Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1871-11-15


tants. OF this record he says.
1t contains the age of all the decedents
their age at death, their position as members
or not, of an evangelical church OF. il
under twenty years, the position of theil
parents as members, or not, of an evangeli
cal church
The whole number Of the deaths given ir
this record Is 33G. OF these, 2O2 were over
20 years OF age, and no church member died
under 20 years Of age Of these 2O2. g(
were members Of an evangelical church, and
Il2 were not, though at least % of these left
comforting evidence TO their evangelical
friends that they died in the exercise of faith
in our Lord Jesus Christ
OF the 80 church members % were Con
gregatlOnalists. The others were BapUists
and Mcthodists in nearly equal numbers
with some Free-will Baptists and EpiscopaI-
lans. The average age of the Congregation-
alists at death is GAS years OF all the
other church members. 81 25 of all the 80
church members, 62.0S; of all the ll2 who
were not members Of any evangelical church
~ D years. The average gain of life for
members of the Congregational church is
% years for all the other church mem
bers, u. O3 for ali the 90 church members
over those who belonged to no evangelical
church, - IS years to each.
The number Of these 80 church members
who lived to be over 90 years Of age is ; !;
Of the ll2 who were not church members, , ;
Of church members who lived to be over
80 years Of age. Is d; Of the others, Il of
church members wto lived to be over 10
years Of age, II Of others, u of church
members who lived 10 be over 60 years Of
age, 55; OF others, 43 The whole number
Of church members who died under 90 years
Of age IS 3j of others, 90; of church mem
bers who died under 30 years Of age, is p {;
Of others, So; Of church members who died
under 40 years OF age, is j. of others, 46
Of church members who died under 30 years
of age, is 10 Of others, 33. Reducing the
calculation, SO as to show what would be
the proportion Of deaths of these two classes
Of persons. IN one hundred who die at these
different ages, the result IS, that out Of Cne
hundred persons who live 10 be over 90 wears
oI age, ! are church members, % are not /:
OF LOO who live to be over ~ years of age,
67 are church members, 33 arc not of 100
who live TO be over 20 years Of age, 80 are
church members, 81 are not of 100 who
live 10 be over 90 years of age. e are church
members 30 are not. Out Of 100 deaths
Lu6er 90 years Of age, 80 are church mem
bers, IL are not; outof 100 deaths under 50
years Of age, 81 are church members G3 are
not out Of 100 deaths under 40 years of
age, y are church members, IS are not
out OF 100 deaths under 30 years Of age, p
are church members, - are not
These figures are intensely significant and
when it Is conceded, as 1t must be, that
some church members are very deficient in
living By God word, and some who are not
church members do this very scrupul0usly IN
many respects, II appears JustIhable 70 say
that the chances of life from twenty wears
old ana upwards, are at least two t. one
may we not say, more tuan two % one lin
favor Of those who keep the commandments
Of God.
We are not disposed to detract from any
real value which this record may have, but
He think it must be obvious to Mr. Fcrrin
himself upon further reflection, that be gives
it much too great significance. Tie dart
are altogether insufficient to safely warrant
any conclusion from them, even a. to the
town of Hinesburgh. A most essential fact
is wanting in the first instance. viz the
Of evangelical Christians to the
whole number Of inhabitants Of the town
The figures. with this element wanting. are
Just as likely to lead to a wrong conclusion as
to J right one. If Mr.. Ferrin should select
two churches in bis town, and tell us that ten
persons died 10 a single year from one church
and only i've from the other, it would he
obvious that unless he also told us what the
membership of each church was. we should
nave little confidence in his deduction that
the rate Of mortality in one church was
twice as great as in the other. The fact.
too, that persons become Christians at all
,ges, and tile relative proportion between
church members and those not church mem
bers is continually changing, not only as to
the whole population but as to those be-
tween any Tart .cular a-os. seems to be over
looked by tie writer and yet these two
acts seem absolutely essential to any safe
,ouclusions based on mortality record.
We suspect Mr. Ferrin would not claim
hat Congregationalists live longer than the
members Of other churches, yet bis figures
asst as clearly prove that as they prove any
.hing This result, if nothing else, ought to
lavc led him to see that the conclusions to
which his figures seem to have led him, were
Utterly Enthusiastically.
While we have given 50 much space to
,Ir. Ferrin's article, we find room for some
# his conclusions which are certainly sound
although if he means by . evangelical, -
or any other particular
OF denominations Of Christians,
We so far dissent from these conclusions:
These figures 90 far to prove that the pre-
,epts Of the Bible are in harmony with the
avs Of nature. They have one origin, one
Author, and they work together for mans
rood. and the Creators honor. The Bible
Is good for man, for families, and so for
ocieties and States The best condition OF
nan comes from the keeping OF 1T; the best
-esuts come from the most evangelical, the
most rigid views and practice in regard to
The philanthropist can benefit the world
5v encouraging the greatest reverence for
he Bible lie does positive evil to men
when he weaken9 their esteem for 1t, or their
obedience to t.
There Is, even as regards physical and
temporal interests, something actual, gen
nine. and valuable that comes out of our
church membership. Low as the standard
# Christian living Is, it is worth something.
Tmperfect as our churches are, the world Is
he better for them. Their attachment to
the Bible is not merely a show, sham,
sentiment
II the imperfect obedience these church
gave to the Bible added more than
twelve years to their average length Of life,
and preserved 50 many Of their children,
What might be expected if all should keep,
perfectly keep, and train their households 60
keep. ali the perfect law Of God ?
The whole life OF Christ stands between
two great spheres Of temptation. The lorty
days in the wilderness and the midnight IN
the garden of Gethsemane are as two great
- ..o- oF en+ranco IN hrs ministry and