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NOYESISM  UNVEILED. 

A 

HISTORY 

OF   THE    SECT    SELF-STYLED       Qk 

PERFEOTIGNISTS  ;^ 

WITH  A 

SUMMARY  VIEW      ^ 

■  y    '  0- 

OF  THEIR 

LEADING  DOCTRINES, 

By  Rev.  KUBBAED  EASTMAN. 


For  there  are  certain  men  crept  in  unawares ,;  .  .  .  ungodly  men, 
turning  the  grace  of  God  into  lasciviousness. — Judt. 

Such  are  false  apostles,  deceitful  workers,  transforming  themselves 
into  the  apostles  of  Christ.  And  no  marvel :  for  Satan  himself  is 
transformed  int<3  an  aneel  of  light.— Paw?. 


BRATTLEBORO: 
LISHED    BY    THE    AUTHOE 
1849. 


f 


Entered  according  to  Act  of  Congress,  in  the  year  1849, 

By  Hubbakd  Eastman, 

In  the  Clerk's  Office  of  the  District  Court  of  the  District  of  Vermont. 


B.  D.  HARRIS  &  CO PRINTERS. 


POWER  PRESS  OF  J.  STEEN  &  CO. 


<?-707-76 


PREFACE 


Many  judicious  persons  were  decidedly  of  the  opin- 
ion that  the  welfare  of  community  required  the  publi- 
cation of  a  work  like  the  one  here  presented.  It  was 
thought  that  the  public  ought  to  be  put  in  possession  of 
facts,  sufficient  to  enable  them  to  form  a  correct  judg- 
ment, in  relation  to  the  moral  character  of  the  Society 
which  has  lately  arisen  under  the  auspices  of  Mr.  John 
H.  Noyes.  It  was  also  deemed  important  that  the 
pernicious  principles,  propagated  by  Mr.  Noyes  and  his 
coadjutors,  should  be  exhibited  in  such  a  manner  that 
their  immoral  tendency  and  ultimate  ruinous  results 
might  be  clearly  seen. 

Moreover,  several  professional  gentlemen  of  high 
standing — who  were  familiar  with  the  principal  facts 
elicited  by  some  startling  disclosures  made  at  Putney, 
Vt.,  in  the  autumn  of  1847 — were  consulted  in  refer- 
ence to  the  propriety  of  publishing  the  present  work ; 
and  they  were  unanimously  of  the  opinion  that  the  cir- 


IV  PREFACE. 

cumstances  not  only  justified,  but  loudly  called  for  suck 
a  publication. 

Furthermore,  a  prospectus  was  issued,  briefly  stating 
the  design  of  the  work,  and  about  three  hundred  copies 
were  readily  subscribed  for  in  the  town  where  the  Soci- 
ety under  the  immediate  supernsion  of  Mr.  Noyes  was 
located,  and  which,  for  several  years,  was  the  head- 
quarters of  the  sect,  self-styled  Perfectionists.  Many 
subscribers  were  also  obtained  in  adjacent  towns,  and 
in  other  places  at  considerable  distance — thus  affording 
unmistakable  indications  of  public  sentiment  relative  to 
the  propriety  of  the  present  undertaking. 

The  writer,  for  a  few  years  past,  having  been  a  resi- 
dent of  the  village  where  the  Community  under  the 
immediate  control  of  Mr,  Noyes  had  its  location,  and 
also  having  had  access  to  the  published  documents  of  the 
Perfectionists,  has  thus  been  favored  with  many  facili- 
ties for  acquiring  a  knowledge,  not  only  of  the  doctrines 
of  the  sect,  but  of  the  character  and  pohcy  of  the  Soci- 
ety in  Piitney — their  head-quarters,  until  recently. 
The  work,  however,  owing  mainly  to  the  mass  of  material 
and  the  peculiar  character  of  the  subject,  has  been  one  of 
much  labor  and  many  difficulties.  To  prepare,  select, 
and  arrange  such  matter  as  would  be  suitable  for  the 
public  eye,  adapted  to  the  design  of  the  work,  and  prof- 
itable to  the  reader,  must  necessarily  be  an  arduous 


PREFACE. 


task.    How  far  tlie  object  in  view  lias  been  success- 
fully accomplished,  is  left  for  the  reader  to  decide. 

The  following  pages  contain  matters,  not  merely  of 
local  or  sectional  interest,  but  bring  to  view  some  im- 
portant facts  and  principles  in  which  all  classes  of  com- 
mvmity  have   a  common  interest.     Disclosures  have 
been  made,  clearly  exhibiting  the  practical  tendency  of 
the  pernicious  principles  held  and  promulgated  by  the 
Perfectionists.    An  account  of  recent  developments— 
so  far  as  deemed  advisable— has  been  given  ;  and  one 
of  the  most  iniquitous  systems  ever  devised  and  propa- 
gated under  the  name  and  garb  of  Christianity,  is 
brought  to  view—- exhibiting  a  deeply  laid  scheme  of 
personal  aggrandizement— a  scheme  designed  to  sever 
the  ties  of  consanguinity — sunder  the  social  relations — 
subvert  the  present  order  of  society— sap  the  founda- 
tions of  civil  government— and  erect  upon  the  ruins  of 
republican  institutions  and  the  relics  of  morality,  a 
petty  Monarchy,  with  a  head  as  dogmatical  and  merci- 
less as  the  Papal  Throne,  and  the  whole  throughout  as 
corrupt  and  shameless  as  the  "  mother  of  harlots 
AND  abominations" — thus  exalting  an  ambitious  indi- 
vidual who  aspires  to  be  sole  dictator  of  all  under  his  di- 
rection and  control ;  and  who  has  assumed  that  he  and 
his  adherents,  in  their  present  "  advanced  position/^  are 
exempt  from  all "  K^ritten  law^^'  both  human  and  divine ! 


VI  PREfACE. 

Matters  connected  with  recent  disclosures,  have,  to 
some  extent,  been  legally  investigated,  and  the  results 
of  that  investigation  are  given — also  all  events  worthy 
of  note  connected  with  the  history  of  the  sect,  so  far  as 
known,  have  been  recorded. 

Owing  doubtless  to  the  nature  of  the  facts  which 
have  gone  out  from  the  head-quarters  of  the  sect — ac- 
companied it  is  presumed  by  some  exaggerated  state- 
ments and  false  rumors — some  persons  entertain  slight 
fears  as  to  the  moral  influence  of  an  exposure.  But 
it  is  probable  that  this  impression  prevails  only  to  a 
Hmited  extent ;  and  arose  doubtless  from  a  misappre- 
hension of  the  design  and  character  of  the  work.  Facts 
sufficient  to  exhibit  the  most  prominent  features  of  the 
sect,  must  necessarily  be  given ;  but  this  has  been  done 
in  language  the  least  objectionable.  Although  it  was 
necessary  to  speak  of  vice  with  some  degree  of  free- 
dom, under  the  peculiar  aspect  which,  in  the  present 
instance,  it  has  assumed  ;  yet  it  has  been  the  design 
throughout  to  do  it  in  the  most  proper  manner ;  and  at 
the  same  time  the  most  correct  moral  sentiments  have 
been  strictly  inculcated  and  strongly  enforced.  An 
extended  detail  of  disgusting  scenes  has  not  been  given  ; 
neither  a  repetition  of  much  odious  language  used  by 
Mr.  Noyes.  This  was  uncalled  for,  and  deemed  highly 
improper.     One  prominent  object  in  preparing  the 


Pimi'ACfi.  vii 

present  work  has  been  to  place  upon  record  such  mat- 
ters as  the  times  imperiously  demand.  Were  tins  not 
done  at  the  present  juncture  many  facts  might  be  for- 
gotten, and  at  some  future  period  this  hideous  monster 
of  iniquity — which  still  exists — might  rise  up,  with 
renewed  vigor,  when  the  facts  necessary  to  counteract 
its  deadly  influence  could  not  be  rescued  from  oblivion. 
It  does  not  enter  into  the  design  of  the  present  work 
to  discuss  the  subject  of  joerfection  as  presented  in  the 
Bible.  Every  pers©n  conversant  with  die  Scriptures 
is  familiar  with  the  fact  that  the  terms  perfect  and  per- 
fection are  employed  to  designate  a  state  or  standard 
of  moral  attainments,  especially  imder  the  Gospel  Dis- 
pensation, which  men  are  exhorted  to  strive  to  attain. 
As  to  the  height  or  definite  point  to  which  we  may 
arrive  in  the  present  life,  there  is  some  difference  of 
opinion  among  evangelical  denominations.  In  regard  to 
this  question  sincere  Christians  may  honestly  entertain 
different  views  without  being  derogatory  to  their  Chris- 
tian character.  Touching  this  matter  it  does  not  come 
within  the  province  of  this  work  to  give  even  an  opinion  ; 
but  to  exhibit  the  hind  of  perfection  taught  by  Mr.  Koyes 
and  his  followers.  Bible  perfection  and  Noyesism  are 
as  diverse  as  light  and  darkness.  The  one  is  the  high- 
est state  of  moral  purity  at  which  man  is  capable  of 
arriving ;  the  other  is  the  worst  of  spiritual  maladies 


VUl  PREFACE. 

with  which  man's  moral  nature  was  ever  infected. 
Bible  perfection  is  moral  purity^' — the  perfection  of 
l^ojes  and  his  followers  is  perfection  in  sin  ! 

The  issue  of  the  work  has  been  delayed  beyond  the 
time  originally  intended.  This  was  rendered  necessary 
in  consequence  of  the  impracticability  of  obtaining  at 
an  earlier  date  some  important  facts  and  documents 
deemed  very  essential.  The  delay,  however,  will  doubt- 
less add  to  the  permanent  value  of  the  work.  The 
subject  has  lost  none  of  its  importance ;  meanwhile, 
matters  of  considerable  interest  have  been  in  a  course 
of  gradual  development,  and  it  is  beheved  that  the  addi- 
tional information  obtained  will  amply  compensate  for 
the  necessary  delay. 

*  Having  been  prepared  to  meet  the  present  exigen- 
cies, this  unpretending  volume  is  now  commended  to 
the  favor,  and  submitted  to  the  candid  consideration  of 
the  pubhc,  with  an  earnest  desire  that  it  may  be  instru- 
mental of  good.  Should  it  contribute  something  toward 
effectually  correcting  the  existing  evil — which  it  is  de- 
signed to  expose— and  thereby  subserve,  to  some  extent, 
the  cause  of  truth  and  correct  morals,  the  end  of  its 
publication  will  be  answered. 

Putney^  May^  1849, 


eOKTEKTS. 


Page» 
Introduction,  .,.»...         13 

CHAPTER  I. 

Preliminary  Remarks— Birth,  Parentage,  and  Early  His- 
tory of  John  H.  Noyes,  .....  25 

CHAPTER  II. 
Origin  of  Modern  Perfectionism— Brief  Sketch  of  its 

Early  History,       .        ,        .        .        .        ,        .  30 

CHAPTER  III 
Legal  Proceedings,  ......         85 

CHAPTER  IV. 
Legal  Proceedings  Continued,  .        .        ,        .89 

CHAPTER  V. 

Confessions  of  John  H.  Noyes,      .....  46 

CHAPTER  VL 
Action  of  the  Citizens  of  Putney — Proceedings  of  Public 

Meetings, 51 

CHAPTER  VH. 
Citizens  of  Putney  falsely  charged  with  having  adopted 
harsh  measures  for  the  extirpation  of  the  Perfection- 
ists—Gratuitous plea  of  Repentance  set  up  for  the 

Leading  Perfectionists, Q8 

CHAPTER  Vm. 
Reproaches  cast  upon  the  Citizens  of  Putney-^  Cry  of 

Persecution  raised  by  the  Noyesites,      .       .       .74 


X  CONTENTS. 

CHAPTER  IX. 

Page; 

Noyesism  at  Putney,  79 

CHAPTER  X. 

Principles  taught  by  Noyes, 85 

CHAPTER  XL 
The  Battle  Axe  Letter  and  its  History,         .        .        .  91 

CHAPTER  XH. 
Principles  on  which  the  doctrines  of  the  Battle  Axe  , 

Letter  are  based,  .        .        .        .        «        .        102 

CHAPTER  Xm. 
Ultimate  results  of  the  sentiments  of  the  Battle  Axe 

Letter, 117 

CHAPTER  XIV. 
Extracts  of  letters  addressed  to  Mr.  Noyes—Noyes's  letter 

to  Miss  Harriet  A.  Holton,  .        .        .        .        12? 

CHAPTER  XV. 
Koyesite  Community  at  Oneida — Rule  in  the  Putney 

Community — State  of  things  in  New  York,  .        137 

CHAPTER  XVI. 
Extracts  from  Correspondence — Visit  of  Mr.  Lowell  to 

the  Oneida  Community, 147 

CHAPTER  XVH. 
Noyes  searching  for  Stolen  Goods,        .        .        .        .        154 

CHAPTER  XVIH. 
Affidavit  of  Alexander  Wilder — Expulsion  of  Mr.  John 
B.  Lyvere  and  Miss  Almira  Edson, 
CHAPTER  XIX. 

Bible  Secretiveness, 

CHAPTER  XX. 
Pretensions  of  Perfectionists  to  Miraculous  Power, 

CHAPTER  XXI. 
Pretended  Miracles  of  Noyes — Case  of  Mrs.  Harriet  A. 

Hall, 185 


CONTENTS.  2d 

CHAPTER  XXII. 

Page. 
Pretended  Miracles  of  Noyes  continued— Case  of  Mrs, 

Harriet  A.  Hall  continued,  .        .        .        .        198 

CHAPTER  XXm. 
Pretended  Miracles  of  Noyes  continued — Case  of  Miss 

Mary  A.  Knight,  210 

CHAPTER  XXIV. 
Pretended  Miracles  of  Noyes  continued — Sundry  Cases,        238 

CHAPTER  XXV. 
Prominent  trait  in  the  character  of  Noyes — His  Censori- 
ousness — Intolerant  Spirit  of  Noyesism — False  state- 
ments of  Noyes — Martyr-Spirit  of  ancient  Chris- 
tianity, .        .        .        .        ,        .        .        .        243 

CHAPTER  XXVL 
Article  from  the  Advocate  -of  Moral  Reform — Remarks 

of  Rev.  Joseph  Tracy  and  Rev.  "S.  B.  Yarrington,  259 

CHAPTER  XXVII. 
Remarks  of  O.  H.  Piatt,  Esq.,       .....        271 

CHAPTER  XXVin. 
Putney  Perfectionism,  .        .        .        .        .        .        1>84 

CHAPTER  XXIX. 
Assumed  and  acknowledged  Supremacy  of  Neycs— His 
female  co-workers  at  Putney — Remarks  of  Mrs.  S. 
T.Martyn,  ..,..,.        ^88 

CHAPTER  XXX. 
Latitudinarlanism — Effects  of  Licentiousness,        .        .        298 

CHAPTER  XXXI. 
Doctrines  of  the  Perfectionists — Perfectionist   Creed — 

Theses  of  the  Second  Reformation,        .        .        .        30& 
CHAPTER  XXXII. 
Noyes's  Views  of  Deity — Image  of  God — View  of  Noyes 

concerning  Angels, 324 

CHAPTER  XXXIIL 
Abolition  of  Death, 341 


m  CONTENDS. 

< 

CHAPTER  XXXIV. 

Pagsv 
Noyesite  Theory  of  Disease,         .       .       .       .       .       S57 
CHAPTER  XXXV. 

©istinguishing  and  Leading  Doctrines  of  Noyesisnij      .        36^ 
CHAPTER  XXXVI. 

Origin  of  Evil — Human  Depravity — Holiness  of  Adam — 
Judgment —  Resurrection —  Sabbath — Temperance 
Amusements — Fellowship,     .        .        .        .        .        38^ 

CHAPTER  XXXVH. 

Concluding  Observations,     .        .        .        .        .        .        Z9T 

Appenpix,  .        ,        .        .        o        ,        .        .       43Z 


INTEODUCTION, 


Ii?  «verj  age  and  among  all  nations  impostors  and 
fanatics  have  existed — ruinous  errors  and  pernicious 
heresies  have  prevailed — and  delusions  dark  and  deep 
have  exerted  a  mde-spread  and  destructive  influence. 
But  the  present  appears  to  be  an  unusually  prolific 
period,  distinguished  for  the  multiplicity  of  erroneous 
systems  and  idle  theories,  which  are  starting  into  exis- 
tence in  rapid  succession  on  every  hand ;  and  which, 
after  continuing  for  a  time,  will  undoubtedly  share  the 
fate  of  many  which  have  gone  before — ^be  exploded  and 
pass  away,  or  remodelled  and  merged  in  other  systems 
of  kindred  character,  between  the  essential  elements  of 
which  there  is  a  close  affinity. 

But  a  few  years  have  elapsed  since  a  singular  sect, 
claiming  a  religious  character  of  the  highest  grade, 
arose  in  New  England,  called  Perfectionists.  This 
sect — which  has  advanced  some. very  novel  sentiments 
—has  attracted  but  little  attention  until  very  recently. 
Its  adherents,  however,  have  been  actively  engaged^ 
during  the  brief  period  of  its  existence,  in  propagatmg 
their  pecuhar  tenets  ;  and  the  leaders,  especially,  have 
been  industriously  disseminating  the  most  pernicious 
principles.  Almost  from  the  very  outset,  there  have 
been  occasional  demonstrations  in  different  places 
among  small  societies  of  Perfectionists,  which  clearly 
indicated  the  corrupting  influence  and  immoral  ten^ 


14  INTR0DUCTI0I7. 

dency  of  their  distinctive  doctrines  ;  but  of  late  there 
has  been  such  a  disgusting  exhibition  of  their  legitimate 
fruits  among  the  leading  Perfectionists  at  head-quarters 
as  to  shock  the  moral  sense  of  the  community,  demand 
some  legal  action,  and  call  for  a  public  exposure  of  the 
enormities  of  this  sect. 

Perhaps,  as  a  general  rule,  the  best  method  to  over- 
throw error  is  to  present  its  opposite — plain,  simple, 
unvarnished  truth.  But  when  new  and  erroneous  sys- 
tems, and  especially  such  as  are  peculiarly  iniquitous, 
are  first  being  promulgated  and  urged  upon  public 
attention,  a  presentation  of  such  facts  as  may  have 
come  to  light,  tending  to  exhibit  their  true  character, 
and  an  investigation  of  their  fundamental  principles,  are 
sometimes,  if  not  always,  demanded.  This  the  public 
good  imperiously  requires. 

Recent  disclosures  of  a  startling  character  have  eli- 
cited some  astounding  facts,  which,  together  with  senti- 
ments heretofore  pubhshed  by  the  Perfectionists,  place 
this  sect,  but  more  especially  the  leaders  and  most 
prominent  members,  before  the  public  in  a  very  unfa- 
,  vorable — yea,  in  a  most  contemptible — light ;  and  they 
now  occupy  a  no  very  enviable  position.  The  veil, 
which  had  been  spread,  and  had  long  hung,  over  this 
hydra-headed  monster  of  iniquity,  has  at  length  been 
removed,  and  the  principal  actors  in  the  scene  behind 
the  curtain  are  now  exposed  to  public  view.  And 
especially  the  leader,  Mr.  John  H.  Noyes,  stands  out 
very  prominently. 

It  is  well  known,  at  least,  to  some  extent,  that  Mr. 


INTRODUCTION.  15 

N.  was  arrested  in  the  fall  of  1847,  for  some  very  high 
crimes — that  he  was  placed  under  heavy  bonds — that 
he  absconded  soon  after  his  arrest — that  the  Grand 
Jury  for  Windham  County  found  a  Bill  against  him — 
and  that  he  did  not  appear  at  Court  when  his  case  came 
on  for  trial,  and  his  bonds  were  forfeited;  Now,  these 
circumstances  are  sufficient  to  fasten  the  conviction 
upon  every  mind  that  Mr.  N.  is  guilty  of  the  charges 
alleged  against  him ;  but  in  addition  to  this,  they're  is 
abundant  proof  in  relation  to  this  matter,  and  not  a 
shadow  of  doubt  remains  as  to  his  guilt. 

Prior  to  his  arrest,  Mr.  N.  and  his  coadjutors  had 
put  in  motion  a  somewhat  complicated  machinery,  which 
required  some  ingenuity  to  invent,  and  considerable 
time  and  labor  to  construct  and  bring  to  completion. 
This  engine,  the  product  of  so  much  labor  and  skill, 
was  designed  to  operate  against  all  existing  organizar 
tions,  both  of  Church  and  State. 

Many  of  the  views  advanced  by  Mr.  Noyes  are  so 
peculiar  to  himself,  and  the  doctrines  taught  so  diverse 
from  evangelical  truth,  and  the  system  in  all  its  funda- 
mental principles  and  practical  tendencies  so  evidently 
anti-Christian,  that  we  think  it  should  hereafter  be 
known  by  the  more  appropriate  name  of  Noyesism,  in 
preference  to  Perfectionism.  But  for  the  sake  of  con- 
venience these  terms  are  used  as  synonymous  in  the 
present  work. 

Noyesism  is  evidently  near  akin  to,  if  not  the  worst 
form  and  must  dangerous  species  of,  the  Come-outism  of 
the  present  age.    That  it  is  treasonable  in  its  designs 


• 


16  IKTRODUCTIOF. 

there  is  not  a  shadow  of  doubt — this  its  advocates  ac- 
knowledge and  assert.  It  aims  a  deadly  blow  at  the 
foundations  of  the  civil  and  social  fabric,  and  is  as  det- 
limental  to  the  moral  interests  of  a  community  where 
its  influence  is  felt,  as  the  pestiferous  Sirocco  is  to  the 
health  of  the  person  who  inhales  its  baneful, breath — 
and  it  is  as  fatal  to  the  moral  principles  of  those  who 
are  brought  fully  under  its  power,  as  the  deadly 
Simoom  is  to  the  hapless  wanderer  who  may  chance  to 
fall  in  its  way. 

Such  being  the  character  and  tendency  of  Noyesism, 
arguments  for  its  refutation  may  seem  almost  superflu- 
ous. Indeed,  so  numerous  are  the  discrepancies  in  the 
writings  of  Mr.  N.  and  his  co-laborers,  and  such  palpa- 
ble absurdities  appear  in  almost  every  part  of  the  sys- 
tem, that  it  carries  to  every  considerate  mind  its  own 
refutation.  The  contagion  contains,  to  some  extent,  its 
own  antidote. 

That  the  character  of  the  sect,  and  the  tendency  of 
the  entire  system  of  doctrines  which  they  advocate  and 
to  which  they  pertinaciously  adhere,  are  what  they  are 
here  represented  to  be,  is  abundantly  sustained  by  a 
multitude  of  well  authenticated  facts  ;  and  when 
divested  of  the  false  glosses  which  its  principal  advo- 
cates have  thrown  around  it,  the  whole  system  is  so 
utterly  revolting  that  it  can  gain  no  credit  in  an  intelli- 
gent and  virtuous  community  ; — it  needs  only  to  be  j 
known,  to  be  discarded. 

Hence  it  has  evidently  been  the  settled  policy  of  the 
prime  mover  in  this  matter  to  keep,  at  least  to  some 


INTEODUCTIOX.  17 

extent,  its  true  chai-acter  and  direct  tendency  conceal- 
ed from  public  view  ;  and  although  much  was  inferable 
from  the  language  used  at  different  times,  yet  such 
confused  explanations  of  terms  and  phrases  were  often 
given,  and  so  many  artful  disguises  thrown  around  it, 
that  the  mind  of  the  reader  would  be  darkened,  and 
the  whole  subject  mystified,  except  to  those  who  had 
been  initiated  into  the  secrets  of  the  system.  More- 
«Dver,  when  facts  discreditable  to  the  characters  of  the 
leaders  w^ere  in  danger  of  being  disclosed,  eveiy  possi- 
ble efibrt  was  made  for  their  suppression. 

It  is  deeply  to  be  regretted  that  this  enormous  sys- 
tem of  error  and  iniquity  ever  had  an  existence,  and 
rendered  an  exposure  necessary  ;  but  it  must  be  a 
matter  of  heartfelt  rejoicing  to  every  lover  of  truth  and 
good  morals,  that  facts  have  beea  so  far  divulged  as  to 
undeceive  the  public  in  relation  to  the  character  of  the 
sect,  and  the  .tendency  of  their .  distinctive  doctrines. 
And  even  now.,  rather  than  exMbit  the  guilt  of  those 
•concerned,  it  would  be  more  agreeable — were  it  com- 
patible with  the  public  good,  and  in  keeping  with  cor- 
rect principles — to  throw  the  mantle  of  charity,  or  the 
pall  of  obhvion,  over  the  whole  matter,  and  let  it  for- 
ever rest  in  undisturbed  repose.  But  this  can  never 
be  consistently  done ; — then  if  it  cannot  be  buried  in 
oblivion,  nor  covered  with  the  broad  mantle  of  Chris- 
tian charity,  it  should  be  held  up  to  public  view  with 
^11  its  '•  imperfections  upon  its  head,"  and  its  most 
glaring  features  exposed  to  the  ga.^e  of  an  outraged 
and  justly  indignant  community. 
2 


t8'  INTEODtTCKO^'. 

The  subject,  we  are  aware,  l3  naturally  uninviting 
and  even  quite  repulsive ;  but,  however  irksome  or 
unpleasant  the  task  imposed,  exposure  is  necessary  in 
order  to  afford  timely  warning  to  the  unwary,  and 
cruard  against  further  encroachments  of  one  of  the 
most  fatal  delusions  vfhich  ever  had  an  existence — not 
unaptly  t-ermed  a  mushroom  growth  of  all'  modern 
fanaticisms.  How  exceedingly  strange  that  men  will 
plunge  into  those  follies  which  make  them  the  derisioii 
of  their  race  !  But  "  tlie  more  egregious  a  foolery,  the 
more  greedily  do  men  sivalloiv  it  dmtm,  and  the  more 
anxioud  are  th-ey  to  he  gulled  with  still  7nofe  rnorisfroni> 
absurdities.'' 

Had  the  principal  advocates  of  this  system  renou.a- 
ced  their  errors,  and  abandoned  their  vicious  course  of 
conduct,  the  necessity  of  exposure  would  have  been 
gt-eatly  diminished,  if  not  entirely  obviated.     But  tliiir 
is  not  the  case.     Tliey  have  renounced  none  of  their 
principles — they  have  abandoned  none  of  their  practi- 
ces ;  but  on  the  contrary  are  laboring,   and  evidently  ] 
intend   to   labor    with    renewed    zeal   and    redoubled   i 
energy  for  the  dissemination  of  their  heretical  and'  dtn: 
gerous  doctrines  :    and  they  will  continue  to  exist  ai^  i 
exert  a  fatal   infiuence  where^'er  their  touch  is  fell, 
unless  some  eountera^cting  inffucnces  are  brought   ^: 
bear  against  them.*     Information  of  what  has  tra;  ^ 

*Aft€r  leaving  Putney,  Mr.Noyes  located  at  a  place  called  Oae,!  • 
Keserve,  in  Central  New  York,  and  is  now  building  up  a  Coramu: : 
there  on  the  sanme  principles  of  tag  ons  fji-si?rly  under  hh  sapci .  y*- 
JOQ  a;  Putney 


INTRODUCTION.  19 

pired  at  Putney  should  be  communicated  to  ail  parts 
where  the  contagion  has  spread.  But  says  one — "  Let 
it  alone  and  it  will  die  of  itself — let  it  take  its  natural 
course  and  it  will  work  its  own  cure."  This  is  just  the 
doctrine  the  leaders  would  like  to  have  preached — 
such  a  course  would  essentially  subserve  the  interests 
of  their  own  cause.  The  history  of  the  past  clearly 
exhibits  the  incorrectness  of  such  sentiments.  If  appli- 
cable in  one  case  they  would  be  in  all,  and  if  univer- 
sally appKed  it  would  be  a  death  blow  to  every  moral 
enterprise  of  the  age.  Moral  evil  finding  in  the  unre- 
generate  h%art  a  congenial  soil,  if  not  timely  eradi- 
cated, shoots  up  with  the  rapidity  and  l^Lixuriance  of  a 
noxious  plant. 

Aside  from  occasional  references  to  this  sect  by  a 
few  public  JQjirnals,  it  has  passed  almost  entirely  unno- 
ticed. The  movement  has  generally  been  regarded  as 
a  mere  chimera  of  a  distempered  brain,  and  looked 
u}X)n  as  an  insignificant  and  harmless  affair,  utterly 
unworthy  of  notice.  A  public  attack,  it  was  thought, 
would  give  it  a  notoriety  and  importance  to  which  it 
was  not  entitled.  Thus  it  was  permitted  secretly  to 
diffuse  its  poison  through  society,  until  it  began  to 
assmTie  a  tlu-eatening  aspect,  and  call  loudly  for  expo- 
sure. 

But  the  peculiar  character  of  the  subject  renders  it 
extremely  embarrassing.  To  give  publicity  in  a  proper 
manner  to  a  sufficient  number  of  facts,  and  exhibit  the 
peculiar  doctrines  of  the  sect  in  such  a  manner  as  to 
give  the  public  a  correct  idea  of  itg  characterj  and  tbs 


20  INTRODUCTION. 

tendency  of  the  whole  system,  and  at  the  same  time 
Bot  outrage  the  moral  sense  and  offend  the  correct  taste 
of  an  intelligent  and  virtuous  community,  is  a  difficult 
work.  Moreover,  objections  are  sometimes  made  to 
any  disclosures  or  efibrts  for  the  suppression  of  the  sin 
of  licentiousness.  It  is  true,  there  are  extremes  to  be 
avoided  on  either  hand.  Indiscriminate  disclosures 
and  injudicious  efforts  on  the  one  hand,  and  profound 
silence  and  a  heartless  apathy  on  the  other,  are  equally 
to  be  deprecated.  The  proper  position  is  a  medium 
point  equi-distant  from  these  two  extremes. 

Noyesism,  in  all  its  essential  elements,  tends  to 
immorality,  and  has  resulted  in  systematized  licentious- 
ness I  This  is  the  sum  and  end  of  the  system !  But 
what  renders  it  doubly  dangerous  is  the  fact  that  it 
originated  with,  and  is  sustained  by,  a  few  persons  of 
considerable  talent ;  but  delusions  are  not  confined  to 
the  ignorant,  and  vice  in  its  most  revolting  forms  often 
appears  among  persons  of  acknowledged  talent.  The 
odious  sin  of  licentiousness,  in  whatever  form  it  makes 
it  sappearance,  is  debasing  in  its  character,'  and  ever 
ruinous  in  its  results.  That  it  exists  throughout  the 
land,  and  prevails  to  an  alarming  extent  in  our  princi- 
pal cities,  we  are  compelled  to  believe  ;  and  this  state  of 
things  caUs  for  combined  and  energetic  efforts  for  its 
suppression.  In  view  of  its  bearing  upon  this  subject, 
we  think  it  proper  here  to  notice  briefly  some  recent 
action  in  one  of  our  principal  cities.  A  large  number 
of  clergymen  belonging  to  different  religious  denomina- 
tiona  in  Boston,  being  alarmed  for  the  morals  of  the 


INTRODUCTION.  21 

citj,  in  consequence  of  the  increase  of  licentiousness, 
held,  in  the  winter  of  1848,  a  series  of  meetings  for 
consultation,  and  for  the  purpose  of  directing  attention 
to  this  subject.  The  various  Protestant  denominations 
of  the  city  were  represented,  and  more  than  seventy 
clergymen  were  present  at  different  periods  in  the 
course  of  the  proceedings.  At  one  of  the  meetings  a 
resolution  was  adopted,  appointing  a  committee  to  pre- 
pare an  Address  to  the  citizens  of  Boston,  which  was 
to  be  confined  "  to  the  consideration  of  the  opinion 
entertained  hy  many  persons,  that  licentiousness  is  a 
subject  of  such  a  nature  as  not  to  admit  of  any  direct 
notice  ;  an  opinion  which,  so  far  as  it  prevails,  must 
prevent  afiy  action  that  would  be  effectual  in  restrain- 
ing  the  increase  of  this  sin,^^ 

The  committee  appointed  reported  an  Address  to  an 
adjourned  meeting,  which,  after,  being  amended,  was 
adopted,  and,  by  a  special  committee  appointed  for 
that  purpose,  presented  to  the  citizens  of  Boston 
through  the  public  prints.  That  Address  contains 
some  sentiments  so  truthful  and  well-timed,  touching 
matters  under  consideration,  that  we  shall  make  no 
apology  for  quoting  a  few  paragraphs.  In  reference 
to  licentiousness,  the  Address  speaks  thus  :— 

"  It  is  the  impression  of  many  thoughtful  and  excel- 
lent persons,  that  this  is  a  vice  so  peculiar  in  its  char- 
acter, and  so  surrounded  by  hazardous  associations, 
that  nothing  can  be  said  about  it,  without  the  probabil- 
ity of  doing  more  harm  than  good.  They  fear  to  speak 
of  it,  even  to  look  at  it,  much  more  to  encourage  any 


22'  INTRODUCTION. 

effort  for  its  suppression,  lest  the  evil  should  be  aggra^ 
vated,  rather  than  diminished.  We  do  not  wonder  a^ 
this  apprehension,  or  at  the  silence  and  inaction  which 
it  produces.  But  we  entreat  our  friends  to  review 
their  judgment  under  the  hght  of  this  single  considerar 
tion,  that,  if  nothing  be  done,  or  said,  or  attempted, 
the  evil  must  go  on  increasing,  multiplying  its  means 
of  ■  destruction,  and  augmenting  the  number  of  its 
victims. 

"  This  is  not  a  vice  that  declines  by  being.  '  let 
alone.'  It  thrives  under  concealment.  It  spreads  its 
snares,  and  destroys  its  prey,  with  the  advantage  which 
it  gains  from  bemg  left  to  pursue  its  plans  unreproved 
and  unobserved. — It  seems  to  us  clear,  therefore,  that 
disregard  of  its  existence  is  unwise  and  wrong.  To  do 
nothing,  to  attempt  nothing,  to  say  it  is  so  (difficult  or 
so  delicate  a  subject  that  we  cannot  even  speak  of  it 
without  aggravating  the  evil,  is  to  yield  to  a  despair, 
as  unjustifiable  on  principles  of  reason  and  experience, 
as  it  is  unworthy  of  those  who  have  faith  in  Christ  and 
his  religion.  We  know  that  harm  has  come  from  inju- 
dicious action  and  inconsiderate  speech.  We  know 
that  the  subject  is  environed  with  difficulties.  But  we 
also  beheve,  that  the  difficulties  which  lie  in  the  way  of 
abating  any  moral  nuisance,  and  the  mistakes  which 
have  been  made  by  others,  should  only  quicken  our 
endeavors  to  discover  and  apply  the  proper  means  for 

its  suppression All  history  and  observation,  the 

tendencies  of  human  nature,  and  the  facts  of  universal 
experience,  contradict  the  supposition,  that  this  vice, 
having  its  origin  in  an  abuse  of  our  nature  which  many 
of  the  habits  of  modern  civilization  tend  rather  to 
encourage  than  to  check,  will  cease  from  the  land 
through  its  own  want  of  ability  to  perpetuate  itself. 
Unhappily,  this,  more  than  most  vices,  is  independent 


:rNTRODUCTION.  23 

of  social  circumstances.  It  is  found  among  the  poor 
and  among  the  rich,  the  coarse  and  the  refined,  in  the 

country  and  in  the  city There  is  no  alternative, 

as  we  conceive,  but  direct  effort  for  the  suppression  of 
this  vice,  or  its  unchecked  continuance  and  probable 
increase.  We  say  probable,  but  vre  might  more  justly 
speak  of  its  certain  increase.  ....  We  are  pursuaded, 
that  the  reluctan^je  which  so  many  feel,  to  have  any 
connection  with  it  even  in  thought,  keeps  them  in  igno- 
rance of  much  that  ought  to  be  known.  And  worse 
still,  it  prevents  that  contemplation  of  the  real  charac- 
ter of  the  evil,  which  could  not  but  awaken  an  anxious 
desire  to  be  instrumental  in  its  removal.  If  a  proper 
sense  were 'entertained  of  the  enormity  of  the  vice  ;  if 
its  mournful  and  fatal  consequences  were  rightly  appre- 
hended ;  if  the  wise  and  good  would  allow  themselves 
to  think  about  it  long  enough  to  see  vfhat  it  is,  and 
what  it  produces — we  cannot  believe  they  would  rest 
m  that  inactivity  which  now  leaves  the  mischief  to  its 
own  natural  power  of  diffusion." 

Emanating  from  so  high  a  source,  the  foregoing  sen- 
timents are  entitled  to  serious  consideration.  They 
are  so  candid  and  weighty  that  they  can  hardly  fail  to 
<jarry  conviction  to  every  unprejudiced  mind,  of  the 
propriety  and  importance  of  judicious  action  in  relation 
to  this  subject.  A  strong  reason  for  directing  special 
-attention  to  tliis  matter  at  this  time,  is  found  in  the 
fa-<;t  that  licentiousness  as  an  integral  part  of  Noyesism 
has  come  up  in  a  new  form — has  assumed  an  aspect 
before  unknown.  Hitherto  this  vice  has  shunned  the 
public  gaze,  and  been  content  to  Hve  and  thrive  in  its 
own  secret  haunts.  All  have  been  ready  to  admit  its 
heinousness,    not  excepting   its  votaries   and  victims. 


24  INTRODUCTION. 

But  Mr.  Nojes  has  undertaken  to  transform  this  enor- 
mous YiGe  into  an  exemplary  virtue,  and  make  it  ulti- 
mately stalk  unblushingly  abroad  at  noon-day !  And 
with  this  unholy  mantle  dra\Yn  around  him,  Mr.  N.  ha& 
impiously  thrust  liimself  forward  into  the  front  rank  of 
the  "  sacramental  host,"  professing  to  be  conducting 
the  tribes  of  the  true  Israel  on  to  glorious  achievements 
^nd  ultimate  triumph  ;  when  in  fact  he  appears  to  be 
leading  on  to  certain  defeat  the  very  van  of  Abaddon's 
inglorious  army  ! 


NOYESISM  UNVEILED. 


CHAPTER  I. 

Preliminary  Remarks — Birth,  Parentage,  and  Early 
History  of  John  H.  Nbyes, 

Error  assumes  almost  eyery  conceivable  aspect,  and 
presents  itself  to  public  view  in  various  forms.  It  is 
often  arrayed  in  a  gorgeous  attire,  and  brings  to  its  aid 
the  most  plausible  arguments.  But  however  pleasing 
or  imposing  in  aspect— however  ably  advocated  or  art- 
fully adorned,  error  is  ever  delusive  and  dangerous, 
misleading  and  tending  to  ruin  those  who  embrace  it, 
and  are  brought  under  its  fatal  influence.  Its  victims, 
however,  are  often  unconscious  of  danger,  even  when 
sudden  destruction  awaits  them  ;  and  its  advocates  not 
unfrequently  labor  with  quenchless  zeal  and  tireless 
assiduity  for  its  dissemination. 

Error,  in  all  its  diversified  forais,  is  ever  dangerous 
and  destructive,  but  never  more  so  than  when  it 
assumes  an  apparently  sanctimonious  garb,  and  is  so 
interwoven  with  truth,  that  to  trace  it  through  all  its 
devious  and  intricate  windings,  and  detect  and  expose 
it,  would  be  an  arduous  work*— an  almost  hopeless  task. 


2$:  NOYESISM  UNVEILED, 

But  happily  our  Savior  has  given  us  a  plain,  simple . 
Tule  by  wliich  all  difficult  and  doubtful  cases  may  be 
readily  decided.  He  said,  in  reference  to  the  false 
teachers  of  primitive  times — "  By  their  fruits  ye 
SHALL  KNOW  THEM."  This  rule  is  not  only  applicable 
to  all  teachers  of  like  character  in  every  age,  but  it 
contains  a  principle  by  which  all  false  systems  of  reli- 
gion may  be  tested.  The  nature  of  doctrines  may  be 
known  by  their  legitimate  fruits.  Practical  consequen- 
ces ever  stand  as  a  fair  commentary  upon  principles — 
the  character  of  which  may  be  as  definitely  determined 
hj  their  results,  as  the  nature  of  the  tree  is  known  by 
its  fruit.  The  ruinous  results  of  erroneous  doctrines 
should  be  faithfully  exhibited,  that  their  true  nature 
may  be  kno^\ii,  and  their  certain  tendency  clearly  seen 
— that  thus  a  sufficient  number  of  beacon-lights  may  be 
set  up  along  the  dangerous  coast  of  error  to  afford  a 
timely  w^arning  to  the  inexperienced  voyager  upon  the 
ocean  of  life,  lest  his  bark  be  suddenly  wrecked  upon 
the  hidden  rocks  below. 

Without  a  knowledge  of  facts,  the  innocent  and 
unsuspecting  would  often  be  unapprized  of  the  dangers 
to  which  they  stand  exposed — and,  lured  by  a  syren 
song,  they  might  be  unconsciously  drawn  a^ide  from 
the  path  of  rectitude,  and  fall  victims  to  a  fatal  delusion. 
For  the  purpose  of  exhibiting  the  nature,  tendency  and 
practical  results  of  Noyesism,  we  proceed  to  give  a 
concise  history  of  the  rise,  progress  and  present  position 
of  the  sect  of  Perfectionists — and  shall  exhibit  and 
briefly  notice  some  of  their  most  prominent  doctrines. 


■  N0YESI8M  UNVEILBB.  27 

John  H.  Noyes  claims  to  have  been  the  founder  of 
this  seci>— which  claim  it  is  preetimed  no  one  will  feel 
disposed  to  contest,  for  such  honors  are  not  to  he 
coyeted. 

To  gratify,  to  some  extent,  a  natural  curiosity,  exist- 
ing in  the  public  mind,  in  regard  to  persons  who  have 
published  nevf  doctrines  and  founded  new  sects,  we 
shall  briefly  refer  to  the  parentage  and  early  history  of 
the  founder  of  modern  Perfectionism. 

John  H.  Noyes  was  born  at  West  Brattleboro,  Yt., 
Sept.  3,  1811,  and  was  the  eldest  son  of  John  and 
Polly  Noyes. 

Hon.  John  Noyes,  the  father  of  John  H.,  was  a  man 
of  respectable  talents,  had  a  liberal  education,  and  in 
early  life  proposed  to  enter  the  Christian  ministry,  but 
subsequently  abandoned  the  idea,  and  devoted  himself 
to  mercantile  pursuits,  in  which  for  many  years  he  was 
extensively  engaged.  Being  successful  in  business,  he 
accumulated  considerable  property  ;  and  subsequently 
acquired  some  political  distinction — ^being  a  Represent- 
ative in  Congress  in  1816,  from  the  Southern  Congres- 
sional District  of  Vermont.  He  became  a  resident  of 
Putney  about  the  year  1823,  where  he  afterward  lived, 
— and  died  in  1841.  At  his  decease  the  lawful  heirs 
to  his  estate — consisting  of  three  sons  and  three  daugh- 
ters— inherited  each  a  handsome  patrimony. 

Thus  it  appears  that  the  founder  of  the  sect  of  Per- 
fectionists had  a  respectable,  and  even  somewhat  hon- 
orable parentage.  But  in  a  country  like  this,  where 
every   person   •mu.ot  rely   upon    his   own  merits  and 


28'  NOYBSISM  UNVEILED, 

resources  if  he  would  rise  to  eminence,  or  be  exten- 
sively useful,  the  question  of  pedigree  can  never  be  one 
of  very  great  importance  in  a  moral  point  of  light. 
Ancestral  titles  and  artificial  distinctions  can  never 
screen  the  guilty,  and  make  vice  honorable — ^neither 
will  a  want  of  them  detract  from  true  merit,  and  render 
virtue  valueless. 

We  are  not  apprized  of  any  thing  remarkable  in  the 
early  history  of  Mr.  Noyes  :  we  shall,  therefore,  pass 
over  the  scene  of  his  boyhood  as  affording  little  worthy 
of  note,  simply  adding  an  item  of  information,  which  he 
has  given  of  himself: — "  Much  of  my  youth  was  spent, 
in  reading  history,  romance  and  poetry,  of  a  martial 
character,  such  as  the  Life  of  Napoleon,  The  Crusa- 
ders, Marmion,  &c." 

Mr.  N.  graduated  at  Dartmouth  College  in  1830, 
being  then  nineteen  years  of  age.  Soon  after  leaving 
college,  he  commenced  the  study  of  the  law.  After 
having  studied  law  about  one  year,  or,  in  August, 
1831,  his  attention — as  he  says,  in  ^ving  an  account 
of  himself — w^as  directed  to  rehgious  sulgects,  and  he 
soon  after  made  a  profession  of  religion,  at  a  protracted 
meeting  held  in  Putney,  Vt.,  and  became  .a  member  of 
the  Congregational  church  in  that  town.  Soon  after 
uniting  mth  the  church  in  Putney,  Mr.  N.  determined 
on  entering  the  ministry,  and  commenced  his  studies 
preparatory  to  engaging  in  that  work.  '  In  about  four 
weeks  from  the  time  of  his  professed  conversion,  he 
entered  the  Theological  Seminary  at  Andover,  Mass., 
where  he  remained  one  year,  and  then  went  to  New 


NOYBSISM  UNVEILED.  29 

Haven,  Ct.,  and  entered  the  Theological  Seminary  con- 
nected with  Yale  College,  in  the  fall  of  1832,  In 
August,  1833,  he  was  licensed  to  preach,  "by  the  New 
Haven  Association.  After  receiving  license,  he  labored 
for  six  weeks  as  pastor  of  a  small  church  in  North 
Salem,  N.  Y,  In  February,  1834,  he  came  out  a 
Perfectionist,  so  called. 

Soon  after  this  took  place,  the  Association  from 
which  Mr.  N.  received  license  to  preach,  withdrew  that 
license  ;  and  subsequently,  he  was  excommunicated 
from  the  Congregational  church  in  Putney — of  which 
he  had  been  a  member — for  heresy  and  breach  of  cov- 
enant, on  the  ground  of  the  following  "  specifications  of 
charges,"  which,  together  with  several  others  of  a  more 
local  character,  were  fully  sustained  : — 

"1.  That  he  has  taught  that  the  ordinances,  Bap- 
tism and  the  Lord's  Supper,  are  done  away. 

"2.  He  has  spoken  of  social  and  public  prayer  in 
terms  of  condemnation,  as  being  hypocritical. 

"3.  He  has  inculcated  the  sentiment  that  the  Sab- 
bath is  abolished,  and  that  the  whole  moral  law,  as 
summarily  contained  in  the  ten  commandments,  is  abro- 
gated," 


30  lfOYE,3ISM  UNVEILED. 


CHAPTER  II.. 


Origin  of  3Iodern  Perfectianmn—Bnef  Sketch  of  its 
Early  History, 

In  February,  1834,  as  we  have  seen,  Mr.   Nojes 
became  a  Perfectionist— he  being  then  a  student  in  the 
theological  department  of  Yale    College.     For  many 
months  prior  to  this  period,  Mr.  N.  had  been  approxi- 
matmg  toward  this  point.     He  had  become  connected 
with  a  "  little  band  of  re\dvahsts "  in   New  Havea, 
which  was  called  the  "  Free  Church,"  and  labored  wifcii 
them  in  some  new  measure  movements.      For  some 
time  Rev.  James  Boyle,  a  revivahst  of  that  day,  wa^^ 
pastor  of  the  Free  Church.     During  the    excitement: 
under  the  labors  of  Boyle  in  the  winter  of  18og~4, 
Noyes  hoisted  his  colors.     In  the  following  spring  Boyle 
became  a  Perfectionist.     Noyes  and  Boyle,  being  asso- 
ciated, soon  commenced  the  pubhcation  of  a  paper. 
This  was  the  genn,  and  here  wa«  laid  the  foundation, 
of  the  sect  of  Perfectionists,  which,  in  a  few  short  years, 
has  fully  developed  its  tme  character.     This  was  the 
origin  of  the  new  ism,  and  from  New  Haven  went  forth 
the  moral  contagion,  which  has  since  been  diffusing;  its 
poison  through  society.* 

^  may  be  proper  here  to  remark  that  No  yes  and 
Boyle  did  not  long  labor  in  unlson^ — they  soon  separa- 

*A  gentleman  residing  in  Central  New  York  has  given  a  brief 
sketch  of  the  origin  Q.f  a  sort  of  Perfectionism,  m  that  State,  which 
carr:»3  us  back  b^yoa^  %H  HJOYement  by  Noyeg  at  New  llmm.    It 


KOYESISM  UK  VEILED.  81 

k-d,  and  Boyle  subsequently  renamiced  lii^  Perfection- 
ism. Boyle,  though  an  early,  was  not  the  first  corner t 
of  Noyes.  Abigail  Merwin,  a  member  of  the  Free 
Church,  was  the  first  to  embrace  Perfectionism  after 
Noyes.  She  made  rapid  proficiency,  and  rendered 
efficient  service  to  Mr.  N.,  but  soon  left  him.  Mr.  N. 
afterward  in  the  "  visions  of  his  head  "  had  a  \iew  of 
her,  and  says  : — 

*'  I  saw  her,  standing,  as  it  were,  on  the  pirmacle  of 
ohe  Universe,  in  the  glory  of  an  angel ;  but  a  voice 

appears  that  one  Hiram  Sheldon  raised  up  a  small  society  in  Central 
ISiew  York,  about  the  year  183")  or  1834.  I'he  gentleman  just  alluded 
to  thus  speaks  of  him  : — 

"During  his  life-time  his  Influence  was  great  in  Central  New  York, 
and  lie  used  it  to  develop  and  sustain  order.  He  is  now  dead.  His 
followers  scarcely  retain  a  separate  identity,  except  a  few  ■  New 
Lights  '  in  the  vicinity  of  his  place  of  residence." 

The  same  writer  continues  : — 

'-'  The  lumen  of  Eastern  New  York  Perfectionism  is  referred  to 
JoHK  B.  EooTE,  a  tiieological  student  in  Kirk's  School,  at  Albany. 
Modest  and  timid  to  excess,  the  revival  spirit  soon  impelled  him  witli 
its  deep-toned  enthusiasm.  Around  him  gathered  the  most  devoted 
of  the  class.  Mr.  K.  tried  to  quell  the  storm,  but  failed.  The  refrac- 
tory students  became  the  preachers  of  the  new  faith.  To  their  labors 
most  of  the  Perfectionism  in  Mass.  and  westward  owes  its  existence. 

'■•  Chauncey  E.  Dutton  had  breathed  tlie  afflatus.  In  1S33  be  left 
Albany  and  entered  the  theological  department  at  New  Haven.  Ct. 
Here  he  infused  the  new  enthusiasm  into  John  H.  Noyes,  a  young 
man  from  Putney,  Vt.,  v/ith  whom  he  had  become  familiar.  Thus 
began  the  logos  of  New  Haven  Perfectionism." 

Whatever  influence  the  move  in  New  York  might  have  iiad  at  New 
Haven,  it  is  evident  that  Noyes  has  advanced  views  so  peculiar  to 
himself,  and  so  diverse  from  all  that  had  gone  before,  that  he  may 
properly  be  said  to  be  the  founder  of  modern  Pesfectioiijism  in  its  pres- 
ent pecuH.^.r  aspect. 


32  NOYESISM  UNVEILED. 

fi-om  which  I  could  not  turn  away,  pronounced  her 
tijle — '  Satan  transformed  into  an  angel  of  light. ^  I 
_gave  her  up,  and  cast  her  from  me  as  one  accursed." 

Many  of  the  members  of  the  Free  Church  embraced 
Perfectionism  and  left  the  Church,  but  afterward 
seceded  from  Noyes  and  returned. 

Noyes,  having  lost  most  of  his  influence  at  New 
Haven,  left,  and  spent  considerable  time  in  travelling 
in  different  parts  of  the  country.  During  his  peregrin- 
ations he  made  a  few  converts  to  his  faith ;  but  at 
length  he  gave  his  "  wanderings  o'er,"  and  returned 
and  seated  himself  at  Putney  in  1838,  where  he 
resumed  the  publication  of  a  paper  called  "  The  Wit- 
ness," which  had  been  suspended  about  a  year  previ- 
ous, in  consequence  of  the  odium  brought  down  upon 
him  by  the  publication  of  the  Battle-Axe  Letter,  which 
we  shall  hereafter  notice. 

A  minute  detail  of  events  which  have  from  time  to 
time  transpired  among  small  societies  of  Perfectionists 
in  different  parts  of  the  country — possessing  as  they  do 
more  of  local  than  of  general  interest — would  not  be 
very  entertaining  to  the  reader,  and  would  swell  this 
little  volume  beyond  its  intended  limits.  Therefore  we 
shall  pass  over  many  things  as  unworthy  of  note.  Suf- 
fice it  to  say,  that  enough  transpired  long  since  to 
clearly  indicate  the  course  of  the  current  among  Per- 
fectionists, and  point  with  unerring  accuracy  to  ultimate 
results.  One  writer  who  has  been  acquainted  with 
their  movements  from  the  very  commencement,  and  is 
familiar  with  their  whole  history,  says  : — 


KOYESISM  UNVEILKP.  3o 

''  It  has  been  the  standing  reproach  of  Perfectionists, 
that  their  views  of  the  peculiar  binding  nature  of  the 
Decalogue,  were  such  that  the  grossest  hcentiousness 
might  be  indulged,  and  then  would  be  in  strict  accord- 
ance with  their  theology.  And,  in  fact,  their  views 
have  been  so  carried  out.  We  omit  the  late  rumors, 
which  appear  to  be  well  founded,  of  the  abominable 
lewdness  of  Noyes  and  his  immediate  disciples.*  From 
the  outset  of  New  Haven  Perfectionism,  there  have 
been  a  succession  of  individuals,  receivers  of  that  pecul- 
iar type  of  Perfectionist  doctrine,  who  have  been  guilty 
of  overt  acts  of  immorality.  ....  But  what  makes  this 
look  more  abhorrent,  is  that  those  involved,  asserted  the 
favorite  tenet  that  they  were  ''  bom  of  God,"  "  not 
under  law,  but  under  gTace,"  and  led,  as  all  Perfec- 
tionists profess  to  be,  by  the  Spirit  of  the  Lord  in  all 
these  matters  !  It  being  a  sentiment  of  the  sect,  that 
all  w^ho  believed  (setting  charity  so  far  aside  as  to  sel- 
dom speak  even  its  name,  it  being  all  faith)  became 
so  perfectly  free  from  sin,  as  to  be  no  more  able  to  com- 
mit any  transgression  of  moral  law  :  all  the  vv^rath, 
malice,  evil  speaking,  harsh  denunciations,  and  other 
evils  in  which  they  indidged,  were  stamped  with  the 
seal  of  the  Almighty — all  was  inspired  by  God !  I 
have  known  Perfectionists  in  the  highest  excitement  of 
rage,  assert  that  it  was  a  holy  anger,  vfell  pleasing  to 
God." 

Passing  by  other  places  and  matters  of  minor  conse- 
•'luence,  we  shall  direct  the  attention  of  the  reader  more 
paTticularly  to  Putney.  Here,  at  an  early  period,  Mr. 
I^.  planted  his  standard — here  he  unfurled  his  banner 
— here  his  press  teemed  with  his  heresies' — here  was  a 


*This  language  was  penned  soon  after  the  disclosures  at  Putney, 
in  1847. 

3 


'34  NOYESISM  UNVEILED. 

socictj  liiider  his  immediate  eye  and  supervision — 4iere 
was  the  head  quarters  of  the  whole  sect — here  Perfec- 
tionism was  disconnected  from  all  other  doctrines — and 
here  was  a  fair  criterion  by  which  to  judge.  What 
Nojesism  has  been  in  Putney  it  will  be  elsewhere — 
for  the  streams  will  partake  of  the  natiu-e  of  the  fown- 
tain  whence  they  flow. 


NOYESISM  UNVEILED.  35 


CHAPTER  III. 


Legal  Proceedings. 

Persons  familiar  with  the  doctrines  taught  by  Mr, 
JS'^oyes,  would  naturally  expect  that,  sooner  or  later, 
there  would  be  an  outbreak — an  exhibition  of  their 
practical  results  ;  for  the  legitimate  fruits  of  those  doc- 
trines would,  in  due  time,  naturally  make  their  appear- 
ance among  those  who  adhered  to  them.  What  wa^ 
expected,  has  come  to  pass.  Almost  from  the  very 
commencement  of  the  promulgation  of  those  doctrines 
there  have  been  occasional  demonstrations ;  and- — 
according  to  Mr.  N.'s  own  acknowledgments — 'frequent 
violations  of  moral  and  statute  law,  among  small  socie- 
ties of  Perfectionists  in  difterent  parts  of  the  country. 
But  Mr.  N.  denied  at  the  time  that  such  immoralities 
were  the  proper  fruits  of  his  doctrines,  and  attributed 
tliem  to  an  admixture  of  what  he  was  pleased  to  tenn 
spurious  doctrines,  with  his  own,  in  such  societies.  But 
]io  pointed  to  Putney,  Vt.,  as  the  place  where  Perfec- 
tionism was  pure^ — unmixed  with  other  doctrines — and 
asserted  that  he  was  willing  it  should  be  judged  b}-  its 
moral  fruits  there.  But  it  was  soon  found  that  Mr.  N. 
and  the  society  under  his  supervision  at  Putney  were 
(|uite  as  d.eeply  involved  in  guilt  as  others  had  been— 
showing  conclusively  that  the  conduct  of  other  societies 
elsewhere  was  in  perfect  keeping  with  his  principles. 
[';  is  true,  he  denounced  such  conduct  after  it  wa^  made 
public,  but  he  thereby  cither  wished  to  expiv-^s.!!  bis  dis- 


36  NOYESISM  UNVEILED. 

approbation  of  the  course  pursued  by  some  of  the  pre- 
cocious members  of  such  societies,  because  they  had 
commenced  carr3dng  out  his  doctrines  before  consulting 
him — thus  committing  an  act  of  insubordination  against 
the  acknowledged  head — or  he  secretly  favored  such 
conduct,  and  openly  denounced  it  when  made  public, 
merely  for  the  purpose  of  blinding  the  eyes  of  the  peo- 
ple. The  latter  is  the  more  probable,  for  he  taught 
his  followers  at  Putney  that  such  conduct  'wa8  right 
among  them  ! 

But  facts  of  a  startling  character  at  length  came  to 
light,  in  relation  to  the  conduct  of  Mr.  Noyes,  and  the 
civil  authorities  deemed  it  their  duty  to  institute  a  legal 
process  against  him  ;  and  he  Avas  accordingly  arrested, 
Oct.  25,  1847,  charged  with  adultery  and  fornication. 
He  waived  an  examination  before  a  Justice  of  the 
Peace,  and  came  forward  and  gave  bonds  for  his 
appearance  at  the  County  Court.  If  innocent  of  the 
charges  alleged  against  him,  why  did  Mr.  N.  waive  an 
examination  ?  He  could  not  have  feared  false  witnesses, 
for  the  witnesses  were  from  among  his  own  people.  If 
innocent,  an  examination  would  have  resulted  in  an 
honorable  acquittal.  But  he  well  knew  that  an  inves- 
tigation would  bring  out  facts  highly  discreditable  to 
his  moral  character  ;  hence  he  waived  an  examination, 
and  remarked,  as  we  leam,  that  the  people  of  Putney 
should  not  have  sport  that  day  at  his  expense. 

But  let  us  glance  at  the  course  pursued  by  the  Per- 
fectionists in  relation  to  the  examination  of  the  case  of 
Mr.  N.  before  the  Grand  Jury.     When  it  was  ascer- 


NOYESISM  UNVEILED,  •       87 

tained  that  a  subpoena  was  about  being  issued  for  the 
purpose  of  summoning  the  witnesses,  there  was  quite  a 
stir  and  scattering  among  the  Noyesites  at  Putney. 
Several  important  witnesses  hastily  left  the  State, 
before  the  officer  could  serve  the  subpoena  upon  them, 
and  they  remained  away  till  after  Court.  Why  all 
this  ?  If  those  persons  knew  nothing  against  the  moral 
character  of  their  leader,  why  abscond  ?  The  reader 
can  draw  his  own  inferences. 

Let  us  look  a  little  farther.  The  Grand  Jury  before 
w^hom  the  case  was  examined  found  a  bill  against  Mr. 
Noyes  for  adultery  and  fornication.  The  witnesses  in 
the  case  were  all  Noyesites  except  one  or  two  who  were 
formerly  followers  of  him,  but,  faltering  by  the  way, 
had  lost  their  fellowship  with  him.  Now  it  cannot  be 
supposed  that  Mr.  N.'s  own  disciples  w^ould  testify 
falsely  against  hun ; — they  were  very  reluctant  to  tes- 
tify at  all,  and  acknowledged  no  more  than  they  w^ere 
obliged  to  ;  and  undoubtedly  they  told  the  truth  as  far 
as  they  went,  but  whether  they  told  the  whole  truth,  It 
is  not  for  us  to  say — they  know  in  relation  to  that.* 

Now  the  fact  that  a  panel  of  eighteen  Grand  Jurors, 
without  one  dissenting  voice,  found  a  bill  against  Mr. 

*  It  may  be  proper  here  to  remark  that  the  testimony  taken  before 
the  Grand  Jury  is  of  such  a  character,  that,  as  a  whole,  it  would  be 
improper  to  publish  it.  It  brings  to  view  language  so  obscene,  and 
conduct  so  base  on  the  part  of  Mr.  Noyes,  that  it  would  be  unfit  for 
the  public  eye.  Moreover,  the  end  may  not  be  yet,  in  relation  to  legal 
proceedings ;  and  there  would,  in  that  case,  be  an  impropriety  in  pub- 
lishing even  detached  portions  of  the  testimony  before  all  such  mat- 
ters were  fully  matured. 


38        •  NOYESISM  UNVEILED. 

Noyes,  and  that  too  upon  the  testimony  of  his  own  fol- 
lowers, speaks  volumes,  and  makes  the  case  exceed- 
ingly clear. 

But  again : — At  the  session  of  the  County  Court  for 
Windham  County,  held  m  September,  1848,  the  case 
of  Mr.  N.  came  on  for  trial ;  but  he  did  not  appear, 
and  his  bonds  were  of  course  forfeited.  Now  it  is 
always  to  be  presumed  that  an  accused  person  who 
IwJds  Jiimself  ready  for  a  legal  investigation  before  a 
proper  tribmial,  is  mnocent  mitil  he  is  proved  guilty. 
^wX:  fleeing  from  a  legal  investigation  is  always  deemed 
prima  facie  evidence  of  gniilt.  This  case  at  the  com- 
mencement, in  regard  to  Mr.  N.'s  character,  was  quite 
dark,  but  it  grew  darker  and  darker  at  every  succes- 
sive step  of  the  legal  proceedings  ;  and  the  manner  in 
whiich  those  proceedmgs  were  closed  up,  leaves  not  a 
shadow  of  doubt  in  tlie  public  mind  as  to  the  guilt  of 
Mr.  N. 


NOYESTSM  UNVEILED.,  39 


CHAPTER  IV. 


Legal  Proeeedings  Continued. 

We  give  a  certified  copy  of  the  Record  in  the  office 
of  the  Clerk  of  the  Court  for  Windham  County,  in  the 
case  of  Mr.  Noyes,  It  contains  the  indictment  against 
Mr.  N.,  together  with  all  other  legal  proceedings  which 
were  matters  of  record  : 

STATE  OF  VERMONT. 

WlNDnAM,....SS. 

Pleas  and  Actions  heard  and  tried  by 
the  County  Court,  begun  and  held  at  Newfane,  within 
and  for  the  County  of  Windham,  on  the  fourth  Tues- 
day— being  the  twenty-sixth  day — of  September,  in  the 
year  of  our  Lord  one  thousand  eight  hundred  and 
forty-eight. 

P  R  E  S  E  N  T  , 

Hon.  Daniel  Kellogg,  Chief  Judge. 

Hon.  James  H.  Phelps  and  \    .     .  ^     ,  r   r 
Hon.  Thomas  Miller,  \  Asm,toM. fudges. 

The  S  tate  of  Ve^rmont,  ]  It  appears  to  the  Court  here, 
vs.  ^  that  at  a  Court  of  inquiry  and 

John  H.  Xoycii.  J  examination,  held  at  Putney, 
in  the  said  County  of  Windham,  on  the  25th  day  of 
October,  A.  D.  1847,  before  Royall  Tyler,  a  Justice 
<jf  the  Peace  within  and  for  said  County,  John  H. 
Noyes,  of  said  Putney,  was  brought  upon  a  Complaint, 
exhibited  to  Jonathan  Cutler,  Esquire,  a  Justice  of  the 
Peace '  in  and  for  said  County,  by  Thomas  V/hite, 
Grand  Juror  of  said  Putney,  who,  on  his  oath  of  office, 
complained,  and  gave  said  Justice  to  understand  and 
be  informed,  that  John  H.  Noyes,  of  said  Putney,  he 


40  IS'OYESISM  UNVEILED. 

the  said  Jolni  H.  Noyes,  of  said  Putney,  on  or  about  the 
first  day  of  August,  A.  D.  1847,  at  said  Putney,  he  the 
said  John  H.  Noyes  then  and  there  being  a  married 
man,  with  force  and  arms  did  carnally  know  one  Fanny 
M.  Leonard,  she  the  said  Eanny  M.  Leonard  then  and 
there  being  a  married  woman,  and  the  wife  of  one  Ste- 
phen R.  Leonard,  and  with  her  the  said  Fanny  M. 
Leonard  did  commit  adulterj^,  contrary  to  the  form, 
force  and  effect  of  the  statute  in  such  case  made  and 
pro^dded,  and  against  the  peace  and  dignity  of  the 
State. — And  the  said  Thomas  White,  Grand  Juror  as 
aforesaid,  upon  his  oath  of  office  further  complained, 
that  the  said  John  H.  Noyes,  on  or  about  the  first  day 
of  September,  now  last  past,  at  Putney,  aforesaid,  he 
the  said  John  H.  Noyes,  then  and  there  being  a  mar- 
ried man,  with  force  and  arms  did  carnally  know  one 
Achsah  Campbell,  a  single  woman,  and  with  her  the 
said  Achsah  Campbell  did  commit  adulterous  formica- 
tion, contrary  to  the  form,  force  and  effect  of  the  stat- 
ute in  such  case  made  and  provided,  and  against  the 
peace  and  dignity  of  the  State. 

Thomas  White,  G-rand  Juror. 

Oct.  25,  1847. 

And  the  said  Grand  Juror  names  as  witnesses  in 
support  of  the  above  Complaint,  Daniel  J.  Hall,  Har- 
riet A.  Hall,  Eunice  Baker,  James  L.  Baker,  and 
Clifford  Clark.  Thomas  White,  Grand  Juror. 

The  mthin  Complaint  was  exhibited  to  me  this  25th 
day  of  October,  A.  D.  1847,  and  process  then  issued. 
Jonathan  Cutler,  Justice  of  the  Peace. 

State  of  Vermont,  \  To  any  Sheriff  or  Constable  in 

Windham^.. ..ss.       \  the  State,  Greeting. 

The  foregoing  Complaint  having  been  exhibited  to 

me,  this  day,  by  the  authority  of  the  State  of  Vermont, 

you  are  hereby  commanded  t-o  apprehend  the  body  of 


KOYESISM  UKYBILSD.  41 

tho  said  John  H.  Nojes,  and  him  have  forthwith  before 
the  subscribing  authority,  or  some  other  Justice  of  the 
said  County,  at  the  inn  of  J.  Black,  in  said  Putney, 
that  he  may  answer  to  the  foregoing  comphiint,  and  be 
further  dealt  with  according  to  law. 

Given  under  my  hand,  at  said  Putnev,  this  25th  day 
of  October,  A.  D.  1847. 

Jonathan  Cutler,  Justice  of  the  Peace. 

And  you  are  hereby  commanded  to  summon  the 

above  named  Daniel  J.  Hall,  Harriet  A.  Hall,  Eunice 

Baker,  James  L.  Baker,  Clifford  Clark,  and  Ellen  A. 

Baker,  to  appear  at  the  time  and  place  of  examination. 

Jonathan  Cutler,  Justice  of  the  Peace. 

Windham      ]  Putney,  Oct.  25,  1847. 

County ^....ss,  \  Then  by  virtue  of  the  within  precept, 
I  arrested  the  body  of  the  within  named  John  H. 
Noyes,  and  now  have  him  here  in  Court. 

Attest,         Charles  Chapin,  D.  Sheriff, 

Windham      \  Putney,  Oct.  25,  1847. 

County, ....ss.    \  Then    summoned  the   within   named 
witnesses  by  reading  the  within  precept  in  their  hear- 
ing. Attest,         Charles  Chapin,  D.  Sheriff,. 
State  of  Vermont,  ]  Be  it   remembered,   that   at  a 

Windham,.... ss.  j  Court  of  Inquiry,  holden  at  Put- 
ney, in  the  County  of  Windham,  on  the  25th  day  of 
October,  A.  D.  1847,  before  Boyall  Tyler,  a  Justice  of 
the  Peace  within  and  for  said  County,  John  H.  Noyes, 
of  said  Putney,  was  brought  upon  a  complaint  exhibited 
to  Jonathan  Cutler,  Esquire,  a  Justice  of  the  Peace  in 
and  for  said  County,  by  Thomas  White,  Grand  Juror 
for  said  town  of  Putney,  who  complains  that  John  H, 
Noyes,  of  said  Putney,  on  or  about  the  first  day  of 
August,  A.  B.  1847,  at  said  Putney,  he  the  said  John 
H.  Noyes  then  and  there  being  a  married  man,  with 
force  and  arms  did  carnally  know  one  Fanny  M.  Leon- 


42  NOYESISM  UNVEILED. 

ard,  she  the  said  Fanny  M.  Leonard  then  and  there 
being  a  married  woman  and  the  wife  of  one  Stephen  R. 
Leonard,  and  with  her  the  said  Fanny  M.  Leonard  dil 
commit  adultery— contrary  to  the  form  of  the  statute 
in  such  case  made  and  provided,  and  against  the  peace 
and  dignity  of  the  State. 

And  the  said  Thomas  White,  (xrand  Juror  as  afore- 
said, further  complains  that  the  said  John  H.  Noyes, 
on  or  about  the  first  day  of  September  now  last  past,  at 
Putney  aforesaid,  he  the  said  John  H.  Noyes  then  and 
there  being  a  married  man,  with  force  and  arms  did 
carnaliy  know  one  xlchsah  Campbell,  a  single  woman, 
and  with  her  the  said  Achsah  Campbell  did  commit 
adulterous  fornication — contrary  to  the  form  of  the 
statute  in  such  case  made  and  provided,  and  against 
the  peace  and  dignity  of  the  State.  And  the  said 
John  H.  Noyes,  being  present,  waives  an  examination, 
and  submits  himself  to  the  order  of  the  Court  in  the 
premises. 

Whereupon,  the  said  Royall  Tyler,  Justice  of  the 
Peace  as  aforesaid,  doth  order  and  direct  that  the  said 
John  H.  Noyes  be  held  for  trial  before  the  County 
Court  next  to  be  holden  at  Newfane,  ^\ithin  and  for 
said  County  of  Windham,  on  the  fourth  Tuesday  of 
April  next,  by  giving  bonds,  by  way  of  recognizance, 
with  sufficient  security,  in  the  sum  of  I' wo  Thousand 
Dollars,  to  the  Treasurer  of  the  State  of  Vermont,  con- 
ditional for  his  the  said  John  H.  Noyes' s  personal 
appearance  before  said  Court,  to  answer  to  the  things 
which  shall  then  and  there  be  objected '  to  him  on  this 
behalf,  and  abide  the  judgment  of  said  Court  thereon. 
A  true  copy  of  Record. 
Attest,     RoYALL  Tyler,  Justice  of  the  Peace, 

State  of  Vermont,  (  Be  it  remembered,  that  at  Put- 
Windhamy...S8.      \  ney,  in  the  County  of  Windham 


NOYESISM  UNVEILED.  4'6 

'  lesaid,  on  the  25tli  day  of  October,  A.  D.  1847, 
tonally  appeared  before  me,  Royall  Tyler,  Justice 
rhe  Peace  in  and  for  sejd  County,  John  H.  Noyes, 
said  Putney,  as  principal,  and  John  R.  Miller,  of 
•^aid   Putney,   as   surety,    and   jointly   and   severally 
'   '  nowledged  themselves  indebted  to  the  Treasurer  of 
State  -of  Vermont  in  the  sum  of  Two  Thousand 
liars,  to  be  levied  of  their,  and  each  of  their  goods, 
attels,  lands  and  tenements,  and  for  want  thereof,  of 
tiieir  bodies,  if  default  be  made  in  the  condition  follow- 
ing, that  is  to  say  : — The  condition  of  this  recognizance 
is,  that  if  the  said  John  H.  Noyes,  charged  before  me 
with  the  crimes  of  adultery  and  fornication,  shall  make 
his  personal  appearance  before  the  County  Court  next 
to  be  holden  at  Newfane,  in  and  for  the  County  of 
Windham,  on  the  4th  Tuesday  of  April,  A.  D.  1848, 
and  answer  to  the  matters  and  things  which  shall  then 
and  there  be  objected  to  him  in  that  behalf,  and  shall 
abide  the  order  of  said  Court  thereon,  and  not  depart 
without  leave  of  Court — then  this  recognizance  to  be 
void,  otherwise  offeree. 

Taken  and  acknowledged  this  25th  day  of  October, 
A.  D.  1847. 

Before  me,     Roy  all  Tyler,  Justice  of  the  Peace. 

I  hereby  certity  the  foregoing  to  be  true  copies  of 
Records  and  Files,  remaining  in  my  office. 

RoYALL  Tyler,  Justice  of  the  Peace. 

As  by  the  Files  and  Copies  of  the  said  Royall.  Tyler, 
Justice  of  the  Peace,  here  on  file,  more  fully  and  at 
large  appear. 

And  the  cause  was  entered  in  this  Court,  at  a  term 
thereof  begun  and  held  at  Newfane,  in  said  County, 
on  the  fourth  Tuesday,  being  the  25th  day,  of  April,  in 
the  year  of  our  Lord  one  thousand  eight  hundred  and 
forty  eight. 


44  NOYESISM  UNVEILBD., 

And  the  said  John  H.  Noyes  stands  indicted  by  the 
Grand  Jurors  within  and  for  the  body  of  the  County  of 
Windham,  at  said  April  term  of  said  Court,  which 
indictment  is  in  the  words  following,  to  wit : — 

STATE  OF  VERMONT,  )  Be  it  remembered,  that  at 
Windham  County ^....ss.  \  the  County  Court  begun 
and  holden  at  Newfane,  within  and  for  the  County  of 
Wmdham,  on  the  fourth  Tuesday  of  April,  in  the  year 
eighteen  hundred  and  forty^eight,  the  Grand  Jurors 
within  and  for  the  body  of  the  County  of  Windham 
aforesaid,  now  here  in  Court,  duly  empanelled  and 
sworn  upon  their  oaths,  present : — That  John  H.  Noyes, 
late  of  Putney,  in  the  County  of  Windham  aforesaid, 
on  the  tenth  day  of  June,  in  the  year  eighteen  hundred 
and  forty-seven,  at  Putney  aforesaid,  in  the  County  of 
Windham  aforesaid,  he  the  said  John  H.  Noyes  then 
and  there  being  a  married  man,  with  force  and  arms 
did  carnally  know  one  Fanny  M.  Leonard,  she  the  said 
Fanny  M.  Leonard  then  and  there  being  a  married 
woman,  the  wife  of  one  Stephen  R.  Leonard,  and  with 
her  did  commit  adultery — contrary  to  the  form,  force 
and  effect  of  the  statute  in  such  case  made  and  provi- 
ded, and  against  the  peace  and  dignity  of  the  State. 

And  the  Grand  Jurors  aforesaid,  upon  their  oaths 
aforesaid,  do  further  present : — That  the  said  John  H. 
Noyes,  on  the  twentieth  day  of  August,  in  the  year 
eighteen  hundred  and  forty-seven,  at  Putney  aforesaid, 
in  the  County  of  Windham  aforesaid,  he  the  said  John 
H.  Noyes  then  and  there  being  a  married  man,  with 
force  and  arms  did  carnally  know  one  Achsah  Camp- 
bell, then  and  there  being  a  single  woman,  and  with 
her  the  said  Achsah  Campbell  did  have  that  intercourse 
and  connection  which  in  case  the  said  Achsah  Campbell 
had  been  a  married  woman  would  have  constituted  the 
crime  of  adultery — contrary  to  the  form,   force  and 


NOYESISM  UNVEILED.  45 

effect  01  the  statute  in  such  case  made  and  provided, 
;ind  against  the  peace  and  dignity  of  the  State,  as  by 
;-aid  indictment  on  file. 

The  said  John  H.  Noyes  appeared  at  the  last  term 

this  Court,   by  Larkin  G.  Mead  and  Wilham  C. 
,  £»iadley,  his  Attorneys  ;  it  was  then  ordered  by  the 
Court  that  this  cause  be,  and  the  same  was,  continued 
to  the  present  term  of  this  Court. 

And  now  upon  this  twenty-sixth  day  of  September, 
in  the  year  one  thousand  eight  hundred  and  forty-eight, 
and  during  the  session  of  this  Court,  the  said  John  H. 
Noyes  being  thrice  called  in  open  Court  to  appear  in 
Court,  and  save  himself  and  bail,  appears  not,  but 
thereof  makes  default;  and  the  said  John  R.  Miller, 
who  recognized  to  have  the  body  of  the  said  John  H. 
Noyes  in  Court,  being  thrice  called  in  open  Court  to 
have  the  said  John  H.  Noyes  now  in  Court  and  save 
his  recognizance,  does  not  appear,  neither  does  he  have 
the  body  of  the  said  John  H.  Noyes  in  Court  here,  but 
thereof  makes  default. 

Whereupon  it  is  considered  by  ihe  Court  here,  that 
the  said  recognizance  be,  and  the  same  is,  forfeited  to 
the  Treasurer  of  the  State  of  Vermont. 

STATE  OF  VERMONT,  ] 

Windham  Coimty  Cowrt  Clerk's  Office^  y 
Newfane,  Dec.  12,  A.  D.  1848.  J 

I  hereby  certify  the  above  and  foregoing  to  be  true 
copies  of  Record. 

Attest,         M.  MiLLEK,  Clerk. 


46  :y'OYBSISM  UNVEILBD. 

CHAPTER  V, 
Confessions  of  John  H.  Noyes. 

Mr.  Noyes,  in  his  organ — the  Spiritual  Magazine  of 
Aug.  5,  1848 — announced  the  intention  of  publishing 
a  book  of  several  hundred  pages,  to  be  entitled 

"  CO^STESSIONS  OF  JOHN  H.  NOYES." 

This  work  we  are  informed  is  to  comprise — 1.  The 
"  religious  history  "  of  Mr.  K.  ;  2.  A  "  historj  of  the 
Putnej  Community,  including  the  transactions  which 
led  to  the  agitation,  prosecutions  and  dispersion ''  in 
the  fall  of  1847  ;  8.  "A  full  theoretical  exhibition  of 
the  social  organization  of  the  kingdom  of  heaven,  inclu- 
ding all  the  principal  articles  "  which  Mr.  N.  had  pub- 
lished in  his  papers  on  that  subject. 

^'  Co-nfessio7is  of  John  II.  iSfoyes  "  !  Now  this  title 
is  certainly  calculated  to  raise,  at  first  sight,  the  expec- 
tation that  the  book  would  contain  some  acknowledg- 
ment of  his  offences  ;  but  we  are  informed  that  nothing 
of  the  kind  is  to  appear.  In  common  usage,  the  term 
coifesdon  signifies  an  acknowledgment  of  guilt ;  using 
it  in  this  sense,  Mr.  N.'s  book  and  its  title  would  be  as 
far  apart  as  opposite  points  of  the  compass.  But  the 
term  in  the  present  instance  ir;  used  in  an  entirely  dif- 
ferent sense.  We  are  to  have  a  confession  of  Mr.  N.'s 
■''"  Religious  Experience  "  .' — a  co7ifession  of  his  ''Social 
Experience^'  ! — and  a  confession  of  his  "  Social  Prin- 
ciples "  !     Wonderful  confessions  indeed  I 

But  pei-sons  acquainted  with  Mr.  N.'s  position  would 
not  expect,  even  from  the  title  of  bb  book,  any  conf"-.- 


I 


NOYESISM  UNVEILED.  47' 


'sion  of  guilt,  for  he  has  assumed  that  he  cannot  sin  ; 
and  when  a  person  arrives  at  this  point,  a  quietus  is 
put  upon  conscience.  And  we  can  never  expect  con- 
victions of  wrong,  or  confessions  of  guilt,  from  a  perijon 
who  has  completely  stultified  or  lost  his  conscience  ! 

Mr.  N.  has  made  a  clean  sweep  of  all  legal  barriers, 
bv  assuming  that  he  is  exempt  from  all  "  ivritten  law  "; 
and  as  an  offset  for  rejecting  Imv^  he  professes  to  be 
under  grace  ;  but  facts  show  conclusively  that  he  is 
under  neither  law  nor  grace  I 

We  learn  from  jNIr.  N.  that  he  has  delayed  the  pub- 
lication of  the  book  which  he  announced  as  forthcom- 
ing, for  the  purpose  of  having  the  '•  advantage  "  of 
saying  something  in  relation  to  ''  Noyesism  Unveiled." 
He  is  perfectly  welcome  to  all  the  ''  advantage  ''  he 
can  gahi  in  this  respect.  We  intend  the  present  work 
shall  stand  upo!i  its  own  merits,  and  if  it  does  not  carry 
to  the  mind  of  the  reader  a  conviction  of  its  truthful- 
ness, we  ask  no  credit  for  it. 

But  Mr.  N.  has  recently  pubUshed  the  ^'.Firsi  Part " 
of  his  promised  book,  as  there  was  no  "  advantage''  to 
be  gained  by  delaying  the  publication  of  this  part.  It 
contains  a  "  Confemon  of  Religious  JSxferience." 
Now  it  is  rather  late  in  the  day  for  this.  It  is  about 
as  proper  as  it  would  be  for  a  criminal,  standing  upon 
the  gallows,  to  relate  his  religious  emotions  when  com- 
mitting the  crime  for  which  he  is  about  to  be  executed  ! 
A  confession  of  Mr.  N.'s  irreligious  acts  would  be  bet- 
ter suited  to  the  times. 

But  a  word  in  relation  t-:>  ih^  part  just  pubHshed. 


48  NOYESISM  UNVEILED. 

This  is  a  pconjyJdet  of  96  pages,  rather  poorly  "  got  up." 
A  parcel  of  these  books  was  sent  to  Putney  and  offered 
for  sale  at  fifty  cents  per  copy  !  Not  finding  a  ready 
sale  at  that,  they  soon  went  down  to  twenty-five  cents, 
and  we  learn  that  they  are  a  drug  in  the  market  at 
that.  One  thing  is  certain — the  buyer  could  have  the 
satisfaction  of  reading  96  pages,  made  up  almost 
entirely  of  old,  stale  matter  which  was  published  four 
or  five  years  ago  by  Mr.  N.  in  his  paper  at  Putney. 
It  was  thought  by  some  that  this  was  a  little  akin  to 
Mormons  ^^  milking  the  Grentiles  "  /  So  much  fo}'  the 
'•  Fii-st  Part"  of  Mr.  N.'s  book. 

The  Second  and  Third  Parts  are  coming  "  sooner  or 
later. "^^  Perhaps,  from  the  mtimations  given  by  Mr. 
N.,  we  can  so  far  anticipate  the  character  of  what  is 
forthcoming  as  to  say  all  that  may  be  necessary  in 
reference  to  it. 

Part  Second  is  to  contain  a  "  history  of  the  Putney 
Community,  including  the  transactions  which  led  to  the 
agitation,  prosecutions  and  dispersion  "  in  the  autumn 
of  1847.  We  think  we  shall  give  a  pretty  full  history 
of  the  Putney  Community,  and  ''  shall  endeavor  to 
complete,  if  we  do  not  supersede  "  Mr.  N.'s  "  work." 
We  know  something  about  Putney  matters,  and  touch- 
ing the  "  transactions  "  the  whole  may  be  summed  up 
in  few  words — a  hnoioledge  of  the  high-handed  offences 
which  Mr.  JV.  had  been  committing,  was  the  cause  of 
the  "  agitation,  prosecutions  and  dispersion.'^'* 

Speaking  in  reference  to  his  course,  Mr.  N.,  under 
date  of  Aug.  5,  1848,  says  : — 


NOYESISM  UNVEILED.  49 

"*  We  think  we  can  do  better  than  to  engage  in  a 
small  quarrel  with  an  excited  village.  We  thought  so 
last  fall,  and  chose  the  peaceable,  non-resistant  course 
— '  giving  place  unto  wrath.'  " 

We  had  not  supposed  Mr.  N.  was  so  extremely 
"  peaceable  and  non-resistant  " — a  change  must  have 
come  over  him.  After  his  arrest,  he  roared  like  the 
lion  at  the  end  of  his  chain  ;  but  when  he  found  that 
the  grapplings  of  the  law  were  fast  upon  him,  he 
became  quite  "  peaceable  and  non-resistant."  There 
was  a  powerful  motive  for  this.  The  prospect  of  being 
encompassed  by  granite  walls,  and  looking  through  iron 
grates,  was  not  the  most  pleasing  ;  and  in  view  of  this, 
he  might  vrell  become  so  very  "  peaceable  and  non-re- 
sistant"  as  to  leave  the  State — thus  voluntarily  absen1>- 
ing  himself  from  a  legal  investigation,  which  was  a 
virtual  acknowledgment  of  his  guilt. 

The  Third  Part  of  Mr.  N.'s  work  is  to  comprise  a 
"  full  theoretical  exhibition  of  the  social  organization  of 
the  kingdom  of  heaven."  In  this  part  Mr.  N.  is  going 
to  bore  the  reader  again  with  old,  stale — not  to  say, 
obscene — matter,  published  in  his  paper  long  ago.  But 
in  addition  to  this  we  expect  he  will  give  us  something 
new.  After  leaving  Putney,  Mr.  N.  drew  up  a  long 
article,  entitled  "  Institutions  and  Organization  of 
THE  Kingdom  of  Heaven,"  i.  e.  a  Noyesite  Commu- 
nity !  He  sent  this  article  to  the  "  believers  "  at  Put- 
ney, and  they  copied  it  and  sent  it  to  three  persons  in 
different  parts  of  the  country,  and  gave  them  instruc- 
tions to  show  it  to  sincere  inquirers.  They  deemed  it 
4 


&0  NOYESISM  UNVEILED. 

''  too  treasonable  to  human  institutions  to  admit  of  its 
being  published  with  safety ^^^  at  first !  This  article 
was  considered  so  wonderful  bj  the  Noyesites,  that 
they  imagined  if  the  doubting  could  only  see  it,  they 
would  exclaim,  "  My  Lord  and  my  God  P^ 

This  production  was  thought  by  the  Noyesites  to  be 
equal  to  any  article  in  the  Beeean — a  book  published 
by  Mr.  N., — and  they  declared  that  it  was  written  with 
the  same  inspiration  that  dictated  the  articles  in  that 
book ! 

Indeed  I  the  fact  has  at  length  leaked  out,  then,  that 
the  Noyesites  regard  the  Berean  as  an  inspired  book  ! 
Then  we  may  lay  it  upon  the  shelf  by  the  side  of  the 
Golden  Bible  got  up  by  Joe  Smith — for  it  is  highly 
probable  they  were  both  coined  at  the  same  mint ! 

Now,  as  Mr.  N.  has  promised  to  give  a  '^fidl  theo- 
retical exhibition  of  the  social  organization  of  the  king- 
dom of  heaven,"  and  as  the  article  just  alluded  to  is 
undoubtedly  very  essential  to  the  accomplishment  of 
that  object,  we  may  expect  to  see  that  article,  unless  it 
is  too  "  treasonable  to  human  institutions  tjo  admit  of  its 
being  published  with  safety"  even  now;— but  if  he 
withholds  that  article  w§,^n  hardly  see  how  he  catt 
fulfil  the  promise  to  gx^'^Mtfidl  theoretical  exhibition 
of  the  social  organization  of  the  kingdom  of  heaven," 
What  course  he  will  take'^  time  will  determine. 


NOYESISM  UNVEILED.  51 


CHAPTER  VI. 


Action  of  the    Citizens  of  Putney  —  Proceedings  of 
Public  Meetings. 

Soon  after  his  arrest  at  Putney  in  the  autumn  of 
1847,  Mr.  Noyes  absconded  ;  and  about  the  same  time 
several  members  of  his  society  there,  left  town.  But 
some  of  the  most  prominent  membei-s  still  remained ; 
the  Association  was  not  disbanded,  and  they  continued 
the  publication  of  the  Spiritual  Magazine,  their  official 
organ.  Mr.  N.,  though  at  a  distance,  could  keep  up 
an  open  communication,  by  letter,  with  the  society  at 
Putney,  and  still  control  their  affairs  ;  and  although 
under  arrest,  with  not  a  shadow  of  doubt  remaining  as 
to  his  guilt, — through  the  medium  of  his  press,  which 
was  still  in  operation  at  Putney,  he  could  disseminate 
his  pernicious  principles  with  almost  as  much  facility  as 
before. 

Under  this  state  of  things  the  citizens  of  Putney 
would  of  course  feel  dissatisfied ;  and  they  deemed 
it  advisable,  in  a  collective  capacity,  to  take  some 
action,  and  in  a  proper  manner  give  an  expression  of 
public  sentiment.  They  accordingly  assembled  for 
consultation,  and  several  resolutions  were  adopted 
expressive  of  their  sentiments,  and  those  resolutions 
were  as  mild  as  could  have  been  expected  under  the 
circumstances.  Several  public  meetings  were  held  in 
December,  1847,  the  principal  proceedings  of  which) 
as  reported  by  the  Secretary,  we  give  below : — 


62  NOYESISM  UNVEILED. 

"  The  inhabitants  of  the  village  of  Putney  met  at 
the  vestry  of  the  Congregational  Meeting-House,  on 
the  evening  of  the  second  day  of  December,  inst.,  for 
the  purpose  of  taking  into  consideration  the  outrageous 
proceedings  of  the  Perfectionists,  so  called. 

"1.  Organized  by  appointing  Preston  W.  Taft, 
Chairman,  and  Wilham  Houghton,  Secretary. 

"  2.  On  motion  of  Dr.  John  Campbell,  appointed  a 
committee  of  five  to  draft  and  report  some  appropriate 
resolutions  at  a  future  meeting. 

"  Israel  Keyes,  Esq.,  Rev.  A.  Foster,  Rev.  H.  East- 
man, Hon.  John  Kimball,  and  James  Keyes,  Esq., 
were  appointed  said  committee. 

"  3.  On  motion,  adjourned  to  Monday  evening, 
Dec.  6, 1847. 

"  Monday,  Dec.  6.  Met  agreeably  to  adjournment, 
and  Israel  Keyes,  Esq.,  reported  the  following  pream- 
ble and  resolutions,  which,  after  being  discussed,  were 
unanimously  adopted : — 

^*  Whereas^  An  Association  of  Perfectionists,  so 
called,  has  existed  in  the  town  of  Putney  for  several 
years  past,  who,  among  other  things,  have  declared  that 
the  Moral  Law  is  abolished,  and  have  inculcated  senti- 
ments of  a  licentious  tendency,  and  exerted  an  influ- 
ence detrimental  to  the  moral  interests  of  the  commu- 
nity ; — and  whereas^  from  recent  disclosures  it  is  evi- 
dent that  those  licentious  principles  have  been  carried 
out  in  practice  to  an  alarming  extent  in  said  Associar 
tion,  threatening  to  ruin  the  characters  of  all  connected 
therewith  or  brought  under  its  deadly  influence  ; — and 
whereas  J  John  H.  Noyes,  the  founder  and  leader  of 
said  Association,  has  recently  been  arrested  for  his 
licentious  practices  and  placed  under  heavy  bonds,  and 
has  since  absconded  ;  and  whereas^  George  Cragin,  an 
associate  of  Noyes,  has  also  recently  absconded  under 
cover  of  the  night,  evidently  from  fear  of  the  threatened 


NOYESISM  UNVBIL8D.  58 

penalty  of  the  law ; — and  whereas,  said  Association  is 
publishing  a  periodical,  denominated  the  Spiritual  Mag- 
azine, through  the  medium  of  which  they  are  dissemin- 
ating their  pernicious  principles,  and  are  thus  exerting 
a  demoralizing  influence,  not  only  upon  the  community 
in  the  more  immediate  vicinity  of  its  publication,  but  in 
different  parts  of  the  country  where  it  is-  circulated  ; — 
and  whereas,  the  principles  of  said  Association  are  evi- 
dently disorganizing  in  their  tendency,  and  adapted,  if 
carried  out  to  th*eir  utmost  extent,  to  abolish  all  law 
and  government,  both  of  Church  and  State,  and  erect 
upon  their  ruins  an  irresponsible  hierarchy :  There- 
fore, 

"  1.  Resolved,  That  the  moral  interests  of  this  com- 
munity demand  the  immediate  dissolution  of  said  Asso- 
ciation. 

"  2.  Resolved,  That  the  Spiritual  Magazine,  which 
is  the  principal  organ  of  said  Association,  through 
which  they  are  disseminating  their  pernicious  senti- 
ments, and  which  has  evidently  become  a  public  nui- 
sance, ought  immediately  to  be  discontinued  ;  and  that 
no  publication  whatever  ought  hereafter  to  be  issued  by 
said  Association  inculcating  those  principles  which,  if 
carried  out  in  practice,  would  result  in  a  violation  of 
the  laws  of  the  land. 

"3.  Resolved,  That  those  Perfectionists  who  stiU 
remain  in  this  town,  ought  publicly  to  renounce  those 
principles  which  tend  to,  and  abandon  those  practices 
which  are,  a  violation  of  the  statute  laws  of  the  State. 

'^  4.  Resolved,  That  those  persons  in  this  town  who 
have  received  serious  injuries  from  said  Association, 
ought  to  be  suitably  remunerated  by  said  Association. 

''  5.  Resolved,  That  the  Editors  of  the  Vermont 
Phoenix,  Windham  County  Democrat,  Semi- Weekly 
Eagle,  and  Bellows  Falls  Gazette,  be  respectfully 
requested  to  publish  the  proceedings  of  this  meeting, 


54  NOYESISM  UNVEILED. 

and  that  the  Secretary  farnisli  eacli  of  them  with  a  copy 
of  the  same.  Preston  W.  Taet,  Chairmcm. 

"  Wm.  Houghton,  Seeretary. 

"  Putney,  Dec.  6, 184T." 

The  foregoing  Preamble  and  Resolutions  embody  the 
deliberate  sentiments  of  the  citizens  of  Putney,  who 
were  resolved,  by  all  prudent  and  lawful  measures,  to 
vindicate  the  rights  of  the  injured,  bring  the  guilty  to 
justice,  and  remove  this  gangrene  wfiieh  had  fastened 
upon  the  morals  of  the  community. 

The  first  resolution,  the  purport  of  which  was  that 
the  moral  interests  of  the  community  demanded  the 
immediate  dissolution  of  the  Perfectionist  Association, 
contains  a  self-evident  truth,  as  clear  as  the  shining  of 
the  sun  at  noon-day.  No  right-minded  person,  acquain- 
ted with  affairs  at  Putney,  could  doubt  this.  But  the 
Association  was  not  dissolved.  It  is  true,  the  pubhc 
meetings  at  the  chapel  were  discontinued  ;  but  the  few 
still  remaining  continued  to  have  little  gatherings  at 
private  dwellings,  and  have  kept  them  up  to  the  pres^ 
ent  time — ^March,  1849. 

But  we  have  a  little  information  touching  this  point, 
which  came  direct  from  head  quarters.  In  the  spring 
of  1848,  about  four  months  subsequent  to  the  passage 
of  the  foregoing  resolutions,  one  of  the  master  spirits 
in  the  Putney  Community  held  the  following  lan- 
guage :— 

"  The  world  may  think  our  Association  dissolved ^ 
hut  we  have  been  going  on  from  strength  to  strength 
during  the  past  winter ,  in  union  ivith  the  heavenly 
world,  and felloivship  among  ourselves.''^ 


NOYESISM  UNVEILED.  55 

Among  the  Noyesites,  '^  fellowship  "^^  has  a  peculiar 
meaning  and  an  unusual  significance.  Thus  it  appears 
that  in  regard  to  the  dissolution  of  the  Association  there 
was  a  total  disregard  of  the  deliberate  sentiments  of 
the  citizens  of  Putney  as  set  forth  in  the  first  resolu- 
tion. By  the  expression,  "  Union  with  the  heavenly 
loorld^^  which  is  coupled  with  "  Fellowship  among  our- 
selves^'' the  reader  will  readily  perceive  how  impiously 
the  Noyesites  connect  the  most  sacred  things  with  the 
most  crying  abominations  ! 

The  second  resolution  in  the  series  has  reference  to 
their  organ,  the  Spiritual  Magazine.  The  substance 
of  that  resolution  is,  that  their  paper,  having  become  a 
public  nuisance,  ought  forthwith  to  be  discontinued; 
and  that  no  publication  of  a  licentious  tendency  ought 
to  be  issued  from  the  press  of  the  Putney  Association. 

This  was  taken  in  high  dudgeon  by  the  "  acknowl- 
edged head  "  of  the  sect  of  Perfectionists.  Touching 
this  matter,  Mr.  Noyes,  in  the  Spiritual  Magazine  pub- 
lished at  Oneida  Reserve,  Aug.  5,  1848,  speaks  thus  : 

"It  is  sufficient  to  say  here,  that  the  immediate 
cause  of  the  suppression  of  our  paper  at  Putney,  was  a 
resolution  passed  at  an  '  indignation  meeting'  of  the 
citizens  of  that  place,  denouncing  our  pubhcation  as 
licentious,  and  requiring  an  immediate  stoppage  of  our 
press.  If  we  had  been  fond  of  squabbling,  it  would 
have  been  natural  for  us  to  have  resisted  this  arbitrary 
requisition ;  and  it  would  be  easy  for  us  now  to  com- 
ment severely  on  the  entire  mistake  of  the  citizens  in 
regard  to  the  character  of  our  paper  (which  is  too  well 
known  to  its  subscribers  to  need  justification  from  the 
charge   of  licentious   tendency);    and  we  might  say 


56  KOYESISM  UNVEILED. 

something  about  the  inquisitorial,  anti-republican  char- 
acter of  proceedings  which  demanded  the  summary 
closing  of  a  printing-office  in  a  free  country." 

In  the  foregoing  paragraph  Mr.  Nojes  denies  that 
his  paper  has  been  licentious  in  its  tendency.  The 
numerous  extracts  from  his  own  writings  found  in  this 
volume  are  prima  facie  evidence  agamst  him  ;  and  with 
this  testimony  before  them,  we  could  submit  the  ques- 
tion to  the  public  without  any  doubt  in  regard  to  the 
decision.  But  we  wish  to  ask  a  few  plain  questions 
touching  this  point.  Will  Mr.  Noyes  den;i/  that  his 
paper  from  the  very  commencement  has  been  the  expo- 
nent of  his  principles,  and  that  he  has  designedly  set 
them  forth,  though  often  in  an  ambiguous  and  mistified 
manner  ?  Will  he  deni/  that  the  infamous  conduct 
among  the  Perfectionists  at  Putney,  which  was  a  gross 
violation  of  the  civil  law,  and  gave  rise  to  the  prosecu- 
tions in  the  fall  of  184T,  was  the  legitimate  fruit  of 
those  very  principles  ?  Will  he  den^  that  in  the  Com- 
munity over  which  he  presides  the  marriage  covenant 
is  virtually  nullified  ?  Will  he  deni/  that  the  seventh 
commandment  in  the  Decalogue  is  set  aside  by  Perfec- 
tionists ?  Will  he  deuT/  that  he  and  his  most  enthusi- 
astic admirers  believe  and  teach  that  the  crimes  known 
in  law  as  adultery,  fornication  and  incest,  are  the 
'^  Cross  of  Christ  "  ?  And  will  he  deny  that  his  paper 
has  been  set  for  the  defence  and  promulgation  of  most 
or  all  of  these  doctrines,  and  that  they  have  been  openly 
avowed  or  covertly  taught  through  this  medium  ? 

If  this  be  the  case — which  can  be  clearly  shown — we 


NOYESISM  UN^-EILBD.  5T 

are  at  once  carried  to  the  conclusion  that  the  paper  has 
been  grossly  licentious  in  its  tendency,  Mr.  N.*s  naked 
assertion  to  the  contrary  notwithstanding.  In  view  of 
all  the  facts,  it  appears  that  the  citizens  of  Putney  were 
7iot  mistaken  in  regard  to  the  character  of  Mr,  N.'s 
paper.  Was  it,  then,  "  inquisitorial "  and  "  anti-re- 
puhhcan  "  for  them  to  ask  for  the  stoppage  of  such  a 
print  ?  Certainly  not.  But  Mr.  N.  thinks  he  ought  to 
be  permitted  to  do  as  he  pleases  in  this  ''free  country.'''' 
Hjs  views  of  freedom  evidently  coincide  with  those  of  a 
certain  foreign  emigrant  who  once  landed  upon  our 
shores.  A  son  of  Erin's  "  swate  "  Isle  had  heard  of 
the  land  of  liberty,  and  had  long  and  ardently  desired 
to  enjoy  its  mestimable  privileges.  At  length  he  was 
permitted  to  reach  this  happy  country  ;  and  he  sought 
an  early  opportunity  to  give  a  practical  demonstration 
of  his  freedom.  Scarcely  had  his  feet  pressed  Ameri- 
can soil,  when  he  dealt  a  heavy  blow  at  the  first  person 
he  met,  and  laid  him  prostrate  upon  the  ground.  When 
called  to  an  account  for  his  offence  before  the  civil 
authorities,  he  remarked,  in  justification  of  his  conduct, 
that  he  thought  this  was  a  free  country,  where  every 
man  might  do  as  he  "'  plazed^ 

So  Mr.  N.  would  Hke  to  do  as  he  pleases  ;  and  is  not 
only  determined  to  "  pass  and  repass  as  he  pleases  the 
usual  boundaries  of  technical  theology,"  but  resolved  if 
possible  to  caiTy  away  all  the  legal  landmarks  in  the 
land,  and  "  pass  and  repass  "  at  pleasure  the  "  usual 
boundaries  "  set  up  by  Statute  Law. 

But  we  will  dismiss  the  point  relative  to  the  licen- 


58  NOYBSISM  UNVEILED. 

tious  character  and  tendency  of  Mr.  N.'s  official  organ, 
by  here  introducing  a  few  pertinent  remarks  of  0.  IT. 
Piatt,  Esq.,  Editor  of  the  Vermont  Phoenix.  The 
opinion  of  Mr.  Piatt  is  entitled  to  weight  from  the  fact 
that  he  is  a  barrister  by  profession,  and  consequently 
conversant  with  judicial  matters,  and  competent  to 
judge  in  relation  to  the  character  of  Mr.  N.'s  paper 
when  viewed  in  a  legal  point  of  light.  It  is  as  fol- 
lows : — 

"A  ^ajMT  so  licentious  and  indecent — so  seditious 
mid  immoral  m  its  character^  as  this  has  been  ever 
since  its  co7nmencement,  would  not,  even  in  the  tainted 
atmosphere  of  the  city,  he  tolerated  for  a  single  iveek. 
It  ivould  he  indicted  as  a  nuisance,  hefore  a  seco7id 
numher  could  he  issued,  and  suppressed  hy  the  strong 
arm  of  the  lawP 

The  purport  of  the  third  resolution  of  the  series 
under  consideration,  was,  that  those  Perfectionists  still 
remaining  in  Putney  "  ought  publicly  to  renounce  those 
principles  which  tend  to,  and  abandon  those  practices 
which  are,  a  violation  of  the  statute  laws  of  the  State." 
No  attention  was  paid  to  this  resolution — or  at  least  no 
evidence  was  given  that  there  was  any  reformation  in 
their  conduct ;  and  it  is  a  well  known  fact  that  they 
renounced  none  of  their  principles. 

The  substance  of  the  fourth  resolution  was,  that  the 
Perfectionists  ought  suitably  to  remunerate  those  per- 
sons in  Putney  whom  they  had  seriously  injured.  This 
they  refused  to  do,  and  several  actions  were  brought 
against  Mr.  Noyes  for  damages  done  to  different  fami- 
lies ;  and  they  found  it  expedient  to  "  settle  itpy     But 


N0YE6ISM  UNVEILED.  59 

no  one  pretends  that  an  ample  remuneration  was  made 
for  the  damages  done  to  different  individuals  in  conse- 
quence of  the  infamous  conduct  of  Noyes  and  his  col- 
leagues. 

