lated. He does not complain of the words and acts themselves, but the spirit which they manifested. Whatever might have been the confusion of the Report, the complainant regarded these acts as conflicting with the opinions of many of the church. On the point of the temper of the accused, he wanted more light. He could not yet make up his mind. He ought to be permitted to question the accused, either there or privately; and he ought to be permitted to converse with her alone. If his wife should offend a brother, and that brother should call to see her, he should feel it his duty to leave the room. It was not according to the spirit of Christ to stand on the defensive and say "we admit nothing. Prove what you can."

In conclusion, he hoped we should all meet in heaven.*

DEA. T. The grief, in this case, was not confined to me. Many were grieved as well as myself. The views of the church are well known. The conduct and speech of Mrs. W. were in opposition to these views. I have not stated all the conversation between us, but the facts in the case are all known.

Of all persons in the world, I should be the last to speak ill of Mrs. W. She has been my patron and friend. But I felt it my duty to complain.

As to seeming contradictions, I think she will acquit me of any bad motives or designs. I have no doubt

*Dea. T. knew best what he complained of, which was that Mrs. W. had acted in opposition to the Report-see complaint and his testimony. But it was clearly proved that when the Report was accepted, pledges were given that parents were not to be compelled to conform to it; and here was Mrs. W. on trial for going contrary to it. How was this to be reconciled? Mr. Dole is an ingenious man, and shrunk not from the task. He did'nt care about "anything on our records;" and as for the Report, no matter whether that was moonshine or not. "The words and acts" were not complained of, "but the spirit which they manifested." That is to say, parents are not bound by this Report. O no: but if they act contrary to it, it shows such a bad spirit that they must be disciplined. This ruse took finely with that portion of the church which seemed determined to sustain this prosecution. They immediately breathed more freely. Mrs. W. was not taken up for allowing dancing, but for the "bad spirit" which the allowing of dancing manifested.

that, as a witness in a court of justice, I should be disturbed. Perhaps I should not tell my story straight.-I do not intend to vote in the case.

C. DOLE. I wish to pursue the Bible method and converse with the accused. Sister Weston can I have that privilege?

Dr. SNELL, [after a pause.] I was pleased with the remarks of Mr. Dole this evening. There is a general sentiment in the church, that Mrs. W. is a person of real piety. But I am not prepared to act in this case. It seems to me reasonable that she should answer questions, and then I hope the difficulty may be settled. I do not think there is any necessity of parting.

We are not dealing with Mrs. W. for the dancing in her house, but for the spirit which she has shown.

JUDGE W. remarked that he had listened to Mr. Dole attentively. He had been in the habit of judging men a good deal by the eye, and was seldom deceived. There was a great deal of pretension to piety in the the manner of that gentleman. He hoped he was as good as he appeared to be. That was a matter between him and his God.

What more, said he, do gentleman want? They have the testimony of the complainant, which sustains the answer of the accused to the crossing of a t, and to the dotting of an i. The "temper" which the accused would exhibit now, if questioned, would not vary the cause of complaint. That was past-gone beyond control as much as what happened before the flood. The question is has this complaint been properly brought? and, if so, has it been sustained? Did Mrs. W. allow in her house that which was wrong? and, if so, did she exhibit an unchristian temper in her interviews with Dea. T. On these points you have all the light you ever will have; and the accused calls upon you to say whether she has acted right or wrong. If the church shall decide that she has acted wrong, they can take such steps to reclaim her as they think best. If gentlemen are not satisfied with her conduct, as it now stands,

let them say so. testimony to sustain and resist it, is all out. Has it been sustained? I have not succeeded in speaking in so soft a voice as Mr. Dole. I could not do it. Whether that gentleman's heart is as soft as his voice, I cannot determine. I hope it is.

Dea. T. has made a complaint. The

C. DOLE. Perhaps neither Judge Weston nor myself are competent judges of each other's sincerity. I am not ready to act without more light.

