St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1914-01-28

ST. Johnsbury will have an OPP
portunfty to show what she can do
when she entertains the convention
of the Vermont School Teachers
association. 1t is no small task to
care for the large number of mem
bers of the association, but st.
Johnsbury will undoubtedly prove
herself equal to it.-Montpelier Ar
gus.
The Community Church.
In general sectarianism is becom-
ing less and less pronounced, and a
broader Christian spirit is taking it's
hold upon the peoples of the world.
The time was when members of one
church denomination would scarcely
worship in the church edifce belong
ing to another creed. After years
: of persuasion by advanced thinkers
the union" service was occasionally,
though doubtfully, enjoyed, Later
came the federated church and now
we have what the Monitor pleases TO
torn community church"
Such church, the ideal church
for our smaller towns, exists in
Glover. Its pastor is the Rev. Il. w.
Douglass, a young man OF sound
mind and common sense. Only last
spring he was sent to this commu
nifty, a community with certain signs
and tendencies of degeneracy. In
this village were two church edifices
and the remnant of three church or
CARNATIONS, but no resident pastor
few leading spirits in the place
got pledges from the men and wom-
en- of the community toward a year
salary of a pastor, some pledging
only after STIMULATING that the minis
ter must be a liberal thinlle" and
satisfactory" However that may
be, comfortable salary was pledged
and the pledges are being willingly
paid. The minister is satisfactory"
Under his leadership and guidance
the "Glover Church'--it has never
been called anything else,--is filling
a place in that community, that no
other church or organization ever
could fill. 1t is the community s.
church. ''Our" church, say the towns
people.
Such a church does not content
itself with mere worship, creeds and
dogmas. drawing it's skirts about
itself and being content 70 let things
drift. The Glover church is a live,
pulsating thing, the moral, social and
intellectual center of that commu-
nifty. 1t fills a place which nothing
else can possibly fill. It's various en-
terprises and investments are vital
because it has to do with the uplift
of the community, the whole commu-
nifty. Not merely the people who
have attended my church, or peo-
pie whose church preference is "my"
church. In Glover it is "our" church,
the community's church, and any
thing that is for the betterment of
the community receives the support
of the church. That which is harm
full to the community is discouraged
by the chul Oh.
The Glover church has fostered
f1ourishing boy scout movement, |
plans for a girls campfire organiza-
ton; a mems Bible class and a
woman's class, both among the larg-
est organized classes of their kind in
Northern Vermont have been formed. |
The church has its young peoples
society; has through its various de-
partments brough outside speakers
and talent to the community and on
a Sunday morning the community
turns out and fills the church week
after week. The building itself has
been extensively repaired and i'm
proved and is in almost constant use
by some of the interests of the Glow
er church. 1t might be stated here
that only a few years ago the base
ment of this same church was rented
for a feed store and an advertising
sign prominently displayed thereon.
Here we have a real church. A
church which means something to
the community of which it is an in
tegral part. A church that has
the moral tone of the place
because it enlists the best side of all
The people of the community in do
ing something, and discOurages the
activities of that baser side of man
which prompts him to lower himself !
and his associates.
Discouraged pastors, weak church I
IS and desparing communities may y
we'll look at the work of the Glover
church with hope Let the day \
hasten when the need of such a
church will break down the barriers
# strife and sectarianism and pride
ound in many a rural village and
he spirit of f'brotherly love and
IffectiOn" make the community
hurch a ossibility.-Orleans Coun-
y Monitor.
Innings For The Farmers.
While the passage of the Lever bill
title attention in the cities, it has
,iven the rural districts of the coun-
ry something to think about and
hould the Senate confirm the action
he result would be regarded as an
strengthened of our agri-
cultural interests. This same bill
'assed the popular branch at a previ-
us session, but was defeated in the
enate by very few votes. 1t has
ad the approval of our New England
ural improvement association and if
egarded as a probable benefit to this
ection it would undoubtedly prove
greater one in those States where
opuIation is less congested. The
MEASURE would give the various State
gricultural colleges Federal funds
D finance plans for acquainting the
armers through publications and ex-
eriments with facts established by
be Department of Agriculture.
10 do Eax1f ~ in re-