The daily intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Territory [i.e. Wash.]) 1876-1881, 1878-01-17
Story Of the Mormon Bible From
the Man Who Printed It


Major J. II. Gilbert Of Palmyra Is
the man who set up the Mormon Bible
from the original mseusc.iptl 1t was
the cuefom Of the pfjntooa as ttie sheets
wefS run s6fo1giS - ssss. TO sakc one
Of each form for preservation. Major
Gilbert did this, and now has with bin
in this city the unbound sheets of the
Mormon Bible as be then took them
from the press. These he cheerfully
exhibits to any person who has curiosi.
ty to look ct them. The book was a
Quarto of $50 pages. The contents were
subdivided into chapters broken into
frequent paragraphs, but the verses
were not numbered as they are in later
editions. Upon the title-page appears
the name OF Joseph Smith as "Author
and Proprietor" In all subsequent
editions he appears simply as "Transla.
tor" This change,was rendered neces-
ssry to carry out the theory af,erwsrd
adopted. that Smith dug up these writ
ings and translated them from reform
ed Egyptian" by means Of pair of
supernatural spectacles. A reporter of
the Post and Tribune met Major Gilbert
on Saturday, and had very pleasant
chat with him about the early days of
Mermondom in Wayne county. New
York, in which that modern religion
started. He found the veteran printer,
though now rs years of age. remarkably
well preserved, and hale and vigorous
as man of so. 1t was more than half
century ago that he learned the
printers trade of Chauncy Morse. now
resident of Detroit, and had Just es-
tablished himself in business at Palmy-
ra. when, after short newspaper cx-
psriancc. he sold out to L. B Grandin.
aud continued in his employment as
journeyman printer. One pleasant day
in the Summer of 1929 Hiram Smith.
Joe's brother came TO the Office to nego-
tiate for the printing of n book. The
arrangements we're completed. Five
thousand copies of the book were to be
printed for 81. 900. A .well-to- do farmer
named Martin Harris. living in the
neighborhood. agreed to become secari
ty for the payment of the money. and
the work was at once put Iii hand.
Major Gilbert set up all the type of the
book. except some 20 or 80 pages. and
did nearly all the press-work. 1t was
sll worked off ON a handpres The
copy was brought to the Office by Hiram
Smith. 1t was written on foolscap
paper in good. clear hand. The hand
writing was Oliver Cowdery's. There
was not punctuation mark III the
whole manuscript. The sentences were
all run IN without capitals or other
marks to designate where one left off
and another began, and it was no easy
task TO straighten out the stuff Major
Gilbert. perceiving that large portions
were stolen verbatim from the Bible,
used to have q copy Of that book on his
case to aid him in deciphering the
manuscript and putting in the punctua-
ton marks. At first Smith used to come
to the Office every morning with Just
enough manuscript 10 last through the
/ day. But it was so much bother to
put in the punctuation that Gilbert
said; Bring me around quantity of
copy at a time. and l can 60 through it
and fix it up evenings, and so get along
faster with it, Smsth replied: This
10 pretty important business. young
man, and / don't know as we can trust
this manuscript in your possession"
Finally his scruples were overcome. and
he consented to the arrangement. Then
be would bring around Quire of paper
or 4S pages, at time. and this would
last several days When the matter
had been set. all the copy was carefully
taken away again by Smith. 1t took
eight months to set up the book and
run it through the press. Major Gilbert
WAY not much interested in the book,
thought it rather dry and prosy, and to
this day has never thought it worth his
while to read it = second time. Of
coarse, nobody then dreamed that the
Book Of Mormon" was destined to
achieve the notoriety which 1t has
gained. or that it was to cut such
figure in the history Of this country. Ii
did not find very ready sale at the
outset, and Harris. who had mortgaged
his farm to pay the printers bill. was
cleared out financially He was an
friend Of the Smiths. aud
became an Adherent to the
doctrines they taught. He did not
follow them Westward, however. but
near his own home, where he
died two years ago. With this book as
the basis of his teaching. Joe Smith
began TO preach. and soon formed q
congregation Of followers in Palmyra
and the neighboring village Of Man.
chester. where the Smiths resided. A
year later he with thirty OF his follow
ers. removed to Kirkland. Ohio. His
subsequent history is well known.
There were nine children in the Smith
family. Joe was then about a3 years
OF age. He was lazy. good -for-noth-
ing lout. chiefly noted for his capacity
to hang around u corner grocery and
punish poor whiskey. He had good
physical strength. but he never put it
to any use in the way Of moving grass
or saving wool He could wrestle
pretty well, bat was not given to exert
ing his muscles in any practical way.
He had evidently made up his mind
that there was an easier way of getting
living than by honest industry. lie
was the disco verer of a magic stone
which he used to carry around in bis
hat. Holding it carefully laid in the
bottom OF his hat. he would bring his
eye to bear on il at an angle Of about
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