| 199 on the other side of the river directly opposite of which is spread a fairy isle, covered with beautiful timber. The isle and the romantic swell of the river soon brought my mind back to days of yore, and to the bright emerald isles of the far famed fairy land. The bold and prominent rise of the hill, fitting to the plain with an exact regularity, and the plain pushing itself into the river, forcing it to bend around its obstacle with becoming grandeur, and fondly to cling around it to add to the heightened and refined lustre [luster] to this sequestered land.
I passed on into the more active parts of the city, looking into every street and lane to observe all that was passing. I found all the people engaged in some useful and healthy employment. The place was alive with business-much more son than any place I have visited since the hard times commenced. I sought in vain for any thing that bore the marks of immorality; but was both astonished and highly pleased at my ill success. I could see no loungers about the streets, nor any drunkards about the taverns. I did not meet with those distorted features of ruffians, or with the ill-bred or impudent. I heard not an oath in the place, I saw not a gloomy countenance; all were cheerful, polite and industrious.
I conversed with many leading men-found them social and well informed, hospitable and generous. I saw nothing but order and regulation in the society. Where then, I exclaimed, is all this startling proof of the utter profligacy of Nauvoo? Where, in the name of God, is the immorality charged upon the citizens of it; and what dreadful outbreaking crimes have given men the licence [license] to deprecate this place so much as they do? Where is the gang of marauders, horse thieves and ruffians, the drunkards and vicious men of Nauvoo? Where are the horrid forms of human beings distorted with hellish rage and maddened ire? Where are the dark diabolical superstitions? Where are those specimens of credulity and ignorance? Where are those damning doctrines of demons? Where, in fine, is this slough, this sink of iniquity of which I have heard so much? Surely not in Nauvoo. They must have got; the wrong place, or wilfully [willfully] lied about it. I could but bluish with disappointed shame for my friends who had so misinformed me, and very soon made up my mind, like the Queen of Sheba, not to believe any reports of enemies, but to always, like her, go and see for myself. Reader, go thou and do likewise; and if you have heard the place praised, go up and see, and lo and behold, you will find the half has not been told you.
To the Editor of the Times and Seasons.
Nauvoo, Illinois, May 22, 1843
Dear Brother,-In answer to your's of May 4th concerning the Latter Day Saints forming a Temperance Society, we would say as Paul said:-Be not unequally yoked with unbelievers," but contend for the faith once delivered to the saints, and, as Peter advises, so say we:-add to your knowledge temperance. As Paul said he had to become all things to all men, that he might thereby save some, so must the elders of the last days do, and, being sent out to preach the gospel, and warn the world of the judgments to come, we are sure, when they teach as directed by the Spirit, according to the revelations of Jesus Christ, that they will preach the truth, and prosper, without complaint. Thus we have no new commandment to give, but admonish elders and members to live by every word that proceedeth forth from the mouth of God, lest they come short of the glory that is reserved for the faithful.
W. Richards Clerk
(From the Boston Bee.)
Mormonism.
Nauvoo, Ill., March 14th, 1843.
To the Editor: Sir,-In gone-by years, and long before I had heard of the prophet "Joseph Smith," and, indeed, before he had existence, I had formed some very curious ideas about the ancient prophets. From reading their history in the Bible, I supposed they must have been men of no ordinary proportions; or, if so, that there was something about them different from other men, by which they might be distinguished at sight. As a matter of course, I thought they must have had grey [gray] hairs for a covering to make them appear very dignified, and beard as long as a Jew; for if they shaved, it would shew [show] that they were men; and could I have had the privilege of looking at one, I should have expected to have seen him clad in sheep, goat, bear or wolf skin, wandering about on the mountains, like the beasts he had robbed of their garments; lodging in the caves and dens of the earth, and subsisting on the fruits and nuts of the forests. A being too holy, too sanctified, too exhalted [exalted] , by his high calling, to appear in the habitations or among the society of men, unless he had some important message to communicate direct from Heaven; some revelation or commandment to promulge to his fellows, and then he would just come forth, and cry out, like the beasts in the wilderness, with so much sacred sanctity that every body would know he was a prophet; and if, by nothing else when they saw his nails like bird's claws, and his hairs like eagles feathers, and his face and
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