the centre of her operations; and female prayermeetings were held there on any, and sometimes every, day and evening of the week. These meetings were numerously attended; but notwithstanding the spirit in which they originated, and the unpromising Christian character of the lady-principal, they are, nevertheless, believed to have been productive of lasting good upon the minds of some of those who mingled in, and participated with them. If such was the fact, there is cause of gratitude to that Being who is able to overrule all things for good. "Notwithstanding every way," says Paul to the Philippians," whether in pretence or in truth, Christ is preached; and therein I do rejoice, yea, and will rejoice." And here it must be noted, that among the ladies most earnestly engaged in those meetings was the late Mrs. Sarah Pierson, the wife of the late Elijah Pierson.

Having removed to the lower part of the city, and connected himself with the congregation of the Garden-street church, Mr. Folger became a convert to Christianity in 1827, under the preaching of the Rev. Dr. Matthews, and attached himself to his church, of which he proved himself an intelligent, active, and exemplary member. In 1829, he was one of those who projected and established the Dey-street church, and one of the four who united in calling the Rev. Joel Parker from Rochester to the pastoral charge of that congregation. But it will presently be seen that he did not remain in that connection.

Some time previous to the year 1829, Mrs. ***

had removed to the Bowery Hill, which has recently been dug down, but upon which, at that period, stood a range of houses, isolated as it were from the city, pleasantly situated, and deeply imbosomed in an almost continuous grove of ornamental trees and shrubbery. It was a sweet sylvan retreat from the city, and in all respects a desirable place of residence, especially for the summer. Mr. Folger had made arrangements for permanently residing in the lower part of the city; but the continued intimacy of Mrs. *** having increased her influence, until at length it had become paramount in his domestic as well as religious affairs, he was induced to change his plans. It was the strong desire of this lady that he should remove to the Bowery Hill; and having been taught by the Spirit that it was his duty to do so, she succeeded in persuading him into the measure. only that, but she was also taught by the Spirit that it was his duty to sell his fashionable furniture, and substitute therefor merely the plainest articles of necessity with all of which requirements of "the Spirit" he complied, and removed accordingly. Mr. Pierson also resided at Bowery Hill at the same time, and several other families and individuals in that portion of the city, who were disciples and followers of Mrs. ***.

Not

It was here, and in the same year, that the celebrated "Retrenchment Society" was devised by Mrs. * * *, and organized under the influence of a tract which she wrote, and under her own immediate auspices. This event marks the next stage in the progress of the delusion under which, at a subse

E

quent period, so many persons became the victims of Matthews. The members were bound to abstain religiously from all costly articles of dress or furniture-to wear no ornaments or jewels-and to eat no cake, pastry, sweetmeats, or butter-to drink neither tea nor coffee—and, in short, to deny themselves all the luxuries and most of the comforts of life. In the list of the proscribed articles of furniture were, all articles made of mahogany or brass; all pictures, looking-glasses, carpets, curtains, sofas, or rich furniture of any description. tion to these inhibitions, they were three whole days in every week. was most rigidly enforced-even upon the tender pupils of a school taught by one of the ladies, who, it is said, were compelled to fast with her, until they would cry for hours after bread and water-until, in fact, in some instances, they were made sick by

their abstinence.

And in addito fast two or This last rule

Strange as it may appear, the infatuation which, in the present age, could lead to the formation of such a society of anchorites, was by no means confined to the small circle of visionary women in which it originated. It embraced at one time a considerable number of members. Some of them lived in fine houses in the most fashionable parts of the city. They sold their best and most fashionable and showy furniture; and a religious friend informs the writer, that he recollects seeing one of them-a very wealthy citizen, living in a splendid mansion worth at least twenty thousand dollars-at supper in his spacious parlour one evening, with nothing upon

the table but a decanter of cold water, a loaf of brown, and a few pieces of gingerbread, with three or four raw apples. This was the homely fare of an opulent member of the Retrenchment Society, who doubtless thought that he was doing God service-forgetting that consistency would have required him to exchange his palace for a cottage, and distribute all his goods, saving only enough for the purchase of his stinted fare, among the poor, or in aid of the kingdom of that Master whom he was no doubt sincerely desirous to serve. The delusion of the gentleman referred to has since taken a different and less inoffensive turn.

Such is a brief history of the "Retrenchment Society," of which, remembering the circumstances in which he stood, the almost total submission of his lady to the dictates of its founder, Mrs. ***, and the zeal with which she complied with all its requisitions, the reader will no doubt be surprised to learn that Mr. Folger was not a member.

CHAPTER III.

Characters of Mr. and Mrs. Elijah Pierson-Commencement of their Religious Enthusiasm-He conceives a project for Converting the City and the World-Convenes the Clergy-Remarkable visit to his Pastor-Adopts notions_at variance with his Church-Opinions against Renting Pews, &c. Separation from the Church and Removal to Bowery HillJoins Mrs. ***-Fruitless attempts to Reclaim him-Extravagant Proceedings-Communications with the SpiritCommences Preaching-Extracts from his Diary-Sickness of Mrs. Pierson-A Vision-Commissioned as Elijah the Tishbite-Anointing of Mrs. Pierson-Her Death-Solemn Scenes at her Funeral-Attempt to Raise her from the Dead by the Prayer of Faith-His Prayer-The Burial.

IT has already been stated, in the last chapter, that among the residents upon Bowery Hill, were the late Elijah Pierson and his family. Mr. Pierson was a native of Morristown, in New-Jersey. He passed through the several grades of apprentice and clerk in the city of New-York, much to the satisfaction of his employers, and was a highly-respected merchant for many years, enjoying the confidence and esteem of a large circle of acquaintance among business men. Amiable, intelligent, and pious, he was the devoted friend of religion and humanity; and few men spent more time and money in these objects, and in the cause of philanthropy, than he. He was originally a member of the Brick Presbyterian Church in Beekman-street, and subsequently