Copyright © 1958 by Brigham Young University
All rights reserved - fair use excerpts transcribed
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(not transcribed, due to copyright restrictions)
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"Our constitutions have fixed a barrier between church and state, but our courts overleap it with impunity, and untie by their decisions
things too discordant to have a remote connection; thus annuling the liberty of conscience, sporting with our feelings, and onliging us to
become outlaws or hypocrites, unless our religious opiners happen to be in accordance with the popular dogma of the times."[31]
In addition to this he printed:
Notice: The Anti-Masonic electors of the counties of Seneca, Wayne, Yates, and Ontario, comprising the 26 congressional district, will appoint
a number of delegates corresponding to double the number of their representatives in the assembly of this State, to attend a congregational
convention to be held at St. John's Franklin House in Geneva, on Wednesday, the 25th day of August next, at 2 o'clock [32]
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Concerning this convention Editor Phelps prints:
Anti-Masonic Convention
Thursday, February 18, 1831
Friday morning, 10 o'clock.
The convention met persuant to adjournment in the Mayor's court room, when the president announced the following committees: -- ...
for the efficient organization of the Anti-Masonic party -- Mssrs. Clark, Reynolds, Phelps, Turner, Gillespie, Pringle, Payne.
Friday afternoon, 4 o'clock
... the secretary proceeded to call the roll, when it appeared that 43 counties were represented by 93 delegates as follows: -- ... Ontario:
James H. Woods, W. W. Phelps, Samuel Rawson....[34]
On page two, W. W. Phelps in his editorial prints:
The Anti-Masonic State Convention, (in which we had the honor to act) was undoubtedly the ablest body of Anti-Masons which has
ever convened in the State of New York. It was the democracy of the land, the hardy farners and mechanics assembled in mid-winter,
to perpetuate the inestimable blessings of equal rights for the enjoyment of their posterity. It was a body of men acting in unity for
public good -- "mild in manner but firm in the thing" -- and well calculated not to insult, or be insulted. It went for Anti-Masonry, and
hopes for no help but the virtue of the people.[35]
Thus the newspapers played no little role in the political turmoil between the Masonic and Anti-Masonic party. In connection with
the Anti-Masonic editors, Bancroft wrote:
Henceforth, until the Anti-Masonic decline set in, they carried on the most effective system of political propagandism that the State
had ever knowm.[36]
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[34] Ibid., March 2, 1831, p. 1.
[35] Ibid., p. 2.
[36] McCarthy, op cit., pp. 384-85.
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Truly W. W. Phelps was a "vigorous and forceful writer and an ardent champion of the causes in which he believed."[37]
Political Aspiration
It was not an uncommon move at this time to disregard the great political parties in the choice of candidates for office; and to nominate
Anti-Masonic candidates for governor and lieutenant-governor.[38] Thus it is not surprising that William W. Phelps had been
active politically in the State -- so much so, and certainly on account of the partisan paper he published, that his friends tried to get him
nominated for lieutenant-governor of New York.[39] Although W. W. Phelps was never nominated for such a high office, this
experience in indicative of his versatile character.[40]
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[37] James R. Clark, M.S., The Story of the Pearl of Great Price (Bookcraft, Inc., Salt Lake City, Utah, Second Edition, 1955, p. 22.
[38] McCarthy, op. cit. pp. 378-79.
[39] Evans, op. cit. p. 71.
{John Henry Evans, Joseph Smith, An American Prophet, 1946, pp. 70-71}
[40] See Appendix C, p. 217.
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for sale.[41] A short distance from Palmyra in the town of Canandaigua, Editor Phelps, on April 9, 1830, bought a copy of
this book from Parley P. Pratt, a Mormon missionary.[42] William and Sally Phelps sat up all night to
compare the Book of Mormon with the Bible. The following morning W. W. Phelps exclaimed, "I am going to
join that church; I am convinced that it is true."[43]
William W. Phelps later wrote in regard to the Book of Mormon:
I always believed the scriptures, and believed that there was such a sacred thing as
pure religion; but I never believed that any of the sects of the day had it, and so I
was ever ready to argue up, or down, any church; and that, too, by evidence from the
good old book, an intimacy with which I had formed in infancy and cherished in age.
When the story related above, first found a resting place in my tabernacle, I rejoiced
that there was something coming to point the right way to heaven. So it was, and,
thank God, so it is.[44]
His love for this sacred volume of literature cannot be doubted, as evident from another occasion, when he wrote:
From the first time I read this volume of volumes, even till now, I have been struck
with a kind of sacred joy at its title page. * * * What a wonderful volume! What a
glorious treasure! By that book I learned the right way to God; by that book I received
the fulness of the everlasting gospel; by that book I found the new covenant; by that book
I learned when the Lord would gather scattered Israel; by that book I saw that the Lord had
set his hand the second time to gather his people, and place them in their own land; by that
book I learned that the poor Indians of America were some of the remnants of Israel; by that
book I learned that the new Jerusalem, even Zion was to be built up on this continent; by that
book I found a key to the holy prophets; and by that book began to unfold the mysteries of God,
and I was made glad. Who can tell his goodness, or estimate the worth of such a book? He
only who is directed by the Holy Ghost in all things, and has kept all his Lord's commandments
blameless through life.[45]
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[41] Carter E. Grant, The Kingdom of God Restored (Published and distributed by the Deseret Book Company, Salt Lake City,
Utah, 1955), p. 95.
[42] The Deseret News, Vol. 10, No. 6, April 11, 1860, Salt Lake City, Utah, p. 45.
[43] Unpublished material from Alice Phelps (Mrs. J. A. Malin) 1025 Marilyn Dr., Mt. View, California --
in a letter sent to the writer.
[44] Messenger and Advocate, Vol. I, No. 5, Letter No. 4, 1835.
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APPENDIX C
In connection with the citations you give in your letter of February 10, regarding W. W. Phelps, I have a few comments and suggestions....
I have noted the mention of Harry M. Beardsley, as to Phelps' political ambition. He gives no source but I believe this must come from the
writings of E. D. Howe....
Now as to the assertion that Phelps was a "self-launched" candidate for lieutenant governor of New York, I cannot find any verification.
There were a number of persons by the name of Phelps in New York at the time either in journalism or politics. There is also an A. N. Phillips
who edited a paper in Canandaigua in 1821. Your citation from Jenkins, History of Political Parties in New York State, refers to
Oliver Phelps and is also of too early a date. The New York Civil List, which lists officeholders in New York, does not show that
W. W. Phelps ever held public office.
-- Unpublished material to the writer from Milton W. Hamilton, Senior Historian of the Division of Archives and History at the University
of the State of New York.
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