Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1910-05-19
RURAL CHURCH PROBLEMS
vhc Courtesy aud Diplomacy Of CcuA
" Life M n Factor.

y Life 0S n Factor.
fRev. Winfield @. Hubbard Of East Wash
ington. n. H.. in Boston Watchman)
The critical eyes Of men at the present
time are turned toward corporations,
firms. trusts, unions, organizations. ETC.,
and men arc there applying. with wonder
ful unanimity. the moral standards that
once we're chiefly applied to Individual
persons This tendency operating In
churchly affairs. has transformed the
evangelical (noncomformisD emphasis
upon spiritual religion. from the individ-
ual 10 tho organization: or rather has
very vigorously extended 1t in that drcc-
ton; and the great problem OF the church
organization as such Is how to commend
itself as an organization to every mans
| conscience and thus maintain It's hold.
The difficulty. which may he more or
less present elsewhere. is very potent in
rural communities because in such COM
munitics the people know each other in
| timatcly. The light that. according to
Tennyson, beats upon throne" is not
| more fierce" than the light that beats
upon n country church. And at the same
! time nowhere Is the motive to COMPROMISE
and courtesy any stronger The city
church NAV lose one adherent and gain
another. 1t tends to become composed
OF likc-nindod persons; and. although it
may never completely attain this condi-
ton, It approaches IT much more nearly
than rural church which must minister
to all sorts and classes of men.
1t is surprising to witness the treinen-
dous proportions which courtesy and di-
plomacy assume il country life. where the
moduS vivondi 10. si arilv includes "A care
for everybody sotoee. To say sooth ial-
iyrand end Mettornich and Machiavelii
I "alr't in IT. with the average longtime
| resident Of n rural community in this re-
spect And SO the local church Gets
diplomatic and subtitle, and goes on It's
tortucus way, In full view of the ungodiy.
who, however, are iust godly enough to
condemn its conduct. \ new pastor IS
sunprcpared to Crapple with the situation
! till he has satisfied his own mind by care
ful. steady. impartial observation OF the
obscure. gosspy. complex subtle ele-
| mcnts with which he has to deal Ry
this time there may he other reasons for
his departure. to say nothing of this one:
and even if he stays he hesitates to pre-
cipitate battle from which in all prob
ability he will be financially or socially
| compelled to re" as soon as II is well
started. To get the church into trou31'e
and then leave it. seems hardly a wise or
brave shepherding Of the Lort!'s flock
Quite possible ne may have felt his ground
A little and have surprised hv cavernous
echoes at precisely those spots where
reliability would be most required So
tho pastor 1evotes himself to cmphay,zing
religious dutY,--with a little heavier stress
on individual responsibility and a dis
enlargement of any tendency to critlcise
the conduct Of others; for did not the
apostle say who art thou that iudgest
another mans servant" In this wav
personal religion is honored and good is
done; and meanwhile. the hold Of tho
church as an organization steadily de-
clines
Personally have never proposed case
of church discipline. nor has any ever
been propounded TO me- but can remem-
Der some cases in my fathers churches
and in others, and | am thoroughly con-
hdent that the burden Of such work prop
erlE rests almost. II not quite wholly
with the lay members OF the church.
am aware that grave trouble and bitter
ness and many ills have attended at
tempts at church discipline in wears gone
by, and look almost with horror trpon
the thought of doing anything that would
b" likely to bring on such His: and vet
am sure that tho retention of Indifferent
and even apparently irrcligious members
is one of the most important causes Of tn.
loss of prestige from which many rural
churches are suffering Nothing In NV
opinion, would do SO much toward
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