The Atlanta constitution. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1885-19??, 1892-03-22
THE RELIGIOUS WORLD.

The country church has a peculiar charm
and cxerts an influence not often taken into
the account Of the affairs Of state. Usually
ii is situated amongst grove Of oaks, fronts
a public road and stands before its one-acre
graveyard where the sacred dust of two or
three generations rests in peace
Tie plain house of worship was built by
ueighborly cooperation and although the
cost was not great the libCrdlty of the con-
tributors is not eXcellcd when more OK
pcnsive structures adorn town Or city. The
membership rarely exceeds two hundred
constituted chiefly by farmers and their
families. At least once every month the
church is opened for religious services on
Saturday and Sunday, the Saturday being
partly used for the transaction of business
while Sunday is devoted to preaching and
the Sunday school. Take the map of Geor-
gia, divide il into sections of five miles
square and leaving out few stretches Of
pine plains and certain mountain tracts you
may locate one and often two such churches
i'll every section. Not fewer than 100000
GeOrgans attend these places Of worship
each month to receive instruction and eX-
h0rtatiOn in the Christian faith. These
are divided among several denominations,
hut there is a practical harmony which is
now and then Just 4 little disturbed by pi0us
pueIism where tie pupts contend earnestly
for the faith once delivered to the saints as
each understands the scriptures These
ripples of controversy rarely rise into harm
ful waves for usually the emulation of the
churches is q wholesome exercise in faith
and good work In fact The masses in
Georgia and the state generally are fully
and intcigently evangelical. Each little
country church is but one star i'll the social
armament, but the united light of ali irradi-
ates the land.
Not far away from the country church the
schoolhOuse stands where the children Of
all creeds meet during Che short term of the
public school year to receive instruction. 1T
is only too true that the sch0oll0use bears
the marks Of poverty i'll its construction
and equipment The want Of facilities for
giving the best instruction renders the task
of the teacher difficult and pr0y0kcs the
pupil to inattcntiUu The term Is often too
short the pupils few and irregular in at
tendance and the teacher not thoroughly
competent; still there has come from ruder
schools than these many men and women
who made their states ilIustrious for wealth,
education and religion. And from these
schools as they shall improve in facilities,
management and length Of term the inestim-
able blessings of practical education VIII
continue to flow. Combining the good in
Hucnces of the country church and its adj
iacent schoohOusc, who can estimate their
value to the state? Taking into cOnsldcra-
ton the daily labors of host of ministers,
faithful laymen and competent teachers,
we see that there is vast power beng con-
stan,ly exerted even here to uplft all the
people into better life. Suppose they We're
closed, the services closed the schools neg
lected, preachers and teachers discharged
from their great trust, would even the
present admirable form and administla-
ton of government, with all its
wal-adiusted departments executive,
legislative and judicial, promote. or even
preserve our national interests? Would
lands. railroads, factories, stocks and bonds
have much value? Capital is wise where
its leaders cooperate with the church and
the school Money talks sense when 1t adj
yocates the cause of practical religion AMI
edu alton for ali the world.
There is a strip of land scarcely half the
size of Georgia aud possessing few remark
able physical features which fasclnates us
like no other part of the earth. This is the
sacred territory of Ialestlne-altfac'lFe
alike to Christians and jews. 1t belongs by
divine gift to the descendants OF the people
whom Joshua led and over whom klng
David ruled. They trace their title through
n chain OF only three links, the family, the
nation and God, and are the only people
whose land titles do not begin by the grant
of states or kings. Their eviction was ac-
cc1npIishcd BIZ the force OF that great Roman
clspirQ. whose national descendants are Ger
MANY. France, Spain. Italy, England aud
America. 1t is bella by the Turk Only By
permission. aGd occupied by bes%a-fY pop
ulation. who possess its ground By aluatteer
THE The jews DO not seem 10 Wa"t i
since they do not use their wealth to buy VI