St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1899-04-26
UNWALLED VILLAGES.
Rx,racts from n Timely Sermon.

uC lOlONib paragraphs N'N
from a sermon preached at the South
church last Sunday morning by Rev.
Edward T. Fairbanks on the unwaled
villages OF Ezekiel So: IL;
Likewise in the unwalled villages you
can tell how far the spirit of Cog OF the
land of Magog has got possession, when
a mans liberty to do as he likes is not
too much interfercd with, when restraints
FLAW and order compass people about
like old dilapidated pasture fences, when
public sentiment is plant, and church
life not too strenuous. All the enemy
asks is to be let alone, it will not all at
once be rotous, its behaviour will be
eminently good, on its countenance an
ostensible sense of fair play no handling
OF carnal weapons but a stealthy mani
pulation OF invisible instruments OF pas
sion or greed in a community of unsus-
picious people who are quiet, attending
to their business, "all of them dwelling
without walls, having neither bars nor
gates"
CHANGED in the midst Of my years to
be in one of the unwaled villages Of
land flowing with milk and maple honey.
Sweet Auburn loveiest village OF the
plain; how peaceful the flow OF daily
life: how contented and orderly the
people: how interested in one another
and in the public good; what painstak.
ing care OF the boys and girls to guard
their young lives, to shape them to pure
ideals and wholesome habits; what
reverent love of the Lords Day and Of his
sanctuary. Happy little village, Of small
white houses with old fashioned peonies
and hollyhocks in the picket fenced door
yards; couple OF stores, tavern,
meeting house, good school leading up
presently to modest little academy, a
footpath by the roadway where one
could walk amongst browsing cows by
dav or after nightfal securely with his
lantern in hand, house doors locked or
not as you please, the 8 O'Clock bell hint
ing approach of bed time, railways $50
miles off, telephones a romance OF Jupi-
ter's moons. Lovely village, unwalled,
having neither bars nor gates; yea but
round about were effective deienses walls
OF solid virtue and firm set public con-
science. Did ever any operations OF Cog
and Magog get footing in those peaceful
precincts, wonder? No doubt they did
and worked their subtle deadly mischief.
Church records even bear witness to
that. But the village life was whole
some, community spirit was decisive, de-
part hence We workers of inquity.
Is it then a sorry change that has come
to pass, population quadruped, manu-
features built up, trains running in
from four quarters, free mail delivery,
the word city" printed on the dump
carts? Not at all. Better is the new
than the old il the heart OF the commun
ity be sound, its face set firm against all
unrighteousness. Better the hundreds of
homes on the old hay fields and pastures,
the lines OF brick blocks, banks, well fur
nished stores, the net work OF wires that
fash light from the pole tops or shoot
messages to and fro where the errand
boy used to run or loiter, used to give or
forget his message Better a new Ac-
ademy, Atheneum, Music Hall, Museum,
better a county building in the heart OF
the village than an old tangled burial
ground, better a cemetery on the sunny
slope lovingly kept and adorned. Better
Sunset Home, and hospitals, a Y. M.
c. A. and ten churches il Loyalty sustain
ed. The world moves, the village must
be awake; the bad moves rapidly good
cannot betake itself TO slippers and easy
chair. Growth involves exposure
whether it be child or village that
grows. Four sets OF railway trains bring
to this junction many excellent people,
much material for enriching and adorn-
ing life and keeping us in contact with
the best there is in the wide world If that
is what we want. But the same trains
may also bring schemers, cheats.
burglars, debasing literature, drinks
that poison blood and brain. The grow
ing village is growing mark for Cog to
set evil eye on. AHA, desirable place
for operations, place of good repute
wthal quite unsuspicious, plenty OF
church facilities but ample room along
side for money making in modest way
by discreet dealing IN necessary stimu-
lants." No doubt the business has been
discreetly conducted, not alarming the
public sensibllity, and the tact that this
present year the number OF United States
special liquor tax certificates held in the
village is double the number of last year
being 26 in ALL costing $500 indicates
some bouyancy either Of expectation OF
OF business. There must be a fair flow il
prospect to justify such expenditure fol
tax certificates. Some things moreover
our eyes do see or our ears hear. 1t is
not so rare circumstance now as once
to meet men whose tread is far from
firm. One gets waits OF strong smell moi
generated in natures workshop. Som,
parts of the village are a dread to womer
without escort after dark. The SAM
column OF weekly paper that gave u
the word OF lament over our love-
brother Heath, gave us also a week
record of FIVE arrests for intoxication ant
lawlessness. The invasion OF the Cog Q
modern times is not with blare of trum
pets as anciently, it is a quiet and vi
demonstrative entry into an unsuspecl
ing, unwalled village, having neithe
bars nor gates, but before long there'll b
need OF a curfew bell for boys and girl.
there'll he plenty going on that ough
not to be for corrupting the young lii
OF the village, disturbing the peaceful o
der OF things and breaking the ten cor
mandments.
That is why it is needful to plan no,
for effective walls and deieuses, to assei
that the village be rededicated to goo
order, sobiiety and virtue. Not one
us doubts this is the will of the people b
laroe m Majority hut Ia he 70, ,nnt ID ~.