Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1909-07-08
o bear witness before the whole world.

to bear witness before the whole world.
Government Of the people, by tho peo-
Pile and for tho people is the principle to
which VIC bear witness. Emphazng fur
Their the Importance Of tho entire separa-
ton OF the civil and the religious. the
speaker sald the state must show no
preference for any religion by cndow-
ment or patronage. That would beget an
arrogant spirit. Crime Is ono thing to
DO punished by the civil code. Sin is
quite another thing. A prince may be
accommodated but Christian authority
should never presume to depose. That
would be simply absurd. on the other
hand the determination Of theological
questions by civil authority is altogether
worn out. The religious and the civil
authorities must supplement each other.
man should be chosen for Office or
work according to his qualifications for
that office or that work. That n man is
OF your own religious preference or po-
litical stripe is not sufficient reason for
your support. It is absurd 70 think a
man Is qualified for street commissioner
because he is n democrat or for school
commissioner because no Is a republican.
Tho function Of tho church Is not . die
tate or control but to Inspire. She Gets
herself to exhort but never to command.
The separation Of church and state
means federation OF differences of prac-
tice. federation does not mean indiffer-
ence. Others may disagree with what he
sees to be the truth but the tolerant
man will seek to win men by persuasion.
For social or political reform We can Join
with our friends whether Cnitarinn. Jew,
Ansnostic, Roman Catholic or Puritan.
but We cannot toin with them In common
public worship The speaker went on 70
show that such a stand simply meant
loyalty to facts. Speaking In more per-
sonal way the bishop said he could not
think OF placing his neck under the yoke
where rs a Christian priest he would be
subject TO the legislation Of a parliament
composed OF all religions and no religion.
In spite OF its French discovery and
French name Vermont belongs to New
England and not to France In this con-
necton the bishop went on to chow how
this territory wrested from the French
by strife Is gradually becoming distinct
lively French. The census Of 1900
showed an Increase of population
during the preceding ten years OF
ll.00o, During that period the growth
OF the French element amounted TO 5000
leaving the increase other than Of French
extraction. only 5000. This state Of
affairs Is due to three causes. First. the
going away Of our young people. the
best. the brightest and the most vigorous.
leaving survival Of the least NJ. Second.
manufacturers have a large share In the
responsibility. For the sake Of large
proflts they import cheap laborwitness
Winooski and West Rutland. Third, the
unwllingness Of our people to have large
families.
In conclusion the speaker exhorted all
to the Importance OF leaving the Impress
of our civilization on the land which we
have inherited. At the outset the speak
er announced that in closing he would
leave two texts with his hearers. These
were Seek we first the kingdom Of God
and It's Righteousness and Render unto
Caesar the things that are Caesars and
to God the things that are Gods"