The Express.
London, England, 1850-05-09 00:00:00

t 133 intelitgence.

EQUITY COURTS.-YESTERDAL
Baron no fauna or ma Roma.

Tea Ito= AND NORTH iIIDCANDWILIAY C

t. HVlNoll.—Tutu TO ANSWIR.
Mr. Toiler moved is this case, on behalf of the defendant,
Mr. George Hudson, the late chairman of the York and
North Midland Railway Company, for further time to put
in his answer. The suit was instituted by the company
against the defendant, to enforce their claims against him in
respect of certain transactions in which he had been con-
cerned whilst he was chairman of the company. It was
stated that the company had offered to compromise their
claims for 50,0001, but this the defendant refused to secede
to. There were in all three suits pending by the company
against the defendant. Mr Turner, on behalf of the com-
pany, offered the defendant a month's time to answer. Bat
it was urged that this was not sufficient; and after some dis-
cussion the motion was ordered to stand one till the first
day of Trinity Term, on the understanding being that
affidavits would be filed by the defendant, explaining the
circumstances w►ich rendered a longer time for answering
necessary.

Baron VICLZEIA/MiLLOR Kmowr Bocci.
THE AGAPE HONE.
THONIAII V. ROBERTA.

Mr. Wigram and Mr. J. H. Ooldsmid resumed their ar-
guments in support of the petition, which was presented by
Mr. S. P. Ripley as the next friend of George Nottidge
Thomas, an infant of four years of age, the only child of
the respondent, George Robinson Thomas, " a brother" of
the society called the Agapemone, near Bridgewater. The
prayer of the petition was that some proper person or per
sons might be appointed to be the guardian or guardians,
or to have the care of the infant during his minority, and
that proper directions might be given for his maintenance
and education, and that the respondent and his agents
might be restrained from epplytng for any writ of habeas
corpus for the purpose of obtaining possession or custody of
the infant, and also from taking forcible means or otherwise to
take possession of him or in any manner interfering with him.
The following was the substance of the principal statements
in the petition, and the affi lavits in support of it, =say of
the al creations in which however were positively denied b 7
the affidavits filed on behalf of the reopendents. Previously
to the year 1842, Mrs. Thomas, the wile of the respondens,
then Agnes Nottidge, and four unmarried slaters, children of
Mr. and Mrs. Nottidge, of Rose-bill, near Wiz's, in Suffolk,
were entitledto about 5,0001. or 6,0001. stock each. The
respondent, who had been educated as a clergyman of the
Church of England, at Lsmpeter College, became sc
qusinted with Mr. Prince, and after leaving that place, they
and several others formed themselves into a society, coiled
" The Lam2eter Brothers." Mr. Samuel Starky, a clergyman
of the Established Church, joined them. Mr. Prince, who was
a clergyman of the Church of England, and curate of
Carlinch, within four miles of Bridgewater, was prohibited
by his diocesan, the Bishop of Bath and Wells, from further
officiating. He afterwards removed to Stoke, near Iteee-
hill, the residence of the Nottidge family. After this Mr.
Prince removed to Brighton, whither Mrs. Nottidge and her
daughters went in October, 1843, and remained until May,
1844, and Mr. Prince preached at a chapel in Windsor-
street. called " Addullan." In May, 1944, the family of
Mrs. Nottidge returned to Rost-hill, in consequence of the
illness of the father, and after his death the daughters re-
turned to Brighton, whither their mother some time after-
wards followed them. In June, 1815, the five sisters and
Mr. Thomas were at Taunton, as were also Mr. Prince and
Mr. Starky and his wife. Oa the 10th of June Mr. Prince
and Mr. and Mrs. Starky were sitting in a room in one of
the inns there, and Agnes Nottidge and her sisters in a room
in the other inn (the two buildinee being close together),
4. hen Mr. Prinz sent for Harriet N Midge, and told her that
she would give great glory to God by marrying Lewis
Prince (one of his followers), and afterwards sent for Agnes
and told her that God intended to confer a special blessing
on her, but that before she was told what it was, she must
promise to do what was required of her. She was at first
unwilling he melts such a promise, but afterwards consented,
and was informed that it was the mind of God, who intended
to confer an especial blessing on her, that she should marry
" Brother Thomas" (meaning the respondent) in • few days.
She said she could not 1:•;• married eo soon, as she wished a
settlement made of her property for the purpose of providing
for any family she might have, whereupon she was told
there would be no need of anything of that sort, " because
she would have no family," as it would not be in accordance
with her present calling, and that her marriage would be
sully spiritual to carry out the purposes of God.
Both sisters kept the int( nelt d marriages secret, but at
dinner with the sisters and Prince and Thomas on the same
day nines informed the party that H • aad Agnes had
in obedience to the will of Gad consented to become the
wives of Brothers Price and Thomas. The marriage was
intended ti talcs place at Brighton. but Prince said it was
the will of God that it should take place at Swansea, and
that they must go there before returning to their mother at
Brighton. They remonstrated on account of the sorrow it
would cause their mother, hut Prince said they must not
allow such feelings to prevent them (-flowing the path
marked out for them by Gad, and that if they read the
hoc k of Jonah they would see the effect of acting contrary
to God's commands. The two sisters then went to Rose lila
for their clothes on the 12th of June, 1845, and thence, after
five days, they proceeded to Swansea. Mr. Thomas. in an-
swer to a further request of Agnes that a settlement should
be made of the property, wrote the following letter:
2, Winder-terrace, Brighton, June 21, 1145.
NI, eery dear .tornee—lt gave me pleasure, by a letter from deer
brother (Uhl', to learn, that he had seen ens off safely by mail on
Thursday morning; by this time you are either with beloved brother
Williame, or else with the dear Mrs. Matter. I know their lose In
J^cus, and that they will do everything to render your sojourn In
anseti good for you ; but I know something more, I know
the boundleal love of Jesus ; he will he with you for his
eve is on you ; and whatevr is good that will he bestow,
whether It be joy or sorrow, ease or trial, comfort or
difficulty; all things are yours, for you are Christ's and Christ is God•s.
Let not your heart be troubled under your present circumstances,
neither let it be afraid at what friends or fors may suggest. Abide in
the spirit and will of God; then will your peace be like a river wide
and overflowing, and your soul will be borne meetly akmg theetreala
of time until it reach the ocean of eternal toe* and rest. What I say
unto you I say also unto you, Harriet and Clara. Assure them of my
love, and let them trust themselves to be carried by Both in the arms
of Jesus whitliersoever he will—not wbitber,oever they will
end they end you CU find Ile will do you good at your
latter end. My beloved Agnes I must write to you just what the
spirit leads me to do; this I do with the more confidence because I be-
lieve you have an ear tohear what the Lord may say unto you through
him that lovetb you. You mentioned your desire to have a settlement
of your property upon yourself ; this, I assured yon, would be very
agreeable to my feelings, and is No still; but lot even.
int writing on God this matter quite unexpectedly was
brought before me. I had entirely put It away from my thoughts,
leaving it to take its course as you might be ledtoect ; but God will not
have it so. Ile chews methat the principle is entirely contrary toGod's
word, and altogether at variance with that confidence which Is le exist
between us, who are one spirit. This desire on your part must be
abandoned. Give it up to God, end show that you can trust his faith-
fulneas; and I ran assure you the confidence you repine in him will
not be disappointed. 1 know God, and I know that none who trust
la him shall ever can ever, be confounded. Ile that bath an ear to
hear, let him heir. As regards the promise you made your parents
I would merely say, that any promise made when you were uncon-
verted. and which was not in accordance with the ward of God, you
are not bound. neither would it be right in you, to adhere t I must
bid you farewell : and believe me, to abide in much love, yours affec-
tionately in the everlasting covenant, BILOTIMft TIIUMV.•

