FOR  THE  COURANT.

THE  ABORIGINALS  OF  AMERICA.

Some peculiar characteristics of the original inhabitants of this country, entitle them to respectful consideration. However rude and uncultivated, in their customs and manners, in the estimation of the pilished nations of the world; they speak of the "GREAT SPIRIT," in terms of reverance and admiration; and apparently with as much sincerity as professing christians. They have been erroneously classed with pagan nations, and on this account it has been a common conclusion, that Divine Providence was directing their anihilation, to make room for the extension of the gospel. But, no man in sober reason can suppose that the Great Spirit, whom they worship, and who we professedly worship, has approved of the means and the measures by which the have been so exterminated; or that he now approves of those which are prospective, as relates to soem portion of them....

I believe that they are the descendants of Abraham, and of the ten tribes of Israel; of whom not a vestige of history can be found, since the time of Hezekiah, king in Jerusalem; and of Hoshea, king in Samaria. They were then, 726 years before the Christian era, carried captive to Assyria, by Shalmaneser. (see 2 Kings xviii. 9.) The long period of 2556 years has elapsed, and no allusion to them can be found in hostory, either sacred or profane. If they are, as I suppose, the lost, or dispersed ten tribes of Israel, their persevering adherence to the worship of the ever living God, and the vision as relating to them, as stated in 2 Esdras xiii. 39-47, corroborate each other. I will quote the passage, as worthy of serious consideration.

"And whereas thou sawest that he gathered another peaceable multitude unto him; those are the ten tribes, which were carried away prisoners out of their own land in the time of Osea the king, whom Salmanasar the king of Assyria led away captive, and he carried them over the waters, and so came they into another land. But they took this counsel among themselves, that they would leave the multitude of the heathen, and go forth into a further country, where never mankind dwelt; that they might there keep their statutes, which they never kept in their own land. And they entered into Euphrates by the narrow places of the river. For the most High then shewed signs for them, and held still the flood, till they were passed over. For through that country there was a great way to go, namely, of a year and a half: and the same region is called Arzareth. Then dwelt they there until the latter time, and now when they shall begin to come, the Highest shall stay the springs of the stream again, that they may go through: therefore sawest thou the multitude with peace."

The ten tribes that revolted in the time of Rehoboam, included the tribe of Levi, therefore the order of the priesthood was with them. As suffering of any kind, leads the mind to search its cause, they looked back to the once prosperous condition of their nation, under the protectig care of the God of their fathers; and concluded that a departure from his statutes, had been the cause of their adversity. I believe that contrition and humble penitence induced him again to interpose; and by separating them from every trace of idolatry, in order to secure to himself their lasting homage, they are at this time, his worshippers. That in their distress they cried unto him, and he heard their cry; and mercifully offered to guide, protect, and sustain them through a long journey, to a land where no man ever dwelt, perhaps of a "year and a half;" from Assyria to Kamskatka, the northeast part of Asia, through a vast uninhabited country; and from thence to the northwest part of this continent. I say uninhabited, because it is probable that the Assyrian empire did not extend far, northward and eastward -- and that other settlements were not much farther. Rome was first settled about that time, but history furnishes no knowledge of Russia, until 1200 years afterwards. If we believe the accounts of the miraculous deliverance of the Israelites from Egyptian bondage; their preservation in the wilderness forty years; and their quiet settlement of Canaan; it cannot exceed the limits of our credulity to suppose that they were in a similar manner conducted through the wilderness of what is now Turkey in Asia, and Russia; and through the cold region between the two continents.

We will now suppose their arrival at the northwestern extremity of this continent, 2500 years since, and their primary objects to be the true worship of Jehovah -- according to their pronunciation YOHEWAH; and the attainments of comfortable subsistence, without implements for agriculture, or any occasion for them, the forests and the waters furnishing ample supply of food and clothing. They could have no idea of any boundary except the Pacific Ocean, and centuries probably passed away before they discovered the Atlantic. But as no human being impeded their progress, they divided and subdivided into tribes, and as it suited their mode of life, placed themselves in new locations. Should we not judge, that according to this hypothesis, it would require about 2500 years to people this immense continent of North and South America, with all its contiguous Islands?

The diversity of language may be ascribed to the remote situations of the different tribes -- possibly for 2000 years. But, at least some of them, some part of the ancient Hebrew has been preserved, especially the terms appropriate to the Deity. I state this from investigations made by others -- and they have also ceremonies of various kinds, analogous to those of the ancient Israelites. This subject has interested the attention of many respectable men, who have recorded it as their opinion, that the Indians are of Hebrew lineage.

With reference to predominant dispositions, it may be said, they are indolent; so has been every people and nation, where the comforts and necessaries of life could be had without application to labour. Thei wants are few, and when these are supplied, they are as happy as those who want much, and gain much. They are reputed as barbarous in the extreme, and the prejudice of education has fixed the impression deeply in the minds of the people: stories have been handed down from generation to generation, as proof of their savage nature; while their tales of sorrow and suffering, seldom reach the white man's heart. I have no doubt that if a true history of them, prior to the discovery of Columbus, should ever be found, it would be apparent that they lived more harmoniously than even professing christians. When writing to the King and Queen of Spain, he said, "There is not a better people in the world, than these natives of America; more affectionate, affable, or mild."...

The volume by Ethan Smith, in 1825, on "The view of the Hebrews, or the tribes of Israel in America," contains a mass of evidence, well worthy of perusal.


Notes: (forthcoming)

EDITORIAL.

MAJ.  NOAH  AND  THE  INDIANS.

Maj. Noah, of the N. York Enquirer, &c. is still exhibiting precious specimens of his logic on the Indian question. A serious attempt to refute such a writer, would be a waste, both of time and paper. But as the Major is said to exert considerable influence, it may not be an uninstructive task to examine his productions, occasionally, for the purpose of forming a correct estimate of the intellectual and moral characteristics of that portion of the community, who are capable of being influenced by them, and inquiring into the causes of such a state of the community, with a view to their removal.

The Indians, according to Maj. Noah, acquired their possessions by expelling, or extermining the ancient possessors. In consequence of this crime of the forefathers of the present race of Indians, he seems to think that we have a right to commit the same crime, by expelling or extermining them. From what historical documents the Major has ascertained his facts, he has not told us. Nor in what school he has learned his ethics and his logic.

He seems to intimate that the "children of Christian parents," have a right to convert the "howling wilderness" of the "savages" into "gardens, meadows, and harvest fields." Christians will not thank a Jew for insinuating that an argument of this nature can influence them. They will not credit his sincerity, when they see that, in the same article, he betrays his vexation that the Indians have been christianized.

He insinuates that those who are in favor of rendering justice to the red men, prefer red men to white!

The southern tribes, it is said, have "lately attempted to erect an independent government," &c. Public documents prove that our government has, from the beginning, recognized them as "independent governments." In one of the next sentences, the writer himself calls the Cherokee nation, "a foreign and independent government," and gives this as a reason why it cannot be allowed to establish itself there. A stranger would infer from this, that the Cherokees -- "a foreign and independent government," had "lately" removed into "the limits of the State of Georgia."

The Cherokees, we are told, must not remain where they are, because they would be exposed to the "arrogance of conscious strength and superiority" which, (the writer would have us believe,) is an attribute "natural" to their white neighbors. -- Ergo. That same "arrogance of conscious strength and superiority" has a perfect right to "expel them by force of arms," as the only means of securing them from the said "arrogance," &c. &c.

The civilization of the Cherokees is disproved by our Solomon, on the ground that they have "lately rejected the offer of a code of laws adopted by a civilized people, their nearest neighbors;" a code, kindly offering to exempt them from all the benefits of law, denying them even the capacity of acting as witnesses. What but barbarian ignorance could have prevented the acceptance of such a kind offer?

The Major "despises that canting affectation of philanthropy which neglects its home and its country, to go in search of objects for its exercise in another hemisphere." For this reason, particularly, he condemns those among us, who "neglect their home and country, and go in search of objects of philanthropy," "within the limits of the State of Georgia," "in another hemisphere."

He calls the Cherokees "a community of savages." He characterizes our civilized population as "a people who read and write." -- Yet reading and writing, it would seem, and even "schools" and printing presses, prove nothing in favor of the civilization of the Cherokees.

Reading and writing, and schools, and printing, have been introduced among the Cherokees. Those who introduced them, are accused, by Major Noah, of aiming at a "union of Church and State." From this we learn that reading, and writing, and schools, and printing, are deadly enemies of religious liberty! And why should not this be believed? It has long since been ascertained, by the Major, and Miss Fanny Wright, and Mr. Ex-Senator Johnson, that even the civil institution of the Sabbath itself, which furnishes the foundation of all our other civil institutions, without which there exists no free nation under heaven, and without which, neither reading, nor writing, nor schools, nor printing, could be of any permanent and efficient benefit to the dependant, laboring poor -- an institution, in the absence of which, religious liberty was never dreamed of, is, in fact, hostile to religious liberty. Why then should we not, at once, demolish our printing presses, and schools and colleges, blot out our Sabbaths, burn our Bibles, renounce the ties of matrimony, break up our families, make property common plunder, and roam at large, with the brutes, in a "state of nature?"

We return to the point from whence we commenced this article. The only use of dissecting such licentious sophistry, is to catch a glimpse of the stomachs that can digest it -- to mark the disease -- and apply the remedy. It is the mania of alcohol that befools this people. The Temperance Reformation, if it succeeds, will settle every question of political ethics, now before the nation. Sober statesmen, and sober citizens can be reasoned with. No writer, fifty years ago, would have risqued his popularity, by insulting the sovereign people with such self-contradictory logic, as passes currently now, both from the press, and in the Senate. -- G.


Notes: (forthcoming)

RHODE  ISLAND  AMERICAN,  STATESMAN
AND  PROVIDENCE  GAZETTE.
ns Vol. I.                          Providence, R.I., Friday,  April 16, 1830.                          No. 87.

The following singular evidence of human credulity or knavery, appears in the New York Rochester Republican:

BLASPHEMY -- "BOOK OF MORMON,"
alais THE GOLDEN BIBLE.

(the "Preface" from Rochester paper follows)

Notes: (forthcoming)

From the United States Gazette.

A work has recently been published in the western part of the State of New York, entitled Book of Mormon, or the Golden Bible. The author is Joseph Smith, jun. -- The work contains about 600 pages, and is divided into the books of Mormon, of Ether and of Helaman. The Rochester Daily Advertiser contains the preface, and two letters, signed by eleven individuals, setting for the excellence of the work and the existence of the original "plates" of gold, on which the contents of the volume were engraved, in a language which the translator was taught by inspiration. It seems one book, that of Lehi, was translated and stolen -- the translator was commanded never again to translate the same over. We subjoin, with some hesitency, one of the certificates, which smacks pretty strongly of what once would have been called blasphemy.

(testimony of 3 witnesses from Rochester paper follows)

Notes: (forthcoming)

FANATICISM. -- A work of 600 pages has recently been published at Rochester, N. Y. by "Joseph Smith, Jr. author and Proprietor." entitled "The Book of Mormon or the Golden Bible" which the Rochester Daily Advertiser pronounces "one of the vilest impositions ever practised -- an evidence of fraud, blasphemy and credulity, shocking to the Christian and the moralist." The "author and proprietor," it is said, by some hocus pocus, acquired such an influence over a wealthy farmer of Wayne county, N. Y. that the latter paid for the printing and binding [of] 5000 copies of the blasphemous work. -- The volume is divided into the books of Nephi, of [Jacob], of Mosiah, of Alma, of Mormon, of Ether and of Halaman. The paper above referred to, publishes the subjoined "Preface," and "testimonial," from which the style of the work may be conjectured: --

(view original text from Rochester article)

Another certificate declares that the plates said to be found in Manchester, Ontario county, N. Y. had the appearance of gold, and bore the marks of ancient and curious workmanship. -- Boston Bul.


Note: This article apparently appeared in the Boston Evening Bulletin at the end of April, 1830. It is really quite remarkable that the April 2nd Rochester Daily Advertiser news report traveled so far, so quickly. By March 31st news of the forthcoming Mormon book had already reached New York City, though actual reviews of its contents were probably not published there until several weeks after that.

(From the Wayne County Republican.)

NEW BIBLE. -- A fellow by the name of Joseph Smith, who resides in the upper part of Susquehanna county, has been, for the last two years we are told, employed in dictating, as he says, by inspiration, a new Bible. He pretended that he had been entrusted by God with a golden bible which had been always hidden from the world. -- Smith would put his face into a hat in which he had a white stone, and pretend to read from it, while his coadjutor transcribed. -- The book purports to give an account of the "ten tribes" and strange as it may seem, there are some who have full faith in his divine commission. The book, it seems is now published. We extract the following from the Rochester Republican.

"BLASPHEMY. -- 'Book of Mormon' alias The Goldon Bible. -- The 'Book of Mormon' has been placed in our hands. A viler imposition was never practised. It is an evidence of fraud, blasphemy, and credulity, shocking to the Christian and moralist. The author and proprietor is one Joseph Smith, jr. a fellow who, by some hocus pocus, acquired such an influence over a wealthy farmer of Wayne county, that the latter mortgaged his farm for $3000, which he paid for printing and binding 5000 copies of this blasphemous work. The volume consists of about 600 pages, and is divided into books of Nephi, of Jacob, of Mosiah, of Alma, of Mormon, of Ether, and of Helaman. -- 'copy right secured.'


Note: The above report was taken from the Bethany, Pennsylvania Wayne County Inquirer (not "Republican") of early May, 1830. The identity of the reporter's informant is not given, but he may have been Martin Harris. The same report was reprinted in Ohio newspapers and may have circulated among some of the future converts to Mormonism, then living in the Kirtland region -- See the Cincinnati Advertiser of June 2, 1830.

FOR THE MESSENGER.

THE  BOOK  OF  MORMON.

Mr. Editor, -- I have lately spent between two and three days examining a book of an extraordinary character, bearing the above title, which was was lately brought from the state of New York, and is much talked of in some parts of the county of Windham, where it is circulating. I feel inclined to give a short account of it to such of your readers, as may not have opportunity of seeing it. It was printed at Palmyra, contains near six hundred pages, and claims to be divine inspiration, or written by men who had frequent interviews with God & angels. It is stated to have been written in the Egyptian language, on plates of gold, and to have been found in the town of Manchester, and county of Ontario, in a box of stones well cemented together, and buried in the earth, where it must have lain, according to things said in the book ever since A.D. 420. Joseph Smith Jr. found it, and he translated it, not from any knowledge of the language on the plates, but by means of two stones or glasses found with it in the box, which give light, and exhibit objects, when looked into in the dark. Eight persons testify, in a certificate appended to the book, that they have seen the plates, which have the appearance of gold, and are of curious workmanship; -- and three more testify, in another certificate, that God showed them the plates, by an angel descending from heaven for the purpose. There [sic - thus?] all either express, or appear to have full confidence in the truth of the book. It is written, frequently, with bad grammar, in a repetitious and affectedly ancient style, and in some places sounds considerably like the Scriptures. It has large portions of both old and new testiment, but derives them from other sources than our Bible. It comprises a period of almost three thousand years, as it extends from the confounding of the languages at Babel to the year of the Christian era above mentioned. It is chiefly historical, but yet very full of religion, often inculcating the importance of repentence of sin, faith in Christ, baptism, and general obedience to God's commands. In one place it appears rather opposed to believing in election, and in another holds up man's moral power or free will pretty strongly, but does not dwell much on either of these points. It speaks of Jesus Christ and the Holy Ghost in new testament style, long before it represents Christ as having come upon earth. It gives an account of baptism having been practiced about eighty years before Christ. This is said to have been performed by immersion, and afterwards Christ himself enjoined the same mode expressly; and the baptism of infants is very fully condemned by God, as being inconsistent with that purity of heart which they all possess. It speaks of Christ as kneeling in his public prayers, and says the apostles were in that posture, when they received the supper from him. It seems to condemn that public worship, in which there is but one speaker, and says it was performed by prayer, exhortion, singing of psalms, &c. as every one was moved. It relates some cases of distinguished opposers to gospel instruction being struck down, lying two or three days & nights as dead, and then brought out with great [comfort]. It represents all receiving of pay for preaching as being priestcraft, and contains the doctrine of the Trinity, and of endless future punishment.

But the history it contains is one of its distinguishing features. It represents the family of Jared, as leaving the great tower at the time of the confounding of the languages, and travelling across land and rivers a great way, till they came to a vast sea, over which they were to pass to a promised land. There the Lord directed them to build eight vessels or barges as long as a tree, into which they put their herds, various seeds, and went themselves, and were shut in by a door, the vessels being made very close around them, except an air hole in the top, which was opened & shut occasionally, when the state of the sea permitted. They were lighted each by two stones, which at the request of their most pious man, and in his sight, the Lord touched with his fingers, to make them give light in the dark. After sailing before a strong wind almost a year, they arrived at the promised land, which must have been this continent, where they found a very good country. They passed through a long variegated period, being always prosperous when they were good, but frowned upon when wicked, until they were all cut off by wars with each other, except the prophet, who was directed from above to hide in a rock, that he might be preserved to write the concluding part of the history, and bury the plates containing it, that they might be found in future ages, as it was predicted they should be. This history seems designed to explain the ancient fortifications and other things seen at the west.

But there was another colony, Lehi and his family, who were warned by God to leave Jerusalem, in the reign of Zedekiah, and just before the Babylonish captivity. They resided a while in the wilderness by the Red Sea, and then were commanded to journey many days towards the east, until they came to the "sea of many waters," where the Lord taught them how to build a ship, much as he taught Noah about the ark; and after many days sailing before the wind, they arrived at their promised land, where they afterwards found many marks of the destruction of the former colony. They prospered and multiplied very much, but became at length divided into two parties, the Samanites [sic - Lamanites?] and Nephites, the former being more inclined to wickedness, the latter to piety; and they had many wars and vicissitudes through a period of a thousand years. The birth of the Saviour was foretold by one of their prophets, and a token of it given, which they afterwards saw, viz. two days without any night intervening, and also a remarkable star, the sun setting and rising as usual. In the thirty-fourth year from this, or at the crucifixion, there was darkness, and storms, and earthquakes, for three days and nights, and most of the people were destroyed. Christ then spake to them out of a cloud, & some times afterwards descended from heaven among them, chose twelve apostles, gave them most or all the instructions we have in his sermon on the mount, after which he administered the supper, and returned to heaven. In about four hundred and twenty years, the Newphite became very wicked, and were all destroyed in wars by the Samanites, who were the only people left. These, though generally wicked, acknowledged the Great Spirit. -- Soon after their arrival in the country, they had a mark put upon them in the color of their skin; but when a part of them became pious, this mark was taken off them and they became white, and their children very fair, but the rest were not whitened. Many miracles were wrought during these periods, and it is asserted that miracles and prophecy will continue to the end of the world. These plates were commanded to be hidden in the earth, and it was foretold they should be found, translated by means of the stones or glasses, and made known to the world. It states, that they had cows, oxen, and horses in abundance, and likewise copper, oron, steel, and swords; but none of these were found by the first European discovers and settlers. This at least makes the story rather lame. I am at a loss to determine whether the book originated from speculation only, or from fanaticism, or from both. I am credibly informed, that a church has been formed at the westward, on the plan of this book. If this is true, it may furnish a new denomination in religion.

CLERICUS.    

Note: Clipping courtesy of Erin Jennings; text originally transcribed by the late Dale Morgan.

COMMUNICATION.

Mr. Editor, -- I have gotten some additional information respecting the Book of Mormon, which I send you for insertion in your paper, if you see fit. It is contained in an extract, which I have just taken from a letter written from a town in the State of New York, where, as I had been previously told, this Jos. Smith had resided some years, and from which he set out, with an attendant, in pursuit of the gold plates, which he found, as they say, about one hundred and fifty miles from the place of starting. The letter is dated Oct. 18th, 1830, and the extract is as follows:

"You have probably heard of the Gold Bible taken from the earth by Joseph Smith, the money-digger. This he has translated from the Egyptian reformed language to English, by a pair of stone spectacles (provided by an angel) and a dark hat before his eyes. The books have been printed, and J. S. and Mr. N_s are engaged in peddling the same. The society are increasing. Eighteen have been baptized in a day. H. P. and wife have been baptized, & are very strong in the faith. The girls are under conviction. The leaders pretend to cast out devils and work miracles, heal the sick, &c. We have seen none of their miracles here, except N. N. I heard say in meeting, that he had had the devil cast out."

I just add, that I have been almost in contact with these peddlers in different parts of this county, having my information from them only through most credible second hand informers, who state that they said, they know the book, and the manner in which it is said to have been found, was true; or that they did not believe it, but knew it. They are said to be respectable men. The wife of one of them, though immersed formerly by an Elder in this county, has been immersed or baptized again into this new system. I only state facts, and leave the judicious and pious to their own reflections.     CLERICUS.

P. S. There is a little error in the former piece. You mistook my L for an S in the word Lamanites.


Note: Clipping courtesy of Erin Jennings; text originally transcribed by the late Dale Morgan. "J. S." may refer to "Joseph Smith, Sr.," or less likely, "Josiah Stowell." "N-s" may be a printer's transcription error for "H-s." meaning "Harris;" and "N. N." a printer's transcription error for "H. K." meaning "Newel Knight." "H. P." was probably "Hezekiah Peck."

From the (Philadelphia) U. S. Gazette.

LO!  THERE.

We mentioned nearly a year since, the appearance of a person in the upper part of New-York State, who was preaching a new religion, founded upon a new bible, given to him by an angel. The revelation then was engraven on metal plates. We thought that the matter would rest with the simple souls with whom it began, but we find that the new doctrine is gaining many believers; societies have been formed, and leaders established. We have not heard that any candidate for president has been nominated. We find the following account in the Painesville (Ohio) Gazette:

"About a couple of weeks since, three men, calling themselves Oliver Cowdry, David Whitmer, and Martin Harris, appeared in our village, laden with a new revelation which they claim to be a codicil to the New Testament. They preached in the Methodist Chapel, and from certain indications, conceiving they might do more good other wheres, departed for Kirtland, where is a "common stock family," under the charge of Elder Rigdon, a Campbellite leader of some notoriety. The men claim to act under a "commission written by the finger of God" -- they are very enthusiastic, tolerably resolute -- but from what we can learn, need that steadfast determined resolution, and popular talent, which are necessary to ensure any considerable degree of success in a new project.

The account which they give is substantially as follows: -- at a recent period an angel appeared to a poor, ignorant man, residing in or near Palmyra, in Ontario [sic - Wayne?] County, in the state of New York, directed him to open the earth at a place designated, where he would find the new revelation engraved on plates of metal. In obedience to the celestial messenger, Smith repaired to the spot, and on opening the ground discovered an oblong stone box, tightly closed with cement. He opened the sacred depository, and found enclosed a bundle of plates resembling gold, carefully united at one edge with three silver wires, so that they opened like a book. The plates were about 7 inches long and 6 broad, and the whole pile was about 6 inches deep, each plate about the thickness of tin. They were engraved in a character unintelligible to the learned men of the United States, to many of whom, it is said, they have been presented. The angel afterwards appeared to the three individuals, and showed them the plates. To Smith it was given to translate the character[s], which he was enabled to do by looking through two semi-transparent stones, but as he was ignorant of writing, Cowdry and others wrote as Smith interpreted. They say that part of the plates escaped from them in a supernatural manner, and are to be again revealed, when the events of time shall require them.

The three individuals above named, have subscribed their names to an article in the book, in which they solemnly declare that they saw the angel and that he assured them that the book was a divine revelation. They say it was written by the prophets of God during the period embracing the time for 600 years before, and several hundred [years] after the Christian era. It predicts, we understand, almost all events which have come to pass, such as the American Revolution, &c.

These men are believed by their followers to be prophets -- and they say that the world is soon to come to an end -- within 15 years at longest.

By the world coming to an end, they only mean, that the incorrigible will be cut off by a variety of means, leaving only the true believers. They have now gone west for a country they know not where, west of the Mississippi, where they say is a Holy Spot, and there they are to establish a New Jerusalem, into which [they say] will be gathered all the natives who they say are descendants of Manesseh. They [say they] are to be fed [sic - led?] by the Spirit, and will know the ground when they place their feet on it.

Immediately after their arrival here, Elder Rigdon embraced the new doctrine, and was baptised for the third time -- once as a regular Baptist -- once as a Campbellite, and now as a disciple of the new revelation. He says he has hitherto ignorantly preached heresy. His flock, we understand, have principally followed their shepherd, and some for the third time, have gone down into the water. We are told that the [whole] number baptized in the new order, is rising of one hundred."

When we read of such delusions or follies in times past, we mourn over the ignorance and credulity of days when the march of science was slow and brief; but these are the productions of our own times, the vagaries of the 19th century. Let us, when we regard them and others that characterize the age, learn a little humility for ourselves, and exercise charity for our predecessors.


Notes: (forthcoming)

From the Painesville [Ohio] Gazette.

Delusion. -- About a couple of weeks since, three men, calling themselves Oliver Cowdry, David Whitmer, and Martin Harris, appeared in our village, laden with a new revelation, which they claim to be a codicil to the New Testament. They preached in the evening in the Methodist Chapel, and from certain indications, conceiving they might do more good otherwheres, departed for Kirtland, where is a "common stock family," under the charge of Elder Rigdon, a Campbellite leader of some notoriety. The men claim to act under a "commission written by the finger of God" -- they are very enthusiastic, tolerably resolute -- but from what we can learn need that stedfast determined resolution and popular talent which are necessary to ensure any considerable degree of success in a new project.

The account which they give is substantially as follows: -- At a recent period an angel appeared to a poor ignorant man residing in or near Palmyra, in Ontario county, in the state of New York, directed him to open the earth at a place designated, where he would find the new revelation engraved on plates of metal. In obedience to the celestial messenger, Smith repaired to the spot, and on opening the ground discovered an oblong stone box tightly closed with cement. He opened the sacred depository and found enclosed a bundle of plates resembling gold, carefully united at one edge with three silver wires, so that they opened like a book. The plates were about 7 inches long and 6 broad, and the whole pile was about 6 inches deep, each plate about the thickness of tin. They were engraved in a character unintelligible to the learned men of the United States, to many of whom it is said to have been presented. The angel afterwards appeared to the three individuals, and showed them the plates. To Smith it was given to transcribe the character[s] which he was enabled to do by looking through two semi-transparent stones, but as he was ignorant of writing, Cowdry and others wrote as Smith interpreted. They say that part of the plates escaped from them in a supernatural manner and are to be again revealed when the events of time shall require them.

The three individuals above named, have subscribed their names to an article in the book, in which they solemnly declare that they saw the angel and that he assured them that the book was a divine revelation. They say it was written by the prophets of God during the period embracing the time for 600 years before, and several hundred after the Christian era. It predicts, we understand, almost all events which have come to pass, such as the American Revolution, &c.

These men are believed by their followers to be prophets. -- And they say that the world is soon to come to an end -- within 15 years at longest.

By the world coming to an end, they only mean, that the incorrigible will be cut off by a variety of means, leaving only the true believers. They have now gone west for a country they know not where, west of the Mississippi, where they say is a Holy Spot, and there they are to establish a new Jerusalem, into which they say will be gathered all the natives who they say are descendants of Manesseh. They [say they] are led by the spririt, and will know the ground when they place their feet on it.

Immediately after their arrival here Elder Rigdon embraced the new doctrine and was baptised for the third time -- once as a regular Baptist, once as a Campbellite -- and now as a disciple of the new revelation. He says he has hitherto ignorantly preached heresy. His flock, we understand, have principally followed their shepherd, and [for the second, and] some for the third time, have gone down into the water. We are told that the number baptised into the new order, is rising of one hundred.


Note: The exact date of the above article has not yet been determined. Probably it comes from the Nov. 16 or Nov. 23, 1830 issue of the Geauga Gazette.

FANATICS. -- Oliver Cowdery, David Whitmer and Martin Harris, have lately commenced preaching near Painesville. Ohio, stating that they had a new revelation which the call a codicil to the New Testament, and [even] to have been written by the finger of God. They say that the world is to come to an end within 15 years; that is, the incorrigible are all to be cut off. They have joined one Elder Rigdon, once a Baptist, next a Campbellite, and now a disciple of the new revelation. He and part of his flock, about 100, have been baptized in it, and are going or have gone west for a country, they know not where, west of the Mississippi, where they say is a Holy Spirit, and there they are to establish a New Jerusalem, into which will be gathered all the natives, who they say are descendants of Manasseh. They are led by the spirit and will know the ground when they place their feet upon it.


Note: This account was paraphrased from a Nov. 1830 article first printed in the Painesville, Ohio Geauga Gazette.

The following must be considered as one of the many absurdities that rise from the private interpretation of the Scriptures -- The principle of a mock-reformation, which has unfortunately for the "One Faith," and the "One Fold" of Christ, created, more ring-leaders, than there are gods to the Pagan Mythology.

From the Painsville, Ohio, Gazette.

DELUSION.

About a couple of weeks since, three men, calling themselves Oliver Cowdry, David Whitmer, and Martin Harris, appeared in our village, laden with a new revelation, which they claim to be a condict to the New Testament. They preached in the evening in the Methodist Chapel, and from certain indications, conceiving they might do more good elsewhere, departed for Kirtland, where is a "common stock family," under the charge of Elder Rigdon, a Cambelite leader of some notoriety. The men claim to act under a "commission written by the finger of God" -- they are very enthusiastic, tolerably resolute -- but from what we can learn need that steadfast determined resolution and popular talent which are necessary to secure any considerable degree of success in a new project.

The account which they give is substantially as follows: -- At a recent period, an angel appeared to a poor ignorant man residing in, or near Palmyra, in Ontario county, in the State of New-York, and directed him to open the earth at a place designated, where he would find the new revelation engraved on plates of metal. In obedience to the celestial messenger, Smith repaired to the spot, and on opening the ground, discovered an oblong stone box, tightly closed with cement. He opened the sacred depository, and found enclosed a bundle of plates resembling gold, carefully united at one edge with three silver wires, so that they opened like a book. The plates were about seven inches long and six broad, and the whole pile was about seven inches long and six broad, and was about six inches deep; each plate about the thickness of tin. They were engraved in a character unintelligible to the learned men of the United States, to many of whom it is said they have been presented. The angel afterwards appeared to the three individuals, and showed them the plates. To Smith was given to transcribe the character which he was enabled to do by looking through two semi-transparent stones, but as he was ignorant of the writing, Cowdry and others wrote as Smith interpreted. They say, that part of the plates escaped from them in a supernatural manner, and are again to be revealed when the events of time shall require them.

The three individuals above named, have subscribed their names to an article in the book, in which they solemnly declare, that they saw an angel, and that he assured them that the book was a divine revelation. They say it was written by the prophets of God during the period embracing the time of 600 years before, and several hundred after, the Christian era. It predicts, we understand, almost all events which have come to pass, such as the American Revolution, &c.

These men are believed by their followers to be prophets -- and they say that the world is soon to come to an end -- within fifteen years at longest.

By the word coming to an end, they only mean that the incorrigible will be cut off by a variety of means, leaving only the true believers. They have now gone west for a country they know not where, west of the Mississippi, where they say is the Holy Spot, and there they are to establish a new Jerusalem, into which they say will be gathered all the natives, who they say are the descendants of Manasseth. They are led by the spirit, and will know the ground when they place their feet on it.

Immediately after their arrival here, Elder Rigdon embraced the new doctrine, and was baptized for the third time -- once, as a regular Baptist -- once, as a Campbelite -- and now, as a disciple of the new revelation! He says he has hitherto, ignorantly, preached heresy. His flock, we understand, have principally followed their shepherd, and some for the third time, have gone down into the water. We are told that the number baptized into the new order, is upwards of one hundred.


Notes: (forthcoming)

Delusion. -- There is no end to trickery and imposture in our land. "Fools are the game which knaves pursue," and until the people in some sections of the country become more enlightened, there will be plenty of game. A few weeks since we gave our readers some account of the "Book of Mormon," a work fabricated by some jugglers and impostors in the western part of New York. Recently three men from New York, laden with this new revelation appeared in Painesville, Ohio, and began to promulgate the new doctrines, claiming to be prophets, acting under a comission written by the finger of God. -- From Painesville, they proceeded to Kirtland, where there was a Campbellite Society under the charge of Elder Rigdon. Immediately after their arrival Elder Rigdon embraced the new doctrine and was baptized for the third time -- once as a regular Baptist -- once as a Campbellite -- and now as a disciple of the new revelation. Most of his flock followed their shepherd, and went down into the water for the second, and some for the third time. The three fanatics, after converting Elder Rigdon and his society, left Ohio for a country they know not where, west of the Mississippi where they say is a holy spot, and there they are to establish a New Jerusalem.

The Campbellites are followers of Rev. Alexander Campbell, who has made some disturbances among the Baptist churches in the western states. He calls himself a Baptist, but his oponions are so extravagant and unscriptural, that all the regular Baptists disown and oppose him. If he is not misrepresented, he maintains that sins are forgiven only by and through baptism (immersion); that baptism literally drowns sin: that the Holy Spirit is never received by any one until he has been baptised, and that none go to heaven except those who have been baptised (immersed). A baptist correspondent of a southern paper remarks truly, that a man who teaches in the 19th century that baptism literally washes away our sins must expect to be ridiculed by the intelligent of all denominations; and that by Mr. Campbell's rule of explaining the bible, every doctrine of the Romish Church may be made out. He adds -- "I think it right for believers to be baptised, and that by immersion; but I believe many will go to heaven who were never immersed, and that many will miss heaven who have been."

There is nothing new in the doctrine of Mr. Campbell; men in all ages have been prone to rest in external rites and ceremonies -- to substitute outward observances for purity of heart and life -- for that faith which worketh by love. In opposition to Mr. Campbell, it may be truly affirmed that no person's sins were ever washed away, no person was ever renewed, by water baptism; no man ever went to went to heaven because he had been baptised, whether in much or little water; no man was ever excluded from heaven because he had not been baptised; it is not in the power of Mr. Campbell, nor of all the clergymen on earth, by baptism or any other outward form or ceremony, to change the heart or alter the disposition or character of any man woman or child -- to make a person or thing holy which is unholy, or "bring a clean thing out of an unclean." Well does Watts say:
Not all the outward forms on earth,
      Nor rites that God has given,
Nor will of man, nor blood, nor birth,
      Can raise a soul to heaven.
Note: The Hampshire Gazette previously ran an article on the "Book of Mormon," on Nov. 10, 1830. See the Brattleboro Messenger of Oct. 30, 1830 for that text. On Feb. 16, 1831 the Gazette printed another article on the topic -- a brief excerpt from the Painesville Geauga Gazette. For an original report on the Mormons, sent from Ohio, see the Gazette of April 27, 1831.

Mormonites in Ohio. -- The believers in the book of Mormon amount to about 400 in Geauga and Cuyahoga counties, Ohio. They have all things common, and they affirm that miracles are performed among them, and revelations made to them by the Deity.

Notes: (forthcoming)

Fanaticism. -- We noticed, some time since the progress of a new religious order in the Western part of Ohio. It would seem that good materials are found in that district for such a work. The Painesville (Ohio) Gazette contains the following additional particulars:

The Golden Bible, or the Book of Mormon.

The believers inthis miserable production, are known by the name of "Mormonites," and their book is commonly called 'The book of Mormon.' It is asserted by them that their number in this vicinity is four hundred. In a conversation a few days since with a gentleman from Kirtland, well informed, and every way calculated [sic - concerned?] to give us the truth, we are assured that their numbers in the families [sic - family?] in that town were two hundred souls. We doubt not then, that their whole number in this country [sic - county?] and Cayahoga, are [sic] at least four hundred.

They have recently received an additional revelation from the prolific prophet, Smith, which is generally understood to say that Kirtland is within the precincts of the holy land; but by others, is said to mean only that in that town will be a great gathering of mighty multitudes, preparatory to their westward general migration. They are, therefore, admonished to sell no more of their possessions, but rather purchase, lest there shall not be room for the faithful. The admonition, however, arrived too late, as they have but fifty acres left and the land-holders refuse to sell to them.

They profess to receive sensible demonstration of the Deity. A few days since, a young man gave information to some of his brethren that he was about to receive a message from heaven. -- They repaired to the spot designated and there, as they solemnly assert, a letter descended from the skies and fell into the hands of the young man. The purport was to strengthen his faith and inform him that he would soon be called to the ministry. They declare their solemn belief that this letter was written in heaven by the finger of God. The style of writing was the round Italian, and the letters of gold. The favoured youth immediately attempted to copy the communication, but as fast as he wrote, the letters of the original disappeared, until it entirely vanished. It is alledged that some of them have received white stones promised in the 2d chapter of the Revelations. Such of them as have "the spirit" will declare that they see a white stone moving about the upper part of a room, and will jump and spring for it, until one more fortunate than the others catches it, but he alone can see it. -- Others however profess to hear it roll across the floor. These two stories, and others of a [similar] character, are told by them with solemn asseverations of their truth.

Among them is a man of color, a chief man, who is sometimes seized with strange vagaries and odd conceits. The other day he is said to have jumped twenty five feet down a wash bank into a tree top without injury. He sometimes fancies he can fly.

In Chardon, one man has torn away all the partitions of the lower part of a good two story dwelling house. Here a large number live together. The food, consisting of meat and vegetables, it is said, are [sic] placed on the table in a large pan, which is the whole table furniture. From this every inmate takes a piece of meat and potatoe in his hand and devours them as he walks about the room. As to matters of apparel, and indeed other things, where any one wants what he has not, he takes it any where in the family where he can find it unoccupied. All things are common.

Notes: (forthcoming)

DELUSION. There is no end to trickery and imposture in our land. "Fools are the game which knaves pursue," and until the people in some sections of the country become more enlightened, there will be plenty of game. A few weeks since we gave our readers some account of the "Book of Mormon," a work fabricated by some jugglers and impostors in the western part of New-York. Recently three men from New-York, laden with this new revelation appeared in Painesville, Ohio, and began to promulgate the new doctrines, claiming to be prophets, acting under a comission written by the finger of God. From Painesville, they proceeded to Kirtland, where there was a Campbellite Society under the charge of Elder Rigdon. Immediately after their arrival Elder Rigdon embraced the new doctrine and was baptized for the third time -- once as a regular Baptist -- once as a Campbellite -- and now as a disciple of the new revelation. Most of his flock followed their shepherd, and went down into the water for the second, and some for the third time. The three fanatics, after converting Elder Rigdon and his society, left Ohio for a country they know not where, west of the Mississippi where they say is a holy spot, and there they are to establish a New-Jerusalem.

The Campbellites are followers of Rev. Alexander Campbell, who has made some disturbances among the Baptist Churches in the Western States. He calls himself a Baptist, but his oponions are so extravagant and unscriptural, that all the regular Baptists disown and oppose him. If he is not misrepresented, he maintains that sins are forgiven only by and through baptism (immersion); that baptism literally drowns sin: that the Holy Spirit is never received by any one until he has been baptised, and that none go to heaven except those who have been baptised (immersed). A Baptist correspondent of a Southern paper remarks truly, that a man who teaches in the 19th century that baptism literally washes away our sins must expect to be ridiculed by the intelligent of all denominations; and that by Mr. Campbell's rule of explaining the bible, every doctrine of the Romish Church may be made out. He adds -- "I think it right for believers to be baptised, and that by immersion; but I believe many will go to heaven who were never immersed, and that many will miss heaven who have been."

There is nothing new in the doctrine of Mr. Campbell; men in all ages have been prone to rest in external rites and ceremonies -- to substitute outward observances for purity of heart and life -- for that faith which worketh by love. In opposition to Mr. Campbell, it may be truly affirmed that no person's sins were ever washed away, no person was ever renewed, by water baptism; no man ever went to went to heaven because he had been baptised, whether in much or little water; no man was ever excluded from heaven because he had not been baptised; it is not in the power of Mr. Campbell, nor of all the clergymen on earth, by baptism or any other outward form or ceremony, to change the heart or alter the disposition or character of any man woman or child -- to make a person or thing holy which is unholy, or "bring a clean thing out of an unclean." Well does Watts say:

Not all the outward forms on earth,
    Nor rites that God has given,
Nor will of man, nor blood, nor birth,
    Can raise a soul to heaven.                                                 Hampshire Gazette.


Note 1: The above article appeared in the Northampton, Massachusetts Hampshire Gazette of Jan. 19, 1831. The report appears to have combined information published by the Painesville Geauga Gazette in Nov. of 1830, in an unidentified "southern paper," and perhaps also from the Hudson Observer of Nov. 18, 1830. See the Ohio Huron Gazette of Apr. 11, 1831 for another reprint of the Hampshire Gazette report.

Note 2: As time passed, observers of the development and progress of Mormonism eventually forgot its many similarities with and special ties to Campbellism. However, during the early 1830s the connections between the two sects were still so evident as to catch the attention of reporters and editors, viewing the new religious excitement from outside of its ranks. As an example of how Mormonism progressed in doctrines of "outward forms on earth," see Sidney Rigdon's address of Apr. 11, 1845, where he says: "Now, brethren, it becomes your privilege to bind the heavens, by a similar covenant, that this Kingdom, in your hands, may triumph; each one for himself, presenting himself before God, withe uplifted hands to heaven, declaring in the presence of God, the holy messengers, and one another, at the same time decreeing in your hearts before God, that if this Kingdom does not triumph and prevail, according to the promise made through the prophet Daniel, it shall not be your fault, thus binding the heavens for a fulfilment of the promises made, concerning it."

MORMONITES. This deluded sect of fanatics, believers in the Golden Bible, or Book of Mormon, have increased to the number of four hundred, in the town and vicinity of Painesville, Ohio. The Painesville Telegraph says that Smith, their prophet, professes to have received additional revelations from heaven, admonishing them that, as the town of Kirtland is to be the place of a great gathering preparatory to their general emigration to the land of promise in the west, they must sell no more of their possessions, lest there should not be room for the multitudes of the faithful to assemble. A few days since a young man, with several of his companions, repaired to a designated spot, where, as they solemnly assert, a communication written in letters of gold descended from the skies, and fell into the hands of the young man. This wonderful communication they are not able to exhibit, the original letters having, as they say, mysteriously disappeared as fast as the young man copied them off. Some of them fancy that they can fly; others can perceive white stones moving about in the upper part of the room, or hear them roll across the floor; one man is said to have jumped down a bank twenty-five feet, into a live top, without receiving any injury. Such stories are told by them with the most solemn asseverations of their truth; and it is stated that the question is to be gravely discussed in one of the western papers, whether the Golden Book is true or not!

From a letter published in the New-York Baptist Register, dated Kingsville, Ohio, Feb. 10th, it seems that the disciples of Alexander Campbell are somewhat disturbed by this strange delusion. "Campbellism with us" says the writer, "is on the decline. Many of its votaries have embraced Mormonism, or the new revelation. The war has, changed its appearance, and seems now to be between Campbellites and Mormonites."


Note: The Feb. 10, 1831 Kingsville letter (regarding local Campbellites and Mormonites) has not yet been located for transcription. See the Hampshire Gazette of Jan. 19, 1831 for comments on the same topic.

