Springfield globe-republic. (Springfield, Ohio) 1884-1887, 1886-07-11
MORMONISM IN OHIO.
COL LEFFlNGWELL'S VISIT TO The
SAINTS AT KIRKLAND.
The Story Told by the Proof Reader
Of the SPaIding Manuscript -Phrs-
seoI"gy "T the Mormon Bible
In the Temple.

- I"ur> Republican
The venerable COL William H. IelnC
well accompanied by an old Morn II
friend from | Iah WAS met hy a reporter
the other afternoon ON Olive street The
colonel frleaI r,mal Acd to the reporter
bid YOU know that IC tngwcll corrected
the manuscript of the Mormon Bible
alleged 10 have been written by itCv. solo
mon ~IaldiEg
This WIS something like a new revcIa
ton. and ON { Ol lc .ugwell stating that
il Was fact. and a. a the parties know
ing the circumstances are now dead ~
CeII Mr lie ung well. hc was asked To aid
10 the truth uf history b, telling what he
knew about the origin uf the Mormon
Bible The colonel readily consented.
but his Mormon frrnd. observing his
readiness Ia do So. walked on and beck
nncd to the colonel to come along. rNi
IDENTIFY Oh}rCtjng 10 having the story told
Tor publication
col Lcrhmgwrll commenced by saying
Long ago IN the past | have forgotten
the year. Nr Npalding wrote "A drama
Cisllcl The Book of Mormon. in hotel
al Cunncaut. Ashtabula county. Ohio.
where had been teaching school. |
WAS known through the country aS "A good
Crammarian and possessing an accurate
knowledge of the lng!iSh language My
father had been rinCipal of the Mradvi le
school, at Meadvilc Penn. for eight
years. position which | Subsequently, v
filled ON my father retiring 10 farm.
Mr. Spalding Was LAWYER by protest., IL
and had taught schuol. lie lad never
been reverend As some accounts give
that prctiN t0 his name lie was about
~ years of age when | first fell in with
him, was very poor and sick with con
sumption and toward the last nearly lost
his voice, 80 that he could not plead al the
bar. lie said he wanted 10 make some
money and wrote the drama. which he
handed me for correction. Ii was full If
Bible expressions and rs | had read the
Bible from lid TO lid knew the proper
phraSeoogy 10 use | corrected the
grammar and had to reconstruct and
tranSpusc entries TO make GOOD IN lish
out of ii was engaged three months.
aud nv notes and pencil marks may lie
found on every page
He wanted me 10 conform - Bible
language He never paid me '"r
my labor II WAS entitled The 30 :
Mormon. and he told me hr WAS Cour.
10 Pitlshurg to sell the manuscript
afterward learned that he got hold of
Slduty EiCdon. and ! knew within siN
months that Spalding sold it, and ilat
Rigdon got il Rigdnn was a preacher.
a Scuolar and a smart fellow had seen
him baptlZlHg converts in MahumIng
county Ohio Some wears aftPrward
was on lecture tour in Ohio. leCiuring on
grammar and the constitution uf the
English language went 10 Kirkland in
l.. =. 4 -
yer. to see oc Smith aud the Mormon
leaders We drove u in front of 4 large
tent and Eigd"n came out | told him
that corrected the Mormon Bihc whcn
il was Spaldlngs manuscript assured
him | gave ii the proper construction and
what grammar il had He smi cd and
said that MAS all right, but requested me
10 say nothing about il. told higduH
that We came over there tn src him and
Joe Smith llr said 1t is jus our din
nCr time. YOU cant see Joe smith he
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 t. the
pr, pheL Ice smith had a round face,
and his la WA cut short down on lis
forehead The color of his hair WAS
between "A deep brown and dark red lie
sent young man with us into the temple
which WAS hut ncw,y niShrd The front
had a roiecting roof supported by pillars
We entered the purtiCO. when the Young
man. our guide said Take oil your
hats | replied Cur hats are already
off. 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 4 broad aisle r; n
through the middle of the temple. with
cross aisle in the centre above which
curtain hung dividing the temple into
two parts, Niiney Eigdon occupying we
Were t"ld. the eastern Torti II. which in.
Cluded the grand altar The arrange
mCuI seemed To he thus made IN
consequence If the still inCum-
plete condition of the temple
by mounting ON one amothrTs sho Ilders
We were cnab 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 lih,c. 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 10 kiTt
land vel satisfied with our visit
The above cha with Col ! eilingwell
left the impression that his statement OF
the part taken By him in the correction of
Spalding manuscript is undcniablc but
tie other fact that said manuscript WAS
the original of the Mormon BIB is rather
q matter of inference than supported by
direct and inCuntroyertible testimony
Col Lelhug well howe er asserts that so
far as lie has compared his recolieciiOns of
the SIsidmg manuscript with the Nor
mon Bib.e they are identical That is his
belief