The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1911-01-13
UNION OF CHURCH.
Rev. Duncan G. Miners Signifi-
cant Talk to Farmers.
Sectarianism a Menace to Cause
of Religion.
RAPS HIGH SCHOOLS.
Mrs. Mary Pierce Van lille Points
Out FaiIings.
RAPS HIGH SCHOOLS.
Too Much Tendency to Prepare
Pupils for University.

"A fruitful cause of church decay in
the country is sectarianism, declared
Dr. Duncan G. Miner of Chicago. in
the course of an address on The Con-
serVation of the Country Church. be-
fore the members of the state board
OF agriculture Thursday night. "One
or the curses of christianity in our
land is the undue multiplication of
churches that of necessity must lead
q weak and starving life. The cause
OF religion would really be advanced
II a large number of these rival organ
lzatlons could have a summary end to
their existence.
The lack of financial support is a
cause OF many church failures Much
has been said about close-fisted far
mers who have no large ideas of
spending their money unless it is to
get more land to raise more corn to
have more hogs We have heard a
good deal about the rich retired far
mers, who come to the towns and OPP
pose all forms of Improvement that
may add to taxes. 1t is too often the
case that liberal expenditure of money
for improved machinery, larger barns,
liner homes, carriages and automobiles
are not always accompanied by larger
gifts to education and religion.
Another reason for failure of
country churches is the extreme con-
servation of the people who control
them. Many of them are ready to
adopt advanced methods as to scien-
tiffc farming and improved machinery,
but as to schools and churches say,
what was good enough for our fathers
ought to be good enough for us These
mossbackS' resent the idea that there
could be any new methods in the
building up of the church. A fatal
lack has also been in the ministers
Too many of them have been unpro-
gressive. narrow, bigoted and intoler-
ant having no larger idea than
preaching the peculiar doctrines of
their sect, without any thought of the
special needs of their community and
with utter lack of power to enter into
the spirit of the times.
TOO many people regard the church
as a sort of soul insurance society
whose chief mission is to keep the soul
out of a hell in the future life, in
stead of a character building institu-
tion.
Should Cooperate in Churches.
In communities where church organ
1zations have multiplied beyond actual
needs and the UNCONVENTIONAL lines
have oeen drawn the problem of con-
ServatiOn is serious Farmers cooper
ate in the Grange and farmers unions
and surely some plans for the fedora
ton of religious forces can be adopted,
Some SneighbOrhOod'S CONGREGATIONS
unite in Sunday school and temperance
work, and it should not be impossible
for people to unite for larger interests.
In some cases protesting Christians in
all denominations have agreed that the
denomination that has the largest rep
resentation and can command the most
resources shall occupy the field and the
members of the other churches coop
crate. In the newer communities the
ideal should be to leave one church
embracing all the people with religious
faith with tho host rOCCihIa
and with minister able to lead the
people.
In one instance which comes to my
mind the church has become the social
center of the neighborhood and plans
are made for the attraction and inter
est of people of all ages and varied
tastes. Plans are made for study
courses in scientific farming, domestic
science, sociology and civil government.
Each church and each community will
have to work out its own special prob
lens. The great thing is to get the
people united on something entertain
ing and useful.
People should have the larger con-
ception of the church-larger than the
sect and designed to minister to all the
needs of the people.
Where High Schools Fail.
To-day, as never before is evidenced
the universal desire for education.
sad Mrs. Mary Pierce Van lille of K.
s. A. c., who spoke on EFFICIENCY for
Education" the keystone in our educa-
ton for girls. Men from all classes
have come to look upon education as a
thing which will better their condition
by making their labor more effective.
As a result of this changed condition
the educational standards for women
have been broadened.
Less than two centuries ago 40 per
cent of the women could neither read
nor write. Girls were not admitted to
public schools previous to 1850. The
opened in Boston in 1852 Collegiate
education for women had its beginning
in Oberlin college in 1888.
"Our girls are looking to the schools
to fit them for the duties of life To
this end educators must construct the
educational policies so that the schools
will be a true picture of life in all it's
essential activities. Vocational studies
must be introduced into our schools
Home training has claims upon edu-
Gators as have literature and music
perhaps no more-for both contribute
to freer and fuller development of hu-
man life.
There is no higher duty than to
unite education and activity-to see to
It that no individual shall be compelled
to choose between an education with
out a vocation or vocation without
an education. Vocational education
can not be conside cred by itself alone
any more than an industrial peoDle
can live alone. It must become part
of a general scheme of education that
has for its aim higher efficiency of all
classes of people. The colleges and
universities are acting on this policy.
1.-The training of a girl should pre-