SHAMEFUL: -- Three Mormons were carried away from Illinois by a party of Missourians a few days since and severely whipped on a charges of stealing. The case was a most flagrant one.

Notes: (forthcoming)

                          From the Alexandria Gazette

A  GLANCE  AT  THE  MORMONS.

Since the Mormons were expelled from the State of Missouri, they have purchased the town of Commerce, a situation of surpassing beauty, at the head of the lower rapids, on the Illinois shore of the upper Mississippi river. The name of the place they recently changed to Nauvoo, the Hebrew term for Fair or Beautiful. Around this place, as their centre, they are daily gathering from almost every quarter; and several hundred new houses, created within the last few months, attest to the passing traveller the energy, industry, and self-denial with which the community is imbued. They have also obtained possession of extensive lands on the opposite side of the river, in that charming portion of Iowa Territory, known as the 'Half Breed Reservation;' and there, upon the rolling and fertile prairies, they are rapidly selecting their homes and opening their farms. As the traveller now passes through those natural parks and fields of flowers, which the hand of the Creator seems to have originally planted there for the inspection of his own eye, he beholds their cabins dotted down in the most enchanting perspective, either on the borders of the timber, or beside the springs and streams of living water, which are interspersed on every hand.

Nor are they unmindful of their interests abroad, while they are thus accomplishing so much at home. No sect, with equal means, has probably ever suffered and achieved more in so short a time. Their elders have not only been commissioned and sent forth to every part of our own country, but they have left their families and friends behind them, and gone to Europe, and even to the Holy Land, to reveal the wonders of the "new and everlasting covenant;" and to preach "the dispensation of the fulness of times." They doubt not but that they shall be endued, when necessary, with power from on high to proclaim to all the nations of the earth in their own tongues, the wonderful works of God.

The signal success which every where attends their exertions, proves how well their religious system is adapted to give expression to the various forms of enthusiasm that pervade the religious sentiment of the day. Retaining many truths which are held in common by different denominations of Christians and covering their own absurdities with imposing forms and lofty pretensions, their system opens a winning asylum for all the disaffected or dissatisfied of other persuasions, and much that is congenial to almost every shade of erratic or radical religious character. As an illustration of this, it is stated, in the last number of their own journal, called "Times and seasons," that, on a single occasion in England, one of their elders lately baptized, among others, no less than thirteen preachers of one denomination of Christians.

The name of Mormon they disclaim, and affirm that it was given to them by their enemies. They call themselves "The Church of Jesus Christ, of Latter Day Saints," and number, among their chief ecclesiastical dignitaries, a prophet, patriarch, and a train of high priest[s], bishops, and elders. They are understood to disallow the truth and validity of other churches, and to believe that their own ecclesiastical constitution entitles them to expect the enjoyment of all other gifts and blessings of the church in ancient times. They teach that all who are baptized by immersion and under proper authority, are legally entitled to the remission of their sins, and the gift of the Holy Ghost. Among other religious exercises, they meet together to testify, to prophecy, to speak with tongues to interpret, and to relate their visions and revelations, and, in short, to exercise all the gifts of God, as set in order among the ancient churches. They believe that the restoration of Israel to Palestine, the rebuilding of Jerusalem, and the second advent of the Messiah are near at hand, -- and the dreadful calamities which have recently befallen some of the cities of our land, are set down upon their records as prophetic signs of the second coming of the Son of Man in the clouds of Heaven to open their millennial era.

As to the "Book of Mormon," while they place implicit confidence in its truth, they deny that it is a new Bible, to exclude the old but a historical and religious record, written in ancient times, by a branch of the house of Israel that peopled America, from whom the Indians descended. The metallic plates, on which these records was engraved, lay deposited for many centuries in the earth, until at length, they were discovered and translated by Joseph Smith Jr. and found, not only to corroborate and confirm the truth of holy writ, but also to open the events of ancient America, as far back at least as the flood. -- They believe that this book pours the light of noonday upon the history of a nation, whose mounds and cities, and fortifications, still repose, in grand but melancholy ruins, upon the bosom of the western prairies; and the reason that it is not more generally received is the same that operated to prevent the reception of the Gospel, in the early ages of Christianity.

It was a beautiful morning towards the close of April last, when the writer of the foregoing sketch, accompanied by, a friend, crossed the Mississippi River, from Montrose, to pay a visit to the prophet. As we approached his house, we saw him ride up and alight from his beautiful horse; and handing the bridle to one of his followers in attendance, he waited in front of his gate to receive us. A number of principal men of the place soon collected around, apparently anxious to hear the words which fell from his lips. His bearing towards them was like one who has authority; and the deference which they paid him convinced us that his dominion was deeply seated in the empire of their consciences. To our minds, profound knowledge of human nature had evidently taught him that, of all principles, the most omnipotent is the religious principle; and to govern men of certain classes, it is only necessary to control their religious sentiment.

After he had shown us the fine grounds around his dwelling, he conducted us, at our request, to an upper room, where he drew aside the curtains of a case, and showed us several Egyptian mummies, which we were told that the church had purchased, at his suggestion, some time before, for a large sum of money.

The embalmed body that stands near the centre of the case, said he, is one of the Pharaohs, who sat on the throne of Egypt; and the female figure by it was probably one of the daughters.

It may have been the princess Thermutis, I replied, the same that rescued Moses from the waters of the Nile.

It is not improbable, answered the Prophet; but [my] time has not yet allowed fully to examine and decide that point. Do you understand the Hebrew language, said he, raising his hand to the top of the case, and taking down a small Hebrew Grammar of Rabbi Seixas.

That language has not altogether escaped my attention, was the reply.

He then walked to a secretary, on the opposite side of the room, and drew out several frames, covered with glass, under which were numerous fragments of Egyptian papyrus, on which, as usual, a great variety of hieroglyphical characters had been imprinted.

These ancient records, said he, throw great light on the subject of Christianity. They have been unrolled and preserved with great labor and care. My time has been hitherto too much taken up to translate the whole of them, but I will show you how I interpret certain parts. There, said he, pointing to a particular character, that is the signature of the patriarch Abraham.

It is indeed a most interesting autograph, I replied, and doubtless the only one extant. What an ornament it would be to have these ancient manuscripts handsomely set, in appropriate frames, and hung up around the walls of the temple which you are about to erect at this place.

Yes, replied the Prophet, and the translation hung up with them.

Thinking this a proper time to propose a few inquiries relative to some of his peculiar tenets, I observed that it was commonly reported of him, that he believed in the personal reign of the Messiah upon earth, during the millennial era.

I believe in no such thing, was his reply. At the opening of that period, I believe that Christ will descend; but will immediately return again to heaven. Some of our elders, he continued, before I have found time to instruct them better, have unadvisedly propagated some such opinions; but I tell my people that it is absurd to suppose that Christ "will jump out of the frying pan into the fire." He is in a good place now, and it is not to be supposed that he will exchange it for a worse one.

Not a little shocked by the emblem employed by the Prophet, we descended from his chamber, and the conversation turned upon his recent visit to Washington, and his talk with the President of the United States. He gave us distinctly to understand that his political views had undergone an entire change; and his description of the reception given him at the executive mansion was any thing but flattering to the distinguished individual who presides over its hospitalities.

Before he had heard the story of our wrongs, said the indignant Prophet, Mr. Van Buren gave us to understand that he could do nothing for the redress of our grievances lest it should interfere with his political prospects in Missouri. He is not as fit said he, as my dog, for the chair of state; for my dog will make an effort to protect his abused and insulted master, while the present chief magistrate will not so much as lift his finger to relieve an oppressed and persecuted community of freemen, whose glory it has been that they were citizens of the United States.

You hold in your hands, I observed, a larger amount of political power, and your society must exert a tremendous influence, for weal or woe, in the coming elections.

Yes, said he, I know it; and our influence, as far as it goes, we intend to use. There are probably not far short of an hundred thousand souls in our society, and the votes to which we are entitled throughout the Union must doubtless be extensively lost to Mr. Van Buren.

Not being disposed in any way to intermeddle in party politics, I made no definite reply; but immediately taking leave we returned to Montrose, abundantly satisfied that the Society over which he presided has assumed a moral and political importance which is but very imperfectly understood. Associated on the religious principle, under a prophet and leader whose mysterious and awful claims to divine inspiration make his voice to believers like the voice of God; trained to sacrifice their individuality; to utter one cry; and to think and act in crowds; with minds that seem to have been struck from the sphere of reason on one subject, and left to wander, like lost stars; amid the dark mazes and winding ways of religious error; these remarkable sectaries must necessarily hold in their hands a fearful balance of political power. In the midst of contending parties, a single hand might turn their influence, with tremendous effect, to which ever side presented the most potent attraction; and should they ever become disposed to exert their influence for evil, which may Heaven prevent, they would surround our institutions with an element of danger more to be dreaded than an armed and hundred eyed police.


Note: The Illinois Quincy Whig reprinted an edited version of this Alexandria Gazette article in its issue of Oct. 10, 1840. See also the New York Sun of July 28, 1840 for a similar reprint.

