ficient maintenance, to be paid by the society. If a society be without a minister for a year, or years, the general assembly will appoint a sum to be paid by such society, and to be disposed of for the use of the ministry in such society.

It is incumbent upon the society's committee to see that these duties are performed, and that the tax is speedily collected and paid, viz. within two months after the salary shall have become due.

All funds, estates, and donations, given for the support of the ministry, are under the care and management of the committee, who are accountable, and are empowered to make all proper contracts, and to use all proper and necessary measures to accomplish the purpose of the trust.

Non-resident proprietors of lands, lying in parishes containing more than one society, are to pay the tax on such lands to the society which is lowest in the list, if that society supports its minister by tax, according to law.

Such societies, as are unable to maintain a minister, may yet, having obtained leave of the general assembly, perform similar duties, and enjoy similar privileges, so far as to obtain the preaching of the Gospel, and accomplish other necessary

purposes.

In parishes, containing more than one society, each is constituted by the enrolment of the names of its members with its clerk.

A considerable number of the towns in the state contain each but one society. Such towns are invested with all the preceding powers and privileges. In all such cases the functions of the officers of the society are performed by those who hold the corresponding town offices. Thus the select-men perform the duties of a society's committee.

All churches and congregations, which form themselves into bodies for the maintenance and support of the public worship of God, have the same powers and privileges for building and repairing churches, and for every other ecclesiastical purpose, as the societies constituted by law.

Whenever a society shall, by a lawful vote, declare it necessary to build a church, the place on which it shall stand is to be fixed by the court of common pleas; and if a society, 2 c

VOL. IV.

or any part of it, proceed to build before they make application to said court, they are to be fined one hundred and thirtyfour dollars.

If, after the place is fixed, the society neglect to build the church, this court is to notify the negligence to the general assembly, who will order a sufficient tax to be laid on the society, and direct the money to be laid out for this

purpose. After societies are formed, churches erected, and ministers settled, the law, for the farther support of public worship, and for securing the quiet enjoyment of the sabbath, requires all persons to attend the private duties of religion, and on public worship, if there be any such worship, on which they can conveniently and conscientiously attend. As there are churches everywhere in the state, not more than five or six miles asunder, inconvenience can rarely be pleaded in ordinary circumstances. The law also forbids all secular business and diversion; travelling, except for necessary or charitable purposes; assembling in companies; going to taverns, and receiving those who go; setting up warnings, or notifications; and serving civil processes on the sabbath. It also forbids all interruptions or disturbances of public worship, and all rude behaviour during its celebration. The penalties, on which these offences are forbidden, are included between half a dollar and thirty-four dollars.

Grand jurors, constables, and tithing-men, are to inspect the public behaviour of all persons on the sabbath, and due presentment make of all profanations and breaches of the sabbath.

Parents and guardians are to correct their children for such offences, on penalty of half a dollar.

Assistants, or justices of the peace, are to apprehend offenders upon sight or knowledge; to examine, and, if need be, to command any person to seize, arrest, and secure any travellers on the sabbath, and to hold them till judgment be had in the case.

Constables, sheriffs, and grand jurors, are to apprehend, without warrant, and to carry before a justice of the peace, all offenders against this law.

Persons, refusing to obey the commands of these officers,

or neglecting to afford them their utmost assistance to apprehend and secure any offenders against this law, are subjected to the same penalties as when refusing to assist sheriffs and constables in the ordinary execution of their offices.

Sheriffs, constables, and indifferent persons are empowered, on warrant, to pursue and apprehend offenders against this law anywhere within the limits of the authority of the magistrate granting the warrant. No appeal lies from the sentence for breaches of this act.

I am, Sir, &c.

LETTER V.

Vindication of the Establishment of the Public Worship of God by Law.

DEAR SIR;

IN the preceding Letter I have given you, if I mistake not, a complete account of what has been often, though improperly, called the Ecclesiastical Establishment of Connecticut. This phrase, as applied to other countries, has usually, if not always, denoted the establishment of a national, or state church; or the establishment of exclusive privileges in the possession of one class of Christians. To Connecticut, therefore, it can have no proper application; because in this state all classes of Christians are placed on the same level. Formerly the case was different. A religious establishment existed in the colony of Connecticut, antecedently to the revolution; and gave exclusive privileges to the Congregationalists; the class of people, by whom it was originally settled. This has been changed for the system, detailed above. Whatever advantages, or disadvantages, therefore, may be supposed to attach to religious establishments in the appropriate sense, they can have only a partial relation to the ecclesiastical system of Connecticut. The principal arguments in favour of such establishments, and the principal objections against them, can be applied to it only in the same imperfect manner. In my own view the system might, in better language, be styled "The legal establishment of the public worship of

God in this state."

I have brought all the parts of this system into one view, because they are all parts of a single design, naturally expressed by the phrase, adopted in the preceding sentence, and because I wished you to see them in their connection with each other. In this scheme you will see the whole coun

try formed into religious congregations, styled ecclesiastical societies. These societies are vested with ample powers to tax themselves, to collect taxes, to hold property, to receive donations, and to manage their property for the purpose of building and repairing churches, and maintaining the public worship of God. This worship they are required to attend, chu ches they are required to build, and ministers they are required to settle and support. In doing these several things they are secured, so far as may be, against intrusion, opposition, interruption, and even indecency from others. The great object in view, the public worship of God, is required, provided for, enforced, and defended. Some of the means, by which it is to be accomplished, are pointed out; and all; which can consist with the certain attainment of the object, are left to the societies themselves.

You cannot but have perceived, that all classes of Christians are here invested by law with the same privileges. You must also have perceived, that ample provision is made for all those changes of opinion, and those scruples of conscience, which, where they honestly exist, are entitled to tenderness and respect; for which men very jealously claim regard; and which, therefore, demand regard from every wise legislature.

If it be admitted, as by the sentence of both reason and revelation it ought to be, that a legislature has a right to establish the worship of God; it will also be admitted, that the legislature of Connecticut has adopted a wise and liberal system for this important purpose. They have done most of that which is necessary, and nothing which is not necessary, to this end. So far as is consistent with the design, they have also placed every thing in the hands of those, who are chiefly concerned; and left them to the guidance of their own choice. At the same time they have made them responsible to the proper tribunal, the supreme authority of the state.

There are two classes of men, who contend against the interference of the legislature for the support of public worship: those, who consider it as inexpedient; and those, who regard it as unlawful.

On this subject it would be easy to fill a volume. It cannot be supposed, that I can here discuss it at length; nor