FANATICISM.

Some time last summer, or perhaps longer ago, mention was made in the papers of some fanatics, who pretended to have dug up in the western part of New York, a stone or stones, on which were written divine revelation, that had lain buried, we think they said, for centuries. We did not take pains to preserve the account, as we thought the imposition too gross to find believers. We remember afterwards seeing some notice of an emigration of persons to Ohio, who carried the delusion or imposture, whichever it was, with them. The following paragraph, which we find in a paper of this city, but the origin of which is not given, refers, we presume, to this sect.

"The believers in the book of Mormon amount to about 400 in Geauga and Cuyahoga counties, Ohio. They have all things common, and they affirm that miracles are performed among them, and revelations made to them by the Deity. They assert, that a short time since a letter written in heaven by the hand of God, descended from the skies and fell into the hands of a young man; and that some of them have received the white stones promised in the 2d chapter of Revelations.

A negro, who is a chief man among them, is said to have jumped 25 feet down a bank into the top of a tree top without injury. A man in Chardon has torn away all the partitions of the lower part of a good two story dwelling house, and here a large number of them live in common. Their food, consisting of meat, potatoes, &c., is placed on the table in a large pan, from which each one takes a piece of meat and potatoe in his hand, and devours them as he walks about the room. About 200 of these deluded people belong to the family in the town of Kirtland."


Note: The above report (which was reprinted in the Hartford Religious Inquirer of April 2nd) is a somewhat paraphrased version of the Feb. 1, 1831 article from the Painesville, Ohio Geauga Gazette. That Ohio article was fully reprinted in the Feb. 15, 1831 issue of the New York Danville Chronicle.

MORMONISM. -- We learn from the last number of the Painesville, Ohio, Gazette, that the strange and ridiculous sect, known as Morminites, are increasing, not only in the towns where their religion was first promulgated, but in many of the settlements in the immediate vicinity. A man named Martin Harris, who, it will be remembered, gave out to the in habitants of Painesville some weeks since, that he had seen Jesus Christ -- and that he was the "handsomest man he ever seen" -- and who also asserted that he had beheld the Devil, whom he described as "a very slick-haired fellow, with four feet, and a head like a jack-ass!" this same Harris, with all his absurdities of religion, and reported adventure, has nevertheless succeeded in drawing round him a host of equally infatuated believers. "'Tis passing strange," that in these latter days, conspicuous for light and reason, a number of otherwise sensible men should be led away, by such a romantic faith, as that of Mormonism. The "distinguished individual," whose head the prophet Harris represents as wearing a decided assinine aspect, has put a freak into his head and those of his followers, by reason of which they are made to illustrate the comparison in a more decided point of view than a mere personal resemblance.


Note: The news about Martin Harris came from the Geauga Gazette of Mar. 15, 1831 -- but the above article appears to have incorporated an additional Martin Harris tidbit from some other, unidentified, source.

THE  MORMON  DELUSION.

Mr. Judd -- I noticed a few weeks since in your paper a brief account of a sect or gang, who in this vicinity are called Mormonites. The public mind is awake in this region; go where we will, we hear little except Mormonism. I presume there are not less than 5 or 600 of these deluded beings in the towns north and west of this. They have in the town north of this what is called the "big family," where no one says that aught of the things that he possesses is his own; they have all things in common.

There are many who were once respectable and intelligent, who are now following these wretched impostors -- these pretended prophets. Joseph Smith, jr., author of the new revelation, is now head man in the big family. He pretends that he goes to the Lord occasionally for advice, and they think, yea they know they have all their orders from head quarters, even from the Lord Almighty, through the mouth of his prophet. Jo pretends to cast out devils, to give the Holy Ghost by laying on of hands, to heal the sick, &c. He has 10 years' translating to do; he looks in a small stone he has, and there reads the will of the Lord and writes it for the good of his fellow men; he can read a person's heart by looking in his face. Some lie in trances a day or two and visit the unknown regions in the mean time; some are taken with a fit of terrible shaking which they say is the power of the Holy Ghost.

I attended one of their meetings about two weeks ago; a woman was taken shaking who was not a Mormonite and she has shook the greater part of the time since; she is not inclined to join them yet -- says she feels no different in her mind than she did before. Would you believe me if I should tell you that many methodists, and methodist ministers, and some baptists and presbyterians have joined them? -- Such is the fact, yes sir, they have been down thro' the ice in the mill pond and their sins are all washed away, and they are clothed with self righteousness as with a garment. One half has not been told, but I must close.   A PRESBYTERIAN.
        Chester, Geauga Co. Ohio, Feb. 22, 1831.


Note: The above report was widely reprinted in the New England newspapers. See the Vermont Chronicle of June 24, 1831 for one interesting expansion of the topic.

From the Northampton Gazette.

THE  MORMON  DELUSION.

Mr. Judd -- I noticed a few weeks since in your paper a brief account of a sect or gang, who in this vicinity are called Mormonites. The public mind is awake in this region; go where we will we hear little except Mormonism. I presume there are not less than 5 or 600 of these deluded beings in the towns north and west of this. They have in the town north of this what is called the "big family," where no one says that aught of the things that he possesses is his own: they have all things in common.

There are many who were once respectable and intelligent, who are now following these wretched impostors -- these pretended prophets. Joseph Smith, jr. author of the new revelation, is now head man in the big family. He pretends that he goes to the Lord occasionally for advice, and they think, yea they know they have all their orders from head quarters, even from the Lord Almighty, through the mouth of his prophet. Jo pretends to cast out devils, to give the Holy Ghost by laying on of hands, to heal the sick, &c. He has 10 years' translating to do; he looks in a small stone he has, and there reads the will of the Lord and writes it for the good of his fellow men; he can read a person's heart by looking in his face. Some lie in trances a day or two and visit the unknown regions in the mean time; some are taken with a fit of terrible shaking which they say is the power of the Holy Ghost.

I attended one of their meetings about two weeks ago; a woman was taken shaking who was not a Mormonite and she has shook the greater part of the time since; she is not inclined to join them yet -- says she feels no different in her mind than she did before. -- Would you believe me if I should tell you that methodists, and methodist ministers, and some baptists and presbyterians have joined them? Such is the fact, yes sir, they have been down thro' the ice in the mill pond and their sins are all washed away and they are clothed with self-righteousness as with a garment. One half has not been told, but I must close.     A PRESBYTERIAN.
    Chester, Geauga Co. Ohio, Feb. 22, 1831.


Note 1: The Northampton, Massachusetts Hampshire Gazette evidently published at least two reports from northern Ohio, during the first part of 1831, which provided unique information regarding the early Mormons. Those and related articles are listed in the Index to the Hampshire Gazette, 1786-1937, and have yet to be fully transcribed for posting here. The Salem Gazette version of this article was reprinted in various papers, including the the Lenox, Massachusetts Berkshire Journal of May 19, 1831.

MORMONISM AGAIN. -- The last Northampton Gazette contains a letter from a clergyman in Ohio, in which mention is made of the sect of Mormonites, and the increasing prevalence of their absurd doctrines. The Geauga (Ohio) Gazette, published in the immediate vicinity of their settlement, also speaks of the alarming increase of their numbers, from various parts of that state, as well as from other states. In their accessions, they are sometimes imposed upon by unworthy members, who, inasmuch as the society have every thing in common, visit them from interested motives of temporal benefit and personal behoof. A wight joined them a short time since, whose outward habilments were in a somewhat precarious state. Having equipped himself with a good coat, "and all nether garments corresponding thereto," he vacated the fanatical premises. The disciples of Mormon, however, pursued the fugitive, and recovered the garments, leaving him sans jerkin and inexpressibles. A Painesville print observes, that "a short time since an individual of the society, after an illness of a few days, expired. It is said that no physician was called to attend him. But one of their prophets, at different times, commanded the disease to leave him. What reason the impious claimant of a prophet's mantle assigned for such flagrant disobedience, we are not informed; probably lack of faith in the sufferer." An eminent British writer has well observed, that of all things, wisdom is most terrified with epidemical fanaticism -- because of all enemies, it is that against which she is the least able to furnish any kind of resource.


Note: Clipping courtesy of Erin Jennings. The Painsville Telegraph related an account of Mr. Doty's demise in its issue for Apr. 5, 1831. The above article excerpt was probably taken from an early April issue of the rival Geauga Gazette.

[From the Western Courier.]

TO THE METHODISTS OF PORTAGE COUNTY.

Dear Brethren: -- Since my communications of October, and November last, I have had a more favorable opportunity of watching the spirit, and fruits of antimasonry -- Since that time I have spent near three months in the State of New York, and have seen it in all its stages of combustion from the first volume of smoke, to its expiring embers, in all those stages I have examined it, and in all I am satisfied it is but a branch of that devouring fire, which it is the business of evil spirits to enkindle, and nourish. Many, I doubt not, are led into it by its false, and delusive glare, who are honestly striving to arrive at the cause of truth. -- They judge of the institution of Masonry by the character of its apostate members, who went out from it because they were not of it. If the Institution was identified with the character of its apostates, no one, who holds the truth in righteousness, could for a moment justify it, or respect it. The day, I hope, however, is past when this is the rule of judgment. If it were, we, my Brethren, as a church, would have fallen long ago. Apostates have left us, and spoken all manner of evil Against us -- but what does this prove? Does all the evil report against the methodists, and all the evil conduct of Apostate Methodists prove that Methodism is bad? If the world should judge of the cause of Christ by the same rule that we are called on to judge of Masonry, they would deem it fit for devils only. Many Methodists, as well as Masons have proved apostates, and in both instances these apostates have traduced the Institutions of which they were unworthy members. Among the former we may place EVANGELOS, better known by the name of Rev. Ezra Booth, who so feelingly depicted to the Methodists the evils of Masonry on the church -- even saying that the support of the Preachers should be withdrawn front those who were Masons, and would not renounce! Under the garb of a Methodist Preacher he undoubtedly had his influence in deceiving, and deluding those who looked to him as their spiritual teacher. His taper, for awhile, glimmered beside the Star of antimasonry, and rendered it luminous. The Methodists were the special objects of his care -- to save them from the evils of Masonry was his professed object. But how fallen! this friend of the Methodists -- this religious instructor -- this false traducer of the Masons -- is now a MORMONITE!! If I pitied his blind zeal in the cause of persecution then, I now detest the hypocrisy that led him to keep on the profession of a Methodist the better to draw them into the snare. I speak it not in triumph, but in sorrow, where I say his course has ended in character with the persecuting, and uncharitable doctrines he avowed. No, I then, believed his error was an error of the head, and not of the heart. I am now forced to believe it was a political project, in which neither the head nor the heart were concerned, except so far as he thought necessary to promote his favorite political schemes, and the schemes of the party to which he had attached himself. I would still fain believe he was but a tool in the hands of intriguing demagogues, who bid him to prostitute his religious influence to promote apolitical party. His standing gave him influence, and made him an object desirable for acquisition to the antimasonic leaders -- and too well did they succeed in persuading him to bend his principles to the popularity of the times. Oft has he been called, by the request of those who are now in the world of spirits, to address the Masonic brethren who assembled in that character to pay the last tribute of respect to the memory of a departed brother -- as oft has he depicted their Christian, and Masonic virtues, and in apparent ardor commended them to the Architect of the Universe as their Creator. From a friend he became an enemy, from blessing he turned to cursing -- and under the garb of Methodism led the way to political persecution. Behold the end of that man! he is now a MORMONITE! The Methodists, for whom he had such special care, and concern, are now like the Masons, radically wrong, and under the curse of this once pretended friend. By the 'light' of Bernard he first denounced all who were Masons -- then by the light of Jo Smith he denounces all the Methodists.

His first object was to destroy the Methodists by dividing them in political affairs -- in this he partially succeeded -- how many he will now induce to adopt the new system of religion is unknown. What evil spirit will next be presented to him is beyond the reach of mortals to tell. If on account of his prostitution of Religion to advance a political party he is not given over to hardness of heart so that the spirit of truth can have no operation upon his mind, that truth will tell him of his wickedness, and that he must do his first work over, and repent himself of his wickedness. Satan will undoubtedly present him with the armor of self-will, and tell him it is too humiliating to acknowledge to the bloody Masons, that he wronged them without a cause, or to the foolish Methodists that he first tried to betray them, and then basely forsook them -- and became a Mormonite. No; probably we shall never see his recantation of his errors -- but the Methodists, like the Masons will now be the target for his maIevolent shafts.

Dear Brethren -- Much he has told you about the Bible -- he gave you warnings against the Masons because they, as he said, abused and perverted the truth of God. With what sincerity, his conduct in adopting the imposition of Jo Smith now proves. But I venture to say he did it with as much sincerity as most do who are endeavoring to draw the Methodists as blindly into a course of persecution as Satan did Paul of Tarsus.

Brethren would you be willing that our church should be judged by the conduct of this Apostate Methodist? Because he says the good old Bible is not as good as Jo Smith's, would you be willing to have the world believe that was the sentiment of the Methodists? Because he says the Methodists are wrong and the Mormonites right! are you willing to acknowledge the truth of it?

Such judgment you are called on to give against the Masons -- you are told that you must believe what apostate Masons tell you respecting them -- you must by this rule say that Mr. Booth's report of us is correct -- that we are wrong, that the old Bible is not sufficient for our direction in the way of salvation, and that the anathema is false that says 'whosoever adds to the prophecy of this Book the plagues therein written shall be added to him' -- for this new Bible does add much to the former, and Mr. Booth says it is true.

Dear Brethren, weigh these things well -- and give no more credit to the apostate members of other societies, than you are willing should be given to ours -- and until you are willing the world should receive as truth the report of apostate Methodists respecting our Church, do not go blindly into the cause of persecution against a whole order of men for crimes which exist only in the acts, and reports of apostate members.

EPHRAIM WOOD.         

Streetsborough, Ohio, April 18, 1831.

---

Trouble among the Antimasons -- persecuting each other, &c. -- The charge of Masonic abductions and persecutions, says the New York Enquirer, which has kept political antimasonry alive, and made this great State the scene of excitement, asperity and ill will beyond measure, is now coming home to the right source. The following shows that antimasons have arrested and imprisoned upon a pretence of debt one of their most active and talented Editors, W. W. Phelps of the Ontario Phoenix. It seems that Mr. Phelps took a trip to Palmyra from a curiosity to compare 'the Book of Mormon,' a new discovery, with the Bible, and while there was arrested by certain persons living in Canandaigua and thrown into jail where he must remain thirty days, leaving a sick family at home. This is something like the original arrest of Morgan for a small debt at Canandaigna, but let us hear what he says which is curious.

'Is this one of the principles of antimasonry? If it is save me from its ransacking scourge, for it is cruel as the grave,* parting man and wife, and vaunting in the dregs of Imprisonment for Debt!

Three years have I labored for public good, † and three times have I led the freemen of Old Ontario to victory. I have always meant good, and have had the name of so doing -- then for what act have I been cast into prison? Let public opinion declare! I have risked all and spent all in the cause of antimasonry -- my just dues are somewhat more than my debts: -- therefore, if those concerned, and who have had the benefit of my services, will take the while, and spare all, by giving me $150, which is only fifty dollars a year for three year's hard labor, ‡ they are welcome to it; otherwise I shall send a fire-brand abroad, which may light an unquenchable flame! I shall not be severed from the Ontario Phoenix by Lord ____, for nothing, nor go into it again disgraced. The people of Ontario will not suffer "CHURCH & STATE" to mix and fat federalism. § They will glory in seeing what has been divided in April, scattered in November, unless I receive the meed of my merit.'

_______
* The fellow ought to have discovered this fact long before he got into limbo. It would have saved him from this present unpleasant predicament.

† Here he's entirely wrong. He has been laboring for the good of a base political faction; and to the detriment of the public peace and private happiness. He has been laboring in the interests of the 'ransacking scourge,' whose relentless power he now feels.

‡ This is cheap enough, and will probably be paid, lest the threatened firebrand occasion a general conflgration.

§ We don't understand this. Will some of our New York friends explain; if the matter be not involved in too much mystery?

Note: The two articles reproduced above come from the short time period when the Mormons were making some notable converts: Jesse Gause, Ezra Booth, William W. Phelps, James Covel, Symonds Ryder, etc. For a near contemporary mention of Ezra Booth's conversion, see the Universalist Watchman of Aug. 13, 1831.

FANATICISM.

The Painesville (Ohio) Gazette, (says a Philadelphia paper) contains the following articles. How wonderful -- how altogether inexplicable is the human mind. While we are hailing the present day as one of remarkable brilliancy -- while reason and truth are chasing away the vestiges of error, behold we are met at different points, with persecutions for opinion's sake; and with opinions that might almost (if any opinions could) justify persecution. Let it teach us forbearance with those that would denounce us for opinions and attachments which they must hereafter approve; and let it teach us a due distrust of ourselves, and of our most favored speculations. How beautiful is the simplicity of truth.

"Infatuation. -- Almost every week brings new reports of the fatal infatuation of the Mormonites. It will be recollected that when they made their appearance here, they declared themselves immortal! Death, however, has paid them no respect, other than by frequent visits. In defiance of repeated instances of mortality, they still profess the power of healing, refuse to call medical assistance, and many fall the miserable victims of their faith. The latest reports are, that a few days since, the wife of a Mr. Murdock, daughter of Judge Clapp, of Mentor, and a believer in Mormonism, died among them in child bed, for want of professional assistance. The wife of the prophet Smith hardly escaped the same fate; she was in labor three days, during which time they tried their spells in vain, at last they called an accoucheur, and she was delivered of the dead bodies of two fine boys. The mother barely survived.

Fresh Arrival. -- Within the past week there have arrived from the state of N.Y. some by the Lake and others by land, at least 200 Mormonites. They brought with them their household furniture entire, bag and baggage, and roots and herbs and plants ready for the soil. They passed on to the 'holy land,' and we understand are scattered about in the several common stock families. We are told that the wife of the prophet Harris refused to be a Mormonite, and he has left her among "the Gentiles." She it was who purloined several pages of the first revelation, and which by the direction of the Angel have never been supplied. Another fellow had left his wife and children, and openly declared they never should live with him until they embrace the new faith.

Every breeze wafts to us some new rumour from this prolific source of fanatics, some of which proved true and some false. Fame now whispers in sly and obscure hints, something about a miraculous conception, from which we conclude the Mormon public mind is being prepared for the nativity of some wonderful personage.["]


Note: Clipping courtesy of Erin Jennings. See the Geauga Gazette of May 17, 1831 for the original articles.

The progress of Mormonism. -- The [Painesville?] (Ohio) Gazette records another case of fatal infatuation which has occurred among the Mormonites located in that vicinity. It will be remembered, says that print, that when these deluded creatures first made their appearance here, they declared themselves immortal. Death, however, has paid them no respect other than by frequent visits. In defiance of repeated instances of mortality, they still profess the power of healing -- refuse to call medical assistance and many fall the miserable victims of their faith. The same paper states that within the week past here had arrived at that place from the state of New-York, some by the lake and others by land, at least two hundred Mormonites. They brought with them their household furniture entire, log and luggage, and roots, and herbs and plants ready for the soil. They passed on to the "holy land," and we understand are scattered about in the common stock families. We are told that the wife of the prophet Harris refused to be a Mormonite, and he has left her among "the gentiles." -- Phil. Al.


Note: This two-part article was apparently taken from an early June, 1831 issue of the Philadelphia Album, which in turn, quoted the Pennsylvania Inquirer of May 26th. The original two reports came from the Painesville Geauga Gazette of May 17 (?), 1831. What appears to be a reprint of the entire text of the two reports can be found in the June 25, 1831 issue of the Utica Evangelical Magazine.

From the Hampshire Gazette.

THE  MORMON  DELUSION.

MR. JUDD. -- I noticed a few weeks since in your paper a brief account of a sect or gang, who in this vicinity are called Mormonites. The public mind is awake in this region; go where we will we hear little except Mormonism. I presume there are not less than 5 or 600 of these deluded beings in the towns north and west of this. They have in the town north of this what is called the "big family," where no one says that aught of the things that he possesses is his own; they have all things in common.

There are many who were once respectable and intelligent, who are now following these wretched impostors -- these pretended prophets. Joseph Smith, Jr., author of the new revelation, is now head man in the big family. He pretends that he goes to the Lord occasionally for advice, and they think, yea they know they have all their orders from head quarters, even from the Lord Almighty, through the mouth of his prophet. Jo pretends to cast out devils, to give the Holy Ghost by laying on of hands, to heal the sick, &c. He has 10 years' translating to do; he looks in a small stone he has, and there reads the will of the Lord and writes it for the good of his fellow men; he can read a person's heart by looking in his face. Some lie in trances a day or two and visit the unknown regions in the mean time; some are taken with a fit of terrible shaking which they say is the power of the Holy Ghost.

I attended one of their meetings about two weeks ago; a woman was taken shaking who was not a Mormonite and she has shook the greater part of the time since; she is not inclined to join them yet -- says she feels no different in her mind than she did before. Would you believe me if I should tell you that many Methodists, and Ministers, and some Baptists and Presbyterians have joined them? -- Such is the fact, yes sir, they have been down through the ice in the mill pond and their sins are all washed away, and they are clothed with self righteousness as with a garment. One half has not been told, but I must close.
                    A PRESBYTERIAN.
Chester, Geauga Co. Ohio, Feb. 22, 1831.

Our readers will recollect a similar delusion which raged some ten years ago in the case of the "Pilgrims." Their Prophet -- Old Isaac, as he was called -- came from Canada with a few, and encamped in Woodstock. Here outraging not Christianity only but humanity, by their absurd opinions and absurder practice -- by taking the assertions of their infatuated leader for divine revelation, by rolling in the ashes, by making wry faces, and by other unmeaning mummery -- they induced many decent people who should have known better to join them, under the empty practice of being led to the holy land. Taking a south-east direction, they floated along down the Ohio and Mississippi, their number augmenting, till they reached the mouth of the Arkansaw. Here, in the swampy delta if the river they encamped, when in a short time a pestilence carried off two thirds of their number. The rest becoming urgent for the fulfilment of the Prophet's promise, he led them a little further and set his staff in the ground at evening, saying that there was the promised land, and that in the morning, for proof, they would find the staff had out forth bud and blossom. But behold, in the morning the dry staff remained, and the Prophet had vanished, and with him the purse which contained the representative of their boasted community of property, together with all their pleasing hopes and dreamy visions.

From the resemblance between the Pilgrims and the Mormonites in manners and pretensions, we should think Old Isaac had re-appeared in the person of Joe Smith, and was intending to make another speculation. We are aware that this is a land of universal toleration in matters of religion, but it seems a pity if the authorities of Geauga County are not adequate to restrain, or at least guide into a better path such delusions. If authorities may set a guardian over a person non compos mentis, why not over people like the Pilgrims and Mormonites, for surely never were people less in possession of their proper minds than they.

After so many facts similar to the above which have taken place in this enlightened country, we come to wonder, as many commentators on the above are wondering, at the liability of mankind anywhere to delusion. Men love darkness rather than light, and they are unwilling to come to the light lest theit deeds should be reproved

The Mormonites believe in "The Book of Mormon."

They are daily receiving new revelations -- sometimes by letters dropped from the skies, written in a round Italian hand, and in letters of gold; which, if it is attempted to transcribe them, vanish.

They have all things common, and their destination is some glorious country far in the utopian West.


Note 1: See the Salem Gazette's issue of May 6, 1831 for a prior reprint of the first part of the article. For more information on Isaac Bullard's "Pilgrims" and their 1817-18 stop-over at Woodstock, Vermont, see David M. Ludlum's 1939 Social Ferment in Vermont, pp. 242-245 and the on-line transcription of F. Gerald Ham's 1973 article, "The Prophet and the Mummyjums." Although the Joseph Smith, Sr. family had departed Vermont by the time the Bullard Pilgrims arrived on the scene, Oliver Cowdery's Grandfather, (William Cowdery, Sr.) then lived in Woodstock. It is not unlikely that members of the Cowdery family had first-hand knowledge of this particular cult. For another interesting newspaper article on the Bullard Pilgrims, see "Wonderful Infatuation" in the Palmyra Wayne Sentinel of May 26, 1826.

Note 2: In a 1997 article entitled "Joseph Smith's Testimony: The First Vision and Book of Mormon Evidence," Mark Stepherson has this to say about the cult and its possible influence on early Mormonism: "Isaac Bullard was noticed and had the public mind excited against him. He wore nothing but a bearskin girdle and a beard. He gathered his "pilgrims" into a community near the Smith's old home in Vermont. When the community moved west, they likely followed the same road the Smith family used when moving to New York. Isaac Bullard taught free love, but I wonder how many members were women willing to practice free love with their leader, a man who regarded washing as a sin and bragged that he had not changed clothes in seven years?"

Note 3: While some historical accounts say that Joseph Smith, Jr. gave up his seer-stone to Oliver Cowdery late in 1830, the above letter from Chester, Ohio shows that Smith continued his use of a magical stone after his 1831 removal to Kirtland. The writer also says of the Geauga Co. Mormons: "Some lie in trances a day or two and visit the unknown regions." Compare that phenomenon to Joyce Butler's 1988 article on the New England Cochranites, where she says that they "sometimes fell into trances from which they brought back visions of the spirit world. One Cochranite reported, 'I saw my Jesus; O, I saw my Jesus;... I saw heaven, I saw my Jesus there and my grandmother... I saw my father and mother almost into hell I saw P.D. enter the kingdom of heaven. I saw I. C. almost to hell. O, what a dreadful place hell is....'"

The March of Mormonism. -- (see original article in NY paper)


Notes: (forthcoming)

MORMONITES.

Various articles have been circulating in the papers of late, respecting the dwellers of a settlement near Painesville, Ohio. We have abstained from publishing any of them, because we were unable from recollection to place before the reader a sketch of the projector or clear statement of the rise in this state, of a sect, its rapid increase, and eventual emigration to the place above stated. Now, we are prepared with the characters of its originators, their religious creed, and some of their acts and doings, as follows:

Poughkeepsie Telegram.      

(From the Lockport Balance.)

THE GOLD BIBLE. -- We have hitherto given some accounts of this IMPOSITION. The press, has generally spoken of it, as it should speak in terms of reprobation or derision. It is but recently, however, that a demonstration has been had that a scheme carrying with it from the commencement, so many and so palpable evidence of imposition, a cheat so easily detected, and based upon entire fallacy and delusion, could gain credence, or obtain disciples. The fact that it has done, and continues doing so, furnishes an unfavorable commentary upon the intelligence of the age in which we live; an evidence that with all the lights of experience, and with all the facilities for investigating and embracing TRUTH, error has not yet lost its attractions -- delusion and bigotry retain a portion of their dominion. In a community, enlightened by education, and enjoying in an eminent degree, instruction from the pulpit and press -- with the precepts and principles of christianity widely disseminated, and faithfully administered -- a few fanatics impelled by ignorance and superstition, or designing speculators upon human credulity -- claim to have been selected as the medium of a new revelation from heaven! to be from time to time, favored, as was Moses, with direct interpretations of the Divine will! The story is probably familiar to most of our readers -- to some it may be new. Briefly it is as follows: -- The principal personage in this farce, is a certain Jo. Smith, an ignorant and nearly unlettered young man, living at or near the village of Palmyra; the second, an itinerant pamphlet pedlar, and occasionally a journeyman printer, named Oliver Cowdry; the third, Martin Harris, a respectable farmer, at Palmyra. Other less important actors, have been brought in, as the exigencies of the three first named required. About two years since, Smith pretended to have been directed, in a dream or vision, to a certain spot located between the village of Palmyra and Manchester. A slight excavation of the earth, enabled him to arrive at this new revelation, written in mysterious characters, upon gold plates. A pair of spectacles, of strange and peculiar construction, were found with the plates, to aid the optics of Jo. and his associates. Soon after, another very fortunate circumstance occurred. This was the introduction of no less a personage than Oliver Cowdry, to whom, and whom only, was given the ability -- with the aid of the spectacles -- to translate the mysterious characters -- All this arranged, but one thing was wanting to promulgate the new revelation -- money. Martin Harris was possessed of a valuable farm, acquired by industry and economy; in his religious sentiments, he was a credulous zealot. His credulity and his money, were too conspicuous to be overlooked by the modern apostles. In due time, a divine command came to Harris, through Jo, to devote his property, and all that was his, to the project. Harris' farm was mortgaged, and the printing of the Bible executed. It is a book of over [500] pages, and is entitled "Book of Mormon." Of the book, it is only necessary to say that it is a ridiculous imitation of the manner of the holy scriptures; and in many instances, a plagiarism upon their language. With all its glaring inconsistencies, it can hardly claim the poor merit of common ingenuity. The projectors of the scheme have attempted to make the discovery story, historically consistent. The surmise, or uncertain tradition, connected with the destruction of Babylon [sic - Jerusalem?], and dissemination of the Jews, is brought to their aid. As they would have it, a portion of the Jews, wandered to this continent, and by Divine command, deposited the "Book of Mormon," in the obscure spot, where the lucky stars of Jo Smith directed him.

We have given but the outlines of what we have understood the "GOLD BIBLE" imposition. -- We may have treated it with a degree of levity -- viewed as the wicked and corrupt scheme of its authors, it can certainly deserve no better treatment. As another dark spot in the catalogue of human weakness and infirmity, it excites a different sensation. It has no parallel in folly and stupidity, from the days of Johanna Southcote, to those of Jemima Wilkinson. In its character, or practical operations, it has no redeeming feature. It is with regret, however, that we are obliged to add, that it has not proved unsuccessful. There are now, probably, 1000 disciples of the Mormon creed! "Tell it not in Gath, publish it not in the streets of Askelon." Their prophet Jo. has selected a spot in the state of Ohio, which he calls the promised land.

It is in and about the town of Kirtland, Geauga county. [Thither] the deluded followers of the false prophet are repairing. It is but a few days since, that an entire boat load of them passed this village, principally from the counties of Ontario and Wayne. Such as have property, convert it to a common stock, and thus create an inducement which is not overlooked by the idle and vicious. Families, in some instances, have been divided, and in others, mothers have been obliged to follow their deluded husbands, or adopt the disagreeable alternative, of parting with them, and their children.

---

A  MORMON  COMMISSION.

(view original article from Ohio paper)

---

FANATICISM.

(view original article from Ohio paper)

Notes: (forthcoming)

From the Painesville (Ohio) Gazette.

THE  MORMONITES.

This infatuated people are again in motion. In their own cant phrase "they are going to inherit the promise of God to Abraham and his seed." Their destination is some indefinite spot on the Missouri river, they say about 1500 miles distant. About 80 of them have recently been ordained and some have gone, others are about going, two and two, part by the western rivers, and part by land, to their distant retreat, far away from the cheering voice of civilized man. Those who have disposed of their property go now, and such as have property, are making market for it so eagerly as often to disregard pecuniary interests, and all are to follow with all convenient dispatch. They still persist in their power to work miracles. They say they have often seen them done -- the sick are healed -- the lame walk -- devils are cast out, -- and these assertions are made by men heretofore considered rational men, and men of truth.

Man is a strange animal -- and the lesson before us ought to teach us humility for ourselves and forbearance towards the opinions of others: for though we are still of opinion that the leaders of this faction are as gross impostors as was Jemima Wilkinson, yet we have no doubt the great body of their followers are sincere and honest.


Note: This article was reprinted from the Painesville, Ohio Geauga Gazette of June 21, 1831

From the Middletown Sentinel.

LETTER  FROM  A  MORMONITE.

On a journey to the westward, after passing through Palmyra, in the State of New York, we learned that a man belonging to that town, whom we had seen about 18 years since, had become a believer in this book, and had been baptized again, although it had been done in infancy, and on being taken into the Baptist Church, more than 20 years before. We had an opportunity to see the book about an hour, and it appeared to us like an imposition or delusion, and I wrote a letter on board of the boat, and sent it to him, requesting him to use his reason and not to sell his property, and give it to that sect; and he wrote me the following answer:

Extract of a letter from a believer in the Golden Bible, or Book of Mormon, as it is called, dated Palmyra, May 28, 1831, to an inhabitant of Middletown, Connecticut, who was then in the State of Ohio.

"Your kind favor of the 21st inst. came to hand last evening, and I hasten to answer it, yet, having but a few moments to spend over this sheet, I shall be unable to do any thing like justice to the subject on which you treat so largely in your letter. Besides an investigation of the book of Mormon, (or the fulness of the gospel of Jesus Christ, to the Jews and also to the Gentiles) is a subject which opens a field too large for an epistolary investigation.

"It involves in it the discussion of both the Old and New Testaments; the book of Mormon is a key to all the prophets, whose writings have for many centuries been so little understood, and which have been the source of so much speculation among those who will calls themselves Christians. -- Since the introduction of the Book of Mormon the scriptures of the Old and New Testaments have become the subject of the highest magnitude. One great object relative to the investigation of the truth of the Book of Mormon is to teach the truth of the scriptures. It is no less strange than true, that the Old and New Testaments are not understood. There is a covering over the face of all flesh, when the scripture is read; hence the reason why so much confusion among those that profess as well as those who do not profess to believe them.

"Whenever this veil is removed, the Book of Mormon is established without further controversy; the book is so connected with the scripture that the two books cannot be separated, hence if one falls the other must, because they are both joined together according to Ezekiel, chap. xxxvii, 17 verse. I see by your reference to the book, that you are altogether ignorant of its contents. By an application of the word elect, I find that you consider me a Calvinist, which is incorrect; for the doctrine of personal, or even national election, in a spiritual point of view, is untrue. A temporal salvation of the children of Israel is all the election the scripture speaks of; but I must hasten to a close.

"You ask why some of those plates cannot be produced. For answer read Rev. v. 4. For the origin of the Book of Mormon, read Rev. v. 1; Isaiah xxix. 11, 18; Daniel xii. 9; Isa. viii. 16; Hosea viii. 12; Habakkuk ii. 2, 3; Psa. lxxxv. 11; Deut. xxxiii. 13-16; Zech. iv. 12; Rev. xi. 4; Micah iv. 8; Isaiah iv. 2; Jer. xxxiii. 5; Isaiah xi. 1, Jer. xxxiii. 15; Zech. iii. 8; Psa. lxxx. 15; Isaiah lx. 21; Zech. vi. 12;   for evidence that such a branch was broken off from Israel, and set, &c. read Ezek. xvii. 22, 23. For evidence of the destruction of a nation on this land previous to the planting of this branch of Israel; read Jer. xlix 31, 32. To learn when this continent was first peopled after the flood, read Gen. xi. 8. On the subject of the Book of Mormon, I will just observe that if it is a man's invention, it is a very foolish one, being liable to be so soon detected.

"It comes out boldly with the idea that the fulness of the Gentiles has come in, that the sword of justice hangs over this generation, that the time for the restoration of all Israel is come; that this branch of the house of Israel are the ten thousands of Ephraim, &c.

"That all the sectarian Churches compose Babylon, the city of confusion, &c. that America is the place of the new Jerusalem, &c.

"Hence we learn that the most important sayings of all the Old and New Testament prophets, are to be fulfilled on this generation. All this would be detected in the onset. If this work should not christianize the Indians, or a great portion of them, and that speedily, this circumstance of failure alone, would prove fatal to the book of Mormon.

"I hope that none of my friends will suffer their prejudices to blind them, until the (overflowing scourge) sweeps them off.

"But I exhort them all to strip themsleves of the prejudices by which they are blinded, believe God to be unchangeable, that he always did, and always will shew wonders among the children of men according to their faith.

"The last age of the world, or immediately preceding the second coming of Christ, and of the time of the restoration of Israel, according to the Scriptures, must be distinguished by great and marvellous events; which will continue until the coming of Jesus Christ, to reign personally on earth 1000 years, with those who will rise at the time of the first resurrection," &c.


Note 1: See also the letter of a contemporary Mormon convert, dated Canandaigua, Jan. 9, 1831 and published in the Boston Courier between Oct. 10th and Nov. 19th. Both letters from the Palmyra area converts reveal their belief that the American Indians would be converted to Mormonism. Of course this did not happen and almost the entire 1831-33 Mormon message, of gathering on the borders of the "Lamanites" to prepare the foundations of a millennial Zion, had to be eventually abandoned -- a "failure" that did not "prove fatal to the book of Mormon."

Note 2: The citation of so many biblical proof texts of Mormonism -- barely a year after the reported April 1830 establishment of the church -- seems to confirm that the first Mormon evangelists were pursuing a clear doctrinal agenda almost from the very inception of the new sect. In their preaching plan the Book of Mormon supplied a supposedly unassailable interpretation, commentary and supplement "to all the prophets, whose writings have for many centuries been so little understood." This sounds like policy and rhetoric straight out of the mouth of Elder Sidney Rigdon (see his subsequent writings in the Mormon newspapers).

THE MORMONITES. -- This infatuated people are again in motion. In their own cant phrase "they are going to inherit the promise of God to Abraham and his seed." Their destination is some indefinite spot on the Missouri river they say about 1500 miles distant. About 80 of them have recently been ordained and some have gone, others are about going, two and two, part by the western rivers and part by land, to their distant retreat, far away from the cheering voice of civilized man. Those who have disposed of their property go now, and such as have property are making market for it so eagerly as often to disregard pecuniary interests, and all are to follow with all convenient dispatch. They still persist in their power to work miracles. They say they have often seen them done -- the sick are healed -- the lame walk -- devils are cast out -- and these assertions are made by men heretofore considered rational men, and men of truth.

Man is a strange animal, -- and the lesson before us ought to teach us humility for ourselves, and forbearance towards the opinions of others; for though we are still of opinion that the leaders of this faction are as gross impostors as was Jemima Wilkinson, yet we have no doubt the great body of their followers are sincere and honest. -- Painsville, Ohio.


Notes: (forthcoming)

BR. BELL: The following is an extract of a letter written by a person in the town of Hiram, State of Ohio, to his brother in Vermont; you are at liberty to publish it or any part thereof.

July 1, 1831.            

"Doubtless you have heard of the Golden Bible or book of Mormon, which was said to be found in Manchester, N. Y. Joseph Smith is the author and proprietor of the book. He says it is a special revelation from God; delivered to him by God’s holy angel -- he assumes the character of one of God’s greatest prophets. He got all the followers he could in his own vicinity, and then pretended to have a call to move on westward, and accordingly made a stand in Cauga [sic - Geauga?] county, in and about the town of Mentor Ohio, which he predicted was the new Jerusalem they were in pursuit of. There he got some hundreds of followers, among which was one Elder Rigdon, a Campbellite preacher. Several people went from here out of curiosity to see them; they were deluded by the prophet Jo, and became dupes to one of the greatest impositions ever practiced among mankind. Finally Jo Smith, and several inferior prophets come to Hiram and Nelson, where they have succeeded in making proselytes to the amount of one hundred, among which are the two Priests & Booth -- Carnot Mason, Rider and all the Pitkin family from Hartford Vermont. John Johnson, and all his family from Pomfret Vt. Charles Raymond, Aruna & John Tilden, S. R. Parker, T. Brace, all the Hewlits, ten or fifteen in number, P. Alleyn & family, and all the fools in this Country. The prophet Jo has had a new revelation, in which he says God has told him and his followers, that the land of promise is on the Missouri, about 1200 miles to the west of this place, therefore they all want to sell out here as soon as they can, which makes it an excellent chance to buy farms. Twenty eight apostles have started on a mission up the Missouri, among the heathen which they say are the lost tribes of Israel, which God is about to restore. They think the millennium is about to take place, and believe that all those who join the Mormonites and follow the prophet Jo will live a thousand years, and finally never die; but all who do not join them will be destroyed from the face of the earth in the course of two or three years. They pretend to work miracles, and give the gift of the holy spirit, heal the sick, open the eyes of the blind &c. And yet their followers are so full in the faith they do not detect their impositions. John Johnson and his wife have started on a mission to Vermont, to warn their friends in that country to flee from the wrath to come. I think, however, he will not make much by preaching mormonism in that country. I could sit and write about the mormonites all day, but I think I have wrote enough on that subject; and I presume you will consider it hardly worth reading; but it is disgusting to see what damnable work they do make under the garb of religion. I sometimes think I could never hear the word religion or priest."


Note 1: The Hiram correspondent's reference to "Elder Rigdon, a Campbellite preacher" being converted to Mormonism provides a hint that other followers of Alexander Campbell in northeastern Ohio might also have been "deluded by the prophet Jo." A second letter from the same part of Ohio, printed in the Brattleboro Messenger of Mar. 24, 1832, provides much the same picture of events there in late 1831 and early 1832: "I hear considerable about Campbellites and Mormonites... The Mormonites in some places seem to be swallowing Campbellites, Universalists, &c. They are some of them preparing to go to the promised land, as they say. This lies in Jackson county, Missouri."

Note 2: Whether the participants in the Mar. 24, 1832 tarring and feathering of Smith and Rigdon in Hiram were disgruntled Mormons or outraged members of other sects -- Campbelites, Methodists and Baptists -- has been a matter of conjecture for many years. An old map showing land ownership in Hiram, Portage County, Ohio documents the neighbor relationships of the Johnson, Pitkin, Hinckley, Raymond, Rider, Allyn, and Mason families during the early 1830s. Some of the Mormon converts mentioned in the letter to the Watchman (such as the Rider, Allyn, Raymond and Mason families) were Campbellites who reverted to their original religious affiliation shortly before the 1832 attack on Smith and Rigdon.

Note 3: According to a summary, copied into the Dec. 13, 1846 entry in the LDS "Journal History of the Church," on that day "Bro. Luke Johnson stated that all but one who were engaged in mobbing, tarring and Feathering Joseph and Sidney in the town of Hiram, Portage county, [Ohio], had come to some untimely end, and the survivor, Carnot Mason, had been severely afflicted, Carnot was the person who dragged Joseph out of the house by his hair." The July 1, 1831 letter published by the Watchman alleges that Mr. Mason was a convert to Mormonism, for at least part of 1831. His membership status on Mar. 24, 1832 has not been determoned, but in 1849 Carnot Mason was one of the founders of the Disciples of Christ's (Campbellites') Hiram College.

Note 4: Ezra Booth was not a Campbellite, either before or after his tenure with the Mormons -- see the Boston Masonic Mirror of May 21, 1831.

The Mormonites. -- We learn from the Painesville Gazette, that this infatuated people are again in motion. In their own cant phrase "they are going to inherit the promise of God to Abraham and his seed." Their destination is some indefinite spot on the Missouri River, they say about fifteen hundred miles distant. About eighty of them have recently been ordained, and some of them have gone; others are about going, two and two, part by the western rivers and part by land, to their distant retreat, far away from the cheering voice of civilized man.


Note: The above text was excerpted from an article published in the Painesville, Ohio Geauga Gazette of June 21, 1831

MORMONISM.

It is certainly strange, yet nevertheless true, that this infatuated people, if we may place confidence in the reports of the newspapers, are becoming more numerous, and assuming a more formidable appearance.

