donable sin she has committed. The expression "here you may dance as much as you please" does not vary the case in the least: for if the dancing was innocent, that was innocent also.* Whether this was an offence I shall leave to be examined by him whose right more peculiarly it is to resist this extraordinary movement. With these few remarks, if no one objects, I will read the statement of the accused. MRS. WESTON'S STATEMENT. "To the South Parish Church in Augusta. The subscriber, a member of the church, against whom Deacon Tappan has preferred a complaint, makes the following statement of facts. Some time in March last, she saw a young lady who belonged to the "Winter Circle" which was to meet at the house of the subscriber according to a previous understanding. She said to her "you may come here next time" and added, "you may dance as much as you please." She understands what passed on that occasion reached the ear of her accuser, through a member of his family, who happened to be present. On the evening of the 28th ult., her accuser called upon her, in the absence of her husband, and the matter was fully discussed, as she thought in a friendly way, for more than two hours. Presuming there was an end of the affair, she was surprised, the following evening, at a second visit from him and Mr. Kilburn, her husband still remaining from home. On one, or both of these occasions, her accuser declared himself aggrieved at the remark complained of, and also that she had invited young people to her house for the purpose of dancing, so soon after the acceptance of the late Report. The subscriber told him she did not invite them for the purpose of dancing, nor to show the majority of the church, that she disregarded their feelings; that so It was like saying, "here you may sing as much as you please." far as it had caused grief to him or to others, she regretted it, but that she must be governed by her own sense of duty and propriety. She reiterated again and again, how sorry she was to have wounded his feelings, but that he had no right to be grieved, as she had not departed from her usual course. She stated to him, that it was not a party, invited for the purpose of dancing, but a society met to work in the afternoon for some benevolent object, and to spend the evening in sports and plays, at which time they are usually joined by some of their mates of the other sex; that dancing was not the object of the meeting but merely incidental to it. She told him, she was not conscious of having done any thing wrong, but that if she had, she hoped she should be led to see it; that there would probably be but little more dancing until next winter, and we might not live until that time. But still her accuser insisted, to use his own language, that she should say, that "she was sorry and would not do so again.' To accede to these demands, was of course, with her views, impossible. How far his statements to the church conform to these facts, they will judge. He has accused her, after her strong asseverations to the contrary, of "manifesting an utter disregard to the feelings and views of those fellow members of the same communion, who had recently expressed their disapproval of such amusements." How far, after what passed, a gentleman and a christian could use such language, it is not easy for her to comprehend. Having made the foregoing statements, she deems it her duty to protest, that in so doing, she does not submit to the jurisdiction of the church in this matter. She has agreed to be governed by their discipline, only so far as they shall be guided by the word of God.* That Holy The following extract from the Covenant of this church, shows how far Mrs. Weston's conscience was surrendered to its keeping. "YOU TAKE THE HOLY SPIRIT OF GOD TO BE YOUR DIRECTOR INTO THE SENSE OF THE SACRED ORACLES, and to be your sanctifier and Book, she has long esteemed it both a duty and a privilege, to study with prayerful attention. She has been unable to find any thing there, which forbids, either in direct terms, or by fair implication, children or others to move their limbs responsive to music. Nor was any such prohibition perceived by her parents, or by their parents, whose praise is in the churches, and who had too much reverence for the word of God, which was in their estimation the pearl of great price, to tolerate any thing, which could appear doubtful, when weighed in the balances of the sanctuary. She has the best reason to believe, that they regarded dancing as an innocent amusement. Such also was the opinion of the former pastor of this church, who officiated when she became one of its members. She understands, that twenty five members of this church have recently discovered, that this amusement is sinful; and that this is a fair deduction from the word of God. They have published to the world their opinion, and the authority upon which it is founded. She has examined it with care; and the result to which they have arrived does not commend itself to her judgment, or to her conscience. It was not so understood by the excellent of the earth, who have gone before us. What they could not see, and what she cannot see, she does not deem it her duty to recognize, at the bidding of those who declare that it has been disclosed to them. Let who will require it, she dares not call evil good, and good evil, in opposition to the moral discernment and light, which God has given her; and she understands that a woe is denounced in scripture upon those who presume to do so. She has hitherto been happy in believing, that the path of duty was clearly pointed out; that the way of salvation, which had been prepared by the son of God and his holy apostles, had been made so straight and plain, comforter. You wil! sacredly regard every personal and relative duty. You will submit yourself to the care and discipline of this church, so FAR AS THEY SHALL BE GUIDED BY GOD'S MOST HOLY WORD." that a way faring man, though a fool, should not err therein; and that this could not depend upon the fluctuating opinions of the day. She is aware, that there is a fashion in dress and in manners; but she does not admit that there is properly a fashion in morals or in religion. That she had thought, that in these the enquiry ought to be for the good old paths, and that she is fearful that new paths and new lights, may lead her astray. In conclusion, she again protests against the jurisdiction of the church in this matter. She appeals from the judgment of fallible man to the law and to the testimony. She appeals to the searcher of hearts, and to the final Judge of quick and dead before whom we must all appear. If a majority of the church have such feelings towards her, in consequence of her opinions of some recreations differing from theirs, that they cannot allow her to sit with them at the table of their common Lord, she can only say she forgives them, and that it is her sincere prayer, that the "Master of the feast" may forgive them also. Augusta, May 6th, 1840. PAULINA B. WESTON." Adjourned to the following evening. CHAPTER VII. "And when he was accused of the CHIEF PRIESTS and ELDERS, he answered nothing. Then saith Pilate unto him, hearest thou not how many things they witness against thee? And he answered him to never a word." Matt. xxvii, 12, 13, 14. "Therefore shalt thou make them turn their back, when thou shalt make ready thine arrows upon thy strings against the face of them." Ps. xxi, 12. "Hold your peace, let me alone that I may speak, and let come on me what will." Job xiii, 13. "And as he reasoned of righteousness, temperance, and judgment to come, Felix trembled." Acts xxiv, 25. Friday evening, May 8th. DEA. T. expressed a wish to put certain questions to the accused. JUDGE W. That gentleman has been at my house several times in my absence. He has talked to the accused for four hours. He has represented her conversation himself. She has put into the case her statement; and I cannot now consent to any attempt to elicit anything more from her. DEA. T. The questions which I wish to put relate to certain apparent discrepancies. I do not ask permission to put them as a matter of favor or courtesy: but I demand it as a right. J. HEDGE. It seems to me that if the parties could converse, we might very soon come to an understanding. A good deal of time has already been consumed in debate, it seems to me unnecessarily. Let us act in a christian spirit. Mr. Weston has certainly abused Mr. Tappan, as far as language can abuse him. D. C. W. Which Mr. Weston do you refer to? |