and worthy abettors of the reformed
church of Geneva, and citizens of that free republic, assembled at the
house of meeting, and vociferated amidst other expressions of
hostility--we transcribe the words with shame and horror,--_A bas Jesus
Christ! A bas les Moraves! A mort, a la lanterne_, &c. and pursued the
obnoxious ministers as they came out, with similar cries. Neither did
they stop here: their valour and zeal, as is the case with all mobs,
became more impetuous as they were not resisted. "Our silence," says one
who was present, "in the midst of these insults, did not satisfy them:
we had to suffer menaces, maledictions; stoning through the streets, and
the violation of our houses." Had not the police exerted themselves to
suppress these disorders, the consequences would probably have been
still more fearful.

_Persecution in the Pays de Vaud._

In the month of December, 1823, a letter was addressed by three young
men, ministers of that canton, and subsequently signed by a few others,
to the council of state, intimating a determination to withdraw from the
established church, and requesting permission to constitute places of
worship independent of it. The cause assigned was, that the Helvetic
Confession had been virtually set aside, both by pastors and people; and
that the discipline of the church was annihilated. Their plan was to
preach according to that Confession, and to restore the discipline.

The petition to the council of state is dated Dec. 24, 1823. The
official answer bears date Jan. 15, 1824; and has all the formalities
with which the spirit of intolerance and persecution generally invests
itself, and is signed, Le Landamman en Charge, F. Clavel, Le Chandelier,
Boisot. In this instrument, the ministers and their friends are called
"Momiers;" and it is summarily decreed, that those who separate
themselves from the national church shall not be tolerated; that the
justices of the peace, &c. are specially charged instantly to dissolve
their meetings, and to report their proceedings to the council of state,
and every person who attends these prohibited assemblies, and who has
disobeyed the orders to leave them, and rendered it necessary to employ
force, shall be imprisoned three days, besides the possible infliction
of other pains and penalties; and that all persons whose measures shall
have tended to gain proselytes, shall be fined 600 livres, or imprisoned
two years; the same punishment to be awarded