History of Orange County, New York, with illustrations and biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Part 188

Author: Ruttenber, Edward Manning, 1825-1907, comp; Clark, L. H. (Lewis H.)
Publication date: 1881
Publisher: Philadelphia, Everts & Peck
Number of Pages: 1336


USA > New York > Orange County > History of Orange County, New York, with illustrations and biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men > Part 188


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4th month, 1789, representatives to Quarterly Meeting were Hannah Smith, Deborah Brown, Rhoda Coek, Letitia Clark, and Philena Hallock. Other names mentioned in those early years were Phebe McCann, Martha Sutton, Anna Tripp, Cathe- rine Palmer, Sarah Hallock, Rhoda Howell, Mary Wright, Martha Thorn.


THE FIRST BAPTIST CONGREGATION AT NEW CORNWALL


met for legal organization at the house of Samuel . Raymond, Nov. 17, 1794. The certificate was signed by Samuel Raymond and Henry Mandeville, deacons, and the trustees named therein were Jacob Mande- ville, Obadiah Smith, Andrew Sutherland, Jr., Joseph Smith, and James Sutherland.


The first record we have of a Baptist organization in the town of Cornwall is that of Nov. 17, 1794. The certificate filed in the county clerk's office was signed by Samuel Raymond and Henry Mandeville, deacons, and the trustees named therein were .Iacob Mandeville, Obadiah Smith, Andrew Sutherland, Jr., Joseph Smith, and James Sutherland. This organi- zation was never recognized as a regular Baptist church, and was of short duration, and it was not till April 9, 1822, that another organization was effected. Then a few Baptists met at the house of William Atkinson and effected another organization ; Benjamin Atkinson and Samuel Brooks were ap- pointed inspectors of the election; Samnel Gregg, William Atkinson, Joseph Brooks, Benjamin Atkin- son, James Brooks, John Denniston, and Daniel Tobias were elected trustees. This organization con- tinued until Oct. 16, 1823, when it was duly recognized as a regular Baptist Church by a council of sister churches. Rev. Aaron Perkins was chosen mod- erator of the council, and Nathaniel S. Davis clerk. The following persons composed the membership of the church : Brethren, Samuel Brooks, William Atkin- son, Samuel Gregg, and Benjamin Wright ; and sisters, Ann Brooks, Elizabeth Brooks, and Mary Gregg.


The recognition sermon was preached by Rev. A. Perkins, and the hand of fellowship was given by Rev. C. Mais. The first deacons chosen by this church were Samuel Gregg and Samuel Brooks. At an adjourned meeting Robert Young was elected sexton, Samuel Brooks treasurer, and Samuel Gregg


* Probably residents of Pleasant Valley or of Marlborough.


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CORNWALL.


and Benjamin Atkinson the leaders of the singing. Rev. C. Mais was the first pastor, but nothing is said of his pastorate. June 2, 1825, Rev. Thomas Powell was called as pastor. Succeeding pastorates were as follows :


Rev. D. T. Hill, May 20, 1827, to May, 1829; Rev. A. C. Sangster, from Aug. 4, 1832; Rev. J. Well- slager, April 3, 1838, to April 1, 1840; Rev. James W. Jones, May 28, 1840, to Sept. 29, 1841; Rev. G. Webster, June 1, 1843, to May 1, 1844; Rev. C. Ray- mond, May 19, 1844, to May 19, 1845; Rev. J. S. Bailey, June 1, 1845, to January, 1848; Rev. William Wilkins, Oct. 14, 1848, to March 1, 1850; Rev. E. P. Weed, February, 1860, to Jan. 1, 1865; Rev. B. F. Bowen, Nov. 1, 1865, to Aug. 1, 1866; Rev. E. B. Palmer, Sept. 1, 1866, to April 1, 1869; Rev. James Goodman, Sept. 4, 1870, to Sept. 1, 1873; Rev. Isaac Wescott, D.D., Jan. 1, 1874, to Oct. 1, 1877; Rev. D. T .. Hill, March 1, 1877, to April 1, 1878; Rev. J. E. Bell, March 16, 1879, to Sept. 1, 1879; Rev. M. L. Ferris, the present pastor, settled May 1, 1880. The church now numbers 90 members. The present officers are Rev. M. L. Ferris, pastor; George Brooks and Gilbert Tompkins, deacons; George Brooks, treasurer; and John H. Atkinson, clerk. The trus- tees are William Atkinson, Benjamin Wright, John II. Atkinson, Gilbert Tompkins, George Brooks, and James M. Davis.


