A Theological Dictionary

              Buck, Charles. A Theological Dictionary, Containing Definitions of all Religious and
Ecclesiastical Terms, and Impartial Account of the Principal Denominations Which have
Subsisted in the Religious World from the Birth of Christ to the Present Day:
Together with an Accurate Statement of the most Remarkable Transactions and Events
Recorded in Ecclesiastical History, and a Biographical sketch of such Writers as have Exerted
a Decided Influence in the Field of Theological Science, 537– 38. London: Thomas Tegg,
1841.

A
THEOLOGICAL DICTIONARY,
CONTAINING DEFINITIONS OF ALL
RELIGIOUS AND ECCLESIASTICAL TERMS,
AND IMPARTIAL ACCOUNT OF
THE PRINCIPAL DENOMINATIONS
WHICH HAVE SUBSITED IN THE RELIGIOUS WORLD
FROM THE BIRTH OF CHRIST TO THE PRESENT DAY:
TOGETHER WITH
ACCURATE STATEMENT OF THE MOST REMARKABLE TRANSACTIONS AND EVENTS
RECORDED IN ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY, AND A BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH OF
SUCH WRITERS AS HAVE ECERTED A DECIDED INFLUENCE IN
THE FIELD OF THEOLOGICAL SCIENCE
BY THE LATE REV. CHARLES BUCK.
A new and greatly Improved Edition;
BYT THE REV. E. HENDERSON, D.D., PH.D.
THEOLOGICAL TUTOR OF HIGHBURY COLLEGE
LONDON:
PRINTED FOR THOMAS TEGG. CHEAPSIDE:
GRIFFIN AND CO., GLASGO; TEGG AND CO., DUBLIN; AND J. AND
S. A. TEGG, SYDNEY AND HOBART TOWN.
——
MDCCCXLI.
MORMONITES, believers in the doctrines of the “Book of Mormon,” a production which
they regard as a second Bible, and which is said to be a translation from certain brass plates,
found by one Joseph Smith, in the town of Palmyra (N. Y.) in 1826. They were enclosed in a
box, which had to all appearance been used for holding common sized window glass. Smith
pretended to interpret them, with a stone in his hat, and his hat over his face, while one Martin
Harris was employed to write down the contents at his dictation. Some disagreement arising
between the parties, Harris went away, and Oliver Cowdry came and wrote for Smith, while he
interpreted as above described till the “Book of Mormon” was completed. Smith than gave out
that it was a revelation from heaven, and that he himself was a prophet; and thus collected
around him a number of simple and credulous people, whom he persuaded to dispose of their
property, and follow him to the New Zion, which he was commissioned to establish in Missouri,
west of the Mississippi river, “in the centre of the world.” They accordingly settled in Jackson
county, in that state; and there, under the guidance of the new prophet, established a new society,
from which they send out [537] preachers in all directions to collect proselytes. A weekly
periodical has also been established, through which new revelations are from time to time
circulated among the community.
The contents of the book are a series of puerile eastern romances, with abundance of
names, but no dates, localities, or connexion of an sort with sober history. Its style affects an
imitation of Scripture, which, with ignorant, gives it an air of sacredness, like that of a revelation
from heaven. Cross and Baptist Journal, 1834.