Rev. Alexander Fletcher.
The Times, 1824-10-15T00:00:00

rThe following curious and characteristic ansver and correspondetice has been published by Mr. Fleteher. As we inserted the statement of she Managers, it is but just to give the reply] - REPUTATION O' TLE STATEMeEST OF TlE LATt 3SANAGERS OF ALtION CHtAPEL, WHIlCh APPEARED IN "TH9 TIMES" AND OTHER PAPEItS, OX SAT UaDAY, OCTOBER 9,1824. INDULGENT READEL,-The late Alanage- quOting apaofrtof miaratinix Iwato the Protest-sav, "that I have Charged sorne ry y ate managers, at an early Stage of the busines, with their in.- tcrference in this matter, &c." To this they replv, that "they never interfere ait a body, till I requested them." Oint.rve, reader, I did not charge them as a body, It wELsas t Oeof My lte Managers I charged. Their reply to my charge iS t0 refutation, it is at at- knnwledgment Of itS truth. They rfurher say, thty nadp on r met aseaa body, till I reqrtved thein; but they do not den that they met in littie private cabals, in counting-bouae, andd at dinner parties. This is reall diverting They say, I Called them to mneet as a body ; aind I am' obliged to them for telling the reason. CVhat was the reason? It was to en. treat them to endeavour to persuade the Rev. Dr. Dick, Professor cf Diviity,.- that is, Professor of the gentleness, the meekness, znd the charity of the gospel-to condescend in the benignity of hic heert. to obey an Apostolical precepit, and to havle the miatier settled by ar- bitration. lt was ' this I requested. Now, mark-h.d they agree to tender this scriptural and cormimon-cee request to the Retverend gentleman ? I answer, no. They fould notDthev did not. What id they do? Aluy next charge against them is ano answer to the questioni. They say I chiarge theet " with calling upon mne to give my.name to a blank apology, to be filled un bv Dr. Dick,end the i So -eta."1 They do riot denyi this charge. T-hey indeed give an account of an apology whiclt came through the hands of the pliun.. tiff's solicitor, and bv way of information, let it a known "i the olicitor of mry late treasurer;` whichi shows somrething like a toMm bination betwixt the Rev. Doctor and iy late Treasurer, and which it mutt be confessed, was far from bcing hardsome. It is all vecr true about that apology. It was never dented bv me, and it was never subscribe by mre.r Mr. nilks Said, " a r. F.' if vou p us your name to it, it will ruin you !" I took the hint. Well, eU'ler, do you think it was kind in mY late Managers to proposean apology which would ruin me ? But 'this is not denying the ' blanko logy." If it is not deniedsc if I understand any thing ' ogi-th is acknowledged. It makes me smile-the blank apologe wasg thefitrst bnom, ndi the a e apo l lede. I to k abov e, the n amex inasucces . 1 feel manyi refd,cusing tof adotanys othem ad drmy children, a%ey were uglythins...andI rallycoud no gienthe a kind look. Hewillrne w introduce the blank apilogy, in the fore of a digogue h e t s x t r .t u F let c t h e r t a nd C h a r l e s ut h be r t , O n e o f h i s s c h o l a r s , fge d nallo F.-c ow old are vou, Charlese d i? aR. F.-nivn ou read writing, Charles? CIIARL S.-A: little, Sir. t-Ir. F.-Takethat ieceof paper, and readt it distinctlv. Cl A tepars [ fHe taes hartd wh ot awll nee can.. f Ile rads. ]" O, Basinghallsitreet, December 3. 1 b23. nu Dear Sir.-I f a1 reqaested by the Managers, to ask lor your answer in writing to the following t ue stion: I t "eWill vou authoreze thni. to ofl' erLo Dr. Dick an unconditional apoloty ornvour bsehalic, the wording of bit toe laiedte to the Doctor'h uown judgment, and to be used as he mar think proper, and as is sua in zzy, casIe, that you will bear the exlensc already incurrede' t F- t? reari ver l well. my dear (lia-lce Now tell me. do yost understand what rov'late managers wished your Minister to do, in what vouthaverno ed tht e C'H..Rit.s.yo think I dorn it is to put your name to a blank piece ao aerthtct firs,tor te verv bntsotbto ana that thev might write be- to your cnamehatever they pleased. mr. th-' ou arex correct fyo dear scholar. That is exactly as o tindrtand it. nTell me if yeou know the difn renre betwinxt a blank apology, a blank shieet of paper, and an unconditional apt9logry? C(lA neFq.-l see suoiis differertce. Mr. F.