We had hoped, that ere this the believers in the Book of Mormon would have been entirely extinct, and that no individual, however credulous, could be found so blind to reason and common judgment, as to permit himself to be carried away by the absurdities of the Mormon doctrine. The frailties incident to human nature have in all ages invariably shown themselves, either in remarkable lethergy, or an enthusiastic excitement, unsanctioned by reason or common sense. But the followers of the book of Mormon, if the accounts received be not inconceivably exaggerated, are amongst the most blind and deluded people we have upon record.

They believe that their leader is the real Jesus Christ, and that both he and his disciples have infinite powers to work miracles, raise the dead, cleanse lepers -- and they testify that he has cast out many devils -- that the millennium is nigh, and that Philadelphia is the place where Jesus Christ will meet his disciples and followers. They are now removing to the promised land -- some indefinite spot on the Mississippi -- some have gone and others are disposing of their property, often at an immense pecuniary sacrifice, that they may join their companions gone before. To such an enthusiastic pitch have they raised their imaginations, that the entreaties and persuasive arguments of friends have no weight whatever.

Their religious ceremonies and observances are forms of obsceneness and blasphemy, and are conducted in a manner shocking to the sense of rational creatures. In their excesses, unrestrained by the presence of the opposite sex, and in one assembly, they roll naked on the floor, and exhibit a variety of grotesque and unseemly forms, that humanity would blush to name, It is truly lamentable that such a state of things exists -- yet nevertheless these fanatics are daily receiving new accessions from New-York, Indiana, &c. -- Buck's Co. Int.


Note: This garbled report, reprinted from the Bucks County Intelligencer, was extracted from an article originally appearing in the Palmyra, New York Wayne Sentinel of Aug. 23, 1831. The careless extraction of text resulted in the prophecies and "unseemly forms" of the followers of Joseph C. Dylkes (the "Leatherwood God") being interspersed indiscriminately with the activities of the Mormons, resulting in a complete jumble of fact and fiction.

MORMON  RELIGION.

(This class of religious fanatics held their meeting in a neighboring town Sunday before last. It is therefore presumed some [of] the readers of the Gazette will probably be gratified in reading the following account of its origin, &c. This is emphatically the age of excitement, fanaticism, and propagandism.)


This general impulse given to religious fanaticism by a set of men in Western N. York, has been productive among other strange results of the infatuation of Mormonism. This piece of roguery, folly and frenzy (for it partakes of all) is the genuine fruit of the same seeds which produced the Sunday Mail movement -- the Pioneer line of stages -- the Magdalen Reports &c. &c. It is religion run into madness by zealots and hypocrites.

It was during this state of feeling in which the money diggers of Ontario county, by the suggestions of the Ex-Preacher from Ohio, thought of turning their digging concern into a religious plot, and thereby have a better chance of working upon the credulity and ignorance of their associates and the neighborhood. Money and a good living might be got in this way. It was given out that visions had appeared to Joe Smith -- that a set of golden plates on which was engraved the "Book of Mormon," enclosed in an iron chest, was deposited somewhere in the hill I have mentioned. People laughed at the first intimation of the story, but the Smiths and Rangdon persisted in its truth. They began also to talk very seriously, to quote scripture, to read the bible, to be contemplative, and to assume that grave studied character, which so easily imposes on ignorant and superstitious people. Hints were given out that young Joe Smith was the chosen one of God to reveal this new mystery to the world; and Joe from being an idle young fellow, lounging about the villages, jumped up into a very grave parsonlike man, who felt he had on his shoulders the salvation of the world, besides a respectable looking sort of a blackcoat. Old Joe, the ex-preacher, and several others, were the believers of the new faith, which they admitted was an improvement in christianity, foretold word for word in the bible. They treated their own invention with the utmost religious respect. By the special interposition of God, the golden plates on which was engraved the Book of Mormon, and other works, had been buried for ages in the hill by a wandering tribe of the children of Israel, who had found their way to western New York, before the birth of christianity itself. Joe Smith is discovered to be the second Messiah who was to reveal this word to the world and to reform it anew.

In relation to the finding of the plates and the taking the engraving, a number of ridiculous stories are told. Some unsanctified fellow looked out the other side of the hill. They had to follow it with humility and found it embedded beneath a beautiful grove of maples. Smith's wife, who had a little of the curiosity of her sex, peeped into the large chest in which he kept the engravings taken from the golden plates, and straightway one half the new bible vanished, and has not been recovered to this day. Such were the effects of the unbelievers on the sacred treasure. There is no doubt but the ex-parson from Ohio is the author of the book which was recently printed and published in Palmyra and passes for the new Bible. It is full of strange narratives -- in the style of the scriptures, and bearing on its face the marks of some ingenuity, and familiar acquaintance with the Bible. It is probable that Joe Smith is well acquainted with the trick, but Harris the farmer and the recent converts, are true believers. Harris was the first man who gave credit to the story of Smith and the ex-preacher. He was their maiden convert -- the Ali of the Ontario Mahomet, who believed without a reason and without a murmur. They attempted to get the Book printed, but could not raise the means till Harris stept forward, and raised money on his farm for that purpose. Harris with several manuscripts in his pocket, went to the city of New York, and called upon one of the Professors of Columbia College for the purpose of showing them to him. Harris says that the Professor thought them very curious, but admitted that he could not decypher them. Said he to Harris, "Mr. Harris you had better go to the celebrated Doct. Mitchell and show them to him. He is very learned in these ancient languages, and I have no doubt will be able to give you some satisfaction." "Where does he live," asked Harris. He was told, and off he posted with the engravings from the Golden Plates to submit to Doct. Mitchell. Harris says that the Doctor received him very "purlitely," looked at his engravings -- made a learned dissertation on them -- compared them with the hieroglyphics discovered by Champollion in Egypt -- and set them down as the language of a people formerly in existence in the East, but now no more.

The object of his going to the city to get the "Book of Mormon" printed, was not however accomplished. He returned with his manuscript or engravings to Palmyra -- tried to raise money by mortgage on his farm from the New York Trust Company -- did raise the money, but from what source -- whether the Trust Company or not I am uncertain. At last a printer in Palmyra undertook to print the translations of Joe Smith, Harris becoming responsible for the expense. They were called translations, but in fact and in truth they are believed to be the work of the ex-Preacher from Ohio, who stood in the background and put forward Joe to father the new bible and the new faith. After the publication of the golden bible, they began to make converts rapidly. The revivals and other religious excitements had thrown up materials for the foundation of a new sect, they soon found they had not dug for money in vain -- they began to preach -- to pray -- to see more visions -- to prophesy and perform the most fantastic tricks -- there was now no difficulty in getting a living and the gingerbread factory was abandoned. They created considerable talk over all this section of the country. Another Revelation came upon them, and through Joe and some other of these prophets, they were directed to take up their march and go out to the promised land -- to a place near Painesville, Ohio. Money was raised in a twinkling from the new converts. Their principles -- their tenets -- their organization -- their discipline were as yet unformed and unfashioned, and probably are so to this day. Since they went to Ohio they have adopted some of the worldly views of the Shakers and have formed a sort of community system where everything is in common. Joe Smith, Harris, the Ex-pedlar and the Ex-parson are among their elders and preachers -- so also now is Phelps one of Mr. Granger's leading anti-masonic editors in this village.

Such is a brief view of the rise and progress of the Mormon Religion one of the strangest pieces of fanaticism to which the ill-advised and the worst regulated ambition and folly of certain portions of the clergy in Western New York ever gave birth. What a lesson it ought to teach us! -- N. Y. Cour. & Eq.


Note: The above piece was adapted from the first article of James G. Bennett's two-part, on-the-scene report, published in the Morning Courier & New York Enquirer of Aug. 31, 1831.

THE  BOOK  OF  MORMON.

It is well known to our readers that a new sect has been formed in the [western] part of this republic, who bow at the altar of fanaticism, and have retired to the wilds of the Missouri, for the purpoe of enjoying their religious opinions without interruption. The number of Mormonites is said to exceed one thousand, and they number among their followers, some men of intelligence and talent.

Through the politeness of a friend, we have been favored with a perusal of the 'Book of Mormon,' which contains nearly six hundred pages, octavo, published at Palmyra, N. Y. by Joseph Smith, Jun. 'Author and Proprietor.' The book is a literary curiosity. The style is an affection of the Scriptural, but destitute of the beauties of sublimity. Perhaps an allusion to its contents may not be unacceptable to some of our readers... [overview of the Book of Mormon follows -- not transcribed] ...

The Book of Mormon appears to be merely a supplement to the Scriptures, and does not attempt to controvert any of the established doctrines of Christianity. It definitely decides three important historical questions, which have caused many controversial volumes to be written during the last century -- viz: Who were the discoverers of America?

How this continent originally became peopled?

And the cause of the dark complexion of the native inhabitants of the forests?

There can be no doubt that the followers of the Book of Mormon are a set of deluded fanatics -- or desperate, disappointed individuals, each of whom would -- Set his life -- On any cast to mend it, or be rid on -- but the accounts of their extravagant doctrines, which are daily published in the newspapers, are probably exaggerated. It is said they believed their leader to be the real Jesus, and that both he and his disciples have infinite power to work miracles, raise the dead, cleanse the lepers, cast out devils -- that the millenium is at hand, and that Philadelphia is the place where Jesus Christ will meet his disciples and followers -- with many absurdities, which do not appear to be sanctioned by the 'Book of Mormon.'


Note: This article purports to have been reprinted from the Exeter News-Letter, which, in turn, appears to have taken some of its more outlandish claims from the same source as did the New-Hampshire Sentinel of Sep. 9, 1831.

MORMONISM.

The New York Courier and Enquirer gives, in letters for a correspondent dated at Canandaigua, an account of the origin and character of Mormonism, abiut which we have hitherto been ignorant, whether stupidity or wickedness had the greater part in its production. This account must probably be taken with some abatement; particularly we suppose that the writer has exaggerated the effect of clerical folly; but we have seen nowhere else so full a statement of the origin of this delusion.

New York has been celebrated for her parties...

reprints James G. Bennett's two-part report from the
Morning Courier & New York Enquirer

Notes: (forthcoming)

St. Louis, Missouri, Sept. 6.    

The Mormonites. -- We learn from the Painesville Gazette, that this infatuated people are again in motion. In their own cant phrase "they are going to inherit the promise of God to Abraham and his seed." Their destination is some indefinite spot on the Missouri river, they say about 1500 miles distant. About eighty of them have recently [been] ordained, and some have gone; others are about going, two and two, part by the western rivers and part by land, to their distant retreat, far away from the cheering voice of civilized man. Those who have disposed of their property, go now, and such as have property are making market for it so eagerly as often to disregard pecuniary interests, and all are to follow with all convenient dispatch. They still persist in their power to work miracles. They say they have often seen them done; the sick are healed, the lame walk, devils are cast out; and these assertions are made by men heretofore considered rational men and men of truth. The Gazette expresses the opinion, that although the leaders of this sect are gross impostors, a great portion of its members are sincere and honest.

Some of the leaders of this sect, we are told, passed through this place two or three weeks since, on their return to Ohio. We understand, that they have determined to migrate to Jackson county, on the extreme edge of this State; for which purpose they have purchased a sufficiency of land whereupon to locate the whole of the believers of Mormonism. We have some hope that the latter part of the paragraph may be true; as, in any other event, we should not rejoice much in the acquisition of so many deluded enthusiasts. --   Republican.


Note: The above article was reprinted from a notice published by the Daily Missouri Republican on Sept. 6, 1831. The Republican, in turn, took the first part of its article from the Painesville, Ohio Geauga Gazette of June 21, 1831.

St. Louis, Missouri Sept. 6.          

THE MORMONITES. We learn from the Painesville Gazette, that this infatuated people are again in motion. In their own cant phrase, "they are going to inherit the promise of God to Abraham and his seed." Their destination is some indefinite spot on the Missouri river, they say about 1500 miles distant. About 80 of them have recently been ordained, and some of them are gone; others are about going, two and two, part by the western river and a part by land, to their distant retreat, far away from the cheering voice of civilized man. Those who have disposed of their property go now, and such as have property are making market for it so eagerly as often to disregard pecuniary interests, and all are to follow with all convenient dispatch. They still persist in their power to work miracles. -- They say they have often seen them done; the sick are healed, the lame walk, devils are cast out; and these assertions are made by men here-tofore considered rational men and men of truth. The Gazette expresses the opinion that although the leaders of this sect are gross impostors, a portion of its members are sincere and honest. -- Some of the leaders of this sect, we are told, passed through this place two or three weeks since, on their return to Ohio. We understand that they have determined to migrate to Jackson county, on the extreme edge of this state, for which purpose they have purchased a sufficiency of land whereupon to locate the whole of the believers in Mormonism. We have some hope that the latter part of the paragraph may be true; as in any other event, we should not rejoice much in the acquisition of so many deluded enthusiasts. -- Republican.


Notes: (forthcoming)

The Mormonites. -- A Missouri paper states that some of the leaders of this sect have visited that state and purchased a sufficiency of land in Jackson county, on the extreme edge of the state, to locate the whole of the believers in Mormonism. This place is to be their New Jerusalem, or Mount Zion.

A lady from Ohio informs us that many of the Mormonites in Geauga county have started for the promised land in Missouri; some of them passed through the town in which she resides; their language was -- "We have left Babylon, and are going to Mount Zion." Among those who have embraced the doctrines of these fanatics are two merchants, and some respectable farmers. One man joined them whose property was estimated at 7,000 dollars.

The lady to whom we have alluded found in the Lake steam boat a Mormonite woman on her return to Boston. She said she had made a journey all the way from Boston to Ohio, to investigate the subject of Mormonism, and had satisfied herself that the Mormon bible was a revelation from God, and the leaders true prophets. She stated that others from Boston had become converts to the new system. She believed that the Mormonites could perform miracles. When asked if she had seen any miraculous operations, she replied that she had seen a person who was very sick suddenly restored to health. On other subjects she conversed like a sensible, pious woman. -- She stated that she was a Methodist when she left Boston.


Note: The "Mormonite woman" mentioned above appears to have been Vienna Jacques, who in the summer of 1831 traveled from Boston to Kirtland, Ohio, to investigate Mormonism and who was baptized there on July 12, 1831. In her own way, this lady was the first Mormon missionary to New England -- preparing the way for the subsequent arrivals of missionaries like Orson Pratt, Luke E. Johnson, Samuel H. Smith and Orson Hyde -- see the Boston Traveller of Aug. 27, 1832.

MORMONITES.   The Hampshire Gazette says -- A lady from Ohio informs us that many of the Mormonites in Geauga county have started for the promised land in Missouri; some of them passed through the town in which she resides; their language was -- 'We have left Babylon, and are going to Mount Zion.' Among those who have embraced the doctrines of these fanatics are two merchants, and some respectable farmers. One man joined them whose property was estimated at 7,000 dollars. The lady to whom we have alluded found in the Lake steam boat a Mormonite woman on her return to Boston. She said she had made a journey all the way from Boston to Ohio, to investigate the subject of Mormonism, and had satisfied herself that the Mormon bible was a revelation from God, and the leaders true prophets. She stated that others from Boston had become converts to the new system. She believed that the Mormonites could perform miracles. When asked if she had seen any miraculous operations, she replied that she had seen a person who was very sick suddenly restored to health. On other subjects she conversed like a sensible, pious woman. She stated that she was a Methodist when she left Boston.


Note: The "Mormonite woman" mentioned above appears to have been Vienna Jacques, who in the summer of 1831 traveled from Boston to Kirtland, Ohio, to investigate Mormonism and who was baptized there on July 12, 1831. In her own way, this lady was the first Mormon missionary to New England -- preparing the way for the subsequent missions of Orson Pratt, Luke E. Johnson, Samuel H. Smith and Orson Hyde.

From the Jacksonville (Ill.,) Patriot of Sept. 16

THE  MORMONITES.

A Preacher of this sect visited us last Saturday. We heard a part of his lecture, which occupied more than two hours. From his account, this sect came into existence a little more than a year since in the following manner, -- A young man about 23 years of age, somewhere in Ontario county, N. Y., was visited by an angel! (here the preacher looked around him apparently to see if the credulity of the people in this enlightened age could be thus imposed on) who informed him three times in one night that by visiting a certain place in that town he would have revealed to him something of importance. The young man was disturbed, but did not obey the summons until the following day, when the angel again visited him. At the place appointed he found in the earth a box which contained a set of thin plates described as being connected with rings in the shape of the letter D, which facilitated the opening and shutting of the book. The preacher said he found in the same place two stones with which he was enabled by placing them over his eyes and putting his head in a dark corner to decypher the hieroglyphics on the plates! -- This we were told was performed to admiration, and now, as the result, we have a book which the speaker informed us was the Mormon Bible -- a book second to no other -- without which the holy bible, he seemed to think, would be of little use.

It appears from his statement, that three of the offspring of Joseph, by his yoingest son Ephraim, whose names were Laman, Nephi and Lehigh, as near as we could understand, were the persons from whom sprang Mormon. -- Laman and Nephi rather declined from walking in the right way, but Lehigh was firm in the faith. Mormon, who was a prophet, led them eastward until they came to the sea, as we suppose, where they built a ship and came to the western world. To prove this, the preacher refered us to Genesis, 49th chapyer and 22d verse, and said the branches running over the wall was neither more or less than the progeny of Joseph, leaving their own and coming to this country! He went into a detail of the reasons which induced him to join himself to this people -- that on account of so many sects being in the world, and the discrepancys in their opinions, he became sceptical -- that hearing of these people in July last, he joined himself to them, believing them to constitute the true Church -- and that he came this way to meet a convocation of elders in Jackson county, Missouri, which is to be their New Jerusalem, but was disappointed in not seeing them there. He insisted on the bible being joined with his book, by quoting the 16th and 17th verses of the 37th chapter of Ezekiel, and comparing the bible and Mormon's book to the two sticks there spoken of. We thought this part of his subject too ludicrous to be refuted by any man in his right mind. We cannot now enter into the merits of his discourse, nor should we have given this hastily written sketch, had we not been requested to say something on the subject. Some of these men may be sincere; but does this prove they are in the right? The worshippers of Juggernaut are sincere, or they would not sacrifice their lives by throwing themselves under the wheel of its life destroying car. As far as we are acquainted with the bible we now have, we are satisfied that the Mormonites are a deluded sect of men, whose doctrines are not only dangerous -- but, notwithstanding all their professions, they are calling down the curse of God on their own heads.


Note 1: This article was also reprinted in the Portsmouth New Hampshire Gazette of Oct. 25, 1831, in the Daily Albany Argus of Oct. 15, 1831, etc. The text presented above was derived from various reprints.

Note 2: William E. McLellen (1806-1883) went to Independence, Missouri, in July of 1831 to investigate Mormonism. According to his 1831-36 journal, he reached Independence on Aug. 18th, missing by more than a week the LDS Conference held in that place on Aug. 4th. McLellen was baptized a Mormon at Independence on Aug. 20th; by Saturday, Sept. 10, he was in Jacksonville, Morgan Co., Illinois (where the Illinois Patriot was published) and was preaching there to a receptive audience.

Note 3: Dan Vogel, on page 292 of his Early Mormon Documents III, dates the Illinois Patriot article to "Sept. 16, 1831." Vogel reports that he derived this information from a reprint in the New Hampshire Miscellany of Oct. 11, 1831, but no such article of that date and no such newspaper is known to exist. As the writer of the Illinois Patriot report refers to McLellen's Sept. 10th preaching in that town as occurring "last Saturday," it would appear that the article was written no earlier than Sunday, Sept. 11th and no later than Saturday, Sept. 17th. Although the news report may have been delayed in publication, the most likely date for its appearance in the Illinois Patriot is Saturday, Sept. 16, 1831, (in Vol. I, No. 8 of that paper). The Daily Albany Argus' reprint of the article gives the Illinois Patriot issue's date as "Sept. 16."

Note 4: Although the reporter makes a few mistakes in relaying what he heard of the story of Lehi, Nephi and Laman, the remainder of the report appears credible. Notably lacking from McLellen's preaching is any mention of Joseph Smith's "first vision," any reference to the restoration of the Melchisedec Priesthood, etc. The doctrinal points recorded in this report may be added to those related in papers like the Geauga Gazette of Nov., 1830. the Hudson Observer of Nov. 18, 1830 and the Western Courier of May 26, 1831, in order to reconstruct an outline of tenets communicated in very early Mormon proselytizing and preaching.

Mormonism. -- The following article from the Illinois Patriot, will give some idea of the absurdities of this new faith.

The Mormonites. -- A Preacher of this sect visited us last Saturday. We heard a part of his lecture, which occupied more than two hours. From his account, this sect came into existence a little more than a year since in the following manner: -- A young man about 23 years of age somewhere in Ontario county, N. Y., was visited by an angel! (here the preacher looked around him apparently to see if the credulity of the people in this enlightened age, could be thus imposed on) who informed him three times in one night that by visiting a certain place in that town he would have revealed to him something of importance. The young man was disturbed, but did not obey the summons until the following day, when the angel again visited him. At the place appointed he found in the earth a box which contained a set of thin plates resembling gold, with Arabic characters inscribed on them. The plates were minutely described as being connected with rings in the shape of the letter D, which facilitated the opening and shutting of the book. The preacher said he found in the same place two stones with which he was enabled by placing them over his eyes and putting his head in a dark corner to decypher the hieroglyphics on the plates! -- This we were told was performed to admiration, and now, as the result, we have a book which the speaker informed us was the Mormon Bible -- a book second to no other -- without which the holy bible, he seemed to think, would be of little use.

It appears from his statement, that three of the offspring of Joseph, by his youngest son Ephraim, whose names were Laman, Nephi and Lehigh, as near as we could understand, were the persons from whom sprang Mormon. -- Laman and Nephi and Lehigh. as near as we could understand, were the persons from whom sprang Mormon. -- Laman and Nephi rather declined from walking in the right way, but Lehigh was firm in the faith. Mormon, who was a prophet, led them eastward until they came to the sea, as we suppose, where they built a ship and came to the western world. To prove this, the preacher refered us to Genesis, 49th chapter and 22d verse, and said the branches running over the wall was neither more nor less than the progeny of Joseph, leaving their own and coming to this country! He went into a detail of the reasons which induced him to join himself to this people -- that on account of so many sects being in the world, and the discrepances in their opinions, he became sceptical -- that hearing of these people in July last, he joined himself to them, believing them to constitute the true Church -- and that he came this way to meet a convocation of elders in Jackson county, Missouri, which is to be their New Jerusalem, but was disappointed in not seeing them there. He insisted on the bible being joined with his book, by quoting the 16th and 17th verses of the 37th chapter of Ezekiel, and comparing the bible and Mormon's book to the two sticks there spoken of. We thought this part of his subject too ludicrous to be refuted by any man in his right mind. We cannot now enter into the merits of his discourse, nor should we have given this hastily written sketch, had we not been requested to say something on the subject. Some of these men may be sincere; but does this prove they are in the right? The worshippers of Juggernaut are sincere, or they would not sacrifice their lives by throwing themselves under the wheel of its life destroying car. As far as we are acquainted with the bible we now have, we are satisfied that the Mormonites are a deluded set of men, whose doctrines are not only dangerous -- but, notwithstanding all their professions, they are calling down the curse of God on their own heads.


Note 1: William E. McLellen (1806-1883) went to Independence, Missouri, in July of 1831 to investigate Mormonism. According to his 1831-36 journal, he reached Independence on Aug. 18th, missing by more than a week the Mormon Conference held in that place on Aug. 4th. McLellen was baptized a Mormon at Independence on Aug. 20th; by Saturday, Sept. 10, he was in Jacksonville, Morgan Co., Illinois (where the Illinois Patriot was published) and was preaching there to a receptive audience.

Note 2: This report provides a helpful guide as to what Mormon elders were preaching as their church's tenets during the early 1830s. Obviously the reporter made a few errors in providing the above doctrinal account -- and McLellen may have made a few mistakes in his representation of the Book of Mormon story and the ever-evolving beliefs of the Mormons. However, such detailed reports from so early in the Church's history are so rare as to still be valuable documents, despite their faults. Two other equally interesting reports of early Mormon preaching may be found in the Ohio Hudson Observer of Nov. 18, 1830 and the New York Fredonia Censor of March 7, 1832. Notice that the combined details of these three reports appear to comprise a Mormon religion rather different that professed later, by the Latter Day Saints at Far West and at Nauvoo -- for example, there is no mention here of Joseph Smith being greatly impacted by the events of an 1820 revival at Palmyra, New York, nor of his having conversed with Eloheim and Jehovah (the Father and the Son), face-to-face, in a grove of trees on his father's Manchester farm.

MORMONISM.

The fact that a sect of fanatics calling themselves Mormonites, have sprung up and extended themselves in the Western part of New York and the Eastern parts of Ohio, is partially known to our readers. The origin, character and members of this sect have not yet been noticed in the Gazette, and it seems proper now to notice them.

The ostensible founder of this fanaticism is a man of the name of Smith, an ingnorant, indolent, careless shiftless fellow in the commencement of life. His father, named Joseph Smith, also, in his early days had been a country pedlar in New England, and subsequently a manufacturer and vendor of gingerbread, in a small way, in Manchester, N. Y. Some years agp these two, father and son, conceived that money was buried in the earth between Lake Canandaigua and Palmyra on the Erie Canal, and commenced digging to find it, in company with several persons whom they persuaded to join them. Adter a time they engaged a man who resided near Paynesville, in Ohio, to assist and instruct them, under the persuasion that he possessed eminent skill in money finding. He had been a preacher of several sects in religion, was a shrewd cunning man, of considerable talent and great plausibility. Under his direction the digging for money was again commenced, and the younger Smith gave out that he had found a set of golden plates, concealed in an iron chest, and buried in the earth, upon which was engraved the book of Mormon. By a special inspiration from God the younger Smith was enabled to translate the engravings upon these plates into English, and having made a convert of an individual of the name of Harris, who had some property, he mortgaged his farm, and raised money to defray the expense of printing it, and it was accordingly published in Palmyra, N. Y. making a duodecimo volume of respectable size. The book is supposed to have been written by an ex-preacher, whose name is given as Henry Rangdon, or Ringdon. After the publication of the book, the younger Smith began to exhibit himself as a [prophet] divinely inspired. He prayed, preached, and made converts. He "put money in his purse," and in consequence of a divine revelation, removed with his converts to the neighborhood of Painesville, Ohio. Here his converts increased rapidly, and recent;y a company of about one hundred emigrated from that place to some promised land upon the Missouri, taking with [them?] their common means, their religious instructors, and their Mormon bibles. These people were of the laboring and farming classes, appeared to be decent and respectable. Though coarsely dressed, their clothes were clean and whole, and their demeanor was quiet and devout. Part of them remain in the neighborhood of Painesville, where it is understood they contibue to make converts. The last heard from the Missouri emigrants was, that they were at some loss to find the promised land. They maintain a community of property, and repose their religious faith upon the book of Mormon as their bible, and the dogmas of their prophets. The book is a cunningly devised tissue of incongruities, adapted to vulgar prejudice, and written in imitation of the style of the Scriptures, and contains frequent allusions to scripture history and dictrines. It is a singular proof of the proneness of the human heart to idolatry, that such a gross and absurd imposition should find disciples, in the midst of the religious light that is spread abroad and every where surrounds us, in this country. It ought to admonish every teacher of religion who feels himself affected by a fiery zeal, whether of exclusive orthodoxy or of diffusive schism, to beware that he does not also become a fanatic.     Cincinnati Gazette.


Note 1: The residents of southern Ohio had been apprised of the origin and progress of the Mormons as early as June 2, 1830, when the Cincinnati Advertiser ran an article headed: "A fellow by the name of Joseph Smith." The Cincinnati Gazette would continue to chronicle the events associated with the Mormons for years afterward. New England papers, like the Farmer's Herald were greatly dependent upon the newspapers published along the Ohio river for the latest news on the Mormons "out west."

Note 2: The first half of the above article was adapted from James G. Bennett's 2-part report on the Mormons, originally published in the Morning Courier & New York Enquirer of Aug. 31, and Sep. 1, 1831. The second half of the article relies on local observations of the Mormons, made in Ohio. The Cincinnati Gazette piece was also reprinted by the Dayton Advertiser & Journal of Oct. 4, 1831 and by other papers in Ohio.

MORMONITES.   The Hampshire Gazette says -- A lady from Ohio informs us that many of the Mormonites in Geauga county have started for the promised land in Missouri; some of them passed through the town in which she resides; their language was -- 'We have left Babylon, and are going to Mount Zion.' Among those who have embraced the doctrines of these fanatics are two merchants, and some respectable farmers. One man joined them whose property was estimated at 7,000 dollars. The lady to whom we have alluded found in the Lake steam boat a Mormonite woman on her return to Boston. [She] said she, had made a journey all the way from Boston to Ohio, to investigate the subject of Mormonism, and had satisfied herself that the Mormon bible was a revelation from God, and the leaders true prophets. She stated that others from Boston had become converts to the new system. She believed that the Mormonites could perform miracles. When asked if she had seen any miraculous operations, she replied that she had seen a person who was very sick suddenly restored to health. On other subjects she conversed like a sensible, pious woman. She stated that she was a Methodist when she left Boston.


Notes: (forthcoming)

History  of  Mormonism.

A writer for the New York Courier and Enquirer, in travelling through the western part of that State, has made some amusing observations on the rise and progress of Mormonism. He has given the following delineation of the founders of this new sect.

"The individuals who gave birth to this species of fanaticism are very simple personages, and not known until this thrust them into notice. They are the old and young Joe Smiths, Harris a farmer, Rigdon [sic - not "Ringdon"] a sort of preacher on general religion from Ohio, together with several other persons equally infatuated, cunning, and hypocritical. The first of these persons, Smith, residing on the borders of Wayne and Ontario counties on the road leading from Canandaigua to Palmyra. Old Joe had been a country pedlar in his younger days, and possessed all the shrewdness, cunning, and small intrigue which are generally and justly attributed to that description of persons. He was a great story teller, full of anecdotes picked up in his peregrinations -- and possessed a tongue as smooth as oil and as quick as lightning. -- He had been quite a speculator in a small way in his younger days, but had been more fortunate in picking up materials for his tongue than stuff for the purse. Of late years he picked up his living somewhere in the town of Manchester by following a branch of the "American System" the manufacture of gingerbread and such like domestic wares. In this article he was a considerable speculator, having on hand during a fall of price no less than two baskets full, and I believe his son, Joe, Jun., was at times a partner in the concern. -- What their dividends were I could not learn, but they used considerable molasses, and were against the duty on that article. Young Joe, who afterwards figured so largely in the Mormon religion, was at that period a careless, indolent, idle, and shiftless fellow. He hung round the villages and strolled round the taverns without any end or aim -- without any positive defect or as little merit in his character. He was rather a stout able bodied fellow, and might have made a good living in such a country as this where any one who is willing to work, can soon get on in the world. He was however the son of a speculative Yankee pedlar, and was brought up to live by his wits. Harris also one of the fathers of Mormonism was a substantial farmer near Palmyra -- full of passages of the scriptures -- rather wild and flighty in his talk occasionally -- but holding a very respectable character in his neighbourhood for sobriety, sense and hard working."

Following this graphic sketch of the character of the prophets and chief men of the Mormon sect is an account of their enterprize in money digging, in the vicinity of Palmyra. Not succeeding in this business according to expectation, a message was despatched for Elder Rigdon, of Ohio, the fame of whose skill and sagacity in matters of that sort had reached the Smiths and their comrades in good time to save them from despair in the hitherto fruitless search for treasures in the bowels of the earth. -- The following is the writer's portrait of Rigdon:

"After the lapse of some weeks the famous Ohio man made his appearance among them. This recruit was the most cunning, intelligent and odd of the whole. He had been a preacher of almost every religion -- a teacher of all sorts of morals. -- He was perfectly aufait with every species of prejudice, folly or fanaticism, which governs the mass of enthusiasts. In the course of his experience, he had attended all sorts of camp-meetings, prayer meetings, anxious meetings, and revival meetings. He knew every turn of the human mind in relation to these matters. He had a superior knowledge of human nature, considerable talent, great plausibility, and knew how to work the passions as exactly as a Cape Cod sailor knows how to work a whale ship."

After giving his own peculiar views of the religious revivals and manifestations of Christian zeal, which have distinguished the western part of New York for some years past, he proceeds as follows:

"It was during this state of public feeling in which the money diggers of Ontario county, by the suggestions of the Ex-Preacher from Ohio, thought of turning their digging concern into a religious plot, and thereby have a better chance of working upon the credulity and ignorance of their associates and the neighbourhood. -- Money and a good living might be got in this way. It was given out that visions had appeared to Joe Smith -- that a set of golden plates on which was engraved the 'Book of Mormon,' enclosed in an iron chest, was deposited somewhere in the hill I have mentioned. People laughed at the first intimation of the story, but the Smiths and Rigdon persisted in its truth. They began also to talk very seriously, to quote scripture, to read the bible, to be contemplative, and to assume that grave studied character, which so easily imposes on ignorant and superstitious people. Hints were given out that young Joe Smith was the chosen one of God to reveal this new mystery to the world; and Joe from being an idle young fellow, lounging about the villages, jumped up into a very grave [parson-like] man, who felt he had on his shoulders the salvation of the world, besides a respectable looking sort of a black coat. Old Joe, the ex-preacher, and several others, were the believers of the new faith, which they admitted was an improvement in Christianity, foretold word for word in the bible. They treated their own invention with the utmost religious respect. By the special interposition of God, the golden plates, on which was engraved the Book of Mormon, and other works, had been buried for ages in the hill by a wandering tribe of the children of Israel who had found their way to western New York, before the birth of Christianity itself. Joe Smith is discovered to be the second Messiah who was to reveal this word to the world and to reform it anew.

In relation to the finding of the plates and the taking the engraving, a number of ridiculous stories are told. Some unsanctified fellow looked out the other side of the hill. They had to follow it with humility and found it embedded beneath a beautiful grove of maples. Smith's wife, who had a little of the curiosity of her sex, peeped into the large chest in which he kept the engravings taken from the golden plates, and straightway one half the new Bible vanished, and has not been recovered to this day. -- Such were the effects of the unbelievers on the sacred treasure. There is no doubt but the ex-parson from Ohio is the author of the book which was recently printed and published in Palmyra and passes for the new Bible. It is full of strange narratives -- in the style of the scriptures, and bearing on its face the marks of some ingenuity, and familiar acquaintance with the Bible. It is probable that Joe Smith is well acquainted with the trick, but Harris the farmer and the recent converts, are true believers. Harris was the first man who gave credit to the story of Smith and the ex-preacher. He was their maiden convert -- the Ali of the Ontario Mahomet, who believed without a reason and without a murmur. They attempted to get the Book printed, but could not raise the means till Harris stepped forward, and raised money on his farm for that purpose. Harris with several manuscripts in his pocket, went to the city of New York, and called upon one of the Professors of Columbia College for the purpose of showing them to him. Harris says that the Professor thought them very curious, but admitted that he could not decypher them. Said he to Harris, 'Mr. Harris you had better go to the celebrated Doct Mitchell.['] Harris says that the Dr. received him very "purlitely," looked at his engravings -- made a learned dissertation on them -- compared them with the hieroglyphics discovered by Champollion in Egypt -- and set them down as the language of a people formerly in existence in the East, but now no more.

The only object of his going to the city to get the 'Book of Mormon' printed was not however accomplished. He returned with his manuscript or engravings to Palmyra -- tried to raise money by mortgage on his farm from the New York Trust Company -- did raise the money but from what source -- whether the Trust Company or not I am uncertain. At last a Printer in Palmyra undertook to print the translations of Joe Smith, Harris becoming responsible for the expense. They were called translators, but in fact and in truth they are believed to be the work of the Ex-Preacher from Ohio, who stood in the background and put forward Joe to father the new bible and the new faith. After the publication of the golden bible, they began to make converts rapidly. The revivals and other religious excitements had thrown up materials for the foundation of a new sect, they soon found they had not dug for money in vain -- they began to preach -- to pray -- to see more visions -- to prophesy and perform the most fantastic tricks -- there was now no difficulty in getting a living and the gingerbread manufactory was abandoned. They created considerable talk over all this section of the country. Another Revelation came upon them, and through Joe and some other of these prophets, they were directed to take up their march and go out to the promised land; to a place near Painesville, Ohio. -- Money was raised in a twinkling from the new converts. Their principles; their tenets; their organization; their discipline were as yet unformed and unfashioned and probably are so to this day. Since they went to Ohio they have adopted some of the worldly views of the Shakers and have formed a sort of community system where every thing is in common. Joe Smith, Harris, the Ex-Pedlar and the Ex-Parson are among their elders and preachers; so also now is Phelps one of Mr. Granger's leading anti-Masonic editors.

Such is a brief view of the rise and progress of the Mormon Religion ,one of the strangest pieces of fanaticism to which the ill-advised and the worst regulated ambition and folly of certain [persons] in Western New York ever gave birth."


Notes: (forthcoming)

Mormonism. -- An extract of a letter from a person converted to Mormonism, but who is said to have been formerly a respectable citizen of Boston, is published in one of the papers of that city. It is dated Canandaigua, Jan. 9th, 1831, and says --

"We live in this place, and have ever since the 8th of October. My mind and time have mostly been employed in the labor of the new covenant, and I cannot say much which would be interesting either to you or to me, unless I write upon this interesting subject. You must suppose I have an opportunity of witnessing much of the proceedings of those who believe in the book of Mormon. The book causes great excitement in these parts, and many lie and foam out their shame, and some believe and become meek and lowly in this region.

There are about one hundred souls who have humbled themselves and come forth with broken hearts and contrite spirits, and desired baptism at the hand of Joseph Smith, or some other elder, -- for you must know that there are, in this church, elders, priests, teachers and deacons, each ordained according to the gift and calling of God. Upon him, many have been ordained, and some preach. Four of these only have gone to the Samanites [sic - Lamanites?] (or Indians) to preach the gospel unto them. They passed through Ohio, and preached, and three hundred have come forth; many, on coming, brought all their possessions and gave to the church. -- One of the first was an old miser, who set the example by throwing in all his property -- eight hundred acres of land under good cultivation. Thus we see, that when the people become right, this will follow, as in the Apostles' days.

There are about four hundred souls, and yet no one has aught he calls his own. This we have not preached; but it is the natural consequence of embracing the Apostolic doctrine, which we have done; for He has visited his people, by the ministration of angels, and by raising up a new seer and revelator, that He may communicate unto us such things as are necessary for our preservation and instruction.

You recollect we were talking of the hill which contained all the sacred engravings; we thought it must be far South. But we were both mistaken; for since I saw you, I have seen the spot, and been all over the hill. The time is short, and this generation will not pass away before there will be great and marvellous things take place to the confounding of all false, vain, and pernicious doctrines, and to the bringing to nought the wisdom of the world; for Israel shall be saved with an everlasting salvation, and the day is near at hand when the [wicked shall be cut off and] the meek shall inherit the earth, and the Lord God will return unto the people a pure language; this is the first language, and it is still preserved on the plates of Jared, and will be the last language that shall be.


Note 1: Inquiry into the late Oct. and early Nov. 1831 files of the Boston Courier has yet to uncover the original for the above reprinted article. What appears to be a more exact reprint of the original letter was published in the Cherokee Phoenix of Jan. 21, 1832.

Note 2: There is no explicit indication as to whether the writer is male or female, but possibly a female -- for there is no mention of an ordination or churchly duties. The writer has lived at Canandaigua since "the 8th of October last," -- evidently since Oct. 8, 1830. Possibly the writer was baptized a Mormon in or near Canandaigua, in late 1830 or early 1831. The writer thus probably knew W. W. Phelps and other Mormon converts living in southern Ontario county, but for some unstated reason has not moved with the New York Saints to Ohio and Missouri. The writer speaks of a time when there was an implicit policy of having new converts donate their worldly possessions to the church -- although the writer points out this was not then an emphatic commandment.

Note 3: The writer says that the "first language" is to be restored -- apparently in the coming millennium. This language is evidently the "pure Adamic tongue" sometimes used by Brigham Young and other early Mormons, when they spoke in "tongues" -- a language in which "Zion" is "Zomas," etc. The "plates of Jared" may refer to the part of the Nephite record which remained untranslated when the Book of Mormon was published; or, perhaps the writer merely confuses the authorship of the "plates of Nephi" with the work of Jared (or the brother of Jared).

MORMONISM.
From a Correspondent of the Salem Gazette,
now travelling in the West.

Marietta, (Ohio,) Nov. 16, 1831.    

You are sensible how celebrated has become western New-York, and the adjacent counties of Ohio, for their sects -- their parties -- their fanaticism, religious, political and antimasonic. Their conceits are wild to the very furthest bounds of imagination. Wild in invention, and singularly successful in carrying into effect their solemn fooleries. You have heard of the Mormonites; newspapers have given detailed accounts of these fanatics, but perhaps their origin is not so well known. Mormonism is the fruit of religious excitement in this quarter, combined with roguery, ingenuity and ignorance; frequently operating successfully on those who ought to know better.

The inventors of this species of fanaticism are very simple personages, and were unknown until thus brought into notice. They are old and young Joe Smith, one Harris, a farmer, all of New-York, and one Ringdon, a sort of preacher, from Ohio, with several other infatuated, cunning hypocrites. Old Joe was once a pedlar, and possessed all that cunning and shrewdness and small intrigue characteristic of that description of persons. He had a smooth tongue, was a ready story-teller, full of anecdotes he had picked up in his peregrinations, and had been more fortunate in picking up materials for his tongue than for supplying his purse. He at one time set up the manufacture of gingerbread, but on the fall of that article, failed in business. Young Joe was an idle, strolling, worthless fellow, although he afterwards flourished so largely in the Mormon religion. He was, however, the son of a Yankee pedlar and brought up to live by his wits. Harris, whom I have mentioned, was considered as a substantial farmer near Palmyra, of a wild imagination, full of passages of scripture, had heard and seen much of the extravagance of the day produced by moderm revival meetings, and believed fully in the wonders and miracles wrought on these occasions.

The Smiths had conceived the idea of getting rich by some short cut: the usual expedient of digging for hidden treasures was hit upon, Having heard many wonderful stories of men getting rich by digging and stumbling upon chests of money on the shores of New England, the fellow succeeded by his oratorical powers, in exciting the imaginations of a few auditors, and made them so anxious to possess themselves of these hidden treasures, that at it they went with shovel and spade, excavating the ground in many places between Canadaigua Lake and Palmyra. These excavations are still to be seen in many places. They continued their labors until, at length, one of the party, tired of laborious and unsuccessful search, spoke of a person in Ohio, near Painesville on Lake Erie, who had a wonderful facility in finding the spots where money was hid, and how he could dream of the very spots where it was to be found. "Can we get that man here," asked the infatuated Smiths. "Why," replied the other, "I guess as we might by going after him; and if I had a little change to bear my expenses, I would go myself." Away they went, some to his farm, and some to merchandise, to gain his money to pay the expense of bringing the money-dreamer from Ohio. The desired object was at length accomplished, and Rigdon the famous Ohio man, made his appearance. He had been a preacher of various religions, and a teacher of almost all kinds of morals. He was experienced in all sorts of camp-meetings, prayer-meetings, and anxious-meetings and revival, or four-days meetings. He knew every turn of the human mind relative to these matters. He had considerable talent and great plausibility. He partly united with the money-diggers in making an excavation in what has since been called the "Golden Bible Hill."

