St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1907-06-05
What COngregatiOnaliSm Has Done
for Vermont.

Nv thesis is a simple one: Congrega-
tionalism has done much for Vermont.
1t hasn't done everything, nor all that
it might have done, nor all that it was
called to do. Some things it has left
undone and others it has done which it
ought not to have done. But after the
most liberal allowances have been made
along these lines, the foregoing thesis is
left with ample support. In its present
form, however, the proposition is too
general to answer any useful purpose,
and | hasten to more specific statements.
1. In the first, Congregationalism has
stood prominently for manhood-the
infinite worth, the limitless possibilities
and the heavenly destiny of the man; and
the fruits of its labors are in plain sight.
1t has been and is the familiar and proud
boast of Vermont that it's chief product
is found in the fine quality of its men and
women. We have excelled as breeders
of Merino sheep and Morgan horses,
which have taken prizes at worlds fairs
and commanded fabulous prices in the
worlds market. But the chief products
have been men-men of intelligence,
worthy aims, force of character; men OF
action; men who have taken life serious
ly and grandly rather than frivously and
easily; men who shave scorned delights
and lived laboriois days" AS a rule,
the Vermonter is a man about whom it
is safe to say good word. In all those
activities and virtues which make for the
higher life of the commonwealth and OF
the man, he has an enviable record. As a
clergyman, educator, statesman, patriot,
soldier, jurist and Journalist he asgiven
a good account of himself.
And in this respect there has been no
decadence Much has been written oil
late about the declination of religion in
Vermont, the abandoned farms, the
exodus of the more capable and enter
prising among the people, and the in
crease of crimes, but, on the other hand,
our institutions of learning are. over
flowing with native students of a high
grade, our churches are reasonably well
supported, and the minister paid in
dollars and not in pork and beans, and
that purveyor of gossip, "Who is Who in
hllCllCd! LIDS vi iIs pt1SSo thS hdiiiSo vi
a goodly number of Vermonters, all Of
which shows that Vermont's chief pro.
duct is still intact.
Congregationalism has been enabled to
make valuable contribution to that
solidity of character, strength of man
hood and wholesomeness of life, which
have been the glory of Vermont by its
preaching. Throughout the centuries
this preaching has had one characteristic
that its object is to influence human con
duct. Very little Congregational preach
ing relatively, has ever been devoted tc
the defense and perpetuation of ar
ecclesiastic system, of purely abstract
doctrine, but has aimed to persuade
men to repent, to turn to God and to dc
works meet for repentance.
1t has been and is the vogue to sneel
at the Puritan because of his ancestry
his intolerance, his condemnation o
certain amusements which we have come
to look upon as permissible in church
members. But let it not be forgotten
that underneath all his excuses an6
misjudgments, if they were such, there
was solid conviction that religion ha:
to do with hunfafi aconduct, and is moi
alone thing Of sacraments, penances
confessions, prayers and fasts. Ant
before we bear down too hard on hin
let it be forgotten that the manhood, tn,
seriousness, the intelligence, the ability
to do and to endure which have The
glory of his descendants, did not come
out of the dance halls nor from the care
tables which he hated and achieved, but
from the plain meeting house which hi
loved so well. He may have gone toe
far but the underlying principle was
sound-that religion has to do with
conduct and character primarily ant
not with abstract doctrine and ecclesias
teal systems. And this element has ever
characterized the pulpit ministrations O
Congregationalism in Vermont.
Congregationalism has been wont tc
contribute directly and indirectly to the
upbulding of noble manhood by its
polity. It is prominently the church O
the man. 1t isn't the bishop, the priest
the hierarchy that count, but the man
1t is democracy in religion. The mar
in the pew is the peer of the man in the
pulpit 1t is democracy. The rule o.
the priest. of the system, of the hierarchy
is replaced by the rule Of the man. As
democracy is best fitted to develop civic
virtue, so a democratic church is best
fitted to develop the religious capacities
in man. The best development Of
character is secured by having response
bility thrust upon one, by being given the
opportunity to do things.
The Congregationalist discussed theo
logy with his pastor, and felt at perfect
liberty and often perfectly competent tc
challenge his minister's propositions. He
thought on great themes and developed
confidence in himself and in his conclu
sions. Emancipated from externa
authority and loosed from the leading
strings of priest, bishop or council he
was made selfreliant and prepared fol
leadership, action, or pioneer work il
every sphere or direction.
Not alone the polity and preaching but
the very atmosphere of Congrega
tionalism has favored the development
of manhood. Time and strength have
doubtless been wasted in discussions o
polity but the great controversies in thu
Congregational churches have turned OF
questions of doctrine which affect pro
foundly the life, the nature of holiness OF
virtues, the chief end of men and the like
2. Congregationalism has done mucl
for education. This, of course, is closely
allied with what has been said before
and involved in it, but is amply worthy
of a distinct consideration.
Two out of three of our higher institu