Terre Haute Weekly Gazette, Terre Haute, Vigo County, 18 November 1886 — Page 9

THE BOOK OF MORMON.

A FAC-SIMULE PAGE OF THE ORIGINAL DOCUMENT,, --v.v »r,

Its Declaration In Reference to Polygamy«The Original Manuscript Not in the Possession of the Present Mormons.

Their Anxiety to Obtain It.

In the town of Richmond, Mo., is still living at the ago of 83 years David Whitmer, the only living witness to "the divine authenticity of the Book of Mormon." He is also the possessor of the original manuscript of this book, or "Mormon Bible," as it is sometimes called.

In 1879 two of the Mormon apostles, Orson Pratt and Joseph F. Smith, visited Mr. Whitmer for the express purposeof obtaining these, to them, precious sheets. Apostle Pratt said: "Father Whitmer, we desire to purchase the manuscript, and we are authorized to say that you may name your price, and (with a patronizing air) be sure you put the price high enough, for the church has plenty of money in the treasury, you know." Mr. Whitmer replied, with quiet emphasis: "Elder Pratt, there isn't gold enough in the world to buy it." Before leaving Richmond Orson Pratt told the hotel proprietor that they would willingly have paid Mr. Whitmer $100,000 for the manuscript. One reason why the Mormon church was so anxious about this document is shown in the accompanying facsimile reproduction of a portion of one of its pages. Mr. Whitmer kindly permitted an accurate tracing to be made, from which our engraving is produced. It is taken from the second book of Jacob, sixth chapter. To assist the reader we give this passage in type:

Behold David and Solomon truly had many wives and concubines, which thing was abominable before Me, saith the Lord. Wherefore, thus saith the Lord, I have led this People forth out of the land of Jerusalem by the power of mine arm that I might raise up unto Me a righteous branch from the fruit of the loins of Joseph. Wherefore I, the Lord God, will not suffer that this People shall do like unto these of old. Wherefore, my Brethren, hear Me and hearken to the word of the Lord,' for there shall not a man among you have save it be one wife, and concubines he shall have none, for I, the Lord God, delighteth in the chastity of women.

The language of the first portion of this paragraph is so strong against the vice of polygamy that it would not bear reproduction here, but that which we have given

Jtj 1^

•1

l-Uiij)

The truth of this Book of Mormon depends on its divine origin, and if tho Mormons believe this book to be a divine revelation on which their religion is founded then are they protected by the constitution in the "free

DAVID WHITHER. exercise" of their religion. But there has long been a suspicion that their creed has been "doctored" to meet the desires of the "Latter Day Saints." This fact seems to be conclusively proved from a recent interview with Mr. Whitmer. The old gentleman still clings tenaciously to his faith in the inspiration of the original Book of Mormon, though he will seldom speak on the subject to those who are possibly skeptics. To those who are intimate with him he describes the circumstances of the "vision" in whieh the "gold plates, held together by three rings and inscribed with strange characters, were delivered by an angel to Joseph Smith in the presence of Oliver Cowdery, Martin Harris and myself." He also describes the transparent stone spectacles called "Urim" and "Thummim," through the aid of Which the characters on the gold plates were deciphered and the manuscript produced which he holds of the Book of Mormon. Mr. Whitmer, Cowdery, Martin Harris and others left the church, or, as they claim, the church left them in 1838. He retained the manuscript, which has been since much sought after by the church. The gold plates were lost or stolen, sO that the only credentials the Mor mon church possesses is this manuscript of thei bible. They have tried in every way to get it out of Mr. WhitmorV hands. SPECTACLES AND PLATES

'liilix

u""hu

doctrine is at direct variance with the teachings of the "Divine Revelation," The interpo-

1 ir vi ^tion

Polygamy

fV, 'Yvl into the doctrines 5

^he Mormon

church came from a habit tho apostles contracted of having revelations "to fit" any of their designs. Mr. Whitmer relates this as an instance: "One night there was quite a little party of brethren and sisters assembled at Smiths house. Some of the men were exoessive chewers of the .filthy weed, and their disgusting slobbering and spittins caused Mrs.

Smith (who, Mr.

