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    to be observed . ' * P . 83 , note . It is added , that in 1791 , custom had completely given up the catechism of Calvin , and sanctioned that of 1788 , and that as this law was the last which had been passed relative to this subject , it might alone suffice as an answer to all M . Gaussen ' s reasonings . We shall not follow the committee into the third head of their Report , entitled " Argumens tire ' s des Resultats , " for we regard the actual merits of the manual itself to be very much beside the question . We shall notice only the conclusion , which is to the effect , that it is absolutely necessary to

    maintain the authority of their body , which could only be done by adopting such resolutions as the following : 1 st , That the authorized catechism must be used by the children in the parish of Satigny , both in the schools and in the catechetical exercises in the church . 2 d , That M . Gaussen is , at the same time , invited to submit to the Venerable Company any proposals or observations which he may have to make , either on the existing catechism or on the means of improving the religious education of youth . 3 d , That M . Gaussen must withdraw his letters . P . 97 .

    These resolutions were adopted by a large majority ; but before we notice any further proceedings , we must mention that M . Gaussen , wishing to correct an inaccurate statement of the affair , which had appeared in one of the newspapers , writes a letter to his parishioners , giving his own version of it—upon which ninety members of his flock address a letter to the Company , expressing their ardent attachment to their pastor , and their deep concern at the chance of being deprived of him . On the 6 th of November , the secretary to the special committee communicated to M . Gaussen the determination to which the Company had come

    respecting him ; and , on the 12 th , he sent in his answer , in which , after saying that ho had at length discovered , what he professes that he had not before understood , namely , that the Company did not intend to restrict him in his instructions to the use of the catechism , but that they only required

    it to be repeated by the children , both at school and at church , he states his willingness again to introduce the obnoxious book a 3 a manual of instruction . He even gives thanks to God for putting so amicable a termination to the dispute ; but he at the same time positively refuses to withdraw his letters . With this the offended dignity of the Company was not satisfied ;

    and they made another communication to him , to the effect that they regarded the three articles of their decree as forming a whole , and that they could not accept a partial submission . To this M . Gaussen replied , naturally enough , that the withdrawing of his letters would be regarded by the world as a retractation of his principles , and that he must persist in his refusal . Unwilling to proceed to extremities , the Company gave him the opportunity of reconsidering his answer ; they added to their committee a

    particular friend of his ; and it was not till after they had waited with patience , and tried in vain the influence of private friendship as well as of public authority , that they considered his determination as final , and pro-

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    The Pastors of Geneva and M , Gaussen . 613

• Citation
  • Monthly Repository (1806-1838) and Unitarian Chronicle (1832-1833), Sept. 2, 1831, page 613, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse-os.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/mruc/issues/vm2-ncseproduct2601/page/37/