The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1858-01-26
THE ORIGIN OF MoRMoN1sM.


especial interest, at the present time:
MoRMoNIsM.-As this disgusting COM
pound of scnsuality, despotism and fero-
ciousness is continually thrusting itself up
ON the pablo attention, it may interest
some of our readers to recall the circum-
stances in which it originated. The calam-
ity has come upen US as one Of the results
of that excessive freedom, in the exercise
Of which we throw open the gates Of our
empire to oil manner of i.nmigrunts from
the world; for this anomalous population is
chiefly recruited from Europe. Rev. Solo
mon Spaulding, a graduate of Dartmouth
College, was distinguished for livoly i'm
agination and love of history. He lived
in a part Of Ohio, Astounding with mounds
and the ruins of old forts. and took much
interest in the study Of these antiquities
To beguile the hours of retirement, he con.
ceived thc idea of giving a historical sketch
of the lost race, about which there was so
much mystery. It was of course fanciful
undertaking. giving wide scope for the ex-
ercise of Imagination, and tempting him to
indulge in an antique style while describing
ancient things. The Old Testament con-
tanning 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 1912. His neighbors. hearing of the
progress of this curious work, would come
to his house, and hear portions of it read.
It claimed to have been written by one of
the lost nation, to have been recovered from
the earth. and was christianed with the title
of Manuscript Found" This self anus
ing gentleman pretended to be decyphering
the mysteries of the disinterred manuscript,
and regularly reported progress to his
neighbors. From the classics and from an
cient history he introduced many uncouth
and unaccostomed names, which awakened
curiosity.
Mr. Spaulding removed to Pittzburg. and
fouad friend ia the person of an editer-
to whom he 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 proposed al
so to make it source of profit. Mr. S. de-
clined any such use oft. Sydney Rigden,
who has since figured SO largely among the
Mormons, was then employed in the edi-
tors printing office; he inspected the man
uscript, and had an opportunity to copy it.
1t was returned to the author, who died in
1916. But the influence he had unwitting-
ly originated, did not die with him. There
is no doubt that Rigden took a copy of the
whole parts of the manuscript. He ap-
peared in Palmyra, New York, in 1923.
working at his trade. About this time there
began to be talked of certain mysterious
pilates being found in that region. They
had been discovered, it was said, by Joseph
Smith, Jr., in the bank of the Erie Canal,
near Palmyra. Here Smith and Rigdon
conspired to start the fraud. Smith was
man of low cunning, vulgar and sensual in
his habits, fitting accomplice Of Rigdon.
both being ready to execute any falsehood.
Joe was to be set up as leader, and as
sumo the title of Prophet. 1t was given
out that Joe was engaged in translating the
plates. This was in 1929. Some followers
were obtained, chiefly the ignorant and vi
cious, and the dishonest who had no char
aeter to lose. They called themselves the
Latter Day Saints, and organized at Man
chester under Joe Smith, who issued an
edition of 200 copies of the "Book of Nor
mon" at Palmyra. Some three or four
seeming respectable men of that region join
ed them, which attracted more attention.
Smith and his followers selected Kirkland,
Ohio. as their ''city of refuge" by fnspira-
ton, as the blasphcmer said the Lord in
tending and directing the temple should be
built there. Two hundred composed The
first settlement. They called their book
the Golden Bible" Smith founded a
bogus bank, which of course failed, and he
found it necessary to move farther West
Thither has been the disastrous progress
Of these miserable imposters, whose subse-
quent history is known to the world. 1t
would seem as if there was no form of folly
or impiety which some human beings will
not embrace. Pelygamy, blasphemy, re-
bellion, murder. are tho natural fruits of
this wretched conspiracy, which is troubling
the whole land. Smith was over taken
with the Judgment of God and died mis-
cradle death. Young is probably destined
to similar end.
THE Com RoTTING At THE WEsT.-The
Missouri Democrat has News from Ohio
Indiana, aud Kentucky, that corn is rotting
to disastrous extent, both thai which is on
the stalks and in the cribs. The Evansville
Gndiana) Journal says that the injury to
the corn by early frosts of November, and
the subsequent rains, has been very serious
throughout all the middle and northern
counties of the State. On the upper
Wabash the damage extends to large
part of the crop. The injured crop serves
to feed stock, and to increase the quantity
of beef and pork that will be thrown upon
the market. The price of corn. will be
affected by the disaster, and the value OF
u boot apd Hour y;lI ba ro;s1.,l .. al - -oo.;