The Manitowoc tribune. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1866-1878, 1874-10-08
WITCHCRAFT IN THE OLDEN TIME.

WE can scarcely imagine anything
more horrible or paradoxical than the
state of society which existed IL Salem,
Massachusetts, some Two centuries ago.
This 'schosen habitantion' of the
Pilgrim Father-this spot, rendered sa-
cred, as it were, and claiming Heavens
peculiar protection, as being lie place, I'M
der Cod guidance, to which his persecut-
ed servants had been driven-that such
place should have become, In the course OF
a few years latter it's settlement thetheatre
of one OF the most revolving per-
secutions that ever took place ''in the
tide of time,'' is, indeed, fact calculat-
ed to excite our especial wonder.
Selected. as this settlement would seem
to have been, as the one in all respects
most conducive to the free and untram-
meled worship of the Creator; and tax
ING into account, at the same time, the
s.envy, hatred, malice, and all uncharit-
ableness.' among it's church members,
which few short years, unhappy, fail
ed not to bring about-we are forclbly
reminded of De Foes description OF g
similar state of things IN some part OF
England, and occurring nearly at the
same time:
wherever God erects house of prayer,
The devil always builds chapel there
And twill be found, upon examination,
The latter has the largest congregation"
Certain it seems, from all accounts,
that the Euil one Cor at any rate his dep
uty), in the shape of the Rev. Mr.. Par
yis, had has ''chapel'' in Salem about this
time. and. also, ''the largest congrega-
tion.'' Among the vilest and most
shameless men that ever existed 1--WE
speak strongly, supported as we are by
impartial history this Mr.. Paris, TAX
ine into account his sacerdotal character,
was the most vile and the most shame
less. He it was, as an eminent writer
declares, who ssmade his church scan
dal in the land for its brawls and con-
troversies and on him rests the respon-
sibility of the disease and madness which
presently turned his parish into hell,
and made it famous for the murder OF
the wisest, gentlest, and purest Christi
ans it contained Subtle, selfish, re
vengeful-nay, even diabolical in his
hate, and fully compromising the ad-
vantages his clerical position gave him,
among a community almost entirely
given over to the belief in witch-craft and
It's numerous NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS., oAllo 1OFOI-
end fiend's first object, after securing a
liberal stipend" and ''appropriating
the house and land assigned for the use
of successive pastors" was to get his
meeting house sanctioned as true
church, and himself ordained cas- the
first pastor in Salem village" This, it
would seem, occurred in the year 1889.
While gracious and understanding to
such members of his congregation as
were ready to promote his sordid views,
his demoniac spite was let loose upon
such as, soaring above the hellish super
stition of the time and place (''for hall
a year. remarks some writer, this
favored corner of the cody land of New
England was turned into hell') }, right
eously, disregarded his Vaccinations.
These, unfortunately, embraced an
amount of artifce, plot, completely, and
downright lyiag fhe whole sustained by
the influence of this clerical demoa), that
the qualification became ultimately his
of seeing scores of the most righteous
men and women that the village of
Salem ever held, hanging By the neck
like dogs. But we have not patience to
proceed; and any prolonged narrative OF
the doings of this wretch could not be
pleasant to our readers. We must dis
gust them, however, with one remark
more, namely, that the scoundrel priest
finally died an has bed!