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

w uahe the people one.
The consolidation OF rural schools
iof the education OF young men and
women tor lie in the country.
1he promotion Oh scientific agri-
culture IN order TO conserve the SOIL
Tor our chlldren.
1he production of an abundance
Tor the consumer, and the keeping OF
the farmer income abreast or the
Rising price OF land.
The leadership of the church in
social recreation tor the moral de-
VeIopment OF the youth and the
Worklngmen OF the country.
Betterng living conditions in the
interests OF the future, and the cher
ishlng OF the history OF the commun-
lty IN memory OF past days.
Such min .stry TO the community
that pauperlsm shall be excluded anu
burden OF poverty lifted.
1he preaching OF the gospel OF
Jesus CHRIST all the Time and III
every community.
Underlying this program OF action
IL an important He'd OF investigation
ana research. This work ls carried
Oh through rural sociological sur
Veys. BY means OF these surveys all
The conditioning factors OF church
welfare III local rural communities
are ascerta4ned ana made available
Tor reference ana guidance. lntor-
NATION relating to family life, house
mold comfort, methods of farming,
SCHOOLS, business and other needs
and conditions of the community life
are covered in this inyestigat ON,
which includes not church members
only but the total population OF the
whole community. These surveys
are urged by the department as ii
necessary part of the work of every
country minister. The inestimable
value Of such effort as guide to
action and policy is obvious.
1t is scarcely the province here to
| point out what may be done for
progress in the trying situations that
confront the country church today.
The seriousness of this problem is
now engrossing the attention of
some of the best minds in the nation.
| @ Ia Il -,
light of information which has just
been presented that any observer
might suggest a few lines of ad-
vance. In general it may be said that
what is needed is more of the good
work now in operation. The coun-
try church needs more federation and
cooperation, more money, more Of
the spirit of the Young Mems Chris
/ tian association, better educated
ministers and more well directed
leadership. A great incongruity ex-
lists between the amounts of this kind
of work done and the amounts to be
done. Those who know the actual
situation we'll realize that the lines
of progress pictured in this chapter
are not universal. They are in truth
only the scattered threads of move
ment toward progress that that To-
cally is just becoming conscious and
Ipurposive.
The great opportunity of theologi-
cal schools for extending their
courses and conducting conferences
to preparing to enter the rural field,
and meet needs not only of students
but of clergy already at work in it,
has been indicated. A similar OPP
portunity on the part of agricultural
colleges to respond by adapting and
offering courses in agriculture for
the special benefit of the rural min
istry has also been suggested. But
the work should go even further than
this. Each state, through some of
its educational institutions or vol
untary organizations should hold an
nual rural progress conferences sim
liar to those now undertaken in
Massachusetts and Illinois, in which
the various rural social forces of the
state are represented, with the
church receiving it's share of atten-
ton.
Probably the most urgent need in
the way of organization for country
church progress, however, is for the
establishm ent of state federation, or
other state wide INSTRUMENTATION
associations for country churches.
An active, well directed state fedora
ton of churches in every state in
the Union would work wonders for
Christian unity and helpfulness.
These organizations should serve not
only as clearing houses for informa-
ton, but as central advisory boards
and sources of local inspiration and
| elimination