New Britain herald., 1916-10-17
PdalnViaAe News
REV.F.L. GRANT TO
resign AS PASTOR
Congregational Minister ArraDg-
Ing to Leave PlainVille
FUTURE PLANS UNCERTAIN
Formal Resignation Not Yet Presented
Gladly Named For Representative
-ay Use Australian Ballot At Next
ElectiOn-Other Matters.

While it is understood his resigna-
ton is not yet in the hands of the
officers, reports are current of the in
tention Of Rev. Frederick L. Grant to
give up the passionate of the Congre-
gat1onal church, leaving Plainville be-
fore the end Of the year. Members
of the church admit that Mr. Grant
advised some of them informally over
a week ago of his plan Of resigning to
leave for other fields.
Owing to the fact that he has not
yet accepted any Of the offers from
other churches which he has under
consideration, he has not formally pre-
sented his resignation but it Is ex-
pected that within week or two 40
here for over eleven years and it is
said that he is DESTROYS of making a
change because of the belief that new
fields offer wider latitude with great
er possibilities. He considers a de-
cade sufficiently long for a minister to
remain with one church.
Nothing has been done by the
church regarding the selection Of his
towards this end will be taken until his
resignation is in the hands of the Off
GERS.
Mr.. Grant is one of Plainville's
leading clergymen and a citizen Of
considerable prominence. Besides his
duties as pastor, Mr. Grant has found
time to take an active part in civic
enterprises and he has been connected
with many movements for the welfare
of the town. For years he served on
the school committee and library
board and his associates on both bod
les readily recognize the value Of his
services. For a number OF years he
has been conspicuOusly associated with
the forces seeking no-license in Plain
Vile and the big vote rolled up by the
"drys" since 1912 has been attributed
in a large measure to his efforts.
Mr.. Grant is a citizen Of sterling
qualities and his departure from town
will be regretted by the townspeople
in general, as we'll as the Congrega-
tionalists. He will take with him the
well wishes of the community and
their hopes for his success in whatever
undertaking he may select.
During the past few years many Of
fers have come to Mr.. Grant from
larger churches anS it has been re-
ported from time to time that his stay
in Plainville was limited. An earnest
student and a profound thinker, Mr..
Grant has been recognized as a schOl
ar and it Is said that invitations to be-
come teacher in colleges of theology
have been extendd to him. He was
given no intimation as to what course
he will follow after leaving Plainville.
May Use Ballot.
Difficulties which beset the select
men in their efforts to carry out
the orders of the recent special town
meeting regarding the securing of
voting machines for experimental use
as the election in November may
make it necessary to have another
meeting to rescind the vote and au-
thorize the use of the Australian
ballot.
According to Selectman Johnson
advocates of the voting machine
seemingly presumed too much when
thew expressed the opinion that the
manufa cturers of the apparatus would
be willing to install it here on trial
without expense to the town. The in
vestigation made since the meeting
would indicate that the machine
builders apparently have had some ex-
perience with the vagaries of the
voters and before they talk business
they want to see the color Of money.
The International Machine ex-
change, with headquarters in New
York, replying to Selectman John
sons letter Of inquiry, states it's
! willingness to permit the town to ex-
pertinent with it's voting machines at
the rate of SIS each per day. AS it
would be necessary to get at least two
machines the expense of the expert
ment would exceed $3.50 as the town
would have to pay the transportation
| charges in addition to the rental.
| The New York company, Mr. Johnson
has been advised, represents prac-
| tically all the makers of the best
machines. They are willing to have
! the rental charges apply on the pur-
! chase price, should the town decide
| to adopt the machine form Of voting
permanently but they are unwilling to
! stand the expense Of the eXperime nt
| themselves.
Mr.. Johnson went to Hartford this
| afternoon to confer with the voting
machine commissioner in the hope
| that information as to where a more
! satisfa Glory proposition might be
| available could be obtained. He is
| opposed personally to paying so much
money for the use of the machines
| for a single day.
| Election is but three weeks off and
! the selcctman admits that the pros
| poets of getting machines in time to
| give the voters an opportunity to
| famlliarize themselves with the work.
| ing are not very bright Fearing that