The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1855-06-06
grave matter Of which ! must briefly

a grave matter Of which | must briefly
speak.
In my 6rst communication said that
every one who cares for the truth of
history" would desire that the error I
have exposed should be cuirecit Since
the time of that writing. the matter Of
the "truth Of history in this case, has
come to assume much graver impor-
lance, for it is now evident that the error
is to pass into permanent printed form,
and thus become part Of the materials
Tor 'he future history of this church and
Of DR.. Merrill, in connection with it.
The evidence of this is found in tie
" W9f Dr. Merritt, in which Il Pro.
fcSSor James Wcdchum is requestcl ID
prcoch my funeral sermon at a suita.
b(c nmc:" and in which, furthermore
provision is made for "he erpensc Of
printing a fuacrai sermon, and mcn,oir
VMobgh JcSt." Nobody doubts thu,
it viii! be thought best" by " Professor
Meacbam." who is one Of the Executors
of the will. to publish Memoir, as the
publication is to be paid for from the cs-
tate of DR.. Merrill and that the Mcmof
will contain the substance of the funeral
discourse and that care will be taken
to repeat that Dr. NJ was Pastor of
this church Tor almost fifty years. Thus
the error is to 20 into history. Is this
right2 Does not the moral sense of CIV.
cry candid, impartial man revolt at ir2
And here 1 will show how it is rass.
Ing INTO history through ahothcr chan.
mel. The New York OjScrtcr-=-a vide.
ly circulated religious papet-of the
oath of May, contains an editorial ar
ticle relative to DR.. Merrill, in which.
after speaking Of his scholarship, his ste.
cessful competition with Daniel Webster
for College honor, &c, 1t is said
He oficinted as Pastor of the Cong.
Church for fifty years, though, for the
last few years, the active duties Of this
position were performed By an assis-
tant l have italiciscd Two words in
the quotation. They show to what di.
mansions the error | am trying to cor
rect, is growing. The correspondent of
the Chronicle said, in giving an account
Of the dedication ofour house of worship
-" The prayer in the morning was Of
lCTeu ny lllc NSllHTiDlC - icEHtDT fNSOf,
DR.. Merrill" This was in February.
The statement was, Of course, seen by
the Editor Of the New York Observer.
aud by other editors. Aud what con-
clusion would they naturally come to ?
Just what l hate quoted from the d.
Serrcr-ihat DR. Merrill. at that time
"oBic,dtcd as Pastor Of the Cong.
church." Other editors have, probably,
been misled in the same way. If they
have not, VIC may, at any rate, exrect
that the article in the OJScrrer will he
extensively copied by them.
Ard then coiiics Sir. Nleacham's GU
logy. which thougli not yet printed. has,
doubtless, found its way to New York,
in its material statements; and now the
officiating Of Dr. Merrill as Pastor is
extended to fifty years, with this quail
ficaton that, during the last few years
the ortiGe duties pertaining to his office
as Pastor, have been performed by an
assistant, he OF course continuing
to oversee tho whole, while certain work
was performed BY the assistant-=tbs
subordinate
Every body who knows the facts,
knows that i. is utterly untrue that DR..
Merrill "o1iciatch as Pastor" here. du-
ring any portion Of the last twelve and
half years of his life, either with, or
without an 0ssiSt0nt"; and yet this
fragrant untruth is legitimate growth.
true development of the seriiinal ptiu-
ciple wral ped up III the pregnant words,
Senior TdStOrn and " I'dSfor.n used by
the Chronicle correspondent, and by Mr..
Meacham.
Thus i. is. that history is to be falsi:
fed for such articles as | have quoted,
found in papers as respectable as the
New York OJscrrcr will furnish mate.
rals for future history.
The result of the error have expos
ed, in the probable production of tho
New York article, shows how Important
it is, to adhere to the severe simplicity
Of truth, in Whatever is said and especi-
ally in whatever is written for the pub
lie eye. | commend this matter to the
consciences of Mr. Meacham, aud Of the
Chronicle correspondent land l will
add, TO the Editors Of the Chronicle,
who, think, ought to correct the error.
have done with this subject
A Member of the Cong.
Church in Middlcbury.
June A. 1853.