The record-union., 1893-03-20

Brought to Light and Put Into
Print.
The recent death at Palmyra, Mich,
Of one Rolin Robinson, more than an
octogenarian, brings freshly to mind an
afternoon passed with the old gentleman
at his home few years since, On which
occasion the subject of Mormonism
formed the main feature of the conversa-
lion, added to which was the fact that the
writer was most pleasantly entertained
with the history of the so-called ''Gold
Bible"-the parent of Mormonism-and
the narrator's personal connection with
the work in question. Said Mr.. Robin
son: Il was a youth of nearly dozen
years and working at the printers case
in the office of the Wayne Sentinel at
Palmyra, n. Y, where the Gold Bible
claimed to have been discovered, and
assisted in setting up the first edition of
the book
The history of the Gold Bible and
Joe Smiths intimate connection with it.
was thoroughly familiar with, and l
remember very well the sensation which
the pretended discovery of the book
made at the time in Central New York,
and the series of incidents and events
which followed its introduction into the
world"
who was Joe Smith and how was he
associated with the Gold Bible move
ment?' l inquired.
We'll, viii tell you," replied the old
gentleman, an expression of deep interest
passing over his countenance. Joseph
smith, the father OF the prophet. Joseph
Smith, Jr., was native of New Hamp-
snlre, from which State he emlgrated to
Vermont early i'll manhood, locating at
Sharon, where he married, and where
his son, Joseph, Jr., was born, | believe,
about 1905. A few years later the Smiths
moved to New York, settling near the
young village of Palmyra, Wayne County,
on small farm situated on what was
known as the Stafford Road Smith
had been Universalist at one period in
his life, but subsequently became a
Methodist. He had a considerable smat-
tering of Scripture knowledge, but the
seed of revelation had been sown on
weak soil. lie was known as a great
babbler, was very credulous and not par
tlcularly industrious. He was Il good
deal given to indulging in the marvellous,
and, beside, prone to falling into diff
culties with his neighbors. Smiths wife
was woman of strong but unculti-
waited mind. She was artful and thor
religious enthusiasm.
The incipient bintS that prophet was
to spring from her humble household
came from her own lips, and when mat
terS were maturing for denouement she
made ii known that such and such indi-
viduals among her acquaintances-al-
ways designating those whe had both
money and credulity-were to be in
structed i'll the great work of the new
revelation. Smith was his wife's faith
1ul co-worker, or executive exponent
An older brother of Joseph, by the name
OF AlVah, was originally intended or
designated by hreSlde consultations and
solemn and mysterious outdoor intima-
lions as the forthcoming prophet. The
parents solemuly declared that their AL
Yah was the chosen one; but Alvah, how
ever spiritual he may have been, pos
sessed, after all, carnal appetite, for one
day he ate too freely of green turnips
and sickened and died. And so the
world lost prophet and Mormonism a
leader. The designs impiousy attributed
10 Providence We're defeated, and all in
consequence OF an oYer-supply of raw
turnips.
NOT A PROMISING PROPHET.
"The mantle of the prophet which Mrs.
and Mr.. Smith, with one oliver Cowdery,
had woven together. now fell upon their
next eldest and favorite son, Joseph
Smith, Jr. And a most unpromising re-
cipient of such trust was this same
youth, in after years tamiliarly known to
the world as Joe Smith Joseph was of
lounging, idle disposition, and not a
little disposed to Viciousness, and withal
was not regarded as intellectually bright,
Occasionally he would 90 to town with
jags' of wood, drawn by an ungainly
yoke of cattle, and after disposng of his
load it was no unusual thing for him to
patronize the grocery store too freely,
concluding the day by getting into
hight with some hangcr-on, in which en-
counter he would invariably come off
second best; again, when he found moth
ing else 10 do, he would wander to town
in search of a job about the store of Sey-
mour ScoVell, and once week he would
present himself at the office of the Woyne
sentinel 10 obtain his fathers paper. But.
Notwithstanding his apparent lack OF
mental ability, the said Joseph had some
little ambition after all. There were times
when he attempted to solve some porten-
tious question of moral or political ethics.
such as came before the village debating
society; ut a subsequent period after be-
ing converted at the Methodist canlp-
meeting, which held its sessions regu-
larly each summer III piece of woods
near Palmyra, be became quite pass
able eXhorter.
For years stories have been told in the
neighbOrhood concerning certain treas
Il
Gated midway between Palmyra and the
village of Manchester only a few miles
distant. Old Joseph had been in the habit
of going there from time to time when
unobserved by anybody, and young
Joseph had not only heard his father and
mother relate marvellous tales regarding
the buried wealth, but many and many a
time he had accompanied his father in his
midnight delvings, and shared with him
the mysterious spell of those silent hours.
The supposed hidden treasure was not.
however, in the nature of money, but
was said to be in the way of certain very
ancient manuscripts buried in this hill
by people belonging to far-gone past.
THE BURIED MANUSCRIPTS.
Snow, if a buried revelation was to be
eXhumed, how natural it was that the
Smiths, with all their ignorance and
credulity, and their assumed PRESENT.
ment that real prophet was to come
from their households; l say, with all this
taken into consideration, how natural it
was that they should be connected with
il, and that the place in questionable
said hill-should be where the said reve-
lation was to be found.
AT last the great secret was revealed
the hidden treasure was dug up and
Joseph Smith and his son were the for
tunate ones-the lucky discoverers of the
ancient manuscript, the reUe[atto5, in
question. Such was the report or story
which came to the ears of the people.
"The manuscripts had been found. but
now serious difficulty presented itself.
Being in an unknown language, thev
must be deciphered and published to the
world, but the projectors of the scheme
being destitute of means to carry out
their plans, victim must be selected to
meet the eXigencies of the case. Martin