Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1909-11-11
LETTERS FROM THE PEOPLE
CHURCH UNITY IN VERMONT.

wa rd local church cooperation and unity
all of which are to be found IN Vermont.
Everyone will grant that Vermont has
too many sects or dcnominat ional diyis-
ions. Tho sin of schism the curse Of
| church duplication which is one of tho
greatest blots upon the modern age has
certainly shown itself in many commune
ties among the Green Mountains. Twen-
tv-four religious denominations have or
ganized societies in the state Eighteen
of these are OF scots usually called evan
Cclical. There are move than 2O10m peo-
pie within orr borders who aro not menu
bers of communicates in any of these
| religious bodies. There Is one religious
organization, corresponding 80 local
church. FOR every 3Si people I'm the state
Vermont, however IS unqucstonably
| the leading state IN the Union in tho use
of practical methods Of healing the waste
caused by the presence of too many con-
tending churches in small villages and
towns
MANY Lessons are to be learned. we
trust. by means Of this list. No elah-
crate attempt is made at exact Classifi-
cation. Tho purpose Of the rudiment-
| AIRY classification is 10 aesiet IN descrip-
! ton more than to gain technical ends.
The list is surely not complete. no one
In tho state has been enabled TO visit
every community for tho purposes Of
| such study Tho writer would like
| 10 be informed In detail OF other similar
eases Of work toward unity. Corrections
/ arc greatly desired. IT Is especially for
the purpose of gaining completeness ana
exactress In such a study that the list
is presented. It may be explained that
I throughout the Names of denominations
| are given in alphabetical order on each
card. The following Is the catalogue:
CLASS I. UNITY BY Comfy.
Fast wallingford-Mcthod' meetings
/ eliminated and Methodist Church kept
! out nv advice Of the Vermont lnterde-
nominal ional Comfy commission. One
/ Baptist Church has the field
I Sprlngned-B Baptist Church kept out
by advice of the Vermont Interdenomin-
ational Comfy commission.
| CLASS II. UNITY Ely COOPERATION.
/ ACKNOWLEDGMENT has a federation Of
/ the New York city type OF the Baptist.
| Congregational. Episcopal and Methodist
| churches of Newport and other church
| es in nearby villages. Monthly union
| meetings. a community council of the
churches and special mass meetings on
/ large issues are realized.
( CLASS III. UNITY BY FEDERATION
vermont type.
Observation-Disclosures for work and
Worship since 1907 of Congregational and
| Methodist Churches under one pastor
! with alternate use of church buildings
Pastors alternate as to denomination
| Present pastor Ccngrega tlonal.
| Fairlce-C Congregational and Methodist
| Churches with tho use of one union
! building federated IN 1909 FOR the support
Of one resident pastor. Pastors alternate
as to denomination. Present pastor
| Methodist.
| Grand Isle-t'non Church building and
one federated congregation with preach
| ing by Congregational pastor resident
| at South Hero once each Sunday and
| 10y resident Methodist pastor once each
Sunday.
Guildhall-Tcderation Of Congregation
al and Methodist churches with alter
nate use of church buildings and pastors
! alternating as to denomination. Present
! pastor Methodist.
| Randolph--In 1905 tho Baptist and Meth
oGist churches federated for work and
worship with alternate Use of church
buildings. The pastors chosen from both
denominations alternately. Present pas
| tor Methodist
! Randolph Center-1r 100; tho Congrega-
tioral and Methodist Churches federated
| for work and worship with alternate use
| Of church buildings and the pastors
chosen from the denominations alter
natey. Present pastor Methodist.