Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1883-04-05

| Pratt convinced the Mormon prophet tina
/ the Western Reserve would be capital field
| for the establishment of a Mormon church
and in he summer of 1882. the founders o
| The Mormon Church at Palmyra moved Il
/ Mentor.
| The hoRMoNs IN OHIO.
| The apostles of the new faith claimed tC
| have discovered the plates of new Bible, thu
| Book of Mormon, md by strong will power
| energetic force, and an abundance of hare
WORK, succeeded in winning many new con
verts to the faith. A disciple preacher living
at Nsnlus, a neighboriDg village, and mar
named Orson Hyde, were among the first
converts. Hyde entered into the work with
| much enthusiasm, snd in after years
b.came leading and distinguished saint
prominent farmer named Billings
and other leading citizens named BELOW,
Morley, Burt, Dwight, and Riggs, raj
Ii d around Joseph Smith and his fol-
lowers, ard a Mormon church wac estab-
lished. Two miles from Mentor is the vii
lage OF Kirkland. Here, at that time, were
dozen or more families who belonged Ia
The Rev. Sidney Rigdon's congregation. They
became extremely fanallcal under his pre-
psratory preaching aud prophecies, and were
daily looking for the occurrence OF some
wonderful event. Seventeen OF these people,
men and women, readily espoused the new
revelation, and were immersed by one of the
saints named Cowdery, in ore night, in at
teslatiou Of their Mormon faith. By the
continued ministrations of Rigdop, Smith
and Cowdery, conversions rspidly followed,
and ia short lime 100 were added to the
membership OF the church.
THE FIRST MORMON TEMPLE.
The new Mormon faith became firmly
established is Kirkland. Large sums Of
money were raised for the construction CT a
church, a house of worship, and the famous
Mormon pie was finally constructed. Ii
was the first house OF worship Of the Church
of Zion. wandered through the spacious
old temple to-day. 1t has stood empty and
deserted for half q century. 1t is wonder
fully queer old structure, with mammoth
windows and great box pews. 1t stands
upon hill near the center portion of the
village Of Kirkland, and can be seen for
miles around. The peculiar yet eminsntly
fitting location OF the temple first impresses
the visitor. Ii can be approached from
each of the four principal points OF the
compass. The most frequented road is the
one reaching il from the north, and that
leaves the mein east and ives: road, some-
times called The old State road, 200 yards
west of the residence OF Ihs late president.
re IO1u IGdds - NSAiJ SUN ACA WV @HAASoJ
and then follows the banks of the
beautiful Chagriu river, with which stream
many pretty Indian legends are connected.
Ii is when the balke Of the riveres reached
that the fret view of the temple is sbtainsd.
The first impression is rather OF an old ROM
ish cathedral than OF Eodern temple OF
worship. Its i'm ense proportions become
more clearly discernible and appreciated Oh
nearer approach. Cpacity seems 10 have
been the object aimed at rather than oTna'
ment. Indeed, the latter is not attempted.
THE INTERIOR OF THE TEMPLE.
The strange old structure ia three stories
high. In its best days the interior was di-
vided into what are termed "curtain rooms u
by immense strips of canvas depending upon
huge rollers securely fastened Ia the ceiling
A new set OF rollers and new canvas has
already been placed in position. When one
enters the old temple feeling of awe or de.
preston can hardly be represse1. There is
general appearance Of solemuity. Inscrip'
tions in Greek, hewn in massive stone, II moi
Ineligible, are suggestive OF warn
logs and calamilies. the psws are high
and straight, with high, close-shutting
gates. A score 81 sturdy women, with broom
aud brush, have removed the accumulated
dust OF half century. The saw and ham.
and boards, yet the general appearance oil
the temple remains unchanged. The pull
pits are spacious and will each accommo-
date about thirty persous. They are semi
circles and in tiers of three. The upper one
in each case sets back Of the one that is be-
low it. The room above this is gloomy and
bare. There is no furniture save ghostly
rough, white desk in each apartment. The
roof has been completely torn away by the
storms OF almost sixty years, aud is now be-
ing repaired.
