RLDS Church History Context

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Source: Church History Vol. 4 Chapter 20 Page: 364 (~1882)

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364 came, and President Garfield died on September 19, 1881. The editorial page of the Herald for October 1 was in mourning and contained the following editorial notice:

The readers of the Herald will read of the death of President James A. Garfield with pain and regret; with pain that one to whom the voice of the people had relegated the highest office known to our form of government, had been taken away before the expiration of his term of office, with all the brilliant promises of his inauguration, and the hopes of his admirers and friends unfulfilled; with regret that our civilization and political policy should have developed a mind so depraved as to compass by violence the end of so good a career. "The President is dead" are sad words on American lips; and American hearts are filled with grief. But Saints are not unused to contemplate such scenes of violence, and they remember that years ago, Government failed to rebuke lawlessness and violence; and hence they are not unprepared to see murder to take advantage of such mistaken policy to wreak spite, or insane desires for selfish ambition upon the highest in the land. Let us mourn, but be patient; sad, but loving; indignant and hurt, but law-abiding, and hopeful that out of a nation's sorrow a nation's sanctification may come.

Elder Peter N. Brix arrived at Aalborg, Denmark, July 7, having sailed from New York June 25. He states: "Found the little band of Saints all well. We were happy to meet again."

On July 16, 1881, Joseph Young, Sr., who was president of the seventies at the time of the death of Joseph Smith in 1844, died in Salt Lake City, Utah. (See Doctrine and Covenants 107: 44).

The following letter from E. D. Howe, author of "History of Mormonism," will be interesting reading to those who are investigating the claims made for "Manuscript Found," by Solomon Spalding. The letter was addressed to Elder T. W. Smith:

PAINESVILLE, Ohio, July 26, 1881.

Sir: Your note of 21st is before me,-and I will answer your queries seriatim.

lst. The manuscript you refer to was not marked on the outside or inside "Manuscript Found." It was a commonplace story of some Indian wars along the borders of our Great Lakes, between the Chicagoes and Eries, as I now recollect-not in Bible style, but purely modern.

2d. It was not the original "Manuscript Found," and I do not believe Hurlbut ever had it.

3d. I never saw or heard read the "Manuscript Found;" but have seen

(page 364)

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