Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1901-01-19
.NoRMoNIsM N Troy.

The Troy y. s., Press which for
some time has appeared to entertain
very 10 feelings towards the Nor
mon people and their faith about
which COS editor evidently knows little
or nothing. has been very much worked
100 over ihc advent OF two Elders from
Utah. who are cndeayoring to perform
their duties as missionaries In that
place. The Doserct News a few days
ago paid some attention 20 an onslaught
IN The Elders by the Press. in which
the Troy paper advised the people TO
Slam their doors iu the faces OF the
Elders" and also ordered them back
20 Utah" The Press has published the
News" editorial. ana we learn from
the Elders that the attack Of The Press
and the rejoInder Of the News has
done them great good and they have
made many friends ln addition 90 the
two Elders formerly mentioned there
are two others laborIng In Troy name
ly. Claud II Taylor and u. b BrInton
The Press sin Keeps up the attack
and announces lis intention to uncork
big bottle Of anti Mormon" wrath
In the shane Of an antique work which
It win publish as serial story, and
which Il seems to think will prove such
an expose as Will settle "Mormoulsm'
Tor good and an II IS book pub
llshed in 1867 entitled Origin Rise
and Progress Of Mormonlsm' etc The
author Is Pomeroy Tucker. OF Palmyra.
a. y. The Press prftends 10 have been
40 great trouble 10 get a copy because,
forsooth. $50 many copies We're collect
cd and destroyed by Mormon emissor-
lts" That paper knows Of but one du-
picate extant An this is told for the
purpose OF exciting curiosity and selling
many copies OF the Press. as that paper
has circulated a large number Of yell
low dodgers" announcing the publica-
ton Of the story. The idea that Nor
mon emissarles destroyed the work Is
simply preposJerous.
We have before us the volume which
the Press announces II will publish.
We shall watch to see II II appears In
fun We hope every word win be print
ed In the Press II IS one OF the most
harmless Of the numerous alleged Eek
posures Of Mormonlsm' It contains
coplous quotations from the Book OF
Mormon and other Mormon" works.
and therefore Is likely to do some good
However, 1t contains nothing new on
the subject Of the rise and progress Of
"Mormonlsm' It's stories about Joseph
Smiths early life, the god-dlggIng
peepstone and similar tales are the
same as appeared many years before
1867. the date Of the book under consd-
Grafton. and were II not that the author
In compiling those old bits OF gossip
and the materials which be admits he
obtained from private correspondence,
personal communications and published
works states that he was born and
resided In Palmyra, n. y. ana was well
acquainted with the first Mormon
prophet" little interest would be at
toched 10 his collection OF data.
We believe the writer OF the book en-
deayored to state his case fairly. ac-
cordlng 10 the information he obtained
and as far as his violent bias permitted.
But his dates are wrong in many par
tculars, and the silly stories he repeats
long since disproyed-are but q thin
and shaky foundation on which to build
a theory And the fact that a man lived
IN the same town where Joseph Smith
received his first divine manifestations.
Is no argument that his impressions and
disbelief are correct particularly when
ne places well known occurrences az
dates that history. both Mormon and
Mormon" demonstrates to be in
correct.
The FIRST installmont. Chapter T. pub
lshed boy the Press is simply % recap
itulauon Of the story. told many years
before In different anti Mormon
pamphlets and books. about Joseph
boyhood. and his fathers business In
Palmyra. where ne Is charged with the
awful crime Of Keeping "a cake and
beer shop." but which is admitted ia
have been for the sale OF gingerbread
pies, boiled eggs root beer and other
like notions Of traffic thus securing "a
scanty but honest living for himself and
family while Dis sons worked 40
common labor j1bs,' such as gar
denlng harvesting wen digg.ug. &C.
or course an that BE- powerful and logi-
cal evidence against the very idea that
young Joseph could De called OF God 10
open the latter.day dispensotIon'
Joseph however is credited with
having learned 20 read comprehensive.
iy' ana FAR IN advance OF his elder
brothers and even Of his father" II
IS stated that he read 'the stories of
stephen Burroughs oud Captain Kidd
hut that "he frequently pcrused th.
Bible. becommg quite familiar witt
portions thereof both OF the Old an.
New Tesmmcnts.' Also that "th,
Prophecies and Revelations were hl
special forte Aud get the aulhor o
the book closes his FIRST chapter viii
the statement that, "In unheIef. theory
and practice the Smith family ail e
one. were uhquahhed ATHEISTS.
ON what does ne has this assertion
entirely false and contradlcied By othe
early residents Of Palmyra Why of
This bit ID interrogaiorN reasoning q