The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1899-12-22
MIRACLES OF MORMON.
EFFECTS BROUGHT ABOUT WITH
THEATRICAL METHODS.

Open Proofs of Frauds-The Miracles of
Thunder, Lightning and Gold That
Converted Many-Ludicrous Attempts
TO Walk ON the Water.
Viewed in the large, two impress
Bions survive study of the history of
the Mormon Church. It is record
of misguided enthusiasm and of gigan-
tic imposture. The two motives in
terwoven in the story of this peculiar
people, presenting drama Of human
nature, sometimes with the sordid,
sometimes with the heroic uppermost.
The epic of fight of the Saints from
New York to Ohio, from Ohio to Mis-
souri,, from Missouri to Illinois, and
thence across the unknown plains of
the Great West into the mountain
strongholds of the Rockies, will some
day be set forth in the high lights
which it demands. The tale Of that
pilgrimage will resound with the adj
jurations of crafty leaders, the curses
and blows of hostile mobs, the pray
ers of multitudes toiling painfully
through a desert wilderness. 1t will
show designing men plotting guile in
secret chambers, and with unabashed
brows exploiting their preposterous
revelations to their followers, and it
will show the rude shock of disillusion-
ment with its bitter fruit of apostacy
and fidelity, and still more painful
spectacle-the moral decay of COM
munity given over to religion Of
grossness.
WAS SMITH DECEIVED?
1t is not pleasant task to tear away
the veil behind which stand the pro-
phet and his chiefs and expose to their
followers hundreds of thousands of
the grim cynicism of their impostures.
In the religion of the Latter Day
Saints, as in many other false religion,
has been lodged volume of human
aspiration that one hesitates even to
seem to assail. Sometimes one won
ders if Joseph Smith, himself, was to
himself the perfect fraud tbas he
seems to others. He was beaten,
stripped, tarred and ducked, and he
met his death at last fighting mob
with the courage of man, if not the
conservation of saint.
THE GREAT CONSPIRACY.
The history of the Mormon Church
reads like great conspiracy. Every
step in its progress, every stopping
place in its pilgrimage across the con-
tinent is marked by some huge impos-
ture. If one could forget the suffer-
ing of its followers. if one could stop
his ears to the cries of the outcasts,
wandering hungry and shelterless
along the Missouri's banks, to the
psalms of brave and CHEEKY people
tenting westward in the wilderness,
one would call it only dismal, q
dreary and sickening recital. But
always in the background of the stage,
where the trickster's red fire is blaz-
ing, one sees devout faces gazing, rapt
as if the vision of the burning bush
was vouchsafed, and the columns of
wandering religionists marching stead
lastly, as if flaming pillar was NOV
ing before them. These pitiful, duped.
credulous men and women give to the
recital deeper interest. They are
human documents telling the old les
son that error sometimes takes upon
ITSELF the habiliaments 81 truth.
THR PROOF OF FRAUD.
When Joseph Smith began his work
as prophet, he held little meetings in
the modest dwelling of his parents in
wood near Palmyra, N. Y, and
sometimes his followers thought they
heard laundering overhead, as if the
Lord was answering their prayers
from heaven. The family moved to
Ohio with the prophet, and when the
building was torn down afterward sew
eral cannon balls were found con-
cealed under false roof over the raft
ers. They could be moved by a string
SO as to give forth rolling sound as
of thunder. What use did Joseph
make of them?
The Prophet removed to Kirkland,
Ohio, and there ''Stake of Zion"
was established. Prior to that time
missionaries on their way to labor with
the manites''-Indians of the far
West had halted at Kirkland, and
almost instantly had converted Sid
ney Rigdon, who took part in the COM
position of the Book of Mormon, but
who had remained in the background
while that book was introduced to the
world and the beginnings of the church
were laid. A fourishing community
was established in Ohio, and its center
was banking house conducted by
Joseph Smith and Sidney Rigdon. Tt
was in the days of wildcat banks, and
the two worthless put great deal of
doubtful currency into circulation.
But to all who questioned their ability
10 redeem it was shown in the vaults
number of huge copper caldrons,
each with capacity of barrel and
each apparently full of gold and silver
coins.
PRETENDED REVELATIONS.
A revelation came to Joseph Smith
that induced him and Rigdon to fly
on horseback at midnight from Zion's
stronghold. The Sheriff had secured
warrant for their arrest the proceed.
ing afternoon, and the next morning
he sent out after them with an armed
posse He pursued them for 200 miles,
clear to the western border of the
State. It was found that the -caldrons
contained only single layer of coins
the rest was sand. And the two heads
Of the church had made away with
$40, 1000 that did not belong to them.
Another Ohio scene introduces the
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