The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1851-05-26


elusive of Indians, about 100000.
Observation-Disclosures -DELusIoN-HUM-
BUG.-lt is fact, which it would be extremely diff
hcut to controvert, that there thousands living
in the present age, who as susceptible of delu-
sion, and who are as easily impregnated with the
spirit of fanaticism, any who inhabited the earth
during tie dark and benighted ages Of the world
1t is singular but remarkable circumstance, that
at this period of the world, when SO much light
truth; and intelligence beautifully diffused
from the press, from science, and from the scrip
lures, that single individual, of ordin AIRY intel
lectual faculties, should become deluded as 70
embrace any of the preposterous humbugs of the
day. The "Latter-Day Saints" firmly believe in
the several predictions of Father Miller, and many
Of them, to our knowledge, abandoned all worldly
objects and prepared their ascension robes, patiently
awaiting the moment to be taken aloft to the third
heaven" Miller frequently predicted the day and
the hour when time should be no longer" and
eternity commence. His followers remained in
anxious expectation of the event, ard kept their
clamps trimmed and burning" until Miller was
called from earth, through pain, disease, and
death, as all other mortals Then their
eyes were opened-the deusion vanished; and the
Latter Day Saints returned to reason and their
duties to their families, to themselves, ard to
society. Look, also, at the complete control
which the Infamous impostor Matthias possessed
over the minds of his yictcls. He exercised
his serTent-like power over those persons so
completely that they abandoned business en-
tered into the socialist state with him. and delivered
their property into his hands. he was also a
Sc saint" and charmed these infatuated creatures
that the world became indifferent to them-they
abandoned their children to its cold and uneeling
charities; and several of them years since, sighed
themselves into their tombs And Matthias was
| ignerant-illiterate-ha abandoned his own wife
and chdIen-threw up the jackplane (for he was
| journeyman carpcnter), allowed his beard and
hair to grow dsgustingly lengthy, and came out an
opposite" in the public streets.
And so it was with Joe Smith. lie was lazy
indoent farmer. In ploughing the fields, he turned
| up the Golden Bible" II was in lang uage COM
prsing hiesoglyphes, and mortal could de cipher
the characters but Joe. The reading was neither
/ Greek Latin, Hebrew, or any other language,
dead or alive, which any other mortal but Joe
! could read He translated it into the English
language with as much ability as he possessed.
lie Immediately proclaimed himself prophet
of the Lord" and founded the Mormon faith.
/ He acquired disciples-for his Bible
! great AaEutd uIectly down
from Heaven, He established communities,
His believers disposed Of their farms and other
proIerty-many Of them deserving their families
cast the receipts of their property Joes treasury,
received the right hand of felo wship, and were ad-
mited in full communion with the "so,ial family"
| Thousands of dollars were contributed, and hun
dreds Of individuals of both joined this man.
They established societies in several places in the
4
dities, and irrespective comminglings, they were
driven by the people from place place, until Joe
established the Temple at Nauvoo, in Illinois
| There the leading spirit was shot. But the Nor.
mons have become more settled since then, and are
now doing good service to the overland emigrants
and will found an empire ut Salt Lake.
Without alludng to numerous other humbugs of
the day, come at once to the mysterious Ro-
chester rappings." This phenomenon has excited
considerable curiosity, and many, learned In
science and divinity, have given the subject
some cor sideration. The mediums"-Mrs Fox
and sisters have visited several cities in this vicinity
ard exhibited those rappings and mysterious sounds
to all persons who were disposed TO contribute
their dollar. We are not advised that any person
in this city became converted except our socialist
cotenporary Of the Tribune and no one in Albany,
of De Witt Clinton spoke through the " medium" Of
his son George, at late political meeting in AL
bany. We have, however, recently discovered
another convert, VIII, comes before the public open
| ly and emphatically in his belief of the pheno-
menon." He was for several years tho editor Of
country paper In this State lie is a Gull believer
| in the MYSTERY Of the "rappings" He saysi-
We have been in Auburn and upon a thorough and
careful investigation u the subject have come TO the
conclusion that the manifestations ony produced
by spirits out q the fesh but that they permitted
and Delegated to communicate with mortals BY God for
the vast and ineonceivaby exalted purpose reeemng
the world from the bondage and corruption Of i'm And
q the feeble instruments Il Cod In this great
work. engage our weak tsents time and ALL
henc.forth and forever I'll the object BE- accomplished
Paul the Apostolic Messenger, directed Us, by
Of the rappingsn to business In this place
and remove to Auburn there to continue
the publication Of paper, to b. devoted wholly
olusively to this Gauss.
The gentleman has consequently abandoned po-
li.ics, sold out his paper, and is now making ar
fragments for the publication of a periodical at
Auburn, entitled the Spiritual and Mrul Ia,true-
tor" lie will remain on earth much longer
time than old father Methuselah, if he ex-
poets to stay here until the object be accom-
plished." We arc inclined 10 the belief that he
will End ( very difficult matter to explain to
his readers the true definition Of spirit, which
is subject which admits Of much refined and
metaphysical discussion. The subject has been
handled nearly four thousand years, by scores Of
celebrated doctors Of divinity, without, TO this day
solving the great problem; and unless be can con-
municate 10 his readers what spirit it, il can hardly
be expected that he will be able to convince the
world, " and the rest Of mankind" of the absolute
reality Of the mysterious rappings." The editor
sass that his new paper shall contain accounts Of
conversations with spirits the history defence and
advocacy Of the manifestations, and articles com
posed and given entirely by spirits in another state
ofekisLence."
This outhumbugs all the other humbugs which
ever have preceded it, A eposterous and impos-
sible ne such things are, add utterly absurd as
they may be- the editor and his paper will undoubt-