The citizen. [volume] (Berea, Ky.) 1899-1958, 1899-08-09
Historical Sketch OF MOrm0nism
Rev. ID. j. McMILLAS, d. ID.

The Church was organized near
Palmyra, New York, April 9, 1880,
with sir members, Joseph Smith, Jr.,
being its visible head.
The Book Of Mormon" il said 70
be a translation from certain plates
Of brass or gold which Joseph Smith
claimed 10 have discovered 10 the hill
Cumorah, near Palmyra, New York,
under the guidance Of an angel call
ed Moroni
The whole system rests upon the
claim OF Joseph Smith to have been
divinely called and inspired, and his
having received the plates aud trans.
lated their inscriptions by divine help
and inspiration.
Among the young preachers who
entered the ministry in an irregular
way in the early years Of this century
were ignorant and dangerous men OF
popular gifts, who went from church
TO church misleading the excitable
and finding no certain abiding place
in any sect. One OF these novices
was Sidney Rigdon, whose home was
in western Pennsylvania. He was
fond OF debate, gifted with huency OF
speech and pleasing address, and
possessed Of ambition and energy. He
united with the Baptists, but, disap-
pointed in his desire for leadership
among them, he sought alliance with
Alexander Campbell. But his rest.
less disposition and cunning methods
offended the honest men of that
church and they soon dispensed with
his services. Then he was for a time
pastor Of an independent church in
Pittsburg, and making the bookstore
and publishing house Of Patterson
and Lsmdin a place of frequent re-
sort, became somewhat familiar with
their business. Among the manu-
scripts was a novels written by Solo
mon Spaulding. and called "The
Manuscript Found" He advanced
the theory that the Indians in this
country descended from two colonies,
one Of which came from the tower Of
Babel, the other many centuries later
from Jerusalem. Mr.. Spaulding died
without having his novel published.
Mr.. Rigdon became deeply interested
in this novel and must have copied it
aud changed il by introducing many
passages OF scripture so as make il
appear TO be revelation from God.
But his stay in Pittsburg was short.
he started westward on an indepen.
dent mission. He preached that the
latter days were at hand, aud God
was about TO reveal new truth to his
chosen few. He soon had flourish
ing church near Mentor, o.
The family of Joseph Smith claims
10 be OF Scottish extraction aud to
have lived in New England ever since
100. The mother of Joseph was
fortune-teller. Both parents were
illiterate and superstitious. They
were among the people in Vermont
who, during the first decade OF the
present century, followed a strange
delusion under the leadership of one
Wingste. By the use OF an instru
ment which they called ''St. Johns
Rod" the followers Of the imposter
claimed 10 be able to discover gold,
silver, currents OF water under
ground, and medicinal roots and
herbs, and to cure all manner of
dieases. Like the victims of all such
decisions they banked with unlimited
upon the Lost Tribes of
Israel and promised gathering of
the favored people OF God, and a
"Latter-day Glory" far exceeding the
glory OF former days. The whole
proved TO be a scheme Of \
band Of swindlers. Wingate, the
leader, was arrested, but escaped
from justice, and the movement came
TO an end.