Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1830-1846, 1839-05-01

II Recorder oil last week contains the fol-
lowing singular development of the
origin and history Of the Mormon Bible.
Ii accounts most satisfactorily for the ex-
istcnce Of the book, fact which hereto
fore il has been difficult to explain. 1t
was difficult to imagine how a work con.
tanning so many indications Of being the
production OF a cultivated mind, should
be connected with knavery so impu.
dent, and a superstition so gross us that
which must have characterized the foun-
dcrs Of this pretended religious Sect
The present narrative, which independ-
emily of the attestations annexed appears
to be by no means improbable, was pro-
cured from the writer by the Rev. Mr..
Stew Of Holliston, who remarks that he
has "had occasion to come in contact
with Mormonism in its grossest forms -
1t was communicated by him for publ
cation in the Recorder. Boston Pairi-
OF.
Origin Of The Book Of Mormon" " OF
/ " Golden Bible."
As this book has excited much atten-
tion and has been put by certain new
sect in the place Of the sacred scriptures,
| deem it duty which owe to the pub
lie, to state what l know touching its
origin. That rs claims to divine ori.
gin are wholly -unloundcd, needs no
proofto mird unperverted by the gross
est delusions. That any sane person
should rank it higher than any other
merely human composition, is matter
of the greatest astonishment yet it is
received as divine by some who dwell in
enlightened New England, and even by
those who have sustained the character
Of devoted Christians. Learning recent.
II ly that Mormonism has found its way in
to church in massachusetts,, and has
impregnated some OF its members will
its gross delusions, so that cxcommuni-
cation has become necessary, l am de-
iermined 10 delay no longer doing what
| can to strip the mask from this monster
Of sin and TO lay open this pit Of abomi-
nations.
Rev. Solomon Spaulding, to whom l
was united in marriage in early life, was
II graduate Of Dartmouth College, and
was disting guished for lively magma
ton and great fondness for history
At the time Of our marriage, he resided
in Cherry Valley, N. Y. From this
place we removed 10 New Salem, Ash
tabuIa County, Ohio sometimes called
Conneaut, as it is situated upon Come
aut Creek. Shortly after our removal
to this place, his health sunk, and he was
laid aside from active Iabors. In the
town Of New Salem, there are numerous
mounds, and forts, supposed by many to
be the dilapidated dwellings and fortii.
cations of race now extinct. These
ancient relics arrest the attention Of the
new settlers and become objects of re.
search for the curious. Numerous i'm
plements were found and other article,
evincing great skill in the arts. MIR
Spaulding being on educated man an,
passionately fond Of history, took live
ii ly interest in these developements of an
tiquity and in order to beguile the hour
Of retirement and furnish employmen 70
his lively Imagination, he conceived tn,
idea Of giving an historical sketch Of hi
long lost race. Their extreme antiqut,
of course would lead him to write in III
most ancient style, and as the Old Testa
ment is the most ancient book in th'
world, he initiated its style rs nearly a
possible. His sole object in writing thi
historical romance was TO amuse himscl
and his neighbors. This was about tn,
year 1919. Hulps surrender at Detroit
occurred near the same time, and re
collect the date we'll from that circum
stance. As no progressed in his nara
tive, the neighbors would come in from
time to time to hear portions read, an'
Il a great interest in the work was excite,
among them. IL claimed to have beeI
written by one Of the lost nation, and I
have been recorered from The earth, and
assumed the title Of" Manuscript Found.
The neighbors would o0cn inquire hoy
: Mr.. y. progressed in decipheripn th,