orner Stone in their
Foundation?" He then explicitly states his abhorrence of "the
anti-Christian tenets of Popery," adding: "However on the other hand
they receive all the articles of the Athanasian Creed--and of
consequence in their present Constitution they have some Gold, Silver,
and precious stones as well as much wood, hay, and stubble." He
characterizes the accusation in this pithy paragraph: "Too much Charity
is the Charge here brought against me,--would to God I had still more of
it in ye most important sense. Instead of a Disqualification, it would
be a most enviable accomplishment in ye Pastor of a Protestant New
England Church." A sharp _argumentum ad hominem_, for the benefit of the
ultra-radical accuser closes this division of his defence. "But, Mr.
Moderator, if my charity toward some Roman Catholicks disqualified me
for a Protestant Minister, what, what must we think of ye honorable
Congress attending Mass in a Body in ye Roman Catholic Chappel at
Philadelphia? Must it not be equal mockery in them to pretend to
represent and act for the United Protestant States?" ...

The third charge was that he had declared himself and one of the
brethren to "be a major part of the Church." This, like the first
charge, was a revival of an old personal grievance within the church,
rehabilitated to give cumulative force to the political complaints. The
accusation is summarily disposed of; the accused condemning the
sentiment "as grossly Tyrannical, inconsistent with common sense and
repugnant to good order"; and denying that he ever uttered it.

Lastly came the political charge pure and simple.

"His despising contemning and setting at naught and speaking Evil of all
our Civil Rulers, Congress, Continental and Provincial, of all our
Courts, Legislative and Executive, are not only subversive of good
Order: But we apprehend come under Predicament of those spoken of in 2
Pet. II. 10, who despise government, presumptuous, selfwilled, they are
not afraid to speak evil of Dignities &c."

Mr. Harrington acknowledges that he once uttered to a Mr. North this
imprudent speech. "I disapprove abhor and detest the Results of Congress
whether Continental or Provincial," but adds that he "took the first
opportunity to inform Mr. North that I had respect only to two articles
in said Results." He apologizes for the speech, but at the same time
defends his criticism of the two articles as arbitrary measures. He also
confesses saying t