Vermont telegraph. [volume] (Brandon [Vt.]) 1828-1843, 1843-01-25
Ill.,. Forthe Tele crap h.
. STARTLING FACTS. 49,.

-, = q IL LINZ Az rs. ----
Mr.. Editor: Some time last summer
Methodist minister by the name Of Fields
commenced preaching in this vicinity, and
the first or second time that be came be
Uniformed the people that the next time he
preached here, he would tell them how much
Of a Non Resistant he was. OF course the
Non Resistants went to hear what he had to
say. In the forenoon he preached very
good though limited discourse. He preached
in favor Of industry and humility, &c. In
the afternoon he commenced his attack
Though his ability was not great it seemed
to be his greatest object to misrepresent
facts, and make the doctrine Of Non-ReSist-
ance appear ridiculous. He said that Chris
tianity never existed only under the protec
ton of human government. .....~-
Qaery-Was be SO basely ignorant that
he did not know that the history of the
Church was against him, or did be make
this false statement wilfully, thinking that
his hearers were ignorant and would not
know whether he told the truth or not?
Did he not know that christians, for three
centuries and upwards, were considered as
outlaws, and often fell the innocent victims
of the priests and rulers of the land? .
He accused Non Resistants of not pro
tecting females & children making strong
appeals to the prejudices Of his hearers. He
talked as though he thought that the club
was the only safeguard, and that female
purity was no protection against the ru(fian.
He accused those Of sitting still, with their
arms folded up, who would not resort to the
use Of clubs, but use their utmost endeavors
10 overcome the ruffian by treating him kind
ly. suppose he was ignorant Of the fact
that like begets like; that oppression begets
oppression; that violence begels violence;
and thai kindness 6egets kindness, and mer-
cy begets mercy. humankind all knew this
simple fact, oppression and violence would
cease instantly. Then hasten to make them
understand it. =: 49,. ~.:.... IL
Again, be argued that Christ sanctioned
human governments, and those that were
wicked. Thus we see that if he was cor
rect Christ sanctioned wickedness. But to
cap the whole, he said he knew good Non
Resistant who has had his horse stolen,
and instead of submitting to the injury he
sent an officer after the thief, and had him
arrested and lodged 10 Jail. ~ -.. 49,.
After meeting | asked him who that Non
Resistant was. He said it was Patton
Davis. happened to know the facts in
relation to Patton Davis horse being stolen.
The truth was, that Patton Davis horse
was taken by man who was under the
influence Of ardent spirits, and at a time
when said Davis was sick and confined to
his house. He did not send an officer after
the taief, but the doctor who was doctoriag
hin; saving to the doctor that he thought
the horse was not far of, and if he could
get it peaceably TO get it, but if not, TO let it
90. The thief was found drunk few miles
distant, and the horse was returned before
noon that day. He had stolen some other
things, from other men, for which he was
lodged in Jail. But as Patton Davis tio't
that those who gave the thief-the spirits
were more to blame than he was, for that
reason, if nothing else, he even refused to
lei others use bis name in taking the thief.
This is all that The NoG-R Resistant done
towards lodging the thief in Jail. The
probability is, that Fields tho'l he was SO
far off from Patton Davis that no one would
know anything about this matter; therefore
he thought he might just as well tell lie
about il as to speak the truth.
After misrepresenling many other things,
and accusing Non Resitants with all the
evil that he could possibly heap upon them.
saying they were in the way of reform, &C.,
he closed by boasting Of his own design to
do good. After hearing all this, and then
| hearing him boast of his own purify, how
could | help thinking +? thou hYpocrite.