Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1880-01-23
ALiterary Society Of the olden Time.

There has lately fallen into my hands
al old Record-book Of private Club or
Debating Society. organized i'll Benning-
ton Of this State some two years before
the close of the Revolutionary War Ger
tain matters recorded i'll the volume seem
to be Of sufficient historical and antigua
rian interest to warrant few extracts.
As the first leaf of the secretarys rec
ord is wanting, the exact date OF the ior-
nation of the society cannot he ascer-
tainel but the second or third meeting
(as Ijudge) was adjourned until Monday
18th Sept. 17Sl." The last leaf OF the
volume contains Il record Of the session
of 27th Jan. 1890: but plainly tins WAS
not the end of the organization. At frst
it appears under the name of the Friend
ly Society; then for short time 1t called
itself the Philosophical Circle OF Science !;
and finally adopted and adhered to the
title of THE Philosophical Society Of
Bennington
The Constitution, or Federation" as
they styled it, is quite elaborate Affair."
a committee of five having redrauShted
| it and revised its ''diction. 1t was
not quite perfect, however, us 1t subse-
quently received about the nsllal aloi'nt
of attention in the way OF alterations and
amendments. II sets out with three
whcrcaSes ''of great charge
To all People to ,cLora these shall come, Gfe't'"J;
| Whereas it is the indubable right oi mankind
but more especially the allowed privilege OF SUD
iects of free State any part OF them 10 ehei
mn such social compacis ~ they may thereto he
inclined, provided such combination nnlh hol i l,ii
against the egoSernmcni,or policy oi w s ,e ~
in which they live, or otherwise prove injurious q"
society. ,--,. ,,
| Aud whereas Improvement IN philosophy. me
arts and sciences has ever been esteemed lir ll-
cre.r a. well as honor of any pcope-llsi"fy nav
ing ever acknowledged the accOlnpiishieh! pi a,,,
naiion or pe0pe 10 lie in proportion To thelr known
aruuireIrentS therein-Thls pralsewortht a'quis-
ton being at the same Time a Progressive ai.diii-
menr IL j. not be expected Ou 10y perseNei!h9 a
plicafon ui mind, body and some snlaIl par "i "ui
e-fafrs-Th, necessity therefore of a more thin
common unregullted attention being la!d lhereto
becomes evident. 80, ,,,
mind in Tins SOFT in many instances having sprung
from inconsiderahle apparent origins, have rpened
onwarls hy application AMI become oehehcidi 10
themselves and mankind through the means OF tins
lludahle Industry: -,
We the Subscribers of these presents do there
fore acknowledge the goodness o our ''rvht IeaioI
in endowiug US with minds capable oil useful I'M
provements, believing 1t agreeable 10 the same III
Ylne Will that We occupy those faculties IN tNtih
prudent research after beneficial kno"iedge anu
relying upon The countenance OF all good men hHf5
thought nj, and do by these presents associate a."
bind ourseres zach 10 the other ia eorGdnt a"t I"
be broken or TcJ,aied-and that we Will hold lnvlo-
late the following articles OF our feodef".oh VIZ
iriicle 81 Our purpose in forming and entering
into this Society is solely to improve ourselves III
the studies of philosophy, moral dhd natural. OF
Humane aud Dirinf as understood and cNpilheu bNN
Peter Menschenbroeck, NJ. ID. in his elements "f
natural philosophy TOl. l. chap. l. Page l.
4rfc's I2th [urdains that in addition 10 the
ordinary records there shall be Kept another Boon
of Record" in which, shall he recorded all SClchilnc
and ingenious pieces and performances whlch shaii
be given in by the corresponding secretary anu
agreed To he recorded whether Letters. Essays,
Figures Problems. Propositions. Observations New
discoveries Doctrines, Demonstrations, pser'a-
TONS either from Fellows WITHIN Inc socelN zen
tlemen of domestic acquaintance nor hehlneIs, VI
from any Gentlemen In the neghborlhg states VI
still further abroad with whose correspondence ths
Society NAV he avoured through their toffeSiold-
ing Scc'y which hook shall he Untitled Pho-olhi-
cal transactions of the Friendly Society
Article 18Th. Each Fellow Of the Societ. shal,
and profess the Protestant Religion, anu ne "i
good moral character.
Ayticle 1871. This Society in all their meetings
shall keep open doors excepting when Their pollcS
requires them 10 be shut
The twenty-six Articles of Federation
were formally adopted, or rather re-
adopted, Nov. Il, 17S1. Appended 10
them are the ''hands and seals Of the
following gentlemen The names are
given as found in the record