[Chapter 2.]

Passed August 5, 1693.

Be it Enacted by his Excellency the Leiu't Govern^r Councill & Representatives Conve'd in Gen^ll Assembly: And by the Authority of the Same, And it is hereby Enacted & Ordained: That it shall & may be Lawfull for the freeholders, of Every respective Towne Convened, in Publik Towne meeting: as offten as they shall see occassion to make Choice of, & by themselves, or any other Person or Persons by them appointed, to agree with a Minister, or Min'est'rs for the Suppley of the Towne, And what Annuall Sallery shall be allowed him & the Minister, so made Choice of, and agreed with, shall be accounted the Setled Minister of the Towne, And the Selectmen for the time being Shall make rates, and Assesm'ts upon the Inhabitants of the Towne for the paym't of the Min'isters Sallery as afores'd in Such maner & forme as They doe for Defraying of other Towne Charges, which Rates by warrant from a justice of peace, w'th the select men to the Constable or Constables of the Towne, shall be by him or them Collected & payd according to the Direction of the Selectmen for the End afore said, Provided allwayes that this act doe not at all Interfere w'th their Majesties grace & favour in Allowing their Subjects liberty of Contience nor shall any Person under pretence of being of a different perswassion be Exchused from paying towards the Supporte of the Setled Min'ister or Min'isteres of the Towne but only Such as are Conscientiously So; and Constantly attend the publick worship of God on the Lords day according to their owne p'rswassion; And they only Shall be Excused from paying towards the Support of the Min'istrey of the Towne, And it is hereby further Enacted & Ordained, that for the building & repayring of meeting houses, Ministeres houses School houses, And allowing a Sallary to School Master in Each Towne within this Province the selectmen, in the respective Townes, Shall raise money by an Equall rate, an Assesm't upon the Inhabitants, in the Same maner, as in this present act directed for the mainetenance of the Min'ister, And Every Towne within this Province, (Dover onely Excepted Dureing the warr) shall from and after the Publication, here of provide a School, Master for the Supply of the Towne, On Penalty of Ten pounds Annom, for neglect there of: To be paid one halfe to their Maj'ties the other halfe to the poore of the Towne--/

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