The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1899-08-23

pieces Of sedate character by way of
| dessert"
At the close of the concert the pastor an-
nounced that refreshments would be served
in the ladies' room, at fifteen cents to those
who had listened to the music, and gratis to
| those who had contributed to the enjoyment
Of the audience. A goodly number OF the
parishioners and visitors, and all the choir
availed themselves Of the opportunity.
Your reporter was especially pleased with
some of the comments he overheard among
the Montpelier ladies' They had noted,
they said, "the fine appearance and good
looks OF the Berlin young men and also OF
the young women" For which, in behalf Of
the town, your reporter makes his best bow
The receipt OF the concert and the collec-
ton at the service on Sunday, l am in
formed, we're sufficient to pay off the church
debt. II was graceful thing for an Episco
pal church and choir to do. Such instances
OF 'interdenominational comfy" among
Christians of different names are too rare.
At the Episcopal service Sunday afternoon
the church was filled with an interested
and expectant audience some time before
the hour appointed There was good
delegation from Christ church. Montpelier,
who came up in Adams four-horse band
wagon, and several prominent representa-
tives from the Unitarian parish. While
the choir were putting on their vestments
in the church parlor, Rector Lewis in or.
der that all might take part in the service,
gave some explanations Of the Episcopal
order OF worship, giving this general rule:
'Sit to hear; stand to praise; and kneel to
pray" He requested all to join in the re.
sponses and reading of the Psalter, saying
that when he attended a Congregational
service, he always did as they did, and hoped
his Congregational friends would now do
the same. To enable those who were not
familiar with the Episcopal service to do
this, he distributed leaflets among the con-
gregation containing the whole order OF
evening prayer. All seemed pleased with
the idea, and were evidently resolved to
'do their endeavor."
The rector then retired, and soon the
congregation heard, through the closed
doors, the opening strains OF the process
sional hymn. The gentle tones grew more
and more distinct, the church doors
opened, and the white-robed choristers en-.
tered in procession, two and two, passing
| up the middle aisle to their seats in the
chancel. The audence-room rang with
their tuneful voices, and all were deeply i'm
pressed with the unwonted scene. When
the hymn was finished the rector read the
| opening sentence, LET my prayer be set
forth as the incense, and let the lifting up
OF my hands be an evening sacrifice.
| psalm XVI, 81 Then came the Exkorta-
tion, LET us humbly confess our sins to
Almighty God, and almost the entire con-
gregation joined in the General Confess
sion."
Then followed the chanting of the can
ticles, the reading OF the scripture lessons,
the recitation Of the Apostles Creed, and
the prayers. The Prayer for Rain" was
fervently responded to. The anthem "The
King Of Love my Shepherd is," which was
sung after the second Collect, was most in
spring. The service ended, the rector gave
out the hymn "Blest be the tie that binds,
announcing it by the numbers in both the
Episcopal and the Congregational hymnsls
1t was sung with will by the entire con-
gregation.
Next came the sermon. Before he began
Rector Lewis expressed his thankfulness
! for this opportunity to preach in Congre-
gationsl church. and for the pastors cour-
teous invitation. He announced as his
text, st. John, xvii. II, 81, 90" THAT
they may be one, even as we are. That
they may all be one; even as Thou, Father,
art in Me- and in Thee, that they also may
be in US; that the world may believe that
Thou didst send Me-" After promising
that the text was a part of the Lords fare
well discourse and intercessory prayer, he
went on to show that the division OF the
church into rival sects and denominations
was not part of His plan, aud was not a
| good thing for Christianity That His
Kingdom could not come until the church
! is one. That it will be one in Gods good
time, and that it is the duty of all who pro-
fess and call themselves Christians to labor
and pray for Christian unity. He noted, as
an evidence that the good time is coming,
the breaking down of denomnational walls,
and the softeniug of sectional asperities
during the past few years. He said such
service as this would not have been possible
for Congre egatonalists or Episcopalians
| fifty years ago. And he prophesied,
though he did not expect to live to see it,
that the time is not far distant when our
Lords prayer that they all may be one"
will be answered. In concluding he spoke
lin substance) as follows: 81 thank my
reverend brother for his courteous and
Christian kindness in inviting me to preach
in this Congregational house Of prayer.
thank you, also, my Christian brethern,
for your patient and reverent attention. l
am not of the same communion with most
OF you. | am "churchman" from the
crown of my head to the sole OF my feet
believe in the "three-fold order of the min
istry," in "apostolical succession" and all
that-(which no doubt seems dreadful
thing TO some OF you)-but | also believe in
the Communion of Saints" and that the
church Catholic is the blessed company of
all faithful people; and recognize as my
fellow Christians, all who love our Lord
Jesus Christ in sincerity and have been
baptized into His Name. L recognize also
with Joy aud thankfulness the religious
work OF all the Christian denominations
l remember, with tender emotions, that nv
mother, now in paradise, was a life
long Congregationalist; and II l am a
Christian man today, it is because of the
religious training l received in Congre-
gatonal parish. And my heart goes out
this afternoon to all the separated COM
munions OF Christendom, in those sublime
words Of the inspired apostle, "One is your
Master, even Christ, and all ye are breth-
repl"
/ took no notes OF the sermon, but have
given the substance of the preachers clos.
ing words.
After the sermon, the rector announced
that the collection about to be taken would
be placed in the hands OF the pastor, the
Rev. Mr.. Goodacre, to be used for such pur.
pose as he may designate. Col. f. E.
Smith and Thomas Dewey, acting as tenn
porsry "wardens," then passed the plates,
and a liberal Offering was taken up The
closing prayers for the pastor and congre.
cation were said, the benediction pronounc-
ed, and the choir and pastor retired singing
the recessionsl hymn.
The proceeds of the concert and collec.
tion were Il understand) sufficient to can
eel the parish debit