Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1839-06-06

10 nave been written by one Of The lost ma
ton, and 10 have been recovered from The
earth, and assumed The title OF Manuscript
Found" The neighbors would often inquire
how MIR. 5. progressed in deciphering 'the
manuscript aud when he had a sufficient
Z; portion prepared he would inform them, and
| they would assemble TO hear il read. He
was enabled from his acquaintance with the
classics and ancient history, 10 introduce
many singular names, which were pariicu>
iariy noticed by the people, aud could be
| easily recognised by them. Mr. Solomon
Spaulding. had IA brother, Mr.. John Spauld-
| ing. residing III the place at the time, who
was perfectly familiar with the work and
| repeatedly heard the whole of it read.
From New Salem we removed TO Pitts.
burg Pa. Here Mr.. S. found an acquan
| lance and friend in the person Of Mr. Pa!ier-
son, an EDITOR OF a newspaper. He exhibit.
cd his manuscript TO Mr.. p, who was very
much pleased with ii, and borrowed 1t for
perusal. He retained j, u long time and in.
formed Mr.. 5. that il he would make ont
lille page and preface, he would publish it,
and IL might be IA source of profit. This
Mr.. ). refused to do, for reasons which |
cannot now state. Sidney Rigdon,* who
has figured so largely ia the history of the
Niormons, was at this 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 acquainted
with MT Spaud ing's manuscript, and 10
copy II IL he chose. IL was a matter ofno.
toriety and interest To all who were connec-
TED with The printing establishment. AT
length the manuscript was returned 10 lie
author, and soon after we removed 10 Ami.
~, Washington county, Pa, where MIR. S.
| deceased in 1916. The manuscript then
! fell into my hands and was carefully preser-
we'd IL has frequently been examined by
my daughter, Mrs. MPKenstry of NJ onson,
Mass, with whom | now reside, and by
other friends. Alter the "Book Of Nor
mon came out, copy of il was taken TO
| New Salem, the place Of MIR. Standings
former residence, and the very place " here
| the Manuscript Found was written. A
| womsn'preacher appointed a meeting there
anu, IN the meeting, read and repeated CO.
pious extracts from the Book OF Mormon. 1"
| he historical part was Immediately recog-
nIsed by all the Older inhabitants as the iden,
l'cai work OF MIR. 5. IN which they had been
SO deeply interested years before. MIR. John
Spauldng was present, who is an eminen,iy
plous man, and recognized perfectly tile
work OF his brother. He was amazed and
afflicted that it should have been perverted
10 so wicked a purpose. His grief found
| vent IN food OF tears, and he arose ON the
| spot, and expressed in the meeting his deep
sofrow and regret that the writings of his
sainted brother should be used for purpose
80 vile and shocking. The excitement in
New Salem became SO great that the inhab-
itants bad meeting, and depuied DR.. Phi>
iasius Huribui, one OF their number, 10 re-
pair to this place and obtain from me the ori.
ginai manuscript of MIR. Spaulding, for the
purpose OF comparing it with the Mormon
| Bible, 10 satisfy their own minds, and TO
prevent their friends from embracing an en-
ror so delusive. This was in the yea. 1884.
Or. Huribut brought with him an introduce
lIoh and request for the manuscript signed
| by Messrs Henry Lake, Aaron Wright and
Others, with oil whom | was acquainted, as
they were my peighbors when | resided in
New Salem.
am sure that nothing could grieve my
| husband more, were he living, than the use
which has been made of his work. The air
oil antiquity which was thrown about the
composition doubtless suggested the idea OF
converting II to purposes of delusion. Thus
an historical romance, with the addition of
lew plous expressions and extracts from the
sacred Scriptures, has been construed into
new Bible, and palmed off upon a COMPANY
OF poor deluded fanatics as divine I have
given the previous brief narration, that this
work OF deep deception and wick edness may
be searched TO the foundation, and IFS author
exposed TO the contempt and execration he
so justly deserves.
MATILDA DAWSON.
Rev. Solomon Spalding was the first hus-
band OF the narrator of The above history
Since his decease, she has been married TO
second husband by the name OF DAWSON
She is now residing in this place; is wo.
man ofirreproachable character and an hum
bic Christian, and her testimony is worthy
of implicit Confluence
a. Ely, ID. ID. Pastor Cong. church in
| Monsoon
ID. K. AUSTIN, Principal Of Monsoon A
cademy.
Monson, (Mass.) April l, 1899.
One of the leaders aud founders OF the