SECTION II.

A FEW days previous to my impending trial, one of the deacons of the church in Ellsworth informed me, the Rev. Mr. Starr had sent a request to the inhabitants in the vicinity of Ellsworth meetinghouse, that no arrangements need be made by them, even to prepare a dinner for the association, at their adjourned meeting, as they probably should not tarry long enough to dine. I inquired of this deacon, if he knew whether they had adopted a similar principle with those who, on a former occasion, had "bound themselves with an oath, that they would neither eat nor drink till they had slain Paul?" As the period of time between 11 o'clock, the hour of adjournment, and dinner time would be short, I thought they must be very expeditious to investigate and decide on what they had termed very weighty charges, in which the gospel ministry, the interests of religion, and individual reputation, were deeply interested. To which he replied, he knew not the motive.

The association had adopted a rule, that no person should be employed, as counsel, in any ecclesiastical trial before them, who had not made a profession of the Christian religion. To obtain able counsel, therefore, I sent to the distance of about sixty miles, to procure the Hon. Roger M. Sherman, Esq. who, having been an officer in the church, might, I apprehended, be admitted. I also employed John Elmore, Esq. who resided at the distance of about twenty miles.

But while trials in rapid succession assailed me, it pleased the God of infinite grace and condescension to shed down the influences of his Holy Spirit. My school, at that time, was composed of from sixty to seventy members. Among these endeared youth did the Divine Spirit, in wonderful mercy, deign to take up his residence. About the first of

July, the still small voice seemed evidently to address them by his convicting influences. Very soon a season of solemnity, awe, and trembling, was exhibited, which undoubtedly afforded a faint resemblance of the solemn scene which will be presented, in that dread hour, when the assembled universe will stand around the bar of their final Judge, and listen to the amazingly interesting destinies of eternity. Indeed, it seemed, for several days, as if the judgment was in reality set and the books opened. A deep and pungent sense of the awful depravity and guilt of many, led them to exclaim, with heartfelt solicitude, "what shall we do to be saved?" The scene was truly such as the powers of language are incompetent to describe. These beloved youths who, but a few days before, were thoughtless and unconcerned, and engaged in their accustomed activity of mirth and juvenile diversions, were now solemn as the house of death. Probably twenty or more were under powerful convictions, many others excited to some degree of solicitude, and all solemnized. No noise, wildness, or disorder, marked their conduct. The once neglected Scriptures were now their constant companion, when they were not engaged in religious devotions, or listening to instructions. Such were the dealings of Jehovah, eminently verifying his encouraging promise, "those that seek me early, shall find me." Within the period of about ten days, eight or ten of these endeared pupils had been permitted to hope in the mercy of God, through a crucified Saviour, and the work appeared evidently to be progressing in the school.

In the midst of this season of refreshing, the time had arrived for the meeting of the association. It was indeed painful, that the mind should be called from an attendance to these marvellous displays of grace and reconciliation, to roam on those unwel come objects, the effects of singular efforts, and unprecedented combinations. To my counsel, on

their arrival, I remarked, that in view of the wonderful dealings of God, with the dear youth committed to my care and instruction, I knew not how to divert my feelings or mind from their infinitely interesting concerns, even sufficiently to give them a history of the subjects speedily to be brought to trial; that I would cheerfully make almost any sacrifice, if it might spare me the unpleasant task; and, that I felt it to be of little consequence to me, what should be the result of the association, if their proceedings and efforts might not impede the work of grace among my pupils.

The hour of eleven, on the 2d day of July, had now arrived. I was present with my counsel at the appointed place of meeting. Most of the members of the association had convened. Mr. Harvey, though not the active prosecutor on paper, yet generally considered, by those acquainted with the real circumstances, to be the efficient one, had employed the Rev. Lyman Beecher of Litchfield, and a member of Litchfield south association, as counsel for the prosecution. As these Rev. gentlemen had not yet arrived, a motion was made, the meeting being not yet opened, for an adjournment of one hour. It was assigned to me, as a reason, that fears were entertained, should an adjournment not prevail, that I might call the trial, and before the arrival of their counsel might possibly nonsuit 'them. A motion was of course made, that instead of an adjournment, an hour might be spent in prayer, in reference to the subject for which we had assembled; to which I subjoined the request, that some serious youth in the vicinity, (carefully withholding the term of my school, for the seriousness of that region was confined exclusively to the members of it,) might have an interest in the prayers that were to be offered. The Rev. Samuel J. Mills, being the eldest divine present, was called upon to make the first prayer. At the close of which, the Rev. Charles Prentice arose and observ

ed that he had heard nothng of the revival in my school until he had arrived at that place, and made the request that I would give an account of the revival. The Rev. David L. Perry instantly arose and objected, saying it was strictly improper for me to utter a word on the subject. The Rev. Timothy Stone immediately followed him, with the observation, that it would be improper for Mr. Parker to "give any account of it"-he wished that the Rev. Mr. Lyman, (my successor,) would give a relation of it. A considerable number of people had assembled in the meeting house. Every countenance appeared instantly to fall, except, perhaps, those of the two last speakers. Silence and con

sternation reigned for a time, and many of my pupils, with throbbing hearts, were present to witness the extraordinary transaction! Words could not describe my emotions! I reflected, do you claim to be the heralds of the cross, the messengers of peace and reconciliation to a lost world, and yet object to one, sustaining the highly resposible station of a minister of Christ, giving a relation of the wonderful dealings of God to perishing souls who are placed under his care, when you professedly rejoice to hear of a soul born into the kingdom of the Redeemer? Do you imagine it might soften the asperities which any combined efforts may have excited, and which you may wish to be retained in the impending trial? And does it indeed exhibit the temper and disposition of him whom you profess to call Lord?

After some pause, yes, solemn silence, prayer was resumed. Adjournment for dinner succeeded.

On reassembling, the association was opened. I had in my pocket the complaints inserted in the preceding pages, prepared to lay before the body so soon as opportunity should render it suitable. But here a novel if not unprecedented occurrence took place. Immediately on the close of the prayer offered by the moderator, the written constitution,

both of the association and consociation, lying upon the table, which contained regulations for the direction of the members, and which I had carefully pursued in the course of discipline on which I had already entered, a verbal motion was made to alter the constitution. The motion was as follows: that every minister with a pastoral charge, shall be tried by the consociation, or ministers and delegates; and every minister without a pastoral charge, shall be tried by the association, or ministers only. This motion was immediately seconded, and the vote called for and carried.

It could hardly be said that there was time, after the opening of the association, for me to rise from my seat and place the complaints on the table, before the constitution was altered; of course there was now no place for them. It is to be recollected that all those against whom I had filed complaints, and served with copies for trial at this time, had pastoral charges, except myself; of course it rendered that a very convenient opportunity to present the new complaint of which I had been recently served with a notice, as also a suitable and accommodating time for my trial. Thus the instrument which had been deliberately framed to give directions for our procedure, in order to secure our rights or redress our wrongs, suddenly became a rope of sand which dissolved at the touch. Of what use is a written instrument or constitution, to any class of people, for the security of privilege, property, or even life, when from the impulse of the moment, and perhaps to gratify human passions, it may in an instant, by a verbal motion, undergo a total pervertion, and thus the very article which guaranteed the protection of life itself be converted into the sentence of death? Have we been heretofore accustomed to so cheap and speedy alterations of instruments deemed thus sacred?

This gordian knot being severed, it appeared necessary that some pacific overtures should be made.