The Illinois free trader and LaSalle County commercial advertiser. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1841-1843, 1842-06-10

peTSUuOuS. IL icluSiHS W lCiio"oh wv
modern systems of sectarianism which
are contrary to the pure doctrines of the
Bible be superstition, then, we are super
stitious for we hereby declare our with
drawal from all the mysticism, priestcraft,
and superstitions, and from all the creeds,
doctrines, commandments, traditions, and
precepts of men, as far as they are con-
trary to the ancient faith and doctrine o!
the Saints, and we hereby bear our testi-
mony against them.
We do not believe that God ever insti
tuted more than one religious system I'M
der the same dispensatlon, therefore, we
do not admit that two different sects can
possibly be right. The churches Of Jesus
Christ, in any age or country, must be all
built upon the same faith, the same bap-
tsn, the same Lord, the same Holy Spir-
it, which would guide them into all truth,
and consequently from all error and super
stition. The Book of Mormon has never
been placed by us in the place of the sa-
cred Scriptures, but, as before said, the
sacred Scriptures stand in their own place,
and the Book of Mormon abundantly cor
roborates and bears testimony OF the truth
of the Bible. Indeed, there is no society
within our knowledge whose members
adhere more closely to the Bible than ours.
For proof of this we appeal to the multi
,udes who attend our religious meetings
in this city and in all other places.
The piece in your paper states that
"Sidney Rlgdon was connected with the
printing office of Mr.. Patterson (inI
Pittsburgh and tina, "this is fact well
known in that region, and as Rigdon him
self has frequently stated. Here he had
ample opportunity to become acquainted
with Mr.. Spanairs's manuscript (ro-
nance and to copy it if he choose. y
This statement is utterly and entirel y false.
MIR. Rigdon was never connected with the
said printing establishment, either direct
" or indirectly, and we defy the world to
bring proof of any such conneX'on.-
Now, the person or persons who iabrlca-
ted that falsehood would do well TO repent,
and become persons of truth and veraci,y,
before they express such acute senslbllty
concerning the religious pretenslons OF
others.
The statement that Mr.. Rigdon is one
of the founders of the said religious sect
is also incorrect. The sect was founded
in the state of New York, while Mr.. Rig
don resided in Ohio, several hundreds Of
miles distant. Mr.. Rigdon embraced the
doctrine through my instrumentality. l
first presented the Book of Mormon TO
him. stood upon the bank of the stream
while he was baptized, and assisted to Of
ficiate in his ordination and myself was
unacquainled with the system until some
months after It's organization, which was
on the 9th of April, 1880, and embraced
it in September following.
The piece further states, that ga wo-
man preacher appointed meeting at New
Salem, Ohio, and in the meeting read and
repeated copious extracts from the Book
of Mormon. Now, it is fact well known,
that we have had no female preacher in
our connexon, for we do not believe in a
female priesthood 1t farther says, that
the excitement in New Salem became so
great that the inhabitants had meeting,
and depu,cd Doctor Philaster Hurlburt,
one of their members, to repair TO Spaul-
ding's widow, and obtain from her the
original manuscript of the romance, &c.
But the statement does not say whether
he obtained the manuscript, but still leaves
the impression that he did, and that it was
compared with the Book of Mormon, &c.
Now, whoever will read the work got up
by the said Hurlburt, entitled "Mormon-
ism Unveiled" will find that he there
states, that the said manuscript of Spaul-
ding's romance was lost, and could no
where be found. But the widow is here
made to say, that it is carefully preserved.
Here seems to be some knavery or crook
ed work and no wonder, for this said
: IIurlburt is one of the most notorious ras-
Gals in the western country. lie was fist
cut off from Our society for an attempt al
seduction and crime, and, secondly, he
was laid under bonds in Geauga county
Ohio, for threatening TO murder Joseph
Smith, jun, after which he laid the deer
design of the Spaulding romance imposi
ton, in which he has been backed by ev
and designing men in different parts o
the country, and sometimes by those who
: do not wish to do wrong. but who are ig
, norant on the subject. Now, what bu
e fslsehood could be expected from such ;
0 person! Now, if there is such manu-
: script in existence, let it come forward a
: once, and not be kept in the dark. Again