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

churches, the diminution of sectarian
strife, the attempt to reach the en-
Tire community, must become the
guiding principle everywhere If tbe
rural church is long to retain it's
hold.
Local church federation has been
practiced unconsciously in the
united States since the colonization
OF the country, but it is only recently
that tn federation movement has as
sumed significant proportions and
become a state and national move
ment.
In. hence ON Rural Life
In a series of lectures RECENTLY do
llvered before the students of Hart
ford Theological Semin..ry, President
Kenyon l.. Butterfield, said, II hold
that the problem of the country
church Is the most important aspect
OF the rural problem. 1t touches the
highest point In the redirection of
rural life. 1t sounds the deepest
note in harmonizing the factors of
permanent rural civilization. 1t
speaks the most eloquent word in the
struggle to maintain the status of tie
farming class. If this Is true, and
1t seems to be the consensus of opin-
Ion among rural sociologists, 1t
means that the country church must
ultimately stand forth as the leading
institution of the rural life"
Trained Ministers Necessary
The fulfillment of this opportunity
on the part of the church, however,
will require a re-direction, energized
rural ministry. The country min
lister must become leader. For this
leadership he already has some ad-
vantages not possessed by the coun-
try school teacher. For one he is as
ISOLATED chiefly with adults and Is
usually less migratory than the pres
ent county teacher. He is thus In a
position be the key not only to the
country church problem, but to the
whole rural situation. But such
leadership on the part of the country
minister necessitates not only the
sch olarship but peculiar sympathy
and insight into the experiences and
problems of farm life, both of which
are too often lacking. For many rea-
sons, chiefly economic, for which
they are by no means wholly ac-
countable, country clergy, like coun-
try teachers, are too likely to be
either the back numbers" or the
youths of their profession. The ne
cessity of special training for coun-
try ministers is but very recently
coming to be recognized. This
training, when given, will be analog-
Gus to that provided for country
teachers, though perhaps less inten-
sive and detailed. But the same ar
gument holds good for both, namely,
that any leader or public servant, to
be efficient, must understand the
daily life of those for whom he
works. And since life is expended
chiefly in the occupation whereby we
live, 1t follows that country teachers
and preachers must know agricul-
ture and social and economic condi-
lions of. farm life. This is positively
fundamental. Both religion and
education in the country must run
into the affairs of everyday life.
For much of the present neglect
in this matter of special training for
rural pastors the theological semi
naries are accountable, just as state
normal schools are accountable for
the lack of special training among
country teachers. What the coun-
try needs most in the way of church
improvem ent is a progression of tie
country clergy who will study the
problems of rural life as carefully
as the city clergy now study those OF
urban life. But farmers must
understand that such a profession
like the country teaching profession
can never arise until matters of eco
nomic support which lie within THU
power are satisfactorily adjusted
through the principles of federation
or In some other way.