Pullman herald. [volume] (Pullman, W.T. [Wash.]) 1888-1989, 1913-08-08
COUNTRY CHURCH PROBLEM

1 s.l support and sectarian strife. all
.som to indicate a lack of religion
,mong farmers. Those most init
lately acquainted with farm life.
\ boveyer, realize that this impression
IA. false. Farmers as a class are es-
oscially inclined toward religions
thought. Their isolation, close con-
I sct with nature and even the monot-
\ any of their work, promote reflection
and spiritual attitude. The bow
! Who trudges all day behind the plow
oonders many times and MANY
things, and more hymns are sung
bmer the hot ranges of farm kitchens
| han in the choirs of great cathed-
rails Perhaps one of the first needs
I in re-direction of the church is a
new definition of religion. Certain
kR broader and more compre-
hensive Interpretation of the term
would at least prove helpful.
/ Those who measure the strength
4 Of the church as socializing force
/ IN the country life only by the num-
Der of existing churches and the per
Wntage Of church members make a
grave mistake. The church as an
agency of influence is much greater
than this. Even unchurched COM
nunities are religious, and the
church in broad sense, is the social
representative of all the religious
and moral tendencies of every COM
nunity, not only those expressed and
Wowed, but the unexpressed as well
This Interpretation Is necessary to q
true appreciation of the influence of
the church as a rural social factor
In this connection it is well to re-
member also that the present loss of
prestige on the part of the country
church is neither fundamental nor
permanent, but only the inevitable
result Of its delay in adapting itself
40 recent social and Industrial
changes. The church has ever been
one of the conservative of institu-
tons and the status of the country
kchurch today is but an example of
1.-THE condition any institution as
umes when outstripped in progress
BY other institutions. The present is
period of marked transition in
rural life from which the church and
all other forces will emerge with re-
newed vitality.
The country church, therefore,
Notwithstanding it's present dormant
state, Is and will ever continue to be,
one of the chief socializing agencies
u farm life. The Country Life Com
mission, whose estimate of the pres
lent rural situation Is undoubtedly
authoritative, emphasizes the social
responsibility of the church very
strongly, considering it "fundament-
ally a necessary institution in coun-
Try life," and maintaining that it
must be leader in the attempt to
dealize this life.
Here and there In exceptional COM
nunlties are found prosperous coun-
kHy churches almost ideal in every
way In hundreds of rural localities,
however, especially outside OF New
England, where the church problem
rather one OF over-churching than
q under-churching, there are no 10
cal churches, and the church attend
snce In the nearest town, owing to
read conditions and other causes, is
irregular and infrequent. In other
instances church buildings are old
and dilapidated, congregations small,
pastors underpaid, and all local
'lurch history is but pitiful story
VI the struggle for existence. Sun
Jay schools upon the whole are in
Oetter condition, but they, too, are
Invariably handicapped and at best
enuer only inadequate returns for
me effort put into them.
Among the chief causes of this dis
Hess, as diagnosed by those who
nave made the most careful analysis
country church conditions, are
"erlooking and overlapping. BY
V'erlooking is meant neglect, and
ue absence of church influence; by
overlapping the multiplication and
'nStence of more separate denomina-
'Oaai churches than a community
an support. The one means too lit
10 church opportunity; and the
.'ner too much. Unchurched locali-
uSs are frequent in many sections,
specially in the west and middle
.est' and their condition is serious
~. even the apparent paganism of
scn communities is preferable to the
'iction and strife occasioned by
"er-churching or overlapping.
Church Federation
from the foregoing discussion 1t is