The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1839-05-14
THE MORMON BIBLE.


THE MORMON BIBLE.
The Boston Recorder Of last week contains
the following singular Developments of the Or
igin and history Of the Mormon Bible. 1t ac-
counts most satisfactorily for the existence OF
the Book, fact which heretofore it has been
difficult to explain. 1t was difficult to imagine
how work containing so many indications OF
being the production of a cultivated mind, should
he connected with superstition so gross that
which must have characterized the founders of
this pretended religious sect. The present nara
tive, which independently of the attestatons an
nexed, appears to he by no means improbable
was procured from the Rev. Mr. Stow of Hollis.
ton, who remarks that he 'lad occasion to come
in:conact with Mormonsm in its grossest FORMS
1t was communicated by him for publication in
the Recorder.
Bible"
AS this book has excited much attention and
has been put by certain new sect. i'm the place
of the sacred scriptures, deem, it duty which
owe to the public state what know touching
its origin.-Ihat it claims to a divine origin are
wholly unfounded, needs no proof to a m ind
unpervered by the grossest delusion. That any
sane person should rank il higher than any Other
merely human composition, is matter Of the
greatest asonishment: yet it is received as di
vine by some who dwell in enlightened New
! England, and even by those who have sustained
! the character of devoted Christians. Learning
recently that Mornonism had found its way in
| to church in Massachusetts and has impregna
ted some of its members with its gross delu.
sons, so that accommodation has become ne.
cessary, am determined to delay no longer
doing what can to strip the mask from this
! I'M n If ohO,
nations
Rev. Solomon Spaulding, to whom was uni.
ted in marriage in early life, was graduate of
Dartmouth College, and was distinguished for a
lively imagination and great fondness for his
tory. At the time of our marriage, he resided
in Cherry Valley, N. Y. From this place we
removed to New Salem AshabuIa County.
Ohio; sometimes called Conneau rs it is situa
ted upon Conneaut Creek Shortly after our
removal to this place, his health sunk,
and he was laid aside from active labors. In the
town Of New Salem, there are numerous mounds
and forts supposed by many to be the dapi
dated dwelling and notifications Of a race now
extinct. These ancient relics arrest the attention
OF the new settlers and become objects of re.
search for the curious. Numerous inpi ments
were found and other articles evincing great
skill in the arts. Mr. Spauiding being an edu-
Gated man and pnssionately fond of history took
lively interest in these Developments Of anita
uity; and in order to beguile the hours of retire
,nent and furnish employment for his lively i'm
agination he conceived the idea of giving an
historical account Of this long lost race. Their
extreme antiquity OF course would lead him to
write in the most ancient style, and as the
Old Testament is the most ancient book
in the world, he initiated it's style as nearly as
possible. His sole object in writing this histori-
cal romance was to amuse himself and his neigh
bors. This was about the year 1912. HulIs
surrender at Detroit, occurred near the same
time and recollect the date well from that cir
cuinstance. AS he progressed in his narrative
the neighbors would come in frequently to hear
portions read, and great interest in the work
was excited among them. claimed to have
been written by one Of the lost nation and to have
been recovered from the earth, and assumed lhe
title of 'Manuscript Found" The neighbors
would often inquire how Mr. 8. progressed in
deciphering the manuscript and when he had
IL suffici ent portion prepared he would inform
them, and they would assem- BILE the hear it read
He was enabled from his acquaintance with the
classics and ancient history, 10 introduce many
singular names, which were particularly noticed
by the people and could he easily recognized by
them. Mr. Solomon Spaulding had brother
Mr. John Spaulding residing in the place
at The time who was perfectly familiar with
this work and repeatedly heard the whole of it
read.
From New Salem we removed to Pittsburgh,
Pa. Here Nj. S. found an acquaintance and
TREND III the person oil Mr Fattefson an edltOr
of newspaper. He exhibited his manuscript
to Mr. p. who was very much pleased with it, &
borrowed it for perusal. He retained it n long
time aud informed Mr. S. that If he would make
out title page and preface, he would publish il
and it might he a source profit This Mr.
S. refused to do for reasons for which ! cannot
now state. Sidney Rigdon,* who has figured
so largely in tho history of the mormons, was at
that time connected with the printing Office of
Mr. Patterson, as is well known in that region,
and as Rigdon himself has frequently stated
Here he had ample opportunity to become ac-
quainted with Mr. Spauding's manuscript and to
copy it if he chose. 1t was matter of notore-
ty and interest to all who were connected with
the printing estab!ishment.-At length the man
uscript was returned TO it's author, and soon at
ter we removed to Amy, Washington county,