About this time, western New-York became the seat of a very considerable religious excitement. This was fondly denominated a revival of religion, but it was also a revival of the baser passions of the heart; religious pride and religious controversy predominated. All were denounced as infidels who refused to join in the general enthusiasm and become dupes to party zealots. Attempts were made to set up and organize a kind of religious hierarchy, which should regulate all the pursuits of social life; to control the affairs both of church and state; to regulate and control the public mind; and particularly to stop the Sunday mails, and at the same time neglecting the appointed ordinance of the Sabbath, for the newly invented extra week day meetings. Attempts were made to give a sectarian character to the excellent cause of temperance; indeed every occupation in life, every thought and every feeling must partake of sectarianism, at the hazard of a denunciation almost as terrible as that of a Spanish Inquisition. The religion prevalent here, was that of pomp and show -- of glorious controversy -- the artificial religion of human creeds -- of sending missionaries -- of sending tracts, many of which were of doubtful authority, to enlighten the ignorant. Every thing relating to religion was wearing a new face. These were times and these are a people admirably suited to the promulgation of a new Bible, and a new religion. Such fanatics as these, were the murderers of Morgan. In such times and under such circumstances, was bred the Marmon [sic] religion.

In this age of wonders, the cunning ex-preacher from Ohio suggested to the money-diggers to turn their digging concern into a religious plot. It was therefore given out that a vision had appeared to Joe Smith, that there was deposited in the hill I have mentioned an iron chest containing golden plates on which was engraved the "Book of Marmon." These engravings were said to be in unknown characters, to all but the inspired translator, and were deposited there by a wandering tribe of the Children of Israel, before the Christian Era. It was now given out that young Joe Smith was the chosen one of God to reveal this ministry to the world -- to be the second Messiah to reveal to the world this word of life, and to reform it anew. So, Joe from being an idle, lounging fellow, became a grave, parson-like man, with a respectable looking sort of a black coat, and with the salvation of the whole world upon his shoulders. Old Joe, the ex-preacher, and several others, were the converts to the new faith, which they asserted was foretold in the Bible. But Harris was undoubtedly a true convert, and the first man who gave credit to the whole story. He was the Ali of the New-York Mahomet. Ringdon the preacher knew well how to work upon the credulity of a people already excited to religious enthusiasm. His aspect was grave and contemplative, and he could quote abundance of scripture to prove his assertions. This ex-parson is no doubt the author of the book. It is full of strange narratives, in the style of the Scriptures, and appears to evince some ingenuity.

A fac-simile of the characters on the golden plates was carried to Dr. Mitchell, by Harris. The Dr. gave some learned observations on them, but wiser heads than he were employed in the translation. Harris raised money on a mortgage on his farm, and got the translation printed at Palmyra. The book came out to the world, and the diggers soon found they had not dug for money in vain, for by its precepts money could be raised in a twinkling from the new converts, who were daily flocking to the new standard. Another revelation now came upon them. The prophets were directed to lead the way to the promised land, a place near Painesville, Ohio, and subsequently to some place on the Mississippi river, where they have adopted some of the worldly views of the Shakers, having formed a sort of community system. The roads in Trumbull county were at times crowded with these deluded wretches, with their wagons and effects, on their way to the promised land.

The infatuation of these people is astonishing beyond measure. Husbands tearing themselves from their wives and such of their families as refuse to go, and wives deserting their husbands, to join the infatuated clan. A respectable physician of Trumbull county, who informed me of the latter proceedings, also informed me of several instances where the sick have died, refusing medical aid, persisting in the belief that faith in the Marmon religion would save their lives. That he had actually been called in cases of the last extremity, where their faith had finally failed them.

Thus we see some of the effects of that zeal which is not according to knowledge. Little do some of our worthy religious partisans think what may be the result of encouraging a blind zeal. Little do they think what spirit many of those converts are of, a catalogue of whose conversions we see emblazoned in the public religious newspapers. It should be borne in mind, that inquiry-meetings, whispering-meetings, and perhaps four-days revival meetings, may not always be prudently mannaged. The preaching of the celebrated _______, (who is now gone to Boston) whose moral character is too well known to need description, I am told, has had great effect in producing these detailed results. Heated party zealots first sowed the seeds of Marmonism.

But we should rejoice at a revival of pure and genuine religion, the religion that makes men better and wiser -- that makes women more benevolent and amiable -- the religion of the heart and conduct -- that religion that purifies the soul -- that represses ambition -- that seeks the closet, rather than the highway to pour forth its aspirations -- Such a religion is the result of sober, serious meditation, guided by scripture precepts, and not by human creeds. Such a religion seems adapted to the case of rational beings; but it was not the religion of the people of whom I have spoken.
     Yours, &c.


Note: The first 3/4 of above article generally paraphrases James G. Bennett's two-part, on-the-scene report, published in the Morning Courier & New York Enquirer of Aug. 31, and Sept. 1, 1831. Possibly the Salem editor "padded" his correspondent's letter with paragraphs from Bennett's article: more likely, the writer from Ohio provided that textual padding himself. The Ohio correspondent corrected a few erroneous items from Bennett's articles -- such as replacing the name "Henry Rangdon" with the closer-to-correct spelling of "one Rigdon." The Ohio writer also adds a few items of local news from Trumbull (Geauga??) Co., Ohio respecting the Mormons. From the Salem paper, this article was copied into the Philadelphia U. S. Gazette, thus giving James G. Bennett's New York observations an extended life in the popular press.

THE MORMON DELUSION.  By information from the west, some are falling off, as well as others uniting with Joe Smith, the impostor from Palmyra. One who has recently left them, by the name of Ezra Booth, of Portage county, Ohio, is publishing in the Ohio Star, an expose of their diabolical pretensions and impositions. They pretend an ability, as in ancient times, to speak with tongues; and that Smith is able to hold converse with celestial spirits whenever he pleases. One of them pretends to have received his commission to preach the gospel, directly from heaven, on a piece of parchment; another to have received it on the palm of his hand; and witnesses are found to attest to these lies. -- Visions are in great repute. One has seen the New Jerusalem and has passed through its apartments, &c. The ten tribes of Israel are locked up, they say, by the ice at the North Pole, where they enjoy the society of Elijah and John; and by and by the ice is to give way, and then they are to return to their own land. Such are some of their absurdities, which this young man is exposing.


Notes: (forthcoming)

MARMONISM.

No fiction can be invented too absurd for human belief -- no religious system can be devised too extravagant to gain proselytes. The Mormonites are one of the latest bands of fanatics that have been formed in our country -- and their system of 'solemn foolery' has thus far been exceedingly well carried out.

A correspondent of the Salem Gazette gives a detailed account of the origin of this wild sect, from which the following passages are abstracted.

The letter is dated, Marietta, Ohio, Nov. 16, 1831 -- and after reminding the editor how full of sects and parties Western New York and some parts of Ohio have become, -- the writer briefly alludes to the fact that the Marmonites, (with their new-fangled Bible, full of strange conceits,) have acquired some considerable notoriety, while their origin has been comparatively unknown.

It may add some interest to the story, to state that we understand Hull Barton, once an eccentric preacher in these parts, has become a member of the fraternity.

The inventors of this species of fanaticism are old and young Joe Smith, one Harris, a farmer, all of New York; and one Ringdon, a sort of preacher, from Ohio, with several other infatuated, cunning hypocrites. Old Joe was once a pedlar, and possessed all that cunning and shrewdness and small intrigue, characteristic of that description of persons. He had a smooth tongue, was a ready story-teller, full of anecdotes he had picked up in his peregrinations, and had been more fortunate in picking up materials for his tongue, than for supplying his purse. He at one time set up the manufacture of gingerbread, but on the fall of that article, failed in business. Young Joe was an idle, strolling, worthless fellow, although he afterwards flourished so largely in the Mormon religion. He was, however, the son of a Yankee pedlar, and brought up to live by his wits. Harris, whom I have mentioned, was considered as a substantial farmer near Palmyra, of a wild imagination.

The Smiths had conceived the idea of getting rich by some short cut: the usual expedient of digging for hidden treasures was hit upon, Having heard many wonderful stories of men getting rich by digging and stumbling upon chests of money on the shores of New England, the fellow succeeded by his oratorical powers, in exciting the imagination of a few auditors, and made them so anxious to possess themselves of these hidden treasures, that at it they went, with shovel & spade, excavating the ground in many places between Canadaigua Lake and Palmyra. These excavations are still to be seen in many places. They continued their labors until, at length, one of the party, tired of laborious and unsuccessful search, spoke of a person in Ohio, near Painesville, on Lake Erie, who had a wonderful facility in finding the spots where money was hid, and how he could dream of the very spots where it was to be found. --

'Can we get that man here,' asked the infatuated Smiths. 'Why,' replied the other, I guess as we might, by going after him; and if I had a little change to bear my expenses, I would go myself.' Away they went, some to his farm, and some to merchandise, to gain his money to pay the expense of bringing the money-dreamer from Ohio. The desired object was at length accomplished, and Ringdon, the famous Ohio man, made his appearance. He had been a preacher of various religions, and a teacher of almost all kinds of morals. He knew every turn of the human mind relative to these matters. He had considerable talent, and great plausibility. He partly united with the money-diggers in making an excavation in what has since been called the 'Golden Bible Hill.'

The cunning ex-preacher from Ohio suggested to the money-diggers to turn their digging concern into a religious plot. It was therefore given out that a vision had appeared to Joe Smith, that there was deposited in the hill I have mentioned, an iron chest containing golden plates on which was engraved the 'Book of Mormon' -- These engravings were said to be in unknown characters, to all but the inspired translator, and were deposited there by a wandering tribe of the Children of Israel, before the Christian Era. It was now given out that young Joe Smith was the chosen one of God, to reveal this ministry to the world -- to be the second Messiah, to reveal to the world this word of life, and to reform it anew. So Joe, from being an idle, lounging fellow, became a grave, parson-like man, with a respectable looking sort of a black coat. Old Joe, the ex-preacher, and several others, were the converts to the new faith, which they asserted was foretold in the Bible. But Harris was undoubtedly a true convert, and the first man who gave credit to the whole story -- he was the Ali of the New York Mahomet. Ringdon, the preacher knew well how to work upon the credulity of a people already excited to religious enthusiasm. His aspect was grave and contemplative, and he could quote abundance of scripture to prove his assertions. This ex-parson is no doubt the author of the book. It is full of strange narratives, in the style of the Scriptures, and appears to evince some ingenuity.

A fac-simile of the characters on the golden plates was carried to Dr. Mitchell, by Harris. The Dr. gave some learned observations on them, but wiser heads than he were employed in the translation. Harris raised money on a mortgage on his farm, and got the translation printed at Palmyra. The book came out to the world, and the diggers soon found they had not dug for money in vain, for by its precepts, money could be raised in a twinkling from the new converts, who were daily flocking to the new standard. Another revelation now came upon them. The prophets were directed to lead the way to the promised land, a place near Painesville, Ohio, and subsequently to some place on the Mississippi river, where they have adopted some of the worldly views of the Shakers, having formed a sort of community system. The roads in Trumbull [sic] county were at times crowded with these deluded wretches, with their wagons and effects, on their way to the promised land.

The infatuation of these people is astonishing beyond measure. Husbands tearing themselves from their wives and such of their families as refuse to go; and wives deserting their husbands, to join the infatuated clan. A respectable physician of Trumbull county, who informed me of the latter proceedings, also informed me of several instances where the sick have died, refusing medical aid, persisting in the belief that faith in the Mormon religion would save their lives. That he had actually been called in cases of the last extremity, where their faith had finally failed them.


Note 1: See the St. Johnsbury Farmer's Herald of Jan. 18, 1832 for a lengthier reprint of the Salem Gazette article -- which generally paraphrases James G. Bennett's two-part, on-the-scene report, published in the Morning Courier & New York Enquirer of Aug. 31, and Sept. 1, 1831. The Ohio paraphraser has corrected a few erroneous items from Bennett's articles -- such as replacing the name "Henry Rangdon" with the proper spelling of "one Rigdon." The Ohio writer also adds a few items of local news from Trumbull (Geauga??) Co., Ohio respecting the Mormons.

Note 2: Rev. Hull Barton's temporary conversion to Mormonism is mentioned by Mario S. De Pillis in his 1966 Dialogue article, "The Quest for Religious Authority and the Rise of Mormonism." The article provides an account of "Michael Hull Barton of western Massachusetts," who, having traveled "extensively throughout New England seeking the one true church... found himself torn between the Mormons and the Shakers. Finally, in 1831 he started from Western Massachusetts for Portsmouth, New Hampshire, to be baptized by a Mormon elder. On the way back to his home his 'conscience seized him and his sins stared him in the face.' Retiring to the woods to pray, he received the spiritual light which turned him toward the nearest Shaker community in the town of Harvard, Massachusetts." The Portsmouth Gazette editor does not take the trouble to tell of the "eccentric" Rev. Barton's previous associations with the New England Cochranites, etc.

MORMONISM.

(see original article from MA newspaper)

Notes: (forthcoming)

INTELLIGENCE.
_______

RELIGIOUS.

Mormonism -- A gentleman of this city has presented for publication, the following extract of a letter from a Mormonite to his friend here. The writer was formerly a respectable citizen of Boston, and we are assured that his credibility and sincerity cannot be doubted. -- Boston Courier.

Canandaigua, Jan. 9, 1831.    

We live in this place, and have ever since the 8th of October last. My mind and time have mostly been taken up in the labor of the new covenant, and I cannot say much which would be interesting, either to you or to me, unless I write upon this interesting subject. You must suppose I have had a good opportunity of witnessing much of the proceedings of those who believe in the book of Mormon. The book causes great excitement in these parts, and many lie and foam out their shame, and some believe and become meek and lowly in this region.

There are about one hundred souls who have humbled themselves and come forth with broken hearts and contrite spirits, and desired baptism at the hand of Joseph Smith, or some other elder, -- for you must know that there are, in this church, elders, priests, teachers and deacons, each ordained according to the gift and calling of God. Unto Him, many have been ordained to preach. Four of these only have gone to the Samanites [sic - Lamanites?] (or Indians) to preach the gospel unto them. They passed through Ohio, and preached, and three hundred have come forth; many, on coming, brought all their possessions and gave to the church. One of the first was an old miser, who set the example by throwing in all his property -- eight hundred acres of land under good cultivation. Thus we see, that when the people become right, this will follow, as in the Apostles' days.

There are about four hundred souls, and yet no one has aught he calls his own. This we have not preached; but it is the natural consequence of embracing the Apostolic doctrine, which we have done; for He has visited his people, by the ministration of angels, and by raising up a new seer and a revelator, that He may communicate unto us such things as are necessary for our preservation and instruction.

You recollect we were talking of the hill which contained all the sacred engravings; we thought it must be far south. But we were both mistaken; for since I saw you, I have seen the spot, and been all over the hill. The time is short, and this generation will not pass before there will be great and marvellous things take place to the confounding of all false, vain, and pernicious doctrines, and to the bringing to nought the wisdom of the world; for Israel shall be saved with an everlasting salvation, and the day is soon at hand when the wicked shall be cut off and the meek shall inherit the earth, and the Lord God will turn to the people a pure language; this is the first language, and it is still preserved on the plates of Jared, and will be the last language that will be.


Note 1: Inquiry into the back files of the Boston Courier has yet to uncover the original for the above reprinted article. The writer had lived at Canandaigua since "the 8th of October last," -- evidently since Oct. 8, 1830. The writer appears to have been baptized a Mormon in or near Canandaigua, in late 1830. The writer thus probably knew W. W. Phelps and other Mormon converts living in southern Ontario county, but had not yet moved with the New York Saints to Ohio or to Missouri. Among others who might fit this description is Thomas B. Marsh, who moved to Ontario County (evidently to the Palmyra area), in September of 1830, where he was baptized by David Whitmer, in Cayuga Lake.

Note 2: The writer speaks of a time when there was an implicit policy of having new converts donate their worldly possessions to the church -- although the writer points out this was not then an emphatic commandment.

Note 3: The writer says that the "first language" is to be restored -- apparently in the coming millennium. This language is evidently the "pure Adamic tongue" sometimes used by Brigham Young and other early Mormons, when they spoke in "tongues" -- a language in which "Zion" is "Zomas," etc. The "plates of Jared" may refer to the part of the Nephite record which remained untranslated when the Book of Mormon was published; or, perhaps the writer merely confuses the authorship of the "plates of Nephi" with the work of Jared (or the brother of Jared).

MORMONISM.

Below will be found an account of the rise and progress of Mormonism in the West. We copy these narrations as parts of the history of the times, and certainly as among the best histories of the human mind. What strange vagaries are charageable to our species! How each age looks back on its predecessors with an eye of pity and contempt, & hastens to furnish cause to iys successor for a similar homage! And what is he that shall check the madness of man, or stay the exuberance of his follies? Those very follies that twine around, and hide, if not destroy, with their excessive growth, the trunk and branches of the tree of wisdom. -- U. S. Gazette.

---

Correspondence of the Salem Gazette.

THE  MORMONITES.

(view original article from Salem paper)

Notes: (forthcoming)

Death of a Mormon Preacher. -- Died, in Pomfret, Vt., on Saturday, 7th inst. Joseph H. Brackenbury, a 'Mormon Preacher.' He recently came to this town from Ohio, in company with one or two individuals of the same society. -- They preached, exhorted, and with great zeal and apparent humility, attempted to propagate their doctrines. Two or three embraced their sentiments so far as to be baptized -- one a Free Will Baptist, the other a Presbyterian.

In confirmation of their doctrine and divine mission, they professed to have power to heal the sick, and raise the dead. It is credibly reported that they attempted twice without effect, to heal a Miss Nancy Johnson, made a cripple by falling from a horse. She was not healed for lack of faith; but started for Ohio with the Mormons, to obtain more. The company of Brackenbury attempted also to heal him, and since his decease [sic - disease?], to raise him from the dead.


Note: The above article was copied from an issue of the New York Fredonia Censor printed shortly after Elder Brackenbury's death in nearby Pomfret, New York, on Jan. 7, 1831. The Burlington Sentinel added the faulty information saying that Brackenbury's death occurred in Pomfret, Vermont. The Palmyra Wayne Sentinel of Apr. 11, 1832 passed the garbled report from the the Burlington Sentinel, as did Lewis L. Rice's Ohio Star of Apr. 12, 1832. The reprint by the Wayne Sentinel is particularly unjustifiable -- since the same newspaper had already printed the correct version of the story on Feb. 14, 1832

FOR  THE  MESSENGER.

Mr. Editor. -- More than [a year since], I forwarded you a communication [-----] respecting the Mormonites. I now send you an extract of a letter from a [man in] Portage county, Ohio, which says [something] of them, but more respecting another denomination in that region, and [that extract] is as follows:

"I hear considerable about Campbellites and Mormonites [this town] is free from them, and almost all [the people] here are Congregationalists. The Campbellite system has been in existence [for some] years. -- The originator of it [is a gentleman by] the name of Campbell, who resides [at some distance] from this region. I cannot ascertain [----- ----- --- ] any articles of belief in [----- ----- --- ]... the Baptists in this country have been sadly taken in by them. Their societies in this vicinity have been a long time without ministers; and when the Campbellites arose, they thought they were their own sort of folks and joined them immediately.

"The Mormonites in some places seem to be swallowing Campbellites, Universalists, &c. They are some of them preparing to go to the promised land, as they say. This lies in Jackson county, Missouri."

I add to the above extract, that there is a small society of Mormonites in the town of Shaftsbury in this State, as I was lately credibly informed in the vicinity, and by means of persons from the place, who were nearly, if not wholly converted to the system. They are said to heal the sick miraculously, to have a spirit of prophecy, and are very devout and engaged in their religion. A sick woman, whom I lately visited, had been urged by some of the believers in them to apply to their prophet or elder for the restoration of her long lost health, and encouraged to hope for it if she would apply in faith. She told me she had faith to believe Christ could heal her, but had not faith in the Mormonites doing it. -- This faith is with them essential to the cure.

CLERICUS.       

Note: The above article from the Brattleboro Messenger is cited on page 227 of Max Parkin's 1966 BYU Master's thesis, "The Nature and Cause of Internal and External Conflict of the Mormons in Ohio Between 1830 and 1838." The original report evidently came from an observer living in Portage County, Ohio.

Death of a Mormon Preacher. -- Died, in Pomfret, Vt., on Saturday, 7th inst. Joseph H. Brackenbury, a "Mormon Preacher." --- He recently came to this town from Ohio, in company with one or two individuals of the same society. -- They preached, exhorted, and with great zeal and apparent humility, attempted to propagate their doctrines. Two or three embraced their sentiments so far as to be baptized -- one a Free Will Baptist, and the other a Presbyterian.

In confirmation of their doctrine and divine mission, they professed to have power to heal the sick, and raise the dead. It is credibly reported that they attempted twice, without effect, to heal a Miss Nancy Johnson, made a cripple by falling from a horse. She was not healed for lack of faith; but started for Ohio with the Mormons, to obtain more. The company of Brackenbury attempted also to heal him, and since his decease, to raise him from the dead. -- Vermont pap.


Note: Clipping courtesy of Erin Jennings.

A Mormonite Newspaper has been established at Independence, Miso. by W. W. Phelps, called The Evening and Morning Star. In a postscript he says "From this press may be expected as soon as wisdom directs, many sacred records, which have slept for ages."

Notes: (forthcoming)

SCANDALOUS AFFAIR. It is stated in the Warren (Ohio) News-Letter, that a number of persons, say twenty-five or thirty, disguised with colored faces, entered the rooms in Hiram, where the two leaders of the Mormonites, Smith and Rigdon, slept, and tarred and feathered them.

It is said that the Mormonites had previously declared in anticipation of such an event, that such an act could not be done -- that God would not suffer it.


Notes: (forthcoming)

MORMONISM. -- The fanatics of the Mormon faith seem to be increasing. Their regular and most important encampment is located at Independence, Jackson County, Missouri. Here a weekly journal is to be published by a Mormonite, denominated 'The Evening and the Morning Star.' The Editor says, his journal will borrow its light from sacred sources, and be devoted to the revelations of GOD, as made known to his servants through the book of Mormon, by the Holy Ghost. He adds, that from his press, also, 'may be expected, as soon as wisdoms [sic] directs, many sacred records, which have slept for ages.' Another member of this singular sect, -- 'Gabriel Crane, Son of Righteousness, Witness, and Organ of the Lord,' -- has made his appearance in Philadelphia, and issued his 'denunciations and anathemas, and woes,' against that city, and Washington. He says the latter city is the Sodom alluded to the Scriptures, and that our worthy President is the 'Beast of Blasphemy,' mentioned in Revelations. As we have before observed, it is not a little strange, that in this enlightened age, so singular and unnatural a doctrine as that of Mormonism should prevail, to any extent. It would seem, however, that no monstrosities are too gross for the capacious maw of fanaticism.


Note 1: Clipping courtesy of Erin Jennings. The same report was published in the Boston Columbian Centinel on May 11, 1832 and in the Montpelier, Vt. State on June 4, 1832.

Note 2: The reporter mistakenly attached the Rev. Gabriel Crane to the Latter Day Saints -- he was not a Mormon preacher. The erroneous report was subsequently circulated in various papers, that the Mormons had cursed are predicted the destruction of Philadelphia -- alternately, some news reports said the Mormons were moving there.

MORMONISM. -- A mormonite by the name of Smith has lately come from the west (from Missouri, we suppose) and made several proselytes in the neighborhood of McIndoe Falls. We propose as soon as we can find time and room to give some account of this new and strange sect.


Note: The village of McIndoe Falls is located a few miles south of Saint Johnsbury in northeastern Vermont. The "mormonite by the name of Smith" was apparently not LDS missionary Samuel H. Smith. He was still laboring in western New York at this time.

Mormonism in the East.

Sunday, April 29, 1832.    

I have this day attended a Mormonite meeting in Bath, N. H. It was held in a school-house, which was crowded to overflowing. The speakers were two young men recently from Ohio; one named Pratt, apparently about 19 years of age; the other named Johnson, who was probably about twenty-five. The house was filled at an early hour, by an assembly in whose features a love of the marvelous seemed [s]trongly delineated. When the young missionaries arrived (for such I learn they claim to be, sent out by the prophet, Joseph Smith,) the younger arose, and commenced speaking without the usual previous ceremonies of praying or singing. He began by saying it was a great work in which he was engaged, and dwelt somewhat at large on the impropriety and injustice of condemning his doctrines, [without] giving them a fair hearing. He said he should tell them, first, the manner in which this revelation made by God to man, in these latter days was brought to light. Second, he would give them a brief account of its contents. He then proceeded to relate the story of the angel appearing to Smith, and his subsequent discovery and translation of the plates, and ended with a brief sketch of the adventures of the prophet, Lehi, his escape from Jerusalem and arrival to this continent in a ship which he was taught, specially by Providence, to build, some 700 years before Christ, the subsequent prosperity of himself and his descendants here, their rebellion against God, and the curses consequent upon that rebellion, one of which was a red skin, which they wore to this day.

Johnson then addressed the audience, labouring to show that the present signs of the times, and the incidents attendant upon the discovery of this latter revelation, were plainly and unequivocally predicted in the old and new testaments.

He said that Christ was coming a second time and that before this generation passes away. That it was all important (but he did not say why) that we should believe this testimony. I asked one of their converts, (of whom, by the way, they had already made four, who were dipped in the Connecticut yesterday,) what would be the consequences to the present generation of denying ir rejecting their doctrines. He replied, in solemn tone, famine, pestilence, bloodshed, and devestation -- said I, do you give us any proof of this? There is the same proof, said he, as we have for the rest of it. We had no time to continue the conversation. I was not a little amused by the sage speculations of the audience, who were parcelled out into small groups, before and after the meeting, discussing the evidences on which the new doctrine was based. It brought to my mind a very lust remark of Mr. Owen's -- "How cooly can we examine all theories, how dispassionately discuss all dogmas, save our own." The converts to whom I have alluded, are said not to be under par, for common sense and discretion, in the ordinary concerns of life. This report as it respects some of them, I have the authority of a personal acquaintance, for believing. The speakers were obvious ignorant young men, and the Christians had little to fear, I thought, from their exertions to make the old delusion give place to the new. They gave no precepts by which they would have men govern their conduct, either in relation to God or each other, but only made the modest demand of their audience, that they implicitly believe the Mormon bible.

As a man devoted to the interests of truth and free-enquiry, that the best touch stone by which to test it; I do not regret the progress of this modern delusion. Notwithstanding it would seem there were examples enough before the world, showing the facility with which men may be led into error and delusion, yet they do not suffice to put them upon their guard and teach them to reason. So long as mankind believe it a sin to reason, so long as they can be made to believe it their duty to approach the mysteries of religion, with a "prostration of intellect" and receive without examination, the ipse dixit of the priest, just so long will the undiscerning many, be the easy victims of the ambitious and crafty few.   I. W. T.


Note: For other newspaper reports on the progress of the 1832 Mormon mission undertaken by Orson Pratt and Lyman E. Johnson, see the New York Fredonia Censor of  Mar. 7, 1832 and the Cincinnati Catholic Telegraph of  Apr. 14, 1832.

MORMONISM. -- The Editors of the Mormonite Journal, published at Independence, Jackson county, Missouri, says his journal will borrow its light from sacred sources, and be devoted to the revelations of God, as made known to his servants through the book of Mormon, by the Holy Ghost. He adds that from his press, also, 'may be expected, as soon as wisdom directs, many sacred records, which have slept for ages.' Another member of this singular sect -- 'Gabriel Crane, Son of Righteousness, Witness, and Organ of the Lord' -- has made his appearance in Philadelphia, and issued his 'denunciations and anathemas, and woes,' against that city, and Washington. He says that the latter is the Sodom alluded to in the Scriptures, and that the President is the 'Beast of Blasphemy' mentioned in Revelations.

These Mormonites are excellent and appropriate auxiliaries to the Anti-Masons. -- Post.


Note: The writer of the above item mistakenly attached the Rev. Gabriel Crane to the Latter Day Saints -- he was not a Mormon preacher. The erroneous report was circulated in various papers that the Mormons had cursed are predicted the destruction of Philadelphia -- alternately, some news reports said the Mormons were moving there.

A new recruit to the Nationals. -- The Editor of the Mormonite Journal, published at Independence, Jackson county, Missouri, says his journal will borrow its light from sacred sources, and be devoted to the revelations of GOD, as made known to his servants through the book of Mormon, by the Holy Ghost. -- He adds, that from his press, also, 'may be expected, as soon as wisdom directs, many sacred records, which have slept for ages.' Another member of this singular sect, -- 'Gabriel Crane, Son of Righteousness, Witness, and Organ of the Lord,' -- has made his appearance in Philadelphia, and issued his 'denunciations and anathemas, and woes,' against that city, and Washington. He says the latter is the Sodom alluded to the scriptures, and that our worthy President is the 'Beast of Blasphemy' mentioned in Revelations.

These Mormonites are excellent and appropriate auxiliaries to the Anti-Masons and the National Republicans. -- Morning Post.


Note: Clipping courtesy of Erin Jennings.

The Warren, Ohio News Letter states that some persons, disguised, lately entered the room where two leaders of the Mormonite fanatics slept, and tarred and feathered them.

Note: A reprint if this notice, published in the Farmer's Herald on May 30th, adds: "The Ohio people should have known that persecution in any shape was the most effectual way to make these misguided persons stick to their tenets." The cited article in the Warren News-Letter appeared on April 10, 1832 and was entitled "Triumphs of the Mormon Faith." This Ohio report, in turn, made its first appearance in the Hudson Observer and Telegraph at about the beginning of April. The tarring and feathering of Joseph Smith, Jr. and Sidney Rigdon occurred in Hiram, Ohio on March 24th.

We learn by a Rochester paper that on the 7th ult. several members of the Baptist church, Mendon, Munroe county, made a public profession of Mormonism, and were baptised. The elder who officiated, it is said, stated to the assembly that he should not die -- that he should be translated to Heaven like Elijah -- that he had power to raise the dead -- that in 18 months the Mormon creed will be the only religion extant, and that all sinners will then be destroyed.


Note 1: Clipping courtesy of Erin Jennings.

Note 2: The writer of the above news item probably consulted more than one newspaper from the Rochester area, in compiling the text. The initial April 14th Liberal Advocate report did not mention that the Mormon missionary (Elder Alpheus Gifford?) claimed any latter day power to raise the dead.

Mormonism. -- The editor of the Mormonite Journal, published at Independence, Jackson County, Missouri, says his journal will borrow its light from sacred sources and be devoted to the revelations of God, as made known to his servants through the book of Mormon by the Holy Ghost. He adds that from his press, also, 'may be expected as soon as wisdom directs, many sacred records which have slept for ages.' Another member of this singular sect -- 'Gabriel Crane, Son of Righteousness, Witness and Organ of the Lord' -- has made his appearance in Philadelphia, and issued his febunciations and anathemas, and woes, against that city, and Washington. He says that the latter is the Sodom alluded to in the scriptures, & that the President is the 'Beast of Blasphemy' mentioned in revelations.


Note: The writer of the above article has mistakenly attached Gabriel Crane to the Latter Day Saints -- he was not a Mormon preacher.

Mormonites.

This new sect originated in New York; from New York they removed to Ohio, and from Ohio to Missouri. At Independence in this latter State they profess to have taken their permanent stand. They say the millennium is soon to commence and that Christ is to come personally and take up his residence with them.

Their origin may be traced to some two or three individuals in N. Y. who were bent on acquiring riches in some expeditious mode. Among other expedients they set themselves to digging for money which they believed or pretended to believe, had been buried in past days. No money was found. Something must be done and they set themselves to practise on the credulity of mankind. They professed to have discovered a book written on gold leaves and in characters which no one understood. To one of their number, however, as they say, was miraculously imparted a knowledge of this unknown tongue. By divine direction he set himself to translate it into our language. As soon as the contents of a page or plate were thus translated the plate itself vanished away. This manuscript, declared by them to be an inspired translation of the original, they procured to be printed. This book they declare to be wholly superior to our bible. They profess, also, to have new revelations frequently. Especially is this the privilege of Jo Smith, who is considered as the special organ of communication between God and man. He is often professing to reveal new truths; and to doubt his word or disobey his orders is the same in their estimation as to disbelieve or disobey God himself. They pretend to the power of working miracles, but in the exercise of their power they have not been very successful, and we presume they will seldom attempt it.

They have issued the prospectus of a paper, to be printed at Independence. Whether or not they have commenced its publication we are ignorant. Its title is to be "The Evening and the Morning Star." They are actively engaged in proselyting & for this purpose are travelling over the country in its length and its breadth. Vermont and New Hampshire have been visited, and report says that a few in each State have become converts to their faith. Such are directed to arrange their affairs, convert their property into cash and go to the land of promise beyond the Mississippi as soon as can conveniently be done. They practice baptism, which they perform by immersion, and probably attend [on] the Lord's supper, though of this we have seen no account. In its general principles this sect entirely coincide with numerous others which have from time ti time sprung up in Christendom; while the founders have been careful to accompany these old principles with many new and, to the uninformed, imposing peculiarities.


Note: The anonymous writer of the above account does not say where he obtained his information. Most of what is related in the article was already current in the public press of the day, however, and it may be simply a compilation of allegations taken from other, prior articles and news reports. The writer does make one unique and singular claim, however -- that each of the already translated "plates" of the Book of Mormon "vanished away" after it had served its purpose. If this was indeed part of the process (whether by supernatural means or by artful design) by which the "record" was set down by Joseph Smith's scribes, it helps explain why no original "plates" have ever been discovered -- and why the text of the "lost 116 pages" of the book could not be reproduced from the source Smith still had in his possession after the loss occurred. One or two students of the matter have been so bold as to suggest that Smith's source was nothing but a manuscript written by another person, and that Smith disposed of that source manuscript before he ever offered up the "translated" Book of Mormon for publication. Such an ingenious explanation of things at least explains why the supposed original manuscript (presumably written in some other person's handwriting -- say, that of Sidney Rigdon) could not directly serve as the text for the printer in Palmyra.

MORMONISM. -- The Fredonia Censor of Wednesday says: -- "The Mormonites are doing a pretty fair business in this part of the town. Seven or eight were baptised to that faith by immersion last week. Fit materials for a fit delusion."

-- Joe Smith expresses his firm belief of the entire conversion of the world to his faith in less than two years.


Note: This item appeared in the Fredonia, New York Censor on May 9, 1832. Oddly enough, the editor removed the Censor's comment, revealing that the conversions were performed only among the Anti-Masons of Fredonia. Vermont was a solidly Anti-Masonic state in 1832, so the local redaction was perhaps intended to spare the residents of that state any comparison with the "Mormonites." When the same article was reprinted in Bennington, Vermont -- in the June 5, 1832 Vermont Gazette, -- the editor there included the Anti-Masonic reference and did not append additional remarks, as the Herald did, in regard to "Joe Smith."

Two young men have been lecturing the people of N. Hampshire, on the Mormon faith, endeavoring to convince their hearers of its divine authenticity, and to persuade them to dispose of their property, forsake their unbelieving friends, and betake them to the city of refuge, in Missouri.


Note: Clipping courtesy of Erin Jennings.

MORE BIBLICAL INTERPRETATION. -- A N. Y. paper says: -- One Jos. Dilks, a fanatic who had collected near Bridgetown, N. J. a few deluded followers, one of whom he called his wife, was arrested, with the latter woman, for open violation of the laws of society. He declared that the Lord had married them in Philadelphia a year since, and that they held it as a part of their doctrine that in solemnizing marriages they should not recognize the laws of man. The woman induced him to give up this point, and the Judge married them in open court; yet the people do not appear satisfied that the affair ended thus.


Note: Clipping courtesy of Erin Jennings. See also the Albany Gazette for Aug. 16, 1831 and the Philadelphia Saturday Evening Post, for August 27, 1831.

Outrage. -- On the night of the 24th ult., twenty-five or thirty persons in disguise, entered the apartments of Smith and Ringdon [sic], leaders of Mormonism in [Geauga] county, Ohio, carried them from their beds, and tarred and feathered them. -- Newark (Ohio) Gaz.


Notes: (forthcoming)

MORMONISM. -- A few members of the Baptist Church in Mondon, Mississippi have been “re-dipped” to become Mormons. The preacher of this church claims that he will be translated, that Mormonism will be the prevailing religion in eighteen months, and that the wicked will be swept from the earth in five years.


Notes (forthcoming)

NOTICE. -- It is expected that a meeting will be held at Julien Hall, next Sunday, to commence at 10 o'clock, A. M. by one or two of the Elders of the Church of Christ, from Ohio, who have received a commandment if God to go forth and preach Repentance and faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, declaring to the people that the earth is about to be visited with heavenly judgments for the wickedness of its inhabitants. The above meeting will be held gratis.

We cheerfully insert the above notice; but lest it should not be fully understood, we observe, the "Elders" above mentioned are professed believers in the "Golden Bible" said to have been found persuant to revelation by Joseph Smith. -- EDITOR.


Notes: (forthcoming)

Questions proposed to the Mormonite Preachers and
their answers obtained before the whole assembly
at Julien Hall, Sunday Evening, August 5, 1832.
_____

Question -- Where is Joseph Smith now or where is he supposed to be?
Answer -- In the state of Ohio -- town and county stated, but not taken down.

Q. -- By what means did he discover the golden plates and who was with him when he made the discovery?
A. -- The golden plates were discovered through the ministration of an angel of the Lord, by Joseph Smith -- no one else was with him at the time of the discovery.

Q. -- By whom was a fac simile of some part of the language and characters taken, and on what material.
A. -- It was taken by Joseph Smith on paper from the original plates themselves.

Q. -- By whom was this presented to Dr. Mitchell, and at what period?
A. -- By Martin Harris, one of the witnesses who had seen the plates -- do not exactly know at what time.

Q. -- Is that fac simile, now in being, and if so where is it?
A. -- It is, or it was in being -- I have seen it.

Q. -- In what manner was the interpretation, or translation made known, and by whom was it written?
A. -- It was made known by the sporit of the Lord through the medium of the Urim and Thummim; and was written partly by Oliver Cowdery, and partly by Martin Harris.

Q. -- What do you mean by Urim and Thummim?
A. -- The same as were used by the prophets of old, which were two crystal stones, placed in bows, something in the form of spectacles, which were found with the plates.

Q. -- What became of the plates after the translation was made?
A. -- They were delivered into the hands of the angel of the Lord by whom they were afterwards shown to the three witnesses, who have testified to that effect.

Q. -- At what place was the translation made?
A. -- Partly at Manchester, Ontario county, N. Y. where the plates were found, and partly on the banks of the Susquehannah river in Pennsylvania.

Q. -- How many were present at the time and who?
A. -- Joseph Smith, Oliver Cowdery, Martin Harris -- and several others at least part of the time whose names were mentioned but not taken down.

Q. -- When were the plates seen by the eight who saw them, and who have testified to that fact; before they were translated, or since?
A. -- They were seen at different times while they were in the hands of Joseph Smith and during the time of their translation.

Q. -- Did they see the fac simile also, and if so, did they compare the fac simile with the plates to see if they agreed?
A. -- They saw the fac simile also, but did not compare it with the plates to see whether it agreed or not.

Q. -- Who is Mr. Anthony [sic] who saw the fac simile? is he still living, or not?
A. -- He was a professor of languages in the city of New-York, but we do not know whether he is now living or not.

Q. -- By what means was the spot made known to the men who travelled for the purpose, where the city is to be built?
A. -- It was made known by the spirit of the Lord.

Q. -- In what way?
A. -- In answer to their prayers.

Q. -- This is all poetry to me -- was there any visible token that unbelievers could have either seen or heard?
A. -- I do not know that there was -- there probably was not.

Q. -- Do the members of the new church, New Jerusalem Church, Mount Zion, or by whatever name it is called, give up their property to be held in common, or not?
A. -- They hold their property in common, and the land is divided out to each one in proportion to what he can cultivate, without any regard to what he put in.

Q. -- What is the government of the church, and how are its officers appointed?
A. -- The government is of the Lord. They have Elders, Deacons, and Stewards, who receive their appointment from the Lord, and are ordained by the officers for the time being.

Q. -- Do the people elect their own officers?
A. -- They do not.

Q. -- To what sect in Christendom do they approximate the nearest in opinion in regard to a future state of being?
A. -- I do not know, for I am not much acquainted with the oponions of other sects; they do not agree however with any [sic].

Q. -- Do they hold to a future punishment of the wicked, and if so, do they believe in the doctrine of endless misery?
A. -- They hold to the punishment of the wicked in a future state; and those who are finally so unfortunate as to be cast off will be endlessly miserable.

To the "Book of Mormon" there are annexed the following certificates....     [the published testimony of the three witnesses and of the eight witnesses follows]

It will be perceived by the above that out of twelve persons named, as being concerned in this record, as it is called, five are by the name of "Whitmer," and four (including the prophet) by the name of "Smith." Hence all excepting Cowdery, Harris and Page, appear to belong to two families. And how many of these are the real imposters, and how many are or have been their dupes, and who, we would not undertake to say. Let the imposture be divided among them as they can best agree. Our question is, how could the plates of gold, which were really material, be supported in the hands of an angel -- a being purely etherical, aerial, or immaterial? Convince us of this fact, and that they were actually so supported, and we can believe the whole story. What became of the Urim and Thummim? -- did the angel take them away too?


Note 1: The two missionaries questioned in the above recorded exchange, were Samuel H. Smith and Orson Hyde. See the Boston Traveller of Aug. 27th for further information on their preaching activities.

Note 2: The writer's final unanswered question -- regarding the supposed immateriality of Mormon angels -- is perhaps answered in part, by this quote from LDS D&C sec. 129: "When a messenger comes saying he has a message from God, offer him your hand and request him to shake hands with you. If he be an angel he will do so, and you will feel his hand. If he be the spirit of a just man made perfect he will come in his glory; for that is the only way he can appear -- Ask him to shake hands with you, but he will not move, because it is contrary to the order of heaven for a just man to deceive; but he will still deliver his message. If it be the devil as an angel of light, when you ask him to shake hands he will offer you his hand, and you will not feel anything; you may therefore detect him."

MORMONISM.  An itinerant preacher of this new religion delivered a lecture in Lynn last week, and, it is said, found converts, who were immersed in baptism, in token of their conversion to the Mormon faith.


Note: Clipping courtesy of Erin Jennings.

