The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1902-10-07
MORMON BOOK
ONLY A FRAUD
Joseph Smiths Work Traced
to a Stolen Manuscript.
fATEN YEARS INVESTIGATION
Shows That The Founder Of MormonlsHl
Probably Stole The StoTI While En-
ploysd as a Tssams'st
fATEN YEARS INVESTIGATION

Columbia. S. c., Oct. 7--Proof that JOS
eph Smiths Book of Mormon, the founda-
ton OF the Mormon church is a fraud
Is claimed by Rev. J. e. Mahaffey. or
Grantieville, to be In his possession. DR..
Mahaffey is a prominent figure In the
South Carolina Methodist church and has
spent ten years in his investigation.
He says he has ascertained that Nor
monism is undoubtedly the greatest re-
Iigious deception that has ever been per-
petrated. so adroitly was the fraud car
ried out that he believes many Mormons
of today are ignorant OF their error.
DIR. Mahafrey says that 2Ooo Mormon
missionaries are now In the field and
that the sect is fast becoming the most
formidable element In modern civiliza-
ton. They hold the balance of power In
seven of the United States are adroitly
colonizing in half a dozen others and
have a present membership OF more than
500. O.o0o In the last yea ralone they gain
cd $1,000 members In the east.
BOOK OF MORMON.
DR. Mahaffey says:
.'The age of strange things has not
passed away When Mormonism was first
sorganized and the Book OF Mormon cir
culated in Conneaut Ohio. many OF the
friends and acquaintances OF the Rev.
Solomon spalding affairmed that 1t was
the writing of that gentleman. who had
been dead about IL years.
"All of Spalding's writing mysterious
lxr dte.ar, foa rcd
passd away and nothing further OF any
consequence has been done In this direc-
ton. The Mormons have gone on de-
ceiving and being deceived with Joseph
Smiths tale OF angels and golden plate.
but truth is coming 10 the front al
last The original Spalding manuscript
has been found IL was resurrected In
Honolulu, Hawaii, our new possession
and is now deposited in the library OF
Oberlin college, In Ohio. and through the
kindness OF that institution | have hac
the loan OF II for the purpose of exam
ination and comparison with the Boor
of Mormon.
"A careful examination Of the tive
documents shows more than 20 features
of perfect identity. Lack OF space for
bids their appearance here I'm full. but tn
following examples briefly stated will
give an idea Of how they stand. For ex
ample:
Both stories pretend TO be transla
tions or abridgments Of older and NOR
elaborate records found buried In tn
earth.
INDIAN ANCESTRY.
Both stories trace the ancestry OF tn
American Indians from the old world
and give tragic accounts OF their provi
Dental passage across the ocean To tn
American continent their settlements
the rise and fall OF nations, their politi
cal divisions. terrible wars, etc.
Both stories cater TO the use OF tn
same lit:ie transparent stone throug
which sights could be seen. hidden treas
ures. translated. etc.
Both stories contain the same as
count ol an army contending I'm battl'
and painting their foreheads red In orde
90 distinguish themselves from their er
amies in times OF confusing excitement
Both stories are characterized by n
came tale OF a Sacred Roll. which W,
believed 10 have been OF divine origi
and which formed the basis OF relgio,
belief and teaching.
Both stories contain accounts Of n
discovery of other nations who had pr
cedsd them 20 the American continen
and that Some OF these other natioi
were In n savage state. but were SOC
educated and restored TO civilization.
"One more important feature is thu
The hieroglyphics OF the plates descriD,
by Joseph Smith are identical with q
literary style OF o people described In q
spaiding romance. The Identity here
perfect I'm every respect.
PLAGIARISM EITHER WAY.
These are only few examples Of Il
many features Of IDENTITY some Of whi'
are three-foid IN detail. and will be
even the closest analytical subdivision
al proving conciusiveiy that either q
Book Of Mormon Is plagiarism OF 4