The Massachusetts spy, or, Thomas's Boston journal. [volume] (Boston [Mass.]) 1772-1775, 1773-01-14
For the MASSACHUSETTS > : ..
MIR. THOMAS,

4 WAS the other day reading in your pa.
per Of the 3la als. came to . piece
Of intelligence from Grafton, refpeeing .he
difni0ion OF their late paaor. and thinking
that |, would appear in much faireE point
If liebt TO the public, if a ifor. fketch Of the
,ranlsefions there fhould be publiihedi !
therefore fiall endeavour the fame, BY trant-
tribint from, authenticated copies OF papers
that now Law before me, fair and impartial
narrative, which is as followesh (v'z. 49,
In the wear 1854, | find confefion exh;.
bi,eI BY the Rev. Mr.. Aaron Hutchnion,
Nate paaor Of the church az Grafton, to an
eccleGafical council, for fal'hood, and in me
wear roe, Of the fame kind made 10 the
church there. In Auguit 1870, was nine
articles Of charge made and lodged agalntt
him Of the fame tenor. The hearing OF
which find was left TO the determination OF
an eccle6afical council, by the agreement OF
paRor and sggisyed, one Of which is, "tnas
Sc you have given usfreq0ent occaffon, as we
IS aoprehend, to doubt of your yeracisy, and
+" that in fundry inifances." The fiid coun-
Gil find, As BY their refuls appears
that he has given them just sea-
ION TO dueifion his yeraeity, and that IN fun
dry inaances. Mex ] find Mr. Hutchn-
fon's confeiioo, in confequence Of faid tefalt
exhibited January I'd, 1911, in the prelence
of the council, which food adjourned to thar
time. A paragraph of which is, |" As the
" council have found me faulty in fundry
&c ;nflAnces Of my conduct towards
+" my aggrieved brethren and others, and
~ have adsifed me to humble myfelf before
/" God and them, and to accept faid re-
!" luls, now FAY that have given juR ocea-
ss iion 10 my aggrieyed brethren to be offend
{" ed with me ia the fundfy inRances refefed
/" to in iaid reful,-~-Deelare ! do now accept
90 cffaid sefuls, Sc" The next paper that
comes 20 hand is dated AueuA III ,direa-
ed to the isid council, which Rood adjourned
60 tia. time By the content OF all parties
wherein MIR. HutchinIon is charged with Z
number Of sbfoluse FallhoOds and alto With
denying his confefiion No. & laA exhibited.
AT this felton, the council took into their
confederation laid paper Of charges, and zlio
a letter Mr.. Hulchinfoh then Ani TO faid
Council, Ggnifying his difapprobasicn OF their
thu, converting, as ALTO his laif ccnfeGion
No. a. exhibited to faid COUNSEL. Then fol-
lows the refuls Of the council. APaaage Of
which is, {" We are Of opinion that hid
I" confe1ion and verbal proieGion. and > pa.
/" ragraph 10 laid letter, cannot be Teconciled
S with truth or each other, or exempt iaid
I" pafor from difEimuiasiOn and hyPocdfys
{. iela,ive TO fAid Confeiion, and thar con-
Is GiderinR the many violations of truth and
{" inftances of dilimuiation that have been
IS proved TO the fatisl leaion of this council
I" upon the paRof, and the great diiiasisfae-
" ton in no frnall number Of this people to-
wards the faid pafor, excited doubles
{" fparsIy at leaf) BY himitcondua, and the
/" hide .psofpeef we have of bis reformation
t" or farther ulefa.nefs in this pIacss are of
6 opinion thar il is 6t that his PaiiUssl
{" felation TO this people fhOuld be Diff
Is f0ived."
The he2t paper contains new charges a.
CANT their paiior, fuch as breach Of ipecial
and fdlemn promifes, and fandry infances Of
falfio6d and ofiiIurious afperfons upon gen
,leneii's characters, all which Gnce the lar
council here, and do find BY agreemenr Of
patfor, church and aggtievrd, tia, they refer
All matters to mutual council. And BY
the refsist of faid council June 9th, I772, i hnd
,heyrefuIt him gOlty of6se Of faid inAances Of
faiihood out OF feven charged, one Of which
il, tina. MIR. Hutchnion is guilty of ialfhood
ttL5esains hi: confsffon No. 3. exhibited
January I'd. and advIe Mr.. Hutchinfon to
conEsls his faults and give chsifian hsisfaetion
% his aggsiieved brethren, as alto to thofe
een,Iemen on whom he had caf injurious
9k5ics .n.nE.1,nn | End accnrdinnl,