Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1908-05-21

of fresh air. The Christian works in the
bright warm air of Gods love all the
time; he puts the spirit of Christ into the
things to be done at this moment. There
are times and places when the devotional
spirit is at the highest, but the devotion
al spirit is not the main thing. The
sweeping of q room is as truly q religious
act-though not q devotional one-as the
singing OF hymn.
| The Vatican Eliminates against the
sciences, as showing bias towards unbe-
+, lief. Cursed be all learning that is not
subservient to the cross of Christ. No,
reverend father: blessed be all truth and
some learning, for in the end it will ad-
vance the cross of Christ. The Christian
scholar is loyal to truth, believing it to
come from God and to be humbIy accept
ed whether it comes through revelation or
inspiration.
In the kingdom of the earth rs it
should be, men will regard suffrage not
as a means to exercise power, but as a sa-
cred trust for God. Party evil will be
rectified SO as to show the party's right
to exist, and God will reign in the state
when Gods laws determine mems legisla-
tion and men cast their votes in the fear
of God.
Will there always be divided Christ
endom in the kingdom of God, or will they
all be one because they agree in doctrine
and polity or because their differences are
supplementary. The church as one great
organization, unified and solidified, is
not what we hope for or ought to strive
for in our endeavors. Such religious dis
cipline would be possible in creatures be-
low the standard Of men Of our time, but
among beings endowed marvelously,
varied and complex as men are, it is both
impossible and undesirable. What dull
world this would be. Men in prison
have to learn the lockstep. Freedom to
think and to act is one prize of civiliza-
ton. Why should men ever think it was
necessary for them to think exactly alike?
How can men who think differently live
together and agree? First, the fullest
life comes to those who live together and
don't agree; those whose peculiarities are
merely complementary and who contrib
ute by their differences. Second, when
group of Christians separate from the
main body in order to emphasize differ
ence, both lose as in the case of the Wes-
leyan schism from the Anglican church.
1t is q hopeful thing in our time to see
the progress we are making. A stranger
in city churches cannot tell from the
service whether he is worshipping with
Methodists or Baptists, and from the
preaching cannot distinguish Episcopal
from Presbyterian churches.
It is our task to make here and now a
fit scene for Gods dwelling; not to be I'M
faithful to life as it now is, not to sigh
for streets of emerald and jasper, until we
have done what we can to make the ma
ton, Vermont, Randolph and our neigh
borhood integral parts of the kingdom of
our Lord and His Christ
After prayer by Rev. Mr.. Sargent, the
charge to the pastor was given by Rev.
Benjamin Swift, pastor Of the Cong'l
church in Woodstock, who believed the
Christian ministry should be thoroughly
democratic. The manifestation of a
spirit of favoritism is wrong. Pastors
must visit all of their fiocks and seek out
the lowest. II any can spare us, it is
those who are grounded in the faith. II
was the sheep that were lost which were
sought by the Good Shepherd. Thous-
ands CT foreigners are coming to our
shores every year who must be reached by
us. They are often unpleasant with a
strong odor of onions and garlic, but we
have q duty to perform in making them a
support instead of menace to our insti-
tutions. / say then, be thoroughly dem
ocratic.
I believe that all who are placed as we
are need to individuaIize their people.
We know there is a call for organization
today. We must ever be speaking to the
organization, guiding the organization,
but we need to realize that we must get
away from the organization and down to
the individual man, to do the best work
of our ministry. We are living in a time
marked by greater activity among lay
men than has been known in the past for
long, long time. Witness the Cong1
congress lately held in Worcester, Mass.
for the purpose Of quickening the work
to be done in the church, when more lay
men were present than ministers. Think
of the laymen's missionary movement al.
ready making itself felt. Laymen are
coming tc realize the need of their devot-
ing themselves to the work, and we must
seek to minister to them in order to use
this great force.
Concern yourself with the great world
movements Of the kingdom. One has on
ly to hear of the movements in China and
Japan to know that the time is ripe to lay
broad and deep foundations for the king
! dom of Christ in those lands. Ally your