The first meeting-house was built in 1822-23, near ship was built in 1849. The church was originally called the Zion Baptist Church, but in 1849 the name was changed to "The Baptist Church of Cornwall," and the certificate was duly filed in the county clerk's office.


The early records of the church are very imperfect, thus preventing a more minute sketch, especially in reference to the length of pastoral settlements.


THE FIRST PRESBYTERIAN. SOCIETY OF CANTER- BURY


made a legal organization Nov. 2, 1824. The pro- ceedings were signed by Samuel Cruver, chairman, and Thomas S. Fish, secretary. The meeting was held at the school-house, and the trustees chosen were Peter Roe, Thomas F. Fish, Daniel Cruver, Stephen Crissey, Lewis Barrett, Isaac Van Duzer, Nathan Westcott, Samuel W. Heard, Samuel Townsend. At the same meeting it was resolved to build a church in or near the village of Canterbury. This was the legal organization of a society nearly four years before the formation of the church, as the latter is given in " Beach's History of Cornwall" as July 1, 1827.


brick was added and a tower at an expense of $2000. The rear of the lot on which the church stands is used as a burial-place.


The organization of the church in 1827 was under the labors of Rev. dames H. Thomas, and the mem- bers were mostly from other churches, having received letters of dismission from their former churches to enable them to constitute this new one. Mr. Thomas was installed Feb. 12, 1828, pastor of two churches- that of Canterbury and the one at New Windsor-by the North River Presbytery. This relation was dis- solved by the action of the Wappinger Presbytery, with which this church had been subsequently united, April 29, 1834. The Rev. John B. Fish was then em- ployed for about fifteen months. In the fall of 1835 the Rev. Jonathan Silliman was installed pastor by the Presbytery of North River, and remained in that position for the long period of twenty-six years. On the third Sabbath of July, 1861, he tendered his resig- nation, which was finally accepted, and the relation regularly terminated by the action of the Presbytery. Mr. Silliman, however, continued to supply the pul- pit for several months longer. He also remained at Canterbury, and now (1880) may be seen every Sab- bath sitting in a chair near to the pulpit from which he so long preached the gospel.


On April 1, 1862, Rev. Alvah Baker was employed as supply, and continued in the service of the church for two years. He was a licentiate of the Third Pres- tiate of Princeton Seminary, next occupied the pulpit as pastor, being installed in the spring of 1865, and continuing in that relation until Jan. 15, 1869. After something of an interval, in which the pulpit was temporarily supplied by various ministers, Rev. Wil- liam E. Clarke was statedly employed from Oct. 1, 1869, to April 1, 1872. Soon after an arrangement was made with Rev. Lyman Abbott, one of the edi- tors of the Christian Union, and residing at Cornwall- on-the-Hudson, to supply this pulpit. His labors are highly appreciated by the congregation. He does not, however, assume the full work of pastor, his ser- vices being limited by agreement to a morning dis- course followed by Bible-class instruction. He is still acting under the arrangement referred to.


The present session consists of Rev. Jonathan Silli- man, moderator, and William V. Dusenberry, N. R. Pierson, A. M. Hollett, Dr. J. T. Hotchkiss, elders. The board of trustees comprises N. R. Pierson, Wil- liam Orr, Peter Millington, Oliver Brewster, and A. M. Hollett.


REV. JONATHAN SILLIMAN was born at Chester, Middlesex Co., Conn., on July 22, 1793. He was the son of Thomas Silliman, and grandson of Rev. Robert Silliman, for many years pastor of the Congregational Church at New Canaan, Conn. Rev. Robert Silli- man was an unele of Gen. G. S. Silliman. Tradition


In pursuance of the vote mentioned in the certifi- cate of incorporation a house of worship was erected within the next two or three years, as it is stated to have been completed for worship in 1827. The build- ing then creeted was remodeled and improved in 1841, says that the family originated in Italy, the patro- and again in 1860. At this last date a new front of


nymic being Sillimundi.


what is now Orr's Mills. The present house of wor- ' bytery of New York. Rev. Clarence Eddy, a licen-


770


HISTORY OF ORANGE COUNTY, NEW YORK.


