Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1859-10-22
GOALS OF FIRE ON THE HEAD.

1t is easier to extol noble deeds than to perform
them. and excellent Christians find it difficult to
repay injuries with kindness. But the law OF
Christ is imperative, ut thine onemy hunger, feed
him If he thirst give him drink for 10 so doing,
thou shalt heaps Goals of fire on his head" The
following ~anecdote, which we find in the Philadel-
phia Press, relates to an exercise of Christian for
giveness by a German Seventh Day Baptist, Of
Philadelphia, q people noted in their early history
for their exemplary Christian virtues;
l heard from the lips of Joseph Konigmacher,
Esq., a revolutionary incident, which may we'll be
told with pride by the descendants Of this
peculiar people, as illustrative of the sim
certify of their fathers in the religious doc
trine they professed. At the death of Be-
issel, Father Peacefully which occurred, as /
learned from the ancient slab which marks his
tomb, on the 9th Of July, l76S. Peter Miller, a
man of great learning and highly respected by the
men of the Revolution, became his successor. A
certain Tory By the name of Michal Whitman
who owned several tracts of land near Ephrata,
and who had alike distinguished himself for very
base conduct towards the society of which Miller
was now the Lead, and treason to his country
being brought to trial for the latter offence, was
found guilty and condemned BY the proper author
tiles to suffer the prescribed penalties, which were
death and the confscation of his estates.
The confiscation deeds for the four properties
owned by the Tory Whitman, given under date of
March 10, 1870. over the signature of Joseph Read
then President of Supreme Executive Council, at
Philadelphia, as the writer has seen, is still in an
admirably preserved condition. Whitman was
sentenced to be hung. No sooner had this been
announced than Peter Miller, with motives which
they who know experimentally what i, is to love
their enemies are alone qualified to appreciate, set
out on foot to visit Gen. Washington at Philadel-
phia, for the purpose of interceding fi Whitman's
life. He had an interview with the General, and
stated his petition, but in answer to it was tod.
with characteristic decision of purpose, that much
as Washington esteemed his friendship, the PRAYER
of Miller in behalf of his unfortunate friend
Whitman could not be granted. my friend 7"
exclaimed Miller son the contrary, l have not a.
worse enemy living than this came Whitman
What !" rejoined Washington, 'you have walked
sixty miles 10 save the life of your enemy. That,
in my judgment, places the matter 10 a different
light will grant you his pardon" The pardon
was made out and placed in the hands of the dis
petitioner, who, without losing a mo-
ment's time, proceeded on foot to old Chester, ff-
teen miles distant, where the execution was to take
place on the afternoon of that day. Miller ar
rived at the spot just as Whitman was being
conducted to the scafold, who seeing the man with
his long white friar robe and tall staff in the crowd
which had assembled to witness his death remark
ed to a by-stander, There is old Peter Miller he
has walked all the way from Ephrata to have his
revenge gratifed to-day by seeing me hung"
These words had scarcely been spoken when be
was made acquainted with the very different ma
ture Of Miller's visit. The criminals life was
spared, and the pleasure Of that moment doubtless
repaid the good old man for the Ia dor Of his Jour
ney' He must have been past seventy years at the
time as he deceased September 25th, 1796, at near
ly " years of age, and the event which have re.
lated occurred in $780,,