St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1907-04-17
Church Federation in Vermont.

Church Conference
The leading federated church in Vel
mont is at Williston This federatio
began in 1898, when Congregations
and Methodist Churches sought to worl
and worship together in order to ge
larger results from the same resources
Each society had both church and par
sonage. The Congregational society
was too weak to support local pas
tor. There was desire for NOR
strength and vitality on the part of boil
churches. The whole work from thu
first was mutual. Neither society ha:
lost its organic or denominations
identity. No articles of federation werC
drawn up, but each society agreed to th(
proposition made by the other The
federation is based upon business
proposition in behalf of better preaching
and larger Christian reality. This prop
osition concerned the relative amounts
to be paid for preaching and running
expenses by each society, and how the
church buildings should be used. The
Congregational parsonagehas been sold.
The two pastors of this federation have
been Methodists. The Methodist Church
pays $500 and the Congregationlist,
$3.50, and the other expenses are al
lotted according to the same proportion.
Benevolent funds are raised by personal
effort and they 60 into their respective
UNCONVENTIONAL channels. No changes
in belief nor polty have been required.
The spirit of worship has been enriched
by better preaching, larger congrega-
lions, and a new fellowship. The Lords
Supper is administered to the united
congregation sometimes in the Congre-
gational form and sometimes in the
Methodist form, but usually the two
have been combined the Methodist
pastor officiating with the deacons to
pass the elements.
The two principal hindrances to this
Williston federation have been the excess
sive UNCONVENTIONAL feeling of a few
members of each church, and the getting
of basis of appeal for non-local benevo-
lences. The first has been removed by
the death of the parties, and the other
by revival of missionary interest so
that the missionary collections have
been increased fifty per cent in the last
New England town in which the best in
the Puritan tone of life is remarkably
persistent. The French Catholic popu-
lation is increasing rapidly. In every
respect the federation is declared to be a
success. 1t is an improvement on former
conditions. The spiritual temper of the
whole church is remarkably improved
1t is decided step in advance in the
solution of the religious problem of one
country town.
At Castleton a federated organization
with one strong pastor takes the place
Of sadly decadent Congregational and
Methodist societies. The two churches
still maintain their UNCONVENTIONAL
IDENTITY. They unite for work and wor-
ship under articles of federation which
cover the following main points: The
board is a Prudential Com
mittee consisting of six members from
each church. The joint congregation
meets in the Methodist church from
November to May and in the Congrega-
tional the rest of the year. New men,
bers join the church they freely choose.
The Young Peoples Societies and Sun
day Schools have organically united.
UNCONVENTIONAL moneys are raised by
each society separately, A common
hymn book and order of worship have
been provided by the Committee. When
is in the Congregational church
the deacons assist in the communion,
while the Methodist form is used in that
church. The essential Christian gospel
is to be preached, without "isms. The
pastors are alternately Methodist and
Congregational.
The difficulties of this federation have
been UNCONVENTIONAL jealousy, hindrance
from troublesome persons, and the ex-
pense and Inconvenience of the double set
Of buildings. These are being overcome.
Castleton has always been an edu-
center, though in this respect,
as industrially, its golden age has
passed. This federation is brave
attempt to react against religious and
social degeneration, and as such it is
proving decided success.
A successful temporary church fedora
ton is at Lincoln, mountain town of
200 people. The Christian, Free Bap-
fist, and Methodist denominations are
involved here, with two sets of church
buildings, Union and Methodist. The
Rev. ]. F. Thurston has been pastor of
this church since May, 1905. Economic
necessities impelled the present plan
which is based on a simple business
proposition. 1t is federation for wor-
ship. The Union Church building is used
in summer and the Methodist in winter
Thus far it has been a spiritual as well
as financial advantage. The secret of its
success is that federation is held as a
means 20 an end in evangelism.
No more significant specimen of fedora
ton work can be found in New England,
if in the entire country, than the merging
of the Christian and Congregational
churches at Randolph. The result is not
Federated Church, nor a Union, but
one Congregational Church.
The formation of the new Congrega
tional church at East Charleston out o
decadent Methodist, Baptist and Univer
salist societies presents a specimen o
what church federation, when needed
can do in the solution of the religion
problem in a small town. In this place
under the old order, a resident or regula
minister had not been supported in owe
twelve years. Jealousy and contentio
among the societies was common. The
used common church building, until
was decided to call one strong preache
of different denomination and to abai
dor the old plan. The new society wa
fo1 med Nov. 25, 1905, with 65 origin;
members, 55 coming on confessio
of faith-the latter the fruit of a revive
of over so conversions. The new churc