The Hood River glacier. (Hood River, Or.) 1889-1933, 1913-03-20
RALC0MMUNITYA AND
CHURCH FEDERATION
BY REV. J. R. HARGREAvEs

1t has been we'll said, 1.-The village
church is often two or three churches
with struggle for existence rather than
struggle for accomplishment" This
is fact undisputed Now the question
is, can the condition be corrected?
Can the principal of "Federation"
which is receiving such practical con-
sideration and application in business
circles, and which is being emphasized
in religious circles through the social
effort plans of the federal council of
American churches. have application in
the rural community to the relief of
the overchurched condition?
I In any country place or village set
Element, we seldom find wider differ
ence in religious opinions than is found
in an ordinary ministers meeting Of
any leading denomination. For in
stance. a Baptist Association" is in
progress; in its personnel are minis
tiers from the seminaries in Chicago,
in Rochester and in Louisville, Ken
lucky, men grounded in different
interpretations, eXponents of some
what widely differing ideas on scrip.
ture and in philosophy, but all
feeling the life which cometh from the
Spirit of Christ. and all fired by a
common desire to see men freed from
sin and its debasing entanglements.
They sing together "Blest be the tie
that binds" and feel tie bonds of
brotherhood flor they are united on
ideals, not on ideasl If differences
are mentioned, it is done casually and
without interference with their ulti-
mate purpose. In the pulpts of given
churches, Chicago trained man may
succeed Rochester man and that
without any jar to the work of the
church. Now, if the above is possible
among men of the widely differing
opinions of the group suggested, is it
not just as possible for the different
evangelical Christians of village or
country place, people who differ no
more widely, nor on any more vital
themes, to worship and to serve in a
single church and under the guidance
of one minister? That such can be
done has been demonstrated in our ex-
perience; that such should be done is
proposition which needs little argu-
ment.
One of Gods provisions for moral
and intellectual uplift, both in the in
dividual and in the community con-
sciousness, is the influence of social
contact, particularly that contact which
the religious circle affords. This law
finds its best results in groups of sufh.
cient size to admit of considerable va
riety in disposition and talent, as also
in that enthusiasm which only numbers
seems to afford. AS to the effect of
numbers, it is now recognized in edu-
cational circles that the very small
country school has not sufficiency of
pupils to stimulate each other in less n
getting and play activities; therefore
the organization, where possible, of the
larger district with the school wagon
for transportation of children. Like
wise it is found that the little country
or village church, so often made even
smaller than necessary by the drawing
of sectarian lines, (and that frequently
through the efforts of an outside
AGENT is insufficient in numbers to Sc
cure the best individual development
of its members or the exertion of an
out and out community interest and
influence; therefore the suggestion for
Church Federation.
Many of the possibilities of coopera-
tive endeavors pointed out by special
lists in rural conditions, endeavors
which would greatly increase the hap
piness and desirability of country life,
are made impossible because the
neighborhood leaders are divided into
sundry bands through the division of
church interests, divisions more far
reaching than is often realized, and
starting from points often unknown or
meaningless TO the people concerned.
One difficulty with the law enforce
ment in village and country places is
in the diffidence that results from the
too infrequent contact of the majority
of the people. Citizens in small groups
do not do their duty as easily and effec-
lively as citizens in larger groups,
Then, when by church groupings we
divide the comparatively small number
of Interested citizens by two or three,
as In many villages, or sometimes, as
in the case of some country towns. by
eight or ten, we can see how disastrors
must be the result to the most effec-
tive life. How pitiable. how unpsr-
donably foolish that not uncommon con.
dition-the country community of three
or four thousand people counting the
town and immediate surroundings)
with a dozen or more churches, and
not one regular gymnasium; with a
dozen priests serving at their respec-
tive affairs and not one trained physical
instructor either in the schools or in
the service of the public at large
spending from fifteen to eighteen
thousand dollars annually in work
which. under different arrangements.
could be more effectually performed
at an expense of from five to six thou
sand dollars, thus leaving a balance for
other Epractica endeavorsls instead
of squeezing out the last dollar
for duplicated efforts. No denomina-
tion of Christians no matter how it
cherishes particular idea has any
right to interfere with the God-intepd-
ed method of development such as is
afforded by the contact of men with
men in sufficient numbers and in groups
of sufficient variety to provide the
varied lines of talent needed for mutual
lBlhiilSoSs ANO ibIkll WHlCu any Oll6
church has to offer as in distinction
from those offered by other recognized
churches of evangelical faith can CON-
pensate for the division of neighbor-
hoods into rivaling religious compa-
nies. In most instances even the sect
which insists on separate continuance
because of priority in occupation of
territory is exacting a toll from the
public good altogether out of proper
tion to the good it has rendered or can
continue to render.
Continuance in unhappy conditions is
the more inexcusable when re-adjust-
ment can be accomplished without
the sacrifice of principle or even de-
nominational sffiliation as is proven
possible by methods of Federation
which have been fully tested.
As possible guide to some who may
be seeking happier and more effective
a. e. al.