The Savannah morning news., 1902-09-28
MORMON BOOK PLAGIARlZED.
ugv. ]. e. MEHAFFEy HAS MADE
THOROUGH INVESTIGATION.

Was That of Rev. Solomon SpaId-
ing, All of Whose Writings Mys-
tcriOusIy Disappeared.
columbia, S. c., Sept. 27.-The Rev.
E. Mahaffey, one of the most prom
insnt members of the South Carolina
Methodist Conference, claims positive.
Convincing proof of plagiarism in the
Pook of Mormon. In his investiga-
tion Mr.. Mahaffey has spent much
time and money In an interview he
says:
when Mormonism was first or
eanized and the Book of Mormon cir
rulated in Conneaut, o., many of the
friends and acquaintance of the Rev.
solomon Spalding affirm that it was
the writings of that gentleman who
mad been dead about fourteen years.
Attempts were made to secure his writ
ngs at that time and compare them
with the Book of Mormon, but the at
tempt failed of it's purpose and rather
resulted. in a victory for the Nor
mons.
AN Of Spaldings writings mysteri-
ously disappeared, and over seventy
wears have passed away and nothing
tlIrther of any consequence has been
done in this direction. The Mormons
have gone on deceiving and being de-
ceived with Joseph Smiths tale of an
gels and golden plates and until to-
day they have a membership of nearly
200 000 During the past ten yealN
they have gained $685. members. Dur
ing last year alone they gained $4,000
members in the East. They now have
1000 missionaries in the field and are
fast becoming the most formidable ele-
ment in modern civilization. They
hold the balance of power in seven
of the United States and are adroitly
organizing in half a dozen others.
But truth is coming to the front
at last The original Spalding man
uscript has been found. 1t was res
directed in Honolulu, Hawaii our new
possession, and is now deposited in the
library of Oberlin College, in Ohio,
and through the kindness of the in
stitution l have had the loan of it for
the purpose of examination and COM
parison with the Book of Mormon. A
careful examination of the two docu-
ments shows more than twenty fea-
lures of perfect identity. The follow
ing example, briefly stated, will give
an idea of how they stand. For eX-
ample
Both stories pretend to be
transactions of abridgements of older
and more elaborate records found bur-
led in the earth.
Both stories trace the ancestry of
the American Indian from the Old
World and give tragic accounts of
their Providential passage across the
ocean to the American continent; their
settlements; the rise and fall OF ma
tons; their political divisions, terrible
wars, etc.
Both stories cater to the use of the
same little transparent stone through
which sights could be seen, hidden
treasures discovered, and ancient mys-
terious writings and hyeroglyphics
translated, etc.
Both stories contain the same &C
count of an army contending in bat
tie. and painting their foreheads red
in order to distinguish themselves from
enemies in times of confused excite
ment.
Both stores are characterized by the
same tale of a Sacred Roll 'vhich was
believed to have been of divine origin
and which formed the basis of reli-
gous belief and teachings.
Both stories contain accounts of the
discovery of other nations who had
preceded them to the American CONT
nent, and that some of these other ma
tons were in a savage state but were
soon educated and restored to civiliza-
ton.
'One more important feature is this:
The hyeroglyphics of the plates de-
scribed by Joseph Smith are identical
with the literary style of a people de-
scribed in the Spalding romance. The
Identity here is perfect in ever respect.
These are only few examples of
the many features of identity, some of
which are threefold in detail and will
bear even the closest analytical subdi-
vson-all proving conclusively that
either the Book of Mormon is pla-
giarism of the Spalding manuscript or
the manuscript a plagiarism of the
Book of Mormon. 1t is either the one
or the other. But as result of eight
years of careful and painstaking work,
l have collected abundant reliabl
proof that Spalding wrote and reWrote
his romance on this subject several
times between the years 1910 and 1916.
Smith says he got in possession of his
wonderful document in 1927, and had
known where it was for four years
previous to that time. The evidence
al hand indicates that Smith appropri-
ated final revision of Spalding's ro-
nance from an old hair-covered, moth
eaten trunk which was left at the res
idence of Mr.. Sabine during
Smiths employ at that place
as teamster, about the year
1920, and had doubtless known where
it was ever since that time.
The evidence also shows that sgd
ney Rigdon got in possession of another
copy which had been left in Patter-
sons printing office in Pittsburg in
1916, and a perfectly plain connection
is established between these two gen.
tlemen through the mediation of Par
ley Parker Pratt, showing how they
finally got together and inaugurated
their wonderful scheme Of deception,
which is undoubtedly the greatest re-
ligious fraud that has ever been per-
petrated.
II wish to say that I do not believe
the Mormons of to-day are aware OF
their error: 1 believe they are ignor-
antly sincere in their beliefs ana
abors, and nothing I have said or
done is to be construed as reflection
on the honesty or sincerity of those
who are living up to the life they have.
But it is our solemn duty to give
them the true story of their delusion
and fortify others against being LED
astray."