Heathen Temple on Lake Erie. -- That bold-faced imposter, Joe Smith, of Golden Bible and Mormon memory, has caused his poor fanatic followers to erect on the shores of Lake Erie, near Painesville, (Ohio,) a stone building 58 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.


Note 1: The issue of the Star with this article has not yet been located. The text is taken from a reprint in the Montrose, PA Independent Volunteer, dated Oct 29, 1835.

Note 2: Elder William W. Phelps offered this response to M. M. Noah's "heathen temple" article, in the Dec., 1835 issue of the LDS Messenger & Advocate: "We can hardly believe that an honest man would write such a foolish, figurative statement: but when a man has failed to dupe his fellow Jews, with a New Jerusalem on Grant Island, I suppose that you cannot "crimson" with shame, at the prostitution of his life and character, to vices, that are forbidden by the law of Moses, by the law of the land, and by every honest judge in Israel. Let me ask, who made Noah an umpire to say whether the church of the Latter Day Saints, has not as good a right to build a house at Kirtland, for worshipping the Lord, as he had to lay a stone on Grand Island, to wheedle money from the Jews to fill his own pockets?  again, let me ask what any of the Saints have done to injure Noah, or any other man, that he should wilfully ridicule them, and reproach them with iniquity?"

MORMONS. -- These crazy fanatics have their grand Tabernacle at a place they call Kirtland, 5 miles from the shore of Lake Erie, and 20 miles from Cleveland, and count no less than 4000 persons under their leader, Joe Smith. They have been lately joined by a shrewd literary person, named Sydney Rigdon, formerly a preacher of the doctrine of Campbell. He is the Grand Vizer to Smith; and under their decision a banking house has been established, of which Smith is president and Rigdom cashier. The issues have been about $150,000. -- The bank failed. They have several mills on their property. The houses are small, including the Prophet Joe's. The temple is a beautiful building of rough stone, three stories high, and 70 to 75 feet square. Each of the two principal apartments holds twelve hundred persons. The joists of the interior are supported by six fluted columns. Each apartment contains six pulpits, arranged, gradatim, three at each end of the "Aaronic priesthood," and [three] at the other end for the "priesthood of Melchisidec." The slips are so constructed, that the audience can face either pulpit, as may be required. In the highest seat for the "Aaronic priesthood," sits the reverend father of the prophet; the next below is occupied by Joe, and his prime minister, Rigdon. The attic story is occupied as school rooms, five in number, where the various branches of English, Latin, Greek and Hebrew languages are taught to a great number of students. The actual cost of the temple is not known, but it is estimated to have cost not less than $60,000.

Smith is represented as a placid looking knave, with passionless features, and perfectly composed in the midst of the hetrogeneous multitude, who have become the victimized dupes of his imposture. -- Rigdon is described as the reverse, with a face full of fire, a tenor voice and of eloquent speech. The subject of his sermon was the pressure; his discourse was mild and persuasive. Rigdon is the wire puller or screen of Joe's inspirations. The followers are many of them upright men and tolerant towards other sects.


Note: The exact date of the above article is not yet known. The text comes from its reprints in the July 19, 1837 issue of the Fredonia Censor, and the July 25, 1837 issue of the Rochester Republucan. A longer version of the article was reprinted from its original appearance in a Perrysburg, Ohio paper, into the July 4, 1837 issue of the Washington, D. C. Daily National Intelligencer

THE  MORMON  WAR.

FURTHER PARTICULARS. -- By our mail papers from the West, we learn that in addition to the previous sad intelligence, the reports are confirmed, that the Mormons, before the bloody encounter, had given increased provocation to the citizens by burning the Post Office in Daviess co., the court house, also, it is affirmed, together with several stores, a village called Millport, and captured $30,000 worth of property from the citizens of that county. They had also, it appears, challenged Ray county, on the confines of which the conflict took place, saying that they were now ready for her; that having taken arms and magazines enough from the Daviess citizens, to supply all their deficiency in that line, they cannot be whipped. They have threatened to burn Elkhorn and [Bookum?]

Capt. Samuel Bogard and his company, who have fallen victims to their fury, had left Elkhorn on Oct. 23d. to prevent the invasion of Ray county by the insurrectionists. The result is seen above. It was feared they would burn also the town of Richmond before relief could be had. A letter in the Missouri Argus, dated Elkhorn, October 23d, says: --

"That prior to the above events the Mormons held councils every day in the Far West. On Sarurday last, they resolved to carry out Sidney Rigdon's 4th of July speech in warfare, viz: Extermination, root and branch. Also, every man in Caldwell able to bear arms, who yet persisted against joining them in the battle and spoils, that their lands should be confiscated, their firesides occupied by better people, and their blood should stain the earth.

"There is a party, whose business it is to pillage, secure, burn and destroy property. They say they are headed by an angel called the 'Destroying Angel.' We believe there are few citizens, if any, in Daviess county at this time.

"And as to murdering the citizens, they had previously threatened the lives of many, and now they have put many of their enemies out of way of the latter day saints.

"They can no longer bear any other name than a band of robbers and incendiaries, under the direction of about 20 heads."


Note: The exact date of the above article is not yet known. The text comes from a reprint in the Nov. 21, 1838 issue of the New York Lyon's Argus. The Evening Star summarized some longer news reports to produce the above article, one of which reports was a letter published in the St. Louis Missouri Argus of Nov. 1, 1838.