Sentinel of the valley. [volume] (Woodstock, Va) 1841-1848, 1845-02-27

mics, that the spell is broken and tha
The Mormon community will soon b.
! dissolved. In word, Nauvoo is tn,
largest city in the state Of Illinois -anc
regarded IN all respects as one of ths
greatest curlosities of that part of tht
cootlnent. Nauvoo is divided into fou
wards and governed by mayor, eigh
aldermen, and sixteen common council
DEMONSTRATING the city government
Propertyeis not held in common, as fire..
| quently represented many persons hol.
ding real estate in the city who are not
Mormons, yet their rights and interests
are protected with as much care as they
would be in Boston or N. York. There
IS not a square in the whole city that
has not a building uponit. The squares
beng about an acre large, the houses
have the appearance of being spread
, over a prodigious extent of serface-
all portions, therefore, not occupied by
buildings, are cultivated. As the pop
ulatlon increases, the gardens will be
fewer in number, and smaller in their
dimensions.
All the Mormons do not reside in the
city; if they did, their number would
increase the astonishment which alrea-
dy prevails. They extend both up &
down the river for nearly thirty miles
as farmers. Quite town also grow
ing up on the Missouri side, opposite
Nauvoo. The ground plot of Nauyoo
IS shaped somewhat like an OK bow
The river embraces two sides of it,
while the back ground rises magni6-
Gently about a mile from the Misslssip-
pi, giving the observer vast field of
vision over the most lovely rural scene
ry imaginable. 1
At the summit, overlooking the land
scape for nearly twenty-five miles in
every direction, stands the Mormon
temple, the largest structure in any of
the western states. When completed
it is assumed that the entire cost will
not vary much from $500, 900. Moth
ing can be more original in ,architec-
ture-each of its huge pilasters rests
upon a block Of stone, bearing in relief
on its face the profile of a new moon,
represented with a nose, eye, and
mouth, as sometimes seen in Almanacs.
On the top, not far from fifty feet high,
is an ideal representation of the rising
sun, which is very prominent stone
face, the features of which are colossal
and singularly expressive. Still high
er are two enormously large hands
grasping two trumpets, crossed. These
all stand out on the stone boldly. Their
finish is admirable, and as complete as
any Of the best specimens of chiseling
On the Girard College at Philadelphia.
The interior is to be one vast apartment,
about 1913 feet by so, simply subdivi-
ded by three great wells, or rich crimson
drapery, suspended from the ceiling
overhead. Neither pews, stools, cush-
ions, nor chairs are to cucumber the
holy edi6ce In the basement is the
fount Of baptism-which, when COM
pleted according 10 the design, will be
pretty exact imitation of the brazen
LAYER in Solomon's Temple.
The tank is perhaps ight feet square,
resting on the backs of twelve carved
oxen. They are of noble dimensions,
with large spreading horns, represent
ed to be standing in water half way up
to their knees. The execution of the
twelve oxen eyinces adegree Of ingenu-
ity, skill, and perseverance that would
rebound to the reputation Of an artist
in any community. When they are
finally gilded, as intended, and the la
yer is made to resemble cast brass, TO-
gether with the finishing up ofthe place
in which this unique apparatus of the
church is lodged-as a whole, that
part Of the temple is the most striking
artificial curiosity in this country.
When the officiating priests in their
long robes of office lead on a solemn
procession Of worshippers through the
sombre avenues of the basement story,
chanting as they go, the erect must De
exceedingly imposing to those who
may deplore the infatua.ion Of the
whole city of Mormon devotees.
Although estimated to cost SO large
sum, the walls Of the temple are graz
dually rising from day to day by the
concurrent, unceasing labor Of volunta-
ry laborers. Every brother gives one
| day in ten to the undertaking. Thus
there are always as many hands en-
ployed as can conveniently be on the
work at the same time. The architect
and different master workmen are con-
stantly at hand to direct the operations.
Each day, therefore, ushers in a new
set oil operatives.