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body as if in great agony of spirit , which aided , of coarse , in prbdtVcirtg ah effect upon the spectators . * '' In quoting Mtv Ware ' s words we are reminded of a passage' in Defew Swifts Essay on the Mechanical Operation of the Spirit : " Who that sees a little paltry mortal , droning and dreaming and to
drivelling to a multitude ., can think it a ^ tfeeable common good sense , that either heaven or hell should be put to the trouble of influence or inspection upon what he is about ? Therefore , I am resolved immediately to weed this error out of mankind by making it clear that this mystery of vending spiritual gifts is nothing but a trade , acquired by as much instruction and mastered by equal practice and application as others aTe . "
Sectarianism contributes to feed the fire of these excitements . Every sect of course expects to be built up by them ; but more especially do all turn their indignation against those that stand aloof from " the great work /' These are chiefly the Unitarians and Episcopalians . The prevailing horror is of the Unitarians . This body is spreading so rapidly in America , that the
whole extended system of revivals is arrayed against them in particular , and and is expected soon to work its downfall . The Unitarians are designated ' , byway of distinction , " the enemy ; " the most unmeasured abuse is cast upon them , and many families of Unitarian congregations have been visited and urged to leave their teacher and go over to the other side .
Domiciliary visitation is resorted to among other means of success . Two or three men , strangers , often enter a house with an air of preternatural solemnity , and signify their wish to see the family together . As the male members of it are commonly absent on their business , they have to deal only with the females of the family . These , with their natural timidity and reserve , sit down in fear and silence to await the dread communication .
Their inquisitors begin with the most pointed questions , put in the most awful manner , concerning their most secret , solemn , and delicate feelings ; and if they find them dull , these men of the " Holy Office" close with tremendous warnings and more tremendous prayers . These meetings are fitted to excite the greatest horror , and yet to resist one of them would mark out the family that did it for the most signal reprobation . On one of these visits , however , Mr . Brenan received severe , and we hope , useful corporal punishment at the hands of a husband whose wife he had been visiting .
Ihe language he used to her was of the most offensive kind . The husband called him to account for this ; Mr . Brenan tried upon him the same discipline—telling him repeatedly that " he would go to hell , " when , ** Mr . Weatherby ' s patience being completely exhausted , seizing Mr . Brenan , he threw him upon the floor . " This minister of Jesus still continued his provocations . He was permitted , however , to rise ; but not discontinuing his maledictions , he was again laid prostrate ; but though he persevered in his horrid impieties , he was allowed to rise and only required to quit the house .
When a great many converts are made it is common to appoint , m the same house , one meeting for * the converts" and another for the •* anxious . " They assemble at the same hour in different apartments . The very circumstance of such a separation among friends and associates is very impressive , and , in the case of the anxious , it is always made a means of terrible effect . A case is mentioned of a minister of high respectability who proceeded in this manner in a boarding school of young ladies . If there is any case in the world where the utmost discretion and gentleness should be used , it
would surely be that of young ladies from twelve to sixteen years of age , separated from their parents , and with feelings on every subject susceptible and tender ; and yet these young and timid females were assembled in the
Untitled Article
The Wutchmm . 561
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Citation
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Monthly Repository (1806-1838) and Unitarian Chronicle (1832-1833), Aug. 2, 1829, page 561, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/mruc/issues/vm2-ncseproduct2575/page/41/
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