iistorical. 
THE MORMONS: 
Pen and Pencil Sketches, L Uistrntiner tli ir 
Early History. —III. 
BY A. W. COWLES, D. D. 
It is unquestionable that Sidney Rigdon 
was the real master spirit of the Mormon 
Church from the time he united his faith 
and his fortunes with the new movement. 
He was a ready speaker, a fluent controver¬ 
sialist, having at command new and plausi¬ 
ble theories, with a love of contradiction 
and startling novelties of interpretation. He 
had gathered a congregation at Mentor, 
Ohio, of such materials as would naturally 
cluster round such a man. He had evi¬ 
dently unsettled his own faith and that of 
large numbers of his hearers in the generally 
received interpretations of the Old Bible. 
He was eccentric and hold, and among 
plain, uneducated people, passed for an ora¬ 
cle. lie was ripe for a new religion—ready 
to listen to a new revelation. 
But we meet with great difficulty in as¬ 
certaining the exact truth as to his agency 
in furnishing the materials for the Mormon 
Bible. It has been strongly affirmed that 
Rigdon furnished Surra with the whole 
manuscript., which, it is said, lie obtained in 
Pittsburgh from a printing office. It is un¬ 
doubtedly true, according to Rigdon’s own 
account, that, he was living in Pittsburgh at 
the time of the supposed revelation. lie 
claims that lie was a settled Baptist minis¬ 
ter in that city, and denies having any 
knowledge of any such manuscript. A con¬ 
siderable amount of evidence exists that 
Smith obtained possession of a fanciful ro¬ 
mance, written in Scripture sty.., not un¬ 
like the quaint Chronicles that are some¬ 
times written by ingenious school girls or 
academy boys. The author of this is said 
to have been one Rev. Solomon Spauld¬ 
ing, a graduate of Dartmouth College, and 
president for a time, of Salem, Ashtabula 
Co., Ohio. This manuscript lias been traced 
to Pittsburgh; and, whether Rigdon knew 
of it or not, was, according to the most un¬ 
deniable testimony, the principal material 
out of which the Book of Mormon was com¬ 
posed. It was no doubt prepared by some 
one beside Joe Smith. For, weak and ab¬ 
surd as much of it is, it is plainly beyond 
the ability of a shiftless, ignorant young 
man, who could hardly write a legible hand 
or construct a single correct sentence. If 
Rigdon had ’any hand in this, it was with 
the utmost secrecy that he gave his assist¬ 
ance to Smith. It is due to Rigdon, who 
now stands well for veracity and integrity 
among all who know him, to give full weight 
to his positive denial of such a share in the 
production of the so-called now revelation. 
At least we must admit, unless his memory 
is treacherous, or a long habit of denial has 
distorted iris own convictions and belief, 
that such a denial from a respectable and 
honorable man of his age, soon to render up 
his account, is entitled to credit. 
We now turn from this period of doubtful 
facts and conflicting testimony as to the ori¬ 
gin of tlie Book of Mormon, (which will form 
the topic of a future sketch,) to follow the 
fortunes of Rigdon in his new character as 
the Aaron of the new Moses —the mouth¬ 
piece, the doctrinal expounder, the ecclesi¬ 
astical organizer of the new church. 
Joe Smith at once took Rigdon into his 
fullest confidence, and Rigdon professed the 
most implicit faith in the frequent revela¬ 
tions which the young prophet boldly ut¬ 
tered in the name of God. These so-called 
revelations were carefully recorded, and they 
now make up a volume of standard Sacred 
literature among the Mormons, bearing this 
title: — “The Book of Doctrine and Cove¬ 
nants of the Church of Jesus Christ of 
Latter Day Saims, Selected from the Revela¬ 
tions of God by Joseph Smith, President. 
Third European Edition — Liverpool and 
London. Sold at the Latter Day Saints’ 
Book Depot, 35 Jewin Street —1852.” 
This volume contains, first, a system of 
doctrines under the title of “ Lectures on 
Faith.” These lectures show considerable 
ingenuity, with some of the most absurd 
blunders; for example, in developing the 
thought that faith is an element of all power, 
the writer affirms that God himself acts by 
faith when he creates, and quotes as a proof 
text, “ Through faith we understand that the 
worlds were framed by the word of God,” and 
explains this to mean as if transposed thus: 
We understand that through faith the worlds 
were framed by the word of God ; and then 
adds, “ Who cannot see that if God framed 
the worlds by faith that it is by faitli He ex¬ 
ercises power over them, and that faith is the 
principle of power.” These lectures are 
drawn mainly from the Scriptures, and con¬ 
tain many valuable statements of practical 
truth, adapted to uneducated minds. They 
are accompanied by a sort of Catechism for 
review. Rigdon was the author of all these 
lectures. He was the acknowledged theo- 
' logical authority — the expositor and doc- 
f trinal oracle of the new church. 
SjVORIH’ICHJ OB’ A. JiLAOIv SHEEP, 
TO KEEP THE DEVIL AAV AY WHEN THE GOLDEN PLATES OP THE MORMON BIBLE WERE POUND. (?) (SEE FIRST ARTICLE ON MORMONISM.) 
It seems to correspond with Riodon’s de- 
ni.al of any agency in the production of the 
G olden Bible that his name does not appear 
in the record of Revelations until more than 
a year aider the professed discovery of the 
gob leu plates. Nearly, or quite all, the new 
converts of the first year have “honorable 
mention” by name. These men have a 
record as the special favorites of heaven, 
and a few illiterate, deluded men have gained 
a strange immortality. Harris, Pratt, 
Cow DICRY, WlUTMER, PlIELPS, C. EBERT, 
Knight, &c., are constantly named in the 
so-called revelations. Even the wife of the 
prophet, Emma Smith, was honored with a 
long message direct from heaven, which 
closes with this excellent advice: — “Con¬ 
tinue in the spirit of meekness and beware 
of pride. Let thy soul delight in thy hus¬ 
band and the glory which shall come upon 
him. And verily, verily, 1 say unto you that 
this is my voice unto all. Even so. Amen” 
Mention of Rigdon “ by revelation,” ap¬ 
pears in the following announcement to 
Ed avard Partridge, given December, 1830, 
(see page 200.) — “Thus smith the Lord 
God the mighty one of Israel, Behold T say 
unto you my servant Edavard that you are 
blessed and your sins are forgiven you, and 
you are called to preach my Gospel as Avilh 
the voice of a trump; and 1 Avill lay my 
hand upon you by the band of my servant 
Sidney Rigdon, and you shall receive my 
spirit, the Holy Ghost, even the Comforter, 
which shall teach you the peaceable tilings 
of the kingdom, and you shall declare it 
with a loud voice saying, Hosanna, blessed 
he the name of the most high God.” 
The divine call revealed to Rigdon, as¬ 
sumes to be given in the name of Jesus 
Christ. It is enough to make one shudder 
to read such hold blasphemy. The message 
is in these words: — “I am Jesus Christ, 
the son of God, avIio was crucified for the 
sins of the Avorld, even as many as believe 
on my name that they may become the sons 
of God. Behold, verily, verily I say unto 
my servant Sidney, I have looked upon 
thee and thy works, I have heard thy prayers, 
and prepared Lliec for a greater Avork. Thou 
art blessed for thou shalt do great tilings. 
Behold thou Avast sent forth, even as John, 
to prepare the way before me. Thou didst 
baptize by water unto repentance, but they 
. received not the noly Ghost; but now I 
give unto thee a commandment Unit thou 
shalt baptize by water, and they shall receive 
the Holy Ghost by the laying on of hands, 
even as the apostles of old. I am God, and 
mine arm is not shortened, and I will show 
miracles and signs and wonders unto all 
those who believe on my name.” 
Another revelation, dated December, 1830, 
Teads thus:—“ Behold, 1 say unto you (Jo¬ 
seph Smith, Jr., ami Sidney Rigdon), that 
it is not expedient in me that ye should trans¬ 
late any more until ye shall go to the Ohio. 
And again I say unto you that ye shall not 
go until ye have preached my gospel in those 
parts, and have strengthened up my church, 
especially in Colesville, for behold they pray 
much unto me.” 