We  have  thus  briefly  referred  to  the  character  of  the 
resolutions  passed  by  the  citizens  of  Putney .  Were  those 
resolutions  unreasonable  ?  Not  in  the  least.  In  view  of 
the  circumstances,  we  do  not  see  how  the  citizens  of  Put- 
ney could  have  consistently  expressed  themselves  in  mil- 
der terms.  Moreover,  they  did  not  imperatively  demand 
that  the  resolutions  shoidd  be  complied  with,  for  they 
did  not  consider  that  this  was  their  prerogative  ;  but 
they  deliberately  said  in  a  collective  capacity  that  they 
ought  to  be  complied  with  ;  and  it  was  then  left  optional 
with  the  Perfectionists  to  heed  the  voice  of  the  people, 
or  abide  the  issue.  The  resolutions  were  but  partially 
complied  with.  The  people  said  the  moral  interests  of 
the  community  demanded  the  dissolution  of  the  Perfec- 
tionist Association  at  Putney,  which  was  a  self-evident 
truth  ;  but  it  was  not  dissolved,  according  to  their  own 
declaration.  The  people  said  that  their  paper  ought  to 
be  discontinued^  but  it  was  not.  It  is  true,  a  notice 
was  issued,  announcing  the  suspenmn  (not  discontin- 
uance) of  the  publication  of  the  paper,  but  that  only 
'-^  for  the  present.''^  And  the  publication  of  the  paper 
has  since  been  resumed  at  Oneida  Reserve,  N.  Y.  A 
remark  here,  touching  the  topic  of  newspaper  liberty, 
may  not  be  ill-timed.  The  freedom  of  the  press  has 
the  sanction  of  a  constitutional  guarantee  ;  but  the 
largest  authorized  liberty  is  remote  from  unrestricted 


60  NOYESISM  UNVEILED. 

license.  Every  denomination  professedly  religious  has 
the  right,  through  the  medium  of  the  press  or  other- 
wise, to  promulgate  their  peculiar  tenets,  provided  they 
are  not  contrary  to  the  laws  of  the  land^  nor  injurious 
to  pMio  mo7'als.  But  whenever  any  sect  professedly 
rehgious  incorporate  into  their  creed  principles  which 
tend  to,  and  countenance  and  even  enjoin  those  acts 
which  are^  a  gross  violation  of  statute  law,  and  intro- 
duce vice  and  immorality  in  their  most  revolting  forms, 
they  forfeit  the  protection  of  law,  and  render  themselves 
obnoxious  to  its  penalties.  Now  it  is  a  notorious  fact, 
that  the  principles  taught  by  Mr.  Noyes  are  diametri- 
cally opposed  to,  and  the  course  pursued  by  him  and 
his  followers  is  a  gross  violation  o/,  the  laws  of  the 
land,  and  are  fatal  to  public  morals  wherever  their 
touch  is  felt.  This  being  the  case,  was  it  unjustifiable 
in  the  citizens  of  Putney  to  say  that  their  press  ought 
to  be  stopped  ?  By  no  means.  Yet  Mr.  N.  denounces 
it  as  "  inquisitorial  "  and  "  anti-republican."  Such  a 
charge  comes  with  an  ill  grace  from  such  a  source. 

Again — the  citizens  of  Putney  said  that  the  Perfec- 
tionists ought  to  renounce  their  pernicious  principles, 
but  this  was  not  done.  In  the  notice  which  was  issued 
by  the  publishers  of  the  Spiritual  Magazine,  announcing 
the  suspension  of  the  publication  of  that  paper,  the  doc- 
trines which  they  had  formerly  taught,  and  all  along 
had  been  inculcating,  were  commended,  "/or  the  pres- 
ent^ to  the  re-examination  of  Perfectionists.^^  Thus 
their  disciples  were  put  back  upon  a  review,  that  they 
might  refresh  their  memories  and  become  more  famiUar 


NOYESISM  UNVEILED.  61 

with  the  sentiments  already  taught,  until  circumstances 
would  admit  of  their  resuming  the  publication  of  their 
paper,  which,  as  we  have  seen,  has  already  been  done. 
No  evidence  has  been  given  that  they  have  renounced 
a  single  iota  of  their  principles  ;  and  the  course  which 
they  are  pursuing  clearly  indicates  a  settled  determin- 
ation on  their  part  to  disseminate  still  the  same  princi- 
ples as  heretofore  pubhshed,  so  far  as  circumstances 
will  admit.  If  they  pertinaciously  adhere  to  their  per- 
nicious principles,  and  are  resolved  to  carry  them  out, 
unless  prevented  by  the  rigid  supervision  and  adminis- 
tration of  municipal  law,  it  is  time  for  the  conservators 
of  the  public  morals  to  be  on  the  alert. 

When  at  Putney,  the  Noyesites  necessaiily  mingled 
to  some  extent  in  their  business  matters  with  the  citi- 
zens of  the  village  ;  and  this  state  of  things  they  found 
to  be  a  little  unfavorable  to  the  carrying  out  of  their 
peculiar  social  principles — ^being  subject  to  public 
observation  ;  which,  together  with  their  published  prin- 
ciples, made  no  very  favorable  impression  as  to  the 
state  of  morals  among  them.  And  when  the  law  would 
allow  them  to  remain  no  longer  without  feeling  its  pen- 
alties, the  leaders  left,  and  retired  to  a  somewhat  seclu- 
ded spot,  and  now  congratulate  themselves  on  being 
"  clear  of  the  clashings  of  village  interests."  At 
Oneida  Reserve,  in  Central  New  York,  they  have 
planted  their  standard,  and  are  now  beating  up  for 
recruits ;  and  they  hope  to  be  permitted  there  to 
''  work  out  "  their  social  principles,  unmolested.  At  the 
very  outset  in  their  operations,  they  gave  the  people  in 


62  NOYESISM  UNVEILED. 

the  vicinity  of  Oneida  Reserve  quite  a  smart  sprinkling 
of  "  soft  solder ^^^  obviously  with  a  design  to  ingratiate 
themselves  into  their  favor.  But  probably  this  worth- 
less commodity  will  be  duly  appreciated  by  the  intelli- 
gent citizens  of  that  section  of  country.  Mr.  Noyes  tells 
the  people  there  that  they  are  "  less  bigoted  "  than  the 
inhabitants  of  New  England,  and  he  presumes  they  will 
let  him  "  w^ork  out  and  pubhsh  his  principles  of  associa- 
tion in  peace."  As  much  as  if  he  had  said,  "  If  you 
wiU  let  us  do  as  we  please,  and  give  us  your  sons  and 
daughters  to  aid  in  building  up  our  kingdom,  we  will 
call  jow  pretty  goodfelloivs — otherwise,  we  shall  think 
you  710  '  less  bigoted '  than  the  people  of  New  Eng- 
land. Meanwliile  we  will  keep  up  a  very  fair  exterior 
— you  shall  have  no  occasion  to  complain  of  '  our  gene- 
ral behavior  to  our  neighbors,'  but  you  must  not  meddle 
with  our  domestic  affairs — -you  must  not  come  mthin 
the  '  chaniied  circle,'  unless  you  will  submit  to  all  the 
rules  and  regidations.^^  The  heads  of  famihes  in  the 
vicinity  of  Oneida  Reserve,  if  they  would  protect  their 
own  firesides,  and  preserve  the  sanctity  of  "  sweet 
home,"  would  do  well  to  keep  a  vigilant  eye  upon  the 
Noyesite  Community  there,  although  they  will  need  no 
such  caution  after  a  full  account  of  the  doings  at  Put- 
ney is  fairly  laid  before  them.  Should  they  suffer 
their  sons  and  daughters  to  be  enticed  from  under  the 
parental  roof,  and  by  the  soft  hand  of  persuasion  drawn 
mthin  the  "  charmed  circle,"  their  certain  ruin  would 
be  sealed. 

But  to  return : — The  citizens  of  Putney  said  that  the 


NOYESISM  UNVEILED.  63 

Nojesites  ought  to  renounce  their  pernicious  principles. 
Was  this  improper  ?  Not  in  the  least.  It  will  be  read- 
ily gi-anted  that  in  matters  of  mere  belief,  not  affecting 
the  moral  interests  of  the  community,  nor  tending 
to  the  infraction  of  statute  law,  a  resort  to  coercive 
measures  would  be  an  unauthorized  invasion  of  the 
rights  of  conscience.  But  this  was  far  from  bemg  the 
case  in  the  present  instance.  The  doctrines  taught  by 
Noyes  tended  directly  to,  and  had  actually  resulted  in, 
gross  ^dolations  of  law.  The  outrageous  conduct  com- 
plained of  at  Putney,  was  not  contrary  to^  but  in  per- 
fect Jceeping  ivith^  their  principles.  It  "  was  not  only 
a  necessary  consequence,  but  a  positive  mandatory 
injunction  of  their  doctrine  "  ;  and  they  have  at  last 
taken  the  Heaven-daring  and  utterly  outrageous  posi- 
tion, that  such  infamous  conduct  is  the  "  Cross  of 
Clirist^^ ! !  I  Now  it  is  perfectly  plain  that  nothing 
short  of  a  renunciation  of  the  principles  which  were  the 
basis  of  such  conduct,  would  be  satisfactory,  or  afiford 
any  security  for  the  future.  Circumstances  might  be 
such  that  they  might  deem  it  expedient,  or  consider  it 
good  pohcy,  to  promise  an  outward  observance  of  the 
law  ;  but  what  confidence  could  be  placed  in  such 
promises  ?  How  far  could  we  trust  a  person  hardened 
in  crime,  upon  a  mere  verbal  promise,  when  he  con- 
tended that  he  had  a  perfect  right  to  transgress  the 
laws  of  the  land?  He  might  be  compelled  by  the 
pressure  of  exterior  circumstances  to  change  his  course 
of  conduct  for  a  season,  but  without  a  renunciation  of 
those   pernicious   principles    which  naturally  lead   to 


64  WOYESISM  UNVEILED. 

offensive  conduct,  there  could  be  no  radical  reform. 
A  Noyesite  who  pertinaciously  adheres  to  his  princi- 
ples, would  not  obey  the  law  unless  compelled  to.  Ohe- 
dience  to  law  would  be  disobedience  to  his  leader, 
whose  authority  is  considered  paramount  to  all  law. 

We  know  full  well  what  Mr.  Noyes  will  say  in 
regard  to  some  points  which  we  have  noticed.  He 
contends  that  he  and  his  followers  are  exempt  from 
law ;  hence  in  their  view  there  is  no  immorality  in  per- 
petual violations  of  legislative  enactments,  or  the  letter 
of  Divine  law.  Such  absurd  assumptions,  and  the 
sophistical  arguments  brought  to  sustain  them,  will  have 
no  force  in  an  intelligent  and  candid  community. 

Let  it  be  remembered  that  the  resolutions  to  which 
we  have  already  referred,  were  passed  at  a  public 
meeting  of  the  citizens  of  Putney,  held  Dec.  6,  1847. 
At  that  meeting  a  committee  was  appointed  to  lay  the 
proceedings  before  the  heads  of  the  Corporation,*  and 
they  were  instructed  to  urge  imrtieularly  upon  their 
attention  the  propriety  of  complying  with  the  resolution 
relative  to  making  remuneration  to  those  whom  the 
Perfectionists  had  injured.  This  committee  was  also 
to  confer  with  them  in  relation  to  their  future  course  of 
conduct,  and  report  to  an  adjourned  meeting  to  be  held 

*  Mr.  Noyes,  when  at  Putney,  tried  the  experiment  in  a  small  way 
of  conducting  his  pecuniary  affairs  on  a  plan  similar  to  that  of  the 
Fourierists.  He  adopted  the  principle  of  a  community  of  goods,  and 
gave  to  the  concern  under  his  control  the  name  of  Corporation, 
although  an  act  of  incorporation  was  never  granted  by  the  Legisla- 
ture of  Veraaont. 


NOYESISM  UNVEILED.  65 

on  the  9th  of  the  same  month.  It  was  hoped  that  hy 
this  course  the  necessity  of  further  prosecutions  might 
be  evaded.  The  committee  reported  that  the  heads  of 
the  Association  refused  to  acknowledge  that  thej  had 
Injured  any  one  ;  but  promised  that  for  the  future  they 
would  regard  the  requisitions  of  moral  and  statute 
laws,  and  that  nothing  of  a  licentious  tendency  should 
appear  in  their  paper.  This  report  was  laid  upon  the 
table,  not  being  satisfactory  for  the  reason  that  they 
refused  to  remunerate  those  whom  they  had  seriously 
injured,  and  because  the  promises  made  were  considered 
worthless.  But  it  may  be  asked — ivere  the  promises 
made  by  the  Noyesites  of  any  real  value,  and  ought  the 
citizens  of  Putney  to  have  been  satisfied  with  them  ? 
Let  us  see.  The  Committee  appointed  to  confer  with 
them,  reported,  that  the  leading  Noyesites  remaining  in 
Putney,  promised  that  their  conduct,  and  that  of  the 
members  of  the  Association,  so  far  as  they  could 
control  their  action,  sliould  be  governed  in  future  by 
the  requisitions  of  Moral  and  Statute  Laws.  Now, 
this  language  among  common  people  would  mean  some- 
thing, but  in  the  mouth  of  the  Noyesites  it  amounts  to 
a  '-'  SOLEMN  NOTHING."  They  positively  assert  that 
the  Moral  Law  is  abohshed !  They  have  proclaimed  it 
upon  the  hill-tops,  and  rung  it  through  the  valleys,  that 
they  are  exempt  from  all  ''  written  law,"  and  they 
glory  in  their  freedom.  They  utterly  scout  the  idea 
that  the  letter  of  the  Moral  Law,  and  the  enactments 
standing  on  the  Statute  Books,  are  binding  upon  them, 
or  should  be  regarded  as   a   rale   of  life.     They  set 


Q6  NOYESISM  UNVEILED. 

themselves  up  as  a  privileged  fraternity — exempt  fron. 
all  external  law — having  a  law  within  them  which   i< 
the  rule  of   action — and  they  pretend  that  they  are 
divinely  inspired  1     They  may  he  inspired,  but  if  so, 
their  inspii-ation  is   certainly   of   a  very   questmiable 
character,     li  they  will  have  it  that  they  are  inspired, 
we  will  not  here  contest  the  pomt,  but  must  be  allowed 
the  privilege   of  expressing  the  settled  conviction  that 
they  are  mspired  from  the  WRONG  SOURCE  !     If 
their  doctrmes  are  doubted,  or  the  correctness  of  their 
course  of  conduct  questioned,  the  olyjector  is  met  with 
the  "mouth-stopping"  declaration — ••  ^\'e  aee  divinely 
INSPIRED  !"     This  answers  all  questions — this  ends  all 
controversy  in  their  estunation  I     However  vicious  thoi 
conduct  and  aggravated  their   crimes,  they  will  no' 
admit   that  they  transgress  any  law   that  is  bindins: 
The  law  within  them,  by  which  they  are  governed,  the;. 
assert  to  be  paramount  to  all  external,  or  >mtten  law ' 
Of  how  much  value  would  a  promise  be,  coming  fror 
persons  adhering  to  such  principles  ?     If  they  believed 
the  Moral  Law  to  be  abrogated,  they  could  not  cori- 
sistently  obey  it ;  for  obedience  to  it  would  be  disobe- 
dience to  that    internal  prmciple  which  they  declare 
to  be  paramount  to  all  law.     Moreover,  it  was  declared 
by  one  of  their  number  several  montlis  after  this  pror. 
ise  was  made,  that  they  had  been  pursuing  tlu'  sani  ?. 
course  as  fonnerly. 

But  it  was  reported  that  they  promised  that  nothing 
of  a  licentious  character  or  tendency  should  appear  in 
leir  paper.     This  at  first  view  appears  very  specious, 


NOYESISM  UNVEILED.  67 

but  amounts  to  nothing.  The  j  will  not  admit  that  they 
have  ever  pubHshed  any  thing  of  such  a  character. 
They  could  have  re-published  all  the  oflfensive  matter 
that  had  ever  appeared  in  their  paper,  and,  according 
to  their  construction,  it  would  have  been  no  violation 
of  this  promise.  They  could  have  set  forth  principles 
of  the  most  immoral  tendency  in  perfect  keeping  with 
such  a  pledgee 

That  this  is  the  hght  in  which  they  viewed  the 
subject  is  perfectly  clear  from  Mr.  N,'s  own  language. 
He  has  since  said  that  the  citizens  of  Putney  were 
entirely  mistaken  in  relation  to  the  character  of  his 
paper,  and  that  it  was  "  too  well  known  to  its  subscri- 
bers to  need  justification  from  the  charge  of  licentious 
tendency."  This  language  contains  a  peremptory 
denial  that  they  had  ever  published  any  thing  licentious; 
hence  in  promising  not  to  publish  any  thing  of  such  a 
character,  they  promised  to  do  jii%t  as  they  had  done  ! 
A  valuable  promise  this. 

Thus  it  appears  that  for  the  purpose  of  allaying  the 
justly  indi.gnant  feehngs  of  the  citizens  of  Putney,  the 
leading  Noyesites  promised  to  be  governed  by  whole- 
some law^s,  and  to  pursue  a  proper  course  ;  but  their 
promises  were  couched  in  such  language  as  to  deceive 
the  people  ;  and  it  appears  that  they  really  meant  that 
they  would  do  just  as  they  had  done,  so  far  as  circum- 
stances would  warrant ;  but  that  for  the  time  to  come 
they  would  be  careful  and  not  be  detected.  Thi?, 
appears  to  have  been  the  sum  of  all  their  promises. 


68  NOYESiSM  UNVEILED. 


CHAPTER  VII. 

Citizens  of  Putney  falsely  charged  with  having 
ad/Of  led  harsh  measures  for  the  extirpation  of  the 
Perfectionists — Gratuitous  plea  of  Repentance  set 
up  for  the  leading  Perfectionists. 

The  citizens  of  Putney  have  been  charged  wth 
having  adopted  hai-^h  measures  instead  of  mild  ones  for 
the  purpose  of  breaking  down  and  extirpating  the 
Perfectionist  Community  there.  But  this  charge,  from 
whatever  source  it  may  emanate,  is  utterly  false  and 
groundless.  The  facts  in  the  case  will  speak  for  them- 
selves, and  the  course  pursued  by  the  citizens  of 
Putney,  clearly  shows  that  they  did  not  wish  to  resort 
to  any  improper  and  unlawful  measures,  for  the  purpose 
of  con-ecting  the  existing  e\il.  Instead  of  violent 
measures,  the  usual  process  in  such  cases  was  instituted 
against  Mr.  Noyes  in  the  midst  of  his  high-handed 
offences,  and  all  the  facts  abundantly  show  that  the 
citizens  of  Putney  resorted  to  the  mildest  measures 
which  could  have  been  consistently  adopted.  They 
have  been  charged  with  having  urged  the  ci-editore  of 
the  Corporation  *'  to  jjounce  upon  them  for  the  imnie' 
diate  payment  of  their  demands,  for  the  purpose  of 
breaking  them  down  in  a  pecuniary  sensed  But  not 
%  solit-ary  instance  his  been  produced,  neither  indeed 
cun  be,  as  we  verily  beheve,  in  which  the  citizens  of 
Putney  as  a  body,  or  any  considerable  portion  of  them, 
or  even  a  singh  individual,  has  urged  one  creditor  of 


NOYBSISM  UNVEILED.  69 

the  Corporation  k?  call  for  the  immediate  payment  of 
his  dues.  The  facts  in  the  case  are  simply  these  : — 
Several  citizens  of  Putney  had  loaned  considerable 
sums  of  money  to  the  Corporation,  and  after  the  arrest 
of  Mr.  Noyes  they  became  somewhat  alarmed.  They 
had  reason  to  fear  that  things  were  so  "  rotten  in 
Denmark,"  that  they  mic/M'diW  go  to  ruin ;  and  they 
accordingly  took  the  timely  precaution,  upon  their  own 
responsibility,  to  obtain  ample  security,  or  have  their 
demands  liquidated.  What  prudent — not  to  say 
shrewd- — business  man  would  not  have  taken  a  similar 
course  ? 

But  was  there  no  just  cause  of  alarm  ?  And  did 
not  the  creditors  even,  pursue  a  proper  and  justifiable 
course  ?  Let  us  see.— Strong  fears  were  evidently 
entertained  by  some  of  the  near  relatives — persons 
best  acquainted  with  the  circumstances- — of  the  woman 
known  in  Imv  as  the  wife  of  John  H.  Noyes,  for  he 
was  required  to  convey  by  deed  to  a  certain  individual 
— to  be  held  in  trust — a  large  amount  of  real  estate, 
for  the  purpose  of  affording  security  to  his  wife  for  a 
portion  of  the  property  which  she  possessed  at  the  time 
of  her  marriage.  How  can  we  account  for  this,  if 
there  was  no  just  cause  of  alarm?  If  there  was  any 
pouncing^  here  was  the  hea^^dest  part  of  it.  So  much 
for  the  harsh  measures  of  the  citizens  of  Putney, 
touching  this  matter. 

But  let  us  look  a  little  further.  Mr.  Noyes  was 
arrested — ^he  soon  after  absconded — and  not  appearing 
at  court,  his  bonds  were  forfeited.     Although  the  peni- 


70  NOYBSISM  UNVEILED. 

tentiary  was  the  proper  place  for  him,  yet,  by  paying  a 
few  hundred  dollars  he  has  the  privilege,  for  the 
present,  of  running  at  large  out  of  the  State  of 
Vermont. — Geo.  Cragin,  an  intimate  and  accomplice 
of  Noyes,  fled  hastily  under  cover  of  the  night  to 
avoid  an  arrest. — Two  prominent  Perfectionists  who 
owned  the  dwelling  in  wl5ch  Mr,  N.  had  his  company, 
were  not  disturbed — one  remaining  in  town  a  number 
of  months,  and  the  other  is  still  there.  They  might 
have  been  indicted  for  keeping  a  house  of  prostitution. 

But  the  citizens  of  Putney  wished  to  be  lenient ; 
and  thought  if  the  leaders  were  brought  to  justice,, 
others  who  had  been  led  away  by  them  would  forsake 
their  evil  ways.  But  nothing  of  the  kind  has  occurred 
— and  because  sentence  against  their  evil  works  was 
not  "  executed  speedily,"  their  hearts  are  evidently 
''  fully  set  in  them  to  do  evil." 

Now  in  view  of  all  the  facts  and  circumstances, 
it  plainly  appears  that  the  citizens  of  Putney  were 
extremely  lenient — lenient  even  to  a  fault.  They 
evidently  erred  on  the  Me  of  mercy.  How  unjust 
then  to  charge  them  with  having  adopted  liarsh  meas- 
ures. 

Speaking  in  reference  to  their^  paper,  the  Editor  of 
a  neighboring  pubhc  journal  says : — 

"  That  it  has  been  so  long  endured  by  the  respecta- 
ble and  intelligent  inhabitants  of  Putney^  is  otving 
probably  to  the  respectability  of  his  family^  and  a 
reluctance  to  wound  their  feelings  by  any  public  pro- 
ceedings.^^ 


NOYESISM    UNVEILED.  71 

Again  alluding  to  the  public  meeting  at  which  the 
resolutions  noticed  in  the  preceding  chapter,  were 
passed,  the  same  wiiter  says : — 

''  We  most  cordially  participate  in  the  sentiments 
and  indignant  feelings  expressed  by  the  meeting.  It 
is  almost  incredible,  that  in  tliis  intelligent  community, 
people  can  be  found  so  deluded,  or  so  shameless,  as 
boldly  to  avow  and  practice  the  doctrines  attributed 
to  this  sect ;  and  we  should  l^e  much  more  amazed,  if 
they  were  for  a  moment  tolerated  or  suffered  to  exist. 
We  are  only  surprised^  that  the  citizens  of  Putn&y 
have  exercised  so  much  forhearance  and  moderation., 
and  have  not  sooner  extirpated  so  disgraceful  an 
outrage  upon  society  and  Moral  and  Statute  Law.^^ 

In  fine,  it  has  been  matter  of  much  surprise  to 
people  abroad,  that  the  citizens  of  Putney  have  been 
so  tolerant.  Often  have  individuals  in  different  places 
made  remarks  to  this  effect : — •'  Had  the  Perfection- 
ists been  located  in  our  village  or  vicinity,  they  would 
not  have  been  tolerated  for  any  length  of  time.  A 
community  professing  and  practicing  such  doctrines  as 
the  one  at  Putney,  if  it  could  not  be  reached  any 
other  way,  would  come  under  the  jurisdiction  of 
moh  law. 

But  an  individual  is  occasionally  to  be  found  whose 
sympathies  are  wonderfully  moved  toward  the  Noyes- 
ites ;  the  reason  for  this  we  are  utterly  at  a  loss  to 
conceive,  unless  it  be  found  in  the  fact  that  such 
persons  find  in  the  Perfectionists,  congenial  or  kindred 
spirits.  The  plea  of  repentance  was  gratuitously  set 
up  for  some  of  the  Noyesites,  evidently  for  the  purpose 


72  NOYESISM   UNVEILED,. 

of  palliating  their  criminalities.  It  was  thought  at 
Putney — whether  by  more  than  one  person  we  are  not 
prepared  to  say — ^that  a  promise  of  amendment  by  a 
few  of  the  remaining  Perfectionists  was  sufficient : 
which  promise,  as  we  have  seen,  was  utterly  worthless. 
That  the  Noyesites  have  reformed  or  ever  intend  as 
a  body  to  reform,  we  have  not  a  particle  of  proof  to 
show.  The  course  which  Mr.  N.  and  his  followers  are 
pursuing  is  a  living  commentary  upon  the  utter  futility 
Qf  all  promises  of  amendment  coming  from  that  quar- 
ter. But  even  admitting  such  promises  to  be  rehable, 
would  they  satisfy  the  demands  of  justice  agamst 
offenders  ?  Not  in  the  least.  Such  a  principle  apphed 
to  pecuniary  matters  would  liquidate  every  debt  which 
a  person  might  have  contracted.  Just  let  him  promise 
not  to  augment  his  Kabilities,  and  he  might  demand 
exemption  from  payment.  On  the  same  principle  the 
most  notorious  culprit  might  demand  acquittal  at  the 
hand  of  the  minister  of  justice. 

Some  persons  have  extremely  lax  views  of  repent- 
ance. Repentance  has  mostly  to  do  with  the  past  and 
present,  although  its  genuineness  is  evinced  by  an 
exemplary  future  walk.  Conviction  of  wrong  done  is 
indispensable  to  true  repentance.  Now  the  Noyesites 
have  no  such'  convictions,  for  they  will  acknowledge 
no  sin ;  it  is  a  leading  doctrine  with  them  that  they' 
cannot  sin,  do  what  they  may.  Here  then  is  an  insu- 
perable barrier  to  repentance. 

Again,  sorrow  for  sin  is  necessary  to  true  repent 
ance ;   but  the   Noyesites  have   no   compunctions   of 


NOYESISM    UNVJSIL3B-.  73 

conscience  whatever — do  what  they  may,  they  are 
ready  to  wipe  their  mouths  and  say  —  ^^  We  have 
drine  no  evil.^^  Moreover,  the  legitimate  fruits  of 
genuine  repentance  appear  not  only  in  reformation  of 
conduct,  but  in  reparation  for  injuries  already  inflicted, 
so  far  as  circumstances  will  admit.  At  Putney,  crimes 
were  not  only  committed  against  the  "  peace  and 
dignity  of  the  State,''  but  individuals  were  seriously 
injured ;  and  the  Noyesites  there  have  manifested  no 
disposition  to  make  voluntary  restitution.  They  have 
done  no  more  than  they  were  compelled  to  do  by  law. 

But  gentlemen,  in  trymg  to  make  it  appear  that  the  . 
Noyesites  have  repented,  have  undertaken  to  do  a  work 
of  supererogation ;  but  perhaps  they  are  not  aware 
that  they  are  rendering  a  gratuitous  and  thankless 
service.  The  Noyesites  cannot  consistently  ask  for, 
or  accept  of,  any  such  work ;  for  repentance  has  no 
place  among  them.  It  implies  the  existence  of  sin, 
and  this  they  will  never  admit.  The  security  of  the 
saints,  i.  e.  Noyesites,  is  represented  as  the  key-stone 
in  the  arch  of  Noyesism.  Should  they  acknowledge 
that  they  have  sinned^  or  even  admit  it  2^(^-^'^^^^  fo" 
them  to  sin,  they  would  thereby  knock  the  key-stone 
out  of  their  own  arch,  and  the  whole  superstructure 
would  tumble  down.  They  profess  to  be  "■  stand- 
ing on  the  plain  eternity,  beyond  the  judgment,''  and 
we  might  as  soon  expect  to  find  repentance  among  the 
sinless  intelligences  of  heaven,  as  to  obtain  an  admis- 
sion of  its  existence  among  the  Noyesites. 


T4  NOYBSISM   UNVEILED. 


CHAPTER  yill. 

Reproaches  cast   upon  the  citizens  of  Putney — Cry 
of  persecution  raised  hy  the  Noyesites. 

The  inhabitants  of  Putney  have,  for  several  years 
past,  suffered  more  or  less  in  the  estimation  of  people 
abroad,  according  to  the  amount  of  information  which 
the  public  have  possessed  in  relation  to  the  character 
of  the  Perfectionist  Community  located  there.  This, 
undei^  existing  circumstances,  could  not  well  be  avoided. 
Although  the  citizens  of  Putney  had,  for  some  length 
of  time,  had  reason  to  siisjyect  there  was  "  something 
rotten  in  Denmark  ;"  yet  facts  did  not  come  to  their 
knowledge  sufficient  to  warrant  a  prosecution  imtil 
the  autumn  of  1847.  In  the  mean  time,  however, 
the  Perfectionists,  through  the  medium  of  a  periodical 
published  at  Putney,  and  the  efforts  of  a  few  public 
teachers,  had  been  scattering  their  licentious  doctrines 
broadcast  over  the  country.  People  abroad  had 
become  familiar,  at  least  to  some  extent,  with  those 
doctrines  ;  and  guided  by  the  sentiment  that  men  are 
not  better  thaii  their  principles^  they  arrived  at  the 
legitimate  conclusion  that  they  were  a  licentious  people. 
Moreover,  facts  confirming  this  conclusion  had  also 
come  to  light.  The  practical  results  of  their  pernicious 
principles,  had  appeared  among  some  societies  of  Per- 
fectionists elsewhere.  Hence,  people  abroad  supposed 
they  were  not  mistaken  as  to  the  true  character  of  the 
society  at    Putney.     This  was  the  -model,  and  other 


NOYESISM   UNVEILED.  75 

societies  at  a  distance  receiving  their  impress  from  this, 
were  regarded  as  so  many  mirrors  reflecting  its  true 
features.  And  the  people  of  Putney,  for  several 
years,  suffered  the  reproach  of  permitting  them  to 
exist  in  their  midst.  But  in  this  they  acted  wisely. 
Had  they  on  mere  suspicion,  however  strong  and  well 
founded,  resorted  to  violent  measures,  or  commenced 
a  legal  process  without  sufficient  evidence  to  sustain  it, 
the  cry  of  persecution,  long  and  loud,  would  have  gone 
up — the  sympathies  of  some  would  have  been  enlisted 
in  their  behalf — a  prejudice  would  have  been  created 
against  the  citizens  of  Putney,  and  the  evil  which  they 
wished  to  eradicate,  would  have  taken  deeper  root, 
and  they  would  have  been  under  the  painful  necessity 
of  enduring  it  for  a  much  longer  time.  But  at  length 
sufficient  facts  were  elicited,  and  a  wholesome  correc- 
tive was  applied. 

But,  alas  !  strange  as  it  may  seem,  we  are  evidently 
doomed  to  hear  the  cry  of  persecution.  This  is  a 
weapon  which  impostors  ever  have  at  hand,  but  one 
that  culprits  seldom  have  the  confidence  to  use.  But 
It  evidently  appears  that  in  the  present  instance  it  is  to 
be  brought  into  requisition.  Mr.  Noyes,  we  under- 
stand, when  arrested,  remarked  to  his  followers,  that 
the  more  they  were  2^^'^secuted  the  nearer  they  came 
to  the  Primitive  Church ! 

And  from  present  indications  it  would  not  be  at 
all  surprising  if  Mr.  N.,  in  a  work  which  he  has 
announced  as  forth-coming,  should  give  us  a  dolcrous 
account  of  his  persecutions  at  Putijey.     But  the  citi- 


\ 


76  NOYESISM   UNVEILED. 

zens  of  Putney  have  asked  for  no  raore  than  even- 
handed  justice  ;  and  should  that  be  administered,  and 
any  considerable  portion  of  them  remain  dissatisfied, 
and  proceed  to  unjustifiable  acts,  there  would  then  be 
sufficient  time  to  tall^  about  persecution.  The  subtle 
incendiai-y,  the  daruig  highway  robber,  and  the 
cold-blooded  midnight  assassin,  might  with  as  much 
propriety  raise  the  cry  of  persecution  when  pursued 
by  the  officer  of  justice,  as  the  Noyesites,  or  any  of 
their  minions,  can  lift  their  voices  and  raise  such  a  cry 
5e/bre  justice  is  administered. 

Persecution  implies  the  infliction  of  unjust  punish- 
ment for  crimes  committed,  or  the  doing  of  injuries  for 
adherence  to  any  particular  religious  creed,  or  mode 
of  Divine  worship. 

Has  Mr.  Noyes  or  any  of  his  followers  been  injured^ 
for  adhering  to  their  'pecidiar  hreligious  notions^ 
simply  considered  ?  Not  in  the  least.  Has  any  unjust 
punishment  been  infficted  for  the  heinous  crimes  which 
they  have  committed  ?  Not  at  all.  The  sequel  will 
clearly  show  that  not  even  a  moiety  of  justice  has  yet 
been  admhiistered.  Irreparable  injuries  have  been 
done  to  some  of  the  citizens  of  Putney — injuries  for 
which  dollars  and  cents  would  be  a  poor  remuneration. 
Thus  it  appears  that  the  cry  of  persecution  comes  with 
an  extremely  ill  grace  from  the  Noyesites,  especially 
so  far  as  the  action  of  the  citizens  of  Putney  is  con- 
cerned. 

Inasmuch  as  the  citizens  of  Putney  have  been 
charged  with  adopting  unjustifiable  measures  in  rela- 


NOYESISM   UNVEILED.  77 

tion  to  the  Perfectionists — and  the  charge  may  be 
reiterated  from  a  certain  quarter — ^we  have  deemed  it 
proper  to  saj  thus  much  in  vindication  of  their  course, 
and  for  the  purpose  of  laying  tLe  whole  matter  before 
the  reader. 

Perhaps  before  dismissing  this  subject  it  may  be 
proper  to  say,  that  Mr.  Noyes  had  a  standing  and  influ- 
ence at  Putney,  wliich  he  could  not  have  acquired 
elsewhere.  The  family  to  which  he  belonged  were 
formerly  very  respectable  and  highly  respected. 
Possessing,  as  they  did,  talent,  education,  wealth,  and 
consequently  considerable  influence,  there  was  a  com- 
bination of  favorable  circumstances  calculated  to  give 
them  a  somewhat  elevated  position.  Several  members 
of  the  family  to  which  Mr.  N.  belonged,  having 
embraced  his  views  at  an  early  period,  added  something 
to  his  influence  in  Putney.  Although  many  of  the 
citizens  of  Putney  regarded  the  move  as  wholly  chhn- 
erical,  and  did  not  even  read  the  publications  of  Mr. 
N.,  yet  there  were  some  inclined  to  favor  his  notions. 
There  were  also  others — and  among  them  some  of  the 
sober  and  staid  citizens — who,  notwithstanding  his 
published  sentiments,  were  slow  to  believe  that  he 
would  plunge  into  iniquity — but  they  were  at  leng-th 
compelled  to  beheve  that  he  had  ;  showing  that  what 
he  taught  in  theory  he  intended  to  carry  out  in 
practice. 

Noyesism,  it  has  been  seen,  unlike  many  of  the  isms 
of  the  age,  had  a '  respectable  origin — ^having  been 
started  by  men  of  considerable  talent  and  intelligence. 


78  NOYESISM  UNVEILED. 

This  circumstance  probably  gave  it  character  and  influ- 
ence ;  but  the  delusion  is  none  the  less  deep  and 
dangerous,  and  its  enormities  none  the  less  alarming, 
but  even  the  more  so — for  the  greater  the  amount  of 
perverted  talent,  the  more  disastrous  the  results. 


NOYESLSM  UNVEILED.  79 

CHAPTER  IX. 

Noyesism  at  Putney. 

I      Noyesism  as  a  system — if  a  heterogeneous  mass  of 

I  the  grossest  errors  and  most  palpable  absurdities  can  be 

!  called  a  system — is   peculiar   in  its  character,  and  as 

■  diverse  from    pure   Christianity  as    the  darkness    of 

I  midnight  is  from  the  light  of  noon-day.     Although  it 

;  claims  to  be  a  perfect  embodiment  of  the  Christian 

j  virtues  and  the  very  beau  ideal  of  moral  beauty,  yet  it 

will  be   seen   on  examination   that  it   has  no   affinity 

whatever  with  the  Gospel  of  Christ.     That  it  is  diverse 

I  from  the  doctrines  taught  by  Evangelical  denominations 

I  is  evident  not  only  from  its  general   features,  but  is 

'  acknowledged   and  asserted  in  unequivocal   language 

I  by  the  founder  of  the  system.     Mr.  N.  says  : — "  New 

HavPM  Perfectionism  is  a  neiv  7'eligion  .  .  .  has  affinity 

until  no  sect  this  side  the  ^:>r^w^^^^Ve  church.  .  .  .  As 

a  system  it  is  distinct  from  all  the  popidar  theologies. '''' 

Perfectionist,  Vol.  iv.  No.  4. 

Mr.  N.  terms  it  a  new  religion  to  distinguish  it  from 
the  popular  theologies  now  extant ;  but  in  calling  it  a 
new  religion  he  has  unwittingly  spoken  an  important 
truth.  Noyseism  is  verily  a  neiv  religion — another 
Gospel  ;  and  St.  Paul  says :  "  But  though  we  or  an 
angel  from  heaven,  preach  any  other  gospel  unto  you 
than  that  which  we  have  preached  unto  you,  let  him 
be  accursed!"  Gal.  i.  8, 

But  where  shall  we  find  the  Simvn  Pures  of  this 
new  system  ?     Has  there  ever  been  a  full  development 


80  NOYESISM  UNVKIMID, 

— a   practical  demonstration   of    this   neiv    ism  f     In 
what  follows  we  shall  find  an  answer  to  these  questions. 

Mr.  Noyes  visited  Belchertown,  Mass.,  in  Feb.  1842, 
and  in  reference  to  a  meeting  held  there,  he  says : — 
''  I  made  one  remark  at  B.,  in  reply  to  rumors  which 
had  begun  to  circulate  there,  about  the  licentiousness 
of  Perfectionists  in  Southampton,  Brimneld,  and  other 
places,  which  I  will  repeat  here  ;  viz., 

'■'•New  Haven  Perfectionism  is  a  doctrinal  system,  standing  hy 
itself,  distinct  from  Wesleyan,  New  York,  and  Oberlin  Perfec- 
tionismy  as  it  is  from  non-resistance,  ^  comeoutisin,'  §'c-  -'Is  such 
it  is  to  be  judged  by  its  own  proper  fruits,  not  by  those  of  its 
supposed  kindred.  And  its  own  proper  fruits  are  to  be  looked 
for  in  those  fields  where  it  has  had  an  opportunity  to  take  root 
and  groto  to  maturify  by  itself,  not  in  fields  where  it  has  been 
aown  incidentally  among  other  seeds,  and  has  been  corrupted 
and  choked.  The  only  place  that  I  know  of  lohere  it  has  had 
an  extended  and  fair  opportunity  to  manifest  its  own  proper 
nature  and  tendency,  is  Putney,  Vt. :  and  I  am  willing  it  should 
oe  judged  by  the  moral  fruits  which  it  has  produced  in  that  place. 
Perfectionism  in  other  places,  so  far  as  Iknow,  (individual  instan- 
ces excepted,)  has  been  mixed  up  with  New  York  fanaticism, 
Boyleism,  Gatesism,  non-resistance,  ^'c,  §'<?.,  and  must  stand  or 
fall  by  itself.  New  Haven  Perfectionism  is  not  responsible,  la 
Putney,  during  an  experiment  of  seien  years  in  the  faith  of 
perfect  holiness,  there  has  been  no  tendency  towards  licentiousness 
among  believers  ,\  and  excepting  a  temporary  leaning  toioard 
Shakerv^m,  there  has  been  no  practical  departure  from  ordi- 
nary sexual  morality.''  " 

The  italicising  in  the  above  language  of  Mr.  Noyes, 
is  his  ov/n.  We  have  given  his  statement  entire ; 
and  it  is  a  happy  circumstance  that  he  has  taken  a 
bcid  stand,  and  so  di?tmctly  defined  his  position.     The 


I^OTESISM  UITV^EILED.  81 

public  mind  is  thus  fortunately  directed  bj  Mr.  N. 
himself,  to  a  point  where  Perfectionism  exists  ^:>2r/^^  and 
unalloyed — unmixed  a?id  imearrupted.  Here  it  appears 
in  its  native  dress,  and  exhibits  its  true,  character. 

For  the  purpose  of  evadingfethe  charge  of  licentious- 
ness, which  had  been  brought  against  Perfectionism. 
Mr.  N.  asserts  that  the  distinctive  doctrines  of  his 
system,  v/ith  a  few  individual  exceptions,  have  been 
mixed  with  the  doctrines  of  Boyle,  Gates,  and  others, 
wMch  he  disavows,  and  for  which  he  says  D^ew 
Haven  Perfectioaism  is  not  responsible.  Hence, 
whatever  improprieties  may  have  appeared  among 
societies  of  Perfectionists  elsewhere,  he  w^ould  attribute 
to  other  doctrines  which  had  been  incorporated  vrith 
his  own ;  and  he  seems  to  be  quite  unwilling  to 
acknowledge  such  improprieties  as  the  legitimate  fruits 
of  genuine  Perfectionism.  But  in  the  society  at 
Putney  we  have  a  genuine  embodiment  of  the  princi- 
ples of  Perfectionism.  This  society  from  its  verv 
infancy  has  been  under  the  inmiediate  vratch-care  and 
control  of  Mr.  iT.,  the  father  and  foimder  of  the  sect. 
Mr.  N.  Speaks  in  behalf  of  the  T\^hole  society  respect- 
ing their  conduct ;  and  we  should  infer  that  he  has 
been  perfectly  familiar  with  all  their  movements,  and 
has  controjled  the  whole  internal  regulations, — wliich 
has  undoubtedly  been  the  case. 

In  Putney,  then,  and  only  there,  according  to  Mr. 
N.'s  own  statement.  Perfectionism  "Aas  had  an 
extended  anJj  fair  opportunity  to  manifest  its  oivn 
proper  nature  and  tendency.'^     Here  it  stands  alone. 


8^'  NOTESISM  UNVEILED. 

and  in  this  fair  field,  T\-liere  it  has  not  been  "  corrupted 
and  clioked^'^  we  are  to  look  for  its  legitimate  fruits. 
Here  it  has  taken  deep^oot,  and  been  tenderly  nnrtnred 
under  the  fostering  care  of  its  own  parent,  and  has 
"  grown  to  maturity" — has  exhibited  its  legitimate 
fruits — and  w^e  will  add,  has  recently  gone  to  seed ! 

The  reader  cannot  be  in  doubt.  The  foregoing 
pages  have  thrown  a  flood  of  light  upon  this  matter. 
The  moral  fruits  which  Perfectionism  has  produced  in 
Putney,  have  been  exhibited  in  a  manner  which  cannot 
be  mistaken.  The  true  features  of  Noyesism  are 
portrayed,  and  it  is  held  up  to  public  view  in  its  native 
aspect.  And  a  more  disgusting  picture  cannot  well  be 
imagined. 

The  society  in  Putney,  having  been  a  perfect  pattern, 
other  societies  formed  elsewhere,  so  far  as  they  have 
been  moulded  after  the  true  model,  have  borne  its 
impress,  and  exhibited  its  distinctive  features. 

Moreover,  should  Noyesism  for  a  season  survive  the 
shock  which  it  has  lately  received,  and  like  a  wounded 
reptile  "  drag  its  slow  length  along,"  and  linger  out 
a  miserable  existence,  still  its  nature  and  tendency 
would  be  the  same.  What  it  has  been,  it  Avill,  in  all 
probability,  continue  to  be,  except  it  be  to  "  increase 
unto  more  ungodliness ;"  for  in  Putney  we^ave  not 
had  a  false  and  corrupted  form  of  Perfectionism,  but 
the  true  one — not  a  counterfeit  coin,  but  the  genuine 
mintage.  There  it  has  taken  its  natural  course — 
worked  out,  so  far  as  its  influence  has  extended,  its 
legitimate  results — and  exhibited  its  own  proper  fruits. 


2?0y-ESISM  UNVEILEBc  SS 

Mr.  1^.  having  affinned  that  he  is  willing  it  should 
he  judged  bj  the  moral  fruits  which  it  has  produced  in 
Putney,  it  seems  to  be  very  necessary,  in  order  that 

I  Sk  correct  judgment  m-ay  be  formed  in   relation  to  it. 

'  that  its  moral  results  there  should  be  faithfully  and 
fully  exhibited.  It  is  hoped  this  volume  will  accom- 
plish that  work. 

In  Feb,  1842-5  ^s  seen  by  the  extracts  already  given, 
Mr,  Noy^s  holds  the  following  language  :■ — "  In  Put- 
ney^ -during  an  experiment  of  seven  yearB  in  the  faith 
•of  perfect  holi^iess,  tJiere  has  heen  no  tendency  tovjard 
licentiousness  among  helievers  ;  and  excepting  a  tempo- 
rary leaning  toward  Shakerism^  there  ha%  been  no 
practical  departure  f rem  ordAnary  sexual  morality  J' 

In  a  letter  bearing  date,  Putney,  July  2,  18>39^ 
addressed  to  a  Mr.  HoUister,  Mr.  Noyes  alludes  to  the 
*'  temporary  leanimg  toward  Shakerism"  above  men- 
tioned, in  the  following  terms :— "  In  1838,  after  an 
absenoc  of  more  than  a  year,  from  the  Lord's  flock  in 
this  place,  I  returned,  and  found  a  considerable  number 
of  them  strongly  disposed  to  adopt  the  legality  of  Slrak- 
■erism  on  the  subje<3t  of  sexual  iiitercourse.  I  testified 
plainly  against  it,  and  the  brethren  and  sisters  above- 
mentioned  have  since  unanimously  renounced  their 
legality.-' 

The  reader  will  readily  perceive  •from  fhe  aboye 
language,  that  the  members  of  the  society  in  Putney 
have  been  so  completely  under  the  influence  of  Mr. 
Noyes,  that  they  could  be  swayed  by  Mm  at  will, 
with  the  ease  of  the  sapling  by  the  hand  of  the  sturdy 


84  KOYESISM  UNVEILED.. 

woodman.  Mr.  N.  was  fearful  that  his  followers  were 
getting  too  much  under  the  influence  of  legality — were 
getting  to  be  too  strict,  and  he  sets  himself  about 
rescuing  them  from  under  the  rules  of  law,  and  bringing 
them  into  a  state  of  liberty. 

If  the  statements  of  Mr.  N.  are  entitled  to  credit^ 
we  must  beheve  that  the  Putney  Perfectionists  had 
regarded  the  common  rules  of  morality  up  to  Feb. 
1842.  But  as  we  pursue  the  subject  we  shall  find 
other  statements  which  conflict  with  these,  and  the 
reader  will  be  left  to  form  his  own  conclusions  after  tlict 
whole  subject  is  fairly  laid  before  him. 


l^OYESISM  UNVEILED.  85 


CHAPTER  X. 


Principles  taught  hy  Noyes. 

In  addition  to  the  facts  already  presented,  so  strik- 
ingly illustrative  of  the  character  of  IsToyesism,  we 
shall  now  proceed  to  notice  some  of  the  principles 
taught  by  Mr.  ISf.,  and  considered  as  essential  parts  of 
the  system.  It  will  be  seen  on  examination  that  the 
principles  and  practices  of  Noyes  and  his  followers 
go  hand  in  hand,  and  are  in  perfect  keeping  the  one 
with  the  other.. 

But  we  would  frankly  acknowledge  that  we  continue 
the  investigation  of  the  subject  with  extreme  reluc- 
tance ;  and  no  consideration  whatever,  but  a  settled 
conviction  of  the  necessity  of  so  doing,  in  order  to 
apprize  the  public,  and  especially  the  young,  of  the 
danger  to  which  they  are  exposed,  would  induce  us  to 
propeed  in  the  work.  Much  perplexity  arises  from  the 
fact  that  Mr.  Noyes,  in  speaking  of  some  points,  has 
descended  so  low,  and  unblusliingly  published  senti- 
ments so  sensual  and  debasing  in  their  character  and 
tendency,  and  in  some  instances  used  language  so  very 
obscene  and  vulgar,  that  it  is  extremely  difficult  and  . 
almost  impossible  to  present  the  subject  in  a  just  light, 
without  transgressing  the  common  rules  of  propriety. 
But  we  will  endeavor  to  avoid  corrupting  the  mind  of 
the  reader  while  we  seek  to  remedy  the  existing  evil. 

The  utter  impiety  and  solemn  mockery  to  which  Mr. 
Noyes  descends  in  trying  to  couple  his  gross  licen- 


i^  KOYESISM  UNYEILED.- 

tiousness  mth  the  sublime  mysteries  of  Christianity^ 
can  but  shock  the  sensibilities  of  every  virtuous  mindj, 
and  is  an  utter  outrage  upon  the  morai  sense  of  a 
Christian  community  I  Never  was  the  grace  of  God 
more  completely  turned  into  lasciviousness  [—2^ever 
vyas  the  demon  of  darkness  more  effectually  trans- 
formed into  an  angel  of  light,  than  in  the  instance- 
before  us !  The  characters  spoken  of  in  scripture  as— 
''  Having  eyes  full  of  adultery,  and  that  cannot  cease 
from  sin,"  come  up  before  us  in  all  their  native  cor- 
ruption under  the  cover  of  Noyesism ! 

In  investigating  the  subject,  we  shall  quote  some- 
what largely  from  the  writings  of  Mr.  NoyeSy  thereby 
presenting  his  principles  to  public  view  in  their  native 
dress.  We  shall  however  withhold  some  portions  of 
his  language  which  he  has  unblushingly  blazoned 
abroad  through  the  medium  of  his  official  organ- 
Though  it  may  have  been  read  with  pleasure  by  the 
Koyesites,  who  have  cast  out  all  the  bond-woman's' 
children  not  excepting  "  decen€7/^^-—jet  5t  is  utterly 
unfit  for  the  public  eye.  In  the  letter  addressed  tc 
Mr.  HoUister,  and  which  has  already  been  alluded  to, 
Mr.  N.  writes  as  follows  : — 

"  About  three  months  from  the  time  when  I  received' 
Christ  as  a  whole  Savior,  my  mind  was  led  into  long 
and  deep  meditation  on  the  subject  which  principally 
interests  Shakers — the  relation  of  the  sexes.  I  then^ 
came  to  the  conclusions  in  which  I  have  since  stood,  viz, 
that  the  outward  act  of  sexual  connection  is  as  innocent 
and  comely  as  any  other  act,  or  rather,  if  there  is  any 
difference    in   the    character    of  outward    acts,  that 


NOYESISM  U2T VEILED.  87 

is  the  most  noble  and  comely  of  all.  This  sentiment, 
covered  with  any  covering  but  that  of  the  Spirit,  is 
licentiousness.  The  same  is  true  of  every  principle 
of  human  action.  ^Whatsoever  is  not  of  faith  is 
sin ;'  and  to  him  that  believeth,  '  all  things  are  law- 
ful.' God  tells  me  that  He  does  not  care  so  much 
what  I  do,  as  lioiv  I  do  it,  and  by  this  word  I  walk  in 
all  things.  I  never  inquire  whether  it  is  right  to  do 
this,  or  tvrong  to  do  that,  but  whether  Grod  leads  me  to 
do  it  or  not-  I  look  not  at  the  thing  to  be  done,  but 
at  the  influence  by  which  it  is  done.  These  principles 
I  apply  to  the  use  of  women,  ardent  spirits,  money, 
carnal  weapons,  &c.  So  I  have  testified  for  the  past 
five  years  ;  and  every  day  sinks  me  deeper  ?jid  deeper 
in  the  certainty  that  these  are  the  principles  of  God, 
and  his  heavenly  hosts." 

The  above  are  the  settled  principles  of  Mr.  Noyes, 
and  they  throw  a  flood  of  Hght  upon  the  whole  system 
which  he  has  laid  down.  And  they  have  been  the  rule 
hj  which  he  has  walked  from  1834  up  to  the  present 
time. 

Kow,  if  sentiments  of  like  character,  or  equally 
licentious  in  their  tendency,  should  come  out  from  those 
hot-beds  of  iniquity,  city  brothels,  it  would  not  be  very 
surprising  ;  but  coming  as  they  do  from  a  man  claiming 
to  be  a  Christian^  and  setting  himself  up  as  the  founder 
of  a  sect  which  is  called  7'eligious,  it  surpasses  any 
thing  which  has  ever  existed  either  in  ancient  or 
modern  times.  Verily  this  is  a  "  master  stroke  of 
Satanic  pohcy— a  refinement  of  wickedness  which 
puts  papacy  to  the  blush,"  and  is  the  "  very  i7icar- 
nation  of  impurity."     As  a  kind  of  screen  for  his 


W  NOYESISM  UXVEILEIf. 

fv'ickedness.  Mr.  N.  impiously  and  hypocriticalij  pre- 
teiids  to  throw  the  "  covering  of  the  Spirit"  over  all 
his  acts,  of  whatever  character  !  To  him  all  things  are 
la'wful  I  This  is  throwing  off  all  legal  restraint,  and 
stepping  out  upon  the  platform  of  universal  freedom. 
If  this  is  not  unrestricted  license,  then  we  know  not 
what  is.  Under  such  principles  a  man  might  carry 
out  whatever  notions  might  chance  to  come  into  his 
head,  and  if  his  course  was  questioned  at  all,  he  might 
reply — "  I  am  led  hy  the  S'pirit.^^  This  reply  would 
answer  all  questions  I 

But  to  return — ^Let  the  reader  bear  in  mind  that 
the  long  and  deep  meditations  of  Mr.  JST.  upon  this 
subject  commenced  about  three  months  after  he  came 
out  a  staunch  Perfectionist,  which  was  in  Feb.  1834. 
Now  he  asserts  that  he  had  since  "  stood^^  in  the 
conclusions  to  which  he  then  came,  which  conclusions 
are  contained  in-  the  extracts  already  given — that  he 
had  walked  by  the  rule  there  laid  down  "  m  all  tilings'^ 
— and  says — ''  These  principles  I  a^pply  to  the  use  of 
women,  ardent  spirits,  ^-c." — And  that  he  had  testified 
the  same  from  1834  up  to  1839. 

How  do  these  statements  agree  with  the  assertion 
that  there  had  been  nothing  immoral  among  the 
"  believers"  in  Putney  up  to  Feb.  1842  ?  Plowever 
it  might  have  been  with  liis  followers,  we  venture  to 
say  that  the  reader  will  find  it  difficult  to  beheve  that 
Mr.  N.  had  been  guiltless  all  the  while,  his  protesta- 
tions of  innocence  to  the  contrary  notwithstanding.. 


NOYESISM  UNVEILED.  89 

But  let  us  hear  him  again. — In  the  Spii'ituai  Mor- 
alist of  June  13,  1842,  he  writes  as  follows  : — 

''  In  the  whiter  of  1834,  I  abandoned  the  popular 
rehgious  system  in  which  I  had  been  educated,  and 
became  a  perfectionist.  The  change  in  my  views  at 
that  time,  Avas  not  confined  to  the  subject  of  holiness, 
but  extended  to  every  department  of  theology  and 
morals.  Finding  gi'oss  error  in  the  foundation  of  my 
pre\ious  faith,  I  suspected  error  in  every  part  of  the 
8uj)er.structure.  I  therefore  gave  it  up  altogether, 
and  commenced  a  new  course  of  investigation,  trusting 
myself  more  exclusively  than  I  had  before  done,  to  the 
guidance  of  the  Bible  and  the  Spirit  of  truth.  The 
subject  of  sexual  morality  was  early  forced  upon 
my  attention,  by  its  close  connection  with  those 
pecuhar  views  of  the  laiv,  of  the  leadings  of  the 
Spirit,  and  of  the  resurrection .^  which  are  among  the 
principal  elements  of  my  testimony  in  the  Perfectionist 
and  in  the  Witness.  Personal  circumstances  of  an 
interesting  character,  the  startling  and  in  some  instan- 
ces the  corrupt  suggestions  of  men  with  whom  I  was 
then  connected,  and  a  variety  of  scandalous  reports 
concerning  the  licentious  doctrines  and  practices  of 
certain  Perfectionists,  conspired  to  urge  me  to  a  thor- 
ough examination  of  the  matter.  On  the  one  hand 
my  'practical  propensities,  trained  as  they  had  been  in 
the  school  of  New  England  sobriety,  and  confirmed  by 
the  deep  interest  which  I  had  taken  in  the  Moral 
Reform  enterprise,  strongly  attached  m^e  to  the  ordi- 
nary maxims  of  sexual  virtue.  On  the  other  hand^ 
I  cared  nothing  for  reputation,  for  I  had  none  to  lose, 
and  was  therefore  free  to  adopt  any  theory^  however 
'  heretical'  and  offensive,  which  the  gospel  of  the 
resurrection    might    require.      Under    these   circum> 


90  NOYESISM  UNVEILED. 

stances,  I  meditated  on  the  subject  much  of  the  time 
for  two  years.  My  mind  was  particularly  exercised  in 
relation  to  it  during  several  long  seasons  of  spiritual 
trial.  In  the  winter  of  1836-7  my  views  assumed  a 
definite  and  satisfactory  form." 

What  the  "  definite  and  satisfactory  form^^  was, 
which  the  views  of  Mr.  Noyes  assumed  in  the  winter 
of  1836-7,  we  gather  from  what  is  familiarly  called 
and  generally  known  as  the  "Battle  Axe  Letter." 
This  letter  bears  date,  Jan.  15,  1837,  and  on  account 
of  the  peculiar  doctrines  which  it  contains  has  acquired 
considerable  notoriety,  and  exhibits  the  views  of  Mr, 
N.  in  a — to  him — ''  definite  and  satisfactory  form." 


NOYESISM  UNVEILED.  %1 

CHAPTER  XI. 

H^he  Battle  Axe  Letter  and  its  History. 

The  famous  Battle  Axe  Letter  of  which  so  much 
has  been  said,  was  written  by  Mr.  Noyes,  when  at 
Ithaca,  N.  Y.,  and  was  addressed  to  Mr.  David  Har- 
rison, of  Meriden,  Ct.— ^Mr.  Harrison,  in  accordance 
with  the  liberty  given  by  Mr.  Noyes,  lent  the  letter  to 
an  acquaintance,  and  after  passing  round  among  a  few 
Perfectionists,  it  fell  into  the  hands  of  Theophilus  R. 
Gates  J  of  Philadelphia,  who  published  a  part  of  it— 
in  Aug.  1837— in  a  periodical  which  he  was  then 
issuing,  called  the  Battle  Axe.  From  the  circum- 
stance of  its  being  published  in  that  paper  it  took  ..the 
name  of  the  Battle  Axe  Letter*  The  following  extract 
contains  the  substance  of  the  letter,  or  that  portion  of 
it  which  relates  to  the  subject  under  consideration : — 

'•'- 1  will  write  all  that  is  in  my  heart  on  one  delicate 
subject,  and  you  may  judge  for  yourself  whether  it  is- 
expedient  to  show  this  letter  to  others.  When  the  will 
of  God  is  done  on  earth,  as  it  is  in  heaven,  there  will 
he  no  marriage.  The  marriage  supper  of  the  Lamb^ 
is  a  feast  at  which  every  dish  is  free  to  every  guest. 
Exclusiveness,  jealousy,  quarrelling,  have  no  place- 
there,  for  the  same  reason  as  that  v/hich  forbids  the 
guests  at  a  thanksgiving  dinner  to  claim  each  his 
separate  dish,  and  cjuarrel  with  the  rest  for  his  rights. 
In  a  holy  community  there  is  no  more  reason  why 
sexual  intercourse  should  he  restrained  hy  law,  than 
why  eating  and  drinking  should  he^ — and  there  is  a& 
little  occasioji  for  shame  in  the  one  case  as  in  the  other. 


92  NOYESISM   UNVEILED. 

God  has  placed  a  wall  of  partition  between  the  male 
and  female  during  the  apostasy,  for  good  reasons, 
which  will  be  broken  down  in  the  resurrection,  for 
equally  good  reasons.  But  woe  to  him  who  abolishes 
the  law  of  the  apostasy  before  he  stands  in  the  holuiess 
of  the  resurrection.  The  guests  of  the  marriage 
supper  may  have  each  his  favorite  dish,  each  a  dish  of 
his  own  procuring,  and  that  without  the  jealousy  of 
exclusiveness.  /  call  a  certain  woman  my  wife — she 
is  you7's,  she  is  Christ'' s^  and  in  him  she  is  the  bride  of 
ALL  SAINTS.  She  is  dear  in  the  hand  of  a  stranger, 
and  according  to  my  promise  to  her  I  rejoice.  My 
claim  upon  her  cuts  directly  across  the  marriage  cove- 
nant of  this  world,  and  God  knows  the  end." 

It  will  be  remembered  that  in  1834,  after  "  long 
and  deep  meditations"  about  certain  Shaker  doctrines, 
Mr.  N.  came  to  some  definite  conclusions^  in  which  he 
declares  he  had  '^  stood'^  up  to  1839,  a  period  of  five 
years.  In  connection  with  his  conclusions  he  had  also 
adopted  certain  pincijjles^  in  which  he  had  walked 
during  the  same  period,  and  which  he  says  he  applied 
to  the  "  use  of  women,  ardent  spirits,  &c." — Now  it 
is  evident  that  the  ''conclusions'^  to  which  Mr.  N. 
came  after  "  long  and  deep  meditations,"  and  also  the 
''principles'^  which  he  adopted  as  a  rule  of  action^ 
"  in  all  things,"  were  in  perfect  keeping  with  the 
sentiments  of  the  Battle  Axe  Letter  ;  for  he  "  stoocV 
and  "  walked  ^^  in  them,  and  "  a/)pZ?ec?"  them  in  all 
cases  from  1834  up  to  1839  ;  although  they  did  not 
assume  the  "definite  and  satisfact6^y  form"  of  the 
Battle  Axe  Letter  till  1837.  The  Battle  Axe  Letter 
was  evidently  intended  as  a  kind  of  feeler  among  a 


NOYESISM  UNVEILED.  y3' 

few  choice  spirits,  for  Harrison  to  whom  it  was  written 
was  a  staunch  Perfectionist.  Nojes  undoubtedly 
designed  to  broach  the  subject  of  the  Battle  Axe 
Letter  to  different  individuals  as  circumstances  might 
warrant,  and  thus  secretly  and  silently  diffuse  among 
thorough-going  Perfectionists  the  specious  doctrines 
contained  in  that  letter. 

But  through  the  agency  of  T.  R.  Gates  it  was  pub- 
hshed  without  the  knowledge  of  Noyes,  and  he  was 
evidently  not  a  little  chagrined  and  disconcerted  at  its 
sudden  appearance ;  but  it  could  not  be  recalled,  and 
the  only  alternative  was  to  make  the  best  of  it  he 
could.  Gates  published  the  letter  without  giving  the 
author's  name,  and  there  were  many  conjectures 
relative  to  the  source  whence  it  emanated.  Some 
attributed  the  authorship  of  the  letter  to  James  Boyle, 
who  was  an  early  convert  to  Perfectionism,  and  for 
some  time  an  associate  of  Noyes. — Others  supposed 
Noyes  to  be  its  author,  and  a  number  of  letters  were- 
soon  written  to  ascertain  whether  it  originated  v^'ith 
him.  He  acknowledged  that  he  was  the  author  of  the 
letter  ;  and  in  the  Witness  published  at  Ithaca,  N.  Y., 
Sept.  23,  1837,  he  holds  the  following  language  rela- 
tive to  the  matter  : — 

"  Several  persons  have  written  to  inquire  whether  I 
or  Mr.  Boyle  was  the  author  of  the  letter  lately 
published  in  the  Battle  Axe.  I  answer,  I  am  the 
author,  hut  not  the  publisher ^  of  the  letter.  As  an 
anti-mason,  I  cannot  object  to  its  publication  ;  and  as 
an  optimist  I  am  bound  to  rejoice.  Yet  I  must  be 
permitted  to  say,  that  it  contains  doctrines  and  allusions 


94  NOYBSISM  UNVEILED, 

which  I  should  never  have  obtruded  npon  the  public, 
not  for  fear  of  persecution  or  reproach,  but  lest  my 
liberty  should  become  a  stumbling-block  to  others." 

In  the  Spiritual  Moralist  pubHshed  at  Putney,  Vt., 
June  13,  1842,  Mr.  N.  again  refers  to  the  same  point. 
Speaking  in  reference  to  the  publication  of  the  Battle 
Axe  Letter,  he  says  : — 

"  He  (Gates)  pubhshed  a  part  of  it  in  a  periodical 
he  was  then  issuing,  called  the  Battle  Axe,  without 
any  suggestion  of  the  circumstances  under  which  it 
was  written,  or  of  the  person  to  whom  it  was  addressed, 
leaving  his  readers  to  suppose  that  it  was  written  to 
himself  and  designed  for  publication.  I  was  then  at 
Ithaca,  just  commencing  the  pubhcation  of  the  Witness. 
I  had  scarcely  seen  the  paper  containing  the  letter, 
before  I  received  several  letters  of  inquiry  about  it. 
Some  supposed  Boyle  to  be  the  author  of  it ;  others 
attributed  it  to  me.  I  immediately  acknowledged 
myself  the  author  of  it  in  the  Witness,  avowed  my 
continued  conviction  of  the  truth  of  its  sentiments,  and 
promised  a  full  explanation. 

"  I  confess  I  had  previously  shrunk  from  the  respon- 
sibility of  ])ringing  forward  into  puhlie  discussion  a 
matter  so  delicate  and  inflammatory  ;  not  because  I  was 
ashamed  of  the  truth,  or  afraid  of  the  wrath  of  man, 
but  because  I  dreaded  the  ruinous  offences  which  it 
would  occasion.  Yet  I  had  seen  the  ultimate  necessity 
of  the  open  warfare  to  which  I  was  now  summoned, 
and  was  waiting  on  the  providence  of  God  for  a  leading 
movement.  Gates's  publication  of  my  letter,  fraud- 
ulent and  foolish  as  it  was  on  his  part,  was  to  me  the 
voice  of  God  calling  me  to  my  post.  I  had  not  been 
willing  to  begin  the  battle  myself,  but  when  it  was 
begun,  I  was  willing  to  stand  in  the  front  of  it,  for  I 
knew  '  the  battle  was  the  Lord's.'  " 


N0YE3ISM  UNVEILED.  95 

It  may  be  proper  here  to  introduce  a  brief  account 
of  the  circumstances  connected  with  the  pubUcation  of 
the  Battle  Axe  Letter,  given  by  Mr.  Harrison,  to 
whom  the  letter  was  written.  Tliis  account  is  found 
in  an  extract  from  a  letter  written  by  Harrison  to 
Noyes,  and  is  as  follows : — 

"  I  have  never  told  you  how  the  Battle  Axe  Letter 
escaped  me.  I  kept  it  several  months  without  showing 
it  to  any  one ;  but  the  Lord  gave  me  no  liberty  to 
suppress  it.  I  first  showed  it  to  Lovett — he  liked  it 
and  wished  it  to  peruse — I  consented,  but  requested  him 
to  return  it.  While  it  was  with  him,  Elizabeth  Haw- 
ley  got  hold  of  it,  and  insisted  upon  sending  it  to 
Gates,  or  '  she  ivould  leave  the  house  in  a  thunder- 
storm that  night  for  Neiv  Haven.''  So  it  went.  I 
soon  heard  of  it,  and  anticipated  the  result,  and  should 
have  written  immediately  to  Gates  'forbidding  its 
publication,  hut  I  coidd  not  get  the  Lord^s  consent. 
So  you  see,  the  Lord  obtained  the  letter  from  me  as  it 
2vere  hy  stealth  P'' 

This  account  must  have  been  very  satisfactory  to 
Mr.  Noyes.  What  a  wonderful  providence  in  the 
affair !  But  Mr.  JST,  says : — "  The  letter  was  written 
not  for  the  pubhc,  but  for  the  perusal  of  a  famihar 
friend,  with  due  regard  to  the  delicacy  of  its  subject, 
and  without  any  mtention  of  obtruding  it  upon  the 
notice,  even  of  Perfectionists — much  less  of  casting 
it  before  dogs  and  stvvne.  *  *  *  While  I  cast  from  me 
the  fear  and  shame  of  guilt,  I  nevertheless  acknowl- 
edge myself  a  follower  of  Paul  in  my  views  of  expe- 
diency, (See  I.  Cor.  ix.  19-22,)  believing  that  there 
are  things  spoken  of  '  in  the   third  heaven,  which  are 


96' '  NOYESISM  UNVEILED. 

not  lawful  to  be  uttered,'  and  that  there  is  wisdom 
which  ought  to  be  communicated  only  to  '  the  perfect.'" 

The  allimons  of  Mr.  ISToyes  in  the  foregoing  lan- 
guage cannot  be  mistaken.  Such  sentiments  indicate*; 
a  mind  grossly  sensualized^  and  irrecoverably  lost  to 
all  chaste  and  delicate  feelings ! 

But  in  the  Witness  of  Sept.  23,  1837,  Mr.  N. 
speaks  in  reference  to  the  publication  of  the  Battle 
Axe  Letter  as  follows  : — 

"As  I  am  not  responsible  for  the  consequences  of 
its  puhlication^  I  might  easily  escape  in  a  measure  the 
fury  of  the  storm  which  must  follow  it,  but  I  choose  to 
'  bide  its  brunt,'  and  therefore  say,  that  /  hnoiv  the 
doctrine  of  that  letter  'is  God's  truth,  and  that  ivhoso- 
ever  contends  with  it,  '  rushes  upon  the  thick  bosses  of 
His  buckler.'^ 

"As  to  the  expediency  of  its  publication  at  the 
present  time,  I  say  nothing.  God  understands  his  own 
business,  and  I  leave  it  with  liim  and  T.  R.  Gates  to 
settle  that  matter.  One  thing  I  know,  viz:  that 
before  the  will  of  God  is  done  on  earth,  as  it  is  in 
heaven,  that  doctrine  will  be  preached  upon  the  house- 
tops." 

In  the  Spiritual  ^^loralist  of  June  13,  1842,  Mr.  IST. 
again  alludes  to  the  sentiments  of  the  Battle  Axe 
Letter  and  its  publication  by  Gates  as  follows  :■ — 

"  From  that  time  I  have  never  faltered  in  my 
purpose  of  '  pubhshing  on  the  house-tops,'  the  truths 
contained  in  that  letter." 

The  foregoing  extracts  have  been  made  from  the 
writings  of  Mr.  Noyes,  for  the  purpose  of  presenting, 
in  one  connected  chain,  his  remarks  made  at  different 


NOYESISM   UNVEILED,  97 

times  in  reference  to  the  circumstances  connected  with 
the  publication  of  the  Battle  Axe  Letter. 

The  attentive  reader  will  readily  perceive,  from  the 
concluding  language  of  the  foregoing  extracts,  that, 
according  to  Mr.  N.'s  view,  the  time  when  the  will  of 
<Tod  would  be  done  on  earth — at  least  by  a  portion  of 
its  inhabitants — as  it  is  done  in  heaven,  could  not  be 
very  far  distant.  He  says  that  before  the  ushering  in 
of  that  period,  the  doctrines  of  the  Battle  Axe  Letter 
would  be  preached  upon  the  house-tops.  These 
doctrines  had  been  partially  preached  from  the  time 
of  the  publication  of  that  letter  by  Gates  in  183T,  up 
to  1842  ;  and  at  that  time  Noyes  and  Cragin,  by  the 
publication  of  the  Spiritual  Moralist,  addressed  them- 
selves "  to  the  task  of  making  a  full  exposition"  of 
those  doctrines,  and  they  were  proclaim.ed  abroad,  and 
preached  not  only  upon  the  house-tops,  but  upon  the 
hill-tops,  and  scattered  through  the  medium  of  the 
Spiritual  Moralist  broad-cast  over  the  country. 

It  is  true,  Mr.  K.  does  not  undertake  to  fix  the 
precise  time  when  this  great  event  should  take  place, 
but  as  the  tender  branch  and  unfolding  leaves  of  the 
fig-tree  betoken  approaching  summer,  so  from  the 
public  manner  in  which  the  sentiments  of  the  Battle 
Axe  Letter  had  been  sounded  abroad,  through  the 
length  and  breadth  of  the  land,  in  1842,  we  can  but 
see  that  "  coming  events  were  casting  their  shadows 
before,"  and  should  naturally  infer  that  the  time  was 
drawing  near ! 

Subsequent  events  have  shown  this  to  have  been  the 
7 


98  KOYESISM  UNVEILED. 

case.  The  coming  of  the  kingdom  has  been  formally 
announced,  and  it  seems  that  1847  was  the  year  in 
which,  according  to  the  views  of  Mr.  N.  and  his 
followers,  the  long  looked  for  event,  which  was  the 
"  Jiope  of  their  ealling^^''  was  ushered  in !  And  a  full 
disclosure  of  startling  facts  clearly  shows  that  the 
doctrines  of  the  Battle  Axe  Letter  have  been  carried 
out  in  the  Perfectionist  Community  at  Putney,  to  an 
alarming  extent.  A  multitude  of  facts  have  already 
been  presented  touching  this  matter. 

It  will  be  recollected  that  Noyes  wrote  the  Battle 
Axe  Letter  to  D.  Harrison,  and  left  it  discretionary 
with  him  to  retain  it  in  his  own  possession  or  show  it 
to  others,  as  he  might  deem  it  expedient.  Harrison,  it 
seems,  lent  it  to  a  friend,  and  after  having  been  exam- 
ined by  several  Perfectionists,  it  fell  into  the  hands  of 
T;  R.  Gates,  who  was  not,  as  Noyes  asserts,  a  Perfec- 
tionist; but  who  certainly  hold  doctrines  in  perfect 
keeping  with  the  sentiments  of  the  Battle  Axe  Letter, 
for  he  approved  of,  and  pubhshed  it.  Gates,  however, 
puWished  the  letter  upon  his  own  responsibihty,  without 
the  knowledge  of  Noyes,  who  evidently  was  taken  by 
surprise  at  its  unexpected  appearance  in  print,  and 
deeply  mortified  in  view  of  its  pubHcation.  But  as  an 
anti-mason,  he  says  he  could  not  object  to  its  publi- 
cation. Certamly  he  could  not  object  with  any  show 
of  consistency,  in  view  of  his  avowed  anti-masonic 
principles  in  opposition  to  all  secret  movements. 

But  he  also  says,  that  as  an  optimist  he  was  bound 
to  rejoice.     Although  to  be  consistent  with  his  princi- 


NOYESISM  UNVBILKB.  99 

pies  as  an  optimist,  or  one  who  believes  that  all  things 
are  ordered  for  the  best,  he  acknowledges  himself 
hound  to  rejoice,  yet  it  does  not  very  clearly  appear 
that  he  did  rejoice.  His  attempt  to  make  this  appear 
is  extremely  lame.  Although  he  says  that  he  had  seen 
the  "  ultimate  necessity  of  of  en  warfare,'*  and  was 
"waiting  on  the  providence  of  God  for  a  leading 
movement ;"  and  although  he  asserts  that  the  publi- 
cation of  the  Battle  Axe  Letter  by  Gates,  was 
regarded  by  him  as  the  "  voice  of  God  calling  him  to 
his  post,"  yet  the  language  of  Mr.  N.  relative  to  the 
matter,  implies  a  severe  censure  upon  Gates  for  pub- 
lishing the  letter !  Manifest  insincerity  is  here  clearly 
exhibited.  If  he  had  really  rejoiced,  his  gratitude  to 
Gates  should  have  been  proportionate  to  his  joy  in, 
view  of  the  publication  of  the  letter ;  and  he  should 
have  regarded  him  as  an  honored  instrument  in  the 
Divine]  Hand,  in  carrying  out  a  wise  purpose,  and 
accomplishing  a  desirable  end. 

Neither  would  he  have  denounced  the  publication  of 
the  letter  by  Gates  as  a  "  fraudulent  and  foolish"  act, 
if  he  believed  that  it  was  in  accordance  with  the  dic- 
tates of  Infinite  Wisdom,  and  the  arrangements  of  an 
unerring  Providence. 

Mr.  N.  says  that  he  knew  the  doctrine  of  the  Battle 
Axe  Letter  to  be  God's  truth,  and  that  the  contest  in 
which  he  was  engaged  was  the  Lord's  battle  ;  yet  ha 
doubted  the  expediency  of  the  pubHcation  of  the  letter 
at  the  time,  and  uses  language  implymg  a  severe 
censure  upon  Gates  for  doing  \{^    Kis  doctrine  seems 


1^  HOYESISM  UNVKILMJ, 

to  be  that  it  was  right  for  the  battle  to  be  fought,  but 
wrong  to  commence  it ! — That  it  was  right  for  the 
thing  to  be  done,  yet  wrong  to  do  it  !^— That  it  was 
both  right  and  wrong  at  the  same  time  ! 

Mr.  N.  says  that  he,  shrunk  from  the  responsibility 
of  brining  the  subject  before  the  pubhc,  simply 
because  he  dreaded  the  ruinous  offences  which  it  would 
occasion  ;  and  that  he  never  should  have  obtruded  the 
doctrines  and  allusions  contained  in  the  Battle  Axe 
Letter  upon  the  public,  lest  his  liberty  should  become 
a  stumbling  block  to  others.  From  all  this  it  appears 
that  he  intended  to  keep  his  peculiar  doctrines  a  pro- 
found secret,  or  at  least  within  certaui  prescribed 
limits,  lest  others  not  so  wise  and  holy  as  he,  should 
misapprehend  and  misapply  them!  But  when  pub- 
lished he  tries  to  be  reconciled  to  it,  although  he  finds 
it  very  difficult  to  bring  himself  up  to  the  sticking 
point,  and  humbly  submit. 

If  the  doctrine  was  God's  truth,  and  the  publication 
of  it  in  accordance  with  His  will,  Mr.  N.  need  not 
have  entertained  any  fears  about  "  ruinous  offences." 
Truth  never  suffers  by  exposure  to  the  Hght,  nor  shrinks 
from  the  pubhc  gaze,  and  its  influence  is  ever  salutary ; 
but  error  and  iniquity  ever  shun  the  hght,  and  seek 
for  the  darkest  seclusions. 

The  pubhcation  of  the  Battle  Axe  Letter  brought 
down  much  odium  upon  the  head  of  Mr.  N.,  and  he 
was  compelled  immediately  to  suspend  the  pubhcation 
of  the  Witness,  which  was  resumed,  however,  at 
Putney  in  about  one  year,  and  that  paper  continued  to 


HOYESISM  UKVBILSD.  101 

be  the  medium  through  which  he  disseminated  his 
licentious  doctrines.  Mr.  N.  has  never  renounced  the 
doctrines  of  the  Battle  Axe  Letter,  but  has  repeatedly 
reaffirmed  his  belief  in  them,  and  he  still  pertinaciously 
adheres  to  them. 


102  NOYBSISM  UNVEILED, 


CHAPTER  XII. 


Principles  on  which  the  doctrines  of  the  Battle  Axe 
Letter  are  based. 

Mr,  Noyes  has  laid  down  the  principles  on  which 
the  doctrines  of  the  Battle  Axe  Letter  are  based,  and 
given  the  mental  process  by  which  he  arrived  at  the 
conclusions  contained  in  that  letter.  He  says  that  the 
change  which  took  place  in  his  views  when  he  became 
a  Perfectionist  in  1834,  extended  to  every  department 
of  theology  and  morals.  Finding,  as  he  supposed,  gross 
error  in  the  foundation  of  his  previous  faith,  he 
suspected  error  in  every  part  of  the  superstructure^ 
and  gave  it  up  altogether.  Thus  it  appears  that  on 
mere  suspicion,  Mr.  N.  gave  up  the  whole  noble  super- 
structure of  Gospel  doctrines  and  Christian  morals  as 
held  by  different  evangelical  denominations.  What- 
ever different  views  may  have  been  entertained  by 
evangelical  Christians  relative  to  doctrinal  points,  many 
of  which  are  non-essential,  there  has  hitherto  been 
perfect  unanimity  respecting  the  morals  of  Christianity. 
And  it  is  very  surprising  that  an  attempt  should  be 
made  to  bring  about  a  change  relative  to  this  departs 
ment  of  the  Christian  rehgion.  The  morals  of  the 
community  are  all-important — the  peace,  the  prosperity, 
and  the  welfare  of  the  whole  body  politic  are  deeply 
involved  in  this  matter. 

But  let  us  look  at  the  manner  in  which  Mr.  Noyes 
came  to  the  conclusions  contained  in  the  Battle  Axe 


NOYESISM   UNVEILED.  103 

Letter,    and    the   principles  from    which    they  were 
derived.     Says  Mr.  N.  : — 

''  The  process  by  which  I  attained  this  result,  was 
like  that  by  which  I  had  before  found  the  truth  in 
relation  to  holiness  and  the  Second  Coming  of  Christ. 
In  the  case  of  both  of  these  subjects,  after  balancing  a 
while  in  suspense  between  the  apparent  contradictions 
of  Bible  testimony,  I  found  it  necessary  to  fix  my 
mind  upon  that  part  of  the  evidence  which  was  direct 
and  decisive,  and  believe  it  boldly,  leaving  that  which 
was  indirect  and  doubtful  to  after  consideration,  and 
assuredly  expecting  to  find  conclusions  thus  formed 
ultimately  ^conciled  to  all  truth.  In  other  words, 
my  maxim  was,  not  to  alloio  uncertain  objections  to 
lander  my  belief  in  certain  testimo7it/. 

''  Finding  direct,  mdisputabie  evidence  in  favor  of 
the  doctrine  of  holiness,  for  instance  in  I.  John,  iii.  8, 
I  made  that  an  unchangeable  land-mark  of  faith,  and 
then  waited  patiently,  with  all  confidence,  for  the 
removal  of  objections.  So  on  the  subject  of  the 
Second  Coming,  I  found  rest,  only  by  stubbornly 
believing  such  certain  statements  as  Matt.  xxiv.  34, 
in  spite  of  all  uncertain  evidence  to  the  contrary. 
Guided  by  the  same  principle  in  my  inquiry  concerning 
the  sexual  relation,  I  at  length  formed  two  fixed  points 
of  belief,  viz., 

1.  "  TJiat  God  made  mankind  at  the  beginning 
male  and  female,  and  lias  given  no  intimation  that 
this  original  constitution  will  ever  be  altered,  but  on 
the  contrary  has  declared  hy  the  mouth  of  Paul,  that 
'  the  man  is  not  without  the  tuoman,  neither  is  the 
tvoman  without  the  man  in  the  Loed.' 

2.  "  That  in  the  resurrection,  i.  e.  in  the  ultimate 
perfect  condition  of  the  human  race,  there  will  he 
^neither  marrying  nor  giving  in  marriage.^ 


10^4  NOYESISM  UNVEILED. 

"  It  hardly  need  be  said,  that  the  conclusions  which 
necessarily  folloTy  from  these  premises,  are  exceedingly 
alarming  and  offensive  to  those  who  sympathize  with 
the  fashions  and  feelmgs  of  the  world.  It  will  be  the 
first  object  of  this  paper  (the  Spiritual  Moralist)  to 
exhibit  those  conclusions,  and  guard  them  from  perver- 
sion. It  is  sufficient  for  the  object  of  my  present 
statement  to  say,  that  I  mentioned  them  without  dis- 
guise, in  a  private  letter  (dated  Jan.  15,  1837)  tc^ 
David  Harrison,  of  Meriden,  Conn." 

Thus  we  learn  that  the  views  of  Mr.  Koyes  which 
assumed  a  "  definite  and  satisfactory  form"  in  the 
winter  of  1836-7,  and  were  embodied  in  the  Battle 
Axe  Letter,  were  legitimate  conclusions  necessarily 
following  from  the  "  two  fixed  points  of  beHef "  which 
we  have  already  given ;  and  which  in  the  ehtimation  of 
Mr.  N.  constitute  the  central  point  of  truth  relative  to 
this  whole  subject,  and  are  the  "  direct  and  decisive" 
evidence  to  which  all  other  testimony  must  yield. 

We  do  not  object  to  the  abstract  principle  which  Mr„ 
N.  has  laid  down,  viz.,  that  we  should  believe  "  direct 
and  decisive"  evidence  relative  to  any  doctrinal  pointy 
but  we  object  to  the  application  in  the  case  under 
consideration.  The  question  arises,  Is  the  testunony 
adduced  touching  this  point  "direct  and  decisive?" 
This  Mr.  N.  asserts,  but  it  will  be  found  on  exam- 
ination, that  the  testimony  on  which  he  relies  to  sustain 
the  "two  fixed  points  of  belief,"  instead  of  being 
"  di7'ect  and  deeisive,^^  is  "  indirect  and  doubtful.'' 
And  if  it  appears  that  the  foundation  is  false,  the 
whole  superstructure  of  the  Battle  Axe  Letter  and  all 


NOYBSISM  UNYJSILBJD.  105 

will  fall  to  the  ground  unless  it  can  stand  without  any 
foundation.  As  the  Battle  Axe  Letter,  with  all  its 
concomitant  sentiments,  sprung  from  these  "  two  fixed 
points  of  belief,"  they  should  be  carefully  examined. 

The  first  principle  which  Mr.  N.  has  laid  down  is, 
"  That  Qod  made  mankind  at  the  beginning  male  and 
female^  and  has  given  no  intimation  that  this  original 
constitution  will  ever  he  altered^ 

We  reply,  the  Scriptures  do  give  intimations^  and 
also  positive  proofs^  that  the  original  physical  consti- 
tution of  man  will  be  changed.  It  is  asserted  by  St. 
Paul  that  the  resurrection  body  will  be  '^  spirituaV' 
and  ''•  incorruptible.''^  It  will  be  entirely  different 
from  the  natural  body.  The  resurrection  body  will 
be  built  up  on  entirely  new  and  wholly  indestructible 
principles.  It  will  be  free  from  all  infirmities  and 
imperfections,  and  will  not  be  dependent  upon  natural 
productions  for  its  support;  it  will  be  exempt  from 
disease^  decay  and  dissolution.  In  the  Apostle's 
description  of  the  resurrection  body  we  certainly 
discover  very  strong  intimations  that  man's  original 
constitution  will  be  altered. 

But  the  Apostle  holds  the  following  definite  and 
emphatic  language  touching  this  point : — 

"  Meats  for  the  belly,  and  the  belly  for  meats  ; 
but  God  shall  destroy  both  it  and  them."  I  Cor.  6  :  13. 

We  infer  from  this  language,  that  the  Creator  has 
given  man  an  animal  appetite^  or  a  desire  for  food,  and 
that  He  has  provided  various  aliments  to  meet  the 
demands  of  his  nature.     This  is  clearly  demonstrated. 


106  NOYESISM  UNVEILED. 

The  appetite  is  adapted  to  the  aliments,  and  the 
aliments  to  the  appetite  ;  hut  God  shall  destroy  both  it 
and  them.  These  are  not  eternal ;  all  the  lower  appe- 
tites and  sensations  will  be  destroyed  by  death,  and 
have  no  existence  in  the  resurrection  body. 

The  only  passage  adduced  by  Mr.  N.  in  support  of 
the  position  which  he  has  assumed,  is  one  of  doubtful 
import,  found  in  the  writings  of  St.  Paul : — "  The  man 
is  not  without  the  woman,  neither  is  the  woman  without 
the  man  in  the  Lord."  I  Cor.  11 :  11. — Before  utter- 
ing this  language,  St.  Paul  had  argued  the  supremacy 
of  the  man  over  the  woman  in  the  established  order  of 
things  ;  and  lest  this  doctrine  should  be  construed  into 
a  disparagement  of  the  female  sex,  he  intimates  that 
there  is  a  mutual  dependence  between  them. 

In  the  Lord,  Theodoret  renders  in  the  world.  Per- 
haps the  meaning  of  the  Apostle  is,  that  the  human 
race  is  continued  by  an  especial  providence  of  God. 
Thus  the  testimony  of  Mr.  N.  appears  to  be  "  indirect 
and  douhtfid,^^  and  is  entirely  swept  away  by  the 
''  direct  and  decisive^''  evidence  which  we  have  already 
adduced.  The  second  position  or  "  fixed  point  of 
behef "  on  which  Mr.  N.  rests  the  superstructure  of 
the  Battle  Axe  Letter  is,  "  That  in  the  resurrection, 
i.  e.  in  the  ultimate  perfect  condition  of  the  human 
race,  there  will  he  *  neither  marrying  nor  giving  in 
marriage."*  " 

The  resurrection,  or  ultimate  perfect  condition  of 
the  human  race,  of  which  Mr.  N.  speaks,  is  not  the 
resurrection  of  that  body  which  dies,  for  he  utterly 


NOYESISM  UNVEILED.  107 

discards  this  doctrine.  The  resurrection  state,  or 
*'  perfect  condition  of  the  human  race,"  according,  to 
the  vi^w  of  Mr.  N.,  is  to  be  attained  in  this  world — 
is  to  be  wrought  out  by  spiritual  influences — and  every 
''  increment  of  faith"  in  the  "  body  of  believers,"  in 
the  view  of  Noyes,  is  tending  directly  to  this  result — 
the  exemption  of  the  body  from  death !  This  state 
has  long  been  the  "hope  of  their  calling,"  and  it 
appears  that  at  last  they  think  that  they  have  attained 
it.  One  of  the  master-spirits  in  the  Putney  Com- 
munity, who  is  perfectly  famihar  with  every  point  of 
doctrine  among  them,  has  asserted  that  they  have 
attained  the  resurrection  of  the  body.  They  have  not 
made  bold  to  publish  this  to  the  world,  but  have 
expressed  it  in  a  somewhat  private  manner.  Their 
policy  seems  to  be  to  keep  such  doctrines  for  a  time, 
vrithin  the  "  charmed  circle,"  lest  they  should  be  too 
fully  committed,  and  get  into  difficulty  by  letting  their 
"  advanced  position"  be  publicly  known.  The  doctruie 
of  "  Bible  secretiveness"  is  very  convenient  for  Per- 
fectionists, and  quite  applicable  in  this  case. 

But  the  passage  on  which  Mr.  N.  relies  mainly  for 
support  concerning  his  second  position  is  this : — "  In 
the  resurrection  they  neither  marry,  nor  are  given  in 
marriage,  hut  are  as  the  angels  of  Q-od  in  heaven.'^'' 
Matt.  22 :  30. 

As  Mr.  N.  evidently  considers  this  passage  his 
strong  hold,  and  has  drawn  from  it  a  stereotyped 
argument,  let  us  endeavor  to  ascertain  its  true  import. 
It  will  be  seen,  by  considering  the  circumstances  under 


108  NOYESISM  UNVEILED. 

which  it  was  uttered,  and  the  evident  design  which 
the  Savior  had  in  view,  that  it  perfectly  harmonizes 
with  the  commonly  received  opinion  of  a  literal,  resur- 
rection of  the  body,  and  yields  no  support  whatever  to 
Mr.  N.'s  new  notion. 

Our  Savior  was  combatting  a  formidable  objection 
of  the  Sadducees  to  the  resurrection  of  the  body. 
That  objection  rested  on  two  grounds. 

1.  They  denied  that  there  was  any  future  state 
whatever.  "  For  the  Sadducees  say  that  there  is  no 
resurrection,  neither  angel,  nor  Spirit :  but  the  Phari- 
sees confess  both."  Acts,  23 :  8.  Denying  that  men 
have  any  souls  after  death,  of  course  they  would  deny 
the  resurrection  of  the  body. 

2.  They  supposed  the  doctrine  was  irrational^  and 
absurd  in  itself,  as  is  manifest  from  the  case  of  the 
woman  who  had  seven  husbands,  which  they  adduced, 
and  from  which  they  reasoned.  Our  Savior  first  clears 
away  the  difficulties  which  they  had  thrown  around  the 
subject,  and  then  attacks  their  main  position,  which 
was  a  denial  of  the  immortality  of  the  soul.  If  the 
foundation  of  their  theory  could  be  removed,  the  super- 
structure would  fall. 

But  their  doctrine  must  be  overthrown  by  the 
Scriptures.  And  they  had  rejected  all  the  Scriptures, 
but  the  five  books  of  Moses.  Our  Savior  proceeds, 
therefore,  to  prove  the  immortahty  of  the  soul  from 
the  Pentateuch  itself;  and  quotes  Exodus  3.  6, — "I 
am  the  God  of  Abraham,  and  the  God  of  Isaac,  and 
the   God  of  Jacob."     And  his  comment  upon  the 


NOYESISM  UN  VEILED.  109 

passage,  is,  that  "  God  is  not  the  God  of  the  dead^ 
but  of  the  living.''''  Thus  showing  that  Abraham, 
Isaac  and  Jacob  were  living  when  this  declaration 
was  made  to  Moses,  although  their  bodies  were  dead, 
and  had  been  for  centuries.  Their  souls,  therefore, 
lived  after  their  bodies  were  dead.  Thus  the  Saddu- 
cees  were  confounded  out  of  their  own  acknowledged 
Scriptures,  and  the  foundation  of  their  objection  to  the 
resurrection  of  the  body  removed.  Never  was  an 
argument  more  logically  constructed  or  strictly  con- 
formed to  the  established  rules  of  argumentation  than 
this,  and  it  completely  silenced  the  Sadducees. 

Thus  it  appears  that  the  passage  under  consideration, 
refers  to  a  resurrection  state  entirely  diverse  from 
the  one  which  Mr.  N.  has  pictured  in  his  imagination. 
For  a  better  understanding  of  the  views  of  Mr,  N. 
relative  to  the  subject  under  consideration,  we  will 
give  some  remarks  of  his  made  by  way  of  comment 
upon  the  passage  just  quoted.  .  Speaking .  of  that 
portion  of  the  Battle  Axe  Letter  which  treats  of 
marriage,  Mr.  N.  says  it  "  teaches  neither  '  a  commu- 
nity of  wives'  nor  '  plurality  of  wives,'  but  a  nullity  of 
wives.  Its  doctrine  is,  '  When  the  will  of  God  is  done 
on  earth,  as  it  is  in  heaven,  there  will  he  no  marriage;'' 
which  is  a  simple  and  necessary  deduction  from  the 
saying  of  Christ,  'In  the  resurrection  they  neither  marry 
nor  are  given  in  marriage^  but  are  as  the  angels  of 
God.'  How  are  the  angels  ?  Answer.  '  Suffer  little 
children  to  come  unto  me,  for  of  such  is  the  kingdom 
of  God.'     How  are  little  children  ?    Answer.    They 


110  KOYESISM  UNVEILED. 

'  neither  marry  nor  are  given  in  marriage ;'  they  are 
'  naked  and  are  not  ashamed/  as  Adam  and  Eve  were 
before  they  sinned,  and  as  all  God's  creatures  are  m 
heaven  and  under  heaven,  except  man.  Moreover  let 
it  be  marked  that  the  Battle  Axe  Letter  teaches  not 
even  a  nullity  of  wives,  as  a  matter  of  ^yese?it  practice. 
Its  language  is,  '  When  the  will  of  God  is  done  on 
earth,  as  it  is  in  heaven,  there  will  he  no  marriage.'' " 

The  above  language  was  pubhshed  in  Jan.  1839. 
Mr.  N.  evidently  feared  that  his  doctrine  would  appear 
too  revolting  without  some  guarding  and  garnishing — 
hence  he  denies  that  it  was  then  to  be  a  "  matter  of 
present  practice,''^  but  was  applicable  to  a  prospective 
period — a  state  of  things  yet  in  anticipation. 

But  let  us  here  draw,  with  all  possible  accuracy, 
an  outline  of  the  state  anticipated.  And  in  doing  this 
we  shall  quote  Mr.  N.'s  own  language.  He  defines 
his  position  relative  to  this  matter  with  all  necessary 
precision.     In  1838  he  says : — 

1.  "  I  believe f  that  marriage  does  not  exist  in  heaven. 

2.  "  /  believe,  thai  the  will  of  God  will  be  done  on  earth,  as  it 
is  done  in  heaven:  consequently  that  a  time  will  come  when 
marriage  will  not  exist  on  earth. 

3.  "  7  believe,  that  for  the  present  transition  period,  proper 
instruction  for  believers  is  contained  in  the  7th  Chap.  I.  Cor. 
especially  29-31  verses. 

4.  "  I  believe,  that  in  the  heavenly  state — which  is  the  hope  of 
our  calling — the  Holy  Spirit  takes  the  place  of  vrritten  laws,  and 
arbitrary  ceremonies,  in  regard  to  the  intercourse  of  the  sexes,  and 
all  other  matters. 

5.  ^^  I  do  NOT  believe,  that  any  have  attained  to  that  state  that 
are  now  on  earth."" — Witness,  Vol.  I,  No.  4. 


KOYESISM  UNVEILED.  Ill 

In  stating  that  none  had  attained  to  that  state  then 
on  earth,  Mr.  N.  flatly  contradicts  what  he  had 
previously  said  of  himself.  He  says  that  in  1834  he 
had  eaten  of  the  tree  of  life,  and  partaken  with  Christ 
of  the  marriage  supper ;  and  certainly  we  are  at  a  loss 
to  conceive  w^hat  higher  attainments  can  be  made  in 
this  life.  But  let  us  hear  him  further  in  relation  to 
the  state  of  things  anticipated  for  the  body  of  behevers. 

"  I  will  state  briefly  my  reasons  for  behevmg  that' 
the  marriage  supper  of  the  Lamb,  is  a  '  feast  at  which 
every  dish  is  free  to  every  guest. 

1.  "I  believe  that  distinction  of  sexes  exists  in 
heaven.  ...  I  have  never  jfound  the  shghtest  valid 
reason  for  the  common  nebulous  impression  that 
heaven  is  inhabited  by  a  company  of  non-descript 
ghosts.  I  believe  that  the  paradise  of  redemption^  in 
its  elementary  constitution,  in  all  respects,  except  those 
which  involve  evil,  resembles  the  paradise  of  creation, 

2.  "  Applying  to  the  views  which  I  have  just  stated 
several  familiar  passages  of  scripture,  I  cannot  avoid 
the  results  described  in  the  Battle  Axe  Letter.  The 
passages  are  these — Luke  xx.  25  :  '  They  which  shall 
be  counted  worthy  to  obtain  that  world,  neither  marry 
nor  are  given  in  marriage.''  Luke  xviii.  17  :  Sufier 
little  children  to  come  unto  me  and  forbid  them  not, 
for  of  such  is  the  kingdom  of  heaven.''  If  the 
distinction  of  sexes  exists  in  heaven,  and  yet  there 
is  no  marriage,  but  the  inhabitants  are  Uke  little 
children,  what  else  can  the  marriage  supper  be,  but 
'  a  feast  at  which  every  dish  is  free  to  every  guest  ?/ 
I  am  not  frightened  by  this  inevitable  result,  (however 
fevoltmg  it  may  seem  to  that  kind  of  modesty  which 
was  the  first  fruit  of  sin,)  because  I  know  by  expc- 


112  NOYESISM  DlSrVEILED. 

rience^  as  well  as  by  the  testimony  of  God,  that  the 
Holy  Spirit,  which  grives  and  executes  the  laws  of 
heaven,  is  a  surer  safeguard  of  modesty,  chastity,  and 
whatsoever  is  pure,  and  lovely  and  of  good  report, 
than  laws,  and  ceremonies,  and  pubHc  opinion. 

**  Having  explained  to  you  then,  1st,  my  views  of 
present  duties  of  Christians — ^2d,  my  views  of  d,  future 
heavenly  state— it  only  remains  to  inquire  3d,  Whether 
the  heavenly  state  is  to  be  expected  in  this  world  ? 
I  answer,  I  fully  believe  that  the  will  of  God  will  he 
done  on  earth  as  it  is  done  in  heaven,  because  it 
is  predicted  in  Scripture."     Witness,  Vol.  I.  No.  10. 

Again  says  Mr.  N. :  "As  Paul  says  of  the  second 
coming,  *  We  which  are  alive  and  remain,  shall  be 
changed,  and  caught  up^ — it  may  now  be  said  of  the 
third  coming,  We  which  are  alive  and  remain,  shall  be 
changed  and  take  everlasting  possession  of  this  world.^^ 
Witness,  Vol.  I.  No.  5, 

It  appears  from  the  foregoing  extracts  that  Mr.  N, 
in  1838  was  anticipating  a  glorious  state — an  eventful 
era  not  far  distant,  when  the  will  of  God  would  be 
done  on  earth — ^at  least  by  a  portion  of  its  inhabitants 
— as  it  is  done  in  heaven.  This  "  heavenly  state" 
was  the  hope  of  their — the  Perfectionists — calling. — 
This  paradise  of  redemption,  which  Mr.  N.  had  pictured 
in  his  imagination,  would  be  in  its  elementary  constitu- 
tion, in  all  respects,  like  the  paradise  of  creation,  except 
that  sin  could  never  enter  there !  And  when  this 
auspicious  period  should  be  ushered  in,  the  saints — 
that  is  all  genuine  Perfectionists — would  take  everlast- 
ing possession  of  the  earth!  Would  all  set  down 
together  at  the  marriage  supper  of  the  Lamb. 


NOYESISM  UNVEILED.  US 

But  has  the  long-looked-for  period  arrived  ?  Has  the 
millennial  day  been  ushered  in  ? 

On  the  evening  of  the  first  day  of  June,  1847,  it 
was  declared  by  a  unanimous  voice  that  the  kingdom 
of  God  had  come  to  the  town  of  Putney^  and  the 
Perfectionist  Comnmnity  established  thtre  1 

This  was  the  ^^  consummation"  so  long  and  devoutly 
desired,  and  appears  to  have  been  the  signal  for  the 
carrying  out  of  the  doctrines  of  th€  Battle  Axe  Letter 
through  the  ranks  of  the  Perfectionists.     The  whole 
matter  then  may  be  summed  up  in  few  words,  and  in 
plain  English  stands  thus  : — The  time  had  arrived  for 
the  Perfectionists   to   ''  take   everlasting  possession  of 
this  world''^-^The  will  of  God  was  being  done  among 
them  as  it  is  done  in  heaven — They  had  entered  the 
^'  heavenly  state,^^  which  had  long  been  the  "  hope  of 
their  calling^ ^ — Had  taken  possession  of  the  ^'paradise 
of  rede7np)tion^'' — And  were  banqueting  at  the  feast 
— the  marriage  supper  of  the  Lamb — where  "  every 
dish  is  free  for  every  guest  P^     What  impious  mock- 
ery !  I    What  daring  impiety  ! ! ! 

Their  ideas  of  heaven  appear  to  be  confined  to  a 
little  clan  of  Perfectionists  who  have  "joined  their 
households  under  one  common  roof,"  with  John  H. 
Noyes  at  their  head — where  there  is  a  "  nullity  of 
wives'^ — and  where  the  doctrines  of  the  Battle  Axe 
Letter  are  carried  out !  Such  was  the  little  company 
of  Perfectionists  at  Putney  until  the  strong  arm  of  the 
law  reached  the  leader  and  scattered  the  clan.  And 
such  is  the  Community  of  Perfectionists  lately  estab- 


114  NOYESISM  UNVEILED. 

lished  and  now  existing  at  Oneida  Reserve  in  Cen- 
tral New  York,  under  the  immediate  eye  and  super- 
vision of  John  H.  Nojes. 

More  grovelling  sentiments  and  debasing  views  of 
heaven,  with  all  its  angelic  purity,  its  hallowed  enjoy- 
ments and  extatic  delights,  cannot  well  be  entertained  ! 
If  this  is  not  the  "  master  stroke  of  Satanic  policy,'^ 
then  it  has  no  existence.  Ifthis  is  not  the  very  incar- 
nation of  impurity"  and  "  wickedness  that  puts  Papacy 
to  the  blush,"  then  it  cannot  be  found. 

This  is  a — if  not  the — "  man  of  sin,  the  mystery  of 
iniquity."     It  is  a  covering  for — 

"  All  wicked,  all  abominable  things/' 

Model  most  complete 

Of  perfect  wickedness,  where  deeds  are  done, — 
Deeds !  let  them  ne'er  be  named ! — 
From  first  to  last  it  was  an  evil  place  : 
And  now  such  things  were  acted  there,  as  made 
The  devils  blush ;  and  from  the  neighborhood, 
Angels  and  holy  men,  trembling,  retired : 
And  what  with  dreadful  aggravation  crowned 
This  dreary  time,  was  sin  against  the  light. 
These  men  knew  God,  and,  knowing,  disobeyed  ^ 
And  gloried  to  insult  him  to  his  face. 

Of  every  order,  sin  and  wickedness, 
Deliberate,  cool,  malicious  villany, 
This  age,  attained  maturity,  unknown 
Before :  and  seemed  in  travail  to  bring  forth 
Some  last,  enormous,  monstrous  deed  of  guilt. 
Original,  unprecedented  guilt, 
That  might  obliterate  the  memory 
Of  what  had  hitherto  been  done  most  vile." 

The  peculiar  doctrine— the  reader  will  understand  the 


NO YESISM  UNVEILED .  115 . 

allusion — of  Noyes  is  represented  by  Perfectionists  as 
tlie  stumhling-stone  arid  roek  of  offeyice  which  God  has 
laid  in  Zion ;  and  the  "  confession  of  this  doctrine**  is 
declared  to  be  the  "  cross  of  OJmst  in  this  dispensa- 
tion, the  end  of  the  world,  and  the  judgment  of  selfish- 
ness," JVo^es^s  doctrine  of  "  sexual  morality^^  the 
CROSS  OF  Christ  ! !  This  caps  the  climax !  This  is 
the  chief  corner  stone  of  that  edifice-^or  "  monument 
of  disgrace'^ — wliich  Mr.  N.  has  built  upon  the  princi- 
ples on  which  the  doctrines  of  the  Battle  Axe  Letter 
are  based.  He  professes  to  have  received  this  doctrine 
at  an  early  date — •'•'  when  he  received  the  doctrine  of 
holiness,  or  soon  after  at  the  tim«  he  received  hm 
commission!"  And  his  foilowerp  think  that  he  "  sus- 
tains it  by  as  mighty  truth  as  Ae  does  the  doctrine  of 
holiness  or  the  Second  C-pfliing"- — and  Perfectionists 
declare  that  in  their  "  e^penence  they  have  had  as 
many  signs  of  its  truth  is  they  have  had  of  any  other 
doctrine !" 

Now  Mr.  N.  professes  to  have  received  the  doctrine 
of  holiness  in  Feibruary,  1834,  and  soon  after  received 
his  commission^  Indeed !  He  is  divinely  commis- 
sioned, then !  From  Mr^  N,'s  account  of  some  peculiar 
exercises  which  he  experienced  in  May,  1834,  we  infer 
that  he  received  his  commission  about  that  time.  Mm 
doctrine  of  "  sexual  morality"  he  received  at  as  early 
a  period  as  this  ;  thus  it  appears  that  it  is  no  new  thing 
with  him,  however  it  may  have  been  with  some  of  Km 
followers. 
It  appears  that  Mr.  N., — at  least  so  far  as  doctrine 


116  NOYBSISM  UNVEILED. 

is  concerned — ^has  fairly  outstripped  MaJiomet  himself, 
and  thrown  the  great  Arabian  Impostor  far  back  into 
the  shade  1  Mahomet  promised  Ms  faithful  followers  a 
paradise  of  sensual  pleasures  after  this  life,  or  in  a 
future  state  of  existence  ;  but  Mr.  Noyes  has  fitted  up 
Buch  a  place  in  this  world,  and  offers  to  his  followers 
in  this  life  what  Mahomet  promised  after  this  life. 
Thus  it  appears  that  Noyesism  is  an  improved  and 
enlarged  edition  of  Mahometanism  ! 

Noyes  is  holding  out  to  his  disciples  the  promise  of 
exemption  from  death.  And  it  appears  that  his 
heaven  is  to  be  composed  of  a  little  company  of  immor- 
tals— i.  e.  a  Per&^ctionist  Community — in  which  he 
pretends  that  the  ^Holy  Spirit  takes  the  place  of 
written  laws  and  arhwary  ceremonies,  in  regard  to 
the  intercourse  of  the  sext^  and  all  other  matter s^^ — 
or  in  other  words,  where  th^  doctrines  of  the  Battle 
Axe  Letter  are  carried  out.  '^at  blasphemous  senti- 
ments! Such  a  Community  ajipears  to  be  all  the 
heaven  the  Noyesites  know  any  thing  about ! 


NOYBSISM  UNVBILBi).  IIY 


CHAPTER  XIII. 

Ultimate  results  of  the  sentiments  of  the  Battle  Axe 
Letter. 

The  reader  has  already  been  made  acquainted  with 
the  sentiments  of  the  Battle  Axe  Letter,  and  some  of 
the  disgusting  fruits  which  a  practical  application  of 
those  sentiments  has  produced ;  but  a  further  notice  is 
necessary  to  B^full  understanding  of  the  subject. 

The  Battle  Axe  Letter  not  only  contemplates  a  com- 
plete annihilation  of  the  conjugal  relations,  but  it 
designs  to  sever  the  ties  of  consanguinity,  and  its  ulti- 
mate object  is  to  make  a  clean  sweep  of  all  the  social 
relations !  And  when  all  the  ties  of  kuidred  are  cut 
asunder,  there  must  be  complete  submission  to  the  will 
and  absolute  control  of  Mr.  Noyes  !  But  let  us  look  at 
a  few  more  phases  which  the  doctrines  of  the  Battle 
Axe  Letter  have  assumed. 

Speaking  in  reference  to  the  Shaker  doctrine  of 
entire  continence,  Mr.  N.  quotes  Luke  xx.  35—"  But 
they  which  shall  be  accounted  worthy  to  obtain  that 
world,  and  the  resurrection  from  the  dead,  neither 
marry,  nor  are  given  in  marriage  '^ — and  adds  the  fol- 
lowing comment : — 

"  In  order  to  avail  themselves  of  this  text,  Shakers 
are  obliged  to  take  for  granted  that  where  there  is  no 
marrying  there  is  of  course  no  connection  of  the  sexes 
— the  only  alternative  of  matrimony.  Now,  I  aver, 
that  all  animals  except  man  '  neither  marry  nor  are 
given  in  marriage,'  and  yet  are  not  Shakers.    If  it  is 


118  NOYESISM  UNVEILED. 

objected  that  this  is  a  degrading  allusion,  I  aver  again, 
that  ^  little  children,'  whom  Christ  expressly  declares 
are  patterns  of  the  heavenly  state,  '  neither  marry  nor 
are  given  in  marriage,'  and  yet  are  not  Shakers.  The 
truth  is,  marriage  and  the  sexual  connection  are  differ- 
ent things.  The  first  is  artificial,  the  second  is  natural. 
One  is  an  ordiaance  of  man,  the  other  an  ordinance  of 
Grod.  Christ  simply  declared,  in  Luke  xx.  35,  that  the 
ordinance  of  man  (which,  alone,  be  it  observed,  cre- 
ates the  difficulty  presented  by  the  Sadducees)  has  no 
place  in  heaven.  There^  as  among  '  little  children,'  all 
belong  to  all.  But  mamage  is  nearer  this  state  than 
Shakerism." — Witness,  Vol.  i.  No.  10. 

More  unscriptural  and  debasing  sentiments  can 
scarcely  be  conceived,  than  those  contaiued  in  the  fore- 
going language.  In  view  of  the  doctrines  of  Noye& 
and  the  facts  which  have  been  developed,  who  can 
refrain  from  exclaiming  with  Pollok  — 

'Poor,  poor,  poor  man !  fallen  far  below  the  brute !" 

Such  doctrines,  carried  out  among  mankind,  as  Koyeff 
has  here  and  elsewhere  taught,  would  transform  this 
beautiful  earth  into  a  complete  Pandemonium — 

"  And  make,  on  every  side,  so  black  a  bell. 
That  spirits,  used  to  nigbt  and  misery, 
Would  far  withdraw,  and  look  another  w^ay.'^ 

The  scheme  which  leads  directly  to  the  ruinous  results 
which  we  are  contemplating,  was  devised — 

"  In  that  dark  den  of  shame, 
Which  who  hath  seen  shall  never  wish  to  see 

Again." 

This  diabolical  scheme  was  an — 

"  Invention  savoring  much  of  hell!    Indeed,, 
It  was  the  master-stroke  of  wickedness^ 
Last  effort  of  Abaddon's  council  dark,"^ 


NOYESISM   UNVEILED.  119 

But  let  US  hear  Mr.  N.  a  little  further — he  says  : — 
"  Adultery^  fornication  and  incest  are  horrible 
€iimes,  but  they  are  crimes  created  hy  law.  The  acts 
which  those  crimes  designate,  are  not  had  itf  themselves, 
but  bad  because  the  law  forbids  them.  The  law  that 
forbids  them  is  good,  and  worthy  of  all  reverence, 
because  it  is  necessary,  in  the  present  apostate  condi- 
tion of  the  human  race.  Its  value  is  proportionate  to 
its  necessity,  and  offences  against  it  are  criminal  in 
proportion  to  its  value.  But  observe,  its  necessity  is 
earned  by  the  sinfulness  of  mankind.  Incest,  for 
instance,  is  a  crime  of  great  magnitude,  not  by  nature, 
....  but  by  a  law  for  which  experience  has  found  a 
dreadful  necessity:  and  that  necessity  is  created  by 
human  wicJcedness.^^ — Spiritual  Moralist,  Vol.  I.  No.  2. 

The  doctrine  of  Mr.  Noyes  is,  that  the  necessity  of 
the  law  prohibiting  the  crimes  specified — adultery, 
fornication  and  incest — arises  wholly  from  the .  "  sin- 
fulness of  mankind.^^  Then  it  follows,  of  course,  that 
in  a  Noyesite  Community  professing  to  be  free  from 
sin,  the  necessity  for  a  laio  prohibiting  these  crimes  is 
entirely  done  atvay ;  and  although  the  "  acts  which 
those  crimes  designate"  exist,  there  would  be  no  sin  ; 
for  Mr.  N.  contends  that  they  are  "  not  bad  in  them- 
selves !  ! "  Argument  is  mmecessary- — comment  is 
uncalled  for.  It  may  be  said  of  the  man  who  has  pro- 
mulgated such  doctrines  under  the  guise  of  Christi- 
anity : — 

"  He  was  the  devil's  pioneer,  who  cut 

The  fences  down  of  virtue,  sapped  her  walls, 

And  opened  a  smooth  and  easy  way  to  death." 

And  he   who  can  carry   out,   and  urge  upon   his 


120  NOYESISM  UNVaiLB©, 

Mowers  the  practice  of  such  doctrines,  richl/  deserye® 
the  searching  application  of  the  keen  and  cutting 
language  o^  the  poet  :— 

"  Most  guilty,  villaaous,  dishonest  man  f 
Wolf  in  the  clothing  of  the  gentle  la.mh ! 
Dark  traitor  in  Messiah's  holy  camp  I 
Leper  in  saintly  garb ! — assassin  masked 
In  Virtue's  robe  !  rile  hypocrite  accursed  ? 
I  strive  in  vain  to  set  his  evil  forth. 
The  words  that  should  sufficiently  accurse. 
And  execrate  such  reprobates,  had  need 
Come  glowing  from  the  lips  of  eldest  hell.'' 

It  appears  frojn  the  foregoing  language  of  Mr. 
Nojes,  that  adulter?/,  fornication  and  incest  constitute 
the  triple  crown  which  has  been  placed  upon  the  head 
of  Nojesism ! 

But  let  us  look  at  Mr.  N/s  position  in  relation  to 
marriage  ;  in  1842  he  defined  it  thus : — 

"  We  believe  that  we  sustain  a  similar  relation  to 
the  institution  of  marriage,  that  the  Old  Testament 
saints  did  to  the  first,  or  Old  Covenant.  The  Old 
Covenant  was  good  and  adapted  io  their  condition,  as 
a  course  of  discipline  preparatory  to  their  entrance 
into  a  perfect  and  future  state,  of  which  thej  were 
constantly  reminded.  But  did  they  on  this  account 
abandon  the  dispensation  under  which  God  had  placed 
them  ?  By  no  means  :  Faithfulness  in  the  discharge 
of  duties  devolving  upon  them,,  as  servants  under  the 
law,  was  the  qualification  which  fitted  them  to  enter 
into  the  dispensation  where  their  education  would  be 
perfected ;  So  with  us  in  regard  to  the  institution  of 
marriage  :  notwithstanding  we  find  many  objections,  to 
it,  and  pronounce  it  imperfect  and  adapted*  only  to  a 
state  of  trial  and  discipHne,  yet  we  beheve  the  new 


NOYESISM  UNVBILBD.  121 

order  of  things  which  we  anticipate,  will  not  take  its 
place  until  we  have  attained  the  resurrection  of  the 
body ;  and  then  only  by  the  manifest  authority  of 
G-od."— Spiritual  Moralist,  Vol.  I.  No.  2. 

The  "  new  order  of  things"  which  they  were 
anticipating  in  1842,  contemplated  the  sundering  of 
the  ties  of  kindred,  the  crucifying  of  the  natural 
affections,  and  the  breaking  up  of  all  the  social  rela- 
tions. The  resurrection  of  the  body  was  to  introduce 
them  into  this  "  new  order  of  things,"  in  which  mar- 
liage  was  to  be  done  away.  We  are  credibly  informed 
that  they  believe  they  have  attained  .that  resurrection. 
And  indeed  this  is  fairly  inferable  from  their  published 
sentiments.  Soon  after  the  proclamation  went  forth 
early  in  the  summer  of  1837  that  the  kingdom  of 
God  had  come,  which  it  was  declared  included  all  the 
elements  of  the  judgment  and  the  resurrection,  Mr.  N. 
spoke  as  follows  in  behalf  of  the  Putney  Community : — 

"  We  have  attained  a  position  in  which,  before  heaven  and 
earth,  we  trample  under  foot  the  domestic  and  pecuniary  fashions 
of  the  world.  Separate  household  interests,  and  property  exclu- 
siveness  have  come  to  an  end  toith  us.  Our  association  is 
established  on  principles  opposed  at  every  point  to  the  institutions 
of  the  ivorld." 

Thus  it  appears  that  having  entered  into  the  "  new 
order  of  things,"  they  had  thrown  off  all  legal  re- 
straints ;  and  subsequent  developmenta  clearly  show 
that— 

"  They  stole  the  livery  of  the  court  of  hearon 
To  serve  the  devil  in.'' 

And— 

"  la  holy  phrase,  transacted  villanies 

That  common  sinners  durst  not  meddle  with." 


122  '  NOYESISM   UNVEILED. 

It  appears  to  have  been  the  settled  policy  of  Mr. 
N.  to  keep  the  ruinous  results  of  his  licentious  doc- 
trines carefully  concealed  from  public  view.  Knowl- 
edge of  these  things  was  to  be  communicated  only  to 
"  the  perfect^^ — ^not  cast  before  "  dogs  and  swine.'''' 
In  this  Mr.  N.  exhibits  some  wisdom — ^his  doctrines 
Y/ere  too  revolting  for  even  "  dogs  and  swine,''^ 
however  readily  they  might  be  received  by  "Me 
perfect. ^^ 

The  process  to  which  Mr.  N.  subjects  his  disciples, 
appears  to  be  this  :  In  the  first  place  he  holds  up  the 
doctrine  of  holiness  suiTOunded  with  a  tolerably  fair 
show  of  Scripture,  and  mixed  with  a  measure  of  truth 
to  make  it  a  little  palatable  ;  and  as  soon  as  they  have 
fairly  swallowed  the  somewhat  pleasurable  potation, 
Mr,  N.  sets  himself  to  work  to  bring  them  up  to  the 
"  sticking  point"  and  fix  them  fast  ©n  the  subject  of 
miracles- — and  if  by  sleight  of  hand  and  "  cunning 
craftiness"  he  can  succeed  in  making  them  believe  that 
he  has  power  to  tvorh  miracles,  they  must  as  a  natural 
consequence  acknowledge  that  he  is  a  holy  man,  and 
if  so,  it  would  be  very  logical  to  believe  that  he  could 
do  nothing  ivrong.  Thus  the  door  is  open  to  all 
manner  of  iniquity !  Do  what  he  might,  it  would  not 
be  wrong  in  the  eyes  of  his  followers.  Murder, 
rapine,  robbery,  and  all  manner  of  evil,  might  come  in 
and  take  a  stand  upon  this  broad  platform  !  For  let  it 
be  remembered  that  Perfectionists  reject  the  written 
word  as  a  rule  of  action,  and  Mr.  N.  asserts  that 
"  the  controlling  element  of  the  moral  philosophy  of 


NOYESISM  UNVEILED.  123 

Perfectionism,  is  a  reference  to  the  will  of  God, 

REVEALED   BY   HIS    SpIRIT." 

Now  they  might  take  it  into  their  heads  that 
they  were  led  by  the  Spirit  to  put  an  enemy  out  of  the 
way  ;  and  even  a  member  of  the  Putney  Community 
was  heard  to  say  a  few  years  since,  that  he  would  kill 
a  man  as  quick  as  he  would  a  serpent,  if  the  Lord  told 
him  to  do  it  I  We  do  not  say  that  Perfectionists  stand 
charged  with  having  committed  any  such  crime,  and 
we  do  not  know  that  any  one  even  suspects  any  such 
thing  of  them ;  but  we  do  say  that  from  the  premises 
which  they  have  laid  down,  this  conclusion  might  be 
reached  without  any  difficulty.  We  have  no  warrant 
against  this;  and  some  of  the  staid  citizens  of 
Putney  would  be  no  more,  if  as  much  surprised,  to 
learn  this  of  them,  than  they  were  when  they  were 
compelled  to  beheve  that  they  had  violated  extensively 
— and  utterly  rejected  as  a  rule — the  seventh  com- 
mandment of  the  Decalogue.  Should  they  say  that 
the  command — "  Thou  shalt  7iot  kilV — is  of  perpetual 
obligation,  then  they  would  recede  from  the  position 
that  the  will  of  God  is  to  be  ascertained  by  special 
revelation,  or  the  "  direct  communications  of  the  'Holy 
Spirit ;"  and  they  would  have  to  fall  back  upon  the 
external  or  written  law  as  being,  at  least  in  part,  an 
infallible  rule  of  life. 

If  they  have  thrown  away  the  command  forbidding 
adultery,  might  they  not  that  prohibiting  murder  on 
the  same  principle.  These  two  commands  are  coupled 
together  in  the  Decalogue,  and  stand  upon  the  same 


124  NOYESISM  UNVBILBD. 

basis.  They  each  forbid  crimes  the  most  heinous 
in  their  nature  ;  and  in  the  order  in  which  the j  are 
mentioned  in  the  Scriptures,  the  crime  of  adultery 
sometimes  takes  the  precedence  of  murder ;  and  from 
the  whole  tenor  of  Scripture  we  are  led  to  the  conclu- 
sion that  adultery,  if  not  equal  to,  stands  the  next  in 
order  after,  murder,  in  point  of  enormity. 

If  they  have  laid  aside  the  command  prohibiting 
adultery  with  such  perfect  coolness,  and  with  a  settled 
determination  to  carry  out  their  principles,  have  we 
any  assurance  that  they  will  never  lay  aside  that 
forbidding  murder?  Past  events  may  justly  excite 
some  fears  touching  future  action. 

Moreover,  the  Noyesites  at  Putney  have  buried 
some  of  their  dead  in  the  night.  This  course  every 
one  knows  may  sometimes  be  dictated  by  common 
prudence,  and  existing  circumstances  may  not  only 
render  it  expedient  but  necessary.  But  we  have 
every  reason  to  believe  that  in  the  present  instance  it 
has  been  matter  of  choice  and  not  of  necessity.  But 
why  take  this  course  ?  Was  it  simply  to  show  their 
utter  contempt  of  all  the  customs  and  fashions  of  this 
world  ?  Some  of  the  people  of  Putney  have  suspeeted 
that  in  adopting  this  rule  they  had  an  eye  to  some 
future  events.  Past  transactions  show  that  they  have 
generally  had  some  design  in  their  moves.  Deeply 
laid  schemes  have  existed  where  all  was  looked  upon  as 
very  harmless.  We  express  no  personal  opinion  rela- 
tive to  the  present  case,  but  we  must  confess  that  to 
bury  the  dead  in  the  night  from  choice  looks  a  little 


NOTBSISM  UNVEILED.  125 

dark.  And  our  Great  Teacher  has  taught  us  that  the 
sole  reason  why  men  love  darkness  rather  than  light, 
is  because  their  deeds  are  evil. 

We  have  contemplated  some  of  the  ultimate  ruinoug 
results  of  the  doctrines  of  Noyesism,  and  others  equally 
sad,  naturally  follow  in  their  train.  Mr.  N.  is  laboring 
to  palm  off  the  grossest  errors  and  the  worst  of 
corruptions,  under  the  guise  of  that  ever-to-be-admired 
system  of  truth  which  issued  from  the  Fountain  of 
Wisdom  and  Purity,  and  was  designed  to  reform,  ele- 
vate and  crown  with  the  happiest  of  consequences  the 
human  race.  And  in  some  instances  he  is  too 
successful — the  young  and  inexperienced  are  some- 
times drawn  in — and  occasionally  persons  of  age  and 
considerable  experience.  A  person's  safety  lies  only  in 
a  timely  precaution.  If  once  upon  the  outer  circle  of 
this  whirlpool  of  ruin,  there  is  great  danger  of  being 
drawn  into  the  awful  vortex.  If  Mr.  N.  can  succeed 
in  getting  a  person  into  the  rapids  above  the  Niagara 
of  licentiousness,  he  is  quite  sure  to  be  carried  over 
the  fearful  cataract,  and  make  the  fatal  plunge ;  and 
pehaps  he  is  gone  ere  he  is  aware  of  danger.  In 
view  of  all  the  facts  developed  and  doctrines  taught  by 
Mr.  N.,  may  it  not  be  said  that — 

*'  He  set  himself,  with  most  felonious  aim 
And  hellish  perseverance,  to  root  out 
All  good,  and  in  its  place  to  plant  all  ill ; 
To  rub  and  raze,  from  all  created  things, 
The  fair  and  holy  portraiture  divine. 
And  on  them  to  enstamp  his  features  grim ; 
To  draw  all  creatures  off  from  loyalty 


126  NOYESISM  UNVEILED. 

To  their  Creator,  and  make  them  bow 

The  knee  to  him 

.     Vilest  of  traitors !  most  dishonest  man ! — 
Sat  by  the  door  of  Euin,  and  made  there 
A  melody  so  sweet,  and  in  the  mouth 

Of debauch,  that  else  had  croaked 

In  natural  discordance  jarring  harsh, 
Put  so  divine  a  song,  that  many  turned 
Aside,  and  entered  in  undone,  and  thought, 
Meanwhile,  it  was  the  gate  of  heaven,  so  like 
An  angel's  voice  the  music  seemed. 

Nor  the  saints  elect, 

Who  walked  with  God,  in  virtue's  path  sublime. 
Did  he  not  sometimes  venture  to  molest : 

And  in  their  way 

Bestrewing  pleasures,  tongued  so  sweet,  and  so 
In  holy  garb  arrayed,  that  many  stooped. 
Believing  them  of  heavenly  sort,  and  feel ; 
And  to  their  high  professions,  brought  disgrace 
And  scandal." 


KOYESISM  UNVEILED.  127 


CHAPTER  XIV. 


Extracts  of  letters  addressed  to  Mr,  Noyes — Noyes's 
letter  to  Miss  Harriet  A.  Holton. 

We  present  a  few  paragraphs  from  communicatioas 
addressed  to  Mr.  Noyes  by  different  individuals  who 
embraced  Perfectionism  at  an  early  period  in  its 
history.  They  are  curious  specimens  of  reUgious(?) 
experience  and  emotions — ^mere  echoes  of  the  senti- 
ments uttered  by  the  great  oracle  of  Perfectionism, 
The  letters  from  which  the  extracts  are  taken,  were 
published  in  the  Witness  of  Jan.  23, 1839. 

The  first  extract  we  shall  give,  is  from  a  letter 
written  by  Wm.  Green,  Jr.  in  Jan.  1839. 

"  Dear  brother  Noyes — ^A  few  days  since,  the 
Spirit  said  to  me,  write  to  Noyes,  and  ever  since, 
there  has  been  a  controversy  in  my  mind  whether  to 
address  you  by  brother  Noyes,  or  dear  brother  Noyes. 
My  feelings  said  the  latter,  but  there  were  so  many 
things  that  I  could  not  understand,  that  safet}^  said  the 
former.  .  .  .  The  Lord  said  to  me  last  fall,  that  the 
doctrines  advanced  by  you  were  from  hell,  and  when 
I  found  within  the  few  past  weeks,  that  the  opposition 
of  my  heart  was  gradually  giving  away,  I  could  not 
for  some  time,  reconcile  it  with  what  he  had  told  me 
of  your  doctrines,  but  before  I  became  free  to  write 
to  you,  the  Lord  cleared  up  my  mind,  by  showing  me 
that  the  views  I  received  as  being  your  real  sentiments, 
were  licentious,'  but  that  those  were  not  your  real 
sentiments  as  they  lay  in  your  mind." 

Wonderful  indeed !,     What  a  marvellous  clearing  up 


12B  NOYBSISM  UNVEILED. 

of  the  poor  man's  mind  in  the  midst  of  this  perplexing 
bewilderment ! 

The  next  letter  which  we  shall  notice,  is  from  a  Mrs. 
H.  C.  Green,  who  appears  to  have  been  very  much 
displeased  at  the  first  appearance  of  the  Battle  Axe 
Letter  ;  so  much  so  that  she  turned  Mr.  Noyes  out  of 
doors.  But  probably  viewing  it  afterward  through  the 
glasses  placed  before  her  eyes  by  Mr.  N.,  she 
appears  to  have  been  perfectly  enamored  with  its 
beauties ;  and  becoming  "  converted  to  the  practical 
channs  of  Perfectionism,"  she  hastily  retraced  her 
steps,  and  expressed  herself  thus,  under  date  of  Jan. 
12, 1839. 

"•  Dear  brother  Noyes— You  have  not  to  learn  in 
this  stage  of  your  experience  not  to  be  surprised  at 
any  thing  strange,  or  indeed,  not  to  consider  any  thing 
as  strange,  since  God's  ways  are  not  as  man's,  and 
seeing  he  has  declared  that  a  strange  work  will  he  per- 
form in  the  earth.  I  shall  therefore  make  no  apology 
for  calling  you  dear  brother,  but  only  say  that  the 
Lord  has  taught  me  that  it  is  safe  to  love  in  some 
cases  where  it  is  not  safe  to  judged 

Mrs.  Green  appears  to  have  been  formerly  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Moral  Reform  Society,  but  on  the  avowal 
of  her  sentiments  was  disowned  by  that  society,  in 
reference  to  whose  members  she  continues  : 

"  Poor  souls  ;  they  are  deadly  opposed  to  the  truth. 
How  can  they,  with  such  beams  in  their  own  eyes,  see 
to  pull  out  the  mote  out  of  their  brothers.  The  veil 
of  worldly  modesty  and  delicacy  which  they  have  put 
on  to  cover  their  nakedness,  does  but  make  manifest 


NOYESISM  TJNVEILEJD.  129 

the  filth  and  rottenness  withm.  I  believe  that  this 
subject  in  every  root  and  branch  will  have  to  undergo 
a  most  thorough  reform,  even  until  that  which  is  now 
called  purity  will  be  seen  to  be  utterly  abominable  in 
the  sight  of  God.  I  believe  that  every  thing  ought  to 
be  done  under  the  leadings  and  guidance  of  the  Spirit, 
and  every  relation^  so  far  as  it  has  a  tendency  to  inter- 
fere with  that  Spirit,  has  the  curse  of  God  resting 
upon  it.  I  am  beginning  to  learn  the  great  secret  that 
'  whatsoever  is  not  of  faith  is  sin,'  and  bless  the  Lord 
that  he  is  cutting  the  cords  one  after  p^nother,  that  the 
•  word  may  have  free  course  and  be  glorified.'  The 
axe  is  laid  at  the  root  of  the  tree  and  the  last  stroke 
will  complete  the  wonk.  Glory  to  God,  we  are  riding 
in  chariots  on  the  king's  highway,  and  cry,  'Cast  ye  up, 
cast  ye  up,  take  the  stumbling  block  out  of  the  way  of 
my  people.'  .  .  .  We  find  the  members  of  the  body 
imperfectly  formed  and  scattered — what  vfonder  then 
that  we  •  cannot  always  fit  smoothly  together.  While 
some  are  farther  advanced  and  others  behind,  we  have 
need  of  that  cement  of  love  which  '  hopeth  all  things, 
believeth  all  things,  endureth  all  tilings.' 

-'  I  feel  that  you  are  passing  through  a  fiery  furnace, 
and  though  we  have  iielped  kindle  the  fire,  I  am  sure 
you  will  be  more  refined,  and  it  is  your  turn  to  rejoice 
that  we  too  have  liad  our  clothes  scorched  by  the  same 
fire.  Bless  the  Lord — let  it  burn,  until  the  last  rag  is 
consumed,  it  is  not  our  fire  but  His.  When  he  brings 
us  out,  we  shall  not  have  even  the  smell  upon  our 
garments. 

"  We  should  like  one  of  the  books,  v/hich  you  have 
been  publishing.  Should  an  opportunity  present, 
will  you  send  us  one  ?  I  need  not  say  to  you,  should 
the  Lord  lead  the  way,  come  yourself.  I  can  assure 
you  a  hearty  reception  to  the  house,  and  at  least  one 


130  NOYESISM  UNVEILED.. 

heart.  Tlie  others  are  of  age  and  must  speak  for 
themselves.  It  would  give  me  pleasure  to  see  that 
sister  whom  the  world  calls  your  wife.  I  hear  you 
passed  under  something  of  a  forra,  I  hope  it  con- 
tained nothing  of  the  ingredients  which  composed  the 
first  marriage  ceremony  ever  pronounced  upon  woman 
— viz.  Eve's  curse — '  Thy  desire  shall  be  to  thy  hus- 
band and  he  shall  rule  over  thee.'  Nay,  I  am 
persuaded  you  know  what  it  is  to  live  without  being 
bound  by  any  law,  and  yet  be  the  more  firmly  united.'''^ 

We  next  give  some  extracts  from  a  letter  written  by 
Mrs.  R.  Black,  about  the  time  Mrs.  Green  indited 
her  epistle.  It  appears  that  the  \dru3  of  Perfection- 
ism had  already  been  diffused  to  some  extent — that  the 
infection  had  taken  in  some  localities,  and  was  becom- 
ing quite  contagious  among  a  certain  class  :— 

"  Dear  brother  Noyes — I.  have  sat  down  to  write  to 
you  because  the  Spirit  of  the  Lord  leads  me  to  do  so, 
and  as  he  shall  give  me  so  sliall  I  write,  neither  more 
nor  less.  At  the  time  I  saw  you  in  N.  Y.  at  brother 
Green's,  I  supposed  that  I  understood  your  views,  and 
with  some  of  them  was  perfectly  disgusted,  and  also 
with  you  for  entertaining  them,  but  I  now  beheve  that 
I  was  not  prepared  to  receive  them  at  that  time,  and  I 
bless  God  that  lie  has  taught  me  all  1  know  of  the 
subject  upon  which  we  differed.  Possibly  my  present 
sentiments  would  not  agree  with  yours,  indeed,  I  need 
not  expect  to  have  so  extensive  an  acquaintance  with 
the  subject  as  yourself.  Yet  I  think  it  probable,  that 
as  far  as  I  have  gone  we  shall  agree  :  if  I  can  get  the 
e\ddence  that  we  are  in  the  same  school,  this  will  be 
sufficient  for  me.  I  anticipate  your  answer,  that  I 
may  receive  the  truth  come  from  vfhence  it  may,  but 


NOYESISM  UNVEILED.  131 

this  is  not  enough  for  me  ;  although  I  want  a  candid 
expression  of  your  sentiments,  I  want  still  more  to 
know  that  you  are  my  dear  brother.  I  believe  that 
you  are,  or  I  should  not  write  thus  plainly.  .  .  . 
Every  one  has  got  some  of  the  5(?wc?-woman's  children 
clinging  about  them  in  some  form  or  other.  Some- 
times I  think  I  can  discover  one  hanging  about  me, 
but  my  cry  is,  '  Cast  out  the  bond  woman  and  her 
children.'  Some  of  them  are  safety^  prudence^  expe- 
diency, decency,  and  the  hke.  I  hate  them  all.  Now 
I  recollect  to  have  heard  the  word  expediency  used  by 
yourself,  in  a  number  of  instances ;  you  may  mean 
something  that  I  do  not :  do  tell  me  brother,  what  you 
do  mean.  Do  come  and  see  us.  The  Lord  is  doing 
great  things  for  us.  He  has  made  me  to  laugh,  and 
all  those  that  see  me  will  laugh  with  me.  It  is  indeed 
a  strange  work,  it  is  just  like  my  God— to  Him  be  all 
the  praise.     Give  my  love  to  all  who  knoiv  Jiimy 

This  caps  the  climax!  The  "bond-woman's  chil- 
dren" must  be  turned  out,  "  decency^^  and  all ! 
Fanaticism  here  completely  runs  riot. 

These  sickening  extracts  serve  as  fair  samples  of  the 
communications  which  Mr.  Noyes  was  frequently  receiv- 
ing from  different  quarters  thus  early  in  the  history  of 
Perfectionism.  These  being  specimens,  the  reader  can 
judge  as  to  the  general  character  of  the  correspondence 
which  was  pouring  in  upon  Mr.  Noyes,  from  all  points 
of  the  compass. 

Straws  show  which  way  the  current  moves.  And 
the  tenor  of  the  extracts  given,  as  clearly  shows  the 
natural  tendency  of  the  doctrines  taught  by  Noyes, 
at  that  early  period  in  his  career,  as  the  shining  of 
the  sun  at  noon-dav. 


132  NOYESISM  UNVEILED. 

Eut  it  seems  that  some  of  the  early  converts  to 
Perfectionism — some  of  the  weak  disciples  of  Noyes, 
were  at  first  disgusted,  and  almost  horrified,  at  the 
open  avowal  of  his  sentiments  ;  but  they  appear  to  have 
made  rapid  proficiency  under  his  tuition ;  for  we  soon 
find  them  looking  with  favor  upon  his  doctrines,  and 
liberally  interlarding  the  wonderful  change  which  had 
passed  over  them,  with  the  most  pious  expressions. 
Thus  hypocritically  pretending  that  divine  influences 
had  brought  about  their  conversion  to  these  new  notions ; 
when  in  fact  the  natural  inclination  of  their  own  unre- 
newed hearts  must  have  caused  them  to  drink  the 
fatal  poison,  which  Noyes  had  prepared  and  placed 
before  them.  And  we  find  them  at  length  blasphe- 
mously attributing  the  most  sheer  nonsense,  the  most 
indecent  and  even  ridiculous  conduct  to  a  divine 
impulse ! 

Mr.  Noyes,  as  if  boasting  of  the  victims  he  had 
secured  and  the  converts  he  had  made,  unblushingly 
confronts  the  public  with  the  letters — in  the  character 
of  testimony — from  which  we  have  selected  the 
extracts  already  given;  which  letters  were  accompa- 
nied by  a  note  of  unqualified  approbation  from  Mr. 
Noyes.  He  asserts  that  the  cause  of  truth -required 
him  to  set  aside  "  all  considerations  of  personal 
dehcacy,"  and  he  introduces  the  testimony  of  Mrs.. 
Green  and  Mrs.  Black,  as  "  pertinent  and  necessary  I'' 

Mr.  Noyes,  to  exhibit  his  gallantry,  and  show  that 
he  was  not  a  whit  behind  those  zealous  females  in 
discarding  the   "  bond-woman's    children,'*   publishes 


NOYESISM  UNVEILED,  133 

the  substance  of  a  letter  which  he  wrote  to  a  young 
lady,  making  proposals  for  a  kind  of  "  partnership" 
which  the  world  commonly  calls  marriage.  He 
undoubtedly  designed  this  letter  as  a  kind  of  ofifeet  to 
the  productions  of  Mrs.  Green  and  Mrs.  Black; 
or  a  significant  response  to  the  sentiments  they  had 
uttered,  which  were  probably  called  forth  by  the  open 
avowal  of  his  own  liberal  and  licentious  doctrines. 

Mr.  Noyes  introduces  the  letter  alluded  to,  by  a  few 
remarks : — 

^'  To  prove  that  I  repudiate  in  myself  as  well  as  in 
others,  all  unreasonable  dehcacy,  I  wUl  now  introduce 
un  epistle  of  my  own,  written  on  what  is  commonly 
considered  a  very  '  delicate'  occasion.  I  do  this  the 
more  readily,  because  it  has  been  requested  by  several 
friends,  who  judged  it  might  be  very  serviceable  as  a 
practical  explanation  of  the  doctrines  of  the  Battle 
Axe  Letter.  Moreover,  it  is  a  sufficient  reply  to  Mrs. 
Oreen's  inquiry  about  forms,  and  Mrs.  Black's 
inquiry  about  my  views  of  expediency.  ...  A  fe\v 
paragraphs  in  the  original  letter  are  here  omitted,  as 
being  irrelevant  to  my  present  purpose." 

"  From  J.  H.  Noyes,  to  Miss  H.  A.  Holton." 

Putney,  June  11,  1838. 
"Beloved  sister: — 

After  a  deliberation  of  more  than  a  year, 
in  patient  waiting,  and  watching  for  indications  of  the 
Lord's  will,  I  am  now  permitted — and  indeed  happily 
constrained — by  a  combination  of  favorable  circum- 
stances, to  propose  to  you  a  partnership,  which  I  will 
not  call  marriage,  till  I  have  defined  it. 

"  As  behevers,  we  are  already  one  with  each  other, 
and  with  all  saints.     This  primary  and  universal  union, 


134  NOYESISM  UNVEILED. 

is  more  radical,  and  of  course  more  important,  than  any- 
partial  and  external  partnersMp ;  and  with  reference 
to  this,  it  is  said,  '  there  is  neither  male  nor  female,' 
'  neither  marrying  nor  giving  in  marriage  in  heaven.' 
With  reference  to  this,  also,  my  offensive  remarks  in 
the  Battle  Axe  Letter  were  written.  With  this  in 
view,  we  can  enter  into  no  engagement  with  each 
other  which  shall  hmit  the  range  of  our  affections,  as 
they  are  limited  in  matrimonial  engagements,  by  the 
fashion  of  this  world.  I  desire  and  expect  my  yoke- 
fellow will  love  all  who  love  God,  whether  they  are 
male  or  female,  with  a  warmth  and  strength  of  affection 
unknown  to  earthly  lovers,  and  as  freely  as  if  she 
stood  in  no  particular  connection  with  me.  In  fact  the 
object  of  my  connection  with  her  will  be,  not  to 
monopolize  and  enslave  her  heart  or  my  own,  but  to 
enlarge  and  establish  both,  in  the  free  fellowship  of 
God's  universal  family.  If  the  external  union  and 
companionship  of  a  man  and  woman  in  accordance 
with  these  principles,  is  properly  called  marriage,  I 
know  that  marriage  exists  in  heaven,  and  I  have  no 
scruple  in  offering  you  my  heart  and  hand,  with  an 
engagement  to  be  married  in  due  form,  as  soon  as  God 
shall  permit. 

"  At  first  I  designed  to  set  before  you  many  weighty 
reasons  for  tliis  proposal ;  but  upon  second  thought, 
I  prefer  the  attitude  of  a  witness  to  that  of  an  advocate, 
and  shall  therefore  only  suggest  briefly,  a  few  matter 
of  fact  considerations,  leaving  the  advocacy  of  the  case 
to  God — the  customary  persuasions  and  romance  to 
your  own  imagination — and  more  particular  explana- 
tions to  a  personal  interview. 

1.  "In  the  plain  speech  of  a  witness,  not  of  a 
flatterer,  I  respect  and  love  you  for  many  desirable 
qualities,  spiritual,  intellectual,  moral  and  personal; 


NOYESISM  UNVEILED.  135 

and  especially  for  jour  faith,  kindness,  simplicity  and 
modesty. 

2.  "  I  am  confident  that  the  partnership  I  propose, 
will  greatly  promote  our  mutual  happiness  and 
improvement. 

3.  "  It  will  also  set  us  free,  at  least  myself,  from 
much  reproach,  and  many  evil  surmisings,  which  are 
occasioned  by  celibacy  in  present  circumstances. 

4.  *"  It  will  enlarge  our  sphere,  and  increase  our 
means  of  usefulness  to  the  people  of  God. 

5.  "  I  am  willing  at  this  particular  time,  to  testify 
by  example,  that  I  am  a  follower  of  Paul,  in  holding 
that '  marriage  is  honorable  in  all.' 

6.  '^  I  am  also  willing  to  testify  practically  against 
that '  bondage  of  liberty,'  which  utterly  sets  at  nought 
the  ordinance  of  man,  and  refuses  to  submit  to  them 
even  for  the  Lord's  sake.  I  know  that  the  immortal 
union  of  hearts,  the  everlasting  honey-moon,  which 
alone  is  worthy  to  be  called  marriage,  can  never  be 
made  by  a  ceremony,  and  I  know  equally  well  that 
such  a  marriage  can  never  be  marred  by  a  ceremony. 

"You  are  aware  that  I  have  no  profession  save  that 
of  a  servant  of  God — -a  profession  which  has  thus  far 
subjected  me  to  many  vicissitudes,  and  has  given  me 
but  little  of  this  world's  prosperity.  If  you  judge  me 
by  the  outward  appearance,  or  the  future  by  the  past, 
you  will  naturally  find  in  the  irregularity  and  seeming 
instability  of  my  character  and  fortune,  many  objections 
to  a  partnership.  Of  this  I  will  only  say,  that  I  am 
conscious  of  possessing  by  the  grace  of  God,  a  spirit  of 
firmness,  perseverance  and  faithfulness  in  every  good 
work,  which  has  made  the  vagabond,  incoherent 
service,  to  which  I  have  thus  far  been  called,  almost 
intolerable  to  me  ;  and  I  shall  welcome  heaven's  order 
for  my  release  from  it,  as  an  exile  after  seven  years 
pilgrimage,  would  welcome  the  sight  of  his  home.    I 


136  KOYESISM  UNVEILED. 

see  now  no  reason  why  I  should  not  have  a  '  certain 
dwelling  place,'  and  enter  upon  a  course  which  is 
consistent  with  the  duties  of  domestic  hfe.  Perhaps 
your  reply  to  this  will  be  the  voice  saying  to  me, — 

'  Watchman !  let  thy  Tvanderings  cease, 
Hie  thee  to  thy  quiet  home.' 

"  Yours  in  the  Lord, 

J.   H.   NOYES.'^ 

We  have  thus  given  the  letter  of  Mr.  Noyes,  in 
full,  as  he  published  it.  It  seems  to  have  been  regarded 
with  favor,,  by  the  lady  to  whom  it  was  addressed ; 
and  in  entering  into  the  proposed  "  partnership"  they 
"  passed  under  something  of  a  form,"  and  that  lady 
has  since  been  known  in  law  as  the  wife,  or  perhaps 
we  ought  to  say,  the  '' ijartner'^  of  Mr,  N. 


KOYBSISM   UNVEILED.  137 

1      CHAPTER  XV. 

NoT/esite  Community  at  Oneida — Rule  in  the  Putney 
Community — State  of  things  in  New  Yorlc, 

In  an  article  publislied  in  the  Spiritual  Magazine  of 
Aug.  5,  1848,  Mr.  Noyes  speaks  of  the  dispersion  of 
the  believers  at  Putney,  in  the  autumn  of  1847 — refers 
to  their  removal  from  Putney  to  Oneida,'  and  their 
settlement  there,  and  says  : — 

".We  find  ourselves  now,  after  a  short  interval  of 
comfortable  confusion,  by  the  invitation  and  cordial 
co-operation  of  Mr.  Jonathan  Bukt,  and  others  of 
this  vicinity,  in  a  position  much  better  than  Putney 
ever  gave  us.  .  .  .  Our  dispersion  last  fall,  and  the 
revolutions  among  believers  generally,  resulting  from 
the  new  position  of  our  cause,  have  opened  and 
warmed  many  hearts,  as  the  varied  correspondence 
presented  in  this  paper  shows." 

That  the  reader  may  be  made  acquainted  with  the 
character  of  the  elements  which  lie  at  the  bottom  of 
the  Noyesite  Community  at  Oneida,  it  is  necessary  to 
state  that  Mr.  Jonathan  Burt — who  invited  Noyes  to 
locate  at  Oneida  Reserve,  and  who  is  cordially  co-oper- 
ating with  him — went  to  Jesse  Ball,  of  Canastota,  N. 
Y.,  and  demanded  his  (Ball's)  wife,  affirming  that, 
"  She  was  his,  for  Cod  had  given  her  to  himJ^  Mrs. 
Ball  had  been  converted  to  Perfectionism,  through 
the  influence  and  agency  of  Burt,  but  she  refused  to 
follow  her  spiritual  father  in  this  matter.  This  mfor- 
mation  we  have  derived  from  a  reUable  source.  Hav- 
ing  such   a  foundation,  with  Noyes  at  its  head,  we 


138  NOYESISM  UNVEILED. 

cannot  mistake  as  to  the  character  of  the  Oneida 
Communitj.  This  Community  is  henceforth  to  be  the 
rallying  point,  the  centre  of  attraction  to  all  "  true 
believers^'  in  the  Noyesite  heresy. 

But  let  us  glance  at  their  "  new,"  or  "  advanced 
position."  There  can  he  no  doubt  in  regard  to  the 
stand  which  they  have  recently  taken.  Facts  and 
circumstances  abundantly  show  that  the  carrying  out 
of  the  sentiments  of  the  Battle  Axe  Letter,  and 
consequently  a  virtual  nullification  of  the  institution  of 
marriage  among  all  Perfectionists,  is  the  distinguishing 
characteristic  of  their  present  position.  This,  more- 
over, is  in  perfect  keeping  with  doctrines  which  Mr. 
N.  has  long  taught. 

But  let  us  look  at  a  few  facts.  In  the  sunmier  of 
1847,  soon  after  it  was  announced  that  the  kingdom 
had  come,  Mr.  Noyes  made  known  the  rule  which  was 
henceforth  to  govern  the  Putney  community.  It 
appears  that  prior  to  this  period,  the  specious  doctrines 
of  Mr.  N.  had  been  confined  principally  to  the  leaders 
or  master  spirits  in  the  society  at  Putney  ;  but  the 
time  had  arrived  when  there  was  to  be  a  more  general 
spread  of  those  doctrines,  and  they  were  to  be  more 
extensively  carried  out  in  practice.  But  there  must 
be  some  exercise  of  discretion.  The  subject  must  be 
laid  before  advanced  scholars  instead  of  young  disci- 
ples. But  Mr.  N.  broached  the  subject  to  a  person  in 
Putney  village,  who  was  a  Perfectionist,  but  had  not 
joined  his  household  under  the  "  common  roof,"  and 
met  with  a  prompt  repulse. 


NOYESISM  UNVEILED.  139 

The  course  marked  out  by  Mr.  N.  for  the  Putney 
Community  henceforth  to  follow,"  cuts  directly  across 
the  marriage  covenant  of  this  world  /"  This  rule  was 
to  be  applied  to  all  in  the  society,  both  married  and 
unmarried ;  and  those  who  refused  to  come  under  the 
rule,  and  submit  to  the  regulations,  were  considered 
guilty  of  disloyalty  to  the  "  acknowledged  head  of  the 
Corporation !"  Mr.  N.,  in  order  to  induce  the  indi- 
vidual alluded  to,  to  comply  with  his  Jesuitical  requi- 
sitions, told  him  that  without  taking  this  last  step,  and 
pursuing  the  course  which  he  had  marked  out,  they 
could  not  be  perfect^  or  could  not  have  'perfect  love  ! 
An  associate  of  Noyes  also  labored  with  the  individual, 
and  asked  him  if  he  was  not  going  to  submit  to  Mr, 
N. — as  though  resistance  to  his  authority  would  be  a 
high  handed  offence.  But  they  did  not  succeed ; 
and  lest  some  matters  might  be  divulged  not  very 
creditable  to  the  "  acknowledged  head," — if  a  recon- 
cihation  was  not  brought  about — they  compromised  the 
matter  by  Mr.  N.'s  agreeing  to  let  the  person  referred 
to,  be  exempt  from  the  rule  which  had  'been  adopted. 
And  thus  the  matter  ended. 

It  appears  that  there  were  a  few  in  the  Putney 
Community,  who,  notwithstanding  the  teachings  of  Mr. 
N.  for  several  years,  had  not  seen  the  practical  ten- 
dency of  his  doctrines,  and  did  not  actually  know  what 
the  final  results  would  be,  until  the  matter  was 
unblushingly  laid  before  them,  and  every  shadow  of 
doubt  was  dispelled.  Hence,  as  a  matter  of  course, 
there  would  be  some  refractory  spirits,  who  would  not 


140  NOYESISM  UNVEILED. 

bow  down  in  humble  submission  to  Mr.  N. — but  such 
were  given  to  understand  that  they  must  submi|  or 
leave  the  premises;  and  one  elderly  lady  from  an 
adjoining  town,  who  had  recently  come  under  the 
"  common  roof,"  but  who  refused  to  submit  to  the  ruUy 
actually  quit  the  premises  and  removed  to  an  adjoining 
State. 

But  while  strenuous  efforts  were  being  made  in' 
Putney,  for  the  purpose  of  making  thorough  wo»k:, 
and  carrying  out  the  precious  doctrine  through  the 
whole  Community,  other  places  came  up  in  remem- 
brance before  the  great  leader.  In  the  midst  of  the 
move,  or  while  things  were  progressing  at  Putney, 
Mr.  N.  took  a  five  weeks  tour  into  the  State  of  New 
York,  and  attended  two  Conventions — one  at  Lairds- 
ville,  Oneida  Co.,  which  met  Sept.  3,  1847 — and  the 
other  at  Genoa,  Cayuga  Co.,  which  met  on  the  17th  of 
the  same  month. 

These  Conventions  were  called  by  John  B.  Foote, 
and  John  Corwin,  both  of  New  York.  The  object 
of  the  Conventions,  as  specified  by  those  who  called 
them,  was  to  bring  Eastern  and  Western — or  New 
York  and  Vermont — Perfectionists  together,  "for  the 
purpose  of  acquaintance,  acknowledgment  of  each 
other,  and  co-operation." 

One  object — but  whether  "a  primary  or  secondary, 
we  are  not  prepared  to  say — of  Mr.  N.  in  attending 
these  Conventions,  undoubtedly  was  to  give  the  mem- 
bers a  sprinkhng  or  a  thorough  baptism  of  the  doc- 
trines of  the  Battle  Axe  Letter.     This  is  fairly  infera- 


NOYBSISM  UNVEILED.  141 

ble  from  the  following  circumstance  : — -At  the  Lairds- 
ville  Convention,  Mr.  Otis  Sanford,  of  Clinton,  N.  Y., 
introduced  a  few  resolutions,  which,  among  other 
things,  expressed  entire  approbation  of  the  "  general 
course  of  the  press  at  Putney,"  and  pledged  a  cordial 
co-operation  with  the  brethren  there  in  the  circulation 
of  their  publications.  The  report  of  the  Convention 
says  that  these  resolutions  were  "  discussed  harmo- 
niously and  passed  unanimously."  Mr.  Noyes,  in  a 
note  appended  to  these  resolutions,  pubHshed  in  the 
Spiritual  Magazine  of  Oct.  1,  1847,  says: — "After 
the  close  of  the  meetings,  Otis  Sanford,  in  consequence 
of  discovering  that  I  was  the  author  of  the  '  Battle 
Axe  letter,'  (which  he  had  never  seen  before,) 
retracted  his  assent  to  these  resolutions." 

Now,  from  this  circumstance,  it  plainly  appears  that 
Mr.  Noyes  introduced  the  Battle  Axe  Letter  into 
those  Conventions — perhaps  as  a  feeler — or  at  least 
showed  it  to  some  individual  members,  for  the  purpose 
of  securing  their  influence  in  favor  of  its  doctrines. 
But  it  appears  that  they  were  not  prepared,  to  any 
considerable  extent,  for  the  reception  of  such  revolting 
sentiments.  Even  Mr.  Sanford,  who  introduced  the 
resolutions  expressive  of  entire  approbation  of  the 
course  pursued  by  the  Perfectionists  at  Putney,  when 
apprized  of  the  fact  that  Noyes  wrote  the  Battle  Axe 
Letter,  immediately  withdreiv  his  assent  from  the  very 
resolutions  which  he  had  himself  introduced. 

But  let  us  look  at  the  principles  sanctioned  and  set 
forth  by  the  Conventions  already  referred  to.     These 


142  NOYESISM  UNVEILED. 

principles  are  embodied  in  a  series  of  resolutions 
passed  at  the  Genoa  Convention,  wliicli  are  as 
follows : — 

1.  "  Resolved,  That  we  will  devote  ourselves  exclu- 
sively to  the  establishment  of  the  kingdom  of  God ; 
and  as  that  kingdom  includes  and  provides  for  all 
interests,  religious,  political,  social  and  physical,  that 
we  will  not  join  or  co-operate  with  any  other  associ- 
ation. 

2.  "  Resolved,  That  as  the  kingdom  of  God  is  to 
have  an  extensive  manifestation,  and  as  that  manifes- 
tation must  be  in  some  form  of  Association,  we  will 
acquaint  ourselves  with  the  principles  of  Heavenly  Asso- 
ciation, and  train  ourselves  to  conformity  to  them  as 
fast  as  possible. 

3.  "  Resolved,  That  one  of  the  leading  principles  of 
Heavenly  Association,  is  the  renunciation  of  exclusive 
claim  to  private  property. 

4.  "  Resolved,^  That  it  is  expedient  immediately  to 
take  measures  for  forming  a  Heavenly  Association  in 
Central  New  York. 

5.  "  Resolved,  ThatWm.  H.  Cook  be  authorized,  on 
our  behalf,  to  visit  Perfectionists  throughout  the  State, 
for  the  purpose  of  stirring  up  their  minds  in  relation  to 
Association,  and  ascertaining  the  amount  of  men  and 
means  that  are  in  readiness  for  the  enterprise." 

These  resolutions  speak  for  themselves — they  cannot 
be  mistaken — comment  is  unnecessary.  Let  it  be 
borne  in  mind  that  all  the  "  Heavenly  Associations"  to 
be  formed,  must  be  based  upon  the  principles  embodied 
in  the  foregoing  resolutions;  and  built  up  in  all 
respects  after  the  pattern  of  the  one  existing  in 
Putney.     A    site  was  selected,  as  we  are  informed, 


NOYESISM  UNVEILED.  143 

near  Oneida  Castle,  for  a  great  central  ''  Heavenly 
Association"  in  the  Empire  State,  and  measures  taken 
to  obtain  the  necessary  means.  Mr.  Noyes,  having 
thus  hoisted  his  colors  in  JS'ew  York,  and  put  in  motion 
a  train  of  operations  which  promised  success,  returned 
to  Vermont ;  and  soon  after  was  arrested  for  several 
crimes  of  the  darkest  shade  I  Soon  after  his  arrest  at 
Putney,  Mr.  Noyes  absconded,  and  finally  fixed  on 
Oneida  Reserve — upon  the  very  site  previously 
selected,  as  we  suppose,  for  founding  a  "  Heavenly 
Association ;"  and  as  all  the  elite  of  the  Putney 
Community  have  been  transferred  to  that  point,  we 
take  it  for  granted  that  they  have  there  a  genuine 
Noyesite  Association. 

It  may  be  proper  here  to  remark,  that  Jonathan 
Burt,  to  whom  we  have  already  referred,  and  who 
laid  claim  to  the  wife  of  Jesse  Ball,  of  Canastota,  was 
Moderator  of  the  Lairdsville  Convention ;  and  he 
seems  to  be — at  least,  so  far  as  pecuniary  matters  are 
concerned — the  pedestal,  on  which  the  Oneida  Com- 
munity stands. 

John  B.  Foote,  for  a  considerable  time,  stood  at  the 
head  of  the  Western  division  of  Perfectionists,  but  at 
the  Lairdsville  Convention,  the  supremacy  of  Noyes 
was  acknowledged;  and  Foote  and  his  followers,  as 
we  are  informed  by  a  gentleman  who  was  present, 
"  paid  the  most  servile  homage  and  adulation  to  their 
chief."  Noyes,  and  his  associate  leader,  Foote,  imme- 
diately concerted  schemes  for  future  operations.  But 
this   state    of    things    was    destined  to  be   of    short 


144  NOYESISM  UNVEILED. 

duration — a  revulsion  was  at  hand.  The  gentleman 
just  alluded  to,  who  attended  the  Lairdsville  Conven- 
tion, says : — 

"A  new  difficulty  threatened  to  spoil  all.  The 
Perfectionists  of  New  York  deserted  Noyes  hastily 
and  incontinently,  as  they  had  just  before  rushed 
eagerly  into  his  embrace. 

"  The  '  Battle  Axe  Letter,'  written  by  Noyes  in 
1837,  declared  that  in  the  *■  holiness  of  the  resurrection 
there  would  be  no  marriage.'  '  The  marriage  supper 
of  the  Lamb,'  says  the  letter,  '  is  a  feast  at  which 
every  dish  is  free  to  every  guest.''  This  sentiment, 
which  they  had  hoodwinked  their  own  eyes  from 
beholding,  now  disconcerted  his  new  allies.  Speedily 
did  they  trumpet  it  forth  as  a  new  discovery,  though 
they  had  had  the  evidence  ten  years.  For  although 
Noyes  had  quibbled  around  this  letter,  he  had  never 
denied  its  real  meaning.  For  most  inquirers,  a  little 
dust  was  sufficient  to  blur  their  eyes.  Not  till  its 
practical  bearings  were  brought  into  notice,  did  they 
allow  it  to  be  a  doctrine  of  evil  tendency.  But  as 
soon  as  they  heard  of  cross-fellow  ship,  and  the  fact 
that  their  chosen  apostle  was  under  bonds  for  the 
charge  of  adultery,  they  gave  the  alarm,  when  the 
evil  was  already  their  own  by  endorsement.  Perhaps 
they  were  honest  in  all  tliis  ;  but  certainly  appearances 
are  unfavorable.     I  except  Wm.  S.  Hatch." 

We  infer  from  what  follows,  that  Noyes  and  Foote 
are  now  arrayed  against  each  other.  Speaking  in 
reference  to  the  present  position  of  affairs,  the  same 
writer  contmues : — 

"  In  this  curious  predicament  are  the  members  of 
this  denomination.  In  the  heart  of  New  York,  within 
a  few  miles  of  each  other,  reside  the  leaders  at  open 


liTOYESISM  UNVEILED.  145 

war.  Their  future  course  is  a  matter  of  curious  spec- 
ulation,  but  not  a  proper  subject  for  present  decision. 
One  party  bids  fair  to  perish  in  its  own  corruption ; 
the  other  to  be  swept  hither  and  thither  with  every 
wind  of  doctrine." 

The  following  remarks  exhibit  the  leading  charac- 
teristics of  the  two  prominent  individuals  just  alluded 
to — and  refer  to  the  early  part  of  their  career : — 

"The  aspirations  of  J.  B.  Foote  were  for  spiritual 
glory.     Power  was  the  element  of  J.  H.  Noyes." 

That  the  reader  may  the  more  clearly  see  the  true 
position  of  Noyes,  and  the  present  state  of  things  in 
New  York,  we  quote  still  farther  from  the  same 
writer : — 

"  To  crown  the  whole,  we  must  copy  still  farther 
from  a  letter  written  by  Noyes,  an  extract  of  which 
was  published  in  the  Battle  Axe  and  Weapons  of  "War, 
1837. 

"  '  God  is  about  to  set  a  throne  on  his  footstool,  and 
heaven  and  earth,  i.  e.  all  spiritual  and  political  dynas- 
ties, will  flee  from  the  face  of  him  that  shall  sit  there- 
on. The  righteous  will  be  separate  from  the  wicked 
by  the  opening  of  the  books  and  the  testimony  of  the 
saints.  Between  this  present  time  and  the  establish- 
ment of  God's  kingdom  over  the  earth,  lies  a  chaos  of 
confttslon,  tribulation,  woe,  and  such  as  must  attend 
the  destruction  of  the  fashion  of  this  world,  and  the 
introduction  of  the  will  of  God,  as  it  is  done  in  heaven. 
Cfod  has  set  me  to  cast  up  a  high  ivay  over  this 
chaos.''  .  .  . 

"  '  When  the  will  of  God  is  done  on  earth,  as  it  is 
in  heaven,  there  will  he  no  marriage.  .  .  .  God  has 
placed  a  wall  of  partition  between  the  male  and  the 
10 


146  NOYESISM  UNVEILED. 

female  during  the  apostacy,  for  good  reasons,  which  will 
be  broken  down  in  the  resurrection  for  equally  good 
reasons.  But  woe  to  him  who  abohshes  the  law  of  the 
apostacy,  [i.  e.  marriage,]  before  he  stands  in  the 
holiness  of  the  resurrection.  [Observe  the  expression : 
The  holiness  of  the  resurrection,  not  the  resurrection 
state.  So  Smith,  Lyvere  and  other  associates  of  Noyes, 
affirm  that  he  taught  them.]  The  guests  of  the 
marriage  supper  may  have  each  his  favorite  dish. 
[This  probably  refers  to  an  external  form  of  marriage,] 
— each  a  dish  of  his  own  procuring,  and  that  without 
the  jealousy  of  exclusiveness.'  .  .  . 

"It  is  due  to  Western  Perfectionists,  and  many 
others,  to  state  again  that  they  have  not  subscribed 
to  many  of  the  more  odious  doctrines  here  copied. 
Yet  as  they  have  silently  passed  over  them,  without 
remark,  the  community  is  liable  to  attribute  to  them 
the  sanction  of  deeds  which  they  would  regard  with 
abhorrence.  But  the  Antinomian  elements  infused 
into  all  their  habits  of  thinking,  are  very  evident  in  all 
their  expositions  of  Scripture,  and  of  com'se  must  be 
exhibited  in  their  lives.  In  spite  of  their  protesta- 
tions, they  are  but  too  Hable  to  be  of  the  class  whose 
spirit  is  exclusive,  who  are  inflated  with  conceptions  of 
personal  superiority." 


NOYESISM   UNVEILED.  147 


CHAPTER  XVI. 


Extracts  from  Correspondence-^  Visit  of  Mr,  Lowell 
to  the  Oneida  Community. 

Immediately  after  the  startling  disclosures  at  Putney 
in  the  fall  of  1847,  there  was  quite  a  "  revolution  among 
believers  generally,  resulting  from  the  new  position"  of 
things.  Many,  not  only  in  the  State  of  New  York, 
but  elsewhere,  who  had  embraced  the  doctrines  of 
Noyes,  but .  did  not  discover  their  immoral  tendency 
till  their  practical  results  were  fairly  exhibited,  were 
alarmed,  fell  off,  and  rejected  their  leader.  But  the 
most  prominent  Noyesites  at  Putney  professed  to  be 
more  surprised  at  the  expressions  of  confidence  from 
believers  in  different  places^  than  they  were  at  their 
trials  and  the  falling  off  among  them.  They  now 
profess  to  believe — but  how  long  they  have  so  behoved 
we  are  not  informed — that  the  doctrine  of  "  sexual 
morality'''*  taught  by  Noyes,  and  which  may  now  be 
considered  the  distinguishing  doctrine  of  the  sect, 
is  the  stumhling  stone  and  roch  of  offence^  which 
God  has  laid  in  Zionfl  The  Noyesites  would  of 
course  expect  that  '^  the  world,'' ^  i.  e.  all  who  were  not 
Perfectionists,  would  take  offence  at  this  doctrine  ;  and 
it  seems  that  they  were  not  •  surpnsed  that  weak  believ- 
ers were  stumbled  at  it.  But  notwithstanding  the 
falling  off  among  them,  there  were  some  who  were  so 
far  advanced^  or  who  had  such  strong  faith,  that  they 
were  ready  for  the  new  'position.    Many  of   these 


148  NOYESISM  UNVEILED. 

"  kindred  spirits'^  sent  in  their  Cliristian(?)  salutations 
by  way  of  encouragement  to  the  "  hod^  of  helievers'^ 
at  head  quarters.  We  make  a  few  extracts  from  the 
"  varied,"  and  to  them  "  interesting  correspondence," 
which  has  been  coming  in  from  almost  all  points  of  the 
compass.  The  first  is  from  a  letter  of  encouragement 
from  a  correspondent  at  Barnstable.  Mass.,  whose 
name  is  withheld.  The  letter  bears  date,  March  14, 
1848,  and  the  extract  is  as  follows : — 

'^  Be  not  discouraged,  mj  dear  friends.  Although 
you  may  be  bound  and  crucified  as  was  your  Master, 
because  you  tell  the  truth,  and  do  the  works*  he  inspires 
you  to  do,  you  shall  rise  again  from  the  dead,  and 
truth  shall  go  forth  from  conquermg  and  to  conquer." 

It  seems  that  the  dear  man  did  not  know  that 
Noyes  tras  dead  against  the  doctrine  of  the  ^'resur- 
rection of  that  liody  which  dies^  This  correspondent 
was  trying  to  encourage  them  with  the  hope  of  that 
in  which  they  have  no  behef,  and  for  which  of  course 
they  have  nc  desire  !     Poor  encouragement  this. 

The  next  extract  which  we  give,  is  from  a  letter 
written  by  Wm.  H.  Perry,  of  New  York  City,  and  is 
datedMarch26,  1848:— 

"I  am  at  Oneida  now  in  spirit  a  good  part  of  the 
time,  and  look  forward  with  a  good  deal  of  anxiety, 
when  the  saints  of  the  Most  High  will  be  associated 
and  united  together  in  the  strong  bonds  of  union, 
never  to  be  separated." 

It  seems  that  Oneida  is  the  point  to  which  all  eyes 
are  now  turned,  and  the  true  oelievers  scattered  abroad, 
who  appear  to  be    "  few  and  far  between,"   although 


NOYESISM   UNVEILED.  149 

absent  in  body,  are  there  "  in  spirit  a  good  part  of  the 
time,"  and  joyfully  anticipate  the  day,  -when  they  shall 
be  banded  together  under  their  "  acknowledged  head." 
The  course  which  they  are  pursuing  is  in  perfect 
keeping  with  the  saying  of  the  Savior — ''Where  the 
carcass  is,  thither  will  the  eagles  be  gathered  together." 
Next  Joseph  H.  Thomas  comes  up  from  New 
Jersey,  and  tells  what  the  "  behevers"  are  doing  at 
Newark.     Under  date  of  April  25,  1848,  he  says  : — 

"  We  feel  that  we  are  fast  condensing  life  in 
Newark;  the  power  of  love,  which  is  Grod^ 8  magnet- 
ism, is  increasing  daily  among  us.  .  .  .  There  never 
was  a  time  when  such  a  oneness  was  manifest  as  now. 
We  find  ourselves  speaking  the  same  things,  and 
thinking  the  same  thoughts.'''' 

"  Thinkixg  the  same  thoughts  !"  This  is  truly 
wonderful ! 

Next,  Enos  Kellogg  sends  up  Fifty  Dollars  of 
borrowed  money  from  "  the  land  of  steady  habits,"  to 
aid  in  the  '•^  estahlishment  of  Crod\s  kingdmn  on 
earth  P^  Writing  from  Somers,  Ct.,  June  3,  1848, 
he  says  : — 

"  I  have  no  funds  that  I  can  come  at  just  now,  but 
have  borrowed  fifty  dollars,  which  I  am  happy  in 
sending  to  you,  to  aid  in  the  estabhshment  of  God's 
kingdom  on  earth." 

What!  The  kingdom  of  God  established  with 
money  !  How  apostolical !  That  individuals  have  a 
legal  right  thus  to  dispose  of  their  money  no  one  will 
question.  But  they  would  do  well  to  take  warning 
from  those  who  have  cast  in  their  all  to  forward  some 


150  NOYESISM  UNVEILED. 

fatal  delusion,  and  in  a  few  years  found  themselves, 
penniless  and  forlorn.  Many  of  the  deluded  followers 
of  the  Mormon  Prophet  have  suffered  immensely. 
Some  of  the  mistaken  Millerites  foolishly  threw  away 
their  property,  and  brought  ruin  upon  themselves  and 
wretchedness  upon  their  families.  If  individuals  will 
not  heed  these  warnings,  happy  will  it  be  for  them, 
if  they  learn  wisdom,  though  late,  by  the  things  wbich 
they  may  suffer. 

Again,  a  voice  from  the  "  far  west"  proclaims  high 
hopes  of  final  triumph.  Simon  Lovett,  writing  from 
Bristol,  Wisconsin,  April  29, 1848,  says  : — 

"  One  thing  I  know, — the  stone  is  rolling  which  is  to 
break  in  pieces  all  these  kingdoms." 

But  last,  though  not  least,  Stephen  E.  Leonard 
speaks  out  from  the  very  "  paradise  of  redemption  l" 
While  others  have  hailed  from  distant  lands  and 
different  regions,  Mr.  Leonard  has  given  us  an  inkling 
of  affairs  at  head  quarters.  In  a  letter  dated  Oneida, 
July  31,  1848,  and  addressed  to  John  E.  Miller  of 
Putney,  he  says  :-— 

"  I  have,  with  others,  my  '  impressions'  of  Oneida — 
and  very  interesting  and  edifying  ones  they  are  too. 
You  are  aware  of  course  that  before  leaving  Putney,  I 
would  speak  of  our  prospects  here  with  enthusiasm.  I 
endeavored  however  at  the  same  time,  to  look  at  things 
soberly  also,  and  was  assured  in  my  own  mind,  that  my 
enthusiasm  was  based  on  a  substantial  Spiritual  founda- 
tion. Mere  external  adversity  was  no  stumbling-block 
to  my  faith,  and  flattering  external  appearances  were 
not  the  soul  of  my  sanguine  hopes.     '  Things  not  seen 


NOYESISM  UNVEILED.  151 

and  etemar  were  the  groundwork  of  my  anticipations. 
Amidst  all  the  turmoil  of  the  past  winter,  the  conscious- 
ness of  our  having  loving  hearts  was  to  me  the  surest 
eartiest  of  success.  I  felt  that  this  eternal  principle 
within  us  could  not  help  working  its  way  through  any 
difficulties  that  could  possibly  interpose,  and  in  due 
time  find  its  natural  expression  in  an  unselfish  Associa- 
tion. With  such  a  basis  for  my  confidence,  you  may 
well  suppose  I  am  not  about  to  confess  myself  to  have 
been  too  ardent.  '  Revelhng  in  the  halls  of  the 
Montezumas'  is  no  camparison  to  me,  with  the  pri'vd- 
lege  of  living  in  a  loving  community — where  we  are 
free  to  have  God  wash  away  all  exclusiveness  from  our 
natures,  and  teach  us  to  worship  Him  in  the  beauty  of 
holiness  and  love.  Such  a  community  we  have  here. 
The  peace  of  God  that  passeth  understanding,  dwells 
in  our  midst ;  and  the  scouring  of  the  material  that  is 
destined  for  the  great  battery  which  is  to  abolish  death, 
elicits  from  time  to  time  currents  of  the  heavenly 
electricity  that  are  worthy  of  a  place  in  the  paradise 
of  God.  The  idea  of  leaiTiing  to  love  one  another  as 
God  loves  us,  without  reference  to  the  outward  rela- 
tions we  are  made  to  sustain  to  each  other  by  law,  I 
conceive  to  be  the  glory  of  the  church  ;  and  if  this  is 
so,  we  shall  ere  long  certainly  be  to  the  rest  of  the 
world  as  a  city  set  on  a  hill.  We  are  all  '  earnest 
souls'  for  the  practical  developement  of  this  idea.  It 
is  plain  to  me  that  we  are  progressing  steadily  and 
swiftly  towards  the  accomplishment  of  that  great 
miracle — the  unity  of  all  believers — which  is  foreor- 
dained to  convince  the  world  of  our  identity  with 
Christ."— Spiritual  Magazine,  Vol.  II.  No.  13. 

Mr.  Leonard  is  the  printer  in  the  "  Heavenly  Asso- 
ciation" at  Oneida,  and  in  the  foregoing  extract  he 
has  certainly  given  us  quite  a  glowing  description  of 


152  KOYESISM  UNVEILED. 

things  there.  Now,  if  "  reveHing  in  the  halls  of  the 
Montezumas  is  no  comparison  to  the  privilege  of  living 
in"  that  Community — and  if  "  the  idea  of  learning  to 
love  one  another  without  reference  to  the  outward 
relations  they  are  made  to  sustain  to  each  other  by 
law,"  is  "  the  glory  of  the  (Noyesite)  church" — and 
z/they  "  are  all '  earnest  souls'  for  the  practical  devel- 
opement  of  this  idea" — then  we  may  fairly  infer  that 
the  Community  at  Oneida  is  just  like  the  one  at 
Putney,  and  "  a  little  more  so  /" 

In  the  same  paper  from  which  the  preceding  extracts 
were  taken,  we  find  a  brief  notice  of  a  visit  which  the 
Oneida  Community  had  from  a  man  by  the  name  of 
Lowell.     We  give  it  entire — it  is  as  follows  : — 

"A  Self-Trumpeter. — Our  Community  was  hon- 
ored with  a  call  the  other  morning  from  a  man  by  the 
name  of  Lowell,  who  professes,  we  understand,  to  be 
the  blower  of  the  '  seventh  trumpet.'  His  pretensions, 
as  put  forth  in  our  presence,  were  not  so  imposing  as 
amusing.  For  instance,  he  observed  with  a  most  ludi- 
crous air  of  mmgled  solemnity  and  caricature,  '  When 
the  Millerites  talk  about  looking  for  the  coming  of 
Christ,  I  tell  them  they  need  not  look  any  further ; 
I'm  the  man  V  We  all  had  a  very  refreshing  season 
of  laughter  at  his  rhodomontades  of  this  kind;  and, 
to  do  him  justice^  he  bore  our  merriment  with  good 
nature,  joined  loudly,  if  not  heartily,  in  the  laugh^ 
and  seemed  disposed,  like  a  good  actor,  to  give  us  a 
farce  as  extravagant  and  entertaining  as  possible. 
He  said  he  was  a  '  wayfaring  man,'  which  being 
interpreted,  (as  we  have  since  been  informed,) 
signifies  in  his  case — a  pedler.  It  is  a  curious  and 
almost    incredible  fact    that    several    PerfectionistSy 


NOYESISM  UNVEILED.  153 

heretofore  thought  to  he  men  of  sense,  finding  them- 
selves in  a  starving,  malcontent  condition,  have  become 
the  sucklings  of  this  poor  vagrant.^^ 

We  were  not  aware  that  the  kingdom  of  heaven  was 
a  place  of  merriment  and  farcical  scenes  !  Perhaps 
such  things  are  befitting  a  Noyesite  company,  but  not 
a  Christian  community.  We  infer  from  the  foregoing 
that  when  individuals  leave  the  Noyesite  ranks,  they 
are  no  longer  considered  men  of  sense  ;  but  it  is  highly 
probable  that  they  have  as  much  sense  after  as  they 
had  before  leaving.  And  if  persons  can  swallow  such 
a  congeries  of  absurdities  as  Noyesism,  with  all  its  vile 
abominations,  it  would  not  be  at  all  surprising  if  they 
should  find  themselves  in  a  ''  starving^  ^  condition — 
seeing  they  are  feeding  upon  "  husks'^'' — and  certainly 
they  would  be  fit  subjects  to  become  the  "  sucklings^  ^ 
of  any  ''  poor  vagrant"  that  might  chance  to  come 
along. 


IM  NOYESISM  UNVEILED. 


CHAPTER  XVII. 

Noyes  searcMyig  for  Stolen  Groods. 

We  give  below  a  particular  account,  by  an  eye-wit- 
ness, of  a  little  affair  which  took  place  several  years 
ago,  in  Putney.  It  may  be  thought  by  some  too  small 
a  matter  to  be  recorded.  Under  ordinary  circumstan- 
ces it  would  not  be  entitled  even  to  a  passing  notice  ; 
but  as  almost  every  thing  connected  with  the  history  of 
distinguished  individuals  is  read  with  some  degree  of 
interest,  we  think  it  proper  to  give  an  account  of  the 
affair  just  as  it  was  related  by  the  person  under  whose 
immediate  observation  it  transpired.  Small  as  the 
matter  may  seem,  it  appears  to  be  a  somewhat  impor- 
tant link  in  a  chain  of  events  which  are  evidently  des- 
tined to  obtain  some  notoriety,  flatters  small  in  them- 
selves sometimes  throw  great  light  upon  the  characters 
of  noted  men. 

The  account  of  which  we  speak  was  given  by  Alex- 
ander Wilder,  Esq.,  of  Verona,  N.  Y.  Mr.  Wilder 
embraced  Perfectionism  several  years  since,  and  for 
some  time  remained  in  fellowship  with  Mr.  Noyes, 
but  at  length  became  convinced  that  he  was  an  impos- 
tor, clearly  saw  the  tendency  of  this  new  ism,  and,  Hke 
an  honest  man,  renounced  the  error  which  he  in  sincer- 
ity had  embraced.  The  account  given  by  Mr.  Wilder 
is  as  follows  : — 

"  The  affair  of  Noyes's  search  for  stolen  goods  took 
place  directly  under  my  personal  observation,  and  the 


KOYESISM  UNVEILED.  155 

ridiculous  light  into  -which  it  cast  all  his  pretensions  to 
infaUibility  of  judgment,  rendered  it  to  me  particularly 
valuable.  It  saved  me  from  attributing  to  him  a  divine 
power  which  he  did  not  possess,  and  eventually  assisted 
in  my  emancipation  from  his  thraldom. 

"  When  John  L.  Skinner — to  whose  care  I  was  com- 
mitted, that  I  might  be  restored  to  confidence  and 
fellowship — insisted  on  the  superior  spiritual  wisdom  of 
our  chief,  I  alluded  to  this  case,  and  never  without  suc- 
cess. The  evil  dispositions  ascribed  to  me  (for  Perfec- 
tionists have  made  me  their  scape-goat)  were  increased 
by  such  occurrences.     Now  for  the  story  : 

"  In  the  latter  part  of  August,  1843,  Austin  Kent, 
a  Mr.  Hurlburt  and  wife  and  two  other  women,  from 
Stockhohn,  St.  Lawrence  Co.,  N.  Y.,  visited  Putney. 
They  were  spiritualists,  on  a  very  similar  plan  with 
Noyes,  but  professing  superior  illumination.  This 
offence  was  unpardonable.  S.  R.  Leonard  and  myself 
were  engaged  in  prefes-work,  which  occupied  us  for  some 
two  hours  of  this  visit.  During  this  time  they  had 
delivered  a  testimony  to  Noyes,  disapproving  of  some 
parts  of  his  course,  and  implying  that  though  he  had 
holiness  of  lieart^  his  mind  was  still  imsanctified.*  He 
would  not  cordially  receive  their  words.  They  then 
requested  permission  to  repose,  as  they  were  in  feeble 
health  and  weary  with  travelling.  Beds  were  accord- 
ingly furnished  them.  They  took  piEows  from  those 
couches  which  they  did  not  occupy,  as  suited  their  con- 
venience, and  when  they  arose  they  left  them  where 
they  had  lain  down.  About  the  time  we  had  finished 
our  work  at  the  office,  and  came  in  to  see  the  new 
comers,  they  were  giving  a  last  testimony  to  our  leader. 

*Kent  and  his  followers  believe  that  the  heart  and  mind  are  dis- 
tinct entities,  requiring  separate  conviction  and  conversion ;  and  that 
a  person  may  be  saved  from  sin  in  heart,  and  still  be  a  sinner  in  mind. 


156  NOYESISM  UNVEILED. 

As  Kent  exclaimed,  in  a  quiet  tone,  '  You  have  a  bad 
spirit,'  Noyes,  in  a  sharp,  loud  tone,  replete  with  rage, 
exclaimed  five  or  six  times,  '  You  are  an  i7npostor — 
You  ARE  AN  Impostor.'* 

"  Probably  his  refusal  to  bow  before  the  Putney 
chief  was  the  stamp  of  his  imposture  ;  certainly  his 
manner  indicated  no  such  thing.  The  company  then 
retired  from  Mr.  Noyes,  going  up  to  the  old  Noyes 
homestead,  where  they  had  left  their  conveyances,  with 
which  they  proceeded  to  Mr.  Perry's  Inn,  where  they 

*  Kent  and  his  company  professed  to  be  divinely  commissioned  to 
correct  certain  errors  and  reveal  important  truths.  Noyes,  in  giving 
some  account  of  the  visit  from  these  spiritualists,  published  in  the 
Perfectionist  of  Sept.  15, 1843,  says  : — "  They  called  upon  me  recently, 
and  gave  me  to  understand  that  they  were  commissioned  to  instruct 
me.  I  invited  them  to  open  their  minds As  the  discourse  pro- 
ceeded, I  insisted  on  having  the  privilege  of  questioning  their  posi- 
tions, and  answering  their  arguments.  They  were  very  averse  to  this, 
and  strove  hard  to  make  me  receive  their  testimony  as  a  message 
from  God,  not  to  be  argued  with.  .  .  .  The  dispute  waxed  warm  tow- 
ard the  conclusion,  and  they  finally  averred  in  plain  terms  that  they 
came  to  teach  me,  and  not  to  be  taught ;  and  that  it  was  my  business 
to  hear  them,  and  not  to  argue.  One  of  the  men  at  last  told  me  I 
had  a  '  wicked  spirit.'  I  told  him  he  was  an  impostor.  He  threat- 
ened me  with  the  vengeance  of  God,  and  they  departed.  They  re- 
mained till  the  afternoon  of  the  next  day  at  the  tavern  in  this  village . 
Several  of  the  believers  called,  and  had  conversation  with  Ihem. 
Their  principal  labor  was  to  convince  those  that  called  that  I  am  a 
very  wicked  man  ^  and  that  persons  saved  from  the  '  sin  of  heart,'  are 
not  saved  from  the  '  sin  of  mind.'  ...  I  recommend  that  they  be 
called  upon  to  prove  their  commissions.  This  is  certainly  no  more 
than  is  reasonable,  if  we  consider  merely  tlie  mouth- stopping  author- 
ity which  they  assume." 

It  appears  that  Noyes  could  not  brook  in  others  that  dictatorial 
spirit,  that  "  mouth-stopping  authority,''  which  he  is  wont  to  assume 
himself.  And  he  also  in  turn  may  be  called  upon  to  "  joroye"  his  com- 
mission; not  by  TUQiQ  false  pretences,  but  by  substantial  evidence. 


-  NOTESISM  UNVEILED.  157 

put  up.  That  evening  and  the  next  day  (Sunday) 
they  were  visited  by  the  different  Perfectionists  in 
town,  myself  among  the  number.  They  received  us 
courteously  and  treated  us  with  urbanity. 

"•  At  the  invitation  of  Mrs.  Louisa  Shaw,  they  on 
Sabbath  afternoon  left  Mr.  Perry's  and  went  over  to 
the  '  East  Part '  of  the  town,  where  they  remained  sev- 
eral days.  The  Perfectionists  generally  over  there 
gave  them  their  fellowship.  This  was  very  offensive  to 
our  '  acknowledged  Head.'  From  tliis  period  I  date 
my  declension  in  his  favor,  for  I  had  treated  them 
civilly.  As  I  had  not  held  conversation  with  them 
except  as  their  guest,  I  could  not  decently  do  other- 
wise. 

"  They  had  taken  the  pillow  from  my  bed  when  they 
laid  down.  As  I  am  not  very  particular  about  such 
things,  I  slept  Tvithout  it  several  nights,  not  caring 
enough  or  even  thinking  to  mention  the  affair.  Fanny 
White,  who  generally  was  the  chamber-maid,  was  gone 
to  her  father's.  Mrs.  Noyes  at  length  asked  me  about 
the  pillow.  I  told  her  that  I  had  slept  without  it  a 
number  of  nights,  ever  since  the  company  were  there. 
She  told  it  to  her  husband.  In  an  instant  he  exclaimed, 
'  They  have  stole  it.''  It  was  in  vain  that  she  affirmed 
that  it  could  not  be,  for  the  people  had  gone  out  in  full 
view  of  us  all,  so  that  we  would  have  witnessed  it. 
'-  The  old  woman,'  he  w^ould  have  it,  '  could  put  it  under 
her  clothes^  and  it  ivoidd  serve  for  a  cushion.^ 

"  He  hastened  out  and  gave  the  alarm  to  the  family 
at  the  upper  house.  I  think  he  had  it  searched,  but 
am  not  positive.  He  also  went  to  Mr.  Perry,  to  get 
him.  to  search  the  tavern.  His  motions  were  uiiusually 
rapid,  for  he  was  much  excited — and  a  malicious  tri- 
umph characterized  his  manner.  I  had  never  seen  him 
possessed  by  such  a  spirit.  He  was  as  though  half 
insane. 


158  NOYESISM  UNVEILED. 

"  At  this  juncture,  Fanny  came  over  from  home  to 
the  village,  and  called  in.  Finding  out  our  uproar,  she 
Tvent  up  stairs,  looked  over  the  apartments,  and  found 
that  the  pillows  were  all  there.  Mrs.  Noyes,  who  is 
usually  a  meek,  quiet  woman,  exclaimed,  '  I  am  sorry 
that  all  this  fuss  has  heen  made.''  It  was  a  character- 
istic remark. 

"  This  is  the  contemptible  affair  which  is  destined  to 
obtain  an  importance,  because  of  its  forcible  illustration 
of  the  weak  spot  in  Noyes's  character.  I  have  given 
it  at  length,  that  other  witnesses  might  recognize  the 
facts  the  more  readily.'' 


NOYESISM   UNVEILED.  159 


CHAPTER  XVIII. 


Affidavit  of  Alexander    Wilder — Expulsion  of  Mr, 
JoJin  B.  Lylere  and  Miss  Almira  Edson. 

In  addition  to  the  statements  found  in  the  foregoing 
Chapter,  we  give  the  following  Affidavit,  which  Mr. 
Wilder  has  kindly  furnished  : — 

"  The  question  has  often  been  put  to  me — '  Why  do 
you  not  forget  past  differences,  and  return  into  the  fel- 
lowship of  Perfectionists  and  of  their  leader,  John  H. 
Noyes  V 

"  I  have  sought,  heretofore,  rather  to  evade  than  to 
answer  this  interrogation.  My  reason  for  this  was,  that 
the  well-known  habit  of  the  individual  above  referred 
to,  ha^  been  to  pursue  with  unrelenting  severity  every 
one  who  seceded  from  his  connection.  Indeed,  when- 
ever I  have  sought  to  give  the  desired  information,  it 
has  been  attributed  to  personal  enmity  rather  than  to 
the  true  motive.  I  have  generally  consented  to  be 
abused,  without  attempting  any  regular  self-defence ; 
preferring  quiet  and  peace  before  justice  to  myself. 
Propriety  requires,  however,  at  the  present  crisis,  that 
I  should  announce  myself  in  my  true  colors.  I  cannot 
re-enter  the  fold  of  Perfectionism,  because,  in  the  first 
place,  I  do  not  beheve  several  of  its  prominent  doc- 
trines ;  secondly,  I  have  no  confidence  in  the  religious 
character,  integrity,  and  fair  deahng  and  wisdom  of  its 
acknowledged  chief,  John  H.  Noyes. 

"  Orthodox  Perfectionists  do  not  substantially  admit 
that  this  man  is  capable  of  error  of  life,  or  even  of 
judgment.  They  also  require,  as  a  test  of  fellowship^ 
th«  acknowledgment  of  his  pontifical  supremacy  as  the 


160  NOYESISM  UNVEILED. 

successor  of  the  apostle  Paul.  Indeed,  he  recently 
asserted  his  authority  in  a  public  meeting,  (at  Lairds- 
ville,  N.  Y.,)  because,  (to  use  his  own  words,)  '  like 
the  strongest  cow  in  the  pasture,  he  had  hooked  down 
every  rival.' 

"  The  doctrines  of  the  Eternal  Devil,  and  of  that  state 
of  things  predicated  in  a  letter  written  by  Noyes,  in 
which  he  teaches  a  resurrection  state,  on  which  Perfec- 
tionists are  now  entering ;  and  in  which,  while  the  sex- 
ual distinction  is  not  set  aside,  yet  marriage  is  abroga- 
ted, are  to  me  especially  odious.  I  fear  the  moral 
influence  of  these  sentiments.  The  more  so,  as  he  has 
already  announced  the  advent  of  the  kingdom  of  hea- 
ven at  Putney,  Vt.,  where  he  resides,  and  where  he 
has  an  association  of  disciples.  See  the  Witness,  Vol. 
I.  pp.  21,  22,  49,  50,  76  ;  Perfectionist,  Vol.  V.  p.  33  ; 
Spiritual  Magazine,  Vol.  II.  pp.  ^b^  69.  It  may  be 
necessary  to  state  that,  so  far  as  my  kyiowledge  extends, 
though  several  of  his  intimate  friends  have,  through  the 
influence  of  the  '  Battle  Axe  Letter,'  perpetrated  acts 
of  flagrant  licentiousness,  Noyes  himself  is  innocent  of 
any  such  impropriety.*  Other  difierences  of  doctrinal 
opinions  are  not  worthy  of  present  notice. 

"  The  lack  of  confidence  in  his  character  was  occa- 
sioned by  several  circumstances  which  occurred  during 
my  residence  in  his  family.  In  February,  1840,  after 
long  and  anxious  deliberation,  I  rejected  the  religious 
sentiments  which  I  had  held,  and  in  which  I  was  edu- 
cated, and  became  what  was  termed  a  Perfectionist. 
My  firm,  steady  adherence  to  the  new  doctrines,  is  sat- 
isfactory evidence  of  my  sincerity  in  embracing  them. 
Some  weeks  after,  I  learned  the  existence  of  John  H. 

*  W.  H.  Cook,  of  Syracuse,  has  since  made  it  known  that  Noyes» 
admitted  to  him  that  he  had  had  sexual  connection  with    seyeral 
females. 


NOYESISM  UNVEILED.  161 

Noyes.  With  the  simplicity  of  a  child  and  the  confi« 
dence  of  a  brother,  I  sought  to  be  acquainted  with  his 
character  and  publications.  At  length  in  November, 
1842,  I  left  my  home  in  Verona,  and  went  to  Putney, 
where  I  resided  till  February,  1844.  When  I  parted 
from  him  and  his  disciples,  it  was  on  my  part  with 
unfeigaed  good  will.  Since  that  time,  however,  I  have 
been  separated  in  feeling  from  him ;  nor  do  I  expect, 
knowing  the  character  of  the  man  as  I  do,  that  the 
breach  will  be  repaired.  Before  I  left  Vermont,  I  had 
suffered  severely  from  him;  but  it  was  afterwards, 
that  by  reflection  upon  what  had  transpired,  want  of 
confidence  and  embittered  feelings,  on  account  of 
unkind  treatment,  sprung  up  in  my  mind,  producing 
alienation.  I  will  how  state  the  prindpal  facts  which 
occasioned  the  estrangement. 

"  Returning  from  a  tour  in  Massachusetts,  in  Febru- 
ary, 1848,  Mr.  Noyes  began  to  try  his  skill  in  Animal 
Magnetism.  Being  impressible,  I  was  the  subject  of 
many  of  his  experiments.  By  reason  of  their  continu- 
ation for  some  weeks,  and  being  operated  upon  by 
several  of  his  family,  a  diseased  state  of  mind  and 
body  was  produced.  For  m.any  months  I  suflfered  a 
very  great  depression  of  spirits.  I  felt  myself  in 
connection  and  rapport  with  influences  which  caused 
the  keenest  mental  anguish,  and  knew  not  how  to  free 
myself.  A  nameless  fear,  despondency,  gloom  and 
despair,  paralyzed  my  strength  of  mind.  A  mwbid 
attachment  for  individuals  was  induced ;  and  the  whole 
corporeal  system  partook  of  the  disorder.  The  inter- 
vals of  pleasure,  like  the  exhilarations  of  intoxicating 
drugs,  gave  relief  for  a  little  season,  but  only  to 
plunge  me  into  a  deeper  gloom.  To  heighten  my 
misery,  Noyes  began  to  berate  me,  charging  my  suffer- 
ings to  various  causes,  and  even  to  the  influence  of  the 
11 


162  NOYESISM  UNVEILED. 

Devil.     This  devil,  or  evil  genius,  I  now  know  eman- 
ated directly  from  him. 

"  Toward  the  latter  part  of  the  year,  my  health 
began  to  improve.  I  was  more  cheerful.  A  new 
and  more  serious  difficulty  awaited  me.  Report  had 
gone  abroad  of  his  skill  as  a  magiietizer.  A  young 
man  named  Baker  requested  him  to  visit  his  sister, 
[now  Mrs.  H.  A.  Hall,]  who  for  several  years  had 
been  confined  to  her  bed.  He  did  so  a  number  of 
times.  She  also  became  a  proselyte  to  his  doctrines. 
In  October  she  came  to  his  house,  and  remained  about 
three  months.  He  continued  his  manipulations  occa- 
sionally. Presently  after  I  incautiously  tried  the 
experiment  of  casting  her  into  the  mesmeric  slumber, 
and  succeeded  even  better  than  Noyes  himself.  As  I 
am  of  a  temperament  less  harsh,  forbidding,  and 
repelling  than  he,  the  rapport  was  probably  the  more 
complete,  so  the  patient  acknowledged.  She  has 
since,  however,  I  regi^et  to  say,  set  her  hand  to  a  ver- 
sion of  this  affair  which  widely  contravenes  the  tiTith. 
Nor  can  I  acquit  her  of  falsehood  because  she  seals 
her  testimony  with  a  miracle.  I  was  persuaded  to 
continue  magnetizing  her,  because  I  was  assured  that 
Mr.  Noyes  wished  it,  and  I  was  desirous  to  relieve 
suSbring  ;  it  bemg  also  at  the  request  of  her  brother  ; 
not  at  all  imagining  that  I  was  assuming  the  responsi- 
bility of  the  case.  I  was  informed  subsequently  that 
she  grew  better,  and  so  continued  till  he  disturbed  her 
mind  by  bitter,  angry  reproach. 

"  I  speedily  abandoned  a  practice  which,  I  am  nov/ 
convinced,  is  more  corrupting  and  enen^ating  than 
beneficial  to  the  persons  engaged  in  it.  But  I  did  not 
draw  away  her  fellowship  from  Noyes.  Indeed,  she 
renounced  him  before  I  did.  In  this  matter  my  con- 
science has  been  ever  void  of  offence.     My  motives 


NOYBSISM  UNVEILED.  163 

•were  benevolent ;  but  I  have  been  greatly  misrepre- 
sented. 

"  At  this  time  a  protracted  meeting  was  held  at  the 
Methodist  Chapel  in  Putney,  in  which  I  took  great 
interest.  No  party  feeling  directed  me.  I  only 
desired  the  salvation  of  souls.  This  too  was  offensive 
to  our  leader.  Spies  watched  my  words  and  actions  ; 
they  were  reported  to  him  ;  my  language  was  miscon- 
strued to  a  meaning  which  I  thought  not  of.  In  short, 
by  a  trial  behind  my  back,  wholly  ex  'parte  ^  I  was 
decided  to  be  out  of  fellowship,  and  committed  to 
discipline.  My  vindication  was  treated  with  scorn  ; 
I  looked  for  friends,  they  were  all  as  briers  ;  and  the 
best  was  sharper  than  a  thorn  hedge. 

'"'  One  Monday  morning  in  December,  1843,  while 
the  protracted  meeting  was  going  on  in  the  Methodist 
Chapel  at  Putney,  and  in  which  I  was  greatly  inter- 
ested, not  from  sectarian  motives,  I  arose  before  the 
rest  of  Noyes's  family,  built  a  fire  and  began  a  French 
Lesson.  Noyes  soon  got  up,  came  out  and  began  to 
commence  directing  me  how  to  proceed  with  inquirers. 
I  felt  oppressed.  The  peculiar  espionage  of  his  family 
was  very  disagreeable  to  me.  His  false  accusations 
were  more  tormenting.  My  own  health  was  very  poor. 
As  he  went  on  I  timidly  remarked,  '  I  think  it  were 
better  to  follow  the  lead  of  the  Divine  Spirit  at  the 
time.  Arbitrary,  set  rules  tend  to  confuse,  and  I  am 
like  an  animal  about  to  strike  a  given  mark,  if  you 
seige  the  horn  and  attempt  to  guide  it,  he  will  falter, 
all  confused  and  effect  nothing.' 

"  With  an  eye  sparkling  with  rage — for  he  possesses 
an  infernal  temper — N.  exclaimed, — '  If  you  think  to 
get  from  under  my  control,  you  will  find  that  I  will 
take  you  by  the  horns.'  These  words  struck  a  blight- 
ing feeling  all  over  me,  like    a  torpedo  shock.     Many 


164  NOYESISM  UNVEILED. 

hours  passed  before  I  recovered.  Never  again  did  I 
converse  familiarly  with  that  man,  though  I  remained 
in  Putney  six  or  eight  weeks.  My  eyes  were  opened. 
Not  till  the  steel  entered  my  o^vvn  soul,  was  I  willing 
to  think  evil  of  J.  H.  Noyes.  But  I  know  him  to  be 
a  despot — an  ambitious  self-seeker — and  my  horror  of 
him  is  as  intense  as  my  horror  of  a  venomous  serpent. 

"  Three  times  have  I  been  assailed  in  his  paper. 
These  affairs  have  not  given  me  pain.  In  those  very 
articles  that  man  lied — lied  in  his  throat — and  indorsed, 
if  he  did  not  instigate,  others  to  lie.  He  gives  liberty 
to  his  followers,  provided  they  exercise  it  as  he  chooses. 
As  the  French  officer  addressed  his  soldiers^'  Com- 
rades you  are  at  liberty  to  vote  as  you  please  on  the 
question  whether  Napoleon  shall  be  First  Consul  for 
life — ^but  all  who  don't  vote  so  shall  be  shot.  Vive  La 
Liberty.'  ^ 

"  Thus,  in  my  youth,  ignorance,  and  inexperience , 
was  I  involved  in  difficulties  from  which  I  lacked 
courage  and  power  to  extricate  myself.  I  have  since 
been  published  in  the  Perfectionist  as  a  false  brother 
and  a  hypocrite  ;  but  have  never  responded  publicly  to 
the  attack.  I  doubt  whether  the  majority  of  Perfec- 
tionists are  sufficiently  candid  and  honorable  to  give 
me  a  fair  hearing.  I  have  not  found  them  the  people 
which  I  had  hoped.  I  make  this  exposition,  not  so 
much  to  justify  myself  as  to  show  why  I  cannot  co-op- 
erate with  John  H.  Noyes  and  his  adherents.  I  regret 
that  I  ever  indulged  personal  bitterness  of  feeling 
toward  him ;  but  am  glad  to  say  that  such  is  not  now 
the  case.  I  remember  the  past,  not  to  feel  ill  will ; 
but  because  it  warns  me  to  beware  of  that  man  for 
the  future :  that  life  and  reason  be  not  again  endan- 
gered by  his  influence.  I  can  excuse  many  of  his 
unkind  deeds ;  I  can  forgive  all :    that  forgiveness  he 


NOYESISM  UNVEILED.  105 

has  spurned.  He  undoubtedly  will  retract  notliing — 
not  even  his  incorrect  charges  against  my  brother 
David. 

"As  to  my  own  theological  views,  I  regard  all  that 
is  true  in  doctrine,  all  that  is  useful  in  practice  to 
result  from  our  union  and  conformity  to  God.  This 
is  the  Grospel  of  the  New  Covenant. 

"  I  belong  to  no  sect  in  religion.  I  am  identified 
with  no  body  of  people.  Yet  all  that  savors  of  piety, 
philanthropy  and  honesty  attracts  my  warmest  sym- 
pathy. For  in  every  nation,  every  party  and  denom- 
ination, he  that  feareth  God  and  worketh  righteousness 
shall  be  accepted. 

"  It  is  proper  to  add,  that  I  consider  all  obligations 
assumed  by  me,  and  devolving  by  reason  of  my  rela- 
tions to  Perfectionists  as  now  canceled. 

"  Alexander  Wilder. 
*'  Oneida  Co.,  ss. 

"  Subscribed  and  sworn  (affirmed)  before  me  this 
6th  day  of  Sept.  1847. 

"Geo,  C.  Cadwell,  Justice  of  the  Peace^ 

The  foregoing  affidavit  of  Mr.  Wilder  speaks  for 
itself.  It  certainly  breathes  a  very  commendable 
spirit,  and  will  carry  to  the  mind  of  the  reader  a 
conviction  of  its  truthfulness.  Though  plain  and 
pointed,  it  is  devoid  of  harshness  and  unwarrantable 
severity.  There  is  one  important  point,  worthy  of 
special  notice,  brought  prominently  to  view,  viz.,  the 
complete  surveillance  to  which  the  followers  of  Mr. 
Noyes  are  subjected.  They  must  bow  in  silent  and 
humble  submission  to  his  sole  dictation,  or  incur  his 
hot  displeasure,  and  feel  the  scorching  flame  of  his 
fiiercest  indignation ! 


166  NOYESISM  UNVEILED. 

The  case  of  Mr.  Wilder  is  not  a  solitary  instance  in 
which  Mr.  Noyes  has  assumed  the  sole  dictation  of 
members  of  the  Putney  Association.  These  cases  are 
of  common  occurrence,  as  the  citizens  of  Putney  well 
know.  And  indeed  none  are  suflfered  to  continue  long 
in  the  Perfectionist  Community  unless  they  are  found 
to  be  loyal  subjects.  The  point  under  consideration  is 
clearly  illustrated  by  the  excommunication  of  Mr.  John 
B.  Lyvere  and  Miss  Almira  Edson  from  the  Perfec- 
tionist Association  at  Putney.  The  following  is  the 
form  of  expulsion,  with  quite  a  list  of  names  attached  : 

"  Whereas,  faithful  subordination  is  essential  to  the  welfare  of 
our  association,  and  ivhereas  John  B.  Lyvere  and  Almira 
Edson,  hy  a  clandestine  marriage  in  defiance  of  the  known 
will  of  the  acknowledged  head  of  the  corporation,  have  committed 
an  act  of  gross  and  deliberate  insubordination,  therefore — 

"  Resolved,  That  our  connection  with  them  be  dissolved,  and 
that  they  be  requested  to  withdraw  from  the  corporation, 

John  H.  Noyes,  Harriet  A.  Noyes, 

Geo.  Cragin,  Mary  E.  Cragin, 

Geo.  W.  Noyes,  Polly  Noyes, 

John  L.  Skinner,  Harriet  A.  Skinner, 

John  R.  Miller,  Charlotte  H.  Miller, 

G.  W.  Wilder,  Fanny  Lord, 

David  Wilder,  Sally  Cobb, 

Isaac  Palmer,  Jr.,  Polly  Palmer, 

WilHam  Sherwood,  Lauretta  Sherwood, 

Clifford  Clark,  Sally  Clark." 
H.  Bowles, 

Thus  it  appears  that  a  Bull  of  excommunication  was 
immediately  issued  by  Mr.  Noyes  against  Mr.  Lyvere 
and  Miss  Edson,  because  they  acted  for  themselves, 


NOYESISM   UNVEILED.  167 

and  contracted  a  marriage — as  they  had  a  perfect 
right  to  do — agreeable  to  their  owii  choice  ;  but  con- 
trary to  the  '•  known  will  of  the  acknowledged  head  of 
the  Corporation  !" 

And  furthermore,  it  appears  that  a  large  number  of 
the  members  of  the  Association  in  Putney  were  con- 
senting to  the  act ;  and  by  attaching  their  names  to 
the  instrument  of  expulsion  thereby  became  aiders  and 
abetters  of  the  deed. 

If  any  of  those  individuals  whose  names  appear, 
were  not  fully  persuaded  in  their  own  minds  relative  to 
the  propriety  and  justice  of  thus  summarily  disposing 
of  those  members  whom  Mr.  Noyes  considered  refrac- 
tory, they  were  probably  awed  into  humble  submission 
and  implicit  obedience  by  beholding  the  rod  of  correc- 
tion extended  in  terrorem  over  their  heads  ;  and  lest 
a  refusal  on  their  part  to  affix  their  names  to  the  fatal 
instrument  should  be  construed  by  the  "  acknowledged 
head  of  the  Corporation"  into  "  an  act  of  gross  and 
dehberate  insubordination."  In  such  a  case  there 
would  be  no  alternative  but  to  submit  to  a  fate  similar 
to  that  of  the  victims  before  them,  and  suffer  aU  the 
pains  and  penalties  in  such  cases  made  and  provided. 

But,  perhaps^  we  ought  in  justice  to  a  few  individu- 
als whose  names  appear  in  the  foregoing  list,  to  say, 
that  they  have  since  renounced  the  doctrines  of  Noyes, 
and  voluntarily  withdrawn — to  their  praise  be  it  spoken 
— from  the  Association ;  and  now  have  no  fellowship 
with,  nor  sympathy  for,  the  Perfectionists. 

