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The General Synod of this Church, composed of delegates from the District Synods, meets triennially. The Lutherans have four Theological Seminaries, viz: at Hartwich, N. Y.; Gettysburg, Pa.; Lexington, S. C.; and at Columbus, Ohio. The Lutheran Observer is published weekly, at Baltimore.

NOTE K.-METHODISTS.

The following TABLE, taken from the "Minutes of the Annual Conferences of the Methodist Episcopal Church, for the year 1835," exhibits the statistics of that denomination.

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Total, 566,957 183,135 |2436|652,528 2608 | 150

The population of all denominations of Methodists in the United States, exceeds 3,000,000.

This denomination publishes a number of periodicals, among which are the following weekly newspapers: Wesleyan Journal, Portland, Me.; Zion's Herald, Boston, Ms.; Christian Advocate and Journal, New York; Conference Journal, Pittsburgh, Pa.; Christian Centinel, Richmond, Va.; Western Methodist, Nashville, Ten.; Western Christian Advocate, Cincinnati, Ohio.

NOTE L.-PROTESTANT METHODISTS.

This infant Church is in a flourishing condition. It contains about 50,000 members. There is a considerable number of this sect in New England, but by far the largest portion exist in the Middle and Southern States. Its population in the United States exceeds 100,000.

The Protestant Methodists support three religious periodical publications: The Methodist Protestant, Baltimore, Md., and the Olive Branch, Boston, Ms., issued weekly; and a semi-monthly paper, at New York. Considerable efforts are making by this church, to promote the cause of education and missionary operations.

NOTE M.-MORMONITES.

Their Origin. It appears that Mormonism had its origin in the County of Ontario, New York, in 1830. The ostensible projector was a man by the name of Joseph Smith, Jr., who pretended that he had found some golden or brass plates, like the leaves of a book, hid in a box in the earth, to which he was directed by an angel, in 1827; that the writing on them was in the "Reformed Egyptian language" that he was inspired to interpret the writing, or engraving, by putting two smooth flat stones, which he found in the box, in a hat, and putting his face therein.

Character of Smith.-The character of Smith, the author and publisher of the Book of Mormon, is thus given by his father-inlaw, Mr. Hale, of Harmony Township, Penn.

I first became acquainted with Joseph Smith, Jr., in November, 1825. He was at that time in the employ of a set of men who were called "money diggers" and his occupation was that of seeing, or pretending to see, by means of a stone placed in his hat, and his hat closed over his face. In this way, he pretended to discover minerals and hidden treasure. His appearance at this time, was that of a careless young man, not very well educated, and very saucy and insolent to his father. Smith and his father, with several other "money diggers," boarded at my house while they were employed in digging for a mine that they supposed had been opened and worked by the Spaniards, many years since. Young Smith gave the "money diggers" great encouragement at first, but when they had arrived in digging to near the place where he had stated an immense treasure would be found, he said the enchantment was so powerful that he could not see. They then became discouraged, and soon after dispersed.

After these occurrences, young Smith made several visits at my house, and at length asked my consent to marry my daughter Emma. This I refused, and gave him my reasons for so doing; some of which were, that he was a stranger, and followed a business that I could not approve. He then left the place. Not long after this, he returned; and while I was absent from home, carried off my daughter into the State of New York, where they were

married without my approbation, or consent. After they had arrived at Palmyra, N. Y., Emma wrote to me, inquiring whether she could have her property, consisting of clothing, &c. I replied that her property was safe, and at her disposal. In a short time they returned, bringing with them a Peter Ingersol, and subsequently came to the conclusion that they would move out, and reside upon a place near my residence.

Smith stated to me, that he had given up what he called "glasslooking," and that he expected to work hard for a living, and was willing to do so. Soon after this, I was informed they had brought a wonderful book of plates down with them. I was shown a box, in which it is said they were contained, which had, to all appearance, been used as a glass box, of the common sized window glass. I was allowed to feel the weight of the box, and they gave me to understand, that the book of plates was then in the box: into which, however, I was not allowed to look. I inquired of Joseph Smith, Jr., who was to be the first that would be allowed to see the book of plates. He said, it was a young child.

After this, I became dissatisfied, and informed him, that if there was any thing in my house of that description, whieh I could not be allowed to see, he must take it away; if he did not, I was determined to see it. After that, the plates were said to be hid in the woods.

About this time, Martin Harris made his appearance upon the stage; and Smith began to interpret the characters or hieroglyphics, which he said were engraven upon the plates, while Harris wrote down the interpretation. It was said that Harris wrote down one hundred and sixteen pages, and lost them. Soon after this happened, Martin Harris informed me that he must have a greater witness, and said that he had talked with Joseph about it; Joseph informed him that he could not or durst not show him the plates, but that he, (Joseph,) would go into the woods where the book of plates was, and that after he came back, Harris should follow his track in the snow, and find the book, and examine it for himself. Harris informed me afterwards, that he followed Smith's directions, and could not find the plates, and was still dissatisfied.

