USA > Vermont > Windsor County > Woodstock > The valley of the Kedron; the story of the South parish, Woodstock, Vermont > Part 8
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Every meeting had a debate; those participating were called "Gentleman Disputants." There were also recita- tions, orations and original productions. No debate could deal with religion or politics, but having read many of the subjects, it is evident that they got pretty close to them at times. The eternal woman question furnished
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subjects for debate in various forms. This was debated, "Does the genius of males generally by nature exceed that of females." Written in the records by some indignant woman who had peeped "No, you fool." Here is another subject, "Are female minds susceptible of as great im- provement in science and literature as those of males." The minutes say "This subject was ably and coolly sup- ported on the affirmative and contested on the negative and after a lengthy and interesting debate the yeas were 4, nays 5, therefore decided in the negative." Something like the Supreme Court decisions with which we are all familiar. This particular meeting lasted to such a late hour Saturday night, they finally adjourned "For fear of intruding on the Sabbath and each parted with the other with a smile upon his face." Another woman debate: "Is female education as important as male"; again, "Ought a female to share equal with a male in division of prop- erty." It was decided in the affirmative. "Is the education of females as important as that of males." This subject had been debated a few months earlier but it would not down. So the dear men are at it again and the decision is for the education of the females. What an awful word female is! Here is a gem, "Are the pleasures of matrimony greater than those of celibacy." Another, "Have women more in- fluence over men than money."
These men debated other questions beside that of woman. Here are a few of the subjects: "Does cold as a stimulus elevate the human system," "Are distilled liquors more a curse than a blessing," "Ought Congress to prohibit the use of distilled liquors," "Does Philosophy teach man his whole duty," "Ought a Religious test be a necessary
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Members of The Literary Fraternity
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The Literary Fraternity
' qualification for holding office," "Is choice determined by the volition of the mind," "Ought military training be abolished." They voted yes. "Does genius contribute more to the formation of principles than education," "Is the reading of novels commendable," "Are the descendants of Adam subject to punishment because of his transgression," "Ought ministers of the Gospel be taxed," "Can the dif- ferences in the character of nations be attributed to physi- cal causes," "Will Andrew Jackson be elected for a second term." Several times they debated the question of slavery.
A committee was chosen regularly to select topics for debate and report them to the Society who voted to accept or reject them. Once the vote was that question number six should be postponed forever and forever. In 1817 the debate was on the question, "Has Congress the Constitu- tional right to build roads." After some discussion, the members decided that their knowledge of the Constitution was so limited, they could not discuss the question satis- factorily. Such modesty and humility on the part of some of the Lords of Creation is edifying and refreshing and a worthy example for emulation in this day and generation. Another subject :- "Would the prospective canal from Hartford, Conn., to the head waters of the Connecticut River prove injurious to the merchantile interests of the adjacent country." And this: "Has Congress the power to build roads through the States without their consent." This one is good for closing the subjects of debate. "Has Mankind a more given failing than talking too much." Its form of statement is not the purest English.
On March 25th, 1817, the members of the Fraternity who were bent on intellectual improvement decided to
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hold an open meeting which they felt would be conducive to further improvement. A general invitation was given and the records report, "That they were honored with the presence of a large number of respectable hearers." At 1 o'clock the house being filled, both Pit and Boxes, the session opened with a most elaborate program of declama- tions, orations, selections. Only 27 persons performed on this occasion. There was a Salutatory as well as a Valedic- tory address. "Elder I. Baker made a few pathetic remarks to the Fraternity, sent on high his fervent prayer that the divine benediction might rest upon this youthfull So- ciety." They then adjourned. The old meeting house con- tained the "Pit and Boxes." A year later another public meeting was held at the School House. Twenty-eight per- sons took part, speaking on all sorts of subjects, including these two :- "Oration on Female Education" and "On the change which Christianity has effected in the character and condition of Females." This long program was followed by an elaborate Burlesque on Modern Invention. There was not time for all the speakers to be heard, eleven of them had to be silent, but the audience managed to survive a debate and after the society had closed their performance, one of the spectators, "Mrs. Rebecca Lard presented and read an original, ingenius and truly Poetical Hymn to Science and a very handsome and complimentary address to the Fra- ternity for which the Society gave her their vote of Thanks. The hour was very late and the audience somewhat wea- ried. Adjournment took place."
