THE  MUSES.
______

                        FOR THE COURIER.

Human Life -- What is it?          

I've seen the shadow passing by,
    When pass'd its being time was o'er --
I've seen the pointed arrow fly,
    'Twas found no more.

I've seen the lightning cut the air,
    One vivid blaze, and all was gone --
I've seen the meteor's transient glare
    Pass quickly on.

I've seen the tender, lovely flower
    Dismantled of its modest hue --
I've seen the pine majestic tower
    And perish too.

I've seen the parting of the wave,
    'Twas parted and no trace remain'd --
I've sung the requiem of the brave --
    'Twas all he gain'd.

I've seen the pride of life decay,
    And destin'd to an early grave --
I've seen the aged fade away,
    And none could save.

Just such is life, 'tis but a dream,
    And all its scenes trifling jest!
There's nought but Fancy's childhood gleam
    To be possess'd.

But lo!, a shining Seraph comes!
    Hark! 'tis the voice of sacred Truth;
He smiles, and on his visage blooms,
    Eternal youth.

He speaks of things before untold,
    Reveals what man nor angels knew,
The secret pages now unfold
    To human view.

Now other scenes in prospect rise,
    Than those which darken passing by
Immortal triumphs -- social joys
    That never die.

Death's favored captives burst in twain,
    Their bond of union with the urn;
The lamp of life reviv'd again
    Will ever burn.     N.

Note 1: The above poetry was written by Eliza R. Snow and selected for publication by the Editor of the Western Courier, Lewis L. Rice. In confirmation of this, Mr. Rice wrote to Joseph Smith III, on March 28, 1885: "I knew Eliza R. Snow well; she was a poetic correspondent of mine when I published a paper at Ravenna, Ohio." Snow's fame as a Mormon poetess soon traveled as far west as New Orleans -- the Daily Picayune of July 4, 1839 says that she had "produced some beautiful poetry... her minor pieces are said to be perfect gems."

Note 2: According to Maureen U. Beecher, Eliza later changed her term "secret pages" to read "long seal'd pages," ("The Eliza Enigma" Dialogue, A Journal of Mormon Thought, XI:1 (Spring 1978); reprinted in Vicky Burgess-Olsen's Sister Saints, UT, 1978. See also Eliza R. Snow's 1885 "Sketch of My Life," holograph in the Bancroft Library.)

Note 3: Miss Snow's rather unusual poetic term "shining seraph" reappeared six years later, in a prayer given by Joseph Smith, Jr. for the dedication of the Kirtland Temple on March 27, 1836: "... help us by the power of thy Spirit, that we may mingle our voices with those bright, shining seraphs around thy throne, with acclamations of praise ..." (LDS Doctrine & Covenants 109:79). This portion of the 1836 Mormon prayer probably owes its unique composition to the hand of the Rev. Mr. Sidney Rigdon, or to the hand of Rigdon's disciple of pre-Mormon times, Miss Eliza Roxey Snow.

Note 4: Years later, in 1885, Eliza R. Snow recalled that "In the autumn of 1829" she had "heard of Joseph Smith as a Prophet to whom the Lord was speaking from the heavens; and that a Sacred Record containing a history of the origin of the aborigines of America, was unearthed..." Immediately before making this disclosure, Snow stated: "I was deeply interested in the study of the ancient Prophets, in which I was assisted by the erudite A. Campbell, Walter Scott whose acquaintance I made, but more particularly by Sidney Rigdon who was a frequent visitor at my father's house." According to Richard Van Wagoner (Sidney Rigdon, p. 55), "One early account, no doubt referred to by Hyde and Snow, appeared in the nearby Painesville Telegraph." The earliest account of the "Golden Bible" appearing in that newspaper was printed on Sept. 22, 1829. Snow's mention of the "autumn of 1829" account may well refer to that very newspaper article, but her "shining seraph" poem was published 7 months prior to the appearance of the Telegraph notice. Snow's near neighbor and fellow Ohio Campbellite, Orson Hyde, recalled having heard of the "Golden Bible," perhaps as early as 1827. Although Hyde's recollection was not so keen as to remember the precise date he first heard such "vague reports," the year was more likely 1828. At that period both Snow and Hyde were under the tutorial influence of the dissident Campbellite preacher, Sidney Rigdon, and near the end of the 1820s it is more than likely that the these three coreligionists were sharing the golden Bible news among themselves and with other close associates. According to other northern Ohio Campbellites, Such as Darwin Atwater and Adamson Bentley, the Rev. Sidney Rigdon was privately announcing this interesting news well before the "autumn of 1829."

Note 5:  While Beecher's question of how Snow could have heard "fully a year before its publication, of the book and its translator," may be answered by reference to Snow's reading of the newspapers after 1827, the Dialogue article writer's other question, "had she adopted the Campbellite hope of an angel coming to restore the true gospel?" is a significantly different matter. Other than Sidney Rigdon and his religious following in northern Ohio, very few "Cambellites" would have then been looking for angelic visitations, let alone the latter day unfolding of "secret pages" of lost scriptures. Such millennial expectations during the 1827-30 gestation of Mormonism, could much more appropriately be termed "Rigdonite" than "Campbellite." Snow's source for some of the ideas expressed in her 1829 poem was quite likely her religious mentor of that time, the Rev. Sidney Rigdon.

The Bible. -- It is stated in the English papers that a very interesting discovery has been made in Persia of the book of Jasher, mention[ed] in Joshua 10, which has been procured at a very great expense, having been preserved in that country since the return of the Jews from the Babylonish captivity. It is in this book where we shall find the particulars of Joshua commanding the sun to stand still upon Gibeon.

There are many interesting biblical discoveries yet to be made in Persia, for the Jews, after their seventy years captivity, left several of their sacred books in Persia, which no doubt were preserved by that portion of their brethren who were content with the administration of Cyrus, and preferred remaining in Babylon; in fact, the permission granted by that great monarch, and confirmed by Darius, permitting them to return to their native land, was so promptly accepted, that many religious works were left behind. We have at least eight or ten books referred to in the Bible: "Book of the Acts of Solomon," "Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Judah," "Book of Samuel the seer," "Book of Nathan the prophet," "Book of Gad the seer," "Book of Shemish the prophet," "Book of Jehu."

The recovery of these books would throw great light upon many important facts, and explain points upon which there exists the most contradictory opinions.

We shall doubtless find many of the missing books in Persia, and no place more likely than Echatana, the ancient Shusan, the city in which the Jews enjoyed the greatest privileges after their escape from Haman, and we trust, that the discovery of the book of Jashur may be followed by unremitting efforts to procure the others.   Phil. Gaz.


Note: As things turned out the "Book of Jashur" which came to light during the 1830s (and translated into English years later by Major. M. M. Noah) was not the same book mentioned in the Bible. Had the discovery been an actual copy of a book once held scriptural by the Israelites or the Jews, the Christian churches would have faced quite a dilemma. The traditional reading of the last verses of the Book of The Revelation, at the end of the Christian Bible, was commonly interpreted to mean that the canon of scripture was closed. How should a scriptural book not included within the Christian canon be treated? At this very time the earliest Mormons were propounding roughly the same issue, by claiming to possess the text of an ancient scriptural book not included in the Jewish or Christian versions of the Bible.

MR. CAMPBELL  AND  MR. OWEN.

The public debate on the truth or falsity of Revealed Religion, appointed some months ago to be held in this place between these two gentlemen, in consequence of a challenge given by the latter and accepted by the former, commenced on Monday, the 13th inst, and was continued through the whole week. The audience attracted by the novelty of the scene and the notoriety of the disputants, was large and respectable. The Hon. Hudge Burnet, together with a bench of umpires, presided. The debate was conducted with great order & decorum throughout; with no other collision than that of abstract opinions, & the reasonings by which they were suported. -- The exact points to be argued had not been definitely settled between the parties of the [-----], the consequence was, there was scarcely any thing like fairly joining issue through the whole discussion. It was little more than an alternate leaving off and taking up again the chain of their respective arguments. Mr. O. being intent on displaying the superlative glories of the New Social System, and Mr. C. laboring with equal zeal to establish Christianity, which once proved true, his opponent's theory, and every other, is turned into a mere diting chimera. From the partial attendance we were able to give the sittings, making due allowance for partiality to the right side; we readily accord with the general opinion expressed, that Mr. Campbell had decidedly the advantage over his opponent & managed the defence of the Christian cause, in an able and interesting manner -- showing himself a skilful master of all the tactics of disputation. On the whole, we are not without hope that the controversy may be followed with good effects. The cause of revelation has been clearly shown to be supported by a vast body of conclusive evidence, internal, and external, and we are happy to be informed that more than one individual previously inclined to skepticism, or confirmed in it, have, during the discussion, had their doubts and difficulties entirely solved, and now express a full conviction of the truth of Christianity.

A short hand writer was employed to take down the debate, the whole of which will be published.
                Cincinnati Pandect.


Notes: (forthcoming)

ROBERT OWEN AND ALEXANDER CAMPBELL. -- We gave some time ago a short account of the dispute which took place lately between these 2 gentlemen at Cincinnati, as noticed in the Pandect, a very respectable Religious paper published in that city, in which the affair was represented as having terminated on the whole favourably to the general interests of christianity.

The last 'Ohio State Journal,' brings us a long account of the debate, filling four entire columns in that paper, taken from 'Flints Western Monthly Review for April 1829.' The Journal calls it an 'amusing account, and says that the Editor of the Review 'was one of the Umpires selected for the occasion.' V We have not much acquaintance with the 'Western Monthly Review,' but have seen it highly extolled by a certain class of periodicals in Eastern Cities, and had been led to think well of it as a tasteful literary work, designed chiefly to gratify the prevailing love of new and amusing things, but had formed no definite opinion of it as to its moral or religious character other than that it had little to do with either morality or Religion. But the account of the dispute by Mr. Flint himself, leaves us no alternative -- So far as that article may be considered characteristic, we are compelled to form an unfavorable opinion of the Review, and to rank it with that numerous class of publications in our country which are willing to amuse their readers at the expense of all moral and religious principles....


Notes: (forthcoming)

MEDICAL  SOCIETY.

The members of the 18th Med. Dist. held their annual meeting at the house of Mr. Weaver, in Ravenna, May 26th 1829. Present, Drs. Elias Smith, President; Rufus Pierce, Vice President; Philo Wright, Sec'y; A. C. Wright, Treas. Henry Lacy, Isaac Swift, Joseph DeWolf, Censors; Amos Bassett, Orlando Wilcox, E. W. Cowles, Morrill Parker, Silas Reed, Joseph Cow, John Hatch, Israel Town, S. M. Miles.

Dr. Richard A. Dennison, presented himself for membership, and exhibited a Diploma from the Med. Soc. of Connecticut, was admitted, and enrolled his name....


Note 1: It is presumed that this is the same "Dr. Richard Dennison" listed in Ralph D. Smith's 1877 History of Guilford, Connecticut, on page 42, where he says: "The following physicians have been settled in North Guilford: ... Richard Dennison, moved away..." (See also Alvan Talcott and Jacquelyn L. Ricker's 1984 Families of early Guilford, Connecticut, page 1287). Mark L. Staker, in his 2010 history of Kirtland notes that when a Dr. Richard A. Dennison was admitted as a prisoner to the Ohio State Penitentiary in 1840, he was "identified as a physician originally from Connecticut."

Note 2: The Ohio Genealogical Society's 1968 Ohio Records and Pioneer Families, (Vol. 9, page 193) mentions a "Richard A. Dennison" living in Garrettsville, Ohio during the 1830s. Garrettsville's populated area spanned the southern boundary between Hiram and Nelson townships, in Portage County. The 1830 census tabulation for Nelson shows a "Richard A. Denison" and wife, both between the ages of 20 and 30. The Ravenna Ohio Star of Sept. 13, 1832 published notice that a "Richard A. Denison" had been chosen as a delegate (from Nelson) to local anti-Masonic Convention. It seems likely that this is the same Dr. Dennison identified by Luke Johnson in 1858, as having participated in the 1832 tar and feathering of Joseph Smith and Sidney Rigdon at Hiram. According to LDS Apostle George A. Smith, speaking in 1864, "Dr. Dennison died in the Ohio Penitentiary where he was incarcerated for procuring an abortion, which caused death."

Note 3: Although Dennison's name is listed in the 1830 census records, it is missing in the 1840 tabulations. This supports Luke Johnson's allegation, that Dr. Dennison was tried for a crime, imprisioned, and died (?) in prison. Ohio State Penitentiary lists show just such an inmate, prior to 1846 (when Johnson first asserted the doctor's early death). The last known mention of Dennison as a free man occurs in the Lorain Co. Elyria Republican of July 5, 1837. The Ohio State Penitentiary records indicate that at the time of his pardon, on Sept. 5, 1842, Dennison had "family in Lorraine County, Ohio." Whether he returned to Lorain County, or truly died near the time of his release date from prison remains undetermined.

Note 4: Dr. Susan E. Black, speaking in 2002, identified the Ohio Dr. Dennison with Dr. Jo Adam Denison (1774-1855) who was buried in Royalton, Vermont. Although the latter physician may have been present at the birth of Joseph Smith in Vermont in 1805, he certainly was not the man who participated in the 1832 assault upon Smith and Rigdon in Ohio.

Elder LAWRENCE GREATRAKE, Minister of the Regular Baptist Church, will, in Divine Providence, preach in the Court House at Columbus, on the evening of the ensuing Thursday; and on the Friday evening following, he will deliver a lecture on the “Revelation,” briefly descriptive of the present religious and political “Signs of the Times.” -- The exercises to commence at early candle lighting.


Note: See also Greatrake Home Page.

JEMIMA  WILKINSON.

This petticoated mis-leader of a band of lunatics from Rhode Island purchased a large and beautiful farm near Seneca Lake, N. Y. which is now in possession of one of her disciples called Aunt Esther: it is not far from Penn-Yan, (or Pennsylvania and Yankee town.) Aunt Esther holds fast to the globe, and will not sell a rod; her companions are 20 fawn colored cats. A late traveller relates one of Jemima's miracles, which is quite as convincing as those of the prince bishop Bohmlee. She announced her intention of walking across Seneca Lake, and alighting from her carriage, walked to the water on the white handkerchiefs strewed in the road by her followers; she stopped ankle deep into the water, and then turning to the multitude, inquired whether they had faith that she could not; on receiving an affirmative answer she returned to her carriage, declaring that as they believed in [her] power, it was unnecessary to display it. Jemima died some years ago.


Note 1: Thomas Hamilton picked up this same account, for inclusion on pp. 305-6 of vol. 2 of his 1833 book Men and Manners in America.

Note 2: Elements of Wilkinson's offer to walk on the water seem to have later become mixed up with the story of Joseph Smith, jr. Numerous old accounts have him making an unsuccessful attempt to walk across a pond or stream, in demonstration of his God-given powers. None of these stories can be well verified, however. A typical rendition may be found in the Campbellite Elder Jesse J. Moss's "Autobiography of a Pioneer Preacher," in the Christian Standard of Jan. 26, 1938: "This incident and another that took place at the same time put a stop to their angel visits... they 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."

Note 3: Compare Elder Moss's Kirtland account with a similar story told at Colesville, New York, as related on page 154 of the 1880 History of Chenango County: "To convince the unbelievers that he did possess supernatural powers he announced that he would walk upon the water. The performance was to take place in the evening, and to the astonishment of unbelievers, he did walk upon the water where it was known to be several feet deep, only sinking a few inches below the surface. This proving a success, a second trial was announced which bid fair to be as successful as the first, but when he had proceeded some distance into the river he suddenly went down, greatly to the disgust of himself and proselytes, but to the great amusement of the unbelievers. It appeared on examination that planks were laid in the river a few inches below the surface, and some wicked boys had removed a plank which caused the prophet to go down like any other mortal." In an 1835 account the "reputed angel" on "the opposite side of the stream" turned out to be "the Mormon Prophet himself." Arthur B. Deming gathered up many such tales for his 1888 paper Naked Truths. The Rev. R. B. Neal also later explored these kinds of stories in his "Sword of Laban Leaflet" No. 17: "Did Joseph Smith Walk on Water?" As early as 1834, the Mormon press was refuting various news reports of Smith'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 Dec. 1835 issue of the Messenger and Advocate. These LDS refutations, however, do not mention the alleged earlier incident at Colesville, which may have been the precursor to all the "walking on the water" reports.

"Golden Bible." -- The Palmyra, Freeman says, the greatest piece of superstition that has ever come within our knowledge, now occupies the attention of a few individuals of this quarter. It is generally known and spoken of as the "Golden Bible." Its proselytes give the following account of it:  In the fall of 1827, a person by the name of Joseph Smith of Manchester, Ontario county, reported that he had been visited in a dream by the spirit of the Almighty, and informed that in a certain hill in that town, was deposited this Golden Bible, containing an ancient record of a divine nature and origin. After having been thrice thus visited, as he states he proceeded to the spot and after having penetrating "mother earth a short distance, the Bible was found together with a huge pair of spectacles! He had directed, however, not to let any mortal being examine them, under no less penalty than instant death! They were therefore nicely wrapped up and excluded from the vulgar gaze of poor wicked mortals!" It was said that the leaves of the bible were plates of gold about 8 inches long, 6 wide and one eighth of an inch thick, on which were engraved characters or hieroglyphicks by placing the spectacles in a hat, and looking into it, Smith could (he said so at least) interpret the characters. An account of this discovery was soon circulated. The subject was almost invariably treated as it should have been with contempt. A few however believed the "Golden" story, among whom was Martin Harris, an honest and industrious farmer of the town of Palmyra. So blindly enthusiastic was Harris, that he took some of the characters interpreted by Smith, and went in search of some one, besides the interpreter, who was learned enough to English them; but to all whom he applied (among the number was Professor Mitchell, of New York,) happened not to be possessed of sufficient knowledge to give satisfaction! Harris returned, and set Smith to work at interpreting the Bible. He has at length performed the task, and the work is soon to be put to press in Palmyra. Its language and doctrines are said to be far superior to the book of life!


Note 1: The above report is a shortened version of the original Jonathan A. Hadley Palmyra Freeman article. See the Aug. 27, 1829 issue of the Niagara Courier for the full version.

Note 2: This is thought to have been the first mention of "Joseph Smith of Manchester," the "ancient record of a divine nature and origin, and the "plates of gold" in an Ohio newspaper. However, the editor, Mr. Eber D. Howe of Painesville, tells the readers of the Nov. 16, 1830 issue of his paper, that "Some two or three years since, an account was given in the papers, of a book purporting to contain new revelations from Heaven, having been dug out of the ground, in Manchester in Ontario County, N. Y." Although Howe did not specifically say that he had printed such a notice in an issue of the Telegraph back in 1827-28, his mention of the divine "book" being "dug out of the ground" hints at the possibility that Howe reprinted the notice from a western NY newspaper. No such news item has yet been located among the Telegraph articles of 1827 or 1828.

Note 3: It is supposed that the "Rigdonites" of northern Ohio took some notice of this article. Eliza R. Snow and Orson Hyde probably saw it, as would have "restorationist" religious enthusiasts like Elders Parley P. Pratt and Sidney Rigdon.

Note 4: For subsequent issues of the Painesville Telegraph dealing with the Mormons, see the index of articles for that paper, as well as other articles, beginning with Nov. 6, 1822

'THE  MILLENNIAL  HARBINGER.'

Proposals are issued by Alexander Campbell, for publishing a monthly paper by the above title. It is to have for its object, "the development and introduction of that political and religious order of society called the Millennium, which will be the consummation of the ultimate amelioration of society proposed in the Christian Scriptures. Subservient to this object, he is going to show among other things, "the incompatibility of any sectarian establishment now known on earth, with the genius of the glorious age to come." He is going to "disentangle the Scriptures from commentaries and system-makers of the dark ages," and give "regular details of the movements of the religious combinations, acting under the influence of the proselyting spirit of the age; and notices of all things universal of the Ancient Gospel, and the restoration of the ancient order of things." He is also, going to show the inadequecy of all present present systems of education, literary and moral, to develop the powers of the human mind, and prepare man for rational and social happiness."

Had not our relation to the public, necessarily brought us into some acquaintance with the Christian Baptist, edited by Mr. Campbell, his present Proposals would have excited in us no uncommon apprehensions. But the knowledge we have of his former writings, obliges us to stand in doubt of the forth coming work. The stand which has been taken, and obstinately persisted in, by the Christian Baptist, against the received doctrines of Christianity, and the leading benevolent institutions of the age, together with the means resorted to by the Editor to carry his points, leave us in little doubt respecting the nature and tendency of the Millennial Harbinger.

That it will be sufficiently talented and learned, and prosecuted with great industry, no fears are entertained. But having seen the same talents, learning and industry employed in labored sophisms, cutting sarcasms, pointed ridicule, and even vulgar wit, to discredit in the esteem of community, those Christian enterprizes which shed so much lustre on the present age, and lay the foundation of hope to future generations, we do not flatter ourselves, and dare not flatter the public, with the hope, that the interests of politics, morality, religion, education, social order, or any thing else that goes to the benefit of the world at large, will derive any important aid from the promised periodical. If the sentiment now expressed be captious, or sectarian, or arbitrary, or prompted by any unkind feelings toward Mr. Campbell, we are unable to detect such motives. Throughly convinced, as we are, that the Christian Baptist, so far as it has had any influence at all on the religious portion of the community, has been decidedly hostile to evangelical truth and piety; and that so far as it has had [influence] on the irreligious, it has tended to confirm the unbeliever in his doubts, establish the infidel in his chosen sentiments, and even encourage the scoffer at divine things, in his way to death, -- we feel not only prompted, but urged by a sense of duty, to speak thus in regard to it, that the public may be able to judge of other streams flowing from the same fountain, ere they unwarily [taste], and become infected. It is asked why we indulge so unfavorable an opinion of Mr. Campbell's writings? We answer: -- Look at the Baptist Church in this part of the country. It has been thrown into the greatest confusion, torn and lacerated to the bone -- divided and subdivided, and is now bleeding at every pore, under the influence of Mr. Campbell and his Christian Baptist, to "proclaim the Ancient Gospel, and restore the Ancient Order of things!" It would not be difficult to give a catalogue of churches of this denomination particularly, once respectable and prosperous, and exerting a happy influence on society around them, which are now involved in bitter contention, separating, and expelling one another from Christian privileges. This is "restoring the Ancient Order of things" with a witness. The less the world have of it, the better, in our opinion.

But this is not the worst feature in the picture. Mr. Campbell's proselytes have become considerably numerous, and go from place to place, exploding the old-fashioned way of commencing and continuing a Christian life, by faith and repentance, and a godly conversation, and substituting for it their newly discovered way, which is simply to be baptized. Thus hundreds are led into the water, dipped, and led out again, good Christians in their own estimation, and in that of their teachers; and are made honestly to believe that their salvation is secured to them by virtue of this external rite; by which, God has pledged himself unconditionally, as they say, to give the Holy Spirit to them that are baptized, by which they will of course be sanctified, and prepared for heaven. Nominal Christians of this sort, have been greatly multiplied by the followers of Mr. Campbell and his books -- the restorers of the ancient order of things. No scattering of real Christians can amount to a calamity equal to the effects of so strange a delusion.

If these efforts resulted in any sort of improvements in society, there would be in them, so far, a redeeming quality. But, according to the extent of our observation and knowledge, the fact is quite otherwise. In those places where the restorers have been most successful, Sabbath Schools are banished, and the Sabbath itself virtually abolished; and all Bibles, Tracts and Missionary efforts are hooted at as ridiculous, or maligned as wicked combinations to enslave the world. It was a very distinguished preacher of this sort, who, a short time since, while proclaiming the Ancient Gospel, and laboring to restore the ancient order of things, declared in reference to Bible and Tract distributors, that whenever he saw a man going about the country with his saddlebags full of bibles and tracts, he set him down at once, as a damnable heretic, disseminating damnable lies, written by damnable liars.

But the misery and mischief of the business is, that these men are followed by a multitude who receive such things as good Ancient Gospel, and well calculated to restore the ancient order of things. The same men hold themselves ready to elist, and act well their part, in carrying forward all schemes of opposition to Temperance Societies, Sabbath Schools, &c. The 'Christian Baptist' is their text book, which supplies them with an abundance of sayings as decent as the one just mentioned. It is also their test book, by which they try, not only the principles of Orthodoxy, but the Prophets and Apostles. Whatever agrees not thereto, is at once condemned as modern, and not meet to be used in "restoring the ancient order of things." Brought to this test, such men as Edwards, and Dwight, and Davis, Owen, Newton, Scott, and Chalmers, are found mere children in knowledge; -- and as most or all of them have been distinguished for their zeal in the Bible cause, and have been guilty of writing as well as distributing Tracys, they inevitably fall under the condemnation of "damnable heretics," and damnable liars."

Mr. Campbell is the Sun of this new system of proclaiming the Ancient Gospel, and restoring the Ancient Order of things. The men alluded to, are only his moons, and reflecting their borrowed light as they move in their orbits. If the Millennial Harbinger shall exceed in brilliancy, the Christian Baptist, in proportion to the increased energies which Mr. Campbell promises to devote to it, his moons must become almost Suns: and as they move in all directions, what can be expected<, but that our part of the country is to be deluged with a flood of light, before which all former lights are to fade into darkness; and all existing systems of education and religion, melt away like mountain fogs, before the rising glory of the Ancient Order of things.

But the most remarkable exploit to be achieved by Mr. Campbell in his new work, is, to show the the "incompatibility of any sectarian establishment now known on earth, with the genius of the glorius age to come" -- the Millennium. Alas! Alas! The Sect, then, which Mr. Campbell has been laboring to establish for many years, and at the head of which he stands in all the magnificence of a leader, is to turn out in the end, as imbecile and nugatory as all others, and share the same fate. The Harbinger, in its ample sweep, will first show the "incompatibility" of Campbellism with the genius of the coming Millennium, and then give it to the winds and oblivion.

We never had, for our own part, suspected Mr. Campbell's system, of being liable to any more enviable termination; but did not expect so soon to see the creator of it, turn his hand, and destroy his own work. So far as he is successful in this part of his undertaking, he will certainly do good, and every well-wisher to mankind may say him "God speed."

But we are concerned also for the system of literary and moral education, which has been hitherto adopted and used by Mr. Campbell in his Theological school at Bethany -- What is to become of that? It is one of "the present systems" ALL of which are to be shown "inadequate" to the development of the powers of the human mind, and to prepare man for national and social happiness," and, therefore, good for nothing. Alas! Alas! Will Mr. Campbell hustle it off with those of Princeton and Andover; and tumble it, with them, into the common grave of systems? This will be a huge step indeed towards "restoring the ancient order of things."

But whatever Mr. Campbell may do, or fail to do in getting up his Harbinger, he will not fail to erect for himself a broad arena, on which to display, to the best advantage, the talents, the forensic talents he possesses, and levy a new contribution upon the boasted number of his readers. The "Christian Baptist," has been very acceptable to a considerable number of professed baptists -- to very many Deists, universalists, anti-unitarians, and anti-Sabbath, & anti-temperance men; and to a great many nothingarians, who prize the work as a respository of brightly burnished arms, with which to combat the progress of the received Christian Scriptures, and all existing institutions which have for their object, what Mr. Campbell professes to aim at, namely, the "consummation of the ultimate amelioration of Society." -- These classes make up a large number in community, and as the work has been popular with them, it has been the means of increasing, perhaps equally, Mr. Campbell's wealth and fame. He has Piped long, and well, for this motly multitude, and they have danced well, and paid him well. And now, that they have got warm, he proposes to change the tune, raise his price, and pipe on. As Mr. Campbell is a master performer, and perfectly acquainted with the powers of his instrument; he will doubtless adapt a tune to their liking; and they will in turn, with equal cheerfulness, exhaust their breath in praises, and their pockets in pay; while Mr. Campbell is chuckling behind the scene, to see what great fools he has made them; and how readily they douse him with a salary of some thousands a year for teaching them to hate salaries, and those who either pay or receive them, for any religious or benevolent service, except "proclaiming the ancient gospel, and restoring the ancient order of things,"

We recollect, that in an early number of the Christian Baptist, Mr. Campbell was pleased to ridicule Ministers of the Gospel, who "live of the Gospel" and all the patrons of charitable & benevolent institutions, in an adopted sermon, under the title of "MILKING THE GOATS," or something like it. We have in justice to Mr. Campbell called it an adopted sermon, presuming that he was not the author of it, as the same, or one very like it, had been shown us in manuscript, by a poor drunken creature long before it appeared in the Christian Baptist. The owner carried it with him, as he reeled from grog-shop to grog-shop, and read it many times a day to his companions, much to their edfication. Now, whosoever wishes to see goats milked on a large scale, and in fine style, has only to look into the operations of Mr. Campbell. He seems to be doing it to purpose.

But, Mr. Campbell says in his prospectus, that besides the learning of the ancient fathers, he expects to derive much aid from a few of the more enlightened brethren of our own time, who are fellow laborers and pioneers with him, in hastening the restoration of the ancient order of things. It is known that the infidel publications that disgrace our times, such as "REFORMER, GOSPEL ADVOCATE, PLAIN TUTH &c. were received as coadjutors in the work of giving the Christian Baptist to the world. -- As the Harbinger is to be the great light, it may be supposed that the Editor will call to his aid also the new publication of PRIESTCRAFT UNMASKED

Note 1: The Western Intelligencer commenced publication at Hudson, Ohio, in July of 1827, at just about the time that Sidney Rigdon was moving his family from nearby Bainbridge township, to Mentor. Located a mere 20 miles southwest of Rigdon's Bainbridge cabin, Editor Randolph Stone's Intelligencer was the newspaper published closest to the radical Campbellite preacher's home base on the boundary of Geauga and Portage counties -- Ravenna, where L. L. Rice's Western Courier was printed, was a couple of miles farther away. It goes without saying, then, that Sidney Rigdon was the nearest active Campbellite minister when the Western Intelligencer began at Hudson, and Rigdon continued to frequent the region just east of Hudson for several years thereafter. Stone's experience with local Campbellites would have necessarily overlapped significently with Rigdon's ecclesiastical activities in that same area.

Note 2: See the Christian Baptist of Jan. 4, 1830 for Alexander Campbell's response to Mr. Stone.

Mrs. Lucinda Morgan. -- The following letter from Mrs. Morgan, the widow of the martyred victim of masonic vengeance, acknowledging the receipt of a handsome donation, which had been raised principally through the exertions of the publisher of the Boston Free Press, will be read with interest.

                                            Batavia, N. Y., Feb. 1st, 1830.
FREDERICK A. SUMNER, Esq.

Sir. -- The liberal donation obtained through your efficient exertions, amounting to Fifty Dollars, was presented to me by George W. Harris, of this village, last week. For which you will, Sir, please accept my sincere thanks, as well in your own behalf as in the behalf of those who, in conjunction with yourself, have so munificently contributed to the alleviation of a bereaved widow and her helpless children.

If, Sir, any thing could comfort the widow in her affliction, that a generous sympathizing Christian communication could bestow, comfort would be mine: for though I am destitute of property and bereaved of him to whom I was accustomed to look for support for myself and my infant children, by a merciless and cruel institution; though the tongue of calumny has not been idle, and though every means have been employed to render wretched and miserable the few days I may be permitted to spend on earth, yet through the protection of the widow's God, him who has said. I will be a father to the fatherless, I am not forgotten but remembered by those who have hearts to feel, and can fully appreciate my necessitous situation.

These, Sir, are my reflections, which when meditating upon my own helpless condition, and the more helpless condition of my children, operate as a balm to my lacerated heart, and serve to reconcile me to drink with patience the bitter cup of which cruel men have so unkindly doomed me to drink, believing that my bereavement, though to me, indeed severe, will contribute to the happiness of the present, as well as future generations, in the total eradication of false Free Masonry.
              Yours, Sir, I am respectfully,
                        LUCINDA MORGAN.


Note 1: This letter was published in numerous anti-Masonic papers, including the Norwich Anti-Masonic Telegraph and the Penn-Yan Yates Republican, both on Feb. 24, 1830. Subsequent issues of the Ohio Star featured additional news on Lucinda Morgan. The Star's editor was Lewis L. Rice, who later came to possess the Oberlin Spalding manuscript.

Note 2: According to Todd Compton's 2001 In Sacred Loneliness, Lucinda Pendleton Morgan (b. 1801) became the plural wife of Joseph Smith, jr., at Far West in February or March of 1838. Compton does not give the date of her death, but some reports say that she passed away in 1856, in Memphis, Tennessee, at the home of her daughter, Mrs. Lucinda Wesley Smith.

Note 3: Oliver Cowdery was said to have once served as a helper to Lucinda's first husband, William Morgan: ("He (Cowdery), was strong against the Masons; he helped to write Morgan's book, they said.") -- and Lucinda herself admitted in 1826 that William Morgan employed the services of just such a scribal helper: ("a person who some times assisted her husband by copying or taking down as he dictated to him.") Oliver Cowdery's brother and relatives lived in close proximity to the Morgan family, at the time of William's mysterious disappearance and there is no reason to doubt that Oliver himself was a resident (or at least a frequent traveler) in that section of the country. Another account. given by the Masonic historian of the Morgan Affair, Dr. Rob Morris, wrote in 1883 that Morgan "had been a half way convert of Joe Smith, the Mormon, and had learned from him to see visions and dreams." By this Morris meant to say that William Morgan was a partial convert to the magical pretensions of Joseph Smith, jr., prior to the advent of Mormonism. Another interesting report says that Morgan (who was a Welsh ancestry) wrote an ancient pseudo-history of the Americas, based upon the Prince Madoc tales. None of these last three assertions has ever been verified.

BLASPHEMY -- "BOOK OF MORMON,"
alias THE GOLDEN 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 farmer of Wayne county, that the latter mortgaged his farm for $3,000 which he paid for printing and binding 5000 copies of this blasphemous work. The volume consists of about six hundred pages, and is divided into books of Nephi, of Jacob, of Mosiah, of Alma, of Mormon, of Ether, and of Helaman. "Copy right secured!" The style of the work may be conjectured from the "preface" & "testimonials" which we subjoin. --     Roch. Rep.

PREFACE.

To the reader --
As many false reports have been circulated respecting the following work, and also many unlawful measures taken by evil designing persons to destroy me, and also the work, I would inform you that I translated, by the gift and power of God, and caused to be written, one hundred and sixteen pages, the which I took from the Book of Lehi, which was an account abridged from the plates of Lehi, by the hand of Mormon; which said account, some person or persons have stolen and kept from me, notwithstanding my utmost exertions to recover it again -- and being commanded of the Lord that I should not translate the same over again, for Satan had put it into their hearts to tempt the Lord their God, by altering the words, that they did read contrary from that which I translated & cause to be written; and if I should bring forth the same words again, or, in other words, if I should translate the same over again, they would publish that which they had stolen, and Satan would stir up the hearts of this generation, that they might not receive this work: but behold, the Lord said unto me, I will not suffer that Satan shall accomplish his evil design in this thing; therefore thou shalt translate from the plates of Nephi, until ye come to that which ye have translated, which ye have retained; and behold ye shall publish it as the record of Nephi; and thus I will confound those who have altered my words. -- I will not suffer that they shall destroy my work; yea, I will shew unto them that my wisdom is greater than the cunning of the devil. Wherefore, to be obedient to the commandments of God, I have, through his grace and mercy, accomplished that which he hath commanded me respecting this thing. I would also inform you that the plates of which hath been spoken, were found in the township of Manchester, Ontario county, New York.

        THE AUTHOR.

THE TESTIMONY OF THREE WITNESSES..

Be it known unto all nations, kindreds, tongues, and people, unto whom this work shall come, that we, through the grace of God the Father, and our Lord Jesus Christ, have seen the plates which contain this record, which is a record of the people of Nephi, and also of the Lamanites, his brethren, and also of the people of Jared, which came from the tower, of which hath been spoken, and we also know that they have been translated by the gift and power of God, for his voice hath declared it unto us; wherefore we know of a surety that the work is true. And we also testify that we have seen the engravings which are upon the plates; and they have been shown unto us by the power of God, and not of man. And we declare with words of soberness that an angel of God came down from heaven, and he brought and laid before our eyes, that we beheld and saw the plates; and the engravings thereon; & we know that it is by the grace of God the Father, and our Lord Jesus Christ, that we beheld and bear record that these things are true; and it is marvellous in our eyes: Nevertheless, the voice of the Lord commanded us that we should bear record of it; wherefore, to be obedient unto the commandments of God, we bear testimony of these things. And we know that if we are faithful in Christ, we shall rid our garments of the blood of all men, and be found spotless before the judgment seat of Christ, and shall dwell with him eternally in the heavens. And the honor be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost, which is one God. Amen. David Whitmer,
Oliver Cowdery,
Martin Harris.

AND ALSO THE TESTIMONY OF EIGHT WITNESSES.

Be it known unto all nations, kindreds, tongues, and people, unto whom this work shall come, that Joseph Smith, Jr., the Author and Proprietor of this work, has shown 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: and we lie not, God bearing witness of it.

Christian Whitmer, Jacob Whitmer, Peter Whitmer, Jr. John Whitmer.

Hiram Page, Joseph Smith, Sr. Hyrum Smith, Samuel H. Smith.

Notes: (forthcoming)

Silly Fanaticism:-- 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, Jr. The work contains about six hundred pages, and is divided into the book of Mormon, of Ether, and of Helaman. -- The Rochester Daily Advertiser contains the preface and two letters signed by eleven individuals, setting forth the existence 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 hesitancy, one of the certificates, which smacks pretty strongly of what once would have been called blasphemy.

The testimony of three witnesses. -- Be it known unto all nations, kindreds, tongues, and people, to whom this work shall come, that we, through the grace of God the Father, and our Lord Jesus Christ, have seen the plates which contain this record of the people of Nephi, and also of the Lamanites, his brethren, and also of the people of Jared, which came from the tower, of which hath been spoken; and we also know that they have been translated by the gift and power of God, for his voice hath declared it unto us; wherefore we know of a surety, that the work is true. And we also testify that we have seen the engravings which are upon the plates, and they have been shown unto us by the power of God, and not of man.

And we declare with words of soberness that an Angel of God came down from Heaven, and he brought and laid before our eyes, that we beheld and saw the plates; and the engravings thereon; and we know that it is by the grace of God the Father, and our Lord Jesus Christ, that we beheld and bear record that these things are true; and it is marvellous in our eyes -- Nevertheless, the voice of the Lord commanded us that we should bear record of it; wherefore, to be obedient unto the commandments of God, we bear testimony of these things. And we know that if we are faithful in Christ, we shall rid our garments of the blood of all men, and be found spotless before the judgment seat of Christ, and shall dwell with him eternally in the heavens. And the honor be to the Father, and to the Son and the Holy Ghost, which is one God. Amen. DAVID WHITMER,   
OLIVAR COWDERY,     
MARTIN HARRIS. The other certificate declares that the plates, said to have been found in Manchester, Ontario county, N. Y. had the appearance of gold, and bore the marks of ancient and curious workmanship.     U. S. Gazette.


Notes: (forthcoming)

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 dedicating 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.    Wayne Co. Inq.

BLASPHEMY. -- "Book of Mormon" alias The Golden 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 farmer of Wayne county, that the latter mortgaged his farm for $3,000 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."


Notes: (forthcoming)

NEW UNION LINE OF MAIL COACHES.

THROUGH From Fairport mouth of Grand River, O. and from Ashtabula to Wheeling, Va. in 2 days. From Erie, Pa. to Wheeling in 2 1/4 days.

The Virginia, Ohio and Pennsylvania Stage Company inform the publick that they have recently established a new and complete Daily Line of Mail Coaches, in connection with the Daily Line of Lake Erie Steam Boats, from Fairport, Ohio, at the mouth of Grand River, on Lake Erie, by Painesville, Chardon, Parkman, Warren, Canfield, N. Lisbon, Wellsville, Steubenville, Wellsburgh, Va. to Wheeling, Va., leaving Fairport every morning from 8 to 10 o'clock, or soon after the arrival of the Steam Boats from Buffalo and Detroit, and the Stages from Cleveland; and arrive at Warren from 8 to 10 P. M. and at New Lisbon the next morning to breakfast; at Wellsville on the Ohio by 12 [A.] M. and at Steubenville by 6 P. M., where passengers will rest over night, and arrive in Wheeling the next day by 9 A. M.

Leaves Ashtabula every morning after the arrival of the Steam Boat from Buffalo, and the Erie and Cleaveland Stages from Erie, passing through Austinburgh, Morgan and Bloomfield to Warren, where it connects with the above Line to Wheeling, and also with another Line to Pittsburgh...

Rufus S. Reed, Erie, Pa.
H. J. Rees, Ashtabula, O.
John P. Converse, Parkman, O.
J. L. Van Gorder, Warren, O.
D. Watson, New Lisbon, O.
J. Feehan, Wellesville, Va.
J. Jenkinson, Steubenville, O.
O. J. Gardiner, J. C. Campbell, D. Brown, Wellsburgh, Va.,
PROPRIETORS. Seats taken at the Mansion House, Erie, Pa.; at the Stage House, at A. Cable's Steam Boat Hotel, Fairport; at J. L. Van Gorder's Warren Hotel, Warren; at D. Watson's, N. Lisbon; at J. Feehun's, Wellsville; at J. Jackinson's, Steubenville; at J. Gardiner's, Wellsburgh, Va.; and at the General Stage Office, Wheeling.

June 1, 1830.


Note 1: The above advertisement merely announces the updating and expansion of one of the several stage lines already running from northern Ohio to the east and southeast during the late 1820s. In August of 1828, when he traveled to attend the annual meeting of the Mahoning Association, the Rev. Sidney Rigdon might easily have picked up his coach ticket at the Steam Boat Hotel, in Fairport (just north of his home at Mentor, Ohio) at eight in the morning and by ten at night on that same date, disembarked at James L. Van Gorder's Warren Hotel (later the "Castle William") in Warren, Ohio (where the Association's meeting was held that year).

Note 2: In the past some Mormon apologists have argued that Sidney Rigdon could not possibly have traveled so far afield as New York State in less time than several weeks. However, after 1825, Rigdon could have taken advantage of rapid transit by lake steamer, canal boat, and stage coach to have journeyed from Mentor to practically anywhere short of Albany in well under a week. Of course, the lake steamers did not run in the winter and canal-sleds were not a dependable means of transport -- but stages (sometimes mounted on snow-runners) often made better time on the hard winter roads than they did through the summer mud. Clearly Sidney Rigdon could have easily made a round-trip journey from Mentor, Ohio to Palmyra, New York (or to his relatives' home near Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania) in less than a full week, both winter and summer.

CELEBRATION AT BAINBRIDGE.
                      Communicated.

COUNTY  CONVENTION.

The Republican Antimasonic Electors of each township in the country, are requested to meet at the usual place for holding Elections, on Saturday, the 28th inst. for the purpose of appointing three Delegates, from each township, to meet at Ravenna, on satuday the 4th of September next, at 10 o'clock A.M. for the purpose of nominating suitable persons to be supported for the different offices at the annual election in October next. The Committee of Vigilance, in every township, are requested to use their exertions to have the township meetings fully attended.
THOMAS EARLL,
GREGORY POWERS, Jr.,
EDWIN WETMOE,
T. C. SHREEVE,
ANDREW BASSETT,
FRED'K WADSWORTH,
CYRUS PRENTISS,
ELIAS SMITH,
C. EGGLESTON,
JOHN JOHNSON,
E. LOOMIS,
JOHN HALL, 2nd. Central Corresponding Committee of Portage Co.
August 11, 1830.

---

For the Ohio Star.
The Red Man of the South.

How long shall we be hunted, like foxes in the chase,
And like the wild-deer made to fly before the white man's face?
How long will avarice govern you? ye haughty sons of pride?
How long will fraud attest your claim, and force, the right decide?

Once we were savage wanderers -- wild as our own rude bow'rs,
We gloried in the wilderness and thought creation ours;
The forest, our large store-house, abundant game ensured,
And folded in its bosom, we felt ourselves secured.

Cast in the mould of nature, our minds an impress took,
Congenial with the mountain cliff, and the meand'ring brook;
We knew no studied classics; our fathers' feats of old,
Were through tradition's faith preserv'd, and by our mothers told.

You've tam'd our vagrant spirits, and taught us how to prize
The worth of local treasures --the bliss of local joys;
You've taught us manufact'ring skill -- we love the tame employ;
You've taught us arts of husbandry -- we prize the harvest-joy.

You've taught us home is very dear; and many a year of toil
Has made our homes seem beautiful here on our fathers' soil:
Our souls, of softer texture now, can suit their tastes no more,
Among the wild ferocities, which satisfied before.

No more the deserts charm us -- no more we feel a pride
In ranging o'er the lofty peaks, or by the mountain side;
Our wants, by knowledge multiplied would mock our best pretence
To gain by rude and scanty means, a proper competence.

Divest us of the habits in civil life acquired,
Obliterate the feelings those habits have inspired,
Give back our roving natures, our tomahawk and bow,
Then with our wives and little ones, to western wilds we'll go.
                              TUILLA - POCAHONTAS.

Note 1: Mark L. Staker in his 2010 history of Mormonism in the Kirtland area, identifies the above "John Johnson" as John Johnson, Sr., of Hiram -- who later acted as host to Joseph Smith, Jr.and Sidney Rigdon. Staker says: "Although visitors to the Johnson home often see the compass and square marks carved in the Johnson home foundation and assume they were a sign of interest in Freemasonry, those marks were a common symbol that a professional stonemason had worked on the foundations. John Johnson was likely an anti-Mason.... A man named John Johnson served with Clarissa Eggleston, E. Loomis, and others as a "Republican Antimasonic Elector" for Portage County in the fall of 1830. This group was deeply involved in anti-Masonic political activities in the county. "Republican Antimasonic Elector," Ohio Star, August 11, 1830, 3, and September 4, 1830, 3. However, no further information allows the identification of this individual as John Sr., John Jr., or John P. Johnson, who lived in the south end of the county. However, John P. typically used his middle initial and is the least likely candidate. John Johnson Sr. remains the most likely anti-Masonic elector because of his age and influence in the community. If so, then this activity may have been a significant contributor to neighborhood relations. Most of the founding members of the Mantua Masonic Lodge No. 533 a few years after the Johnson moved away to Kirtland were the Johnsons' immediate neighbors, and the town was named Hiram by its earliest settlers, all Freemasons."

Note 2: "The Red Man of the South" was an Eliza R. Snow poem. See its reprint in her 1856 Poems, Religious, Historical and Political, pp. 35-36.

We are requested to state that the Rev. Mr. RIGDON, will preach at the Town House in this Borough, on Friday evening next, at early candle-lighting. Mr. Rigdon is a Campbellite.

Note 1: The above advertisement is an interesting one in two respects. First of all, early reports indicate that the Rev. Sidney Rigdon openly broke with Alexander Campbell and his followers at Austintown, Ohio, in August of 1830. Subsequently Rigdon could not well be called a "Campbellite." In fact, his own group (including Parley P. Pratt, Orson Hyde, etc.) were at this time often called "Rigdonites." Furthermore, Rigdon is said to have quit preaching and gone back to farming during the late summer of 1830. It seems a bit strange that Rev. Rigdon was advertised as being a preacher of Campbellism, in the northern Ohio newspapers, during this period.

Note 2: The advertisement is of interest, secondly, in that it places Sidney Rigdon in or around Ashtabula, Ohio on Friday, Oct. 22, 1830, less than a week before the "Four Missionaries to the Lamanites" reportedly arrived at Rigdon's Mentor home on Oct. 28th. Editor William Perkins reported in his Painesville Geauga Gazette that the Mormon missionaries arrived "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 the 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." Henry Harrison Clapp, an eye-witness, said in 1879, that "The four Mormons came to Mr. Rigdon's Wednesday evening (I think). Then Thursday morning he came to my father's with the wondrous announcement [of the Mormon revelation]... Some of the Mormon emissaries went to Kirtland, two or three miles distant that day (Thursday) and directly baptized the 'common stock family' at Morely's who were members of Rigdon's church." Eber D. Howe's Painesville Telegraph described the scene thusly in his issue of Nov. 16, 1830: "About two weeks since some persons came along here with the book, one of whom pretends to have seen Angels... The name of the person here, who pretends to have a divine mission, and to have seen and conversed with Angels, is Cowdray [sic]..." Although Howe does not say exactly when it was that "some persons" visited Painesville with the Mormon revelation, his version of the story would allow for three or four of the LDS company to have initially visited Painesville, as late as Oct. 26th or 27th , before proceeding on to Rigdon's home in Mentor. If Rigdon preached in Ashtabula on the evening of the 22nd, stayed for the night, and then returned to the Painesville-Mentor area on the 23rd or 24th (in time for Sunday services), he may well have traveled the same road, going in the same direction, as the four Mormon missionaries -- and, at about the same time. This is most a intriguing coincidence.

EGYPTIAN  HIEROGLYPHICS.
                      Communicated.

SYNOD  --Missionary Society.

On Thursday evening the Domestic Missionary Siciety of the Western Reserve, held its fourth annual Meeting. After prayer by the President, the reports were read, and several animated addresses were delivered....

The Rev. Ansel R. Clark said, that the congregations within the bounds of the Synod, were able to do much ,ore than they had ever yet done towards supporting the gospel among themselves.... Pass through the Reserve, and see how bountiful heaven has been to its inhabitants. And we have abundant evidence that they are ready to meet the call. Look at the results of the operations of the Education Society. Nowhere have I met with individuals, who were willing to make greater sacrifices to promote benevolent objects.... And as a motive to immediate to immedoate action, let us look around and see what the enemy is doing. The vilest productions of infidelity are industriously circulated all over the Reserve. Not long since he had met with a pamphlet, entitled -- “The Third Epistle of Peter.” And shall not Christians awake? What are we living for? We must aim at great things...


Note: Possibly the "pamphlet" referred to above was an offprint, excerpted from Alexander Campbell's Christian Baptist of Dec. 1, 1827. If not, then the writer may have misquoted the title. An "infidel" pamphlet of 20 pages, entitled "The Third General Epistle of Peter, to the Rulers of the Visible Church" was written (by Quakers?) and put into circulation by the Franklin Press of Philadelphia between 1827 and 1832. The textual dependence of this later title, upon Campbell's earlier anti-clerical parody is uncertain. The Christian Baptist version was only a few pages in length, and was itself a slight enlargement of a biblical pastiche crafted by Walter Scott and/or Sidney Rigdon, for their Pittsburgh "Church of Christ's" only known publication, in 1824.

Campbellism. -- The Kentucky Georgetown Chronicle says, 'By an almost simultaneous movement throughout this State, this religious mania appears to be discountenanced and rejected by the Baptist denimination. It evidently begins to wane, with very visible retrograde movements. Indeed, wherever its strength has been measured, the number of its advocates has been found to be far less than was anticipated. Its peculiar features are now generally understood, and this is all that is wanting with those who have experienced vital religion. Its amalgamation with Arianism seems to be almost certain. At Maylick, as we are informed by the best authority, the Arians and Campbellites have repeatedly communed together, on the special invitation of old Mr. Campbell, the father of Alexander, of Bethany.


Notes: (forthcoming)

THE  GOLDEN  BIBLE

We should be slow to believe that any set of men would accept to play off upon the community, so barefaced a deception as that which our correspondent speaks; and equally slow to believe, that any could be found so credulous as to be duped and led astray by it, -- did we not know, that men are the same depraved beings that ever they were; did we not know, that it is a crime which Heaven has laid to the charge of our fallen race, that they "seek out many inventions" -- that "they go astray as soon as they be born speaking lies." While unruly passion sways the empire of the heart, and guilt draws its film over the moral vision, and a cloud of ignorance darkens the intellect, it would be strange if men should go straight forward in the narrow path. It would be strange if, in their bewilderment, they did not listen to the cry, "lo here, and lo there." So it has been in all ages of the world -- and so it will continue to be, until the minds of men are enlightened, and their hearts warmed by the rays of the Sun of Righteousness.

Since commencing this article, we have received information, which goes to corroborate the statements made in the communication of our correspondent, and also furnishes several additional particulars. The Elder referred to, is the famous Campbellite leader, who has made so much noise on the Reserve for a few months past. He has finally concluded to receive the new Revelation, and has actually been baptized, (now for the third time.) "The common stock family" mentioned in the communication, is a club of Campbellites, who have all things common. It is said that they hold their meetings till late at night, and afterwards retire to the river, and baptize by the score. They profess to have the power of working miracles. Having given out that they would perform a miraculous cure upon a person who was sick, an assembly collected to witness the experiment, when lo, there was a want of faith, and until this difficulty could be removed, the miracles must remain unwrought; -- the old lady continues sick to this day. They are now on their way to the Western Indians, for whose benefit the new Revelation was especially designed. The Indians, as fast as they are converted are to become white men. This is one of the absurdities which have been broached, and we see in it the finger of an overruling Providence. The sagacious Indian, when he sees, that in spite of their incantations, he is an Indian still, will not suffer himself to be any further befooled.

---

THE GOLDEN BIBLE, or, Campbellism Improved.

Mr. Isham. -- For several days past, four individuals, said to have formerly resided in the State of New-York, have appeared in the northern part of Geauga County, assuming the appellation of Disciples, Prophets, and Angels. Some among us, however, are led to believe that they are nothing more than men, and impostors. They are preaching and teaching a species of Religion we are not all prepared to embrace; for we are convinced it does not accord with our old-fashioned Bible.

These men have brought with them copies of a Book, known in this region by the name of the "Golden Bible," or, as it is learned on its title-page, "The Book of Mormon." They solemnly affirm, that its contents were given by Divine inspiration; was written by prophets of the Most High from a period of 600 years before, to that of some hundred years after our blessed Saviour's advent; was deposited by Divine command below the surface of the ground, in or near the township of Palmyra, Ontario Co., N. Y., that an Angel appeared to a certain Joseph Smith residing in that place, who, they say, was a poor, ignorant, illiterate man, and made no pretensions to religion of any kind; -- ... [section of text illegible] ... of this sacred deposit, and directed him forthwith to dig up and bring to light this precious record and prophecy. They affirm that the said Smith obeyed the heavenly messenger, when lo! a new Revelation -- the Golden Bible was discovered!

According to the narrative given by one of these disciples -- Oliver Cowdery -- at their late exhibition in Kirtland, this pretended Revelation was written on golden plates, or something resembling golden plates, of the thickness of tin -- 7 inches in length, 6 inches in breadth, and a pile about 6 inches deep. None among the most learned in the United States could read, and interpret the hand-writing, (save one, and he could decipher but a few lines correctly,) excepting this ignoramus, Joseph Smith, Jr. To him, they say, was given the spirit of writing, he employed this Oliver Cowdery and others to write, while he read, interpreted, and translated this mighty Revelation.

It appears from the testimony of these men, that while this process was going on, some of their mischievous, meddlesome neighbors, having a miserly disposition, stole some of their plates of gold before they gave them sufficient time to translate them, and as they have not yet been recovered, they fear a part of this great Revelation will be lost to our race. There were other plates among them, they say, which contained secrets from them by some mysterious dispensation of Providence, they know not how, or in what region they are secreted, but as they are to be forthcoming at the proper time, to some future generation, they appear to manifest no particular uneasiness with regard to them.

To convince the world that this record and prophecy is a Divine Revelation, three men, Oliver Cowdery, David Whitmer and Martin Harris, have subscribed their names to an article in this "Book of Mormon," solemnly declaring that they saw an Angel come down from heaven, who showed them those plates, and made known to them it was given by inspiration, and "they know of a surety it is true," &c. &c.

This new Revelation, they say is especially designed for the benefit, or rather for the christianizing of the Aborigines of America; who, as they affirm, are a part of the tribe of Manasseh, and whose ancestors landed on the coast of Chili 600 years before the coming of Christ, and from them descended all the Indians of America.

You are, perhaps, by this time ready to say, Surely this great hue and cry about a book of this character, in unworthy of public notice; none possessed of the holy Scriptures, will be found so weak as to be led to embrace this delusion. But sir, could you but see the multitude that follow those pretended Disciples, and know the number they have baptized each night, (many of whom 'tis said have now been immersed for the third time;) were you to be informed, that a certain Elder hesitated in deciding whether to reject or receive the new Revelation, and that the "social Union," or as it is more familiarly called in its vicinity, the "common stock family," have gone into the water again in token of embracing it; and consider that their great object in bending their way to the West is to convert the Indians to the new faith, among many of whose tribes Christian Missionaries are faithfully, and through the blessing of God, successfully laboring, -- I say in view of this -- in view of the worth of souls, liable to be deluded and lost, will you not as a Herald of the Cross of Christ, raise the note of alarm, in your widely circulating paper?

I take the liberty of sending you a Chapter in the new Bible. Though it be called a new Revelation, you will perceive, whoever the author may have been, that it is the same that is held forth by a certain denomination which has sprung up in our day. It is maintained that this is not a new Gospel, but that it explains the New Testament.       Yours, &c.       A. S.

2d. Book of Nephi, Chap. 12th.

And now, I, Nephi, make an end of my prophesying unto you, my beloved brethren. And I cannot write but a few things which I know must surely come to pass, neither can I write but a few words of my brother Jacob. Wherefore, the things which I have written, sufficeth me, save it be a few words concerning the doctrine of Christ; wherefore, I shall speak unto you plainly, according to the plainness of my prophesying. For my soul delighteth in plainness: for after this manner doth the Lord God work among the children of men. For the Lord God giveth light unto the understanding: for he speaketh to their language, unto their understanding.

Wherefore, I would that ye should remember that I have spoken unto you, concerning that prophet which the Lord showed unto me, that should baptize the Lamb of God, which should take away the sins of the world.

And now, if the Lamb of God, he being holy, should have need to be baptized by water, to fulfil all righteousness, O then, how much more need have we, being unholy, to be baptized, yea, even by water.

And now I would ask of you, my beloved brethren, wherein the Lamb of God did fulfil all righteousness in being baptized by water? Know ye not that he was holy? But notwithstanding he being holy, he showeth unto the children of men, that according to the flesh he humbleth himself before the Father, and witnesseth unto the Father that he would be obedient unto him in keeping the commandments; wherefore after that he was baptized with water, the holy Ghost descended upon him in the form of a dove. And again: it sheweth unto the children of men the straitness of the path and the narrowness of the gate, by which they should enter, he hath set the example before them.

And he saith unto the children of men, Follow thou me. Wherefore, my beloved brethren, can we follow Jesus, save we shall be willing to keep the commandments of the Father? And the Father saith, Repent ye, repent ye, and be baptized in the name of my beloved Son. And also, the voice of the Son came unto me saying, He that is baptized in my name, to him will the Father give the Holy Ghost, like unto me; wherefore, follow me, and do the things which ye have seen me do. Wherefore, my beloved brethren, I know that if ye shall follow the Son, with full purpose of heart, acting no hypocrisy and no deception before God, but with real intent, repenting of your sins, witnessing unto the Father that ye are willing to take upon you the name of Christ, by baptism; yea, by following your Lord and Saviour down into the water, according to his word; behold, then shall ye receive the Holy Ghost; yea, then cometh the baptism of fire and of the Holy Ghost; and then can ye speak with the tongues of Angels, and shout praises unto the Holy One of Israel.  *  *  * --- and after this, should deny me, it would have been better for you, that ye had not known me.

 *  *  * for the gate by which ye should enter, is repentance, and baptism by water, and then cometh a remission of your sins by fire, and the Holy Ghost. And then are ye in this strait and narrow path ---- yea, ye have entered in by the Gate.



Note: Rev. Warren Isham is not the only writer who has thought of Mormonism as being "Cambellism Improved." In his 1996 Biography of Sidney Rigdon, Richard Van Wagoner says, on page 61: "Although they did not know it at the time, Rigdon and other Reformers had prepared Ohio for the Mormons. Prominent Mormon historian B. H. Roberts considered the Disciples forerunners of the Mormon gospel, regarding Campbell and Scott (like Rigdon) as having been 'sent forth to prepare the way.'" According to L. L. Rice (reprinted in the Painesville Telegraph of Jan. 17, 1832) Joseph Smith was even more specific, concerning this "Cambellism Improved," when addressing Rigdon with a divine (?) communication on Dec. 7, 1831: "I say unto my servant Sidney, I have looked upon thee and thy works; I have heard thy prayers... thou wast sent forth, even as John, to prepare the way before me, and Elijah which should come, and thou knew it not." Charles A. Shook once commented upon this very passage, saying: "Nearly all Gentiles will agree with the Mormons that Sidney prepared the way before the Mormon delusion, but when it comes to the statement that he knew it not, it is quite another thing."

"The Golden Bible." -- Yes, reader strange as it may appear, there is a new Bible just published, entitled the "Book of Mormon," and better known to some as the Golden Bible. We have no doubt many will be shocked to learn there are those sacrilegious enough to contend that a new bible has been given to the children of men. But it is even so, for we have lately purchased one for the gratification of our curiosity, which was rather excited on learning that its doctrines were taught and believed in this and the adjoining counties.

We have not read it in course, but have perused it sufficiently to be convinced it is one of the veriest impositions of the day. The following is from the title page

THE BOOK OF MORMON:

An account written by the hand of Mormon, upon plates taken from the plates of Nephi.

Wherefore it is an abridgment of the Record of the People of Nephi; and also of the Lamanites; written to the Lamanites, which are a remnant of the House of Israel; and also to Jew and Gentile; written by way the commandment, and also by the spirit of Prophesy and of Revelation. Written, and sealed up, and hid up unto the LORD, that they might not be destroyed; to come forth by the gift and power of GOD;, unto the interpretation thereof; sealed by the hand of Moroni, and hid up unto the LORD, to come forth in due time by the way of Gentile; the interpretation thereof by the gift of GOD; an abridgement taken from the Book of Ether.

Also, which is a Record of the People of Jared, which were scattered at the time the LORD confounded the language of the people when they were building a tower to get to Heaven: which is to shew unto the remnant of the House of Israel how great things the LORD hath done for their fathers; and that they may know the covenants of the LORD, that they are not cast off forever; and also to the convincing of the Jew and Gentile that Jesus is the CHRIST, the ETERNAL GOD;, manifesting Himself unto all nations. And now if there be fault, it be the mistake of men; wherefore condemn not the things of GOD;, that ye may be found spotless at the judgement seat of CHRIST.

BY JOSEPH SMITH, JUNIOR.
            Author and Proprietor.

We find the following in relation to the history of this pretended divine gift, is Mr. Smith's Preface to his book.

PREFACE.

To the Reader -- As many false reports have been circulated respecting the following work, and also many unlawful measures taken by evil designing persons to destroy me, and also the work, I would inform you that I translated, by the gift and power of God, and caused to be written, one hundred and sixteen pages the which I took from the Book of Lehi, which was an account abridged from the plates of Lehi, by the hand of Mormon; which said account, some person or persons have stolen and kept from me, notwithstanding my utmost exertions to recover it again -- and being commanded of the Lord that I should not translate the same over again, for Satan had put it into their hearts to tempt the Lord their God, by altering the words, that they did read contrary from that which I translated and caused to be written; and if I should bring forth the same words again, or, in other words, if I should translate the same over again, they would publish that which they had stolen, and Satan would stir up the hearts of this generation, that they might not receive this work: but behold, the Lord said unto me, I will not suffer that Satan shall accomplish his evil design in this thing; therefore thou shalt translate from the plates of Nephi, until ye come to that which ye have translated, which ye have retained; and behold ye shall publish it as the record of Nephi; and thus I will confound those who have altered my words. I will not suffer that they shall destroy my work; yea, I will shew unto them that my wisdom is greater than the cunning of the Devil. -- Wherefore, to be obedient to the commandments of God, I have, through his grace and mercy, accomplished that which he hath commanded me respecting this thing. I would also inform you that the plates of which hath been spoken, were found in the township of Manchester, Ontario county, New York.
                      THE AUTHOR.


The Bible is composed of, first and second Book of Nephi; Book of Jacob; Book of Joram; Book of Mormon; Book of Moriah; Book of Alma; Book of Helaman; Book of Nephi, the son of Helaman, Book of Nephi the son of Nephi, Book of Mormon; Book of Ether and Book of Moroni.

The last book appears to have been added as a sort of appendix, and contains the form of service, mode of en[un]ciation, prayers, &c.

This bible is closed by two certificates commending the work; to the first is attached the name of Oliver Cowdry and two other persons, and to the last are eight names, among which are those of the father and two brothers of the reputed author.

On reading the name of Oliver Cowdry, in support of the divine authenticity of the work, whatever faith we might have been inspired with on reading the certificate, was banished, for we had known Cowdry some seven or eight years ago, when he was a dabbler in the art of Printing, and principally occupied in writing and printing pamphlets, with which, as a pedestrian Pedlar, he visited the towns and villages of western New York and Canada, and the only opinion we have of the origin of this Golden Bible, is that Mr. Cowdry and Mr. Smith the reputed author, have taken the old Bible to keep up a train of circumstances, and by altering names and language have produced the string of Jargon called the "Book of Mormon," with the intention of making mon[e]y by the sale of their Books; and being aware they would not sell unless an excitement and curiosity could be raised in the public mind, have therefore sent out twelve Apostles to promulgate its doctrines, several of whom are in this vicinity expounding its mysteries and baptising converts to its principles, whose labors, we understand are principally blest among the superstitious and ignorant or hypocritical, presenting a new proof that all fools are not dead, and knavery in any garb may, yet find votaries.


Note 1: Compare Editor John St. John's remarks regarding Oliver Cowdery with the contemporary judgment of another editor who knew the "pedestrian Pedlar." Orsamus Turner, the following year, said: "the founder of Mormonism is Jo. Smith, an ignorant and nearly unlettered man living near the village of Palmyra, Wayne county; the second, an itinerant pamphlet pedlar and occasionally a journeyman printer, named Oliver Cowdery." Another indication of Cowdery's little known career as an "occasional printer" may be seen in a passing mention, that he "forsook the type and took to Mormonism in New York" (Springfield Illinois Journal of June 1, 1848)

Note 2: See the notes appended to the March 3, 1830 printing of Lucinda Morgan's letter, (on this web-page) for indications that Oliver Cowdery frequented western New York prior to his known residence with the Joseph Smith, Sr. family at Manchester, in Ontario Co.

Note 3: It is altogether likely that both St. John (who had previously lived in the Buffalo, New York area, before moving to Cleveland) and Orsamus Turner (who lived in Palmyra, New York, before moving to the Buffalo region) knew of Oliver Cowdery's activities in western New York during the 1820s. Editor Turner certainly knew Oliver's printer cousin, Benjamin Franklin Cowdery, since the two men operated their respective publishing activities out of the same western New York printing office (at Lockport in 1823). This must have been about the same time that Editor St. John was acquainted with the young man (7 or 8 years before late 1830) as "a dabbler in the art of Printing, and principally occupied in writing and printing pamphlets, with which, as a pedestrian Pedlar, he visited the towns and villages of western New York and Canada." The elder Cowdery used Turner's press at Lockport to turn out job printing (such as pamphlets) when it was not otherwise engaged by Turner himself. Benjamin Franklin Cowdery was known to be a distributor of other printers' tracts, almanacs, etc., at least by the latter part of 1822: He is listed on the cover of Canandaigua printer James D. Bemis' 1823 almanac as "F. Coudery, Angelica." In his autobiographical sketch of 1847, Cowdery says: "In October [1820]... began the Angelica Republican... which we continued just two years and one week [to Nov. 1822]."

Note 4: Whether or not Oliver served an apprenticeship under his cousin, in Angelica, the strong probability is that Oliver was associated with Benjamin Franklin Cowdery when that printer moved from Angelica to the Buffalo region, at the beginning of 1823. This would have been the obvious time for editors St. John (then in Buffalo) and Turner (then nearby at Lockport) to have first encountered the young pedestrian peddler and dabbler in printing. Mr. St. John leaves off following Oliver's history at about this point in time, but Mr. Turner continues his account to the point of alleging that Oliver also frequented the Palmyra area and became involved with the Joseph Smith, Sr. family there, far earlier than most other accounts reveal.

"THE GOLDEN BIBLE" -- Yes, reader strange as it may appear, there is a new Bible just published, entitled the "Book of Mormon," and better known to some as the Golden Bible. We have no doubt many will be shocked to learn there are those sacrilegious enough to contend that a new Bible has been given to the children of men. But it is even so, for we have lately purchased one for the gratification of our curiosity, which was rather excited on learning that its doctrines were taught and believed in this and the adjoining counties.

We have not read it in course, but have perused it sufficiently to be convinced it is one of the veriest impositions of the day. The following is from the title page: --Herald.

THE BOOK OF MORMON:

An account written by the hand of Mormon, upon plates taken from the plates of Nephi.

Wherefore it is an abridgment of the Record of the People of Nephi; and also of the Lamanites; written to the Lamanites, which are a remnant of the House of Israel; and also to Jew and Gentile; written by way the commandment, and also by the spirit of Prophesy and of Revelation. Written, and sealed up, and hid up unto the LORD, that they might not be destroyed; to come forth by the gift and power of GOD;, unto the interpretation thereof; sealed by the hand of Moroni, and hid up unto the LORD, to come forth in due time by the way of Gentile; the interpretation thereof by the gift of GOD; an abridgement taken from the Book of Ether.

Also, which is a Record of the People of Jared, which were scattered at the time the LORD confounded the language of the people when they were building a tower to get to Heaven: which is to shew unto the remnant of the House of Israel how great things the LORD hath done for their fathers; and that they may know the covenants of the LORD, that they are not cast off forever; and also to the convincing of the Jew and Gentile that Jesus is the CHRIST, the ETERNAL GOD;, manifesting Himself unto all nations. And now if there be fault, it be the mistake of men; wherefore condemn not the things of GOD;, that ye may be found spotless at the judgement seat of CHRIST.

BY JOSEPH SMITH, JUNIOR.
            Author and Proprietor.

We find the following in relation to the history of this pretended divine gift, is Mr. Smith's Preface to his book.

PREFACE.

To the Reader --
As many false reports have been circulated respecting the following work, and also many unlawful measures taken by evil designing persons to destroy me, and also the work, I would inform you that I translated, by the gift and power of God, and caused to be written, one hundred and sixteen pages the which I took from the Book of Lehi, which was an account abridged from the plates of Lehi, by the hand of Mormon; which said account, some person or persons have stolen and kept from me, notwithstanding my utmost exertions to recover it again -- and being commanded of the Lord that I should not translate the same over again, for Satan had put it into their hearts to tempt the Lord their God, by altering the words, that they did read contrary from that which I translated and caused to be written; and if I should bring forth the same words again, or, in other words, if I should translate the same over again, they would publish that which they had stolen, and Satan would stir up the hearts of this generation, that they might not receive this work: but behold, the Lord said unto me, I will not suffer that Satan shall accomplish his evil design in this thing; therefore thou shalt translate from the plates of Nephi, until ye come to that which ye have translated, which ye have retained; and behold ye shall publish it as the record of Nephi; and thus I will confound those who have altered my words. I will not suffer that they shall destroy my work; yea, I will shew unto them that my wisdom is greater than the cunning of the Devil. -- Wherefore, to be obedient to the commandments of God, I have, through his grace and mercy, accomplished that which he hath commanded me respecting this thing. I would also inform you that the plates of which hath been spoken, were found in the township of Manchester, Ontario county, New York.
                      THE AUTHOR.


The Bible is composed of, first and second Book of Nephi; Book of Jacob; Book of Joram; Book of Mormon; Book of Moriah; Book of Alma; Book of Helaman; Book of Nephi, the son of Helaman, Book of Nephi the son of Nephi, Book of Mormon; Book of Ether and Book of Moroni.

The last book appears to have been added as a sort of appendix, and contains the form of service, mode of en[un]ciation, prayers, &c.

This bible is closed by two certificates commending the work; to the first is attached the name of Oliver Cowdry and two other persons, and to the last are eight names, among which are those of the father and two brothers of the reputed author.