In March, 1833, Rigdon attained the sec¬ 
ond place in the Church as the Chief Coun¬ 
sellor, and, with Frederick G. Williams, 
formed the tAvo assistant presidents under 
l Smith. These Avere the “ three mightiest” 
names of the new church. The revelation 
ran thus, addressed to JosEPn Smith, J r.: 
“ Again, verily, I say unto tby brethren, Sid¬ 
ney Rigdon and Frederick G. Williams, 
tlicir sins are forgiven them also, and they 
are accounted as equal with thee in holding 
the keys of the last kingdom.” 
The early operations of Smith and Rig¬ 
don were conducted chiefly in sparse rural 
districts — in country school houses—as in 
Fayette, about two miles south of Waterloo, 
N, Y. Here in a small stream the first bap¬ 
tisms were administered. Here, a so-called 
church Avas organized in a school house, 
which is still standing. Ln Broome Co., at 
Colesville, another cluster of converts avus 
gathered, and also a few in Sout h Bainbridge, 
Chenango Co. Here Joe Smith found bis 
wife, Miss Emma IIale. Something Avns also 
accomplished in the Interest of the new faith 
in Harmony, Pa. In all these districts, Iioav- 
over, success was not at all satisfactory. In 
Palmyra and Manchester, the home of the 
Prophet and I he scene of his first visions and 
labors, everything was “ played out.” 
At the instance of Rigdon, and under his 
lead, the ucav church emigrated front the 
vicinity of the Sacred Hill Camorah, by 
revelation, “ to the Ohio.” Here the Saints 
gathered together in the town of Kirtland, 
near Mentor, Lake Co. Here Rigdon had 
numerous disciples, over whom he exerted a 
strong influence, Many of these accepted 
the ucav faith of their erratic leader and late 
pastor. I lore in Rutland avus the first col¬ 
ony of Mormons. Here they purchased prop¬ 
erty, and Smith, by convenient revelation, 
obtained control of the tithings and most of 
the property of the Saints beyond their mere 
support. Here he opened the Kirtlnnd bank 
and issued a large circulation of what in 
those days Avere known as “ wild-cat” bills. 
He also had a mill and store. Here, by reve¬ 
lation, the Saints were commanded to build 
a commodious dwelling for the prophet, and 
things Avcnt on swimmingly until the bank 
became insolvent and general bankruptcy 
ensued. Smith and Rigdon, to escape ar¬ 
rest, left in haste and by night. This was 
the hegira of the prophet to the Land of 
Zion — twelve miles west of Independence, 
Mo.,—where the Saints lmd before purchased 
a refuge and selected a site for a temple, and 
where Rigdon had the chief command for a 
considerable period previous to the difficul¬ 
ties at Kirtland. It was on a casual visit 
from Lhu West to the former scene of their 
operations that the two principal leaders 
were in such imminent danger as to make it 
convenient to leave in great haste. 
At Kirtland a new convert was gained 
who was destined to exert a most powerful 
influence upon the history and success of 
the Mormon Church. This was Brigham 
Young, and all his family. This avms in the 
year 1832. His department was that of For¬ 
eign Missions, and all the wonderful success 
of the Mormons abroad has been due to the 
early plans, shrewd management and thor¬ 
ough organization which he gave to this fea¬ 
ture of the new Church of Latter Day Saints. 
Brigham soon began to be a power in the 
new church. The first t'cAV years, Avhile Rig¬ 
don was rising, Young was more or less 
abroad, gathering converts and organizing 
the admirable emigration plans which have 
given life and power to the Mormon Church. 
The emigrants were of course devoted to 
Young, and knoAv little of Rigdon; and 
Avlien, by the death of Smith, a successor 
was to be chosen, Brigham Young out-gen- 
eralcd Rigdon ami reached the Presidency; 
and to this day Rigdon cannot conceal his 
disgust for ids old rival. He says lie won¬ 
ders how Satan himself can consent to make 
use of such a blockhead! 
ebktucr. 
