Fayetteville observer. [volume] (Fayetteville, Tenn.) 1850-1966, 1858-02-25
Origin Of Mormonism.

SeuSudiity, ucSpouioii, anu ieioCiouo
ness, is continually thrusting itself up
on public attention, it may interes'
some Of our readers TO recall the cir
cumstances in which it originated
We accordingly subjoin the following
account Of its origin:
"Rev. Solomon Spaulding, a grad.
uate of Dartmouth College, was dis.
tinguishsd for a lively imagination,
and love for history. He lived in
a part of Ohio abounding with mounds
and the ruins Of old forts. and took
much interest in the study of these
antiquities. To beguile his hours Of
retirement, he conceived the. idea of
giving historical sketch Of the lost
lace, about which there was so much
mystery. 1t was of course fanciful
undertaking, giving wide scope for
the exercise ofimagination, and temp
ting him to indulge in an antique
style while describing ancient things.
The Old Testament containing the
most ancient books in the world, he
found it convenient to initiate its style.
He therefore launched out at will into
the region Of free historical romance.
This Was in 1872. His neighbors,
hearing ofthe progress Of his curious
work, would come to his house, and
hear portions Of it read. 1t claimed
to have been written by one of the
lost nation, to have been recovered
from the earth, and was 'christened
with the title of ..Manuscript Found"
This self amusing gentleman pre-
tended to be decypheripg the myste-
ries Of the disinterred manuscript,
and regularly reported progress to his
neighbors. From the classics and an
cient history be introduced many un-
couth and unaccustomed names
which awakened curiosity. Mr.. S.
removed to Pittsburg, and found a
friend in the person Of an editor, to
whom be showed his manuscript
The editor was pleased. borrowed it,
kept it, and offered to print it, if Mr..
S. would make out a suitable title
page. He promised also to make it
a source Of profit. Mr.. S. declined
any such use of it. Sydney Rigdon,
who has since figured SO largely a.
mong the Mormons, vas then employ
ed in the editors printing Office; he
inspected the manuscript, and bad an
to copy it. It was re-
turned to the author, who died in
1916. But the influence he bad un-
willingly originated, did not die with
him. There is no doubt that Rig Ion
took a copy of the whole or part OF
the manuscript. He appeared in
Palmyra, N. Y, in 1928, working at
his trade. About this time there be-
gan to be talk of certain mysterious
'.pIates found in that region. They
had been discovered it was said, by
Joseph Smith, Jr., ON the bank ol
the Erie Canal, near Palmyra. Here
Smith and Rigdon conspired to start
the fraud. Smith was a man of low
cunning, vulgar and sensual in bis
habits. a fitting accomplice for Rig
don, both being ready to execute any
falsehood. Jos was TO be set up as {
leader. and to assume the title o
! Prophet. 1t was given out that Joe
was engaged in trauslating the plates
This vas in 1929. Some followers
were obtained, chiefly the ignorant
and vicious, and the dishonest, WHIT
had no character to lose. They call
ed themselves the Church Of the Lat
{ ter Day Saints, and orgarized a
Manchester under Joe Smith, who is
sued an edition of 1.200 copies o
the "Book Of Mormon" at Palmyra
Some three or four seemingly respec
table men Of that region joined them
which attracted more attention
Smith and his followers selected
Kirthland, Ohio, as their city of ref
uge,' as the blasYhemer said-th'
| Lord intending and directing tn
temple should be built there. Tw'
Ihupdred composed the first settle
ment. They called their book th,
Golden Bible Smith founded a bo
gus Bank, which Of course failed, an'
! he found it necessary to move farthel
West, Thither has been the disas
trous progress Of these miserable i'm
posters, whose subsequent history i
j known to the world. 1t would seen
as if there was no form Of folly o