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From 1829 to 1834 Abner Cole published two newspapers under the pseudonym Obadiah Dogberry Esq. (also remembered as Obediah and Obidiah) The Reflector published in Palmyra, NY 1829–1831 and the Liberal Advocate published in Rochester, NY 1832 –1834 were early examples of the Freethought Press, active from about 1825–1850. Above all Dogberry's newspapers advocated for education and the free exchange of information.
Little biographical information remains on Abner Cole. He was born in Chesterfield, MA on August 17 (or 16), 1783 and perhaps his own sense of purpose and confrontational personality lead him to Palmyra, NY a hotbed of evangelism and religious enthusiasm at that time. The numerous newspapers published in the region discussed and debated philosophical, religious and political ideas. After a short career as a judge, Cole took over as editor of the Reflector and entered the fray as Dogberry. Both of Dogberry's publications carried a humanistic epigram.
Know then thyself, presume not god to scan!
The proper study of Mankind is MAN........Pope
By this time Joseph Smith Jr., founder of Mormonism, had gained a small following around Palmyra. Dogberry printed the Reflector in the Grandin Building (>) where the first edition of the Book of Mormon was being prepared and typeset. Dogberry appropriated selections of the revered text in The Reflector, subjecting it to analysis before it was widely distributed by the Mormons. Dogberry continued for several issues to publish a parody titled THE BOOK OF PUKEI. It is this first act of copyright violation for which Obediah Dogberry is most widely known. Dogberry has also been credited with giving The Book of Mormon its lasting cognomen "The Gold Bible" in a September 1829 issue of The Reflector.
The Gold Bible, by Joseph Smith Junior, author
and proprietor, is now in press and will shortly appear.
Priestcraft is short lived!
If Dogberry may be forgiven for these offenses his publications can be seen as remarkably diverse and informative. A single issue covered topics as diverse as mineralogy, chemistry, the manufacture of cotton, European History, local news and gossip, and of course Dogberry's commentary on the debates of the day. THE SIEGE of MALTA appeared sequentially in five issues, and was excerpted from Robert Watson’s History of the Reign of Philip II. The Reflector also contained a POETRY CORNER and the column TO THE YOUNG appeared regularly in 1830 and was specifically addressed the "youthful mind" which "seldom reflects on the vanity of changes incident to human nature". Above all, Obadiah promoted a literary lifestyle and the free exchange of timely information and ideas. In closing the last issue of The Reflector Dogberry summarized his advocacy for the dissemination of worldly news and current scientific knowledge.
...although we have encountered many difficulties, we have rather reason of exultation than otherwise. At a time when the brightest stars that ever eradicated the firmament of literature, --Hume, Gibbon, Franklin, Jefferson, and others-- are doomed to oblivion, and all solid learning reduced to the compass of a "Sunda school tract," by the short-sighted bigots of the day, we are not vain enough to suppose that our weak efforts could produce a complete revolution in our commonwealth of letters.
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In 1832 Obadiah moved his publication to the growing city of Rochester renaming it the Liberal Advocate. In the first few issues he set the tone:
This paper has been translated to this flourishing village,
where it will hereafter be issued weekly from the
Independent Press, at No. 24, in the Arcade (>).
EQUAL RIGHTS and FREE DISCUSSION will be
fearlessly advocated and maintained. Sectarian
dogmas or tenets will be investigated and compared.
The Liberal Advocate was structured much like The Reflector. Obadiah's publishing run in Rochester offered the occasion to editorialize on such occurrences as Charles G. Finney's revivals and the hysterical reactions to the cholera epidemic of 1832. Little is known about Abner Cole's life in Rochester. O. Dogberry Esq. and Abner Cole died on July 13, 1835.
