Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1833-01-24
ALEXANDRIA GAZETTE
sUPERsTITIONs OF NEW ENGLAND,
By JosEpH CHANDLER.

By JOSEPH CHANDLER.
A belief in judicial astroIogy has been more or
less prevalent in every part OF the civilized
world; and though this belief may have been po-
pular only in proportion to the ignorance of the
mass Of the people, yet it will be acknowledged.
BY all who are acquainted with the events Of the
past century, that, though the ignorant may have
been misled by the jargon Of their superiors. yet
the mnst learned, at times, were not only de.
ceived By the imposing operations OF the adopts.
but were even dupes to their own imaginary &C
qurements.
In few places has this confidence been more
general and implicit than in the old colony. A
very large proportion Of the Inhabitants OF that
section Of oar cuuntry are seamrn-a class OF
people remarkably tenacious ot early opinions,
aud pro, erbialy superstitious.
Whatever may be the nature of any popular
belief, il there is not some special circumstances
to give it authenticity. It's Influence IL soon lost
upon the minds Of those who were most ready
to receive tit ceases 10 affect their actiors and
is only brought TO remembrance by some peculiar
coincidence Of circumstances. Tais may be the
case at the presen, day with many Of those su-
perstltions which once asltated the minds, and
Influenced the actoa,, Of the old c"lonsls; but
the belief ia JUDICIAL asnology will never be en-.
liIelV lUst iTom 'he"'s "hi'S thS'o 10 ooS
alive who witnessed the event which am about
to relate.
Late IN the last century, the Rev. Doctor s
-. the Clergyman "l one 81 The three towns
that lie on Plymouth B,v, ind acquired the awe
Of his parst,oners by his deep skill IN the occult
sciences, not les. Than their lave and esteem BY
the purity If his doctrine and tAe excellence OF
his examples He had calculated the nativity of
very many Of his congregation, and as the men
were mostly those VII" 90 dowa into the sea IN
! ships he could not often fail when he predic.
ted.' .ith a soiemnity which snossd his own coll
fidence in his arr, and demanded theirs, that
| they sust ultimately nsd q watrry grave.
Fully persuaded OF nis own powers, the reve-
rend man was ,nduccd Ia calculate the extent OF
| his own life. THIS vas a matter vt no small mo-
ment. and the good man was often seen at night
| by the neighborins fishermen ascending hill IN
| lie - neighboIhood. To hold nigh converse with
| the stars" The result Of his calculation was
not long secret, for though he had Confidently
, entrusted the matter only Ia his two deac"ns,
they had found means to diyest themselves OF the
morp welghty part Of thu secret, by uniting al a
definite time, beyond which ihey might not ex-
pcct the profit Of the good mans labOrs. Ii was,
Of course, soon nOsed through the town, that, on
the morning Of the 5tl, OF July, 1895, he would,
| &C cording To his own prediction most assuretiy
be relieved from all the aeignr OF earthly cares ADD
| earthly sorrows. The whole of the week proceed.
| Ing the day he mad marked as the termination oil
his earthly career, the plous man devoted To ex.
hortnp, directing and comforting those who had
| long looked up to him as a temporal as well as
spiritual guide.
Early ON the morning Of the fatal Sunday, ap
parently dreaded oy all more than himself, the
oldest and most respectable oil his parishioners
assembled to await the result oil the awful pfedlc'
ton Eight o'clock was the hour which the Doc:
tor had marked as the last OF his existence, and
to convince them Of his confidence IN his own art,
he assured them that he had prepared no set"nol
for the day, aud that he had SCI his house IN OF
der, in full persuasion that 'he mas d'e' and
not live"
| He had finished a most pathetic PRAYER. when
the hand Of the clock indicated e'gh; tee CON
pany stood in GREATNESS Anticipation Hrnse
however took p!ace-his pulse wa -'s ss id
no unusual sensation intlmatrd e,t 80 n
approach of deah: at length - Doctor g,s
ed. that, although he had brr' af.a
in his calculation, yet he be 80 f'=,ft ' al
| have made an error in regc"h ae,.c'
which he proposed eya,n,"'n; t"e aee"s
He accordingly rose tn take 'rtu ..,a nigh
projecting shelf, when the sto"l % vhisH estoOd,
turning suddenly forward, threw Dim backward
upon his head--hs broke Ms us K, aud expired
immediately, without ui,er'ns a .iHsie word
Since that unhappy affair. Judicial astrology,
although held in the highest admiration and re
verence by the inhabitants, has been SO dreaded tina
It has fallen into total disuse. A large slate slab
erected at the head Of his grave. bears the aye and
character Of The worthy cIersynan.and tells,'n .
few words, the wonderful circumstances attend
ing his death.