The Tiffin tribune. [volume] (Tiffin, Ohio) 1848-1859, 1858-03-12
NO. %.
mormonlnm.

- 'h's ulSRuSupg compound OF sens
ual''y, despotism aud ferociousness Is
continually thrusting itself upon public
attention, It may interest some Of ou,
readers to recall the circumstances in
which II originated. The calamity has
come upon as as ono OF the results ol
that excessive freedom in the exercise ~
which We throw open our empire to All
manner Of immigrants from the old world
Tor this anomalous population is chiefly
recruited from Europe. Rcv. solomon
Spaulding, a graduate Of Dartmouth Col.
lege, was distinguished for lively ima0-
lnatiou aud 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.
10 beguilo his hours Of retirement. he
conceived the idea Of giving historical
sketch Of the lost race about which there
was 20 much mystery. II was of course
= iancila undertaking, giving wide soope
for the exercise Of imagination. and ten,p,
ing him to indulge in an antiuuo s,vls
while describing ancient things. Tho old
Testament containing tho most ancient
books in the world, he found convenient
TO initiate its style He therefore launch
cd out at will into the region of free his.
torical romance. This was in 1919 His
nelghbors hearing Of the progress Of his
curious work, would come to his house
and hear portions Of Il read. 1t claimed
to have been written by ono of the lost
nation, 10 have boen recovered from the
earth, and was ohrisiened with the title
.of Manuscript Found" This self.
amusing genuemNu, pretended to be do,
.cyphering the mysteries of tho disinter.
rcd manuscript, and regularly reported
progress to his neighbors.
From the classics aud from ancient
history he introduced many uncouth and
unaooustomed names, which ayakened
curiosity. Mr s. removed to PITTSBURGH.
aud found friend Ia the person of an
e'litor, TO whom he showed his manu-.
script. The editor was pleased, borrowed
~ kept i, and offered to print il. il Mr.
5. would make out a suitable title-page.
He also promised to make It source of
profit. Mr.. S. decline! any such use of
II. Sydney Rigdon, who has since Co.
ured SO largely among the Mormons. was
then employed in tho editors pripGnp
office; ho inspected the manuscript, and
had an opportunity to copy IT, II was
returned TO the author. who died in l8I6
But the influence he had unwiltinqly
Originated. did not die with him. There
y .J no SaSig aS@5t Is iih9a HGaohtoaknassqRE. ..
tie appeared in Palmyra. N. Y, in is2S,
working at his trade. About this time
there began to be talk Of certain mysteri.
GUS pilates" being found in that region.
They had been discovered, it was sal
by Joseph Smith, Jr, ia the banl
of tho Erie Canal, near PALMYRA
Here Smith and Rigdon conspfed /,
start the fraud. Smith was a man o
low cunning, vulgar and sensual in hi
habits. fitting aooomplice for Rigdon
both being resdy to execute any false
hood. Joe was TO be set up a. the lead
or, aud to assume the title Of PropAet.
II was given out that Joe was engaged
in translating the plates. This was in
1899. Some followers were obtained
principally the ignorant and vicious. and
the dishonest, who had no character 10
lose. They called themselves the Church
Of the Latter Day Saints, and organized
at Manchester under Joe Smith, who is
sued an edition Of 300 copies Of the
"Book Of Mormon" at Palmyn. Some
three or four seemingly respectable men
OF that region joined them, which at
lracted more attention. Smith and his
followers selected Kirkland, Ohio, as their
"City of Refuge" by inspiration as the
blasphemer said-the Lord intending and
directing that the temple should be built
there. Two hundred composed the FIRST
settlement. They called their book the
Golden Bible" Smith founded bond
bank, which Of course failed, aud he found
i Unnecessary to move farther West. Thith-
er has been the disastrous progress of
these miserable impostors, whose subse-
queut history is known to the world. Il
would seem as il there was no form of
folly or impiety which some human be-
ings will not embrace. Polygamy, BIAS
phemy, rebellion, murder, are the natural
fruits Of this wretched conspiracy. which
is troubling the whole land.-K y
journal Of Commerce.