Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1886-06-18
Zoe Smith, the Founder OF Mormon
lam.


Perhaps the most extraordinary Of all false
prophets, and the most repusive Of all false
religions, are Joseph Smith, and Mormonism,
which he founded. He was born in 1905, at
Sharon, Windsor county, VT, but his boy
hood was chiefly spent at Palmyra, in the
state Of New York. His parents bore very
bad character as was attested on oath in
1888 by sixty respectable neigbbors. The
Smiths were said TO avoid honest labor, 10 be
given TO drink and TO theft, aud employ their
time In idle pursuits, such as digging for hid
den treasure. Joseph was the worst Of the
family. He was not much above 20 years Of
age when he professed TO have discovered a
treasure, a continuation OF the Bible, spec
tally revealed by an angel to America This
Golden Book" was written on plates of pre-
cious metal in the reformed Egyptian Ian.
guage, not understood on earth. With them
was a pair Of wonderful speotaoles, which
would enable their wearer to decipher the
hierOglyphcs of this new and sacred writing.
OF course Joseph Smith himself was the
person most capable OF interpreting the
plates. He sat behind a blanket, which
served TO keep profane eyes from gazing on
the holy text, aud read of the contents of it
TO Oliver Cowdery, who wrote them down as
they flowed from the lips Of Smith. In 1889
this marvellous composition was printed in a
Smith assumed the part of prophet, preach
ing and admitting converts into the church
Of Mormons, or LITTER Day Saints. He be-
gan with ive disciples. In the course of
year he enrolled thousands. He established
printing office, newspaper, a bank, aud
colony Of dupes, whom he led to Kirkland
Ohio, which was 10 be the seat of the New
Jerusalem. Apostles were sent out, one of
the most successful of whom was Brigham
Young the future head of the sect. The
Mormons encountered persecution, and Smith
feigned TO be commanded from on high" to
establish the new church at a city called Nau-
VOC, which he and his followers built 10 the
state Of Illinois. Here an army was organ
lied, Of which Smith was commsnder-in-
chief he was also mayor of the city, and
chief pastor Of the church.
This second Mahomet now received rev
elation," which enabled him to have as many
wives as he chose. More liberal than the
founder Of Islamism he allowed his followers
the same privilege as himself, and polygsmy
became the most salient characteristic of
Mormonism. But it was not until 1852 that
q plurality Of wives was openly advocated by
the Mormon community. Several leading
disciples renouuced the faith when this tenet
was first declared, and started paper called
the Exposition, for the purpose Of denounoing
Smith and his pretended revelations. The
office Of this paper was attacked and wrecked
by Smith and his followers on MaY 9Th, 1874.
Smith was sent TO prison at Carthage, ILL.,
The furious mob broke into the prison, and
shot him and his brother Hiram on June "a
lSi4. Brigham Young then took command
of the sect, and migrated to Salt Lake City,
where it still exists
1t is believed that Joseph Smith founded
his Book OF Mormon on a sort Of Biblical ro-
nance, composed by Mr.. Spalding 1t is a
confused and inartistic mixture Of ideas gath
cred from various religious systems, and no
clear doctrine or philosophy can be gathered
from it.
The Mormons re baptise adults, and do so
in running water. Their signal good quail
ties are patience, perseverance,, courage and
industry. The strangest points in their his.
tory are these that their faith rests on a
document which no one but Smith could read
and that their chief popularity is polygsmy,
form Of immortality repudiated by all west.
eru and Christian nations. Tile Qmger t1r
June