Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1917-10-03
SERVICE AND COOPERATION.

SEX NlCE AND COO1 ENA HUN.
One of the most direct and forceful
things that has come to the notice Of
the Monitor with regard to the SER
vice and cooperation Of the church in
the community, was published in the
Septenlber number of "The American
Missionary" They are the words of
c.. c. Merrill of Burlington, recently
come to the state as associate secre-
tary of the Vermont Domestic Mis-
sionary society Of the Congregational
churches of the state.
In the Introductory part Of this
article NJ. Merrill says:
"Who's Who in America" for 1916
IS shows that Of nearly $4,000 men
thought worthy to be included in that
publication, 10 per cent were born in
New England, although New England
contains but seven per cent of the
population of the country. Among
the New England states Vermont is
first in the number Of men in "Who's
Who" per one hundred Thousand of
population. The figures are: Rhode
Island is the birthplace of So per
hundred thousand; Connecticut, 55;
Massachusetts, 59;Maine, 72; New
Hampshire, SO; Vermont 1O2. This
is what Vermont has done for the
nation. If she is to continue to do it,
the springs of her own life must be
refed and revitalized, and the drain
must not be SO large nor so constant.
He speaks of the leadership the
Congregational denomination occu-
pies in the state and reminds adher-
ents of that church that with this
leadership comes great responsibility,
and delivers a very able discourse on
community service and cooperation.
Let each church definitely plan, I'M
der the leadership of it's pastor, to
minister to all the people in it's COM
munity or in that portion of the COM
munity which is committed to it and
let it minister to the entire life of the
community. If the people of the
community do not attend the gather
ings for worship, let them not be
scolded for it until it is found wheth-
er their absence is not just criti-
cism on the character of the services.
IF the young people are engrossed in
unWhOlesOme amusement, let the
church provide wholesome amuse-
ment or see that it is provided. The
pastor may feel that nothing human
is foreign" to him and the more really
important contacts he can have with
the community, the better. Let every
head Of a church remember Dir. Park
bursts true phrase: "The church is
not the minister's field, but the minis
ter's force"
Let us stand clearly on the ground
that we are not out to Congregations
alize the state, but to Christianize it.
So when we find a community where
another Protestant body can more
successfully minister to the whole of
it, we will withdraw, and in the cases
where we can better hold the field
alone, we hope they will withdraw.
Just as rapidly as possible in the
smaller communicate from three
hundred to one thousand people-with
the cooperation of our sister commun-
tiles, we will move toward the goal of
one Protestant church for communi-
ty or a town, thus having an ade-
quate field for minister, and, more
likely, an adequate minister for the
field. A better equipment would al
SO be possible since the unused church
building could be made over into
Oh parish uOuSC. IL WOULD
mean fewer churches but stronger,
more vigorous churches; it would
mean fewer ministers, but more ade-
quately-supported, more self-respect-
ing, in every way stronger ministers.
There would still be rivalry between
denominations, but it would be a
healthy rivalry as to which denomina-
ton could better care for the entire
communities which had been commit
ted to it's charge instead of the waste
full and destructive competition which
is likely to exist between two church.
es in community which is only large
enough to support one. In towns that
can efficiently support two churches
let there be thorough understanding,
much mutual planning for the cover
ing of the entire field, a lessening of
duplication of work on the part of the
ministers and some provision for CIV
ing the special capacity of each min
lister a full opportunity for USE It is
not enough that two churches in a
field, and two ministers get on we'll
together, without quarreling, they
ought definitely and positively to plan
and work together to make that COM
munity thoroughly Christian.
We of the Congregational churches
in Vermont should, | think stand
squarely committed to this principle