Weekly Caledonian. (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1919-1920, 1919-10-08
EDITORIAL
The Church Constructive
(Rutland Herald)

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In a recent issue of the Caledonian,
the ministers of St. Johnsbury use a
half page of advertising space in ad-
vance of orally Day., which will be
observed next Sunday. The ma tier
published in the advertisement is
worthy of attention:
THE WORLD IN A MORAL
CRISIS
The world war was caused by
false ideals based on human self a
ness. The world is now in an upheav-
al; what is to be the outcome? In
ternational relations, business, in
dustry, social life, individual morals
must be established according to the
principles of brotherhood, equity,
fair opportunity, unselfishness ard
mutual goodwill, or civilization is
doomed!
The Christian church stands; for
these ideals; it has contributed much
to their advance; it can play lead
ing part in the construction of a bet
ter social order, but it must have the
devotion and cooperation of all VINO
seek these ends.
Where are you, citizen Of St.
Johnsbury? Do you care whether
civilization is saved or not? If yol
do, should you not give larger p.o.
portion of your interest, service and
support to the Christian church in
this town?
Next Sunday, October 5, will be
rally day in the st. Johnsbury
churches. Will you attend church
next Sunday and let it b. the begin
ming or renewal Of continued in ar-
est and helpful cooperation?
The advertisement invitation is
signed sin behalf of Christian civil;
zation" by the pastor of the Advent,
Congregational, Baptist, Episcopal,
Methodist and Universalist churches.
1t is notable effort and worthy Of
general attention by churches else
where. Several things stand out
strongly in a cursory study of the
copy: ---
l. 1t indicates that the so-calied
Protestant churches of St. Joh -
bury are not only alive to the very
serious situation which comforts the
world, but that they are prepared tt
sink credal differences in the effort
to meet it. Could any one imagine,
half century ago, believers in the
Second Advent, in everlasting pun
ishment, Close Communicates, Trim
itarians, Liturgists, Unitarians, Dis
ciplinarians and Independents unit
ing in a movement of this sort and by
inference inviting the public to at
tend church in which rank heresy--
from their standpoint-might be
preached?
The effort emphasizes what the
great war did for churchmen and ul-
Observation-Disclosures. 1t shows
that, in a national crisis, creed and
doctrine count for less than the greet
needs of humanity; that civilization
is just as important as some ina /,
conceived hereafter; that the imn'in-
ent needs of this life transcend fo.
the time being the supposed essentials
of. the life to come; that the best
way to prepare for the unknown is
to "get busy" with the known prob
lens of the present.
2. 1t shows that the ministers of
st. Johnsbury realize that if the
church is to survive as potent and
influential factor of our social Sys-
tenn it must grapple fearlessly wi
the essential problems of character:
that the mystic and ethereal vapo )
of the cloister and closet can 10
longer obscure the fact that some-
thing must be done; that such some
thing must be vital, compelling, prac-
tical and directly effective upon the
lives and works of men.
3. 1t is an earnest of practical
Christianity and demonstrates that
its exponents in st. Johns
bury believe in the most potent
of all awakening influences-to wit,
publicity, and that they are prepar-
ed to pay for advertising to aid mi
that result.
a. 1t goes to show that there are
more effective ways of getting people
into church than undertaking to in
woke the civil law against baseball,
golf and motoring.
All good citizens and all newspap-
ers should cooperate in such cam
paign as the St. Johnsbury ministers
have outlined. 1t is constructive
work, work that is destined to have a
most important part in the pending
post bellum reconstruction Of the
world, important not only to the
churches and their communities, but,
if made general and effective, i'm
portant to the nation and to human