Rev. Jonathan Silliman received his collegiate edu- cation at Yale, from which institution he was gradu- ated in the class of 1817. He subsequently studied theology at Andover, Mass., and was graduated from the seminary at that place in 1821. During his theo-


WT


J. Silliman


logical course he taught for one year at Phillips Academy, Andover. After being regularly licensed to preach, Mr. Silliman entered upon the work of the gospel ministry in Virginia, first in the counties of New Kent and Charles City, and afterwards in King William's County, where he remained in the perform- ance of missionary and evangelical work for a period of thirteen years. In 1835, in consequence of the severe climate of Virginia, he removed to the North, and became the pastor of the Canterbury Presbyterian Church, Cornwall, Orange Co., N. Y., continuing to labor in that field until the year 1862, when he ceased to be connected with the church as pastor, although he still resides at Canterbury.


Mr. Silliman has now attained the advanced age of eighty-eight years, but is still well preserved, and afflicted with but slight bodily ailments. He has lived a quiet and unostentatious life, and devoted him- self entirely to faithful work in the Master's vineyard. He has been essentially a home-worker, considering it to be his highest duty to look after the interests of his own community first, and not identifying himself notably with the public movements of his church and of society. He has been recognized as a faithful and efficient pastor, devoted to his calling. and is held in


the highest respect and esteem by his friends and neighbors.


Mr. Silliman was married on Sept. 5, 1832, to Anna, daughter of Rev. Amzi Armstrong, D.D., for twenty years pastor of the Presbyterian Church of Mendham, N. J., and subsequently principal for ten years of the academy at Bloomfield, N. J. The family is of Scotch- Trish descent, the grandfather of Rev. Mr. Armstrong having come from Enniskillen, Ireland, about the year 1727, and settled first on Long Island, and after- wards at Warwick, N. Y., where many of the descend- ants of the family still reside.


An only son of Mr. and Mrs. Silliman, William, of great professional promise in the law, lost his life in the late war. A sketch of his life appears in the military history of this work.


FRIENDS' MEETING, CORNWALL (ORTHODOX).


At the division in 1827 the Hicksite portion hold- ing the old meeting-house and grounds, those who became known as Orthodox were under the necessity of seeking accommodations elsewhere. For a time they held their meetings at the house of Jabez Green, in Canterbury, in late years the place of Mrs. Purdy. From there they went to what is known as the Bell House, in Montana. After that they met for a time in the brick building near the Union Hotel in Canter- bury. But all these places were only temporary places for their meeting. They needed a fixed and permanent abiding place, and accordingly in 1828 and 1829 they built the present brick meeting-house in Canterbury village, back from the principal street and in the rear of John Chatfield's. Here they have a large and convenient site that with a little grading and improvement might become a handsome property. It is said that the opening of this new meeting-house was characterized by an interesting coincidence with the opening of the first. In 1831 the marriage of Squire Ring was the first that occurred in the new house, as the marriage of his mother forty years be- fore had been the first to occur in the old house.


Near this meeting-house is the private burial-place of the Ring and Sands families. The remains of David Sands, the carly preacher, rest there at the present time, having been removed from the small and early burial-place near Mr. John Hancon's.


THE METHODIST CHURCH OF CORNWALL


executed a certificate of incorporation at Cornwall in the usual "meeting-room," June 20, 1829. The pro- ceedings were signed by John L. Dusenberry and Charles Hamilton, and the trustees chosen were George Marriott, Archer Clark, John L. Dusenberry, Henry W. Bartholf, Charles Hamilton, and Milton DuBois. This formal organization had been preceded by the well-known itinerant work of the Methodist Church. The first preaching was in private houses or in school-houses, as the early laborers went up and down among the mountains breaking to scattered


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CORNWALL.


neighborhoods the bread of life. The territory now embraced in this charge was formerly a part of the New Windsor Circuit. That included Vail's Gate, Salisbury, Chester, Monroe, Sugar-Loaf, Little Brit- ain, Mountainville, and sundry other neighborhoods. Over this immense circuit the early ministers traveled, thus having a parish large enough to constitute the modern district of a presiding elder.