Rebecca Lard was the daughter of Jabez and Priscilla Hammond, pioneer settlers in the South Parish. Rebecca's married name was Laird, but the neighbors pronounced it
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The Literary Fraternity
Lard and so spelt it. Henry Hammond, one of the found- ers of The Fraternity was her brother. Brave Rebecca! To stand up in that man made meeting and say her piece.
Open meetings were held nearly every year. The mem- bers felt that they were seasons of especial edification. Often they invited the ladies to sing and twice at least the Hayden Society furnished music. This is the only men- tion I have ever found of this musical group. In 1829, Mr. McGowan led the singing and in 1830 Mr. Perkins of Windsor led it. W. H. H. Rood who was conducting sing- ing schools along in the 1830's is asked to announce these open meetings. Just what was sung, is not reported for the programs only say music but here are four titles of songs, Vesper Hymn, I Waited Patiently, Strike the Symbol and I Washed My Hands. Elder Hazen of the Christian Church at the Green was a guest a few times and was always thanked for the prayers he offered. Elder Seth Sterling and Elder Jacob Holt were guests also. They prayed in the meetings and were duly thanked. Rev. Sam- uel C. Loveland a well known Universalist minister, on two public occasions, gave addresses.
The Fraternity held special exercises on the deaths of Jefferson and Adams. The inaugural address of John Quincy Adams which advocated internal improvements, such as canals and roads, was the cause of an elaborate ora- tion by Makepeace Ransom who declared that such pro- ceedings would be unconstitutional. The Fraternity de- cided to observe the anniversary of American Independ- ence July 4, 1830. It was Sunday. At a preliminary meeting of the Society, they voted to meet as usual at the school house at one o'clock P. M. and "March in percession to
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The Valley of the Kedron
the meeting house where the parts assigned to the mem- bers would be given." The president of the day was N. Wood. Chauncey Richardson and John Howland were ap- pointed to sit with him on the platform. The exercises were as follows:
Ist. Composition by F. C. Wood.
2nd. Prayer by Elder Sterling.
grd. National Hymn.
4th. Declaration of Independence read by B. F. Rood.
5th. Poem by R. Joslyn (original) .
6th. Oration by W. Bowman.
7th. Prayer by Elder Holt.
8th. Anthem by the Choir. 9th. Benediction.
"The very crowded assembly gave much credit and ap- plause to those who addressed them." They voted to observe the 4th again in 1831 but something happened, the vote was rescinded and there was no celebration. This meeting house where the celebration was held was the old Congre- gational Church. In the description of this public meet- ing, the main floor is called the pit and the seats in the gallery are the boxes. The pit sounds rather theatrical, but this was a good Orthodox Church.
The Fraternity subscribed for various magazines which they auctioned off to the members for the purpose of reading. Those who paid the larger sums were entitled to keep the papers for a longer period. One such auction is reported here. They called it a vendue rather than an auction.
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The Literary Fraternity
Received from B. F. Rood for Museum
191/2 cents
G. Pearson for Traveller
42
cents
66 S. F. Mather for
10 cents
G. S. Ralph
21 cents
J. Howland " Republic of Letters 121/2 cents
The magazines taken at different periods were :- The Port Folio, The Travellar, Annals of Education, Journal of Education, Republic of Letters, The Museum, and The American Journal. These titles are decidedly interesting and some of them sound like our Modern Progressive Edu- cational papers. I wrote Harold Rugg of the Baker Library at Dartmouth College for information about them. His reply says that The Traveller which at one time was called The Travellar and Spirit of the Times was a chronicle of the turf, agriculture, field sports, literature and the stage. It was published in New York City from 1831 on. The Port Folio was published in Philadelphia from 1801 for several years by Oliver Oldschool, whose real name was Joseph Devine, a rather important literary man of those early days who lived at one time at Walpole, N. H., and collaborated with Chief Justice Royal Tyler in his writ- ings. The Port Folio was a literary magazine. The Repub- lic of Letters was a republication of Standard literature and was started in New York in 1834. Mr. Rugg found nothing about The American Journal and Annals of Edu- cation, but these magazines were being taken by the So- ciety before its demise in 1835. They also bought books and advocated the establishment of a Library for their own use, despite the fact that there was one in South Woodstock where books were available for the payment of small fees.