On reading the name of Oliver Cowdry, in support of the divine authenticity of the work, whatever faith we might have been inspired with on reading the certificate, was banished, for we had known Cowdry some seven or 8 years ago, when he was a dabbler in the art of Printing, and principally occupied in writing and printing pamphlets, with which, as a pedestrian pedlar, he visited the towns and villages of western New York and Canada, and the only opinion we have of the origin of this Golden Bible, is that Mr. Cowdry and Mr. Smith the reputed author, have taken the old Bible to keep up a train of circumstances, and by altering names and language have produced the string of jargon called the "Book of Mormon," with the intention of making money by the sale of their books; and being aware they would not sell unless an excitement and curiosity could be raised in the public mind, have therefore sent out twelve Apostles to promulgate its doctrines, several of whom are in this vicinity expounding its mysteries and baptising converts to its principles, whose labors, we understand are principally blest among the superstitious and ignorant or hypocritical, presenting a new proof that all fools are not dead, and knavery in any garb may, yet find votaries.


Note: Ashtabula Journal editor Hugh Lowry copied this article directly from the Nov. 25, 1830 issue of John St. John's Cleaveland Herald. The appended editorial remarks, therefore, are those of St. John (who used to live in western NY, near the scene of Oliver Cowdery's early activities) and not comments by Lowry. When Dale Morgan transcribed the Ashtabula Journal reprint, he mistakenly wrote "villages of eastern New York" in place of St. John's "villages of western New York." Biographer Richard S. Wagoner reproduces this error on page 465 of his 1994 Sidney Rigdon. Cowdery's book/pamphlet peddling probably lasted from about 1823 to about 1826 and may have taken a route from Lockport or Buffalo in the south, to York (now Toronto) Canada in the north. Presumably Oliver worked in conjunction with his cousin, Benjamin Franklin Cowdery, who spent several months running off tracts, pamphlets, and other "job printing" on Orsamus Turner's press at nights. No mention is made of what Canadian items Oliver may have brought back with him in his backpack to the United States. Such an itinerant "pedlar" would have, of course, been a useful courier for the Canada-based counterfeiters whose operations were then epidemic along the Niagara frontier. In the first weeks of 1837 Oliver Cowdery signed and placed into circulation many worthless bills drawn upon the failing Bank of Monroe in Michigan. A year later the LDS Church brought excommunication charges against him in Missouri, one of which charged him with making and passing counterfeit money in Ohio.

THE  GOLDEN  BIBLE.

In the fall of 1827, a man the named Joseph Smith of Manchester, Ontario county, N. Y. reported that he had three times been visited in a dream, by the spirit of the Almighty, and informed that in a certain hill in that town, was a Golden Bible, containing an ancient record of a divine nature and origin. On going to the spot he found buried the Bible with a huge pair of spectacles: The leaves (he said tho' he was not permitted to shew them) were plates of gold about 8 inches long, 6 wide and 1/8th of an inch thick, on which were engraved characters or hieroglyphicks, which with the spectacles he could interpret. Martin Harris an industrious farmer, caught the contagion, took some of the characters to different learned men to translate, but without success. He returned, set Smith to work at translating it, and has had it printed.

About two weeks since, Oliver Cowdry, David Whitmer, and Martin Harris, [sic] arrived at Painesville Ohio, with the Books. In the evening they preached in the Methodist Chapel, claiming to act under a commission written by the finger of God. They appear very enthusiastic, and predict the end of the world in 15 years, when all but the true believers will be destroyed. They then proceeded to Kirtland, where they held forth, and elder Rigdon, formerly a baptist, and latterly a Campbellite, joined them, as did several of his congregation, and were baptized. The three men above named have now gone west of the Mississippi, where they say is a holy spot, and there they are to establish a New Jerusalem, into which will be gathered all the Natives who they say are descendants of Manesseh. They say they are led by the spirit and will know the ground when they place their feet on it.

This book is entitled "The Book of Mormon: An account written by the hand of Mormon, upon plates taken from the plates of Nephi." It contains the 1st and 2d book of Nephi; book of Jacob; of Joram; of Mormon; of Moriah [sic]; of Alma; of Helama [sic]; of Nephi, the son of Helaman; of Nephi the son of Nephi; of Ether; and book of Moroni, the last contains the form of service, mode of initiation, prayers, &c. It is, doubtless, one of the veriest impositions of the present day.


Note: Compare this article to the shortened text of the Palmyra Freeman notice, as reprinted by E. D. Howe in his Sept. 22, 1829 issue of the Painesville Telegraph. The revised article apparently first saw light in a Nov. 1830 issue of the Geauga Gazette. The same revision was also reprinted in the Dec. 9, 1830 issue of Lewis L. Rice's Ohio Star.

THE  GOLDEN  BIBLE.

In the fall of 1827, a man the named Joseph Smith of Manchester, Ontario county, N. Y. reported that he had three times been visited in a dream, by the spirit of the Almighty, and informed that in a certain hill in that town, was a Golden Bible, containing an ancient record of a divine nature and origin. On going to the spot he found buried the Bible with a huge pair of spectacles: The leaves (he said tho' he was not permitted to shew them) were plates of gold about 8 inches long, 6 wide and 1/8th of an inch thick, on which were engraved characters or hieroglyphicks, which with the spectacles he could interpret. Martin Harris an industrious farmer, caught the contagion, took some of the characters to different learned men to translate, but without success. He returned, set Smith to work at translating it, and has had it printed.

About two weeks since, Oliver Cowdry, David Whitmer, and Martin Harris, [sic] arrived at Painesville Ohio, with the Books. In the evening they preached in the Methodist Chapel, claiming to act under a commission written by the finger of God. They appear very enthusiastic, and predict the end of the world in 15 years, when all but the true believers will be destroyed. They then proceeded to Kirtland, where they held forth, and elder Rigdon, formerly a baptist, and latterly a Campbellite, joined them, as did several of his congregation, and were baptized. The three men above named have now gone west of the Mississippi, where they say is a holy spot, and there they are to establish a New Jerusalem, into which will be gathered all the Natives who they say are descendants of Manesseh. They say they are led by the spirit and will know the ground when they place their feet on it.

This book is entitled "The Book of Mormon: An account written by the hand of Mormon, upon plates taken from the plates of Nephi." It contains the 1st and 2d book of Nephi; book of Jacob; of Joram; of Mormon; of Moriah [sic]; of Alma; of Helama [sic]; of Nephi, the son of Helaman; of Nephi the son of Nephi; of Ether; and book of Moroni, the last contains the form of service, mode of initiation, prayers, &c. It is, doubtless, one of the veriest impositions of the present day.

---

Married.

At Batavia, N. Y., on the 20th ult. by the Hon. Simeon Cummings, John [sic] W. Harris, Esq. to Mrs. LUCINDA MORGAN, relict of the late Capt. William Morgan, a soldier of the last war, and a martyr to the cause of Antimasonry.


Note 1: Lucinda Morgan's marriage to silversmith George Washington Harris came as a shock to the people of western New York. She apparently waited for the absolute minimum time (as required by law) to pass, before declaring her missing husband legally dead, and thereby establishing her right to remarry the Morgans' old neighbor, Mr. G. W. Harris. Harris was still an active Freemason when he married Lucinda -- a fact that caused many observers to speculate that the widow's devotion to the cause of political anti-Masonry was not especially heartfelt.

Note 2: G. W. Harris' family connection to Arvilla Ann Harris, later the wife of Dr. Solomon Spalding, has not yet been fully documented. G. W. Harris lived at Batavia, while his cousin (?) William P. Harris (father of Arvilla Ann) lived several miles south of Batavia in Bennington twp. See notes appended to the 1832 marriage announcement of Arvilla Ann and Dr. Solomon Spalding for further details regarding Spalding's Masonic connections and G. W. Harris' Masonic and Mormon associations. Neither of these Genesee Co. Harris families is thought to have been closely related to Martin Harris of Palmyra.

Note 3: At Far West, Missouri, Lucinda became one of the first plural wives of Joseph Smith, Jr. Both Smith and his cousin, Oliver Cowdery were probably acquainted with Lucinda Morgan and George W. Harris as early as the mid-1820s (see area map). A hitherto unrealized connection between the principal characters in the Batavia centered William Morgan Affair and the Palmyra centered Joseph Smith, Jr. money-digging band, may be found in the family of Alvah Beaman -- whose members lived about half way between Batavia (in the Avon-Livonia area). One of Father Beaman's daughters (Louisa Beaman) became a plural wife of Joseph Smith before Lucinda Morgan Harris also received that same distinction. The two women were close friends and there is reason to believe that their friendship began in western New York, as early as the late 1820s.

Note 4: George W. Harris was made a member of the Nauvoo High Council and was the head of that Council when it moved to Winter Quarters in 1846. There he continued to work in his old occupation of silversmithing. George was the one who supervised the Council's decision to reinstate Oliver Cowdery as a member of the LDS Church, when Cowdery appeared at Council Bluffs, and was subsequently granted a Mormon re-baptism (at the hands of Orson Hyde) on Nov. 12, 1848. George was also suspected of having worked secretly with William Smith, Orson Hyde and other LDS leaders to produce counterfeit Mexican coins in Adams and Hancock counties, Illinois during the early 1840s. Apostle Hyde, however, later blamed the Illinois Gentiles' complaints of there being secret "bogus makers" and "counterfeit money" among the Mormons, squarely upon the followers of Sidney Rigdon (none of whom are known to have been silversmiths).

From the Cleaveland Herald.       

"THE GOLDEN BIBLE" -- Yes, reader strange as it may appear, there is a new Bible just published, entitled the "Book of Mormon," and better known to some as the Golden Bible. We have no doubt many will be shocked to learn there are those sacrilegious enough to contend that a new Bible has been given to the children of men. But it is even so, for we have lately purchased one for the gratification of our curiosity, which was rather excited on learning that its doctrines were taught and believed in this and the adjoining counties.

We have not read it in course, but have perused it sufficiently to be convinced it is one of the veriest impositions of the day. The following is from the title page:

(the remainder of the article follows the Nov. 25th Herald

Note: One can only wonder what Oliver Cowdery's brother, Erastus Cowdery, thought while reading this article. Erastus lived near Warren, where the Chronicle was published, and no doubt he soon heard of Oliver's 1830 tramp through the Ohio Western Reserve, carrying his pack of "Gold Bibles." Erastus undoubtedly also knew the noted recent convert to Mormonism, the Rev. Sidney Rigdon. During 1819-21 Rigdon and his wife lived only a few miles away from Erastus Cowdery and his wife in the still largely unsettled Trumbull county countryside. Rigdon was then one of the very few Baptist (Calvinist) preachers in the area; Erastus Cowdery was a Presbyterian (also a Calvinist).

"THE GOLDEN BIBLE" -- Yes, reader strange as it may appear, there is a new Bible just published, entitled the "Book of Mormon," and better known to some as the Golden Bible. We have no doubt many will be shocked to learn there are those sacrilegious enough to contend that a new bible has been given to the children of men. But it is even so, for we have lately purchased one for the gratification of our curiosity, which was rather excited on learning that its doctrines were taught and believed in this and the adjoining counties.

We have not read it in course, but have perused it sufficiently to be convinced it is one of the veriest impositions of the day. The following is from the title page

THE BOOK OF MORMON:

An account written by the hand of Mormon, upon plates taken from the plates of Nephi.

Wherefore it is an abridgment of the Record of the People of Nephi; and also of the Lamanites; written to the Lamanites, which are a remnant of the House of Israel; and also to Jew and Gentile; written by way the commandment, and also by the spirit of Prophesy and of Revelation. Written, and sealed up, and hid up unto the LORD, that they might not be destroyed; to come forth by the gift and power of GOD;, unto the interpretation thereof; sealed by the hand of Moroni, and hid up unto the LORD, to come forth in due time by the way of Gentile; the interpretation thereof by the gift of GOD; an abridgement taken from the Book of Ether.

Also, which is a Record of the People of Jared, which were scattered at the time the LORD confounded the language of the people when they were building a tower to get to Heaven: which is to shew unto the remnant of the House of Israel how great things the LORD hath done for their fathers; and that they may know the covenants of the LORD, that they are not cast off forever; and also to the convincing of the Jew and Gentile that Jesus is the CHRIST, the ETERNAL GOD;, manifesting Himself unto all nations. And now if there be fault, it be the mistake of men; wherefore condemn not the things of GOD;, that ye may be found spotless at the judgement seat of CHRIST.

BY JOSEPH SMITH, JUNIOR.
            Author and Proprietor.

We find the following in relation to the history of this pretended divine gift, is Mr. Smith's Preface to his book.

PREFACE.

To the Reader -- As many false reports have been circulated respecting the following work, and also many unlawful measures taken by evil designing persons to destroy me, and also the work, I would inform you that I translated, by the gift and power of God, and caused to be written, one hundred and sixteen pages the which I took from the Book of Lehi, which was an account abridged from the plates of Lehi, by the hand of Mormon; which said account, some person or persons have stolen and kept from me, notwithstanding my utmost exertions to recover it again -- and being commanded of the Lord that I should not translate the same over again, for Satan had put it into their hearts to tempt the Lord their God, by altering the words, that they did read contrary from that which I translated and caused to be written; and if I should bring forth the same words again, or, in other words, if I should translate the same over again, they would publish that which they had stolen, and Satan would stir up the hearts of this generation, that they might not receive this work: but behold, the Lord said unto me, I will not suffer that Satan shall accomplish his evil design in this thing; therefore thou shalt translate from the plates of Nephi, until ye come to that which ye have translated, which ye have retained; and behold ye shall publish it as the record of Nephi; and thus I will confound those who have altered my words. I will not suffer that they shall destroy my work; yea, I will shew unto them that my wisdom is greater than the cunning of the Devil. -- Wherefore, to be obedient to the commandments of God, I have, through his grace and mercy, accomplished that which he hath commanded me respecting this thing. I would also inform you that the plates of which hath been spoken, were found in the township of Manchester, Ontario county, New York.
                      THE AUTHOR.


The Bible is composed of, first and second Book of Nephi; Book of Jacob; Book of Joram; Book of Mormon; Book of Moriah [sic]; Book of Alma; Book of Helaman; Book of Nephi, the son of Helaman, Book of Nephi the son of Nephi, Book of Mormon; Book of Ether and Book of Moroni.

The last book appears to have been added as a sort of appendix, and contains the form of service, mode of en[un]ciation, prayers, &c.

This bible is closed by two certificates commending the work; to the first is attached the name of Oliver Cowdry and two other persons, and to the last are eight names, among which are those of the father and two brothers of the reputed author.

On reading the name of Oliver Cowdry, in support of the divine authenticity of the work, whatever faith we might have been inspired with on reading the certificate, was banished, for we had known Cowdry some seven or eight years ago, when he was a dabbler in the art of Printing, and principally occupied in writing and printing pamphlets, with which, as a pedestrian Pedlar, he visited the towns and villages of western New York and Canada, and the only opinion we have of the origin of this Golden Bible, is that Mr. Cowdry and Mr. Smith the reputed author, have taken the old Bible to keep up a train of circumstances, and by altering names and language have produced the string of Jargon called the "Book of Mormon," with the intention of making mon[e]y by the sale of their Books; and being aware they would not sell unless an excitement and curiosity could be raised in the public mind, have therefore sent out twelve Apostles to promulgate its doctrines, several of whom are in this vicinity expounding its mysteries and baptising converts to its principles, whose labors, we understand are principally blest among the superstitious and ignorant or hypocritical, presenting a new proof that all fools are not dead, and knavery in any garb may, yet find votaries.


Notes: (forthcoming)

                                       For the Observer and Telegraph.
Mr. Isham, --

As the discovery of something, called a "new bible" is said lately to have been made, which challenges no less than to be a new Revelation of the Mind and Will of God, to his creature Man; I observe, that the account of the manner in which this pretended Codicil to the Will of God, was said to be communicated to mankind, in some place in the State of New York, is too absurd to deserve a serious refutation; yet such bold pretensions, may, perhaps, merit some consideration, especially, as some people are prone to believe whatever is asserted in a bold and confident manner.

I cannot but consider this pretended "New Revelation," not only as being unnecessary; but, on the supposition of its necessity; (which I by no means grant) it does not come with evidence of its truth, in any degree sufficient to demand belief. God has been pleased, in those books called the Old and New Testament, to communicate all that is necessary for man to know, whereby to regulate his faith and practice.

Not only is love to God and man, inculcated therein as the great moving principle of action; but also each particular duty, in every relation of life, is enforced and explained, in such a manner, that nothing but perfect holiness of heart, and obedience to the will of God, as already revealed in his holy word, are necessary to render mankind as happy as human nature is capable of being.

When God in mercy to sinful man, saw fit to give a Revelation of himself by Moses; that holy man very justly objected, unless God would favour him with such evidence of his divine mission, as rational beings, to whom he was sent, had a right to demand, to convince them that God had really sent him; and when required by Jehovah to proceed on his mission he urged the necessity of sufficient credentials to enforce belief; without which he very reasonably said, "They will not believe me nor hearken to my voice, for they will say, the Lord hath not appeared unto thee."

God immediately gave him the evidence of Miracles; such as the transformation of a rod to a serpent, &c.; and by a long succession of the most stupendous miracles, addressed both to their reason and senses, convinced not only the Israelites, but also the Egyptians, and even unbelieving Pharaoh himself, of the reality of his mission from God.

The giving of the Law on Mount Sinai was preceded, attended, and followed, by very extraordinary exhibitions of Divine power and goodness, in the performance of miracles of such a character as challenged the full belief, that it was a revelation from God himself; and rendered unbelief most dreadfully criminal.

When the old Dispensation, which was but a "shadow of good things to come," gave way for the introduction of the new, through the ministry of Christ and his Apostles, when the Jews, who were strongly attached to Judaism. enquired who or what he was, he uniformly referred them to the Miracles of benevolence which he had wrought, as full and sufficient evidence of his Divine Character and Mission.

As God "knows what is in man," whom he has made a Moral Agent; and as Belief is not an act of the Will, but depends on the force with which Evidence strikes his mind -- his Creator does not require rational creatures to believe any thing whatever, without sufficient evidence, or contrary to the evidence of their senses; neither does God reveal himself, and demand belief, unless he gives full and ample evidence of the truth of such Revelation; and as he governs the moral, as well as the natural world, by fixed laws -- rational creatures are not bound to believe any pretended revelation from him, unless accompanied with, and proven true by the same kind of evidence with which he has hitherto established and proven, as those were by Moses, Christ and his Apostles.

In conclusion, I remark that if the above observations are correct, we are bound to consider the Apostles of this pretended new Revelation, either as wild Fanatics, or (what is more probable) as designing Villains, unless they can convince mankind of the truth of their mission from Heaven -- either by imitating Moses, by dividing seas, and feeding their followers with Manna -- or like our blessed Saviour, by healing the sick, restoring lost limbs, or raising the dead; or else by performing other miracles equally stupendous. -- I earnestly entreat all who favor this 'newly discovered Bible,' as it is called, or its abettors, to consider the awful denunciations of God, near the close of His Holy Word: "For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the Prophecy of this book, if any man ADD unto these things, God shall add unto him all the plagues which are written in this book!"    H.
Dec. 23d.


Note: The publication date of the second letter is uncertain -- may actually have appeared on Feb. 24, 1831

S U P E R S T I T I O N.

From the Painesville Telegraph.

THE  GOLDEN  BIBLE.

Some two or three years since, an account was given in the paper[s], of a book purporting to contain new revelations from Heaven, having been dug out of the ground, in Manchester in Ontario Co. N. York. The book, it seems, has made its appearance in this vicinity. It contains about 500 octavo pages, which is said to be translated from Egyptian Hieroglyphics, on metal plates, by one Smith, who was enabled to read the characters by instruction from Angels. About two weeks since some persons came along here with the book, one of whom pretends to have seen Angels, and assisted in translating the plates. He proclaims destruction upon the world within a few years, -- holds forth that the ordinances of the gospel, have not been regularly administered since the days of the Apostles, till the said Smith and himself commenced the work -- and many other marvellous things too numerous to mention. In the neighboring township of Kirtland, we understand that twenty or thirty have been immersed into the new order of things; many of whom had been previously baptised. The name of the person here, who pretends to have a divine mission, and to have seen and conversed with Angels, is Cowdry. We understand that he is bound for the regions beyond the Mississippi, where he contemplates founding a "City of Refuge" for his followers, and converting the Indians, under his prophetic authority.

---

For the information of such of our readers, as may not be acquainted with the story of the famous "Golden Bible," spoken of in the foregoing article, we re-publish the following statement, which appeared about 12 months since.

In the fall of 1827, a person by the name of Joseph Smith of Manchester, Ontario County, reported that he had been visited in a dream by the spirit of the Almighty, and informed that in a certain hill in that town, was deposited this Golden Bible, containing an ancient record of a divine nature and origin. After having been thrice thus visited, as he states he proceeded to the spot and after having penetrating mother earth a short distance, the Bible was found together with a huge pair of spectacles! He had directed, however, not to let any mortal being examine them under no less penalty than instant death! They were therefore nicely wrapped up and excluded from the vulgar gaze of poor wicked mortals! It was said that the leaves of the bible were plates of gold about 8 inches long, 9 wide and one eighth of an inch thick, on which were engraved characters or hieroglyphics. By placing the spectacles in a hat, and looking into it, Smith could (he said at least) interpret the characters. An account of this discovery was soon circulated. The subject was almost invariably treated as it should have been with contempt. A few however believed the "Golden" story, among whom was Martin Harris, an honest and industrious farmer of the town of Palmyra. So blindly enthusiastic was Harris, that he took some of the characters interpreted by Smith, and went in search of some one, who was learned enough to English them; but to all whom he applied (among the number was Professor Mitchell, of New York,) happened not to be possessed of sufficient knowledge to give satisfaction! Harris returned, and set Smith to work at interpreting the Bible. He has at length performed the task, and the work is soon to be put to press in Palmyra. Its language and doctrines are said to be far superior to the book of life. -- Palmyra Freeman.


Notes: (forthcoming)

MORMONISM. -- by the name of Whitmer arrived here last week from Manchester, N. Y., the seat of wonders, with a new batch of revelations from God, as he pretended, which have just been communicated to Joseph Smith. As far as we have been able to learn their contents, they are a more particular description of the creation of the world, and a history of Adam and his family, and other sketches of the anti-deluvian world, which Moses neglected to record. But the more important part of the mission was to inform the brethren that the boundaries of the promised land, or the New Jerusalem, had just been made known to Smith from God -- the township of Kirtland, a few miles west of this, is the eastern line and the Pacific Ocean the western line; if the north and south lines have been described, we have not learned them. Orders were also brought to the brethren to sell no more land, but rather buy more. Joseph Smith and all his forces are to be on here soon to take possession of the promised land. -- Painesville Telegraph.


Notes: (forthcoming)

MORMONISM. -- A young gentleman by the name of Whitmer arrived here last week from Manchester, N. Y., the seat of wonders, with a new batch of revelations from God, as he pretended, which have just been communicated to Joseph Smith. As far as we have been able to learn their contents, they are a more particular description of the creation of the world, and a history of Adam and his family, and other sketches of the anti-deluvian world, which Moses neglected to record. But the more important part of the mission was to inform the brethren that the boundaries of the promised land, or the New Jerusalem, had just been made known to Smith from God -- the township of Kirtland, a few miles west of this, is the eastern line and the Pacific Ocean the western line; if the north and south lines have been described, we have not learned them. Orders were also brought to the brethren to sell no more land, but rather buy more. Joseph Smith and all his forces are to be on here soon to take possession of the promised land. -- Painesville Telegraph.


Note: This same notice, from the pages of E. D. Howe's Jan. 18, 1831Painesville Telegraph, was also reprinted in the Jan. 25th Cleveland Advertiser and in the Jan. 29th issue of the Wooster Republican Advocate. The "revelations" spoken of appear to be the product of Rigdon and Smith's work in New York at that time, when they first endeavored to rectify the text of the King James Bible.

                                  Painesville, Jan. 18, 1831.
MORMONISM. -- A young gentleman by the name of Whitmer arrived here last week from Manchester, N. Y., the seat of wonders, with a new batch of revelations from God, as he pretended, which have just been communicated to Joseph Smith. As far as we have been able to learn their contents, they are a more particular description of the creation of the world, and a history of Adam and his family, and other sketches of the anti-deluvian world, which Moses neglected to record. But the more important part of the mission was to inform the brethren that the boundaries of the promised land, or the New Jerusalem, had just been made known to Smith from God -- the township of Kirtland, a few miles west of this, is the eastern line and the Pacific Ocean the western line; if the north and south lines have been described, we have not learned them. Orders were also brought to the brethren to sell no more land, but rather buy more. Joseph Smith and all his forces are to be on here soon to take possession of the promised land. -- Telegraph.


Notes: (forthcoming)

THE GOLDEN BIBLE, OR THE BOOK OF MORMON. -- The believers in the sacred authenticity of this 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 concerned to give us the truth, we were assured that their number in the family in that town were two hundred souls. We doubt not then that their whole number in this county and Cayahoga are at least four hundred.

They have recently received an additional revelation from the prolifick 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...


Note: This article excerpt apparently appeared in the Republican Advocate of Feb. 5, 1831. The full article appeared in that same paper on Feb. 26th, reprinted from the Jan. 31, 1831 issue of the Painesville Geauga Gazette. The same article appeared (in its full five paragraphs) in the Ashtabula Journal on Feb. 5th, in the Cleveland Advertiser on Feb. 8th., and in the American Friend on Mar. 12th.

THE GOLDEN BIBLE, OR THE BOOK OF MORMON -- The believers in the sacred authenticity of this 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 of Kirtland, well informed, and every way concerned to give us the truth, we are assured that their numbers in the families in that town were two hundred souls. We doubt not then, that their whole number in this county and Cayahoga are 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 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 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 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 asse[rt]ation[s] 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 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 hands 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.


Note: The above item is reprinted from the Feb. 1, 1831 issue of the Painesville Geauga Gazette.

THE  GOLDEN  BIBLE.

An individual from Geauga County came into our Office the other day, with a Golden Bible, alias the Book of Mormon, alias the new Revelation, alias a Volume of silly impostures, in his hand, and requested us to buy the book. He stated, that in the region where he lived, it was hailed as a Revelation from God, by great numbers, of all descriptions of persons. Not a few, who had, from motives of curiosity, gone several miles, to witness strange things, of which they had heard, had become believers before leaving, and returned home strong in the new faith. The prophets sternly decline holding an argument with any man -- and when assailed with that formidable weapon, coil into their shell, as securely as an oyster, vociferating meantime most lustily, 'Repent and receive the Revelation of God, upon pain of eternal damnation' -- or something to that effect. In view of these things he had been much tried in his own mind, and not knowing what to do, had brought the book along, in hopes that we might be induced to write something, which would clear up his doubts, and yield him the satisfaction of knowing where the truth lies. Far be it from us to sport with the honest scruples of any man; otherwise we should be strongly inclined to treat the subject with the levity and ridicule it deserves. The man was really serious, and appeared solicitous to know the truth. Addressing him then, as a sincere inquirer after truth, we submit to his consideration, the following remarks.

1st. A new Revelation, was not needed. Everything essential to our salvation was already revealed. The guilt, condemnation, and ruin of the sinner; the holiness, strictness, and spirituality of God's Law; the fullness and freeness of pardon through the atoning blood of Christ to all who will accept it; the office of the Spirit as a Sanctifier; and the utter inexcuseableness of all, who are finally lost, -- are truths proclaimed upon almost every page of the New Testament. The way of Salvation was already open to all who would enter. "Look unto me, all ye ends of the earth, and be ye saved." "Whosoever will, let him come and take of the water of life freely." But if there is ample provision in the Gospel for the salvation of men, what need was there of another revelation? Plainly none at all. And the fact, that no additional revelation was needed, is a conclusive argument that none has been made; for it is entirely aside from all our conceptions of the Deity, to suppose, that he would make a revelation, which was not called for by the necessities of his creatures.

2d. A new Revelation was not expected. Not so when the New Testament dispensation was given. It was needed, and therefore probable. It was predicted, and therefore certain. Hence a general expectation of the Messiah prevailed, even among the Gentiles, insomuch that wise men came from the East to do him homage, before it was known even among the Jews, that he was born. The more devout Jews also, "waited for the consolation of Israel." Aged Simeon lingered upon the brink of the grave, as though permitted to remain just long enough to clasp the infant Saviour in his arms. It was enough. "Now letteth thou thy servant depart in peace; for mine eyes have seen thy Salvation." But who ever waited for the coming of these men? Who expected them? Who ever rose from the perusal of the New Testament, under the impression that they were coming? Not only have they come without being expected, but against all expectation. The Christian world had settled down into the belief that no further revelation would ever be made to mankind; that already given being ample in its provisions; the writers of it moreover declaring that it was the last, that the volume was sealed, -- and pronouncing the most dreadful anathemas against them, who should add to, or detract any thing from it.

3d. The appearance of false prophets, might reasonably have been expected. That they shall come "and deceive many," is the very thing predicted by those sacred writers, who inform us that the New Testament contains a full and perfect revelation of God's will to man. But when they shall say "lo here, and lo there, believe them not." Josephus enumerates no less than twenty-eight of these pretenders, who flourished in his day. Of two of these, "boasting themselves to be somebody," we have an account in the Acts of the Apostles. To one of them, "a number of persons, about four hundred, joined themselves," and the other "drew away much people after him." But they both came to nought, and all their followers "were dispersed." We can scarcely turn over a page of ecclesiastical history, without meeting with similar accounts. Impostors have arisen, and flourished, had their day, and disappeared, in an almost unbroken series, from the days of the Apostles, down to the present time. Had it not been so, the authenticity of the Scriptures might well have been questioned; for the charge of having uttered predictions, which never had been fulfilled, might have been urged with effect. As it is, every attempt of the kind only goes to corroborate the testimony that the Old and New Testaments are given by inspiration of God.

4. As was remarked, in a communication in this paper a few numbers back, those who profess to be the Messengers of a Revelation from God, must exhibit their credentials to the world, by working miracles. And it is to be remembered too, that miracles, wrought by the power of the Almighty God, in attestation of his truth, have certain characteristics, by which they may be distinguished from those spurious miracles to which impostors sometimes make pretensions. To be worthy of our confidence, miracles must have the following characteristics. They must be numerous. They must be performed in day-light. They must be open to the inspection of the public generally. Such were not the pretended miracles of Mahommed, and of Simon the sorcerer. Such are not the pretended miracles of the Church of Rome, and of the numerous jugglers, who go about the country, beguiling the people of their money. Such, and such only, were the miracles wrought to attest the truth of the Old and New Testaments.

5. The book itself bears the marks of imposture upon its forehead. On its very title-page is blazoned forth: "Joseph Smith, Jun. Author and Proprietor." Here the Impostor, in the pride of his heart, thrusts out the cloven foot. And the whole book speaks the same language. That God could be the Author of such a production, it were blasphemy to suppose. We venture to affirm, that there is not a paragraph in the book, in which the proprieties of the English Language are not violated; and such an assemblage of low, vulgar expressions, were never, we believe, collected together in a single volume. Not that there is any thing particularly licentious, or immoral introduced. It is to be remembered, that the book purports to be only a more full development of the Revelation made in the Old and New Testaments, and of course, to preserve the least color of consistency, every thing licentious, and immoral, must be excluded. The impropriety we speak of, is, that the Almighty should be represented, as clothing his ideas in language, which cannot be used in well bred society, without a breach of common dedency. How unlike the language of the Scriptures of truth!

Again, there is an overdone attempt to imitate the writers of the Scriptures. Probably the lowness, and vulgarity of the language, is a consequence of this attempt, the Impostor mistaking it for the simplicity which characterizes the language of the Scriptures, in so eminent a degree. We all know how natural it is, for a person of small mind, who attempts to imitate the dignified simplicity which characterizes the language of eminent men, to run himself aground, in the mire of vulgarity. An effort to preserve, in certain cases, the identical phraseology of the Scriptures, is equally unhappy. It is known to all readers of the Bible, that paragraphs commence occasionally with the words, "And it came to pass." In the book before us, there are probably three thousand paragraphs; and we should judge that as many as two thousand eight hundred of them begin in this manner. Open where you will, and you see nothing but, "And it came to pass" -- "And it came to pass." There is one continued stream of tautology, in this respect, running through the book. This is a small circumstance, to be sure; but small circumstances sometimes detect great impostures. The book is almost entirely made up of stories, improbable in themselves, and badly told. It seems to us, that the 'Author' furnishes himself with hints, from some of the most prominent facts of the Old Testament history, as starting points. From these various points, his stupid imagination leads him off into the land of Nephi, &c.; and the burden of his narration consists in giving an account of the battles, which were fought, the victories which were won, and the like, in these hitherto unheard-of countries. These countries are represented as lying adjacent to those which were the scene of Old Testament history, and yet not one of them is mentioned in the Scriptures. It is further worthy of remark, that in this whole volume, nothing which is at all essential is pretended to be revealed. It is made up entirely of accounts which are of no importance to any body, if they are true. Such are the insipid stories of which we before alluded. In another place we are wearied with a long account of the state of the soul between death and the resurrection, the amount of [years?] that the soul is either happy or miserable [immediately?] on its leaving the body, a truth which [is independently] taught in the Scriptures. The utter dearth of every thing, which would be at all essential, if true, confirms the remark, which we first made, viz that a new Revelation was not needed, and therefore none had been given.

Another feature in the book, which betrays its spuriousness, is, the great solicitude, which is expressed, lest it should not be believed. We have Smith's assertion, again, and again, that it is true; and accompanying it, are no less than two certificates, the one, by three, and the other by six [sic - eight?] persons; the three, setting forth, that they know of a truth, that the thing is so, having been supernaturally informed; and the six, that they have seen with their own eyes, and "hefted" the plates. Now this all looks like imposture, sheer imposture. It is just exactly the course which an impostor would be likely to take. Who does not know that the man who speaks falsehood, always manifests great solicitude, lest he should not be believed; that he follows up one assertion with another, refers to witnesses, and perhaps seals it with an oath? What kind of a figure would the Savior, and his Apostles have made, running about, with two or three paltry certificates, and manifesting great uneasiness lest they should not be believed? What kind of a substitute would all this have been, for that calm and settled reliance on the arm of Jehovah, and that total disregard to the opinions of men, in regard to the divine authority of their Mission, which they manifested? How do these pitiful credentials appear, when we think of that divine power, which accompanied the Saviour and his Apostles, whenever they went, casting out devils, healing the sick, restoring the withered arm, giving sight to the blind, hearing to the deaf, activity to the lame, life to the dead, and hushing into stillness the waves of the sea?

We shall only notice one thing more, in relation to this ill-shaped mass. It purports, as we said, to be in perfect harmony with the Old and New Testament dispensations, and indeed only a fuller development of them. -- And yet, it records numerous historical facts, which are directly at variance with the facts recorded in the New Testament, and corroborated by profane historians. For instance, during the first two centuries after the coming of Christ, the church is represented as having attained to a universal triumph over all opposition, insomuch that all contention had ceased, and peace and happiness prevailed throughout the world. A book which thus gives the lie to the positive declarations of scripture, we are not prepared to receive.

---

                     For the Observer and Telegraph.

THE  NEW  BIBLE. -- A HOAX.

Mr. Isham, --

It seems strange to me, that so many individuals in some towns in Geauga county, can be deluded by this base theory. Who that knows any thing of the character of these "Prophets," or whatever the please to call themselves, can be so deluded as to sell their farms, and contribute the avails of it to the support of the common family, or in spreading this pretended New Bible about the country? One of them is said to be a book hawker, and peddles off an immense quantity of this pretended revelation; which he is enabled to do, after the excitement raised by the remainder of the gang: -- and who has the profits? Are they expended in the "common stock family," or hoarded up by these vagabonds?

The following extract from the 153 page of their book, may not be unprofitable to the reader.     L. F.

"And it came to pass that after there had been false Christs, and their mouths had been shut, and they punished according to their crimes; and after there had been false prophets, and false teachers, and preachers among the people, and all these having been punished according to their crimes; and after there having been much contentions and many disentions; * * * king Benjamin, by laboring with all the might of his body, * * * did once more establish peace in the land."


Notes: (forthcoming)

==> MORMONISM -- or Grand Pugilistic Debate. The Painesville Telegraph of this morning has the particulars of the acceptance of a challenge by Thomas Campbell, given by a noted mountebank by the name of Elder Rigdon, who has flourished in and about the "openings," for the last few years, and to the no small wonderment of all the old women round about that country, to test the validity of the doctrine contained in the Book of Mormon! It is something singular that this subject should have created such a stir. The Editor of the Telegraph has opened his paper to a discussion of its merits and demerits!

