The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1911-07-27
vhea they are irving to learn how to

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Modern agriculture has awakened |
the rural communities 1t has renovat-
ed the rural schools. and where given
rhance 1t is breathing the breath of life
into the country churches. The idea
is sacrilegious only to those who re-
gard agriculture as an occupation
only. like banking or law. Agriculture
is much more than this. 1t Is life
led by more than 100000 people.
The church that does not recognize
that life and help the people who are
living 1t to solve their problems can
not hope. to become power In itS
community. 4
The fundamental change must come
with the education Of the preacher.
for he is the active force in the church.
1t makes little difference whether ag-
riculture replaces some of the theolo-
gy in the denominational schools or
whether practical religion is given a
larger place in the agricultural col
leges. The successful country pastor
of the future will be educated on
mixture of religion and agriculture.
He will have deep. abiding sympa-
thy with country life and an apprecia-
tion of its problems. He will lift the
church to it's proper place in the COM
munity. The mission boards are
sending many industrial missionaries"
to foreign lands. These are young
| men and women trained in the indus
| trial colleges They are training the
| heather in the arts Of agriculture and
| industry and are making better Chris
tians of them than has ever been done
before. II men of this type could be
placed in the country churches Of this
nation the moral life of the land
would be revolutionized.
| do not mean that agriculture need
be preached from the pulpit, although
! that may be admissible on occasion.
In the spring of 1910 Iowa faced a
seed corn famine An early freeze the
fall before destroyed the vitality of a
large share Of the seed corn while 1t
was still in the fields. As planting time
approached 1t became evident that un-
less something unusual were done the
greater share of the cornf1elds OF the
state would be planted to corn that
would not produce more than q frac-
ton of stand. Twenty per cent OF
the best corn in the state. which was
shown at corn show at the agrfcul.
tural college IN January, was abso-
lutely dead. Tests of ordinary seed
over the state showed that not more
than 25 per cent of the average seed
was capable of producing strong stalks
In this crisis the extension department
Of the college. among other things
sent out letters to nearly all the coun
try preachers in the state asking thai
they preach sermons on the importance
of testing seed corn and throwing on
the bad ears. A few of the preacher
were insulted by the suggestion. con
sidering that such course would bt
a PROCLAMATION of the church. But NOR,
than 400 preachers prepared sermons
In accordance with the suggestions
and delivered them. A better tex
could not have been desired The anal
ogy between seed corn and men wa
easily drawn. and from the idea 0
testing seed corn it was an easy ste
:, to the thought of how men must b
tested. The most powerful sermon
given in many of the country churche
: in Iowa that winter were those wit
seed corn for theme. In addition. tn
:, preachers had the satisfaction of know
ing that they had part in adding t
the material as well as to the spiritus
welfare of their communities
This case is an exception. but 1t fllu'
. trates the point More often the pa!
!. tors agricultural knowledge will stan
), him in good stead outside the churc
. door. 1t will give him an understand
!, ing of nature that will be reflected
:, his sermons and will reach the hearl
! Of his people in way that sermo
laden with the spirit Of the pave
streets never could do. The paste
:, who calls on one of the farmers
:. his community and talks with him Il
;, telligently regarding his work. perhal
: giving him some helpful suggestion