Vermont telegraph. [volume] (Brandon [Vt.]) 1828-1843, 1843-04-19
April 10, 1s43.

church decided them TO be heresy it would |
make no difference. | repeated that
Catholic church would not make greater
claims TO infalibiily. lattended the next
church meeting, and found that the same
committee had been laboring with another
hereto. "a. Seaver) The priest. and
moderator Of The meeting, in his prayer,
IOId God that they had met 10 consider
the case Of some Of the brethren that had
departed from the failh,". and wanted
God 10 let them have the privilege Of leI-
lowshiping them again, not only as chris
lians. but as members of the church.
The committee then read TO the church
the questions they proposed to me, togeth-
er with my answers. They then read
their doings with brother Seaver, and pro-
ceeded 10 form motion Of expulsion.
While they were preparing 10 decide the
case of brother Seaver, a number OF ques-
lions we're asked. which would lead TO
defense OF his present views, but he was
not disposed to do it | mention this to
show how Inconsistent the committee were
in urging him to do what they denied me
The right Of doing. When they had vot.
ed brother S. out they again resumed ac-
ton upon my case. The deacons Of the
church aud some others attempted TO con-
struct motion to ex2el me, but entirely
failed TO get one which suited their priest.
Finally be " fixed up" the following 10
which all agreed: Whereas brother
Stafford has gone out from US, and wishes
10 he no more OF Us, therefore we take him
nj bis word" When this motion was
made and seconded, arose and said had
right. according 10 parliamentary rules,
TO speak at that time upon the motion be-
fore the church. But still | did not claim
il on that account. My right was from a
higher source. told them their motion
was false in point Of fact. never had
wished 10 be no more Of them. l wanted
to be one with them and all others as far
US they walked with Christ. The priest
. and moderator broke ia upon me before
had got through. declaring that had no
right to speak, and that ne should oppose
NE on the same ground that he did Orson
s. Murray at Groton. He then stated
the ground on which he opposed you, oc.
cupying / should think fifteen or twenty
minutes in maintaining the right the
church and clergy have TO suppress free
discussion. "A privileged class surely
He then took the minds Of the church up.
90 this point by srying, "ds many as think
that II. Stafford has the right to speak
will express it by show Of hands.
There was not band raised. Ele lheI
said :" If any were disposed TO give me thu
privilege Of speaking ten or fifteen min
utes, nantes, It 10 the same manner
This was granted. tod them that diC
not speak because they had voted me TIT
privilege of speaking, bat because Coz
had given me the right and privilege Q
speaking what thought to be truth at al
tines on my own responsibility. Thei
voting that had no right TO speak di
not do away my right Their voting m
The privilege Of speaking did not give m
any privilege that | did no. enjoy befor,
Ilo.d them that truth and right were {
such nature that il could not be vote
up nor down-inio the world nor out.
then gave them my present views Of
church, and of joining a church. or sui
sribing to articles and covenant-that "
had no examples of0rganizing or plan
iag OF churches BY Christ or his follower
that there was no such thing as Ba
list, Congregational. Presbyterian, or Vi
iVsrsalst Church 10 those days. To
regeHeratiOn constituted person men
Ser Of Chris.'s church. instead Of waite
Baptism, or signing set OF dognas-an
that Chrisl's commands are fulfilled |
owing one another-not in written belle
but in actual yell doing. | was int
rupted two or three times in the "ten
fifteen minutes" which had "the pr,
kgs" Of speaking. The priest show
much uneasiness while | was speaking,
well as some other leading ones, becau
as thought. some Of the " Iiule churcI
were ,hear;r, A, >,.eh Lyufh The nr;.