The Mormons. -- The Corner Stone of the great Mormon Temple (that is to be) at Nauvoo, Illinois, was laid on the 6th inst. in presence of seven or eight thousand persons, and the Nauvoo Military Legion, consisting of six hundred and fifty men. The Warsaw (Ill.) World says: "Mr. Rigdon officiated at the laying of the chief corner stone, and addressed the assembly in a very energetic manner in a speech of about an hour's length. On the whole the exercises passed off with the utmost order, without accident or the slightest disturbance. Gen. Bennett commanded the Legion, under the direction of the Prophet, and acquitted himself in a truly officer-like manner."


Note: William Schouler (1814-72), was the proprietor and editor of the Lowell "Courier in 1841-47, after which he became the editor of the Boston Daily Atlas. Schouler evidently took a personal interest in Mormonism and its origins, and his paper published several articles on that subject. The other paper in Lowell, Massachusetts, the Lowell Journal, also published some unique and informative articles on the Mormons during the early 1840s.

THE  MORMONS.

                                                                Nauvoo, April 6, 1841.

My Dear Sir, -- I have this day attended services of so novel a character, and connected with so remarkable a species of modern fanaticism, that I am inclined to give your readers and my friends through the columns of the Recorder some account of the extraordinary scene. The occasion was the laying the corner stones -- for it was not deemed sufficient to lay one ceremonously -- of the Mormon Temple to be erected on this beautiful spot. Let me say a word about the spot. It is a high bluff on the Mississippi about 60 miles above Quincy, and more than two hundred above St. Louis. There is a lower plateau or table land, perhaps half a mile wide, level, cleared and dotted here and there with log cabins, and few frame buildings. The bluff rises less abruptly than many of the western bluffs, to the height of 60 or 80 feet, affording a fine view of the lower town as well as of the river, and the opposite shore of Iowa, with the village of Montrose in that Territory -- Directly upon the edge of the bluff, is the foundation of the Temple, from which may be seen in every direction among the trees, the new or half-finished log-cabins of the Mormon settlers, who are crowding into this, their new "land of promise," in great numbers. It is eleven years this day since the first band of these deluded people was organized in the State of New York. It consisted of six, all of whom dispersed, as preachers of the new doctrine. An establishment was soon formed at Kirtland, Ohio, and I believe at one or two other places, but their principal rallying point was at "Far West," in Missouri, their favorite "land of promise," from which they were driven a year since, for reasons which I find it extremely difficult to ascertain. Undoubtedly, they were bad neighbors, but whether as the missionaries allege, they attempted to carry out their true principles, that the earth is the Lord's and the fulness thereof, and that He has given it to "His saints" for their discretionary possession and use, is not quite clear to my mind.

Cases of dishonesty there undoubtedly were, and the presence of a large and increasing body of men, fully possessed with a spirit of the wildest fanaticism, and joined from time to time by reckless adsventurers, perhaps outlaws was naturally fitted to awaken the jealousy of those among whom they came, and whom they did not hesitate to speak of as the Lord's enemies, and to treat in the most overbearing and irritating manner. Probably there was wrong on both sides. Be this as it may, they were driven out, with some loss of life, and an expense to the state of Missouri of $150,000. They soon after purchased the little town of Commerce, situated on the table land I mentioned above and are now concentrating themselves at this point and the tract adjacent, where they have a city laid off and organized, which they call Nauvoo. It having been "revealed to Joe Smith, the istensible head of this strange force, that a Temple must be built at this place, and the dimensions, architecture, arrangement, and devotions having all been prescribed with no less minuteness than were those of the ancient Jewish sanctuary, this day was appointed, and all the "faithful" within convenient distance, commanded to appear before the ceremony of laying the corner stones: -- Accordingly, there was a great rush of men, women and children, from all directions yesterday; and as I entered this city of logs last evening, intending to spend the day here, unless a boat should come to bear me on my journey, it seemed for a time doubtful whether I should do better for a lodging than to share one of the numerous tents erected among the tress, by families who chose to bring their own beds as well as provisions along with them.

However, I found hospitality, if not splendid entertainment in a Scotch family, where I passed the night in an apartment with a larger and less carefully assorted number of lodgers than would be thought either comfortable or decorous in New England, but which necessity has sanctioned here as being both the one and the other. It was a great pleasure to me to find Scotch piety as well as Scotch kindness. The "big ha' Bible" brought from Scotland, and the reverent blessing asked, and family prayers offered by the good blind man, who seemed to be the priest at the domestic altar, all told that they had brought their religion with them, from the home of their childhood to the home of their adoption. The humble, evangelical tone of the good man's devotions, though a glimpse might be had occasionally of the wild fanatical notions [he] had imbibed, showed that those notions were only an unfortunate excresence engrafted upon his piety, leaving it, as well as the main element of his faith untouched. Such, I believe, is true of thousands of professors of religion from all the Evangelical denominations who have been led away by worse men, and with more cunning than themselves. On [going] this morning to the edge of the bluff, I found crowds of people already assembled around the foundations of the Temple. They are well laid, and of large dimensions, about 120 by 80. Below, on the declivity, were the camps, wagons and horses of the numerous pilgrims who had spent the night among the trees, while the plain below presented the spectacle of six hundred and fifty armed men, women and children, looking on. After some show of reviewing, the preservation of a banner by some ladies &c., the whole "Nauvoo Legion" advanced up the hill accompanied by an immense procession. They were commanded by the Quarter Master General of Illinois, who in his new capacity of a Mormon convert, doubtless considers it his highest military distinction to head [this] motley herd even under the direction and authority of such a man as Smith. The latter presented the appearance of a prophet militant, being dressed in elegant military costume, riding a fine horse, and surrounded by quite a respectable staff, besides a life-guard of twelve men, mounted, dressed in white, and armed with rifles, pistols and knives -- a necessary retinue for a prophet who is an outlaw, having been demanded by the Governor of Missouri, as a criminal, a demand which his guard have promised with an oath to resist, even unto blood. I obtained a position just outside of the line of sentries established around the consecrated enclosure, from which I could see and hear all that passed -- and a most imposing scene it was, though with a touch of the ludicrous -- Here on a lone bluff in the wild west, were fifteen military companies, under an ecclesiastical organization, with an assembly of spectators variously estimated at from 5000 to 8000, and in the centre, surrounded by bayonets, was an ill-made, ill-bred man, decked in military garb -- an indicted criminal under the laws of Missouri, honored and guarded, and swelling with ill-concealed pride as the inspired organ of the divine commands, and the grand centre of all this strange pageant! -- Alas, for poor human nature! I have never before so well conceived the possibility of the Mohammedan, Swedenborgian, or any other prophetic delusion. Certainly, no false prophet or dreamer ever had shallower pretences to go upon, or a smaller capital in the trade of delusion, than this man; and yet he boasts of a train of dupes, amounting to between fifty and a hundred thousand. Probably even the smaller number is much above the truth; but it is undeniable that some in Europe as well as great numbers in Ohio, Pennsylvania, New York, and even New England, have been led captives in this triumph of stupid imposture. I say stupid, for so far as the ostensible leader is concerned, this epithet is not tendered [inappropriately] by whatever of low cunning he possesses. I am inclined to the opinion that Rigdon, who delivered the address on this occasion, is now in reality the master spirit of the humbug, and that he, rather than Smith, is the inspirer of the oracles which, for "purposes of state" the latter promulgates as the breathing of his own afflatus.

He is a man of much address and some talent. Having been a preacher among several sects, he now stands forth as the High Priest of this, under its great Prophet. He is a good person, and much self-possession, and stood up on a windy day in feeble health, before an immense assembly, with as much advantage of voice, action and ready utterance, as one in a hundred of our distinguished public men. -- There was of course, some rant and more sophistry in what he said, together with plenty of assertion without evidence. But the whole was skillfully managed. And when he enlarged upon the greatness of their God, and the glory of their Christ, and then adroitly conveyed the impression that it was for this belief that they had suffered the loss of all things, and even left the mangled bodies of their wives and children on the plains of Missouri, many substantial yankee emigrants around me were beguiled, and testified by their visible emotion, and suppressed words, that he had found and touched the right chord in their hearts. All that is really peculiar and offensive to their belief, he contrived to introduce without show of argument, in the wake of the common doctrines of Christianity which he had with eloquence presented as peculiar to their reed. On the whole, though the address probably made no converts, it doubtless confirmed the faith of those who were already duped, and certainly afforded one hearer an hour's amusement at the ingenuity, not unmingled with indignation at the hoary deceiver, and pity for the thousands who lent their credulous ears and their gaping attention.

What wonder, in view of such abuses of the right of "private interpretation" as this and its numerous kindred heresies present, that some should be found in Protestant America to sympathize with the new spirit of old popery in England.

And yet what has the [benign?] Swedenborg, the visionary Miller, or the lying Smith, [invoked] or [promised] more extravagant or unscriptural than the infallible Mother church has sanctioned, and enforced by the sword and the stake?
                                                      J. W. C.


Note: The exact date of the appearance of the above extract from the Boston Recorder is unknown. The letter itself is dated April 6, 1841 and the text is taken from a reprints published in the June 23, 1841 issue of the Pitttsburgh Christian Advocate and the April, 1843 issue of the Millennial Harbinger. The 1841 letter from Nauvoo provides no hint as to who "J. W. C." may have been -- he was, perhaps, some Congregational minister traveling through the "wild west," as he calls it.

