Orange County observer. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1880-1918, 1884-10-25
THE BOOK OF MORMON.


From the st. Louis SPECTATOR
How many people know anything
about the origin of the Mormon religion
or, rather, of the Book of Mormon, which
is its authority? knew precious little
about it until this week, when I acci-
IDENTIFY fell in with Mr.. Clark Braaen,
who has recently given the subject q
most searching Investigation His story
shows of what stuff religion may be
made. The Mormons number nearly
800, 900. They are divided in many
sects, but the principal are the polyg'
amous Brighamites in Utah and the
-polygamous Josephites scattered in
various places. The story may be given
in a few words. The Book of Mormon
was written by an old broken-down
Presbyterian clergyman named Solomon
Spaulding. Spaulding was born in Con-
necticut in 176l. He graduated at Dart
mouth College and settled as Minister
for Congregational church. he made
a bad failure at preaching, and went into
business with his brother in New York
State, did not succeed, and started an
iron foundry in town in Northern
Ohio. He soon failed in that venture
and became very much discouraged.
His wife supported the family by taking
boarders and he spent his time in writ
ing, though what did not then appear.
The family moved to Pittsburg, when he
rewrote his book, adding a second part.
He afterward rewrote the entire book,
adding third part. This is the origin
of the manuscript.
Now, what became Of it Spaplding
made arrangements to have it printed in
Pittsburg. After part of it had been
set up the whole manuscript was stolen
by tanner named Sidney Rigdon. who
was i'll the habit Of loafing around the
printing Office. Rigdon kept it concealed
for some years, until he fell in with
Joseph Smith, who evolved the plan Of
producing it. Smith belonged to a not
very reputable family living near Pal
myra, N. Y. They lived in q house and
| supported themselves by hunting and
and fishing and other means suspected
to be more questionable Joseph, one
day, found remarkably clear crystal,
shaped much like child's foot, and he
declared it was "peep stone" In which
he could read the future and discover
stolen goods, strayed cattle, etc, and on
several occasions was so successful in
predicting the locality of goods and cat
tie that he soon came to have consider
able reputation. He then extended his
field of operations by divining where
treasures were buried, and under his di
rections great many diggings were
made, unsuccessfully, however. These
diggings extended over large area
some fifty miles or more, around Pal
myra, and some of them may be seer
now. He fell in with Sidney Rigdon
who told him OF the manuscript. Smith
soon devised scheme for producing il
under proper surroundings. The al
legel book of copper plates was found
under divine guidance, on which charac
ters of reformed Egyptian were craven
| The book was accompanied by q pair o.
spectacles of wondrous power, which
enabled Smith to translate the remark
able characters. This he did from be
hind screen, while an amanuensis tool
down his words. The Book of Mormon
| D. ~
farmer, Martin Harris, putting up tn
cash to pay the printer. Thus Solonol
Spaulding's manuscript found its va.
into print with such additions and alter
ations as Smith chose to make for hi
own benefit