Middletown transcript., 1914-12-12
The RURAL
CHURCH.
THE FARMERS THE cUsToDIANs
OF THE NATIONS MORALITY. .
Cooperation Of Church, School and
Press Essential to Community
Building.
BY Peter Radford


The church, the press and the school
form triple alliance of progress that
guides the destiny of every commun-
1ty, 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 plowmen want to
thank those engaged in these high
scallings for their able and efficient
service, and / shall offer to the press
a series of articles on cooperation
between these important influences
and the farmers in the hope of in
creasing the efficiency of all by mu-
tual understanding and organized ef-
fort. We will take up, first, the rural
church.
The Farmers Are Great Church Build
ers.
The American farmer is the greatest
church builder the world has ever
known. He is the custodian, of the
nations morality; upon his shoulders
rests the lark Of the covenant" and
he is more responsive to religious in
fuences than any other class of cit
dzenship.
The farmers Of this nation have
built 10000 churches at cost of
$75O, 900, 900, and the annual contribu-
ton of the nation toward all church
institutions approximates $200,000,000
Der annum. The farmers of the Uni
ted States build 22 churches per day.
There are 100000 rural church com
municants on the farm, and "a per
cent of the total membership of all
churches reside in the country.
The farm is the power-house of all
progress and the birthplace of all that
is noble. The Garden Of Eden was
in the country and the man who would
get close to God must first get close
to nature.
The Functions of Rural Church.
If the rural churches today are 60
ing to render a service which this age
demands, there must be cooperation
between the religious, social and eco
nomic life of the community.
The church to attain it's fullest meas
ure Of success must enrich the lives
of the people in the community it
serves; it must build character; devel
op thought and increase the efficiency
of human life. It must serve the so
cial: business and intellectual, as well
as the spiritual and moral side of life
If religion does not make man more
capable, more useful and more just
what good is it? We want practical
religion, one we can live by and farm
by, as well as die by.
Fewer and Better Churches.
Blessed is that rural community
which has but one place of worship
While competition is the life of trade
it is deaEh to the rural church and
moral starvation to the community
Petty sectarianism is a scourge thai
blights the life. and the church preju
dice saps the vitality, of many com
nfunities. An over-churched commun
ity is a crime against religion, seri
ous handicap to society and. a useless
ak upon agriculture.
While denominations are essential
nd church pride commendable, the
igh teaching Of universal Christianity
lust prevail If the rural church is tc
It'll its mission to agriculture.
We frequently have three or foul
urches in a community which is not
Ie to adequately support one. Small
gregations attend services once 9
th and all fail to perform the re
ns functions of the community
division of religious forces ant
,eaking into fragments of mora
is ofttimes little less than 9
and defeats the very purpose
k to promote.
rils of too many churches car
lized by cooperation. The
economic life Of a rura
are respective units anC
successfully divided by de
Il lines, and the churches
cupy this important field
on and coordination.
t country church viii
its community by lead
efforts at community
ting the people in al
eavors for the gen
le community and il
pve for country life
country home and
My be successfully
e united effort O
the church anc