Chapter III: Part 3

"For your very kind and satisfactory information as to that
arch-impostor, Joe Smith, I most cordially thank you. Mormonism is a
heresy of a very dangerous and disgraceful tendency; and I am sorry
to add, it has produced effects already in some parishes in England
which, in this enlightened age, one could scarcely imagine possible.
They first of all laid their blasphemous scheme at Preston, in
Lancashire, after taking out a licence at the quarter sessions. This
occurred about the year 1836 or 37; and they soon numbered in that
locality nearly 500 converts. In 1838, they extended their
iniquitous operations to various villages on each side of the
Ribble. At Ribchester, the famous Roman station of Ribcunium, they
seduced many; and the same results followed in other places nearer
Clitheroe. Since that time, itinerant preachers among the Methodists
and Calvinists have joined the unholy compact; and even farmers,
labourers, mechanics, and others,--in short, whoever among them
could supply the _needful_,--have been persuaded to sell their
property, and emigrate to Nauvoo. In 1838, every Mormon in one
village, and in other villages probably the same, received a
certificate, or passport, of which the following is a copy:

"We do hereby certify that A. B., the bearer of this, is a regular
member, and in good standing and fellowship, in the Church of the
Latter-day Saints in Waddington, and is a worthy member of the same;
and as a token also of our love and good will, we give unto him this
letter of commendation to the esteem and fellowship of the Saints,
in any land or country to which he may be pleased to remove.

"_March 29,
1838._

"H. C. KIMBALL,
"ORSON HYDE,
"Presiding Elders of said Church.

"This will be called for."

Three hundred of these certificates were printed at Clitheroe, by which speculation about L15 were realized.

The way in which a Mormon prophecy is given to produce effect on the converts, is artfully designing. A young man, for instance, is immersed. After his immersion, the elders write a letter, unknown to the proselyte himself. As long as he remains faithful, all is right; the letter remains carefully sealed, and is kept by third parties. If he leaves them, a meeting of all the Mormons in the neighbourhood takes place, the letter is brought out with solemn pomp, the seal is broken, and the contents are read publicly. The following will serve for an example of these prophetic letters:

"Liverpool, _April 13, 1838_.

"DEAR BROTHERS AND SISTERS IN PRESTON,--It seemeth good unto us, and
also unto the Holy Ghost, to write to you a few words, which cause
pain in our hearts, and will also pain you when they are fulfilled
before you; yet you shall have joy in the end. Brother Webster will
not abide in the Spirit of the Lord, but will reject the truth, and
become the enemy of the people of God, and expose the mysteries
which have been committed to him, that a righteous judgment may be
executed upon him, unless he speedily repent. When this sorrowful
prediction shall be fulfilled, this letter shall be read to the
church, and it shall prove a solemn warning to all to beware.

"Farewell in the Lord,
"ORSON HYDE,
"H. C. KIMBALL."

In England, the preachers of Mormonism generally begin by insinuating among the astonished natives of rural villages, or the weak and wavering classes in larger towns, that our Bible has suffered by translation, and that it is deficient and incomplete in many particulars. They next declare that the Book of Mormon and the revelations bestowed on Smith and Rigdon are additional favours from the Deity, designed to explain the obscurities and supply the deficiencies of our Scriptures. It never enters into the minds of their dupes to inquire as to the _credentials_ of these preachers. They are the eye-witnesses of no miracle: they see no dead raised to life, no dumb qualified to speak, no blind enabled to see.

One night the Mormon elder commences by observing to his congregation that he does not know what to say, but that he will say whatever the Lord shall put into his mouth. On another night, he gravely announces his intention to read a portion of the old Scriptures for edification; invariably, however, taking care not to confine himself to any particular subject, but to have as extensive a field as possible, in order to weave in from time to time such portions of the "Book of Mormon" as he knows to be best adapted to effect his object. The American edition of this book had no index to guide its readers to any particular passage or doctrine; it was not generally circulated in England, even among the converts; and hence very few were able to know precisely when the preacher's words were _Mormonic_, and when they were not. This peculiarity was remarked upon at the time, and in an English edition, printed at Manchester, an index was inserted.

