New Britain herald. [microfilm reel] (New Britain, Conn.) 1890-1976, 1922-06-02

was the major part OF the Church of
England parish at Bristol, established
In 1747. Church men and other dis
senting societies had no clearly de-
fined territory assigned to them be-
cause membership therein was a
voluntary matter In no way depend
| ent upon their habitation. The New
Britain and other societies OF the
Standing Order" had the power to
tax every male inhabitant 16 years
old and upwards for the minister's
rate and for building meeting houses
no matter what their religious pref
erences were or whether they attend
ed worship in New Britain or else
where. No qne could become a men,
Der Of the society other than males
6 years old and upwards and having
reached that age habitation was the
sole condition of membership. Each
member was compelled to pay taxes
annually in support of the Congrega-
tional society, unless he was church
man, Baptist or a Quaker. No one
ever applied for admission to or
formally joined the society; there was
could cancel their membership or
withdraw from the society so long as
they resided within it, although dis
senters who exercised their right of
exemption from taxes were prohibit
ed from voting In society meetings,
except for school purposes.
Prior to 1884 relief from taxes of
the Standing Order had been grant
ed from time to time by special acts
in favor of Churchmen, Baptists,
Quakers and Separates. but the con-
ditions imposed and the relief grant
ed to these different denominations
varied greatly. The Separates or
Straight Congregationalist had no IA
vor whatever until 1777, nearly so
years after relief had been granted |
to each of the other three dissenting |
bodies. The conditions for exemption
imposed upon the Separates were
more numerous and .exacting than
were those required of other dissent
ing bodies.
Under the law of 1884 all dissent
ed from taxes for the support of the
society in which they resided, pro-
vided they had formed into distinct
bodies, attended and supported pub
lie worship and had filed with the
clerk of the society a certificate to
that effect signed by their minister.
The law also provided that all per-
sons who do not attend and help sup
port other public worship shall be
,axed in the society where they dwell.
This law,ffor the first time placed all
iissenters on nearly the same foot
ng. but there was still lack of
equality in that dissenters were re-
luired to file a certificate and men,
Ders of the Standing Order we're not,
ind further it made no difference
With the taxes of the latter whether
'r not they regularly attended public
while said fact made a diff
erence with the taxes of those whe
helped to support dissenting par
sh. In May, 1917, a law was enact
d permitting any person to with
raw from any religious society to
o which he belonged and join some
'ther by leaving certificate thereof
With the town clerk. Those who did
lot thus Withdraw were helu 10 De-
ong to the society of the Standing
order in which they resided. II
~ Our present constitution is mainly
hat of 1918, Section of Article One,
rovides that mo preference shall be
iven by law to any Christian sect or
lode of worship" The following is
uoted from Section /, of Article
even: II
1T being the duty of all men to
yorship the Supreme Being, the
treat Creator and Preserver of the
Universe and their right to render
hat worship in the mode most con-
istent with the dictates of their
onsciences; no person shall by law
e compelled to join or support, nor
e classed with, or associated to, any
congregation, church or legilious as
ociation.'
And thus it came to pass, after
early three centuries of territorial II
ixation in support of single de-
omination of Christians, religious
'eedom was fully extended to all per- Il
ms In Conpecticut r..