M'arthur Democrat. (McArthur, Vinton County, Ohio) 1853-1865, 1858-03-11
The History of OiMOrmOnisBs--WhO
Wrote their Bible.

We take the following from the n.
Y. Journal of Commerce:
Rev. Solomon Spaulding, a gradu-
ate of Dartmouth College, was distin,
guished for a lively imagination and
"a love for history. He in a part
of Ohio aboundng with mounds and
the ruins of old forts, and took much
interest in the study Of these antiqui-
ties. To beguile the hours Of his re-
trement he conceived the idea of CIV
ing a historical sketch of the lost race,
about which there was SO much mys-
terry. 1t WAS Of course a fanciful un-
dertaking, giving wide scope for tile
exercise OF imagination, and tempting
him to indulge in an antique style
while describing ancient things. The
old testament, containing the most an.
cent books in the world, he found it
convenient to initiate in 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 his curious
work, would come to his no use and
hear portions of it read. 1t claimed
to have been written by one OF the
lost nations, To have been recovered
from the earth, and was christened
with the title Of Manuscript Found" !"
This SelfamuSing gentleman preten-
ded to be decyphering the mysteries
of the disinterred manuscript, and
regularly reported progress to his
neighbors. From the classics and
from ancient history, he introduced
many uncUuth and unaccustOmed
names, which awakened curiosity
Mr.. S. removed to Pittsburgh, and
found 4 friend in the person Of an ed.
itor, to whom he showed his manu-
script. The editor was pleased, bor-
rowed it, kept it, and offered to print
it if Mr.. S. would make cut u suitable
title page. He promised also to make
it source OF profit. Mr.. :. declined
any such use OF it. Sydney Rlgdon
who has since figured so largely II.
mOng the MUrmOns, was then employ,
ed in the editors printing office. lie
inspected the manuscript, and had an
opportunity to copy it. 1t was re.
turned to the author, who died in
1916, but the influence which he had
unwittingIy originated did not die
with him. There is no doubt that
Rigdon took a copy CT the whole OF
the manuscript. lie appeared in Pal.
Imyra in 1925, working at his trade
About this time there began to he
talk about certain mysterious plates
being found in thatregion. They haC
be en- found, it was said, by Joseph
Smith, Jr., in the bank of the Fri,
Canal, near Palmyra. Here Smitl
aud Rigdon cUnSpircd to start tn,
fraud. smith was man of low Gun
ming, vulgar and sensual in his habit
ia fttlng acconplce for Rigdop
both being ready to execute any false
hood. joe was to be set up as y lea
der and assume the title of Prophet
1t was gwen out that joe was engage,
in tranSlatlng the plates. This wa
i'll 1929. Some followers were OF
tained, chiefly the ignorant and tn
vicious, and the dishonest who ha,
no character to lose. They calle
themselves the church OF the Latte
Day Saints, and organized at Msr
chester under Joe Smith, who issue
an edition OF 1900 copies oi the Boo
of Mormon, at Palmyra. Some thre
or four seemingly respectable men
that region joined them, which a
tracted more attention. Smith an
his followers selected Kirkland, Ohio
as their "city OF refuge" by inspir'
ton, as the blasphemers said, IL
Lord intending and directing that til
temples shonld be built there, Tw
hundred composed the first settlemen
They called their book the Golden B
'Ible. Smith founded a bogus banl
which, Of course, failed, snG he toun