The Conservative. (M'connelsville, Ohio) 1866-1871, 1868-08-13

The early records of the town of Will
mington, Vermont, contain the following
bit of history showing how the town set
tied a minister eighty odd years ago, at a
''sallery' of thirty pounds paid in labor;
WILMINGTON, April We %, 1881.
"Public Motifs is hereby given to the in
habitants Of this Town to meet al 1.-THE meet
ing house on wednesday the Ninth Day of
next at three o'clock afternoon to act
on the following articles viz first choose q
moderator to govern sd meeting-2ndly to
see If the town will state mi Packard's sal
nry or anything for a standard for the regu-
lation of his salary or anything more the
tow shall think Proppert TO act on Relative
TO thes settlement or support of mr. Packard
in this Place.
by order of the select men. NATHAN
Foster, Town Clerk"
"Record Of the proceedings of the meet
ing.
Wilmington may We 9Th, 1881 then met
according to warning and chose mi Jesse
cook moderator of sd meeting-then voted
that the sallery voted TO mr. winslow Pack
ard Last august shall be made as good as
money wos i'm the year one thousand seven
hundred and seventy FOURTEEN voted that
mr. Packards s%allery shall Begin when he
gives his answer to stay with us-then
voted to add five Pound n year for three
year to the Rise of mr. Packards sallery af-
ter the first years sallery is Paid II he will
take his Pay in work Of any man That has
a mind 10 Pay i'm work ut the ommon
Price of work then voted TO Dissolve this
meeting.
"NIr. Packard's Answer.
"WnMNGroN, May We 81, 1871.
Kind and Beloved Friends:
"The invitation which You was pleased
TO give me last August to settle with You
in the work OF the Gospel ministry, and
the discournging ns well NJ encouraging
circumstances with which Il has been and
Is yet attended, has all from time TO time
been weight upon my mind, and sometimes
almost distracted my thoughts. My duty
for u long time has hung in doubt, and |
have been perpleXed TO know what to do.
| have, l trust sincerely desired that my
duty in this important affair might he made
plain: and that might he cheerfully dis
posed to do the same; and for this | have
endeavorcd sincerely Go spread my case
before God and look 10 him tor light and
direction. / have underworld carefully to
observe all Providence that appeared -
both IN favor aud against 1t. ] have
consulted both ministers and friends
i'm order to obtain their best advice; and
frOua all the light ! can obtain, | cannot see
il to be- my duty wholly TO deny you; mel
Their can I see IA IL is my duty 30 accept of
your invitation without any exceptions. !
have, therefore, concluded 10 accept of
your call upon conditions: A ministerial
right shall be laid out by the proprietors at
their next meeting, and upon conditions
the right is as good as any impartial man
shall think 1t ought TO be, and upon con-
ditions there shall Cprsvious 10 my ordina-
tom be proaured a settling lot which shall
be agreeable to my mind-and likewise
upon condition / fully understand your
proposals for my support among you;
whic are | understand them as follow, viz:
that YOU agree to give me for my salary
thirty pound lawful money Tor the first
year-iorty We second-hlty ye third-siXty
We fourth-and sixty-iive for every year al
ter that / shall continue your Gospel min
ister-and these sums for my salary
you agree to give Il suppose iroH
what | can learn from your votes
and from those who were by when these
they pnssed) upon conditions ! will for the
first -four years take labor at the ommon
piice of labor in We year ono thousand
seven hundred and seventy-four-by which
| understand thai you agree whenever you
pay aforementioned sums orany part ofthem
that if the same nominald sum or sums
will not purchase ns much Of the necessa-
ries OF life as IN We year one thousand
seven hundred aud scvcnty-four then We
said sam or SUMS Ahull be increased until
they will II you vote this AZ your mean
inc, then I conclude 10 accept Of your call
wishing that the blessing Of God may
attend our engagements and that we may
all CAV Days be II Blessing aud Comfort ts
each other. MISSION PACKARD
~. b. II was voted in open town meet
ing when Mr.. Packard gave his answer
that the Conditions in his answer was
agreeable TO the meaning of the town in
their offer 10 him.