But  the  question  may  be  asked.    Were  Mr.  Lyvere 


16S  NOYESISM  U]S"VEILEI>. 

and  Miss  Udson  Perfectionists  f  That  they  were 
professedly  so  there  is  no  doubt ;  but  were  they  really 
so  ?  If  they  were  Perfectionists  merely  in  ^profession 
but  not  mfaet^  then  in  point  of  character  they  were 
on  a  level  with  common  sinners,  and  were  not  entitled 
to  the  privileges  and  immunities  of  a  society  so  holy 
as  Mr.  Noyes  and  his  followers  profess  to  be !  That 
Perfectionists  lay  claim  to  all  the  heights  and  depths 
of  perfect  holiness,  there  can  be  no  manner  of  doubt. 
The  language  of  Mr.  Noyes  is  plain  and  unequivocal 
touching  this  point.  He  says,  "  We  verily  believe  and 
unUusMngly  maintain  that  we  are  free  fronoi  sin  /'^ 
Berean,  p.  181.  Here  Mr.  N.  undoubtedly  speaks  in 
behalf  of  Perfectionists  in  general,  and  in  reference  to 
himself  in  particular. 

Now  if  Mr.  Lyvere  and  Miss  Edson  were  Perfec- 
tionists in  profession  merely,  then  according  to  the 
doctrine  of  Mr.  Noyes,  they  were  entirely  sinful ;  for 
he  assumes  that  "  Every  being  in  the  universe^  at  anfiy 
given  time,  is  either  entirely  wicJced,  or  entirely  holy^^ 
— that  "  all  men  are  either  as  righteous  as  Christy  or 
as  ivicked  as  the  devil. ''^  If  Mr.  Lyvere  and  Miss 
Edson  were  "  entirely  wicked,"  then  they  had  no 
right  to  a  place  in  a  community  as  holy  as  the  Putney 
Association  professed  to  be,  and  might  have  been 
expelled  at  any  time  without  any  injustice — and  indeed 
in  that  case  they  never  ought  to  have  been  admitted 
to  membership.  If  they  were  thus  wicked  what 
becomes  of  the  arrogant  claims  of  Perfectionists  ? 
They  profess  to  be  the  true  Church.     They  set  them- 


NO YESISM  UNVEILED .  169 

selves  up  as  a  perfect  model  of  primitive  Christiamtj, 
and  lay  claim  to  all  the  miraculous  gifts  of  the  apos- 
tolic age  ;  and  thej  have  promised  "  to  surrender  all 
pretensions  of  being  a  true  Christian  church,^ ^  if  they 
cannot  "  make  out  a  case  substantially  like  that  of  the 
primitive  c^i^rc^."— Spiritual  Magazine,  Yol.II.  No.lO. 

Now  Mr.  Noyes  asserts  that  "  the  power  of  '  dis- 
cerning spirits '  was  one  of  the  gifts  of  the  primitive 
church." — Berean,  p.  45.  But  where  is  this  gift 
among  Perfectionists?  If  Mr.  Lyvere  and  Miss 
Edson  were  '' entirely  wicked, ^^  then  Mr.  Noyes  or 
some  of  his  co-adjutors,  had  they  possessed  that  gift, 
would  have  been  able  to  discern  such  "  wieked^^  spirits. 
But  this  they  were  unable  to  do. 

Being  unable,  at  least  in  this,  as  well  as  in  other 
instances,  to  "  make  out  a  case  substantially  like  that 
of  the  primitive  church,"  will  they  now  "  surrender," 
in  fulfilment  of  their  promise,  "  all  pretensions  of  being 
a  true  Christian  church  "  ; — or  will  they  falsify  their 
word  and  still  stand  it  out  when  stubborn  facts  stare 
them  full  in  the  face,  and  they  are  destitute  of  a  parti- 
cle of  proof  to  substantiate  the  an-ogant  claims  which 
they  have  impiously  set  up  ? 

Turn  this  subject  which  way  you  please,  Mr.  N. 
occupies  a  no  very  comfortable  position  ;  and  from  what 
precedes,  as  well  as  from  what  follows,  it  plainly  appears 
that  he  must  hang  upon  one  or  both  horns  of  a 
dilemma ! 

But  the  question  recurs — Were  Mr.  Lyvere  and 
Miss  Edson  Perfectionists?    That  they  were  profes^ 


170  NOYESISM  UNVEILED. 

sedly  so,  no  one  doubts  ;  but  we  ask  again,  were  they 
really  so  ?  Were  thej  Perfectionists  not  onlj  in  name^ 
but  in  deed  and  in  truth  f 

If  it  be  admitted  that  they  were  Perfectionists,  in  a 
full  and  proper  sense,  then  Mr.  Noyes  is  plunged  into 
still  deeper  difficulties.  It  will  be  readily  granted  that 
in  that  case  he  might  with  the  utmost  propriety  receive 
them  into  his  society ;  but  Mr.  N.  has  assumed  that 
real  Perfectionists,  or  Perfectionists  of  a  higher  order, 
are  not  ox^j  free  from  sin,  but  that  they  can  never  fall 
into  8171. 

Now  if  Mr.  Lyvere  and  Mss  Edson  were  really  Per- 
fectionists, they  could  not  sin,  according  to  Mr.  N.'s 
doctrine.  For  what,  then,  were  they  expelled  ?  For 
doing  right  ?  If  so,  injustice  was  done  them,  and  the 
most  downright  despotism  exercised  over  them.  They 
had  done  no  wrong — they  had  committed  no  sin — and 
yet  they  were  summarily  severed,  at  a  single  stroke, 
not  only  from  the  head,  but  from  the  whole  "  body  of 
believers  "  !  But  will  it  be  asserted,  to  avoid  the  charge 
of  injustice,  that  they  had  really  sinned  ?  Then  the 
security  of  the  saints,  so  strenuously  contended  for  by 
Mr.  Noyes,  goes  by  the  board,  and  is  clean  gone 
forever. 

But  the  mystery  about  the  whole  matter  may  be 
cleared  up  in  few  words  : — If  a  person  is  perfectly  sub- 
missive to  the  "  acknowledged  head  of  the  Corpora- 
tion," and  commits  the  keeping  of  his  conscience  to  that 
self-exalted  functionary,  do  what  he  may,  all  will  be 
well.     But  if  he  has  a  mind  of  his  own,  and  acts  for 


NOYESISM  UNVEILED.  171 

himself,  the  very  first  independent  deed,  however  right 
of  itself,  will  be  denounced  as  "an  act  of  gi*oss  and 
deliberate  insubordination  " — a  mortal  offence,  worthy 
of  immediate  excommunication ! 

By  Perfectionists  the  will  of  John  H.  Noyes  must  be 
regarded  as  the  rule  of  right,  and  taken  as  the  standard 
of  judgment.  Whatever  accords  with  that  will  is  pro- 
nounced praiseworthy  ;  but  whatever  is  contrary  to  it, 
if  it  is  not  set  down  as  sin,  yet  in  point  of  demerit  and 
penal  deserts,  is  considered  tantamount  to  it.  Quiet, 
humble  and  unceasing  submission  alone  can  secure  the 
favor  of  the  "  acknowledged  head  of  the  Corporation." 

But  the  case  which  has  been  under  consideration, 
together  with  other  important  facts  which  have  come  to 
light  in  Putney,  show  conclusively  that  Mr.  Noyes  has 
assumed  the  prerogative  of  controlling  all  matrimonial 
arrangements  among  Perfectionists,  or  at  least  in  the 
society  over  which  he  has  the  immediate  supervision. 
Implicit  submission  in  all  such  matters,  or  prompt  expul- 
sion, are  the  only  alternatives  ! 

Mr,  Noyes  recommends  marriage,  not  because  he 
behoves  in  its  validity^  but  because  he  deems  it  expedi- 
ent under  existing  circumstances.  T\iq penalty  of  the  laiu 
probably  prompts  his  faith  in  that  expediency  ;  and  he 
seeks  to  evade  that  penalty  by  d, partial  conformity  to  the 
law.  Were  there  no  penalty  annexed  to  the  law  touch- 
ing this  matter,  Mr.  Noyes  would  utterly  discard  the 
marriage  institution  among  his  followers,  and  trample  it 
under  foot  as  a  thing  of  nought.  When  a  person  mar- 
ries a  member  of  the  Corporation  under  the  direction  of 


172  NOYESISM  UNVEILED. 

Mr.  Nojes,  that  person  is  not  united  to  one  member 
only,  but  joined  to  the  whole  "  body  of  believers.'' 
Thus  when  a  bride  is  introduced  to  the  Association,  she 
is  welcomed  within  the  "  charmed  circle,"  and  given  to 
understand  that  she  must  consider  herself  a  member  of 
that  body  of  which  John  H.  Noyes  is  the  head.  And 
the  bridegroom,  to  be  a  loyal  subject  and  meet  with 
favor  in  the  eyes  of  the  "  acknowledged  head,"  must 
be  ready  to  adopt  the  sentiments  of  the  Battle  Axe 
Letter,  and  address  Mr.  Noyes  as  follows  : — "  I  call 
this  woman  my  ivife — she  is  yours,  she  is  Ohrisfs,  and 
in  Mm  she  is  the  bride  of  all  saints ^ 


NOYESISM  UNVEILED.  178 


CHAPTER  XIX. 


Bible  Secretiveness, 

An  editorial  article  under  the  above  heading,  pub- 
lished in  the  Spiritual  Magazine  of  Sept.  1,  1847, 
clearly  exhibits  the  process  by  which  Mr.  Noyes  and 
his  coadjutors  indoctrinate  their  followers,  and  lead 
them  along  step  by  step  till  they  reach  the  verge  of 
ruin ;  and  then,  perhaps,  pleased  with  the  fatal  delu- 
sion, they  take  a  fearful  leap  into  the  dark  abyss  below, 
almost  unconscious  of  danger,  though  doomed  to 
destruction. 

Although  the  article  referred  to  reveals  the  modus 
operandi  by  which  these  master  spirits  initiate  their  dis- 
ciples into  the  higher  branches  and  sublimer  mysteries 
of  Noyesism,  yet  it  is  couched  in  such  language  and 
contains  such  allusions  as  would  render  it  unintelligible, 
— aside  from  recent  disclosures, — without  a  thorough 
knowledge  and  insight  into  the  system.  But  happily 
the  veil  has  been  removed,  and  the  clue  obtained  by 
which  to  unfold  the  hidden  abominations  of  Noyesism. 

The  author  of  the  article  alluded  to,  in  his  modesty 
more  than  intimates  that  Noyesism  is  the  key  which 
unlocks  the  store-house  of  divine  knowledge  and  reveals 
the  wonders  of  the  universe  ;  and  that  unless  a  person 
becomes  a  Perfectionist,  the  Bible  will  be  to  him  a 
sealed  book,  and  the  priceless  treasures  of  divine  truth 
never  obtained  ! 


174  NOYESISM  UNVEILED. 

It  is,  moreover,  asserted  that  "  infinite  treasures  '* 
are  reserved  for  "  advanced  minds."  Thus  it  appears 
that  although  an  individual  should  secure  the  key  of 
knowledge  by  embracing  Noyesism,  he  is  not  to  be  let 
into  all  the  secrets  at  once,  lest  his  moral  sensibilities, 
not  yet  rendered  obtuse,  should  be  shocked,  and  being 
affrighted  at  the  grosser  parts  of  the  system,  he  should 
retrace  his  steps,  and  the  object  thus  be  defeated  and 
the  prey  lost.  But  their  sentiments  must  be  dealt  out 
very  cautiously,  and  the  sublimer  doctrines  inculcated 
only  as  the  mind  is  prepared  by  a  regular  training  for 
their  reception,  and  in  accordance  with  the  principles 
brought  to  view  in  the  folloTving  extract  from  the  article 
alluded  te : — 

"  Honesty  will  not  suffer  us  to  make  a  false  state - 
pieni  of  our  views,  but  it  will  allow  us  te  reserve  them 
when  we  please.  .  .  .  Milk  for  babes,  and  strong  meat 
for  them  that  are  of  full  age.  .  .  .  The  Bible  contains 
the  germs  of  all  truth — the  distinct  clue  to  all  science. 
While,  therefore,  its  meaning  maybe  said  to  be  so  plain 
that  '  he  who  runs  may  read ' ;  and  its  straight  path 
such,  that '  the  wayfaring  man,  though  a  fool,  need  not 
err  therein  '  ;  yet  it  is  also  certain  that  the  revelation 
of  its  deep  treasures  is  altogether  a  matter  of  attain- 
ment. Get  hold  of  its  clue  at  the  right  end,  and 
you  proceed  steadily  and  safely  to  unfold  the  myste- 
ries of  the  universe  :  come  at  it  elsewhere,  and  either 
you  find  it  a  sealed  up  volume  of  dullness,  or  if  you 
attempt  to  interpret  it  you  are  liable  to  -be  lost  in  the 
midst  of  truth,  inverted  and  misunderstood — liable  to 
make  the  Bible  the  leading  path  to  error  and  damna- 
tion. There  is  only  a  possibility  that  you  will  find  your 
way  back  to  the  true  starting  place.     Now  the  begin- 


*        NOYESISM  UNVEILED.  175 

ning  of  this  clue,  the  primary  station  of  departure  from 
which  we  shall  alone  safelj  and  certainly  be  led  into  all 
truth,  is  undoubtedly  found  in  the  doctrine  and  experi- 
ence oi  salvation  from  siny 

Alas  for  us  !  the  whole  world  en  masse  is  doomed  by 
these  modern  wise  men  to  darkness  impenetrable,  and 
must  hang  their  harps  upon  the  willows  and  sit  down  in 
sad  despair,  never  expecting  to  get  the  clue  to  a  right 
understanding  and  correct  interpretation  of  the  Sacred 
Writings  unless  they  become  Perfectionists  !  These  new 
lights,  in  some  respects,  appear  to  be  near  akin  to  the 
Romish  clergy  I  If  they  do  not,  like  Papal  priests,  lock 
up  the  letter  of  the  Scriptures  from  the  mass  of  the 
people,  they  profess  to  hold  the  keys  of  the  kingdom  of 
heaven,  and  they  alone  can  give  their  true  spiritual 
meaning !  Hence  we  must  wait  on  Mr.  JST., — ^he  being 
the  "  acknowledged  head"  of  the  "  body  of  believers" — 
to  turn  the  key,  unlock  the  sacred  volume,  and  reveal 
its  hidden  mysteries ! 

But  the  same  writer,  speaking  in  reference  to  the 
receivers  of  holiness  after  the  Noyesite  faith,  proceeds 
as  follows : — 

"  That  untruthful  curiosity  which  disregards  the 
principal,  plain  significance  of  their  lives,  and  prefers 
rather  to  criticise  and  understand  the  details  of  their 
conduct  and  motives,  will  find  in  them  the  same  enigma, 
the  same  occasion  of  error  and  stumbling,  that  they  find 
in  the  Bible.  '  The  wind  bloweth  where  it  listeth,'  says 
Christ,  '  and  ye  hear  the  sound  thereof;  but  ye  cannot 
tell  whence  it  cometh,  nor  whither  it  goeth  :  so  is  every 
one  that  is  born  of  the  Spirit.''  " 


176  NOTESISM  UNVEILED. 

Thus  Perfectionists,  with  their  high-sounding  profes- 
sions of  hohness  and  pretensions  to  super-emiaent  spirits 
uality,  shrink  from  the  scrutiny  of  the  world  respecting 
the  "  details  of  their  conduct  and  motives."  But  why 
so  ?  The  Savior  assigns  the  sole  reason  why  men  pre- 
fer darkness  to  light,  and  that  is,  because  their  deeds 
are  evil ;  and  he  asserts  in  the  same  connection,  that 
"  he  that  doeth  truth,  cometh  to  the  hght,  that  his 
deeds  may  be  made  manifest,  that  they  are  wrought  in 
God."     John  3:  19-21. 

Again — the  same  writer  continues  : —  . 

''  While  it  is  our  business  to  present  day  by  day  to 
the  world  the  great  proposition  which  they  most  need, 
and  which  honest  men  can  understand,  viz.,  '  the  right- 
eousness of  God  which  is  by  faith,'  it  is  not  our  duty 
(because  it  would  be  injurious  if  not  impossible)  to  set 
before  them  all  the  lessons  which  a  spkitual  man  finds 
in  perusing  the  revelation  of  God  in  the  illumination  of 
the  Holy  Ghost." 

Undoubtedly  there  is  direct  reference  in  the  above 
language  to  those  peculiar  sentiments  characteristic  of 
Perfectionism — those  licentious  doctrines  which  Mr. 
Noyes  considers  of  great  importance — holding  them 
second  only  to  theology  itself ! 

Thus  we  are  made  acquainted  -vvith  the  course  pur- 
sued by  Mr.  Noyes  and  his  associates  in  conducting 
their  followers,  deluded  and  hoodwinked,  along  the  road 
that  leads  to  infamy  and  death,  and  bringing  about 
their  utter  degradation  and  ruin  ;  and  probably  they 
witness  with  rapture  the  results  of  their  well-directed 
efforts. 


NOYESISM  VJHVE1LED-,  1'7T 

It  is  not  probable  that  all  are  thus  deluded  and 
mi  consciously  led  like  the  lamb  to  the  slaughter ;  for 
^ome,  having  acquired  a  tolerably  correct  knowledge  of 
the  character  and  tendency  of  the  system,  have,  no 
doubt,  viewed  it  with  the  eye  of  the  libertine,  and 
"influenced  by  impure  motives,  joined  the  '^.  body  of 
believers,"  and  thereby  availed  themselves  of  a  favora- 
ble opportunity  to  carry  out  their  base  designs,  and^ 
gratify  lawless  lust.  They  may  also  fancy  that  they 
have  found  in  Noyosism  a  kind  of  universal  salvo  for  all 
conceivable  sins ;  and  may  have  appeased  the  upbraid- 
ings  of  conscience  by  viewing  through  the  medium  of 
the  Noyesite  faith  this  ruinous  vice,  transformed  into 
an  exemplary  virtue  I 

It  is  ever  dangerous  to  listen  to  the  dulcet  strains  of 
the  alluring  syren,  but  some  have  listened  to  the  voice 
of  the  charmer — being  unacquainted  with  the  nature 
and  tendency  of  the  doctrines  taught  by  Noycs,  they 
have,  in  the  sincerity  of  their  hearts  and  the  simplicity 
of  their  souls,  embraced  them  ;  and  becoming  at  length 
intoxicated  with  the  pleasing  delusion,  by  the  aid  of 
subtle  influences  exerted  upon  them,  have  been  brought 
to  submit  to  the  sole  dictation  of  Noyes,  who  has 
regarded  them  as  lawful  prey ;  and  they  have  in  the 
end,  and  perhaps  to  their  sorrow,  found  themselves 
fast  bound  in  the  meshes  of  Perfectionism.  Being 
brought  under  powers  and  surrounded  by  influences 
with  which  they  were  unable  to  grapple,  and  against, 
wliich  it  would  be  in  vain  to  attempt  to  contend — the 

avenues   of   escape  being  closed   around   them,   and 

12 


1T8  KOSTBSISM  UN  VEILED. 

terrified  at  the  thunderbolts  of  wrath  and  indignation 
which  not  unfrequently  burst  forth  from  his  "  Holiness  " 
whenever  any  uneasiness  is  manifested,  they  have  been 
compelled  to  succumb,  and  have  yielded  themselves, 
though  perhaps  very  reluctantly,  to  his  sovereign  sway, 
and  have  at  length  become  the  passive  instruments  of 
lust  and  cupidity.  These  hapless  victims  having  lost 
their  virtue,  lay  aside  their  modesty  and  are  soon  seen 
glorying  in  their  shame.  Their  ruin  went  on  rapidly 
^— the  work  of  destruction  was  cut  short  in  wickedness  ; 
and  from  the  very  depths  of  degradation  and  the  pits  of 
pollution,  these  deluded  votaries  of  vice  send  up  the 
ringing  shout  of  liberty,  and  loudly  proclaim  their 
fancied  freedom !  Freedom  from  law,  but  bondage  in 
sin  !  They  hug  their  chains  with  a  death-like  grasp, 
though  boasting  of  freedom,  and  are  the  subjects  of  the 
most  servile  bondage  while  loudly  proclaiming  their 
liberty!  Such  are  the  results  of  this  strange  and 
almost  unaccountable  delusion ! 

But  let  us  listen  to  their  own  language  relative  to 
the  subject  under  consideration.  In  the  Spiritual 
Magazine  of  Nov.  1,  1847,  we  find  the  following 
graphic  account  of  events  which  had  but  recently 
transpired,  and  were  frequently  transpiring  in  the 
Association  at  Putney  :— 

"  The  concentration  of  interest,  of  will,  of  affection,  in  this 
body,  demonstrates  the  presence  of  a  moral  magnet  of  incon- 
ceivable strength.  Every  kind  of  character  has  succumbed  to 
its  power.  Iron  wills  have  broken ;  excessive  self-esteem  has 
bowed ;  acquisitiveness  has  opened  its  hand ;  the  affections  have 
vjithdrawn  their  strength  from    every  attraction    without,  and 


KOYESISM  UNVEILED.  1T9 

gathered  within  the  charmed  circle.  The  resistance  of  nature 
in  many  cases  was  tremendous.  How  often  have  we  seen  passion 
exasperated  to  the  pitch  of  insanity,  in  the  last  agony  of  cruci- 
fixion— the  last  strain  upon  its  attachments ;  hut  the  inflexibility  of 
truth  conquers — the  central  {ittraction  prevails,  and  immediately 
rapture  illumes  the  countenance  where  the  blackness  of  despair 
was  brooding.  This  process  has  been  repeated  till  all  its  phe- 
Tkomena  are  familiar,  and  we  are  able  to  calculate  results  with 
precision.  .  .  .  We  have  seen  imaginations  suddenly  cast  down, 
and  thoughts  captivated  by  one  flourish  of  our  spiritual  weapons. 
"  The  gravitation  of  hearts  is  irresistible.  One  daily  inter- 
course is  rapidly  condensing  life  and  intensifying  the  power  of 
love.  .  .  .  Private  tastes  are  all  offered  up  on  the  altar  of 
universal  love.  Our  senses  perceive  a  jar  or  discord  -with 
increasing  acuteness,  and  perfection  must  be  the  result  of  the 
revolution  of  our  social  machinery.    It  turns  out  daily  miracles." 

If  their  social  maciiinerj  turns  out  daily  miracles^ 
we  may  infer  that  they  can  be  manufactured  to  order  ! 
Thus  we  have  laid  before  us,  by  Perfectionists  them- 
selves, the  breaking-down  process — the  bringing  of 
wills  and  thoughts  into  captivity  and  complete  subjec- 
tion, not  to  the  will  of  Christ,  but  to  the  will  of  John 
H.  Noyes !  And  this,  too,  not  in  a  solitary  instance — 
a  few  isolated  cases — -but  in  numerous  instances.  AU 
must  bow  the  knee  and  lick  the  dust  before  this  would- 
be  Pontiff.  The  language  above  quoted  was  somewhat 
dark  and  mysterious  before  the  recent  disclosures,  but 
the  revelations  in  Putney  have  thrown  a  flood  of  light, 
and  language  which  before  was  very  obscure  is  now 
perfectly  plain  and  intelligible.  The  process  alluded 
to  by  Perfectionists  appears,  from  their  own  language, 
to  have  been  so  often  "repeated"    that  they  had 


180  NOYESISM  UNVEILED. 

become  adepts  in  the  business  of  hreaklng-down ;  and 
the  whole  phenomena  was  so  perfectly  familiar  that 
they  could  "  calculate  results  with  precision."  They 
appear  to  have  acquired  wonderful  skill  in  flourishing 
^'  spiritual  weapons."  And  under  the  influence  of  the 
great  "moral  magnet  of  inconceivable  strength," 
which  was  among  them,  is  it  at  all  strange  that  each 
devoted  victim  should  be  drawn  within  the  "  charmed 
drde^''  and  doomed  to  irretrievable  ruin  ? 

Wherein  does  this  "  process"  differ,  in  its  essential 
features,  from  the  course  pursued  at  houses  of  ill-fame 
in  our  principal  cities  ?  A  virtuous,  inexperienced, 
and  unsuspecting  female  is  unfortunately  thrown 
within  the  circle  of  influence  Vy^hich  surrounds  a  city 
brothel ;  immediately  the  most  unhallowed  influences 
are  brought  to  bear  upon  the  hapless  victim.  Find- 
ing it  impossible  to  extricate  herself — after  many 
unavailing  efforts — the  last  ray  of  hope  being  extin- 
guished, she  yields  herself  into  the  hands  of  her 
destroyers  and^her  fate  is  sealed.  The  rising  emotions 
of  a  virtuous  heart  being  suppressed,  and  the  moral 
sensibilities  rendered  obtuse,  sensual  delights  alone 
"  illume  the  countenance  w^here  the  blackness  of  despair 
was  brooding." 

The  "  process"  which  was  so  •'  familiar"  to  the 
master-spirits  of  the  Perfectionist  Association  at 
Putney,  agrees  in  all  its  essential  features  with  the 
course  pursued  at  those  fountains  of  iniquity,  those 
gateways  to  death,  to  which  we  Iiave  alluded.  The 
analogy,- .between    the  tw-o    is  striking,    the   parallel 


N0YESI8M  DKVMLBD.  181 

almost  perfect.  If  the  course  pursued  bj  Perfection- 
ists is  not  in  every  respect  so  compulsory,  it  is  none 
the  less  effectual  and  fatal.  Virtuous  females  have  been 
drawn  in  and  ruined  by  the  heads  of  the  Association 
in  Putney,  yet  Mr.  Noyes  called  the  company  banded 
together  there  a  holy  Community,  and  impiously 
asserted  that  the  kingdom  of  Heaven  was  established 
in  that  Association ! 


IM  NOYESISM  UNVEILKD, 

CHAPTER  XX, 

Pretensions  of  Perfectionists  to  Miraculous  Power. 

Perfectionists  lay  claim  to  all  the  miraculous  gifts  of 
the  apostoHc  age ;  and  strenuously  contend  that  as 
signal  displays  of  Divine  power  may  be  expected 
among  them  as  were  exhibited  in  the  Primitive  Church. 
A  simple  portraiture  of  the  moral  character  of 
Perfectionism  abundantly  confutes  this  preposterous 
assumption,  and  the  subject  might  thus  be  summarily 
disposed  of;  for  we  cannot  suppose  that  supernatural 
gifts  would  be  conferred  upon  persons  who  do  not 
sustain  a  fair  moral  character.  '  But  the  Perfectionists 
appeal  to  facts  in  confirmation  of  their  assumptions, 
and  present  arguments  to  sustain  the  position  which 
they  have  taken.  The  subject  is  one  of  some  impor- 
tance, and  the  question  whether  the  age  of  miracles  is 
past,  has,  for  centuries,  been  one  of  hackneyed  discus- 
sion throughout  Christendom.  Whatever  views  may 
be  entertained  in  relation  to  this  question,  the  sequel 
will  present  the  pretensions  to  miraculous  power  by 
the  Perfectionists  to  pubhc  view  in  a  most  glaring  and 
even  ludicrous  light. 

Miracles  have  been  seized  upon  by  all  the  petty 
impostors,  from  the  days  of  Mahomet  down  to  the 
times  of  Joe  Smith  and  John  H.  Noyes.  The  mantle 
of  pretended  miracles  has  been  thrown  over  the  most 
hideous  deformities  by  all  the  pseudo-^Qci^  in  Christen- 
dom.    The  credulous  and  those  in  whom  the  hump  of 


KOYBSISM  UNVEILED.  183 

marvellousness  is  fully  developed,  are  struck  with  awe 
and  wonder  at  the  very  mention  of  a  miracle,  and  are 
easily  deceived  with  pretensions  to  wonder-working 
j^ower ;  and  if  an  impostor  by  spiritual  jugglery  can 
produce  the  conviction  that  he  is  divinely  commis- 
sioned, and  thus  gain  the  entire  confidence  of  a 
person  not  accustomed  to  investigation,  he  can  palm  off 
the  most  glaring  absurdities,  and  accomplish  the  most 
nefarious  designs,  with  the  utmost  ease  and  facility. 

The  great  rnagician*  of  Putney,  as  well  as  the  won- 
derful seer  of  Palmyra,  is  no  less  an  impostor  than  the 
far-famed  Arabian  Prophet !  Mahometanism,  Mor- 
monism.  Perfectionism,  and  a  long  catalogue  of  other 
isms^  are  all  of  kindred  character.  They  are  but  the 
varied  species  of  the  same  genus.  In  addition  to  the 
Koran  and  the  Golden  Bible,  we  now  have  the  Berean, 
a  production  of  Mr.  Noyes,  which  his  followers  firmly 
believe  to  be  an  inspired  book  ! 

The  limits  of  this  work  will  not  allow  of  an  extended 
investigation  of  the  subject  of  miracles.  The  question 
of  the  cessation  of  miracles,  we  propose.  Providence 
permitting,  to  examine  in  a  separate  pubHcation; 
and  shall  here  make  only  a  single  remark  touching  this 
matter.     Much  confusion  in  relation  to  this  subject  has 

*The  application  of  the  term  magician  to  Mr.  Noyes  is  not  gratui- 
tous, or  wholly  unauthorized.  A  writer  in  the  Spiritual  Magazine, 
who  was  a  niember  of  the  Putney  Community,  speaking  in  reference 
to  that  Community  and  its  "  acknowledged  head,"  says—"  He  must 
be  a  magician  indeed^  if  without  any  weapon  but  the  wand  of  hig 
word,  he  had  reduced  the  intelligence,  the  pride,  the  natural  independ- 
ence of  this  company,  to  its  present  subordination." 


184  KOYESISM  UNVEILED. 

undoubtedly  arisen  from  a  want  of  distinction  between; 
the  ordinary  and  extraordinary  gifts  of  the  Spirit. 
The  extraordinary  gifts  of  the  apostolic  ago,  such  as- 
miracles,  &c.,  were  designed  to  substantiate  the 
Divine  commission  of  those  who  possessed  them,  and 
place  upon  a  permanent  basis  the  whole  noble  super- 
structure of  Gospel  doctrhies.  The  specific  object  for 
which  these  miraculous  endowments  were  conferred 
having  been  accompHshed,  they  would  of  course  cease, 
being  no  longer  necessary.  The  first  promulgators  of 
Christianity,  under  a  Divine  commission,  spread  abroad 
the  doctrines  which  they  had  received,  and  confirmed 
the  truths  which  they  taught  by  many  infalUble  signs  ; 
and  having  accomplished  their  work,  their  acts  were 
placed  upon  record  and  transmitted  to  after  genera- 
tions, accompanied  by  the  ordinary  influences  of  the 
Spirit,  which  were  to  continue  to  the  end  of  time.  If 
the  record  given  does  not  convince  a  person  of  the 
truth  of  Christianity,  he  would  not  be  convinced  though 
one  should  rise  from  the  dead. 

Although  it  does  not  enter  into  our  present  design  to 
discuss  at  length  the  question  of  the  cessation  of 
miracles,  yet  we  propose  to  give  a  full  account  of  the? 
pretended  miracles  wrought  by  Mr.  Noyes  at  Putney ; 
and  shall  exhibit  the  utter  shallowness  of  his  preten- 
sions to  mirac^ulous  power,  and  also  the  gross  wicked- 
ness connected  with  such  pretensions  and  carried 
forward  imder  this  assumed  covering.  In  the  follow- 
ing chapter  we  shall  commence  the  examination  of  Mr. 
N.'s  pretended  miracles. 


N0YESISM  UNVEILED.  185 

CHAPTER  XXI. 
'  Pretended  Miracles  of  Noyes. 

CASE    OF   MRS.    HARRIET    A.    HALL. 

Great  prominence  has  been  given  bj  Perfectioniste 
to  the  case  of  Mrs.  Harriet  A.  Hall,  and  through  then', 
efforts  to  give  it  publicity,  this  case  has  obtained  some 
notoriety.  And  in  view  of  the  fact  that  Mr.  Noyes 
attaches  much  importance  to  it,  and  has  even  set  it 
forth  as  an  '•'unirnpeacliahle^^  miracle^  perhaps  this  case 
is  entitled  to  some  attention.  Mr.  N.  seems  to  take  it 
for  granted  that  tliis  case  is  unanswerable,  and  evi- 
dently considers  it  sufficient,  in  connection  with  many 
other  cases  of  like  character  but  of  a  lower  order,  to 
fully  substantiate  his  claim  to  miraculous  poiver^  and 
settle  the  question  of  his  divine  commission  ! 

In  the  Spiritual  Magazine  of  Oct.  15,  1847,  Mr,  N, 
speaks  thus  in  reference  to  this  case  : — 

"  The  cure  of  Mrs.  Harriet  A.  Hall  is  as  unimpeach- 
able as  any  of  the  miracles  of  the  primitive  church.  It 
is  notorious  that  she  had  been  sick  eight  years,  with  a 
complication  of  diseases  ;  that  she  was  completely  bed- 
rid, and  almost  blind,  lying  in  nearly  total  darkness. 
From  this  state,  she  was  raised  instantly,  by  the  laying 
on  of  hands,  and  by  the  word  of  command,  into  strength 
which  enabled  her  to  walk,  to  face  the  sun,  to  ride 
miles  without  inconvenience  and  with  excessive  pleas- 
ure." 

Now,  if  the  case  of  Mrs.  Hall  is  as  "  unimpeacha- 
Me''  as  it  is  represented  to  be,  we  are  certainly  bound 


186  NOYESISM   UNVEILED. 

to  acknowledge  the  supremacy  of  Mr.  Noyes,  and 
admit  the  claims  which  he  has  set  up.  But  the  case  is 
open  for  inspection,  and  the  people  have  a  right  to 
investigate  the  matter,  and  are  not  bound  to  concede 
the  claims  of  Mr.  N. — which  appear  to  be  quite  arro- 
gant— unless  the  facts  in  the  case  fally  sustain  the 
position  which  he  has  voluntarily  assumed. 

We  think  we  hazard  nothing  in  saying,  when  the  sub- 
ject is  submitted  to  public  scrutiny — has  passed  a  careful 
examination — and  the  facts  are  brought  out,  the  opinion 
will  be  almost  or  quite  unanimous  that  it  was  a  very 
-vdsionary  affair — one  of  the  greatest  apologies  for  a 
miracle  ever  got  up  ;  and  having  no  sure  foundation  on 
which  to  rest,  it  will  be  left  "  air-suspended  like  the 
baseless  fabric  of  a  vision." 

But  let  us  look  at  a  few  of  the  most  prominent  fea- 
tures, and  endeavor  to  take  a  just  view  of  the  whole 
affair.  As  it  has  been  publicly  announced  by  the  Per- 
fectionists as  a  miracle  as  "  unimpeachable  "  as  any  in 
the  "  primitive  church,"  perhaps  the  curiosity  of  many 
has  been  so  far  excited  as  to  create  some  desire  to 
know  the  circumstances  connected  with  the  "  raising" 
of  Mrs.  Hall.  It  may  not  be  improper  to  gratify,  to 
some  extent,  that  curiosity ;  and,  indeed,  this  may  be 
necessary  to  a  right  understanding  of  the  case,  although 
it  must  necessarily  occupy  more  space  than  was  origin- 
ally assigned  to  the  subject. 

A  very  circumstantial  account  of  the  whole  affair  is 
given  by  three  witnesses — all  interested,  however, 
being  the  parties  concerned  )  but  as  their  testimony  is 


NOYBSISM  UJT VEILED.  187 

all  we  have,  we  must  take  it  for  what  it  is  worth.  We 
presume  Mr.  Noyes  takes  it  for  granted  that  every 
word  is  firmlj-  estabUshed  by  the  testimony  of  these 
three  interested  witnesses  ! 

The  testimony  is  published  in  the  Spiritual  Magazine 
of  Sept.  15,  1847,  and  is  introduced  as  follows: — 

"  The  testimony  of  the  parties  concerned  was  taken 
at  the  request,  and  in  presence  of  John  B.  Foote,  of 
Westmoreland,  N.  Y.,  for  his  private  use,  and  not  with 
a  view  to  publication.  We  think,  however,  it  may  be 
appropriately  inserted  here. 


The  Testimony  of  Three  Witnesses  in  the  ease  of 
Mrs.  Harriet  A,  Hall*  Given  at  Putney ^  July  3, 
1847. 

•  TESTIMONY  OF  HARRIET  A.  HALL. 

'  Eight  years  ago  I  was  taken  sick.  The  physicians 
called  my  disease  the  dropsy,  particularly  of  the  chest 
and  region  of  the  heart.  There  was  also  at  the  same 
time  a  serious  affection  of  the  spine.  I  had  previously 
had  a  liver  complaint,  for  which  I  had  been  under 
Thompsonion  treatment.  This  became  much  worse  at 
the  time  above  mentioned,  insomuch  that  my  breathing 
became  very  difficult,  and  I  was  under  the  necessity  of 
being  cupped  frequently.  I  had  night  sweats  and 
hectic  fever — was  thought  to  be  in  the  last  stages  of 
consumption.  My  life  was  despaired  of.  A  dreadful 
cough  attended  all  these  symptoms,  which  continued 
about  eight  months.  After  that  period,  the  difficulties 
about  my  chest  and  lungs  subsided,  but  my  back 
became  much  worse.  This  disorder  was  connected  with 
a  terrible  pressure  on  the  brain.     All   exercise  was 

*  Formerly  Harriet  A.  Baker. 


188  NOYBSISM  UNVBILHD. 

attended  with  much  pain,  and  evidently  aggravated  mj 
disorder,  so  that  I  was  at  last  forbidden  by  the  physi- 
cian even  to  walk,  or  stand  on  my  feet  j  and  I  lay  a 
year  and  a  half  without  attempting  any  exercise. 
After  that  I  was  able  to  walk  a  little.  Three  years 
from  the  commencement  of  my  sickness  I  was  suddenly 
reduced  to  entke  blindness.  This  continued  six  months. 
In  the  seventh  month  I  began  to  see  a  little. 

*  About  this  time  my  mind  became  interested  in  the 
subject  of  Animal  Magnetism,  and  hearing  that  Mr.  J. 
H.  Noyes  had  made  some  successful  experiments  in 
that  science,  I  sent  for  him.  His  operations  had  some 
good  effect  upon  my  eyes.  I  soon  began  to  perceive 
that  he  was  a  Christian,  and  requested  him  to  inform 
me  about  his  faith.  He  sent  me  books  and  papers,  and 
conversed  with  me,  and  I  immediately  saw  the  truth  of 
his  testimony,  and  confessed  myself  a  believer  in  per- 
fect holiness. — From  that  time  I  began  to  improve  ih 
health,  took  more  exercise,  and  was  able  to  walk  more 
and  more.  Soon  after  this,  (Oct.  27,  1843)  I  was 
conveyed  to  Mr.  Noyes's  house.  To  the  astonishment 
of  my  friends,  the  ride  (distance  two  miles)  did  not 
pain  or  tire  me,  and  I  steadily  grew  better,  under  Mr, 
Noyes's  care,  till  I  was  able  to  walk  about  the  house 
quite  comfortably.  My  head  and  eyes  improved,  so 
that  I  could  write  again. 

'  After  several  weeks,  Alex.  Wilder,  who  was  in  Mr. 
ISToyes's  family,  began  to  magnetize  me,  and  assumed 
the  charge  of  my  case.  He  drew  me  away  from  Mr. 
Noyes,  and  by  constant  manipulation  enveloped  me  in 
his  own  spirit.  From  this  time  I  began  to  be  worse. 
My  old  disorder  returned  upon  me,  and  with  more 
power  than  ever.  I  returned  home,  and  to  my  old 
state  of  prostration  and  darkness.  About  this  time  the 
separation  between  Mr.  Noyes  and  Mr.  Wilder  took 
place,  and  I  was  deceived  by  Mr.  Wilder  so  far  that  I 


KOYESIBM  UNVEILED.  189 

lost  much  of  my  first  confidence  in  Mr.  Noyes.  My 
health  continued  worse  for  the  ensuing  three  years  and 
a  half. 

•  In  the  course  of  this  time  (viz.  on  the  2d  of  Nov., 
1845)  I  was  married  to  Mr.  Hall,  a  man  who  made  no 
profession  of  rehgion,  and  who,  though  somewhat 
friendly  to  Mr.  Noyes's  writings,  was  on  the  whole  an 
infidel.  I  was  barely  able  to  sit  up  long  enough  to  go 
through  with  the  marriage  ceremony.  After  this  I  was 
separated  still  farther  from  Mr.  Noyes,  and  at  last 
became  nearly  as  much  a  skeptic  as  my  husband. 

^  But  in  the  mean  time  my  brother  and  two  sisters 
had  returned  fully  to  fellowship  with  Mr.  Noyes,  and 
so  communication  was  kept  open  between  him  and  our 
family.  By  this  means  my  heart  was  finally  turned 
back  to  my  first  love  and  confidence.  Indeed,  very 
soon  after  my  feelings  took  a  favorable  turn,  I  was 
attracted  and  bound  to  Mr.  Noyes  more  strongly  than 
ever,  and  invited  him  to  visit  me.  This  took  place  in 
the  fore  part  of  June  last. 

•  I  had  felt,  through  all  my  sickness,  a  dim,  instinc- 
tive assurance  that  I  should  yet  recover,  and  from  the 
time  of  my  first  acquaintance  with  Mr.  Noyes  I  had 
more  or  less  expectation  that  I  should  be  healed  by 
faith.  This  expectation  revived  with  much  strength  at 
tlie  time  of  my  return  to  his  fellowship. 

•  It  may  be  mentioned  here,  that  in  the  whole  course 
of  my  sickness,  medicine  of  every  kind  proved  ineffec- 
tual and  injurious.  I  tried  many  kinds,  and  many 
systems  of  practice.  I  consulted  at  different  times  not 
less  than  ten  physicians.  At  length  I  lost  all  confi- 
dence in  medicines,  and  about  the  time  of  my  renewal 
of  intercourse  with  Mr.  Noyes,  entirely  abandoned  the 
ase  of  them,  committing  my  case  to  the  care  of  God. 

'  On  the  22d  of  June,  Mr.  Noyes,  in  company  with 
Mrs,  Cragin,  visited  me.     I  was  at  that  time  in  a  very 


190  NOYBSISM   UNVEILED. 

low  condition — lower  than  ever  before.  An  additional 
disease,  viz.  ulceration  of  the  kidneys,  which  commen- 
ced a  year  and  a  half  ago,  had  become  very  painful 
and  threatening.  I  was  unable  to  move  or  to  be  moved, 
without  excruciating  pain  in  my  back  and  kidneys. 
My  eyes  could  not  bear  the  light.  A  mere  crack  of 
the  window,  below  the  curtain,  was  all  that  I  could 
endure.  Yet  I  expected  to  be  healed,  and  even  to  go 
home  with  Mr.  Noyes,  at  his  first  visit,  and  had  told 
my  husband  on  that  morning  that  I  should  certainly 
get  well,  and  asked  him  what  he  should  think  if  I  should 
go  away  with  Mr.  Noyes. 

'  I  will  not  attempt  a  particular  account  of  the  things 
that  were  said  and  done  by  Mr.  Noyes  and  Mrs.  Cra- 
gin  during  the  three  hours  of  their  visit  to  my  dark 
room.  They  will  speak  of  these  things  themselves.  I 
will  only  say  that  I  was  calm  and  happy  through  scenes 
which  would  once  have  been  agitating  and  even  fright- 
ful to  me. 

'  Mr.  Noyes  at  one  time  spoke  of  going  home,  but  I 
could  not  beheve  that  he  would  go  till  I  could  go  with 
him.  At  length  I  told  him  that  I  would  do  any  thing 
that  he  would  bid  me.  He  told  me.  to  sit  up  in  the 
bed.  I  did  so  with  ease.  He  then  commanded  me, 
with  great  energy,  to  '  get  up '  ;  and  taking  me  by  the 
hand,  led  me  to  a  chair.  Without  pain  and  with  great 
dehght,  I  sat  before  the  window.  Mrs.  Cragin  raised 
the  curtain  and  let  in  the  blaze  of  day.  My  eyes  were 
perfectly  well,  and  drank  in  the  beauty  of  the  world  all 
new  to  me,  with  wonderful  pleasure.  I  was  constrained 
to  declare  again  and  again  that  I  was  '  perfectly  well.* 
I  called  for  work,  and  found  myself  able  to  knit  with 
facility.  It  was  soon  determined  that  I  should  go  home 
with  Mr.  N.  and  Mrs.  C.  I  was  immediately  stripped, 
by  my  sisters  and  Mrs.  C,  of  my  extra  flannels  and 
caps,  and  my  grave-clothes  in  general,  and  in  an  ordin- 


KOYESISM  UKVBILBD.  191 

arj  dress,  without  spectacles  or  veil,  I  took  my  seat  in 
the  carriage,  and  rode  two  miles,  in  a  south  direction, 
in  the  light  of  a  mid-day  summer's  sun,  without  the 
least  fatigue.  That  was  indeed  a  joyful  ride.  I  was 
conscious  of  perfect  health.  All  pain  in  my  head,  back 
and  kidneys  had  vanished. 

'  This  event  took  place  about  two  weeks  ago.  I  have 
never  doubted  since  that  I  was  healed  instantaneously 
by  the  power  of  God.  I  have  gained  daily  in  power 
over  my  muscles.  I  have  been  able  to  ride  long 
distances,  to  attend  meetings  in  the  evening  at  home, 
and  on  Sunday  at  the  Chapel,  to  take  my  meals  with 
the  family,  &c.  &c.  My  appetite  is  very  good.  My 
eyes  are  strong.  I  am  fast  overcoming  the  effects  of 
the  long  disuse  of  my  limbs,  and  am  learning  to  walk 
as  fast  as  can  be  expected  of  a  child.  On  the  whole  I 
can  honestly  say,  that  whereas  for  eight  years  past  I 
have  been  a  miserable,  bed-rid,  half  dead  victim  of 
disease,  I  am  now  well.' 

TESTIMONY    ^F   M.    E.    CRAaiN. 

'  During  the  past  three  months,  I  have  been  myself 
affected  with  a  painful  disease  which  I  ascribed  to 
various  secondary  causes.  Despairing  of  help  from 
human  aid,  I  committed  myself  fully  to  Jesus  Christ 
as  physician  for  the  body  as  well  as  the  soul.  After 
making  this  surrender  the  scales  fell  from  my  eyes, 
and  I  recognized  unbelief  as  the  first  cause  of  disease 
and  death.  I  saw  that  I  must  have  a  healthy  spirit  in 
order  to  have  a  healthy  body.  After  much  bodily 
suffering  and  mental  conflict  with  the  powers  of  dark- 
ness, I  was  enabled  through  the  grace  given  unto  me 
to  confess  Christ  within  me  a  Savior  from  the  power  of 
unbelief.  The  result  was  an  almost  immediate  restora- 
tion to  health.  Sickness  left  me  as  suddenly  as  it  had. 
seLzed  me,  and  I  found  myself  able  to  prove  by  word 


192  NOYBSISM  UNVEILED. 

and  deed  that  the  power  of  Christ's  resurrection  had 
taken  effect  m  every  part  of  my  nature. 

'  Before  I  received  final  deliverance  I  thought  much 
of  the  case  of  Mrs.  Hall.  From  what  I  heard  from 
time  to  time  from  her,  I  was  sensible  that  she  was  tast 
approaching  the  same  point  with  myself,  namely,  a 
thorough  conviction  that  faith  alone  could  save  her 
from  death.  I  fully  believed  that  the  work  begun  in 
her  in  1843  would  be  completed,  but  was  conscious  that 
any  testimony  which  I  could  give  her  respecting  my 
confidence  in  the  power  of  faith  would  be  powerless  so 
long  as  I  was  in  bondage  myself.  On  the  morning 
after  my  confession  of  Christ,  I  felt  as  though  I  wcis 
ready  to  visit  her  and  testify  to  her  of  the  power  of 
God.  On  my  way  to  her  residence  I  was  perfectly 
well,  and  very  happy  in  the  prospect  of  being  a  help 
to  her.  When  I  entered  her  darkened  room  and  saw 
her  helpless  condition,  I  was  struck  with  horror  at  the 
nightly  power  of  unbelief,  and  the  thought  arose  in 
my  mind  that  she  wa<  in  the  same  grave  from  w^hich  I 
had  been  raised.  At  the  same  time  I  felt  a  perfect 
willingness  to  go  doAvn  into  the  grave  again,  if  by  s.> 
<loing  I  could  help  her  out.  As  these  thoughts  and 
desires  occupied  my  heart,  I  was  conscious  of  general 
sickness  and  distress  of  body  unlike  any  thing  I  had 
ever  felt  before.  But  as  my  mind  was  filled  with 
what  I  was  anxious  to  say  to  her,  I  did  not  give  my 
attention  at  all  to  my  bodily  feelings. 

•  When  Mr.  Noyes  said  to  me  that  lie  had  got 
through  what  he  wished  to  say,  and  that  I  might  talk 
to  her,  I  imnnediately  began  to  tell  her  what  God  had 
done  for  me  in  saving  me  from  unbelief.  I  had  not 
talked  more  than  a  minute  before  a  '  horror  of  great 
darkness'  seized  me.  I  realized  as  I  never  did  before 
the  murderous  nature  of  unbehef,  and  God's  hatred  to 
it.     My  eyes  grew  dim  so  that  I  could  not  distinguish 


NOYESISM  UNVEILED.  193 

objects,  and  my  hearing  left  me  so  that  I  could  not 
hear  the  sound  of  my  voice.  Still  I  resisted  until  my 
tongue  was  palsied  and  I  did  not  know  what  I  was 
saying.  I  had  sufficient  consciousness  left  to  attempt 
to  rise  to  go  to  the  door,  but  I  felt  as  though  Mr. 
Noyes  was  not  willing.  I  felt  as  though  I  was  sinking 
lower  and  lower  into  a  dreadful  dark  abyss.  When  I 
began  to  recover  I  found  myself  sitting  in  my  chair, 
and  heard  Mr.  Noy^s  commanding  me  in  a  loud  voice 
tx)  look  at  him.  The  tones  of  his  voice  thrilled  through 
me  like  a  shock  of  electricity,  and  as  soon  as  I  looked 
at  him  hfe  triumphed  over  death.  I  rose  and  walked 
the  room,  astonished  and  delighted  at  the  power  which 
I  felt  diffusing  itself  through  my  veins,  recaUing  me  to 
newness  of  life.  I  said  to  Mrs.  Hall,  This  is  the  most 
effectual  preaching  you  can  have  ;  I  have  tasted  of 
death,  and  behold  the  power  of  the  resurrection. 
After  conversing  with  her  some  time,  this  same  horror 
of  unbelief  began  to  paralyze  me  again.  I  rose  and 
attempted  to  throw  it  off,  but  could  not.  I  called  to 
Mr.  Noyes,  and  had  sufficient  presence  of  mind  to 
look  steadily  at  him  until  I  partook  of  his  strength, 
and  it  passed  away.  The  remainder  of  the  day  I  was 
stupid  and  sleepy,  and  felt  as  I  imagine  persons  do 
who  have  been  recovered  from  drowning ;  but  since 
that  time  am  perfectly  sound  in  health.' 

TESTIMONY   OF  J.   H.    NOYES. 

•  Many  circumstances  have  conspired  to  draw  the 
attention  of  believers  in  this  place  within  a  few  months 
toward  the  healing  power  of  Christ,  and  to  raise  a 
belief  in  their  minds  that  great  manifestations  of  that 
power  are  at  hand.  The  unity,  internal  and  external, 
into  which  we  have  lately  been  brought,  the  power  and 
vsuccess  of  our  testimony  to  the  world  around,  and  the 
exigency  of  our  situation  in  the  midst  of  the  raging 
13 


194  NOYBSISM  UNVBILBD. 

enemies  of  faith,  enlarged  our  expectations  and  stimu- 
lated us  to  demand  more  strength  from  God.  Some 
instances  of  the  victory  of  faith  over  disease,  which 
were  notable  to  us,  though  not  to  the  world,  occurred 
during  the  past  winter  and  spring. 

'  Soon  after  we  came  together  in  family  unity,  Mrs. 
Cragin  was  attacked  by  disease  of  an  obstinate  and 
threatening  character.  This  brought  me  into  a  neces- 
sity of  examining  our  position  in  relation  to  sickness, 
death,  medicines,  &c.  I  settled  my  own  principles 
more  thoroughly  than  ever  before,  and  gave  a  course 
of  lectures,  in  which  I  declared  my  independence  of 
the  medical  systems  of  this  world,  and  claimed  for 
Christ  the  office  of  physician  to  our  community. 
There  was  but  one  heart  and  one  voice  among  us  about 
the  matter.  I  treated  Mrs.  Cragin's  case  on  faith 
principles  entirely ;  and  though  the  struggle  with  the 
power  of  death  was  long  and  desperate,  life  graduall}'- 
prevailed. 

'  After  Mrs.  Hall  returned  to  our  fellowship,  I. 
began  to  have  a  strong  impression  that  the  first  signal 
manifestation  of  heaUng  power  would  be  in  her  case.. 
The  fact  that  she  had  come  under  my  care  several 
years  ago,  and  a  cure  had  been  commenced,  which  had 
been  defeated  for  the  time  by  evil  powers,  seemed  a 
pledge  of  a  complete  work  yet  to  come.  Her  connec- 
tion with  an  infidel  husband  and  an  infidel  father, 
made  her  case  just  such  an  one  as  we  might  suppose 
God  would  choose,  if  he  wished  to  strike  a  death  blow 
at  unbelief.  From  the  time  when  she  invited  me  to 
visit  her,  I  felt  myself  challenged  to  a  pubhc  contest 
with  death.  I  made  up  my  mind  not  to  go  to  her,  till 
I  could  go  in  the  fallness  of  faith ;  and  I  had  an 
assurance  that  my- dealings  with  her  at  this  time  would 
not  be  like  those  of  the  former  trial,  but  altogether 
more  swift  and  decisive. 


NOYESISM  UNVEILED,  195 

*  Mrs.  Cragin's  case  was  yet  upon  my  hands.  Her 
enemies,  though  often  routed,  yet  persecuted  her  from 
time  to  time,  and  I  found  at  last  that  the  traitor  who 
let  them  in  was  a  subtile  spirit  of  unbehef.  It  became 
evident  to  me  that  a  decisive  and  final  victory  over 
unbelief  was  essential  to  a  permanent  victory  over 
disease  of  any  kind,  forasmuch  as  unbehef  is  the 
protecting  cover  of  all  subordinate  powers  of  evil.  It 
also  became  evident  that  I  could  not  reasonably  expect 
to  carry  victory  over  unbelief  abroad,  till  I  had 
obtained  it  at  home.  This  then  was  the  burden  that 
lay  upon  my  heart,  viz.,  I  must  lift  Mrs.  Cragin  out 
of  the  grave  of  unbehef,  before  I  can  hope  to  raise 
Mrs.  Hall,  On  Monday  (the  21st  of  June,)  the  con- 
£est  of  unbehef  came  to  its  crisis  in  the  case  of  Mrs. 
Cragin.  In  the  evening  meeting  she  testified  her 
assurance  that  Christ  had  saved  her  forever  from  the 
unbeheving  spirit.  The  next  morning,  I  saw  that  all 
was  ready  for  a  movement  towards  Mrs.  Hall.  Her 
sister  was  at  our  house  and  wished  to  be  carried  home. 
I  and  Mrs.  Cragin  went  with  her. 

'  The  first  half  hour  of  our  visit  to  Mrs.  Hall  was 
spent  in  general  discourse  on  the  subject  of  faith. 
Wh^n  I  had  finished  what  I  had  to  say,  I  called  on 
Mrs.  Cragin  to  speak.  She  commenced,  but  had  not 
proceeded  far,  when  she  began  to  be  pale  and  faint. 
I  took  her  hand  and  supported  her  while  she  sunk  into 
death.  I  said  to  her  several  times  in  a  loud  voice, 
^  Look  at  me.'  She  heard  me  not.  Her  eyes  were 
open,  but  fixed  and  glassy  Hke  a  dead  person's.  I 
carried  my  head  forward  till  my  eye  was  in  range  with 
the  direction  of  hers.  At  that  moment  there  was  a 
ghmmer  of  recognition  in  her  eye.  I  smiled  and  she 
replied  by  a  smile  (!).  Immediately  the  deadly  spell 
passed  away,  and  Mrs.  C,  emerged  into  angelic  life 


196  NOYESISM  UN  VEILED. 

and  beauty  (!).  This  scene  was  afterwards  repeated 
in  a  milder  way. 

'  When  these  transactions  were  finished,  Mrs.  C. 
and  I  placed  ourselves  in  more  immediate  communica- 
tion with  Mrs.  Hall,  by  taking  hold  of  her  hands.  I 
perceived  that  the  power  of  unbehef  was  broken. 
Mrs.  Hall  declared  with  emphasis  that  she  felt  '  some- 
thing good'  taking  place  in  herself  while  Mrs.  Cragin 
was  dying(!).  Up  to  this  time,  I  had  no  very  definite 
idea  of  what  was  to  be  done  for  Mrs.  H.  The  way 
seemed  to  be  open  for  her  release,  but  the  circum- 
stances in  which  I  found  myself  were  new,  and  I 
shrunk  from  any  thing  like  over- boldness  or  experi- 
menting. I  thought  and  spoke  of  returning  home, 
and  yet  it  seemed  to  me  that  she  ought  to  go  with  me. 
On  the  whole  I  could  not  leave  her  so. 

'  At  length  as  I  walked  the  floor  meditating  on  these 
things,  an  omnipotent  will  began  to  infuse  itself  into 
my  consciousness.  I  said  in  my  heart  with  a  freedom 
which  goes  with  the  power  of  realization. — '  God  shall 
have  his  own  way  in  this  matter.^ 

'•  Soon  after  this  the  way  was  naturally  and  easily 
opened  for  me  to  call  her  forth  from  her  prison,  and  I 
did  it  as  she  has  described,  with  full  consciousness  of 
the  co-operation  and  authority  of  God. 

'  Aft^r  she  arose,  and  while  the  women  were  chang- 
ing her  clothes,  I  walked  in  another  room,  and  then 
again  felt  an  omnipotent  will  going  forth  from  my 
heart,  decreeing  as  from  the  throne  of  the  universe, 
that  she  should  go  home  with  me(!)  ;  which  she  did  as 
she  has  related." 

An  editorial  note  added  to  the  above  says  : — 

*•'  At  the  date  of  this  paper  [Spiritual  Magazine  of 
July  15,  1847]  Mrs.  Hall  remains  well.  Her  mus- 
cles have  nearly  recovered  their  natural  strength,  so 


NOYESISM  UNVEILED,  197 

that  she  is  able  to  walk  with  ease,  and  to  work  moder- 
ately." 

We  have  thus  given  the  testimony  in  full  relative  to 
the  raising  of  Mrs.  Hall,  just  as  it  was  spread  out 
before  the  public  by  the  Perfectionists.  As  the  trans- 
actions were  of  a  somewhat  private  character,  we  take 
it  for  granted  that  we  are  now  in  possession  of  all 
the  material  facts  respecting  the  whole  affair,  with 
which  they  intend  to  enlighten  the  public.  Let  it  be 
remembered  that  the  testimony  relative  to  this  won- 
derful  case,  was  given  by  the  ''parties  concerned^' — 
the  operator,  the  assistant,  and  the  subject ! 

This  case  has  been  trumpeted  abroad  as  a  miracle, 
as  "  unimpeachable  as  any  of  the  miracles  of  the 
primitive  church ;"  but  it  wiU  be  looked  upon  as 
a  contemptible  affair  by  an  intelligent  community. 
The  whole  account  from  beginning  to  end  is  tinctured 
with  the  ludicrous,  and  some  portions  of  it  are  extremely 
disgusting ;  yet  it  is  spread  out  before  the  public  by 
Mr.  Noyes  with  ^all  the  minuteness  of  exact  detail,  as 
though  every  part  of  the  transaction  was  of  the 
utmost  importance.  And  Perfectionists  swallow  the 
whole  story,  as  a  marvellous  affair,  without  any  scruples 
or  hesitation.  This  is  undoubtedly  very  gratifying  to 
the  ambitious  spirit  of  Noyes ;  and  seeing  the  affair 
took  well  among  his  followers,  he  spread  his  sails, 
caught  the  breeze,  and  attempted  to  advance  the  more 
rapidly,  but  his  glorying  and  triumphing — like  that  of 
the  wicked — was  destined  to  be  of  short  duration.  A 
sad  revulsion  was  at  hand. 


198  NOYBSISM  UNVEILED. 


CHAPTER  XXII. 


Pretended  Miracles  of  Noyes  continued, 

CASE   OF  MRS.   HARRIET   A.   HALL — CONTINUED. 

It  may  perhaps  be  thought  bj  some  to  be  a  mere 
waste  of  words  to  dwell  upon  this  case ;  but  it  is 
claimed  to  be  a  cure  as  "  unimpeachable  as  any  of  the 
miracles  of  the  primitive  church  f^  and  should  it 
receive  no  special  attention,  Perfectionists  might  lift  up 
their  heads  and  triumphantly  assert  that  it  was  such  a 
notable  miracle  that  it  could  not  be  gainsayed.  Hence, 
it  seems  to  be  necessary  to  exhibit  the  shallowness  of 
the  pretensions  of  Mr.  Noyes,  and  show  that  the 
attempt  to  palm  off  this  affair  as  a  miracle^  is  a  perfect 
imposition  upon  the  people,  and  an  utter  outrage  upon 
the  intelligence  of  the  community. 

It  will  be  found  on  examination  that  this  pretended 
MIRACLE  was  no  cure  at  all ;  but  a  mere  temporary 
effect  resulting  from  natural  causes  to  which  we  shall 
hereafter  allude.  Cases  of  Hke  character  are  of  quite 
frequent  occurrence  ;  and  we  deny  point  blank  that  this 
was  a  miracle,  or  even  a  semblance  of  one ;  and  shall 
endeavor  to  show  to  a  demonstration  that  there  was 
nothing  at  all  supernatural  in  this  case,  the  testimony 
of  the  "  three  witnesses"  to  the  contrary  notwithstand- 
ing. We  dehberately  take  this  position,  although  we 
thereby  run  the  hazard  of  having  the  gentleman  uncork 
anew  the  vials  of  his  wrath  —  labelled  "  holy  indig- 


NOYESISM  UNVEILED.  199 

nation"  —  and  pour  out  their  contents  without  mixture 
of  mere  J  upon  our  head. 

But  let  us  look  at  a  few  of  the  statements  contained 
in  the  testimony  given.  After  Mr.  Noyes  had  com- 
manded her  to  "  get  up,"  Mrs.  Hall^says,  "  I  was  con- 
strained to  declare  again  and  again  that  I  was  per- 
fectly tvelV  She  also  says  that  during  her  ride  of  two 
miles,  she  "  was  conscious  of  perfect  health^  Again, 
about  two  weeks  after  this  event  she  says,  ''I  have 
never  dovhted  since,  that  I  was  healed  instantaneously 
by  the  power  of  Grod.''^  And  finally,  Mrs.  Hall  closes 
her  testimony  in  the  following  emphatic  language : — 
"  On  the  whole,  I  can  honestly  say,  that  whereas  for 
eight  years  past  I  have  been  a  yniserable,  bed-rid,  half 
dead  victim  of  disease,  I  am  now  well.^' 

But  accompanying  the  strong  and  unequivocal  asser- 
tions of  Mrs.  Hall,  that  she  was  "  welV^ — ''perfectly 
well  " — and  "  conscious  of  perfect  health,''^  we  find 
the  following  language  used  about  two  weeks  after  she 
was  "  healed  instantaneously  "  and  made  ''perfectly  " 
whole  :- — "  I  have  gained  daily  in  power  over  my  mus- 
cles. .  .  I  am  fast  overcoming  the  effects  of  the  long 
disease  of  my  limbs,  and  am  learning  to  walk  as  fast  as 
can  be  expected  of  a  child  "  ! 

How  do  these  diiferent  statements  agree  with  each 
other  ?  Two  weeks  after  she  had  come  in  possession  of 
*•'  perfect  health,^''  she  says  she  had  "  gained  daily  in 
power  over  her  muscles,"  and  was  "  learning  to  ivalk 
as  fast  as  could  he  expected  of  a  child  "  !  About  tliree 
weeks  after  the  wonderful  occurrence  transpired  and 


200  NOYESISM  UN  VEILED. 

she  pronounced  herself  '^ perfeetly  well,'^  the  Editor  of 
the  Spiritual  Magazine  says  : — ''  Her  muscles  have 
nearly  recovered  their  strength,  so  that  she  is  able  to 
walk  with  ease,  and  to  work  moderately  "  I 

But  how,  if  she  was  '^ perfecUy^^  healed  at  first,  could 
she  be  gradually  and  constantly  improving  for  a  long 
time  afterwards  ?  Why,  Mr.  Noyes  had  told  her — and 
she  verily  behoved  it — that  the  disease  was  entirely 
removed^  but  that  her  hmbs  had  been  so  long  inactive 
that  they  must  be  gradually  restored  to  strength,  and 
that  she  must  learn  to  walk  as  the  child  learns  ! 

How  does  this  -case  compare  with  the  miracles  of 
Christ  and  his  Apostles  ?  If  it  is  as  "  unimpeachable 
as  any  of  the  miracles  of  the  primitive  church,"  we 
may  certainly  expect  to  find  a  striking  resemblance,  in 
all  their  leading  characteristics,  between  them.  But  is 
this  the  case  ?  Not  at  all.  Not  a  parallel  case  can  be 
found — not  an  instance  on  record,  either  in  the  Old  or 
New  Testament,  in  which  an  individual  who  had  been 
unable  to  walk,  from  whatever  cause,  or  however  long 
the  period,  and  was  miraculously  healed,  who  was  not 
restored  to  perfect  soundness.  And  not  unfrequently 
were  persons  thus  healed  immediately  seen  "  ivallcing 
and  leaping ^^''  thus  giving  the  most  convincing  and 
incontestable  proofs  of  the  appHcation  of  superhuman 
agencies,  and  the  genuineness  and  completeness  of  the 
work.  We  have  an  instance  in  Acts  14:  8 — 10,  of 
a  man  "  impotent  in  his  feet"  who  had  never  walked, 
whom  Paul  restored,  and  it  is  said  he  "  leaped  and 
ivalkedy     AVe  also  have  an  account  of  a  still  more- 


NOYESISM  UNVEILED.  201 

striking  instance,  recorded  in  the  3d  and  4th  chapters 
of  Acts.  We  have  there  an  account  of  a  man  "  above 
forty  years  old,^^  who  had  been  lame  from  his  birth, 
whom  Pet^r  healed,  "  and  wimediately  Ms  feet  and 
ancle  hones  received  strength;  and  he,  leaping  up^ 
stood,  and  zvalked,  and  entered  with  them  into  the  tem- 
ple, loalhing,  and  leaping,  and  praising  God."  These 
persons,  though  they  had  never  walked,  and  one  was 
*•'  above  forty  years  old^^  did  not  have  to  learn  to  walk 
hke  a  "  cliiW 

In  all  the  miracles  wrought  bj  Christ,  his  Apostles, 
and  the  ancient  Prophets,  there  was  no  half-way  work. 
Wlien  commenced,  the  work  was  immediately  carried 
forward  to  its  completion. 

Had  the  miracles  wrought  in  the  Primitive  Church, 
wliich  were  designed  to  prove  beyond  a  doubt  the  truth 
of  Chi'istianity  and  place  it  upon  a  permanent  basis, 
been  of  a  partial  kind,  or  of  an  obscure  character, 
doubts  might  have  reasonably  arisen,  and  been  enter- 
tained in  reference  to  the  matter ;  hence  the  Divine 
Author  of  the  Christian  system,  for  the  purpose  of 
removing  all  cause  of  vahd  objections,  and  every  rea- 
sonable ground  of  disbelief,  presented  the  substantiatiag 
proofs  in  the  clearest  light  and  the  strongest  possible 
manner,  so  that  if  rejected,  it  must  be  in  the  face  of 
evidence  as  clear  as  the  shining  of  the  sun  at  mid-day. 

How  strong,  how  clear,  how  convincing  the  proofs 
drawn  from  the  miracles  of  the  Primitive  Church  ;  and 
how  weak,  how  dim,  and  even  how  contemptible,  the 
evidence  coming  from  the  mere  pretensions  of  Noyes  ! 


202  KOYESISM  UNVEILED. 

It  is  as  valueless,  and  far  more  insignificant,  than  the 
veriest  taper  in  the  fiill  blaze  of  meridian  day. 

We  might  now  dismiss  the  case  of  Mrs.  Hall,  and  at 
this  stage  submit  it  to  the  public  for  decision,  with  a 
moral  certainty — yea,  without  even  a  shadow  of  doubt 
— respecting  the  verdict  which  would  be  rendered; 
but  as  Mr.  N.  attaches  so  much  importance  to  the  mat- 
ter, and  as  there  are  to  him  so  many  interesting  cir- 
cumstances clustering  around  this  case,  we  deem  it 
proper  to  notice  it  still  farther,  and  give  the  public  a 
few  more  items  of  information  in  reference  to  it. 

Not  a  very  long  period  had  elapsed  after  Mrs.  Hall 
was  "  raised  "  by  Mr.  Noyes,  before  she  relapsed  into 
her  former  condition  —  and  her  old  complaints  again 
exhibited  all  their  original  strength  and  virulence. 
After  having  remained  at  Mr.  N.'s  for  a  number  of 
weeks  from  the  time  she  was  "  healed  instantaneously," 
Mr.  Hall,  her  husband,  becoming  dissatisfied  for  some 
reason,  was  unwilling  to  let  her  remain  longer,  and 
accordingly  removed  her  home.  Being  away  from  the 
presence  of  Mr.  N.,  and  beyond  the  reach  of  the  influ- 
ences with  which  she  had  been  surrounded — whether 
mesmeric,  or  what  not — while  at  his  residence,  the 
excitement,  or  whatever  kept  her  up,  subsiding,  she 
immediately  sunk  into  her  former  state,  and  was  as  bad 
or  worse  than  ever.  And  Mr.  Noyes  had  the  privilege 
of  again  trying  his  miracle  working  (?)  power,  but 
without  much  effect,  only  affording  temporary  reHef ; 
and  she  has  ever  since  remained  much  in  her  former 
condition,  only  alternately  a  little  better  or  worse,  as 


NOYESISM  UNVEILED.  203 

surrounding  circumstances  and  her  own  feelings  might 
affect  her. 

Does  all  this  look  like  a  miraculous  work — a  radical 
cure  ?  Did  any  of  those  healed  by  Christ  or  his  Apos- 
tles thus  relapse  ?  Certainly  not.  If  they  were  not 
afterward  proof  against  disease,  they  certainly  were  as 
likely  to  be  attacked  by  some  other  disease  as  the  one 
from  which  they  had  been  healed.  But  says  Mr. 
Noyes,  "  He  [Christ]  did  not  insure  them  [his  patients] 
against  relapse,  but  on  the  contrary  said  to  one  of 
them — '  Behold,  thou  art  made  whole  ;  sin  no  more, 
lest  a  worse  thing  come  unto  thee.'  "  The  case  here 
referred  to  is  not  parallel  with  the  one  under  consider- 
ation. A  relapse  appears  to  have  been  suspended  upon 
the  condition  of  sinning,  and  it  is  certainly  implied  that 
there  would  be  no  relapse  if  no  sin  was  committed. 
Mrs.  Hall,  being  a  Perfectionist  and  consequently  not 
capable  of  sinning,  according  to  the  doctrine  of  Noyes, 
would  be  in  no  danger  of  a  relapse.  But  she  has 
relapsed  ;  of  course  there  was  no  radical  cure. 

Speaking  in  reference  to  this  case  some  weeks  after 
it  occurred,  Mr.  Noyes  says — "How  many  said,  'If 
Harriet  Hall  only  holds  out,  we  will  believe.'  She  has 
held  out,  and  is  daily  walking  your  streets ;  and  how 
many  of  you  have  kept  your  promise  f*  It  seems,  that 
the  pretended  miracle  not  gaining  much  credit  in  the 
community,  and  proselytes  not  being  multiplied  accord- 
ing to  his  hopes  and  anticipations,  Mr.  N.  felt  disposed 
to  take  the  people  to  task  for  their  unbelief ;  and  he 
manifests  the  disposition — but  unfortunately  for  him  he 


204  NOYESISM  UNVEILED. 

lacked  the  power — to  force  them  up  to  the  work,  and 
compel  them  to  believe.  Being  impatient  of  delay,  he 
severely  rebukes  them  for  not  acknowledging  his  power 
and  submitting  to  his  authority.  He  says — undoubt- 
edly considering  it  a  very  convincing  argument — "  She 
has  held  out."  But  the  truth  is,  she  has  not  held  out, 
and  all  the  arguments  based  upon  that  circumstance  go 
by  the  board. 

Again  :  let  us  look  at  the  means  used  for  her  recov- 
ery at  a  former  period.  In  the  summer  or  early  part 
of  the  autumn  of  1843,  which  was  about  four  years 
after  her  sickness  commenced,  Mrs.  Hall  says  her 
"  mmd  became  interested  in  the  subject  of  Animal 
Magnetism,  and  hearing  that  Mr.  J.  H.  Noyes  had 
made  some  successful  experiments  in  that  science,  I 
sent  for  him.  His  operations  had  some  good  effect  on 
my  eyes."  After  having  been  mesmerized  a  number 
of  times,  she  embraced  the  doctrines  of  Noyes,  and 
says — "  From  that  time  I  began  to  improve  in  health, 
took  more  exercise,  and  was  able  to  walk  more  and 
more.  Soon  after  this,  (viz.  Oct.  27,  1843,)  I  was 
conveyed  to  Mr.  Noyes's  house.  To  the  astonishment 
of  my  friends,  the  ride  (distance  two  miles)  did  not 
pain  or  tire  me,  and  I  steadily  grew  better,  under  Mr. 
Noyes's  care,  till  I  was  able  to  walk  about  the  house 
quit«  comfortably.  My  head  and  eyes  improved,  so 
that  I  could  write  again." 

It  appears  that  some  months  previous  to  the  time 
just  alluded  to  by  Mrs.  Hall,  Noyes  had  commenced 
operations  as  a  magnetizer — for  Mr.  Wilder,  as  will  be 


NOYESISM  UNVEILED.  205 

seen  by  referring  to  his  affidavit,  says — '-Returning 
from  a  tour  in  Massachusetts  in  February,  1843,  Mr. 
Noyes  began  to  try  his  skill  in  Animal  Magnetism." 
And  it  appears  that  in  a  few  months  he  had  acquired 
some  celebrity,  for  Mr.  Wilder  continues — "  Reports 
had  gone  abroad  of  his  skill  as  a  magnetizer.  A  young 
man  named  Baker  requested  him  to  visit  his  sister, 
[now  Mrs.  H.  A.  Hall,]  who  for  several  years  had 
been  confined  to  her  bed.  He  did  so  a  number  of 
times.  She  also  became  a  proselyte  to  his  doctrines. 
In  October  she  came  to  his  house,  and  remained  about 
three  months.  He  continued  -  his  manipulations  occa- 
sionally." 

From  all  that  is  said  in  reference  to  the  case  of 
Mrs.  Hall  it  is  evident  that  no  more  wonderful  agencies 
were  employed  in  the  partial  restoration  or  temporary 
relief  which  she  experienced  in  the  autumn  of  1843, 
than  mesmeric  influences ;  nothing  supernatural  was 
even  pretended.  And  yet  there  were  some  things 
almost  or  quite  as  surprising  as  those  which  took  place 
at  the  time  of  her  pretended  miraculous  cure.  She  rode 
the  same  distance  (two  miles)to  the  astonishment  of  her 
friends,  and  she  asserts  that  it  "  did  not  pain  or  tire" 
her.  She  also  gradually  improved  in  walking  and  in 
other  respects,  much  as  she  did  after  the  wonderful 
performance  in  the  autumn  of  1847. 

Mr.  Noyes  says  in  his  "  testimony"  touching  this 
matter,  that  "  the  fact  that  she  had  come  under  my 
care  several  years  ago,  and  a  cure  had  been  com- 
menced, which  had  been  defeated  for  the  time  by  evil 


206  NOYBSISM  UNVBILBD. 

powers,  seemed  a  pledge  of  a  complete  work  yet  to 
come."  It  seems  then  that  Mr.  Noyes  would  have  it, 
that,  though  the  cure  was  commenced  under  mesmeric 
influences,  yet  it  was  completed  through  supernatural 
agencies.  He  pretends  that  he  went  to  her  in  the  full- 
ness of  faith,  and  with  the  assurance  that  his  dealings 
with  her  would  not  be  hke  those  of  the  former  trial, 
but  was  confident  before  he  commenced  that  the  work 
would  be  "  altogether  more  swift  and  decisive  !" 

But  let  us  glance  at  the  manner  in  which  he  affected 
to  perform  this  wonderful  work.  He  says,  she  was 
"  raised  instantly,  by  the  laying  on  the  hands,  and  by 
the  word  of  command." 

The  Apostles,  disclaiming  all  "power  and  holiness" 
of  their  own  were  accustomed  to  perform  their  works 
in  the  name  of  Christ.  If  this  in  every  instance  was 
not  expressed,  yet  it  was  so  common  that  it  was  under- 
stood to  be  invariably  impHed.  But  it  appears  that 
Mr.  Noyes  does  not  recognize  the  name  of  Christ  in 
his  attempts  at  miracles,  but  pretends  to  perform  them 
by  virtue  of  his  own  "  power  and  holiness !" 

Perhaps  we  ought  to  view  him  in  the  light  of  a 
competitor  of  the  Apostles,  aspiring  at  superior  honors. 

From  the  testimony  already  given,  the  reader  is  left 
to  draw  his  inferences  respecting  the  agency  and  effect 
of  mesmeric  influences  in  the  case  of  Mrs.  Hall. 
This  testimony,  let  it  be  remembered,  comes  wholly 
from  those  who  have  been,  and  mainly  from  those  who 
still  are  staunch  Perfectionists.  But  however  much 
or  little  mesmerism  may  have  had  to  do  with  the 


NOYBSISM  UNVEILED.  207 

matter,  the  case  of  Mrs.  Hall  evidentlj  comes  under 
that  class  of  .diseases  in  which  a  powerful  exercise  of 
mind  has  a  controlling  influence,  and  may  produce  a 
sensible  and  very  visible  effect  upon  the  system; — 
thus  naturally  arraying  itself  under  this  head,  the  case 
of  Mrs.  Hall  may  be  easily  accounted  for  on  this 
wise: — • 

She  placed  impKcit  and  even  unbounded  confidence 
in  Mr.  Noyes,  and  under  the  peculiar  circumstances, 
a  command  coming  from  him  with  the  thunder  of  a 
stentorian  voice,  would  naturally  play  upon  the 
extremely  delicate  net-work  of  the  nervous  system  like 
a  shock  of  electricity.  With  a  mind  intensely  excited 
— with  feelings  wrought  up  to  the  highest  pitch — and 
with  nerves  distended  to  the  utmost,  Mrs.  Hall  would 
of  course  be  susceptible  of  very  powerful  impressions, 
especially  those  caused  by  influences  coming  from 
such  a  source ! 

And  it  is  not  at  all  surprising  that  under  such 
powerful  impressions  she  forgot  her  real  or  imaginary 
infirmities,  and  that  she  ralhed,  arose  from  her  bed, 
and  rode  home  with  Mr.  Noyes ! 

Perfectionists  lost  no  time  in  trumpeting  this  farcical 
affair  through  Putney  village  as  a  wonderful  work,  a 
mighty  miracle,  equal  to  those  in  primitive  times. 
And  Mr.  Noyes  himself  was  seen  riding  through  the 
street  with  Mrs.  Hall,  exhibiting  that  supercilious  air, 
and  that  haughty  bearing  which  ever  betoken  an 
approaching  fall.  The  peculiar  hauteur  of  his  manner 
was  accompanied  with  a  significant  and  consequential 


208  NOYESISM   UNVEILED. 

expression,  whicli  seemed  to  say  in  the  most  emphatic 
language  to  the  villagers,—"  SEE  WHAT.  I  HAVE 
DONE  !" 

The  over-crednlous  were  half  inclined  to  believe  it 
something  marvellous  and  almost  unaccountable  ;  and 
those  who  are  ever  struck  with  awe  at  the  very 
announcement  of  a  miraculous  work,  without  inquiring 
into  the  circumstances,  were  in  suspense.  Seeing  the 
matter  was  not  fully  understood  by  all,  and  that  it 
gave  them  some  influence  witli  a  certain  class.  Perfec- 
tionists lifted  up  their  heads,  as  though  they  expected 
their  claim  to  miracle-working  power  was  about  to  be 
substantiated.  A  spirit  of  vain  boasting  and  self-confi- 
dence characterized  all  their  movements,  clearly  exhib- 
iting a  lack  of  humility,  that  most  valuable  of  all  the 
Christian  graces  ;  ako  showing  a  want  of  that  sense  of 
dependence  so  essential  to  spiritual  prosperity.  The 
whole  affair  can  be  ^dewed  in  no  other  light  than  a 
mere  ruse  for  the  purpose  of  diverting  the  attention  of 
the  people  and  thus  hiding  their  crying  abominations. 
While  professing  the  greatest  spirituality  and  proclaim- 
ing their  wonder-working  power,  it  appears  they  were 
fast  filling  up  the  measure  of  their  iniquities.  This 
is  the  very  tact  of  impostors.  It  has  been  said,  and 
probably  with  much  truth,  that  "  Impostors  cover  licen- 
tiousness with  great  professions  of  spirituality." 

Soon  after  Mrs.  Hall  w^as  "  raised,"  the  Perfection- 
ists were  actively  engaged  as  runners  through  the 
village — calling  upon  their  neighbors — feeling  of  the 
public  pulse — and  sounding  the  people  in  relation  to 


NOYESISM  UNVEILED.  20B 

the  matter,  probalsly  for  the  purpose  of  ascertaining 
what  impressions  they  had  made — what  their  prospects 
were  ahead,  and  how  much  they  might  calculate  upon 
in  their  future  operations.  And  if  any  one  did  not 
readily  acknowledge  the  "  raising"  of  Mrs,  Hall  to  be 
a  manifestation  of  the  power  of  God,  and  would  not 
admit  that  John  H.  Noyes  could  work  miracles,  they 
would  immediately  take  offence,  as  though  the  people 
were  bound  to  believe  in  Noyes,  and  that  they  must 
and  sJiould  believe  at  all  events. 

A  Perfectionist  belonging  to  the  Putney  Community 
called  at  the  residence  of  the  writer,  and  the  matter 
of  the  notable  miracle  was  introduced  ;  and  because  the 
claim  of  Mr.  Noyes  was  not  unhesitatingly  acknowl- 
edged, it  was  taken  in  high  dudgeon,  and  all  the  petu- 
lance was  manifested  which  is  often  exhibited  in  chil- 
dren governed  by  unrestrained  passion.  But  Mr. 
Noyes  gives  to  anger,  which  he  and  his  followers  not 
unfrequently  indulge,  the  very  soft  and  inoffensive 
appellation  of  holy  iwlignation  ! 

We  are  happy  of  the  privilege  of  here  introducing  a 
statement  of  the  case  of  Mrs.  Hall,  prepared  expressly 
for  this  work,  by  her  principal  attending  physician — 
Dr.  David  Allen  of  Putney — who  has  been  famihar 
with  her  case  from  the  very  commencement,  and  who, 
it  will  be  seen,  has  given  it  as  his  deliberate  opinion 
that  her  disease  has  never  been  removed — that  she  has 
vxver  been  in  reality  any  better ,  and  that  the  favorable 
appearances  at  the  time  Mr.  Noyes  j)retended  to  work 
a  miracle,were  produced  by  the  power  of  imagination  or 
14 


2t0  NOYESISM  UNVBILBD. 

mesmeric  influences.  Dr.  Allen  is  an  intelligent  and 
highly  respectable  physician,  and  holds  himself  res- 
ponsible for  the  correctness  of  the  statement  which  he 
has  made.     He  says : — 

"  Mrs.  Harriet  A.  Hall,  in  her  early  sickness,  was 
affected  with  a  derangement  of  the  liver  and  digestive 
organs  generally,  with  a  well  marked  scrofulous  habit 
of  constitution.  In  this  state  of  debiUty,  by  making 
considerable  over-exertion,  she  brought  on  an  organic 
displacement,  which  prostrated  her  upon  her  bed  ;  and 
with  her  early  complaints,  and  a  highly  sensitive 
nervous  development,  was  the  cause  of  much  suflfering, 
and  protracted  confinement. 

"  Subsequently  there  came  on  a  scrofulous  disease  of 
the  kidneys,  which  has  since  produced  ulceration ;  and 
is  now  progressing  in  a  regular  course,  and  ever  has 
been,  apparently,  to  a  fatal  termination. 

"  At  the  time  Mrs.  Hall  first  came  out,  she  had 
been  for  some  time  more  comfortable,  the  system  had 
become  so  far  accommodated  to  the  state  of  her 
disease,  that  she  was  able,  under  a  strong  effort  of  the 
will,  to  exercise  for  a  time  as  she  did.  But  as  might  be 
expected,  her  essential  symptoms  of  disease  returned, 
with  about  the  same  violence  as  before.  Medical  aid 
was  again  called  for. 

"  Another  period  of  more  than  two  years  confine- 
ment and  rest,  with  some  appropriate  remedies,  enabled 
her  again  to  rally  for  a  time,  under  the  well  known 
power  of  a  highly  excited  imagination,  or  mesmeric 
influence.  But  the  reported  cure,  seems  after  all  to 
prove  no  cure.  Her  diseased  kidneys  and  other 
debility,  have  never  been  removed ;  and  she  is  now, 
(Dec.  28,  1848)  and  has  been  for  some  time  past, 
entirely  confined  to  her  bed ;  an  object  of  much  sufifer- 


NOYESISM  UNVEILED.  211 

ing  and  pity.     Apparently,  death  will  ere  long  relieve 
her  of  her  sufferings. 

"  Cases  where  individuals  were  raised  from  long 
confinement,  by  a  strong  mental  efibrt,  are  compara- 
tively frequent.  The  case  of  Miss  Martineau,  the  well 
known  authoress,  as  reported  in  the  Enghsh  Journal  in 
1845,  is  in  point.  She  reports  herself  as  having  been 
raised  from  a  protracted  confinement,  under  somewhat 
similar  circumstances,  by  the  influence  of  Mesmerism, 
though  she  was  destitute  of  the  incipient  disease,  that 
will  doubtless  in  the  event  prove  fatal  to  Mrs.  Hall." 

Another  physician- — shrewd  and  somewhat  facetious — 
who  was  well  acquainted  with  the  case  of  Mrs.  Hall, 
and  who  is  not  easily  deceived  in  relation  to  such 
matters,  remarked  that  Mr.  Noyes  had  done  no  more 
for  her  than  any  common  sinner  in  the  land  could  have 
done  if  she  had  only  had  as  much  faith  in  him  as  she 
had  in  Noyes  ;  and  gave  it  as  his  opinion,  that  the 
agencies  employed  in  raising  her,  were  about  as  sub- 
stantial as  '^  moonskine'^  or  '^  bottled  fog. ^^  Speaking 
in  reference  to  her  immediately  leaving  her  bed  and 
being  able  to  ride,  the  same  gentleman  also  remarked, 
that  highly  charged  with  mesmeric  influences,  she  could 
go  through  ^'fire  and  brimstone  P"* 

Facts  abundantly  show  that  the  power  of  imagina- 
tion, even  in  removing — which  in  this  instance  does  not 
appear  to  have  been  the  case — various  diseases  and 
infirmities,  especially  those  of  a  nervous  kind,  is  very 
great.  From  various  circumstances,  the  effects  pro- 
duced may  be  shown  to  be  the  legitimate  results  of  the 
operations  of  natural  laws,  although  the  principles  of 


212  KOYESISM  UNVEILED. 

those  occult  lavys,  and  their  mysterious  operations  may 
forever  elude  the  keenest  philosophical  research.  The 
old  adage,  "  Imagination  kills  and  imagination  cures," 
contains  much  truth.  Numerous  instances  might  be 
cited,  in  which  different  diseases  have  been  caused  and 
cured,  and  even  death  superinduced  by  working  upon 
the  imagination. 

The  following  is  in  point : — 

"  Many  years  ago,  a  celebrated  physician,  author  of 
an  excellent  work  on  the  effects  of  imagination,  wished 
to  combine  theory  with  practice,  in  order  to  confirm  the 
truth  of  his  propositions.  To  this  end,  he  begged  the 
Minister  of  Justice  to  allow  him  to  try  an  experiment 
on  a  criminal  condemned  to  death.  The  minister  con- 
sented, and  delivered  to  him  an  assassin  of  distin- 
guished rank.  Our  savmit  sought  the  culprit,  and 
thus  addressed  him : — 

'' '  Sir,  several  pei-sons  who  arc  interested  in  your 
family,  have  prevailed  on  the  Judge  not  to  require  of 
you  to  mount  the  scaffold,  and  expose  yourself  to  the 
gaze  of  the  populace.  He  has  therefore  commuted 
your  sentence,  and  sanctions  your  being  bled  to  death 
within  the  precincts  of  your  prison ;  your  dissolution 
will  be  gradual  and  free  from  pain.' 

''  The  criminal  submitted  to  his  fate ;  thought  his 
family  would  be  less. disgraced,  and  considered  it  a 
favor  not  to  be  compelled  to  walk  to  the  place  of 
public  execution.  He  was  conducted  to  the  appointed 
room,  where  every  preparation  was  made  beforehand  ; 
his  eyes  were  bandaged  ;  he  was  strapped  to  a  table  ; 
and,  at  a  preconcerted  signal,  four  of  his  veins  were 
gently  pricked  with  the  point  of  a  pin.  At  each  corner 
of  the  table  was  a  small  fountain  of  water,  so  contrived 
as  to  flow  gently  into  a  basin  placed  to  receive   it. 


NOYBSISM   UNVBILBD.  2lS 

The  patient  believing  it  was  his  blood  he  heard  flowing, 
gradually  became  weak ;  and  the  conversation  of  the 
doctors,  in  an  under  tone,  confirmed  him  in  his  opinion. 

"'What  fine  blood,'  said  one.  'What  a  pity  this 
man  should  be  condemned  to  die  1  he  would  have  hved 
a  long  time.' 

"  '  Hush,'  said  the  other ;  then  approaching  the 
first,  he  said  in  low  voice,  but  so  as  to  be  heard  by  the 
criminal,  '  How  many  pounds  of  blood  is  there  in  the 
human  body  ?' 

" '  Twenty-four.  You  see  already  ten  pounds 
extracted  ;  that  man  is  now  in  a  hopeless  state.' 

"  The  physicians  then  receded  by  degrees,  and  con- 
tinued to  lower  their  voices.  The  stillness  which 
reigned  in  the  apartment,  broken  only  by  the  dripping 
fountains,  the  sound  of  which  was  also  gradually 
lessened,  so  affected  the  brain  in  the  poor  patient,  that 
although  a  man  of  very  strong  constitution,  he  fainted, 
and  died  without  having  lost  a  drop  of  blood." 

Not  only  extreme  fear,  but  excessive  joy  has  pro- 
duced  death,  often  instantaneously. 

Br.  Ramsey  asserts,  on  well  authenticated  testimony, 
that  the  door-keeper  of  Congress  was  so  overjoyed  on 
hearing  of  the  surrender  of  the  British  commander. 
Lord  Comwallis,  at  Yorktown,  during  our  revolutionary 
struggle,  that  he  immediately  expired  under  the  rap- 
ture caused  by  the  joyful  intelligence. 

"  It  is  said  that  Sophocles,  the  tragic  writer,  died  in 
consequence  of  a  decision  being  given  in  his  favor  in  a 
contest  of  honor.  Diagoras  died  at  the  instant  when 
his  three  sons  were  cro-wned  on  the  same  day  as  victors 
at  the  games.  Pope  Leo  X.  died  of  a  fever  produced 
by  the  joyful  news  of  the  capture  of  Milan." 


£li  NOYESISM   UNVEILED. 

We  make  the  following  extracts  from  a  course  of 
lectures  delivered  by  Professor  Hitchcock  of  Amherst 
College,  in  1830,  before  the  students  of  that  institution. 
They  forcibly  illustrate  the  power  of  imagination  in 
curing  as  well  as  producing  diseases  : — 

"  Imagination  and  passion  have  often  proved  of  the 
highest  benefit  in  the  cure  of  diseases.  History  is 
fall  of  examples  of  this  kind.  The  Animal  Magnetism 
of  Mesmer,  and  the  metalHc  tractors  of  Perkins, 
whereby  thousands  were  actually  cured  of  most  obsti- 
nate disorders,  by  means  which  were  proved  in  the 
most  satisfactory  manner  to  be  mere  mummery,  curi- 
ously illustrates  this  subject ;  although  I  have  no  time 
to  enter  into  details.  ...  At  the  siege  of  Breda  in 
1625,  the  scurvy  raged  to  an  alarming  degree  ;  so  that 
the  garrison  was  about  to  surrender  ;  when  the  Prince 
of  Orange  sent  into  the  fortress  a  few  phials  of  sham 
medicine,  which  was  distributed  among  the  sufiferers, 
as  most  costly  and  invaluable.  The  effect  was  almost 
miraculous.  '  Such  as  had  not  moved  their  limbs  for 
a  month  before,  were  seen  walking  in  the  streets, 
sound,  straight,  and  whole.  Many,  who  declared  that 
they  had  been  rendered  worse  by  all  former  remedies, 
recovered  in  a  few  days,  to  their  inexpressible  joy.'  .  . 
The  remarkable  cures  celebrated  as  miracles  in  the 
Romish  Church,  by  touching  bones,  rehcs,  &c.,  all 
belong  to  the  same  class ;  and  are  well  worth  the 
student's  attention,  as  illustrating  the  power  of  imagin- 
ation over  the  body,  and  as  showing  the  facility  with 
which  mankind  may  be  duped  by  the  crafty  and 
designing. 

"  Murat,  king  of  Naples,  received  a  letter  from  his 
wife,  while  absent  in  Bonaparte's  celebrated  Russian 
campaign,  detailing  some  proceedings  of  his  govern- 


NOYESISM  UNVEILED.  ^^ 

ment,  which  he  thought  encroached  upon  the  royal  pre- 
rogative ;  and  so  great  was  the  effect  of  jealousy,  that 
before  he  had  finished  the  letter,  his  whole  skin  became 
completely  jaundiced.  ...  A  boy  was  once  let  down 
the  side  of  a  very  high  precipice  in  a  basket,  to  rob  an 
eagle's  nest :  while  suspended  some  hundreds  of  feet 
above  the  rocky  base,  he  was  attacked  by  the  eagle  ; 
and  on  cutting  at  the  bird  with  the  sword  which  he 
carried  with  him,  he  struck  the  rope  by  which  he  was 
suspended,  and  cut  it  nearly  off;  on  drawing  him  up, 
his  hair  was  found  changed  to  white.  ...  A  widow 
in  Paris,  on  learning  that  her  daughter  with  her  two 
children  had  thrown  herself  from  an  upper  story  of  the 
house  and  was  dashed  in  pieces,  became  in  one  night 
as  black  as  a  negro.  ...  A  Jew  in  France  came  in 
the  dark,  over  a  dangerous  passage  on  a  plank  that  lay 
over  a  brook,  without  harm  ;  the  next  day,  on  viewing 
the  perilous  situation  he  had  been  in,  he  fell  down 
dead.  .  .  .  Philip  V.  of  Spain  died  suddenly  on  learn- 
ing the  disastrous  defeat  of  his  army ;  and  on  dissection 
it  was  fomid  that  his  heart  was  literally  burst  asunder ; 
showing  that  the  common  phrase,  a  broken  heart,  is 
sometimes  pathologically  correct.  .  .  .  The  case  of  a 
man  cured  of  the  gout  by  terror  and  alarm,  as  men- 
tioned by  physicians,  is  striking.  Another  person, 
disguised  as  a  spectre,  entered  his  chamber  while  he 
was  in  a  paroxysm  of  the  disease,  seized  him  and 
dragged  him  down  stairs  with  the  gouty  feet  trailing 
behind  him.  Then  the  ghost  disappeared ;  when  the 
sick  man  sprang  upon  his  feet  with  the  utmost  ease, 
ran  up  stairs,  and  never  afterwards  felt  another  symp- 
tom of  gout.'* 

To  the  foregoing  we  will  add  an  instance  or  two  of 
more  recent  date,  and  which  occurred  in  this  vicinity. 
A  person  in  a  neighboring  town,   having  an  organic 


&^'  NOYESISM  UNVEILEIX. 

affection,  applied  to  a  physician  in  whom  he  had 
unbounded  confidence.  The  physician,  wishing  to  try 
an  experiment,  simply  administered  bread  pills ;  the 
patient  in  the  mean  time  believing  he  was  taking  some- 
very  efficacious  medicine.  The  experiment  proved 
successful.  The  patient  was  healed  not  by  the  efficacy 
of  the  pills,  but  by  the  power'  of  imagination. 

Again— an  amusing  incident  occurred  several  years 
since  in  an  adjouiing  town.  A  person  at  some  distance 
pubHcly  announced  that  he  could  heal  diseases  if  per- 
sons afflicted  would  send  their  names  to  liim  legibly 
written  upon  a  slip  of  paper.  A  woman  afflicted  with 
real  or  imaginary  maladies,  wrote  her  name  according 
to  order,  and  safely  lodged  it  in  the  hands  of  a  person 
who  designated  a  certain  day  on  which  he  intended  to 
start  for  the  place  where  the  wonder-worker  resided, 
and  promised  to  deliver  the  billet  containing  the  name. 
A  few  days  after  the  time  specified  for  the  person  to 
start,  a  neighbor  called  upon  the  sick  woman,  and  to 
her  surprise  found  her  at  the  tub,  laboring  with  might 
and  main.  "  Well,"  said  the  woman,  "  my  name  has 
got  there  and  I  am  cured."  But  it  so  happened  that 
the  person  who  was  to  carry  the  name  to  the  wonder- 
ful physician,  for  some  cause,  had  not  left  his  home. 

When  informed  of  this  fact,  the  poor  woman  was  very 
much  chop-fallen,  and  immediately  felt  the  symptoms 
of  indisposition — soon  took  to  her  bed — and  her  old 
complaints  returning  hke  a  spring-tide,  rushed  in  upon 
her  apace,  and  she  was  soon  as  bad  or  worse  than  ever. 

Had  this  woman  remained  ignorant  of  that  one  fact, 


NOYBSISM  UNVBILBD.  21 1 

probably  she  would  not  have  relapsed.  The  power  that 
raised  her,  was  no  doubt  as  mysterious  and  wonderful 
as  that  which  raised  Mrs.  Hall  from  her  bed  and  sent 
her  home  with  Mr.  Noyes  !  There  was  as  great  a  mirar 
cle  in  one  case  as  the  other;  with  this  difference, 
however  ;  the  case  of  the  woman  laboring  under  a  sheer 
mistake  appears  to  be  the  more  striking  of  the  two ; 
it  exceeds  that  of  Mrs.  Hall.  This  woman  was  enabled 
to  labor  immediately  with  her  accustomed  strength, 
but  Mrs.  Hall,  though  able  to  walk,  had  her  infirmities 
still  lingering  about  her,  and  was  able  to  perform  but 
very  little  labor  ;  and  as  soon  as  she  left  the  residence 
of  Mr.  Noyes  and  returned  home,  she  relapsed  into 
her  former  condition. 

We  have  cited  the  foregoing  eases  to  show  the 
power  of  imagination  manifested  in  various  ways. 
Cases  of  a  similar  character  are  of  common  occurrence ; 
and  they  so  far  exceed  the  case  of  Mrs.  Hall  that  it 
is  thrown  far  back  into  the  shade  ;  and  yet  Mr.  Noyes 
has  the  effrontery  to  declare  it  as  ''  unimpeachable  as 
any  of  the  miracles  of  the  primitive  church."  The 
surprising  effects  in  the  cases  cited  were  produced  by 
natural  laws  in  their  mysterious  and  inscrutable  opera- 
tions, and  it  would  be  utterly  absurd  to  attribute  such 
results  to  any  supernatural  agency. 

In  conclusion,  perhaps  we  ought  to  say,  for  the 
information  of  the  reader,  that  the  whole  affair  res- 
pecting Mrs.  Hall,  was  crowned  with  the  crying  abom- 
inations of  Noyesism.  Mr.  Hall,  the  husband  of  Mrs. 
Hall,  becoming  eonvinced  of  the  wickedness  of  Noyes, 


21$  NOYESISM   UNVEILED. 

brought  an  action  against  him  for  adultery ;  but  the 
matter  was  hushed  up  and  kept  as  still  as  possible. 
Although  the  case  was  not  legally  investigated,  yet 
not  a  shadow  of  doubt  remains  as  to  the  guilt  of  Mr. 
Noyes.  His  criminality  in  the  case  is  a  "  fixed  facf^ — 
a  fact  known  and  read  of  all  the  people  of  Putney — a 
fact  substantiated  by  the  statement  of  Mrs.  Hall  herself. 
So  much  for  the  pretended  miracle  of  Noyes,  which  he 
has  exultingly  proclauned  to  the  world,  and  impiously 
asserted  to  be  as  "  unimpeachable  as  any  of  the  mira- 
cles of  the  primitive  church ;"  while  the  facts  in  the 
case  fix  upon  his  brow  in  legible  and  indelible  char- 
acters one  of  the  most  heinous  crime  which  man  is 
capable  of  committing ! 


NOYBSISM  UNVEILED.  $%$ 


CHAPTER  XXIII. 

Pretended  Miracles  of  Noyes  continued. 

CASE  OP  MISS  MARY  A.  KNIGHT. 

Having  been  encouraged  and  emboldened  in  a  meas- 
ure by  the  partial  success  which,  for  a  time,  appeared 
to  attend  their  efforts  in  the  case  of  Mrs.  Hall,  the  mas- 
ter-spirits in  the  Putney  Community  were  evidently 
waiting  with  some  degree  of  anxiety  for  another  oppor- 
tunity to  present  itself  for  them  to  display  their  mirac- 
ulous (?)  power!  Expecting,  no  doubt,  that  if  they 
should  be  so  successful  as  to  humbug  the  people  to  any 
considerable  extent,  the  bright  day  of  prosperity  would 
be  fairly  ushered  in ;  and  in  that  case  they  were 
undoubtedly  determined  to  ride  rough-shod  over  all 
who  did  not  rally  around  their  standard. 

The  next  case  that  came  in  their  way,  and  to  which 
their  special  attention  was  directed,  was  that  of  Miss 
Mary  A.  Knight,  a  respectable  young  lady  residing  in 
Putney  village,  who  was  not  a  Perfectionist.  Miss 
Knight  for  several  months  had  been  in  a  decline,  and 
at  length  was  pronounced  by  her  physician  to  be  in  a 
confirmed  consumption,  and  beyond  the  reach  of  medi- 
cal aid. 

While  in  a  feeble  state  and  gradually  sinking,  though 
able  to  ride  out  occasionally,  John  R.  Miller,  a  zealous 
Perfectionist  and  an  associate  of  Noyes,  frequently 
called  on  Miss  Knight  with  a  carriage,  and  gave  her  aii 


220  NOYESISM  UNVEILED. 

opportunity  to  ride  ;  and  took  occasion  at  such  times  to 
exhort  her  to  give  up  the  use  of  medicine  entirely,  and 
seek  to  be  healed  by  faith  alone. 

Mr.  Noyes,  in  giving  an  account  of  the  case  of  Miss 
Knight,  published  m  the  Spiritual  Magazine  of  Oct.  15, 
1847,  after  speaking  of  calling  on  her  at  the  request  of 
her  father,  says :- — "  Soon  after,  John  R.  Miller  took 
her  to  ride  a  considerable  distance,  and,  contrary  to  the 
forebodings  of  her  friends,  his  faith  sustained  her,  and 
she  returned  much  invigorated."  His  faith  sustained 
her  I    Wonderful  indeed ! 

The  next  day  after  Mr.  Miller's  faith  so  signally 
sustained  (I)  her,  Mr.  Noyes  says  that  he  called  on 
her,  and  offered  to  take  her  to  the  "  hospital,"  as  Per- 
fectionists were  pleased  to  term  it— a  dwelling  some- 
what retired,  and  which  they  evidently  wished  to  have 
regarded  as  a  kind  of  modem  Bethesda. 

Miss  Knight  being  in  a  state  of  great  debility,  but 
still  having  a  strong  desire  to  be  restored  to  health  if 
possible — -all  hope  of  being  healed  by  medical  aid  hav- 
ing fled,  and  knowing  that  she  must  die  if  she  remained 
where  she  then  was,  and  that  she  could  but  die  if  she 
went,  and  the  nature  of  Mr.  Noyes's  conversation  prob- 
ably inspiring  a  faint  glimmering  of  hope — she  finally 
concluded  to  go,  and  her  friends  generally  consented, 
She  accordingly  was  conveyed  to  the  ''hospital"  on  the 
16th  of  Aug.,  1847 ;  and  a  somewhat  singular  scene 
ensued. 

