The comet. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1877-1882, 1879-03-08
BUVH.ER'S PROTEST.
An Incidenl Illustrative Of Zen.
Buffers Early PieIy.

Boston HeraM.
One of the most noble-hoarod womcl
that made New England what it is, and CAV
to country rare pattern of motherl,
grace and Puritan virtue, brought Benjamin
L. Butler into the world, Mrs Butler wa
woman who united to deep earnestness o
purpose dignity of demoanor and {
womanly grace that made her loved by al
who possessed her acquaintance. Her CON
versation was much sought by hor friends,
and many story is told Of lively word bat
ties when the old lady stoutly upheld slavery,
before the great issue settled it forever; and
from the conversation cher Benny" was
rarely absent. She loved to talk of him, to
tell Of his boyhood trials and triumphs, to
dwell on her ambitions for him, and no
doubt what he has today of tenderness was
gift from this devoted woman.
When the question Of college came up,
his father was tor West Point, the blaze of
war. She with mothers love, desired
ardently that her son should enter the
peace of the Church. But, whether
this or not, under religious influence she
determined he should be till old enough to
choose. SO he went to Waterville Me.
Here he worked at chairmaking to pay tho
college dues, earning, perhaps thirty cents
day. Absence from prayers one morning
brought him u fine of ten cents and 4 mis-
conduct mark in the class. This was 4 Sc
rious matter, and several occasions brought
young Butler up to the pitch of renon-
STRANGE, by protest that was pelmeated
through and through with his personality.
Ono Of the professors had, a few days
previously, preached sermon in the college
church, in which he enunciated three dog
mas worthy of Calvin himself; /. The
elect, and the elect alone, will be saved.
2. Of the people commonly called Chris
ITEMS, probably not more than one in a
hundred will be saved. 3. The heather
have better chance of salvation than the
inhabtantsi of Christian countries who
neglect their opportunities.
Upon this Butler spoke. He drew up
petition to the faculty, couched in language
of profound respect, asking to be excused |
from further attendance at prayers and |
on the grounds so ably sustained |
in the discourse of the preceding Sunday. |
II, he said, the doctrine of that sermon |
was sound, of which he would not presume |
to entertain a doubt, he was only preparing
himself for future of more exquisite an
guish by attending church. He begged to
DO allowed to remind the faculty that the
church in which the sermon was preached
contained usually a congregation of six
persons, nine of whom were his
'evered professors and tutors, and, as only
'ne in hundred ordinary Christians could
'e saved, three of the faculty, good men
IS all of them were, were inevitably damn
ID. Could he, mere student, and not one
If most exemplary, expect to be saved be-
ore his superiors? Nothing remained for
lin but perdition.
In this melancholy position of affairs it
ecame him to beware of frightening his
uture torment by listening to the moving
loquence of the pulpit, or availing himself
f the privileges of religion. College laws,
owever, compelled attendance, imposed
fine and disgrace, and thus,
with damnaton in the next
'orld, bankruptcy and disgrace in this one,
@ implored the consideration of the faculty
nd asked to be excused from all attendance
prayers.
But alas for the life of humor! The
'culty did not take the joke, and the petit
oner was worry nearly expelled.