NEW PUBLICATIONS. 
farmers) anil I'lanlers' EttcyclopanUa or 
Mural Affairs, (Philadelphia: J. 15. Lippincotl, 
& Co.)—This is Cui’H UERT W. JOHNSON'S English 
work, purporting t<> have boon revised and 
adapted to the wants of American farmers by 
CiouvERNKUR EMERSON. AVIlile wo can Sec that 
tiiero liavo been additions made to the original 
English work, wo cannot say that it is fully 
abreast of l Iks limes so far as American agricul¬ 
ture is concerned. It falls far below Hie needs 
of American farmers as an eueyclopiediii. It is 
too English and nut. enough American. Who 
will give us the American article ? Our periodi¬ 
cal agricultural and horticultural literature will 
f urni-li abundant material from which a criti¬ 
cal, careful and capable compiler might make ft 
Avork of great practical value. 
This volume before us contains 1,179 pages, 
illustrated with numerous engravings; and em¬ 
braced in these pages is a mass of Information, 
systematically arranged sous to bo available to 
the reader, which will prove valuable to the 
practical, thoughtful fanner. To such a man 
its pages wili yield a lull return for its cost, 
many times multiplied; so ln proportion us the 
demand of our agii&iflture compels us to simu¬ 
late English processes, In ,iust such proportion 
will the value of this work increase to us. 
-*♦*- 
Iter Majesty's Tower. (Ncav York: Har¬ 
per & Brothers.)- -The Tower is a great mass of 
ramparts, Avails and gates, standing half a mile 
below the famous London Bridge. 1 1 has been 
alternately the prison, Urn palace, and the tomb 
of princes: and there centers in it more varied 
associations than gather around any other 
kingly pile. Parts of it wore built in the early 
Norman days, and wore occupied asu. residence 
by Norman kings; while-tradition dates its ori¬ 
gin aAvay buck to C.-esar’s time, and points out. 
traces of a Avail builded by l he Romans. The 
Tower Is rich, then, in historic studies. Wm. 
HlSPWORTfi Dixon has turned these to good ac¬ 
count in the book before us, and presents us 
with sketches of a great number of Hie most in¬ 
teresting personages who, by a kind or unkind 
fate, linked their memory Avith that of the 
prfaon-palflee. The pictures are like cabinet 
portraits, not heavy, but small and artistic. We 
like them very much. 
-m- 
The I’oetlcal If or leu and Remains of Henry 
Kir Me While. (New York: D. Appleton &, Co.) 
.-More valued always, perhaps, for the promise 
they contained than for the real excellence in 
themselves, Koike White's poems, though 
fragmentary, yoi possess much beauty, and are 
full of melancholy i ri tereot. Reading them, one 
cannot help thinking of the young hand that 
penned them, and that so early forgot its cun¬ 
ning. In this volume, — one of the beautiful 
Globe Edition of the poets, Southey’s biogra¬ 
phy of the youthful poet is given, together with 
many interesting letters addressed by Write to 
members of his family. The life and corre¬ 
spondence. comprise one-half the volume, and 
the poems make up the remainder. 
-- 
ffUchroek'i ttalf-tfime Merle*. (New York: 
B. W. Hitchcock.) — Two more of the excellent 
songs of this series have come to our table. 
“Take Back the Heart” and “There's a Charm 
In Spring," are the t itles, the former by Claki- 
BEL and the latter by Mullah. Both to good, 
but the first named is peculiarly s>veet. 
WHEN THE TIDE GOES OUT. 
THROUGH the Aveary day on his couch he lay, 
AVith the life-tide ebbing slowly away. 
And the ilow on his cold brow gathering fast, 
As the pendulum-numbered moments passed, 
And I beard a sad voice whispering say, 
" AVhen the tide goes out he will passaway. 
Pray for a soul's serene release! 
That the Aveary spirit may rest, la peace, 
When the tide goes out.’’ 
When the tide goes out from the sea-girt lands. 
It bears strange freight f r< un t he gleaming sands: 
The White-Wtuged slops that silent wait 
For the foaming wave, ami a. winds that’s late; 
The treasures cast on a rocky shore. 
From the stranded ships that shall sail uo more : 
And hopes that follow the shining seas, 
On ! the ocean shall avIii all these 
When the tide goes Out. 
nut of all that.drift from the shore to the sea. 
Is the human soul to Eternity 
Floating away from a silent shore, 
Like a fated ship to return no more, 
Saddest, most solemn of all,—a soul, 
Pausing where unknown wiU.i-rstroll. 
