The Iowa patriot. [volume] (Burlington [Iowa]) 1839-1839, 1839-06-06
! TUE MORMON BIBLE.

Tho Boston Recorder OF last week coz !
,,;ns the following singular dese lopment
4 The origin and history of the Mormon
Rhle. II accounts most satisfactorily
q, the existence Of the book, fact
which heretofore i, has been diillsu!t toI
e,nIaiu. 1t was difficult to imagine how
work containing 50 many indications
d being the production of a cultivated
Mind Should be connected with knayery
s,impudent and superstition SO gross as
thai which must have characterized the
t,uaders Of this pretended religious sect.
Ths present narrative, which, lndepen--
desalysof the attestations annexed, ap-
pears to be by no means improbable was
Procured from the writer by the Rev. MI
Stew, Of HolIiston, who remarks that ne
has .shad occasion to come in contact
with Mormonism in its grossest forms
Twas communicated by him for publica-
lion in the Observation-Disclosures Daily Ad-
sriiar
Origin of the shook of Mormon O.,
aGGpllea Bible. As this book has excited
much attention, and has been put, by a
certain new sect, in the place OF the sa.
cred scriptures, l deem it duty winch
owe to the public to state what | know
touching it's origin. That its claims to
divine origin are wholly unfolnded, needs Us
no proof to a mind unpervcrted by the
prossest delusions. That any sane per-
son should rank it higher than any other
merely human composition. is matter
Of the greatest astonishment; yet it is re.
fceiyel as divine by some who dwell In
enlightened New England. and even by
some who have sustained the character OF
devoted christians. Learning recently
that Mormonism has found its way INTO
church in Massachusetts,, and has lmpfe5-
mated some Of its members with its gross
decisions, so that accommodation mas
become necessary, am Determined &c
/ delay no longer doing what ! can DO to
strip the mask from this monster OF SIN,
and to lay open this pit Of denominations
Rev. Solomon Spauiding, to whom
vas united in early life, was graduate
Of Dartmouth College, and was dis.ln
glshed for lively imagination and
ssrcat fondness for history. At the tlm
d our marriage, he resided in Cherr..
Valley, New York. From this place W
removed to New Salem, Ashtabula coun
sty Ohio; sometimes called Conneaut, as
is situated upon Conneaut creek. Short
" after his removal to this place, nj
health sunk, and he was laid aside from
active labors. In the town of New Sa
lem, there are numerous mounds and fort
supposed by many to be dilapldated dwell
lings and Notifications of a race now ex
tlnct. These ancient relics arrest the at
tenton of the new settlers and becom
object Of research for the curious M
nnerous implements were found, and othe
articles, eyincing great skill in the arts
Mr. Spaulding being an educated man
and passionately fond Of history, took
lpely interest in these Developments 9
antiquity; and in order to beguile th
hours Of retirement, and furnish employ
nent for his lively ina gination, he cor
eelyed The idea Of giving an historict
sssteh Of this long lost-race. Their e,
rem, =! antiquity Of course would lea
nm g write in the most ancient style
aad as the Old Testament is the most al
cent book in the world. he initiated i
ayle as nearly as possible. His sole q
yea IN writing this historical romano
Y, was to amuse himself and his neighbor
MS was about the year 1912. Hull
surrender at Detroit occurred near II
1me time, and | recollect the date we
ION that circumstance. AS he progre
4 ssa " his narrative, the neighbors wou
some IN from time to time to hear po
u0ns read, and great interest in Il
s0ik was excited among them. i clair
s g have been written by enc Of the %
.a''oa, and 10 have been recovered fro
sne earth, and assumed the fifIe of g Ma