The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1850-09-21
THE PASTOR or ~. AGATmY.

IN the most. r,natr aud unknown mart or
tho D,tprieme'f d~, DeaT >rrres. there cx-
istcd in l5a2, a little village Of poor prlant-.
under the nnUc and patruuagc of S. Amuhv
IN rdntiinr1 Ht'1yir f0rfv f6tSvrv NvfIflah MT g'T
norr property ro caIicT huis, Tor fE"ir ROOFS
Wcrr cuulf.i.rd OF rcr,ls aud straw, aud their
walls but iscrahlr union Of woodwork and
clay. There lived hcrc. however. q cnmmu-
nifty distinguished both for simplicity of man-
ncrs aud Gnnuc-, Of religion. principle. IT,
Pastor had taken his post here ~ the Avc at
twenty Eve aud had ever since shared the
ioy. and .1rrous- Ns AisfS ! living tikc thcm-
selves in a miserable hut. satisfied With tho
same mcnrrr fare, and doing hi. dut, in eve
~ respect with that faithful zeal which only
deep inward pitty can stimulate. Thu, hc
had spent f)y wears, and had won the heart.
of all his pari-hionrrs. who loved aud rryc.
rruccd him ~ n father He bal. during thi.
time dccliucd all propositions for lettering
his position; partly irnm those under his
charge. partly from tcur that no other ua,ior
wr'ifJ rg'yg srsJr n .,4,.!
therefore hc became old on the .,ulc poverty.
doing AL the good he could in his narrow
sphcrr for which hc felt himself richl, re-
wardcd hy the childlikc love of his httc
iork .1'.'
As the French Revolution broke out the
Pastor of ST. Nrathy began tn fear that nci-
thrr he nor his little parish would hr SHARED
from the all-visiting storm, One day he re
cciycd orders from the chief place of the de-
pnrtmeut =, swrIr Ia what was then called
the civil constitution of the CLERGY. or ri,cup
Immediately his post and quit bis parish
The good man was so lttc acquainted with
political matters, thar hc did not at first know
what was required OF him; but ~ u copy Of
the constitution accompanied the orders. ha
tho conviction that he could neither ack nowl-
edge nor swear tp it. Sull less did he think
himself bound to obey orders hv leaving the
parish. lie continued thcrcinrc, To remain
AZ ST. Agathy, and to perform his clerical of-
fees as il nothing uncommon had happened.
believing himself acting according 20 his duty
and conscience.
M-at,-pltilt, many
other clcrpvlncn also refused 10 conform he.
gan 10 create rToUbicS, particularly in the ite7
partmcnts of tn" west. Attct the authoritic.
had iorcibly removed many of the opposing
I clergymcn. the discoutcntcd parishes united
themselves in formal alliance. and prcpar,
cd to defend themselves 10y arms against all
! Violence Thus was developed hy degree,
an insirrcction, which from a mere spark be-
came a raging flaWe The National Convcn
ton, informed of the state ofthings ordered on
troops To restore tranquility wherever it wa,
disturbed. Commissaries wcr,. appointed
with full powers. Such q Commissiry cam,
to Mort the chief place of the Department
4 in which st. Agathy was situated
This man was otsa cruel nature, and bc
licved himself bound 70 act with severity n
gainst all who resisted, lie ordered all in
subordinate clcrgymcneto to be taken prisoners
putting price upon the head et' such AS coulf
not be found The pastor of St Agatl,
could evidently not escape the persecution
and one evening accor,lingly the news sprea,
that the next day~a., company of soldiers wa
/ to come from Mort, to take him prisoner
The Communal Council immediately assem-
blcd. OF resistance there could bc no ques
tion, as il would have been useless. Yet ia,
q worthy pastor, whose safety was, the subjec
of universal anNicty, could not be torsakcn
IL wns therefore resolved TO bring him 10
place OF safety, which had already been loun,
out lie opposed at first, and said no wuul,
Ne'ltHel lt-t-tss+'t' ,'ltatvvr rrrv1r u-vt7-1rrv.
for him. He suffered himself, however, final
ly to be led by his faithful parishioners to
coal hut in the forest whore four armed mel
/ remained with him, both 10 .nreNrnl linn Iron
delivering himself up voluntarily, and TO de
frud him IN case uf NECESSITY.
The following day, eighty soldiers, Will
two cannon,natlc their appearance at the vii
.tlagc, to get possession OF tho weak old man
Tho leader Of the troop made the inhabilnt
rt-Iuuiutcd with the object Of his Visit, an,
demanded ot them, in the name of the law
20 deliver up their pastor without hesitation
A the command was not obcyrd, the soldier
began a search. They searched every room
,and cordcr of tr" parsonage. but in vain
etuAv open the dol,- .itlle >'moh. rlwtac,