The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1857-05-20
A Sketch of 10 Smith.
BY WILLIAM II. PAYNE.

individual, whose name since become ia
miiar to the world That individual was
10 Smith, the Mormon Prophet A h
sketch of this persons life is Interesting,
not because we find anything in his char
acter to admire, but because 1T presents
to our view theorigin of Mormonism-one
of the most extravagant humbugs that the
world ever witnessed. The idea ola new +
religious organization in person possess
ling less than ordinary abilities, and rap
idly increasing in number till both the Old
and the New World contain multitudes
of proselytes, is subject of much interest
To give the reader an idea of the origin /
|of this singular sect is the object of the
present essay.
The family ofwhich 10 was member I
was large, remarkable neither for .inteili- /
gence orindustry. His father possessed |
a visionary mind, and cherished the notion
that prophet would raise out of his fam
lily.--It is hard to say why he should arrive
at this conclusion, yet the means of ac-
lcomplishing his wishes. were evidently IN !
his own power, for it was soon announced
to the world that the brother of. DO was
!, the expected prophet It was evident
that this appointment was not made by
divine authority, else so serious mistake
could not have occurred, for the prophet
suddenly died--died surfeit of eating too
;, much raw turnip! The hopes of the am
bilious father we're not to be blasted by
= this unfortunate occurrence; for it,
. soon known to the people of Stafford
street, where they resided, that tJ 0 was the
successor of his brother.i8 ,asstg sg
II In order to obtain a. clear idea. oflthe
!; prophets careers it will be necessary to
e refer to-his early years. The sboyhoed OF
:, 10 was passed on the. farm with his father
ii During the winter months he attended the
= district school, where he acquired the hit
tie knowledge which he possessed. He'is
remembered by his school-mates as being
/ idle aud somewhat vicious, andlWas regar-
ded as very dull scholar. As q young
man, his prospects, were anything but
:. cheering. He was engaged inano steady
-. employment, and might often have been
II found lounging around the barsrooms OF
: Palmyra, ins company with spersons as
!. worthless and idle as himself This was
the generalcharacter of 10 Smith up to the
us time of his prophetic career, and no one
= would have surmised that he was to be-
! come the founder ola new religion orgbe
r an inglorious martyr at Nauvoo. sal s'ssa
w. JOS prophetic powers were first direct
'.e edto the acquisition of wealth, and none,
,'e digging soon engaged the attention of th'
he family, and part of the neighborhood
Se Night after night these fanatics labored
ST. urged on by visions of untold wealth
fiH Excavations. were made in hillside an
u, nu valley, but Fortune, 1.-THE tickle goddess, re
'h- fused to smile upon them. Their golde
are visions were fruitless; the prophecy wa
-. false. tazhaH, s8 SGt.aaais F@H sf8
AN At this state of affairs circumstanc
az occurred which retrieved waning hope
ia' of the prophet, and gave new directio
'ol- to his genius. This was the discovery
a", the book of Mormon, or the Mormon b
ano BILE. This event proved to be the origi
ny of Marmonism--the feeble germ whic
'cl' produced the tree. of giant proportion
D o'e whose branches have extended over q lars
portion of the known world. 1tiwas pr
tended by the prophet that this recol
see was. found on hill, below the surface
em- the ground, written on plates OF gel
the This being transcribed by q mysterio
hey ,roooss hecame the work now known
eo- the Mormon Bible. This is the fabulo
account of its origin. Its authentic b
and tory is as follows It was written by
lney v ermont clergyman named Spalding.
rest was intended merely as awork OF fictio
and was entitled aThe Manuscript Found
late The author died before its circulation, a
after various fortunes, itfell into the han
at of 10 Smith, who at once made it acc'
arks sorry to his ambitious scheme. s 2as -
are Ii is probable that this book owes
as origin to that sentiment which prompts
each to yenerate old manuscripts which &C
amos tain an account of men and times 10
- since passed away. 1t professed to
!, :, the history of people which had its 9
gin at etime of the confusion OF tongu
10TH and whose prophets name was Morm
S the Tbesstyle of the book is in imitation
lnce- the Holy Bible, but in point of beauty
- iiction, sublimity Of its character;
- - divinity of its Author, it holds no C
pa. pnas parison. The only work with which
-.ps: .ps:. Mormon Bible can be compared is
.ue. Koran. Each is the oracle Of false
es .sn ligion, and the author of each was 2, an !
'oh;l- postor. az. IS
on We'll may Mormonism blush at its
years a. rentage. The life of its founder preeas'
:, x1I lnY NO feature worthy Of imitation, and and
49, character is associated with all tha 9.
,.;oo. Iou vicious and immoral MormonissIma i i
], ,1'ese e'e is but a specious humhug, whose
: principle is polygamy. Such is the ma
such, is the religion of which he was
which founder. !, s ...s 81 q .s5Bifs issi'ss.
nation ~ A Western poet witnessed ]
. 80 iiistic encounter which he thus immo
IS = lied: -
Ill n D.