After  having  removed  Miss  Knight  to  the  "  hospital," 
the  first  business  would  naturally  be  to  instil  into  her 


NOTESISM   UNVEILED.  221 

mind  the  most  important  principles  of  their  creed,  and 
make  her  a  proselyte  to  their  faith,  for  they  are  not 
backward  in  relation  to  such  matters ;  and  by  present- 
ing plausible  arguments  and  holding  out  to  Miss  Knight 
the  hope  that  she  might  be  healed  if  she  would  embrace 
their  views  and  follow  their  directions,  they  in  some 
measure  succeeded.  Perhaps  we  ought  hereto  state 
that  Miss  Knight  was  not  a  professing  Christian,  and 
had  never  become  established  in  any  particular  reli- 
gious belief.  Being  in  a  state  of  great  debility,  and 
consequently  incapable  of  much  reflection  and  investi- 
gation, she  was  not  able  to  detect — as  she  might  have 
done  under  different  circumstances — the  fallacy  of  their 
reasoning  and  the  untenableness  of  their  positions  ;  and 
it  is  not  at  all  surprising  that  she  fell  in  with  their 
views  to  some  extent. 

Having  prepared  the  way  for  future  operations  by 
securing  the  degree  of  faith,  in  Miss  Knight,  which  was 
deemed  pre-requisite  to  a  procedure,  the  next  move  by 
the  Perfectionists  was  to  pass  through  a  ridiculous  and 
disgusting  performance,  thereby  exhibiting  a  most  impi- 
ous scene  of  solemn  mockery,  in  which  Mrs.  Cragin, 
who  acted  so  conspicuous  a  part  in  the  raising  of  Mrs. 
Hall,  pretended  to  die,  or  descend  into  the  grave  of 
unbelief  for  Miss  Knight,  and  then  to  rise  to  newness 
of  life  and  dehver  her  from  the  power  of  death  !  And 
it  was  then  proclaimed  around  that  she  was  cured^  and 
would  soon  recover  from  the  effects  of  the  disease, 
which  still  remained ;  and  Miss  Knight  was  so  far 
deceived  herself  that  she  believed  and  asserted  that  she 


222  NOYESISM  UNVEILED. 

was  well,  that  is,  that  the  disease  was  removed,  and 
that  she  should  soon  have  her  usual  strength.  The 
Pefectionists  unitedly  and  positively  asserted  that  she 
would  be  restored  to  soundness,  and  they  repeated  it 
again  and  again,  and  held  on  with  a  strange  pertinacity 
till  the  very  last.  Their  confident  and  repeated  asser- 
tions probably  had  much  to  do  in  inducing  Miss  Knight 
to  join  in  the  belief  that  she  should  recover,  and  her 
mind,  through  their  influence,  was  wrought  up  to  the 
highest  pitch,  and  being  kept  in  a  state  of  constant 
excitement,  for  a  number  of  days  she  maintained  the 
belief  that  she  should  soon  have  perfect  health. 

But  while  the  pleasing  phantom  was  playing  before 
the  imagination,  and  holding  out  the  beautiful  bow  of 
hope,  the  disease,  deeply  seated  and  far  advanced, 

"  Like  a  staunch  murderer,  steady  to  his  purpose," 

was  rapidly  hastening  to  a  fatal  termination.  Miss 
Knight  at  length  became  convinced  that  she  could  not 
recover.  She  sank  rapidly,  and  in  less  than  three 
weeks  from  the  time  she  left  her  father's  house,  she 
died.  And  so  strangely  were  the  Perfectionists  infatu- 
ated that  they  believed,  or  at  least  professed  to  beheve, 
that  she  would  be  raised  1  And  we  are  credibly 
informed — and  this  information  is  derived  from  a  per- 
son who  was  present  at  the  time — that  after  Miss 
Knight  died,  a  company  of  Perfectionists  assembled  in 
the  room  in  which  the  corpse  was  placed,  and  there 
remained  for  some  length  of  time,  expecting  to  see  her 
restored  to  life.  But  she  slept  the  sleep  of  death,  and 
notwithstanding  all  their  professions  of  faith  and  preten- 


NOYESISM  UNVEILBD.  223 

sions  to  miraculous  gifts,  they  possessed  no  power  to 
break  the  dreamless  slumber  1 

Thus  it  appears  that  they  were  carried  away  with  the 
same  strange  infatuation  into  which  individuals  in  all 
ages  have  fallen,  viz.,  that  they  could  raise  the  dead ! 

Now  it  is  a  well  known  fact  that  Mr.  N.  discards  the 
doctrine  of  the  resurrection.  He  asserts  that  he  has 
"  long  argued  against  the  notion  of  the  resurrection  of 
that  body  which  dies.^'  Here  then  we  find  Mr.  Noyes 
stoutly  contending  against  the  resurrection  of  the  body 
which  "  dies  ;"  and  at  the  same  time  Perfectionists  are 
trying  to  raise  such  a  body  !  Trying  to  do  what  Mr. 
N.  says  is  never  to  be  done  !  This  is  a  fair  specimen 
of  Perfectionist  consistency  ! 

All  their  efforts  in  the  case  of  Miss  Knight  were 
unavailing.  Here  was  a  deeply  seated  disease  which 
the  power  of  imagination  could  not  overcome — no 
deception  could  be  practiced.  Here  was  a  fair  trial, 
and  it  proved  a  complete  failure. 

Mr.  Noyes  appears  to  have  been  at  his  wits'  ends  to 
escape  the  odium  which  this  case  has  brought  upon  him 
and  his  followers.  He  has  undertaken  to  make  the 
very  best  he  could  of  an  extremely  bad  case  ;  but  the 
attempt  to  clear  himself  and  his  followers  is  a  very 
lame  and  ineffectual  one.  In  reference  to  this  matter 
he  says : —  ^ 

"  In  the  first  place,  supposing  this  case  to  have  been 
as  complete  a  failure  as  it  has  been  represented  by  our 
enemies,  it  was  no  worse  failure  than  the  disciples  met 
with,  when  they  undertook  to  cast  out  the  arch-devil 


224  NOYESISM  UNVEILBD. 

f 

described  in  Mark  9  :  17.  .  .  .  The  worst  that  can  be 
said  of  ns  in  relation  to  Mary  Knight's  case,  is  what 
Christ  said  to  his  disciples,  viz.,  that  we  failed  '  because 
of  our  unbehef,'  that  we  needed  more  '  prayer  and  fas1> 
ing '  in  order  to  encounter  successfully  so  tremendous  a 
devil  as  consumption  in  its  last  stages." 

''Arch  deviV\' — ''So  tremendous  a  devil  as  covv 
sumption  in  its  last  stages  "  f  The  reader  will  readily 
perceive  the  state  of  mind  indicated  by  these  expres- 
sions ;  such  a  state  borders  upon  the  blasphemous,  and 
is  naturally  induced  by  the  unhallowed  and  grossly 
debasing  influences  of  Perfectionism.  But  let  us  look 
at  the  implied  admission  of  Mr.  Noyes  found  in  the 
foregoing  language.  Ke  seems  to  admit  that  they  had 
a  measure  of  unbelief.  He  says  the  worst  that  can  be 
said  of  them  is  that  they  failed  through  unbelief — and 
he  does  not  deny  but  it  might  be  said  in  truth.  In  the 
Spiritual  Magazine  of  Oct.  1,  1847,  Mr.  Noyes  holds 
the  following  language, — "  We  say  that  unbelief  is  not 
a  mere  lack  of  faith,  but  a  positive  baptism  of  the 
devil."  Now  if  Perfectionists  harbor  any  unbelief 
whatever,  a,ccording  to  the  doctrine  of  Mr.  Noyes,  they 
have  a  "  positive  baptism  of  the  devil."  And  if  a 
person  has  a  "  positive  baptism  of  the  devil"  he  must  of 
course  be  in  a  measure  sinful ;  and  the  doctrine  of  Mr. 
Noyes  is,  that  if  a  person  is  sinful  at  all  he  is  "  eii- 
tirely^^  so.  Thus  it  appears  that  Mr.  N.  with  one 
stroke  of  the  pen  put  up  a  gallows  on  which  to  hang 
the  whole  unbelieving  world,  but  by  a  slip  of  the  same 
pen  he  drops  himself  ■  and  his  company  from  the  scaf- 
fold, and  leaves  the  whole  body  of  believers  suspended 


NOYESISM  UNVEILED.  22B 

'apon  the  gallows  of  his  own  erecting.  But  let  us  look 
at  the  doings  of  Mr.  Noyes,  and  what  transpired  after 
Miss  Knight  was  removed  to  the  "  hospital."  We  will 
give  his  own  language  in  relation  to  the  matter  :■ — 

''  She  was  conveyed  to  the  '  hospital,'  and  Mrs. 
Achsah  Campbell,  the  widow  of  a  physician  and  a  very 
successful  nurse,  undertook  the  care  of  her,  I  visited 
her  frequently  during  the  ensuing  ten  days.  My  spirit 
was  brought  into  several  severe  contests  with  her 
disease,  the  details  of  which  need  not  be  given.  The 
presence  of  the  power  of  God  was  very  manifest  in  the 
results.  Mrs.  Campbell  is  not  inclined  to  fanatical  faith^ 
and  is  certainly  sagacious  in  regard  to  the  symptoms 
of  the  sick.  She  says  she  saw  in  that  time  a  miracle 
which  no  subsequent  reverse  can  efface  from  her  mind.* 
She  testifies  that  every  symptom^  of  Mary's  disease 
was  subdued  ;  that  her  fever  left  her ;  that  her  cough 
became  like  that  of  a  person  recovering  from  a  cold ; 
that  the  pain  in  her  limbs  ceased ;  and  that  there  was 
«very  indication  of  new  life. — The  day  before  I  left, 
after  witnessing  a  distressing  drawback,  caused,  as 
Mary  herself  declared,  by  a  protracted  visit  from  an 
unbelieving  friend,!  I  said  to  Mr.  Knight — '  The  suc- 
cess of  our  treatment  depends  entirely  on  faith  in  the 

*  By  turning  to  the  44th  page  of  the  present  work  the  reader  will 
see  that  Mrs.  Achsah  Campbell,  who  '•  saw''  this  "  Jiiirade'''  v/as  im- 
plicated in  the  indictment  against  Mr.  Noyes  !  And  she  is  the  only 
witness  which  Mr.  N.  brings  forward  to  prove  that  he  wrought  a 
miracle  in  the  case  of  Miss  Knight !  Thus  he  presents  a  person 
involved  with  himself  in  guilt,  to  prove  his  mimculous  power! 

t  ThQ  unbelieving  friend  alluded  to,  was  a  respectable  young  gentle- 
man to  whom  Miss  Knight  was  engaged  to  be  married.  The  Noyes - 
ites  were  very  unwilling  to  have  him  visit  her,  and  he  was  given  to 
understand  that  if  she  recovered  he  would  have  to  become  a 
Perfectionist  or  never  enjoy  her  society. 

15 


226  NOYESISM   UNVEILED. 

patient  and  those  around ;  and  if  we  are  not  at  liberty 
to  shut  off  from  her  unbeheving  friends,  you  may  as 
well  take  her  home  and  let  her  die,  for  die  she  will.' 
He  gave  us  the  liberty  we  demanded,  and  the  next  day, 
at  the  time  of  my  departure,  she  was  riding  abroad, 
meeting  her  friends  with  a  joyful  smile,  and  declaring 
herself  well.     So  much  for  my  agency,  in  this  case." 

The  foregoing  language,  and  especially  the  conclud- 
ing sentence,  savors  strongly  of  the  consequential. 
Were  we  to  admit  all  that  he  says,  we  must  acknowledge 
that  there  was  a  signal  display  of  Di\'ine  power — that 
a  miracle  even  was  wrought — and  that  Miss  Knight 
was  nearly  or  quite  healed.     But  Mr.  Noyes  continues : 

"  On  the  eve  of  my  departure,  I  earnestly  fore- 
warned Mary,  and  all  who  were  to  have  the  charge  of 
her,  that  if  unbelievmg  spirits  could  not  be  kept  away 
from  her,  and  if  her  testimony  of  faith  could  not  be 
kept  firm,  she  would  certainly  die.  I  wrote,  while  on 
my  way  to  ISTew  York,  that  her  case  was  like  a  tie  on  a 
vote  in  Congress,  where  the  Speaker  has  the  casting 
vote  ;  meaning  that  she  would  live  or  die  according  to 
her  own  faith  and  testimony.'' 

"  I  shall  leave  it  for  othera  to  relate  the  particulars 
of  what  took  place  after  I  left.  It  is  sufficient  to  say 
in  general,  that  Mary  soon  began  to  decline  from  her 
confidence  and  her  strength  ;  that  her  worldly  friends 
closed  around  her,  that  the  believers  who  had  charge  of 
her  fought  the  king  of  terrors  heroically,  desperately, 
and  even  fanatically ;  that  she  failed  in  spite  of  them, 
and  on  the  eighth  day  from  my  departure,  died.'^ 

It  will  be  perceived  that  the  ^'  departure*^  of  Mr. 
Noyes  from  Putney  just  previous  to  the  death  of  Miss 
Knight,  is  spoken  of  in  such  a  manner  as  to  indicate 


NOYBSISM  UNVEILED.  227 

i 

that  it  was  considered  an  important  event,  fraught  with 
deep  interest,  and  that  it  was  verj  unfortunate  for  Miss 
Knight  that  he  was  under  the  necessity  of  leaving  at 
that  juncture  ;  and  in  fine,  the  tenor  of  the  language 
used  hy  Mr.  Nojes  seems  to  saj  —  ^' If  I  had  he6n 
there  she  had  not  died  P^ 

But  if  she  was  well,  as  we  are  left  to  infer,  at  the 
"  departure"  of  Mr.  Noyes,  how  are  we  to  account  for 
her  sudden  relapse,  her  rapid  declension,  and  her  almost 
immediate  death  ?  Why,  Mr.  Nojes  would  lay  it  all 
to  the  "  unbelieving  spirits "  about  her.  These  *' un- 
believing spirits"  troubled  them  very  much,  and  it 
seems  they  fought  them  very  manfully,  but  were  not 
able  to  conquer  them  !  A  great  ado  was  made  about 
these  troublesome,  "unbelieving  spirits  ;''  and  from  the 
language  of  Mr.  N.  we  should  infer  that  the  Per- 
fectionists had  a  "  pitched  battle"  with  them — that  it 
was  a  mortal  affray !  But  it  appears  to  have  been  a 
mere  mock  battle — a  kind  of  "  sham  fight,"  if  the  ex- 
pression is  allowable.  The  whole  affair,  so  far  as  the 
Perfectionists  were  concerned,  appears  to  have  been  a 
ridiculous,  contemptible  farce,  utterly  unworthy  of 
people  of  sane  minds. 

At  one  time  when  Miss  Knight  had  a  sinking  turn, 
an  apparently  half  crazy  Perfectionist  professed  to  have 
a  great  struggle  with  "  unbelieving  spirits,"  and  con- 
fidently asserted  that  if  it  had  not  been  for  Ms  faith  she 
would  have  died !  Mis  faith  kept  her  alive  !  When 
she  rode  out,  if  her  friends  came  to  the  carriage  to 
speak  with  her,  the   Perfectionists  appeared   v. ry  im- 


228  NOYESISM  UNVEILED. 

willing  to  have  them  remain  any  length  of  time,  and 
■would  apparently  hurry  away  lest  the  influence  of  "un- 
believing spirits"  should  have  a  bad  effect  upon  her  1 

Mr.  Noyes  appears  to  have  been  so  troubled  with 
"unbelieving  sprits"  that  he  asked  and  obtained  liberty 
of  Mr.  Knight,  the  father  of  Miss  Knight,  "  to  shut  off 
from  her  unbelieving  friends  ;"  not  even  excepting  the 
young  gentleman  to  whom  she  was  engaged  to  be  mar- 
ried. 

When  the  friends  of  Miss  Knight  consented  to  have 
her  removed  to  the  "  hospital,"  it  was  with  the  under- 
standing that  they  should  have  the  privilege  of  visiting 
her  agreeably  to  their  own  wishes.  This  the  Per- 
fectionists had  promised,  and  we  are  assured  that  with- 
out this  condition  her  friends  would  not  have  consented 
to  her  removal.  But  very  soon  after  she  went,  Mr. 
.Noyes  "  demanded"  the  liberty  to  "  shut  off  unbeliev- 
"  ing  friends,"  assigning  as  a  reason  for  the  requirement 
that  the  success  of  their  treatment  was  involved  in  the 
matter.  But  if  this  was  really  the  case,  did  not  Mr. 
N.  know  it  as  well  before  as  after  she  went  ?  Why 
then  did  he  not,  like  an  honest  man,  inform  her  friends 
in  the  beginning  ? 

The  "unbeheving  friends"  spoken  of  were  those 
who  did  not  acknowledge  the  supremacy  of  Noyes  and 
adhere  to  his  doctrines.  Such  an  act  was  requisite 
in  order  to  constitute  a  behever  in  the  view  of  Mr.  N. 
A  person  might  be  a  humble  Christian,  a  devout  dis- 
ciple of  Christ,  but  if  he  did  not  believe  in  this  new 
ism,  in  the  estimation  of  Mr.  N.,  he  would  be  no 


NO YESISM  UNVEILED.  229 

Christian  at  all !  Those  who  were  favorably  disposed 
toward  the  Perfectionists,  and  gave  indications  of  being 
inchned  towards  the  new  faith,  were  considered  as 
"  hopeful"  cases,  and  received  a  little  more  favor  at 
the  hand  of  the  "  acknowledged  head."  * 

Perfectionists  made  efforts  to  induce  some  of  the 
relatives  of  Miss  Knight  to  embrace  their  views,  and 
the  circumstances  go  to  show  that  in  taking  her  under 
their  care  they  hoped  thereby  to  gain  readier  access  to 
her  friends  ;  and  by  an  open  communication  through 
this  medium  with  the  different  members  of  the  family 
they  could  exert  an  influence  which  they  could  not 
otherwise  do,  and  would  have  a  greater  prospect  of 
making  proselytes,  and  drawing  some  into  this  vortex  of 
ruin. 

They  assigned  as  a  reason  for  asking  the  privilege  of 
shutting  off  ,,mibelieving  friends,"  that  the  success  of 
their  treatment  depended  entirely  on  faith  in  the  patient 
and  those  around  ;  but  probably  one  great  object  was  to 
secure  the  privilege  of  managing  matters  according  to 
their  own  liking,  and  that  others  might  not  be  ac- 
quainted with  all  that  might  transpire.  After  having 
shut  off  her  "  unbelieving  friends,"  Mr.  N.  then  threw 
the  whole  upon  her  own  faith  ;  and  says  after  he  left 
her  "  that  she  would  Hve  or  die  according  to  her  own 
faith  and  testimony." 

But  notwithstanding  Miss  Knight  died,  Mr.  N.  will 
have  it  that  a  miracle  was  wrought  in  the  case !  We 
have  his  naked  assertion  —  which  is  not  very  valuable 
at  this  late  day— that  the  "presence  and  power  of  God 


230  NOYBSISM  UNVEILED. 

was  Tery  manifest."  And  this  assertion  seems  to 
be  backed  up  by  a  statement  from  Mrs.  Campbell. 
She  thinks  she  saw  a  miracle,  but  the  sole  reason  as- 
signed for  so  thinking  seems  to  be  the  favorable  aspect 
which  the  symptoms  at  one  time  appeared  to  assume  ! 
It  is  a  well  known  fact  that  consumption  is  a  very 
flattering  disease — that  those  who  are  gradually  sinking 
under  its  irresistible  power,  are  often  deceived  and 
entertain  hopes  of  recovery  to  the  very  last.  And  not 
only  is  the  patient  deceived,  but  friends  also  not  un- 
frequently  partake  of  the  same  deception,  unless  they 
have  had  considerable  experience  and  have  some  degree 
of  discernment.  To  those  who  are  familiar  with  the 
workings  of  the  disease  in  its  different  stages,  favorable 
appearances  occasionally  manifested  are  not  at  all 
unexpected,  neither  are  they  regarded  as  omens  of 
lasting  good  ;  but  to  anxious  friends  and  relatives  who 
are  watching  with  intense  interest,  and  marking  even 
the  slightest  change  in  the  disease,  favorable  ap- 
pearances— ofton  mistaken  for  indications  of  returning 
health — serve  to  revive  desponding  hopes ;  but  such 
hopes  are  revived  for  a  little  season,  only  to  be  sud- 
denly dashed  by  a  sad  revei-se,  followed  by  a  more 
rapid  advance  of  the  disease  which  is  hastening  to  a 
fatal  termination.  The  favorable  symptoms  in  the  case 
of  Miss  Knight,  as  the  result  clearly  showed,  were  no 
more  than  what  frequently  occurs  in  cases  of  like 
character.  So  much  for  the  miraculous  work  in  this 
case. 
After  trying  to  make  it  appear  that  he  had  performed 


NOYESISM  UNVEILED.  231 

a  wonderful  work,  and  asserting  that  on  the  eve  of  his 
'^departure,"  Miss  Knight  was  riding  abroad  and 
declaring  herself  well,  Mr.  Noyes  says  with  much  ap- 
parent self-complacency,  and  in  a  spirit  of  vain  boast- 
ing— "  So  much  for  my  agency  in  this  case.^^ 

But  he  says  that  soon  after  his  "  departure"  Miss 
Knight  "  began  to  decline  from  her  confidence  and  her 
strength."*  And  might  not  this  have  been  reasonably 
expected  ?  —  and  indeed  how  could  it  have  been  other- 
wise ?  Her  mind  had  been  wrought  up  to  a  very  high 
pitch,  and  for  a  number  of  days  kept  in  a  state  of  ex- 
treme excitement,  which  served  to  keep  her  spirits  and 
courage  up,  and  caused  her  to  exert  to  the  uttermost 
what  httle  remaining  strength  she  had  ;  but  the  disease 
in  the  mean  time  had  been  steadily  advancing,  and  was 
rapidly  hastening  to  a  fatal  termination.  Nature  being 
exhausted,  her  strength  gone,  and  the  lamp  of  life 
just  flickering  in  its  socket,  all  hope  of  recovery  would 
naturally  and  necessarily  expire  ;  and  she  could  no 
more  reasonably  and  consistently  beheve  that  she  should 
be  restored  to  health,  than  a  person  could  expect  to  rise 
independently  of  the  laws  of  gravitation,  soar  above, 
and  range  the  aerial  regions  without  the  aid  of  pinions. 
But  says  Mr.  Noyes;  — "  Her  worldly  friends  closed 
around  her,  and  the  believers  who  had  charge  of  her 

*  A  Perfectionist  at  on<;  time  remarked  that  Miss  Knight^s  faith  was 
so  strong  that  she  should  recover,  tliat  she — the  Pgrfectionist — believed 
she  would.  Thus  Miss  Knight's  faith  was  reprcsented  as  being  very 
fArong,  and  seems  to  have  been  the  basis  of  the  faith  of  the  Per- 
fectionist ;  yet  the  language  of  Mr.  N.  implies  that  she  died  in  con 
sequence  of  a  lack  of  faith! 


:2o2  NOTESISM  UNVEILE3>. 

fought  the  king  of  terrors  heroically,  desperately y. 
and  even  fanatically."  What !  Perfectionists  fanatics  ! 
This  is  a  strange  concession  for  Mr.  Noyes  to  make  in 
behalf  of  the  "  body  of  believers."  What !  Divinely 
inspired — ''  a  miraculous  instinct  every  day  shaping 
their  ends" — and  yet  fighting  "  fanatically  !"  Surely 
so  far  as  they  fought  fanatically^  so  far  they  were 
fanatics !  If  they  were  fanatical  in  relation  to  this 
matter  they  may  b€  in  relation  to  all  others.  If  fanati- 
cal in  a  measure,  there  certainly  is  danger  of  their  be- 
coming wholly  so.  If  the  door  is  thrown  open,  where 
shall  the  bounds  be  set  ? 

Notwithstanding  all  the  efforts  made  and  all  the  faith 
exercised,  this  case  proved  a  complete  failure.  Mr. 
Noyes  met  with  a  stern  repulse  which  ended  in  a  signal 
defeat.  Having  been  completely  vanquished,  but  still 
determined  not  to  yield  the  point,  Mr.  N.  turns  every 
way  to  find  some  rehef  ;  and  finally  flees  for  '^aid  and 
comfort"  to  the  Battle  of  Bunker  Hill!  But  what — ^ 
the  half-astonished  reader  is  ready  to  inquire — 'has  the 
Battle  of  Bunker  Hill  to  do  with  the  case  under  con- 
sideration ?     Let  us  see  ;  says  Mr,  Noyes  : — 

"  In  the  Battle  of  Bunker  Hill,  the  Americans  were 
defeated.  They  repulsed  three  terrible  charges  of  the 
British  troops,  and  after  their  ammunition  was  ex- 
hausted, they  clubbed  their  muskets,  and  stood  their 
ground  against  the  storming  column.  But  finally  they 
were  compelled  l^retreat.  Yet  this  battle  is  glorified 
by  Americans  as  a  substantial  victoiy.  The  day  will 
come  when  this  first  battle  of  faith  with  the  terrible 
despotism  of  consumption,  though  it  ended  in  a  retreat,. 


NOYESISM   UNVEILED.  23^ 

will  be  glorified  as  the  Bunker  Hill  of  the  Faith-Revo- 
lution." 

This  caps  the  climax  !  Mr.  Noyes  will  have  to  look 
far  down  the  vista  of  future  ages  to  behold  the  day 
which  he  anticipates,  and  wait  for  several  successive 
centuries  before  he  realizes  the  "  consummation  so 
devoutly  to  be  wished  I"  Before  leaving  the  subject 
let  us  look  at  the  motives  which  probably  induced  Mr. 
N.  to  take  Miss  Knight  to  the  "  hospital."  By  a 
plausible  statement  he  designed  to  palm  the  matter  off 
as  an  act  of  pure  benevolence.  But  when  all  the  cir- 
cumstances are  taken  into  the  account,  it  evidently 
appears,  that  if  there  were  not  sinister  motives,  there 
were  some  selfish  ends  to  be  subserved  ;  that  personal 
aggrandizement  was  the  leading  object  in  view,  and  had 
success  attended  his  efforts,  in  all  probability  self- 
glorification  would  have  been  the  crowning  act.  But 
let  us  hear  Mr.  N.  in  relation  to  the  matter.  He  says 
that  the  next  day  after  she  rode  out  with  Mr.  John  R. 
Miller,  whose  faith  wonderfully  sustained  her ; — 

"  Seeing  that  her  father  was  disposed  to  place  her 
under  our  care,  I  called  on  her,  and  said  to  her  in  the 
presence  of  her  friends,  —  '  Your  room  is  very  small 
and  near  the  street,  exposed  to  noise  and  dust  and 
troublesome  visitations.  We  have  a  room  in  our 
'  hospital,'  a  retired  house,  where  you  will  be  much 
more  comfortable  than  you  can  be  here.  That  room  is 
at  your  service.  You  will  certainly  have  as  good 
chance  to  live  there  as  here,  and  if  you  cannot  live,  it 
will  he  a  pleasant  place  to  die  in.  We  will  nurse  you 
as  well  as  we  can,  and  do  our  best  to  save  you.'  I 
made  this  offer  after  deliberately  counting  the  cost,     I 


234  NOYBSISM  UNVEILED. 

had  no  special  confidence  that  she  would  live,  and  I 
knew  if  she  should  die  on  our  hands,  we  should  be  dis- 
graced, as  we  have  been.  But  I  said  in  my  heart,  'No 
fear  of  the  cruel  mockings  of  those  who  watch  for  evil, 
shall  hinder  me  from  doing  a  simple  act  of  benevolence 
which  is  fairly  set  before  me.  Let  the  consequences 
be  what  they  may,  I  will  do  as  I  would  be  done  by.' " 

Now  all  this  appears  very  well  on  paper — although 
the  one-sided  allusion,  or  rather  back-handed  thrust  at 
those  whom  he  suspected  of  watching  for  evil,  does  not 
exhibit  a  super-abundance  of  Christian  charity — and  we 
should  be  glad  to  regard  it  as  a  bright  spot  amid  the 
surrounding  darkness  if  Ave  could  consistently  do  so. 
But  do  the  circumstances  warrant  the  statement  made, 
and  sustain  the  assumed  position  that  it  was  "  a  simple 
act  of  benevolence  ?"  How  does  the  language  used 
agree  with  the  course  pursued  ? 

As  soon  as  Miss  Knight  was  fairly  in  their  hands 
and  fully  under  their  care,  extraordinary  instrumen- 
talities were  employed,  and  mysterious  appHances  were 
resorted  to  by  the  Perfectionists,  and  it  was  confidently 
affirmed  by  them  that  she  would  he  cured.  And 
was  soon  sounded  abroad  that  her  disease  toas  removed, 
and  asserted  that  she  only  needed  time  to  entirely 
recover  her  usual  strength. 

Mr.  Noyes  asserts  that  before  Miss  Knight  came 
under  his  care,  he  "  ?tad  no  special  confidence  that  she 
would  live  f  but  his  confidence  in  her  recovery 
appears  to  have  increased  very  rapidly,  for  he  soon 
after  says — "  The  success  of  our  treatment  depends 
entirely  on  faith  in  the  patient  and   those  around.'''' 


NOYESISM   UNVEILED.  235 

Thus  it  appears  that  in  his  view  there  was  no  insuper- 
able barrier  in  the  disease — that  there  was  one  only 
pre-requisite,  viz.  faith — that  a  due  degree  of  faith  in 
the  patient  and  those  around  would  accomplish  the 
work !  Having  the  privilege  granted  of  shutting  off 
''  unbelieving  friends,"  Mr.  N.  says  on  the  eve  of  his 
"  departure" — ''  That  if  unbelieving  spirits  could  not 
be  kept  away  from  her,  and  if  her  testimony  of  faith 
could  not  be  kept  firm,  she  would  certainly  die."  This 
language  plainly  implies  that  if  "  unbelieving  spirits" 
could  be  kept  away,  and  her  testimony  could  be  kept 
firm,  she  would  certainly  live.  Lest  he  should  stand 
fully  committed,  Mr.  N.,  it  will  be  perceived,  at  last 
suspended  the  case  upon  that  insignificant  yet  all-impor- 
tant word,  IF  ;  so  that  if  there  should  be  a  failure,  he 
could  attribute  that  failure  to  the  non-fulfillment,  on 
the  part  of  INIrs.  Knight,  of  the  conditions,  and  thus 
clear  himself. 

Mr.  N.  asserts  that  it  was  "  a  simple  act  of  benevo- 
lence," but  he  does  not  appear  to  be  content  with  the 
mere  honor  of  having  performed  such  an  act,  for  he 
very  complacently  takes  to  himself  the  credit  of  hav- 
ing wrought  a  miracle  !  And  he  would  have  his  signal 
defeat  celebrated  as  a  "  substantial  victory  !"  And  he 
seems  to  think  that  ere  long  it  will  be  "  glorified  as 
the  Bunker  Hill  of  the  Faith-Revolution!" 

Mr.  Noyes  said  to  Mr.  Knight  at  one  time — "  If 
we  are  not  at  liberty  to  shut  off  from  her  unbelieving 
friends,  you  may  as  well  take  her  home  and  let  her  die, 
for  die  she  will."     Thus  it  appears  that  if   Mr.  N. 


23%  NOYESISM  UNVEILED. 

could  not  have  his  own  way  in  all  things,  he  was  ready 
to  tum  her  back  upon  her  friends,  and  let  her  die ; 
and  yet  he  holds  it  up  as  an  act  of  pure  benevolence ! 
If  it  was  a  "  simple  act  of  benevolence,''  and  if  Mr. 
N.  "  had  no  special  confidence  that  she  would  live" 
when  he  took  her,  why  did  he  say  to  Mr.  Knight — 
"  You  may  as  well  take  her  home  and  let  her  die,  for 
die  she  will,  if  we  are  not  at  liberty  to  shut  off  from 
her  unbeheving  friends"  ?  He  had  said  to  Miss 
Knight  previous  to  her  removal,  that  if  she  could  not 
live,  the  "  hospital"  would  he  '■'  a  pheasant  place  to  die 
inf  yet,  if  his  requests  were  not  granted,  and  his 
doctrines  complied  with,  he  uses  language  which  seems 
to  imply  a  threat  to  return  her  home.  If  it  was  a 
simple  act  of  benevolence,  why  not  let  her  remain  and 
die  at  the  "  hospital"  ?  The  idea  of  its  being  an  act 
of  benevolence  appears  to  have  been  an  after-thought, 
designed  to  meet  the  emergency ;  for  the  whole  affair 
shows  upon  the  very  face  of  it  that  the  thought  of  an 
act  of  benevolence  was  lost  and  swallowed  up  in  the 
strong  desii-e  of  Mr.  N.  to  accomplish  something,  if 
by  sheer  humbuggery,  that  would  redound  to  his  own 
glory  and  self-aggrandizement.  The  circumstances  we 
think  warrant  this  conclusion. 

Had  Mr.  N.  been  so  fortunate  as  to  have  found  in 
Miss  Knight  a  case  like  those  which  sometimes  occur, 
in  which  persons  apparently  near  the  close  of  life 
recover ;  who  are  pronounced  beyond  the  reach  of  medi- 
cal aid,  but  nature  rallying  throws  off  the  disease  and 
health  returns,  it  would  have  been  trumpeted  through 


NOYESISM  UNVEILED.  237 

the  land  as  a  miraculous  work,  and  Mr.  N.  would  have 
made  capital  of  it,  and  turned  it  to  his  own  account. 
But  he  had  to  grapple,  not  with  an  imaginary  or  mild 
disease,  but  with  a  stubborn  case,  and  he  found  him- 
self unequal  to  the  combat ;  the  odds  were  against  him, 
and  he  was  completely  vanquished. 


^ 


238  NOYSSISM  UNVBILBD. 


CHAPTER  XXIV. 

Pretended  Miracles  of  Noye^  continued. 

SUNDRY  CASES. 

In  concluding  our  notice  of  the  pretended  miracles 
of  Nojes,  we  shall  quote  several  cases,  pubUshed  in  the 
Spiritual  Magazine  of  Oct.  15,  1847.  Sajs  Mr. 
Noyes : — 

"  Instances  of  recovery  by  faith  among  us  have  been 
very  numerous.  We  will  present  a  few  samples  of 
them.  ^ 

"  My  own  case  deserves  to  be  recorded.  The  facts 
are  these  : — In  consequence  of  long  and  loud  speaking, 
and  the  wear  and  tear  of  a  laborious  life,  I  contracted 
in  1842  a  disease  of  the  throat  and  lungs,  which 
deprived  me  of  the  use  of  my  voice  in  public,  and 
rendered  ordinary  conversation  painful.  I  was  evi- 
dently threatened  with  consumption.  At  first  I  listened 
to  friends  and  physicians,  so  far  as  to  make  some 
slight  experiments  of  medication.  But  I  obtamed  no 
help  in  this  way,  and  finally,  in  the  face  of  Dr.  John 
CampbelFs  warning  and  acl\dce,  I  gave  up  my  case  to 
the  sole  treatment  of  Jesus  Christ.  I  grew  worse  till 
September  1845,  and  at  that  time  had  abundant  inter- 
nal reason  to  expect  a  speedy  death.  When  the 
symptoms  were  at  the  worst,  Jesus  Christ  advised  me 
to  neglect  my  disease,  and  act  as  though  I  was  well. 
I  did  so,  and  entered  upon  a  course  of  new  and  severe 
labor  with  my  voice,  in  meetings  and  in  conversation. 
From  that  time  I  have  been  substantially  well,  and 
have  performed  more  hard  labor  with  my  tongue  in  the 
last  two  years,  than  in  any  other  two  years  of  my  life. 


NOYESISM   UNVEILED.  239 

"  The  case  of  Mrs.  Fanny  Leonard  is  well  known 
in  this  community.  About  a  year  ago,  after  the  birth 
of  a  child,  she  began  to  decline.  The  symptoms  of  her 
disease  were  severe  pain  in  her  breast  and  side,  and 
sinking  weakness.  She  became  worse,  till  her  friends 
had  httle  hope  of  her  recovery.  In  March  of  the 
present  year,  a  general  persuasion  manifested  itself  in 
our  association,  that  she  would  be  healed  by  the  power 
of  God.  As  that  persuasion  arose,  she  still  sunk.  At 
length  the  crisis  of  faith  and  of  her  disease  came 
together.  She  received  strength  at  the  very  time 
when  our  faith  predicted  it,  and  she  received  it  hy  the 
laying  on  of  hands*  She  has  been  visibly  improving 
ever  since,  and  is  now  a  healthy  w^oman. 

'*  The  case  of  Mrs.  E.  Cragin  may  be  briefly 
referred  to  here,  though  she  has  given  some  account  of 
it  in  a  previous  paper.  From  the  period  of  her  six- 
teenth year  till  the  past  summer,  she  has  been  subject 
to  frequent  attacks  of  the  '  sick  headache.'  The 
disorder  increased  upon  her  till  its  visits  were  expected 
regularly  as  often  as  once  a  week.  Many  attempts 
were  made  to  subdue  it  by  medicine,  but  nothing 
availed.  In  May  last  it  became  constant  and  terribly 
distressing.  Death  seemed  inevitable.  We  resisted 
the  disease  as  a  spii-itual  power,  not  by  medicine,  but 
by  the  faith   and  will  of  our   hearts.     The  devil  was 

♦Mr.  Noyes,  in  conversation  with  a  person  professing  to  be  a  Perfec- 
tionist, said  that  in  this  instance  the  layiug  on.  of  hands  meant  sexual 
intercourse.  The  person  alluded  to  Ims  testified  under  oath  that 
Noyes  made  this  statement.  By  turning  to  the  44th  page  of  this 
work,  the  reader  will  see  that  Mrs.  Leonard  is  implicated  in  the 
indictment  against  Noyes.  Whether  the  phrase  laying  on  of  hands 
when  used  by  Noyes  always  means  tlie  same,  we  have  never  been 
informed;  but  in  the  absence  of  all  knowledge  to  the  contrary,  we 
are  left  to  inf^-r  that  it  docs !  Such  baseness  cannot  well  be  sur- 
passed ! 


240  NOYBSISM   UNVEILED. 

cast  out  of  her  stomach,  and  she  has  not  had  an  attack 
of  this  '  sick  headache'  since. 

"  John  R.  Miller  has  long  been  subject  to  severe 
attacks  of  headache.  On  one  of  these  occasions  in 
the  course  of  the  last  summer,  I  went  into  his  room 
and  found  him  on  the  bed,  suffering  dreadfully.  I 
laid  mj  hands  on  his  head,  and  told  him  to  shake  off 
the  devil.  He  arose  at  once,  perfectly  free  from  pain, 
and  has  not  been  troubled  with  this  disease  since." 

There !  the  world  must  *'  give  in"  now  !  Such  a 
mass  of  miracles,  and  such  miracles  too,  are  over- 
whelming !  ! 

But  we  must  give  the  reader  another  precious  mor- 
ceau.  An  article  published  in  the  Spiritual  Magazine 
of  Nov.  1,  1847,  supposed  to  be  from  the  pen  of  Mrs. 
Harriet  A.  Skinner,  a  sister  of  -  Mr.  Noyes,  and  one 
of  the  most  prominent  members  of  the  Putney  Com- 
munity, contains  the  following  language  : — 

"  There  is  one  miracle  which  the  world  gives  us 
credit  for,  which  we  cannot  arrogate  to  ourselves  ;  and 
that  is,  the  combination  of  peace  and  licentiousness. 
Licentiousness  and  quarreling  are  as  inseparable  as 
fear  and  guilt ;  and  with  all  our  povjer^  we  cannot 
sunder  what  Grod  has  joined  together  in  these  two 
cases,  .  .  .  Are  we  not  a  miracle  to  ourselves,  that 
when  all  hell  is  stirred  to  do  us  harm,  we  are  not  only  , 
trustful  and  calm,  but  hght-hearted  and  merry  ?  .  .  . 
Stripes  and  imprisonments  have  not  come  yet,  but  they 
impend — and  not  a  heart  quails.  And  do  not  our 
hearts  tell  us  that  we  '  love  not  our  lives  unto  death,' 
should  enmity  be  excited  to  the  desperation  of  mur- 
der ?  .  .  .  Jl  miraculous  histinct  every  day  shapes  our 
ends  ;  ive  see  the  direction  of  the  current,  and  every 


NOYESISM  UNVEILED.  241 

thing  sets  that  icouy ;  our  smallest  affairs  are  foreor- 
dained^ conspiring  to  the  general  effect.  We  fire^  avid 
expect  to  hit  the  centre  of  the  mark.  How  often  the 
ringing  shout  announces  the  unerring  aim.'''' 

Thus  we  have  noticed  the  most  prominent  pretended 
miracles  of  Noyes.  That  we  should  notice  all,  could 
not  be  expected  ;  for  if  their  '•  social  machinery.)^''  is  so 
highly  charged  with  a  "  miraculous  instinct, ^^  that  it 
turns  out  '''daily  7niracles,^'thls  would  be  a  hopeless  task. 

Mr.  Noyes  appears  to  have  been  quite  busily 
engaged  in  casting  devils  out  of  his  followers ;  but  the 
reader  may  be  curious  to  know  how,  if  it  is  impossible 
for  the  Noyesites  to  sin,  it  happens  that  they  are  so 
extensively  possessed  with  devils.     Can  Mr.  N.  tell  us  ? 

Mr.  Noyes  stoutly  contends  that  the  age  of  miracles 
is  not  past,  but  it  is  quite  certain  that  the  age  of  his 
miracle's  is  past  in  Putney,  and  it  is  presumed  that  the 
people  generally  are  very  much  rejoiced  that  it  is  so. 

In  conclusion,  let  us  gather  up  the  divergent  rays, 
throw  them  into  one  common  focus,  and  take  a  bird's- 
eye  view  of  Mr.  N.'s  field  of  miracles.  And  first  in 
importance — though  not  in  the  order  of  time- — is  the 
case  of  Mrs.  Harriet  A.  Hall,  declared  to  be  a  cure  as 
''  unimpeachable  as  any  of  the  miracles  of  the  primitive 
church  ;^^  but  she  is  still  and  ever  has  been  the  subject 
of  the  same  disease  that  she  was  before  Mr.  N.  pre- 
tended to  work  a  miracle  !  And  in  this  very  case  Mr. 
Noyes  was  guilty  of  adultery!! 

In  the  case  of  Mrs.  Leonard,  whom  he  declares  was 
healed  by  the  '•'  laying  on  of   hands,^^   he   was   also 
10 


242  NOYESISM  UNVEILED. 

guilty  of  adultery  !  Mr.  N.  alao  says  that  he  ca%t  the 
devil  out  of  Mrs.  Cragin^s  stomach  and  cured  the 
sick  headache  !  Probably  there  might  have  been  seven 
devils  cast  out  of  her,  for  she  was  the  mistress  in 
Noyes's  seraglio  ! 

He  cast  the  devil  out  of  John  K.  Miller's  head — and 
Miller  was  one  of  the  joint  owners  of  the  harem  kept  by 
Noyes  ;  and  under  this  "  common  roof^^  the  '-'body  of 
believer 8^^  were  banded  together ! 

Mr.  Noyes  asserts  that  he  wrought  a  miracle  in  the 
case  of  Miss  Mary  A.  Knight ;  and  he  brings  Mrs. 
Achsah  Campbell  to  prove  it — a  woman  implicated  in 
the  indictment  brought  against  him  ! 

Thus  we  have  a  panoramic  view  of  Mr.  N.'s  field  of 
miracles.  Such  an  array  of  miracles  the  world  never 
before  beheld,  and  for  the  honor  of  human  nature,  it  is 
hoped  that  it  will  never  be  called  upon  to  witness  such 
a  spectacle  again  1 ! 


IfOYESISM  UNVBILBD.  24S 


CHAPTER  XXV. 


Prominent  Trait  in  the  Character  of  Noyes—Bu 
Censoriousness — Intolerant  Spirit  of  Noyesism — 
False  statements  of  Noyes — Martyr-Spirit  of  an- 
cient Christianity, 

There  is  one  very  prominent  trait  in  the  character  of 
Mr.  Nojes  which  deserves  a  passing  notice.  He  ap- 
pears to  have  possessed  bv  nature  a  despotic  disposition 
— was  evidently  inclined  to  break  away  from  restraint, 
and  disposed  to  rule  those  under  his  authority  with  a 
rod  of  iron.  This  •independent,  aristocratic  spirit  began 
early  to  develop  itself,  and  it  appears  to  have  been  long 
cherished,  and  has  evidently  come  to  maturity.  Thus 
from  his  youth  up  he  appears  to  have  been  afflicted 
with  a  kind  of  mental  malady  termed  by  Pollok, 

"  Incurable  insanity  of  will." 
Not  only  the  coui-se  which  Mr.  N.  has  pursued,  but 
his  own  language  uttered  at  different  times,  clearly 
exhibits  this  same  disposition.  Soon  after  determining 
on  entering  the  ministry,  and  when  preparing  for 
admission  into  the  Theological  Seminary  at  Andover, 
he  says : — 

"  On  one  occasion,  at  this  period,  in  conversation 
with  my  father,  who  wa?  fond  of  theological  argument, 
I  suggested  an  interpretation  of  some  passage  in  scrip- 
ture, which  he  thought  was  new.  '  Take  care,'  said  he, 
'  that  is  heresy.'  '  Heresy  or  not,'  said  I, '  it  is  true.* 
^  But  if  you  are  to  be  a  minister,'  said  he,  '  you  must 
think  and  preach  as  the  rest  of  the  mimst-ers  do ;  if 


244  NOYESISM   UNVEILED. 

you  get  out  of  the  traces^  they  ivill  whip  you  in.'*  I 
Tvas  indignant  at  the  idea  of  being  obliged  to  think  bj 
other  people's  rules,  and  replied,  '  Never  !  Never  will 
I  be  whipped  by  ministers  or  any  body  else,  into 
views  that  do  not  commend  themselves  to  my  under- 
standing, as  guided  by  the  Bible,  and  enhghtened  by 
the  Spirit.'  " 

The  sentiments  contained  in  the  above  language, 
properly  expressed  under  ordinary  circumstances,  might 
not  b^  very  objectionable  ;  but  the  reader  cannot  fail 
to  perceive  the  pecuUar  spirit,  predominant  in  Noyes, 
which  looks  out  from  every  part  of  the  paragraph. 

The  following  unmistakable  language,  uttered  a  few 
years  later,  is  found  in  the  first  number  of  the  "  Wit- 
ness," published  at  Ithaca,  N.  Y : — 

"  I  have  long  traversed  unshackled  the  broad  field 
of  universal  trutli,  and  have  learned  to  scale  or  tram- 
ple down  the  fences  with  which  that  field  has  been 
disfigured  by  scientific  fools.  As  an  inhabitant,  and, 
with  others,  a  joint  proprietor,  of  the  universe,  I  will 
not  be  robbed  of  the  right  of  universal  thought.  I 
shall  therefore  pass  and  re-pass  as  I  please  the  usual 
boundaries  of  technical  theology,  knowing  that  the 
theology  of  heaven  includes  every  other  science." 

The  idea  of  a  new  sect  probably  originated  in  the 
indomitable  disposition  of  Noyes  to  ""  trample  doivn^"* 
all  others  ;  and  but  for  this  cause  Noyesism  would,  in 
all  probability,  never  have  had  ^n  existence. 

We  shall  quote  a  few  paragraphs  from  the  writings 
of  Mr.  N.,  which  will  serve  as  choice  specimens  of  the 
sweet  spirit  which  he  has  exhibited  at  different  times, 
and  on  various  occasions,  and  which  appears  to  have 


N(JyBSISM  UNVBILSDi  245 

been  long  cherished,  and  evidently  exerts  a  cotitrolling 
influence. 

Charles  H.  Weld  became  an  associate  of  Noyes 
at  an  early  period  in  the  history  of  Perfectionism — 
sincere  friendship  appears  to  have  existed  between 
them  for  a  time,  and  even  ripened  into  great  intimacy. 
Noyes  approved  of  the  general  course  of  Weld,  and 
spake  of  him  in  terms  of  high  commendation.  Some 
diflferences  of  opinion  at  length  arose  between  them,  and 
they  separated.  The  disagreement  which  subsequently 
existed  between  them  appears  to  have  arisen,  however, 
not  so  much  from  mere  differences  of  opinion,  as  from  a 
disposition  on  the  part  of  Noyes  to  exercise  the  supre- 
macy over  Weld,  and  from  an  unwillingness  on  the 
part  of  Weld  to  succumb  in  all  things  to  the  control 
and  dictation  of  Noyes. 

This,  in  the  eye  of  Noyes,  was  an  unpardonable 
offence,  and  he  gave  vent  to  his  indignation  in  unmeas- 
ured terms.  The  feelings  which  he  indulged  toward 
Weld  after  the  rupture,  as  well  as  the  manner  of  express- 
ing himself,  appear  in  a  letter  written  by  Noyes,  and 
addressed  to  Weld,  bearing  date  Sept.  1836,  and  was 
published  in  the  "Witness"  in  Sept.  183T.  The 
following  is  the  language  of  Noyes,  addressed  to 
Weld:— 

"  Our  relations  to  each  other,  during  two  or  three 
years  past,  have  been,  apparently,  those  of  sincere 
Christian  affection.  On  my  own  part,  the  appearance 
corresponded  to  the  reality,  until  a  little  more  than  a 
year  ago.     The  events  of  that  period,  forced  upon  mae 


24B  HOYBSISM  UNVEILED. 

the  conviction  that  jou  was  an  enemj  in  disguise. — - 
Yet  I  was  not  disposed  to  publicly  utter  this  conviction, 
until  every  shadow  of  doubt  had  passed  away.  I  have 
since  had  full  time  and  opportunity  to  analyze  your 
character.  The  darkness  is  passed  and  I  am  now  pre- 
pared not  only  to  assert,  but  to  prove,  to  you  and  to 
all  men,  that  you  are  '  a  child  of  the  devil,  an  enemy 
of  all  righteousness.^  [, 

After  speaking  somewhat  at  length  relative  to  the 
subject  of  supremacy — the  "  war  of  wUls,"  and  a 
"  death-struggle"  for  the  mastery,  which  took  place 
between  him  and  Weld,  Mr.  Noyes  resumes  the  strain 
as  follows : — 

"  I  was  compelled  to  give  you  up  as  a  reprobate, 
and  to  scrutinize  you  as  an  adversary.  .  .  .  ^he 
proofs  of  your  hypocrisy  have  since  been  constantly 
accumulating,  until  now  I  can  no  longer  shrink  from 
believing  and  declaring  you  to  be  in  very  deed,  and 
beyond  hope,  according  to  your  own  confession,  a 
Prince  of  Devils.  ...  I  have  suflfered  personally 
more,  by  the  cruelty  of  your  benevolence,  than  by  all 
other  causes  put  together ;  and  the  way  of  truth  has 
been  evil  spoken  of  more  by  reason  of  the  perverse 
things  which  have  come  in  through  you,  than  for  all 
other  reasons.  For  God's  sake,  therefore,  and  for  his 
elect's  sake,  I  will  lay  bare  your  nakedness,  till  you 
receive  your  full  portion  of  everlasting  shame  and 
contempt  J  ^  !  ! 

How  unlike  the  meekness  and  gentleness  of  Christ 
must  be  the  spirit  which  can  prompt  such  expressions. 
How  diverse  from  the  spirit  of  Him,  who,  when  he  was 
reviled,  reviled  not  again,  when  he  suffered,  threatened 
not.     No  person  would  cherish   such   a  spuit,   and 


NOYESISM  UNVEILED.  247 

indulge  in  the  use  of  such,  language,  who  was  striving 
to  comply  with  the  apostolic  injunction — "  Let  this 
mind  be  in  you,  which  was  also  in  Christ  Jesus." — 
Phil.  2:  5.  It  is  the  solemn  asseveration  of  an 
inspired  apostle — "  If  any  man  have  not  the  spirit  of 
Christ,  he  is  none  of  his."     Rom.  8:  9. 

But  Mr.  N.  appears  to  have  arrogantly  assumed  the 
character  of  a  judge,  and  seems  to  be  strongly  disposed 
to  deal  the  bolts  of  his  wrath  "  round  the  land,"  on 
all  whom  he  deems  his  foes  1 

That  years  have  not  diminished,  but  rather  strength- 
ened this  disposition,  is  evident  from  the  fact,  as  the 
writer  is  credibly  informed,  that  an  elderly  lady,  who 
had  connected  herself  with  the  Corporation  in  Putney, 
but  who  refused  to  submit  to  the  sole  dictation  of 
Mr.  N.,  and  determined  on  leaving — was  charged  by 
Noyes  not  to  divulge  what  she  knew  of  his  heinous 
offences,  and  was  told  by  him,  that  in-  case  she  did,  he 
would  sink  her  to  the  lowest  depths  of  hell ;  blasphe- 
mously asserting  that  he  had  power  to  do  it  in  this 
world,  and  in  the  world  to  come ! 

The  same  spirit  that  has  been  manifested  toward 
individuals,  has  also  been  exhibited  toward  all  evangel- 
i  cal  denominations  in  Christendom.  Writing  to  James 
Boyle,  who  was  an  early  convert  to  PerfectionisM,  but 
afterwards  renounced  the  system,  Mr.  Noyes  expresses 
himself  in  the  following  characteristic  language  : — 

'^  God  speed  to  you,  my  brother,  in  the  work  of 
unmasking  and  proclaiming  the  shame  of  the  mother  of 
abominations.     Professors  of  orthodox  religion  in  this 


248  NOYBSISM  UNVEILED. 

daj,  fill  the  front  rank  of  the  army  of  hell.     Their 
mouths  are  '  the  gates  of  helV  '• 

Comment  is  unnecessarj.  Such  uncharitable  expres- 
sions and  sweeping  denunciations  speak  for  themselves. 
But  let  us  look  at  the  instructions  which  Mr.  N.  has 
given  his  followers  relative  to  the  subject  under  consid- 
eration. He  teaches  the  very  principles  which  he 
carries  out  in  practice.  He  makes  the  following 
remarks  on  anger  : — 

"  '  Be  ye  angry  and  sin  'not.'' — Eph.  iv :  26.  I 
take  this  passage  as  a  precept ;  and  regard  anger  as 
one  of  the  most  important  duties  of  a  Christian.  The 
apostle  places  it  in  immediate  connection  with  cessation 
from  sin,  as  if  he  had  said,  '  Be  ye  angry  that  ye  may 
sin  not.'  No  man  will  ever  cease  from  sin,  till  he  so 
abhors  it,  as  to  be  angry  with  himself  and  with  all  sin- 
ners. No  man  will  ever  love  God  with  all  his  heart, 
till  he  'hates  the  wicked  with  a  perfect  hatred.' — Where 
there  is  '  love  stronger  than  death,'  there  must  be  '  jeal- 
ousy, cruel  as  the  grave.'  " 

The  foregoing  singular  comment  of  Mr.  Noyes, 
looks  very  much  like  gi^ang  liberty  to  throw  a  loose 
rein  upon  the  neck  of  passion,  and  put  spurs  to  the 
fiery  steed. 

As  an  oflfeet  to  the  exposition  of  Mr.  N.,  we  will  give 
a  few  remarks  from  the  pen  of  a  learned  and  critical 
commentator*  on  the  same  passage  ;  and  we  think  they 
are  far  more  rational  and  consistent,  and  entitled  to 
quite  as  much  iveight  as  the  remarks  of  Mr.  Noyes. 
They  are  as  follows : — 

*  Dr.  Aaam  CI«rke. 


NOYESISM   UNVEILED.  M9 

'^  Be  ye  angry ^and  sin  not. — We  can  never  suppose 
that  the  apostle  delivers  this  as  a  precept^  if  we  take 
the  words  as  they  stand  in  our  version.  Perhaps  the 
sense  is,  Take  heed  that  ye  he  not  angry ^  lest  ye  dn  ; 
for  it  would  be  very  difficult,  even  for  an  apostle  him- 
self, to  be  angry  and  not  sin.^^ 

It  is  said  of  the  Savior,  that  at  a  certain  time  he 
looked  upon  the  Pharisees  with  anger. 

"  And  when  he  had  looked  round  about  on  them 
with  anger,  being  grieved  for  the  hardness  of  their 
hearts,  he  saith  unto  the  man,  Stretch  forth  thine 
hand." — Mark  iii.  5. 

The  commentator  from  whom  we  have  just  quoted, 
well  remarks  upon  the  term,  anger,  as  applied  to  our 
Lord,  in  the  following  brief  manner : — 

"  What  was  the  anger  which  our  Lord  felt  ?  That 
which  proceeded  from  excessive  grief,  which  was 
occasioned  by  their  obstinate  stupidity  and  blindness  : 
therefore  it  was  no  uneasy  passion,  but  an  excess  of 
generous  grief." 

St.  Paul  exhorts  the  Christians  at  Ephesus  and 
Colosse  in  the  following  emphatic  language  : — 

"  Let  all  bitterness,  and  wrath,  and  anger,  and 
clamor,  and  evil  speaking,  be  put  away  from  you,  with 
all  malice.  But  now  ye  also  put  off  all  these ;  anger, 
wrath,  malice,  blasphemy,  filthy  communication  out  of 
your  mouth." — Eph.  iv.  31  ;  Col.  iii.  8. 

Thus  it  appears  that  every  degree  of  anger,  using 
the  term  in  its  common  acceptation,  is  prohibited  by 
express  apostolic   injunction. 


260  NOYBSISM  UN  VEILED. 

But  let  us  look  at  the  intolerant  spirit  of  Noyesism. 
Early  in  the  autumn  of  1847,  the  writer  took  occasion 
publicly  to  express  some  general  views  relative  to  the 
subject  of  miracles — to  exhibit  the  absurdity  and  shal- 
lowness of  the  pretensions  to  miraculous  power,  of  the 
many  little  chimerical  sects  which  are  springing  up  at 
the  present  day — and  also  to  expose  the  deception 
which  the  Perfectionists  were  attempting  to  practice 
upon  the  people  of  Putney.  This  of  course  gave 
offence  to  the  leading  Perfectionists  ;  and  soon  after, 
the  following  characteristic  language  was  found  in  the 
Spiritual  Magazine,  the  intended  application  of  which 
no  one  could  doubt : — 

''  I  have  seen  a  man — perchance  a  priest — take  ad- 
vantage of  the  times  and  push  aside  the  truth  of  the 
gospel,  giving  its  place  to  a  mass  of  falsehood  which  the 
people  stumble  over,  and  he  thinks  he  has  made  a  suc- 
cessful revolution ;  but  every  he  is  on  its  way  to  Tophet, 
and  that  man  has  raised  himself  a  monument  of  dis- 
grace ;  we  can  only  deplore  for  him  the  certain  ven- 
geance of  time,  which  is  hurrying  towards  the  triumph 
of  the  right." 

This  language  is  supposed  to  be  from  the  pen  of  Mrs. 
Harriet  A.  Skinner,  the  so-called  wife  of  Mr.  John  L. 
Skinner,  an  associate  of  Noyes.  Mrs.  Skinner  is  a 
sister  of  Mr.  Noyes — was  a  liberal  contributor  to  the 
Spiritual  Magazine,  and  is  a  Perfectionist  of  the  deep- 
est dye.  The  language  quoted  clearly  indicates  the 
intolerant  spirit  prevalent  among  Perfectionists.  Senti- 
ments conflicting  with  their  views  are  at  once  pro- 
nounced  falsehoods  ;    and   whoever  dares   speak  the 


NOYESISM  UNVEILED.  251 

truth  must  expect  to  be  denounced  by  them.  As  to 
the  -'  monument  of  disgrace,"  we  cheerfully  submit  it 
to  the  judgment  of  the  public,  whether  an  exhibition 
and  refutation  of  the  errors  of  such  a  system  are  as 
great  a  "  monument  of  disgrace"  as  the  facts  which 
rec  ent  disclosures  have  clearly  brought  to  view.  If  we 
mistake  not  they,  by  their  conduct,  have  erected  a 
"  monument  of  disgrace"  which  will  stand  through  all 
coming  time — whose  towering  head  shall  be  distinctly 
visible  from  far  distant  regions. 

But  the  fair  writer  professes  to  "  deplore"  for  us  the 
"  certain  vengeance  of  time."  This  language  indicates 
a  disposition  to  assume  a  threatening  aspect  for  the 
purpose  of  intimidating  ;  and  we  greatly  fear  that  the 
wish  to  have  ''vengeance"  executed  -vfSkS father  to  the 
thought  expressed. 

We  cannot  find  it  in  our  heart  to  indulge  aught  but 
feelings  of  the  most  profound  commiseration  for  those 
who  cherish  the  spirit  from  which  such  language  ema- 
nates. 

We  would  gladly  have  been  excused  from  performing 
tj^e  disagreeable  task  of  stirring  this  stagnant  pool  of 
pollution,  could  it  have  been  consistently  done  ;  but  he 
proves  himself  recreant  to  duty,  who  refuses  to  speak 
and  act  when  time  and  circumstances  demand  it. 

Again,  m  the  autumn  of  1847,  we  addressed  a  few 
questions  to  the  editor  of  the  Spiritual  Magazine, 
touching  the  subject  of  miracles.  These  questions 
were  couched  in  respectful,  and  we  think  unob- 
jectionable language,  and  were  published  in  the  above 


2^  NOYESISM  UNVEILED. 

mentioned  paper  of  Oct.  15,  1847.  Mr.  Nojes  re- 
plied at  length,  and  that  reply  contained  the  tocsin  of 
alarm,  and  was  taken  for  the  signal  to  let  slip  the  dogs 
of  war  which  bore  down  with  their  loudest  bay,  and 
many  a  cur  manifested  a  disposition  to  join  the  pack 
and  hunt  down  our  humble  self. 

Various  questions,  unworthy  of  notice,  were  proposed 
to  the  writer  by  different  correspondents  of  the  Maga- 
zine and  termed,  by  the  astute  editor  of  that  paper,  "-per- 
tinent ;" — and  all  this  because  we  dared  to  propound  a 
few  questions  expressive  of  doubt  as  to  the  infalhbihty 
and  miraculous  power  of  the  Putney  Pontiff!  This 
was  an  unpardonable  offence !  A  more  dictatorial, 
mouth-stopping  spirit  is  seldom  manifested.  Perhaps 
they  fancy  that  their  residence  is  in  such  exalted 
regions  that  they  are  exempt  from  the  common  civilities 
of  civilized  and  social  hfe,  and  that  those  who  are  so 
unfortunate  as  to  dwell  in  this  loioer  world  are  not 
entitled  to  the  common  courtesies  of  life. 

Mr.  Noyes  has  made  some  exceedingly  erroneous 
statements  relative  to  the  leading  denominations  of  the 
land,  which  are  entitled  to  a  passing  notice.  For  n 
better  understanding  of  the  subject  we  will  quote  a  few 
paragraphs  from  the  writings  of  Mr.  N.  He  in  his 
modesty  says  : — 

"  We  believe  that  all  true  knowledge  of  the  New 
Covenant,  and  of  the  holiness  which  it  gives,  was  lost 
after  the  apostolic  age,  and  that  the  system  which  has 
existed  since,  both  in  Popish  and  Reformed  Christen- 
dom, though  called  Christianity,  has  been,  so  far  as  it 


NOYESISM  UNVEILED.  253 

has  had  in  it  any  divine  element,  only  a  second  edition 
of  Judaism — a  continuation  of  the  spiritual  testimony 
of  Moses  and  Elijah.  .  .  .  We  have  seen  no  evidence 
that  the  Neio  Covenant  was  ever  known  or  preached 
after  the  destruction  of  Jerusalem^  A.  D.  fo,  till  it 
was  published  at  New-Haven  in  1834."— Perfectionist, 
Vol.  iv.  No.  4. 

Again,  speaking  in  reference  to  an  expectation  of 
the  near  approach  of  the  Millennium,  which  prevailed  to 
some  extent  about  the  year  1830  and  for  some  time 
after,  Mr.  N.  says  : — 

"  In  1834,  premonitory  symptom  of  expectation 
came  to  its  highest  point.  Then  the  truth  of  the 
primitive  gospel  was  developed.  It  stood  on  the  top 
swell  of  the  spirituality  of  that  period.  The  revival 
spirit  and  the  attainments  of  the  church  had  reached 
their  highest  tide,  and  on  that  basis  the  gospel  of 
HOLINESS  rose  up  again  before  the  eyes  of  men.  .  .  . 
What  has  been  the  history  of  the  churches  since  ? 
They  have  had  no  revivals.  .  .  .  Since  the  time  we 
speak  of,  the  churches  have  been  steadily  wilting, 
drooping,  and  losing  their  influence  over  the  minds  of 
men.  The  Methodist  Church  has  fallen  off  largely  in 
numbers,  as  have  also  the  others.". — Spiritual  Maga- 
zine, Vol  ii.  No.  13. 

We  wish  to  call  the  reader's  special  attention  to  the 
concluding  statement  of  the  foregoing  language.  Mr. 
N.  roundly  asserts  that  the  "  Methodist  Ohurch  has 
fallen  off  largely  in  numhers'^  since  1834.  Let  us 
compare  this  statement  with  the  statistics  of  that 
denomination.  It  appears  that  the  Methodist  Church 
in  different  parts  of  the  world  numbered  : — 


254  NOYESISM  UNVEILED. 

In  1834  - 984,2% 

"   184T -   1,765,680 

Increase 781,290 

In  the  United  States  the  statistics  stand  as  follows : 

In  1834 602,136 

"   1847 1,183,426 


Increase 581,290 

But  Mr.  N.  asserts  that  other  denominations  have 
also  fallen  off  in  numbers.  Let  us  look  again  at 
statistics : — 

The  Congregational,  Presbyterian,  and  Baptist 
Churches  numbered  in  the  United  States : — 

In  1834 917,934 

"   1847 1,654,316 

Increase 736,382 

We  have  no  data  from  which  to  ascertain  the  num- 
bers of  the  Congregational,  Presbjt-erian,  and  Baptist 
Churches,  throughout  the  world,  consequently  we  have 
given  them  for  the  United  States  only.  There  has 
probably  been  a  proportionate,  and  perhaps  even  a 
greater  increase  in  other  parts  of  the  world  than  in 
the  United  States.  Many  of  the  foreign  Missions  have 
been  in  a  prosperous  condition,  and  some  of  them  have 
been  favored  with  very  extensive  revivals.  Although 
it  is  very  difficult  finding  statistics  that  are  perfectly 
accurate,  yet  those   which  we  have   given  probably 


NOYESISM   UNVEILED.  255 

approximate  as  nearly  to  the  truth  as  can  be  expected. 
They  show  an  aggregate  increase  in  the  four  leading 
evangelical  denominations  in  the  United  States,  of  one 
million  three  hundred  and  seventeen  thoiisand  six 
hundred  and  seventy-two^  between  1834  and  1847,  or 
during  the  period  in  which  Mr,  Noyes  says  that  the 
churches  have  ''''fallen  off  largely  in  number s^^ ! 

Such  random  statements  ill  compoi^  with  the  high 
professions  of  Mr.  N.,  and  yet  his  disciples  who  believe 
in  his  infallibility^  are  ready  to  receive  any  statement 
he  may  make  as  undoubted  truth,  however  false  it  may 
be.  If  he  and  his  followers  can  look  the  foregoing 
facts  full  in  the  face  without  any  misgivings,  then  they 
are  prepared  for  almost  anything^  If  this  is  a  fair 
sample  of  Mr.  N.'s  veracity,  his  word  is  of  little  value. 
If  he  cannot  state  simple  facts  with  the  ordinary 
accuracy  of  a  common  chronicler  of  passing  events,  he 
had  better  moderate  his  claim  to  inspiration,  or  the 
public  will  be  justified  in  believing  that  he  is  inspired 
from  a  very  questionable  source. 

Mr.  Noyes  gives  a  lesson  upon  the  martyr-spirit 
exhibited  in  the  Primitive  Church  ;  and  strange  as  it 
may  appear,  he  condemns  that  spirit,  and  speaks,  as 
will  be  seen,  very  reproachfully  of  those  worthy  men 
who  counted  not  their  lives  dear  unto  themselves,  but 
joyfully  received  the  crown  of  martyrdom,  and  whom 
the  church  in  all  ages  has  delighted  to  honor.  The 
reader  would  be  struck  with  utter  astonishment  at  what 
follows,  were  he  not  prepared  from  the  preceding  pages 


256  NOrEBISM   UNVEILED. 

to  expect  almost  any  thing,  however  heretical  and  anti- 
christian,  from  the  gi-eat  Perfectionist  leader. 

Even  the  holy  martyrs  have  not  escaped  the  whole- 
sale slanders  and  sweeping  denunciations  brought  by 
Mr.  Noyes  against  every  thing  of  a  religious  character, 
which  does  not  bear  the  impress,  and  is  not  in  perfect 
keeping  with  Perfectionism.     Let  us  hear  him ; — 

"  When  we  have  learned  from  the  scriptures,  that 
Christ  came  the  second  time  immediately  after  the 
destruction  of  Jerusalem,  and  took  away  the  spiritual 
part  of  the  primitive  church,  we  are  compelled  to  infer 
that  the  moiety  which  was  left,  though  it  bore  and  trans- 
mitted the  name  and  forms  of  Christianity,  was  actually 
an  apostate  church.  But  then  the  question  urges  itself 
upon  us — '  What  shall  we  think  of  the  splendid  and 
innumerable  martyrdoms  which  have  been  the  glory  of 
that  church  through  so  many  ages  V  We  will  endeavor 
to  answer  this  question  '  without  partiality,  and  without 
hypocrisy.'  For  this  purpose  we  will  present  a  speci- 
men of  the  martyr  spirit  that  prevailed  in  the  next 
generation  after  the  apostles,  and  then  we  will  offer 
several  remarks  showing  our  opinion  of  that  spirit. 

"  Ignatius  is  universally  regarded  as  one  of  the  most 
illustrious  of  the  early  martyrs.  Indeed  he  was  the 
chief  father  of  what  may  be  called  the  martyr-mania  of 
the  first  three  centuries.  He  is  therefore  an  example 
to  our  purpose.  The  writers  of  the  Oxford  Tracts  give 
the  following  account  of  him  : — 

'  St.  Ignatius,  Bishop  of  Antioch,  and  Martyr,  is 
reported  to  have  been  the  child  whom  Christ  took  in 
his  arms,  in  order  to  give  his  disciples  a  pattern  of 
christian  humbleness.  But,  however  this  was,  he 
certainly  was  a  disciple  and  friend  of  the  Apostles, 
particularly  of  St.  Peter  and  St.  John. 


NOYESISM  UNVEILED.  257 

'  St.  Peter  and  St.  Paul  are  said  to  have  laid  on  him 
their  hands,  and  made  him  Bishop  of  Antioch.  In  A. 
D.  106,  when  he  had  been  Bishop  nearly  40  years,  the 
persecuting  Emperor  Trajan  came  to  Antioch  ;  and  on 
finding  Ignatius  resolute  in  confessing  the  faith  of 
Christ,  he  ordered  him  to  be  carried  prisoner  to 
Rome,  and  there  thrown  to  the  beasts  in  the  idolatrous 
heathen  show — a  command  which  was  strictly  obeyed. 
During  his  journey,  he  wrote  letters  to  various 
Churches,  by  way  of  taking  leave  of  them,  and  to  con- 
firm them  in  Christian  zeal,  love,  and  unity.'  " 

After  giving  a  few  extracts  from  an  epistle  which 
Ignatius  wrote  to  the  Romans,  while  on  his  way  to 
Rome,  in  which  he  exhorts  his  fellow  disciples  to 
steadfastness  in  the  faith,  and  expresses  his  willingness 
to  suffer  martyrdom,  Mr.  JSfoyes  proceeds  to  remark : 

"  So  far  as  mere  courage  in  coveting  death,  or  mere' 
religious  zeal,  is  concerned,  we  might  easily  find 
examples  among  the  worshippers  of  Juggernaut  that 
would  fully  match  Ignatius.  The  martyr  spirit  which 
Ignatius  exhibited,  and  which  became  so  fashionable 
afterwards,  was  not  necessarily  connected  with  holiness 

and   truth We   have   no   fear  in   declaring 

our  belief  that  the  ambitious  thirst  for  martyrdom, 
manifested  by  Ignatius  and  the  mass  of  those  who  have 
been  glorified  with  him,  as  the  '  martyr  church,'  was 
the  very  climax  of  '  spiritual  wickedness  in  high 
places'  —  a  strong  delusion  of  self-righteousness,  sup- 
planting the  atonement,  making  death  instead  of  faith 
the  way  to  perfection,  and  planting  the  seeds  of  the 
whole  system  of  penances,  self-torture,  and  purgatorial 
salvation,  which  have  since  gained  for  Popery  the  name 
of  Antichrist."— Witness,  Vol.  II.  No.  5. 

Thus  the  noble  army  of  martyrs,  ^^ho,  with  true  Chris- 
IT 


258  NOYESISM  UNVEILED. 

tian  fortitude,  maintained  their  position  against  fearful 
odds,  and  manfully  breasted  the  torrent  of  persecution 
which  burst  upon  the  Church  in  the  early  ages,  are  trar 
duced  by  Mr.  Noyes.  He  does  not  hesitate  to  impute 
to  them  the  most  unworthy  motives,  and  impiously 
asserts  his  belief  that  the  spirit  by  which  they  were 
controlled  was  the  "  very  climax  of  spiritual  wicked- 
ness' "  a 

Mr.  N.  also  virtually  asserts  his  superiority,  in  point 
of  moral  excellence  and  spiritual  attainments,  over  that 
veteran  band  of  worthies  who  laid  down  their  lives 
rather  than  renounce  their  religion  and  treacherously 
betray  the  cause  of  their  Master  which  they  had 
espoused — thus  would  he  disrobe  them  of  the  mantle 
of  righteousness,  wrest  the  palms  of  victory  from  their 
hands,  and  with  a  sacrilegious  hand  take  the  crowns  of 
glory  from  their  sainted  heads,  and  unblushingly  place 
them  upon  his  own  ! 


NOYESISM  UNVEILBD.  259 


CHAPTER  XXVI. 


Article  from  the  Advocate  of  Moral  Reform — 
Remarks  of  Rev.  Joseph  Tra<^  and  Rev.  S.  B. 
Yarrinyton. 

In  delineating  the  character  of  Perfectionism,  we 
deem  it  proper,  not  only  to  present  such  facts  and  doc- 
trines as  will  exhibit  its  true  features,  but  also  to  give 
the  opinions  of  different  individuals  who  have  mformed 
themselves  relative  to  the  subject,  and  whose  position 
and  standing  in  society  entitle  them  to  confidence  and 
give  weight  to  their  opinions. 

Thoughts  emanating  from  different  individuals,  and 
information  derived  from  various  sources  at  differ- 
ent periods  in  the  history  of  Perfectionism,  being 
gathered  into  one  common  focus,  throw  a  flood  of  light 
upon  this  "  abomination  of  desolation,  standing  in  the 
holy  place,"  and  present  it  to  pubHc  view  in  all  its 
native  deformity  ! 

We  deem  it  appropriate  here  to  introduce  an  able 
editorial  article,  pubhshed  several  years  ago,  in  the 
Advocate  of  Moral  Reform.  This  article  was  pub- 
lished when  Perfectionism  was  comparatively  in  its 
infancy,  but  had  so  far  developed  itself  as  to  .give 
unmistakable  indications  of  its  true  character — ^its 
direct  tendency  and  inevitable  consequences.  It  may 
be  proper  here  to  remark,  that  Geo.  Cragin,  who  for 
some  time  was  the  publishing  agent  of  the  Advocate  of 
Moral  Reform,  probably  finding  the  principles  of  the 


W^  NOYESISM  UNVEILED. 

Moral  Reform  Society  too  strict  for  him  and  the  place 
he  occupied  too  straight,  renounced  those  principles 
and  embraced  Perfectionism,  which  afforded  him  more 
latitude.  He  soon  qi'ter  removed  to  Putney,  and  became 
an  associate  and  intimate  of  Noyes.  He  then  deliber- 
ately turned  round  and  denounced  the  "  Advocate  of 
Moral  Reform  as  the  greatest  of  religious  humbugs. ^^ 

There  are  certain  persons  of  whom  it  is  sometimes 
said,  ''  Their  censure  is  praise."  The  present  is  an 
instance  in  point. 

In  1842,  Cragin  was  associated  with  Noyes  in  the 
publication  of  a  paper  called  the  Spiritual  Moralisty 
devoted  expressly  to  the  dissemination  of  licentious 
doctrines.  This  paper  contained  such  offensive  matter, 
and  was  so  extremely  disgusting,  that  it  received  but 
little  favor  except  from  those  who  had  lost  all  sense  of 
delicacy  and  propriety ;  and  it  was  discontinued — 
probably  for  want  of  patronage — after  the  publication 
of  two  numbers. 

The  article  from  the  Advocate  of  Moral  Reform 
given  below,  is  well-timed  and  very  truthful.  We 
bespeak  for  it  an  attentive  and  candid  perusal : — 

"  Perfectionism.^^ 
"  We  have  not  hitherto  thought  it  advisable  to  intro- 
duce any  topics  of  discussion  into  the  Advocate,  which 
were  foreign  to  its  immediate  object ;  and  our  readers 
will  bear  us  witness,  that  we  have  never  contended  for 
the  shibboleth  of  a  party.  Our  high  aim  has  been  to 
combine  all  the  moral  and  religious  influence  in  the 
community,  to  bring  it  to  bear  upon  the  removal  of  a 
national  sin  ;  and  thus  far,  all  sectional  and  denomina- 


NOYESISM  UNVEILED.  2&1 

tional  differences  seem  to  have  been  merged  in  one 
common  feeling  of  interest  in  this  great  work.  We 
have  not  departed  from  the  rule  heretofore  laid  down, 
in  bringing  forward  the  subject  which  stands  at  the 
head  of  this  article.  Sentiments  have  of  late  been 
openly  advanced  by  those  who  call  themselves  Perfec- 
tionists, of  such  an  immoral  and  destructive  tendency, 
that  it  becomes  our  duty  as  humble  conservators  of  the 
public  morals,  to  bear  a  decided  testimony  against 
them,  particularly  as  the  names  of  some  among  us 
have  been  coupled  with  this  dangerous  and  seductive 
heresy.  To  those  who  are  happily  ignorant  of  the 
name  and  nature  of  Perfectionism,  we  fear  we  shall 
hardly  be  able  to  make  ourselves  intelligible  ;  for  we 
shrink  from  the  task  of  disturbing  this  stagnant  pool 
of  corruption,  even  for  the  sake  of  warning  the  unwary 
from  its  brink.  But  we  dare  not  close  our  eyes  to  the 
fact,  that  while  some  whom  we  loved  and  honored, 
have  fallen  into  this  snare  of  the  devil,  there  are  others 
in  equal,  or  greater  danger,  who  may  be  induced  by  the 
warning  voice  of  truth,  to  examine  the  ground  on 
which  they  stand,  and  escape  for  their  lives,  while  yet 
escape  is  possible. 

"  In  some  recent  pubhcations  by  the  leaders  of  this 
sect,  the  doctrines,  of  Robert  Dale  Owen  and  Fanny 
Wright  are  boldly  espoused  and  advocated,  and  the 
institution  of  marriage  set  aside,  as  a  part  of  the  sys- 
tem of  bondage  from  which  Christ  is  to  make  us  free.. 
We  will  not  stain  our  pages  with  specimens  of  this 
reasoning,  which  makes  the  blessed  Redeemer  the 
minister  of  sin,  and  converts  the  bread  of  life  into  a 
deadly  poison.  Indeed  the  language  so  much  resem- 
bles the  jargon  under  which  the  ancient  mystics  used  to 
veil  their  meaning,  that  our  readers  would  not  probably 
understand  at  once  its  full  import.  From  the  words  of 
our  Savior  concerning  the  inhabitants  of  heaven,  *  They 


262  KOYESISM  UNVEILED. 

neither  many,  nor  are  given  in  marriage/  they  argue 
the  abolition  of  the  institution  here,  in  a  resurrection 
state  which  it  seems  some  of  them  have  already 
attained.  It  will  at  once  be  seen,  that  this  master 
stroke  of  satanic  pohcy  opens  a  flood-gate-  to  every 
species  of  licentiousness ;  and  by  a  refinement  of 
wickedness  which  puts  papacy  to  the  blush,  sanctifies 
the  very  incarnation  of  impurity.  A  state  of  society 
such  as  these  doctrines  would  inevitably  produce,  can- 
not be  adequately  conceived  or  described.  The  sacred- 
ness  of  the  domestic  constitution  invaded — the  marriage 
covenant  annulled — parental  and  filial  obligations  tram- 
pled in  the  dust — while  unbridled  license  stalks  among 
the  ruins,  smiling  at  the  havoc  she  has  made,  and 
feasting  on  the  last  bleeding  remnants  of  chastity  and 
virtue  !  Surely,  when  sentiments  like  these  are  advo- 
cated under  the  mask  of  high-toned  piety,  it  is  the 
duty  of  all  who  love  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ  in  sincerity, 
to  '  contend  earnestly  for  the'  purity  of  '  the  faith 
once  delivered  to  the  saints.' 

'^  But  this  doctrine,  monstrous  as  it  is,  is  only  the 
growth  of  another,  which  may  be  termed  '  the  root  of 
the  evil,'  viz.  '  that  believers  under  the  Gospel  dispen- 
sation, are  delivered  from  the  obligation  of  personal 
obedience  to  the  moral  law,"*  The  violation  of  this  law 
does  not,  they  say,  necessarily  involve  transgression, 
for  the  spirit  which  is  in  them  being  an  infallible  guide, 
may  in  many  supposable  cases  lead  them  contrary  to 
the  letter  of  the  law,  without  bringing  guilt  upon  their 
souls.  Those  who  are  familiar  with  Ecclesiastical 
History,  will  recognize  in  this  belief  the  essential 
features  of  that  Antinomianism,  which,  under  some  of 
its  varying  forms,  has  infested  the  church  from  the 
days  of  the  Nicolaitans  whom  Christ  hated,  down  to 
the  present  time ;  and  against  which  Wesley  and 
Fletcher  in  England,  and  Edwards  and  Bellamy  in  our 


NOYESISM  UNVEILED.  263 

own  country,  sent  forth  the  warning  voice.  It  is 
indeed  true  that  we  have  become  incapable  of  keeping 
the  law,  as  a  covenant  of  works,  '  the  man  that  doeth 
these  things,  shall  live  in  them,' — but  as  a  rule  of 
action,  it  is  still  obhgatory  on  us,  and  must  continue  to 
be  so,  while  those  rights  of  God  and  man  exist  which 
it  is  designed  to  protect.  The  Christian  behever  not 
bound  to  obey  the  moral  law  of  God !  That  law  which 
binds  all  created  intelligences  together  with  a  golden 
chain,  and  hnks  them  indissolubly  to  his  holy  throne ! 
That  law,  in  which,  as  in  a  glass,  we  see  all  the  perfect 
attributes  of  Jehovah's  character,  while  love,  like  the 
sun,  sheds  a  full-orbed  splendor  over  the  whole, — 
insufferable  from  its  brightness,  did  we  not  behold  it 
tempered  in  the  face  of  Him  who  came  to  be  '  the  end 
of  the  law  for  righteousness,  to  every  one  that  belie veth.' 

"  Those  who  can  thus  turn  the  grace  of  God  into 
laciviousness,  may  endeavor  to  take  refuge  in  the 
gospel  from  the  unwelcome  requisitions  of  the  law,  but 
it  will  be  found  in  another  day  to  be  a  refuge  of  lies 
which  the  hail  shall  sweep  utterly  away.  '  Think  not 
I  am  come  to  destroy  the  law  or  the  prophets,' 
said  the  Savior,  '  I  am  not  come  to  destroy,  but  to 
fulfil.'  '  Bo  we  then  make  void  the  law  through 
faith  V  is  the  language  of  the  apostle ;  ^  God  forbid ; 
yea,  we  establish  the  law.'  But  time  would  fail,  were 
we  to  attempt  an  enumeration  of  the  passages  which 
prove  that  the  law  of  God,  Hke  his  nature,  is  unchan- 
geable and  eternal  in  its  spirit  and  sanctions. 

'''  We  have  not  attempted  to  go  into  an  exposition  of 
the  views  of  the  Perfectionists,  or  an  argument  against 
them  ;  a  task  for  which  we  have  neither  leisure  nor 
inclination.  In  common  with  many  others,  we  have 
been  shocked  and  alarmed  at  the  avowal  of  sentiments 
which  seem  to  us  the  very  refineuient  of  licentiousness, 
and  a  declaration  of  our  views  was  deemed  necessary 


264  NOYESISM  UNVEILED. 

for  the  satisfaction  of  those  interested  in  our  course. 
We  desired  hkewise  to  warn  the  sincere  inquirer  after 
hoHness,  to  beware  of  embracing  an  error,  which  if  not 
abandoned  in  time,  will  certainly  sink  the  soul  to  a 
deep  and  dark  perdition.  The  church  must  come  up 
to  a  higher  standard  of  personal  consecration  and 
holiness,  before  the  world  can  be  converted  ;  but  in 
doing  this,  let  her  not  run  into  an  extreme  more  dan- 
gerous than  the  one  she  seeks  to  avoid.  '  The  tree  is 
known  bj  its  fruits.'  This  doctrine  leads  its  advocates 
to  neglect  prayer,  both  social  and  private — to  throw 
away  the  Sabbath,  with  all  its  inestimable  blessings — 
to  despise  the  ordinances  and  means  of  grace,  as  shad- 
ows which  vanish  at  the  appearing  of  the  substance — 
in  fine,  to  withdraw  from  all  benevolent,  moral  and 
rehgious  associations,  as  a  system  of  legality^  in  which 
they  have  no  interest.  These  are  not  good  fruits  ;  we 
must  therefore  pronounce  the  tree  corrupt,  and  refuse 
all  fellowship  or  countenance  to  those  who  walk  thus 
disorderly,  though  the  act  of  excision  be  as  painful  as 
the  amputation  of  a  limb,  or  the  plucking  out  of  an 
eye." 

The  above  language  is  strong  and  decisive,  and  cuts 
every  way,  like  the  keen  two-edged  sword  of  truth. 
Though  penned  several  years  since,  it  applies  with  as 
much  if  not  more  propriety  to  Perfectionism  now  than 
when  it  was  first  published. 

In  continuing  our  quotations  from  the  writings  of 
distinguished  individuals  who  have  spoken  in  reference 
to  Perfectionism,  we  give  a  few  remarks  of  Rev.  Joseph 
Tracy,  an  eminent  Congregational  clergyman.  Mr. 
Tracy  was  formerly  editor  of  the  Boston  Recorder,  and 
is  extensively  and  favorably  known,  especially  in  New-^ 


NOYESISM   UNVEILED.  265' 

England.  He  speaks  of  Perfectionism  as  early  as 
1835 ;  thus  showing  that  its  nature  was  known — ^its 
tendency  seen — and  that  even  its  fruits  began  to  appear 
at  that  early  period,  or  very  soon  after  it  came  into 
existence  : — 

"  This  thing  of  Perfectionism  is  an  affair  which  will 
happen  now  and  then.  The  previous  condition,  the 
predisposing  cause  of  it,  in  a  community,  is  Ultra- 
Calvinism,  taking  the  form  of  Antinomianism.  It 
commences  by  a  reaction,  more  or  less  thorough-going, 
towards  Arminianism.  Next,  the  theoretic  possibility 
of  becoming  perfect  is  embraced  as  a  speculative  truth. 
Next,  it  is  reduced  to  pretended  practice,  by  persons 
who  think  they  give  themselves  up,  unreservedly,  to  be 
guided  \ij  the  immediate  suggestions  of  the  Spirit ; 
accompanied  by  the  behef  that  they  can  tell  a  move- 
ment of  the  Spirit  by  the  feeling  of  it.  Next, — which 
is  scarcely  another  step,  —  they  beheve  themsei\jes 
inaccessible  to  temptation  ;  either  because  they  have 
become  so  holy  that  the  devil  can  have  no  access  to 
them,  or  because  they  can  tell  the  movements  of  the 
Spirit  from  every  thing  else  so  easily  and  infallibly. 
Next,  certain  feehngs  which  some  of  the  male  and 
female  members  of  the  sect  have  for  each  other,  being 
of  the  nature,  not  of  hate  but  of  love,  are  taken  for 
the  motions  of  the  Spirit,  and  followed  accordingly  ; 
ending,  theoretically,  in  certain  nonsense  about  spiritual 
marriage,  and  practically,  in  the  grossest  licentiousness. 
This  is  the  last  stage  of  ihQ  disease.  Those  who  have 
not  yet  joined  them  understand  their  character,  and 
they  cease  to  make  proselytes.  They  themselves — that 
is,  such  of  them  as  are  not  really  insane, — become 
undeceived.  Some  few,  very  few  probably,  who  have 
not  been  quite  so  '  perfect'  as  the  rest,  recover  so 
much  of  their  Christian  character  as  to  be  tolerable  ; 


266  NOYESISM  UNVEILED. 

others  take  up  the  business  of  rehgious  imposture  as  a 
trade  ;  and  the  greater  part  become  avowed  infidels. 
Some  years  since  we  watched  the  progress  of  a  little 
sect  of  Perfectionists  through  all  these  stages,  from  its 
predisposing  cause  to  its  final  termination.  Several 
months  since,  we  received  a  communication,  on  good 
authority,  stating  that  some  of  the  Perfectionists  of 
this  day  had  begun  to  practice  their  spiritual  marriage 
very  disreputably." 

We  subjoin  a  more  extended  article,  written  with 
considerable  ability,  by  Rev.  S.  B.  Yarrington,  a 
Methodist  clergyman  residing  in  the  interior  of  New- 
York.  It  was  published  in  1843.  Mr.  Yarrington 
brings  to  view  some  of  the  mental  phenomena  attendant 
upon  the  reception  of  Perfectionist  doctrines.  He 
directs  the  mind  to  a  subject  for  contemplation  worthy 
of- special  attention.  This  is  an  all-important  point. 
We  should  cautiously  guard  against  that  morbific  state 
of  mind,  and  that  unhealthful  tone  of  moral  feeling 
which  tends  to  induce  this  dangerous  disease.  The 
entrance  should  be  sedulously  watched,  for  it  is  much 
easier  keeping  the  enemy  out  than  it  is  expelling  him 
when  he  has  once  entered.  Mr.  Yarrington  speaks 
briefly,  though  pertinently,  of  ''  the  rise,  progress, 
cause,  tendency  and  cure  of  modern  Perfectionism." 
He  says : — 

''  This  egregious  error  arose  about  twelve  years  since, 
at  a  time  of  almost  unparalleled  excitement  in  these 
States,  under  the  labors  of  certain  eccentric  revivalists, 
whose  names  need  not  be  mentioned, — some  of  whom 
have  dropped  like  stars  from  the  galaxy,  and  all  ceased 
to  agitate  and  convulse  the  land. 


NOYESISM  UNVEILED.  267 

"  The  heresy  spread  rapidly  for  a  time.  The  mass, 
however,  being  composed  of  heterogeneous  materials, 
having  little  affinity,  soon  gave  signs  of  disintegration, 
and  the  fire  that  burnt  strong  at  first,  presently  smoul- 
dered away  for  want  of  sustenance.  Still,  the  dying 
embers  remain  in  society,  scattered  in  every  direction, 
and  wherever  they  have  fallen,  to  a  certain  extent 
bum  and  sterilize  the  moral  soil,  destroying  the  seed  of 
truth  that  is  sown  therein.  It  is  not  probable  that  this 
error  is  on  the  advance  at  present,  but  rather,  it  is  to 
be  hoped,  on  the  decline.  Yet,  like  the  wounded  bear, 
it  makes  an  eflbrt  to  live,  and  to  recover  its  energies 
that  it  may  revenge  itself  on  its  assailants. 

"  The  cause  of  this  delusion  may  be  traced  to  the 
efiervescence  of  certain  minds  about  1830.  As  Venus 
is  said  to  have  arisen  from  the  froth  of  the  ocean,  so 
this  heresy  was  begotten  in  the  fumes  of  fanaticism. 
As  one  extreme  is  attended  by  another,  so  the  wild, 
unscriptural  notion  of  necessary  indwelling  sin,  by  the 
collision  of  antagonist  minds,  gave  place  to  the  no  less 
extravagant  and  anti-biblical  idea  of  impeccability. 
An  over-weening  self-esteem,  doubtless,  conduced  some- 
what to  the  production  of  such  an  opinion.  Cultivating 
one  class  of  faculties  to  the  neglect  of  others,  probably 
contributed  to  the  same  end.  It  is  pernicious  to  mental 
improvement  to  become  the  '  creature  of  one  idea.' 
The  human  mind  has  more  than  one  faculty.  In  it 
many  difierent  powers  inhere.  These  powers  should 
be  cultivated  so  as  to  balance  each  other,  or  equilibrate. 
The  modem  Perfectionist  seems  to  have  cultivated 
self-approbation  and  marvellousness,  whilst  he  has  barred 
the  door  to  such  intmders  as  comparison,  causality  and 
veneration :  whereas  the  latter  had  most  need  of 
tuition.  Intense,  unabated  study  of  divine  subjects 
may  have,  more  innocently,  beguiled  some  unwary 
individuals  into  the  arms  of  this  Delilah.     Man  is  so 


26B  NOYESISM  UNVEILED. 

constituted  that  he  cannot  for  a  very  long  season,  with- 
out interruption  or  relaxation,  prosecute  one  train  of 
thought  without  shattering  somewhat  the  pillars  of  the 
intellectual  edifice.  No  doubt  many  imbibe  error  by 
first  blunting  their  mental  powers  in  this  way  ;  and  not 
a  few,  by  the  same  course,  conduct  reason  to  certain 
and  long,  perhaps  fife-long,  interment.  Some  well 
meaning  persons  have  imagined  that  the  height  of 
piety  consists,  not  in  active  labors  for  the  salvation  of 
souls,  but  in  uninterrupted  contemplations  of  refigious 
themes.  Let  a  person  pursue  this  course  one  year,  and 
his  mind,  however  strong  in  the  commencement,  will 
have  become  somewhat  imbeeihtated.  Probably  some 
individuals  of  more  than  ordinary  talent,  have  in  this 
way  neutralized  their  influence,  and  well  nigh  rendered 
themselves  nuisances  in  community.  Variety  in  things 
lawful  and  expedient  is  truly  the  spice  and  food  of  the 
mind. 

"The  tendency  of  Perfectionism  is  'e\dl,  only  evil,  and 
that  continually'.  The  suicidal  efforts  of  its  advocates 
can  but  be  injurious  to  the  physical  economy.  As  well 
might  the  volcano  remain  undiminished  within  at  the 
time  of  its  irruption,  as  such  persons  retain  their  health 
in  the  midst  of  such  awful  disemboguements.  Never 
did  a  system  of  error  have  a  more  withering,  scathing 
influence  upon  intellect,  than  does  this,  where  it  is 
allowed  to  have  full  scope,  put  forth  all  its  energy,  and 
stamp  its  own  image  on  its  votary.  Indeed,  it  is  an 
idiotic  theory ;  and  cannot  be  expected  to  gender 
aught  but  its  like.  The  stream  can  rise  no  higher 
than  the  fountain.  Like  system,  like  advocate.  Fol- 
low the  fightnings  in  all  their  zig-zags  through  the  sky, 
before  attempting  to  trace  the  trackless  flight  of  such 
an  intellect  I  True  refigion  can  by  no  possibility  be 
hostile  to  science  and  intellectual  improvement.  What- 
ever, therefore,  is  prejudicial  to  these  interests,  is  anti- 


NOYESISM   UNVEILED.  269 

religion.  To  assume  that  man  may  not  be  deeply 
pious  without  impairing  at  least  some  of  his  faculties, 
is  to  present  Christianity  in  a  sorry  attitude.  On  the 
contrary,  it  may  be  asserted,  fearless  of  refutation,  that 
there  is  nothing  so  well  calculated  to  develop  the  native 
powers  of  mind  as  the  Christian  religion.  What  injury 
did  Christianity  inflict  upon  the  subhme  genius  of  a 
Milton,  or  the  philosophic  mind  of  a  Newton  ?  Men 
never  surpassed,  the  former  in  the  department  of 
poetry,  the  latter  in  that  of  mathematics.  No  doubt 
religion  was  the  intellectual  food  of  these  men.  Milton 
was  greatly  indebted  to  his  knowledge  and  love  of  the 
Bible  for  his  unrivalled  sublimity  of  thought  and 
expression.  Newton's  reverence  and  love  of  Deity 
contributed  much  to  the  profundity  and  acumen  of  his 
gigantic  mind.  The  absolute  Perfectionist  runs  a 
meagre  chance  of  rivalling  these  or  any  other  great 
men  in  any  department  of  science  or  literature,  from 
the  fact  that  in  the  outset  of  his  career  he  lays  suicidal 
hands  upon  the  best  faculties  of  his  nature,  and  yields 
himself  up  to  the  control  of  powers  that  ought  to 
operate  in  obedience  to  the  guidance  of  their  superiors. 
The  moral  tendency  of  this  presumptuous  notion  is 
equally  deleterious.  As  well  might  the  Sirocco  enter 
Italy,  or  the  Simoom  rush  upon  a  caravan  in  the  desert 
without  inflicting  injury,  as  this  system  be  other  than  a 
'  Bohon  Upas'  to  the  morals  of  any  vicinity  where  it 
prevails.  By  it  the  '  fruitful  field  is  converted  into  a 
wilderness',  and  the  song  of  the  nightingale  into  the 
croak  of  the  raven.  It  sweeps  by  the  board  aU  the 
stated  formal  means  of  grace.  Family  religion  is 
blighted  with  mildew.  The  breezes  of  the  Sabbath 
sing  the  funeral  dirge  of  Jehovah's  day  of  rest,  while 
the  monster  prepares  a  sepulchre  for  its  entombment. 

"  Little   hope   can   be   indulged  of  restoring   to   a 
healthy  state  of  mind  the  modem  Perfectionist  whose 


270  NOYBSISM  UNVEILED. 

belief  is  of  long  standing.  The  reason  is,  no  access 
can  be  had  to  those  faculties  which  ought  to  be 
addressed,  on  account  of  their  dormancy,  if  not  ex- 
tinction of  functions.  Where  the  reception  of  this 
error  is  of  recent  date,  however,  there  is  some  prospect 
of  producing  a  state  of  convalescence  bj  making  a  loud 
appeal  to  these  nobler  powers,  their  languishing 
energies  not  having  as  yet  become  completely  pros- 
trated. The  following  directions  may  not,  therefore, 
be  altogether  unavailing.  Make  an  effort  to  reflect  on 
a  variety  of  subjects,  rejecting  none  that  are  lawful 
and  expedient.  This  is  absolutely  necessary  to  restore 
a  sickly  mind,  and  also  to  preserve  it  in  that  state. 
Monomania  is  a  mental  disease  of  alarming  prevalence 
at  the  present  time.  It  is  produced  by  taking  an  op- 
posite course  from  the  one  here  advised.  Be  sociable 
with  all,  and  converse  as  instructed  to  meditate,  that 
is,  on  various  topics,  provided  they  are  useful.  Deeply 
ponder  the  depravity  of  the  human  heart,  aside  from 
grace ;  and  consider  the  imbecility  and  folly  even  of 
the  best  of  men  compared  with  the  potency  and  wisdom 
of  the  Infinite  Unknown,  and  yet  sufficiently  known  to 
the  wise,  in  their  judgment  eternally  to  eclipse  all 
created  excellence.  Feel  like  a  mere  point  amid  the 
splendors  of  the  Great  Adorable.  In  fine,  pray  to  be 
made  and  to  be  kept  humble.  Remember,  so  far  from 
being  able  to  equal  the  Omniperfect  here,  no  man  or 
angel,  though  constantly  increasing  in  knowledge  and 
holiness,  will  ever  approach  so  near  to  divine  per- 
fection, as  not  to  find  himself  infinitely  in  the  rear. 
Be  humble,  therefore,  and  be  wise.*' 


NOYBSISM  ITK VEILED.  271 

CHAPTER  XXVII. 

Remarks  of  0.  H,  Piatt,  Esq. 

The  extracts  given  in  the  preceding  chapter  refer  to 
Perfectionism,  both  at  an  early  period,  and  also  after  it 
had  existed  several  years,  and  had  given  some  practi- 
cal demonstrations  of  the  direct  tendency  of  its  doc- 
trines. At  an  early  date  its  character  was  discerned 
and  its  tendency  clearly  seen  by  the  intelligent  and 
observing,  and  the  sad  consequences  which  it  was 
evident  would  naturally  follow  its  promulgation  were 
anticipated  and  deeply  deplored  by  the  virtuous  part  of 
community.  From  the  time  of  its  commencement 
at  New  Haven  in  1834,  the  tide  of  events  took  their 
natural  course  among  Perfectionists,  and  at  length 
assumed  an  alarming  aspect. 

Mr.  Noyes,  however,  from  time  to  time  resorted  to 
various  expedients  to  screen  himself  and  his  followers 
from  merited  reprobation,  and  by  repeated  shufflings 
succeeded  in  keeping,  to  some  extent,  from  public  view 
the  practical  tendency  and  results  of  his  pernicious 
principles.  But  they  have  at  length  fully  come  to^ 
light,  and  doubt  no  longer  hangs  over  the  subject. 

But  let  us  for  a  season  leave  the  past  and  come 
down  to  matters  of  more  recent  date.  We  shall  not, 
however,  here  enter  into  any  minute  detail  of  transac- 
tions which  have  taken  place  in  Putney;  but  shall 
quote  some  general  expressions  of  opinion  relative  to 
tiie  posture  of  affiiirs  after  certain  developments  had 
been  made. 


272  NOYESISM  UNVEILED. 

Up  to  the  time  of  the  demonstration  at  Putney,  in 
the  autumn  of  1847,  the  press  in  this  section,  both 
secular  and  religious,  had  passed  the  matter  by  as  an 
insignificant  and  harmless  affair,  unworthy  of  notice 
and  even  undeserving  of  the  notoriety  which  a  public 
attack  would  give  it.  But  affkirs  assumed  such  an 
aspect  as  to  attract  public  notice  not  only  in  this  section 
of  the  country,  but  elsewhere ;  and  several  public 
journals  bestowed  considerable  attention  upon  them. 

We  shall  give  some  extracts  from  several  editorial 
articles  published  in  the  Vermont  Phoenix,  at  Brattle- 
boro'.  Those  articles  received  the  approbation  of  the 
community,  and  were  not  only  expressive  of  the  views 
of  the  Editor  of  that  paper,  but  will  serve  as  a  fair 
exhibition  of  the  sentiments  which  universally  prevailed 
and  which  still  prevail  in  the  community  at  large,  at 
least  so  fa;r  as  the'  facts  in  the  case  are  known. 

0.  H.  Piatt,  Esq.,  Editor  of  the  Phoenix,  in  his 
paper  of  Nov.  24, 1847,  holds  the  following  language  : — 
"  Since  the  last  issue  of  the  Phoenix,  we  have  taken 
some  pains  to  inform  ourselves,  as  well  of  the  present 
conduct  and  condition  of  the  Society  calling  themselves 
'  Perfectionists,'  in  Putney,  as  of  the  tenets  and  doc- 
trines they  profess.  We  learn  that  though  some  of 
the  individuals  of  this  sect  have  dispersed,  the  Associ- 
ation itself  is  7iot  broken  up,  nor  their  organ  discon- 
tinued— but  on  the  contrary,  that  the  peculiar  tenets 
which,  with  them,  justify  the  conduct  complained  of, 
are  still  pertinaciously  adhered  to  ;  that  meetings  are 
still  held,  and  the  community  have  a  right  to  believe, 
that,  though  popular  indignation  may  suppress  for  a 
time  the  public  exhibition  of  their  conduct,  they  still 


JVfOrESISM    UNVEILED.  273 

continue  to  practice  what  thej  boldly  preach  and 
justify.  .  .  .  We  confess  to  utter  ignorance,  until  the 
last  week,  of  the  origin  and  history,  as  well  as  of  the 
nature  and  tendency  of  the  peculiar  doctrines  of  this 
sect  of  '  Perfectionists.'  With  a  desire  to  do  impartial 
justice,  and  to  be  satisfied  Tvhether  the  ebullition  of 
feeling  manifested  by  the  citizens  of  Putney,  was 
justified  as  well  by  the  published  principles,  as  the 
actual  practices  of  the  'Perfectionists,'  we  have  taken 
some  pains  to  procure  their  pubhcations,  and  to 
examine  them.  .  .  .  The  acts  complained  of  are  not 
only  the  natural  result  of  the  doctrines  they  hold  and 
teach,  but  actually  constitute  in  themselves  one  of  their 
pubhshed  tenets.  ...  The  avowal  of  them,  [their 
doctrines]  though  plain  and  positive,  was  so  covered  up 
by  subtleties,  by  mystification,  and  confused  explana- 
tion, and  by  bold  denial  of  imputed  licentious  conse- 
quences and  results,  that  the  unwary  and  the  unsuspi- 
cious might  well  be  deceived.  This  consideration 
should  inculcate  feelings  of  charity  towards  those  who 
seem  innocently  to  have  l)een  misled,  and  drawn  into 
the  vortex  of  ruin.  It  has  also  determined  us  to  give 
our  readers  v/ho  may  be  as  ignorant  on  this  subject  as 
we  have  been,  the  history  of  this  sect,  and  the  proof 
which  their  pul^lislied  tenets  afford,  that  in  their 
domestic  relations  they  are  not  only  absolved  from  the 
observance  of  the  moral  law,  but  the  constant  infrac- 
tion of  it,  is  required  as  a  necessary  consequence  of 
the  state  of  perfection  they  lay  claim  to— in  fine,  that 
as  to  all  sexual  relations,  they  are  strictly  Antinomians. 
"  It  is  not  within  the  province  of  tliis  journal  to 
discuss  controversial  points  of  religious  doctrine,  unless 
they  tend  directly  to  the  infraction  and  subversion  of 
the  laws  which  uphold  the  fabric  of  society  and  gov- 
ernment ;  and  we  shall  tliereforc  endeavor  to  keep 
18 


274  NOYBSISM  UNVEILED. 

within  this  limit.  But  when  such  monstrous  doctrines 
as  these  are  promulgated  and  practiced,  and  when 
there  is  such  indubitable  evidence  as  the  history  of 
this  sect  has  furnished  us,  to  prove  that  the  young,  the 
innocent  and  unsuspicious,  are  enticed  to  disgrace  and 
ruin  by  them,  and  that  systematic  seduction  and  licen- 
tiousness are  practiced  under  the  specious  garb  of 
religion — or  rather,  made  impiously  a  part  of  religion 
itself — it  is  time  for  the  public  press  to  expose  the  true 
character  of  its  prmciples,  and  warn  the  young  and 
credulous,  at  least,  of  the  snares  that  are  spread  for 
them." 

