Newark post., 1910-02-02

are best adapted to the industry in
which the particular countryside can
be most profitably worked | know
| there are limitations i'll the process,
but | believe the general effect of the
sitting of population has been an inn
proving and organizing of the coun-
try people. Now the tide has begun
to set toward the country. In Altoona
the industrial capital OF the Pennsyl-
| vania Railroad, o,2oo were discharged
n 1907, because OF the panic. Within
a few weeks none OF them were found
in Altoona. They had gone to the
| farms where there is always a living.
Two years later, when they were sum-
| moned back again by mail, they de-
clined to come until better wages and
| more favorable hours and conditions
should be promised. Ten years ago |
| went to the country to seek health in
| the summer for my household. This
| year, in the spot which | selected be-
, cause | could not afford TO go there,
there are twenty families who spend
the summer together They would
have gone to the country somewhere,
but became my rural neighbors sim
ply because Of personal acquaintance,
| All through the East the cities are
! contributing their children to the coun-
| try communities, and this immgra-
ton into the country will remain. As
| a real estate man said, People come
from the city once, and some of them
are disappointed and come back But
they are never contentcd. The cour-
try claims them again residents, and
from this second excursion to the open
country they never return
The fourth resource of the country
community in this day, which the
church brings to her, is the splendid
democratic organization OF Protestant
denominations. Our noble churches
with organization seasoned by four
centuries III self government come TO
the country community with an en-
dowment OF priceless value. Is not
the great need in the country, the
need of cooperation and organiza-
ton? Shall not the minister be the
apostle oi the spirit of his own church,
teaching the farmer what it means to
us to work together? is our splendid
organization to be used only for the
petty purposes which express our
ierences OF interpreting the Bible? Is
it not to be used instead for the pro-
paganda OF country life. for the up
building OF country communities
through the church?
Let me be perfectly definite at this
point. | believe that the synods, the
State organization in the Presbyterian
Church, which the city minister regards
with languid interest are the inheri-
tance of power for the country church
/, | ~ ,la
munty. The local group of churches
is often helpless to render aid to the
country church i'll her great task--be-
|, cause they may be made up wholly o.
; country churches, but the State or,
ganization possesses the resources o
a whole State--let them realize thai
this is their task. Let them adop
rural Evangelism. Let them make
\ that Evangelism systematic and con
= structive. Use it as a regimen o
: health for the country church. Pu
!, dynamite and jack screws, and new
timber and plaster and shingles intt
: it. Put an architect i'll charge, and lie
US hire contractors and demand result
of them. And let us have no selfisl
interest. Our creeds and standard
5 require OF us no denominational, mar
$ row work, but the church is to be a
e agency for the revival OF the countr.
! community as we'll as thorough con
version of the country resident.
u Fifth and greatest OF all. The coun
l. try church brings to the country com
y munity her inheritance OF the graft
II tude OF the churches, for out of he
It maternal bosom have gone forth four
S fiiths of the ministers WHO serve =
$ cities, and Of her are two-thirdS of tn
q leaders who are sustaining our grea
:, denomination. These men do not for
q get. They remember the shade {
/ the trees in the village street, and tth
e ball ground where they played as boys
l. and the swimming pool. They hav
q not forgotten the red school house
al its deficiencies as well as its abound
It ing life and laughter; its substanti;
u though irregular training. They nee
y only to be told of their duty. and the
l. will become members again of tn
/ community that sent them forth. A
n this wealth of sentiment and passio
$ of remembrance is for the countr
l. church to transfer to the account {
u the country community and hersel
e Only the country church must believ
al in herself and in the community. Sh
T. must renew her marriage bonds, an
she must be loyal to the communit
IS whose life she shares.
lie My last general statement must
70 brief review OF the points whc
y unite the country church and the cou,
lie try community. In Our "One Da