The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1844-08-25
(For the New York Herald.
JOE SMITH AND THE DEVIL.
A DIALOGUE.
Eater Dera with bundle Of hamdbius, which he is
IN the act Of posting
WANTED IMMEDIATELY


[Emter Depa ,rith bundle of hamdbius, rhich he is
IN the act Of posting
WANTED IMMEDIATELY,
All the liars swinders, thieves, robbers, incen-
diaries, murderers, cheats, adulterers, harots,
blackguards, drunkards, gamblers, bogus makers,
idlers, busy bodies plckpockets, vagabonds, hlthy
persons, hirelng clergy, and their followers, and
all other indes, and rebelious, dsordery persons,
for crusade against Joe Smith and the Mormons
BE quick, be quick, | say, or our cause will be
ruined, and our kingdom overthrown by that id
fool OF an mposor and his associates, for even now
all earth and hell is in a stew.
Zoe Smith happens to be passing, and halls his
Good morning, Mr. Devil How now, you seem
TO be much engaged; what news have you got
there!
Deva (slipping his bills into his pocket with q
low bow)-O! good mornng, Mr.. Smith; hope
you we'll sir. Why-I-I was Just out-ont on
little business in my lines or, finally, to be candid,
sir, was conrrlvlng lair and honorable warfare
against you and your imposIlions, wherein plety
Is outraged, and religion greatly numbered In It's
useful course. For, to be bold, sir (and despisp
anything underhanded), | must iell you TO your
face that you have made ME more trouble than all
the ministers, or people OF my whole dominion,
have for ages past.
Smith -Troub!e! what trouble have caused
your Majesty! | certainly have endeavored to
treat you, and all other persons, in a friendly man
ner,, even my worst enemies; and always aim to
fulfil the Mormon creed, and that is, to mind my
own business exclusively. Why should this trou-
BILE you, Mr. Devil?
Deva-Ah! your own business, indeed. know
not what you may consider your business, il is so
very complicated; but l know what you have
done, and what you are aiming TO do. You have
disturbed the quiet of Christendom, overthrown
churches and societies, yon have dared to call in
question the truth and usefulness of old and esta
bished creeds, which have stood the test of ages;
and have even caused tens of thousands to come
out in open rebellion, not only against wholesome
established Upll nm
proved and orthodox, but against some OF the most
plous, learned, exemplary, and honorable clergy,
whom both myself and all the world, love, honor
and esteem, and this is not all. But you are
causing many persons to think who never thought
before, and you would fam put the whole world
thinking, and then where will true religion and
plety be! Alas! they will have no place among
men, for if men keep such terrible thinking and
reasoning as they begin to do, since you com
meoced your business, as you call il, they never
will continue 10 upholn the good old way in which
they have logged along IN peace tor SD many ages;
and thus, Mr. Smith, you will overthrow my king
dom, and leave me not foot OF ground earth,
and this Is the very thing you aim II. But |, sir.
rave The holiness TO oppose you by every lawful
means IN my power.
Smith-Realy, Mr.. Devil, your Majesty has Of
late become very pious; think some Of your
Christian brethren have greatly msrepresened you.
IL is generally reported by them that you are OPP
posed 10 religion. But
Dewitt is false; there is not more religious
and plous being in the world than myself, nor
being more liberal minded. 1 am decidedly in
tavor OF all creeds systems and forms Of Christian
ny, OF whatever name or nature; so long as they
leave out that abomlnable doctrine, which caused
me much trouble In former times, and which,
after slumbering TOR ages, you have again revived;
mean the doctrine OF direct communion with
God. by new revelation. This is hateful, it is i'm
pous, II Is directly opposed 10 all the divisions and
branche. VI The Christian Church. never could
bear IT, And tor this very Cause helped to bring
10 condign punishment all the prophets and apostles
ut al tab ihpV No. suffo rod IN lIua
thss gift OF revelation, they were always exposing
and sandering me, and all other good pious men in
exposing our deeds and purposes, which they called
wicked, but which considered as the height OF
zeal and piety; and when we kill. them tor these
crimes ofdreaming, prophesying and vision seeing
they raised the cry OF persecution, and SO il is with
you miserable, deluded Mormons.
Smih-Then your most Christian Majesty is in
favor Of all other religions but this one, are YOU?
Deuu-Certainly. | am fond Of praying, singing,
church building, bell ringing, going to meeting,
preaching, and wiihal have quite missionary
zeal. like also. long faces, long prayers, long
robes, and learned sermons; nothing suits me bet
ter, than to see people who have been for
whole week depressing their ne.ghbor, grin
ding the face OF the poor, walking 10 pride
md folly, and serving me with all their
heart, | say nothing suits me better, Mr.. Smith,
than 10 see these people go TO meeting on sundays
with long religious face on, and 10 see them pay
priest, while he and his hearers pray with colefui
groaas and awful faces, saying, Lord we have left
undone the things we ought to have done, and done
the things We ought not;' and then, when service
Is ended, them turn again TO their wickr dnese
and pursue it greedily all the week, and the next
Sabbath repeat the same things Now, be candid,
Mr.. Smith, do you not see that these, and all 9TH
ers, who have form and deny the power, are my
good christian children, and that their religion is
help Ia my cause
Smnh-Certainly, your reasoning is clear and
obvious as to these hypocrtes, but you would not
be pleased with people getting converted either at
hes A.
ting their trust in that conversion, and free grace
to save them-woud you not be opposed to this
DeuH-Why should have any objection to that
kind OF religion, Mr. Smith, Icare not how much
Lord, how much they to free grace to save
them, so long they do do the works that their
God has commanded them; am sure Of them at
at last, for you know all men are to be judged &C.
cordlng 10 their deeds. What does their good old
Bible say! Does it not say, " not every one that
saith Lord, Lord shall enter into my kingdom, but
he that dor!h the will Of my father which is in
heaven" No, no, Mr.. Smith, am not an enemy
christianity, SO long as they deny the power, they
are a help to my cause see how much dscord
division, hatred, envy, strife. lying, contention,
blindness, and even error and bloodshed has been
produced as the effect OF thess very systems. BY
these means gain millions to my dominion, while
at the same time enjoy the credit of being pous
christians; but you Mr.. Smith, you are my enemy,
my open and avowed enemy, you have even dared
IN sacrliglous manner TO tear the veil from all
these fine systems, and 10 commence an open at
tack upon my Kingdom, and this even when had
almost all christendom, together with the clergy
and gentlemen OF the press, in my favor How
dare you venture thus to commence revolution
without reserve, and without aid or succor, and in
the midst OF lnnumerable hosts Of my subjectsl
Smith-Why, sir, in The first place, knew that
had the truth on my side. and that your systems
and forms OF christianity were manfestly cor
rupt, that one had only to lift the veil from your
oolerles one eide, and to present plain and rea-
sonable truth he other, and the eyes If the peo-
clearly that except they chose darkness rather than
light, they would leave your ranks and come over
TO truth. For instance, what is easier than to show
from the history OF the past, that a religion oil dI.
hv the lord and the only one calculated 10 benefit