In  the  Phoenix  of  Jan.  7,  1848,  Mr.  Piatt  continues 
as  follows  : — 

"  The  organ  of  this  sect  has  been  treated  in  general, 
by  the  religious  and  political  press,  with  silent  con- 
tempt, as  the  weak  and  harmless  effusion  of  a  distem- 
pered brain  ;  but  it  has  nevertheless  obtained  a  wide 
circulation,  made  converts,  and  secured  for  the  sect  a 
foothold  in  many  parts  of  the  country.  Its  pernicious 
principles,  choked  with  artful  disguises,  have  thus 
been  suffered  to  infuse  their  poison  far  and  near, 
unchecked  by  exposure  and  warning,  and  almost 
imnoticed.  The  names  of  contributors,  subscribers, 
and  converts,  with  their  religious  experience  in  the 
form  of  letters,  appear  conspicuously  in  the^  paper,  • 
and  have  accompanied  it,  as  endorsers  of  the  doctrines 
it  inculcates.   .   .  . 

"  The  female  converts  seemed  to  take  pleasure  in 
blazoning  abroad  their  shameless  doctrines,  under  the 
authority  of  a  multitude  of  Bible  quotations,  and  the 
solemn  mockery  of  obedience  to  the  promptings  of  the 
Holy  Spirit.  We  have  given  enough  to  show  the 
publicly  avowed  principles  and  practices  of  the  '  Per- 
fectionists,' at  this  early  stage  of  their  existence. 


NOYESISM  UNVEILED.  275 

"  These  principles  were  industriouslj  disseminated 
in  all  parts  of  the  country,  both  bj  the  gratuitous  circu- 
lation of  the  paper,  and  the  personal  preaching  of  Mr. 
jS'ojes ;  and  many  societies  formed.  The  idea  of 
])erfeet  holiness,  of  being  in  a  state  where  it  is  impos- 
sible to  sin,  where  salvation  is  secured  beyond  a  perad- 
venture,  is  no  doubt  alluring  and  sweet ;  and  it  is  not 
wonderful  that  many  persons,  credulous  and  unreflect- 
ing, or  tempest-tost  and  shipwrecked  upon  the  waves  of 
controverted  points  of  religious  doctrine,  should  fly 
for  refuge  to  this  infallible  soul-preserver,  in  v/hich 
every  fear  and  every  anxiety  is  banished  forever, 
and  all  the  passions  hold  a  jubilee.  It  is  a  tempting 
bait  to  the  anxious  and  inquiring  mind  ;  and,  garnished 
as  it  is,  with  plausible  passages  of  Scripture,  requires 
but  a  little  self-deception  to  make  it  palatable  and  safe. 
The  utter  licentiousness  and  wickedness  to  which  this 
doctrine  of  Perfection  leads,  is  glossed  over  and 
buried,  by  specious  denials,  and  a  multitude  of  words, 
which  mean  nothing.  The  new  converts,  unconscious 
perhaps  at  first,  of  the  practical  results  of  their 
religious  belief,  are  led  along,  step  by  step,  and  their 
minds  gradually  prepared  to  swallow  Perfectionism, 
with  ail  its  revolting  abominations. 

"If  Mr.  Noyes  is  charged  with  holding  himself  exempt 
from  all  obedience  to  law,  he  boldly  denies  it — he 
admits  his  independence  of  external  law,  but  he  will 
tell  you  he  is  guided  by  an  internal  law,  the  Imv  of  the 
Spirit  J  which  is  paramount  to  all  others.  If  you 
charge  him  with  licentiousness  m  his  doctrines  and 
practice,  he  will  deny  this  also,  and  tell  you,  that 
though,  in  domestic  relations  and  sexual  intercourse, 
the  Perfectionists  disregard  the  civil  and  moral  law,  yet 
they  are  still  acting  under  the  '  law  of  the  /Spirit,^ 
and  therefore  it  is  not  licentiousness.  In  other  words, 
they  may  give  free  rem  to  unbridled  vico  and  debauch- 


276  NOYBSISM  UNVEILED. 

erj,  and  may  trample  with  impunity  upon  all  the  rules 
of  morality  and  decency,  and  still  it  is  right,  because 
prompted  by  the  '  law  of  the  Spirit.' 

"  Many  of  the  societies,  that  sprung  up  in  other  sec- 
tions of  the  country,  practiced  the  doctrines  of  the 
'Battle-Axe'  letter  so  openly  as  to  bring  down  upon 
them  the  indignation  of  the  community,  and  the  penalties 
of  the  law.  ...  In  Putney  under  the  immediate  eye 
of  Mr.  Noyes,  things  were  conducted  more  prudently ; 
and  while  asserting,  as  he  does  in  the  '  Berean,'  that 
believers  '  are  released  from  the  law,  without  the  dan- 
ger of  licentiousness,'  he  kept  their  practices  secret  for 
a  time.  .  .  .  Not  only  is  unbridled  license  given  to 
the  passions  by  this  state  of  '  perfect  holiness,'  but  the 
exercise  of  every  natural  affection  is  forbidden.  Hus- 
band and  wife,  parent  and  child,  brother  and  sister, 
must  banish  every  feeling  of  affection,  and  regard  each 
other  as  not  of  kin,  and  if  they  are  .all  Perfectionists, 
have  the  same  freedom  of  intercourse  with  each  other, 
as  with  other  members.  In  fine,  the  ordinary  parental, 
matrimonial  and  blood  relations  are  annihilated,  and 
have  no  existence  among  the  '  perfect' — they  are  aU 
brothers  and  sisters,  and  husbands. and  wives  together. 
Some  of  the  female  correspondents  seem  to  take 
special  delight  in  boasting  of  their  contempt  of  natural 
affections.  One  of  them,  whose  father  attempted  to 
reprove  her  abandoned  conduct,  says  she  '  stepped^  up 
and  struck  him  in  the  face  and  said  to  him,  he  had  got 
the  biggest  devil  she  had  seen,  and  if  he  would  believe 
she  would  cast  him  out.' 

'-'•  We  sicken  with  this  disgusting  and  revolting  exhi- 
bition of  the  very  incarnation  of  beastly  licentiousness 
and  crime,  and,  passing  over  the  semi-monthly  repeti- 
tion of  it,  we  come  do^vn  to  the  last  year. 

''  In  the  spiing  of  1847,  emboldened  by  the  succees 
of  his   operations,   and   the   apparent  indifference   of 


NOYBSISM  UNVEILED.  277 

community  to  his  proceedings,  Mr.  Noyes  induced  the 
^  body  of  believers'  in  Putney  to  join  their  '  households 
under  a  common  roof.^  This  was  probably  to  facilitate 
the  promiscuous  intercourse  enjoined  upon  believers — 
for,  heretofore,  though  constantly  urging  upon  them 
the  duty  and  necessity  of  submitting  to  this  free  com- 
munity of  intercourse,  he  still  stoutly  denied  the 
actual  practice  of  it  himself.  But  the  impunity  of  his 
previous  conduct  at  length  determined  him  to  throw 
aside  the  thin  cloak  of  pretended  decency  he  had 
heretofore  maintained,  and  to  fraetice  openly^  what  he 
had  constantly  preached  openly,  and  doubtless  secretly 
practiced. 

"  On  the  first  of  June  1847 — as  related  by  him  in 
the  '  Spiritual  Magazine'  for  July — at  a  meeting  of  his 
flock,  he  argues  the  question  fully,  and  thus  states  it : 

"  '  I  will  put  the  question.  Is  it  not  noiv  the  time  for 
us  to  commence  the  testimony,  that  the  Kingdom  of 
God  has  come  ?  to  proclaim  boldly  that  God,  in  His 
character  of  Deliverer,  Lawgiver  and  Judge,  has  come 
in  this  town,  and  in  this  association  V 

"  After  noticing  the  discussion  to  which  it  gave  rise, 
he  states  the  conclusion  thus : 

" '  It  was  unanimously  adopted,  therefore,  as  the 
consistent  testimony  of  the  believers  assembled,  that 
the  Kingdom  of  God  has  come.' 

"  This  was  nothing  more  than  the  public  transfer  of 
themselves,  by  resolution,  to  that  state  of  '  perfect 
holiness'  which  sanctifies  vice  and  profligacy  as  a 
religious  duty.  ...  It  may  seem  strange  that  Mr. 
Noyes  should  deem  it  necessary  to  hold  a  meeting  and 
put  it  to  vote,  whether  the  '  Kingdom  of  God'  had 
come  ;  but  it  is  probable  there  were  some  refractory 
members — some  who  could  not  see  how  an  act  that  was 
wicked  and  criminal  on  earth,  could  be  holy  and 
innocent  in  Heaven,  and  it  might  be  necesaory  to  bring 


278  N0TE8ISM  UNVEILED. 

a  little  public  opinion  to  bear  upon  them.  It  is  saidy 
however,  that  after  this  pubhc  vote,  the  doctrine  of 
Perfection,  in  all  its  length  and  breadth,  was  carried 
into  practice  by  the  Association  at  Putney,  publicly 
and  professedly. 

"  It  would  seem,  from  his  paper,  that  Mr.  Noyes 
had  occasionally  some  difficulty  in  breaking  down  the 
barriers  of  virtue  and  decency  ;  and  considerable  space 
is  devoted  to  the  removal — ^by  plausible  sophistry,  or 
threatened  expulsion  from  Heaven  — -  of  supposed 
scruples  and  reluctance,  and  the  complete  triumph 
over  shame,  modesty,  and  the  worldly  ideas  of  virtue 
and  chastity,  is  treated  as  a  Christian  duty^  of  necessity 
preliminary  to  the  attainment  of  perfect  holiness." 

After  having  given  numerous  extracts  from  the 
writings  of  Mr.  ISToyes,  and  from  communications  re- 
ceived from  his  correspondents,  accompanied  with 
appropriate  comments,  Mr.  Piatt  concludes  his  long 
and  able  editorial,  pubHshed  in  the  Phoenix  of  Jan.  7, 
1848,  and  from  which  we  have  made  several  extracts, 
with  the  following  appropriate  and  forcible  remarks  ;— 

"  We  forbear  further  extracts  to  show  what  is  the 
doctrine  and  practice  of  the  Perfectionists,  in  reference 
to  the  moral  law.  We  have  been  thus  particular  in 
making  quotations,  to  show  and  convince  all,  and 
especially  those  who,  unaware  of  their  tendency,  are 
inclined  to  espouse  their  principles,  that  the  recent 
demonstration  at  Putney  is  no  casual  outbreak  or  effer- 
vescence of  excitement,  nor  the  wild  excesses  of  a 
few  pretended  and  hypocritical  Perfectionists,  but  the 
genuine,  necessary,  and  inevitable  result  of  their  pid)- 
lisTied  doctrines  and  creed,  from  their  first  avowal  at 
New-Haven,  to  the  present  time.  We  have  given 
enough  to  show  the  criminality  of  their  principles  as^ 


NOYESISM   UNVEILED.  279 

well  as  their  practice  ;  to  show,  that  they  are  utterly 
subversive  of  the  whole  fabric  of  society,  and  of  moral 
and  civil  law  ;  and  annihilate,  at  a  blow,  every  vestige, 

of  VIRTUE,  DECENCY,  and  NATURAL  AFFECTION.      These 

shocking  consequences  of  the  doctrine  of  Perfection 
are  carefully  concealed,  however,  from  the  young  and 
unsuspicious  converts.  To  them,  nothing  is  revealed 
but  the  beauty  of  a  state  of  '  perfect  holinels' ;  of  the 
bliss  of  believing,  that  though  on  Earth,  they  may 
actually  enter  Heaven,  where  it  is  impossible  to  sin, 
and  where  salvation  is  certain.  Many,  sjixious  for  the 
future,  and  having  no  fixed  ideas  upon  religious  sub- 
jects, clutch  eagerly  at  this  doctrine  of  '  perfect 
holiness',  as  a  drowning  man  catches  straws ;  and 
shutting  their  eyes  upon  doubts  and  consequences, 
believe  because  they  want  to  believe  it.  Others  doubt- 
less look  upon  Perfectionism  with  the  eye  of  the 
libertine,  and  see  in  it  only  an  easy  and  safe  mode  of 
deluding  and  destroying. 

"  We  would  hope  there  are  many  who  have  been 
deceived  into  the  embrace  of  this  pernicious  doctrine, 
and  yet  kept  in  ignorance  of  its  true  character  and 
tendency  ;  and  who,  when  informed  of  it,  will  hasten 
to  escape  from  the  fathomless  abyss  which  yavfns  at 
their  feet. 

"Let  it  not  be  supposed  that  such  impious  ribaldry 
and  weak  sophistry  can  do  no  mischief,  and  does  not 
require  exposure  and  reprobation  by  the  press.  It  has 
already  penetrated,  and  found  advocates  and  victims,  in 
almost  every  county  of  New-England  and  New- York. 
The  newspaper  organ  has  been  mostly  filled  vfith  letters 
from  recent  converts,  scattered  through  the  whole 
country  ;  and  it  plainly  shows  that  many  of  them  are 
ignorant  of  the  practical  tendency  of  Perfectionism, 
and  have  been  deceived.  The  paper  has  attained,  by 
gratuitous  distribution,  a  very  considerable  circulation, 


280  NOYESISM  UNVEILED. 

and  the  '  Berean,'  containing  matter  quite  as  infamous, 
is  meeting  with  a  rapid  and  extensive  sale.  It  was  only 
in  September  last  that  two  conventions  of  Perfection- 
ists were  held  in  the  State  of  New-York — one  at 
Lairds ville  5  and  one  at  Genoa — and  associations  formed 
upon  the  model  of  that  at  Putney.  The  association  at 
Putney  has  been  the  fountain  of  the  poisonous  stream 
of  Perfe(?fcionism,  wherever  it  flows  ;  and  though  its 
founder  and  some  of  the  members  have  been  driven 
away  by  outraged  public  feeling,  it  still  maintains  its 
organization,  and  the  remaining  members  still  adhere  to 
the  doctrine  of  Perfection,  as  stated  above.  The 
paper,  which  has  been  the  instrument  of  all  this 
wide-spread  mischief  and  ruin,  is  merely  suspended  in 
deference  to  public  sentiment,  not  discontinued  ;  and 
the  whole  machinery  of  the  association  is  evidently 
waiting  only  for  the  excited  public  feeling  to  subside, 
to  be*  again  set  in  motion. 

"  Under  these  circumstances,  we  have  felt  it  a  duty 
devolving  upon  the  public  press,  to  strip  the  veil  from 
this  monster  of  iniquity — standing  up  in  society  like 
the  fabled  Upas  tree  in  the  desert,  alluring  the  hapless 
wanderer  by  its  luxuriant  foliage  and  fragrant  perfume, 
to  seek  repose  under  its  shade,  but  dealing  instant 
death  to  all  who  come  within  the  influence  of  its 
poisoned  atmosphere.  We  have  thought  it  a  duty  to 
expose  it  to  view,  in  all  its  naked  hideousness,  perad- 
venture  it  may  open  the  eyes  of  some,  who  have  been 
enticed  within  its  influence,  and  forewarn  the  unwary 
and  innocent. 

"  If  people  have  regarded  this  doctrine  as  harmless 
and  contemptible,  they  will  do  so  no  more.  The 
persevering  and  systematic  attempts  to  entice  the 
young  and  unsuspecting  into  their  association — some- 
times successful  and  at  others  happily  frustrated — show 
how  dangerous  it  is  to  community,  and  how  necessary 


NOYESISM   UNVBILED.  281 

it  is  to  provide  a  prompt  and  efficient  remedy.  It  is 
the  duty  of  every  citizen,  who  would  not  see  the  sacred 
family  and  domestic  institutions  broken  down,  to  lend 
his  voice  and  influence  to  extirpate  this  evil.  It  is  to 
be  hoped,  that  those  now  connected  with  it,  will  see 
its  destructive  tendency,  and  abandon  it  ;  but  there 
should  be,  in  regard  to  it,  neither  toleration  nor 
compromise.  The  public  should  understand — what  is 
in  fact  true — that  every  household,  -holding  and  prac- 
ticing doctrines  similar  to  this  at  Putney,  is  in  fact  a 
brothel.  It  should  be  marked  and  shunned  as  infa- 
mous. It  should  be  known  that  each  member  of  it 
holds  to  principles  that  justify  theft,  robbery,  arson,  and 
murder,  and  all  other  crimes  his  evil  passions  prompt  ; 
for  he  cannot  sin,  and  his  impulse  is  the  only  law  he 
recognizes.  After  all  efforts  to  reclaim  them  have 
failed,  let  every  member  of  such  association  be  fol- 
lowed, wherever  he  goes,  by  public  infamy  and  public 
abhorrence,  and  marked  and  shunned  as  a  pubhc 
enemy. 

^'We  have  charity  to  beheve,  that  many  have 
embraced  this  doctrine  honestly,  and  without  any 
suspicion  of  its  consequences  or  true  character.  All 
such  will  hasten  to  abandon  and  denounce  it.  It 
might  be  charitable  to  beheve  that  the  founder  of  this 
association  is  a  monomaniac,  on  the  subject  of  religion  ; 
and  it  may  have  been  true  in  the  beginning  of  his 
course  ;  but  a  monomaniac  is  honest  and  truthful. 
His  opinions  may  be  absurd,  and  his  reasoning 
ridiculous,  yet  he  will  never  flinch  from  the  position 
he  takes,  nor  tell  a  wilful  untruth  to  escape  the  odium 
of  it.  It  is  possible  Mr.  Noyes  was  honest  in  his 
letter  to  the  '•  Advocate  of  Moral  Reform,'  denying  his 
own  doctrines,  as  asserted  and  acted  upon  by  him  both 
before  and  afterwards.  It  is  possible  he  was  sincere 
in   holding   '  beUevers'   to  be  in   a  state  of    '  perfect 


282  NOYBSISM   UNVEILED. 

holiness,'  and  incapable  of  sinning^  when  he  was 
constantly  denouncing  as  hypocrites,  those  believers, 
whose  licentious  conduct  happened  to  become  public. 
We  say  it  is  possible,  but  is  it  probable  9  To  us,  there 
seems  to  be  in  his  conduct  a  marvellous  exhibition  of 
scheming,  insincerity,  and  libertinism,  for  a  mono- 
maniac. 

"We  dismiss  the  subject  with  a  single  remark. 
Many  of  the  frie'nds  of  the  individual  identified  with 
this  sect,  are  respectable  and  highly  respected  ;  and 
may  consider  themselves  somewhat  implicated  in  the 
exposure  and  reprobation  of  his  conduct.  It  is  not, 
however,  the  exposure  nor  the  reprobation,  but  the 
profession  and  practice  of  Ms  infamous  doctrines 
which  are  truly  disgraceful.  These  doctrines  have  been 
boldly  avowed  and  promulgated  by  him,  here,  for  ten 
years  past,  and  scattered  by  means  of  his  paper,  all 
over  the  country ;  yet  no  efforts  of  friends  or  relatives 
have  sufficed  to  suppress,  either  the  publication  or  the 
practice  of  them.  A  paper  so  hcentious  and  indecent 
— so  seditious  and  immoral  in  its  character,  as  this  has 
been  ever  since  its  commencement,  would  not,  even  in 
the  tainted  atmosphere  of  the  city,  be  tolerated  for  a 
single  week.  It  would  be  indicted  as  a  nuisance, 
before  a  second  number  could  be  issued,  and  suppressed 
by  the  strong  arm  of  the  law.  That  it  has  so 
long  been  endured  by  *the  respectable  and  intelhgent 
inhabitants  of  Putney,  is  owing  probably  to  the 
respectabihty  of  his  family,  and  a  reluctance  to 
wound  their  feelings  by  any  public  proceedmgs.  But 
to  whatever  cause  it  may  be  owing,  that  the  dis- 
semination of  the  infamous  doctrines  has  been  so  long 
tolerated — whether  from  the  disability  or  disinchnation 
of  friends,  or  the  apathy  or  forbearance  of  the  people — 
the  welfare  of  society  demands  that  these  pernicious 


NOYESISM  UNVEILED.  283 

principles  should  be  held  up  to  public  detestation  and 
abhorrence. 

"  We  shall  make  no  apology  for  the  length  of  this 
article.  The  subject  is  one  that  concerns  the  whole 
communitj,  and  if  we  have  been  remiss  in  bringing  it 
to  their  notice,  it  is  because  we  had  no  conception  of 
the  character  or  magnitude  of  the  evil.  In  respect  to 
it,  we  may  truly  say,  Hhe  half  has  not  been  told ;'  but 
we  trust  enough  has  been  said  to  put  the  public  on 
their  guard,  here  and  elsewhere," 


284  NOYESISM  UNVEILED. 


CHAPTER  XXVIII. 

Piitn  ey  Perfe  ctlonism . 

Below  will  be  found  the  substance  of  an  article 
which  was  published,  under  the  above  heading,  in 
whole  or  in  part,  in  several  public  journals,  soon  after 
the  developments  at  Putney  in  the  autumn  of  1847. 
The  article  was  prepared  by  the  writer,  and  although 
it  gives  but  a  very  succinct  account  of  what  had  trans- 
pired, yet,  as  far  as  it  goes,  it  is  beheved  to  be  a 
correct  statement  of  facts,  and  a  fair  representation  of 
existing  circumstances  : — 

Events  deeply  interesting  to  the  community  have 
recently  transpired  in  this  place.  Disclosures  have 
been  made,  and  facts  eUcited,  which  can  but  shock  the 
sensibilities  of  every  wtuous  mind  ;  and  it  is  due  to 
the  pubhc  that  they  should  be  made  acquainted  with 
existmg  circumstances,  and  thus  be  guarded  against 
further  encroachments  of  errors  most  demoralizing  in 
their  influence,  and  destructive  in  their  tendency. 

A  small  sect  or  community  of  Perfectionists^  so 
called,  has  had  an  existence  in  tliis  town  for  several 
years  past.  They  have  been  under  the  direction  of 
John  H.  Noyes,  who,  to  some  extent,  is  known  abroad, 
and  who  stands  at  the  head  of  this  modern  sect.  Mr. 
Noyes,  for  a  number  of  years,  has  been  industriously 
disseminating  the  most  pernicious  heresies,  principally 
through  the  medium  of  a  periodical  published  in  this 
village,  which,  from  time  to  time,  has  assumed  different 
names,  but  is  now  denominated  the  "  Spiritual  Maga- 
zine,'^ and  is  issued  semi-monthly.     Mr.    Noyes   has 


NOYESISM  UNVEILED.  285 

recently  published  a  work  entitled  '■  The  Beeean"," 
which  contains  his  views  relative  to  various  topics, 
and  is  for  sale  in  different  parts  of  the  country.  But 
it  does  not  appear  that  his  efforts  to  spread  his  heretical 
and  dangerous  doctrines  have  been  crowned  with  any 
very  signal  success,  though  some  small  societies  have 
been  formed  in  different  places. 

Mr.  Noyes  has  taken  the  strange  and  unwarrantable 
position,  that  the  moral  law  is  abohshed,  and  that  he 
and  his  followers  are  governed  and  guided  by  direct, 
inspiration  and  revelation,  as  were  the  inspired  Apos- 
tles. They  claim  to  be  the  true  churchy  and  pretend  that 
they  have  all  the  miraculous  gifts  of  the  apostolic  age. 
They  repudiate  the  Sabbath,  reject  all  religious  ordi- 
nances, deny  the  vahdity  of  the  Christian  ministry, 
sip  at  the  intoxicating  cup,  and  indulge  in  common 
amusements  to  any  desirable  extent.  Some  years 
since,  Mr.  Noyes  made  war  upon  the  marriage  institu- 
tion, and  advanced  sentiments  of  a  most  licentious 
tendency,  which  he  has  never  retracted,  but  has 
repeatedly  re-affirmed.  He  contends  that  in  a  holy 
community,  such  as  they  claim  to  be,  the  marriage 
covenant  is  virtually  null  and  void ! 

From  recent  developments,  the  civil  authorities 
deemed  it  their  duty  to  institute  a  legal  process  against 
Mr.  Noyes,  and  he  was  accordingly  arrested,  and 
placed  under  heavy  bonds  for  his  appearance  at  the 
next  term  of  the  County  Court,  for  Windham  County, 
but  has  since  absconded.  From  the  facts  which  have 
come  to  light,  it  appears  that  he  has  committed  crimes 
of  the  deepest  dye — crimes  of  such  a  character  that 
delicacy  forbids  that  they  should  be  mentioned.  Under 
the  seal  of  secresy,  and  the  assmned  garb  of  sanctity, 
he  has  practiced  the  grossest  iniquities  ;  but  his  deeds 
of  darkness  have  at  length  been  revealed  in  open  day 
— ^the  strong  arm  of  the  law  has  reached  him — and  he 


2S6  NOYESISM  UNVEILED. 

has  hastily  fled  from  the  face  of  justice  to   seek  a  shel- 
ter and  find  a  lodging  place  in  some  secluded  retreat. 

For  several  months  past,  a  number  of  families  have 
resided  together  in  a  large  dwelling  in  this  village, 
with  Mr.  Nojes  at  their  head.  The  recent  disclosures 
have  placed  them  before  the  public  in  no  verv  enviable 
position  :  and  the  same  odium  is  now  attached  to  them 
that  there  is  to  a  house  of  ill-fame.  All  who  adhere 
to  their  doctrines  and  remain  among  them,  are  now 
looked  upon  by  a  virtuous  community,  as  immoral 
characters ;  and  no  person  who  wishes  to  maintain  a 
respectable  standing  in  society,  will  hereafter  be  iden- 
tified with  them.  The  course  which  they  have  pur- 
sued for  some  time  past,  has  been  well  calculated  to 
deceive,  seduce,  and  ruin  the  young  and  unsuspecting. 
Efforts  have  been  made,  and  allurements  held  out,  for 
the  purpose  of  enticing  the  young,  drawing  them  in, 
and  seahng  their  certain  ruin  ;  and  in  some  instances 
they  have  been  successful.  The  domestic  circle  has 
been  invaded,  hearts  have  been  broken,  hopes  blasted, 
and  characters  ruined. 

Although  the  most  flattering  invitations  were 
extended  to  several  young  ladies  of  this  village  and 
vicinity,  yet  it  is  a  happy  reflection  that  the  victims  of 
their  guilt  have  not  been  very  numerous  ;  the  spell  is 
now  broken,  and  some  have  escaped,  like  the  bird  from 
the  snare  of  the  fowler,  or  the  fascination  of  the  wily 
serpent.  In  this  town  they  have  heretofore  numbered 
only  about  forty,  and  that  number  has,  of  late,  been 
very  materially  diminished ;  some  have  withdrawn, 
others  have  left,  and  but  a  mere  remnant  now  remains. 

Mr.  Noyes  and  his  followers  have  made  the  highest 
pretensions  to  moral  purity  and  spiritual  attainments, 
and  have  boldly  assumed  that  they  covld  not  sin  ;  and 
have  thus  thrown  the  mantle  of  high  professions  over 
the  most  hideous  deformities,  and  practiced  the  grossest 


NOYESISM  UNVEILED.  287 

iniquities  under  the  assumed  garb  of  superior  sanctity  ! 
Not  only  have  individuals  been  ruined,  and  families 
irreparably  injured,  but  they  have  exerted  an  influ- 
ence as  fatal  to  the  morals  of  this  community  as  the 
deadly  miasma  is  to  man's  physical  constitution. 
Under  such  a  state  of  things,  the  people  have  become 
alarmed  and  incensed  to  a  high  degree,  and  have 
arisen  en  masse  to  correct  the  evil  and  ask  for  redress. 
The  disclosures  already  made  have  brought  to  light 
a  degree  of  moral  turpitude  seldom  surpassed  by  the 
most  degraded  and  abandoned ;  and  it  can  but  be  a 
painful  reflection  that  they  have  assumed  the  name  of 
Christians^  and  that  too  of  the  highest  grade ;  thus 
claiming  that  to  which  they  have  no  right,  and  casting 
a  reproach  upon  the  Christian  religion,  which  condemns 
in  the  most  unqualified  terms,  every  species  and 
degree  of  moral  impurity.  Noyesism  is  the  veriest 
infidelity  in  its  m.ost  dangerous  form.  If  infidelity  and 
irreligion  would  appear  in  their  native  dress,  and  sail 
under  their  own  black  colors,  we  should  then  know  the 
character  of  the  foe  with  which  we  had  to  contend  ; 
but  when  they  fling  to  the  breeze  false  colors  and 
appear  in  a  borrowed  garb  of  superior  goodness,  they 
prove  doubly  dangerous,  and  often  deceive  and  ruin  the 
unwary  and  unsuspecting. 


288  NOYBSISM  UNVEILED. 


CHAPTER  XXIX. 


Assumed  and  acknowledged  supremaey  of  Noye^ — 
His  female  co-workers  at  Putney — Remarks  of 
Mrs.  S.  T.  Martyn. 

"  There  be,  indeed, — ^I  say  it  in  all  sorrow,— bad,  apostate  souls, 
Deserted  of  their  ministering  angels,  and  given  up  to  liberty  of  sin : 

For  these,  ray  counsel  is,  avoid  them  if  thou  canst : 

For  the  iine  edges  of  thy  virtues  will  be  dulled,  by  attrition  with  their 

vices." 

Mr.  Noyes  has  assumed  the  supremacy  over  ail 
Perfectionists  proper,  throughout  the  country.  His 
arrogant  claims  have  been  acceded  to,  on  the  part  of 
his  disciples,  almost  by  universal  consent;  and  his 
supremacy  was  pubhcly  acknowledged  by  two  Conven- 
tions of  Perfectionists  held  in  Central  New-York,  in 
1^37  ;  the  one  at  Lairdsville  and  the  other  at  Genoa. 

But  particularly  at  Putney  has  his  vanity  been 
flattered,  and  his  ambitious  feelings  gratified.  For  a 
number  of  years  past  he  has  been  emphatically  the 
"  acknowledged  head^^  of  the  Perfectionist  Association 
in  that  place.  And  it  appears  that  he  has  recently 
reached: the  very  apex  of  ambitious  desire.  A  few 
months  after  the  dispersion  in  the  fall  of  1847,  a 
promment  member  of  the  Putney  Community  said — 
"  Those  who  stand  hy  John  now  have  given  him  every 
thing^^  !  !  If  his  followers  have  made  a  full  surrender, 
Mr.  N.'s  ambition  must  be  saturated.  Moreover,  he  has 
had  quite  a  number  of  special  agents  employed  in  his 
service  in  different  places,  but  especially  in  Putney, 


NOYESISM   UNVEILED.  289 

who  have  lent  their  entire  aid,  who  have  exerted  all 
their  influence,  and  made  every  possible  effort  for  the 
furtherance  of  his  nefarious  schemes,  and  the  accom- 
phshment  of  his  unhallowed  designs. 

The  company  of  co-workers  in  Putney  included 
several  females  of  considerable  talent,  and  formerly  of 
some  hafluence  among  the  people  of  Putney.  They 
were  liberal  contributors  to  the  periodical  published  by 
Noyes,  and  were  very  fit  instruments,  and  rendered 
efficient  aid,  in  carrying  out  his  base  purposes.  The 
persons  particularly  alluded  to,  together  with  other 
members  of  the  Association,  were  using  their  influence 
and  making  special  efforts  to  draw  innocent  and  unsus- 
pecting females  into  the  vortex  of  ruin,  at  the  time  the 
startling  disclosures  were  made  in  the  autumn  of  1847. 
In  some  instances  they  were  successful,  but  in  others 
they  failed.  The  active  efforts  of  those  special  agents 
at  home,  and  the  exertions  of  certain  runners  abroad, 
together  with  the  paper,  which,  with  a  liberal  hand, 
was  scattered  through  the  length  and  breadth  of  the 
the  land,  contributed  largely  to  the  great  object  which 
Mr.  Noyes  had  in  view.  These  agencies  all  combined, 
were  exerting  considerable  influence.  And  at  the 
time  of  the  great  eruption  in  Putney,  followed  by  the 
breaking  up  of  that  strong  hold  of  hiiquity,  the 
'-'  kingdom"  estabhshed  by  Noyes,  but  undoubtedly 
under  the  special  supervision  of  his  Satanic  Majesty, 
great  exertions  were  being  made  to  gather  i\\Q  outcasts 
in ;  and  the  forcible  saying  of  the  Savior  was  being 
19 


290  KOYBSISM  UNVEILBB, 

strikingly  exemplified,  "  Wheresoever  the   carcass  \s^ 
there  will  the  eagles  be  gathered  together.'' 

Below  will  be  found  the  substance  of  an  article  from 
the  pen  of  an  intelHgent  female,*  who  saw  with  deep 
regret,  that  even  some  of  the  most  talented  of  her  sex 
were  lending  their  aid  to  the  growing  evils  of  the  age, 
especially  that  of  hcentiousness.  This  excellent  lady, 
in  common  with  many  others,  has  interposed  her  influ- 
ence to  impede,  if  not  aiTest,  the  progress  of  that  tide 
of  sensuality  which  is  setting  in  with  a  strong  current 
upon  the  land,  and  which,  if  not  turned  back,  will,  it  is 
to  be  feared,  roll  on  with  accumulated  strength  and 
accelerated  velocity,  and  ere  long  acquire  a  momentum, 
against  which  all  efforts  would  be  unavaiHng ;  which 
would  carry  away,  as  with  a  flood,  all  opposing  influen- 
ces, and  fearfully  sweep,  like  a  desolating  tornado, 
over  the  land,  spreading  devastation  around  on  every 
hand,  and  making  a  moral  waste  of  many  of  the  fairest 
portions  of  our  happy  country,  and  working  the 
temporal  and  eternal  ruin  of  thousands  and  millions  of 
our  race. 

The  remarks  which  we  are  about  to  give  will  apply 
with  much  propriety  to  various  classes  in  different  parts 
of  the  land,  but  they  are  pecuUarly  applicable  to  the 
Perfectionists,  and  especially  to  the  most  prominent 
and  active  female  members  of  the  Association  at 
Putney.  Let  the  extracts  be  read  with  special  atten- 
tion : — ■ 


Mrs.  S.  T.  Martyn. 


NOYBSISM  UNVEILS©.  291 

^'  Among  the  various  phases  assumed  bj  the  infidel 
philosophy,  which  preceded  and  accompanied  the 
outbreak  of  the  French  revolution,  in  1798,  there  was 
one,  which,  more  than  all  the  rest,  tended  to  destroy 
the  last  vestige  of  social  order  and  happiness  during 
that  fearful  period.  The  same  unhallowed  lips  that 
denied  the  existence  of  a  God,  and  proclaimed  '  death 
and  eternal  sleep,'  taught  also,  that  marriage  was  an 
intolerable  monopoly,' — a  burden  which  none  but  the 
vulgar  should  bear,  and  that  a  '  union  of  souls,'  was 
the  only  union  to  be  recognized  by  the  enlightened  dis- 
ciples of  the  new  code.  This  doctrine  was  openly 
promulgated  in  the  splendid  saloon  of  Paris,  by  the 
fashionable  and  high-born  dames  who  worshipped  at  the 
shrine  of  Voltaire,  Condorcet  and  Mirabeau ;  it  was 
echoed  by  the  fierce  spouters  of  the  Jacobin  clubs,  and 
re-echoed  in  the  fauxbourgs,  the  garrets  and  the 
cellars  of  the  metropolis,  where  crime  and  misery 
rejoiced  in  the  prospects  of  unbounded  license  thus 
opening  before  them.  To  the  scenes  that  followed,  we 
need  only  refer.  The  annals  of  the  Erench  revolution 
— its  unimaginable  horrors  and  atrocities, — ^have  been 
so  long  familiar  to  the  ear,  that  we  may  well  be  spared 
the  revolting  task  of  dwelling  upon  them  here.  It  is 
enough  to  say,  that  the  tree  thus  blended,  bore  its 
legitimate  fruit ;  and  that  beneath  its  poisonous  shade, 
e7ery  thing  honorable,  lovely  and  of  good  report, 
perished,  until  the  land  became  a  moral  desert,  almost 
through  the  length  and  breadth  of  it. 

The  same  sentiments  with  regard  to  obligation  of 
law,  human  and  divine,  and  particularly  in  relation  to 
the  sanctity  of  the  marriage  covenant,  as  those  which 
prepared  the  way  for  the  scenes  to  which  we  have 
alluded  in  France,  are  at  the  present  moment  prevail- 
ing to  an  alarming  extent  in  our  country.  They  come 
to  us  in  a  different  garb,  and  wearing  a  somewhat 


292  NOYESISM  UNVEILED. 

different   aspect,  it  is  true ;  but  their  character  and 
tendency  are  always  the  same.     Instead  of  furnishing 
the  material  for  a  flowery  discussion  between  male  and 
female  philosophers  in  a  spendid  saloon,  or  a  Jacobin 
club,  these  principles,  in  some  quiet  and  unsuspecting 
guise,  enter  our  domestic  circles,  seat  themselves  at 
our  firesides,  and  wait  patiently  for  the  best   opportu- 
nity of  gainuig  a  foothold  which  shall  never  again  be 
surrendered.     Their  apostles  may  be  known  by  the 
cant  words  forever  on  their  hps,  of '  spiritual  attraction,' 
'  secret    sympathy,'    '  affinity    of    souls,'    &c.— words 
which  sound  very  sweetly  to  the  uninitiated,  but  full  of 
deep   and  bitter  meaning   to   those  who  know   their 
hidden  signification.      For  when  explained^  as   they 
too  often  are  by  acts^  these  seemingly  harmless  sylla- 
bles signify   domestic  discord  and  disunion,  followed 
perhaps,  by  actual  separation,  misery  and  death.     It 
is  generally  (we  blush  to  admit  it)  by  our  own  sex, 
that  the  pernicious  doctrines  to  which  we  allude  are 
most  ably  and  fearlessly  advocated.     We  know  women, 
whose  personal  accomplishments,  and  standing  in  soci- 
ety, give  weight  to  their   opinions,  and  who   do   not 
hesitate  to  affinn,  that '  affinity  of  soul'  forms  the  only 
real  bond  of  union  between  the  husband  and  the  wife, 
and  that  where,  in  the  judgment  of  either,  this  does  not 
exist,  the  legal  ceremony  of  marriage  is  null  and  void, 
to  all  intents  and  purposes.     Of  course,  the  parties 
thus  situated  are  at  liberty  to  form  a  '  union  of  souls' 
wherever  they  find  the  mysterious  '  affinity'  of  which 
they  speak  ;  and  no  law,  human  or  divine,  has  a  right 
to  contravene  their  choice. 

"As  there  are  certain  falsehoods  of  such  intense 
bitterness  and  potency,  that  one  drop  would  be  suffi- 
cient to  poison  the  whole  vfell  in  which  truth  was  said 
to  have  dwelt,  so  there  is  in  this  '  declaration  of  senti- 
ments,'  enough  specious    error,   mingled  with   some 


NOYESISM  UNVEILED.  293 

important  truth,  to  disorganize  and  destroy  society, 
wherever  it  is  adopted.  It  is  undoubtedly  true,  that 
a  union  of  hearts  is  absolutely  necessary  to  marriage 
in  the  sight  of  God  ;  but  it  does  not  therefore  follow 
that  a  public  recognition  of  this  union  by  others,  is 
unimportant ;  or  that  the  legal  ceremony  which  ensures 
this  recognition,  is  unnecessary.  Still  less  does  it 
follow,  that  a  union  thus  legally  recognized,  may  be 
dissolved  at  the  will  or  caprice  of  either  of  the  parties, 
without  incurring  fearful  guilt,  and  the  reprobation  of 
society.  We  know  that  some  who  have  wantonly  cast 
off  all  domestic  ties,  and  thus  bid  defiance  to  the  laws 
of  God  and  man,  talk  eloquently  of  their  sufferings 
and  wrongs,  of  the  want  of  sympathy  they  have  expe- 
rienced, and  the  thirsting  of  heart  they  feel  for 
^  spiritual  union  and  affinity ;'  but  under  aU  this  gloss 
of  honied  words,  there  is  concealed  a  principle  which 
aims  at  nothing  less  than  the  subversion  of  all  existing 
institutions,  and  the  entire  banishment  of  God  from  the 
world  He  created,  and  the  hearts  of  the  creatures  who 
were  formed  by  his  power,  and  sustained  by  his 
goodness.  It  is  this  union  of  the  ideal  with  the 
sensual,  (for  disguise  it  as  they  may,  it  is  sensually  in 
its  most  dangerous  form  with  which  we  are  contend- 
ing,) that  gave  to  the  philosophy  of  France  its  deadly 
venom — -and  it  gives  strength  and  vigor  to  the  same 
sentiments  in  our  own  day.  Divested  of  the  mantle 
of  ideality,  which  so  gracefully  drapes  it,  the  gross 
deformity  of  this  imaginary  deity  would  at  once  shock 
and  disgust  every  beholder,  while  beneath  its  ample 
folds  it  is  doing  its  work  of  death  unperceived  and 
almost  unsuspected.  .  ,  . 

''■  There  are  too  many  educated,  intelligent  women, 
who  do  not  hesitate,  whenever  they  meet  a  '  kindred 
spirit,'  to  repay  the  most  generous  confidence  and 
hospitality,  by  a  systematic  attempt  to  appropriate  the 


204  HOYBSISM  UN  VEILED. 

affections  of  the  husband  and  the  father.  While  them- 
selves glorying  in  having  spumed  the  matrimonial 
yoke,  they  inculcate  in  other  families  the  most  blind 
and  unquestioning  obedience  on  the  part  of  the  wife, 
and  the  right  of  the  husband  to  do  as  he  will  in  all 
respects,  unfettered  by  even  the  shadow  of  duty  or 
obhgation  lioward  the  being  whose  earthly  happiness 
has  been  confided  to  his  care.  Such  is  the  egregious 
inconsistency  of  these  victims  of  a  moral  leprosy, 
infinitely  more  loathsome  than  that  which  banished  the 
poor  Israehte  from  the  society  of  his  fellows,  and  con- 
signed him  to  a  living  tomb.  It  would  be  well  for 
society  were  laws  equally  stringent  now,  where  the 
danger  of  infection  is  as  much  more  imminent,  as  our 
moral  nature  is  higher  and  of  more  value  than  the 
body,  or  wounds  inflicted  on  the  heart  more  grievous 
than  physical  pain  and  suffering. 

''  Our  remarks  on  this  subject  may  be  deemed  harsh 
by  those  who  have  not  met  the  evil  of  which  we  speak  ; 
but  the  case  is  not  one  which  in  our  estimation  demands 
forbearance  or  toleration.  It  is  not  an  impulse  of  the 
heart  which  has  led  its  subjects  into  unintentional 
error;  which  we  are  condemning — but  a  belief  of  the 
head — a  perversion  of  intellect,  deliberately  conceived, 
and  carried  out  to  its  consequences,  as  coolly  as  though 
no  earthly  interests  were  involved  in  the  result. 
Indeed,  in  many  cases  it  would  be  impossible,  in  the 
utmost  exercise  of  charity,  to  believe  that  the  affections 
of  the  heart  had  any  thing  to  do  with  the  matter.  The 
thief  who  steals  to  satisfy  the  cravings  of  want,  or  the 
homicide  who  takes  the  life  of  his  fellow  under  the 
sudden  impulse  of  passion,  may  be  subjects  of  pity  and 
forgiveness;  but  the  woman  who  unblushingly  avows 
her  disregard  of  all  law,  human  and  divine — who 
scorns  the  restraints  of  marriage,' and  casts  off  its 
obligations,  has,  by  this  act,  thrown  herself  out  of  the 


N0YB6ISM  UNVEILED.  295 

pale  of  society  ;  and  the  sentence  of  outlawry  it  passes 
iipon  her,  should  be  as  complete  and  effectual  as  that 
which  separated  Eobin  Hood  and  his  band  of  '  merry 
men'  in  Sherwood  Forest,  from  the  yeomanry  of  Eng- 
land. 

''  We  have  not  yet  spoken  of  the  source  of  all  this 
moral  evil — the  hidden  spring  from  which  these  streams 
of  bitterness  flow  out  to  desolate  and  destroy.  It  may 
emphatically  be  said  of  the  class  to  which  we  allude, 
^  There  is  no  fear  of  God  before  their  eyes.'  Never, 
until  the  sanctions  of  religion  are  forgotten  or  disre- 
garded, and  the  Bible  trampled  under  foot,  can  a 
woman  so  far  unsex  herself  as  to  promulgate  a  doctrine 
which,  more  than  all  others,  degrades  and  debases  her, 
and  leaves  her  a  defenceless  prey  to  th-e  passions  and 
caprices  of  the  stronger  sex.  The  want  of  religious 
principle  is  at  the  foundation  of  all  these  errors  in 
belief  and  practice — and  where  this  is  wanting,  the 
human  heart  is  like  a  ship  at  sea,  without  helm  or 
rudder,  tossed  about  by  the  whirlvfinds  of  passion, 
and  liable  at  every  moment  to  be  driven  on  the  rocks, 
^nd  wrecked  irretrievably.  The  humble  cottager,  who 
''  Just  knows,  and  knows  no  more,  her  Bible  true,'  ■ 

who  reverences  and  obeys  its  precepts,  and  looks 
upward  for  divine  guidance,  lives  usefully  and  happily, 
and  goes  down  to  the  grave  in  full  hope  of  a  blessed 
immortality — while  the  woman  of  splendid  intellect  and 
varied  acquirements,  who  proudly  rejects  the  light 
from  Heaven  that  would  direct  her  steps,  wanders  from 
the  path  of  rectitude  into  the  mazes  of  error,  and  after 
a  few  years  of  eager  and  fruitless  search  after  the 
phantom  happiness,  she  sinks  Hke  a  falling  star  into  the 
blackness  of  darkness  forever." 

The  foregoing  extracts  speak  a  strong  and  impressive 
language ;  they  faithfully  portray  in  characters  of  living 


296  NOTESISM  UNVEILED. 

light  the  enormous  sin  of  licentiousness ;  and  should 
serve  as  a  timely  warning,  especially  to  the  youth ^ 
against  the  dangers  to  which  they  are  exposed,  and  the 
seductive  influences  which  are  abroad  in  the  land^ 
under  various  guises.  The  evil  is  the  same,  however 
specious  the  garb  in  which  it  may  be  arrayed,  or 
imposing  the  aspect  which  it  assumes.  The  sentiments 
which  we  have  quoted  bear  directly  against  the  Perfec- 
tionists, and  press  heavily  upon  Mr.  Noyes  and  his 
followers;  but  we  are  well  aware  that  Mr.  N.  will 
strive  to  evade  the  force  of  the  concluding  remarks  of 
Mrs.  Martyn,  by  asserting  that  Perfectionists  do  not 
reject  the  Bible,  and  are  not  destitute  of  religious 
principle  ;  but  possess  every  virtue  in  the  highest 
possible  degree.  0,  shame  !  where  is  thy  blush!  And 
modesty,  where  hast  thou  fled ! 

Mr.  N.  assumes  that  he  and  his  followers  have 
advanced  far  beyond  the  Bible — they  reject  it  as  a  true, 
standard,  and  treat  it  as  a  dead  letter !  Mr.  N. 
impiously  and  presumptuously  affirms  that  he  is  living 
under  a  new  dispensation,  and  is  constantly  receiving 
fresh  communications  and  revelations  from  Heaven ! 

It  makes  but  little  difference  whether  a  person 
rejects  the  Bible  in  toto,  or,  professing  to  believe  it, 
virtually  nullifies  it,  by  discarding  it  as  an  infallible 
standard  —  whether  he  does  not  come  up  to  it,  or 
whether  he  goes  professedly  beyond  it  —  whether  he 
never  takes  it  from  the  shelf,  or  whether  he  contempt- 
uously tramples  it  under  foot,  as  Perfectionists  have 


NOYESISM  XTNVEILBD.  297 

virtually  done  !  Infidelity  lies  at  the  bottom  in  the  one 
case  as  well  as  the  other. 

Does  Mr.  Koyes  expect  that  such  miserable  subter- 
fuges as  he  has  got  up  and  is  laboring  to  palm  off  upon 
the  people  as  religious  verities,  will  obtain  credence 
and  currency,  to  any  considerable  extent,  in  an  intelli- 
gent community  ?  It  is  true  that  occasionally  a  rene- 
gade from  all  respectable  society  falls  into  his  ranks — 
and  from  what  motives  they  do  it  at  this  late  day,  the 
reader  is  left  to  judge.  If  Mr.  N.  is  really  anticipa- 
ting any  formidable  accessions  to  the  company  under  his 
control,  he  certainly  cannot  place  a  very  high  estimate 
upon  the  intelligence  of  the  community,  or  at  least  a 
considerable  portion  of  them.  He  must  suppose  that 
they  are  yet  in  their  leading  strings — that  they  have 
not  arrived  at  their  teens— that  they  are  even  in  their 
veriest  dotage. 

Common  sense  people  with  no  extraordinary  degree 
of  discernment,  can  clearly  see  through  the  gauzy  garb 
which  Mr.  N.  has  thrown  over  this  monster  of  iniquity. 
Reason  with  even  half  an  eye  could  readily  penetrate 
the  flimsy  veil  which  has  been  somewhat  dexterously 
drawn  over  the  most  hideous  deformities. 


298  NOYESISM   UNVEILED. 


CHAPTER  XXX. 


Latitudinarianism — Effects  of  Licentiousness, 

One  of  the  errors  of  the  present  age  is  a  prevailing 
disposition  to  theorize  in  relation  to  religious  matters. 
A  great  diversity  of  views  and  conflicting  sentiments, 
and  the  consequent  multiplication  of  erroneous  systems, 
is  a  prolific  source  of  evil.  Indifference  to  practical 
piety  prevails  to  an  alarming  extent,  and  the  tide  of 
infidelity  is  setting  in.  The  endless  speculations  in- 
dulged, and  the  frequent  discussion  of  theological  ques- 
tions, tends  to  mar,  in  the  eye  of  the  spectator,  the 
just  proportions  and  beautiful  symmetry  of  the  fabric 
of  Christianity.  The  restless  elements  unsettle  the 
faith  of  some,  and  threaten  to  carry  away  the  an- 
cient landmarks  of  religion.  Noyesism  is  but  one  of 
the  offspring  of  a  parent  evil  whose  numerous  progeny 
are  comuig  up,  like  the  plagues  of  Egypt,  to  afflict  and 
desolate  the  land.  Much  sickly  sentiment  exists,  and 
many  are  beconung  perfect  latitudinarians  in  relation 
to  all  religious  matters. 

A  morbid  appetite  which  loathes  the  plain,  simple, 
substantial  food  of  gospel  truth,  and  craves  the  crude 
and  indigestible  mass  of  errors  which  are  afloat  in  the 
world,  has  for  many  years  been  making  advances  upon 
the  pubHc  mind,  and  has  never,  it  is  believed,  prevailed 
to  a  greater  extent  than  at  the  present  period.  This 
spirit  not  only  prevails  to  an  alarming  extent  without, 
but  to  some   extent  within,  the   pale  of  the  Church. 


NOtESISM   UNVEILED.  299 

There  always  will  be  a  few  restless  spirits  who  spurn 
wholesome  restraints  and  cry  out  against  all  rules  and 
regulations  as  oppressive.  These  characters  may  he 
teraied  religious  croakers,  and  are  near  akin,  at  least  in 
spirit,  to  downright  latitudinarians,  though  making 
exceedingly  high  professions  of  piety  at  first.  A  few 
scathing  remarks  from  the  burning  eloquence  of  Reve 
E,  T.  Taylor,  the  mariner's  preacher  who  ministers  at 
the  Bethel  in  Boston,  shows  up  these  croakers  in  their 
true  hght : — 

"  They  are  religious  overmuch,"  says  he ;  "  they 
eat  religiously,  and  breathe  religiously,  and  walk 
religiously,  and  dress  religiously,  and  comb  down  every 
hair  religiously.  With  such  I  have  no  connexion. 
There  is  a  great  gulf  between  us.  I  have  been  watch- 
ing them  for  thirty  years.  They  soon  begin  to  fall  out 
with  the  world  ;  fall  out  with  their  brethren  ;  fall  out 
with  the  church  ;  and  become  too  holy  to  remain  in 
it  ;  and  finally  quarrel  with  Almighty  God  himself ; 
and  then  turn  rank  infidels,  walking  pestilences,  scat- 
tering mildew  and  death  over  society,  staggering  to 
their  graves  under  the  curse  of  God,  and  cursing  God 
as  they  go !" 

These  ever  restless  and  troublesome  spirits,  are, 
from  time  to  time,  calling  loudly  for  deserters,  and  by 
continually  beating  up  for  volunteer  recruits,  have  at 
length  succeeded  in  mustering  quite  a  company  of 
Oome-outers,  who  have  renounced,  and  are  now,  for 
want  of  better  employment  and  in  perfect  keeping  with, 
their  peculiar  calling,  loudly  denouncing  the  Church  in 
no  measured  terms. 

The  whole  herd  of    Come-outers,   of   whom  Per- 


300  NOYESISM  UNVEILED. 

fectionists  are  a  fractional  part,  have  in  a  most  reckless 
spirit,  thrown  the  rein  loosely  upon  the  neck  of  the 
fiery  and  furious  steed  of  uncontrolled  passion  and 
unholy  ambition,  and  are  heedlessly  hurrying  hood- 
winked, onward  toward  the  vortex  of  ruin. 

We  shall  make  no  apology  for  transfering  to  our 
pages  from  the  Ohristian-  Observatory <^  some  very 
truthful  and  well-timed  remarks  upon  the  subject  under 
consideration.  These  remarks  are  entitled  to  an  at- 
tentive perusal : — 

"  There  is  a  foolish  notion  stealing  abroad,  and 
creeping  into  small  and  unoccupied  heads,  that  Chris- 
tianity is  about  to  present  itself  in  an  entirely  new 
aspect,  so  broad  as  to  have  no  outside,  so  comprehensive 
as  to  include  every  thing  but  sound  scriptural  ortho- 
doxy,, so  liberal  as  to  give  away  all  the  Gospel  which  is 
worth  keeping,  so  '  spiritual'  as  to  contain  nothing  more 
substantial  than  metaphysical  fog,  and  '  the  stuff  that 
dreams  are  made  of,'  so  'transcendental'  as  to  get  far 
beyond  the  bounds  of  common  sense  and  dull  reality, 
and  so  progressive  that  it  will  go  to  Beelzebub  without 
troubling  him  to  come  after  it.  It  is  thought  %  many 
that  some  new  exposition  of  religion  is  to  be  made, 
which  is  to  serve  as  a  solvent  for  all  sorts  of  opinions, 
to  regenerate  society  as  -by  some  magic  spell,  and  to 
usher  in  the  hght  of  the  millennium  as  it  were  by  the 
combustion  in  the  old  candlestick  of  some  newly 
invented  gas.  In  some  way  or  other,  instruction  is  to 
be  drawn  from  the  teachings  of  Christ,  which  they  have 
never  imparted  before. 

"It  is  an  insult  to-  the  Bible  to  cherish  any  such 
expectation,  for  it  implies  that  the  multitudes  to  whom 
it  was  given   as  a  guide,  have   been  laboriously  and 


NOYESISM  UNVEILED.  301 

prayerfully  studying  for  two  thousand  years,  without 
discovering  its  most  important  meaning.  In  bringing 
about  this  impossible  expectation,  much  account  is  to  be 
made  of  the  philosophy  of  religion,  whereby  men  will  be 
able  to  philosophize  the  Assembly's  Catechism  so  that 
they  can  at  the  same  time  subscribe  it  and  ridicule  it, 
with  perfect  consistency.  It  is  from  this  propensity  to 
tamper  with  and  tinker  the  philosophy  of  reHgion,  or 
to  fit  it  up  and  rig  it  in  some  new  philosophy,  that  all 
the  depravings  and  corruptions  of  the  Gospel  from  the 
days  of  the  Apostles  have  originated.  The  dark  ages 
were  caused  by  the  thick  clouds  of  speculation  and 
moral  invention,  which  clouded  Christendom  in  gloom, 
and  hid  her  radiant  Sun. 

"It  is  also  necessary  J  in  order  to  clear  the  way  for 
this  style  and  fashion  of  Christianity,  to  explode  every 
'  form  of  sound  words,'  and  to  cry  up  a  crazy  crusade 
against  creeds  and  dogmas.  A  great  clamor  must  be 
raised  about  creed-bondage.  And  the  panic-stricken 
fugitives  fleeing  from  this  bug-bear,  are  ready  to  rush 
into  a  triple  bondage  of  doubt,  delusion  and  distress. 

''  To  have  clear  views,  and  settled  convictions,  and 
fixed  principles,  involves  no  sacrifice  of  independence. 
He  who  is  overcome  by  the  force  of  truth,  is  not 
brought  into  bondage  thereto  ;  but  has  for  his  own 
share,  all  the  fruits  of  this  victory  over  himself.  As 
was  said  by  the  valiant  Puritan,  Thomas  Hooker,  of 
Hartford,  it  is  the  honor  of  a  man  truly  wise,  to  be 
conquered  by  the  truth ;  and  he  hath  attained  the 
greatest  liberty,  that  suffers  himself  to  be  led  captive 
thereby.  But  our  modern  seekers  after  progress, 
account  it  a  species  of  slavery,  if  a  man  have  attained 
to  decision  of  character,  and  to  indulge  in  the  luxury 
of  moral  certainty  on  any  point  whatever. 

"  Hence  they  find  it  necessary  for  their  purpose  to 
make  a  mock  of  consistency.     This  trait  of  character. 


■8<@^  NOYESISM  UN  VEILED. 

■whicli  used  to  be  proverbially  '  a  jewel,'  has  no  beauty 
in  their  eyes.  They  regard  it  as  a  gilded  chain,  fetter- 
ing the  free  motions  of  the  mind,  and  vexatiously  res- 
training the  '  largest  liberty'  of  thought.  They  are  for 
obeying  the  impulse  of  the  hour,  and  the  inspiration  of 
the  moment ;  and  look  upon  it  as  a  piece  of  imper- 
tinence if  you  expect  to  find  them  of  some  certain  way 
of  thinking  to-day,  because  they  professed  it  eloquently, 
poetically,  and  with  a  fine  scorn  of  all  opposers, 
yesterday  or  the  day  before. 

"  But  the  worst  of  it  is,  that  this  passion  for 
theological  progress  cannot  be  vented  without  peril- 
ously tampering  ivith  the  Bible.  It  is  in  vain  to  think 
of  educing  any  new  Christianity  out  of  the  whole 
Bible  as  it  is.  The  plenary  inspiration  of  the  Holy 
Scriptures  must  be  denied  at  the  outset ;  for  it  were  an 
intolerable  grievance  to  the  freeborn  '  oversoul,'  to  be 
obliged  to  bow  implicitly  to  the  dictates  even  of  Infinite 
Wisdom  and  Eternal  Truth.  There  is  no  such  thing 
as  is  now  in  demand,  if  we  must  hsten  to  the  canonical 
books  as  the  utterance  of  the  infaUible  Arbiter  of  all 
truth,  righteousness  and  goodness.  Accordingly  it  is 
proposed,  that  we  regard  the  Bible  as  inspired  only  in 
part,  and  that  it  be  left  to  our  ingenuity  to  discriminate 
as  well  as  we  can  between  '  the  divine  and  the  human 
in  the  sacred  records.'  Take  away  from  revealed 
religion  as  much  as  need  be  of  its  supernatural  and 
authoritative  character,  and  then  you  may  invent  as 
many  patent  Christianities  as  you  please. 

"  It  is  not  considered  at  what  a  ruinous  price  we 
must  purchase  this  rare  piuvUege  of  going  to  de- 
struction, each  in  his  own  way.  All  the  external 
evidences  of  Christianity  must  be  cast  aside  ;  for  if 
these  do  not  prove  the  inspiration  of  the  whole  Bible 
they  prove  nothing.  These  evidences  go  to  sub- 
stantiate the  claims  of  the  entire  book  to  an  inspired 


NOYBSISM  UNVEILED.  303 

ori^  ;  and  hence  our  men  of  the  movement  party 
undervakie  them,  and  treat  them  as  of  no  account. 
The  fulfilled  prophecies  they  regard  as  random  hits,  or 
the  forecastings  of  pohtical  sagacity.  The  miracles 
they  either  utterly  deny,  or  ascribe  them  to  the  use  of 
natural  means.  As  to  this,  we  shall  be  more  ready  to 
beheve  them  when  we  see  them  able  to  repeat  any  one 
of  the  mighty  works  of  the  Savior.  Let  them  walk 
upon  the  sea,  heal  the  leprous,  give  sight  to  the  blind, 
or  raise  the  dead.  There  is  no  lack  of  opportunity. 
And  if  any  one  of  them  will  do  any  one  of  these 
things  after  our  Savior's  manner  of  doing  them,  we 
will  consent  that  the  successful  operator  shall  prepare 
an  improved  edition  of  the  Bible,  with  the  text  cor- 
rected according  to  his  judgment,  the  divine  part 
stamped  with  golden  capitals,  and  the  human  part 
printed  in  the  humblest  minion  and  brevier,  or,  better 
still,  wholly  omitted.  But  till  some  messenger  comes 
from  God,  commissioned  as  evidently  by  signs  and 
seals  from  heaven,  as  were  the  Prophets  and  Apostles 
who  spake  as  they  were  moved  by  the  Holy  Ghost, 
we  must  adjure  the  new-theology  men  to  keep  their 
profane  hands  from  that  scripture  which  is  '  all  given 
by  inspiration  of  God.'  Till  the  same  authority  which 
enacted  the  Bible  shall  repeal  it,  in  whole  or  in  part, 
we  must  submit  to  it  in  its  full  force  and  power." 

Mr.  Noyes,  it  has  been  seen,  has  set  himself  up  as  a 
worker  of  miracles,  thus  following  in  the  wake  of  all 
the  impostors  which  have  gone  before,  and  exhibiting  to 
the  world  another  sad  spectacle  of  human  folly. 

We  think  it  proper  here  to  present  a  few  general, 
but  very  pertinent  remarks,  in  reference  to  the  sin  of 
licentiousness,  taken  from  an  Address — to  which  we 


WA  NbYBSISM  UNVEILED. 

have  already  alluded  —  which  was  presented  some 
months  since  to  the  citizens  of  Boston,  through  the 
public  prints  bj  a  special  Committee,  appointed  by  a 
large  body  of  the  clergymen  of  different  religious 
denominations  in  that  city.  As  this  great  and  growing 
evil  is  the  same  in  its  nature,  its  tendencies,  and  its 
results,  whatever  aspect  it  may  assume,  and  under 
whatever  guise  it  may  present  itself  to  view  ;  and  as 
Mr.  Noyes  and  his  followers  have  become  aiders, 
abettors,  and  promoters  of  this  alarming  evil,  though  in 
a  very  singular  way,  and  a  peculiar  and  specious  form, 
they  naturally  come  under  the  general  head,  Noyesism 
is  but  one  species  of  a  genus  whose  progeny  is  already 
quite  too  numerous.  It  is  a  liideous  monster,  though 
dressed  in  the  richest  drapery,  decorated  with  the 
nicest  embroidery,  and  the  whole  tinseled  with  the 
finest  phrases.  The  remarks  which  we  give,  though 
originally  addressed  to  the  citizens  of  Boston,  are  of 
such  a  general  character  that  they  possess  more  than 
mere  local  interest,  and  are  equally  applicable  in  other 
latitudes  : — 

'•It,  [  licentiousness  ]  is  a  sin  which  we  entreat  you 
to  devise  some  means  of  restraining,  if  it  cannot  be 
extirpated  ; — a  sin  against  God,  against  our  neighbor, 
and  against  a  man's  own  body  and  soul ;  the  most 
debasing  and  destructive  sin  in  which  one  can  indulge. 
More  than  any  other  unlawful  indulgence,  it  corrupts 
the  character,  impairs  self-respect,  breaks  down  moral 
principles,  shuts  out  piety  from  the  heart,  makes 
religion  a  pretence,  and  faith  a  mockery.  Do  we  use 
language    stronger    than    facts   justify  ?     V/here,   in 


NOYBSISM  UNVEILED.  305 

civilized  or  barbarous  lands,  in  Christian  or  in  heathen 
countries,  shall  we  find  such  a  wreck  of  humanity, 
such  a  perversion  of  all  that  is  noble  or  lovely,  such  an 
example  of  the  debasement  to  which  our  nature  may 
be  reduced,  as  in  a  woman  who  has  given  herself  up  to 
a  life  of  guilty  pleasure  ?  And  who  merits  the  con- 
demnation of  his  fellows,  or  may  be  regarded  by  them 
with  loathing,  if  it  be  not  the  man  who  has  destroyed 
female  innocence,  or  helped  to  quench  the  lingering 
reproaches  of  female  virtue  ?  There  is  but  one  more 
heinous  crime  than  that  which  she  commits  who  sells 
herself  to  pollution,  and  that  is  his  who  sacrifices 
woman  to  his  own  base  passion. 

"  Look  at  the  consequences  of  this  vice.  Take  the 
lowest  point  of  view.  Consider  its  economical  relations. 
We  dare  not  tell  you  what  sums  are  lavished  upon  the 
support  of  estabhshments  whose  inmates  are  themselves 
led,  while  they  lead  others,  to  destruction.  We  might 
remind  you  of  ^e  temptations  to  fraud  and  theft,  which 
many  of  those  who  have  little  money  of  their  own  to 
spend  upon  their  vices,  have  found  themselves  unable  to 
resist.  We  might  cite  examples  of  open  disgrace,  of 
beggary  and  misery,  arising  from  this  cause  ;  but  we 
will  only  hint  at  these  things. 

"  Look  at  the  efiect  on  health.  Physicians  tell  us, 
that  illicit  indulgence  is  the  cause  of  a  large  amount  of 
the  diseases  which  come  within  their  practice.  The 
physiologist  instructs  us,  that  such  indulgence  must 
impair  the  constitution,  and  lay  the  foundation  of  life- 
long suffering  or  premature  death. 

"  Look  at  the  moral  connections  of  this  vice.  Be- 
yond any  other,  it  depraves  the  whole  man,  enslaves  the 
reason,  pollutes  the  imagination,  deadens  the  conscience, 
hardens  the  heart,  tramples  upon  the  affections  and 
rights  of  domestic  life,  and  makes  the  soul  a  moral 
20 


306  NOYBSrSM  UNVBILBD. 

pest-house.  Beyond  any  other,  it  inflames  every  low 
desire,  adds  vehemence  to  every  animal  appetite,  and 
brings  whatever  is  spiritual  and  immortal  in  man  to 
subjection  to  that  which  is  carnal.  It  is  even  worse, 
far  more  injurious  in  its  effects  upon  the  character, 
than  intemperance.  The  drunkard  will  have  his 
seasons  of  abstinence,  and  his  hours  of  repentance  : 
the  man  of  dissolute  habits  is  a  continual  sinner, 
without  shame  and  without  remorse. 

"  Look  at  its  influence  on  the  community  in  which 
licentiousness  is  suffered  to  exist  withsut  rebuke.  The 
standard  of  character  is  lowered  ;  the  sanctity  of  home 
is  less  carefully  cherished  ;  the  tone  of  sentiment  im- 
perceptibly, but  steadily  decUnes  ;  and,  when  few 
perhaps  understand,  or  can  trace  the  cause,  a  general 
deterioration  of  morals  takes  place.  The  poison  has 
insinuated  itself  through  the  life  of  the  community, 
whose  whole  appearance  indicates  a  secret  malady. 

"  Look  at  the  effect  on  Christian  dharacter  and 
Christian  institutions.  The  latter  may  obtain  an  out- 
ward respect,  but  the  former  can  only  exist  in  a  name, 
among  those  who  are  the  servants  of  uncleamiess.  We 
might  with  as  much  propriety  talk  of  a  profane,  or  a 
dishonest,  as  of  a  licentious  Christian  ;  with  as  little 
misapplication  of  language  speak  of  Christian  forgery, 
as  of  Christian  profligacy.  Sensuality  and  spirituality 
are  as  opposite  as  darkness  and  light  ;  they  can  meet 
in  the  same  person,  only  when  heaven  and  hell  can 
meet  in  the  same  experience. 

"  Consider,  finally,  the  consequences  which  in  a 
future  life  must  follow  the  indulgence  of  lewd  desires 
and  the  enjoyment  of  infamous  pleasures,  here.  The 
soul  stained  and  branded  with  its  vices,  goes  into 
eternity,  to  a  God  whose  authority  it  has  disowned,  a 
judgment  which  it  has  defied,  and  a  fate  which  it  can- 


NOrBeiSM  UNVEILED.  307 

not  avert  ?  From  that  fate  must  we  not  desire  to  save 
those  who  share  with  us  the  gift  of  immortality  ? 

"  Fellow  Christians  !  our  Lord  and  Savior  came  to 
seek  and  to  save  that  which  was  lost — to  redeem  them 
who  were  ready  to  perish,  from  the  evil  of  their  ways — 
to  bear  the  quickening  and  renewing  influences  of  divine 
truth  to  souls  that  were  buried  in  sin.  Have  we  not  a 
duty  to  perform  as  his  followers  ?  Is  not  the  ministra- 
tion of  his  gospel  committed  to  our  hands  ?  If  we 
have  experienced  the  salvation  that  is  through  him,  and 
have  '  tasted  the  good  word  of  God,  and  the  powers  of 
the  world  to  come,'  do  we  not  owe  it  to  those  who  are 
held  in  the  captivity  of  their  own  lusts,  heirs  of  cor- 
ruption and  strangers  to  the  promise,  to  exert  ourselves 
for  their  deliverance,  that  if  possible,  we  may  bring 
them  to  God,  through  him  who  is  '  the  way,  the  truth, 
and  the  life  V  Do  we  n@t  owe  it  to  those  who  are  beset 
by  temptations  with  which  they  are  unable  to  cope,  to 
assist  them  in  their  great  peril,  or  to  diminish,  if  we 
may,  the  hazards  of  their  condition  ?  Do  we  not  owe 
it  to  the  community  in  which  we  live,  at  least  to  inquire 
whether  we  may  not  do  something  to  limit  the  ravages 
of  the  most  fearful  evil  that  can  fasten  itself  upon  the 
moral  life  of  a  people  ? 

"  Friends  and  fellow  Christians  !  we  appeal  alike  to 
your  conviction  of  duty,  and  to  your  sense  of  personal 
interest.  We  appeal  to  your  reverence  for  the  Bible, 
and  remind  you  of  the  plainness  and  severity  of  the 
language  which  is  there  used  respecting  those  who 
'  fulfil  the  lust  of  the  flesh.'  Is  a  vice  denounced  in 
such  unequivocal  terms  in  the  Holy  Scriptures,  one  on 
which  Christian  sensibility  or  Christian  delicacy  may 
not  even  utter  a  word  ?  We  appeal  to  your  faith  in  the 
religion  of  Christ,  whose  name  you  bear.  We  entreat 
you  to  remember  not  only  his  condemnation  of  every 


308  NOYBSISM  UNVEILED. 

impure  desire,  but  his  rebuke  of  those  who,  having 
much  committed  to  them,  yet,  through  neghgence  or 
timidity,  are  unfaithful  to  their  opportunities  of  useful- 
ness. We  beseech  you  to  bear  in  mind  his  example, 
and  the  encouragement  he  has  given  to  those  who  shall 
follow  him  in  the  regeneration  of  the  world." 


NOYBSISM  UNVBILBD.  800 

CHAPTER  XXXI. 

DOCTRINES  OF  THE  PERFECTIONISTS. 

Perfectionist  Creed — Theses  of  the  Second  Reforma- 
tion. 

Having  disposed,  in  the  main,  of  the  historical  part 
of  Noyesism,  we  now  proceed,  in  pursuance  of  our 
plan,  to  notice  some  of  its  leading  doctrines.  We  shall 
in  the  first  place  give  the  Perfectionist  Creed,  at  least 
so  far  as  it  has  been  presented  to  the  public  in  a  tangi- 
ble form. 

In  the  Witness  of  Aug.  20,  183T,  we  find  the 
following : — 

"  What  we  believe.'^'' 

1.  "  We  beheve,  that  God  is  the  only  rightful  inter- 
preter of  the  Bible,  and  teacher  of  theological  truth, — 
hence, 

2.  We  beheve,  that  no  doctrine  can  become  an 
article  of  true  faith ^  which  is  not  recognized  by  the 
believer  as  an  immediate  revelation  to  him  from  God, — 
jet, 

3.  We  believe,  that  God,  "  who  worketh  all  in  allj^^ 
can  and  does  teach  his  own  truth,  through  his  written 
word  and  through  the  testimony  of  his  sons, — therefore, 

4.  We  beheve  it  is  proper,  that  we  should  state,  as 
untnesses  for  God,  the  fundamental  articles  of  our  own 
faith. 

5.  We  believe  "  there  is  none  good  but  one,  that  is 
God," — that  all  the  righteousness  m  the  vmiverse  is 
God's  righteousness. 

6.  We   beheve,   that  God's   righteousness  may  be 


310  NOYESISM   UNVEILED. 

revealed  in  his  creatures,  as  a  man's  spirit  is  revealed 
in  the  motions  of  his  body. 

7.  We  believe,  that  "  the  works  of  the  flesh,  [i.  e. 
human  nature,]  are  adultery,  uncleanness,  envyings, 
strife,  and  such  lihe'^  only. 

8.  We  beheve,  that  all  attempts  to  produce  better 
results  from  human  nature,  by  instruction  and  legal 
discipline,  only  increase  the  evil, — inasmuch  as  they 
refine  and  disguise,  without  removing  it. 

9.  We  believe,  that  the  Son  of  God  was  manifested 
in  human  nature  for  the  purpose  of  destroying,  (not 
reforming,)  the  works  of  the  flesh,  and  revealing  the 
righteousness  of  God. 

10.  We  believe,  that  the  righteousness  of  God  was 
never  revealed  in  human  nature,  till  the  birth  of  Jesus 
Christ. 

11.  We  believe,  that  the  object  of  all  God's  dealings 
with  the  human  race  before  the  birth  of  Christ,  was, 
not  to  promote  the  righteousness  of  the  flesh,  i.  e. 
self-righteousness,  i.  e.  the  perfection  of  sin ;  but  to 
prepare  the  way  for  the  manifestation  of  his  own 
righteousness  through  Jesus  Christ, — hence, 

12.  We  beheve  that  the  righteousness  of  the  saints, 
under  the  law  before  Christ,  was  only  "  a  shadow  of 
good  things  to  come,  and  not  the  very  image  of  the 
things,"  bearing  a  relation  to  the  true  righteousness  of 
God,  like  that  of  a  type  to  its  anti-type. 

13.  We  believe,  that  the  servants  of  God  under  the 
law,  by  submission  to  the  discipline  of  the  dispensation 
in  which  they  lived,  were  prepared  for,  and  became 
heirs  of  the  righteousness  of  God,  afterward  revealed 
by  Jesus  Christ. 

14.  We  believe,  that  "  God  was  in  Christ  reconciling 
the  world  unto  himself," — that  the  union  of  human  and 
divine  in  him,  made  the  righteousness  of  God  accessi- 
ble to  all  men. 


NOYESISM   tJNYEILBD.  311 

15.  We  believe,  that  Christ  is  properly  called  the 
second  Adam,  and  as  the  human  race  in  spirit  is  one 
body,  that  he  became,  by  his  incarnation,  "  the  light 
that  lighteth  every  man." 

16.  We  beheve,  that  all  who  are  apprized  by  the 
gospel  of  the  fact,  that  the  Son  of  God  has  come,  are 
thereby  called  to  choose  whether  they  will  hold  the 
fallen  or  the  risen  Adam  as  their  head. 

17.  We  believe,  that  faith  alone  receives,  and  unbe- 
lief alone  rejects,  the  blessings  given  to  men  by  the 
second  Adam, — ^by  faith  men  awake  to  a  perception  of 
the  truth  as  it  is  in  Christ, — unbelief  is  the  devil's 
dream. 

18.  We  believe,  that  Christ,  as  he  is  in  his  resurrec- 
tion and  glory ^  is  given  to  every  member  of  the 
human  race. 

19.  We  believe,  that  all  the  faith,  righteousness, 
liberty  and  glory  of  the  risen  Son  of  God,  are  given  to 
every  man. 

20.  We  believe,. that  Christ  in  his  incarnation  was 
"  made  under  the  law,"  and  that  the  christian  dispen- 
sation did  not  commence,  in  any  sense,  until  he 
ascended  up  on  high. 

21.  We  believe,  that  none  are  christians,  in  any 
sense,  till  they  receive  Christ  in  his  resurrection, — 
hence, 

22.  We  believe,  that  the  disciples  of  Christ,  during 
his  personal  ministry  in  the  flesh,  were  not  christians. 

23.  We  believe,  that  Christ  in  the  resurrection  is 
free  from  sin,  from  the  law,  from  all  ordinances,  and 
from  death  ;  hence  all  who  are  subject  to  any  of  these, 
are  not  properly  called  christians,  as  not  having 
attained  the  hope  of  their  calling. 

24.  We  believe,  that  the  history  which  the  Bible 
contains  of  the  Church,  after  Christ's  ascension,  com- 
monly called  the  primitive  church,  is  a  history  rather 


312  NOYESISM  UNVBILBB. 

of  the  latter-day  glory  of  Judaism,  than  of  the  com- 
mencement of  Christianity. 

25.  We  believe,  that  the  apostles  and  primitive 
believers,  so  far  as  they  were  subject  to  sin,  law,  and 
death,  were  Jews  and  not  christians. 

26.  We  believe,  that  Christ  plainly  and  repeatedly 
promised  to  his  disciples,  that  he  would  come  to  them 
a  second  time  and  complete  their  salvation  within  the 
life-time  of  some  of  his  immediate  followers. 

27.  We  beheve,  that  the  primitive  church,  living  in 
the  transition  period,  from  the  first  to  the  second  com- 
ming  of  Christ,  were  more  or  less  partakers  of  the 
resurrection,  holiness,  liberty,  and  glory  of  Christ 
according  to  their  faith. 

28.  We  believe,  that  at  the  destruction  of  Jerusa- 
lem, the  end  of  the  Jewish  dispensation,  Christ  .came 
to  beHevers  the  second  time,  according  to  his  promise. 

29.  We  believe,  that  at  the  period  of  the  second 
coming  of  Christ,  Christianity,  or  the  kingdom  of 
heaven,  properly  began. 

30.  We  beheve,  that  this  was  the  period  of  the  full 
development  of  the  New  Covenant,  (Heb.  viii.) 
which  secures  to  believers  perfect  and  eternal  salvation 
from  sin,  full  freedom  from  written  law  and  human 
instruction. 

31.  We  beheve,  that  the  whole  body  of  Christ,  i.  e. 
the  church,  attained  the  perfect  resurrection  of  the 
spiritual  body  at  his  second  coming. 

32.  We  believe,  that  Antichrist,  at  the  same  period, 
attained  the  perfect  resurrection  of  damnation. 

33.  We  believe,  that  this  was  the  period  of  the 
commencement  of  the  judgment,  (crisis,  see  the 
Greek,)  of  this  world. 

34.  We  beheve,  that  after  this  period,  the  salvation 
given  to  all  men  in  Jesus  Christ,  included  nothing  less 
than  a  perfect  and  eternal  salvation  from  sin, — a  por- 


KOYESISM  UN  VEILED.  813 

feet  redemption  from  the  law  and  legal  instruction — a 
perfect  resurrection  of  tlie  spiritual  body,  and  a  stand- 
ing on  the  plain  of  eternity  beyond  the  judgment." 

Below  will  be  found  a  few  remarks  made  by  Abner 
Kneeland  relative  to  the  above  creed.  Pehaps  we 
owe  an  apology  to  the  reader  for  here  introducing  the 
name  of  Kneeland,  the  great  champion  of  modern 
infidelity.  We  would  simply  say,  that  we  were  induced 
so  to  do  from  the  consideration  that  his  remarks  would 
serve  a  very  important  purpose.  They  show  conclu- 
sively that  avowed  infidels  consider  the  practical  results 
of  the  principles  held  by  Perfectionists  as  identical 
with  their  own,  at  least,  as  it  respects  religious  worship, 
both  tending  directly  to  do  it  entirely  away. 

The  remarks  above  alluded  to  were  pubHshed  in 
connection  with  the  Perfectionist  creed  by  Mr.  Knee- 
land  in  his  infidel  organ,  the  Boston  Investigator,  of 
July  24,  1835,  and  are  as  follows : 

"  We  have  pubHshed  this  week  the  creed  of  the 
'  Perfectionists,'  as  they  modestly  call  themselves, 
merely  to  let  our  readers  know  what  a  confused  mess 
of  unmeaning  and  ridiculous  nonsense  religious  people 
can  adopt  as  sublime  mysteries.  This  is  a  mystery  a 
thousand  times  more  mystified  than  any  thing  in  the 
Bible  ;  and  if  it  be  revelation,  taken  as  a  whole,  it  is  a 
revealed  mess  of  hodge-podge.  We  hke  this  creed  on 
one  account,  because,  as  no  one  can  tell  what  it  means, 
there  is  no  risk  in  either  behoving"  or  disbeheving  it ; 
and  as  it  is  intended  to  do  away,  and  in  fact  does  do 
away,  all  necessity  of  worship,  or  religious  teaching  of 
any  kind,  all  being  taught  immediately  from  the  pure 
fountain,  and  all  know  that  they  are  right,  however 


314  NOTBSIBM  UNVBIL8D. 

much  they  differ  from  each  other,  it  comes,  practically 
at  least,  if  not  in  principle,  exactly  to  our  views.  Our 
only  fears  are,  that  they  will  know  so  much,  and  so 
perfectly,  about  rehgion,  there  will  not  be  much  room 
for  knowledge  of  any  other  kind.  If  they  will  be  only 
satisfied  with  what  is  revealed,  so  as  to  be  perfectly 
contented  and  unconcerned  about  it,  givuig  themselves 
time  and  opportunity  to  attend  to  every  thing  else  that 
is  useful  for  the  time  being,  there  will  be  practically  no 
manner  of  difference  so  far  as  regards  all  religious 
mummery,  between  the  behevers  in  this  creed  and 
those  who  have  no  creed  at  all — ^between  the  consum- 
mation and  perfection  of  all  religion  and  no  religion. 
The  only  difference  will  be,  the  Perfectionists  will  be 
unavoidably  superstitious,  while  those  who  make  no 
pretensions  to  religious  faith,  are  mere  rationalists.'^ 

We  protest  against  the  apparent  coupling  of  the 
Perfectionist  creed  with  the  doctrines  of  evangelical 
denominations,  which  appears  in  the  above  language. 
Aside  from  this,  the  remarks  of  Mr.  Kneeland  contain 
more  truth  than  fiction — he  makes  many  just  allusions 
and  gives  the  Pei-fectionists  several  happy  hits.  One 
important  fact,  worthy  of  special  attention,  stands  out 
very  prominently  to  view,  viz.,  that  the  doctrines  of 
Kneeland  and  Noyes  tend  directly  to  the  same  point — 
that  Perfectionism  and  the  rankest  infidelity  practically, 
if  not  in  principle,  coincide  **  exactly''' — both  aiming  a 
deadly  blow,  though  in  a  different  way,  at  the  very 
vitals  of  true  religion. 

It  is  not  at  all  strange  that  Abner  Kneeland  liked 
the  Perfectionist  creed  in  some  respects,  seeing  there 
is  so  little  difference  between  that  creed  and  no  creed — 


N0TB6ISM   UNVEILED.  315 

between  the  perfection  and  consummation  of  that  hind 
of  religion  and  no  religion  at  all ! 

Of  the  two,  Kneeland  occupied  the  more  honorable 
position.  He  and  his  adherents  had  the  boldness  to 
openly  avow  their  sentiments — take  a  position  antago- 
nistical  to  all  reUgion,  and  bide  the  consequences ; 
while  Noyes  and  his  company,  like  a  piratical  crew  or 
a  set  of  cowardly  miscreants,  have  been  sailing  under 
false  colors.  The  one  has  worn  its  own  true  attire  and 
fully  exhibited  its  native  deformity,  while  the  other  has 
appeared  in  disguise  and  concealed  its  disgusting 
features. 

Theses  of  the  Second  Reformation. 

To  give  a  more  extended  view  of  the  doctrines  of 
Noyesism,  we  quote  the  following  sentiments  published 
under  the  above  heading,  in  the  Perfectionist  of  Feb. 
22, 1845. 

"1.  God  is  a  dual  being,  consisting  of  the  Father 
and  the  Word ;  and  man,  as  male  and  female,  is  his 
image  and  likeness. 

2.  By  the  Word,  ^  all  things  were  made  that  ivere 
mflt<ie,  viz.,  heaven  and  earth,  and  all  the  '  principalities, 
thrones  and  dominions'  that  belong  to  them. 

o.  All  things  that  God  made  were  '  very  good,'  and 
evil  never  originated  by  his  act  or  in  his  works  or  with 
his  consent. 

4.  '  The  old  serpent  called  the  Devil  and  Satan' 
was  a  '  sinner  from  the  beginning,'  and  is  the  un- 
created source  of  all  evil  as  God  is  the  uncreated 
source  of  all  good. 

5.  This  evil  being  was  permitted  to  seduce  Adam 
and  Eve  into  sin,  and  thus  to  incorporate  into  himself 
spiritually  the  parent  stock  of  the  whole  human  family. 


316  NOYESISM  UK  VEILED. 

6.  One  consequence  of  this  event  has  been  that  the 
whole  posterity  of  Adam  and  Eve  have  been  born  in 
spiritual  captivity  to  the  author  of  sin  and  death. 

7.  Another  consequence  has  been  that  Satan,  availing 
himself  of  the  reproductive  powers  of  human  nature, 
has  intermixed  his  own  proper  seed  with  the  posterity 
of  Adam. 

8.  The  depravity  of  mankind  is  therefore  of  two 
sorts.  The  '  seed  of  the  woman'  are  depraved  by 
spiritual  incorporation  with  Satan  ;  while  the  '  seed  of 
the  serpent'  are  depraved  by  vital  identity  with  him. 

9.  Both  of  these  classes  are  involved  in  a  ruin  that 
would  have  been  eternal,  had  not  a  system  of  re- 
demption been  instituted. 

10.  The  depravity  of  the  latter  class  is  such  that 
they  will  never  avail  themselves  of  the  offer  of  re- 
demption, and  of  course  their  ruin  be  eternal. 

11.  The  former  class  being  less  radically  depraved, 
will  hear  the  voice  of  mercy  and  attain  eternal  sal- 
vation. 

12.  God  foreknowing  these  diverse  results  of  the  two 
sorts  of  depravity,  predestinated  men  accordingly — the 
'  seed  of  the  serpent'  to  perdition,  and  the  'seed  of  the 
woman'  to  eternal  life. 

13.  The  proximate  object  of  the  system  of  re- 
demption is  the  disengagement  of  men  from  the  evil 
spirit  with  which  they  are  incorporated,  and  their 
restoration  to  spiritual  unity  with  God. 

14.  To  the  end  the  entire  administration  of  God  in 
this  world  has  been  directed  from  the  beginning. 

15.  Yet  the  means  of  its  actu^  accomplishment 
were  not  introduced  into  the  world  till  the  times  of  the 
gospel. 

16.  By  the  call  of  Abraham  and  the  isolation  of 
his  seed,  God  prepared  a  nation  to  be  the  vehicle  of 


NOYBSISM   UNVEILBD.  317 

his  communications  and  the  theatre  of  the  final  act  of 
redemption. 

17.  By  the  law  and  the  prophets  he  purged  the 
chosen  people  of  idolatry,  advanced  them  in  external 
morality  and  civilization,  excited  their  hopes  of  a  future 
dispensation  of  holiness,  and  so  prepared  the  way  for 
the  gospel. 

18.  Yet  there  was  thus  far  no  radical  redemption 
from  the  spirit  of  evil,  either  in  this  world  or  in  that 
which  is  beyond  death.  The  reunion  of  God  and  man 
was  a  '  mystery  hid  from  the  generations  and  ages'  of 
the  old  testament  ;  and  without  that  there  could  be  no 
effectual  resurrection  of  the  spirit  from  the  power  of 
sin  or  of  the  body  from  the  power  of  death,  i.  e.  no 
Second  Birth. 

19.  Nevertheless,  they  who  feared  God  and  died  in 
faith,  under  the  legal  dispensation,  were  reserved  in  a 
state  of  partial  happiness  in  the  world  of  souls  till  the 
revelation  of  the  gospel  mystery,  and  then  received 
perfect  salvation. 

20.  But  their  sinful  experience  under  the  law,  as 
recorded  in  the  Old  Testament,  is  not  to  be  admitted 
as  evidence  against  the  completeness  of  the  salvation 
which  came  by  the  gospel. 

21.  The  incarnation  of  the  Word  or  Son  of  God, 
was  the  beginning  of  the  process  by  which  the  effectual 
redemption  of  mankind  from  the  evil  one,  and  their 
re-union  with  God,  was  accomplished. 

22.  By  the  incarnation  and  its  concomitants  the 
power  of  the  uncreated  God  was  introduced  into  human 
nature,  and  brought  to  bear  upon  the  power  of  the 
uncreated  Devil. 

23.  Jesus  Christ,  by  the  .strength  of  his  divine 
nature,  overcame  sin  in  his  own  flesh  from  the  begin- 
ning, and  so  maintained  open  communication  with  the 
Father. 


S18  NOYBSISM  UNYHILBD. 

24.  Bj  the  influence  of  his  spirit,  bj  the  confidence 
which  his  miracles  elicited,  and  by  the  wisdom  of  his 
words  and  deeds,  he  drew  about  himself  such  a  body 
of  disciples  as  was  necessary  to  constitute  a  medium 
of  spiritual  communication  between  himself  and  the 
world. 

25.  By  his  death  he  completed  his  obedience  to  the 
Father,  and  his  sympathy  with  the  temptations  of 
humanity,  and  at  the  same  time  established  com- 
munication with  Hades,  the  abode  of  the  dead. 

26.  From  this  lowest  point  of  his  descent,  the  Father 
by  his  mighty  power  drew  him  back  to  his  own  bosom  ; 
and  in  this  ascent  he  burst  the  gates  of  Hades  and 
Mortality,  the  dominions  of  the  evil  one,  and  left  them 
open  behind  him. 

27.  As  his  descent  into  fellowship  with  humanity 
had  not  broken  his  communication  with  the  Father, 
so  his  ascent  to  the  bosom  of  the  Father  did  not  break 
his  communication  with  humanity.  He  was  now,  on 
the  one  hand,  '  Lord  of  the  living  and  the  dead,'  (i.  e. 
in  spiritual  union  with  men  in  the  flesh  and  men  in 
Hades,)  and,  on  the  other,  fully  reinstated  in  his 
primeval  partnership  with  the  Father.  Thus  the  train 
was  fully  laid  for  the  at  -  one  -  ment. 

28.  By  the  intercession  of  Christ,  the  spirit  of  truth 
was  next  poured  out ;  and  active  communication 
between  God  and  man  commenced. 

29.  It  was  the  office  of  the  Spirit  to  show  believers 
'the  things  of  Christ,'  and  in  process  of  time  it  revealed 
to  them  his  divine  nature,  his  \'ictory  over  sin  and 
death,  the  judgment  of  the  prince  of  this  world,  and 
the  spiritual  reconciliation  of  God  with  man. 

V'  30.  The  apprehension  of  these  facts  brought  believers 
into  fellowship  with  Christ's  death  and  resurrection, 
and  made  them  partakers  of  his  divine  nature  and  his 
victory  over  the  evil  one. 


NOYKSISM  UNVBILKD.  319 

31.  This  was  the  Second  Birth  ;  and  before  this,  no 
man  had  ever  been  bom. 

32.  As  the  dispensation  of  the  second  birth  dates 
from  a  period  subsequent  to  the  personal  ministry  of 
Christ,  and  subsequent  to  the  out-pouring  of  the  spirit, 
it  is  manifest  that  the  sins  of  the  disciples  while  Christ 
was  in  the  flesh,  and  during  the  early  part  of  the 
apostohc  age,  are  not  to  be  received  as  evidence 
against  the  perfectness  of  gospel  regeneration. 

33.  The  second  birth  of  the  primitive  believers,  was 
in  fact  the  beginning  of  their  resurrection. 

34.  As  such,  it  transferred  them  in  spirit  from  this 
world  to  immortality,  and  thus  released  them  from  the 
law  of  ordinances  and  carnal  commandments. 

35.  It  set  them  free  from  all  sin. 

36.  It  gave  them  eternal  security  of  holiness. 

37.  The  life  which  it  gave  to  the  soul,  extended  its 
influence  more  or  less  to  the  body. 

38.  It  terminated,  after  a  few  years,  in  a  full  resur- 
rection and  glorification  of  the  body,  and  a  translation 
to  the  presence  of  the  Father. 

39.  The  second  Advent  took  place  immediately  after 
the  destruction  of  Jerusalem,  according  to  the  plain 
predictions  of  Christ,  and  the  acknowledged  expecta- 
tions of  his  followers. 

40.  The  saints  in  Hades  and  Mortality  were  then 
rmsed  from  the  dead,  and  judgment  was  administered 
upon  them  and  upon  their  enemies. 

41.  These  transactions  took  place  in  the  spiritual 
world. 

42.  This  was  a  resurrection  and  judgment  of  only  a 
part  of  mankind. 

43.  The  world,  as  a  whole,  had  not  then  received 
the  preparatory  legal  training,  necessary  to  the  spiritual 
apprehension  of  the  gospel.  The  universal  resurrec- 
tion and  judgment,  therefere  was  deferred. 


320  NOYBSISM  UNVEILHD. 

44.  The  legal  dispensation  wlu^h  had  been  given  to 
the  Jews,  was  transferred,  after  the  destruction  of 
Jerusalem,  to  the  Gentiles. 

45.  The  rehgion  of  Christendom,  since  the  apostolic 
age,  though  it  has  borne  the  name  and  external  of 
Christianity,  has  in  fact  been  a  second  edition  of  Juda- 
ism. 

46.  The  second  birth,  founded  as  it  was  in  the  prun- 
itive  chui'ch  on  a  spiritual  apprehension  of  the  resur- 
rection of  Christ,  and  effectual  as  it  was  to  save  from 
all  sin,  has  not  been  known  in  the  nominal  Christian 
church  since  the  Second  Advent. 

47.  The  second  and  final  resurrection  and  judgment 
are  yet  future. 

48.  But  within  a  few  years  the  primitive  faith  of 
regeneration  by  the  resurrection  of  Christ  has  again 
been  given  to  the  world ;  and  thus  the  process  has 
commenced,  which,  according  to  the  order  of  the  for- 
mer dispensation,  must  ere  long  terminate  in  the  second 
resurrection  and  judgment. 

49.  No  radical  reformation  of  mankind  will  ever  be 
effected  by  any  other  agency  than  that  which  God  has 
employed,  viz.,  the  power  of  Christ's  resurrection, 
which  overcomes  the  evil  one  and  saves  from  all  sin  ; 
and  no  end  of  the  tribulations  of  this  world  will  ever 
be  attained,  but  by  the  judgment  which  separates  the 
righteous  from  the  wicked. 

50.  When  the  power  of  the  resurrection  and  judg- 
ment shall  have  done  its  work,  uncreated  Good  will 
commence  its  perfect  and  eternal  triumph  over  uncre- 
ated Evil — Christ  will  assume  the  dominion  which 
Satan  has  usurped  over  this  world,  and  '  of  the  increase 
of  his  government  there  shall  be  no  end,'  " 

The  above  Theses,  together  with  the  Articles  of 
Faith  already  given,  constitute  the  Perfectionist  creed. 


KOYBSISM  UNVEILED.  321 

or,  at  least,  so  much  of  it  as  Mr.  Nojes  has  ever 
drawn  up  in  consecutive  order,  and  given  to  the  public 
in  a  condensed  and  tangible  form.  Other  portions  of 
the  creed,  considered  no  less  important  by  them,  have 
been  kept  back,  in  perfect  keeping  with  Perfectionist 
policy.  This  creed,  in  the  main,  appears  to  be  of  a 
speculative  character — though  not  without  some  impor- 
tant practical  bearings  of  evil  tendency,  as  the  sequel 
clearly  shows — and  is  made  up,  for  the  most  part,  of 
absurd  and  fanatical  notions  which  all  right-minded 
persons  would  immediately  reject;  but  as  there  is 
nothing  too  absurd  for  a  certain  class  of  the  commu- 
nity to  embrace,  this  creed,  as  unscriptural,  contra- 
dictory, and  even  ridiculous,  as  some  parts  of  it 
evidently  are,  is  cordially  received  by  those  who  are 
extremely  fond  of  netv  things,  however  inconsistent  and 
erroneous  they  may  be. 

In  addition  to  what  has  already  been  given,  there 
are  also  many  broken  fragments  and  detached  portions 
of  the  Perfectionist  creed,  scattered  throughout  their 
multifarious  writings,  which  it  will  be  our  object,  so  far 
as  they  are  worthy  of  notice,  to  gather  up  and  present 
in  their  proper  place.  Moreover,  it  is  evident,  from 
recent  disclosures  and  the  present  aspect  of  affairs, 
that  Mr.  Noyes  resorted  to  some  well-devised  strata- 
gems, and  had  used  considerable  adroitness  in  the 
aggressive  warfare,  which,  for  a  number  of  years,  he 
has  been  carrying  on  against  religion  and  the  best 
intei-ests  of  society.  He  appears  to  have  studiously 
21 


322  NOYBSISM  UNVBILBD. 

avoided  publishing  his  real  sentimentg  relative  to  some 
points,  and  has  so  mystified  others  by  confused  expla- 
nations and  dextrous  manoeuvres  of  the  pen,  as  to  keep 
his  readers  in  almost  total  darkness  respecting  his  real 
designs.  Thus  by  his  artful  policy  he  kept  the  worst 
features  of  the  system  concealed  for  several  years  from 
the  community  at  large  ;  and  he  undoubtedly  did  this 
lest  it  should  be  so  disgusting,  when  viewed  in  its 
native  dress  and  most  revolting  form,  as  to  be  instantly 
discarded  by  those  whom  he  wished  to  secure,  and 
thus  his  hopes  be  blasted  and  his  plans  frustrated. 

He  evidently  laid  the  heaviest  contributions  upon 
his  available  energies,  and  toiled  almost  incessantly  to 
make  the  fatal  draught  of  error  and  iniquity  assume 
the  pleasing  aspect  of  a  rich  and  wholesome  repast, 
that  the  specious  poison  of  sin,  like  a  gilded  bait, 
might  be  swallowed  ere  the  devoted  victim  should  be 
apprized  of  the  danger  to  which  he  was  exposed.  And 
in  some  instances  he  has  been  too  successful. 

By  garnishing  the  most  fatal  errors  and  seductive 
heresies  with  the  tinsel  drapery  of  his  false  philosophy, 
Mr.  Noyes  has  deceived  and  drawn  in  those  who  had. 
not  sufficient  discernment  to  penetrate  the  flimsy  veil 
which  he  had  thrown  over  this  monster  of  iniquity, 
modem  Perfectionism !  And  those  who  have  been 
duped  and  deluded  by  his  artful  disguise,  perhaps  in 
many  instances  have  verily  behoved  that  he  was  setting 
foiih  the  soundest  doctrines,  when  in  fact  he  w^ 
roaming  the  regions  of  fancy  and  expatiating  at 
pleasure — 


NOYBSISM  UNVBILBD.  323 

•*  On  speculations  wild, 
And  visionary  theories  absurd, 
Prodigiously,  deliriously  absurd, 
Compared  with  which,  the  most  erroneous  flight 
That  poet  ever  took  when  warm  with  wine, 
Was  moderate  conjecturing !" 

Nevertheless  he  has  sought  to  sustam  his  visionary 
notions  bv  proofs  drawn  from  the  Bible  ;  and  bj  utter 
perversions  of  scripture,  arid  an  imposing  array  of 
sophistical  arguments,  he  has  confirmed  his  deluded 
followers  in  the  belief  that  he  is  a  sound  and  logical 
reasoner  ;  and  this  is  not  very  surprising,  for  it  is  evi- 
dent that — 

"  He  had  an  art, 
A  kind  of  hellish  charm,  tiat  made  the  lips 
Of  truth  speak  falsehood,  to  his  liking  turned 
The  meaning  of  the  text,  made  trifles  seem 
The  marrow  of  salvation." 

And  undoubtedly  to  the  full  satisfaction  of  hia  fol- 
lowers, he — 

"  Proved  still  his  reasoning  best,  and  his  belief, 

Most  rational,  most  scriptural,  most  sound, 

Though  propped  on  fancies  wild  as  madman's  dreams  ; 

With  mortal  heresy  denouncing  all 

Who  in  hia  arguments  could  see  no  force." 


3M  HOYESISM   UNVEILBD. 


CHAPTER  XXXII. 

Noyes^s  Views  of  Deity  —  Image  of  God  —  View$  of 
Noyes  concerning  AngeU. 

We  deem  it  proper  in  this  connection  to  give  the 
views  of  Mr.  Noyes  respecting  the  Deitj.  In  refer- 
ence to  the  Godhead  he  lays  down  the  following 
proposition  as  an  article  of  faith  : — 

"  God  is  a  dual  being,  consisting  of  the  Father  and 
the  Word  ;  and  man  as  male  and  female,  is  his  image 
or  likeness." 

Again,  speaking  of  the  unity  of  our  first  parents, 
and  assuming  that  they  are  '•  an  image  or  miniature  by 
which  we  are  to  form  our  conceptions  of  the  nature 
of  God,"  he  says, 

"  We  are  led  to  the  simple  conclusion,  that  the 
uncreated  Creator,  the  Head  of  the  universe,  like  the 
head  of  mankind  and  the  head  of  every  family,  though 
one,  is  yet  '  twain  ;'  (Mark  10  :  8  ;)  in  a  word,  that 
the  creation  has  a  Father  and  a  Mother." 

Again  in  reference  to  the  same  point  he  says  : — 

•*  If  we  reason  from  the  seen  to  the  unseen,  assuming 
that  the  essential  nature  of  the  effect  is  in  the  cause, 
we  have  proof  as  broad  as  the  universe,  that  the  God- 
head is  a  duality ;  for  every  link  of  the  chain  of  pro- 
ductive life,  in  its  whole  visible  extent  from  the  lowest 
region  of  the  vegetable  kingdom,  to  the  highest  of  the 
animal,  is  a  duahty.  The  distinction  between  male  and 
female  is  as  universal  as  vitality,  and  all  visible 
evidence  goes  to  prove  that  it  is  the  indispensable 
condition  of  reproduction,  i.  e,   of  vital  creation.     If 


NOYBSISM  UNVBILSD.  825 

we  j&nd  two  elements  in  all  the  streams  of  life,  why 
should  we  not  infer  that  the  same  two  elements  are  in 
the  Fountain  ?" 

Once  more— as  more  fully  explanatory  of  his  views 
Mr.  N.  holds  the  following  language  : — 

''  I  do  regard  the  Father  and  the  Son,  as  two  Spirits^ 
who  bear  a  similar  social  (not  physical')  relation  to 
each  other  as  that  which  exists  between  man  and 
woman,  one  of  whom  is  greater  than  the  other,  (as  the 
man  is  greater  than  the  woman)  who  love  each  other 
and  have  pleasure  in  their  fellowship,  (as  man  and 
woman  love  and  have  pleasure  in  spiritual  fellowship) 
who  are  the  joint  parents  of  all  created  things,  (as 
man  and  woman  are  the  joint  parents  of  their  offspring) 
who  are  thus  the  prototype  in  whose  image  Adam  and 
Eve  were  made." 