Dr. SNELL. I want a committee appointed to converse with Mrs. Weston.

JUDGE W. I say again, Mrs. W. will converse with no one till the church decides, upon her conduct as it stands at present. We do not ask you to decide this case in favor of the accused. All we want is that you should decide it one way or the other.

What is the object of questioning her? Any one who has read the complaint and has heard the testimony, cannot help seeing that she is complained of for acting in opposition to the Report. There is no pretence that she has done wrong in any other way. The only question then to settle is, had she the right to act in opposition to the Report?

C. DOLE, for one, was not ready to act without more light. The church must not be in haste to decide. These cases not unfrequently took from six months to two years.

JUDGE W. You will get no "more light" from Mrs. W.

PASTOR. Whether the church will decide on this case, or take up the others and dispose of them all, together, is for them to determine.

[No one, not present, can form any conception of the trying nature of this evident determination on the part of the pastor and others to delay the decision of the question; and at these attempts to cast a mist over the point at issue. It was almost too much for the nerves of men, and quite too much for those of women.

The daughter of the accused, Mrs. Fuller, whose

health was extremely delicate, finding that she was fast losing command of her nerves, attempted to leave the vestry. With assistance, she succeeded in reaching the door, but was there seized with an alarming hysterical affection, and burst into uncontrollable sobs and groans, which drew to the spot the immediate neighborhood, and the passers by. The meeting was breaking up in great confusion, and]

JUDGE W. (turning to the pastor, exclaimed.) This affair must be brought to a close. You will kill my wife and daughter. I dont know but you have killed my daughter.

Adjourned to Friday evening, May 15.

There seemed to be a combination on the part of the church which, unaccountable then, was afterwards explained. It will be perceived that all reasoning upon the facts-all appeals to their reason and to the common feelings of humanity, seemed to be glinted back like the rays of the sun from polished steel.

Mrs. Fuller, whose feeble frame could no longer bear the intense excitement of these scenes, was confined to her bed, dangerously ill. The family physician, alarmed for her safety, and seeing that repose of mind alone could save her, declared that she could not live a fortnight unless this case was disposed of.

Judge Weston, incensed at the injustice done his wife, and seeing too that there was to be no end to these sessions, and that his daughter's life might be sacrificed, unless they were brought to an end, determined that if the church did not close the affair on the next Friday evening, he and his wife would end it, by withdrawing from a body which, in its headlong career of spiritual domination, seemed to cast justice, humanity, and even truth to the winds.

CHAPTER IX.

"When a man hath done, then he beginneth; and when he leaveth off, then shall he be doubtful." Ecclesiasticus xviii, 7.

"For STRANGERS are risen up against me, and oppressors seek after my soul: they have not set God before them." Ps. liv, 3.

"We're fearfully o'ermatched in discipline;
So even my inexperienced eye can judge.

What succor save in heaven?" Halidon Hill.

"BUT WHEN THEY PERSECUTE YOU IN THIS CITY, FLEE YE INTO ANOTHER." Matt. x, 23.

Friday evening, May 15th.

Mrs. INGRAHAM. If it would not be improper, I wish to ask of the Pastor why he read a communication of mine, given to him many years ago? What had it to do with the case before us? I consider it a breach of confidence; and it is my wish that my paper may be restored to my possession. I purposely make this request before the same persons to whom that paper was read.*

PASTOR. The reason of my referring to that paper, on our last meeting, you can ascertain by examining my written statement made at that time.

I consider your communication as the property of the church. When received it was read at a public meeting of the church.

MRS. I. It was read at your request and by my permission, at a little meeting of members, at my father's house.

PASTOR. Perhaps anything, so exclusively between

*Mrs. Ingraham was not present when Mr. T. read his paper at the last meeting. If any one has the curiosity to see how dangerous it is, in a society like this, to assert that the Pastor can do anything wrong, let him turn to appendix A, and he will there see how these persecutions are car. ried into all the relations of life.