For the continuance of the fraudulent scheme, they proceed to enact a mock ordination, choosing out of the whole body of converts certain individuals who are deemed most trustworthy. These assume their blasphemous calling on the pretended sanction of the Deity, immerse converts after dark, _confirm_ the parties next day, and administer, in the course of two or three days at the farthest, a mock sacrament, to individuals who in the bewildered state of their minds scarcely know their right hand from their left.

It is under the very convenient cloak of night, however, that Mormonism in England performs most of its operations. It is then in the zenith of its glory, converting ignorance into the tool of delusion, chaining it fast by iniquitous discipline, order, and system, and trying with all its energy to make the worse appear the better cause. In such beguiling hours, the secret "Church Meeting" is held, to the exclusion of every individual except the initiated. High and mighty is the business transacted on such occasions. It consists of exhortations to stand firm, instructions given, explanations offered, visions and revelations stated, gifts received for the "Bishop of Zion," confessions made, threatenings held out, converts reprimanded, apostates excommunicated, the successes of Mormonism described, and suggestions offered for removing the difficulties in its way. Enquiries are made in reference to other particulars: for example,--"What kind of people reside in this neighbourhood? What places of worship do they frequent? What opinions have you formed as to the natural bent of their respective dispositions? Will they be disposed to join us, or will they exercise an influence against us? Are they principally in the humble walks of life, or are they of some knowledge and understanding?" If the answer to these and other questions be apparently favourable, the necessary advice is given to the first converts how they may prevail upon more. Suggestions are thrown out how to persuade; and the next step is to urge in every possible way the grievous sin of baptizing infants, and the absolute necessity of _dipping_, as the very _sine qua non_, the only effectual path to everlasting salvation.

It was the opinion of many of our clerical brethren in England, at first, that the evil would upset itself. But system, order, and discipline are powerful ingredients, even in a bad cause. Smith writes to England as follows:--"The Nauvoo Legion embraces all our military power." "The University of Nauvoo will enable us to teach our children arts, sciences, and learned professions. The regents of the university will supervise all matters of education, from common schools up to the highest branches."

PAGE 3. "St. Louis, a city of thirty thousand inhabitants."

St. Louis was founded in 1764, under the auspices of the French government, by M. Laclede, who named it in honour of the reigning monarch, Louis XV. In 1770, it passed into the possession of Spain, and as the seat of government for Upper Louisiana was occupied by a Spanish governor. In 1800, Louisiana was retroceded to France, from which government it was purchased by the United States during the presidency of Mr. Jefferson. St. Louis increased slowly until the introduction of steam navigation on the western rivers; but during the last seven years its population has increased from 8000 to 30,000. It contains fifteen places of worship, viz., two Episcopalian churches, two Roman Catholic, two Methodist meeting-houses, two Presbyterian, one Associate Reformed Presbyterian, one German Lutheran, one Baptist, one Unitarian, an African Methodist, and an African Baptist meeting-house, besides a Jewish synagogue. A third Roman Catholic church is in progress, and the number of Roman Catholics in the city is not less than 14,000. The buildings are of brick or stone, and generally present a handsome appearance.

PAGE 5. "Father of waters," &c.

When the Mississippi is at its lowest stage, the depth of water at St. Louis is four feet; when full, the depth is twenty-nine feet. The width of the river is three-quarters of a mile; the average velocity four miles an hour; the average descent of the stream six inches in every mile.

PAGE 8. "This was the Temple."

The following are some of Joseph Smith's "Revelations" on the subject of the temple, extracted from the "Times and Seasons" for June 1, 1841.

"Verily, verily, I say unto you, let all my saints come from afar,
and send ye swift messengers, yea, chosen messengers, and say unto
them, Come ye with all your gold, and your silver, and your precious
stones, and with all your antiquities; and all who have knowledge
of antiquities that will come, may come; and bring the box-tree, and
the fir-tree, and the pine-tree, together with all the precious
trees of the earth; and with iron, and with copper, and with brass,
and with zinc, and with all your precious things of the earth; and
build a house to my name, for the Most High to dwell therein: for
there is not a place found upon earth, that he may come and restore
again that which was lost unto you, or which he hath taken away,
even the fulness of the priesthood.