Cruel Murder. -- Martin Harris, one of the earliest supporters of the Mormons, and the only wealthy man among them in their origin, has been murdered. He spent all he was worth in supporting the delusion under which he labored, furnishing all the funds for the publication of the Mormon Bible.

He abandoned the Mormons not long since, and delivered some lectures in opposition to their doctrines, and two or three weeks ago was found dead, having been shot through the head with a pistol.


Note 1: The exact date of the above news item is uncertain, probably it was published in the Traveller about June 21 or 22, 1841. The text was taken from a reprint in the Oct. 1, 1841 issue of the Times & Seasons, which was itself reprinted from the Philadelphia Public Ledger, which contained an extract from yet a third paper, the Philadelphia Chronicle, which quoted the original Traveller report.

Note 2: The Traveller took this news item from a June issue of the New York Journal of Commerce, adding some embellishment of its own to the story. As things turned out, the Journal of Commerce's 1841 reports of Martin Harris' death in Illinois were "greatly exaggerated." The man died decades later, near Logan, Utah.

 
(article on Elder Freeman Nickerson -- under construction)

Notes: (forthcoming)

                        For The Investigator
DISCUSSION  OF  MORMONISM.

Mr. Editor: Please to give the following notice an insertion:

The question concerning the divine inspiration of the Mormon Bible, which has been under discussion at Winchester Hall for the last four or five Sunday afternoons, remaining undecided, and but small progress having been made in the discussion in consequence of some persons participating in the debate who claim to be Christians, but who appear to be about as much Mormon as Christian, taking a portion of the Mormon Bible as part and parcel of the Christian revelation -- which course of proceeding greatly obstructs the hearer from coming to a fair conclusion on the subject in debate ---

Therefore, by mutual consent between Elder Nickerson, the Mormon preacher, and the subscriber, we have agreed to debate together the subject of Mormonism, the discussion to commence on Sunday next (August 1st) at 10 o'clock in the forenoon, and to be continued on following Sundays, at the same hour and place, until otherwise agreed on, the respective disputants to make two sets of speeches alternately of 30 minutes each.   TYLER PARSONS.
Boston, July 28, 1841

---

DISCUSSION OF MORMONISM. -- The further consideration of Mormonism having been given up by the Free Discussion Society, it will be seem by the notice below that the debate is now to be continued by Elder Nickerson, the Mormon preacher, and Mr. Tyler Parsons, a member of the Society. The discussion will commence next Sunday forenoon, and be carried on and continued independent of the Discussion Society, which Society will hold a debate as usual in the afternoon. We invite attendance upon the Mormon discussion, satisfied from what we know of the candor and fairness of the debaters, that it will prove interesting and instructive. Let every subject that comes up in these stirring times -- Mormonism as well as every other -- have a full and honest investigation. We know of no other way to break down error and build up truth.


Notes: (forthcoming)

Book  of  Mormon.

The Subscriber has agreed to publish a Compendium of the Book of Mormon, or Joseph's Golden Bible, with the subject matter of all the arguments that have been made before the "Boston Free Discussion Society," on the question "The Book of Mormon -- Is there any internal or external evidence, or facts, to prove it Divine Revelation? Or is it not the writings of Solomon Spaulding and others, got up to impose on the ignorant and credulous, about the year 1827?"

The pamphlet will contain 100 octavo pages of closely printed matter. Price, 25 cents per single copy or 20 cents by the hundred copies.

==> All persons holding subscription papers will please return them as early as the 25th of September next. The pamphlets will be sent to subscribers by way of the agents who hold the subscription papers. As soon as 1000 subscribers are obtained the pamphlet will be published.
                                  TYLER PARSONS.
Boston, August 9, 1841.


Note: Tyler Parson's published his 102 page pamphlet, Mormon Fanaticism Exposed, A Compendium of the Book of Mormon... in Boston, late in 1841.

==> The first part of the book of Mormon is occupied with the history of the Nephites, a portion of the tribe of Joseph. They are described as having emigrated from Jerusalem many centuries ago, under the prophet Nephi, and having been miraculously led to America, where they became the progenitors of the Indian race. After the emigrants have sailed, they are described as mutinying against Nephi, as the Spanish crews did against Columbus, but they released him when a tempest came on, as he was the only person capable of working the ship. He is then represented as saying:

"And it came to pass after they had loosed me, behold I took the compass, and it did work whither I desired it. And it came to pass that I prayed unto the Lord; and after I had prayed, the winds did cease, and the storms did cease, and there was a great calm."

The impostor who wrote the book was not aware that he was antedating the discovery of the needle's polarity by several centuries, and he speaks of the compass in such a way as to show that he was utterly ignorant of the nature of the implement. A Mormonite elder has unwittingly explained the probable source of this error; when pressed with this palpable mark of forgery, he unhesitatingly replied that the compass was mentioned in Scripture, quoting from the account of St. Paul's voyage, "We fetched a compass, (that is, took a circuitous course) and came to Rhegium." -- Athenaeum.


Notes: (forthcoming)

THE  SECOND  MAHOMET.

JOE SMITH is said to have declared repeatedly, that he would be a "second Mahomet." We infer from the military manifestations at Nauvoo and from other indications, that the meaning of that declaration is, that he will ultimately, like Mahomet, enforce belief in the divinity of his commission and revelations, by the sword. If this be his meaning, we have a word of caution for him. We advise him to bear in mind, that Mahomet lived some twelve hundred years ago, when physical force and military prowess were the prime elements of power, as they always are in the barbarous stages of human progress. Since Mahomet's time, the world has become intellectual and commercial. Statesmen and merchants have taken the place of warriors. -- There is almost as much difference between the present age and the age of Mahomet, as there is between a Yankee and an Indian. Mahomet adapted his operations to his age. He had a world of Indians to deal with, and he propagated his religion with Indian weapons. Hence he succeeded admirably for a time. But his mode of operation is not adapted to the present age. Mahometanism now has a world of Yankees to deal with. Hence it has ceased to conquer, and is tottering to its fall. So that Mahomet, though he was wise in his generation, was a fool on the scale of ages. He made no provision for the progress of the world. But Joe Smith, if he thinks of propagating Mormonism by the sword, is not even wise in his generation. He is blind not only to the progress of the world, but to human nature as it is; -- a fool on the small scale as well as on the great. He proposes to imitate the barbarism of Mahomet, though the world has manifestly outgrown that barbarism, and has left the mighty structure reared by it, "a wreck upon the shore of time." If Mahomet had lived in this age, his sagacity would have taught him to rely on science and commerce, instead of military power, for the conquest of the world. In fact, Mehemet Ali, who, more than any other man, is the present representative of at least the sagacity and enterprize of the Arabian impostor, has, in a great measure, merged the warrior in the statesman and the merchant. We advise Joe Smith to take a lesson from him, rather than from Mahomet. -- And if our counsel is not heeded, we advise those who suffer under any apprehension of the success of military Mormonism, to cast away their fears. It is very certain that the first flame of faith-compelling war on the part of " the second Mahomet," will be his funeral pile; though he have the 'Nauvoo Legion,' with the refugees of two Continents, and all the Indians of North and South America at his heels.


Note: Mehemet Ali (1769-1849), was the Ottoman Pasha of Egypt. In 1831 he revolted against Turkish and invaded Syria. This political change proved encouraging to Zionists who hoped to settle Jews in Palestine. In 1839 Mehemet Ali again revolted and claimed hereditary possession of Egypt and Syria. Eventually the Turks re-established their power in Syria and Palestine, but not until after the Holy Land had been "blessed" by the Mormon traveler, Apostle Orson Hyde -- that is, blessed for an LDS-approved gathering of the Jews back to their own homeland, under the improved political circumstances brought about by Mehemet Ali's revolts.

Letters  from  the  West.  No. 4.
BY A YANKEE TOURIST.

I proceed in this letter to redeem my pledge of giving some description of... the Mormon city of Nauvoo...

I shall not forget the bouyant feelings with which I jumped ashore at daylight, to foot it up to Montrose, of course expecting to meet the boat there before night and continue my journey... Had I [remained on board the steamer], it is true I should have lost the pleasure of a week's residence among the Mormons...

In addition to the city of Nauvoo and the adjoining county in Illinois, the Mormons have numerous settlements on the "half-breed tract." I found them scattered along the entire distance from Keokuk to Montrose. About half way between these two places there is a Mormon settlement called Nashville, containing some forty or fifty families; this I made my head-quarters, taking up my abode with a Mormon preacher, who is also a colonel of militia and as arrant a scroundrel as ever escaped the penetentiary... They affect great zeal for their religion, talk loudly about their persecutions for opinion's sake, and profess to believe the bible, the book of Mormon, the book of covenants and the divinity of Joseph Smith. They also profess to believe in dreams, visions, apparitions and miracles, and you can scarcely find one who will not tell you he has seen an apparition, or witnessed a miracle. One who manifested more intelligence than most of them, of whom I was making some inquiries regarding his belief, said to me "now I suppose you would doubt it if I was to tell you I had seen an evil spirit." I told him I would believe it or not according to the credulity of his story, and requested him to relate the occurance. I give it in his own words as near as I can recollect them. "I was out on the edge of the prairie one night during the winter of 1838, engaged in tending a coal pit. This was before I joined the army of the saints, [lengthy narrative follows]... This is a Mormon's account of his vision, which he related to me with so much gravity and such apparent conviction of its truth, that I was at a loss whether to consider him a knave endeavoring to impose upon me, or the unfortunate victim of a diseased imagination.

