A Sketch of the Life of Elizabeth T. Stone and of Her Persecutions: With an Appendix of Her Treatment and Sufferings While in the Charlestown McLean Assylum, Where She Was Confined Under the Pretence of InsanityStone, Elizabeth T.
Religion
A Sketch of the Life of Elizabeth T. Stone and of Her Persecutions: With an Appendix of Her Treatment and Sufferings While in the Charlestown McLean Assylum, Where She Was Confined Under the Pretence of Insanity
Stone, Elizabeth T.
McLean Hospital; Mental illness -- Personal narratives; Stone, Elizabeth T., 1811-
I have been particular in speaking of the manner of my life after I
met with a change, but to describe all that I lived up under, would
be more than I can write at this time. But truly I felt I had come up
out of great tribulation, and was washed in the blood of the Lamb. I
had attained unto the power of Christ's resurrection, my mind being
unbiassed by any creed or doctrine of men. When I was converted I knew
nothing but Jesus and him Crucified.
I arrived at my brother's that night about 7 o'clock. I met his wife as
usual. After tea I retired to a room with my brother's wife, telling
her of my persecutions, and how God had revealed himself to me. She
said she thought it was wisdom in God not to reveal his glory to us
while here in the body. She had felt so much the glory of God in her
own soul that she had been almost overpowered. She thought that God
had nothing more for me to do. What does such language imply? Is there
a person this side of the grave for whom God has nothing more to do?
But I did not know then that man had the knowledge to take the holy
spirit from a person by giving them medicine; but she had already
conceived the wicked deed in her heart, and knew where the _awful
crime_ could be done, and her very language expressed what she knew
was about to be done to me, although I did not then suspect any evil.
Had it been said to me in any other place but a brother's house, and
by a female, I should have suspected I was about to be murdered, or
some other brutal outrage committed upon me. If I had been among
the rude barbarians I should not have been so easily deceived; but I
looked up to a sister to do for me, and asked her to let me stay with
her, and I would sew or do any thing for her; but she appeared to be
very angry with me every time that I spoke about what God had done
for me. I said but little to any one when I retired, for sister Nancy
and Sophia, brother Stephen's wife, went with me into my room. In my
usual manner before I laid my head upon my pillow, I knelt by my bed
and silently offered my prayer to God. My sister Nancy said "_see
that_," and Sophia answered "_I am sorry to see it_." I said nothing,
but thought it very strange that in this christian land any one should
be sorry to see another on their bended knees before an holy God, and
especially one that knew me so well as a sister. I slept sound all
knight, and felt much refreshed in the morning, and happy that I had
got away from a house where I had been so persecuted. How little did
I know where I was to be carried, and what was about to be done to
me. O, THAT A DAGGER HAD BEEN PLUNGED INTO MY HEART IN THE MIDNIGHT
HOUR, for what I have suffered here is beyond the power of language
to describe. And then every source of happiness is taken from me here
and hereafter, to be forever tormented in fire. It may be looked upon
as derangement or delusion, but as true as there is a God that sitteth
upon his eternal throne, so true this awful crime has been done to me;
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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