"* * * And again, verily, I say unto you, how shall your washings be
acceptable unto me, except ye perform them in a house which you have
built to my name? For this cause, I commanded Moses that he should
build a tabernacle, that they should bear it in the wilderness, and
to build a house in the land of promise, that those ordinances might
be revealed which had been hid from before the world was. * * * *

"And verily I say unto you, let this house be built unto my name,
that I may reveal mine ordinances therein unto my people; for I
design to reveal unto my church things which have been kept hid from
the foundation of the world; things that pertain to the dispensation
of the fulness of times. And I will show unto my servant Joseph, all
things pertaining to this house, and the priesthood thereof, and the
place whereon it shall be built. * * * * And it shall come to pass,
that if you build a house unto my name, and do not the things that I
say, I will not perform the oath which I make unto you; neither
fulfil the promises which ye expect at my hands, saith the Lord:
for instead of blessings, ye by your own works, bring cursings,
wrath, indignation, and judgment upon your own heads by your
follies, and by all your abominations which you practise before me,
saith the Lord."

PAGE 12. "In Palestine, &c."

The following is from the 'Times and Seasons' for April 1st, 1842.

"Another letter has just come to hand from Elder Hyde, dated Jaffa,
Oct. He was then on his way to Jerusalem, the date being much
earlier than the one inserted in another page. We have only room for
the following extract, which we publish as among the most
extraordinary signs of the times. 'On my passage from Beyroot to
this place (Jaffa) the night before last, at one o'clock, as I was
meditating on the deck of the vessel as she was beating down against
a sultry wind, a very bright glittering sword appeared in the
heavens, with a beautiful hilt, as plain and complete as any cut you
ever saw. And what is still more remarkable, an arm with a perfect
hand, stretched itself out and took hold of the hilt of the sword.
The appearance really made my hair rise, and my flesh, as it were,
crawl on my bones. The Arabs made a wonderful outcry at the sight.
Oh, Allah! Allah! was their exclamation all over the vessel. I
mention this, because you know there is a commandment of God for me,
which says, 'Unto you it shall be given to know the signs of the
times, and the sign of the coming of the Son of man.'

Yours, in Christ,
ORSON HYDE."

PAGE 13. "Nauvoo House."

The following is a further extract from the "Revelation" of January 19, 1841, quoted above.

"Verily, I say unto you, let my servant George, and my servant
Lyman, and my servant John Snider, and others, build a house unto my
name, such an one as my servant Joseph shall show unto them, upon
the place which he shall show unto them also. And it shall be for a
house of boarding, a house that strangers may come from afar to
lodge therein. * * * * Let it be built unto my name, and let my name
be named upon it; and let my servant Joseph and his house have place
therein, from generation to generation. For this anointing have I
put upon his head, that his blessing shall also be put upon the
heads of his posterity after him; and as I said unto Abraham, even
so I say unto my servant Joseph, in thee and in thy seed shall all
the kindreds of the earth be blessed. Therefore, let my servant
Joseph and his seed after him have place in that house from
generation to generation, for ever and ever, saith the Lord; and let
the name of that house be called the Nauvoo House, and let it be a
delightful habitation for man, and a resting-place for the weary
traveller, that he may contemplate the glory of Zion, and the glory
of this corner-stone thereof."

PAGE 22. "The writings of Abraham."

Smith's pretended version of these documents may be found in the "Times and Seasons" for March 1, and March 15, 1842, with the following heading:

"A Translation of some ancient Records that have fallen into our
hands from the Catacombs of Egypt, purporting to be the writings of
Abraham while he was in Egypt, called the Book of Abraham, written
by his own hand upon papyrus."

PAGE 25. "The Nauvoo Legion."

