MORMONS

The name a umed by a religious sect in the United States of North America, which derives its origin from a person called Joseph Smith, whose account of his own mi ion is as follows: — He all at once found himself labouring in a state of great darkne and wretchedne of mind — in the first stage, in fact, of what is ordinarily known among Methodists as •' receiving a call." He was bewildered among the conflicting doctrines of the Christian world, and could find no comfort or mental rest. In this state he resorted to earnest and " vocal " prayer, kneeling in the woods and fields, and after long perseverance in this course, his prayers were answered by the appearance of a bright light in heaven, which gradually descended until it enveloped the worshipper, who found himself standing face to face with two supernatural beings. Of these he inquired which was the right and true religion of the world? The reply was, that all religions M-ere equally erroneous, but that the true doctrine and the crowning dispensation of Christianity should at a future periotl be miraculouslv revealed to himself. Several similar visitations ensued, and at length he was informed that the North American Indians were a remnant of Israel; that when they first entered America they were a great, enlightened, and favoured people; that their priests and rulers kept the records of their history and their doctrines; but that, having fallen off from the true faith and worship, the great body of the nation were supernaturally destroyed — not, however, until after a priest and prophet named Mormon had, by celestial direction, drawn up an abstract ,000 had been baptised in Engla; of which nearly 17,000 had emigrated from her sbr " to Zion." (The above details are borrowed from interesting little work called " The Mormons, or Lat;. Day Saints," published by the proprietors of the " lllus trated London News.") MOTORY, or [s. 1403]