Mr. Editor, -- We have been favored with the story of the Mormon Bible; and, as one, I would say, that if I could possibly believe that wisdom consisted in keeping three hundred wives and seven hundred concubines, or in other words, propagating licentious intercourse between the sexes, or if I could believe that God, alias the Holy Ghost, did actually debase himself so much as to 'overshadow' a virgin, and then basely father the crime on poor Joseph -- or could I believe the gospel story to be true in the main --- for Joe Smith's bible serves to prove the Old and New Testaments, or rather the Holy Bible serves as a foundation for the Mormon Bible --- I should not hesitate, one moment, to be baptised and follow this prophet, Joe Smith; and I would sincerely entreat all Christians to look into this affair; for Joe has seen an angel from heaven; he is an inspired prophet; he warns you of war, famine and pestilence; he warns you to fly to the New Jerusalem.

I would advise ministers to bring these two elders before their flocks; for they may be angels, although they did not shew their flippers; at any rate, if Joe Smith is a prophet, remember what Abraham said, when he had a bosom full of Lazarus -- "Ye have Moses and the prophets," and "if ye do not hear them, ye would not believe though one should rise from the dead."   A SECEDER..


Notes: (forthcoming)

Two Mormonite preachers have recently visited this city, and made 15 converts to their strange doctrines, who have been baptised and joined the Mormon church. It is stated in one of the papers, that these persons contemplate going to the west, and some have already started for "the promised land, the place of refuge for the house of Israel, and for all the Gentile world who will flee thither for safety," in Jackson county, Missouri. -- Two females who have gone, had acquired by industry, one 1500, the other 800 dollars, which they have given up to go into the general stock. The others possess between 3 and 4000 dollars, which they are going to put with the general fund, and which they can never draw out again. Thus are people swindled of their property, and drawn from their comfortable homes, by ignorant fanatics.


Note: Elders Samuel H. Smith and Orson Hyde entered Boston on June 22, 1832 and spent several weeks in that city and the surrounding region of country. A number of the Bostonians had already begun to investigate Mormonism, before the two missionaries arrived, so the elders were quickly able to organize a small group of converts there.

MORMONISM IN NEW ENGLAND.  It is stated in the Boston Christian Register that two Mormonite preachers have recently visited that city, and made about fifteen converts to their strange doctrines, who have been baptized and joined the Mormon church. Some of them are said to be respectable persons. All contemplate going to the west, and some have already started for "the promised land, the place of refuge for the house of Israel and for all the Gentile world who will flee thither for safety," in Jackson county, Missouri.


Note: Clipping courtesy of Erin Jennings.

Mormonism. -- The Boston Traveller of Monday says, --

"Two Mormonite preachers have recently visited this city, and made 15 converts to their strange doctrines, who have been baptised and joined the Mormon church. It is stated in one of the papers, that these persons contemplate going to the west, and some have already started for "the promised land, the place of refuge for the house of Israel, and for all the Gentile world who will flee thither for safety," in Jackson county, Missouri. -- Two females who have gone, had acquired by industry, one 1500, the other 800 dollars, which they have given up to go into the general stock. The others possess between 3 and 4000 dollars, which they are going to put with the general fund, and which they can never draw out again. "Thus are people swindled of their property, and drawn from their comfortable homes, by ignorant fanatics."

The Providence Journal of Thursday adds, -- "We have been told that these same strolling fanatics have visited this State, and made some converts to their 'damnable heresy.'"


Notes: (forthcoming)

THE  MORMONITES.

It is our humiliating duty to record the fact, that two of the preachers of this fanatical sect have visited our city, endeavouring to propagate their strange doctrines, and it is said that about fifteen persons here became converts, having been led away by their delusions. Rev. Joshua V. Himes, pastor of a Baptist church in this city has republished Mr. Cambell's Analysis of the pretended, "Book of Mormon," with prefactory remarks, for which service he merits the thanks of the public. Mr. Himes states that he has had several interviews with these men, and has examined their book, which they pretend is a revelation from God. He has acquainted himself with the details of their history and principles, and is satisfied of the delusion and absurdity of their system, and of its evil tendency. One of the leading tenets of these deluded people is, -- a positive contradition of the Scriptures -- that the promised land is not Palestine, but a tract of country situated in Jackson county, Missouri, ten miles from the town of Independence. Some of these enthusiasts have set out for "the promised land, the place of refuge for the house of Israel, and of the Gentile world, who will take warning and flee thither for safety." Mr. Himes says, in his preface, that "two individuals who have gone are defenceless females. They had acquired by their hard industry $2300, one of them having $800, the other 1500, which they have given up to the general stock. -- One of these females was in a consumption, and her friends thought she would not live to reach her destined place." Her afflicted sister told Mr. Himes, that if she had been buried here, before she had been led away by these errors, and had left satisfying evidence of grace, her grief would have been much lessened.

Mr. Himes adds -- "The remaining persons who were baptized and joined the Mormonites, and contemplate going to the west, possess between $3000 and $4000, which they also are going to put with the general fund and which they can never draw back again, should they get sick of Mormonism, and wish to return home to their friends." The pretended "promised land" of these ignorant people is about two thousand miles distant.

The preachers intended visiting the cities and principal towns in New England. We are informed that they have recently visited Lynn, where they have endeavoured to make a favourable impression, by the appearance of great sincerity.

It seems surprising that persons of common sense should be deceived by such a production as this "Book of Mormon." It carries internal evidence of its folly. It admits the Old and New Testaments to be divine, but contains numerous contradictions of the Bible. One Joseph Smith is supposed to be its real author, though it is pretended to be a translation from some mysterious plates. Whoever is its author or pretended translator, he is grossly ignorant of English grammar. The book is a 12mo. vol. of more than 500 pages.

The facts stated in this connexion bring to mind the exhortation of Paul to the Hebrews -- "Be not carried about with divers and strange doctrines; for it is a good thing that the heart be established with grace." There are some persons who appear remarkably predisposed to delusions. If a new doctrine has a fascinating colouring of the marvellous, they seem to be all ready to receive it as a new discovery of truth. They have very inadequate views of religion, almost uniformily connecting with it, something that is strange and unreasonable. True religion, or that which the apostle calls "the heart established with grace," will lead us to the infallible test which we have in our hands, the Scriptures of truth. Whoever contradicts these, is either a deceiver, or deceived, however or even pious he may seem to be. [Hence] the great worth of enlightened personal religion.

The "Analysis" may be bought at the Bookstore of Mr. B. H. Green.


Note: The two LDS missionaries then traveling through eastern New York and New England were Elders Orson Hyde and Samuel H. Smith.

Mormonism.

Our readers are referred to the first page of our paper to-day, for the commencement of an exposure of one of the most impudent, disgusting and wicked impostures that ever the devil attempted to impose upon mankind. -- We understand that a couple of the agents of the arch-enemy of human happiness are inculcating the desulsions of Mormonism in the towns of Bradford and Rowley -- and, strange to relate, that they have made several proselytes, who will probably be swindled out of their property, and induced to remove to their "land of promise," in the State of Missouri. One of these proselytes, we understand, was recently an inhabitant of Haverhill, and a zealous professor of religion. A friend, speaking of the success of these fanatics, the other day, remarked, that "were some person to appear, advocating the expediency of walking and running on hands and feet instead of feet alone, he would not be wanting in proselytes." This is doubtless true -- so prone are men to run after new things.

---

Notice.

By the leave of Providence, two young men, believers in the BOOK OF MORMON, will preach at the house of Nathaniel Holmes, in N. Rowley, on the firts day of the week next, at 10 o'clock, A.M.

---

DELUSIONS.

AN ANALYSIS OF THE
Book of Mormon...

(this article was re-printed as a tract)




Note: Clippings courtesy of Erin Jennings.

Mormonism has broken out in Lynn, Mass. and has carried off several persons

Note: The introduction of Mormonism into New England was effected by elders Samuel H. Smith and Orson Hyde, who journeyed from Kirtland, Ohio to the State of Maine in 1832, visiting many towns along the way, preaching and selling copies of the Book of Mormon.

Extracts from Mr. Campbell's Reviews of the Book of Mormon.

... However strange to relate, about fifteen persons, in this city [Boston] have been led away by these false doctrines, have been baptised and joined the Mormon church. And some of these persons have set out for the promised land, the place of refuge for the house of Israel, and for all the Gentile world, who will take warning and flee thither for safety (This place is situated in Jackson county, Missouri, ten miles from the town of Independence). Two individuals who have gone, are defenceless females. They had acquired by their hard industry $2300, one of them having $800, the other $1500, which they have given up to go into the general stock. One of these females was in a consumption, and her friends thought she would not live to reach her destined place. Her afflicted sister told me, that if she had been buried here, before she had been led away by these errors, and had left satisfactory evidence that she was prepared to die, her grief would have been far less than it is now. The remaining persons who were baptised and joined the church, and contemplate going to the west, possess between $3000 and $4000, which they also are going to put with the general fund, and which they can never draw out again, should they get sick of Mormonism and wish to return home to their friends....


Note 1: The text of the above item has not yet been checked for accuracy, but was taken directly from Rev. Joshua V. Himes's Aug. 1832 Boston pamphlet, reprinting Alexander Campbell's famous "Delusions" article. The "extracts" in the Christian Register are mostly illegible in the available clipping, but they appear to be worded somewhat differently than Himes' text.

Note 2: For more on the story of the two female converts from Boston, see the Sept. 27, 1832 issue of the Ohio Star, and the Oct. 25, 1832 issue of the Lisbon, Ohio Aurora. The latter article takes its information from a mid-October number of the Boston Traveller, which apparently carried an account similar to the one published in the Christian Register. Yet another telling of the story appeared in the Boston Watchman during early October and was reprinted in the Oct. 24, 1832 issue of the Little Rock Arkansas Gazette.

MORMONISM.

We have not heretofore thought it necessary to occupy our columns with the rise and progress of this singular delusion. But we understand its abettors are sending out their agents, and actually making proselytes in different parts of the country. And therefore we have concluded to give a brief account of the matter. The leaders of the affair claim to have been selected as the medium of a new revelation from heaven. The Lockport, N. Y. Balance, published in the vicinity where it first began, has given a brief account of its origin from which we learn that

The principal personage in this farce, is a certain Jo Smith, an ignorant, and nearly unlettered young man, living at, or near the village of Palmyra; the second, an itinerant pamphlet pedlar, and occasionally, a journeyman printer, named Oliver Cowdry; the third, Martin Harris, a respectable farmer at Palmyra. [Other] less important actors, have been brought in as the exigencies of the case required. About two years since, Smith pretended to have been directed, in a dream, or vision, to a certain spot located between the village of Palmyra and Manchester. A slight excavation of the earth, enabled him to arrive at this new revelation, written in mysterious characters, upon gold plates. A pair of spectacles, of strange and peculiar construction were found with the plates, to aid the optics of the prophet. Soon after another very fortunate circumstance occurred. This was the introduction of Oliver Cowdry, to whom, and whom only, was given the ability -- with the aid of the spectacles -- to translate the mysterious characters; all this arranged, but one thing was wanting to promulgate the new revelation -- money. Martin Harris was possessed of a valuable farm, acquired by industry and economy; in religion he was a credulous zealot. His credulity and his money, were too conspicuous to be overlooked by the modern apostles. In due time a divine command came to Harris, through Jo, to devote his property, and all that was his, to the project. Harris' farm was mortgaged and the printing of the Bible executed. It is a book of over 300 pages, and is entitled "Book of Mormon." Of the book, it is only necessary to say that it is a ridiculous imitation of the manner of the Holy Scriptures; and in many instances, a plagiarism upon their language. With all its glaring inconsistencies, it can hardly claim the poor merit of common ingenuity. The projectors of the scheme have attempted to connect a story, historically consistent. The surmise, connected with the destruction of Babylon [sic - Jerusalem?], is brought to their aid, that a portion of the Jews, wandered to this continent, and by Divine command, deposited the "Book of Mormon," in the obscure spot, where the lucky stars of Jo Smith directed him.

It is suposed that there are already more than a thousand persons carried away with this strange delusion. Their prophet selected a place in the town of Kirtland, [Geauga] county, which he called "the promised land."

Hither the deluded followers of the false prophet, repaired by boat loads along the canal, principally from the counties of Ontario and Wayne. Such as have property, convert it to a common stock, and thus create an inducement which is not overlooked by the idle and vicious. Families, in some instances, have been divided, and in others, mothers have been obliged to follow their deluded husbands, or adopt the disagreeable alternative of parting with them and their children.


We have never seen the "Book of Mormon," and are not fully informed of all the peculiar tenets of the sect. The most important or cardinal doctrine is implicit faith in their leaders, Smith and Cowdry. The following statement is from the Painesville, Ohio, Gazette.

They profess to receive sensible demonstrations of the Deity. A few days since, a young man gave information to some of his brethren that he was about to receive a message from heaven. They repaired to the spot designated, and there, as they solemnly assert, a letter descended from the skies and fell into the hands of the young man. The purport was to strengthen his faith and inform him that he would soon be called to the ministry. They declare their solemn belief that this letter was written by the finger of God. The style of writing was the round Italian, and the letters of gold. The favored youth immediately attempted to copy the communication, but as fast as he wrote the letters of the original disappeared.

It is alleged, that some of them have received white stones, promised in the second chapter of the Revelation. Such of them as have "the spirit," will declare that they see a white stone moving about the upper part of the room, and will jump and spring for it, until one more fortunate than the others catches it, but he alone can see it. Others, however, profess to hear it roll across the floor. These two stories and others of a similar character, are told by them with solemn asseverations of their truth.

Among them is a man of color, a chief man who is sometimes seized with strange vagaries and odd conceit. The other day he is said to have jumped twenty-five feet down a wash bank into a tree top without injury. He sometimes fancies he can fly.

In Chardon, one man has torn away all the partitions of the lower part of a good two story dwelling house. Here a large number live together. The food consisting in meat and vegetables, it is said, is placed on the table in a large pan, which is the whole table furniture. From this every inmate takes a piece of meat and potato in his hand, and devours them as he walks about the room. As to matters of apparel, and indeed other things, where any one wants what he has not, he takes it any where in the family where he can find it unoccupied. All things are common.


They are now extending their operation into different parts of the country. In Albany, we learn that they have made several proselytes, who have occasioned much trouble to the churches, with which some of them had been connected. We have before us a letter from one of them, dated in Bradford county, Pa. August, 1832. The writer says,

Sir. -- The prayer of my heart to God is, that you may believe the Scriptures of the Old and New Testament, if you do not believe what I write. But I now tell you what has taken place since I arrived here. On the 30th of July, there was an appointment for preaching, at 4 o'clock P. M. by a Methodist. We went to the place but he did not attend; and we occupied the time by prayer and exhortation. The company were Methodists, and a class of people called Mormonites. After the meeting was over, notice was given that there would be a meeting in the evening at my brother's house. Some of the Mormonites, together with others, collected, and the meeting commenced and went on the same as your meetings do, until about 10 o'clock, when I should say, by what I saw and felt, of a truth the Lord was present with us. The spirit seemed to rest and clothe upon a Mrs. Conkling, and I thought, and think yet, that I heard a few words of a language that I could not understand. You must know that my mind was on the look out. And not long after, perhaps forty-five minutes, she broke forth in prayer to God, in a language that I could not understand, and continued two or three minutes, and then in our language, she gave an interpretation of what she had said. Then she broke out again, in the same language and was more lengthy than the first time. This last prayer or exhortation she did not interpret. I am credibly informed that they have these gifts, and all the gifts of the gospel. I trust that I shall see and hear more yet; when I do I will write. I leave all to God, whether you believe or disbelieve.


More recently their emissaries have showed themselves in Boston, where the delusion has seized several respectable citizens, some of whom were considered worthy members of different churches. The Rev. J. V. Himes makes the following statement.

However strange to relate, about fifteen persons, in this city have been led away by these false doctrines, have been baptised and joined the Mormon church. And some of these persons have set out for "the promised land, the place of refuge for the house of Israel and for all the Gentile world, who will take warning and flee thither for safety." Two individuals who have gone, are defenceless females. They had acquired by their hard industry $2,300, one of them having $1,500, the other $800 which they have given up to go into the general stock. One of these females was in a consumption, and her friends thought she would not live to reach her destined place. Her afflicted sister told me that if she had been buried here before she had been led away by these errors, and had left satisfactory evidence that she was prepared to die, her grief would have been far less than it is now. The remaining persons who were baptised, and joined the church, and contemplate going to the West, possess between $3,000 and $4,000, which they also are going to put with the general fund, and which they can never draw out again, should they get sick of Mormonism and wish to return to their friends.


Thus are our friends swindled out of their property and drawn from their comfortable homes to endure the perils of a journey of about two thousand miles, by these ignorant fanatics; and when arrived at their earthly paradise, to become the miserable dupes of these temporal and spiritual lords.   [N. Y. Evangelist.


Note: It is unclear whether the above text was copied entirely from a Sept. 1832 issue of the New York Evangelist, or whether only the final two items in the article were taken from that paper. The Christian Register's rendition of the Lockport Balance piece is longer and more detailed than other reprints of that unique Orsamus Turner statement, but the Christian Register's text also varies, here and there, from that given in other contemporary sources. Since no copy of the Lockport Balance from that period has survived, the exact wording of Turner's statement remains uncertain.

MORMONISM.

We have before noticed the bare-faced and outrageous delusion abroad in the country, under the name of Mormonism; and though it is so shocking to common sense, to reflect upon such a silly, and egregiously absurd, though wicked system, yet the public mind ought to be informed of every circumstance connected with the history of these deceivers and disturbers of good order and decency. We understand that Smith is now in this city, or has been within a few days; and a Christian community ought to arise, and thrust him back to the den of his ignominy. A friend has requested us to insert the following account of the trial of Joseph Smith, Jr., for a breach of the peace, in "looking through a certain stone to find hid treasures, &c." The account was published in the Boston Christian Herald, some few weeks since; and the editor remarks: --


"Our readers are probably acquainted with the origin of this sect and their Bible; and that two of the Mormonite preachers have visited this city, and made a number of proselytes. Joseph Smith, Jr. is the founder; "a bare-faced imposter, his moral character of the darkest hue, his name a derision, shunned by all decent society, and disowned by his pious father-in-law." He has associated with himself, characters, though of less intellect, yet equally base and profligate, and for some years have been practising upon the credulity of the weak. Many have been swindled out of their property by these false prophets --let others take warning.

We extract from a letter written by a gentleman in Windsor, Broome Co., N. Y. to his friend in this city, dated August 30, 1832."

["']It is more difficult to obtain information of this kind than one would think, other than hearsay. The fact that J. Smith, Jr., and others, dug in various places for money, is easily proved; at the great bend or near there, that there was a company digging part of two years could be easily proved; -- but that Smith said that there was money buried there by some Spaniards could not be so easily proved, though it is generally believed; and also that toward the last of the digging there, he sold out shares in the treasure to as many as he could, and when he quit digging, said that the money had sunk down to a great depth. I have seen a hole eight or ten feet deep, on the creek back of Captain Waller’s, where it was said Smith said there was treasure. On Monument Hill near to what is called "The Monument," there is a hole dug 25 or 30 feet deep, where it is said Smith said that two veins of gold crossed each other as large as a barrel. On Mr. Samuel Stowe’s flat, a hole was dug one night and filled again, and Smith was said to be one of the number. I might mention a hole on the back side of the hill over the river against where I live, and other places, if it were necessary; but I forbear.

I called on several persons to gain what information I could. The most I could get was hearsay. -- Among others, I called on Mr. William Devenport, who went out with the Mormons to Ohio -- and has since returned. He says that he bore his own expenses out, but was often importuned by their leader to put his money into the common stock, and was told, that those who did not would be struck dead the moment they arrived on the promised land -- like Ananias and Sapphira. He said that the only object of the leaders was in this, to get the money into their own hands and keep it. He mentioned a widow Peck of Bainbridge, who, he said, paid in $500 and went with them; but could not get a cent on the way to procure something for a sick child. Said that he lived between two and three miles from where they settled in Ohio, and that Smith had a new commandment every few days through the summer, a year ago, and that last summer he thought there was not a fortnight in which he did not have a new commandment. Smith pretended to go into the woods and converse with the Almighty. Mr. Devenport said he had lately received a letter from William Youman’s widow, who went out with the Mormons, and had since left them and got married, stating that a Mr. Rigdon, or a name that sounded like it, their principal preacher under Smith, said lately that the Mormon religion was not true, and in consequence had been silenced by Smith. Enclosed I send you some testimony taken on trial in Colesville. Several offered to testify to what N. Knight had said of Smith’s casting a devil out of him; some thought he had returned and would seem to allude to the unclean spirit mentioned in the Gospels.[']"

The following is the report of the trial forwarded by the writer above, and referred to in the letter:

STATE OF NEW YORK, }   JOEL K. NOBLE,
BROOME COUNTY, ss.  }         Justice.

The people,        }
            vs.          }        Samuel Dickenson,
Joseph Smith, jr. }             Complainant.

The defendant was brought before me by virtue of a warrant on the 30th day of June, A. D. 1830, on a charge "that he, the said Joseph Smith, Jr., had been guilty of a breach of the peace, against the good people of the state of New York, by looking through a certain stone to find hid treasures, &c., within the Statute of Limitation.["]

To the charge, the defendant plead not guilty. At the instance of the people, Joseph A. S. Austin was by me duly sworn, and says "that he had been acquainted with Smith, the prisoner, for several years; that prisoner pretended to look in a certain glass, or stone, and said he could tell where stolen goods were, and could discover mines of gold and silver under ground; made some pretence at telling fortunes, but he, witness, never knew of prisoner’s finding any thing by his pretended art. Once witness asked prisoner to tell him if he, prisoner, could tell any thing by looking in said glass, and wished a candid and true answer. Prisoner told witness frankly, he could not see any thing, and in answer, prisoner likewise observed to witness, any thing you know for a living: says, two years before this present time, he saw prisoner drink a certain quantity of distilled liquor, and was drunk, as he does believe; for he could not stand up, but lay in the woods for some hours.["]

Harriss Stowel, being by me sworn, saith, "he has been acquainted with the prisoner for a number of years past; that prisoner said he could look in a certain stone or glass, and could tell where money and hid treasures were, and could tell where gold and silver mines, and salt springs were; and that Smith, the prisoner, the pretended prophet and money digger, had followed digging for money, for salt, and for gold and silver mines for a number of years; that others, by his instigation, had followed digging; that at one time, witness hid a bag of grain in his barn, told Smith he had lost a bag of grain, and wished prisoner to find it; prisoner looked in his glass in vain, for he could not find it; prisoner, after using all his art for a number of days, offered to give witness’ brother fifty cents (so his brother told witness,) to find where the grain was, and tell him, prisoner, unbeknown to witness, so that Smith, the prisoner, might have the credit of finding the grain."

Cross questions -- says, he has not known the prisoner to look in the glass within the space of two years last past.

Josiah Stowel, being by me sworn, saith, he has been acquainted with Smith, the prisoner, for quite a number of years; that he did pretend to tell, by looking in a stone, or glass, where money and goods and mines were in a manner peculiar to himself; the prisoner had followed digging for money; pretended to find mines, hid treasures, and lost goods, and frequently others would be digging with him; says that about three years since, prisoner was put under arrest by an officer at Bainbridge in Chenango county, for breaking the peace, and that he escaped from the officer and went to Palmyra; and that about two years since, witness was at Palmyra, and saw prisoner; that prisoner told witness, that the Lord had told prisoner that a golden Bible was in a certain hill; that Smith, the prisoner, went in the night, and brought the Bible, (as Smith said;) witness saw a corner of it; it resembled a stone of a greenish caste; should judge it to have been about one foot square and six inches thick; he would not let it be seen by any one; the Lord had commanded him not; it was unknown to Smith, that witness saw a corner of the Bible, so called by Smith; told the witness the leaves were of gold; there were written characters on the leaves; prisoner was commanded to translate the same by the Lord; and from the Bible got from the hill, as aforesaid, the prisoner said he translated the book of Mormon; prisoner put a certain stone into his hat, put his face into the crown, then drew the brim of the hat around his head to prevent light -- he could then see, as prisoner said, and translate the same, the Bible, got from the hill in Palmyra, at the same time under a lock and in a chest; and the prisoner, when looking for money, salt springs, hid treasures, &c., looked in the same manner; did not know that prisoner could find money lost, &c.; and that prisoner told witness after he was arrested in Bainbridge, he would not look for money, &c. any more; told witness he could see into the earth forty or fifty feet," &c.

Newel Knights, sworn, saith, "prisoner could see in a stone as stated by Stowel; that formerly he looked for money, &c., but latterly he had become holy, was a true preacher of the Gospel of Christ, possessed the power of casting out devils; he knew it to be a fact, that he, (Smith, the prisoner,) had cast a devil from him, witness, in manner following, viz. witness was in mind impressed; he and Smith did conclude and knew the devil was in witness; they joined hands, their faith became united, the devil went out of witness; witness knew it to be a fact, for he saw the devil as he departed; Smith did it by the power of God," &c.

A true copy from minutes taken by me on the trial.

JOEL K. NOBLE,  J. Peace.      

Dated, Colesville, Aug. 28, 1832.

STATE OF NEW YORK, }
Broome County,            }
Town of Colesville, ss. }

Personally came before me, Joel K. Noble, justice of the peace of said town of Colesville, Preston T. Wilkins, known by me to be the same person, and being by me duly sworn, saith, that Newel Knights did style himself a prophet of the Lord, and was ordained by Joseph Smith, Jr., the pretended author of the book of Mormon, as the said Newel told him, this deponent, and this deponent understood so by others, that the said Newel was so ordained; that the said Newel told this deponent he knew past, present and future; that in order to ascertain the prophetic ability of the said Newel, the deponent went and took from the father of said Newel, a Mormon Bible, (so called) unbeknown to any one, as this deponent believes, and buried it under his own door-step (witnesses); in the morning the book was found; this deponent went to the aforesaid Newel, told him the mystery that had happened; the said Newel and father told this deponent it did not come from this package of books; they counted them and were certain, as they said; the aforesaid Newel told this deponent that God told him, the said Newel, that he had sent his angel to put the book on the door-step, to convince him, this deponent, of the truth of the Mormon book, as also to warn him to flee from the impending wrath.

PRESTON T. WILKINS.       

Subscribed and sworn before me, this 28th day of August, 1832.
                                           JOEL K. NOBLE, J. P.

A true copy from the original affidavit on file in my office.
                                           JOEL K. NOBLE, J. P.
Colesville, Aug. 28, 1832.

Joseph Smith, jr., was discharged; he had not looked in the glass for two years to find money; &c., -- hence it was outlawed.

Note 1: The above text transcribed courtesy of H. Michael Marquardt, May 2010, for Signature Books Keepsake No. 5. See also the Limerick, Maine Morning Star of Nov. 16, 1832.

Note 2: "The account... published in the Boston Christian Herald, some few weeks since" has not yet been located; presumably it appeared in that paper during the last part of September or the first part of October, when the first Mormon missionaries were active in the Boston area. Without that earlier account for reference, it is difficult to discern exactly where the new material begins in the Nov. 7th article -- probably it begins with the words: "The following is the report of the trial..."

Note 3: Elder Philo Dibble, in 1882, offered some support for the 1832 report that Sidney Rigdon "said lately that the Mormon religion was not true." Dibble's recollection was that "The word went abroad among the people immediately that Sidney was going to expose 'Mormonism.'" For reports on Rigdon's post-Nauvoo denunciations of Mormonism and Joseph Smith, see Orson Hyde's letters of Sept. 12 & 16, 1844, as well as the NYC Prophet of Nov. 16, 1844.

Note 4: For more on Preston T. Wilkins' interaction with the Colesville Mormons, see the comments attached to a transcript of Amasa M. Badger recollections of Mormonism's "First Appearance" in Chenango and Broome counties, New York. The text of that 1901 account, when viewed alongside the New England Christian Herald' publication of Judge Noble's 1830 trial notes, provides useful, eyewitness reporting on Smith's second money-digging trial(s). See also Abram W. Benton's letter in the Apr. 9, 1831 Evangelical Magazine and Gospel Advocate, as well as the Rev. Wesley Walters' 1974 article "Joseph Smith's Bainbridge, N.Y., Court Trials."

The following article, taken from the New-York Evangelist is presented to the attention of the readers of this paper, and cannot fail of awakening, both interest and surprise. It gives a new proof that it is easy to mislead men by things that are novel and strange in religion; while it is extremely difficult to induce them, to receive and practice Christianity in its purity and spirituality. -- Lowell Obs.

MORMONISM.

We have not heretofore thought it necessary to occupy our columns with the rise and progress of this singular delusion. But we understand its abettors are sending out their agents, and actually making proselytes in different parts of the country. And therefore we have concluded to give a brief account of the matter. The leaders of the affair claim to have been selected as the medium of a new revelation from heaven.

The Lockport, N. Y. Balance, published in the vicinity where it first began, has given a brief account of its origin; from which we learn that the principal personage in this farce, is a certain Jo Smith, a nearly unlettered young man, living at, or near the village of Palmyra; the second, an itinerant pamphlet pedlar, named Oliver Cowdry; the third, Martin Harris, a respectable farmer at Palmyra. Others, less important actors, have been brought in as the exigencies of the case required. About two years since, Smith pretended to have been directed, in a dream, or vision, to a certain spot located between the village of Palmyra and Manchester. A slight excavation of the earth, enabled him to arrive at this new revelation, written in mysterious characters, upon gold plates. A pair of spectacles, of strange and peculiar construction, were found with the plates, to aid the optics of the prophet. Soon after another very fortunate circumstance occurred. This was the introduction of Oliver Cowdry, to whom, and whom only, was given the ability -- with the aid of the spectacles -- to translate the mysterious characters; all this arranged, but one thing was wanting to promulgate the new revelation -- money. Martin Harris was possessed of a valuable farm, acquired by industry and economy; in religion he was a credulous zealot. His credulity and his money; were too conspicuous to be overlooked by the modern apostles. -- In due time, a divine command came to Harris, through Jo, to devote his property, and all that was his, to the project. Harris' farm was mortgaged, and the printing of the Bible executed. It is a book of over 300 pages, and is entitled "Book of Mormon." Of the book, it is only necessary to say that it is a ridiculous imitation of the Holy Scriptures; and in many instances, a plagiarism upon their language. With all its glaring inconsistencies, it can hardly claim the poor merit of common ingenuity. The projectors of the scheme have attempted to concoct a story, historically consistent. -- The surmise, connected with the destruction of Babylon [sic - Jerusalem?], is brought to their aid, that a portion of the Jews, wandered to this continent, and by Divine command, deposited the "Book of Mormon," in the obscure spot, where the lucky stars of Jo Smith directed him.

It is suposed that there are already more than a thousand persons carried away with this strange delusion. Their prophet selected a place in the town of Kirkland, Geneva [sic - Kirtland, Geauga?] county, which he called "the promised land." Hither the deluded followers of the false prophet, repaired by boat loads along the canal, principally from the counties of Ontario and Wayne. Such as have property, convert it to the common stock, and thus create an inducement which is not overlooked by the idle and vicious. Families, in some instances, have been divided; and in others, mothers have been obliged to follow their deluded husbands, or adopt the disagreeable alternative, of parting with them and their children.

We have never seen the "Book of Mormon," and are not fully informed of all the peculiar tenets of the sect. The most important or cardinal doctrine is implicit faith in their leaders, Smith and Cowdry. The following statement is from the Painesville, Ohio, Gazette.

They profess to receive sensible demonstrations of [the presence of] the Deity. A few days since, a young man gave information to some of his brethren that he was about to receive a message from heaven. They repaired to the spot designated, and there, as they solemnly assert, a letter descended from the skies and fell into the hands of the young man. The purport was to strengthen his faith and inform him that he would soon be called to the ministry. They declare their solemn belief that this letter was written by the finger of God. The style of writing was the round Italian, and the letters of gold.

The favored youth immediately attempted to copy the communication, but as fast as he wrote, the letters of the original disappeared [until it entirely vanished].

It is alleged, that some of them have received white stones, promised in the second chapter of the Revelation. Such of them as have "the spirit," will declare that they see a white stone moving about the upper part of the room, and will jump and spring for it, until one more fortunate than the others catches it, but he alone can see it. -- Others however profess to hear it roll across the floor. These two stories, and others of a similar character, are told by them with solemn asservations of their truth.

Among them is a man of color, a chief man who is sometimes seized with strange vagaries and odd conceit. The other day he is said to have jumped 25 feet down a wash bank into a tree top without injury. -- He sometimes fancies he can fly.

In Chardon, one man has torn away all the partitions of the lower part of a good two story dwelling house. Here a large number live together. The food consisting of meat and vegetables, it is said, are placed on the table in a large pan, which is the whole table furniture. From this every inmate takes a piece of meat, and potatoe in his hand, and devours them as he walks about the room. As to matters of apparel, and indeed other things, where any one wants what he has not, he takes it any where in the family where he can find it unoccupied. All things are common.

They are now extending their operations into different parts of the country. In Albany, we learn they have made several proselytes, who have occasioned much trouble to the churches, with which some of them had been connected. We have before us a letter from one of them, dated in Bradford county, Pa. August, 1832. The writer says,

Sir -- The prayer of my heart to God is, that you may believe the Scriptures of the old and new Testament, if you do not believe what I write. But I now tell you what has taken place since I arrived here. On the 30th of July, there was an appointment for preaching, at 4 o'clock, P. M. by a Methodist. We went to the place but he did not attend; and we occupied the time by prayer and exhortation. The company were Methodists, and a class of people called Mormonites. After the meeting was over, notice was given, that there would be a meeting in the evening at my brother's house. Some of the Mormonites, together with others, collected, and the meeting commenced and went on the same as your meetings do, until about 10 o'clock, when I should say, by what I saw and felt, of a truth the Lord was present with us. The Spirit seemed to rest and clothe upon a Mrs. Conkling, and I thought, and think yet, that I heard a few words of a language that I could not understand. You must know that my mind was on the look out. -- And not long after, perhaps forty-five minutes, she broke forth in prayer to God, in a language that I could not understand, and continued two or three minutes, and then in our language, she gave an interpretation of what she had said. Then she broke out again, in the same language and was more lengthy than the first time. This last prayer or exhortation she did not interpret. I am credibly informed that they have these gifts and all the gifts of the gospel. I trust that I shall see and hear more yet; when I do I will write. I leave all to God, whether you believe or disbelieve.

More recently their emissaries have showed themselves in Boston, where the delusion has seized several respectable citizens, some of whom were considered worthy members of different churches. The Rev. J. V. Himes makes the following statement.

However strange to relate, about fifteen persons in this city [Boston] have been led away by these false doctrines, have been baptised and joined the Mormon church. And some of these persons have set out for "the promised land, the place of refuge for the house of Israel, and for all the Gentile world, who will take warning and flee thither for safety." Two individuals who have gone, are defenceless females; they had acquired by their hard industry $2,300, one of them having $1500, the other $800 which they have given up to go into the general stock. One of these females was in a consumption, and her friends thought she would not live to reach her destined place. Her afflicted sister told me, that if she had been buried here, before she had been led away by these errors, and had left satisfactory evidence that she was prepared to die, her grief would have been far less than it is now. The remaining persons who were baptized and joined the church, and contemplate going to the West, possess between [$]3000 and [$]4000, which they also are going to put with the general fund, and which they can never draw out again, should they get sick of Mormonism and wish to return home to their friends.

Thus are our friends swindled out of their property and drawn from their comfortable homes to endure the perils of a journey of about two thousand miles, by these ignorant fanatics, and when arrived at their earthly paradise, to become the miserable dupes of these temporal and spiritual lords.


Note: Clipping courtesy of Erin Jennings.

Intelligence  Respecting  Mormonites.

To the Editor of the Christian Watchman.

SIR -- Dwelling as I do among a people called Mormonites, and on the very land which they sometimes call Mount Zion, at other times the New Jerusalem, and where, at no distant period, they expect the reappearing of the Lord Jesus, to live and reign with them on earth a thousand years, -- I have thought that it might be a part of duty to inform those who may be interested in relation of this subject, that although there has, from first to last, four or five hundred Mormonites in all, -- men women and children, -- arrived at this place, yet there is no appearance here different from that of other wicked places. The people eat and drink, and some get drunk, suffer pain and disease, live and die like other people, the Mormons themselves not excepted. They declare there can be no true church, where the gift of miracles, of tongues, of healing, &c. are not exhibited and continued. Several of them, however, have died; yet none have been raised from the dead. -- And the sick, unhappily, seem not to have faith to be healed of their diseases. One woman, I am told, declared in her sickness, with much confidence, that she should not die, but here live and reign with Christ a thousand years; but unfortunately she died, like other people, three days after. They tell indeed of working miracles, healing the sick, &c., &c., these things, however, are not seen to be [done], but only said to be done. People therefore who set their faces for the Mount Zion of the West, which by the by is on a site of ground not much elevated, must calculate on being disappointed, if they believe all that is said of the place, or expect much above what is common in any new country of the West.

Of the Mormons as a sect, I am prepared to say but little, except that they seem to be made up of people of every sect and kind, Shakers, Baptists, Methodists, Presbyterians and Campbellites, and some have been two or three of these different sects before they became Mormonites. Their best prerequisite for the reception of their expected Saviour, it should seem for the most part, is their poverty. There is no doubt but that some suffer for want of the necessaries of life, and in this respect not a little imitate the good Lazarus. But they have no fellowship for Temperance societies, Bible Societies, Tract Societies, or Sunday school societies

Their first, best, great and celebrated preacher, Elder Rigdon, tells us the Epistles are not and were not given for our instruction, but for the instruction of a people of another age and country, far removed from ours, of different habits and manners, and needing different teaching; and that it is altogether inconsistent for us to take the Epistles written for that people, at that age of the world, as containing suitable instruction for this people at this age of the world. The Gospels, too, we are given by them to understand, are so mutilated and altered, as to convey little of the instruction which they should convey. Hence we are told a new revelation is to be sought; -- is to be expected, -- indeed is coming forthwith. Our present Bible is to be altered and restored to its primitive purity, by Smith, the present prophet of the Lord, and some books to be added of great importance, which have been lost.

They profess to hold frequent converse with angels: some go, if we may believe what they say, as far as the third heaven, and converse with the Lord Jesus face to face. They baptize, saying, "I John, the Messenger, baptize thee, &c." More secretly, they are said to impart to their converts the gift of the Holy Ghost. They profess to know where the ark of the Covenant, Aaron's rod, the pot of Manna, &c. &c. now remain hid. They who can believe all this, will no doubt expect a Saviour soon, and without hesitation will worship the first object that may be proclaimed and presented to them for that purpose.

The last preaching I heard of theirs was a most laboured discourse.: its object was to prove that this place, here fixed upon by the Mormons as their location, is the very Mount Zion so often mentioned in Scripture. This alone, it should seem, would be a sufficient index to the head or the heart of the preacher, and the belief of it a sufficient index to the reading and understanding of the hearers.

The possessions here are small, very small compared with their numbers; something less, I believe, than four sections of land, which would cost but little more than three thousand dollars. Twenty acres is the portion assigned to each family, to use and improve while they continue members of the society; but if they leave, they are to go out empty. Some in comfortable circumstances at the East, have spent or given to the society their little all in coming to this land of promise, and now find themselves in no very enviable circumstances, looking here and there for labour, and women going to wash for their neighbours of the world to supply themselves with the necessities of life.

The idea of equality is held forth; but time will show that some take deeds of property in their own name, and those too of the most zealous and forward in the cause and prosperity of the society. And perhaps they do not pretend, like Ananias and Sapphira, to have given all to the society; yet it is a point of duty they most rigidly enjoin on all their proselytes to cast their all into the common stock. Under these circumstances, it needs no prophetic eye to forsee that there will soon be a murmuring of the Greeks against the Hebrews. Indeed there already begins to be some feeling and some defection arising from this subject. There is much reason to believe they cannot hold together long. With Theudas, it is more than probable they will soon be scattered and brought to nought.

The very materials of which the society is composed must at length produce an explosion. Yet judging from the past, and from what our Saviour has told us of the future, that there should be false Christs and false Prophets, showing signs and wonders so as to deceive, if it were possible, the very elect, we may well look on this new sect as ominous of the latter day approaching, and calling upon all to watch and pray, and to give good heed to the word of our Saviour, where he says, "Go ye not after them, nor follow them."     Yours, &c.     B. PIXLEY.
Independence, Jackson Co. Mo. Oct. 12, 1832.


Note: Rev. Pixley wrote at least two informative letters regarding the Mormons, to newspapers during the early 1830s. This appears to have been his first such letter. Some other papers publishing part or all of Pixley's Oct. 12, 1832 letter include: the Boston Independent Messenger of Nov. 29, 1832; the Christian Messenger of Feb. 1833; the Elyria Ohio Atlas of Dec. 6, 1832; and the Missouri Intelligencer of Apr. 13, 1833. Pixley wrote a follow-up letter on Nov. 7, 1833, to the New York Observer. That letter was reprinted in the Christian Watchman of Dec. 13, 1833.

One of the Mormonite clergymen at Marietta, (Ohio,) has given out, that he is the comet, which has so long been calculated upon; and that, at a proper season he shall take occasion to blaze out.


Note: The man making these claims was not a "Mormonite clergymen," but rather an eccentric Marietta resident who was prone to offering up such strange announcements.

THE  MORMONITES.

      To the Editor of the Christian Watchman.

SIR, -- Dwelling as I do among a people called Mormonites, and on the very land which they sometimes call Mount Zion, at other times the New Jerusalem -- and where, at no distant period, they expect the reappearing of the Lord Jesus, to live and reign with them on earth a thousand years, -- I have thought that it might be a part of duty, to inform those who may be interested in relation of this subject, that although there has been from first to last, four or five hundred Mormonites in all, -- men women and children -- arrived at this place, yet there is no appearance here different from that of other wicked places. The people eat and drink, and some get drunk, suffer pain and disease, live and die like other people, the Mormons themselves not excepted. They declare there can be no true church, where the gift of miracles, of tongues, of healing, &c. are not exhibited and continued. Several of them, however, have died; yet none of them have been raised from the dead. And the sick, unhappily, seem not to have faith to be healed of their diseases. One woman, I am told, declared in her sickness, with much confidence, that she should not die, but here live and reign with Christ a thousand years; but unfortunately she died, like other people, three days after. They tell indeed of working miracles, healing the sick, &c. &c. These things, however, are not seen to be done, but only said to be done. People therefore who set their faces for the Mount Zion of the West, (which by the by is on a site of ground not much elevated,) must calculate on being disappointed if they believe all that is said of the place, or expect much above what is common in any new country of the West.

Of the Mormons as a sect, I am prepared to say but little, except that they seem to be made up of people of every sect and kind, Shakers, Baptists, Methodists, Presbyterians and Campbellites, and some have been two or three of these different sects before they became Mormonites. Their best prerequisite for the reception of their expected Saviour, it should seem for the most part, is their poverty. There is no doubt but that some suffer for want of the necessaries of life, and in this respect not a little imitate the good Lazarus. But they have no fellowship for Temperance societies, Bible Societies, Tract Societies, or Sunday school societies.