The next day after this happened, I went to the house where Joseph Smith, Jr. lived, and where he and Harris were engaged in their translation of the book. Each of them had a written piece of paper which they were comparing, and some of the words were"My servant seeketh a greater witness, but no greater witness can be given to him." There was also something said about "three that were to see the thing;" meaning, I supposed, the book of plates; and that "if the three did not go exactly according to orders, the thing would be taken from them." I inquired whose words they were, and was informed by Joseph or Emma, (I rather think it was the former,) that they were the words of Jesus Christ. I told them then, that I considered the whole of it a delusion, and advised them to abandon it. The manner in which he pretended to read and interpret, was the same as when he looked for the money

diggers, with the stone in his hat, and his hat over his face, while the book of plates was at the same time hid in the woods!

After this, Martin Harris went away, and Oliver Cowdry came and wrote for Smith, while he interpreted, as above described. This is the same Oliver Cowdry whose name may be found in the book of Mormon. Cowdry continued a scribe for Smith, until the book of Mormon was completed, as I supposed and understood.

Joseph Smith, Jr. resided near me for some time after this, and I had a good opportunity of becoming acquainted with him, and somewhat acquainted with his associates; and I conscientiously believe, from the facts I have detailed, and from many other circumstances, which I do not deem it necessary to relate, that the whole "Book of Mormon," (so called,) is a silly fabrication of falsehood and wickedness, got up for speculation, and with a design to dupe the credulous and unwary, and in order that its fabricators might live upon the spoils of those who swallowed the deception. ISAAC HALE.

Affirmed to, and subscribed before me, March 20, 1834. CHARLES DIMON, Just. Peace.

Susquehanna County, ss.

We, the subscribers, Associate Judges of the Court of Common Pleas, in and for said County, do certify that we have been for many years personally acquainted with Isaac Hale, of Harmony Township, in this County, who has attested the foregoing statement; and that he is a man of excellent moral character, and of undoubted veracity. Witness our hands,

March 21, 1834.

WILLIAM THOMPSON,
DAVIS DIMOCK.

Analysis of the Book of Mormon.-The volume contains 588 duodecimo pages, and purports to have been written at different times, and by the different authors whose names they respectively bear. The following are the names of the different Books in the order in which they occur:

1. First Book of Nephi.
2. Second Book of Nephi.
3. Book of Jacob, brother of

Nephi.

4. Book of Enos, son of Jacob. 5. Book of Jarom, son of Enos. 6. Book of Omni, son of Jarom. 7. Words of Mormon.

8. Book of Mosiah.

9. Book of Alma.

10. Book of Helaman,

11. Book of Nephi, son of Nephi, son of Helaman.

12. Book of Nephi, son of Nephi,
one of the disciples of
Christ.

13. Book of Mormon.
14. Book of Ether.

15. Book of Moroni.

The Book begins with the religious adventures of one Lehi, whose wife was Sariah, and their four sons, Laman, Lemuel, Sam, and Nephi. Lehi lived in Jerusalem all his life, up to the first year of Zedekiah, King of Judah; and when the prophets appeared, foretelling the utter destruction of Jerusalem, Lehi humbled himself, and after various visions and revelations, started with his sons into the wilderness. Lehi forgot to bring with him the records of his family, and that of the Jews; but Nephi, his younger son, with much pious courage returned and succeeded in getting upon plates of brass, the records of the Jews, from the creation down to the first year of Zedekiah, King of Judah, and also the prophets, including many prophecies delivered by Jeremiah.

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From the records, it appeared that this Lehi was a son of Joseph. He prevailed on one Ishmael and his family, to accompany him into the wilderness, whose daughters the sons of Lehi took for wives. Lehi was a greater prophet than any of the Jewish prophets, and uttered all the events of the Christian era, and developed the records of Matthew, Luke and John, six hundred years before John the Baptist was born. These pilgrims travelled several days journey in some wilderness, a South, South-east direction, along the borders of the Red Sea." A ball with pointers on it, inscribed with various intelligence, legible at proper times, was the pillar and index in passing through the wilderness for many, very many days. By their bow and arrow they lived for eight years, travelling an Easterly course from Jerusalem, until they came to a great sea. By divine revelation, Nephi constructed a ship, and although opposed by his unbelieving brethren, being greatly assisted by the Holy Spirit, he succeeded in launching her safely, and got all his tribe, with all their stock of seeds, animals, and provisions, safely aboard. They had "a compass," which none but Nephi knew how to manage; but the Lord had promised them a fine land, and after many perils and trials, and a long passage, they safely arrived at the land of promise. Nephi made brazen plates soon after his arrival in America, for that was the land of promise to them, and on these plates he marked their peregrinations and adventures, and all the prophecics which God gave to him concerning the future destinies of his people, and the human race.

After his father's death, his brethren rebelled against him. They finally separated in the wilderness, and became the heads of different tribes; often in the lapse of generations making incursions upon each other. The Nephites, like their father, for many generations, were good Christians, believers in the doctrines of modern theologians, and preaching baptism and other Christian usages, hundreds of years before Jesus Christ was born.

Before Nephi died, which was about fifty-five years from the flight of Lehi from Jerusalem, he had preached to his people every thing which is now preached in the State of New York, and an nointed or ordained his brother Jacob, priest over his people, called the Nephites. Jacob brought up his son Enos "in the nurture and admonition of the Lord," gave him the plates, and left him succes

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