The Fargo forum and daily republican., 1912-01-17

ed to be one Of the most interesting
sessions so far held. Rev. ]. M. Wal
ters' address was powerful plea, and
one Of the stair correspondents from
twin city paper covering the con-
vention made the statement that it
was one Of the best addresses he had
ever heard.
The first thing on the programme
last evening to engage the attention
of the farmers was an exhibition drill
by the agricultural college cadet crack
squad. Drill Master ogaard super
vised the drill and the boys did them
selves proud in every respect. They
received much applause at the con-
clusion Of the performance Of their
difficult maneuvers.
The first speaker OF the evening was
Prof. ]. V. Bopp, associate editor Of
The Northwest Farmstead. His talk
was on the subject Of Soil Physical
as Factor in Crop Production. He
entered into lengthy discussion of
soils and the various treatments for
each, touching on rainfall and the
matter Of conservation OF moisture.
One interesting statement he made
stated that one ear Of corn needed two
barrels Of water. Corn and clover, he
felt, would not make the soil richer
but would make larger crops particu-
larly as corn has a wonderful effect on
the soil.
Rev. MIR. Walters Address.
Rev. J. M. Walters of the First
Methodist church of Fargo was the
second speaker and talked on The
Country Church as Factor in Rural
Progress. He said in part:
"The country church has not kept
pace with newer ideas and changing
conditions. We have been content To
work in the same way and in the same
sort of buildings that our fathers did
fifty years ago. In many a rural COM
munity the church is the most neglect
ed of buildings. A leading daily paper
Of Columbus, Ohio, says: Statistics
show that. there are over 900 deserted
and unused churches in the state,
fifty-five townships report no church
members under 21 years of age, and
1870 townships report no members un-
of flowers and shrubs are to be found
in the church yards to many young
people who are without instead of
within the folds OF the Sunday school
and the church. A. p. Sandles, secre-
tary of the state board OF agriculture,
has written a letter to the ministers
Of Ohio asking What is the reason?'
What is true of Ohio is also true Of
other places, and the reasons that we
give for these conditions are not rea-
sons that we will dare to present to
our Lord when we render to Him an
account Of our stewardship. We are
told that the people who supported the
church in the other days have died or
moved away, people Of other nation
alities and faiths have moved In. we
are also told that the children OF those
men and women who built the church
have no interest therein, and spend
their Sabbaths In seeking their pleas
ure in sports of various kinds. To
the first excuse let us reply that peo-
pie Of other nationalities are folks,
and as folks, need the gospel. To
the second let US ask: II we have not
kept in the church the second and
third generation, who is TO blame?
There are a few considerations
which, it seems to me, we ought to
emphasize for the sake OF the country
church of tomorrow.
Il. We ought to be content to have
fewer churches and more church.
"Our ccnceit which leads us to de-
clare that town needs our type OF
preaching or faith has been the devils
t.an @xr1
cheap in the eyes of the world. If we
had in these villages and country
communities one church building mod
ern in equipment, instead of num-
Der Of struggling societies, If we could
offer to our young men who are think
ing of the ministry as their life work
real mans job instead Of asking him
to drum up ice cream socials in or
der to get his paltry pay, then might
we expect to put our strongest men
in the country churches. men who are
alive to every situation, men who
would see in every movement for the
mental, moral or physical betterrnent
of men a part of the work of our
Lord. 1t is but a few weeks ago that
a young man who has church in this
state said to me- Z do not feel that
/ am doing a mans Job; one man
could do the work out there and one
man could live nicely on what both
of as get want TO say TO you lay
men. to You men from the country
that you must take hand In this.
Many of our state workers are stiI
nlled with the idea that success con-
sists In reporting number OF churches
organised. Our future success consists
la concentration. and this we win find
the success Of the bigger and better
churches. and no dead churches, for
big, live churches do not die.
~. The rural church has IN
many places allowed itself to become
narrow and exclusive In its apneal.
and the result has been loss Of In
fluence. AS a church man I long Cd
see the church direct and lead in eli
those movements that might broaden
the vision Of the people and give new
inspirations 70 our growing youth.
Il count 1t one OF the asaanas upcn
us that the church In the country as
we'll as in the city Ii closed SO often
to everything but what we are pleased
TO cali religious services. III social
centegs are good FOR the city. why not
for tha country what hagtar place