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about the year 1800. The interest of the clergy in objects 

 of this kind is even indicated in the lines of Goldsmith : 



" Near yonder copse, where once the garden smiled, 

 And still where many a garden flower grows wild, 

 There, where a few torn shrubs the place disclose, 

 The village preacher's modest mansion rose." 



Mr. A. C. Goodell followed, taking the general ground 

 that it was a rare instance where a man had gained so ex- 

 tensive a reputation upon so small an amount of genuine 

 merit, as Cotton Mather had succeeded in doing. He was 

 of the opinion that Mather strove to obtain a name among 

 men, and continued his remarks to some length, citing facts 

 to prove this position, (and alluding to Mather's connection 

 with the witchcraft delusion of 1692,) not offering them, 

 however, as of general application to the clergy, from the 

 fact of Mather's connection with the Ministry, although it 

 might be remembered that not only was Goldsmith's preacher, 

 who had been quoted, devoted to the beautiful in nature, but 



" Far other aims, his heart had learned to prize, 

 More skilled to raise the wretched than to rise." 



Some little discussion followed, Mr. Beaman remarking 

 that, while it was quite likely Mather may have committed 

 some errors, we cannot rob him of his reputation, although 

 we can excuse his faults when we consider the state of society 

 of that period. Give him his due, he said ; let us honor 

 those who were the early pioneers, so far as we can. 



The Chair said that witchcraft was recognized by our 

 laws as a crime, and was tried and punished as a crime by 

 our Courts. It was recognized throughout the world ; and, 

 under these circumstances, it, at least, was not just to hold 

 Mather accountable for that generally diffused sentiment, 

 though he might be one of its victims. He had an agency, 

 no doubt in carrying forward these prosecutions, as he was 

 a leading person in his day. 