Rev. W. G. Browning, who prepared the sketch in the church book in 1877, from which these facts are chiefly obtained, states that some of the oldest mem- bers living, as Thomas Ostrander and Gilbert Barton, speak with enthusiasm of the early ministers and their self-denying labors; among whom are recalled the names of Revs. Daniel Ostrander, Eben Smith, John E. Robertson, Heman Bangs, Wm. Jewett, ! Marvin Richardson, Phineas Rice, Nathan Rice, Noah Bigelow, Benjamin Griffin, Seymour Landon, Jarvis Nichols; of one Lyons, who died of paralysis in his stable at Sugar-Loaf; of James K. Romer, David Holmes, William Bloomer, A. C. Fields, Jacob Washburn, John A. Selleck, David Turner, and many others.


The "meeting-room" where the organization of 1829 took place, and where meetings were subse- quently held for several years, was at the landing near what is now known as the Corners. The build- ing was used both as a school-house and a church.


Under date of Dec. 5, 1833, at a meeting duly noti- fied, a society was formed called "The Methodist The trustees named therein were Jacob W. Lamb, Ira Wood, Stephen Barton, Jesse Lozier, and IJenry C. Hall. Another general repairing of the church edifice took place in 1874, at a cost of about $5000. An extension of 24 feet was added to the building, the old galleries taken down, and a neat spire con- structed. The church was reopened October 3d of the same year. The parsonage was built in 1863, and has been improved several times since. It is a pleasant and convenient residence. The present organization (September, 1880) consists of the following: Rev. Isaac B. Heroy, pastor; Ira Wood, H. R. Taylor, ITanford Barton, L. T. Schultz, Charles Tuthill, and H. C. Hall, stewards; Ira Wood and C. B. Hunter, class-leaders; Ira Wood, II. R. Taylor, H. Barton, A. C. Case, Harrison Howell, L. T. Schultz, John Preston, and H. C. Ilall, trustees ; Lewis T. Schultz, superintendent of Sunday-school. There are 173 com- municants, and 350 volumes in the Sunday-school library. Episcopal Church of Canterbury," and the trustees chosen were William G. Beach, Gilbert C. Barton, Simon Haskins, Amos Van Duzer, Isaac Seaman, George Marriott, Benjamin Defamater, Henry W. Bertholf, and Robert Duncanson. This meeting was held at the school-house of district No. 4. Two organi- zations were thus constituted, and for many years two sets of trustees continued to be appointed, one set to be in charge of the "meeting-room" at Corn- wall Landing, the other of the Methodist Episcopal Church of Canterbury, the result finally being one church having one house of worship. The erection of this took place from 1834 to 1836. The first com- mittee on site was appointed Jan. 6, 1834, and con- sisted of George Marriott and Isaac Seaman. The site secured was the one now occupied by the church in Canterbury, and comprised one and three-quarters acres of land bought of Mrs. Catharine Ring, the deed bearing date April 17, 1834. Jesse IIunter, a member of the church, was the contractor, and it is said that considerable difficulty arose over the execu- THE CORNWALL PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH tion of the contract that was only terminated by a . effected a legal organization May 3, 1855. . The Rev. law-suit, which was decided in favor of Mr. Hunter after he had removed to Homer, Cortland Co.


The house of worship was completed and dedicated near the close of the year 1836. The double organi- zation continued some years longer. The last trus- tees of " the meeting-room" seem to have been chosen Feb. 23, 1839, and consisted of Robert Duncanson


1


and Isaac V. Machett. After that a public discussion arose over the proprietorship of the building at the landing, which was ended by the people maintaining their right to it as a school-building. After sundry changes of loeation and structure it became the public school building of modern times at "the Corners." From this time for several years, 1839 to 1852, the records are defective, and it would hardly appear that the annual elections of trustees took place.


That the legal incorporation had lapsed may be in- ferred from the fact that a new certificate was filed with the county clerk, executed Jan. 27, 1852. The trustees named in the instrument were John Quack- enbush, Daniel Taft, Isaac V. Machett, Caleb L. Wood, and Daniel Secor. From this time the organ- ization was kept up by annual elections. In 1862 the church edifice was thoroughly repaired, many im- provements made, and refurnished throughout. The grading of the grounds and the erection of the wall in front took place at this time.


