Revelation reprinted from the Gospel Herald
Reprinted in the Gospel Herald
The following was printed in the Gospel Herald. At the onset, it says in "an unknown hand," and speculated that most people in the vicinity will be able to guess who wrote it. At the end, are printed the words Wm. N. Mcl. This could indicate the editor of the article or the person they suspected wrote it. The abbreviation appears to indicate apostle William Earl McLellin, who had parted ways with the community that followed James Strang and did reputedly produce revelation. The middle initial is incorrect if it referring to the same man, but this is not uncommon in periodicals of the day.
The following came to us in an unknown hand. We give it without alteration, addition or diminution of word or letter, and we have been assured by one well acquainted, that few within 100 miles of Mackinac will fail to recognize the authorship. Something in it seems prophetic. It would not be amiss to designate the seer, Pagan prophet:
A CHAPTER IN THE BIBLE OF PROGRESS--AND
NOT WRITTEN IN THE BOOK OF MORMON.
"Now a thing was secretly brought unto me, and mine ear received a little thereof, in thoughts from the visions of the night, when deep sleep falleth on men." Job iv. 12, 13.
1. Now it came to pass in the seventy and fourth year of the independence of the Jonathanites, in the fourth month, and in the twentieth and third day of the month, that I, the seer, was asleep in the rock called Mackinac.
2. And, behold, the heavens were opened, and a shining one appeared, having the form of a man, and his countenance was comely, like the vineyards of En-gedi.
3. And the vision spoke and said, behold, now, the land which lieth before thee and the inhabitants thereof; and I will show thee what is determined of them.
4. And I looked and behold, and lo! there was an island of beauty set like unto an emerald of price in the midst of a crystal sea.
5. And from the soil thereof sprang trees of various kinds; and in the waters thereof swam multitudes of fish, and a lake that was called Peaceful lay in the midst thereof.
6. And I said unto the shining one, what land is this? and who are the inhabitants thereof?
7. And the shining one made answer and said, the land is called Mormonia, and it hath been given to the Mormons as an asylum for the oppressed.
8. Then said I again unto him, who are these of whom my Lord speaketh, and who are those who would do evil unto them?
9. Then became the face of the shining one purple as the clusters of the vine, and his countenance waxed wroth, and he smote the sword upon his thigh.
10. And he said unto me, these are the remnant of those who have escaped. Their fields were cut down, their cattle destroyed; and their little ones and women driven forth upon the earth.
11. Then looked they for succor to their sacred flag, and sought refuge beneath its folds.
12. But the stars thereof beamed with no hope for their calamities, and the stripes there-of were laid heavily upon them.
13. Their Temple was laid to the dust: their prophet slain, and their goods given into the hands of the spoiler.
14. Then they escaped and fled, and war was in their hearts, and the memory of their bitter wrongs.
15. And they said, yet again will we build us a city, and trust in an avenging God.
16. And, behold, if the Philistines shall again come upon us, we will remember the justice of the most high, and will slaughter the children of oppression, even with the edge of the sword; and will avenge our wrongs even with the weapons of the flesh.
17. And when we have rid us of our adversaries, then peradventure we will be at peace; and will remember the forgiveness of Jehovah, and plant corn upon the ground which hath drunk their blood, and we will give thereof to their little ones that they may eat and live. Thus will we attempt mercy and justice.
18. Then I said, good my Lord, who there-fore are these who abide at the haven; whose mouths are full of blasphemies, and who reel and rave with the fury of strong drink?
19. And the shining one answered me and said, lo! these are of the seed of the oppressor; their hearts are hardened to outrage, and their lips cunning to utter lies.
20. These are they whose tongues are daggers, but whose hands tremble to touch the sword.
21. Therefore shall they perish and be cut off, and their memory shall be a stink in the nostrils of the Lord.
22. For they roar like unto the bulls of Bashan, but are as sheep before the might of Jehovah.
23. Yea let them die and be damned, and rot in the rottenness of their lies.
24. For they are an abomination and an ulcer and a plague: therefore let them eat the portion of devils, and drink of the waters of damnation.
25. And the shining one that was with me changed his face, and my spirit grew big with-in me, and I saw a vision even as the vision of a seer.
26. And the form of that vision which I be-held in spirit was in this wise.
CHAPTER II.
1. Then I felt and lo! it seemed unto me that another angel stood before me.
2. And his countenance was lofty as the cedars of Lebanon, yea calm and mild as the sun-set of a summer eve.
3. And he touched me with a wand and my vision was enlarged. And I saw and behold an island whereon dwelt the remnant of the op-pressed.
4. And habitations arose on every side, and Temples to the most high God; and field waved in golden abundance, and became white unto the harvest.
5. And the murmur of much business was there, and the noise of mills and lowings of oxen laden with the fruitage of the fields.
6. Peace dwelt there and plenty, and the child answered to its mother's smile.
7. And the husdandman leaned upon his spade, and his heart grew warm at the bounty of the Lord.
8. And me thought, in the far distance, upon a verge of sand, stood a ragged crew, care-worn, spiritless and seared with vice.
9. And their voice arose to heaven as the voice of a wailing mind: and lamentation was mingled with cursings, and falsehood were borne on the breath of sighs.
10. And I exclaimed this is Progress! this the voice of Fate.
11. For the tree that taketh root shall grow and become great, and the rootless sea-weed shall be torn of the winds.
12. Then a voice said in mine ear, yea whispered to my soul, He that soweth shall reap, and he that planteth shall enjoy the fruits thereof. For there is an end of outrage and wrong, and the trial of our faith worketh patience.
13. The shining one whom thou first sawest was revelation; he it is who pictures to the hope the visions of that which is to be.
14. And the angel thou sawest next, even him of the serene and thoughtful countenance, is the angel of Reason; and both are the servants of that great destiny which men call Progress.
15. That which Revelation pictured to thee, even that did Reason also teach to thy soul. Their path is different, their end the same.
16. Therefore, O, man! believe thou thus that God is just; that progress is sure as eternity: that revelation may foreshadow what is to come, and reason confirm the speculations of faith.
17. Then I awoke and lo! Mormonia faded away into the likeness of a Pear, and the Gen-tiles sunk besotted upon point brutality. W. N. McL.