The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1906-11-07
TWO old CHURCHES
UNITE IN VERMONT.
CONGREGATIONAL AND CHRIS.
TIAN BODIES GET TOGETHER.
One Church Torn Down and It's Site
Utilized for Parish House The Elk
pertinent, So Far. Avoids AL the
Rocks and Is Sailing Peacefully
Along to the Satisfaction Of All.

/ out luss u nennerSnlp with the SINGLE
achievement was all the more remark
1 able because the two churches had been
established since the early part of the
last century and both were apparently
prosperous. T>ll. =.
i Bethany church, as 1t is known. a
Well-organized, tlourishing, prosperous
country church with a membership Of
close to 400, was formed from the Con
this village. The Christian church had
existed since 1928 and the Congrega-
tional since 1881. Both had handsome.
commoodious, well-furnished houses of
| worship, a good-sized membership and
large attendance every Sunday. =
| The Rev, &! p. Ladd, who had been
paste pastor s OF It the Congregational body for
pastor was called, The pulpit was SUD-
piled for time, and then the Congre-
| gationalists suggested to the members
| Of the Christian church that services
be held in the two houses of worship
alternately, to be conducted by Rev.
frazer Metzger, pastor of the Chris
tlan church. This suggestion was adopt
ca. and for some months this relation
ship continued to the satisfaction of
all. Then, as the members of the two
congregations began to realize that
there was little difference between
them; that they We're practically united
IN the matter Of creed, the suggestion
Of complete afiliation was made.
This was matter for long considera-
ton and earnest discussion, and several
meetings were held to consider the
proposition. AS there was nothing over
winch to disagree, except some things
that may be called business matters, it
was at length voted to coalesce.
10 carry out the details imposed
| tremendous burden on the Rev. Fraser
Metzger, the pastor, and on the dea-
cons and officers of the two churches,
Tor there Was no one to whom they
could turn for advice, no community
| by whose experience in such matter
they might profit. They had to work
out their own problems, and it is an
evidence of the painstaking care and
good Judgment with which they man
aged the matter that it was finally ac-
comrllshed to the satisfaction of prac-
t!cally all the members of the two
churches.
The first matter for consideration
was which organization should lose it's
identity. The Christian church
had the largest nominal membership
and might have claimed the right to
voted that the: utilization should be
governed by the strength of the two
organizations in the state. AS the
Congregational body was much the
stronger, it was decided that the new
church organization should affiliate
with the Congregationalists.
Then came the question of which
church building should be abandoned.
A competent architect was brought
from New York to inspect the two
buildings. He decided that the Con-
gregational church, which was almost
| directly across the street from the
other building, would meet the wants
OF the united congregation, so it was
decided to use that and to raze the
other. -
Perhaps the most difficult problem
of all was to settle on a name. Many,
especially the older members of the
Two churches, had became attached to
the names of their respective churches
thru long association, and felt as if
they could not give up that. They
had consented to other changes. bit
both Congregationalists and Christians
desired, to retain the name Of their
original church: A hyphenated name
was not acceptable. Neither congrega-
ton felt willing to accept the name of
the other. The difficulties over this
MINOR matter were at times so great
that they threatened to wreck the en-
tire undertaking. But the good sense
That had been exercised from the be-
decided that both the old names should
be abandoned and that the new organi-
zatlon should be known as Bethany
church, designation it now bears.
All this was the work of months. It
required patience, tact, diligence, good
Judgment, the exercise Of diplomatic tai
ents worthy of a, Talleyrand and an
unusual degree Of prudence in conduct
ing matter of so great delicacy along
faithfully and intelligently performed
Is proven by the fact that Rev. Fraser
Metzger, who was the pastor of the
CHRISTIAN church when consolidation
was tlrst proposed, is still the pastor of
the combined churches, and continues
TO give satisfaction to the united con
gregations.
ate of the Union Theological seminary
IN 1902, and this is his first regular
charge. He is sincere and earnest, has
a capacity for original thinking and
lives in the present. He is a pleasing
and popular speaker and is at present
president, of the Christian Endeavor
body Of the state.
The consolidation of the churches has
been an economical success. 1t has
| REDUCED expenses without lmpalrlng eff
tclency, as is shown by the fact that
the membership, of Bethany church to-
day is greater than that of the two old
churches before the union. ~
The consolidation has also been ben
eft to the village. After the union was
finally determined upon, the old Chris:
tlan church was torn down with the
Intention Of erecting on the site a par
lsh house. When this was undertak ken,
Colonel A. B. Chandler Of New York,
for many years connected with the Pos.
tai Telegraph company, who spends his
summers IN Randolph, offered to con-