Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1849-1856, 1850-01-10

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days paper, in regard to the disturbances
at the Methodist Church. in this town, we
regret to learn that they have been com
PEELED to discontinue their Sunday evening
services. The conduct Of certain persons,
pho are ,oeH kno,cn, has been gross and out
rageous, and has been endured until endur-
ance has ceased longer to be a virtue. 1t
is quite time now that something was done
the disgriceful evil should be remedied,
and the scandalous nuisance at once abated,
it should be promptly done, at whatever
and any expence, and at all hazards, even
the exposure of those who little dream that
they are known. This is due to the char
acter of our town. and is even more s,rcng-
ly due to that injured people, soTe of
whose mos; cherished and dearest rights
have been wantonly outraged and trampled
upon, by an unmannerly and rowdy set Of
young men and women.
II may not, at first thought, occur TO ev'
cry one how great the sacrifice is which
our Methodist friends have been rudeIy
driven to make, in aba ndoning their relis-
ions meetings, Sunday evenings. The priv
i'ege to worship God, according to the
dictates of conscience, freely and in an un-
molested manner, was the corner stone Of
Rhode Islands early character, as laid by
her own Roger Williams; and it is a right
which every true Rhode Islander holds as
ines,imably dear. The Me,hodiss, here
and everywhere, are peculiarly disting g,ish-
ed for the frequency, the eaInestness and
the soemnity Of their religious meetings
No denomination appears to derive more
constant and heartfelt, satisfaction from
their social religious gatherings, than they
do. The Me,hodis's, in this town, stand
second to no religious society their Pas.
| tor is a most worthy gentleman, eminen,ly
useful as Preacher, and deservediy dis
linguistic Tor the kindness OF his heart, and
his warm and generous philanthropy.
We sincerely hope that our friends vii
resume their regular evening meetings,
with a fixed determination that if again an
noyed or disturbed, to cause the offenders
to be prosecuted and punished under the
existing law against such shameful outrag-
es. And we pledge ur friends our cheer
ful services, legally and cdliorialIy, to as
sit in bringing the guilty TO that punish
ment which they SO richly merit. Every
good citizen in the town will willingly and
promptly lend his aid to pr tect them in
the undsturbed enIoymement Of one of
their mos, sacred and valued rights the
privilege Of worshipping God under their
own vino aud fig tree, with none there to
molest or make them afraid. We publish
the law against these crying evils, in the
hope and confident belief that Its stringent
provisions, when read, may, if nothing else
will deter these male and female rowdes
from repetition of their wicked deeds.
The 93d section Of the Act concerning
Crimes and Punshmen,s is as follows -
Every person who shall be convicted
Of wilfully interrup.ing or disturbing any
town or ward meetings, any assembly met
for religious worship, or any public or pri-
vate school, or any meeting lawfully and
peaceably held for purposes Of literary or
scientific improvement, either within or
without the place where such meeting or
school is held, shall be IMPRISONED not
exceeding ONE YEAR, or fined not ex-
ceeding FIVE HUNDRED DOLLARS"
Wha, a spectacle would be exhibited to
the public, if several of these FEMALE!
disturbers Of religious meetings were to be
IMPRISONED, even but for few days
We caution them to beware.
Mn EDiroR.-