proving it to be such, the great difficulty has been that there is nothing of it -- it acts upon the moonshine principle -- nothing but a shadow for a belief; and that very shallow. Mormonism is antagonistical to common sense, and has so been treated by all who have investigated the subject. -- |
Vol. IV. Voree, Wisconsin, June 7, 1849. No. 12.
==> We learn by private correspondence from St. Louis that large numbers of Brighamites are passing through that city, both to and from Council Bluffs. Also that Phineas Young, who figured in this region in persuading Oliver Cowdery off to the Bluffs, has been down to Texas on a similar errand to Lyman Wight, which appears not to have been quite so successful. It is also alledged, we know not with what truth, that David Whitmer has an invitation to join them and serve as a kind of puppet prophet for the camp. Greatly are they in need of one, but whether they can supply the want in that way, they have yet to learn. |
Vol. IV. Voree, Wisconsin, June 14, 1849. No. 13. OBITUARY. Died, May 15th, at Menomonee, in the Chippeway region, above Lake Pippin, Bro. Moses Smith, a witness of the name of the Lord Jesus unto the nations and one of the quorum of Twelve Apostles. Bro. Moses was born in Bennington Co., Vt., the 23d of March, 1800, and consequently was in his fiftieth year at the time of his decease... he settled in Medina Co., Ohio, where he remained till 1829, when he removed to Seneca Co. There he carried on considerable business as a merchant, held several respectable offices, both civil and military, and in 1832 he heard and embraced the gospel. In 1825 he married the daughter of a Baptist clergyman in Madison Co., N. Y., Lydia Perce, who, with two children, survive him. In 1833 he spent some time in Chaut. Co., N. Y., assisted Reynolds Cahoon in the work he accomplished there, in with Alpheus Cutler and Freeman Nickerson preached the gospel extensively in that region. The following year he spent some time on the Grand River in Upper Canada, but with what success we are unable to say. Early in 1835 he made his way to Racine, Wisconsin, scarcely behind the first pioneers... |
Vol. IV. Voree, Wisconsin, July 5, 1849. No. 16.
Cincinnati, Ohio, June 8th, 1849. |
Vol. IV. Voree, Wisconsin, August 16, 1849. No. 22.
City of Austin, Travis county, Texas, June 12th, 1849. |
Vol. IV. Voree, Wisconsin, August 23, 1849. No. 23. THE STRANG MORMONS. The Strang Dynasty of the Mormon Brotherhood, it is known to most of our readers, has established the head quarters of their Church at Beaver Island, in Lake Michigan. These Islands are highly spoken of by those who have visited them. Big Beaver Island, the principal one, being, according to the Buffalo Express, about thirteen miles long by seven broad, and containing 50,000 acres of good land. These Islands are deemed remarkably healthy, and are becoming quite noted among the Upper Lake travellers, in consequence of their beauty and their salubrity of climate. The number of resident Mormons there, is now estimated at about 300, and they are soon to have a weekly paper issued there. We believe the "stake" at Voree, is to be pulled up, and transplanted at Paradise Bay, on one of these islands, where -- we suppose -- another great temple is to be built. |
Vol. IV. Voree, Wisconsin, October 4, 1849. No. 29. CONOCOCHEAGUE HERALD. This is the title of an interesting paper published at Greencastle, Franklin Co., Pa. by E. Robinson, and edited by J. Kilbourn, the first number of which is on our table. If it continues as it has commenced, it cannot fail of obtaining a liberal patronage. |
Vol. IV. Voree, Wisconsin, November 1, 1849. No. 33. MARTYRS OF THE LATTER DAY SAINTS. The following are the names of a few of the Martyrs, who, for the testimony of Jesus, have been inhumanly murdered in the States of Missouri and Illinois: -- Mr. Barber, Martyred November 4, 1833, in Jackson county, Mo. The following Saints were martyred in Caldwell co, Mo., Oct 30, 1833: -- Thos. McBride, Levi Merrick [sic - Hancock?], Wm. Merrick, Elias Benner, Josiah Fuller, Benjamin Lewis, Alex. Campbell, Warren Smith, Sardius Smith, George Richards, Mr. Napier, Mr. Harmar, Mr. Cox, Mr. Abbott, and Mr. York. About the same time and in the same county, the following persons were martyred, namely: David W. Patten, one of the Twelve Apostles, Gideon Carter, Mr. Obanion, and Mr. Carey. Martyred in Carthage Jail, in the county of Hancock, State of Illinois, on the 27th day of June, 1844, Joseph Smith, the Seer, Hyrum Smith, the Patriarch, two of the noblest Martyrs whose blood has stained the earth for ages. The murderers of the foregoing persons, though the most of them are well known, are yet running at large, boasting of their deeds. Samuel H. Smith, brother of Joseph and Hyrum Smith, who died from the effects of poison administered to him, within one month after the martyrdom of his brother. These all have sealed their testimony with their blood, besides many more whose days have been shortened by the persecutions that they have endured. |
Vol. IV. Voree, Wisconsin, November 8, 1849. No. 34.
