The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1906-11-22

sih w NNn1 AhAou-h but fiieHulN H. I
yalry Of two churches than By con
solidation
Then there arc other places having
two or more churches where prejudice
and party spirit run 50 high that to
suggest consolidation would retard the
movement. Nothing but the ameliorat
ing influences Of time or death, or both
combined, can avail anything for such
localities
We are Of the opinion that in the
following places some form of fedora.
tion or cooperation would be best
Brookline, Nestfield, Newport Centre
Wardsboro East Dover Westford, Will
mington, Essex Centre, johnson, GAYS
vile, Jericho Corners, Groton. We fail
to see the wisdom Of having nine
churches in the town Of Lyndon contains
about 5000 inhabitants, and we main
tain that it is pitiful to sec Eyangel-
ical churches IN Essex Center having al-
together IN their Sunday schools an
average Of less than so for the past
year
IN ~. JohRsbury we see 10 rood rea
son why the Baptists and the Free
Baptists should not unite In Richford
we think Il would be better II the two
Advent churches could be consolidated.
Some arrangement should be made
whereby East Ponltney should have
resident pastor
As there was evidently some conclil-
sion Of thought in regard to question
(3) it may b well ID mention some
Of the principal steps in the coming to-
gether Of the churches First and most
fundamental there II sympathetic at
titude which must precede all attempts
al CO operation. There must be rccog-
milton that our Christ has other folds
that are under the same shephcrding
care as ourselves There must be Il
spirit Of tolerance and catholieity We
are not to regard with aversion disci-
pie not of the chosen twelve who Is en-
gagged in the benetieent work of casting
out devils That this prerequisite feel
ing and attitude are present and grow
! ing there Is too much evidence TO deny.
Iii many OF our communities there is Al
ready the utmost good feeling and I'M
formal corporation.
go There is in the second place a
form Of federation IN which each church
retains its own pastor and Is perfectly
AUTONOMOUS. Such federation is now
being formed In Newport A few lines
from their constitution are herein quot
ed The object Of this federation Is
the promoton and effective cooperation
among the churches of the town az New
4 port and vicinity III order that Y(i) their
essential unity may be manifested, (2l
in order that the evmgelization at the
community may be more systematically
undertaken (3) that means may De
4 found for expressing christian sentiment
with regard to moral issues, {4) that
tho various christian and benevolent az.
tiyities may be more completely co-nr-
dinatcd and CD that the way may be
open for further united effort, OF or
I ganic union as soon as the interests
of the kingdom Of God evidently dc
mand III.
4 The government Of the federation IS
to be vested in a council which is TO
be composed Of The pastors and two
other delegates from each church and
one delegate from any other christian
organization
(3) third step Is another form Of
1 federation where two or more societies
agree to have one pastor, vet each or
I ganzation maintain its own identity.
Examples 81 such federation are Ran.
dolph, Castleton. East Charleston, VIII
\ liston and Proctor. In the latter place
eleven different brands ~ christians oc,
I crpy the same building and hire one
/ pastor. Doubtless this kind Of fedora
ltion has marked tendency towards
complete amalgamation under the con.
gregational form
(4) The fourth and last step is conn
I plete consolidation. all UNCONVENTIONAL
4 differences disappearing
1t may here be mentioned that there
are various notifications Of the fore
going according to circumstances. In
] Waterville. for instance, the Congrega-
tionalists and Methodists each have their
own pastors and societies, but own and
occupy the same edifice in common and
K have lived together in perfect ffiendli-
mess for many years IN other places
il Is agreed between the two SOCIETIES
that whenever pastor goes away he
shall be succeeded by a pastor OF the
other denomination.
We realize the great difficulty Of ap.
/ plying the foregoing steps and princi'
lples Go any given community, md doubt
III 1t can be well done at long range.
INT will probably be more effective TO
cali together representative men Of the
denominations interested to consider the
case in any given community. We
think. however, that missionary aid
\ ought not 70 be granted TO two differ
cnt evangelical churches in an over
churehed town We also think that the
most practicable way Of removing a SUI
pernuous church would be for the de-
nomination giving up something in one
place TO receive something elsewhere
and thus "a balance Of the powers" be
maintained. Denominational pride would
IN this way be saved There ought also
70 be q due regard for evangelical chris
tianity in any place. There ought 10
be an arrangement if possible Whereby
positive religion could be placed IN tho
ascendacy.
IN regard to question (l the OBJ
staeles are about such a. might be ex-
pected. excessive denominational feeling
prejudice, social difference. AS a rule
4 we think that the smaller the town the
greater the prejudice and narrowness.
In answer Go question five there
can be no doubt but that the majority
of those replying are in favor Of the
movement Throwing out some answers
of very general sort, it can be said
that out Of a total Of So, go are in favor
/