Rigdon was formerly a disciple of Campbell's and who it is said was sent out to make proselytes, but is probable he thought he should find it more advantageous to operate on his own capital, and therefore wrote, as it is believed the Book of Mormon, and commenced his pilgrimage in the town of Kirtland, which was represented as one of the extreme points of the Holy Land.

The good people of that country were wont to take a different notice of nuisances, by placing them a-stride a rail, accompanied with the music of kettle drums, tin pans, and pumpkin vines to the tune of
                "Over the hills, and far a-way."


Note: This is one of the first news reports in which Sidney Rigdon was accused of having written the Book of Mormon. As his assistant, Elder Parley P. Pratt said, in 1838: "Early in 1831, Mr. Rigdon having been ordained, under our hands, visited elder J. Smith, Jr., in the state of New-York, for the first time; and from that time forth, rumor began to circulate, that he (Rigdon) was the author of the Book of Mormon." Pratt says nothing about the circulators of that "rumor" trying to discredit Joseph Smith as the probable true author of the Book of Mormon; Pratt merely says that Sidney Rigdon's Dec. 1830 journey to visit "elder" Joseph Smith, Jr. in New York set such rumors afloat. These "rumors" grew out of various persons' knowledge or suspicions of the early association and cooperation of Smith and Rigdon; indeed, as Pratt points out, "The Spaulding story never was dreamed of until several years afterwards, when it appeared in Mormonism Unveiled." Of course Pratt does not say whether or not Rigdon ever met Smith before "J. Smith" became an "elder." The Cleveland Advertiser's accusations concerning Rigdon and the book probably arose independently of both the Spalding authorship claims and of various early reports of there having been a clandestine cooperation between Smith and Rigdon. The northern Ohio writer had simply heard enough bad things about Rigdon locally, to suppose such a "noted mountebank" would write false scripture to further his own purposes.

SUMMARY.

The new church at Kirtland, Ohio, under the auspices of the "Book of Mormon," is said to contain 400 members.

Note: This estimation, of there being "400 members" at Kirtland, is seemingly exaggerated. However, adding roughly 200 members moving from New York to Ohio at that time, to Rigdon's estimated 200 converts, gave the Church of Christ a total membership of about 400 souls in early 1831.

                    For the Observer and Telegraph.

MORMONISM.

Mr. Isham --

Since the subject of the Mormon Bible has found its way into the columns of your paper, the following sentiment connected with this strange business is worthy of attention -- for it is manifest that many of the less observing are deceived. The Prophets of Mormon profess to pay great respect to what is now termed the Old Bible, and say the new, or the Book of Mormon, is but a confirmation of the Old, and explanatory of it. Look at the following fact, and see if in this they can be sincere. -- Take for instance the authorship of their baptism -- and find if you can, any reference in fact to the Old Bible. Where shall we look for its commencement? Evidently, as they will themselves acknowledge, when Smith commenced with the Mormon dispensation. When did Smith -- and from whom did he receive the Ordinance? If it should be said from Cowdery, from whom did he receive it? The ordinance originated with these men, and the authority [is] found vested in them to the exclusion of all others. -- Or else why did they, and do they still, treat as of no avail whatever may have been done by others tho' in the same manner -- and by virtue of that authority which they conceive was derived from the Old Bible? Though it may have been done thrice, as is the fact with some, yet the seal of [Mormon] was not there. Most evidently with all their professions of attachment to the Old Bible their conduct in this particular, shows a perfect disregard to it.   U. P.


Notes: (forthcoming)

The following short biography of the Prophet, Joseph Smith, Jr., is copied from the Palmyra, N. Y., Reflector.

Jo Smith, Junior, according to the best information we can obtain on this subject, was born in the State of Vermont. His father emigrated to the co/ (Ontario County, N. Y.) about the year 1815, and located his family in the village of Palmyra. The age of this modern prophet is supposed to be about 24 years. In his person he is tall and slender -- thin favored -- having but little expression of countenance, other than that than that of dulness; his mental powers appear to be extremely limited, and from the small opportunity he has had at school, he made little or no proficiency, and it is asserted by one of his principle followers, (who also pretends to divine illuminations,) that Jo, even at this day is profoundly ignorant of the meaning of many of the words contained in the Book of Mormon.

Joseph Smith, senior, the father of the personage of whom we are now writing, had by misfortune or otherwise been reduced to extreme poverty before he migrated to Western New-York. His family was large, consisting of nine or ten children, among whom Jo junior was the third or fourth in succession. We have never been able to learn that any of the family were ever noted for much else than ignorance and stupidity, to which might be added, so far as it may respect the elder branch, a propensity to superstition and a fondness for everything marvelous.

We have been credibly informed that the mother of the prophet had connected herself with several religious societies before her present illumination; this also was the case with other branches of the family, but how far the father of the prophet ever advanced in these particulars we are not precisely informed; it however appears quite certain that the prophet himself never made any serious pretentious to religion until his late pretended revelation.

Waterloo, Jan. 26, 1831.    

Mr. Editor: -- Elder S. Rigdon left this village on Monday morning last in the stage, for the "Holy Land," where all the "Golden Bible" converts, have recently received a written commandment from God, through Jo Smith, junior, to repair with all convenient speed after selling off their property. This command was at first resisted by such as had property, (the brethren from the neighboring counties being all assembled by special summons,) but after a night of fasting, prayer and trial, they all consented to obey the holy messenger. -- Rigdon has for some time past been arranging matters with Smith for the final departure of the faithful for the "far west." The man of many CREEDS, (Rigdon) appears to possess colloquial powers to a considerable degree, and before leaving this vicinity left us his blessing. He delivered a discourse at the Court House immediately preceding his departure, wherein he depicted in strong language, the want of "charity and brotherly love" among the prevailing sects and denominations of professing christians, and sorry I am to admit, that he had too much truth on his side with regard to this particular. After denouncing dreadful vengeance on the whole state of New-York, and this village in particular, and recommending to all such as wished to flee from "the wrath to come," to follow him beyond the "western waters," he took his leave. The Prophet, Spouse, and whole "holy family" (as they style themselves,) will follow Rigdon, so soon as their deluded or hypothetical followers, shall be able to dispose of what little real property they possess in this region: one farm (Whitmers) was sold a few days ago for $2,300. Their first place of destination is understood to be a few miles west of Painesville, Ohio, (the present place of the Elder's residence) which is just within the east bounds of this new land of promise, which extends from thence to the Pacific Ocean, embracing a territory of 1500 miles in extent, from north to south.

From the Same.

Golden Bible. -- Since we have had any knowledge of the habits or propensities of the human species, we find that man has been prone to absurdities: and it too often happens that while we carefully attempt to detect them in others, we fondly cherish some gross inconsistencies within our own bosoms. The lust of power doubtless stimulates the few, while ignorance binds the many, like passive slaves to the car of superstition.

It is passing strange, that in all ages of the world, gross stupidity in an imposter should be considered among the vulgar, irrefragable proof of his divine mission, and the most bungling piece of legerdemain, will receive from them all the credit of a well attested miracle. Joanna Southcote published a book in the city of London, in 1804, in which her first prophecies were detailed. -- She declares that she did not understand the communications given her by the spirit, till they were afterwards explained to her. The spirit informed her how she could fortel the weather and other events. She declares that the death of Bishop Buller, was foretold her in a dream. One night she heard an iron ball roll three steps down stairs, which the spirit told her was a sign of three great evils about to fall upon the land -- the sword, the plague, and famine. She relates that she foretold the extraordinary harvest, which happened in 1800. She was often ordered to read the bible, when the spirit would interpret its meaning. She informs her readers that Jacob's warning to his sons, is applicable to our times -- mentions frequent contents with various preachers, and talks much about the marriage of the Lamb.

The following is from one of her communications. "As wrong as they are in saying thou hast children brought up by the parish, and that thou art Bonaparte's brother, and that thou hast been in prison; so also is their sayings, thy writings come from the devil, or any spirit but the Living God; and that every soul in this nation shall know before the Five Years I mentioned to the people in 1800 are expired, and then I will return as a Diadem of beauty to the residence of my people, and they shalt praise the God of Their Salvation."

In 1805 Joanna published a pamphlet, attempting to confute the "five charges" which had been made against her and published in the newspapers. First, sealing her disciples, Second, on the invasion. Third, on famine. Fourth, her mission, and fifth, her death. Sealing is an important point among these people. -- Joannah gives those who profess a belief in her mission, and will subscribe to the things revealed in her "Warning" a sealed paper with her signature, by which they are led to think, that they are sealed against the day of redemption, and that all those who possess these seals, would be signally honored by the Messiah when he should come in the spring (of 1807.) -- Her followers believed her to be the bride, a Lamb's wife, and that as man fell by a woman, he will be restored by a woman. Many of her followers pretended to have visions and revelations. At present it would appear that both warning, and sealing have subsided; and they are waiting in awful suspense for the commencement of the thousand years reign on earth, when peace will universally prevail. They now pretend that Christ will not come in person, but in spirit, and all the dead who have been sealed, will be raised from their graves to partake of this happy state.

If an imposture, like the one we have so briefly noticed, could spring up in the great metropolis of England, and spread over a considerable portion of that kingdom, it is not surprising that one equally absurd, should have its origin in this neighborhood, where its dupes are not, or ever will be numerous.

In the commencement, the imposture of the "book of Mormon" had no regular plan or features. At a time when the money digging ardor was somewhat abated, the elder Smith declared that his son Jo had seen the spirit, (which he then described as a little old man with a long beard,) and was informed that he (Jo) under certain circumstances, eventually should obtain great treasures, and that in due time he (the spirit) would furnish him (Jo) with a book, which would give an account of the Ancient inhabitants (antediluvians) of this country, and where they had deposited their substance, consisting of costly furniture, &c. at the approach of the great deluge, which had ever since that time remained secure in his (the spirits) charge, in large and spacious chambers, in sundry places in this vicinity, and these tidings corresponded precisely with revelations made to, and predictions made by the elder Smith a number of years before.

The time at length arrived, when young Jo was to receive the book from the hand of the spirit, and he repaired accordingly, alone, and in the night time, to the woods in the rear of his father's house (in the town of Manchester, about two miles south of this village) and met the spirit as had been appointed. This rogue of a spirit who had baffled all the united efforts of the money diggers, (although they had tried many devices to gain his favor, and at one time sacrificed a barn yard fowl,) intended it would seem to play our prophet a similar trick on this occasion; for no sooner had he delivered the book according to promise, than he made a most desperate attempt to regain its possession. Our prophet, however, like a lad of true metal, stuck to his prize, and attempted to gain his father's dwelling, which it appears, was near at hand. The father being alarmed at the long absence of his son, and probably fearing some trick of the spirit, having known him for many years; sallied forth in quest of the youthful adventurer. He had not, however, proceeded far before he fell in with the object of his kind solicitude who appeared to be in the greatest peril.

The spirit had become exasperated at the stubborn conduct of the young prophet, in wishing to keep possession of the book, and out of sheer spite, raised a whirlwind, which at that particular juncture, throwing trunks and limbs of trees about their ears, besides the "elfish sprite" had belabored Jo soundly with blows, -- had felled him once to the ground, and bruised him severely in the side. The rescue however, was timely; Jo retained his treasure, and returned to the house with his father, much fatigued and injured. This tale in substance, was told at the time the event was said to have happened by both father and son, and is well recollected by many of our citizens. It will be borne in mind that no divine interposition had been dreamed of at the period.


Notes: (forthcoming)

Mormonism. -- We have frequently seen short notices in various papers of the golden bible, or the book of Mormon, as it is usually called, but have hitherto declined saying any thing on the subject, on account of not wishing to give the matter a degree of consequence it ill deserves. Finding, however, that the silly, ignorant and lazy, in all directions are closing in with their offers; and some who have hitherto been considered respectable, have become credulous, and packed up and set out to join this miserable deluded race of beings, it may not be amiss to state at this time, a summary of their origin, as near as we can recollect from the statements which have come under our observation.

Some months since, a young lawyer living in the western part of the state of New York, who probably had nothing else to do, and being acquainted with stenography, or the short hand, wrote the wonderful Mormon bible in stenographick characters. After having safely lodged his sacred deposite in the bowels of the earth, he marvellously appeared in disguise, in the form of an angel, to a man named Smith, and revealed to him where he would find the sacred treasure. Smith accordingly went, found the Mormon manuscript, and in his researches to find some one to interpret it, he fell in with his angel lawyer, who readily unravelled the mystery. Smith being an unlettered, ignorant man, sold his possessions in order to acquire the means for publishing his work. Having accomplished this object, he [set] about selling them; and finding they were not current, he set out for Ohio, and by the pretended aid of inspiration he thus succeeded in giving away, and selling some of his books, and raising the rabble above mentioned.

The book, we learn from good authority, is a sheer fabrication, and base imposition, and it is to be lamented that so many miserable dupes should be found to embrace such principles. Offences must needs come, but "woe unto that man by whom the offence cometh."

The disciples of this mockery are scouring the country in all directions for proselytes; going into "all the world, (as they call it) to preach the gospel." Many of those who have joined them left their stores of meat piled up without salting on being told that the Lord would preserve it, and provide for them; but their faith was not strong enough to save meat without salt, and it soon stunk. We augur that these miserable wretches will soon find that they must earn their bread by the sweat of their brow; and after they have [eaten] out their present common stock, many of them will no doubt be under the necessity of returning to their former avocations, while some will take to purloining for a livelihood, and eventually find a more permanent location at our state Penitentiary. -- Ashtabula Republican.


Note: The issue of the Ashtabula Republican from which this article was reprinted has not yet been located. The writer engages in a considerable amount of armchair explaining but offers few reliable facts in the process. His revealing that the angel who visited Joseph Smith was merely a man, anticipates the much later statements of writers like Pomeroy Tucker, but provides no identification for the pretended angelic messenger. The only "lawyers" known to have been involved with the Manchester Smiths were Lyman Cowdery (who reportedly backed out of a local school teaching job provided by Hyrum Smith, and who later served as an attorney for Lucy Harris in her suit against Martin Harris) and, perhaps, his younger brother, Oliver (who perhaps learned a little about the law from his brother). As a Freemason and a judge, Lyman may have known a thing or two about both masonic correspondence codes and court-room shorthand.

MORMONISM.

(from Feb. 15, 1831 issue of the Painesville Telegraph)

SOMETHING NEW. -- GOLDEN BIBLE

The mind of man is ever active. Either in good or in the pursuit of evil, or in the attainment of objects combining both, with all the possible degrees of energy and intelligence it moves, or ceases only momentarily and resuscitates to exert an accelerated and more effective influence. The multiplied departments of human knowledge or speculation afford the channels for the flooding mental operations. Truth and intelligence furnish ample direction and employ for all the ingenuity and labor of man; and the world is beginning to awake to the merits of the observation, as the history of fact and experiment lucidly testify. But in the absence of intelligence, ingenuity is put to the torture for the discovery of other materials and the basest passions are enlisted in the furtherance of projects, the boldest and daring and the artful perseverance of which, both are marvellous, but which the more so, is problematical. Of such a cast is the imposition designated by the head of this piece. Who would have thought of meeting advocates of a fresh revelation in the nineteenth century? Judaism contemplated such an event, as a clause in its constitution and the significancy and scope of its observances and prophecies indicate with a distinctness unequivocal, but Christianity never did. Its constitution is perpetual and it is in its own individuality, the consummation of Divine revelations to mortals. The unobscured and unrestrained vision and glory of man immortalized, succeeded the winding up of the administration of the great Philanthropist upon the throne of God, and the jurisdiction of his revealing word. Notwithstanding all this, some hundreds of the rabble and a few intelligent citizens of the western part of New York and the eastern part of Ohio, have, with the wildest enthusiasm, embraced a feigned revelation purporting to be literally new. From the advocates of this new religion called Mormonism, from a letter received from the intelligent Post Master at Palmyra, extracts from Mr. Thomas Campbell's letters and other sources, embracing the subjoined pieces taken from the Telegraph of Painesville, O.: from these different quarters I learn the following particulars. For a long time in the vicinity of Palmyra, there has existed an impression, especially among certain loose classes of society, that treasures of great amount were concealed near the surface of the earth, probably by the Indians, whom they were taught to consider the descendants of the ten lost Israelitish tribes, by the celebrated Jew who a few years since promised to gather Abraham's sons on Grand Island, thus to be made a Paradise. The ignorance and superstition of these fanatics soon conjured up a ghost, who they said was often seen and to whom was committed the care of the precious deposit. This tradition made money diggers of many who had neither intelligence nor industry sufficient to obtain a more reputable livelihood. But they did not succeed and as the money was not dug up, something must be dug up to make money. The plan was laid, doubtless, by some person behind the curtain, who selected suitable tools. One Joseph Smith, a perfect ignoramus, is to be a great prophet of the Lord, the fabled ghost the angel of his presence, a few of the accomplices the apostles or witnesses of the imposition, and, to fill up the measure of their wickedness and the absurdity of their proceedings, the hidden golden treasure, is to be a gold bible and a new revelation. This golden bible consisted of metallic plates six or seven inches square, of the thickness of tin and resembling gold, the surface of which was covered with hieroglyphic characters, unintelligible to Smith, the finder, who could not read English. However, the angel (ghost!) that discovered the plates to him, likewise informed him that he would be inspired to translate the inscriptions without looking at the plates, while an amanuensis would record his infallible reading; all which was accordingly done. But now the book must be published, the translation of the inscriptions which Smith was authorized to show to no man save a few accomplices, who subscribe a certificate of these pretended facts at the end of the volume. Truly a wise arrangement! Among the gang none had real estate save one, who mortgaged his property to secure the printer and binder in Palmyra, but who was so unfortunate as not to be able to convert his wife to the new faith, though he flogged her roundly for that purpose several times. The book, an octavo of from 500 to 1000 pages (for when I saw it I did not notice the number) did not meet ready sale and consequently about 500 copies were sent to the eastern part of this state, which was considered a better market. Though at home it had little success, the subjoined pieces will show that in the Western Reserve it found better.

Here I must devote a moment to another branch of the subject. The Baptist Chronicle of Ky. and similar works, have endeavored to fasten this imposition upon the current reformation, as the doings of Munzer have been fastened upon the Baptists of his own stamp. It and other ungentlemanly insinuations may yet stamp the character of his periodical so as not to subserve the interest of the cause it advocates, or the honor of its conductors. Let all those who would identify Mr. Campbell and those associated with him with this Mormonish absurdity, know that this new project makes no approach towards the reformation in its character or object, but would indicate a parentage nearer home. Let them know that a prominent Elder, (I mean an aged christian officer) Thomas Campbell, father of the justly celebrated Alexander Campbell, has offered to meet the apostate champion of this unholy imposition and publicly discuss its merits and that the intelligent reformers concur with him; that among the Mormonitish converts are found persons from among all the denominations. Presbyterians and Methodists, and that they are as liable to the charge of having originated the scheme as are the reformers; and indeed, that upon the same ground the Baptist Chroniclers are not unimpeachable. For my own part, some time since, having met one of these new fangled teachers in a congregation with which neither of us were connected, I refused to occupy the pulpit if he were invited, well knowing that a reformer by so doing would give occasion to misrepresentation. I had no other particular reason for my refusal, unless it was that the man proclaimed another gospel written in another book. The following documents will finish the tale of woe.

EDITOR.    

Note: For the remainder of this article (all of which is taken up with reprints) and relevant comments, see its treatment at SolomonSpalding.com.

SUMMARY.

We have received a pamphlet of 12 pages, containing a review of the "Book of Mormon" from the able pen of Alexander Campbell, of Va. It unequivocally and triumphantly sets the question of the divine authenticity of the "Book of Mormon" forever to rest, to every rational mind. We shall endeavor to lay it before our readers in two or three subsequent numbers. -- Painesville Telegraph.


Note: The "pamphlet of 12 pages" here referred to was Campbell's 1831 Delusions, the text of which first appeared in the Feb. 7, 1831 issue of Campbell's Millennial Harbinger. The Painesville Telegraph. serialized the text, beginning on March 8, 1831.

F A N A T I C I S M.

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 in the sacred authenticity of this 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 of Kirtland, well informed, and every way concerned to give us the truth, we are assured that their numbers in the families in that town were two hundred souls. We doubt not then, that their whole number in this county and Cayahoga are 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 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 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 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 asse[rt]ation[s] 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 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 hands 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.

Our readers will probably smile at the miserable delusion of these ignorant creatures, and we know, indeed, nothing better that can be done in that respect. Let it, however, teach us humility; let it check our disposition to condemn a whole age in other countries, because it produced such visionaries. Ignorance is the same in all ages, though it may not show itself in exactly the same forms: the unbalasted and unpiloted boat veers always from a direct course, but its aberrations are in conformity to the currents in which it drifts.


Notes: (forthcoming)

Antimasonic Religion. -- The Mormon Bible is anti-masonic, and it is a singular truth that every one of its followers, so far as we are able to ascertain are antimasons. Now, probably we are to know what is meant by "Church and State." -- Geauga Gazette.

The above is from the Gazette of last week. We [know] of but one other pretence of a like nature, [equally] miraculous -- and that is, that Masonry is the "Handmaid of Religion."

Notes: (forthcoming)

"THE WESTERN BAPTIST" vs. CAMPBELLISM.

"The Western Baptist," published monthly at Rock Spring, Illinois, edited by J. M. Peck, and now in its fifth month, has set up a spirited defence of the doctrines of the Baptist denomination, and indeed, of the whole Evangelical Church, in opposition to the innovations of Alexander Campbell. It appears to have been the original design of the paper, to canvass the opinions of this celebrated errorist. From the specimen before us, we should think the great Reformer would find it an obstacle in his path. It is conducted with more than common ability. We admore the excellent spirit which it breathes. The rancorous and vindictive temper, too frequently indulged by the controversialist, is not a characteristic of the Western Baptist. Such a temper always proceeds from a wrong spirit, -- and although we may have, at times, ourselves indulged it, in expressing the full measure of our indignation against the adversaries of truth and righteousness, yet we cannot but deprecate its exercise in every shape, as unchristian, and calculated to abate the force of the most powerful arguments.

We would recommend this publication to the patronage of the Baptist denomination in this region. The price of the work is only fifty cents a year; and a year's postage would not exceed one shilling. The Baptist churches, thoughout the West, have been fairly inundated with the errors of Campbellism -- and a publication which lifts up a standard against them, should be regarded with favor, by those of that denomination who have not already floated down the stream.


Note: The title of Rev. Peck's Illinois newspaper varied from time to time, being called at first "The Western Baptist;" then the "Western Baptist and Pioneer;" "The Pioneer;" "Western Pioneer;" etc. By 1832 Peck's paper was attacking Mormonism, along with Peck's continual response to the "Reformation" of Campbell's followers. If Rev. Peck (like the editors of the Observer) ever made a doctrinal connection between the early Campbellites and the origin of Mormonism, his reflections on that subject have yet to be discovered.

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 commission 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 the Rev. Alexander Campbell, who has made some disturbance among the Baptist Churches in the Western States. He calls himself a baptist but his opinions 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 baptized, and that none go to heaven except those who have been baptized (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 believer to be baptized, 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 baptized, whether in much or little water; no man was ever excluded from heaven because he had not been baptized; 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: 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.

Progress of Mormonism. -- The Editor of the Painesville, Ohio, Gazette says: -- 'Martin Harris, one of the original Mormon prophets, arrived in this village, last Saturday, on his way to the Holy Land. He says that he has seen Jesus Christ and that he is the handsomest man he ever did see. He has also seen the Devil, whom he describes as a very sleek haired fellow with four feet, and a head like that of a Jack-ass.'


Note: The text of the April 5, 1831 Painesville Geauga Gazette article is known only from this reprint and from another in the Apr. 30th Marietta American Friend. Presumably the original article had more to say about Martin Harris than the short account preserved in the article's reprints. As for Martin Harris' eccentric religious claims, see Palmyra resident Daniel Hendrix's account of Harris' claims of having been being permitted to take a divinely sanctioned trip to the Moon.

Another Joe Smith. -- A man named Joseph Wertsoer, of Norriton township, Montgomery county, advertises in the Norristown Herald, that he has had a vision, in which he was made a Free Mason "by an overruling power," and that he has received divine authority for founding a new society, the members of which are to be called "Christ Masons." He invites candidates for initiation to come forward and be entered, passed, and raised, but says not a word about the fee, or about the cable-tow. -- Telegraph.


Note: While some early Mormons (like W. W. Phelps) were rightly accused of being anti-Masons, the Latter Day Saints presumably came to believe that Freemasonry was a modern corruption of an ancient, divinely instituted brotherhood. Some prominent Mormons, such as Oliver Cowdery, were evidently Masons throughout the time they were members of the LDS Church. Although writers like Dan Vogel have explored elements of anti-Masonry evident in the Book of Mormon, it appears likely that Mormonism was, from its earliest days, designed as a restoration of pure Freemasonry, just as it was designed as a restoration of pure Christianity. "Christ Masons" is a term that might well have been applied to at least some of the Mormon leaders during the 1830s.

Fanaticism.-- Died, in Kirtland, on Tuesday night last, Mr. Warren [sic -Warner?] Doty, aged about 29 years. The deceased was one of those who had embraced the imposition of Jo Smith, and [was] a victim to the delusion of Mormonism. He was duly commissioned after their manner, to preach, and was one of the most active and zealous in the cause. So fully did he believe in the divinity of Smith, that he had been made to have full faith that he should live a thousand years -- this he confessed to a near relative some four weeks before his decease. Five days before he expired, he was suddenly attacked with an inflammation in the bowels, which afterwards assumed a typhoid appearance. He was immediately removed to the residence of his parents, who had no faith in the Mormon remedies for the cure of diseases. No persuasion could induce the young man to have a physician called, so strong was he impressed with the supernatural powers of Smith. Several of the Mormonites soon assembled around the sick man, where they continued to encourage him to persevere, and strengthen his delusion, telling him that he was getting better and soon would be well, till they saw he was about to expire, when they all fled from the house, without offering to assist in the last sad solemnities of the dead. Smith was sent for soon after he was taken sick, and proceeded towards the house of Doty, to heal him, but (as Smith said) he received a command not to go to Doty's and "cast his pearl before swine." He however visited the sick man a day or two after, and said he would get well, and protested against calling a physician. -- He held his hand upon the head of Doty for 10 or 15 minutes, but for what object is not known. A few hours before the young man expired, Dr. Brainard was sent for, much against the will of the worshippers of Smith, by the interference of other friends. The doctor immediately pronounced his disease past remedy, and told the Mormon doctors that their superstitions had probably been the means of the young man's death, or something of like import. When the young man discovered that death was nigh, his faith in Smith's pretensions seemed to forsake him. He said "What a wonderful mistake I have made," and called all his friends to take his leave. Addressing himself to an old man of the Mormon faith, he said "you are a friend to every body -- I must shake hands with you -- this is a lesson that I have learned by actual experience, by which you ought to profit, but with me it is too late." The Mormonites will probably contradict many of these statements, as they have many positive facts heretofore; but we have our information from a relative of the deceased, who was present during the last 18 hours of his life, and whose intelligence and veracity will not suffer in comparison with the whole of those deluded people who have adapted Jo Smith as their spiritual leader. -- Painesville Telegraph.


Note: The brother of Newel K. Whitney supplied this recollection of Warner Doty in 1885: "Warner Doty, aged about 25, pretended he caught a revelation in the air which was a commission for him to preach Mormonism to foreign nations. His uncle, Nathan Goodell, said he wrote it to fool him. Doty had a fever. The Mormons took charge and watched with him day and night. His mother became alarmed and called Dr. Brainard, who told her it was too late, altogether too late. The watchers had been instructed when the fever turned to send for Jo and Rigdon. They came and laid their hands on him and pronounced him healed and told his mother he would recover because they had received a revelation that he was to preach to foreign nations. Doty soon died, being the first Mormon to die in Kirtland."

From the Painesville Telegraph.

We have received the following letter from Palmyra, N. Y. on the subject of Bible impostors. It is signed by ten individuals of the first respectability.

(see original article from Painesville paper)

Fanaticism.-- Died, in Kirtland on Tuesday night last, Mr. Warner Doty...

(see original article from Painesville paper)

______

A  MORMON  COMMISSION.

(see original article from Painesville paper)

 

Note: The last of the above three reprints of reports concerning the Mormons, taken from recent issues of the Painesville Telegraph, cuts the original article text off, after this pronouncement: "We have other documents of a similar description on hand, from the factory of Smith, Rigdon & Co. which will be forthcoming."

We understand that a new arrival of Mormonites has taken place -- some two hundred men, women and children having lately landed in Geauga county, their holy land, from New York. It is said, [they] are an active, intelligent and enterprising sect of people. They have commenced a new settlement, in the township of Thompson, near the line of Ashtabula county, thus extending the holy land farther east than the limits originally fixed. They have full faith in the Mormon doctrine, having as they say, worked a miracle in clearing a passage through the ice at Buffalo, by which they sailed several days sooner than other vessels.

In June they are all to meet, and hold a kind of jubille [sic - jubilee?] in this new 'land of promise,' where they are to work diverse miracles -- among others that of raising the dead. It is said there are soon to be miraculous births among them, and the number it is expected, will [be] materially increased after the general meeting.

Strange as it may appear, it is an unquestionable fact, that this singular sect have, within three or four weeks, made many proselytes in this county. The number of believers in the faith, in three or four of the Northern Townships, is said to exceed one hundred -- among whom are many intelligent and respectable individuals. The prospects of obtaining still greater numbers in this county, is daily increasing.


Note 1: The above text was derived from reprints which appeared in the July 9, 1831 issue of the Saint Louis Times and the June 20, 1831 issue of the Cooperstown, NY Watch-tower. The text of those two reprints is essentially the same. No original text from the files of the Western Courier has yet been discovered for transcription.

Note 2: This short article contains the germs of several important developing events among the Mormons -- the beginning of immigration into Ohio for the Mormon "gathering;" the attempts by the new sect at Kirtland to establish outlying colonies; the plans to extend the Kirtland gathering to Missouri; the Mormons' claims to miraculous signs and wonders; and their growing success in making converts among a certain section of society. The stories of "miraculous births" may echo the then current rumors that one of Joseph Smith's sisters (Catherine) was secretly impregnated by Sidney Rigdon and the physical results explained away among the faithful as an immaculate, virgin conception. No proof exists that such a thing ever happened, but such miraculous stories were then constantly spreading among the Mormons and non-Mormons alike.

Note 3: The "jubilee" (misspelled "jubille") mentioned in the above article was evidently the Mormon Church's "General Conference," which began at Kirtland on Saturday, June 4, 1831, and which apparently continued through Monday the 6th (see excerpts from Lyman Wight's journal, as published in Vol. I, ch. 9 of the RLDS History of the Church and Ezra Booth's letter of Oct. 31, 1831). Whether the Mormon leaders then designated a "year of jubilee" (as they did in 1836), or whether this term was merely a word for "celebration," chosen by the article writer, remains unknown. The "land of promise" referred to would have then extended from the eastern border of Ohio to the western border of Missouri. As time passed, however, the term took on the special meaning of a "center stake of Zion," located in Jackson Co., Missouri.

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. Geauga Gazette.


Notes: (forthcoming)

Mormon Emigration. -- About two hundred men, women and children, of the deluded followers of Jo Smith's bible speculation, say the Painesville Telegraph, have arrived on our coast during the last week, from the State of New York, and are about seating themselves down upon the "promised land" in this county. It is surely a melancholy comment upon human nature to see so many people at this enlightened age of the world, truckling along at the car of a miserable impostor, submitting themselves, both soul and body, to his spiritual and temporal mandates, without a murmur, or presuming to question that it is all a command direct from Heaven. Such an abject slavery of the mind may endure for a season; but in due time, like the chains of Popery, the links which bind them will be rent asunder, and reason resume again her empire.

---

We are requested to mention that ALEXANDER CAMPBELL, of Virginia, will preach in Ravenna on the 8th and 9th of June inst. -- in Hudson on the 10th and 11th -- in Aurora on the 12th -- in Mentor on the 14th -- in Warren on the 21st -- and at the centre of Hartford on the 22d. -- commencing at 11 A. M. each day.


Note 1: Alexander Campbell's preaching tour through the Western Reserve in June, 1831 was designed primarily to combat the spread of Mormonism among his Disciples of Christ co-religionists. The lengthy stop-over in Mentor presented especially important opportunities and challenges for Campbell, as the renegade Sidney Rigdon was then holding forth at Kirtland, only a few miles away. Through the 1831 efforts of Alexander Campbell and his father, Thomas Campbell, the Mentor congregation was saved from a Mormon takeover. The Painesville Telegraph of May 24, 1831 published this itinerary for Campbell: "...will preach in Kirtland on the 14th of June -- in Chagrin on the 15th -- in Chardon on the 16th -- in Painesville on the 17th -- and in Mentor on the 18th and 19th -- commencing each day at 10 o'clock A. M.

Note 2: For an anecdote on Alexander Campbell's supposed meeting with Sidney Rigdon during this period, see the closing paragraph of Ezra Booth's letter, published Nov. 11, 1831 in the Ohio Star.

The progress of Mormonism. -- It will be remembered 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 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 New York, some by the lake and others by the land, at least two hundred Mormonites. They brought with them their household furniture entire, bag and baggage, the roots and herbs and plants ready for the soil. They passed on to the "holy land" and 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."


Note: The exact date and the full content of this report from Zanesville remains uncertain. The date may have been a week or two before June 7th. The above text was taken from its reprint in a mid-June issue of the Philadelphia Album, a paper that published several unique reports on the Mormons during the early 1830s. The report concerns the passage of the LDS "Colesville branch" through Ohio to Missouri, where Sister Knight was the first Saint to die in "Zion."

It was a short time since, announced in the Painesville Telegraph, that one of the Mormon Apostles named Basset, had got piqued at his fellow rogues, and was going to blow the "miserable impostors," as he called them, sky high.


Notes: (forthcoming)

CAMPBELLISM.

It is generally known on this part of the Reserve, that Mr. Alexander Campbell is now fulfilling his appointments in this, and one or two of the adjoining Counties. One of these appointments, (made we believe at his own instance,) brought him to this place, where he preached on Friday and Saturday of last week. As he made very free with the opinions of those who differ from him, we trust that we shall not be deemed singularly censorious, if we take the liberty to weigh some of his arguments...

On Friday he delivered what he denominated a preliminary discourse. He took the Bible for his text; the character of its contents was his theme. He began by denouncing the abominations of the dark ages -- spoke of religion as being turned against the peace of society, and used only as an engine of destruction -- and to give pungency to the remark, added, "the sweetest wine may become the sourest vinegar." "Then the priests took the Bible from the people, and nobody said a word against it. They had been brought to it by degrees. And what do we see now-a-days but wrangling and hatred among nominal christians, -- sect arrayed against sect, and all hoodwinked by an overgrown priesthood?" Such was the strain in which he delivered himself on this subject. He touched so artfully upon the faint and distant points of resemblance between Christianity of the present day, and that of the dark ages, that a person, who is in the habit of taking things upon credit, would scarcely have known the difference...

Mr. C. appealed, he said, to facts. He did not amuse his hearers with speculations. And what, we ask, is the language of facts in respect to his own system? Is not the spirit of dissension abroad among his followers? Look at the Mormon defection. Where now is the common-stock family, and a host of others, who but lately occupied the front ranks of Campbellism? Where is that champion of the cause, who, but a few months since, was proclaiming the "ancient Gospel," with a success not inferior to that of Campbell himself? Where is he now? Retailing the vagaries of Jo Smith, and wondering that he could have been so long deluded. Here are facts, which stare the world in the face... If this argument holds, it proves that Mormonism is a true, to say the least, as Campbellism... Are the assailed always in the wrong, and the assailants in the right? Then Mormonism is as true as Campbellism...

Thus we have gone through with his preliminary discourse. It will be seen that although he professed to be descasting upon the character of the sacred volume, his leading object was to level all existing systems in the dust, and thus prepare the way for his own. Accordingly on Saturday he set himself to build an Edifice on the ruins which he imagined lay scattered around him. His discourse had reference to the new birth. We shall notice it hereafter.

