Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1867-08-02

STATEMENT OF THE REy. Ma. MERRILL.-
The Troy Times publishes long letter from
tie Rev. 5 ". Merrill, about whom there
has been so much scandal Of late, explaining
his conduct and appealing to his friends and
the public FOR forgiveness. Mr. Merrill says
that he began to preach when eighteen
years old, - tue request OF several ministers, &,
and was at THAI time SlOO IN debt. He re-
eeiyed but liJtle beyond bis board as reinu-
neratiJn. and his dcbrs increased Yet be
had the imIrui,ncc TO marry, alter which
the burden Of his debt, as his family grew.
increased rapidly, 50 poor was bis pay as a
minister. lie went to the war "a Chaplain
o. New York regiment in 1852, leaving his
Wtie with seven children to care for lie
returned after lew months service, more
deeply involved in deot than ever, ana en-
deAyJrci To get into some business by which
he could discharge bis obligations and obtain
Eolei. Failing il this he became nearly dis.
t.lc.cd, and sought reliet IN .raycl and ,oci-
ETY.. Oh bis experiences at North Adams, be
remarks
la l-0i vas stationed at North Adams
Here l found generous aul good people. 1
tried g. serve them faithfully aud well indeed
worked beyond my strength. 10 protractei
meeting which l held there l vas engaged l5j
nighis IA succession. Ny nervous system be-
came weak auI oSer-exc.tyd. My deJ.s perfect
j overwhelmed me az times | sought the So
ciety OF the young, aad whore most freedom
and gtJety could ne found, there s.Jed most
irtqueuuy. Iuis gave occasion for talk. some
tcauIal sOOu started IN connection with my
name, But, as Col Is true, 1 only sought this
sJcieiy Ia preference to the more s0ber, 70 drown
my trouble Of mind | was pT0ul and Wi.ltul,
aud would not listen To the counsel Of friends
Up 10 this time, my reputation minister
had not materially suffered. As the last year
drew 10 a close, my reputation was suffering
more than | Was at the time aware 0L was
ilIislreet called at the house Of the family
with whom my name has been 80 sadly assOcI-
aicd more iIeql,ntly than ought 10 have done.
| iii not only myself injury, but the family
also. But God knows l did not intend to Injure
any enc Two or three oi the family we're mem
bers Of tue choir sni excellent singers. This
served to furnish relief from the gloom and dark
ness which had seItiel down upon me. l al
Ways appeared cheerful But 1t vas all put on.
was miserable indeed When on my way
" Nest met the lady whose name has been So
unfortunately associated with my own, IN Troy,
AMI accompanied ner to AlJlny-a most care
less and iupruleut step. This gave occasion
for that awful article charging US with elope-
ment- When that article was published, We
were more than two hundred miles apart, and
whom the paper was handed 10 me, and | read
the article, the last ray OF light seemed 10 be
exuugulslel. was On my wag home. Oh
G.I . my mili wandered, and my brain was on
FIRE. trfel to pray. wept and walked the
boat I returned TO Troy anu secured reJrac-
ton in thl papers. But whatever paper | took
DO ms auls from distant parts Of the country,
my ewes we're horrii-i with the most extrava-
CANT and false statements 10 relation TO ne.
Nui here desire % say that 10 part Of the
blame or ceus1re belonging to me fr impru-
deuce OF wrong doing in this whole matter
should be cast upon the young lady involved in
this SAD affair an older, and on my uncov-
cred head let the blows Of condemnation fall. l
an 20 blame
1 went home 10 ny desolate AMI sorrow-
bowed family tried to hope. tried to pray.
4 horror 0f darkness came over me. OWed
full oue thousand dollars, three hundred #
which vas bank paper Just due, AMI but one
hundred dollars q earth 10 pay my debts. My
reru'a-.ou was blasted-my bop,s crushed /
walked my house. | walked the streets in
gloom lil lot know what 10 DO. | resolved
10 throw myself into the river, and either sink
to toe bottom never 10 rise, or escape in the
darkness and never be feen agsin BY any one
knew. arranged the grim and dreadful work
with the bot tears burning their way down my
face. I plunged Willy AMI mtdiy into the
stream. But, Oh God The agonizs1 cries Of
my poor afr.ghteI boy tore my bleeding
heart. | made my way out far down the rIver.
ran % my house and passing up through the
cellar, got some Try clothes, and started on my
dreary aLl desolate course toward Canada. All
night long walked and cried and prayed, these
fearful cries tearing into ms heart and making
me sick ami faint. But the awful deed was
done. The ruin vas accomplished. For two
weeks I MOVED about from place to place
walking dysolsti5n."
NJ Merrill llmen.s the harm he has done
the church, the communities where he has
lived, ard the public, by bis conduct, and
closes with the following appeal for forgive
ness:
'.I come TO the church, to the ministers Of
All denominations to the world, TO the people Of
Platfsturr who have been 50 distracted, but 50
orEiviug and kidd, auI hold up my trembling
hands, and raise 20 you my weary, longing
eyes, and ask you 20 forgive me- BY al that is
humane and tender, b7 al that is TO be hoped
tr IN this world, aui by all that is 20 be de
sired n the next, I ask you 20 fJr-ive me As
ys would that men should 10 unto ye, do ye
even 60 unto them Inasmuch as ye nave
done 10 u-tl 01e Ct the least q these, ye have
doue Il unto me Oh, think ofmy long public
life without one stain upon 1t, save my debts,
which God knows many Of them could not
help, an then fnd il in your hearts to flrgIve
mal ON, think Of my wife, noble, generous
and pure-tLiak Of my poor children. who N
their grief have forgotten 10 play, AMI for their
sake forgive ne, AMI extend friendly hand 10
me Cuce more. l would not ask H. But surely
y9u viil not refuse me now. On, think Of your
own happy homes, and mine al desolate AMI
ssd-think Of your own sweet children, some Of
whom are in heaven, and then think Of mine,
AMI { r their sake forgive me | am PROSTATE
in the dust am helpless and homeless lift
up my poor trembling hands once more, AMI ask
You 20 forgive aud help me,
Yours in peniteuce and sorrow,
5. NJ. MERRILL"
The Troy Times .ays Mr. Merrill's case is
to be investigated by the authorities Of Troy
Conferruce OF the VI. E. Church, the Session
commencing on Saturday, under charge Of
the Presiding Elder. Mr., Merrill is now in
New York city.