The Kalida venture. [volume] (Kalida, Ohio) 1841-1865, 1848-11-14
TIE TEMPLE or NAUvoo.


IA I'VE yesterday mentioned the fact that the
temple Of Nauvoo had recently been des-
sroyed by fire. Remembering that Mr.. Ian.
tsAs, in his '.Summer Of the Wilderness ?
had Written somelhlng abeui this edl6ce, we
turned 10 this volume, and iound the follow
ing description of tie MpImon, city and It's
famous Temple ;-7Nationai Intelhgencer.
..,o-.a Rock ISLAND, July, ls48. !
On anyway up the, Mississippi tarried a
few hours at the far-famcd city Of Nauyoo:
and, when resumed my course, ! ielt like
one Just awakened, from an incomprehensi-
bic dream. Surely, surely Fana,iclsm oisa q
mos, foul fepd, and We ough; 70 rejoice
with exceeding JOY ,ba, he who rulelh iI't
almcs Of heaven is yet the protec or Of
earth and its inhabitants, and VIII not leave
al mankind TO The mercyo Of their idols, Ia,
The Mormon city occupies an. elevated
position, aud, as approached from ihe south,
sppears capable o continuing a hundred
thousand souls Butts gloomy streets bring
most melancholy Disappointment. Where
lately resided np i'ss thl twenty-five thou
sand people, there are aoi to be seen more
i,han FIVE hundred; and these, In mind. body.
and purse, seem TO be perfectly wretcbed.--
in walk of about Ten minutes | cOunted
several hundred chimnGys, which weie all
si least that number uf flnilies had lcftibe.
hind them, as memorials Of their folly and
the wckedncss Of their perseclhors. When
,hs city was in its glury every twellns was
surrounded with a garden, so that the corpa.
vation limits were uncommonly cxtens We I:
but now all the fences are in ruin, and Il e
lately crowded streets actually rank with
vegetation. or the houses LEFT standing ndi
more than one out of every ten is occuoied,
'.xcep, by the spider and the toad. Iiatdh
window retained whole pane Of glass.
and the doors were broken, and open, and
hingeIcss. No, single laughing voice did
7 hear in the whole place, and the lines Of
suffering and care seemed 70 be imprinted
on the faces Of the very children who me;
me on the way. ! saw not single one Of
those numeroui domestic animals which add
20 much 10 the comforts Of human life ! and
l,heard moi single song even from iha rob
in and the wren, which arc alwaystso sure to
build their nesis about the habitaions OF
,,nan.. Aye, the very sunshine and the pleas
ant passing breeze seemed both 10 speak ol
Sin, sorrow, ard utter dcsolation. falr 4a
a. Yet in the centre of this scene of ruins
stands the Temple Of Nauvoo, which is un.
suesiionably one Of the finest buildings in
,hs country .l II is built with limestone,
auarried within the limits Of the city, in The
led Of dry stream, and the architect, nam
ed Weeks, and every individual who labored
nn the building, we're Mormons IL is one
hundred and twenty-cight feet in length,
slightly feet wide, and from the ground to
she extreme summit il measures two hun
died and ninety-two feet. 1t is principally
after the Roman style of architecture, some
what intermiAed with the Grccian and Egyp-
,ah. il has a poiiico with thee Roman
,archways. 1t is surrounded with .pilaslers;
,atiihe base of each IS q new moon, inverted,
while The capilal Of each is formed Of an an
nncouih head, supported by iwo hands bold
ing nstrnmpet. Directly under the tower IN
front is this inscription in golden letters: u
"7ne House Of The Lord. Built by hf
Church of Jesus Ch,istof Latter Day Saints
Commenced April 8, lS4l. Holiness TO thd
Lord" In the basement ronm which is
paved with brick, and conyergest to the cen
ire is baplismal font, supported by twelve
oxen, large as life, the whhlc executed in
solid stone. Two stairs lead into y in or
posite directions, while on eiihef side are
tworooiis for iheA recording clerks, and all
Z around no less siliaD Twelve preparation rooms
besides. On the FIRST floor are three pnplts.
And 1 place for HE choir; ind olieitfer side
eight Roipan wjndowe SOsersibf pfophet's