Their first, best, great and celebrated preacher, Elder Rigdon, tells us the Epistles are not and were not given for our instruction, but for the instruction of people of another age and country, far removed from ours, of different manners and habits, and needing different teaching; and that it is altogether inconsistent for us to take the Epistles written for that people, at that age of the world, as containing suitable instruction for this people, at this age of the world. The gospels, too, we are given by them to understand, are so mutilated and altered, as to convey little of the instruction which they should convey. Hence we are told a new revelation is to be sought, -- is to be expected; indeed is coming forthwith. Our present Bible is to be altered and restored to its primitive purity, by Smith, the present prophet of the Lord, and some books to be added of great importance, which have been lost.

They profess to hold frequent converse with angels; some go, if we may believe what they say, as far as the third heaven, and converse with the Lord Jesus face to face. They baptize, saying, "I, John, the Messenger, baptize thee," &c. More secretly, they are said to impart to their converts the gift of the Holy Ghost. They profess to know where the ark of the covenant, -- Aaron's rod, -- the pot of Manna, &c. now remain hid. They who can believe all this, will no doubt expect a Saviour soon, and without hestitation will worship the first object that may be proclaimed and presented to them for that purpose.

The last preaching I heard of theirs was a most labored discourse; its object was to prove that this place, here fixed upon by the Mormons as their location, is the very Mount Zion so often mentioned in scripture. This alone, it should seem, would be a sufficient index to the head or the heart of the preacher, and the belief of it a sufficient index to the reading and understanding of the hearers.

Their possessions here are small, very small, compared with their numbers; something less, I believe, than four sections of land, which would cost but little more than three thousand dollars. Twenty acres is the portion assigned to each family to use and improve while they continue members of the society; but if they leave they are to go out empty. Some in comfortable circumstances at the East have spent or given to the society their little all in coming to this land of promise, and now find themselves in no very enviable circumstances, looking here and there for labor, and women going to wash for their neighbors of the world, to supply themselves with the necessaries of life.

The idea of equality is held forth; but time will show that some take deeds of property in their own name, and those too of the most zealous and forward in the cause and prosperity of the society. And perhaps they do not pretend, like Annanias and Sapphira, to have given all to the society; yet it is a point of duty they most rigidly enjoin on all their proselytes to cast their all into the common stock. Under these circumstances, it needs no prophetic eye to forsee that there will soon be a murmuring of the Greeks against the Hebrews. Indeed there already begins to be some feeling and some defection arising from this subject. There is much reason to believe they cannot hold together long. With Theudas, it is more than probable they will soon be scattered and brought to naught.

The very materials of which the society is composed must at length produce an explosion. Yet judging from the past, and from what our Saviour has told us of the future, that there should be false Christs and false Prophets, showing signs and wonders so as to deceive, if it were possible, the very elect, we may well look on this new sect as ominous of the latter day approaching, and calling upon all to watch and pray, and to give good heed to the word of our Saviour, where he says, "Go ye not after them, nor follow them."
              Yours, &c.                     B. PIXLEY.
Independence, Jackson Co. Mo. Oct. 12, 1832.


Note 1: The Rev. Benton Pixley was a Baptist missionary who spent several years with the Osage Indians along the shores of the Missouri. He was living in Jackson Co., Missouri in 1832-34 when the Mormons were gathering to that area and experiencing various difficulties with the previous settlers in that place. Pixley wrote several informative letters regarding the Mormons, to various newspapers, during the early 1830s. This appears to have been his first such letter -- it was first published in the Boston Christian Watchman about the middle of November, 1832.

Note 2: Some other papers publishing part or all of Pixley's Oct. 12, 1832 letter include: the Christian Messenger of Feb. 1833; the Elyria Ohio Atlas of Dec. 6, 1832; and the Missouri Intelligencer of Apr. 13, 1833. A shortened version of Pixley's Oct. 12, 1832 letter was published in the Apr. 23, 1833 issue of the Westfield, NY American Eagle.

Note 3: Rev. Pixley wrote a second letter, late in 1832 -- this one to the Baptist Weekly Journal. It was published in that paper, early in 1833, under the title, "Mormonites," and was subsequently reprinted in the Apr. 6, 1833 issue of the Christian Register.

Note 4: Rev. Pixley wrote a third letter on Nov. 7, 1833 -- this time to the New York Observer -- stating that the Mormons offered inducements to free negroes every where to join them, etc. That letter was reprinted in the Christian Watchman of Dec. 13, 1833 and the Christian Register of Dec. 21, 1833.

THE MORMONITES. -- This singular sect, says the Ohio Atlas, now number about four or five hundred, at Mount Zion, their new Jerusalem in the West. There possessions are small compared with their numbers, being only about four sections of land. Twenty acres of the portion assigned for each family to improve, but they are to hold no property dhould they leave the community. Mount Zion is not elevated, and the settlement resembled "new beginnings" generally in the west. They are represented as already suffering for the neccaries of life, and by squallid poverty preparing for the reception of their expected Saviour. Their creed appears to have undergone but little change. -- Originally members of almost every sect, they cordially united in detesting all, save Mormons. They all pretend to the gift of miracles, of tongues, and of healing their sick, and of visions, although, like all modern miracles, often told but never seen. Their prophet, Smith, is now busy in restoring the present Bible to its primitive purity, and adding some lost books of great importance. A new Revelation is also forthcoming. The Mormons still profess to walk with angels, visit the third heaven and converse with Christ face to face. Their form of Baptism is changed to "I, John the Messenger, baptize thee," &c. The gift of impartinmg the Holy Ghost is yet professed. They pretend to have discovered where the Ark of the Covenant, Aaron's rod, the pot of Manna, &c. now remain hid. At no distant period they expect Christ will re-appear to live & reign on the earth a thousand years. Such are the present Mormons and such is the New Jerusalem. We believe their society now numbers something more than one hundred souls in this county, many of whom intend removing to Mount Zion in the Spring. Mormonism was introduced by a few illiterate disciples of Joseph Smith, in the Summer of 1831, a time when religious excitements were the order of the day. A sort of revival enthusiasm pervaded many neighborshoods, and wherever Mormonism obtained a footing, it spread like wild fire. Scores were awakened, converted, baptized, and endowed with the Holy Spirit in a few hours at a single meeting, in the midst of shoutings, wailing, fallings, contortions, trances, visions, speaking in unknown tongues and prophecying. The timid were frightened, the credulous believed, and we were frequently eye-witnesses to scenes of strange and unnatural conduct of Mormons, professedly under the influence of the spirit, that staggered the disbelief of the most stable and incredulous. But the storm passed, a calm followed -- reason triumphed -- and Mormonism waned.

As a curiosity, we have carefully examined the Golden Bible, and pronounce it not even 'a cunningly devised fable.' Every page bears the impress of its human authorship. Though free from vulgar obscenities, it is an absurd collection of dull, stupid and foolishly improbable stories, which no person, unless under the influence of powerfully excited feelings can mistake for truth and inspiration. With its authors, the Book of Mormon cannot survive the present generation. And the next will remember it, only to smile at the credulity of the present.


Note: The above, slightly edited, reprint form the Ohio Atlas, also appeared in a number of other New England newspapers -- including the New-Bedford Mercury of Jan. 4, 1833, etc.

(From the Pittsburgh Advocate.)
TO THE CITIZENS OF PITTSBURGH AND
THE PUBLIC GENERALLY.

The Board of Managers of the African Education Society of the City and vicinity of Pittsburgh, deem it necessary that the public should be made acquainted with the object of their association, and of the course they are now about to take.

The object of our association is, the general education of our rising youth, and the moral improvement of those of ourselves who need it, of a more advanced age... The following paper, of which this is a correct copy, the original of which remains in the hands of the Board, was presented to the different clergy whose names are therein stated, who, each and every one, unhesitatingly signed the same...

'Having understood that the people of color of the city and vicinity of Pittsburgh have formed an Education Society, and are desirous of carrying into operation a plan for the general education of their youth, this laudable undertaking meets our decided approbation, and is, in our opinion, worthy of the patronage of a liberal public.'

FRANCIS HERRON, Pastor 1st Pres. church.
CHAS. B. MAGUIRE, Pastor, Cath. Congregation.
DAVID HAMMERER, Pastor German Congregation.
JOHN WINTER, Pastor 3d Baptist church.
WESLEY BROWNING, Preacher of Methodist Episcopal church.
JOHN BLACK, Pastor Reformed Pres. church.
JOSEPH STOCKTON, Pastor Pine creek cong.
GEORGE UPFOLD, Rector of Trinity church.
SAMUEL WILLIAMS, Pastor 1st Baptist church.
J. R. KERR, Pastor As. Reformed church.
CHARLES ELLIOTT, Preacher in charge of the Methodist Episcopal church.
JOHN TASSEY, Pastor Independent church.
JACOB MORRIS, Pastor 2d Baptist church, Welch.
ROBERT C. HATTON, Pastor Pro. M. church.
ROBERT PATTERSON, Pastor of Highland's congregation.
J. W. NEVIN, Instructor in West. Theo. Seminary.
LUTHER HALSEY, Prof. of Theology, West. Theol. Seminary, of the Presbyterian church.
J. F. HALSEY, Pastor 1st Pres. church, Allegh'town. E. P. SWIFT, Pastor 2d Presbyterian church.
WM. B. M'ILVAINE, Pastor Pres. Cong. East Liberties, near Pittsburgh.


        By the Board of Managers.
                LEWIS WOODSON, Secretary.
        Pittsburgh, Nov. 23, 1832.


Note 1: The above list of names is of interest, because it includes the ministers of nearly all the major Christian congregations in Pittsburgh during the early 1830s. John Winter was the Baptist elder whose associates had Sidney Rigdon ousted from Pittsburgh's First Baptist Church in 1823. Although Elder Winter did not become Rigdon's permanent replacement in that congregation, Samuel Williams (another name on the above list) took over the pastorate at First Baptist shortly before the above article was written. Williams served in that capacity for many years and did some occasional teaching at the Presbyterians' Westminster Theological Seminary as well -- thus Williams would have been well acquainted with J. W. Nevin and Luther Halsey (two more names on the list).

Note 2: The most important professional association documented in the above news release is the obvious acquaintance of the Baptist pastor Samuel Williams and the Presbyterian pastor Robert Patterson, Sr. By 1832 Patterson had moved from downtown Pittsburgh across the Allegheny River to the adjacent Hilands Presbyterian congregation, but his ties with Pittsburgh remained strong. It thus comes as no surprise that Samuel Williams (a successor of Sidney Rigdon, who was often accused of having stolen Solomon Spalding's writings) would interview Robert Patterson (the publisher who received Spalding's writings c. 1812-1815) on the subject of the Book of Mormon. The interview took place in 1842 and the jist of it was published by Williams in his Mormonism Exposed, that same year (see his ad in the Pittsburgh papers). Although some skeptics have suggested that Williams never received such a statement on Solomon Spalding from Robert Patterson, the above ministers' list provides one more piece of evidence that the two Calvinist pastors were well acquainted in antebellum Pittsburgh, and that Williams' 1842 interview with Rev. Patterson really did take place.

Interesting American Antiquities. -- The editors of the N. Y. Daily Advertiser have translated the following extract of a letter from a correspondent in Tobasco, who has been engaged for some years in occasional investigations into the ruins of the ancient city of Palenque.

To Dr. Samuel Ackley New York.
Capital of Tobasco, Jan. 8, 1833. -- My dear friend -- I was on my third interesting visit to the ruins of Palenque, the 21st of July, when I received yours of the 24th of March last, so that I have not been able to answer it before.

It would be impossible in a single letter to give you the details of the astonishing objects I have seen! I shall therefore only inform you, that from September, 1819, till the end of October, 1832, I have been at work, and have collected materials for a work in two volumes. I intend to dedicate it to you, as it will consist of letters addressed to you, if you permit. During my labors I have expended $4500 in travelling and investigation.

I have in my possession a description of ruins of which neither Don Antioio del Rio nor any other person has yet been able to describe; and although the antiquary and draughtsman Wableck [sic - Waldeck?], whom I accompanied to Palinque, has written some notes, he will not be able to accomplish any thing because he has had few opportunities, and does not visit the ruins.

I have in my possession a number of idols, some of baked clay, some of stone, and others of unknown substance, but which may be petrifaction, jasper, or a species of marble. I have one of massive gold, but unfortunately only to the weight of four dollars.

I ahve a plan of Tobasco, with itineraries which conduct into the ruins; and a plan of the great palace of ruins which is larger than that of the Tuleries in Paris, and have also some drawings, and a manuscript history of the ruins, which has been in my possession thirteen years.


Note: See Dr. Samuel Ackerly's address of Sept. 23, 1833, given at the New York Lyceum of Natural History, for the general conetxt of this interesting letter from Mexico.

(From the Baptist Weekley Journal)

MORMONITES.

Among the wonders of the present day, you may record the following. Many of the people called Mormons, have arrived at this place, and it is said, more are on the way. The condition of those that are here, must be very unpleasant, and their sufferings are, in no small degree, from the want of comfortable houses, and something on which to subsist. Their settlement extends to the West line of Missouri State, two miles and a half from this place; they manifest a disposition to, and no doubt soon would, go among the Indians, were they permitted; which by the way is not the case. They call this place the Mount Zion, or New Jerusalem, so often spoken of in Scripture; -- though it is not more elevated than the common face of the country, nor yet is there in it any thing strange or peculiarly prepossessing in its favor, more than any other portion of the West.

Here, they tell us, will be gathered the Gentiles from the East, and the Jews (the Indians) from the West, to their temple, which shall subsequently be built on the very spot now selected by them, to which, they say, their God will come in person, destroying all who shall be so daringly wicked, as to reject their gospel; when Christ comes, which at most will not be more than fifteen years, he will bring all the apostles, and old saints, and will reign with them here a thousand years; during this reign, the rest of the dead, shall not live (that is, all who are not Mormons,) for this is the first resurrection. To support the idea of their Christ sudden;y coming to their temple, to purify and refine them, they read Malachi, 3d chap. to the 6th verse inclusive, with other Scriptures found in Zephaniah, Zechariah, and elsewhere, all of which refer to the coming of Christ.

They have a revelation of their own, which, they affirm. was given to the people of this continent, (the Indians,) on plates, and deposited in the earth, and kept concealed in the earth of the Lord, till the fulfilment of its time, which has now been accomplished; and to prove that Joseph Smith is that wonderful prophet, to whom these marvelous plates and their profound mysteries should be revealed, they recite the 29th chapter of Isaiah, saying that the prophet Smith is that unlearned man, to whom the book was given to read, and he said I cannot, for I am not learned! But this difficulty was soon removed by the spirit which came upon him, and blest him with the gift of tongues. The book then was clearly opened to his understanding, and he translated it to one of the witnesses, who wrote it in our language. Thus according to the 37th chapter of Ezekiel, say they, the sticks there spoken of, (the Mormon book and our Bible,) are become one in the hand of the prophet Smith; or shall, when our Bible shall be rightly translated by him, under the outpouring of his holy spirit, and its directions. Every person, who tells them, that he wishes to forsake sin, is without further ceremony, taken by the Elder, and baptized for the remission of his sins; he is now told that he shall soon receive the spirit; this being accomplished, the Elder lays his hands on him, and imparts to him his holy spirit, which they say they then feel immediately, and know that it is the truth. The Elder now sings, to the new converts, consecrating songs of their own diction, (composing,) and to them he reads prophecies about giving their possessions to the Lord's store, which if they fail to do, they forfeit the fellowship of the fraternity, nor will they long be considered worthy members with them. When their property is thus laid at the Bishop's feet, he places it in the store, and they lose sight of it forever; their store-keeper will not trust them for a single dollar, though he willingly gives credit to others.

If the brotherhood is once taken, and any should choose to leave them, he must go out empty, however much he had deposited in the treasury. Much is said among them about the Holy Ghost being given, by the laying on of the Elder's hand, about prophecying, healing the sick, and the interpretation of tongues; all this however they carefully avoid, saying that these things can only be done, when they are in the spirit, which perhaps but seldom happens in this land of pilgrims; since no miracles have been done here at any time by them, though greatly needed, and they have been abundantly pressed to it. They eat, they drink, are sick, and die, as all others do. When they are sick, unfortunately, they have not faith to be healed. Of the dying they say, their work is done, they must go: they also say, it is self-evident that disease is the natural effect of unbelief. If this be true, I am sure, their faith cannot be as large as a mustard seed, for none are more liable to sickness, and all contagions than themselves, the cholera not excepted, even among their preachers. Perhaps when their Christ comes, and brings their old Apostles and saints, some of them may profess more power and faith than these, that are already here; if this should not be so, I shall finally despair of seeing miracles done by them.


Note 1: This article was apparently written by Rev. Benton Pixley near the end of 1832. In form and content the article much resembles a letter of the Baptist Rev. Benton Pixley, written at Independence, Missouri, Oct. 12, 1832 and subsequantly printed in such eastern newspapers as the Baptist Boston "Christian Watchman" (Nov., 1832), the Boston "Independent Messenger" (Nov. 29, 1832).

Note 2: This article contains one of the first published references to Joseph Smith's work in re-writing the English Bible. Pixley states that "prophet Smith" shall "rightly" translate "our Bible" "under the outpouring of his holy spirit..." Ezra Booth had spoken of Smith and Rigdon's re-writing of the Bible in one of his 1832 letters to the Ohio Star, at a time when the project was still a secret one. Perhaps, by the Fall of 1833, the Mormons were finally openly admitting to their leaders' involvement in that important work.

Mormonism. -- We perceive by a letter from Independence, Missouri, to the editor of the Cincinnati Journal that difficulties have already begun in the Mormon community, at Mount Zion, in that quarter; one of the members having sued the Bishop, in a court of justice, for fifty dollars, for fifty dollars, which had been sent by plaintiff to said Bishop, from Ohio, "to purchase an inheritance for himself in Zion [in] these latter days." The jury found for the plaintiff; it appearing that though the Bishop had indeed appropriated the money "to the purchase of an inheritance," yet he had procured the deed to be drawn in his own name, to his heirs, &c. The writer states that on this decision several other members are ready to make similar demands on the Bishop. It appears by another letter from the same gentleman, (Mr. Pixley, a Baptist clergyman,) that since their settlement at Mount Zion -- or Jerusalem, as they sometimes term it -- four or five hundred, including men, women and children, have arrived there. Several others are said to be preparing to start there, from Cincinnati, in the course of a few weeks. -- Ohio Courant.


Note 1: The above article evidently originated in an early April issue of the Urbana, Ohio Country Collustrator and Mad-River Courant. See the Washington, D.C. National Daily Intelligencer of April 13, 1833 for an earlier reprint. The issue of the Cincinnati Journal containing the Rev. Benton Pixley letter has not yet been located, but it was probably published about March 22nd.

Note 2: The journalist's mention of "another letter from the same gentleman," references Rev. Pixley's Oct. 12, 1832 communication from Missouri to the Christian Watchman, reprinted in the Nov. 29, 1832 issue of the Independent Messenger. Another late 1832 Pixley letter, written to the Baptist Weekly Journal, was reprinted in the Apr. 6, 1833 issue of the Christian Register.

MORMONISM. -- By a letter to the Editor of a Cincinnati paper, from Independence, Mo., it appears that difficulties have already begun in the Mormon community at Mount Zion, in that quarter; one of the members having sued the Bishop, in a court of justice, for $50, which had been sent by plaintiff to said Bishop, from Ohio, "to purchase an inheritance for himself and the saints in Zion in these latter days." The jury found a verdict for the plaintiff; it appearing that though the Bishop had indeed appropriated the money "to the purchase of an inheritance," yet he had procured the deed to be drawn in his own name, to his heirs, &c.


Note: Essentially the same report was printed in the Boston Daily Evening Transcript for April 17th.

THE MORMONS. -- We have perused a pretty long and probably true account of this singular people, and their location in Mount Zion, contained in a letter published in the Christian Watchman from B. Pixley, and dated Independence, Jackson county, Mo. October [12], 1832, the very seat of the New Jerusalem. His account of their situation and prospects is [not very] flattering. About 4 or 5 hundred Mormons, men, women and children have collected at Zion. Their possessions are small compared with their numbers, being only about four sections of land. Twenty acres is the portion assigned for each family to improve, but they are to hold no property should they leave the community. [* * *] Their creed appears to have undergone but little change. Originally members of almost every sect, they now cordially unite in detesting all, save Mormons. -- They all pretend to the gift of miracles, of tongues, of healing the sick, visions, &c. though, like all other modern miracles, often told but never seen. Their Prophet, Smith, is now busy in restoring the present Bible to its primitive purity, and in adding some lost books of great importance. A new Revelation is also forthcoming. Elder Rigdon, pretty well known in this vicinity as an arch apostate, is now the first, best, and great preacher of Mount Zion. The Mormons still profess to talk with angels, visit the third heavens, and converse with Christ. [* * *] We believe their society numbers something more than one hundred souls in this county, many of whom intend removing to Mount Zion in the spring. [* * *] Mormonism was introduced by a few illiterate disciples of Joseph Smith, in the summer of 1831. [* * * ]

Wherever Mormonism obtained a footing, it spread like wild fire. Scores were awakened, converted, baptised, and endowed with the holy spirit in a few hours at a single meeting, in the midst of shoutings, wailing, fallings, contortions, trances, visions, speaking in unknown tongues, and prophesying, that require the pen of a Trollope to describe. The timid were frightened, the credulous believed, and we were frequently eye witnesses to scenes of strange and unnatural conduct of Mormons professedly under the influence of the [spirit, that staggered the disbelief of the] most stable and incredulous. But the storm passed -- a calm followed -- reason triumphed -- and Mormonism waned.

As a curiosity, we have carefully examined the Golden Bible, and pronounce it not even "a cunningly devised fable." -- Every page bears the impress of its human authorship. Though free from vulgar obscenities, it is an absurd collection of dull, stupid and foolishly improbable stories, which no person, unless under the influence of powerfully excited feelings can mistake for truth and inspiration. With its authors, the Book of Mormon cannot survive this generation. The next will remember it, only to smile at the credulity of the present. -- Ohio Atlas.


Note 1: This article contains a mixture of local information from Lorain county, Ohio and other information derived from the reports of Rev. Benton Pixley of Independence, Missouri, whose second letter on the Mormons was published in the New York Observer of Dec. 7, 1833 and reprinted in the Boston Christian Watchman of Dec. 12, 1832. Condensed reprints of the Ohio Atlas article were published in the Newark (Ohio) Advocate of Apr. 13, 1833 and the Indiana Democrat of May 4, 1833.

Note 2: For more of Pixley's reporting and news items derived from his letters, see: the Boston Christian Watchman of Nov. 9, 1832 (his first letter), the Missouri Intelligencer of Apr. 13, 1833, the Dayton (Ohio) Journal & Advertiser of Apr. 23, 1833 and the Cincinnati Journal of Dec. 20, 1833. A similar eyewitness report from the same area (now Kansas City) was provided by Alexander Evans in Dec., 1832 for the Baptist Weekly Journal.

Mormonism  and  the  Small  Pox.

There having been several cases of small-pox in the village of Jamestown, Chautauqua county, a committee of citizens was appointed to take measures to prevent its spreading. In their report the committee state that their efforts to prevent the spread of the disease have been hindered by a sect calling themselves Mormonites, who profess to believe that the disorder will not attack them, neither would they spread it, although they might come in contact with others not protected, even if the [smell] or matter covered them. Notwithstanding their belief, one of the Mormons had been seized with the disease, and it was feared that this sect would be the means of scattering the infection through the country.


Notes: (forthcoming)

The Mormons now prophesy the entire destruction of the wicked in 1837.

Note: Clipping courtesy of Erin Jennings.

The Mormons. -- We have the last number of the 'Evening and Morning Star' printed at Mount Zion by the Mormons. It represents the society as flourishingly abundant 'in these last days.' It gives several commandments recently revealed to the prophets. Its style is affectedly ancient and scriptural. It commences a brief notice of 'worldly matters,' or foreign news, with this pretty exordium: 'Lo! there are great things near -- and while one nation rises to rejoice, behold another sits down to weep!'


Note: Clipping courtesy of Erin Jennings.

The Mormons. -- One of the Mormonites has become dissatisfied with his new faith and brethren and has denounced them all, in a Westfield, N. Y. paper, in the words following: --

"And now I testify to you, before God and these witnesses, that I never had any impressions or exercises different from other times, since I joined the Mormons; that the tongues spoken by me are of my own invention, and that, as far as my knowledge extends, the whole is a farce; and may my fate be like that of Annanias and Sapphira if I do not speak the truth honestly before God."


Notes: (forthcoming)

Mormonites. -- A company of this modern and peculiar sect, comprising about one hundred persons, passed through Springfield, (Illinois) on Wednesday the 29th ult. on their way to the colony in Jackson county, Missouri. They were chiefly from the states of New York and Ohio. The appearance of most of them indicated that they had not been induced to change their faith to better their temporal condition, but had either been visited with some new light in scriptural matters, or been grossly deluded.


Notes: (forthcoming)

MORMONITES. -- It appears by a letter from Missouri, that the citizens of that state have broken up the Mormon establishment by force and arms, and tarred and feathered the leaders. These lawless proceedings of the people of Missouri are as blameworthy as any thing the Mormonites have done. It is pretended that the Mormonites "held out inducements for free negroes to settle in the county." This may be a great crime in Missouri, but will not be considered a very heinous one in this part of the country. It is also alleged that they "urged slaves to be unfaithful." This charge, coming as it does from their persecutors, may be set down as a falsehood. If the Mormonites had violated the laws of the state, why did not the people resort to the laws for redress? It will be said that the Mormonites are a set of visionaries and fools. This may be true, but this is no reason why they should be tarred and feathered. Fools, or persons not under the guidance of reason, are too numerous in the United States, and too obstinate, to be corrected and reformed by the Missouri process.

In the adjoining town of Williamsburgh, there are about 15 persons living in one house, who have the reputation of being Mormonites, but from the limited information we have respecting them, we are unable to determine whether they are Mormonites, Gipsies, or something else.

We are informed that the Mormonite noticed in the letter from Plainfield, published in our last, has been endeavoring to make proselytes in this vicinity -- with what success, we know not. We should not think that there was ignorance and credulity enough in this county for this pretended prophet and miraclemonger to succeed, but perhaps we are mistaken.


Note: The exact date of this article is unknown. The text is taken from a reprint published in the Aug. 24, 1833 issue of the Bellows Falls Vermont Intelligencer. The same reprint also appeared in the Aug. 24, 1833 issue of the Springfield Republican in adjoining Massachusetts.

Correspondence of the New York Journal of Commerce.

                                   Lexington, Missouri, July 25, 1833.

The Cholera is still marching west, and we have no reasonable hope of escaping it....

Head Quarters of Mormonism broken up. -- You have probably heard of the Mormon establishment in this vicinity. Six hundred, or more of that misguided people, have emigrated within the last two years to Jackson [sic - Independence?] City in the next county to this, and have rendered themselves obnoxious to the citizens by holding out inducements for free negroes to settle in the county, and urging slaves to be unfaithful. Lately the citizens organized themselves for the purpose of breaking up the establishment. Their (Mormonite) printing press was torn down, -- store and machine shop broken up, the leaders tarred and feathered, and a time set for their departure. What course may be pursued towards the followers, is not yet known.


Notes: (forthcoming)

Riot and Outrage. -- Six hundred or more of the Mormonites have emigrated within the last two years to Jackson city [sic - county?] in Missouri, and have rendered themselves obnoxious to teh citizens, by holding out inducements for free negroes to settle in the country, and urging slaves to be unfaithful. -- Lately the citizens organized themselves for the purpose of breaking up the establishment. The Mormonite printing press was torn down; store and machine shop broken up; the leaders tarred and feathered, and a time set for their departure. What course may be pursued towards the followers, is yet unknown.


Notes: (forthcoming)

For The Watchman.

MORMONISM.

Mr. Editor -- Some months since, "a Postscript" of a letter was published in your paper, stating in substance that two "Mormon" preachers were then in Bluffdale; -- that audiences, numerous beyond all former example, attended their preaching; -- that a powerful excitement in favor of their doctrines existed; -- and, finally, that one member of the Baptist church had already gone over to that order. Presuming that you feel an interest in learning more of this "Mormon excitement," as it is called, I will give you a brief history of its origin and progress.

You are already acquainted with the fact, that Bluffdale is one of the most populous and interesting settlements in Illinois. It commences at the base of a high bluff composed of a solid, perpendicular wall of rock extending north and south for several miles. The houses lie at the foot of the bluff, in front of which a smooth, level prairie extends to the Illinois river, which forms the western boundry of the settlement.

Near the close of October last, a most powerful revival commenced and swept through the settlement. Old and young were making the affecting inquiry, "What shall we do to be saved?" -- and, for a time, all worthy business was neglected for the more important concerns of eternity. Previous to this, there were only four Baptists within the bounds of the settlement, and preaching of any kind was enjoyed only casually and generally at intervals of some months. Conversion followed conversion till at length a large and flourishing Baptist church was constituted. The first communion season of that church will long be remembered....

Such was the state of things when the "Mormon" preachers arrived here in March last. I should attempt in vain to give you an adequate description of the scene that followed. It was but a short time before hearers flocked from a great distance in such numbers that no house could hold them. Let it not be imagined that we are more subject to delusion than others. Even your New England, with all the light that streams from her schools and colleges, is not proof against it, but has furnished her full share of proselytes to this new heresy. They have churches in sixteen of the United States.

On one Sabbath I attended their preaching, and was no longer surprised at the powerful excitement that existed. Had not the sacredness of the day and the solemnity of being in the more immediate presence of God inspired other emotions, the scene would have been a fit subject for the pencil. But a small part only of the audience could find room in the house, and much the greater portion of that dense mass of human beings was seated in the open air. The preacher was a young man, tall, well educated, of handsome address, and, to do the man justice, eloquent. -- His oratory was precisely of that fervid, impassioned kind, of all others the best calculated to produce deep and powerful impressions on the minds of his hearers. No one could see him, or listen to him for an instant, without conviction that however absurd his doctrines might seem to others, to him they were realities of the most fearful moment. Much as I believe the man to be in an error, I have no doubt of his sincerity. -- He told the people that no church could be the true church, that held no personal and visible intercourse with God; that their preachers held such an intercourse; -- that he himself had been vocally and audibly called by name, and commissioned to preach by the mouth of the ever-living God; -- that God himself had commanded him to declare that the present generation would not pass away before the wicked would be swept from the whole face of the earth; that in a few years, (I think less than ten) all, except those who had fled to Zion (a place in Missouri) and Jerusalem, would be utterly destroyed. Much, very much more of this kind, followed. For more than three hours, that dense mass of human beings listened to him without the slightest sign of impatience; a sufficient proof of the powers of the speaker, and the all-absorbing interest that was felt in his subject.

I do not mean to be understood that he was eloquent, according to the rules of that art. I have no idea that either he, or his audience, once thought of cadence or gestures. It was merely the eloquence of deep and powerful feeling. When denouncing the speedy vengeance of God upon the unbelieving world, his body was bent forward, his eyes seemed almost to flash fire, and the deep and shrill intonations of his voice vibrated on every heart. During the whole of this discourse, every eye was riveted upon the speaker with an intensity that plainly indicated that every faculty of the soul was wrought up to the highest pitch of excitement.

But, to hasten to the conclusion of the whole matter, -- the Mormon preachers succeeded in forming a church in this settlement of fourteen members! It is thought that a much greater number would have joined them, had they not been required to go to "Zion," and add their property to the common stock. Certain it is, hundreds have risen, to testify by so doing, that Mormonism was the doctrine of the gospel.

It would have been little surprising, on another account, had more joined them; for they professed a deeper and more ardent love to God, and professed to set up a higher standard of devotion than other denominations. In New England, the people are said to enjoy, from their infancy, weekly instruction from the pulpit, as well as many other means of light of which we are deprived; yet even there, the numbers of Mormonites is greater than in Illinois. It is time that Mormonism was met: -- not, as hitherto, with sneers and misrepresentation, but fairly, candidly, and in the spirit of charity and truth. Let no one imagine it is so fraught with absurdity as to be harmless. It has already extended into two thirds of the States of the Union. Some hundred preachers of that order are scattered over the land, and their "Morning and Evening Star," a monthly periodical published in Zion, circulates extensively. Twelve copies come to this one settlement.

Nor had the fact ought to be concealed, that much and lasting injury has been done by misrepresenting the faith and practice of that order. When we assail any heresy with slander, we place a powerful weapon in the hands of its propagators. With much show of truth, they can cry "persecution," and will excite a suspicion that other denominations misrepresent them, because they fear to have the truth known.

In a certain eastern paper, a publication appeared with the name of a most excellent man, who stated that when a Mormon preacher baptizes, he says: "I, John the Forerunner, baptize you," &c. I am sorry to add that such is not the fact; and although the pious individual who made that statement had no intention of doing wrong, he has furnished a weapon that has been adroitly used against the cause of truth. In my next, I will give a summary of the Mormon doctrine, and the texts of Scripture by which they attempt to prove it.       BLUFFDALE.
Green County, Illinois, July 19, 1833.


Note 1: Green County is located about 50 to 60 miles southwest of Springfield and about the same distance north of St. Louis; the region was thus on the general route leading westward to the mouth of the Missouri River -- which, in turn, supplied the transportation of many Mormons to Independence (the Mormon "Zion"). Bluffdale is the township immediately west of Carrollton, and is located on the east bank of the Mississippi River.

Note 2: The Bluffdale Baptist Church was organized on Oct. 23, 1833 by Elder John M. Peck. The Watchman's correspondent was possibly the Bluffdale minister, Elder Joshua C. Harvey -- but more likely he was the Rev. Elizah [Elijah] Dodson, who the first minister in the nearby Carrollton Baptist Church (estabished in 1827). Dodson was a vocal opponent of missionaries William McLellin and Parley Pratt, who preached at Bluffdale early in 1833 -- (see Peck's Gazetteer of 1834, page 109). The "young man, tall, well educated, of handsome address" appears to have been some speaker other than Elder Pratt. Possibly he was McLellin himself, who preached near Bluffdale on Sunday, March 31st, to an audience of "between two and three hundred."

From the St. Louis Republican.

Some very extraordinary proceedings have recently taken place in Jackson county, in this State...

(view original article from Missouri paper)

Notes: (forthcoming)

MORMONITES.

It appears by a letter from Missouri, that the citizens of that State have broken up the Mormon establishment by force and arms, and tarred and feathered the leaders. These lawless proceedings of the people of Missouri are as blame-worthy as any thing the Mormonites have done. It is pretended that the Mormonites "held out inducements for free negroes to settle in the county." This may be considered a great crime in Missouri, but will not be considered a very heinous one in this part of the country. It is also alleged they "urged slaves to be unfaithful." -- This charge, coming as it does from their persecutors, may be set down as a falsehood. If the Mormonites had violated the laws of the State, why did not the people resort to the laws for redress. It may be said that the Mormonites are a set of visionaries and fools. This may be true, but this is no reason why they should be tarred and feathered. Fools, or persons not under the guidance of reason, are too numerous in the United States, and too obstinate, to be corrected and reformed by the Missouri process.

In the adjoining town of Williamsburgh, there are about 15 persons living in one house, who have the reputation of being Mormonites; but from the limited information we have respecting them, we are unable to determine whether they are Mormonites, Gipsies, or something else.

We are informed that the Mormonite noticed in the letter from Plainfield, published in our last, has been endeavoring to make proselytes in this vicinity -- with what success we know not. We should not think that there was ignorance and credulity enough in this county for this pretended prophet and miracle-monger to succeed; but perhaps we are mistaken. -- Hampshire Gaz.

The  Mormonites.

We regret to learn, as may be seen in a paragraph on our last page, that this sect of religionists in Jackson county, Missouri, have been abused by the people of that State, in violation of every honourable principle of religious liberty, as well as in defiance of the law. Had they observed the advice of a heathen man, the town clerk of Ephesus, they would have done better. His advice was, " If Demetrius, and the craftsmen which are with him, have a matter against any man, the law is open, and there are deputies, let them implead one another." When men undertake to settle disputes of any kind by violent means, and especially when religious prejudices obtain such ascendency as to induce men to resort to physical force, calamity to both parties cannot fail to be the fearful result.


Note: The first portion of the above reporting was a reprint from the Hampshire Gazette of Aug. 28th. This Watchman's notice of Mormon activities in the west was not accompanied with any continuation of its previous correspondence from Illinois, begun in the issue for Aug. 23rd.

Mormonites. -- Some extraordinary proceedings have lately taken place in Jackson County, in Missouri, in relation to a sect, known ny the name of Mormonites. A meeting of four or five hundred citizens was held, for the avowed purpose of driving these persons from that quarter of the country. In an address which was adopted by the meeting, it is stateed that the numbers of this sect are increasing, that there is danger of their obtaining the control of all offices in the county, and that the lives and property of others would be unsafe, if placed at the disposal of men so ignorant and superstitious. The address concludes with a declaration that no Mormonite shall in future be permitted to settle in the county; that those now residing there shall have time given them to remove, during which they shall remain unmolested; that the Editor of the Star, (a Mormonite paper) be required to close his office, and that if the owners of shops refuse to close them, prompt measures shall be taken to compell them to do so; that, the Mormon leaders be required to prevent further emigration to the county, and to counsel their brethren to comply with the above requisitions; and that those who shall refuse to comply with them, be referred to such of their brethren as possess the gift of divination, to ascertain the lot that awaits them. A committee was appointed to communicate information of these proceedings to the Mormon leaders, and the meeting was adjorned for two hours, at the expiration of which the committee reported, that they had waited on the Editor of the Star, who declined giving any definite reply until he could consult with his brethren. It was then resolved, that the printing office should be henceforth razed to the ground, which was immediately done by the members of the meeting. Three days afterwards the meeting again assembled, another committee appointed to hold an immediate conference with the Mormon leaders. -- In a few hours, this committee reported, that they had made an amicable arrangement with those leaders, who had agreed to leave the county, in consideration of which the committee had engaged on their part to prevent the use of farther violence. This report was unanimously adopted and the meeting was dissolved.

"These proceedings," says a St. Louis editor, "may find some justification in the necessity of the case;" that is, a supposed necessity is to justify proceedings, which seem to belong to the darkest period of the dark age.   Boston Daily Advertiser.


Notes: (forthcoming)

Two Mormon preachers have been holding forth in Andover , Me. from the Mormon Book, and baptized nine persons, formerly members of the Free Will Baptist Church.


Notes: (forthcoming)

THE MORMONS IN TROUBLE. -- The Mormonites have been banished from their Mount Zion, at Independence, Jackson Co. Missouri. We will not pretend to justify the severe measures, which have produced this result, but from what we have known of the deluded sect in this region, we are prepared to believe, that they were exceedingly troublesome in Missouri. Pity that some of the Mormon prophets had not foreseen, and foretold this disastrous result. It would have saved some of their simple, but well-meaning followers, much trouble and some property. Many of these deluded ones, will now regret that they gave so little heed to the counsel of friends, who saw where this matter would end. We would now advise those Mormons who have looked forward to the Land of Promise, (which has now become so unpromising,) as their home, to give up their dreams and fanaticism, and stay where they are. We would also advise the Mormon prophets at Missouri, to give up their wicked schemes. They cannot succeed. The intelligent portion of community, have always regarded them as a set of deceivers. Their 'miracles,' 'unknown tongues,' 'revelations,' &c. have always been considered as parts of a black-hearted scheme, to gull the ignorant. Now, their wickedness is manifest to all. Had they possessed common sense, or a thousandth part of the spirit of prophecy, which they claimed, they would have foreseen the result of their plan. If God had commissioned them to build a Mount Zion in Missouri, he would have given them favor in the sight of the 'people.' This he has not done. With 1200 of their deluded followers at their heels, they are now compelled to flee before an indignation which their hypocrisy, avarice and folly had excited. Let them now pause, confess their sins, beg pardon of the hundreds they have deceived and ruined, pray God to forgive their daring blasphemy, become honest men, and work for a livelihood. -- Cincinnati Journal.


Note: The issue of the Cincinnati Journal containing the above report has not yet been located.

THE MORMONITES. -- There is no religion or rather form of religion, no creed or system of politics, that will not find its advocates. A friend from the upper part of Oxford County informs us, that one Mormon preacher from Ohio, and another from New Hampshire, reinforced by a pair of preachers from Saco, have been making a great stir somewhere about Lake Umbagog. Nearly the whole of the Freewill Baptist Church, numbering thirty persons, with their pastor, have gone over to the Mormonites, and avowed their faith in the book of Mormon. -- The have all been re-baptized in the waters of the Lake. In Andover, the preachers have had some trouble with the citizens, and were rather unceremoniously dismissed. --   Portland Advertiser.


Notes: (forthcoming)

From the Portland Advertiser.

The Mormonites. -- There is no religion, or rather form of religion, no creed or system of politics, that will not find its advocates. A friend from the upper part of Oxford County informs us, that one Mormon preacher from Ohio, and another from New Hampshire, reinforced by a pair of preachers from Saco, have been making a great stir somewhere about Lake Umbagog, in the plantation of Letter B, in the vicinity of Lake Umbagog, nearly the whole of a Freewill Baptist Church, numbering 30 persons, with their pastor, have gone over to the Mormonites, and avowed their faith in the book of Mormon. They have all been re-baptized in the waters of the Lake. In Andover, the preachers have had some trouble with the citizens, and were rather unceremoniously dismissed. -- Portland Advertiser.


Notes: (forthcoming)

From the St. Louis Republican, Nov. 12.

(see original article in Missouri paper)

Notes: (forthcoming)

M I S S O U R I.

Some months since, it was resolved by a meeting held in Jackson County, Missouri, that the Mormonites should not be suffered to remain within its limits, and an agreement for their departure was said to have been formed. A letter from a Mormonite leader states, that a party of 40 or 50 persons on the 31st of October demolished many of the houses of the Mormonites, and beat some of them nearly to death. On the following night, the work of destruction was again commenced, and a conflict ensued, in which one of the assailants was severely wounded by a musket shot. Three days afterwards, An armed body to the number of 200, made a new attack, when two or three were killed, and several mortally wounded, by the Mormonites. This was on Monday: on Tuesday, in another conflict, about twenty of the assailants perished, and four of the Mormonites were killed or severely wounded. Among the assailants who were killed, were two lawyers by the names of Hicks and Breazeale


Notes: (forthcoming)

The Mormonites. -- It appears that the Mormonites have determined to leave the county in Missouri, where they were recently attacked by the people; and have resolved to obtain redress, if possible, through the medium of the Courts of law. The statement of the number of persons killed in the conflict was exaggerated, according to the most authentic accounts, the number did not exceed six.


Notes: (forthcoming)

The War against the Mormonites. -- It appears from the following extract from the St. Louis Republican that the affrays between the Mormonites and other inhabitants of the western part of Missouri have not been so sanguinary as at first represented, and are supposed to be now at an end:

The Disturbances in Jackson County. -- We are glad to receive more pacific accounts from the county of Jackson. The Mormonites have determined to oppose no further armed resistance to the dominant party, and they were rapidly leaving the county and their homes, with intention of forming another community elsewhere. They are determined, however, to prosecute the citizens engaged in hostilities towards them, and for the depredations committed upon their property. They have undoubtedly adopted the best course which was left to them -- and all alarm has subsided in that county.

