The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1869-10-19
Minister al Assoc Or East Middleburv.

somcho1y ", llgc to be one of the
minister ,a;l, ndi ic Association, makes
up the rtl &c ID vi, ned in the 25th of
September mmner i. the Rutland Ioe-
peod IT. thr FL 4 pan graph of which evin-
ces a spii 'ot ma.ic ity, irony, and abuse
of the ~ jpncto' OF our meeting house.
scarce j par dc. :, al the declaration
therein cont r'l--' AT they were denied
the use Of he me- AZ house to hold tbc
-NosoO''' VI, 80 pronounce 10 be ut
terly, totally, and n.D, My false.
The truth Is, for the last two or tbrec
years the 'ethodists have been allowed
by these "Liberalists," to use tboir moot
ing house, without objection, in the sniri,
OF lloeraIity' at times paying more than
three tourths of their minister's salary
and they have thus occupied it half the
time or moro, while the proprietors 1ib.
eralists) have had no stated nreocb;no
but occasionally occupied the house "not
once year or So" as 'somebodv" ;s
pleased to have it, nor yet half as often
as they ought, and should have done.
And 1t came to pass, that the house bv
reason of said use, and for other good eau.
SEES, last spring was reported by the trus-
tees to be out of repair. A meeting of
the proprietors was called, and the large
hearted, magnanimous, whole-souled,
Methodist society, was asked to contri.
butte towards the repairs, and cordially
rendered the continuation of its use. if
they did so. A few only, oftheir number
saw tar enough beyond their selfshness
to appreciate the business of the claim
and act upon it,
The whole amount received by the trus-
tees, OF these left-hand Liberalists. did NOT
exceed twenty-five dollars, while the OK.
pense Of making the necessary renairs
was estimated at three hundred dollars
or more
AT the first meeting of the proprietors
1t was voted to instruct the trustees IN
allow the Methodists to occupy the house
one half the time, as they had done, with
out let or hindrance, provided they should
pay-not liberally-but for what thew
had actually worn and damaged it by
use.
The proprletors' meeting adjourned
from time to time, from the Oath dav of
OF April to the 18th day of August last,
thus giving them abundant time to raise
and pay over the small amount the pro-
prletors required as a pledge of their
Willingness to do justice, but it came not
But, accepting the situation" and being
quite willing they should still occupy. the
proprletors, at their last meeting. voted
unanimously as follows:
THAT the trustees allow the Mctbodists
to continue to occupy the meeting house,
they paying for the use of the same at
the rate of seventy-fve dollars per year,
for one half the Sabbaths."
Whereupon they reported that they
were turned out, and so currently that
the trustees thought it advisable to pro-
cure from the clerk of the Meeting House
Company, a certified copy of the above
vote, which, on the following Sabbath,
was read by the Rev. Mr.. Bond, from
the pulpit, accompanied by what we then
thought, and still think, wholesome Chris
tian advice, viz; to accept the use of the
house, upon the terms offered, or refuse
as they chose, to do what was lust and
right. 1t was fair business
transaction, and should be so considered
Now instead Of the house being shut
against the Methodist Association. il was
purely imaginary. Besides. let
me further say, that at no meeting of the
proprletors have they, or any Of them,
evinced any disposition to shut the house
which act would be neither morally nor
legally wrong-but directly the contrary,
Now we submit, whether we are Justly
accused, when after this furnishing meet
ing house, paying their minister, and do
ing every act, required on our part.
We still offer them the use of the house.
one half the Sabbaths in the year, for the
small rent of seventy-fve dollars.
In conclusion, let me advise our cleri-
cal frlend-the reporter who appeared to
have been disappointed at the reception
he and his friends received in our place
that "soft words turn away wrath" and
1t might be more consistent for a minister
OF the gospel, professed exemplar and
follower of the meek and lowly Jesus, to
manifest less of that disposition which is
so potently exemplifed in his article, to
speak the words of truth in soberness. or
at least to "know whereof he afirms,"
before descending with such an avalanche
OF fury upon people who have always
deserved better things, at least from the
hand of stranger.
CLERK.
Oct. 9, 1869.