was loaded with one bee-gum, and household stuff, consisting of beds, or bed-clothes, kinder tied up; also, there were onions in the waggon. Mr. Carn that evening remarked that there would be in that evening a considerable number of sheep and catile; and further remarked, that it looked to him sometimes that it was not right [!] to take plunder, but that it was according to the directions of Joseph Smith, Jun., and that was the reason why he did it. The next morning I saw a considerable number of sheep on the square, in Far West, near about one hundred." 1b. p. 26. XV.-Marionism enjoins secrecy with regard to its real designs, under penalty of death. "And now I say unto you, Keep these things from going abroad unto the world, until it is expedient in me, that ye may accomplish this work, &c.,-in the eyes of your enemies, that they may not know your work until ye have accomplished the thing which I commanded you." Doc. and Cov., p. 132. XVI.-Mormonism sanctions secret societies, and assumes the right to inflict the penalty of death upon such as refuse to comply with the dictates of its leaders. "Sampson Avard, a witness, produced, sworn, and examined, in behalf of the state, deposeth and saith: "That about four months since, a band called the Daughters of Zion, (since calle! the Danite Band,) was formed of the members of the Mormon church, the original object of which was to drive from the county of Caldwell all those who dissented from the Mormon church; in which they succeeded admirahly, and to the satisfaction of all concerned. 1 consider Joseph Smith, Jun., as the prime mover and organ izer of this band. The officers of the band, according to their grades, were brought before him, at a school-house, together with Hiram Smith and Sidney Rigdon; the three composing the first presidency of the whole church. It was stated by Joseph Smith, Jun, that it was necessary this band should be bound together by a covenant, that those who revealed the secrets of the society should be put to death. The covenant taken by all the Danite Band was as follows, to wit:-They declared, holding up their right hand, 'In the name of Jesus Christ, the son of God, I do solemnly obligate myself ever to conceal and never to reveal the secret purposes of this society, called the Daughters of Zion. Should I ever do the same, I hold my life as the forfeiture." Cong. Doc No 189, p. 1, 2. John Cleminson, a [Mormon] witness, produced, sworn, and examined. for the state, deposeth and saith: "Some time in June I attended two or three Danite meetings; and it was taught there as a part of the duty of the band, that they should support the presidency in all their designs, right or wrong; that whatever they said was to be obeyed, and whoever opposed the presidency in what they said or desired done, should be expelled from the county, or have their lives taken. “Dr. Avard further taught as a part of their obligation, that if any one betrayed the secret designs of the society, they should be killed and laid aside, and nothing said about it." Ib p. 15. Some of the language used in the Book of Mormon proves that book to have been written, or put into its present shape, since 1827, as it quotes much of the language used about that time concerning Free Masonry; and hence it denounces secret societies, oaths, &c. But by this testimony it is proved that the Mormons havet heir 'secret societies,' and we believe they have them in New York, Philadelphia, and most of the places where they have made converts to their delusion. XVII.—Mormonism compels its victims to a course of irreligion and crime, under the penalty of death. From the testimony of Dr. Avard: "Joseph Smith, Jun., the Sunday before the late disturbances in Daviess, at a church meeting, gave notice that he wished the whole county collected on the next day, at Far West. He declared that all who did not take up arms in defence of the Mormons of Daviess, should be considered as tories, and should take their exit from the country." Cong. Doc., 189, p. 2. In the paper signed by eighty-four Mormons, and addressed to Oliver Cowdery, David Whitmar, John Whitmar, Wm. W. Phelps, and Lyman E. Johnson, we have the following:~ There are no threats from you-no fear of losing our lives by you, or by any thing you can say or do, will restrain us; for out of the county you shall go, and no power shall save you. And you shall have three days after you receive this communication to you, including twenty-four hours in each day, for you to depart with your families peaceably; which you may do undisturbed by any person; but in that time, if you do not depart, we will use the means in our power to cause you to depart; for go you shall." lb. page 6. "Morris Phelps, a [Mormon] witness, produced, sworn, and examined for the state, deposeth and saith: "That Parley P. Pratt was in the battle with Bogart. Darwin Chase was one of the expedition, but not in the battle. Lyinan Gibbs was in the battle; thinks Benjamin Jones was in the battle. Norman Shearer was also, and wounded. I was called upon by Charles C. Rich to go down to Crooked