News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1913-09-10
THE COUNTRY MINISTER AND
HIS SALARY.
The Pinchot-Gill Study and What
1t Shows.
BY RAYMOND G. Fuller.

| lompklnS county, New Iork, was grad
uated from leading theological seminar,
in class of twenty-five, and twenty-five
years later, it was found that only 81,
members of the class were still in the
ministry. The cause assigned was the
lack of a living salary. The study of az
institution let it be added, must take
some account of it's personnel and of the
pay rendered.
The much-talked-of and variously ex-
planned decline of the Church in vigor and
influence has been regarded in recent years
as an issue of considerable Importance
among the multitude of issues pertaining
to American life. The Church problem
has reached a critical stage in the country
places, and that phase Of the general prob
lem which concerns the country church
signifies as much for the welfare of the ma
ton as that which concerns the city
church. Perhaps the city church has bet
ter adapted itself to the changing order of
things-What fondness writer's and talk
erS have lately shown for that phrase,
"The old order changethw- that re-
mains to be proved. A fundamental DIFF
ference between the practicable working
methods of the city church and those of
the country church arises from the nature
of things in their respective fields. The
activities of the city church may be of
the specialized kind; but the activities of
the country church must be of the gen.
era]ized order
The Church in the Country
Publishers lists afford some means of
weighing the interest which the public has
in the divers manifold issues that complex
one of social and economic conditions
which are embraced under the general
name of the country life problem is recog-
nized as full of interest and vital signi-
fcance. But the country life problem and
the country church problem are not mu-
ually Independent. They must be con-
3idered together. In a just completed in
of the country church, con-
lucted by Clifford Pinchot and Charles |
it's Gill, the results of which have Just |
,een published by the Macmillan com
,any under the authority of the Federal |
1ouncil of the Churches of Christ in |
America, this fact was kept in mind as a
working principle to an extent never be- |
ore approached.
Cancellations as to the condition of
he country church, accompanied by eX-
lanations thereof, have been made a.
lenty. Some have said this and some
ave said that and others have expressed
hundred other opinions. The Pinchot-
ill investigation was centered in two
vpical agricultural counties of the East,
nd mass of interdependent facts re-
arding the social and economic history
f each town through period of twenty
ears was gathered and correlated The
Judy was intensive, as to its localization,
ut extensive in its scope, i. e., as to the
qriety of considerations allowed to enter
ito the inquiry as bearing on the country
hurch problem. The facts and figures
re definite and illumined by myriad of
delights.
The country church is one among the
TaI institutions acting on, and being act
| on, by al that country life is and pos
sses. The country church cannot hope
II prosperity apart from the improve
ent of country life. To particularize,
eak churches and poor farming generally
} together as interchangeable cause and I
feet, The country church needs new
'ogramme of social service, adapted of
,urse to the needs of rural people.
The Lost Leadership :
Shall the country church remain simply t
conserving, negative influence, existing |
lily to retard rural decline? Or shall it
} restored to its former state of vitality i
i'd positive influence on the community?
Dr. several long periods in American his {
ly II NlUdnLtNl all lllG vi CNiuSetulOL, |
perience and social and industrial or
for the common good Shall
know new birth on the new soul of I
esent rural needs? The country church
losing its hold on the community, as to
terest, support and influence, and large
because it is not of the community as
once was. Different causes may be
cribed for this decline of vitality and
economic conditions, racial de- ,
iteration, an inferior ministry, general {
pse in religious faith. These causes do
'erate with differing force according to !
e locality; but the nearest to universal {
ed is conception of the duties and func- {
pms of the country church as wide as the
terests of country life. 1t is good social i
rvice to help a farmer farm right. 1t
good religion to sympathize with the
rmer in all his doings and aspirations t
ID to help him realize himself as broadly /
ID deeply as possible. IS
Al students of the country life problem O
rec that one of the greatest obstacles to p
e improvement and progress of condi- e
ms in the country has been the dearth p
/ IL