From the record of the county clerk's office it ap- pears that a change of name took place soon after this general renewal of the edifice,-a fact of which Mr. Browning in his sketch does not seem to have known, as he argues in 1877 that it ought to be done. The new certificate was under the name of "The Meth- odist Episcopal Church of Cornwall," and was exe- cuted June I, 1863. The paper was verified by the signatures of James Fanning and J. W. Lamb.


Daniel Crane was chosen moderator, and Alfred C. Reeves, secretary. The trustees chosen were John Mckibben, David Carson, Jr., James O. Adams, Peter Roe, Stephen C. Gillis, Henry N. Clark, Thomas M. Wiley, Daniel Crane, and James G. Roe. The present pastor of this church furnishes the following sketch :


This enterprise was commenced in 1855 by a few


772


HISTORY OF ORANGE COUNTY, NEW YORK.


persons who deeply felt the importance and the feasi- J. G. Roe, H. B. Adams, A. Palmer, H. Rodermond, bility of establishing a church in this place. At first T. M. Prentiss, W. H. Vail, Henry Hunter, Theodore Brown. Sabbath-school : Superintendent, J. G. Roe; Secretary and Treasurer, Geo. M. Walker ; Librarians, Geo. W. Roome, Jr., and Reeve Ketcham. Ladies' Missionary Society : President, Mrs. E. T. Noble ; Vice-President, Mrs. E. W. Roe; Recording Seere- tary, Mrs. C. H. Vail ; Corresponding Secretary, Miss Maria Couser; Treasurer, Miss Clara Taft. Alaska Brady Club : President, N. B. Chase ; Vice-Presidents, Wm. HI. Carswell, Wm. M. Wyant; Corresponding Secretary, Miss Lilly Roe ; Recording Secretary, Miss Lilly Price ; Treasurer, Reeve Ketcham. they held their meetings in the school-room of Mr. Alfred C. Roe. After a few months, however, they resolved to erect a house of worship, and on March 5, 1856, the present building was dedicated to the ser- vice of the Triune God. On the 16th of the same month the church was organized by a committee from the Presbytery of North River, and consisted of the following persons : Peter Roe, Mrs. Susan E. Roe, Thomas M. Wiley, Mrs. Sarah J. Wiley, Mrs. S. Elizabeth Caldwell, Alfred C. Roe, Mrs. Caroline P. Roe, James G. Roc, Mrs. Caroline M. Roc, Mrs. Mary A. Clark, Amanda Adams, Mrs. Mary J. Jackson, Angelina Clark, Mrs. Rachel Buren, Mrs. Phebe METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH OF MOUNTAIN- VILLE. Griggs, John P. Roe, Mary Johnston.


The first elders chosen were Peter Roe, Thomas M. Wiley, and James G. Roe. Soon after, James O. Adans was elected an additional elder.


The first board of trustees were Rev. Daniel Crane, from Canterbury. It belonged to the same charge Stephen C. Gillis, Peter Roe, Thomas M. Wiley, John MeKebben, David Carson, Jr., James O. Adams, Henry N. Clark, James G. Roe.


Rev. O. II. P. Deyo acted as stated supply from April, 1856, to April, 1857.


Rev. Louis P. Ledoux, D.D., began his ministry in this church in April, 1858; was installed pastor April 19, 1859, and remained in office till Sept. 20, 1865, when, at his own request, the relation was dissolved.


Rev. Joseph H. Robinson acted as stated supply from Dec. 1, 1865, to Oct. 25, 1866, when he was in- stalled pastor. He died in office March 4, 1868.


Rev. John W. Teal acted as stated supply from June 1st to Sept. 17, 1868, when he was ordained and installed pastor. The relation was dissolved at his own request, April 30, 1878.


Rev. George P. Noble acted as stated supply from June 1st to October, 1878, when he was installed pastor.


The session was enlarged in April, 1870, by the election of Stephen B. Young, Harvey B. Adams, and Albert Palmer; and again in April, 1880, by the elec- tion of Wm. II. Vail, Leonard N. Wyant, and T. M. Prentiss to the eldership.