Having some curiosity to see Nauvoo, I procured a skiff and accompanied by one of the sect, crossed the river to that place. It is situated on the Illinois shore, directly opposite Montrose; as you approach from the water, it presents quite an imposing appearance; more that of a city that has had a generation for its growth, than one that has sprung up almost in a single year. It occupies an area of some two or three square miles, commencing at the bank of the river and running back by a gradual slope until it attains a considerable elevation in the rear, thus presenting from the river, a view of its whole extent. Besides the famous temple which is not yet completed, Nauvoo contains a number of substantial buildings scattered about among numerous cabins and shantees. It is laid out on a grand scale, with wide streets intersecting each other at right angles, and several ambitiuos public squares. The temple is a spacious structure of stone and brick, with no pretensions to architecture, its walls of immense thickness, and covering sundry underground cells. This building has created much speculation as to the object for which it was designed. Some suppose it to be intended as a sort of bastile, like the prisons of the Inquisition, and that these underground apartments are to be used as dungeons in which to incarcerate back-sliding or refractory brethren, others maintain that in addition to religious purposes, it is intended as a repository for provisions to be collected in anticipation of a universal famine with which according to Mormon belief, the Almighty is soon to visit the earth; others think it is to be used as a citidel in a war which the Mormons intend waging against the Gentiles as they call other Christians, as soon as they have gained sufficient strength to give them a chance of success. Many passages from the book of Mormon, the "covenants," and "the voice of warning," a work written by one of their "twelve apostles," are cited to prove the last supposition, and it seems quite probable from the pains which their readers have taken to perfect a military organization, and procure weapons, that they have an eye to some anticipated contest.

Their total disregard of the right of property, and frequent depredations upon their neighbors, have already exasperated the people of Illinois and Iowa, and there is every appearance of its soon leading to open hostilities. The population of Nauvoo is variously estimated; I judge it does not vary much from five thousand, and it is daily receiving accessions from all parts of the United States, and from Great Britain. Coming as they do from the most lazy, vicious and degrading class of society, no community will have reason to deplore their loss. How they are to subsist here, crowded together as they are, most of them destitute of means, is a question of much interest to their neighbors, as theft or starvation seem to be the only alternatives. Before leaving this place I called to see Joe Smith, their leader and prophet; and found him to be a plump, pursey, round shouldered, light complexioned man, thirty-five years of age, and about six feet in height, with a vulgar sensual countenance, and a head indicating strong passions, great cunning and moderate intellect; in short the very man who, from his personal appearance, would be selected among a thousand, for a bully to a ten pin alley, or to brag at a horse-race. And his appearance does his character no injustice, for in manners and conversation he appears the sensualist, the bully and the brag. On our return to Montrose, he took passage on our skiff; the river at this place is about two miles across, and the wind being high, created quite a swell, and several times was near swamping our boat; Smith remarked to me as a wave larger than ordinary struck against the skiff, "I suppose you are not afraid because I am with you," to which I replied, "that remark reminds me of the distinguished Roman's 'Quid times? verbis Cesarem!'" but my classical display was as completely wasted upon him, as if I had made it in the presence of [a] Sioux Indian, for though Joe by inspiration translated the book of Mormon frpm hieroglyphics which would have puzzled Dr. Anthon himself, his powers as a linguist seem to be limited to Mormonism. Joe, on this occasion, had taken care to provide himself with a bottle of whiskey, from which during our passage across the river, he moistened his clay from time to time, until he became quite communicative, so much so as to amount to loquacity; thinking this a good opportunity to get an insight into his real character, I said to him "Smith, you are too sensible a man to be duped by this book of Mormon, come, now confess frankly that it is a fabrication designed to impose on the credulity of the weak-minded." To which he replied with a wink evidently intended to convey the idea that he was a knowing fellow, "you don't see things as I do, and never can until you are filled with the right spirit." I then told him that it was charged against him that he would occasionally get intoxicated, and that I was inclined to believe the report, since his condition at that very time was by no means saint-like. "Oh," said he, "if I didn't now and then indulge in the propensities of humanity, my followers would forget that I am a man of passions with themselves, and I fear, would worship me as though I was Divinity himself." This is the man who in the nineteenth century is looked up to by thousands as a prophet of the Almighty, sent to re-establish God's church on earth. Since this interview with Smith, my estimation of humanity has fallen away many degrees. Propagating a doctrine the most absurd, this sensual, degraded being is making proselytes by thousands in the two most enlightened nations on earth, and the devotion of his converts to this false creed, seems to be commensurate with its absurdity.

After the success which this impostor, and his confederates have already met with, if Mahomet, unassisted by, and in opposition to the Holy Scriptures, could establish a false system of religion, which has [endured] for ages, is it a groundless apprehension to fear, lest this artful pretender, engrafting, as he has on the Bible, the wild and fanciful doctrines of the book of Mormon, may be laying the basis of an imposture, more inimical to true Religion, if not as extensively credited, as the delusion of the false prophet of the earth. This is a subject which demands the serious consideration of the statesman, the philanthropist and the christian, in order that the proper means may be devised of arresting the progress of this dangerous fanaticism....   YANKEE TOURIST.


Notes: (forthcoming)

THE  MORMONS  IN  BOSTON  AND  VICINITY.

As every thing which relates to this unique sect is interesting at this time, we have concluded to give an account of their affairs in this city and vicinity. This information we have derived from Mr. Nickerson, the presiding elder in Boston. Their meetings are held at No. 82 Commercial street, on Sunday, at the usual hours of public worship, and are free to all. This church was formed on Wednesday, the 9th of March last, with little more than thirty members, most of which were baptized by elder Nickerson. The congregation has been large, and a great many have been obliged to turn away in consequence of the crowds which attend. In Chelsea, meetings are held occasionally, and one has been baptized. In Salem and vicinity about seventy have been baptized. In Medifield, Medway, Cape Cod, and many other places, meetings are also held. Mr. Nickerson says there never was such a call for preachers as at the present time. The church in Peterboro, Gilson, and neighborhood, numbers in all upwards of one hundred. What will the end be?


Note: The Dollar Weekly Bostonian began publication on Apr. 9, 1842, as the Saturday edition of the Boston Daily Ledger, (edited by W. Bartlett and published by Albert Morgan). Its masthead name seems to have been changed to "The Bostonian" before the paper ceased publication (late in 1842?). Both the Daily Ledger and the Bostonian appear to have taken a lively interest in the affairs of the Mormons in New England. The exact date of the above article has not been confirmed, but it probably came from the paper's initial issue of April 9th. The text reproduced above is taken from a reprint in the May 16, 1842 number of the Nauvoo Times & Seasons.

THE  MORMONS -- JOE SMITH,  THE  PROPHET.

Joe is decidedly the greatest original of the present day. He carries all before him when he undertakes an enterprise -- knows no impediment -- and never halts in his course till he has accomplished his object. His post, at the head of the Mormons, is a conspicuous one, and in a few years of such advancement as he has met with for the past year, will give him a numberless host of followers. We should not be surprised if Joe should become as omnipotent as ever the Pope was in his palmiest days. He is a genius -- and a rare one -- and all the armies of Satan, should they confront him in a solid phalanx, would be sure to meet with sore discomfiture, if not with complete annihilation. The true philosophy of goaheadity -- the quintessence of concentrated moral and spiritual energy-fears no combat-and although we cannot say it exactly courts danger, it never flies from the post of duty on its approach. -- We have so high an opinion of Joe Smith that we intend to open a correspondence with him in order to acquaint ourself with all his secret springs of action, and thus get all the secrets of his success, public and private, worldly and ecclesiastical.

The chapter from the recently recovered Book of Abraham, and the unique cut which illustrates it, on our outside, has occasioned us some expense; but we care not for that so long as we please our patrons, which we mean to do at all hazards, trusting to the good sense of the most enlightened public in this, or any other universe, for suitable remuneration.

The Mormons hold meetings in Boston regularly on the Sabbath, somewhere in commercial street, and are equally successful in saving souls, healing the sick and restoring sight to the blind. Meetings are also held in Chelsea, and the cause is on the increase in that place.

Will Elder Nickerson, or some of the brethren, furnish us with the statistics?


Note: The exact date of the above article is unknown, but it probably came from the issue of April 9th or that of April 16th, reproducing an earlier piece in the Boston Daily Ledger. The text provided above is taken from a reprint in the May 16, 1842 issue of the Nauvoo Times & Seasons. The editor of the latter adds these remarks: "It will be seen by several extracts taken from different papers, that the press is changing its tone a little, in regard to the subject of Mormonism; many of the most respectable, influential, and widely circulated periodicals are beginning to look at Mormonism... The first cut of a fac simile from the Book of Abraham, has been re-published both in the New York Herald, and in the Dollar Weekly Bostonian, as well as in the Boston Daily Ledger, Edited By Mr. Bartlett; together with the translation from the Book of Abraham. Mr. Bartlett says that he "intends opening a correspondence with us, that he may acquaint himself with our public and private acts." &c. we can assure Mr. Bartlett that we shall be most happy to put him in possession of any information that he may require pertaining to our society, as we have always courted publicity, and investigation, and chose light rather than darkness. -- ED."

