The times., 1899-02-05
JOSEPH Smith and
HIS Vain MOTHER
She Told Fortunes and He
Liked Whisky.
Snperstitions of the High Priest of
MOrmOniSm.
An Interesting story of the Origin
and History of the Latter
Day Saints.
Trom the New York Tribune, ,

CFrom the New York Tribune.)
Mrs. ii. S. Caswell is secretary of the
woman's department of the Congregational
Home Missionary Society. Of this city. The
society and its representatives have been
interested historically in the overthrow of
Mormonism, and consequently in disabus-
ing its adherents and advocates of their
errors. Mrs. Caswell is one Of the women
who are enlightening the public on the ori-
gin and history of Mormonism and nullify-
ing the attempted revival of it in the West.
She says:
In conversation with an apostate Nor
mon was put in possession Of some inter-
esting facts concerning Joseph Smiths
mother, which had been given to the Nor
mons by a woman who was born and
brought up in Palmyra, n. Y. where Nor
monism originated-for this false religion
really had its origin in the brain and heart
of an ignorant, deceitful mother
Joseph Smiths mother moved in the low
est walks of life, but she had kind of
mental power which her son inherited.
They were both victims of a vain and vivid
imagination, and were both noted for a
habit Of extravagant assertion. Both could
look listener full in the eye and without
blush or the least confusion improviss
the most startling statements and vivid
stories. If any one detected an inconsis-
tency and alluded to it, a subterfuge was
always at hand. An old man who knew
them well said: You can't face them
down. They'll both lie, and stick to it
Mrs. Smith used to do family washings
at the houses in the village. II articles
were left on the line to dry and were not
secured BY their owners before midnight
the washer was the winner. In these noe
turnal depredations she was assisted by
her boys, who took occasion also to visit
the poultry yards and grain bins. Joe
never worked except at 'chopping bees or
raisings,' when whisky was the impetus
and reward. The mother of the high
priest OF Mormonism was superstitious TO
the last degree. The very air she breathed
was inhabited by familiar spirits, and she
turned many penny by telling fortunes.
When Joseph was very young Mrs.
Smith made up her mind that one OF her
sons should be prophet. and the weak
husband and father agreed with her that
of the nine children Joseph was the genius,
and Joseph should be the prophet. The
mother then began to impress this IDEA
upon the mind of the boy, and with such
success that at last he rarely smiled, never
laughed and never indulged in fun be-
cause it would not be in keeping with his
him in every scheme OF duplicity and cum
ming.
Smiths IIIiteracy.
Joseph Smith could not write, but he
could read. and the bad books which he
read had much to do with the origin OF
Mormonism. The autobiography of Cap
tain Kidd, the pirate, was his supreme ia
vorite. One day, when Joseph was fifteen
years old, while watching his father, who
was digging a we'll, he saw a stone OF
curious shape. 1t bore some resemblance
TO a child's foot. This little stone became
the acorn OF the Mormon oak. This was
| the famous Palmyra seer or peek stone
with which Joseph Smith was accustomed
10 divine. Being instructed by his mother,
this boy OF fifteen now set up claim to
miraculous power. He was placed in a
kneelins posture, with bandaged eyes. \
large white 'stovepipe' hat, in which was
placed the wonderful stone. was held in
front of his face. Under these circum-
stances he could reveal things uuutterably
| wonderful. He could reveal only too well
! where stolen property might be found.
While gazing at the stone in the hat he
could see caskets of gold and gems hidden
/ By Captain Kidd and the Spaniards. He
could see treasures OF marvellous value
beneath the ground in neighboring fields
the night in that town, and sleep the or
der of the day. All who could he hired by
strong drink were organized into dig
ging phalanx- They were commanded to
dig in the darkness. Solemn ceremonies
prefaced the work. Not one sod could be
disturbed by spade until Joe Smiths
wand OF witch hazel, guided by the sacred
stone pointed out the place OF the cou-
cealed treasure. Entire silence was one
condition success,
After hours of hard work. and when
the answering thud was about to strike
the ear and everybody was in a rapture
of expectancy. some one was sure to break
the silence By speaking; the spell was
broken. the treasures were spirited away
TO another quarter. and the diging must
be resumed on another night. Thus mat
ters went on for seven years. Very little
attention paid to these performances
of Joe Smith by respectable people near
his home, but lovers OF the marvellous
came from distance to look at Joe and
the excavations, and the air was filled with
mystery. which was quite favorable for fu-
ture developments.
Revelations of IAN Angel
The perseverance and audacity of Jo-
seph Smith were boundless, but he alone
could never have wrought out the institu-
tion of MOrmonism. In 1927. a mysteri-
Gus stranger inquired the way to Joseph
Smiths cabin. and the neighbors began TO
note a sudden intimacy between the two
men. followed by many private and ;hys-
terious conferences. The stranger was
Sidney Rigdon. backslidden clergyman
from Ohio. Rigdon was somewhat OF
literary genius, versatile in his gifts.
shrewd. willy, deep, and utterly unprinci-
pied. Soon after his appearance on the
scene Mormonism began TO assume To-
cal habitation and a name. The angel be-
gan to talk more definitely to Joe Smith.
Your sins, said the angel, are all for
given. None of the present religious
faiths are acceptable to God. You. Joseph
Smith, shall found a sect which the Al
mighty will own and bless
The angel told Joseph that the North
American Indians were a remnant OF the
lsraelites. that their inspired writings
were to be intrusted to him. and him alone,
as no other human being could see them
and live. Joseph Smith proceeded alone
TO the hilltop Curmorah. an eminence four
miles south of Palmyra. and afterward tes-
titled that he found there series of gol-
den plates on which were written in hero
glyphics-the Trim and Thummim-by the
aid of which he would be able TO decipher
the curious hieroglyphics.
Joseph Smith then found il convenient
TO visit his relatives in Pennsylvania. BY