Cheraw gazette and Pee Dee farmer. [volume] (Cheraw S.C.) 1838-1839, 1839-05-31

Ou[pl Id here 1hi' S' bouuo all i'1'''
ance and friend, in the person Of MIR. Pat.
terson, an editor Of ne "spaper. He ex.
hibited his manuscript TO Mr.. P. who was
very mnch pleased with it, and borrowed it
for perusal. He retained it q long time and
Informed Mr. S. tha, if he would make ou'
title page and preface, he would publish
it and it might be a source of profit. This
Mr.. S. refused to do for reasons which |
cannot now state. Sidney Rigdon, who has
figured SO largely in the history Of the Nor.
mons, was at this time connected with the
printing office of Mr.. Patterson, as is well
known In that region, and as Rigdon him.
self has frequently stated. Here he had
ample opportunity to become acquainted
with Mr.. SpauId'ng's manuscript, AM to
copy it if he chose. 1t was a matter of no.
torety and interest to all who were connec.
ted with the printing establishment. At
length the manuscript, was returned TO lis
author, and soon after we removedto Amity,
Washington county Pa, where Mr.. S. died
in 1916. The manuscript then fell into
nv hands and was carefully preserved. 1t
has frequently been examined by my daush.
ter, Mrs. McKenstry, Of Monson. Mass,
with whom | now reside, and by other
friends. After the "Book OF Mormon" came
out, a copy Of it was taken to New Salem,
the place of Mr.. Spaulding's former resi-
dence, and the very place where the "Manu.
script Found" was written. A woman
preacher appointed meeting there, and in
the meeting read and repeated copous ex.
tracts from the "Book of Mormon" The
historical part was Immediately recognised
by all the older inhabitants, as the Identical
work Of Mr.. S., in which they had been 50
deeply interested years before. Mr.. John
Spauldng was present, who is an emnently
pous man, and recognized perfectly tho
work of his brother. He was amazed and
afflicted, that it should have been perverted
to so wicked purpose. His grief found
vent in food oftears, and he arose on the
spot and expressed in the meeting his deep
sorrow and regret, that the writings of his
sain,ed brother should be used for pur.
pose so vile and shocking. The excite.
ment in New Salem became so great, that
the inhabitants had a meeting, and depu'ed
DR.. Philastus Hurlbut, one of their number,
to repair to this place and to obtain from me
the original manuscript of Mr.. Spaulding,
for the purpose Of comparing with the Nor.
mon Bible, to satisfy their own minds and
10 prevent their friends from embracing an
error SO delusive. This was in the year
1884. Dr.. Hurlbut brought with him an
introduction and request for the manuscript,
signed by M"ssrs. Henry Lake, Aaron
Wright and others, with all whom was
acquainted. as they were my neighbors
when resided IN New Salem.
am sure that nothing could grieye my
husband more, were he living, than the use
which has been made of his work. The
air of antiquity which was thrown about the
composition, doubtless suggested the idea of
converting it TO purposes of deusion. Thus
an historical romance, with the addition of
few pious expressions and extracts from the
sacred Scriptures, has been construed into
new Bible, and palmed off upon com:
pany ofpoor jeluded fanatics, as divine.
have given the previous iefnarra,ion, that
this work of deep deception and wIckedness
may be searched to the foundation, and its
author exposed TO the contempt and execra.
ton he so Justly deserves.
The Rev. DR.. Ely pastor Of the C"ngre.
gatonal church IN Monson, and D. K. Aus
tin, principal of the Monson Acads"y, "ave
given their certificate Il at Mrs. u. is "a
woman of irreproachable character, and a
humble Christian, and that her humble tes.
rimony is worthy ofimpl'cit confidence"
Relic ot Anti0uitu,-Mr. (. S. Pres.