reate new organic
social distinctions in this country, but solely to disencumber those
that are inseparable from the existence of all civilized society, of the
clumsy machinery with which the expedients of military oppressors had
invested them. The real sages of this country, in founding its
institutions, no more thought of getting rid of the landlords of the
country, than the Church thought of getting rid of its bishops. The
first knew that the gradations of property were an inevitable incident
of civilization; that it would not be wise, if it were possible, to
prevent the affluent from making large investments in the soil; and that
this could not be done in practice, without leaving the relation of
landlord and tenant. Because landlords, in other parts of the world,
possessed privileges that were not necessary to the natural or simple
existence of the character, was no reason for destroying the character
itself; any more than the fact that the bishops of England possess an
authority the apostles knew nothing of, rendered it proper for the
American branch of the church to do away with an office that came from
the apostles. But, envy and jealousy do not pause to reflect on such
things; it is enough for _them_, in the one case that you and yours
have estates, and occupy social positions, that I and mine do not, and
cannot easily, occupy and possess; _therefore_ I will oppose you, and
join my voice to the cry of those who wish to get their farms for
nothing; and in the other, that you have bishops when we can have none,
without abandoning our present organization and doctrines.

I dwell on these points at some little length, because the movements of
Mr. Warren and myself, at that moment, had a direct influence on the
circumstances that will soon be related. It is probable that fully
one-half of those collected in the Little Nest meeting-house, that
morning, as they stood up, and lent a sort of one-sided and listless
attention to the prayer, were thinking of the scandalous and
aristocratical conduct of Mr. Warren, in "goin' out o' meetin' just as
meetin' went to prayers!" Few, indeed, were they who would be likely to
ascribe any charitable motive for the act; and probably not one of those
present thought of the true and conscientious feeling that had induced
it. So the world wags! It is certain that a malignant and bitter feeling
was got up against the worthy rector on that occasion, and for that act,
which has not yet aba