The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1911-04-29

never In democracy, you see; fOr later
he says:
IA. Every rural church should
learn to rely on heself and to de-
velop her human and natural re-
sources for progress and prosperity.
-. Every rural community
should be practically self-suficient in
its religious, moral, intellectual. So
cial, economic, recreative and general
welfare
In other words, every tub should
stand on its own bottom The rural
community should not go with it's
knuckle in it's eye to the synod or
conference, or convocation and ask
for help. 1t should help itself And
don't think for an instant that Benz
les had a wealthy parish that need
ed waking up only, in order to pour
forth pfanteous revenues-quite the
contrary. 1t is a poor parish. That
is, the people as a rule a.n not we'll
and if they keep waking up, they will
be rich one of these DAYS. Here's
another quotation from Bemies
Creed:
"16. In order to accomplish re-
suits for the earthly kingdom, the
rural pastor should cooperate as
much as possible with all existing or-
ganizations formed for the general or
particular welfare if the community;
for every institution designed to pro-
mote true progress in education, ag-
riculture, morals, industry, science,
good government, social life, econ
omic conditions or anything which
advances the happiness and prosper
ity of the community and nation-a
conscious or unconscious effort of
humanity to help bring in the King
dom OF Heaven. Where there are no
such existing institutions the rural
pastor and church should supply
them"
So says Bemies He means that
where the Kingdom Of Heaven (mean-
ing prosperity as well as righteous
ness) has working for it any organ
ization or agency, no matter whether
that agency knows what's it's up to
or not, the rural church should help,
not hinder ,and shouldn't try to hog
the whole job-there being quite
enough to do 'everywhere. 1t Bemies
were in Page County, Iowa, he would
be helping Jessie Field with her
school work; in Wake County, North
Carolina, he'd be aiding County Su-
perintendent Zebulon Vance Judd; in
any Southern neighborhood where
Doctor hnapp. = missionaries are IT
work with their corn clabs. he'd b.
helping Knapp; il Greene County
Iowa, whore the rural y. NJ. {. A..
is really making good, he'd pa boost
ing that work. To soldier like
Denies there's splendid fighting all
along the line.
Now. I've not much more room for
his creed. You have the substance
of his Sixteen Articles of Faith, but
l can only hint at the fifteen specifca-
uons under them. They are Qst)
better Christian life; (2nd) more lay
workers in the church; (3rd) better
and more cheerful giving; (4th) bet
ter home life and SURROUNDINGS;
(5th) better and more scientific ag-
riculture; (6th) "A new kind of rural
schools; (7th) better voting and
cleaner citizenship; (Sth) good roads;
(sth) fuller intellectual life; (1Oth)
more and better social life; I1th)
games, sports and amusements for
the young; G2th) better community
hfe-especially in the matter of tenn
perance; G3th) better health condi-
uons on the farm and in the home
and school; G4th) hope for the am
bltlous; G5th) cooperation in every
way in which cooperation can help;
(l6th) upbuilding Of helpful rural
institutions.
Ten years has Bemies labored with
these ideals in view. He has not done
all he expects to do-in feet, it took
him eight years to begin. But he has
done so much that his fame has OK
tended all over the land. l was told
about him by Boston man. They
heard about him in Wisconsin, and
he has just been put there to tell his
story to q country life conference
What has he actually done? Well,
when he went there the church was