Daily Yellowstone journal., 1885-07-10
M0RMONISM IN OHIO.
col LEFFlNeWELL's VISIT TO THE
SAINTS AT KIRKLAND.
ma story IS Told by the Proof Reader
Of the spaiding Manuscript Phra-
seoiogy OF the Mormon Bible
In the Temple.
ISt. Louis Rennhllcan. ]

The venerable Col. William II. Letting
well, accompanied by an old Mormon
friend from Utah, was met by reporter
ihe other afternoon on Olive street The
colonels friend remarked to the reporter:
did you know that Lettingwell corrected
The manuscript of the Mormon Bible
alleged 70 have been written by Rev. Solo
mon Spaldingf"
This was something like a new revela.
don, and on Col Letiingwell stating that
Il was a fact, and as al the parties know
ing the circumstances are now dead ex.
cept Mr.. lie fingwell, he was asked 10 add
10 the truth Of history by telling what he
knew about the origin Of the Mormon
Bible The colonel readily consented.
but his Mormon friend, observing hls
readiness to do so, walked on and beck.
oned 10 the colonel to come along, evi.
IDENTIFY objecting 10 having the story told
for publication.
Col Lefiingwell commenced by saying:
sLong ago In the past, have forgotten
the year. Mr. Spalding wrote a drama
c&llel The Book Of Mormon, in a hotel
nj Lonneaut. Ashtabula county, Ohio,
where had been teaching school |
was known through the country as a good
grammarian and possessing an accurate
knowledge Of the English language My
father had been principal Of the Meadyiile
school. at Meadville, Penn, for eight
years. a position which ! subsequently,
filled on my father retiring TO farm.
Mr.. Spalding was lawyer by profession
and had taught school lie lad never
been reverend, as some accounts give
that prefix TO his name. He was about
80 years Of age when first fell in with
him, was very poor. aid sick with con-
sumption aud toward the last nearly lost
his voice, so that he c. uld not plead at the
bar. He said be wanted to make some
money and wrote iae drama. which he
handed ny for CORE 1tion, 1t was full of
Bible expressions, Ind as | had read the
Bible from lid 10 I'D | knew the proper
lhraseology TO Use corrected the
grammar and had TO reconstruct and
transpose entries 10 make GOOD Lnglish
out Of il | was engaged three mo7ths,
and my notes and pencil marks may he
found on every page.
lie wanted me 10 conform 20 Bible
language, He never paid me cent for
my labor. Ii was entitled The Book of
Mormon, and he told me he was going
to Pittsburg to sell the manuscript /
afterward learned that he got hold of
months that Spalding sold IL, and that
Rigdon got it Rigdou was a preacher,
a scholar, and a smart fellow. / had seen
him baptizing converts in Mahoning
county, Ohio. Some years afterward /
was on lecture tour in Ohio, lecturing on
grammar aud the construction Of the
English language. went to Kirkland in
buggy. accompanied by young law.
yer. 10 see Joe Smith and the Mormon
leaders We drove In front of a large
tent and Rigdon came out | told him
that corrected the Mormon Bible when
Il was Spaldings manuscript | assured
him gave Ii the proper construction aud
what grammar II had. He smiled and
said that was all right but requested me
10 say nothing about IT, | told higdon
that we came over there 10 see him and
Joe smith lie said: 1t is JUS our din.
ner time you can't see Joe smith, be,
cause he is marking goods at the store
they having received forty wagon.loadS
from the lake shore the day before
-Afterward we were introduced 10 the
prophet ice smith had round face,
and his ha'T was cut short down on his
forehead The color OF his hair was
between deep brown and dark red lie
sent young man with us into the temple,
which was but newly finished The front
had FRO iecting roof, supported 10y pillars
We entered the porticO, when the young
man. our guide. said Take of your
hats lreplied! 'our hats are already
of. sir. We've long way TO drive, and
want you TO hurry up, sir
we were then conducted into the in.
terror OF the temple A broad aisle ran
through the middle Of the temple. with q
cross aisle in the centre. above which a
curtain hung, dividing the temple into
two parts. sidney higdon occupying. we
were told. the eastern porti,n. which in.
cluded the grand altar. The arrange.
ment seemed 10 be thus made in
consequence of the still incom.
plete condition OF the temple.
BY mounting on one aEothers shoulders
We were enab ed TO pull ourselves up
through hole in the attic. where we were
shown Sc eral mumm es. including that of
Joseph and other patriarchs mentioned In
the Eib!e. After visiting the temple We
were invited into the tent. where We were
provided with good dinner, and, taking
leave Of the saints we drove out TO Kirt-
land we ! satisfied with our visit
The above chat with Col effingwell
left the impression that his statement OF
the part taken BY him in the correction Of
spalding manuscript is undeniRble, but
the other fact that said manuscript was
the origil al Of the Mormon BIB is rather
matter Of inference than supported by
direct snd incOntrovertible testimony.
Col Lettingwell. howe, er. asserts that so
far as lie has compared his recollections Of
the II ding manuscript with the Nor.
mon ibe they are Identical That is his
belief