We have had but little time to prepare the above sketch, and of course were necessitated to make it as general as possible. We design hereafter, to be more thorough upon some points upon which we have now bestowed but a passing attention.


Note: The Campbellite "champion of the cause" referred to above was, of course, Elder Sidney Rigdon of Mentor, Ohio.

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 30 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 not disposed of their 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.       Painesville Gazette.


Note: The Painesville Gazette article was reprinted in the July 8th Canton Ohio Repository, and in numerous other newspapers during the summer of 1831.

CAMPBELLISM.

Mr. Campbell's second discourse, as we said, was devoted to the new birth. In order to ascertain the steps proper to be taken for the recovery of man, we must first learn, he said, how he was cast down... Mr. C. believes, that the motives brought to view in the Gospel, arte sufficient of themselves to influence the sinner to return to God, we believe, that unless those motives are presented to the cinscience and the heart, by a special act of the Spirit of God, the sinner will go deliberately down to everlasting death. But let us see how Mr. C's conclusion agrees with his premises. His premises are, that man must be raised as he fell. He fell, he tells us, by yielding to the influence of motives presented to his mind by the great Adversary.... In the same way, he tells us, man must be restored....

We come now to Mr. Campbell's stronghold, viz. that men are born into the kingdom of Christ, by immersion. Here, he said, was the threshold through which we must enter, every other avenue being closed. He was fighting, he said, for the constitution of the Church, the very basis of Christ's kingdom. By the constitution of the Church, a man coul no more become a subject of Christ's kingdom, but by immersion, than an alien can be entitled to the right of citizenship, under an earthly givernment, without complying with the constitution of such government. The constitution of Christ's kingdom admitted nine but by immersion. In no other act could virtue pass from the Savior to the sinner. We had only to believe, and be immersed, and we should receive the Holy Ghost....

The weakness of this argument will be apparent to every considerate mind. "Saved by baptism!" What kind of baptism?... It is said that Simon also believed and was baptised. And yet he offered to purchase the power of working miracles, with money, and the Apostle said to him, "thy heart is not right in the sight of God." But how can this be, if, according to Mr. Campbell's scheme, all who believe and are baptised, receive remission of sins, and are among the "adopted and the saved?"...

We can see the reason why those who embrace Campbellism, are, generally speaking. those who have apostatized from their religion, and returned to their walling in the mire. So far as our information extends, a very large proportion of his followers are made up of this class. These persons, having thrown off the restraints of religion, and abandoned themselves to sin, have still felt the goadings of conscience, and are prepared to embrace any system, which will afford them relief. Campbell comes along, and tells them that if they will believe & be baptized, all will be well with them. They take him at his word, go into the water, & come out christians, without a thought of the relation in which they stand to God as sinners. But a salve is administered to the conscience, and they are laid quietly asleep, perhaps to wake no more till death overtakes them.

Many other things occur to us, but we cannot say them now. One word more, however: If any are disposed to take sneers for arguments. they will doubtless have occasion to think, that all we have said, is triumphantly answered. Something more than sneers, however, will be required at the hands of Mr. Campbell, by an intelligent community. First we could not have been far wrong, in our account of his first discourse, we judge from the fact, that persons who heard him on different parts of the Reserve, say that it corresponds exactly with what they heard.


Notes: (forthcoming)

We mentioned two weeks since that the Mormon speculators on the souls of men, were about to take up a line of march for Missouri. The leaders have already departed. Before Jo left, he had a special command for all those of his followers who had located themselves in the township of Thompson, to depart forthwith for Missourie, and all those who did not obey were to be deprived of all the blessings of Mormonism. There were in that township about twenty families, the most of whom started last week for the Ohio River, leaving their spring crops all upon the ground. Those who preferred staying to following Jo any farther, were handed over to the devil. It is verily a melancholy spectacle to view with what facility the human mind may be enslaved, under the name of religion. The main object of the Mormons leaders appears now to be, to drag their deluded followers from pillar to post, leaving behind all those who presume to doubt the infallibility of Jo Smith or question any thing he may say as being a command of God -- thereby obtaining in the end a certain set of slaves who will obey most implicitly every thing which is suggested. Many have left them on account of the various, diversified, and contradictory commands which Jo has given out to his slaves. -- Painesville Telegraph


Notes: (forthcoming)

THE MORMONITES. -- There is a kind of delirium -- a sort of mental hydrophobia prevailing in a portion of the union, which promises to have great inroads upon the quiet of society -- which bears with it, "not peace but the sword" -- separating families -- distracting communities, and urging its fatal influence into christian sects -- & yet, strange to say, not one solitary news paper devoted to the high interest of the last mentioned parties of any name, have ever touched on the subject. We allude to the existence and progress of Mormonism. Every western mail is prolific in records of their fantastic tricks, which they play with impunity before heaven and earth. From the deluded man, in an obscure town in the country, who has related the most preposterous story, as to his original reception of his miraculous faith, and the golden plates which contained the elements of his creed, the mania has already increased to one thousand, to which number continual and daily additions are making. Why is is that religious news papers, managed often by men of high gifts, and lovers of social order, are dumb in this matter? It has increased until its harmless aspect is altogether lost; and is now likely far to exceed the former sway of Southcote or Jemima Wilkeson. -- The Lockport (N. Y.) Balance, a respectable journal, has revently given a concise detail of what it calls with justice "The Golden Bible Imposition," & adds --

"It has no parallel in folly and stupidity from the days of [Johanna] Southcoate to those of Jemima Wilkeson. 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 & 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.

The founder of Mormonism is an ignorant and nearly unlettered man, named Jo Smith. His co-worker in the cause is a pedlar. -- Martin Harris, a respectable farmer, near Palmyra, N. Y. whence Smith emigrated, is the third leacer of the blind. He has recently departed for the land of Promise. A late number of the Palmyra Sentinel says: -- "Several families numbering about fifty souls, took up their line of march from this town last week for the "promised land," among whom is Martin Harris, one of the original believers in the 'Book of Mormon.' -- Mr. Harris was among the early settlers of this town, and has ever borne the character of an honorable and upright man, and an obliging and benevolent neighbor. He had secured to himself by honest industry a respectable fortune -- & he has left a large circle of acquaintances and friends to pity his delusion."   Phil. Gaz.


Notes: (forthcoming)

                                For the Observer and Telegraph.
IS  CHINA  SUNK!

Mr. Isham --

I take your paper and set a great store by it, for I believe you mean to be honest, and publish facts. As you receive a vast many papers, you may know what is going on in different parts of the world, much better than a farmer away back here in the woods. Now I have lately heard that China is sunk! The news almost astonished me, and I shall be more confounded, if many of our tea drinkers do not run into hystericks, if not something worse, provided you can satisfy us that such a sad thing has taken place. Why sir, the rest of the world would soon be in mourning! So sudden a destruction of nearly two hundred millions of human lives, and then to think of the tea! Yes, Mr. Editor, to be deprived foreber of tea! This is coming to the "harrows;" what will the Tea drinkers do? To believe that all the Tea in the Eastern world, with every foot of terra firma whereon it is wont to grow, is buried in the water! I understand there is not a place on the face of the earth, out of old China, where it would grow; besides, if it would, it is not likely that any one has saved any of the seed. And now do tell us if you think China is sunk in the big sea.

I feel more anxious to know, on my dear wife's account, and those of some of my good neighbors, who are somewhat attached to the broth, derived from this choice herb. Now you will please to let us know as soon as you can, for if it be a true report, I wish to fill [my] Tea [canister] and have a few pounds besides, for they must have a little to wind off upon, you know, before they lay in upon the sage, the catnip, and pennyroyal. I don't want it for myself; I am a cold water man, sir; I have for a considerable time not only dispensed with the use of ardent spirits, but with all teas, and hot drinks, and by my experiece can say, I am much better without them. I do not however, wish to compare the consequences of tea drinking with the inexcusable evil resulting from the use of ardent spirits.

Possibly you may not have heard the sad news, and may be about to say, "My cold water friend, why are you thus alarmed, and what grounds have you to fear that so large a territory of the Eastern world is sunk?" Well, I will tell you all I know about it. You are aware there are Mormons in our Western regions -- followers of Jo Smith, Cowdery, Rigdon and Co. -- Well, as I passed through New London, (Huron co.) a week or two since, I learned that they had a great Jo Smith meeting there the Sabbath before; that a young Prophetess, who is but eleven years of age, and much celebrated among the Mormons, informed her audience, that she had lately had a vision, and a new revelation was disclosed to her, the substance, (which she several times repeated,) was that "China was sunk!" On my making inquiry of them where China was situated, they could not inform me; but an aged man who is probably one of the superior order among them, informed me, he expected it lay "somewhere in the old countries." Now Mr. Editor, what gives me reason to suspect it be altogether a hoax, is this: they did not let on, as though they cared much about it; but it is possible they had not thought of that which, if true, will be considered by many of our good people the greatest calamity, viz: The loss of the Tea.
                  A PLAIN COLD WATER MAN.

---

For the Observer and Telegraph.

CAMPBELLISM. -- NO. I.

It is the part of error to shrink from investigation. The darkness of human intellect, as it is seen in the vast majority of men, opens a fair prospect of success to the reckless aspirant after worldly renown. In this, as in the night of the dark ages, when wisdom slept with folly, and all distinction between truth and error, faded from the recollection of man -- he may plan successfully to raise himself into notice upon the ruins of his fellow creature. He has only to take advantage of those calamities, mental and physical, which everywhere invade the human family, -- fall upon every circumstance that occurs, even those which call for his commiseration and sympathy and convert it to his own use, -- and he is sure of success. A state of society, where the great majority live without thought; -- where men frame their own rules of logic, adapting them to the exigencies of their case, with limited views of what has been and still more, of what may be -- is a field of great promise to any one who is sufficiently wicked to thrust in the sickle. -- Here he may ride into popularity and feast his degraded soul with "the praise of men." Let him studiously conceal his purpose, let him utterly, and publicly, and often disclaim all desire to reap any advantage from the course he has chosen; let him make his appeals to the worst passions of the human breast, and endeavour to array his followers against all who differ from them in opinion; above all -- let him strenuously insist on the indications of increasing light, as if a new sun had risen in the moral heavens -- and his success is neither slow nor uncertain.

That these remarks have some bearing upon Sir A. Campbell, and upon his favorite enterprise of "reforming" the church of Christ, I trust will appear in the course of a few numbers under the above head. I expect to make it appear, in a very satisfactory manner, that his undertaking "is no new thing under the sun;" that his views, new as they may be to some of his followers, are nevertheless more than one century old: Yes; it can be conclusively shown that the "sun," of which so much is said at the present day -- came up at the very commencement of the dark ages. If so the expiring spark, amidst the smoking wick, emiting unwonted lustre just as it is about to be wholly extinct -- is a fair illustration of "Campbellism." I think it can be fairly shown, that Alexander Campbell is only peddling out the principles of Arius; that he has, in fact, gone back into the grave yard of the fourth century, dug up the bones of the Arian heresy, baptized them by immersion, -- and, in order that it may have the appearance of having originated with him, (Mr. C.) has promised that the gift of the Holy Ghost shall certainly follow this single ordinance. I have therefore, distinctly announced my object: it is, to prove, that his principles, so far as they are known, are those of Arius, or worse: -- a position, which, if sustained, will call loudly for those who have been beguiled into this heresy, to renounce it. For proof, see what follows.   CLIO.


Note 1: On page 251 if his 1875 History of the Disciples Amos S. Hayden reports that because Symonds Ryder, of Portage Co., Ohio, wished "to know the truth and follow it wherever it might lead, he made a journey to Kirtland, and heard for himself [about Mormonism]. On his return, he seemed for a short time to have rejected the claims of Mormonism; but in the month of June, he read in a newspaper an account of the destruction of Pekin, in China, and he remembered that six weeks before, a young Mormon girl had predicted the destruction of that city. Shortly after this, he openly professed his adhesion to the Mormon faith." -- Hayden places this news of massive Chinese destruction as having reached Kirtland in June of 1831. The date must have been early in June in order to have convinced Mr. Ryder to convert to Mormonism, for Joseph Smith ordained him an elder on June 6. Possibly the report Hayden received was a bit muddled, and in the actual sequence of events of 1831, Ryder first joined the Mormons and shortly thereafter felt well confirmed in his decision when reports of the Chinese earthquake reached the American newspapers (see news items noted below).

Note 2: In the Nauvoo Times and Seasons installment of "Joseph Smith's History" for Jan. 1, 1844 (written in 1839), the writer mentions that around 1831 "many false reports, lies and foolish stories were published in the newspapers, and circulated in every direction, to prevent people from investigating the work or embracing the faith. A great earthquake in China, which destroyed from one to two thousand inhabitants, was burlesqued in some papers, as 'Mormonism in China.'" -- The Gettysburg, PA newspaper, The Star, reported the following, in its issue of Aug. 16, 1831: "Awful, Indeed! -- An earthquake has taken place within 200 miles of Pekin; from 500,000 to one million beings are represented to have perished; twelve towns and cities are destroyed. The earthquake was accompanied by storms and floods which lasted three days." The same report also appeared in the Rhode Island Providence Patriot of Sept. 10, 1831 and the Delaware Dover Gazette of Sept. 13. It remains uncertain whether the purported Chinese natural disaster mentioned in the Ohio press at the beginning of July was the same tragedy as reported in the eastern papers of August and September. The Times of London, the New York Journal of Commerce, and other reliable newspapers had published news of a similar earthquake in China, occuring in 1830 but only commented upon in early 1831 -- see the "Mormonism in China" reprint, as titled by E. D. Howe, in the Painesville Telegraph of Apr. 5, 1831. Assuming that the 1830 reports from China were not relevent, and that the July, August and September, 1831 China reports are all traceable to the same original source, then the common detail of "storms and floods that lasted three days" in China, may have given rise to a popular conclusion that China was "sunk."

Note 3: The chronology of events remains somewhat in doubt. If "six weeks before, a young Mormon girl had predicted the destruction" of the capital of China, then her prophecy must have occurred during the second half of April, 1831. In a letter composed "early in 1832 by Wesley Perkins of Lorain County, Ohio... addressed to his brother, Jacob, of Orwell, Vermont," the following account is given: "... in this Town thare is Considerable Stir at Present. The Mormon Religion... excites the greatest couriosity... if you Could tend [sic - attend?] one of there meetings & see the young girles have visions... it would put you in mind of the... Story I herd you tell" (reproduced from Dennis Rowley's Autumn, 1983 Dialogue article, "The Ezra Booth Letters"). If this was the same "young Prophetess" recollected from the New London meeting, then she must have repeated her April prediction again in June of 1831.

Note 4: Editor B. H. Roberts added the following footnote to the Jan. 1, 1844 Times and Seasons installment, when it was reprinted in the LDS History of the Church, (I:158): "This earthquake in China is a matter of some interest in connection with the history of the church since it was the means of bringing Simonds Ryder, a somewhat noted preacher of the Campbellite faith, into the Church. According to Hayden's History of the Disciples on the Western Reserve (a Campbellite book), Mr. Ryder was much perplexed over 'Mormonism,' and for a time was undecided whether to join the Church or not. 'In the month of June,' (1831) writes Mr Hayden, 'he read in a newspaper an account of the destruction of Pekin in China and he remembered that six weeks before, a young 'Mormon' girl had predicted the destruction of that city.' J. H. Kennedy, in his Early Days of Mormonism (Scribner's & Sons, 1888), refers to the same thing and adds: 'This appeal to the superstitious part of his nature was the final weight in the balance and he threw the whole power of his influence upon the side of 'Mormonism,' His surrender caused an excitement almost equal to that which followed the fall of Rigdon.' (pp. 103-4). It was doubtless this prophecy and the conversion connected with it that led the papers mentioned in the text to refer to it as 'Mormonism' in China. The discrepancy in days, Hayden and Kennedy referring to the published accounts of the events as appearing in June, and the Prophet making reference to it previous to the 7th of March, need cause no confusion. It will be seen that the Prophet alludes to it in connection with a number of other things as taking place 'at this age of the Church' -- a very indefinite reference as to the time in which a thing may have occurred."

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 30 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. Geauga Gazette.


Notes: (forthcoming)

Mormon Emigration. -- Several families, numbering about fifty souls, took up their line of march from this town last week, for the "promised land," among whom is Martin Harris, one of the original believers in the "Book of Mormon." Mr. Harris was among the early settlers of this town, and has ever borne the character of an honorable and upright man, and an obliging and benevolent neighbor. He had secured to himself by honest industry a respectable fortune, and he has left a large circle of acquaintances and friends to pity his delusion. -- Palmyra Sentinel.


Notes: (forthcoming)

The March of Mormonism. -- The Lockport, (Niagara co. N. Y.) Balance of the 31st ult., giving a history of what it terms the "Golden Bible Imposition," speaks of it as follows:

"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, a thousand 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 & 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."

The Balance states that the founder of Mormonism is Jo. Smith, an ignorant and nearly unlettered man living near the village of Palmyra, Wayne county; the second, an itinerant pamphlet pedlar and occasionally a journeyman printer, named Oliver Cowdery; the third, Martin Harris, a respectable farmer at Palmyra. The latter, as will be seen in the following paragraph, has recently departed for the land of promise.

Mormon Emigration. -- Several families, numbering about fifty souls, took up their line of march from this town last week for the "promised land," among whom is Martin Harris, one of the original believers in the "Book of Mormon." Mr. Harris was among the early settlers of this town, and has ever borne the character of an honourable and upright man, and an obliging and benevolent neighbor. He had secured to himself by honest industry a respectable fortune, and he has left a large circle of acquaintances and friends to pity his delusion. -- Palmyra Sentinel.


Note 1: The Guernsey Times reprints the above double-article from a New York paper, which, in turn, has condensed the first report from the May 31, 1831 issue of the Lockport Balance and taken the second item from the May 27, 1831 issue of the Palmyra Wayne Sentinel. The Guernsey Times source was probably the June 21, 1831 issue of the Daily Albany Argus; the June 25, 1831 issue of Major M. M. Noah's Morning Courier and New-York Enquirer also duplicates the dual-article layout from the Argus.

Note 2: The editor of the Lockport Balance (Orsamus Turner) knew Oliver Cowdery personally. See his additional reports on Cowdery in his 1849 book, Pioneer History of the Holland Purchase, in his 1851 article, "Origin of the Mormon Imposture," and his 1851 book, History of Pioneer Settlement of Phelps... Turner's identification of Cowdery as "an itinerant pamphlet pedlar and occasionally a journeyman printer" agrees with John St. John's description of Oliver: "On reading the name of Oliver Cowdry, in support of the divine authenticity of the work, whatever faith we might have been inspired with on reading the certificate, was banished, for we had known Cowdry some seven or eight years ago, when he was a dabbler in the art of Printing, and principally occupied in writing and printing pamphlets, with which, as a pedestrian Pedlar, he visited the towns and villages of western New York and Canada..."

Mormonites. -- These fanatical and deluded beings, who are settling en masse, in the northern part of this state, it would appear from the notices taken of them by the editors in the neighborhood of their new settlement, are still increasing in numbers; thirty or forty families from the state of New-York, and others from different parts of the union have lately arrived, and professed the doctrine of Mormonism.

As we have not, heretofore, referred to this society, we will give the outlines of their new book, which they say is a revelation from Heaven -- the "Golden Bible" -- the "Book of Mormon," to use their own language "written in letters of gold, and sent from Heaven, to their inspired prophet, Joseph Smith." They have enlisted in their cause respectable and intelligent men, among the numbers, ministers of the gospel, of different persuasions. They refuse all medical aid, and many have already fell victims to their [insensibility], but they are unwavering in their belief, and are to hold a meeting, or rather a Jubilee in this month, when many miraculous fetes are to be performed; among others that of raising the dead; and they expect shortly to have several miraculous births among them. Their location is in Geauga county. Upwards of four hundred citizens of that county, have, thus degraded themselves, by becoming followers of this false prophet.
                            Jef. Dem.


Notes: (forthcoming)

For the Observer and Telegraph.

CAMPBELLISM. -- NO. II.

IS  A  PERFECT  ARIAN  IN  HIS  VIEWS OF CHRIST.

Before proceeding to the proof of this position, I will give the sentiments of Arius; not only on this point, but upon all, in which I contemplate tracing a resemblance between him and this self-styled reformer.

Arius maintained, that the Son of God was totally and essentially distinct from the Father; that he was the first and noblest of those beings whom God had created, -- the instrument by whose subordinate operations he formed the universe; and also, that the Holy Ghost was not God -- but created by the power of the Son. Arius held that the Son was the Logos, or Word but denied that word to have been eternal; -- that Christ had nothing of man in him but the flesh, to which the Logos was joined, and which was the same as the soul in man.

The above views of Christ are exactly the views of A. Campbell. In the commencement of the discourse to which I now refer, and from which I shall draw some proofs to sustain the above position, Mr. C. rose and called on his audience to accompany him to the throne of grace. He marched directly up to it without ceremony. There was no acknowledgement of sins, no need felt of a Mediator; at least, nothing neither directly nor indirectly was said that could be construed into an allusion to Christ; nothing like asking "In the name of Christ;" in fact, there was no asking about it; he spent his time there in telling God what wonderful creatures he had here on earth, bearing the name of man; what wonders he had achieved in this world, but mentioned none of them, spake of exalted privileges and closed. He then read "the 10th chapter of Paul's letter" to the Romans, and commenced his discourse.

His first undertaking was to review the steps taken the day previous; he engaged that this should be preliminary to his address. He spent just one hour in this way; (rather an over-grown introduction, is it not, reader?) then promised to proceed forthwith to the consideration of his subject. It will be necessary to give this introduction another notice hereafter. He then labored a long time to establish the position, that "it is impossible for us to conceive of power exerted, that is not exerted through some medium." He then ventured to throw off the mask for a moment, by alluding to the creation of the world. "I know," said he, "It is written, God said 'let there be light,' and light was there; but how is it possible for this power to have been put forth without a medium?" Whether his audience were made any wiser by this labor or not, I leave for another day to reveal; but certain it was they gave no very clear indications of being employed in following the speaker. They did not seem conscious that he was laboring to subvert the whole plan of salvation by grace, by proving that "Christ was the instrument by whose subordinate operations" God created the light, or in other words -- the world. Nor could I resist the impression, that there were many honest, well meaning persons, nominally his followers, there sitting around him, who would have risen and retired, had they known definitely what was the true character of that collar which he was preparing to slip on to their neck. He presented this idea in various waus; as if to feel of his hearers and learn, if possible, whether they were prepared to receive it, or not. But, after all, they appeared not to know that he had virtually disavowed his divinity in the Lord Jesus Christ, and avowed a sentiment, which, if true, would clothe heaven and earth in mourning. Take it from the Bible the proofs that Christ is God, and I will seek elsewhere for salvation. -- Remove this pillar from the great superstructure of the Gospel, and it falls I care not how far. And I am convinced, from the knowledge I have of the sentiments of many who call themselves by his name, and who think they believe with him, that, to the sentiments I have just expressed -- they would respond the hearty "Amen." -- "He that doeth truth cometh to the light." John iii 21st.


Notes: (forthcoming)

From the Burlington Sentinel.

MORMONISM  IN  VERMONT.

(copied from a reprint in the Painesville Telegraph

Notes: (forthcoming)

For the Observer and Telegraph.

CAMPBELLISM. -- NO. III.

IS  A  PERFECT  ARIAN  IN  HIS  VIEWS OF CHRIST.

It is an old maxim and a true, that "straws show which way the wind blows." In order to satisfy myself respecting the views of Mr. C. I read whatever of his writings come in my way. Notwithstanding he had so subtly planned to keep his true sentiments concealed, by pouring derision upon "creeds" and "confessions of faith;" yet there appeared a fair prospect of finding him nowhere else. Accordingly I read his version of the New Testament. In the course of his remarks upon a certain passage, he stated that a certain clergyman, (a Presbyterian, if rightly I remember,) had taxed him with being an Arian, on account of the views which he had on that passage, given to Christ. Mr.C. undertook to reply, but he lost all manner of patience. It was evident enough, that he was struck. All the fountains of bitter invective under his command, and these are neither few nor easily drained -- were broken up. He even went so far as to deny his antagonist a name in that connexion! As if he deserved to go down, name, labors and all -- to undisturbed oblivion, for no other crime, than having ventured, upon the conviction of his own reason -- to suggest that Mr. C. was an Arian! He forcibly brought to mind the circumstance of the sportsman, who having discharged his piece among a flock of turkeys, paused and exclaimed -- "sumbody is hit, I know by the fluttering;" a circumstance I relate, only because it is so apposite in the case before us. It was a long time before Mr. C. could resume his labors at expounding.

Another circumstance, which in no very moderate degree, deepened the conviction, thus made on my mind, was the following. My suspicions, that he was an Arian, in his views of Christ, had increased to the extent which led me to suggest them to one of his followers. Astonished that I should thus judge, he returned to his house, and hunted up a pamphlet, containing an article directly on the subject. He pointed out the article with an air that seemed to say, "there! read that; and your doubts will be dispersed." I did so, but the result was far different from that which he had anticipated. I saw the smoothest Evasion of the great point in question, that I remember to have ever seen in my life. He raised a great smoke about the old absurdity, into which so many great and good men have fallen: i.e. "the doctrine of the eternal filiation of Jesus Christ;" an absurdity, which to be exposed, needs but be mentioned. After having dwelt long on the common definition of the term, "word;" in various ways declaring that it was only a representative of an idea, he came to the sweeping conclusion, [--- ----- ---- ----]. A declaration, which in the mouth of an Arian, means neither more nor less than the following; -- "Christ is man." The whole piece is very well calculated to mislead any one who has not been thoroughly schooled in theological distinctions; and that too on a point, where, of all others, men should have definite ideas. All his display of the great and important question which he puts to the candidate at the water's brink, amounts to an inquiry on his part, i. e. Mr. C., whether he (the candidate) does not believe that Christ is a mere man! for who that hath read his bible does not know, that the mere private christian is called a son of God? Again I say: "He that doeth truth cometh to the light." John iii, 21.


Notes: (forthcoming)

For the Observer and Telegraph.

CAMPBELLISM.  NO. IV.

IS  A  PERFECT  ARIAN  IN  HIS  VIEWS OF CHRIST.

This is the last number I intend to devote to the support of the above position. The evidence which has already been adduced is perfectly conclusive; or he who has presented it is incapacitated for determining any thing by evidence. I will, however, bring forward one or two more, and pass to speak of his sentiments on other points.

At a public meeting some few months ago, Mr. C. was charged with having expressed himself in writing to the following effect. "The question of Christ's divinity and that of the Holy Spirit have agitated the church in every age, have never been settled, probably never will be; and the sooner they are forgotten the better!" He who cannot learn Mr. C's sentiments from this, is probably incapable of learning them by words.

Further: In his version of the New-Testament, (I say his, with emphasis; for tho' he had some ten or fifteen different translations before him, with an "Improved version" at their head, he could not possibly follow them all on points where they differed, he could only give, that rendering which he as an individual preferred;) In his version, I say, we have the following singular translation of the first five verses of "The Testimony" of John the Apostle;" or, in other words, what Mr. C. has called "John's Preface."

"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. All things were made by it, (it!) and without it (it! again) was not any thing made that was made. In it (it!) was life, and the life was the light of men. And the light shone in darkness, but the darkness admitted it not."

In one of his last editions, Mr. Campbell has attempted to apologize for this revolting proof, that "the darkness admitted it not," by assuring his reader that he found this translation already furnished to his hand. The fuzzy declaration of Mr. C. that "the above is the rendering of a Presbyterian," is equivalent in his mouth to the following -- "the above is just no translation at all." -- It is in fact, all things considered, a total disavowal of the sentiment contained in the translation as it stands, or the original of which it professes to be a translation. For if Mr. Campbell had wished to declare his firm belief of the true deity of Christ, a doctrine clearly taught here, or it cannot be by human language, as I shall presently show, -- or of any other doctrine, would be appeal for authority to one with whose sentiments be is every where at war? No, it is, when viewed in its true light, only saying very plainly as above; "the sooner the sentiment contained herein is forgotten the better."

When Griesbach's Greek version of the New Testament appeared, and it was ascertained that he had rejected the much disputed passage, 1 Jobn v. 7, the abettors of Arianism were loud in their shouts of triumph; as if the main pillar upon which the argument for Christ's divinity rests -- had fallen. Their joy; however, was greatest from the hope they entertained that Griesbach himself was Arian in sentiment. He was no sooner apprised of this circumstance than he sent the following statement abroad, that all suspicions of his being Arian might be committed to an early grave. "There are so many arguments for the true deity of Christ, that I see not how it can be called in question; the divine anthority of scripture being granted, and just rules of interpretation acknowledged. The exordium of St. John's Gospel, in particular, is so perspicuos and above all exception, that it NEVER CAN be overturned by the daring attacks of "interpreters and critics." And yet this same exordium, in the language of Mr. C. (extending in his opinion to tbe first 5 only; but in Professor Griesbach's to the first 14,) is made to say only, that all things were created by the order, command, or something else of God! If the reader supposes I am introducing a comparison between the qualifications of these two for expounding the word; he is under a mistake which I will help him now to throw off. From Prof Griesbach's opinion of a passage I should rarly think of appeal; but Mr. C. in the last man I should think of in connexion with a correct exegesis of Revelation, as I shall hereafter show. Clio is hereafter,   AMBROSE.


Notes: (forthcoming)

From the (Urbana) Collustrator.

Mormonism. -- Most of our readers will recollect that certain knaves, pretending to have found some HOLY WRITINGS, hidden under a stone in Ontario county, New York, started a new religion! The leaders make bold pretensions and assert a gift to work miracles. The members of this sect are now said to amount to 1000 souls! -- some of whom, very honestly, no doubt, believe in all things that are told them, and yet have borne the character of worthy men. Their great prophet Jo, has selected a part of Geauga county, Ohio, and pronounced it to be "the promised land," and thither the deluded people are flocking, chiefly from New York. As a few men of property have been induced to cast their funds into a common stock, there is no want of recruits from among the lazy and worthless classes of society. They say that a miracle was worked in their behalf, by clearing a passage through the ice at Buffalo -- some of them affect a power even to raise the dead, and perchance, (such is the weakness of human nature) really believe they can do it! The chiefs of these people appear to exempt themselves from labor, and herein is, probably, the grand object for which they have established this new religion.


Note: This was one of the very first news reports on the Mormons that received a truly national readership in the United States. It was originally published by the influential Niles Register on July 16, 1831.

SECRET  BYE-LAWS  OF  THE  MORMONITES.

A responsible and intelligent individual, who has devoted much time to make himself acquainted with the principles, practices and objects of the Mormonite leaders, and at whose request we publish the following, assures us that it is a correct copy of the regulations to which the deluded followers are compelled to assent, after joining the church.

The Prophets or Preachers, declare it to be a Law revealed to them from heaven, by the Almighty, on the 23d of February 1831, and assert, that they were commanded not to communicate it to the world, nor even to their followers, until they became strong in the faith.

"THE  LAWS  OF  THE  CHURCH  OF  CHRIST.

Kirtland, Geauga Co. May 23d, A. D. 1831.
Commandment to the Elders.

Hearken, O ye Elders of my church, who have assembled yourselves together, in my name, even Jesus Christ, the Son of the living God, the Saviour of the world; inasmuch as they believe on my name and keep my commandments, again I say unto you hearken, and hear and obey the Laws which I shall give unto you, for verily I say, as ye have assembled yourselves together according to the commandment wherewith I commanded you, and are agreed as touching this one thing, and have asked me in my name, even so ye shall receive. -- Behold, verily I say unto you, I give unto you this first commandment, that ye shall go forth in my name, every one of you, excepting my servants Joseph and Sidney, and I give unto them a commandment, that they shall go forth for a little season, and it shall be given by the power of my spirit when they shall return. And ye shall go forth in the power of my spirit, preaching my Gospel, two by two, in my name, lifting up your voices as with the voice of a Trump, declaring my word like unto angels of God; and ye shall go forth baptizing with water saying, repent ye! repent ye! for the kingdom of Heaven is at hand, and from this place ye shall go forth into the regions westward, and inasmuch as ye shall find my disciples, ye shall build up my church in every region, until the time shall come when it shall be revealed unto you from on high, and the city of the New Jerusalem shall be prepared, that ye may be gathered in one, that ye may be my people, and I will be your God. And again I say unto you, that my servant Edward, shall stand in the office where I have appointed him, and it shall come to pass, that if he transgress, another shall be appointed in his stead even so Amen.

THE LAWS. -- Again I say unto you, that it shall not be given to any one to go forth to preach my Gospel, or to build up my church, except they be ordained by some one who has authority, and it is known to the church that he hath authority, and has been regularly ordained by the Elders of the church; and again, the Elders, Priests, and Teachers of this church, shall teach the scriptures which are in the Bible, & the Book of Mormon, in the which is the fullness of the gospel; and thou shall observe the covenants & church articles, to do them; & this shall be their teaching, and they shall be directed by the Spirit, it shall be thee by the prayer of faith; and if ye receive not the spirit, ye shall not teach, and this ye shall observe to do, as I have commanded concerning your teaching, until the fullness of my scripture be given. And as ye shall lift up your voices by the comforter, ye shall speak and prophecy as so seemeth me good, for behold the comforter knoweth all things, and beareth me record of the Father and the Son, and now behold I speak unto the Church.

Thou shalt not kill, and he that killeth shall not have forgiveness, neither in this world, nor in the world to come.

And again thou shalt not kill, he that killeth shall die.

Thou shalt not steal, and he that stealeth and will not repent shall be cast out.

Thou shalt not lie, he that lieth and will not repent, shall be cast out.

Thou shalt love thy wife, with all thy heart, and shall cleave unto her, and none else, and he that looketh on a woman to lust after her, shall deny the faith and shall not have the spirit, and if he repent not, he shall be cast out.

Thou shalt not commit adultery, and he that committeth adultery and repenteth not, shall be cast out, & he that committeth adultery and repenteth with all his heart, and forsaketh and doeth it no more, thou shalt forgive him; but if he doeth it again, he shall not be forgiven, but shall be cast out.

Thou shalt not speak evil of thy neighbor, or do him any harm, thou knowest my laws, they are given in my scriptures, he that sinneth and repenteth not, shall be cast out -- if thou lovest me, thou shalt serve me and keep all my commandments. And behold, thou shalt consecrate all thy properties, that which thou hast unto me, with a covenant and a deed which can not be broken, and they shall be laid before the bishop of my church, and two of the elders, such as he shall appoint and set apart for that purpose. And it shall come to pass that the bishop of my church after that he has received the properties of my church that it can not be taken from [the church], he shall appoint every man a steward over his own property, or that which he hath received, inasmuch as is sufficient for himself and family, and the residue shall be kept to administer to him that hath not, that every man may receive according as he stands in need, and the residue shall be kept in my store house, to administer to the poor and needy as shall be appointed by the Elders of the church and the bishop and for the purpose of purchasing lands, and the building up of the New Jerusalem which is hereafter to be revealed, that my covenant people may be gathered in one, the day that I shall come to my Temple, this I do for the salvation of my people. And it shall come to pass, that he that sinneth and repenteth not shall be cast out and shall not receive again that which he has consecrated unto me, for it shall come to pass that which I spake by the mouth[s] of my Prophets shall be fulfilled, for I will consecrate the riches of the Gentiles unto my people which are of the House of Israel, and again, thou shalt not be proud in thy heart, let all thy garments be plain and their beauty, the beauty of the work of thine own hands, and let all things be done in cleanliness before me.

Thou shalt not be idle; for he that is idle, shall not eat the bread, nor wear the garments of the labourer, and whosoever among you that is sick, and hath not faith to be healed but believeth shall be nourished in all tenderness with herbs and mild food, and that not of the world, and the Elders of the church, two or more shall be called, and shall pray for and lay their hands upon them in my name, and if they die, they shall die unto me, and if they live they shall live unto me,

Thou shalt live together in love, insomuch that thou shalt weep for the loss of them that die, and more especially for those that have not hope of a glorious resurrection.