THE MORMON EMIGRATION.
Why has this ancient temple remained SC
long in idleness? The story is a brief but
interesting one. Joseph Smith and his fol-
lowers left Kirkland in 1888 for the far West
The prophet sought lar off wilderness,
where they would not be denied freedom oil
thought and opportunity for religious
growth. They left many of the converts be-
hind, and II wss a strange departure
IRON Kirkland, on a cod, bitter day
in midwinter. The party suffered all
manner of hardships in their wsuderings in
the West. They went down the Ohio river
to 81. Louis. Their next stopping place was
st. Charles, Mo-, where many of The band
died from the cholera. The party wandered
about in Two States and settled in various
pldCSf. odil Il 7be wy Nde uON ublll
June %, 1884. In The meantime The Church
divided, aud the -polygsmists settled at
Plano, Ill. Some of them returned 10 Kirt-
land. Joseph Smith, Brigham Young and
other of the saints came back to Cleveland
in 1886. They remained there several years.
A large printing Office was established, and
the Morning Star was published there. The
Mormon Bible, or Bo k of Mormon, was
Issued from the Kirkland press. l saw a
copy yesterday. 1t is about the size OF 8
common Tesament and, owing 10 it's sea city,
is valued at $3.50. 1t bears the imprint Of
"Cowdery & Co.." printers, Kirkland, o."
Smith was the head man OF the Kirkland
settlement, and was president of the Mormon
Church and ruler Of the temple" He
made early purchase of property there, and
owned a mill, store and banking house.
ANECDOTES OF JOE SMITH.
Smith was an abe fuancier His bank.
ing house was a sfmous institution in nose
early days Many Of the "wildcat" bills Of
the bank are yet in circulation. A $40 bill
dated March 4, 1887, came 10 light the other
day, and is well worth preserving ss relic.
o. it ia the inscription: THE Kirkland So
ciety Safety Bank will pay on demand TO O.
Hyde, or bearer, So. Kirkland, O, March 4
1887. J. Smith, IT,, cashier; S. Rgdou
the way, was the greatest Of iupostorP, ad.
ver'ised the fact that he would give an ex
hibilion of walking ON the water. He an
nouuced tkat the Lord had directed him
The day previous to the one set for the exhi'
bition Smith and his confederates secretly
placed several rails on the Chsgrin river
aud moorsd them with heavy chains aud
| stones in the center OF the stream, about q
foot under water, aud out OF sight OF the
people on the shore. A multitude gathered
to witness the performance. Smith was
rowed out into the middle OF the stream, and
sfler going through various maneuvers
| stepped out of the boat onto one of the rails
The people were sstonished and lifted
| their hands up 10 heaven. Smith, however
was unfortunate. One Of the rata became
unfsstened and drifted down the stream, IN
| noticed by the great apostle. When ht
| stepped iron one raft to the other-or where
| be supposed the other was locatsd-he sane
| into The W9ter, was nearly drowned, ard wa
| only rescued with the greatest difficulty
| This incident never became known 10 tn,
public. The Mormons soon after left Kirt
land for the West.
A STRANGER IN KIRKLAND.
! Oue evening in November last a stranger
appeared in Kirkland He was a email man
| with closely shaver face. He went TO III,
village hotel Immediately upon his arrival
and registered as "Rev J. Kelly, Plano
H." The fact of his presence, snd thst thu
day after mis- arrival he visited each Of tn,
four Mormon families that remained Ia tbs
village, aroused considerable talk and com
ment in the usually quiet town. During th'
week following, brooms and brushes wer'
basy 10 the temple. The next Sunday
morning the announcement was publicly
made that there would be services tina
day in the old temple. The print
tive Mornons and a few yillsser
occupied the great, wooden pews. Ser
vices we're held by the sirasges. Ca tn,
followisg Sabbath services were again held
and huge strip Of canvas was placed il
J front Of the old structure. The canvas bort