Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1913-10-02
COUNTRY CHURCH
ANO ITS DUTIES
onion of Effort Would Result
in Revival of Religion, Says
President Thomas.

lation of a county Its chafGcter ana ten |
denotes. the movement from country to
town, or the reverse, changes IN en- |
r,loymen, and industry We need to study
the economic situation az to natural re-
sources. whether Increasing or d.fnin-
ishing. whether used to the full or al
lowed TO waste. presentation as toI
are and use of farm machinery would
be highly interesting, and also dertvh-
ton of facts az to rotation o. crops,
whether pcacticed TO any great extent
according to the best scientific opinion Of
tho day: whether farmers are making the
most Of tho soil ard conserving its fer
tiIity and Shnthoo nc crops ar" adapt
Cd TO the region. We n,"d Gather study
of marketing methods n't. 9" p"isipili-
ties OF cooperation f. thu, respect.
Above all we need thorough systematic
study of our churches, their methods,
their programs of effort, and the way
they meet the actual needs of men and
women in their communities
Vermont has recently enjoyed the ben
efts of a State department of publicity
which has exhibited the advantages and
resources of the state in a manner to
encourage its citizens and to attract
purpose this department has had in view,
the best has been set forth. We have
been advertising with a view to sale.
a sale of our entertainment and Of our
products. We need another sort Of pub
licity. which shall put facts as to condi-
lions in the State on the conscience of
the public Such a bulletin as these which
have been issued by the Presbyterian de-
- a,,1 \ ia
concerning any county in Vermont would
he of incalculable value. in helping MS to
realize the exact situation. in enabling
us to appreciate our good points as well
as our weak ones, and In showing US
lust what we ought to do IN order to
advance TO better things. l wish that
some organization or individual would
show the way to such a study for at least
one county in this state ! believe it
would lead to very great benefit.
The one fact which stands out from
the invest cations have described is
that the ..r ntry church docs not realize
its partlc mission and not engaged
IN its real work The chu.-h Is working
for itself. to sustain its services and pay
its minister. and show as good a record
as possible in the Yearbook of its denom-
maintained. We are working for individ-
uals and individuals only. That this is
the duty, the first duty, of every church
organization. need not be disputed. But
there is another duty, like unto the first.
which we have sadly neglected, The
church must work for the community, as
well as for its men and women. 1t must
assume leadership in p noting the com
munity's ideals and adv. lc'ng the general
tone ana temper of its 'i'. 40 church is
succeeding in CONN whore bust
ness is slovenlY. where @ enterprise
is lethargic, VIII the Dois are sus-
tanned as cheaplY as possible and fail ~
hold the boys, whcre the moving ma
chimes are left out all winter and the corn
stalks rustic through the November
frosts. No matter how many members
1t adds to its roll, ~ matter how violent
the petitions in prayer meetings, If the
life of the community is going to seed
the church is failing IN its work
am not pessimist as TO old Vermont,
nor even an alarmist. | believe in ON
State. in its people and in its institutions
J know of 800 section in the east where
there is moo alert atmosphere of pro-
Eress, and more consistent and intelligent
cndea' d. for improvement than RICH,
here e1uld make comparisons witt
other States greatly to our advantage as
well a. other men, but just because
: love Vermont and believe in her with al
my heart, want her to rise to all hel
, opportunities. If the boys and girls of Bel
videre and Goshen are not in possession o
decent opportunity, letus arouse the stat
until we give them chance, and
chance likewise to every last boy and cir
, in the whole commonwealth. | love Yer
mont too well to say that they treat boy
that same way":n rcn New York or grea
Texas, and so let il 80. What If they do
Let US treat our boys right and sham
those who treat them worse,
You may bring on all the rosy facts yo
NAV as to progress made and improve
rnents effected and ] viii rejoice with "a
most enthusiastic, but I will still put
TO YOU that there are communities In Yer
mont sofden IN inquiry, low in inteli
gence corrupt IN morals and with re
!lgious life unworthy Intelligent an
right thinking American citizenship,
have seen them with my own eyes an
spent days and nights among them I d
not defa me them, bat | ask you to saw
them.
| would like to sound call for n unto
for effort of the churches of each count
In this State for work in behalf of tn
neglected farm districts, especially in IN
mountain towns Let each county TAX
itself for its own field Let committees u
organized and leaders discovered Let I
take the program of the inter-Church fec
Grafton of Vermont seriously and max
an honest effort to put 1t through. Ths
program pledges the churches OF tn
State to lah, for their first endeaNor Il
eco monte social, intellectual and religion
Improvement Of the small towns of Il
State It calls for approach OF the PEE
pie on the side of the work whereby the
earn their daily bread and for an 81
deavor to stimulate better farming al
better living so that Vermont boys ma
realize that they have a chance in We
mont,
1t summons to the organization of tow
for recreation and common social anus
ments to cure the Ills OF Isolated al
neghborhood jealousy.
Il has also this prophetic word: wv
believe that each religious body repr
scented in Vermont should work first +
the welfare Of Vermont and should su
ordinate It's own promotion to that end
II we could have such union of effoi
for such practical and worthy purpose
appealing to the sense and patriotism
every citizen, we would have such
vival OF religions as has not been w
messed since the great awakening, al
such as cannot be achieved in our tir
except as the churches rally to the servi