And it shall come to pass, that those that die in me shall not taste of death, for it shall be sweet unto them; and they that die not in me, wo is them for their death is bitter; and again it shall come to pass that he that hath faith in me to be healed, and is not appointed unto death, shall be healed; he that hath faith to see, shall see; he that hath faith to hear, shall hear; the lame that have faith to leap, shall leap; and they who have not faith to do these things, but believe in me, have power to become my sons, and inasmuch as they break not my laws, thou shalt bear their infirmities, thou shalt stand in the place of thy stewardship. -- Thou shalt not take thy brother's garment. Thou shalt pay for that which thou shalt receive of thy Brother, and if thou obtain more than that which would be for thy support, thou shalt give it into my store house, that all things may be done according to that which I have spoken. Thou shalt ask, and my Scriptures shall be given as I have appointed, and for thy salvation, thou shalt hold thy peace concerning them, until ye have received them, and then I give unto you a commandment, that ye shall teach them to all men and they also shall be taught unto all nations, kindred, tongue and people; thou shalt take the things which thou has received, which thou knowest to have been Law, to be my Law, to govern my church, and he that doth according to these things, shall be saved and he that doth them not shall be damned, if he continue, if thou shalt ask thou shalt receive revelation upon revelation, knowledge upon knowledge, that thou mayest know mysteries and peaceable things of the kingdom, that which bringeth joy, that which bringeth life eternal.

Thou shalt ask and it shall be revealed unto you in mine own due time, where the New Jerusalem shall be built. Thou shall ask and it shall be revealed in mine own due time. Behold it shall come to pass, that my servants shall be sent both to the east, and to the west, the north and south, and even now let him that goes to the east, teach them that are converted to flee to the west, and this because of that which is to come, and secret combinations. Behold, thou shalt observe all these things, and great shall be thy reward. Thou shalt observe to keep the mysteries, of the kingdom unto thyself, for it is not given unto the world to know the mysteries, and these Laws which ye have received are sufficient for both here and in the New Jerusalem, but he that lacketh knowledge, let him ask me, and I will give him liberally and upbraid him not. Lift up your hearts and rejoice, for unto you the Kingdom is given, even so -- Amen.

NOTE -- The date at the beginning, was probably at the time of transcribing. -- The servants "Joseph, Sidney and Edward," spoken of, are Joseph Smith, Sidney Rigdon and Edward Partridge.


Note 1: This lengthy reproduction of the Saints' "The Laws of the Church of Christ" was apparently purloined by Symonds Ryder, a defecting Mormon Elder, (or perhaps by one of his close associates). The text (Largely written by Oliver Cowdery) was later made into a D&C section. See the Sept. 13, 1831 issues of the Warren News-Letter and the Painesville Telegraph for reprints and the Nov. 3, 1831 issue of the Ohio Star for supplementary information.

Note 2: For more on the topic of this text's history, see Scott H. Faulring's 1996 article, "An Update on Symonds Ryder."

According to the Burlington Sentinel, Mormonism has recently gained a number of proselytes in Bakersfield, Fairfax and Fafield [sic], Vermont.

Note: The converts mentioned were actually not Mormons. See the Aug. 24, 1831 issue of the New York LeRoy Gazette for a lengthy reprint of the Burlington Sentinel article.

From the Western Courier.

SECRET  BYE-LAWS  OF  THE  MORMONITES.

(see the Ravenna Courier of Sept. 6, 1831)

From the N. Y. Courier & Enquirer.

MORMONISM -- RELIGIOUS FANATICISM --
CHURCH AND STATE PARTY.


(see the Courier & Enquirer for text)

Note: This reprint in the pages of the Cleveland Herald provided a reprint of James G. Bennett's lengthy two-part article from the N. Y. Courier & Enquirer of Aug. 31 and Sept. 1, 1831. What Kirtland Mormon leaders like Sidney Rigdon thought of this public exposure of their New York beginnings has gone unrecorded.

From the Ravenna Courier.

SECRET  BYE-LAWS  OF  THE  MORMONITES.

(see the Western Courier of Sept. 6, 1831)

NOTE: -- The date at the beginning [May 23, 1831] was probably at the time of transcribing. The servants Joseph, Sidney and Edward, spoken of, are Joseph Smith, Sidney Rigdon, and Edward Partridge.


Notes: (forthcoming)

RENUNCIATION OF MORMONISM.

We understand that Messrs. Booth and Rider, two Methodist Ministers, who, a few months ago, joined the Mormon Standard, and followed the infatuated Jo Smith to Missouri, have recently returned to this section of country -- and that, at the late Campmeeting at Shalersville, in this County, they made a public renunciation of the Mormon faith.


Note 1: This same notice was reprinted by the Warren News-Letter on Oct. 4, 1831.

Note 2: Historian Amos Hayden dates the alienation of elders Ezra Booth and Simmons Ryder from the Mormons to "about the 1st of September, 1831 (see Hayden's History of the Disciples, page 252). See also the Ohio Star of Oct. 20th for Lewis L. Rice's comments on Ezra Booth's "renunciation"

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 part of Ohio, is partially known to our readers. The origin, character and numbers 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 Joseph Smith, an indolent, ignorant, 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 ago these two, father and son, conceived that money was buried in the earth between Lake Canandaigua and Palmyra on the Erie Canal, and they commenced digging to find it, in company with several persons whom they persuaded to join them. After a time they engaged a man who resided near Paynesville 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 of 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, New York, 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 recently a company of about one hundred immigrated 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 remained in the neighborhood of Painesville, where it is understood they continue to make converts. The last heard from the Missouri immigrants 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 doctrines. 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 be beware that he does not also become a fanatic.


Note: 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 Sept. 1, 1831. The second half of the article relies on local observations of the Mormons, made in Ohio. The Cincinnati Gazette piece was reprinted by the Dayton Advertiser & Journal of Oct. 4, 1831, in the Vermont Farmer's Herald of Oct. 26, 1831, and in the Illinois Sangamo Journal of Nov. 10, 1831.

RENUNCIATION  OF  MORMONISM.

We understand that Messrs. Booth and Rider, two Methodist Ministers, who, a few months ago joined the Mormon Standard, and followed the infatuated Jo Smith to Missouri, have recently returned to this section of country -- and that, at the late Campmeeting at Shalersville, in this County, they made a public renunciation of the Mormon faith. -- Observer & Telegraph.


Notes: (forthcoming)

MORMONISM.

We shall commence next week the publication of several numbers on the subject of Mormonism -- being an exposition of that delusion, by Rev Mr. Booth, who as many of our readers are aware, about a year since embraced their faith, but has recently become convinced of their hypocrisy, and has publicly withdrawn from them. The numbers of Mr. Booth bear the impress of honest sincerity and deep repentance.


Note 1: Ezra Booth, (1792- aft. 1860) was an Ohio Methodist minister who witnessed a supposedly miraculous LDS healing and was baptized a Mormon late in 1830 or early in 1831, apparently in Portage Co., Ohio. Within a short time he was ordained an Elder, and on June 3, 1831 he was ordained a High Priest by LDS official Lyman Wight. During the summer of 1831 Booth traveled in company with Elder Isaac Morley (see LDS Doc. & Cov. Sec. 52) on Mormon activities Missouri and attended the consecration of the "Temple Lot" in that state. Following the disheartening outcome of his experiences, Booth withdrew from the LDS Church membership (some sources say he was excommunicated in early Sept. 1831) and, for the next 30 years lived on his farm at Mantua, Portage Co., Ohio.

Note 2: Ezra was the first person to leave the LDS Church who wrote extensively of his experience while a member of that organization. His nine letters on this topic have been often reprinted since he wrote the first of them for publication in the Ohio Star of Oct. 13, 1831. Strangely, not many newspaper editors saw fit to copy or notice Ezra Booth's remarkable series of disclosures. One exception was the New York Observer, which, in its issue of Nov. 12, 1831, summarized and reproduced parts of the first four of Booth's letters. A short article on this same subject, "The Mormon Delusion," also appeared in a December issue of the New York Baptist Register, and was reprinted in the Dec. 29, 1831 issue of the St. Louis Beacon. For more information see Dennis Rowley, "The Ezra Booth Letters," Dialogue: A Journal of Mormon Thought 16 (Autumn 1983) pp. 133-37.

Note 3: The Booth letters appeared in the following sequence: Letter 1 (Sept. 12, 1831) -- published:  Oct. 13
Letter 2 (Oct. 02, 1831) -- published:  Oct. 20
Letter 3 (Oct. 24, 1831) -- published:  Oct. 27
Letter 4 (Oct. 31, 1831) -- published:  Nov. 03
Letter 5 (Nov. 07, 1831) -- published:  Nov. 10
Letter 6 (Nov. 14, 1831) -- published:  Nov. 17
Letter 7 (Nov. 21, 1831) -- published:  Nov. 24
Letter 8 (Nov. 29, 1831) -- published:  Dec. 08
Letter 9 (Dec. 06, 1831) -- published:  Dec. 08

Millenium. -- The Mormonites have announced that the millenium will commence next year at Philadelphia. The New York and Baltimore Editors are contending for the precedence. One party insisting it will come to the North, the other that it will first spread to the South.

Note: This erroneous report, was perhaps extracted from the Bucks County Intelligencer, or from the Palmyra Wayne Sentinel of Aug. 23, 1831. The careless extraction of texts in the original article resulted in the prophecies of the followers of Joseph C. Dylkes (the "Leatherwood God") being interspersed indiscriminately with the activities of the Mormons, resulting in a "Mormon" prophecy that never was.

From the N. Y. Courier & Enquirer.

MORMONISM -- RELIGIOUS FANATICISM --
CHURCH AND STATE PARTY.


(see the Courier & Enquirer for text)

Note: This reprint in the pages of the Cleveland Herald provided a reprint of James G. Bennett's lengthy two-part article from the N. Y. Courier & Enquirer of Aug. 31 and Sept. 1, 1831.

For the Ohio Star.

                            Nelson, Portage County, Sept. 12th, 1831.

REV. IRA EDDY:

Dear Sir: -- I received your's of the 2d instant, and heartily thank you for the favor. It revives afresh in my recollections the scenes of past years, upon the remembrance of which I dwell with a mixture of pleasurable and painful sensation. I arrived at my home on the 1st of the present month, having finished my tour to the west, since which time the scenes and events in the history of my life, for the last few months, have passed in review before my mind.

You are not, it is probable, ignorant of the designs of my most singular and romantic undertaking: sufficient to say, it was for the purpose of exploring the promised land -- laying the foundation of the City of Zion, and placing the corner-stone of the Temple of God. A journey of 1000 miles to the west, has taught me far more abundantly, than I should probably have learned from any other source. It has taught me quite beyond my former knowledge, the imbecility of human nature, and especially my own weakness. It has unfolded in its proper character, a delusion to which I had fallen a victim, and taught me the humiliating truth -- that I was exerting the powers of both my mind and body, and sacrificing my time and property to build up a system of delusion, almost unparalleled in the annals of the world.

If God be a God of consistency and wisdom, I now know Mormonism to be a delusion; and this knowledge is built upon the testimony of my senses. In proclaiming it, I am aware I proclaim my own misfortune -- but in doing it, I remove a burden from my mind, and discharge a duty as humbling to myself, as it may be profitable to others. You had heard the story of my wanderings, and "was induced to believe that I had been visited with a species of mental derangement," and therefore, you "had given me up, as one among those friends of early association, who in the lapse of time, would be as though they had not existed." You had concluded that the magic charm of delusion and falsehood, had so wrapped its sable mantle around me, as to exclude the light of truth, and secure me a devoted slave. But, thanks be to God! the spell is dissipated, and the "captive exile hasteneth that he may be loosed, and not die in the pit."

When I embraced Mormonism, I conscientiously believed it to be of God. The impressions of my mind were deep and powerful, and my feelings were exerted to a degree to which I had been a stranger. Like a ghost, it haunted me by night and by day, until I was mysteriously hurried, as it were by a kind of necessity, into the vortex of delusion. At times I was much elated; but generally, things in prospect were the greatest stimulants to action.

On our arrival in the western part of the State of Missouri, the place of our destination, we discovered that prophecy and visions had failed, or rather had proved false. This fact was so notorious, and the evidence so clear that no one could mistake it -- so much so, that Mr. Rigdon himself said that "Joseph's vision was a bad thing." This was glossed over, apparently, to the satisfaction of most persons present; but not fully to my own. It excited a suspicion that some things were not right, and prepared my mind for the investigation of a variety of circumstances, which occurred during my residence there, and indeed, to review the whole subject from its commencement to that time. My opportunities for a thorough examination, were far greater than they could have been, had I remained at home; and therefore I do not regret that I made that journey, though I sincerely regret the cause of it. Since my return, I have had several interviews with Messrs. Smith, Rigdon and Cowdery, and the various shifts and turns, to which they resorted, in order to obviate objections and difficulties, produced in my mind additional evidence, that their's is nothing else than a deeply laid plan of craft and deception.

The relation in which Smith stands to the church, is that of a Prophet, Seer, Revealer and Translator; and when he speaks by the Spirit, or says he knows a thing by the communication of the Spirit, it is received as coming directly from the mouth of the Lord. -- When he says he knows a thing to be so, thus it must stand without controversy. A question is agitated between two Elders of the church -- whether or not a bucket of water will become heavier by putting a living fish in it? Much is said by each of the disputants; when at length, Smith decides in the negative, by saying -- "I know by the Spirit, that it will be no heavier." Any person who chooses, may easily ascertain by actual experiment, whether the Prophet was influenced in this decision by a true or false Spirit.

It is not my design at this time, to enter into particulars relative to the evidence, upon which my renunciation of Mormonism is founded. This evidence is derived from various sources, and is clear and full, and the conviction which it produces, at least on my mind, is irresistible. You are not aware of the nature of this deception, and the spirit that uniformly attends it; nor can you ever know it, unless you yield to its influence, and by experience learn what it is to fall under its power: "from which my earnest prayer is, that you may ever, ever escape."

There probably never was a plan better suited to lead the sinner and the conscientious, when in an unguarded hour they listen to its fatal insinuations. The plan is so ingeniously contrived, having for its aim one principal point, viz.: the establishment of a society in Missouri, over which the contrivers of this delusive system, are to possess the most unlimited and despotic sway. To accomplish this, the Elders of the Church, by commandment given in Missouri, and of which I was both an eye and an ear witness, are to go forth to preach Mormonism to every creature; and now, said Mr. Rigdon -- "The Lord has set us our stint; no matter how soon we perform it -- for when this is done, he will make his second appearance."

I do in sincerity, and I trust in deep humility, return unfeigned gratitude to the God of infinite mercy, who, in condescension to my weakness, by a peculiar train of providences, brought me to the light, enabled me to see the hidden things of darkness, and delivered me from the snare of the fowler, and from the contagious pestilence which threatened my entire destruction. The scenes of the past few months, are so different from all others in my life, that they are in truth to me "as a dream when one awaketh." Had my fall affected only myself, my reflections would be far less painful than they now are. But to know -- that whatever influence I may have possessed, has been exerted to draw others into a delusion, from which they may not soon be extricated, is to me a source of sorrow and deep regret. They are at this moment the object of my greatest anxiety and commiseration. I crave their forgiveness, and assure them, that they will ever have an interest in my addresses to the throne of grace. It shall be my endeavor to undo as far as possible, what I have done in this case, and also to prevent the spread of a delusion, pernicious in its influence, and destructive in its consequences to the body and soul -- to the present and eternal interests of men.

I am through restoring mercy and grace, as in former years, though unworthily, yet affectionately your's in Christ.        EZRA BOOTH.


Note 1: This letter, written by former LDS Elder, Ezra Booth, was the first of a series articles he penned upon the subject of the early Mormons. The series was published first in Lewis L. Rice's Ohio Star, with the ninth and final letter appearing there on Dec. 8, 1831. The Booth letters were reprinted with only slight changes in Eber D. Howe's Painesville Telegraph, beginning on Oct. 25, 1831. See Chapter XV in Howe's 1834 Mormonism Unvailed> for a reprinting of the entire series of Booth's letters. The series was also reprinted in the Norwalk, Ohio Huron Reflector, without additional comment, beginning on Nov. 21, 1831.

Note 2: Booth reproduces a most interesting quotation from Sidney Rigdon: "The Lord has set us our stint; no matter how soon we perform it -- for when this is done, he will make his second appearance." It is almost without doubt that Rigdon truly believed his own words in this regard. Today the original Mormon plan, to establish the Kingdom of God in the Missouri "Zion," has been almost entirely forgotten. In mid-1831 that plan was very much alive, imparting massive energy to the Mormon drive to prepare for (and help bring on) the millennial reign of Christ, with Joseph Smith, Jr. serving as Christ's vicegerent upon Earth. Modern students of Mormonism can little imagine the fantastic and wildly compelling atmosphere that surrounded the pioneer core of the very earliest Mormons -- God's Chosen People, the New Israelites -- called to claim and possess a new Promised Land in the American West. Had the Mormon occupation of Missouri gone according to plan, the Saints would have converted and enlisted as armed allies the dispossessed American Indians, converted or run off the frontier gentiles, seized control of the lucrative Sante Fe Trail-head trade, and positioned themselves to conquer New Mexico all the way westward to the California coast. Brigham Young's later conception of the "State of Deseret" was but a rump remnant of the original 1830 plan for a Millennial Mormon Empire in the American West. Such an "empire," given a large enough influx of blindly devoted converts, might well have gained enough power to precipitate a civil war in the United States -- not a political war between South and North, but a religious war between West and East.

MORMONISM.

The second letter of Mr. Booth, giving an exposition of this delusion, which has of late occupied no small share of public attention in this section of the country, will be found in this paper. We intended to have accompanied his first letter with some introductory remarks, which we considered necessary to enable our readers to understand the subject; but the circumstances at the time forbade. We therefore take this opportunity to say to those who are unacquainted with Mr. Booth, that he was formerly a highly esteemed preacher of the Methodist persuasion -- that he was one of the earliest subjects of the Mormon faith, in this county -- that under the influence of what he supposed to be a divine command, he was induced to leave his family and his home, and accompany the impostor Smith, and his deluded followers, to Missouri, in search of the "Land of Promise" -- that in process of time he became convinced of the duplicity of Smith and Co., and returned to his family and friends, deeply penitent and humble, under a sense of the errors into which he had been led and into which, in turn, he had been the instrument of leading others -- and that he feels now called upon by a sense of duty, to expose the fraud, and repair the injury his example has done, as far as in him lies.

We earnestly bespeak for Mr. Booth, the charity of our readers, so far as to believe him sincere in his former delusion, as well as in his present efforts to atone for it. We had an opportunity of conversing with him, soon after he embraced Mormonism; and we became entirely convinced of his sincerity, and uprightness of purpose; and the pain we felt at witnessing his delusion, was equal to the pleasure with which we heard of his recovery from it. In a private note accompanying one of his letters, Mr. Booth gives the following as his reasons for now writing upon the subject: "1st. To discharge a duty which I owe to God and the public. 2d. To rescue, if possible, the honest and conscientious who are involved in it. 3d. To prevent others from falling into it. 4th. To comply with the request of a number who have solicited an exposure of Mormonism."

Our readers are aware, that with the exception of a small article some time since copied from a neighboring paper, we have published nothing heretofore on the subject of Mormonism. A few words in explanation of this course, may not be amiss at the present time. We early became convinced that mormonism was one of those delusions which would receive no check, but rather the reverse, from newspaper opposition; and hence we resolved to let it take its course, blameless ourself of giving it notoriety, or of interfering with the faith of those who honestly embraced it. Most of the stories which have found their way into the papers, we have supposed about as extravagant in their details, as mormonism itself was false in its pretensions. The letters of Mr. Booth are of a different character. They are a kind of official exposition of the fraud, authentic and incontrovertible, by one who has enjoyed every opportunity of learning it by sad experience. We had much rather propagate sentiments thus authenticated, than give publicity to anonymous and at least questionable testimony from other sources. On reflection, we do not regret the course we have taken. While some may feel surprize that a man of Mr. Booth's good sense should be "taken in" by such an absurd piece of fraud as mormonism, others will perhaps regard it as a providential means of bringing to nought one of the most extraordinary devices of the great adversary, to ensnare the souls of men.  

MORMONISM -- No. II.

                                            Nelson, Portage Co. Oct. 2, 1831.

REV. & DEAR SIR --

Were there none but myself interested in the exposition of Mormonism, I can assure you my time would be otherwise employed than in writing upon a subject which has heretofore been to me one of deep interest, and at times has occasioned the most painful anxiety of mind. I could wish, if possible, to bury it in oblivion; and to remember it no more for ever. But as this is a thing which cannot be accomplished in a moment, for the sake of others, who may be exposed to the delusion, from which, through the mercy of God, I have been recovered, and others who are at present involved in it; and also in compliance with your request, I will, as far as I have ability, unfold a system of darkness, fraught with glaring absurdity, and as deceptive as falsehood itself.

This system, to some, carries the face of plausibility, and appears under an imposing form. It claims the Bible for its patron, and proffers the restoration of the apostolic church, with all the gifts and graces with which the primitive saints were endowed. It is called the fulness of the Gospel to both Jew and Gentile; and is the test by which every man's faith is to be tried. Judgments are denounced against the sinners of this generation; or in other words, all who reject the book of Mormon, are threatened with eternal damnation. Great promises are made to such as embrace it; signs and wonders are to attend them, such as healing the sick, the blind made to see, the lame to walk, &c.; and they are to receive an everlasting inheritance in "the land of Missouri," where the Savior will make his second appearance -- at which place the foundation of the Temple of God, and the City of Zion, have recently been laid, and are soon to be built. It is also to be a city of Refuge, and a safe asylum when the storms of vengeance shall pour upon the earth, and those who reject the book of Mormon, shall be swept off as with the besom of destruction. Then shall the riches of the Gentiles be consecrated to the Mormonites; they shall have lands and cattle in abundance, and shall possess the gold and silver, and all the treasures of their enemies.

The Mormonite preachers go forth, proclaiming repentance and baptism for the remission of sins, and the laying on of hands for the reception of the Holy Ghost. The form of baptism is similar to other orders; only it is prefaced with -- "having authority given me of Jesus Christ;" also, the laying on of hands -- "In the name of Jesus Christ, receive ye the Holy Ghost." Many of them have been ordained to the High Priesthood, or the order of Milchesidec; and profess to be endowed with the same power as the ancient apostles were. But they have been hitherto unsuccessful in finding the lame, the halt, and the blind, who had faith sufficient to become the subjects of their miracles; and it is now concluded that this work must be postponed until they get to the Missouri; for the Lord will not show those signs to this wicked and adulterous generation. In the commandment given to the churches in the state of New-York, to remove to the state of Ohio, they were assured that these miracles should be wrought in the state of Ohio; but now they must be deferred until they are settled in Missouri.

As the Mormonite church depends principally upon the commandments, and as most of them are concealed from the world, it will be necessary to make some statement respecting them. These commandments come from Smith, at such times and on such occasions as he feels disposed to speak, and Rigdon or Cowder[y] to write them. Their exact number I have never taken pains to ascertain. I have in my possession the "27th commandment to Emma my daughter in Zion;" and should presume there are betwixt fifty and a hundred. They received the addition of five or six while in Missouri; and these are considered a miracle in themselves, sufficient to convince any rational mind. But none but the strong in faith are permitted to witness their origin. I had an opportunity of seeing this wonderful exhibition of the wisdom and power of God, at three different times; and I must say, it bore striking marks of human weakness and wickedness. They are received by the church as divinely inspired, and the name of the Lord is substituted for that of Smith. They are called "The Commandments of the Lord." They are considered "The mysteries of the Kingdom;" and to divulge them to the world, is the same as casting pearls before swine. When they and the Scriptures are at variance, the scriptures are wrongly translated; and Smith, though totally ignorant of the original, being a translator or alterator, can easily harmonize them. Every thing in the church is done by commandment; and yet it is said to be done by the voice of the church. For instance, Smith gets a commandment that he shall be the "head of the Church," or that he "shall rule the Conference," or that the Church shall build him an elegant house, and give him 1000 dollars. For this the members of the church must vote, or they will be cast off for rebelling against the commandments of the Lord. In addition to the book of Mormon, and the Commandments, there are Revelations which are not written. In this department, though Smith is the principal, yet there are others who profess to receive revelations; but after all, Smith is to decide whether they come from the Lord or the devil. Some have been so unfortunate as to have their revelations palmed upon the latter. These revelations entirely supersede the Bible, and in fact, the Bible is declared too defective to be trusted in its present form; and it is designed that it shall undergo a thorough alteration, or as they say, translation. This work is now in operation. The Gospel by St. Matthew has already received the purifying touch, and is prepared for the use of the church. It was intended to have kept this work a profound secret, and strict commandments were given for that purpose; and even the salvation of the church was said to depend upon it. The secret is divulged, but the penalty is not as yet inflicted. Their revelations are said to be an addition to the Bible. But instead of being an addition, they destroy its use; for every thing which need to be known, whether present, past or future, they can learn from Smith, for he has declared to the church, that he "knows all things that will take place from this time unto the end of the world." If then, placing the Bible under circumstances which render it entirely useless, is infidelity, Mormonism is infidelity.

Joseph Smith, Jun., Sidney Rigdon, Oliver Cowdrey, and Martin Harris, may be considered as the principals in this work; and let Martin Harris tell the story, and he is the most conspicuous of the four. -- He informed me, that he went to the place where Joseph resided, and Joseph had given it up, on account of the opposition of his wife and others: but he told Joseph. "I have not come down here for nothing, and we will go on with it." Martin Harris is what may be called a great talker, and an extravagant boaster; so much so, that he renders himself disagreeable to many of his own society. The money he has expended, and the great things he has done, form a considerable topic of his conversation; he understands all prophecies, and knows every thing by the spirit, and he can silence almost any opposer by talking faster, and louder than he can: or by telling him, "I know every thing and you know nothing; I am a wise man and you are a fool;" and in this respect, he stands a fair sample of many others in the church. Yours affectionately,

E. BOOTH.       

REV. I. EDDY.


Note 1: Booth's remarks concerning the early Mormon teachings respecting the Book of Mormon are intriguing. He says that Mormonism (then taking the Book of Mormon as its basis): "is called the fulness of the Gospel to both Jew and Gentile; and is the test by which every man's faith is to be tried." Thus, the book was not merely a missionary tool, but it and the "system" in which it came wrapped was an actual "voice of warning," proclaiming an imminent divine judgment. Booth says: "Judgments are denounced against the sinners of this generation; or in other words, all who reject the book of Mormon, are threatened with eternal damnation." It goes without saying that acceptance of the book and its message also entailed acceptance of the authority of the Mormon priesthood, then headed (in practice, if not yet in legality) by Joseph Smith, Jr.

Note 2: Booth says that "the City of Zion... is also to be a city of Refuge, and a safe asylum when the storms of vengeance shall pour upon the earth, and those who reject the book of Mormon, shall be swept off as with the besom of destruction." This nearly forgotten tenet of early Mormonism taught that the Latter Day Saints, joined by the converted and racially transformed American Indians, would hold the region round about Independence, Missouri as a divinely appointed stronghold in a coming war between the Saints and the gentiles. During the course of that war terrible destruction would be wrought upon the eastern half of the United States, and those among that nation's inhabitants who chose Mormon "righteousness" over gentile "wickedness," were assured of a place of refuge in the western "Kingdom of God."

Note 3: Booth also relates that the earliest Mormons believed, that in the course of this war between "the righteous" and "the wicked," that "the riches of the Gentiles" would be "consecrated to the Mormonites; they shall have lands and cattle in abundance, and shall possess the gold and silver, and all the treasures of their enemies." Such a doctrine might be construed from an overly literal reading of millennial passages in the book of Isaiah -- and, indeed, the Mormons reproduced exactly these sentiments in the pages of their 1838 Elders' Journal. Booth seems to allocate such a divinely mandated "consecration" to the end of the civil war, much as the members of the Middleton, Vermont Wood money-digging cult looked forward to such a consecration of their neighbors' property unto themselves following God's terrible judgments. The early Mormons appear to have moved the date of the intended "consecration" up from the period following the civil war to a period barely antedating its commencement -- at least such an understanding of unwritten early Mormon doctrine would go far in explaining their reported covert appropriation of gentile property in Daviess co., Missouri and in Hancock co., Illinois.

MR.  CAMPBELL'S  REPLY.

More than four months have elapsed since Mr. Campbell preached the two discourses in Hudson, upon which we made free to remark at some length at the time. Soon afterwards Mr. Campbell sent on his Harbinger, requesting an exchange, to which we assented. From that time to this the exchange has continued without interruption -- but not a word has been said in reference to our review of his two discourses, until the number for the present month made its appearance, in which he devotes a few paragraphs to the subject. And what does he say? Hear him. "Gentle, and sensible, and courteous reader, must we pursue him through all the lanes and avenues of sophistry? * * * With such a writer we have no chance." On the whole, we have never seen a man of Mr. Campbell's high pretensions, who appeared to be so completely balked -- so utterly at a loss what to say for himself....

Mr. C.concludes by saying, that "he thinks from our increased sensibility, he must have done some good in Hudson, and he must the sooner visit it again." The history of his success in this place, may be given in a few words. After laboring through two discourses of three or four hours each, preached upon two successive days, to conclude the services he gave out "a song," at the same time requesting those who were disposed to be baptized, to present themselves, while the "song was singing." Never did a person look more blank than did Mr. Campbell at that moment. Disappointment sat upon his countenance, and he seemed, for the moment, to be dumb with astonishment at the stupidity of the people.At length, having recovered himself a little, he broke forth into the following strain: -- "I am now going to leave you, and I shall be justified in telling the people where I am going that there is not an individual in Hudson, willing to obey the Lord. I have no hope of you. You have so long been accustomed to a kind of religious lullaby, that it seems to be impossible to arouse you. Of what avail, do you think, will be your dull round of formalities? What good will it do you to prate in your closets, so long as you stand back, and refuse to enter the kingdom?" We quote from memory, but we are willing to vouch for its correctness, and much more, which we have neither room nor inclination to record. At the close of this harangue, a man in the gallery cried out, that "he would avail himself of the honor and the privilege of acknowledging Christ, if any one would accompany him to the water." This individual belonged to a neighboring town. And this, we believe, was about the amount of Mr. C.'s success in Hudson. We have understood that one or two individuals, belonging here, have since manifested symptoms of Campbellism -- but whether they have embraced his views, we do not know. It is the opinion of others besides himself, that his visit to this place was productive of good -- but not in the manner he supposes. We have no objection to his coming to Hudson again. Indeed we are somewhat of the opinion of an intelligent gentleman, who remarked to us not long since, that "one or two more such tours on the Reserve, would do the work for him."

He seems to be thrown into someehat of a dillemma, by the charge of Arianism fastened upon him, by our friend "Ambrose," "another gentleman of the same cloth." He says, that ourself and Ambrose, "have been roasting and frying his discourses in the Observer and Telegraph, from the 16th of June to the present time." We are Mr. Campbell's cooks. In preparing his dish, we have taken the liberty to add such correctives as to render it healthful. We hope our fidelity will not meet an unkind return.


Notes: (forthcoming)

MORMONISM -- No. III.

                                            Nelson, Portage Co. Oct. 24, 1831.

REV. & DEAR SIR --

Mormonism has in part changed its character, and assumed a different dress, from that under which it made its first appearance on the Western Reserve. Many extraordinary circumstances which then existed, have vanished out of sight; and the Mormonites desire, not only to forget them, but wish them blotted out of the memory of others. Those wonders, which they wish to have forgotten, stand as the principal foundation of the faith of several hundred of the members of their church.

With the Wonders of Mormonism, or some of them, I design to occupy your attention in this letter; and I wish you to observe here, and hereafter remember, that the evidence by which all my statements are supported, is derived from my own experience and observation, or from testimony of persons, who still adhere to Mormonism; and I hold myself responsible to any tribunal, whether on Earth or in Heaven, for the truth of what I write, or at least, for an intention to write the truth, and nothing but the truth.

"Being carried away in the spirit" and "I know it to be so by the spirit," are well known phrases, and in common use in the Mormonite church. We will first notice the gift of tongues, exercised by some when carried away in the spirit. These persons were apparently lost to all surrounding circumstances, and wrapt up in the contemplation of things, and in communicating with persons not present. -- They articulated sounds, which but few present professed to understand; and those few, declared them to be the Indian language. A merchant, who had formerly been a member of the Methodist society, observed, he had formerly traded with the Indians, and he knew it to be their dialect. Being myself present on some of these occasions, a person proffered his services as my interpreter, and translated these sounds, which to me were unintelligible, into English language. One individual could read any chapter of the Old or New-Testament, in several different languages. This was known to be the case by a person who professed to understand those languages. In the midst of this delirium, they would, at times, fancy themselves addressing a congregation of their red brethren; and mounted upon a stump, or the fence, or from some elevated situation, would harangue their assembly, until they had convinced and converted them. They would then lead them into the water, and baptize them, and pronounce their sins forgiven. In this exercise, some of them actually went into the water; and in the water, performed the ceremony used in baptizing. These actors assumed the visage of the savage, and so nearly imitated him, not only in language, but in gestures and actions, that it seemed the soul and body were completely metamorphosed into the Indian. No doubt was then entertained but that this was an extraordinary work of the Lord, designed to prepare those young men for the Indian mission; and many who are still leaders of the church, could say, "we know by the spirit that it is the work of the Lord." And now they can say, "we know by the spirit that it was it is the work of the Devil." Most of those who were the principal actors, have since apostatized, and the work is unanimously discarded by the church. The limits, which my want of time to write, as well as your want of patience to read, compel me to prescribe for myself, will allow me only to touch on some of the most prominent parts of this newly-invented, and heterogeneous system.

A new method for obtaining authority to preach the Gospel was introduced into the church. One declared he had received a commission, directly from Heeven [sic], written upon parchment. Another, that it was written upon the palm of his hand, and upon the lid of his Bible, &c. Three witnesses, and they were formerly considered persons of veracity, testified, that they saw the parchment, or something like it, when put into the hands of the candidate. These commissions, when transcribed upon a piece of paper, were read to the church, and the persons who had received them, were ordained to the Elder's office, and sent out into the world to preach. But this also sunk into discredit, and experienced the fate of the former.

Visions, also, were in high credit, and sounded abroad as an infallible testimony in favor of Mormonism. The visionary, at times, imagined he saw the City of New-Jerusalem; unlocked its gate, and entered within the walls; passed through its various apartments, and then returned, locked the gate, and put the key into his pocket. When this tour was finished, he would entertain his admiring friends, with a detailed description of the Heavenly City.

The condition of the ten tribes of Israel since their captivity, unto the present time, has excited considerable anxiety, and given rise to much speculation among the learned. But after all the researches which have been made, the place of their residence has never been satisfactorily ascertained. But these visionaries have discovered their place of residence to be contiguous to the north pole; separated from the rest of the world by impassable mountains of ice and snow. In this sequestered residence, they enjoy the society of Elijah the Prophet, and John the Revelator, and perhaps the three immortalized Nephites. -- By and by, the mountains of ice and snow are to give way, and open a passage for the return of these tribes, to the land of Palestine.

About this time, the ministration of angels was supposed to be frequent in the church. The Heavenly visitants made their appearance to certain individuals: they seldom made any communication, but presented themselves as spectacles for the beholder to gaze upon, with silent admiration.

Smith is the only one at present, to my knowledge, who pretends to hold converse with the inhabitants of the celestial world. It seems from his statements, that he can have access to them, when and where he pleases. He does not pretend that he sees them with his natural, but with his spiritual, eyes; and he says he can see them as well with his eyes shut, as with them open. So also in translating. -- The subject stands before his eyes in print, but it matters not whether his eyes are open or shut; he can see as well one way as the other.

You have probably read the testimony of the three witnesses appended to the Book of Mormon. These witnesses testify, that an angel appeared to them, and presented them the golden plates, and the voice of God declared it to be a Divine Record. To this they frequently testify, in the presence of large congregations. When in Missouri, I had an opportunity to examine a commandment given to these witnesses, previous to their seeing the plates. They were informed that they should see and hear these things by faith, and then they should testify to the world, as though they had seen and heard, as I see a man, and hear his voice: but after all, it amounts simply to this; that by faith or imagination, they saw the plates and the angel, and by faith or imagination, they heard the voice of the Lord.

Smith describes an angel, as having the appearance of "a tall, slim, well built, handsome man, with a bright pillar upon his head." The Devil once, he says, appeared to him in the same form, excepting upon his head he had a "black pillar," and by this mark, he was able to distinguish him from the former.

