CHAP. XIII. Literature and Religion. CHAP. XIII. An Act for the support of Literature and § 1. B Religion. E it enacted by the Governour and Council and assembled, That the agents for this state, who are now Powers of or hereafter may be appointed to settle and obtain Commissionthe balance due to this state from the United States, ers. on account of advancements made by this state, for general defence, during the late war, be, and they are hereby authorized to receive the same in cash, stock of the United States, or other public securities. § 2. Be it further enacted, That the aforesaid Appropriabalance, when received, shall be, and the same is tion. hereby appropriated, for the support of Religion and Literature in this State, in the manuer hereafter provided. tion to Presby terians. § 3. Be it further enacted, That one third part of Appropriawhat shall be received, on account of said balance, be, and the same hereby is appropriated, for the use and benefit of the Presbyterian or Congregational denomination of Christians, to be by them applied for the support of the Gospel in their respective societies, in proportion to the amount of their lists which shall then have been last perfected; and the Treasurer of this state for the time being, is hereby authorized to receive and transfer the same to said societies, in proportion to their lists as aforesaid. 64. Be it further enacted, That one seventh part To Episcopal of what shall be received on account of said balance, ians. be and the same is hereby appropriated for the use and benefit of the Episcopal denomination of Christians, in this state; and the Trustees for receiving donations for the support of a Bishop, are hereby authorized to receive and hold the same for the benefit of said fund. § 5. Be it further enacted, That one eighth part of To Baptists. what shall be received on account of said balance, be and the same is hereby appropriated for the use and benefit of the denomination of Christians called Baptists, to be by them applied for the support of the Gospel in their several societies; and Samuel Beckwith, Elisha Cushman, Nathaniel J. Adams, James Treat, David Silliman, Josias Byles, Rufus Babcock, Ephraim Bound, Asahel Chapman, and Samuel Williams, be and they are hereby constituted Trustees, To Methodists. To Yale College. Balance unappropriated. CHAP. XIII. Literature and Religion. and made a body politic and corporate by the name of the Baptist's Trustees, with full powers to fill all vacancies in their own body; and they are hereby authorized to receive said sum, and the same to transfer and apply for the use and benefit of said societies, in proportion to their respective lists, or in any other way or manner they may judge just and reasonable. § 6. Be it further enacted, That one 12th part of what shall be received on account of said balance, be and the same is hereby appropriated for the use and benefit of the denomination of Christians called Methodists, to be by them applied for the support of the gospel in their several societies in this state; and Ralph Hurlbut, Jonathan Nichols, Jun. Alpheus Jewet, William Lyon, Elijah Sherman, Aaron Hunt, and Samuel Frothingham, be and they are hereby constituted Trustees, and made a body politic and corporate, by the name of the Methodist's Trustees, with full power to fill all vacancies in their own body; and they are hereby authorized to receive said sum and the same to transfer and apply for the use and benefit of said societies, in proportion to their respective lists, or in any other way or manner they may judge just and reasonable. 57. Be it further enacted, That one seventh part of what shall be received on account of said balance, be and the same is hereby appropriated to and for the use and benefit of Yale College, to be by the corporation of said College applied for the purpose of erceting necessary buildings for the accommodation of the students of said College, and other necessary and important objects connected with that Institution. § 8. Be it further enacted, That the unappropriated balance, when received, shall be and remain in the treasury of this state. General Assembly, October Session, 1816. Attest. MAY SESSION, 1817. CHAP. I. An Act securing equal rights, powers, and privileges to Christians of every denomination in this State. § 1. BE E it enacted by the Governour and Council and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, That whenever any person belonging to any society, or denomination of Christians in this State, shall choose to separate himself from such society, or denomination, and join himself to any other society of a different denomination, he shall, on lodging a certificate thereof, with the Town Clerk of that town in which he resides, belong to such society, or denomination to which he has chosen to join himself, and shall thereafter be exempted from being taxed by the society from which he has separated himself, for any future expences which may be incurred by said last mentioned society. Certificates to be lodged with town clerks. § 2. Be it further enacted, That each and every Societies ausociety of Christians in this State of whatever de- thorized to tax themselves, nomination, shall have authority to lay taxes for and to enjoy maintaining and supporting their respective ministers, equal privileand for building and repairing their Meeting-Houses, ges. for the public worship of God, and shall have and enjoy the same and equal powers, rights and privileges, to every effect, intent and purpose whatever. § 3. Be it further enacted, That an Act, entitled General Assembly, May Session, 1817. Attest. |