Chap. 9. 



RELIGIOUS INSTITUTION?. 



279 



CONGREGATIONAL CHURCHES. 



SOCIETIES AND PERIODICALS 



ed and circulated tracts for several years, 

 and till it was found more advantageous 

 to procure them from the large establish- 

 ments in the cities. In 1810, the jidvi- 

 ser, or Vermont Evangelical Magazine, a 

 monthly periodical of 32 octavo pages, 

 was commenced by editors appointed by 

 the convention. This work was generally 

 patronized by the churches, and during 

 the seven years of its continuance, it ex- 

 erted a most salutary influence.* The 

 convention from time to time has called 

 the attention of the churches and the com- 

 munity to many subjects of deep interest. 

 As early as 1811, they raised a warning 

 voice against intemperance. They have, 

 indeed, repeatedly warned the community 

 against this and other national sins, such 

 as sabbath breaking, including sabbath 

 mails, slavery, profanity, licentiousness, 

 the war spirit, &c. and have often com- 

 mended with much zeal the various be- 

 nevolent objects of the day. In regard 

 to some of the leading objects of benevo- 

 lence, they have (for the purpose of pro- 

 venting one object from interfering with 

 another) recommended to the congrega- 

 tional churches specific times to take col- 

 lections or contributions, as is exhibited 

 in the following table : 



"o May. 

 "2 June. 



J" ^ C O M m m 



w Cfi ^ q; ^ K^ 



i^ii^ 



-a -Q 



O XJ T? '^ 



. . . . m p:) . . ^ fH H 

 ESfaCa. mm 



March .22 .2 ^J^ ^ ^ 

 April. . .fq M . . 



Ifel fe" mm 





HH 



EB 



* Copies of lliig work may be found in the libra- 

 ries of the colleges existing in (his state at the time 

 of its discontinuance. — T. A^ Merrill. 



It will be jierceived that beside assign 

 ing two months for the appropriation o 

 charities to each of the five leading ob 

 jects of benevolence sustained by the de 

 denomination, viz. the cause of the bible, 

 foreign and domestic missions, education 

 and tracts, the convention assign two 

 months to the cause of the seaman's friend 

 society and such other objects as any con- 

 gregation may wish to patronize. The 

 cau.'^e of the education society, though 

 overlooked by many, has taken deep hold 

 of some minds in Vermont. Probably 

 this state may claim the honor of having 

 instituted the first society in the country, 

 which was organized to educate pious and 

 indigent young men for the ministry. Aa 

 early as 1804, a society was constituted 

 for this purpose, in the western part of 

 the state, and continued to dispense its 

 blessings till after the organization of the 

 American education society. The Ver- 

 mont, or "northern branch of the Ameri- 

 can education society," was organized 

 February 2, 1820. 



In 1825, the convention took measures 

 to establish a religious paper. They con- 

 ceived that it was very much needed ; 

 that the congregational interest could 

 easily sustain a local paper ; that by this 

 means an opportunity would be afforded 

 for individuals to commnnicate their views 

 and for ecclesiastical bodies and other so- 

 cieties or conventions to publish their 

 proceedings; that individuality and en- 

 ergy would be given to the action of tho 

 state ; and that the canse of religion and 

 the active operations of benevolence would 

 be greatly promoted. A committee con- 

 sisting of W. Chapin, T. A. Merrill and 

 C. Walker was appointed to carry the 

 plan of the convention into effect. The 

 committee shortly after made an arrange- 

 ment with Mr. E. C. Tracy, (who after 

 an absence again returned to the editorial 

 chair,) to commence the publication of 

 the Chronicle, in January, 1826. It was 

 first printed at Bellows Falls and after- 

 wards at Windsor. Though the estab- 

 lishment was always private property, 

 and, as it respected other denominations 

 has been truly catholic, yet it has looked 

 to congregationalists for patronage and 

 has derived from them its chief support 

 to this present time. 



The general convention consisted orig- 

 inally of delegates from associations only. 

 The members were of course all ordained 

 ministers. The constitution, however, 

 has been repeatedly altered. The follow- 

 ing at present are the leading articles : 



"Article 1. The principal objects of 

 the general convention of congregational 

 ministers and churches in Vermont shall 



