Vermont telegraph. [volume] (Brandon [Vt.]) 1828-1843, 1837-06-21
For the Journal of Public Morals.
PHINN EY AND POTTER
PAWTUCKET. R. l., April "a IS;

PAWTUCKET, Il. l., April "a, 1851.
Rev. Mr.. Sprague-As several crcum-
stances of recent occurrence, have consplred
TO give this village a singular notorlety, 1t
! has been thought advisable by the executive
committee Of the Young Mems Moral Re
form Society, to apPrise you Of some things
connected with the rise and progress OF
moral reform in this place.
The efforts Of the lamented Mcdowell,
hrSt attracted the attention Of a few lndlvld-
uals in this village but the work of promot
ing moral purity, by systematic effort, was
not undertaken until little rising of year
gained, which has been active and efficient
Of the Advocate Of Moral Reform, from
month TO month, and individual effort, in
other departments of labor, has been highly
! beneficial.
/ Soon after the organization Of this socie-
ty, an effort was made to get up a public
meeting and have an address. For this pur-
pose, member Of the executive committee
reminded the Rev. Barna5as Phinney, who
was then preaching to the Congregational
church in this place, that he had not COM
piled with resolution passed some time
previous, by the r. |. Consolation, OF which
he was member requesting each minister
OF that body to preach a sermon to his own
congregation, from the seventh command
ment; but he declined, saying, "lt is very
delicate subject"
! A few months afterwards, an application
was made to the Rev. Mr.. Taft, of the Prot
estant Episcopal church, for an address.
which he gave, very much to the satisfaction
OF the friends Of mora, reform.
In June last, meeting Of the young men
of this village, favorable to the formation of
a moral reform society, was held at the
Methodist chapel. Although, the majority
present, were thought to be unfrendly TO the
: object of the meeting, vet the friends of the
cause, proceeded to discuss. the propriety O
forming a society; a committee was ap,
: pointed to draft constitution and the meet
ing adjourned one week to meet at the yes
try Of the Baptist church. Here the oppo-
sitjon was more open and vigorous in its at,
tack; but finding a considerable number o
pious and talented men, to be favorable &c
moral reform, the opposition soon gave away
and a society was formed.
Soon after the organization of this socie
| ty, it was thought proper to have public
: address. Accordingly an arrangement wa
, made with your agent Mr.. Haswell, to ad
' dress US on the subject Of moral reform. |
be provided for the occasion: therefore on
! of the committee waited on the Rev. Ray
r Potter, with view Of obtaining his house
7 but a trivial excuse was made, and our com
mttee were left to seek the use of anothe
+ house. The Congregational vestrV was Fl
, nallv obtained where Mr.. Haswell delivered
an address, which, for chasteness Of expires
: sion, cogencV of reasoning, and force of de
o livery, far exceeded the most sanguIne eX
r pectatons of his friends.
# Indeed that address, like three others h.
$ has subsequently delivered in this village
4 was every way calculated, to remove tn
o fears, which even some friends of mora
purity entertained that the delicacv Of tn
subject would not admit Of its being dis
+ coursed upon in public, without offendin!
+ the chaste ear, and polluting the imagination
. of the virtuous; now it is seen that licen
!, tiousness may be discussed and opposed, b,
n as systematic efforts as any vice whatever
No special efforts have been made to in
crease our society, it being judged best, t.
.. explain, and exemp lily our principles tina
thew NAV be the better understood, and ther
we shall entertain no fears, but that the
! will be embraced by the virtuous Our sc
= ciety now numbers ftty-six members.
u 1t NAV be proper further to remark respect
:, ing KAY 1OlleE, SeeluS we lnlenQ 10 CIV
y him full credit for all he has done in favo
E of Our society, that subsequent to his reiu s
q ing US the use of his house, he has opened j
I for Mr.. Haswell TO lecture in, and attende,
u and made the opening prayer.
That the public mind may be disabused
we think it proper to state, that neithe
= Phinney nor Potter We're members Of tn
. 3 Moral Reform Society in this place, nor il
= any other to our knowledge, and Mr.. Phin
! nev was so far from being favorable, that h
i even prevented his wife from joining tn
u ladies' society.
Now we leave the public, which has al
ready been informed of what these mel
have done against moral purity, to judg
= whether numerous newsPrints and period
- icaIs are correct in ascribing to them tn
o appellaton Of "zealous Mcdowell reform
9 ers." HIRAM Brooks, Pres't.
Nahum Bates, Sec.
q The public will make therown comments