Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1830-1846, 1842-08-18

Tor fnF SOLE pHfll'Se VI ul"u'l'H'''s wv
spirii of exclusivencss and there was
a dcgIee of mock-nerriinent exhibited
at Stokeyillc that had never been par
alleIcd
When the third week came round,
the two parties fell prll-mell to scanda-
lizing each other. First, the retractlon
party assailed one Of the deacons who
belonged to the authorization party -
They said he was a dishonest man, and
II Justice had been done him he would
have been churched years ago that he
had been charged with keeping false
weights, and thus s"indIing the public,
the widow and the orphan T; that he had
been known To swear, and that proof
could be furnished of the fact that
great many years ago he had cheated a
relative out Of the very property he was
now holding that he had always made
difficulty in The church whenever he had
been connected with it ; and hundred
other allegations were brought against
him, and circulated from mouth to mouth,
increasing in magnitude as it acquired
! age and notoriety
The anti-retraction party were not to
be out-done, and they reialiated with
double severity. They assalled IN turn
one Of the deacons Of the other division,
and after charging upon him all the
crimes mentioned in the human and
divine law, fell upon other members OF
the party, and dissected them in like
m al A
opposite side again, until at last every
persons character, who was in any man
ncr connected with the excitement, how
ever unsulicd, was completely blacken-
ed, and to all appearances forever rum
cd.
Finally the Sabbath came round when
old Mr. Belts was To rrcant or adhere L"
the doctrine which spread such desola-
ton over the church. There was a
fearful intensity Of feeling on the sub
| ject. The house was crowded to over
flowing, and eager eyes were directed
to the old man as he ascendcd the pull
pit. After the preliminary exercises
were gone through with, Mr.. Bets
arose. He said that il had been his
misfortune TO differ with ii portion of his
congregation upon some points OF doc
trine. and that he had been called upon
to make n retractlon, and this day had
been assigned TO him for that purpose
lie said he was clad that an excitement
had been produced in the church by the
course he had taken. as it was the first
one within his recollection for the last
ten years. He had preached against
practical sin and wickedness, and II
had all passed off harmless, but so soon
as he touched the faiM of his people,
they were all on fire. He said it APP
peared to him that his hearers were de-
ltermincd to save themselves by faith
alone, as he had never been able TO dis
cover any very great abundance Of good
works and in that particular he differed
materially with the course pursued by
all his congregation. If he understood
the position he was placed in, he must
rccant, or half his congregation would
desert him. and if he did qualify or re-
cant, the other half would do the same I;
the two parties differing with each other
in point ofchristian duty, and both differ
ing with him. He said both, and it was
in preierring faith TO good works,
and unless they reformed and walked
more uprightly in the path which they
had marked out for themselves, he
should at once desert them, and leave
them to the error Of their ways. He
should give them four weeks to make
up their minds the same space Of time
which had been allotted him for a simi-
lar purpose. He had no more TO say
These words shivered their wav
among the congregation like thunder
bolt. All was silence and solemnity
The heart of every one was struck with
conscious guilt The old man proceed
ed with his discourse as usual, closed
and dismissed his people. And this
was the last that was ever heard Of the
Retraction and Authorization parties,
aud the last Of the Holy Uars Of Stoke
riiLe