Vermont telegraph. [volume] (Brandon [Vt.]) 1828-1843, 1843-09-20
Marengo, N. Y.,>
Sept. 4lh. ls43.

might be interesting TO you and your
readers to know what is going on aM6na
the friends Of freedom and humanity ia
our vicinity. touching the great reform:
which are now begin( y Z eitaisieep'
ly the minds and hearts Of all philanshro.
piss. the wide world over, consider my
self upder obligations to give brief &C.
count Of some two or three meetings o.
free inquiry held in the little Methodist
Meeting House Of our place.
We have formerly been in the practice
Of holding Anti Slavery and Temperance
meetings here; but finding that these,
from present notions Of propriety and right,
must necessarily be sectarian, some dozen
fus thought il high time to shake off the
trammels which have long been bowling Us
down 10 servility. and become free indeed.
Accordingly I appointed and there was
held, free meeting, in the house above
named. three weeks ago last evening"
Previous TO this, I.inquired of the only
acting trustee, il he had any objections to
our holding such meetings 10 the Meeting
House, which by the way is free house.
He tod me that he had none. il would
see that il was occasionally swept. l
agreed to, bis proposal. We created
considerable interest that evening. We
appointed another meeting, 10 be held at
the same place, one week from tha. time.
Our second meeting was better attended.
and on the whole was very encouraging.
There was great deal Of freedom.mani-
tested. ell forgetting somewhat. to be afraid
Of each other. All who spoke, talked
plainly, and upon their own responsible.
ty. Many Of the evils with which We
are afflicted, were traced to their sources
They were shown 10 be the legitimate
fruits oilhe present order Of things. We
gave out word, at The conclusion that there
would be another meeting Of free inquiry
last evening. We expected from the
growing interest among US, that there
would be full hocse. But to our aston
jshment, we found, when arrived at the
house, although il was filled to-a "perfect
JAM" that there was gong of. one o. the
real old fashioned Methodist prayer meet
ings. Those engaged in the exercises
made tremendous uproar When /
came up, with four OF five trends, there
appeared 10 be dozen or more praying
ell at once; and they really tried to see
which could below the loudes' We soon
guessed the object ofthe meeting. I. vas
60, up for the purpose Of breaking down
ours. They continued thus shouting and
praying until they had. about exhausted
their energies, when there was pause.
My brother shep arose, and stated to the
audience that they were probably aware
that there had been appointed for that
evening. free meeting, and that since
most Of those present were the professed
followers Of the truth and Christ, they
could have no valid objections against each
one speaking out the dictates Of his own
conscience; that nothing but a sense Of
duty could impel him TO arise. as he had.
although the meeting must be considered
free one.) To this many cried. amen.
He then went on. and gave his reasons
Tor no longer remaining as a member Of
the Methodist Episcopal Church. He
stated that they were the abeuors Of slave
~. the supporters Of war, and many 9TH
er great and crushing evils. That he had
been warned to appear on the morrow,
at a certain place, armed and equipped as
the law directs, there to learn the art of
war - OF killing his equal brother. And
that because he and some others. in his
own vicinity. would moi thus violate their
conscienses. he expected that they would
Be thrown into the county prison. This
created great sensation. As soon as be
had taken his seat. young zealot and
convert got up, and said that he was for
God and that in6delity must be spurned
from the house. He said that we must
obey the powers that be. as well as God.
That he did a.. train for the purpose OF
killing man. He ulso made great many
appeals 10 his brethren to remain fast and
firm in the good old way. While he was
speaking the house rung 10 thunder tones
..,lh A.. .hnnan If A.an L..