Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1877-02-23

By MISSIONARY OF THE AMERICAN SUNDAY
SCHOOL Union.

BT MISSIONARY OF THE AMERICAN SUNDAY
SCHOOL UNION.
A few weeks ago attended church and
Sunday-school at Vermontyille, Eaton coun-
ty, Michigan, settled by h Christian colony
from Vermont, in 1884, when the territory
was an almost unbroken wilderness. Tie
colony brought with them their Christian
character. and social life, and religious
ganization, their pastor, deacons, trustees,
physician and attorney. They formed them
selves into q mutual protection association,
bound by strong constitution and bylaws to
stand by each other in health and sickness.
to bear one another's burdens, and SO fulfill
the law of Christ" They bought nearly a
township Of the best land, giving to each
family a farm Of two hundred acres, and laid
out large village plot III the centre, on
beautiful elevation, where each family should
have lot of ten acres. With their log
dwellings they put up a log school house. and
house of worship, and held their regular
ligious service and sunday school from the
first ; the workers joining IN their chorus of
song, and continuing it through the night,
to the annoyance of the settlers.
After a time they wanted a new Sunday
school library which they knew not how to
get but the Lord provided. One Sunday
morning, as they started for church, they
heard a cry of distress among the hogs and
on going to the place they found large bear
trying TO lift one of them out of the pen
True to their New England principles they
would not shoot him on the Sabbath, but
| drove him off, and went on their way to
church. On Monday morning they pursued
him with dogs and guns and caught him,
took off his pelt and sent 1t to market, and
with the price purchased a library. Upon
the fat carcass they made great feast, and
| offered unto the Lord, hot burnt sacrifice,
but thanksgiving Of praise that they had put
their first Sabbath intruder to so good use.
| Thus the Lord not only sends the bears to
| destroy those who mock Ills servants and
disobey Him, but also to bless them that
obey Him and keep His commandments.
The first frame building put up in this set
tlement was an academy where they might
educate their children. The women paid for
the bell and furniture by knitting socks and
mittens, and braiding straw hats. From this
institution, taught by members of the settle,
ment, have come their men of business, and
at least one foreign missionary besides sup
plying our college with some of its best
| teachers. The present chorister IN then
| church and Sunday-school is the son of then
| first chorister and | seldom hear better
| singing than theirs. Thus Nermontyllit
stands as a garden OF the Lord. Their large
! village abounds in wealth and refinement
Mills and merchandise, factories and shops,
indicate their enterprise, while a beautiful
church, academy, and school-house that any
city might be proud of, stand as monuments
of their high appreciation of then
New England culture. And when tht
pioneer missionary work of the Amer
icen Sunday-school Union is pre-
sented to them, they know Just what it means
and their warm Christian hearts open wild,
their liberal hands and their collection fol
this good work that Sunday was nearly on'
hundred dollars One young man gave n'
his check for twenty-five dollars, saying, 81
the Lord prospers me hope to do this ever
year" Now, while all new settlements arr
! not made up of Just such material tbi