The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1840-04-07


ample opportunity 10 become acquainted with
Mr Spahlding manuscript (Ronance) and to
copy 1t If he chose" This statement is utterly
ami entirely false MIR Rigdon never con.
nected with the said printing establishment, Ell
ther directly, or indirectly, and we defy the
world to bring proof of any such connection.
NOW the person or persons who fabricated thai
iaIsehood would do well to repent anil become
persons OF truth and veracity before they ex,
press such acute sensbity concerning the re-
hgIous prctensioas of others. The statement
that MIR Rigdon is one of the founders of the
said religious sect is also incorrect.
The sect founded in New Y ork while Mr.
Rigdon resided in Ohio, several hundred miles
distant. Mr. Rigdon embraced the doctrine
through my fundamentally. | first presented
the Book OF Mormon to him. | stood upon the
bank OF the stream while he wos buptised, and
assisted to otficiate in his ordination, and my.
self was unacquainted with this system until
some months after its organization, which was
on the 9th of April 1880, and | embraced it in
September following.
The piece further states that "a woman preach.
er appointed meeting at New Salem, Ohio,
and in the meeting read and repeated copious
extracts from the Book ofMormon Now il is
fact we'll known, that we have not had a fe
male preacher in our connection, for do not
believe in female priesthood 1t further says
that the excitement in New Salem became so
great that the inhabitants had meeting and de-
puted Doctor Philaster Hurlburt, one of their
members, to repair to Spalding's widow, and OBJ
tain from her the original manuscript of the ro.
nance, &c. But the statement does not say
whether he obtained the manuscript. but still
leaves the impression that he did, aud that it was
compared with the book of Mormon. Now
whoever will read the work got up Ivy said
Hurlburt entitled "Mormonism Unveiled" will
find that he there states that the said manuscript;
OF Spauldlngs romance was lost and could not
he found. But the widow is here made to say
that it is carefully preserved. Here seems 10 be
some knavery or crooked work, and no wonder,
for this said Hurburt is one OF the most notor.
Gus rascals in the western country. He was
first cut off from society for an attempt Mt
seduction and crime, and secondly he was laid
under BOMBS in Geagua county, Ohio, for threat
enns TO murder Joseph Smith, Jr, after which
he laid deep design Of the Spauding romance
imposition, in which he has been backed by e.
vii and designing men i'll different parts of the
country, and sometimes by those who do not
wish 10 do wrong, but who are ignorant the
subject. Now what could be expected from
such person?-Now if there is such a manu-
script in existence, let it come forward ut once,
and not be kept in the dark. Again, if the public
will be patient, they will doubtless find the piece
signed Matilda Davidson (Spandngs widow
is base fabrication by priest StorrS of uOlliston,
Mass in order to save his craft, after oosing the
deacon Of his church, and several of his most
pious and intelligent members, who left his
cieiy TO embrace what they considered to be the
truth. AT any rate, Judge of literary produc.
tons, who can swallow that piece of writing as
the production of a woman in private life, can
be made to believe tibet the Book of Mormon is
romance. For the one is as much like 70.
nance the other is like woman's compost.
ton.
The production signed Matilda Davidson, is
evidently the work of a man accustomed to pub
lie ad dress, and the Book of Mormon I know to
he rup an rur tba
origin of the Book ofMormon is connected with
it, 4 know to be false.
PIP. PRATT.
NY. Nov. 9th, 1882