Arkansas intelligencer., 1857-05-22
The Rise and Progress of Mormoni.m.

| Iuo oiISth oi 'HaS Pecuildf iofiu Ol feiiSlous
fanatcism, is not shrouded in the mists and
clouds of far off antiquity, but has local
habitation and name" among the records Of
the 10th century. Not many years ago on
a beautiful bill, overlooking the rural village
| of Manchester n. y, lone and solitary man
clothed in the garb of a common laborer,
made the strange and mysterious announce
Inent, that newer and better revelation of
! ''things to COME had been committed to him
for the world. God had by the hands o. an
! gels delivered into his hands, singular book
written in singular language, the object of
whose teachings was to build up in the new
world the ancient Jerusalem, and gather into
| 1t all the nations of the earth. Joseph Smith
was at once the interpreter, prophet and mis-
/ sionary, and this is the record which stamps
divinity upon the system, the work and the
/ object But far different is the human testi-
mony which the history of the times teaches
In an old log cabin near the village of Pal
myra, an antique and moulded manuscript
was found, purportng to be the history Of the
lost tribe, and in order 10 throw over it all an
air of mystery in keeping with the age, the
language chosen WAS the peculiar dialect of
eastern mythology. There was the manu-
script and there too was the prophet, but the
letter could not speak without the magic in
fiuence of the press, and the prophet could
proceed on his mission without any extraor-
H,parv Of
conceiver of this strange idea became the orr
glnator of the plan. Harris, the farmer, was
sick and could be easily persuaded to contrib
ute his gold. A meeting was held and he
WAS made the convert at once The book
was printed and the prophet commenced his
mission. Soon around this nucleus men were
rallied from every grade and form of society,
and after many weary wanderings in search
of rest, they at last pitched their tents in the
valley Of Utah, where today an influence is
exerted, which is dangerous alike to our civil
and domestic institutions. Into all countries,
into all climes their missionaries have gone
They have proclaimed their faith to the in
habltants of the city and country. Their cry
Is Utah and their religion is polygamy. They
have stolen wives from the bosoms of their
husbands, children from the care and protec-
ton of their parents, and have thrown their
lives of the young and beautiful. There is
nothing SO holy which this accursed faith has
not polluted-nothing so low which it has
not regarded. We speak what we feel when
we say that no man can advocate this system
without serious injury to himself and society
Down with a system then which is 50 daring,
bold and intriguing, and fraught with the most
direful consequences. The day of awakening
has come. As in the DAYS Of Rome, let it he
written upon every mans forehead, what be
thinks of the republic in this matter. Ven
geance belongs to higher power, but we are
Gods policemen-his guardians in this tenn
pie OF liberty, and if we are recreant to our
trust, fathless in the discharge Of our duties.
we shall be held accountable We have rea-
soned, endured and suffered but the work of
destruction has still gone on, and now our ap-
peal Is to arms. What security is there TO
our hearth stones, when they are liable to be
invaded by the promuIgators of this strange
faith! What security to our domestic insti-
tutions, when these men, who have stolen the
livery of the court of heaven to serve the de-
vi, are permitted to rob us of our wives steal
our children and rifle our household gods
Gold purlolned, nay, by industry be replaced,
reputation slandered and maigned may be re-
gained, but where is the wealth that can heal
affections wound and restore to the once
trusting heart idols gone. He who robs me
OF my wife and children, though he may think
1t doing Gods service, commits deed the
| blacklist in the calandar of crimes Then we
say down with Mormonism.