Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1905-03-30
CHURCH UNITY.
Prospect That Two Largest Churches
in Randolph Viii Join Hands.

EtNEikNA AAAtN impetus ANNfM int hENNAI1
OF last Sunday morning. The two socie-
ties joined at The Christian church. which
was well filled with a large congregation
that listened 10 an inspiring sermon by
Rev. Fraser Metzger. pastor OF the Chris
tian church. Miss Grace Lamson rendered
a charming solo.
Last evening, business meetings of both
the churches were held in their respective
vestries. About 80 were present al each.
The societies listened to the report Of the
conference committee appointed the week
before consisting of the standing com
mittee Of the Cong'l church and the trus-
tees OF the Christian church. The report
was a joint one, representing the unani
nous opinion OF the conference committee.
The report recorded the action taken
by the committee relating 10 church
union, the principal points covered being
as fOllows:-
1T was suggested by the committee
from the Christian church that such union
might be effected by organizing a new
corporation which should enter the Cong1
conference and to which corporation each
Of the existing churches might and should
convey its property for religious purposes.
at was agreed that it would be well for
each church TO authorize its committee 10
confer with the committee OF the other
church on this matter and devise manner
and means for such harmonious union as
may promote the best welfare OF both
churches and TO arrange plans for all de-
tails and report their conclusions to their
respective churches, such committees TO
work IN unison"
This report was accepted and adopted
by each society, il being fully explained
and understood that the action merely
looked toward the continuance OF negotia-
tions on the basis suggested, and that final
action would be postponed until a COM
plete report could be presented.
Each church also adopted the follow
ing
aThat we agree to alternate services
with the other church for an indefinite
period with a view TO an ultimate and
suita Bile union"
The Christian church added TO its rep
resentation on the conference committee
w. r. Lamson, M. NJ. Wilson and l.. y.
johnson.
Following the church meetings, the
conference committee met and considered
the question briefly. Ii was deemed best
to delegate the different matters to sub
committees, who viii report 10 the entire
committee, who will then report 70 their
respective churches as to the basis OF
union.
These subcommittee are;-
Music-E. r. Salisbury and w. +. Lam
son.
Sunday school-E. W. Tewksbury and
h. o. Blanchard.
Manual Wilbur r. Howard and VIM.
Mann.
By.laws and property II. LAmson
Finanee-L. b. johnson and w. A.
Jones.
Organization M. NJ. Wilson and A. II.
Powers,
In pursuance OF the vote 81 the two soci-
eties relative TO alternating services, both
societies will worship in the Cong church
next Sunday morning at the usual hour.
Rev. Fraser Meizger will preach at these
Joint services. Each church will hold its
own Sunday school aud q. T.. meetings
until different arrangement Is perfected
The matter of the union OF these church
es has provoked considerable press COM
ment by newspapers of the state, which IS
reproduced below.
The Congregational and Christian
churches OF Randolph are about to con-
solidate. For some time the idea has been
under consideration and now q favorable
report has been made. There are many
churches in Vermont that would do well
to initiate this example. In many COM
munites two or three, and even four,
churches are eking out a bare existence
where there is only room for one healthy
church. II but one church the pastor
could be paid a living salary, the congre-
cations would be larger and the money
hat is now used to keep up appearance"
could be used to much advantage. II -
! oor Christianity that because OF slight
deuominational difference churches not
actually needed are kept IN existence.
Better yield the petty differences and
dwell together IN unity Morrisville
News and Citizen.
The News and Citizen is everlastingly
right. IL would be better for all con-
cerned IL people could agree 10 reconcile
their differences of belief and unite for
religious worship and Christian work. IL
is proposition too well proved today M a
business way TO allow OF coutrOyersion
that in union is strength. It was proved
in the DAYS OF the struggle for American
Independence In a political way. IL is
being demonstrated daily in almost every
line OF work The ends Of the Christian
church can best be reached by adapting
business principles TO the labors in hand.
The great secret Of the strength Cf the
Roman Catholic church lies i'm the fact
that its millions OF members are practi-
cally Of one belief, have practically one
desire in church work, ana are organized
in a way that brings this great mass Of
humanity under control along the lines OF
church domain. The Catholics unite TO
work The strong help the weak, and
each member does his share. The Protest
ants might well learn from the Catholics
this lesson Of organization. let the
churches unite Let those join aau-s thai
are unable to do more than stagger along
with the burden Of the support OF preach
ing and the other church Efforts To-
gether they might easily support a good
church, have a strong preacher, leave
money for church work Of various kinds
and do much good IN the community that
would not otherwise be done. The spirit
of tolerance must first be gained. The
rest will come then comparatively easy.
# Montpelier Journal.
one Of the most hopeful signs oi the
times is the movement IN favor Of church
unity. ii Is well known fact that
practically all the difference between the
leading Protestant denominations today
is ia the matter Of church government or
in the form Of worship.
The growth Of Christian brotherhood
has been lcyeling creeds, and the evan
gelical churches Of today sre coming
nearer and nearer together.
The movement in favor 0f church unity
in certain sections Of this state has made
great progress in the past year. Union
meetings are becoming more aud more
frequent. The movement VIII Do greatly
accelerated aud gather new force from tff
So o. a. to-