Whitmer insists, was a lady of predisposed refinement} to make the ironical remark that 'it would he a good

thing

a revelation could be had declaring the use of tobacco a sin, and commanding its suppression.' Hie matter was taken up and joked about, one of the brethren suggesting that the revelation 6hoold also provide for a total abstinence from tea and coffee drinking, intending this as a counter 'dig* at the sisters. Sure enough the subject was afterward taken up in dead earnest, and the 'Word of Wisdom1 advisinir urainst the use of tobacco t»«

fL'tJf,

ana coiree was tne resuit.That Mr. Whitmer was imposed on originally by Joseph Smith as to the Mormon Bible being a divine revelation in 1823 is no longer questioned by those outside of the Mormon church. Forty-six years ago there were numerous affidavits published to the effect that the origin of the Book of Mormon was written in 1813 by a writer of romances, the Rev. Samuel Spaulding. He called it a "translation from some liieroglyphical writing exhumed ndmOhic from amour iO." Mr. Spaulding sent his manuscript to a printer named Patterson, in Pittsburg, Pa. In this office worked Sydney Rigdon, afterward an adviser of Joseph Smith. Patterson declined to publish Mr. Spaulding's romance, and returned it to, him after a time. It remained then for a numfoor of years in an unlocked trunk in Mr. Spaulding's brother-in-law's house. Joseph Smith worked on this farm, and, it is supposed. copied the romance and published It ts a revocation" in 1830.

THE EAST AND THE WEST.

Some Forceful Comments on Their Distinctive Traits. [Special Correspondence. 1

BOSTON, NOV. 8.—To appreciate Boston give ten days to Chicago. Chicago is intensely energetic and stupendous, but raw and uncouth. Chicago is a splendid boy in the goslin period he doesn't care a cent whose toes he treads on. He believes in himself more than dad and mam or any of his uncles. He whistles, sings, yells and goes straight as an arrow for what he likes. You look at him and you say "what a splendid animal you are, but you are not refined. You buy your paintings and books in the lump. As for the drama, your taste is decidedly for the crude. You like beer and own the finest horses in the world. Boy like, you brag of anything you have. There is power and possibility in you, but I am not sure that you will ever be a great man."

Boston is a gentleman of classical training, proud of his university, and withal a little pedantic. If you are from the west or south you will find him very courteous, but his courtesy will patronize juet'a little. His manner will say: "Ah, well, you western and southern people have independence, offhandedness and frankness. You may be gentlemen, but I am a scholar and a gentleman. I have toured Europe all over. In painting, the drama and music I patronize only tho best. My motto in all my purchases is quality, not quantity. I am not so much an American as a citizen of New England "I ride like the Englishman, I trim my beard and comb my hair a la Anglaise. My models and standards in literature are English. Away with your Walt Whitmans and your Joaquin Millers. Iam not blasi, that is too Frpnch, but I cultivate the nil admirari of the English gentleman. Altogether I am the most select and exclusive thing in America."

Tourist reader, if you are tired and wish rest and recreation go to Boston, and wander amid its leafy suburbs of Brighton, Brookline and Cambridge. If you area business man and wish anew infusion of business energy go to Chicago and stand on La Salle or Dearborn streets, and be awed by the whirr, swish and sweep of the wheels of traffic. Boston has its share of illiteracy, however. I havj seen within five miles of Boston the horseshoe over the door'as a bona,, fjde witch charm, and not as an ornament

A few days ago, a party smarting out to find the home of the late Edwin P. Whipple, found a score of persons that knew nothing of him in finding one that did. And this, too, when all the while they were within a bow shot of his home.

Cambridge, or rather Harvard university of Cambridge, does much to determine the literary atmosphere of Boston. Among the students of every college or university there is a cultus or esprit that especially characterizes that institution. With Harvard it is the nil admirari and the eultivation of the indifferent. Enthusiasm is boycotted by the students quite as much as egotism. The average Harvard student affects a nonchalance that amounts almost to a swagger. I saw two Japanese students come into the library that had caught tho indifferent swagger. With their Oriental faces it produced quite a comical combination.

The extreme of this results in a brusqueness of manner that almost approaches the confines of boorishness. This story goes the rounds: A Harvard student had gone home with a classmate to spend his vacation. The classmate tells his friend "There is a young lady stopping with us a chum of my sisters, —would you like to meet her?" "H-e-m, ah— w-e-11 trot her out." The young lady heard the speech. They entered the parlor, tho young man was presented, she looked at him nonchalantly. "H-e-m, ah—w-e-11 trot him. back." It is needless to say that quite upset the young man's acquired indifference. Unless indifference is indigenous to his brain a man had better turn his attention to the cultivation of something else. Among the athletic clubs this has its good sides, resulting in a Spartan endurance and indifference to heat or cold. At one time in this rigorous climate it Was a rare thing to see a Harvard student with an overcoat on in midwinter. 1 know a captain of one of the Harvard crews that al\rays slept between open windows, a draught of air passing over Him with his chest bare. The crew always rowed bareheaded, stripped to the waist They caught a breath of the spirit that breathes from Scottta words:

Alike to hfm was time or tide, December's snow or July's pride Alike to him was tide or time, Moonless midnight or matin prime Harvard has advantages for laying the foundation for a broad culture over any institution in the country. But in individual development of force and character many, western and southern institutions are ahead of it Harvard is strong and its esprit is tyrannic enough to compress a youth's mind into a prescribed mold. In the eastern and southern institution tho literary or debating society is half of tho culture of the student, and that is conducted by the students themselves entirely. And in them there is opportunity for tho growth and development of individuality and originality.

CLAIBORNB ADDISON YOUNG.

«ay tjouKi is mentioned in London TrutS as "the smartest of smart Americans."

Lieut H«in generously pronounces the Mavflowcr lt lxst boat in tb« world

•v!rr.. i*'.- Aj:^ -"IfJ? Jt

N* -i1

•f

.'U

GEORGE W. CHILDS.

A JOURNALIST AND PHILANTHROPISTS, CELEBRATED HOST.

His Many Beantifal Homes Visited l»y Notables of All Lands—His Marble City Residence—Rich Country Home and

Quiet Cottage by the Sea.

George Washington Childs went from Baltimore to Philadelphia at the age of 14. He started life there as a store boy in a book, store. Four years later he opened a small store of his own in the old Ledger buildiug, then at Third and Chestnut streets. He became in time a member of the publishing firm at Childs & Peterson. After publishing with great, success "Fletcher's Brazil,"

S ha d' Blackstone's Commentaries," "Los- **%. W. CHILDS. .FT sing's Civil War" and "Kane's Arctic Explorations," he purchased Tho Public Ledger in 1864. It was then a poky little sheet, with no pretensions to greatness. It now ranks among the leading journals of the coi^ntry.

MR. CHILDS' CITY RESIDENCE!. Mr. Childs' hospitality is unlimited and he has entertained more distinguished people than any other man in this country. In order to do this properly it was necessary that he should have such a house as the one at the junction of Walnut and Twenty-sec-ond streets, Philadelphia. It is of pure white ma-rblo throughout its exterior. Though a commonplace mansion in appearance its exterior like its interior is architecture of the utilitarian sort there is everything that on® can imagine to make life easy when one reaches the beautifully frescoed and furnished rooms and hallways within. The stairway in itself is a marvel, constructed of the finest old San Domingo mahogany and a combination of other rare imported woods. Beautifully wrought brass and bronze gas fixtures, the softest of imported carpets and a specially designed and manufactured sets of furniture made of costly woods are found in every part of this dwelling.

On the lower floor every bit of space has been given up with a desire to make the parlors and reception rooms large enough to accomodate the great number of guests. Immediately in the rear is the dining room, where a happy con^bination of colors in the frescoes and furnishings make it simply gorgeous when the table, laden with silver and wondrous delicacies from the chef's pantry immediately in the rear, are exposed beneath the glittering lights.

Wondrous gatherings have been held at this mansion, and some of the most notable personages of these times, both on this side of the Atlantic and the other, have been within these walls and enjoyed the renowned hospitality of Mr. Childs but of all these there was not one who came more often or stayed longer and seemed more perfectly at home than Gen. U. S. Grant.

"WOOTON."

"Wooton" is the name of Mr. Childs' residence at Bryn Mawr, a short distance outside of Philadelphia. Wooton is almost in the very center of a beautiful little valley, and though Mr. Childs has only been in possession since 1880 it is wonderful what a great work he has accomplished in making this one of the finest country seats on this continent It is approached by a pleasant driveway and a walk along the most picturesque bit of road in the whole country side. A great lawn slopes away on all sides from the house, and it is noticeable for its great beauty and tho careful manner in which the little evergreen trees have been set out over its smooth surface. Around the building are a number of trees planted here by famous people, who at one time or another have been guests of Mr. Childs. The house itself is entered by a massive mahogany doorway. The vestibule is laid in Roman mosaic.

The interior is fitted up in fine hard woods, and the stairway opens broad and airy into the very center of the hallway. This stairway is a marvel of the woodworker's art, and without an exception, there is not another like it in this country. It is the production of an old and well known stairbuilder in the neighborhood of Mr. Childs' Philadelphia house, in which he also built a handsome mahogany stair case. The rooms throughout the house are grand and beautifully arranged, and it is said that the whole place has been named after and modeled upon the plan of fhxnous "Wooton" in England, where Mr. and Mrs. Childs spent many happy days with the Duke and Duchess of Buckingham, when upon their first visit to that country. The house is filled with bric-a-brac and costly and quaint articles from all parts of the world. A fine library of excellent books is Mr. Childs' especial pride and the library in which they are kept is fitted in elegant taste. At a short distance from the house clear, cold spring water falls into an immense shell brought from Japan by Gen. Grant A well stocked farm and dairy are attached to the grounds.

TERRE HAUTE, INDIANA THURSDAY NOVEMBER |8,188Q.—TWO PARTS —PART SECOND. 3 i.

LONO BRA9CH.

Several years ago, when Long Branch was still young, Mr. Childs built a house, which, while it does not equal the other two residences in cost, is equally as handsome and elegant Within easy access of the beach and tho railroad, it is a veritable paradise when the hot months in the city make it necessary to leave for cooler places. The house is built of wood and stone it is surrounded by beautifully planned lawns and Bower beds and driveways. The interior ic tastefully fitted with hard woods, and everything about the furniture and hangings seems to have been specially designed to help one to "keep cooL" In this brief summary of Mr. Childs' homes it woiild not be out of place to speak of his splendid office at the Ledger building, corner of Sixth and Chestnut streets, in Philadelphia. His room is furnished with fine hard wood mantels and wainscoting, and the three large windows that light the room on the street side are constructed of stained glass wherein are tho profiles of Guttenberg and other famous men who have betn identified with the discovery of the art of printing with type. The motto of Mr. Childs, "Nihil Slno Lahore," and the Scriptural passage, "Let there be light, and there yras light," and several allegorical figures representing the making of a book, are also set in glass.

In the recess alongside of these windows there is stored beautiful specimens of foreign tapestry, old armor suits and bric-a-brac. Costly articles, innumerable to mention, are strewik about the tables and walls in rich profusion, and at the northern end of the office, at a desk heaped with correspondence from all parts and books and papers, sits the subject of this sketch, Mr. Childs. Here for tho greater part of each day he carries on his share of the vast amount of work necessary to manage such a great concern as The Philadelphia Ledger.

Mr. Childs' personal appearance would attract one to him even if he were not the wellknown character ho is. With a figure round and healthy, not above medium height, and a ruddy, cheerful appearance, kindness and courteousness seem to beam fairly from the soft lines of that generous face, and tho calm, quiet eyes make one easy in a moment, and the stranger who sees him for the first time realizes through his own experience that all that has been said about Mr. Childs and his goodness of heart is true, overy w,ord of it. ..

CHAPLAIN M'CABE.

The Most Successful "Beggar" in th« Country* To Chaplain Charles C. McCabe is duo the »creditof swelling tho sum raised by the

Methodist church during the current year for missionary purposes to. the sum of $1,000,000. He is the champion debt raiser and mortgage abolisher among the denominational preachers. He is a wonder in his way. At the last general conference of the Methodist Episcopal church the idea was broached that the annual expenditure for missionary work in America and abroad ought to be $1,000,000. Dr. McCabe begged of the bishops that he be granted permission to undertake raising it, which was granted. Then Chaplain McCabe sat down like an able politician and the statesman that he is and just labored with the statistics of bis church until he had determined exactly what percentage of the whole amount each congregation should furnish. Then he drew up charts and circulars of various kinds to meet different classes of subscribers. Then he took to the platform himself, making at times three addresses a day, until there was no portion of the country left unapprised of the fact that "A million was wanted for missions."