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A further word about The Traveller; the Society was taking it in 1829 and selling the reading of it to members so there is an error about the Publication beginning in 1831.
On March 28, 1835, the Society adjourned until Septem- ber of that year, but for some unknown reason they did not meet until November 25th, when there was a goodly attendance as there was at each meeting in December. On the 11th of December, Ammi Willard was elected presi- dent. Daniel Ransom vice-president, O. J. Wait, critic, Benj. L. Holt, secretary, John Ralph and O. J. Wait com- mittee on questions.
I copy the next record verbatim :-
Saturday, Dec. 26th, 1835.
"Society met pursuant to adjournment.
ist heard a composition from J. Ralph.
2nd elected E. Wood a member of this Society and the oath administered.
grd took up the question, Would it be for the interest of Vermont to lessen the number of their representatives to the legislature of the State.
4th divided the house as follows Affirmative Negative
Jonathan Ralph
C. Richardson
G. P. Kingsley E. Wood
B. L. Holt
5th question decided in the Affirmative.
6th G. P. Kingsley orator elected.
7th elected C. Richardson Lecturer
8th voted that we adjourn one week at the usual time and place Benj. L. Holt Secretary"
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The Literary Fraternity
There are no more records. The meetings stopped short, never to go again. The men present at this meeting were substantial folks. The Willard family were most outstand- ing and one of them was president when the end came.
Now for a brief word about the young men who first started this Society in the interest of culture. J. V. S. Smith went to Boston in 1818 to study at Harvard where he be- came a physician. When the Medical School opened in Woodstock in 1829 he was the lecturer on Physiology and Anatomy for the first quarter. He travelled extensively in Europe; visited the Holy Land. He was elected Mayor of Boston and was, for a time, Editor of the Boston Medical Journal. He made a trip to the Pacific coast when it was a difficult and dangerous journey. He made generous gifts of books to the Social Library of South Woodstock. Elon Farnsworth went to Detroit to live and distinguished him- self as an educator. C. B. L. Delano settled in Lockport, N. Y., where he practiced medicine many years. Henry C. Hammond studied law and moved to Indiana where he followed his profession. Willard Bowman studied medi- cine and lived in Charlestown, Mass .; Oliver Williams Drew became a Doctor and settled in Waterbury, Vt .; the Ransom boys were gifted. Royal Makepeace practiced law in Woodstock. Frederic entered Dartmouth College where he was known as a youth of fine mind. He became very ill in his senior year and died.
During the twenty years of the existence of the Literary Fraternity, it enrolled nearly one hundred and fifty mem- bers. It had its ups and downs. The faithful grew discour- aged occasionally, quorums would not be present, and then would come a decided revival of interest and the addition
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of new members. I wish that a diary or letter or document would come to light telling why they ceased to function. Apparently youthful enthusiasm had then become middle aged conservatism and the enthusiasts of 1815 had found homes and work in other places.
CHAPTER VI
Woodstock Social Library
JAMES SLAYTON of Slayton Hill, South Woodstock Parish, dreamed of a Library for his neighborhood and he can- vassed the region, hoping to establish it in School District No. 17, but the response was not adequate, though he found a co-operative spirit in the person of John Simonds the School Master of No. 17, which was the Ralph and Slayton district.
In the deep snows of 1796 and 1797, this undefeated man, accompanied by this teacher, tramped to the tiny village of South Woodstock and the homes round about until he found enough people who felt the same need for books which he did and on the 26th of January 1797, they met and organized the Woodstock Social Library. They drew up a Compact and By-Laws for the regulation of the Library. Using the word Compact is significant. Some of these men had the blood of the Pilgrim Fathers flowing in their veins and that Compact drawn up and signed in the cabin of the Mayflower, the first written Constitution in the history of the world, had a special meaning for this little group in the wilderness, who were laying the foundation of an organization for intellectual development.
This Compact states :- "Knowledge is a Divine Lumi-
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nary to enlighten our Path and Direct our Course in the Pursuit of Happiness the ultimate End of all Men. And as the Institution of Social Libraries are an excellent means to promote usefull Knowledge as well as of diffusing the Blessings of friendship, Intercourse and rational Enter- tainment amongst Mankind. Therefore we whose names are hereto Subscribed do covenant and agree to form our- selves into a Society by the Name of the Woodstock Social Library and as no Society can long Subsist without proper Laws and Regulations we do agree to the folowing By- Laws by which the Society of such and every Member thereof Shall be governed." The handwriting of this an- cient document is excellent, the use of capital letters fre- quent, the lack of punctuation almost complete, the letter S. is the long one used in that early period and the spell- ing not quite in harmony with our present day spelling books.
The By-Laws provide for the usual officers and three censors. The Librarian is held responsible for all damages to the books in his keeping though "Extraordinary Cas- ualties excepted." A proprietor who damages a book is to be held responsible for that damage. "All Stated or special meetings shall be warned by Pooting notice on the usual Place near the South Meeting house at least seven days before the Meeting." Was there a sort of bulletin board near that old Church on which notices were posted? It seems so. "The Censors shall hear all Complaints and re- dress all Grievances in the Society according to the true intent of the by-Laws it shall likewise be their duty an- nually to inspect all the Books belonging to the Library and take an exact account of the scituation which they
1
COMPACT
الجعة فطيطية
OF THE
NEED OCH SOCIAL, LIBRY
Unter is Heavens first Law
Just confirmed
MDCCXCVII
110.
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Woodstock Social Library
find them in which they shall Deliver in writing to the Librarian." "Each person becoming a Proprietor of the Library shall pay $1.00 and each quarter 25 cents." These amornts were changed several times and the $1.00 finally became $2.50. There are many more rules and regulations This most important document is signed by Abm P. Mather Secretary. This man Mather was descended from the famous Cotton Mather family of Massachusetts and the blood of those Mathers still trickles in their descend- ants who live in our midst.
It was a thrilling experience to have placed in my hands the old record book of the Social Library with its won- derful Compact and Laws and the record of the organi- zation meeting of the Library. These items were copied into this book in 1819 from an earlier record book which I fear is lost. There are no records of meetings from Jan. 26th, 1797, until the year 1816. There seems no doubt that the Secretary had access to the early records. He says so but he never copied them. This significant statement is appended to the Compact and By-Laws. "The foregoing Compact was first ratified and confirmed on the twenty sixth Day of Jana A L one thousand Seven hund and ninety seven. A true copy transcribed from Library Book Done January 9th 1819."
Attest Abm Mather Sect
The next important statement is as follows:
"Woodstock Jany. 26th 1797
At a Meeting of the Proprietors of the Woodstock Social Library the votes were Passed viz
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The Valley of the Kedron
OFFICERS
JABEZ COTTLE ESQ.
President
MR. RICHARD RANSOM
Tresurer
JNº SIMONDS
Secretary
MR. ELISHA PERKINS
Librarian
DEA. JOSEPH COTTLE
MR. HUMPHREY ROOD
Censors
MR. SYLVESTER EDSON
Voted, The Several officers perform their Duty without Pay from the Society. That the Censors be Comitee for Furnishing Books Paper &c for the use of the Society the Year ensuing. That this Meeting Be Disolved.
Attest JNº SIMONDS, Sect."
"A True transcript from Librarians Book Done Jany 17th 1818
Attest ABm P. MATHER Sect.
The Cottle name is prominent in the early days of South Woodstock and we often meet Joseph but this is the only time he is called Deacon. Since there are no rec- ords from this one of 1797 until 1816 it is hoped that the first record book may come to light from which Mather copied the preceding records. It is passing strange that he did not transcribe all the reports of the Annual Meetings when he had the book in his possession. He was secretary in 1816, 17 and 18. From 1816 to 1877 two Annual re- ports are missing but from 1877 to 1888 there is only a vast silence. In this latter year, a meeting was held when I. T. Fullerton was elected president, P. C. Kendall, Secretary, L. M. Hubbard, Librarian. The censors were J. K. Hoadley, R. M. Slayton and L. M. Hubbard. Hubbard offers to have
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Woodstock Social Library
the Library located in his house if he can have the privi- lege of reading the books.