COUNSEL. -- As there are some emigrants that are disposed to take poor persons with them to the Valley, in order to assist them on the road in driving teams, cooking, and in general assistance; and so soon as they get there they want these poor persons off on to the lands of some others. This is wrong and cannot be suffered. The people in the Valley have all they can do to sustain themselves without being burdened by an influx of poor thrown upon their hands, after the more wealthy have availed themselves of their services on the road. We therefore say to all concerned, that whoever takes the poor to the Valley shall support them there till their way is honorably opened to get a support other ways. This counsel will henceforth be enforced upon all that emigrate to this country. We say to the rich abroad, bring all the poor that you please, but you must situate them yourselves to live after you bring them here, and not throw them upon the hands of others for a support, and pay no further attention to them. Do not think to cast your burdens upon other men when you are more able yourselves to bear them than they . -- |
Vol. IV. Voree, Wisconsin, November 22, 1849. No. 36.
PROCEEDINGS OF A MEETING IN NEW YORK CITY
At a meeting of officers and members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, held at the house of sister Heely in the City of New York, pursuant to the previous call and public notice, Pres. Strang stating that part of the business of the meeting being to investigate charges made against him, requested that some other person be appointed to preside. Whereupon Bro. Samuel Bennett, one of the Twelve, was appointed President, and J. W. Jenks, High Priest, Clerk. |
Vol. IV. Voree, Wisconsin, December 6, 1849. No. 38.
==> The Warsaw Signal, after noticing the organization of the Brighamite State government at the Salt Lake, breaks out in the following tantalizing strain: -- |
Vol. IV. Voree, Wisconsin, December 20, 1849. No. 40.
==> The following article, on the organization of the State of Deseret in the Salt Lake Valley, we take from the St. Louis Republican of October 1st, which will clearly show whether the Brighamites are trusting in the arm of flesh or in God: -- |
Vol. IV. Voree, Wisconsin, December 27, 1849. No. 41.
Georgetown, Mass., Dec. 9th, 1849. |
Vol. IV. Voree, Wisconsin, January 3, 1850. No. 42.
==> The following article we take from the Boston Advertiser and Guide: -- |
Vol. IV. Voree, Wisconsin, February 7, 1850. No. 47.
Baltimore, Md., Jan. 23d, 1850. |
Vol. IV. Voree, Wisconsin, February 28, 1850. No. 50.
==> The following extract we take from the "Olive Branch," the Brewsterite organ, for the purpose of making some remarks thereon. This we think is our privilege; for when its editor first asked us to wxchange -- speaking of it in the similitude of a son -- he said: "It will be our greatest care to teach him truth and righteousness, and if in your presence he behaves with any impropriety, correct him... |
Vol. IV. Voree, Wisconsin, March 14, 1850. No. 52. THE LOCATION OF ZION, OR THE NEW JERUSALEM. The location of Zion or the New Jerusalem is certainly a subject of importance, and well worth a candid investigation; for it is one that interested the prophets, and much the more it ought to interest every true believer... |
Vol. V. Voree, Wisconsin, March 28, 1850. No. 2.
Philadelphia, Pa., March 8th, 1850. |
Vol. V. Voree, Wisconsin, May 30, 1850. No. 11.
Claims to be the successor of Joseph, his brother, by lineal descent. How he stands in the place of his brother by lineage WE do not undertake to explain. Sometimes his proceedings are mixed up with the pretension that Joseph Smith, the son of Joseph, is to be the prophet when he is of lawful age. What is lawful age for a prophet we think has not been determined since the days of the judges of Israel. At that time a child BEING CALLED OF GOD, ANSWERED THE PURPOSE very soon after he was weaned. 1 Sam. 1. ii. iii. But whether Wm. is prophet pro tem till a boy five and a half feet high gets large enough, or in perpetuity, we are unable to say. |