| 300 was directed to a defense of the Mormon Bible against sundry charges made as concerning its authenticity and the character of its teachings. Mr. Smith is a man of unaffected manners and quite pleasing address. He has evidently greatly improved as a public speaker since leaving Hancock County. While here he received the courteous treatment characteristic of our citizens and expressed his thanks therefor in fitting terms.
The Gazette of the same date, Thomas C. Sharp, editor and publisher, contained the following:
The lectures of Elder Joseph Smith, of the Reorganized Mormon Church, at the court-house, on Friday and Saturday evenings, and on Sunday morning and evening, were attended by crowded audiences. We were not present at any of the lectures, but learn from those who were, that there was nothing said, at which any person could take offense. He simply argued religious questions from a Mormon standpoint, but repudiated polygamy. Mr. Smith has the reputation of being a gentleman and a good citizen, and received from our people the courteous treatment which every such man, irrespective of his religious views, is entitled to.
It will, perhaps, be remembered that Thomas C. Sharp was the editor of the Warsaw Signal during the perilous times of the church in Nauvoo. This paper was one of the chief agitators, and contributed largely to the peril of the situation. He was also supposed to be one of the active participants in the assassination and was indicted and tried with others for the crime.
On January 20 Elder B. V. Springer wrote an interesting letter from Moorfield, Indiana, closing with the following strong testimony:
In conclusion, I have this to say to all interested, that I am now on the downhill side of life, all the best years of manhood have been given to preaching this glorious gospel of truth. My earthly substance has melted away; meantime, I have no foot of earth to call my own, discarded by relatives, scoffed at by the self-righteous meteors; have drank the cup of sorrow to its very dregs, yet I feel "Nearer my God to thee." Thou hast not, nor will not forsake me. And while I have powers of body and mind, while reason retains her throne, I will by God's help continue to ring into the ears of this generation my testimony of the truth of the gospel as restored in this dispensation; that the divinity of the calling of Joseph Smith and the Book of Mormon are inseparably connected with the restoration of the gospel, and indispensably necessary to its completeness in the fulfillment of the Scriptures. Therefore, with the pure testimony in the Spirit of the
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