Perhaps it was the force of habit as well as the impelling power of desire that caused the group, with whom we are now so familiar, again to assemble at the place made somewhat memorable by recent events--the verandah fronting the Marshall mansion. All the persons hitherto named, excepting, of course, the minister, were present; that gentleman had not only taken his departure from the house, but doubtless from the town also. It was Sunday evening, the weather was perfect, all things seemed conducive to harmony, and a most pleasurable occasion, it being perhaps the last they would enjoy together. The doctor and lawyer were so anxious to begin the conversation that they could scarcely wait for all to be seated; they desired to improve the opportunity, and learn what they could of other principles of the missionary's faith. "Mr. Durant," finally said the doctor, "we have listened with much pleasure to different conversations with you since your arrival and these have awakened a lively interest within us, and as there is nothing to prevent this evening, we thought it would not be at all unpleasant to you to spend an hour or so in answering what to us appears to be some very important questions concerning the faith of the so-called Mormons." "I assure you it will be pleasant to me, indeed. I am here for that purpose, and the more questions I have an opportunity to answer, the better and more successfully will I perform my duty. Could I read your thoughts and know what you desire explained, I assure you nothing would be left untold; but this not being the case, I rely upon you to make enquiries and will request that you keep nothing back, and I will be honest in giving any information that I am capable of imparting." "I am now inclined to believe," said the doctor, "after our experience with you, that, like most of the good people of this nation we have been in possession of only one side of the question regarding your people. Never having heard, from your standpoint, the claims of Mr. Joseph Smith, the founder of your Church, in regard to his being a prophet, we would be pleased to learn what he said on this question." "This is a frankness which I appreciate very much. As a general thing, the majority of the people, when desirous of knowing anything concerning us, are prone to ask any other person on earth than a Mormon. They do not seem to think for a moment that we ourselves might be able to place them in possession of the most reliable information on the subject. Joseph Smith's claim to being divinely inspired to open up a new dispensation of the gospel, is here given in his own statement so that you will be getting it direct from the fountain head." "By all means, read it," said two or three in concert; "there will then be no room for misrepresentation." "Joseph Smith has made the following statement regarding the subject," continued Durant: