St. Johns review. (Saint Johns, Or.) 1904-current, 1914-11-06
THE RURAL
CHURCH
THE FARMERS THE cUsToplANs
OF THE NATIONS MORALITY.
Cooperation Of Church, School and
prese Essential 20 Community
Building.
BY Peter Radford.
Lecturer National Farmers Union.


Lecturer National Farmers Union.
The church, the press and the school
form q triple alliance OF progress that
guides the destiny OF every commun.
ity. state and nation. without them
civilization would wither and die and
through them life may attain its great
est blessing, power and knowledge,
The farmers OF this nation are greatly
Indebted to this social triumvirate for
their uplifting influence. and on behalf
Of the American plowmah want to
thank those engaged In these high
oalllngs for their able and efficient
service, and | shall offer 10 tho press
q series OF articles on cooperation
between these important Influences
and the farmers In the hope of in
creasing tho efficiency Of all by mu-
tual understanding and organized Of.
fort. We will take up FIRST the rural
church.
The Farmers Are Great Church Build.
ere.
The American farmer Ia the greatest
church builder tho world has ever
known. He Ia the custodian of the
nations morality; upon his shoulders
rests the ark OF the covenant" and
he Ia more responsive to religious In.
nuences than any other class OF cit
lsenship.
The farmers OF this nation have
built 10000 churches at n cost OF
E7b0,oO0.0OO. and the annual contribu
ton OF the nation toward all church
institutions approxlmatos s200.000.000
per annum. The farmers OF the Unit
cd States build 20 churches per day.
There are 20.O0O.OOO rural church com.
municants on tho farm, and % per
cent OF the total membership OF all
churches reside In the country.
Tho farm IL the powor.houso OF all
progress and tho birthplace OF all that
In noble. The Garden OF Eden was
In the country and the man who would
got close 10 God must FIRST got close
10 nature.
Tho Functions OF a Rural Church.
II tho rural churches today are go
Ing 90 render n service which this ago
demands. there must bo cooperation
between tho religious. social and eco
nomio life OF tho community
Tho church 10 attain lts fullest mea.
sure Of suocosa must enrich the llyoa
OF the people In the community u
serves: II must build character: dovel.
op thought and Increase the efficiency
OF human life. II must serve tho so
oial. business and intellectual as well
an the spiritual aud moral side OF lifo.
II religion docs not mako a man more
capable, more useful and more Just.
what good In ~ We want "A practical
religion. one we can 1.-Two by and farm
by. as well as die by.
Fewer and Better Churches.
Blessed In that rural community
which has but ohe place OF worship.
While competition Ia the life OF trade.
n 10 death To the rural church aud
moral starvation 20 tho community.
Petty seotarianism Ia soourge that
bliEhts the life. and church proiu.
dice saps tho vitality OF many com.
munities. An oyeT-churched cOmmun.
lty is a crime against religion. a seri-
ous handicap 20 society and useless
tax upon agriculture
Whilo denominations are essential
and church pride oommondablo, the
high teaching OF universal Christianity |
must prevail II the rural church Is 10 |
fulnll its mission 10 agriculture
We frequently have three or four
churches In a community which IA not |
able 10 adequately support one Small
attend services once
month and all fail 10 perform the re-
Iisious functions OF the community. |
tho division OF religious forces and /
The breaking into fragments of moral
snort Is ofttimes little less than
aud defeats the very purpose
hey seek 10 promote,
The evils OF too many churches can
be minlmized by cooperation. The
social and economic life OF a rural
are respective units and
cannot be successfully divided by de
lines. and the churches
ban only occupy this important field
by cooperation and coordination.
The efficient country church will
isnnitoly serve It's community by lead.
Ing In all worthy efforts at community
building. In uniting the people In all
cooperative endeavors for the gen.
sral welfare OF the community and In
Arousins a real love for country life
Ind loyalty 10 the country home and
Lhsse results can only be successfully
by the united EFFORT OF
lhe press. the school. the church and
farmers.