Weekly national intelligencer., 1848-10-21
THE TEMPLE OF NAUVoo.

We yesterday mentioned the fact that the Tenn
pie of Nauvoo had recently been destroyed by fire.
Remembering that Mr.. LANMAN. in his /" Summer
an the Wildeness," had written something about
this edifce, we turned to his volume, and found The
following description of the Mormon city and its
famous Temple:
Rock ISLAND, july, 1916.
On my way up the Mississippi tared few hours at the
farfamed city of Nauvoo and, when resumed my course
felt like just awakened from ncomprehensibe dream
Surely, surely Fanaticism is most foul end and ought
to rejoice with exceeding joy that He who rueh the armies
Of heaven yet the protector Of earth and It's inhabitants and
will not leave all mankind alone to the mercy Of their idols
The Mormon city occupies elevated position, and, as
approached from the SOUTH appears capable Of containing
hundred thousand souls But its gloomy streets bring most
melancholy disappointment Where lately resided less
than twenty-five thousand people, there be
more than about five hundred and these in mind body, and
purse be perfectly wreched In walk of about ten
minutes counted several hundred chmneys which were all
at least that number OF families had left behind them
MORALS OF their folly and the iosdness of THAR prosecutors
When this city was in its glory every dwelling surround
ed with garden, so that the corporation Limits
monty extensive but all the fences ruin and the
lately crowded streets actually rank with vegetation. Of the
houses left standing not than of every ten
occupeu, anu the TOAD. Hardly
window retained whole pane Of glass; and the doors were
broken, and open, and hingees Not single laughing
voice did hear in the whole place. and the lines Of suffering
and seemed to be imprinted the faces of the very
children who met me in the way. saw not single Of
those numerous domestic animals which add much the
comforts of human life; and heard not single song
from the robin and the wren which always
build their nests about the habatons Of Aye, the very
sunshine and the pleasant passing breeze seemed both speak
OF sin, sorrow and utter desolaiion.
Yet in the centre of this Of ruins stands the Temple
OF Nauvoo, which unquesionaby of the finest build
ngs in this country 1t bull, of limestone quarried within
the limits of the city, in the bed Of dry stream and the ar
chtect named Weeks and every individual who abored up
on the building, were Momons. some hundred and twenty
eight feet in length, eighty feet wde and from the ground the
extreme summit it hundred and ninety feet
1t is principally after the Roman style of architecture some
what ntermxed with Grecian and Egyptian II has por-
tco with three Roman archwGys II surrounded with pi-
asers al the base of each carved new moon inverted
whe the capital Of each formed Of uncouth head sup
ported by two hands holding trumpet Directly under the
tower in front is this inscription in golden letters The
House Of The Lord Bull by the Church Of Jesus Christ
Latter Day Saints. Commenced Aprl6 ls4l. Holiness
10 the Lord In the basement room, which paved with
brick, and converges to the CENTRE bapismal font, sup
ported by twelve oxen large life the whole executed in
solid stone Two stairways lead into from opposite dec-
tons while on either side two for the recording
clerks and all around less than twelve preparation rooms
besides On the first floor three pup and place for
the choir and either side eight Roman windows. Over
the prophets pulpit, throne is this nscPtion " The
Lord has 6eheh sacrifice after u.s." Between
the first and second floors long rooms appropriated
to the patrach which lighted with eight circular win
dcws EACH The room of the second floor, in every parcu-
lar, precisely like that of the FIRST Around the hall Of
spacious attic twelve small rooms with circular windows
and massive lock on each door, At the two front
OF the edifce two winding saiways, which the
base of the tower ard lead 10 the summit while The roof Of
the main building arranged for place OF promenade and
the walls of the noble edce vary from four six feet in
thickness.
Estimating the msnual labor the usual prices Of the day.
is said that the O this Temple about $500 900.
The offer sell il for s2Oo 900, but il will be
long time fancy, before purchaser Is found
The Mormon who took me the Temple and gave
the above information nearly broken hearted Like the
majority Of his brethren remaining in the city, be with
out money and without friends and yet be his des
tiny, in few days, push his way into the wilderness with
large family depending upon him for support It in
melancholy tone, indeed that he spoke the fol-
lowing words "Mine sir, is hard hard lot. What if my
religion is false one, if sincere is il not cruel in the
for those who call themselves the only church
oppess and my people they have done NV property
has been stolen from me, and my dwelling been consumed
and now while my family is dependant upon a foru
nate brother for support my little children go into the
streets without being peed with stones and my daughters
cannot go the well after pail Of water without being in
suited by the young and noble among prosecutors. do
deserve this treatment. / a scoundel a for
egner far far from the truth this supposon. NV grand
father sir killed The battle Of Yorktown as an officer
Of the glorious Revolution; my father too also
American army officer during the last war; and all my Kin
ded have been faithful TO the upright laws Of the Gov
Knowing, therefore, these things be true and
knowing too that am honest man, il very hard to be
treated by my fellow. w.countrymen 'Sagsbond Oh,
love this sacred Temple dearly, and makes weep
think that must leave it to the tender merces Of the
Christian world"
Thus far had this poor proceeded when his utteance
actually chokcd with and glad Of it. for my
heart affected ty his Pteous tale. gave him
dollar for his trouble, when he called attend a
arrival Of vsers, and left alone in the bey Of the
Temple