Indiana American. [volume] (Brookville, Ind.) 1833-1861, 1856-03-14

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pended, and I restored to the unity
| OF the church. did so. after the fall
session bad ended. and ma subse-
quent visit Of the committee, who
came to see me to know the truth Of
the matter. they expressed a great
deal Of satisfaction to hear that The
teaching had been discontinued. and
stated that proceedings would un-
doubtedly be::suspended, and the case
dismissed. They wished me TO pre-
pare statement Of that fact In writ.
| ing, which was done, and at the fol-
lowing monthly meeting | understood
that they had had a satisfactory inter-
view with me. and that they had
written communication from me. TO
the meeting on the subject. which
was offered. and large majority OF
the meeting expressed a desire that IL
should be read. in the language Of
a member OF the committee, three to
one were in favor Of hearing il. but an
expression of dissent from tro or three
of The "sceighty ones" put il forever to
sleep. and the subject re-committed to
the same committee again, who after
hearing the charge. were ready as the
plant instruments In the work Of ex-
communication, 70 report at subse-
quent period. that / was not in a
Suitable disposition OF mind 70 con-
denim my deviation" And then an
other committee was appointed to pre-
pare the death. warrant BY which my
head 10 to brought TO the head OF the
executioner. Ishould not have CON-
planned. nor exposed to public view
the glaring inconsistencies that have
taken place during this one-sided trial.
where l as the defendent was not al.
lowed. as is the common practice In
all civil courts. or tribunals Of fjusiice.
10 be present on trial. TO plead my own
cause. And those who were disposed
to hear my communication. were ST.
lenced to submissive obedience by a
weighty few who constitute. and con-
troll the action Of the meeting.
make these statements 10 the pub
lie. not forany malicious purposes. to
injure that branch Of the society Of
friends. Far from II, for there are
many worthy members attached TO Il.
whom dearly love; but for the ex.
press purpose OF having the public
mind disabused. as TO the true cause
Of my excommunication--the charge
having been disseminated Ear and
wide. and in their exit assumed n
shape much at variance with the
truth. which no doubt temporarily in-
jured the standing Of our school
abroad. when these perverted state
ments were suffered to 60 forth with.
out the qualifying facts accompanying
them; as many supposed from the ru-
NOR. that music was among the chief
studies pursued. and that we had run
wild on that subject, and no doubt as
sociated Il some Of those othcr practi.
ces cited In their book Of discipline.
Lam as much opposed to the abase
Of the pleasures Of sense as any Of my
friends. But II I have right under
standing Of the Laws Of the Divine
Mind upon that subject. all Of the
senses were given to Us for infinitely
wise purposes; to be enjoyed within a
limited and lawful extent, beyond
which, the greatest good becomes the
greatest evil. And he who shuts his
ears TO fhe feathered songsters. or ma.
ture's Inspiring melodies: closes his
eyes upon the boauseous shades Of the
rich colors spread before bis vision,
everywhere displayed and diffused In
natures floral cap pcrverts the very
object tho Bounleous 0iver had In dis.
pensIng 20 man those pleasures I'M
planted n almost every son and
daughtsrof Adam. from the earliest
creation. down TO the present day. and
foregoes those innocent and lawful
qualifications OF sense, which the Al.
mighty doubtless intended mankind TO
enjoy.
Ere the lapse Of another month. that
fatal warrant will be drawn out and
sIgnsd In due form. and handed over
to the exccutioners; and now warn
them 20 exercise great care, lest they
may fall Into pie themselves. and
suffer injury; the meeting was notified
that In defiance to is wishes, and
coudssoensIon 10 ia judgement the
practice was discontinued. aud the
grounds OF tho complaint thereby re-
moved. and that assurances were CIV
given me, by not only the committee
but the oycrseers. the only agents Of
the meeting with whom could nogo-
cIate. that should this be complied. l
would be restored to my right and
the action dismissed. But on the g.
nal hearing this course dill not appease
| tho wrath ofthe Cardinals, whose iron.
bed .stssd was already conslructed. TO
cut all of who are too long. and
stretch all out who are TOO short--lhe
mandate was sent forth. and although
justice shuddered, and mercy wept At
tho decree the law must be perverted
to meet their demands.
Obi honorcd conservatives Of this
society," watchful sentinels upon the
walls Of your once beautiful city ! ap.
peal TO you with oil tho enthusiasm Of
On honest and devoted heart! to watch
with slcsplcss care the steady and
sonstaut sncroaehments of the enemv.