AVhera sha ll the surging current tend, 
sloAvly drifting friend from friend, 
VVlieu the tidn goes out ? 
For our parting spirit, pray, oh ! pray, 
While the tide Of life is ebbing away. 
That the soul may pass o’er sunnier seas 
Than clasped of old I ho I lesperldca, 
A bark whoso sails by angel hands 
‘ Shall he furled on a strand of golden sands: 
And the friends that stand on u slh-nt shore. 
Knowing that wo shall return no more, 
Shall Avlsli us Joy of a. voyage fair, 
AVith calm, sweet skies and a favoring air, 
When the tide goes out. 
i on 
’lories for i’umiltsts. 
> ^ 
THORWALDSEN’S 
FIRST yXINTU O NT I. V LOVE. 
Some fifty-five years ago a young woman, 
of prepossessing appearance, was sealed in a 
small back room of a house in Copenhagen, 
weeping bitterly. In her lap lay a few 
trinkets ami other small articles, evidently 
keepsakes which she had received from time 
to time. Bite took up one after another and 
turned them over, hut she could scarcely dis¬ 
tinguish them through her blinding tears. 
Then she buried her face in her hands, and 
rocked to and fro in agony. 
“O !” moaned she, “ and it comes to this? 
AH ' my dreams of happiness are vanished— 
all my hopes are dead! He will even go 
without, bidding me farewell. Ah, Himlen, 
that I iiave lived to see this bitter day! 
Love varc Gud!” 
At this moment a hasty tap on the door 
was followed by the entrance of the object 
of her grief. He was a young man about 
tAventy-live years of age, his person middle- 
sized and strongly built, bis features massive, 
regular and attractive—his long hair flaxen, 
his eyes blue. Tl is was Bertel Thorwuhl- 
sen- -a name which has since then sounded 
throughout the Avorld as that of the most 
illustrious sculptor of modern times. ITis 
step was firm and quick, his eye bright and 
his features glowing, as he entered the room, 
but Avlien he beheld the attitude of the wcep- 
in " female, a shade passed over bis counten¬ 
ance as he gently walked up to her, and 
laying i.> hand on her shoulder, murmured, 
“ Amalie ! 
“ Bertel!” ansAvered a smothered voice. 
The young Dane dreAV a chair to her side, 
and silently took her tear-bedewed hands. 
“Amalie,” said lie, after a pause, broken 
only by her quivering sobs, “ I am come to 
bid thee farewell. I go in the morning.” 
She ceased weeping, raised her face, and 
releasing her hands, pushed back her di¬ 
sheveled hair. Then she wiped her eyes, 
and gazed on him in a way that made his 
oAvn droop. “ Bertel,” said she, in a solemn 
tone, but void of all reproach, “ Bertel, why 
did you deceive my young heart ? why did 
you Lead me to hope that I should become 
the wife of your bosom ?” 
“I — T always meant it; I mean it now.” 
She shook her head mournfully, and, tak¬ 
ing up the trinkets, continued, “ Do you re¬ 
member what you said when you gave me 
this — and this — and this?” 
“ What would you have, Amalie? I said 
I loved you; 1 love you still; but"— 
“ But you love ambition, fame, the praise 
of men far better,” added she, bitterly. 
Thorwaldsen started, and his features 
flushed, for he felt the truth of her words. 
“Yes, you will leave gamie Denmark; 
you will leave your poor, fond old father 
and mother, whose only earthly joy is in 
you; you will leave me, and all who love 
the sound of your footsteps, and go to a dis¬ 
tant land and forget us all.” 
“ Min Pige 1 you are cruel and unjust. I 
shall Come back to my old father and mother 
— come back to thee, and we shall all be 
happy again.” 
“Never, Bertel, never! When once you 
go, there will be no more Joy for us. In 
heaven we may all meet again; on earth 
never 1 O, no, never more Avill you see in 
this life either your parents or poor, broken¬ 
hearted Amalie 1 ” and again her sobs broke 
forth. 
Thorwaldsen abruptly rose from bis chair 
and paced the room in agitation. lie was 
much distr sed, and once or twice he 
glanced ■ Amalie with evident hesitation. 
His p r .ot life, the pleasures of his youth, the 
9 
Jr 
w 
