1st Congregational society, $27.88 2d Congregational society, 4.39 Calvinist Baptist, society, 13.88 Union Baptist, society, 16.12 Episcopalian society, 9.64 1st Universalist society, 4.21 2d Universalist society, 10.31 Methodist society, 1.43 The round total was set down at $88.00. The 2d Congregational society dropped out of the list in 1851. The last allowance to this society was fifty-six cents. The town report of the year 1853, contained the following and last list of apportionments of parsonage money: Congregational society, $30.09 Union Baptist society, 19.04 Calvinist Baptist society, 15.72 Episcopalian society, 4.40 1st Universalist society, 7.57 2d Universalist society, 7.10 Methodist society, 4.18 The total of this list was also set down in round numbers as $88. The above figures are suggestive in presenting a view of the relative strength of the different societies at the specific times stated. It is interesting to note that certain of the societies soon lost all traces of even a nominal existence, after the suspension of the parsonage revenues. For some time they had kept up a show of vitality by making their portion of the parsonage fund a nucleus of an outlay for a few days’ preaching in the year. In the march of the years, the old peculiarities of local religious life have given place to new features and forms. It is needless to say that some of the old formalities died hard. Innovations were distrusted. The experience in view of proposed changes was substantially uniform in all the churches. Even the staid Episcopalians were ruffled by unaccustomed ceremonies. When, for the first time, the choir of the Episcopal church chanted the _Gloria Patri_, which before had been read only, an indignant lady abruptly shut her prayer book in unfeigned disgust. The greater jealousy formerly existing between different denominations is well known. It is said this inharmonious feeling was once sought to serve an innovating use. A person prominent in musical circles sought to influence the leading minds of the Congregational church in favor of the purchase of a bass viol. As an extreme argumentative resort he suggested, “The poor, miserable Baptists have got one.” Tradition, however, doesn’t relate the effect of this suggestion. COMMERCIAL.