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nection in Philadelphia, for a season, appearances were flattering, and his mind seemed to resume its usual force and activity; but, owing partly to the secular and partly to the spiritual concerns of that church and congregation, a separation between him and that people was effected. In addition to this painful trial, far from his former friends and among strangers, the wife of his bosom was pining away with a consumption, and he was attacked with a sickness which for some time deprived him of reason, and rendered his recovery doubtful. Of this sickness, however, he so far recovered as to attend to some trifling business; but his mind never returned to its former sanity. In this trying situation his companion died, which seemed to complete his wretchedness. This was the third time, in his pilgrimage of sorrow and grief, that he was called to part with a wife tenderly beloved, and to see his young and inexperienced offspring motherless. He sunk under the load of grief! And that mind which used to soar to the celestial mansions of light, was lost, even to itself; a fixed insanity took place, which was the means of terminating the natural life of a brother, whose memory we have infinite reason for holding precious to our hearts."

SECTION XXI.-MR. B. IS INVITED TO SALEM.

In the spring of 1814, the Rev. Edward Turner removed from Salem to Charlestown, Massachusetts, and thus the society in Salem was left destitute of a pastor. The thoughts of its leading members were at once turned to Mr. Ballou, and the question was agitated, Will it be possible to obtain his removal? There had been, on the part of a few members of the society at Portsmouth, some dissatisfaction with Mr. Ballou, solely on the ground of political considerations; but a majority were decidedly attached to him. At a parish meeting in June, 1813, the customary salary of eight hundred dollars was voted

to him, whereupon three of the prominent members entered a protest against their being called on, in any way, to make up this sum. The society refused to enter this protest upon the records, and the three individuals referred to, with perhaps one or two others, withdrew from the society. The large body of the parishioners, embracing members of both political parties, still remained attached to Mr. Ballou; the same salary was voted him as heretofore, and would probably have been increased, if it had been necessary, to secure his services. He remained at Portsmouth until the spring of 1815, when it was whispered that he had received an urgent invitation to remove to Salem. The wardens of the society at P. immediately waited upon him, and tendered to him again the customary salary, with the assurance that it was the sincere desire of the people of his charge that he should continue among them. A special committee was appointed to wait on him, and urge him not to entertain the thought of a removal, and the wardens were subsequently sent again on a similar errand; but he signified that he felt it his duty to accept the proffered invitation. Not disheartened, the society appointed still another committee for the following purpose, to wit:

"To confer with the Salem society and Mr. Ballou, and see if some honorable arrangement cannot be made for the purpose of retaining him in his present situation; and that the committee be authorized to state to Mr. Ballou, that in case he continues with us he shall receive the same compensation for his services that he is now offered by the Salem society, provided it shall not exceed nine hundred dollars."

A correspondence took place, at the same time, with the society in Salem, and there was a further conference with Mr. Ballou; but, all efforts proving unavailing, the society voted, June 19, 1815, to grant him a dismission, and to express to him their love and fellowship. Thus terminated the residence of Mr. Ballou in Portsmouth.

CHAPTER VIII.

MR. BALLOU'S MINISTRY IN SALEM, MASSACHUSETTS, AND OTHER LABORS DURING HIS RESIDENCE THERE.

SECTION I.-MR. BALLOU REMOVES TO SALEM.

WE intimated, at the conclusion of the last chapter, that the society in Portsmouth appointed a committee to confer with the society in Salem and with Mr. Ballou, for the purpose of seeing if some honorable arrangement could not be made, satisfactory to all parties, the effect of which should be to induce him to remain at Portsmouth. The following are the letters which passed between the two societies:

"Portsmouth, June 5th, 1815.

"To the Wardens or other Officers who may represent the Universalist Society in Salem.

"GENTLEMEN: The undersigned, being a committee this day chosen by the Universalist society in this place, for the express purpose of conferring with your society on the subject of your late communications with our much-esteemed pastor, and to see if some honorable arrangement could not be made in order to retain him with us, beg leave respectfully to represent to you, and through you to your parish at large, that the society which we have the honor to represent had no intention of relinquishing their pastor; although, from some unfortunate circumstances,

they never have been, till this day, furnished with the official documents, to enable them to act understandingly and decidedly on the subject.

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"As this assertion may appear to you a paradox, it may be necessary to make known to you all the circumstances relative to the subject in question. It will appear, from the copy of the proceedings of this society which accompanies this letter, that the first intimation of this matter was received in a communication from Mr. Ballou, at the adjournment of their annual meeting on the 22d ultimo, stating that he had received a call from the Universalist society in Salem, to devote his services in future to the ministry in that town, and wishing to know the result of our deliberations, in order to assist him in giving an answer. This communication they thought not sufficiently explicit to act understandingly upon, and therefore appointed a committee to wait on and confer with Mr. Ballou, in order to obtain from him what his views, expectations or wishes, were with regard to this society, and whether he expected an increase of salary, and what sum, in order to enable him to remain with us. The society also (as their annual custom is) authorized the wardens to offer him the usual salary for the year ensuing, and to report at the adjournment. The meeting was then adjourned to Monday morning, the 29th ult., and the wardens waited on him forthwith, but were not able to obtain a decisive answer, on account of his not having received a final communication from you. In the course of the week, however, it was understood he had received it, and on the morning of the adjournment two of the wardens waited on him, and the result of their deliberations was, that he thought it a duty he owed to his family, to accept of the invitation from Salem, unless we thought ourselves able to offer him a salary equal to his expectations from that place. This communication, we presume, Mr. Ballou thought was made to the meeting forthwith on that day, which was not the case; for, before the wardens had time to make such communication, the society, not having received any report on the subject, had got through the business of the meeting, and passed a vote requesting the wardens again to wait on Mr. Ballou, and see if he finally accepted their offer; they then adjourned

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