LATTER DAY  SAINTS  AGAIN.

We have the pleasure to lay before our readers the following letter from Elder Nickerson, the presiding elder of the church of Latter Day Saints in Boston, who believes, to use his own words, that "wickedness will soon be swept from the earth, and that the day of universal righteousness will set in during this generation, when our offices shall all become peace, and our exactions righteousness:"

                                        BOSTON, April 11, 1842.
To the Editor of the Daily Ledger:

DEAR SIR: -- Observing a request in your paper for information of the situation and progress of the Latter Day Saints in Boston vicinity, I rejoice that I have this opportunity. The cause of truth is onward in this city and the region round about. I commenced preaching in Boston on the 30th of May last, in Winchester hall, in the forenoon, and in the afternoon took a part in the free discussion, which I followed for several months, when one of the number which was called infidels, began to believe in the truth of the Old and New Testaments, which the world calls Mormonism. The individual was Mr. Abijah Tewkesbury, who opened his shipping office, and seated it, for free preaching. He was the first that was baptized in Boston. Three others were baptized on the 9th of January, 1842. I have held fore and afternoon meetings at 82 Commercial street ever since. There was a branch organized in Boston, numbering thirty, including one elder and three priests, on the 9th of March. The great inquiry after truth still continues. Several are added to the church weekly. I have baptized in Boston and vicinity. Some from Maine, some have gone to sea in vessels, several in Lynn, four in Medfield, and seven in Cape Cod, and all are strong in the faith, and in good standing. I have baptized in all a little rising fifty persons. There are calls for preaching on every side.

We have meetings in private houses through the city, nearly every evening. People of all classes come to hear, and it is rare that one goes away dissatisfied. The honest in heart are coming out; and I think will every one join the church. There is likewise a branch organized in Salem. Brother Snow is preaching there. His church has sixty two members, and is increasing every week. There is one elder and one priest. Elder Maginn is preaching in Peterboro, Gilson, and vicinity, where there are several branches, numbering about one hundred. I understand twenty have been baptized in one day. A branch has been established also, in Northbridge, of upwards of thirty members, and is on the increase; Elder Swett presides.

I am now in Boston, and invite all the honest in heart, both priests and people, to come and hear for themselves, as I do believe the end of this age is near at hand, and the fulness of the gospel is preached, and the honest in heart, or the elect of God will be gathered in from the four quarters of the earth, and a new era, a reign of righteousness will commence on the earth, which will continue for a thousand years. If any, either priests or people, desire an interview for information, they will please give me their names street and number, and time that they would wish for me to come and see them, and if possible I will attend to the call with pleasure. Have you souls worth saving? If so, do not neglect to investigate. Paul's religion persecuted the saints, but the gospel of Christ, he was not ashamed of, for it is the power of God unto salvation to them that believe.

We believe in faith in the Lord Jesus Christ -- repentance-baptism for the remission of sins -- laying on of hands for the reception of the Holy Ghost -- with all the prophecies and blessings which did follow the ancient saints -- such as casting out devils in the name of Christ healing the sick, and so forth, which signs do follow many of those that believe, in the city of Boston. Come and see.
                                               FREEMAN NICKERSON.

P. S. Likewise the devil is cast out by the word of God, and the sick are healed by the prayer of faith, and anointed with oil, and the poor have the gospel preached to them without money; and I request the citizens and authorities of the city of Boston, to open a house for the servant of the people, that the Lord hath sent to this city to warn the people of the destruction which will take place in this generation, that is now on the earth, and teach them how they may escape, and come through and abide the day of the second coming of Christ, to reign on the earth a thousand years. Quench not the spirit, despise not prophecyings, prove all things, hold fast that which is good.
.

Note: The exact date of the above article is unknown, but it evidently came from the issue of April 16th or that of April 23rd. The text is taken from a reprint in the May 16, 1842 issue of the Nauvoo Times & Seasons.

THE  MORMONS, OR  LATTER DAY SAINTS.

This increasing but persecuted sect, it seems to us, are the only consistent sect now extant. They are the only sect who act up on strict accordance to the Scripture. They are in fact, the only sect who act as if they believed what they profess. In the last chapter of the Epistle of St. James, it is written: "If there be any illness among you, ye shall call for the elders of the Church, and anoint yourselves with oil in the name of the Lord." Here is a plain prescription for the cure of disease, coming directly from God, according to the professed belief of Christians; coming certainly from God, if the New Testament be a divinely inspired volume, Yet how few Christians there are who would not laugh to scorn the very suggestion to treat their sick in this manner! Instead of the elders of the Church, modern Christians send for a physician, and instead of anointing with oil, they dose the patient with drugs which were unknown to St. James or any of the apostles. Does not this neglect of the plain advice of scripture prove that modern Christians believe themselves wise above what is written, and that they are willing to set at naught one of the commands of an inspired Apostle, because they believe themselves wiser than he?

Not so with the Latter Day Saints. They act up to their professed faith.-Believing the Bible to be truly the word of God, and not a mere make believe system of religion, they abide by the commands of scripture in relation to their sick, as well as in relation to matters of mere theological faith. They believe that the Bible is just as good authority for one thing as another; that the command of God with respect to the treatment of invalids, is as worthy of obedience as his command with respect to the treatment of sinners; that God's work is as good authority in law and medicine as in theology. Orthodox Christians, on the contrary, despite the authority of the Bible with regard to all matters of science. They seem to consider the omniscient God as ignorant of every thing in the world except morals and theology. Hence, if his word says that all unbelievers are damned, they believe his word on that point, though our own reason declares that we are not accountable for mistakes of opinion. If, on the other hand, God's word declares, that the earth was created in six days, and that the sun and stars are mere lights in the firmament, set there to give light to mankind, Christians reject the idea, because it is contrary to science. They reject also the commands of God in relation to the treatment of the sick, because they are proved to be absurd by medical science and experience.

Not long since, a coroner's inquest was held in London over the body of Elizabeth Morgan, aged 55 years, whose death was alleged to have been caused through improper treatment by unqualified persons. She belonged to the sect of Latter Day Saints, and was treated during her illness, according to the usual custom of her sect, who agreeably to the commands of St. James, "pray over them, anointing them with oil in the name of the Lord." What was the consequence of this literal obedience to the command of Scripture, in this Christian Land? After Elizabeth Morgan died, her body was taken by the Christian authorities, and inspected, in order to find cause for punishing her friends and attendants for their abiding by the directions of the Apostle, instead of sending for proper medical aid! The jury returned a verdict of "natural death," but took occasion to caution the sect how they acted in such cases for the future.

Now is it not evident from the proceedings in this case and other similar cases, that Christians, who call the Latter Day Saints a foolish sect on account of their literal obedience to the commands of Scripture, believe the commands of Scripture foolish in regard to almost all matters except those which merely concern one's theological faith? Is it not evident that they believe the omniscient God to be perfect ignoramus in all matters of science? O, ye generation of hypocrites! why do ye not throw away your Bible altogether, which commands men to do the very things which ye condemn as foolish and absurd?


Note: The exact date of the above article is unknown. The text is taken from a reprint in the June 1, 1842 issue of the Nauvoo Times & Seasons.

DR. WEST AND THE MORMONS. -- A discussion on the subject of Mormonism was commenced at the Marlboro' Chapel, on Monday evening between Dr. West and Mr. G. J. Adams, a Mormon Elder. The audience was numerous; and, for Christian people, as orderly as could be expected -- that is, rather boisterous. However the affair went off pretty well, and was, on the whole, quite interesting. The valiant Dr. did his best, but he got most essentially mauled and "used up." The Mormon, with the whole Bible at his tongue's end, bore down upon him with a torrent of Scripture that swept away his objections like chaff before the hurricane, and the doughty Dr. was fairly at a loss how to get hold of him. This practice of quoting Scripture is a knock down argument with Christians; and as it can be made to prove Mormonism just as well as any thing else, the poor fellows had to swallow it -- though we perceived that many of them made most awful faces. Mr. Adams is a perfect tearer on the Bible quotations; and the way he brought them to bear in confirmation of Mormonism, must have sorely puzzled many of the faithful. To the infidel, however, it afforded another evidence, if any were wanting, that the Bible, in regard to doctrines, as it is made to prove every thing, proves in fact nothing -- or rather, nothing that is consistent.


Notes: (forthcoming)

MORMON  VIEWS  OF  BAPTISM.

