HISTORY OF VERMONT. 385 



and obligation as any other contracts ; but no 

 persons of a different denomination are obliged 

 by them. The law has no reference to any 

 particular denomination, but considers them all 

 as having a right to make what contracts they 

 please, with the minister they choose ; and be- 

 ing of course bound by their own act, to fulfil 

 their contract. A law designed to confirm the 

 equal rights of all^ is not subject to the excep- 

 tions or coniplaints of any p^irty. 



No embarrassments h iV'e attended any of the 

 grants of land, which have been made for reli- 

 gious purposes, but tho.se designed for a glebcj 

 and those made to the society for propagating 

 the gospel in foreign parts. In most of the 

 towns there' are not any persons of the episco- 

 pal persuasion, nor any incumbent to have the 

 cvire of the glebe lots. The societ}' for propa- 

 gating the gospel in foreign parts, have not con- 

 cerned themselves about the lands, which were 

 granted to them. Both these rights have re- 

 mained unimproved and uncultivated, except 

 where individuals have gained possession of 

 them ; and it has been a disadvantage to the 

 State, to have such tracts of land lying waste. 

 It has been repeatedly a matter of consideration 

 in the general assembly, what ought to be done 

 ■with these lands. Instead of coming to any 

 decision upon the matter, in October, 1787, 

 the general assembly passed an act, authorising 

 the selectmen of the several towns, to take care 

 of and improve the glebe and society lands, for 

 the space of seven years j and to apply the in- 

 comes to the improvements of the lands, those 

 «?KcJ^ted, which were in the possession of an 

 VOL. II Z 2 