The subjoined will serve as a specimen of "General Orders," issued by Joseph Smith, in his military capacity:

"Head Quarters. Nauvoo Legion, City of Nauvoo.

"_May 25_, A. D. 1841.

"The 1st Company (riflemen), 1st Battalion, 2nd Regiment, 2nd
Cohort, will be attached to the escort contemplated in the general
order of the 4th instant, for the 3rd of July next. In forming the
Legion, the Adjutant will observe the rank of companies as follows,
to wit:

"1st Cohort.--The flying artillery first, the lancers next, and the
riflemen next, visiting companies of dragoons next the lancers, and
cavalry next the dragoons.

"2nd Cohort.--The artillery first, the lancers next, the riflemen
next, the light-infantry next, visiting companies in their
appropriate places, on the right of the troops of their own grade:
the ranking company of the 1st Cohort will be formed on the right of
the said Cohort, and the ranking company of the 2nd Cohort will be
formed on the left of the said Cohort, the next on the right of the
left; and so on to the centre. The escort will be formed on the
right of the forces.

"JOHN C. BENNETT, "JOSEPH SMITH."
"Major-General, "Lieutenant-General."

PAGE 33. "The Mormons prefer miraculous aid to medicine."

The following is abridged from a London paper:--"On Wednesday an investigation was gone into before Mr. Baker the coroner, at the Royal Oak, Galway Street, St. Luke's, on the body of Elizabeth Morgan, aged fifty-five years, whose death was alleged to have been caused through improper treatment by unqualified persons. Maria Watkins said she had known deceased about twelve months, and on Tuesday week witness was sent for to attend her. Witness found her very ill; but no medical gentleman was called in, it being against the religious tenets of the sect to which the deceased belonged to do so. The sect to which she belonged styled themselves 'The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints,' their place of meeting being in Castle street, Cow-cross. They treated their sick according to a text taken from the last chapter of the Epistle of St. James. Witness had known of healing under such circumstances, but the deceased sank and died on Saturday last. No surgeon was sent for. The coroner said he hardly knew how to deal with the case, as he had his doubts whether it was not one of manslaughter. The jury, after some deliberation, returned a verdict of 'Natural death,' with a hope that the present inquiry would act as a caution for the future."

PAGE 41. "The healing of the sick, the casting out of devils," &c.

In the "Times and Seasons," vol. iii. p. 709, may be found Joseph Smith's creed, in which are contained the following articles:--

"We believe in the gift of tongues, prophecy, revelation, visions,
healing, interpretation of tongues, &c." "We believe all that God
has revealed, all that He does now reveal, and we believe that He
will yet reveal many great and important things pertaining to the
kingdom of God."

PAGE 44. "A knot of designing persons."

Professor Turner of Illinois College, thus addresses Joseph Smith.

"I have charitably sought to find some ground for believing that you
and your comrades were only a new species of religious maniacs. I
have sought in vain. A man, however kindly disposed to think well of
you, after a thorough examination of your career, might as well
attempt to believe your religion, as to regard you in any other
light than that of a deliberate, cold-blooded, persevering deceiver.
I do not pretend that in the outset you even anticipated the final
result. On the contrary, there is abundant evidence that at first
your aims rose no higher than those of ordinary vagrants and
jugglers. You have not even the poor merit of either talent or
originality. Your highest aim has ever been to crawl among the
droves of reptile impostors who have preceded you, and though your
ignorance and utter incapacity have not suffered you to turn aside
from their loathsome track, your fortunate union with others of
greater ability, who have entered into your secrets, and the
lamentable credulity of the times, have enabled you to attain a more
signal and desolating success than most of your predecessors."

PAGE 44. "Mahomet" &c.

In the course of the trial of Joseph Smith and others, for high treason against the state of Missouri, George M. Hinkle testified as follows:

"I have heard Joseph Smith say, that he believed Mahomet was a good
man; that the Koran was not a true thing, but that the world belied
Mahomet as they belied him, and that Mahomet was a true prophet."

