Bradford opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1874-1881, 1876-04-15
For the OPINION,
Fenelon aud Plymouth Pastor.

FOf tht OllNioN'
Francis Fenelon aud Plymouth Pastor.
Francis Fenelon, the character OF
whom tho writer wishes to say a
few words upon, was q man of line
culture, rare tastes and one OF the
most eloquent preachers of oil
France. The charm of his manners,
the grace OF his figure, and his su.
periority in the pulpit, soon brought
him into extensive public notice
His income, 5000 francs year. was
mostly spent upon the poor, fol
their immediate and prospective
benefit. He had deep missionary
spirit, and longed to devote himself
and his time in some foreign field OF
labor, but was providentially over
ruled. He came by events to be
honored and promoted by the king
to be beloved 10y all the young prln
ces ; esteemed, consulted and favor
ed by all the more influential spir'
its Of the court; to hold the high
station in the palace and in the
church; to be in word at the height
Of popularity, prosperity and pow
er. With a native tendency to what
ever was mild and gentle, to what
ever in religion was gracious, gen
erous and spiritual, he had come to
feel aud entertain a warm sympathy
for the ideas and sentiments OF
Madam GuyOn, whose views OF
christian conservation and prayer
were attracting attention ana gain
lug prosely ties, even in the kings
household. Things becoming more
open, the good lady. one whom the
lovers of all true religion boasts Of,
was charged with heresy, and a
commission was instituted to en-
uuire into the case. She, refusing
to cease the dissemination Of her
principles, was arrested. Feneleoh
was unwilling to take sides with
his compeers in the deIunclation OF
this devoted, earnest christian wo.
man. He himself became openly
denounced. The king took position
against him. He was ordered to re-
tire, or, in more recent language,
to "step down and out" Madame
Maintenon, who once professed the
highest admiration for the eloquent
divine, withdrew from him her IA
vor, her charity and her influence.
And, the hardest and most trying
cut of all was, the very friendship
of Fenelon for lady Guyon was
made a theme of the grossest calum-
MES. On this grave and savage
charge, the downfall and ruin of the
illustriOus divine were attempted.
He refuted these base ISLANDERS and,
after time, mankind still were able
to see that the falsely accused was
good and great man. Though
out of favor with the king and of
bigots generally and in exile of soul,
he kept on with his work, wrote,
visited the peasants in their cottag-
es, shared their moderate fare, heard
their complaints and sorrows, reliev-
ed their wants, and made his house
and home an asylum for all the I'M
fortunate. His love was great, and
his gifts of charity equally so. lie
stands before the acorld today beauti-
FIJI in his character and belored IN his
deeds and aVorhs Of helpfulness.
There are points of comparison
between the Pastor, of Plymouth
Church and Fenelon, but we will
not point them out. Let him that
runs read for himself.
Pope Innocent XII, after consid.
ering what he had better say about
Fenelon, when charged, waiting
some months for reflection, wrote:
"He has sinned through excess of
divine love, while his neighbors have
sinned for the want of it,
A CONGREGATIONALIST