It passes for a current fact in the Mormonite church, that there are immense treasures in the earth, especially in those places in the State of N. Y. from whence many of the Mormonites emigrated last spring: and when they become sufficiently purified, these treasures are to be poured into the lap of their church; and then, to use their own language, they are to be the richest people in the world. These treasures were discovered several years since, by means of the dark glass, the same with which Smith says he translated most of the Book of Mormon. -- Several of those persons, together with Smith, who were formerly unsuccessfully engaged in digging and searching for these treasures, now reside in this county, and from themselves I received this information. Yours, affectionately,

EZRA BOOTH.       

REV. I. EDDY.


Note 1: Booth's recollections in regard to the Mormons' seeing with "spiritual eyes," and seeing and hearing divine manifestations "by faith," are important ones: the very prevalent, imaginative Mormon mind-set in the 1827-31 period should not be lost sight of in any attempt to reconstruct the reported events of those times. The notion that special persons (i.e. Mormon elders) possessed the "restored power" to cause effects at a divine or celestial level, by their performing certain actions at the mundane level, predated the Mormons' proxy baptism and the Mormons' performance of other divine ordinances on earth, recognized by them as being efficacious in heaven. This "imaginative mind-set" of faith and spirituality must be taken into consideration whenever modern students of Mormonism attempt to account for the singular and controversial claims of the early Saints regarding their witnessing various types of divine manifestations. For example, the early Mormon witness might well have seen an angel, golden plates, and a far off heavenly city, while a gentile observer standing next to him could see only a man, sheets of paper, and a distant wilderness.

Note 2: In introducing the content of his Oct. 24, 1831 letter, Booth says: "Mormonism has in part changed its character, and assumed a different dress, from that under which it made its first appearance on the Western Reserve. Many extraordinary circumstances which then existed, have vanished out of sight; and the Mormonites desire, not only to forget them, but wish them blotted out of the memory of others." His report of these fast-moving doctrinal and practical changes should be kept in mind by any modern student attempting to reconstruct Mormon origins or early Mormon history. However fascinating and seemingly informative later recollections (given at some considerable distance in time and space) may appear, they cannot generally be depended upon to furnish anything like an accurate report of the earliest days in the story of the Saints. In this regard, the modern student is cautioned to always seek out the earliest available written examples of Mormon documents like "revelations," "official records," contemporary correspondence, and journal entries preserved by the Church, its members, or those associated with the Saints.

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 observances on the rise and progress of mormonism. He has given the following delineation of the founders of this new sect.

(see original article set)

 

Note: This reprint in the pages of the Cleveland Herald provided a reprint of James G. Bennett's lengthy two-part article from the N. Y. Courier & Enquirer of Aug. 31 and Sept. 1, 1831. What Kirtland Mormon leader Sidney Rigdon thought of this exposure of the Palmyra Mormons and himself has gone unrecorded.

From the Illinois Patriot, Sept. 16.

The Mormonites. -- ... (see original article from Illinois paper)


Notes: (forthcoming)

==> We understand that certain of our political opponents, (for obvious reasons,) have stated that we were requested by Esq. Rider, of Hiram, to publish an exposition of some of the Mormonite articles, the same that appeared in the Courier several weeks since -- and that we refused, It is seldom worth while to contradict stories of this kind; but as considerable pains have apparently been taken to prejudice the friends of Esq. Rider against us, we think it proper to say, that we have never had the pleasure of seeing Esq. Rider, to our knowledge -- nor has any person at any time requested us to publish the articles in question. We confidently appeal to Esq. R. for confirmation of this disclaimer, so far as he is concerned. 

MORMONISM -- No. IV.

              Nelson, Portage Co. Oct. 31, 1831.

REV. & DEAR SIR --

From the time that Mormonism first made its appearance upon the stage, until the grand tour to the Missouri, an expectation universally pervaded the Church, that the time was not far distant, when the deaf, the dumb, the maimed, the blind, &c. would become the subjects of the miraculous power of God, so that every defect in their systems would be entirely removed.

This expectation originated from, and was grounded upon a variety of premises, included in a number of commandments, or verbal revelations from Smith, or, as he is styled "the head of the Church." As the 4th of June last, was appointed for the sessions of the conference, it was ascertained, that that was the time specified, when the great and mighty work was to commence, and such was the confidence of some, that knowledge superseded their faith, and they did not hesitate to declare themselves perfectly assured, that the work of miracles would commence at the ensuing conference. With such strong assurances, and with the most elevated expectations, the conference assembled at the time appointed. To give, if possible, additional energy to expectation, Smith, the day previous to the conference, professing to be filled with the spirit of Prophecy, declared, that "not three days should pass away, before some should see their Savior, face to face." Soon after the session commenced, Smith arose to harangue the conference. He reminded those present of the Prophecy, which he said "was given by the spirit yesterday." He wished them not to be overcome with surprise, when that event ushered in. He continued until by long speaking, himself and some others became much excited. He then laid his hands on the head of Elder Wite [sic], who had participated largely in the warm feeling of his leader, and ordained him to the High Priesthood. He was set apart for the service of the Indians, and was ordained to the gift of tongues, healing the sick, casting out Devils, and discerning spirits; and in like manner he ordained several others; and then called upon Wite to take the floor. Wite arose, and presented a pale countenance, a fierce look, with his arms extended, and his hands cramped backward, the whole system agitated, and a very unpleasant object to gaze upon. He exhibited himself as an instance of the great power of God, and called upon those around him, "if you wanted to see a sign, look at me." He then stept upon a bench, and declared, with a loud voice, he saw the Savior: and thereby, for the time being, rescued Smith's prophecy from merited contempt. -- It, however, procured Wite the authority to ordain the rest. So said the spirit, and so said Smith. The spirit in Smith selected those to be ordained, and the spirit in Wite ordained them. But the spirit in Wite proved an erring, and forgetful dictator; so much so, that some of the candidates felt the weight of his hands thrice, before the work was rightly done. Another Elder, who had been ordained to the same office as Wite, at the bidding of Smith stept upon the floor. Then ensued a scene, of which you can form no adequate conception; and which, I would forbear relating, did not the truth require it. This Elder moved upon the floor, his legs inclining to a bend; one shoulder elevated above the other, upon which the head seemed disposed to recline, his arms partly extended; his hands half clenched; his mouth half open, and contracted in the shape of an italic O; his eyes assumed a wild and ferocious cast, and his whole appearance presented a frightful object to the view of the beholder. "Speak, Brother Harvey" said Smith. But Harvey intimated by signs, that his power of articulation was in a state of suspense, and that he was unable to speak. Some conjectured that Harvey was possessed of the Devil, but Smith said, "The Lord binds in order to set at liberty." After different opinions had been given, and there had been much confusion, Smith learnt by the spirit, that Harvey was under a diabolical influence, and that Satan had bound him; and he commanded the unclean spirit to come out of him.

It now became clearly manifest, that "the man of sin was revealed," for the express purpose that the Elders should become acquainted with the devices of Satan; and after that they would possess knowledge sufficient to manage him. This, Smith declared to be a miracle, and his success in this case, encouraged him to work other, and different miracles. Taking the hand of one of the Elders in his own, a hand, which by accident had been rendered defective, he said, "Brother Mordock [sic], I command you in the name of Jesus Christ, to straighten your hand, -- in the mean while, endeavoring to accomplish the work by using his own hand, to open the hand of the other. The effort proved unsuccessful; but he again articulated the same commandment, in a more authoritative and louder tone of voice; and while uttering with his tongue, his hands were at work; but after all the exertion of his power, both natural and supernatural, the deficient hand returned to its former position, where it still remains. But ill success in this case, did not discourage him from undertaking another. One of the Elders, who was [decrepit] in one of his legs, was set upon the floor, and commanded, in the name of Jesus Christ, to walk. He walked a step or two, his faith failed, and he was again compelled to have recourse to his former assistant, and he has had occasion to use it ever since.

A dead body, which had been retained above ground two or three days, under the expectation that the dead would be raised, was insensible to the voice of those who commanded it to wake into life, and is destined to sleep in the grave, till the last trump shall sound, and the power of God easily accomplish the work, which frustrated the attempts, and bid defiance to the puny efforts of the Mormonites.

Under these discouraging circumstances, the horizon of Mormonism gathered darkness; and a storm seemed to hang impending over the church. The gloom of disappointed expectation, overspread the countenances of many, while they labored to investigate the cause of this failure. To add, if possible, to their mortification, a larger assembly collected on the Sabbath, in order to hear preaching. In the midst of the meeting, the congregation was dismissed by Rigdon, and the people sent to their homes. He was directed to do this, he said, by the spirit. But it was generally believed, that he was directed solely by fear; and that he had mistaken the spirit of cowardice, for the spirit of the Lord. Several of the Elders said that they "felt the spirit to preach" to the congregation: and Rigdon felt the spirit to send the people home: such was the unity, which then prevailed among them.

You will doubtless say, can it be possible that the minds of men, and men who possess the appearance of honesty, can be so strangely infatuated, as still to adhere to a system, after it had occasioned so much agitation, and so much disappointment. One reason which can be assigned for this, is, the adherents are generally inclined to consider the system so perfect, as to admit of no suspicion; and the confusion, and disappointment, are attributed to some other cause. Another, and principal reason is, delusion always effects the mind with a species of delirium, and this delirium arises in a degree, proportionate to the magnitude of the delusion. These men, upon other subjects, will converse like other men: but when their favorite system is brought into view, its inconsistencies and contradictions, are resolved into inexplicable mystery; and this will not only apply to the delusions now under consideration, but in my view, to every delusion from the highest to the lowest; and it matters not whether it carries the stamp of popularity, or its opposite.   Yours, affectionately,

EZRA BOOTH.      

REV. I. EDDY.


Note 1: Booth speaks knowledgeably on the phenomenon among the earliest Mormons, of their seeing the promise of great manifestations of miracles postponed time and time again. In short, the Mormon leaders and missionaries first promised the anticipated endowment from on high, as a method for conversion and faith promotion, and then gave reasons as to why the anticipated constellation of divine miracles did not occur in their midst. Probably Booth is correct in saying that the first such promise was made among them, by their leaders, while the Saints were still in New York. The promise was then postponed and the new date set to coincide with their gathering at Kirtland. When the hoped for manifestation did not appear there, the promise of such an endowment was moved to Independence, Missouri; then back to Kirtland, and finally consummated (according to some reports, at least) at the dedication of the Kirtland Temple. Joseph Smith, Jr. had long before mastered the situation of having some disaffected followers fall away from his group due to his failed promises. In such cases the disaffected members were marginalized, excluded, and new, fresh converts brought in to take their places. This ongoing process assured the continuation and expansion of Smith's group of followers, despite the occasional outcropping of "apostates" among the membership.

Note 2: Elder Lyman Wight's claim to have seen Christ (with his "spiritual eyes" no doubt) coincided with his being ordained as a Mormon High Priest. Presumably this both fulfilled and placed a new condition upon Smith's prediction that some of his followers would see the Messiah face to face at Kirtland. The condition thenceforth, for such a Christophany in the Mormon ranks, would be the necessary elevation of the candidate for such an miraculous experience to the office of High Priest. The somewhat comical result was that Mormonism was ever since left with a plethora of High Priests, while the ancient Israelites and their successors, the Jews, counted only one such preeminent hierophant among the national congregation at any particular time.

MORMONISM -- No. V.

              Nelson, Portage Co. Nov. 7, 1831.

REV. & DEAR SIR --

In my last letter I gave you a faint representation of the event which transpired, and the circumstances which attended the meeting of the Mormonite Conference. Though many stumbled, yet none irrecoverably fell. Another grand object was presented, and the attention was somewhat diverted from those scenes of disappointment, through which we had recently passed. The tour to Missouri revived the sinking expectations, and gave new energy to faith and hope. In that distant region, anticipation was to be realized in full, and the objects of faith, and hope, were to become the objects of knowledge and fruition. A commandment was received, and Elders were directed to take their journey for the "promised land." They were commanded to go two by two, with the exception of Smith, Rigdon, Harris, and Partridge; and it was designed that these should find an easier method of transporting themselves, than to travel that distance on foot. They were careful to make suitable provision for themselves, both in money and other articles, that while on their journey, they might carry the appearance of gentlemen filling some important stations in life: while many, who were destined to travel on foot with packs upon their backs, were so fired with the ardor of enthusiasm, that they supposed they could travel to Missouri, with but little or no money. These carried the appearance, and were justly entitled to the character of beggars, for when the little money they took with them was expended, they subsisted by begging, until they arrived to their journey's end.

Being myself one of the number selected to perform the journey by land, and not being much accustomed to travel on foot, I hesitated for a while; but believing it to be the will of God, I resolved on an unreserved surrender of myself to the work, and on the 15th of June, in company with the one appointed to travel with me, took up my line of march for Missouri. I do not design to trouble you with a relation of particulars, but will observe, that after I left the north part of the State of Ohio, I made a speedy and a prosperous journey to Missouri. I preached twice in Ohio, thrice in Indiana, once in Illinois, and once in Missouri. We were commanded to preach by the spirit, and my impressions were, that farther to the westward, I should enjoy more of the spirit's influence; and though I travelled one thousand miles to the west, my anticipations, in this respect, were never realized. I seldom ever proclaimed Mormonism with that liberty, which I enjoyed in my public exercises, while a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. I supposed that at some future time, the spirit would endow me with the power to preach with an unusual degree of liberty. That period has never arrived, and I am persuaded it never will, and I now sincerely desire the spirit of truth to direct my pen, while I endeavor to expose the errors and absurdities of the system I then advocated.

When we arrived at the place to which our mission destined us, we perceived, to our mortification, that disappointment, instead of being confined to the State of Ohio, had journeyed thither, and had arrived before us. We would gladly here have avoided an interview with this, our old companion; but this was impossible, she met us, and stared us in the face which way soever we turned, nor was it possible to look her out of countenance, or put the blush upon her pallid features, or expel her from our society. Some were for making the best of her they could; but for myself, I resolved that she should be expelled, or at any rate, that her visits should be less frequent, or I would abandon the habitation entirely.

When we commenced our journey for Missouri, we expected an "effectual door" would be opened, to proclaim the new system of faith, in that region; and that those who were ordained to the gift of tongues, would have an opportunity to display their supernatural talent, in communicating to the Indians, in their own dialect. Some who were ordained to this office, absolutely knew that through this medium, they should gain access to the Natives, and I will venture to say, I know, that their success will be similar to that of their predecessor, Oliver Cowdrey, who stated that he was endowed with the same foreknowledge. But the event has proved his presumption false. For more than two weeks, while I remained there, the disposition of the Elders appeared to be averse to preaching, either to the white or red people, and indeed, adverse circumstances prevented it.

We expected to assemble together in conference, according to commandment, and the Lord would signally display his power, for the confirmation of our faith; but we commenced our journey home, before most of the Elders arrived. It is true, a conference was held, but it was considered so unimportant, that myself and another man were permitted to be absent, for the purpose of procuring the means of conveyance down the river. We expected to find a large Church, which Smith said, was revealed to him in a vision, Oliver had raised up there. This large Church was found to consist of three or four females.

We expected to witness the exercise of those miraculous gifts, to which some were ordained while in the State of Ohio. But the same difficulty, the same want of faith among the people, which counteracted them here, prevailed there; consequently, no miracles could be wrought. We expected to see the foundation of the City and Temple laid; and this we were permitted to see, and it was in fact a curiosity, but not worth going to Missouri to witness. The honor of consecrating the land, &c. was conferred on Mr. Rigdon. The commandment reads thus: "let my servant Sidney consecrate and dedicate the land, and the spot for the Temple" -- again, "Behold I give unto my servant Sidney a commandment, that he shall write a description of the land of Zion, and a statement of the will of God, as it shall be made known to him by the spirit, and a subscription to be presented to the Churches, to obtain money to purchase lands, for an inheritance for the children of God: for behold the Lord willeth that his Disciples, and the children of men should open their hearts, to purchase this whole region of country, lest they receive none inheritance, save it be by the shedding of blood." The childish exultation of the Mormonite leaders, while they echoed and re-echoed, "the Lord has given us this whole region of country;" "this whole region of country is ours;" when it was manifest, agreeable to the commandment, that the gift was only to be obtained, by purchasing it with money at a dear rate, and that, in order to save themselves the trouble of "the shedding of blood," would, under other circumstances, have been truly diverting. But when viewing it as an instance of a deep-laid scheme, and the cunning artifice of crafty impostors, designed to allure the credulous and the unsuspecting, into a state of unqualified vassalage, it presented a melancholy picture of the direful depravity of the human heart, while destitute of those virtues, inculcated in the Gospel of the blessed Redeemer.

It was conjectured by the inhabitants of Jackson County, that the Mormonites, as a body are wealthy, and many of them entertain fears, that next December, when the list of the land is exposed for sale, they will out-bid others, and establish themselves as the most powerful body in the County. But they may dismiss their fears in this respect; for the Mormonites as a body, are comparatively poor, and destined so to remain, until they pursue a different course as it relates to economy and industry, from what they have hitherto pursued. There were ten families, which came by water, landed there the day on which I arrived; and all the land which the Bishop said they had means to purchase, was less than thirty acres to the family; and thirty acres in that country, is little enough for wood and timber land; as fifteen acres upon an average here, are worth thirty there. Neither need they fear that the Mormonites, were they so disposed, will obtain the possession of their lands "by shedding of blood," until the spirit selects more courageous leaders than Smith and Rigdon.

Yours affectionately,                     
                                      EZRA BOOTH.

REV. I. EDDY.


Notes: (forthcoming).

THROWING  DUST.

It is a favorite notion with Mr. Campbell, that all converting power is in the word. At the time he preached in this place, he undertook to vindicate, at some length, what he denominated the "intelligibility of the word." It was dishonorable, he said, to God, to represent him as having given a Revelation, which was insufficient to answer the end for which it was given -- to represent him as speaking, and then being under the necessity of sending the Holy Spirit, to render the word spoken effectual. He seemed to conceive, (so far as we could understand,) that when God gave his word to man, he infused into it a kind of mysterious energy, and gave it a kind of mysterious commission, to go abroad and convert the Nations. Of late, we perceive that his followers are beginning to press him with a rather embarrassing question upon the subject. "If this be so," say they, "what right have [we to call upon our] unconverted friends?" In the last Harbinger, a person who calls himself "Will. Z. Thompson," writes to Mr. C. as follows: --

"If it be true, as you affirm, that faith comes alone by hearing or reading the testimony concerning Jesus, and that we have no right to expect, any influence superinducing the mind to faith, or even causing the sinner to examine this testimony, or place himself in circumstances for the light of divine truth to shine upon his mind; what right has any one to expect that God will answer his prayers in behalf of his unconverted friends?" Now if the divine Being exercises no other influence over the minds of men, than that influence which is derived to them through the words he has spoken to men, and we cannot prevail upon wicked men to give attention to those words, the question is, Are we authorized to expect, that God will answer our requests in behalf of such an one? Here is my difficulty, and it has long been a difficulty with me; and I find it is no less so with many of my friends and your friends."

This seems to be an honest man, and a seeker after truth. He tells Mr. Campbell, that he has unconverted friends, for whose salvation he feels deeply concerned, and that he has tried to pray for them, but doubted whether he could do so consistently, if Mr.Campbell's doctrine were true.

In reply, Mr. Campbell undertakes professedly to clear the matter up -- but in fact, only aims at bewildering his brother Thompson, by leading him through several pages of metaphysical nonsense, totally irrelative to the subject. In the outset he reminds him, that there are as great discrepancies between the tenets and practice "of some very zealous professors of our own time." The Presbyterians and Regular Baptists believe that men are "foreordained to everlasting life and everlasting death, and yet they not only pray for the conversion of men, but are active in all the benevolent enterprises of the day, for the conversion of sinners at home and abroad." We think Mr. Campbell's inquiring disciple must have been charmed with this argument. But the truth is, he has no right to the consolation derived from this alleged discrepancy between faith and practice of the above named denominations. They do not believe that men are foreordained to everlasting life and everlasting death, irrespective of appropriate means -- and one of the means ordained they believe to be prayer. On the whole it is very evident, that Mr. C.'s system is fast exploding. His followers are beginning to open their eyes and inquire, while he is busy throwing dust, if possible, to conceal the absurdities of a theory, which only needs to be seen, in its native deformity, to be abhorred.


Notes: (forthcoming).

MORMONISM -- No. VI.

              Nelson, Portage Co. Nov. 14, 1831.

REV. & DEAR SIR --

It is well known that the ostensible design of the Mormonites in settling in the western part of Missouri, is to convert the Indians to the faith of Mormonism. In this, the leaders appear to have in view, as a mode, the Jesuits of the 16th century, who established themselves in South America, by gaining an entire ascendancy over the hearts and consciences of the natives, and thereby became their masters. As Independence is the place of general rendezvous, and head-quarters of the Mormonites, it may not be amiss to notice it. It is a new Town, containing a court-house built of brick, two or three merchant stores, and fifteen or twenty dwelling houses, built mostly of logs hewed on both sides; and is situated on a handsome rise of ground, about three miles south of the Missouri river, and about twelve miles east of the dividing line between the U. S. and the Indian Reserve, and is the County seat of Jackson County. In this place, it is designed to establish the Lord's printing press, of which Wm. W. Phelps and O. Cowdery, are to have the management; and also, the Lord's storehouse, committed in charge to S. Gilbert. By the means of these two grand engines, they expect to make the wicked feel the weight of their tremendous power. West of the line lies the territory, selected by the Government of the U. S. for the future residence of the Indians; to which place, a number of tribes have recently emigrated. The question is frequently asked, do the Indians seem disposed to receive Mormonism; or have any of them as yet embraced it? To which question, I have heard some of the leaders reply, "O yes," when the truth is, not an individual had embraced it when I left that place, nor is there any prospect they will embrace it. It is true, that some of the Indians appear to listen with a degree of attention, while the Mormonite teacher pretends to disclose to them the secrets of their origin, the history of their ancestors, and that the Great Spirit designs, in this generation, to restore them to the possession of their lands, now occupied by the whites; and the Indians shall go forth among the white people, "as a lion among the beasts of the forests, and as a young lion, among the flocks of sheep, who, if he goeth through, both treadeth down and teareth to pieces, and no man can deliver. Thy hand shall be lifted upon their adversaries, (the whites,) and all their enemies (the whites) shall be cut off." Here you have a fair specimen of the method adopted in the Book of Mormon, and preached by the Mormonite teachers, for the purpose of enlisting the feelings, and ingratiating themselves with the Indians; and should success attend their endeavors; and the minds of the Indians become inflamed with that enthusiastic spirit which Mormonism inspires, they may be inclined to try the experiment, whether "by the shedding of blood," they can expel the white inhabitants, or reduce them to a state of servitude; and by this means, regain the possession of the lands occupied by their forefathers.

The laying of the foundation of Zion was attended with considerable parade, and an ostentatious display of talents, both by Rigdon and Cowdery. The place being designated as the site where the city was to commence, on the day appointed we repaired to the spot, not only as spectators, but each one to act the part assigned him in the great work of laying the foundation of the "glorious City of the New-Jerusalem." Rigdon consecrated the ground, by an address in the first place to the God whom the Mormonites profess to worship; and then making some remarks respecting the extraordinary purpose for which we were assembled, prepared the way for administering the oath of allegiance, to those who, were then to receive their "everlasting inheritance" in that City. He laid them under the most solemn obligations, to constantly obey all the commandments of Smith. He enjoined it upon them to express a great degree of gratitude for the free donation, and then, as the Lord's Vicegerent, he gratuitously bestowed upon them, that for which they had paid an exorbitant price in money. These preliminaries being ended, a shrub oak, about ten inches in diameter at the butt, the best that could be obtained near at hand, was prostrated, trimmed, and cut off at a suitable length; and twelve men answering to the twelve Apostles, by means of handspikes, conveyed it to the place. Cowdery craved the privilege of laying the corner-stone. He selected a small rough stone, the best he could find, carried it in one hand to the spot, removed the surface of the earth to prepare a place for its reception, and then displayed his oratorical power, in delivering an address, suited to the important occasion. The stone being placed, one end of the shrub oak stick was laid upon it; and there was laid down the first stone and stick, which are to form an essential part of the splendid City of Zion.

The next day the ground for the Temple was consecrated, and Smith claimed the honor of laying the corner-stone himself. Should the inhabitants of Independence, feel a desire to visit this place, destined at some future time to become celebrated, they will have only to walk one half of a mile out of the Town, to a rise of ground, a short distance south of the road. They will be able to ascertain the spot, by the means of a sappling, distinguished from others by the bark being taken off on the north and on the east side. -- On the south side of the sappling will be found the letter, T, which stands for Temple; and on the east side ZOM for Zomar; which Smith says is the original word for Zion. Near the foot of the sappling, they will find a small stone, covered over with bushes, which were cut for that purpose. This is the corner-stone for the Temple. They can there have the privilege of beholding the mighty work, accomplished by about thirty men, who left their homes, traveled 1000 miles, most of them on foot, and expended more than one thousand dollars in cash.

Having completed the work, or rather, finding but little or no business for us to accomplish in Missouri, most of us became anxious to return home. And none appeared to be more so than Smith and Rigdon, whose plans for future subsistence were considerably frustrated. They expected to find a country abounding with the necessaries and comforts of life. But the prospect appeared somewhat gloomy, and will probably remain so for years to come. That they were disappointed, is evident from the change which appeared in their calculations. Before they went to Missouri, their language was, "we shall winter in Ohio but one winter more;" and when in Missouri, "it will be many years before we come here for the Lord has a great work for us to do in Ohio," and the great work is, to make a thorough alteration of the Bible, and invent new revelations, and these are to be sent to Missouri, in order to be printed. This economy to save the expense of postage, is parallel with their other calculations. But no matter for that, it will save them the difficulties and hardships incident to settling a new country; and also the dangers to which they would be exposed, in case the Indians should commence hostilities upon the whites; and moreover, they have an easy method to supply themselves with cash at any time when occasion requires. The authority of a commandment, will easily untie the purse-strings, of those whose consciences are under their control; and they find it much easier, and better suited to their dispositions, to write commandments, than to gain a livelihood by the sweat of their brow; and indeed, Smith has commanded himself not to labor, and by his mandate, has enjoined it upon the Church to support him. The Bishop, when we were in Missouri, intimated, that he and others were too much inclined to indolence. He replied, "I am commanded not to labor."

Yours affectionately,                              
                                     EZRA BOOTH.

REV. I. EDDY.


Notes: (forthcoming).

MORMONISM.

The following is the first of a series of which we understand are forthcoming from the same pen, on the subject of the Mormon delusion. The writer was a celebrated preacher of the Methodist society, and was one of those who embraced the religion of Smith & Co. soon after its introduction here. He was very strong in the faith, and made a tour of the western line of Missouri at the command of the prophet, to see the "promised land," and site of the New Jerusalem.   Painesville Telegraph.

From the Ohio Star ...

---

Important Indian News. -- We learn that on Wednesday last, Mr. Gardiner, the commissioner on the part of the United States, concluded a preliminary agreement in writing, with the Chiefs of the Wyandot tribe of Indians, for a cession of all their lands in Ohio, on terms similar to those of the treaties made with the other Indian tribes in this State, during the past summer. The final conclusion of a complete treaty depends solely on the report, to be made by an exploring Delegation of the Wyandots, now on their way to examine the country designated for them, west of the State of Missouri...

Although these treaties are necessarily attended with considerable expense to Government, yet we think there is reason to congratulate the people of Ohio on the success which has attended the negotiation with the Indians of this State. By the cession of the Wyandot Reserve a large and valuable body of land, now occupied by them, will become the abode of civilization, industry and wealth. The Sandusky planes embrace some of the most beautiful and fertile tracts in the State. -- Bellfontaine Gazette.


Note 1: The Norwalk, Ohio Huron Reflector, beginning on Nov. 21st, reprinted the Ohio Star's Ezra Booth letters, using as a source the copies of the letters in the Painesville Telegraph. The result was a set of very slightly changed articles, t Mormon Mission to the Indians indistinguishable from Booth's originals. The Reflector, added practically no editorial comments nor additions to this lengthy series of anti-Mormon letters.

Note 2: At about the same time the article regarding the Wayandot Indians was published, the five Mormon "Missionaries to the Lamanites" were visiting with that portion of the Wayandot tribe then residing in Sandusky Co., Ohio. Warren A. Jennings, in his Autumn 1971 Kansas Historical Quarterly article, "The First Mormon Mission to the Indians," describes the situation in these words: "Despite their astonishing success, the Mormons [Cowdery, Pratt, Whitmer and Peterson] felt they could postpone their journey no longer [at Kirtland], for winter would soon be upon them. Taking with them one of their latest converts, Frederick G. Williams, a physician whose skills might prove valuable to the Indians, they continued westward, preaching as they went. In Sandusky, in western Ohio, they called upon the Wyandotte Indians and spent several days among them. Already this tribe was making preparations to remove to Indian territory. Departing in friendship, the Mormons continued their journey to Cincinnati..."

MORMONISM.

The letter of Mr. Booth, on the first page of this paper, notwithstanding its probity, will be found very interesting. We have reason to believe that these letters are exerting an important influence in opening the eyes of many of the really deluded subjects of Mormonism. Hence, in its exposure, the writer discharges an important though painful duty. They will soon be closed,

MORMONISM -- No. VII.

              Nelson, Portage Co. Nov. 21, 1831.

REV. & DEAR SIR --

The following, with but a little variation, is the copy of a letter which was written to the Bishop of the Mormonite Church, who, by commandment, has received his station, and now resides in Missouri. His business is to superintend the secular concerns of the Church. He holds a deed of the lands, and the members receive a writing from him, signifying, that they are to possess and occupy the land as their own, so long as they are obedient to Smith's commandments. The Bishop is, in reality, the Vice-gerent of Smith, and those in collusion with him; and holds his office during their will and pleasure. I think him to be an honest man as yet, but there is a point beyond which he cannot go, unless he prostrates his honor as in the dust, and prostitutes his conscience to the vilest of purposes. He has frequently staggered and been ready to fall. The Conference last year gave him a tremendous shock, from which, with difficulty, he recovered. The law of the Church enjoins, that no debts with the world shall be contracted. But a thousand acres of land in the town of Thompson, could be purchased for one half its value, and he was commanded to secure it; and in order to do it, he was under the necessity to contract a debt to the world, to the amount of several hundred dollars. He hesitated, but the command was repeated, "you must secure the land." He was one of the number, who was ordained to the gift of discerning spirits; and in a commandment, a pattern was given by which the good spirit might be distinguished from the bad, which rendered the gift of spiritual discernment useless: for the division was to be made from external appearances, and not from any thing discovered internally. -- He saw the impropriety and it shook his faith. I am suspicious that the time is not far distant, when, by commandment, this office will be bestowed upon a more trusty and confidential person; perhaps Smith's brother or father, or some one who has been disciplined in the State of New-York. Then it will become his business, to make over the property, by deed of conveyance, to the person appointed by the commandment to supersede him. The Mormonites will tell you, that business of this nature is done by the voice of the Church. It is like this: a Sovereign issues his decrees, and then says to his subjects, hold up your right hands, in favor of my decrees being carried into effect. Should any refuse, they are sure to be hung for rebellion.

SEPT. 20, 1831.      

MR. PARTRIDGE --

SIR: -- From a sense of duty, I take up my pen, to communicate to you the present impressions of my mind, which originated from facts, which occurred during my stay there, and while returning home. I arrived safely at my home on the 1st inst. after having passed through a variety of scenes, some of which, I design to disclose to you in this letter. You will probably be surprised, when you learn, that I am no longer a member of the Mormonite Church. The circumstances which led to this are numerous, and of such a character, that I should have been compelled to sacrifice every principle of honesty, or cease to support a system, which I conceive to be grossly inconsistent, and in opposition to the best interests of human society. The first thing that materially affected my mind, so as to weaken my confidence, was the falsehood of Joseph's vision. You know perfectly well, that Joseph had, or said he had, a vision, or revelation, in which it was made known to him by the spirit, that Oliver had raised up a great church in Missouri. This was so confidently believed, previous to our leaving Ohio, that while calculating the number in the Church, several hundred were added, supposed to be in Missouri. The great Church was found to consist of three or four females. The night we took lodgings in the school-house, and the morning which succeeded it, presented circumstances which I had not anticipated. When you intimated to Joseph that the land which he and Oliver had selected, was inferior in point of quality to other lands adjoining, had you seen the same spirit manifested in me, which you saw in him, would you not have concluded me to be under the influence of violent passion, bordering on madness, rather than the meek and gentle spirit which the Gospel inculcates? When you complained that he had abused you, and you observed to him, "I wish you not to tell us any more, that you know these by the spirit when you do not; you told us, that Oliver had raised up a large Church here, and there is no such thing;" he replied, "I see it, and it will be so." This appeared to me, to be a shift, better suited to an impostor, than a true Prophet of the Lord. And from that time I resolved, to weigh well every circumstance; and I can assure you, that no one that has any bearing on the subject, escaped my notice. But the spirit considered your insolence to Joseph, too intolerable, [to] be passed over unnoticed. Hence the commandment: "if he repent not of his sins, which is unbelief and blindness of heart, let him take heed lest he fall. Behold his mission is given unto him, and it shall not be given again." You are to be careful, to submit patiently to all the abuse which Joseph sees fit to pour upon you; and to swallow passively, all the spurious visions, and false prophecies, that he in his clemency thinks proper to bestow upon you, lest you fall from your Bishoprick, never to regain it. These men, under whose influence you act, were entire strangers to you, until you embraced this new system of faith. Now, permit me to inquire; have you not frequently observed in Joseph, a want of that sobriety, prudence, and stability, which are some of the most prominent traits in the christian character? Have you not often discovered in him, a spirit of lightness and levity, a temper of mind easily irritated, and an habitual proneness to jesting and joking? Have you not repeatedly proved to your own satisfaction, that he says he knows things to be so by the spirit, when they are not so? You most certainly have. Have you not reason then to believe, or at least to suspect, that the revelations which come from him, are something short of infallible, and instead of being the production of divine wisdom, emanate from his own weak mind? Some suppose his weakness, nay, his wickedness, can form no reasonable objection to his revelations; and "were he to get another man's wife, and seek to kill her husband, it could be no reason why we should not believe revelations through him, for David did the same." So Sidney asserted, and many others concur with him in sentiment. The commandment we received to purchase, or make a water craft, directed us to proceed down the river in it as far as St. Louis, and from thence, with the exception of Joseph and his two scribes, we were to proceed on our journey home two by two. The means of conveyance being procured, we embarked for St. Louis, but unpropitious events rolled on, superseded the commandment, frustrated our plans, and we had separated before we had accomplished one half of the voyage. The cause which produced this disastrous result, was a spirit of animosity and discord, which made its appearance on board, the morning after we left Independence. The conduct of some of the Elders became highly displeasing to Oliver, who, in the greatness of his power, uttered this malediction; "as the Lord God liveth, if you do not behave better, some accident will befal you." The manner in which this was handed out, evinced it to be the ebullition of a spirit, similar to that which influenced Joseph in the school-house. No accident however befel them, until Joseph in the afternoon of the third day, assumed the direction of affairs on board of that canoe, which, with other matters of difference, together with Oliver's curse, increased the irritation of the crew, who, in time of danger, refused to exert their physical powers, in consequence of which, they ran foul of a sawyer, and were in danger of upsetting . This was sufficient to flutter the timid spirit of the Prophet and his scribe, who had accompanied him on board that canoe, and like the sea-tossed mariner, when threatened with the horrors of a watery grave, they unanimously desired, to set their feet once more upon something more firm than a liquid surface: therefore, by the persuasion of Joseph, we landed before sunset, intending to pass the night upon the bank of the river. Preparations were made to spend the night as comfortably as existing circumstances would admit, and then an attempt was made, to affect a reconciliation betwixt the contending parties. The business of settlement commenced, which elicited much conversation, and excited considerable feeling on both sides. Oliver's denunciation was brought into view; his conduct and equipage, were compared to "a fop of a sportsman;" he and Joseph were represented, as highly imperious and quite dictatorial; and Joseph and Sidney, were reprimanded for their excessive cowardice. Joseph seemed inclined to arm himself according to his usual custom, in case of opposition, with the judgments of God, for the purpose of pouring them, like a thunder bolt upon the rebellious Elders; but one or two retorted, "none of your threats:" which completely disarmed him, and he reserved his judgment for a more suitable occasion. Finding myself but little interested in the settlement, believing the principles of discord too deeply rooted to be easily eradicated, I laid myself down upon the ground, and in silence, contemplated awhile the events of the evening, as they passed before me. These are the men to whom the Lord has intrusted the mysteries, and the keys of his kingdom; whom he has authorized to bind or loose on earth, and their decision shall be ratified in Heaven. These are the men sent forth, to promulgate a new revelation, and to usher in a new dispensation -- at whose presence the "Heavens are to shake, the hills tremble, the mountains quake, and the earth open and swallow up their enemies." -- These are the leaders of the Church, and the only Church on earth the Lord beholds with approbation. Surely, I never witnessed so much confusion and discord, among the Elders of any other Church; nevertheless they are all doomed to a perpetual curse, except they receive the doctrines and precepts which Mormonism inculcates, and place themselves under the tuition of men, more ignorant and unholy than themselves. In the midst of meditations like these, I sunk into the arms of sleep, but was awakened at a late hour, to witness and consent to a reconciliation, between the parties. The next morning, Joseph manifested an aversion to risk his person any more, upon the rough and rapid current of the Missouri, and in fact, upon any other river; and he again had recourse to his usual method, of freeing himself from the embarrassments of [a former commandment, by] obtaining another in opposition to it. He succeeded according to his desires. A new commandment was issued, in which a great curse was pronounced against the waters; navigating them, was to be attended with extreme danger; and all the saints in general, were prohibited journeying upon them to the promised land. From this circumstance, the Missouri river was named the river of Destruction. It was decreed, that we should proceed on our journey by land, and preach by the way as we passed along. Joseph, Sidney and Oliver, were to press their way forward with all possible speed, and to preach only in Cincinnati; and there they were to lift up their voices, and proclaim against the whole of that wicked City. The method by which Joseph and Co. designed to proceed home, it was discovered, would be very expensive. "The Lord don't care how much money it takes to get us home," said Sidney. Not satisfied with the money they received from you, they used their best endeavors to exact money from others, who had but little, compared with what they had; telling them in substance, "you can beg your passage, on foot, but as we are to travel in the stage, we must have money." You will find, sir, that the expense of these three men, was one hundred dollars more than three of our company expended, while on our journey home; and for the sake of truth and honesty, let these men never again open their mouths, to insult the common-sense of mankind, by contending for equality, and the community of goods in society, until there is a thorough alteration in their method of proceeding. It seems, however, they had drained their pockets, when they arrived at Cincinnati, for they were there under the necessity of pawning their trunk, in order to continue their journey home. Here they violated the commandment, by not preaching; and when an inquiry was made respecting the cause of that neglect, at one time they said, they could get no house to preach in; at another time they stated, that they could have had the courthouse, had they staid a day or two longer, but the Lord made it known to them, that they should go on; and other similar excuses, involving like contradictions. Thus they turn and twist the commandments, to suit their whims, and they violate them when they please with perfect impunity. They can at any time obtain a commandment suited to their desires, and as their desires fluctuate and become reversed, they get a new one to supersede the other, and hence the contradictions which abound in this species of revelation. The next day after we were cast upon the shore, and had commenced our journey by land, myself and three others went on board of a canoe, and re-commenced our voyage down the river. From this time a constant gale of prosperity wafted us forward, and not an event transpired, but what tended to our advance, until we arrived at our much-desired homes. At St. Louis we took passage in a steamboat, and came to Wellsville; and from thence in the stage home. We travelled about eight hundred miles farther than the three who took their passage in the stage, and arrived at our homes but a few days later. It is true we violated the commandment by not preaching by the way, and so did they by not preaching in Cincinnati. But it seems that none of us considered the commandment worthy of much notice.

