The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1910-11-10

chased for q common, on one side
of which a burying-ground was
marked out, ploughed and levelled.
Here also the pound was built "of
sound logs, 80 feet square, and seven
feet high, with o sufficient door," as
the vote recites. In this connection
our modern method of conducting
large affairs was employed, for the
contract for constructing this enclos-
ure was put up forthwith at vendue,
and bid in at the price of $500.
In fact vendue was at that time
favorite method of settling most pub
lie contracts, and not infrequently
public office that carried compensa-
ments," and exhibit the same to the
ship of taxes was put up at auction,
the lowest bidder being chosen to the
office.
whatever for nearly 80 years after it's
settlement, although mail could be
sent and received by travelling some
20 miles to the shire town which was
visited by the weekly stage from Bur-
lington to Windsor.
Land for n Common.
Next a goodly tract of land was pur-
Politics Play Prominent Part
Politics, both State and national,
played a far larger part in the early
life of our country towns than they
do today. The reason is not far to
seek. Life moved at more moderate
pace, interests were less diversified,
the press devoid its energies almost
exclusively to a presentation of politi-
cal news and comment, and succeed
ed in a manner that will bear COM
parison with modern journalism.
1t is probably safe to assert that
the average man thought more deeply
upon questions of government and
acted with keener insight into I'M
derlying principles than does the av-
erage citizen today, and the vitaliZing
influence of this intelligent interest
in matters political during the forma-
tive years of our rational govern
ment can scarcely be overestimated;
but on the other hand, party feeling
ran too high and was too venomous,
political enmities were far too nu-
merous and bitter; there was less in
dependent voting, and standards of po-
litical honesty were far lower than
they are today
! For Pay of Preachers.
After the State the church, and not
much behind or far separated from it..
We have already noted that the first
town meeting made provision for the
meeting house The second voted ''to
raise ~ pounds in wheat to pay for
preaching and a committee was APP
pointed to procure preacher, but
no settled minister could then be had,
and for several years the only preach
ing was supplied by some itinerant
preacher or missionary.
I Nor was there any church edifice
for more than a decade. Annually
some dwelling, or oftener some barn
"as nigh the center as possible was
chosen as the place of meeting, for
our forbears were great sticklers for
geographical equality. Annually, also,
the struggle was renewed to fix the
site and provide the means for build
ing meeting house, until the hill fac
ton prevailed over the valley party
and fixed upon the common as the cen
ter.
A building committee was chosen,
which soon reported a plan for con-
struction, and recommended that sub
scription be paid one-fourth in lum-
one-fourth in wheat-concluding with
the words: ut is our opinion that the
business cannot be prosecuted with
success unless one-fourth of the pay
be made in cash for the purpose of
procuring nails, glass and rum for the
raising"
Settled Minister Engaged.
Meanwhile a church was gathered,
Il o,,,.e ! l,o
person of graduate of Harvard Col
lege, who labored for some years up
pom a salary of $166.67 per year, rails
ed by tax upon the grand list of the
society members, and paid one-half in
money, and one-half in wheat, rye
Indian corn. flax, butter. cheese, beef
and pork To him the selectmen
decided the farm that had been re-
served by the charter for the first set
tied minister. and when the youthful
members of the parish made a bee tC
aid the dominic in clearing up his
land, the good man journeyed several
/, miles to procure a liberal supply OF
New England rum for their refresh
i, ment.
Soon, however came a man of ster-
ner mould to minister to this people
Accustomed to privation as needs must
be. careless of dress, often uncouth
! in manner, compelled to till a farm
and teach the district school in order
to exc out the scanty salary, he new
ertheless stood out a born leader. q
profound thinker, high priest in the
temple of his God His monument is
one of Christian character wrought
, among his people. He has been dead
these many years. but even now the
peopleof the little town speaks with
reverence of that early pastor.
; FOrcibIy Brought Home.
1t is doubtful if the broader views
and changed activities of the Chris
tian church can be more forcibly
brought home to one than by CHANGING
at the records of our churches of q
hundred years ago, when articles oil
/, practice stood side by side with con-
fession of faith and covenant, and
church discipline in large measure
filled the place of court of law. Per
haps few examples may serve tc
elaborate the thought.
In 1898 committee of the church
(CongregationaD was chosen to dis
course" with Brother II. concerning
an "uneasiness" which, it appears
consisted of uniting in Baptist
preaching;" indeed council of neigh
boring churches was called to con-
o,,,;,or brnfbat,'c Noca hIi