River to help reliève some Mormon prisoners, who, it was said, had been taken by a mob I first refused to go; but, being threatened with force, I consented to go. Rigdon, in speaking of dissenters, who were unwilling to fight mobs, said that they ought to be pitched upon their horses with pitchforks and bayonets, and forced into the front of the battle, and their property confiscated to the use of the army." Ib, page 12. From the testimony of John Corrill: "President Rignon, in a speech, said, that those who were unwilling to go into the war, ought to be put upon their horses with guns and bayonets, and forced into the front of the war. No persons were suffered to leave the country in those extreme times." Ib, page 13. From the testimony of John Cleminson: "On the Monday prior to the last Daviess expedition, I heard Mr. Rigdon say that those who had heretofore been backward in taking up arms in defending themselves, ought to, or should, be put upon their horses with bayonets and pitchforks; and Smith said, forced into the front of the battle; and that the property of those who would not go into the war should be consecrated to the use of those who did. Mr. Smith said their beef, corn, and potatoes they would take, "I went in the expedition to Daviess, in which Gallatin was burnt, as I felt myself compelled to go from the regulations which had been made" Ib. page 16. From the testimony of Reed Peck: "Such men as would oppose things undertaken, as being unlawful, and such as they feared was a violation the law, I have heard Smith and Rigdon, in their public addresses, denominate, 'O don't men.' These I understood to be those who were denominated, also, dissenters; and in reference to men who were hanging back, and did not wish to engage in their expeditions, they were called traitors; and referring to such, as I understood, Mr. Rigden proposed that blood should first begin to flow at Far West, [that is, that these men shouldbe put to death!] The proposition was then made and carried unauimously, that those who thus hung back should be pitched upon their horses and made to go, and placed in the front of the army. "I heard Dr. Avard say, that it was a regulation of that society [Danite Band] that no one should speak against them, or hear any one else do it with impunity." b., page 18. Burr Riggs, a [Mormon] witness for the state, produced, sworn, and examined, deposeth and saith: "Joseph Smith, Jun., said there were certain men using their influence against the proceedings of the presidency, and if they were suffered to go on, they would do great injury. And Smith told Robinson that the first man he heard speaking against the presidency, and against their proceedings, he must tie him up and give him thirty-nine lashes; and if that would not do, give him thirty-nine more, until he was sorry for what he had said; and Robinson said he would do it.”. "While the last expedition was going on in Daviess, there was a meeting in Far West, in which Mr. Sidney Rigdon presided. There were present about 60 or 100 men; a guard was put around the house, and one was placed at the door Mr. Rigdon said that the last man had run away from Far West that was a-going to; that the next man who started he should be pursued and brought back, dead or alive.He further said that one man had slipped his wind yesterday, and had been thrown aside into the brush for the buzzards to pick, and the first man that lisped it should die." Ib., p. 29, 30. "John Whitmar, a [Mormon] witness for the state, produced, sworn and examined, deposein and saith: Mr. Smith said that any person who spoke or acted against the presidency or the church, should leave the country, or die." b. p. 33. "Benjamin Slade, a [Mormon] witness for the state, produced, sworn and examined, deposeth and saith: "I was in a meeting in a school-house in Far West, while the Mormon troops were in Diahmon, in the last expedition. After the assembly had got into the house a guard was placed at the door. Mr. Rigdon got up, and in a speech said that the time had now come in which every man must take his part in this war; and that they had been running away and leaving Caldwell county, and that the last man had now left the county that should be suffered to do so. A formal vote, by way of resolution, or covenant, was put-that, if any man attempted to leave the county, any one of the company then present was to kill him, and say nothing about it, and throw him into the brush. When this was put to vote, I heard no one vote egainst it. Rigdon then called for the negative vote, and said he wanted to see if any one dared to vote against it. There was no negative vote." lb., p. 37. "Addison F. Green, a [Mormon] witness for the state, produced, sworn, and examined, deposeth and saith: "I heard Sidney Rigdon, (speaking of those who would attempt to leave the county at that time) say, 'it was the duty of any present, if they saw such movements, to stop the men,' and if they persisted in going, he said something about sending them to the other world to tell their hellish news, or something like this." Ib. page 