Story of the Origin of Mormonism.

Te Aroha News, Volume III, Issue 115, 15 August 1885, Page 5

Story of the Origin of Mormonism.

Many accounts have been printed of the true source of the Book of Mormon, which forms the foundation stone of the Church of the Latter Day Saints, and which is accepted as a genuine revelation by thousands of Mormons scattered thoughout our Western territories ; but in " Now Lights on Mormonism " Mrs Ellen E. Dickinson has brought together a mass of new information, which, added to the fauts already known, makes her book the most complete exposure of the great fraud of the century. The book was written inlSB2, and this new edition continues the history of Mormonism down to the present time, and contains a good summary of the effects of Edmunds's law j when enforced by such men as Judge Zane. | The writer, Mrs Dickinson, is a relative of the Rev. Solomon Spaulding, who, while at Coneaut, 0., wrote a romance called " The Manuscript Found "—the true source of the Book of Mormon. Spaulding was a man of much literary ability, whose curiosity in regard to the mound builders waa deeply stirred by the discovery of the remains of an early race in a mound near his home He conceived the idea of writing a book, founded on tho discoveries made in this earth-mound, and attributing this work to the descendants of the immigrant J ews, who started from Jerusalem with Levi and his four sons under Divine guidance. He was a semi-invalid, and it was his custom to read chapters as they were completed to the members of his family and neighbours who chanced to call. Several of these people recall the peculiar names which he gave to the wandering tribes — Mormon, Moroni, Lamenite and Nephi— words which he coined, and which Joseph Smith afterwards appropriated. Mrs Dickinson, with much detail, tells of the disappointment of Spaulding in failing to secure the publication of his work at Pittsburg, where he went with tho manuscript. In the printing-house where the manuscript was left for montb.3 worked a young printer named Sidney Rigdon, who became a preacher among the Mormons, and who was accused in after years by Spaulding of copying his book while it remained in t the printer's hands. Certam it is that the names, the plot, aud much of the imagery of Spaulding's romance are found in the Book of Mormon, which was given to the world by Joseph Smith as an inspired work. There is no positive proof that Rigdon stole the romance, as Spaulding removed his original manuscript ; but there is proof of the efforts made by the I Mormons to get possession of the original manuscript story. Through trickery,' one Dr. D. P. Hurlburt obtained possession of the coveted book for the purpose, as he claimed, of comparing it with the Book of Mormon. The owners of the manuscript never heard of it again, although they tried frequently to regain possession of it. The natural assumption is that Hurlburt sold it to' the Mormons, as he was known soon after to purchase a farm at Gibsonburg, 0., where he lived 16 the day of his death. ' The destruction of evidence of the fraudulent character of the Mormon ' Bible was absolutely necessary, as ita .publication would have seriously injured ' the growth of thenety religion. 1 Mrs Dickinson paid a visit to Hurlburt in 1880, but, although he showed signs of great uneasiness when questioned on the Bubjedt, he denied the charge that he sold the manuscript to the Mormons. He died two 'years after, and with his death ended all prospects of any direct evidence to denote the literary larceny by Rigdon and Hurlburt, which proved 'of so much value to the Mormjms. The story of the origin of Mormanism, its rapid spread under the leadership of trie disreputable" Joseph Smith, the migrations of the band, the grafting of polygamy upbn the parent creed by Brigham Young, and the events which have brought the Mormons Within reach of the law— all this astonishing story of credulity and fanaticism is retold here with much power, because therp is no' indulgence in invective or strong .feeling. It is a valuable record of a monstrous«delusion which bids fair to be .robbed' oj: most of its power in the course of 'a' few »years. — FrointheSanFrancisco'.'SundayChro'picle."

A Tfpman may bo aa true as -steel ; but then 1 , yqq know, some, steel 1b too .highly i empered. ' i " , ' J ' " , Yale. College has adopted' the entire Revised Version of ,ihe Soriptuter^or ;ohapel reading.' 0 ' Mik ' ! ' IJ -■ <l ' '■• '•