The Caledonian-record. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1920-current, 1922-01-03

Church Sunday evening, I
ment against existing social con-
ditions in St Johnsbury. He COM
mended in highest terms the edi-
torial in question and congratulate
ed the Caled0nian-Record on its
vigorous treatment Of the subject.
DR.. Hylton deplored the tragic
event that called forth the editorial
expression and called upon ell pre-
sent to devote the New Year to
freeing st. Johnsbury from the
moral conditions that end inevi-
tabiy in crime and sorrow. He
asked that the officers of the faw
be upheld and encouraged in every
effort made, to better Local con-
ditions in the attempt to free the
town fro mcriminal tendencies. 1t
Is not customary to cheer a speak
er in church addresses, but if it had
been, DR.. Hylton would have been
applauded to the echo. AS it was,
the large audience paid the closest
attention to every uttered word
and showed thus their hearty ap-
proval for the sentiments express
sed. The sermon was one big New
Years resolution to make St.
Johnsbury cleaner and better,
which could profitably be made the
motto of everybody who has the
best interests of the town at heart
for the coming year. DR.. Hyiton
said in substance and in part as
follows:
DR.. Hylton's subject was: as
ST Johrsbury closing tbh door
against Christi" He took for his
text John Xxx, 10. "The doors were
shut where the disciples were for
fear of the Jews. Jesus came and
stood in the midst and saith unto
them peace be unto you," and
Revelations III, 20, Behold /
stand at the door and, knock, if
any man hear my voice and open
the door l will come in to him."
DR.. Hylton said it had been his
custom for. long time to speak
a New Years message to his
people. 1t Is cxquisitely fitting at
the beginning Of the new year for
men and women to take stock of
things. 1t is a comforting Chris
tian message, too, that the first
word of Jesus to his disciples
when he went 70 them was
"Peacc" and it is we'll to remem-
Der that Jesus is always able to give
US the very thing that We stand
most in need Of II is the stag
gcring thing of it all that the door
was shut when Jesus came to the
disciples. The Bible is brutally
frank. The church always stands
70 this same frankness. The
prophet of God, and the true
preacher, is not expected 10 apollo
gize for this frankness. The
plain truth of it is that the discip-
les were afraid, they were CO.
wards; if they had heard the
tramp of the soldiers outside the
door they would have scurried 10
the darkest corner in abject fear.
We are suffering the same fear
that the disciples did. We are
afraid; we are towards. The dis
ciples did not intend to close the
oor against Jesus, any more than
We do today. There are things that
We do every day of our lives that
close the door against him. 1t is,
therefore, fitting and profitable at
the threshold of this new year
that we take account of things
and realize where we are drifting.
1t is d tragic thing for man to
close the door against Jesus
Christ in his life. Darwin devoted
his life TO science SO completely
that when finally he tried to an
preciatc Shakespeare, he found
that he was out of touch and har-
mony and could find no inspiration
there and could not appreciate
Shakespeare. II we are not care
full, when we forget the finer
things of life, before we know it
we get out Of touch and close the
door AGAINST them.
Is st. Johnsburv as c0mmun-
itv. unwittinOly, and unintertion-
allv closing the door AGAINST Jesus
Christ nrd keenin" him out of is
life? WA are told that it is only
the trend of the times; local con-
ditions here todav are even
CHARGED to the world war. The
fact is that we are steadilv on the
down Grade. morallv and ~eli~inuS-
" The churches of ST. JohnshuTv
are not functionin~ in ri~h+ro"s-
moss. Thew have last their ~rin.
We all have tn admit that th'e j.
trne. This thino has been poing
on rrt;l the logical outcome has
developed.
Calamity has struck. A dread ,
full thing happened Our social