Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1912-02-22

The get.together dinner Of the men OF
the churches Of Burlington, held TUESDAY
night in the parlors Of tho College street
Church, drew together more than 1V as
good citizens as Burlington can boast
Speeches rousing and yet sane were made.
and a warm response of enthusiasm and
fellow feeling was invoked.
After the excellent dinner had received
Its share Of attention. the toast
master, Judge T.. c. Mower. ad-
dressed few remarks to the
diners and then called successfully upon
the Rev. C. II. Smith. DR.. c. F. Dalton,
Prof. J. F. Messenger and c. p. Cowles.
The POSTMASTER expressed wonder that
a gathering of this kind had never oc-
Cured before. He admitted that It was
his belief that all men, and more than
elsewhere, the men Of this enlightened
town, are fundamentally brothers ana In
cidentally sectarians. He said that one
reason why We have hung apart and re-
Trained from any such gathering all these
years was that in the past our leaders
have lacked the convictions Of civic duty,
that we had reason to congratulate our
selves now that our spiritual leaders are
able to come together as they do, and
should give all honor to the clergy Of
Burlington.
The statement that II you sugar-of AMI
boil down the preaching Of the different
Protestant churches Of this city. you could
not tell the difference outside a theology
cal laboratory. was received with hearty
applause. The speaker read the following
platform, which ne said was his creed
brought there, not for the purpose Of
having 1t formally submitted. Endorsed or
adopted. but simply as food for medita-
ton:
A CREED FOR ALL.
I'VE believe that the great spiritual
interests of Burlington are OF more vital
importance than the creed Of any single
church in Burlington.
I'VE believe that church cooperation IN
social service can be made the most po-
tent Of all forces in the promotion Of
these great spiritual interests.
I'VE believe that such cooperation
ought no longer to be thwarted or hamp-
cred by denominational differences or
theological distinctions.
I'VE believe that the time has come
when the churches OF Burlington can
and should present an united front
against the common enemies of good citi-
zenship and social well-being.
I'VE propose, therefore, to enroll our
selves a. members Of one great church
family in all that concerns the general
religious and social life OF this COM
munity."
ANTI-sALOON WORK.
The Rev. c. H. Smith. superintendent
Of the Vermont Anti-Saloon League, was
introduced as one engaged In waeing
war upon one Of the forces OF evil.
which exists in this as in many communi-
ties. II was said that the half has not
been told OF the misery. the degradation.
the wickedness which results from intem-
perance. Mr.. Smiths topic was: Some
Phases Of Anti-Saloon Work" He spoke
Of two phases. first tho humorous and
then the decidedly serious. He said that
some Of his friends wore very long faces
when he decided to take UP the tenn
perance cause as a work. and when he
met them now they inquired quite earn
estiy how ne enjoyeA his new work.
His answers to these questions reminded
him of the boy who was asked his age
and answered: Mother says I'm ten, but
I've had fun enough to be a hundred.
There Is fun in this work." he said. He
declared 1t was fun the other day when
a minister In the church he was to speak
| In. prayed earnestly and at great length
| for 1.-The blessed cause Of intemperance.
He said II was fun when the telephone
| girl called his house the other day and
said: Hello, Ia this Mr.. Smiths resi-
dence?" and then on receiving An at
firmative answer inquired further tt
know If that particular Mr. Smith wal
the "Anti-Saloon- Keeper"
Turning to the serious phase Of his sub
| ject, the speaker referred to the time o.
| the year when the approaching Marcel
| elections are putting a question to tn
people of Burlington and Of Vermont. II
| a moderate, careful. tactful way he ar
| gued that 1t was a pity for Burlington
the largest, the most beautiful city II
Vermont. the home Of the State univer
| sity. to have twenty saloons He spok'
| Of the fact that there are certain mum
| Der Of habituai drunkards in the city
and said It always impressed him ~
| strange that men who were the direct re
suit Of the system should be excluded
| from It's operation. tie said that when no
long ago certain houses In the city wer'
quarantined as tho homes Of infectious di
| sease, those who had the disease were
| not the ones excluded and In the cast
Of the saloons. he suggested that It seem
| ed a little odd to exclude those who hat
| caught the drink habit and admit thu
| others. In closing. he spoke Of the univer
sity here and intimated that'n was ouI
interest and duty to exclude this nuisance
and make this city a fit place for thu
| State institution OF higher learning.
ENERGY WASTED IN CHARITABLE
WORK
Or. Dalton spoke ably Of the energ,
| wasted In Burlington. particularly u
| charitable work. He said thus py this M
did not mean to reflect against tho or
ganixed charities Of the city but agains'
promiscuous private giving. He related al
| an instance of this disorganized givina
the story OF family who went into
quarantine and simultaneously went upor
the city for help. 1t seemed. he said. As Il
every woman he met while that family
was quarantined was on her way to brirG
something to that family. and every mar
| he met stated that his wife had dom