Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1890-03-21

A few weeks ago we printed in our local
columns a summary of statements made
by Rev. c. H. Merrill, formerly of West
Brattleboro, and now secretary of domestic
missions in Vermont, about the condition of
reli ious affairs in the state, in which some
rather surprising statistics were given. To
the last number of the Congregationalist
Mr.. Morrill, contributes an article on the
same subject, from which we quote
From one fifth to one fourth of the Con
gregational pulpits in the state are without
permanent supply. More fields are yoked
in proportion 20 the number of churches
and the average salary is smaller than in
any eastern state. More than one half the
! population of the state are not only un
churched, they are absolutely unreached by
by any direct religious agency. These un-
reached classes in the rural districts-and
Vermont has few large centres of popula
tion-are almost without exception Yankee.
born, native New England stock. Hither-
to, the Christians in the state have shown
great zeal in distant missionary enterprises
and overlooked the work at home.
''On the other hand, it should be said
that the condition of the rural districts of
Vermont doubtless compares favorably with
those of any other portion of New England
or New York, were the facts all known
The canvass made by the evangelical ALI
ance in New York state last summer, re
veals even a worse condition than the Yer
mont report shows. IL is to the credit Of
Vermont that the true state Of the case
has been discovered aud published. Igno-
rance Of the needs of the home field is the
cause of neglect.
There is constant progress in the Con
gregational body in the number of its
churches, the reported membership the
amount of benevoence aud the value of
church property. The two churches or
ganized last wear bring the number up TO an
even 200. During the last decade church
membership has shown a steady increase.
and is today larger than at any time during
the last 40 years-over 10000. Two of the
younger churches have recently completed
houses of worship without debt, an unusual
number have been rebuilt or repaired of
late, and several parsonages secured.
There are still signs of promise in the
religious condition of Vermont Facts re
garding the religious destitution are omi-
nous and startling. But it does no good to
ignore them. The deserted farms" have
been 50 widely advertised that already there
are inquiries about them from those who
have left the state TO better their condition
As attention is turned this way and these
lands rise TO their true value in response TO
the demand, one serious drain upon our
country churches will be checked. 1t was
not agreeable TO the pride of many that the
truth should be so widely spread regarding
these lands. But the result is justifying
the policy, 1t is unpleasant also for many
that Vermont should lead the way in show
ing up the problem Of mission work in ru.
raj districts in the eastern states But this
policy is already finding its justification in
the increased activity manifest among our
churches. And the work has but just he
gun
With an insight and good sense which
are characteristic of the man, Mr. Merrill
gets at the root of the whole matter as re-
CARDS both the religious condition and the
farming interests of Vermont. The facts
revealed by his work and by Commissioner
Valentines do not minister 10 our feeling
of state pride, but the longer they are con
cealed or ignored the worse il is for us.
The advertising of its abandoned farms"
has also advertised the states opportuni-
ties and capabilities, and something akin TO
this will follow Mr.. Merrill's plain state
ment Of the religious destitution which pre-
walls in so many of our rural communites.
In Windham county the work of building
up the waste places of Zion has already be-
gun, and process of rehabilitation of our
deserted farms will soon be under headway.