Times and Seasons, 15 July 1842
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Source Note
Times and Seasons (, Hancock Co., IL), 15 July 1842, vol. 3, no. 18, pp. 847–862; edited by JS. For more complete source information, see the source note for Letter to Isaac Galland, 22 Mar. 1839.
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Historical Introduction
The 15 July 1842 issue of the Times and Seasons was the tenth published under JS’s editorship. This issue featured correspondence from missionaries and various articles about the and the wider world. The contents covered a wide range of topics and included a letter from in Europe to his fellow members of the , an installment of the serialized “History of Joseph Smith,” an article about a destructive fire in , minutes from a held by missionaries in Utica, New York, and an article reprinted from the Boston Investigator reporting on a debate between Dr. George Montgomery West and in .In addition to this, content created by the editorial staff for the issue included two articles, as well as a notice from the and Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. The first editorial article advocated theocracy as the ideal form of government, while the second—written after a lengthy excerpt from Josiah Priest’s book American Antiquities—used excerpts from the Book of Mormon to expand on Priest’s argument about an ancient people who had lived on the American continent. Although these editorials were each signed “Ed.,” for “Editor,” JS does not appear to have authored them, and his involvement in writing them is unclear. As the acknowledged editor of the paper, however, he would have taken responsibility for the editorial statements and presumably approved the content; such content is therefore featured here.Note that only the editorial content created specifically for this issue of the Times and Seasons is annotated here. Articles reprinted from other papers, letters, conference minutes, and notices, are reproduced here but not annotated. Items that are stand-alone JS documents are annotated elsewhere; links are provided to these stand-alone documents.
Footnotes
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1
See “Editorial Method”.
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1
From the Herald.
A HYMN.
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by james arlington bennett, of N. Y.
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written for the fourth of july.
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Tune— “Hail Columbia.”
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Hail ye Mormons—chosen band?
Hail ye Saints of our lov’d land!
Who suffered much in freedom’s cause.
Who with your blood have seal’d your laws;
And now fierce persecution’s gone,
Enjoy the peace your faith hath won.
Let your religion be your boast.
Every mindful what it cost,
Ever grateful for the prize,
Let its Altar reach the skies.
Chorus—Be ye faithful, just and true,
Brothers, in the great ;
Firm, united without fear,
Worship in your temples here.
Immortal Masters, rise once more,
“Defend your faith, defend your shore;”
Let Joseph, with the Prophet’s wand,
And all the saints who hold command,
Expel the foes who dare invade
The sanctuary of our dead.
“While offering peace sincere and just,
In heaven we place our only trust,
That truth and justice must prevail‘”
And all the schemes of bigots fail.
Be ye faithful, &c.
Sound, O! sound the trump of fame,
Let Jesus with the Mormon name,
Ring through the world with loud applause—
Our legion shall defend our cause.
“Let every clime to freedom dear,
Now listen with attentive ear,”
The Truth through all the world proclaim
Ye elders, in your Savior’s name;
While female voices sing the praise
Of Jesus in these latter days.
Be ye faithful, &c.
All hail, ye chiefs who hold command!
Hail, ye Patriarch of our band!
Ye Elders—faithful Elders, hail!
Ye Elders—faithful Elders, hail!
Ye seek for Empire over mind,
Ye seek for blessings on mankind.
A voice from heaven, ye nations hear,
The end of time is drawing near!
Delay not, stop not on the way,
But join our standard while you may.
Chorus—Be ye faithful, brave and true,
May 28th, 1842.
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Dr. West and the Mormons.—A discussion on the subject of Mormonism was commenced at the Marlboro’ Chapel, on Monday evening between Dr. George Montgomery West and Mr. , a Mormon . The audience was numerous; and, for Christian people, as orderly as could be expected—that is, rather boisterous. However the affair went off pretty well, and was, on the whole, quite interesting. The valient Dr. did his best, but he got most essentially mauled and “used up.” The Mormon, with the whole Bible at his tongue’s end, bore down upon him with a torrent of Scripture that swept away his objections like chaff before the hurricane, and the doughty Dr. was fairly at a loss how to get hold of him. This practice of quoting Scripture is a knock down argument with Christians; and as it can be made to prove Mormonism just as well as any thing else, the poor fellows had to swallow it—though we perceived that many of them made most awful faces. is a perfect tearer [terror] on the Bible quotations; and the way he brought them to bear in confirmation of Mormonism, must have sorely puzzled many of the faithful. To the infidel, however, it afforded another evidence, if any were wanting, that the Bible, in regards to the doctrines, as it is made to prove every thing, proves in fact nothing—or rather, nothing that is consistent.— Investigator.
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Editorial Note
The last editorial passage in the 15 July 1842 issue of the Times and Seasons was a notice informing members that had been restored to his position in the . Winchester had fallen into disfavor with church leaders while proselytizing in . In September 1841, disagreements had arisen between Winchester and over issues of church authority, discipline, and finances. Winchester returned to and in October 1841 attended a council meeting with the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, where JS reproved him. Winchester was counseled to repent, govern his disposition, and quit “talebearing and slandering his brethren.”
However, over several months in late 1841 and early 1842, the underwent a schism, with members dividing their support between and . In mid-May 1842, the Quorum of the Twelve approved the creation of a second congregation in Philadelphia, allowing the two groups to meet separately; they also suspended Winchester for continuing to disobey the and prohibited him from preaching until he obeyed the instructions he had been given in October 1841. A notice of this censure was printed in the Times and Seasons. Although the notice featured here indicated that Winchester had repented and reformed, the schism of the Philadelphia branch persisted until October 1842, when and of the held a in Philadelphia to resolve the leadership dispute. The two leaders reunited the branch under a new , .
NOTICE.
This may certify that Br. is restored to his former fellowship and standing in the .
He was suspended, according to previous notice, for neglect of council; but learning that he is disposed to abide by the laws of the church, we give him the hand of fellowship.
We would say to that it would be well for him to locate himself in another city immediately; and then it will be well with him, if he will be faithful and true to the great cause.
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The Times and Seasons,
Is edited, printed and published about the first and fifteenth of every month, on the corner of Water and Bain Streets, , Hancock County, Illinois, by
JOSEPH SMITH.
TERMS.—Two Dollars per annum, payable in all cases in advance. Any person procuring five new subscribers, and forwarding us Ten Dollars current money, shall receive one volume gratis. All letters must be addressed to Joseph Smith, publisher, post paid, or they will not receive attention. [p. 862]
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