Norwich bulletin., 1913-11-12

i were already paying taxes elsewhere, some in Windham and some In Abing ton. so they petitioned the Court that they be annexed to Windham Village and receive training and other prtvi- leges.' This was granted in 1753 and the parish was extended two miles North of the meeting house to it's pres ent boundary.
 Thus strengthened the society was able to finish their building the fol- lowing year, and a great Sounding board over the pulpit which read;
 Holiness Unto the Lord
 The first meeting house was prob ably situated at least q quarter of mile back of the present church on what is now called a "back road"
 When the present meeting house was built it was placed facing north and south. Ebenezer Jewett was g. small boy when it was turned around to It's present position facing east and he well remembers seeing 1t done.
 In 1796 the bell was procured for the church through the instrumentality of Col Mosely, and was ordered to be rung nine o'clock in the evening, at noon and to be rung at or o'clock Saturday nights. 1t was also to be toll led for evening meetings, for lectures, and to give the day and the month every evening. It was also tolled for every death. The story is told by Eb- enezer JeWett, how one Mir. Button was owing money to William Fuller. MT Button hurrying up breathlessly pay the money on certain day 1T he was alive The day came and Mr. Button did not pay the bill, having forgotten it. Mir. Fuller was the sex ton and being a practical joker he went to the. church and solemnly struck off the years of Mir. Buttons age. On leaving the church he met MT Bptton hurrying up breathlessly to inquire who was dead. Bill Button is dead" replied MT. Fuller soberly, Il know he is. for he told me ned pay the bill yesterday if he was alive, ana he didn't pay it, he must be dead, Tor Bill Button won't lie" The bill was paid forthwith, and 1t became cur rent saying throughout the town: Bill Button won't lie.' So the old bell collected a debt.
 Mir. Billings was the first pastor
 Che church began to be greatly dls- turbed over the question of discipline. It can be judged by one incident that Mir Billings was not popular with eV- eryone. for one daring parishioner made the remark: That he would rather hear a dog bark than MT. Bll- lings preach. This of course was very scandalous and the oftender was made to come before the church con fess his sin and publicly ask forgive ness Tn 1731 another member became drunk while working on the highway, and gain at the houses of Nathaniel Harvey and Benjamin Bidlack. church meeting was held and ne was tried and made to confess his sin. Elizabeth Crocker, David Davis, John Clark MT and Mrs. Nathaniel HoFey, Wrn. Durkee and Stephen Fuller testi- flying against him. But there is no rec ord 10 show that the two prominent church members who gave him the drink were punished. In that respect law and order was measured about as it is today All stores and houses of amusement sold drink at that time and no doubt the two men were not blamed in the least. The erring brother was the one wholly at fault
 MT. Billings died in 1730, seVenty-twe persons had been admitted to the church during his pastorate of ten years, He is recorded as having a sweet christian manner and being an excellent man in his family, He left a widow and four small children. An inventory of the goods left is as fol- lows: