The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1913-10-17
SAYS RURAL ROADS
PAVED WITH MUD
Rev. Mcconnell Speaks Be-
fore Rural Life Conference
At Purdue.
NEED SOCIAL CENTERS
Mrs. Taylor Leads Discussion
of Home AS Factor in
Progress.
NEED SOCIAL CENTERS

LAFAYETTE, Ind, Oct. 17.-"The
streets of heaven may be paved with
gold, but the country roads are paved
with common, everyday mud The
country church could do little better
than agitate and work for good roads
where the roads are unimproved."
This is the statement of the Rev
c. NJ. Mcconnell of Middlefield, O.,
made before the rural life conference
at Purdue university this morning
Bad roads" he added, too often form
an excuse and sometimes a reason for
farmers staying away from church
The Rev. Mr.. Mcconnell has devot-
ed several years to the study of rural
conditions, and has arrived al the
conclusion that the country church
and the community must stand or fall
together What affects the
other, and the church that renders the
greatest service to the community will
be the effective and efficient church
of the future.
The country church should make a
social survey of it's community" the
Ohio preacher believes. Before a
cure can be wrought. the disease must
be properly diagnosed. The survey, to
be broad enough, should cover eco
nomic, social, educational and relig-t
ious conditions Of the community"
Social Centers.
Means of developing recreation is
another field wherein the country
church can do effective work, accord
ing to the Rev Mr.. Mcconnell. The
youths of today find their amusement
in the village dance halls and pool
rooms; the church can not afford to
stand off and merely condemn the sit
uaton. 1t must provide proper re-
creation and become the social center
of the community. 1t can also play
an important role. he showed, in the
development Of scientific farming.
Some church members are soil rob
bers They rob the fertility from the
land and then move to town, This is
not Christian, and is a problem within
the province of the country church. A
lecture on farming, or Il course in ag-
riculture would not be out of place i'll
the rural church." he argued.
The Rev. Mr. Mcconnell also at
tackled the big problem of over
churching" in rural neighborhoods. "In
many communities" he said, there
are more churches than there is re-
lieion \ good fire might clear the
way for federation and cooperation;
at any rate. the church must stand
ready to Join with every other in
stitution that stands for progress or
uDllll. AboNt all. Tue tuuItu can uOt
afford to neglect its great mission of
salvation. The church must ever
stand for the great eternal truths of
the souls life. and must teach 4 great
err conservation of the increased fruits
of the soil to the kingdom of God
Mrs. TAYLOR Talks.
Mrs. Lewis Taylor, of NewBurgh
Ind. prominent in farmers institute
work for several years, led the dis
cussion of the home as a factor in ru-
raj progress. and gave man suggestions
OF real merit.
"All of our institutions are condi-
toned and supported by their relation
to the home and its environment" she
declared. THE child should be given
every advantage during his growing
years His refinement depends upon
the things with which he comes in
contact during his Youthful years
"The true home is a great human
affection, EXPRESSED in terms of labor
and love, providing 4 shelter for those
who are dear to us. 1t must be the
best protection against the unseen ma
RAIDERS that attack the human soul.
The true home must have within it
the wife and mother who realizes that
the success of that home depends upon
her interest in it. She realizes her
call to worthy work, appreciates her
responsibilities and does not fail to
keep pace with her husband and chill
dren in intelligently and sympatheti-
call guiding their successes"
Mrs. Taylor also urged the necessity
of cooperation even in home life, de-
claring that the true home must come
in contact with other homes and en-
deavor to maintain a high standard
throughout the community. The home
is responsible. moreover, for the kind
of officers. legislators and citizens of
the community. 1t must. therefore,
have at its head men and women who
have studied conditions fully and
know how the community can best
retain a fair share of its best people,
for in this lies the solution of the
problem of success among farming
peoples. she concluded
Farm Organization" was also urged
as factor in rural progress by W. F.
Franklin, of Danville. Ind While a
large per cent of the farmers belong
to some sort of an organization. he
said. it is only in few communities
that they are bound together in an
effective way and are cooperating with
each other. This is accounted for by
a variance in interests and the lack Of
efficient leaders.
"The farmers institute is the most
effective working body in the rural
community today. In spite of local