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New York, April 3, 1841.
Rev. and Dear Sir: I have often heard that the "Mormons"
claimed me for an auxiliary, but as no one until the present time
has even requested from me a statement in writing, I have not deemed
it worth while to say anything publicly on the subject. What I do
know of the sect relates to some of the early movements; and as
the facts may amuse you, while they will furnish a satisfactory
answer to the charge of my being a Mormon proselyte, I proceed to
lay them before you in detail.
Many years ago,--the precise date I do not now recollect,--a plain-looking
countryman called upon me with a letter from Dr. Samuel L. Mitchell,
requesting me to examine, and give my opinion upon a certain paper,
marked with various characters, which the doctor confessed he could
not decipher, and which the bearer of the note was very anxious
to have explained. A very brief examination of the paper, convinced
me that it was a mere hoax, and a very clumsy one too. The characters
were arranged in columns, like the Chinese mode of writing, and
presented the most singular medley that I ever beheld. Greek, Hebrew
and all sorts of letters, more or less distorted, either through
unskilfulness or from actual design, were intermingled with sundry
delineations of half moons, stars, and other natural objects, and
the whole ended in a rude representation of the Mexican zodiac.
The conclusion was irresistible, that some cunning fellow had prepared
the paper in question for the purpose of imposing upon the countryman
who brought it, and I told the man so without any hesitation. He
then proceeded to give me the history of the whole affair, which
convinced me that he had fallen into the hands of some sharper,
while it left me in great astonishment at his simplicity. On my
telling the bearer of the paper that an attempt had been made to
impose on him and defraud him of his property, he requested me to
give him my opinion in writing about the paper which he had shown
to me. I did so without hesitation, partly for the man's sake, and
partly to let the individual "behind the curtain" see
that his trick was discovered. The import of what I wrote was, as
far as I can now recollect, simply this, that the marks in the paper
appeared to be merely an imitation of various alphabetical characters,
and had, in my opinion, no meaning at all connected with them. The
countryman then took his leave, with many thanks, and with the express
declaration that he would in no shape part with his farm, or embark
in the speculation of printing the golden book.
The matter rested here for a considerable time, until one day, when
I had ceased entirely to think of the countryman and his paper,
he paid me a second visit. He now brought with him a duodecimo volume,
which he said was a translation into English of the "Golden
Bible." He also stated, that notwithstanding his original determination,
he had been induced evidently to sell his farm, and apply the money
to the publication of the book, and received the golden plates as
a security for payment. He begged my acceptance of the volume, assuring
me that it would be found extremely interesting, and that it was
already "making great noise" in the upper part of the
state. Suspecting now, that some serious trick was on foot, and
that my plain-looking visitor might be in fact a very cunning fellow,
I declined his present, and merely contented myself with a slight
examination of the volume while he stood by. The more I declined
receiving it, however, the more urgent the man became in offering
the book, until at last I told him plainly that if he left the volume,
as he said he intended to do, I should most assuredly throw it after
him as he departed. I then asked him how he could be so foolish
as to sell his farm and engage in this affair; and requested him
to tell me if the plates were really of gold. In answer to this
latter inquiry, he said, that he had not seen the plates himself,
which were carefully locked up in a trunk, but that he had the trunk
in his possession. I advised him by all means to open the trunk
and examine its contents, and if the plates proved to be of gold,
which I did not believe at all, to sell them immediately. His reply
was, that. if he opened the trunk, the "curse of Heaven would
descend upon him and his children. However," added he, "I
will agree to open it, provided you take the 'curse of Heaven' upon
yourself, for having advised me to the step." I told him I
was perfectly willing to do so, and begged him to hasten home and
examine the trunk, for he would find that he had been cheated. He
promised to do as I recommended, and left me, taking his book with
him. I have never seen him since.
Such is a plain statement of all I know respecting the "Mormons."
My impression now is, that the plain-looking countryman was none
other than the Prophet Smith himself, who assumed an appearance
of great simplicity in Order to entrap me, if possible, into some
recommendation of his book. That the Prophet aided me, by his inspiration,
in interpreting the volume, is only one of the many amusing falsehoods
which the "Mormonites" utter, relative to my participation
in their doctrines. Of these doctrines I know nothing whatever,
nor have I ever heard a single discourse from any of their preachers,
although I have often felt a strong curiosity to become an auditor,
since my friends tell me that they frequently name me in their sermons,
and even go so far as to say that I am alluded to in the prophecies
of scripture!
If what I have here written shall prove of any service in opening
the eyes of some of their deluded followers to the real designs
of those who profess to be the apostles of "Mormonism,"
it will afford me satisfaction equalled, I have no doubt, only by
that which yourself will feel on this subject.
I remain, very respectfully and truly,
Your friend,
CHAS. ANTHON.
Rev. Dr. T. W. Coit, New Rochelle, N. Y.
In the latter he states that he refused to give his opinion in
writing on the characters submitted to him; but in his letter to
Rev. Coit he says that he gave a written opinion to Harris without
hesitation, and to the effect that the marks on the paper appeared
to be merely an imitation of various alphabetical characters that
had no meaning at all connected with them. According to Martin Harris'
statement he gave him a certificate to the effect that the characters
submitted were genuine, and that the translation accompanying them
was correct; but upon hearing that the existence of the Nephite
plates was made known to Joseph Smith by a heavenly messenger, he
requested the return of the paper he had given Martin Harris, and
he destroyed it, saying that the visitation of angels had ceased,
etc., etc. I shall leave it for the anti-"Mormon" friends of Mr.
Anthon to reconcile the contradiction that occurs in his statements,
merely remarking that since the doctor in one letter declares that
he refused to give Martin Harris a written opinion on the characters;
and in the other that he gave him a written opinion, increases very
much one's faith in Martin Harris' statement as against that of
Professor Anthon's upon this point; namely, that the Professor gave
Harris a written statement, but afterwards recalled and destroyed
it. The reader should observe also that in his letter to Rev. Coit,
written in 1841, the Professor says that no one until that time
had ever requested from him a statement in writing on the subject
of his connection with the Book of Mormon. Yet as a matter of fact
E. D. Howe had addressed him a letter on the subject, asking him
for a statement, in 1834, to which request the professor responded,
telling substantially the same story as in this letter to Rev. Coit,
excepting as to the written opinion furnished to Harris. (Roberts)
Wesley P. Walters on selittänyt tämän niin, että
Howe ei ollut kertonut Anthonille aikovansa julkaista hänen
kirjeensä, minkä vuoksi Anthon sitä pyysi 1834. Siksi
hän v. 1841 sanoo, ettei kukaan ole pyytänyt lausuntoa
häneltä julkaistavaksi ennen sitä.
Lähde: B. H. Roberts, New Witnesses for God, Vol.2,
Ch.5, pp.77-80
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