John Corrill also testified that he had heard Joseph Smith say publicly, "that if people molested him he would establish his religion by the sword; and that he would become to this generation a second Mahomet."

PAGE 47. "David was in hell."

In a report of Smith's sermon of May 16th, 1841, in the "Times and Seasons" of June 1st, 1841, we find the annexed passage:--

"Even David must wait for the times of refreshing before he can come
forth and his sins be blotted out; for Peter speaking of him says,
'David hath not ascended into heaven, for his sepulchre is with us
to this day:' his remains were then in the tomb. Now we read that
many bodies of the Saints arose at Christ's resurrection, probably
all the Saints, but it seems that David did not. Why? because he had
been a murderer."

PAGE 47. "He descended in America and preached the Gospel to the Indians."

See Book of Mormon, 5th chapter of Nephi. "And now it came to pass that there were a great multitude gathered together of the people of Nephi; * * * and they cast their eyes up towards heaven, and behold they saw a man descending out of heaven; he was clothed in a white robe, and he came down and stood in the midst of them, and the eyes of the whole multitude was turned upon him, * * * and it came to pass that he stretched forth his hand and spake unto the people saying: 'Behold I am Jesus Christ of which the prophets testified that should come into the world, and behold I am the light and life of the world, and I have drank out of that bitter cup which the Father hath given me, and have glorified the Father, in taking upon me the sins of the world.'"

PAGE 55. "Baptism for the dead."

Joseph Smith says in an article on this subject in the "Times and Seasons," for April 15th, 1842.

"What has become of our fathers? will they be damned for not obeying
the Gospel, when they never heard it? Certainly not. But they will
possess the same privilege that we here enjoy through the medium of
the _everlasting_ priesthood, which not only administers in earth,
but in heaven, * * * they will come out of their prison upon the
same principle as those who were disobedient in the days of Noah
were visited by our Saviour, * * * and in order that they might
fulfil all the requisitions of God, their living friends were
baptized for their dead friends, and thus fulfilled the requirements
of God: 'Except a man be born again of water, and of the Spirit, he
can in no wise enter into the kingdom of heaven;' they were baptized
of course, not for themselves, but for their dead. _Crysostum_ says,
that the _Marchionites_[A] practised baptism for the dead, 'after a
catechumen was dead, they hid a living man under the bed of the
deceased; then coming to the dead man, they asked him whether he
would receive baptism; and he making no answer, the other answered
for him, and said that he would be baptized in his stead,--and so
they baptized the living for the dead."

It appears by the above extract, that the prophet is beginning (in his own way) to quote the fathers.

Footnote:

[A] This is the prophet's own orthography.

PAGE 57. "The amiable and patient missionary bishop of Missouri," &c.

It is pleasing to turn from Joseph Smith, to the contemplation of the truly estimable person in question. Bishop Kemper is of German descent; his immediate ancestors having emigrated from Manheim on the Rhine. For many years he was assistant minister to the late bishop White, in the parochial charge of Christ-Church, Philadelphia. He was subsequently elected and consecrated by the House of Bishops, as the first missionary bishop. The expenses of his mission are borne by the committee for domestic missions in the United States. He is absolutely _without a home_, being almost perpetually engaged in visiting various portions of the enormous region committed to his ecclesiastical superintendence. A more difficult field of missionary duty can scarcely be imagined.

PAGE 57. "Kemper College."

This institution is the most western Protestant Episcopal college in the world, being nearly half-way between the Atlantic and Pacific oceans. The main building was completed externally during the year 1841, Bishop Kemper having solicited and obtained funds for the purpose, to the amount of twenty-five thousand dollars, from zealous Christians in New York and Philadelphia. In the same year a considerable amount of valuable books was presented to the college by pious individuals in England, as well as by several of the great Societies. The object of the college, is the preparation of young men for the ministry of the Protestant Episcopal Church, and, under the enlightened and active presidency of the Rev. E. C. Hutchinson, it bids fair ultimately to realize the sanguine expectations of the Church.

PAGE 57. "The Mormon University."

