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Show 1836- 1837] Flagg's Far West 359 residences are small, but the temple is said to be an elegant structure of stone, three stories in height, and nearly square in form. Each of its principal apartments is calculated to contain twelve hundred persons, and has six pulpits arranged gradatim, three at each extremity of the " Aaronic priesthood," and in the same manner with the " priesthood of Melchisedek." The [ 113] slips are so constructed as to permit the audience to face either pulpit at pleasure. In the highest seat of the " Aaronic priesthood" sits the venerable sire of the prophet, and below sit his hopeful Joe and Joe's prime minister, Sydney Rigdom. The attic of the temple is occupied for schoolrooms, five in number, where a large number of students are taught the various branches of the English, Latin, Greek, and Hebrew languages. The estimated cost of this building is $ 60,000.'" Smith is represented as a quiet, placid-seeming knave, with passionless features, perfectly composed in the midst of his heterogeneous multitude of dupes. Rigdom, on the contrary, has a face full of fire, a fine tenour voice, and a mild and persuasive eloquence of speech. Many of their followers are said to be excellent men. The circumstances of the origin, rise, and progress of this angular sect have been given to the public by the pen of an eccentric but polished writer, and there is nothing material to add. The dose of the day found me once more upon die banks of the Kaskaskia; and early on the succeeding morning, fording the stream, I pursued my route along the great national road towards Terre Haute. This road is projected eighty feet in breadth, with a central carriage- path of thirty feet, elevated above all standing water, and in no instance to exceed three degrees from a perfect level. The work has been commenced along the whole [ 114] line, and is "• g< Ttl » nd is now deserted, and the church is occupied far a school.- FLAOO. |