The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1864-04-29
OUR MINISTER'S TRIAL.
BY REV. W. III. HAYWARD.


4 good man was our pastor, Rev. Thorn
ton haven. and one of no common eloQuence.
Our best-I had almost written good-church
members loved him. I am sorry to say that
few, thorned by the words which fell from his
lips when he endeavorea 10 excite his brethren
and sisters to
"A closer walk with God"
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 trans
ported with fiend-llke delight could they have
found q flaw in his conduct
Well well said Mrs. Monroe the wheel
wright's wife, to her husband, rs they sat at
the breakfast table one morning, suppose Mr..
Haven did kiss Fanny LawtOn. She was al
most one OF the family-what in the world was
the harm2"
But" said the wheelright II don't believe
that he did kiss her.
Fanny herself said that he did, replied
the WIFE
This seemed 10 be a cliucher TO Nj Monroe
he deliberately wiped his face with bis hand
kerchiet, and with q 0owneast thoughtful
look and much slower pace Than usual, went
to his shop
He had hardly taken his shave in his hand.
and begun to ply it on an unfinished spoke,
before Deacon Brown came in. The Deacon
stood awhile chewing q snail fragment of a
shaving and talking about his, That. and moth
ing. Suddenly he said:
Brother Monroe, have you heard about our
minister p"
Yes, replied The brother
Then there was not a word spoken for sew
eral minutes. The wheelwright Justify worked
on the spolle--,he Deacon looked out of the
window.
At length Alr. Monroe asked in low tone
Of voice:
What is u DC done?"
Something must" was the Deacons an
swer, 'Or the cause will suffer-"
And then he walked rapidly up the street.
What, is this story about Mr.. Ravens i'm
proper treatment of young ladies' z" asked the
cynical lawyer Thompson Of Woodward, the
tavern-kecper.
Why" said the mixer of sherry cobblers
and drawer Of strong beer, 9 the parson is no
better than Others"
. Have yOu heard of the sanity priest Ha-
ven's fall?" was the question Of one infdel to
another.
J., Yes" Y; just as I thought it would be-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 to the
house of another Decentralization johnson
lie had heard the story. and, being an enemy.
believed it, and was determind TO deal with the
offender.
The Deacons called on the minister Deacon
johnson was spokesman. The story in full
was that Mrs. Barnard. grass widow-that is.
woman whose husband had gone off because
he could not live with her-had heard, as she
was passing the parsonage. Fanny LawtOn said
to one of the children, 'You lost kiss from
your father by not berg in the house when he
got home this afternoon from the lower vii
lage, 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 at 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 a ELSEWHERE we were and
who were present. In answer I state: Rev.
MIR. Haven did one afternoon, while / was
staying at his house, and in the sitting room.
give me kiss. No person but ourselves were
present.
Deacon johnson was elated, and immediate
ly wrote to his wife's cousin, a young candi-
date, that there would soon be vacant parish
where he no doubt, would receive call.
Deacon Brown was thunce.struck and disap-
pointed. Fanny LawtOn's word was not to be
doubted-it was so plain matter that there
was wolf in Sleeps clothing. Still the min.
lister denied the charge. He could not do such
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 was excellent on such
cases. The charge contained two distinct ALE
cations.
l. Rev. Thornton Haven had been guilty Of
great improperly, which rendered 1t expe-
dent that he should be dismissed from the pas
torate
ii. He had lied in the matter.
Fanny Lawton was sent for and the church
called together. Rev. Scion Dickinson. the
pastor of q neighboring church, was present to
moderate the meeting. The meeting-house
was filled. Every member OF the church but
old-ridden Polly Stearns, was present The
veteran was well represented. All the scoffers
and scorners within halls score of miles, who
could get there, were in attendance.
The church meeting was duly opened.
Deacon johnson then brought forward his
charges.
Fanny was called to testify. Her testimony
was:
Zone afternoon-I think it must have been
early In March-three of Mr.. Ravens children
and myself were alone in the sit,ing.room /;
their mother had gone to the sewing circle.
Mr.. Haven came 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 ont and he
gave each, as the met him, kiss-then com.
ing In, gave me one."