The respondent and Miss Agnes Nottidge were married on
the 9th ot July, 1845, at Swansea church ; on the same day
Miss Clara Nottidge was married to Mr. C4hb (an-
other ot Mr. Priace's followers), and Miss Harriet Nottidge
to Mr. Price—Me. Prince being present, and Mr. Stark, '
giving away the brides, who were all three, by Prices di- I
reetion, attired in black dresses. No settlement was made
of the property of any one of the ladies. Prince sent to the
respondent a summon', in the following words: "Brother '
Theme, I command you to arise, and come to Weymouth. I
Amen." The respondent, however, took his wife to visit
his mother at Llandilo for a month. His wile here I
used all her influence with her husband to dissuade him
from again joining Prince , and for a time succeeded ; but in
October, 1845, they went to Weymouth, where Prince, Mr.
and Mrs. *Rutty, Price. Cobb, and Thomas lived in •
house altogether. A week after the arrival of Mr. Thomas I
end his wits, she was summoned " to appear before l'rince
in the drawing-room; then he threatened and re-
proached
her for trying to persuade her husband as I
she had done, and said to her, "If you dare
attempt to influence your husband again in acting contrary
to my commands, God will crush you out of the way." The '
respondent, who was present, added, " Agnes, I command
you to obey henceforth the Spirit of God in me, mad* known
to me through the servant of the Lord." While they lived
at Weymouth, Mrs. Thomas occasionally remonstrated with
her huabsnd on his conduct, and he often sad, " There is
nothing but the devil in you. You are full of the devil."
Mrs. Thomas hearing that Prince was corresponding with
her sister Louisa, to induce her to go and live in the family. '
was writing • letter to her to dissuade her, when Williams,
who was staying in the house, looked over her shoulder and
read what she bad written, and then snatching it away,
took it to Prince, and that evening, when she was
proceeding to the bed room usually occupied by her
and her husband, the latter foilmule her to go, adding,
"in writing that letter you have deeply sinntd against
God's holy spirit. 1 therefore care nothing about you, nor
what becomes of you. The room adjoining this is empty.
You can go there if you please, so that you be not near me ;"
and from the Friday until Wednesday following the re-
spondent slept in • different room from his wile. In the
latter part of 184.5, Prince began to profess and preach that
prayer, whether public or private, was no longer re-
quisite, and ought to be abandoned, and he iuformed
Mr. Cobb, Mrs. Priam, and Mrs. Thomas, that there was
ao longer any occasion for their reading the Bible, and that
through their husbands only they would know the will et
God. It was further alleged that on the Ist of January,
1848, Prince held a meeting of affirmative answerers at an
inn at Weymouth, when ha told them that Jesus hail now
loft the mercy seat, and that therefore sinners could no
longer littsave.l, but that all before hint were safely shut up
to the, kingdom of heaven, and that he held the doctrine
that the day of grace was passed, and the day of judgment
arreived. In February, 1846, the respondent followed Prince
to Bridgewater, when soon afterwards, upon the reH
spondent admitting his wife was pregnant, Prince ez-
, pressed great anger, and prevented him fells return-
, tug to her, and she had never meen him front that
time, except on one occasion throttai • window.
In the same month Williams and his wife assumed the man.
agement of the house at Weymouth, whence they expelled