Vermont Telegraph

From the Journal of Reform,

Frailty of A Clergyman.—The following lamentable statement of frailty in a minister, is extracted from a Pawtucket R. I. paper.

Every person in this vicinity is aware that Elder Potter, sent a singular letter lately to his church, containing an acknowledgement that he has held illicit intercourse with a church sister, and that she will bring into existence living proof of her shame and his guilt. Such is the melancholy fact, and if a strong sense of duty did not compel us to mention it, we would pass it over in silence. We have entertained hitherto, a favorable opinion of him as a Christian; and from a long acquaintance in business, we felt confident that he was a generous and honest man. Deeply do we feel aggrieved that he has forfeited our esteem and confidence, by the commission of a deed, so fatal to his own character, so destructive to the happiness of his victim, and so disgraceful to the community.

We are so painfully impressed by the exhibition of deep depravity in the man we once highly esteemed, that we had concluded not to introduce the sickening subject into our columns—even now as we write a few remarks, deep sorrow for frail, unworthy human nature, gathers like disease around our heart, and almost stops its pulsations.

Our citizens may well shudder at this piece of intelligence, for this is the second offence perpetrated by a clergyman in our village in a few months—and when the story is told in other places, for the honor of Pawtucket be it remembered, that both the offenders had to flee before the indignation of her justly excited citizens.