Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1912-01-18
.AFF|L|ATES WITH
FEDERAL COUNCIL.
Inter. Church Federation Com
pletes Organization as Sub.
sidiary of National.
Continued from page oneJ

Continued from page oneI
son. that the comfy commission had
existed 100 years ago. How often
you see three little churches. Congre-
Rattonal Methodist and Baptist, all
facing on one small square don't
Know why they were put there. nor
just how We are going to get rid OF
them and put one strong efficient
church in their place"
Rev. clifford H. smith superinten-
dent OF the Vermont Anti saloon
league. spoke briefly in favor of fed
Grafton among churches and was fol-
lowed by state Secretary Byron \.
Clark of the Y NJ c. A.
In my travels about the state"
said Mr.. Clark, y have seen a great
deal OF un-Christian Christianity and
petty jealousy in some of the Vermont
towns where nothing or tho Kind
should exist"
PUBLIC MEETING IN EVENING.
The mass meeting opened In the
Methodist Episcopal Church at eigh,
o'clock. with n good attendance. Pres.
ident Benton Of the University of Yer.
mont presided. and after the Rev.
Fraser Metzger had offered prayer. DR..
Benton spoke briefly
II regard this" said he. "as one of
the most significant movements of thu
present time. The goth century will
go down In history as the age OF the
unification of Christian churches.
believe. furthermore. that inter de-
n oninational federation will have a
most helpful effect IN the cause Of
foreign missions"
The Rev Or. MacCauiey said that .hs
Reformation has never been fully realized.
but that the coming federation Of Chris
t!an churches will complete the work of
that movement. after the lapse Of cen
turtles.
Clark c. Fits Of Brattleboro. formerly
attorney general Of this State. declared
that Vermont's problems are not the sams
. as those OF the larger Industrial common
wealths
; Vermont" said he. rs not what some
Of her good friends take her for.
There are advantages, he declared in
our present methods Of choosing COVER
nors and representatives. in spite of the
objections that have been raised to them.
That there areevidences OF decadence,
said ne. among many OF the people OF
this State is to he admitted. hut there
is enough good stock left to provide good
and capable men for office"
Mr. Fits pointed out numerous in.
| stances in which Vermont legislation has
, been years in advance of that of other
states. citing some Of our laws in regard
TO public service corporations. watered
stock and grade crossings on the rail
roads. But he deplored certain existing
/, | conditions.
The rural communities in our good
little State" aaid he ARE running down.
Imbeciles idiots and criminals are in
creasing IN number. OF Il homicides III
s my Jurisdiction. II were committed by ma
!. tive Nermonters. OF other vicious crim.s.
r such as rape and incest. ~ per cent We're
- committed by rural Nermonters
. More work. declared Mr., Fits, Is a rem
= edy for some of our evils.
d sitting around In the grocery stores.
o wasting time. and talking filth. il one
: source of the trouble. Then, there mus
J. be work for our young people 10 do. II
v they are to be kept from emigratng to
= other States. It's 10-hour working day
n and not one of six or eight hours that
/ we need in our rural communities
9 II want first OF all" declared Mr..
l. Fits TO see the churches OF Christ In
n this State get after these decaying condi-
tons.
l. THE story OF the making Of Vermont
4 Is one of the most thrilling in all history
y but the story OF her undoing Is one OF the
saddest."
10 FOR A LOCAL FEDERATION.
z Yesterday afternoon at three o'clock
pastors and delegates from the Protestant
,lt, oof N
# az the Y. NJ. C. A. to discuss tbs
y feasibility OF some federation OF city
" and county churches. Roughly stated
Il the spirit Of the plan is that the churches
ID which. entirely aside from doctrines ~
K which they may differ. have a great dea
al IN common I'm such matters az socta
Is betterment and charity. should ge
l. together as far as possible. Tho organ
le ization proposed to the meeting wa
r. along the lines OF model constitution
and bylaws for such declarations approved
K by the Federal Council OF the Churches
'r Of Christ In America, and provided fo
d a certain degree Of recognition OF th'
Is Federal Council.
t Among the pastors and delegates presen
were the Rev c. J. Staples Of tn
Unitarian Church the Rev 7, G, Smart
|
the College Street Congregational Church
the Rev. r G. Guthrie. ". J Van Paften
F. w. Perry and l.. p. Smith OF the Frs
Church: the Rev. n. E. Flag OF tins
al Winooski Congregational Church. ms
S. Rev G. V. Grisrer. r. y. Clark. W, u
IS Jackman and J O. Draffin of the Metho'
dist Church: the Rev. j :. Braker
nj Wilbur j. Gray. ] u Tousley and tn
n Rev W. A. Davidson of the Bapt's'
re Church; the Rev. A G. Clarke and tbs
of Rev. c. c. Wilson OF the Episcopa
IL Church In this city and WinoosN
h. The meeting was opened and the par
he explained by DIR. Hugh b MacCau'ey ~
ne Trenton \ J. secretary ~ the eastern
I'd district OF the Federal Council The onlN
H. action taken by the meeting, which haf
Il. no formal standing In connection with tn
h churches represented was TO vote II
IL submit the model constitution TO their
OF churches and the other churches OF th'
OF county This vote did not necessarily
mean a recommendation of the plan.