A mormon preacher was present at the discussion of the subject of Baptism, in the Newark Convention. At the close of it, he requested liberty, and was allowed, to give his sentiments on the subject. The following is a specimen of his reasoning. "Paul planted and Apollos watered. Plants will not grow unless they are watered; so men must be watered in order to be saved. This matter may well be compared to the working of a steam engine. The engine will not work without steam, so men cannot be saved without the Holy Ghost. But steam cannot be had without water; so men cannot get the Holy Ghost without baptism!" The preacher was a little disconcerted on being referred to Acts x. 44-48, where it appears that the Holy Ghost was given to the Gentiles before they were baptized.


Note: The convention referred to in this report was one involving religious Perfectionists at Temperance Hall in Newark, N. J. on May, 12-13, 1842. The LDS preacher's crude theological analogy probably made more sense to uneducated, working class Mormon converts than it did to Mr. Noyes.

The Latter-Day Saints have been giving two or three lectures on the beauties and benefits of Mormonism, with what success we have not heard. If they are left to themselves, and not brought into importance by opposition. The agitation will, we have no doubt, die a natural death. -- Cheltenham Examiner.


Notes: (forthcoming)

MORMONISM -- SOME  CURIOUS  FACTS.

                                                 GROTON, May 23, 1842.

MESSRS EDITORS: Having noticed in a late number of the Signs of the Times, a notice of a work, entitled Mormon Delusions and Monstrosities, it occurred to me that it might, perhaps, be of service to the cause of truth, to state one circumstance in relation to the authentocity of the Book of Mormon, which occurred during its publication, at which time I was a practical printer, and engaged in the office where it was printed, and became familiar with the men and their principles, through whose agency it was "got up."

The circumstance alluded to was as follows: -- We had heard much said by Martin Harris, the man who paid for the printing, and the only one in the concern worth any property, about the wonderful wisdom of the translators of the mysterious plates, and resolved to test their wisdom. Accordingly, after putting one sheet in type, we laid it aside, and told Harris it was lost, and there could be a serious deflection in the book in consequence, unless another sheet like the original could be produced. The announcement threw the old gentleman into quite an excitement. But after a few moments; reflection, he said he would try to obtain another. After two or three weeks, another sheet was produced, but no more like the original than any other sheet of paper would have been, written over by a common schoolboy, after having read, as they did, the manuscripts preceding and succeeding the lost sheet.

As might be expected, the disclosure of the plan greatly annoyed the authors, and caused no little merriment among those who were acquainted with the circumstance. As we were none of us Christians, and only labored for the "gold that perisheth," we did not care for the delusion, only so far as to be careful to avoid it ourselves, and enjoy the hoax. Not one of the hands in the office where the wonderful book was printed, ever became a convert to the system, although the writer of this was often assured by Harris, if he did not, he would be destroyed in 1832.

I am well acquainted with the two gentlemen whose names appear on pages 50, 51, in the work referred to at the head of this article, and know the certificate above their names to be true. I have known several instances of the grossest impostures by them in their pretensions of working miracles, &c. &c., and am greatly surprised that such a man as Nickerson, of your city, can induce any rational person to follow in his pernicious ways.

Mrs. Harris, the wife of Martin Harris, was so familiar with the monstrous wickedness and folly of her husband, and the trio who were engaged with him, that she would not follow him, nor live with him. His conduct was not such as a man of God would have been. After he had been absent about two years, and frequent reports of his having power to heal the sick, &c., had reached his neighborhood, he returned, and assured his wife that he could cure her of deafness, with which she was afflicted. But as a condition of so doing, he requested her to put into his hands about $1500 of money which she had managed to secure out of the avails of his property, which he sold on joining the "Latter Day Saints" colony. She assured him he should have every dollar as soon as her hearing was restored. But he very wisely replied, he could "have no evidence of her faith until she put the cash down;" so, of course, she remained deaf, and Martin went back to the "promised land," with pockets as light as when he came.

This is, no doubt, one of the great deceptions which should come upon the people on the eve of the second coming of the Son of Man. Let the saints of God beware of them. Let no persecution or violence be opposed to them, but simply an avoidance, and we shall soon find them without faith.
                            Yours in the gospel of Christ.
                                                   J. N. T. TUCKER.


Note 1: It is practically impossible to determine, at this late date, if any of Tucker's recollections are true facts. If he was indeed "a practical printer," J. N. T. may have been a brother of Pomeroy Tucker, who once published the Wayne Sentinel and who worked in that paper's office in Palmyra -- where the book was printed during 1829-30. It is difficult to believe that Martin Harris would have been the person who dealt with the Palmyra printers on a daily basis, and especially so when Oliver Cowdery and Hyrum Smith are known to have supervised that part of the printing of the Book of Mormon which entailed supplying the text and proofreading the printing. It is likely that they took a sample copy of every form as it went through the press, just as John H. Gilbert did.

Note 2: On the other hand, Mr. Tucker's story may have some core of fact in it somewhere. A somehat similar, but very strange and obviously garbled version of Joseph Smith's "scribes" and the missing sheet was published as early as 1838, in England, Canada and America. See the Nov. 26, 1838 issue of the Philadelphia American Sentinel and the Dec. 15, 1838 issue of the Hartford Connecticut Courantfor copies of the tale.

GREAT  DISCUSSION  ON  MORMONISM

BETWEEN DR. WEST AND ELDER ADAMS,
AT THE MARLBORO CHAPEL.

MR. EDITOR: --

I understand that Mr. Adams is a native of New Jersey and for many years, a resident of the city of New York, where, about two years ago, he was converted from Methodism to Mormonism so called, or the doctrines of the self-styled "Latter Day Saints," since which time he has labored much on both sides the Atlantic, as he says "to bring others to a knowledge of the glorious work of the latter days." He is rather slim built, about 34 years of age, and his appearance before an audience must certainly give the lie to those who pronounce the Mormons all fools. Dr. West is a robust Englishman, about 50 years old, and he too, I am informed, once stood connected with the Methodist church, and had charge of some congregation in Canada; but in consequence of some singular transactions, he "took himself off," and ingratiated himself into the favor of the Episcopalians of Ohio, and under the especial patronage of Bishop Chase, performed some feats in England and "elsewhere," in consequence of which he again necessarily changed friends and patrons, and he now calls himself "one of God's volunteers," but what society (if any) he now stands connected with, is hard to determine, either from rumor or any answer Adams has yet forced from him. Whether his feats were of so glorious a character that one society sought to get him from the other, or so inglorious that each in turn sought to rid themselves of him, I leave for those that know better than myself to determine. So much for the belligerent parties, and now for the origin of this debate A certain religious society sent for Dr. West to come and deliver a course of lectures in this city against Infidelity and Mormonism. Accordingly while Mr. Adams was delivering his lectures in Boylston Hall, The Doctor announced bono publico in handbills, that he would furnish a reply to said lectures in Chardan Street Chapel, and show that Mormonism is made up of, and implien [implied] the principles of lying, fraud, blasphemy, theft, robbery treason and murder. Mr. Adams read the handbill before the public and challenged the Doctor to meet him on honorable ground, to discuss the subject of his charges, any time after the 19th inst. as his engagements in Lowell, Peterboro, and elsewhere precluded the possibility of his meeting him sooner. But while Adams is absent, a committee appointed by West and his hearers, announce in the papers that the Doctor having accepted a challenge, would discuss the subject in Marlboro' Chapel, which they have engaged for that purpose. Admittance by tickets at 12 1/2 cts. The Infidels also were invited to participate in the discussion, but as the rules were drafted by his committee, gave him about two thirds of the time, they declined being used as the cats paws to extract the shilling from the pockets of the people, to line those of West; therefore the Doctor occupied the house himself several evenings, and for aught I know, bore away the spoils, as of course he did the laurels, when there was none to pluck them from him. But Monday evening, the 20th inst. brought Elder Adams, agreeable to promise, to assist the Doctor in his discussion, before a large and respectable audience. The Rev. Mr. Taylor was called to the chair and two secretaries appointed. The odious portions of his rules were then brought before the audience and abolished. Twenty minutes were fixed upon for each speaker to occupy alternately. Relating to the funds collected, D. West opposed an equal division between the disputants, and Elder Adams therefore proposed to give the net proceeds of the debate to the Temperance Society -- instead of Dr. West first making that proposition as the reporter of "the Mail" stated. By the way, I would caution Mr. "Mail" to watch his dog, for he is very apt to bark up the wrong tree, and in reading his reports of the debate, I was inclined to think that he understood with his elbow or wrote 'many things that nobody could remember,' as he said of the secretaries. However, the question of the funds was referred to a joint committee, who at a subsequent meeting reported that they had agreed after defraying the expenses of the debate to give the rest of the proceeds to the Washingtonian Society. Now we come to the debate and what shall I say. The disputants reminded me of the paddy's flea, when he put his finger on him he was not there. They seemed to talk about any thing else but the chosen question, each accused the other of wandering from the subject, and neither the chairman, nor the audience, could keep them to it. But as the Doctor was to lead the way and prove his charges, he was the most censurable, as Elder Adams had to follow his wanderings or strike off another course. The Doctor is a master of language, and very sarcastic, but his proofs are all assertions, his arguments assumptions, his reasons ridicule; and he seems determined to frighten the Mormons away by looks and expressions of horror, and annihilate their system by a flower of rhetoric, appealing to the well known prejudices of the people, instead of their understanding. Three evenings have passed away and the auditors have been anxiously looking for the astounding arguments that is to show the blasphemous, treasonable, and murderous tendency of Mormonism; but still they have to console themselves with his assertion, that he can prove it. The only argument I collect of his producing as yet, to prove charges, is the testimony of the witnesses to the Book of Mormon, and others testifying to the advent of an angel, &c. which he pronounced blasphemous in this age. To which his antagonist replied that by the same rule, all prophets, apostles and inspired men of old, were blasphemers for testifying to the ministry of angels, and the manifestations of God to them. They had some dispute about the application of the 29th chapter of Isaiah, which was brought in support of the Book of Mormon, but Dr. West expressed great astonishment and aversion to the course of Mr. Adams in adverting to the bible to prove any thing pertaining to Mormonism; that of itself, he considered, if not blasphemous, a great insult to a christian community.

