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It
being one chief e project of ye old deluder, Satan, to keep men from the
knowledge of ye Scriptures, as in former times by keeping him in an
unknown tongue, so in these latter times by persuading from ye use of
tongues, yt so at least ye true since & meaning of ye original might
be clouded by false glosses of saint seeming deceivers, yet learning may
not be buried in ye grave of or fathers in ye church and commonwealth,
the Lord assisting or endeavors,-
It
is therefore ordered, yet every township in this jurisdiction, after ye
Lord hath increased your number to 50 householders, shall then forthwith
appoint one with in their town to teach all such children as shall
resort to him to write & read, whose wages shall be paid either by
ye parents or masters of such children, or by ye inhabitants in general,
by way of supply, as ye major part of those yet orderly prudentials ye
twone shall appoint; provided, those yet send their children be not
oppressed by paying much more ym they can have ym taught for in other
towns; & it is further ordered, yet where any town shall increase to
ye number of 100 families or householders, they shall set up a grammer
school, ye mr thereof being able to instruct youth so far as they shall
be fitted for ye university, provided, yet if any town neglect ye
performance hereof above one year, yet every such town shall pay 5
pounds to ye next school till they shall perform this order. |
