54 WINTER SKETCHES. 



own heart, but the former has a history for the 

 public. Within its walls was blown the first 

 bugle note of actual war between orthodoxy 

 and Unitarianism, in i8ii. There was open 

 mutiny, and an attempt to eject by force from 

 his pulpit the minister who represented the 

 Trinitarian creed. Then came a division, but 

 the bitter animosity engendered by this re- 

 ligious strife lasted throughout our childhood 

 and youth, enforcing a strict taboo upon the 

 social intercourse of families, throwing a wet 

 blanket over our juvenile spirits, and encour- 

 aging no little spiritual pride among us ortho- 

 dox children, who pitied the Unitarian boys 

 and girls because they were sure to be damned, 

 while we could not but envy them for their 

 better opportunities of enjoying the present 

 life. 



What a commentary it all was upon faith 

 and works ! Wilcox kept the tavern opposite, 

 where on Sundays, before and after meeting, 

 he dispensed rum to his fellow church mem- 

 bers. He was a good man because he believed 

 in the doctrines of the Assembly's Catechism. 

 If he had denied them, and, conscientiously 

 closing his bar-room on Sundays, had still led 

 his otherwise exemplary life, he v/ould have 



