Independent Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1842-1844, 1842-11-26
From the Boston Recorder.
ORIGIN OF THE BOOK OF NOR.
MON OR GOLDEN BIBLE.

OhlUIN Oc L NE DUN VI MUM
MON OR GOLDEN BIBLE.
AS this book has excited much atten.
ton, 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 wha; know of its origin
That its claims to divine origin are wholly
unfounded, needs no proof to a mind I'M
perverted by the grossest decisions: that
any sane person should rank it higher, than
any other merely human composition, is a
matter of the creates: establishment; yet
it is received as divine by those who dwell
in enlightened New England, and even by
those who have sustained the character OF
devoted christians. Learning recently
that Mormonism has found its way into a
church in Massachusetts,, and has impreg-
mated some of its members with its gross
decisions, so that communication has be-
come necessary. am determined to de-
lay no longer dIng what | can to
strip the mask from the monster of
sin, and TO lay open this pit Of abomina-
tons.
Rev. S,lnmon Spaulding, to whom was
united in marriage in early life, was gra.
date of Da tmouth College, and was dis.
tnguished for lively Imagination and a
great fondness for history. AT the tine of
our marriage he resided in Cherry Valley,
New York. From this place we rem we'd
to New Salem, Ashtabula county, Ohio,
sometimes called Conneant, as it is sitult-
ell upon Conneaut creek. Sh rtly after
our removal to this place, his he 18th sunk,
and he was aiI aside from active labors.
In the town of New Salem, there are nu-
merous mounds and forts, Supposed by ma,
ny to be the dhapdated dwellings and for.
ti6cations of race now extinct. These
ancient relics arrest the attention of new
settlers, and become objects of research
for the curious. Numerous implements
were found, and other articles evincing
great skill in the arts, Mr.. Spaulding be-
ing an educated man, and paSsionately
fond of history, took lively interest in the
Developments Of antiquity; and, in order
TO beguilc the hours of retirement, and fur.
nish empl ,yment for his lively Imagination,
he conceived the idea of giving an hisori-
cal sketch of this long lost race. Their ex-
treme autiqity, Of curse, would lead him
to write in the most ancient style, and as
the Old Testament is the most ancient
book in the world, he initiated its style as
neatly as possible. His sole object in
writing this historical romance was to a.
muse himself and neighbors. This was
about the year 1912. Hul's surrender at
Detroit occurred near the same time, and
| recollect The date we'll from the circum-
stance. AS he PRESSED in his narrative,
the neighbors would come IN from time to
time to hear portions read, and a great in
terest in the work was excite1 am my them.
1t claimed 10 hive been written by one of
the lost nation, and 10 have been recovered
from the earth, and assumed the title Of
manuscript found. The neighbors would
often enquire how Mr.. Suppressed in de-
clpherlng the manuseri pit, ard when he
bad sufficient portion prepared, he would
inform them and they would assemble to
hear it read. He was enabled, from his
acquaintance with the classics and>ancient
history, to introduce many singular names,
which were particularly noted by the peo
pie aud could be easily rec ngnised by
them. solomon Spaulding had a brother,
John SPaulling, residing in the place at the
time, WIN was perfectly familisr with the
work, and repeatedly heard the whole of it
read.
From New Salem we removed to Pitts
burg, Ia. Here Mr.. S. found an acquain-
lance md friend in the person cf Mr.. Pat
terson, All editor of newspaper. He ex.
hibiied has manuscript 10 Mr.. Patterson,
who was very much pleased with it, and
borro we'd il for perusal. lie retained it
long time, and informed Mr. S. that if he
would make title page preface, he would
publish il, and 1t might be source of pro.
TT. This Mr.. S. refu eel to do, for reasons
which cannot state. Sidney Rigdor Zone
of the founders and leaders of the sect
who has figured so largely i'll the history
of the Mormons, was at that time connect
ed with the printing olhce oil Mr.. P4lte:-