The spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1840-1844, 1841-05-28

there
In that early day in the history of Vermont
rarely meeting house was to be seen in the towns
about Colchester, and those few seen, Col. Alien
had (wi,hout any regard to creeds) most generous
ly contributed to erect, until in order TO build II
new Westinghouse any where in the neighboring
towns, the first thing to be done was to apply to
Col. Allen, and if he said SEQ ahead you shall
have house," no meter in what town, or what
society was 10 use it, the house went up at all
events.
Thus things stood when soon after dinner, one
pleasant afternoon in the month of May, rs the
Colonel was leading his hands from the house ihro'
the yard out into a distant field to labor, who
should ride up but Elder Aminidab Robinson, the
pious pastor of Calvin Baptist Church in neigh
boring town, The Elders horse was large but
very ank, and the Elder himself looked rather pale,
thin and sober. as if there some wants in his
mind or stomach which required immediate salts
faction. Col Allen thus addressed him.
"Ah, Elder, am glad to see you-you seem
little the worse for the wear of time How
is your good women and children? Get off and
lot my man take your horse to the barn; he looks
to me as if good oats and hay would no, offend
him."
81 thank you, Col. Allen" replied the Elder
" firstly, as to my wife and family, they are, by
divine favor, as well as usual; and, secondly,
came to see you, Col Allen, upon matters of i'm
portance as to the spiritual interests of my people.
We want to build house for Gods children, and
come for assistance to you; my church are few
and feeble"
"We, WE'LL" says Allen, "I mus, go into the
field with my hands; my man will take your horse
to the barn, where good hay and oats will he his
company, and you go directly into the house where
my wife will take good care Of you, and You must
make up your mind TO stay until morning, and
well settle the matter about the meeting house
after tea tonight"
The man took the horse to the barn, The Elder
went into the house to the great JOY of Mrs Allen,
and the Colonel with his hands to their labor in the
field. Mrs Allen supplied the good Elder with
abundance of choice nourishment for the body, and
he, her with ,hc most acceptable food for her hope,
and thus the afternoon passed At early eve The
Colonel returned with his fellow aborcrs, and af-
ter supper retired with the Elder into room by
themselves and talked over the meeting house bu-
sincss II was soon agreed that Elder Amindab
Robinson and his people should have meeting
house, and that Colonel Allen was to furnish $40
worth of glass and nails, pay $40 in cash, and as
he owned a timber lot and saw-mill in the Elders
town, to turn out his hands and team the next win
ter, help cut and haul the lumber to the mill for
frame and boards have them stuck up and sea-
soned that the house might be framed, raised and
finished in good season the coming spring and sum-
MGR. All Of which having been satisfactorily adj
nsted, about nine o'clock, the family were all as
sembled by request Of Mrs Allen to join in prayer
with the Elder, and soon after the Elder appeared
from the other room with Col. Allen, and made
very acceptable, long and prosaic prayer to all but
Col. Allen, his maxim heng "shorf prayers and
n I
iiong pulhngs,' iounded upon me 'ailh ,nat God
knows as much more "hat we reany SAND IN need
OIL man we 90 ourseVes'n MINNIE Is peiore hhie'
or mo mo,her more re-, ,hah her new norm paGe'
coon a''er' 'he I'ucr was SHOWN TO ms cnamoeI'
p", IN consequence Vi on u''uSea,'y Joi @omnc"'
anu 'he nsc'"lS ,'"y l's'o'S u. 'l,o "'" "',o.ns-
honSe' u'u no, 'a so qu'e,y mo .he arms o' MOT
Phe"s as usual occurred 10 we ,''er '" HIS
wnKe'u'hess curing ,he n,sh'' 'ha' u ,o'' Al'ohI
generous ana 'ihera' as nc "a'-hso nave uhi!eu
himse.' 10 one among Inc many OF inc ,hris"an
churches ana nnu gwen ,he srca. aggregate 10 ore
now sensib'y they mus, nave ieu mat great pless,
ing IL also, IN me mui,'noo OF h's IDEAS occurred
TO him mat might be MS any, IN conjunction WIN
Mrs h'lcn' to labor prayeriully WIN ,o. Ahcn' 10
join his church, and to open his contribution box
solely tor Their benefit. fui' OF these solemn re-
Elections, hearing some one s'irfng ABOUT inc mousse
ne rose IN season 10 JON Col Ai'eh IN we'co'n'hs
Inc ilrst signs from inc fnst oil approaching day
alter the usual sa'nta'ions OF good morning,
you rise carry ana SO no yo"' s"' ny way
OIL rep'v' &c. &C, 'he io"o"hg ulaos"e was COM
mcnced and carried through between men, IN
substance 1t is no hcucni II Is founded IN TACT, and
Is one OF Inc sources from whence 'Rg'd'Huae ana
pharisa,c 0igorn nave drawn ,ne'r 'hiercnces lha'
the patriot and ph,an'hropi'' Ethan Allen, was an
atheist and an ln'Idei.
Elder Robinson. Col. Allen, in view Of your
numerous donations to various Christian societies,
and the spiri, you have manifested, in opening
your house as the pilgrims tavern for the gratui-
ious relrcshmcnt Of he ministers of all denomna-
tons, and freely aiding in the building of temples
10 God, it has occurred TO me during my prayerfu
CONCENTRATIONS the past night, what great bless
ing YOU woud have been to one society, had you
in early life identified yourself with it, and COINED
your efforts TO that alone. God has made you his
steward over much, as trust for the benefit of his
people, and my prayers will ascend to the throne
of grace and mercy, that you may speedily be
brought TO feel this, nor in your time Of life
10 be yonr duty, and act accordingly