New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1842-06-28
THE TRIBU NE.
Discussion or .,lornonism.


during the past week by public discussion Of
the subject of Mormonism. 1t closed last night,
having been continued FIVE evenings The disp,-
,,,,. were Or. West, an English gentleman. and
Elder Adams. q minister Of the Mormon sect.--
The former il n man Of strong aud we'll cutiva-
ed intellectual powers. and, when excited, an ci-
i4cive speaker. lie came here, as | have been
Informed. from Ncw-York, for tire purpose Of de-
Nycring lectures in rciutation of lnhdchtv and i,
highly recommended by some of the leading cler-
symcn Of that city well qualified for lie pro
posed task Elder Adams is man Of strong.
bu, hucuivatcd mind, and possesses no small
amount Of tact and ingenuity As speaker. he
j. rough and uncOulh, aud treats the Kings Eng.
li.A as numerically as he does bis own lungs
Precisely how the parties came in conflict can.
not tell YOU bu, | believe the Mormon was the
challenger. Marlboro Chapel was the scene Of
conflict and the tickets Of admission were sold
for l2l cents. The audience at first was small
Lat it increased the Controversy went on, until
ID. Csapel was at last pretty well filed.
DR. West affirmed that the doctrines and pin
cples of the Mormons involved hypocrisy, lying,
frasd treason, Pluuder murder, blasphemy, &c
and these charges he endeavored to sub.tantiate
By quotations from their writings, and by proofs
drawn from other sources. The abor,ng oar CON
sequeutly was in his hands, while his opponent
stood in all attitude of selfdcfcnce The former
had the prejudices, and generally the dccp-rooted
convictions Of his audience in his favor while the
l.tter enjoyed, Offset, that sympathy which
the human heart Involuntary feels when fellow
man is on trial for serious offence. In this re-
.pect, perhaps, the advantages ofthe conflict were
asequay divided Us they could have been before
an audience whose opinions were chiefly ON one
side Of the question.
During the first three evenings was not pre-
sent; bu, those who were, assure me that ! heard
the pith Of the discussion On tuesday, and Friday
evenings. On the former evening, the chair was
occupied by Father Taylor" As be is iimiliarly
called, the wc-known Scaman's preacher. The
debate was opened by DR.. West at o'clock, and
closed by Elder Adams at 10; the parties occupy
ing twenty minutes each, alternately.
Dr.. Yves, requested the Secretary to read from
the Mormon Book the account Of the mysterious
discovery OF the golden plates, and Of their sub
seQuenl translation by COMMANDING of the Lord.
From this it appeared that the Mormons claim the
power Of working miracles, and affirm that they
are directly inspired by God. Dr. West con
tended that this blasphemy, and an attempt to
impose upon the credulity of the people. Elder Ad |
admitted that it would be blasphcmy II the claim
We're founded in truth; but he commended that ,
there were living witnesses that miracles had been
performed by Joseph Smith and others and he at |
frmed that it contrary to Scripture to suppose
hat the day cf miracles had gone by. To support |
bis views he quoted the declaration Of Chi.st |
"lhese signs shall follow Meis that beiierc,' al I
tImng that it was not merely promise To the |
Apostles, but to the whole body Of believers. lie
quo;ed for the same purpose James " H. 10: lis |
any sick among YOU, let him call for the elders OF
the church; and let them pray over him, amounting
him with oil in the name OF the Lord: And the |
prayer Of faith shall save the SICK and the Lord |
sha. raise him up" The modern church, he said |
wa false and spurious on lis own confession, As 1t
did not even pretend to do the works which Cmist
SAID would be done by believers, and It's ministers
did not claim TO speak from inspiration
Dr. West ridicHled this claim OF miraculous
power IN the part of the Mormons, and rcad
uaismcnt of some thirty or forty citizens OF lal-
myra n. Y, and vicinity intended to show mat
Joseph Smith and his associates we've men destl-
luic OF moral character, and therefore unworthy oil
confidence. lie stated also, ON the authority OF
AN individual who assisted nPrntlng the Mormon
Bible, that when il was gong through the press
the workmcn purposely concealed one ol the Nhc'S
In orier 10 see whether Smith could supply 1t 10y
another translation from tn golden plates, and
thus tel the genuincnesS of the book. ms caused
a great funny, but Smith pretended TO furnish ai'-
other copy verbatim. Ga comparing, II, however,
with the first, IT was found t. be very different
affair Ills account raised tremendous laugh
M the cXpensc Of the Elder. The Doctor also
tod the follow! ING story To Illustrate the Mormon
method OF working miracles. Two priests OF that
sect were travelling somewhere al The W cot one
OF them, by agreement went forward 81 the other,
and pat mp 4, the house O: farmer for the night.
Alter going 10 bed he teiencd severe sickness,
and before morning apparently died. The ueM
day the other priest also cac( nj the same Ia use,
as stranger, and being told OF the death oi h.
companion. uvoNcd himself Mormon. aud told
The host tina, lie could raise the dead man To lite.
The farmer suspected some trick, but acquiescod
in the proposals OF the priest. and called IN ms
ucichbors To witness the miracle. The arrange
ment being completed. the farmer iaqu'rsd OF the
Norman if he could restore a man To hie who had
been dead for "A long time. YES ne lePled'
Could you do it if his head were cut on -
.sC-,s;,i, said he that would make no dii-
ference. "Wen, then, said the tanner iit,ns
his axe. Il. il hc intended to te a. sood - ms
word. II ii cut OF thi. man head before you be-
ain" NJ sooner had hc said this, than the dead
man sprans to hts feet, without any miraculous az
.i.t,rce whatever, cXclaimiug. ant dead
dop't murder me The nose which followed
I'm. story was tremendous The audience was
c,nyulsed with laughter and made the house ring
with applause.
Elder Adams declared that there was not enc
word Of truth in these stories They we're lies,
made out OF whole cloth. and intended to snbsu~
tutc ridiculc for argument. Let the part OF the
Mormon Bible which was concealed by the PRINT