The Massachusetts spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1831-1858, 1831-12-21

| preacher from Ohio suggested TO the money
dlggers to turn their digging concern into >
! rclgious plot. 1t was, therefore, given on
that vision had appeared TO Joe Smith
that there was deposited in the hill have
mentioned, an iron chest containing colder
plates on which WAS engraved the g Book Of
Mormon" These engravings were said Il
lie IN unknown characters, 10 all bu! the in.
splred translator, and were deposited there
by wandering tribe of the Children of Is
rael, before the Christian Era. 1t was now
given out that young joe Smith wasihe chos.
en- one OF God to revea, this new ministry Ia
the world-to be the second Messiah TO re-
veal TO the world this word of life, and Ia
reform II anew. So Joe from being an idle
longing fellow, became a grave, parson.
like man, with respectable looking sort o
black coat, and with the salvation of the
whole world upon his shoulders. Old 10
the eX-prsacher and several othere, were
the converts 10 the new faith, which thew
asserted was foretold in the Bible. BIZ, Har.
ris was undoubtedly true convert. and the
first man who gave credit to he whole sto-
ry. He was the Ali of the New York Ma
homet. Rigdon, the preacher. knew we'll
how to work upon the credulity of a peoole
already excited to religious enthusiasm. His
aspect was grave and contemplative. and he
rould quote abundance scripture to prove
his assertions. This ex-parson is. no doubt
the author of the book. 1t is FIJI! of strange
narratives, IN the style Of the scriptures, and
appears to evince some ingenuity.
A fac-simile ofthe characters on the cold
en- plates was carried to DR.. Mitchell, nv
Harris. The Dr. gave some learned obser
vatlons on them, but wiser heads than he
we're employed in The Translation Harris
raised money on mortgage of his farm.
and got the translation printed at PALMYRA.
The BOOK came out to the world, and the
dlggers soon found they had not dug for
money In vain, for by its precepts, money
could be raised in a twinklng from the new
converts, who were daily flocking to the
new standard. Another revelation now came
upon them. The prophets were directed to
lead the way to the promised land, a place
near Painsville, Ohio, and subsequently, to
some place on the Mississippi river, where
they have adopted some of the worldly views
OF the Shakers, having formed sort nfrom
munlty system. The roads in Tfumbu]I
county were at times crowded wiz these
deluded wrctches, with their wagons and
effects, on tier way TO the promised land.
The lntatuation of these people is aston
lshlng beyond measure. Husbands tearing
themselves from their wives and such of
their families as refuse TO 90, and wives de-
sertns their husbands. to join the nfatua:-
en clan. A respectable physician of Trum-
bull county, who informed Inc of the latter
proceedings, also informed me of several in
stances where the sick have died. refusing
medical aid, persistlng in the belief that
ram IN the Mormon religion would save
'helr lives. That he actually had been call
ed IN cases OF the last extremity, where their
faith had finally failed them.
lhus we see some of the effects of that
zeal whlchis not according to knowledge.
Little do some of our worthy religious par
tlsans think what may lie the result of en-
couraging blind zeal. Little DO thew
think what spirit many of those converts are
OF, catalogue of whose conversions we see
emblazoned IN the public religious newspa-
pers. 1t should he borne in mind, that in
curry meetings, whispering meetings, and
perhaps -days-reviva-m meetings, may not
always be prndentlv managed. The preach
ing OF the celebrated -, (who is now gone
to BOSTON, whose moral character is too we'll
known to need description, am told, has
mad great effect IN producing these detailed
results. Heated party zealots first sowed
the seeds of Mormonism.
But we should all rejoice at a revival of
pure and genuine religion, the religion that
makes men better and wiser-that mikes
women more benevolent and amiahe-the
religion OF the heart and c0nduct-that re-
lIglon that pnrlfies the soul-that represses
amblIon-that seeks the closet, rather than
the highway to pour forth its aspirations.
Such religion is the result of sober. seri-
Gus meditation, gudedby scripture precep;s.
and not Ivy human creeds. Such religion
seems adapted tothe case Irrational beings:
but 1t was not the religion of the people of
whom have spoken.
INTERESTING TO BANKERS. A curious
anecdote connected with bank robberies,
VAS communicated by Murry since his con-
tlctlon, lie az nowledges that he has rob
bed one bank in Glasgow. and had com
menced his arrangements for robhing an
other previously. TO get into the vaults Of
the first, he should pass through four doors,
and was so far successful as TO prepare
keys ior the two outer locks, but on pro-
ceedlng 10 the third, the whole design was
frustrated by the simple continuance of
sealing a small piece of tape across the
key-hole; had be removed this tape for the
purpose of exploring the wards of the lock
to procure his model, the attempt would of
course lie known in the morning from the
DETACHMENT of the lead. Murry says, he
felt grievously mortified at the discovery.
-"l would rather, he says, have to CON
tend with the vigilance of twelve watch
men, than this little bit Of tape" This
simple remedy may be of great use in pro-
tectlng safe from lock-pickers.
CHANGING A NAME. A western paper an
nounces the marriage of Miss Polly Schrcoon-
coast. We unite in congratuating her. She
did well TO change her name What pity ii
is, that John neutrality-suspicious.
bcher-who, it appears, has letter in Inc Bal
tlmore Post Ofice-could not get id of his
name by an equally agreeable process The
ladies' have the advantage in this respect.
KNAvE's iNvESTIos. TIE first consdera.
ton with a knave is, how to HELM himself: and
the second, how TO dc IT, with an appearance
OF helping you. Dionysius, the tyrunt, stripped
the statue OF Jupiter Olympus of robe of
massy gold, and substituting a cloak of wool,
saying, gold is too cold in wiGi-- and too hea w
in summer II behooyrs us to take care Of
Jupiter.
CHIMNEY SWEEP AND DANCING MASTER.
AS a sweep and his son were once upon a
time, passing through Court.street, the lit
tie blackey burst out into violent fit ol
laughter. "What are you laughing al
Pomp?" said the grimy one to his son
Nothing but that are dancing MASTER
| 4 =. =. & "a.