Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1864-05-11
OTR MINISTER'S TRIAL.


quence. Our best-I had almost written
good-church members loved him. an
sorry to say that a few, thorned by the
words which fell from his lips when ht
endeavored to excite his brethren and
sisters to
"A closer walk with God.
regarded him with other emotions thar
the fruits of the spirit.
Like all other good men, he was care
fully watched by those who would have
: been transported with fend-like delight
could they have found flaw in his con
duct.
"Welll we'll" said Mrs. Monroe, the
wheelwright's wife, to her husband as
they sat at the breakfast table one morn
ing, suppose Mr.. Haven did kiss Fanny
Lawton. She was almost one of the fami
ly-what in the world was the harm 20
But" said the wheelwright, IL don't
believe that he did kiss her"
'Fanny herself said that he did" lie.
piled the wife.
This seemed to be a clincher to Mr.
Monroe He deliberately wiped his face
with his handkerchief, and with a down
pace than usual, went TO his shop.
ne taken SilsiNG III HIS
hand, and begun to ply it on an unfinish-
ed spoke. before Deacon Brown came in.
The Deacon stood awhile chewing small
fragment of shaving and talking about
this, that, and nothing. Suddenly he
said:
Brother Monroe, have you heard about
our minister"
"Yes," replied the brother
Then there was not a word spoken for
several minutes The wheelwright Justify
worked on the spolle-the Deacon looked
out of the window.
At length Mr.. Monroe asked. in low
tone OF voice
What is to be done?"
Something must" was the Deacon's
lanswer, ''or the cause will suffer-
And then he walked rapidly up the
street
What is this story about Mr. Hayen's
improper treatment of young ladies ~
asked the cynical lawyer Thompson of
Woodward the tavern-keeper.
why" said the mixer of cherry cob
blers and drawer of strong beer, the par
son is no better than Others"
Have you heard of the sanity priest
I lulA was tIiE nutSLiph Ol bHC
infidel to another.
"Yes, just as | thought il would be
ha, ha, ha !"
Something must be done" were the
words of Deacon Brown, land that soon" !"
he thought, but did not speak
So from the wheelwright's he went 10
the house of another Descon-Benton
johnson. He had heard another story,
and, being an enemy. believed it, and was
determined 10 deal with the offender
The deacons called on the minister
Deacon johnson was spokesman. The
story in full was that Mrs Barnard, a
grass widow-that is a woman whose hus-
band had gone off because be could not
live with her-had heard, as she was pass
ing the parsonage, Fanny Lawton say to
one of the children, You lost kiss from
your father not being in the house when
he he got homo this afternoon from the
lower village, and got it,"
Mr.. Haven denied 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 matter.
The deacons did. They stepped into
the minister's study and wrote In few
days there came the reply.
You ask me if on one occasion Rev
Mr.. Haven gave me = kiss-where we
were, and who were present. In answer
| state: Rev. Mr.. Haven did one after
noon, while was staying at his house
and III the sitting-roOm, give me kiss
No persons but ourselves were present.
Deacon Johnson was elated, and imme-
iiately wrote to his wife's cousin, ayoung
candidate, that there would soon be va
cant parish where he, no doubt, could re-
ceive a call
Deacon Brown was thunderStruck and
disappointed. Fanny Lawton's word was
not 10 be doubted-it was so plain Il mat
ter that there could be no mistake Mr..
Haven, after all, was a wolf in sleeps
clothing. Still the minister denied the
charge. He could not do such a thing
without being aware of it, and knew that
he had never kissed the girl, or any other
girl but his wife, before marriage or since.
in his life.
Deacon johnson brought the entire
matter before the church. He wss ex-
cellent on such cases. The charge con-
tanned two distinct allegations:
!. Rev. Thornton Haven had been
guilty of great impropriety, which rem
dered it expedient chat he should be dis
missed from the pastorate.
III He had lied in the matter
Fanny Lawton was sent for. and the
church called together Rev. Solon Dick
inson, the pastor of . neighboring church,
was present to moderate the meeting
The meeting house was filed. Every
member of the church. but old bed-rid-
ridden Polly Stearns, was present. The
tavern was well represented. All the
scoffers and scorpers, within half score
of miles, who could get there. were in at
! tendance.
The church meeting was duly opened.
Deacon Johnson then brought forward
his charges.
Fanny was called to testify. Her testi-
mony was
Zone afternoon-I think it must have
been in March-three of Mr.. Hayen's
children and myself were alone in the
sitting-room their mother had gone 10 a
sewing circle. Mr.. Haven came into the
house, from the other village; the chill
dren met him at the door which opens
from the sitting-room intothe hall as he
came in they went out. and he gave each,
as they met him, kiss-then, coming in,
gave me one"
A painful silence followed Miss Law
sons testimony. At length Deacon
johnson put the question:
"Did he close the door before he came
into the sitting-room
! The answer was:
| II think he did"
Had pin fallen on the carpet, it would
haye been heard i'll any part of opr large
and beautiful sanctuary.
Then Mr.: Haven rose up and said:
Miss Lawton, what did you do with
that kiss / gave you?" rr-r q q
Here it is. said Fanny holding up 8
specimen Of that species of confectionery
sometimes called kiss
Then there was another pause, and 81
lence that was oppressive. All were too
much amazed, and either gratiied or
mortified and disappointed, TO move
Most of those present held their breaths.
Fanny" said our blessed minister,
1'did ever kiss you? 2"
4 \ 4