Lastly,  in  his  preface  to  the  Berean  Mr.  N.  says : 

"  We  believe,  not  in  the  Trinity,  nor  in  the  Unity, 
b  ut  in  the  Duality  of  the  Godhead  ;  and  that  Duality 
in  our  view,  is  imaged  in  the  two-fold  personality  of  the 
first  man,  who  was  made  '  male  and  female.'  Gren.  1 : 
27.  As  Adam  was  to  Eve,  so  is  the  Father  to  the 
Son ;  i.  e.  he  is  the  same  in  nature,  but  greater  in 
power  and  glory. '^ 

The  reader  will  undoubtedly  find  it  very  difficult  to 
discover  the  propriety  of  representing  the  Son  of  God 
as  the  female  part  of  the  Godhead  !  Moreover,  Christ 
is  represented  in  the  above  language  as  being  inferior 
in  "power  and  glory"  to  the  Father,  which  is  diametri- 
cally opposed  to  the  most  plain  and  unequivocal 
declarations  of  Scripture.  St.  Paul  says  Christ 
"  thought  it   not  robbery  to  be   equal   with   God." 


326  U0YB6ISM  UNVBILBD. 

Phil.  2:6.  And  the  Evangelist  John  declares  that 
the  "  Word  was  Crod.^^  John  1:1.  These  passages 
with  many  others  of  similar  import  clearly  show  that 
the  Son  was  not  inferior  in  power  and  glory  to  the 
Father,  the  assertions  of  Mr.  N.  to  the  contrary 
notwithstanding. 

The  untenableness  of  the  positions  and  the  fallacy 
of  the  reasoning  found  in  the  foregoing  extracts,  must 
be  apparent  to  all. 

The  Godhead  is  represented  by  Mr.  N.  as  a  duality, 
in  opposition  to  the  doctrine  of  the  Trinity,  so  clearly 
taught  and  abundantly  supported  by  the  Scriptures. 
The  Bible  teaches  us  that  there  is  one  God  —  and  that 
there  are  three  distinct  persons  united  and  existing  in 
the  Godhead,  co-equal  and  co-existent,  viz :  —  The 
Father,  Son,  and  Holy  Ghost. 

From  the  whole  tenor  of  Mr.  N.'s  writings,  but 
more  especially  from  tracing  his  views  of  Deity,  the 
reader  cannot  fail  to  perceive,  and  must  be  forcibly 
impressed  with  the  fact  that  his  sentiments  are  ex- 
tremely low  and  grovelling.  He  turns  every  thing 
that  he  touches  into  a  polluted  channel  :  and  his  mind 
appears  to  be  almost  or  quite  incapable  of  soaring  above 
sensual  objects.  From  the  corrupt  vein  running 
through  all  his  writings,  the  current  of  his  thoughts  and 
drift  of  his  feelings  are  most  apparent. 

Image  of  God, 

Mr.  Noyes  imagines  that  he  discovers  an  image  of 
the    Gt)dhead    in  the   circumstance   of    our  original 


NOYBSISM  UNVEILED.  S27 

progenitors  having  been  created  male  and  female  ! 
This  is  supremely  contemptible,  and  the  most  absurd 
of  all  absurdities.  God  being  an  infinite  and  eternal 
Spirit,  no  visible  form  or  physical  organization  can  be 
an  appropriate  symbol  of  the  Divine  Nature.  God 
being  a  Spirit,  can  have  no  corporeal  image  whatever. 
That  great  prohibitory  precept  with  which  the  deca- 
logue opens,  and  which  was  designed  as  an  antidote  to 
every  species  of  idolatry,  forbids  the  making  of  any 
''  image  ^  or  any  likeness  of  any  thing  that  is  in  heaven 
ahove^  or  that  is  in  the  earth  beneath,  or  that  is  in  the 
water  under  the  earthJ'     Ex.  20:  4. 

Moses,  in  exhorting  the  children  of  Israel  to  beware 
of  the  idolatry  so  prevalent  in  Egypt,  says  : — "  Take 
ye  therefore  good  heed  unto  yourselves;  (^for  ye  saw 
no  manner  of  similitude  on  the  day  that  the  Lord  spake 
unto  you  in  Horeh  out  of  the  midst  of  the  fire  ;  )  lest 
ye  corrupt  yourselves,  and  make  a  graven  image,  the 
similitude  of  any  figure,  the  likeness  of  male  or  fe- 
male."    Deut.  4:  15, 16. 

There  were  some  among  the  corrupt  and  idolatrous 
Egyptians,  who,  like  Mr.  Noyes,  found  in  the  male  and 
i^male  figure  the  fittest  image  to  gratify  the  impure 
workings  of  their  own  depraved  hearts  and  sensualized 
imaginations  ;  and  Moses^  in  cautioning  the  Israelites 
against  such  gross  idolatry,  uses  specific  language — 
language  plainly  implying  that  a  figure  or  image 
representing  the  male  or  female  form  would  be  as 
improper  and  inappropriate  to  shadow  forth  the  God- 
head as  any  representation  whatever,  which  would  not 


328  NOYESISM  UNVBILED. 

have  been  the  case  were  it  what  Mr.  N.  imagines  it  to 
be.  All  material  forms  whatever,  in  heaven  or  earth, 
utterly  fail  to  give  us  any  adequate  conception  of  the 
incomprehensible  Jehovah.  There  is  not  the  least 
approximation  in  any  figure  toward  that  mysterious 
Bemg  who  has  neither  "  body  nor  parts.'^ 

The  language  just  quoted  is  fatal  to  the  theory  of 
Noyes,  and  clearly  shows  that  the  position  he  has 
assumed  is  utterly  mitenable. 

For  scriptural  proof  to  sustain  his  position,  Mr.  N. 

rehes  solely  upon  Gen.  1 :  27,  "  So  God  created  man 

in  his  own  image,  in  the  image  of  God  created  he  him ; 

male  and   female   created   he   them."     This  passage 

affords  no  support  to  Mr.  N.'s  favorite  theory.     The 

o-rammatical  construction  does  not  warrant  the  con- 
es 

elusions  to  which  he  has  arrived.  There  is  reference 
in  this  passage  loth  to  the  image  in  which  man  was 
created,  and  his  physical  structure — they  are  spoken 
of  separately  and  not  conjointly — ^the  one  being  distinct 
from,  the  other. 

Moreover,  the  image  of  God,  in  which  man  was 
created,  could  not  have  been  physical,  but  must  have 
been  intellectual  or  moral ;  for  God  in  his  very  nature 
is  a  spiritual  essence — an  intellectual  and  moral  being. 
The  image  then  of  the  creature  must  have  corresponded 
with  the  nature  of  the  Creator. 

But  the  Scriptures  are  not  silent  relative  to  this 
subject.  St.  Paul  fixes  this  image  with  so  much  pre- 
cision and  definiteness  that  no  sincere  inquirer  after 
truth  need  err  or  be  in  doubt.     He  makes  it  to  consist 


NOYBSISM   UNVEILBB.  B20 

in  knotvledge,  in  righteousness,  and  true  holiness.  In 
fwriting  to  the  Colossians  he  says  :- — ''  Ye  have  put  off 
the  old  man  with  his  deeds  ;  and  have  put  on  the  new 
man,  which  is  renewed  in  knowledge  after  the  image  of 
him  that  created  him." — Col.  3  :  9, 10.  Again,  to  the 
Ephesians  he  sajs : — "Put  on  the  new.  man,  which 
after  God  is  created  in  righteousness  and  true  holi- 
ness:'—E^h.  4 :  24, 

Thus  it  appears  that  man  was  originally  ivise  in  ^m- 
derstanding,  holy  in  heart,  and  righteous  in  life  ; 
which  moral  qualities  constituted  the  image  in  which 
he  was  created.  Here  we  have  proof  toucliing  this 
point  which  is  "  direct  and  decisive,''  and  that  which  is 
"  indirect  and  doubtftd  "  must  yield  to  it. 

This  point  is  settled,  then,  by  incontestible  proofs  ; 
but  it  will  appear  in  a  clearer  hght  on  further  ex- 
amination. The  great  end  of  the  mission  of  Christ 
into  the  world  was  to  recover  man  from  the  ruins  of  the 
fall — reinstate  him  in  the  Divine  favor — and  restore 
the  image  which  was  lost  by  transgression.  The  image 
to  be  restored  by  Christ  was  that  which  was  lost  by  the 
fall — the  image  lost  by  the  fall  was  the  image  in  which 
man  was  created — hence  the  image  which  Christ  came 
to  restore  was  that  which  man  originally  possessed  ; 
and  we  have  already  ascertained  that  it  was  a  moral 
image,  consisting  in  knowledge,  righteousness,  and  true 
holiness. 

The  Scriptures  abundantly  sustain  the  position  that 
it  is  the  peculiar  and  appropriate  work  of  Christ  as  a 
Redeemer  and  Savior  to  restore  to  man  that  which  was 


380  NOYBSISM   imVEILED. 

lost  by  the  fall.  If  the  image  in  which  man  was 
created  was  physical,  then  the  loss  of  that  image  by  | 
the  fall  was  a  physical  loss,  and  the  restoration  by 
Christ  must  be  physical  also.  But  the  fall  produced 
no  change  in  man's  physical  structure,  and  the 
restoration — at  least  so  far  as  relates  to  what  takes 
place  in  the  present  life — is  not  physical ;  hence  the 
image  in  which  man  was  created  was  not  physical. 

But  again — if  the  image  was  physical,  then  all  men, 
irrespective  of  moral  character,  possess  that  image,  and 
will  to  all  eternity,  according  to  Mr.  N.'s  views  ;  for  he 
beheves  that  image  will  never  be  effaced,  much  less 
obliterated,  but  that  the  identity  if  not  the  present 
peculiar  structure  of  man's  physical  organization  will 
continue  forever.  Mr.  Noyes  also  believes  in  the 
future  punishment  of  the  wicked  —  then  it  follows, 
according  to  his  notions,  that  the  wicked,  while  writh- 
ing under  the  scalding  vials  of  Jehovah's  wrath,  will 
retain,  with  as  much  distinctness  and  in  as  high  a 
degree  of  perfection,  the  image  of  God,  as  man 
possessed  when  he  came  pure  from  the  plastic  hand  of 
his  Maker !  Forever  suffering  and  yet  forever  pos- 
sessing the  image  of  God,  in  which  he  was  created  ! 

But  in  addition  to  the  feeble  testimony  adduced  to 
sustain  the  unwarrantable  position  assumed,  Mr.  N.  has 
advanced  one  argument,  and  the  rest  he  has  to  say 
relative  to  the  subject  is  made  up  mostly  of  assertions 
and  assumptions.  The  argument  alluded  to  is  found  in 
the  preceding  extracts  and  is  as  follows  : — 

^'  If  we  reason  from  the  seen  to  the  unseen,  assuming 


NOYBSISM   UNVEILED.  331 

that  the  esential  nature  of  the  effect  is  in  the  cause,  we 
have  proof  as  broad  as  the  universe,  that  the  Godhead 
is  a  duality  ;  for  every  link  of  the  chain  of  productive 
life,  in  its  whole  visible  extent  from  the  lowest  region 
of  the  vegetable  kingdom  to  the  highest  of  the  animal, 
is  a  duality.  The  distinction  between  male  and  female 
is  as  universal  as  vitality,  and  all  visible  evidence  goes 
to  prove  that  it  is  the  indispensable  condition  of  repro- 
duction, i.  e.  of  vital  creation.  If  we  find  two  elements 
in  all  the  streams  of  life,  why  should  we  not  infer  that 
the  same  two  elements  are  in  the  Fountain." 

The  above  appears  to  be  the  sum  of  Mr.  N.'s  rea- 
soning touching  this  point ;  and  although  it  is  somewhat 
plausible,  it  is  nevertheless  unsound.  To  reason  from 
the  seen  to  the  unseen  in  this  matter  is  quite  sophistical. 
Though  the  visible  creation  bespeaks  an  invisible  Author, 
yet  from  the  works  of  nature  we  cannot  ascertain,  to 
any  considerable  extent,  the  true  character  of  Deity,  or 
the  mode  of  the  Divine  Existence.  It  is  one  thing  to 
institute  comparisons  and  draw  analogies,  and  quite 
another  thing  to  prove  that  they  are  founded  in  the 
reality  of  things.  If  the  essential  nature  of  the  cause 
is  in  the  effect,  then  we  might  prove  that  God  is  a 
material  Being  ;  and  on  the  same  principle  we  might 
prove  that  the  "  essential  nature"  of  the  artisan  is  in 
every  piece  of  handiwork  which  he  produces — which 
would  be  utterly  absurd. 

From  the  views  and  reasoning  of  Mr.  N.,  we  should 
infer  that  through  his  inverted  optics  and  distorted 
vision  he  sees  all  things  double,  and  that  nothing  to 
him  has  any  beauty  or  comeliness  except  a  duality, 


332  NOYESISM  UNVEILED. 

having  the  distinction  of  male  and  female.  Who  can 
refrain  from  expressing  his  utter  abhorrence  of  such 
grovelling  sentiments,  and  such  debasing  ^dews  of  the 
Divine  Nature  ?  While  Mr.  N.  has  been  deahng 
largely  in  sublime  mysteries,  so  evanescent  that  they 
have  evaporated  into  airy  nothings,  a  few  disciples  have 
gathered  around  liim,  apparently  struck  with  amaze- 
ment ;  and  while  gazing  almost  with  adoring  wonder, 
have  verily  behoved  that  Mr.  N.  was  soaring  to  the  lofti- 
est heights,  diving  to  the  lowest  depths,  and  ranging  the 
remotest  regions  of  spiritual  philosophy,  when  in  fact 
he  was  fast  bound  to  the  car  of  carnality  himself,  and 
was  dragging  his  hoodwinked  and  deluded  followers 
through  the  filth  of  sensuality  down  to  the  lowest 
depths  of  degradation  and  the  darkest  shades  of  black 
despair. 

Views  of  Noyes  concerning  Angels, 

Mr.  N.  not  only  assumes  the  position  that  sexual 
distinction  exists  in  the  Godhead,  but  also  that  it  exists 
among  angels !  The  following  language  of  Mr.  N. 
contains  this  sentiment : — 

"'  I  confess  I  see  nothing  very  horrible  in  the  idea 
of  there  being  sexual  distinction  in  the  angehc  race. 
If  the  distuiction  of  spirits^  the  twofold  life,  which  I 
have  described  in  what  I  have  said '  of  God,  exists  in 
the  angelic  nature,  (as  I  behove  it  exists  in  every 
living  thing,  from  God  to  the  lowest  vegetable,)  I  see 
no  very  alarming  reason  why  that  distinction  should 
not  be  expressed  in  the  bodily  form  of  angels  as  well  as 
men." 

In   support   of  the   theory    that   sexual   distinction 


NOYESISM  UNVEILED.  BS3 

exists  in  angelic  natures,  Mr.  N.  relies  mainly,  if  not 
wholly,  upon  a  few  passages  found  in  the  6th  chapter 
of  Genesis,  and  the  Epistle  of  Jude.  And  a  remark 
which  he  makes  in  reference  to  these  passages  brings 
his  ideas  in  relation  to  the  nature  of  angels  distinctly 
to  view.  He  says  his  view  of  the  meaning  of  these 
passages  "  involves  no  intrinsic  absurdity.  It  only 
makes  a  breach  in  the  theories  of  those  who  assume 
without  proof  that  angels  have  not  a  corporeal  and 
sexual  nature." 

Here  Mr.  N.  takes  a  stand,  and  we  think  he 
"  assumes  without  proof"  that  angels  have  a  "  corporeal 
and  sexual  nature."  This  sentiment  is  apparently 
very  gross,  and  a  little  investigation  will  show  that  it  is 
utterly  absurd  and  anti-scriptural. 

The  proof  on  wliich  Mr.  N.  rehes  to  sustain  his 
theory  in  the  Old  Testament,  is  found  in  Genesis,  6 : 
1,  2.  "And  it  came  to  pass,  when  men  began  to 
multiply  on  the  face  of  the  earth,  and  daughters 
were  born  unto  them,  that  the  sons  of  God  saw  the 
daughters  of  men  that  they  were  fair ;  and  they  took 
them  wives  of  all  which  they  chose." 

Mr.  N.  contends  that  the  sons  of  God  here  spoken 
of  were  angels ;  and  asserts  that  most  of  the  ancient 
Christian  Fathers,  and  many  of  the  modern  Jewish 
Rabbins  favor  this  exposition.  But  such  authorities 
will  never  sustain  a  theory  so  obviously  absurd  and 
anti-scriptural.  The  declaration  of  the  Savior  made  in 
reply  to  the  curious  and  inquisitive  Sadducees,  is  fatal 
to  the  position  of  Mr.   N,  Christ  declares  that,   "  In 


834  N0YBSI8M  UNVBILBD. 

the  resurrection  they  neither  marry,  nor  are  given  in 
marriage,  but  are  as  the  angels  of  God  in  heaven. '^ 
Matt.  22 :  30. 

Mr.  N.  believes  and  asserts  that  "  marriage  does  not 
exist  in  heaven,"  which  is  equivalent  to  admitting  that 
it  has  no  place  simong  the  angelic  hosts ;  and  in  the 
passage  just  quoted  it  seems  to  be  assigned  as  the  prin- 
cipal reason  why  in  the  "  resurrection  they  neither 
marry,  nor  are  given  in  marriage,'* — that  they  are  as 
angels.  This  shows  conclusively  that  the  Creator 
never  designed  angels  for  a  marriage  stat6  ;  and  from 
their  very  natures  they  are  evidently  incapacitated  for 
such  a  state. 

Now,  the  sons  of  God  mentioned  in  Genesis,  6 :  2, 
took  wives,  or  entered  into  the  matrimonial  relation; 
consequently  they  could  Twt  have  been  angels.  The 
most  rational  and  consistent  interpretation  of  the 
passage  under  consideration  is,  iiiat  the  "  sons  of  God" 
were  the  descendants  of  Seth,  who  were  so  called 
because  of  their  eminent  piety  ;  and  that  the  "  daugh- 
ters of  men"  with  whom  they  intermarried,  were  the 
progeny  of  wicked  Cain. 

But  Mr.  N.  tries  to  press  St.  Jude  into  his  service, 
and  obtain  from  him  some  support  for  his  theory.  We 
give  his  quotation  with  a  few  comments  which  he  has 
attached : — ■ 

"  The  angels  which  kept  not  their  first  estate,  but 
left  their  own  habitation^  he  hath  reserved  in  everlast^ 
ing  chains,  under  darkness,  unto  the  judgment  of  the 
great  day.     Even  as  Sodom  and  Gomorrah,  and  the 


NOYBSISM   UN  VEILED .  335 

cities  about  them,  in  like  manner  giving  themselves 
over  to  fornication^  and  going  after  strange  Jieshy  are 
set  forth  for  an  example,  suffering  the  vengeance  of 
eternal  fire.'  The  account,  and  the  only  one  which  we 
have  in  the  Old  Testament,  to  which  we  can  suppose 
Jude  to  have  referred,  of  angels  leaving  their  own 
habitation  and  going  after  other  flesh,  is  found  in  the 
sixth  chapter  of  Genesis,  where  it  is  said,  that  '  when 
men  began  to  multiply  on  the  faee  of  the  earth,  and 
daughters  were  bom  unto  them,  the  sons  of  God  saw 
the  daughters  of  men  that  they  were  fair  ;  and  they 
took  them  wives  of  all  that  they  chose.' " — Berean, 
p.  100. 

The  quotation  from  Jude,  which  Mr.  N.  has  given, 
taken  independently  of  the  connection  in  which  it 
stands,  gives  a  false  and  perverted  view  of  the  apostle's 
teaching.  According  to  Mr.  N.'s  construction,  Sodom, 
Gomorrah,  and  the  cities  about  them,  gave  themselves 
over  to  fornication  in  like  manner  unto  the  angels 
which  left  their  own  habitation.  This  exposition 
carries  its  own  refutation  with  it,  for  it  has  already 
been  seen  that  the  sons  of  Cfod  spoken  of  in  the  sixth 
chapter  of  Genesis  to  which  Mr.  N.  supposes  Jude 
referred,  were  not  angels. 

They  "  took  them  wives,"  and  however  unwise  this 
m-ay  have  been  under  the  circumstances,  and  whatever 
ruinous  consequences  may  have  resulted  to  them  per- 
sonally therefrom,  we  have  no  intimation  that  they 
violated  any  natural  or  statute  law.  If  there  was 
nothing  unlawful  in  their  course,  they  were  not  guilty 
of  fornication,  and  could  not  have  been  referred  to  by 
Jude  as  having  gone  after  strange  flesh.     This  view  of 


336  NOYESISM  UNVEILED. 

the  subject  completely  overturns  the  whole  theory  of 
Mr.  N.,  for  the  inhabitants  of  Sodom,  Gomorrah, 
and  the  cities  about  them,  Avere  guilty  of  fornication 
in  like  manne?'  to  a  class  already  mentioned,  which 
could  not  have  been  the  sons  of  God  as  Mr.  N.  would 
have  it,  for  they  were  not  guilty  of  that  sin,  as  has 
been  seen. 

Mr.  N.'s  interpretation  is  far-fetched,  as  appears  by 
consulting  the  context  of  the  passage  which  he  has 
quoted.  Jude  opens  his  Epistle  with  a  general  exhor- 
tation to  all  true  believers,  ''  earnestly  to  contend  for 
the  faith  which  was  once  dehvered  unto  the  saints." 
He  also  warns  them  against  the  dangers  to  which  they 
were  exposed,  arising  from  false  teachers  who  were 
among  them,  disseminating  their  pernicious  heresies. 
"  Por,"  says  he,  "  there  are  cei^tain  men  crept  in  una- 
wares, who  were  before  of  old  ordained  to  this  condem- 
nation; ungodly  men,  turning  the  grace  of  our  God 
into  licentiousness." — Ver.  4. 

Thus  Jude  prominently  sets  forth  the  sin  of  those 
false  teachers  who  had  insinuated  themselves  into  the 
Church  by  specious  pretences,  and  who  were  striving 
to  overthrow  the  faith  of  true  believers,  and  turn  them 
away  from  the  simplicity  of  the  Gospel ;  and  he  inti- 
mates that  they  were  doomed  to  condign  punishment. 
And  for  the  purpose  of  illustrating  the  subject,  and 
making  it  more  impressive,  Jude  immediately  intro- 
duced several  striking  examples  where  signal  judgments 
had  been  inflicted  for  heinous  offences.  The  first 
example  mentioiieA,  is, .that  of  tlie  unbelieving  Israelites, 


NOYESISM   UNVEILED.  33T 

wlio,  notwithstanding  they  had  been  miraculously 
delivered  from  Egyptian  bondage,  were  afterward 
destroyed  in  the  wilderness,  because  they  believed  not 
the  word,  neither  obeyed  the  commands  of  Grod.  The 
seco7id  example  cited,  is  that  of  the  apostate  angels 
who  are  ''  reserved  in  everlasting  chains,  under  dark- 
ness, unto  the  judgment  of  the  great  day."  The 
third  example  adduced  is  that  of  the  wicked  inhabit- 
ants of  Sodom  and  Gomorrah,  who,  giving  themselves 
over  to  fornication,  and  going  after  strange  flesh,  in 
LIKE  MANNER  unto  the  false  teachers  mentioned  in  verse 
4,  dxe  set  forth  for  an  example  of  what  God  will  do  to 
such  transgressors. 

He  then  calls  these  false  teachers  '^filthy  dreamers,^'' 
and  conveys  the  idea  that  they  and  their  followers 
were  as  unbelieving  and  disobedient  as  the  Israelites  in 
the  wilderness,  as  rebellious  against  the  authority  of 
God  as  the  fallen  angels^  and  as  impure  and  unholy  2i^ 
the  Sodomites;  and  that  consequently  they  must 
expect  similar  punishment. 

But  the  sentiments  of  St.  Peter  perfectly  harmonize 
with  those  of  St.  Jude  when  speaking  of  the  same  or 
a  similar  class  of  persons,  and  come  in  to  corroborate 
the  view  which  we  have  taken  of  the  subject,  and 
confirm,  our  exposition  of  Jude's  language.  St.  Peter 
says  : — "  There  shall  be  false  teachers  among  you,  who 
privily  shall  bring  in  damnable  heresies." 

These  false  teachers  appear  to  have  advanced  and 
inculcated  sentiments  quite  similar  to  those  taught  by 
Noyes,  at  least  in  some-  resr^ects.  A  kind  of  Antino- 
22 


338  NOYBSISM  UNVEILED. 

mianism  was  probably  the  foundation  of  their  many 
heresies.  One  commentator  says : — '^  They  pampered 
and  indulged  the  lusts  of  the  flesh ;  and,  if  the 
Nicolaitans  are  meant,  it  is  very  appHcable  to  them, 
for  they  taught  the  community  of  wives,  &c." 

It  is  said  that  many  should  follow  their  pernicious 
ways ;  by  reason  of  whom  the  way  of  truth  should  be 
evil  spoken  of.  If  persons  professing  Christianity, 
follow  abominable  practices,  the  way  of  truth — the 
Christian  religion,  is  blasphemed.  Should  they  call 
themselves  by  any  other  name  than  that  of  Christ,  his 
religion  would  not  suffer. 

Now,  Peter  presents  the  rebellious  angels,  the  wicked 
antideluvians,  and  the  corrupt  inhabitants  of  Sodom 
and  Gomorrah,  as  ensamples  to  those  who  should 
afterward  live  ungodly  ;  thus  showing  that  those  wicked 
and  false  teachers  who  corrupt  the  pure  doctrines  of 
Christianity  shall  not  escape  condign  punishment. 

But  to  return — the  Scriptures  afford  not  a  particle 
of  testimony  to  prove  that  angels  have  a  corporeal 
nature.  But  the  Bible  is  not  wholly  silent  relative  to 
this  subject.  Though  the  testimony  in  relation  to  the 
nature  of  angels  is  not  very  abundant,  yet  it  is  suffi- 
ciently clear  and  conclusive  to  prove  that  they  are 
spiritual  or  incorporeal  beings ;  capable,  however,  of 
assuming  different  forms  and  appearing  in  a  bodily 
shape,  for  there  are  several  instances  on  record  of 
their  having  thus  appeared  in  ancient  times. 

That  angels  are  incorporeal  beings,  is  evident  from 
the  following  passages :-— "  And  of  the  angels  he  saith, 


KOYESISM  UNVEILED.  889 

Who  maketh  his  angels  spirits."  Heb.  1 :  7. — Again, 
speaking  of  the  angels,  it  is  said  :-^"  Are  they  not  all 
ministering  spirits,  sent  forth  to  minister  for  them  who 
shall  be  heirs  to  salvation  ?"  Heb.  1  :  14.— Here 
angels  are  termed  spirits  ;  and  the  Savior  has  taught 
us— and  in  the  very  nature  of  things  it  is  impossible 
that  it  should  be  otherwise— that  spirits  are  incorporeal 
substances.  Addressing  his  disciples  on  the  eve  of  his 
ascension,  when  they  were  "  terrified  and  affrighted"  at 
his  appearing  suddenly  am.ong  them,  and  supposing 
that  they  had  seen  a  spirit,  he  said  to  them,  "  A  spirit 
hath  not  flesh  and  bones  as  ye  see  me  have."  Luke 
24 :  39.  This  shows  to  a  demonstration  that  spirits 
are  not  corporeal,  but  are  distinct  in  their  natures 
from  material  beings.  Angels  being  spirits  and  spirits 
being  incorporeal,  it  follows  that  they  are  not  material 
beings.  The  theory,  then,  of  Mr,  Noyes  is  clearly 
anti-scriptural. 

But  the  position  assumed  by  Mr.  N.,  viz.,  that 
angels  have  a  corporeal  and  sexual  nature,  and  came 
down  to  earth  and  entered  into  the  marriage  relation, 
is  as  unphilosophical  and  repugnant  to  reason,  as  it  is 
anti-scriptural.  In  the  scale  of  being,  there ?s  a  ''just 
gradation,"  and  one  part  rises  in  "  due  degree"  above 
another,  from  the  lowest  point  of  created  existence,  up 
through  all  the  ascending  series  to  the  throne  of  God, 
Each  class  of  beings  in  this  connected  and  wonderful 
chain,  has  a  distinct  and  peculiar  nature,  occupies  its 
assigned  position,  and  acts  in  its  proper  sphere.  All 
the   varied  species   of  sensitive   creatures   have   their 


340  NOYESISM  UNVEILED. 

constitutional  peculiarities,  and  the  bounds  of  their 
appropriate  spheres  are  drawn  by  the  infinitely  wise 
Architect  of  the  universe,  and  are  defined  with  exact 
precision.  And  although,  as  links  of  the  great  chain 
of  being,  and  parts  of  the  "  stupendous  whole,"  they 
approach  near  to  each  other,  yet  there  are  distinct 
lines  of  demarcation  drawn  between  them  which  they 
can  never  pass.  But  the  -theory  of  Mr.  Noyes  makes 
angels,  those  higher  and  holier  intelHgences,  step  from 
their  exalted  station,  leave  their  "  divine  abode,"  pass 
the  limits  of  their  appropriate  sphere,  and  come  within 
the  precincts  of  humanity  !  Or  his  view  represents 
men  and  angels  as  being  identical  in  all  the  essential 
elements  of  their  natures ;  thus  would  he  recklessly 
break  down  the  barrier  between  the  two,  and  impiously 
attempt  to  commingle  natures  which  Infinite  Wisdom 
ordained  should  ever  be  distinct. 

The  conclusions  and  views  of  Mr.  N.  relative  to  this 
subject  approach  nearer  the  wildest  vagaries  of  a  dis- 
tempered brain,  than  the  deliberate  and  rational  deduc- 
tions of  a  reflecting  mind.  His  theory  appears  to  be 
a  mere  creature  of  the  imagination,  having  neither 
Scripture,  reason  nor  philosophy  to  sustain  it. 


NOYESISM  UNVEILED.  341 


CHAPTER  XXXIII. 


Abolition  of  Death. 

Mr.  Noyes  lias  assumed  a  somewhat  novel  position 
relative  to  the  subject  of  death.  He  boldly  asserts,  in 
opposition  to  the  uniform  and  unequivocal  testimony  of 
Scripture,  and  the  universal  experience  of  all  past 
ages,  that  there  is  no  necessity/  of  dying  ! 

No  person  who  receives  the  Bible  as  an  infallible 
rule  of  faith  can  be  in  doubt  relative  to  this  subject. 
The  following  plain  and  positive  declarations  of  Scripture 
are  the  unmistakable  land-marks  of  every  true  believer's 
faith  in  reference  to  this  point  :— 

"  Du8t  thou  art  and  unto  dust  shalt  thou  return — we 
must  needs  die — the7^e  is  no  man  that  hath  power  over 
the  Spirit  to  retain  the  Spirit :  neither  hath  he  poiver  in 
the  day  of  death :  and  there  is  no  discharge  in  that 
war — it  is  appointed  unto  men  once  to  die — wherefore 
as  hy  one  man  sin  entered  into  the  world,  and  death  by 
sin ;  and  so  death  passed  upon  all  men,  for  that  all 
have  sinned.''^ 

The  universal  prevalence  of  death  in  every  age,  and 
among  all  nations,  has  been  a  hving  commentary  upon 
these  divine  declarations — a  standing  memorial  of  the 
melancholy  truth,  that  man  is  mortal.  And  we  might 
as  soon  expect  to  arrest  the  planets  in  their  course, 
reverse  the  wheels  of  nature,  break  the  immutable 
decree  of  Jehovah,  or  demolish  the  pillars  of  the 
eternal  throne,  as  to  escape  the  jaws  of  death.  To 
this  general  rule  there  have,  however,  already  been  two 


M%  SrOYESISM  UNVBILEBv 

exceptions,  viz.,  in  the  case  of  Enoch  and  Elijah,  who 
for  wise  ends  were  translated  that  they  should  not  see 
death  ;  but  we  have  no  intimation  that  another  instance 
of  like  character  will  ever  occur,  except  in  the  case  of 
those  who  shall  be  found  living  upon  the  earth  when 
Christ  shall  "  so  come  in  like  manner"  as  he  was  seen 
to  ascend  on  high,  and  who,  instead  of  passing  through 
the  ordinary  form  of  dying,  will  experience  an  in- 
stantaneous change  equivalent  to  death.  In  view  of 
the  repeated  declarations  of  Scripture,  no  person  can 
discard  a  doctrine  so  clearly  taught  as  the  certainty  of 
death,  without  utterly  rejecting  the  Bible  as  a  perfect 
standard  of  faith,  and  closing  his  eyes  to  the  light 
which  has  shone  in  all  ages  as  clear  and  strong  as  the 
sun  at  noon-day.  The  efforts  of  Mr.  Noyes  to  make  it 
appear  that  death  may  be  abolished  in  our  present 
state,  clearly  exhibit  a  strong  disposition,  not  only  to 
"  put  far  away  the  evil  day,"  but  to  banish  all  thoughts 
of  death  forever  from  the  mind.  The  course  pursued 
by  Mr.  N.  and  his  followers  would  naturally  render 
death  repulsive,  and  array  it  with  so  many  terrors  as 
to  make  it  an  unwelcome  subject,  which  could  not  be 
contemplated  with  any  great  degree  of  composure. 
The  mind  also  must  be  rendered  grossly  dark  by  sin 
and  error  before  the  vain  and  delusive  hope  of  escaping 
death  can  be  indulged. 

But  let  us  look  at  the  position  of  Mr.  Noyes,  relative 
to  the  subject  under  consideration,  as  defined  by  him- 
self.    In  the  Perfectionist  of  Sept.  7,  1844,  he   dis- 


KOYESISM  UNYEILEI).  348 

eourses  as  follows,  in  reference  to  what  transpired  in 
May,  1834  :— 

"  On  sitting  down  to  my  proposed  task,  (of  writing) 
I  found  myself  very  much  straitened  in  spirit  and 
mind.  My  thoughts  refused  to  take  the  direction 
which  I  had  prescribed  for  them,  and  I  soon  became 
satisfied  that  God  was  calhng  my  attention  to  other 
subjects  than  those  I  had  chosen- — that  the  thinking  I 
had  to  do  was  to  be  for  myself,  instead  of  for  others. 

"  The  first  subject  toward  which  the  instincts  of  my 
heart  turned,  and  which  soon  took  possession  of  my 
thoughts,  was  th^^  resurrection.  The  gospel  which  I 
had  received  and  preached  was  based  on  the  idea  that 
faith  identifies  the  soul  with  Christ,  so  that  by  his  death 
and  resurrection  the  believer  dies  and  rises  again,  not 
literally,  nor  yet  figuratively,  but  spiritually ;  and 
thus,  so  far  as  sin  is  concerned,  is  placed  beyond  the 
grave,  in  '  heavenly  places'  with  Christ.  I  n^w  began 
to  think  that  I  had  given  this  idea  but  half  its  legiti- 
mate scope.  I  had  availed  myself  of  it  for  the  salva- 
tion of  my  seuL  Why  should  it  not  be  carried  out  to 
the  redemption  of  the  body  f  Heretofore  I  had  had 
no  occasion  or  time  to  look  at  this  bearing  of  m.y 
theory,  but  now  I  found  myself  face  to  face  with  it. 
And  my  attention  was  riveted  upon  it,  not  as  a  matter 
of  speculation,  but  as  a  subject  involving  tremendous 
practical  obligations.  The  question  came  home  with 
imperative  force — '  Why  ought  I  not  to  avail  myself  of 
Christ's  resurrection  fully,  and  by  it  overcome  death 
as  well  as  sin  V 

''  The  suggestions  and  spirit  of  Weld  had  some 
^agency  in  turning  my  mind  to  this  physical  aspect  of 
the  gospel,  and  there  was  doubtless  a  tinge  of  legahty 
in  the  feelings  with  which  I  viewed  it  at  this  time. 
There   was   a  mixture   and   strife  of  good   and   evil 


844  NOYESISM  UNVEILED. 

spiritual  influences  within  me — the  good  seekmg  to 
bring  on  a  new  and  healthful  crisis  of  faith,  and  the 
evil  busy  mth  enchantments,  hoping  to  make  that  crisis 
an  occasion  of  false  imaginations  and  ruin.  Not  in  a- 
presumptuous  or  ambitious  spirit,  but  under  a  solemn 
sense  of  duty  resultmg  from  what  I  reg-arded  as  logical 
deductions  of  truth,  I  summoned  all  my  powers  to  an 
act  of  faith  in  Christ  as  the  Savior  of  the  body  as  well 
as  of  the  soul. — A  spirit  of  wrestling  pi-ayer  for  victory 
over  death  came  upon  me.  It  was  not  so  much  the 
act  of  dying  that  I  wished  to  be  dehvered  from,  as  the 
spiritual  power  of  death  which  broods  aver  all  men 
Uving  and  dying — that  dominion  of  the  'king  of  terrors' 
by  which  men  are  '  all  their  life-time  subject  to  bond- 
age.' I  sought  that  identity  with  Christ  by  which  I 
might  realize  his  emancipation  from  death,  as  well  for 
my  body  as  for  my  soul  ;  that  I  might  with  him,  see 
death  behind  me — the  '  debt  of  nature'  paid.  What  I 
sought  I  obtained.  From  that  time  to  this  I  have 
acknowledged  and  felt  no  allegiance  to  death.  The 
fear  that  once  hung  like  a  cloud  over  my  life  passed 
away,  and  has  long  been  a  forgotten  thing. 

"  As  it  has  been  frequently  reported  that  I  have  pro- 
fessed a  belief  that  I  should  '  never  die,'  I  may  as  well 
briefly  define  here  my  position  in  relation  to  this  point. 
The  conclusions  to-  which  I  came,  at  the  period  under 
consideration,  and  which  I  have  always  avowed  since, 
are  as  follows  : — 

"  1.  As  Christ  did  not  scruple  to  say,  '  He  that  be- 
lieveth  on  me  shall  never  die,'  and  that  too  with  mani- 
fest reference  of  some  kind  to  the  body,  (see  John  11: 
26  and  8:  51,)  so  the  behever  need  not  scruple  to  apply 
that  language  to  himself.  If  then  I  am  pressed  to  say 
whether  I  take  the  language  literaUy  or  figuratively,  I 
answer.  Neither  way,  but  S2?irifualhj.  The  believer 
may  part  with  his  flesh  and  blood,  but  shall  never  pari 


NGYESISM  UNVEILED.  345 

with  his  hfe.  His  true  body — that  which  is  within  his. 
flesh  and  blood — is  ah-eady  risen  from  the  dead  by  the 
power  of  Christ's  resurrection,  and  parting  with  flesh  and 
blood  will  be  to  him  no  death.  He  will  pass  into  the 
inner  mansions,  not  naked  but  clothed  with  his  immortal 
body. 

''2.  The  death  of  flesh  and  blood  to  the  believer  is 
not  inevitoMe.  It  is  not  a  '  debt'  which  he  owes  to  the 
de\'il,  or  to  sin,  or  to  the  laws  of  nature.  His  debts  to 
all  these  tyrants  are  paid.  Christ  has  bought  him  out- 
of  their  hands  ;  and  the  question  whether  he  shall  die  in 
the  ordinary  sense  will  be  determined,  not  by  some  in- 
exorable necessity,  but  by  the  choice  of  Christ,  and  of 
course  by  the  choice  of  himself  as  a  member  of  Christ. 
'  No  man  taketh  my  life  from  me,  (said  Christ,)  but  I 
lay  it  down  of  myself.' — (John  10:  18.)  The  power 
which  he  had  in  respect  to  his  own  life,  he  has  in 
respect  to  the  lives  of  those  who  believe  on  him.  As 
members  of  him,  they  may  lay  down  their  lives  as  he 
did ;  but  no  man  or  devil  takes  their  lives  from  them. 
Accordingly  Paul,  balancing  between  the  desii^e  of 'life 
and  death,  said,  '  1  luot  not  ivJdcli  I  shall  choose' — 
(Phil.  1: 22.)  This  language  implies  that  life  and  death 
were  at  his  option.  The  fact  that  the  saints  who  lived 
till  the  Second  Coming  (to  say  nothing  of  Enoch  and 
Ehjah)  passed  within  the  vale  without  dying,  proves  that 
the  death  of  flesh  and  blood  iij  not  inevitable — that 
Christ  has  power  to  discharge  believers  from  its  bond. 

"3.  It  is  certain  from  the  predictions  of  scripture 
that  the  time  is  coming  when  death  will  be  abolished 
both  as  to  form  and  substance  in  this  world.  .It  is  not 
to  be  expected  that  individuals  will  enter  into  this  last 
victory  of  Christ  much  in  advance  of  the  whole  body 
of  believers. — God  is  evidently  preparing  for  a  general 
insurrection  against  the  '  king  of  terrors,'  and  we  may 
reasonably   anticipate  the  crisis   and   victory  as  near. 


346  NOYBSISM  UNVEILED* 

*  They  that  are  alive  and  remain'  till  the  promised  con^ 
summation,  will  not  die  in  any  sense,  but  will  pass  from, 
the  mortal  to  the  immortal  state  by  a  change  similar  to 
that  which  is  described  in  I.  Cor.  15:  51,  &c. 

"  My  profession,  then,  since  1834,  has  been  briefly 
this  :  ^  If  I  pass  tkrough  the  form  of  dying,  yet  in 
fact  I  shall  never  die.  But  I  am  not  a  debtor  to  the 
devil  even  in  regard  to  the  form  of  dying.  No  man 
taketh  my  life  from  me.  I  wot  not  whether  I  shall 
choose  life  or  death.  But  this  I  know,  that  if  I  live 
till  the  kingdom  of  God  comes,  which  I  believe  is  near, 
I  shall  never  die  in  fact  or  in  form.  This  is  the  pro- 
fession,  for  which  I  have  been  charged  by  certain 
'  devout  and  honorable  women'  with  '  stumping  my 
Maker.' 

"  The  first  results  of  the  act  of  faith  which  I  have 
described,  were  delightful.  I  passed  one  night  in 
unspeakable  happiness.  I  felt  that  I  had  burst  through 
the  shroud  of  death  into  the  '  heavenly  places.'  " — ■ 
Perfectionist,  Vol.  iv.  No.  13. 

*  The  sentiments  expressed  in  the  foregoing  para- 
graphs are  in  perfect  keeping  with  the  tenor  of  the 
following  extracts  from  a  letter  written  by  Mr.  Noyes 
about  the  same  time,  viz.,  May,  1834.  Both  the  pre- 
ceding paragraphs  and  the  following  extracts  refer  to 
what  took  place  at  that  particular  time  : 

"  I  determined  to  cease  from  out-going  effort,  and 
fall  back  upon  the  leadings  of  the  Lord.  Soon  I  was 
led  to  a  distinct  view  of  this  truth,  that  while  I  have 
been  reproving  others  for  lagging  behind  their  privilege, 
remaining  in  Judaism,  &c.,  I  have  been  unwittingly 
doing  the  same  thing  myself.  I  have  only  come  up  to 
the  ground  on  which  Paul  stood,  whereas  it  is  my 
privilege  to  attain  7igw  the  resurrection  of  the    dead. 


NOYESISM  UNVEILED.  347 

*  .  .  On  Sunday  I  became  assured  that  within  three 
days  I  should  eat  of  the  tree  of  life  which  is  in  the 
midst  of  the  paradise  of  God.  *  *  *  Yesterday  in  the 
forenoon  the  travailing  pangs  of  the  final  resurrection 
came  upon  me.  I  read  the  last  chapter  of  Isaiah,  and 
found  a  peace  I  never  knew  before.  I  wrote  in  my 
journal,  '  Death  is  swallowed  up  in  victory.' — (Isa.  25: 
8.)  In  the  evening  I  felt  assured  the  coming  of  the 
Lord  drew  nigh.  I  even  expected  to  see  Jesus  face  to 
face.  Yet  I  knew  not  how  or  when  he  would  come. 
Imagination  was  very  busy,  but  the  Lord  helped  me  to 
curb  its  flight.  I  gathered  in  all  my  thoughts  and 
desires  upon  this  one  wish — Come,  Lord  Jesus,  come 
quickly.  He  came  ;  not  in  bodily  or  visible  shape,  but 
in  a  manner  more  satisfactorily  demonstrative  of  the 
reality  of  his  presence.  He  entered  the  secret 
chamber  of  my  soul,  and  we  sat  down  together  to  the 
marriage  supper.  I  will  not  attempt  to  describe  to 
you  the  glories  of  that  feast.  *  *  *  I  scarcely  closed 
my  eyes  during  the  night.  This  morning  I  am  sick  of 
love,  and  feel  that  this  mortal  must  indeed  put  on 
immortality,  or  it  would  be  consumed  in  the  love  of 
Grod,  Now  indeed  I  am  married,  and  will  henceforth 
wait  only  on  my  husband.  I  know  he  will  give  me  all 
the  desire  of  my  heart.  I  have  no  heart  to  pray— my 
harp  is  tuned  for  an  everlasting  song  of  praise.  I 
have  eaten  of  the  tree  of  life.  God  is  the  temple  of 
my  spirit.  I  think,  brother,  we  have  been  but  in 
embryo  hitherto.  *  *  *  The  cherubim  and  flaming 
sword  are  withdrawn  at  the  gate  of  Paradise.  Adam 
may  return,  and  eating  of  the  tree  of  life,  become  im- 
mortal. *  *  *  Faith  is  the  key  of  the  door  of  the  third 
heaven,  as  well  as  the  door  of  the  outer  court.  You 
may  enter  as  soon  as  you  believe  from  the  heart.  "^ — 
Spiritual  Magazine,  Vol,  ii.  No.  9, 


348  NOYESISM  UNVEILED. 

It  is  evident  from  several  points  of  resemblance  in 
the  extracts  from  the  Perfectionist  and  Magazine,  that 
Mr.  Nojes  refers  in  both  accounts  to  the  same  peculiar 
exercises  of  mind  at  a  given  time  in  May,  1834.  Mr. 
N.  says  in  the  Perfectionist — "  The  first  results  of  the 
act  of  faith  which  I  have  described,  were  delightful. 
I  passed  one  night  in  unspeakable  happiness.'^  In  the 
Magazine  he  says — "  I  scarcely  closed  my  eyes  during 
the  night."  The  connection  in  which  these  respective 
expressions  occur,  clearly  shows  that  they  refer  to  the 
same  time.  Now  what  was  the  great  object  which  Mr. 
N.  had  in  view  at  this  particular  time  ?  Certainly  the 
resurrection.  Mr.  N.  says  he  had  previously  "  only 
come  up  to  the  ground  on  which  Paul  stood."  But  he 
concludes  to  step  beyond  the  great  Apostle !  He 
discovered  it  to  be  his  "  privilege  to  attain  noiv  the 
resurrection  of  the  dead."  He  wished  to  see  the 
"debt  of  nature"  paid.  And  he  says  —  "What  I 
sought  I  obtained."  He  also  says  that  he  felt  "  that 
this  mortal  must  indeed  put  on  immortality,  or  it  would 
be  consumed  in  the  love  of  God."  Now  we  have  no 
intimation  that  the  "  mortal"  was  thus  "  consumed," 
and  of  course  we  are  left  to  infer  that,  in  the  estimation 
of  Mr.  N.,  it  put  on  "  immortality"  !  He  also  says 
that  he  sat  down  with  Christ  at  the  "  marriage  supper" 
— and  that  he  ate  of  the  "  tree  of  life  which  is  in  the 
midst  of  the  Paradise  of  God."  Now  this  is  as  plain 
as  language  can  well  be,  and  defines  the  position  of  Mr. 
N.  relative  to  the  resurrection  as  applied  to  himself, with 
considerable  precision.     Occupying  this  position  rela- 


NOYESiSM  unveiled:  349 

tive  to  the  resuiTection,  we  might  readily  anticipate  his 
position  respecting  death.  But  he  does  not  seem 
disposed  to  'bide  the  consequences  naturally  deducible 
from  the  premises.  Although  he  had  stepped  beyond 
St.  Paul,  and  attained  the  "  resurrection  of  the  dead," 
lest,  by  positively  asserting,  in  so  many  words,  that  he 
should  never  die,  and  thereby  too  fully  commit  himself, 
he  steps  back  upon  the  apostle's  ground  and  says — "  I 
wot  not  whether  1  shall  choose  life  or  death J^  If  the 
power  of  life  and  death  was  at  his  own  option,  and 
death  an  enemy  which  it  is  desirable  to  conquer,  we 
can  hardly  see  how  he  could  be  in  doubt  relative  to 
the  point. 

But  the  reader  will  readily  perceive  the  utter  per- 
version, and  consequent  misapplication,  of  the  apostle's 
language,  as  used  by  Mr.  Noyes.  St.  Paul  expressed 
a  desire  to  "  depart  and  be  with  Christ,"  which  he 
considered  "  far  better"  than  to  remain  in  this  vale  of 
tears,  subject  to  the  common  sorrows  of  life.  If  the 
power  of  life  and  death  had  been  lodged  with  Iiim,  he 
could  have  readily  decided  the  question.  And  his 
language — "J  tvot  not  ivhich  I  shall  choose^^ — did  not 
'imply  that  he  possessed  any  such  power.  But  knowing 
that  he  must  die,  and  being  ignorant  of  the  time  when, 
he  did  not  wish  to  assume  the  prerogative  of  judging  in 
relation  to  it,  but  in  the  spirit  of  humble  submission  he 
was  disposed  to  refer  the  decision  of  that  important 
question  to  the  infinitely  wise  Ruler  of  the  universe. 

We  have  given,  in  the  extracts  already  made,  the 
views  of  Mr.  Noyes  relative  to  the  subject  of  death,  at 


350  NOYBSISM  UNVHILED. 

considerable  length;  and  it  will  be  seen  on  further 
investigation,  that  he  has  defined  his  position  in  relation 
to  this  matter,  in  a  manner  which  cannot  be  mistaken. 
Some  points  are  quite  clear,  though  he  has  thrown 
his  wonted  mysticisms  around  some  portions  of  the 
subject.  On  this  subject  Mr.  N.  stands  fully  com- 
mitted. He  has  voluntarily  placed  himself  in  a  position 
from  which  he  can  never  retreat.  He  speaks  in  plain 
language  touching  one  point.  He  says  : — But  this  I 
hnow^  that  if  I  live  till  the  kingdom  of  God  comes, 
which  I  believe  is  near,  I  shall  never  die  in  fact  or  in 
formy 

Mr.  Noyes,  then,  has  not  only  assumed  that  he  shall 
never  die  spiritually,  but  he  positively  asserts,  in  the 
most  unequivocal  language,  that  should  he  live  till  the 
kingdom  of  God  should  come — which  at  the  time  of 
making  the  assertion  he  believed  to  be  near — he  should 
never  part  with  flesh  and  blood — should  never  die  in 
any  sense  whatever. 

Mr.  Noyes  having  thus  plainly  defined  his  position, 
the  question  naturally  arises.  Has  the  kingdom  of  God 
come  F  Have  we  any  data  by  which  this  point  can  be 
definitely  determined  ?  Now,  however  visionary  the 
matter  may  appear  in  the  eyes  of  an  intelligent  and 
sober  community,  it  appears  that  in  the  opinion  of  Mr. 
Noyes  and  the  Putney  Community,  this  long-looked-for 
event  has  actually  taken  place.  The  body  of  believers 
assembled  in  secret  conclave  on  the  evening  of  June  1 , 
1847,  took  the  subject  into  consideration,  and  after 
fully  discussing  the   whole  matter,   gravely  passed,  a 


NOYESISM  UNVEILED.  351 

very  famous  resolution.  It  is  reported  in  the  Magazine 
of  July  15,  1847,  in  the  following  manner  : — "  It  was 
unanimously  adopted^  therefore^  as  the  confessio7i  and 
testimony  of  the  believers  assembled,  that  the  kingdom 
of  G-odhas  comeT 

Let  it  be  remembered  that  in  1844,  Mr.  Noyes  said 
that  his  profession  since  1834,  had  been — "  This  I 
hrioiv,  that  if  I  live  till  the  kingdom  of  God  comes, 
ivhieh  I  believe  is  near,  I  shall  never  die  in  fact  or  in 
form^  In  184T  it  was  proclaimed  abroad  that  the 
kingdom  had  come.  Consequently  his  position  is 
clearly  defined.  Then  the  Rubicon  is  passed — the 
question  is  settled.  And  it  has  become  a  "  fixed  fact," 
that  John  H.  Noyes  has  announced  that  he  "  shall 
never  die  in  fact  or  in  formP^ 

But  Mr.  N.  stated  several  years  since,  and  it  can  be 
proved  by  several  substantial  witnesses — that  he  should 
never  die  ! 

But  was  Mr.  N.  sincere  in  all  this  ?  Further  exam- 
ination will  clearly  show  that  he  was  not  sincere. 
Several  months  after  it  was  announced  that  the  king- 
dom had  come,  Mr.  N.  stated  publicly,  as  we  learn 
from  a  reliable  source,  that  he  did  not  know  whether 
he  should  die  or  not !  And  denied  that  he  had  ever 
said  that  he  should  not  die  !  Before  the  kingdom 
came,  he  knew  that  if  he  lived  till  it  come,  he  should 
never  die  ;  but  after  it  had  come,  according  to  the 
notice  of  Noyes  and  his  company,  he  is  in  doubt  about 
it — he  does  not  know  what  he  so  well  knew  before  ! 
He  wot  not  which  to  choose  ! 


352  NOYESISM  UNVEILED. 

But  let  us  look  at  his  own  published  language 
touching  this  point.  Some  three  months  after  it  was 
decided  by  the  unanimous  voice  that  the  kingdom  of 
God  had  come,  speaking  m  reference  to  the  case  of 
Miss  Mary  A.  Knight — a  young  lacly  in  a  confirmed 
consumption  who  was  under  his  care,  an  account  of 
whose  case  is  given  at  length  elsewhere,  and  whom  he 
was  trying  to  heal  in  a  miraculous  manner — Mr.  Noyes 
holds  the  following  language  : — 

"  As  to  my  leaving  her  at  this  juncture,  the  simple 
truth  is,  that  I  had  engaged  to  attend  two  conventions 
in  the  state  of  New  York,  had  published  that  engage- 
ment in  the  Magazine,  and  had  set  the  day  for  my 
departure,  before  I  was  called  to  Mary  Knight.  She 
and  her  father  were  anxious  about  my  going  away, 
from  the  beginning,  and  fre(pently  asked  if  I  should 
go,  in  case  she  remained  sick.  I  always  answered 
them  that  I  should  go  at  the  day  appointed,  if  I  tvas 
alive,  whatever  might  be  her  state ;  and  all  that  I 
should  do  must  be  done  before  that  day." 

Let  the  reader  mark  his  language : — "  I  always 
answered  them  that  I  should  go  at  the  day  appointed, 
IF  I  WAS  ALIVE."  Mr.  Noyes  had  declared  that  he 
hiew  he  should  never  die  if  he  lived  till  the  kingdom 
of  God  came— he  had  announced  the  coming  of  that 
kingdom — but  several  months  subsequent  to  that  period 
he  uses  language  highly  expressive  of  doubt  relative  to 
his  own  case !  Language  implying  not  only  that  he 
mi(/ht  die,  but  that  he  might  die  ver^  soon,  ev*en  before 
the  time  appoii^ted  for  his  departure   should  arrive, 


NOYB>SISM  UNVEILED.  .g^ 

whicli  was  but  a  few  days  after !  What  beautiful 
consistency ! 

Thus,  in  an  unguarded  moment,  Mr.  N.  unwittingly 
betrays  himself,  and  clearly  exhibits  his  own  insincerity 
— showing  conclusively  that  he  had  but  little  or  no  confi- 
dence in  his  own  statements.  And  we  are  irresistibly 
carried  to  the  conclusion  that  Mr.  N.,  in  assuming  for 
the  time  being  his  position  relative  to  the  subject  of 
death,  must  have  been  actuated  by  some  sinister 
motives,  and  had  in  view  the  accomphshment  of  some 
.nefarious  ends.  He  could  not  have  acted  without  hav- 
ing some  object  in  view. 

He  would  fain  deceive  the  people  by  his  contempti- 
ble juggling,  and  many  of  his  followers  are  mightily 
pleased  with  the  delusion.  They  prefer  to  be  hood- 
winked and  humbugged,  rather  than  be  made  acquaint- 
ed with  sober  facts  and  substantial  reaUties.  And  he 
would  be  considered  an  enemy,  who  should  attempt  to 
break  the  spell,  and  let  in  the  searching  light  of  truth 
upon  the  whole  matter. 

But  in  the  extracts  already  given  Mr.  JST.  not  only 
speaks  in  reference  to  himself,  but  the  whole  ••  body  of 
believers,"  i.  e.,  all  genuine  Perfectionists.  He  had 
long  been  anticipating  a  period  in  which  death  would 
be  abolished,  both  in  form  and  substance,  in  this  world. 
He,viewjed  the  "  crisis  and  victory"  as  being  not  far 
distant,  and  fancied  that  God  was  "  preparing  for  a 
general  insurrection  against  the  king  of  terrors"  ;  and 
asserts  that  those  who  should  be  "  alive  and  remain  till 
the  promised  consummation,  would  not  die  in  (iny 
23  •  ' 


354  NOYESISM  UN  VEILED. 

sense, ''^  but  would  "  pass  from  the  mortal  to  the 
immortal  state  by  a  change  similar  to  that  which  is 
described  in  I.  Cor.  16:  52,  &c." 

The  "promised  consummation"  spoken  of  is  un- 
doubtedly the  coming  of  that  kingdom  to  which  we 
have  alluded,  which  event,  as  we  have  seen,  has  already 
taken  place  according  to  the  notions  of  Perfectionists. 
Consequently  Mr.  Noyes  and  all  his  true  followers,  or 
the  whole  body  of  believers,  have  passed  from  the 
"  mortal  to  the  immortal  state,"  and  have  experienced 
that  change  spoken  of  by  St.  Paul,  w^hich  was  to  take 
place  "  in  a  moment,  in  the  twinkling  of  an  eye,  at  the 
last  trump." — ^I.  Cor.  15:  52.  This  view  of  the  sub- 
ject is  confirmed  by  a  statement  made,  in  a  somewhat 
private  manner,  by  one  of  the  master-spirits  of  the 
Putney  community,  which  was — that  they  had  attained 
the  resurrection  of  the  body  !  Thus  with  Perfectionists 
eternity  has  begun,  and  they  are  now  walking  the  earth 
in  their  immortal  bodies  I ! 

But  let  us  look  at  the  influence  which  the  doctrine 
of  Mr.  N.  respecting  death  has  had  upon  the  "  body 
of  believers"  at  Putney.  A  prominent  member  of  that 
"  body"  holds  the  following  language,  pubHshed  in  the 
Spiritual  Magazine  of  Nov.  1,  1847  : — 

"  The  pall  of  the  fear  of  death  which  overspreads  all 
the  world,  is  removed  from  our  abode.  We  are  all 
conscious  of  the  fact,  by  whatever  means  it  has  come 
about,  and  it  is  ha-vdng  a  tremendous  influence  upon  our 
character. — Strength,  ambition,  hope,  have  ten  times 
the  chance  to  flourish.  Healthy  merriment  is  not 
checked  by  the  ghostly  spectre.     Our  happiness  never 


NOYBSISM   UNVEILED.  SS 

feels  its  chill.  Age  does  not  rest  on  its  oars  and  wait 
for  it,  but  wends  back  as  fast  as  possible  to  immortal 
youth.  *  To  be  prepared  for  death,'  never  enters  our 
heads  ;  •  and  a  visitor  from  some  sphere  where  it  is  not 
known,  might  go  in  and  out  with  us  ever  so  long,  and 
not  have  his  curiosity  excited  about  this  point  in  human 
destiny." 

From  the  above  it  appears  that  the  subject  of  death 
is  one  that  receives  no  attention  among  Perfectionists, 
especially  those  at  Putney.  All  thoughts  of  it  are 
banished  from  the  mind.  "  ^  To  he  prepared  for  death^^ 
never  enters  their  heads. ^'' 

And  when  a  person  embraces  their  views,  the 
Noyesites, 

"  First  of  all  eradicate, 
As  much  as  possible,  from  out  His  mind, 
All  thought  of  death." 

The  influence  of  Noyesism  is  here  seen  in  its  true 
light.  What  can  be  more  ruinous  or  sad  in  its  results  ? 
The  sentiment  of  Solomon — "  It  is  better  to  go  to  the 
house  of  mourning,  than  to  go  to  the  house  of  feast- 
ing"— -is  utterly  discarded  by  Perfectionists  !  This  is 
being  wise  above  what  is  written  ! 

Suitable  reflections,  at  proper  times,  upon  the  close 
of  life,  exert  a  salutary  and  reforming  influence  upon 
the  heart  and  life.  And  he  who  never  indulges  in 
such  reflections,  cannot  be  prepared  for  a  death-bed 
scene.  It  is  almost  incredible  that  people  should  be  so 
strangely  deluded  as  to  suppose  they  can  escape  death. 
When  health  und  prosperity  attend  them  they  may 
indulge  in  their  vain  boastings  ;  but  the  scene  will  ere 


366  NOYBBISM  UNVEILED. 

long  be  reversed.  Death,  like  the  unerring  archer,  has 
marked  each  for  his  victim  ;  and  "  like  a  staunch 
murderer,  steady  to  his  purpose,"  will  sooner  or  later 
accomplish  his  work.  A  few  short  years  will  tell  the 
sad  tale.  "  Passing  away''  is  written  upon  the  very 
brow  of  every  human  being  ;  and  each  in  turn  must  be 
lodged  in  the  "narrow  house,"  and  sliunber  beneath  the 
silent  clods  of  the  valley.  And  he  who  makes  no 
preparation  for  the  coming  change — whose  sensibilities 
are  locked  in  profound  slumber,  it  is  to  be  feared  will 
at  last  lie  down  upon  a  thorny  pillow.  Is  it  not  wise  to 
timely  prepare  for  our  approaching  end  ? 


KOYBSISM  UNVEILED i  357 


CHAPTER  XXXIV. 


Noyesite  Theory  of  Disease. 

Perfectionists  assume  that  sin — ^not  the  sin  of  our 
first  parents,  but  of  each  individual  person — is  the 
immediate  cause  of  disease  and  death  ;  and  that  if 
disease  makes  its  appearance  and  death  ensues  after  a 
person  is  freed  from  sin — as  all  Perfectionists  profess  to 
be — it  is  owing  to  a  ''  Spiritual  Momentum^''  which 
was  acquired  before  the  person  experienced  a  de- 
liverance from  sin.  Let  us  hear  them  touching  this 
matter,  and  look  at  an  illustration  which  thej  have 
given  of  this  subject : — 

"In  consequence  of  the  belief  of  Perfectionists  that 
dn  is  the  cause  of  sickness  and  death,  questions  like 
the  following  have  many  times  been  put  to  them: 
"  How  is  it  that  you  who  profess  to  live  without  sin,  yet 
suffer  the  consequences  of  sin  ?  Can  an  effect  exist 
without  a  cause  ?  Does  not  the  fact,  then,  that  you 
still  suffer  pain  and  sickness,  (if  these  are  consequences 
of  sin,)  prove  you  to  be  still  a  sinner  V  &c.  I  have 
sometimes  thought  that  an  answer  to  such  questions 
might  be  found  in  the  following  illustration : — 

"  We  see  a  locomotive  with  its  train,  travelling  at  a 
rapid  rate  ;  and  when  we  inquire  into  the  cause  of  its 
motion,  we  find  it  is  the  power  of  steam  operating 
through  the  agency  of  machinery.  Yet,  though  the 
steam  may  be  shut  off,  as  is  the  case  when  the  cars  are 
about  to  stop,  we  perceive  that  the  motion  of  the  cars 
does  not  cease  immediately,  but  is  continued  through 


35B  NOYBSISM  UNVEILED, 

the  agency  of  another  force  called  momentum^  which  ig 
a  secondary  cause  of  motion,  and  which,  though  it  may 
for  a  Hmited  time  continue  motion  already  produced, 
has  no  power  to  produce  it,  and  therefore  cannot  long 
overcome  the  resistance  of  the  atmosphere,  friction, 
&c.  Hence  all  motion  whose  primary  cause  is  cut  off 
and  which  consequently  has  nothing  to  sustain  it  but 
secondary  causes,  must  gradually  cease,  because  such 
causes  are  not  equal  to  the  resistance  with  which  they 
meet. 

"  Passing  from  the  natural  to  the  spiritual  world,  we 
find  powers  in  existence  similar  to,  if  not  the  same  as, 
the  natural  laws  of  this  world,  such  as  attraction, 
cohesion,  repulsion,  light,  heat,  &c.  And  judging  from 
analogy,  we  should  naturally  infer  that  there  was  such 
a  thing  as  spiritual  momentum,  as  well  as  motion.  .  .  , 
Taking  this  view  of  the  subject,  then,  we  see  that  men 
in  their  fallen  state  are  travelling  with  a  fearful  rapidity 
in  the  way  to  death ;  and  the  only  motive  power  that 
has  been  and  is  driving  them  in  that  way,  is  sin.  But 
when  sin  is  cut  off,  as  is  the  case  of  those  who  are  bom 
of  God,  the  only  possible  subjective  reason  for  the  con- 
tinuance of  the  effects  of  sin,  must  be  found  in  spiritual 
momentum — in  secondary  causes,  which  have  no  power 
to  beget  disease,  and  which  are  not  able  long  to  over- 
come the  resistance  of  the  atmosphere  of  heaven  which 
surrounds  every  renewed  heart,  and  is  constantly 
opposing  all  tendency  toward  sickness  and  death.  So 
that  letting  things  go  along  naturally,  if  a  man  has  been 
delivered  from  the  propelhng  power  of  the  devil,  his 
tendency  toward  death  is  continually  decreasing,  and 
would  as  certainly  cease  eventually,  as  a  train  of  cars 
would  cease  their  motion  after  the  propelling  power  of 
steam  was  withdrawn. 

"  But  there  is  another  thing  to  be  considered  :  if  a 
train  of  cars  were  fast  approaching  a  precipice,  th^ 


NOYE^ISM   UNVEILED.  359 

mere  shutting  off  of  the  steam  might  not  save  them. 
Their  headway  might  be  such,  with  the  shortness  of  the 
distance  to  be  travelled,  as  to  secure  their  destruction. 
The  wheels  must  therefore  be  reversed,  and  the  brakes 
applied.  By  such  efforts  many  hves  have  been  saved 
that  would  otherwise  have  been  lost. 

''  Perfectionists  should  keep  it  before  their  minds, 
then,  that  if  according  to  their  faith  sin  has  been 
destroyed  in  them,  the  motive  power  which  has  been 
driving  them  away  from  life,  has  ceased  to  act ;  and  if 
holiness  has  been  begotten  in  them,  the  wheels  have 
been  reversed  and  are  now  turning  in  their  right 
direction.  The  cessation  of  the  deadly  tendency  and 
influence  of  a  wicked  spirit,  the  commencement  of 
healthy  action  within  us,  the  natural  effects  of  salutary 
causes,  and  the  promises  of  the  Gospel,  all  combine  to 
strengthen  and  enlarge  our  hope  in  regard  to  the 
extension  and  final  victory  of  the  Spirit  of  Life." — 
Perfectionist^  Vol.  iv.  No.  13. 

Whatever  plausibility  may  be  attached  to  this  theory 
in  its  practical  application,  it  appears  to  have  been  of 
no  essential  benefit,  even  to  its  strongest  advocates. 
The  Perfectionist  Community  at  Putney  was  established 
in  1838 — in  1847,  Mr.  Noyes  said  in  regard  to  that 
Community,  "  We  have  had  a  reasonable  share  of 
diseases^  both  chronic  and  acute.^^  Again,  in  1834, 
Mr.  N.  became  a  Perfectionist  ;  in  1845  he  says  of 
himself — when  speaking  of  a  disease  of  the  throat  and 
lungs  which  he  had  contracted — I  "had  abundant 
external  reason  to  expect  a  speedy  death.^^ 

Now  if  the  members  of  the  Putney  Community, 
during  the  nine  years  following  its  estabHshment,  "had  a 


NOYESISM   UNVEILED. 

reasonable  share  of  diseases"  ;  and  if  Mr.  N.  eleven 
years  after  he  became  a  Perfectionist,  ''  had  abundant 
external  reason  to  expect  a  speedy  death,"  it  appears 
that  the  train  of  disease  was  moving  on  among  them 
with  its  accustomed  speed,  if  net  indeed  with  ac- 
celerated velocity ! 

If  this  be  the  fact  one  of  two  thino'S  must  necessarily 
follow — either  they  must  have  been  under  tremendous 
headway,  and  acquired  a  fearful  "  spiritual  momen- 
tum^ ^  before  they  shut  off  the  steam,  or  they  have 
never  yet  shut  it  off,  reversed  the  wheels,  and  applied 
the  brakes.  The  latter  appears  to  be  the  more  probable. 
They  can  have  the  privilege,  however,  of  hanging  upon 
which  horn  of  the  dilemma  they  please. 

Eut  the  Noyesites,  not  content  with  sweeping  away 
moral  and  statute  laws,  assert  their  independence  of 
natural  laws !  A  correspondent  of  the  Spiritual 
Magazine,  under  date  of  Nov.  7,  1847,  says : — 

"  According  to  the  degenerate  age  in  which  we  live, 
it  is  expected  that  if  we  transcend  or  violate  any  of  the 
laws  of  nature,  we  must  smart  for  it.  Suppose  we 
hoist  a  counter  project  to  this,  and  say  that  the  laws  of 
nature  have  been  and  will  again  be  subject  to  spiritual 
power  ;  so  that  the  child  of  faith  may  by  a  full  sur- 
render step  upon  the  platform  of  perfect  deliverance  in 
this  life  from  sin,  disease  and  death." 

In  what  foolish  and  fruitless  speculations  will  men 
sometimes  indulge  !  What !  the  laws  of  nature  cease 
their  operations  at  the  bidding  of  a  puny  mortal  1 
Verily  here  is  faith  that  amounts  to  fanaticism  !  And 
fanaticism  completely  runsriot ! 


NOYESISM  UNVEILED.  361 

In  1844,  Geo.  Cragin  sent  a  paper  to  Br.  Sylvester 
Graham  containing  an  absurd  and  sillj  article  on  '-^The 
Love  of  lAfeP  The  article  was  marked  for  Dr.  G.'s 
perusal.  He  returned  the  paper  with  the  following 
pithj  and  truthful  note  upon  the  margin,  in  his  own 
hand-writing  : — 

"  The  labUings  of  a  fool — not  a  natural  fool,  hut  a  self-made, 
self-deluded  fool,  wJwse  heart  is  set  on  perverting  the  truth,  and 
v:resting  the  scriptures  to  his  own  and  others'  destruction  !" 

To  indulge  in  endless  speculations  appears  to  be  the 
height  of  ambition  with  some  of  the  Nojesites — specu- 
lations grossly  absurd,  and  of  no  sort  of  practical 
application  or  importance  whatever. 

But  let  us  hear  the  Noyesites  a  little  farther  in 
relation  to  diseases  and  death — their  cause  and  cure. 
Says  a  correspondent  of  the  Spiritual  Magazine — 
"  The  devil  has  the  jooiver  of  death,  and  of  course  of 
disease  in  its  every  stage P 

Again,  says  Mr.  Noyes  : 

"  Among  the  most  formidable  enemies  to  be  overcome 
in  order  to  the  establishment  of  Christ's  kiugdom  in 
this  world,  diseases  and  death  hold  a  conspicuous  place. 
How  many  of  our  King's  Hege  subjects  have  been  made 
prisoners,  or  have  been  wounded,'  and  disabled  for 
efficient  service,  by  the  assaults  of  these  tyrannical 
invaders.  .  .  .  And  though  many  of  the  King's  sub- 
jects may  still  fall  in  battle  before  the  termination  of 
the  war  ;  yet  they  can  feel  that  they  are  fighting  in  a 
glorious  cause  ;  that  even  though  they  fall  in  this  cause 
they  cannot  be  destroyed  ;  and  that  complete  victory 
is  certain  at  last.  .  .  .  Let  us  not  consider  ourselves 


Sft  N0YESI6M  UNVEILED. 

as  lander  obligation  to  receive  kindly,  or  to  entertain 
honorably,  Death's  ambassadors  or  envoys,  who  come 
to  us  in  the  forms  and  under  the  names  of  various 
diseases.  Let  us  not  consent  to  enter  into  any  amicable 
negotiation  vrith  them,  nor  count  them  worthy  to  lodge 
in  our  houses,  or  to  be  waited  on  and  nourished  by  us ; 
but  treat  them  as  their  real  character  deserves,  as  a 
set  of  base,  insidious,  murderous  intruders ;  and  let 
us  arouse  such  a  general  sentiment  of  just  indignation 
against  them,  that  they  shall  be  thrust  forth  from  every 
company  of  the  faithful,  and  from  all  decent  society, 
and  be  expelled  out  of  our  coasts." 

Again,  the  "  body  of  believers'^  in  Putney  "joined 
their  households  under  one  common  roof"  in  the  spring 
of  1847  ;  and  in  the  following  July  Mr.  Noyes  said  : 

"  Soon  after  we  came  together  in  family  unity,  Mrs.  Cragin 
was  attacked  by  disease  of  an  obstinate  and  threatening  charac- 
ter. This  brought  me  into  a  necessity  of  examining  our  position 
in  relation  to  sickness,  death,  medicines,  &c.  I  settled  my  own 
principles  more  thoroughly  than  ever  before,  and  gave  a  course 
of  lectures,  in  which  /  declared  my  independence  of  the  medical 
systems  of  this  world,  and  claimed  for  Christ  the  office  of  physi- 
cian to  our  Community.  There  was  but  one  heart  and  one  voice 
among  us  about  the  matter^' 

Now  it  is  a  well  known  fact,  that,  after  the  above 
declaration  was  made  by  Mr.  Noyes,  and  sanctioned  by 
the  united  voice  of  the  members  of  his  Communit;y ,  a 
physician  was  employed  in  that  same  Community,  and 
that  too  while  Mr.  N.  was  with  them — showing  con- 
clusively that  his  claim  was  quite  arrogant.  Moreover 
the  Noyesites  still  remaining  in  Putney  have  had,  we 
think,  a   common   share  of  sickness.     Thus  stubborn 


NOYBSISM  UNVEILED.  363 

facts  stand  out  against  Mr.  N.'s  theory,  and  upset  his 
absurd  assumptions.     It  evidently  appears  that  he  has 

"  Great  striving  made  to  be  ridiculous. 
The  mighty  reasoner,  he  who  deeply  searched 
The  origin  of  things,  and  talked  of  good 
And  evil  much,  of  causes  and  effects, 
Of  mind  and  matter,  contradicting  all 
That  went  before  him,  and  himself  the  while, 
The  laughing-stock  of  angels  j  diving  far 
Below  his  depth,  to  fetch  reluctant  proof, 
That  he  himself  was  mad  and  wicked  t©o  " 


NOYBSISM  UNVEILED. 


CHAPTER  XXXY. 


IHstinguishing  and  Leading  Doctrines  of  Noyemm. 

In  June  1839,  E,ev.  Charles  T.  Torrey  of  Salem, 
Mass.,  addressed  a  letter  to  Mr.  Noves  in  which  he 
made  several  inquiries  relative  to  Perfectionism.  Mr. 
N.,  in  his  reply  to  that  letter,  says  : — 

"  In  order  that  I  may  give  a  definite  answer  to  your 
inquiries  relative  to  matters  of  fact,  I  must  first  define 
Perfectionism..  You  are  aware  that  a  considerable  sect 
has  recently  appeared  among  Calvinists,  with  President 
Mahan  at  its  head,  who  believe  that  perfect  holiness  is 
attainable  in  this  life,  and  yet  are  not  called  Per- 
fectionists. You  are  also  aware,  as  your  letter 
intimates,  that  similar  classes  of  believers  exist  among 
the  Methodists,  and  Friends,  who  likewise  decline  the 
name  of  Perfectionists.  So^  that  it  is  evident  that 
Perfectionism,  in  the  prevailing  sense  of  the  word,  is 
not  distinguished  from  other  religious  systems  merely 
by  the  doctrine  of  perfect  hohness.  What  then  are 
the  adjuncts  of  this  doctrine  peculiar  to  Perfectionists, 
which  actually  distinguish  them  from  all  other  sects  ? 
I  answer — 

1.  "  Their  belief  that  jyerfect  holiness,  when  attained, 
is  forever  secure.  This  point  is  not  insisted  upon  by 
any  of  the  classes  before  mentioned.   .  .   . 

2.  "  Their  belief  that  perfect  holiness  is  not  a  mere 
privilege,  hut  an  attainment  absolutely  necessary  to 
salvation.  Holding  this  belief  they  of  course  deny  the 
name  of  Christian  to  all  other  sects.  .  .   . 

3.  "  Their  belief  that  the  second  coming  of  Christ 
took  place  at  the  period  of  the  destruction  of  Jerusa- 


NOYBSISM  UNVEILED.  365 

Urn.  .  .  .  Perfectionists  insist  upon  this  doctrine,  as 
the  foundation  of  the  two  preceding. 

^'  Other  distinctive  tenets  of  Perfectionists  might  be 
named,  and  perhaps  would  be  regarded  by  many  as 
more  important  than  those  to  which  I  have  adverted  ; 
for  example,  their  '  Antinomianism,'  their  belief  of  a 
present  resurrection,  their  peculiar  views  of  the  fashion 
of  this  world  in  respect  to  marriage,  &c.,  but  I  regard 
all  these  as  secondary  consequences  of  the  doctrines  I 
have  mentioned,  not  essential  in  a  radical  definition  of 
Perfectionism.  .  .  .  Then,  you  will  understand  that  by 
Perfectionists,  I  mean  that  class  of  religionists  who 
hold  the  three  points  of  faith  above  noticed." 

We  shall  merely  glance  at  the  doctrines  above 
mentioned — as  the  limits  of  this  work  will  admit  of 
nothing  more — and  then  proceed  to  briefly  notice  a 
variety  of  other  points  embraced  in  Noyesism. 

The  position  assumed  by  Mr.  Noyes  in  relation  to 
the  second  coming  of  Christ,  viz.,  that  it  took  place  at 
the  destruction  of  J  erusalem,  appears  to  be  regarded 
by  him  as  as  an  €ill-important  point — a  leading  and  very 
essential  doctrine.  That  there  was  a  coming  of  Christ 
in  the  events  connected  with  the  destruction  of  Jerusa- 
lem, might  be  readily  granted  without  strengthening  the 
position  of  Mr.  N.  or  proving  prejudicial  to  the  opposite 
view  of  the  subject ;  but  that  the  Second  Coming  of 
Christ  took  place  at  that  time,  we  deny  point  blank. 
At  the  ascension  of  Christ  the  angels  said  to  those  who 
witnessed  that  event — 

'^  This  same  Jesus  which  is  taken  up  from  you  into 
heaven,  shall  so  come  in  like  manner  as  ye  have  seen 
him  go  into  heaven.'^'' — Acts  1:  11. 


366  NOYESISM  XINVEILBD. 

Until  Mr.  N.  can  point  us  to  the  book,  chapter,  and 
verse,  where  it  is  said  in  unequivocal  language  that 
this  prediction  has  been  literally  fulfilled,  he  must  not 
complain  if  we  refuse  our  assent  to  his  doctrine  of  the 
second  coming.  Mr.  N.  assumes  without  a  particle  of 
proof,  that  Christ's  coming  at  the  destruction  of  Jerusa- 
lem took  place  in  the  spiritual  world !  But  was  not 
the  ascension  of  Christ  a  visible  event  ?  and  did  not 
the  disciples  behold  him  with  the  natural  eye  when  he 
ascended  ?  Then  if  he  is  to  "so  cortie  in  like  manner''^ 
as  he  was  seen  to  ascend,  will  it  not  be  a  visible  trans- 
action ?  Most  certainly.  Mr.  N.  asserts  that  Christ 
came  in  the  spiritual  world ;  but  how  does  he  know 
this  ?  He  has  not  learned  it  from  the  Scriptures,  for 
they  teach  no  such  doctrine.  Where,  then,  did  he 
find  it  ?  Why,  forsooth,  he  assumes  that  he  is  inspired, 
and  was  taught  it  by  the  Spirit !  And  lo,  his  followers 
beheve  it !  In  all  ages  individuals  have  been  found 
afflicted  with  a  similar  disease.  A  few  years  ago,  when 
the  Millerites  were  moving  heaven  and  earth  and  com- 
passing sea  and  land  to  make  proselytes  to  their  faith, 
some  of  the  tvisest — ^in  their  own  eyes — among  them, 
roundly  asserted  that  the  Spirit  had  revealed  to  them 
the  precise  time  when  Christ  would  make  his  appearing. 
With  all  such,  reasoning  was  out  of  the  question — 
entirely  at  an  end.  You  might  as  well  undertake  to 
reason  with  a  mad  man,  as  with  such  persons.  But 
time  proved  all  their  predictions  false,  and  their  revela- 
tions went  by  the  board.  They  might  have  been 
insjHred  by  a,  but  certainly  they  were  not  by  the  Spirit^ 


yOTESISM   UNVEILED.  367 

in  this  matter.  And  so  it  is  with  Mr.  Noyes.  He  and 
his  followers  assume  that  they  are  inspired  and  are 
receiving  special  revelations.  They  also  profess  that 
they  are  living  under  a  new  dispensation,  as  far  in 
advance  of  the  Gospel  as  that  was  of  the  Jewish 
dispensation.  The  followers  of  Noyes  believe  that  he 
wrote  the  Berean  by  inspiration,  and  in  their  estimation 
it  is  as  much  more  valuable  than  the  N'ew  Testament^ 
as  that  is  than  the  Old !  The  word  of  John  H.  Noyes 
with  his  disciples  is  better  authority  than  the  sayings  of 
Christ  and  his  Apostles  recorded  in  the  New  Testament. 
They  receive  the  doctrine  that  Christ  came  in  the 
spiritual  world  from  his  mouth  as  undoubted  truth, 
without  a  particle  of  scriptural  proof  to  sustain  it,  and 
even  in  opposition  to  the  plain  language  of  Scripture  ! 
The  doctrine  that  Christ  came  in  the  spiritual  world 
appears  to  be  the  mere  creature  of  Mr.  N.'s  perverted 
imagination  in  ^ts  erratic  wanderings.  That  his  mind 
is  subject  to  excursive  r amblings  is  very  evident  from 
his  own  language. 

In  the  Spiritual  Magazine  of  March  15, 1846,  speak- 
ing in  reference  to  his  future  course,  Mr.  N.  says : — 

"  Without  pledging  ourselves  to  any  precise  course, 
(for  we  cannot  foresee  very  definitely  the  travels  of  our 
own  minds)  .  .  .  we  expect  to  extend  our  excursions 
freely  hereafter  beyond  the  province  of  Perfectionism 
into  other  and  all  regions  of  spiritual  science^ 

"  Beyond  the  province  of  Perfectionism  "  /  Where 
is  the  man  going  !  No  wonder  that  he  is  already  lost 
in  the  mazes  of  error  !  And  we  might  as  well  undertake 


368  NOYESISM  UNVEILED. 

to  follow  the  thunder-bolts  of  heaven  m  then-  travels 
through  the  trackless  ether,  as  the  fitful  excursions  of 
such  a  mind  in  its  undefined  and  indefinable  course  ! 

But  to  return : — Nearly  aUied  to  Noyes's  doctrine 
of  the  Second  Coming  of  Christ,  stands  the  idea  that 
''''  perfect  holiness  is  not  a  mere  privilege,  hut  an  attain- 
ment ahsolutely  necessary  to  salvation.''^  If  by  this  is 
meant  that  moral  purity  is  a  pre-requisite  or  passport 
to  a  full  possession  of  the  heavenly  inheritance,  we  do 
not  object ;  but  if  it  means  that  no  person  in  a  state  of 
justification,  prior  to  perfect  purification,  can  have  a 
well-grounded  hope  of  future  happiness,  we  enter  our 
solemn  protest  against  the  doctrine. 

Next,  as  a  distinguishing  tenet  of  Noyesism,  stands 
the  doctrine  of  the  security  of  the  saints.  Mr.  N. 
asserts  that  ^'perfect  holiness,  lohen  attained,  is  for  ever 
secure.'^ 

In  support  of  this  position  he  relics  very  much  upon 
the  following  passage  : — ''  Whosoever  is  born  of  God 
doth  not  commit  sin  ;  for  his  seed  remaineth  in  him  ; 
and  he  cannot  sin,  because  he  is  born  of  God." — 
1  John  3 :  9. 

Mr.  N.  rejoices  over  this  passage  as  though  he  had 
found  great  spoil.  He  ensconces  himself  behind  this — 
as  he  supposes — impenetrable  shield,  or  invulnerable 
rampart,  and  is  ready  to  defy  the  world  in  arms  to 
meet  him.  The  rigid  -  interpretation  which  he  gives, 
and  for  which  he  strenuously  contends,  makes  this  pas- 
sage prove  that  it  is  utterly  impossible  for  the  Christian 
to  sin. 


KOYESISM  UNVEILED.  369 

If  Mr.  N,  adopts  the  principle  of  exegesis  that  the 
term  cannot  implies  an  impossibility^  we  think  he  will 
find  that  in  many  cases  it  will  prove  quite  too  much, 
and  will  not  always  work  well  in  its  apphcation.  If  he 
will  turn  to  the  24th  chapter  of  Joshua,  he  will  find 
that  the  term  cannot  is  there  used  without  implying  a 
moral  invpossihility,  Joshua,  after  rehearsing  to  the 
heads  of  Israel  the  dealings  of  God  with  them,  and  cau- 
tioning them  against  the  sin  of  idolatry,  exhorts  them 
to  serve  God  ;  and  the  people  replied  emphatically  that 
they  would  serve  him.  Then  ''  Joshua  said  unto  the 
people,  ye  cannot  serve  the  Lord:  for  he  is  a  holy 
God ;  he  is  a  jealous  God ;  he  will  not  forgive  your 
transgressions  nor  your  sins." — Josh.  24:  19.  "  And 
the  people  said  unto  Joshua,  Nay ;  but  we  will  serve 
the  Lord." — Verse-  21.  "  So  Joshua  made  a  covenant 
with  the  people  that  day,  and  set  them  a  statute  and 
an  ordinance  in  Shecliem." — Verse  25.  "  And  Israel 
served  the  Lord  all  the  days  of  Joshua,  and  the  days 
of  the  elders  that  outhved  Joshua." — Verse  31. 

The  sum  of  the  whole  is — The  people  of.  Israel 
asserted  that  they  would  serve  the  Lord — Joshua'  says, 
Ye  cannot  serve  him — the  people  repeat.  We  will  serve 
him — Joshua  makes  a  covenant  with  them — and  Israel 
then  "serves  hiiu.  No  person  will  contend  that  the  term 
cannot  in  this  case  implied  a  moral  impossibility^  for 
matter-of-fact  shows  to  the  contrary. 

Now  if  the  term  cannot^  did  not,  in  the  case  under 
consideration,  imply  an   impossibility ^  it  may  not  in 

other  cases.     That  it.  does  not  when  used  by  St.  John 
24 


370  NOYESISM  UNVEILED. 

is  quite  probably,  if  not  morally  certain ;  for  were  it 
otherwise,  all  the  warnings,  admonitions,  and  cautions, 
as  well  as  the  exhortations  to  steadfastness  and  perse- 
verance, addressed  in  the  Scriptures  to  Christianis, 
would  be  perfectly  nugatory  ! 

We  have  thus  briefly  noticed  the  points  which  Mr, 
N.  has  set  forth  as  the  distinguishing  doctrines  of 
Perfectionism;  and  we  shall  now  proceed  to  notice 
several  others  embraced  in  the  same  system. 

Let  us  hear  Mr.  Noyes  in  relation  to  the  Primitive 
Church.     He  says : 

"  The  Apostles,  prophets,  and  believers,  who  were 
gathered  into  Christ  during  the  period  preceding  the 
destruction  of  Jerusalem,  are  certainly  still  in  ex- 
istence. This  no  one  doubts.  They  are  risen  from 
the  dead,  and  glorified  with  Christ.  This  no  one  will 
deny,  who  believes  that  Christ  came  the  second  tirae 
according  to  his  promise.  But  have  they  any  concern 
with  this  world?  Are  they  not  laid  away  in  some 
secret  mansion  of  the  universe,  so  distant  that  they 
have  nothing  to  do  with  us  or  we  wita  them  ?  These 
are  questions  to  which  conscience  as  well  as  curiosity 
demands  an  answer.  The  fact  that  the  primitive  church 
has  passed  through  death  into  the  invisible  state,  does 
not  prove  that  it  has  no  concern  with  this  world.  .  .  . 
The  first  thing  to  be  done  in  order  that  we  may  have 
fellowship  with  the  primitive  church,  is  to  believe  that 
it  is  a  real,  living  church,  and  is  at  work  ever  us  and 
around  us^ — Berean,  pp.  497,  499. 

In  the  Spiritual  Magazine  of  May  15,  1847,  we  find 
the  following  language : — 

"  The  Magazine  is  the  exponent  and  organ  of  a 


NOYESISM  UJJ VEILED.  371 

religious  body  whose  direct  ambition  is  to  give  the 
renewing  power  of  God  full  scope  in  their  characters, 
and  to  multiply  their  points  of  sympathy  and  attraction 
with  the  primitive  church,  until  a  perfect  junction  is 
formed." 

In  the  Magazine  of  June  15, 1846,  we  read  as  fol. 
lows  touching  this  matter : — 

"  Again,  when  we  consider  the  object  which  is  before 
us,  of  joining  ourselves  to  the  primitive  Church,  we 
shall  not  think  it  strange  that  we  are  tried  with  fiery 
trials.  We  believe  that  God  has  gathered  a  glorified 
throng,  and  that  the  church  is  one  ;  and  our  aim  and 
calling  are,  to  approach  toward  it  and  enter  into 
sympathy  with  it — to  join  it  here  in  this  world,  and  to 
invite  it  into  this  world.  And  the  only  way  for  us  to 
join  that  church,  is,  to  be  strained  up  to  the  pitch  of 
love  and  faith  which  exists  in  it.  To  use  a  vulgar 
expression,  if  we  are  to  be  welded  on  to  the  primitive 
church,  both  ends  of  the  irons  must  be  white  JioL  Cold 
iron  cannot  be  welded.  If  God  is  ever  to  raise  a 
touching  point  between  believers  here  and  his  church 
above,  he  must  find  a  way  to  bring  up  our  faith  and 
love  to  the  white  heat  of  heaven.'* 

This  is  Perfectionist  dialect,  and  it  contains  the 
Noyesite  Shibboleth.     Comment  is  uncalled  for. 

As  being  closely  connected  with  the  foregoing  re- 
marks relative  to  the  Primitive  Church,  we  proceed  to 
give  the  views  of  Perfectionists  in  relation  to  the 
Kingdom  of  Heaven.  Mr.  N.  assumes  that  the  com- 
missions given  by  Christ  and  the  Apostles  did  not 
extend  beyond  the  destruction  of  Jerusalem,  A.  D.  70 
— that  all  the  commissions  since  that  time  handed 


372  NOYESISM  UNVEILED. 

down  in  the  various  Christian  churches  are  not  valid — 
and  that  the  kingdom  of  heaven  exhibited  in  this  world, 
and  the  divine  authority  derived  from  Christ  and  his 
Apostles,  must  stop  at  the  destruction  of  Jerusalem 
*^  till  we  can  find  a  church  that  can  prove  hy  une- 
quivocal credentials  that  it  is  in  conjunction  with  the 
primitive  government.''^ 

Mr.  N.  takes  it  for  granted  that  the  Perfectionists 
have  the  "  unequivocal  credentials"  !  And  from  the 
foregoing  premises  he  draws  the  following  conclusions : 

1.  "  The  kingdom  of  heaven  is  not  to  be  confounded 
with  popular  Christianity,  Popish  or  Protestant. 

2.  "  On  the  other  hand,  it  is  not  to  be  conceived  of 
as  something  hereafter  to  be  instituted.  Its  organiza- 
tion is  a  fixed  fact,  and  it  is  eighteen  hundred  years 
old.  .  .  . 

3.  "  We  are  not  to  think  of  our  own  sect  as  the 
kingdom  of  heaven.  It  can  never  be  more  than  a 
provincial  department  of  that  kingdom.  The  seat  of 
the  government  and  of  its  chief  functions,  is  and  forever 
will  be  in  the  spiritual  world. 

4.  "  The  way  to  '  seek  the  kingdom  of  God,'  is  to 
seek  conjunction  with  Christ  and  the  Apostles  and  the 
primitive  church. 

5.  "  When  we  pray  '  Thy  kingdom  ,  come'  —  we 
properly  mean  to  ask  that  the  spiritual  organization 
commenced  by  Christ  at  his  first  coming  and  matured 
at  his  second,  may  be  extended  into  this  world. 

6.  "  Until  that  organization  shall  be  demonstrably 
extended  into  this  world,  we  have  no  external  vehicle 
of  the  authority  of  the  kingdom,  except  the  Bible. 

''  The  ways  and  means  of  entering  into  conjunction 
with  the  kingdom  of   heaven,  of  obtaining  authority 


NOYBSISM  UNVEILED.  3T3 

from  it,  and  thus  of  establishing  a  branch  of  it  in  this 
world,  deserve  to  be  considered  at  some  length  here- 
after.— Perfectionist,  Vol.  v.  No.  19. 

In  the  Spiritual  Magazine  of  July  15,  184T,  we 
have  the  extended  notice,  at  least  in  part,  of  the 
kingdom  of  heaven,  promised  at  the  conclusion  of  the 
foregoing  extract.  At  an  assembly  of  behevers  "  under 
the  common  roof,"  on  the  evening  of  June  1,  1847, 
Mr.  Noyes  put  the  following  question  and  made  the 
accompanying  remarks : — 

"  HAS  THE  KINGDOM  OF  GOD  COME  ? 

*  *  u  y[q  |)elieve  that  the  kingdom  now  coming  is  the 
same  that  was  established  at  the  Second  Coming  of 
Christ.  Then  God  commenced  a  kingdom  in  human 
nature,  independent  of  ^the  law  of  the  world.  The 
church  was  then  emancipated  from  the  institutions  of 
men,  and  commenced  a  course  of  existence  under  the 
sole  management  of  God.  TJiat  kingdom,  having  been 
zvithdrawn  to  heaven,  has  been  strengthening  and  en- 
larging itself  ever  siyiee.  We  look  for  its  establishment 
here — for  its  complete  extension  into  this  world  ;  and 
this  'extension  of  an  existing  government,  is  what  we 
think  and  speak  of  as  the  kingdom  of  heaven  which  is 
now  at  hand.  We  at  the  same  time  have  expected  that 
its  manifestation  on  earth,  after  a  successful  operation 
of  1800  years  in  the  invisible  world,  would  be  by  a 
diflferent  process  in  some  respects  from  that  by  which  it 
was  originally  formed.  .  .  .  The  kingdom  of  heaven 
will  be  established  here  by  a  process  hke  that  which 
brings  the  spring  on  the  earth.  The  primitive  church, 
like  the  sun,  will  come  near  to  us.  The  destruction  of 
evil,  and  all  the  transactions  of  the  last  judgment,  will 
be  effected  by  a  spiritual  infusion  from  them  of  the  light 
and  energy  of  God.     The  resurrection  also  will  come 


374  NOYESISM  UNVBILED. 

by  a  similar  communication  of  life.  We  discard  entirely/ 
those  gross,  mechanical  impressions  concerning  these 
transactions  which  are  common  in  the  world.  We  are 
persuaded  that  all  the  powers  of  the  world  to  come  are 
to  be  let  in,  not  in  a  formal,  theatrical  way  ;  but  silent- 
ly, like  a  thief  in  the  night,  they  are  to  be  established 
in  the  world.  .  .  .  How  shall  we  determine  the  time  of 
its  advent  ?  What  shall  be  the  manner  of  our  transi- 
tion from  the  testimony,  '  The  kingdom  of  God  is  at 
hand,'  to  the  testimony,  '  The  kingdom  of  God  has 
come  V 

"  The  difference  between  our  situation  and  that  of 
the  primitive  church  previous  to  the  Second  Coming,  is 
like  this  :  Suppose  it  is  universally  understood  that  on 
the  20th  day  of  March,  at  noon,  spring  begins.  The 
natural  declaration,  before  that  time,  would  be,  '  Spring 
is  at  hand ' ;  but  immediately  on  the  arrival  of  the 
appointed  hour,  it  would  be  said  with  one  consent, 
'  Spring  is  come.'  This  illustrates  the  circumstances 
of  the  primitive  church.  The  personal  coming  of  the 
Lord  Jesus  was  to  be  the  definite  signal,  was  to  mark 
the  precise  period  for  them,  of  the  institution  of  the 
kingdom  of  heaven.  ...  On  the  other  hand,  if  the 
spring  comes  as  it  usually  does,  it  is  not  subject  to  any 
such  arbitrary,  definite  rules,  by  which  we  can  fix  the 
exact  date  of  its  ascendancy.  Its  advent  is  not  limited 
and  determined  by  a  certain  day  of  the  month  and  hour 
of  the  day,  but  by  the  progress  of  the  sun's  power  on 
the  earth.  To  determine  the  presence  of  spring  in  this 
case,  is  a  more  difficult  problem  than  was  offered  in  the 
other ;  but  still,  within  a  moderate  latitude  of  time,  and 
with  a  certain  accumulation  of  data,  it  i^  easily  done. 

Through  the  month  of  March  the  progress  of  the  sun 
up  the  heavens  is  distinctly  visible,  though  there  is  yet 
a  prevalence  of  wintry  weather.  Still  later,  when  we 
begin  to  have  sunny,  spring  days,  there  are  also  occa- 


NOYESISM  UNVEII^D.  875 

sional  ones  in  which  the  ground  is  covered  with  snow. 
Thus  with  the  common  alternations  ©f  sun  and  clouds, 
which  characterize  the  early  part  of  the  season,  it  is 
impossible  to  refer  the  advent  of  spring  to  any  precise 
point  of  time.  Yet  we  are  certain  that  some  time 
within  the  limits  of  April,  that  event  will  have  taken 
place — spring  will  have  come, 

''  Now  if  our  theory  of  the  manner  m  which  the 
kingdom  of  heaven  is  to  he  .established  is  true,  then  we 
are  certainly  somewhere  in  the  transition  towards  it ; 
and  the  question  will  sometime  urge  itself  upon  us,  Has 
spring  come  ?  We  shall  sometime  have  to  change  our 
testimony  from  the  future  to  the  present  form,  and  to 
say  decisively,  The  kingdom  of  God  has  come.  Sooner 
or  later,  we  shall  have  to  stand  forth  and  face  the  prin- 
cipalities and  povfers  of  the  world  with  this  declaration. 

"  I  will  put  the  question,  Is  not  noio  the  time  for  us 
to  commence  the  testimony  that  the  kingdom  of  god 
HAS  COME  ?  to  proclaim  boldly  that  God,  in  his  charac- 
ter of  Deliverer,  Lawgiver  and  Judge,  has  come  in  this 
town  and  in  this  Association  ?  ...  No  more  should 
we  expect  the  full  power  of  the  judgment  and  of  the 
resurrection,  until  we  have  made  a  decisive  response  in 
the  boldness  of  faith,  to  that  divine  influence  which  is 
with  us,  and  which  only  waits  confession  to  expand  into 
the  full  majesty  of  its  nature.  .  .  .  Christ  can  do  no 
more  for  an  individual  or  a  corporation,  after  his  voice 
has  wakened  them,  until  it  is  recognized  by  them,  and 
confession  made  according  to  the  fact. 

"  The  process  of  advancement  in  this  dispensation,  as 
we  have  said,  is  like  the  progress  of  the  sun  in  spring. 
The  work  af  spiritual  development  has  been  going  on, 
steadily  and  silently,  until  we  are  finally  brought  to  the 
question.  Is  not  the  kingdom  of  God  in  us  ;  including 
all  the  elements  of  the  judgment  and  the  resurrection  ? 
Have  not  these  closing  >cts  of  the  great  drama  com- 


376  NOYESISM  UNVEILED. 

menced  ?  I  believe  we  are  now  called  upon  to  take 
our  stand  on  this  great  truth  as  a  corporation :  and  our 
confession  of  it  to  ourselves  and  the  world,  will  be 
the  beginning  of  a  new  development  of  its  power  in  us. 
I  am  as  well  prepared  as  ever  I  shall  be,  to  make  this 
great  corporate  confession  of  Christ.  ...  I  think  there 
is  abundant  evidence  in  the  past,  especially  in  the  last 
year,  that  the  judgment  has  begun.  He  that  search- 
eth  the  hearts  and  trieth  the  reins  of  the  children  of 
men,  has  been  among  us,  cutting  between  the  righteous 
and  the  wicked,  between  good  and  evil  in  our  own 
characters.*  In  the  most  important  sense,  we  have 
been  conscious  of  living  in  the  day  of  judgment.  So 
of  the  resurrection.  We  have  seen  enough  to  prove 
that  there  is  a  power  among  us  that  can  conquer 
death.  .  .  ." 

From  an  editorial  note  appended  to  the  foregoing 
extracts,  we  take  the  following  : — 

"  The  discussion  that  followed  these  remarks  corres- 
ponded in  interest  to  the  suggestions  presented.  The 
nature  and  effect  of  the  proposed  act,  in  all  its  bear- 
ings, were  fully  examined  and  illustrated.  .  .  .  All 
the  believers  present  expressed  themselves  deliberately 
and  freely  on  the  subject  under  consideration.  .  .  . 
Respecting  the  present  existence  and  operation  of  the 
fire  of  judgment  and  the  power  of  the  resurrection 
among  us,  there  was  but  one  belief  and  one  voice.  It 
was  seen  that  a  new  and  further  confession  of  truth  was 
necessary  ;  that  it  was  the  next  thing  before  us,  in  the 
course  of  progress  to  which  we  have  been  called.     It 

*  Perfectionists  "believe  and  unblushingly  maintain  that  tbey  arc 
free  from  sin."  Mr.  N.  assumes  that  if  a  person  is  sinful  at  all  he  is 
entirely  so.  Now  if  there  has  been  evil  in  the  character  of  the  Noyes- 
ites,  what. position  have  they  occupied  ? 


NOYESISM   UNVEILED.  '      877 

was  unanimously  adopted,  therefore,  as  the  confession    m 
and  testimony   of  the  believers   assembled,   that  the 

KINGDOM  OF  GOD  HAS  COME." 

The  reader  -sv-ill  perceive  from  the  foregoing  extracts, 
that  Mr.  N.  assumes  much  and  proves  nothing ;  but 
his  followers,  who  believe  in  his  infallibility^  receive, 
as  undoubted  truth,  every  word  he  utters.  He  specu- 
lates upon  sublime  subjects,  but  his  object  evidently 
was  to  bring  his  followers  up  to  the  point,  and  prepare 
them  for  the  doctrines  of  the  Battle  Axe  Letter  in  all 
their  practical  bearings  ;  for  the  announcement  that  the 
kingdom  of  God  had  come  was  the  signal  for  the  carry- 
ing out  of  those  doctrmes  through  the  Perfectionist 
ranks,  which  is  now  being  done,  as  far  as  circumstan- 
ces admit ! 

Soon  after  the  proclamation  went  forth  that  the 
kingdom  of  God  had  come,  Mr.  Noyes  made  the  great- 
est pretensions  to  miraculous  power.  His  followers 
acknowledged  this  power,  and  under  these  circumstan- 
ces he  put  forth  the  following  manifesto  : — 

"  The  kingdom  of  God  is  an  absolute  monarchy.  .  . 
So  far  as  there  is  a  true  church  on  earth,  it  is  a  frontier 
department  of  this  kingdom ;  and  it  will  possess  the 
great  characteristics  of  heaven's  government,  viz.,  cen- 
tral executive  power,  and  subordination.  It  will  mani- 
fest in  all  its  operations  perfect  unity  of  design,  and 
true  harmonious  effort.  To  secure  this,  it  includes  a 
gradation  of  authority  ; — officers,  not  self-elected,  not 
popularly  elected,  but  appointed  by  God ;  whose  cre- 
dentials, if  truly  received  of  him,  need  no  secondary 
influence  to  secure  theii*  respect.     In  fact,  the  creden- 


378  NOYESISM  UNVEILED. 

tiaJ  of  authority  through  all  God's  kingdom,  from  the 
Supreme  himself,  down,  is  not  a  matter  of  parchment, 
or  a  voice  from  heaven  merely,  but  the  possession  of 
actual  ability.  Carlyle's  doctrine  is  true,  that '  mights 
in  this  just  universe,  do,  in  the  long  run,  mean  rights.' 
God's  appointment  to  office  confers  on  the  individual 
ability  corresponding  to  his  commission ;  and  it  is  as 
certain  that  his  ability  will  make  his  office  recognized 
by  those  with  whom  he  has  to  do,  as  it  is  that  in  a  mix- 
ture of  fluids  the  heaviest  will  sink  to  the  bottom.  .  .  . 
In  that  organic  body,  [Christ's  church]  as  we  said 
before,  superiority  of  every  degree  is  a  gift  of  power 
from  God,  which  vindicates  itself  by  an  irresistible 
ascendancy  over  that  which  is  inferior.  ...  In  this 
construction  of  the  church,  the  autocratic  principle  of 
the  kingdom  of  God  is  seen  throughout.  .  .  .  Every 
Christian  finds  himself  under  a  despotism  extending  far 
beyond  any  earthly  rule." 

