1842-04-18-New York Tribune-Central N York-Mormons Farming etc
Central N. York�Mormons, Farming, &c.
Source: New York Tribune, 18 April 1842, pg 5
- UTICA, New-York, March 28, 1842.
From motives of curiosity I attended the Mormon meeting in this city last evening. It was the first I ever attended although a society has been established here and meetings held for about a year. About 150 persons were present�men and women. The number of 'Saints,' if I may judge from the few who took part in the singing and knelt in prayer, was 25 or 30, of the poorer and most ignorant class of people. The principal man here, Blakesley�who I believe was one of the twelve apostles who were sent to England to preach the gospel two or three years ago�preached from the text, I. Cor. 15, 41. "There is one glory of the sun, and another glory of the moon, and another glory of the stars." From these words he maintained that there were three heavens, or mansions of blessedness for the redeemed. The first, or Celestial heaven, represented by the "glory of the sun," is to be the abode of those who, in their present life, believed the truth and obeyed the will of God, the Eternal Father, which was manifested in these last days. Many of the Antediluvians, to whom Noah was sent to preach but was rejected by the people; when they saw all hopes of saving their lives from destruction cut off by the flood, sincerely repented of their sins.�"These," said the preacher, "it would he unjust to condemn to everlasting punishment; and therefore were reserved in a fourth place referred to by our Saviour on the cross in his words to the penitent thief. 'This day shalt thou be with me in paradise,' to which place Christ immediately descended to preach the gospel for three days until his resurrection." Those who repented and believed were to be forgiven and inherit the second heaven, the "glory of the moon," which is much inferior to the first heaven. The preacher argued from the words, "But whosoever sinneth against the Holy Ghost it shall not he forgiven him neither in this world nor in the world to come," that forgiveness for all sins except that against the Holy Ghost might be extended after death, and all who repented and believed after death would inherit the third heaven. The "glory of the stars." All this the preacher proved, at least satisfactorily to himself and the 'saints' present, by quoting a great deal of Scripture and by talking fast and loud with violent gesticulations. I do not think however that he will ever set our Mohawk river on fire. He gave notice that he would, on next Sabbath evening, answer a question which had been proposed to him; Do the Mormons believe in the doctrine of endless punishment? This question he said he would assuredly answer satisfactorily to all who would favor him with a hearing. No hard labor. I think.
The Rev. Mr. Porter, formerly of the Presbyterian church in Third-avenue in your city, was on Wednesday evening last installed Pastor of the 1st Presbyterian church in this city.
Residing where I do, about one mile from the city. I can see all that occurs around me in the country as well as the city. In the country, the farmers are preparing for their early spring work. Few have commenced ploughing, but the weather is so changeable and unsettled that but little is yet done in the field.
In your paper of the 26th ult. there is an article copied from a Watertown paper giving an account of a great discovery for preserving seed corn from the worm, &c. Now this "new discovery" is an old custom in this part of the State. Some eleven or twelve years ago an article went the rounds of the papers stating that by soaking the seed in a solution of sal-nitre neither worm nor bird would touch it. Eleven years ago this spring I planted a square field of about two acres. The seed for eight rows I soaked according to the direction; the corn was planted and came up finely; but that was the last of that which was not soaked, for between the worms and the crows not a hundred hills were left�while not a hill of that soaked was touched. Since that time I have soaked all my seed corn believing it to be the only effectual remedy against those scourges of the corn-field�wire worms. After soaking and before planting, mixing up the corn with plaster will not hurt it any.
I might say, in connection with Mormonism above, that there are many of that sect residing in the town of Lee in this county and in Leyden, Lewis county. Large numbers emigrated last spring for Nauvoo. From some of them letters have been received, expressing in strong terms their disappointment. They say that they have been grossly, deceived in the religion and every thing else connected with Mormonism, and stating their intention to return immediately. These letters have caused the love of many to wax cold and their senses to return again, and they have renounced a religion which they now perceive was originated and is maintained by deception. J. R.
