Caledonia County Sunday School records

This Society was formally organized in 1840, apparently by the Caledonia Association. The history presented below is transcribed from the first report of the Society to the Massachusetts Sunday School Society, March 1, 1841, by the Rev. John H. Worcester, pastor of the North Congregational Church from 1839 to 1846 (Folder 2). The Caledonia County Sunday School Society maintained a close connection with the Massachusetts Sunday School Society. More active than the Vermont Society, Massachusetts published annual reports of its affiliates. This was one of the reasons given for the connection in a draft of a letter to the Vermont Chronicle (Folder 4). The date the Society disbanded is unknown.

"The constitution of the Cal. Co. Conf. of chhs [churches] was adopted in convention Oct. 1834 and its first annjual meeting held June 1835. From the first the cause of S.S.s has held a prominent place in the attention of this conf.

"According to the 8th Article of the Constitution the Semiannual meeting in Oct. of each year is to be devoted to the promotion of the various public charities of the day and conf is to act as a Soc. aux. [Social auxiliary?] to the various religious Soc's to whose funds the churches may choose to contribute.

"Among then [sic] public charities of the day the cause of S. S. instruction held a prominent place in the attention of the conf. at their Semiannual meeting though it is believed that conf. never acted as an auxiliary to any S.S. Soc. either by reports or by pecuniary aid, nor did the duties of the Sec. for S.S.'s extend beyond the preparation of a report and the introduction of the subject by some suitable remarks at the Semiannual meeting.

"At the meeting of conf. in Oct. 1839 an agent was appointed to present the cause of S.S. instruction in the several chhs. in the county by exchanges, and a cmee [committee] was also appointed to mature [?] and report at the next Annual meeting a plan for a more efficient organization in behalf [of] this great object.

"Accordingly at the annual meeting in June 1840 this cmee reported a plan which was adopted by conf. and is as follows.

* 1st. That this conf. become a S.S. Soc. Aux. to the Mass. [Massachusetts] S.S. Soc.

* 2 That the S.S. Anniversay be held in connection with the meeting of the conference in June.

* 3. That it be the duty of the S.S. Sec. to make report annually to the Mass. S.S.S. and to this conf. and also to act as general agent for Conference in promoting the cause of SS. instruction in this county.

* 4. That there be a standing S.S. Com. of 3 of whom the S.S. Sec. shall be one.

"Such then is the present organization of this Conference for the promotion of the cause of S.S. instruction -- And as an auxiliary of the Mass. S.S. Soc. The present is our first anniversary."