On September 2, 1829 the first issue of the The Reflector opened:
TO THE PUBLIC. |
| No part of the habitable earth is better supplied with the means of information and mental improvement, than our own dear country. The multiplication of books and newspapers, can only be equaled by the fecundity of the insect tribe, under the plastic power of a refulgent sun after the vernal equinox; and few there are at this day of civil as well as religious liberty, who have not the means (provided they possess the inclination) of procuring at a cheap rate, useful knowledge. But it cannot be denied that there exists a want of candour and independence in most of our public journals, however they may, in many instances, possess ability and talent, they are nevertheless the engines of party and are frequently rendered the supple tools of faction, whereby truth is often sacrificed at the shrine of some political Idol, while modest merit retires confounded, and spotless innocence in trampled in the dust. It is true that we live under a government of laws; yet those laws, so admirably calculated to catch and punish the smaller fry, often allows offenders of a larger growth, either to tear or slip through its meshes; besides there are many offences against the well-being of the community, which, from their undefinable character, are not strictly cognizable in a court of justice; there are also many vices, not to say crimes, of the hig[h]er order, and whose effects are extremely injurious in their consequences, to sound morality, which come within the perview[sic] of the above definition, and are often more pernicious in their tendencies, than all the petit larcenies which give such infinite trouble to our inferiour courts of justice. Courts of conscience, so much revered by our sturdy ancestors, are unknown to the genius of our free constitution, and as its principles never had much root in the human heart, its power and influence has at this day become obsolete. In our humble opinion, however, there is yet a remedy for the evils so generally complained of, and it is to the bar of public opinion that we shall appeal for the redress of the numberless infractions of the rights and privileges of a much injured community. The pulpit may thunder anathemas against the "hydra-headed monster" denominated Intemperance, as if it concentrated all the evils our frail natures are subject to; while on the other hand, the gates of paradise are almost gratuitously opened to all such as shall piously give the[i]r substance into the "Lord's treasury," to be drawn from thence by its agents, who, after prudently satisfying their won wants, appropriate the residue to the edu[c]tion of "poor and pious" young men, and the running of "Pioneer Stages," while the real poor and needy of our cities and villages are allowed to perish for lack of sustenance. Still the evil remains" superstition and bigotry, in t he company of sordid avarice, rolling in the lap of luxury, parade our streets at noon-day, and haughtily demand from the most griping poverty, its scanty pittance for the sole purpose of increasing an influence already too powerful for the security of our liberties. |
The September 16, 1829 issue of The Reflector began:
OUR OWN AFFAIRS. |
| In offering "The Reflector" to the public, we flatter ourselves that through its medium, some little may be added to the present rather scanty stock of knowledge, in too many of our otherwise respectable yeomanry. The very existence of our civil as well as religious liberties will ultimately depend on a general diffusion of literature, and it gives us infinite pleasure to observe that our city as well as country news-papers are assuming a new character, instead of the light and unmeaning jargon with which they formerly teemed. Much solid learning can now be gleaned from their columns; yet still there is quite a dearth of information on scientific subjects, which in our humble estimation, is quite important. It is well known and understood, that the most early impressions on the youthful mind, ar the most lasting ones; trifling hints and notices will lead the enquiring mind to an investigation of the subject, generally. Much as been effected from quite small beginnings. Our limits, at present, we admit, are somewhat circumscribed; yet we trust the general reader will have not cause to complain. We intend to give in each paper a portion of light reading, and hoe our juvenile friends will be satisfied on that subject, when they once reflect that we are obliged to cater for other appetites than theirs. Our paper will compose a VARIETY, and while we attempt to provoke the laughing deity, we shall not, for a moment, lose sight of the more solid as well as important inquiries. |
THE WELL INFORMED.—No people on the habitable globe are more self-sufficient on the subject of knowledge than our own fellow-citizens, and ignorance, when applied to us collectively of individually, is considered a term of the greatest reproach. Foreigners are ridiculed for pretending information they don't in fact possess, while our own countrymen are guilty of the same egotism. |
As to our religious creed, (if we have any,) we have never said a word about it; but in the spirit of true liberality, have been willing to give publicity to the opinions of others, firmly believing that error is never dangerous when truth is left free to combat it, and little doubt remains in our mind, that the latter will finally reign triumphant. We are perfectly aware that our paper has been vilified and abused by many "old women of both sexes," who never read a sentence in it |