In this voyage upon the waters, we demonstrated that the great dangers existed only in imagination, and the commandment to be the offspring of a pusillanimous spirit. The spirit also revealed to Joseph, that "on the steam-boats, plots were already laid for our destruction." This too we proved to be false. While descending the Missouri river, Peter and Frederick, two of my company, divulged a secret respecting Oliver, which placed his conduct on a parallel with Ziba's; for which Ziba was deprived of his Elder and Apostleship: "Let that which was bestowed upon Ziba, be taken from him, and let him stand as a member in the Church, and let him labor with his own hands with the brethren." And thus by commandment, poor Ziba, one of the twelve Apostles, is thrust down; while Oliver the scribe, also an Apostle, who had been guilty of similar conduct, is set on high, to prepare work for the press; and no commandment touches him, only to exalt him higher. -- These two persons stated, that had they known previous to their journey to Missouri, what they then knew, they never should have accompanied Oliver thither.

Sidney, since his return, has written a description of the land of Zion. But it differs essentially from that which you wrote; so much so, that either yours or his must be false. Knowing him to be constitutionally inclined to exaggerate, and suspecting that this habit would be as likely to preponderate, in his written, as in his oral communications, you cautioned him against it. "What I write will be written by the most infallible inspiration of the Holy spirit," said he with an air of contempt. You must be careful sir, or it will again sound in your ears, "if he repent not" for giving a false description of the land of Zion, let him take heed lest he fall from his office. This, Sidney said, was one reason why you were not permitted to return to the State of Ohio. The want of time and paper notify me to bring this letter to a close. And now permit me to intreat you, tocandidly view the whole subject, from the commencement unto the present time. Look at it with your eyes, and no longer suffer these strangers to blind you, and daub you with their [untempered] mortar. Think how often you have been stumbled by those discordant revelations, false visions, and lying prophecies. Put into practice the resolutions you expressed to me the morning after the collision in the school-house, that you would go home, and attend to your own business. Transfer the lands you hold in your hands, to the persons whose money paid for it. Place yourself from under the influence of the men who have deceived you; burst the bands of delusion; and fly for your life, fly from the habitations haunted by impostors; and having done this, you most surely will be glad and rejoice, and prove to your own satisfaction, as I have done, the falsity of Joseph's prophetic declaration, "if you turn against us you will enjoy no more satisfaction in the world."  E. B.

Some things are intimated in the foregoing letter, which more properly belongs to Cowdery's mission to the Indians; and when I come to notice that mission, those things will, probably, be more fully exhibited.

It is also indirectly stated, that Rigdon has acquired the habit of exaggeration. The truth of this statement, I presume, will be doubted but by few, who have been long acquainted with him. Most of his communications carry the appearance of high and false coloring; and I am persuaded, that truth by his embellishing touch, often degenerates into fiction. I have heard him several different times, give a representation of the interview between himself, and to use his own phraseology, "the far-famed Alexander Campbell." This man's wonted shrewdness and presence of mind, forsook him when in the presence of this gigantic Mormonite; so much so, that "he was quite confused and acted silly." I will give you a specimen of the language, with which Rigdon said he assailed him: "You have lied Alexander. Alexander you have lied. If you do not receive the Book of Mormon you will be damned." With such like [arguments he brow-beat his antagonist, until he had silenced and set him down, like the pusillanimous cur,] at the feet of his chastising master. "You are a liar, you are a child of the Devil, you are an enemy to all righteousness, the spirit of the Devil is in you," and the like, is dealt out profusely against an obstinate opponent, and especially, one whom they are pleased to nickname apostate. I regret the necessity I am under of making such statements, and could wish there had been no occasion for them. But truth compels me to it, and the good of society demands it.

Yours affectionately,                

                         EZRA BOOTH.

REV. I. EDDY.


Notes: (forthcoming).

MORMONISM.

Mr. Booth continues to write about Mormonism. Our readers are aware, that these deluded people had built their hopes very much upon the foolhardy predictions of their leaders, that the American Indians were to be converted to the Mormon faith, immediately upon its being proclaimed in their ears. This expectation, appears to have kept up their spirits under the sorest discouragements. It led them to Missouri, into the midst of numerous Aboriginal Tribes, where a trial was to be made. In the last "Star" Mr. B. alludes to the subject. Of their success, and also of the base, (not to say treasonable,) motives which they urge upon the Indians to induce them to embrace Mormonism, he speaks as follows:

The question is frequently asked, do the Indians seem disposed to receive Mormonism; or have any of them as yet embraced it? To which question, I have heard some of the leaders reply, O yes, when the truth is, not an individual had embraced it when I left that place, nor is there any prospect they will embrace it. It is true, that some of the Indians appear to listen with a degree of attention, while the Mormonite teacher pretends to disclose to them the secret of their origin, the history of their ancestors, and that the Great Spirit designs, in this generation, to restore them to the possession of their lands, now occupied by the whites; and the Indians shall go forth among the white people, "as a lion among the beasts of the forests, and as a young lion, among the flocks of sheep, who, if he goeth through, both treadeth down and teareth to pieces, and no man can deliver. Thy hand shall be lifted upon their adversaries, (the whites,) and all their enemies (the whites) shall be cut off." Here you have a fair specimen of the method adopted in the Book of Mormon, and preached by the Mormonite teachers, for the purpose of enlisting the feelings, and ingratiating themselves with the Indians; and should success attend their endeavours; and the minds of the Indians become inflamed with that enthusiastic spirit which Mormonism inspires, they may be inclined to try the experiment, whether "by the shedding of blood," they can expel the white inhabitants, or reduce them to a state of servitude; and by this means, regain the possession of the lands occupied by their forefathers.


Notes: (forthcoming)

MORMONISM NO. 2

From the Ohio Star ...

 

Notes: (forthcoming)

For the Ohio Star.

MORMONISM -- Nos. VIII -- IX.     

                    Nelson, Portage Co. Nov. 29, 1831.

REV. & DEAR SIR --

The origin of the aborigines of this country, and their history before the introduction of eastern literature into the western hemisphere, has afforded a subject for much speculation, and deep research among the learned; and has occasioned considerable curiosity among various classes of people. But the subject still remains in impenetrable obscurity; and will so remain, unless He who has the power to speak. "let there be light," "and light shall break forth out of obscurity." But as this is a subject better calculated to gratify the speculative inquirer, than to purify the heart, by rectifying wrong principles in the mind, or to increase that kind of knowledge intimately connected with, and essential to practical improvements, either in civil or religious society, we may reasonably doubt, whether the Great Jehovah will soon, if ever, condescend to clear away the darkness, by giving a revelation, merely to gratify the desires of persons, who delight to wander in the region of conjecture and speculation. But he has already done it, cries the Mormonite Herald. The Book of Mormon which I hold in my hands, is a Divine Revelation, and the very thing we need, to burst the cloud and remove the darkness, which has long surrounded the mysterious and degraded aborigines. We now know that the Natives who inhabit the forests of America, are a "branch of the House of Israel;" and by the means of this blessed book, they are soon, even in this generation, to be restored to the knowledge, and the true worship of the God of Israel. -- Among them is to be built, the "glorious City of the New-Jerusalem," in the midst of which is to stand, the splendid and magnificent Temple, dedicated to the Most High God, and "Oliver being called and commanded of the Lord God, to go forth among the Lamanites, to proclaim glad tidings of great joy unto them, by presenting unto them, the fulness of the Gospel of the only begotten son of God," &c. The grand enterprise of introducing this new dispensation, or the fulness of the Gospel, among the Indian tribes, who have recently received the appellation of Lamanites, was committed in charge to Oliver Cowdery, a young man of high fame among the Mormonites. -- His credentials, and the credentials of the three others associated with him in the mission, will be found in the following revelations, which I transcribe for your perusal, and also for some future remarks, which I design to offer.

A REVELATION UNTO OLIVER, GIVEN SEPTEMBER, 1830.

Behold, I say unto you Oliver, that it shall be given thee, that thou shalt be heard by the Church in all things whatsoever thou shalt teach them by the comforter, concerning the revelations and commandments which I have given. But verily, verily I say unto you, no one shall be appointed to receive commandments and revelations in the Church, excepting my servant Joseph, for he receiveth them even as Moses, and thou shalt be obedient unto the things which I shall give unto him, even as Aaron, to declare faithfully the commandments and the revelations, with power and authority unto the Church. And if thou art led at any time by the comforter to speak or teach, or at all times by the way of commandment unto the Church, thou may'st do it; but shalt not write by the way of commandment, but by wisdom: and thou shalt not command him who is at thy head, and at the head of the Church; for I have given him the keys of the mysteries of the revelations which are sealed, until I shall appoint unto him another in his stead. -- And now behold I say unto you, that thou shalt go unto the Lamanites, and preach my Gospel unto them, and cause my Church to be established among them; and thou shalt have revelations, but write them not by way of commandment. And now I say unto you, that it is not revealed, and no man knoweth where the City shall be built, but it shall be given hereafter. Behold, I say unto you, that it shall be among the Lamanites. Thou shalt not leave this place until after the Conference, and my servant Joseph shall be appointed to rule the Conference, by the voice of it: and what he saith unto thee that thou shalt tell. And again, thou shalt take thy brother Hiram between him and thee alone, and tell him that those things which he hath written from that stone are not of me, and that Satan hath deceived him, for these things have not been appointed unto him, neither shall any thing be appointed to any in this Church, contrary to the Church Covenant, for all things must be done in order, and by commandment, by the prayer of faith, and thou shalt settle all, these things, before thou shalt take thy journey among the Lamanites; and it shall be given from to time, to thee, that thou shalt go, until the time that thou shalt return, what thou shalt do; and thou must open thy mouth at all times, declaring my Gospel with the sound of rejoicing. -- Amen.
[bold emphasis added -- bold type not in original]

                                                                  MANCHESTER, Oct. 17, 1830.
I, Oliver, being commanded of the Lord God, to go forth unto the Lamanites, to proclaim glad tidings of great joy unto them, by presenting unto them the fulness of the Gospel, of the only begotten son of God; and also, to rear up a pillar as a witness where the Temple of God shall be built, in the glorious New-Jerusalem; and having certain brothers with me, who are called of God to assist me, whose names are Parley, Peter and Ziba, do therefore most solemnly covenant before God, that I will walk humbly before him, and do this business, and this glorious work according as he shall direct me by the Holy Ghost; ever praying for mine and their prosperity, and deliverance from bonds, and from imprisonments, and whatsoever may befal us, with all patience and faith. -- Amen.
                                                                  OLIVER COWDERY.

We, the undersigned, being called and commanded of the Lord God, to accompany our Brother Oliver Cowdery, to go to the Lamanites, and to assist in the above mentioned glorious work and business. We do, therefore, most solemnly covenant before God, that we will assist him faithfully in this thing, by giving heed unto all his words and advice, which is [sic], or shall be given him by the spirit of truth, ever praying with all prayer and supplication, for our and his prosperity, and our deliverance from bonds, and imprisonments, and whatsoever may come upon us, with all patience and faith. -- Amen.

Signed in presence of

JOSEPH SMITH, Jun.
DAVID WHITMER,
P. P. PRATT,
ZIBA PETERSON,
PETER WHITMER.

In the preceding revelation, the principal thing which claims your attention, is the mission to the Indians; for with that mission many circumstances are connected, which clearly evince, that it originated from human imbecility, and diabolical depravity. -- There are also some other things, the meaning of which, you will not be likely to apprehend, without some explanation. In this, as well as several of the commandments, it is clearly and explicitly stated, that the right of delivering written commandments, and revelations, belong exclusively to Smith, and no other person can interfere, without being guilty of sacrilege. In this office he is to stand, until another is appointed in his place, and no other person can be appointed in his stead, unless he falls through transgression; and in such a case, he himself is authorized to appoint his successor. But how is he to be detected, should he become guilty of transgression. The commandment makes provision for this. His guilt will become manifest by his inability to utter any more revelations, and should he presume "to get another man's wife," and commit adultery; and "by the shedding of blood, seek to kill her husband," if he retains the use of his tongue, so as to be able to utter his jargon, he can continue as long as he pleases in the bed of adultery, and wrap himself with garments stained with blood, shed by his own hands, and still retain the spotless innocence of the holiest among mortals; and must be continued in the office of revelator, and head of the Church. Some others, and especially Cowdery, have earnestly desired to relieve Smith of some part of his burden. Cowdery's desires for this work were so keen and excessive, as, to use his own language, it "was unto me a burning fire shut up in my bones, and I was weary with forebearing, and I could forbear no longer;" and he did in fact, issue some productions, which he said bore the Divine impress; but Smith fixed upon them the stamp of devilish. But it seems, in order to compromise the matter, that Cowdery was permitted to "speak or to teach, at all times, by way of commandment unto the Church: but not to write them by way of commandment;" thus Cowdery is authorized to give verbal commandments to the Church by the inspiration of the spirit, which, if he afterwards writes, ceases to be inspiration; therefore, a commandment delivered orally, may be divinely inspired; but the same communicated, written verbatim, so far loses its former character, that it degenerates into a production of an infernal stamp. Here is a mystery, for aught I know, peculiar to Mormonism; and none but Mormonites, I presume, will attempt to unravel it. But it finds its parallel in the following. Smith assures his followers, that what he speaks by the spirit, and is written, is infallible in operation, but if it is not written, he may sometimes be mistaken. -- He tells them, that the right to deliver written revelations, belongs exclusively to himself, and no other person shall interfere in the business; and if he transgresses, he will graciously condescend to appoint another in his stead, and the only proof produced for the support of such assertions, is barely his word upon which they implicitly rely, and become entirely resigned to place their person and property under his control, and even to risk the salvation of their souls upon his say-so. Such glaring duplicity on the one hand, and unaccountable credulity on the other, seldom have a parallel in the annals of man.

Never was there a despot more jealous of his prerogatives than Smith; and never was a fortress guarded with more vigilance and ardor, against every invading foe, than he guards these. Smith apprehended a revival in the department of written inspiration, from another quarter, and hence Cowdery was commissioned to commence an attack, and suppress the enemy, before he had acquired sufficient stability and strength, so as to become formidable. "Thou shalt take thy brother Hiram between him and thee alone, and tell him the things he hath written from that stone," &c. Hiram Page, one of the eight witnesses, and also one of the "money diggers," found a smooth stone, upon which there appeared to be a writing, which when transcribed upon paper, disappeared from the stone, and another impression appeared in its place. This when copied, vanished as the former had done, and so it continued alternately appearing and disappearing; in the meanwhile, he continued to write, until he had written over considerable paper. It bore striking marks of a Mormonite revelation, and was received as an authentic document by most of the Mormonites, till Smith, by his superior sagacity, discovered it to be a Satanic fraud.

A female, professing to be a prophetess, made her appearance in Kirtland, and so ingratiated herself into the esteem and favor of some of the Elders, that they received her, as a person commissioned to act a conspicuous part in Mormonizing the world. Rigdon, and some others, gave her the right hand of fellowship, and literally saluted her with what they called the kiss of charity. But Smith viewing her as encroaching upon his sacred premises, declared her an impostor, and she returned to the place from whence she came. Her visit, however, made a deep impression on the minds of many, and the barbed arrow which she left in the hearts of some, is not yet eradicated.   Yours affectionately,

REV. I. EDDY.                         EZRA BOOTH.

 

                       Nelson, Portage Co. Dec. 6, 1831.

REV. & DEAR SIR --

In this letter the mission to the Indians will be brought into view, and with it, are connected circumstances and facts, sufficient, one would suppose, to convince every honest and unprejudiced Mormonite, of the fallacy and deception of Mormonism. But a Mormonite of the highest grade, is invulnerable by facts the most notorious, and evidence as glaring as the noon-day sun; for they affirm, they know by the spirit that Mormonism is what it pretends to be; and should Smith acknowledge it to be a fabrication, they would not believe him. This forms the highest climax in Mormonism, and but few have attained to it. After Cowdery, and his three associates had left the state of N. Y. while bending their course to the west, he was directed by the spirit to Kirtland, for the special purpose of enlisting Rigdon in the Mormonite cause. I have since learned, that the spirit which directed in this enterprize, was no other than Pratt, who had previously become acquainted with Rigdon, and had been proselyted by him into what is called the Campbellite faith. This new system appears to have been particularly suited to Rigdon's taste, and calculated to make an impression on his mind. But before he could fully embrace it, he must "receive a testimony from God." In order to [receive] this, he labored as he was directed by his Preceptor, almost incessantly and earnestly in praying, till at length, his mind was wrapped up in a vision; and to use his own language, "to my astonishment I saw the different orders of professing Christians passing before my eyes, with their hearts exposed to view, and they were as corrupt as corruption itself. That society to which I belonged also passed before my eyes, and to my astonishment, it was as corrupt as the others. Last of all that little man who brought me the Book of Mormon, passed before my eyes with his heart open, and it was as pure as an angel: and this was a testimony from God, that the Book of Mormon was a Divine Revelation." Rigdon is one who has ascended to the summit of Mormonism; and his vision stands as the foundation of his knowledge. He frequently affirms, that these things are not a matter of faith with him, but of absolute knowledge. He has been favored with many extraordinary visions, in some of which he saw Kirtland with the surrounding country, consecrated as the promised land, and the Churches in the state of N. Y. expected to receive their everlasting inheritance in the state of Ohio, and this expectation was grounded upon Rigdon's visions, while he was in the state of N. Y. These visions are considered by the Church as entitled to no credit, and laid aside as mere rubbish.

As it relates to the purity of the heart of "that little man," if a pure and pleasant fountain can send forth corrupt and bitter streams, then may the heart of that man be pure, who enters into a matrimonial contract with a young lady, and obtains the consent of her parents; but as soon as his back is turned upon her, he violates his engagements, and prostitutes his honor by becoming the gallant of another, and resolves in his heart, and expresses resolutions to marry her. But as the practice of a man will ever stand as a general criterion by which the principles of the heart are to be tested, we say, that the heart of such a man is the reverse of purity.

From Kirtland, Cowdery & Co. were directed by the spirit to Sandusky, where they contemplated opening their mission, and proselyting the Indians residing at that place. But neither Cowdery, nor the spirit which directed him, was able to open the way to, or make any impressions upon their minds. Being frustrated in this, his first attempt to convert the Natives, he turned his attention and course to Missouri, and when near the eastern line of that state, he halted for several days, for the purpose of obtaining, by inquiry, information respecting the Indians, still further to the West. It appears that he was fearful that his infallible guide, (the spirit,) was incapable to direct him, while proceeding further to the west; consequently, he applied to men more capable of giving instruction than the spirit, by which he was influenced. When he arrived at the western line of Missouri, he passed it into the Indian territory, where he continued but a short time, before he was notified by the U. S. agent, that he must either repass the line, or be compelled to take his residence in the garrison, forty miles up the Arkansas river. As there was no other alternative, the former seemed to him the most expedient; and he never possessed courage sufficient to pass the line, or visit the residence of the Indians since. Thus you behold a man, "called and commanded of the Lord God, to go forth unto the Lamanites," and establish his Church among them; but no sooner is he set down in the field of his mission, and surrounded by his anticipated converts, than he is driven by a comparative nothing, from the field, and obliged to relinquish his contemplated harvest. -- This is the person commissioned by the Lord to prostrate the western wilds, and as he himself stated, "to the place where the foot of a white man never trod," to rear up a pillar for a witness, where the Temple of God shall be built in the glorious "New-Jerusalem." But alas! he was arrested by man in his course, and by the breath of man the mighty undertaking was blown into the air, and Cowdery was thrown back among the Gentiles, to wait for the spirit to devise some new plans in the place of those which had been frustrated. But as a City and a Temple must be built, as every avenue leading to the Indians was closed against the Mormonites, it was thought that they should be built among the Gentiles, which is in direct opposition to the original plan -- as foreign from the design of the spirit, expressed in several commandments, as it would have been, had the Directors, who were appointed to build the Court-house in Ravenna, built it in Trumbull county, foreign from the design of those who entrusted them with the business.

Though their plans had hitherto failed, they were unwilling to abandon the Indian enterprize; and in a commandment it was stated, that Cowdery and others should receive a written recommendation, signed by the Elders, for the purpose of presenting it to the Indian agent, in order to obtain permission from him, to visit the Indians in their settlements. The recommendation was written according to commandment, and frequent opportunities occurred in which it might have been presented to the agent, but it never was presented, and of course was useless, he was censured by some for not presenting it, but I suppose the spirit directed him not to do it.

Another method has been invented, in order to remove obstacles which hitherto had proved insurmountable. "The Lord's store-house," is to be furnished with goods suited to the Indian trade, and persons are to obtain license from the government to dispose of them to the Indians in their own territory; at the same time they are to disseminate the principles of Mormonism among them. From this smug[g]ling method of preaching to the Indians, they anticipate a favorable result. In addition to this, and to co-operate with it, it has been made known by revelation, that it will be pleasing to the Lord, should they form a matrimonial alliance with the Natives; and by this means the Elders, who comply with the thing so pleasing to the Lord, and for which the Lord has promised to bless those who do it abundantly, gain a residence in the Indian territory, independent of the agent. It has been made known to one, who has left his wife in the State of N. Y. that he is entirely free from his wife, and he is at liberty to take him a wife from among the Lamanites. It was easily perceived that this permission, was perfectly suited to his desires. I have frequently heard him state, that the Lord has made it known to him, that he is as free from his wife as from any other woman; and the only crime that I have ever heard alleged against her is, she is violently opposed to Mormonism. But before this contemplated marriage can be carried into effect, he must return to the State of N. Y. and settle his business, for fear, should he return, after that affair had taken place, the civil authority would apprehend him as a criminal.

It is with pleasure I close this exposition, having in part accomplished, what I intended when I commenced it. The employment has been an unpleasant one to me, and from the first, I should have gladly avoided it, could I have done it, and maintained a conscience void of offence, towards God and man. -- But should an individual by this exposition, be extricated or prevented from falling into the delusion, which has been the subject of consideration, I shall be amply compensated, for the painful task which I have performed.   Yours affectionately,

REV. I. EDDY.                         EZRA BOOTH.

Note 1: Booth comments at length concerning the "mission to the Lamanites," providing much detail not elsewhere available. Unfortunately he is able to supply little useful information regarding the journey the four missionaries took from Manchester, New York to Mentor, Ohio. If Booth heard the rumors then in circulation, saying that Sidney Rigdon played a secretive role in the founding of Mormonism, he chose not to repeat the allegations in his letters. His remarks do, however, raise the question of just how and when the Mormon "mission to the Lamanites" was first decided upon. Presumably, had the Book of Mormon come forth a few years earlier, such a mission might have been directed to the Seneca Indians who had once inhabited Grand Island, along with much of western New York. Failing that, the mission might have been directed to the southeastern "civilized" tribes whom President Jackson later moved west of the Missouri. Since it is unlikely that the final draft of the Book of Mormon was written with the attainment of President Jackson's 1829 "Indian Removal" proposal certain to the book's author(s), the reader may reasonably presume that the decision of Cowdery and Pratt, to journey all the way westward to the Missouri, came as a relatively late development in the Mormon expansion agenda. Perhaps their final scheme -- to build the "New Jerusalem" west of the Missouri River, "among the Lamanites" -- was not agreed upon by the leadership until after the Book of Mormon manuscripts had already been delivered to the printer. When it became evident that it was not be feasible for them to build their millennial city west of the Missouri, the Mormon leaders' back-up plan (as Booth relates) was to amend the "divine commandment" and to build it "on the borders of the Lamanites," at the western edge of Independence, Missouri.

Note 2: If the "missionaries to the Lamanites" really were still in Manchester, New York on Oct. 17th, then they must have traveled westward rather quickly after that. The four men reportedly arrived in Painesville, Ohio on or about Oct. 25, 1830. If they truly stopped along the way to try and convert English-speaking, Christianized Seneca Indians from Cattaraugus Reservation, (where the Presbyterians operated Thayer's Indian school), then their departure from Cattaraugus village must have been on or about the 21st of October. Probably the pedestrian missionaries could not have made it all the way from Manchester to Painesville, in only a week's time, unless they "hitched a ride" along the way. Parley P. Pratt relates that the company went to Buffalo after visiting with the Indians. This mention, along with one supplied in an 1830 Oliver Cowdery letter, indicates that the Mormons' encounter with the Seneca was on their lands west of Buffalo, where the Buffalo Creek Indian Reservation had been previously located, and where Rev. Harris operated a Presbyterian mission and school. Possibly the four Mormons took a lake steamer from Buffalo to the port of Erie. By the time John Corrill encountered the company, at Harpersfield, Ohio, the four must have been journeying afoot -- a mode of travel they evidently maintained until they reached Cincinnati and boarded a steamboat for Missouri.

Note 3: Ezra Booth provides the earliest published version of Section XXX of the Book of Commandments, which was re-worked from that book to provide the modified Section 51 version of the 1835 Doctrine and Covenants. Whether or not Booth's transcript is a trustworthy rendering of the 1830 text cannot be determined at this late date. However his major differences (given in bold text above) with the Book of Commandments version do appear to form some interesting doctrinal patterns. The 1831 Booth version says that Joseph Smith has been given "the keys of the mysteries of the revelations which are sealed," while the 1833 BoC says he was given "the keys of the mysteries" and "the revelations which are sealed." This change appears to increase Smith's powers of seership or the degree of divine confidence entrusted to him. A portion of the "Nephite record" was reportedly sealed, to come forth at a later time. What other purportedly divine communications might have been "sealed," even to Smith's inner circle, during this period remains unknown -- but perhaps the tenets of plural marriage, the political kingdom of God, etc., are implied here. The Booth version of the text says that the promised New Jerusalem shall be "among the Lamanites," while the BoC says it will be "on the borders by the Lamanites." This change appears to absolve the Mormon leaders from converting the Indians west of the Missouri and establishing the "gathering of Israel" beyond the dominions of the corrupt Gentiles.

Note 4: The 1831 Ezra Booth text speaks of "the Church Covenant," while the 1833 BoC speaks of "church covenants," and adds the term "covenants of the church." The Booth transcript says that important activities among the church members will be done "by commandment," while the BoC says "by common consent." These textual alterations were perhaps intended to clarify the Mormon teaching that individual, situational "commandments" form the doctrinal basis for universal "covenants," which apply generally to all members and to diverse situations. The transformation implied here became explicit in the Mormon leadership's choice of the title "Doctrine and Covenants," rather than "Doctrine and Commandments," for their 1835 scriptural book. In this paradigm, Divinity commands; the prophet relays that message; and the people obey, thus establishing the covenant environment necessary for the building of the kingdom. There is also a hint here that truly divine instructions/covenants must be accepted by the entire body and do not become dogma merely upon the expostulations of a single, self-proclaimed oracle, like Hiram Page. Such a clarification in church doctrine helped solidify the administrative control of Joseph Smith, jr., while at the same time satisfying the participatory desires of less despotic-minded Mormon leaders, like Oliver Cowdery. The text published in the 1835 Doctrine and Covenants implies additional prophetic forbearance for what H. Michael Marquardt calls the "failed mission to the Lamanites;" see pp. 85-6 of his 1999 book, The Joseph Smith Revelations, for more comments regarding that failure and the relevant textual changes.

MORMONISM  [NO. 3]

From the Ohio Star ...

 

Note: The Huron Reflector's numbering of the Ezra Booth letters is confusing at this point -- the letter reprinted on Dec. 12th came from the Ohio Star of Nov. 10, 1831, and was titled "MORMONISM -- No. V." in the Star. Evidently the Reflector never reprinted the actual Booth letters no. 3 and no. 4 in the continuing series of published items.

                                For the Ohio Star.

TO THE PUBLIC.

The Lord willing, I will deliver a Lecture on the Christian Religion, in the village of Ravenna, on Sunday, the 25th inst. at the brick school house, or at the school house owned by Dr. DeWolf.

I give notice to EZRA BOOTH, that his attendance is desired, as I shall review the letters written by him and published in the Ohio Star, headed Mormonism, as those letters are an unfair and false representation of the subjects on which they treat. Should it not be convenient to review them on Sunday, I shall review them the day following, if a place can be provided for that purpose by the citizens of Ravenna; or at any time or place where it may be thought most convenient for all concerned.
                     SIDNEY RIGDON.

TO SIMONS RIDER:
Sir -- As you have publicly declared the book of Mormon to be an imposition, and I believing it to be otherwise, at present, deeming it my privilege to know it as well as you, do hereby present a request to you to meet me in the township of Hiram, Portage county, at such time and place as may be agreed upon hereafter, to investigate this subject, before the public; that if I am deluded in receiving this book as a revelation from God, I may be corrected, and the public relieved from anxiety. Your acceptance or rejection of this request, is desired through the medium of the Ohio Star.
                     SIDNEY RIGDON.


Notes: (forthcoming)

==> Accompanying the communication of S. Rider, Esq. which we publish, he sent us a transcript of the "Commandment" by which Rigdon received his authority to preach Mormonism. We omit it this week for want of room; but will give it hereafter, unless we find that our readers are tired of the subject.

---

For the Ohio Star.

MR. EDITOR -- Sir, I noticed in your paper of the 15th inst. a challenge from Sidney Rigdon, directed to me, to meet him in Hiram, Portage county, for the purpose of investigating the subject of Mormonism, before the public; that if he is deluded, to be corrected, and the public relieved from anxiety.

That Mormonism is a base imposition, I most certainly believe, notwithstanding the apparent honest and pretended great faith of its proclaimers; and that it is Sidney Rigdon's privilege to know as much about it as I do, is undoubtedly a truth. Now if he really is anxious that I should teach him the truth, and correct his errors, it does appear to me that a private interview would be much more convenient and much more to his profit, as our dwellings are but about sixty rods apart; and if he is honestly disposed to please himself under my tuition, he shall be tenderly used, and such care taken of him as his peculiar constitution would seem to justify. But to undertake to correct him of his errors before the public, would be a most arduous task for me. His irascible temper, loquacious extravagance, impaired state of mind, and want of due respect to his superiors, I fear would render him in such a place, unmanageable, and I therefore fail of accomplishing the desired object.

As it respects the public anxiety in Hiram and its vicinity, relative to Mormonism, it has long since been relieved, except a few cases of succeeding Mormons, and they appear to be fast recovering from their mental derangement, and bid fair again to become useful members of society. Therefore, an investigation of this subject, before the public, for their benefit, would be in a great measure if not altogether, void of utility. Furthermore, Sidney Rigdon and his colleagues have labored both in public and in private, to their utmost, in and about Hiram, since their return from Missouri, to save, if possible, a sinking cause, but without much success, for the people generally have left their meetings, except a few of their remaining brotherhood, which to me makes Sidney Rigdon's challenge appear more like one of the last throes of expiring Mormonism, to cause, if possible, "public anxiety" in this place, than the spontaneous production of an honest heart.

I have before me the Telegraph, published in Painesville, under date of the 18th February inst., in which is an account that Sidney Rigdon gave a public challenge, in a public meeting held in Kirtland, in which he defied the world to refute the divine pretensions of the Book of Mormon. Accordingly, Elder Thomas Campbell, whose venerable age, standing in society, and profound erudition, should have commanded his respect, accepted his challenge, and in a very polite and friendly manner sent him written notice to that effect. On the receipt of the note, he committed it to the flames, without even once reading except a few lines. If he then with all his professed meekness and humility would thus treat venerable age, what may a young man now accept at his hands?

The following is a copy of a commandment, * placed in my possession by David Whitmer, one of the three witnesses to the book of Mormon, which will show the great importance of Sidney Rigdon, as viewed by Mormons; for the commandments are not only represented by the heads of the department, but they represent themselves as being revelations directly from Jesus Christ, through Joseph Smith, Jr., and of equal authority with the book of Mormon. -- Now the biography of Sidney Rigdon, together with the history of Mormonism since their first appearance [on this] Reserve, will go abundantly to prove to any superficial observer that this commandment never originated from an infinite mind. But to disbelieve one commandment, says the Mormon, is equivalent to denying the whole. Thus you see, Mr. Editor, if a man once opens his heart to receive the book of Mormon as a divine record, he is also under the necessity of receiving whatever Joseph Smith, Jr. is pleased to pr[e]scribe by way of commandment, however ridiculous and absurd, or else turn back, as they say, to the weak and beggarly elements of this world, and thereby incur the displeasure of the author of their being.
                                            SYMONDS RYDER.
* This Commandment is necessarily deferred. -- Ed.


Notes: (forthcoming)