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

We have said that old Mr.. Belts was
The minister in what was called the
Presbyterian church. He was indeed
old and had ofiiciated in Stokeville
for several years. Like all other men,
he had his. friends and enemies. This
church, like its neghbor, was subject
to periodical revolutions, which at times
threatened its ruin. Parson Belts was
too orthodox to suit some ofhis members,
declared it perfect agony for them to
listen to him, and many had absolutely
abandoned him, with view of forming
another congregation. Yet the old gen
tleman preached on. He needed not
the wreck which he at times made, but
solaced himself with the conviction that
he was in the discharge Of a christian
duty, and that.was enough.
1t so happened that Mr.. Belts on a
certain Sabbath spiced his sermon rather
higher than usual with the doctrine OF
election > and majority Of the congre-
CATION were determined to submit TO it
no longer
Accordingly he was waited upon the
following Monday, by several members
of his church, who told him they were
sorry to say it, but they should forever
hereafter be under the necessity of alb
seniing themselves from his preaching
provided he did not qualify or retract
what he had said, in sermon to be
preached on the following Sabbath.
Now il so happened that there was a
minority party who subscribed exactly
10 the doctrine contained in the sermon
which had raised such confusion, and
were just as hotly opposed to the recan-
tation. They said it was the first SER
mon they had heard which came entirely
up to the standard Of their faith and
they would see the church blown into
atoms, before n qualification or retrac-
ton should be made. They, too, APP
pointed their committee, and waited
upon Mr.. Belts, and commanded him
not to retract one ,jot nor title, under
fear oftheir displeasure and consequent
desertion of the church.
The old gentleman was in n quandary.
lie was between Scylla and Charybdis !;
If he avowed the one he must inevitably
be swallowed up by the other. He
must qualify or retract, and he must
nenhor qualify or retract' Finally, as
his best plan in the premises, he deter
mined to pray for an extension Of the
time allotted him to determine his
course N the matter; and after some cor
respondcnce betSeen his Janus-faccd
opponents, his day Of grace was extend
ed To four weeks On the fourth Sun
day he was To choose whom he would
serve
The war now opened in Stokeville in
good carnest Every family that attend
ed old Mr. Belts church arrayed itself
other on one side or the other-No one
was permitted 10 take neutral ground
IN The contest. The women were out
every afternoon, running up and down
the streets, lnprcsslng their friends with
their opinions, aud drawing IN all the
converts they could convince by their
zeal and rloquence while the men were
warning together on the corners, in the
tavern and in The stores
The first week had passed away ard
the excitement was tremendous On
the second, IL bad engendered 50 much !
bitterness hriwpen members of the same !
church iha, all communication was
stopped. The reiraciion party did moi
speak la. nor trade with the anii-rotrac-
tion party. Entertalnmo ats we're giyeL