Bedford inquirer. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1857-1884, 1857-12-11
VOL. 80, NO. 50.

Similar evidence to the Spaulding MSS
was given by several private friends, and BIZ
the writer's brother, all of whom were familiar
with It's contents. The facts thus eraphieally
detailed have of course been denied, but have
never been disproved. Indeed, without them
ie i,npossIble To explain tie hold which Rig
don always possessed on the Prophet; for he was
I poor creature, without education and without
! talents. At one time--a critical moment IN
the history of the new cburch--a quarrel arose
between tie nceompliees: but it ended iu Smiths
receiving ''Feyelation,'' il which Rigdon vas
| raised by divine command to be equal with HIM
self, having plenary power given TO him 10 bind
and loose both on earth and in heaven
fhe remaining history of the Nornions is
eanently interesting. Ignorant and supersti-
tious as have been the Chief part of tue dise,-
? -, atl's atroclons as have been the tricks of
~ @piSys> who lave led them Oh ainid all the
va.3s 1es of their good and evil fortuue, there
! haye occasionally been displayed amoug them
an enthusiasm aud bravery OF endurance that
demand admiratioa. Nearly from the begin
hing the leaders Of the sect seem TO have con-
teMplzted settling IN the thinly populated re-
gloRs Ut the western States, where lBDds were
to be purchased for low prices, and after !.
short residence at kirkland, in Ohio, thev de-
terminest SO found a New Jerusalem in Mis-
souri,. The interests of the town we're conf
ded TO suitable officers, and Smith spent bis
time in travelling through the country and
preaching, antil the real or pretended imlner-
alities Of the sect led TO such discon,ents that
iu 1889 they were forcibly and laElessls ex-
PEELED from the State. We arc inclined 10 be-
lieTe that they were not only treated with re-,
Inarkable severity, but that there was not any
reason whatever TO justify an interference 10
their affairs.
From Missouri the saints proceeded TO Hi
nois, aud on the sixth Of april, 1871, with ia,-
posing ceFemonies, laid at their new city Of
Nauvoo the cornerstone Of the Temple, an i'm
niense edliee, without aay architectural order
or attraction, which in few months was cele-
braiad everywhere as not inferior in size and
magni6cence to that built By Solomon in Jeru-
salem. Nauvoo is delightfully."- situated in The
midst Of a fertile district, and . careful iuqui-
-. "''' 80 ~ ~ 1~-J thar
home OF more industrious, frugal, and gene
rally moral society, than occupied any other
town In the State. Whatever charges were
brought against Smith and bis disciples, TO JUS
hty the outrages to which they were subjected,
tue history OF their expulsion from Nauvoo is
simply "a series Of illustrations of The fact that
the ruthan population OF the neighboring coun-
try set oR foot a vast scheme of robbery In or
der TO obtain the lands and improvements of
the Mormons without paying Tor them. We
have not room for particular statement of
the disconteats aud conspi-acies which grew up
IN the city, nor for any details of the aggres-
eions from without. On the 9th of June
1914, Joseph and Hiram Smith we're murder
ed, while under the especial protection of the
authorities of the State. A writer ia the
Christian Reflector newspaper, soon after, OBJ
served of Joseph Smith
Farlous are the opinions concerning this
singular parsonage, bnt whatever may be
thought in reference to his principles, objects,
or moral character, all agree that he was :.
most remarkable man. !
notwithstanding the low origin, poverty, AMI
/ pToHigaey OF these mauntebanks, they have aug
mented their numbers till more than l00,000
/ persons are now numbered among the follow
ers of the Mormon Prophet, and they never
were increasing SO rapidly as at the time of his
death. Born il the very lowest walks of life.
reared IN poverty, educated in vice, having no
claims 70 even common Intelligence, coarse and
vulgar W department, the Prophet Smith sue
succeeded IN establishing religious creed. the
teuets OF which have been taught throughout
America; the Prophets virtues have been re-
hearsed IN Europe; the ministers of Nauyeo
have found welcome i'll Asia; Africa has liz
tened 10 the grave sayings of the seer of Pal
myra; the standard of the Latter Day Saints
has been reared on the banks Of the Nile. and
even the Holy lapd has been entered 6y the
emmissaries of this imposter. He foupded Il
city IN one OF the most beautiful situations in
the world, in beautiful curve of the sFa,her
OF Waters, of no mean pretensions, and in it
ne had collected 4 population of twenty-five
thousand, from every part Of the world. Tn.
acts OF bis life exhibita character as iucongru-
ous as il is remarkable.
# we can credit his own words and the tes-'
tiaiony OF eye witnesses; be was at The same
tiuo ylcegerent of God aad tavern keeper
prophet and base libert;ne--a minister Of
peace, and lieutenant generai--a ruler Of tens
of tho usands aud slave to all bis own base
passious--a preacher of righteousness and -
protane swearer-a worsbpper of BaccduS,
mayor OF city, and miserable bar-room fd-
dier-a Jndge oa the judicial bench, and au in
7ader 0; the civil, SOCIAL, and moral seistinns ut
men: ane, notwithstanding these Inconsistencies
ct euaraeterr there are not wanting thousands
willing to stake their soul's eternal salvation on
his veracity. For aughs we know, lime and
distance wilt enlbeliish his life with some new
and raie virtues, which his mos, intimate friends
failed to discover while living With him. Ees-
s,'oing from effect to capse, We must conciua.
that abe Mormon Prophet was Of no comlnon
genius: few are able 10 co,n,uence aud carry
out an opposition like his, 50 long, aud 80 ox-
tensiseiy. And We see, IN the history cf his
success, most striking proofs of the credulity Of
a large portion OF The human fatnily''
After some disscnsious, in which the party
of Bingham Young triumphed over that of
Sidney Rigdon, the sect was reorgaEizea, aud
for some time were permitted quietly TO prose-
cute their plans at Nauvoo. But carly il, 1876