Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1860-08-10
uis,oricn, s<etcbes.-No. 40.

Preaching sustained by Iaw-IIow people
proved thai ihey supported the gospel
elsewhere --ImmnnueI Chnreii-Bapiist
aud other Socicties--P0st-Omcc aud POST
masters.
The inhabitants Of the territory now
called Vermont were, for many years, as
to their religious affairs, governed solely
by the regulations Of the places from whence
they came and such of the early settlers
as came here from Massachusetts and Con-
necticut we're Congregationalists, generally,
and they advocated the support of the gos-
pei by measures which were repulsiye to
other denominations. The first law rcgu-
lating the support of the gospel was
passed by the Vermont General Assembly,
Oct 10 1897 and this law bound the in
habitants of each town or parish TO be Of,
and to support the leading denomination, or
to show that they were Of different views,
and supported the gospel elsewhere. In
consequence Of this compulsory law, indi-
viduals were compelled to support, some
times, a minister whom they did not wish
to hear preach-and they could only be
relieved from such painful duty by placing
upon record certificate similar in form TO
the following -
al hereby certify that | differ in relig-
ious sentiment from the majority of the
people of this town." Levi Sabin.
Rockingham, Nov. 8, 1908.
Even after having thus publicly made
known their dissent and unwillingness to
support the leading denomination, by plac-
ing upon the town record their certificate
TO that effect, people were often annoyed by
the call for the minister tax" and some
times insulted and abused if they refused
to Support the gospel" but the unpopu-
lar law of 1887 was repealed in 1907, and
since that period all State laws regulating
the support of religious worship have been
done away, and each and every denomina-
ton has been sustained by the voluntary
contributions of its advocates and friends.
Emmanuel Church was formed at Bel
lows Falls village, as early as 1898; but
for several years the society held only oc-
casional meetings for public worship, avail,
ing itself of the services of passing cler.
gymen. For many years it received the
income, seventy dollars per annum, of the
/ rrIa lNn
propriated for the ministerial services Of
Rev. Daniel Barber, but sometimes of other
clergymen. About 1916, Mr.. Atkinson
gave the land now known as Church HILL
embracing all the ground from Pine woods
down to School street, and from the square
back to where the school house, now the
/ Catholic church, stands, as a site for church
and burying ground in Bellows Falls vii
| lage, and church was built and consecrat-
ed, Sept. "a, 1917. Rev. Carlton Chase
became rector, Sept. 10, 1919, the Rev.
George L. Chapman having oficiated pre-
viously to that time. In this church Rev.
Carlton Chase, when elected Bishop of
New Hampshire, was succeeded by Rev.
Mr.. Putnam, who, dying here. was sue,
ceeded by Rev. Joel Clap; and he having
resigned, the present minister, Rev. Andrew
Oliver, became rector.
In May, 1911, Rev. Joseph Elliot Of
Mason, New Hampshire, who had been an
ordained Elder in the Baptist Society al
Hinsdale, since 1909, was engaged to preacE
in Rockingham for one year. He came t.
this town highly recommended as person
of good moral and religious character, ant
as having faithfully performed the dutie
of gospel minister, both at IIinsdale anc
Chesterfield.
Rev. Elijah WALLACE preached at Rock
ingham for the Congregationalists, from
1918 to 1926 and the Rev. Samuel Ma
son, from Jan. 5, 1887, to August %, 1888
Since that period there has been only occa
sional meetings at the old meeting house
{ and it has only been kept in repair as
/ tohh houoC iut VIC tIdlSdCtloH VI lONl
business.
A Congregational church was formed a
Saxton's River village in 1886, over whicl
the Rev. Nelson Barbour was settled from
Nov Is, to Sept. II, 1889 and Rev
Samuel A. Benton succeeded Mr.. Barbou
in 1910.
There are now in this town, at Below
Falls, an Episcopalian, Methodist, Con
gregational, and a Baptist society and
meeting house at Cambridgeport and Rock
ingham, all which will be noticedin anothe
place.
In 1888, the governor and council o
Vermont establsheda weekly post between
Bennington and Albany; and in 1884, fiy
Post offices we're established within tn
: State, and Anthony HasweH of Benning
ton, was appointed Postmaster general
: Letters were carried by post-riders from
town to town, in saddle bags and pouche
made for the purpose. In 1871, the pos
offices in this State became a part Of tn
postal establishment of the United State:
, Vermont being admitted into the Unior
In 1900, Quartus Morgan, who kept th
tavern in the same building now occopie