Joseph Smith took the leadership or presidency of the church at Amboy, Ill.

"We (thirty thousand) have no affiliation with the Mormons whatever. They are to us an obsolete people, working all manner of abomination before God and man. We are no part or parcel of them in any sense whatever. Let this be distinctly understood. We are not Mormons. Truth is truth wherever it is found."

In the vestibule of the temple there is a photograph of Joseph Smith, Jr., and over it is written, "Joseph Smith, Jr., M. P. C., President of the Reorganized Church of I. C. and L. D. S." The garret of the temple was used formerly as a series of school-rooms for the young Mormons. There are mysterious closets, or, as Mr. F. G. Mather (in Lippincott's Magazine for August, 1880) calls them, "cubby-holes," in several parts of the building. In one of them was kept the body of "Joseph the son of Jacob," a roll of papyrus in his hand announcing this fact to the Saints.

When the temple at Kirtland was dedicated there was a great assemblage there, the Mormons spending the day in fasting and prayer. The members of the priesthood washed their bodies with pure water, and perfumed themselves with eau-de-cologne. They also washed each other's feet, and anointed each other with holy oil, pronouncing a benediction in the name of the Lord. In the evening they met to receive the long-expected endowment, when they first broke their fast by what they called the "Lord's Supper," in which they ate a light wheaten bread, and freely partook of wine, the prophet telling them it would not hurt them. A spirit of prophecy ensued in which they blessed their friends and cursed their enemies. An eye-witness of this strange scene says of it: "If I should be so unfortunate as to go to the re

gions of despair, I never expect to hear language more awful or more becoming the infernal pit."

In 1835 Smith issued a command at Kirtland, that his three or four hundred elders "should seek learning, study the best books, and get a knowledge of kingdoms, countries, and languages;" and a Jew by the name of Seixas was hired to teach languages.

The Temple has been used within a few years as an Odd Fellows' lodge. At the present time it is owned by Joseph Smith, Jr., and a Mr. Fortescue, who derived their title from a Mr. Huntley, a purchaser under a mortgage sale against the Prophet. This Joseph Smith, Jr., is a son of the Prophet; he was born at Kirtland in 1832, and was twelve years of age when his father was shot at Nauvoo. He has been a farmer, school-teacher, or director and justice of the peace. He has been the editor of The Latter Day Saints' Herald at Plano, Ill.

When Smith, the Prophet, and Rigdon fled in the night from Kirtland, the Mormons were divided into Rigdonites, Strangites, and various sects, and scattered to several localities; but a few familics remained, of whom some aged members are still living who are full of reminiscences of their remarkable experiences in early life in connection with the beginning of Mormonism.

The Methodists at Kirtland now use what was the Theological Seminary of the Mormons for their church, and the residences of Rigdon and Smith are well preserved and are close to the quaint edifice described, for which the Prophet said he had a special revelation as to plan and architecture.*

seen in

*Several Mormons now resident in Utah who remember the dedication of the Temple at Kirtland, declare that angels were the auditorium, and that a babe two months old cried out : Hallelujah!''

66

Glory

CHAPTER V.

Interview with D. P. Hurlburt at Gibonburg, Ohio, and with E. D. Howe, at Painesville, Ohio, in 1880.

In the year 1878 Mrs. McKinstry gave a gentleman residing in Utah, who is gathering material for an elaborate history of Mormonism, permission to question Dr. Hurlburt concerning the Spaulding manuscript. He made no response, although there was abundant evidence that he received the request. It is also known that he received other requests of the same character, which he has never acknowledged.

In 1834 Mrs. Davison heard that Hurlburt sold the manuscript to the Mormons for a sum of money, which he used in purchasing the farm near Gibsonburg, Ohio (about twelve miles from Fremont), where he now resides, and that the Mormons burned the manuscript at Conneaut. A second report was to the effect that Hurlburt sold it with the sworn agreement that it should not be given to the world until after his death. There are circumstances which support both theories; but the author's opinion, after a careful study of the matter, is, that Hurlburt made a copy of the original manuscript, which he sold to E. D. Howe, of Painesville, to use in writing the book "Mormonism Unveiled," and sold the original to the Mormons, who destroyed it. The life of Hurlburt since his return from his errand of duplicity to Munson shows conclusively that he wishes to hide himself from the world, and that he is burdened with a secret which he does not intend shall come to light through any act or revelation of his own.

THE INTERVIEW WITH DR. HURLBURT.

In August of 1880 the author had an article published in Scribner's Magazine on the "Book of Mormon," and in the November following visited Dr. Hurlburt at his home, near Gibsonburg, Ohio, in company with Oscar Kellogg, Esq., of Norwalk, a well-known lawyer of the vicinity. (Appendix, see Mr. Kellogg's letter, No. 7.) From notes written immediately after this visit, while staying in Mr. Kellogg's house, and while every detail and circumstance was fresh in the writer's mind, a description of the interview with Hurlburt will be here given.

In advance, it must be stated that Hurlburt had not the remotest anticipation of this visit, and that it was an entire surprise to him and his family. It was on November 13th, 1880, a cold, cheerless day, that Mr. Kellogg and myself made the journey from Fremont to Gibsonburg. A more forlorn country and worse roads it would be difficult to find in any portion of the United States; indeed, save for the telegraph wires and a line of railway that passes through Gibsonburg, one could imagine one's self at the antipodes, while traversing the melancholy twelve miles between Fremont and Dr. Hurlburt's house, which is a mile from the railway station at Gibsonburg.

Driving up to the front of a small white-painted cottage some distance from the road, we alighted without attracting attention. It was noon-time, and, stepping on the piazza, we heard within sounds that gave evidence of the midday meal and conversation. Rapping at the door, it was opened by an old woman, who had just risen from a table, where sat an old man, a young girl, and a young man, who were still engaged in eating. Advancing into the room, after excuses for so intruding,

I asked the old man, who, with the others, now rose from

I gave him a letter, saying that it was from the Hon. John Rice, of Fremont; and as he seemed very much agitated, I inquired :

"Shall I read it to you?"

"Yes," he again replied.

The letter mentioned the writer as seeking information regarding Mormonism. In short, it was a letter introducing Mr. Kellogg and myself, written by Dr. Hurlburt's physician, Dr. Rice, who had said to me that Hurlburt was in a precarious condition of health, and whatever I had to ask of him had better not be delayed, and that I had better see him at once.

Dr. D. P. Hurlburt died in 1882, two years after the interview described.

By the time I began the letter we were all seated, save Hurlburt, who remained standing; and when I had. finished reading he was shaking violently, as with palsy, and very greatly agitated. I was struck with his appearance. He was still a very handsome old man, even in his shabby clothing and amid his plain and homely surroundings, having a fine, ruddy complexion, expressive eyes, long, abundant gray hair, and a figure of excellent proportions. He looked at us both curiously, then with difficulty burst out :

"I don't know what has made folks so curious about Mormonism lately. I think it is an article in a magazine published last summer. Why, I haven't heard anything about the Mormons in forty years till now; and there's a man named Craig, in Alleghany City, and one named Cobb, in Salt Lake City (above alluded to), and another