The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1908-11-19

t. thinking. ehssrt4ng I~fsnus q y
apparent that interest n chnfeh vork
i certainly growing lrss each urek.
liish lAmentabl, fart that oai p'.aplt
are coming 30 r-guri ihr nanrncr -
ire churches ~ - lisilv consequence
20 much - ihat influential eiiEens
make but ltiiic effort % aitri,d teep
lariy. do no, indemnity tirmseisr, w,th
any particular denomination and ~
their influence Cor goAi ~ tho commnn
ay is lost. L strikes me that Wilde We
consider mans duty 10 vote sud thus
DO his psr ia the world rs n man, il is
40 less bis duty h. his fellow citizens
10 exert bis influence on the side Of
good morals and sbow by bis lie
that be is anxious 70 see The boys aud
girls educated ia those principles which
shall make OF them Law abiding citI-
sens. Whether We belong 70 any
church or not, il will not be unprolt
able for all OF Us 10 attend charch at
least once week ia good weather
Are We growing SO lax that eventually
there will be no one to attend or sup
port the churehesf
am moi so egutistical rs to think
that am the only one who notices the
slim aitendanee OF church members,
for il mnst grieye a pastor TO see ouly
about half of the congregation mem
beers Of his church.
10 no derry tina, II disagree oitimes
with some of the assertions aud declarh-
tons made from the pulpit, but, rs We
are not in position 10 strike bark let 1t
go. Now, my opinion may not he
worth penny, bnt | have noticed this,
when preacher iorgets himself tor
minute and steps away from reading
,orrect theological sermon and speaks
from the heart. his audience is inter.
asted. Ii must be dsheartening TO Il
castor as he enters his church TO see
50 few of bis flock in the back seats,
il must lead him 10 think that either
his efforts are not appreciated or the
parishioners are back sliding. | do not
pose as goody goody, but | realize
that the fundamental principles OF our
government rest upon the teachings OF
the bible, and am sorry 10 see our
business men so indifferent to the CON
ditions MS they now exist in regard to
observing Sunday, attending church
aud upholding those moral principles.
without which no community can, or
.ver will be accorded n very high
standing. OF course human nature is
freakish, and most Of MS have our hob
bies, but as an enlightened nation We
must. If we expect TO maintain our
reputation as the most advanced people
IN the globe, observe those rules and
requirements that have made us what
we are. We ought not to get wild oven
our prosperity, and so ignore those
matters that give stability to our com.
monwealth. We cannot afford to be-
cause there is limit. You cannot go
forever in one direction. There is no
line so long but it has an end. To be
sure il is folly TO go around IN a circle
always, but there is medium condi-
ton, and that is to advance, and with
enough caution TO hold our ground.
Certainly we have some notions and
IDEAS that are worthless and might well
be left behind, but ! think all will adj
nit that II we discard the practices
which make for the highest principles
of government aud of an enlightened
people we viii surely retrogade, ] am
simply speaking of an effect. It is up
TO ministers and the church officials to
learn the cause and see if il can be
remedled.
Respectfully,
EBER l.. TAYLOR.