The "brain fever," caused by the fear of the "spasmodic Cholera" is beginning in a great measure to subside, and we are happy in being able to say with confidence, that our "old women of both sexes" are able to sleep much sounder than heretofore. |
On Education:
We have for a long time lamented the languid state of useful knowledge and science, in most of our flourishing villages. The ordinary journals of the day team with little else than politics and light reading, and there appears to be little to stimulate our youth to more solid as well as useful researches. (The Reflector October 7, 1829) |
| It is not, nor ever was, our intention to flatter the vices and follies of the would-be great; but on the contrary, to hold the mirror up to nature, in such a manner that all, from the petty pimp to the aspiring demagogue, might see a true reflection. It appears to be a misfortune incident to frail humanity, that of all the created beings we are least acquainted with ourselves; and that our human vision is eternally obscured by the denser medium of self-love, so that in taking a view of our own hearts, (in case we do not see double,) we scarcely see at all; and consequently our grosser propensities and passions, so far as relates to ourselves individually, pass entirely unheeded, while minute objects, scarcely visible to microscopic observation, when connected with the affairs of others, appear as large as though viewed through the lens of Hirschell's (fourty foot) telescope." (The Reflector May 21, 1830) |
OUR OWN AFFAIRS. |
| Our intention is, and ever has been, to attempt a reformation in the manners and customs of this gainsaying world. Seventy years experience we should modestly think might operate on the minds of the most fastidious as an excuse on our part for plain dealing. We neither write for fame, or to be famous, We wish however if possible to awaken a spirit of inquiry in the breasts of our short-sighted fellow-citizens, and in the language of lord Chesterfield, induce them to have a little more "self conversation." "Know then thyself," is our motto. Notwithstanding the frowns of a certain class of "Simon Pures," we keep steady in our vocation, and although some of our strictures may savour of austerity, we can assure our gentle readers that we possess much of the milk of human kindness. We intend to devote a portion of our paper to the diffusion of useful knowledge, and shall endeavour to make its study fashionable. Science and the arts, shall be duly noticed,—History, Biography and Geographical notices will receive due attention." (The Reflector October 4, 1830) |
and Politics:
OUR OWN AFFAIRS. |
It is our duty as conductors of a public journal, to promulgate truth and detect It is too late to administer medicine after the disease has gained its crisis–therefore, when the morbid or sickly state commences, a preventative should be applied, and a radical cure can in this way be completed without injuring the constitution of the patient. We do not believe, as a general rule in politics, that men err from choice; it is from a want of correct information on the subject they attempt to investigate, and in this way the mind becomes imperceptibly contaminated. From this charitable rule, however, we are bound to except certain Anti leaders, who appear to be constitutionally depraved: But as error is said not to dangerous when truth is left to combat it, we harbour but little doubt that with all their sophistry, they will seldom be able to disturb the repose of an enlightened community. (The Reflector October 14, 1829) |
and History:
We must acknowledge that the importance of the subject has driven us to a somewhat long exordium, and must take the liberty of recommending to all such as have not already done it, to open the historic page, and investigate with close attention, the rise, decline, and fall of empires in the Old World; for since by nature we are but short-sighted mortals, and entirely unacquainted with the dark recesses of the womb of futurity, it can be only from the past experience of others that we can profit, keeping it constantly in mind that it is a general rule and principle, that like causes usually produce like effects. |
TO THE YOUNG—NO.3 |
Statesmen and Legislators should have a profound knowledge of History, to enable them to discharge their various functions with either credit or respectability ; their arguments should be drawn from the experience of ages—commonplace nonsense avails but little, when once subjected to severe scrutiny against arguments founded upon a solid basis. It is to the pen of the faithful historian, (and there are a few such) that we are indebted for the small portion of knowledge we are able to glean from the scanty and half fabulous records of antiquity—men who have been indefatigable in their labors, and have as we trust, been enabled in a considerable dress to separate the "chaff from the wheat," (The Reflector June 30, 1830) |
Complete issues of the Liberal Advocate (courtesy Central Library of Rochester and Monroe County)
07 / 03 / 1832 PDF 2.7MB * 
11 / 27 / 1833 PDF 2.5MB *
04 / 06 / 1834 PDF 2.5MB *
06 / 07 / 1834 PDF 2.5MB *
06 / 14 / 1834 PDF 2.5MB *
06 / 21 / 1834 PDF 2.4MB *
Obediah Dogberry: Rochester Freethinker by Joseph W. Barnes