The church building will seat about 600, and the parsonage, situated upon Park Avenue, Cornwall-on- the-Hudson, is roomy and convenient.


The church has received 329 new members upon confession of their faith, and 117 by certificate from other churches. On June 1, 1880, the enrolled mem- bership was 310, of whom 279 were resident.


During the last five years the church has raised $15,772 for home expenses and $2812 for outside be- nevolence.


The house of worship belonging to this church stands upon an elevated ridge in the southwest part of the town near Mountainville, and about four miles


with that of Canterbury for many years, but under the pastorate of Rev. Mr. Browning this connection was dissolved, Cornwall becoming a station, and Mountainville being united with the church at Vail's Gate. The old meeting-house at this place may still be seen at the right of the road. It was built by the liberality of Mr. Henry Wisner, in 1844. The land was donated by Jacob Van Duzer. In 1866-67 a site of abont an acre was secured on a more commanding elevation, and the present building erected at a cost of about 85000. It was dedicated Mareb 20, 1867. The work of the Methodist Church in this vicinity and in the northern part of Monroe has been prose- cuted with considerable vigor for many years. In early movements at Woodbury and Highland Mills the same men seem to have shared largely, and in or- ganizing boards of trustees the same names appear in different certificates. Mountainville is the more modern name of this village. The place was for- merly called Ketchamtown, from the family of that name. A portion of the village, or rather a separate group of residences, farther southeast on the old turn- pike, was called Highlandville.


The present church was incorporated under the name of " The Methodist Episcopal Church of High- landville," by a certificate drawn up at a meeting held in the school-house, March 12, 1845. The pro- ceedings were signed by John Barton and William Taylor, and the trustees chosen were Henry Wisner, Gilbert Barton, William Taylor, Daniel Secor, and .John Barton. The present pastor of the church is Rev. N. S. Tuthill, residing at Vail's Gate.


ST. JOHN'S CHURCH OF CANTERBURY (EPISCOPAL)


The present organization is as follows : Pastor, Rev. was incorporated July 17, 1858. The certificate was signed by Rev. Christopher B. Wyatt, F. A. Barton, and W. H. Bayard. The wardens chosen were Alonzo A. Alvord and William II. Bayard ; the ves- George P. Noble : Session, James O. Adams, Thomas M. Wiley, Jas, G. Roe, HI. B. Adams, S. B. Young, A. Palmer, W. H. Vail, L. N. Wyant, T. M. Prentiss ; Trustees, J. O. Adams, James Couser, S. B. Young, ' trymen were Thomas P. Cummings, Nathaniel P.


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CORNWALL.


Willis, Daniel C. Birdsall, James W. Crissey, Nicho- las Chatfield, Jr., Francis A. Barton, Charles H. Mead, and John Chatfield. On the 31st of the same month the Rev. Mr. Wyatt, under whose labors the movement for organization had been made, was chosen rector of the parish, and at the same meeting a com- mittee was chosen to secure a site for an edifice. In November following the lot upon which the church now stands was purchased, and means adopted to raise the funds necessary to build. The plans sub- mitted by Mr. J. W. Priest, the architect, were adopted. The corner-stone was laid May 10, 1859, by the Right Rev. Dr. Potter, and a contract was subse- quently made with Messrs. Shaw & Sons, of New- burgh, for the erection of the building, with the ex- ception of the tower and the spire. Before the edifice was begun the talented young architect who designed the building had already ceased from his labors on earth.


The west window of the church was contributed by admiring friends as a memorial of him. The build- ing was first used for divine service on Sunday, Nov. 20, 1859. It is a very chaste example of the early English style, substantially built of brick with stone trimmings, strietly correct both in proportion and de- tails, and capable of being rendered truly beautiful by a judicious and not costly employment of color decoration. A melodeon was given by Mr. N. P. Willis. The first service books, communion vessels, etc., were also the gifts of different individuals. In the spring of 1862 the Rev. Mr. Wyatt resigned the pastorship, and was succeeded by the Rev. Edward H. Crissey. The same year a legacy of $2000 was re- ceived from the executors of the late Abraham B. Sands, the interest of which is forever to be appro- priated to the rector of the parish.




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