Conventicle

Though I doubt not (how much soever knaves may abuse fools with words for a time) but there will come a day, in which the most active Papists will be found under the Puritan mask; in which it will appear, that the conventicle has been the Jesuits safest kennel, and the Papists themselves, as well as the fanatics, have been managers of all those monstrous outcries against popery, to the ruin of those Protestants whom they most hate, and whom alone they fear. ❋ 1634-1716 (1823)

About the time that these events were taking place in and around Black's cottage, bands of armed men with women and even children were hastening towards the same locality to attend the great "conventicle," for which the preparations already described were being made. ❋ Unknown (1859)

Morton, half speaking to himself; “here is a poor peaceable fellow, whose only motive for joining the conventicle was a sense of filial piety, and he is chained up like a thief or murderer, and likely to die the death of one, but without the privilege of a formal trial, which our laws indulge to the worst malefactor! ❋ Unknown (2004)

"It is most infamous and intolerable oppression!" said Morton, half speaking to himself; "here is a poor peaceable fellow, whose only motive for joining the conventicle was a sense of filial piety, and he is chained up like a thief or murderer, and likely to die the death of one, but without the privilege of a formal trial, which our laws indulge to the worst malefactor! ❋ Walter Scott (1801)

"conventicle" in the hope of securing her fortune for themselves. ❋ Unknown (1910)

"conventicle," or what not, so long as you feel that you are _something_ with a life and purpose of its own, in this tangle of a world. ' ❋ Humphry Ward (1885)

I crossed over no conventicle, nor did I meet with ill tidings. ❋ Unknown (2010)

Holland was not even certain what a conventicle was, but he thought it had to do either with the promises or the premises of Dissenters. ❋ Rose Melikan (2010)

Although some historians have treated Agrippa as an influence on the early penetration of Protestant ideas into Geneva, at that early date he and his friends in all three cities were essentially reform-minded humanists inspired by Erasmus and Lefèvre, not a proto-Protestant conventicle. ❋ Unknown (2009)

Methought they were gay, if I may judge from some faint sounds of mirth and distant music, which found their way so far as these grated windows, and died when they entered them, as all that is mirthful must — But thou lookest as sad as if thou hadst come from a conventicle of the ❋ Unknown (2008)

To startle thus betimes at a mere unlicensed pamphlet will after a while be afraid of every conventicle, and a while after will make a conventicle of every Christian meeting. ❋ Unknown (2007)

Scully, deserted those principles in which he had been bred and christened; deserted that church which he had frequented, for he could not bear to see Sir George and my Lady flaunting in their grand pew; — deserted, I say, the church, adopted the conventicle, and became one of the most zealous and eloquent supporters that Freedom has known in our time. ❋ Unknown (2006)

Would you have conventicle hymns twanging from every lane in every city in the world? ❋ Unknown (2006)

As the personal attacks that plague her broaden into a threat that endangers her family, the press, and the conventicle, Jollande must decide how much she is willing to sacrifice for her art. ❋ Miss Snark (2006)