Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1913-10-04

testament with both eyes. Goethe
used to call christianity the religion OF
sorrow. and whenever he said that
Carlyle always gave hearty Amen,
but neither the German nor the Scotch
man is a trustworthy interpreter of the
christian religion. Christianity is in
fact the religion of joy. If it seems
otherwise it is because we read the
gospels thru the shadow cast by the
tragedy on Golgotha.''
Avertisins the Rural Church
lWallace's t'armer.1
The rural church continues to re-
ceive the criticism of its friends and
enemies. The failure of the rural
church Is attributed TO many and di-
verse causes from an inefficient and
disintrested ministry to the cityward
movement of rural populations. The
rural church worker can take all criti-
cism with good grace when he knows
that such an authority as Prof. E. T.
Fairchild. Kansas State Superintend-
emit of Education. attacks the rural
school as vigorously as any critic at
tacks the rural church.
The problem of the rural church is
much the same as the problem OF the
city church. 1t can be stated broadly
by saying that the rural church has not
advanced in efficiency as have other
features of rural life, The farmer has
come to enjoy the rural free delivery
of mail. the telephone, modern homes.
automobiles, and every other inven-
ton and device of man, but the rural
church has been content TO carry on
its work with the equipment. material
and spirit. Of bygone generation.
One feature In which the rural
church must advance in order to cope
with other forces and agencies in the
community is in the matter of the pub
LEFTY given to its work. The rural
church must advertise efficiently. The
city churches have learned this lesson.
but it has not fully dawned upon rural
church workers.
With the rural free delivery OF mail
an excellent avenue is open to the
rural church to keep its work con-
stantly before the community. farm
er told me that a church announcement
received through the mail always re-
ceiyed more attention from him than
an announcement from the pulpit,
But it cos.s money TO use the man
service in keeping the church before
the community. OF course it does
But money is spent by every other in
stitution to keep it's work before the
public and the rural church must more
and more place in it's budget postage
and other items for the purpose OF
keeping it's work alive in the com :
munity.
The rural communities still posses
the proverbial gathering places FOR
the people and they ever present an
opportunity for the posting of printed
and hand-lettered notices calling at
tention TO services, and special fea-
lures The postoffice. the stores, the
depot, and schoolhouses are ever pres
emf in the rural community, admirable
places for frequent and attractive no.
tees OF the work OF the church.
The telephone is used for every KIND
of business, why not for the business
of the church? The rural pastor. ana
his workers. can use II for Individual
calls and there is sufficient rubber
necking" to count upon these indlvld-
ual calls to play the part Of public an
noursements. In many communities
where the general ring is used for
fire alarms. weather reports. and other
features OF general interest. 1t can ne
used for the announcement OF the
services. and unusual features OF the
church
The rural pastor is frequently the
local correspondent for the papers tnat
enter the homes Of his constituents and
by this service ne has won the sym
pathy. interest and the good VIII OF
Eve editor" Here he can do effective
service in using the press. the strong
ally of the pulpit, in bringing to pear
upon the people his message and mis-
work. Editors are only too Wiling 10
help the rural community in its eHoIss
to advance and especially to repay
their prea cher- in pup
fishing stuff" about the correspond
eut's work and his efforts for the rural
community.
printers ink makes people think
Here is the rural church worker great
est opportunity for the publicity OF ms
church and its work. A loca! churcH
paper, no matter how small, Is better
than none. Thru this paper he can
constantly keep the church before the
minds OF the people. Topic cards 1oi
the sermons and addresses and the
Young peoples meetings frequently and
necessarily placed in the hands OF peo-
Die VIII 6tt tAiSAi @es~AAs-0N
and interest. Printed programs Tor
special occasions frequently paid for by
a modest lad of a local merchant en-
liven such gatherings and provide the
attendants with token of the occasion
to carry away with them for future
reference. Printed announcements fol
.p.c:a! seasons of the church year
such as Christmas. New Years, Holy
Week. Easter, Harvest Home, and
others. awaken and sustain interest
The frequent use of an illustration OF
the church building. or church grounds,
or definite rooms in the building ADDS
greatly to such printed matter. You
can not too frequently bring the pic
ture of the church TO the eye OF the
communicable. visualized idea OF the
work of the church in the community
fingers long in the mental eye.
These plans for the advertising o.
the rural church have been tried ano
have proved successful in the "trlouna
of traced results" If the rural churcf
is to advance in it's usefulness, II 1t i
to meet the needs of the community. Il
must in addition to being efficient. IN
| form the people of it's efficiency. II !:
no longer a question whether the rura
church must advertise, the only ques
! ton that remains, how can 1t best carry
1