The Mississippi lynx. (Panola, Miss.) 1846-18??, 1846-05-23
THE MORMON TEMPLE.

10 inns great monument of industry;
and altho our attention has been drawn
10 every apartment in it, yet such is
the vast extent Of this immense edifice,
and the complexity Of its architectural
designs, that our observations have
been necessarily very superficial.
1t stands IN most prominent position,
on the bluff which overlooks the lower
town and river; and such is the eleva-
ton oil lis spire, that it is distinctly Wis
ic'e from distance OF twenty or thir-
ty miles in various directions.
Viewed from the bank of the river:
lis whole appearance is grand and inn
posing. The ameteria of which it is
chiefly built, iswhire limestone, which
has been worked and faced down to n
perfect surface.
Its Dimensions, as far as we can re-
| collect, are as follows:
Length, 1913 feet;
Width, 88 feet;
Height 10 comb Of roof, II feet;
From the ground to top Of spire,
10 feet.
serve as an observatory, from which a
magnificent view OF the surrounding
country may be had. The Msslssip-
Pl is seen winding its serpentine form
along the wooded valley to the north ;
the hills of Iowa rise IN bold relief TO
the westward, and lose themselves in
the blue distance; while the prairies,
fields, gardens and private buildings lie
spread out like a map below.
The walls of the temple are Of mas
sive stone, and al least two feet flick.
On either side, and at The end, are rows
of graceful piIasters, crowned with
deliberately carved caps, upon the ex-
ternal surface OF which is exhibited in
bdS relief, the face Of the "man in the
moon," and two hands graspng trum-
pets. Each plaster rests upon inver-
ted crescents, and are at least fifty feet
long. They are thirty in number, and
the united cost Of them is estimated at
about 100000.
The structure is lighted by four rows
two Of which are quadrilateral, and
two circular. These, with the other
novel architectural embellishments,
give the whole pile an original and not
unpIeasing aspect.
Al! the entrances are from the West,
and the immense doorways are gained
! by Il flight of stone steps. The inter
| Tor contains a basement, in the centre
of which stands the celebrated baptls.
NAL font; two great halls, which ex,
tend nearly the entire length and
breadth of the building; and third
hall underneath the roof, with small
apartments on either side.
The baptismal font is mostextraor-
binary work, and will stand a monu
mont Of Mormon extravaganza, anC
grotesqueness Of taste. 1t is an i'm
mense stone reservoir, resting upOr
the backs OF twelve oxen, also cut on
of stone, and as ''large as life" The
effect of first view of these rigid ami
mails, standing in such a regular posi-
ton, and wearing such mysteriou
countenances, is somewhat startling
but feeling Of superstition soon give
way to curiosity; and the beholder i
lost in wonder at the magnitude of tn
design, and extraordinary amount o
labor that must have been expended il
the erection OF the work.
The hall on the first floor was inten
ded as the regular meeting place of tn
congregation; and when freed from tn
rubbish and surplus timber that nov
encumbers it, will have beautiful an
imposing effect. The architectural dc
: coratious are chaste and rich; and tn
two grand pul pits at the east and we:
ends, gives TO the whole an appearance
= Of oriental magniicience.
:. The attic (as it may be called)
: lighted from he roof, and was deslgne
; for a large school-room.
Leaving the body of the bulldin;
you ascend 10 the bedroom of the ste'
pIe-thence to the clock-room, and la
TO the observatory.
This immense structure is a CHI
d'ocuure ofarchilecture, and will ran
in grandeur with the largest and mo
1t costly edi6ces of modern times.
J. The entire cost its erection is
n timated at between seven and elgJ
l. hundred thousand dollars.
r, The temple will be nearly complete
IS and in readiness for dedication by Il
}; LIST Of May.
l. After il shall have been consectrate
5, it will be abandoned as a place OF r
?, ligious worship by the sect that erect
l. it. and either solder rented by the CO
T. lege.
y 1t has been examined by the ager
OF Of two or three different institution
at and from what we can learn, is ike
5. TO be transferred to the MethodIsts
ID bv them 10 be used for literary and
Iigious purposes.--HancOck Na"r
Eagle.
A GENUINE GHOST STORY.
Ert~oordi00rn CTPduiiU