Elder Adams did not wonder that Dr. West wished him to let the Bible alone, for he well knew the result of investigating it. But he did not catch him there, for Adams quoted scriptures in such torrents as sometimes astonished the people, and made his antagonist writhe under it. Having no argument relating to murder, treason, &c. to refute, and being unwilling to follow West in his wanderings, Adams took up his time in briefly wiping off his sarcasms, and proving his doctrine from the Bible, which he seemed to have all on the end of his tongue.

The first evening he showed the falling away of the church from the primitive order of the Gospel, and the many corruptions, divisions, and traditions that had succeeded it, and that the various Protestant denominations were entirely dependent on the church of Rome for their authority to administer in holy things, unless they had new revelations, for there was no succession of priesthood after the apostles, unless through that channel.

The second night he referred to Genesis chap. xlviii, 14, 21-and chap. xlix, 22, 27, and other places; likewise to American Antiquities, to prove that the aborigines were descendants of Joseph, and then referred to Ezekiel xxxvii. 15-22, in proof of what he said. From the ancient custom of the Jews writing upon parchment and rolling it round sticks, he argued that the writing on the stick of Judah mentioned in the text, was the Bible coming from the Jews, and the stick of Joseph was the Book of Mormon written by the seed of Joseph. These arguments were not refuted.

The third night he quoted the 24th chapter of Isaiah, 5th verse, to prove that the christian world because of apostacy have broken the Gospel covenant, transgressed its laws, changed its ordinances, &c. hence the necessity of new revelations to renew the covenant and restore the priesthood. This too was left unanswered. The Doctor should have put forth his "strong reasons" before the discussion ended, but either he had none or could not bring them forth if he had. I hope they will be forthcoming, or I do not know but I shall be compelled to be a Mormon!

The discussion closed on Friday evening at 11 o'clock, having done immense good towards disseminating the doctrines of the Latter Day Saints. The audience were highly excited.   Q.


Note: Dr. George M. West seems to have made it his hobby to expose what he considered to be Mormon wrongdoings. A few months later (in September) he joined forces with the traveling John C. Bennett, to give audiences at lectures held in Boston and Salem a further dose of anti-Mormonism.

[GREAT  DISCUSSION  ON  MORMONISM]

In the haste of my remarks last week I briefly referred to the proceedings of the first three evenings of the discussion, but necessarily omitted several interesting features which I wish now to notice. The last paragraph of my communication which was inserted as the paper was going to press stated that the dissussion [discussion] closed on Friday night; but for want of time and room in your columns my sketches of the last two evenings were reserved till this week. Dr. West spent much of the second and third evenings in reading from a Mormon pamphlet containing a history of the rise of their church, of Smith's finding the plates and translating the Book of Mormon, and the testimony of eleven witnesses who say they saw and handled the plates, three of whom vouch for the correctness of the translation. All this the Dr. pronounced a humbug, and all pretension to revelations or miracles in this age, blasphemy! This was sufficient, he said, to fix upon Mormonism his charges, of Lying, Fraud and Blasphemy. This he relied on as one of his strong-holds and often referred to it, though he brought no scripture to prove his assertion. On the third night Elder Adams answered it as follows. He thanked the Dr. for introducing the narrative and the testimony of the witnesses, &c. as it saved him the trouble. The whole he said was correct and true, but why it was introduced at this stage of the discussion in proof of the charges, he could not imagine If the ground the Doctor assumed be conceded it of course fixed upon Mormonism the charges of Lying and Fraud, but that was the contested point which remained to be proved; and his assumptions were not arguments. Here the Rev. E. T Taylor, chairman, and many of the audience made themselves ridiculous by calling aloud for his proof in its favor. Mr. Adams replied, it was already proved if they would admit the power of testimony. No court of justice could require more than eleven positive witnesses to convict a man or establish any fact. Their testimony must be impeached and proved false, before the Doctor's charge can be fixed upon them. The Doctor contended that they were interested witnesses and therefore not to be believed. Mr. A. contended that if worldly interest were in view instead of honor, they had received calumny and detraction -- instead of wealth, and affluence, stripes and imprisonment; but if eternal interests were before them, he said no consistent man could be a disinterested witness of the things of God, none could say the eight writers of the New testament-on whose authority we believe that book -- were not interested in the things they affirm. Elder Adams referred to four or five prophesies in the Bible as parallel testimony in favor of the Book of Mormon, and his reasoning on them was very plausible. Father Taylor called him to order once because he thought he had made a wrong application of one of the prophesies. The merits of his argument not being a point of order, Mr. Adams very significantly replied he would discuss the subject with the chairman when he had done with his present antagonist. But the chairman became so interested that he forgot that Dr. West had spoken three times and Mr. Adams twice and was very anxious to adjourn, but after several remonstrances from different parts of the house, he put on his thinking cap and concluded that Mr. A. was entitled to another speech, but as it was late Mr. Adams said he should detain them but a few moments, and give the rest of his time, which he did, and the meeting adjourned. Previous to the adjournment, however, Father Taylor resigned the chair because the audience were disposed to be noisy; and some thought him partial, but he was forthwith re-elected, and Thursday evening he again took the chair.

Dr. West's chief effort the first part of the evening was to impeach the character of Smith and the Mormon witnesses, for this purpose he read from an old pamphlet what appeared to be a certificate from some twenty or thirty citizens of the state of New York, representing Harris and the Smith family as being money diggers, superstitious and visionary, and that they had no confidence in their pretended discoveries. He also read a long letter which he said was from a Mr. Tucker the printer of the first edition of the Book of Mormon. The letter stated that neither he nor the hands in the office, believed a word of the book, that they tried Smith by pretending to lose one of the sheets and got Smith to translate it over gain, and that afterwards they compared the two together, and they did not agree. The letter also gave an account of several failures by the Mormon Elders, in their attempts to work miracles, &c. the principal of which was as follows: One of their accomplices went before, and called upon a farmer-was sick, and pretended to die. Soon after two Mormon Elders came along, and proposed trying their skill in raising him. The farmer called in the neighbors to witness it, but he asked them if they could raise a man that was beheaded; they answered, yes; then said the farmer, seizing his axe, I will cut off his head, that the miracle may be more apparent and the proof more convincing. But the dead man declining the operation sprang upon his feet without their aid. This was the amount of the testimony by which the Mormon witnesses were impeached. In reply Mr. Adams said, the certificate from the citizens of New York was not half as bad as the Priests and Pharisees entertained of Christ and his apostles; that Christ told them that they should be hated of all nations, and Paul says: "we are counted as the filth and offscouring of all things." Harris, Smith, and others were not accused of murder, treason, robbery, theft, and other crimes, but of being 'visionary and money diggers.' The servants of God were always visionary; Stephen was stoned for seeing a vision; forty men bound themselves with an oath not to eat or drink till they had killed Paul, because he said he had seen a vision and heard a voice. If Mr. Smith dug for money he considered it was a more honorable way of getting it than taking it from the widow and orphan; but few lazy, hireling priests of this age, would dig either for money or potatoes. This of course made Father Taylor take his toes again. Tucker's letter he pronounced wholly a farce; it bore marks of forgery or falsehood in every sentence; first E. B. Grandin was the printer of the 1st edition of the book, as the title page showed for itself, and if Tucker or any one else had pretended to lose and yet retained a portion of it, let it be produced; why is it kept secret, this twelve years and no one know any thing about it until now? As to the story of the dead man it proved too much. He was either dead, or the farmer and his neighbors were all fools. Who was the farmer? Who were the neighbors? What was the dead man's name, and that of the preachers? Where and when was it done? On all these subjects we are left to our own conjectures. Adams further said, if such men as Tucker or the farmer existed, tell us where and who they are; I will, furnish the money to bring them here, and we will have this matter settled; and I will pay Dr. West's expenses till it can be done.