At the meeting in 1819 the Proprietors voted to have printed 100 copies of the Compact with a Catalogue of the books. Richard Ransom was appointed to get the material ready for publication. At this meeting the Librarian was ordered to "prize" all damage to the books and to make the necessary collections. In 1837, another Catalogue was printed and at the meeting in 1845, it was voted to find out what the cost would be for doing a Catalogue and if the rate were within their means, then one more should be printed. It is significant that all through the years new books were bought with great regularity. When books had been well read and showed wear, they were sold and the money used to buy new ones. In 1834 they voted to sub- scribe for some periodical. There were various fines levied, -they called them taxes,-the Proprietors had quite a facility for ignoring them, and when the amounts became excessive for the times, a vote would be taken at the an- nual meeting to abate all above 50 cents. This was done on several occasions and once they abated all above 25 cents. Apparently there were preachers or elders in South Woodstock at an early date and they were granted the privileges of the Library without expense. The names of these ministers will appear in the chapter devoted to the Churches. Some persons living at a distance were permitted to keep books for a longer period than those nearby. At the meeting of 1831 it was voted that Otis Darling of Pom- fret should be permitted to take the book telling of the Lewis and Clark Expedition and he should pay the usual price for so doing. Later on, non-residents by paying in
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The Valley of the Kedron
advance a small annual fee could get books from the Library. This delightful item appears in 1836. "Persons can take out two or three novels at one time, provided the pages do not exceed 700." In 1857 the taxes against the widow of James Anthony were abated and in 1864 the widow of Dr. Bowman was given the free use of the Library for one year.
Where the books were kept in the early years no man knoweth. In the year 1849 they were moved to the store of Oliver Bailey. In 1875 they were in the home of J. N. Smith. There is an occasional mention of a meeting at the Library room. Once it is voted to buy a lock for the room. A good many annual meetings were held at the Ransom Counting room, or the Ransom store. Once they met at the Green Vestry. Once at the schoolhouse, once at the E. Woods' store. They may have met many times at these places, for it is the exception to tell where the meetings were held. The year 1850 seems to have had some excite- ment and dissension. "A special Committee was appointed to look after the Safe Keeping of the books." Now the by- laws made this the explicit task of the Librarian and Cen- sors. The Librarian and treasurer resigned at once in a protest; the sequel of this action is not revealed. At the Annual Meeting of 1851 the Rev. D. M. Reed, Minister of the Universalist Church at the Green gave an address on Reading.
The Library was remembered by many friends with gifts of books. In 1854 Gaius Perkins of South Woodstock and H. B. Walton of Montpelier made such contributions as did James Slayton the father of the Library. The annual meeting of 1857 says, "That in the past two years, valua-
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Woodstock Social Library
ble gifts of books have been received from the Hon. Jacob Collamer, U. S. Senator, the Hon. Andrew Tracey Esq, the Hon. Justin Morrill M. C. These are very handsome and useful additions to our Library which are not only recorded in this book but a mark of friendship is made on our minds that time will not deface in our day." "We have also received from the Hon. J. V. C. Smith Esq, Mayor of the City of Boston valuable additions to our Library. Although he left our village, forty years ago, he has not forgotten his old friend the Library." There were other donors of books whose names were not recorded. The 1850's were not only notable for the gifts of books, but they began to let a few women become proprietors. Here is this honor roll. Fannie Hammond, Martha Putnam, Patty Benjamin, Azuba Farnsworth and sisters, Frances Hemem- way and Betsy Wood. During the active life of the Library 190 men were proprietors. Some of these men lived at the Green, some in Hartland and Bridgewater. The majority at South Woodstock.
James Slayton died in 1857 and the annual meeting of · that year recorded its resolutions of respect. I quote :- "Since our last annual meeting, we have lost the last origi- nal proprietor who took an active part in establishing the South Woodstock Social Library. In this place our friend and the friend of mankind, James Slayton was the first one that moved to call attention of the inhabitants to the importance of establishing a Public Library here more than sixty years ago. Mr. Slayton with the assistance of John Simonds who was then teaching in the School dis- trict on Slayton Hill waded through the snow in the dead of winter. They went from house to house in the then
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