Litchfield enquirer., 1831-07-28
Nrom fIIp forRporf Ralamce.

T .O1D0Ed-VV some accounts of this fnpositiOR. The press has generally spoken of it as it should speak, in terms of reproduction Or deFisiOn. Et is but recently, however, that demoustratiOn has been had that scheme carrying with it from the commencement, SO many and % palpable evidences of imposition. cheat @ easily de- tected, and based upon entire fallacy and de- fusion, cOuld gain Credence, or obtain 1isci- pies. The fact that 1t has done, and c0ntin- ues doing SO, furnishes an unGavOrahle com mentary upon the intelligence of the age in which we live; an evidence that with all the lights of experience, and with all the Acili- ties for investigating and embracing fFafh, eF- TOT has not yet lost its attractions -delnsiOn and bigOtry retain portion of their dOmin- ion. In community, enlightened by edu- cation, and enjoying tn an eminent degree. instruction from the pulpit and the prcss-- with the Precsepts and principles of eerSse'an:- ty, widely disseminated, and faithfully ad
 ministered-a few fanatics impelled by ignor-t ance and superstition, or designing specula- tors upon human credulity-claim to have been selected as the medium of new reve- lation trOm heaven! to be from time to time, favored as was Moses with direct interpreta- tions of the divine will The story is prob ably familiar to most to our readers-tO some it may be new. Briefly it is as follows :- The principal parsonage in this farce, is a cer- ;ain JO Smith. an ignorant, and nearly unlet- tered young man, living at or near the village of Palmyra; the second. an itinerant pamph- let pedlar, and occasionally journeymau printer, named OLiuer Co,odry; the third Martin Harris, respectable farmer, at Pal myra. Other less important actors have been brought in, as the exigencies of the three first named required. About two years since Id ky ho,,n Sn n dream or vision, to certain spot located be- tween the village of Palmyra, and Maaches- ter. A slight excavation of the earth, ena- bled him to arrive at his new revelation, writ ten in mysterious characters, upon gold plates. Fortunately for this embryo, of new rell- gious faith, pair ofspectacles. of strange and peculiar construction, were found with the plates, to aid the optics of Jo, and his asso- ciates. Soon after, another very fortunate cir cumstance occurred. This was the intro- ductOn of no less parsonage than Oliver COwdry, to whom, and whom only, was giv- en the abity-with the aid of the spectacles ito translate the mysterious characters All this arranged, but one thing was wanting to pr0mugate the new eveIatiOn-money.- Martin Harris was possessed of valuable farm, acquired by industry and economy in his religious sentiments, he was credulOns I1iS SiVuuuty anu utS WcbC too conspicuous to be overlooked by the modern apostles. In due time, divine com mand came to Harris, through JO, to devote his properry,and all that was his, to the project. Harris farm was nortgaged. and the print ing of the Bible executed. It is a book of over 800 pages, and is entitled "BoOK OF MORMON" Of the book, it is only necessary to say, that it is ridiculous imitation of the manner of the holy scriptures; and in many instances, a plagiarism upon their language. With all it's glaring Inconsistencies, it canl hardly claim the poor merit of common in. genuity. The proprietors ofthe scheme have attempted to make the discovery historically consistent. The surmise, or uncertain tradi- ton, connected with the destruction of Bab ylon, and dissemination of the Jews, is brought to their aid. As they would have it,
 portion of the Jews wandered to this con-
 finent, and by Divine command, deposited
 the " Book of M0rmon," in the obscure spot, ] where the luckily stars of Jo Smith directed him. ''~
 We have given but the outlines of what we l. understood comprised the "GoLD BIBLE" inn position. We may have treated it with de- | gree of ofleyity-viewing it as the wicked and corrupt scheme of its authors, it certainly can deserve no better treatment. As another dark spot in the catalogue of human weak ness and inRrmity, it excites different sensa- ton. It has no parallel in folly and stupidity, from the days of Johanna Southcote, to those of Jemima Wilkinson. In it's character, or practical operations, it has no redeeming fea. ture. ltis. with regret, however, that we Are obliged to add. that it has not proved unsuc- cessful There are now, probably. 1000 dis ciples of the Mormon creed "Tsll it not in Gath, publish it not in the streets of Askelon." Their prophet Jo, has selected spot in the state of Ohio, (which he calls the promised tcsd
 It is in and about the town of Kirtiand, Geagua county. Hither the deluded follow CTS of the falso prophet, arc repairing. It is but fewedays since that an entire boat load of them passed this village, principally from Ontario and Wayne counties. Such as have property, convert It to. a common stock, and thus create an inducemsnt which ,s not over. looked by the idle and vicious. Families, in some instances, have been divided, and inl others. mothers have been obliged to follow fheir deIuded husbands, or adanl tho disaeree- able alternative, of parting Iish thsns and their children. FIOm ths PaiRsspiiie Ttlegyaph.
 4 Mormon Consmisioa. Some three months since, it was boldly asserted, under the iaGu- ence of the "G0ld Bible' imposition. that three young men. while in the spirit, had re-
 ceived commissions direct rom Heaven, oR
 parchment, which they caught in their hands