From  the  sentiments  expressed  in  the  paragraphs 
just  quoted,  and  from  the  fact  that  they  were  pubhshed 
immediately  after  the  case  of  Mrs.  Hall  was  noised 
abroad,  we  think  it  may  be  fairly  inferred  that  Mr. 
Noyes  wished  to  have  it  distinctly  understood  that  the 
"  central  executive  power  "  of  the  "  frontier  depart- 
ment" of  the  kingdom  of  heaven  was  lodged  in  him ! 
Having  as  he  evidently  supposed  established  this  point, 
he  then  proceeds  to  read  his  followers  a  lecture  on  sub- 
ordination. This  he  deemed  very  essential.  Relative 
to  this  point  he  starts  with  the  questions : — 

"  What  is  the  effect  of  this  tremendous,  irresponsible 
government  upon  individual  liberty  ?  Can  freedom 
exist  under, it  ?" 

In  answering  these  inquiries  Mr.  N.  designates  tw© 


NOYESISM  UNVEILED.  379 

clsses  of  subjects — the  one  wholly  submissiye,  the  other 
partially  so.  In  reference  to  those  who  are  wholly 
submissive  he  speaks  thus  : — 

"  We  believe  that  only  those  who  have  passed  the 
quarantine  of  judgment  and  become  naturalized  citizens 
of  the  kingdom  of  heaven,  know  what  is  the  glorious 
sensation  of  unshackled  freedom  of  will." 

That  is,  in  plain  English — Those  who  have  passed 
the  ordeal  to  which  Mr.  Noyes  subjects  his  disciples, 
and  have  become  perfectly  submissive  to  his  will,  and 
on  whom  he  has  set  the  broad  seal  of  his  approbation, 
are  liberated  from  all  law  except  the  will  of  Noyes  him- 
self !  They  may  then  do  just  as  they  please,  provided 
that  it  is  always  their  pleasure  to  do  just  as  he  wishes 
them  to  do  !  And  Mr.  N.  would  have  them  distinctly 
understand  that  in  doing  his  will  they  are  doing  the 
will  of  G-od;  for  he  sets  himself  up  as  Jehovah's  vice- 
gerent— as  His  accredited  ambassador — His  represent- 
ative upon  the  earth  !  "  Under  the  monarchy  of  God," 
he  asserts  that  "  all  forms  of  popular  representation  are 
dispensed  with,"  and  in  the  "  organization  of  interme- 
diate agencies,"  there  is  a  "  disregard  of  democratic 
forms  and  privileges." 

The  upshot  of  the  matter  is — John  H.  Noyes  has  an 
''  ability  corresponding  to  his  commission  "  !  And  this 
ability  is  manifest  in  the  mighty  works  he  has  wrought ! 

But  in  reference  to  the  second  class  of  subjects — 
those  who  have  not  become  wholly  submissive — he 
says  :— 

<<  It  is  inevitable,  in  the  first  stages  of  intercourse 


3?0  NOYBSISM  UNVEILED. 

with  God,  while  evil  influences  still  exist  in  the  charac- 
ter, that  his  will  should  come  into  constant  collision 
with  those  influences,  and  the  wills  growing  out  of 
them.  The  inner  and  better  part  of  our  nature  is  even 
then  free  and  happy  ;  and  it  is  only  the  selfish,  egotis- 
tical part  which  loves  darkness,  and  loves  to  do  as  it 
pleases  at  all  cost,  that  experiences  the  efiect  of  collision 
with  a  superior  spirit.  The  efiect  is  suffering  ;  a  bitter 
sense  of  bondage ;  coercion  of  the  soul.  No  prison  can 
realize  the  idea  of  helpless  constraint  that  the  soul  expe- 
riences when  conscious  of  a  hostile  contact  with  the 
will  of  God.  .  .  .  Every  spirit  opposed  to  him,  is  des- 
tined not  to  slavery,  but  to  destruction.  ...  He  will 
have  no  drudges  about  him,  no  unwilling  subjects." 

As  Mr.  Noyes  virtually  claims  to  stand  at  the  head 
of  all  J)rincipaUties  and  powers  upon  earth,  he  thus 
gives  his  followers  who  are  not  entirely  submissive  to 
his  will,  to  understand,  that,  if  they  would  escape  "  suf- 
fering," and  be  freed  from  a  "  bitter  sense  of  bondage," 
and  not  come  in  collision  with  his  "  superior  spirit," 
they  must  yield  imphcit  obedience  to  his  will,  and  sub- 
mit to  his  absolute  control. 

From  the  language  of  Mr.  Noyes  which  we  have  just 
noticed,  we  should  naturally  infer  that  he  was  a  finished 
aristocrat.  Circumstances  justify  the  inference,  and 
facts  confirm  its  correctness.  We  learn  from  a  person 
formerly  connected  with  the  Association  at  Putney, 
that  the  followers  of  Mr.  Noyes  appeared  t®  regard 
him  with  a  kind  of  awe  when  in  his  presence. 

There  were  evidently  two  classes  among  them — the 
higher  and  the  lower.  The  line  of  distinction  probably 
lay  between  those   who  were    wholly  submissive   to 


NOIBSISM   UNVEILED.    .  381 

Noyes,  and  those  who  were  but  partially  so.  Those 
who  rendered  implicit  obedience  to  the  '■'  acknowledged 
Head,"  and  were  his  particular  favorites,  had  special 
honors  conferred  upon  them,  and  were  admitted  to 
peculiar  privileges  ;  while  others  had  a  humbler  place 
assigned  them,  and  must  there  remain  till  by  proper 
discipline  they  were  prepared  for  a  more  honorable  sta- 
tion ;  and  must  patiently  wait  until  the  "  acknowledged 
Head"  was  pleased  to  say,  "  Come  up  higher,''^ 

For  the  special  benefit  of  the  lower  plass,  or  menials, 
the  higher  order  found  it  necessary  occasionally  to  give 
some  instructions.  Some  among  them  appear  to  have 
been  ambitious  of  higher  honors,  and  to  reconcile  them 
to  their  humble  lot,  soon  after  Mr.  Noyes  had  given 
the  necessary  instructions  relative  to  "  central  execu- 
tive power  "  and  "  subordination,"  they  had  the  follow- 
ing significant ''  hint  "  : — 

''  In  the  household  of  faith,  he  is  chief  who  serveth 
most ;  and  he  that  humble th  himself  is  exalted.  The 
spirit  that  disdains  not  the  lowest  ofiice,  that  is  diligent 
and  does  with  its  might  what  the  hand  finds  to  do,  has 
a  path  of  honor  before  it.  ...  A  disposition  that  is 
not  fastidious  and  dainty,  but  will  condescend  to  any 
thing,  is  of  high  price.  .  .  .  Here  [in  the  Putney  Com- 
munity] honor  and  service  are  balanced.  Every  one 
is  rewarded  according  to  his  works.  ...  It  is  here,  of 
course,  no  privilege  to  be  idle  and  luxurious — to  be  let 
off  from  difficult  exertion,  or  even  menial  offices. 
Happy  is  he  who  loves  to  minister.  ...  If  ambition 
will  take  the  form  of  a  servant,  and  humble  itself,  it 
will  be  gratified  perfectly.  ,  .  .  Lahor  to  enter  into 
rest. 


NOYBSISM  UNVEILED. 

"  Tke  true  gentleman  and  the  true  lady,  are  they 
whb  are  most  ready  to  serve — ^who  take  the  lowest 
place,  and  are  most  arduous  in  their  labors  of  love.'* 

Thus  the  *'  path  of  honor  '*  was  marked  out  before 
them,  and  they  were  taught  that  the  road  to  prefer- 
ment lay  through  a  scene  of  humble  services  and  inces- 
sant labors.  A  very  wholesome  doctrine  for  the  aristo- 
cratic part  of  the  Putney  Community,  but  a  "  hard 
saying  '*  for  the  humbler  class  ! 


N0YE8ISM  UNVEILED.  383 


CHAPTER  XXXVI. 

Origin  of  Evil — Human  Depravity — Molinesi  of 
Adam — Judgment — Resurreotion — Sabbath — Tem- 
perance— Amusements — Fellowship . 

Mr.  Noyes  has  undertaken  to  solve  the  mystery  re- 
specting the  origin  of  evil.  He  assumes  that  Satan  is 
a  self-existent  and  eternal  being,  and  is  the  uncreated 
source  of  evil,  as  God  is  the  uncreated  source  of  good. 
The  absurdity  of  this  idea  is  so  apparent  that  it  needs 
no  argument  to  confute  it.  How  there  can  be  more 
than  one  self-existent  and  eternal  being  in  the  universe, 
is  left  for  Mr.  N.  to  show. 

In  relation  to  human  depravity  he  has  advanced 
some  peculiar  notions.  He  assumes  that  there  is  an 
original  difference  in  the  characters  of  men,  for  which 
he  accounts  as  follows  : — 

''As  the  source  of  all  evil  in  this  world  is  an  uncrea- 
ted evil  being,  it  is  evident  that  the  ultimate  principle 
of  corruption  in  mankind  is  spiritual.  Men  are  wicked 
because  they  are  enveloped  in  the  spirit  of '  the  wicked 
one,'  and  so  are  '  led  captive  at  his  will.'  This  is  true 
of  all,  in  their  primary,  unregenerate  state. 

"  But  there  is  a  subdivision  in  the  depravity  of 
human  nature.  Adam,  who  was  originally  the  work- 
manship of  God,  and  a  vessel  of  spiritual  good,  became 
by  his  fall  a  subject  of  the  Devil,  and  a  vessel  of  spirit- 
ual evil.  The  streams  from  the  two  eternal  fountahis  " 
(i.  e.  God  and  Satan)  "  flowed  together  in  him.  His 
spiritual  nature  was  primarily  good,"  (only  negatively 


384  NOYESISM  UNVEILED. 

good,  we  presume  he  means,)   "  as  proceeding  from 
God ;  but  secondariiy  evil,  as  pervaded  by  the  Devih 
With  this  compound  character,  he  had  the  power  of 
propagating  his  own  likeness  ;  and  in  giving  direction 
to  that  power  the  antagonistic  elements  of  uncreated 
good  and  evil  were  both  concerned.     In  fact,  this  was 
the  point  of  their  most  radical  conflict.     As  the  off- 
spring of  Adam's  body  was  two-fold,  distinguished  into 
male  and  female,  part  following  the  nature  of  the  pri- 
mary, and  part  the  nature  of  the  secondary  parent  ;  so 
the  offspring  of  his  spiritual  nature  was  two-fold,  distin- 
guished like  that  nature,  into  good  and  evil,  part  foUovv'- 
ing  the  character  of  the  primary  and  part  the  character 
of  the  secondary  spiritual  element.     In  other  words, 
Adam  had  two  sorts  of  spiritual  children — one  of  them 
like  himself,  primarily  of  God  and  secondarily  of  the 
Devil,  of  whom  Adam  was  a  specimen  ;  the  other,  prima- 
rily of  the  Devil  and  secondarily  of  God,  of  whom  Cain 
was  a  specimen.    See  1  John  3  :  12.    Thus  mankind  are 
di\dded  spiritually  into  two  classes  of  different  original 
characters,  proceeding  respectively  froiii  uncreated  good 
and  evil.  .  .  .  The  depravity  of  mankind,  then,  is  of  two 
sorts.     The  seed  of  the  woman  arc  depraved,  as  Adam 
was  after  the  fall, — not  in  their  original  individual  spi- 
rits which  are  of  God,  but  by  their  spiritual  combina- 
tion with  and  subjection  to  the  Devil.     In  other  words, 
they  are  possessed  of  the  Devil,  and  as  to  their  volun- 
tary or  objective  characters  are  totally  depraved.     Yet 
they  are  not  subjectively  devils.     The  divinity  of  their 
origin  is  evinced  by  the  fact  that  they  hear  and  receive 
the  word  of  God  when  it  comes  to  them. — On  the  other 
hand,  the  seed  of  the  serpent  are  depraved  as  Cain 
was, — ^not  only  by  combination  with  and  subjection  to 
the  Devil,  but  by  original  spiritual  identity  with  him. 
They  are  not  only  possessed  of  the  Devil,  but  are  radi- 
cally DEVILS  THEMSELVES." — Berean,  pp.  104, 105. 


NOYESISM  UNVEILED.  885 

The  foregoing  speculations  have  no  scriptural  basis 
whatever.  They  are  the  mere  creature  of  Mr.  N.'s 
imagination.  The  Scriptures  speak  a  strong  and  uni- 
form language  relative  to  man's  depravity.  They  place 
all  upon  a  common  level ;  and  the  testimony  is  abun- 
dant in  relation  to  this  subject — it  stands  out  promi- 
nently upon  almost  every  page  of  sacred  writ. 

The  views  of  Perfectionists  respecting  the  holiness 
of  Adam  are  expressed  in  short  as  follows  : — 

"  The  Bible  no  where  ascribes  eminent  holiness,  or 
even  any  holiness,  in  the  gospel  sense  of  that  term,  to 
Adam.  .  .  .  That  Adam  was  created  in  a  state  of  per- 
fect innocence,  we  cannot  doubt.  ,  .  .  But  with  respect 
to  his  holiness,  (if  it  is  proper  to  apply  this  word  at  all 
to  Adam  in  his  original  state,)  it  must  have  been 
rather  negative  than  positive  ;  i.  e.  though  he  knew  no 
e\41,  though  he  was  free  from  all  evil  propensity,  and 
from  all  guilt,  yet  he  did  not  possess  what  we  call  tried 
virtue;  he  had  not  met  and  resisted  temptation." — 
Perfectionist,  Vol.  v.  No.  12. 

Let  us  -glance  at  this  position.  What  is  holiness  in 
its  essence  but  supreme  love  to  God  ?  This  love  He 
requires  of  all  his  intelHgent  creatures  ;  and  this  re- 
quirement is  based  upon  the  natural  relation  they  sus- 
tain to  Him.  Now  if  all  moral  beings  are  placed  under 
a  law  requiring  supreme  love  to  their  Creator,  would  it 
not  be  the  height  of  absurdity  to  suppose  that  Adam, 
coming  pure  from  the  hand  of  his  Maker,  would  be 
incapable  of  fulfilling  the  requirements  of  the  law  under 
wliich  he  was  placed  ?    If  he  fulfilled  that  law  until  he 

fell — which  no  one  doubts — then  he  must  have  possess- 
25 


386  NOYBSISM  UNVEILED. 

ed  the  love  required,  and  consequently  been  eminently 
holy,  even  in  a  gospel  sense — for  the  gospel  requires 
no  more  than  perfect  love,  accompanied  with  its  appro- 
priate fruits. 

But  it  is  intimated  that  in  order  to  possess  holiness, 
temptation  must  be  "  met  and  resisted."  If  this  be 
true,  the  Savior  had  no  holiness  until  He  "  met  and 
resisted  "  the  temptations  of  Satan  1 — The  angels  that 
fell  had  no  holiaesg  before  their  fall;  from  what  a 
height,  then,  they  must  have  fallen  ! — And  Adam  had 
httle  or  nothing  to  lose;  he  had  no  eminence  from 
which  to  fall ;  he  only  descended  from  a  common  level 
a  few  steps  downward  ! 

But  it  is  sometimes  said  that  Adam  could  not  have 
originally  possessed  true  holiness,  because  it  is  argued, 
"  Habits  of  hoHness  cannot  be  created  without  our 
knowledge,  or  consent ;  for  holiness  in  its  nature  im- 
plies the  choice  and  consent  of  a  moral  agent,  without 
which  it  cannot  be  holiness." 

The  fallacy  of  this  reasoning  lies  in  confounding 
Tidbits  of  hoHness  with  principles  of  holiness.  Habit  is 
the  result  of  acts,  and  acts  of  choice.  A  principle 
always  lies  back  of  choice,  by  which  it  is  governed. 
There  must  be  a  right  nature  or  holy  principle  before 
there  can  be  a  right  choice.  The  principle  in  Adam 
from  which  right  choice  proceeded,  prior  to  the  fall, 
was  either  implanted  in  him  at  his  creation,  or  produ- 
ced by  his  own  volitions.  If  the  latter,  he  must  have 
willed  correctly  without  any  correct  principle ;  if  the 
former,  then  he  possessed  holiness  by  nature — which  is 


NOTESISM  UNVEILED.  387 

self-evident,  for  y^e  cannot  suppose  that  God  would  cre- 
ate him  less  thap  holy.  Moreover,  the  scriptures  actu- 
ally "  ascribe  eminent  Jioliness  "  to  Adam,  inasmuch  as 
they  assert  that  he  was  created  in  the  image  of  God, 
which  comprised  "  true  holiness J^ 

The  Perfectionist  view  of  this  subject,  although  it 
does  not  charge  evil  upon  Adam,  yet  it  deprives  him  of 
all  positive  good.  Having  neither  holiness  nor  sin,  or 
in  other  words,  possessing  no  moral  character,  and 
becoming  immortal  in  this  state,  it  would  be  difficult  to 
fix  his  final  destiny.  Having  no  holiness,  he  could  not 
enter  heaven — and  having  no  sin,  he  could  not  be  justly 
doomed  to  eternal  death. 

Mr.  ISf.  thus  defines  his  theory  of  the  judgment : — 
"  As  God  divided  mankind  into  two  great  families — 
the  Jews  and  the  Gentiles — so  he  has  appointed  a  sep- 
arate judgment  for  each.  The  harvest  of  the  Jews 
came  first,-  because  they  were  ripened  first.  God  sep- 
arated them  from  the  rest  of  the  nations,  and  for  two 
thousand  years  poured  upon  them  the  sunshine  and  the 
rain  of  religious  discipline.  When  Christ  came  he  said 
the  fields  were  white.  By  the  preaching  of  Christ  and 
his  apostles,  the  process,  necessary  to  make  way  for  the 
judgment,  was  complete.  At  the  destruction  of  Jeru- 
salem, the  Jews  as  a  nation  were  judged.  Then  the 
kingdom  of  heaven  passed  from  the  Jews  to  the  Gen- 
tiles. Matt.  21 :  43.  God  commenced  a  process  of 
preparation  for  a  second  judgment.  The  Gentiles 
came  under  the  sunshine  and  rain,  which  had  before 
been  sent  upon  the  Jews.  For  nearly  two  thousand 
years  the  Gentile  crop  has  been  maturing,  and  we  may 
reasonably  look  for  the  Gentile  harvest  as  near." — 
Berean,  p.  277. 


dS8  NOYESISM  UNVEILED. 

Mr.  N.  asserts  that  the  second,  coming  of  Christ — 
which  he  assumes  took  place  at  the  des|(;ruction  of  Jeru- 
salem— was  "  the  day  of  judgment  for  the  primitive 
church  and  the  Jetmh  nation. ^^  He  also  assumes  that 
the  judgment  of  mankind  "  is  divided  into  two  acts, 
occupying  tzvo  periods  of  time^  separated  from  each 
other  by  an  interval  of  more  than  a  thousand  years." 
One  of  these  acts  he  calls  the  first  judgment,  and  the 
other  the  final  judgment. 

Now  the  simple  assertion  that  "  God  hath  appointed 
a  day  "-— i.  e.  a  particular  time,  a  definite  period — "  in 
which  he  will  judge  the  world  " — not  a  part  of  it — "  in 
righteousness  " — Acts  17  :  31 — is  fatal  to  this  theory, 
and  overthrows  the  whole  superstructure. 

But  Mr.  N.  assumes  that  the  final  judgment  has 
commenced,  and  is  being  executed  by  Perfectionists, 
but  more  particularly,  if  not  exclusively,  by  himself! 
On  the  evening  of  June  1, 1847,  he  said  : — 

''  We  are  finally  brought  to  the  question.  Is  not  the 
kingdom  of  God  in  us  ;  including  all  the  elements  of 
the  judgment  9  I  think  jbhere  is  abundant  evidence  in 
the  past,  especially  in  the  last  year,  that  the  judgment 
has  begun.  .  ,  .  In  the  most  important  sense,  we  have 
heen  conscious  of  living  in  the  day  of  judgment  "  ! 

But  let  us  look  at  the  nature  and  characteristics  of 
the  judgment  as  set  forth  by  Mr.  N.     He  says  : — 

"  The  judgment  of  the  world  will  be  a  gradual  spirit- 
ual operation  efiected  by  truth  and  invisible  power,  with- 
out any  of  the  physical  machinery  which  alarms  the  ima- 
ginations of  most  expectants  of  the  great  day.  .  .  All  the 
transactions  of  the  last  judgment,  will  be  effected  hj  a 


NOYESiSM  un\t:iled.  389 

spiritual  infusion  from  them  [the  primitiYe  diurch]  gf 
the  light  and  energy  of  G-od." 

'Mr.  N.  also  asserts  that  he  discards  entirely  the 
impressions  ivliich  are  common  in  the  world,  respecting 
the  judgment!  But  let  us  endeavor  to  ascertain  as 
definitely  as  possible  the  character  of  the  judgment,  and 
the  office-work  of  the  judge,  as  presented  by  the  Noyes- 
ites.     Mr.  N.  says; — 

'•  The  ultimate  causes  of  all  good  and  evil,  are  the 
spirit  of  love  and  the  spirit  of  selfishness — God  and  the 
devil.  Human  life  is  placed  under  the  power  of  these 
spirits,  and  in  all  stages  of  its  experience  is  either  sub- 
ject wholly  to  one  or  to  the  other  of  them,  or  is  in  the 
conflict  between  them.'' — Berean,  p.  256. 

Thus,  by  the  principles  of  love  and  selfishyiess,  Mr. 
N.  represents  G-od  and  Satan.  Perfectionists  think 
they  are  living  under  a  new  dispensation — that  this  is 
the  end  of  the  world — and  they  talk  about  the  judg- 
ment of  selfishness.'  They  think  their  Community  is 
an  unselfish  association.  But  in  order  to  enter  it,  the 
social  ties  must  be  cut  asunder.     Say  they  : — 

"  Those  attachments  and  relations,  whether  domestic 
or  social,  originating  and  existing  only  in  the  constitu- 
tion of  human  life,  are  obstacles  to  be  surmounted.  .  .  . 
However  cutting  and  anti-selfish  it  may  be,  our  prop- 
erty, ourselves,  and  every  thing  that  pertains  to  us  and 
ours,  are  to  be  sacrificed." 

A  member  of  the  Putney  Community  remarked  to  a 
citizen  of  the  village,  that  her  hody  ivas  going  to  the 
judgment !  i.  e,  into  the  hands  of  John  H.  Noyes,  to 
be  disposed  of  by  him !  And  in  this  way  she  was  going 
to  make  saci^ifice  of  self !  ! 


890  NOYBSISM  UNVEILED. 

•Mr.  N.  said  to  a  citizen  of  Putney  several  years 
since,  that  he  should  yet  sit  upon  the  throne  and  judge 
the  world  !  And  undoubtedly  he  now  thinks  he  is  doing 
it.  But  it  is  presumed  that  the  general  sentiment  is  that 
it  is  a  very  small  matter  to  he  judged  hy  John  H.  Noyes  ! 

From  all  the  light  thrown  upon  the  subject,  we  come 
to  the  conclusion,  that,  in  the  estimation  of  Perfection- 
ists, the  process  of  the  judgment  consists  in  separating 
between  the  seljish  and  the  unselfish  !  The  Noyesites 
profess  to  have  an  unselfish  association,  and  all  without 
is  selfish.  It  appears  to  be  the  province  of  Mr.  N.  to 
distinguish  between  the  two  characters  ;  and  those  who 
make  a  sacrifice  of  self,  find  favor  in  his  sight,  and  are 
welcomed  within  the  "  charmed  circle  " ;  and  those 
who  do  not  make  a  sacrifice  of  self  are  rejected !  Thus 
he  is  judging  the  world  ! ! 

In  concluding  this  subject,  we  would  remark  that 
Mr.  Noyes  professes  to  be  the  white  horse  mentioned  in 
the  following  passage  : — "  And  I  saw  heaven  opened, 
and  behold  a  white  horse  ;  and  he  that  sat  upon  him 
was  called  Faithful  and  True,  and  in  righteousness  he 
doth  judge  and  make  war." — Rev.  19  :  11. 

In  the  Spiritual  Magazine  of  Nov.  1, 1847,  we  find 
the  following  language  : — 

"  Christ  is  now  going  forth  on  the  white  horse,  to 
judge  and  make  war  in  righteousness ;  and  the  armies 
of  heaven  are  following  him  on  white  horses  J^ 

The  allusions  in  the  above  language  cannot  be  mista- 
ken. Now  the  cream  of  the  whole  matter  is  that  John 
H.  Noyes  is  the  white  horse,  and  that  his  followers 
are  all  white  horses  !  I 


NOYESISM  UNVEILED.  391 

Mr.  Nojes  occupies  a  position  antagonistical  to  the 
doctrine  of  the  resurrection  of  the  body.  He  says  he 
has  long  argued  "  against  the  notion  of  a  resurrection 
of  that  body  which  c?jes"-^and  ^Hhat  there  is  to  he  no 
resurrection  of  the  body  which  sees  corruption. — 
Berean,  p.  355. 

Speaking  of  a  spiritual  resurrection,  Mr.  N.  makes 
the  following  remark ; — 

"  '  If  any  man  be  in  Christ,  he  is  a  new  creature  ; 
old  things  are  passed  away  ;  behold  all  things  are  be- 
come new.'  [He  has  passed  from  a  carnal  state  into 
the  resurrection — from  this  world  into  the  heavenly 
world  ;  his  state  and  relations  are  as  fully  changed^  as 
the  idea  of  a  translation  from  earth  to  heaven  de- 
jnands.y 

The  reader  can  draw  his  own  inferences. 

The  Christian  Sabbath  is  discarded  by  the  Noyes- 
ites.  Nevertheless,  on  that  day  at  Putney  they  usually 
met — merely  as  a  matter  of  convenience,  however — at 
their  Chapel  in  the  morning,  and  held  a  sort  of  service. 
There  were  several  speakers^  who  usually,  we  believe, 
served  in  rotation,  and  each,  from  time  to  time,  held 
forth  upon  -a  topic  of  his  own  selection,  and — ■ 

"  The  truth  of  God 
Tamed  to  a  lie,  deceiving  and  deceived: — 
Each,  with  the  accursed  sorcery  of  sin, 
To  his  own  wish  and  vile  propensity 
Transforming  still  the  meaning  of  the  t«xt." 

In  this  manner  Noyes  and  his  little  company  of  fol- 
lowers generally  occupied  the  time  usually  allotted  to 
the  morning  service  in  religious  assemblies.    In  the 


392  NOYESISM  UNVEILED. 

afternoon  they  had  no  such  gathering,  hut  spent  the 
tune,  after  the  manner  of  a  holiday,  in  rambhng  over 
the  fields,  or  riding  about  town — to  the  annoyance  of 
the  sober  citizens — in  their  pleasure  carriages  ; — the 
nobility  occupying  the  best  vehicles,  and  the  lower  class, 
those  of  a  secondary  order — for  aristocracy  was  quite 
prominent  among  them.  In  the  evening,  after  a  great 
supper,  they  spent  the  time  in  conversing  upon  what 
they  called  religious  subjects — what  consummate  hypoc- 
risy !—jzc?cZZm^,  dancing^  card-playing^  &c.,  in  short, 
any  gaming  or  amusements  which  the  spirit  that  was 
among  them  inclmed  them  to  follow. 

After  desecrating  the  holy  Sabbath  in  this  most 
revolting  manner,  it  is  more  than  probable  that  the 
leader 

— '•  Then  retired  to  drink  the  filthy  cup 
Of  secret  wickedness,  and  fabricate 
All  lying  wonders,  by  the  untaught  received 
For  revelations  new." 

And 

"  These  in  their  wisdom  (?)  left 
The  light  revealed,  and  turned  to  fancies  wild  j 

And  visionary  dreams, 
More  bodiless  and  hideously  misshapen 
Than  ever  fancy,  at  the  noon  of  night 
Playing  at  will,  framed  in  the  madman's  brain." 

The  position  of  the  Perfectionists  in  relation  to  the 
use  of  alcoholic  drinks,  is  found  in  the  following  extract 
from  the  Spiritual  Magazine  of  May  15, 1847  : — 

''  "What,  after  all,  does  the  famous  physiological 
argument  of  the  Temperance  Society  amount  to  ?  It 
is  nothing  more  than  an  inference  drawn  from  the 


NOYESISM  UNVEILED.  393 

observed  effect  of  alcohol  upon  the  stomachs  of  intem- 
perate, ungodly  men.  Such  men  are  necessarily  dis- 
eased. Unbelief,  or  sin,  is  itself  an  unnatural,  diseased 
state  of  the  whole  man,  -which  gives  a  more  or  less  poi- 
sonous effect  to  every  thing  that  he  eats  or  drinks,  so 
that  the  most  scrupulous  dieter  falls  a  victim  to  his  food 
at  last.  The  primary  cause,  however,  we  repeat,  is  not 
in  tis  food  ;  but  in  the  unsanctified,  devilish  nature  of 
his  life,  which  converts  to  evil,  things  which  are  good. 
.  .  .  Persons  who  are  unnaturally  diseased  by  sin,  and 
who  habitually  eat  and  drink  damnation  to  themselves, 
are  not  to  decide  the  character  of  meats  and  drinks  for 
persons  in  a  wholly  different  state.  It  is  as  unreasonable 
for  Temperance  men  to  pronounce  alcohol  an  invariable 
poison  because  of  its  effect  on  drunkards,  as  it  would  be 
for  us  to  call  water  poison  because  it  produces  terrible 
convulsions  in  a  person  with  the  hydrophobia.  The 
cause  of  the  evil  is  as  independent  of  the  offendmg  sub- 
stanccj  in  one  case  as  the  other." 

We  present  the  foregoing  _  extract  as  a  curious  speci- 
men of  Perfectionist  logic.  The  reader  will  readily 
perceive  that  the  Noyesites  have  hit  upon  an  expedient 
by  which  they  evidently  hope  to  appropriate  the  "  good 
creature  "  exclusively  to  their  own  special  benefit  and 
behoof  I 

The  position  of  Perfectionists  in  relation  to  amuse- 
ments is  as  anti-scriptural  and  absurd  as  many  other 
things  among  them.     Say  they : — 

"  Tliere  is  a  time  to  laugJi,  a  time  to  rejoice  and  leap  for  joy 
— and  in  such  demonstrations  only  can  we  truly  worship  God. .  . , 
Let  us  not  have  amusements  without  religion,  nor  a  religion  thai 
is  hostile  to  amusements.  But  let  us  marry  religion  to  amuse" 
mentsJ* 


394  NOYESISM  UNVEILED. 

According. to  their  own  declarations,  their  practices 
have  been  in  accordance  with  these  principles.  The 
Editor  of  the  Spiritual  Magazine  of  May  15,  1847, 
writes  thus: — 

"  The  body  of  believers  in  holiness  in  this  village 
have  this  spring  joined  their  households  under  one  com- 
mon roof.  This  change,  as  they  expected,  has  proved 
in  every  respect  useful  and  agreeable.  Our  evenings 
are  generally  occupied  with  conversation,  reading,  and 
amusement  J^ 

The  nature  of  the  amusements  which  they  have 
attempted  to  "  marry  "  to  religion,  will  be  discovered 
in  the  following  extract : — 

"  A  wanderer  from  the  West,  a  representative  of  a 
certain  school  of  spirituahsts,  presented  himself  with  us 
one  evening  while  we  were  interested  in  the  subject  of 
'  Christ,  our  wisdom.'  ...  He  came  with  a  design  of 
mediation  between  us  and  those  with  whom  he  is  con- 
nected, or  for  some"  purpose  we  know  not  what,  profess- 
ing to  be  dii-ected  by  the  Spirit.  We  passed  the  eve- 
ning as  if  he  were  not  present,  in  conversation  about 
the  Bible,  our  hearts  burning  within  us,  and  joy  in  our 
countenances.  Then  there  was  musio  and  dancing, 
and  the  exhilaration  of  good  fellowships^ 

Thus  they  can  profess  to  be  interested  in  the  subject 
of  "  Christ,  our  wisdom  " — converse  "  about  the  Bible" 
— and  then  trip  to.  the  sound  of  the  viol,  on  "  light  fan- 
tastic toe" — and  that  too  all  in  the  same  evening! 
Thus  they  marry  religion  to  amusements !  and  are 
ready  to  say,  "m  mich  demonstrations  only  can  we 
truly  worship  Crod^^  !     Comment  is  unnecessary. 


NOYESISM  T7NVEILED.  395 

But  they  place  a  high  estimate  upon  fellowship.  Let 
us  glance  at  their  views  touching  this  matter.  In  the 
Spiritual  Magazine  of  Dec.  15, 1846,  they  say : — 

"  There  are  three  degrees  of  fellowship  that  believers 
may  have  with  God,  and  with  each  other.  The  first 
may  be  called  Jewish  fellowship ;  the  second  corres- 
ponds to  the  transition  state  of  the  primitive  church ; 
and  the  third  to  the  fullness  of  the  New  Covenant. 
The  first  is  simply  friendship,  mutual  afiection ;  the  sec- 
ond is  a  closer  union,  but  not  secure  ;  the  third  is  an 
organic  union  which  is  indissoluble.  Perfectionists 
have  known  considerable  of  the  second  degree  of  fellow- 
ship. They  have  had  love,  without  the  security.  .  .  . 
Their  union  has  not  been  an  eternal  marriage,  where 
divorce  is  impossible.  .  .  .  But  the  third  kind  of  union 
is  coming  to  view ;  union  which  has  the  security — 
which  is  entered  into  like  marriage,  with  irrevocable 
bonds.  Two  shall  say  to  each  other — It  is  a  gone  case 
with  us ;  we  are  one  for  eternity.  ...  A  nucleus  of 
this  union  has  been  formed,  and  there  are  some  who 
have  received  of  the  Lord,  a  hope  for  each  other  which 
is  steadfast,  and  a  love  which  casts  out  fear.  Love 
cannot  be  perfect  while  one  fear  remains  that  it  will 
not  always  last.  In  the  relations  of  this  world,  mar- 
riage comes  the  nearest  to  this  union,  in  its  community 
of  interests,  and  in  the  abandonment  to  each  other 
which  the  parties  make,  for  better  or  for  worse,  and  in 
the  contract  being  for  life.  But  a  life  union  for  this 
world  is  transitory,  compared  with  a  union  for  eternity ; 
and  the  kind  of  companionship  which  exists  in  most 
marriages  is  very  deferent  from  being  '  fitly  framed 
together.'  ...  It  is  an  organic  union,  which  comes  by 
growth  and  assimilation  of  substance,  or  it  is  like  a 
hyjMmg  fitly  framed  together,^^ 


396  NOYESISM  UNVEILED. 

The  reader  will  readily  perceive  that  the  Perfection- 
ists tarnish  every  thing  they  touch,  and  turn  every  sen- 
timent and  subject  -which  they  handle  into  a  polluted 
channel — which  clearly  indicates  the  prevaiHng  senti- 
ments and  predominant  feelings  among  them. 


NOYESISM  UNVEILED.  397 


CHAPTER  XXXVII. 


Concluding  Observations, 

The  doctrines  taught  by  Mr.  Noyes  and  his  coadju- 
tors, together  with  their  practical  consequences,  have 
been  so  far  exhibited  as  to  give,  we  trust,  a  tolerably 
correct  idea  of  the  nature  and  tendency  of  this  new 
ism.  Undoubtedly  the  heart  of  the  reader  has  sicken- 
ed, while  perusing  the  foregoing  pages,  at  the  recital  of 
scenes  which  have  transpired  among  the  Noyesites  at 
Putney  and  elsewhere,  and  in  view  of  the  deep  corrup- 
tion of  this  new  class  of  people.  But  let  no  one  for  a 
moment  suppose  that  the  gross  impieties  and  strong 
delusions  which  we  have  been  contemplating  are  the 
offspring  of  the  Christian  rehgion — far,  far  from  this. 
Christianity  is  utterly  opfposed  to  ail  such  principles  and 
practices.  For  the  leader  of  this  sect  to  teach  that  the 
Apostles  and  primitive  Christians  approved  of  such 
infamous  conduct,  and  practiced  such  gross  immorah- 
ties,  as  he  and  his  followers  are  guilty  of,  is  a  most 
blasphemous  assumption — an  utter  outrage  upon  virtu- 
ous principles — the  deepest  reproach  that  can  be  cast 
upon  the  rehgion  of  the  Bible,  and  the  highest  indignity 
that  can  be  offered  to  the  Divine  Author  of  our  common 
Christianity. 

There  are  evidently  those  in  the  present  age,  as  well 
as  in  primitive  times,  to  whom  the  searching  language 
of  the  inspired  Apostles  will  very  appropriately  apply, 


398  NOYESISM  UNVEILED. 

for  their  characters  %ppear  to  be  quite  similar.  We 
quote  a  few  paragraphs  from  the  apostolic  -writinge, 
which  appear  to  be  peculiarly  applicable  in  the  present 
instance : — 

"  Now  the  Spirit  apeakath  expressly t  thai  in  the  latter  times  some 
shall  depart  from  the  faith,  giving  heed  to  seducing  spiritSf  and 
doctrines  of  devils ;  speaking  lies  in  hypocrisy ;  having  their  con" 
science  seared  with  a  hot  iron.  . .  .  They  profess  that  they  knoio 
God ;  hut  in  works  they  deny  him,  being  abominable,  and  disobe- 
dient, and  unto  every  good  work  reprobate.  .  . .  Having  the  under- 
standing darkened,  being  alienated  from  the  life  of  God  through 
the  ignorance  that  is  in  them,  because  of  the  blindness  of  their 
heart ;  who,  being  past  feeling,  have  given  themselves  over  unto 
lasciviousness,  to  V)ork  all  uncleanness  with  greediness.  .  . .  And 
have  not  repented  of  the  uncleanness,  and  fornication  and  lasciv- 
iousness, which  they  have  committed.  . .  .  But  became  vain  in  their 
imaginations,  and  their  foolish  heart  was'darkened.  Wherefore 
God  also  gave  them  up  to  uncleanness  through  the  lusts  of  their  own 
hearts,  to  dishonor  tlieir  own  bodies  between  themselves. . .  .  For  it 
is  a  shame  even  to  speak  of  those  things  which  are  done  of  them  in 
secret.  . .  .  For  the  mystery  of  iniquity  doth  already  work ;  .  . . . 
even  him  whose  coming  is  after  the  working  of  Satan,  with  all 
pow«r,  and  signs,  and  lying  wond^s,  and  loith  all  deceivableness 
of  unrighteousness  in  them  that  perish  ;  because  they  received  not 
the  love  of  the  truth,  that  they  might  be  saved.  And  for  this  cause 
God  shall  send  them  strong  delusion,  that  they  should  believe  a 
lie  :  that  they  all  might  be  damned  who  believed  not  the  truth,  but  had 
pleasure  m  unrighteousness.  .  .  .  These  be  they  who  separate  them- 
selves ;  sensual,  having  not  the  Spirit.  . .  .  Scoffers,  walking  after 
their  own  lusts, . . .  But  chiefly  them  that  walk  after  the  flesh  in 
the  lust  of  uncleanness,  and  despise  government:  presumptuous 
are  ihe'y,  self-willed,  they  are  not  afraid  to  speak  evil  of  dignities. 
.  .  .  These,  as  natural  brute  beasts,  made  to  be  taken  and  destroy- 
ed, speak  evil  of  the  things  that  they  understand  not ;  and  shall 
utterly  perish  in  their  own  corruption ;   and  shall  receive  the 


NOYESISM  UNVEILED.  399 

reward  of  unrighteousness  as  they  that  count  it  pleasure  to  riot  in 
the  day  time.  Spots  are  they  and  blemishes,  sporting  themselves 
with  their  own  deceivings  ;  having  eyes  full  of  adultery,  and  that 
cannot  cease  from  sin ;  beguiling  unstable  souls.  . . .  For  when 
they  speak  great  swelling  words  of  vanity,  they  allure  through  the 
lusts  of  the  flesh,  through  much  wantonness,  those  that  were  clean 
escaped  from  them  who  live  in  error.  While  they  promise  them 
liberty,  they  themselves  are  the  servants  of  corruption.^* 

One  writer  very  justly  comments  upon  the  prophetic 
part  of  the  foregoing  quotations,  as  follows : — 

"  It  is  wonderful  to  observe  with  what  precision  these 
prophecies  have  been  fulfilled  by  the  clouds  of  impos- 
tors who  have  appeared — '  speaking  great  swelling 
words  of  vanity,'  and  fallen — since  the  inspired  senten- 
ces were  uttered.  And  it  may  be  regarded  as  one  of 
the  evidences  of  the  truth  of  inspiration,  that  had  the 
long  array  of  apostates  and  deceivers  actually  stood 
before  the  sacred  penmen  at  the  time  of  their  writing, 
their  characters  all  naked  before  them,  the  likenesses, 
from  the  first  Christian  apostate  to  the  sensual  Mor- 
mons " — and  Perfectionists — "  could  not  have  been 
drawn  with  greater  fidehty." 

This  strange  delusion  undoubtedly  originated  in  the 
same  fanatical  spirit  which  has  transformed  many  a 
Christian  community  into  a  moral  waste — a  spiritual 
desolation.  The  Noyesites  proceeded  step  by  step 
from  one  degree  to  another,  till  at  last  the  measure  of 
their  iniquity  became  full  and  running  over.  One 
writer  says : — 

"  These  Perfectionists  believe  that  they  have  the 
inward  Christ — can  do  no  wrong — that  to  the  pure  all 
things  are  pure — that  Christ  is  responsible  for  all  they 
do — and  other  such  blasphemous  absurdities.  .  .  .  Iq 


400  KOYESISM  UNVEILED. 

most  cases,  from  the  primitive  heresy  of  Gnosticism, 
down  to  the  Fifth  Monarchy  sect  of  the  Puritan  age, 
and  even  to  the  days  of  Joanna  Southcote  in  England, 
and  the  Cochranites,  the  lascivious  Mormons,  and  the 
sensual  Perfectionists  of  the  present  day  in  the  United 
States,  the  tendency,  it  cannot  be  denied,  has  been  to 
permit  almost  every  license  of  impurity.  ...  In  our 
own  country,  the  most  surprising  instance  of  imposture 
and  delusion,  perhaps,  that  has  occurred,  was  that  of 
the  Cochranites,  whose  enormities  in  licentiousness 
made  so  much  stu-  in  Maine  and  New  Hampshire  a  feT>' 
years  since.  ...  So  atrocious  was  Cochran's  conduct, 
that  he  seduced  great  numbers  of  females,  married  and 
unmarried,  under  the  pretext  of  raising  up  a  holy  race 
of  men.  The  peace  of  many  families  was  broken  up, 
and  the  villain  kept  an  estabhshment  like  a  seragho. 
His  career,  however,  was  happily  short." 

The  foregoing  paragraph  was  penned  soon  after 
Noyesism  had  made  its  appearance  ;  and  at  that  early 
date  it  had  given  decided  indications  of  its  nature  and 
tendency,  but  it  has  since  so  fully  developed  itself,  and 
advanced  so  far,  that  it  now  occupies  the  front  rank  in 
that  legion  of  impostures  and  delusions  under  which  the 
world  has  long  groaned.  The  writer  from  which  we 
have  made  some  extracts  further  says : — 

"  An  examination  of  the  history  of  heresies  and  im- 
postures in  all  ages,  will  disclose  the  painful  fact,  that 
whether  arising  from  enthusiasm,  or  phrenzy,  or  from 
deliberate  imposture,  a  common  character  seems  to 
have  run  through  and  pervaded  nearly  all, — and  the 
tendency  has,  beyond  doubt,  most  usually  been  to  licen- 
tiousness and  criminal  intercourse  between  the  sexes. 
This  fact  has  not  escaped  the  notice  of  the  enemies  of 
Christianity,  who  have  availed  themselves  of  it  in  th^ir  ^ 


NOYESISM  UNVEILED.  401 

attacks,  for  the  purpose  of  increasing  the  "weight  of 
odium  with  which  thej  would  cover  it.  Mr.  Hume, 
however,  has  the  candor  to  assign  the  true  cause  for  the 
effect,  viz.  the  strength  of  human  passions,  and  the 
facihties  of  criminal  indulgence,  between  the  sexe5, 
afforded  by  the  frequent  and  intimate  associations  pro- 
duced bj  congenial  fanaticism." 

This  little  volume  has  been  prepared  for  the  purpose 
of  warning  the  public,  by  the  presentation  of  simple 
facts,  against  cherishing  a  fanatical  spirit.  The  writer 
has  diligently  sought  for  tuuth,  and  it  is  behered  has 
succeeded  in  collecting  a  chain  of  facts,  of  a  painful 
and  somewhat  extraordinary  character — 'facts  which  it 
is  very  important  should  be  known,  that  others,  looking 
at  their  origin,  and  tracing  their  progress,  may  be 
deterred  from  entering  upon  a  course  in  religious  mat- 
ters, which  may  lead  to  the  same  dangerous  extremes 
and  melancholy  results,  and  ultimately  end  in  the  same 
or  similar  delusions,  dark  and  deep,  and  equally  fatal 
as  those  disclosed  in  this  volume. 

It  cannot  but  be  perceived  that  it  is  extremely  haz- 
ardous for  a  person  to  set  up  a  standard  of  faith  and 
practice  of  his  own,  irrespective  of  the  simple  requisi- 
tions of  the  Scriptures,  taken  in  their  most  obvious 
sense,  and  in  their  own  native  simplicity  and  beauty. 
It  has  been  well  remarked  by  Robert  Philip,  that  "  the 
men  who  would  say  to  others,  '  Stand  aside,  for  I  am 
holier  than  thou,'  are  Pharisees,  who  have  httle  or  no 
dependence  on  grace.  In  like  manner,  all  who  plume 
themselves  on  being  special  favorites  of  Heaven,  and 
26 


402  NOYESISM  UNVEILED. 

despise  others  as  non-elect,  pay,  of  all  men,  the  least 
respect  to  the  grace  they  pretend  to  have  received." 

Unquestionably  one  of  the  leading  features,  as  well 
as  one  of  the  greatest  errors  of  the  age  in  which  we 
live,  and  especially  in  our  own  country,  is  a  strong  ten- 
dency to  ultraisms — ultraisms  not  only  in  religion  and 
pontics,  but  in  almost  every  department  of  moral  and 
philanthropic  enterprise.  TVe  are  running  into  ex- 
tremes upon  almost  every  thing  we  undertake.  While 
there  are  some  who  are  always  on  the  back  ground, 
extremely  tardy  in  all  their  moves,  and  very  reluctantly 
render  even  the  most  inefficient  aid  for  the  promotion 
of  any  moral  or  benevolent  enterprise,  there  are,  at  the 
same  time,  others,  who,  instead  of  adopting  those  con- 
servative principles  and  judicious  measures  which  would 
secure  the  most  lasting  and  beneficial  results,  become 
over-heated  zealots,  and  by  injudicious  efforts  actually 
injure  any  cause,  however  good,  in  which  they  may  be 
engaged — their  every  movement  tends  to  retard  the 
onward  march  of  truth,  and  put  far  away  the  day  of 
final  triumph.  In  relation  to  the  ultraisms  of  the  age, 
one  distinguished  orator  has  shrewdly  remarked,  that 
''often,  when  a  good  cause  has  been  begun,  if  ike  Devil 
■finds  there  is  no  other  ivay  to  ruin  it,  he  will  turn 
charioteer"  himself  P^ 

The  facts  detailed  in  the  present  volume  should 
stand  as  a  solemn  warning  against  "this  ultra,  self- 
righteous  and  fanatical  spirit — this  seeking  out  of  human 
inventions  in  matters  of  such  high  concernment  as 
those  of  the  salvation  of  men.    How  much  wiser,  safer, 


NOTESISM  I^VEILED.  403 

and  better,  than  the  running  after  every  new  thing,  and 
the  following  of  sq  many  blind  guides,  would  it  be  for 
Christian  professors  to  obey  the  injunction  of  God  him- 
self: — '  Thus  saith  the  Lord,  Stand  ye  in  the  way^, 
and  see,  and  ask  for  the  old  paths,  where  is  the 
GOOD  WAY,  and  walk  therein,  and  ye  shall  find  rest 
for  your  souls,^  " 

Moreover,  we  learn  from  this  subject  that  delusions 
are  not  confined  to  the  low,  the  ignorant,  and  the  vul- 
gar ;  but  may  be  found  among  the  intelligent — ladies, 
educated  and  accomplished,  and  gentlemen  of  talent, 
information  and  wealth.  How  important,  then,  in  view 
of  our  weakness  and  dependence,  the  caution,  "  Let 
Mm  that  thinheth  he  standeth,  take  heed  lest  he  fallJ^ 
The  rule  of  section  under  all  circumstances  is  very  ex- 
plicit :  "  Fear  Gjod,  and  keep  his  commandments  ;  for 
fMs  is  the  whole  duty  of  manP 

We  conclude  this  little  volume  in  the  language  of 
another,  the  truthfulness  of  Vhich  must  be  apparent  to 
all ;  and  ite  application  in  the  present  instance  is  pecul- 
iarly appropriate  and  forcible  :— • 

'*  What  is  denominated  fanaticism  is  often  sheer^ 
downright  hypocrisy,  both  in  the  deceiver  and  in  those 
who  pretend  to  be  deluded.  By  far  the  greater  por- 
tion of  those  who  profess  to  be  deluded,  only  assume 
the  character  of  believers  in  these  impostures,  for  the 
purpose  of  thus  freeing  themselves  from  the  restraint  of 
those  rules  and  decorums  and  obligations  of  society, 
which  they  cannot  otherwise  contravene  without  calling 
down  on  their  own  heads  disgrace  and  punishment.  It 
mil,  in  almost  every  case  of  these  fanatical  eruptions, 


404  NOYESISM  UNVEILED. 

be  seen  that  the  imposture  begins  by  railing  against  all 
the  domestic  duties,  and  relations  of  the  social  state : 
filial  and  parental  ties,  the  marriage  vow,  the  sanctity 
of  chastity,  most  especially,  form  the  subjects  of  their 
attacks  ;  and  the  basis  of  every  false  rehgion  is  almost 
uniformly  laid  in  the  ruins  of  feminine  purity,  matrimo- 
nial faith,  and  domestic  obHgations. 

"  That  those  who  have  become  impatient  of  these 
ties  and  duties,  or  who  wish  to  free  themselves  from  the 
necessity  of  conforming  to  the  restraints  of  the  social 
state,  and  travel  out  into  the  boundless  ocean  of  licen- 
tious indulgence,  should  shelter  themselves  under  the 
convenient  mask  of  fanaticism,  from  the  imputation  of 
criminal  excesses,  and  affect  to  becojiie  conscientiously 
letvd,  or  luicJced  from  principle^  is  surely  not  a  subject 
of  wonder,  however  it  may  be  of  regret.  Hence  we 
almost  always  see  the  development  and  exposure  of 
these  impostures  exhibiting  to  the  eyes  of  the  world  a 
scene  of  lewdness  and  hcentious  intercourse  equally 
degrading  to  the  character  of  that  sex,  among  whom 
we  almost  always  find  the  first  disciples  of  every  new- 
fangled religious  imposition,  and  to  the  character  of 
rational  and  moral  beings.  From  all  I  have  seen  and 
read  of  these  victims,  or  accomplices  of  successful  im- 
posture, I  am  imalterahly  convinced,  that  ivhat  is  called 
fanaticism,  is  oftener  the  cool,  calculating  offspring  of 
a  corrujDt  and  sensual  heart,  than  of  a  deluded,  over- 
heated brain.  Wine  times  in  ten,  I  believe  it  is  only 
the  veil  behind  which  corrupt  men  and  women  seek  a 
shelter  from  the  ignominy  of  a  licentioiis  life,  and 
cloak  the  indulgence  of  indiscriminate  lewdness. 

"In  conclusion,  it  may  be  remarked  that  Erroe  can 
only  be  overcome  by  Truth,  and  that  they  who  have 
the  '  Truth  of  God  '  distinctly  set  forth  in  the  book  of 
Revelation,  have  an  infallible  criterion  by  which  to  test 
the  true  character  of  any  religious  opinion  or  practice. 


NOYESISM  UNVEILED.  405 

And  in  the  Gospel  dispensation  introduced  by  our 
Lord  and  Savior  Jesus  Christ,  the  inspired  volumes  of 
the  Old  and  New  Testaments  constitute  the  true  and 
only  infallible  rule  of  faith  and  conduct ;  nor  can  any- 
radical  or  fundamental  error  long  escape  detection  when 
subjected  to  this  plain  and  unerring  standard." 


APPENDIX. 


Case  of  3fi8S  Lucinda  J.  Lamb —  Various  Items, 

The  case  of  Miss  Lucinda  J.  Lamb,  a  respectable 
young  lady  residing  in  Putney  Village,  is  "worthy  of 
notice.  The  circumstances  connected  with  this  case 
transpired  in  the  spring  and  summer  of  1847,  about  the 
time  of  the  going  forth  of  the  famous  proclamation  that 
the  kingdom  of  God  had  come  to  the  town  of  Putney 
and  the  Perfectionist  Community  located  there  ! ! 

Miss  Lamb,  at  the  time  alluded  to,  was  about  fifteen 
years  of  age.  She  w^as  brought  within  the  reach  of 
influences  which  surrounded  the  "  charmed  circle,''^  by 
circumstances  which  it  is  unnecessary  now  to  give  in 
detail.  Suffice  it  to  say,  that  she  and  her  parents  were 
deceived  ;  and  not  suspecting  that  there  was  any  dark 
design  at  the  bottom,  were  unaware  of  the  danger  to 
which  she  was  exposed.  Meanwhile,  the  Noyesites 
resorted  to  various  expedients  and  stratagems  for  the 
purpose  of  drawing  her  into  the  vortex  of  ruin  ;  but 
happily  their  nefarious  schemes  were  frustrated  just  in 
time  to  rescue  her  from  the  clutches  of  those  rapacious 


408  Al>i>ENDlX. 

monsters,  tlie  leading  Perfectionists :— for,  like  vora* 
aious  vultures,  they  were  doubtless  looking  upon  Miss 
Lamb  as  lawful  prey,  and  they  were  evidently  not  a 
likle  disappointed  that  she  escaped. 

Mr.  Noyes  not  only  exerted  his  own  influence,  but 
his  female  helpers  closed  around  Miss  Lamb,  bent  on 
her  ruin  ;  and  each,  in  turn,  like  "  a  serpent  with 
an  angel's  voice,"  strove  to  indoctruiate  and  lead  her 
along  in  the  path  to  infamy  and  death  : — and  so  intent 
Were  they  upon  their  prey,  that  Miss  Lamb  was  watch- 
ed with  a  vigilant  eye  ;  and  when  she  stepped  out  to 
call  upon  her  parents  or  friends,  some  of  the  female 
niembers  of  the  Community  would  accompany  her,  lest 
some  counteracting  influences  might  be  exerted  upon 
h-er,  and  the  spell  thus  be  broken.  And  this  course 
was  in  perfect  keeping  with  Perfectionist  policy;  for 
wh«n  they  get  hold  they  generally  hang  on,  till  the 
victim  is  fast  bound  and  the  ruin  rendered  complete. 

It  may  be  proper  here  to  remark,  that  the  circum- 
stances which  we  are  narrating  transpired  before  the 
disclosures  were  made  which  exhibited  the  abominable 
lewdness  of  Noyes  and  his  fuithful  followers  ;  and 
when  even  some  of  tlie  sober  citizens  of  Putney  were 
slow  to  beheve  that  they  would  plunge  into  such  gross 
iniquity.  The  parents  of  Miss  Lamb  were  not  over 
much  suspicious,  and  were  mduced  to  let  their  daugh- 
ter board  in  the  dwelling  where  the  Noyesites  resided, 
in  consequence  of  fair  promises,  and  the  deep  interest. 
which  some  of  the  members  of  the  Community,  with 
^hom  she  had  formerly  been  acquainted  and  even  quite 


APPENDIX.  409 

intimate,  professed  to  feel  for  her.  Bnt  the  worst 
deception  was  practiced  upon  her  and  her  parents,  and 
the  dark  and  infernal  designs  of  the  Noyesites  were 
kept  concealed  from  view.  But  the  parents  of  the 
joung  lady  ere  long  began  to  fear  that  all  was  not 
right,  and  at  length  became  dissatisfied,  and  made  some 
efforts  to  get  her  away;  but  to  their  surprise  they 
found  that  an  influence  had  been  obtained  over  her 
which  well-nigh  proved  fatal.  And  although  Mr. 
Noyes  was  peremptorily  forbidden  by  Mr.  Lamb  to 
have  any  more  conversation  with  his  daughter,  yet, 
regardless  of  this,  he  persisted  in  the  same  course  he 
had  been  pursuing :  and  to  show  the  deep  mterest 
which  Mr.  N.  feit  in  this  case,  and  the  active  part  he 
performed,  we  give  the  following  extracts  from  a  letter 
which  he  wrote  to  Mr.  Lamh  while  things  were  pro- 
gressing : — 

^'  Putney,  June  4, 1847. 

■^^  Mr.  Xaw5— Sir  :—  ...  I  find  it  my  duty  at  th« 
present  juncture  to  apprize  you  distinctly  of  the  posi- 
tion which  I  hold,  and  of  the  course  which  I  shall  take 
in  relation  to  Lucinda. 

"  You  are  the  father  of  her  body,  Ood  is  fne  father 
of  her  spirit.  You  have  the  legal  right  and  the  physi- 
cal power  to  dispose  of  her  body  —  to  send  her  where 
you  will.  God  has  the  absolute  right  and  the  irresisti- 
ble power  to  direct  the  movements  of  her  spirit  and  fix 
her  heart  on  the  kingdom  and  followers  of  his  Son. — 
•Christ  himself  has  distinctly  forevfarned  us  that  colhs- 
iens  between  his  claims  and  the  claims  'of  earthly  rela- 
tions must  occur  in  the  going  forth  of  his  kingdom. — 
*  Think  not,'  he  says, '  I  am  come  to  send  peace  on 


410  APPENDIX. 

earthy  I  am  not  coiDie  to  send  peace  on  earth,  but  a 
sword.'  ...  It  is  at  least  supposable  that  these  words 
are  being  fulfilled  in  your  family  —  that  your  daughter 
has  accepted  the  call  of  Christ  and  you  have  rejected 
it,  and  of  course  that  a  collision  between  Christ's  claim 
and  yours  is  approaching.  You  will  naturally  reject 
such  a  supposition,  and  yet  it  may  be  time. 

"  I  believe  that  it  is  true,  and  believing  thus,  I  am 
bound,  in  the  first  place,  to  do  my  best  to  make  jo^sl 
aware  of  what  you  are  doing.  I  count  it  an  act,  not 
of  enmity,  but  of  love  toward  you,  to  say  to  you,  '  Be- 
ware of  the  attempt  to  take  your  daughter  out  of  God's 
hands.  Let  the  potsherds  of  the  earth  strive  with  the 
potsherds  of  the  earth,  but  wo  to  him  who  striveth  with 
his  Maker.'  ...  I  think  the  present  project  of  sending 
Lucinda  away  from  her  religious  friends  is  as  unnatural 
and  as  cruel  to  her  soul,  as  it  would  be  to  take  a  new- 
born infant  away  from  its  mother.  I  do  not  beSeve 
that  you  will  succeed  in  ahenating  her  from  her  present 
faith  or  from  us.  Nor  do  I  believe  that  she  will  make 
the  improvement  in  w^orldly  studies  which  you  have  in 
view.  ...  I  advise  you  to  let  her  remain  where  she  is. 
"  Your  friend,  John  H.  No  yes." 

Notwithstanding  Mr.  N.'s  advice  and  implied  threats^ 
Mr.  Lamb  removed  his  daughter  to  an  adjoining  State, 
and  has  ever  since  kept  her  away  from  Perfectionist 
influence.  But  to  show  the  pertinacity  with  wMch 
they  adhered  to  their  purposes,  we  would  remark,  that 
before  the  letter  was  written  from  which  the  foregoing 
extracts  were  taken,  Mr.  Lamb  removed  his  daughter 
to  Fayetteville,  a  distance  of  ten  miles,  and  committed 
her  to  the  care  of  his  son  and  some  friends — hoping  by 
this  course  to  keep  her  away  from  the  subtle  influences 


APPENDIX.  411 

exerted  by  Koyee  and  his  confederates.  But  on  th© 
next  morning  after  her  removal,  at  an  early  hour,  John 
R.  Miller  and  George  W.  Noyes,  both  staunch  Perfec- 
tionists and  pliant  tools  of  the  Putney  Pontiff,  made 
their  appearance  at  Fayetteville — though  before  they 
left  Putney  they  stated  that  they  were  going  to  other 
places — and  desired  an  interview  with  Miss  Lamb. 
Those  to  whose  care  she  had  been  committed,  at  first 
refused  admittance ;  but  young  Mr.  Noyes — ^who  is  a 
brother  of  the  Putney  magician,  a  Perfectionist  dyed 
in  the  wool,  and  a  no  less  personage  than  the  Editor  of 
the  Spiritual  Magazine* — was  intent  upon  an  interview, 
and  urged  it  upon  the  ground  that  he  intended  mar- 
riage with  her  ;  and  falsely  asserted,  as  we  learn,  that 
he  already  had  engagements  with  her.  He  affirmed' 
t^at  his  motives  were  pure ;  and  as  he  was  a  young 
man  who  had  previously  sustained  a  fair  character, 
aside  from  his  many  heretical  notions,  though  now  act- 
ing a  feigned  part  behind  the  curtain,  the  friends  of 
Mss  Lamb  at  length  consented,  though  quite  reluc- 
tantly, to  an  interview.  During  that  interview,  young 
Mr.  Noyes  told  Miss  Lamb  that  he  believed  it  was  the 
Lord's  will  that  he  should  marry  her  !  and  that  in  this 
he  had  the  approbation  of  his  elder  brother.  Now  this 
must  have  been  either  a  piece  of  sheer  deception  on  the 
part  of  the  young  man,  and  designed  as  an  inducement 
for  Miss  Lamb  to  return  to  Putney ;  or  he  afterward 
had  an  opposite  revelation ;  or  the  "  acknowledged 
head"  otherwise  ordered;  for  in  a  few  weeks  after 
young  Mr.  Noyes  averred  that  he  believed  it  was  the 


41^  AI^PENBIX. 

Lord's  will  that  he  should  marry  Miss  Lamb,  he  was 
married  to  another  lady !  Before  this  took  place  he 
mentioned  three  young  ladies — one  of  whom  was  MisS 
Lamb— ^and  said  he  had  iio  choice  between  them,  and 
was  willing  to  marry  any  one  if  it  was  God's  will ;  hut 
that  will  was  of  course  to  he  ascertained  through  his 
brother,  John  IT,  Noyes  !  Thus  he  made  frequent  refer- 
ences and  great  professions  of  submission  to  the  will  of 
God,  when  his  sole  object  in  entering  into  the  marriage 
relation  was  that  he  might  have  "  a  dish  of  his  own 
procuring  "  to  add  to  the  great  supper  which  was  fast 
being  prepared.  Notwithstanding  his  professions,  his 
motives  were  probably  about  as  pure  a:s  those  of  the 
butcher  who  leads  the  lamb  to  the  slaughter  ! 

When  Mr.  Lamb  took  his  daughter  away  to  remove 
her  to  I^ayetteville,  the  Perfectionists  exhorted  her  to 
steadfastness.  Says  one,  "  Stick  to  it,  Lucinda  "  / 
Yes,  echoes  another,  "  Stick  to  it,  do  nH  give  it  wp  "  / 
When  at  Fayetteville,  several  letters  were  writteti  to 
her  for  the  purpose  of  encouraging  and  strengthening 
her  ;  and  those  letters  were  mailed  at  Brattleboro',  ten 
miles  from  Putney,  and  at  a  greater  distance  than  Put- 
ney fr®m  Fayetteville ;  and  all  this  when  there  was  a 
post-office  at  their  door  in  Putney.  Were  they  afraid 
that  the  friends  of  Miss  Lamb  would  learn  that  they 
wore  holding  correspondence  with  her  ?  Undoubtedly. 

La  a  letter  written  during  this  time  to  Miss  Lamb, 
John  K.  Miller  holds  the  following  very  beautiful  Ian-- 
guage  :— 

"  We  shall  all  be  delighted  to  see  you  once  more  at  our  hoiisef 


.  APPENDIX.  418 

and  we  expect  to  have  the  privilege  next  Saturday  evening. . . . 
We  have  very  happy  times  at  our  house,  more  so  than  ever,  all 
that  is  wanting  is  your  presence  to  mahe  it  completely  so.  Though 
you  are  absent  you  have  been  the  subject  of  conversation  several 
evenings.  . .  .  Mr.  Noyes  said  he  wished  to  express  his  entire 
approbation  of  your  conduct,  and  that  he  was  very  much  pleased 
with  you." 

In  another  letter  written  about  the  same  time,  Mr. 
Miller  continues  the  strain  thus : — 

"  Our  friendship  for  you  and  our  connexion  with  you  is  nearer 
and  dearer  than  any  thing  this  world  knows  any  thing  about,  and 
we  shall  prove  to  you  in  every  possible  way  our  love  for  you." 

Mr.  Miller  also  undertook  to  portray  in  glowing  colors 
the  beauty  of  making  a  sacrifice  of  self.     He  says  : — 

"  It  would  seem  that  this  world  might  be  a  '  para- 
dise '  were  it  not  for  the  selfishness  of  man.  How 
happy  this  world  might  be,  if  our  hearts  were  filled 
with  love — that  love  which  seeketh  not  her  own,  but 
tries  to  make  others  happy.'''' 

To  make  a  sacrifice  of  self,  is  to  give  up  "  every 
thing  "  to  John  H.  Noyes.  Thus  Mr.  Miller  began  to 
preach  up  the  peculiar  doctrine  in  characteristic  style  ! 
But  he  says  again  for  the  encouragement  of  Miss 
Lamb  : — 

"  God  is  carrying  on  his  work  here  gloriously  and  no 
power  on  earth  can  stop  it.  Let  those  oppose  it  and 
tell  stories  about  us  who  choose,  they  are  only  making 
work  for  repentance.  The  Devil  has  been  busy,  but 
his  time  is  short." 

Arrant  hypocrisy  !  Talking  about  the  work  of  God 
going  on  gloriously  among  them,  when  the  cup  of  their 
iniquity  was  being  filled  to  overflowing ! 


414  APPENDIX. 

Mr.  Miller  unwittingly  spoke  an  important  truth. 
He  thinks  the  Devil  was  busy  and  his  time  short.  That 
he  was  very  busy  among  the  ISToyesites  about  this  time, 
is  abundantly  evident ;  and  the  event  proved  his  time 
quite  short  in  Putney,  under  the  administration  of 
Noyes  and  his  coadjutors  ! 

Mr.  Miller,  speaking  of  two  young  ladies  who  had 
recently  joined  the  Community,  says  they  were  "  get- 
ting along  nicely  "  /  One  of  those  ladies  wrote  a  let- 
ter to  Miss  Lamb,  accompanied  by  the  following  note  : 
"  Put  this  letter  of  mine  ivhere  it  ivill  not  he  found — 
in  the  fire  "  / 

Great  professions  of  love  and  friendship  were  made 
toward  Miss  Lamb,  and  presents  were  given  her  to  the 
value  of  about  fifteen  dollars^  ten  of  which  was  in 
money ;  the  object  of  these  presents  no  one  can  doubt. 

After  remaining  a  short  time  at  Fayetteville,  Miss 
Lamb  returned  to  Putney,  and  her  parents,  as  a  last 
resort,  resolved  to  send  her  out  of  the  State.  They 
accordingly  went  for  the  purpose  of  getting  her  away 
from  the  Noyesite  Community ;  but  Mr.  Noyes  was 
highly  incensed,  and  refused  to  let  her  go.  He  talked 
very  insulting  to  Mrs.  Lamb,  the  mother  of  the  young 
lady — told  her  she  was  not  her  daughter,  that  she  Imd 
no  business  with  her,  and  that  she  should  not  have  her. 
He  "  shook  his  fist  in  her  face^"*  after  the  manner  of  an 
enraged  rowdy,  and  told  her  that  she  had  done  enough 
that  day  to  sink  her  to  the  lowest  depths  of  hell !  All 
this  Mr.  N.  would  call  holy  indignation  I  But  what 
was  Mrs.  Lamb's  ofibnce  ?      Simply  this — she  had 


,     APPENDIX.  41i 

demanded  her  daughter,  which  she  had  a  perfect  right 
to  do ;  and  was  resolved  that  she  should  leave,  and 
leave  tJien.  This  in  the  eye  of  Hojes  was  an  unpar- 
donable offence  !  Mr.  Lamb  soon  coming  in,  took  his 
daughter  away,  and  on  the  evening  of  the  same  day, 
accompanied  by  her  mother,  she  left  the  State,  and  was 
taken  about  seventy-five  miles  into  an  adjoining  State  to 
reside,  that  she  might  be  kept  away  from  the  Noyes- 
ites.  Late  in  the  evening  on  which  Miss  Lamb  left, 
several  persons  were  seen  about  the  dwelling,  supposed 
to  be  Noyesites  watching  for  an  ojDportunity  to  se«  her 
—not  knowing  that  she  had  already  left.  For  several 
days  the  stages  coming  into  town  were  closely  watched, 
evidently  to  see  if  she  did  not  return — for  they  had 
instructed  her  to  get  away  from  her  mother  and  return 
as  soon  as  she  could.  Inquiries  were  also  often  made 
hj  the  Noyesites  for  her  place  of  residence,  hopihg  to 
ascertain  where  it  was,  that  they  might  still  exert  an 
influence  over  her  by  some  communication  with  her. 
But  in  this  they  did  not  succeed.  While  she  remained 
among  them,  the  parents  of  Miss  Lamb  were  satisfied 
that  she  was  under  mesmeric  influences.  - 

Mr,  Lamb  brought  an  action  against  John  H.  Noyes, 
John  R.  Miller,  and  Geo.  W.  Noyes,  for  enticing  his 
daughter  away  and  subjecting  him  to  much  trouble  and 
expense,  and  the  case  is  now  pending  in  court.  But 
the  worst  feature  of  the  affair  is  that  they  evidently 
intended  her  utter  ruin,  and  had  well-nigh  accomplished 
their  object,  but  she  was  rescued  just  in  time  to  ^ve 
her. 


416  AFPENPIX.  9 

In  the  case  of  Miss  Lamb  we  can  clearly  see  tlie 
course  pursued  by  the  Noyesites  for  the  purpose  of 
drawing  young  and  virtuous  females  into  the  vortex  of 
ruin.  They  do  not  at  first,  by  bold  and  daring  efforts, 
attempt  this,  but  by  secret  and  subtle  influences  lead 
the  victim  along,  step  by  step,  till  the  nefarious  scheme 
is  accomplished — ^and  so  impious  are  they,  that  they  do 
it  all  under  the  name  of  rehgion ! ! 

'  In  the  summer  of  1847  special  efforts  were  made  to 
draw  young  females  in  Putney  into  the  Perfectionist 
Community,  the  object  of  which  no  one  at  this  late  day 
can  doubt.  By  reason  of  exercise  it  seems  that  they 
have  become  quite  expert  in  "  flourishing  their  spiritual 
weapons  "  ;  and  if  a  person  once  comes  under  their 
influence,  so  familiar  are  they  with  the  process  by 
which  to  subdue  and  ruin  the  victim,  that  they  think 
they  can  "  calculate  results  with  precision  "  !  In  the 
instance  which  we  have  noticed,  they  were  disappointed 
of  their  prey ;  but  they  have  too  often  been  successful, 
for — 

"  Constant  practice,  day  and  night, 
In  cunning,  guile,  and  all  hypocrisy, 

Gave  them  experience  vast 

In  sin's  dark  tactics,  such  as  boyish  men, 
Unarmed  by  strength  divine,  could  ill  withstand/'' 


APPENDIX,  41^ 

Various  Items. 
Neyesism  is   treasonable  fti  its   designs.     Of  this 
there  is  not  a  shadow  of  doubt.     Mr.  Noyes,  in  the 
Witness  of  Sept.  25, 1839,  gives  his  views  of  civil  gov- 
ernments, in  short,  as  follows : — 

"  Pefectionists  believe  that  civil  governments  are 
ord:ained  of  God  for  good  and  important  purposes  in  the 
jyresent  state  of  mankind ;  and  while  they  exist,  should 
be  respected  and  submitted  to  as  such;  hut  they  re- 
ijard  them  a%  made  ^  not  for  a.  righteous  man,  hut  for 
the  lawless  and  disobedient^''  as  fences  are  not  made  for 
ifien  but  for  cattle,  or  as  straight-jackets  are  not  made 
for  men  of  sound  minds,  but  for  the  insane.  In  respect 
to  co-operatuig  with  them,  their  maxim  generally  is,  *Let 
the  dead  bury  their  dead.'  They  also  beheve  that  all 
human  governments,  though  they  are  ordained  of  God, 
have  charters  of  limited  duration.  They  see  in  the 
Bible  that  the  same  God  who  ordained  them,  has  pre- 
dicted their  destruction ;  and  they  stand  ready  to  co- 
operate with  him,  whenever  he  shall  manifest  that  the 
time  has  come  for  the  establishment  of  that  kingdom 
which  he  has  said  shall  finally  'dash  them  in  pieces.'  " 

That  the  Noyesites  profess  to  believe  that  the  king^ 
dom  alluded  to  in  the  foregoing  extract  has  come  and  is 
established  on  earth,  there  can  be  no  doubt.  This  they 
nnanimousl|»  declared  on  the  evening  of  June  1,  1847  ; 
and  of  course  they  now  occupy  a  position  antagonistic 
to  all  human  governments !  In  the  winter  of  1847-8, 
Mr.  N.  drew  up  a  long  article,  which  was  considered 
by  him  and  liis  followers  'Hoo  treasonable  to  human  in- 
stitutions  to  admit  of  its  being  published  mth.  safety' ' 
at  that  time.    That  article  embodies  the  faith  of  the 

27 


418  AJ>PEND1S:. 

Noyesltes  In  regard  to  tMs  subject ;  and  its  principles 
they  mil  carry  out  so  far  as  circumstances  will  admit. 
Moreover,  a  correspondent  of  the  Spritual  Magazine, 
writing  under  date  of  Nov.  14,  1847,  says : 

"  Those  wlw  have  the.  kingdom  of  God  within  them^ 
may  now  assert  their  independence  of  the  unrighteous 
governments  of  the  ivorldP 

The  Noyesites  claim  to  have  the  "  kingdom  of  God 
■within  them ;"  hence  they  not  only  now  declare  their 
independence  of  all  human  governments — which  they 
do  not  hesitate  to  term  '^  unrighteous  "—but  they  are 
deadly  opposed  to  them,  and  are  laboring  in  every  pos- 
sible way  for  their  overthrow !  And  they  are  so 
strangely  infatuated  that  they  believe  they  shall  ^^ carry 
the  day''''  and  ultimately  succeed  in  all  their  movements. 
Silas  Morgan,  of  Leverett,  Ms.,  who  styles  himself  "(z 
Perfectionist  of  1834  stamp,  received  of  God,  through 
John  IT.  Noycs,^^  (!)  in  a  letter  wTitten  to  John  R, 
Miller  of  Putney,  mider  date  of  Nov.  7, 1847,  says : — 

"Tell  brather  J.  H.  N.  the  day  of  redemption  draw- 
eth  nigh,  and  will  come  in  spite  of  all  hell  or  hells  in, 
this  world  I '^ 

There  is  some  affinity  or  resemblance  between  Noyes- 
ism  and  Eourierism,  especially  in  reference  lo  organiza- 
tion.     Touching  this  matter,  Mr.  N.  in  1840  said : — 

"  I  regard  an  external  organization  as  bearing  the 
same  relation  to  a  spiritual  church,  as  the  body  bears  to 
the  soul.  A  body  without  a  soul  is  a  loathsome  carcass. 
A  soul  without  a  body  may  live,  but  one  half  of  its  le- 
gitimate functions  are  cut  off.'* 

In-1846,  Mr.  N.  said:— 


APPENDIX.  419 

"We  have  been  Associatlonists  theoretically  for  more 
than  ten  years,  and  practically  in  a  small  experimental 
way,  for  six  years.  So  far  as  the  external  mechanism 
of  society  proposed  by  Fourier,  is  concerned,  we  have 
expressed  no  general  opinion  against  it,  but  on  the  con- 
trary are  free  to  avow  that  in  many  points  his  philosophy 
well  agrees  with  our  principles.  We  will  take  this  oc- 
casion to  say  a  word  about  our  experience,  prospects  and 
intentions  in  regard  to  Association.  The  history  of  the 
band  of  behevers  in  this  place  [Putney]  is  briefly  this : 
About  six  years  ago  we  began  the  experiment  of  exter- 
nal union  of  interests.  We  have  been  deeply  interest- 
ed in  problems  which  our  new  social  arrangements  have 
presented  us,  and  have  solved  many  of  them  in  Si  prac- 
tical way,  with  much  satisfaction.  With  patience,  and 
yet  with  enthusiasm,  we  look  forward  to  the  time  when 
we  shall  be  able  to  embody  the  union  we  have  formed 
in  appropriate  externals — when  we  shall  have  but  ONE 
HOME  as  we  have  but  one  heart." 

In  the  Spring  of  1847  they  found  the  home  they  de- 
sired, for  the  "body  of  believers"  in  Putney  "joined 
their  households  under  one  common  roof."  But  the 
state  of  things  there  was  destined  to  be  of  short  dura- 
tion. A  rupture  soon  took  place — "  They  burst  the 
t>ands  of  their  nature  and  leaked  corruption  at  every 
stave  "  !  And  the  Noyesite  kingdom,  not  being  able  to 
stand  in  Putney,  was  transported  to  Oneida  Reserve,  in 
Central  New  York  !  One  writer,  speaking  in  reference 
to  the  Associative  principles  of  Perfectionists  and  Fou- 
rierists,  says : 

"  It  may  not  be  out  of  place  to  notice  the  affinity  of 
Perfectionism  and  Fourierism.  We  regard  the  former 
as  practical  Fourierism  —  as  the  condition  in  which  it 


420  '  APPENDIX. 

must  inevitably  terminate.  The  theory  of  Fourierism 
IS  association — associated  and  equal  labor,  profits,  prop- 
erty, pleasure,  relaxation  and  consumption.  It  is  based 
upon  the  assumption  that  all  are  equally  industrious, 
equally  honest,  aud  equally  capable  —  else  the  labor  of 
one  would  support  the  idleness  of  another.  This  con- 
dition of  things  would  require  in  the  members  of  the 
association  absolute  perfection.  Then,  under  the  sys- 
tem of  domestic  relations  now  existing  —  that  is,  sep- 
arate families  —  it  would  happen  that  the  families  would 
be  unequal.  One  family  would  have  a  large  number  of 
children  growing  up,  and  to  be  educated  and  maintain- 
ed ;  another  might  have  none..  It  is  not  to  be  suppos- 
ed that  the  latter  would  willingly  see  their  earnings 
appropriated  to  the  support  of  others,  with  whom  thej 
had  no  interest  or  connexion ;  and  this  would  involve 
the  neces^ty  of  common  and  promiscuous  association, 
where  all  would  have  equal  rights  and  equal  privileges. 
This  is  Perfectionism.  That  it  is  to  be  the  final  condi- 
tion of  Fourierism,  in  its  perfect  state,  is  not  denied  by 
its  advocates,  but  they  insist  that  society  is  not  yet  so 
advanced  as  to  justify  this  step.  In  other  words.  Per- 
fectionism, and  that  only,  is  required  to  carry  out  fully 
the  theory  of  Fourierism." 

That  this  country  is  not  a  congenial  soil  for  Associa 
tive  principles,  whether  they  take  the  form  of  Fourier- 
ism or  Perfectionism,  is  very  evident.  Not  long  skice 
the  following  nolfice  appeared  in  the  public  journals  in 
relation  to  Fourierism  : — 

"  The  Fourier  Association  which  was  established  on 
Lick  Creek,  in  Ilhnois,  and  which  for  a  time  was  sup- 
}X>sed  to  be  doing  well,  is  now  dissolved,  and  a  partition 
of  the  property  is  being  made.  Thus  has  terminated 
the  last  of  these  establishments  in  the  United  States." 


APPENDIX.  421 

But  scarcely  have  the  expiring  groans  of  Fourierism 
died  away  before  we  see  Perfectionism  busily  engaged 
in  opening  its  own  grave  ! 

But  the  Mormons  are  another  class  of  the  "  same 
sort  "  !  There  is  not  only  an  affinity  between  Perfec- 
tionism and  Fourierism  on  the  one  hand,  but  there  is  also 
an  agreement  in  many  respects  between  Perfectionism 
and  Mormonism  on  the  other  hand.  The  Editor  of  the 
G-Gspel  Banner,  a  httle  Mormon  paper  pubhshed  at 
Voree,  Wisconsin  Territory,  speaking  of  the  Perfection- 
ists, in  his  paper  of  Dec.  30,  1847,  says  they  are  "  a 
people  who  have  got  a  long  way  ahead  of  the  other 
sects,  and  with  whom  toe  wish  a  better  acquaintance  "  ! 

If  by  "other  sects"  the  astute  Editor  of  the  Banner 
means  evangelical  denominations,  he  has  missed  a  figure 
in  his  calculations  !  Christian  denominations  are  not 
travelling  in  the  same  way,  but  in  an  opposite  direction 
from  the  Noyesitcs.  They  are  perfect  antipodes  —  as 
far  apart  as  opposite  points  of  the  compass !  This 
Noyes  acknowledges  and  asserts  himself.  He  claims  to 
have  been  the  first  who  inculcated  his  peculiar  views  in 
this  country  or  elsewhere.  He  also  says — "  I  declare 
that  I  know  not  an  individual  out  of  the  Bible,  whose 
name  is  or  ever  has  been  before  the  pubHc,  who  can  in 
any  right  sense  be  called  an  endorser  of  my  views." 

Mr.  N.  acknowledges  that  no  person  out  of  the  Bi- 
ble is  or  has  been  an  endorser  of  his  views,  and  we  are 
quite  sure  that  no  one  in  the  Bible  can  be  found  en- 
dorsing those  views ;  hence  he  is  entitled  to  the  exclu- 
sive honor  of  publishing  them,  and  it  is  presumed  no 


422  APPENDIX. 

one  -will  contest  the  claim.     We  doubt  not  there  will  be 
one  united  voice  as  by  acclamation,  saying — let  him 

ALONE   IN   HIS    GLORY  !  ! 

But  the  Mormons  desire  a  better  acquaintance  with 
the  Perfectionists.  Now^  whoever  wishes  to  ''scrape 
acquaintance,^^  or  be  on  terms  of  intimacy  with  the 
Noyseites  can  have  the  privilege !  Undoubtedly  the 
Mormons  and  Perfectionists  might  be  seated  quite  co- 
zily  together,  seeing  they  are  all  of  a  piece.  The  edit- 
tor  of  a  public  journal  a  few  years  since  thus  briefly  and 
happily  referred  to  Mormonism  :— 

"  Of  this  modern  effusion  of  a  few  distempered  brains, 
we  suppose  fnost  of  our  readers  have  either  heard  or 
read  something.  As  for  ourselves  we  had  thought  that 
its  manifest  absurdities  were  sufficient  of  themselves  to 
expose  its  odious  character,  and  to  very  soon  annihilate 
its  existence.  Our  attention  has  been  just  now  attract- 
ed toward  this  offspring  of  inteflectual  delusion  and 
wild  fanaticism,  by  a  communication  from  a  worthy  cor- 
respondent, detailing  some  of  the  movements  of  one  of 
the  leaders  of  this  strange  sect,  who  had  succeeded  in 
seducing  a  young  lady  from  her  paternal  abode,  and 
wholly  alienating  her  affections  from  father,  mother, 
brother  and  sister  ;  these  facts  are  sufficiently  appalling, 
and  worthy  of  reprobation  by  all  honest  and  intelligent 
minds." 

Thus  it  appears  they  are  both  pursuing  the  same 
course,  but  whether  the  Noyesites  are  "  a  long  way 
ahead"  of  the  Mormons  is  a  question  about  which  we 
feel  httle  or  no  concern. 

In  the  estimation  of  Perfectionists  Mr  Noyes  holds 
about  the  same  rank  that  Joe  Smith  did  among  the 


AI^PENDIX.  428 

Mormons.  We  take  the  following  precious  morceau 
from  a  catechetical  Mormon  creed,  published  just  be- 
fore the  death  of  Joe  Smith :  — 

"Who  is  Joseph  Smith  ? 

Hi  is  Jesus  Christ'' s  brother. 

From  whence  is  his  authority  ? 

From  Heaven. 

What  kind  of  success  will  he  meet  with? 

Universal ;  over  the  ivhole  toorld. 

Suppose  the  people  try  to  hinder  him  ? 

The^  cannot  do  it. ;  but  ivill  perish. 

Why  ? 

Because  God  has  sent  hira^ 

The  death  of  Joe  Smith  soon  .after  the  publication  of 
the  foregoing  language^  is  a  forcible  comment  upon  Mor- 
mon folly. 

Now,  one  of  the  followers  of  JohnH.  Noyes  testified 
at  his  ex^nation  before  the  Grand  Jury  of  Windham 
County  in  the  Spring  of  1848,  that  Perfectionists  believe 
he  is  God's  beloved  Son  1  1  Thus  the  Mormons  believe 
Joe  Smith  was  Christ' s  brother^' I  And  Perfectionists, 
beheve  John  H.  Noyes  to  be  the  Son  of  Gfod! 

Mr  N.  sets  himself  up  as  heing'- infallible  !  "  Most- 
'alien  hy  such  pretence.'''     He 

"Tried  to  stand 
Alone  unpropped  —  to  be  obliged  to  none  ^ 
And  in  the  madueess  of  his  pride  be  bade 
His  God  farewell  and  turned  away  to  be 

A  God  himself!    

O  desperate  frenzy!  madness  of  the  ■vrill, 
And  drunkenness  of  the  heart !    *         — 
His  prophecies, 


424  APPENfDIX. 

He  swore  were  from  the  Lord ; 
Bat  with  his  life  he  wrote  as  plain,  RevengC; 
Pride,  tyranny,  and  lust  of  wealth  and  power- 
Inordinate,  and  lewdness  unashamed. 
And  that  he  was  anointed,  fools  believed, 
But  knew  that  day,  he  was  the  devil's  priest, 
Anointed  by  the  hands  of  Sin  and  Death, 
And  set  peculiarly  apart  to  ill. 

Noyesisra  stands  in  our  midst  "  dedicated  to  the  god- 
dess of  infamy.  Her  ivorship  is  open  and  undisguised 
as  the  worship  of  I>iana  at  Ephesiis,  Bold  men  in 
broad  sunshine,  without  shame  on^their  faces,  are  Jcnozvn 
as  patrons  and  ivor shippers  of  this  idol.  Snares  and 
temptations  are  laid  for  the  innocent,  and  when  a  vic- 
tim is  secured,  she  is  offered  at  once  in  sacrifice.  A 
regular  system  is  observed,  and  concert  of  action  secur- 
ed, that  the  cry  of  distress  may  not  he  heard.''"' 

Notwithstanding  Mr.  N.'s  professions  of  holiness  and 
infallibility,  there  , 

"Were  rents 
That  in  his  garments  opened  in  spit€  of  him, 
Through  which  the  well-accustomed  eye  could  see 
The  rottenness  of  his  heart." 

For  he 

"Grossly  drank 
The  cup  of  spiritual  pollution  up. 

His  feelings  were  his  guide, 

He  ate,  and  drank,  and  slept,  and  took  all  joys, 
Porbid  and  unforbid,  as  impulse  urged, 
Or  appetite,  nor  asked  his  reason  why." 

He  might  have  been  seen  standing  — 

"Amidst  a  group  of  gaping  fools, 
And  whispering  in  their  ears,  with  his  foul  lips : 
And  like  a  moral  pestilence, 


APPENDIX.  425 

Before  his  breath,  the  healthy  shoots  and  blooms 
Of  soeial  joy  and  happiness  decayed. 
Pools  only  in  his  company  were  seen.  "' 

And  those  forsaken  of  God,  and  to  themselves 
Given  up." 

His  followers  — 

"For  Tfisdom,  grossly  swallowed  all  he  said 
Unsifted." 

And  — 

•••Thought  that  they  alone  served  God, 

And  served  him  most,  when  most  they  disobeyed. 

So  on  they  walked,  and  stumbled  in  the  light 

Of  noon,  because  they  would  not  open  their  eyes. 

Effect  hoAV  sad  of  sloth !  that  made  them  risk 

Their  piloting  to  the  eternal  shore, 

To  one  who  could  mistake  the  Inrid  flash 

Of  hell  for  heaven's  true  star." 

But  after  the  day  of  final  decision,  the  following  for- 
cible language  of  the  poet  from  which  we  have  just 
quoted,  will  doubtless  be  pecuharly  applicable  : — 

— "  His  votaries,  who  left  the  earth, 

Secure  of  bliss,  around  him,  undeceived, 
Stood,  undeceivable  till  then  ;  and  knew, 
Too  late,  him  fallible,  themselves  accursed, 
And  all  their  passports  and  certificates, 
A  lie  " ! 

A  person,  who  for  some  time  was  a  zealous  Perfection- 
ist and  well  acquainted  with  Nojes,  afterward  said  — > 
"  John  H.  Nojes  mill  come  down  as  sure  as  there  is  a 
a-od''! 

Dr.  Josiah  A.  Gridley,  of  Southampton,  Mass.,  in 
Sept.  1845,  thus  addressed  Mr  Noyes : — 

"  I  know  full  well  that  the  gallows  is  going  up,  made 
bj  your  order ;  and  I  know  just  as  well  that  Mordecai 


426  APPENDIX, 

will  never  hang  on  it.  But  poor  Haman  may  in  an  ex- 
tremity of  which  he  little  dreams.  I  know  that  you 
are  smitten  with  blindness  ;  and  have  already  wearied 
yourself  to  find  the  door  which  the  angel  of  God  has 
shut  against  you.  And  the  judgment  of  Sodom  will 
overtake  you  unless  you  forsake  its  devilish  atmosphere 
and  ascend  again  the  mountain  of  the  Lord's  house 
above  the  fog  of  the  bottomless  pit. 

"  I  am  thus  plain  that  if  you  must  perish  in  such 
corruption  y©u  shall  not  have  it  to  say  with  your  dying 
breath  that  I  did  not  warn  you  in  faithfulness.  A  head 
or  hand  cannot  touch  you  without  defilement  1  Shame 
on  such  professions !  Thev  are  not  of  heaven  but  of 
men"! 

Dr.  Gridley,  in  Feb.  1846,  also  addressed  the  fol- 
lowing language  to  George  Cragin,  an  intimate  and  ac- 
complice of  Noyes : — - 

"  John  H.  Noyes  has  raised  the  hatchet  and  severed 
the  head  of  every  one  that  would  not  bow  to  him.  You 
have  become  a  mei'e  tool  to  execute  his  will.  It  is  time 
his  tyranny  was  resisted.  His  Christian  test  is,  'Hovj 
much  do  you  Jionor  and  reve)'e  John  H.  Noyes  f  .  .  .  . 
His  motto  has  ever  been,  '  If  miy  man  Hdes  with  me, 
he  must  ride  behind '  .^  .  .  .  The  tenor  of  his  spirit  runs 
thus,  'I will  have  you  hioto-  that  the  Spirit  of  God 
shall  not  had  his  own  subjects,  unless  he  leads  them  in 
suhjection  to  me''  ^''  ! 

A  correspondent  of  Noyes  writes  thus :  — 

"  When  I  was  at  Putney  your  sisters  told  me  that  it 
was  common  for  you  and  them  to  go  to  the  office  and 
set  type  on  the  Sabbath ;  and  that  you  not  unfrequently 
met  the  people  as  you  went  back  and  forth,  as  they 
went  to  and  from  church. 


APPENDIX.  42T 

"  Give  ME  the  leading  influence^''  has  long  been  the 
language  of  your  ambitious  heart ! 

"  Had  you  carried  out  your  acknowledged  intentions 
as  declared  by  the  brethren  at  the  time,  when  you 
started  for  the  ^  ^ive  Points^  you  had  never  denied 
insanity  ;  as  that  only  could  have  covered  your  sin  "  ! 

The  foregoing  extracts  speak  for  themselves.  Com- 
ment is  imnecessary. 

The  writer  has  recently  received  several  communica- 
tions from  different  correspondents  in  the  State  of  New 
York ;  a  few  extracts  from  which  will  now  be  given. 
An  individual  residing  in  the  neighborhood  of  Oneida 
Reserve,  writing  under  date  of  May  1,  1849,  says  :  — 

'-  Our  Battle-Axe,  anti-marriage  people  are  rather 
twistical  about  exactness  in  relating  circumstances. 
One  advocating  the  abolition  of  marriage  —  for  the 
substitution,  unbridled  license  —  visited  me  last  fall. 
I  asked  him  his  sentiments  upon  this  subject.  He  ex- 
plained that  he  too  was  for  free  and  mixed  intercourse. 
— '  But^^  said  he,  '  donH  you  let  this  out;  if  you  tell 
of  it,  I  shall  deny  it  and  so  leave  you  in  the  lie.'' 

"  Now,  sir,  what  do  you  need  to  substantiate  the 
fact,  that,  as  a  people,  the  Noyes  Perfectionists  are 
licentious  and  satyrical  ?  The  Battle  Axe  Letter,  writ- 
ten by  their  Pontiff,  distinctly  avows — though  he  used 
to  veil  the  fact — that  a  time  must  come  in  the  earth 
when  promiscuous  should  supersede  connubial  sexual 
intercourse.  He  told  Dr.  Josiah  A.  Gridley,  of  South- 
ampton, Mass.,  in  1838,  that  he  expected  to  see  the 
time  when  God  would  suffer  men  to  be  turned  loose 
^apon  their  neighbors'  wives  in  order  to  break  down  the 
present  institution  of  marriage.  In  his  '  Corporation  ' 
at  Putney  he  constantly  opposed  the  formation  of  all 
those   atachments  between  young  people  which  should 


428  APPENDIX. 

always  precede  marriage,  commanding  the  parties  to 
love  himself  more  than  they  did  each  other.  All  who 
broke  over  that  mandate  were  compelled  to  endure  all 
that  implacable  mahce  which  his  fiendish  temper  found 
means  to  pour  out  upon  them.  ...  I  cannot  possibly, 
from  the  preceding  evidence,  preclude  myself  from  be- 
lieving  that  the  '  Community  '  is  a  horde  of  remorseless 
profligates.  Many  of  their  professed  friends  have 
admitted  as  much  to  me  in  private  conversation.  One 
female  member  was  implored  by  a  friend  to  deny  the 
imputation  that  she  had  been  thus  guilty,  and  decidedly 
refiised.  Noyes  admitted  to  John  B.  Foote  that  for 
two  years  preceding  1847,  he  and  his  '  Corporation ' 
had  reduced  the  '  cross-fellowship  '  principle  to  prac- 
tice, such  appearing  to  them  to  be  the  express  will  of 
the  Lord  !  !  Mrs.  Si.  E.  Cragin  insisted  upon  the  the- 
ory as  correct,  to  my  brother's  wife  !  And,  sir,  I  see 
no  just  reason,  upon  these  very  accounts,  for  shunning 
my  conclusions  as  to  their  shameless  profligacy.  It  is 
not  necessary  to  demonstrate  that  they  are  practically 
lewd  at  this  present  time.  They  believe  in  the  prac- 
tice^ and  they  loill  carry  it  out  when  they  deem  it  expe- 
dient.    That  is  enough." 

Another  correspondent  residing  in  the  immediate 
yicinity  of  Oneida  Reserve,  under  date  of  May  T, 
1849,  writes  as  follows : — 

"  They  [the  Noyesites]  appear  k)  believe  in  promis- 
cuous intercourse  of  the  sexes,  and  advocate  that  doc- 
trine. .  .  .  They  have  printed  some  books  which  are 
considered  as  obscene  and  licentious.  .  .  .  There  has 
been  but  little  addition  to  their  numbers  from  this  sec- 
tion. I  have  a  son,  son-in-law^  and  daughter  there. 
They  joined  them  about  four  or  five  months  since.  My 
son,  after  he  had  been  there  about  four  or  five  weeks, 
came  home  and  said  Noyes  had  had  criminal  connec- 


APPENDIX.  429 

tion  with  my  daughter,  and  my  son-in-law  with  Mrs.  M, 
E.  Cragin,  and  that  they  were  all  guilty  of  lewdness 
and  other  obscenity  ;  and  said  he  would  stay  there  no 
longer,  and  was  a  good  deal  excited.  He  is  a  young 
man  about  26  years  of  age  and  was  single.  He  said 
he  would  go  back,  get  his  clothes  and  leave  them  for- 
ever ;  and  went  as  he  said  for  that  purpose,  and  I 
have  not  seen  him  since.  The  next  I  heard  from  him 
was  that  he  had  married  a  Miss  D.  .  .  .  My  son  also 
said  that  they  believed  in  promiscuous  intercourse  of  the 
sexes  and  practiced  accordingly.  I  think  he  was  over 
persuaded  to  stay  there.  At  the  time  my  son  was  at 
home  he  said  he  would  testify  to  w^hat  he  said,  and  I 
intended  to  prosecute  them,  but  nothing  has  been  done. 
Their  doctrine  does  not  meet  with  much  favor  here. 
There  have  been  some  threats  made  against  them,  but 
what  will  be  done  I  do  not  know." 

The  course  pursued  with  the  young  man  mentioned  in 
the  foregoing  extract  is  in  perfect  keeping  with  Perfec- 
tionist policy,  and  probably  has  some  correspondence 
with  a  case  which  occurred  in  Putney  just  before  the 
Community  was  broken  up.  A  person  broke  away  and 
stated  some  facts  about  the  management  in  the  Com- 
munity ;  and  Noyes  immediately  "  tooh  him  hy  the 
horns"  and  he  was  compelled  to  "  knock  under." 

Mr.  Noyes,  before  he  was  arrested  at  Putney  in  the 
fall  of  1847,  was  making  inroads  into  families  there, 
very  much  after  the  manner  of  the  case  of  the  injured 
and  afflicted  man  which  we  have  just  given.  With 
these  facts  before  them  we  can  hardly  see  how  the  peo- 
ple in  the  vicinity  of  Oneida  Reserve  can  avoid  coming 
to  the  conclusion  —  to  which  we  understand  some  have 


430  APPENDIX. 

already  arrived —  that  the  Noyesites  there  are  a  "  lib- 
ertine herd  "  / 

We  are  informed  by  a  person  residing  in  New  York, 
that  "  a  man  by  the  name  of  Abram  C.  Smith  at 
Kingston,  N.  Y.,  a  few  years  ago  took  Mrs.  M.  E. 
Cragin  to  be  his  wife  and  lived  with  her  "  as  such ! 
This  same  Mrs.  Cragin  was  one  of  the  most  forward 
females  in  the  Putney  Community  ! 

Let  us  here  concentrate  a  few  facts  in  relation  to 
Noyes's  conduct  at  Putney.  In  the  case  of  Mrs.  Har- 
riet A.  Hall,  on  whom  Noyes  pretended  to  work  a  great 
miracle,  there  is  not  a  shadow  of  doubt  as  to  his  guilt ! 
Mrs.  Hall  acknowledged  this  herself  !  In  the  cases  of 
Mrs.  Leonard  and  Mrs.  Campbell,  set  up  in  the  indict- 
ment against  Noyes,  there  is  no  doubt — for  he  abscond- 
ed and  forfeited  his  bonds,  which  no  innocent  person 
would  have  done  —  and  the  evidence  was  clear  in  these 
cases.  Moreover,  there  were  two  young  ladies,  belong- 
ing to  the  same  family,  drawn  in  and  ruined  by  Noyes.* 
An  action  was  brought  against  him  for  damages  by  the 
father  of  those  young  ladies,  and  several  hundred  dol- 
lars wei?e  paid  to  settle  the  matter  —  this  never  would 
have  been  the  case,  if  he  had  been  innocent  of  the 
charges  alleged  against  him.  A  sister  of  the  young 
ladies  alluded  to,  was  so  deeply  afflicted  in  view  of  the 
disgrace  which  the  conduct  of  Noyes  had  brought  upon 
the  family,  that  it  produced,  as  she  said  she  believed 
upon  her  dying  bed,  the  disease  that  terminated  her 

*Out  of  respect  to  the  feelings  of  the  friends  of  these  yoting  ladies 
we  withhold  their  names. 


APPENMX.  431 

life  ;  and  her  attending  physici^  gave  it  as  his  opinion 
that  her  disease  was  so  produced  ! 

The  cases  which  we  have  cited  have  come  to  lighto 

If  the  truth  was  known,  probably  many  more  might  be 

a-dded  to  the  hst ;  but  to  exhibit  the  heinousness  of  his 

crimes  we  need  but  to 

"  Take  one  example,  one  of  female  wo. 

Loved  by  a  father  and  a  mother's  love, 

In  rural  peace  she  lived,  so  fair,  so  light 

Of  heart,  so  good,  and  young,  that  reason,  scarce 

The  eye  could  credit,  but  would  doubt,  as  she 

Did  stoop  to  pull  the  lily  or  the  rose 

Prom  morning's  dew,  if  it  reality 

Of  flesh  and  blood,  or  holy  vision,  saw. 

In  imagery  of  perfect  womanhood. 

But  short  her  bloom,  her  happiness  was  short. 

One  saw  her  loveliness,  and  with  desire 

Unhallowed,  burning,  to  her  ear  addressed 

Dishonest  words. 

With  turbid  phrase,  well  wove  in  flattery's  loom, 
He  on  her  womanish  nature  won,  aad  age 

Suspicionless,  and  ruined, 

Tor  he  a  chosen  villain  was  at  heart, 
And  capable  of  deeds  that  durst  not  seek 
Eepentance." 

The  crimes  of  Mr.  N.  are  State  prison  offences,  but 
he  fled  ;  and  although  his  bonds  were  forfeited,  yet  the 
demands  of  the  law  have  not  been  answered  ;  and  he 
can  now  be  viewed  in  no  other  light  than  a  fugitive 
from  justice. 

But  Mr.  Noyes,  not  content  with  spreading  his  hcen- 
tions  doctrines  with  all  their  revolting  consequences, 
upon  earth,  would  carry  them  within  the  precincts  of 


432  APPENDIX. 

the  holy  city !  A  colTespondent  whose  veracity  is  un- 
doubted, says : — ■ 

"  John  H.  Noyes  once  said  to  me  tJiat  he  believed 
heaven  to  be  a  place  of  greater  sensuality  than  was 
fjenerally  believed  "  /  /  / 

The  ruinous  consequences  of  such  heaven-daring  and 
utterly  outrageous  doctrines  can  hardly  be  conceived  ! 
The  hearts  of  the  young,  especially,  ^-e  grossly  cor- 
rupted by  contact  with  such  revolting  sentiments.  And 
Mr.  Noyes  is  laboring  to  palm  them  off  under  the  name 
of  reUgion  !  !     What  impious  blasphemy  I 

We  close  this  volume  in  the  forcible  language  of  !■ 
modem  writer : 

"  Vice,  unknown,  and  therefore  unappreciated,  deals 
its  deadly  blows  under  Mie  deceptive  influence  of  '  a 
fitrony  delimon.''  An  enemy  fighting  under  appropri- 
ate banners  is  not  so  dangerous  as  the  pirate  that  roams 
the  high  seas  for  blood  and  plunder,  under  false  colors. 
The  rattle-snake  that  gives  warning  of  its  approach  is 
not  so  much  to  be  dreaded  as  the  deadly  reptile  that 
steals  u}>on  you  unobserved,  and  fasten  its  fangs  of 
death  when  least  suspected.  .... 

''•  New  revelations  have  been  oozing  up  from  beneath. 
A  religion  of  unrestricted  liberty  —  a  licentiousness 
without  law — must  now  be  enjoyed,  that  the  passions 
m.^  appetites,  propensities  and  lusts,  of  this  degenerate 
age  may  be  developed  in  the  many  practical  bumps  of 
society.  A  wild  and  furious  passion  for  blood-thirsting 
is  fostered ;  and  it  is  mournful  to  contemplate  the 
amount  of  immoi'tal  mind  that  by  this  depraved  sensi- 
'biUty  is  drifting  down  the  infernal  '  gulf  streamj'  t©  re- 
turn no  more  !" 


THE  END, 


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