Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1844-11-08
MiLLERlsM AND ms rEFECrs.


last week.
For something like two years past there has been !
excitement in this town the second coming Of
Christ or the final contamination Of all things. Many
lecturers from abroad have visited u.s. and have
arisen amongst u.s. generally believed to be of the low
er class of society either ndoent vicious, and in
some both, yet there may be exceptions and
mong their followers there many and women
who have formerly sustained character for candor
honesty, and industry Their mode of worship has been
bosterous and unbecoming that the houses Of wor
ship have long since been closed against them and even
the town hall and school house have been denied them
For some two three months past the excitement has
increased rapidly The cry of "como out of the church
es (Babylon has been sounded loud and long by both
leaders and followers, and made the test of the
salvation Of their souls which has resulted in alarm
ing many that they have sent in letters to the churches
disclaming any further connection with them whatever
They have preached that Christ would come the
10th day of the 7th month, which would be early
Tuesday or Wednesday the 18th or 10TH of October
and that the sun would be darkencd go down
on Saturday or Sunday preceding Some believed it
and were alarmed.
On Friday evening there was a meeting held in part
of the town FIVE miles distant from the centre,
where this doctrine preached and respectable man
and his wife, belonging to of the Evangelical
Churches here became alarmed for the safety of their
souls account Of their being enrolled on
Church records started in the night leaving infant
some three months old, roamed about among their
neghbors with the express purpose of going to the
clerk to take off their names They called Of
their neighbours who, finding them perfectly deranged
went to the village with them the deluded repeat
ing otis Gods prayer" "'tis Gods prayer" They
arrived as the morning dawned, -havng been out the
most part of the highland fell in with protested
Milerite who took them in. The inhabitants Of the
village being informed of their situation removed and
placed them in family that were not of that belief
who gave them refreshments and watched them till a
ter the sun had passed the meridian (which, by the
way, they watched closely by referring to the cock
when they became more calm, that they were per-
mitted to return home that afternoon The next day
brother from an adjoining town took them home with
him, where they soon became and able TO return
and attend to their pecuniary interests again.
Previous to the 18th inst they had for some two or
three weeks, been holding meetings both day and night
at various places in the southwest part of the town.
and even previously many persons had neglected all
business, particularly the gathering of their crops de-
claring that they had given them to the Lord, and
should have to do with them and would give
leave to the neighbors to gather them,
when gathered They would collect by twenties e.
tes, aud stay day after day and night after night and
live upon the individual where they were. These
gatherings lot only composed of the citizens Of
this town. but of many other towns even a distance,
and out of the State Little known by the people
at large to what done these meetings. or how
they conducted, effort seemed constantly on
foot to conceal their proceedings from all but those of
their particular order They proessed the power Of
healing the sick and eecting mighty cures, which
beyond the reach of professional SKILL which gen.
orally believed among them and practiced to greater
less extent invalids who professed be healed
Preceding the death of Mrs Young, who died the 18th
inst. at o'clock, p. NJ they had held meeting for
nearly quite week at Mr. Young's Mrs. Y. was
not woman of very firm health but had been able to
attend to her domestic duties with very little or no
sistance for years 1t appears she had become
what exhausted from excitement and constant at
tendance upon these meetings, and they practsed the
healing process when she was not able to dress
herself in the morning. AMER the healing process she
would be able go into the chamber and attend the
meetings. On Saturday before her death of our
most respectable citizens repaired Mr. Youngs
curiosity, and to give advice should it become
cessary. On their return they described them
hausted, worn out fanatics, and could become
acquainted with their proceedings otherwise than To
see and hear them. They were addressed by Esquire
: Brown, and advised for their safety, to defer
their meeting for the night and 60 TO their several homes
for rest, and if they chose to collect and hold the
meeting the next day they could This advice I'M
Needed and very little more heard from them INIT
, Wednesday the 10TH the morning Of which, o.
them said to a near neighbor, "M.s Young is dead tc
this world, but will rise again" The neighbor wen
Immediately to the place. and was soon permitted &c
into the where she lay corpse. She then sen
Immediately for d. Eddy, Esq, and he knowing tina
Dr. Hoton in the neghborhood, notified him Of III,
fact. They repaired to the place and examined IN,
dead body and witnessed the insensblity and inder
ence manifested by those present, (some thirty fort
persons,) most Of them saying she would come to f
and tell them Of Heayen-hut she not dead but il
trance-that she would rise again. This was some II
y hours over, since she ceased to breathe Unde
these circumstances the Justices felt that they
called upon by law TO Jury Of Inquest. Thi
was done. The Jury summoned to meet at one o.
clock, p. NJ nineteen hours after the decease. Whe
collected and duly sworn, the court made procamatio
for all who had any knowledge Of the death of Mr.
Young forward to testify before the court an
!, jury. Some ten came into the room, and th
court remarked he had understood that they had
scentious religious scrupes in regard to taking tn
OATH that he should require it, that they might ties
! tfy under an affirmation This they refused to do
After spending time reasoning with them and e'
planning the law, l. e. the difference between cat
" and an affirmation some would have testified had it ne
been for the leaders, but their influence them
such that they bid defiance to all law and ORDER an
:. not witness among them could be prevailed upon
" testify until there mitamus made out to comm
four of the leaders, viz Lewis Hooper, from Walpo
" N H. Oscar Gibson from Grafton, Stephen Pratt an
10 VIM. Maynard from this town. They seemed to has
watch-word, at the pronunciation of which all wei
" dumb and not word could be obtained from them.-