Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1874-10-21
Wisdom In Christianity.

One Of the greatest misfottuncs Of the
times in respect to the management Of our
religious organizations. we believe 10 be the
lack Of that good sense and discretion which
is essential to success in all departments of
ordinary business. There are hundreds, and
perhaps thousands, Of churches in New Eng
land-espccially in the rural towns and
small villages-more than there ought to be,
for the reason that they can not he respect
ably supported. They are the fruit Of sec
tartan rivalry aud ambition, and after the
itful fever that gave them existence has
passed away, they are left 10 drag out a
proftless existence-too weak TO live and too
proud TO die. They are a burden to them
secves, and lack the vitality to be a blessing
10 their communities. Now, good business
sense would dictate that these churches, so
far as they agree in all the essential elements
Of Christian belief and practice, and are
really divided only in name, should become
consolidated to an extent that would give
them healthy and vigorous support, and
enable them to become an aggressive force
in their respective localities.
In this view, the Congregationalists aud
Presbyterans have taken an important step
in the right direction. which We trust will
be extended until 1t shall reach and remedy
the evil 10 which we have alluded. The
leading officials in their Home Missionary
Boards respectively, have issued addresses
to the churches by which they are supported,
marking out new course of action to be
pursued on home mission fields The plan
is substantially as follows: In community
where there is an existing Congregational
church organization the Presbyterians are
to make no efforts to introduce their own
church polity, unless it shall appear that
there are a sufficient number Of Prcsbyterians
in that community TO organize sclf-sup-
porting church. The Congregationalists are
to observe the same rule towards the Pres
byterians In short, the principle to be OBJ
served is, that Of these two denominations,
the one first occupying the ground in any
community shall hold it until the growth Of
| the community will warrant the organiza-
| ton Of church of the other order, which
shall sustain itself from the first. The Home
Mission Boards have no means OF enforcing
this rule except by Withholding aid when
ever it is violated. In reference TO commu-
mites in which there are two churches, one
Of each of these denominations, and both de-
pendent upon the Home Missionary Boards
for aid, we believe it is proposed to effect
some kind Of arrangement whereby there
eau be one self-supporting church, and on,
clergyman at liberty to work in some othel
field We think this movement wise one
1t is an effort to introduce a little of tn,
wisdom of the world into methods of Chris
tian work. II is an economizing of men an,
means which should have been put in fore,
years ago. If it can be done now, it will 10
a great saving in time to come. Besides, i
will do away with much of that sectariai
bitterness which almost invariably arise
where an attempt is made to sustain TIVE
feeble churches SO near alike as are these.