Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1883-03-07
"TOO Many Churches.O

A very common complaint of our towns
in the interior, and one that ia too well
founded. But there is more than one aspect
of this matter. Many Congregationalist
donor, when asked to aid feeble church of
his own faith and order, inquiries promptly
how many other churches the town con-
tains. And, if he learns that the number
is in about fair ratio TO the population, he
thinks that reason enough for a refusal.
But this is often shallow mistake. Let us
illustrate from an actual example. In q
certain town in Illinois, Of less than four
hundred inhabitants, there are four churches.
But that is only the beginning of the story.
One of these churches is German Lutheran.
The attendants adhere mainly to their own
language, and are as clannish as hive Of
bees. Save in bearing the general Chris
tian name, they have hardly point of con-
tact (unless decidedly sharp poinD with
any average Congregational church. An
other of the four is miniature High Church
Episcopal body, of eight or ten families, to
whom preacher comes on alternate Sab
baths from neighboring town, and who
,oks down in serene O. mpassion on "lhe
sects" around them. Third on the list is
q Free Methodist organization. There are
doubtless excellent brethren and excellent
churches Of that denomination. But this
particular church is phenomenon. Pro
-cted, apparently, from the pioneer life OF
the last century, it has certainly outlived its
usefulness. The pastor is an ignorant IA
matte, whose chief qualification for the pull
pit is pair of lungs like blacksmith's bel
lows, with a voice like the sound of many
waters, The worship 10 conducted after the
style of a negro assembly in one of the Gulf
IN in iha AalirinY IN,
of a machine-revival. A considerable
part of the congregation never think of
making their appearance in church till " the
shouting" has commenced. Women are
seized with 4" the powers in true southern
fashion, and fall to the floor in swoon.
One weazen. faced, cracked-voice female, of
uncertain age, was heard recently amt un-
cling, to the evident edifcation of all, 81 live
without sin Do you hear that | do,
now |" and the majority of the brotherhood
and sisterhood have arrived, we believe, at
a right pitch OF sanctifcation. OF courss
the three hundred and fifty souls in that
town ought TO be united in single body.
They would together amount TO but mod
crate congregation. But what prospect
there is that the Congregational church
, (Which is the fourth of the list, and an in
telligent and orderly Christian body can
draw the others into "union orgapizs.
tion, our readers can judge. 1t is easy to
pour oil and water and quicksilver and coal
| tar into the same vessel. But TO mix them
in another affair. For any donor, or any
home missionary society, to insist on the
union of such elements wonld be preposter-
ous. We have heard Of a man who swal-
lowed the contents OF the blue and white
papers of Seidlitz powder separately-with
peculiar results. Aud church that should
absorb both these Free Methodist and Con-
gregational bodies would go through pc
! culiar experience. The fact that there are