detained the assembly, and told them that it was a matter of the deepest sorrow, but that I was going to quit the assembly: I felt it impossible to enter into details. It would have been a string of miserable facts, the public ones of which have been detailed here, and practically an accusation of others. I therefore refrained from them entirely, and only stated the principles on which I went:—that I felt God was practically displaced; and more particularly, that there was a subversion of the principles on which we met. That there was evil and unrighteousness unconfessed and unjudged: and, as a collateral point, that the Friday meeting, which was a means of enquiry and service, had been suppressed, and refused to be restored, so that the remedy for much was taken away. I then left the assembly.
Mr. Harris returned that week or the next, and, having communicated the day to Messrs. Saunders and Rowe, gave on Friday his reasons for declining ministering any more. I had had no communication with him. Messrs. S. and R. had told him that they should gather the brethren to see what was to be done about his leaving. Accordingly, at the close of his address on Friday, Mr. Rowe proposed their meeting on Monday to see if any thing could be done or what… Mr. Saunders got up and said it would be well at the same time if I was called upon to say why I left. I was not present, being no longer of Ebrington Street. It was communicated to me afterwards. Accordingly, on Monday, after they had spoken of Mr. Harris, and prayed without any definite proposal or result, I was sent for to give an account to the brethren why I had left. Every engine had been meanwhile set in motion to hinder any coming. It was called a sin to go because it was not called by the authorities in the Church. The sisters held meetings in their districts for the purpose. It was denounced as “an electioneering meeting,” &c. about two or three hundred however assembled there. I stated my reasons, and, I can humbly say, with the presence of the Lord and in grace towards all ; so that I know one very dear brother still in Ebrington Street went to Mr. Soltau and told him