All our accounts concur in one thing, that the original statement as to the number killed, was much exaggerated. The most authentic and latest account which has reached us, puts down the number at 6 -- 2 of the citizens and 4 of the Mormonites, and a good many wounded.


Notes: (forthcoming)

CIVIL  WAR  IN  MISSOURI.

The St. Louis Republican of the 12th inst. contains a letter from Orson Hyde, one of the Mormonites settled in Jackson county, giving the particulars of several rencontres between the Mormonites and a mob collected to destroy their property. Several were killed on both sides. Among the latter were two attornies named H. L. Breazeale and Mr. Hicks.     Penn. Inquirer.

The St. Louis papers say the entire county is engaged in this rebellion, one side or the other, and the power of the sheriff and others is perfectly futile. -- A Judge of the Circuit who attempted to interfere, was captured by the mob and placed in durance. -- Houses and property have been destroyed, and the elders of the Mormon sect severely whipped. It was feared that many more lives would be sacrificed, unless prompt measures were taken by the Governor. The Mormons some months since agreed to leave the County -- but probably neglected. They are as much entitled to protection, wild and extravagant as they may be, as any other sect.   ==> A later account says between 15 and 20 of the citizens have been killed! and several on the part of the Mormons.


Notes: (forthcoming)

THE  MORMONITES  IN  MISSOURI.

The enemies of the Mormonites pulled down their printing office last summer, and in the recent disturbances they tore off the roofs from their houses. -- These were the first acts of violence in both cases, and the bloodshed which followed was the natural consequence of these acts. It may be very unpleasant to have such men as the Mormonites for neighbors, but so long as they do nothing worse than "invite free negroes to join them from all parts of the country," and merely publish the prophecy that the present inhabitants of the counties in their vicinity are destined "to be driven off, and that they, the Mormons, are to possess the country," we think they might have been safely left to themselves. There can rarely be a case in which the people need any other protection against "fanatics" than that which is afforded by the laws of the land, and we have not yet seen any reason for making this case an exception to the general rule. -- N. Y. Obs.

(for continuation see original article in NYC paper)

Notes: (forthcoming)

THE MORMONITES. -- Some further particulars, relating to the conflict between the Mormonites and the people of Jackson connty in Missouri, are given in the St. Louis papers. It is said, that one of the Judges of the circuit, and several civlil officers, were thrown into prison in consequence of an attempt to interfere, and detained for some hours: and that the Lieut. Governor had been driven out of the county. Almost all the people of the county are concerned on one side or the other, so that it is supposed that the militia of the neighborhoring counties will be called out by the Governor, to enforce the laws. The treatment of the Mormonites is described as extremely outrageous, and they are commended in some of the papers of St. Louis for their resistance.


Notes: (forthcoming)

The Mormonites, who had located themselves in Jackson county, Missouri, have been assaulted by the people of that county in a most outrageous manner; many of their homes have been demolished, and the inmates, women and children, compelled to flee for their lives at midnight. They were attacked by mobs several successive days, and were finally obliged to arm themselves and fire upon their assailants, in self-defence, by which several were killed. Whatever may be the absurdity or extravagance of the religion of the Mormonites, it will furnish no justification of such proceedings, which are in the highest degree disgraceful to the State where they have been tolerated.


Notes: (forthcoming)

The Fayette (Miss.) Monitor of Nov. 22, contains a long article in explanation of the recent conflicts between the Mormons and the citizens of Jackson county. The Mormons, about seventy in number, killed two and wounded several others of a party of seventeen citizens who visited their settlement for the purpose of making some arrangement in relation to their covenant to leave the county. After the first fire, which was ineffectual, Mr. Brazeale ascended an eminence, and proclaimed peace -- with these words in his mouth, he was shot. The conflict became general, and the citizens were driven off.


Note: Essentially the same report was published in the Amherst Farmer's Cabinet of Dec. 27, 1833.

(From the New York Observer)

RELIGIOUS  WARFARE.

                             INDEPENDENCE, (Missouri) Nov. 7, 1833.
To the Editors of the New York Observer.

Gentlemen, -- For several days past this place has exhibited a scene of the utmost excitement, anxiety and alarm. -- Yesterday and the day before, I suppose there were more than two hundred citizens under arms, the stores were shut, and business was mostly suspended. You probably already know that a new sect of religionists, called Mormons, have been emerging in considerable numbers, and settling in this place, and that their preaching -- in which they maintain that they inhabit 'the Mount Zion spoken of in Scripture;' that the present inhabitants would be driven off unless they sold to the Mormons and went off peaceably, -- that they, the Mormons, should possess the country, together with their inviting free negroes from all parts of the country to come and join them, and their pretended power to work miracles and speak with tongues -- all these things taken together, aroused so much indignation in the minds of the inhabitants, that they assembled last summer, according to appointment, without noise or riot, or drunkenness, but with deliberate purpose, and pulled down the printing office, (a brick building,) and drew the roof into the highway. They were about to proceed to the same act of violence against the store, when a parley took place, and the parties came to terms of accommodation. The Mormons were to close up their business and were all to move away before another summer, while the other party bound themselves to pay all damages done to the printing office, &c.

Thus peace was made, and so the matter stood, until a few days since, when it was found not only that the Mormons did not intend to move according to agreement, but that they were arming themselves, and threatened to kill if they should be molested. This provided some of the more wild and ungovernable among us to improper acts of violence, such as breaking open the Mormon houses, tearing off the covering, &c. On this the Mormons began to muster, and exhibit military preparations. Two gentlemen, passing peaceably through the settlement on Saturday evening, were hailed, and commanded to advance and give the countersign. But as they could not do this, they were put under arrest in what was called the guard-house, and kept prisoners until morning.

On Sunday, I believe, some shots were exchanged, the Mormons having given the first fire and wounded one man. -- On Monday a party of the inhabitants, some of them armed, went towards the Mormon settlement, mostly for purposes of inquiry and to learn whether the Mormons would attempt to attack them. These were led into an ambuscade, and fired upon by the Mormons before they arrived at their settlement, and two men were killed upon the spot. This little party of the inhabitants, said to be eleven in number, retreated before about fifty or sixty Mormons, but, after the Indian mode, from tree to tree, fired back upon the pursuers till the Mormons had three killed (among whom was one of their elders) and several wounded. This was about sunset.

The same night the Mormons pretended to have had a revelation from heaven (for you must know that these people regulate their conduct by revelations direct from heaven) to arise and pursue and destroy their enemies. In obedience to the mandate from above, (for nothing else, it should seem, but such an extraordinary belief could have led them to such an extraordinary line of conduct) there were discovered under arms to the number of about one hundred and fifty advancing on Tuesday morning to the town of Independence. The alarm was given, and mounted horsemen, from all quarters, flew to the place of conflict, and advanced to meet the Mormons half a mile out of town. It was a serious moment; many hearts, no doubt, palpitating with fear, and as many more, not looking at the consequences, panting for the onset. But happily the Mormon courage failed under a view of superior numbers, and they were induced to deliver up their arms and retire; but I am sorry to add that such was the ungovernable and unmanly conduct of some of our community, that it was with the utmost difficulty that the civil authorities could protect their prisoners from being massacred on the spot. Even now the Mormons who are peaceably moving off, are under the necessity of being guarded by the civil authorities, to protect them from the violence which otherwise they would have the greatest reason to fear. In Justice, however, to a goodly number of the community I must remark, that the suffering of the Mormonites, and especially that of the women and children, in being obliged to move off so suddenly at this season of the year, has excited much lively sympathy and humane feeling, and some have made very liberal contributions for their relief. Although, in the mean time they cannot but condemn the course of the Mormons, and deprecate the evils which must arise to any community, where such principles are evolved and designs manifested, by arbitrary means, by blood and violence, to build up the kingdom of the Redeemer.     B. PIXLEY.


Notes: (forthcoming)

The Wayne Sentinel says -- "The original manuscript of the Book of Mormon was written some thirty years since, by a respectable clergyman, now deceased. It was designed to be published as a romance, but the author died soon after it was written; and hence the plan failed. The pretended religious character of the work has been superadded by some more modern hand -- believed to be the notorious Rigdon."

The Wayne Sentinel states that the mysteries of Mormonism are about to be developed to the world. Dr. P. Hurlbert, of Kirtland, Ohio, who has given the matter a thorough investigation, intends publishing a history of this new faith.


Notes: (forthcoming)

The Wayne Sentinel states that the mysteries of Mormonism are about to be developed to the world. Dr. P. Hurlbert, of Kirtland, Ohio, who has given the matter a thorough investigation, intends publishing a history of this new faith. The Sentinel says -- "the original manuscript of the Book of Mormon was written some thirty years since, by a respectable clergyman, now deceased. It was designed to be published as a romance, but the author died soon after it was written, and hence the plan failed. The pretended religious character of the work has been superadded by some more modern hand -- believed to be the notorious Rigdon. These particulars have been derived by Dr. Hurlbert from the widow of the author of the original manuscript."

(A short article on the Mormons, evidently
the one mentioning D. P. Hurlbut)

Note: This particular article quickly caught the attention of James A. Briggs, Seq. in Ohio, inspiring him to write a lengthy reponse to editor Alexander H. Wells (see the Advocate of Feb. 12, 1834). Briggs had recently defended D. P. Hurlbut in his pre-trial hearing at Painesville and, since he mentioned that name in his reply, (without any explanation), it appears likely that Jan. 22nd Berkshire Advocate article was the one then going the rounds in eastern newspapers, telling of Hurlbut's investigations into Mormon origins.

To the Editor of the Berkshire Advocate:

Dear Sir: -- In your paper of January 22d, I observed a short notice of the sect called Mormons. I have thought that a sketch of the history of Mormonism would not be uninteresting to your readers.

For more than a year past, I have resided in the vicinity of the "head quarters" of the Mormons, and have become somewhat acquainted with the leading characters of the sect; and have learned, from an authentic source, the character and the standing standing which its originators held in society, previous to their engaging in the "Mormon Book" speculation.

The family of Smiths have, from their earliest history, been individuals who have made no claim to respectibility or honesty. The father of Joseph Smith, Jr. the Mormon Prophet, used to be a man, who spent most of his time in digging for money. The Prophet served a long apprenticeship in the same business. He used to tell fortunes, in his younger days. But, finding that he could not make money fast enough by digging after money and telling fortunes -- he entered into the Mormon speculation, believing that he could, in this manner, make a fortune, and immortalize his name. He has deceived the ignorant, and imposed upon the credulous. He has supported himself upon the property of the deluded mortals, who have become his disciples. He has caused many people to sell their farms, and other property, and go to Missouri, the promised land -- where they are now without homes -- without any means of subsistance -- wandering about from place to place, "among strangers, in a strange land." Many of the Mormons who went to Missouri, were men who had considerable property, but now they are poor and destitute. They have sold themselves to a hard master, and to a wicked and depraved man. Mr. Joseph Smith, Jr. is a man wholly destitute of moral character -- governed by no principles of moral rectitude -- acuated by no motives, save those of gain -- and he possesses a heart black and corrupt as the fiends of darkness. His character will soon be held up to the inspection of mankind, and the execration of the world.

It is a matter of wonder and astonishment, that in this enlightened era of the world, and especially in our own country, that so large a number of persons could have been made to believe in the divine authority of the Book of Mormon. Never was there a more wicked and abominable imposition, issued forth to the world, clothed in the same or garb of religion, than that of Mormonism! Never was there a more false delusion! Never a more base deception!

The historical part of the Book of Mormon was written by Solomon Spaulding, Esq., a graduate of Dartmouth College. More than twenty years ago, Mr. S. resided in Salem, Ashtabula county, in this state. He was a gentleman of very respectable talents, and a man of excellent character. When he first commenced writing, it was merely for his own gratification. But having met with some pecuniary losses, he copied and altered his original manuscript, and intended to publish the work in the form of an historical novel, under the title of the "Manuscript Found;" giving account of the first settlement of this continent, and of the people who made the Forts and Mounds, now remaining in different parts of our western country. Mr. S. went to Pittsburgh, with the intention of having the work published, but he died, and the manuscript was left with a bookseller in that place. It is believed, and it is undoubtedly true, that Sidney Rigdon added the pretended religious character to the work, as it is supposed he got in possession of the manuscript of Mr. S. in Pittsburgh, as he used to reside there, and during the latter part of his residence there, spent much of his time in writing. -- Rigdon is an artful, cunning, wicked, and unprincipled man; and he is the only one among the Mormons, whom I have ever seen, who can be accused of possessing any talent. The Prophet is entirely destitute of talent; he may have some low cunning, but it is too low to be mentioned.

Mormonism must and will go down. It cannot stand the light of investigation and truth. Since Mr. Hurburt has made his facts public, many have left the society, and many more will undoubtedly leave the false Prophet, and Mormonism, with its wickedness and abominations, will be scattered to the four winds of Heaven. The angel of humanity, as she broods o'er the earth with her outspread wings, will hail its downfall with shouts of joy and gladness! The deluded victims who have been rescued from its thraldom, will raise their fervent orisons to God for their deliverance, and its vile originators will be more guilty, than those who throw themselves beneath the life-destroying wheels of the car of Juggernaut, and leave their bones to bleach upon its desolating path. Yours Respectfully,

J. ALFRED BRIGGS.           

Note 1: The exact date of this letter from Mr. Briggs has not yet been determined: it may have appeared in the Advocate of Feb. 19th. The above text is taken from a reprint published by the Advocate's editor, Alexander H. Wells, in his Sing Sing Hudson River Chronicle of Feb. 20, 1838. This was only the second newspaper article ever published that identified Solomon Spalding, by name, as posthumously contributing to the text of the Book of Mormon -- the next known Briggs letter on this topic was published in the Boston Puritan-Recorder of Oct. 10, 1850. In that communication he said: "Many years ago, I saw a part of the original manuscript of Mr. Spalding and I presume that now it is in the possession of Mr. E. D. Howe."

Note 2: Briggs had recently defended D. P. Hurlbut in his pre-trial hearing at Painesville and he may heve held back details regarding the Spalding authorship claims, which were just then surfacing in northern Ohio. It is reasonable to assume that Mr. Briggs and his associates in the endeavor to expose Mormonism were waiting for the conclusion of Hurlbut's January, 1834 pre-trial hearing at Painesville before issuing any announcements in the public press. That group published its first and only statement in this regard, in the Painesville Telegraph of Jan 31, 1834. Presumably Mr. Briggs was then free to speak candidly about his knowledge of Mormon origins. In 1886 Briggs finally articulated his claim to have once seen both the "lost" Spalding manuscript and the "Roman story" which E. D. Howe had briefly summarized in 1834. The allegation Briggs made in his 1834 letter -- that Mr. Spalding "copied and altered his original manuscript" -- agrees with Howe's assertion, that Spalding "had altered his first plan of writing, by going farther back with dates, and writing in the old scripture style." Mr. Briggs made this allegation months before Howe's book was published, and Briggs probably derived his information, either from D. P. Hurlbut directly or from a witness statement that Hurlbut solicited at the end of 1834: "I have examined the writings... I recognise them to be the hand writing of... Spalding but not the manuscript... before alluded to... he informed me he wrote in the first place for his own amusement and then altered his plan and commenced writing a history of the first Settlement of America."

MORMONISM.

Mr. Editor: As the papers seem just at this time to be noticing the trounles of the Mormons. it may be interesting to some of our readers, to give a brief history of the rise and progress of this sect.

In the year 1828, one Joseph Smith, an illiterate young man, unable to read his own name, of Palmyra, Wayne County, New York, was reported to have found several Golden Plates, together with a pair of spectacles, the relics of high antiquity. The spectacles were designed to aid mortal vision under rather peculiar circumstances. They were to be adjusted and the visage thrust into a close hat. This done, Smith could interpret the sacred mysteries of the plates, which lay by hypothesis, in the top of the hat! But what gives Smith peculiar claims to the title of Prophet and Divine Messenger, among his followers, is the fact that no other eyes than his have been able, as yet, to see the plates. For, by an attempt to exhibit one of them, he once incurred six months of "spiritual darkness," which circumstance serves effectually to quiet the inquisitive. Hence he enjoys indisputable claims to supremacy, without fear of rivalry.

Previous to his "spiritual darkness," he gained the credulity of one Harris, a simple but rich farmer. During this period, he was assisted in committing to memory several chapters from the New Testament. He was also informed of the most common words, printed in italics, as not being found in the Greek original. At length "after much humiliation, frequent and fervent prayer," his lost powers of vision were restored. Now, in order to establish more firmly his claims to divinity, he would put on his glasses, draw over his hat and refer his hearers to some chapter -- then commence the rehearsal, observing to omit all the words which have been inserted by translators. If however by failure of memory or otherwise, he chanced to differ from the commonly received text, he always claimed a perogative -- pleading error of translation. By these and like means he imposed upon the credulity of many well meaning persons. Of these, however, Harris was the favorite not only as being the first to embrace Mormonism, but also for being unwavering in the faith, of Smith's mission from the Almighty to "publish hidden mysteries." Consequently he so far gained the confidence of Smith as to be commissioned by him to act as amanuensis in recording an interpretation of the "golden plates." Whilst this work was progressing, Smith received information "miraculously," of the propriety of publishing it. This was well calculated to test Harris' zeal -- for all the expense of publication must inevitably fall on him. The terms of the Printers, as at first proposed, well nigh subverted his faith; but at length the parties agreed, and the "Book of Mormon" was published.

The number of proselytes now increasing, Smith and Harris "dreamed" of a land of promise! Accordingly, all with their effects, commenced a pilgrimage westward. They soon found the desired tract on Connecticut Reserve. But here they were doomed to encounter new trials; for the occupants refused to part with their possessions. However a purchase of a small part of the promise was effected on which they took up their abode, holding all things common. In this place they claim to have wrought divers miracles -- to have had immediate communications from Heaven, &c. &c. In one instance a young man among them gave out the time and place for his receiving a letter from Heaven! At the time named, many repaired to the place, and as "they say" saw the letter fall into his hands. According to his account, the epistle was written with letters of gold, in round Italian hand. When copying it the letters of the original disappeared as fast as he progressed, for which reason it has never been exhibited. Of their number was a negro also, who, unwilling to be outdone in these matters, conceived the idea that he could fly! With this conviction he mounted an eminence, and leaping off, rode majestically a perpendicular descent of fifty feet into the top of a lofty tree! At the end of his flight he was better convinced than ever that flying was not so very difficult -- but the alighting! All things here not exactly meeting their wishes, Smith and Harris came to the sage conclusion that the "bona fide" Land of Promise was still farther west. Under this impression the Mormonites sold their possessions at great sacrifices and again took up their march to their promised inheritance, which they subsequently supposed they had found at "Mount Zion" Jackson County, Missouri. In going there they pursued different routes, and generally went but two together.

Immediately after they abandoned the idea of remaining in Ohio, Harris professed to have seen both Jesus Christ and Satan. The former, as he describes them, is the handsomest man he ever saw but Satan is a four legged, sleek haired being with the head of a Jackass!

The creed of the Mormonites is not unlike that of the Mahometan -- substituting Smith for Mahomet, i. e. God is great and Smith is his Prophet. Their "Book of Revelations" abounds with positive contradictions in single chapters.

Although this sect took rise in New York and all their movements as a body have been westward, New England has not escaped its baleful influence. In 1831, (I think,) one Davidson, a professed disciple of Dilks, appeared in the vicinity of Burlington, Vermont -- wearing his hair long and pretending to great sanctity. Upon his authority, Dilks professes not only Almighty Power, but is God himself. Jesus Christ is a woman and much inferior to Dilks.

The Millenium was to have been consumated in 1833 -- at which time Dilks was to assemble his followers at Philadelphia. This done, all others were to be swept from the globe and their possessions left to the enjoyment of the Mormonites. Notwithstanding the absurdity of Davidson's doctrines, he made many proselytes -- of whom some were persons of considerable respectability.

The subjects of this fabaticism are represented as having conducted themselves in a manner particularly disgraceful and indecorous. Who Dilks is I have never learned; but the continually occurring contradictions in every thing pertaining to Mormonism, favor the idea that it is but another name applied to Smith. It is indeed a matter of mute astonishment that any body can be found among civilized men so credulous as to embrace such prima facie absurdities. Yet our much boasted of enlightened New England has furnished at least her ratable quota of dupes in this case.   F. E. M.


Note 1: The above article may have been published in the Review of Feb. 10th. No original has yet been located and the text has been reconstructed from reprints.

Note 2: Some of the detailed information provided by "F. E. M." seems to indicate his consultation with an eye-witness -- probably either Martin Harris himself or a person close to Harris. Other important early Mormons (Cowdery, Whitmer, Rigdon, etc.) are missing from the narrative, however. --- An interesting example given of Smith being able to memorize whole chapters from the English Bible; and to recall which words were printed in italics. This appears to confirm other reports of Joseph Smith, Sr. and his son Joseph Smith, Jr., possessing remarkable memories. --- The writer's accounts of the strange Mormon activities at Kirtland were derived from 1831 Geauga Gazette articles. See also E. D. Howe's Mormonism Unvailed, pages 105-107.

Note 3: The writer's confusion of Dilks and Davidson with the Mormons was typical in the early 1830s. See the Painesville Telegraph of July 12, 1831 for an example.

TRAGICAL EVENT! -- The following tragical story of a Mormon preacher is given by the editor of the Independent Messenger, on the authority of a gentleman from the western part of the State of New-York. We shall expect to see it authenticated by the Western papers, if it be true.

In a town where the delusion had made numerous converts, the disciples were summoned to assemble in a wild place, circumjacent to a pond, on the waters of which a gifted elder announced that he should walk and preach. The believers notified their doubting friends, and great things were anticipated. But it seems there were a few wicked Lamanites, who secretly set themselves to make mischief. Choosing their opportunity, just before the appointed day of miracles, they ascertained, by means of a raft, that the pond to be traversed was extremely shallow -- a thin sheet of water covering a common swamp mire. This mire was found to be of a consistency nearly strong enough, except within a small central space, to sustain the weight of a man. They soon discovered a line of plank laid in a particular direction completely across the pond, sunk about four inches under the surface of the water. -- These were so fastened down, and locked together, and so daubed with mud, as to be quite imperceptible from the neighboring declivities. They resolved on preventing the miracle by sawing the concealed bridge in pieces, just where it passed the deepest and most dangerous part of the pond. This was done, and every thing left seemingly as they found it. The expected day arrived, the congregation placed themselves as in an amphitheatre on the surrounding slopes, and the preacher appeared at the edge of the water. Presently he raised his stentorian voice, and as he paced his invisible bridge with a step apparently unearthly, taught and warned the people. All ears were open, and every eye strained from its socket with astonishment. But alas! just as the miracle worker seemed to have wrought conviction of his divine power in the wondering hearts of the multitude, lo! he stepped upon one of the detached pieces of plank, sallied sidewise, and instantly plunged, floundering and sinking in the deep watery mire. The mingling shrieks, screams and shouts of the spectators, all in a rush of commotion, were appalling. The scene was indescribable. Even those who had spoiled the miracle, were filled with horror, when they actually saw the unfortunate impostor fmally disappear. -- They had not dreamed that their trick would cost him more than the fright, discomfort and disgrace of being submersed, and afterwards struggling ashore; all along taking for granted that his plank would enable him to swim, however it might treacherously fail him to walk. But the tale closes with the close of his life, and consequent close of Mormonism in that vicinity. He sunk, and long before the confounded assembly were in a condition to afford him relief, perished a victim to his impious presumption.


Note 1: Compare this dubious report to the almost identical article later published in the Philadelphia Saturday Courier of April 19, 1834 and also to the article in the Christian Standard of Sep 29, 1906. The Boston Independent Messenger's 1833 (or early 1834) report has not yet been located; however, its source was probably an obscure news item originating in Broome or Chenango Co., NY. See the Binghamton Broome Republican of July 28, 1880 for a later reprisal of the story. The Rev. Robert B. Neal wrote an interesting article on the same topic for his Sword of Laban Leaflets, series two, leaflet no. 17. A somewhat less elaborate, but perhaps more believeable account of related early Mormon activities is given by the Disciples of Christ elder, J. J. Moss, in his 1938 autobiography.

Note 2: For additional information see the notes accompanying the May 9, 1834 Brattleboro Messenger, below.

MORMONITES.

Tragic Event. -- (see The Liberator of Feb. 22)


Notes: (forthcoming)

TRAGICAL EVENT. -- A Mormon preacher announced some short time since, to the inhabitants of a town in the western part of N. York, that he would walk and preach upon the water. It was discovered previous to the day of miracles, that a line of plank had been laid over a shallow pond, four inches from the surface. The centre of the pond consisted of deep and soft mud; and some of the inhabitants, through mischief, sawed the plank in this dangerous spot. On the day appointed the preacher commenced his march across the water in the presence of a large and astonished assembly. Just as the miracle seemed to have wrought conviction on the multitude, of his divine power, he stepped upon one of the detached pieces, sallied sideways, and instantly plunged floundering and sinking into the watery mire. He sank, and before the confused assembly were in a condition to afford him relief, perished, a victim to his own imposture.


Note 1: As early as 1834, the Mormon press was refuting various news reports of a Mormon leader's alleged attempt to perform a miracle upon the water -- see the April 1834 issue of the Evening and Morning Star, as well as the LDS Messenger and Advocate of Dec., 1835 for a refutation of these sorts of "walking on the water" stories being applied to the Mormon leadership. See also the June 6, 1835 issue of the Evangelical Magazine for a similar Kirtland story.

Note 2: The Campbellite minister J. J. Moss offered this recollection, in his 1937-38 autobiography: "As they [the Kirtland Mormons] went to the water to baptize at the close of an evening service, an angel appeared on the bank of the stream opposite the group and walked out on the water and stood viewing the scene. The next night they had some more to baptize and they announced beforehand that the angel would appear again and would speak to them. Some persons, suspecting a trick, examined the place and found a two-inch plank fixed in the manner of a spring board just beneath the surface of the water. They sawed the plank almost in two. Next evening when the angel walked out upon the water the plank gave way, there was a splash and a shriek as the angel's bright and shining glory was extinguished beneath the waves. It proved itself very much flesh and blood as it scrambled desperately to get to shore. The young men who sawed the board were lying in wait to catch the angel, but it escaped by jumping down a high bank and disappearing."

The Mormon War in Missouri is about to be resumed. A fanatical leader, styled General Joe Smith, has sent forth, in the form of a circular, his pretended revelations from on high, requiring the aid of the faithful to "expel the infidels from the Holy Land." About 500 are said to be on the move, and they are armed with dirks, swords, pistols, guns, and other hostile weapons. The prophet, it is said, has a sword more than four feet long, and professes an expectation of [sharing the fall] of a martyr in the coming contest.


Note: The above news item appears to have been derived from an article in the May 19, 1834 issue of the New York Spectator. It was also reprinted in the Amherst, New Hampshire Farmers' Cabinet on the same date; in the Brattleboro Independent Inquirer on the following day; and in the Concord New Hampshire Patriot and State Gazette on May 26, 1834.

THE  MORMONITES.

The Mormon War in Missouri is about to be renewed. A fanatical leader, styled General Joe Smith has sent forth, in the form of a circular, his pretended revelations from on high, requiring the aid of the faithful to "expel the infidels from the holy land." About 500 are said to be on the move, and they are armed with dirks, pistols, guns, and other hostile weapons. The prophet, it is said, has a sword more than four feet long, and professes an expectation of sharing the fall of a martyr in the coming contest.


Note: The above news item appears to have been derived from an article in the May 19, 1834 issue of the New York Spectator.

From the Christian Advocate and Journal.

Ancient  Mounds.

Messrs Editors: In a late tour through Ohio, Kentucky [&] Tennessee, I gleaned some information on the subject of ancient mounds, fortification[s], &c., which I transmit to your disposal. The most remarkable of those antiquated works is at Circleville, Ohio....

Twelve miles west of Chillicothe, on Paint Creek, there are the remains of a furnace... Eight miles farther up the creek a small bar of gold was taken out of the mound... likewise from the large mound a copper coin... Two stumps were found 60 to 70 feet under ground in Cincinnati. A thin circular piece of copper, alloyed with gold, was found in a mound last year in the same place....

These ancient works are found, more or less, through the Mississippi valley. They have given rise to much speculation which has thrown little more light upon the subject than the visions of Joe Smith in the book of Mormon. -- We can only say it is probable that this country was once inhabited by a race much more enlightened than our present Indian tribes -- a nation who have passed away from the earth like the shadow from the rock, without leaving even a vestige of tradition to tell who they were, from whence they came, or whither they are gone.
              H. HAMLIN.


Note: See Charles B. Thompson's 1841 book, Evidences of the Book of Mormon for more on the mound-builders as ancient Nephites.

(reprints Illinois Patriot of June 7, 1834)

Notes: (forthcoming)

THE  MORMON  WAR.

We learn by the following article, and others in other papers corroborating it, that violence and bloodshed may be expected in Missouri between those fanatics the Mormonites and those, almost equally fanatic, who seek to put down their superstitions and delusions by force of arms: -- National Intelligencer.

LIBERTY, (Mo.) June 11.        

THE MORMONS. -- Our friends at a distance may feel desirous to hear something respecting the "Mormons, so called," and knowing that the larger portion of them are in this county, may look to us to give them the wanted information.

We have heretofore been almost silent on this subject, hoping that the difficulties which occurred in Jackson co., between the citizens and the Mormons, would be soon settled in an amicable way, at least without the shedding of blood; and, in fact, we have felt very little interest in the matter, farther than it affected the general good of the country. But as this thing has arrived at a crisis which is really appealing to the feelings of good men, we feel it a duty to inform our readers of the movements of this people, at the same time we do not wish to be understood as trying to exasperate the minds of the people against this deluded and unfortunate sect.

For the last six or eight weeks, the Mormons have been actively engaged in making preparations to return to Jackson county, "the land of promise," by providing themselves with implements of war, such as guns, pistols, swords, &c. &c. They expect a reinforcement from the State of Ohio, and we are informed that small parties are arriving almost every day. So soon as they all arrive, they intend to call upon the Governor to reinstate them upon their lands in Jackson, and then, if molested, they are determined to protect themselves, sword in hand. We are told they will be able to muster 700 strong.

A gentleman from Jackson informs us that the citizens of that county are no less engaged in making preparation for their reception. On Monday last they held a meeting, for the purpose of electing officers, and Samuel C. Owens, a gentleman known to many citizens of the state, was unanimously elected commander-in-chief of all their forces. Our informant states that they have received a letter from the Governor, advising them to effect a compromise, if possible by purchasing the land of the Mormons, and paying them for injuries which they have sustained. For this purpose ten persons were appointed, invested with full power to settle the whole matter, and will meet the Mormons in this place, on Monday next, for that purpose. Should the Mormons refuse to accede to an honorable and fair adjustment of these difficulties, the Governor will not restore any to that county, but such as hold lands. The following gentlemen compose the above named Committee: Thomas Stayton, sen., Samuel Erwin, Smallwood V. Noland, Smallwood Noland, Robert Rickman, James Campbell, Richard Fristoe, Thomas Jeffries, and John Davis.

We have our fears as to the final issue of this matter, but hope for the best.
  -- Enquirer.


Notes: (forthcoming)

(article on Missouri ferry sinking & Mormons - under const.)

Note: This article has not yet been located for transcription. Its contents probably resembled the reporting of the Missouri Enquirer of June 18, 1834.

From the National Intelligencer.

THE  MORMONS  IN  MISSOURI.

Current information from Missouri confirms the apprehensions entertained of the breaking out of a furious Civil War between the Mormons and the residents of Jackson county, in the State of Missouri. The Fayette Monitor, of the 21st, says "By our next number we anticipate something (on the Mormon controversy) in an authentic form. The people may look for the worst."

The Missouri Enquirer (printed at Liberty) of the 18th June says, that on the Monday preceding, a Committee on the part of the citizens of Jackson county, and one in behalf of the Mormon People, met at Liberty, to take into consideration the subject of compromising the difficulties which occurred in Jackson county last autumn. No compromise was effected, however, notwithstanding the exertions of the People of Clay county, (in which Liberty is situated,) a committee of whom were appointed to act as mediators. On the contrary, the excitement among the People was such, that the conference was, in consequence of it, obliged to be adjourned. The proposition made by the People of Jackson county to the Mormons, who were driven out of the county last Autumn, and are about to re-enter it with additional numbers, in arms, is, to buy all the lands and improvements of the Mormons, at a valuation by disinterested arbitrators, to which valuation one hundred per cent. shall be added, to be paid within thirty days thereafter; the Mormons thereupon to leave the county, and not hereafter to attempt to enter it, individually, or collectively. Or, the citizens of Jackson county to sell their lands to the Mormons on reciprocal terms. To neither of these propositions were the Committee of the Mormons authorized to assent, nor does there appear any probability that either of them will be assented to. The Enquirer, after narrating these facts, gives utterance to the following melancholy foreboding: "It is a lamentable fact, that the matter is about to involve the whole upper country in civil war and bloodshed. We cannot (if a compromise is not agreed to before Saturday next) tell how long it will be before we shall have the painful task of recording the awful realities of an exterminating war." The citizens of Jackson, it appears, though inferior in numbers to the Mormons, are resolved to dispute over every inch of ground and the Chairman of their Committee declared, at the meeting in the Court House of Clay county, appealing to heaven for the truth of his assertion, that "they would dispute every inch of ground, burn every blade of grass, and suffer their bones to bleach on their hills, rather than the Mormons should return to Jackson county."

The following account of a fatal accident, which occurred on the evening after the conference, evidently refers the disaster to the enmity existing between these exasperated parties:

From the Missouri Enquirer of June 18.

INDEPENDENCE, Mo., June 17th, 1834.       

Messrs. Kelley & Davis: Having understood that you have received intelligence of the sinking of the Ferry Boat at Everett's Ferry, on the Missouri, last evening, together with a statement of the sufferings of those who happened to be on board, we, a part of those who escaped, have thought proper, for the correct information of yourselves and others, to give a statement of the facts as they actually occurred.

Eight of the citizens of this county, a majority of whom was a part of the committee that waited on the Mormons, in your town, on yesterday, embarked on board of the boat at about nine o'clock, it being perfectly clear, and the moon shining as bright as we ever saw it. Upon our embarking, the boat appeared to be in as good order as we ever saw it -- the false floor was tight and good. After our having left the shore some two hundred yards, in an instant, as it were, the boat was filled with water. We are confident the boat struck nothing. Our impressions at the time were, and still are, that something had been done to the boat to sink her, as it was known that the committee from this county would cross at that point last night.

The names of the persons lost are -- James Campbell, William Everett, David Linch, Jefferson Cary, and a Mr. Bradbury -- the two last were the ferrymen.

Those escaping -- Smallwood Noland, Richard Fristoe, Smallwood V. Noland, Samuel C. Owens, Thomas Harrington, and a Mr. Frost -- the last being the third ferryman. Those who escaped, we assure you, suffered much.
Respectfully, your obedient servants,
Samuel C. Owens, S. V. Nolland, Thomas Harrington.
Notes: (forthcoming)

THE MORMONS. -- The troubles about this sect look really ominous; we should not think it at all strange if a civil war should rage over a considerable portion of the far west before the difficulties are ended. It will be recollected that the Mormons were expelled from Jackson county in the state of Missouri by force. They have lately returned to that vicinity in large bodies, well armed; and on the other hand the inhabitants now in possession are preparing to resist them in a similar manner. -- A committee from each side recently met at Liberty in Jackson [sic] county, to arrange if possible the terms of a compromise. So impossible do the citizens of the county consider it, to occupy the same ground with the Mormons, that they proposed through their committee to buy all the property of the members of the sect, at a valuation of disinterested appraisers, with the addition of one hundred per cent to that valuation. If this did not meet the views of the Mormons, they offered to sell on the same terms. To neither of these propositions did the Mormons assent and the meeting broke up without coming to any terms. A most lamentable affair occurred immediately after the dissolution, which has greatly heightened the excitement already existing. Eight of the citizens of Jackson county, a majority of whom were a part of the committee before mentioned, on their return attempted to [cross] the Missouri at the ordinary ferry at 9 o'clock in the evening. The boat, upon their setting out, appeared perfectly sound and the weather was serene and cloudless, but ere they had proceeded a hundred yards the boat suddenly filled with water and sunk. Five men were drowned, the rest escaping with great difficulty. -- The survivors feel certain that the boat struck nothing, and that something had been done to the boat to sink [her], -- which something is of course referred to their enemies the infuriated Mormons.


Notes: (forthcoming)

THE  MORMONS  IN  THE  WEST.

ANOTHER  BLOT  UPON  OUR  COUNTRY.

It must give pain to every orderly citizen, who feels an honest pride in the fair fame of his native land to observe the discontents, which are ripening into petty civil wars, in different sections of our United States. Do not those occurrences admonish the wise and good to unite in the best measures to counteract these outbreakings of the worst passions? We give the following extract of a letter, because we believe it to be our duty to be aware of the internal dangers that threaten our national peace: --

"Bluffdale, Green Co., Illinois, June 20, 1834.    

"Your readers are already apprised of the fact that a church of that order, of twenty-five members, exists in this settlement. Recently preachers have visited them and a powerful excitement is in agitation, not only here but throughout all the Mormon ranks. The Prophet professes to have had a revelation from God, requiring the Mormons to go back to their Zion in Jackson co., Missouri, from which they were driven last winter by force of arms. The Mormons are determined to occupy the lands which they have purchased, or die in the attempt. One spirit seems to pervade the whole denomination, and they are collecting from the remotest parts of the Union. -- Blood will flow unless the government of the State give[s] the Mormons their protection. They are cool, determined, say little, and use no gasconding threats of what they will do. To converse with their leading men, and see the spirit that prevails among all the members, is all that is required to convince any one they are men who have made up their minds to die in the last ditch, if necessary. Deluded though they be, they are American citizens, and have a right to worship God according to the dictates of their own consciences, and live upon the soil for which they have honestly paid. The people who drove them off, are making preparations to repel every attempt of theirs to return to their possessions. They are procuring men and arms. It is stated openly in the public papers, that one individual there has procured a cannon at his own expense. Will such a contest speak much in favor of our country?


Note: In the issue for the following week (July 25th), the Watchman reprinted the erroneous "Mormon Battle" report from the Chardon Spectator.

A MORMON BATTLE. -- A letter received, by a gentleman in this neighbourhood, direct from Missouri, stating that a body of well armed Mormons, led on by their great prophet, Joe Smith, lately attempted to cross the river into Jackson county. A party of the citizens of Jackson county opposed their crossing, and a battle ensued, in which, Joe Smith was wounded in the leg, and the Mormons obliged to retreat: that Joe Smith's limb was amputated, but he died three days after the operation. -- Chardon Spectator.


Note: The same report was also published in the Newport Mercury for July 19th; in the Hartford Connecticut Courant for July 21st; in the Salem Gazette for July 22nd; in the Barre, Massachusetts Farmer's Gazette for July 25th, and in numerous other eastern papers.

The Mormons have quietly retired, it is said, from the contemplated scene of action without striking a blow. They, however, contend that the spot is "Zion," and though not established, will, in the course of 100 years, become their "Holy land" and resting place. Nothing further with respect to the death of their general and leader, Joe Smith, who was reported to have fallen while leading on a column of his people to the rescue of their lands.


Notes: (forthcoming)

From the Baltimore American of Friday.

(see original article in MD paper)

      From the Baltimore American of July 27th.

A particular account of the last Mormon campaign in Missouri, is given in the Western papers. The belligerents seem to have been mutually exasperated, and to have approached very near to a general and bloody battle. The numbers engaged in the contest on both sides are much larger than we had supposed. The Mormons assembled late in June, in Clay county, (Mo.) and were reinforced by parties principally from Ohio, until they mustered from 800 to 1000 men, armed with "guns, tomahawks, knives, and from two to four braces of pistols each." Their design was to cross the river and take possession of Jackson county -- the 'Zion,' as they term it, of their faith. Their leader, the prophet Jo Smith, promised them to "raise again" all who should be slain in fighting the battle for the possession of this Holy Land. The Jackson county people were equally determined to resist the passage of the river, at all hazards. A letter from a person on the spot, published in Maysville, Ky, says that Jackson County raised 900, and Lafayette 400, and that several hundred more were ready to come at a moment's warning. The feeling of the people may be conjectured from the expression of opinion in the letters quoted, that had the Mormons attempted to cross the river, not one of them would have been "left to tell the tale." "No quarter would have been given, and we could have killed most of them before they got across the river." There were some attempts at negotiation. The Jackson county people offered to buy all the lands of the Mormons at a double price -- which was refused. The invaders professed peaceful intentions and a desire only to take quiet possession of their own lands -- professions which appear to have got a credit. In the end, however, they desisted from the enterprise, and postponed the crusade for the possession of their "Zion," for fifty or a hundred years. They will take up their intermediate residence somewhere else; and thus the battle, which must have been obstinate and very bloody, was avoided. It is to be hoped, for the sake of ordinary justice, that means will be found, for making compensation to those deluded men for the property they are forced to abandon, as well as for the damages they have sustained by being driven out.


Notes: (forthcoming)

The Report that Joe Smith, the Mormon leader, had been killed in an engagement between the Mormons and the citizens of Jackson county, is not confirmed by the latest advice from the scene of action.


Notes: (forthcoming)

The  Mormons

(see original article in MD paper)

Note: The same article was reprinted in the Concord New Hampshire Patriot and State Gazette of August 4th.

THE  MORMON  CONTROVERSY.

The Report which reached us some time ago, in the shape of a private letter published in an Ohio paper, of a battle between the Mormons and the inhabitants of Jackson County, in Missouri, turns out to be untrue. How near they have been to a Battle, and a very bloody one, will appear from the following information, (which, as to facts, may be relied upon,) copied from a Kentucky paper. -- Nat. Intelligencer.

From the Maysville (Ky.) Eagle.

The following extracts of letters, from a young gentleman of Missouri, to his father, in Mason county, have been politely furnished us for publication. They contain the latest and most authentic intelligence from the seat of the Mormon operations:

"LEXINGTON, Mo., June 20, 1834.          

"In a former letter I wrote at some length about the Mormons, and promised to write again on the subject. They have just received a large reinforcement from the East, which makes their numbers amount to 800 or 1000 men all well armed, with guns, tomahawks, knives, and from two to four barces of pistols [etc.] They went through the county on the North of the river, yesterday. We understand that the people of that county intended to stop them, and for the purposes of assisting them, we raised about forty men, but could not overtake them, (the Mormons,) as they raised a dog trot, and kept it up most of the day.

"Next Monday is supposed to be the day they intend crossing the river, to take Jackson county. The whole county is in an uproar. Volunteers are preparing to go to the scene of action. Should they cross the river, there will be a battle, and probably much blood shed. Among others, I shall start on Saturday next, at 8 o'clock."

"Lexington, June 28.          

