1845-02-12-Boston Investigator-Mormonism

Mormonism

Boston Investigator, 12 February 1845, p. 1 c. 2-3

FOR THE INVESTIGATOR.

MORMONISM—THE "SPIRITUAL WIFE" DOCTRINE, &c.

MR. EDITOR,— I return you my sincere thanks for your liberality in offering the use of your columns to any Mormon wishing to reply to any of my communications. In writing against the Mormons, I feel no ill will personally towards any of them; neither do I fear their abuse. Let them honorably defend their doctrines; prove, also, if I have made any charges unsustained by evidence; if I have, I will "own up." It is my firm, honest belief, that Mormonism is calculated to uphold the worst vices of our frail nature, and as such, is an incubus on society. My object is, to show it in its true colors; and in striving to do so, I shall strictly adhere to what I know to be true, and what can be sustained by a hundred wit-nesses.

The "spiritual wife" doctrine, I will explain as taught me by Elder W———e; as taught by Joseph Smith, Brigham Young, Elder Adams, William Smith, and the rest of the quorum, &c., &c. It is as follows:— Joseph had a Revelation from God, that there were a number of spirits to be born into the world, before their exaltation in the next; that Christ would not come until all these spirits received or entered their "tabernacle of clay"; that these spirits were hovering around the world, and at the doors of bad houses, watching for a chance, however dishonorably, of getting into their tabernacle; that God had provided an honorable way for them to come forth—that was, by the "Elders of Israel" sealing up virtuous women, and as there was no provision made for women in the Scriptures, their only chance of heaven was to be "sealed up" to some Elder for time and eternity, and be a star in his crown forever; that those who were the cause of bringing forth these spirits would receive a reward—the ratio of which reward should be greater or less, according to the number they were the means of bringing forth.

This, Mr. Editor, is the substance of the "Mysteries of the Kingdom" in as few words as I can use to explain it. That it is calculated, with a little sophistry, to delude the "faithful" weakminded, is self-evident. They reason thus:—"That God is no such a being as the Scriptures would seem to represent, and the sectarian would believe; that woman was made for man, and those seeming jealousies of the Almighty, represented in the Bible, were for the blinding of the Gentiles, that they might not indulge their propensities which God gave them, without his express permission. Thus, if a child steals an apple, (for which he has a good appetite) he sins: but if the father gives him the apple, there is no sin in eating it. The members of the "spiritual" bro-therhood and sisterhood are bound to keep it secret from the world and those of "little faith"; and if found out, to defend each other to the last. They are at liberty to use the grossest slander and falsehood to terrify into silence those who dare oppose them. They all solemnly disavow it in public; but the proof is now so palpable and self-evident, that they must father it. I, as one, can solemnly prove before any court of justice, that the doctrine was taught me; and as for its being most scandalously and unblushingly practised in Boston, Lowell, New York, Philadelphia, and its outrageous doings in the "Holy City" of Nauvoo, I shall prove by unimpeachable witnesses. I challenge them to disprove it, if they can; and I shall bring such a torrent of proof as will be a "caution" to the Eucledians of "this day and generation."

Is this a doctrine to be countenanced by men whom human nature has left with one spark of honesty or common sense? Forbid it, Nature's God! Whilst I have an arm to raise, a voice to speak, or a pen to write, I will not see my fellow beings swindled, deluded, brow- beat, slandered, abused, by villains under the mask of religion.— How truly and beautifully are such men described by the poet Moore:—

"Just God, oh! what must be thy look.

When such a wretch before thee stands,

Unblushing with thy Sacred Book,

Turning the leaves with blood-stained hands,

And wresting from its page sublime,

His creed of lust and hate and crime?

E'en as those bees of Trebizond,—

Which from the sunniest flowers that glad

With their pure smile the gardens round,

Draw venom forth that drives men mad."

Why, let me ask, has Parley P. Pratt charged Elder Adams, in public print, of swindling the saints, teaching false doctrines, "sealing" people up" to eternal life? ("spiritually") &c., &c.— Let the "saints answer that. Why did Joseph give Elder Adams the "sealing power" even to preaching the "spiritual wife" doctrine publicly? Why did Elder Adams read his "commission" from Joseph, in Suffolk Hall, Boston, giving him power and "keys" above "the Twelve"? Answer that, and let Elder Adams answer for himself—no quibbling. Why did not the "first Presidency" call Elder Adams to trial and cut him off, as they have hundreds of others in like circumstances? Is not there "something more than natural in this, if philosophy could find it out"? Yet, with all this evidence before their eyes, the saints (bless the mark!) will still uphold this "ignisfatuus." "Oh! SHAME, where is thy blush?" Well and truly has it been said, that

"Faith, fanatic faith, once wedded fast

To some dear falsehood, hugs it to the last."

"The holy hypocrite is the most destructive serpent that can assail the happiness of the human family. Under the mantle of Church power he can work a greater mischief than all the villany that parades society at large. Like the mole, he winds his way unseen even to virtue's fair citadel; and while you (having charity) think all secure, lays your fair fabric in ruins; but you are nothing the wiser—the victim is held under bonds; fear of the world's exposure, and remorse of conscience, is half-stifled in the promise of a greater reward, by the FALSE TEACHINGS of these unsanctified caitiffs in the sight of God, than her true and faithful or betrothed husband could give her.—Women! as you value your fair fame, your peace of mind, and every thing that is dear to you, turn with horror and disgust from the outlines of a religion and the teachings of men whose actions in-sult your ears and understanding. Shun it and them as you would a draught of poison distilled from the deadly night-shade or black-hemlock.— Ay, more; for one would surely kill you, whilst the other would make you drag out a miserable, despised existence, worse to the feeling heart than a thousand deaths."

And ye men, who boast of the likeness and nature of your God, prove ye are not "dolts and fools by ignorance made drunk"; prove, that "God has extended the saints' understanding"; that ye can "see as ye are seen, and know as ye are known." Do consult the common sense that nature has given you, and turn with a blush from the things ye are—jackalls to lions of iniquity.—Do this, and I will feel more than rewarded if I can but save one fellow being from the fangs of these detestable serpents of bigotry and intolerance.

Respectfully yours,

HENRY ROWE.

Portland, Feb. 3, 1845.