St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1873-12-19
Reply of the Rev. Geo. Powell to the
charges made by the Caledonia Con-
gregational Association.

charges against Mr.. Powell, we cannot
in Justice to him refuse place for his |
response-E Ed. Cal.
In reply to the charges of the above
Association beg to say, have offered !
to meet them again and again, if they
would meet me at Barnet, to answer
any charges they might prefer against
me, they have persistently refused to
meet me there, and have declined to
meet them elsewhere.
The charges are really made against
me by few of the members of the
Congregational Church at Barnet. who
lack the moral courage to bring the
charges themselves, and who, through
misrepresentation, enlisted the sympa-
thies and influenced the mind of the
Rev. p. b. Fisk of Lyndonville, to unite
with them to prosecute, and try to in
jure my position and character, us a
Christian and a minister, as | have
letters i'll my possession to prove.
| hold, the above Association had no
more right to entertain the subject of
the grievance of the few disatfected
members of the Barnet church. than the
Association nearest the north pole; and
should have at once refused. and refer
red the matter back to the aggrieved
parties, and to the church ut Barnet for
settlement, and waited for their action.
But that they dared not do, as the
most interested parties knew too we'll
the evidence would he against them.
, The facts of the case are these. Sev-
: clal things were proposed to me t" do.
while supplied the church at Barnet.
by one of its ot1icous members. VIII"
had no official authority for making any
requests of me. and with which posi-
= lively refused u comply, considering" II
| an Infringement upon my liberty ~ 4
Christian minister. /. T.. | WAS wanted
| 10y the above to preach /" please Gel
tain persons, upon specified subjects
every sunday, prepared 10y the editor
of the sunday school lesson papers.
But much rs | love the sunday school
(and think ! am Second to n"mc) de
clincd to Ice bound down To any such
course.
Soon after my refusal. Il crusade MAS
commenced against me 10y certain par
l. ties in that church. Some of whom alc
greatly Inflated 10y their own wisdom,
to the great disgust of many of the i'll
L. Il;
E kept up until | left. and since then. ~
cry eNcrti"n has been made To imiurr
me. surely such Is not the spirit OF
: C"ngIcgationali>m'
| | have written several letters Ia the
secretary of the Association. asking i"I
/ details of the charges that | may know
: how /" meet and answer my curmir,
: And only in one instance (aud that very
meagrel have | ever been able To oh
. tain the slightest clue to the charges,
= except. in the general way H. found
. them in the new papcIS. And that one
l instance WAS i'll relation To certain c\
. pcn>cS | have been IL (aud ot which
+ have kept no mcmnr:Indum) which tn,
committee at Barnet offered l." pay me
If When the committee called upon me
d for the account gave it as near rs
@ could from memory. And offered Il
take Il little oven one half of the whole
It i'll lieu of all demands. which WAS paid
and in the presence of witnesses the!
expressed their satisfaction. am II"
aware | uttered anything false. Ur i'll
correct.
IS Upon the second charge. | am i'll ut
l. ter ignorance of any mischief eve
r made at Barnet. either among th'
i members of the church. or the inlahi
If tamts. But the cruel and wicked thing
Il that were said of me. 10y some OF tn
:. members of the church. without tin
=. slightest foundation in fact. and the I'M
10 christian treatment | and my family
nS received is we'll known To the people.
:" Upon the third charge. challcmG
of the Association. and the disaficctrd a
ID Barnet, to produce Il copy of amy ser
III mon have ever preached other thai
'd my own composition. | have alway
II. followed the legitimate rules in sermon
er ling, both i'll my eXtemporc. and man
T. uscript sermons, giving the thoughts 4
ty others us such, i'll taking up of my Pc
ne sitioms to sustain the correctness of m
Ms theological opinions. y liberty accord
,ir ed to all public speakers and writers
Upon the first part of the last charg,
Ill | am willing that those who have 81
he under my ministry for the last fou
re years. should lie the judges of my ca
by pacity to teach religion. or my "Bibl
IL cal and Theological" ignorance.
IL But am unwilling that the champio
of of the disturbers of the Barnet churc
p should he my judge. he being utterl
ass unacquainted with my capacity for til
of office of the ministry, never havin
of heard me preach. OF even conduct
RS theological discussion. Had he bee
in better acquainted with me, he migl
lid now he saved from the disgust of h
~. friends for neddling III other people
business.
When | came to the United States.
as Immediately united with the NJ.
ny Church. my letters and testimonial
en- were presented and considered sati>ta,
ice tory. | took the ordination vows. as
or customary III the NJ. f. Church, and WI
Ike admitted 10y the Bishop to the ministr