RET. DR. CHARLES C. CABE. Dr McCabe has long been noted for his powers as a money solicitor. Ho was born in 1836 in Athens, O., and became a preacher in 1860. He enlisted in 1S63 as chaplain of the One Hundred and Twenty-sixth Ohio infantry. He spent four months in Libby prison. That he is a man of tremendous power can be seen from his portrait, bu: the devices he uses for coaxing money out of the faithful and the unfaithful would have to be Been to be appreciated.

f'"" A Hundred Tears Ago. M.Chevreul's centenaiy has galled forth reprint of The Gazette Royale for September 12, 1786, together with a sketch of those times, from which it appears that Marat was then an obscure veterinary surgeon, Danton and Robespierre were out of the way country lawyers, Murat was studying for the priesthood, Soult, Hoche, Moreau and Desa& were private soldiers, Ney was an office clerk, Lannes was a dyer's apprentice, and Napoleon Bonaparte was a second lieutenant —New York Tribnno

An appropriate Diet.

"I smelt cake baking this morning, Maria. What kind was it?" inquired Mr. Jinks. "Sponge cake, dear. Shall I put some on the table for dinner "No," said Jinks, gloomily, "save, it till some of your relations cone to see us again. It'll be xeore appropriate."— Merchant Traveler.

4 &

Rj.

BEAUTIFUL BUILDINGS

SOME OF MILWAUKEE'S SPECIMENS OF FINE ARCHITECTURE.

How Milwaukee is Situated and what Its Attractions Are—The Finest Chnrch Structure in America—JA City of Nearly

Fifty Millionaires.

,r?.'

[Special Correspondence. 1

MILWAUKEE, NOV. 9.—Milwaukee is situated on a beautiful rolling ground and overlooks Milwaukee bay, one, of the finest harbors in the world. The blue waters of Lake Michigan wash the entire eastern limits of the city, and the Milwaukee, Menomonee and Kinnickinnic rivers divide the city into many divisions or "sides," as the east side, south side, west side, etc. The east side is largely given up to the residences of the richer classes. There is also a magnificent lake shore park and drive and many splendid business edifices in this part of the city. One of the very finest and most recently completed is the building of the Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance company, a massive structure of granite and undressed stone. It is said to be one of

THE SOLDIERS' HOffk

the finest and most costly structures of the kind in the country. The Mitchell bank, chamber of commerce, Wisconsin Central railway and the Milwaukee club are other splendid structures on the east side. The south side is largely a residence quarter. The west side and two or three streets on the east 6ide are the great business places. The west side is also becoming a residence quarter. The Plankinton house, the Exposition building and the Plankinton and Mitchell residences are on the west side. Grand avenue, a long, wide, finely paved street, is a famous drive. Nearly all of the leading streets are lined with magnifl-

I 1*

EXPOSITION BUILDING.

cent shade trees, and in the dead of summer you can walk for miles in all parts of the city without leaving the shade of these mighty lines of forest trees.

St Paul's Episcopal church is another of the splendid structures of the east side. It is a magnificent building of red, Bass island sandstone, and is said to be the finest (although not tho costliest) church structure in America. In it is the finest window in the world, a great memorial picture, "Christ Leaving the Prsetorium," after Dor£, and made entirely of art jeweled glass, by Tiffany, of New York. Recently a writer in The London Times'said that "it was not gen-

ST. PAUL'S CHURCH,

erallv known, but was nevertheless a fact, that the finest and costliest church window in the world was in an Episcopal church in Milwaukee, a village in far away Minnesota, in North America." The writer's information was correct, but his geography was a trifle off.

The great breweries of the city are objects of interest They make 1,000,000 barrels of beer a year. Near the city is the Northwestern Soldiers1 Home, with lovely grounds around it, making a great resort for pleasure seekers' in the hot summer time. The home now has over 1,600 inmates. Alexander Mitchell, the richest man in the west, lives

LAYTON ART 6ALLXRY.

here. There are said to be forty or fifty millionaires in the city, a large number for a place of only 150,000 inhabitants.

