Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1892-02-25

In 17se the year in which Washington
was inauourated President, a meeting
was warned "to see il the town VIII take
any action in the settlement OF a minister
and to see if they will settle Mr.. Jones
who is preaching to US. Inc actloh Vi
the town is not recorded. Nothing mort
il heard of Mr.. Jones, who as Tar as our
knowIedge goes was the first minister
Who preached in town. The first action
Of the town relative to paying Tor lne
support of the gospel occurred NoVemDe.
70 i78S. The town records read voted
to raise sixpence on the pound, to be palu
ON the st OF 1888, to be paid in grain or
neat stock, to be paid by the zoth Oh Dec
| 1890, to pay for preaching
Evidently the tax brought in too great
a revenue, or the preacher discontinued
his services, for we find the following
record March 1880 "V Jted to relinquish SO
much OF the sixpenny tax that Is not
wanted to pay for preaching" In Aug.
ust 1871 a meeting was called ITO see II
the town would agree on any plan, where
| bv they NAV be united on settling ana
sHpporting a gospel minister among
them.r "Elias Curtis, VIM. Gilman ana
Hezekiah Hutchinson were appointed a
ministerial committee On the same
dal,. me town "voted that all who differ
| in sentiment in the matter of religion ana
the manner of support OF the gospel,
should lodge their names with the town
clerk and they shall have no rates made
out against them by the selectmen."
large number took advantage OF that ar
rangement and so avoided paying taxes
for religious purposes.
The wear following the admission OF
Vermont into the Union, there occurred
| in this town an event OF far reaching IN
fuence. The church whose centennial
anniversary assemblies us to-day, was or
/ Tlara "A that time M 4 on
EDUCATIONAL churches in the state, and the
population OF the town in 1871 was 4Si
/ Feb s. 1892 so reads the church record,
son Lords day in the presence of full
assembly, the church members from dif-
/ ferent charches, with some Others pre-
scented themselves, and after due consid-
Grafton were organized into church OF
Jesus Christ in this place, by Rev Aaron
Hutchinson, and unanimously agreed on
and owned and solemnly assented to the
| following Confession of Faith and Cove
nant and consented to have their names
annexed to it," Then follow % names,
10 males, II females. The Confession OF
Faith was brief. 1t expresses belief in
God, the Father, Son and Holy Ghost, in
the fall OF man and his recovery through
the mercy Of God, through faith in Jesus
Christ, in the punishment OF the wicked
and the reward OF the righteous. In the
Covenant they promise to take the Lord
! for their God, his word as the rule of faith
and practice, to submit themselves to the
| government OF the Church of Jesus Christ
and to foster the church so long as God
continued them here. After the congre-
cation was dismissed 'the church, stay
| ing, made choice OF Hezekiah Hutchin-
son, moderator and Elias Curtis clerk
/ The same day several children were bap-
tized by Rev. Aaron Hutchinson. Thus
was planted in "this land OF the noun
tain and the food with faith and hope
and prayer, this spiritual vine, which has
/ been watered from time to time with the
dew OF Heavenly grace, so that ii has
borne fruitage unto God and man.
4 Rev. Aaron Hutchinson, the founder OF
/ the church, was truly remarkable man
Born in Conn, 172i he was graduated from
/ Yale in 17i7, was ordained pastor in Graf
1 ton, Conn. 1850. There he labored p yrs
/ I'm 1875 he purchased a farm in Pomfret
| VT, and engaged to supply for five years
\ the towns OF Pomfret, Woodstock and
Hartford. He brought his family, wife
and 10 children to Vermont in 1776 and
/ preached, frequently gratuitously, until
/ his death in 1900. Only two Sabbaths in
his long ministry was he unable by rea-
son Of sickness to preach. He was a man
\ of scholarly attainments and had a won
derful memory. He could repeat the
whole of the new testament. Frequently
he entered the pulpit without a book oil
any kind. "He was without grace" says
the historian, "or polish in his manners.
He instructed many youth in his family
Tradition has it that his method was t.
teach Latin and Greek as he wrought in the
/ field, his pupils being required to follow
him as he followed the pillow. None but
an accomplished linguist we are sure
could under such circumstances have adj
ministered Greek to the students and
English To the cattle in due proportions
and proper order and without confusion
The inscription on his gravestone reads
"Here lie the reflects of Rev. Aaron
Hutchinson. He died September 81, 1SOt
in the 10Th year of his age, the 50th of his
ministry. His days he passed in health
religion and domestic virtue, nor did hi:
sun go down till night"
ITO be continued next week.