The Abbeville banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1847-1869, 1856-11-20
A SKETCH OF JOSEPH SMITH.

l
not because We find anything in his charac-
ter to admire, but because it presents to our
view the origin of Morlnonisln-one of the
most extravagant humbugs that the world
has ever witnessed. The idea of a new re-
gion originating i'll a person possessing less
than ordinary abilities, and rapidly incrcas-
ing in number till both tho Old and the
New World contain mullitu,lcs of prose-
lytcs, is a subject of much interest. TO
give the reader al idea of the origin of this
singular sect, is the Object of the present
essay.
The family of which Joseph was a mcm-
Der was large, remarkabl, neither for intel
l'gencc nor industry. His fatler possessed
visionary mind, and cherished the notion
that prophet would arise out of his family.
1t IS hard to say why lie should arrive at
this conclusion, yet the means for accom-
pllslllng his wishes were evidently in his
own power, for it was soon announced to
the world that Il brother Of Joseph was the
expected prophet. 1t is evident that this
appointment WAS no: made by Divine au-
thor'ty, else SO serious Il mistake could not
have occurred, for the prophet suddenly
d'cd-dicd Of surfcit-of eating too much
raw turnp! The hopes of the ambitious
iatl'er were not to be blasted hy this unfor-
tunatc occurrences; for it was soon known
to the people of StafforIstrect, where they
resided, that Joseph was the successor of
his brother
In order 10 obtain clear idea of tn.
prophets career, it will 5c necessary to re-
Ter to his early years. The bovlood of J O.
srph was passed on the farm will, his father.
H"flnS the winter months, he attended the
district school, where lie acquired the little
knowledge which he possessed. IL. is re-
mcmhcrcd 10y his scl,oolmatcs rs being idle
and somewhat vicious and was regarded by
all as very dull scholar. AS a vouur
man. his prospects We're anything but cheer
my. lie WIS engaged in no steady en-.
ploymcnt, and might often have bccu found
lounsing aroun, the bar-roouls of PALMYRA.
III company with persons as idle and worth.
less us himself. This was the general char
actcr of Joseph Snill, up to the time of his
prophetic career, and no one would have
surnscd that lc WAS to hccome the founder
OF new religion, or an inglorious marivr
ut NauvoO.
J"scpii's first prophetic powers were di-
rcctcd to the acquisition of wealth, and
money digging soon engaged the attention
OF the family, and Il part of the neiylLor-
hood. Night after night these fanatics la
bored, urged OH by visions Of untold wealth.
Excavations were made in hillside and val |
ley but Fortune, the ficklc goddess, refused
to smile upon them. Their golden visions
were iruitlcss; the prophecy was false.
At this State of affairs. !, circumstance
occurred which retrieved the waning hopes
of the prophet, and gave a new direction
to his genius. This WAS the discovery of
the Book Of Mormon, or Mormon BiLle.-
This event proved to Lc the origin Of Nor
mon'sm-tl'e feeble germ which produced
tile tree of giant proportions, whose branch
es llavc extended over large part of the
known world. 1t was pretended by the
prophet that this record was found on
hill, below the surface Of the ground, writ
ten on plates of gold. This being tran
scr'bed ty a mysterious process, became
the work now known us the Mormon Billie. !
This is the fabulous account of its origin.
Its authentic history is as follows: 1t was
written bya Vermont clergyman named
Spalding. 1t was intended as u work of
fiction, and was entitled the "Manuscript
Found" The author died before its circu. |
lation. and, after various fortunes, it fell into
the hands of Joseph Smith, who at once
made it necessary to his ambitious schemes.
1t is probable that this book owes its
origin to that sentiment Which prompts us
to veneratc old manuscripts whicl, contain
al account Of men and times long since
passed away. 1t profcssel to bc the lis
tory of people which had its origin at the
time of the confusion of tongues. and
whose prophets name was Mormon. Tho
style of tho book is in imitation of the
Holy Bible, but in point Of beauty, Of dic,ion,
subl''n'ty Of character, and divinity of its
author, it holds no comparison. Tie only
work with which the Mormon Bible can Le
compared is the Koran. Each is the oracle
OF a false religion, aud the author Of each
was an iinpostor.
We'll MAY Mornlonism blush ut it. parcn-
t"ge. Tho life Of It's founder exhibits no
feature worthy of imitation, and his cl,arac.
ter ia associnted with all that is vicious and
immoral. Mornonism itself is but spe.
cions bumbug, whose vital principle j. no.
lygamy. Such is tile man--such the reli-
gion of which he was the founder.
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