- You surprise tne, chiild. W"hat is it itntitionA cf oan searcely speak fu laughing, si Btthe dif tference betwixt a"blhnk a olog, blank ho of paper, and ani unconditional apologp"othInk to be the Same as " taking ofia nian'6 ead,rcutting o', a man's ve ead, and depriving a man ot his head." lere ends the dialogue. Tohrertis n to thtatement of the late Managersi The readling of nmy letter, or large extracts froM theri, on a Sabbath-day, n s un- hallowed conclave, &z., &c.. they do not deny. Not to den m this in a sta-tement given to the empire, which they.Drofess to be a refuts tion ofthy rnrAppendix in reference to them, is an acknowledgment, on thte part of soe of them, having done what will never revoeut ho- nour cither on their head or heart t It will be seen in ail the letters I sen the ana agers,thzt I treated toem and wrote theta as gentlemen. I attended them a ulits wav afterty refuted to solicit arbitratin, but they co.tiducted me to the tincsf a precipice ;_1 looked over, and feeling es head becoin ing dizzb , I retreated. I escaped for mynlife.-I tarr e rlnot in all the plain. A. F. 1,ETTIE RFItOM TTHE REVERSEND DEL.EGATES WHO DEMAND. El) .5Y PULPIT, stY CITAPEL.. A-ID My FLOCK' - oa ilea's-lane Vestry, October i, 1824. "Dear Brother,mYou know that we are appointed by the Synod to supply yontr pulpit during the months of Snooer and November.; and on the first or the second sabbath of this imonuth wtintihate tod your cotigregation the sentance of the Synod. b tispending you from ttte exercise of your office. It was no' in our power to f'ulfil the appointmient of' the Synod, in reference to the intisnatiorn of tc scntence oftic th iynod, last Sabbath; and therefore, on Sabbath first we intend us occupn , Your pulpit, accordisgz to the appoininearn of the Synod, and to perform t. hiservice painful to u, as well C r to you and to yourtcongregation. he deeply regret the tneaZt*res whichoyou have adopted, but stiAl we Cherish the hone, that, on more %2ature contiderztion',you will becon.. v-inced, that Jut) i sept the spirit of mieekness, to submit to the seLsi; o'; lep e weshallI expect to hear from you be- fore Sabbath, as youar answer may serve to direct our conduct, ard prevent the recurrence of what would he unsuitable to the sanctity of trat day, and unpleha ant both to us asid to You. "Be so goodn as addressivour answer to us as Miles's-lanelvestry. '- We are, 'dear brother. yor " truly, WILLIAAI KIDSTON. JAM ES RAY.' "Rev. Dear Sir. (iftobler, 9, 182.U Is was late last nighlt svhten) I retursedI fions Suff;lk, and Etiere.. fore have bern preven.ted from- answering Your letter sooner. If you and Alr. Hay attempt oil Sabbath to OccuPy Inv PullPit, You will usauredly be: disappoinited. There is no reason toitink that rudentess wyill be shown You, thougih your appearance will excite the mnost un- pleasanttfeelings in those 'who shall be engagedl to prevent the execution of your cruel and ty'rannical authority. Shopuld Dirine pProvislence. spare tmy life. and preserve toy, healtht, no delegates shall be sulted to eleter trtv pulPit iill after- the next meeting of'Synod. lIeturn, thcrefore, to the country friom which vYOn hate come without dielav, andti tll your con5IttUCnt~ 0that " )Ide. Fletcher, his managers.. his loving. steadfhz;t. biit insuliud peopile, the religious populatioin of' this mectropolis, thec loud voice of gublic opinion, and the frowns of Ileaven, hlave stood in vouir way as an insurmiountable hazrier, as ani inseparable phalanx, to prevent your execution of Cthe anathemas of a deluded andi legradeil Church,. as tIte angel of the Lord opposed Ilalaasn whetslhe presumrptuously attempted so curSe Israel. Go home wvithiout delay, and endeavour to a"ouse the enaergies o~f "Ihe Secession Chttrch. that She may, apply to the founitain of living waters, where alone thiat Speck of leprosvy eon be washed, away which has lalwclyap- peared in her judicial adntinistratinn. Tk this assz warning from Hecavenr, an( tirtcrospt trt, I besevech von,. to Screen yourelvesfris the 'lisaprrrobstion or lien, or dlefend .N'Ourselves fnom the displeasure of, the living God, by enconipassirry YOursClVC8 withi tire appalling sltrouil ofecclesiaLs'tiCc dep.)isni. -Not,withstandinqg your unha-llowed errand L, you hiave botht miv best w1illhes; and I imens to God to bless youi. and miake You a bleasing! yourirtaffectionately, ".Ret'. W. Kjdston. " ALEXANDPR FbETCHll--. 1722r. ALEXArDER FLPTLffp,p