The star of the north. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1849-1866, 1855-08-16


transaction at the Prothonotary's office, we
neither went in to watch for job nor solic-
tied the advertisement from Mr.. Bittenben.
der. We went in to procure some records,
and staid no longer than that business re-
quired.
Nor arc we. as falsely stated, member
of the Lutheran church. In defence we
have been compelled TO address the fol-
lowing letter TO its pastor, which will ex-
plain our position and the wrong attempted
toward us. r,o.
Rev. Z. A. SHARRETrs:
Dear SI--Wi,h as much
regret as you can feel in the case, | find my
sense of self-respect requires me TO call your
attention to most unjust, unchristian and
unprovoked attack upon me from men,
Der and officer of the Church over which
you preside as pastor. Coming as it does
from his position in and connection with
that Church feel required to know whether
the Church encourages or permits such COLI
duct from its members and officers.
! enclose you accordingly an article pub
lished in newspaper of this place from
which you will see that Michael F. Eyerly
one of the members and officers of your
Church has furnished for publication ma
licious and slanderous imputation for an
attack on me, attempting TO justify and ex-
cuse an injury to my private business, be,
cause have "refused TO give anything to
your support"
Now, sir, you know that in the first place
the charge is false. For you can bear wit
ness to the fact that though am not men,
Der of your church did contribute to your
support last year. If refused to subscribe
this year when approached and told that
''m,st 1 feel that is not 10 my reproach.
But the imputation is malicious as well as
ia!se When the very deacon of your church
who now attempts TO revile me needed mon
ey for your support in travelling he came to
me after had subscribed TO your support,
to ask me for the sum subscribed and for
an additional loan for your use, and free
ly paid and loaned all he asked for, though
| had use for it in my business and to pay
my debts. He took his own time to repay
me, and never desired, asked or received
any recompense for this act which did
from spirit of kindness and friendship
alone. can hardly believe that he would
first have gone to truly ungenerous man,
or to one unfriendly TO you for this favor.
And not only in this private but in a pub
lie manner upon more than one occasion
have done alrl could to serve you, as this
whole community can bear witness. How
much l have this year subscribed to two
other churches of this town without being a
member of either of them scorn to parade,
here, for have yet to learn that in this
Christian republic a citizen is 10 be ostra-
cised and attacked in his private business
because he may not erery year contribute
to eusry church, or TO Just such particular
church as the malevolence of some individ-
ual may indicate. If it has come 10 this
that DEACON of a chuTch shall be permitted
TO set himself up as acensor and regulator
| to break down and malign every man who
will not pay 10 the censor's church, or not
pay as much as the censor shall decide in
his mind to be right, wish TO know that
fact, so that hereafter / may reserve my
contributions to encourage truly religious
and Christian missionaries 10 come into this
community. For with the same right this
regulator of other mems business may next
presume to hold me or any other man up TO
the reprobation of your church-members
because we may not spend money for our
dress, eating or travel to suit his mind, or
may not spend it where he thinks we ought
-perRaps because he might think we spent
too much for one and too little for the other
perhaps because we did not spend it with
er denomination.
But, my dear sir, itmay occur 10 you that
if il were possible for some regulator to be
found with the same spirit in some other
Christian denomination he might have as
good claim 10 direct mems diet and dress as
the deacon of yonr church; and as their
minds might and doubtless would very oft
en- differ, this community under such feg-
ulator would be. in a very unfortunate aud
perplexed condition.
If it can be cause of regret 10 me that
did not on any occasion contribute more
! to any church or clergyman it would be full
! ~ Justified in my conscience by the feeling
and knowledge that would sometimes have
given more if those who are indebted
to me had paid their honest debts 50 that
might have been able tQ give more.
have always tried to By befOEe being
generous, and believes be man who
proudly vaunts of his preislHed charity be-
fore he is honest is hypocriie.
You will see that this false and malicious
accusation has been furnished by this man &c
be thrown by public print into political COT
test as an appeal to the feelings, of the men,
bers of your church and your friends. Itwas
furnished when it was known that such use
was designed 10 be made Of IT, The jus.