Memoir of Rev. Joseph Badger: Fourth EditionHolland, E. G. (Elihu Goodwin)
History
Memoir of Rev. Joseph Badger: Fourth Edition
Holland, E. G. (Elihu Goodwin)
Badger, Joseph, 1792-1852
courteous an address as I was capable, in which I stated
the superlative worth of the religion of Christ in the
soul, I gave them an invitation to be with us. They did not
make much reply, but stood by the door, as we learned,
where they could hear the communications of the meeting.
Never did we enjoy a more glorious time, never did we
realize the divine presence more joyfully than here under
keepers. Many brethren came to see us, their eyes filled
with tears, whilst our hearts overflowed with joy.
"Saturday morning I arose very early and obtained
permission to visit my brethren at the general meeting on
condition that I would return at nine o'clock. I enjoyed my
visit there; but what most affected me was this. Just as
the sun had begun to brighten the eastern sky, after I had
started, I met my oldest sister and my brother's wife, who
had heard of my bonds, and hastened with eyes and hearts
full of sympathetic concern for my welfare. They had
arrived at the place the night previous, and were at that
early hour hastening to the lodgings of their poor brother
Joseph in afflictions. When I saw them I could not refrain
from tears. They brought me money and articles of clothing,
which were acceptable to me at that time. They tarried
through the meeting and returned home.
"At ten o'clock the court sat, and the whole scene together
was one at which the student of human nature might have sat
with amusement, scorn, edification, and pity. False
witnesses arose as in ancient days. I say false witnesses,
because they proved so before the court. They stated that
we had opposed our brethren in bearing arms, that we had
spoken diminutively of the British king, topics on which
the public speakers present had been silent. Finally, at
the close we were bound over for our appearance at court,
which sat at the Three Rivers, and only twenty-five minutes
were granted us in which to procure bondsmen. This we
utterly declined doing. I told them that I knew the
character of the cause in which I was called to suffer;
that for me the _Stone Jug_ had no terrors, and that if I
must occupy its walls, I should trust that the same God who
heard Paul's prayers and songs at midnight, would also be
my friend. At this a captain was ordered to take charge of
me. Bishop answered rather independently, and asked Esq. P.
to be his bondsman, but at length informed them that he
despised their power. At this we were companions. Many
present who were at first our enemies, came to me in tears,
and offered to be our bondsmen. A captain who had carefully
observed all that had transpired, came and offered to
pledge his farm for me. At this, sympathy became
contagious, and the spectators, who had thus far been
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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