Mr. Sidney Rigdon. — The above specifications, which may all be clearly demonstrated out of the Book of Mormon, point to the Mr. Sidney Rigdonas the theological editor of the book. The labor of editing it could not possibly have been accomplished by any other than a Disciple. Rigdon was the only Disciple minister who vigorously and continuously demanded that his brethren should adopt the additional points that have been indicated. He was also the Mormon leader who resolutely opposed polygamy when Mr. Smith received his famous revelation in 1843. His opposition drove him from the counsels and fellowship of that portion of the Saints which remained faithful to Smith and his measures.

Spaulding and the Manuscript Found. — Whatever may be true in relation to Solomon Spaulding, the conclusion is inexpugna ble that Mr. Rigdon had in his possession the manuscript of the Book of Mormon before it was delivered to Joseph Smith. To suppose that Joseph Smith, whose antecedents were Methodistic, and who at this period had no acquaintance with the Disciples or their sentiments, could have given the work the special theological coloring that it displays, would have been unreasonable. Though none of the actors in the Mormon drama has chosen to reveal the secret of Mr. Rigdon’s initiative, the Book of Mormon points to him on almost every page. Its testimony cannot be concealed or denied.

Nevertheless a measure of truth may be conceded to the stories that are reported concerning Spaulding. Criticism must allow that blunders are found in those stories, and that they cannot be accepted in all their details. For example, it is incorrect to affirm that Spaulding wrote only one Manuscript Found; that was likely a generic title for all his literary effusions. The first writing that lie produced under that title is believed to be the document that several years since was recovered in Honolulu. The second of his Manuscripts Found is suspected to have been the Book of Ether, and the third the Book of Mormon. It is affirmed that he continued to drivel a Manuscript Found even after he had quitted Pittsburg and retired to Amity, Pa., where his death befell in the year 1816.

It is also a fable which represents that Mr. Rigdon was ever a printer in Pittsburg. Most probably he obtained the Manuscript Found from the printing office of Butler & Lambdin upon the occasion of their failure in business, a number of years after Spaulding had deposited it with Patterson & Lambdin, who had been their predecessors. He may have purchased it for a mere trifle at their enforced sale, or. it may have been presented by Mr. Lambdin, who would be pleased to get rid of a bundle of useless rubbish. Most of the stories that have been put forth in the name of Mrs. Spaulding, widow of - Solomon Spaulding, are unworthy of credence. This good lady knew almost nothing concerning the literary occupations of her worthless husband, and was hardly prepared to be a witness in the case. Especially the statement that appeared over her signature on April 1, 1840, was improperly obtained, and she was not fairly responsible for it.

Mr. Joseph Smith. — Taking our stand upon the unquestionable testimony of the Book of Mormon to the effect that Mr. Rigdon was its editor, it may be inquired by what process his attention was first directed to Mr. Joseph Smith as a suitable agent to bring the work before the public. Here, it must be conceded, the investigator is much at a loss. No record has been kept of the peculiar fortune by which a minister of religion, residing at the moment in Pittsburg, Pa., could have had his thoughts first drawn to a smart Yankee lad of eighteen years, who resided at Manchester, in the northern portion of New York. Happily this question is not of much consequence; nobody can doubt the fact that he did find him. The first interview of the pair appears to have occurred on Sept. 21, 1823, when Sidney must have shown himself at the humble home of Joseph and passed a night with him. In subsequent years Mr. Smith liked to adopt a pictorial method in accordance with which Sidney was raised to the dignity of an angel. His mother, however, in a contemporary utterance, gave a description of the pretended angel that would fit the figure of Mr. Rigdon. very well. In the earlier years of Mormon history this angel was represented to be the angel Nephi, but upon subsequent consideration his name was changed to Moroni. That would agree well enough with the fact that Rigdon in his own person as editor had added the Book of Moroni at the close of the Book of Mormon.

Mr. Rigdon had no idea of committing such a precious treasure and such an important enterprise to the providence of a lad of eighteen years. Joseph was as yet too young and too giddy to receive the golden plates, but he nursed him assiduously for four years. It is conceivable that upon every return of Sept. 22 down to the year 1827, he went to New York to confer with him; at any rate, Smith annually made a demonstration at the Hill Cumorah when the day returned. He was justly suspicious of him, especially in view of the fact that Mr. Smith had become a trifle addicted to strong drink. Evidences are not wanting of a purpose to obtain a partner for Smith, so that the one might watch over and assist the other. Finally, on Jan. 18, 1827, Mr. Smith eloped and was married to Miss Emma Hale. All thoughts of a different partner were now dismissed, and Sidney resolved at the next anniversary to proceed with his project and deliver the Book of Mormon to his colaborer.

Much preparation was made for the day. Word had been conveyed to Joseph Stowel and Joseph Knight, two silly old gentlemen whom Smith had brought under his power in the course of one of his money-digging excursions in Pennsylvania, and these worthies had traversed the entire breadth of the State of New York in hopes of getting a sight and share of the coveted gold of the wonderful plates. The people in the immediate vicinity had also been stirred to excitement by wild stories that Joseph had put in circulation.

Mr. Rigdon kept his tryst and fulfilled his promise. After retaining the Book of Mormon for at least four years, during which at odd times he had been employed in the task of impressing on it a system of theology as much as possible in keeping with the scheme of the Disciples, the time was felt to be ripe to entrust it to one who had undertaken to get it published. The requirement that it should be copied before it was exhibited to the printer was a severe one, but it was felt to be necessary. The sheets were possibly yellow with age, but no printer in the land would concede that they were made of gold. It was indispensable that they should not be examined. Besides it was conceivable that in case they were widely circulated some per¬ son might examine them and should recognize the handwriting of Mr. Rigdon.