The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1859-07-23
~. <ur.eries oi ranat;cism,

ifSt pTopnet OF thal sect. vulgar, but SHitNo (
mpos tor, who managed to turn the creduiity
Of his fellow mon to some account. 1t 10
astonishing that such man, who conld not |
have got credit alta bar-room in his native
State of New York far ninepence, should be
able in this age of enlightenment, ana IN ms
most intelligent of countries, to impose upon
any body, especially such a tissue OF absufoi-
ties as Mormonism. How he could pfeNaii
upon any one to believe that God had made
Revelation to him and that almost every night
{; cd made him n revelation, commanding one
disciple TO sell his farm and another his ner-
chandize. and to put the proceeds IN the hands
of the pronhet; and how he could prevail
upon people born in his part of the world ac-
iually to give up their money on such pre-
fences il n great mystery, but is none THE less
true It would be incredible, but for the
many instances in some parts of this conn-
try in which fanaticism has proved more
powerful than the love of money. 10 say
nothing of the craznesses of the times OF
witchcrait, there was a notable example o4
successful religious impos ture IN the STATE ot
New York, only Il few years previous 10 INC
Inauguration of Mornonisnl, which was SUI
dcieat to encourage any attempt however
,noustrous, 10 impose upon popular cfeduil'y
and which perhaps actually Suggested 10
SMITH the idea OF inNen'inG new f'ig''h
and making it pay. We refer 10 the case Oh
MATTHIAS who made bis appearance III the
nai,btorhood of New York about t"th'S-hNe
>..arsaeo. and pretended 10 be the Almighty
This vii. felIoyg actually persuaded solhc men
nj tho truth OF his pretrnsions, ana among
tben, ,v-n wealthy merchant, al the cry OF
nh -1r
who had acquired large property by their
,brift and energy: he pers uaded these men and
their families that he was the King OF Heaven
and Earth and what is more induced them 10
rive ND everything they had III the world to
his nosesssion He lived in great state, having
he entire use Of 4 splendid mansion of one of
his dunes and about u dozen wives. including
those which had been surrendered to him, at
his command, by his crcdulous disciples
MATTHIAS wound up his course by poisoning
one or two of his followers, which brought
him into the hands Of the law but he finally
. capped the just retribution OF his crimes.
The other institution which began its career
in Northern Ohio almost simultaneously with
Mormonism. is the University, as 1T IS mag
uiloouputlv styled, Of Oberlin. The viii
lage of Olerlin now numbers some three thou
sand inhabitants, and the " University about
eight hundred students of both sexes. From
the beginning. the doors have been open to
male and female, and TO white and black
IrCY STONE, ANToiNETTE BROWN, and other
female notorieties graduated n this institu-
ton. A CORES pendent Of the Cincinnati COM
,asrcjaL describing Oberlin and the pecullarl-
lies of it's inhabitants. says ian AIR OF scholas-
tic cCotism combined with fierce and VIM
dictive fanaticism. hangs about the place,
completely saturating all who live III It
The inhabitants live upon the slavery
question II is their meat and drink. They
are literally soaked in it, They scorn and re-
nudiate the defensive position OF conservative
Repuhlicanism. and assume the aggressive,
with an abiding faith in their final triumph.
From their entrenched position in the north
of Ohio. they fire their big guns necessarily,
not even waiting for the metal 10 cool. at the
sum of ali yillainies' in Georgia. and South "a
rolina. A long range, ii is true but like the Fly
on the bulls horn, they fondly imagine fhsy are
the cause of all the dust kicked up i'll the past
few wears The Oberlin philosophers are emf
nently puqnacious. In pirty, philan thropy,
or politics they would rather force n point
than gain it peaceably. 1t is useless TO reason
with them. Clad in triple coat of fanatic
bisotry. their brains added with crude, indi-
gestibIe theories for compelling mankind 10
reform their abuses, they are imperyious alike
to the shafts Of ridicule and the sword of
truth. Nothing so much delights your Ober-
lin philosopher as 10 entrap an unsuspectng
stranger into argument. Like the MiIeSan
gentleman at the Fair Of Donnybrock. who
was 'spiiing' for a fight, the shiilelah of an
Oberlinite is describing a perpetual circle OF
flourishes, while lie entreats some one 10 Tread
on his coat tail A few years ago the sages OF
Orberlin resolved they would discontinue the
use Of sugar. and thus cut OF the revenue OF
The slave owners; they did so, and for a time
drank their bohea and hysOn skin unsweet-
ened. eschewed pies and cakes. and preserves
and Jams. and for q time ruined the candy
shops. and enjoyed the sweet rewards of con-
scious picty. But the WORLD Wagged rs usual.
The slave labOred and sWeatcd in Louisiana
cane fields. Gastronomy triumphed over con-
science. and the saints, like the washed SOW,
returned 10 the Wallow.''
Some wears after the establishment of Obcr- ,
in College, Rev. Mr.. FINNEY, l famous revi-
yalist preacher of New York, visited the north
,rn part of Ohio, preaching from the text
confess your sins one 10 another" and Great
nI a great sensation. lie insisted that. in Or
icr TO obey this command, the people should
get up in the congregation and unbosom them
selves publicly OF all their past sins. Ills
appeal was success ul, and some curious reve- /
aIion5 We're made Hon. DLLAZoN SMITH. who
us lately enjoyed 4 short-livcd Senatorial ex- /
stcnce Of seven day, and drawn an amount
II mileage sufficient to support him comtorta- /
'ly for the next seventy years WIS then Il stu
heard fINHEI'S sermon. and also the confess .
ions which were made by the other theological /
tudcnts, and published the s;une III Il book II ;
10 is 10 be believed. human nature. i'll Oberlin |
Its not entirely rcr1I cred from The effects of |
ADAMS fall.
improvements in the American Navy.