Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-05-04
Rural Church Problems.


| on the rural church.
THE whole problem of recreation
| needs to be worked out in the country
said the commission. 1T is closely re-
lated to moral conditions, not only be-
cause some go wrong through the form OF
amusements which they find, but because
the playground is the field in which to
train men. especially the young. IN the
courage and all the experiences OF team
play.
For the leadership Of the church we
need pastors who are specially trained
not think Of the country church as
stepping stone to the city church. but
who will recognize In the country cnurcn
| a life work worthy Of the best minds and
come q most positive factor in the CO.
ordination and federation Of all country
institutions, for he will have the confidence
and love of his people and will. II he
come one OF them. be a leader Of thought
and a molder Of public opinion.
The report goes on to show that prices
OF farm land are going up, while the
| values Of the same land are going down.
The land will produce less. but 1t will
sell for more. The farmer has bigger
capital, but gets a smaller interest on 1t.
The superficial prosperity which results
shows its weaknesses in retarded schools
and churches, alongside of farms well
stocked and improved. For the farmer
can afford to borrow money against ms
increased capital for Improvements. He
cannot be expected to give to the churcn
| out Of borrowed money. And he VIII not
| of schools or the betterment OF the roads.
Continuing, Mr. Wallace said:
'The Christian church Is crippled by
an underpaid. debt-ridden ministry. The
Al. To- hu q
ministers In small towns or rural dis
tricts, and these same ministers have IN
the past produced the large percentage OF
the results. Seventy-five per cent OF the
churches are in communities or towns OF
2, 800 and less The average salary OF
ministers of all denominations excepting
those in the 12o largest cities Is 1913
What Of Christian UnityP
Experts have been placing before us
an elaborate program Of social reform,
said the commissioners on church unity.
why is it that the church of Christ can
not grapple with these social evils and
take practical steps for their elimina-
tion?" ut is" says the commission, be
cause the church is divided, because II
does not present a united front for the
social and moral reforms that are SO
sorely needed. 1t IL a striking phenom-
enon that the efforts being put forth IN
Christian communities for the uplift OF
the people and for social and moral re-
the banner OF the church. are often. in
fact, going forward under leadership
which is Indifferent and even antagonis-
tic to Christianity. Yet. In almost every
case. the idea and the impulse Tor these
| tian church. The explanation is to be
found in the fact Of the divided state OF
the church. Her arm is paralyzed by her
divisions: her social impact is enormously
weakened by the fact that she cannot
speak and act with unity.
1.-The need OF the day in this land and
in all It's churches Is larger sanity, q
soundness of mind which. realizing alike
twentieth century. will bring Christian
churches OF common origin, common
faith and common life so close to-
gether that, forgetting their differences,
they will work together for the mental,
Waste OF missionary funds should no
longer be tolerated. The laymen who
give the money should insist that no ap-
propriations of home mission funds shall
be made "a to organize or help sustain
a new denominational interest where an
existing church sufficiently occupies the
field: (2) to help sustain two or more
ligious needs. and where federation
would make for strength and efficiency;
(3) to perpetuate conditions of overlap
ping and rivalry which prevent develop
ment of the church and of the spiritual
life and highest welfare of local COM
munities.'
Missions and Bible Study.
It was the opinion Of the commission on
| missions that the pastor is the greatest
single factor In the missionary education
Of men. Theological seminaries, they
| say, should place more emphasis on the
pastors preparation for his work in this
| connection.
Excessive perpetuation Of sectarianism
affects its mission interests. whether ex-
hibited at home or abroad. The commits
sion us convinced that the sloWness Of
the progress nude toward better things
gree the men Of the churches are uncon-
| scious Of the evil and OF their obliga-
| ton to put an end to it,"
There is an unnecessary lack Of rela-
ton between the home and foreign
forces" says the report. 1T is not urged
that tho two interests be merged in one
organization. But there should be closer
| Identification. Vast numbers of people
are coming to this land from lands where
foreign missions are established. Scores
of thousands return to the lands from
which they came. There is thus afforded
| a unique opportunity for reciprocal serv-
Ice between nome anu foreign MISSIONS.
A new order Of things is upon US, ac-
cording to the commissions report on
Bible study 1t says:
ut has come about that men find 1t
easier sometimes to read books about the
Bible than to read the Bible itself. Per-
| haps there Is nothing that needs to be
said more clearly to men and boys OF
today than simply this: Read and study
| the Bible itself. Do not seek to find. first
| Of all. what men have said about 1t, but
go straight to 1t with open mind and ask
what 1t says about itself.
THE purpose Of Bible study is prac-
| tical. We have something more than an
academic concern In this book. The
scientist who investigates the phenomena
with the simple desire to find out their
general laws. but without no interest in
the practical results Of his investigation.
| Is not q type of the Bible student"
The commission on the work for boys
and that on the permanence Of message
| were allowed additional time for COM
pleting their work. The whole report of
the commissions and OF the addresses and
discussions will be issued In seven vol
umes by New York publishing house.
COUNTS FROM o TO "A.