The Fargo forum and daily republican., 1912-01-17
Church as a Factor in
Country Life Subject
of Powerful Address
Evening Session Of TrSate Grain Growers Convention Last
Night One Of the Best
Crack Squad Of Agricultural College Cadets Gave an Exhi
bitiOn Drill That Was Greatly Enjoyed
Rev J. NJ. Walters P V. Collins Of Minneapolis and Prof
JV. Bopp Were the Speakers

I for that social center than the churchf
In our religious meetings we make q
great deal of the ability Of the chris
tian to be able to give a reason for
the hope that is in him. May we not
be doing something great not only for
the individual but also for the church
and the state If we do something te
| train our young people to express
themselves on topics OF general inter
est and public welfare? why not tlavs
| debates in the church on the mighty
questions that are ever thrusting them
selves before us In this great country.
There is no reason in the world why
some lawyer from the city should nor
go out to talk to our farmer folk
about the issues. Let the questions
be debated by the young men them
selves. and the very fact that they
have made sufficient study Of the ques-
ton to speak on it will give them a
broader view and prevent them from
being deceived by the arguments OF
the professional politician. Is the
matter Of Sunday sport q burning
question?
"The church can do one OF twu
things. The faithful few can meet
and hear a burning sermon on the folly
of turning the Sabbath day into a
day of sport, and they can moan tha
departure Of devotion to God. Or they
can come together and discuss tha
question OF the church having a bail
club OF its own; the minister can ba
| anything in the club he desires, and
take any part in the game but that
Of umpire, when the team comes over
from Jonesville. Then let the ministers
urge upon the farmers the advisabiIity
of giving Saturday afternoon to the
boys for the games. The farmer boy
loves the play as well as the city boy,
but the fact will ever remain that a
desecrated Sabbath will soon mean
lowered moral tone, and to lose our
convictions as to right and wrong
with reference to the Sabbath will end
In loss of conviction as to the other
commandments, and to lose convictions
here is worse than crop failure.
In some OF the hours Of my wax
ing dreams / have held converse with
the spirit OF the future. and have ask
ed her to show me some of the things
that are and the things that are Ia
be. And she has shown me that the
curse OF the world is the going Of the
people from the land to where they
swelter in mill and factory and herd
like cattle in the poor places they call
homes. She has shown me that the
blackest crime of the rich of the world
was to use the land for park and
hunting preserve, while people have
gone hungry for bread. She has shown
me that one Of the greatest needs of
any people is the home. She has
shown me that the enemies of the
home although they be legion, may all
be baptized with the ugly name OF
Greed Greed that builds tenements
that are fire traps, and breeders OF
disease. Greed that works men seven
days In the week. Greed that foists
the saloon upon US to destroy our sons
and degrade our daughters. Greed
that manifests itself In the politician
who shouts for old glory, and proves
q traitor to the flag by buying votes
or trying to influence legislation in
his own behalf.
And with the spirit of the future
I looked into the unborn years and
saw great state. did not make
boast of great cities. but it had thou
sands Of homes surrounded by smiling
open places. as modern as are to be
found in the cities. But chief among
the institutions of the future was ono
from which came the influences that
made for good schools. that smota
greed and drove to oblivion, the vote
buyer and the vote seller the friend
Of booze and he that would CONNER
cialize sport thus preying on the de-
sire OF folks for amusement. And
that state was our state. and I saw
that there were others like it in this
great and splendid nation, and that
central source OF social, moral and res
ligious influence was the church, and
listening for a while there came tG
me from the open door, the voice Of
prayer and the sound Of song.
God bless our native land,
Firm may she ever stand,
Through storm and night
When the wild tempests rave,
Ruler of wind and wave,
DO thou our country save.
BY thy great might
Labor Saving Apparatus for the
Farm Home was the subject Of tna
Ano@ SpSe1hSA u b1l6 evening" T.. ".
Collins of Minneapolis editor OF The
Northwestern Agriculturist who spoke
in place of Prof. p. g. Holden OF Anes.
Ia; who could not Do present. DTr.
Collins talk was one OF the most in
telligent of the day and especially OF
the evening session. He told of the
vast number of labor saving devices
for the farm and farmhouse.
He declared the most valuable ami
NAL on the farm was not the horse or
cow but the son and daughter. HA
said that amusement should be pro-
vided TO keep them on the farm and
not let them drift to the cities as they
went there when they became discon-
tent with the monotony Of farm life.
His talk was well worth hearing ana
presented problem which confrpnta
nearly every farming community in
America He set everyone to thinkinx,
FoIay's Honey ard Tar Conapoussa
ii reliable fanny medicine. Give Il
IA wrsgYx rhfldrafi asad falgs. af @y<.,..aAsl e