Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1918-01-17
ONE CHURCH FOR SMALL town
Clergymen Declare II to Be the
Ideal Condition.
Representatives Of Three Protestant
Denominations susgest a working
Basis ana Agree to Assist
towards Such End.

The superintendents and secretaries of
the Methodist, Congregational and Baptist
Churches of Vermont held an important
meeting In this city Tuesday afternoon
and evening. There were present, repre-
senting the Methodists. the Rev. William
Shaw. Phi. D., Of st. Johnsbury, superin-
tendent st. Johnsbury district: the Rev. T..
w. Sharp Of Brattleboro. superintendent
Of the Montpelier district, and the Rev.
w. B. Dukeshire of st. Albans, superin-
tendent Of the st. Adams district; repre-
senting the Baptists, the Rev. w. A. Da-
vison. D. D., Of Burlington. superintend-
ent and secretary Of the Baptist State con-
vention; representing the Congregational
lists. the Rev. Charles H. Merrill, D. d.,
Of st. Johnsbury. secretary Of the ver-
mont Domestic Missionary society, and
the Rev. C. c. Merrill of Burlington. secre-
tary Of the Vermont Congregational con-
ference. The Rev. b. NJ. Kent, d. D., of
Rutland. superintendent Of tho Burling-
ton district of the Methodist Church. had
expected to be present but was detained
at the last moment. A permanent organi-
cation was affected with the Rev. DR..
Shaw as chairman and the Rev. c. c.
Merrill as secretary. An annual meeting
will be held in October.
The main business considered yesterday
was the uniting of churches in the small
er communities of the State, and the fol-
lowing statement of principles was
adopted.
The undersigned, superintendents and
secretaries Of the Methodist, Baptist and
Congregational denominations, for the
sake Of better promoting the kingdom of
God in the State Of Vermont, and for the
sake especially Of helping the smaller COM
munities to be more efficiently served by
the Church Of Christ and for the sake of
securing more adequate and better paid
ministers for these communities, agree to
the following statement of principles by
which they will be guided in accomplish
ing the results above mentioned. and sug.
gest the ACCESSIBILITY Of other evangelical
churches uniting in the same:
l. In the small community in Vermont
we regard one strong Protestant Church.
with adequate ministerial leadership. as
the ideal condition.
2. To attain this ideal throughout the
State we agree as denominational leaders
and secretaries, to consult together con.
corning particular communities. on the
basis Of an equitable exchange Of fields
3. The following may be considered as
possible ways Of carrying out the ideals
SCI IOTtH III tHe pTeCeulHS paragraph
taS Absolute withdrawal of one demon.
nation. tb) Temporary maintenance OF
the ecclesiastical reorganization of the
denomination Withdrawing. until entire
withdrawal can be wisely effected. &c,
Federation of the existing churches with.
out the withdrawal Of either denomination
Federation to be understood as including
W Arrangements for one set of services
and other joint activities. C2) One minis
ter. (3) Each church to contribute to 1t.
own UNCONVENTIONAL benevolences. az
Joint committee from each church t.
handle the affairs of the federated
churches.
4. In cases Of complaints concerning Of
inadequate leadership. such complaint
shall be brought to the attention Of tho
UNCONVENTIONAL leader concerned. ant
should the apparently inadequate leader
ship continue 1t shall be a matter for con
sultation and agreement with the super
intendents or secretaries involved, in order
to strengthen the work.
5. 1t Is understood that in carrying ou
the principles herein outlined. the under
| signed cannot contravene the rules OF
action Of their ecclesiastical bodies bu
will do all in their power to secure til,
support Of these bodies for these prin
ciples.