There are innumerable parks and gardens and suburban resorts near the city. Prospect avenue, Grand avenue, National avenue and the Whitefish Bay road are perfectly elegant drives. Chicago is only eighty-five miles away to the south, and is Milwaukee's most flourishing suburb. Waukesha and Oconomowoc, the health-giving resorts, are respectively twenty and thirty miles from the cdtv. It is necessarv to nam thronah Mil.

'MM

&t i*X 4= Pk 1

-4',, .-/ 7~

M-J-W!

'4»

?,v»,

1.IQHT HORSH SQUADRON ARMORY. Superior resorts by rail. In a commensal sense the city is one of great importance. In point of splendid buildings, fine irives, bir halls, rich citizens, the general beauty of ita surroundings and charming climate, Milwaukee has fewequals. In tho winter the weather sometimes gets a trifle cold, tho

CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.

thermometer occasionally dropping to 36 or SO degs. below zero, but in the summer time it is the ideal summer resort

rA.t-ni

wauitee to reacu Asniana ana cne outer un :v'•'

The young man is better looking than his father probably ever was, but his handsome face lacks the power that is in. the grizzled eountenance o: tlie old

G. H. YENOWINE.

COUNT IHERBERT VON 8ISMARCK.

The Son of the Iron Chancellor who la Likely to Succcod Him. Bismarck the great, the chancellor, has at length succeeded in having his eldest son made "Staats-Secretaer" of tho German government

Hisniaivk. Count, Herbert is now nearly 40 yearsold. He was meant by his father fora diplomatist frap* the start, and helms been traiped in his career a^jthe various European seats of government Ho has been very gay in his time, if ho is not so

COUNT BISMARCK.

still, and some flaring scandals in which ladies of rank were involved are not unconnected with his name.

However, he seems to have been behaving himself of late, and perhaps the present high appointment is a reward for it. The place of state secretary, which has beeu given to him, is next in rank to the office of chancellor itself. Perhaps it is the dream of the man of blood and iron that his son may succeed him.

Fred. Douglass in England. Frederick Douglass, who lias been traveling on the continent, wrote a letter to a citizen of Jefferson, Tox., in whicli ho says: "I am again on the soil of dear okl England. The contrast between my present visit and that of 1845 is striking. Then I came as a slave, now I come as a freeman: then as an alien, now a3 a citizen then 1 was young, now I am comparatively old then to plead, the cause of my brethren in Ixiiuls, now to tell of their freedom and progress."—Exchange.

Jules Simon thinks the weak point of the French republic is its universal suffrage. o«i AVfitia.

The Rev. Jonas a well known Methodist minister, still living in the state of Massachusetts, has all his life bad what all his friends regard as fanatical ideas regarding the observance of tho Sabbath. He is very careful that no work of a domestic nature is done on that day in his house. No mftftln are cooked, no sweeping or dusting is done, And the day is one of solemnity and pious meditation, combined with church and and Sunday school going.

On one occasion the Rev. Mr. D. spent Sunday with his son's family. His daughter-in-iaw, a very pious woman, concluded, in honor of the guest, to forego her usual cold dinner on Sunday, and just before starting to church she slipped a fine fat turkey into the oven to roast under a slow fire while shewas gone. On returning an odor of burning ment filled the house, and smoke was seen tvuming trom the oven. "Why, daughter, what is thatt" asked the Rev. Jonas as his nostrils sniffed the unpleasant odor. The daughter-in-law, conscience stricken and abashed, said meekly: "A broken Sabbath, father a broken Sabbath." "Humphl" was the old gentleman's immediate reply, "don't break another one, please, if it's going to smell like that."—Detroit Free Fress.

A Vermont Cat.

A Lapell has a knowing cat in his grist mill that has been there long enough to be familiar with the business. Upon opening his place of business one morning Mr. Lapell found tiie cat had caught a rat and placed the same on the scales to be weighed. Tho slide on the weighing bar was at the exact weight of the rat—two pounds. Whether tho cat climbed the scales after placing the rat on the platform and actually weighed the rat Mr. Lapell is not prepared to say.— Scranton (Vt.) Courier.