Carroll free press. [volume] (Carrollton [Ohio]) 1834-1861, 1848-11-10

VOC, gwen by Mr.. Lehman, in his sumra, -
the wilderness. will be read with new in,e,e,, .
now thai the Temple has been DESTROYED. \
Rock ISLAND. July. IeIs.
On my way up the Mississippi / ,orriaJ y,
few hours at the lar.iamed city of Nanv0o: and,
when resumed my cours,, felt liketons n ,
awakened from an incomprehensible dream
Surely. surely Fanatcsm is a most foul 6,nd
and we ought to r,joics with exceeding ioV tbn,
lie who ruleth Ihs armies, Of heaven is vet the
protector Of earth and its inhabitants, and will
not leave all mankind alone 10 the mercy of
their idols.
The Mormon city occupies an elevated nosi.
tor, and rs approached from the South B6neor.
capable Of containing hundred thousand sonI..
But It's gloomy streets being a most melancbolv
Where lately resided no lee,
than twenty-five thousand people there are not
To be seen more than about FIVE hundred. and
these in mind, body and purse, seem to be pey.
lectly wretched. In a walk Of about ten min.
utes counted several hundred chimnevs. which
were all at least that number of families had
left behind them as memorials of their follv
and wickedness of their persecurors. Wkon
this city was in its glory every DWELLING was
surrounded with garden, so thatthe coTnora.
ton limits were uncGmmoniy extensive; but now
all the fences are in ruins, and the late Iv crowd.
ed streets ARE actually rank with vepein,ion.-
Of the houses left standing not more Than one
out OF every ten Is occupied. excepting by the
spider and the toad. Hardly window retain.
ed whole pane of glass, and the doors were
broken. and open. and hingeless. Not SINGLE
laughing voice did ! hear in the whole place-
and the lines Of oisutftring and care seemed 10 bs.
imprinted on the faces ofIhe very children who.
met me in the way. ! saw not one of those
numerous domestic animals which add so much
TO the comforts Of human life; aud heard not
single song even from the robbin and the wren.
which IS always so sure 10 build their nests A.
bout the habi'aron of man. Ave, the very
sunshine and the pleasant passing breeze SEEM.
ed both 10 speak Of sin, sorrow and utter desc.
lalion.
Yet in the centre OF this scene of the ruins
stands the Temple of Nauvoo, which is unoues.
IlonabIy one OF the finest buildings ia this coun.
try. Ii Is built OF limestone, quarred within
the limits oIthG city, in the bed of a dry stream,
and the architect named Weeks, aud every in.
dvduaI who Iabored upon the building were
MOrmons. 1t is one hundred and lwenly.eight
feet in length, eighty feet wide, and from tho
ground to The extreme summit il measures two
hundred and ninety-two feet. 1t is principally
after the Roman archways. 1t is surrounded
with pilasters; at the base of each IS carved n
new moon, inverted while the capital of each
is formed ofan uncouth head supported by TWO
hands holding a trumpet. DrosIy under the
tower in front OF this inscription, in golden let.
terS.
THE House of the Lord. Built bv the
Church OF Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints,
Commenced April 6, 1888. Holiness TO the
Lord"
In the basement room which is paved with
brick. end converges To the centre. is baptis.
nal lont, supported by twelve oxen, large as
life. executed in solid stone. Two STA rways
lead inlo II from Opposite directions. while on
eIh"r side are two rooms for the recording
clerks, and all around no less than Twelve pre-.
paralon rooms besides. On The first floor are
three pups, and n place for the choir; and on
either side eight Roman windows. Over Tho
prophets pulpit, or throne.- is this inscription:
The Lord has bnheld our sacrifice: come after
US" Between tho first and second floors are
lighted with eight circulars windows each. The
room of the second floor, every particular. is
precisely like that of the first. Around that hail
oI sprCIouS attic are Twelve small rooms. with
circular windows and massive lock on each
door. At the Two front corners of the ediGCe
are two winding stairway, which met al the base
Ct the tower and lead to the summit, while the
roof of the main building is arranged for q
place ot promenade; and The walls OF The noble
edliire vary from four To six feet in thickness.
The Mormon whe took lnc over the Temple
and give me the above information was ncurIy
broken hearted. l. Ike The majority OF his bre-
lhrIn remaining in the city, he was without
money aud without friends, ard yet it was to be
his destiny, in few days. to push his way into
the wilderness, with large family depending
upon him for support. 1t was in u most meIan-
choIy tone. indeed. that he spoke TO me The fol-
lowing Words "Mine, sir, is hard, hard lot.
What if my religion is u false one, it am sim
cere, is it not cruel in the extreme Tor those who
call themselves The only true church 10 oppress
me and my people as they have donei My
properly has been stolen from me, and my
dwelling en- consumed and now, while my
family is dependent upon more fortunate
brother for support, NY IillIe children cannotgo
into the streets without being pelIed with stones,
and my daughters cannot the well after
pail of water without being lnsuIIed by the
Young and NOBLE among our persecutcrs, do
not deserve this treatment. am not scoun"
dreI or foreigner; far, far from the ruth oI'hls
supposirion. My grandfather, sir, was killed at
the battle Of Yorktown, III the glorious
Revolution: my own father too, was also
an American army officer during the last war;
and all my kindred have ever been faithful to
upright laws of the Government. Knowing,
therefore, these thugs to be true, and knowing
too that am an honest man, il is very hard 10
be treated by my fellow country as a 'vagab ond.'
Oh, | love This sacred Temple dearly, and it
makes me weep 10 think that | must 50 soon
leave it to The lender mercies Of the Christian
world"
Thus far had this poor man proceeded when
his ullerance was actually choked with tears,
and was clad of il, for, nv own heart was af.