The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1879-09-05
EpIroR TRUE NoRTHERNER:

Lk9 my predecessor, H. j. Snerrou, ark
your forbearance once moro, and then IL be
wants more and has 80 much TO say about
Joseph Smith, let him come out IN public de-
bate. don't intend this as q challenge, as !
am not an Elder; were one, should not hes
itate in debating the subject with him, provid-
ing he would agree to confne himself to facts
and not to Misrepresentation, as he has done
in his last two articles. | Will give an address
in this through which letter will reach me
and il L. j. Sherrod wants to debate the prop
osltion as to whether Joseph Smith was true
prophet as stated above, let him write me to
that effect, enclosing proposition as above,
with his name attached ss affirmative or mega
tive, and will see that responsible party
meets him on that question. Further arrange
ments to be made agreeable to the contestants
as to time aud place, etc.. when proposition is
received.
Now to notice some OF his "notce." First
in order is, "his whole article is so silly it is
not worth a passing notice." Yet he notices to
the extent Of over q column. Why s this ?
Again: Now the foundation Of Mormonsm is
manifestly Joseph Smith-just take him out OF
it and it all falls TO the ground Why didn't
1t fall then when Joseph Smith was taken out
OF Mormonism by the hand OF assassins in
Carthage Jail, June 9th, 1874 whittier he went
under promise OF protection from Gov. Ford,
who undoubtedly connved at his assassination.
/ ;o hoe falo
premise. Right here wish to digress to make
this statement: There are cases where there is
difference between the Foundation and the
head for instance, Il. B. Hayes 10 at the head
OF this government but the foundation is not
X. B. Hayes,-it is the Constitution, which ls
the foundation on which the whole supeIstruct-
ure OF tho government rests. So in the case
of Joseph Smith, he may be recognized as the
head OF the church on earth, and still not be
the foandatioD, and in fact did organza the
church under the direction of the Great Head
oe the church, even Jesus Christ [Eph. 5, 23).
Now then, L. j. Sherrod, Joseph Smith is not
the foundation OF Mormonlsm, neither ls Jesus
Christ read Ephesians, 2 20, ''And are built
upon the foundation of the apostles aud proph
cts, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner
stone Now where IS the foundation? guess
Mr.. Sherrod, you had better take another look
around for 1t 60 with me to Matt. 10Th chap,
commence at the 18th verse and read down to
the 2Oth verse, read especially She 18th and the
18th verses, and you find the foundation to be
the no9k OF revelation upo n which the Church
OF Christ through all ages hes rested, from it's
organization up to the present time. Again,
nogreater proof Is needed To show that he has
persistently strove not only to place Mormon
,sm, in the worst light possible, but stopped to
the groseest misrepresentation possible, than
to.read the proof he claimed to bring from the
Book of Mormon to prove that it was a bible.
Itis found on the 105th page instead Of the
1D7th page. as stated by him. Were It not
for occnpying too much space, L would quote
the entire page. Read the 9th verse, will
quote only part: And because my words shall
hiss forth, (referring 10 the coming forth OF
the Book OF Mormon), many of the Gentiles
shall say, bible, bible we have got bible,
and there cannot be any more bible" Now
YOU see 1t is what just such men as l.. J. Sher
rod and 9th ers do say whom the CLAIMS OF the
Book OF Mormon IS presented, not what the
Mormons say, andright the next sentence after
his quotation is found this: Have ye obtained
bible, save it were by the Jews" Substanti-
ating what have previously said Now where
10 the fraud, Mr., Sherrod?
In regard to, that marriage on the banks OF
the Mississippi, where does l.. j. Sherrod get
his proof from? Ann Eliza Young. Where did
( she get her proof? Was she there? No; she
} got 1t from some one else and so On dd i',fn-
, ituna merely "they say The teaching Of
Joseph Smith, which have previously quoted,
the testimony of his wife, his sons, gives the
lie to the whole transaction, as far as Joseph is
concerned. Again he Gays, What Is mans
teaching worth, unless his whole life is brought
in subsection to it Mr.. Sherrod, are you will
!. ing to be weighed IN that balance? an afraid
n not. Would you like the ancient worthless
r David, for instance-weighed in that balance !
ths Book OF Proverbs? He grows merry oveI
what said about Van Buren,, admits the truth
: ! Of it and commences to squirm. In his frs
!, quotation from Rise and Progress OF Mormon
3 ism we see it was according to bis own state
o ment, as taken therefrom the people, not 10
@ sepb, that was guilty of those heinous crimes
It This statement he quotes is fromytwo OF tht
lr most inveterate and unprincpled enemies L
y Mormonism, and shows only one side and tha
= of prejudice and bigotry
a Now read what Professor Turner, some tim'
OF Illinois College, an open and bitter opponent
OF the Church OF the Latter day SAINTS, says :
- - "who began the quarrel? wasitthe Mormons
> Is it not notrions on the contrary, that the.
"a were hunted like wild beasts from country L
" country, before they made any desperate re
ar sistance? Did they ever, as u body, refus
ID obediesce to the laws, when called upon to d