The Washington times., 1913-04-22
MRS. BRYAN TALKS
ON RURAL CHURCHES
Fewer of Them and Greater
Vitality, Her Suggestion to
Women'S Clubs.

The revitalizing of church life in the
rural districts will be one of the strong
est forces for solving economic and So
cial problems of the people there
This is the statement made by Mrs.
William Jenning Bryan. one of the prin-
cipal speakers at the morning session of
the General Federation of women's
Clubs, now holding its mid-biennial
council here
Mrs. Bryan deplored what she called
the failure of the modern rural church
to fulfill the purpose for which 1t was
originally designed She called atten-
ton to the fact that the loss of influ-
ence OF the church in rural communi-
ties was due perhaps, to failure TO
conform to modern conditions I'VE no
longer find the tendency to segregate
religious sects in the country, but rath-
er 10 emphasize the points of resemb-
lance in the different sects." she said.
Fewer Churches Needed.
A strengthening of this tendency, re-
duction Of the number of churches. bet
ter support OF those with strongest re-
lgfous hold on the community and a
'revttalizing" of the spirit in these
viii work wonders in solving some of
The problems which are concerning
rural communities, Mrs. Bryan declared.
SD o'clock this morning. and reports
of officers and committees occupied the
morning. Addresses on special subjects
began at IL o'clock. DIR. Meyer Bloom
field spoke of the need of vocational
education. He deplored what he called
the modern tendency of permitting the
boy to choose a profession for himself
He said modern conditions We're too
complex and the boys knowledge of
conditions generally too limited To ner-
NIT him Ynaka a R-ySo Chnine
"How To Be Citizen"
Studying how To Be Citizen was
the subject of a short talk by Mss
Helen Varick Boswell, of the commit
tee on civics Mrs Mary /. Wood,
chairman Of the bureau of information.
spoke of the general work of the or
ganization.
Emphasis of the subject for the day
began with the address by Mrs. Bryan.
Her address was followed by a talk
on The Interrelation and Interdepend-
ence of Rural and Urban Life" by
Mrs. Frances Squire Potter. The
Rural Home and the School-Advan-
tages and Present Needs" by p. P.
Claxton. Commissioner Of Education.
needs Of the rural school to the COM
munity.
The most important committee meet
ing today is that of the trustees of the
raised TO provide for payment of ex-
penses of officers and council meetings.
Ii is proposed to raise 100000. OF
which $50. .00e has been raised already.
Mrs. w. K James, of St Joseph Mo-,
chairman of the field committee Of the
endowment, viii report the condition OF
the fund.
other members of the committee in
ciude Mrs. Percy Y. Pennybacker. chair
man: Mrs. l. L. Blankenburg, Mrs.
Robert ]. Burdett, and Mrs. Philip n
Moore.
This afternoon there will be recep-
ton at the White House by President
and Mrs. Wilson. The rest of the day
up to O'Clock viii be devoted to con-
ferences.
Program for Tonight.
Mrs. Lawrence Maxwell will speak on
The Future of Our Music Depart
ment." and Mrs Melville Johnston on
Arr and Democracy" at the National
Museum auditorium tonight Miss
Elizabeth Leckic will sing, Ralph Gold
smith will play violin solo, ana Mrs.
Elise Blattner and Miss Blattner VII
describe and illustrate the classic drama
and dance Of Japan.
II is announced that all sessions are
open to the public The day meetings
are held in the assembly room OF the
Raleigh Hotel: evening meetings are
10 be neld In the auditorium Of the New
National Museum.