| 307 out as wings" could mean "the north and the south" for he 89th Psalm says he created them, and although the bible throughout, holds the language that the earth hath foundations, and is set on pillars, yet the "north," according to Job, was "stretched out over the empty place," and the earth hangs upon nothing there, so that Esdras' ten tribes may live on one of the wings and be a "part of the globe," as this translation shows-and see when the "standard is set up," and return with the gift to the gathering place-when the Lord says to the "north give up." This is Mormon philosophy, and like all others, time must prove it.
With all the 'reasons' and 'truths' as 'thick as grass-hoppers,' as a yankee would say, the Mormons have not made me over, but I like their 'open course' of 'trying all things,' and 'proving all things,' and 'holding fast to that what is good.'
VIATOR.
Nauvoo, August 19th, 1843.
MILLERISM-FANATICISM.
The following is from the correspondence of the New York Journal of Commerce. It speaks but little of what we boast as an enlightened age. What are likely to be the results of Millerism and its kindred fooleries? Either to make infidels, or, proving to all that there is a reality of which their are base counterfeits, to lead men to embrace the true religion and secure their consequent happiness.
BRIDGEPORT, Conn., Sept. 7, 1843.
Messrs. Editors:-The Miller Camp Meeting which has lately been held in our vicinity, on the line of the Housatonic Rail Road, at a place called Stepney, came to an end on Tuesday morning or Monday night. Such a scene of confusion, fanaticism, and impiety (as it appeared to me,) has never been equalled [equaled] in this country since Columbus first stepped on our shores, unless the case of Matthias the Prophet, whose career was short, and endeavored to prove that the world would come to an end in 1843. He spoke of the judgment and eternity with a great deal of solemnity. During his preaching, a man pretended to be inspired, passed up and down the camp with a great leaf in his hand, waving it over his head, and crying 'Hallelujah' and 'Glory,' at the top of his voice.* He soon began pointing his finger at certain individuals, making at the same time a muttering sound, with his mouth closed, which the Millerites said meant, that the individual to whom he pointed was to all intents and purposes, internally damned. Thus he went from one to another sealing up forever and ever the damnation of individuals-and the leaders all testified that the man was inspired, and it would not answer to stop him, for that would be sinning against the Holy Ghost, which sin could not be pardoned. At night, however, he was taken off the ground by his father and confined for a time. On Monday, another man by the name of Campbell got inspired and went through the similar performances, being joined by many others affected the same way.-It is impossible to describe the scene. Any person wearing a breastpin, artificial flowers on their bonnets, or a safety chain of gold, or a gold watch, was pointed out as lost. These fanatics would fall on their knees, and demand of others to fall before them.
They pulled off breastpins and finger rings and threw them away-broke up safety chains and scattered them to the winds. One lady was induced to take out a whole set of false teeth and throw them on the ground, which were stamped in the dirt. Others cut off their hair, which they were told was their idol; pulled it out and tried to persuade their friends to do likewise. Two young ladies from Bridgeport were also inspired, and pronounced woe upon individuals who did not believe as they did, by pointing their fingers and making this muttering noise, groaning, &c. A Mr.-,† minister of the Episcopal church at --, mounted the stand to make some confession, and declared that he should be no longer minister of that particular church, or any other, but should do what he could for this great cause.
He was pointed at, however, by the inspired man, and had to leave the stand. A Methodist minister, by the name of Fuller, and a Baptist by the name of Gregory, were both sealed over to eternal damnation by these inspired ones. They were, however, not so easily frightened. The Methodist Fuller, commenced praying.-For a while all went well-the Millerites crying 'Glory,' 'Hallelujah,' 'Praise God,' &c., till soon he prayed for the poor deluded ones who thought they were doing God's service and were not, asking that the devil might be cast out of them. Whereupon the Millerites cried, 'take him away,' 'stop him,' 'his damnation is sealed,' and laid their hands upon him. Fortunately, their was friends enough to protect him. The Millerite preachers said all this was the Spirit of God, till Litch, of the 'Midnight Cry,' saw how things were going, and announced from the stand, that these things were of the devil, and the Millerites must leave the ground. One minister declared that the world would come to an end this year. 'It was just as sure as preaching.' Others of the Millerites said it would be the seventh month from March 1843. Others, that we should never see the 1st of October, 1843. But this meeting ended,
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