The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1913-05-08
Advertise It's Advantages Health Resort Without Delay
A HISTORICAL DUTY
Plan to Mark Site Of First Church
in Vermont.


The Banner has already called at
tention to the action sometime since,
of our local historical society APP
pointing committee to forward the
project of a monument to mark the
site of the First church in this
region, now Vermont. The fact of
priority would be sufficient reason
for this, IL we were not already
pretty we'll supplied with monu-
ments. Bennington is well known
for her priority claims and has re-
ceived generous recognition from not
only the state, but the nation.
Something more than mere priori-
ty then must be clearly shown to ap-
peal in this case. We are marking
site where the hopes and fears
and prayers of an ostracized minori-
ty, an unpopular church organiza-
ton, sought liberty to worship God
after the dictator of their own con
sciences, as their fathers from over
sea had done before them. We are
marking site which men, like the
pioneer Samuel Robinson and his
worthy confreres from two other
church organizations, picked out to
be the center of new community
life as their first public act upon
reaching these woods. We are
marking site for forty years oc-
cupied by building whose walls
probably heard more public discus
sion of practical and vital import
ance to the young community. to its
neighboring towns and finally to the
state than any other in the state,
not excepting the Catamount Tavern
or the Constitution house at Wind
sor. 1t is thus both local and state
memorial, as well a civil as religious
reminder. We are marking it by a
statue to the first pastor, Jedadiah
Dewey, who was early chosen
leader in religious things and, upon
the untimely death of the PIONEER,
became in real sence leader and
adviser in all that interested the
young community, which was, for
that time at least, foremost in its in
fiuence in the border differences,
and equally foremost in it's activity
in the colonial differences with
Great Britain in this region. And
later though from his office, as then
conceived. not so prominent in state
affairs. yet, so long as he lived, the
practical sympathizer and friend of
those who made the young state, and
sustained 1t through storm and
stress for fourteen years. as STALL
want and independent and sovereign
commonwealth
We are marking it because OF its
memorable history of public gather
ings called to consider for Vermont
welfare, to enact for her guidance,
and to decide in questions of general
interest or alarm. Herein was held
that meeting OF her young legisla-
tors which placed upon the statute
books as law many Of the principles,
which had been written, into her
constitution, in 1777. Though for suf
ficient reasons at the time, never
popularity adopted. Here were set.
tied by popular vote many of the
internal questions arising from the
needs of new and as yet inorganic
ed commonwealth, questions pertain
ing to the police civil and military,
to education, to post offices, to taxes,
to rights and privileges and here
were determined many questions.
even of personnel right and privilege.
Here were held courts Of justice on
eases Of interest so wide as to re-
qulre commodious quarters not avail.
able elsewhere. All this in addition
to the religious uses of encourage.
ment, enlightenment and comfort,
for which such buildings are usual,
erected.
II seems a little remarkable that
so important site has been so long
neglected. while others have been
duly marked.
1t has been sometime since Ben
nington and her sons, wherever
dwelling, have been called upon to
express their already demonstrated
loyalty by the erection OF such a.
marker at such shrine. This one
hundred and flftieth anniversary of
this buildings inception. seems
fitting time to repair this neglect.
The committee, having the matter
in charge, have after careful and ex-
tended search decided upon an origi-
nal design by a growing New York
artist, Charles Keck, which consists
OF a colonial preacher dressed in the
garb OF the day. mounted on one OF
our native builders, and in earnest
attitude addressing his hearers from
the open word which he holds in
his left hand.
The cast of the entire work set
in place-the site of the original
meeting house-the green Just west
of the present church-is estimated
to be in the neighborhood of 10000
dollars.