1838-02-06-Hudson River Chronicle-Humbug No 2

Humbug No 2

Source: Ossining NY Hudson River Chronicle, 6 February 1838, p. 2.

Comment: Given a later news story, the preacher is likely Parley P. Pratt. Pratt does indicate that he baptized in "sing-sing" (Ossining NY).

Humbug No 2

How this world of ours is given to humbugging! Within the last few days, a regular Simon Pure Mormon Prophet, of the real Joe Smith walk-upon-the-water-brass-plates school, has made his appearance in this village, preached several sermons, made several converts, and on Saturday last, notwithstanding the inclemency of the weather, actually immersed them in the Hudson, through a hole cut in the ice. Let his doctrines be what they may, none can doubt the zeal and strong faith of his proselytes after the exhibition of Saturday.

We shall have more to say of this "wolf in sheep's clothing" hereafter; at present we have barely time to write him down second only to Dr. Brandreth in the humbugging profession! There is but little difference in their mode of practice: he practices upon the credulity of men, and so does the Doctor; he profits by their folly, and so does the Doctor;——in fact, there is, to our mind, but one perceptible difference between them——viz: we consider the Mormon more knave than fool, while every body allows that the Doctor is "wisy worsy."

We know the origin of these Mormons, and have been an eye witness to their humbugging operations in the west, and a more worthless, degraded and vicious set of imposters never arose in this or any other country. Five years since we published the history of these desperate fanatics, and for the edification of those who delight in being charmed by the voice of sooth-sayers, and who believe in ghosts, witches, and hobgobins in "these latter days," we shall next week re-publish the account.