1841-12-24-Christian Secretary-Mormonism
Mormonism
Christian Secretary, v4 n41, 24 December 1841, p. 1
MR. EDITOR:—A pamphlet has recently fallen into my hands containing an exposure of Mormonism, by a renouncing Mormon. In this pamphlet are many valuable facts, all going to show up this imposture in its true colors. As you have already published several communications of mine on this subject, and have yourself manifested a good degree of interest in the matter, I now propose to furnish you with two additional communications touching the contents of this pamphlet—a production exceedingly rich in its way and well worthy of public attention.
The pamphlet is entitled "Mormonism Portrayed; its Errors and Absurdities Exposed; and the Spirit and Designs of its Authors made manifest: by WILLIAM HARRIS; with Emendations, by a Citizen. Warsaw, Ill. 1841."
Speaking of the witnesses who have testified to the truth of the Book of Mormon, the autbor of the pamphlet says: "I do not admit that these witnesses were honest; for six of them, after having made the attestation to the world that they had seen the plates, left the Church; thus contradicting that to which they had certified. And one of these witnesses, Martin Harris, who is frequently mentioned in the Book of Covenants,-who was a High Priest of the Church—who was one of the most infatuated of Smith's followers—who even gave his property in order to procure the publication of the Book or Mormon,-having afterwards left the Church, Smith, in speaking of him in connexion with others, said, that they were so far beneath contempt, that a notice of them would be too great a sacrifice for a gentleman to make."
"There are two certificates," continues the writer, "attached to the Book of Mormon; the second of which is signed by eight witnesses. Now this certificate does not say one word about the Book being translated through inspiration; it simply avers that Smith is the translator. The only evidence, therefore, which we have that Smith translated the Book by the aid of inspiration, is the first certificate, signed by Martin Harris, Oliver Cowdery, and David Whitmer. Now as to Harris, by Smith's own showing, he is too contemptible to be noticed by a gentleman; therefore we will lay him on the shelf. The other two, Cowdery and Whitmer, left the Church, renounced Mormonism, and contradicted what they had certified. Here, then, are but three witnesses on all the Mormon records to prove Smith's inspiration; one of which is too contemptible to notice, and the others have discredited themselves."
After thus disposing of the witnesses to the truth of the Book of Mormon, the writer dispatches the Book itself in an equally summary maaner, by giving an extract from a recent letter of Professor Anthon, of this city, to Rev. T. W. Coit, of New Rochella, in this State, in relation to some specimens of the characters pretended to have been copied from the plates, and exhibited to him by Martin Harris. The extract from Professor Anthon's letter is as follows:
"Many years ago, the precise date I do not recollect, a plain looking countryman called upon me with a letter from Dr. L. Mitchell, requesting me to examine and give my opinion upon a certain paper marked with various characters, which the Doctor confessed he could not decipher, and which the bearer of the note was very anxious to have explained. A very brief examination or the paper convinced me that it was a mere hoax, and a very clumsy one too. The characters were arranged in columns, like the chinese mode of writing, and presented the most singular medley that I had ever beheld. Greek, Hebrew, and all sorts of letters, more or less distorted, either through unskillfulness, or from actual design, were intermingled with sundry delineations of half moons, stars, and other natural objects; and the whole ended in a rude representation of the Mexican Zodiac. The conclusion was irresistible, that some cunning fellow had prepared the paper in question for the purpose of imposing upon the countryman who brought it; and I told the man so without any hesitation. He then proceeded to give me a history of the whole affair, which convinced me that he had fallen into the hands of some sharper, while it left me in great astonishment at his own simplicity."
So much, Mr. Editor, for the "Reformed Egyptian Hieroglyphics" which Mormonism says were engraved on the plate, and which the learned could not read. Now let the Mormons, if they wish to know the truth of this matter, go and ask Professor Anthon if this is not the fact. He is here on the spot, and they have no excuse for declining to make the inquiry of him.
The writer alludes to Smith's pretended miracles, and says: "Can he heal the sick? If so, why when he is himself sick, does he take ordinary medicine for relief? Can he prevent death? Why, then, are his nearest relations and most useful friends suffered to die in the vigor of manhood?" Home questions these.
Speaking of Smith's character, the writer says: "At the very time that the widows of the church, and indeed the poorer classes were suffering for want of the common necessaries of life, Smith and his coadjutor. S. Rigdon, demanded, at the hands of the people, twelve hundred dollars per year each, in order to aggrandize themselves, and enable them to live in luxury. And when some complained, that this would be a violation of the rules of the Church, he remarked, that if he could not obtain his demand, his people might go to hell, and he would go to the Rocky Mountains! And this, too, when the bishop is appointed by revelation, to deal out to every man according to his wants. Here, then, is a beautiful specimen of his benevolence he must have his enormous demands satisfied, though his people starved; even by breaking through the laws of the Church. Where was anything like Moses in this? But look at his example before his people. At the very time that their enemies were pressing them, he was found, like a giddy boy, or an abandoned renegade, wrestling for amusement on the Sabbath day; and when reproved, said: "Never mind; it is a time of war.—Those who were with Smith at the periods referred to, know that these things are true; and besldes that Smith, since he has become the leader of the Church, has been repeatedly guilty of the sin of drunkenness."
Suffice this, Mr. Editor, for the present communication. Comment is entirely unnecessary on such circumstances as these, and I shall therefore make none. My next communication will complete what I have to furnish on Mormonism for the present. Yours, O. BACHELER.
