Southern Argus. [volume] (Columbus, Miss.) 1834-1842, 1839-05-28
oRLGIN o. MoRMoNIsM.

have excited SO much attention recently
at the west, affords another larnenlable 10.
stance Of the comparative ease with which
the grossest fraud and most gIaring i'm.
posture may be palmed on individuals,
even in the most intelligent community,
and how liable, even persons in other mat
ters Of some discrimination, are to be
transformed into the silly dupes of arrant
knayes and impudent pretenders. Tho
founders Of this sect professed to obtain
the book Of their faith, from plates Of
brass brought from heaven by an angel
to the celebrated 6 Joe Smith, who. has
succeeded in numbering among his dis.
ciples, in all, perhaps, some thousands of
all ages and sexes. The real origin Of this
book until within few weeks was never
discovered clearly to the public, although
It was evident that knayery was used. in
obtaining if, as the first proaagators of
their tenets are men remarkable for their
shrewdness. This Book of Mormon. .
or Golden Bible" is well ascer.ained
to have been the production Of the Rev.
Solomon Spaulding, graduate of Dart.
mouth College, and formerly pastor of u
Presbyterian Church. on the Western Re.
serve in Ohio. While suffering under
disease, to amuse himself and his friends,
he wrote an imaginary history of the
mysterious race Of men who built the an
cient mounds and other works of art,
which are scattered so profusely over the
valley Of the Mississippi.
This manuscript having serreptitiously
fallen into the hands Of these artful and
designing men, was used for the further.
ance of their schemes of aggrandizement
and pecuniary profit, by building up new
set Of fanatics. The Rev. John Storrs,
of Holiston, Mass, learning that the
widow of Mr.. Spaulding (now Dawson,
having since Mr.. SIS. death, married a
second husband was still living at Mon.
son, Mass, and could testify 10 this fact.
addressed her letter, and obtained the
following narrative, which is published in
the Boston Recorder, and which we copy
as matter of curiosity, and a memorial
of most successful and afrant impos-
ture, practiced in the nineteenth century,
in what we are fond of styling, the most
enlightened portion Of the world.-Natck-
ez Courier.
AS this book has excited much atten.
ton, and has been put, by certain new
sect, in the place of the sacred Scriptures,
deem il duty which owe to the pub.
lie, to state what know touching Its eri.
gin. That its claim 10 divine origin Is
wholly unfounded, needs no proof to a
mind unpeyer:ed by the grossest delu.
slons, That any sane person should
rank itaigher than any other merely hu.
man composition, is matter of the great.
est establishment yet it is received as dl.
vine by some who dwell in enlightened
New England and even by those who
have sustained the characters Of devoted
christians. Learning recently that Nor.
monism has found its way into Church
in Massachusetts,, and has impregnaied
some ofits members with its gross decisions
SO that accommodation has become
necessary, am determined to delay no
longer doing what can to strip the mask
from this monster of sin, and to lay open
this pit of denominations.
/ Rev. Solomon Spaulding, TO whom
was united IN marriage in early life, was
graduate of Dartmouth College, and was
distinguished for lively imagination, and
a great Fondness for history. At the time
of our marriage he resided in Cherry
Valley, New York. From this place
VIC removed to New Salem, Ashtabula
county, Ohio sometimes called Come.
aut, as it is situated 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 Sa.
lem, there are numerous mounds ano
forts, supposed by many to be the dillapi.
dated dwellings and Notifications of .
race now extinct. These ancient relics
arrest the attention Of the new settlers
and become objects of research for the GU
rious. Numerous implements were found
and other articles evinoing great skill ii
the arts. Mr.. Spaulding, being an edd
} Gated man, and passionately fond Of his
} tory, took lively interest in these de
} velopments of antiquity; and in order {,
{ beguile the hours of retirement and fur
nish employment for his lively imagina
J tion, he conceived the. idea Of giving Al
historical sketch Of that long list race
B Their extreme antiquity, Of course, Wotl,
$ lead him to write in tie most ancient STYLE
1 and as the Old Testament IS the most al
. cient book in the world, he initiated i
+; style as nearly as possible. His sole Oh
] Jet in writing this historical romance, wa
0 10 amuse himself and Lcighbors. Thi
d was about the year 1912. Hull's surren
!; der at Detroit occurred near the sam
6 time. and recollect the date well fron
: that circumstance. AS be progressed j
7 his narrative, iheneighbors would come j
from time totine 70 hear portions read. an
j great interest ii the work was excited !
: nong hem. Il claimed ID have bee
written 81 one Of Tie lost natio and /
s have been ret0DBfed from TIE earih sd
assumed the title Of 8 Manuscript Found
z The nBighbors would often inquire ID
i Mr.. S.spfoere II decipherint q
aascfipi and when Be had 81 sieI
portion prepared Be would iniorn then
and they would sselnils q hear teaG
g He WAS enabled lf6u his aeqllaihla,c
With hs ics and anciehl history.
]. introduce many singaa na who
were paFlicn aIly h6liced The eoph
and could siIy cognized BY then
5. Ma. Solomon paulding bad biolhe
s MI. John Snaniaih ding ia q
go ~ s.