Kanawha Valley star. [volume] (Charleston, Va. [W. Va.]) 1856-1861, 1858-02-02
The History 81 MoemOnism Who HRrete
assls & III gtglta FL heir Hihle Isl \ NH

The History Of AOfnlonism NliO Rrsle
t Il their Bible. M
REV. Solomon Spautding. "a grslua!e
Of Dartmouth College, was Distinguished
| for a lively imagination and lore for
History He lived in 4 part of Ohio
abounding with mounds and che ruins Of
old forts. and tooik muck interest ID the
study of these Antiquities To beguilel
his hours Of retirement, be conceiYsd the
idea Of giving historical sketch of the
| lost race, about which there was $50 much
mystery; twas, of, course 4 fshcifulI
undertaking, giving vide scope fJr the
exefciseof imagiaatien. and tempting him
Ito indulge ID an antiqunsstyle wilifelde-
scribing ancient things. Tie Old Tesla
nent containing the most ancient books
in the world be, found ii conyenient to
initiate ia STYLE He therefore iaukchedi
out at will into tlie region free histori-1
cal romance.l This twas iasl8i24 His
lueighbors, hearing Of the progress Of bis
curious work, would come to his house
aud hear portions of II read. It-clsimedl
Is have BEEN written By one Of tlSe lost
nation, to have been recoserea from the
h.Rand was ohristeaad With the title
pf Manuscript Found. This self
lamusing gentleman preceded tosb4 deci-
lphering Tie mysteries Of the disintsrred
manuscript, and regularly reported prog
fress ID bis neighbors. From che classics
and from ancient history he intrdtlucedf
Iimany luncopth and .unaceus:omsd names,
which awakened curiosity. Mr.. IS. rel
moved to tPiiLsbur9. and found Il friend
/ in the personl Of an editor, to whom be-
Ishowed his manuscript The editor:
Twas pleased, borrowed IL. kept III and Of
lfered 10 priatsitii lie Mrs. would make out
Ia s1itabletitle pago.6 lie. promised. also
itosmakeita source. profit. Mrs a.
Iclined any such use Of it., Sydaey Rig
ld5n, who has since figured SO hrgeIy
hamong liz Mormons, was tiienehp i5r 4
HIS tie editors printing ofita. lie IN
hspecteda the manuscript and haitian OPP
i portunity to. copplib. II was feturnetI to
the author. who died in 1916; hptthe IN
ifuence. which he#bal unwitingly origin
lated did not dewitt him. There is no
Fdoubt that Rgd6n look a copy of the
whole OF parts Of the 1panascript. 4 He
tappsaredin Palmyra, New York.ia ! 82s,
working at his trade. gs
/ About this lime there began 10 be talk
Of certain mysterious "piates',A being
Hound III that region. They kad been
fdiscayered, tits said, by Joseph Smith,
lin. In the bank of the Erie Canal, near
PALMYRA. Here Smith and Rigaon con.
spired toszssart the fraud. Smith was a
man pillow cunning, vulgar ana sensual
10 his habits, fitting accompliee for Rii.e-
don, both being ready toaexecute any
lfalshood Joe was TO Be set MP ,as d
leader. and to assume the title Of Frephet.
| II was given out that Joe was engaged II
ltranslafing the plates. This was 81 1899.
Some followers were obtained, chiefly the
Fignorauts and vicious, and the dishonest,
who had no character to lose.g They
lcalled themselves the Church Of The Lat
ter Day Saints, and organized 8 Man
chester under Joe Smith, who issued an
ea,lion q tWesye hundred q IAs pook q
e1of'F '' e 7, ram an yta. some turec or
TOUR seemingly IS, resPecsapie men g. 4 that