"From my last letter, you may possibly be expecting to hear of a severe battle between the Mormons and Jacksonians -- but you will not. We went up yo Jackson county, armed with guns, knives, &c., in full expectation of meeting an enemy determined on victory or death. Nothing less could have been anticipated, for Smith, their prophet, had promised to raise all of them that should be slain in fighting the Lord's battles.

"You may recollect that, some months ago, the people of Jackson drove all the Mormons out of the county, on account, as they alleged, of improper conduct, such as stirring up a seditious feeling in the slaves and Indians, steeling hogs, cattle, &c., and, worst of all, threatening to take possession of the whole of this upper country, either (according to Smith's revelation) by purchase or by blood. Some of them had even predicted that Independence, the county seat of Jackson, would flow with blood -- the men should be slain, and the women become their slaves. In Jackson, they took refuge in the adjoining counties, principally in Clay county, where they remained in peace and inaction. Some time in May, there was a great bustle among them -- selling off their little patches of corn for guns, buying gun-locks, power and lead, manufacturing pistols and swords, and collecting themselves into a body in Clay county, from which place they threatened to cross over and attack their old neighbors, to recover the New Jerusalem from the infidels.

"About the same time, letters were written from the State of Ohio, informing the people of Jackson of the party that were starting from that place to join the brethren in Missouri. At first we thought it was all a hoax, not believing it possible that so many knaves and fools could be mustered in that State, nor could we believe it, until they had actually arrived. The arrival of such a body of armed troops, whose object was to butcher a portion of our citizens, aroused the whole county against them.

"The Jackson people offered them twice the valuation of all their possessions, which was refused. They had collected in Clay county, and built a number of boats, to cross their forces over. Last Monday was, no doubt, the time they intended to cross, and would most probably have done so, had it not been for the numbers who went from this county to oppose them. Jackson county could raise about 900 men, and 400 went from Lafayette; about 300 more would have marched in a day or two, if they had been required. I know we had neither law nor gospel on our side, but self-preservation urged us to pursue that course, for we knew that our county would be the next to suffer from their presence. If they had crossed the river, I very much question if one would have been left to tell the tale. No quarter would have been given. We could have killed most of them before they got across the river.

"Smith now tells them, (the Mormons,) that it does not matter about building the temple yet -- that they may wait 80 or 100 years longer. Meanwhile, they will locate somewhere else. I am told there are a goodly number about to leave the country."

---

The following papers, which we find in the Fayette Monitor of July 8, will be acceptable to all such as desire to understand more particularly the nature of this Western feud:

From the Missouri Enquirer.

Being a citizen of Clay county, and knowing that there is considerable excitement among the people thereof: and also knowing that different reports are arriving almost hourly, and being requested by the Hon. J. F. Ryland to meet the Mormons under arms, and obtain from the leaders thereof the correctness of the various reports in circulation, the true intent and meaning of their present movements, and their views generally regarding the difficulties existing between them and the citizens of Jackson county; I did, in company with the other gentlemen, call upon the said leaders of the Mormons at their camp, in Clay county -- and now give to the people of Clay co. their written statement, containing the substance of what passed between us.

CORNELIUS GILLIAM.     

PROPOSITIONS  OF  THE  MORMONS.

Being called upon by the above named gentlemen, at our camp, in Clay county, to ascertain from the leaders of our men, our intentions, views, and designs, in approaching this county in the manner that we have; we therefore, the more cheerfully comply with their request, because we are called upon by gentlemen of good feelings, and who are disposed for peace and on amicable adjustment of the difficulties existing between us and the people of Jackson county. The reports of our intentions are various, and have gone abroad in a light calculated to arouse the feelings of almost every man. For instance, one report is, that we intend crossing the Missouri River on saturday next, and falling upon women and children, and slaying them; another is, that our men were employed to perform this expedition, being taken from manufacturing establishments in the East that had closed business; also, that we carried a flag, bearing Peace on one side and war or blood on the other; and various others too numerous to mention. All of which, a plain declaration of our intentions, from under our own hands, will show are not correct. In the first place, it is not our intention to commit hostilities against any man or body of men. It is not our intention to injure any man's person or property, except in defending ourselves. Our flag has been exhibited to the above gentlemen, who will be able to describe it. Our men were not taken from any manufacturing establishment. It is our intention to go back upon our lands in Jackson, by order of the Executive of the State, if possible. We have brought our arms with us for the purpose of self defense, as it is well known to almost every man of the State that we have every reason to put ourselves in an attitude of defence, considering the abuse we have suffered in Jackson County. We are anxious for a settlement of the difficulties existing between us, upon honorable and constitutional principles. We are willing for 12 disinterested men, six to be chosen by each party, and these men shall say what the possessions of those men are worth who cannot live with us in the county; and they shall have their money in one year; and none of the Mormons shall enter that county to reside until the money is paid. The damages that we have sustained in consequence of being driven away, shall also be left to the above twelve men. Or they may all live in the county, if they choose, and we will never molest them if they will let us alone and permit us to enjoy our rights. We want to live in peace with all men, and equal rights is all we ask. We wish to become permanent citizens of this State, and wish to bear our proportion in support of the Government, and to be protected by its laws. If the above proposals are complied with, we are willing to give security on our part; and we shall want the same of the people of Jackson county for the performance of this agreement. We do not wish to settle down in a body, except where we can purchase the lands with money: for to take possession by conquest or the shedding of blood, is entirely foreign to our feelings. The shedding of blood we shall not be guilty of, until all just and honorable means among men prove insufficient to restore peace. Amen

Joseph Smith, Jr. F. G. Williams, Lyman Wight, Roger Orton, Orson Hyde, John S. Carter.

John Lincoln, C. R. Morehead, John Scorce, James H. Long, James Collins.

Clay County, June 21, 1834.

__________

In answer to the above, a letter is published by Samuel C. Owens, chairman of the Jackson County Committee, in which he denies that a majority of the signers of the foregoing document are owners [sic, not owners?] of land in Jackson County, and indirectly charges them with an intention to deceive in promulgating that they have been expelled from lands in which they have no interest. The fact of the Mormons coming from another state, with an armed force, is considered as evidence of an intention, not to rely on the arm of the civil law for protection, but to redress of themselves their wrongs real or pretended. Their conduct is charged to a pertinacity and infatuation, which threatens to convulse not only Jackson, but all the surrounding counties.


Notes: (forthcoming)

                                 LIBERTY, July 2, 1834.

CHOLERA.

This desolating disease has at length made its appearance in the vicinity of this town. There remains now no doubt of its existence. We are informed by medical gentlemen of this place, that it exists to an alarming degree among the recent Mormon emigration to the upper country, and already has spread its ravages among their resident brethren of this county. It has been, we are informed, but three or four days, since it first broke out among them; and in that short time, so fatal has it generally proved, that out of eighteen cases, thirteen have resulted in death; of most of the surviving five, but little hope is entertained. We have not heard of any cases in this county, except among the Mormons.


Notes: (forthcoming)

                                 BOWLING GREEN, Mo., July 15, 1834.

MORMONS. -- We have been informed that a meeting of the Mormons, residents in this county, was held on Saturday, the 13th instant, about ten miles from this place; at which they resolved to renounce the doctrine of Mormon for the present, or in other words, to remain silent and neutral until something new shall have been revealed to them from heaven. -- Numbers of those, who some time since went to Jackson, are daily returning on their way back to the place from whence they started. It is said that the Cholera had broken out in their camp, and that many had died. Some of those returning express themselves much dissatisfied with their prophet, Gen. J. Smith. They said he has failed in all his attempts to cure the cholera, or to bring the dead to life.


Note: This obscure report from Pike co., Missouri was evidently first published in a local newspaper (such as the Pike Co. Democrat), and then perhaps reprinted by a St. Lewis paper.

Gen. Joe Smith has led his Mormon subjects back to Ohio. They have travelled nearly 1600 miles.

Note: The Pittsfield Sun, on the same date, reported: "Gen. Joe Smith, the Mormon Chief, with his followers, have returned to their headquarters, Geauga County, Ohio. After having dragged his men nearly 800 miles, he now declares, it is said, the only reason of his marching his army to the Missouri, was for the purpose of carrying supplies and money to his brethren in that State."

MORMONISM.  We do not recollect to have seen any account of the origin of this vulgar humbug, so circumstantial as the following. The Sacket's Harbor Courier mentions that a lazy fellow, who had been county pauper, had lately attempted to raise recruits in that neighborhood, for "Joe Smith," one of the original Mormonites. The fellow pretended that he had a withered arm miraculously cured. In consequence of his attempt at imposition, a letter was addressed to a gentleman of high respectability in Palmyra, for the purpose of obtaining correct information on the subject of Mormonism. The reply gives the annexed history.

Dear Sir, -- Your letter of the 5th ult. requesting information concerning the people called Mormonites, and concerning their origin and leaders, has been received.

This imposition was begun by Joseph Smith, in the vicinity of this village.

However incredible it may appear, the following statement is correct, and shows the great folly and weakness of the people who have credited the impositions with falsehoods which Joseph Smith and his associates in iniquity have propagated.

I begin with the leader "Joe," as he is and has been called here for 20 years past. For ten years he has been a man of questionable character, of intemperate habits, and a noted money-digger. He lived in a sequestered neighborhood, where his loquacity gave him a reputation, with some, for being smart; these he flattered to assist him in digging for money. These soon saw his deceptions, and got out of patience with him. To avoid their sneers, Joe pretended that he had at length found, by digging, a wonderful curiosity, which he kept closely concealed.

After Joe had told different stories, and had called the pretended curiosity by different names, he at length called it, The golden plates of the Book of Mormon.

As Smith was, from time to time questioned, his story assumed a more uniform statement.

In the meantime, Joe visited a visionary fanatic, by the name of Harris and told him he had received some golden plates from the Lord with directions to call on Martin Harris for fifty dollars, to enable him to go to Pennsylvania and there translate the contents of those plates. At the same time he affirmed to Harris that the Lord had told him that he and Martin Harris were the only honest men in the world. Joe had doubtless heard Martin frequently say this of himself. This he knew was the assailable point in his visionary mind. The delicious bait was greedily swallowed. The fifty dollars were soon put into the hands of Joe, and he cleared for Pennsylvania.

Martin Harris was then worth five or six thousand dollars, and the whole brotherhood of the Smiths were in very low, worldly circumstances.

The Smiths used Martin's money freely; some other men, who had a great dislike to honest labor about that time, joined Joe in his acts of deception. In that reinforcement was a ready writer, by name, Cowdry, and a Whitney [sic], who declared he had once been in Heaven, who assisted Joe in writing the book of Mormon, as a pretended translation of the golden plates which Smith affirmed he had been directed by the spirit of the Lord to dig from the earth. The whole was done in the most secret manner. At the same time, Smith affirmed that it would be immediate death for any one to see those plates besides himself and the writers of the book of Mormon. Poor Martin, through his lack of faith and his having, at a certain time refused to hand over to Joe more money, was excluded from a view of the plates.

Previous to that base course of imposition and deception, Martin Harris was an industrious farmer, but unfortunate in his choice of a wife; or rather she was unfortunate in her choice of a husband. It is a truth of public notoriety that Martin Harris, who is the second in authority among the Mormonites, who gives their preachers license to preach and authority to put their proselytes under water, has laid violent hands on his wife, and so cruelly and frequently whipped and beaten her, that she has had to seek refuge from his abuse and cruelty, among her relatives. To this day he is considered, in this section of country, in domestic matters, a base scoundrel; in religion, a dupe to the Smiths; in all things, an unlearned, conceited hypocrite. He paid for printing five thousand copies of the book of Mormon, which exhausted all his funds. In Ohio he has attempted to get another wife; some one wrote from Ohio, and ascertained that his long and greatly abused wife is still alive in the vicinity of Palmyra, and thus defeated him in his iniquity.

All the Mormonites have left this part of our state. I know of no one in this section of country, who ever gave them credence. Joe Smith dare not come into this region from a fear of his creditors, from whom he absconded to avoid paying their just demands. He has had a stone, into which, when it is placed in a hat, he pretended to look, and see chests of money buried in the earth. He is a fortune teller, and says he can tell where stolen goods go; probably too well.

Harris prophesied that this village was to have been destroyed by lightning more than two years ago. Some other things, he in like manner said were then to have happened. As his predictions have all failed, he is now seldom seen in this region. He knows that he is considered a false prophet and an impostor.

Note: The above reprint leaves out the date of the latter -- which was dated: "Palmyra, County of Wayne, State of N.Y., August 16th, 1834," as well as the concluding paragraph: "Thus dear sir, you have a general, but true delineation of the Mormonites in their origin and the character of their prominent characters, Smith and Harris. Make what use of this communication you please. Such use as you may judge the cause of true religion requires; such as may prevent the propagation of error and delusion. Yours respectfully,   Jesse Townsend."

(From the Sackets Harbor Courier)

MORMONISM.

A lazy fellow who was formerly a county pauper, has lately attempted to raise recruits far "Joe Smith," on Pillar Point, near this place. He pretended that he had a withered arm miraculously cured. From a knowledge of this bold attempt at imposition, and with a view of getting correct information an this subject of Mormonism, a person in this village addressed a letter to a gentleman of the first respectability in Palmyra and received the following answer:

PALMYRA, County of Wayne.      
State of N.Y., August 16th, 1834.     

Dear Sir, -- Your letter of the 5th ult. requesting information concerning the people called Mormonites, and concerning their origin and leaders, has been received.

This imposition was begun by Joseph Smith, in the vicinity of this village.

However incredible it may appear, the following statement is correct, and shows the great folly and weakness of the people who have credited the impositions with falsehoods which Joseph Smith and his associates in iniquity have propagated.

I begin with the leader "Joe" as he is and has been called here for 20 years past. For ten years he has been a man of questionable character, of intemperate habits, and a noted money-digger. He lived in a sequestered neighborhood, where his loquacity gave him a reputation, with some, for being smart; these he flattered to assist him in digging for money. These soon saw his deceptions and got out of patience with him. To avoid their sneers, Joe pretended that he had at length found, by digging, a wonderful curiosity, which he kept closely concealed,

After Joe had told different stories, and had called the pretended curiosity by different names, he at length called it, The Golden Plates of the Book of Mormon.

As Smith was, from time to time questioned, his story assumed a more uniform statement.

In the meantime, Joe visited a visionary fanatic, by the name of Harris and told him he had received some golden plates from the Lord with directions to call on Martin Harris for fifty dollars, to enable him to go to Pennsylvania and there translate the contents of those plates. At the same time he affirmed to Harris that the Lord had told him that he and Martin Harris were the only honest men in the world. Joe had doubtless heard Martin frequently say this of himself. This he knew was the assailable point in his visionary mind. The delicious bait was greedily swallowed. The fifty dollars were soon put into the hands of Joe, and he cleared for Pennsylvania.

Martin Harris was then worth five or six thousand dollars, and the whole brotherhood of the Smiths were in very low, worldly circumstances.

The Smith' s used Martin' a money freely -- some other men, who had a great dislike to honest labor, about that time, joined Joe in his acts of deception. In that reinforcement was a ready writer, by name, Cowdry and a Whitney, who declared he had once been in Heaven, who assisted Joe in writing the book of Mormon, as a pretended translation of the golden plates which Smith affirmed he had been directed by the spirit of the Lord to dig from the earth. The whole was done in the most secret manner. At the same time, Smith affirmed that it would be immediate death for any one to see those plates besides himself and the writers of the book of Mormon. -- Poor Martin, through his lack of faith and his having, at a certain time refused to hand over to Joe more money, was excluded from a view of the plates.

Previous to that base course of imposition and deception, Martin Harris was an industrious farmer, but unfortunate in his choice of a wife; or rather she was unfortunate in her choice of a husband. It is a truth of public notoriety that Martin Harris who is the second in authority among the Mormonites, who gives their preachers license to preach and authority to put their proselytes under water, has laid violent hands on his wife, and so cruelly and frequently whipped and beaten her, that she has had to seek refuge from his abuse and cruelty, among her relatives. To this day he is considered, in this section of country, in domestic matters, a base scoundrel; in religion, a dupe to the Smiths; in all things, an unlearned conceited hypocrite. He paid for printing five thousand copies of the book of Mormon, which exhausted all his funds. In Ohio he has attempted to get another wife -- some one wrote from Ohio, and ascertained that his long and greatly abused wife is still alive in the vicinity of Palmyra and thus defeated him in his iniquity.

All the Mormonites have left this part of our state. I know of no one in this section of country, who ever gave them credence. Joe Smith dare not come into this region from a fear of his creditors, from whom he absconded to avoid paying their just demands. He has had a stone, into which, when it is placed in a hat, he pretended to look, and see chests of money buried in the earth. He is a fortune-teller and says he can tell where stolen goods go, -- probably too well.

Harris prophesied that this village was to have been destroyed by lightning more than two years ago. Some other things, he in like manner said were then to [happen]. As his predictions have all failed, he is now seldom seen in this region. He knows that he is considered a false prophet and an impostor.

Thus dear sir, you have a general, but true delineation of the Mormonites in their origin and the character of their prominent characters. Smith and Harris. Make what use of this communication you please. Such use as you may judge the cause of true religion requires; such as may prevent the propagation of error and delusion. Yours respectfully,
                               JESSE TOWNSEND.

The above letter can be seen at this officer and the writer can be vouched for by persons who know him here, as one in whose statements the fullest reliance can be placed.


Note 1: After this letter's initial appearance in the Watertown Sackets Harbor Courier (in late Aug. 1834), it was reprinted in various eastern papers, including the Salem, Mass. Landmark of Dec. 3, 1834. Townsend's original holograph letter survives in the Cornell University Library's manuscript files.

Note 2: Rev, Jesee Townsend was the pastor of Western Presbyterian Church of Palmyra between 1817 and 1820. Some of the Smith family joined the same congregation a few years later and Townsend had an opportunity to observe them personally. See also Townsend's 1833 letter, as printed in Pomeroy Tucker's 1867 book.

Note 3: It is not entirely impossible that the "Mr. Whitney" mentioned by Townsend might have been an alias used by the Rev. Sidney Rigdon, while visiting Manchester and Palmyra from his home in Mentor Ohio, traveling in cognito.

"The Book of Mormon." Most of our readers may recollect reading some account of a sect denominated Mormonites, who are located somewhere in the vicinity of Palmyra, N. York. We have recently obtained the loan of a book with the above title, and of all ridiculous, unmeaning jargon that we ever read, this 'caps the climax' of the whole. It appears that the author of the book, and Captain-General of the whole tribe, consisting of some thousands, is one Joseph Smith, Jr. a mechanic [sic], and formerly, if not now, of dissolute habits. It is satated that on a certain night he dreamed a miraculous dream, which instructed him where were deposited (upon the side of a hill) in the town of Manchester, N. Y. several golden plates, on which was something written purporting to originate from the record of Nephi, and sealed by the hand of Mormon. It further appeared that the day subsequent to his dream, he proceeded to the 'side of the hill,' and sure enough found the golden plates! The writing upon these plates, is the foundation of the Mormon creed.

We copy for the diversion of the reader, the testimony of eight witnesses, as recorded in the Book of Mormon:

"Be it known unto all nations, kindreds unto whom this work shall come, That Joseph Smith, Jr., the author and proprietor of this work, has shewn unto us the plates of which hath been spoken, which have the appearance of gold; and as many of the leaves as the said Smith has translated we did handle with our hands; and we also saw the engravings thereon, all of which has the appearance of ancient work, and of curious workmanship. And this we bear record with words of soberness, that the said Smith has shown unto us, for we have seen and hefted, and know of a surety, that the said Smith has got the plates of which we have spoken. And we give our names unto the world, to witness unto the world that which we have seen; nd we lie not, God bearing witness of it.

C. Whitmer, J. Whitmer, P. Whitmer, Jr., J. Whitmer, H. Page, J. Smith, sen., H. Smith, S. H. Smith."

We shall not assume the right to judge between fanaticism and true religion, but that such a superlative nonsense and transcendant foolishness, as is contained in this whole book, should be propagated and believed at this enlightened day, is enough to draw a deep blush of burning shame for the "gullibility" and senseless credulity of our fellow-citizens.


Note: See the pro-Mormon response to this article, published in the Farmer's Gazette of   Feb. 6th.

Mr. Editor -- I noticed some remarks in your paper in relation to the book of mormon, which I consider incorrect and unjust, and which, if unnoticed are calculated to prejudice the minds of your readers against the book, and that peaceable and pious sect of christians who believe it to be the work of inspiration. In order to make our doctrine appear as absurd as possible, it is reported that Joseph Smith was a man of "dissolute habits." That is incorrect. He was a pious farmer, of good moral chaarcter; when the existence of the plates containing the book of mormon was revealed to him, which was done by visions and such other direct communications from heaven as the bible declares should take place in these latter days; but was not permitted to obtain them till the lord prepared him for so great a work, which was done four years afterwards. As good a man as we believe Joseph Smith to be, I would inform your readers that we do not pin our faith on his sleeve as many suppose; but our doctrine is founded on the scriptures of the old and new testaments as well as on the records of Nephi, and contains nothing that cannot be proved from the bible. We do not expect, however, that we shall be able at once, to satisfy all of the truth of our doctrine, any more than the Apostles did in their day; but we are sure that if people had a correct knowledge of our doctrine they would not believe us to be such a deluded set of fanatics as we are represented. I hope therefore that men of candid minds will hear both sides of the question before they pass their judgment against us.
                  A Believer in the Book of Mormon.

---

The Mormonites. In another column "A Believer in the Book of Mormon," through an interpreter, swaggers away about some remarks, which fell from us last week, and attempts to sustain his mystic creed and its 'fanatic' followers. We apprehend, however, that it will be mere an attempt, in this quarter at least, and prove about as successful as the professions of the Mormons to "cure all manner of diseases -- raise the dead," &c. The statement 'that Joseph Smith, Jr. was formerly of dissolute habits,' we had from an intelliegnt gentleman of veracity who has sojourned near the place where the Mormonites are located and enquired minutely about them, the statement of "A Believer in the Book of Mormon" to the contrary notwithstanding. As to the time when the 'golden plates' were found, it is of but little consequence. Our authority says if not the next day, it was soon after. His remark that 'they do not pin their faith upon Joseph Smith's sleve' is a mere tergiversation. We said in substance that the foundation of their doctrine, was derived from the 'plates' which were translated by Joseph Smith, Jr. And this we prove by "A Believer in the Book of Mormon's" personal acknowledgement to us, which was "that the Lord appeared to him at a certain period, and told him to join the Mormonites, for that was the only true and correct doctrine" -- He obeyed this command and he must of course admit, if he sticks to his text, that his 'faith is pinned on the' writings of the Book of Mormon, the professed author of which is Joseph Smith, Jr.

We understand the course pursued by the Mormon preachers is this. They state, what all admit to be facts, that, in the primitive ages of the church, there was among the disciples the power of speaking with tongues, and of working miracles; that at the present day no denomination of christians possesses this power. From these facts they draw the conclusion, that all denominations of christians have departed from the true faith of the primitive church. They then claim for themselves and the members of their church, the power of speaking with tongues and working miracles. They jabber with some strange sounds, and call this speaking the speaking with tongues. They assert it as a fact that among them the dead have been raised and the sick healed. From these facts as they call them, they draw the conclusion that they are the members of the true church of christ.

Our readers well know that there is a strong feeling of opposition to the institution of Masonry, in the minds of many. All such will find something in the Book of Mormon to meet their views.

It may be recalled by the reader, that some years since the Cochran delsion, as it is called, prevailed in and around the town of Saco, Me. What gave that delusion success? Why, Cochran spoke with great fluency, warned sinners with great earnestmess, the people were much affected, many were in tears, some were sobbing aloud, others were prostrated upon the floor. "Surely then" those under the influence we speak of, would say, "the doctrines advanced by Cochran must be true." So with the Mormon delusion -- they adopt the same course, and in this way men of sound judgements in other respects, are carried away, through the influence of their erroneous views of the operations of the spirit, and become the dupes of the delusion.


Note: See the Feb. 1834 issue of The Unitarian, the Nov. 1, 1834 issue of the St. Louis Western Examiner and the Sept. 12, 1835 issue of the Saturday Evening Post for some similar early comparisons of Mormonism with Cochranism.

Mormonism, strange as it may appear, has found votaries even in New England and in three or four neighboring towns they have regular exercises. The society in South Hadley is partially Perfectionists and partially Mormon, exhortations, dancing and all sorts of strange delusions and vagaries of the brain and contortions of the body being practised. This is the land of freedom and liberty, and we sometimes are disposed to think that the wildest extravagances and grossest absurdities spontaneously come up under its broad banner. No other country on earth can boast of such varied forms of religious sects and such palpable departures from the primitive simplicity and purity of the Gospel, as this country. We would place no restraints upon the conscience of any man. We would not forge chains nor bind fetters around any human mind, but we would gladly see public sentiment frown upon those mental hallucinations which disgrace christian lands, and shun communion with those preposterous forms of worship, which are merely solemn mockeries of Religion! The Mormons were disturbed in their assembly last week in South Hadley by some idle fellows, who were brought before Mr. Justice Wells in Northampton and bound over for trial.


Note: The exact date of this article is unknown. The text was taken from a reprint published in the Boston Saturday Morning Transcript of March 7, 1835. Who the "perfectionists" mentioned in the article were, is unclear. The date is a little too early for the group to have been followers of John Humphrey Noyes; had they been Quakers, the editor would have doubtless thus identified them. Perhaps some lingering remnants of the old utopian society at Dedham had gathered at South Hadley -- more likely, the "perfectionists" here spoken of were "evolved" Cochranites.

Mormonism. -- The Northampton Courier states that the Mormons have formed societies in several towns in that neighborhood, and have regular religious exercises after thier own creed. In South Hadley is a society partly Perfectionists and partly Mormons. The religious exercises [consist] of echortations, dances, &c. and the creed is a tissue of the wildest and grossest absurdities. We could not have believed that this new delusion would have found a dozen proselytes aming the highly intelligent citizens of old Hampshire but it seems the contrary is the fact. The Mormons were disturbed in their assembly last week in South Hadley by some idle fellows, who were brought before Mr. Justice Wells in Northampton and bound over for trial.


Notes: (forthcoming)

The Northampton Courier states that the Mormons have formed societies in several towns in that neighborhood, and have regular religious exercises after their own creed. In South Hadley is a society partly Perfectionists and partly Mormons.


Notes: (forthcoming)

Mormonism, strange as it may appear, has found votaries even in New England and in three or four neighboring towns they have regular exercises. The society in South Hadley is partially Perfectionists and partially Mormon, exhortations, dancing and all sorts of strange delusions and vagaries of the brain and contortions of the body being practised. This is the land of freedom and liberty, and we sometimes are disposed to think that the wildest extravagances and grossest absurdities spontaneously come up under its broad banner. No other country on earth can boast of such varied forms of religious sects and such palpable departures from the primitive simplicity and purity of the Gospel, as this country. We would place no restraints upon the conscience of any man. We would not forge chains nor bind fetters around any human mind, but we would gladly see public sentiment frown upon those mental hallucinations which disgrace christian lands, and shun communion with those preposterous forms of worship, which are merely mockeries of religion! The Mormons were disturbed in their assembly last week at South Hadley by some idle fellows, who were brought before Mr. Justice Wells in this town, and bound over for trial. -- Northampton Currier.


Notes: (forthcoming)

A strange set of fanatics, calling themselves Mormons, have formed societies in the neighborhood of Northampton. The Courier of that place says; -- "The Society in South Hadley is composed partially of Perfectionists, and partially of Mormons; exhortations, dancing, and all sorts of strange delusions and vagaries of the brain and contortions of the body being practiced. They were disturbed in their assembly last week by some idle fellows, who were brought before Mr. Justice Wells in this town, and bound over for trial." -- Atlas.


Notes: (forthcoming)

An Angel caught. -- (see original article in NY paper)


Notes: (forthcoming)

JO SMITH. -- This Mormon impostor, it is said, has lately purchased three mummies which are now exhibiting through the country. He says that they are the bodies of Joseph the son of Jacob, King Ablimelech and his daughter.


Notes: (forthcoming)

THE MORMONITES. On Tuesday and Friday evenings, one of this deluded sect held forth in the Town Hall in this village; and he proposes to continue his lectures, until he has given a full exposition of the doctrines, sentiments and practices of what he terms the "Church of the latter day Saints." A third will be given this (Monday) evening.

The founder of the Mormons, it will be recollected by our readers, was one Jo. Smith, who professes to have discovered, somewhere in the West, (we believe in New York or Ohio) some golden plates, on which was written the Book of Mormon in mystic characters. Fortunately, in company with the manuscript was found a pair of spectacles, whether of wood or leather is immaterial, by the aid of which Jo. was enabled to translate into mother English, the veritable ideas of the mysterious language. After he had finished about a hundred pages of the version, some mischievous fellow stole his labors; and fearing lest if he attempted to re-translate that portion, the discrepancies between the new and stolen renderings might open the eyes of his credulous and infatuated followers to his imposture, he pretended that God prohibited his translating it again. He finally completed and published his work, and his disciples are now traveling about the country, preaching and endeavouring to make proselytes to their faith, with some success -- another proof of the correctness of the old maxim, that "nothing is so absurd, but some will be fools enough to believe it."

From what could be gathered from the lecture, it may be considered the amount of the Mormon creed -- that all other denominations are wrong, and themselves only right; that to become saints, they must believe, repent and be baptised for the remission of sins, and receive the holy ghost through the laying on of hands -- and, thus inducted into the faith, they are favored with divine revelations, the gift of prophecy, the power of working miracles, speaking with diverse tongues, &c. &c., to the end of the chapter. Of course their church is composed of apostles, prophets, miracle workers, interpreters, &c. as well as ministers and saints; and they predict its progress and gradually extending prevalence, until ultimately the millennium shall be ushered in by its universal triumph. A greater mass of gross absurdity, preposterous, if not impious pretension, and disgusting superstition, was never offered for human ignorance and gullibility to embrace!


Notes: (forthcoming)

Jo Smith, the Mormon prophet, has bought 3 mummies, and has discovered that they are the bodies of Joseph (the son of Abraham) and King Abimeleck and his daughter. They are now carrying them about the country, with which to gull poor human nature.


Notes: (forthcoming)

Cochran the Imposter. -- Some of our readers probably remember the abominable impositions of this scoundrel in Maine; on the discovery of which he was tried on three indictments for adultery, in Oct. 1819, and sentenced to the Massachusetts State Prison for three [sic - four?] years. -- The Springfield Journal says, that Cochran has recently figured in the vicinity of South Hadley, under the assumed name of "Jacob the Prophet," pretending to be a prophet of the Most High God, and to the power to work miracles. He succeeded there in making a number of proselytes and founding a small sect of religionists. As soon as his real name and character became known to the inhabitants, he absconded, and went to Stratham, N. H. taking with him some of his deluded followers, a number of whom were young females. He returned to South Hadley not long since, in female clothing! He thus escaped recognition, and the fact of his visit was not known until after he left. It is believed that he now occasionally visits Hadley, and holds secret meetings with his deluded followers, most of whom are females. He is said to be about 50 years of age.

---

COCHRANITES. -- We observe, almost every Sabbath, wagons from neighboring towns passing through our village towards Hockanum ferry, bound probably for the Cochranites'meeting near Rock ferry. We have not 'been there,' as many have from this town, but we are told that to exhortions and prayer from such as are disposed to offer them, they super-add the Shaker-dance. We suspect there is more curiosity than there are converts at these meetings. --   Hampshire Gazette.


Note 1: Compare the first text with a similar paraphrase of the Springfield article, as edited for publication in the Portsmouth Journal of Sept. 5th. Neither paraphrase conveys the full report from the Springfield Journal.

Note 2: See also the Northampton Journal's March, 1835 account of a mixed religious society of Mormons and "Perfectionists" then in existance in South Hadley.

COCHRAN THE IMPOSTER. -- Our readers well recollect this scroundrel who flourished in our vicinity several years ago. In 1819 he was sentenced to the Massachusetts State Prison for three [sic - four?] years. He has recently been figuring in South Hadley, Mass. under the assumed name of "Jacob the Prophet," pretending to possess the power to work miracles. He succeeded there in making a number of proselytes and founding a small sect of religionists. As soon as his real name and character became known to the inhabitants, he absconded, and came to Stratham, in this state, taking with him some of his deluded followers, a number of whom were young females. The Springfield Journal states that he returned to South Hadley not long since in female clothing! It is believed that he now occasionally holds secret meetings with his deluded followers in that vicinity. He is a dangerous man, and should be held up to the same detestation as the notorious Mathias. If we could have the heart to see any man consigned to such a punishment, we should think his offences such as to entitle him to a residence in our new jail for a year -- perhaps however, some judge more merciful might be disposed to commute his punishmnet to hatd labor in the state prison for life.


Note: Compare this text with a similar paraphrase of the Springfield article, as edited for publication in the Salem Gazette of Sept. 4th. Neither paraphrase conveys the full report from the Springfield Journal.

MORMONISM  IN  NEW-ENGLAND.

St. Johnsbury, Vt. July 20.

The Mormon Society here is probably more numerous than in any other village in New England; between thirty and forty persons are included in the church. An old barn standing by the road side has been fitted up as a temporary place of assemblage, and on entering it we found quite a numerous audience collected, the majority of whom were females. On the scaffold of the barn were seated twelve Mormon Apostles, so called by believers, from Ohio. They looked fresh from the back woods. A brother of Joe Smith, the chief prophet, composed one of the number. We had been seated but a short time before the service commenced. After singing two or three hymns, one of the Apostles arose and commenced murdering the King's English, in an address on the abuse of gifts. He said that God in his mercy had vouchsafed "to the church of the latter day saints," i.e. the Mormons, certain peculiar gifts -- and among these were "the gift of tongues," and the "gift of healing." It was concerning the abuse of these two gifts especially, that he wished to address the audience at the present time; inasmuch as that through the abuse of them by the saints, great harm had resulted to the church.

After this Apostle had taken his seat, a second arose who spoke more intelligbly. For the benefit of those of the audience who were unacquainted with the Mormon faith, he entered into an exposition of it, and then attempted to defend the system. He said the latter day saints believed the bible to be a divine revelation, and that so far as its precepts extended it was sufficient and worthy of all observance. But the old revelations were not suited to the present condition of mankind. To meet the wants engendered by a more civilized state of society, said the speaker, fresh revelations were needed, and these in mercy to man, had been graciously supplied. The speaker then proceeded to read from the Book of Mormon, various passages, the purport of all which was, that the Almighty had set apart a tract of country in the "western bounds of Missouri," for the inheritance of the latter day saints; that it was to be called "the New Jerusalem" -- that although it belonged to the saints by right, yet they were to obtain the lands from the unbelievers by purchase, in order that they may rest. Here, said he, the latter day saints are to be gathered from all quarters, and they are commanded to dispose of their flocks and herds, purchase land, and take up their abode in the New Jerusalem. These revelations, said the speaker, were made in the year 1831, "and I am witness that they were made."

It is evidently the intention of the twelve Mormon Apostles to prevail upon the members of the church in this place to dispose of their property, and proceed with them to the West, and from the profound respect with which their nonsense was listened to, I have no doubt but they will prevail upon many of the believers to pursue this course. It was really humiliating to observe the fallibility of human reason displayed in the almost crouching reverence with which their discourse was received by the believing portion of the audience. -- We had not thought it possible to find in one small town in New England, the boasted land of intelligence, so large a number of persons who could be led astray by doctrines which at the first glance appear so very absurd and ridiculous; but it has been truly remarked that no system of religious faith, however absurd or ridiculous, can be devised, which will not find some staunch believers and supporters among men. Among the audience we noticed several aged men. -- One of them told us that he had come 150 miles from Maine for the purpose of attending this meeting...[final sentence missing]


Notes: (forthcoming)

The Cochranites at South Hadley, we learn, have, or are about to abandon their delusions and belief in miracles and give up their public meetings. This is as it should be. It is paying a suitable regard to public opinion, and acknowledging that they have labored under wretched infatution, which has done little else than to deprive the consecrated exercises of the Sabbath of their serious and devout character. We feel no sentiment but that of pity fro men or feeble minds who are wrought upon by artful and designing impostors. Hence we have felt deep regret that any of the sober and sedate people of South Hadley, should have been duped by that archknave Cochran.         Northampton Cour.


Note: The Sept. 12, 1835 issue of the Saturday Evening Post adds this fragment of information concerning the Cochranites: "The age of false prophets appears to be revived... The Mormonites are flourishing in a number of places, and the pretensions... are not exceeded by those of a fellow named Cochran, who is now flourishing in the east. The Springfield Republican says he pretends the power of working miracles. In that town he made some proselytes and founded a small sect of religionists; but his name and character were soon ascertained, and he made off to Stratham, N. H. taking with him some of his deluded followers, a number of whom were young females. It is said he has since more than once visited South Hadley in disguise." According to a late account published in the Oct. 25, 1903 issue of the New York Times: "The imprisonment of Jacob Cochrane [sic] checked the spread of his dogma, but as the time of his release drew near his diciples grew rampant and received a new command to take 'spiritual wives'... There were a few divorces, some marriages, and several elopements of spiritual partners, and finally emigration to Salt Lake City. Cochrane returned to his legal wife, broken in health and spirit, a 'back number.'"

Heathen Temples on Lake Erie. That bold-faced imposter, Joe Smith, of Golden Bible and Mormon memory, has caused his followers to erect on the shores of Lake Erie, near Painesville, (Ohio,) a stone building 53 by 78 feet, with dormer windows, denominating the same the "Temple of the Lord." We should think this work of iniquity extorted out of the pockets of his dupes, as it reflects its shadows over the blue lake, would make the waters crimson with shame at the prostitution of its beautiful banks to such unhallowed purposes. -- N. Y. Star.


Note: A similar reprint appeared in the Newport Rhode-Island Republican for Oct. 14th and in the Haverhill, MA Essex Gazette for Oct. 24th.

Mormons. -- A correspondent of the 'Miami of the Lake' gives a short description of the Temple of Mormon, or, as it is called, the 'Temple of the Lord,' in Kirtland, (eleven miles south east of Painesville,) Geauga county. It is a stone ediface, 58 feet 8 inches by 78 feet 8 inches, two full stories high, with dormer windows in the roof, which give it a singular appearance. For the size and peculiar construction of the 'Temple,' and the addition of the extra 8 inches each way, the leaders of this infatuated people give no other reason, but, as they tell their following, that the Lord gave his direction. The house is rather an expensive one, the writer adds, built by the labor of the poor people, who in their delusion, follow Joe Smith and Rigdon.


Note: For a similar, later article from the Perrysburg Miami of the Lake, see its reprint in the Daily National Intelligencer of July 4, 1837.

Matthias went to join the Mormons -- but his ideas were too gross even for them....

The town of Canadaigua, by a late census, contains 5452 white inhabitants. The village contains 2505...


Notes: (forthcoming)

THE MORMONS. -- A gentleman living in Loraine County, (Ohio) writes that a more extraordinary sect has not sprung up since the days of Mahomet. In the town of Kirtland they have erected a stone temple at an expense of $40,000. It is 60 by 80 feet broad, and 59 feet high. It has two rows of Gothic windows. The first floor is the place of worship, with four rows of pulpits at each end, having three pulpits in a row. These twelve pulpits rise behind and above one another, and are designed, the uppermost row, for the bishop and his councellors, the third for the teachers, and the fourth or lowermost for the deacons. Over the division between each of the rows of pulpits is a painted canvass, rolled up to the ceiling; and to be let down at pleasure, so as to conceal the dignitaries from the audience.


Notes: (forthcoming)

The Mormons. -- A letter from Independence, Missouri dated May 3d states that the Mormons are moving from their present head-quarters in Kirtland county [sic - township?] Ohio, to attempt to obtain possession once more of their old 'Land of promise' in Jackson county Missouri. From 1500 to 2000 of them armed with muskets and headed by Jo Smith their prophet, are making their way 'Zionward' into upper Missouri. -- The Missourians are preparing to meet them and drive them back. Whatever may be the errors and follies of the Mormons, the conduct of the former in 1834 in destroying their property and driving them at the point of a bayonet out of the state, cannot be justified.


Notes: (forthcoming)

THE MORMONS. -- A gentleman living in Loraine County, Ohio, writes that a more extraordinary sect has not sprung up since the days of Mahomet. In the town of Kirtkand they have erected a stone temple at an expense of $40,000. It is 60 by 80 feet broad, and 50 feet high. It has two rows of Gothic windows. The first floor is the place of worship, with four rows of pulpits at each end, having three pulpits in a row. These 12 pulpits rise behind and above one another, and are designed, the uppermost row, for the bishop and his counsellors, the second for the priest and his counsellors, the third for the teachers, and the fourth or lowest, for the deacons. Over the division between each of the rows of pulpits is a painted canvass, rolled up to the ceiling, and to be let down at pleasure, so as to conceal the dignitaries from the audience. The area can be divided into four apartments at pleasure to carry on the objects of imposture. The second and attic stories are for a theological and literary seminary, which is expected to have the manual labor system attached to it. The Mormons are very eager to acquire an education. Men, women and children are studying Hebrew. Some of the men in middle age persue their Hebrew till 12 o'clock at night and attend to nothing else. They pretend to have remarkable revelations -- work miracles, heal the sick, &c.


Note: This appears to be an extract from a letter written Apr. 1, 1836, by James H. Ellis of Elyria, Ohio to a Mr. Leavitt. Compare this report to the one published in the Daily National Intelligencer of July 4, 1837.

The Mormons. -- A public meeting of the citizens of Jackson county, in Missouri, was held on the 7th ult., for the purpose of making preparatory arrangements respecting the anticipated disturbances by the Mormons; and subsequently, an address to the citizens of that and the adjoining counties was prepared and published, recommending the immediate organization of mounted and foot volunteer companies, to be held in readiness to act on the defensive at a moment's notice, and a petition was forwarded to the Governor, representing their grievances and claiming his protection.


Notes: (forthcoming)

ANOTHER WAR BREWING. -- The Far West, published at Independence, Missouri, says information has been received from Kirtland, Ohio, through various channels, of another movement among the Mormons to obtain possession of the "promised land," and to establish their Zion in Jackson County, the scene of their former disasterous defeat. They are said to be arming to the number of 1500 to 2000 and to be making their way in detached parties to the 'debateable ground.' The Far West also states that the people of Jackson and their friends in the surrounding counties are taking effective measures for resistance. -- Louisville Advertiser.


Notes: (forthcoming)

==> The Mormon 'Angel,' Oliver Cowdery, has issued a proclamation as 'the words of the Lord,' for the choice of a new set of Congress men, and of himself as president of the U. States. We agree with Oliver as to the Congress men; but we are hardly prepared to consider him an 'available candidate' for the Presidency.'

At the last accounts the Mormons were narching upon Independence Co. [sic], Misouri, resolved to take possession of 'the promised land' by force of arms. They are certainly 'the church militant.'


Note: The above-mentioned Oliver Cowdery quote, from the Kirtland Northern Times, has not survived in its original context for modern examination. Is is doubtful that Cowdery sincerely thought of himself as a possible candidate for national office.