Under an act of the Illinois legislature, incorporating the city of Nauvoo, the following provisions are found:--

"Sec. 24. The city council may establish and organize an institution
of learning within the limits of the city, for the teaching of the
arts, sciences, and learned professions, to be called the
'University of the city of Nauvoo,' which institution shall be under
the control and management of a board of trustees, consisting of a
chancellor, registrar, and twenty-three regents, which board shall
thereafter be a body corporate and politic, with perpetual
succession, by the name of the chancellor and regents of the
university of the city of Nauvoo, * * * provided that the trustees
shall at all times be appointed by the city council, and shall have
all the powers and privileges for the advancement of the cause of
education, which appertain to the trustees of any other college or
university of this state."

PAGE 58. "Few attach themselves to the Church in America."

The indifference of the poorer class of English emigrants to the Church of their fathers is truly lamentable. The Roman Catholic emigrant, however poor or friendless, retains his attachment to his faith. The German Lutheran is firm in his allegiance to the principles which he held in the land of his nativity. The same may be said of the Scottish Presbyterian, and of the Irish and Scottish Episcopalian. But the English labourer, mechanic, or small farmer, on his arrival in the United States, too often forgets his churchmanship, and, through ignorance or carelessness, readily connects himself with any schismatic conventicle which may be at hand.

THE MORMON CREED.

The Mormon Creed, as published by Joseph Smith himself, is given below. (See "Times and Seasons," vol. iii. p. 709.)

"We believe in God the Eternal Father, and in his Son Jesus Christ,
and in the Holy Ghost.

"We believe that men will be punished for their own sins, and not
for Adam's transgression.

"We believe that through the atonement of Christ all mankind may be
saved, by obedience to the laws and ordinances of the gospel.

"We believe that these ordinances are, 1st, Faith in the Lord Jesus
Christ; 2nd, Repentance; 3rd, Baptism by immersion, for the
remission of sins; 4th, Laying on of hands, for the gift of the Holy
Ghost.

"We believe that a man must be called of God by prophecy, and by
laying on of hands by those who are in authority, to preach the
Gospel, and administer in the ordinances thereof.

"We believe in the same organization that existed in the primitive
church, viz, Apostles, Prophets, Pastors, Teachers, Evangelists, &c.

"We believe in the gift of tongues, prophecy, revelation, visions,
healing, interpreting of tongues, &c.

"We believe the Bible to be the Word of God, as far as it is
translated correctly; we also believe the Book of Mormon to be the
Word of God.

"We believe all that God has revealed, all that he does now reveal,
and we believe that he will yet reveal many great and important
things pertaining to the kingdom of God.

"We believe in the literal gathering of Israel, and in the
restoration of the Ten Tribes; that Zion will be built upon this
continent; that Christ will reign personally upon the earth; and
that the earth will be renewed, and receive its paradisaic glory.

"We claim the privilege of worshipping Almighty God according to the
dictates of our conscience, and allow all men the same privilege,
let them worship how, where, or what they may.

"We believe in being subject to kings, presidents, rulers, and
magistrates, in obeying, honouring, and sustaining the law.

"We believe in being honest, true, chaste, benevolent, virtuous; and
in doing good to all men; indeed we may say that we follow the
admonition of Paul, 'we believe all things, we hope all things;' we
have endured many things, and hope to be able to endure all things.
If there is anything virtuous, lovely, or of good report, or
praiseworthy, we seek after these things."

Joseph Smith, by his own account, was born in the town of Sharon, Windsor County, Vermont (U. S.), on the 23rd of December, 1805.

THE END.

GILBERT & RIVINGTON, Printers, St. John's Square, London.

Transcriber's Notes:

Passages in italics are indicated by _italics_.

Inconsistencies in spelling and hyphenation have been retained from
the original.

Errors in punctuation have been corrected without note.

Obvious typographical errors have been changed as follows:

Page 15: "hav'nt" changed to "hav'n't"
Page 30: "intercouse" changed to "intercourse"
Page 70: the duplicate word "for" deleted

End of Project Gutenberg's The City of the Mormons, by Henry Caswall

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