American watchman and Delaware advertiser. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1822-1828, 1823-08-08
From the Ne,v- England GALAXY.
Uoch his lCages

From the NeU- England Galary.
] A VroLENr TEMPEST happened a, Montville il
Connecticut, on Sunday, the 25th June, from des
cription of which, in Norwich paper, we take th,
following extract.
I" AS a singular coincidence, we would remark
that no sooner had their Reverend Pastor finished
reading hymn, at the oPening of divine service
beginning with these words
| Methinks the last great day has come,
Mcthinks hear the trumpet sound
That shakes the earth, rents every tomb,
And wakes the prisoners under ground,
than stroke of lightning struck the top Of the Gu.
pola of the Presbyterian meeting house--shattered
the beltry- entered the body of the house-splil
TO shivers several posls-broke most of the glass
and several window sashes-shiveredl 10 atoms SIEVE
raj pews, and instantly sent two human beings into
eternity. Several other persons seriously woun-
ded; among them were two young ladies', who were
SO severely injured, to render it necessary to car
Try them home on beds. We are happy to state
that they are on the recovery. The persons killed
were Mrs. Betsey Bradford, widow of The late MIR.
Perez Bradford, aged u years, and Miss Mary S.
IComstock, daughter Of Capt. John z. Comstock,
aged years. The CONSERVATION into which the
congregation was thrown, on this awful occasion,
can be more easily imagined than described.''
This event was truly awful and must have filled
every person present with terror, and excited the
most awful and solemn reflections. But how does
1t happen that those who sec special Judgment in
every physical operation OF nature, have neither
made this occurrence theme for moralzng, nor
held II up as an awful warning to persons who 90 10
meeting on Sabbath day If boat is upset by a
squat, Il house takes fire. or il carriage is bro
Ken, on the Sabbath, and lives are lost or limbs
shattered, some pious fayorite Of the Deity pretends
to see in the manifestation of divine dispea
sure Suppose theatre had been struck with
lightning and TWO human beings sent Instantly into
eternity, would not all the pretended elect have de-
clared II special judgment, an awful warning TO
mortals TO keep from the theatre Or suppose al
person had been drowned while bathing-an act ne.
cessary 10 preserve health, and as much positive
command OF Cod as any other which man performs
-on the Sabbath day, would not these men, whol
are so jealous for the glory OF the Almighty have
made the welkin ring with their denunciatons a.
galnst the Sabbath-oreaker, and declared that the
death was just punishment for the proclamation of
the holy day /?
Is not the event above related equally token of
vengeance, an expression of Gods wrath against
'in9 and ought It not to be solemn warning TO the
people OF Montville, never again to enter meeting
house on the Sabbath day Should it not especially
DC caution to ministers TO refrain from reading
passages OF hymns, which, like the above, antici-
bate the day of doom?
Arrogant, presumptuous men, who darken coun-
si oy words without knowledge We hypocrites,
VINO pretend to possess the confidence and the Sc
'rets oil the Almighty When will ye know and &C. 4
that he who made you,
"The Great First Cause.
Acts not by partial, but bv general laws
And sees, with equal eye as God of all
hero perish, or sparrow fall
Atoms or systems into ruin hurl'd
And now bubble burst, and now a worldH'