Notes: (forthcoming)

There is still a higher series as regards the superstitions of the world. This is an amalgamation of sects, denominations, and superstitions. Zoroaster, Mahomet, the Christ of India and of Palestine, have done this, and Joseph Smith will do it. We predicted this long ago, and affirm it still. We predicted it when it was under deep persecution. We rested our prediction not on preternatural foresight, but on the fact, that the plan covered all the ground, and combined principles and motives exactly calculated to do it. The Jewish account; the Christian religion; a revelation, latter day saints; all gifts and graces; ecclesiastical honors; an armed, peaceful neutrality, well disciplined and springing up in the midst of a free people; points taking in all our large cities, and from the world a grand concentration forming in America! Say or do what we please, Mormonism is destined to become one of the most splendid superstitions ever devised. It has originated in an age of science, resting on originations in an age of ignorance, and it is this very fact which will sustain it. Fifty years hence, and you will hear this argument: -- 'What! Do you believe that Joseph Smith, the Prophet of the Lord, could have been an imposter? Did he not spring up in an age of science and mechanical invention? Did he not proclaim openly to the world his mission? Sustain persecution and brave death for the sake of God? Did he not have visions and revelations? And who but a man divinely inspired, could, at a time when the whole world was deluged with vain and contradictory teachings, have conceived this one sublime faith and worship?' If it be urged that the thing was tested, to what does it amount? 'They were enemies and persecutors.'


Note: The exact date of the above item is unknown.The text is taken from the Times & Seasons of Sept. 1, 1842. The editor of Niles Register, on Oct. 1, 1842, reprints the same Investigator piece, and adds: "as a verification of the prophecy that the Lord would perform a strange work in these latter days, Joe Smith quotes in his paper... from the Boston Investigator, a deistical paper."

Trouble among the Mormons. The Burlington (Iowa) Hawk Eye says: "We understand by a private letter from Montrose, that Jo Smith has had a quarrel with Rigdon and Bennett, and that he has turned both of the latter out of the synagogue. Some hard swearing passed between these saints during the quarrel. Bennett threatens to write a book, for the purpose of exposing the rascality of the pretender to a spirit of prophesy. We hope the schism is incurable, as it is said to be.


Note: John C. Bennett responded to editor James G. Edwards' news item in a letter published in the next issue of the Burlington Hawkeye. Although the former "Vice President" of the Mormon Church produced copious reports on the indiscretions of Joseph Smith and his chief followers, the conservative Courier refrained from reproducing even a single droplet from Bennett's 1842 flood of anti-Mormonism. About the closest its editors came to referring to his published exposures was a brief notice, inserted into the issue for July 28th.

RIGHT.
_____

The papers from one end of the country to the other are rejoicing in prospect of a split in the ranks of the Mormons at Nauvoo. The story runs, that, "Major General John C. Bennett, is about making an expose of Jo Smith and the Mormons." The facts are these: John C. Bennett went among the Mormons and professed their religion. Great confidence was placed in him by the people, and several high offices were given him, among which was Mayor of Nauvoo, General of the Nauvoo Legion, &c. &c. Bennett was soon found to be guilty of gross improprieties: such as living in open fornication, &c. for which he was frequently reasoned with by the brethren, but all to no effect. He was threatened but it done no good. Finding all remonstrance in vain, and having their name and religion frequently sneered at on this account, the "Quorum of the Twelve" excommunicated him for his wickedness. They done perfectly right, and if all our churches would mete out the same reward to backsliders, there would not be half the scoffers and revilers of religion there now is.


Note: This item was probably published in the Bostonian on July 16th -- though its date may just as well be July 23rd. The text is taken from the Times & Seasons of Aug. 1, 1842.

The Mormons. We have received, says the Buffalo Commercial , the second number of Gen. Bennett's disclosures. It fully confirms all that the Sangamo Journal said of it. Such a mass of villainy of every kind made thick and slab with lust, was never before disclosed to the public. Gen. Bennett supports all his statements by reference to well-known persons and dates and by the affidavits of respectable people, and if the half of it is true, Joe Smith is one of the greatest scoundrals unhanged.

It is only just, however, to say, that to all appearances the accuser and the accused among these Mormons, are in parity of crime. It is a thief catching a thief; and statements on all sides must be taken with allowance. The loathsome details presented to the public by the seceding Mormon, Gen. Bennett, and which the Express, and, we suppose, other equally decent papers copy, are unfit for the public eye.   (New-York Journal of Commerce.)


Notes: (forthcoming)

I T E M S.

==> DIFFICULT TIMES AMONG THE MORMONS. -- Joe Smith has recently got into a broil with one of his chief men, which will probably occasion him some loss of his religious influence. The account of the matter, as we learn from the papers, is this: Smith, together with the authorities of the Mormon church, in May or June last, publicly withdrew the hand of fellowship from Gen. John C. Bennett. Bennett at that time was Mayor of the city of Nauvoo, and Commander of the Nauvoo Legion, and is stated to have been 'the Prophet's great gun,' Sometime after his excommunication, Smith publicly exposed his conduct and character, and cautioned the church and the honorable part of the community against him as " an impostor and base adulterer." On the other hand, Gen. Bennett has come out in the Sangamo Journal in a furious article, charging Joe Smith with being " king of impostors," "the great Mormon seducer," &c., and denouncing him in very harsh terms. he says "his licentiousness is unparaleled [sic] in the annals of time;" and that he makes this exposure under a threat of death from " the holy Joe and his Danite band of murderers." He also promises to give 'some important facts' hereafter. There is not much direct proof advanced by either party in support of his allegation; it is not improbable however, that there has been much truth told by both of them.

More recent accounts inform us that Gen. Bennett, continues to make disclosures of the licentiousness and villany [sic] of Joe Smith. The N. Y. Herald says -- "According to all appearances, there will be a civil war in Illinois against the Mormons. A most intense excitement has sprung up on both sides of the Mississippi. The Mormons have all the arms, big and small, of the state of Illinois, and will use them in their own defence, but will never give them up."


Notes: (forthcoming)

MORMONS, OR "LATTER DAY SAINTS."
_____

You will doubtless recollect that some two or three weeks since I gave you a short sketch of the lectures delivered by Elder G. J. Adams, at the Boylston Hall, and also promised if he produced anything worthy of notice in his forth-coming lectures, that you should hear from me again. The reason of my so long delaying to notice this subject, is not that there was nothing worthy of notice in the lectures, but about the time I should have written, Mr. Adams, and his society were charged with Murder, Blasphemy, Lying, Fraud, Treason, and Murder, and I thought if they were guilty of these heavy charges, they were unworthy of any thing but the halter and hangman; however, since that time Mr. Adams has nobly met the man that made the heavy charges above named, and entirely freed himself and the society to which he belongs of every vestige of said charges; and the opposers of the Mormons, are left in shame, confusion, and disgrace, and the "the wonders of the new and everlasting covenant," as Adams calls it, is the great existing subject in Boston at the present time; and truly it can be said, they that turn the world upside down have come hither also. and the general cry among Sectarians is, "how shall we put them down; if we let them alone our societies will be shaken to their narrow foundations, and already they begin to tremble. Some of our best and most devoted members are leaving us and joining them."

Before I enter upon a short description of the lectures, I wish to notice one important item in the discussion lately held in the Marlboro Chapel; it is relative to the Bible being the rule or standard of evidence in their decisions on points of doctrine and principle. On the last evening but one of the discussion, to save time and come directly to the point it was moved by Mr. Seaver, (who is a Free Enquirer) that the disputants, Dr. West, and Elder Adams take the Bible as the standard of evidence. To this proposition Adams, the Mormons, and the Free Enquirers agreed, but Dr. West and his sectarian friends would not agree to it, and being most in number they voted down the proposition, yes, those very men that are continually crying "the Bible! the Bible! give us the Bible!" actually voted against the Bible, yes, voted it down for no other reason that the writer knows, only that it condemns them and their creeds. From the moment that vote was taken, I have been a determined opposer of sectarianism and priestcraft in all its monstrous and soul-killing forms, but a friend to the Bible, and Bible religion. The three lectures that I alluded to in my previous communication were on the subject of the Book of Mormon, the building of Zion, and the pouring out of the vials of the wrath of God, in the last days. On the subject of the Book of Mormon his arguments were clear and conclusive, plainly proving by many prophesies in the Bible that such a record must come forth before God could gather the Jews from their long dispersion. He particularly dwelt on the 29th chap. of Isaiah and the latter part of the 37th chap. of Ezekiel, commencing with the 15th verse. He then clearly proved the Book of Mormon to be the stick record or history of the descendants of Joseph that dwelt in this land, (America) separate from their brethren, in fulfilment of the predictions of Jacob and Moses, see Gen. 48th chapter, also part of chapter 49, from verse 22 to 26; also Deut. chap. 33d, verses 13-14-15-16-17. He argued from the above and many other passages of scripture, that the descendants of Joseph were to become, "a multitude of nations," and inhabit the utmost bounds of the everlasting hills," -- "the earth and the fulness thereof." He introduced an account of many American antiquities together with the discoveries lately made by Mr. Stevens that all go to prove that the American Indians were once an enlightened people and understood the arts and sciences, as the ruined cities and monuments lately discovered fully prove. He then declared that this record had not come forth in the place of the Bible, but in fulfilment of the Bible; that its coming forth clearly demonstrated that Jesus has been as good as his work, viz: he told his disciples he had other sheep that were not of that fold (in Jerusalem) and they also should hear his voice, for he was sent to the lost sheep of the house of Israel,-and some of the lost sheep of the house of Israel, viz. -- of the tribe of Joseph being in America, it was necessary Jesus should visit them, as also the ten tribes in the "north country." He declared that Jesus did visit both the above named branches