Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1874-05-27
How to Settle a Quarrel.


Nearly twenty years ago, in my expert
euco as an elder in one Of the Oldest Dutch
churches not many miles from the city oI
New York, there occurred an incident that
may interest your readers, as evidencipg the
primitive state Of feeling 10 which the old
Dutch inhabitants Of that region lived.
was summoned by our minister to attend
one evening special meeting OF the Con.
sisiory in the lecture room. On meeting
him at the door | enquired for what pur-
pose the Cousistory had been convened, and
received, with smile, the reply that |
should learn if would walk in, which
did. found there the other members Of
the Consistory, and with them two old
members Of the church, brothers.in.law,
who had married sisters, 1t appeared that
they had attempted, contrary to all expert
ence in such cases, to try with their two
families to live together IN harmony, 10 a
house on farm a short distance from the
the village, and with the usual result-a
squabble.
After an opening prayer our minister
stated to uSthat that these two brothers-in-
law, then Present, had quarreled, and in
stead Of gqibg to law to settle their dis.
putes, tBey1ad agreed TO abide by tho de.
cision Of the Consstory. Each was re-
quested to make his own statement, which
he did, and each claimed that the other
owed him money, and gave some par
ticulars Of their quarrel. They were then
requested to leave the room for the Con-
sisiory to deliberate on the matter. After
they had left, the minister requested one Of
the deacons and myself to examine the nc.
counts that had been presented by each
party. We did so, and recommended the
| following resolution, which the Consistory
adopted, namely: That the Consistory,
having duly examined the matters in dis
pute in this case, find that neither party
owes the other any money, and they are
hereby requested to pass receipts in full OF
all demands against each other-also, in
token of their forgiveness Of the past and
their resolution to live in harmony and
brotherly love in the future, they shake
hands in presence Of the Consistory here
assembled" The two were then called in
to hear the decision Of the Consistory, which
being read to them, one rose and said, "I
will do it." The other sat still. went to
him and requested him to do as his brother.
in-law had done, and was told in reply,
" he called me a thief" | told him be had
accused his brother.in-law OF having watered
the milk they had sent to market, and that
both having spoken in a passion, could
not credit either in their accusations Of each
other. | urged him in the cause Of peace,
and shortly he sprung up, and the two
brotbers.in.law met in the aisle, grasped
each others hands and began to shake vio-
lentIy-upon seeing which our minister
arose aud said, Let US pray" His prayer
was short and to the point, while | could
not help observing the tears trickle down
the cheeks of the Oldest of my fellow elders
who bore the relation of brother to one of
the parties and brother-in-law to the other.
By marriage and by birth the parties we're
both related to about one-half Of the con-
gregatiou, and | learned their quarrel had
created much feeling and commotion among
their relatives.
This happy termination was most
Christian one, and one that caused joy in
many homes that night. Would that Chris
tians oftener took their misunderstanding
to the church, in the spirit of charity to
settle, The kingdom of Christ would
be greatly furthered thereby. Working
| Church.