Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1885-11-13

EXcluSiveneSS is Il trait, or n habit,
which modern society is casting off. Dis
tinctions in social business and even re-
ligious life are not as marked and rigid as
they used to be. The tendency to greater
cordiality, toward universal brother
hood is very evident. 1t has become the
fashion in many handsome villages and
towns for property owners to tear down
the unneighborly fences which divided
their lawns, and so leave the land spread
out like one beautiful, continuous park,
dotted with residences. This outgrowth
of the growing cordially and neighborli
ness OF the American people in their So
cial relations, is only an illustration Of
what is taking place also in other lines of
daily intercourse. One cannot fail to
notice the increase of the little everyday
charities, courtesies, amenities in business
life, in religious activities, and in every
common walk of the people. This is a
redeeming feature of the times, which
pessimists and croakers seem to have too
much overlooked.
The growing desire for unity in Chris
tian work, for the breaking down of sec
tional walls and the suppressing of sec
tional rivalries, is most encouraging.
Both practically and theoretically, this
tendency is receiving the encouragement
and sanction of Christian people Many
community is an epitome of the gen
eral sentiment and practice. in this respect.
Our own community is a good instance
of this. There has recently been most
hopeful awakening of Christian activity
here, which is now eliminating in the III
teresting services of the present week. In
this good work the churches have cordial
ly joined hands. There has been no de-
nominational eXclusveness no attempt to
claim for any one organized body of Chris
tian workers the credit for inaugurating
the movement. Our churches are one in
sustaining the evangelistc meetings.
The same spirit may be observed all
over the country-though, of course, ex-
ceptional communities may be found
which are a little behind the rest in their
way of looking at these matters, as in
other respects. On the whole, however,
the tendency is decidedly toward more
cordial and helpful union in Christian
work.
1t is worthy of note that at the recent
congress of the Episcopal churches of the
United States, at New Haven, Conn, this
practical question of Christian unity was
brought up and discussed in spirit of
progressiveness and liberality which has
not always characterized the deliberations
of this conservative body of Christians.
The suggestion was made by one of the
speakers that unity in Christian work
should begin in the American country town
and that the way to begin was for the minis
tiers of the different denominations in
these towns to work together to bring up
the arrears of neglect with reference to
social and ethical work. whose result has
been the decrease of church-going and
lowering of moral tone. The suggestion
met with such hearty approval that it was
formally adopted by the congress, and the
clergy and laity were urged to carry it into
operation. 1t must be evident to Christian
people that the best work can be carried
on only when all the laborers work in har
mony and with unity of purpose Thai
any small human distinctions, any demon
national feeling or petty rivalry, should
be allowed to stand in the way of this
grand consummation of Christian effort il
a disgrace to the church universal. 1t il
high time for the sects to sink their littl
differences and join heart and soul in tn
common work