Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1857-05-07
A Sketch of 10 Smith.
BY WILLIAM II. PAYNE.

| Thirty-yeurs ago there lived near Palmyra,
Wayne Co., New York, an obscure indrvid-
ual, whose name since become familiar to
the world. That individual was 10 Smith,
the Mormon Prophet. A sketch Of this
PERSONS life is interesting, not because We
find anything in his character to admire but
because it presents to our view the origin
of Mormon sm-one of the most extrava-
CANT humbugs that the world ever witnessed.
The idea of new religion originating in a
person possessing less than ordinary abil-
tiles, and rapidly increasing in number till
both the Oh and the New World contain
multtudes of proselvtes, is subject of
much interest. To give the reader an idea
of the origin of this singular sect is the OBJ
Iject of the present essay.
The family Of which 10 was member
was large, rstaark able neither for intelIi-
gence nor industry. His father possessed a
visionary mind, and cherished the notion that
a prophet would arise out Of his family
1t is hard to say why he should arrive at this
conclusion, vet the means of accomplishing
his wishes were evidently in his own pow
er, for it YVES soon announced to the world
that brother of 10 was the expected pro-
phet 1t vas evident that this appointment
was not made by divine authority, else so
serious a mistake could not have occurred,
for the prophet suddenly died-died of sur
felt of eating too much raw turnip! The
hopes of the ambitious father we're not to
be blasted by this unfortunate occurrence;
for it was socn known TO the people OF
Stafford street, where they resided, that 10
was the successor of his brother.
In order tc obtain clear idea OF the pro-
phet's career, it will be necessary to refer
to his early years. The boyhood of 10 was
passed on the farm with his father. During
the winter months he attended the dstric,
school. where he acquired the little knowl-
edge which he possessed. He is remember
ed by his sehool-mates as being Idle, and
somewhat vic ious, and was regarded by all
as very dull scholar. As a young man,
his prospects were anything but cheering.
He was engaged in no steady employ ment,
and nigh. often have been found lounging
around the bar-rooms of Palmyra, in COM
pany with persons as worthless and idle as
himself. This was the general character of
10 Smith up to tine time of prophetic career,
and no one would have surmised that he was
10 become the founder of new religion, or
an inglorious martyr at Nauvou.
JOS pro phetic powers were first directed
to the acquission Of wealth, and money dig
ging soon engaged the attention o. the
family, and part of the neigh5orhood.-
Night after night these fanatics labored,
urged ON by visions of untold wealth. Ex-
cavations were made in hillside and valley,
but Fortune, the tickle goddess, refused to
smile upon them. Their golden visions
were fruitless; the prophecy was false.
At this state of affairs circumstance oc-
Cured which retrieved the waning hopes of
the prophet, and gave a new direction to his
genEGs. PMS was tire d;.vuxsry al tao hook
oil Mormon, or the Mormon Bible. This
event proved 10 be the origin of Mormonism
the feeble germ which produced the tree
of giant proportions, whose branches have
extended over large portion of the known
world. 1t was pre- etended by the prophet
that this record was found on hill, below
the surface of The ground, written on plates
of gold. This being transcribed by my
sterious process become the work now
known as the Mormon. Bible. This is the
fabulous account of is origin. Its authen-
tic history is as iollows:--lt was written by
II Vermont clergyman named Spalding. 1t
was intended merely as a work of fiction,
and was entitled The Manuscript Found"
The author died before its circulation, and
after various fortunes, it :eli into the hands
of Jo Smith, who a. once made it accessory
to his ambitious scheme
1t is probable that this book owes its
origin to that sentiment which proMpts US
TO venerable old manuscripts which con-
tain an account of men and times long since
passed away. 1t protessed to be the history
of people which had its origin at the time
of the nfusion of tor rgues, and whose pro-
phetis name was Mormon. The style OF
the book is in imitation of the Holy Bible,
but in point of beauty of diction, sublimity
of its character, and divinity of its Author,
i holds no comparison. The only work
with which the Mormon Bible can be COM
pared is the Koran. Each is the oracle of
false religion, and the author of each was
and mpostor.
Well may Mermomism blush at it's par
entase. The life Of its founder presents no
feature worthy Of imitation, and his charac-
ter il associated with all that is vicious and
immoral. Norm unism itself is but a spe-
ciou, humbug, whose vital principle is po-
1 = h., Ia
ligion of which he was the founder.