Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1910-02-03
CONGRATULATIONS
ON ANNIVERSARY

At the same time there are many truths,
and these the most important, in which
We all agree. These We will emphasize,
In proclaiming these we will Join HANDS
and hearts with all those--and they arc
tho great majority--who believe them.
Let there he union OF hearts and, as far
as possible. union of hands and deeds
and lives among "all those who profess
and call themselves Christians"
But there In one further step; we
are understanding each other better.
Differences are less sharply defined Re
liefs which seemed false when stated
by opponents In controversy look differ
ent when ret forth hy their ahettors.
Stated IN less scholastic form, they
make more kindly appeal to our
hearts. The old maxim, too little acted
Oh In old times is now being made ef-
fective; ut is the heart that makes the
theologian." Charity is taking the place
Of dognatic arrogance-not TIE charity
which doles out forbcarauce and tolcra-
lion. but the charity OF the Epistle to
the Corinthians. which bears and be-
lieves and hopes all things
And hest OF all we are learning from
one Notwithstanding because we are
willing to learn. The error OF the old
sectarian spirit was I'VE know 1t all
and you others can teach nv nothing"
we are now saying to one another,
Dear brethren, II you have any gift,
any grace. any divine secret, which we
have not, share 1t with US and freely
take what we can give We have
learned much from you Cniterlans.
Your culture. your noble ethics, your
piay, embodied for us IN your Chan
nnp, your Martineaus your Peabodys.
your Warea your Hales. We recognize
as Gods gifts TO his Church Universal.
and we are grateful for our Inheritance
therein. We doubt not that on appro-
pirate occasions you would acknowledge
your Indebtedness 10 type OF religion
which is not your own. There are men
among you, larEe-mlnded men, who
have even Acknowledged your indebted
ness, with that OF all ChrtstianA to
such imperfect hut historically and spirit
ually great works as the Westminster
Confession and the Institutes of Calvin.
The great multitude of you rejoice and
give thanks that the Head Of the Church
has given TO IT such preachers as John
Wesley, Robert Hall. Horace Bushnell,
Henry Ward Beeche-, Charles Sturgeon
and Phillips Brooks.
Not to multiply words, # IS almost
worth while to have lived during the
past fifty years simply TO have Wit
messed here in Burlington and through
out New England and more or less in
all tho churches of Christendo1l. the
growth Of the Christian spirit the spirit
of brotherly love among all those who
'Iove the Lord Jesus Christ in SINGER
ity." May 1t go on until that day when
not only beyond" but amid, AL these
voices there shall be peace
IRON MONTREAL TNITARIANS
DR.. Griffin said that to him it was
most acceptable service to bring th'
greetings Of his church to the Unitarian
Church of Burlington. He considered i
fortunate that the opportunity came earl,
IN his passionate that he might ge
acquainted with his neiEhbors here. TO
the church here is the nearest ncighbo
OF that In Montreal.
But though he is alone In Montreal n
could not get lonesome. FOR there i
plenty for Unitarian to do in that city
1t was, If possible, still more pleasan
10 bring CONGRATULATIONS because Of tn
cordial relations which have Away
existed between the two churches. Ther
have been many aTectionate friendship
between their ministers.
DR.. Griffin said that in his trip to Bur
inGton he set foot on American soil 70
the first time In five months, and I, fe.
good. Here he read an Informal littl
note extending the greetings of the PEG
pie Of his church to the Burllngto.
congregation.
lie also said that he hoped he mig :
during his pastorate. do his part TO MAX
the two churches brothers In the I'ni
tartan household. DIR. Griffin referred {,
Mr.. Stapless address Of the evening he
fore and said that ono of tna thing,
therein which most impressed him wa
That though different persons had occu-
pied the pulpit during the century ot
pe church's history there was really :
continuous ministry. continuous
dream OF love and worship
There is nothing more wonderful thar
the steady stream Of life. Men and ma.
eons are continually taking mp the work
If those who have gone before and
carrying 1t on. willie the stream Of life
CONSTANTLY grows finer and stronger ant
burer through tho years. This steady
progression may he compared to a rela,
race, in which men carry on the banne,
~ ternty and pass it. from hand to hand
The accumulated gain Of the past t.
handed on.
So the various ministries of the church
have been permanently closed and
though the generations that have serve1
save passed away their work has re
pained 81 Of the past remains to MAX.
ur own time glad and We look with at
Do vi ,,bn ~ haS
In the hour of congratuation 1t &
>lso sood Ia look forward to future OBJ
Ssation. with the freedom and truth o
De past We also receive obllga ton 70
3eryice IN the future and the necessit,
Cor obedience to that truth The day o
>ongratu ton Is also a day of consecra
lon.
DIR. wRIGHT'S GREETING.
In presenting the congratulations o
ihe Vermont Unitarian Churches. ID
Wright said, in part:
We congrat ulates you. brothers an
listers Of the First Congregational sc
Nety in Burlington. upon having live
rs an organization to be hundre
Years old we congratulate you tha
you survived the perils incident to II
fancy and childhood,-the mumps,-ye.
the mu,nps OF one-sided development
and a disproportioned Jaw; and the scaI
let fever,--yes. all excess of angry colo
and Of controversial heat; and tho mea
sles,-yes, irritations caught from other'
and injecting the whole vicinity. We cor
era, ulate you upon having survived IN
dangers attendant upon the long lone
illness of your early years, though go
had not fostering caro- Of bishop, {