Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1903-06-25
MORE FRATERNAL FEELING.
Existing Conditions in Randolph the
Theme of Rev. c. e. Laid.

A notable sermon was preached at the
union meeting in the Methodist church
Sunday evening by Rev. q. 4. LAID,
pastor of the Congil church, who took for
his text, ssBehold how good and pleasant
it is for brethren TO dwell together
in unity He touched upon many OF the
existing conditions in this village, and his
discourse was so helpful in character and
breathed such a spirit of broad-mlnded
Christianity that some parts OF IT are
brought to the attention OF a larger con-
gregation OF readers than the rain OF Sun
day evening permitted to listen TO its
delivery. He said
.sShould there not be in a community
like ours more Of the spirit OF brother
hood than at present exists In a large
city where one does not know his nearest
neighbors and where the population IS
made up Of people of different nation
~alities. OF different ideas and tastes II IS
less possible han in a community Xix our
own. Here we know one another, we
have a common heritage, a common love
for our town and village and for It's spien-
did institutions, we have confidence IN the
integrity and fairness n kindness OF
those about us, our neighbors and asso-
ciates. Is there here among us, always
and everywhere. as much of the spirit OF
unity. OF charity, of fo~rbearance and OF
love as there should be?
.sIn some respects the fraternal spirit
does exist here among us IN a marked
degree. When a great sorrow TO
one home, many are the hearts that sym
pathize and many the hands that are
ready to give substantial assistance.
When one person meets with a heavy loss
others stand ready to make it good, IN
part at least. The subscription paper,
circulated to aid one who has met with a
loss or to help a family to celebrate some
anniversary, finds ready sighers hsIe
among us. And this community seems 10
I me To be less divided than many others
into classes or cliques along the lines OF
money or social position. We mlngle one
with another just as far as possible on a
common footing, The well-to-do do not
hold themselves aloof from the poor,
those high in the social scale DO not
proudly pass by on the other side those IN
humble circumstances, and the poor are
NOT to any large extent disconnected or
envious of the well-to-do. We wish 70 pc
estimated and we try TO estimate others
according TO higher standards than wealth
or social position. !,
aThis Il at it should be, and we all
rejoice in II. Also among men engaged
I'M the same line Of business there - q
spirit Of brotherhood. They are natural
compatitors and vet one does not seek TO
iniure another. One physician does not
sneak IN OF another. One merehapt y
willing that his competitor should sell all
the Foods he can at a fair pFoht. one
carpenter does not begrudge another ms
lob. They realize that what INJURIES one
Injuries another, that all work together 70
promote prosperous times. 40 ishes
TO succeed by causing another TO ian.
Among the churches Of our village TINS
fraternal spirit is absolutely essential 70
the success Of our work. n as a gen
eral thing | think there is such 8 spirll
among us. We must haye it at any cost
n II Is in any measure lacking our work
as churches is sadly crippled. Ihere y
no place in this or in any community ioi
4 church that seeks to advance Itself os
undermining or drawing from any other
God has no use for such a church.
9TH churches of a community nave e
mnch In common. They are, from ths
very nature of the case, so closely uhitee
thar when one suffers all the others suHel
with il. If there is any difflculty or az,
division in one church., ~ hurts 81 ~
etbsrs almost as much. Those who wlsi
ii ~cfiticise the churches or TO Justli,
I themselves in holding aloof from them
SEIZE very quickly upon such a state Q
affairs They condemn all the churehe
! Tor what Is wrong in only one. Ihe'
! become more deeply IN lnei
attitude Of indifference and hostile crit
! icism. Therefore, let no root OF oittel
4 ness kUFilE uD III my
thousand times better TO make large con
eessions. to suffer a great personal wrong
! han that the entire cause OF christ shoui,
10 sci back in the community. AND
2 more than this, let not the mi !,
Z one church be suspicious OF the atli1uu
I Of those of another. Let no one mn
{ that any Of the members OF ms ehuIch ~
e hejng nrged 10 90 to some other, for the
arr not Let no one feel in any way sus
!. nicious that any other church is gong !
y sneroach on the territory or undermlh
: ~ influence OF his church, for II VIII no
~ no one feel Jealous OF the popularit
S or success Of some other pastor thah ~
: own. Give your own paseoI =
encouragement and loyal /
d the best he can. .
And II YOU have the faintest suspieio
o along any of these lines don't go ana tai
X over with a neighbor. Keep II 10 your
II self and forget it as o as you "a N
And certainly among members OF =
e same church there should be, there mu
y be, no failure to snow tnls JUL.
d s,ft n ought to be unnecessary
it pnint out a fact that is so selt-eVlueh
le And vet | have learned of more than OF
/. Instance in this village where members
Il Ne same church refuse to recognize eat
,e other when they meet on the street or
IS sneak to each other in the mouse OF w
ID Oh. Christian frlendsi m ~ -. ~
Christ who loves us all, TINS must mo- = :
How can we hope to be forgiven II y
- refuse to forgive? While Christ has
tolerate so much in US are we worthy
a hear his name If unwilling to be charltau
- to a fel~low-disciple who has erred only
sAgain. there is need Of the iratern
Il snirif in large measure and constantly
90 our social relations. In a ~
p tbis ali should form n brotherhoo
le We have much in common. y nstnre
- the case closely united. When one sune
:, otbers suffer with him. If this rs the ca
< We NAV well expect a spirit of CHART
forbearance and love to be the DONNA
ST spirit here among us. Is It so IN as M
a measure as it should be
~ aThe vile tongue Of Islander IS D
entirely silent among us. Hard things
a. sometimes said about one or another,
rumor is believed, or assumed TO De t'