Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1908-06-25
CHURCHES UNITE.
Baptist and Methodist Societies to
Form Q Federation.

i CHURCHES UNITE.
Baptist and Methodist Societies to
/ Form Federation.
Sentiment in Randolph seems to be de-
cidedly in favor of church union, since in
union there is strength and greater ener-
gy in the prosecution of Christian work
with less waste of effort and resources in
the maintenance of separate organizati ions
having practically the same aims and OBJ
jects in view. In 1905, the Cong'l and
Christian churches of this village united
into Bethany church, becoming in fact
one fold under one shepherd, and a year
later the Cong1 and Methodist churches
at the Center formed q federation to work
and worship together under one pastor,
while still retaining their individual
i church relationships.
Now the First Baptist church and the
Methodist Episcopal church of Randolph
propose to form a similar federation in
order to increase their financial strength
and combine their forces for active and
aggressive work. The movement was
started by the resignation of the Baptist
pastor, Rev. W. 8. Bradshaw, who will
sever his connection with the church
next Sunday to take up duty in the
West, and in this emergency the sugges-
q
strongly to the society. The Methodist
people, on being approached. received the
idea favorably, and Monday night, June
s, committee from both churches met to
talk the matter over. DR.. A. c. Bailey,
o. B. Copeland, d. d. Howe and A. N.
Hayes represented the Methodist church,
and H. b. Bell, Fl. M. Totman, e. N.
Rising an Alfred Webster the Baptist
church. The proposed plan was so well
received that Messrs. Bailey, Copeland,
Rising and Bell were appointed to draw
up articles of federation to be considered
later.
Rev. Joseph Hamilton, acting pastor of
the Methodist church, and Rev. Mr..
Bradshaw of the Baptist church both high
ly approved Of the proposed federation. and
it also found favor with Or. Davidson
of Burlington, the Baptist state secretary,
who was here two weeks ago, and with
Presiding Elder Smithers Of this Metho-
dist district. While the two societies
feel themselves, separately, somewhat
} straitened in means and not very large
in numbers, they would make a strong
body united, with their force doubled
and their expenses halved.
The Baptist society has a membership
!, of about 20, a handsome brick church
building on Main street that is worth at
least 900, and a parsonage adjoining
worth $4,000, though the parsonage is not
owned clear. The Methodist society has
a membership of so and a comfortable
| church edifice of wood valued at $1,000.
: A pipe organ insured for $1,000 was placed
!, in the church two years ago. The
federated society would use these church
buildings, probably on alternate Sundays,
according to the arrangements of the
| oxe Rev
Hamilton OF the Methodist church will be
requested to act as pastor.
The articles for federation drawn up by
: Messrs. Bailey, Copeland. Rising and Bell
were presented to the joint committee of
the two societies Monday night and were
approved. Tonight they will be consid-
: red by each society, separately and early
next week the two churches will come to-
gether to take action on the proposed fed
Grafton, whose articles follow
Whereas the NJ. E. church OF Ran
dolph, Orange county, VT, and the First
Baptist church OF the same place deem it
wise to form federation in order to in
crease their financial strength and to
serve more efficiently in winning the
community to Christ:
Therefore, the above-named churches,
, taking for their watchword, some is your
master, even Christ, and all We are breth-
; rem" do enter into solemn covenant
; with each other in accordance with q
two-thirds vote OF the resident members
of each church, voting either by person
or by written proxy, at regular meetings
: of the Methodist church and the Baptist
church, to abide by the following articles
: of agreement until one or both of said
churches request dissolution by a two
thirds vote, said request to be made at
: least three months before the end Of the
. ministerial year; it being agreed that dis
: solution shall take place only at the end
of the ministerial year.
Each church, namely: The First Bap-
fist, organized May s, 1867, and the
Methodist Episcopal, organized Sept. "a,
1888, shall maintain its individual organ
ization.
? The officers and committees OF the
Federated society shall be a moderator,
executive committee, secretary, treasurer,
I auditor, music committee of three men,
. bers, head usher and such other officers
1 and committees as the needs of the socie-
ty may require.
> All officers and committees shall serve
q one year from date of election, or until
their successors are chosen.
The Federated society shall hold its
t first meeting for the transaction Of bust
{ ness at the call of the chairman of the
union committee appointed to prepare
9 these articles, and the call shall be read
from the pulpit at least four days before
9 the time of meeting.
. The Federated society shall hold its an
( nusl business meeting the Wednesday be-
fore the first Sunday in January, in con-
, nection with roll call and social gather
ing of all its members, and shall hold such
i. other meetings as the executive commit
tee shall call at not less than a weeks
notice.
All members of both churches IS years
of age or over and attending any bust
ness meeting shall be eligible to vote in
such meeting.
At the annual meeting the Federated
! society shall hear and take action regard
ing reports, elect officers and committees
with the proviso that the executive COM
mittee shall consist of three members
from each church, who shall have been
nominated previously by their respective