St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1873-11-28
ST. Suhnsburn Galedonian.
st. John,nury, VT. Friday, Nov. rs. 1873.
How Much has been Gained.

discussed 10y the Evangelical Alliance.
which lately met in this city. there was
none that awokc more interest or gen
uinc feeling thar "Chri>tian Unity 1t
was Il topic which. under the Circum-
stances. naturally came first to hand.
and which accompanied the other topics
all through the programme. 1t WAS re
cognizrd. indeed. as the root of the
whole enterprise. and it gave occasion
for the expression and demonstration
of Il great deal of true Christian feeling.
More than that. the vast numbers of
people who listened to these express
ions. and the still larger Numbers who
read the report of them in the nrw>pa-
perS. gave II hearty ''amcn t" them all.
Now. there ought to come ont OF all
this some high practical result but we
fear that it will he Il long time coming.
The first conclusion that the outsid"
world arrives ut. is. that the recognition
of all the Sect$ by each, as Christian,
and aS possessing real unity of spirit
and life. is an open confession that moth
ing but non-cSscntial questions and
opinions keep the ScctS from actual uni
ty. 1t j. Il declarations. emphasized i'll
many notable WAYS, that all the >ccta
rian quarrclS of the past, and all the
sectarian differences of the present. re-
late. to matters that do not touch the
essentials of Christian salvation and
Christian character. fit does not mean
exactly this. it does not mean anything.
If i: does not mean exactly this. then
all the words that were uttered with
such show of carmcStnc>S. and cnd"r>-
eel with such rounds of applause. were
a cheat 80 much has been gained
and. this gained. we have Il right to ask
that the natural consequences of tllr
step shall not hc hindcrcd ol set aside.
The first natural consequence Is that nn
that shuts ont Il Christian from its fell
loW>hip. and mat every sect i bound
To give the same latitude 81 opinion
within its communion. on all mum-,>>cl-
tial questions. that i; yields t" other
Scct> Now let H. see how much real
sincerity there has been in the drclar;t-
tionS 50 cI"qucntly made ard reiterated
and popularity responded to i'll the
meetings of the. Allaurc
, Another natural consequence j. the
consolidation of all the ~cct> il th"~,. 10
raliric> where. 10y iIipl"Itinn # See
tartan churches. Christian work j. fee
Idle. AMI Christina enterprise Is burden
od with poverty and poisoned lay icHl-
ousic> and competitions. W" spent the
last summer in u country town ""!Italn-
ing mann families If intelligence and
culture. supported 10y IN Interesting
and thrifty hu>handrl. 1t had tW"
Presbyterian churches. tw" meetings of
the progressive and the OF
one Methodist church. and one
Episcopal. With Ill this machinery. it
could hardly h" claimed that there WIS
ail a'lIN" iHl'I'S' ia i''l-'""N "Hii> III
the town. Ah" me i''I N"> patent lil'it
not one of those churches WAS either
we'll attended "l well supported. The!
were feeble Struggling chHr'hrS. every
on" "i them amt III least on" "l them
went outside tor funds to keep Itself
alive. ih'r" are ten tu"uNi'h" l''>' N''h
towns III -Nhhiii'" >c''-li""'h' win
feeble chuf'i'cS. uHHdli\ icchI' ana
SScoulH%'d ministry. ANA population
gr">u dcad Tor Lack "1 UNITY IN the
ch''i'h' md hiiIn~ "hd culture ANA Ter
N"r III Inc l''IpIt /" build i large
church IN such " '"~u as Ne have de
scnhcd, L" fill lis pulPH IT, 'ir>t-rltc
man. t" hIn% all those rh e. t"-"th-
or III il union th.lt l. Hctl Il ana ii'' ~yil-
timcntal. would hc like bringing life a..
cannot he done. for Ir:r>om> that uu san"
man can dispute, then let the talk about
Christian unity cease until We get Il lit
tie further along.
1t is claimed 10y those who represent
the various srctarian organizations that
the pconlc are not ready for changes
50 radical ~ This would he. We know
of the views and feelings of
the people ON tins subject. and we de
clare orr conviction that they are half IL
century in advance of the clergy. 1t is