| Citation |
PG-P.730.034
16-23 Apr 1730:31,32,41 (75)
Sir, I know well that the age in which we live, abounds in
Spinosists, Hobbists, and most impious Free-thinkers, who
despise revelation, and treat the most sacred truths with
ridicule and contempt. Nay, to such an height of iniquity
are they arrived, that they not only deny the existence of
the devil, and of spirits in general, but would also
persuade the world, that the story of Saul and the Witch of
Endor is an imposture; and which is still worse, that no
credit is to be given to the so well-attested one of the
Drummer of Tedsworth. . . [15 lines, used to agree with
these gentlemen, until I heard a most amazing account from]
a Reverend Gentleman, of a certain house's being haunted
with the D--l of a drummer, not a whit less obstreperous,
than the Tedsworthian tympanist: This gentleman, whose
veracity few people presume to call in question, told me,
that he was not long since obliged to meet some of his
brethren, at a certain town about fifteen miles below
Philadelphia, in order to settle some affairs of the church.
. . [7 lines. They] were no sooner warm in their bed, than
they heard a drum beating very loud, now on the one side of
their bed, then on the other, and in a moment after on the
teaster; that sometimes they distinctly heard the Scots
Travaller, and at other times the Grenadiers March; that
the noise continued all night, frighted them almost to
death, and yet, which is the most surprising and
unaccountable part of the relation, disturbed no mortal in
the house save themselves; that early in the morning they
went into the next room, where they found two of their
brethren sleeping soundly; that they were amazed to find
them so fast asleep after such a terrible night; that having
awakened them, they asked whether they had not been
disturbed with the noise of the drum? that they replied,
they had rested well, and were surprized to hear them ask
such a question, and hinted that they believed them to be
out of their senses. . . [65 lines, discussing the
experience and whether it was the work of the devil.]
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