The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1910-05-24
CAMP AIGNING FOR
The RURAL CHURCH
A GREAT PROBLEM AND HOW
SOME DENOMINATIONS ARE
TRYING TO SOLVE IT-AeRI-
CULTURAL EXPERTS ARE EN-.
LISTED IN EFFORT.

The interest aroused generally by
] the country life movement has of
course touched the rural church. But
it's problem is far from solved and
is perhaps more oppressive to the
country pastor than ever, says the
Boston Transcript The many con-
| ferences and discussions often serve
only to describe anew conditions with
which he is only too familiar. What
he longs for is some practical sug
| gestions and feasible programme for
| his work of regeneration.
| Denominationally the Presbyterians
have approached this difficulty most
| theoretically. Through their de-
partment of church and labor several
series of country church conferences
have been conducted both east and
west. During April, meetings were be-
ing held in Iowa, Missouri and Ne
braska. AS heretofore, these confer
ences enlist also agricultural experts.
at present such as Dean Burnett of the
University Of Nebraska, Dean Curtiss
of Iowa State college and others. In
this way those who know best the
country population and Industrial con-
ditions are helpfully utilized. The
middlewest has certain perplexing
problems of fts own in this matter, such
as the retirement of the farmer from
the land, "undigested prosperity" and
the like. For some time church con-
ditions there, both in respect to pas
torless charges and Unsupported work,
have troubled religious leaders gener-
ally. Hence comes this attempt not
only to conduct thorough investiga-
ton but to preach the gospel of fed
GRAFTON, both among denominations and
between the churches and agencies like
the school, the grange and the farm
ers' union. r.
In short, the workers hope to es-
tablish new standard of country life.
morally and socially. The department
believes that the same conditions tend
ing to ALLEVIATE the workingmen from
the church are affecting the rural pop
ulat1on.
Rural Ways and Means.
It must be admitted that the situa-
ton, as 1t now presents itself to re-
ligious leaders, is serious. Not even
the news of such campaigns as these,
or Of the country life assembly pro-
jected in Maine for May, or of the in
vestigation of country church condi-
lions likely to be started under the
Russell Sage Foundation, give hope of
very early relief. The rural problem
is too far reaching. That the shameful
over-churching pursued for so many
years is at its root very few we'll in
formed persons will doubt. 1t has not
only Slapped the economic resources, |
meager at best, but has poisoned in |
many instances, through sectarian dis |
putes, the spiritual vigor necessary for |
religious progress of any sort When |
DR.. Eliot suggested to the New Eng |
land Country Church association in |
Boston last year, he argued that such |
a plan could be made to weed out dy- |
ing enterprises and re- estabIish the |
most flourishing. Add to the condi-
tions mentioned the fact that rural
churches learn more slowly of the larg-
er federative movement, and you have
a nut to crack indeed.
Many a country pastor would be
glad to adopt institutional methods,
but most of them are in the plight
Of one who says: 81 need every penny
TO buy bread and butter, and the
church needs every penny to pay my
salary" Yet some are managing to
get around the pecuniary obstacles by
other agencies or starting very
modestly. In lack of equipment, the
and the town halls are
more frequently used. A New Hamp-
shire parish has just held a farmers
Institute in the church itself. Sewing
classes for the girls, parliamentary
lrill and quasi-Iodge limitations for the
boys more social events for the adults,
are more frequently reported. In one
town all the churches,
the Catholic, united to pro-
tide an uplifting lecture course for the
winter. These are only samples of
many ingenious ways in which scat
.ered pastors are trying to measure up
% their task. Most of them, however,
n facing the conditions described, feel
| sense of heIplessness. And when
'ormal conferences adjourn without
ioing much more than to advise the
minister to become butter farmer, he
feels resentment rather than
gratitude. While it is true that the
pastor cannot have too many points of
contact in his parish, to be an expert
Jack of all trades hardly re-estab-
ishes his church. One of the best rec
so far was that offered
1t the recent meeting of the New Eng
and Country Church association in
Boston. It was to the effect that every
minister should specialize along the
bath of his greatest talent, music, or
yanization, work with boys and young
people, and SO on, and that each should
hen devote himself III this respect to
! far wider territory than in his own
parish, possibly TO the churches OF a
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