38. [TO BE CONTINUED.] From the New York Evangelist. THE GREATEST REWARD EVER OFFERED. As I look over the papers I now and then find offers of large rewards by injured individuals or communities, for the detection of offenders for the purpose of bringing them to punishment. This stimulates the officers of justice, and sharpens the eyes of multitudes eager for the prize I think it would not be amiss to offer rewards for turning thieves into honest men, drunkards into sober men, liars into lovers of the truth. It would argue great benevolence in the government to offer a handsome prize-some earthly and precious gift-to those who should do the most to reclaim the vicious and make virtuous and happy men of them. But governments savor too much of vengeance. Their rewards are for the capture of the offender with a view to his punishment. This may be often expedient, but if they were to offer some handsome bounties for good done for the rescue of the degraded, and the recovery of the abandoned, I do not think it would be one of the causes of their ruin.' There is a government I have read of lately that does this thing. I was struck with the Chief Magistrate's proclamation. I never read of so large a reward offered for any enterprize Many of the subjects of that government had revolted, ill-treated the supreme authority, and did what they could to injure the public welfare. The Head of the government offered a reward to any that should bring the rebels back, not for the purpose of punishing them, but for the purpose of making wise and good men of them. The object was not to imprison, or put to death, or afflict in any way the revolted; but to do them good. This is so strange, that my readers will not be satisfied with my account it, and I must give them the exact words-"They that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament; and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars forever and ever." I think that is a very remarkable proclamation. The reward offered is large enough to meet any man's desire. "Shine as the stars!" People sometimes shine in gold lace, and glitter with diamonds and precious stones; but all this is pitiful compared with the stars-a lamp to the sun. And then to shine "forever and ever!" perish; but here is everlasting brightness. Gold grows dim, diamonds moral excellence, and therefore must be connected with happiness. We cannot predict the happiness of that pure and beautiful star; but that moral being, shining in the beauty of holiness forever and ever, must have fullness of joy. This brightness is blessedness. But for what is this reward offered? For "bringing many to righteousness." Not for catching rebels and bringing them to punishment. Not for helping the hand of justice to overtake the vile and abandoned with the true reward of their deeds; but this is a bounty for making men wise and good. It is a plan of infinite love to stir up one immortal mind to the making another happy; yea, and to make as many as possible happy. And if such an offer of reward does not set men's hearts on fire with zeal to seek each other's holiness, it cannot be for want of greatness in the reward. And if this does not make us think well of the Great King that makes the proclamation, what can? What will show that he cares for the welfare of men, if such an attempt to engage them in making others happy does not? He wishes men to be blessed by being turned to righteousness, and wishes to make them blessed by being the agents of such a change in each other. Let us all try to get the bounty offered. It will take us a good while to reckon up all the good of "shining as the stars for ever and ever." PASCAL. ENJOYMENT OF RELIGION-No. III. EXPERIENCE OF EUSEBIA. EUSEBIA had a family committed to her from the Lord. She reasoned thus:-These children are the Lord's. He is their Creator. He gave them to me to educate for him. How shall I do it? Oh! what a responsibility! These dear children he has made most interesting to me by a thousand sensibilities, sympathies, feelings, ties, to which I can give no expression! Oh! what significance and eloquence in the word mother! What a mysterious, anxious, pleasing, enrapturing relation is represented by that most familiar, honorable, and endearing word. Would to God that I could fathom and comprehend its more than magic sway over all the fountains of sympathy; over all the sources of tender affection in the peculiar nature and constitution of woman! But I cannot expect it. The relation I perchance feel, but language is too imperfect a vehicle to reveal all its emotions, fears, hopes, loves, joys, delights. The mother is woman multiplied by herself as often as God has given her offspring. Her offspring is herself still more endeared by all the tenderness of conjugal affection, and the helpless innocence of one absolutely dependent upon her very person for subsistence, protection, and enjoyment. But this dear little creature-what is it? The offspring of the Great Father of the whole family in heaven and on earth! From me it only dates its being, its origin, its character, its |
