The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1917-12-18
MONTPELIER
Clergymen Are Not Committed to Plan
of Joint Use of Church.

At the meeting of the Protestant
clergy of Montpelier, held Monday morn.
ing, the following resolutions were adopt.
ed relative to the closing of the churches
as requested by the state fuel commits.
sioner. These were held up for day to
give the laymen a chance to move in the
matter, but in view of their delay they
were released for publication this morn
| ing;
Whereas, we, the pastors of the six
Protestant churches of Montpelier, have
met together for the purpose of consider
ing the matter of fuel conservation in its
relation to our churches, and
Whereas, we are informed through the
public press and otherwise that a serious
shortage of coal prevails throughout the
country, and that it is absolutely neces-
sary for the welfare of our people that
fuel conservation be practiced in every
possible way and through every possible
agency, and
Whereas, committee of II laymen
from our churches has been appointed to
consider this same problem, therefore be
it
Resolved, That we, the pastors of the
aforesaid churches, hereby signify our
earnest desire to cooperate with the
committee of II, with the public fuel
commission, and with the community, in
every possible way, in the task of con-
serving our fuel supply;
Resolved, That we deem it inexpedient
and impracticabIe at the present time
for the various Protestant churches of
the city TO unite together in union serv-
ices, or in the use separately of one
church building, except in so far as any
two or more churches may agree among
themselves so to do;
Resolved, That we recommend 10 the J
fuel commission, to the committee of II. |
and to our churches locally, that each |
church be left to solve its own heating |
problem in the way that seems wisest to |
that church, acting on its own respon-
sibility and with full knowledge of the
situation.
At the same time. we desire to place
IN record our conviction that the prob
EN- of fuel conservation in our commu-
nifty has been approached from the
wrong end. We believe that the present
proposal TO operate through the churches
md the schools represents simply the
inc of least resistance. If ever there is
time when the work Of religion and of
'ducation should be encouraged and fos-
cred, instead Of curtailed, now is the
ime. We heartily endorse the protest
made by Governor Graham against the
losing of the schools of the state Our
resent experience as pastors is that our
'eople need now more than ever before
n their lives the spiritual consolation
nd uplift that only the churches can ,
upply We fear lest in cutting down
he efficiency of our churches. and so by
racticing economy in one direction, we
nay be doing our people irrepsrable in q
ury in other ways. Id
SO far. we have seen no public sugges- I
ion looking TO the shutting down of our 7
rivate clubs, fraternsl organizations. I
nd other places of public diversion aud !
And while we understand :
bat some Of our city offices, churches
nj other organizations are already with :
zeal restricting themselves 4
tho Use Of fuel. nevertheless We take :
bis occasion 60 point out the injustice !,
{ a few agencies being allowed to bear =,
ie brunt ct this economy. We recon- q
end that the burden he more evenly
strihuted, and that private residences.
aces of business. and part iculsriy such a
aces cf public diversion and amuse- NJ
cnt as We have heretofore mentioned
placed under the same regulation a. a
.c churches and the schools. Inn
= Barnby Leach, n,
Secretary Of the Meeting. Il