ce of Mr. Smith, and the injustice
of his condemnation.
_Persecutions of the Wesleyan Methodists in St. Domingo._
We extract from the publications of the Wesleyan Missionary Society, the
following account of the aggressions committed upon the Protestant
population of Hayti, by the Roman Catholics of that Island, during the
year 1824.
_Persecutions at Port au Prince._
The following extracts from the journal of Mr. St. Denis, and letters of
Mr. Pressoir, members of the Methodist Society at Port au Prince, we
copied from the Wesleyan Magazine. The first extracts are from the
journal of Mr. St. Denis.
On Sunday, Feb. 2d, our assembly was held at Belair. During the morning
service several stones were thrown.
_Feb. 4._ Whilst we were singing, a shower of stones was thrown, but no
one received any injury.
That evening (Feb. 7th) we had a small assembly of thirty-two persons. A
plan had been laid for apprehending us, which was put in execution. We
had time to sing a hymn, read a chapter, and a homily; but whilst
singing the second hymn, the noise of the soldiers was so great in
approaching our house of prayer, that we were obliged to cease singing.
Wishing, however, to continue our meeting, an officer of the police
said, "In the name of the law, leave off that prayer!" Then we left off.
Not finding J. C. Pressoir, they made me his second. We were taken to
general Thomas's, who pretended to be ignorant of the matter. Colonel
Victor pretended to be ignorant also. When we reached the house of the
_Juge de Paix_, we were ordered to halt for a moment. Colonel Victor
knocked at his door, the _Juge de Paix_ asked who we were, and was
answered, "A band of methodists." The _Juge de Paix_ said, "Ha! ha! take
them to the jail!" Col. Victor replied, "Yes!" We were led to prison,
and each of our names was taken. The sisters were put in the debtor's
place, and the men were shut up in close confinement.
The next morning, the person who keeps the keys of the prison under the
jailer told us, that the Juge de Paix would not allow our door to be
opened; but the jailer went and spoke respecting it, and our door was
opened about nine o'clock. A moment after the Juge de Paix came to visit
us, and addressing himself to me in anger, I wished to reply: he would
not listen to me; but began to blaspheme religion, despising the Lord.
He withdrew in anger, without being able to do any thing with us. A
moment after he left us, we were
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