of conscience. Von Poseck’s was an interesting story. He came of a noble Pomeranian family, and as a young man suffered imprisonment for a refusal to serve in the Prussian army. From prison he addressed to the King an appeal based on the principle of religious toleration. The King, it is said, directed the prisoner to forward to him such publications as would explain the religious principles on which the refusal to bear arms was based. Von Poseck accordingly sent a selection from the literature of the Plymouth Brethren. It is not likely that the Government attempted to master this theology, but a glance at it would show that the prisoner was harmless. He was liberated by the King, on the condition that he should leave the country. This brought him to England, where he exercised his ministry for many years among the Brethren, and was justly esteemed as an interesting and original preacher. Some time after his secession he returned to his allegiance, I believe under Darby’s personal influence. In his later years he became a strenuous supporter of Mr. Kelly’s cause.[1]
The seceders had occasion to count the cost. Probably scarcely one of their former friends would betray any consciousness of their existence again. It is truly pathetic to catch glimpses of them in their old age, inured to total neglect, or profoundly affected by a friendly message from some old friend less illiberal than the rest.
The cause they had forsaken stood badly in need of any help that terrorism could lend it. Secret misgiving was widely spread. One of “the Nine,”[2] to my knowledge, was never quite at ease about the exculpation of
