History of Utah, 1540-1886 - Brigham Young University

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THEY CATCH AN EEL. 149
enjoy our society, as they sa}^." "They are a wonderfully
enterprising people," writes a gentile. "Peace
and harmony reign in the city. The drunkard is
scarcely ever seen, as in other cities, neither does the
awful imprecation or profane oath strike upon your
ear; but while all is storm and tempest and confusion
abroad respecting the Mormons, all is peace and harmony
at home." 10
About this time there comes to Joseph Smith a
somewhat singular individual making somewhat singu-
lar advances. He is a yankee huckster of the first
class, only for his merchandise, instead of patent
clocks and wooden nutmegs, he offers for sale theol-
ogy, medicine, and a general assortment of political
and military wares. The thing is a fraud, and before
long he openly announces himself as such. As
his manhood is far inferior to his duplicity, so hi3
name—the Reverend General John C. Bennett, M.
D., U. S. A., president, chancellor, and master in
chancery—as we may observe, is subordinate to his
titles. He has ability, he has brains and fingers ; but
and should any person be guilty of ridiculing, abusing, or otherwise depreciating
another in consequence of his religion, etc., he shall be fined and
imprisoned. ' On the 17th of March, 1842, the Female Relief Society of Nau-
voo was organized.
10 In the Salem Advertiser was published an account of the visit to Nauvoo
in 1343 of one Newhall, a lecturer, who says: 'I sought in vain for anything
that bore the marks of immorality, but was both astonished and highly pleased
at my ill success. I could see no loungers about the streets nor any drunkards
about the taverns. I did not meet with those distorted features of ruffians,
or with the ill-bred and impudent. I heard not an oath in the place, I
saw not a gloomy countenance; all were cheerful, polite, and industrious.'
Smucker's Mormons, 154-5. 'The mayor of Nauvoo deserves praise for the
stand he has taken in favor of temperance. The retailing of anient spirits is
not permitted within the bounds of the corporation.' Kidder's Mormons, 189.
For city ordinance prohibiting the sale of intoxicating liquors in less quantity
than a quart except as a physician's prescription, see Bennett's Hist. Saints, 27.
On the 12th of Nov. 1S41, B. Winchester writes from Nauvoo: 'You would
be astonished, if you were here, at the vast improvement made in so short a
space of time. . .You will see nothing like idleness, but will hear the hum of
industry, nay, may I not say more, the voice of merriment. ..Now as to the
morality of the people here: . . .you know if you should throw cold water into
melted iron the scene would be terrific, because the contrast would be so
great; so it is with the saints: if a small portion of wickedness happens among
them, the contrast between the spirit of Christ and that of darkness is so
great that it makes a great upstir and tremendous excitement; this is the case
here; but in other communities the same amount of crime would hardly be
noticed.