of several thousand dollars expended in its estab lishment, and still lead to the necessity of repeating the same request. This method, therefore, seemed to be the only alternative. The church and society were unwilling to grant my request. We had ever lived in mutual peace and harmony; and it was truly unpleasant, to be obliged to make this request. But duty appeared clearly to demand it. They immediately appointed their committees, to confer with me, and to endeavour to devise some expedient which might render unnecessary this event. No efforts were neglected, to secure my continuance with them. Yet all their pro posals, could not remove the obstacles, which debarred me from the opportunity of study. Thus, after six months, spent in fruitless efforts, to obviate my request, the church and society reluctantly consented, as the only alternative, to the calling of a council for my dismission. This council assembled on the 13th of Nov. 1812, and was composed of the following members, viz. Rev. Messrs. Peter Starr, David L. Perry, Timothy Stone, Josiah Hawes and Joseph Harvey. The delegates were, deacons, Amos Fowler, Paul Smith, Josiah Hopkins, Eliakim Mallery, Samuel Norton and Mylo Lee. The whole of the North Conscociation of Litchfield county had been notified to attend, but the rest failed of giving their attendance. Mr. Starr was chosen moderator, and Mr. Perry, scribe.

My request for a dismission, with the reasons assigned, together with the concurrent votes of the church and society were exhibited. It appeared, that there had been, and still was an entire friendship subsisting between myself, and the church and society; and it was observed by some of the council, that as there appeared to be an entire harmony among us, it was not known how a dissolution of our connexion could be effected, unless there was some charge, or accusation exhibited, as a ground

en which to predicate a dismission. I was accordingly called upon to say, if I had not some charge which I could alledge against either the church or society. I informed them I had not; that they ap peared to me rather as members of my own family, than otherwise; that it was with reluctance I had called for a dismission, but necessity impelled me to it. The committees of the church and society were then called upon, to say, whether they could not exhibit some charge, or accusation against me. They replied they had none. They stated the exertions they had made, to prevail on me to continue with them; and their earnest desire it should take place; but finding no way to effect it, they were reluctantly obliged to consent to my request, as nothing short would relieve my feelings. After the council had deliberated by themselves a short time, I was called upon again, and again, by them, and the committees as often, and the enquiry pressed, whether we could not criminate each other. My astonishment was indeed excited, at this procedure; yet we had no criminations with which to gratify their manifestly eager desire. After a time -I was called before the council, and it was signified to me, that I was highly criminal for being plunged into the cares of the world. I inquired what it meant! I put the inquiries, whether they were not the very persons, who had advised, and urged me to set up a school? Whether some of their number had not repeatedly applied to me for pecuniary assistance? and whether some of them had not received from me, the aid they had requested? and whether others were disaffected, because I could not grant their urgent requests? I enquired, whether it was criminal, to exercise benevolence, by rendering them assistance, when they urgently solicited it? and whether, if it was right to gratify them in their requests, it would not be equally so to gratify the requests of others, who had made their applications with equal solicitude, and whose

prospects of fulfilling their engagements, were equally as probable as in their own? And now because a number had failed in the fulfillment of their promises; when all the assistance rendered by me, was without fee, or reward, greatly to my own inconvenience, and solely for their benefit; and when, by their default, I was compelled to advance my own funds to supply the sums obtained for their relief; because I had been enabled in some instances to obtain, as part security, real estate, by which means my cares and burdens were unexpectedly, and greatly increased; I inquired, if these were any objects of my own seeking? and could there be any propriety in saying it was criminally plunging in the cares of the world? If so, then their own accommodations, and requests had plunged me into this evil, for all these things were intimately connected with, and had grown out of my establishment of a school in which they had urged me to embark. I inquired, whether any other motive could be imputed to my efforts, but that of pure benevolence? and whether a person was to be censured, in proportion to his excess in the exercise of benevolence, towards his distressed fellow men? But no-all was in vain. It was easy to discover who were active in this transaction. The council soon came to a result.. And whatever stings their result may contain, I will cheerfully endure their smart, in preference to belonging to the number of those who devised the instrument of torture.

I copy their result, as delivered to me by their register.

"The conscociation* having maturely considered the reasons offered by Mr. Parker, for his dismission, and the concurrent votes of the church and society, do judge it expedient, that under existing

*For consociation, I have generally substituted the word council, which is a term inore commonly used when sitting as a court.

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circumstances, the pastoral relation between Mr. Parker, and the church and society in Ellsworth, be dissolved; and the same is hereby dissolved."

"At the same time, the consociation feel themselves constrained to say, that they consider it very unhappy, and very imprudent, for a minister of the gospel, so to entangle himself in the cares of this world, as to incapacitate himself to attend to the duties of the ministry. And feel themselves unable to exonerate Mr. Parker from blame in this case, and think they cannot recommend him for RESETTLEMENT, in the work of the ministry, until he shall relinquish those cares, and worldly avocations, which have hitherto disqualified him for the ministry, and give himself wholly to the work. But when Mr. Parker shall have relinquished those extra concerns, not attached to a school, which have hitherto impeded his usefulness, and do at this time render necessary his dismission, we can cheerfully recommend him as a very suitable person to be improved in the churches as a gospel

minister.

Passed in consociation, Nov. 19, 1812.”

"Test PETER STARR, Moderator.
"DAVID L. PERRY, Scribe.

"A true copy

record attest.

of

JOSEPH HARVEY, Register."

Should we not have expected, that Christian meekness, would rather have influenced brethren, who had repeatedly called for worldly assistance, and even been favored with it, to have taken an accommodating brother by the hand, and have said to him, brother, you are entangling yourself with the cares of this world; we fear you will bring reproach upon the ministry by such procedure. We earnestly entreat you, therefore, to desist. Would not this method have partaken as much of the spirit of the gospel, as when knowing these entangle

ments were enhanced, by affording this aid, they still neglected those frequent opportunities of private admonition, and without any previous charge, or suggestion of wrong, came forth and pronounced a public censure? Reader, judge for yourself.Yet permit the inquiry, Are these the rewards of, perhaps, an almost unexampled series of benevolent acts? But I forbear. Possibly some developement of this mystery is but just before us.

But a few days had elapsed after my dismission, before the Rev. Timothy Stone, of Cornwell, called at my house, and informed me he had made a journey expressly to see me; and could no longer remain at rest until he had unburdened his mind."Do you know, brother Parker," said he, "the cause of the sting contained in your dismission?" I replied it was probable I did not know the extent of individual proceedings; yet many things were. apparently obvious respecting some of the members. He observed, "brother Perry and brother Harvey were determined to get you silenced." I inquired of him, on what grounds; as I had never known of any complaint, or suggestion of improprieties against me. He replied, "They urged, you were plunged into the cares of the world!" I remarked to him, I thought it very singular that Mr. Perry should urge this, when he had expressly pressed my engaging in a school; and intimated, as I had understood him, that he would render me every assistance possible; and that he had also repeatedly called on me to be helped to a loan in money; and that after I had advanced much expense to accommodate my school, he had instituted schools, evidently calculated to diminish my number of pupils, which must necessarily plunge me into much pecuniary embarrassment; that, of all men, he must assuredly be the last, to suggest the complaint of my being plunged into worldly concerns, as no individual had probably contributed so extensively to entangle me with them.