St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1908-08-05

develop loyalty to the church in the
hearts of men by means of specially
organized society which shall be made
inviting for their cooperation. Its
highest work will be accomplished when
it has succeeded in inspiring men to "ful-
fill their part of the mission of the
church" But it plans to accomplish all
this in ways that are impossible in the
church in its present form of organiza-
ton. In the old regeme men were lad
herents instead of agents" they were
normally identified but really leagues
away from the centre of the work. They
have been dead and they know it, and
now they want fighting chance for
resurrection.
The time has come when we ought to
gather these men whose souls have been
so strangely stirred, and make this
vital group called brotherhood the salt
that shall leaven the big lump. Men
banded together in the name of brothers,
with souls on fire, with enlarged visions
of the power and possibilities of human
friendship; men welded together in the
supernal endeavor to extend this new
spirit of Christian conquest which has so
moved their souls; men who with the
help of Almighty God will thrust their
rugged hands into the tents of un.
righteousness and tear these canopies
asunder and expose the foul interior
and render their protest against such
pollution; men whose souls throb with
such longings and resolutions will be
the adherents of this new Brotherhood
T.. ou1 do ,1,a, n .
work in the community; who will be too
generous to use the varied excuses that
their sex has been wont to relieve itself
with so glibly; men who are not looking
for pageantS but for their share OF Gods
work in the community. AS we under
stand it, the leaders in this mems move
ment have had no thought to make it a
pastme, or a politicians club. While
the social side is not to be sighted
indeed, it will be a wholesome feature,
the Brotherhood is not to be organic
ed for this purpose. 1t is grouping Of
those who are lovers of God and lovers
of men for the purpose of training them
to be effective agents in the propagation
of the every day religion that was lived
and taught by the Lord Jesus Christ.
Our churches may have a good deal OF
machinery, good deal of organization
but here is a call that comes from her
men, it does not come from the pious
crowd, nor the effeminate men; but from
the square jawed, the broad-shouldered,
the steel eyed. the give-and-take men
that have been at her doors tor number
of generations, but seldom inside. And
the church cannot afford to disregard
this awakened consciousness of her men
in their own lives, but is under obliga-
ton to meet it and minister to 1t.
The Congregational church is not the
only body to feel this interest. The
Brotherhood of St Andrew was organic
ed in the St. James Episcopal church in
1888, after the rector had appealed to
Mr.. Houghteling, leader OF a mems
Bible Class who having heard the story
of a fallen man, remarked, For
heavens sake do what you can for this
man. Can't you and your boys hedge
him about somehow and help to lift him
up?" Out of this single effort has grown
a movement having but two avowed
rules. % Daily prayer for power to do
the DAYS duties. (2) And the promise
that each man shall make an earnest
effort each week to bring at least one
man within hearing of the gospel. And
TODAY it has membership of over 49,
600. In 1898 the Brotherhood OF
Andrew and Philip was organized in the
Second Reformed church, Reading, Pa,
with principles similar to those OF the
brotherhood of St. Andrew. 1t has
crown into an international organiza-
ton having chapters in "a different
religious bodies and total membership
of As 900. Local societies for men have
existed in many churches for a number
of wears. These organizations have tor
the most part emphasized the social
spirit and have sought to promote
friendliness and helpfulness among the
men of congregation and in these
organizations men who are and who
are not church members have found
membership. In the Organization OF the
brotherhood of St. Paul in 1895 the
Methodists began their definite work tor
men. while in 1898 the Wesley Brother
hood was brought into being. This
body requires definite pledge OF all its
members to engage in at least two OF
our lines of work, or to invite and bring
each week if possible, at least one man
or bov to the church service. " 10
welcome men who do come. t3) 10
endeavor to secure the conversion OF
men. az To endeavor to bring men
into the membership of the church. Its
membership is about 10000, while the
total membership of all mems work in