The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1864-09-23
MISCELLANY.
0ur Minister'S Trial.

Our Ministers Arlah -----
GOOD man was our pastor, Rev. Thornton
Haven. and ona of no common eloquence.
OR ST. had almost written gooo--church
members loved him. am sorry TO say that
a ~. thronged by the words which fell from
his Iips when he endeavored TO excite his
brethren and sisters 10 fost4
"a closer walk with Godp,
regarded him with other emotions than the
fruits of the spirit.
Like all other good men, he was carefully
watched by those who would have been ifaus-
ported With iendike delight could tney nA's
found flaw in his conduct. .t,ooI
swell! WeHp said Mrs. Monroe, the Wneei.
wrighs's wife TO her husband, as tnsy sAs -
the breakfast table one morning., go
Mr.. Haven did kiss Fanny 1870 %. a.
WAS aim Ist Que OF the iauiny -"D~s ".-s s--e
harm ?'' ... rss,.. L.,,..
-Bat.p said the-wheelwright, don't believe
that he did kiss her.
..E.nay SAYS that he did" replied the wife,
Tnls seemed to be ciincher TO Mr.. Nor
roe. Lie deliberately wiped his face with his
handkerchief, and with u downeast, thought
fui look aud much slower pace than usual.
went TO his shop. He had hardly taken lis
shave Ia his hand, end begun to ply it on an
unfinished spot, before deacon Brown came
Ia. Tia deacon stood awhile chewing small
hoShN0N - SAVING Ou0 ediHtuk dOOut tnASy
thai aud the other. Suddenly he said
Brother Monroe, have you heard about our
minIsttr7' aI s4setCf atiasq5s -ra1s8
YES" replied tue brother.
There was not another word spoken Tor
several. minutes. Tue wheelwrighr Justify
worked on the Spoken; the deacon looked or
OF Tue window. Al length MIR. Monroe ssA.u'
soto coice---- 81 r,s q 81
'.Wnar is to be done ?'
IS ,m .t1ius mus was the deacon's an
swer. ".r tue cause will suus'' "u1 susn 80
walked rapidly up the street
s.WnAt il tins story shout MIR. Haven's I'M
uron.r lreafm.nt Of young ladiesp' asked
thecyuicrI Itw,er Thompson, OF woodward,
Ihe tavern keeper.
"Wny," said the mixer of sherry cobblers,
"the pals0n i, NJ better than others"
Have you heard OF Priest Hayen's fall p, ask
cd On intidel of amos her.
Yes, asst as thought it would be-ha, ha,
hap il a'sg :
something must b. done," were the words
of D-acou Brown, aud that soon, he thought.
buG did not speak. 81 from the wheelwrights
he went To the house of another deacon, Ben
son Johnson. He had heard thu story, NJ d
being an enemy, believed it, and determined
TO deal with the offender.
The dsacons called on the minister. Dea
cou J,hnsou was spoks sinan. The story III
full was that Mrs. Barnard, gfass widow,
had heard as she was passing The parsonage,
+ ,uny L4wton say TO the children, You los
kiss from your father by not being III the
house. when he got home this afternoon, from
the lower village, aud got II"
Mr.. Haven drnied ever having kissed the
girl, and suggested that the deacons should
write TO Fanny. who WAS teaching school
about twenty miles distant, and get the truth
OF the IN liter. fhe deac )ns did. They step
t,ad snf,, h. mil. tAr,. IN ~ In
lew days there came reply.
You ask me III on one occasion Rev. Mr..
IVen gave me a kiss, where we were. and
WIN WERE pres ut. La answer state-Rev.
Mr. Haven did one afternoon, while | was
staying at his house, and ia the sitlii,e-ro0m,
give ms klss-no persons but ourselves
were present"
Deacon johnson was elated, and immedi
ately wrote to his wies cousin, young can
ddate, that there would eoon be vacant
parish, where he, no doubt, would receive q
call
Deacon Brown was thunderstruck and dis
appointed. Fanny Lswtons word was not to
be doubled; it Was so plain matter that
there could be no mistake. Mr, Haven. after
all, was wolf 10 Sleeps clothing. Still the
minister denied the charge. He could not do
sucn hing without being aware OF 1t, and
he knew he had nsver kissed the girl on any
other gitl but his wife, before marriage Oh
siuce, in his life. M
ID aeon johnson brought the matter before
the church. He was excellent on snch cases
Tue charge contained two alleeaiions:-
l. Rev. Thornton Haven had been guilty
of an improperly which rendered it expedi
ent that ne should be dismissed from the pas
torate.
q He had lied in the matter.
Fanny Lawtoa was senL for, aud the church
was Gated together. Rev. Snion Dickinson
tae pastor Of II neighboring church, was pres
cut to moderate the meeting. Every mem.
Der Of the church, but old brd-ridden Polly
S.earns, was present. Ths tavern was wei
represented. All The settlers and scornerl
within half score of miles, who could gel
there, were present.
The church was duly opened. Deacon
johnson brought forward the charges.
Fanny was called to testify Her testimony
was-"One afternoon, think 1t must have
been early in March, three of Mr.. Ravens
children and myself were alone in the sitting
room; their mother had gone to the sewing
circle. Mr.. Haven caIns into the house from
the other village; the children met him at the
door which opens from the sitting room into
the hall as he came In. they went out, and he
gave one, as they met him, kiss; then, COM
ing IN, he gave me one"
painful silence followed Miss Lawton's
testimony. At length Deacon johnson ask
ed
Did he close the door before he came into
the sitting room?" tWGt-t W
The ans ~er was
81 think he did,"
Had a pin fallen on the carpet, it would
have been heard in aAy part Of our large and
beautiful sanctuary.
Then Mr.. Haven rose up and said
Miss L twton. what did you do with the
kiss | gave ynu?,'
"Here it Is, said Fanny. holding up speci-
men of that species OF confectionery some
times called Kiss.
Tnen there was another pause, and silence
thai was Oppressive. All were too much
alnaz-d. and either gra'ihed or mortified aud
disappointed to move. Most held their
brpa'hs.
Fanny" said our blessed minister, "did
ever kiss your" e.g "
No. never,I never said you did,"
So ended our minister's trial.